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Light rain had started to drizzle down while they had been playing the final song of the evening; Satisfaction, as always these days. It was an amazingly perfect way to close a show, only giving the audience at the very end what they had been looking forward to hearing all night long.
And what a finale it had been to a wonderful and fun evening! Finally being back in London after four long years, the place where it all had started sixty years prior, was more than just special for all of them.
It was incredibly touching to come back home after everything that had happened in the meantime. Keith had felt so in his very core from the moment he stepped on stage and played the first chords of the opening song.
And he only had to take one single glance over at Mick, meeting his gaze, seeing the glimmer in his blue eyes and the brilliant smile on his face to know that he felt the same.
From start to finish, this had been a completely special night for them, it had been entirely overwhelming to play in the city that meant so much to them.
Mick and him were really close again these days, they'd found back to each other over the last few years, through all the rough times they had to deal with. By now, they were just as inseparable again as six decades ago, back when it all had started.
It always had been on stage or in the studio when Keith felt that their connection through the music they had created was at its strongest. The bond they shared couldn't be described with simple words, for it was too old and deep, too complex and special.
Nobody would properly understand, anyway, only Mick and him knew exactly what it felt like, what it meant. They didn't need to lose many words, Keith had always been far better at expressing his thoughts and feelings through his songs, and gestures.
Some lines sung and chords played, some looks exchanged, a smile or a touch of their hands, was their very own way of communication. One that only they could decipher.
Mick, albeit never shutting up, saying loads and little at the same time, sometimes would talk for only Keith to understand. And it was exactly the same the other way around. There were things Keith expressed for only Mick to ever be able to grasp. Only he could truly understand him.
That night, they'd both been entirely overwhelmed with their feelings, their connection. When Mick had approached Keith after performing a song they hadn't played in a while, complimenting him on doing a great job on it, patting his shoulder, he hadn't been able to stop himself from throwing his arms around him, hugging him. It was the only way to express what he was feeling.
And when Mick had walked out onto the catwalk later during their favourite song of the night, Keith hadn't been able to stay behind, following him out onto the small stage, sticking close to him, playing alongside him, putting on display their own little game that only they knew how to play.
However, it was at the very end of the show when they both couldn't hold onto themselves any longer. When they were both overwhelmed with emotions so powerful, the only outlet was to share them.
Mick's smile was almost dazzling when Keith approached him with his arms wide open, and he met him halfway, pulling him in for a close hug. Keith wrapped his arms around Mick's neck, almost standing on his tiptoes doing so, because Mick was much taller than him now.
And Mick returned his embrace, squeezing him tightly, his arms around Keith's waist. He was chuckling, lightly, sweetly, close to his ear, and Keith knew that he was enjoying their physical contact just as much as he did.
In another place, Keith would have kept holding on to him a while longer, for he didn't want to let him go. He never wanted Mick to leave. But on stage, in front of tens of thousands of people, all that was left for him to do was to pat Mick's back before pulling away.
Mick still was smiling at him so widely his entire face was lit up, and with his hair a little tousled, in that moment he reminded him so much of the little boy he used to be all those many years ago.
Keith was beaming back at him for another instant, then the magic was broken. At least that of this very moment. Because he knew that whatever time he got to spend with Mick, wherever they got to be together, eventually, he always would manage to bring some magic back.