Word: Concert
4.5k words
"Do you see him anywhere?!" Cavendish rose to his tippy toes, trying desperately to see over the crowd of people, laughing and milling about.
In response, Dakota clambered on a chair, ignoring the protests of someone that sat beside it. He cupped his hands above his head, trying to scan the crowd. "No, there's too many peo- wait! There!"
"Where?!"
Cavendish didn't get another answer, because Dakota swiftly hopped off his chair and grabbed his wrist, pushing past people. He apologized as angry party goers glared at them, coloring slightly as Dakota continued to push through the crowd. A second later, they popped out of the crowd, and Dakota skidded to a halt, both scanning the area, a little less dense with people, for their assignment.
This time, it was interesting. Something other than the constant pistachio missions that bored Cavendish to death, regardless of how badly he tried to make it his top priority. At some point, it became too much.
Today, though. Today was great. They'd gotten an assignment to try to locate a time agent, gone rogue, who was trying to sabotage smaller missions in specific, like their pistachio missions (why did it always come back to pistachios?). No one really knew why he wanted to do it, but neither time agent was complaining. A real, actual mission, after years of stupid, small ones? It was a dream come true!
That's why they were pushing through thousands of people, stationed in the middle of a concert, or talent show, or whatever this thing was. People laid on picnic blankets, sat in pullout chairs, milled about, or paid attention to the stage. Dakota and he focused on finding some guy in a sharp black jacket and jeans, with a hideously bright yellow tie. Why he'd wear that, Cavendish didn't know, but it proved useful as Dakota grabbed his wrist suddenly.
"Cav! Look up there!"
Cavendish turned in the direction Dakota was pointing, and just barely caught that disgustingly yellow tie disappearing, being a curtain, a sign stating "Backstage". They immediately booked it after the target, ignoring the protests of people, and managing to slip past the velvet line holder, no bouncer or security interrupting them, thankfully.
Behind the curtains, their jaws dropped at how much was going on.
All around them, people bustled this way and that, screaming incoherently into the sky. There were mirrors and costumes and instruments and every sort of prop item one could dream of. Some people were putting on makeup and costumes, while others recited and practiced acts, and others ran around, screaming for others.
Cavendish drew his lips in a thin line, the sudden loud sounds and images becoming a tad too much for him at the moment.
"Shit- there's no way we can find him in all this!" Dakota said, eyes wandering the backstage bustle.
"Yes, you're right. Keep an eye out for that tie- oh!" Cavendish spotted a man with a clipboard and dark jacket reading 'Director' in white letters. He pushed aside his anxiety, stepping up to him. "Excuse me, we were wonderin-"
"Are you two numbers 21?"
Cavendish stared for a second, the strange interruption a shock, along with how stressed the poor man seemed to be. "Err, no? We were wondering if you-"
"Okay, look guys, I know it's a mess right now, and I'm sure you want to figure out when you're going, but look, right now, regardless of numbers, we're just getting up anyone who's ready, or remembers their lineup. Look, the juggling act is almost over, you two look ready enough, you're about to go once they hop off, try to get three acts in if possible, you can use the ones you auditioned in, just stretch it out, some actors have gone missing, oh, Shelly? SHELLY! SHE- ah, xey can't hear me. Okay, you two, hurry up!"
The man ran off before Cavendish could get in another word, and just as he turned to look at Dakota in disbelief, someone was already pushing them through the crowd, towards the stage. The pushing girl spoke loudly, and both males flinched, unable to protest as she yelled that they needed to be ready in two.
She pushed them to the very edge of the curtain and left them before Cavendish could speak to her. He was about to wander off, either to tell someone that they weren't the next act (they weren't even part of this!), or to search for their assignment, when Dakota grabbed his hand.
"Cav, hold on! This might actually be a good thing!"
"What?!" He looked back, his stress ready to boil over. Dakota took a step back, letting go. "Dakota, what the blazes are you talking about, how can any of this be 'a good thing'?!"
An employee rushed by them. "1 minute!"
"Think about it. He might've circled around back to the crowd. He's obviously not found whatever he wants from here, he just wants to avoid us. If we go on stage, he might think that we're occupied, and it'll give enough time for backup to show up and arrest him!"
"Do you really think that'll work?"
Honestly, Cavendish couldn't tell if it would or not. To be fair, they'd gone with stupider plans that worked better than imagined, but he was extremely stressed and he really wasn't sure if he was in the mood to play pretend for what he understood was some rag tag talent show.
Dakota threw his thumb at the jugglers, who were bowing to the crowd. "We're about to test it out. What do you say?"
"I say that we don't even have an act!"
That stilled Dakota for a second. Cavendish glanced over towards the jugglers nervously, who were picking up their props.
"You played piano, right?"
He glanced back, Dakota looking out at the stage. He followed Dakota's eyesight toward the grand piano on stage, in the background, a mic hanging over it. What was he thinking?
"Yes…?"
"Great. Look up sheet music for 'Welcome to Wonderland' on your phone, I think it was made by this century? And, listen, if one of us spots him, then you'll leave before the next act, and try to keep an eye on his location, I'll stay as a distraction. Got it?"
Cavendish settled on some website for the sheet music, which would move as he started playing, gripping his phone tightly. "Got it."
Oh, he hoped this would work.
If not, they'll just look like fools to the agency.
The jugglers clamored down the steps, laughing, and wished him and Dakota luck as they climbed up. Cavendish straightened his jacket while Dakota breathed out a deep breath.
"How do we always get into these messes?" He muttered.
"Beat me. At least we'll have fun." Dakota gave him a bright smile, and they stepped out onto the stage, hundreds of people cheering for them, though a few definitely looked confused at their style choices.
Cavendish turned towards the piano, making sure that the mic was on, while Dakota waved at the crowd and judges, taking his place as lead singer.
"Whenever you two gentlemen are ready, state your name and act."
"My name is Vinnie Dakota, and my partner is Balthazar Cavendish, and we'll be playing a few impromptu songs!"
Please let me sink into the ground now.
Okay, okay. Time to focus. It was time to play.
Hands on the keys. Scan the note sheet. Okay. He can do this. Simple. And easy. He glanced at Dakota for the cue. A nod. He pressed play to let the note sheet move as he did. He began.
He hadn't played piano in years, and his fingers fumbled the first few notes, memory trying to catch up with the sudden action. After a few strange melodies, muscle memory took over, his mind caught up with lessons from years ago, and the notes played perfectly (he hoped- he never heard this song).
He wasn't quite sure the tone he was meant to play it in, either. He was waiting for Dakota to start singing, to match him. He wasn't even sure how this would-
Oh.
It's good that Cavendish had excellent muscle memory, because his brain momentarily stopped as Dakota started singing. To be completely honest, he wasn't expecting much- a raspy voice, deep and gravelly. Trying to sing a soft piano song. Or something.
But not this. This...gentleness, still raspy and deep, but so soft and gentle. The crowd hushed and stilled, eyes on the pair, and Cavendish adjusted his tone and volume for Dakota.
And, Lord, did it sound good. Cavendish was usually hard on his music, or anyone playing or singing alongside him, but...this was different. This was amazing.
"Welcome to Wonderland, look where you're at. Maddest of hatters, the Cheshire Cat. Magical cabins and lovely white rabbits with clocks."
The more Dakota sang, the more lost Cavendish became in his voice. It was simply stunning. How gentle and perfect it was. He decided to go against the sheet music for a second, playing a key a little lower than the original, adding a little emphasis to the last word as Dakota's voice dipped.
"Dancing, through a dream, underneath the stars. Laughing 'til the morning comes. Everyone that leaves, has a heavy heart, oh, Wonderland I love."
Was Dakota always able to sing like this? When, and how?
"Welcome to Wonderland, I'll be your guide. Holding your hand under sapphire skies. Let's go exploring or we could just go for a walk."
Dakota raised his voice a little singing the middle line, and Cavendish followed suit, adding a little bit of personal piano touch to accent his voice. They both softened at the end at the same time.
It was great. Cavendish hadn't played piano in years, and to suddenly pick it up again, and have such an amazing partner...he'll need to first confront Dakota about his singing skills, then ask him to play with him some more. It felt right, perfect, just as they were. It was exactly how he remembered playing piano, before it became more of a stress job to impress his parents. Just calm, and beautiful.
"Dancing through a dream underneath the stars. Laughing 'til the morning comes. Everyone that leaves, has a heavy heart, oh, Wonderland I love."
Despite it not being in the song or the sheet music, Dakota raised his voice, putting some fancy vocal work on the last line, and Cavendish joined him effortlessly, matching him note for note, as if they'd practiced this hundreds of times before. He glanced over from the sheet music, seeing the crowd completely focused on them, only a few people not paying attention. And Dakota...looked so happy and relaxed. Cavendish smiled, returning to his keys.
"Nothing around here is quite, as it seems. Not sure if anything's real, or a dream. And the only thing sure from the start. Is the song that's inside of your heart. Don't let. It leave."
Once more, Dakota changed the song a little (from what he saw on the sheet music). Cavendish closed his eyes, not focusing on the sheet music, just listening to Dakota and...he sounded genuinely happy. Genuinely relaxed.
Maybe that's why his singing was so damn good.
His fingers moved all on their own, in perfect synchronization with his partner, changing volume and tone in sync with Dakota. He softened his music suddenly at the end, Dakota's voice softer and gentler than ever before.
"If this was a dream, then at least I've got memories for when morning comes. Now that, I must leave, with a heavy heat, oh, Wonderland, I love."
They trailed off into silence, and Cavendish opened his eyes. He looked over at Dakota just as the crowd went absolutely mental, cheering and whooping for them wildly. Dakota grinned, looking over at him, winking. He replaced the mic and jogged over to him, Cavendish turning to face him.
"Nice job, Cav. You're really great at the piano. And look! They love us! Here, look up 'Honey Lavender'. I'm not sure if you'll get sheet music for- oh, there we go. Think you can do it? It's not really meant for the piano, but-"
"I'm sure we'll manage." Cavendish interrupted Dakota's breathless rant, smiling genuinely at him. He really did think they could do it.
Dakota beamed brightly at him. "Alright then. I don't see him yet, so for now, we'll keep going, yeah?"
Oh wow, Cavendish completely forgot that that's why they were doing this. He nodded, and Dakota trotted back to the microphone, Cavendish scanning the sheet music briefly. Dakota was right, this song wasn't really meant for piano. Oh well, he's sure they'll work it out.
"Onto the next impromptu song that we just decided on!"
Dakota's confession brought a ring of laughter from the crowd, and Cavendish chuckled. How did they always get into these types of messes?
He rested his fingers on the right keys, glanced at Dakota for a cue to start, took a deep breath- and started.
The first few keys were strange. From the way they were made, he guessed that the original song was more made to be jumpy with alternative, pop, or maybe R&B style. He stumbled a little, as did Dakota, repeating a single line, "You don't wanna stay the night."
Right as those first strange notes finished, Cavendish got back into the groove, adding his own piano knowledge to adjust the piano notes to Dakota's voice yet again. And once they were out of that jumpy start, man, did it get good again.
From what Cavendish assumed from the original song (from the strange sheet music and little side notes), it was more of a jumpy and background cottagecore song (yes, he knew what that was). Okay. No problem. He'll adjust.
"I don't wanna be your secret. 'Cause by the time I'm here you're leaving. You never wanna take the chance, you got two left feet, but you still know how to dance, yeah~".
There. He matched Dakota's voice, a little higher than the other song, perfectly, and he heard wondrous murmuring from the crowd.
"I don't mean to rush you, baby. Indecisiveness got me feeling crazy. And I don't want any bad karma, but when you gonna tell your mama?"
Cavendish felt himself color a little at the pet name, even though he knew it was simply the song's lyrics. He took a deep breath, deciding to add a little spice to the song.
"That you met a boy, you don't care what she tells your father. Why would you bother? To cover up your track, never call me back, back to where we started, oh~"
Cavendish glanced up from the sheet music to catch Dakota's eye, smiling shyly as he sang perfectly alongside Dakota, matching him note for note. He wasn't as good as Dakota, that's for sure, but he provided a little bit of shadow to Dakota's voice, accenting the song. Dakota stared a little at him, shocked, but it quickly changed to a grin, winking at Cavendish and giving a thumbs up. Cavendish's fingers tapped the keys a little stronger, notes ringing a little louder, singing a little bolder. Their voices in flawless harmony.
"Sweet like honey lavender. Keep on running back to her, back to her."
Cavendish bowed his head low, a mad blush raging across his face at the bold action of backup singing. He focused on playing the keys just right, matching Dakota without a thought as he raised his voice higher than needed, or lower. The crowd was going crazy.
"I guess I got to roll the dice. You say pretty little things, but you don't play nice, yeah."
Dakota kept his voice high and tight as he spoke the words, accenting them well, and Cavendish felt a new warmth spread on his cheeks at the lyrics.
He glanced over at Dakota, smiling slightly as he realized that the male had started to do a little dance with his songs. How he didn't get breathless while singing and dancing, Cavendish had no idea, but he definitely seemed to be enjoying it, moving his hips side to side and doing little side steps. He tore his gaze from his partner, fingers still playing as he briefly scanned the crowd. No yellow tie in sight yet. He brought his attention back as he heard Dakota nearing the chorus, and he faced his own microphone again, ready to backup sing.
"Oh~. 'Cause you don't want to stay the night, you don't know your wrong from right. Wrong from right. Sweet like honey lavender, keep on running back to her. Back to her!"
And, uh oh, there was that strange repetitive beginning again. It was a little bit better, though still not as good as he'd wished it were, but the crowd seemed to adore them regardless.
"You say that you want me, but I don't know. Patience like petrol, it's running low. I'm still gonna try and give you space. And I don't know what else to say now."
Cavendish glanced up at the sudden strange sadness that was in Dakota's voice for those lines. His partner's dancing has lessened a little, and he did look a little sadder, but it was gone almost as soon as it started, his focus on the next lines that Cavendish sang alongside him. He'll have to speak to Dakota about the sudden mood shift later.
"'Cause you don't wanna stay the night, you don't know your wrong from right. Wrong from right, yeah. Sweet like honey lavender, keep on running back to her. Back to her."
Their voices, and the piano notes drifted off into nothing, and silence took over the stage for a second- before the crowd burst into applause and cheers. Cavendish turned, grinning wildly at the crowd and his partner.
Then he saw yellow.
And he knows Dakota saw it exactly the same time he did, because he turned from the crowd, a spark of determination behind his tinted sunglasses.
He stepped up to Cavendish, hands flapping excitedly. "He's there! I told you that it would work! Here, give me your phone. Ask someone to hook this song up to a speaker, I'll keep distracting, you go get him, yeah? Call for backup as soon as you can with mine."
Cavendish nodded, taking back his phone which now had a video ready to play, along with Dakota's. He scrambled off the piano bench, unable to help himself as he waved at the cheering crowd, forgetting how good it felt to have a wondrous audience appreciating your music. He'll need to do this with Vinnie more often, it was wonderful.
Stepping off the stage was even better.
At once, a crowd surrounded him, clapping and giving praise. He blushed, waving them off-remember the mission- before giving a female employee the phone, asking if she could plug it in for karaoke.
"Does it have any bad words in it? We don't want to deal with Karens."
"Uhm, I don't know, my partner chose it, but I need to go-"
"Hey man, as long as there's nothing bad, we don't mind. Can you quickly check though?"
Frustrated at the sudden pause, Cavendish took back the phone, checking over the lyrics. He heard Dakota stalling up on stage.
"Sorry 'bout that folks, but we just heard that the churro truck's gonna be closed soon, and I'd be devastated if we missed it, so my partner had to run off for my sake!"
A few laughs echoed through the crowd as Cavendish confirmed the clean lyrics, rolling his eyes at how, now that Dakota didn't have anyone to play with him, he resorted to a song about food. The lady plugged the phone in, Cavendish made sure his autoplay was off, gave Dakota a thumbs off, and played the video. He took off as soon as the first note began.
He had to push a little bit through the crowd of backstagers, a few people congratulating him as he darted past them, the music slowly rising, falling to clicks. It stopped suddenly as he burst out from behind the backstage curtains, somewhat thankful that he didn't have far to look for that familiar yellow.
Their assignment was right in front of him, staring him down. And as soon as the music started again, loud and blaring, the man took off, Cavendish hot on his heels.
The music ramped up as they pushed past the crowd, Cavendish following the man closely. He took out Dakota's phone, already opened to Mr. Block's contact.
"Gumdrop, lollipop, oh my little candy shop, I wanna feel your sugar rushing through my veins."
If Cavendish thought Dakota's voice was perfect on stage, it sounded even better on the ground. Low and slightly gravelly, a perfect match to the music.
"Whipped cream, jelly bean, sweet & sour tangerine, I wanna feel your sugar rushing through my veins."
"Hello? Who is this? I swear, if you-"
"Mr. Block! It's Balthazar Cavendish! I- oh, sorry! I'm in pursuit of the target agent, I need backup to stop him!"
"Gimme chocolate kisses, I'm a kid in a candy shop. Once you get me started up, I don't know when to stop!"
"What?! You're actually found the rogue time agent? You? And your partner? You two?"
Jeez, rude much?
Cavendish panted, jumping over a picnic blanket, never breaking stride. "Yes! We've located him, at a talent show concert in a big crowd, and I'm behind hi- sorry, sorry! Behin' him!"
"You're like candy! You go down so easily. Sugar baby, can't you see? You're going to be the death of me."
"Alright, well, lead him away from the people. We'll follow your location on your localizer until you're in a safe area, and apprehend him."
"Underst- sorry! Stood-!"
Cavendish quickly hung up the phone, placing his focus on keeping the rogue time agent in his sights and avoiding colliding into too many pedestrians.
"Bon bon, peppermint, oh so young and innocent, make my heart flutter from your sugar high."
Though he was completely focused on trying to lead the agent out of the crowd, Cavendish couldn't help but turn an ear to Dakota's singing.
"Cookie, I wanna be the flicker that sparks your red hot cinnamon smile."
It was wildly amazing.
"Wild cherry pixie stix, can I get a little fix?"
How did he learn to sing like that?
"Once you get me fired up, I don't know when to quit!"
Yellow tie took a sharp right turn.
Perfect.
He was heading straight towards woods that were on the very outskirts of the concert grounds. A few kids played on the edges of the forest, and a few teens and older adults smoked, further away from the children. Nobody seemed to want to go any deeper into the forest.
Cavendish jumped over roots and avoided low branches following the agent, the trees getting thicker and Dakota's voice getting quieter, only vague suggestions of words sounding.
Then a shout in front of him.
And Cavendish had to break hard to not slam into the rogue agent and time police.
He gasped in deep breaths, hands on his knees, trying desperately to catch his breath.
"I must admit, Agent. I wasn't expecting you and your partner to do something worthwhile."
Cavendish raised his head, and straightened his back, still breathing heavily. "Uh- uhm, t-thank you, M-Mr. Block?"
"Yes, yes, you and your partner will receive this mission as a completion on your record. You can now return to the office."
Cavendish couldn't help it as a wide grin spread across his face. Finally! They hadn't successfully completed a mission in so long! And it was a proper mission, too!
"Tha- thank you Mr. Block! We'll head back ri-right away."
He turned away, willing to let his boss and the police deal with the rogue agent. Besides, he was hoping to catch the tail end of Dakota's song, even if just for a second.
He trotted back to the concert field, heavy breathing calming, a few people who witnessed the chase giving him strange stares. He tried to look a little sad, hoping they'd think that he was chasing a thief that got away.
"Sugar, sugar, sugar, yeah! Sugar baby, can't you see? You're going to be the death of me!"
He looked up as the song ended, Dakota scanning the crowd and waving wildly. Suddenly, their eyes met, and Cavendish grinned, clapping and whistling as loudly as he could, Dakota bursting into laughter.
They met up at the backstage curtain, Cavendish surprising the smaller male with a tight hug as soon as he ducked out from underneath the curtain.
"Woah, haha! Hey there, Cav, you okay?"
Cavendish laughed, letting go of Dakota. "Yes, I'm alright, but Dakota! You never told me you can sing like that!"
The male suddenly turned shy, looking at the ground rather than him. "Did you like it…?"
"Like it? Vincent, that was phenomenal! We must play again one day!"
Dakota matched Balthazar's laugh, trailing off into a giggle. "Well, I'm glad you liked it. And dude, your piano skills were amazing! I mean, I knew you did piano, but...wow! That was incredible!"
Cavendish chuckled, turning them to walk towards their time vehicle. "Thank you, Vinnie. It felt really good to play in front of a crowd again, I must admit."
"Did you get yellow tie, by the way?"
"Oh yes- he ran to the forest, and Mr. Block followed my signal so that he and two police officers arrived to take him away."
"Oh, nice! Oh, here's your phone-"
They quickly switched phones, Cavendish checking the band of the last song.
"'The Orion Experience'? I've never heard of them…"
"Oh, they're super good! I'll play you a few more songs from them, they're amazing!"
Cavendish smiled. "Well, you have admittedly good taste. The first song sounded very lovely in piano form, and I'm sure the second song sounds better as the original than piano, but it sounded quite nice. And this song seemed to fit you perfectly."
"Because it was about food?"
"That too."
They laughed, leaving to return to their proper time era, the concert goers extremely disappointed when, much later at night, Balthazar Cavendish and Vinnie Dakota were nowhere to claim their winning trophy and money.
(And the event organizers were extremely confused when they didn't find the singing duo on the contestant lists.)
Was this chapter just because I wanted to write a songfic with them? ...maybe :D The first song is "Welcome to Wonderland" by Anson Seabra, the second is "Honey Lavender" by ieuan, and the last is "Sugar" by The Orion Experience! I suggest giving them all a listen, they're all wonderful songs by wonderful artists! I apologize if the reading was choppy, I've been very sleep deprived recently (yay college XD) and it's been years since I played piano, so I apologize for any mistakes/jankiness. That being said, I hope you enjoyed nonetheless! I hope you have an absolutely stunning morning/afternoon/evening/night, and give yourself half an hour or so to just listen to your favorite music and draw, or write, or do a relaxing hobby!