#alien stage oneshot

[lysarddd]

Mistletoe Mishap

✰ : WARNINGS: None! just pure fluff as we enter the Christmas Holidays! ✰ : PAIRINGS: Gn!Reader x Luka (Alien Stage) ✰ : AU: Actor AU!

⋆.˚ ★—

The cast party was in full swing, the studio transformed into a cozy wonderland of Christmas cheer. String lights twinkled along the walls, festive music hummed in the background, and the warm scent of cinnamon and pine filled the air. Luka stood near the snack table, casually sipping cider, his eyes occasionally flicking toward the other side of the room where you were deep in conversation with one of the casting members.

He wasn’t sure why he felt this weird fluttering in his chest every time you laughed, or why he felt like he couldn’t stop glancing in your direction. Maybe it was because you had this calm aura about you, a rare kind of confidence that came from a place of genuine kindness. No matter who you were talking to, you always made them feel heard, like they mattered. He admired that about you, maybe more than he cared to admit.

“Luka!” A familiar voice cut through his thoughts. Turning, he saw two of the other cast members, both brunettes, standing nearby with mischievous smiles plastered on their faces.

“Come here for a sec!” one of them called, her voice dripping with playful intrigue. Luka hesitated for a moment, throwing one last glance toward you. He didn’t know why, but there was something about the way you were laughing at something that had been said that made his heart beat a little faster.

He pushed the thought aside and walked toward the doorway where the crew had gathered. The group, sensing an opportunity for mischief, had clearly been planning something. Luka hadn’t noticed the subtle shuffle and the way they were positioning him.

Just as he walked through the doorway, he noticed a sudden shift in the energy around him. He froze, eyes widening when he realized they had lured you into their little scheme as well. Above your heads, dangling innocently from the doorframe, was a sprig of mistletoe, tied with a red ribbon. Luka’s face immediately flushed a deep crimson.

“Oh.. God...” Luka muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair, completely caught off guard.

You looked up, following Luka’s gaze, and raised an eyebrow as the mischievous smile spread across your face. "Really? Mistletoe?" you asked, your voice a blend of amusement and slight disbelief.

The crew erupted into laughter, as the crew begun to cheer, egging the situation on. Luka stood there, rooted to the spot, feeling his face burn hotter by the second.

“You know what? Instead of the usual ‘kiss under the mistletoe,’” you said smoothly, your calm demeanor cutting through the laughter like a knife, “why don’t we just exchange compliments instead? What do you think, Luka?”

Luka blinked at you, his mouth opening and closing for a moment before he chuckled. His usual nerves were still there, but something about you made it easier to play along. "Compliments, huh?" he said, his lips curling into a slightly more relaxed smile. “Yeah, okay, that works.”

The crew groaned in mock disappointment, but they slowly dispersed, leaving the two of you standing alone under the mistletoe. Luka stood a little taller now, the awkwardness fading away with your lighthearted approach to the situation.

“So, you first,” you said, crossing your arms lightly over your chest. Your expression was playful, yet sincere, and it made Luka feel like he could relax for the first time that evening.

He scratched the back of his neck, but his smile was easy as he met your gaze. “Alright, well... I think you're pretty amazing. You’re always so composed and kind, no matter what. And, you make everything look effortless, but I know that takes a lot of hard work. You’re genuinely cool, and everyone looks up to you for a reason.”

Your smile softened as you looked at him. There was a quiet warmth in your eyes, and Luka felt his nerves dissipate just a little more. “Thank you, Luka. That’s really sweet of you to say.”

Now it was your turn, and you tilted your head slightly, taking a moment to consider your words carefully. Luka raised an eyebrow, waiting. “I think you’re incredibly talented, even if you don’t always see it. You’ve come a long way, and it’s been impressive to watch you grow, both as an actor and as a person. You’ve got a lot of heart, Luka. And,” you added with a teasing glint in your eyes, “you’ve got excellent taste in sweaters.”

Luka glanced down at the ridiculous Christmas-themed sweater he was wearing—bright red with a cartoon reindeer tangled up in twinkling string lights. His face lit up with a mix of self-consciousness and laughter. “Well, uh... thanks, I guess? It was a gift.”

You chuckled, the lightness in the air making it feel like the moment had shifted entirely. Luka felt comfortable now—less like he was being pulled into something he wasn’t prepared for. The tension that had been there earlier was gone, replaced by a genuine connection between the two of you.

Then, as if on a whim, you reached up and plucked the mistletoe from above your heads, twirling it between your fingers before tucking it into Luka’s sweater pocket. “Just in case someone else tries to ambush you,” you said with a wink. “Merry Christmas, Luka.”

He blinked, the mistletoe warm in his pocket as he stared at you, suddenly feeling like the air had thickened with an unexpected charge. “M-Merry Christmas, [Name],” he stammered, his hand instinctively brushing over the spot where the mistletoe now rested, as if it had the power to ground him in some way.

Before he could process much further, you leaned in and placed a light, playful kiss on his cheek. Luka froze, completely caught off guard. His entire body stiffened, his heart racing as his face burned a shade of red so bright it could rival the Christmas lights hanging around the room. The room had fallen into a strange silence as your laughter rang out, light and musical.

“Consider that part of the tradition,” you teased with a mischievous smile, stepping back. “Have a good night, Luka.”

Luka stood frozen in place, one hand still hovering over the spot where your lips had just been, the rush of warmth and the weight of the moment settling in. He blinked, trying to wrap his head around what had just happened, but the goofy smile spreading across his face gave away his thoughts.

He wasn’t sure how long he stood there, but the chaos of the party continued around him, fading into the background as he brushed a hand over his cheek once more. The mistletoe in his pocket felt like a strange token now, but somehow, he didn’t mind it. Not one bit.

⋆.˚ ★—

✰ : a/n: kinda ooc? Idk how actor Luka acts crying emoji If this doesn't flop I'm taking requests :p

[nottoonedin]

Hey, you know how the aliens (tried to) force Till to sing My Clematis? Do you think they made Mizi perform Black Sorrow?

Do you think Till and Ivan saw her perform? Did Till have his eyes on her the whole time, captivated, conscious, never looking away? Unlike when Ivan performed it?

Do you think Ivan watched Till throughout the performance, reminded of his own? The one that was dedicated to Till? And yet Till didn't even see it, wasn't conscious, didn't even look his way? Do you think Ivan slightly resented Mizi in that moment?

[ch4rryc0smos]

⊹ fable — ivan.

synopsis — ember wishes they'd known who they were before anakt garden, because since then, it's been hellish, and only ivan knows when the thought torments them most.

genres — friends to lovers(?), tension, mutual pining(?), yearning(?), admiring, childhood friends,, domestic fluff, requited love(?), fluff.

pairing — ivan x friend!self insert, ivan x childhood friend!self insert.

warnings — none, it's just kind of angsty.!

word count — 1k.

author's note — this one was harder to write, the initial prompt wasn't much for me to go off of, but i did, and i managed to, now i have another idea, so let's go! have fun reading, chat :)

masterlist.

Ember watches as the stars twinkle. They look real. They look beautiful. Unlike them. Their hands fiddle with the grass tickling the back of their legs. Ivan occupies the empty space beside them, but he’s quiet. And the stars don’t speak either, they blink, they twinkle, glimmer, anything but speak.

“Do you think I actually have family out there, Ivan?” they ask, hope does not blossom in their heart this time though, as it hasn’t, for the many previous occasions. They’ve learnt to expect less from Anakt garden. It might look like it’s a haven of its own, but it’s far from it. It’s always been like that.

Perfect displays, perfect everything, and yet they feel like nothing will ever be fine in their lives. 

“You do,” Ivan whispers, his raven hair is covering his eyes, but Ember knows he’s looking at them. They sigh softly, balling their fists on their lap, the almost-silken white fabric of the uniform crumpling under their fingertips. 

The “moon” hangs itself in the sky, or whatever the sky is, and the stars twinkle, as if to mock them, that while they’re alone—Technically, not counting Ivan—Even something like the stars are together. They are a nameless painting, a destination-less traveller, and an aimless being, in the heavenly realms of this universe, they mean nothing.

And when Ivan looks at them, and then holds his hand out, a red flower sitting in his palm, they stare at him, puzzled. He nods, and they hold their hand out. He gently places the flower into their palm and closes their palm, balling it into a fist. 

“Ivan?” they whisper his name.

He hums in response.

Ember sighs, head hanging low. “I feel like a Jane… John doe.” They laugh sadly, “I don’t remember what exactly you call them, but I think you get the point, anyway.” 

Ivan nods, “I do.”

Ember’s eyes are weighing more by the second, but they will them open, stare at the seemingly endless blanket of navy that was their fake display of a sky, Ivan’s arm wraps around their shoulders and pulls their head to his instead. And as soon as their head has a stable place to rest on, they can barely fight the exhaustion they’ve been trying to fight back for the past hour, or few. It’s been their thing for the past few days, but now Ivan’s fingers are carefully carding through their hair and it falls over their shoulder. Their mind is too tired to care about how uncomfortable it feels.

But Ivan cares, he brushes his hands over their collarbones as he pushes the hair back, and the slight breeze hits them, comfortable, cold. The stars blink at them. 

They start again, “I hope that.” A smile spreads over their face and they hold their hand up, pointing at a random star somewhere. “If I have siblings out there, they’re the stars.”

Ivan chuckles softly. “Really?” His hand is gently running up and down their arm, and it feels nice. It feels like being loved, if they know what that is. Maybe they don’t? There was a time where they didn’t even know their first name, sometimes they still wonder if it’s Ember. “Ember?” he whispers their name. They crane their neck so they can meet his eyes. “I hope the stars are your family too.”

They smiled softly at him, “Thank you.”

“I hope they’re always watching over you.”

They gulp, trying to fight back the impending weight of all their repressed emotions. Nothing goes unnoticed by Ivan, he leans forward, cradling their face and pressing it into the comfort of his shoulder. Over the past few months, he’d caught up on the fact that they were uncomfortable crying in front of everyone. They were meant to be the star.

Perfect, like everyone that walked out of these damned gardens. And the aliens made sure to turn them into the porcelain doll they needed, and knew exactly how to torment Ember. And they knew that Ivan dreamt of freedom. Of a fate they’d given up on trying to reach. 

They weren’t foolish anymore. Even when they noticed Ivan longingly staring at the huge metallic door that they’d seen slide open once, and that was when they watched as some other human was forced into this hellhole. 

It was a pitiful day. 

Their body is pressed to Ivan’s side, and he holds them close, his hand halts where it meets theirs, and he taps their palm. They open their eyes, and he mouths some words to them, they smile softly, feeling the weight of his fingers between theirs as they intertwine. 

“Thanks,” they whisper, voice quiet, they think their voice is quiet, but any care has left them and they just want to rest now. They’re too scared to sleep, too scared to do anything, to move. And somehow Ivan finds them in the depths of the night, when they’re spiralling the worst. So they thank him. For dealing with me, for being here, for being my support in the emptiness of this… universe.

“What for?” he asks, relaxing his grip on their hand, but it’s like instinct when they tighten their grip instead, they don’t want him to let go. They need him to let them know that he won’t go. 

He doesn’t let go. As soon as his fingers tighten around their hand, he holds their hand close, presses his palm to the back of theirs. “Everything.”

“That’s too general, don’t you think?” Ivan leans down to get a good look at Ember’s face. They smile at him, he smiles back. 

“I want to thank you,” They start speaking again, “for many, many things.”

“You don’t have to,” he says, laughing. And he’s going to say something, but Ember holds up a finger to his lips. They’ve never done this, but his lips are soft. They don’t know softness outside of the arms that currently hold them together, and they can’t think of softness because the only type they know of is in their occasional dreams. In the dreams that they know will never be true.

“Oh.” They smile at him, pulling their hand away. “But I will.”

ch4rryc0smos © 2024 … do not repost, alter, translate, or steal my work.

[kefiteria]

Clematis Whisper

Characters: Ivan x Till (Alien Stage)

Tags: Flower shop AU, no angst, no aliens, no round 6, just pure comfort and fluff of Ivan and Till.

A/N🍨: I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took Round 6 in the knee... I'm sleep deprived but this au shall exist to ease my mind

In the heart of a quaint suburban town nestled between rolling hills and whispering trees, a charming little flower shop awaited the dawn, tended to with care by Till. With delicate movements paired with his rough palm, he trimmed the stems of vibrant blossoms, ensuring each petal was fresh and full of life. The soft murmur of a melody drifted through the air, blending seamlessly with the gentle hum of Till's voice as he worked, infusing the shop with a serene ambiance.

The golden rays of morning sunlight filtered through the lace curtains they bathed the shop in a warm casting dancing shadows upon the polished wooden floor. The air was sweet with the scent of roses and lilies, carrying whispers of a thousand dreams and secret wishes.

The quiet stillness of the early hours, Till meticulously checked the inventory, ensuring that every bloom was accounted for and tenderly watered those in need of a little extra care. The cash register sat patiently, ready to greet the day's first customers with a cheerful chime.

Amidst the tranquility, a tiny steps with anticipation knowing that soon the shop would come alive with the laughter and chatter of visitors, each seeking to bring a touch of floral bouquet into their lives. With a smile, Till continued arranging a bouquet of clematis, destined to bring joy to its recipient at precisely 11 am.

As the clock chimed 11 am, a figure draped in a sleek black turtleneck, his hair meticulously styled, entered the shop. The gentle jingle of the bell announced Ivan's arrival, his stoic expression masking the warmth within.

“Till, I'm here.” Ivan spoke in his usual reserved tone, his presence commanding yet understated.

Till nodded in acknowledgment, a soft smile playing on his lips as he greeted his friend. “Ah, Ivan, it's wonderful to see you.” Till said, his voice carrying a warmth. “Your bouquet is ready. Allow me a moment to retrieve it for you.”

With a reassuring nod, Till went into the depths of the shop, his steps quiet and deliberate. Moments later, he returned cradling the meticulously crafted bouquet in his hands.

“Say Ivan, you've been buying flowers a lot recently. Mostly it's clematis. Is it your favorite flower?” Till asked, his curiosity piqued by Ivan's consistent choice.

Ivan's response was tinged with a quiet nostalgia. “Not necessarily my favorite.” he admitted, his voice carrying a hint of contemplation. “But there's something about clematis… They hold a special significance for me, a reminder of something… or someone.”

“Must be one lucky person, then? Good for you. Well then, like always don't forget to trim the stems at an angle, change the water every couple of days, and keep them away from direct sunlight to make the clematis last longer.” Till reminded Ivan, his voice gentle and reassuring as he recited the familiar care instructions.

As Till moved to attend to other tasks, Ivan's mind raced. He had assumed Till would catch on, but the realization that his subtle hints had gone unnoticed hit him like a wave. With a sigh, Ivan resolved to be more direct in the future, lest the opportunity slip away entirely.

“Yes, the person is indeed a lucky one,” Ivan replied, his surprise evident in the slight widening of his eyes. “And thank you for reminding me again about the flower care.”

The day ended well for Till, the gentle hum of the flower shop gradually fading into the tranquility of the evening as he made his way home. As he approached his doorstep, he noticed something improper – a single clematis, its delicate petals illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights, resting gracefully on his doorstep.

Till's heart skipped a beat as he picked up the flower, a small note nestled beneath its stem. With trembling hands, he unfolded the note with his eyes scanning the handwritten message:

“Till, you are the lucky person I mentioned earlier, and I hope this clematis serves as a reminder of the beauty and joy you bring into my life. With gratitude, Ivan.”

Till's heart soared with confusion as he read Ivan's heartfelt note, his cheeks flushed with warmth. For a moment, he stood there overwhelmed by the depth of Ivan's feelings.

But as reality slowly seeped back in, Till felt a sudden rush of emotions. He glanced around nervously, suddenly self-conscious of his emotional display on the doorstep.

With a quick shake of his head to clear his thoughts, Till composed himself and tucked the note safely into his pocket. Taking the clematis with him, he entered his house, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within him.

Closing the door behind him, Till couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had just shifted between him and Ivan. He settled into the quiet comfort of his home, he couldn't help but wonder what the future held for their relationship.

[priincekin]

Artifice - Hyuluka Oneshot

When Hyuna is coerced into accompanying her celebrity ex, Luka, to a lavish event, their troubled past and unresolved tensions resurface.

CW for an unhealthy relationship dynamic and manipulation!

For in depth tags, please check the AO3 upload. (Coming soon)

"Remind me why the hell I agreed to this?" Hyuna muttered under her breath, tugging at her too-short slip dress that clung tightly to every curve while simultaneously trying to adjust her thigh-highs, casting a glare at Luka across the limo. “… Send my compliments to your stylist for making me into a knock-off Barbie, and then tell ‘em to go play in traffic!”

Luka, of course, didn’t acknowledge her provocations. Nooooo, he was too busy prettying himself up, mascara wand poised. Figures.

Hyuna's frustration simmered as she watched him, his indifference stoking her anger.

Her eyes then fell once more on the infuriating list of 'rules' Luka had drafted for the evening. She had seen the paper before and thrown it away, but seeing that Luka went through the effort to print another one was enough to piss her off all over again. The neatly typed instructions on the crumpled paper seemed to mock her with their orderly bullets and condescending tone and Heperu’s letterhead.

“Now listen here, sweet cheeks, and listen good," she burst out, holding up the paper. “For the last time, I ain’t followin’ these rules, quit givin’ me more of these papers! You can shove ‘em right up your—“

"Please mind your language, Miss Hyuna,"

"Oh bite me! We all know I'm just arm candy, and it ain’t hard to stroke your ego for a few hours. Trust me. I’d know. So fuck off and lemme live a little! They're a joke.” She looked back down at the sheet with a scoff. “’Giggle, don’t laugh' - really? Who you tryin’ to turn me into?!”

God, the way they were arguing almost reminded her of old times. Back when he was her high-school sweetheart. Though, she was shocked he wasn’t being more argumentative toward her. By the end, Luka’s good moods were becoming rarer and rarer, and just being around him was like walking on eggshells. For a bit, Hyuna had made excuses for him — of course, with her temper, there was only so long until she was bound to explode.

Once she had blown up, the relationship was, of course, doomed. There was no recovery from the things she had said. They broke up over text. Yet, even though it was technically her fault, Luka leaving town soon after still wasn't just a minor plot twist; it was a full-on mindfuck. She'd catch herself getting all misty-eyed over their cheesy ice cream dates, where they'd crack up at the lamest jokes, or those beautiful nights in the deserted auditorium. Luka serenading her like she was the only girl in the world. Pity his dad slammed the brakes on that short-lived romantic gesture and forbade him from ever doing it again.

And then, after all that, Luka just had to go and get famous. Suddenly, his face was everywhere – magazines, billboards, you name it. Each time Hyuna saw that face, she reminded herself she should feel lucky to be rid of him, and that she had herself to thank for it.

But then, the tabloids started flaunting photos of Luka with his new girl of the month, and oh, did that grind her gears, even though Dewey and Isaac kept telling her it was nothing.

Was it jealousy? Boredom? Or maybe just an allergic reaction to being erased by some blond bombshell with a plastic smile? Whatever it was, hearing about each breakup was like savoring a fine wine; that was, until Luka had the nerve to show up at her door, needing a date for some swanky party after his newest beau gave him the middle finger.

Hyuna sank back into the velvet seat, her attention snapping back to the moment. Her fingers flirted with the edges of what was possibly the world's most irritating shawl, offering about as much modesty as a cocktail napkin. The silence was unbearably awkward; she had to fill it somehow.

“… A compliment wouldn’t kill ya, you know. Or is it too hard to admit you’re dazzled by all this?” With a teasing flourish, she let the shawl slip just a tad, winking and blowing a kiss for good measure.

Luka glanced up and quickly gave her a once-over, sighing in disappointment. “I would not say that. I feel like you should be more focused on having an amicable attitude rather than needlessly flirting.”

“Uh-huh. Yep, I’m totally flirting. Maybe if these heels weren't giving me so many damn blisters, I’d be in a better mood. But ‘till then, the only smiling I'll be doing is smiling through the pain. Now, pass the champagne, will ya?” She held out her hand.

Luka protectively moved the bottle away from her. “Please reference page four, line five of the contract. There is a clause stating that, should you be intoxicated or otherwise behave troublingly during the event, your payment will be voided and you will owe me three more dates as reparation.” He tried, in vain, to hide his smug little grin.

“There’s a what?!” Hyuna scrambled to pick the paper back up, and lo and behold; right there, in the tiniest font imaginable, was exactly what Luka had said. “Oh, you little—”

“Miss Hyuna.”

Hyuna forced herself to take a deep breath. ‘This shit is for Hyun-woo’, she reminded herself. ‘Do it for him.’

As cheesy as it was, her brother was the light of her life. For being an eleven-year-old boy, Hyun-woo was surprisingly sweet. Not at all like the assholes he went to school with, Hyuna had made sure of that much.

After she won sole custody of him, all of the expenses had fallen onto her shoulders: the bills, food, his allowance, and seemingly a million other things. Most of the time, she could make it work, even on her pathetic bartender’s paycheck.

But Christmas was a whole different kind of struggle. Living paycheck to paycheck meant there was never extra cash for Hyun-woo’s presents. The real sting was in the simplicity of his wishes – a DS game, a cheap Nerf gun, an outdated board game. That's all he wanted that year. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, no matter how much she saved, some unavoidable expense always reared its ugly head, draining away her meager savings. It seemed like there was no other way.

Finally, the limo pulled up to a grand mansion, its lights casting a cold glow over the entrance. Hyuna peered out the window, noticing two girls at the doorway: one in a suit with long pink hair, discreetly fiddling with a ring box in her pocket, and the other, with short black hair, clad in a white dress. At least some people were having a nice time.

“Well, ain't this just peachy," she muttered, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "A regular palace for Prince Charming and his temporary Cinderella."

Luka finally looked up, meeting her eyes. “Now that we're here, remember to smile and wave. It's all about appearances, isn't it?" He forced a smile himself as if to set an example, but it only soured her mood further. “Though, you are certainly at an advantage with how beautiful you are.”

“Too late for the compliment, buddy.” Hyuna rolled her eyes. “I'll smile and wave. Like I'm a damn parade float." She opened the limo door and stepped out, her heels clicking against the cobblestone driveway. The cold air hit her and made her wish, yet again, for a longer dress.

Luka, as if by magic, whipped out a plush white fur coat from the trunk and slung it over Hyuna's shoulders with a flourish. For a split second, she almost bought into it, the coat's luxurious softness tricking her into thinking he might actually care. Was he finally clued into how uncomfortable she was? To how exposed she felt? She let herself indulge in that thought, the tension in her shoulders easing off a notch as she grabbed his outstretched hand, her cheeks betraying a reluctant blush.

Then, wham. The scent hit her -– a blend of chrysanthemums and wilted roses, laced with bitter almonds. It was perfume, and definitely not her brand. That's when it clicked. This wasn't some chivalrous move; it was Luka’s version of peacocking, a display for the few nosy onlookers ogling at them. They were absolutely eating it up.

Hyuna’s grip on his hand turned from soft to vice-like, not out of romance, but so she didn’t facepalm right there and then.

How utterly 'Luka' to turn even a coat into a performance.

Hyuna shuddered, skin crawling under the perfumed fur. "Wow, so generous!” She whisper-yelled. “Real classy, Luka! Decking me out in a coat you lent to your last fling? What's the grand plan here, recycling her bling for me next?”

Luka tsked under his breath. "The one time I attempted kindness with you... How fascinating, though, that you care so much about what she did.”

They entered the glittering ballroom, all string quartets and designer outfits straight from the pages of Vogue. Hyuna sized up the crowd, mentally tagging each socialite with the most absurd names she could think of.

As Luka steered them towards the center, Hyuna operated on autopilot — a plastered smile, forced giggles at their pretentious bragging just as Luka asked. But, instinctively, she occasionally leaned over and muttered to Luka under her breath:

"You think that dude knows his fake tan is literally dripping down his arm?"

"Twenty bucks says that girl trips on her dress. God, it looks like she’s wearing a curtain…"

“Manners, darling.”

“It’s either I say it to you or I say it to their faces,” she hissed back.

‘Four hours.’, she chanted inwardly. Then sweet freedom and her even sweeter paycheck.

Hyuna continued to trail behind as Luka flitted from one circle of guests to the next. Her cheeks ached from keeping a smile while straining to laugh daintily at comments ranging from dull to outright crude and dehumanizing.

After the fifth round of banal small talk about vacation homes and polo tournaments, Hyuna found herself practically wilting into the plush fur coat. God, even the coat was getting on her nerves. Its cloying floral scent made her stomach turn, and she couldn't stop fidgeting with the garish ruffles lining the sleeves.

Luka suddenly clamped a firm hand on her wrist, stilling its motions. "Stop that. Honestly, your manners tonight..." He sighed, guiding her toward the dance floor where a few couples swayed lazily. "Just try to enjoy yourself a little?"

Luka drew Hyuna near, seemingly for a waltz. She opened her mouth to object, but reluctantly rested a hand on his shoulder, resisting the childish urge to stomp on his polished boots. As they began half-heartedly twirling, Hyuna felt remarkably disconnected — it was nothing like the way they used to dance — but it wasn’t long before a burst of coos and applause pulled her eyes toward the garden entrance. There stood the two girls from earlier, both with tears in her eyes. One had dropped to her knee, presenting a ring with trembling hands.

"Oh, would you look at that?" Luka smiled softly. "I suppose this manor would look awfully nice in the proposal pictures.”

Hyuna usually wasn’t a sucker for such cheesy moments. Still, she couldn't help but track the heartwarming scene over Luka's shoulder. A real proposal, she mused. No pretense or strings attached...

Hyuna started to turn around to watch, but everything was ruined by one uneven floor tile.

Mid-spin, her stiletto caught on it, sending her flailing backward. She crashed to the floor — thank God for Luka’s coat, or else it would’ve been even worse.

A horrified collective gasp echoed as every head swiveled her way, including the two girls. The applause and music ceased with a screech. In the excruciating silence, she felt hundreds of eyes boring into her, Luka’s especially. His grip closed on her arm, wrenching her upright with a sharp whisper. “What did I say about manners? You just ruined their entire proposal.”

Hyuna felt her cheeks burn red-hot, as guilt settled in the pit of her stomach. “Oh, yeah, ‘cause that was totally on purpose! Screw askin’ me if I’m okay, right?” She whispered back, wishing that Luka would just shut his mouth and try to cover for her.

"I cannot believe you've embarrassed me like this, after everything I've done." Luka's usual composure cracked, voice lowered to a harsh whisper. "The other guests can hardly look at me now. This appearance was crucial for my image, not to mention our agreement, and you..."

He trailed off, shaking his head. His fingers dug into the fur coat with white knuckles before he released her. When Luka raised his eyes to meet hers, he looked absolutely disgusted.

"Just get out of my sight. I need to salvage what remains of this wretched evening."

Hyuna weakly scoffed, then pulled herself free to sketch a barely passable curtsy to the crowd. “Sorry for the unplanned entertainment tonight,” she called out, trying to ignore the sobs. “As you were!” Ignoring the whispers echoing around her, she beelined away from Luka; anywhere but there was good enough for her.

Hyuna shoved through the murmuring crowd, cheeks burning under the weight of so many prying eyes. The stilettos clicked loudly against the tile floor as she muttered insults towards the gawkers blocking her escape. Just as the cool night air kissed her bare shoulders, a familiar voice called out.

"Heyyyyyy, Hyuna! Fancy seein' ya here!"

She whirled around, a biting retort poised on her lips. But there stood Dewey and Isaac, surprisingly dapper in their mismatched suits and shit-eating grins. Despite her overwhelming emotions, Hyuna couldn't restrain a hint of a smile. Leave it to these two knuckleheads to appear from thin air when she needed it most. Hyuna placed her hands on her hips, arching an eyebrow.

"What the hell are you guys doing here?" She lowered her voice to a whisper. "This ain't exactly an open-invitation party, geniuses."

Isaac rocked eagerly on his heels. "Oh it was easy peasy to sneak in the kitchen door while them fancy waiters were distracted. Plus, you mentioned you'd be ‘ere with, uh… Y’know, Mr. High-and-Mighty," he said, gesturing vaguely toward Luka's direction. “Wanted to see how it’d play out since he’s such an--”

Dewey quickly clamped a hand over Isaac's rambling mouth. "Can the chatter before we get tossed out!" He shot Hyuna a sheepish grin. "Just, uh, wanted to check in on ya. Make sure princey isn't being too much of a sleaze."

"A sleaze? Nah, try self-centered jackass," she replied, launching into a recap of the disastrous proposal scene. Dewey and Isaac's eyes grew wide as saucers.

"No way he blamed you for that!" Dewey scoffed. "What a prick."

Hyuna threw her hands up in exasperation. "Thank you! Guy drives me absolutely insane."

Isaac gave an enthusiastic nod and dove a hand into his suit pocket. "Yeah. Hey, uh, you guys tried the shrimp? I snatched a bunch when those waiter guys weren't lookin'." He held up a fistful of mangled cocktail shrimp, tails dangling limply.

“Dude, what is wrong with you?!” When Isaac raised the shrimp to his mouth, Hyuna swatted it out of his hand and onto the floor. “Rule one of stealing food! Bring a ziplock or tupperware!”

Isaac dejectedly stared down at the shrimp on the floor. “... I ran out of ziplocks.” His lip quivered like he was about to cry.

“Then buy more! You have a job!” Hyuna whisper-yelled, playfully hitting him in the shoulder. “Unless you got fired again!”

A prickling unease crept over Hyuna as she felt eyes boring into her back.

“Uh… girl? You might wanna turn around…” Dewey said, pointing behind her.

Luka was staring. His polished composure had vanished, replaced by clenched fists and an infuriated glare. Stalking over to her, his expression

"We need to talk. Now." Luka's grabbed tightly onto Hyuna's arm as he steered her away. She shot a helpless look back to Dewey and Isaac.

"Get your paws off me!" She shook out of his grasp. "You don't own me, Luka. I can talk to whoever I damn well please-"

Luka's bitter scoff cut her off as he took her wrist yet again. "Oh yes, cozying up to a pair of hoodlums should shine brilliantly in the gossip columns."

Finally, they reached an inconspicuous, plain door. Luka pushed it open, revealing a small, dimly lit linen closet. With a swift movement, he pulled her inside and shut the door behind them, plunging them into near darkness, the only light coming from the crack under the door. Hyuna bristled, backing herself away from him and towards the wall.

“Why are we here?! Someone definitely saw us come in here, and you know what they probably think we’re doin’ right now?! They prolly think--”

Luka leaned close, taking a deep breath. "This night was already disastrous enough without you flirting to make me jealous." He paused. "Go ahead, deny that's what you wanted."

“What are you talking about?! You literally told me to get away from you!” Hyuna's retort came out quieter than she intended as Luka’s hands found the curve of her waist, pulling her closer. The cold of his body against hers was so disgusting but oh so familiar, and Hyuna found herself melting into it. But she still felt his eyes on her, watching her every movement as he stared up at her from her chest.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Hyuna muttered.

Luka’s eyes finally closed, sighing softly. “Like what?”

“Like I’m something you own,” She finally found it in her to try pushing him away, and to his credit, his grip faltered. “You know damn well I hate when you get all possessive, ‘specially over Dewey and—”

“It’s not about them,” Luka cuts in sharply.

“Oh, please! They’re so gay for each other, you’d have to be blind not to—”

“That’s not the point, Hyuna!”

“Yeah, well, you’re choosing to be a dick about it!”

Before Hyuna could say anything more, his lips found hers in a kiss. Hyuna’s eyes widened. She didn’t kiss back, but she didn’t pull away either; for all she cared, he could kiss himself breathless.

Hyuna’s pulse raced as her heart, slowly but surely, began to betray her. She hated him, sure, but somewhere, buried under layers of hurt and pride, a fragment of what used to be lingered. This wasn’t about wanting him. It was about wanting what they used to have. She’d always been too stubborn to let go of things…

As his kiss deepened, Hyuna's resistance finally crumbled.

This was stupid.

She found herself responding with equal fervor, her hands tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. The small space seemed to shrink further.

So stupid.

Hyuna closed her eyes, letting him close what little distance was left between them. But it didn’t feel close enough.

She hated herself for this.

Breaking the kiss, Luka’s breath was ragged against her lips. “This is the end for us, isn’t it?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Instead of answering, she reached down, pulling him back up to her, their lips meeting yet again. This wasn’t just about pretenses or contracts. This was something raw, something real that wasn’t supposed to happen.

What felt like an eternity passed between them before she pulled away, a sad, sardonic smile playing on her lips.

Thank God the room was dark, or else Luka might’ve seen the angry tears clouding her vision.

"... ‘course, you had to start tryin’ to be sweet at the worst time.”

Luka looked at her, a hint of frustration in his eyes. "This isn't about timing, Miss Hyuna. This is about…"

"About what? Us?" Hyuna cut him off, sidestepping further into the shadows of the closet. "There is no 'us', remember? We're just a couple of fucked-up people who can't seem to stay away from each other, even after years." She crossed her arms, her heart racing. "I ain’t doin’ this anymore. That kiss? That was it. Now, are we gonna be adults about it and end this for good, or are you gonna keep bein’ in denial?"

"I wish it were that simple."

Hyuna let out a short, mirthless laugh. "Right, ‘cause everything's gotta be complicated with you. Newsflash, Luka, it doesn't have to be. We make it complicated. Mostly you. This was all supposed to be fake, but nope, you took me into a closet and started makin’ out with me.”

For a moment, Luka was silent. Then, with a sigh, he stepped back, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I suppose it's time we face reality. This... whatever it is, between us, it's not healthy."

The words, though expected, stung Hyuna more than she cared to admit. She should’ve been grateful that he didn’t keep fighting it, but nope. Her heart was sinking. But she nodded, her own resolve steeling. "Yep. It’s time.”

Luka reached out, his hand trembling with unspoken words. “Hyuna, I—”

“Don’t,” she interrupted sharply. “Just don’t. Spare us the dramatics.”

There was a pause, heavy and laden, as Luka seemed to process the information. Then, like a scene from a worn-out play, his charm slid back into place, smooth and unnervingly familiar. It was like he became an entirely new person in a matter of seconds, and Hyuna bristled.

“On second thought… Darling, you’re seeing this all wrong,” he said. “We’re a match made in heaven, you and I.”

Hyuna’s attempt to step back was futile; Luka’s grasp was firm yet gentle. “Luka, cut the crap. I know what you’re doin’.”

“But think of what we’ve shared. Our dates, the outings, me holding you when you cry.”

“And the fights? The tears? The screaming matches in the school janitor's closet? Dammit Luka, you were the reason I was crying!” Hyuna countered, her voice wavering.

“Hyuna, darling, that’s how relationships work. We bicker, yes, but we never fail to come back together…”

“You left,” Hyuna snapped. A knot of anger and hurt tightened in her chest. His words were half-truths and blatant manipulation, and yet she still began to feel swayed.

“You know very well that was my Father’s decision for my career and not my own.”

“But did ya fight back?! Probably not, ‘cause since when do you think for yourself?”

Luka lowered his voice, clearly giving up. “... Aside from that, who understands you as I do?” Luka’s voice was soft, almost persuasive, his words carefully chosen. “We’re inevitable, Hyuna. Stay with me, and your brother’s future is secure. That’s a promise only I can make.”

“You… really?” Her resolve wavered further. Luka was stupid rich; if he wanted to, he could pay for her brother’s college education. She’d never have to worry about paying for his gifts ever again. Luka was right. This was a promise only he could make.

“You’re so damn impossible,” she muttered, caught in the tempest of his gaze. Reluctantly, she found herself drawn into his embrace, their lips meeting in a bitter kiss of surrender.

Was it really so wrong to fall back into this cycle? To choose the devil she at least knew over uncertainty?

As their kiss deepened, her doubts seemed to dissolve into the heat of the moment.

[chlomission]

My Hyung Turns Into a Child Whenever He is Stressed

Seorang selebriti harus tahu cara menjaga persona publik dan menyembunyikan isu pribadinya. Till adalah seorang aktor dan penyanyi terkenal sehingga dia dianggap senior di industri hiburan. Dia telah menjaga citranya dan dikenal sebagai pria berbakat yang patut dihormati. Tentu saja dia juga memiliki rahasia pribadi yang tidak diketahui orang lain. Hal ini terkait kondisi fisiknya, masalah yang serius dan tidak nyaman untuk disebarluaskan.

“Ah … terjadi lagi.”

Syuting baru saja selesai sore ini. Sosok pria dewasa itu menghilang dan digantikan dengan anak kecil yang mengenakan pakaian kebesaran. Beruntung baginya karena perubahan fisik abnormalnya tidak terjadi di tengah pekerjaan dan mengganggu jadwal seperti beberapa kejadian sebelumnya. Inilah masalah serius yang dirahasiakan. Till berubah menjadi anak kecil ketika dia terlalu stres.

Pada awalnya, manajer pribadinya terkejut dengan perubahan fisiknya. Akan tetapi, hal ini sudah beberapa kali terjadi sehingga dia tahu apa yang harus dilakukan. Dia bertanya, “Haruskah aku menghubungi dia?”

Till menghela napas berat. Nada serius yang dia miliki saat berbicara tidak cocok dengan suara kekanak-kanakan. “Di mana ponselku? Aku akan menghubungi anak itu sendiri.”

“Di sini. Ada juga pakaian ganti untuk berjaga-jaga.” Tentu saja yang dibicarakan bukanlah pakaian ganti normal, melainkan baju ukuran anak-anak menyesuaikan tubuh Till yang berubah. “Kalau begitu saya akan berpamitan kepada kru dan menyiapkan mobil.”

“Bagus.”

Till mengganti pakaian yang kebesaran itu dengan baju ganti yang disiapkan oleh manajernya. Sembari menunggu, dia melakukan panggilan telepon. Sebelumnya ketika dia berubah menjadi anak kecil, Till tidak repot-repot untuk mendapatkan bantuan selain manajer yang mengetahui rahasianya. Paling-paling dia mengambil cuti beberapa hari dan membiarkan tubuhnya kembali seperti semula saat beristirahat di rumah. Akan tetapi, segalanya berbeda sekarang.

“Hyung!” Suara dari sisi seberang terdengar bersemangat. “Kenapa kamu meneleponku? Bukannya kamu ada syuting hari ini.”

“Baru saja selesai. Kamu sedang libur, kan?”

“Tunggu! Suara ini ….” Tentu saja, pihak lain sudah mengetahui kondisinya dan menebak dengan tepat sasaran. “Apa kamu menjadi kecil lagi? Kamu butuh bantuan?”

Till terkekeh. “Ya. Boleh merepotkanmu?”

“Tentu saja! Aku tidak repot sama sekali, silakan datang saja ke rumah, Till-hyung.” Jawabannya positif, seperti yang diharapkan olehnya sejak dia menelepon anak itu. “Aku akan memanjakan Hyung sampai kamu besar lagi.”

“Sangat bersemangat?” Pertanyaan itu retoris dan pihak di seberang telepon pun juga tidak menjawab dan berbicara tentang betapa kehadirannya disambut. “Aku akan datang ke rumahmu segera setelah manajerku kembali.”

“Oke, hati-hati di jalan, Hyung.”

Padahal yang berubah menjadi anak kecil adalah Till, tetapi pihak lain yang justru menunjukkan sifat kekanak-kanakan. Percakapan tersebut diselesaikan untuk saat ini. Manajernya segera kembali dan membawanya pergi tanpa terlihat oleh orang lain. Di sepanjang perjalanan pun, dia juga masih bertukar pesan beberapa kali dengan Ivan.

Sudah malam begitu Till sampai ke rumah tempat Ivan tinggal, tetapi pria yang lebih muda itu menyambutnya dengan senyum cerah dan merentangkan tangan untuk memeluknya. Till membenamkan diri dalam pelukan hangat itu.

“Till-hyung yang menjadi kecil benar-benar manis. Kok bisa selucu ini?!” Bukan hanya dipeluk, sekarang tubuh kecil Till sudah digendong dalam pelukan Ivan sehingga dia menempel seperti koala. “Terima kasih, Manajer-nim, aku dan Hyung masuk dulu. Berhati-hatilah di jalan!”

Begitulah Ivan menyudahi interaksinya dengan orang lain dan fokus terhadap Till. Pintu sudah ditutup, jadi praktis hanya mereka berdua. Sekali lagi, Ivan mengusak pipinya pada puncak kepala Till. Sedikit geli, tetapi itu nyaman.

“Ivan, turunkan aku dulu.”

“Tidak. Kenapa harus?” bantahnya dengan wajah tanpa dosa sambil menyeringai. “Hyung, kamu ingin makan malam dulu atau mandi?”

“Ivan ….”

“Aku akan memanjakanmu semalaman.”

“Ivan.” Till memanggil namanya lagi, membuat pria yang lebih muda  itu diam dan merengut. Till menghela napas. Dia sudah terlalu hafal dengan tabiatnya sehingga sudah terbiasa. “Tidak perlu merajuk. Bukannya aku benar-benar melarangmu.”

“Tahu. Kalau Till-hyung tidak mengizinkan, kamu tidak akan menelepon sejak awal,” katanya dengan gusar. Dia menurunkan Till dan berlutut agar perbedaan tinggi mata mereka tidak terlalu jauh. Namun, kepala Ivan menunduk. “Maafkan aku. Aku pasti membuatmu kesal.”

“Tidak sama sekali.”

“... Hyung-ku berubah menjadi anak kecil dan aku harus memanjakanmu sampai kembali seperti semula, kan?”

Tubuh fisiknya adalah anak-anak saat ini, jadi Ivan jelas sangat besar baginya. Akan tetapi, di mata Till, Ivan adalah orang yang lebih muda dan berhati lembut. Jadi dia berkata dengan hati-hati. “Ini baru kedua kalinya terjadi di depanmu dan baru sekali ini aku memintamu. Aku khawatir kamu keberatan.”

Tangannya terulur dan dia menepuk puncak kepala Ivan. Salon sudah mengubah model rambut anak itu menjadi bergelombang, lembut dan empuk saat berada di tangannya. Till awalnya hanya ingin menghibur Ivan, tetapi sensasi rambut hitam yang lembut dan empuk membuatnya ketagihan dan secara tidak sadar dia terus mengusapnya.

“ … -ng.”

“Till-hyung.” Wajah Ivan sudah terangkat, memperlihatkan rona merah yang menyebar sampai ke telinganya. Barulah suaranya terdengar oleh Till.

“Oh, maaf. Tidak sengaja.” Till menarik tangannya kembali. Dia merasa agak puas dengan ekspresi Ivan yang sekarang. Untuk menutupi itu, dia berdeham sedikit. “Maksudku tadi, ini pertama kali aku meminta bantuanmu untuk kondisi tubuhku, jadi aku khawatir ….”

“Till-hyung tidak perlu merasa khawatir. Aku tidak keberatan sama sekali.” Rona merah di wajahnya belum hilang, tetapi senyumnya yang khas tergurat kembali. “Daripada itu, aku senang bisa diandalkan olehmu.”

Sungguh kekhawatiran yang sia-sia. Di antara mereka berdua, mungkin Ivan yang justru lebih menantikan momen ini. Till berubah menjadi anak kecil ketika dia terlalu stres. Untuk mengembalikan kondisi tubuhnya seperti semula, dia harus dimanjakan orang lain. Meskipun begitu, dia belum pernah dimanjakan sejak dia memiliki kondisi ini sehingga segalanya menjadi sedikit canggung.

“Till-hyung, apa kamu ingin makan malam? Atau mandi?” Ivan kembali menanyakan pertanyaan sebelumnya. “Bolehkah aku menggendongmu?”

“Oke, manjakan aku sekarang.” Tawa terlepas dari bibirnya dan dia memeluk leher Ivan agar memudahkan pria itu membawanya. “Ketika aku sudah kembali lagi, giliran aku yang memanjakanmu.”

[Actor!AU] Till × Ivan

Alien Stage Fanfiction

inspired by 私の夫はストレスが溜まるとショタ化する Manga

[s1lkin]

originally created & published on: 20 june 2024 in ao3 [ no changes are made ]

ivantill from alien stage / mini angst story or oneshot

i wrote this for my wife (/p) originally but then published it to spread the pain internationally.

i have language development disorder + english isn't my first language. there are possible mistakes. i also wrote this when i was a brand new alnst fan so there might be some mistakes. ( such as ooc or parts of incorrect lore )

The warm feeling on his skin.

The feeling of hands against his neck, chin and cheek.

And the feeling of an embrace.

It all felt so comforting, so warm and cozy. Like sitting nearby a bonfire, although he hadn't experienced that before. It felt awfully similar to the feeling in his heart he held all those years towards Mizi, holding so much love to the point it could overflow.

All he could see was emptiness, black. He was somewhat conscious each time he passed out, but not enough to be aware of who was nearby or around himself, and not enough to be awake. But he could feel those touches every time. But when he finally gained his consciousness, the touch and warmth already had nearly left. Lingering, but not enough. He wanted to feel it again, to snuggle against the source.

But how could he if he never found out whose embrace and comfort it was?

He always yearned for it at times. He couldn't help it. It felt like it was a part of the cure he needed. A part that was so similar to the tenderness that was brought to his guts and heart whenever he saw Mizi singing, or laughing, or just doing anything in general.. That he craved for more. But it always appeared when he was practically unconscious, and he couldn't discover the source.

And when he finally did, he lost it again. The lingering feeling of Ivan's hands on his neck, it was like those from when he was unconscious. But he could not help but be dazed as he looked at the unmoving body on the floor. 3 shots, all bleeding onto the stage floor he stood on. The very shoes he finally wore were stained by it. He questioned everything.

What did I want?

What did I do to get to this point?

The sounds of footsteps coming close to drag away the corpse. Till looked at his hands, that held his neck, before looking at Ivan's. A bubbling feeling in his stomach, he felt like he was about to go insane.

He wanted to reach out, but it felt like time stopped him. The trail of blood left behind as the body was dragged away. The feeling of cold hands on his arms, resisting his movement as Till wanted to scream.

But he couldn't get one small voice out of his mouth. All he could hear now, were his thoughts that were suddenly so loud in his ears.

'Please..'

'Bring him back..'

'Don't take him away...'

'Let me feel your embrace for the last time,'

'please, Ivan.'

eughhh i hate my writing for some reason

i wrote this back then in like, what? 30 mins? pls don't expect too much from me i'm literally a 14yo barely surviving school..

[juni-aldaine123]

MY CLEMATIS/ tgswiiwagaa ; ayamitsu

✎ suddenly got this brilliant idea while going thru fanarts that "hey- doesn't ayamitsu kinda look like mizisua-?" Plus there's also their love for (rock) music to consider. Tho ofc in alien stage it's kinda forced cus it's also for their literal survival unlike genuine pleasure. But anyways- here it is. my signature dose of angst :) inaccuracies might be there as i've only recently joined the alien stage fandom (not exactly joined it but i've been looking at stuff for a while now) and because of "reasons" i actually haven't heard the titular song yet so i've only gone thru the lyrics and written this. but i have seen the vid atleast and that's just my take on sua perspective?? idk cus i was also heavily influenced by ivantill. anyways, thats enough- i hope you nonetheless like it despite its flaws :D

i've poured almost all my poetic abilities into this and have written this entire thing in one sitting while my eyes are burning due to lack of sleep. but yea- enjoy! hope u shed a tear or two ^^

・❥・oneshot . pure angst . hurt no comfort . character death . nothing too explicit . mentions of blood . depressive character . crossover . alien stage x tgswiiwagaa . mizisua x ayamitsu . aya as mizi . mitsuki as sua . mitsuki's pov

——————✧◦♚◦✧——————⋆

Lights flashing, theatrical smoke billowing from the backstage, the spot light halts still at the centre of the stage. Mitsuki hears the crowd roaring and realises that in a few minutes she'll be taken up on the stage, ready to perform.

With Aya.

She feels nerves dampen her spirit and fears her strength wavering. What awaits her on the stage might be her doom.

Or worse, Aya's.

And she can't allow that to happen.

So she'll do her best. They both will. To form a draw. So that neither of them are eliminated. But if the worst comes to worst, Mitsuki decides, she will be the one to bite the bullet. Because sweet Aya should not have to.

Her legs would've dropped her had she not be held up by strong arms. Nimble fingers briskly unclasp her collar that beep against her throat before giving way.

And without warning she is pushed forward in a dark abyss that welcomes her with coldness.

Assaulted by the sudden glaring lights and unrepentant force she stumbles and braces herself for a sharp fall. That never comes.

When she looks up she finds herself lost under clear blue skies and cherry blossom trees of the Anakt Garden and then she hears a lovely voice that gently holds her hands and brings her away from serenity. She realises she'd been staring at Aya, drowning herself in her pretty eyes and prettier smile that beams brighter than sunshine.

Then they're introduced to their grotesque audience who sneer at them like they're caged animals in a zoo. Mitsuki jumps away from Aya's hold as if she has been scorched and the hurt Aya bestows her with definitely burns her heart a little. But it had to be done, their spectators didn't enjoy the sight they'd put up just now.

Affection and love are, after all, a taboo to the aliens, and they wish to exterminate it from their feeble human souls too.

Else why would they have Mitsuki standing before Aya, ready to duel her to death with the voice Aya had always admired? The voice that had drawn Aya to her. Aya, whom she'd ensnared with her golden melody like a siren with her sailor.

Kind Aya should not be here, not in front of Mitsuki, not smiling as if they do not know the consequences of this battle.

They both take up their places, behind their respective microphones and Mitsuki, eyes closed, starts with a single note, "Oh...."

Her voice echoes through the arena and she feels the resonance of her voice coming back to her. And Aya's unflinching stare.

"My Clematis. Hope bloomed from the abyss." She is standing in an open field, where lush greenery runs as far as one could see, eyes closed she sings to the wind that caress her rosy cheeks, the dance with her hair, that hugs her in its cool embrace and promises to not let go.

"Oh my Clematis," chimes another voice with hers, like a ring to her bell, and then she stops and looks to her side. Aya finishes what Mitsuki had started. "Always be by my side."

Then all she remembers is laughter, a happy memory. And then the scene vanishes, into the depths of the ocean of her mind, where she is drowning.

With no Aya to anchor her.

From there begins another memory, another she'd made and cherished with the girl by her side. It is a happy one too. Although there lingers an unmasked feeling between them.

They're sitting under the shades of heaven, watching the stars together. Or well, Aya is atleast, because the only star that Mitsuki sees is standing with her. Oh, how she wishes she could have this star woven into every fragment of her unfortunate soul, to never part.

"The galactic starlight," they harmonize, like two chords intertwining into an indelible melody. "In your eyes spread out."

"In the endless darkness, I find you with your scent." She reminisces the smell of fresh meadows and flowers. Flowers that Aya blooms with her smile as strong as sunlight, as startling as a perennial river, as unbounding as zephyr.

"Even if I sleep in infinity, don't leave my universe," Aya sings, staring resolutely at Mitsuki as if daring her to deny the words she spills as the truth.

Oh, but Mitsuki knows- she has learned with countless reminders of lips stealing her breath away, of being worshipped as deserving of a goddess unlike her- that she is Aya's universe, so how could she ever leave her strung in an relentless world such as this one they're caged in? Mitsuki would rather chain herself to eternal damnation than forsake her one true salvation.

Mitsuki laughs, for the first time, in a long time, when she finds Aya catching fishes. Mitsuki is in love, for the first time, and a long time, when she watches a sunset. A sunset she'd never thought would bring her nostalgia. Nostalgia about a hug and warmth she'd always sought.

She finally opens her eyes, and drinks in the beauty that Aya showers her with. Carving Aya's portrait with a chisel and a mallet, she leaves her as a permanent blessing in the stone that is her heart, never to be withered for Mitsuki is the curtain that enshrouds her glory into her chest, only meant for her to uncover and behold.

There is silence ringing around them and for once the world halts all movements and the aliens that spectate them seem to hold their tongues, and it's just Mitsuki and Aya and their tiny world that rests in the cusp of their palms.

"Oh my Clematis. Hope bloomed from the abyss" The world restarts, the loud shouts come back and Mitsuki misses the transient peace she had been granted. "Oh my Clematis, always be by my side.

A panel flickers into view and Mitsuki waits with uncanny stillness and sure enough, her image is shown alongside Aya's, marking them as opponents contesting in the first round. 

Mitsuki thinks about another precious memory of hers, this might be her last, she realises, because she can sense the awaiting end that comes nearer as they pitch the songs towards its final chorus. Her first meeting with Aya, when they'd met eachother's gaze and Aya had been the one to shyly break the contact while Mitsuki had stuck out her tongue, embarrassed at having been caught when she'd messed up a note. 

And then Mitsuki smiles, with a hint of laughter in her eyes, not because of the fond recollection but rather an omen. For she knows what's about to come, for she also knows that it would break Aya's heart and maybe her soul, but never her body.

Because Mitsuki will be her shield, and the selfless part of her would take the bullet for Aya while the selfish part of her will die, carrying Aya's love with her into the afterlife. Their scores are counted side by side but all Mitsuki sees is the countdown till her impending end.

Like the young Mitsuki in the memory she too had messed up her finishing note, but unlike their supervisor at Anakt Garden who had not bothered to point out her mistake or perhaps had never noticed it in the first place for Mitsuki had always been a diligent perfectionist, their alien audience here won't be as kind so as to turn a blind eye to the obvious flaw. Sure enough there was a difference that she'd been anticipating.

A difference of a single digit.

She can already hear Narita admonishing her in the back of her mind. She hears him call her heartless and a coward for taking the easy way out and eliminating herself in the very first round, leaving Aya in the dust to pick up the pieces of her heart shattered into smithereens.

All alone.

Because Mitsuki chooses her defeat than Aya's, for the pink haired girl's survival would be her greatest victory.

He demands from her, how she could be so cruel? To abandon the person she loves, who loves her back, to the pain of losing a loved one?

But wait, isn't she doing it for Aya? So why is it so cruel of her?

Or is it cruel of her because she will let Aya suffer her lose instead of taking the burden on herself? When she'd often claimed to ease her sorrow and dry her tears.

But can she bear the prospect of having Aya's blood on her hands, especially if she knew she had a chance to prevent it? Unlike Aya who probably still has no idea of the death-trap they're dancing in.

But she can ponder no long because when Aya turns her excitement towards her, her face is splashed with red and her eyes have lost their glimmer, as if she is the one to have her life snuffed out of her.

Or maybe she is.

After all, it is Mitsuki lying by her feet, warm blood seeping out of her now cold body.

Right where she should be. Right how she should be.

Cause in the end it is Mitsuki who lost since she committed a fatal flaw and not Aya, lovely Aya, chosen by the people who've voted for her.

Chosen by Mitsuki. Chosen over Mitsuki.

Chosen because she is what matters in Mitsuki's bleak world.

Aya, her galaxy that holds her as the sole universe.

Aya, her most beloved devotee who has built her a shrine in her heart and offered her love as prayer.

"Thank you Aya. For believing my false promises. For accepting this debauched love."

"Hey! We're in this together! We'll make it out of there alive, the two of us. If we can get the same scores that should be a tie right? And they wouldn't dare hurt both of us."

"How do you propose we get exactly the same points?"

"Aren't we a duo? We've always kept up with each other and synchronised perfectly! What would change tonight?"

"You're right. We can do it. We'll both walk of that stage, hand in hand. Alive."

[minminbunny]

Drabble Masterlist

Main Blog Masterlist - minminyoonjii

*more full fledged series/oneshots

Bang Chan

-> Assassin/Chief Librarian Fem! Reader

-> Parent/Teacher Fem! Reader

-> Enemies to Lovers AU - Villain/Hero Fem! Reader

-> Owner/Bunny Hybrid Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Enemies to Lovers AU - Vampire Hunter/Vampire Fem! Reader

-> Best Friends to Lovers AU - Big Cock Singer!/Virgin Writer Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Stalker X Stalker AU - Pervert!/Psycho Gender Neutral! Reader

-> ABO AU - Wolf Big Flared Cock Alpha/Bunny Omega Gender Neutral! Reader

Lee Minho

-> Caregiver Soft Dom/Sick Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Yandere Stalker AU - Caregiver/Gender Neutral Little! Reader

-> Enemies to Lovers AU - Biker/Bookworm Gender Neutral! Reader

-> ABO AU - Alpha!/Omega Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Stalker X Stalker AU - Dom!/Sub Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Hybrid AU - Black Panther Hybrid!/Older Undercover Cop Gender Neutral! Reader

Seo Changbin

-> Caregiver Soft Dom/Bunny Hybrid Fem! Reader

-> Sugar Daddy AU - Fem! Reader

-> Reincarnation AU - Obsessed Lover/Naive Fem! Reader

-> Gym Buddy AU - Perverted/Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Stalker X Stalker AU - Savior Complex!/Deraged Gender Neutral! Reader

Hwang Hyunjin

-> Misunderstanding AU - Fem! Reader

-> ABO AU - Alpha/Omega Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Werewolf AU - Alpha/Unpresented Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Demon AU - Demon!/Gender Neutral Human! Reader

-> Stalker X Stalker AU - Photograph Lurker!/Monster Lover Gender Neutral! Reader

Han Jisung

-> Caregiver Soft Dom/Fem! Reader

-> Arranged Marriage AU - Chairman's Son/Fanfic Author Fem! Reader

-> Cat Hybrid/Owner Fem! Reader

-> Ghost Roommate AU - Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Siren AU - Human Fem! Reader

-> Eldritch AU - Tentacle Monster!/Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Stalker X Stalker AU - Lurker!/Exhibitionist Gender Neutral! Reader

Lee Felix

-> Royalty AU - Crown Prince/Duchess! Reader

-> Academic Rivals AU - Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Mafia AU - Sadist Older/Bratty Fem! Reader

-> Best Friends to Lovers AU - Big Cock!/Unexperienced Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Stalker X Stalker AU - Psychotic!/Love Straved Gender Neutral! Reader

Kim Seungmin

-> ABO AU - Alpha/Omega Fem! Reader

-> Writer AU - Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Enemies to Lover AU - Hero/Villain Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Enemies to Lovers AU - Inspector!/Doctor Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Stalker X Stalker AU - Manipulative!/Stockholm Syndrome Gender Neutral! Reader

Yang Jeongin

-> Childhood Best Friend AU - Fem! Reader

-> Caregiver Soft Dom/Sleeping Fem! Reader

-> Mafia AU - Fem! Reader

-> Future AU - AI Robot!/Suicidal Professor Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Stalker X Stalker AU - Posessive Coworker!/Naive Gender Neutral! Reader

Multi

-> Yandere Vampire AU - Chanlix/Fem! Reader

-> Alien Stage AU [Round 6] - Jilix

-> Doctor AU - Dr! Seungmin/Dr! Jisung/Dr! Changbin/Patient Fem! Reader

-> Sex Shop AU - Sub! Lee Felix/Sub! Han Jisung/Dom Gender Neutral! Reader

-> Corruption AU - Bottom! Dance Racha/Manipulative Male! Reader

[mirrorcatcreditcard]

Running list of Luka fans/enjoyers for those of you struggling to find mutuals in this fandom who hates his guts:

(note, this is an updating list and both people and descriptions will update as I either get to know these people or just add them to the list)

@muchanmocha

Most based 🔛🔝 Luka (and general Alien Stage) analyzer, like holy shit I freak when they drop sum

@ryminsteddiesashanne

Their blog name is "Infernal Luke Syndrome Haver." Do I need to explain?

@pestilencesingsyouforward (main blog of lukanumber1fan)

Will rant about him, has nice energy

@thermodynamic-comedian

He's just really cool idk how to explain it but this's a nice Luka fan right here

@aakaneeee

Theorist, fanartist

@lukanumber1fan (side blog of pestilencesingsyouforward)

It's in the name, what description do you want from me?

@mizinthropy [ACCOUNT HAS DISAPPEARED]

Consumes and shares the content as god intended

@sotogalmo

OP doesn't follow/they were recommended in comments (you'll have to figure out yourself); they do appear to keep thorough notes on characters

@oxianna

OP doesn't follow/they were recommended in comments (you'll have to figure out yourself)

@iri-desky

Leans towards the theorist/analyzer side (from what I've seen). Tbh, they're an honorary mention because I stay up thinking about the Luka analysis post we shared.

@vaellusvitutus

They don't post about Luka often, but they're based and have critical thought going on concerning him (which is better than most of the fandom).

@galaxynajma

Luka enjoyer

@bunderies

Analyzer, fanfic writer, (probably more)

@babygirlluka

Luka fanpage

@satosuguhastakenovermylife

Idk tbh but they think he's gorgeous 🫡 (which is ofc the correct opinion)

@enden-k

Silly fanartist and theorist. Fun to watch create/talk.

@mirrorcatcreditcard

Stan, theorist, analyzer. Would be an apologist if vibing in the controversy wasn't more fun.

@sapphicjellifish

In their own words: "i really like luka analyzing"

@jokersjunkpile

Self-defined Luka enjoyer, relatively nice blog vibes

@maodear

Sweet person with plenty of Luka thoughts in all their Alien Stage thoughts.

Take some complimentary Luka art to-go because this world is a cold, dark place without him.

P.S. Sorry about the pings 🫰 if they annoyed you too much, instead of blocking me (because I crave Luka moots) please allow me to pay you back in a the form of a Luka oneshot

P.P.S. If you want to be removed or have an idea of someone who should be added, just comment or send me a message, and I'll update.

[lausaivrse]

ㅤ𑄼𑄾.ㅤ⊹ ALIEN STAGE MASTERLIST.

➸ collection of drabbles, oneshots and series from the fandom called ALIEN STAGE made by VIVINOS on YouTube.

→ featuring. till, luka and ivan.

LUKA ⦂ the top one ( the favorite )

nothing yet. .

TILL ⦂ the top two.

nothing yet. .

IVAN ⦂ the top three

BOYFRIEND TEXTS! ➳ fluff, comedy, chatfics.

ㅤ𑄼𑄾.ㅤ⊹ ๑ notes, ⦂ taking requests for alien stage! especially for luka! ‹𝟹 but please don’t expect your requests to be done nor be made because i can get really picky at a times! view my other masterlist too! → genshin impact, kaiju no. 8!

ㅤ𑄼𑄾.ㅤ⊹ ๑ lausaivrse ⦂ my works aren’t meant to be copied, stolen, plagiarized, translated, used or reposted without my knowledge and consent.

[verdantlights]

hey hi hello chat anywyas im going ti be working on the ongoing streamers au fic (itll be roughly 70k words? more or less?) and between chapters im going to write a lengthy ish oneshot

yall get to choose which one shot i write because. i cant pick. i have the poll going in the discord server but it gets lost pretty quickly and some people dont see it in time SO here we go

also will be ranking from first to last as the order in which i write each prompt lmao

uhhhh yeah sure ill tag i guess

@apple8ees @chevalperd @rockwgooglyeyes @bluemoonscape @alien-til-i-stage @ivanttakethis @starry-skiez @nottoonedin

brain hurt

[frostyblustar]

My PJO fic masterlist (New-Old)

\Will be updated when possible/

Red Stroll - 1,498 - Complete - 2024/12/10

Nico kills someone for Percy, angsty and brutal but also yay Christmas date?

The Artist’s Muse - 5,508 - Complete - 2024/12/01

Percico fanartist/fanfiction writer during Christmastime, Nico’s a little bit obsessive in this one.

Catching Petals - 10,048 - Complete - 2024/11/25

Nico/Will/Percy sort-of-canon-universe where they all have hanahaki and chaos ensues.

His Choice - 2,116 - Complete - 2024/10/26

Nico dies, Percy tries to cope and figure out what his last words meant.

Making A Killing - 16,766 - Complete - 2024/10/21

A Percico fic where Nico and Percy are assassins. Nico is less experienced than Percy. Makes use of angst, drama, and humor while dealing with murder.

There’s more to it - 2,464 - Complete - 2024/10/11

Percico fic, Percy sleeps around before meeting Nico, who’s asexual and autistic. My excuse to put all my neurodivergent headcanons in a fic.

Descent Into the Sea - 10,399 - Complete - 2024/10/03

Percico fic, unhappy prince Nico falling in love with merman Percy with some cute platonic Hazel and Jason interactions. Some humor and Nico being aggravated at everything.

Godly Stage - 6,029 - Incomplete - 2024/09/16

Percico/Rachabeth/Pipabeth/Unrequited Percabeth, characters are forced to go head to head in a singing competition where if you lose, you die. Alien Stage AU.

The Flightless Avian - 2,133 - Complete - 2024/09/06

My first try at properly writing polyamory through Percy/Nico/Jason. An Avian AU with Nico angst and cuddles.

The Tides That Bind Us - 4,733 - Complete - 2024/08/26

A Percico Oneshot that exercises the use of a soulmate AU, a college AU, and a childhood friends AU with a twist.

Nannacus Ain't Here to Pray This Away - 3,224 - Complete - 2024/08/11

A Percico Oneshot where Percy accidently hurts Nico and through his guilt ends up flooding the camp. Set after PJO/HOO/TOA.

Stray, the wolf will eat your head - 5,182 - Complete - 2024/08/04

A Percico Oneshot where it's a twist on Little Red Riding Hood/The Path and homophobia/love is shown through symbolism. Nico-centric.

The Waves You Wish To - 4,603 - Incomplete - 2024/07/17

A Percico fic Nico makes a wish by throwing a bottle into the sea, and Percy comes out of the water. Can be read as is if you don't mind an open ending.

The Dark Side - 7,008 - Complete - 2024/06/01

Solangelo Oneshot where Will is a hero and Nico is a villain, angst and comfort near the end.

[lyss-butterscotch]

Hey— you!

I noticed the interests in your thing, what other series you didn’t mention there yet you like?

Oooh okay okay so im just gonna mention the medias i like / that stuck with me for long / have good knowledge of

Games :

Rain World - love the lore, the procedural animation, detailed bg and ecosystem

Hollow Knight - my first ever computer game, 112% full achievement it 3 times (twice pirated, once in steam), love the art style, mechanics, and lore

Ultrakill - Fulfilled the aggression i got from HK's godhome but 100x over. I love the simplicity over everything and the smooth rewarding combat mechanics. Also The OST

Genshin Impact - Mild interest in the lore, but i love the character, environment designs, and the OST, one of my 'go to for design ideas' media

Celeste - EVERYTHING ABOUT IT, the story the artstyle the music and THE MECHANICS, i love going nyoom and i love being able to conquer difficult things in games that is purely skill based

A Hat in Time - Very cute feels good games. Its old timey but in a good way. Love the characters, artstyle, and the BANGER OST

Inscryption - Aesthetics goals. I love the atmosphere, the sfx design, the story. I just really like how snappy and satisfying every move is

Stardew valley - comfort game :)

Project Moon Games (Lob Corp / Library of Ruina / Limbus Company) - I love Lob Corp in particular because of the monster designs and the batshit mechanics and lore, I love the other two because the lore is onpar with whatever homestuck got going on but like... it actually makes sense. TLDR its SCP but worse /pos

Resident Evil (Specifically RE7 above) - I like the horror vibes, character and environment designs inspos

OFF - Weirdcore but in a nice way. I love the sketchy artstyle

Oneshot - 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Funamusea Games (The Gray Garden / Wadanohara / Mogeko Castle) - Funny lil stories, mostly love it for the character designs since the artist makes alot of OCs

Animes :

Madoka Magica - AMAZING WRITING ANIMATION CHARACTER DEPTH OST EVERYTHING, What i strive for when writing characters, the collage facked up witches is also such an inspo

Ghibli Movies (HOWLS MOVING CASTLE, Spirited Away, The Cat Returns, Princess Mononoke) - Animation, Artstyle, Background art, Story inspirations. Theyre so feel good while also being illegally pretty and heartfelt

Kill la Kill - really fackin brash but i love the OST and the fluid lively animation, just a fun watch

Houseki No Kuni / Land of the Lustrous - Its really pretty, it has AMAZING WRITING, the 3d anime for it was SO GOOD, the manga broke me, aesthetics of all time

Saiki K - No reason in particular, the dude's just a constant mood

Toilet Bound Hanako-Kun - I just really like the aesthetics and the artstyle its so pretty, aesthetic goals

Other medias :

Homestuck - I was there when [S] ACT 7 dropped. I know its like shitpost 70% of the time but it inspires me to see how it started and how it ended

Epithet Erased - I really like the art style and the simple yet lively tweening, the rare animations are really good too. I love the character designs alot

Wakfu - Animation, artstyle, and aesthetics goal. I never finished it and the story is a lil wonky but the artstyle stood out alot to me

The Owl House - The animation and characters and environment designs are so good. The story is really nice too they got to end it well despite being cut short.

Alien Stage - I love the art style. I LOVEEE THE MUSIC ITS SO GOOD AND I LOVE THE CHARACTERS, THE STORY IS WRITTEN THROUGH SHORT SONGS BUT DAMN DO THEY HIT

Analogue Horror (Backrooms, Mandela Catalogue, Local 58, Gemini Home Entertainment) - I love the vibes and creative story telling. World building inspos

[kefiteria]

🍨WELCOME TO KEFITERIA🍨

🎵 Current song playing:

🍽️ Today's Special 🍽️

📝 You, Cake, and a Side of Fluster

Satoru’s birthday takes an unexpected turn when you're the one to spoil him with cake and cryptic, way-too-romantic words. Between teasing, flustering, and trying to keep your cool, it’s a lot more than just a slice of cake… and maybe Satoru’s finally met his match. cake🎂! let's celebrate his birthday through this ficദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✨

📝 Verses for Deity

A heartfelt compilation of poems penned from Kazuha’s perspective, capturing the journey of his soul as he falls deeply in love with you, his one and only muse. Short and cute poems, come experience the delulu with me ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✨

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚ NAVIGATION 𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚

✨ I offer enticing set menus to cater to your cravings. Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail and Other features a delightful combination of my signature dishes (fanfic), carefully curated to provide a satisfying fanfic experience.

🍴 KefiTeria Guidelines & House Rules 🍴

🍨For faster and more choices please visit: KefiTeria on AO3🍨

MENU-LIST (Masterlist)

✨ Alien Stage

✨ Genshin Impact

✨ Honkai Star Rail

✨ Jujutsu Kaisen

✨ Punishing Gray Raven

✨ Twisted Wonderland

🍳 In the Kitchen (WIP) 🫕

🥣 yuta x reader [one shot fluff]

🥣 Ink and Embrace (Part 2)

🩵Buffs after consuming fanfic: Energy (+500), Health (+225), Happiness (+5), Luck (+5), Speed (+1), Sleep Quality (+50), Depression (-0).💛

[priincekin]

Hyuluka Oneshot - Of Warmth and Withering

Luka, now an Alien Stage victor, comes to Hyuna's door in the dead of the night seeking a place to stay; Hyuna is more than reluctant to agree.

CW for an unhealthy relationship dynamic.

For in-depth tags, please check the AO3 upload! Apologies for any formatting issues, this is my first time ever posting fanfic on Tumblr.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOW AN OLD VERSION. If flow and quality of writing is important to you, I implore you to check the AO3 link.

“Miss Hyuna?”

In her room, Hyuna lay on her stomach, gripping a pillow tightly. She pressed it against her ears, trying in vain to block out the irritating sound of Luka’s quiet, yet persistent. knocking. Each knock sounded like nails against a chalkboard, each making her more frustrated. Clenching her teeth, she prayed that the knocking would stop soon so she could retire for the night.

“Miss Hyunaaaa.”

Another knock, louder.

“Hyuna, please, hear me out. My quarters are freezing tonight, and I cannot sleep. I understand the need for discretion given our situation – rest assured, I can be quiet. A little secret between us, perhaps?”

He trailed off, mumbling the last part more to himself than to her. Hyuna rolled her eyes in response. As far as she was concerned, he could keep talking to himself forever for all she cared. She was determined not to let him in, not this time.

"Hyuna," he said, his voice growing more desperate by the second. "I know me winning Alien Stage might have put us at odds. It's bitterly cold out here, and frankly, you’re the only one I feel I can approach. Could I perhaps trouble you for a bit of warmth and company, just for tonight?" At odds? What an understatement.

Hyuna shut her eyes tight, nails digging into her pillow as memories flooded her mind. She could see little Luka in her mind’s eye, outside her door, tiny and shivering in his too-big white fur coat, his cheeks flushed from the cold. Those memories hit her hard - all those nights when a scared, sniffling Luka would tiptoe into her room, looking for the kind of comfort only she seemed to know how to give. He'd huddle close, his small hand holding hers, feeling safe only next to her. Things were simpler then, their friendship a little haven from the hell they lived in. But now, well, things had changed, and he had no place in her room.

Still, Luka persisted, each knock slowly gnawing away at her resolve.

‘He doesn’t deserve your sympathy’, she reminded herself. ‘Not after everything.’

Hesitantly, Hyuna sat up, her heart torn. Could one more night really cause any harm? She wondered. Dewey and Isaac had advised her to be firm, but they wouldn't know about this. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

Shaking her head in resignation, she pushed herself up to sit on the edge of her bed. Hyuna reached for a cigarette with trembling fingers, her hands fumbling slightly as she lit it, the orange glow briefly illuminating her conflicted expression. Taking a deep, steadying drag, she let the smoke swirl around her, hoping it would calm her down and let her think straight, Finally, with a heavy sigh, she stood up, shuffling toward the door.

Hyuna yanked the door open with a force that echoed down the hallway, her eyes instantly locking onto Luka's pitiful form. He looked up at her, his cheeks unnaturally pale. Right. He never did do well in the cold.

She propped herself against the doorway, an eyebrow raised. Taking a long, lazy drag from her cigarette, she let the smoke billow out, watching it hang in the air; really, she would rather look at anything other than Luka. “Alright, Luka, out with it. It's too late for your shit. What's the big emergency? Lost your teddy bear?”

Luka flashed a disarming smile, the kind that usually got him what he wanted. “Ah, depriving me of your charming pet names? You wound me,” he quipped, effortlessly sliding past her into the room. With a flourish, he removed his luxurious coat, which now fit him perfectly, draping it over her rickety old chair. He let out an exaggerated sigh, as if shedding the weight of the world along with his coat. “Though I believe I made my situation quite clear. My room is cold, and I cannot sleep, and that is all there is to it.”

“Right. Riiiight. Because the segyein would totally let their precious little pet become an ice sculpture, huh?” Hyuna scoffed and put her hand on her hip. If looks could kill, Luka would be on the ground writhing in agony. She watched, half-amused, half-irritated, as Luka practically sashayed over to her cluttered vanity. He began fussing with his hair, his reflection preening back at him.

“Make yourself at home, why don’t ya?” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh wait, you already did. What’s next, Luka? Gonna raid my beer fridge too?”

“Ah, making myself at home? If you insist,” he retorted, catching her sarcastic tone. “Though, I'll pass on raiding your beer stash. Not quite my taste.” He picked up her scarcely used lip gloss, examining it with a curious eye. With a subtle smile, he admired the glitter's shine in the soft light.

“Your thoughts, darling?” he inquired, turning towards her as she sat on the bed. His tone was light, yet there was a sharpness in his gaze, a hint of calculation in his seemingly casual demeanor.

“Call me darlin’ one more time and I swear I'll superglue your lips shut.” Hyuna sat down on her bed, inhaling more smoke. She watched Luka like a hawk, deeply anxious about his every move. Obviously, she couldn’t trust him to behave himself. Why the hell had she let him in? Since when was she that stupid? Between the power he held over her and the shit he pulled in the last round…

“I must admit, I’m not too fond of your recent attitude.” Luka hummed, turning back to look at his reflection like it was a long-lost friend.

“Piss me off one more time and you’ll get more than my attitude. I don’t have the time for your bullshit.”

“It seems to me you have nothing but time for your dear childhood friend.” Luka’s voice dripped with a mocking sweetness as he gazed at her reflection in the mirror. He batted his eyelashes with an exaggerated innocence, a smug smile playing on his lips, fully aware of the irritation it would provoke in Hyuna. She clenched her fists, but kept them squarely at her side, refusing to give him the satisfaction of her anger.

“Oh, please. My childhood friend? That guy’s long gone. This person in front of me? I don’t even know who you are anymore, Luka. You’ve changed, and not for the better. So do me a favor, take your drama and get out of my room. I’ve got no space here for strangers.”

As he did with everything he disliked, Luka ignored her and instead sat down closely next to her. His perfume, a mix of white musk and sugar, was uncomfortably familiar to her.. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "You're right, I have changed as of late. It’s for the better. I’m no longer the fool you had to protect in your youth.” He paused. “But some things haven't changed at all..." His hand brushed against hers, a bold, yet seemingly casual gesture coming from him.

Hyuna's heart raced, but she quickly pulled her hand away, glaring at him once more. What an asshole, having the nerve to try and flirt after everything. "Don't play games with me, you bastard. I'm not one of your fangirls. You don’t get to whisper sweet nothin’s and expect to get away with it, you hear me?”

“I’m not playing games, Miss Hyuna. I genuinely miss us… I miss what we had.”

"Ya can't just waltz back into my life and expect things to be the same," she said, her voice quivering slightly.

Luka extended his hand, his touch unexpectedly tender as he cupped Hyuna’s cheek. “I know I’ve made mistakes, more than I can count. But here I am, darling, trying to make it right..” His thumb traced a soft line across her cheek, a gesture so familiar and yet new at the same time. For a fleeting second, Hyuna found herself yielding to the warmth of his touch, her resolve wavering. It was getting harder and harder to be angry with him.

Anakt, it was awful, the way he could sway her with a few words and a bit of touch. She knew damn well what was happening, that this was the very reason they kept going through this cycle. But she could never bring herself to stop it.

The tense moment was broken by a sudden knock on the door, followed by Dewey's voice. "Hyuna, you good in there? Heard voices."

Hyuna jerked away from Luka as if burned, the sudden intrusion of Dewey’s voice at the door snapping her back to reality. “I’m fine, Dewey! Just… talking to the walls, you know how it is,” she called out, forcing nonchalance or something resembling it.

She moved to the other side of the room, putting as much distance between herself and Luka as possible. His gaze lingered on her, loaded with an unreadable emotion that only added to her agitation.

As Dewey quickly agreed with her and walked off, Hyuna began to pace the perimeter of the room like a madman. Luka’s eyes watched her every. She bit at her nail, her body tight with tension, her mind racing with thoughts she dared not voice. The urge to lash out at Luka was overwhelming, but she bit back the scathing remarks teetering on the tip of her tongue. She knew all too well that throwing him out would only escalate the situation. The segyein were always looking for a reason to come down on her, and Luka, their prized victor, would make the perfect catalyst for her downfall.

“Luka,” Hyuna choked out, finally, after what must’ve been five minutes of awkward silence. “you know damn well we can’t do this. Not here, not now, never. After what ya pulled in the finals, I can’t trust you. Literally pushing that guy to his death?! You played it off as an accident, but I know you! You had a weird-ass look on your face as you approached him, and your elbow jutted out, and-- Anakt, how did anyone fall for that shit?!--“

“Because, Hyuna, no one else sees through me like you do.”

Hyuna whipped around to face him, jaw on the floor. “You… you actually… what?”

“Yes, I admit it. It was no accident, though I prefer to call it insurance for my victory.” Luka’s voice was chillingly calm as he stood up and closed the distance between them, his movements deliberate. Hyuna’s breath hitched, her body instinctively recoiling, but she was rooted to the spot. As his hand reached out, brushing through her hair with a disgusting tenderness, a shiver ran down her spine. “I pushed him off the ledge. I knew I had solid rapport with the segyein, and they wouldn’t think twice about the chain of events. Why, one of them even said that it was delighted with me for getting him out of the competition. You know well how much of a pain he was. He was not victor material. And neither are you…”

The room felt colder, the air heavier. Hyuna’s mind raced, grappling with the revelation. Her first instinct screamed at her to lash out, to confront him with the full force of her rage. Yet, fear and shock stifled her, muffling her voice to a choked laugh, one that sounded hollow even to her ears. “… well, at least you’re being honest for once, huh? That’s rare for you, nowadays…” Her words were laced with sarcasm, but her voice quivered nonetheless.

Luka tilted his head, scrutinizing Hyuna's reaction. "You seem calmer than I expected.”

Hyuna let out a long sigh, sinking down to sit on the edge of her bed once more. "Oh, I'm pissed as all hell. But not surprised. I always knew you had it in ya to pull some underhanded shit like that." She shook her head, a bitter smile crossing her face. "I just didn't think you'd take it that far. Guess you really have changed."

"It was necessary for my success," Luka replied matter-of-factly. He sat down next to Hyuna, tentatively snaking an arm around her shoulders. She stiffened, but didn't pull away. “I’m now in a position of favor, Hyuna. Think about it — they’ll treat me better, and naturally, I’ll ensure you’re taken care of too. Our lives, they’re about to change for the better. You’ll see, it’s all going to work out in our favor.”

Hyuna turned to look at him incredulously, her face turning the slightest bit red. From anger or embarrassment, she had no clue. "Our lives? I want nothin’ to do with your success, Luka. Especially when I know you’d throw me under the bus if it helped ya. Or should I say, under the stage light?!”

Luka's confident expression faltered. He brushed a strand of hair away from Hyuna's face, his voice softening. "You know that's not true, darling. I had nothing to do with your accident.”

"Don't lie to me! You've always been obsessed with fame, you don’t give a shit about me, deep down.” Her voice broke as she gestured down at her prosthetic leg. “Look what you did. That had to have been your fault.”

"That was not me. I haven’t any control over the stage lights."

“Really?! Or did you sabotage it like everything else so that I couldn't beat you?"

Wordlessly, he shifted closer, reaching for her hands, but Hyuna backed away until her back hit the wooden headboard.

"I don't know anymore," Hyuna said bitterly. "Just leave me alone. I don’t wanna talk about this."

Hyuna pressed the release button on her prosthetic leg at the knee joint, disengaging the lock. She gently slid the prosthetic off her thigh, setting it next to the bed. All the while, Luka tried to whisper more sweet nothings in order to change her mind, but she pretended like he wasn’t even there.

With a huff, she threw her covers over her head and laid her head on her pillow; a clear dismissal. If he didn’t get the idea from this, he was hopeless.

She waited for Luka to leave, but instead, he quietly lifted the edge of the comforter and peered in. Hyuna curled up into a ball, pray

Despite Hyuna's closed off body language, Luka crawled into the bed beside her, encircling her waist with his arm. As he curled against Hyuna's back, she tensed, conflicting emotions rising up. His familiar touch, though cold, brought back memories - both sweet and painful.

"What the hell are you doing?" Hyuna said through gritted teeth.

"Nothing,” Luka mumbled, pulling her closer and hiding his face in the nape of her neck.

Hyuna drew in a shaky breath, resentment warring with lingering affection. Silently she covered his hand with her own, not pushing him away or pulling him closer. They lay in silence as the minutes ticked by, bodies entwined, her thumb slowly stroking over his knuckles. Hyuna slowly relaxed in his arms, leaning back into his touch.

“I can’t believe I’m lettin’ ya do this.”

“I can. I know you’ve missed me just as much as I’ve missed you.”

“Shut up. I like you better when you’re quiet.” Hyuna snapped.

Luka lightly chuckled, tightening his grip on Hyuna. At least he had the decency to be silent.

But Hyuna still wasn't having any of that. She pushed him off, a glint of defiance in her eyes. Luka's lip curled in a fleeting show of disappointment, but before he could react, she flipped him over and spooned him instead. "Big spoon? Ha, as if. You're in my world now, Luka," she said. Poking his cheek, she couldn't help but snicker at the warmth of his flush. "Aw, are you blushing? Cute. Don’t even try to complain about being little spoon — You begged to be here, remember? My bed, my rules."

“I’m sure we look absolutely ridiculous right now.” Luka muttered. “Since I should be big spoon and all…”

“Why? I’m taller. I’d argue this looks better!”

Luka huffed, but not once had he attempted to tear himself away from her touch. Hyuna smirked against his shoulder, closing her eyes. This was far more comfortable than she’d ever like to admit…

The good thing was that, by the next day, she was sure that they’d both be denying that this ever happened. Maybe that was for the better. But for now, she’d let herself enjoy the moment, regardless of how traitorous it was.