Tess O-Meter -- Green.
Hello, me again! So Tony and Ty started as a one-off story but they kinda grabbed me (I would say by the balls, but I don't have any!), and kept whispering their stories in my ear. Actually, you totally can read these in any order, but it's even better if they are read in the order that I dragged them out of my brain, so best order is, Broadway Lust Story, Broadway Love Story, Broadway Luck Story, and now Broadway Beginnings (how they met), I hope you enjoy, Emily.
-X
"Hey Ty, you wanna come see a show with me?"
Ty turned and looked at his fellow barman, previous classmate, and occasional cast mate, "What? Have you won the lottery, Kris? Gonna treat me to a night on Broadway?"
Kris grinned and slung a casual arm around Ty's shoulder, "More like off Broadway. Way, WAY, off."
"Sounds so tempting," Ty muttered dryly.
"Come on, you're not auditioning tomorrow are you?"
"Thanks so much for the reminder!"
"Come, it'll be fun. My boyfriend's doing this review, it's the last night. Out at this beaten-up jazz club, but the music's pretty good and it's more than a little bit Fosse-like, right up your street. Then we can stay and have a few drinks afterwards."
"I thought your boyfriend was studying classical. Thought he was a pianist not a dancer."
Kris looked puzzled for a moment, then his face cleared, "Oh him. Herbert? No he was cute but that was ages ago."
"You brought him in here and introduced him around last Monday, Kris."
"Exactly," Kris grinned at Ty's laugh, "Say you'll come, please. Don't make me ride the subway alone."
Ty laughed harder, "What am I? A cheap bodyguard?"
Kris just gave him pleady eyes, so Ty gave in. A night out sounded good actually. He had only seen this bar, his room (it really didn't fit the rental description of an apartment), and the mirrored walls of the gym or dance studio for weeks.
As they were both on the early shift of the bar they arrived in plenty of time for the final performance of Kris' current boyfriend's review. Which Ty had already decided was going to be terrible.
Kris told him that it his boyfriend had been roped in by a college buddy, to perform in this four-person dance telling the story of a man who is exploring his sexuality.
Ty thought it was probably going to be an excuse for a lot of groping and thrusting on stage, but he didn't have an issue with that at all. It was bad dancing that annoyed him.
He had been further discouraged by Kris telling him that one of the dancers had pulled out at the last minute, and his replacement, who had also just graduated, had agreed to step in. Literally hours before the first performance. Which had been yesterday.
Kris had been careful not to mention this until they were at the jazz club, but it didn't bode well.
Ty only had a couple of years under his belt, but he had done three professional shows (the first while still at college), and took class with some of the best teachers in New York.
He had his ear to the ground for auditions and a network of friends and contacts. Kids that had just graduated putting on shows was all well and good, but there had to be standards.
The first ten minutes of the dance had impressed Ty, and he admitted to himself that he may have been hasty in his condemnation.
The last twenty minutes of the dance Ty couldn't recall in much detail at all. Ten minutes in, a young dark-blonde dancer had joined the group and Ty hadn't been able to pull his attention away from the fluid movements that he created on stage.
Ty sat, breathless and hard. Staring at the spot where the dancer had left the small stage, unable to get his thoughts in order.
"Earth to Ty!"
He blinked, "Sorry, what did you say?"
"I said hold this table. I'll go find Joe and get some drinks," Kris repeated.
"Who's Joe?"
"My boyfriend, jeez, Ty. What's up with you?" Kris rolled his eyes and moved into the crowd. The dance floor already busy.
What was wrong with him? He wondered as he idly rubbed his chest.
Ten minutes later Kris reappeared, with beer, Joe, and bringing Ty back down to earth with a bump, the young blonde dancer.
"Hey," Joe grinned at him, disappointing Ty by taking the seat next to him, "You're Ty?" he then proceeded to quiz Ty on a show he had been in last year.
Ty found himself giving advice and answering technical questions. His head was starting to ache from the effort of yelling over the music when he realized that this must have been how his friend Gene had felt when Ty first met him.
Ty had been so excited to find a mentor with experience, he wanted to know everything immediately. He had never given any thought to how draining it was to be on the other end. Smiling slightly to himself he took a sip of beer and decided he owed Gene a night out.
He was still smiling when his eyes locked with the blonde, who was looking at him thoughtfully.
Joe suddenly seemed to realize he had been rude, "Oh, Shit. Sorry, man. Ty, this is Tony. He really helped us out of a spot."
"Stepped in at the last minute I hear," Ty said by way of hello, saluting him with his bottle. "You did a good job."
Tony flashed Ty a grin, then leaned forward to speak over Joe, "You mentioned earlier that you do Yoga. Do you find it useful?"
Three pairs of eyes were on his again and Ty sighed slightly as he explained his theories. Inside on repeat in his head was, 'His name is Tony. Tony.'
Ty was relieved when the music switched and Kris leapt up with excitement, "Work's over, cutie. Come dance with me." Without further comment he grabbed Joe and disappeared into the mass of bodies.
Tony laughed and looked over to see Ty rubbing his head. He took Ty's bottle and placed it on the table, leaning over to be heard.
"One dance. Then you can sneak out."
Ty looked up into amused eyes, "Sure, why not," he let Tony pull him to his feet.
Ty didn't really do hookup's, certainly never with strangers. He on occasion allowed himself to be set up with friends of friends.
But as Tony turned to face him, firmly grabbing Ty's hips, and pulling them crotch to crotch, Ty knew he was not going home alone tonight.
He gripped one of Tony's arms as his other hand slipped around a slender waist. Ty spread his fingers against a slightly damp, strong back as they started to move together.
Tony was a little shorter than him, and smaller stature, but still a large, athletic build and they kept their movements small and slow, so as not to knock other people off the dance floor.
Ty experimented by grazing Tony's temple with his stubble. He found himself looking down into wide hazel eyes, which quickly narrowed as Tony grinned and brought his lips to Ty's cheek.
"Do you want to take me home?" Tony whispered.
Ty thought he detected a hint of nerves, but when he pulled back slightly to look at Tony again, Tony was looking amused and confident.
Maybe the nerves were his.
Not bothering to answer the question, he just gripped Tony's wrist and pulled him from the club.
-X
Ty gasped in a lungful of cool air as they hit the sidewalk, and then coughed hard as a cab rattled by belching fumes.
"Urghh!"
He looked up at Tony's laugh, "New York City, Huh!"
"Yea," Ty grinned back, "Um. You okay with the subway? I can't really afford a cab right now."
"That's cool," Tony agreed, "Pretty sure the two of us can hold our own."
