You find yourself laying in Elvis's bed a few hours later, listening to him get ready for bed in the attached bathroom. You stare off into space, hands tucked under your face as Elvis climbs into bed beside you. His arms wrap around you tightly from behind.

"Elvis?" You prompt. He hums in response. You feel his breath on the back of your neck.

"How do you feel about Kerry being. . ."

"Different?" Elvis finishes for you.

You sigh.

"Yeah."

Elvis props himself up on his elbow, and you turn so you're lying on your back, facing up at him. He strokes your hair.

"Doll, it's none of my business. He's your brother and you love him and that's all that I need to know."

Your chest tightens with affection for Elvis, heart beating so fast you feel like it's going to burst out of your chest.

"Thank you." You say quietly. You mean to say more, mean to tell him every feeling that's racing through your body, but it's all you can manage.

It's enough.

Elvis leans down to kiss you sweetly.

"Anytime, babydoll. Now lets get some sleep, we've got a long week ahead of us."

You frown, turning so you can nuzzle into his chest. You fall asleep wrapped safely in each other's arms.

*

*

*

The next morning is spent hastily packing suitcases, making calls to your landlord, and sending someone to give a key to your old apartment to Ruth.

You're barely dressed as you hold the phone to your ear, giving a long list of chores to Ruth as you frantically pull on a skirt.

"And Candice's plants have to be watered at least twice a week, the one by the window droops if it's dehydrated." You say, zipping up the skirt.

You can hear the scratching of a pen on the other line.

"I got it all written down, honey." Ruth answers, nonchalant as ever. "You two go have fun galavanting in Vegas, send me pictures!"

You smile, perpetually fond of your elderly neighbor.

"Or course, Ruth. Thanks again for doing all of this, we'd be a wreck without you."

She laughs.

"I know it! You're welcome, Y/N. Say hello to that Elvis fellow for me!"

And with that, she hangs up the phone.

You're only in a bra and skirt when Elvis bangs open the door, and you jump as you set down the phone.

"Gotta be at the airport in thirty minutes-" he cuts himself off, eyes trailing down your figure. Despite his words, he saunters into the room with a sly grin on his lips.

"Ain't you a sight for sore eyes."

You roll your eyes, reaching across the bed for your shirt.

"My eyes are up here, Elvis."

You move to him, gripping his chin in one hand.

He grins.

"You excited?"

You sigh, turning to put on the shirt.

"I'd be more excited under different circumstances."

Elvis hums.

"I know, doll. We just gotta make the most of this thing."

You turn back to him, fully dressed.

You take a deep breath, eyes meeting his.

"I'm just scared for you, Elvis. That man doesn't have any right to blackmail you like this."

Elvis shakes his head.

"Y/N, I don't wanna talk about this right now."

"He's using you like a cash cow-"

"Y/N, baby, please not now."

His tone is firm, and you know you won't get any further in this conversation.

You move to him, wrapping your arms around his middle.

"Okay."

He sighs, reciprocating the hug.

"Let's just get on that plane, it'll be okay."

Part of you really wants to believe him, but the dread that's building up in you chest won't let you.

Thirty minutes later you, Candice, Elvis, and his entourage are on a plane to Vegas. You've only flown twice in you whole life, and you've never been a big fan of air travel.

The grip you have on Elvis's arm is so tight he has to unclench your fingers from his shirt sleeve as the plane lands, patting your hand comfortingly.

"You weren't kiddin' about being scared, Y/N."

You shake your head, eyes closed as the plane lands a little roughly.

Candice grips your knee from across the aisle.

"The worst parts over, open your eyes girl!"

And you do, slowly cracking them open to look out the window of the plane.

All you can really see at first is the tarmac, airport staff rushing around below.

What surrounds you I'd mostly desert, but on the horizon you can see the outline of tall buildings and flashing signs - Las Vegas.

The drive into the city takes hardly any time at all, and you spend it with your head on Elvis's shoulder, listening to him speak with his driver- Joe Esposito- about Graceland.

"See, the plan is to live in Vegas part time. As long as the Colonel's got me doin' shows out here, I'm gonna need somebody to watch the house."

You see Joe's eyes dart towards you in the review mirror.

You furrow your brow a little in confusion.

Certainly he couldn't be thinking of you. While you and Elvis have grown closer, you don't think you've earned the right to take of his home- all at once everything feels very sudden, the world spinning faster than you thought it could.

You close your eyes, hiding your face further into Elvis's shoulder.

You feel his arm squeeze you tight.

"What's this place called, anyway?"

Candice speaks up from your right.

"The International Hotel. There's supposed to be some fancy theater inside the Colonel wants me to look at." Elvis replies.

You turn your head.

"Theater?"

Elvis nods, looking down at you.

"Supposed to be a real grand setup, or at least that's what the old man tells me."

You hum, and his thumb rubs across your shoulder reassuringly.

"Y'all can get settled in the suite while I go check it out, okay doll?"

Elvis says, and Candice makes an impressed noise from beside you.

"You got us the best rooms in the house, Presley?"

Elvis chuckles.

"Only the best for my two favorite girls!"

Candice scoffs, nudging your shoulder.

"You should date rockstars more often, Y/N, if this is how it's gonna be."

You laugh along with her, looping your arm through Elvis's and squishing your cheek against his shoulder.

"There's only one rockstar for me."

Candice "awe's" dramatically, making both you and Elvis laugh.

It's nice, you think. These past few days have been so hectic that just joking around with your best friend makes you feel a million times lighter, like maybe the world isn't as dark as it seems.

The car pulls up to the entrance of the hotel, and as soon as the three of you enter the lobby the atmosphere shifts.

The Colonel is standing towards the desk, cane in hand and goons at gis side.

You feel Elvis's grip on your hand tighten.

"There he is!" The Colonel exclaims, and the smile on his face makes your skin crawl.

Elvis moves his arm around your waist, lips pressed to your ear.

"Joe's gonna take you and Candice upstairs, show you around the top floor. Go ahead and get comfortable honey, the Colonel's just gonna show me the stage."

You're reluctant to leave him, but you nod, kissing him once before taking Candice's hand and following Joe to the elevators.

Elvis watches you leave, heart hammering in his chest at the sight of your eyes turning away from him.

The Colonel clears his throat.

Elvis's while stance is permeated with annoyance as he turns to face the old man.

"We gonna do this thing or what?" Elvis looks at his watch. "Let's get this show on the road."

The Colonel chuckles, tapping his cane once.

"Impatient as ever, I see." The Colonel turns, makung his way to a long hallway leading to two double doors.

"I've got a pretty girl waitin' on me, i don't feel like messing around." Elvis says, stride impossibly fast.

"I can assure you there is no shortage of pretty women in this town, my boy." The Colonel's voice echos down the hall. "You'll have your pick of the lot."

Elvis tunes him out.

"You done yammering yet?"

He stops infront of the entrance to look at the Colonel, eyebrows raised.

The Colonel waves a hand dismissively.

"You're too caught up with young girls, my boy. They're nothing but distractions from the bigger picture."

Elvis opens his mouth to protest, but the Colonel is already pressing a hand to the double doors.

"Let me show you your future."

The doors swing open.

The sight that greets Elvis takes his breath away.

He's played stadiums and concert halls, small venues and county fairs, but never has he seen anything like this.

The grand ceiling seems to stretch up forever, white marble shining in the dim light. Balconies look out on rows and rows of empty seats and tables, all facing towards one of the biggest stages Elvis has ever seen.

Risers stand tall above the main stage, and Elvis's mind begins to overfill with ideas.

The possibilities are endless.

The Colonel turns to him with a grin.

"Ready to fly, my boy?"

Elvis looks at the stage and then back to the old man.

"I'm ready." He smiles. "Ready to fly."