Page 85 of Tumbling Hearts

And Ray’s tank top.

“Watch where you’re fucking going!” yells the man again.

Gene recognizes him as one of the members of the opening band, the Kilotones. He’s not much bigger than Ray, only an inch taller and a tad more muscular, his long dark brown hair contrasting Ray’s blond.

“I hadn’t even taken a sip yet,” the man spits.

“I—I’m sorry, it was an accident,” Ray says, bringing his hand near his face.

“You better get me another drink.” The Kilotone lunges toward Ray and curls his fist around the strap of Ray’s shirt. “That was fucking uncalled for.”

Ray grimaces, his brows knitting together. “I really didn’t mean to, please, you don’t need to⁠—”

“Get me another drink, faggot. I saw you sitting in the lap of your guitarist⁠—”

“Stop it!” Gene yells. His heart beats wildly, panic coursing through his bones. “Shut the hell up right fucking now!”

Gene throws his arm in-between them, forcing the Kilotone to let go of Ray, jolting him backwards. Gene stands in front of Ray, guarding him.

“Gene! It’s okay!” Ray touches his shoulder from behind. “I just bumped into him by accident. I don’t wanna cause a scene.”

Gene’s chest rises and falls, breath after another large breath. He glares at the Kilotone. “Don’t you dare say that to Ray. He doesn’t owe you shit. Apologize to him right fucking now.”

“He should apologize to me. He’s the one who made me spill my fucking drink! And you—you’re just as bad as him!” The man raises a fist, as if he were to throw a punch⁠—

And Gene does the honors of smacking his own fist into the man’s nose instead.

“He already said sorry, you fucking moron,” Gene snarls.

The man stumbles backwards, with two other Kilotones catching him before he falls over. “You little shit!” he rasps.

“Gene! What the hell?” Ray pulls on Gene’s shoulder, but Gene keeps his gaze focused on the man in front of him. He breathes heavy, in and out, his heart barely keeping pace.

“Alright, you’re asking for it!” The man stands back up straight, nose swollen and bloody. He readies his fist again, lunging toward Gene⁠—

But Gene is quicker. He rams his hands forward, pushing on the Kilotone’s shoulders—making him fall to the ground, his landing cushioned by the others trying to catch him, but the weight of Gene makes their hands slip. Gene straddles the man, keeping him down on the floor.

His mind is spinning wild. It’s all happening so fast. The high is kicking in the strangest way possible. All he sees is red—the bloody nose, the flush on his cheeks, the fire in his eyes—and yet, it’s not enough. The Kilotone tries to fight back, throwing his hands up to push Gene off of him. Gene guards with one hand, then spots something in his peripheral view—he finds a shard of glass on the floor from the cup that was shattered moments earlier⁠—

He grabs it, using it as a weapon, holding it against the man’s throat.

“Don’t you fucking dare,” Gene whispers.

The man freezes. His eyes are wide, bloodshot and scared. He can’t even speak, or else the edge of the glass shard would break the skin. Gene grips it tighter, the sharp glass tearing into his fingertips, blood pooling in his palm⁠—

“Gene! My fucking god, stop it!”

Ray’s voice snaps him out of his stupor.

Like scissors cutting a taut string.

“What…” Gene looks down, his grip loosening ever so slightly on the shard of glass.

He pulls it away from the man’s neck.

“Gene, get ahold of yourself!” Ray grabs his arm, pulling him into a standing position and off the other man. Gene stumbles, his heart racing, yet Ray keeps him steady.

“Ray, I⁠—”