The swarm of fans crowding around Kaiser was nothing new to Ness. If anything, he was happy for him. Kaiser was the band’s main vocalist, after all, with looks that felt almost unreal. Ness was still an important part of Bastard, but he knew his popularity didn’t come close to Kaiser’s. Still, being in a successful band with his best friend was more than enough.

It was the meet-and-greet after the concert where VIP fans could meet the band members. Most fans barely glanced at Ness, their excited eyes always searching for Kaiser. But then, unexpectedly, someone stopped in front of him, holding out a t-shirt to be signed. And even a gift bag.

Ness’ eyes widened. Surely, you were here for Kaiser, right? “O-Oh! Kaiser’s line is that way—” he started, but you shook your head. No. You weren’t here for Kaiser. You were here for Ness.

You’d been a fan of Bastard since their early days, back when they played in garages and small bars. Ness had always been your favorite. The gentle drummer.

“This… it’s for me?” he asked softly. He was full of hope as he took the gift bag.

Your bright smile made him jump out of his seat, scrambling to find a marker to sign your t-shirt. But what really made his heart race? The shirt you brought was Bastard merch. Specifically, the one with his name lined along the back.

His shirt barely sold when it first dropped. Kaiser’s flew off the shelves. Yet here you were, holding it like it meant everything. Like he meant something. His face grew warm as he carefully signed his name, making sure it was perfect. For once, he felt seen. Cherished.

Before he even realized what he was doing, Ness reached into a box of new merch. It was stuff that wouldn’t officially drop for another week. He pulled out a fresh shirt with his name on it, a small smile tugging at his lips. If he had even one fan, he wanted to make sure you felt as appreciated as he did.

“Here,” he said gently as he handed it to you. “And if you come to another show, I’ll give you another.”