Chapter Text
The noise booming from the speakers seems to be the only thing you can focus on right now. There is an excitable buzz in the crowded bar, as a small queue of participants snaking its way up to a makeshift stage in the corner of the bar.
"See,” your friend's voice jolts you back into paying attention, remembering why you had agreed to this in the first place, “what did I tell you!”.
“This might not be like those cocktail bars we usually go to, but it's always entertaining,” she says, motioning around to the commotion of the bar.
It was Esme's idea to cheer you up from the week of drama at the office that had left you feeling deflated and genuinely contemplating expiring on her couch to watch some soppy films. Instead, you were sitting there, feeling a little overdressed in your favourite dress and reflexively pulling your jacket closer.
"I'm not too convinced yet," you answered with a pout, which Esme readily took as an invitation to poke you in the arm. She waited a second to have another sip of her cider, then gave you a determined look.
"I've been going to these karaoke nights FOR MONTHS!” she exclaims, trying to make herself clear above the noise, “okay, you are going to be eating your words when you hear the next guy. "
She certainly seemed animated, and there was this impish glint in her brown eyes that made you wonder what kind of thing she meant. It had been a full hour since the karaoke competition had started, and you had seen a fair few guys head up on stage to belt out rock ballads already. The very last had been a long-haired metalhead performing November Rain, to what, as Esme had informed you, was his crying girlfriend in the audience. If anything, it had reminded you of your perpetual single status, although it was adorable.
"Okay, everyone, onto our last few contestants now for this Rock karaoke competition! Please put your hands together for our next competitor, " the host onstage bleared through the speakers as the spotlights came up and a new entrant walked on stage.
You craned your head to get a closer look as you spotted a sequined top on the newcomer who thudded onto the stage in heavy boots.
The atmosphere throughout the room seemed to have changed a little, as you heard a few of the drunker individuals wolf whistle. The sound guy had come over to ask for his request, leaving you more time to take the mystery man in, who had jet-black tousled hair to contrast the sequined top.
You tried not to gawk too much as you could hear Esme chuckle beside you in that 'i told you so' way of hers.
"Up next is Fear of the Dark by Iron Maiden. Please show your appreciation for Jere!"
The spotlight dimmed to a dark red colour as the opening riffs began to play from the speakers, and you were positively transfixed. The gruffness of the voice on the other end of that microphone seemed to add another layer to the song, and you couldn't deny you weren't impressed by that. On the other hand - his stage presence. It was something none of the competitors had really mastered.
As he sang each line, he practically entranced the audience around the stage, caressing the microphone in his hands and holding the gaze of the lucky people in the front row.
You sense that someone's watching you
After a brief pause to headbang, you feel the very same eyes that had been catching the attention of the front row fix on yours. A familiar sensation builds at the feeling of being spotted as you note the lines of kohl etched around them, sucking you in under the crimson lights.
He continued to pace the stage and stopped at the front, tipping his head back and revealing the strong line of his neck to you. He gave a little private smirk to you as he whispered the refrain again. Coherent thought was almost lost to you as he took the microphone closer to that mouth of his as the song ended, allowing his tongue to dart out and lick his bottom lip. You felt your cheeks flush as the ending riffs sounded, the intensity of his performance still flooding through your veins.
Esme tapped your shoulder to check that you were still there as you blinked back into focus, the red spotlight having long faded out now.
"Girl, i thought I'd lost you for a minute! I just gotta go pee. Do you mind grabbing me a drink?" Esme asked sweetly, barely waiting a second for you to respond before she marched over to the toilets regardless.
Sighing, you adjusted your dress and made your way over to the bar, heeled boots clacking on the hardwood floor. You hadn't had the chance to calm your heart down completely as you realized you felt a little too warm to still be wearing your jacket.
"Two double rum and cokes, please," you almost shouted over the blearing sound emitting from the stage to the bar tender.
As you tapped your nails on the bar counter absentmindedly, you noted the unmistakeable smell of hair dye as someone's shoulder brushed yours.
"Sorry, I couldn't help but notice you there," a voice uttered beside you, tinged with an accent but strangely familiar.
You turned, feeling the blush creep over your face at him. "Jere, right?"
Although the lighting was dimmer where you were sat, you could now make out the hues of his cloudy grey-blue eyes. The same ones that had held your gaze just minutes before. You had to stop your eyes from trailing down to those lips of his as he smiled brightly, somewhat innocent compared to the persona he had embodied on stage.
"Did you enjoy my performance?" He asked in a soft tone, and it was pure torment that he still seemed completely relaxed in comparison to you right now. The usual quick wit of yours had fallen slack, defeated by the thoughts running through your mind.
You were sure he knew the full effect he had on people, making you struggle to phrase a response in your head. Instead, you broke his gaze to take out your purse and pay for the drink you had ordered, acutely aware of the proximity of your barstools. After taking a large sip of your drink, you turned to face him.
‘’It was incredible,’’ you say, clearing your throat and feeling the alcohol spread through your body.‘’though, I wish I could hear it privately sometime,’’ you smirk and allow your gaze to fall on his lips. From the corner of your eye, you notice him pause to rub the back of his neck with his ringed fingers as if wanting to focus your attention on that instead.
You intake a breath as you admire it, wondering how it'd look if you had a few minutes to mark it with your mouth.
The competition continued to go on around you as you chatted. It had become your mission to try and see if you could get at that darker side of Jere, although his radiant smile was making you lose focus on anything else. The Jere he had revealed to you now, was such a warming and kind presence. You couldn’t help but smile at how earnestly he spoke about his favourite music influences during his childhood.
It was after you felt a small buzz in the pocket of your jacket, that you realized you had long finished your drink and snapped back into focus.
Swiping the passcode discreetly, you checked your phone and saw Esme's message
'Sorry had to head off, enjoy your evening for me though 😘'
You had to refrain a giggle at that, glad that she still had faith in you despite your distinct lack of tenacity in comparison. It had always been Esme that had tried to encourage you to go face first towards your dreams. Deep down that the thought of abandoning the possibility of finally doing what you had craved ever since those eyes had first focused on yours.
This is where you realize that now, despite the bar still being packed - this was your chance. Swiveling back to face him, you ask: ‘’How come you act so differently on stage?’’.
The question had been reverberating in your head for the last few minutes from him showing his gentler side. It was a far cry from the almost animalistic way he had paraded the stage and captured the hearts of several in the room. Capturing the hearts of several in the room with that unmistakably dominant gaze of his.
He bit his lower lip, thinking it over, then answered.
‘’I guess,’’ he starts, ‘’I want to give my audience something to remember,’’ he says with an innocent grin, but as you held his gaze again, you saw the promise of something darker.
Mustering up your courage, you leaned over on the stool until you were inches away from his ear, your hand resting on his knee. The heady scent of cologne and sweat flooded your senses and built the coil of arousal in the pit of your stomach.
‘’And what if I was your biggest fan?’’
You lean away from him, eyes flicking to his neck and back up to his eyes. He swallows thickly before that suggestive grin forms on his face, tugging at the corner of his mouth. That dangerous glint had returned to his eyes, as they flicked down to your lips.
‘’Vittu,’’ he mutters under his breath as it was his turn to broach the distance. All at once, you feel his finger trace along your thigh and his breath over your neck, making you shudder.
‘’I’d have to show you my appreciation,’’ he says low in your ear, his stubble scratching your earlobe now. Everything in your head is flooded with the promise of something absolutely depraved.
‘’Please,’’ you beg, the heat trapped between your legs, too much for you to utter anything more.
‘’Come with me,’’ he whispers, leading you off the stool and out of the club.