so! this is another AU piece (I should really tally up how many canon and AU pieces I have total thus far...) and between a difficult couple! I don't really like this, it's rather lackluster, but it's lighthearted. I feel like that might've been necessary after the previous chapter, haha. anyhow, I hope you all enjoy!

(I made up the shipping name for this one because I couldn't find a pre-existing one online... )

SHIPPING: VALON X VIVIAN (VANITYSHIPPING)

TITLE: STEREO LOVE

THEME/MUSIC: NON SEQUITUR/ RUNAWAY BABY- BRUNO MARS

TAGLINE: HE REALLY SHOULD'VE KNOWN THAT THERE WAS A MODEL LIVING ON THE FLOOR BELOW HIM.

WORDS: 743

His fingers danced nimbly up and down, plucking at chords and teasing out warbling guitar riffs. His voice was loud in the emptiness of his apartment, echoing off the sparse furniture and cardboard boxes. But that was what music was for— it was something to fill in the space. The beats swelled and he felt himself grin; it was time for the chorus.

"Exiiiiiiiiiiit light, enter niiiiiiiiiiiight-"

Thump thump.

"-taaaaaaaaake my haaaaaaand, off to never never land!"

Thump thump thump.

Valon paused in his air guitar and head-banging to listen. There seemed to be a muffled noise coming from underneath his floor. He almost didn't notice, but that may or may not have been because of the Metallica song blasting from his speakers.

Hopping off his couch, Valon strode across the room to his stereo. Turning the dial lower, he strained his ears for the thumping sound. When he heard nothing, he shrugged to himself and spun the dial up once again.

"Something's wrong," he sang, "shut the light-"

Thump thump.

Valon groaned at the interruption, dropping his hands to his sides. He could definitely hear the noise now— it sounded more urgent this time. And at his door.

He contemplated ignoring it.

Thumpthumpthumpthump.

Maybe that was a bad idea.

Lowering the volume again, Valon made his way to the door. "It had better not be the old landlady coming to evict me already," he grumbled. "Somehow I doubt wide eyes and vigorous nods will be enough to win that tyrant over…"

Exhaling, Valon pulled the door open just as the source of the noise attempted to knock again. A fist came crashing onto his face without warning.

"Omigosh, I'm so sorry!" a young, feminine voice bleated when he yelped like a kicked dog. "Are you bleeding?"

"God damn," Valon moaned, staring cross-eyed at his nose. At least the fact that the person's voice was definitely not his landlady's meant that angry retorts were a-okay. "What the hell's your problem?" he snapped, fingering his nose gingerly.

"I… you need to stop blasting that crap so loudly! This wouldn't have happened if… god, you're not really bleeding, are you?"

"Crap?" Valon repeated indignantly, ignoring her concern and looking up in annoyance. "Metallica is not cr- Uh."

He really should've known that there was a model living on the floor below him. He would think that that would've been something he'd investigated while house-hunting.

She was thin and leggy with shapely arms crossed defensively in front of her. Despite the fact that said limbs were in the way, Valon had no trouble seeing that the girl was stacked. She must've noticed his glazed-over expression because there was a not-so-subtle cough to draw his attention back to her face. And it was a very nice face. Brown eyes, high cheekbones, pouting lips.

"Hey," Valon grinned appreciatively.

The girl rolled her eyes at his suddenly deeper voice. "And to think I was genuinely worried. Listen, there are other people living in this building. Keep it down."

She turned as though to leave, and Valon scrambled for something to keep her a little while longer. "Did you really come all the way upstairs to tell me that?"

The girl turned back with an arched eyebrow. "Yes. Is that so hard to believe?"

"Well, uh, I know that you know that, uh, all good neighbors come and introduce themselves to new tenants."

She paused. "I'm Vivian. I live on the floor under yours. I do not appreciate you blasting music. Satisfied?"

Valon grinned. "I'm Valon. I like ridiculously attractive girls such as yourself, and you have bad taste in music."

Vivian looked amused. "Pleasure, Valon. I'll see you-"

"Go out with me?"

She stared. He would've smacked himself for sounding desperate if he wasn't positive that he wouldn't so conveniently find a girl as hot as Vivian. Granted, she had questionable tastes, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to instill some good heavy metal values into her.

"…that is a non sequitur if I ever saw one," she said finally.

Valon winked. "Sarcasm is not your forte. I'll pick you up at seven, neighbor."

She laughed, tossing inky hair over her shoulder. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. But maybe you should listen to real music before trying anything with me."

Valon frowned. "Real music?"

She shot him a sly smile. "Megadeth beats Metallica any day."

She waved goodbye, tactfully ignoring Valon's dumbfounded expression.

"S-seven!" he called. "It's a date!"

review? :D