“Saber?” Julie’s signature, light knock-and-a-half sounded at the door between their hotel rooms, “Are you ok? I heard…something and-and you weren’t responding to my texts.” 

Saber’s eyes flicked up, subconsciously seeking Echo to share in his anxiety. As he crossed the room he vigorously scrubbed his damp hair and draped his towel over his shoulders. 

“Ah- I’ve just been…Ya know, um, shower. I-I,” Saber suppressed the image of the grout seeking his flesh, “I just dropped something, I’m fine.” 

Julie seemed less than convinced by Saber’s pathetic performance. You’d think a man who’d already starred in two movies would have some level of acting prowess. Perhaps lying and acting were more dissimilar than Saber previously thought. 

He lifted his arm and scratched the back of his head anxiously while turning away from Julie. 

“Oh god! Saber!” 

Saber startled and spun around.

All he found was Julie staring at his shoulder. Mouth agape and pupils dilated in fear. 

“I thought they didn’t- I mean I thought you got away and no one- That no one put their hands on you! Did you- oh god.” 

Julie grabbed Saber’s shoulder and spun him around. Her icy fingers lightly traced along his back, “You should’ve- the hospital. I mean someone should have cleared you and I- I’m so sorry, Saber” 

She sounded two seconds away from hyperventilating.

Saber turned and caught her hands in his. Her eyes wouldn’t meet his. Her lip quivered around silent apologies. 

“This isn’t from- Fuck! I just fell in the shower. It’s- ah -It’s embarrassing.” 

Saber covered his mouth and looked away. Julie seized Saber’s wrists. He could feel rage replacing her concern. A desire to flee overtook him. 

He ducked just in time to avoid the swat aimed where his head had been. He yanked his hand out of Julie's and took two steps back from her. She crossed the distance with four, quick steps of her own. 

“Saber Elizabeth Panmol!” 

Saber flinched, “Not my middle name!” He threw himself onto the bed and rolled to the other side, narrowly missing another swat. 

“Your gracious, saintly mother failed to give you one so you’ll have to settle.”

When Julie discussed Saber’s mom, which wasn’t often, she always added several over emphasized complimentary verbs to fully sell how little she thought of the woman.  

”I’m not settling, auntie,” Saber stared at Julie imploringly, deploying his best puppy dog eyes. 

It almost worked. Saber saw Julie melt subtly before falling back into ‘manager mode.’ 

“You’re on tour, Saber! You can’t be so reckless-“ Julie flinched, clearly regretting her choice of wording. Saber pressed his lips together silently, “I mean, think about your costume tomorrow!” 

Saber reached over his shoulder and pressed down. It was tender but manageable. 

“Swap it out with the costume for Memphis next week. It's cropped but it should be long enough.” 

Julie clicked her tongue and pinched the bridge of her nose like she was warding off a migraine. 

“No, no, no. I was going to suggest it anyway. Given… Well you know,” Julie shook her head. Her thick, wavy locks pooled along her shoulders before slipping down to lay across her chest. She ran her fingers through them nervously, “What if we just cancel.” 

Saber opened his mouth to protest only to quickly shut it when Julie glared at him. 

“Not all of it, Trust me, I know we can’t afford to after the …incident in Fresno…and then the fight with that reporter in Portland….or the OTHER fight with a DIFFERENT reporter in Pheonix…or last night…” 

[You got in a fight in Portland?] 

Saber startled at Echo’s voice. Julie raised an eyebrow but continued, finally regaining her train of thought. 

“Reguardless, your health comes first. So if you need a week I’ll get you a week. If you need two weeks you’ll get it. And if you really truly need to cancel…” She sighed and shook her head, “We’ll-we’ll find a way.” 

“No, I’m ok. I can keep going, really.” 

Saber padded around the bed to stand beside Julie. The moment he was in grabbing distance her hand flashed up to snatch his ear and yank him down. 

“Then no more falls and no more near death experiences.” 

“The second one isn’t really up to-“ Julie yanked Saber's ear harder and glowered at him, “Ok! No more near death experiences!” 

“And?”

”N-no more falling in the shower!” 

“And?” 

“Aaaaand I love and appreciate you. Julie, my goddess, world’s best manager.” 

Julie laughed at Saber’s theatrics while releasing his ear. 

***

Saber lifted his hands to shield his eyes as the house lights came on in the auditorium. 

“You keep missing your marks! What’s gotten into you, Saber?” 

The producer’s assistant hurriedly whispered in her ear. Her eyes flashed wide for a half second and shame burned in her cheeks. She cleared her throat and shook her head before hardening her expression and turning back to Saber. 

“I mean- uh… Let’s take five.” 

“Thank you five!” Saber’s backup dancers spoke in unison. 

Followed by Saber’s own, less enthusiastic, “Thank you five.”

Julie rushed to Saber from the wings. She gently dabbed away the sweat running down his face with a soft, warm towel while she stared at him. She had an I-told-you-we-should-just-cancel-I-don’t-think-you’re-ready-for-this look on her face. Saber shook his head and tried his best to convey silently that he was fine.

[I don’t think you’re fine, Saber]

Echo’s voice made Saber flinch. He tried to cover it by swatting his hair away from his neck but Julie looked less than convinced. 

Cold ice water soothed the burn in Saber’s throat from the agonizingly long practice. He sunk his teeth into the plastic around the bottle’s moutpeice to keep himself from speaking out loud as he responded to Echo. 

“I have to be,” Saber’s eyes softened as he looked out over the rest of his team. 

One of the dancers was animatedly acting out a story that had the rest of them cackling. The producer was speaking in hushed tones while periodically glancing at Saber. Techies were strewn about some relaxing and some double-triple checking the lights and stage equipment. 

“They deserve the best version of me.”

[I didn’t realize it took so many people, since you’re a solo artist and all]

“Oh! You were my fan right?” Julie cocked her head at Saber’s sudden outburst. Saber pressed his bottle against his lips and shrugged in a lame attempt to deny having spoken. 

“I AM your fan, Saber. I’m not saying you should take a break because I don’t care about your performance-”

Saber clamped his hand over Julie’s mouth. Embarrassment burned in his cheeks. 

“I didn’t mean- I- Sorry, that’s not what I meant to say.” 

Julie scowled, pulling Saber’s hand off her mouth. 

“Saber, I’m wor-” 

“We ready to take it from the third song?” 

Saber had never been more thankful for the producer’s lack of tact. He nodded and shrugged at Julie like ‘what can you do.’ Even though he could, in fact, do something. 

[I’d been to a few of your shows…] 

Saber laughed to himself as he moved to his place for the third song. Echo sounded bashful and evasive. 

“Your shirt, it was from a limited, in person event.”

Echo hummed a reluctant conformation. It felt like buzzing under Saber’s skin. 

“You either paid a fortune for it or attended the event yourself.”

[Or it was a gift!] 

Echo’s frantic attempts to cover for himself made Saber choke on the note he was attempting. He cleared his throat and dove back in, ignoring the unenthused glare from the producer. 

“If it was a gift you would’ve said so already.” 

[Ok fine! I MAY have been following your work for a few years now!] 

It took everything in Saber not to laugh as he gulped in air for the second chorus.