Setting: 9th June 2023, yep, exactly THAT day!
Pairing: mainly BellDom, you know, but there's also some Matt/Elle and implied Dom/Stacie
Disclaimer: faker than a 600$ note, the characters only belong to themselves, I don't know Muse, nor the people around them
Romantic
Particularly satisfied after the performance of 'You make me feel like it's Halloween', even more adrenaline-pumping than usual, Matthew approaches the crowd, reaching the end of the platform.
Over the years he has gone from total shyness, which barely made him say the title of the song they were about to play, to increasingly loving the attention of the public, until he catalyzed it.
When he can he likes to run along the barriers to shake hands and give smiles, he likes to incite the audience to sing with him, indeed, sometimes he just makes them sing, he likes to talk to them from the stage.
And that's what he's about to do, except that the audience precedes him.
A unanimous chorus rises and from the very first syllables he understands what it is about: it's a song for his birthday.
It's certainly not the first time this has happened to him and it won't be the last, but seeing an immense crowd of people singing in his honour is something that always touches him a lot.
Especially when, whipping around, he sees Dominic's smug smile.
Matthew finds himself taking stock of his life, where he started from and what he finds now.
A global success.
An abundant discography, the result of a constant search for renewal.
Wonderful, important and consolidated friendships.
An outstanding team of professionals.
A beautiful, sweet, kind, caring wife who supports him on every occasion she can.
A daughter who grows visibly and becomes more beautiful every day, like her mother.
A son who fills him with satisfaction, whose twelfth birthday he will celebrate next month.
And then there's him, the one he can't just place in the 'wonderful friendships' category, because he is so much more.
The person who knows him best and has known him the longest.
The co-founder of his own dream.
His most trusted confidant.
The body that most loves to hug.
The arms he most wants to wrap around him.
Her secret lover for the past twenty-three years.
His indissoluble soulmate.
Dominic.
Their love has faced even the most insurmountable obstacles and is ready to face any new battle that arises.
Because together they are invincible.
Matthew is almost sorry that that song isn't in the line-up that evening, but he remembers where he is and what he's doing, he stops the choir that has started and gets ready to start 'Madness', but not before thanking the audience as they deserve.
At the after party Matthew has now lost count of how many toasts he made, how many people hugged him to wish him well, and how many gifts he received.
However, he is well aware of the gift he did not receive, the post on social media that was not dedicated to him, the almost absent physical contact that evening.
It almost seems to him that Dom is mad at him, but at the same time he knows it's not like that, he just needs to look him in the eye when their gazes meet.
It's nearly three in the morning and Matthew just wants to make things clearer, but he also knows that the situation he's in at the moment makes it difficult, starting with the fact that Elle sits next to him, not to mention on his lap.
And it is she who distracts him from his thoughts.
"Matt, love, shall we go out for a moment and get some fresh air?" She asks in his ear, drowning out the sound of the music.
He follows her, reaching the back of the club, the most private of spots.
"Elle, if you're tired, we'll leave soon..."
"No, my dear, you're the one who's leaving," she interrupts him, "To Dom. I know you want it, you need it, you don't even need to try to hide it from me."
Matthew can hardly believe what he is hearing.
"But.."
"Honey, it's your party after all. And then Lovella and I pretty much hogged you since this morning until rehearsal, so that's okay." corroborates her case Elle.
"And you're really okay with that?" The singer scrutinizes her thoroughly.
She takes his face in her hands.
"Matthew, listen to me. You are a wonderful man. The best husband I could wish for. You're my angel. You are an amazing father. A formidable lover. And to have all this I have to 'just' share you with someone equally special. I'd be a fool not to accept that."
Matthew pulls her to him and kisses her softly.
"Elle, love, sometimes I think I don't deserve you…" He murmurs against her lips.
"Second choice, remember? And look at all that you have given me and continue to give me." The model smiles at him.
"But you deserve so much more, you deserve someone who loves you one hundred percent, who is completely dedicated to you."
"Don't be silly, my percentage is more than enough!" She heartens him, as understanding as few people can be. "So now you and him will leave. Lovella is with Guetcha, so Stacie and I will continue to party, even without you. By now, she knows how things go, too."
"Dom and I were too lucky to meet you." He smiles, stroking her long and silky golden hair.
"Just know that tomorrow I'll be so drunk that I won't even want to get out of bed all day and you'll take care of Lovella!" the model makes him laugh.
Matt, however, is serious in what he says.
"Honey, you are the best wife ever, you know that, right?" He kisses her again.
"Yes, but keep repeating that, my angel." She giggles.
"I'm not sure what happened out there, but when you got back Elle took Stacie away like a hurricane," Dominic mutters, following his best friend out.
"It's happening that I had a gift within the gift and so you and I can have some time for ourselves... shall we say even all night?" Matthew smiles at him, while they wait for the taxi that he has already called.
"So now do you want to tell me why you've been so detached all day long?" Investigates the frontman, once they are comfortably seated on the back seats, with the divider up to give them the right amount of privacy.
"You're saying that because I haven't made any post to wish you a happy birthday; it hurts, doesn't it? You, little bitch!" The drummer teases him, mindful of the treatment he received on his birthday.
"Yeah, it does, a little…now I understand what it means to taste your own medicine." Mutters the other. "But you're not angry with me.. are you?"
Dom shakes his head, smiling.
"Nope, of course, not, if anything, I was just stepping aside, to leave you with your family…"
Matt holds his best friend's hands tight.
"Dommeh, how many times do I have to repeat this to you? You are my family, too."
The blond smiles at him, resuming his speech.
"So, even the gift, I would have given you mine another time..."
"Ah, but then you do have a gift for me!" Grins the other, happy as a child, in contrast with the age he has just reached.
"Of course, you had doubts? And since we're on our way to the hotel, I guess I can give it to you now."
"You guess right."
Once they get out of the cab, a giggling Matt sprints for the hotel elevator, with Dom following suit.
"Easy, you don't want to wake everyone up, do you?" Acts as Jiminy Cricket Dom.
The Pinocchio in question looks at him with a clear invitation in his gaze.
"Then find a way to shut me up!"
Time to say it and Dom pulls him to him for a kiss that lasts for all eleven floors, up to their suites.
Matt gives him just enough time to open the door to his room, before returning to kiss him, with his hands starting to make their way under his clothing.
"Slow down, Matteh, do you want to unwrap the gift… or me?" Chuckles Dom, pulling away from him before things get too hot between the two.
"Uhmm.. both?" The birthday boy pushes his luck, but his wish is not fulfilled, since the blond goes away.
He pouts, but he is immediately back to his best mood when he sees him returning with a rather bulky gift package in his hand.
Once unwrapped, the case makes him guess it's a guitar, but when he opens it he's stunned.
She has almost every shade of blue that his eyes contain, she's doused in glitter, she's beautiful, yet that's not what amazes him so much.
"But… Dom, it's all foam rubber on the outside!" He comments, fascinated, touching every fret, string and button, thus making sure that she is in perfect working order.
"Yeah, it' something your Manson guys have been secretly working on for me for months." Dom smugly reveals. "'At least you can throw this one at me without the risk of making me have brain damage!"
Matt laughs in amusement, playing the guitar for a few seconds, in her feeble unamplified condition, of course, and then grabs the neck and taps Dom on the head.
"Go on…it's even pleasant!" Chuckles the drummer.
"Guess what, Dommeh, I got you a present too." Matt surprises him, putting the guitar back in the shoulder case.
"But how? It's your birthday and do you want to give me a present?"
"You've known me for thirty-one years and you still haven't figured it out? I'm unpredictable."
"One of the countless reasons I love you so much, Matteh. But be a good boy, get your gift first."
Matthew's face lights up.
"Why? Do I have another one?"
"This was for for fun. Now follow me."
Matthew is startled when he sees them leave the suite and Dominic anticipates his questions.
"For obvious reasons I couldn't keep it in the room, Stacie only knew about the guitar... and again for obvious reasons I couldn't wrap it." he explains, walking down the corridor that leads to another room that he has booked, smaller, also because what he simply needs is a little hidden place.
Dominic opens the room, turns on the light and... there's no need to say more.
"But.. it's a bike!" Matt observes, removing the red rosette that that mountain bike has on the handlebars, the only thing that gives it the appearance of a gift.
"Yes. Do you remember that trip to Vienna? It was romantic, but renting them is so impersonal, isn't it nicer to have our own bikes to take for rides everywhere we visit?"
Matthew continues to inspect the bike, squeezing the handlebars, spinning the wheels, when he notices something.
"But.. my saddle has 'Dom' engraved on it!"
Dom walks away and then drags another bike with him.
"That's right and my saddle has 'Bells' engraved on it," he adds, showing him his.
"So we have BellDom bikes, don't we?" The pianist shows off a toothy grin.
"That was just the idea. Now that's really romantic." Murmurs Dom.
Matthew pulls him to himself to kiss him intensely.
"Of course... I did everything in a hurry, because the idea came to me in Vienna, if I had had more time I would have had yours made red and glittered," the blond justifies himself, between kisses.
"Sure, and your leopard print!" Matthew laughs. "Trust me, they're perfect like this, black and shiny. A little sobriety doesn't kill us. Would you like to try them right away?"
"Uh? I think we were busy doing something very interesting…" Dom protests, still looking for his lips to nibble.
"Uhmm, nice, but… it's about the gift I want to give you. I would have taken you there by taxi, but this is even better!" the frontman decides, dragging him with him towards the blond's suite.
"Are you really suggesting that we go around the streets of Cologne by bike at four in the morning, drunk, getting lost?" mumbles Dom very unconvinced, putting on his jacket.
"Yes, but we won't get lost… I set the navigator… And then it was close to tonight's stadium, more or less. And pedaling is what it takes to get sober, at least a little." Matt insists,
putting on his padded jacket, to then also slip the guitar case over his shoulder.
"Uh? Do you take that with you too?"
"Yes, it's part of the gift… Of course, acoustics would have had a completely different effect, but I'll make it enough for me. I'm intriguing you, right?"
"Damn you and your persuasion skills, Bells! Come on, let's go get the bikes, let's get them out of here without waking up the whole hotel and then show me the way!"
When they venture into the now isolated streets, Dom has to admit that the sense of freedom that the night gives them is beautiful.
He faithfully follows Matt, who in turn faithfully follows his navigator and they arrive at a plateau from which they can enjoy a beautiful view of the city.
And kissing, remaining on their bikes, in front of that enchanting panorama is even more suggestive.
Both seem oblivious to the crisp air that whips their faces and hands.
"Actually, we could have stayed in the hotel, I already have the gift in my inside jacket pocket, but I wanted to give you this view." Matt confides in him.
"I approve of the decision." Dom sighs in ecstasy. "It's beautiful here, it's oh-so-romantic."
He can't resist the temptation to take out his cell phone and take a panoramic video first and then turning the camera towards the two of them for the last few seconds.
"Wait put your phone away, I suggest you film this too."
Saying it, Matt opens the case, takes the guitar, sits cross-legged on the floor.
Before playing, he hands Dom a red velvet box.
"Another pendant, right?" the blond guesses.
"That spoke too much about you. And then I associated it with this song" winks the other, starting to play.
From the very first chords, subdued but perfect, Dominic, who is already filming it, understands that it's not a Muse song nor is it part of their cover repertoire.
It's a song with a vintage flavor and a bittersweet melody at the same time.
And Matt still has to sing.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
Matt intones, with his voice almost broken, the cadence slow, the chords that follow one another fluidly and his eyes focused on the blonde, while he opens the box: there is a pendant in the shape of a sunflower.
Matthew signals to him that he must open it, before starting to sing again
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
Matt finishes his performance, while Dominic follows that advice and discovers that hidden in the pendant there is a round tag with the words 'You are my sunshine'
"Oh, Matt, that's beautiful, thank you." He bows down to him, to kiss him. "And I liked the song too, but I know how much you love me, it's about as much as I love you!"
Matthew moves away from him, gets up and puts the guitar back in her case.
"Bloody hell, you screw it up! Even in 'Sing for absolution' I say that you will never know, yet you love it every time I sing you that song!" Matthew points out to him, a little annoyed.
"You are right, Matteh, I need to analyze less and enjoy the moment more." Dom repents, scratching him behind the ear, which he knows pretty well how that sends the other into raptures.
From there to kissing again the step is short, but when they separate, Matthew has a gloomy expression on his face.
There's something else he absolutely needs to know.
"Dominic, please don't take what I'm about to say wrong, because I know first that's not the right word I want to use..."
"Come on, Bells, what are these hesitations on your part? You know you can tell me everything."
"Would you ever want to 'heal' from this… thing we have?" Mutters the singer.
"Explain yourself better." Frowns the percussionist.
"Suppose that there is a potion that can cancel this constant need for each other that we have, this visceral desire to be together in every sense. A sip of the potion and… BAM, you and I become just and only friends, as we are with Chris, as we are with Tom… and so I can be a perfect husband and you can be a flawless fiancèè. Would you drink it?" Matthew asks him, as serious as ever.
"Forty-five gets to your head, Bells!" Laughs Dominic.
"Dom, don't joke!"
"Okay, I'm not kidding. If that potion existed, I would take it." Dominic confesses and Matt feels a little dying inside, even if he doesn't show it.
"I would take that potion in my hands just to throw it to the ground, with all the strength I have, and shatter it, so even if you wanted to lick it off the ground, you would also have to drink all the glasses together, because if you really wanted such a thing, well, I wouldn't surely make things easy for you!"
A smile lights up Matthew's face again.
"Dommeh, but I'd never want to drink it either. That's what I was hoping to hear from you."
"Did you really think I was going to say something different?"
"Well, you and Stacie…maybe you…you…" Matt stumbles over his words
"What about you and Elle, then? And you have kids too, Matt! Yet you see, whatever bond arises between us, no matter how beautiful and pleasant it is, cannot break ours, never will. Dom reassures him. "And you're right, it's an uphill life, it's made of subterfuge, dark moments where we both wonder if it's still worth it. The point is, we both always know it's worth it and as much as that makes everything more complicated, it's exactly what makes us us and I wouldn't want anything different, ever, my love."
"Oh, Dommeh..." Matt looks at him moved. "What you said is so romantic."
"You make me romantic." Dominic whispers, stroking his hair.
"You're Dom… and it was romantic…" Matthew broods.
"No, Bells, don't say that."
"You are Domantic!" Matt chuckles, proud of the term he invented.
"Shall we talk about what you did for me earlier? The sunflower, the song…It was romantic, you're Matt…"
"Oh no, no, Dom, please don't."
"You are roMattic!" concludes his absurd reasoning Dom.
The two friends and lovers burst out laughing, perhaps as they haven't done for a long time.
"We are just two idiots!" Comments Matt.
"Made for each other!" Points out Dom.
"Oh well, whether domantic or romattic, I'm gonna ask you: do you still have the tag I gave you on your birthday?"
"What stupid questions. I will never part from it." reveals the blond, extracting the named object from the inside pocket of his jacket. "And you?"
In response, the brunette takes his from a compartment in his wallet.
The two cannot resist the temptation to join them, before putting them away again for safety.
"And this is also another one of your gifts that I will have to hide." Dom mutters, waving the open sunflower in front of him.
"Well technically if you leave it closed it hides itself and you can always say it's a gift from a fan.. I'm your biggest fan after all!"
"Uhmm yes, that's true, but I prefer you as a groupie!" Dom replies lasciviously, groping his butt to highlight the concept.
"We'll also have to hide the bikes.." Dom continues, going up to stroke his forearms.
"For that it will be enough to buy some seat covers, there I could have a glittery one and you a leopard print one!" The singer snatches a smile from him.
Dom turns serious, a little melancholy.
"However, the fact remains that we always have to hide, we have been doing that for more than twenty years now..."
"I know, Dommeh, I would like to give you much more than this."
Dominic shuts him up first with his index finger on his lips and then with a kiss
'Shh, Matteh, what you already give me will always be worth it."
THE END
Notes:Blame Dom's Vienna post on instagram for that XD
And also a commercial that has been hunting me on Facebook for months, lol, yep, the sunflower pendant exist for real (along with the song Matt covered, which is 'You are my sunshine' written by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell in 1939)
Of course, if I wish things could have gone like that, it doesn't mean they actually did, never forget this is a fanfic.
You can figure out how fake it is just by the successful Happy Birthday plan in the crowd that actually never happened as it was supposed to do ^^'
If Manson guys can create an amazing 3d WOTP mask guitar, it must be a piece of cake for them to make a foam rubber covered one! XD
I'm a BellDommer, I always will be, but Elle is so so sooooo beautiful, and seems also to be very supportive, sweet and kind, so as long as Matt is happy I'm happy, long life to Matt and her, but, of course, longer life to BellDom ^^
Hope you'll like it, but I have the feeling you won't…
However, late (I didn't manage to post in on time, geez!) HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYYYY, BELLS!