Disclaimer: the title is taken from 'Shrinking Universe' lyrics, by Muse.
Summary of the chapter: Matthew receives an offer that he can't refuse…
Chapter II: I'll show you what you really need.
"Take it," Matt says, putting a bunch of bank notes next to Dom's cup of latte, reaching the blond as he's having breakfast.
"For what?" Dom asks Matt, puzzled, as the brunet sits close to him at the table.
"For what you did last night," Matt explains, as he pours some orange juice into his glass.
That gives the drummer a lot to think about.
"He's paying me for what I did last night… did he mistake me for a sort of… whore? Wait. Whores get paid when they offer another kind of performance, more elaborated performances. Gee, am I so good that I can get paid for a kiss only?" he ponders, as he stares at the bank notes.
"300 bucks, is it the value for my kiss?" he silently wonders, insulted and thrilled at the same time.
"Hey, Dom, are you still here on Planet Earth?" Matt tries to wake his best friend up from his trance, as he shakes his shoulder, gently.
"Huh?" the drummer recovers, looking at Matt.
"I paid you for last night." the frontman repeats, as he just stares at his own slice of chocolate cake, unwilling to eat it.
"I see that. Saving the fact that I don't want to be paid for it, isn't it way too much?" the blond asks Matt.
"I don't know, after all I ate a full dinner, besides, the wine was very expensive. So I guess that this should be my part of the bill. You can keep the rest, I don't care. And quit saying you don't want to be paid, you always pay for everything. For once, I don't just want to pay my part, but next time I'll pay for dinner," Matt states and insists until Dom takes the money.
"Oh. He paid me for the dinner!" Dom realises. "Maybe he doesn't even remember the kiss. Anyway, I'm going to follow Emma's advice," he decides.
"Why? Didn't you pay your part of the bill yesterday?" Dom asks the brunette, pretending to be astonished.
"What? Nope, don't you remember? I ran away, so I didn't," Matt explains, confused.
"Did you run away? Why?" Dom questions him, tilting his head to one side.
"Oh my, he forgot it all!" Matt figures out.
"Did I say I ran away? Well, you know me, I tend to exaggerate. I meant that I felt tired and I wanted to come back to the hotel, so I called a cab, leaving you there alone, and in the rush I forgot to pay my part of the bill," the singer explains... or rather, lies. "So you don't remember anything about last night, do you?" he asks Dom for confirmation.
"I recall the dinner, Chris leaving at the end and then ... tabula rasa," Dom confesses... or rather, lies.
"Oh," Matthew mumbles.
"And to think that I was ready to apologise to him, for taking advantage of his drunken state. Well, it seems that there's no need anymore," he reckons.
"So you said that you came back to the hotel. Didn't you go out, acting wildly?" Dom questions him.
"Nope, I didn't feel like doing that. I preferred to be alone... with my thoughts," the brunet replies.
"And dream all night long about our kiss, which you don't even remember. I guess I should be happy for that... but I'm not," Matt grieves.
"Good to know," Dom nods.
"So it seems that my kiss did something good, after all," Dominic smiles to himself, before noticing how upset Matt is.
"Hey, what's wrong?" the blond asks the singer.
"Maybe he's sad, because I said that I don't remember anything. So did our kiss mean something for him as well? Oh, please, Matthew, just give me a sign and I'll be more than glad to prove you how much that kiss meant to me!" Dominic ponders, as he starts filling his heart with hope.
"Huh? Nothing. I'm just pissed off, because we have the flight to catch and we must do everything in a rush, we're already late!" Matthew answers promptly, resorting to the first barely believable excuse that his mind suggests to him.
"Oh, it's only because of that," Dom loses instantly his ghostly hope.
"You're right, we must hurry up, Chris and Tom already called a cab and they're waiting for us," the drummer agrees, getting up from the table, and Matt mirrors his actions.
Before leaving the room, the singer wraps his arm around his best friend's neck.
"C'mon, let's cheer up, we're going to conquer Los Angeles tonight!" he says, grinning and hugging Dom.
Probably the pure fact that he's hugging Dom is the main reason why Matt is grinning so much, but Dom beams as well.
"I was so afraid we wouldn't be this close anymore!" they both think at the same time.
"Alright, and after the show we're going to party all night long!" Dom suggests, patting Matt's shoulder.
"Damn sure, we're going to have lots of fun. Now let's get the bloody airplane!" Matt incites the blond as they leave.
"That's it. Our friendship is safe. I managed to turn back time," Dom thinks, somewhat relieved, but not entirely happy about it.
Muse have just finished performing a very powerful version of 'Uprising', the song they chose to open their concert at KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas with.
"Good evening, L.A.! Are you feeling alright?" Matt welcomes the crowd and the people scream their positive answer.
"Fucking good!" Matthew smiles, before nodding to Chris and Dom.
A few seconds after they start playing 'Supermassive Black Hole', sending the crowd crazy all over again.
In the first rows of people, in the middle, a certain someone is enjoying the show much more than he could ever have guessed.
"They're awesome, they're great, they're brilliant!" Michael exclaims, excited, as he follows the rhythm, waving his perfect, muscular body. "Rachel, why didn't you tell me they were so fucking good?" he asks his girlfriend.
"I've tried, but you never listen to me!" she strikes back as she dances, enthralled by the groove of that song.
"I was sure you would drag me to listen to a lame, sappy, boy-band," he justifies.
"You should trust in your Queen a little bit more," she states.
"Yep, I should," he nods, as he wraps his arms around her waist, swinging with her. "You know, seeing you moving like this is making me have tons of wicked, kinky and dirty ideas," he whispers into her ear, biting her lobe 'til he draws blood.
She growls in answer, as she can clearly feel the effect that the closeness, the situation and the song are having on him.
"Oh, Michael, you almost make me want to do a massacre to be here alone with you, listening to them," she murmurs, turning to him to capture his lips in a passionate kiss.
"We could, if you want," he moans between kisses.
"Nope, we can't, you know that," she replies resolutely, parting from him. "Now, behave," she orders him and he obliges.
"However, do you see the singer? That's our target," she instructs her boyfriend.
"Yeah, although he doesn't strike me as someone who is suffering," Michael comments.
"You know what? He disguises it perfectly when he's absorbed in music, but I know what I saw and what I heard. He's suffering and he's destroying himself, day by day. We're going to stop him, before it's too late. You already know what to do," she states.
"You're right. After all, I already like that guy. He definitely deserves to belong to our kind," he smiles at her.
On stage, Muse are playing the instrumental part before the final chorus and, since Matthew is treating his guitar as if it was his lover, with his eyes shut and his tongue bathing his faintly parted lips, Dom is having a hard time, but he tries his best not to skip a single drum beat, although his heart has skipped more than a beat after that vision.
What Dom doesn't know is that Matt, in his mind, is placing himself with his oh so unattainable best friend, having a great time with him.
Chris just plays and nods with his head to keep the rhythm, as his mind drifts to the end of the show, when he'll finally have his more than deserved beer.
The concert goes on and song after song, even with some acoustic versions which Michael appreciates very much, the show reaches its end, with a fantastic performance of 'Take A Bow'.
Matthew thanks and greets the crowd, Dominic talks a little bit longer, Chris confines himself to waving his hand and smiling.
Michael and Rachel keep their eyes focussed on them. After exchanging an understanding look, Michael leaves and Rachel follows a bunch of girls who want to reach the backstage area.
Contrary to the other girls, for Rachel to persuade the security staff to let her in is a piece of cake.
Muse are relaxing, sitting on the sofa, drinking beer, talking with Tom, some technicians and the guys of their crew.
They've already changed their clothes; at least Matt has, since a jacket and a pair of trousers covered with lights are not very comfortable items to wear.
Matt is laughing because of something Dom has said, but all the men in the room fall silent as soon as they see a petite brunette making her entrance.
No one wonders how the hell she managed to reach that private area; they all just stare at her, bewitched. After all, she's awesome.
Her long, smooth, black hair waves gently every time she takes a step closer with a charming elegance.
She stops a few inches from the sofa where Matthew sits, gesturing to him with her index finger to get closer to her, and Matthew accepts that invitation.
"Do you want to experience something you've never tried before, something unforgettable, something that is going to leave a mark forever?" she whispers in his ear.
"Yes!" Matthew answers, without even thinking twice.
There's something extremely dangerous in that beautiful stranger which makes him shiver, but at the same time he feels attracted to that, like a magnet.
Her violet eyes sparkle with satisfaction.
"Follow me, then," she says, taking his hand.
Matthew is about to leave with her, but Dom gets up and walks towards them.
"Matt! Where are you going? Don't you remember? You said we would party together all night long," he reminds Matt, staring at the girl with hostility in his eyes as a pang of jealousy hits him once again.
"She's taking my Matthew away!" he thinks, surprising himself because of the use of that possessive adjective.
"I know, Dom, I'm sorry; we'll party another time. Now I've got to go," the brunet says to him.
The girl walks towards the blond, who almost feels the need to back off, but he doesn't.
"Don't worry, puppy; after all, I'm doing this for you, too," she winks at him, ruffling his hair affectionately, before departing with Matt.
Confused, Dom turns back to Tom and Chris.
"I knew she would pick Matt up, that guy is always so lucky with the girls!" Tom snorts.
"He's the frontman, so he's the most sought after one. Well, this is going to cheer him up for sure," Chris chuckles. "If he doesn't act recklessly again, that is," he adds, in concern.
"I don't think so. Don't ask me why, but I've got the feeling that Matthew is safe," Dom murmurs as he stares into the void, absorbed in his thoughts.
"What the hell did she mean with that sentence?"
After a short trip in a cab, where finally Rachel introduces herself to Matthew, chatting with him about the show and music in general, they reach their destination: an abandoned and dismal house.
Matthew doesn't feel much at ease.
"Do you live here?" he asks her, in disbelief.
"It's a big thing to say that I live here," she giggles. "I mean, I'm temporarily staying here. Why, are you afraid to come in?" she challenges him.
"Of course, I'm not. C'mon, show me the way," he replies, gulping.
Rachel opens the door and crosses the threshold, walking through the corridor. A little bit hesitantly, Matthew follows her until they reach a door which Matt supposes leads to the bedroom.
The frontman is right, because once Rachel opens it, he can see a large bed, a night table, a cupboard and a desk: typical of a bedroom.
Too bad that there's also a guy, who is staring at him.
Matt must admit to himself that he's a gorgeous man: around thirty years old, tall, athletic, Hispanic. He has curly brown hair with blond highlights and deep, mesmerising black eyes that are peering at the Englishman.
Rachel smiles at the mysterious guy and approaches him sensually, sealing their lips with a passionate kiss.
"Matthew, meet my boyfriend, Michael," she says, turning to the pianist, as she rests her head on her lover's shoulder.
"Nice to meet you, Matthew," Michael smirks.
Matthew keeps silent, until he jumps to the wrong conclusion.
"No way! Dom, maybe, but I'm not the kind of guy who likes a threesome," he snaps, ready to go, but, with a quickness that impresses Matt a lot, Michael places himself in front of the singer, locking the door.
"It's not very polite to leave so soon," he comments wittily, as he makes his guest back off until he falls on the bed.
"Anyway, don't worry, Matt, no threesome. Only Michael will do the job," Rachel informs him.
Matt opens his eyes wide.
"What? That's even worse. No bloody way! I don't do stuff with men!" he protests.
"Yeah, Matt, tell yourself the fairytale story. Don't you remember who you kissed last night? But he's not 'men'. He's my Dominic. Dammit! Did I really say 'my'? Oh, God, I'm hopeless!" the pianist ponders, before noticing that the creepy couple is looking at him, amused.
"See? He's obsessed, I told you so," Rachel comments and Michael nods with a smirk.
Matthew stares puzzled at them, wondering what the hell they're talking about.
"Because there's not even a single chance that they heard my thoughts… is there?" he asks himself, very doubtful.
"No, dear, you misunderstood. I didn't mean anything sexual. Are you joking? I would be as jealous as hell!" Rachel explains.
"Matthew, please, could you be a little more scared?" Michael asks courteously.
"I... I swear that I'm fucking terrified… I'm... I'm sorry if it doesn't seem so," the guitarist stutters, trembling and backing off until his back hits the wall.
"Good. It's more fun this way," Michael sneers evilly. "Anyway, calm down, you have nothing to fear," he informs him.
"But you just said…" Matt babbles, confused.
"Oh, don't mind at him, dear. My Sire can be so contradictory sometimes!" Rachel explains, rolling her eyes.
"Sire?" Matt repeats in his mind, even more confused, but he prefers not to ask about it.
"Are you… are you a fan?" the Englishman asks Michael.
"I am, from tonight on," Michael smirks.
"But you won't be satisfied with my autograph only… am I right?" the rock star figures out.
"You're right. Let's say that I need something else from you, but mostly I want to give you something back," the other explains.
"Do you have a gift for me? Fans always overflow me with gifts… but they don't trap me in their rooms," Matt grumbles.
"Hey! It's you who decided to follow me, I didn't force you and, trust me, I could have forced you," Rachel points out. "However, yep, we have a gift for you, but our gift is not like the others. It's very precious and ancient," she informs her guest.
"Is it an antique?" Matt wonders, naively.
Michael starts losing his already short patience.
"Wrong answer. Try again!" he growls, as his eyes flash silvery, showing Matt his fangs, which makes the singer scream, panic-stricken.
"Who… what the hell are you two?" he yells, trying to escape, but Michael holds him still on the bed.
"We're going to teach you a good lesson. We know what you've been doing in the latest weeks, acting recklessly, like you just don't care. You're attempting to destroy yourself, little by little, inexorably. This is not good, neither for you nor for all the people who care about you," Rachel comments, astonishing her listener. "Well, Matthew, to lose your life will teach you to respect it better, next time," she concludes.
"Lo… lose my life?" Matt trembles, even more when he feels Michael smelling his neck.
"You heard it right," Michael sneers, as he gets ready to bite.
"You know, I would do the job myself, but Michael is so jealous, he doesn't want me to turn any guy. I can only use them as prey," she explains.
"Tu.. turn?" the human repeats with a feeble voice, right before Michael sinks his fangs into Matt's neck.
TBC
Cruel cliff-hanger, I know ! * laughs evilly *
Hope you'll still like it, but feel free to tell me everything, really! ^^