Backdated 5 Oct; Missing Mile; Jake Gyllenhaal/Kevin Spacey/Trent Reznor; R
[Backdated to follow this.]

[crossposted to jake_q, our_quarter and reznor_q]



As they approached the club Kevin held in a gasp as he saw the long queue of people waiting outside. He had been walking alongside Jake psyching himself up that he could do this. However, now he was here and saw how many people were waiting simply to get in his resolve quickly melted. It was not only the size of the line which fed his reserve but the look of the punters. They were all so young, most painfully skinny with low slung tight black jeans or a variety of leather and latex. Their hair was a mixture of black streaked with a hotch potch of purples and bright reds. It didn't help that a young girl barely sixteen he would say wearing a black bustier and one of the shortest pvc skirts he had ever seen came up to him and smiled. "Hey I think your daughter was looking for you. There was some chick who said she left her cell in her dad's car. I think she's over there somewhere," she pointed helpfully. Kevin shot Jake a helpless look. He did not belong here.

"Wrong guy cutie," Jake grinned and hooked his arm in Kevin's. "We're friends of the band."

"No we're not!" Kevin whispered when the girl had finally left. Obviously impressed by Jake's claim...and his looks...she had hung around making eyes at him until her friend had called her back saying the line was moving and she'd miss her fucking place. "We're not friends of the band...I wouldn't know them if I fell over them."

"You know Trent and that would impress this lot," Jake said as he checked out the man on the door. "Besides, not many of them can claim to have had him sleep on their couch. Come on, I wanna try something." Jake grabbed Kevin's arm and dragged him right up to the door. "Friends of the band," he announced garnering a sceptical look from the security man. "Look on the list ... Kevin." Jake craned his neck not really expecting the name to be there and planning his next move.

"Kevin Spacey," Kevin added seriously. He almost gasped when security checked the list warily and then with a welcoming smiled waved them both ahead of the crowd and handed them a drinks pass each to boot. "Fuck!" Kevin uttered when they were safely past the burly men. "I can't believe it!" He looked back to a sea of envious and bewildered faces.

"Why?" Jake shrugged and grabbed Kevin's arm to hurry him up. "He likes you man ... I told you that!"

"He's thankful we helped him out," Kevin replied squinting through the dark and smokey room. "Okay Jake if I can find the bar through all this the least I can do for you coming along is to buy you a drink."

Jake glanced quickly around the darkened room and spotted the bar. "One of my many talents," he joked and started to wend his way through the crowd. "We better be quick ... looks like the band are about to start."

Kevin followed barely able to keep up with Jake through the darkness. He fumbled for his wallet and asked Jake what he drank, all the time watching the stage out of the corner of his eye. As the barman placed their drinks on the bar the band emerged, and Kevin gained his first view of Trent. It seemed he was not the only one who was impressed by his appearance as the crowd screamed and several guys yelled, "Hey Trent!"

Trent looked out over the crowd but couldn't really make out more than a mob of black clothes and pale faces. He turned his back to them and launched into a frenetic version of "Wish".

Kevin was a little taken aback by the ferocity of Trent's performance. He forgot Jake was standing next to him, his attention focused on the form throwing himself around the stage...that and the lyrics. Trent's growled 'fist fuck' was worlds away from Bobby Darin's crooning but Kevin was entranced.

Just as Trent launched into the next song Jake felt an arm grip him and drag him into the mosh pit. He turned to catch Kevin's eye and shrugged and he was hauled into the sweaty bodies.

Seeing Jake disappear Kevin panicked at being left alone, and panicked even more at the sight of his new friend being violently thrown around like a rag doll. However, there was a huge grin on his face and he seemed to be enjoying the torture so Kevin relaxed a little to watch Trent's performance.

Performing was always the easy part for Trent. It was a way of communicating that didn't actually need real personal interaction. A few tequilas before going on stage and the rest came naturally so that by the last song of the set he was drenched in sweat, gained a few new bruises and was mentally buzzing.

The crowd groaned as the band exited the stage. There was a massive rush for the bar, and Kevin's eyes desperately scanned for Jake.

Pushing his way through the crowd Jake threw sweaty arms around Kevin. "That was fucking awesome Kev. What did you think?"

Kevin smiled at Jake's enthusiasm. "I'm not an expert on this type of music but it certainly was a...lively performance."

"It was great!" Jake laughed and grabbed Kevin's hand. "Come on ... let's see if we can get backstage and see Trent."

"Backstage?" Kevin looked at the massing crowd heading for the back door. "We have no hope...why don't we just go home? Or for a coffee? Or you probably have other stuff to do...go out with your mates or something."

"Fuck that." Jake almost danced around as he spoke and dragged Kevin through the crowd until he came face to face with the security guard. "Hey," he grinned pulling Kevin closer. "We need to get backstage to see Trent ... he's expecting us."

The guard didn't look impressed and just shook his head. "Come on man," Jake tried not willing to be put off. "Get Trent, he knows us."

With a sigh t guard looked back through the door for Trent but saw Robin instead. "These guys say Trent knows 'em."

Robin set his guitar down and walked over to check the pair out. A grin fast spread across his face. "Hey Jake-man! How ya doin'? Come on through." He winked at Jake as the security guard reluctantly moved aside.

"Great show," Jake enthused and he walked in, still dragging Kevin behind him. "I brought Kev here to see Trent ... he's the guy who took Trent home the night he was gonna sleep on the sidewalk."

"Hey dude thanks!" Robin patted Kevin on the back. "I was out of town that night but I heard what you did. Trent's in the dressing room so head on through. Want to go for a drink after I've showered all this shit off?" Robin dusted some flour off his arm.

Jake looked at Kevin. "Well? What do you think?"

"At the present moment I'm wondering why he's covered in flour," Kevin replied. "But that aside do you think Trent would feel like a drink? He must be tired after his show." Kevin was actually sort of hoping Trent would come along; there was something about him. But no doubt Trent would be off with one or more of the clamouring fans and groupies waiting at the door.

Jake just grinned and shrugged. "Let's find him and ask."

Kevin found it amazing that whereas all the cool looking fans were relegated to standing hopefully behind the security guard Jake just waltzed through to the dressing room and stuck his head in.

"Hey Trent you decent? Or do we get to see all the bits that are floured?" Jake giggled and wandered through to the next room to find Trent trying to get out of a conversation with a rabid looking fan. "Hey man," Jake smiled as he interrupted the fan, "You must be the one security's after; you better take off."

Kevin watched as the fan took one last idolatory look at Trent and then reluctantly left. He just stood, not knowing what to do or say.

After emptying the dregs of his bottle Trent looked up. "Thanks," he smiled at Jake then turned to Kevin. "Hi ... ah, grab a beer or something and ah, have a seat."

Kevin's gaze searched around the room, looking for a spot which was not covered by a guitar or a piece of broken keyboard or some other equipment. Finally he just grabbed a bottle of beer and stood, feeling more out of place by the minute.

Jake grinned and flopped down on the couch near Trent. "Great show," he enthused, "I hadn't seen your band before but Kev suggested we come here tonight."

Trent looked up at Kevin and smiled almost shyly. "Was it okay?"

Kevin hadn't seen Trent smile but the reaction sent a warmth through him. "I'm no expert on this music but I've never seen such an enthusiastic audience. What I did enjoy was when you played piano. You play so well Trent...such feeling." Kevin didn't add that he hadn't been able to take his eyes off Trent's fingers playing over the keys, or his face...full of concentration.

"That's not what the nun used to say when she was teaching me," Trent admitted.

Jake watched the exchange with a huge grin on his face and stood up. "Kev, grab a seat here ... I'm gonna go hang with the rest of the band."

"I shouldn't stay really," Kevin said thinking that was the right thing to say. "You must want to 'hang' with the rest of the band. I'm sure I'm in the way." To be honest he liked talking with Trent, but no doubt he had more exciting places to be.

"I'd rather get out of here," Trent shrugged and stood up. "Wanna take a walk with me?"

Trent's answer surprised Kevin. "Umm okay. That would be good. It's a nice night out. Would you like a drink somewhere?" He nearly kicked himself when his offer was out of his mouth considering last time they had met Trent was puking his alcohol filled guts out over his house.

"Yeah maybe a coffee?" Trent smiled at the offer; he'd already had enough to flatten a lot of people and needed to get away from the backstage shit. "I'm heading out," he shouted towards the group around the drinks and placed his hand on Kevin's back to guide him towards the door.

"Jake we're going for a coffee. Are you going to be okay here? Need me to come pick you up when we get back?" Kevin called to Jake.

Happily drinking with a couple of band members Jake simply raised his glass and shouted across the room, "I'll be fine ... you two have fun."

Kevin waved and turned to smile at Trent. "He's one of the few people I know who can sound enthusiastic about everything...even coffee. He laughed. "Too bad he can't make it!"

"Jake's a good guy," Trent said quietly as they stepped on to the street. There were still a few 'fans' on the sidewalk and Trent smiled a little shyly as he made his way through them.

"He is," Kevin smiled surprised at the continuing fuss over Trent, and more surprised that he was choosing to be with him than with all the fans. "There's a good coffee shop around the corner...not the sort of area they'd go to," Kevin suggested noticing now how uncomfortable Trent seemed to be around all the attention.

"The one where Jake works?" Trent broke into a grin. "At least we know we're safe drinking the coffee while Jake is at the club."

"That we are!" Kevin laughed appreciating the barely previously seen smile. "He's a sweet person and so well meaning but his coffee..." Kevin scrunched up his face. "Have you tried his muffins though?"

Trent's grin grew wider, "His muffins huh?"

Kevin blushed Scarlet. "I didn't mean it like that!" He became flustered. God Trent was probably so straight he couldn't bend and now he had made a fool of himself.

"He has pretty nice muffins," Trent giggled. "And I mean it that way."

"Well now that you mention it..." Kevin relaxed a little more and laughed as well. "I'm sure he has a lot of offers for them. No doubt he's getting quite a few offers as we speak. I think i cramped his style tonight."

"Nothing would cramp Jake's style," Trent decided as they pushed the door of the cafe open. "He seems to enjoy stuff too much ... I envy him that."

"I envy him his looks," Kevin admitted. Kevin smiled at the waitress. "The usual please. And my...Trent here will have a...?" He looked questioningly at Trent. "What would you like? It's on me."

"Coffee thanks," Trent murmured keeping his face turned away until the waitress went back to the counter.

They took their seats at an empty booth up the back. There was an awkward silence before Kevin ventured, "You shouldn't envy Jake anything. You play piano like no one else I've seen, and you have such a following." He reached out to pat Trent on the arm. "Jake is cute and good looking and all and he's a lovely guy but you have real talent."

Trent had already disregarded Kevin's compliment ... it was not how he felt ... never how he felt, but the gentle touch was something different. Not hearing anything else Kevin said Trent looked at the hand on his arm and slowly lifted his own to cover it.

"I mean it," Kevin gently smiled. He got a sense that despite all the hype Trent didn't believe any of the compliments he might receive. "I enjoyed tonight...watching you."

Looking up at Kevin there was confusion in Trent's eyes. This is real isn't it? Slowly he leant forward, his lips touching Kevin's.

Please don't be fucking with me. Kevin took the chance and even though they were in public his tongue played questioningly over Trent's lips. He waited for the tell tale You wish! joke back.

Trent spent most nights after shows being fucked or sucked and he felt nothing ... this was different. His fingers tightened around Kevin's as his lips parted.

"I meant it," Kevin murmured before gripping Trent's hand in his and letting his tongue play over the other man's. The waitress stood back at the counter, a wide grin on her face and pleased to see the gentle guy who was always so polite finally score. Good on you love she grinned to herself thinking she could make the damn coffees again if she needed. Let them be.