rockandroll_swede | The Show Must Go On

It had been a few days since Erik had come out of the hospital and was now walking with crutches, ambling along at his own pace while still keeping that cheeky smile plastered to his youthful face. He wasn't going to let his injury get him down and stop him doing his guitar playing and painting because he didn't want the thugs to win.

He was the one who would win and get better because he owed Rekker a thanks because of the man's actions and indeed sacrifice of chasing down the thugs who attacked him. The ginger Brit had been caught of course and could face being locked away at some institution or worse. Erik just couldn't stomach that so had decided to get Rekker something. Or rather, make him something.

"Hej, everyone! I'm back!"

Erik was now walking through the hotel doors and ambling into the lobby walking on two crutches, smiling and beaming being his usual self. The pain was still there throbbing gently where his stitches were underneath the bandage on his thigh. He was wearing loose fitting pants so the fabric wouldn't rub where he'd been bandaged up. How long had he been in the hospital with Robert at his side? A few days at least. The young Swede couldn't wait until the doctors gave him the all clear and eventually discharged him from hospital so he could carry on resting up back at the hotel.

"I've missed everyone and---I've got a present for Rekker. Where is Rekker?"

The guitarist clutching his present underneath his right arm, while he walked on his crutches. Surely, the ginger Brit was about with his loud blond. Bjorn might be back at the mansion with him but Erik hoped he would be at the hotel since it was still early in the afternoon. He'd worked on the present while laid up in the hospital bed, enjoying Robert's company and the cards and things he'd received from various members of the tour. It really was touching.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

rage_rekker

Rekker could barely getaway from Bjorn and honestly he didn't want to. He was still worried about prison or an institution. Rekker wasn't usually clingy but right now he was feeling it.

Bjorn was still asleep and while Rekker didn't want to leave him he was starving. But the time Erik got there, one if Hexed could easily direct him to the hotel resturant where the ginger was stress eating. His nerves were driving him crazy.

From:

rockandroll_swede

Erik took directions from Hexed and was soon hobbling into the hotel's dining room, instantly spotting Rekker with his fiery long ginger hair. The man had to be hungry since there was no sign of Bjorn and the trashy blond was almost nearly always with his Brit. Maybe Bjorn was still sleeping off last night's booze. The guitarist making his way to the Brit's table, ignoring any spikes of pain in his leg as he moved.

"Rekker? I have something I want to give to you for being courageous the night of my attack. Just for being there and supporting Bjorn and Robert and just being, well---being you."

The young Swede still felt bad for what happened to Rekker through all of this, even though it was no one's fault directly. Pushing any negative thoughts aside, Erik passed the sketch towards the Brit, sliding it onto his table.

"It's you and Bjorn cuddled up in the back of the bus. I drew this from memory whilst being laid up in hospital. I hope you like it."

From:

rage_rekker

Rekker looked up from his food when he heard his name. It takes a moment and a deep breath to hold back the flood of emotions that come up seeing Erik on crutches; everything from relief to venomous hate to worry.

"I don't need a gift." Rekker wasn't used to receiving gifts nor was he in the best moods but way Erik spoke kept him from saying anything more. He looked down at the drawing being slid toward him and immediately pushed the plate aside. It made his heart get tight for so many reasons but mostly because he felt on the verge of being torn away from Bjorn.

When Rekker finally looked up at the Swede he felt a lump climbing up his throat and could feel the threat of the emotions coming out in a hideous crying fit. Rekker bit back the tide and barely manage to hold the tears at bay.

"Thank you." The words were quiet and sort of broken sounding. He pushed back the emotions and swallowed hard. "You're feeling better?"

From:

rockandroll_swede

"I wanted to give you it because you deserve it."

Erik wasn't going to hear anything of the sort regarding Rekker not deserving of a gift because the young Swede looked up to Rekker as an older brother or uncle even. He was family. Just seeing the Brit's reaction urged Erik to reach out and want to soothe the pain the man was going through but he thought better of it. He knew Rekker didn't like people touching him.

"Getting there slowly but yes. I can hobble around and maybe even race on my crutches with someone."

The Swede always filled with enthusiasm and optimism because that was who he was. Would Rekker put the picture up somewhere in the tour bus so he and Bjorn could view it? Who knew.

"Sötnos---Robert, I am looking after him too."

From:

rage_rekker

Rekker shrugged to the idea that he deserved it. He didn't think he did, especially now that he was facing possible jail time.

"Have you had breakfast yet?" Rekker asked without thinking, so used to watching after Bjorn now, but once he said it the Brit realized Robert had probably fed his partner already.

"You might think you are but trust me, he's the one watching you." Rekker knew his brother so well and knew that was the case from watching Robert and Tom interact for years.

From:

rockandroll_swede

"No, not yet. I am a bit hungry though."

When wasn't the energetic Swede hungry? Erik smiled broadly and set his crutches down as he sat down at the table, swinging his legs in under the table carefully. He was getting used to being more careful with his injured leg, just going slow with it so that he didn't cause any unwanted twinges or pain.

"I know Robert looks out for me like a guardian angel."

That caused a few cheeky giggles to escape Erik's lips because he often fantasised about Robert wearing different costumes.

From:

rage_rekker

Rekker motioned toward the seat and waved down the waitstaff to bring a menu over for the Swede. Erik was family now, more or less.

"I thought he was your druid?" Rekker laughed as he moved the picture down on the seat beside him so he could finish eating without worrying about ruining it. He was going to put it somewhere in his house. He only had to decide where.

From:

rockandroll_swede

"Oh, he is! My Sötnos and Fluffig too. It means sweetie and fluffy in my language."

Erik was blushing a little at telling Rekker this but the ginger was family now too considering Robert was Rekker's brother. The whole druid thing was a big turn on for the Swede who dreamt a lot of fantasies involving Robert dressed in some sort of historical costume of sorts. Glancing through the menu, Erik picked out some food; mackerel on toast with tomatoes, mushrooms and sausage with a big glass of milk.

"I love eating fish. Maybe I can go fishing with someone soon."

His heart ached for the water's edge since he'd grown up as a fisherboy for his village.

From:

rage_rekker

"How do you say pain in the ass in Swedish?" Rekker laughed before sipping his coffee. That would be something to just be able to spit out at Bjorn some time.

"Devon goes quite a bit. You could ask him." Rekker thought that Devon could use some people to hang out with. The drummer was friendly but had a history of staying to himself way too much, even for Rekker who liked being left alone too.

From:

rockandroll_swede

Erik giggled as he put the menu away and shifted a little more weight onto his good leg. Rekker wanted to learn Swedish? Then, the guitarist would gladly teach the Brit if it helped him speak to Bjorn and the other Swedes easier.

"Smärta i röven. That means "pain in the ass." I assume you wish to learn more of Bjorn's words he says to you? Or are you calling your brother this?"

It was all amusing to the young Swede who then found himself lighting up at Rekker's idea of Devon going fishing with him. Oh. That could be a fun thing to do! Would the drummer mind?

"He does? Oh---then maybe I could go fishing with him sometime once I can walk a bit better. Fishing on crutches isn't going to work I don't think."

Erik's face fell a little at that.

From:

rage_rekker

"No, I want to call him one." Rekker practiced the words a few times. He's actually very good at languages so will pick this up quickly.

"Devon's been a hunter and fisherman since I met him." Rekker couldn't even think how many years ago that was; 25 or so at least. A long time. "He's been itching to go out. Maybe he knows somewhere that your crutches won't be a problem."

From:

rockandroll_swede

"Ah, you want to call Bjorn a pain in the ass? Well, ok. Robert is not one of those at all because to me he's a big fluffy teddy bear and---"

The young Swede just snorted into giggles as his food arrived and he busied himself drinking his milk and eating his fish breakfast. Going out fishing somewhere and being able to fish without worrying about his crutches pleased Erik. He yearned for open water.

"I'd like that. Fishing maybe sitting down or---maybe something like that."

From:

rage_rekker

"He can be." Rekker laughed. "You haven't known him as long as I have."

Robert had his moments of getting into trouble like the other band members, just not as often and usually when no one expected.

"Talk to him. He knows all the places around LA." Rekker thought this would be good for both men.

From:

rockandroll_swede

"I want to know him for the rest of my life and plan to look after him because I love him."

Erik was dead set on being there for Robert even when he was an old man who needed warm slippers and extra cuddles. The young Swede just found himself drifting with his thoughts until they went back to Rekker.

"We could get comfy chairs in his cottage and I could play guitar while he reads."

The young man had thought all this out because he was a dreamer and had a vast imagination. As for fishing, Erik beamed. He wanted this so badly so would have to seek this Devon out.

"Where can I find Devon usually?"

From:

rage_rekker

Rekker smiled at Erik's sentiment but felt his own worries raising up. "That's something I don't know what to do with, Bjorn thinks I'm going to live forever, and I'm not going to."

It worried Rekker, what would happen to Bjorn when he died. It would happen eventually by his own hands or just age and long before Bjorn.

"His cottage is so comfortable already."

Rekker thought about it and shrugged. "Last I saw of him he was up in his room writing some drum lines."

From:

rockandroll_swede

"No one lives forever but we can take each day at it comes and make the most of it. That's what I think anyway."

Erik beamed and gently patted Rekker's arm before withdrawing his hand once more. The young Swede didn't want to think about Robert's own mortality since the Brit was much older than him. It hurt. Just thinking about Robert dying before him---it caused a sharp stabbing pain to shoot through him. Angst? Anxiety? Probably all of those.

"It sounds a wonderful place. One day I shall see it with my own eyes and he will see my frosty home too."

The Swede pushed some of his black hair back and looked beyond Rekker to the next room. Maybe Erik should go and find Devon to ask him about a possible fishing trip?

"Thanks. Ok well---I'm going to find Devon now and ask about fishing. I'm glad you liked my present, Rekker. You really are a kind man."

Erik offered the ginger another kind smile as he hobbled towards Devon's room.

From:

rage_rekker

Rekker nodded because he felt his own mortality so keenly. "Bjorn doesn't know it yet but I made him the main recipient in my will." Rekker was a depressed realist and knowing his own desires at times he always had end of life affairs taken care of well in advance.

"You may never leave it again." Rekker smiled a little more because he did like Robert's quiet house.

It would be easy to find Devon for the sound of drumming, though he might not hear knocking given the tempo and loudness of his drumming.

From:

rockandroll_swede

"I might not."

Erik just imagined spending days with Robert inside his cottage and helping the man garden and carry out day to day things. It was romantic with images of cuddling beside a hot fire in the colder months. The young Swede knocked on the door of the drummer's room loudly so he could hear if he was practicing.

"Hello? It's Erik!"

From:

la_tornado

"It's beautiful." Rekker agreed and smiled as the Swede went off to find his drummer.

It takes some knocking before Devon heard the person at the door. He comes to the door wiping sweat off with a towel. He's in just the surf shorts he usually wears on stage. His hair is damp from playing and practicing for awhile.

"Hi, Erik." Devon isn't sure what the Swede wants but he was about to take a break anyway.

From:

rockandroll_swede

"Devon? Rekker said you might be here practicing on your drums."

Erik hobbled inside on his crutches and offered the drummer a beaming smile. Would Devon be up for a fishing trip? The Swede hoped so because he craved to hold a rod once more and feel that telltale nibble on the end of his rod.

"You enjoy fishing? Rekker said you might know some good places here to fish. I'm on crutches so---it might be harder than usual but I want to do it! Would you like to fish with me?"

Erik never lacked enthusiasm.

From:

la_tornado

"How are you feeling?" Devon asked as he stepped away so that Erik could make it through the door with his crutches. He tossed the towel into the hamper and closed the door behind the Swede.

"I do." Devon smiled when he realized that Rekker had sent his brother's boyfriend. "A place with crutches..huh?"

Devon went to get his bottle of water while thinking. "There might be some places where the walk wouldn't be long."

From:

rockandroll_swede

"Oh, well my leg is still a bit sore in the mornings when I get up and when I overdo it by walking too much. But, it's getting better! Robert helps me undress and things."

Erik loved how doting the Brit was and it just made the guitarist melt inside. Would there be some kind of jetty he could stand on or a pier where he'd maybe be able to sit in a chair and fish perhaps? There must be something.

"I'm not totally disabled or anything---just a little uneasy on my feet. I can still hold a rod and reel a fish in!"

From:

la_tornado

"I thought Robert was helping you undress before?" Devon couldn't help but tease the younger man a little to keep his spirits up.

"We could go to Alondra Park." Devon thought that might be best for now. "It's right here in LA and has close lots."

It wasn't the best or most exciting fishing but it would be more convenient in these circumstance.

From:

rockandroll_swede

"He is. And I help him undress too."

Erik couldn't help but giggle cheekily and feel his cheeks heat. Oh, the undressing felt nice with Robert's large warm hands tracing over his skin as each piece of clothing was removed. It was a loving gesture as well as an intimate one.

"Alondra Park? They have a fishing lake there? Sea fishing is out of the question with me in this state. I might get pulled in if there is a strong current."

Devon obviously had thought this over regarding the Swede's current state.