bigger (richbone)

chapter 3

A few hours later, the tour bus arrives to their next stop. AJ wakes up freezing from the January weather. He props himself up on an elbow, looking down at his sleeping Kevin. He could sleep through anything. Anything that didn't involve AJ moving an inch, that is. Only a few seconds after AJ woke up, Kevin is already trying to stop him from leaving.

"Hi. I'm not goin' anywhere, babe."

Kevin closes his eyes again, his grip on AJ's waist never faltering. AJ places a few kisses to his lover's jaw, before letting his head rest on him again, listening to his steady heartbeat.

Just as AJ feels himself drifting away, there's a light knock on the wall next to the bunk.

"Hey, Kev? Y'need to wake up, we gotta go do sound check."

"No. Go away."

AJ says. Brian is surprised to hear his voice instead of Kevin's.

"Oh. Hi, Aje. Y'all need to be inside in fifteen minutes."

"Got it, cous'."

Kevin replies, his voice a bit hoarse from sleep. AJ makes a noise of annoyance, and carefully maneuvers out of the cramped bunk. He throws on one of Kevin's sweaters before leaving the bus.

♡

Inside the venue, stagehands are setting up for the show. Howie and Nick stand on stage talking into microphones that don't seem to be working. AJ heads up with them, grabbing a mic of his own.

"Hi, AJ! Where's Kevin?"

Nick giggles. AJ jerks his head toward the entrance, where Kevin is still talking to someone.

"Hey Kev!"

Nick leans over and grabs AJ's microphone so he's heard across the large room. Kevin looks up from his conversation to see the blond waving enthusiastically. He waves back, and AJ rolls his eyes.

"Stop bothering him, Nick."

"I'm not!"

"Yeah you are."

"Whatever."

As the two are talking, Howie's microphone finally powers on, creating a loud feedback that rings out across the entire theater.

"Ah!"

Howie yelps and almost drops the microphone, and of course, it's the funniest thing ever to Nick. AJ is laughing too, and his attention is drawn away from Kevin just for a few moments.

During the short time that AJ wasn't focused on Kevin, he's finally made his way to the stage. AJ feels a pair of arms wrap around his waist, and he smiles.

"Hi, baby."

"Hey Kev. 'Bout time you got in here."

"I was looking for this."

Kevin says, referring to the sweater, running a hand over AJ's side.

"Alright guys, let's run through a couple songs real quick and you guys'll be free until the show."

A voice sounds over the speakers, catching the attention of all five of them. Kevin kisses AJ's temple before walking away to get his own microphone, everyone else gets into position.