Chapter Text
Pete continued to curse under his breath. It was horrible: That was actually a good show. Worst of all, Pete was happy it went well. He knew a happy crowd was better for Fall Out Boy to deal with than what the crowd had started as. “Son of a bitch.”
Patrick was at the edge of the curtain taking several deep breaths. He hadn’t been so nervous in years; it felt like he was about to sing in front of a crowd for the first time.
“Yo, Rickster, you ok over here?” Joe asked as he walked over and put his hand on Patrick’s shoulder. Patrick nodded. “You sure? Because you’re looking a little more pale than usual.”
Patrick punched Joe’s shoulder. Joe laughed.
“Alright. You’re good. Just try not to think about the crowd before we go on. Try thinking about puppies or kittens or weed or something. You know, something with feel good emotions tied to it, but nothing sexual. Man, you don’t want that problem, too.”
Joe walked away. Patrick panicked. “Fuck.”
Patrick hadn’t even thought about thinking of sexual things until Joe mentioned it. But now…
No, Patrick thought. Not sexual. Cute. Soft. Sweet. Feel good. Puppies. Kittens. Cotton candy. Jazz music. 80s movies. Labyrinth. David Bowie. Tight pants. Hot blonde. Good dancer. Thrusting. Sweating. Nick.
“Damn it!” Patrick hissed. “Ok. Try again, Patrick. Puppies…”
“Hey, Patrick. Show time,” Andy said as he grabbed Patrick’s elbow and ushered him to the stage.
“Fuck,” Patrick swore again. Maybe if I ignore it, it’ll go away on its own.
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Nick stripped as he walked from the door of the changing room to the shower. He washed quicker than usual so he could get out front to watch the Fall Out Boy show. It only took Nick five minutes to finish his shower. He dried off, pulled on some jeans, grabbed a hoodie, and headed out to the audience.
Nick couldn’t believe he was standing in the audience going unnoticed. Yet, there he was, a few rows back, staring up at the stage as Fall Out Boy took the stage and started their portion of the show. Nick also had a hard time believing that grown men would willingly wear pants that tight. Although, Nick had to admit the three out front made it work, especially when Patrick moved his guitar to the side. Nick got an eyeful of the nut-hugging wonders. No wonder Patrick could hit those high notes, Nick idly thought and grinned to himself.
Am I more than you bargained for yet?
Oh, don’t mind me I’m watching you two from the closet
wishing to be the friction in your jeans.
Isn’t it messed up
how I’m just dying to be him?
Nick couldn’t suppress his eye roll as he watched Pete come over and nuzzle Patrick’s shoulder. Nick closed his eyes and shook his head. Of course this would be when I can finally understand the fucking words to the song.
Nick looked back at the stage in time to see Patrick look right at him, give Nick the same smirk as before, before he broke into:
We’re going down, down
Doo bee doo bee doo wow
And sugar we’re going down swinging.
Nick looked around the audience. Had no one heard what Patrick just sang? The audience wasn’t laughing. They all reacted the same as they were a few seconds prior. Nick looked back at the stage. Patrick winked at Nick and continued to sing the rest of the song without changing back to the original words. At least, Nick was fairly sure of that.
A couple songs later, or maybe three or four (Nick had lost count), Nick realized he’d been concentrating on Patrick’s package again (which is why he lost count of the songs in the first place). But, come on! He’s only human, and when a package that incredible wiggles in front of your face, you pay attention to it! At least, that’s what Nick told himself.
Peroxide princess, shine like shark teeth
Nick jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“You’re going to get yourself mauled, Nicky.”
What if I peaked early
Nick looked down at AJ. “I haven’t been spotted yet except by the package. I mean Patcrotch. I mean… FUCK! That cute little thing wiggling his hips like nobody’s business up there is the only one who has spotted me. Well, him and you, obviously.
Does your husband know?
Does your husband know?
Does your husband know-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh?
“Man, that boy’s got some pipes,” AJ yelled over the noise from the screaming crowd, staring at the stage.
“Yea,” Nick beamed.
“But listen, Nick,” AJ spoke close to Nick’s ear, loud enough for only the two of them to hear. “Just because he looks and sounds like an angel, doesn’t mean he is.”
Nick glanced at AJ and smirked.
“And Brian is going to have a fit if he finds out you’re lusting after Patrick’s, um, package.”
Nick barked out a laugh. “Man, B would throw a fit if he heard you say ‘lusting after Patrick’s package’.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful with this kid, Nick. I mean it. We’re all worried, and Patrick is exactly the kind of thing that could send you back over the edge.”
“Or maybe,” Nick answered without taking his eyes off the stage. “Maybe he’s the angel that’ll fly me to safety.”
“Nick…”
“Dude, I’m kidding. C’mon, I just met the guy. He looks like Caleb. That’s a sign of danger even I can recognize. We’re cool.”
“Cool. Then I’ll trust you,” AJ said with a half-smile. “Hey, I actually know this one! ‘I’m a leading man, and the lies I weave are oh so intricate. Oh so intricate’.”
“That’s what he’s singing?” Nick yelled.
AJ nodded and laughed. “Yea. What the hell did you think he said?”
“Something I knew couldn’t be right, but could never hear anything different.”
AJ cocked an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Yea. Something about emos and cats. Patrick just needs to learn to enunciate. That’s all.”
AJ chuckled. “Or maybe you just need to clean out your ears.”
Nick and AJ were still chatting when Nick heard familiar music. “No way!”
“What’s up?” AJ asked.
“Dude, don’t you hear it? It’s Journey!” Nick’s face lit up. He started dancing, jumping, and singing at the top of his lungs.”
Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to that feeling
AJ put his hands on Nick’s shoulders and tried to hold him still. “Nick, calm down. People are staring. We don’t need to get mauled.”
Nick shrugged AJ’s hands off and continued jumping but stopped singing. Nick was so into it that he didn’t notice they were singing a different tune until it was almost over.
Dance, dance
Dance, dance
Dance, dance
Nick looked up as the song ended. Patrick was smiling down at him, sans guitar.
“So, we’ve all had an amazing time tonight.” It was the first time Patrick had spoken on stage. “You guys have been such an amazing crowd. I really hate to see this end. Unfortunately, it must. But before we go, we have one last song for you. For those of you who don’t know us, we always end our shows with this song. It’s become a tradition for Fall Out Boy shows. So, again, thanks for being amazing. Thanks for putting up with us tonight. We’ll see you next time.”
Nick stayed where he was long enough for Patrick to grab his guitar and begin the song before He grabbed AJ and left the crowd.
“I hate to admit it, but that loud mouth knows how to work a crowd,” AJ grumbled once they were safely backstage. “But I think… I think we may have just pulled off the impossible.”
“Unless there’s a riot in the next few minutes,” Nick said, smiling, sweating, and panting. “I think you’re right.”