Symphony

Chapter Twenty-five

The hall was crowded and noisy, and Leonardo felt tense as he looked up at the still empty stage. The contest hadn't started yet, and people were still settling down.

Leo hadn't been able to stay backstage with Alejandro and Kenneth like before, but he'd gotten third-row seats for himself and Marie in the audience instead. Speaking of Marie, the woman had left for the bathroom, and hadn't returned yet. As he hummed to himself Leo drummed his fingers against the handle of his seat, trying to calm his nerves. He wasn't sure why he was so out of it. He wasn't even the one competing.

"They'll be fine," he suddenly heard Marie's voice say. He turned, finding that the woman was arranging her green puffy skirt as she tried to sit more comfortably in her seat.

"Oh, you're back," Leo said, making his friend laugh as she rolled her brown eyes. Marie nodded, arranging the bangs of her pixie cut as she turned to look at the hall's still empty stage.

"I've heard them practice too. They're good. They'll make it to the third round just fine," she said, earning a smile from Leo. She was right. They were good — extremely good. Al and Kenneth now played in sync, and Kenneth was getting better at making accommodations for Al's adjustments, while at the same time making sure they didn't get out of hand. They were a good team.

Eventually, the hall went quiet, and the contest began when the first pair of performers walked into the stage with a round of applause from the crowd. Pair after pair came on stage and played, and Leo paid close attention to them, listening closely to dub their strengths and weaknesses.

Leo's heartbeat quickened as he watched the last pair before Al and Kenneth leave the stage. Al and Kenneth walked in, and Leo soon felt Marie's hand reaching out to give his little pats of comfort, which made him turn to her and smile. Clapping rang through the hall as the two pianists took their seats behind the provided pianos.

Leo watched as closely as he could. The stage lightening changed, and the hall went quiet before the two began to play. Leo's nerves calmed down, and he began to feel enclosed in the music. He hummed along to it as he swayed his head from side to side, and he chuckled a bit when he caught Marie looking at him with an amused smile on her face. Marie's smile widened at that, and she soon turned her full attention to the stage in front.

At the end of the performance, the crowd cheered, and Al and Kenneth gave small bows before leaving the stage, then the curtains fell.

"They were great," Marie said as a smile graced her red painted lips. She was clapping, and so was Leo.

"Yes," Leo said as the sound of the applause from the hall continued. "Yes, they were."

At the end of the round, the judges called out those who would be making it to the third round, and Leo could feel the pride in his chest when Kenneth and Al's names were called. At the end of the night when people drifted into small groups or left the hall entirely, Leo and Marie went backstage to congratulate Kenneth and Al

When Marie and Kenneth left separately, Al and Leo were on their own. Leo helped the pianist to the car Esterphina had lent him, and when they were both in he turned on the lights before starting the car's engine. He then turned on the radio, letting the composition Kenneth and Al had played for the contest round fill the car.

"You did great," Leo said breaking the silence that had hovered over them since their friends left. Leo turned to Al, finding that the man was smiling as he played with his fingers.

"Thank you," Al muttered, resting his head against his seat's headrest before covering his face with his hands before placing them back on his laps. It had been a long stressful night for him. "Thanks for coming."

"It's no problem at all. It was nice to see you two perform," Leo said, looking at Al a bit before reaching out to take a hold of the man's hand. Leo gave his hand a small squeeze, and Al's smile widened at the feel of it as they went quiet. The music that filled the silent void, and they just held hands.

"Leo?"

"Hmm?" Leo replied, turning to Al. Al had turned his head towards Leo's voice. His eyes were hidden under his bangs as usual.

"What is it?" Leo asked, leaning in to push back the hair from Al's face so that he could have a better look at his expression.

"Nothing — I don't know," Al mumbled, reaching out to place his hand over Leo's hand that was on his face. Leo chuckled a bit, leaning in to press a kiss on the man's exposed forehead.

"We should get going. Your sister will be waiting," he mumbled against Al's head of dark hair, closing his eyes as he let himself dwell on the feel of it.

"You don't have to drop me over at my place. Ester doesn't need her car until later in the afternoon tomorrow," Al said as Leo pulled away from him. "Can't I sleep over at your place? I've never been to your apartment," Al added, making Leo stare at him with a mix of emotions.

"Leo?" Al said, calling out to Leo when he didn't hear a response from him.

"I'm here," Leo said with a shake of his head as he turned to the steering wheel in front of him. "Sure, you can sleep over at my place if that's okay with you," Leo muttered in a low tone before turning back to face Al. The man had a smile on his face. Al rearranged the bangs Leo had scattered before he reached into his pocket for his phone.

"I'll call Esterphina and tell her," Al said before pressing the button that called his sister's phone. Leo started the drive the care out of the parking lot as Al talked to his sister about the change of plans. Leo's heart started to beat faster throughout the rest of the ride, and when they got to the apartment complex he lived in, Leo helped All out of the car and up the stairs to his place.

The two stuck to each other like glue — kissing, when Leo's apartment door clicked closed behind them. The tension had been brewing, and now they were alone.

"Al," Leo muttered against the darker man's skin ask they kissed and moved about the apartment, somehow finding their way to the only bedroom in the apartment without tumbling over. They kissed by the wall with Al pressed against it, and Leo pressed against him. Their make out was heated, and rough. Leo pulled away a bit, holding Al's red face in his hands before hugging the man to himself.

"Do you? Are you sure?" he muttered, asking the question that had been hanging in midair all night.

"Yeah," Al muttered, making Leo smile a bit before he leaned in for a kiss. It was warmer — gentler. They moved about the room together until Al's back hit the mattress of the queen-sized bed. Leo hovered over him, helping the man out of his dress shirt, and soon his trousers.

"Leo..." Al trailed as he reached out for the man's shoulders, tugging at the clothes on him as Leo kissed his face, his collarbone, and his chest.

Under the dim light of the room, the two continued to touch and feel each other, both indulging in an experience the two had wanted and dreamed about for a while.