by Z. Allora
Indigo shrugged. He shifted to see the wall mirror to put his mussed hair back into place before twisting back to face Li. “I love you like that, you know? More than cheese or rice.” His words came out carelessly.
Li’s face changed to a mask of barely controlled anger. He turned away to flip through the songbook. “Sure you do.”
Styx was sure Li missed the pain Indigo wore before he hid behind a practiced grin.
“Let’s sing this one.” Li pointed out a heartbreakingly sad song about lovers tore apart by one of them being unfaithful.
Styx wanted to stay out of the drama. He elbowed Jin. “Let’s go see if we can find a singer.”
Jin’s smile no longer held the happiness it did a minute ago, but he nodded as the song started.
Li started singing, and then Indigo came in for the higher part. Alone their voices were nothing special, but when they sang together, it did sound beautiful.
Styx promised himself he’d remember to tell them they should do more singing together at the German restaurant. He followed Jin into the maze of halls to listen to the other voices.
As they slowly meandered the halls, trying to overhear the singers as the songs leaked out through the clouded glass doors, Jin bumped into him casually. “I loved the song.”
Styx could feel his cheeks get warm. He shouldn’t be embarrassed, but he was. “Thanks. I really loved yours.”
His admission made happiness leak back into Jin’s smile, and that’s all he wanted right now. Styx stopped for a moment. The need to kiss Jin almost overwhelmed him. But he couldn’t—not here. Anyone might see them.
Jin must have read his mind again, because he smiled a little and said suggestively, “Later.”
“Mm.” Styx didn’t stop the sound of anticipation. His body was drawn to Jin’s like a magnet to metal.
Leaning in, Jin’s breath blew over his face. Styx closed the space between their mouths as a door suddenly opened.
Guiltily they jumped apart before anyone might draw a conclusion about their relationship. A man with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth waved to his friends in the room before the door shut. He gave them a quick nod and hurried past them.
Once again, Styx remembered that they were way out of bounds. This wasn’t America. They couldn’t have an open happily ever after. The best they could hope for was to not be ripped apart by a forced marriage for the sake of his family.
Jin cleared his throat, pulling Styx out of his morose thoughts. They started strolling the hallways again, this time taking care to keep distance between them. The rooms they passed sounded more like cats being strangled than singing, but the voices seemed to exude an inner confidence that the singer’s emotions were enough to carry the song, and in some cases, they did.
Then they heard it. The voice. Soft and low but clean and clear notes floated on the words. The layers in the melody and the voice’s range gave Styx goose bumps. It was impossible to tell if the singer was a guy with a high range or a girl with a low range, but the voice was incredible. Just when Jin was going to knock, the voice drifting through the door got raspy and deep as the guy started singing an American rock anthem.
Damn! The boy nailed it. As sweet as he’d sung during the ballad, he was all hard edges and rough angles for this song.
Jin shared his grin because he agreed this was the voice too.
“I’ll get the guys. Don’t let him leave.” Styx left Jin standing outside the door like a stalker to run back to Li and Indi.
It was oddly silent inside their rented room. Styx knocked, but no one answered. Opening the door slowly, he slapped his hand over his eyes because he wasn’t sure what he would find Li and Indigo doing.
He peeked through his fingers and was surprised to find them sitting on the sofa, having a staring contest. Anger rolled off Li, and confusion came from Indigo. The two men didn’t even acknowledge Styx entering the room. He couldn’t tell who was winning the stare-off, but he didn’t have time to figure it out.
“Come on. We may have someone you two need to hear.” He didn’t keep the excitement out of his voice as he gestured them out of the room. The lovebirds could deal with their drama after the band secured a singer; this was one step closer to freedom for him.
Indigo and Li silently trailed him back to the room where Jin leaned against the door to enjoy the sound better.
“He can sing,” Jin confirmed, pointing at the door.
The other band members stood with them and listened to several songs before Indigo and Li nodded their approval on the singer.
Li took the lead and knocked. The door opened, and a guy stood in the doorway, rather confused. “I’m sorry. I have this room booked for another two hours. Should we go down to the front desk to straighten this…?”
He gave Li a full-body scan, after which he practically purred an invitation. “Or you could join me?” The flirtation was bold enough that even Styx didn’t miss it. How could the guy be so forward?
“Oh, um, no…. We… ah… heard you sing.” This was the first time since Styx had met the man that Li sounded anything less than confident.
Indigo frowned at Li for a second in confused annoyance before stepping in front of him. “We’re searching for a lead singer. Are you signed with anyone?” He sounded official. Impressive, Indigo didn’t waste time.
Instantly the singer’s face changed to an unreadable mask of business indifference. “Currently I’m not signed. I was in the process of practicing for cutting my own demo.”
“Interesting choices for your demo.” Styx wasn’t sure if Indigo was serious or being sarcastic. He rarely knew. “What’s your name?” Indigo frowned at the singer with what appeared to be instant dislike.
With an arched eyebrow and a tone much haughtier than any Indigo had ever used, the guy replied, “What’s yours?”
Indigo crossed his arms over his chest.
The guy let his gaze slide over to fasten on to Li. His smile held an open invitation. He reached a hand to Li. “Or a better question, what’s yours?”
Li blinked and shook the singer’s hand before inarticulately sputtering, “Oh, um, I am ah….” He stared at the guy with his mouth open.
Not that Styx was any judge of male beauty, but the guy was hot, and his sister would label him as a bad boy. He wore his mane of dark hair spiky on the top, his Asian coloring and build accented by slim-fitting tight pants tucked into tall boots that disappeared under a long, black jacket with a red dragon embroidered on one side. Styx imagined him to be a true Asian version of Indigo, but on steroids.
“Li. Your name is Li.” Indigo stared at his lover with irritation before he supplied the information in a very annoyed tone.
“Lovely to meet you, Li,” the man said without looking at Indigo.
“I’m Indigo. And so you’re not confused, he’s mine,” he informed the guy while pulling Li away from him.
Reluctantly the hand that clasped Li’s dropped away, and the guy gave a cocky half smile. “Are you sure about that?” Before Indigo did anything other than growl, he shared his name. “I’m Tian Di Zhao.”
“Sweet Zhao?” Jin translated the name into English for Indigo out of habit.
Tian Di’s grin fell just this side of wicked. “I’m told it fits.”
Watching someone best Indigo was a sight. Though Styx didn’t enjoy it as much as he once might have. “I’m Styx and this is Jin.”
Sticking out his hand, the interesting man shook hands with Styx, causing the black rubber and silver bracelets circling his wrist to jangle.
That was when Styx noticed the heavy eyeliner drawing attention to a pair of stunning eyes. Without pause, he asked, “Are those contacts?”
The singer’s eyes seemed to have catlike pupils set in a stunning blue. They were wild to look at, and Styx had to pull his gaze away to allow Jin a turn to shake hands.
Tian Di only answered with a smile before changing the subject. “What kind of music do you play?”
Indigo cleared his throat and answered, “Currently we have a regular gig at Biergarten, the German restaurant on the lake. It’s basically covers.”
The guy scoffed.
“Hey, don’t knock it, manga boy; it pays the bills. It’s a place to start, and we’re being heard.” Indigo reminded Tian Di of some very basic facts, and as he peered around the empty karaoke cubicle, he didn’t have to point out no one was hearing Tian Di sing.
Shrugging, Tian Di held the door, opening it wider. They entered and plopped down on a pair of worn sofas.
“Manga boy?” Tian Di asked, the corner of his mouth twitching as though he hid a smile.
Somehow, Tian Di worked the seating so he sat right next to Li. The guy must really want to piss Indigo off.
Styx had never witnessed two people trying so hard to make each other furious. The dynamic fascinated him, but he didn’t want a pissing contest to ruin the band’s chances of getting a lead singer. He moved over, making space for Indigo to sit on the other side of Li. Instantly, Indigo wrapped an arm around Li, marking him as taken.
Tian Di smiled at Indigo as if he were a silly little boy. He boldly turned to take Li’s hand in his and asked, “Tell me why I should join your band. Other than getting to spend time with you.”
Li blinked hard several times as if he was disoriented being caught in the crossfire. Indigo growled until Li moved a little bit closer to him and gently took his hand back after squeezing Tian Di’s briefly. “We’re just getting started, but Indigo has been playing since before he could walk. These two guys are amazing. Styx and Jin have perfect pitch.”
Tian Di’s attention refocused. He regarded Jin and Styx with new appreciation. “Really?”
Jin shrugged and sat forward to talk to him. “That’s what these two keep telling us.” He nodded toward Indigo and Li. “We just love to play. There’s something about playing music that sets you free, you know?”
When he was done, he flushed a little but settled right back against Styx’s side.
Tian Di pursed his lips before turning back to Li. “And you. What about you?”
“Me? What about me?” Li made himself sound irrelevant. “I play bass.”
“And compose. Li’s very talented. He may not have been studying as long as I have, but he’s innately gifted.” Indigo’s voice held the awe he clearly had for Li.
Li met Indigo’s eyes and smiled, his affection clear. “Indigo’s dad is in the business. Indigo understands what needs to happen and how to get things done.”
Tian Di sized up Indigo for a moment before breaking into a knowing grin. “I bet he does.”
Styx didn’t know why the guy made it sound disrespectful or dirty.
Jin, ever the peacemaker, made a suggestion. “Why don’t you come by tomorrow and practice with us? We can all see if this can work.”
The singer inclined his head at Jin but turned back to speak directly to Li. “Just tell me where and when you want me. I’ll be there.” He must have gotten off on making Indigo enraged because he kept doing it. Maybe he thought taunting a tiger with a stick was funny?
Indigo pulled out his name card and tossed it in Tian Di’s direction. “That’s where. How about ten o’clock?”
“You’re a foreigner, aren’t you.” Tian Di stated it like a fact, not a question, picking up the carelessly tossed card. He pulled out his pristine cards from their protective case. He held the card out with two hands, presenting his name card with its distinctive scroll to each of them.
Styx offered his own name card. “The cell number is correct, but I no longer work there.”
Everyone showed their prospective new lead singer respect by receiving his card with two hands, reading it, and then carefully putting it away in their own cases, except for Indigo. When Tian Di handed him a card, Indigo grabbed it with one hand, purposefully folded the rectangle in half, and stuffed it into his back pocket, appearing rather bored.
“And yeah, I’m a foreigner. Asian American and fucking proud of it. I show respect to those who deserve it. Thus far you don’t.”
Amusement danced across Tian Di’s face, as if he was happy to have gotten under Indigo’s skin. With what appeared to be all the false sincerity he could muster, he asked, “Whyever not?”
Indigo’s eyes flashed, and his knuckles whitened on a balled-up fist. “Try going after my man, and I’ll show you how fucking foreign I am when I break your face.”
Tian Di glared down his nose at Indigo, and shook his head. Then he turned to Li. “You have better options.”
Indigo glared a death look at him before he banged out the door.
Tian Di appeared unmoved and turned to Jin and Styx. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow at ten.”
“Yeah, yeah. Sounds fine,” Styx said as they all headed for the door. Before he left, Styx made a suggestion he was sure the guy wouldn’t follow, but it was worth a shot. “Um, you really might want to lay off Indigo. He and Li….”
“Hmmm, imagine that.” The way he said it suggested Tian Di understood things better than Styx did.
“See you tomorrow?” Styx left more baffled than ever.
His dream was closer, but it appeared even more fragile than before.
“IT’S AFTER ten. The fucker isn’t coming,” Indigo pronounced.
“One minute after ten isn’t late, since you set all the clocks five minutes fast. He may be stuck at the guard station,” Li pointed out.
“Yeah, whatever. We can go to the KTV on Walking Street tonight—” The door buzzer went off. Indigo stomped in the opposite direction of the door and stared out at the lake.
Jin happened to be closest to the door. He buzzed Tian Di through the security system and opened the apartment door. Getting a new pair of guest slippers out of the shoe cabinet, he set them down when the elevator opened.
“Hey. Oh no need. I brought my own pair.” Tian Di pulled a case out of his leather bag. He opened it and pulled out a pair of fancy folded black slippers in heavy brocaded silk.
Jin inspected Tian Di’s face. “Ah-ha, they were contacts.”
Styx smiled as he noticed the slippers matched Tian Di’s outfit, which was similar to the clothing he wore last night without the boots. Today the man wore a short mandarin jacket, perfectly fitted, with elaborate embroidered silver dragons racing along the hem and cuffs.
“Try to behave, please,” Styx begged as Tian Di nudged past with an evil grin.
“Beautiful apartment,” Tian Di said as he took in the extremely large flat before he strutted over to see the view.
“Thanks. It’s my uncle’s,” Jin supplied. The newcomer stared out over the water.
“Great view of the lake.” He turned around to glare at Indigo.
“Shall we?” Li asked when no one else seemed to do anything but watch Indigo and Tian Di glare at each other.
“Oh, we shall. We definitely should…,” Tian Di said as he stared at Indigo to see if he’d hit the mark.
“Nice eyes. Do you have a shade for every day of the week?” Indigo scowled as he commented on Tian Di’s eyes.
“No, actually these are mine. But thanks for believing they’re attractive enough to be manufactured.” Tian Di beamed at winning whatever contest he believed he was involved in.
Much to Indigo’s credit, he refused to rise to the bait. Jin patted Indigo’s shoulder.
Styx showed Tian Di into the practice room. It would be tight with all five of them and equipment, but it was all they had for now. In the future, they’d use the German restaurant for practice sessions.
Tian Di stood at a microphone in the middle of the room with his back to Styx’s drums. Jin was on the left while Indigo and Li were jammed in over on the right.
Peering over his shoulder, Tian Di challenged the four of them. “Do you know ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’?”
“Of course,” Indigo said before glancing over at Jin and him. “Do you guys know the chorus so we can do backup?”
A toothy smile filled Jin’s fa
ce. He loved singing and made Styx sing with him on occasion. “Yeah, we know it.”
The band covered the first chorus a little on the tentative side, but Tian Di’s singing did Freddie Mercury proud. Jin bounced up and down with his guitar, getting psyched for the next chorus about thunderbolts and lighting. With more confidence, Li’s and Indigo’s voices blended with Jin’s and Styx’s, sounding even better.
Tian Di hit the high notes without hesitation and sent chills down Styx’s back. They’d made a terrific choice; the guy was outstanding on vocals.
After they ran through some more songs, they wanted to capture the music to hear if they sounded as good on playback. Indigo hooked in his equipment to catch a rough cut. They listened to the songs as they sat around drinking the tea Jin and Styx poured from prepared flasks.
“We sound excellent.” Jin grinned and leaned into Styx’s side.
Styx liked that it was easier for him to be comfortable when Jin got cuddly in front of their apartment mates. Compared to what people did on that show, this was nothing, but for him it felt huge. Even Tian Di’s presence didn’t bother him. He dropped an arm around Jin’s shoulders.
“Yeah, we do,” he said. Maybe that was wishful thinking, so he asked Indigo, “What do you think?”
Indigo examined each of them as if he were assessing their value. When he had everyone’s attention, he commented, “The guitar and bass are perfect. Your drumming is tight. My keyboard playing is superb, as usual.” He stopped and glared at Tian Di. Everyone held their collective breaths, all too aware Indigo wanted to rip Tian Di’s performance to shreds but couldn’t. Tian Di had flawlessly hit every note crisp and clear.
It was odd, but the normally confident singer appeared to be holding his breath awaiting judgment. Somehow, Indigo’s opinion of his voice seemed important to him.
“You’re very talented, and you’ve got a gorgeous voice.” Indigo tilted his head as if daring anyone to naysay him. “So?”
“So,” Tian Di repeated back as if he didn’t have a clue about what Indigo asked him.
