Don't Talk! (Freddie Mercury / Queen)

28. City of Angels: Pt - II

F.M
Los Angeles, California
August 28th

I'm planning to ruin Hayes Griffith's unbiased, uptight, professional policies. I will corrupt him into showing me some favouritism if it's the last thing I do. I will also be using him to get my way with Roger in the studio today.

Now that you know my evil intentions with Hayes, we can get on with things.

"Hello." I crushed my lips against the critic's the second we were alone.

I had shocked everyone by insisting that I get the refreshments. Of course my ulterior motive was to drag Hayes along with me to feel him up. I'm a simple man really, with simple needs. It's rather difficult not to just throw myself on Hayes the second I see him, especially when it's already been two weeks. Two weeks? Since when did I find that a long time?

"Hello." He murmured between the slow pecks. "How is my old so and so?"

I pulled away for a second and gripped Hayes' chin. "The beard rash I'm experiencing suggests that you are still being tortured at work." I turned his face from side to side to inspect the rough dark stubble that speckled his sharp features. "So more importantly, how are you? Also, enough with the old."

"Tortured isn't the word." Hayes huffed.

Aside from Hayes' usual writing duties... he was now in charge of a fresh batch of interns. Yes, Hayes was in charge of six young adults, American young adults. He was being driven out of his mind. On top of that, one of the assistant editors was on his honeymoon and Hayes' boss decided that the critic could take over his duties as well as his own. As a result of all of this, Hayes was buried with work and stress. He actually had to pull a sickie to be here today.

I know. I didn't believe it either until he showed up.

Hayes exhaled slowly, "I wanted the Billy Joel album- it's bloody cracking by the way- but I was put on Black Sabbath duty. "Black Sabbath" He repeated with horror. "There was never a chance of a review making the magazine, yet I still had to write it."

Bloody cracking? "You poor dear." I laughed and kissed him again, "Hopefully Queen have been a nice palette cleanser for you."

"It's merely rubbing salt in the wound." Hayes murmured. The cheeky grin which he was trying to hide indicated he didn't mean it and just wanted to wind me up.

Hayes leant forward to kiss me again, this time with much more force. One hand slipped to my hip whilst the other gripped the back of my neck. I conceded a step and felt my lower back hit the canteen counter.

"Where's the T-shirt I was promised?"

Hayes merely sniffed impatiently and occupied my lips so that I couldn't make a stupid comment again. He finally pulled away after an agonisingly slow kiss and rested his forehead against mine. He then proceeded to let out a deep drawn out sigh.

"What are you sulking about?"

"I'm tired, I'm stressed, and I missed you."

"In that order?"

"No, missing you overshadowed the former two factors." Hayes chuckled and pulled his face away from mine. "Don't worry egomaniac."

"I'm not worried," I shrugged, "It's quite clear that you missed me." I dragged my hand down his trouser front.

Hayes inhaled sharply at that before he grabbed my wrist, removed it, and turned around. He muttered something about 'not starting what couldn't be finished', and stalked off into the hallway. How dare he leave me to make all the tea.