I might improve this later... Might.

-v- Omen Mortis -v-

-v-v-v-

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

…

They had finished the Charvel, during the Christmas day, attaching the neck. The following week Jo had taught Ian how to solder and they had changed the mics. The week after that they fixed the paint job. The Charvel sounded now better than ever, and looked the best it had ever in Ian's possession.

Ian liked to think they were brothers in arms - him and Jo - guitars being the arms. Siblings would of course have been the correct term but it just didn't have the same ring to it. Still, sometimes before going to sleep, he would return to the memory of Jo holding him, and for a second he would ask himself could she, somehow, reconsider… her principle of never dating a bandmate again. But then he started feeling all insecure and forced himself to get past these thoughts. And mostly he succeeded.

The gig wouldn't be until the end of February so they had plenty of time to prepare. But even just thinking about it made Ian's heartbeat accelerate.

vvv

The night of the gig Jo's Datsun was busted so Ian risked driving the Ka to the city as Erik's car was full of band gear.

René's cousin had asked them to remain backstage so they missed Blasphemer playing before them. When it was finally their turn the atmosphere was pretty much dead. The bartender actually asked them to tone the volume down since people were more interested in drinking than in them. But they didn't care. Ian thought that everyone has to begin somewhere - and he loved every minute on that stage.

vvv

They exited the back door to the loading area in the small inner courtyard. Another band was there just finishing packing up their gear. Ian realized this had to be Blasphemer. A sturdy bearded guy took notice of them, walking a few steps towards René and grinned.

"Well... I can't believe you actually got out of that place. What was it called...Shit Falls? Don't remember anymore."
This had to be Tyrant.
"Is that the best you can do? Shit Falls? The creativity. Just like in your songs."
René was definitely aiming to hit the particular nerve.
"Well, they're still way better than your songs considering you can't actually make any. Instead, you steal them."

"How long did that take?" Jo asked, saying this quietly to Ian and Erik.
"Twenty...thirty seconds?" Erik replied.
Then Tyrant now noticed them.
"Sweet Jo. I was happy to hear you broke up with this dickhead. You know, I'm always up for it anytime, with you."
"Sure you are. Keep on dreaming," Jo said.
"And this is your new guitarist..." Tyrant said ignoring her comment and nodding at Ian, then looking at Jo again.
"I see… So how does it feel to be the band trophy award, Jo?"

Within the next five seconds following things happened. Tyrant, Ian, Jo and René were engaged in a fight and were immediately joined by Erik and the rest of Blasphemer. Lord Obskurius, Satanakhia and Koprologist didn't seem that eager to fight but there was obviously band loyalty to be considered. Altogether it was chaos.

Suddenly Ian noticed that Tyrant was about to hit Jo who had temporarily lost her balance. Without thinking too much about he rushed into that direction. The next moment was a blackout combined with blinding pain followed an overall sensation of asphalt.

"Do we have a problem here?"

The booming voice belonged to Mr. O, the bouncer.

Everyone stopped abruptly - withdrawing from the fight. Erik helped Ian up.

No one wanted to mess with Mr. O.

"No. No problem," René replied.
"No problem at all," Tyrant added, straightening his shirt.

"Good. I'd like to see you all leave. As soon as possible."
Mr. O kept standing there, keeping watch, as the two bands went to their vehicles, still staring daggers at each other. Blasphemer's van screeched away within seconds.

Cyberpriest loaded the rest of the stuff to Erik's car, as fast as they could, still suffering from the pains and aches of the fight.
"Okay...I'm going to my cousin's place. You can crash there too of you want," René said to the others, exhausted, as they were finished.
Erik took up on the offer.
Jo shook her head.
"I'm going home."
"I'd like to get back home too," Ian said holding his head.
"Jo, are you in good enough shape to drive? Because he isn't," Erik stated looking at Ian.
He had sounded protective. He sometimes seemed to treat them like smaller siblings.
"I am," Jo said confidently.
"Good."
In a few moments Erik and René had left.
"Let me see it," Jo said inspecting Ian's face.
He couldn't conceal that half of his face was throbbing with pain.
"Do you have a first aid pack? With instant ice?" Jo asked, wincing.
"Yeah. Got one after our last car trip."
"It's probably too late for the ice… But let's go."
Ian thought the street level wasn't entirely stable as they began to walk towards the main street where the Ka was parked.
"Are you okay?" Jo asked worried.
"Just a little...dizzy."
Without saying a word Jo put her arm around him, helping him walk the rest of the way. At the car Jo made him lean against it while she opened the door and put the front seat down. Then she helped him to the back.
"It's in the trunk, right? The first aid kit."
Ian nodded, leaning back and closing his eyes. For a brief second he felt nauseous but then he concentrated on the sound of the rain tapping on the back window. He felt only tired now. In no time Jo crammed herself next to him to the backseat. He heard her crack the ice bag and felt the coolness as she pressed it to his face.
"You know, there was no need - I'm not some damsel in distress. I was no way near getting my ass handed to me."
Jo's voice had been angry - she had clearly held herself back till this moment. She continued agitated.
"Why did you have to get in the way? I fight my own fights. I would have handled it."
"It's just that…" Ian began.
"Just what…?"
"I didn't want to see you hurt... And I'd like to fight those fights with you... By your side."

Ian guessed this had probably been too much. He blamed the adrenaline. She'd turn him down now some way, and as he was waiting for the inevitable, he kept his eyes closed, listening to the rain.

He was stunned when he suddenly felt something, which he instantly realized being Jo's lips, on his, giving a featherlight kiss. He reciprocated the kiss equally lightly, now wishing it would never end.

But it did and now he opened his eyes. Jo's was right there, so close.

"We should probably think about this," she said, her eyes looking down.

"Sure, of course."

But then she raised her eyes to meet his and there was something about that moment. They were both suddenly unable to suppress their smiles. Ian noticed his heart was beating quite madly but any pain he had been feeling seemed to have dissipated.

He had a feeling what was coming, and he welcomed it.