Love is a Serious Mental Illness
Grian Chatten x fem!reader
[requested by @bridsss]
summary: your band, ‘Munich’ had a rivalry with the Fontaines, and that lead to some chemistry between you and Grian..
word count: 2.6k
warnings: angst, fluff, intoxication, suggested smut
a/n: this took like a week longer than it was supposed to I am SO sorry.. I have a valid reason and that was seeing dead dads club and getting distracted by that all week ahah but here it is!!
It’s 2024 and your band, Munich, just released their debut album.
You had loads of hype off of social media and you had quite a large fanbase from playing at festivals and supporting big acts like Declan McKenna or Sam Fender.
There was one problem in your band's way though.
Fontaines D.C.
They were the ‘new’ upcoming band and they just released their 4th album, their biggest album yet.
Your band never got on with the Fontaines, especially after your vocalist said something negative about them in an interview.
Since then, there had been an ongoing feud between the two bands.
You were sitting with your band in the tour bus, cigarette between your fingers, on the way to a festival.
Unfortunately, Fontaines were also there.
“D’you think we’ll run into them?” Alex, the bassist from your band laughed, putting his sunglasses onto his head.
“Aye, probably get in an argument with that guitarist of there’s again.” The lead vocalist, Tadhg, smirked.
Tadhg was known for often having fights with other bands and constantly causing drama. One of these times being in an interview and saying ‘Fontaines dc fans are just trying to jump on the band wagon.’
Normally, Carlos would just ignore comments but Tadhg was constantly opening his mouth and during an award ceremony it was rumoured Tadhg was dragged out after trying to start a fistfight with the pink-haired guitarist.
You and your band got to the festival and played several hours later. Their crowd was so lively, a moshpit even starting.
During your most popular song, ‘Rearrange’, everyone sang along.
After coming off stage, you all went backstage, where some of the bands from tonight and further in the weekend were.
It was a nice setup, almost a beer garden along with a little inside sitting area.
You went to the smoking area, being without a smoke nearly all day except from when you woke up.
You were digging in your pockets for a roll up and then searched for a lighter only to realize you left it either at home or on the bus.
“Shit..” You muttered. You looked around to see if she could nab a lighter off someone and saw someone with his back turned and hood over his head place his lighter back in his pocket.
You went over to him, fully confident. “Hey.. ah- do you have a lighter I could borrow?”
He turned around and it was the least you was expecting.
Grian Chatten.
You hated each other, everyone knew it.
How it started, nobody knew. Your bands were rivals and it started a hatred between the two of you.
You had met before at the Mercury awards and couldn’t stand each other. He even had to move seats because he was sitting too close to you.
Now he was staring down at you after you just approached him acting all polite.
Without saying a word, he passed you his lighter and you lit your cigarette.
As you gave the lighter back, he started speaking.
“So, good show?”
That caught you off guard, why was he speaking?
“Uh, yeah, yeah thanks.” You muttered.
“Listen- uhh.. about our little.. it’s nothing personal, yeah?” He said, bringing his cigarette to his mouth.
“Oh no, it is personal. I don’t know why you're even speaking to me. The way you talk about my band.” You spat.
He raised his hands in defence. “Fine. Be like that.”
You let out a sharp laugh. “Be like what? Be annoyed that you think it’s okay to slag my band off and then try to give me a half assed apology? Grow up.”
He rolled his eyes as you turned a heel and walked off.
The next day came, it was now Fontaines headlining and your band were backstage, trying to avoid the show completely.
You told your bandmates about the encounter with Grian, they all laughed.
“Next you’ll be falling in love with him.” Will, your drummer, joked around, making the whole group burst out in laughter.
“As if!” You laughed, placing your hands against your thighs. “I wouldn’t be caught dead thinking about that prick.”
“Plus, he’s always so pissy.” Tadhg sneered.
After that, you couldn’t stop thinking about Grian. The same sentence repeated in your head.
“Next you’ll be falling in love with him.”
You knew there was a valid reason to hate him, given the past remarks he had made about your band and his attitude in general but there was something about him.
You tried shrugging it off, but it wouldn’t stop.
The confidence he had sometimes irritated you. You tried distracting yourself by talking with your band and hearing other bands.
You broke out your daydream when you started hearing shouting from your lead again.
As soon as you heard Tadhg’s voice, you whipped your head around. Your eyes landed on the Fontaines, a mixture of annoyance and excitement washing over you.
“Here we go..” You muttered, rolling your eyes.
“Ahhh!! The dickheads themselves!”
Grian straightened up, arms crossed as he leant across the wall.
“Tadhg, shut up.” You hissed, shooting him a warning glare.
He ignored you, obviously and started shouting at Carlos.
Carlos wasn’t having it, they started a fight quite quickly.
The tension in the air was thick while Tom and Curley attempted to calm down Carlos, who seemed to be getting more and more irritated with Tadhg by the second meanwhile, Will and Alex tried to hold back Tadhg, who was clearly enjoying winding up Carlos.
You sat there behind them all, feeling like a child stuck in a family argument.
You couldn’t take it anymore so you took off, maybe behind the walls of the area, just so they couldn’t come find you.
As you went to leave, you noticed Grian staring.
Your stomach twisted and you walked off, going behind a wall so nobody would interrupt you but you heard fast footsteps behind you.
“Oi.” Grian said while catching up with you, forcing eye contact. “We need to talk.”
“About what?”
Grian was taken back by the blunt response you had given him but recovered quickly, speaking quietly so nobody would overhear. “About this whole back and forth thing between our bands. It’s getting ridiculous, don’t you think?”
“You’re the ridiculous one here. Why are you acting innocent?” You crossed your arms, eyes narrowing.
He scoffed, clearly not used to being called out like that. “You’re one to talk. You’re right there, all the time, encouraging Tadhg’s bullshit.”
“Encouraging him?!”
“Don’t act so innocently yourself.” He said, letting out a dry laugh. “You know fully well that you’re by his side every single time he causes a scene.” He stepped closer. “You’re as involved in this ‘feud’ as he is.”
“I’m sorry?!” You scoffed.
“You’re in denial.” He raised his voice. “You stand there looking all pretty and pure while Tadhg has another meltdown!”
You were getting pissed off and frustrated now. Your eyes were filled with tears. “Don’t start.”
“No wonder you run away everytime! You always encourage him and then act like a saint!” After he spoke, he noticed the tears in the corner of your eyes, dripping down your cheeks. His expression faltered, taking a step forward. “Hey.. don’t-“ He then took a step back. “I didn’t mean to..”
“Why do you care?!” You snapped.
Why did he care? He was supposed to be the arrogant and cocky prick who didn’t care about anyone but himself but now he was standing here feeling guilty about making you cry.
He let out a sigh. “I don’t know. I just don’t like seeing you like this.”
“The reason I run away is because I fucking hate arguments, Grian! That’s why I ran away!”
“Oh, so you hate arguments but you’re standing here screaming and shouting at me?” He raised his voice again but then they both stood in silence for a little while until Grian took a step forward again. “Hey- look at me.”
You hesitated, biting back a sob and he instinctively wrapped his arms around you.
“How about we go to the pub down the road, it’s not too far and I'm sure if I buy you a drink it would cheer you up.”
The offer was a surprise. You looked up at him, tears stopping. “A drink..?” You thought for a few seconds, guarded and skeptical, but his tone was softer now. “Alright, I suppose a few drinks wouldn’t hurt.”
You both got to the pub, it was only a 30 minute walk from the backstage bar. As the hours passed, the alcohol loosened your senses. You and Grian were telling stories from the past and the walls were crumbling. Your bandmates completely slipped your mind.
“My band is probably searching for me.”
Grian laughed lightly. “Yeah, probably tearing their hair out wondering where you vanished to.” He took a sip of his drink. “Let ‘em wonder.”
He leaned in slightly, you could smell the alcohol and smoke on him. “So, does this mean we’re no longer enemies?”
“Don’t go so far..” You laughed.
Grian dramatically placed a hand on his chest and smiled. “Aww. Alright. Not enemies then.. maybe.. hmm.. volatile friends..?”
“Volatile friends- what?”
“I couldn’t think of a word.”
“Well, if we’re not friends.. but we’re not enemies.. maybe we could be more than that..?” You joked, without a thought behind it.
Grian almost choked on his drink. His eyes widened in surprise and he coughed a few times before finally composing himself, trying to see if you were joking or not.
“More than that..?” He repeated. “Are you- you’re not serious right? You’re joking.”
You shrugged, smiling slightly. “People say I'm off the hook.”
Grian laughed, shaking his head. “Off the hook? Aha. You’re mental.”
As they exchanged another glance, a member of staff came over, warning them that the pub was about to shut. He glanced at you, then the bartender.
“Right.” He muttered. “Guess that’s our cue.”
You both left the pub, not knowing where to go next.
Grian ran a hand through his hair. “Well, my tour bus isn’t far. We can hang out there for a bit.” He then glanced, smiling. “Unless you’d go back and face Tadhg’s shit.”
“First off, leave him alone, he’s like a brother to me. Second. Sure. Let’s go to your bus.”
Grian nodded. “Right.. yeah.. sorry. Let’s head off then.”
As you both arrived at the bus, it was empty.
“Looks like we’re the first ones back.” He opened the door, letting you in first.
“That’s a good thing innit? I’m guessing Carlos wouldn’t enjoy my company and he’d go completely off his head.”
Grian snorted as he stepped in behind you, closing the door. “True, Carlos would absolutely lose it. Then again, Tadhg would too, so we’re both kinda fucked in a way.”
He bent down to a mini fridge tucked into the corner of the bus. “Want another drink?”
“Sure. Why not.”
He threw a drink at you and you both cracked them open. You sat down on the bottom of a bunk bed, she looked around to see Grian’s lyrics, clothes and cups by the bottom of the bed.
“So.. about your bandmates. They won’t freak out if you stay for long will they?” He asked, sipping his drink.
“I can stay a while. It’s fine.”
A smirk appeared on his face. “A while? You enjoy my company?”
You shrugged, moving up so he could fit on the bed too.
He sat down, the smirk becoming more and more apparent. “Are you sure about staying? I don’t think we can play off this ‘rivalry’ any longer.”
You didn’t say a word. You leant into his chest and for a second he froze. His arm lifted, draping over your shoulders
“Did you mean what you said about us?” You looked up at him.
His expression softened. “Which part?”
“All of it.”
Grian looked down at his lap, messing with a loose thread of his shorts.
“I can’t stand Tadhg. He’s an annoying prick.” He said softly, not meeting your gaze. “But I didn’t mean everything. You’re all alright.”
“Even Alex and Will?” You tilted your head.
Grian scoffed. “Especially Alex and Will. Sound lads.”
“And me?”
Grian hesitated. It was one thing to admit he actually didn’t hate your band, but he spent so long convincing himself he hated you, saying the opposite felt wrong. “You’re alright.”
You nodded, disappointed flashing in your face.
Grian’s eyebrows furrowed. He noticed the disappointment. He shifted until he faced you fully, arm still draped over your shoulders.
“Why do you look insulted?” He asked. “Did you want me to say something else?”
“No-”
“Bullshit.” He muttered. “You can’t lie for shit.”
You were both silent for a few seconds, before he leant in and gave you a kiss. He pulled back with a single breath muttering something.
You smiled, looking down at his lips before leaning in again and kissing him gently.
Grian’s chest tightened and self control was now dead as he couldn’t stop kissing you, his fingers wrapped in your hair.
Grian leant back against the mattress with you in his arms, his pulse heavy in his ears as he held you close.
You were kissing his neck until marks showed up and the effect of the alcohol left adrenaline.
The both of you were either gonna regret this later or get worth out of it.
Next thing, Grian’s eyes opened and he felt weirdly warm. He looked down and realised you were the reason.
His arm was wrapped around your waist and your legs were wedged just between his.
The sound of the door clicking open brought Grian back to reality. He glanced at his phone to see the time was 11pm.
His band was back.
He woke you up, telling you they were back and to stay in the room for a little while.
He slowly made his way out the room, closing the sliding door as quietly as possible.
His bandmates, friends and even Chilli Jesson were all sat on the sofa, chatting amongst themselves as they took jackets and accessories off.
Carlos noticed Grian first. “Jaysus, Grian. About time you showed up.”
Grian put his hand on the back of his neck, trying to play it off. “I just fell asleep, alright?”
“Fell asleep? Is that why those marks are on your neck?” Carlos teased, pointing to the fading bruises on Grian’s neck.
Grian froze. The other guys started giggling and snickering to themselves.
“Someone’s gotten busy, hm?” Deego spoke up.
“Fine. I met a girl.” Grian muttered.
The bus erupted in cheers and whistles.
“A girl? And you were so eager to hide it?” Carlos teased.
Curley smiled from the sofa. “Who’s the lucky one then?”
“She’s.. in there.” He glanced at the bedroom.
Another set of ‘ooooh’ s came from everyone.
Grian walked into the room, shutting the door quickly behind him.
You put your phone down after being on call with Will. “I have to go.”
Grian took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “I-”
“How do I leave without your band seeing me?”
“Don’t worry. They’re just being nosy assholes.” Grian said, cheeks going walm.
“Fuck it. Let them know.”
Grian’s eyes widened. “What..? Really?”
You didn’t reply.
Grian then walked out the room first.
“Well?” Carlos called out, nudging Deego beside him who also had a massive smirk on his face. Tom and Curley were pretending not to eavesdrop in.
You walked out behind him, feeling them all stare at you in silence and shock.
Tom was the first to speak. “Jesus Christ.”
You had to go, now, you had no time for this. You quickly put your heels on and left the bus.
Carlos spoke up. His face was a mix of annoyance and disbelief.
“Are you fucking serious?!” His voice was sharp. “You play into this ‘feud’ and you spend every interview trying to find ways to jab at them and now you’re what.. running off behind our backs to shag her?”
Grian went to speak, but Carlos cut him off. “Unbelievable.”
