POISON

tomorrow's money

Arriving at midnight was considered late for the night shifts, and Gerard hadn't gotten in until one o'clock. Even though the crowd was busiest around ten and three, it was oddly calm compared to the chaos they'd endured over the past few days. Most people were sat at booths drinking, or sat by the stage, leaving the dance floor virtually deserted.

For the first time in ages, Val was in earlier than Gerard.

Handbag slung over his shoulder, he'd come in wearing an old football jersey, sweatpants that were sliding down dangerously low on his hips, the waistband of his underwear visible, but he didn't really care. It had barely been an hour since he'd woken up, and everything still had a dull haze over it.

On the way to the dressing room, Val noticed him skip down the stairs from where he was sat at the bar, and decided to join him since he was currently on a break. He ditched his drink to fall into pace beside Gerard, catching him just before he opened the door to the corridor.

Slinging an arm around his shoulders, startling him slightly in the process, Val asked, "Why the fuck are you here? You don't usually work Mondays."

Eyebrows raised, he scoffed, "Do I hear any complaints?"

"I might have a few."

"Oh, yeah?" Gerard turned his head to hiss in his ear, "How 'bout you suck my dick then you won't be able to talk at all?"

Val sighed dramatically, "Y'know I'd love that, but I got better things to do."

"Doubt it." They reached the dressing room, and he whirled around to face Val properly, leaning back against the door to push it open. "You followed me over here; it'd be your pleasure." He smirked, walking over to the bench to set his bag down; he didn't have to be on stage until later, he had time.

"Well, aren't you a little bitch beggin' for attention."

He narrowed his gaze, "S'just a suggestion to shut you up 'nd get me off, motherfucker. Don't you wanna hear me moan? Fuck – I bet you do." He smoothed a hand over his stomach, down to his waistband, watching as Val's eyes followed. "You'd have me for real–"

"Shut up."

"Cunt." Gerard whined in an exaggerated breathier tone, just to piss him off.

"Do you have an off switch?"

"Why don't you try find it?" He winked, receiving an eyeroll in response, then focused his attention on choosing a more suitable outfit.

Val sat back in one of the chairs by the makeup tables, crossing one leg over the other. "Your prince charming's not here, by the way. I saw you lookin' for him the moment you came in. Any quicker, and your eyes woulda fallen outta your fuckin' head."

"You jealous that I didn't look for you first, honey?" Swapping the jersey for his red and black corset, he only managed to get it on before he needed help with the laces and beckoned for Val's assistance, which he did give, but not before he rolled his eyes at Gerard's comment, receiving a small glare in response. "Ya can judge my behaviour all you want when you have a boyfriend."

Val took him by the shoulders, guiding him to stand facing the mirrors as he started to do up the corset. Hesitantly, he confessed, "I do."

"Really?" It came out way more shocked than intended.

"Why's that so surprising?" Briefly meeting Gerard's eyes in the reflection, he deadpanned, "I have a lovely personality."

"'Course you do," Gerard said sarcastically in a way that they both knew wasn't serious, borderline affectionate. "It's jus' that you've never mentioned anyone before."