The Rock Show - Josh Kiszka x F!Reader
The one where Jake drags Josh around after their Boston Calling set. Josh meets someone in the meantime.
This is completely self-indulgent and does not line up with any sense of reality but I guess that’s the point of fanfic! Based on the fact that the boys played Boston calling a few years ago and NIN played two nights on the 2022 lineup (gahhhh i love them!!) anyway, hope you guys like it :) this is so loooong I’m sorry
ALSO: this is not proofread. Sorry for mistakes!
Warnings: drinking, swearing, like barely anything it’s really fluffy actually, annoying/drunk!jake lol
“Jake, we’re only going to be standing out here in the heat. Do you even know any of the bands on today’s bill?” Josh asked as his twin brother was unceremoniously sprawled out on the bed he had occupied the night before in their shared hotel room. They had the room for two more nights—the benefit to playing the festival set on a Friday is that they got Saturday and Sunday to recoup before their show on Monday night. Josh needed the rest and was grateful for it, his voice needed it.
Beside, he didn’t love the idea of going to the Boston Calling festival—he didn’t like a lot of the music and all the people standing out in the heat and getting progressively more drunk and hot…Nothing about that sounded fun to Josh. He’d rather get drunk with his good friends, or even spend the day with one of the blunts Jake’s guitar tech rolled for them last night.
But, Jake had other ideas.
“I don’t really care about the bands, man, I just wanna do something! It’s one of the few days off before tour starts, like, officially. What happened to Mr. Fun Guy?”
Josh rolled his eyes. “Don’t call me that.”
Jake wiggled his eyebrows. “Come on, asshat. Just come hang with Sam and Danny and me for a bit. Don’t be a fuckin’ loser!”
With that, there was a sharp knock on the door. Josh walked over to open it to see their manager. “Hey, boys. I know today was supposed to be a day off but there was a last minute interview scheduled for 3:30 this afternoon. Shouldn’t be anything too wild, and you still have the rest of the day. Are either of you going to go attend the festival?”
Before Josh had a chance to answer, Jake had hopped up and seemingly just appeared at his side. “Yessir, we’re going alright, right Josh?”
Josh rolled his eyes. Their manager just shrugged and handed them two laminates. “Don’t get arrested. And show up to the Monster Energy tent at 3:15. I’ll meet you there.”
—•—•—•—
“Gaaahd-damn! It’s hot as Hades!” Sammy exclaimed as he stretched his arms above his head. The four had found each other earlier in the day and had walked throughout the festival, observing and taking photos with fans when they got recognized.
“Hey, let’s go get some water. Hey, cool, Liquid Death!” Danny pulled Sam in his direction, going to get the both of them a cold can of seltzer.
“You want one?” Jake asked Josh, who shook his head. “Not my drink of choice. Need a beer or somethin’.”
“Now we’re talkin’!” Jake said, amused while clapping a hand on Josh’s shoulder. The twin brothers walked over to a nearby concessions stand, Jake purchased two Bud Lights, much to his own dismay. Josh unwillingly took the cup, before they went to sit down on a bench.
“You glad you’re not sitting up in that hotel room alone?” Jake asked, and Josh swallowed the beer almost insistently.
“Well I’m not too pleased that I’m drinking Bud Light,” Josh said, and Jake grunted. “Yeah. Stay here, I’m gonna go find something better.”
“Jake-“ “No buts, I’m on the hunt, brother!”
With that, Josh was left to sit in the hot sun on a half-shaded bench. Drinking the rest of the beer and throwing the cup away, he got up and checked out his surroundings. Where could Jake have disappeared to? Josh looked at the smattering of canopies and tents before he just started to amble about. He was bound to find Jake one way or another.
Lost in his thoughts, Josh didn’t even realize that he was extremely dehydrated. He walked up to the nearest tent and pulled out a few cash bills. Water first, beer later.
“Uh, sir, what can I get you?”
A feminine voice broke through his fatigued thoughts and snapped him back to attention. “Ah, ahem, yes! Can I just get a water, thank you.” Josh rambled.
The girl simply nodded, grabbing a bottle that was sitting in the cooler beside her. Handing it to Josh, she cocked her head to the side.
“Got a staring problem?” She asked, her tone abrasive but a small giggle and smile made Josh rub the back of his neck. “I’m not all quite here right now…the heat,” he offered an apologetic smile.
“If you want to stay here and hang for a bit, that’d be totally fine,” she offered, motioning to the shaded canopy they were both standing under. Josh looked at her quizzically, as she leaned against the card table and tossed him a can of Redbull.
“Oh, no thank you, I don’t-“
“Dude, one, it’s on the house, two, do you not know what tent you’re under?”
It dawned on Josh that he had been so distracted he hadn’t even put the pieces together. One look at the woman’s shirt and paraphernalia surrounding her in multiple portable coolers would tell him that he was in fact, under the Redbull tent.
“Oh! Well, heh…” he trailed off, biting the inside of his lip. “C’mon, it’s not gonna kill ya,” the girl teased, a smile on her face. He laughed to himself, before taking the can of energy drink from her. The cold precipitation of the can made for a welcome temperature change in his hand, but he couldn’t shake the fact that their fingers had slightly brushed—his tan to her slender…tattooed ones?
She smiled and cracked her can open, him following suit. “So, thoughts?” She asked, gesturing to the can. “Oh, yeah, it’s just like I remember it tasting.” He smiled widely, causing her to laugh. Josh couldn’t help but recognize the butterflies that rose while he listened to her.
Cleaning his throat awkwardly, he motioned to her fingers. “Are your hands tattooed?” He asked, inquisitively. She choked slightly on her sip, not expecting him to ask. Flipping her free hand through her dyed hair, he saw that part of her head was shaved. Her anxious fidgeting also allowed him to see her cheeks blushing.
“Yeah—fingers are mostly stick and poke, like this one on my middle finger I got with my best friend, and the one on my thumb I got after a show for free. It got infected and that’s why it’s just a blob now. But uh, yeah…” she trailed off, the rambling making him smile but leaving her embarrassed.
“That’s definitely brave. I would never, especially after a show? Sheesh,” Josh complimented. “Do you have any other ones?” She nodded, ducking her head slightly and biting back a smile which allowed Josh to see that she also had a small barbell sticking out of her eyebrow.
“One on the back of my neck, sternum, a few on my ribs, hips, I’m working on my sleeve right here-“ she had begun listing the tattoos on her fingers before pausing to motion to a complex black and gray sleeve trailing from underneath the top of her shirt at her shoulder to her elbow. She blushed and looked at him. “I’m a fuckin’ wimp—I’ve been putting off the rest of the sleeve because I don’t wanna do my elbow,” she smiled. Josh nodded, observantly. Smiling slightly at the blush that had found permanent residence on her cheeks.
“I take it you enjoy getting them?” She shook her head. “Oh, no. It’s brutal. But I love how they look,” she smiled. He nodded. “All my tattoos have some sort of meaning. It’s cheesy, but-“
“No need to talk to me about cheesy, I’m a man built up on clichés and such. The cornier the better, I always say!”
She smiled at his exclamation, nodding. “Do I know you from somewhere?”
He cocked his head to the side. “I’m one of the musicians who played yesterday,” he said vaguely, wanting to stay as anonymous as possible in this moment.
“Well, duh. I recognize your laminate—“ she motioned to his pass around his neck.
“Shit! Fuck! Oh, goddammit! I know you!” She crowed, connecting the dots. “You’re Josh Kiszka, aren’t you?” She asked, smiling.
He nodded, holding up his hands in defeat. “Guilty. Yes, I am.”
She smiled. “Cool! Nice to meet you, your music is pretty good. You’re the…singer?” She ventured, and he smiled again, nodding. “Yes, I am. Thank you for the compliments, you’re very sweet.”
She brushed off his formality with a smile and eye-roll. “You guys gonna catch any sets tonight?” Josh shook his head. “Are you, or will you be working?” This dark-haired woman smiled and shook her head. “Nope! Gonna hang out and catch Nine Inch Nails. That’s one benefit to this job—when you don’t work the tent or booth you can hang out and catch a couple sets, if you’re lucky.”
“Very clever,” he nodded and she smirked, nodding. “You like ‘em?” “Nine Inch Nails? I-uh, have to admit that I don’t,” he said. Normally he wouldn’t care to voice his distaste for the nü-metal group—they’re just not his thing—but knowing this girl liked them… he didn’t want to say the wrong thing!
She shrugged. “Yeah, not for everyone. I’d be more surprised if you liked them. What do ya like, Josh?”
Leaning forward, Josh felt her slim hand rest on his bare forearm. He looked down briefly to see her inked skin so close to his tanned skin, her tank top exposing a bit more of her torso than he should have seen….god, where was Jake?!
No, Jake was the last person Josh needed to be around right now.
“Josh?” Blinking, he looked straight into her eyes that he just now realized weren’t just covered in black, but silver-shimmery stuff and…blue eyeliner? He didn’t even know that existed.
“Oh, ya’know, the classic stuff, and uh, folk…Fleet Foxes? I really enjoy their catalogue.” Why did his mouth feel so damn dry?
She laughed and her grip on his arm tightened. “God, you sound like you’re from the 1800s! How old are you again?” She teased, and he rolled his eyes. Catching a wave, he leaned closer to her, the table separating them only so much. “Old enough. But what about you, Miss…” “Y/N,” she supplied, not breaking his gaze. “And, I’m old enough,” she smirked. “Trust me.”
He chuckled to himself, before repeating her name. “Y/N…” once more, as if he was saying it to himself. “Beautiful name. It fits you,” he smiled. She shrugged shyly, which he had come to recognize as a very cute telling sign that she was taken by flattery.
“Well, Josh Kiszka, that’s real sweet of you to say,” she responded. Opening her mouth to say something more, possibly another quick remark or flirty question—Josh hoped it was that—they were both pulled from their reverie.
“Josh! There you are!”
Clambering up to his twin brother, Jake Kiszka slapped a hand on Josh’s back, slimly missing the sunburn that was still fresh. Josh hissed in frustration as Y/N quickly moved behind the table, frazzled. The inebriated Kiszka hardly noticing the flirtatious moves between the other two.
“Oh-ho-ho—no way! Josh is drinkin’ Redbull! What the hell, man!” Jake laughed, chuckling at the can that was sitting on the table.
“Heya, how much is one of these, pretty lady?” He asked Y/N, making her roll her eyes and smile. “You can have this, and $5.00. But for you, I’m gonna need $12.00. Cash,” she smiled. Jake furrowed his eyebrows, opening his wallet. Josh motioned for him to put it away and handed her a $20, before sending Y/N a small smile. “For the water and the Redbull, and please keep the change. Dealing with this blistering idiot is hard enough. I’m sorry he can’t seem to keep his comments to himself,” he muttered the last part as she made change for the bill.
As if on queue, Jake leaned into Josh a bit more. “Hey, Josh, y’know her name?” “My name is Y/N,” she answered before he could, and Jake smized in her direction. “Y/N…” he repeated, his drunken tongue making him giggle at his own voice. When Y/N has turned back to do her job, Jake nudged Josh, making him glare at his twin. That hurt. “She’s hot, man. You should do something about that,” he guffawed.
“Oh my god… for fuck’s sake, Jake-“ Josh muttered through grit teeth. “I’m jus’ sayin’ man!” Jake rebutted innocently, and Josh got a more secure hold on Jake, helping him stand a bit more vertical.
“Y/N, thank you for the beverages,” Josh said, as she nodded and smiled. “No worries, Josh. Cycle back around if you guys decide you can stomach some more of the Bull,” she teased. Jake snickered at her comment. They both walked back to the bench they’d found initially, sitting down while Jake sipped at the bottled water.
“You better sober up quick, because we have that interview in a half hour and we’re meeting Jason at…” “The Monster tent!” Jake whooped, before pointing ahead and wiggled his eyebrows. “Did’ya mean the one right next to your girlfriend’s?”
“Shut the fuck up, asshole,” Josh snapped, making Jake smirk into his water.
—•—•—
The interview was wrapped up and the bandmates had been able to meet with some associates and a few people that were from the local radio station. They also got a catered lunch, which was extremely appreciated but not as much as the air conditioning was.
“So, we’re gonna go back to the hotel and smoke then come back here for Tame Impala’s set,” Sammy told the twins, proudly announcing him and Danny’s tentative plan. “What time is Tame’s set?” Jake asked, while Danny pulled up the schedule on his phone. “They’re playing at 9 on the A stage, right before Nine Inch Nails on the B stage.”
Sam groaned, and rolled his eyes. “God that would harsh my high so quick. If we toke up before I’m gonna get out of there before I have to hear ‘gonna fuck me like an animal’ or whatever that stupid fucking song is.” He groaned to no one in particular.
“It’s ‘wanna fuck you like an animal,’ and they’re kinda good. I like the Johnny Cash version of that one song—which is it?” Jake snapped his fingers, remembering to no avail.
“You like them?” Sam asked, incredulously. Jake rolled his eyes. “No, but everyone knows that fuckin’ song, you twat. Don’t care enough about em to catch a set.”
“So you’ll come with us to Tame?”
Jake took a moment and rubbed his chin, before ultimately deciding against it. He shook his head. “I would like some peace and quiet so probably not, no.”
“What about you?” All eyes turned to Josh, who had occupied himself by making himself a plate of the catering. “Oh, I don’t know, not really my scene.”
“Getting high and seeing Tame Impala? That has you written all over it,” Sam scoffed.
Josh threw a hand up in defeat. “All right, all right! I’ll go for a bit. Anyway, move your ass, I have to go make a call.”
Little to his bandmates knowledge, he was on his way back to the festival grounds.
—•—•—
Josh had a good idea of where to go now, following the haze and maze of the canopy tops. He was on a mission this time, not dawdling.
“Ahem, hello, can I get a-“
“Oh, hey! I didn’t expect you to come back,” Y/N blushed. Clearing her throat, she smiled softly. “What can I get ya?” She asked, an idle hand subtly scratching the undercut on her hair.
“Let’s go with an Original Redbull,” he chuckled. “You sure about that, Grandpa? Caffeine this late can’t be good for you,” she smiled and he wagged a finger at her jokingly. “It’s growing on me,” he said as they made the trade.
She handed him back his change, and he bit his lip. Suddenly, cracking the can open, he looked at her. “So, what time do you get off work?” He asked, a glimmer of mischief and hope in his eyes. “Around 9ish, why?”
“Perfect. Now, would it be too forward of me to ask if you, Y/N, would like to come see a rock show with me?” He smiled, and she cocked her head to the side, a smile forcing it’s way on her face. “I mean, yeah-“
“Great. I’ll meet you here at 9?”
She smiled widely. “Sure, that sounds great, Josh.”
“See you then, mama,” he smiled before waving goodbye.
Smiling to himself, he took another sip of the energy drink. He’s really happy he was forced to spend the day at the festival.
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