Gemotions

The cafe smelled of burnt coffee and cheap desperation. Leo, hunched in the back corner, felt his jaw clench. Across the room, a young woman with a voice like spun sugar was murdering his song. He’d poured his heart into “Crimson Tears,” a song about a love he’d lost to ambition. Now, some nobody was butchering it, adding a syrupy sweetness that made his stomach churn.

He slammed his fist on the table, rattling the chipped ceramic. The young woman flinched, her carefully constructed smile faltering for a heartbeat. Leo glared, a silent threat passing between them. He stood abruptly, scattering the crumbs from his abandoned pastry.

He stalked towards the stage, his every step deliberate. The microphone stood poised. He saw a quick flash of fear in her eyes. "Excuse me," he said, his voice a low growl, "I believe you've missed a few notes."