My entry for GhostFairy's summer contest! bc of corona~ we didn't have any concerts or big festivals this summer, so I made up my own.
Summer themes: festivals. music.
WARNING: None really, just the fact that this a fic with a gay couple, and i have to put a warning bc some people just don't like that.
Ships: Lucas/Nero
Enjoy!
When Julian announced that he had scored tickets to one of Rome's biggest summer festivals, Nero had practically tackled him. Team Excalibur had been before. Nero had wanted to go back for years, since the first time he went as a young child. Lucas had never been, and Nero was only too glad to give him the outline of all that happened.
"The Colosseum Music Festival! Lucas, you'll love it! Dozens of rising bands and single acts coming to showcase their talents- every night they open for big name acts of all genres! The sights are incredible, they have talent scouts- oh and the booths! There's music booths, obviously, but also fashion, and food, and games-"
"Sounds like a carnival," Lucas commented, deadpan.
"It's not! It's so much more!" Nero was practically vibrating, "You'll love it!"
"We'll see," Lucas rolled his eyes.
Nero just grinned, kissed his boyfriend's cheek, and dashed off to who knows where. Lucas watched him go with a fond look, before shaking his head and walking away.
No matter how long they had known each other, Nero never ceased to amaze him.
From the very moment the group arrived, Nero was in his element. The music that filled the air, accentuated by the laughter and voices of the other festival goers. While Excalibur went their own way, Lucas and Nero gravitated towards each other. Lucas kept a wary eye on the crowd, while Nero led him from booth to booth, from event to event, practically flying in elation.
His energy must be contagious, Lucas mused, as he found himself giving the blonde the smallest of smiles for the third time that evening, "I've never seen you this excited."
"Well, yeah, this is the first time in over ten years I've been here!" Nero explained, around a mouthful of cotton candy. Lucas' teeth ached at the sight of the sugary treat, "Plus, I'm here with someone I really care about."
Lucas felt his heart leap into his throat, and he quickly glanced away. As he did, a large open tent caught his attention, and he tilted his head, "What's that one?"
Nero looked up, squinting across the row to see where Lucas was gesturing to. As he did, the two watched as one guy jumped off the stage, and then a girl stood up to take his place with the band, and even from across the way, they could hear her begin to sing.
"Oh!" Nero said with sudden clarity, "It's a talent booth!"
"What now?"
"Remember what I said about talent scouts visiting this thing? That's that is! Think of it as a form of karaoke, but with contracts involved if you impress the right person," Nero shrugged, still chewing on his cotton candy.
Lucas got a truly impulsive thought.
"Wanna give it a go?"
Nero choked on his next bite of sugar, "W- What?!"
"I mean, this whole thing is just for fun, right? If we impress someone enough for them to offer a contract, we can always say no, right?"
"I… You want to get on stage in front of people and sing?!"
"… Why not?"
A dangerous phrase to reason with.
Well, no one ever said that Nero didn't like living with a little danger. Lucas watched as the other teen chucked the rest of his treat into a nearby trashcan.
"You think I can convince one of the guitarists to lend me theirs?" Nero asked with a grin.
Lucas snorted, "I'd be more surprised if you couldn't."
"What song do you want to do?"
Yet another impulsive thought filled Lucas' brain, "I'll follow your lead."
Nero turned to give the redhead a look. Lucas shifted, and rubbed the back of his neck, "I mean… this is your thing, right?"
Nero's lips curved up into a small smile, "I don't know, Lulu, it looks like you're fitting in pretty well, too."
"Stop calling me that,"
"Never. Now, onwards, we have a show to put on!" Nero linked his hand in Lucas' and the two made their way towards the tent.
Lucas wondered what sort of monster he had let loose. Nevertheless, he wasn't one to shy away from a challenge, so he followed Nero to the booth, approaching right as the girl finished her song. The spectators cheered and applauded her as she bounced off the stage. A stage worker spotted the two teens eyeing the stage up, and grinned over at them, "You two want to give it a try?"
Nero nodded, enthusiastic, "Any chance I can get my hands on a guitar?"
The worker raised an eyebrow, amused, but gestured to one of the band members, "Sure thing, kid. Jacob, you want to take a break?"
Lucas found it amusing, as Nero took the guitar from the band member, that it was nearly the same style and shade of red as the one Nero owned. The blonde threw the strap over his shoulder and then ran his fingers over the strings. A slight buzz filled the air, a faint humming as Nero adjusted to the feel of the instrument. Then, he was whispering a few words to the stage worker, who nodded and went off to tell the band something.
"Still following my lead, gingersnap?" Nero grinned at Lucas, "You're the one singing, after all."
"Somehow, I don't think you'll be just happy with playing those strings," Lucas snarked back, and a genuine smiled lit up his face. Then, before Nero could react, he grabbed him by the shirt, and hauled him in for close for a kiss.
Nero let out a muffled yelp, before melting and returning the kiss. Then, he was pulling back and fixing Lucas with a glare.
"Stop trying distract me," Nero said.
"Now where's the fun in that? After you, your majesty, we do have a show to put on," Lucas bowed dramatically, arm outstretched to the stage. Nero rolled his eyes, but climbed up the steps, and just as Lucas had predicted, took up a spot behind one of the microphones.
With a grin, Lucas followed, adjusting the second microphone stand. He cut Nero a look, and the blonde grinned in response. Nero began to play, a familiar rock 'n' roll tune, before he stepped back up to the microphone.
Nero's voice, like everything else about him, caught people's attention. Deep and throaty, perfect for the song he had chosen, and it sent shivers down Lucas' spine every time.
"Can't explain all the feelings that you're making me feel," Nero tilted his head around the mic, smirking over at Lucas. "My heart's in overdrive and you're behind the steering wheel."
"Touching you…" Lucas sang back, "Touching me… Touching you, god, you're touching me!"
The world began to fade away, and then it was just Lucas and Nero and the music. Belting out I Believe In A Thing Called Love, eyes only for each other. The crowds gathering and their cheering mattered not as they went through line after line, moving across the stage and dancing around each other.
"Ohhhh, guitar!" Lucas stepped back, nodding his head along as Nero belted out one of the best guitar solos Lucas had ever heard him play.
"Touching you… touching me… touching you, god you're touching me!"
"I believe in a thing called love, just listen to the rhythm of my heart, there's a chance we can make it now, we'll be rocking till the sun goes down…" Nero's eyes were bright, his voice in perfect harmony as the two sang together.
"I believe in a thing called love," Lucas repeated the final line four more times, Nero's own voice mixing in until the final beat of the drum sounded out.
With dual head bangs and the lights of the stage going dark, Lucas and Nero stepped back as the crowd erupted into applause, whistles, and cheers. Nero framed Lucas' face in his hands and hauled him in for a hungry kiss. Lucas reciprocated, and if anything, the crowd's cheers grew louder.
Nero pulled away, face lit up in a smile, and murmured, "So."
"So," Lucas cocked an eyebrow.
"You still think this whole thing is some second-rate carnival?"
"Well…" Lucas trailed off, thoughtful.
"Well?" Nero raised his own eyebrow, lips twitching in amusement.
"… I think you were right."
"Oh?"
"Oh… yes. I had a lot of fun," Lucas leaned close, mouth next to Nero's ear and gently pulling one of the blonde's piercings between his teeth, tugging gently. Nero shivered, "And I'd love to have more."
Nero laughed, slid his arms around Lucas' neck, and kissed him again.
Lucas found it was the perfect ending to a stellar performance.
Hope you enjoyed and will leave a review!