Draco took a deep breath before stepping on stage. The change was almost instant. His posture relaxed, he could breathe again, and when he looked into the audience he saw the faces of people who wanted nothing more than to hear him play his music.

The crowd noticed him and broke out into hoots, hollers, and cheers.

He stepped up to the microphone slowly before reaching over his shoulder and tugging the strap so that his guitar laid the correct way across his front. He looked out into the crowd and he knew that he had to start the set off with something that actually meant something. He had to make a statement. Not for anyone else, but just for himself so he could accept what was going on in his own life. He took a deep breath, smile still intact. He let it out through his nose.

"This song goes out to anyone who has always wanted something but never quite knew how to get it. It's not an original, not one of mine at least, but I thought you all would appreciate me being personal up here on stage and- you'll understand."

I can't sleep, no, not like I used to
I can't breathe, in and out like I need to
It's breaking ice now to make any movement
What's your vice?
You know that mine's the illusion

And all at once
I can help you out
I'll be what you need
I'll do anything
Goodbye Apathy
So long apathy

--:--

When the final chord ended it was with a bit of twang that had some of the audience in tears. Others were in different states of awed silence before they all burst into hoots and applause and screams.

The rest of the set after that was more entertaining than emotional, though they weren't as tame either. When the show was over he bowed a few times before speaking.

"Thank you for coming out to the show! I would like to thank the venue for allowing us to perform and I would like to thank all of you for your continued support."

The crowd cheered again as he smiled and exited the stage.

When he stepped into the lounge back stage his wand starting to spark. He picked it up and answered without checking to see who had called in the first place.

"Er- hello?" said a thick voice on the other end.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry, you're probably busy- I jus- I shouldn't have called."

"Harry?" Draco took a deep breath.

"Yeah...I'm s-"

"Stop apologizing. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong."

There was a sniffle on the other end amd Draco rolled his eyes.

"So you cry every time you try to call me, then?" Draco said before thinking twice.

"I do actually."

"Fuck- Potter, I didn't mean-"

"I know. It's not you." He sniffled again. "Uh...Val broke up with me."

A small part of Draco's stomach flipped in joy at the news. The other part tired itself in knots because Harry was happy without him and in true Malfoy fashion he had to go and ruin it, even though he knew Harry didn't want any part of him.

What would he do in a day or so when he was out of town and back on tour? How would they work if Draco wasn't even around?

"What- uh...what happened, Harry?"

"She said she couldn't compete. That she shouldn't have to compete. That I should just love her with all I have, but I do love her..."

"Compete? Compete with who?" Draco smirked thinking he was about to learn some juicy news even Potter's friends didn't know yet. "Oi, Potter, you dog! Have another bird on the side? Never pegged you for the type."

"Because I'm not!"

"There is nothing wrong with having a nice polyamorous relationship."

"And you would know so much about that, would you?"

"Not particularly, but I'm just saying she shouldn't be upset about someone if you had already talked about it."

"We hadn't...Talked about it, I mean. I wasn't even seeing anyone else! That wasn't the problem."

"You just said that she didn't want to compete for your love. How woul-"

"She meant you! She didn't want to compete with you!"

It took less than five minutes for Draco to apparrate near the Potter's residence and storm up the stairs. He didn't bother knocking.

"What do you mean compete with me? We haven't been together in years. there shouldn't be anything to compete with. I hope you chased her down and told her how bizarre she was being."

Harry took a deep breath and looked away. The blonde shook his head. He knew that face.

"Draco, I-"

"No! We aren't doing this. You aren't going to say it. I'm not going to let you."

He turned away from the darker man, trying to look at anything else in the room.

"Dray-"

"It won't change anything!" the tall man snapped, turning around angrily as if to prove his point.

"So why won't you let me say it?" said the messier haired man letting his own anger get the best of him.

"Harry, think about what you're doing. I want to be here for James and Teddy, okay, but I'm on tour. That isn't going to change just because you say that."

"I don't care. I need to say it. When did you get so scared of-"

"Don't fucking say it, Potter."

"-love," the man said stubbornly. "When did you get so scared of love!?"

"I'm not bloody scared of it. I'm terrified! Of what it does to me. How it makes me feel." Draco shook his head.

"Draco, I never stopped loving you," Harry said with a shrug. There were still tears on his face, but he was too stubborn to let them stop him. "That's why Val broke up with me. She didn't want to compete with someone I've been in love with practically forever."

"You can't say that! Not now. How can you stand there after years and say that to me and still make me feel-"

"It's because you love me too, you know. You always have. You never had to say it back, I could see it in your eyes."

Draco's eyes were huge and Harry chuckled and shrugged again.

"Well under the terror, I mean."

Draco looked at the man in front of him. The man he hadn't seen in almost a decade. The man he had been in love with for much longer than that. The man who was the father of his child. A man that was now single.

He took a moment then he turned and fled.

-&-

sorry for like not updating
i just moved back into my dorm at school sO yeah

lemme know what you guys think
like not that sad this time right?

the song is Goodbye, Apathy by OneRepublic

hope you enjoyed
love y'all

-- angel janeé xoxo 💋