Where'd You Learn to Tango?

Summary: What if Roger had followed Mark to the lot?
Notes: M/R Friendship. Maybe more if you squint. Takes place during RENT. Pre and Post Tango: Maureen. Slight AU for One Song Glory and Light My Candle not appearing.

Disclaimer: Not mine. It all belongs to Jonathan Larson. I'm making no money from this.

Feedback: Will be rewarded with cyber cookies

"Text" – Denotes parts that are NOT mine! These were in Rent and no infringement is intended.

'Text' – Roger's thoughts

"Text" – Everything Else

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"Where are you going?" 'Please don't say it…'

"Maureen calls."

"You're such a sucker!" 'Damn it Mark, she doesn't deserve you!'

"I don't suppose you'd like to see her show in the lot tonight? Or come to dinner?"

"Zoom in on my empty wallet" 'Oh, real good one Davis!'

"Touché. Take your AZT" 'Yeah, alright. Like I don't do that everyday. Just get outta here. Damn it Mark, don't pick up the camera again!'

"Close on Roger
His girlfriend April
Left a note saying "We've got AIDS"
Before slitting her wrists in the bathroom


I'll check up on you later - Change your mind. You have to get out of the
house." 'Alright Mark, I'll make you a deal. When hell freezes over, I'll leave the loft.'

"I'm writing one great song before I…"

'Well, that was quick!'

Roger set down his guitar on the window seat, grabbed his jacket and headed out the door. On the way down the stairs he passed a few people that were passed out, apparently already celebrating Christmas, and a little too well. He also passed a young looking girl, probably only 16 or so. Roger thought he recognized her as the girl that lived in the apartment below Mark's and his, but he quickly put her out of his mind as he got outside. It was only then that he realized he had nowhere to go. He hasn't spoken to his band in year, his girlfriend, well, he didn't want to think about where April was.

He was just about to give up and go back inside when he remembered Mark.

'Might as well see if he needs help…or at least protection from Maureen.' He thought, chuckling to himself, walking over to the once empty lot that now housed a tent city, where Maureen was performing tonight.

When Roger walked in, he was definitely not expecting to see…that! Not only was Mark doing the Tango, but he was good at it!

Before anyone saw him (well, besides the homeless man that was staring at him suspiciously while smoking a cigarette) Roger turned around and ran back towards the loft.

Twenty minutes later, Mark walked into the loft, in a decidedly better mood than when he had left.

"Still trying to tune that thing?"

'As far as you know'

Really, Roger was only keeping his head down, looking at the guitar because he didn't think he could look at Mark without laughing.

"Yeah. How'd everything go with Maureen?"

"She wasn't there. I met Joanne…"

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Hey, Mark?"

"Hmm?"

"Where'd you learn to tango?"

A/N: Woohoo! Only my second fluffy story. I hope this one is better than my other. Review and let me know? This was just, yet again, another plot bunny I got while brainstorming for my story Goodbye. You should go read that now if you haven't already.