Space Monkey.

The after-party was at its best. Both bands had smashed it at the concert tonight, and while Brian wouldn't call himself a fan of the Lambeth Roads, he did find some merit on their energy on stage. Surprisingly enough, the one member of the band who could not seem to coordinate words earlier was the one who had put up the biggest show during the gig.
"And that is why this band is so successful, mate" the manager of the Roads told Brian as he extended him a pint, which the Placebo front-man kindly refused "We have the one person no other band has, the one who gets all the boys wishing they were him and all the girls swooning"
Brian would have normally felt offended by this statement, but the days of comparing himself to others were now long gone. His ego did not need that anymore. He just laughed instead, as the lad they were talking about covered his face with a hand, clearly embarrassed. Once out of the stage, he wasn't much of a big personality. If anything, Brian felt sorry for him.
"The one and only, Magnus!"
Most of the people in the party clapped at the dramatic statement, making Magnus blush. Curiously, Brian noticed, the only ones that didn't clap (apart from himself) were the very members of Lambeth Road. The lead singer and the keyboard player were too immersed in their own conversation on the other side of the crowded bar, and the drummer was nowhere to be seen.
"Honestly, Magnus, man, I think tonight is a good occasion to tell you..." the manager continued, now having caught the attention of the entire bar. The music played softer as the improvised DJ turned down the volume, his attention on the three men as well.
"Larry, cut it man, please..." Magnus said, almost pleading, but the manager kept on going.
"We know you've been through some rough times lately mate, but you have to know, everyone here is very proud of you..."
Brian awkwardly took a step backwards, trying to move away from the bromance developing in front of him. He turned to Stefan looking for help, but there were too many people in between them and since all the attention was now in the two men in front of Brian, it would be too obvious if he left.
He sighed, taking another sip of water and watching the scene unfold.
"...and you must know, we are all your family, Magnus. We love you. We are all here for you. Especially when you deliver amazing shows like tonight!"
For a moment Brian thought he saw a tear approaching Magnus' eyes, and he wondered what could this young man possibly be going through that was so difficult. Apparently everyone else in the party was in on the story since everyone started saying encouraging words to him, the musician only nodding and holding up his glass as a response. Magnus was clearly not enjoying being the center of attention. He avoided any direct eye contact with anyone talking to him, until the door opened and he turned to look at it without thinking about it, as Brian did.
The drummer for the Lambeth Roads walked into the bar, soon followed by a young lady. Brian looked at her for only a second, noticing her eyes went straight into Magnus'. There was a moment of silence before the music returned to its loud volume, everyone in the party going back to their own conversations and/or dance moves. Brian could catch Magnus' shocked expression before the lights went dimmer and he could not longer see anything but silhouettes around him. He then turned to look for his own manager, or Stefan, or anyone who looked old enough to hold a meaningful conversation. He had had enough of youngsters drama for one night.

***

She walked in after David, her palms sweaty and her heart beating faster than it had in the last months (years). She could almost feel his presence right before seeing him. The bar, for some reason, was abnormally silent and the first person she laid eyes on was indeed him.
Kevin.
She saw the eyes she had so longed for, dreamed with, cried for in the last two years. They were there, light blue as ever, shining brightly in the thin, delicate face she adored. Kevin looked back into her eyes as well, and she could feel as everything stopped for a second. She wondered if this was real, if it wasn't just another dream, and that's when David pulled her back to reality.
"Joplin, dear, would you like to say hi to Larry and Magnus?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She teared her eyes away from Kevin's and looked up at David (who was much taller than her, as most people in the world), swallowing her nervousness and nodding slowly. David was a saint. He was much better than her at acting normal.
The drummer pulled the girl softly by her elbow as he made his way through the crowd. She could feel a few eyes on her as they did, but decided she would greet and give explanations of her disappearance to old friends once she had settled things with the one who had been more than just a friend.
"Larry, look what the wind brought tonight!" the drummer announced, reaching his manager. The girl stood besides him silently, smiling as much as possible as she tried not to shake.
Larry's eyes opened up so much they could have popped out.
"IT CAN'T BE… IS THIS..."
David laughed proudly, taking a step aside while confirming:
"The legendary Mrs. Joplin, indeed!"
The young lady lifted up her hands, waiting for Larry to hug her, which he soon did.
"How on earth?! Where did you fall from?!"
"The sky, as always" she said, speaking for the first time that night. She began laughing as Larry pulled back to look at her properly, his hands on her waist.
"You, you absolute legend, you always show up in all the right moments don't you?!" the manager said, kissing both the girl's cheeks before hugging her again. Joplin just laughed, returning the hug before finally taking a step back, well aware of Magnus' eyes on her.
Both David and Larry looked at each other in complicity before glancing at Magnus, who had been standing there silently this whole time. His expression was still that of complete shock, as much as he tried to hide it.
"Kev, it's nice to see you again" the girl said, her voice betraying her by trembling a little as she did.
Magnus remained silent for a few seconds, his eyes still on hers since she first walked in. Finally, he smiled softly and lifted an arm, softly wrapping it around her shoulders as he pulled her in for a hug. She breathed in deeply while wrapping both her arms on his waist.
"It's been too long, Al" he said, so low Larry and David could not hear it.
"I know" she whispered against his shoulder, trying her best not to cry. His scent invaded her, and that did little to her resolution. Her eyes were teary before she could help it.
"Larry, mate, care for a pint? I'm thirsty" David lied, pulling on his manager before waiting for a reply. They both left towards the bar, leaving the couple to themselves. David glanced back while walking and could see Magnus holding the girl's face with both hands, a very unique smile on his lips.
David smiled too. Finally. It was about time.

*****

Stefan pulled his partner closer, placing a peck on his cheek as he did. Brian rolled his eyes. His best-friend always got very corny once he had a few drinks. Brian tried to focus on the conversation with Stefan's partner since he was the only one sober and smart enough to continue talking in the noisy bar, but the man excused himself soon enough to go to the bathroom. Stefan obviously followed. Brian just smiled to himself as he turned around to order another glass of water. He now wanted to go to the bathroom too, after all the water he had tonight, but he knew better than to go to the lad's loo right after Stefan and his partner. He would wait.
He looked around, trying to find entertainment to take his mind off his bladder, and noticed that the young girl who had arrived with the drummer was sitting besides him. Alone. Confused, he looked around and couldn't find any of the Roads in sight. He turned back to look at the girl and noticed she had a very blank expression, her eyes focused on the glass of liqueur in front of her.
"Hun? You okay?" Brian asked. He knew that expression all too well.
"Hmm?" the girl looked up at him, having trouble focusing her eyes. Brian could almost recognize himself in her. She was high, far more than anyone he had seen tonight.
"I said, are you okay?" he repeated.
"I... " she nodded, disregarding Brian and looking back at her glass.
Fair enough, the man thought, he tried to help but why should he even bother with these youngsters who were probably two decades younger than him.
"Wait-" he turned around, finding the girl now looking at him with big eyes and a surprised expression "You… Oh my God, you are Brian Molko, are you not?!"
A smile appeared on the girls lips and Molko couldn't help but to reciprocate.
"Indeed" he admitted, extending his hand to her. She shook it, while running her other hand through her hair, suddenly self-conscious "And you are..."
"We call her Mrs. Joplin" a voice interrupted, and David was soon standing between the two of them.
"Oh" Brian replied, surprised at the possessive tone the drummer had "Well, nice to meet you Mrs. Joplin" he said. He could see her blushing as soon as he said those words.
"I'm a huge fan" the excited lady replied, leaning down and slowly pushing David away with one hand. Brian couldn't help but feel amused by this "I cannot explain, your music just… It literally saved my life, more than once… I really cannot explain"
The singer nodded, understanding what she was saying immediately. She looked so mystified and honest, Brian could not help to feel some fondness for this girl. Only then he also noted that she was tiny, and both her features and accent were not English at all.
"Where are you from?" he asked. Once again, a laugh interrupted, and Brian turned to find David still standing there.
"Good luck getting that from her, I've known her for years and I still don't know" the drummer laughed before finally walking away.
Things clicked for Brian when he heard this. David said "known her for years", instead of simply mentioning she was his friend. And he had been so possessive earlier. She wasn't a friend of the band, no. She was a…
"I'll just say English is not my first language, yet I can sing the entire lyrics of any of your albums by heart" she said. Brian believed her again and thanked her immediately.
The girl got off from her sit, clumsily, and only then Molko noticed she was slightly shorter than him. She was wearing a short black dress that really accentuated her curves, and it took Brian more than a few seconds to bring his eyes back to hers. She was a jewel. In all his years meeting girls and taking them backstage, he had found only a few as rare as her. He had to give it to them, the Roads at least had really good taste.
"Were you in the gig tonight?" he asked. The girl nodded as she picked up her glass to take another sip.
"It was marvelous. Amazing set. I know you hate it but you did Nancy Boy justice" she stated, taking her drink up to her lips again. Molko couldn't help but to feel his ego growing at this statement. Indeed he despised the bloody song but he was glad fans were recognizing his efforts to play it properly.
"Thanks, it means a lot sweetheart" the girl gave him another mesmerizing smile. She was drunk and high indeed, but she still knew how to flirt. Brian added, curiosity getting the best of him "Hey, I know the lads call you Mrs. Joplin, but that isn't your real name, right? What is it?"
"Al!" Magnus' voice interrupted and both the girl and the singer turned around.
The bassist for the Lambeth Roads wrapped his arms around the girl's waist as soon as he reached her, and Brian took a step back since they both stumbled.
"Al, love, we need to talk, please" he said, ignoring Brian completely.
The girl looked up at Magnus, and Brian could read her adoration on her expression. She blushed once more and nodded in silence. She turned to Brian and said "Sorry, and thank you" before walking away with the thin and strange lad.
Molko simply pressed his lips together, turning back to the bar and thanking the universe he was no longer their age. As soon as he did, Stefan and his partner came back and took the place where the girl had been. Brian decided to keep talking to them, feeling now too moody to go back home on his own.

****

She closed the bathroom door behind her, desperately reaching for her purse and opening the inner zipper. She knew this could happen. She knew this was an option. It was always an option with him, what did she expect? To show up again after all these years and have the happy ending she had been hoping for?
Tears began streaming down her face as she remembered been in that very same bathroom, crying, only a few years ago. She remembered trying to silence her own voice as she cried out loud and gasped for air. She remembered deciding to go to the bridge immediately. She remembered this was the exact place where the breakdown that led to her suicide attempt started.
This time she wouldn't go to the bridge. No. That's what she had her crackers for. She hadn't had them that time, but this time she could use them to calm down. She pulled out the little box with the long, white pills. She had already had some tonight - two? Three? She couldn't remember - but surely a few more wouldn't hurt her. No. She just needed to calm down. To stop crying. To feel like she didn't care anymore. She couldn't go out and have the Roads see her in this state, no - she was the legendary Mrs. Joplin, she was a legend for fuck's sake, she would not break down in front of them. No. Not them.
She pushed a few more pills down her throat, not even bothering to count them.
She closed her eyes. She could feel her breathing slowing down and calming.
She would be fine.
It would be fine.

****

"Stefan?"
Brian had taken a little too long in the bathroom (he had been holding himself for hours, it was to be expected) and now he couldn't find Stefan. Or anyone he knew for that matter. Apparently everyone had decided to go home while he was in the loo. Marvelous. Even the Roads were nowhere to be seen - not that it mattered, but he would have loved to see the Joplin girl once more. She had been nice and a true fan, he felt he should have given her an autograph or something of the sort since she clearly deserved it.
He was about to walk out of the bar when he realized he hadn't checked the girls bathroom. Sometimes Stefan would use that one if the men's was full, as did he - none of them really cared, and he knew no one would in that bar either. He turned back and walked to the back of the bar, knocking on the women's bathroom before opening it.
He was not expecting what he found. On the floor, by the toilet, the girl he had met earlier laid unconscious in an odd position. Brian dropped to the floor immediately, yelling for help as he tried to find pulse on her neck. He did. He leaned down trying to hear her breathing - which he did too, except it was too slow for it to be normal. At least she was alive. In a second, memories of himself in this very state flashed before his eyes but he blocked them to be able to help her. He looked around expecting to find a syringe, but instead found a little white box filled with pills. So it wasn't heroin at least. He pushed the box inside the girl's purse and hang it from his shoulder. He picked her up on his arms, annoyed that no one was responding to his requests for help.
"Fucking twats, I told them we shouldn't tour with kids" he muttered as he walked to the front of the bar, the girl on her arms still unconscious. At this point there was no one left, except bar staff who helped Brian put the girl on one of the many sofas. She opened her eyes for a second, and said something in a different language (which no one could understand) before going unconscious again.
The paramedics came soon enough, but most of the staff in the place left by then. Brian, the manager of the bar and the unconscious girl were the only ones left. The whole time, Molko was cursing under his breath, hoping among other things that this would remain as secret as possible. Their first gig in the UK, and it had ended with an overdosed girl in the afterparty. Brilliant. He couldn't wait to tell his manager and the fucking Roads to fuck off the next day. The now unconscious girl had been their guest, they should be there taking care of her, not Brian.
He sighed as the paramedics took care of the girl, bringing her back to the bathroom. He knew they were pumping her stomach, as he had that done to himself more than once before. Only when this thought hit him did he realize why indeed he was still there. The young lady he had just saved reminded him of himself. He had first noticed that when he saw her by the bar, but now it clicked in his head. He had been her once, and Stefan had been there to save him.
"Still" he said to himself, thinking out loud. Still, him out of all people shouldn't be the one responsible for her. This overall situation was making him feel triggered more than anything.
The paramedics came back out with a now conscious girl, although still weak and rather silent. After looking through her purse (Brian had already hidden the pills on his pockets to avoid her any trouble) and not finding any form of ID whatsoever, they decided to just leave her with him. Brian thanked them for their help and took the girl with him to the cab that had already been waiting for him. He called it while they were all in the bathroom, suspecting this was how the night would end.
After helping her into the car, Molko sat besides her and wrapped an arm around her waist as she rested her head on his shoulder. She was terribly cold, the little dress not helping at all. Molko gave the taxi driver his address and looked out the window as the car began moving, letting out a sigh.
This is not how he envisioned the tour starting.
"Brian..."
He turned around to look at the girl, surprised she was speaking. Her pale face reflected nothing but pain, and her eyes were clearly making a huge effort to focus on him.
"Thank you" she whispered in a broken voice.
Brian faked a smile, those two words unexpectedly making his heart ache. He knew the amount of pain she must had been feeling right in that moment. He knew it very well.
"Welcome, hun"