Funny How Love Is (Maylor AU)

Chapter 21

Roger and Brian walked down the dark sidewalk side by side, the former walking slightly ahead of the latter, seeing as he knew the way. The professor found himself tagging along, looking at all the passersby who caught his gaze and raised a suspicious eyebrow as if to say What are you doing here? You don't belong here. He tilted head down in avoidance of their judgmental stares, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Roger who didn't seem fazed at all.

In fact, he seemed very at home, trotting down the steps that led to the underground bar which was bursting at the seams and walking into the crowded, deafening room with the same sense of confidence he showed up to the university with every day. The professor watched in pure awe as the music instructor greeted almost everyone he crossed paths with—sometimes just waving at them, other times being pulled in for a hug or a quick kiss on the cheek. It was all very entertaining for Brian, knowing he himself could never be that outgoing.

"Darling, there you are!" Roger exclaimed cheekily after reaching the bar, draping his arms around a guy and planting a quick kiss on his cheek. Brian recognized the man to be the same one who answered the door for the blonde the night he dropped him off. "What happened to saving me a seat?"

"Well, my dear, it's not my fault you can never show up on time," the dark-haired man responded sassily, looking back to catch a glimpse of his friend when he noticed the taller man standing behind them. "And who is this handsome tall glass of water?" he purred, turning in his seat to face him and taking a provocative sip of his drink.

Brian's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion as Roger met his gaze, a surprised look appearing on his face as though he forgot he'd brought the professor with him. "Oh this, this is Brian May." He dropped a hand on the curly-haired man's shoulder and smirked. "He's the professor I was telling you about."

"Well hello there, Professor," Freddie murmured slyly, sticking his free hand out for a handshake, "It's an absolute honor to finally meet you. I hope my Roger hasn't been riding you up the walls too badly."

Brian cautiously placed his hand in Freddie's and gave it a slight shake, the corners of his lips being pulled up into small, polite grin. "No, he's been great. I really like teaching with him."

The flashing colorful lights in the bar couldn't hide the blush that manifested in Roger's cheeks as he tilted his head down and began to fiddle with one of the coasters on the bar to distract himself.

Freddie took note of this and pressed his lips together in an attempt to hide the wide grin that they wanted to form, returning his attention to the professor and asking, "So, what can I get you to drink, Brian May? Anything you'd like, and it doesn't have to be a liquid." He added a wink to the last statement, causing the blonde to worriedly look up and over at Brian to see his response.

Luckily, the comment seemed to pass right over the curly-haired man's head as he surveyed the bar, slipping his hands into his pockets and replying, "Erm, I wouldn't mind a glass of grapefruit juice if they have it."

"Grapefruit juice?" Roger repeated him incredulously, "I hope you're joking."

"Roger, that is no way to talk to your gorgeous friend," the man seated at the bar scolded him, instantly earning a glare from the blonde while he offered alternatively, "How 'bout a vodka and tonic?"

Brian nodded his head. "Sure."

"Jim, you heard the good-looking chap. One vodka and tonic and two martinis, extra strong!" the dark-haired man called out with the wave of his hand. Within seconds, the drinks appeared in front of him, the barkeep taking almost no time at all to prepare it. Freddie blew him a kiss and scooped the beverages up in his long fingers, his black-lacquered nails shimmering in the blue glow of the bar.

He stood up from the stool he was perched on and nodded his head towards the corner of the room, drawing the other two over there as he maneuvered around and through the people dancing and drinking and conversing with one another. Freddie was the first to slip into the open, round booth, with Roger following suit and Brian sliding in last, reaching across the table for his vodka and tonic out of courtesy.

"Ah ah ah," Freddie chastised him playfully, wrapping his hand around one of the martinis and raising it up high, "Not before we congratulate Mr. Taylor on getting his first student." He smiled over at Roger whose embarrassed blush intensified, the blonde taking the last drink into his possession and looking down at it to hide the bashful smile he had no control over.

Brian raised his drink as well, listening as Freddie began, "To new beginnings, my dear friend. You've come a very long way since I first met you. I mean, you were wearing practically nothing but heels when I first saw you, and now look at you! You're teaching at a university; you've got your eyes on a new man—"

The blonde chuckled, realizing where his friend's speech was going and seeing the shocked and bewildered expression that appeared on the professor's face. "O-Okay. No need to be so specific. Let's just get shitfaced, yeah? That's what we're here for, isn't it?"

"Oh, you never let me have any fun, darling," Freddie muttered unhappily, bringing the martini glass up to his lips and taking a long sip. The professor and the music instructor watched in astonishment as he finished the drink, slamming the empty glass down and letting out a sigh as he sunk back into the booth. Roger averted his embarrassed gaze to the side, taking a sip of his own drink.

Brian cleared his throat and attempted to alleviate the awkward tension that had fallen over the table by asking, "So, how long have you two been together?"

Freddie gagged dramatically as Roger's wide blue eyes wandered back over to his colleague whose cheeks grew warm, worrying he'd said or did something wrong. "You think I'm Tim?" the dark-haired man retorted, a loud, obnoxious laugh following his remark as he banged a fist against the table, "Oh, wow, that's grand." He smacked the blonde on the arm and asked delightedly, "Did you hear that, Rog? He thinks I'm your awful boyfriend. He thinks I'm Tim!"

"I-I'm so sorry," the professor stuttered, knowing he shouldn't have given Roger the chance to lure him into this situation, "I didn't...I didn't know. I just saw...you were the one...he kissed you, and—"

"Oh, honey," Roger's friend sneered lightheartedly, stretching his hand across the table and placing it atop Brian's, "You would know if I was Tim, and be grateful I'm not. You wouldn't like me if I was. He's horrible, manipulative, doesn't—"

The music instructor loudly cleared his throat, cutting Freddie short with a terse, "You know I am still with him, Fred, right?"

"I'm sorry," Brian whispered in a self-deprecating state, his regretful mind spitting out belittling thought after belittling thought as he slipped his hand out from Freddie's grip-like hold and brought his drink to his lips, muttering another, "I'm so sorry," before tilting his head back and downing the drink just as quickly as Freddie had downed his.