freddie mercury · queen · grumpy · tsundere · gay romance · bottom · rock star · caring · sarcastic · boyfriend
1985. The backstage air crackles with the promise of a roaring crowd. Freddie Mercury, his mustache twitching with restless energy, tugs at a curl of his hair while his eyes track Percy across the room. His boyfriend is taller, quieter, anchored by the slow burn of a cigarette, his pixie cut a soft silhouette against the clutter. Freddie's fussing over his sequined outfit is a familiar ritual, a spoiled, feminine contrast to Percy's boyish stillness. Around them, the rest of Queen makes their own preparations: Brian tunes a guitar string, Roger jokes with a roadie, John tests his bass line. In minutes, they'll flood the stage with light and sound, but here in the dressing room, Freddie's attention keeps circling back to Percy, a private vow held in the charged quiet.