mindsplinters | More GB Bandom Crackfic

I think I have a problem... This one is for Pixie in thanks for her support and resume advice.

Carefully, Nate shifted his weight to prop himself up on one elbow, doing his best to avoid disturbing the sleeping girl beside him. The moonlight slipping through the chinks in his blinds silvered already pale hair until it shone against her deep tan like tiny metallic threads. A few strands curled over his cheek and he forced himself to stay still, not moving to push it away and feel her warmth under his calloused fingers. Eyelashes making dim shadows on her cheeks, her lips slightly parted in a sleeping sigh, she was gorgeous. He found himself tracing the line of her profile with his eyes and his lips curled into a self-deprecating smirk. Shit, he reflected with a sort of growing bemusement, I've got it bad.

It was true, too, and painfully obvious to everyone else in the band. Even Paris had said something and Cecil's haughty instructions regarding focus and the music grew to include specific daydreams he suspected lived in his bassist's head. Marcus, of course, knew first and had made a point to deliver hesitant congratulations... As well as a weak sort of threat if Nate "played" the girl. He suspected Deona's hand but could not fault her. He'd had the same sort of discussion with the possessive young woman regarding Marcus and his threats were always made of sterner stuff.

Not that he knew of any previous reputation attached to Deona. He figured he knew her type well enough but, more importantly, he knew Marcus. Nothing on earth could help him shake the need to protect his best friend, not an aggressive girlfriend, not a difference of musical opinion, not even the fact that no one had any right treating someone six months his junior like a kid brother. He figured Deona felt the same way over Dusti and, for that, he liked her all the better.

Though he would have to have a pretty serious head wound to actually admit as much to her. They had their lines, after all.

His gaze drifted again to rest on Dusti's lips and he quickly pushed himself further upright before he could give in and kiss her awake. They hadn't gotten to his place until four in the morning and she had a class at nine; she needed her rest. He half-remembered her mentioning a test. Carefully, he swung his legs over the edge and scooted until he could stand up properly. Eyes continually turning back to the sleeping young woman, Nate laced his hands behind his back and stretched until he felt his shoulders pop. Then he pulled first one arm and then the other across his t-shirt-clad chest for an extra tug. Shaking his hands out, loose at the wrists, he stole one last look at Dusti. He sighed. Yeah, he had it really, really bad.

Picking his way across the squeaky floorboards, Nate settled himself into the worn armchair used for thinking and experimenting. His arm snaked out to retrieve the slightly battered acoustic guitar propped beside the chair and he brought it to his lap, fingers idly stroking the time-smoothed wood. The lacquered wood was cool against the bare skin of his thighs, exposed by his boxers and he settled back a bit into the comforting embrace of the chair. His fingers began moving thoughtlessly over the strings next even as he turned his attention again towards Dusti. He smiled, barely reigning in the laugh at his own expense, before closing his eyes.

The thought of her and what she did to him, both lewd and innocent, set his fingers in motion again and, with painstaking control, he began to draw out a soft, muffled tune from the instrument in his hands. It came out slowly, hesitant notes building into something more coherent with a sort of wondering care. It matched his thought process, he realized with growing amusement. The sensation he'd had on seeing her for the first time, the denial that it was anything new, the shiver when she touched him. He had it really bad but it was all good.

"What's that?"

Nate startled at the soft question and his fingers nearly missed the new melody as he opened his eyes to find Dusti sitting at his feet, her long legs bent up so she could wrap her slim arms around them. Her chin rested on her raised knees and she smiled when she saw his attention settle on her. He returned the smile and sat a bit further upright. His hands began drawing out the simple song again, his deep crimson eyes on her. "It's you," he murmured.

"Me?" Her grey-green eyes widened and she stared at him.

"Yeah." He stretched out a foot to nudge her ankle teasingly, his grin crooked but warm. "You didn't know I could write this kinda stuff, did you?"

Dusti shook her head. Then she abruptly released her legs and flowed to her knees, setting her hands on his own knees, her grin temptation itself. "Well, I totally knew you could sing them 'cause I've heard it. Cecil pretty much, like, always has you do the slow stuff."

Nate laughed. "Mostly because my voice can't handle hollering. It cracks." He released the guitar and shifted it back to its place. Then he reached down to tug his girlfriend onto his lap where she curled up with a contented sigh. He angled his head to dust kisses over her soft hair. "Still love me even though I'm not the hard rocker you thought I was?" he teased.

She snuggled in even more. "I love you totally more," she answered.

Silence settled into the room as they sat, close and warm. Nate ducked his head more to better hide his smile in her hair. Finally, softly, he said, "Then I'll write that one down for you. It'll be your song and you can say if anyone else hears it."

He heard her catch her breath and then, with a sudden twist, she squirmed to put her arms around his neck. A glorious smile lit her face. "You totally have to play it for Deona," she announced. "Like, my boyfriend loves me so much he writes me songs. She'll die of jealousy."

"Wow. Aren't you vindictive?" Laughing, he caught her chin in his hand and brought her face close to his. He grinned. "I like it," he added with a purr. "I'll do it, babe. Anything for you." With that declaration, he captured her mouth in a slow-burn kiss. It was okay that he meant it. It was okay that he literally meant anything when he said it. Dusti was the best thing to ever happen to him and he would be damned if reputations or rules or rumors got in the way.