Fic: 'Guitars and Polaroids'
Title: Guitars and Polaroids
Author: Never
Pairing: Brendon/Spencer, Butcher/Sisky, Pete/Patrick, Kevin/Tom/Alec (Powerspace)
Rating: PG-13 - R?
Disclaimer: Not true. Not mine.
Warning: AU
Summary: The morning after, everyone’s feeling a little romantic.
Author’s Notes: Beta'd by the one and only d41j0ubu. Second installment of the Vet Clinic AU, which means it’s the sequel to Red Bull and Mongolian Chicken. Partially to celebrate my newest obsession: Powerspace! You don't need to be familiar with Powerspace to read this fic, but if you're curious (or want to look at the pretty boys), click here.
***
The first time Andy Mrotek met Sisky, the latter was interviewing for an open vet tech position, and Andy distinctly remembers looking at the long, fuzzy mass on top of Sisky, thinking, 'What died on this guy's head?'. The second time Andy met Sisky was Sisky's first day at the clinic, and Andy remembers thinking, 'Seriously. Has no one told this guy he's wearing roadkill?'.
A year later, Sisky got a haircut, and Andy's first thought was, 'He finally buried the roadkill.' His second thought, however, was, 'Wow. Sisky's pretty hot.'
Another year later, Andy pulls up to the Little Friends Vet Clinic and before he even gets the car into park, Sisky is tossing himself over the console separating them and crawling into Andy's lap. Not that Andy's complaining, but he's due in the clinic, and since Sisky called in sick last night to spend the time with Andy, they both probably need to get in there before they lose their jobs.
"Sisky, we can’t," Andy manages between kisses and gropes that steal his breath.
"One more minute," Sisky says. "Two minutes until we're late, so give me one more minute." Then he maneuvers himself over Andy's rapidly-growing erection and grinds down and there's just no way for Andy to argue with that kind of logic.
***
Ryan sits down across from Spencer and places his hands palm down on the breakroom table. "So," he says, a smile in his voice, "I heard you had an interesting night last night."
Spencer glares in the general direction of the reception desk. "Fucking William."
This time the smile actually forms on Ryan's lips. "Dating a guy with a cat? I thought you were more of a dog man."
"It's his friend's cat, and shut the fuck up." Spence pauses. "We're not dating."
"Oh, Spence," William sticks his head in, "your cat guy is here." And Spencer looks like he wants to bitchslap the smirk from William's face, but, instead, waits for William to leave, then runs his fingers through his hair and straightens his clothes.
"You are such a girl.”
Spence flips him off on his way to the kennel area to get the cat.
Ryan slips into one of the empty exam rooms that connect the reception area to the vet area so that he can watch Spence talk to the cat guy. He's not exactly proud of the fact that he's technically spying, but there's no way in hell he's missing this.
And that's how Andy finds him.
"I know I just showed up and all," Andy says as he comes up behind Ryan, "but I've noticed a lot of people crowding around doors and peeping into the reception area. Did I miss something?"
Ryan shushes him, then gestures him closer. "Spencer's cat guy is here."
"Cat guy?"
"Shh. They’re talking."
***
Brendon beams at Dr. Spencer Smith, who has a healthy-looking Dylan in his arms. Brendon's so happy he didn't kill Dylan that he sort of wants to do a cartwheel or two, but he sort of wants to date Dr. Spencer Smith more, so he restrains himself. For now. "Dr. Spencer Smith!" he says enthusiastically.
"Mr. Brendon Urie," he smiles, and Brendon has the sudden desire to jump him. Well, maybe not so sudden.
"Brendon. You can just call me Brendon."
"Spencer." Then Spencer hands over Dylan. "You need to bring him back in a week for a checkup; we just want to make sure he's still fine."
"Okay. Jon actually gets back in two days, but I'll tell him and see if I can bring Dylan back."
"You don't have to bring Dylan back yourself-"
Brendon interrupts, moving closer to Spencer, "But I. I want..."
"You don't need a sick cat for that."
"Good." Brendon can feel his grin expanding. "You're about to get off work, right? You wanna go for coffee?"
Spencer shakes his head, and Brendon's smile slips. "I'm heading home to sleep, so caffeine is not a good idea. But I'm kinda hungry. If you wanted to get breakfast - no coffee - that'd be cool."
Beaming again, Brendon says, "I know a really good place on Main and Fourth."
"Sounds good. You take Dylan home, and I'll meet you there at 10:20."
"It's a date, Dr. Spencer Smith!" And because he can't really help himself when Spencer is smiling at him, Brendon leans forward and kisses Spencer on the cheek. Brendon only hangs around long enough to see Spencer redden before leaving.
He doesn't even try to stop his victory dance right outside the door.
***
"Spencer's got himself a boyfriend," Andy grins.
Ryan closes the exam room door and turns to Andy. "He's not the only one. Something going on between you and Sisky that I should know about?"
Andy meets Ryan's eyes, but doesn't say anything while he weighs his options.
"I already know, asshole."
Well, that makes 'weighing the options' easy. "Sisky didn't want anyone to know."
"Then tell him to stop calling in sick the nights you get off. You also might want to stop making out in the parking lot. Just a suggestion."
Andy shrugs with a non-repentant grin.
Ryan rolls his eyes as he walks back towards the vet area. "I'll rearrange the schedule so you get nights off together. But I fully expect your first adopted child to be named after me for this.”
***
Kevin started working at the clinic five months and twenty three days ago. Yes, he has a count. No, he loves working at the clinic but not that much. See, five months and twenty three days ago it was warm and sunny, and Kevin decided to eat his lunch outside on the front porch of the clinic.
And that's when he saw Tom and Alec for the first time. When he saw Tom stroll out the front door of the electronics store across the street to meet Alec, who was jogging over from the gymnastics center two blocks down. When he first heard Tom and Alec jam on the street using only Tom's acoustic guitar and Alec's amazing voice. When he first heard Tom and Alec say each other's names with such open affection that Kevin felt a little envious. When he decided that he was going to eat outside everyday from then on.
Yes, that's what the count is for.
Kevin can totally be honest with himself and admit that he has a crush. On both of them. But he dares anyone to watch how Tom and Alec play for each other as much as they play for the crowd that inevitably develops and not want them. There's just something in the way that Alec sings with his whole body, moving to the beat, doing back flips for fun, and losing himself in the performance but somehow still seeming completely focused on Tom and the music. And the way Tom keeps his head down, hunched over his guitar protectively, but still keeping his eyes on Alec, throwing his own voice into the mix at random points that only seem to make sense to the two of them.
He can't really imagine them apart from each other - they mesh too well together to be separated. That's part of the reason why, when Kevin thinks about them, about their music, he envisions his own drumbeats to go along with them. His contribution to them, to make them three instead of two. And every once in a while, when he fantasizes about introducing himself, he always pictures asking the two of them out because, even in his head, he can't entertain the idea of coming between them in any way. But also because he wants the both of them.
Okay, so Kevin can admit that it might be more than a crush, but nothing will ever come of it because Kevin? He knows his limitations. And those limitations include not being able to talk to people, which is why he's sitting alone in front of the clinic with his sandwich and the dictionary he just bought - he's trying to increase his vocabulary - while waiting for Alec and Tom to come outside, and not hanging around the electronics store like he wishes he could.
"Stalking again today, I see," Pete grins as he lands to Kevin's left.
"I'm not stalking," Kevin answers, then takes a bite of his sandwich.
"Why don't you just go over there and tell those two hotties to strip you down and take you for a test-drive?"
Patrick's voice comes from behind them, "Pete, you should never be allowed to give romantic advice. Leave the kid alone."
It usually annoys Kevin when someone only a few years older than him calls him a kid, but coming from Patrick, Kevin just smiles.
Pete reaches back and pulls Patrick to him, forcing him to sit on Pete's other side. "Patrick, I have found the love of my life in you, and I just want my friend Kevin here to feel the same joy that I do."
Making a sound of disbelief, Patrick counters, "You just want to imagine the threesome."
Pete's grin is, in a word, sinful. "Guilty. But I care about that other shit too."
"The fact that you just called it shit," Kevin argues, "kinda implies that you don't."
"Fuck you," Pete says. "I'm totally concerned with your love life, and fucking lack thereof. You'll see."
Dozens of horrific scenarios flash in Kevin's head at that, but before he can truly work up a good panic, Pete is disappearing inside the clinic.
"I'll keep an eye on him, and try to prevent any catastrophes," Patrick promises before getting up to follow.
"Thanks."
***
Pete has to hand it to his boyfriend: Patrick knows how to keep tabs on him. It takes Pete five hours and a constipated Dachshund to give Patrick the slip. He doesn’t waste any time; Pete heads directly over to the electronics store across the street to track down one of Kevin’s not-quite-secret crushes.
A bell chimes as Pete opens the door and immediately a guy with dark hair just short of being shaggy comes up. Pete recognizes him despite the guy not having his guitar at the moment.
“Hey, man,” the guy - Tom, according to his nametag - greets him. “Anything I can help you with?”
Pete gives his best leer-grin combo. “As a matter of fact, there is something you can help me with.”
Tom’s eyes narrow as he leans back a little.
***
“I lost him,” Patrick says, and Kevin stares back, stunned and more than a little terrified at the implications of that statement.
Together, they dash out the front door of the clinic just as Pete and Tom are walking out of the electronics store, laughing and talking back and forth. Kevin, oblivious to the traffic, darts across the street with Patrick just behind him, and comes to an abrupt halt in front of Tom. Who is smiling at him.
Pete looks at Kevin, but is clearly speaking to Tom when he says, “And here he is.”
Before Kevin can apologize and make some excuse for Pete, Tom holds out his hand, “Hey, I’m Tom. Kevin, right? I see you around when Alec and I come out and play during our lunch break.”
“Yeah,” Kevin nods, not sure what else to do.
Pete slaps a hand to Kevin’s back, says some stuff that Kevin’s really not paying attention to because Tom is still smiling at him, and disappears with Patrick.
“I was actually about to go meet Alec. You know, if you wanted to come,” Tom offers.
“Yeah, uh. I just. Need to get my stuff.” Kevin points over his shoulder in the direction of the clinic.
“Awesome. I’ll come with.”
Then Kevin smiles too. “Cool.”
***
Kevin leaves Tom out front with Patrick because he doesn’t really trust anyone else, then heads to the back to get his stuff.
Right as he’s turning to leave, Pete comes up and says, “You can totally thank me later by recording your first orgy and giving me a copy.” He pauses a beat. “I’ll also accept Polaroids.”
end
Author: Never
Pairing: Brendon/Spencer, Butcher/Sisky, Pete/Patrick, Kevin/Tom/Alec (Powerspace)
Rating: PG-13 - R?
Disclaimer: Not true. Not mine.
Warning: AU
Summary: The morning after, everyone’s feeling a little romantic.
Author’s Notes: Beta'd by the one and only d41j0ubu. Second installment of the Vet Clinic AU, which means it’s the sequel to Red Bull and Mongolian Chicken. Partially to celebrate my newest obsession: Powerspace! You don't need to be familiar with Powerspace to read this fic, but if you're curious (or want to look at the pretty boys), click here.
***
The first time Andy Mrotek met Sisky, the latter was interviewing for an open vet tech position, and Andy distinctly remembers looking at the long, fuzzy mass on top of Sisky, thinking, 'What died on this guy's head?'. The second time Andy met Sisky was Sisky's first day at the clinic, and Andy remembers thinking, 'Seriously. Has no one told this guy he's wearing roadkill?'.
A year later, Sisky got a haircut, and Andy's first thought was, 'He finally buried the roadkill.' His second thought, however, was, 'Wow. Sisky's pretty hot.'
Another year later, Andy pulls up to the Little Friends Vet Clinic and before he even gets the car into park, Sisky is tossing himself over the console separating them and crawling into Andy's lap. Not that Andy's complaining, but he's due in the clinic, and since Sisky called in sick last night to spend the time with Andy, they both probably need to get in there before they lose their jobs.
"Sisky, we can’t," Andy manages between kisses and gropes that steal his breath.
"One more minute," Sisky says. "Two minutes until we're late, so give me one more minute." Then he maneuvers himself over Andy's rapidly-growing erection and grinds down and there's just no way for Andy to argue with that kind of logic.
***
Ryan sits down across from Spencer and places his hands palm down on the breakroom table. "So," he says, a smile in his voice, "I heard you had an interesting night last night."
Spencer glares in the general direction of the reception desk. "Fucking William."
This time the smile actually forms on Ryan's lips. "Dating a guy with a cat? I thought you were more of a dog man."
"It's his friend's cat, and shut the fuck up." Spence pauses. "We're not dating."
"Oh, Spence," William sticks his head in, "your cat guy is here." And Spencer looks like he wants to bitchslap the smirk from William's face, but, instead, waits for William to leave, then runs his fingers through his hair and straightens his clothes.
"You are such a girl.”
Spence flips him off on his way to the kennel area to get the cat.
Ryan slips into one of the empty exam rooms that connect the reception area to the vet area so that he can watch Spence talk to the cat guy. He's not exactly proud of the fact that he's technically spying, but there's no way in hell he's missing this.
And that's how Andy finds him.
"I know I just showed up and all," Andy says as he comes up behind Ryan, "but I've noticed a lot of people crowding around doors and peeping into the reception area. Did I miss something?"
Ryan shushes him, then gestures him closer. "Spencer's cat guy is here."
"Cat guy?"
"Shh. They’re talking."
***
Brendon beams at Dr. Spencer Smith, who has a healthy-looking Dylan in his arms. Brendon's so happy he didn't kill Dylan that he sort of wants to do a cartwheel or two, but he sort of wants to date Dr. Spencer Smith more, so he restrains himself. For now. "Dr. Spencer Smith!" he says enthusiastically.
"Mr. Brendon Urie," he smiles, and Brendon has the sudden desire to jump him. Well, maybe not so sudden.
"Brendon. You can just call me Brendon."
"Spencer." Then Spencer hands over Dylan. "You need to bring him back in a week for a checkup; we just want to make sure he's still fine."
"Okay. Jon actually gets back in two days, but I'll tell him and see if I can bring Dylan back."
"You don't have to bring Dylan back yourself-"
Brendon interrupts, moving closer to Spencer, "But I. I want..."
"You don't need a sick cat for that."
"Good." Brendon can feel his grin expanding. "You're about to get off work, right? You wanna go for coffee?"
Spencer shakes his head, and Brendon's smile slips. "I'm heading home to sleep, so caffeine is not a good idea. But I'm kinda hungry. If you wanted to get breakfast - no coffee - that'd be cool."
Beaming again, Brendon says, "I know a really good place on Main and Fourth."
"Sounds good. You take Dylan home, and I'll meet you there at 10:20."
"It's a date, Dr. Spencer Smith!" And because he can't really help himself when Spencer is smiling at him, Brendon leans forward and kisses Spencer on the cheek. Brendon only hangs around long enough to see Spencer redden before leaving.
He doesn't even try to stop his victory dance right outside the door.
***
"Spencer's got himself a boyfriend," Andy grins.
Ryan closes the exam room door and turns to Andy. "He's not the only one. Something going on between you and Sisky that I should know about?"
Andy meets Ryan's eyes, but doesn't say anything while he weighs his options.
"I already know, asshole."
Well, that makes 'weighing the options' easy. "Sisky didn't want anyone to know."
"Then tell him to stop calling in sick the nights you get off. You also might want to stop making out in the parking lot. Just a suggestion."
Andy shrugs with a non-repentant grin.
Ryan rolls his eyes as he walks back towards the vet area. "I'll rearrange the schedule so you get nights off together. But I fully expect your first adopted child to be named after me for this.”
***
Kevin started working at the clinic five months and twenty three days ago. Yes, he has a count. No, he loves working at the clinic but not that much. See, five months and twenty three days ago it was warm and sunny, and Kevin decided to eat his lunch outside on the front porch of the clinic.
And that's when he saw Tom and Alec for the first time. When he saw Tom stroll out the front door of the electronics store across the street to meet Alec, who was jogging over from the gymnastics center two blocks down. When he first heard Tom and Alec jam on the street using only Tom's acoustic guitar and Alec's amazing voice. When he first heard Tom and Alec say each other's names with such open affection that Kevin felt a little envious. When he decided that he was going to eat outside everyday from then on.
Yes, that's what the count is for.
Kevin can totally be honest with himself and admit that he has a crush. On both of them. But he dares anyone to watch how Tom and Alec play for each other as much as they play for the crowd that inevitably develops and not want them. There's just something in the way that Alec sings with his whole body, moving to the beat, doing back flips for fun, and losing himself in the performance but somehow still seeming completely focused on Tom and the music. And the way Tom keeps his head down, hunched over his guitar protectively, but still keeping his eyes on Alec, throwing his own voice into the mix at random points that only seem to make sense to the two of them.
He can't really imagine them apart from each other - they mesh too well together to be separated. That's part of the reason why, when Kevin thinks about them, about their music, he envisions his own drumbeats to go along with them. His contribution to them, to make them three instead of two. And every once in a while, when he fantasizes about introducing himself, he always pictures asking the two of them out because, even in his head, he can't entertain the idea of coming between them in any way. But also because he wants the both of them.
Okay, so Kevin can admit that it might be more than a crush, but nothing will ever come of it because Kevin? He knows his limitations. And those limitations include not being able to talk to people, which is why he's sitting alone in front of the clinic with his sandwich and the dictionary he just bought - he's trying to increase his vocabulary - while waiting for Alec and Tom to come outside, and not hanging around the electronics store like he wishes he could.
"Stalking again today, I see," Pete grins as he lands to Kevin's left.
"I'm not stalking," Kevin answers, then takes a bite of his sandwich.
"Why don't you just go over there and tell those two hotties to strip you down and take you for a test-drive?"
Patrick's voice comes from behind them, "Pete, you should never be allowed to give romantic advice. Leave the kid alone."
It usually annoys Kevin when someone only a few years older than him calls him a kid, but coming from Patrick, Kevin just smiles.
Pete reaches back and pulls Patrick to him, forcing him to sit on Pete's other side. "Patrick, I have found the love of my life in you, and I just want my friend Kevin here to feel the same joy that I do."
Making a sound of disbelief, Patrick counters, "You just want to imagine the threesome."
Pete's grin is, in a word, sinful. "Guilty. But I care about that other shit too."
"The fact that you just called it shit," Kevin argues, "kinda implies that you don't."
"Fuck you," Pete says. "I'm totally concerned with your love life, and fucking lack thereof. You'll see."
Dozens of horrific scenarios flash in Kevin's head at that, but before he can truly work up a good panic, Pete is disappearing inside the clinic.
"I'll keep an eye on him, and try to prevent any catastrophes," Patrick promises before getting up to follow.
"Thanks."
***
Pete has to hand it to his boyfriend: Patrick knows how to keep tabs on him. It takes Pete five hours and a constipated Dachshund to give Patrick the slip. He doesn’t waste any time; Pete heads directly over to the electronics store across the street to track down one of Kevin’s not-quite-secret crushes.
A bell chimes as Pete opens the door and immediately a guy with dark hair just short of being shaggy comes up. Pete recognizes him despite the guy not having his guitar at the moment.
“Hey, man,” the guy - Tom, according to his nametag - greets him. “Anything I can help you with?”
Pete gives his best leer-grin combo. “As a matter of fact, there is something you can help me with.”
Tom’s eyes narrow as he leans back a little.
***
“I lost him,” Patrick says, and Kevin stares back, stunned and more than a little terrified at the implications of that statement.
Together, they dash out the front door of the clinic just as Pete and Tom are walking out of the electronics store, laughing and talking back and forth. Kevin, oblivious to the traffic, darts across the street with Patrick just behind him, and comes to an abrupt halt in front of Tom. Who is smiling at him.
Pete looks at Kevin, but is clearly speaking to Tom when he says, “And here he is.”
Before Kevin can apologize and make some excuse for Pete, Tom holds out his hand, “Hey, I’m Tom. Kevin, right? I see you around when Alec and I come out and play during our lunch break.”
“Yeah,” Kevin nods, not sure what else to do.
Pete slaps a hand to Kevin’s back, says some stuff that Kevin’s really not paying attention to because Tom is still smiling at him, and disappears with Patrick.
“I was actually about to go meet Alec. You know, if you wanted to come,” Tom offers.
“Yeah, uh. I just. Need to get my stuff.” Kevin points over his shoulder in the direction of the clinic.
“Awesome. I’ll come with.”
Then Kevin smiles too. “Cool.”
***
Kevin leaves Tom out front with Patrick because he doesn’t really trust anyone else, then heads to the back to get his stuff.
Right as he’s turning to leave, Pete comes up and says, “You can totally thank me later by recording your first orgy and giving me a copy.” He pauses a beat. “I’ll also accept Polaroids.”
end