Part 1 of the Song series: The Ghost of Tom Joad
Title: The Ghost of Tom Joad
Pairing: Tony/Michelle
Rating: PG-13 for language
SML Universe
Disclaimer: Not mine. *dreams*
Warnings: None.
AN: This is the first in a song series I'll be doing. Each one is on it's own and is inspired by a song that I think the band would play. They'll all take place at various times so they can be read in any order.
Song is "The Ghost of Tom Joad" from Rage Against the Machine
Song
It wasn’t like thousands of people would be let down. The venue was small, maybe 400 at the most could fit in here. It didn’t matter to Tony, though. Michelle had told him to cancel but he wouldn’t have it. He was just getting over the flu and needed to rest. These small places were his favorite though so he’d argued with her relentlessly till she’d given in.
Michelle sat with Kim through the show and she had to admit, the small venues were better. She’d seen them in ones before, remembering that fateful night in Spain that changed her life forever. Maybe it was because he needed the freedom these kinds of places afforded or because he was sick, but the man was singing his heart out. Since the accident he couldn’t be as animated as he was before. He took up more time at the microphone letting John play lead the majority of the time. At first she thought fans would complain. Many liked them due to Tony’s talent with the instrument but they’d taken to John easily. And she had to admit, watching her boyfriend grab that microphone stand and caress it the way he did, well she liked it.
Tonight was no exception. He hadn’t played much and she could see how tired he was. Michelle was a little worried he might have a fever since he was sweating so bad but the lights weren’t really helping. The concert was ending and they just had the encore to do. The main lights went down, dropping the stage into black. She could just make out his outline when John started the first chords of the song. She’d never heard this before and as it built up for Jack and Chase to join in, dark red lights lit from below them. It gave them all a shadowy feel; their faces barely noticeable. The notes sounded lazy and drawn out but when Tony started to sing she stopped paying any attention to anything else.
Michelle knew why she didn’t recognize the song at first. It wasn’t one of theirs. They were adding their own spin to an old Springsteen song. While she enjoyed the original, it had no where near the menace as Tony’s version. He was gripping the mic tight and the look on his face was angry. The song must have meant a lot to him and as his words became stronger he pulled back and screamed out the lyrics only to slow it down smoothly. This went back and forth and blended perfectly with John’s creeping guitar sound. Tony swept his hand out every now and then depending on the line; his head bobbing up and down to the beat when he wasn’t singing. She could just make out the smirk in his tone.
The ending was approaching and by this time the crowd was bouncing. She’d seen it before but it never got old, seeing how much people loved them. Visually, it seemed like a wave spreading through the crowd. The song cut out the lead guitar and got quieter as people calmed just a bit, but Tony built it back up repeating the line over and over louder each time. The energy from the room slid along her arms and she shivered. He was amazing.
She got up from her seat to make her way backstage as his voice echoed off the last words. Security let her through and she made it to him just as he was dashing into the small dressing room.
“I wouldn’t go in there if I were you.” Michelle turned to John just as she placed her hand on the door.
“What’s wrong?”
“Most likely he’s puking. I thought for sure he was gonna pass out near the end.” He pulled his guitar off and handed it to one of the roadies. “I tried talking him out of it too but he wasn’t havin’ it.” He ran one hand through his hair, the pieces sticking up further. “I can’t say it wasn’t worth it. He was fucking crazy up there tonight. One of the best sets we’ve had in a while.”
Michelle was about to agree when she heard a groan coming from the room. She glanced up at John and he made face. “You’re the girlfriend. I’m just the best friend.” He walked off and she sighed as she pushed the door.
Tony was leaning on one hand against the wall, still sweating like crazy but he’d taken his shirt off trying to dry himself with it. He finally noticed her approaching. “I didn’t throw up.”
“Just what every girl wants to hear from her boyfriend when he first sees her.” She felt his head and he didn’t seem to have a fever which was good. “I told you to rest. Maybe you’ll listen to me next time?”
Tony reached out and pulled her to him and buried his face in her neck. She didn’t seem to mind that he was sweating on her. “When have I ever listened to you, Michelle?” It was mumbled but she heard it. Her hand ran through his damp hair as she smiled.
“Well, yeah. True.”
Pairing: Tony/Michelle
Rating: PG-13 for language
SML Universe
Disclaimer: Not mine. *dreams*
Warnings: None.
AN: This is the first in a song series I'll be doing. Each one is on it's own and is inspired by a song that I think the band would play. They'll all take place at various times so they can be read in any order.
Song is "The Ghost of Tom Joad" from Rage Against the Machine
Song
It wasn’t like thousands of people would be let down. The venue was small, maybe 400 at the most could fit in here. It didn’t matter to Tony, though. Michelle had told him to cancel but he wouldn’t have it. He was just getting over the flu and needed to rest. These small places were his favorite though so he’d argued with her relentlessly till she’d given in.
Michelle sat with Kim through the show and she had to admit, the small venues were better. She’d seen them in ones before, remembering that fateful night in Spain that changed her life forever. Maybe it was because he needed the freedom these kinds of places afforded or because he was sick, but the man was singing his heart out. Since the accident he couldn’t be as animated as he was before. He took up more time at the microphone letting John play lead the majority of the time. At first she thought fans would complain. Many liked them due to Tony’s talent with the instrument but they’d taken to John easily. And she had to admit, watching her boyfriend grab that microphone stand and caress it the way he did, well she liked it.
Tonight was no exception. He hadn’t played much and she could see how tired he was. Michelle was a little worried he might have a fever since he was sweating so bad but the lights weren’t really helping. The concert was ending and they just had the encore to do. The main lights went down, dropping the stage into black. She could just make out his outline when John started the first chords of the song. She’d never heard this before and as it built up for Jack and Chase to join in, dark red lights lit from below them. It gave them all a shadowy feel; their faces barely noticeable. The notes sounded lazy and drawn out but when Tony started to sing she stopped paying any attention to anything else.
Michelle knew why she didn’t recognize the song at first. It wasn’t one of theirs. They were adding their own spin to an old Springsteen song. While she enjoyed the original, it had no where near the menace as Tony’s version. He was gripping the mic tight and the look on his face was angry. The song must have meant a lot to him and as his words became stronger he pulled back and screamed out the lyrics only to slow it down smoothly. This went back and forth and blended perfectly with John’s creeping guitar sound. Tony swept his hand out every now and then depending on the line; his head bobbing up and down to the beat when he wasn’t singing. She could just make out the smirk in his tone.
The ending was approaching and by this time the crowd was bouncing. She’d seen it before but it never got old, seeing how much people loved them. Visually, it seemed like a wave spreading through the crowd. The song cut out the lead guitar and got quieter as people calmed just a bit, but Tony built it back up repeating the line over and over louder each time. The energy from the room slid along her arms and she shivered. He was amazing.
She got up from her seat to make her way backstage as his voice echoed off the last words. Security let her through and she made it to him just as he was dashing into the small dressing room.
“I wouldn’t go in there if I were you.” Michelle turned to John just as she placed her hand on the door.
“What’s wrong?”
“Most likely he’s puking. I thought for sure he was gonna pass out near the end.” He pulled his guitar off and handed it to one of the roadies. “I tried talking him out of it too but he wasn’t havin’ it.” He ran one hand through his hair, the pieces sticking up further. “I can’t say it wasn’t worth it. He was fucking crazy up there tonight. One of the best sets we’ve had in a while.”
Michelle was about to agree when she heard a groan coming from the room. She glanced up at John and he made face. “You’re the girlfriend. I’m just the best friend.” He walked off and she sighed as she pushed the door.
Tony was leaning on one hand against the wall, still sweating like crazy but he’d taken his shirt off trying to dry himself with it. He finally noticed her approaching. “I didn’t throw up.”
“Just what every girl wants to hear from her boyfriend when he first sees her.” She felt his head and he didn’t seem to have a fever which was good. “I told you to rest. Maybe you’ll listen to me next time?”
Tony reached out and pulled her to him and buried his face in her neck. She didn’t seem to mind that he was sweating on her. “When have I ever listened to you, Michelle?” It was mumbled but she heard it. Her hand ran through his damp hair as she smiled.
“Well, yeah. True.”