backstage [gem and the scotts]

[waveridden]

Title: backstage
Fandom: Life Series SMP
Prompt: glorious
Rating: G
Summary: Gem and the Scotts get ready for a big show. (415 words)

“Look to the left,” Gemsays. Impulse obeys, turning his head and meeting Scott’s eyes, who smirks at him. Gem pays no attention, leaning in to inspect. “Close your eyes.”

Impulse does, and tries not to wince at the feel of the eyeliner pen. “How long till we have to go?”

“Two minutes or something.” There’s a warm gust of breath on Impulse’s left cheek. “Gem, smudge it more.”

“Smudging,” Gem chirps. “Lean in a little, Impulse?”

“Smudged hot pink eyeliner,” Impulse says, but leans in anyways. “All the kids are doing it these days.”

Scott snorts and drums his fingers on the table, vibrating against Impulse’s hips. He remembers when their green rooms were shitty folding tables — hell, he remembers when green rooms were the tiny stretch between bar and stage, all of them cramped together, Scott meticulously pulling pieces out of Gem’s braid and ruffling Impulse’s hair.

Now, as rock stars, as real celebrities, everything is too quiet, too clean. He can’t hear the crowd roaring because the stadium is too big. But sitting on a craft services table that they cleaned off, Gem leaning in between his legs, the three of them all breathing the same air, at least that’s the same. They’re used to living out of each other’s pockets. Impulse isn’t going to let that go just because the venues are bigger.

“Okay,” Gem says, and pulls away. “Mirror check.”

Impulse opens his eyes and takes in his reflection. “I kind of look like I haven’t slept in a few days.”

“In a good way?”

“Oh, sure.”

“It’s kind of a vibe,” Scott says, peering at his face. On Scott, the eyeliner is knife’s-edge sharp, making his eyes look wide and lovely. Gem has used it to draw abstract shapes on her face, swirls and squares high on her cheekbones. “Like, hot sleepless drummer, still super competent…”

“Crushing that four on the floor,” Gem adds, a mischievous tilt to her smile. Impulse groans, and Gem laughs. He’s seen her on stage, where she’s superhuman and magnetic and that laugh can bring people to their knees; this is nothing like that. This is his best friend teasing him.

“Because we know Impulse loves those easy, easy drum lines,” Scott finishes, nudging his foot against Impulse’s. “We’ve got to get backstage.”

Impulse looks at his reflection one last time, the pink smeared indelicately across his eyes, and grins. “First stadium show.”

“Legendary,” Gem sighs dreamily, and pulls Impulse to his feet. “Let’s go.”