Title: Since First I Saw Your Face (1/2)
Author:CentralsPrincess15 AKA Libby
Feedback: would be kind…and rewarded with cookies…
Pairing: lemme see… Roger/April; Mark/Maureen; and Roger/Mimi are all mentioned. Roger/Mark is what it will be in the end.
Word Count: 767
Rating: PG
Genre: romance
Summary: Pre-Rent then Post-Rent Roger doesn't remember meeting Mark.
Notes: I've noticed a pattern. Stories only come to me just before I fall asleep…it's anoying lemme tell you
Warnings: None for this chapter
Disclaimer: I do not own RENT or any of its characters; I just like to play with them! Since First I Saw Your Face is the name of a song written by Thomas Ford
It was a typical Saturday night. Only it wasn't. April decided she needed to spend more time with Maureen, have a girls night out. So the boys were stuck in the loft alone. It wasn't so bad. Conversation punctuated with Roger slinking into his room for another hit, or the winding of Marks camera. They didn't really know each other well at this point. Mark had only moved into the loft about 2 months ago. Roger remembered that day well. Remembered the feeling of recognition when Benny introduced Mark. Roger never brought it up though, and Mark never said anything about it either. Until that typical Saturday night that was anything but…
"When did we first meet?"
All night that question had burned in Roger's mind. Hell, if he was honest with himself it's been on the tip of his tongue for the past month but he's never had the guts to say it. Yet this night was different. Alcohol and smack was involved lowering his inhabitions and rising his curiosity.
"What do you mean Roger? I moved in 2 months ago." A look of concern and something else flashed on Marks face. Fear maybe? Roger shook his head.
"No Mark, I mean…yea you moved in 2 months ago but we met before that. I know we did. I just can't remember when."
Mark stood abruptly, sadness now shown plainly on his face. "Just as well…" he whispered and walked into his room slamming the door.
Just then the girls came home and all thoughts of Mark flew out of Roger's head.
It wasn't until years later that Roger pondered the mystery of their meeting. It was bugging him more and more. Flashes of a hot smoky club and a blonde man bobbing to his music. The thoughts came after Mimi left him for good. She reconciled with her mother and, although she still loved him, and he her, she left to spend the rest of her days with the family she missed so much time with. He was sad, yea, depressed even. But without Mimi his thoughts drifted to Mark, safe, stable Mark who would never leave him even if Roger begged him to go. Those thoughts led to the realization that Roger felt more for Mark than simple friendship. Even brotherly love wouldn't cover his feelings.
It was a Saturday night again, and they were alone. Maureen and Joanne had a special banquet to attend in Joanne's honor. She had made Partner. They invited the boys but they politely declined. It wasn't their scene. Collins was out with a few friends from Life Support. He was slowly getting weaker but holding on. Which left the boys to where they were now.
Conversation was easier than years ago. There was no breaks for Roger to go get high and Mark had left his camera in his room. There was only Mark, Roger, and the small supply of alcohol that Collins left for them. Once again the question burned in Roger's brain. There was something he was missing, something important. He needed to know.
Taking a deep breath Roger braced himself for the conversation that ended badly years ago. "Mark, how did we meet?"
Roger saw Mark tense and slowly put down his beer bottle down. "Do you really wanna know?"
Roger simply nodded. At this Mark sighed got up, and began walking to his room. Roger began to protest but Mark waved him off and disappeared into his room. A few minutes later he returned carrying his projector in one hand, already loaded with a film, and his camera in the other. Silently he hooked the projector up and pointed it to face the white sheet that he kept on the wall. Before flicking the switch he turned to Roger.
"This was taken about a week before I moved into the loft. My parents thought I was coming to New York for vacation so they got me a room at a hotel for two weeks. Wednesday of the first week was when I saw your band play for the first time. I loved it. Your music was…well, it's on the film. Anyway, I came back every night after that, but this was the first time I brought my camera."
Without turning on the projector he went to the door and grabbed his coat and messenger bag. Roger looked at him inquisitively.
"You're not going to watch it?" Mark shook his head.
"I've seen it. I've lived it.I remember it." With that Mark flipped the switch and walked out the loft shutting the door silently behind him.