Thread for holdon_together

[prodigyofsorts]

Not for the first time that week, Adler found himself in a very odd situation. The first time had been when he woke up on the floor and had no idea how he had gotten there. The second had been when he had woken up in the hospital and felt very much the same confusion. Now, he was certain that he was awake, or would wake up soon, and he found

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[holdon_together]

Also not for the first time that week, Leif found himself trying to explain to his boss that most normal people got breaks. They didn't go from dancing to private engagements and back to dancing. And that there were sick days. And days off. And goddamn coffee breaks.

Of course, throughout all of this was the nagging thought that demanded "why do you care?" First Adler had nearly gotten himself killed. Now he wanted coffee. Not a date, just coffee. Innocent, normal-person-like coffee.

But still.

Having finally secured exactly 90 minutes ("And your paycheck's going to suffer if it's even a MINUTE more!") for coffee, Leif tugged on his jacket, and set on back to the dressing room.

He pushed open the door with an "Okay let's go" on his lips, but it died away when he saw his friends. Er, make that former friends. Especially Sugar, who was currently sitting in Adler's lap.

"Do I need to get the hose out?"

[prodigyofsorts]

"Hi, Leif! Did..er, everything go okay?" Adler visibly brightened at the sight of Leif coming back into the room but faltered as Sugar planted herself in his lap. Of course Leif hadn't told him the real reason for going to talk to his boss and if Adler had known he definitely wouldn't have wanted Leif to get in trouble just for a measly cup of coffee.

Honestly, this whole trip was starting to be a disaster, especially considering Sugar was starting to inch her hands up under his shirt.

And she wasn't the only one be handsy.

Adler looked to Leif again, a sure 'help me' written into his gaze. "Uhm."

[holdon_together]

"Fantastic." This is Leif's "hell to the no" face. And it's leveled on Sugar and her hands and anyone else who's getting grabby. Not because Leif's protective, but because....

...

...yeah, totally because Leif's protective. He's going to move on in now, before anyone starts getting grabby below the belt. He'll bat Sugar's hands away, then grab Adler's wrist in a totally-not-at-all flirty way that still makes two or three of the girls giggle and go "oooo~!"

"Shut up. Not you," this to Adler, accompanied with a tug. "Come on."

[prodigyofsorts]

The hand on his wrist makes some of the tension leave Adler's face though he still can't really go very far with Sugar on his lap.

"What's your hurry? We're playing nicely." Sugar adds, looking very comfortable from her perch. "Just checking out the new meat...the new big meat by the feel of it." Sugar wiggles around in Adler's lap as he blushes.

One of the other girls seems to join in. "Isn't he just delicious? What are you hiding under all those layers, honey?"

And it isn't until one of the girls pulls Adler's sleeve up that he calls out a squeaky "Hey!"

"Don't worry 'bout the scars, doll. Just do like Cherry and wear them long gloves." One of the more clothed ladies offers but Adler's gaze turns to the floor. No longer just embarrassed or uncomfortable but moving into full on mental lockdown by the look of it.

[holdon_together]

And for some reason, even though he'd be amused if it was anyone -- literally, anyone else -- Leif feels very much like committing a violent crime, like picking up a chair or an end table and throwing it.

But he doesn't. He squeezes Adler's wrist, then says in a perfectly pitched voice, icy and harsh and biting -- "Don't be stupid, Adelaide, that's a ridiculous comparison. For one thing, Cherry's looser than the elastic on your extra-large schoolgirl skirt. For another, as she's said a million times, those are totally natural stretch marks, like the ones on your thighs." Then, to Sugar, with an ever-so-poisonously-sweet smile, "As for you, kindly move your saggy ass someplace else and feel up some businessman with a daddy-daughter complex. Make sure he takes his Viagra first, mmkay?"

Sugar slides off Adler's lap with a stunned gasp and Leif tugs again, firmer. "Let's go, okay?"

[prodigyofsorts]

It should make Adler feel better, or at least feel something, Leif sticking up for him but he mostly just keeps his gaze downward until Leif tugs on him again. Then he slowly but surely rises from the chair he was sitting in and follows Leif out.

He had always been taught good manners though so he does give a slight bow of farewell to the ladies, still not meeting any of their eye, before slipping through the doors and out of that horrid place for good.

[holdon_together]

Leif pauses a moment to toss the classic finger-across-the-throat, aka "you are dead" gesture to the women, then squeezes Adler's wrist and leads him out to the street.

"Bitches." He huffs it out mostly without meaning it -- as vicious as his comments seemed, he and the girls and even the other boys say such things to each other all the time. He fishes in his pocket for a moment, releasing Adler to do so. "...you okay?"

[prodigyofsorts]

Once on the street, Adler takes in a large gulp of air, taking back both his hands and puts them on his knees as he leans over and breaths just a little.

That was more contact in a minute than he'd allowed himself to have in a whole year. Not to mention the fact that there were nearly ten people all trying to talk to him at the same time. Add in how the one thing he always keeps secret was uncovered and the fact that things escalated quite quickly on account of him and he's basically in full blown anxiety attack mode.

Adler reaches into his own pocket and pulls out the ever present pill bottle. After popping two of the magic pills into his mouth and swallowing them dry, he wipes his curls away from his--now damp--forehead and nods a little.

"Fine." At least he didn't throw up this time.

[holdon_together]

Leif, being Leif, does what he does best in situations of crisis -- he steps back with his cigarette and looks/feels awkward until it's okay. He really has no idea what he's supposed to do, though. Comfort him? Tell him to snap out of it? Apologize?

But now he's popping pills, which is probably going to help with one thing or another, so, after clearing his throat, Leif offers lamely, "They're...they're really harmless."

[prodigyofsorts]

Adler can't really help the uncharacteristic look of bitterness that crosses his face. Deep down he knows it's not their fault but at the moment he is too close to the event and it's leaving him with only bad feelings inside. "They do that often, then?"

[holdon_together]

Leif pauses, cigarette held between two fingers, giving Adler a somewhat cold look. "Only when it isn't being done to them. By the way, they aren't allowed to say "stop", when it is."

[prodigyofsorts]

Adler makes a face as if Leif has slapped him and goes pale. Those thoughts never crossed his mind and he supposes that after a life like that, boundaries would kind of go out the window. Still, as sorry as he is for what happened to them, he wasn't the one doing the damage, they had no reason to pick on him. An eye for an eye only makes the world blind, right?

"...but I'd stop." It's said weakly because even he knows the argument isn't incredibly sound. It's the best defense he's got though.

[holdon_together]

Leif stops, mentally kicking himself. Because yeah, for the past three years he -- and most of the girls in there -- hasn't been allowed the dignity of personal space. But that doesn't mean it makes it okay for Adler to lose his.

So, with a heavy sigh, Leif drops the cigarette and snuffs it out with his heel, then grabs Adler's hand, firmly. "Yeah, I know. Come on, buy me coffee."

[prodigyofsorts]

"I think I should buy you two coffees." Adler says after a short pause and a small amount of walking, his hand still kept safely in Leif's. "One as a sorry, but one as a thank you."

That was the intended reason for his visit, after all. Aside from dropping off Leif's vest which he had done back at the club.

[holdon_together]

"Why? And...why?" Leif arches an eyebrow, having been momentarily distracted by giving his best Evil Death Glare to someone who looked askance at their entwined hands.

"I mean," here he returns his attention properly to Adler, "what did I do to deserve either thanks or apologies?"

[prodigyofsorts]

Adler hardly even notices the people passing by, though to be fair, he hardly notices poles in his path when he is holding Leif's hand.

"For being insensitive just then...and for saving my life." The last part is said quieter but still loud enough to be heard. It's one thing to try to kill yourself, but quite another to almost die by accident. Unsurprisingly, Leif had been the last thing on his mind when both incidents occurred.