BILLET-DOUX ✦ CLASSIC ROCK

46 - rick wright ²

For terrapinlovegood ! Please note that this deals with some sensitive topics regarding depression!
❪❤︎❫
Recording for Pink Floyd's latest album hadn't gone well. In fact, that was the understatement of the year, because it had truly gone horribly badly so very quickly. The tension between Roger and the rest of the band had reached its tipping point and the work being done on The Wall might as well have been credited to him only.

You didn't know the specifics of the situation. It was just what Rick could stomach to tell you at the end of a long, grueling recording session. But the truth was that Rick had been pretty much elbowed aside by a controlling Roger. His own pieces had been limited to mere background noise on cacophonous, troubling songs.

As the days passed into weeks, you saw the slow, steady progression of the man you loved so dearly into an exhausted shell. Dark circles lined his eyes and wrinkles appeared where they hadn't been in years previous. This entire situation was adding years to Rick's life and gray to his hair. No matter how much you tried to cheer him up, the results were only temporary.

The grooves worn into his psyche weren't easily smoothed out with pasta and wine dinners or quiet movie nights.

You weren't sure what to do at all and the longer you waited, the farther Rick slipped out of your grasp. He retreated into himself and spent most of his hours holed up with his piano. None of it was healthy. Rick rarely saw the light of day, so focused on making music to distract himself. And you knew that was exactly what he was doing. Keeping himself busy so that the inevitable wouldn't happen.

Unfortunately, Rick couldn't save himself.

The same morning that you found him hungover on brandy in his music room, you dragged him back into the real world and back with you. It was obvious that Rick wasn't going to make a move to help himself heal, so you would have to go about that yourself. And you knew just the solution.

It was a clear summer afternoon when you gently shook Rick awake. The sun was shining full force through the windows and illuminating the planes of his face as he fluttered his eyes sleepily at you. He was in the middle of another nap, one that would leave him groggy and irritable for the rest of the day. You weren't planning on seeing him grumpy today. Your goal was a pretty smile on his face.

"Time to wake up, Rick," you singsonged, pulling the covers from their place bunched about Rick's head. "We have a big day ahead!"

Rick groaned, trying in vain to fend you off. But you were persistant, and soon the blankets came off and Rick was forced to either rise up out of bed or freeze. Fortunately for you, he chose the former. Unfortunately for you, that was only to steal his blanket back.

"I don't want a big day," he groused, his gentle voice taking on a gruffer tinge. "I would like the smallest day possible, if you please."

You took one look at his furrowed brow and pout and tempted fate, reaching over to yank the blankets back again. This time, Rick waited in a still, silent few minutes steaming to himself about your audacity. You let him wait, a grin dancing on your lips.

"I have a surprise for you!" You said with a clap of your hands.

"I don't want a surprise." Rick chose to freeze, tucking his knees up under his chin and burying his face back into his pillow.