We Know That It's Probably Magic
Chapter 4: In which Vessel plays a song and Todd names the band
A/n: If you want to hear me shout into the void about this band (And others) Please follow me over at @lyricallymelodic, Thanks to @disabledbones for beta reading!
Words: 1,784
Vessel sat at his desk pretending to work on his computer. Really he was watching II finish up his last lesson for the day. The last week had been probably some of the best days of his life, or at least they felt like it. He had been spending almost all his free time with II and Todd. Going to the park, hanging out at their flat after work, playing video games or watching a movie with II after Todd went to bed.
He really only went home to sleep, and only after nearly falling asleep on IIs couch at least once or twice, per night. Today after work they were supposed to hang out with two of the other teachers who were also II's friends. The four of them were supposed to jam for a couple hours and help II plan Todd's fourth birthday party. Todd would stay a little later at nursery than usual, II had already cleared that this morning when they dropped him off.
"Alright from the top!" II was suddenly in front of Vessel's desk. He smiles at Vessel as the student starts playing the song they were working on.
Good Lord that smile.
He thought he shouldn't be so easily affected by the small things anymore, he'd spent so much time with the drummer his heart should not flutter every time he did the simplest of things.
"Ready for later? I'm really excited for you to meet the guys." II muttered softly as he turned, putting his hands on the corner of Vessel's desk, leaning closer to him. Vessel's eyes widened and his mouth went dry.
Arms.
Arms and hands.
Well toned drummers arms and hands on his desk.
"Y-yeah…I'm superbly psyched out." Vessel cringed internally. That was definitely one of the most ridiculous sounding sentences he had ever said. II chuckled and grinned at him.
"You're adorable." II muttered softly before turning around to talk to the student again. Vessel had to do everything in his power to lessen the blush on his face, but it was so intense. Luckily if II noticed he didn't say anything about it. The student cleaned up his stuff and left the room. II called after him to remember to practice. Vessel stretched his hands, cracking his knuckles and turned off his computer.
Before they had a chance to say anything to each other a tall lanky man with bright red shoulder length hair stumbled into the room. He was accompanied by a shorter, dirty blonde haired guy. The taller of the two immediately locked on to Vessel.
"Ey! You must be Vessel! We've 'eard so much about you." By his crazy colored hair and rather colorful ensemble Vessel has a good guess which of II's friends this was.
"Yes, and I'm guessing by the bright red hair and neon blue dress shirt you must be III." Vessel said with a smile, standing up to walk out from behind the desk. III immediately let out a peal of laughter, throwing his head back.
"Fantastic work detective! It's good to see you again by the way." The other man slides in to offer to shake Vessel's hand. He was wearing a dark blue T-shirt and a well loved leather jacket. He was cute, like a puppy trying to look tough. Vessel recognized him after a moment as IV from his secondary school days.
"Oh my God! Ivy! It's been years mate! How have you been?" Vessel said with a smile as he shook IV's hand. He laughed, III looked temporarily shocked and II just shrugged.
"How am I not surprised that you know each other." II smirks. He gives them all a minute to catch up, specifically giving IV and extra minute to gush about their elopement over the summer. He watches for a second as III's arm wrapped possessively around IV's waist. That's when he knew it was time to step in. "Well since we got that all sorted we can just get started on planning this birthday party."
"Right, dude I can't believe he's turning four, like that's insane!" III said while mimeing a mind explosion. Vessel chuckled at that. It was nice to see that II and Todd had such good friends, from what II had told him they had all been friends since II had started working at Westville years ago.
They run through the game plan, II was gonna get some party supplies from the shop, whatever theme Todd wanted. They would all meet up early to set up the auditorium. To put down some crash pads, because of course all Todd wanted for his birthday was to have a mosh pit with his friends. So fo the last few months the three of them had been playing together in a band that Todd aptly named 'Daddy plays drums'.
"Of course Vessel has offered to join us as our keyboard player, and occasional vocalist…?" Vessel rolled his eyes when II said it. He knows he's a pretty decent singer but he never got properly trained. His main focus had been piano. But when II looked at him with those big blue eyes how was he supposed to say no?
"I'll think about it." Vessel replied to the unsaid question. After that they all pulled out their instruments and gathered around. At first Vessel observed, watching how the three of them jammed together, playing off of each other, taking a minute to find his place in their sound. When his fingers played across the keys, the notes fell perfectly in place along side the others. They were having a chat while they messed around. Vessel offfhandedly mentioned his own writing.
"Wait, you write songs?" II inquired looking up at him from behind the drum kit. quired from behind the drum kit a look of surprise on his face.
"Occasionally." Vessel tried to hide his embarrassment. He could hear the voices of his old friends and partners telling him his music was too sad and strange. That no one would ever want to hear it. But when the other three looked at him expectantly and with kind smiles on their faces, he wanted to risk it. His eyes met II's and he knew he had to try. He took a deep breath and began to sing.
"We are not young enough to know, how to sit and say nothing like we would. And you are too tired to control how you look like you feel, like you should." He began the song singing softly, then slowly as he continued to play his voice got stronger. He could feel the emotions welling up in his chest.
Oh no, not this again.
"And you think I don't notice? The way that you were. And act like you don't feel it. The way that you were. And you barely believe it. The way that you were." He was only through the first chorus and he felt the tears start to fall down his face. He hadn't shared his music with anyone in so long, he'd forgotten how emotional it made him. As he continued to preform he felt someone gently rest a hand on his back. Looking up he saw IV standing behind him. II also crossed the room to stand closer to him. He made it through the song tears running down his face and yet he wasn't nearly as sad as he had been in the past.
"That's…That's beautiful mate. Your voice? I mean fuck… man." IV stuttered out, wiping tears form his own face. III walked over and clapped Vessel on the back. Vessel however was focused most on II. Those blue eyes locked onto him with a possessive gaze that sent a shiver down his spine.
"We're running late, we need to go get Todd." II said suddenly. He stood up and started to walk to the door, he then paused, turned around walking back to Vessel grabbing him and pulling him into a hug. "That was the most… That song…It was amazing Vessel."
Vessel didn't know how to reply. He just wrapped his arms around the smaller man and squeezed tightly.
"Th-thanks."
~ The four of them had piled into the car, II in the drivers seat, Vessel in the passenger seat, III sat behind II while IV was squished between his husband and the car seat. II drove while the other three talked about this and that and a few other things, he wasn't really paying attention. His mind still occupied by the song that Vessel had played. It was so beautiful and yet so so sad. He was pulling into the nursery parking lot and tumbling out of the car and rushing through the door. Since he was late hand over was a little rushed, and he was distracted. He wanted to get everyone home, the long day was starting to wear on him and he really wanted to just go home and cuddle up with Todd to watch something before bed.
"Daddy, do you know about The River Styx?" Todd asked cheerfully as he carried the tyke out into the parking lot. He had to do a mental double take. He vaguely remembered Quinn saying something about how they had watch Disney's Hercules that day and Todd had really taken an interest in it.
"Yeah Kiddo, I do know about The River Styx…what do you know about it?" He asked opening the door of the car and popping him down into his seat. Todd surprisingly doesn't get immediately distracted by all the people in the car.
"Well so, when you take the forever nap, You have to pay the boat man, who takes across the river in his boat! But the thing is he only takes coins, Nap coins!" Todd explained enthusiastically.
"Nap Coin would be an excellent band name." III remarks with a laugh. II looks at III, at the same time IV and Vessel also look at III. "What? It would!"
"No wait, babe that's genius. That's what we should call our band!" IV says with a laugh leaning over to kiss III on the cheek which makes the tall lanky man blush as red as his hair.
"Yeah, I mean now that Vessel has joined 'Daddy Plays Drums' it only makes sense that we re-brand." II replied with a grin as he looked at Vessel. When they're eyes met he watched as Vessels cheeks also grew pink with a light blush.
"Nap Coin it is then." Vessel agreed, nodding his head.
"Nap Coin! Nap Coin! Nap Coin! Nap Coin!" Todd started chanting, which eventually got III going too. II sighed.
This was gonna be a long drive home.
~
Masterlist
Taglist: @silvernight-m @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction @lover-of-books-and-tea @stellasplendens @saythatuwill