Beautiful Obsession

Dark Nightmares

Two days after the chaotic whirlwind in Charlotte, Andy found himself back on stage, this time in Greensboro. The spotlight was a familiar comfort, but his mind was restless, tangled in thoughts far from the chords and lyrics of his performance. Brook's investigation into the bombing incident hung over him like a dark cloud. Despite the detective's efforts, no significant leads had surfaced. The waiting game for forensic evidence was a tedious reality, far removed from the rapid resolutions portrayed in crime shows. Brook had emphasized the case's priority status, given the high profile nature of the target, yet the answers seemed frustratingly out of reach.

In the midst of it all, Andy's thoughts often drifted to Brook. Since their initial encounter, marked by a handshake that sparked an electric connection, Brook had maintained a strictly professional demeanor. Any hint of personal interest or the chemistry Andy thought he had felt was now conspicuously absent. This change left Andy questioning his own perceptions. Had he misread the signals? He recalled the detective's confident, almost rebellious style at the concert, a stark contrast to his current by-the-book approach. Brook didn't strike him as someone who was closeted, but perhaps the detective's uninhibited side was reserved for rare occasions.

Andy jerked off twice this morning thinking about Brook’s lips wrapped around his c**k. And man, if he wasn’t hard right now, while he was on stage, but that was usual, he always got hard during a show, the music pumped him up and made him horny.

On stage, Andy tried to lose himself in the music, but his thoughts were uncooperative. He couldn’t shake off the image of Brook, that initial spark they had shared. The distance that Brook now maintained only served to fuel Andy's curiosity and the budding attraction he felt. Each strum of his guitar, each note he sang, felt tinged with an unspoken yearning, a desire for something just out of his reach.

Midway through the concert in Greensboro, the energy on stage was electric, but Andy's mind was elsewhere. With the rhythm pulsing through him, he stripped off his drenched shirt, a move that never failed to elicit screams from the crowd. His jacket had already found a new home with a stagehand. As he flung his soaked shirt into the sea of outstretched hands, he couldn’t help but imagine the fantasies it would fuel.

But tonight, the faces in the front row failed to captivate him. Instead, his thoughts wandered back to Brook. He envisioned the detective not in his professional guise but as he had appeared at the concert - with red-laced hair, piercings, and tattoos boldly on display. This image of Brook, so starkly different from the buttoned-up investigator he’d been interacting with, was becoming an obsession, a 'Beautiful Obsession,' as their newest single fittingly described.

As Chris’s voice rang out, Andy swayed with the slow ballad.

In the depths of my soul, a burning fire

A beautiful obsession, my heart's desire

You're the one who's always by my side

But I'm lost in emotions I can no longer hide

Chris's voice was a perfect match for the song's tender vulnerability. Although they had initially been reluctant to take the lead, the band had unanimously agreed that Chris's vocal quality was ideal for this particular track. Their voice added a haunting depth to the lyrics, enveloping the audience in a blanket of emotion.

Before Andy could fully turn towards Chris to understand what was happening, a commotion erupted. Devon's voice cut through, a blurred shout that Andy couldn’t make out, but the urgency and alarm in his tone were unmistakable. In that split second, everything moved in a dizzying rush.

Without warning, Andy was slammed to the stage with a force that knocked the breath out of him. The weight that pinned him was substantial – 150 pounds of solid, trained muscle. For a moment, he struggled, disoriented and gasping for air. It was Maria, Chris’s personal bodyguard, who had him in a vice-like grip. Her swift action, a product of keen instinct and professional training, had taken him down in an instant.

The confusion and noise around him seemed to fade as he lay there, pressed against the stage. Maria's presence was both a reassurance and a stark reminder of the danger they were in. Andy tried to piece together the situation, his mind racing to catch up with the rapid turn of events.

As he attempted to push himself up, Maria's firm hand kept him grounded. Her whispered command to stay down was stern and non-negotiable. Around them, the chaos of the crowd and the abrupt stop of the music created a cacophony of sounds, but Andy’s focus was solely on the immediate threat they faced.

"What the f**k is going on?" Andy demanded, his voice a mix of confusion and anger. Despite his larger build, he found himself effectively immobilized by Maria's expert hold.

Maria didn't respond immediately. Her eyes were scanning the area, assessing the threat and their next move. She quickly communicated with someone else—not Andy—in short, clipped responses. Then, with a swift and practiced motion, she escorted Andy off the stage, her grip firm and unyielding.

Once they were at a safe distance, Andy confronted her, his frustration evident. "I asked what the f**k is going on," he repeated, looking down at her. She was significantly smaller than him, but her strength and skill were undeniable.

Maria's hazel eyes met his, her expression grim. "Shots were fired," she stated plainly.

The gravity of her words hit Andy like a physical blow. His heart pounded in his chest as he scanned the area, a sickening realization dawning on him. Not all of his bandmates were with them. Two were missing. Panic surged through him, mingling with the adrenaline that was already coursing through his veins. The danger was real and immediate, and now, two of their own were unaccounted for in the midst of this terrifying chaos.