Work Text:
Their tours have never ended like this, at the arrivals gate at LAX. Before now it was just getting off the bus at the last stop and heading home. This time though, for their first world tour, the last leg was in Australia--Brisbane to Sydney and then finally, Melbourne where they rocked out with nearly a hundred thousand strong in the stands of the Cricket Grounds. Julie has never, ever felt anything like that, the pulsating heart beats of that many people beating for them, for their music, for that connection she and the guys have craved since they were kids in her garage dreaming of a night like that and never quite believing it would come true.
Except for Luke. He always believed.
They’re in a tiny room, just adjacent to baggage claim in an attempt to avoid a small riot. Arrivals at LAX is notorious for paparazzi and rabid fans and autograph hounds just hanging around hoping for a brush with fame. It’s still something Julie’s getting used to, even after all these years in the spotlight. Their stars have never shined brighter than now and it feels like maybe they’ve crossed into a whole other level of celebrity. One she’s not sure she and the guys ever really wanted. Not even Luke. It’s always been about the music first, for all of them, but especially him.
He’s sprawled in one of the ancient looking leather chairs shoved against the wall, head resting on his hand, like he wouldn’t be able to keep it up without support. He carried them the whole way. She might be their frontwoman, but Luke’s the one who holds the band together even after six months on the road when none of them can stand the sight of each other anymore. He’s their glue. And he looks exhausted , but not so much that he can’t spare her a small, crooked grin when their eyes meet.
They did it. Just like he always knew they would.
And now it’s time for rest.
Reggie and Alex are gone, their cars pulled up first and after long, lingering (and silent since none of them should really even attempt talking for a couple of weeks) hugs, their drummer went home to his boyfriend and their bassist out into the Los Angeles nightlife he’d been missing for months.
Security told Julie her car would be next and then Luke’s and they’re true to their word when a large, bald man sticks his head inside the door and nods to her, the fluorescent light of the ceiling reflecting off his forehead.
“Ms. Molina, your car is here.”
That has Luke out of his crappy chair, even before she can move toward her small carry-on suitcase (the rest of her luggage was shipped to her Dad’s house, where she’ll be staying until she can find a new place to live…serves her right for selling right before a massive tour…).
“You headed to Josh’s?” Luke rasps, pulling her bag toward her. It sends a wild shiver down her spine. He shouldn’t be talking, but his voice is incredibly hot when it’s low and rough like that, even when he’s asking her about her boyfriend…who…she’s barely sure is even her boyfriend anymore. They haven’t seen each other in half a year and while they tried their best to talk as much as they could, time zones and their wild schedules always seemed to get in the way. She’s home now though and he’s headed into his off season soon, so maybe…maybe they can figure out if there’s something there worth fighting for.
She can’t worry about that now though. All she wants is a shower and her bed, even if it is her childhood bed and not the massive soft mattress she has in storage waiting for a new bedroom to live in.
“No, my dad’s,” she whispers, pretty sure that she’d told him already where she’d be staying.
He nods slowly, but doesn’t let go of her suitcase.
Reaching out for it, her hand lands on top of his and she can’t help but just stare at it for a second, his fingers wrapped around the handle, thick and strong and callused, so much bigger than hers and as he slides it out from beneath hers, she almost wishes he wouldn’t or maybe instead that he’d reach for her and just…and just what, Julie?
She’s exhausted. It has her mind meandering down trains of thought that she’d long banned herself from traveling again. That way madness lies. Because that’s what thinking about Luke that way would be, total, complete and unrequited madness.
“Ms. Molina?” the security guard calls.
She sends him a grin and a nod over Luke’s shoulder. Turning towards him, he’s a little bit closer now, his tired eyes hooded as he opens his arms for her to step into, to say goodbye.
This she can allow herself. A friendly hug, just like the hugs she gave to Reggie and Alex, squeezing them tight because they won’t see each other nearly every minute of every day for however long they can hold out this time before they give in and start up on the next album. That’s all it is. That’s all it can be.
His arms wrap around her entirely as she rests her head against his chest. He’s warm…so incredibly warm, just like always and when her arms come around him, he squeezes her just a little bit tighter, rocking back on his heels to lift her against him, firm and strong and so entirely Luke that her exhausted body just collapses into the embrace, letting him hold her up for another few seconds, just like he did for the last few months.
But then the security guard is clearing his throat impatiently and Luke’s grip loosens before it falls away entirely and she has to drop back down from the tips of her toes.
“I’ll see you when I see you?” she asks, trying to keep it light and forcing down the sudden lump in her throat. This is barely a goodbye. Odds are they’ll break in less than a week and they’ll be back to Friday night dinners at her dad’s and long rehearsals and writing sessions in her mom’s studio before she knows it.
He doesn’t step back though, doesn’t bounce on the balls of his feet in place or kick out a foot before heading to his chair to wait for his car. Instead, he rocks forward, just a little, hovering, leaning and for a wild millisecond, Julie thinks his gaze flickers to her mouth. And…maybe it did because he reaches out, his hand landing on her shoulder, those strong, thick, callused fingers long enough to brush against her neck as he ducks his head and presses a warm, gentle kiss against her cheek.
“See you when I see you, boss,” he whispers against her skin, sending a flurry of goosebumps over the column of her neck and an embarrassing shiver through her entire body as she lets out a reedy breath.
Finally, he moves away, his hand falling to his side and she grips the handle of her suitcase even tighter and she strides to the door, nodding to the security guard and following the larger man out into the sea of people and she doesn’t look back because if she does…she won’t be able to leave at all.