~The Press Conference~

The Press Conference (Version 2.0)
by: WaterBaby and Angel Temptress

Disclaimer: This is fictional, never happened (as far as we know *g*) and is not for profit.

Dedicated to:
[Angel Temptress] - All my PSO list members.
[Water baby] - Darren and Daniel. Here's hoping you'll come out soon, you know some of us can see past the 'we're just friends' thing ;)

Thanks to:
[Waterbaby] - Angel Temptress for introducing me to slash and of course, for wanting to write this with me.
[Angel Temptress] - SG for existing, the allowance of free speech, to WaterBaby for writing this with me and to all my fellow believers :)

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    (Chapter 1)      {Angel Temptress}

It was a humid July afternoon and Darren and Daniel were frustrated at the fact that they had to sit through yet another long press conference.
As it was just starting and people were taking their seats, Darren looked over at his bandmate and sighed loudly. "This is such a bad day to do this on�"
"I know, and you know how much I hate sitting through these" Dan replied.
"Ya, I do buddy� but don't worry, they're not too long" Darren said with a smile.
"Yes, thank *God*!" he laughed "You know me and my patience"
"More like your *lack* of it!" Darren laughed, gently punching him on the shoulder.
"Ya, whatever... all I know is that it's damn humid today and I don't have the patience to sit here for more than an hour�"
"I'm convinced it won't be *that* long" Darren replied, hoping that he was right.

A few minutes later, the conference started. The first few questions were basic and expected: How do you both imagine Savage Garden to be in the future? What is your latest tour going to be like? When can we expect a new album? And it didn't take too long before Daniel became exhausted and antsy, anxious for it to end.
It was about halfway through the conference when a question was posed that took both Darren and Daniel by surprise. It was a journalist from Rolling Stone magazine that asked it in the most casual way: "Have either one of you ever considered making a move on the other?"
Neither Daniel nor Darren knew quite how to answer it. All went quiet and all eyes were on both of them, awaiting an answer.
Darren, with his natural ability to deal with the public, took on the question right away: "Well, you see, Daniel and I are very close friends, but nothing like that has ever come up yet ...so no, I don't think it would happen between us - it could ruin our friendship, you know? We're too good and too solid of a team to let something like that interrupt our career..."
Daniel smiled and nodded at the journalist. "I agree... he said it right"
The conference continued, though no other questions like that were asked; somewhat of a relief to the rest of the journalists.

Afterwards, drinks and small snacks were served to those who wanted, and a few pictures were taken of the guys standing around, chatting with several magazine columnists.
During one of their convos, Daniel gently tapped his partner on the side, a signal that he had had enough and wanted to get out of there ASAP.
Darren understood the signal immediately, ended his current chat and walked out with his bandmate to meet their personal assistant, Leonie.
"Phew, I thought we'd *never* get out of there alive!" Daniel sighed with relief.
Darren chuckled, amused at his friend's relief and patted him on the head. "Daniel Daniel, that's the price you pay when you're famous"
"I know, I just can't seem to get used to those kinds of things, after all these years, though..."
"Well, I guess that's why *I'm* the band's spokesperson, huh?"
Daniel smiled. "Now you're bragging, mate"
Leonie cracked a large smile and then rolled her eyes. "Would you boys stop bickering back there�? You can be such children"
Darren pouted. "But, we *are* children, Leonie� didn't you know that?"
Daniel chuckled loudly. "Ya, we really are..."
"Whatever. So, where are we headed, guys? Back to the hotel�?"
Darren nodded. "You got it - to get some rest"
"After a long day's work" Daniel added in with a tired smile.
"Long day's work" Leonie echoed. "For God's sake, you guys were barely there for two hours"
"Ya, but it's so sticky and humid outside" Darren replied, rolling his window down.
"I suppose" she replied with a shrug. "Well, if you want to rest, is there anything either of you want to eat first? Are you hungry at all�?"
Daniel shook his head. "Nah, I ate a million crackers back there� I'm stuffed!"
Darren laughed. "I'm not hungry... I just wanna sleep"
"Alright, we're almost there"

When getting to the hotel, Darren and Daniel went to their own separate rooms to try and get some rest.
Daniel was absolutely restless, though. He just sat on his bed, looking out the nearest window, rolling that question from the conference over and over in his mind : �have either of you ever considered making a move on the other?�
(Why the hell would someone ask that kind of question?) he asked himself curiously. (How could they have known what I feel for Darren?) Daniel wondered. (How the hell could they know that I've contemplated several times making a move on Darren�? There's no way they could've known that! Ah hell, journalists always seemed to have a way of knowing things like that�)
He was just grateful that Darren answered the question the way he did, and there was no more to say about it now... he had to sleep.

(Chapter 2)     {WaterBaby}

"Viva las Vegas baby, yeah!" came the battlecry on the other end of the phone line.
"Daz, what the hell are you on? crack?" Giggled Daniel.
"No, I just want us to get drunk and take advantage of each other in our hotel rooms later" said Darren playfully, perhaps suggestively.
"*What* did you just say?" Dan asked as he felt his heart miss a beat.
"Never mind, just grab your wallet and meet me in the lobby, *now*"
But before Dan could say anything back, Darren had already hung up.
There was only a dead silence on the other end, reminiscent of nothing in particular.
"Fuck, did he just�?" murmered Dan to himself, trailing off.
Not one to waste time, he was up and grabbing his wallet, slamming the door behind him.
He saw Darren the second he got off the elevator.
`Viva las Vegas baby, *yeah*` is right! he thought to himself as Darren flashed him a knowing grin.
He suddenly remembered the question they were asked at the press conference earlier that day:
Have either one of you ever considered making a move on the other? Is that what Daz had just done?
Dan mentally told himself not to get his hopes up because he knew he would only be setting himself up for disappointment.
Daz was just being his dumb, usual joking self, nothing more, nothing less.
But there was still that twinge in his heart that hoped Darren wasn`t fooling around, that maybe Darren had thought of them together like he had. Many times before.
Sadly, though, he knew what Darren had said at the press conference was all too true - he wouldn`t want to screw up their friendship and professional relationship if the feelings he had for Darren weren`t mutual.
He quickly placed his wallet in front of his pants as an achingly lewd thought flickered through his thoughts.
"Hey you", Daz grinned evilly (perhaps knowingly), grabbing Dan`s hand and pulling him towards the exit.
"I found this really cute restaurant while I was out walking by myself last night. They have an impressive alcohol selection", winked Darren.
Dan smiled. "First of all, hi, you didn`t give me enough time to say anything when you pulled me out here, and second of all, if you don`t mind my asking, how come you were walking all by yourself?"
"Hey, can`t a person walk by themselves at night?" Darren trailed off. "But if you *really* want to know, it was because I was feeling extremely bored and kinda lonely" he finished.
Daniel felt his heart grow a little softer. "Kiddo, you could`ve called me, I would`ve walked with you. You know I`m always there for you."
"Yeah, I know, but I kinda wanted to think about things."
"What kinds of things?"
"Oh, you know, just�things�the group, life, us�"
"*Us*?" questioned Dan, growing anxious.
Darren didn`t answer, just pulled Dan into the restaurant they had finally reached.

**********

They managed to find a table to the side behind a big wall of plants, away from the view of the rest of the restaurant.
Dan ordered a double scotch on the rocks, and Darren had a mudslide.
"What`s with you lately?" Dan asked Darren, "you rarely drank, now you`re worse than     *I* am!"
"I dunno, what can I say? I just decided to loosen up a little. A little drink here and there isn`t so bad, *you* of all people should know that" replied Darren with a wink.
Daniel laughed, "Hey, what`s that supposed to mean?" he asked good-naturedly.
"Oh, you know what I mean", Darren giggled, "Oh look, here comes our drinks."
"Thanks", they both said at the same time to the waiter.
"You`re welcome. It`s the new bartender`s first day and he`s all paranoid that no one will like the way he mixes drinks", smiled the waiter, "so I hope it meets your expectations", he finished.
"Oh, I`m sure it`ll be great, and I won`t tell him you told us that", Darren smiled back.
"Thanks, that way it`ll be our little secret" laughed the waiter, "well, enjoy" he said as he left.
"Darren, were you flirting with him?" Dan teased, his eyes twinkling.
"Who, me? So he`s kinda cute, nothing wrong with that", smiled Darren.
"So you like guys also?" asked Dan, doing a happy-dance in his head.
"Is there really any difference? People are people."
"Oh, don`t get me wrong, I completely agree with you, I just didn`t know you felt that way."
"Aha, I see, so you like guys then also, huh?"
"Like I said, I agree with what you said."
"Sounds like you`re trying to evade the question."
"No I`m not", Dan blushed.
"Yeah, you are! Look at you! You`re doing it right now! Say it, say it out loud, that you like guys also!" Darren said, all giddy.
"You`re so crazy, why do you want me to say it out loud? What difference will it make?"
"A big one! You`ll feel so much better. Have you ever told anyone before?"
"No, not really."
"Well, here`s your opportunity!"
"You`re making this feel like a self-help exercise", giggled Dan.
"But it really will feel like you`ve lifted a ton off your shoulders", Darren said.
"Fine, if it`ll please you, I like guys also."
"If it`ll *please* me?" winked Darren.
"Well, you`re the one who wanted me to say it out loud!"
"And I should be pleased by this?" Darren said, grinning.
"Yeah, I guess. Oh, you know what I mean!"
"Do I?" Darren prompted.
"Stop turning this into something else!"
"Something else? What do you mean by that?" Darren asked, mimicking a professor`s voice.
"Well, just before, you were making all these comments�" Dan trailed off.
"Yeah, so what if I was, does it bother you?"
"No, I just wanna know where we stand, you`re always so fucking confusing", Dan said as he lit a cigarette and exhaled.
"To be honest, I don`t know�where do *you* think we stand?"
"I don`t know either, I mean, when that reporter lady asked that question earlier, I mean, have you ever�you know...well, have you?"
"If I told you, I`d have to kill you", Darren smiled.
"Should that answer my question?" Dan smiled back.
"It depends, do you want the answer to your question?"
"Maybe."
"Well you tell me your answer first," Darren replied.
"Well, running the risk of fucking everything up, yeah, I have considered it before", Dan said cautiously as he took a deep breath and looked up to meet Darren`s eyes.

(Chapter 3)      {Angel Temptress}

"Have you really?" Darren replied, a small tinge of amusement swimming in his blue eyes. "Or are you just telling me that to brush off the subject ...?"
"No, I'm serious, I've really thought about it before. Is that hard to believe? Anyway, tell me *your* answer now"
Darren took a quick sip of the alcohol in his glass. "Weelll, to be honest with you, yes I've thought about it before, too� almost jumped on the idea really, but I restrained myself" he replied with a light laugh.
"*Restrained* yourself? You mean from *jumping* on me?" Daniel asked with a wide grin.
"Well ya, I mean, I stopped myself from pouncing you... I didn't want to come across as aggressive, you know?"
Daniel took another drag on his almost finished cigarette. "Hm-mm... well, I guess I never really got the impression that you even *wanted* to pounce me before"
"You never thought that? Gosh, I thought I was as obvious as hell...!"
"Nah you weren't� not at all. So, are you serious about this, Daz?"
"Serious about what?"
"That you wanted to *pounce* me..." he said with an amused laugh.
"Of course I am! Do you think I'd lie about something like that?"
"I dunno, I can never really tell with you, Darren... you're so hard to read sometimes"
"I know, that's what makes me so fun to be around, eh?" he replied with a stupid grin.
"Along with other things, ya it is. So, should we blow this place now? I'm done my drink and I think I might need some rest after all this talking"
Darren smiled. "Sure. Let's go pay the waitor at the cash, then" he said, standing up and pushing his chair in.

On the walk back to the hotel, Daniel took brief glances of his best friend, but as soon as Darren would return his look, he'd quickly look away, embarrassed.
Finally, "Why do you keep looking at me, Daniel?" Darren asked with a side smile.
"I wasn't looking at you�"
"Sure you were... I caught you several times... come on, what is it?"
Daniel grinned to himself. "I don't know, after that talk we had back at the restaurant, I feel kind of odd, you know?"
"Odd?"
"Ya, I feel like we said too much in a way... you know what I mean?" he asked, looking at Darren for an answer.
Darren shrugged. "I guess so. I was just being honest... or *was* I?" he said with a smirk.
Daniel's eyes widened. "Ah ha! I knew it ... you were lying, weren't you?"
"I never said that I was lying..."
"Well... God Darren, do you always have to be so friggin' playful all the time?"
"Daniel, of course I have to be playful... it makes everything so much fun. And plus, you can be so cute when you're confused like this"
"Cute, I bet... is that *all* I am to people? *Cute*?"
"No way, you're so much more than that, and you know it ..."
"So much more, huh? Like what...? And plus, you're getting off topic again - stop doing that, Daz!"
Darren burst into a fit of giggles. "I love playing with you like this, Dan! I can't help it! It's *so* much fun"
Daniel grumbled under his breath. "Fine, I'll just ignore you until you talk to me about it, then�"
"About what exactly?" he asked with a smile.
"Oh, you know what I mean! Whether or not you meant what you said at the restaurant..."
"Ah, *that*... you're very curious about that, aren't you? Why is that?"
"I don't know. But, will you just answer me for once�?"
"Nah, I think I want you to figure this out on your own, actually� see what conclusion you arrive at�"
Daniel rolled his eyes and picked up his pace so that he was now walking double the speed that Darren was.
"Hey Daniel, come on, don't be such a baby about this! Stop walking so fast... Dan!" he called after him.
Daniel refused to slow down, but instead, picked up his pace even more.
"Daniel Jones! I demand you to slow down now...!" he laughed.
"Screw you, Darren. I'm sick of you never giving me a straight answer" he said and then walked directly into the hotel that was right in front of him now.
Darren tried to run up to him but Daniel was already in the lobby by the time he was climbing the front steps. "Damn, how does he walk so fast?"
(Now I *have* to explain everything to him) Darren thought as he opened the door to catch up to Daniel and confront him in his hotel room, if he didn't lock him out...

Remaining chapters to be uploaded asap...