Superstar | | ACOTAR AU

7

Azriel's good mood had soured by the morning, his smile long gone as he got out of bed and showered. Rhys and Cassian were both still sleeping as Azriel ordered breakfast for all of them. They hadn't woken by the time it was delivered so he ate alone in silence, sending off a quick email to the venue staff about letting that family backstage tonight. He had a little more time of peace and quiet before Amren called.

"What's up?" he asked, staring at his half eaten waffle.

"You went out last night. You went out alone last night at two am," she pointed out the obvious.

"And I came back to the hotel in one piece. How miraculous," Azriel drawled, "nothing happened, so I don't think a lecture is necessary."

"I want to yell at you so bad but, fuck, everyone loves you right now. The video of you with that little boy is everywhere," she replied with exasperation, "don't go out alone like that again. I won't lecture you this time but don't do it again."

"I should've figured it'd end up online," Azriel muttered with a sigh, "whatever. I won't do it again. Thanks for not lecturing me."

"Next time you're craving late night chicken tenders, order in. And have security check the food."

With that, Amren hung up.

A little while later, Cassian and Rhys finally woke up.

"I smell food," Cassian said, nearly tripping over Rhys's legs as he got up off the couch. "Oh, you order the good shit every time, Azzy."

"Waffles?" Rhys asked, sitting up and pushing his messy hair back.

"Waffles," Cassian confirmed, "oooh, and bacon."

"Hell yeah," Rhys mumbled as he stood up, snagging his phone off the coffee table before stumbling to the kitchen. "Fuck, man, why did we pass out on the couch? I need a bed tonight. My back is so fucked."

"My neck feels like hell," Cassian agreed, "no more piling onto couches."

"Thanks for breakfast, Az," Rhys said with a nod as he grabbed his still warm try. Azriel hummed absentmindedly, irritation in his eyes as he stared at his phone. He didn't like seeing his face everywhere even if this was good press. "What are you glaring at?" Rhys inquired, and Azriel did not respond. Cassian plucked his phone right out of his hand in response. He scrolled a bit before clicking a video and turning the sound up.

"Oh, this is adorable," Cassian exclaimed, turning the phone so Rhys could watch too. "We're meeting this kid tonight? We've gotta get him and his parents some merch and stuff. This is so cute. I didn't realize you were such a softie."

"What time did you even go out last night? We didn't hear you leave," Rhys brought up, eyes flicking from the phone to Azriel as Cassian continued scrolling through the trending topic of Azriel, finding a handful of selfies and photos of autographs from last night.

"It was late," Azriel replied vaguely as he snatched his phone back. "Don't worry about it."

"No sex tonight," Cassian announced suddenly, "let's just be so fucking wholesome."

"You're doing really great at the wholesome thing already," Rhys muttered sarcastically with a laugh, and it took Cassian a few seconds to realize he was referring to the foul language.

Cassian scrolled through posts about Azriel's time last night until he came across something that interested him.

"Hm, what's this," he said with a wicked grin, "some girl posted, 'can't believe my bestie went for chicken tenders at 2 in the morning and had her meal paid for by fucking Azriel from the Bat Boys.' You bought a girl dinner, Az? Tell me more."