Nikolas smiled as well and lightly cupped Atlas' face in his hands to tilt his head so he could place a sweet kiss to the top of the man's head. "It's owned by some friends, and they aren't exactly sticklers when it comes to rules. Just throwing that out there just in case." He looked back down at Atlas, still smiling equally as softly, and brushed his thumbs over the man's cheeks. "Please don't try and place all the blame on yourself, okay?"
Atlas sighed, melting slightly into Nikolas' hands. "Okay, I'll try but I'll have you know that it's one the things I'm best at… so no promises." He said sadly, a melancholy smile on his face. "But that sounds nice, even if I don't do anything there I would like to meet your friends someday."
"I'm sure you will someday," Nikolas murmured, then looked over his shoulder before stealing one last kiss from Atlas' lips. "I really gotta go now before you get into even more trouble. Text me when everything's settled?" He'd probably just go back home and talk to Kit and Ryker about his idea, needing something to do so he didn't worry about Atlas all night.
Atlas nodded. He went back to the chair he had been sitting in and curled up again. He watched as Nikolas left, resting his head on his knees. The producer had been there all the while, but he could care less about their relationship. He had been too busy reviewing his notes for each song and adding anything in case they had to delete everything. He continued doing that as Nikolas left. Atlas couldn't really do anything since he had no idea what would be of his album.
Nikolas pulled out his phone the moment he left the studio, dialing a number that he wasn't familiar with but knew who it belonged to. It rang two times, then was picked up. He started talking before the other person could get a word in edge-wise. "I want to start up the band again. All four of us. Tess has a studio and a reputation already. Whaddya say?"
Ryker chuckled from the other side of the line. "I was going to propose the same thing. Kit's got some experience with a successful start-up band. He left, though, to experience other things in life. Plus, their sound just didn't fit him exactly. Still in touch with them though. We're gonna need a place to crash, though, for the time being. Care to provide?"
Nikolas smiled grimly. "I can provide for one. I'm taking Kit," he added quickly, causing Ryker to whine in protest. "Tess can take you. I've got a boyfriend, I don't need you harassing him."
After what felt like an eternity, Atlas heard a door open and close then a body slumping into a chair. He looked up to see his manager. He looked both angry and defeated. The man didn't speak for a couple, continuing the deafening silence. "Well, everybody, pack your things, we're not wanted here. He's letting us keep the music, but he never wants to see us step foot in here again. Good goin', Fox." Explained the manager, anger edging in his voice. He got up and looked around before leaving the studio.
Atlas stayed in the chair, watching it all. The producer sighed and got up. He took his laptop and left as well, leaving Atlas there alone. He felt his eyes grow wet, tears welling up in his eyes. He did this, it was all his fault. At least that's what he was thinking. Good goin', Fox. That repeated in his head over and over. He ruined it for everyone, himself, his team, and his fans. He broke down, burying his face in his knees as he cried.
Nikolas was in his car by then, which was still parked outside of the studio. He was busy catching up with Ryker and Kit—who had barged in on the conversation by stealing Ryker's phone and putting it on speaker—and barely managed to catch the sight of people leaving the studio. His eyes tracked their movement, then darted to the front door, expecting to see Atlas. Nothing. "Hey, guys? I'm going to have to call you back. Kit, ask Tess for my address." They all said goodbye, then hung up. Nikolas instantly dialed Atlas' number, putting it on speaker as he muttered under his breath, "C'mon, pick up. Pick up pick up pick up."
Atlas felt a buzz from his pocket. He lifted his head and looked around, still no one. He hoped it had maybe been a bad dream, but it was not. The buzzing kept going so he reached for his phone, grabbing it after a couple of tries. He saw that it was Nikolas, answering it right away. He took a deep breath before saying anything. "H-hi?" He said, trying to make it sound like he hadn't been crying. It didn't work, anyone would be able to figure out he was crying. "Is everything… ok? I'm the one that s-should be calling you…"
"I saw everyone leaving but you," Nikolas said softly, eyes still on the studio door. "From the sounds of it, things didn't work out… did it?" He closed his eyes and rested his head on the steering wheel, phone in his lap and cradled in his hands. He could hear the tears in Atlas' voice, and it made his heart hurt. This was different from the breakdown he had during that one song. He wanted to charge in and comfort him, but he didn't know his boundaries, didn't know what Atlas wanted or needed. I'm not making this a date anymore. He needs something to comfort him, so that's what I'm going to give him.
Atlas choked down a sob so he could keep talking with Nikolas. "Yeah… I'm still h-here. We c-can keep the uh… the music, but we're not allowed in the s-studio anymore." He explained quietly. The only sound in the studio was coming from him, it was so weird. Usually, there was music, or talking, or some machine working. But not anymore. "Uh, n-no more recording or album release f-for me… or my fans…"
Nikolas let out a controlled breath, thinking this through. He stood by his offer to bully the twins into letting Atlas record at the studio they owned, but he wouldn't bring that up right now. Right now, all he cared about was Atlas and the devastation he heard in his voice. "Tell me what you need, Atlas," he whispered, "What do you need, right now, at this moment? I'm right outside."
Atlas' eyes lit up slightly. "You're outside? I'm… I'm coming out there to see you…" He said quietly, waiting for a response before he hung up. He slid his legs off the chair and sat normally. He glanced around the room to make sure he wouldn't leave anything. He saw a pile of jackets and his thermos on the couch. They were all his. He took a deep breath and stood up, going over to the couch to get his stuff.
"Okay. But I still want an answer when you come out here," he said, still speaking softly. He opened his eyes and looked down at his phone, as if he could see Atlas through the screen. Their apartments weren't very far, so his car wasn't exactly needed, but he wasn't planning on taking them back. He would take them out of town, out of society and into the calm of nature. It worked well to calm Nikolas down, so hopefully, it'd work for Atlas as well.
Atlas nodded, even though he knew Nikolas couldn't see him. He hung up and grabbed his stuff as he left the recording studio. At the door, he looked around the room for the very last time. He recorded his first songs here and it was weird to leave for good. He went through the door and looked back at it with a sad little smile. He looked around and didn't see Nikolas at first, then he saw him through a car window. He approached the car, opening the back door to put his stuff in the backseat. Closing that door, he then opened the passenger side door and sat down. He closed the door and looked up at Nikolas, tear stains down his cheeks and more tears about to tumble down at any given moment.
Nikolas looked up at Atlas the moment he heard the passenger side door open. When the man slid in and looked up at him—when he saw the tear stains and fresh ones ready to burst—he tossed his phone onto the dash, slid his seat back, then reached over for Atlas. His arms slid around his waist, and he pulled him onto Nikolas' lap, facing each other. "You'll be okay, Atlas," he murmured, soothingly rubbing up and down the man's back as he held onto him. "Just tell me what you need. Please. I want to help."
Atlas melted against the man, his face burying into Nikolas' chest. His arms wrapped around him and tears were already soaking his shirt. "I…" He could barely be heard, muffled by Nikolas' shirt, "I don't know…" He only knew that he wanted all of it not to have happened. He wished it had been a bad dream and he would wake up again the next day to go and finish recording everything. But that was the one thing he couldn't do or control.
Nikolas rested his chin on top of Atlas' head, holding him even tighter. "I'm going to get you out of here," he murmured, "For the rest of the day and tonight as well, okay? I'll be there if you need support. No people to let you down, no assholes pushing you around. Just the trees, fireflies, deer, wind, and the sky. Just that, and us. Maybe that can help get your mind off of it all. How do you feel about that?" Even if Nikolas declared he'd be doing it, he was still asking permission to take Atlas. He wouldn't force him to do anything.
Atlas smiled a little against Nikolas' chest. "That sounds nice…" he mumbled, hoping Nikolas could hear him. He hadn't been out of the town in a very long time, let alone nature. He was a city dweller, the most 'nature' he did get was the city park, every now and then. Also, the only time he was away from people was when he was at his house. He worked quite a bit with at least one other person. It would be a great distraction and comfort.
"Then that's where we're going to go," he murmured, but he didn't let go of Atlas just yet. He wished he could just drive like this, but he knew he couldn't and it made him slightly bitter about that. Still, the least he could do was delay that plan until he knew Atlas was okay. They had as long as Atlas needed, and he wasn't about to rush him. Nikolas pressed a kiss to the side of the smaller male's head, one hand reaching up to tangle his fingers into Atlas' hair.
Atlas tilted his head very slightly against Nikolas' touch. He was already feeling a little better. Being close, in someone's arms would, usually, always make him feel at least a little better. He had stopped crying, just tear stains and some sadness left. "When do you want to go?" He asked, lifting his head up to look at Nikolas.
Nikolas gently petted Atlas' hair as he looked down at him, swirling silver eyes meeting the other's tear-glazed teal ones. His other hand came up and slowly wiped away the tracks of saltwater off Atlas' cheeks. "Depends on when you're ready to go," he murmured, not breaking his gaze away from the other man's eyes to make sure he truly was okay if he said he was.
Atlas gave Nikolas a soft smile. He lightly kissed the hand Nikolas placed on his face. "I'd be fine with going now, or in fifteen minutes. Anytime, I guess. But maybe sooner rather than later?" He said quietly, watching Nikolas' seemingly magical silver eyes.
Nikolas smiled as well, the hand on Atlas' face moving down to lightly run just beneath the man's lips. "How about in a minute, just in case?" he murmured. Atlas felt so warm against his chest and in his lap, so he selfishly didn't want him to move away just yet. Nikolas' hand, the one in Atlas' hair, slipped back down to settled around the small of Atlas' back, hugging him loosely.
Atlas nodded. "Sounds good to me." He said, still looking into Nikolas' eyes. He too didn't really want to move so soon. He felt very comfortable in Nikolas' arms and lap. He felt loved and accepted, if he forgot about his manager. His eyes darted to Nikolas' lips before leaning up to kiss them. His arms went up lightly around the man's neck.
Nikolas cupped the side of Atlas' face lightly as he softly kissed Atlas back, the arm around his back tightening some. Nikolas had been waiting for him to be okay before he dared to kiss him, and he didn't have to wait very long before Atlas had initiated it. He kept the kiss soft and slow, trying to continue to comfort him.