*Three Days later*
*June 8, 2001: Orlando, FL*
AJ peeked out the side of the stage, looking at the crowds out there. For a short while they’d been so worried that fans would bail on them now that the truth had come out. It looked like maybe they hadn’t. The stadium was still full just like any other show had been. The energy was the same as it always was. He felt the same thrill run through him.
The guys had tried to talk AJ out of doing the show. Or, insisting that if was going to do it he should at least be sitting in a chair or on a stool. As if. Did they really think he would agree to something like that? Not likely! He enjoyed being on stage too much; the movement, the fans, the energy. But he had made a compromise, though Brian hadn’t let it be a compromise. He had simply said this was how it would be. When it was the slow songs, all of them would have stools to sit on, that way AJ could rest without looking like the odd duck out.
His headset was all hooked up and ready to go. It left him with a free hand, just in case. Another point that Brian had argued and won on. Not that AJ had fought very hard. He knew that Brian was right and that it was safer. Sometimes he just couldn’t resist arguing with his fiancée. Plus, the make-up sex was mind blowing.
“You ready for this?” Brian’s voice came from behind him only a moment before he slid an arm around AJ’s waist.
The grin that AJ wore was answer enough when he looked back at him. Brian laughed and gave him a kiss. “Keeping you off stage would be like keeping a duck out of water. It just doesn’t work.”
“You know me well.”
“Let’s hope I do. We’ve been together over a year now.”
AJ kissed him, love filling him up. “And we have plenty more ahead of us.”
The call came for them to get into their places. With one last kiss, the two got into position and prepared to go out to do the thing they loved to do most.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
About halfway into the show, AJ was ready for the next slow song. Even with his brace strapped on tight and the pain pill he’d taken before the show he was really starting to feel that steady fire building in his shoulder and down his arm. So when the cue came for them to get their stools he was extremely grateful. Brian brought over two. One for him and one for AJ, since AJ was still on a lifting restriction.
Their stools were beside one another, center stage, and the others set up around them. But once Brian and AJ were sitting down the others moved to the sides of them, all wearing large grins. Nick walked over and took their headsets and trading them for microphones with one of the stage hands. Curious, and a little cautious, AJ took the microphone. “Uh, what’s going on here, fellas?” He asked them all, looking from one to the other.
“Well, AJ, Brian, we wanted to give you guys a gift.” Kevin said into his mic, gesturing grandly. “To show our support of your relationship as well as your engagement.”
Oh holy God. AJ felt humor tickling at his throat. He exchanged a look with Brian and saw the same thoughts in his eyes. The guys were up to something. What, they weren’t sure. But something.
Nick stepped between them, putting an arm around their waists. He came awfully close to AJ’s shoulder, only reminded of it when Brian pinched him. Smirking, Nick adjusted before looking at the crowd. “Now these guys have been our friends for quite a long time. We love them like they’re brothers. But we’ve heard the rumors going around about a group split up.”
Howie stepped up on the other side of them, opposite Kevin. “We’ve also heard it said that people think we don’t approve of their relationship or their lifestyle choice or how public they’ve made it. That we put on a happy face but that we’re really angry.”
“So,” Kevin took over again, his grin growing wider. “Tonight, with all the cameras present, and of course all you wonderful people here, we’re going to show you exactly how supportive we really are.”
“Also!” Howie held up a hand, stopping the music before it started .He turned to look at AJ and his grin was pure evil. “It’s a little bit of payback for turning Nick loose on me that day at the hospital. Love ya, J.”
Brian and AJ dropped their mic’s down as they laughed. “I told you he’d get you back!” Brian whispered to his fiancée. They linked hands, smiling as music started to play. Brian looked confused when he recognized it as the music for “I want it that way.” AJ threw his head back and laughed. He knew exactly what they were doing. “You guys are horrible!” he called to them.
With his head still between them, Nick sang the opening lines.
We are on fire,
We have desires,
But one is that way,
One backstreet boy is gay.
The arena exploded with screams and cat calls. Brian turned bright red and almost fell off his chair in laughter. Howie took the next verse, looking so pleased with himself that AJ and Brian laughed harder.
But we don't want to
Be mean,
Since now he's a queen,
Don't ask me,
Which backstreet boy is gay?
The older two came back, joining Nick behind their friends. Brian and AJ grinned at one another and watched as their friends sang together.
Tell me who,
(Ain't saying that it's AJ)
Tell me who,
(Ain't saying that it's Howie)
Tell me who,
I never wanna hear you say,
Which backstreet boy is gay?
Putting his hand on AJ’s shoulder, Kevin sang the next verse. As the words came from his mouth AJ was swatting at him, laughing so hard he missed half the time. The audience was going insane by then, dancing and screaming in the aisles. AJ thought that Brian might explode, he was so red from laughing so hard.
Now I can see him,
He's in women's clothes,
But he don't need an IUD... yeah
He likes village people
He's playing croquet,
His dog is a Pekinese.
“Hey, I like croquet!” Brian said into his mic. Laughing, AJ shoved at him. “We aint getting no Pekinese!”
Howie stepped away to sing the next verse, pouring his heart into it as if it was the real song.
He's on fire,
His back perspires,
Won't say (won't say, won't say, won't saaaay)
Who's gay!
He's always saying
For the last two verses their friends all joined together behind them again, singing for all they were worth.
Ain't nothing but a butt ache,
Ain't nothing but a fruitcake,
I never wanna hear you say (I never wanna hear you say)
Which one of us is gay?
Tell me who,
(Ain't saying that it's Brian)
Tell me who,
(Ain't saying Nick or Kevin)
Tell me who,
He's baking up a soufflé,
Which backstreet boy is gay?
The music died away and the crowd was still screaming. Brian was holding on to AJ’s leg in an effort to keep himself balanced upright. AJ was holding Brian’s arm for the same reason. They both had tears streaming down their faces and grins a mile wide.
Behind them once again, Nick grinned down at the two. “Let’s seal this with a kiss, guys! Kiss, kiss, kiss!”
The older two took up the chant, waving their arms in the air to encourage the audience to join them. Soon the whole arena was chanting “Kiss, kiss, kiss!” over and over and over.
AJ wiped tears off his face and looked at Brian. They held the mic’s away for a moment. “Our friends are insane.” AJ smirked proudly. Brian just nodded. “They are. But after all that, we can’t disappoint them now can we?”
“Of course not.”
One of AJ’s hands came up, grabbing a fistful of Brian’s hair and yanking their heads together at the same time that Brian grabbed his shirt and pulled him close. Their kiss was big and explosive. The sounds of the crowd drained away around them as their lips locked and, for the first time in public, they fully let their love and passion for one another show.
When they pulled back the sound of the audience slowly seeped back in. They were roaring their happiness over this.
A faint blush tinged Brian’s cheeks, but his eyes were bright. “I love you, Alex.”
“I love you too, Bri.”
They turned their eyes to their friends and said, at the same time “But we’ll get you guys back for this.”