𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓 ✞𝑡𝑜𝑚 𝑘𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑧✞

part three

The elevator ding was unsettling; an indication that she had arrived and that he would be standing on the other side of the metal doors. Taking a deep breath, she flattened out the stomach of her black dress, staring at herself in the reflective metal of the doors until they parted to reveal her fathers face staring back at her.

"There you are!" Axel's voice sung as he seized forward and wrapped his arms around her suddenly. Engulfed in his embrace, Robyn stifled her breath, feeling as her bodies state of defence relaxed intertwined in his arms.

"Dad" she sighed, burying her nose in the rough denim of his jacket and inhaling her fathers scent. Despite it being three years, he was the same- Dad.

"I missed you baby. Don't ever scare me like that again" he croaked, his words soft and meaningful.

A lump tightened in her throat knowing she would be leaving him soon.

"I won't." she lied exhaling deeply, smelling the pungent scent of cigarettes and liquor. It was for the best, she couldn't watch her own dad fall victim to the corruptive nature of fame, drugs and grief.

The father-daughter duo remained this was for several moments; silent, as they embraced. It wasn't until the elevator doors began to close once more that Axel chuckled and pulled away.

"I'm so glad you came. Come on in, let me grab your bags" he welcomed, pulling the heavy duffel bag from her shoulder and turning to face her. "You're still the same" he smiled.

It was at this moment that Robyn noticed his appearance: bloodshot, his eyes were wide and exhausted; his face had grown more aged, with sporadic wrinkles edged into his olive skin; his dress sense was the same however- jeans, denim, leather but what striked her the most, was the discoloured blotches that coated his skin. A common symptom of drug abuse.

"You're still the same" she smiled weakly, her heart sinking slightly at the mixture of relief and worry that grew inside her.

They paused to look over each other, before he spoke once more.

"Come on, I want to see if you still remember all the guys" he smiled, leading her out of the elevator and into the penthouse suite.

Inside, the interior was lined with glossed white slabs of marble on both the floor and walls, that sounded heavily against her boots as she followed her father. The furnishings were typically lavish: an array of black, white, beige and gold decor scattered throughout the living area.

Axel lead her over to a small assembly of men, all of which were seen smoking or drinking from champagne flutes.

"Everyone, remember my little girl?" Axel spoke, stepping to the side to reveal Robyn "Look at her now"

Sheepishly, she smiled at the faces, seeing how each one lifted their sunglasses to see her.

"Is that Robyn Cadence?" her dad's drummer (Lorenzo) remarked, his eyes widening.

"You haven't changed one bit" Robyn chuckled, pulling him into an embrace.

Lorenzo had been with her father on tour for as long as she could remember, always laughing or joking with her father like college roommates. Like Axel, he was childish and loveable making him one of her father's closest friends- plus, he was a really good drummer. In a weird way, Robyn had known no different; always being introduced to huge varieties of people on tour and living with them like family. In fact, Lorenzo was her godfather.

"Look at you" Lorenzo exclaimed "All grown up" He offered a warm smile, ruffling his knuckles over the top of her hair.

Robyn smiled awkwardly, raking her hands through her braids to flatten them back down. Seeing this, Lorenzo held his hands up in defence.

"Oh sorry, wouldn't want to ruin your look for the big award show tonight" he defended sarcastically "My Luca is gonna loose his shit when he sees you"

The same age as her, Lorenzo's son- Luca- was always on tour too. Running around backstage with Robyn and always causing chaos. They were just kids, but on tour, best friends.

"Oh yeah, I forgot, is he coming tonight?" Robyn asked, a mixture of excitement and nerves rising inside her as she thought of him. They were much older now, things would be different.

"Is that Rob I hear?" a familiar voice sounded from behind her.

Turning, there he was. Similar to his dad, Luca had dirty brown hair and brows, which furrowed over his darkened eyes as he talked. Dressed in an all black suit, he looked like a man; his frame now broader and tall with a more mature, angular face. Still, his childish eyes squinted as he smiled at her.

"Holy shit! Look at you!" he stifled a laugh, placing his glass down on a side table before he pulled her into a hug. "Where've you been?"

Unsure what to say, she took a breath as he pulled away before she spoke, carefully selecting her words.

"Oh you know? Same old" she shrugged. "I'll tell you all about it when they're doing the boring stuff"

He smiled. A nostalgic reminiscent smile.

"Speaking of, our cabs are outside. We can't be late for presenting an award" one of the managers spoke up, pulling on his leather jacket.

Luca pulled a mocking face, raising his brows slightly as he scooped up a bottle of liquor from the cabinet.

"Let's drink in the cab"

~*~

The event was chaotic, with streams of celebrities and their personelle flooding into the arena. Loud chatter and bustle could be heard as everyone found their seats, event managers guiding each arrival to their positions before the loud speakers sounded overhead.

On arrival, Axel, Lorenzo and their team were rushed backstage to be prepared for the award presentation whilst Robyn followed Luca and an event manager to their seats. A couple rows from the front, she slid past the lines of people and comfortably found their reversed spots.

"Jesus fucking christ, I'm having war flashbacks" Luca joked, exhaling as he collapsed down onto the seat beside Robyn, offering her a charming smile as he sat.

"Just how I remember" Robyn smiled, glancing around at the people surrounding them.

"You scrub up quite well don't you? I wouldn't expect anything other than black of course" he teased, his eyes scanning over the silk black dress she decided on for the award show. Kaya had a small collection of formal dresses and insisted on Robyn wearing one. She supposed being a run away rich girl had it's perks.

"Not so bad yourself" She returned to compliment to Luca who immediately proposed a cocky grin.

"I have to dress up if I'm going to be sat next to you" he smirked.

In recent years, Luca had quite the reputation for being Germany's playboy, due to his extravagant parties in his dad's penthouse. Much in disagreement with the press, Robyn knew he was just the same old mischievous kid.

Robyn rolled her eyes at his comment, but was swiftly cut off from saying anything as the lights dimmed and a clear spotlight projected onto the stage.

She already couldn't wait for it to be over.

~*~

"This is the award they're presenting" Luca whispered over, sitting up slightly from his dazed position he was in throughout the duration of the previous awards.

Smiling, Robyn clapped for their entrance, hearing the announcer call out Axel and Lorenzo. Of course, Luca whistled and shouted, seeing both of their fathers strut out onto the stage in their washed up rockstar attire.

The crowd had mixed reactions: some calling them cheap, while other called them generational icons.

The pair carried out a small segment of dialogue about the award itself and how they once won it in the eighties.

She smiled seeing how her dad presented himself on stage, his older face still smiling how he did when she was younger beneath the stage lights.

"And the winner is..." they chorused, tension rising in the room.

"Tokio hotel"