Chapter Text
Adam was a world-famous rock star. His shows were sold out everywhere. His band killed it every night. He had won countless Grammies for albums. His personality was engaging and boisterous. When he walked into the room everyone gravitated towards him.
Lute on the other hand was the opposite. She was the manager. The one to make sure the show went on. The one who made sure Adam was doing what he needed to do. When he walked into the room she was the shadow. There but not the center of attention. That's how their relationship worked.
"Well, dangertits that was one hell of a show!!" Adam yelled walking off stage. He took off his signature mask and handed his guitar to some stagehand. "I need a drink"
"Sir" Lute walked next to him. Holding her clipboard. "We need to get back to the hotel. Your plane takes off first thing in the morning." She needed them to follow a schedule. The record label Heavenly Tunes would not be thrilled with Adam missing another flight. Especially with the new CEO Sera breathing down their necks.
"Oh my god!" Adam stopped and rolled his eyes. "You are the most boring person. Come on! We are in Las Vegas! Sin City!" he gestured around him despite being backstage. "We have to have fun. I've been so busy with everything I haven't been able to enjoy myself." It was true. Between rehearsals, lessons, and set-ups Adam had not had a break.
Lute looked Adam up and down. He was wearing his black leather jacket along with a white t-shirt with the 'A' on it. His ripped jeans she was sure he had since college. His piercings were as prevalent as ever not that Lute could say anything herself. She had her ears and face pierced like him. "Sir everyone knows who you are. I don't want to run from crazy fan girls and paparazzi again" She had punched three crazed fans. And parkour away from the cameras. She was not thrilled.
"Hello, we have masks!" Adam smiled. "Everyone will be wearing my mask since I'm popular and people dress like me. I can blend in. I also had that mask made for you" He called his team the Exorcists. He had masks made for everyone so they could match and look like him. Lute's was black and with the white LED lights. She had to admit she liked it. It did go with her style.
Lute knew there was no winning with Adam. When he wanted something he got it. She figured she could at least follow him and make sure he didn't do anything stupid. "Fine" she gritted her teeth. "But the mask stays on the whole time. Also, we are only drinking for an hour"
"Hell yeah!" Adam hugged her. Lute was shocked at the sudden closeness but didn't mind. He let go of her. "Come on! I saw this one bar that looks so cool!"
---
Before Lute knew what was going on she was sitting at a bar with a rum and coke in her hand. Adam had dragged her to a bar called Poison. No one knew who they were or cared so getting in was a breeze. The mask had worked. They also had a way to still drink and eat with them. Lute was happy to cover her face. She wasn't like Adam wanting the whole world to see her.
The bar smelled gross to her. The floor was sticky. The bartender whose name tag said Husk seemed to want to be anywhere but at the bar. The music sounded like shit unlike Adam. The lights were an obnoxious pink and blue. She hated bright colors with a passion. That's why she liked how Adam only used gold as a color. "So anyway we fucked. What did you do this weekend?" Adam asked Lute. He had just devoured his second plate of ribs.
"I know you fucked because I could hear it on the other side of the fucking hotel" she wanted to yell but instead said it in her normal monotone voice. She stared at her half-empty glass. She didn't know why she was upset he slept with some stupid chick. He always slept with stupid chicks.
"Geesh what crawled up your ass" he glared at her. Adam heard how her voice turned cold. She was always cold after he talked about his sex life.
"Nothing" she downed her drink.
"When's the last time you had sex?" Adam bluntly asked.
Lute was so thankful she was wearing her mask. She knew the look on her face was priceless. "Excuse me what?"
"You heard me" Adam drank his beer. "When did you fuck someone?"
Lute rolled her eyes. Thankful for the mask. "I don't have time for sex because I'm trying to take care of your ass" There was also no one for her. No one interested her.
"Really damn? Ass like yours I'm surprised no one wants you." Adam sipped his beer.
"Thank you sir" she replied unsure how to continue. Did Adam say she had a nice ass? Why did that make her feel good?
"Ugh, I need a shot!" Adam yelled for the bartender. They reluctantly filled some glasses and handed them to Adam. "Here bitch" he shoved the shot glass to Lute. "You look like you need a drink or a dick"
Lute rolled her eyes again. Why she put up with him was beyond her. She looked at the amber liquid. She did need something strong. She had worked so much recently. She pounded the glass back and let the liquid slide down the back of her throat. She set the glass down. Feeling the alcohol take hold. "That was good but we need to get going"
"Come on Lute!" Adam's mask changed to puppy dog eyes. "Can I get one more shot?"
"Fine" she hissed. "But I'm not dealing with your hungover ass tomorrow."
Adam flipped her off and ordered more shots...
---
"LUTE!" Adam yelled. Lute was holding him up as she dragged him back to his hotel room. "You're crazy strong."
Lute had been a pro at dragging drunk Adam around. It was basically her cardio. "I hate you" Her mask was now hanging at her side along with Adam's. She knew they were safe now. She also didn't want to clean vomit off his mask.
"You love me" he hiccuped.
Lute started blushing pissed she didn't have her mask on. "Shut up"
"All your face is red" Adam poked her cheek. "You’re blushing"
"No it's the alcohol idiot" She looked ahead ignoring the feel of his finger. She couldn't face it. Even if he was drunk.
They finally stumbled into the hotel suite. Adam of course had one of the nicest rooms. He refused to sleep like a peasant. She then threw him on the bed. He lay there. Enjoying the way the alcohol made him feel.
"Let me get a bucket and prop you on the side" Lute found a trashcan and put it by the bed. "Can't have you die. Do you know how much paperwork I have to do? On top of that Sera would have my ass for killing her number one star," She took his shoes off and laid him on the side.
"Thanks, Lutey" Adam grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the bed. "Thanks for not sucking and leaving me like my first two fucking wives. You're the only one I can count on" Adam's love life was no secret. His divorce was messy and very very public. Lute had somewhat felt bad for him. It was before she started working for him closely. She saw how much it hurt him personally. He really did wear a mask when he was on stage. No one would know his love life fucked him up this bad. He then looked at her. He got quieter as he stared at her. "I wish things were different." It was odd how quiet he sounded. He was always so loud. "I wish we could be together. But we have our duties"
Lute was in shock. There was no way in hell Adam wanted her. Her of all people. The one who told him what to do. The one who kept him in line for the most part. She didn't know how to feel. She did like Adam. Sure he was loud and said whatever was on his mind. But moments like these. Where he was himself is what she loved about him. When he was honest and not some rockstar at the top. "Me too" she stood up. "Good night Adam" She turned the light off in his room and left.
---
The next morning
"God I hurt" Adam complained. He was sitting in his personal jet. He was leaned back into the chair. With a neck pillow and fat glass of water. He looked awful
Lute was across from him. Holding her precious clipboard. Analyzing today's plans. "I told you not to drink that much and it was a bad idea" Lute knew she looked as bad. She had not slept for other reasons. She was up the whole night debating on what Adam said. Did he want her?
Adam then got serious. "Hey did I do or say anything embarrassing or personal?" He could have sworn he said something to Lute last night. But of course, he could not remember.
Lute looked at Adam and lied. "No sir"