Catch My Fall

Chapter 1: Beauty is what eyes behold, and you burn brighter than most.

Tezuka glanced at his watch and realised that if he didn't hurry, he'd be late for work. He was never late for work. The bar opened in little over three hours, and he had to get everything ready. Tonight was Friday, and one of their busiest evenings.

He got in line, and shifted impatiently as the person in front of him chatted amicably with the cashier as they scanned purchases. He didn't have time for this at all. He still needed to get a coffee after this or he just wouldn't be pleasant enough for anyone.

Finally, the person ahead of him was finished, and he hurriedly pushed money in the cashier's hand as he grunted in the acknowledgement of their friendly greeting. If he walked quickly, he'd have enough time to drink his coffee before his partner showed up at the club.

He stood at a table, stirring the two sugars into his coffee, when someone walked past him to the counter. He glanced over and found himself staring at a very attractive man. He had light brown hair, a slim figure, and, Tezuka noted, a very nice arse. He was even more pleased when the man turned to face him, because he had an attractive smile and the bluest eyes he'd ever seen.

It's been far too long since I've had sex, Tezuka thought to himself as he unabashedly eyed the man's arse as he watched him leave the café.

Shaking his head, Tezuka grabbed his own coffee and made his way to the club. When he neared, he noticed that the light was on, which could only mean that his partner was already there. He scowled momentarily at the sign. Why he let his partner convince him to call the place, Tezuka's Zone was beyond his comprehension. Anything else would have been better.

"You're late, Tezuka. Ore-sama does not like to be kept waiting," Atobe said haughtily, "right, Kabaji?"

"Usu," Kabaji said before going back to his reading of the menu.

Tezuka's mouth thinned into a line. "You're early and I wait for you all the time."

Atobe ignored that and sat down at his favourite leather chair. "We have someone auditioning in less than twenty minutes. We can't have another Friday with pre-recorded music. Ore-sama made this club popular based on live music on weekends."

Not acknowledging Atobe's claim on his idea, Tezuka snorted. "Stop sleeping with our entertainment, so every time some one gets sick of you, we won't have to go through this again."

"Ore-sama can't help if everyone is awed by my beauty and prowess," Atobe responded dismissively.

Tezuka wisely didn't say anything, but Atobe glared at him as if he knew exactly what Tezuka was thinking anyhow.

"Perhaps if Tezuka got laid half as often as Ore-sama did, he wouldn't be so cranky."

"Shut-up, Atobe," Tezuka grumbled. "We should have called this bar, Relationships To Destruction.

Atobe glared at him. "You'll never let go of that, will you?"

Shrugging, Tezuka said, "It was a terrible name, Atobe."

"Better than Tezuka Zone," Atobe replied uncharitably and Tezuka glared at him because it wasn't as if he hadn't made his opinion on the name of club quite clear. "Don't start, Tezuka, it's a fine name for the club."

Tezuka didn't feel like arguing anymore. He really didn't like talking all that much, but Atobe was impossible to ignore. He refused to allow it to happen. Therefore, he was grateful to hear someone at the door.

"Ah, come in. You're here to audition at my glorious club," Atobe greeted rather shamelessly.

"Yes," came a very soft, gentle voice. Intrigued, Tezuka made his way over to Atobe and was surprised, pleasantly, to see that man he'd rather blatantly checked out at the coffee shop. He hoped that it hadn't been obvious. The man turned to look at him and smiled a little more, and Tezuka knew then that the he hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Hello, my name's Fuji Syusuke," Fuji began, offering his hand to Tezuka. He felt a jolt go through his body as they shook hands.

"Tezuka Kunimitsu," he returned and he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, that Atobe wasn't pleased to see this person ignore him completely. "This is my business partner, Atobe Keigo."

Fuji looked briefly over at Atobe, greeted him, and turned back to Tezuka, letting their hands finally slip apart.

"Can we hear you play?" Tezuka asked, hoping that voice sounded as nice when sung as it did when speaking.

Fuji smiled at him and he had a pleasant squirm in his belly. "Of course, Tezuka-san."

He watched with great interest as Fuji opened his case and pulled out an acoustic guitar. Tezuka found himself drawn to Fuji's fingers as he tuned his guitar. They were rather beautiful, long, and slender. Licking his lips absently, he watched Fuji's face as he hummed a little before singing.

"You call me a dog. Well, that's fair enough. It ain't no use to pretend you're wrong. You call me out and I can't hide anymore. I have no disguise you can't see through. You say it's bad luck to have fallen for me. What can I do to make it good for you? You wore me out, like an old winter coat, trying to be safe from the cold."

Tezuka barely heard the rest of the lyrics as became entranced by the lilting voice. He glanced over at Atobe and saw that old familiar glint in his eyes. Damn it. Fuji was just too damned good to let Atobe's irrepressible hormones scare him away like the others.

"…It's my time to throw the next stone. I'll call you beautiful, if I call at all. And when it's my time to call your bluff, I'll call you beautiful or leave it alone. Yeah. Call me a dog."

Fuji looked at them both slightly nervously. "Do you want to hear another?"

They both nodded. Fuji smiled, and strummed his guitar for a few minutes as he decided on a song. "Do you like Queen?" Tezuka nodded and Atobe shrugged.

"Good," Fuji said with a grin. "I like their music."

Tezuka wondered which song Fuji would pick and almost dropped his jaw when he began to sing.

"Get down make love. Get down make love. Get down make love. Get down make love. You take my body; I give you heat. You say you're hungry; I give you meat. I suck your mind; you blow my head. Make love inside your bed."

Mouth completely dry, Tezuka couldn't take his eyes off of Fuji's lips as he practically moaned out the song. Fuji seemed to relish in the attention Tezuka was paying him, and Tezuka, for once, decided to indulge him.

"I can squeeze. You can shake me. I can feel when you break me. Come on so heavy, when you take me."

Atobe stood up at that time, and walked over to Fuji. "You're hired. Can you start tonight?"

Fuji reluctantly looked away from Tezuka, "Thank you, Atobe-sama. Yes, I can."

Tapping his chin, Atobe continued, "We're closed Mondays unless there's a private party. The live music is performed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Can you also work the machines on the nights you're not performing live?"

Nodding, Fuji replied, "Of course. I'm familiar with all of the equipment."

Atobe looked pleased. "It's settled then. You'll do well. Right Kabaji?"

"Usu."

Turning back to Tezuka, Fuji said, quietly," Thank you, Tezuka-san."

Tezuka nodded, "Let me show you around."

Fuji followed him, and he looked back over his shoulder and sent Atobe a look that clearly meant, Hands off. Smiling, Atobe, reluctantly, nodded his acquiescence, and beckoned Kabaji to follow him as they left.

He showed Fuji the stage, where he could change, where everything was, and Fuji followed along, making small sounds of acknowledgement. He then gestured Fuji to take a seat at the bar, and he moved behind it.

"Do you need help," Fuji asked as he watched him cut the limes and other fruit.

Tezuka shook his head, "It's not necessary. I do this every night."

Fuji looked surprised, "You work the bar? I thought you co-owned the bar with Atobe-sama?"

"You don't have to call him sama to me, or him. Any type of deference will only inflate his ego. Honorifics are unnecessary here," Tezuka stated firmly. "And, yes. We do own the bar together. I like working and this way, I can ensure that everything goes well and no one gets careless."

Nodding, Fuji smiled. "It's a rather nice surprise," Fuji said as he let his eyes trail over Tezuka's body, "Do you mind if I play a little while you set up?"

Trying to ignore the burn of Fuji's stare, Tezuka continued to cut up fruit, but said, "If it won't interfere with your performance tonight."

Fuji looked at him, head cocked to the side. "Anything you'd like to hear, Tezuka?"

Thinking for a moment, Tezuka stopped cutting and focused solely on Fuji for a moment.

"Do you know Unsterblich?"

"Ah, yes."

Fuji sang and Tezuka tried to think of a way to prevent himself from climbing over the bar and dragging Fuji off to his bed.


A/N: Song 1: "Call me a dog" by Temple of the Dog.
Song 2: "Get Down Make Love" by Queen, covered by NIN.
Chapter Title: Lyrics from Yesterday To Tomorrow by Audioslave.