Chapter Text
The newspaper ad titled “HARDCORE LEAD VOCALIST WANTED” piqued your curiosity. Despite your typical audience being the shampoo bottles in your shower, you decided to take a chance. As soon as you’d shown up to audition you were met with hesitance. It was blatantly obvious that they weren’t anticipating a girl to be interested in joining a metal group.
Undoubtedly, they were impressed by your knowledge of the genre. By the end of the song you’d chosen to try out with, your voice had won them over. Since then, you’ve been one of the guys. Your addition has brought the band irrefutable success. It feels like it was just yesterday you were playing at The Hideout for fun. Now you’re traveling the country with your best friends as the opener for Alice Cooper’s Live in the Flesh tour.
Upon joining you took an instantaneous liking to Eddie in particular. You thought he was cute and there was undeniable chemistry when you started spending time together. It wasn’t long before you were inseparable. You’d picked up mannerisms from one another and split every meal you had when together. On nights that you had a hard time sleeping, he would come over and read Heavy Metal Magazine to you until you drifted asleep.
Sometimes the play flirting would go too far and you couldn’t tell if he was joking, but you assumed that he was. To protect the dynamic of the group, you pushed aside the little crush that you had and focused on making music.
Eddie was experiencing the same thing. It was difficult to gauge whether you were really digging him or if you were just messing around. It wasn’t quite as easy for him to ignore the infatuation but he didn’t have much of a choice. He’ll never admit that you’re the muse for the songs that he writes for Corroded Coffin.
The sound of hands slapping a table echoes into your end of the bus while Jeff, Donny, and Gareth are playing cards in the front lounge. Unanimously, your bandmates decided that you’d get to have the bedroom on the tour bus. Hard to argue with that, you’re their queen bee after all.
“Seriously? You’d choose super strength? That’s a lame superpower.” Eddie snorts and lays on your bed.
You remain sitting against the pillows with your legs crossed. “You’re tryna tell me it wouldn’t come in handy?”
“M’not saying it wouldn’t be useful, there’s just cooler abilities to have.”
“Oh come on! Having super strength would be insane.”
Eddie flexes his biceps, placing a kiss on each one. “I wouldn’t choose it, since I’m already ripped. Nearly busting outta my shirt.”
You chuckle tauntingly. “With those chicken wings? Yeah right.”
He sits up and scrunches his face at you. “I’m sorry, what was that?”
“You heard me.”
“That’s it!” He shouts.
You lunge before he can. Your hands meet his halfway and interlock fingers. “Not so tough now are ya?”
Eddie laughs at your confidence but is delightfully surprised by your force. Without hesitation, he pins you down on the mattress and straddles your waist. Smiling devilishly at the grunts that escape you when you try to overpower him. “You’re embarrassing yourself.” He says in a sing-songy manner, his grip on your hands tightening.
As a wimpy attempt to break free, you wiggle beneath him. Obviously, you don’t stand a chance. Not with the way his thighs are pressing firmly to keep you in place. It’s cute when you try. When he leans down, his hair falls and creates a curtain around your face. “Surrender,” He demands with an annoyingly sweet tone.
Eddie’s chocolate irises still sparkle despite the lack of light to illuminate them. They dart back and forth between yours, lingering a bit too long. You unknowingly bite your lip at the sensation of his palms heating yours. Your mind is racing and yet it feels blank at the same time.
“Okay, okay. I surrender.” You smile widely. “But, man, I could really use some super strength right about now.”
“Touché, princess. Touché.”
Scorpion’s “No One Like You” fills the bar while people dance, chat, and drink. You don’t usually participate in the after-parties. Although tonight’s performance was spectacular, it certainly is a reason to celebrate. Sometimes audiences aren’t fond of the opening acts but this one was welcoming. During the whole performance, you felt like you were floating, being carried by the lyrics you sang.
You and the boys are already enjoying yourselves by the time Eddie strolls in. He orders a bourbon neat and joins the guys on the far side of the room. Eddie isn’t surprised that you’re not with them. He can’t blame you for wanting a little time away when you’re stuck on a bus with them for hours at a time. Yet he is curious about what you’re up to. As if on cue, he hears your laugh. A beautiful and familiar sound that he can easily pick out of the bustling racket. The problem is that he’s not the one making you laugh. Before thinking twice, he scans the room and weaves around the people that stand in the way of his pursuit to locate you.
Eddie spots you leaning against a pillar while talking to someone. A guy, an attractive guy. You can’t help but be a little flirty when you’re two drinks into the evening. How could you not? This dude is gorgeous and he’s buttering you up.
While Eddie observes from a distance he struggles to read your lips, dying to know what was funny moments ago. How charming can this dude be to have you laughing like that? To make matters worse, you’re smiling while the man whispers in your ear. Eddie considers walking over and introducing himself to interrupt the flirtatious conversation but he doesn’t act fast enough.
The man takes your hand and pulls you toward the bathrooms, disappearing from Eddie’s line of sight. You throw your head back in amusement and follow close behind. You haven’t done much making out in restrooms but hey, gotta let loose sometimes.
Eddie feels devoured by his emotions, causing him to down his drink in a single swig. He heads straight to the bar to get another. To say that he’s pissed off is an understatement. Yes, It’s unfair to feel so territorial about you, but you’re his best friend. He’s just looking out and wants to protect you. It’s not because he’s jealous, definitely not. At least, Eddie convinces himself that that’s the case. In actuality, there’s nothing he hates more than what he can’t have.
You let out a giggle, jumping onto Gareth’s back. He carries you to the stage for the routine soundcheck. Eddie, Donny, and Jeff are already working with the stagehands.
“Without a doubt, that’s my new preferred way to get around.” You beam with delight from the brief piggyback ride.
Gareth lets out a breathy chuckle, unable to conceal how winded he is. Donny greets you when you sit on an equipment case beside him. The sound of cymbals and electronic whirring resonates over your hushed conversation.
Donny nudges you with his elbow. “Looked like you had fun last night.”
Eddie adores your smile, and your laugh is easily his favorite sound in the world. But right now, he can’t stand either of them. He eavesdrops while everyone else is focused on getting set up. His face contorts with frustration as he listens to you gush about your saucy encounter.
“...Not to mention he wasn’t exactly a bad kisser!” You remark just above a whisper.
Out of nowhere, Eddie snaps. “Y’know, there’s this beautiful thing called being quiet. Should really try it out sometime.”
The atmosphere remains busy as the stagehands hustle to get cords plugged in and taped down. For you, it feels like the lights went out, engulfing you in muted darkness. You expected Eddie to be addressing someone else but he’s staring right at you.
Jeff chimes in, “Why are you in a mood, Ed?”
“I’m not inna mood, she’s being fucking annoying.” Eddie clenches his fists at his sides.
Gareth interjects, “What the hell is your deal?” “Lay off,” Donny adds.
Your limbs are locked in place while your gaze is glued to Eddie’s cold expression. Hoping to see it fall and say that he’s kidding.
“Whatever. At least I'm not the one getting railed by a stranger in a bar bathroom.” Eddie huffs.
His words shoot a blast through your chest like you’ve been hit with a cannonball. Sure, he has a temper sometimes. Especially when he’s frustrated, but never in a million years would you have thought he’d speak to you like that.
Your feet feel like bricks when you hurry away before anyone can see you cry. Donny furrows his brows and shoots Eddie a piercing glare. “Asshole much?”
Eddie shrugs and returns his focus to his guitar. He feels justified in his actions, considering he was stating a fact. What he thinks is a fact. Eddie spent all night chewing on his thoughts. Why did you bang some guy that you don’t even know? Some guy that doesn’t have a clue of your likes and dislikes. He has no idea how to please you, he doesn’t know shit about you! Why him? Why not me?
Ultimately you choose to skip sound check altogether, sitting in the dressing room alone to regain your composure. A few tears had fallen but you’re better than that. You’re not going to let Eddie’s sour attitude ruin your day. With a couple of self-affirmations, you start getting ready for the show.
In the midst of your vocal warmups, the boys come barreling into the room so they can get changed. Gareth can confidently do his own eyeliner now since you taught him. Although Donny likes wearing a bit more makeup, so he calls you over and you’re more than happy to help him apply it.
Eddie keeps to himself while he changes into his ensemble. No one said another word to him during soundcheck, they acted as if he wasn’t even there. He sneaks glances at you while you’re joking around with Jeff and Donny. Even when he’s inexplicably mad at you, you still light up the room. Every time you get into your show-time wardrobe he can’t help but think, “God, she looks good.”
The dressing room door swings open by a woman in a lime green shirt. Her walkie-talkie buzzes loudly, “Corroded Coffin to the stage, Corroded Coffin to the stage. T minus ten minutes.” “You guys ready to go?” She asks.
You’ve always held Eddie’s hand before stepping out into the lights since your first show at The Hideout. His hand in yours, he’d squeeze it as if to say “I’m right here, don’t be nervous.” It’s the only remedy for the stage fright that makes your limbs tingle with fear.
This time you talk confidence into yourself. You take as deep of breaths as your lungs will allow, causing you to feel a tad lightheaded. Eddie is typically the calm one but the absence of your pre-show ritual has him feeling queasy. He never realized that holding your hand brought him just as much comfort as it brought you.
Roaring erupts from the audience when your band steps out on stage. You wave and smile at the screaming fans that call your name from the barrier of the pit. Gareth’s drumsticks count off and the speakers blare with the ripping of electric guitars. The way that you perform is utterly captivating. Moving as if you don’t have a care in the world. If Eddie didn’t know any better, he’d think you’re unaffected by the hurtful comments he spat at you a few hours ago.
Toward the middle of the set, one of the band’s songs has a solo. Usually, Eddie joins you center stage while he shreds. Out of habit, he walks forward. Just as naturally, you move to the far side of the stage to distance yourself. Swiftly directing your attention to the fans who reach their hands out toward you.
Eddie fights the urge to frown and effortlessly fingers through his solo. Truthfully, his heart isn’t in it without you by his side. The stage lights are hot, causing beads of sweat to roll down his face. But the moment is cold and bleak. It hits him all at once. Even though he’s in an arena full of thousands of people watching him, he might as well be invisible if you refuse to even stand near him.