Even devils celebrate birthdays ;P
Notes:I'll keep silent and leave you to the very long (you're hating me, aren't you? No wait, maybe you hate me more for splitting the chapter in two parts) reading (psst, will you catch all the 1200 references that are in this part? XDD )
Chapter XXII: All the dirty tricks and twisted games you play on me
"Who was?" Dom asks, as Matt sits back down with him and Chris.
"Who do you want it to be? The only one that can make my iPhone appear!" replies Matt.
"Sorry, you are right. It's just that I'm very tired, I don't know what I'm saying anymore." the angel mutters, his eyes more closed than open. "And what did he want?" He grows curious.
"Oh, you know, rough, dirty, mean devil things!" The brunet remains vague, shrugging.
Dominic chuckles, already sounding more awake.
"Rough, for sure. But yes, I can even give you 'mean' for passable," he comments, not believing it.
"For passable?" Matt gets upset, , as Dom slips closer to him. "But certainly not dirty, at least, not anymore." He declares smiling, sniffing Matthew's nape.
# Hey! But this is my peach blossom bubble bath!# He acknowledges, pleased.
# Spread this news and I'll pluck out all your feathers to make a crown of it at your funeral, little angel!# The devil threatens him, eager to keep his reputation.
# You can't, you don't even know how to weave garlands! # Replies his Nemesis, making him smile.
# So, since you are an expert on the subject, you could give me a few lessons... # Matt spurs him on.
# Help you do something that would help at my funeral? All right, I may be a gentleman, or rather a gentleangel, but not a fool, my dear! # Dom makes him laugh. # And by the way, you can rest assured, it will be our little secret. # The angel smiles at him.
"Whatever you're up to, are you done?" sighs angrily Chris, who until then has been waiting patiently.
"Don't make a fuss!" Matthew complains.
"You know how it is, songs sure don't write themselves and time is running out!" Mutters the human, nervously tapping the ballpoint pen on the score already complete with notes and chords, but which still needs a text. "Time is running out... though, it's a nice concept, but not on this music..." He ponders aloud.
"Don't worry, Christopher, we'll find it a good topic!" Dominic cheers him up.
"Of course, as far as I'm concerned, we could also celebrate alcohol and the beautiful sensations it gives us!" Matt almost jokingly proposes, while his mind goes back to the night his angel was drunk.
Chris stares at him with growing interest.
"Matt, do you know that's not a bad idea at all? Something worthwhile can come from it!" the bassist happily approves, starting to jot down ideas and considerations on a piece of paper.
"Done. See, sonny? We have a topic... even if it's not one of the ones that excites me the most!" Dominic points out.
"You, liar!" Matthew provokes him.
# Shut up! You don't want to reveal too much! # The angel warns him.
# And even if it was? Breaking news, little angel: they've known for a long time. Both your boss and mine. They know about us. And they find our efforts to hide it amusing. # The devil informs him.
# I do not believe it! #
# It was Tom who told me earlier on the phone. #
# Do they know about us? Morgan knows this... and hasn't interfered in any way? # The blond is alarmed, while remaining composed.
# What do you want me to tell you, Dommeh? We are such a beautiful couple that even he thinks it would be too bad, sad and cruel to tear us apart. # The other winks at him, making him smile.
"You are doing it again!" notices Chris, who has just finished jotting down the umpteenth sentence. "In my next life, I'm going to find myself two bandmates who tend to isolate themselves less than you do!" He blurts out, resentful.
"Jealous!" chuckles Dom, patting him on the back. "But know that for us you are the most important human being."
"Of course I am, you two are aiming to my soul!"
"I want it now, I want it now, give me your heart and your soul…" Matthew croons, with a melody he has invented on the spot. "You say that if I ask you in music it works?" He asks Chris with a smirk.
"No! But I like it a lot, you know? Both the message and the melody. I could also place a bass riff worthy of going down in history. But too much is up in the air for now ... maybe we can keep this idea for a future album." The handsome bassist decides, writing down lyrics and notes.
"You think too much about work!" Matt snorts, bored.
"It's not a simple job. It's my life." smiles Chris.
"That's the way I like you, sonny!" Dominic approves, walking closer to Matthew. "Well, since our bosses have found out about us by now, we might as well take advantage of it." He mutters, sitting down on his devil's lap and leaning his back against his chest. "You are definitely more comfortable than that chair!" He murmurs, narrowing his eyes again.
The devil smiles, passing a hand through his blond curls.
"Let's hurry up and finish that song, Chris. I don't know how much longer he will hold on..." he comments, addressing the human.
"Yes, but… what does it mean your bosses know?" Chris asks, curious.
"It means that they discovered us and by now they know that we cuddle like cuddly teddy bears and say the sweetest things in the world to each other..." Dom mumbles, with his eyes already closed, turning his head and sinking it between the chest and the left armpit of Matt.
"He's drunk with tiredness, don't listen to what he's raving about!" growls the brunet, addressing all possible listeners. "Well, since we're already on the subject, why don't you call the new song 'Drunk'?" he suggests, chuckling.
"Too obvious. Much better 'Sober' which creates more contrast." replies Chris, with the total approval of his only listener in the room still wide awake.
"But… exactly, what is it that our bosses know? Just everything, everything?" Dominic ascertains, since after that pleasant nap of about half an hour on Matt, he has momentarily recovered. At least long enough from the completion of their last produced song to the actual conclusion of that reunion.
It is half past one and, satisfied with the great work of that evening, Chris has already taken his leave, thus allowing the two guardians to make the bed reappear.
"Nope, I don't think they know everything everything, let's say the basic things," Matt replies, joining him under the sheets.
"And what would these basic things be?" Dom gets curious.
"Well, the way I think Morgan sees it, that there's some tenderness between you and me. The way I know Tom sees it, that between you and I there is a considerable and irresistible sexual attraction." Matt replies, moving closer to the blond.
"And how do you see it?" the angel asks him.
"Both things." Matthew murmurs persuasively, nibbling his earlobe.
"Ooh, I like it." smiles Dominic, pulling him to him for a kiss, before giving him his wing, as it happens every night.
"He hasn't been seen around here since that day, has he?" Morgan asks Glen, early in the morning, breaking into what used to be his office.
"No, and why should he?" replies the friend, who has already figured out who they are talking about. "This must not be Tom's favorite place, just as I hope Hell isn't becoming yours!" he mutters.
"No, of course not!" Morgan reassures him, with a wave of his hand that accentuates the emphasis.
- Even though it's so warm there! - He ponders.
"And then, sorry, why on earth should he show up again here?" his friend distracts him from his thoughts.
"Well, I haven't heard from him since we got back from last night's issues. No calls, no texts, not even a ring. Maybe his iPhone doesn't work anymore..." Morgan worries.
"Or maybe, more simply, he doesn't want to hear from you." Glen makes him face reality, with an almost rude frankness.
"Yeah, it's probably just that." sighs resigned Morgan, returning to his office.
He places his iPhone on the desk, to be able to control it better, but without too many pretensions.
That's why he can't believe his eyes when he sees it light up and ring.
However, the initial pleasant surprise is immediately replaced by the fear of hearing his furious screams, but the blond decides to answer anyway.
"Hello?" he hesitates a bit, then carefully removes the hearing aid from his ear.
"Morgy!" trills happy Tom.
Morgan stares suspiciously at the display, wondering if maybe he's dreaming and if his subconscious is mocking him.
"Are you still there?" The brunet asks him.
"You mean it's really you? And are you so... serene after what I did to you?" The archangel asks him, confused.
"Ah, are you referring to yesterday's joke? I didn't think you were capable of such tricks, you know? And to think that here, among the highest offices, there are much less valid elements than you to fill them!" comments the archdevil.
"Hey, you're offending me!" Morgan complains.
"Oh, don't tell me! It was my precise intention!" grins Tom.
"Tommy… are you sure you didn't get mad?" The archangel, somewhat skeptical about it, asks for confirmation.
"For what? For teasing me, making me look like the perfect idiot? For promising me something that never came, not in the version I expected, at least? For making me puke all night thinking about those awful, disgusting, unforgivable good deeds that I had to do because of you? Just because the whole Hell laughed at me?" sums up Tom, with a calmness that's downright creepy.
"I…I hadn't thought of all those reasons." Morgan swallows heavily.
"Nooo, no big deal! My little Archangel, after all you just played your cards and you played them damn well. I could never wish for a more worthy Nemesis." Tom murmurs.
"Oh, it's the same for me. Only you are capable of such obscenities!" Morgan replies, knowing full well that he's paying him a compliment, in a honeyed voice, too.
All that's left is for them to bicker about who's going to hang up first.
But Tom still doesn't seem to have any intention of hanging up on him.
"However, Morgan, it must be said that lately we've been neglecting our boys a bit to think about our own business..."
"Yeah, like they are definitely neglecting their mission." Adds the blond.
"Exactly. For this reason, I would suggest that we only focus on them when they aren't looking after the big dupe, which happens all too often now." mutters the brunet.
"But... how do you plan to do it? Our spheres mainly observe Chris..." Morgan points out to him
"Oh come on, don't you think that with our millennial experience and the union of our powers we can hijack the goal of the spheres, at least for one night?" Tom proposes, alluring as only a devil can be, let alone an archdevil!
"Uh, well… yeah, I think we could do it. Only... won't we sin of Pride?" the beautiful archangel is alarmed.
"And let's hear, against whom, One-Thousand-Whining?" snorts Tom, rolling his eyes.
"But wasn't I One-Thousand-Feathers?" Morgan points out, insulted.
"Not in this case!" reiterates the archdevil.
"Anyway, to answer your question, well… I would be sinning against the noble intent of the orbs." the blond mutters.
Tom bursts out laughing.
"Oh come on, is that how you see it? Think of it more as a… workout to improve your skills. It would be resting on your laurels, the real sin ... and it's a true expert in this area who is telling you that!" shrewdly counters the charming archdevil.
"You are right. It's a workout. A workout that will make us struggle a lot. And from effort you get only admirable things!" the fearful blond convinces himself.
"So is it yes?" The other asks him eagerly.
"Yup." Morgan confirms.
"Now it remains only to set the night. Shall we do it eight days from today?" proposes the brunet nonchalantly.
"Why exactly eight days?" the archangel gets suspicious.
"It is a date like any other. What's wrong? Not okay with you? If you want we can choose another one." The cunning Tom bluffs.
"Uh, no, no, in eight days it'll be fine..." the other murmurs, more calm.
"Perfect, then let's agree for that night. Which means you won't come down to earth to help your human friends in that pathetic soup kitchen, keep yourself free!" Tom forces him.
"All right, it means that my 'pathetic soup kitchen with my human friends'," Morgan deliberately mocks him, "will take place the night before, okay?"
"If it doesn't take place it is even better!" mutters the other.
"What's wrong, are you jealous?" Morgan teases him. "Ah, there is one more thing…"
"What?" the dark looks up.
"I think that, since it is a spell of considerable difficulty, it would be better to focus on the spheres from now on, avoiding monitoring the situation."
"You say so?" Tom wonders.
"Yes, that way, if they are not overloaded with events observed in recent days, they will be more malleable for our purposes." explains the blond. "After all, those two have been slacking off for months now, do you expect them to do something interesting just in these eight days?"
"You're not entirely wrong." approves of his interlocutor. " So, see you in eight days… or who knows? Maybe sooner if I miss you too much, after all a phone call isn't a sphere..." Tom whispers, hanging up.
"He's definitely up to something!" Morgan mutters, frowning, staring at the call end display.
"Everything is going according to plan!" welcomes Tom, on the opposite side, putting the iPhone back in his pocket.
There is a very specific reason why he chose that date, a reason he agreed with his subordinate, on Matthew's suggestion.
For this reason, he can avoid monitoring the protègè for that period of time.
********************************************* (Simultaneously)
"How many songs are we still missing, four or five? And when is the album due out? At the end of December, right? And what day is it today? June 2nd! So, Chris, this means that even if we have to deliver everything by September, we will make it, with plenty of time, indeed, even allowing ourselves the luxury of taking it easy. We have worked hard for a long time to get to this satisfactory point. So, for all the heavens' sake, are you gonna take it easy?" Dom ends his rally, exasperated, seeing Chris in the midst of yet another panic attack.
"Ugh, why did you have to reassure him? He gives off such beautiful vibes when he's scared!" Matt complains.
"Shut up, you!" Chris recovers. "It's true, Dom, you're right, we can finish it in time, but we have to keep up this pace!" He spurs them on.
"And we'll keep it, you, bloody pain in the ass!" mutters the devil. "But you have to leave both me and Dom absolutely free in seven days, at least in the evening!" he adds, in the tone of someone who won't take no for an answer.
"And why, if I may know?" frowns the human.
"It will be my birthday!" The devil rejoices.
"Do you have birthdays too?" The bass player asks in amazement.
"Of course we do, big boy, how do you think we keep track of the years? You humans certainly don't have the exclusive on this anniversary!" retorts Matthew.
"Aww, Matt, what a joy! We can celebrate, then, we will have to celebrate!" Dom decides, hugging him tightly.
"Yeah, Dom, okay we know by now our bosses know… but there's a limit to stickiness!" Matthew parts from him.
"Yes, a little party won't destroy our schedule." Chris approves. "I'll tell Kelly too, she loves parties!"
"Yes, how nice, a party with friends, with you at the center of attention!" the angel rejoices, not at all embittered by the previous reaction of his beloved. "Ah, Matthew, you are so lucky, your birthday is at that wonderful time when Spring is about to give way to Summer!" He sighs dreamily.
"Cut it out, Mr. Enthusiasm! It's a birthday, a very normal occasion for anyone, except that it happens to me at the beginning of June, I don't see anything so amazing in it!" snaps Matt, annoyed by all the cheer.
Or perhaps by what he was asked, if not ordered, to do.
"Let's hear it, Dom, when is your birthday?" asks Chris.
"In the cold and desolate December 7th, just a step away from Winter, there is still a lot of time left!" replies the interviewee.
"Cool! Are you in December too? Me too, but at 2nd!" the human is exalted.
"But it's wonderful, sonny!" Dominic rejoices. "Maybe we can celebrate together, on a date between those two!" proposes, with adrenaline pumping.
"Oh yeah, why don't you print it all over your clothes that you have birthdays close? Or don't you call Emma and have her organize a press conference to announce it to the world?" Matt grumbles, increasingly grouchy.
"Ooh, how jealous!" chuckles Dom, approaching him. "You know, I can share the same birth month with Chris, but that's something else I want to share with you." He whispers in his ear, returning the smile. "By the way, what present can I give you?" He asks him, impatiently.
"Oh, little angel, I don't want anything material from you. I just want you that day to give me an unforgettable evening, from sunset to midnight. I'll take care of everything, you'll just have to stick to my rules." Matthew informs him.
"From sunset to midnight… at your mercy, following your rules… all of them?" summarizes Dominic, a little fearful.
"None excluded." grins Matt.
Dom thinks about it for a moment.
"Alright then. I'm in. If it's that important to you." the angel smiles at him. "Besides, you know, I trust you."
That last sentence, even if pronounced with indescribable sweetness, has a very bitter aftertaste for Matthew.
The days go by and before he knows it, Matthew is listening to a nursery rhyme sung in three parts wishing him 'Happy Birthday' several times, with Dominic doing his best to sound as in tune as possible, before switching off ideally its three hundred and eight candles, which in practice, however, for obvious reasons, are only twenty-seven on the cake.
And the cake is nothing more than a gift from Kelly, who made it by giving it the beautiful and perfect three-dimensional shape of a guitar, to be precise Matt's one, carefully red and dusted with edible glitter.
Needless to say, it's delicious.
"Matthew, this is from me. Kelly told me she once mentioned it to you and so..." Chris presses, handing him a small rectangular package which as soon as Matt opens it reveals itself to be the book '1984'.
"Yes, that's right…she mentioned this strange date once…" Matt mutters, confused.
"Read it, I bet you will love it. You will discover how far the wickedness of the human mind can go when the thirst for power is at stake." He reveals to him.
"Oh yes, I like it already, it's a really nice gift! Thank you, both you and Kelly for that cake!" the birthday boy smiles.
Once the plate with his slice of cake, now empty, has been placed away, Dominic joins Matthew, sitting on the sofa, while Kelly and Chris have secluded themselves for a bit of fuss from that belly that is growing more and more in volume.
"Hey, Matteh, is everything okay?" the blond murmurs, seeing him a little thoughtful.
"Yes, you know... it's never been like this with my people. There has never been anything more than a hasty 'Awful birthday' of circumstance, without gifts, parties or cheer. I'm not used to all this heat!" Matt mutters.
"But if you live in Hell!" downplays Dom, giggling.
"Believe me, little angel, it's not that kind of heat that can reach you from flames..." replies the other, earning in response a tender and chaste kiss from his beloved.
"Strange…" Matt mutters, looking down.
"What?" the blond asks him.
"Tom. He didn't send me even a tiny electric shock after what I said!" comments Matt puzzled.
"Well, it's also strange that Morgan doesn't intercede to wish you well, he's the polite one!" mutters Dom.
"I don't give a damn about Morgan, I'm fine with getting away with Tom!" replies the other. "They probably weren't looking…" he deduces, relieved.
"Yeah, but the fact remains that I feel terribly guilty... I didn't buy or create anything for you." regrets the blond.
"Oh, there are only a few hours left and you will give me the best gift." Matt smiles at him, stroking his face, while he looks at the clock that shows half past three in the afternoon.
And when sunset comes, it takes a couple of sentences and a few pleasantries before Matt and Dom take their leave and the devil leads him to the designated place.
"Here we are!" Matt smiles, reappearing with Dom in a room draped in burgundy velvet, where a bed equipped with a vibrator stands out, a heart-shaped whirlpool tub, paintings with rather explicit subjects, strange objects and background music suitable for creating an atmosphere.
"Did you take me to Hell?" Dominic stirs, looking around uneasily.
Matthew laughs amused.
"You believe so, little angel. In reality this is just one of the many hotels... of a certain kind, that you can find in Soho , a district of London . If you only knew how many souls I have gathered here... and the best thing is that I don't have to do anything, humans do everything, with their obscene excesses... It's really wonderful!" explains Matt, pleased.
"I don't like it here..." Dom mumbles.
"Oh, but it's not you who must like it!" grins Matt.
(End part I)
Notes:ehmm yes, I know, I have a kind of kink for birthdays, I don't know how many stories I've stuffed them into so far XD
Hope you'll still like it, feel free to tell me anything stay tuned for the second part, it's going to be hotter than Hell XD
P.p. s. I apologize 'cos I have no beta, hope my English is not too awful and sorry for any typos I didn't notice ^^'