Blue Tiger 1.0

"Tommy! Where's my coffee!?"

Tommy ran into the practice room, in his hand was a cardboard holder with several cups of coffee in it.

"Sorry, Derek, here you go," Tommy put the tray on the counter.

"Geez, took ya long enough," Derek, the band's lead vocalist, huffed. The shaggy brunette took a cup of steaming coffee, only sipping once before scowling again.

"Fuck, Tommy, didn't I ask for no sugar?"

"I did tell the lady," Tommy retorted, he took one of the remaining cups, "This one is yours, the one you're holding is for Sam."

"Then you could have said so earlier," Derek argued, not bothering to admit an ounce of fault.

"Sorry," Tommy murmured, there was no use arguing with Derek. No, correction, he could not argue with any of the band members. It was always the whole band against him, he was just the bass player, so they say.

Tommy was kind of a simple man. He's happy that he is playing music and getting paid, if he had to put up with this kind of treatment, so be it.

He sat down on the floor against the wall and picked up his red Fender, it was a little old from use but this was the first guitar he bought with his own money.

"Guys, we're playing at six later, at that stripper club," Max informed, picking up his drum sticks.

"Better not fuck up," Sam said openly, but shot a quick glance at Tommy, rough fingers playing on his fancy aqua-blue guitar.

Tommy focused on his playing, but worry plucked at him. He was not sure if it was his insomnia but he had not been sleeping well for the past few days, his dreams of blue stripes and intense blue glowing eyes always shocking him awake.

Tommy sighed, mentally praying he would play well tonight.










"Fuck, Tommy! What's the matter with you!?" Sam shouted.

"I'm sorry," Tommy repeated for about the fifth time since going backstage. He did mess up in the end, he misplayed a couple of notes. It did not really matter since no one could tell, well, except Sam, who he himself played guitar, so of course he easily picked up the mistake.

"I hadn't been sleeping well," Tommy uttered with slight annoyance.

"No excuses," Sam hissed back.

The group was already entering their motel room for the night and Sam was still picking on Tommy's mistakes. The others just laughed and encouraged Sam on.

Tommy would have normally just calmed himself and think nothing of it. But with the recent lack of sleep and those intense eyes bugging him, Tommy was really not in his best of moods.

He kept himself controlled even though hot anger was bubbling in him. But when Sam grabbed his collar with mock playfulness and another snared remark smacked him in the face, he snapped.

"Don't touch me!" Tommy twisted in Sam's grip. Even though the guitar player was taller and bigger, he was still not expecting Tommy's reaction and losses his hold on the blonde.

Shock scattered on Sam's face when Tommy's fist caught his jaw, splitting his lip.

"Fuck, man! What's wrong with you!?" Max stood in between Tommy and Sam.

"I've had enough! I said I was sorry, fuck, what else do you want!?" Tommy cried out, frustration clear in his voice.

Derek stood from his seat, frowning and anger flaring in his eyes.

"He was playing, you don't have to hit him!"

Tommy should not feel surprised, not at all, of course Derek would back Sam up, and Max would simply follow. He tried to get his statement across anyway.

"You guys always do this to me! Bossing me around and picking on me! Why am I always in the wrong!?" Tommy shouted.

"You're just a bass player," Derek growled and pushed Tommy out of their motel room.

"This isn't high school!" Tommy shouted as the singer slammed the door in his face.

Tommy turned and left, hands shoving into his pockets and head hung low. This just was not fair, but as they say, life was not.

The blonde sighed, looking at his feet as he walked along the grey path. It was late, he would not run into anyone, not like he cared at the moment anyway.

Tommy sighed again and continued marching on, when he finally looked up, he gasped. He was greeted with the sight of trees and bushes, green grass under his shoes.

"Oh shit," he huffed, where the heck was he now?

Tommy looked around the forest, it was dark all around, the only light was from the moon, bright and round above. He had watched countless horror movies, he knew this was his paranoia messing with him, but he still jumped at the slightest sound and he could have laughed if he was not feeling so anxious.

Tommy hummed shakily as he turned around and walked, hoping to go back where he came. He froze when he heard a loud crack behind, a telltale sound of branches snapping. He slowly turned around, eyes wide.

Tommy took a step back as he stared at the cougar coming out from between the bushes. He shook his head, mouth open but no words coming out.

The cougar growled once before beginning to move towards him.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Tommy spun around and sprinted, doing his best to not trip himself or run into a tree.

He felt a sense of relief when he saw a clearing ahead, only to have that hope crushed when he was greeted with a cliff and waterfall, the roaring sound of water rumbling in his ears.

Tommy found himself right on the very edge of the ledge, eyes stuck on the cougar that was slowly coming closer, its lips drawn back and sharp canines glistering.

Tommy let out a shaky sigh and closed his eyes, so this was it, how he was going to go, as cat food.

A swish in the trees made Tommy open his eyes again, brown meeting a blur as the figure landed in front of him. Tommy stared at the mysterious stranger's back, it was clearly male and tall, very tall. If Tommy estimated correctly, he would guess around seven feet.

The male stranger was not only tall, but clearly not human! He had ebony hair that was spiked and blue at the tips, not hiding those elf-like ears at all. He was dressed in a straight tight top and pants. The entire outfit was black with a hint of shine, a sharp contrast against the two skin-coloured tails with blue strips that looked somewhat reptilian. Turfs of ebony fur decorated near the base and spikes poked out around the tip.

"Wha?"

The 'creature' was between him and the cougar, and not a moment later, the cougar's ears folded back and it leapt away in the bushes.

Tommy flinched when his unexpected savior turned to face him.

"I-It's…it's," Tommy stuttered, eyes wide as he stared at the handsome face, more importantly, those blue eyes. Those were the exact same intense eyes from his dream, and those blue stripes on the male's face, neck, and any other exposed area.

The stranger smiled and shifted in front of Tommy, causing the blonde to stumble and lose his balance.

"Ahh!" Tommy felt himself fall back, hands instinctively reaching out and fingers feeling cool skin.

The roar of the waterfall was almost deafening as Tommy stared at the raging water below him. He looked up to see the blue-striped creature staring down at him, its hand in his.

"No! Let go!" Tommy panicked, twisting his hand.

The strange male grinned at him and released his strong grip.

Tommy screamed as he fell back, the last thing he saw before blacking out was those blue eyes that seem to glow.










"-hink he's coming up."

Tommy groaned, eyes opening slightly only to shut at the bright light. He rolled onto his side and curled up, whimpering when he was forced back onto his back.

Memories from before rushed to him, Tommy's eyes snapping open.

"Fuck, man, what happened to you?" Derek's voice somewhat lacking concern, Tommy doubted the singer would be.

"We almost went to the police! Imagine the trouble," Sam added on, confirming Tommy's suspicions.

"I don't know," Tommy slurred, not bothering to explain.

"Whatever," Sam huffed, moving away, "Go shower or something, we already carried you back."

"There's another show tonight, if we leave soon we will make it," Derek said, the underlining hint for Tommy to get ready as soon as possible clear as day.

The group was quickly packed into a minivan, at usual Tommy was sitting at the back among all the equipment.

He pulled his knees up, wrapped his arms around them and hid his face. Tommy fell asleep before he noticed, eyes going shut and mind filled with dreams of the strange creature once more.










"Fuck, Tommy, again!" Sam shouted after packing his guitar.

"T-The lady bumped into me, my fingers slipped," Tommy argued back, it was not really his fault this time. He was using all his remaining concentration on playing, but the delicate balance slipped when one of the strippers decided to lean onto his back.

"Just don't screw up again, we have about a dozen more performances," Derek interrupted the two men.

Tommy nodded, packing his bass. He could still feel Sam glaring at his back.

That night, Tommy's dreams were plagued with the creature again, but this time it was the whole figure. The firm body, strong limbs, two tails, and then came the face with strong facial features, those elfish ears with blue eyes so intense they glow in the dark.

Tommy jerked awake when his mind decided it would be a nice idea to trace the creature's blue stripes with his tongue. Cheeks completely flushed as Tommy looked around in the dark, the rest of the band members sleeping deeply.

Tommy rubbed his face, this was bad, so very bad.










"Tommy, that's enough!" Sam roared, snatching Tommy's bass.

"No!" Tommy stood up, hands reaching out.

They were at practice, Tommy did not do anything this time, he might have been a little sluggish due to his dreams of the creature but never in his playing!

"What's the matter?" Derek stopped singing, looking at both Sam and Tommy.

"I didn't do anything!" Tommy nearly screeched, hands stretching for his bass, damn his height.

"He did! He messed up his lines again!"

Derek frowned slightly, feeling somewhat unsure.

"Who do ya believe, Der'," Sam said, looking at his friend.

"Tommy," Derek sighed, "You have to stop your mistakes."

"But I didn't," Tommy stressed, "Give me back my bass!"

Sam held the guitar higher and Tommy swore the bastard was smirking.

"You just play bad, why bother about this crap, it's all old anyway," the guitar player mocked, dropping the red instrument a little before gripping the top of the neck.

Tommy let out a distressed cry, "Don't!"

"Come on, Sam," Derek chuckled a little, "Enough now, don't make him cry."

Tommy jumped and snatched the bass, he moved to place it gently in his case, zipping it up nicely. He slung the case over his shoulders and began walking out.

"Where do you think you're going?" Derek stood in front of Tommy, towering over the blonde.

"I quit," Tommy said in a monotone manner.

"What!? You can't!" Sam shouted behind.

Tommy allowed himself a small smirk, he may just be a 'background' bassist, but bass was still important in a song. This was the closest he would hear Sam admit that.

"I. Quit."

Tommy pushed pass Derek, the singer stunned and unmoving from his sudden decision. He quickly made his way back to the cheap motel the band rented, thankful for a key.

Tommy simply took his bag, he never did dump his clothes all over like the other members, he was not a slob. He was swift in leaving the motel with all his belongings, he did not want to risk bumping into the band again.

"Where do I go now?" Tommy muttered under his breath, and the answer seemed clear in his mind.










Tommy slot the key into the slightly dusty wooden door, the clanking from twisting the key echoed in the small hallway.

He walked into the somewhat familiar room. This was the same motel he was at just a couple of weeks ago, when he was still with the band.

Tommy felt his phone vibrating, it was Derek, who had called and texted almost every ten minutes but he no longer gave a shit, so he ignored it. He picked up his bass, gently stroking the neck and fingers petting the strings.

He sat for a moment longer, until his phone stopped vibrating. Tommy stood up with his guitar and went out the door, feet moving on their own as if they have a destination in mind.

Next thing he knew, Tommy was in the forest again, the one where he saw the creature. He did not turn back this time but continued walking until his ears were filled with the sound of the same waterfall again.

Tommy sat down near the ledge, legs crossed and guitar nestled on lap. He ran his fingers across the strings, a deep rhythm blending in with the sound of falling water.

He did not know how long he played, but he could feel the setting sun on his back and during this whole time, his phone had came to life at least two dozen times. Tommy sighed and began to stand up, he felt somewhat disappointed but what was he hoping in coming here? Seeing the creature again?

Tommy did not bother with brushing his pants and turned to begin his walk back. But he froze the moment he looked up, right in the path back into the woods was the creature.