Chapter Text
The light was low, the air filled with smoke; the cigarette was burning between his own lips, but it was in another set of fingers. Jim smiled lazily, his fingers finding warm skin beneath them and squeezing lightly. He couldn’t quite remember how he’d gotten in here, and especially not how he’d ended up with a lap full of Freddie Mercury, but he didn’t mind. The room around them was busy, drinks and drugs moving easily from person to person; he held a glass of vodka in one hand.
Freddie was laughing as he tried to pull the cigarette from Jim’s lips. “Darling!” He insisted, cupping Jim’s cheek with one hand. “You simply have to tell me your name. I have to know you.” He implored, grinning with satisfaction as the cigarette came away from cherry-red lips.
“Absolutely not, Mr. Mercury.” Jim smiled in response. “I’m not rock’n’roll enough.” He gripped Freddie’s waist as he shifted, the older man straddling his hips.
“You’re deplorable.” Freddie leaned closer, gripping Jim’s jaw. “Is that why I always see you hanging around stage doors, hm?” He tilted his chin up carefully. The room was buzzing with energy around them, the party well into its swing by now, but Freddie wasn’t perturbed as he leaned in to kiss him. Jim ran a hand up to his hair as they kissed; there was a buzz of power rushing through his veins. It had taken months of trying to get Freddie’s attention.
Freddie took deep satisfaction in seeing the young man below him chase after his kiss. “This was what you wanted?” He said, his voice low. “You wanted to be a groupie, to be taken all over the world?” He ran a thumb over Jim’s lower lip. “I can give you that.”
Jim kissed the pad of his thumb slowly. “Big promises.” He said quietly, his other hand resting on Freddie’s waist. “You’ve worked hard enough.” Freddie smirked, pushing Jim’s hair back lightly. “But there’s one more thing you need to do.” He leaned closer, barely brushing their lips together. “Tell me your name, sweetheart.”
“Never.” Jim grinned against his lips before catching him in another kiss. “You’ll have to name me yourself.” He gripped Freddie’s hair tighter: he felt his breath falter, watched his eyes flutter slightly.
“Name you myself?” Freddie smirked, running his hands down Jim’s chest. “You do spoil me. I’ll call you Lauren.” He took Jim’s drink and downed it quickly, noticing the way that Jim’s eyes followed the movement of his throat.
Jim licked his lips a little. “Lauren?” He responded after a belated pause. “I look like a Lauren?” Freddie shrugged and grinned. “I’m Melina, Brian is Maggie, Rog is Liz, John is Belisha, you’re Lauren.”
Jim leaned up to kiss him again, relishing how easily he seemed to be getting the attention of the singer. He heard the sound of glass smashing and pulled away from him slightly, watching Freddie’s face for any hint of annoyance. “I think they’re breaking your glasses, baby.” He murmured. Freddie arched his eyebrow at the name, leaning closer to Jim; he rested both of his hands on his chest, barely centimetres away from him.
“What did you just call me?” Freddie asked, a Cheshire-cat smile on his lips. “You are getting far too comfortable, my darling.” He said teasingly. The way that Jim gripped his hip bones made him shiver. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
Jim let himself sink back amongst the cushions as Freddie pushed him back into the chair. “Who says I won’t keep them?” He asked softly. They were speaking in code, but he’d expected it: Freddie Mercury was an enigma, and he wasn’t about to change for Jim.
“You’re a groupie, darling.” Freddie said; Jim hated the patronising tone of his voice. “I don’t trust that you’ve got nice clean morals. I’m sure the Daily Mail would pay thousands for your story.”
Jim grabbed Freddie by the back of the neck, pulling him into another kiss. “Just because I’m a groupie, doesn’t mean I’m a slut.” He murmured against his lips. He noticed the way that Freddie’s breath seemed to falter, the way his lips parted so easily when Jim deepened the kiss. Freddie was like wax in his hands, so easy to mould and to move, so smooth. “If I were interested in a story, I’d have you on your knees by now.”
“Fuck.” Freddie murmured, grabbing onto Jim’s collar. “Don’t think that you can just use me in any which way you please.” He murmured warningly. He pushed Jim away firmly, regaining his control. “Don’t think that you can just throw my coat over the window and then everything will be fine. Don’t think you can just slip out the window tomorrow morning.”
Jim grinned and sat back. “You promised me all over the world. Why would I leave tomorrow morning?” He reached his hand up to tuck Freddie’s hair from his face. “If you get me out of Ireland, I’ll do anything you want.”
A spark of challenge ignited Freddie’s face, enlivened him with passion. “You’ve missed the European tour.” He said, surprisingly matter-of-fact for how drunk he was. “So I’ll have to take you back to London. Kensington. How does that sound?”
“Perfect.” He said immediately, leaning up to kiss Freddie again. Freddie pushed him back down, smirking at how helpless Jim looked beneath him. “You know, the groupies usually go for Roger.” He mused, sliding his hands underneath Jim’s shirt.
“You think he’d bottom for me?” Jim asked with a smirk, and Freddie groaned. “You have no idea what I’m going to do to you.” He purred, pinning Jim’s wrist down when he tried to move his arm. “You’re not going to know what’s hit you.”
“Then tell me.” Jim grinned; his cheeks were flushing, betraying a strange combination of arousal and nervous excitement.
“You and I, we’re going to be the life of the party.” He told him. “I’m going to show you things you never thought you’d see in London. I’ll show you grace.” He trailed a hand through Jim’s hair. “I’ll show you debauchery.” His voice dropped. “I’ll show you the places that’ll change your world.” He kissed him again then, slow and deep, pinning Jim completely beneath him.
He was interrupted by a tapping on his shoulder; Roger was standing beside them, looking over them distastefully. Freddie glanced up and smirked, taking Roger’s drink. “Thanks, darling.” He said playfully, shooting him a wink. “What can I do for you?”
“Who’s this?” Roger asked, signalling at Jim. “This!” Freddie grinned as he stood up. “This is Lauren, my dear.” He was unsteady on his feet: Roger steadied him with a hand on his lower back. “The newest member of the team.”
Roger took one look at Jim, rolled his eyes and then glanced back at Freddie. “You’re being ridiculous.” He tried to sound firm, but he couldn’t help the fondness that slipped into his voice. “You can’t just pick up a student.” He chastised him, trying to move Freddie away.
“I am not being ridiculous!” Freddie shook Roger’s arm away from him. “He’s coming to London with us.” The resolute tone of Freddie’s voice was a surprise to Roger, who found himself grinning. “We’ll see what you’re saying tomorrow morning.” Roger smirked as he turned away, easily slipping into the crowd of people dancing.
“Arsehole!” Freddie shouted after him. He faltered again, tripped, and fell directly into the arms of Jim who was standing just behind him. He took the opportunity to turn around and wrap his arms around Jim’s neck. “Now, my darling, where were we?”