Chapter Text
On nights like this, Avery wished he didn't join that band in the first place. With anger filling his lungs, only being spurred on by the cold bite of the air, he grumbled his way home. Ever since their vocalist ditched them, Avery had to take up the role of finding a new one, as the other members didn't try hard enough in his eyes.
"Ungrateful asses." He huffed to no one in particular. "I give them new options almost weekly, and they shut them down each time."
The sound of the door slamming behind him was barely registered in his aching mind, too frustrated and tired to care if that already squeaky hinge would cry out louder than his neighbors appreciated. Setting his case down carefully, wary to damage his guitar, he sat in his kitchen for a while, staring at his phone aimlessly.
Never go to sleep angry.
His mother often reminded him of that each time his anger would grasp and take hold of him, and even into his first year of living alone he kept those words in his heart. He sighed, running a tired and calloused hand through his black and white bangs. He pulled the black rubber band from his hair, letting the rest of it free. Deeming himself calmed enough, he tiredly stumbled his way to his bedroom, barely getting himself changed before dropping down onto his bed. In the moonlit dimness of the room, these issues began to seem infinitesimal to him, yeah so they needed a new vocalist. It's not like one would just appear to him out of nowhere. Never mind that it was his drummer, and his brother's, birthday that next day and the group had decided they'd go out all night, being dumb and young as they so desperately held onto that desire to be kids again.
As these thoughts continued to swell and perforate inside his mind, he didn't even realize until the next morning that he had fallen asleep.
The loud, blaring noise of his obnoxious alarm startled him awake, and he groaned as he slammed his hand down onto his phone screen. The plush sheets and blankets begged him to stay, Avery wanting desperately to shuffle under them like a cocoon of warmth - but college called to him. If Avery wasn't responsible for paying off his student loans, he would have considered just letting the day drift past in a blissful array of cozy blankets and plush pillows. Groaning the entire time, Avery pulled himself up. He sighed as he shuffled himself into his bathroom, hands slamming down onto his counter. He started at the sleep-deprived man matching his movements in the glass, tracing the dark under-eyes and almost unkempt stubble resting on his chin. ' Rugged' he thought to himself with a small laugh. The epiphanies of last night clouded his mind once more as he brushed his teeth.
'I mean, yeah, I always sang harmony with our old vocalist. His tenor always worked so well with my baritone.' He sighed, rinsing his mouth.
With a careful comb, he began brushing the long, shaggy bristles of his hair. 'And just because I can't seem to find someone who can accept the dissonance and use it to our advantage doesn't mean I won't ever... right? I'll just have to look harder. I'm always the background vocals with the bass guitar, I want to find someone who I can harmonize with, to challenge and hold up with my voice.' Avery groaned loudly, tying the laces of his boots.
Avery stared at the floor of his living room, the silence was the only thing to tell him goodbye. He sighed as he left, that squeaky hinge on his door singing its own tenor as he shut that door.
That day at university was slow as usual. He had told his parents he was loving his classes, but the truth was that he wasn't. Things so often kept him from that childlike curiosity that he started his music performance major with. He was burned out, the gnawing teeth of reality chewed and pulled at his sanity.
Avery's steps were heavy and tired, a contrast to the quick and light steps coming behind him. His eyebrow twitched as he heard the concrete behind him gaining a louder tempo as someone neared him. He looked down to see a white object floating against the ground. His head tilted in a dog-like manner as he saw the lines across it. 'Music notes?' He wondered bending down to grab it. He took the paper in his hand and stood, turning around at the last second, coming chest-to-chest with someone. He grunted and stumbled back as he collided with them, the paper crushing within his grasp. He scoffed and pulled back, looking at the person in front of him.
"Give that back," the person said, reaching out to take the paper back from him.
Avery looked down at them, the person - the man - was considerably smaller than him, both in height and stature. His dark, rich-toned skin meshed with his even darker unkempt-looking hair. Two pairs of green eyes met, Avery's own bluish-tinted ones looking down at the yellow-toned emeralds. The most noticeable factor of this man lay on top of his head, the pair of equally fluffy cat-like ears, poised back and annoyed. Avery's pale, bluish skin reached over to look at the paper. He scanned over it quickly.
"Music, hmm?" He asked, looking down at the man.
He huffed and reached over again, "Yes, now give it back you goliath." He said, ears twitching in annoyance as his arms folded over his chest.
Avery smiled and gave it back to him. "Not teasing, just interested." He hummed, watching as the smaller one took it and quickly folded it. "I like writing music too, is this your own composition?" He asked, smiling down at the man.
The tanned man bit at his lip, tugging the skin between his teeth. "Yeah, it is. It's my project, but I don't have the shit to work on it all the way." He sighed, "I'm Cody if it matters." The mumble that came from him seemed on edge, almost as if he didn't want to stay in this conversation.
Avery smiled, noting the name in his mind. "Cody, hmm? Well, I'm Avery, and I'll assume you're also a music major?" He asked, stepping back to give Cody some space.
Cody nodded slowly, eyes glancing away from the taller. "Yeah." He breathed out, ears slowly raising more. "And because I'm a music major with a busy schedule, I'm going to go now."
Before Avery was able to speak more, an enthusiastic hug from behind caught him off guard. His brother.
"Avery! Let's go! The boys and I have been waiting for you," he whined out, shaking Avery's shoulders. Avery looked over and him and then back at where Cody was, the smaller already had dashed off at the second Avery was distracted. Avery chuckled and shook his head. "Okay, okay, let's go." He sighed, turning to walk with his brother.
Avery and his brother, the more energetic of the two, met back up with the others - a shorter but softer-looking man turned and smiled at them, round cheeks flaring with happiness.
"Toby," Avery chimed, meeting him in the middle with a handshake the whole band shared. "Cas!"
Another man joined the greeting, a stalky but handsome guy, pulling Avery into a half hug. The group didn't speak of the argument, it was a normalcy to them at this point.
Toby, the band's lead guitarist, smiled wide as he lead the group forward with Avery at his side. Cas, the one on the keys, walked behind them. Cas spoke first, "So Keith wanted to stop by his girl's house, pick her up and bring her with us if that's okay, Ave." He said, motioning to Avery's brother. The group saw Avery as the peacekeeper, the big brother of the group. Avery chuckled and glanced behind him. "Really? I'm surprised she wasn't already here, Keith. You two are joined at the hip." He joked, ultimately agreeing that bringing her was fine.
As they arrived at her house, a joyful and happy girl erupted from the front door, rushing over and hugging each member. Avery pulled her in close and hugged her back, chuckling out his hello. "Nice to see you too, El." He hummed, patting her on the back. She smiled and kissed Avery's cheek, her greeting she gave everyone. She moved to the back of the group, walking with everyone. The group adored Eleanor, she always had honest feedback for them, even though she didn't know much about music herself.
The group chatted and joked while they walked to their first stop of the night, a karaoke bar. Rushing in, the group of 5 all walked in and found themselves settled down at a long table, many other patrons sat around them. There were no strangers in there, everyone came here for a good time, to meet new people, to get rid of insecurities, and all of that sort.
Avery smiled as he watched the person stand up at the front, singing along to some song. Avery chuckled and sat back as he watched them pour their heart into it. Avery glanced over at his group, watching them already talking about who would sing first, and the three boys trying to get Eleanor to go first.
Avery was pulled from his staring as a person sat next to him, scooting their chair away slightly. Avery looked over, a smile forming on his chapped lips as he saw the person from before. "Fancy seeing you here, Cody was it?" He said, leaning on the table.
The other just sighed, "Are you following me?" He joked, at least Avery thought It was a joke. "I came here with a friend. She's the one up there now." He sighed, looking up at the woman singing her heart out. Avery nodded and laughed softly, "I'm here for my brother, are you planning on singing tonight?"
Cody laughed and shook his head, "I couldn't. That's a bit... much." He sighed, playing with the skin on his fingers.
Avery shrugged, "I mean, why not? You are a music major after all, and your hands tell me you're not a guitarist or a drummer." He hummed, motioning to his hands.
Cody pulled his hands off of the table, setting them on his lap. "Are you profiling me?" He asked, looking annoyed.
Avery laughed and shook his head, "No, just observant. Look, my hands have these calluses and cuts on them from my guitar, and that drink you have isn't strong, almost like you don't want to stress your vocal cords." Avery said, sitting back and crossing his arms.
Cody just shrugged, "Pretty spot on, to be honest. Yeah, I sing. But I don't sing for others." He sighed, looking away from Avery.
Avery nodded and looked over at the woman ending her song. "Well, why don't I go up there and show you it's fun?" He said, nudging him.
Cody's shoulder tensed at the nudge, and he looked over at him. "Go right ahead. Not like it's going to change my mind." He sighed, chewing on his lip.