Beats of the Heart - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Miles' leg bounced as he sat in the makeup chair. There were many people around him shouting orders and getting him ready.
"I don't need to do much," Natalie, the makeup artist, said. "I'll keep you looking natural but will take away any shine."
"Thanks," he said. He was afraid they would try to dress him up to the point he was unrecognizable.
"Do you know what you're wearing?" She asked.
Miles looked down at his outfit. "Is this not good enough?"
Natalie's nose wrinkled. "A T-shirt and jeans?"
"I guess I was too nervous that I didn't think about it. I have no idea what I'm wearing," Miles said with a strained chuckle.
Shawn came into the room carrying a clothing bag, overhearing their conversation. "I grabbed a few things from your closet. I hope you don't mind."
Miles grinned. "Not at all. I didn't even notice you did."
"You were a bit distracted this morning." Shawn hung the clothes on a rack and turned toward him with a smile. "How are you feeling now?"
"Like I'm going to vomit," Miles said with a tight smile. "Like Exorcist projectile vomit. Why did I agree to this?"
Shawn approached him and carefully threaded his fingers in his hair. "It's the right thing to do because you're an amazing man, and no one should make you feel less than that. The world deserves to know the person I know and love."
Miles sighed. "I love you, too."
A squeak of surprise reminded them they weren't alone. They turned to see Natalie covering her mouth, trying to hide the smile plastered on her face. "Sorry!" She mustered out.
Shawn chuckled. "This isn't a live recording, and Felix won't bite." His phone rang, and he sighed. "I'm so sorry. I have to take this. You'll be alright?"
"I'm in good hands with Natalie," Miles reassured him. He hoped he didn't sound as nervous as he felt.
Shawn looked him over to ensure he was telling the truth. He sighed and kissed his forehead. "I'll be right back."
He answered the phone while walking out the door, looking back at Miles one last time.
"So," Natalie started, "You and Mr. Pierce?"
"Yeah. Me and Shawn." Miles smiled but didn't provide more information.
She checked over his makeup real quick and gave a satisfied nod. "I have worked at Aura for years and refuse to leave. That's because of the people I work with and the man I work for. Everyone here looks up to Mr. Pierce. Sure, he's usually intimidating, but he's created a culture at Aura that makes us feel like family. More importantly, he takes care of all of us."
"He's a good man," Miles agreed with her. It was something he could tell Shawn always cared about his people.
"He is," she seemed hesitant about her following words. "So, it always baffled me why he never had a real relationship. I even suspected he sabotaged his romantic prospects, but I never knew why. He never seemed to truly care about the people walking in and out of his life, but we could see the loneliness building around him. We were spectators, and it was heartbreaking to watch. He deserves the very best."
Miles could hear the kindness and concern dripping from her words. She spoke from the heart, and he was relieved Shawn had people looking out for him.
At the same time, it sounded like Shawn led a life similar to his own. Miles never bothered with a long-term relationship. He specifically chose temporary partners, flings, and one-night stands. Perhaps in their own way, they never wanted to commit to someone because they were subconsciously searching for each other.
"I know I'm out of line," she continued, "but did you mean it when you told him you loved him?"
"With everything that I am." He smiled kindly.
She grinned, satisfied with his answer, and then hugged him. "Thank you, Miles."
She left the room to let him dress. He quickly pulled on the slacks and took a light blue dress shirt from the clothing bag. He buttoned it and straightened his sleeves but frowned when he looked in the mirror. He didn't look like himself, but the person forced to go to the Anderson's functions.
He hesitated but loosened the top couple buttons of his shirt and rolled his sleeves up his forearm. He ran a hand through his curls, letting them relax a little.
A knock on the door made him jump, but he relaxed as Shawn opened the door. His dark eyes traced Miles' body, and he grinned.
"You look great," Shawn said.
"You sure this will be okay?" Miles indicated toward his tattoos.
Shawn kissed him. "It's perfect. Are you ready?"
"I'm scared I'm just going to make this worse. I've never had an interview, even as Requiem. What if I say something wrong?"
Shawn pulled Miles in close and wrapped his arms around him. "Just remember this is your story. You've done nothing to be ashamed of."
"I know. But things don't always work out as planned."
"This will. Trust that I would never put you in a position that will harm you," Shawn reassured him.
Miles released a long exhale. "I trust you."
"You'll be great. Come on. They're ready for you."
With a groan, Miles followed him. The studio they were recording in was furnished for comfort, but the lights were still bright for Miles. There was also a lot of chatter and people bustling around him, shouting orders and setting up the cameras. He had always controlled the stage behind his turntables, performing in front of thousands while enduring the laser shows and fog. However, this took him far outside of his element.
Felix approached them with a cheerful smile. He was impeccably dressed in a three-piece suit, making Miles feel out of place with his tattoos. He wanted to adjust his sleeves but didn't have a chance.
"Mr. Mendez," Felix said with a smile, shaking Miles' hand. "I've heard great things about you."
Miles gave Shawn a suspicious look. "Great things? I don't think there is anything great being said about me recently."
Felix laughed. "You're referring to those vampiric tabloids? They're sensationalists who chase groundless hype. I have learned long ago to listen to them with a grain of salt." He turned toward Shawn and nodded. "I trust my sources and old friends. Shawn has sung your praises."
"I'm sure he exaggerated," Miles said with some embarrassment.
Felix patted his shoulder. "For some reason, I doubt that. I'm sure what he's told me is reliable."
He steered Miles toward the sitting area, keeping the conversation light to put him more at ease. When he noticed Miles was still stiff, he smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. This is not live, so if we need to edit something out, we can."
Miles blew out a tense breath. "I know. Thanks."
"Have you seen any of my interviews?'
Miles nodded. "Several, but everyone seemed to be accustomed to interviews."
"Some are. Some aren't," Felix said. "It all depends on the situation. Yours is a little more sensitive than one of Shawn's per se, so I know there is a lot of pressure on you."
Miles nodded to show his understanding. "I haven't really spoken to anyone about these things before."
"And now you have to televise the entire thing. It's a terrible situation. I am sorry that it happened, but I promise I will not make this more uncomfortable than it already is." Felix said reassuringly.
"Felix! We're ready!" One of the camera operators yelled.
Felix turned to Miles. "Ready?"
Miles took a deep breath. "No, but let's do this."
Felix motioned for them to roll the cameras. "Just have a conversation with me for now. Tell me about Dirge."
Miles was initially tense, but Felix quickly made him feel at ease. He was a good conversationalist and could draw Miles out of his shell. The interview started easy, letting Miles talk about Dirge and his vision. Felix was an expert, able to weave in questions addressing some of the rumors.
His history was tactfully unraveled, and few in the studio were unaffected. But Felix was kind to Miles, and when he noticed he was uncomfortable, he steered away from the difficult topics.
It was a long conversation, leaving Miles vulnerable and exhausted. When Felix felt he had enough information to counteract the rumors, he started to wind down the interview.
"Saying you've had a difficult life would be an understatement," Felix said.
Miles shrugged a little. "Some have had worse than me. I may have had some fucked up moments, but I haven't had a fucked up life."
"That's quite the outlook," Felix said without hiding how impressed he was.
"I pulled through the worst of it. I have my found family. I have music. I have my partner." He looked over to Shawn, who was standing off to the side.
Shawn looked at ease, with pride evident on his face. He heard all of Miles' stories the night before—nothing was hidden. It seemed to have made Shawn love him more. The thought made Miles smile affectionately at him. He truly lucked out with the man he was with.
Felix followed his gaze. "Well, I'll be..." he murmured when he realized Miles and Shawn were together. He coughed, remembering he was recording. "So you're in a relationship."
Miles nodded. "I am."
"He must be special," Felix said with a smirk.
"Yes. He is," Miles chuckled. "Someone just told me that he deserves the very best, and I cannot disagree with that sentiment. I may not be considered the perfect partner because of all my faults and scars, but he makes me want to try. I'm not the best person, but I will love him best."
With a knowing grin, Felix followed up with some standard questions about his relationship before ending the interview. Shawn was the first to approach Miles and pulled him into a hug.
"I'm so proud of you," he whispered.
"Did I do alright?" He asked hesitantly. He was comfortable talking to Felix in the end, but he didn't know if it would be worthwhile to air. He feared he wasted everyone's time and resources.
Felix was the one who answered. "You were amazing. This will be a rushed project, so we can release this interview tomorrow evening, so be prepared."
"I appreciate you making the effort," Miles said. "I know you like to do things live, so thank you for accommodating me."
"My pleasure. Honestly, many have wanted to know more about the man behind Dirge. Your entire company is so mysterious, so the fact I was able to unveil you is quite an honor. Perhaps I can get an interview with Requiem next." Felix winked.
Miles and Shawn laughed. "We'll see," Miles said.
Felix nodded happily. "I'm surprised you haven't done an interview before, but I feel you will be doing a lot more."
Miles groaned and looked up at Shawn. "Have you scheduled many more?"
Shawn shook his head. "Just a couple more after this. You do have a photo shoot in about an hour, too."
"That's not what I was talking about," Felix interjected. "Everyone will want to know the man who tied down Shawn Pierce."
Miles paled. "I expected paparazzi, but do you think people would really want to interview me?"
"Without a doubt," Felix said with a shrug. "In fact, I'm ready to have a joint interview with the both of you."
Shawn laughed. "That doesn't surprise me."
"Are you hiding it?" Felix asked.
Miles didn't know how to answer. They wanted to solidify their relationship before announcing it, but they never went out of their way to hide from the public eye. Nevertheless, he wasn't sure of their next steps. However, Shawn answered for him by pulling him closer and wrapping an arm around his waist.
"We were discrete but never really hid our relationship. I figured we would continue our relationship as is. I don't think we need to make a spectacle out of it."
Felix sighed. "Well, I would be interested to get the history of you two when you decide it's time."
"We'll keep that in mind," Shawn said with a laugh. "But now I have to get Miles ready for his photoshoots."
They parted ways, and Shawn led him to a different floor within Aura. This area was just as crowded as the one before. People were frantically rushing about and fixing backdrops.
They were ushered to a small room, and Miles was back in a makeup chair with Natalie.
"I'm going to have a little more makeup than before. These lights are harsh," she explained.
Miles watched her as she worked. Her eyes were a bit red, but she wore a grin. "Are you alright?"
She sniffed and nodded. "I just... I watched your interview with Felix."
Miles recoiled on reflex. He hated people pitying him, but he knew that was the price he had to pay for this interview.
Natalie noticed his reaction and lightly slapped his arm. "Don't be like that. I have a lot of emotions right now, but it's mainly anger."
This was the response he never expected, so he was surprised. "Why anger?"
She huffed and crossed her arms. "Because those assholes spread all those rumors about you. I'm sure many people were like me and doubted the reports, but they tried to make you look like a monster. Now that I know the full truth, I want to find them and punch them in the throat."
Miles bellowed out a laugh. "Then they should watch their backs. I have a feeling you pack quite the punch."
She laughed with him and continued with his makeup. "I know this isn't the best scenario, but you're doing great things by telling the world your truth. Not because of the rumors, but because of people who may be struggling the way you did."
She stepped back and smiled. "I have worked with many artists and famous people, but very few can inspire. You're one of the small few."
Miles shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know if that's possible. Honestly, I expect people to call me a liar or pity me."
Natalie sighed helplessly. "Maybe there will be people like that. But there will be others who will see hope when they look at you."
The unease that Miles had felt before had slipped a little. There was a knock on the door, and several people came in with clothing racks. They all smiled warmly toward Miles. Although they seemed kind, Miles braced himself for another long segment of torture.
Miles was shuttled around all day between interviews and photo shoots. When he and Shawn returned to the house, he was exhausted. He collapsed on the couch with a groan.
"I never want to do that again," he complained.
Shawn sat next to him and pulled him into an embrace. "Unfortunately, I fear this may just be the beginning. We'll announce the merge of Dirge and Aura shortly after the New Year, so there will be more buzz around you."
Miles pouted. "Can't they just interview you?"
"I'm only one half of the partnership. And eventually, they will want to know all about us." Shawn tipped Miles' head up and captured his lips.
Miles twisted his fingers around Shawn's tie and breathed him in. When they separated, Miles sighed contently. "I should have done that more often today. Your lips recharged me."
"I'll be sure to do that next time." Shawn smiled and ran his fingers through his curls. "How about I get you to bed real quick."
"Just me?" Miles asked.
Shawn kissed him lightly. "I need to run to my place and pick up some more clothes."
Miles let out a dissatisfied noise. "You should move everything here."
Shawn looked down at him with surprise. "Do you mean that?"
Miles yawned and nestled in closer to him. "Absolutely. Move in with me."
Shawn seemed hesitant. "Maybe we'll talk about this when you're more awake."
Miles huffed, got up, and then straddled Shawn's lap. He wrapped his hands around the back of his head, tangling his fingers in his hair. "To make the place my home, I need my heart here. I need you. So, move in with me."
Shawn cupped his cheeks, checking to make sure he was serious. When he saw pure determination, he breathed out a laugh. "I could never say no to you."
A smile bloomed on Miles' face. "So you'll stay?"
Shawn kissed him. "Forever."