Chapter Text
"a battle huh?"
A deep rough voice chimed in, in a very British accent, it came from the tall man wearing a red
beanie, yellow sweater and jeans. His hair was light brown and curly just coving one of his eyes nearly, when he smiled his face creased and it was almost impossible how pure it was. Yet the male was definitely not pure, he knew how to tease and prod and poke people until they caved and gave him a reaction he sought.
Wilbur a fellow exchange from the UK was in a band, well if you could even call it that. Wilbur, Quackity and Conner wanted to form a band and they did well for the moment, Wilbur lead singer, Quackity on Guitar and Conner on drums and Techno ( Wilbur's younger adopted brother he had roped in) on bass Guitar. They were good, great in fact...that was until Techno started University, See Techno was an English Major and his dream University was on the other side of the country so Wilbur took over Vocals and bass and was on the hunt to find a new lead singer. As a joke George sang once, Wilbur believed the boy had potential if he didn’t act silly. And boy did he, his voice was amazing.
"so what you think gogy? Are you in?"
The smaller male sighed, he knew it was a great opportunity for Wilbur's Band, Wilbur needed him and George could do with the extra money. Finales were coming up... He crossed his arms over his chest as he adjusted his glasses, normal seeing glasses. Along with the glasses he wore a blue sweater vest and a white shirt and black pants. His hair was much thicker and darker than Wilbur's.
"I don't think I have a say in the matter... Do I?..."
"nope!"
Wilbur beamed as he put his arm around George pulling him in close the smaller groaned at the newfound weight on his shoulders.
"Just think about it, if they see potential in us we could be going place!"
"but Wilbur," George shrugged the male off him "you know I'm only agreeing to do this while I'm at university, once uni is over so is my time in the band."
" I know... But that's ok! You don't have to stay, you can leave and ill take over the vocals or we'll find someone new..and you've heard Quackity sing in the shower he can do back up. Don't worry man, besides Techno will be back after Finals too.. " (even though he knew Techno wasn't really interested in joining the band again, it had just been a fun past time for the boy) Wilbur smiled as he patted the smaller’s back "I've got it all figured out, trust me?"
George sighed he knew it was a bad idea, Wilbur was a good friend, a great friend in fact but his plans didn't always work out.
"fine, I'll do it.."
"yes! That's what I'm talking about! Come on let's go tell the others!"
It had been a year now since George moved to the US to study code. Why go to the US when he could stay at home? Simple. George wanted to move to the US one day so why not start adapting to the country now, only one problem. George didn’t come from a well off family, he wasn’t poor either but he wasn’t rich. Last year it had been tight but this year was much worse, he honestly wasn’t sure he’d be able to get by and maybe have to go back home. That was until Wilbur pitched this insane idea to him, one George didn’t approve of but he had bills to pay...
So that's how George found himself at the Server club back doors wearing clothes he usually wouldn’t, he had a white shirt, blue tie, and a black mesh turtleneck on under the shirt with ripped jeans. You cant forget the obnoxious clout goggles over his eyes, see George didn’t want to be recognized. The Club didn’t use to be that popular but after the Crew boys began performing and Karl started working there the place got quite popular and the members of the band got recognized a bit seen as it was a popular club to go to close by the university that George went to along with several other members of the band. George just wanted to live his peaceful life, he wanted to continue being invisible and focusing on his studies. So his “Amazing” friend Wilbur came up with another idea to hide his identity, an idea stolen from the Crew boys as they all went by stage names and hid their faces with masks, bandanas and makeup. George took a deep breath as he pushed the glasses further up his nose.
“Are you sure this will work?”
“Trust me, Georgie, under the lighting and smoke no one will know it's you. “ Wilbur smiled as he looked down at the smaller male, coming up behind them was Karl he smiled as he reached out and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder causing George to jump slightly which gained a bubbly giggle from the taller male in a purple swirl shirt and ripped jeans.
“ I got ya covered, after all, I'm on lighting so ill make sure the isn't too much on you. Isn't it great to have a friend who works here heh, now come on don’t wanna miss your first performance? “
George sighed as he pushed open the door that led backstage, Wilbur showed George where he could keep his belongings while Karl on the other hand ran off to go talk to Pandas. Pandas were the Guitarist for the Crew boys, Pandas of course wasn’t his actual name either but Karl didn’t know his identity....yet.
Quackity was tuning his guitar when George approached him “ Goggyyyy my maaaan” he opened his arms George frowned as he shushed the boy.
“careful you'll blow my cover already it's 404 remember.”
“riiiight... Of course, a science major would pick a literal code name....kinda lame dude”
“it's better than XD” Wilbur chimed in with a smirk saying it loud enough for the lead singer of the crew boys to hear.
“true, that do be kinda cringe” Conner agreed who had walked over to the group finally, kinda looking like the lost child he was completely and utterly out of place.
“why would someone even go by that name? “ George asked.
“maybe it has sentimental meaning to the person.” a voice came from behind George which caused the boy to spin around on his hells rather quickly. The owner of the voice wore a Yellow hoodie along with black pants and a chain on the pants, under the hoodie he had a black turtleneck and black face mask. He had his hood pulled up along with his clearly dirty blond hair that just fell over his eyes. “ I'm XD, lead singer of the Crew boys .” XD held out his hand to George.
George slowly took the guy's hand “ uh G-404...new Lead singer of SBI”
“oh? Secret identity? “
“mhm, id like to keep my private life....well private.”
“mhm I get that, so Wilbur you're stepping down as lead vocalist? Damn, I'm gonna miss that sweet voice of yours.”
Wilbur smiled as she crossed his arms “ yea man, next to 404 I just can't compare. But ill be on backup vocals so you won't have to miss me too much . “ he winked at XD with a smirk which caused a wheezy laugh to escape the other male.
“I see ha..hah...” his attention fell back to George who was frowning his brows up at the other male. “ well I look forward to the friendly competition, don’t be too sad when our band get the Loudest cheer though.”
“ha! “ George scoffed “ we’ll see shall we, ill make you eat your words”
“hahaha feisty, where did you find this guy Wilbur. I like him.”
“ ah I've been hoarding him all to myself, he lives in my closest we only let him out to sing.”
George scoffed “ I do not live in Wilbur's closet.”
“But you do live in a closet “ Quackity muttered which caused him to giggle at his own Joke George shot the other a glare, XD raised his brow not hearing the other.
“ well ill leave you guys to get ready, we are up first. I cant wait to see what not found can do.” with that Dream left, George frowned as he watched him leave his gaze not leaving the taller boy.
“who's not found?” Conner asked.
No one answered him. No one ever answers Conner. He just exists.
As the lights came up George could swear his heart was about to leap right out of his chest, he could hear the pounding in his ears over the cheer of the small crowd within the club. He could also hear the faint mumbles as he took centre stage.
‘whos that?’
‘he's kindaaaa..’
‘did they get a new singer’
As if the nerves of standing up there wasn't terrifying alone the faint conversations and questions about him were just adding to it, before he could overthink and allow his nerves to get the better of him he made eye contact with a yellow man... suddenly his stubborn competitive side to be right overtook his will to want to run off and hide. And with that George or well 404 heard the first few cords of Quackity’s Guitar and they were off, next was the drums then the bass and lastly...
George's voice was raw, it was clear he was new to this. He didn't have much technique but that was only noticeable to the likes of Wilbur, Quackity and XD. Even then his natural talent was more than enough, the crowd was already in love with his sweet melody. George was definitely a Tenor, which was the higher group for male singers. His vocal range was so flexible and diverse for someone so new, Wilbur was right. George had potential, shame it was only temporary and soon to waste away. George didn't want to be a singer, it wasn't something he had considered, but the adrenalin rush he got, Boy was this far more fun than he had expected.
The song soon came to a close and just as Karl promised not too much light had been shone on him which left the crowd muttering and whispering wondering who the new singer was, where he had come from. That was a question that would remain unanswered as Wilbur took his mic and began to speak.
“Thank you all, you're probably all wondering where my dear brother is and who this new fellow is. Well, I'm sad to say Techno has moved to California for University BUT don't be too sad!” Wilbur cut off the crowd as a few awwed in disappointment. “ we gained a new member with an amazing voice might I add, please give a cheer for our newest member 404!!”
The crowd did as Wilbur said and gave a loud cheer, this reaction surprised George. He couldn't work out if it was his own popularity or Wilbur's that caused such a loud cheer but wasn't complaining as he gained a massive grin that spread across his face from ear to ear. Wilbur handed the mic to George who stared up at the taller confused.
“say a few words...”
404 frowned as he nervously took the mic all the fear setting in once again in the pit of his stomach, a churning sea of emotions.. “um hi...I'm 404” more mutters could be heard from the crowned again.
‘omg his accent’
‘he's British too’
Wow did George feel embarrassed he was so easily flustered, this kind of attention was new.
“ hi..um right hah... wow, I want to keep my private life private for now, I hope that's ok and you all can address me as 404. Thank you...”George handed the mic back to Wilbur quickly and took a step back further into the dark, Wilbur chuckled at his fellow bandmate curried to hideaway.
“ haha yea thank you all you were all a great audience once again, we’d also like to announce we’ll be taking part in the battle of the bands starting next week so make sure to come cheer for us ok? night !” Wilbur gave a small wave as the crowd cheered one last time for them as they exited the stage.
George found the first chair he could and sank into it sighing as his whole body relaxed.
“That was terrifying...”
“you get used to...” a voice came from the left of 404 causing the boy to sit up in his seat straight, his gaze followed a tall slender figure wearing yellow. “ You sound great...like really really good..”
“thank you?....” the brit responded as he raised a brow “ should you be complimenting your competition though?”
“hehe, we aren’t enemies yet, even so, cant I appreciate an artist and his work?”
A faint blush rose the boy's cheeks, he shook his head.
XD smirked watching the boy's mouth open in a small o shape as he processed his words “are you sure your name isn't words not found?” he snickers “any way we are up now so see ya around I guess?”
404 nodded, the lack of words gained another snicker from the taller male as he jogged off to join his band who began setting up on stage.
“40444444” an annoying child's voice could be heard growing louder as the owner of the voice approached but George's eyes were still fixed on the blond head as he watched the male enter the stage. “ um hello?” the voice questioned as they stood right next to him now, it sounded distant and muffled to George “ what are you looking at...” then a gasp escaped the boy dressed in badge jeans and a red and white shirt. “ someone has a crush on the enemy ???”
404 quickly shot up from his seat and glared at the boy who was annoyingly taller than him yet he was 16. “what ?!? No!!”
“hmmmm? what's this? our pressures Gogy has a crush?” Quackity asked as he came up behind Tommy his hand in his pockets after putting away his belongings.
“tch, I do not! and stop calling me that while we are here Quackity...I like to keep my identity secret for more than just an hour.”
“George like-“ Tommy tried to speak but was stopped as a hand came over the boy's mouth to silence him.
“Sorry mate, I don't usually let the kid come with me during the week ‘cause he's got school but he had to see ya debuted..”
Philza, Tommy's, Wilbur and Techno’s dad and Wilbur's band manager. Tommy was scowling up at his father who held his hand over the boy's hand he slowly removed it once he was confident the boy would remain quiet.
George sighed as he ran his hands through his hair “it's ok... Thanks for coming Phil..”
“ Of course, it's my job”