Chapter 5
	Brian watched the flare of streetlamps swirl by as David drove down the nearly deserted streets. “Um—you don’t mind if we have that drink back at my hotel?” David asked hesitantly. “I don’t want to risk being swamped by fans and paparazzi at the bar.” Brian shook his head, trying to soothe his leaping heart. “No not at all!” Brian said happily. “It makes for a more enjoyable night.” David grinned. “Excellent. I actually have a place here in London that I visit rather infrequently…but when I got here, it was a real mess, and I had to check into a hotel.” He paused, and then grinned sheepishly. “I have an issue with cleaning, and it was just easier for me not to.” Brian laughed. “I wish I could be like that.” He said. “Though I really shouldn’t complain…I’ve never had a job in my life.” “Never?” David asked, glancing sideways. Brian shook his head. “Alright…one. But that ended after I got bored and wrecked one of the paper shredders in a futile attempt to amuse myself.” David laughed. “What a sight that must have been!” Brian nodded earnestly. “Never try to shred plastic in a paper shredder…it’s ugly.” He paused. “So where are you staying?” “The Waldorf.” “Wow.” David laughed again. “Yeah…Nothing but the best for me.” Brian fidgeted slightly at this, and turned his gaze out the window. ******* With trembling fingers, Stefan dialled the phone number and waited with bated breath as the phone rang once, twice…”Halo?” “Lyon?” “Oui?” “It’s—It’s Stef. I—I know we broke up, and you’re probably seeing someone else, but—I—I just needed--” Stefan closed his eyes. “You want to come over, Mon Cher?” Stefan nodded into the phone before he remembered that his ex-boyfriend couldn’t see him. “Ye—yeah. That—That’d be great.” “Bon, You remember where my key is, non?” “Yeah.” “D’Accord. See you soon, Mon Cher.” Stefan dropped the phone back onto the cradle, and stood still a minute, breathing heavily, before grabbing his jacket and heading down out of his flat. He hailed a taxi, and climbed in quickly before he could change his mind. He and Lyon had broken up three months previously after dating for nearly half a year. He had really loved Lyon, and it had been nearly perfect…perfect except for Brian. Brian had *hated* Lyon for some reason or another, and went out of his way to be cruel to him. And then there had been the fact that Stefan had always been in love with Brian. But it had become more and more difficult to suppress these feelings…Stef and Lyon had parted on good terms after Stefan had realized how unfair it was to Lyon to keep pretending. And Lyon, while crushed that his love wasn’t fully requited, had understood enough to let Stef go. Stefan gave the taxi driver the address and settled back in the seat, closing his eyes in an attempt to block out the visions of Brian and David Bowie naked together… ****** Brian giggled nervously as he sat down on the couch in David’s hotel suite. David leant over the small fridge and started to pull out a bottle of expensive Champaign, before he remembered Brian’s apparent distaste for the drink. Smiling slightly to himself, David instead chose the oldest bottle of red wine his fridge held. He held it up for Brian’s approval. “Is this good for you?” Brian nodded. “Perfect.” “Good.” David shut the fridge and after opening the bottle, poured it into two glasses. Brian crossed his legs, and then uncrossed them, before deciding that he wanted them crossed after all. David turned to face Brian, and strode towards him. He handed a glass to Brian and sat himself down on the couch. “So, Brian.” He said smiling slightly. “Tell me, how did the three of you get started as a band?” Brian took a sip of his drink, relishing the warmth it sent through his body. “Well Stef and I knew each other from school in Luxembourg. We met up a couple years ago and started *Ashtray Hearts*. A bit later, we started Placebo with one of Stefan’s friends. Only Robert wasn’t much of a team player.” Brian took another drink and shrugged gracefully. “In the end, he got kind of violent with me, and Stef made him go. That’s when we called Steve back in. And we’ve been the real Placebo ever since.” David frowned. “He got violent with you?” Brian nodded. “It was nothing, really. He was really rather homophobic, and didn’t appreciate the fact that I got more attention than he did.” Brian didn’t really feel like going into this particularly painful bit of history. “What’d he do?” David pressed. Brian sighed and gulped down the rest of his wine. David quickly refilled it, urging him to continue. “It started with just a smack here and there when he was drunk. I’d do something that annoyed him, and he’d slap me upside the head. Stefan didn’t think much of it, because he assumed it was due to him being drunk or high when it happened. But then…things started to get a little worse. He’d hit me when he was sober. I didn’t tell Stef, because he and Robert were friends, and I didn’t want to put Stef in the middle. After a while, it got to the point, where he wasn’t just hitting me. If I annoyed him in some way, he’d wait till Stefan left, and then he’d just lash out at me. Physically and verbally. I constantly had to lie to Stefan, he’d notice the bruises, but I—I just couldn’t tell him. “But then it all just came to a head. Robert smashed my hotel room up after a gig. He had come in, caught me unaware, and hit me really hard in the chest…broke a couple ribs actually. Somehow I managed to get into the bathroom and lock the door.” Brian looked at his lap. “In all honesty I don’t remember what I did to set him off…I think it had something to do with something I said at the gig…but he freaked out, and started throwing things and screaming, trying to get into the bathroom. The door was cracking and I seriously thought he was going to kill me. Luckily Stef heard the screaming and came in. He saw what was going on, and five seconds later, he’d kicked Robert out of the band.” David stared at him aghast. “Did you ever file a police report?” Brian shook his head. “No.” David frowned. “Why not?” “He was still Stefan’s friend.” “I don’t think I understand, Brian. What does him being Stefan’s friend have to do with anything? He shouldn’t have been allowed to hurt you like that.” Brian muttered something unintelligible, hiding it by taking a gulp of his wine. “What?” “Stef means a lot to me.” He said finally. He was silent a minute. “More than I can say.” He then quickly changed the topic. “So tell *me*, David. Why are you so interested in our band?” David sighed, but allowed the turn of the tables. “Well you’ve got me there. I know you don’t remember due to your inebriated state,” Brian blushed slightly. “But at the charity, when I first thought you were a woman, you had me completely entranced.” Brian lowered his eyes, shyly. “And then I found out that you were a man, and I still couldn’t shake the feeling.” There was silence a minute as the two drank their wine. “So I did the only thing I could to ensure I saw you again. To be perfectly honest, *Without You I’m Nothing* was the first song that I could recall of yours, but going back through and listening to your music, you have me convinced of your talent.” “Erm, thanks.” Brian stammered. David smiled softly and tentatively reached out to cup Brian’s chin with his hand. Brian’s eyes fluttered at his touch. “You’re beautiful, Brian. You do know that don’t you?” David set his glass down and leaned in, kissing Brian softly. Brian pressed back against his lips, relishing the shiver that ran down his spine. But then David’s words came floating back to him. He pulled away and looked at his hands, missing David’s face as it fell. “I—I’m sorry.” David breathed. Brian shook his head. “In the car you said—you said you only had the best.” David frowned, confused. “Well I’m not the best, David.” Brian said tightly. “I’m just some fucked up Nancy Boy on the methadone, trying to make a name for myself in this hellhole we call life. I’m *hardly* worth your time.” “Ah.” David said softly, cottoning on. “Brian, I think you’re remarkable. You have your own flaws, as I do mine. I mean look at me! I’m married, but here I am in London, while Iman’s in New York shagging her current boyfriend’s brains out.” Brian raised his eyebrows. “And it doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Everyone has some weakness. Mine happens to be for gorgeous people with brilliant eyes and spectacular bodies. You in particular.” Brian shivered as David ran his hand down his pale arm. “So believe me, when I say you’re worth *every* minute of my time.” He leaned in to kiss him again, and this time, Brian wrapped his arms around David’s neck pulling him closer. <b>Author’s Note</b>: The whole deal with Robert is as far as I know, my complete imagination. There is nothing to suggest that Robert was violent…just an ugly bastard…but we won’t go into that :D
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