Forever

Something special

The hum of the crowd buzzed faintly in the distance, a murmur of excitement and chatter that filled the venue. The concert was over, the lights dimmed, and the roar of applause had long since faded into the night. As the fans trickled out, some gathered near the merch booth, lingering to buy T-shirts, posters, and vinyl records. The air still held the scent of sweat and anticipation, but now there was a quieter, more intimate energy. The show was over, but the world of Sleep Token was still very much alive.

Vessel, now out of his performance attire, walked through the corridors backstage, where the merch tables were set up. His heart was still pounding from the performance, but there was something else stirring—a curiosity, a tugging sensation. He had seen her earlier in the crowd, standing near the back of the room, her eyes closed as if she were absorbing the music on some deeper level. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something different about her.

He pulled his hoodie tighter around him, his face uncovered for the first time in hours. The mask, the thing that separated him from the world, was back in his dressing room. For once, he wanted to be just another person—another face in the crowd. It had been a while since he'd allowed himself this kind of freedom, the kind that didn't require the weight of his alter ego.

As he passed the merch booth, he noticed her again. She was standing near the counter, talking to the person behind the table, her back turned. She was wearing a Sleep Token shirt, the same design that had been on the backdrop of the stage. She had the same focused expression he'd noticed earlier, like she was deep in thought. She hadn't seen him yet. He took a moment to watch her, not sure why she intrigued him so much.

A few steps closer, and he could feel his nerves tightening in his chest. It felt... strange, walking up to someone as himself. He wasn't Vessel in this moment. He was just a man, a stranger in a hoodie, a man who had just bared his soul in front of hundreds and yet now, here, he felt the odd vulnerability of simply being him.

He cleared his throat softly, and she turned, her gaze shifting to meet his.

"Hey," he said, his voice tentative but genuine. "I couldn't help but notice you earlier. You seemed to be really into the show."

She blinked, surprised, taking a moment to process him. She gave a small smile, glancing over his hoodie and the faint hint of exhaustion in his posture. He wasn't what she'd expected.

"Yeah, I—uh, I loved it. I've been to a few shows, but this one was... different. It felt personal, you know?" Her tone was warm, but there was a hint of uncertainty, as though she was unsure how to continue.

"Yeah," he said, a chuckle escaping his lips. "It's always different when you're actually in it. It kind of gets under your skin." He paused, then added, "I'm glad you liked it."

She nodded, her eyes scanning his face briefly. There was something familiar about him, but she couldn't quite place it. "Thanks. I mean, how could you not like it? It's Sleep Token," she laughed, her voice easy. Then, as if to make it clear she wasn't just another fan in a crowd, she added, "I've been listening for years."

For a moment, they stood in a comfortable silence, the space between them filled with the soft murmur of people in the background. The girl shifted her weight, still trying to place the feeling in her gut that she knew him from somewhere.

"You know," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly, "you look... familiar. Have we met before?"

Vessel's heart skipped a beat. He was standing there, as himself, without the artifice, with only the quiet space between them. It felt strangely intimate.

"I don't think we've met," he replied with a soft smile, trying to keep his voice casual, "but I guess I have one of those faces."

She raised an eyebrow, skeptical but not pressing the matter. "I could've sworn I'd seen you before, though. Anyway, I'm Gabbie," she said, holding out her hand. "Sorry for the weird vibe. It's been a long day."

Vessel shook her hand, his fingers brushing against hers for the briefest of moments. There was an electric twinge, a strange warmth spreading through him.

"Vessel," he replied, his voice steady despite the small leap of nervousness in his chest.

Gabbie's brow furrowed as she processed his name. There was something in the way he said it, as if it wasn't just a name, but an answer to a question that had been floating in the air.

"Vessel?" she repeated slowly, the puzzle pieces starting to fit into place. She looked at him again, the realization dawning. "Wait... are you...?"

Vessel smiled faintly, his eyes meeting hers. "Yeah. I guess you could say I'm the one behind the mask."

For a moment, Gabbie just stared at him, her eyes widening with shock. It took a few seconds for the words to fully process in her mind. "You—wait, hold on. You're... Vessel? From Sleep Token?" She laughed softly, shaking her head. "This is... weird. I didn't even recognize you without the mask."

Vessel shrugged, his smile still soft, but there was a warmth in his expression now. "Most people don't. I don't exactly make a habit of going out like this." He gestured to his hoodie, as if to say, this is me now, no stage lights, no smoke and mirrors.

"I mean, you don't look anything like how I imagined you'd look," she said, laughing nervously. "I mean, I guess I didn't really think about it, but this is crazy. I just had no idea you'd be... I don't know, normal."

Vessel laughed, the sound coming out easier than he expected. "Normal? I don't know about that." He gave a little shrug. "But yeah, without the mask, I'm just... this guy. It feels a little strange, but kind of nice, honestly. It's the first time in a while I've just been... me."

Gabbie paused, looking him up and down again, her mind still catching up to the surprise. "I can't believe this. I've been following Sleep Token for years, and here you are, just... standing in front of me like it's no big deal."

Vessel smiled, a little self-conscious, but grateful for the way she was reacting. She wasn't treating him like some untouchable figure. She was just... seeing him, him.

"Well," he said, after a beat, "it's kind of a big deal for me too. It's rare I get to just... talk to someone like this. I don't know what came over me I usually care about my hidden identity more than anything else and here I am revealing my identity to you." He stepped a little closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "I'm glad you're not freaking out or anything. That's kind of a relief."

Gabbie laughed, her nerves finally giving way to genuine amusement. "I mean, you'd think I would be more starstruck, but honestly, this feels more like... two people having a conversation. Which is kind of nice. I'm not sure what to say, though. I feel like I should say something cool, but all I'm thinking is, 'Wow, you're real. But don't worry I'd never go and tell anyone.'"

Vessel chuckled, shaking his head. "You don't have to say anything cool. Just... be here. That's enough. Thank you, it's weird but I trust you."

For the first time in a long while, Vessel felt a connection that had nothing to do with music or performance. It was simple. It was real. And in that moment, he felt like he didn't need the mask, the persona, or the stage to be seen.

Gabbie smiled at him, still a little stunned, but genuinely at ease. "Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels out of place now and then."

"You're not," Vessel replied, his eyes meeting hers with an unspoken understanding. "You're not."

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Hi, I hope you like this story so far. Let me know!
I have a lot of the story written already. It just needs some corrections. Be posting often!