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“Gabin, can you come? It’s Tobias.”
Gabin has gotten used to hearing this from his fellow dancers. After his performance and passionate kiss was live streamed and written about in Le Monde, everyone assumes Gabin is a certified Tobias expert.
They’re not wrong, Gabin thinks as he follows Mishi to the large rehearsal room. He’s expecting they want him to give Tobias a gentle reminder that people need water breaks or translate a string of sound effects into actual steps.
He’s not expecting a pacing, shirtless Tobias to be waving his headphones in the air. “You seriously don’t hear ‘Crazy Train’ playing right now?” he asks the corps.
They shake their heads.
Tobias spots Gabin. “Do you hear ‘Crazy Train’ playing right now?”
The room could not be more silent. “No,” Gabin says carefully, closing the space between them. “Is everything okay?”
“The speakers are acting up,” Tobias says. “And I have a headache and the AC in here is broken一”
“We don’t have AC.”
Tobias stops pacing. “Why the hell not?”
“We’re French, cher. Sit down, let me get you some water.” He faces the corps members and furtively mouths allez. They skitter into the hallway.
Gabin brings Tobias his water and sits beside him. His color’s high and his hazel eyes are glassy and distracted. Gabin presses his palm to Tobias’ forehead then moves to cup his jaw. “You are hot.”
“Thanks. I needed that.”
“No, I mean you have a fever. But you know I find you attractive!” he adds quickly at Tobias’ affronted look. “Have you taken anything?”
Tobias shrugs. “They don’t have my brands here.”
“You trust my brands, yes?”
“Yes. Except your shampoo.”
“What’s wrong with my shampoo?”
“Did I say that out loud?”
“Yes, Tobias.”
He touches Gabin’s shoulder and says earnestly, “It just doesn’t foam enough.”
Gabin smiles and shakes his head.
“What?”
“Nothing I just一” love you, Gabin thinks. He bumps Tobias’ shoulder. “Come on, put on a shirt. I’ll take you home.”
~
Tobias falls asleep standing on the métro, on a bench outside the grocery store, and leaning against the drug store counter.
When they make it back to his apartment, Tobias faceplants into bed.
Gabin unloads the haul onto the counter. “Do you want tea or Powerade?”
“Death,” Tobias says, muffled by his pillow.
“Tea it is.”
He nudges Tobias into a sitting position and hands him a mug and a Doliprane. As he nurses his tea, Gabin sits and says, “So I texted Geneviève and everyone knows you’ll be out the rest of today.” He waits until Tobias has swallowed before adding, “Maybe even the rest of the week.”
“That’s too much time. Piece three opens in less than a month一”
“I know,” Gabin says. “But you’re hallucinating ‘Lazy Shane’一”
“‘Crazy Train’.”
“一and taking your shirt off in front of people that aren’t me,” he continues with a teasing smile. “I already talked to your assistant about recording rehearsals and facetiming you when you’re up for it.”
Tobias sets his mug aside. “Why?”
“I know you,” Gabin says simply. “You won’t be able to relax if you don’t know how the dance is coming along.”
Tobias stares at him.
“So are you hungry? I’m not a great cook, but I can heat you up some s一”
Tobias kisses Gabin and Gabin melts. He lifts Gabin’s chin, deepening the kiss, then pulls away suddenly. “Shit,” he says, breathing heavily. “I forgot I was sick.”
“I was going to skip practice to stay with you, anyways,” Gabin says.
Tobias can’t help but kiss Gabin again.