Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Pairing: Dust X Hard
A/N: Hello again, big thanks to Amatsu for reviewing.
Hard was still pissed off and the sudden call wasn't helping either. How could that stupid muscle head let his little Cry get sick?! The nerve! Oi, when he saw that bastard he was gonna kick his sorry ass!
Hard walked agitated, annoyed, and overall just ready to kill someone. He gave off a fierce vibe, like a wild tiger when it roared, not to be messed with.
His mood was certainly not a good one, and he was showing it. He'd never been afraid to show anything—to do anything—and he wasn't starting now.
What he didn't understand Dust, why he was suddenly acting strange (after such great sex too)? Why he was suddenly…distant? Was that the word? Sheesh, he needed to get out more…or somethin'…buy himself a thesaurus…
Hard could still remember the look on Dust's face when he'd asked about what was written on the paper. Like he didn't want to him to know.
He'd find out.
Rusty Dusty—he didn't even know just how much he affected Hard did he.
For the idiots who fought him it could mean getting off with a black eye…or a one-way ticket to the hospital.
For people who tried pick up lines on him it could mean the ever polite 'fuck no', emphasized with the middle finger or a cuss out with insults and threats.
All because of Dust.
Now Hard had to figure out what the hell was happenin' with Dust. He was going to make it right. Some freakin' way. Some freakin' how. Soon.
He didn't want to know exactly what was wrong, because if he did, what could he do? He had a hard enough time trying to keep himself from falling apart. But wasn't that what Dust did?
Dust…could hold him in place, shatter him…
Save him.
He knew that right?
No, the idiot probably didn't.
Hard opened the door to his apartment, looking around and inspecting his home. Thinking on it now, it'd been a while…
"Cry? What up?"
"Er, actually, Cry's down with a fever." Sig explained looking nervous, head popping out from the hallway. Fucking pansy. Couldn't even face him like a man. "I thought you'd want to know."
"Damn straight."
The look Hard fixed him with then was downright murderous. And he still hadn't come out of hiding. Sig cursed bad timing and his unzipped pants. He knew what his sisters would say; he was an idiot, downright pathetic…
But this guy was way scarier than all his angry, manly broad of sisters put together. He was—
Dangerous.
"How'd he get sick?"
"At school we were doing a lab. Our teacher said he'd end up with a sore throat but thanks to overworking himself studying, he got a fever too."
Hard wanted to blame Sig. He did. But Cry wouldn't like that. A sigh. His eyes didn't hold the same murderous glint as before but he still managed to look like a predator.
"He's in his room?"
"Yeah. But, oh don't go in there! I'll get him!" Sig warned, running off. He was relieved to not to have to face the wrath of Cry's older brother. And if Hard went into the room, he'd definitely go off at him.
Don't.
Go.
In.
There?
It was his fucking apartment! Cry came out a second later.
"Hard! Hi, what's happenin—"
Hard pounced on him right then, tackling him to the couch and showering him with kisses to his face and neck. Sig came out then and the singer glared right at him, still delivering feather light kisses. Cry laughed nervously, it tickled and well…
Considering what happened last time(1)…
Cry pushed his brother off with an apologetic smile, making Sig sigh in relief as Hard gave his own version of a pout. For brothers, they didn't look very alike, Hard with intense, piercing eyes, and Cry with large innocent ones.
Nothing alike.
"So, what's up? How are things with Dust and the band?" Cry asked trying his hardest to lighten the atmosphere.
Hard stared at him intently. "You don't look very sick for someone with a fever. In fact I'd say you're…glowing."
Both Cry and Sig took big gulp things, unsure of what to say. The truth, or…
The singer didn't wait for a reply. "Dust…" he stopped right there. He didn't want to think about that guy, right now, not when he was feeling a bit happier.
"The band's doing good. How's school going for you two?"
At the mention of 'you two', Cry read into it as Hard finally accepting Sig. It was definitely a great day!
"Everything's been going great. I've been accepted into an art college near here, and Sig is going to a military school that's only a block away."
"Hn. That sounds good. But why won't you be a model with me?"
It was something Hard had been pestering Cry with for a while now. "I told you, I don't like all the flashing lights or cameras."
"But together we could be unstoppable!" He said grabbing Cry around the shoulder as his other arm pointed randomly. "We'd take the world by storm!"
Cry sighed. He'd thought Hard was finally accepting Sig, but no. No, he was just as…protective as ever.
"Nope. Anyways—"
Hard's phone rang then. He was beginning to wonder why he bought the damn thing. He picked it up, annoyed. It had better be something important.
"Yo, Hard~"
He didn't know exactly what to think. It was Khaki, the band member who always wore that damn beanie Honey had given him for some reason. "Khaki…what is it?"
"We need to discuss our next few singles for the new album. And also, we have a concert in twenty minutes, so if you could kindly drag your ass down here?"
"Consider it dragged. I'll be there in five minutes." He flipped his phone off. Turned to Cry and Sig.
"I've gotta get going. Concert's at the usual place." He said hugging Cry and kissing his forehead. He turned to Sig. "Keep him out of trouble."
And with that, he walked out closing the door behind him.
Sig turned to Cry. "He still hates me, huh?"
Cry shrugged grinning. "I don't know. In fact, I'd say he kind of likes you. We've got to be off soon…but we still have a bit of time…"
Sig picked up on the trail instantly picking Cry up. "Well, we'll just have to hurry won't we?"
--
Hard, true to his word, arrived in five minutes, a little surprised to see Dust sitting down and drinking before a concert.
"Hey." Dust murmured.
"Hey yourself." Hard snapped, not really intending to sound so angry. "You never explained what you meant earlier."
He sat down next to Dust.
"Here, why don't you have a drink?" Dust asked.
"You're the one who said it's not good to get drunk before a concert."
Dust actually gave a small smile. "I said no such thing."
Hard felt the tension ease just a bit. "Huh! We both know you're lying!"
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Not."
Honey came in with Khaki a few minutes later. And loudly, intentionally said. "Is he…or isn't he?*"
Hard glared at her. "You pickin' a fight?"
"No, no, not at all…I'm just sayin'. Anyway boys, we need to get on stage now."
Dust and Hard nodded getting up. Hard bumped Dust's elbow lightly on purpose, receiving a smile then.
Maybe…he'd only been imagining the distance between them. It wasn't possible, it wasn't true, it wasn't, and it wasn't.
It had just been a bad dream…yeah, that's the ticket…
Hard scanned the crowd and he was happy to see Cry's face, and (grudgingly) that he was being protected by the muscle head. It was like a storm had just passed, or something…
Dust was back to normal, and life would go on like it always did. Maybe they'd be drinking tonight. Yeah, and after drinking they'd go tag some sorry ass building with their special signature.
Sometimes…Dust seemed just so unattainable…and he was so close…
Damn clichés! But,
How much did he really know about his…lover?
Hard growled to quietly, seething, right before the lights came on. Since when had he turned into such a damn sap!
It wasn't normal, so freakin' unlike him! Ugh…
The first thing he heard was the bass string. Everything after that was a blank. No, not a blank but…he can't describe it. It's just not something so easily said. The feeling of energy, madness,
Screaming.
That he could do again and again.
At the end of the concert, Dust was, oddly, in a strangely good mood. Hard suspected it was from the drinking he was doing earlier. Dust took his band mates out for more drinks—even held Hard's hand the whole way there.
'Strange.' Hard thought. He didn't say it, though, because he didn't mean it. It was sort of nice.
The bar was pretty empty and well, that was the way they liked it. Dust was in an insanely good mood now; he was starting to feel Hard up. Right in front of their band mates.
Hard did not take this kindly.
A vicious punch brought the high-strung Dust back to cruel reality.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Er, sorry…didn't mean to that…"
"Like hell you did! Show some decency dammit."
"Yeah, sorry."
"Stop apologizing."
Honey was the first to speak after the momentary awkward silence. "What are we doing just sitting here? Let's get drunk!"
Khaki lifted his beer mug high in the air. "I second that notion! Let there be drinking."
So they all drank. Hard limiting Dust's intake, as he was still a bit drunk. It was the first time he'd done something like this that wasn't for Cry. It was weird. But looking out for Dust wasn't bad, he supposed.
In the end, Hard had been the only one not drunk. After escorting Honey and Khaki home, he and Dust went to his place. Cry was at school anyway.
He set the guitarist on the couch before heading to the shower.
In all his years, he'd never really done stuff like this. Yeah, he was starting to…what did Cry call it? Caring.
That must be it. He stepped out the shower, walked to the kitchen.
"Hard?"
He turned at the call of his name. "Dust what's up?"
"Think you could get me some ice? Maybe a drink?"
"Whaddya need ice—"He cut himself off then. Oh, he remembers now…back at the bar he'd punched Dust…
"Coming right up." He said, guiltily. You're not really supposed to hurt the ones you care for…but then again, there was that one time Dust had hit him when he saved him(2)…
"Huh." In Hard's head, they were equal. Yep, yep.
He hurried for once in his life, getting a pack of ice and a cup of soda. Probably not the best damn thing, but it would have to do…
"Here."
"Thanks."
Dust drank his soda gratefully, turning the tv on. "So…you wanna talk."
Hard gave him a glare. "You just turned it on."
"I can turn it off."
"Does that even make sense?"
"No…I guess not. But really, anything on your mind Hard? You shouldn't keep things to yourself all the time." He sipped his soda. "Not good."
Hard felt anger rise up in him.
"Right back at you! I don't even feel like I know a single fucking thing about you! I don't know, I don't know!"
Dust stared at him in surprise. He took that as a cue to keep going. He wanted-needed-to get it out.
"What's your life been like? Did you have a happy child-hood? Are your parents alive? Do they even like you? You know all this shit about me—but I know zero to nothing about you."
"Yeah, that's true." Dust agreed. "But you don't need to worry. I'm the one who said I'd take care of you. So don't go banging your pretty head on the wall over me okay?"
Hard was relieved, but at the same time, he'd felt like he'd lost something. He walked over to where Dust was sitting, resting his head on the other's lap and holding onto him.
"Hey Dust?"
"Yeah?" Dust asked smiling at him. Gently.
It made his heart hurt.
"You know…that I care about you right?"
Dust was pleasantly surprised at this weird mood Hard was in. "I know."
Hard closed his eyes. "Good."
Because,
'I know how to satisfy,
I know you want me tonight,
Never show me what's inside,
You cause my nervous breakdown.'
Yeah...Dust, you could...you do.
(1)-Reference to the manga. Chapter...2, I think
(2)-Another Reference. This one in chapter 5.
*'Is he...or isn't he' just an indirect way of saying someone's gay. I think Honey and Khaki are probably aware of the other's relationship. And I suspect they are together themselves.
Song used: Nervous breakdown by Abingdon Boys School Why? This song really suits this pairing. Because Hard, while he has intense feelings, can be pretty dense at times.
Looking at it now, it'll probably be five chapters (in total) with an extra featuring Cry and Sig (because it's fun). Okay, now I'm pretty damn sure Hard's ooc in this but...I'm trying my best. So please kindly stick with me!
Thanks for reading. *bows*
