Title: Good Vibrations
Author: Leela (leela_cat)
Pairing/Characters: Adam/Tommy
Rating: PG
Word Count: 10x100
Content/Warning(s): AU
Author's notes: Written for glam_100, prompt #058: Scary Monsters and Super Freaks. Many thanks to aislinntlc for the preread.

This continues from last week's drabble-set, Bar Snacks.


Fucking thing vibrates. The thought makes Tommy snicker. Then he wonders if it's actually his phone.

He jerks his hand away so fast that he almost drops the phone. It vibrates again, and all he can do is stare at it. "Definitely not the dildo," he says, but all he can think is that he doesn't recognize the number.

A third vibration and Leo snatches the phone out of his hand.

"Don't." He tries to grab the phone back, but she bats his hand away.

Flipping it open without a thought for the cracking hinges, Leo says, "Tommy Ratliff's phone."

.o0O0o.

"Fuck you," Tommy mutters. "It's my phone."

Leo has the fucking nerve to push him away and stand up. "Can I ask who's calling?"

Whatever name she's given has Leo looking shocked and then grinning, and Tommy really fucking wants to know who it is. He makes a gimme gesture, but she just glares at him and mouths don't .

Tommy sits back. His heart does a stuttering flip thing in his chest that freaks him out a bit.

Then she says, "Oh, I know he's still interested. Hold on a sec," and Tommy's heart starts beating in triple time.

.o0O0o.

"It's for you. About the audition tomorrow."

Leo looks so damn pleased with herself as she holds out the phone that Tommy's almost tempted to fuck with her. But he can't. Shit's going down again, and he just wants to curl up against her while he finds out how real it is.

His hand shakes as he takes the phone from her. He swallows hard before saying, "Umm... it's Tommy."

That's really like nowhere near professional enough, but it's all he's got right now. Besides, it's way better than telling the asshole to stop fucking with his hopes and dreams.

.o0O0o.

"Hey Tommy, it's Barry. Glad I was able to reach you." He's almost friendly, and Tommy's hopes come to life.

Tommy shifts over when Leo sits down and lets her move him into a more comfortable position. She rubs a hand up and down his arm. He leans against her and presses his fingers against his ear, trying to hear over the idiot at the next table who's screeching with laughter.

"Sorry about the noise," Tommy says, because he feels like he needs to fill the sudden silence from the other end.

"No problem. I'd have gone out drinking too."

.o0O0o.

Lips twitching up at the corners, Tommy brings his knees up and starts picking at the outside seam of his jeans. He feels like he should be saying something, but he hasn't a fucking clue how to get this conversation started.

"I just got off the phone with Adam."

Tommy sits up, flipping around on the seat so fast that he almost slams his knee into the table. "Okay," he says.

"He remembers you very well," Barry says, "and insisted that I open up the auditions for you."

Hope just about fucking chokes Tommy, but he manages to say, "Cool."

.o0O0o.

A quarter-beat later, Tommy's brain catches up with what's going on and starts spinning in double-time.

"When and where's the audition?" He grabs a napkin off the stack and makes a frantic 'gimme a pen' motion at Leo. "And what's Adam's last name so I can like check out his music?"

"You really don't know who he is?" Barry sounds surprised and, Tommy thinks, pleased.

"No man. Why would I lie about that?"

"You really need me to answer that question?"

"That famous, huh? Assume that means I can find his music on YouTube then."

Barry just starts to laugh.

.o0O0o.

By the time Barry stops laughing and gets down to serious business, Leo's brought Tommy a pen and paper. He scrawls down information quickly, almost illegibly.

"You played in bands before, right?" Barry sounds dubious.

"Yeah, more than a few."

"Anything I'd have heard of?"

Tommy makes a face at the phone. "Maybe? But probably not." He shrugs and decides to go for it. "Doesn't mean I'm not any good," he adds.

"That's what you all say, kid."

Before Tommy can find a response that isn't fuck you, Barry says, "Auditions are for Adam Lambert. He's looking for a guitarist."

.o0O0o.

A couple of minutes later, Tommy's clicking off his phone and staring at the songs he needs to learn. Overnight!

"Oh fuck me," he mutters.

"No thanks." Leo nudges him. "But I'm sure you won't have to work too hard to find someone willing to put up with your shit."

"Bitch," Tommy says and sticks his tongue out at her. "If we were at a gay bar, they'd be lining up out the door and you know it."

"And on that note, it's time we got your flat ass home so you can practice and keep me up all night."

.o0O0o.

They're in the car, almost halfway home, with the stereo blasting out Placebo, when Leo asks, "What do you have to learn anyway?"

"Two songs by this guy, Adam Lambert, plus something of my own choice. I figure that has to be—"

"Adam Lambert?" Leo interrupts him. "That's seriously heading towards the big time."

Tommy gives her a curious look. "You've heard of him?"

"American Idol? Out and proud? Any of this ringing a bell?"

"That dude?" Tommy blinks and considers. He's gonna need makeup and interesting clothes and, hopefully, Chantala to do his hair. "Music though," he says aloud.

.o0O0o.

"Queen or Bowie," Leo answers, "given what Adam's talked about in interviews."

"Adam?" Tommy picks at his flaking nail polish. "You're a fan?"

"What part of queer didn't you understand? Even if I didn't like his music, I would've voted for him on Idol."

"Idol." Tommy wrinkles his nose.

"Adam's good, okay? Just listen to him when we get home, and you'll understand."

"Bowie," Tommy decides, not answering her. "But which song?"

"Scary Monsters and Super Freaks," Leo suggests, "to match your ink."

"Creeps," Tommy corrects her automatically.

"Whatever," Leo says. "Just play from your heart, and you'll kill it."

Promises in Purple Ink continues in Order's Up.


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