After the Show

Chapter I

With ten minutes left till the show started, everyone around him was rushing to finish up any last minute preparations, band members and crew alike. Roadies rushing to make sure their backup equipment was ready by checking the amps and lighting rigs behind the stage, Brian tuning his guitar one last time, Roger trying to style his hair so that it looked decent enough before it would get messed up after the first two songs, Freddie practicing a few vocal exercises, stopping only to tidy up his outfit, and he was standing right near the stairway, occasionally checking his bass to make sure it was still in tune and finishing up one of his cigarettes before heading out with the other three. Thankfully there were no problems with the crowd getting too rowdy before they got out there, aside from the roars of excitement and chants of the band name growing louder with each passing second.

"You ready love?"

John jumped at the sudden touch on his shoulder, glancing behind him to see that excited, yet gentle, gaze from his boyfriend. It was no surprise that he was internally getting himself psyched up for getting out on stage. He had a duty to perform as their lead singer to be the lively, extravagant showman he always was once he got onto his home turf. No one could deny that. Freddie's kingdom was the stage. Always managing to grasp the attention of every fan and make them feel like they were in the front row and just as important as the band themselves. Despite his energetic and fast paced attitude on stage, he always made sure not to bring that persona with him off stage, especially when it was just the two of them alone. No matter how much he loved watching that alter ego of his prance around the stage for hours, he much preferred the real Freddie. The secretly gentle spirit who always made sure everyone was simply happy.

"Always. Looks like it's gonna be a big show."

"Well the bigger the better." He whispered, giving a saucy wink afterwards.

"Better watch your words. Press'll be all over you if you say something like that." He said with a smirk, taking one more drag from his cigarette before putting it out in the ashtray beside him.

Freddie shrugged as he walked out from behind and stood right in front of him, already telling him that he was getting into that more nonchalant attitude that he carried when on stage when he remained quiet about his argument. Without another word, he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss upon his lips. Though unexpected, John gladly gave in, quickly wrapping his arms around Freddie's torso, his eyes sliding shut, and pulling him as close as he could with his bass in between them. John slipped his tongue into Freddie's mouth, trying to speed up their kiss into a more hungry, passionate one in order to release some of the frustration within him before they'd go out there and have to perform. He tightened his grip on his jacket with his left hand while sliding his right up his back and into his hair. Unfortunately, Freddie pushed back as soon as he got a bit too frisky for his liking before the show, giving him that unwanted yet expected serious glare.

"I'm sorry dear, but you know my thing with performing." Freddie told him, the disappointment evident in his voice.

John nodded in response, seeing him flash a kind smile at him before heading over to the other two to make sure they were all good. He looked down at the ground and crossed his leg over the other. Ever since they had gotten together, whenever they went on tour, Freddie had this damned rule for himself that he would never perform anything sexual. He always claimed it helped him perform better, but John didn't believe that that was the entire argument. He thought it was more about staying focused on the tour and pleasing the people more than pleasing himself and not getting distracted with sex. It completely contradicted his actions when they were either recording an album or having an off season. Freddie was always ready and willing to perform any sexual acts with him while they weren't on tour and never shied away from initiating it. But then he would slowly stop with them in the weeks leading up to the tour and would finally completely withdraw from doing absolutely anything with him and wouldn't do anything until they finished that specific leg of the tour, leaving him without any type of relief either for at least two months.