Drums n’ Guns ~ Cam/Jesse
The touch to Cam’s thigh caused Cam’s breath to catch in his throat, and a flush spread from his warmed cheeks and down his neck. Now it was Cam’s turn to shift in his seat, only as soon as Jesse pulled away.
Cam swallowed, and he used the time it took for Jesse to write his number and address down to collect himself. He could only imagine the types of things Jesse might… teach him, and Cam was very interested in being a ‘model student’ in this case. He was sure there was plenty they could teach each other- and Cam was drawn back from his daydreaming to Jesse setting a time for their date.
“10′s great,” Cam said a little too quickly, and he smiled sheepishly at Jesse as he took the offered paper. “10 is - yeah it’s great.” Cam nodded, and he tugged his beanie back onto his head. He bit his lip, studied Jesse for a moment, and then he smiled and tugged his sunglasses out of where he’d tucked them into the neck of his shirt.
“See ya at 10, Jesse,” he winked at the other before slipping out of the office. Cam was paying little attention to his surroundings, the swirling thoughts and excitement might have contributed to his somewhat abrupt departure, so it was a wonder that he didn’t walk fully into the man approaching him from the other end of the hall.
Cam jolted back to the present as his shoulder clipped that of another man, and he looked up - sunglasses still in hand. Cam blinked as a he was met with a intense stare from a man much darker, taller, and broader than him. Cam’s eyes drifted to his chiseled jawline and then lower, this guy was fit - and Cam’s first thought was;
‘Do they only hire drop dead gorgeous men at this shop?’
That thought was quickly followed by his fear of being recognized, and Cam’s eyes fell from admiring the series of dark piercings across the other man’s face. One bright blue stud stuck out against all the surrounding black metal and scars, but Cam quickly put on his sunglasses and continued past the man. The flush remained on his cheeks, now from embarrassment rather than the heat Jesse had stirred up under his skin.
“Sorry about that, wasn’t watching where I was going,” he said quickly, and picked up his pace as he hurried from the shop.
Cam spent the rest of the evening getting ready. Which meant he spent most of his night trying to keep Zeus off of him so he didn’t get white husky hair all over his carefully crafted outfit. Cam had agonized over it for far too long, after taking a shower and applying his favorite cologne (a fresh citrus scent with a hint of musk at the end, like something you’d apply after a hard workout and a shower immediately after), and even now as he prepared to leave there were second thoughts.
Was it too simple, too casual, not hot enough?
Admiring himself in the mirror, Cam took stock of his clothes. His studded leather jacket, green combat boots, black pants with various pockets and straps, and a green shirt to match his boots. The shirt was tucked into his pants on one hip, and the other side hung loose, revealing a few intentionally placed holes that lined up Cam’s side. Wallet, keys - there was no reason he had left to delay, and he didn’t want to be late. This had to be okay, Jesse didn’t seem to be the type to care exactly what Cam wore, but it didn’t stop Cam from wanting to dress to impress. Well, if that’s what this feelings was. He hadn’t been on a date in years so he wasn’t sure worrying this much over some clothes was normal.
With a sigh, Cam gave Zeus a firm pet, wiped himself down with a lint roller, and hopped onto his bike. He sent Jesse a quick text before heading out.
[It’s Cam, from earlier. Probably shoulda texted you earlier but - ANYWAY - I’m on my way. See you soon!]
The drive was short, and as instructed, Cam found an easy place to park his bike in the lot, and the side door was just as easy to locate.
One deep breath later and Cam pressed the buzzer.
As he waited he idly fiddled with the strap on his helmet to distract himself. He wasn’t sure why he felt so nervous, but if the butterflies in his stomach were anything to go by… he might want Jesse to like him, maybe a little too much.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt such a raw attraction to someone, and that alone was terrifying to Cam. Nothing had happened between them yet, and already he was worrying about something cropping up to ruin it. Every other time he’d tried to go on a date in the past few years his budding fame, jaded past, ptsd, or nightmares had managed to royally screw even the simplest of relationships he tried to foster. Even if Jesse was just someone he could call a friend… Cam hadn’t made a new one of those in years either.
He was drawn to Jesse, but following that desire for friendship, companionship - whatever this want was - felt like a huge risk. He was dancing over the edge of carefully crafted walls he’d used to protect himself for years… and he had no idea why he was doing this for a man he’d spent barely an hour with.
Suddenly this door felt much larger than it really was, and Cam glanced back down the alleyway. He could still leave, he could come up with an excuse and maybe still get the tattoo done- if he couldn’t get the work done there were other shops in the city he could look at- there was still time to go back to the safety of his walls.
Jesse’s eyes followed Cam until he vanished past the doorframe. If Gabe had any idea what he’d just done, he wouldn’t hear the end of it for at least a week. Which is why Gabe doesn’t have to know, his mind whispered. The ex-con sighed happily, still feeling the endorphin buzz from that shared chemistry. Yeah, it was a hell of a lot for someone he’d just met… but he’d also liked Cam’s general vibe, too - his attitude. As for the rest… well, that would come with time. He hoped.
Jesse had just finished sending a bunch of the images Cam had pulled up to the shop’s printer, when Gabe walked in, making him jump (in a way that he hoped didn’t look too guilty.) There was a bemused, almost starstruck look on the older man’s face. “Uh… you okay, boss?”
Gabriel blinked. “I think…” He gestured toward the hallway. “The guy who just left? The one with all the piercings...”
Quickly, Jesse recalled the look Gabe had given Cam earlier, when he’d come to take over the front desk. What was going on? “Uh yeah, we just finished talkin’ designs an’ ideas…” A beat. “Somethin’ wrong?”
“Hang on…” Gabe pulled out his phone, quickly typed something in and started scrolling. Then, tapping the screen, he moved the phone so Jesse could see a picture on the screen. It was Cam! Even with the heavy eye makeup (which did wonderful, flip floppy things to his insides) there was no doubt about it. “Was this him? The guy just now?”
Jesse nodded, unable to help the happy grin tugging at his lips. “Yeah… think so. Where’d you get his picture?”
Gabriel was chuckling now. “You need to start listening to more than just country music, flaco.”
“Hey now! Don’t go knockin’ my music! An’ what’s that got ta do with anythin?’”
Still laughing a little, Gabe replied, “Your new client is the lead singer of L&F, a very popular punk rock band. I... may or may not own all of their CDs...”
The ex-con had imagined a lot of scenarios in his life… but never this one. “So… he’s famous?”
“The kind of famous that requires hats and sunglasses if he has to go out,” came Gabe’s matter-of-fact reply.
Jesse whistled. “Well… he was actin’ a little weird when he came in… thought it was nerves… but that definitely explains it.” Then, thinking quickly, he continued, “We should keep this on the down-low, dontcha think?”
Gabriel nodded. “He obviously didn’t want to be seen, and we always promise our clients confidentiality. Maybe we’ll get lucky after the design’s done and he’ll plug the shop.”
“My gran use ta’ have a sayin’ ‘bout countin’ chickens before they hatch,” Jesse teased. “He hasn’t even agreed ta let me ink him yet.” His insides began to buzz as he thought about what Cam HAD agreed to.
Grinning, Gabriel replied, “A man can dream, can’t he?”
When Jesse arrived home that evening he gave his apartment one look and grimaced. He should’ve said 11. Oh well, that meant it was hustle time! First things first - the apartment. Clothes went in the hamper, the bed got made, stacks of magazines got straightened and the kitchen counter was wiped down. After that, he headed up to the roof, flipping on the white strings of lights he decorated with year round, and giving the curtains around his little make-shift covered space a beatdown. Then he arranged all the blankets and pillows just right.
Finally, Jesse hopped into the shower. He should have just enough time… As he showered, he thought about what Gabe had revealed to him earlier. He was going to have to tell Cam what he knew. It was only fair. To not say anything would be the same as lying in Jesse’s mind. Would that end things before they even started? Did Cam want someone who didn’t know who he was? He worried about that, but there was still no question in his mind of being honest about what he knew. And if Cam was okay with it? Then would come the talk about Jesse’s past. That was only fair. Someone as famous as Cam had a right to know what he might be getting into with someone like Jesse.
The downstairs doorbell buzzed just as he was slipping into fresh clothes (and reading the text Cam had sent earlier.) The ex-con didn’t have a lot in the way of ‘date wear.’ At work he was allowed jeans and fun t-shirts. His parole hearing clothes were way too formal, but he had some ‘going out’ clothes that would probably fit the bill. A nice pair of worn cowboy boots, dark blue jeans, and a slim fitting maroon shirt with ribbed sleeves. He left his hair down, rather than pulled back like he kept it at work. And that completed the ‘look.’
Hoping he wasn’t under-dressed, Jesse took the stairs down two at a time, opening the door with just a hint of breathlessness… which became more apparent when he saw Cam… because he briefly forgot how to breathe. The makeup wasn’t as heavy as what he’d seen in the picture, but something about it made Cam’s eyes seem to glow hypnotically in the streetlights. Realizing he needed to speak, Jesse offered the other man one of his award-winning smiles and said, “Hey. You look amazin!’” He opened the door wider. “Come on in. Tha place ain’t much… but I promise I tried ta clean…”
As he led Cam back up the stairs, Jesse kept talking. “I, uh, wasn’t sure if you’d be hungry, so I didn’t make anything. But I can whip up somethin’ quick, if ya want.” And Jesse wouldn’t mind, either. He wasn’t an amazing cook, but he had a few dishes that stood out, and it might be fun to show off a little. If Cam even wanted to stay… after he reveled what he knew.
Reaching the landing Jesse moved to open the door, gesturing for Cam to step inside. “There’s a fire escape I use to get on tha roof. Got a spot all made up for us there, too…” Yes - he wanted the other to know he’d set things up… that he still wanted this if Cam did - regardless of who Cam was.
