Good Love - Chapter Five
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
People were everywhere, in the audience, backstage. In order to keep traffic at a low, the people performing in the concert would sit in the first few rows until it was the person before them, and then they’d go backstage and get ready for their song. Joe, Demi and Taylor had done a song from Aida that left the audience speechless; this year’s theme for the event was Broadway. Nick had performed something from Les Mis, and also something from Cats. He and Joe were up next and then Joe was doing something by himself.
He and Joe got ready to go on stage and he gave the older man a tentative smile which was returned at full force, Joe’s lips spreading wide, white teeth gleaming as the corners of his eyes tilted upward. It took Nick’s breath away how much a single smile of his affected Joe. They performed Loathing from Wicked, knowing it would get a few laughs, and it did. Then Nick headed off the stage and stayed in the wings to watch Joe perform.
“Alright, so I’m singing something else from Aida and it’s a song that really means something to me…I hope you like it.” The music started and Nick knew Joe was supposed to be singing something from Rent, they’d gone over their songs together countless times. His breath hitched in his throat as he recognized the music and his hands clenched into fists at his sides as he walked slowly back onto the stage with a mic to back Joe up. His brother didn’t see him, looking out at the audience as he started to sing.
“I once knew all the answers, I stood on certain ground.” Joe’s voice was low, so serious, and it seemed to grip something inside of him and tug on all his heartstrings. His brother sounded good, no…amazing. “A picture of true happiness, confidence so effortless no brighter could be found.”
“Oh no…” Nick sang softly and Joe turned to look at him, surprised. Nick offered a small smile even as Joe began to sing again, recovering quickly. They were performers, if they didn’t recover fast, people would know something was up.
“I never asked the questions that trouble me today.” His voice was steady and Nick was proud of him. “I knew all there was to know, love worn lightly and put on show. My conquests on display.”
“I can’t believe he’s changing,” Nick sang a bit louder than before, but still not loud enough to overshadow his brother.
“And who’d have thought that confidence could die?” Nick sang the backup parts quietly, eyes on Joe for his cues. They’d both loved this play, and he realized he shouldn’t have been surprised at Joe changing his song selection to fit his mood and their situation. “That all I took for granted was a lie. Not me, not me…And who’d have guessed I’d throw my world away,” their eyes locked as Joe finished. “To be with someone I’m afraid will say.”
Nick sang the next part strongly, “This can never be…”
“Not me…” Joe looked away, eyes slipping closed.
“He’s in love, but he’s not the only one…who’ll be changed,” Nick sang out, his own eyes closing as he really felt the meaning of the words. Joe was in love. With him. It affected everyone right down to millions of people they didn’t even know.
There was a part of the song where someone was supposed to speak, and they let the music play, each walking to opposite ends of the stage, crossing paths and Nick brushed his hand along Joe’s back. Joe’s mouth opened once more and those sweet notes poured out. “I shall not envy lovers, but long for what they share. An empty room is merciless,” he looked down, falling to his knees. “Don’t be surprised if I confess…I need some comfort there.”
They sang together and Nick walked over to Joe, offering a hand to help the older man stand. “And who’d have thought that love could be so good? Not me, not me… And show me things I never understood. Not me, Not me.” Joe took the offered hand in the space between phrases and Joe sang the next part alone again.
“And who’d have guessed I’d throw my world away, to be with someone ‘til my dying day…” His voice was loud, true, and there was genuine pain behind it if someone knew what they were listening to. “Not me….not me.”
Nick took the next part with him again. “And who’d have thought that love could be so good? Not me, not me… My secrets and my passions understood… Not me, not me.” They turned and looked at each other, singing passionately and Nick felt his cheeks flush, sweat on his forehead as he meant every word. “Who’d have guessed I’d throw my world away, to be with someone ‘til my dying day? Not me…this can never be. Not me…”
When they were finished the crowd sat in stunned silence, which meant more to Nick than immediate applause. It meant the performance had really touched them. Someone stood up and started clapping, and soon everyone was doing the same and raucous applause flooded his ears at the standing ovation. He put his mic back in the stand and Joe did the same and they walked off the stage together, heading to their seats in silence to watch the rest of the concert.
~*~*~
“How do I look?” Joe asked, turning to face Nick after putting on his bow-tie. They were both wearing tuxedos and they were both in a nice, white color. They and their brides were all wearing the symbolical white and Nick felt like a big, fat liar as he adjusted the lapel.
“You look…amazing,” he said honestly, smiling at his brother genuinely. Joe grinned back at him like he had at the concert and Nick felt his heart skip a beat. “You ready?” Nick asked, smoothing a few strands of hair from his brother’s forehead.
“Never…” Joe breathed, lips parted and eyes closed, leaning into the touch. Nick let his hand fall but Joe caught it with his own, eyes now open once more and locked on the point of contact as if he were never going to let go. Finally those chocolate brown hues moved upward, but stopped at Nick’s lips. That had happened so many time in Nick’s life he’d never bothered counting. One day he had decided to count, but when he realized Joe stared even when he wasn’t looking, he also realized how fruitless that was. Joe’s eyes just seemed inexplicably drawn to those pouty, too-big lips, and Nick felt self-conscious - especially at the dip in the lower one and the weird, puckered deformity under it. Barely noticeable, true, but Nick knew it was there. Part of him knew Joe liked it, though, and he gasped as a sensory memory of Joe licking and sucking on it wracked his mind and body.
They were kissing on the swing at the park and Joe licked Nick’s lips slowly as if memorizing them, tongue tracing their gentle curves and then following the seam between them and lower, flicking over the way the skin puckered out weirdly in the center, below his bottom lip. Nick moaned, surprised at how good it felt and Joe said, “Love that you’re not stopping me. Always wanted to do that…” His voice was quiet like it wasn’t dark out and the park wasn’t deserted except for them and their friends, and it made the younger man shiver. “Love kissing you…”
And then that tongue pushed between Nick’s lips which were soft and pliant, opening so easily for his older brother who had always been there for him no matter what Nick needed or wanted. Even though Nick had sometimes felt unworthy of having such a magnificent brother when he had those secret desires and fantasies about the very same man helping through all his problems. If Nick didn’t want to talk about something, Joe didn’t push him, and so many times Nick had woken up and Joe had been there holding him, comforting him for feeling those sinful emotions. If he’d known Joe had felt the same way before tonight, would he have ever acted on it? He wasn’t sure, there were so many people and things that kept them apart, it was no wonder it had taken Nick’s first time drinking to bring them together - Joe’s first time drinking with Nick.
Their eyes met finally and Nick brought his free hand to Joe’s cheek, cupping it gently and couldn’t help but smile when his brother nuzzled into it like a kitten, eyes closing halfway and his own smile tugging those pink lips upward. Nick tilted forward, they were standing so close anyway that a hard breath would have made them collide, and when his lips touched Joe’s it felt like home. It felt like walking into a hotel room with Joe and all being right in the world, felt like coming home from a long trip and just sinking into the couch with some takeout or delivery food. Shit, it felt like every home-cooked meal in the world and he wished he could come home every day and have this wonderful, sweet, imperfect man cooking for him and being with him, sleeping with him…and he wanted it for forever. Everyone had flaws and Joe was definitely far from perfect, but he was perfect for Nick.
The kiss was over too soon as a loud knock on the door made them break apart fast and their mom came in, looking from one flushed face to the other and misinterpreting their nerves for those of last minute jitters. “Everything’s ready,” she said, smiling at them and kissing both of them on the cheek. They kissed back and hugged her tight, and she asked, “If you’re ready, that is?”
Nick let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding since she’d come in and looked at Joe who smiled sadly at him. He knew Joe’s answer would be whatever Nick’s answer was, and it made him hesitate for a brief moment before looking down at his leather shoes. “I’m ready, Mama.” Joe said the same and they followed her out, Nick bringing up the rear and a hand on his brother’s elbow. He wondered if it was more to steady Joe or himself, and then he realized it didn’t matter.
The answer was both and neither of them at the same time. Both because it was instinctual to reach for each other in times of nerves and crisis; and neither because they knew they were walking into a situation that could only ever get worse. But with their mom leading the way, what else could they do? So many people had come to this ceremony from all three families and so much money had been pumped into making this event the biggest of the year. It was even being broadcast live…
They walked steadily up to the altar, seeing Kevin and Danielle smiling at them happily. They liked Miley and Demi, so did everyone, actually, and they all approved so much of these two marriages that the two women were pretty much already family. Their mom took her seat by them and they looked up, seeing their father standing on the raised dais. It was an outdoor wedding and the weather was perfect, quite the opposite from the blizzard they’d feared would keep guests away at their brother’s, but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky as Nick let go of Joe and they stood on opposite sides, facing each other.
They were in a chapel, staring at each other, wearing the clothes they’d worn for their bachelor party as Nick looked nervously up at Joe who was staring at him with open adoration, like a puppy that was one-hundred percent loyal to its owner. The stained glass windows were back-lit so even though it was night, light painted the interior of the building with the pretty colors.
He shook his head, what the fuck had that been? The music changed to the slow, traditional processional and he and Joe both turned to look. Demi looked breath-taking in a white gown that had gold trim and embroidery, and a long train trailing behind her. Lily of the Valley decorated her hair which had been put mostly up, a cascade of curls going down her back and the veil clipped on top like the icing on a cake. Miley looked just as stunning in a white dress that clung to her form, spaghetti strap shoulder-pieces holding it in place as she walked toward him, smiling happily through her own veil. When they were finally down the aisle, their dads gave them away and Billy Ray walked over to Nick, shaking his hand and then pulling him into a hug. Patrick did the same with Joe and took their seats and Nick found himself wishing it had just taken a little bit longer. All four of them turned and looked at Pastor Jonas who was smiling wide enough Nick feared it would split his faced in two.
Chapter Six
Chapter Five
People were everywhere, in the audience, backstage. In order to keep traffic at a low, the people performing in the concert would sit in the first few rows until it was the person before them, and then they’d go backstage and get ready for their song. Joe, Demi and Taylor had done a song from Aida that left the audience speechless; this year’s theme for the event was Broadway. Nick had performed something from Les Mis, and also something from Cats. He and Joe were up next and then Joe was doing something by himself.
He and Joe got ready to go on stage and he gave the older man a tentative smile which was returned at full force, Joe’s lips spreading wide, white teeth gleaming as the corners of his eyes tilted upward. It took Nick’s breath away how much a single smile of his affected Joe. They performed Loathing from Wicked, knowing it would get a few laughs, and it did. Then Nick headed off the stage and stayed in the wings to watch Joe perform.
“Alright, so I’m singing something else from Aida and it’s a song that really means something to me…I hope you like it.” The music started and Nick knew Joe was supposed to be singing something from Rent, they’d gone over their songs together countless times. His breath hitched in his throat as he recognized the music and his hands clenched into fists at his sides as he walked slowly back onto the stage with a mic to back Joe up. His brother didn’t see him, looking out at the audience as he started to sing.
“I once knew all the answers, I stood on certain ground.” Joe’s voice was low, so serious, and it seemed to grip something inside of him and tug on all his heartstrings. His brother sounded good, no…amazing. “A picture of true happiness, confidence so effortless no brighter could be found.”
“Oh no…” Nick sang softly and Joe turned to look at him, surprised. Nick offered a small smile even as Joe began to sing again, recovering quickly. They were performers, if they didn’t recover fast, people would know something was up.
“I never asked the questions that trouble me today.” His voice was steady and Nick was proud of him. “I knew all there was to know, love worn lightly and put on show. My conquests on display.”
“I can’t believe he’s changing,” Nick sang a bit louder than before, but still not loud enough to overshadow his brother.
“And who’d have thought that confidence could die?” Nick sang the backup parts quietly, eyes on Joe for his cues. They’d both loved this play, and he realized he shouldn’t have been surprised at Joe changing his song selection to fit his mood and their situation. “That all I took for granted was a lie. Not me, not me…And who’d have guessed I’d throw my world away,” their eyes locked as Joe finished. “To be with someone I’m afraid will say.”
Nick sang the next part strongly, “This can never be…”
“Not me…” Joe looked away, eyes slipping closed.
“He’s in love, but he’s not the only one…who’ll be changed,” Nick sang out, his own eyes closing as he really felt the meaning of the words. Joe was in love. With him. It affected everyone right down to millions of people they didn’t even know.
There was a part of the song where someone was supposed to speak, and they let the music play, each walking to opposite ends of the stage, crossing paths and Nick brushed his hand along Joe’s back. Joe’s mouth opened once more and those sweet notes poured out. “I shall not envy lovers, but long for what they share. An empty room is merciless,” he looked down, falling to his knees. “Don’t be surprised if I confess…I need some comfort there.”
They sang together and Nick walked over to Joe, offering a hand to help the older man stand. “And who’d have thought that love could be so good? Not me, not me… And show me things I never understood. Not me, Not me.” Joe took the offered hand in the space between phrases and Joe sang the next part alone again.
“And who’d have guessed I’d throw my world away, to be with someone ‘til my dying day…” His voice was loud, true, and there was genuine pain behind it if someone knew what they were listening to. “Not me….not me.”
Nick took the next part with him again. “And who’d have thought that love could be so good? Not me, not me… My secrets and my passions understood… Not me, not me.” They turned and looked at each other, singing passionately and Nick felt his cheeks flush, sweat on his forehead as he meant every word. “Who’d have guessed I’d throw my world away, to be with someone ‘til my dying day? Not me…this can never be. Not me…”
When they were finished the crowd sat in stunned silence, which meant more to Nick than immediate applause. It meant the performance had really touched them. Someone stood up and started clapping, and soon everyone was doing the same and raucous applause flooded his ears at the standing ovation. He put his mic back in the stand and Joe did the same and they walked off the stage together, heading to their seats in silence to watch the rest of the concert.
~*~*~
“How do I look?” Joe asked, turning to face Nick after putting on his bow-tie. They were both wearing tuxedos and they were both in a nice, white color. They and their brides were all wearing the symbolical white and Nick felt like a big, fat liar as he adjusted the lapel.
“You look…amazing,” he said honestly, smiling at his brother genuinely. Joe grinned back at him like he had at the concert and Nick felt his heart skip a beat. “You ready?” Nick asked, smoothing a few strands of hair from his brother’s forehead.
“Never…” Joe breathed, lips parted and eyes closed, leaning into the touch. Nick let his hand fall but Joe caught it with his own, eyes now open once more and locked on the point of contact as if he were never going to let go. Finally those chocolate brown hues moved upward, but stopped at Nick’s lips. That had happened so many time in Nick’s life he’d never bothered counting. One day he had decided to count, but when he realized Joe stared even when he wasn’t looking, he also realized how fruitless that was. Joe’s eyes just seemed inexplicably drawn to those pouty, too-big lips, and Nick felt self-conscious - especially at the dip in the lower one and the weird, puckered deformity under it. Barely noticeable, true, but Nick knew it was there. Part of him knew Joe liked it, though, and he gasped as a sensory memory of Joe licking and sucking on it wracked his mind and body.
They were kissing on the swing at the park and Joe licked Nick’s lips slowly as if memorizing them, tongue tracing their gentle curves and then following the seam between them and lower, flicking over the way the skin puckered out weirdly in the center, below his bottom lip. Nick moaned, surprised at how good it felt and Joe said, “Love that you’re not stopping me. Always wanted to do that…” His voice was quiet like it wasn’t dark out and the park wasn’t deserted except for them and their friends, and it made the younger man shiver. “Love kissing you…”
And then that tongue pushed between Nick’s lips which were soft and pliant, opening so easily for his older brother who had always been there for him no matter what Nick needed or wanted. Even though Nick had sometimes felt unworthy of having such a magnificent brother when he had those secret desires and fantasies about the very same man helping through all his problems. If Nick didn’t want to talk about something, Joe didn’t push him, and so many times Nick had woken up and Joe had been there holding him, comforting him for feeling those sinful emotions. If he’d known Joe had felt the same way before tonight, would he have ever acted on it? He wasn’t sure, there were so many people and things that kept them apart, it was no wonder it had taken Nick’s first time drinking to bring them together - Joe’s first time drinking with Nick.
Their eyes met finally and Nick brought his free hand to Joe’s cheek, cupping it gently and couldn’t help but smile when his brother nuzzled into it like a kitten, eyes closing halfway and his own smile tugging those pink lips upward. Nick tilted forward, they were standing so close anyway that a hard breath would have made them collide, and when his lips touched Joe’s it felt like home. It felt like walking into a hotel room with Joe and all being right in the world, felt like coming home from a long trip and just sinking into the couch with some takeout or delivery food. Shit, it felt like every home-cooked meal in the world and he wished he could come home every day and have this wonderful, sweet, imperfect man cooking for him and being with him, sleeping with him…and he wanted it for forever. Everyone had flaws and Joe was definitely far from perfect, but he was perfect for Nick.
The kiss was over too soon as a loud knock on the door made them break apart fast and their mom came in, looking from one flushed face to the other and misinterpreting their nerves for those of last minute jitters. “Everything’s ready,” she said, smiling at them and kissing both of them on the cheek. They kissed back and hugged her tight, and she asked, “If you’re ready, that is?”
Nick let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding since she’d come in and looked at Joe who smiled sadly at him. He knew Joe’s answer would be whatever Nick’s answer was, and it made him hesitate for a brief moment before looking down at his leather shoes. “I’m ready, Mama.” Joe said the same and they followed her out, Nick bringing up the rear and a hand on his brother’s elbow. He wondered if it was more to steady Joe or himself, and then he realized it didn’t matter.
The answer was both and neither of them at the same time. Both because it was instinctual to reach for each other in times of nerves and crisis; and neither because they knew they were walking into a situation that could only ever get worse. But with their mom leading the way, what else could they do? So many people had come to this ceremony from all three families and so much money had been pumped into making this event the biggest of the year. It was even being broadcast live…
They walked steadily up to the altar, seeing Kevin and Danielle smiling at them happily. They liked Miley and Demi, so did everyone, actually, and they all approved so much of these two marriages that the two women were pretty much already family. Their mom took her seat by them and they looked up, seeing their father standing on the raised dais. It was an outdoor wedding and the weather was perfect, quite the opposite from the blizzard they’d feared would keep guests away at their brother’s, but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky as Nick let go of Joe and they stood on opposite sides, facing each other.
They were in a chapel, staring at each other, wearing the clothes they’d worn for their bachelor party as Nick looked nervously up at Joe who was staring at him with open adoration, like a puppy that was one-hundred percent loyal to its owner. The stained glass windows were back-lit so even though it was night, light painted the interior of the building with the pretty colors.
He shook his head, what the fuck had that been? The music changed to the slow, traditional processional and he and Joe both turned to look. Demi looked breath-taking in a white gown that had gold trim and embroidery, and a long train trailing behind her. Lily of the Valley decorated her hair which had been put mostly up, a cascade of curls going down her back and the veil clipped on top like the icing on a cake. Miley looked just as stunning in a white dress that clung to her form, spaghetti strap shoulder-pieces holding it in place as she walked toward him, smiling happily through her own veil. When they were finally down the aisle, their dads gave them away and Billy Ray walked over to Nick, shaking his hand and then pulling him into a hug. Patrick did the same with Joe and took their seats and Nick found himself wishing it had just taken a little bit longer. All four of them turned and looked at Pastor Jonas who was smiling wide enough Nick feared it would split his faced in two.
Chapter Six