// Before the Noise || MSI FANFIC \\

Mr. Loudmouth

The dimly lit backstage room smelled like a mix of stale beer, sweat, and cigarette smoke, but Jimmy didn't care. He was perched on the arm of a ratty couch, legs crossed, and chainsmoking like it was a personal challenge. Steve was sprawled out on the couch beneath him, tuning his guitar for the millionth time, even though it sounded fine five tunings ago.

"Do you ever stop fucking around with that thing?" Jimmy asked, exhaling a plume of smoke directly into Steve's face.

Steve squinted through the haze, not even bothering to swat it away. "Do you ever stop running your goddamn mouth?"

"Not when you're giving me material, asshole." Jimmy flicked ash onto the floor, his manic grin growing.

Steve smirked, plucking a few strings to check the sound. "You know, I could strangle you with a guitar string and nobody would blame me. Hell, they'd probably thank me."

"Yeah? You'd miss me in, like, two seconds. You can't function without me." Jimmy leaned down, balancing precariously on the couch arm, and poked Steve's temple with one bony finger. "Admit it, Righ. You'd be fucking lost."

Steve grabbed Jimmy's wrist and pulled him down onto the couch in one swift motion. Jimmy yelped as he landed awkwardly in Steve's lap, his cigarette dangling dangerously close to his own hair.

"Jesus Christ!" Jimmy squirmed, but Steve didn't let go. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Sit still, moron," Steve said, wrapping an arm around Jimmy's waist to hold him in place. "You're like a goddamn chihuahua hopped up on meth. I'm trying to tune this thing."

Jimmy froze for a second, his cigarette smoldering between his fingers. "You're seriously using me as a fucking armrest right now?"

"Yep," Steve replied, completely deadpan. He plucked another string and nodded, satisfied.

Jimmy huffed but didn't move, his weight slumping against Steve. "You're a dick."

"And you're a loudmouth," Steve shot back, his tone softer than before.

For a moment, the room was quiet except for the faint buzz of the amps warming up in the distance. Jimmy glanced at Steve out of the corner of his eye, noticing the faint grin tugging at the guitarist's lips.

"What?" Jimmy asked, his voice quieter now.

"Nothing," Steve said, but his grip on Jimmy tightened just slightly.

Jimmy smirked and took a drag from his cigarette. "You're so full of shit."

Steve chuckled and finally set his guitar aside. "Alright, maybe I'd miss you. A little. But only because nobody else is dumb enough to do what you do."

"Damn right," Jimmy said, leaning back against Steve's chest like he owned the place. "I'm fucking irreplaceable."

Steve didn't respond, but the way his arm stayed loosely wrapped around Jimmy's waist said enough.

A knock on the door shattered the moment. "Five minutes!" Kitty shouted.

Jimmy jumped up like he'd been electrocuted, almost spilling ash all over Steve. "Showtime, motherfucker!"

Steve stood, shaking his head as he grabbed his guitar. "You're unbelievable."

"Yeah, but you love me for it," Jimmy shot back, already halfway out the door.

Steve rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at his lips. "Let's go burn this place down."

As they stepped onto the stage together, the roar of the crowd hit like a freight train. Jimmy threw an arm around Steve's shoulders, pulling him close for a brief second before grabbing the mic...