Robert Keating was worried. Which was extremely unlike him, as he tended to stay away from anyone's affairs that did not involve him. He could not help it, though. Ever since he caught Elijah and Marlene snogging on the side of the tour bus, he had caught them slipping away together too many times to count. Usually he would be happy for both his friend and his new photographer, who was slowly becoming one of his favorite people, but he was worried. First off, they were keeping whatever was going on between them a secret. Which was strange. He was all for respecting their privacy, but he feared they both were avoiding a big conversation about what their relationship was. Second, Marlene had just started working for them, which was a tricky situation. If anyone on their profession team found out, it would be bad. He was the only one who knew apart from Kate. Josh and Ryan were clueless.
They're playing bird bingo, which usually was an amazing time for Robert, but he was annoyed this time. They were waiting to go on. It was their 4th show in England. Marlene and Elijah kept giving each other very indiscreet eyes. Usually this was code that they were going to go off soon and probably snog. They were obsessed with each other. It was gross.
"Bingo!" Exclaimed Ryan while grinning at Robert. Now he had lost bird bingo due to the two idiots next to him. Enough was enough.
"You good?" Josh asked as he leaned back on his seat. He was looking at him with a raised brow. Robert never lost bird bingo and was quiet about it. He would usually throw a big tantrum.
"I'm good, mate." He dismissed, and that was that. They all talked for a bit, then Marlene got up. "I'm going to take a nap before you lot go on." Everyone waved her off, and she went.
Then Elijah got up.
"I think I'm going to do the same. Wake me up?" Ryan nodded, and he left.
There were two green rooms they had. They used the second to sleep if needed. Marlene and Elijah used it to hook up.
She heard the door click, and she knew it was him. She was lying on one of the couches in the dark. She felt him pad around looking for her body when his hands found her knees. "Hi." He whispered, and she smiled lazily even when he couldn't see her face.
"Hi. C'mere." She pulled him down onto her, and he fell on top of her with a huff and a laugh. He laid his head on her neck and inhaled her scent, then puckered his lips and kissed it. "I'm so fucking tired."
"I know, but you have a two-day break soon at least." He hummed, then dragged his hands along her stomach. His rings were cold on her skin, and she hissed. He kissed her jaw.
"Don't start something you can't finish, Hewson." She warned, but she was blushing. This whole new dynamic was strangely nice. They were way more affectionate now. He would kiss her whenever he could. Touch her when no one was around. They had gotten some type of far, but never too much. She couldn't help wanting him all the time, though. He was addicting.
"Oh, I'll make sure you finish." He replied with a grin she couldn't see but feel, and she laughed. "You're gross." He shut her up by placing his lips on hers. She stuck her hands on his hair. He pushed a hand under her shirt. She moaned into his mouth. He tapped her legs so she would give him space between her thighs. She did. She felt him press against her hips and she groaned.
"We can't." She said, gasping as he continued his work on her neck now. He lapped at her pulse point with his lips and tongue. "Shut up." He said then kissed her collarbone. She moaned loudly, then blushed. Elijah smirked.
He groaned when he tried to lower himself but couldn't. He rose from her chest and furrowed his brows. He didn't like the fact they didn't have any space when he needed her so badly.
"Sit up for a sec." He demanded, and she did just that. He sat next to her now. "Sit on my lap."
Was he serious? Was he insane? What would make him ever think that saying those words was normal? He wanted her to combust on the spot. Her breath hitched.
She got up, and her legs felt weak. She placed one leg around his waist, then a hand on his shoulder for support. She sat at the top of his lap. He grabbed her hips and pushed her down to him. He just brought her into his chest and hugged her.
Everything about her felt warm. She was perfect. He always believed she was made for him. They belonged together like puzzle pieces. He didn't think he could breathe if he lost her again. "You're so great."
She laughed. Elijah would say something that never necessarily made sense to her, but she loved it. She always forgot he was a songwriter. "Can you play something for me? A cover." She asked softly, eyeing the acoustic guitar on the side.
"Sure." He helped her get off his lap, then got up to grab the guitar. He sat and tuned it before strumming. He sang "Fade Into You" to her, and she almost cried. He was so fucking perfect. She sang along to the chorus, which made Elijah raise an eyebrow. She hadn't noticed.
She was good. She was great even. Her voice was the prettiest voice he ever heard.
"Fuck-" She raised a brow in confusion when he stopped playing.
"Why'd you stop?" He kept looking at her. He had the most adoring look on his face.
"Marlie. You can sing." She scoffed, then laughed. He kept staring.
"You can! You're fucking great. I didn't—I never knew."
"Cause I can't sing!" The wheels were turning in his head now. His artist brain is turning on. He would love her vocals on a song.
"I'll strum, and you sing to me. Whatever song you want." He said as he placed his hands over the strings.
"What? No! I'm a photographer. I don't sing." She replied. Baffled. She knew her voice wasn't bad but nothing out of the ordinary.
"Come on. Humor me."
She looked at him with wild eyes. Her mouth was opening and closing. He was looking down at the guitar. "I guess... another Mazzy?"
"Sure."
He started playing "Quiet, The Winter Harbor" for her just because he knew she liked that song. He made sure to not look at her so she wouldn't be nervous. He knew what it was like. She was wringing her hands together.
She started singing softly. Nervously. Her voice cracked here and there. As she went on, she became more stable. It was beautiful. She was beautiful. He couldn't wait for the others to hear.
Sometimes he would lose his place on the strings because he was so entranced. He dared to look at her. She had her eyes closed and her eyebrows slightly furrowed. When he was done, he placed the guitar down and then smashed a kiss on her forehead. She was blushing furiously. She almost cried.
"It was awful."
"You were perfect."
Robert came in then and told Elijah they had to get on stage. He couldn't stop looking at her as he got up. "Yeah. I'm going."
-
Marlene had already made a reputation amongst Inhaler fans. They were loving the professional picture she was taking. They lived for the content she would post on her personal Instagram.
The gig had just started. She had freedom to roam on stage and around the barricade. She snapped a couple pics of Bobby while he sang backing vocals. Then of Josh during his 'It Won't Always Be Like This' solo. She also took pictures of the fans dancing along to the music.
She loved what she did.
As she took a picture of Elijah singing, he noticed her and winked. She rolled her eyes.
When she was done, she chose to enjoy the show a bit from backstage. Her eyes kept following Elijah. He looked great tonight. He was wearing one of his infamous white vests paired with a leather jacket.
The show ended, and they waved goodbye. Elijah threw some picks at fans, and Ryan gave away his drumsticks. As they left the stage, Josh went up to her and hugged her, which was sweet.
"That was a great show! I think best one yet." She said as she separated from Josh.
"Right? The energy was great tonight!" Josh replied and smiled. He was truly the sweetest one of them all.
Elijah wrapped an arm around her before making his way to their green room along with the rest of the guys. "Let's go out tonight."
"I like that thinking, lad." Robert was craving a pint greatly. As they made their way in, Elijah threw his jacket on the couch. He lit a cigarette.
"Let's do karaoke tonight." Elijah suggested, and Marlene narrowed her eyes at him. He was plotting.
"Fuck yeah. I'm tired of hearing Eli's voice." Ryan nodded, agreeing.
"Hey!"
"I'm down to getting a drink." Marlene smiled at the group, and they all cheered.
She waited for them to take showers and change. She had taken a shower before the gig and was already ready. She was wearing low-rise blue jeans and a white vest. Her hair was up in a ponytail tonight, which made Elijah crazy. She was getting cold, so she decided to steal Eli's leather jacket as he was gone.
She laid on the couch editing her pictures of the night when Eli came out of the shower.
Shirtless. He was wearing black skinny jeans only.
She peered up at him from her computer and tried to look away but couldn't.
"Have you seen my... Oh." He smiled when he saw her with his jacket on. She blinks up at him.
"Oh. Sorry, I got cold. Do you want it back?"
"No, it's fine; keep it." He leaned down to peck her lips since there was no one around. She blushed.
"I know what you're doing with this whole karaoke thing." She said as he grabbed a T-shirt to put on.
"I'm not doing anything. I simply want to do karaoke with my friends."
"Right."
She stared at him as he put clothes on. She truly could not believe she spent such a long time without him. Now she didn't even know what they were, but she was too afraid to burst their bubble. She knew she had to. That they should talk about what the fuck they were doing. As she stared at him, she felt her chest feel heavy, so she looked away.
He sat next to her and placed an arm behind her on the couch.
"I like this picture." He said, pointing at her computer screen.
"It's a picture of me."
"Yeah, and you look pretty. Send it to me." She looked at him and blushed. She couldn't stop blushing around him.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: hi..... i am aware it has been 7 months since the last update😭😭 im so sorry. writers block is a curse. but i saw inhaler live for the first time!! i was inches away from eli and we made eye contact and he pointed at me 😍😍
