#aifozu

Thatch nodded, taking the half-smoked cigarette from his lips and handing it to the blond. Ace felt the exchange behind his back but didn’t move, glancing at Marco as he took a drag. The night was warm, pleasing, a gently breeze flowed in from the open door, making the room less stuffy.

“Right” Izou stopped.

Ace and Thatch sitting up straighter, paying attention to the dangerously attractive man as he closed his phone, slipping it into the pocket of his pinstripe pencil skirt. He clapped his hands together commanding the other men’s attention.’

“Good news boss?” Thatch asked, leaning back on the sofa, feeling he was allowed to relax now.

“Yes actually” Izou sat on the lawn chair across from them, nose wrinkled when the creaky chair made an irritated sound on the concrete floor.

“Yeah? Spill then!” Ace practically bounced in his seat, earning a chuckle from Marco, the blond resting a hand on his back, patting, trying to calm him down. Flicking at the younger mans brightly coloured hair, ombre in the colour of flames this month, he recalled how the bathroom looked after he and Izou had helped.

“So, we have a gig” Izou started, the others making pleased sounds.

“Okay, that sounds like it has a big but” Thatch mumbled, thinking about pulling out his pack of cigarettes from his leather jacket.

“Like you in those pants hm?” Ace grinned, feeling Thatch swot his hat off his head with a roll of his eyes, an amused smile on his face as he did so, the younger man never meant any harm, a simple jest “Yeah, yeah, better a big ass then no ass”

“I have an ass” Ace mumbled, putting his hat back on.

“Really? Maybe bring it to practise one day yoi” Ace turned to glare at Marco, watching him finish off the cigarette he’d been gifted from Thatch.

“Ha, ha”

Izou tapped his foot on the floor, the sound small but the feeling behind it got their attention. “There is a but, yes” He tucked a loose strand of ebony hair behind his ear as he wondered how best to word this, knowing each man in front of him would react in different ways.

“We have to perform for free” He didn’t like it much either, but it was a local gig and they were still new on the circuit, their sound wasn’t as in favour any more. They were a mish mash of personalities with a sound to match.

“I don’t mind, I’m not doing this for money, just want to play and have a good time yoi” Marco shrugged his shoulders, picking at one of the many holes in his shorts, pulling the denim threads idly.

“Same, just would be nice to make a little scratch to buy a round or two of beers” Thatch added, only a little disappointed, it was to be expected.

“Speak for yourself doctor and head chef!” Ace was a little annoyed but the anger dissipated as he thought it over, it would be nice to play in front of people, not just friends or whoever passed Marco’s driveway in the late afternoon.

“Calm down firefly, I’ll get you a drink or two”

“So, playing for free? It’ll be a fun night out, get to play yoi” Marco didn’t seem phased, he always liked getting to come together this way, have fun.

“If you are all okay with that?” Izou glanced between the three, getting two definite nods and a shrug from their youngest.

“Great, it’s this Saturday!”

“THIS Saturday?”

“Mm”

The men quickly checked their phones, well Marco and Thatch, they typed away at their phones, seeing If they had plans, rearranged some chores before both looking up from their devices. “Sounds good”

“NOW can we practise?” Ace asked, pushing up from the sofa, his heavy boots making thudding noises as he got behind his drum kit, picking up the sticks and doing a neat trick with them between his fingers, looking pleased with himself.

“Well yeah, you go to get ready for the weekend” Izou moved from the lawn chair, taking his place on the sofa, it wasn’t much of an upgrade, but he didn’t feel like it’s leg was going to snap off is he so much as coughed.

“Set list A?” Thatch suggested, picking up his sleek looking guitar and placing the strap around his body, keeping it safe, adjusting the mic on the stand, fixing it to his height.

“Oh yeah, I like that one” Marco hummed, walking to Izou and passing him the metal triangle “If has your solo in this set yoi” Marco winked at the other man, chuckling to himself when Izou swotted at his hand.

“Right” the blond added, a hand running through his mohawk before he picked up the bass.

“Lets go”

----

“All set up?” Izou asked when the rest of the band joined him at the bar, a quick drink to start the night couldn’t hurt.

“Yeah, had some issues for a second but, all good boss” Thatch gave the other man such a cheesy smile, grinning ear to ear with a thumbs up, to which Izou lifted a brow with a curt satisfied nod.

“Alright fellas, first ones on me, what you all getting?” He pulled his wallet from the pocket of his jacket, Marco and Ace glancing over the bar to see what they sold.

“Oh, I’m going to need to see IDs from him, him and him before you do that” The barmaid said nodding at everyone but the man with the pompadour.

“OH MY GOD!” Ace wheezed at his side, hitting the bar as tears came to his eyes, fighting for breath over how much he was laughing. Marco snickered behind his hand, pulling out his wallet from his tatty pants, placing his ID on the bar, Izou doing the same, smug smirk on painted lips, Ace eventually managed to get his out.

“Wow you two” She hummed batting eyelashes at them “What the hell do you do to look like that?”

Thatch felt his eye twitch when Ace kept giggling like a hyena next to him. He got his out, placing it on the stack, even if just got him to feel a little better. Marco picked his card off the table, grabbing one of the clean bar coasters for his collection as he did so.

“I’m so sorry Thatch” Ace said, his grin would say otherwise though.

“Yeah, yeah” He playfully shoved the younger man.

They all stood at the bar, looking a mess, not one thing looked cohesive about the four men. Izou in a beautiful casual yet tailored blazer, turtleneck sweater, a black pencil skirt this time, trying to look a little ‘goth’ Ace in his jeans with all the holes and tares, big flame covered boots, red and black plaid shirt around his waist, a faded band shirt that had been well and truly loved to death, bright orange hat perched on his head, wrists and neck adorned with studded accessories.

Thatch always looked like the 50’s had been his favourite time, his hair large, black leather jacket, white shirt, black jeans, a wallet chain and white creeper platform shoes that he didn’t need because of his hight. The next to him was this mess of colour, Marco with his long loose-fitting tie-dyed t-shirt, bright coloured bangles up and down his arms, the most worn pair of cut off shorts, ankle bracelets that sometimes jingled when he walked and sandals. He tried to ‘dress up’ with a shirt over the top.

Marco sipped his rum and coke, leaning back on the bar and scanning the crowd, it was going to be a busy one, he was excited to see what energy the crowd would have, hoping everyone would enjoy themselves.

“So, nine songs, right? four covers?” Ace double checked, picking the label off of his beer bottle with nervous energy.

“Right yoi”

--

Ace settled behind the drums, his heart was beating fast, he wasn’t shy, he just always got this rushbefore he started to play, knowing all eyes were on him as he took his place, adjusting his seat, picking up the sticks, a setlist taped down next to him so he knew the ques.

Thatch made sure the mic could go high enough on its stand, he didn’t want to crouch like he had at the last gig they played [A friend’s wedding]. He picked up his guitar, even though he’d done a sound check he was always worried something, anything could go wrong.

He glanced over and saw the blond nod to him, lazy smile and half lidded eyes, Thatch knew there was an excitement bubbled up inside just hidden beneath his calm demeanour. Marco picked up the bass guitar, using his foot to bring the set list closer to him, squinting down at the paper, he really needed to wear his glasses.

Izou stood off to the side behind them, phone in one hand to take some videos and photos of their performance, but also the triangle in his hand, his cheeks already flushed, knowing he’d have to appear on stage at least one with it.

The stage lights changed; the crowd hushed as Ace hit his symbol loudly, soon the others all kicked off into their pieces. The band might look like a mess, but every single member was so perfectly Intune with one another, no beats missed, no mess ups, they all just vibed together.

“Fly away If you fly away You might die today If you fly Fly Gimme some love Gimme some skin If we ain't got that then we ain't got much And we ain't got nothing”

Thatch could make his voice suit the songs they had both picked to cover and their original pieces, he looked good out on stage, playing guitar, singing, doing both looked easy, flawless to the older man as he started to move on stage a little, getting into the mood.

Ace enjoying the fast-paced drum work on the of the chorus, the crowd seemed to like it, cheering, bouncing. Marco moved closer to Thatch, leaning in and joining his voice, a softer pitch into some of the lines.

“Gimme some love Gimme some skin If we ain't got that then we ain't got much And we ain't got nothing, nothing

We ain't got nothing A day's a number Don't remember how you found it You will never feel the same And forever have to take It for granted, don't remember our mistake”

The song came to an end, their hearts all racing, their ears ringing, they felt alive, this was why the unlikely group of friends had made a band together, to feel this rush, to enjoy their passion for music. The song ended and they all took a breath, waiting for the crowd’s reception.

Marco turned around and gave Ace a wink when the mass started to cheer, the younger band member puffed out his chest in pride, feeling good about the performance. He glanced to the side, Izou with a softer smile then he was used to, recording them, he looked proudof his friends, his band.

The night went on, hit after hit, the audience even seemed to enjoy the songs they’d wrote themselves, each song seemed to just have a different energy, again, much like the band itself. Their last song played.

Thatch was belting out the notes, words full of passion. Ace sweating, his arms aching but the manic happy grin never left his face, loving every second the floor vibrated from the loud sounds of his percussion. Marco nodded his head in time with the beat, wiggling his hips with the music, playing everything in perfect harmony.

As the song started to come to its end Izou stepped out onto the stage, a very loud cry from the back of the audience, over the music, over the rest of the cheers “WOOOO IZOU” which caused the man to flush, pout softly as he held the triangle up in the air and hit it.

With that final hit of the triangle the set came to an end.

-

“Fuck my arms hurt” Ace mumbled as he rubbed his bicep, feeling Marco put an arm over his shoulder and pulling him closer.

“Evidently you’ll build up muscles in those string beans of yours yoi” Marco grinned dragging Ace towards the bar where they saw familiar faces.

“You guys did great” Ray said, honestly impressed, having enjoyed the show. Marco draped his other arm around the grey-haired boy, kissing the side of his head, before ruffling his hair. “Thanks’ pidge”

“No one did better then Izou though, wow boys, he stole to show” Anya lifted her shot glass in the air, her cheeks tinged red from booze, she downed the shot as Izou rolled his eyes, standing beside the long-haired woman and pulled her against his side.

“But really, well done us” Thatch chuckled watching the others celebrate their success, he shrugged and was handed a large beer by the bar staff. “Ah, my love” He mumbled at the mug as he brought it to his lips.

“I posted some pictures and videos on our page, I think we have another gig lined up” Izou announced as he turned his phone around, showing them the reception they had gotten online during the set.

“I think I need to book a lot of weekends off work yoi” Marco chuckled as the two younger men either side of him peered at the screen.

“I demand as my husband’s agent that he gets at least two more triangle solos” Anya said, the others not knowing how serious she was.

“Maybe we’ll make it big and you guys can actually be cool” Ace grinned, ducking under Marco’s arm ad Thatch went to flick his nose.