Smother the Flame in Your Heart // Danny x Sam

Part XII

Word Count: ~4300

Warnings: nothing besides mentions of binge drinking/vomiting

;)

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The Montage was not a packed house for the sort of odd but tolerable-sounding indie-alt group that Sam had never heard of before and was sort of surprised Jake wanted to see, especially on his and Josh's birthday. The whole thing seemed kind of lame, made even more lame because the venue floor was as sparse as it was–too much room to move around, killing some of the intimacy and general excitement of a real show. Also lame because, even with that, it was still too loud to have much of a real conversation, and Sam felt very out of the loop, because the noise barrier wasn't seeming to stop Danny and Jake.

Why were they trying to talk to each other so badly anyway? Sam thought about this, brooding, as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, tapping against the floor with the rhythm of the music despite not wanting to. He tried to focus on the band, and although the music should have been loud enough to drown out every word shared between Jake and Danny, his ears were anxiously tuned into the pair on his right who were huddled close together, with Danny hunched down on his knees a bit to meet Jake's words, to keep their ears level. There wasn't anything odd or concerning about the conversation between them from the few words Sam could catch here and there–it was just them talking about the instruments and the sound and the stage set-up–but nonetheless it made him prickly.

"So what do you think?" Josh asked, pressing in close to Sam, who had just about entirely forgotten his other brother was there at all. Josh gave a brief jut of his nose and chin upwards, gesturing at the band: "I'm not so sure. Good bass though, right, Sammy? That guy might be the star."

"Yeah," Sam agreed. Now that Josh had turned his attention to it, the agreement was genuine. He tried to keep his ears on those drumming fingers and smooth riffs, the rhythm flowing through him enough to make him actually start tapping with the music, not just out of irritation.

Josh leaned in even more, squishing their arms together. "Are you okay?" The question was sufficiently loud enough for Sam to hear, but a quick glance to his right assured him that Jake and Danny hadn't heard.

"Why?" Sam replied.

"You've been quiet all evening. Dare I say that you even seemed uncomfortable at dinner?"

Sam let out a small huff and laid his arm over Josh's shoulder. "I'm good, Josh." Josh hadn't proven to be an issue at all–he liked Danny, of course, and Sam knew that Josh wanted to be better friends with him, but he'd never crossed a line. Sam didn't think this twin had any inkling Danny was anything other than his totally human, not-supernatural-whatsoever, boyfriend. So he gave his brother a reassuring squeeze and added, "Yeah, I'm good. Just trying to figure out what the fuck this band even is."

Josh laughed and reciprocated, hugging Sam back. "Yeah, me too. Like, they're sort of like 2010s indie but without the cliche vocals–probably a good thing there–but also trying to replicate the rhythm and percussion of, I don't know, Radiohead? Is that accurate? It's odd."

Sam laughed too. "Something like that. Jake likes this shit?"

"I don't think so. I think he's just missing going to shows. The venues here have been dry lately."

"Yeah, all two of 'em."

"Exactly."

Danny stood to his full height and leaned into Sam. "So what do you think?"

Sam traded Josh's body for his boyfriend's, roping both arms around Danny's waist and holding him in place. "Josh just asked me that," he said loudly. "I guess I can appreciate the bass but this really isn't doing anything for me. It's actually starting to sound abrasive."