The Way You Look Tonight
Still chewing on the end of his pen, Nick reached for the phone as it started to chirp. There was something wrong with the bridge. There was just something, something quite not right, but he'd be damned if he could figure out what it was.
"'Lo," his eyes widened as he realized what it was, the time change was screwing up the meter pattern and all he'd have to do is change that one thing right there and. . .
"Hello, Mr. Carter, this is your 6:00 reminder call," Howie sounded deeply amused and Nick shot back from the sound board with a start, nearly tripping over a chair.
"Holy shit, D, tell me that you're joking, it can't be," Nick glanced at his watch, "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, I'm going to be late and he's going to kill me and and and," Nick grabbed frantically for his messenger bag, notes and guitar. "Thank you so much for calling, Howie, I meant to set my alarm, I so did, but I guess I forgot and oh man." He sucked in a breath. "Shit. There's no way I'm not going to be late."
"Nickolas Gene, calm down. I knew you'd get caught up and that's why I called. I stopped at the dry cleaners and picked up your shirt and suit, your shoes are all shined and all you have to do is get back here and get ready. What time is he picking you up?" Nick could practically see the smirk on Howie's face as he jogged down the hall.
"He said 7:30 and you know he's never late. Thank you so much, I really owe you one. You're at my place?" Nick fished his keys out of his pocket, opening the car door and tossing everything on the passenger's seat, then sliding behind the wheel.
"Yup. So get your fine ass back here and we'll get you all prettied up with plenty of time to spare. And for God's sake, don't drive like a maniac." Howie's laughter sounded clear right before he hung up and Nick shook his head as he backed out. Leave it to Howie to make sure that everything would run smoothly. Nick looked carefully both ways before pulling onto the street. Somehow Howie would know if he did, in fact, drive like a maniac. He was more than half convinced Howie had hidden a camera in the car.
---
Nick scrubbed his hair with a towel as he wandered into his bedroom, eyeing the suit and shirt and tie all neatly laid out on the foot of his bed.
"Seriously, man, you're missing your calling." He tossed the towel vaguely in the direction of the bathroom. "You're the best personal assistant anyone could ever have." Nick grinned and then kissed Howie on the cheek. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Howie snorted, not even looking away from the television. "You'd starve to death or wind up forgetting what day it was, that's what you'd do. Now, chop chop, get dressed. You only have about 25 minutes and knowing you you'll find a way to spill something all over yourself and have to change. What were you doing in there any way? It can't take that long to wash, you tall freak you."
Nick kicked at Howie's leg. "Shut up. And dude, did you buy me a new tie?" Nick picked it up, admiring the understated pattern. "This is really nice."
Howie looked over at that, shrugging a bit. "Yeah, I saw it when I was out doing my valet duties and I thought it went quite well with the suit." Howie stood, stretching and yawning. "Besides, as wonderful as your taste in men is, your taste in ties is, well, shall we say less wonderful."
Nick idly flipped Howie off, pawing through the pile of clothes. "Whatever. You're just jealous that I've got a kick ass boyfriend. Okay, are you hiding my underwear or what?"
"I rather figured underwear would just be a hindrance. I know how the two of you are. This is simply more efficient." Howie nimbly dodged the pillow as it came sailing at him. "What? I'm being helpful."
"Uh huh, helpful," Nick pulled open a drawer, rifling around then fishing out a pair of navy boxers. "That's what you're being. Sure."
Howie blinked innocently. "I am. I'm very helpful. Besides." Howie smacked Nick on the ass. "I always think it's a crime to cover up that magnificent booty of yours."
"Ha ha ha." Nick dropped the towel from around his waist, stepping into his boxers then pulling on his pants. "I really don't think it would be too appropriate to go commando tonight. Kev said we're going somewhere really nice."
"What's the occasion? I know he wouldn't ask you to get all dressed up if it wasn't important." Howie handed over Nick's belt. "He's not that cruel that he'd ask you to get all suited up at random."
Nick frowned as he buttoned up his shirt. "I don't know. I mean, we haven't really spent that much time together the last few weeks, what with me being in the studio and him in rehearsals for the play." Nick bit his lip, pausing in the middle of tying his tie. "Shit." He dropped down heavily onto the bed. "He's going to break up with me. Shit. That's what it is. I knew it. God, Howie, that's it, he's taking me somewhere nice so I can't make a scene. Shit."
Howie stared at Nick for a moment then flicked him between the eyes. "Nick. Kevin is not going to break up with you. I swear. Where the hell do you come up with these ideas? The voices in your head or something?"
Nick looked up at Howie, misery etched on his face. "No, I'm telling you, that's what it is, he's going to dump me because I haven't been paying any attention to him and I've totally forgotten to call him like three times in the last two weeks and he's pissed, not that I blame him, and that's so it. Howie, what am I going to do?"
"First, you're going to lay off the weed, it's making you paranoid." Howie settled onto the bed next to Nick, draping an arm across his shoulders. "Second, you're going to think this through. The entire basis of your little black helicopter break up conspiracy theory is that Kevin is upset with you and you don't know it. Nick. This is Kevin we're talking about. How long have you known him?"
Nick's nose wrinkled as he thought. "Um, what is it now, thirteen years or something like that?"
Howie snorted. "Try closer to fourteen and does that make me feel old or what. But, yes. You've known him nearly fourteen years. At any point during that time has Kevin ever not let anyone know when he's upset with them?" Nick pondered that for a moment, then slowly shook his head no, Howie mimicing his movement. "No. If Kevin was upset about the fact that you've been busy, which he's not, then he would have told you that. So you know, let's just agree that you're utterly wrong." Howie reached out and finished tying Nick's tie, sliding the knot neatly in place. "Therefore, it must be something else. Did it occur to you that maybe he wants to go somewhere nice precisely because you haven't seen too much of each other?"
Nick let out a loud sigh. "I hate it when you're all logical and right. No. I didn't think about it like that."
"I'm sure that's what it is." Howie kissed Nick on the temple then stood. "Now slip on that jacket and let's take a look at you."
Nick rolled his eyes, but did as Howie said, glancing in the mirror and running a hand through his hair. "Damn. I should have gotten a hair cut. It's a mess."
Howie shook his head slowly, eyeing Nick. "It's not. Or well it's not a bad mess. It suits you."
"Yeah?" Nick made a face in the mirror then turned to face Howie, spreading his arms wide. "How do I look?"
"Good enough to eat. It'll be a miracle if the two of you actually make it to dinner. Now c'mon," Howie took Nick's hand and dragged him out the door. "Let's go out to the living room and wait for your Prince Charming there. And whatever you do, do not let that evil she beast of a cat jump on you. I do not want to have to vacuum you down."
Nick laughed as he let Howie drag him out of the room.
"What the hell are you doing over there?" AJ looked up from where he was leafing through a magazine, sprawled on his stomach on Kevin's bed. "You've been staring in that mirror for like ten minutes. It cannot possibly take you that long to fix your hair. Hell, it doesn't take me that long."
Kevin sighed, leaning back. "I swear I saw some gray." He stretched then padded over to his closet, cocking his head as he considered the array of suits in front of him. "What do you think? Should I just stick with black or what?"
"That depends on whether or not you're determined to play up the whole 'Hi, I'm Satan' thing or what. If so, then black for sure. If not, I like that cream one. Damn you and your whole giant thing." AJ reached around Kevin, pulling the jacket off a hanger and slipping it on. "I bet I could have this taken in to fit. Chop a few inches off the pants. You know it'll look better on me, after all, everything does."
"You are such a freak." Kevin bumped AJ aside with his hip, considering for another moment before grabbing a suit and a shirt. "I'll let you pick out a tie though, something classy, I'm taking Nick to that French restaurant you told me about."
AJ flipped through Kevin's ties, holding up a few, then putting them back, finally settling on a solid deep purple tie. "Seriously?" He draped the tie around Kevin's neck. "What's the occasion, your anniversary isn't until September."
Kevin paused, one leg in his pants. "Wait, you know when our anniversary is? And yeah, that's good."
"Of course I do, someone has to remember so that someone can remind Nick." AJ flopped back down on the bed, poking Kevin in the side. "Tell me, tell me, tell me. You wouldn't torture Nick by making him wear a tie without a reason. And a damn good one at that. Tell me. C'mon."
Kevin snorted, then stood, going over to his dresser and sorting through his cuff links, holding up a pair with small onyx squares then clasping them when AJ nodded. "Why does there have to be an occasion, can't I just do something all fancy for my guy?"
"Uh huh." AJ rolled his eyes. "Run that by someone who doesn't know you. Tell me. You know you want to." AJ batted his eyes at Kevin. "Bring some joy to my life."
"I repeat, you are such a freak." Kevin grabbed the tie, pulling on it as AJ tugged back. "And you're ten."
"Just how you love me, baby." AJ let go of the tie, cackling as Kevin staggered back a step. "Seriously, is there something major you're going to tell him? You aren't pregnant or anything, right?"
Kevin snorted, sliding the knot into place, then slipping on his jacket. "No, it's not that." He turned back to the mirror, smoothing his hair back. "And if it's something serious, don't you think I'm going to say something to Nick first?"
AJ fell back on the bed, draping an arm over his eyes. "Fine, fine, don't tell me, I'm always the last to know anyway. But if you hurt him."
"Yes, yes, you'll kill me after Howie's gotten his chance." Kevin sat on the bed next to AJ, sliding on his shoes then patting AJ on the stomach. "And besides, Brian's always the last to know."
"Yeah," AJ sighed. "He is."
"Yes." Kevin poked AJ in the stomach. "Are the two of you still not talking?"
AJ grimaced. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Aje, this is ridiculous. The two of you are miserable and I know you both, you'd rather be miserable than admit you were wrong." Kevin pushed to his feet. "Which is why you're going to the airport and you're going to pick him up when his flight gets here in an hour." He reached out and grabbed AJ's arm, pulling him up. "Don't even think about arguing with me about this."
"You sneaky bastard." AJ elbowed Kevin in the side. "How did you get him on the plane?" AJ trailed behind Kevin as they headed for the kitchen, scooping his keys off the table and slipping them in his pocket.
"I threatend to tell my mother that the two of you were fighting and that it was his fault. That was more than enough to get his ass on that plane." Kevin grabbed his own set of keys, then picked up an envelope, sliding it into his breast pocket. "Now, we both better get going, we don't want to make our men wait."
"Nope." AJ bounced towards the door, then stopped, coming back and hugging Kevin quickly. "Thanks."
"Yeah, yeah." Kevin followed AJ out the door, setting the alarm, then getting into his car. "I was just sick of listening to the two of you whine."
AJ flipped Kevin off, then peeled out of the driveway. Kevin shook his head, then headed out himself.
Nick wiped his mouth, then set the napkin down, smiling softly at Kevin. "This was really nice, Kev. I should have known that you'd end up taking me somewhere all swelegant and whatnot."
Kevin smiled around the rim of his wine glass. "Swelegant, huh? I'm just glad you're having a good time. I figured it'd be nice to do something a bit fancy, what with the whole nearly forgetting what each other looks like and all recently."
"Yeah," Nick looked down, running a finger around the rim of his water glass. "I'm sorry about that, I know I haven't exactly been the world's most attentive person lately and I know you're probably pissed about that, but I swear," he looked up, biting at his lip, "it hasn't been on purpose, it's just I've been wrapped up and I forget what time it is. Hell, if Howie hadn't called me I probably wouldn't have even been home when you came to pick me up tonight. I'm just. I'm sorry for that."
"Nick," Kevin reached over, gently grasping Nick's wrist. "I'm not upset with you at all. I've been as busy as you and trust me, you aren't the only one not being the most considerate person in the world. I know how you get and you know how I get. It's fine." Kevin shrugged, leaning back and letting go of Nick's wrist, "I simply wanted to take you out." He smiled slowly. "Besides, I love the way you look when you're all dressed up."
Nick flushed slightly, eyes locked on Kevin's. "Well, that's definitely mutual. I wasn't too sure we were going to make it here without me mauling you in the car."
Kevin laughed. "That makes two of us." He nodded his thanks as the waiter cleared their plates, waiting until he was gone before turning back to Nick. "I did have somewhat of an ulterior motive for bringing you here though." He reached into his breast pocket, pulling out the envelope and handing it to Nick. "This is for you."
Nick took it, brow furrowing as he slit the envelope. "Kev, what's up, I didn't expect you to get me anything." He slid a sheet of paper out, his confusion growing as he looked at it. "Especially not a change of address form. Am I missing something?"
Kevin took another sip of wine, shrugging slightly. "I was hoping that you'd put that to good use."
"Okay," Nick said slowly, head bent as he looked over the form. "Still not getting it. I wasn't planning on moving anywhere. Unless there's something you know that I don't. My house isn't on a fault line or something, is it?"
Kevin chuckled. "No, nothing like that." He set his glass down then began drumming his fingers on the table. "I simply thought it'd be easier if we got our mail at the same place."
Nick looked up sharply. "Wait. You want us to get our mail at the same place?" Kevin nodded slowly and Nick felt the smile stretch across his face. "As in permanently?"
"That was kind of what I was thinking." Kevin cleared his throat. "I mean if that's something you'd want. If not, you know, I understand. And don't feel like you have to say anything right now, I mean, I'm kind of springing this on you and we haven't really talked about this so if you want to take some time to think, I would understand. I just,"
Nick cut Kevin off mid-sentence. "You can be such an idiot. Of course that's something I'd want. Though I totally think it's not fair that I have to move. I expect you to do all the packing."
Kevin grinned. "I think I can handle that."
Nick nodded firmly. "Damn right you can. Now get the check and let's head home so that I can thank you for this incredible idea properly."
Kevin immediately turned and started scanning the room for their waiter. "I take it that you think words might not be sufficient to convey your pleasure."
Nick leaned forward, voice low. "Trust me, baby, when I'm making you scream? Yeah, then words will work. However, I don't quite think I can do what that takes here."
"Probably not." Kevin leaned forward himself. "And I've been dying to get you out of that suit all night."
"Same here." Nick brushed the back of his thumb over Kevin's hand. "You're always surprising me, you know that. In the best possible way."
"Just trying to keep up with you." Kevin pulled out a card, handing it over when the waiter presented the check. "You definitely keep me guessing."
"Good," Nick smirked. "So I'll let you try to figure out what kind of underwear I'm wearing on the way home."
Kevin rolled his eyes. "You're going to be the death of me."
"And you love it." Nick pushed back, snagging the envelope and form off the table and slipping them into a pocket as Kevin signed the check.
"That I most definitely do." Kevin trailed Nick out the door. "So, was this worth getting dressed up for?"
Nick grinned at Kevin over the roof of the car. "Absolutely. Besides, I know exactly how to put these ties to use."
Kevin laughed as he opened the door, knowing without having to look what expression would be on Nick's face.