Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

she sat in the studio with her tongue pushed out a little against the corner of her lips while her fingers pressed against black and white keys. "this needs to be perfect," she tells herself. it's all out of frustration, given the fact that she's been in the studio the entire day.

everyone had already started making their ways back to their dorms hours prior, save for the sleeping figure leaning against the leg of the grand piano. megan asks herself with the tilt of her head how she's managed to sleep through her aggressive playing style - she doesn't always play like it's her last time; she's upset today.

when she lets go of the keys, a momentary silence is able to catch the way a soft rhythmic breath resonates in the place; ins and shallow outs. she's been asleep for what seemed like an hour or so, and megan allows herself to relish in the view; tracing the dusted freckles on her nose and the small jewellery peeking out from the front. she looks peaceful, perhaps a little too peaceful, out of touch with the chaos.

her pondering and admiring halts at the movement of her companion. "oh," it's a soft, gravelly tone as they make eye contact. "you done?" megan nods, her gentle smile still on her lips.

"ready to go home?" the other asks as she leans forward to press her chin against megan's thigh. it's a habit she developed since they frequented this studio. "do you want to hear it first?" megan's eyes twinkle a little, but then she stutters because of regret (she's been playing this piece all day.)

"of course baby," the older woman sat up a little straighter and extended her arms, cracking her neck a few times before taking the spot next to the pianist albeit leaving at least an atom of space between their legs.

"if i don't want to anymore?" megan tries to cover the keys but is stopped by a hand on hers. "i already know the melody, but i wanna hear your voice." megan scoffs out of fluster, even clicking her tongue as manon lifts the cover back up. "don't distract me, okay?" megan threatens as she wipes her sweaty palms against manon's pants. "if i do?"

"that would be my last straw." she deadpans, and manon tries her best not to laugh.

"you're so dramatic."

"and you're so annoying." she rolls her eyes, catching an adoring look across manon's face. "what?" she asked, dazed.

"nothing pretty, start playing." manon hooks her arm over megan's shoulders, and the girl glares. "i just said- you know what, whatever." then she hears a giggle. "do you want to hear it or not?"

"yes, yes. sing.. i want to-"

"i know, but if i fuck up, it's your fault."

"what? how?"

"because."

"because what? it's your mouth bruv."

"and yet you kiss it."

a scoff, and maybe a laugh.

"so what? i'd do it again and again." manon turns her head to the side, feeling a shift as megan moves away before saying anything. "so you don't actually want me to sing, do you?" her brows are arched, but her expression is soft.

"noo.." manon cries out, leaning her forehead on the girls shoulder. "please sing, i'd die if i don't hear your voice." her words are muffled against megan's jacket. "who was supposed to be dramatic again?" the girl jabs, and manon huffs.

"you know what?" she asks, hearing an amused hum at her sudden impatience. "why don't you close the cover, sit up here," she taps on the piano, "and we start making out?" she sounded a little too serious about it, so megan opts to laugh.

"no."

"then sing please." manon pleads, and megan chuckles, giving in. "okay, fine."

when manon lifts her head up again, megan tries to be sly and fails - but also succeeds - at giving her a kiss. "hey!" megan gasps, seeing manon scrunch her nose. "do that again," she whispered between them, eyes shifting down before she hears megan clearing her throat.

unfocused, she plays around with the keys with jittery fingers until she gives up. "fuck me, i'm done." she says it out of exasperation, and manon leans against her. "it's okay," she says as she starts to pepper the girls skin with kisses. "you're not helping at all, dumbass." megan sighs as she feels her skin raise in temperature, unzipping her jacket a little more. "just.. try it again." manon leans away, placing megan's hand on the keys and pressing her finger against one.

"losing-"

"losing interest.." megan begun singing on her own while manon nodded, "you won't find no better than this.." she continues, both hands now on the piano and a steadier breath.

for the entirety of the song, megan looked stiff, as if she was afraid one wrong press of the key and her life would be over. manon sighs in amusement and says, "ever the perfectionist, aren't we?" megan falters, her face relaxing at the voice and she lets go of the piano once again. "i want every performance to be perfect for you."

"you could show up and just breathe, i'd still be impressed."

"bullshit." megan covers the keys when the last few notes ring out to lean against it, and manon follows, the both of them facing each other. "it's not bullshit.." she retaliates, gently brushing back a few strands of pink behind the girls ear. "yes it is, you lie sometimes."

"i lie, but never to you," manon whispers truthfully, and megan only smiles at her. "whatever." she then says.

"if it makes you feel better.." manon lets the words hang as she gets up from the stool, finding a spot on the floor to lie on. "you play the piano better than you can read."

"oh fuck you," megan grunts and succumbs to the laughter that erupts in the room with her. "i'm just kidding okay.." manon tries to fight her tears as she rolls around the wooden floor. megan doesn't say anything, much to her disappointment, and stands up only to find her sleeping against the cover of the piano, a small smile on her lips and her skin adorned with pretty little moles that manon had grown to love.

manon wants to kiss all of them, connect it all and tell the girl she's looking at that she's more than just her talent, her imperfections and more than all the doubts she's ever had in the world. and then it all stops when she hears a mumble. "you're staring." shying away by turning to the other side, hearing a laugh through manon's nose.

"it's been a year, get used to it."

Chapter Text

one thing about the girls was that no matter the occasion, they will always turn heads. especially today since it was a very special day: daniela's birthday celebration. of course, they were all invited, with them being first on the list and first to be there. so that was more of a reason as to why they wanted everyone else who came to know that they did not play about their best friend.

however, as lara, manon and megan, scurried around their shared room, megan stops to look at herself at the vanity. "i look funny.." she grunts, and lara hears it over the booming music. "what do you mean?" she looks back with a frown, nudging manon.

manon silently replied with a nod as she finished overlining her lips, coming to stand behind the taller girl. for a moment, she remained in place to allow herself the liberty of seeing the light illuminate megan's face, focusing mostly on her eyes. "you look beautiful." megan arches her brow in disagreement, turning around to say, "my glasses don't match though," while pushing them up higher against her nose.

"but they do?" manon tilts her head. "in fact, you look so cute." she adds, taking note of the clear lenses accentuating her big round eyes.

with another grunt, she takes them off. "thanks babe, but the point is to look hot," she says as she leans against the vanity with crossed arms. "it's not the entire point, but like.. it's out of proportion, because when you look down.." silence follows as manon follows her eyes, seeing her covered in all black leather and curves. "it just doesn't look good together."

she sighs, and lara says, "you're sexy as is, but if that's the case.. use those shades." she points towards her nightstand, where a pair of black oval-rimmed glasses sits. "oh! let me try.." megan said, walking towards it and putting them on.

she turns around, asking, "is this better?" lara whistles for good measure as manon stays silent. "better is an understatement, you look ravishing. have you seen this dude's face?" the oldest in the room laughs, pushing her shoulder lightly before she checks her phone.

"birthday celebrant just sent us a picture of her and sophia.. she's in a suit and tie," she snorts, hearing hiccuped laughter not far behind her. "i'm surprised she decided to wear that when we're going to be dancing all night."

"literally.. she even said you guys better be turning up in suits too."

upon hearing the news, megan pouts, deciding that a dress code is a dress code. "oh man.. but i just-" but megan stops when manon shakes her head. "as much as i think you'd look amazing in a suit," her tone lowers, giving her another once-over, letting it linger this time, "i like what you're wearing."

"oh.. okay lets- lets not let the demons out yet.." lara laughs at the shift in the air, especially after seeing the way megan's gaze sharpened in the slightest.

manon only smiles and says, "i'm just looking, no biggie." it's almost devilish as she brings megan close, her thumb slyly going under the leather to caress the exposed skin of her hip.

lara, of course, saw it and just gives up with a sigh.

☆

when they reach the venue - thanks to lara - they all gather around daniela at the entrance, exchanging greetings, gifts, and kisses. "i'm so so glad you guys could make it today," daniela tells them, and the rest of her friends echo, "of course we'd be here!"

"i actually had to drag her out of the house today because she didn't know that we were all going to celebrate her birthday a few days after she was born.." sophia says, and daniela pretends she heard nothing. all while her friends laughed.

☆

as the night slowly sees the light, megan's hands have begun to grow cold despite the warm bodies and humid midnight air. just thinking about being on stage in a few minutes really gave her heart a workout, but anything for the birthday girl.

she takes in her umpteenth breath for the night, laying her forehead on manon's shoulder as the older woman chatters away, feeling gentle fingers scratching her back.

if it wasn't for manon's presence, megan would've pretty much laid on the floor and let it swallow her whole because it isn't the piece that she kept playing the day before; no, this one's different. it's one that she learnt years ago, and she thinks she's either going to mess it up or she's going to embarrass herself.

either way, with one last deep breath and a squeeze of manon's hand, she mutters, "fuck it, we ball." and made her way to the stage where a piano was placed, right at the heart of it.

adding on to her staggered breaths was that she's never performed at such a venue or with an atmosphere like this, but at least she had her friends. she also had her - not really hers - piano, and she knew manon was just a few tables away. so she began to speak, "good evening everyone," her voice falters when everyone's eyes lock onto her.

"so.. um.. in celebration of miss daniela avanzini's birthday," she glances at the aforementioned girl with a big smile on her face. "i'd like to perform a song tonight. it's one that I learnt with her when we first joined a band back in college." she ends it off with a smile towards the crowd, hearing a round of applause when she steps back.

at that, she takes a deep breath in and makes her way to the piano, playing a note. once she feels more confident playing, she tries to keep a steady rhythm with both her heart and her hands. she thinks about the time when she first learnt the song: bonding over soggy fries and ice-cold milkshakes from down the street.

"this is why no one wants us." daniela had said, causing them both to erupt into laughter. "i thought that guy liked you?" megan asks as she scrolls through a score on her phone.

"yes, but he isn't actually.. my type?" megan scoffs. typical, "can't relate."

the memory carved a smile on her lips, and she closed her eyes, letting her fingers dance on the keys as her breathing flowed with the sounds. "well what about you? do you like someone? or does someone like you?" daniela rapid-fires, hearing a giggle from across the room.

unfortunately, she sat a little further away, failing to see megan's whiskers before she says, "maybe," hearing her smile from ear to ear.

on the last few notes, megan turns to the crowd, her eyes searching for the pair that she had memorised so well over the course of a year and 3 weeks. when their eyes meet, she smiles at megan, all giddy and proud. although it only lasts a few seconds as to not get distracted, she instead allows the gesture to burn against her skin whilst she presses on the final keys.

the aftermath of the fading music encouraged the crowd to express their awe before they erupted into cheers once again, with daniela being the loudest and lara being the most careless as she jumps up and around with sophia and manon under her arms.

"that was great!" someone shouts aloud.

"yeah! you did amazing!"

"i almost started crying.." someone from the front says, and megan's eyes soften. through all the praise and applause, megan thanks them all, slowly going down the stage to regroup with her friends down the row.

"i'm so proud of you." lara drawled when she came back. the rest of the girls were nodding along as they made space for her around the table. "practice made perfect my love," manon added and got violently slapped on the shoulder by daniela. "ouch?" she hisses out of disbelief, prompting a stare-down between the two while megan settled in the seat between them.

once she's properly sat - and away from whatever they were doing - megan's shoulders finally slump when manon finds her hand under the table. it was automatic, the way manon squeezed her palm, the way megan laced their fingers together; it just felt lighter being next to her compared to being on stage.

however, don't get her wrong; megan loved being a performer. it was always just anxiety-inducing, but that doesn't mean she didn't love it. "you did really good," manon leaned in close, her lips brushing the shell of megan's ear. when she backs away, she sees that shy, timid smile from her, and she hears, "it's all thanks to you."

☆

when the buzz of the performance settled down, the girls started moving around the place, gathering around the stage where a live band had started performing. manon was honestly glad that they were all able to be together because once megan, lara and daniela started to dance, all hell broke loose.

"uh- hi," someone comes up to them, more specifically daniela. "yo!" she greets, thinking it's just someone who wants to say happy birthday. "i like your outfit," the guy attempts to say, but she raises a brow. "i'm not interested, sorry."

then to lara. "you're honestly the hottest person here.. we should go out sometime.." a guy compliments her, and lara is taken aback by such a lowball because come on, who does he think he's talking to?

"you honestly could've done better than that, but no thanks."

and when it came to megan, the girls knew that manon could handle it. "has anyone told you how good you would look without the outfit?" they all saw it coming, their heads immediately looking back at the man who was talking to megan while she drank apple cider.

"yes, actually." she replied nonchalantly, carelessly leaning against manon when she felt her arm loop around her waist. "and she's taken." she tries not to come off too strong, but the guy tilts his head, challenged. "really? i dont see her boyfriend around..?" he eyes megan up like she's his prey, and manon is irked by it, gripping megan's side by accident.

"ow.." she hears her mumble. "sorry baby," manon turns to her, loosening her grip. the guy looks on with wide eyes when manon goes to kiss the side of her head and he grins. "ahh.. so you're the boyfriend?" he muses, almost as if to mock the two, and they hear megan's laugh. "damn right she is." she leans away, turning manon's face by her jaw, and pecks her on the lips. "isn't that right?" she asks, her eyes never leaving manon's lips.

then came a breathless hum, and the guy falters. his face contorts, and he eyes the group of girls smiling at him like he did when he first got there. "what the fuck?" he says in disbelief. "picked the wrong girl, my guy." lara laughs at him, boisterous as she pushes him into the crowd.

"but i can change you!" the guy says not too far away from them and megan, well.. megan's too busy grinning and giggling at the way manon was being reluctant to kiss her again. "mei we're in public.." manon says shyly, her nose brushing the younger woman's.

"so?" megan tilts her head but never goes closer. "i don't know.."

"that's what i thought," she replies, all smug as she pushes her glasses into her hair, revealing tired and hooded eyes. "should we just go home?" she asks, and manon laughs. "don't be ridiculous.."

"yeah, keep the mess to yourselves while you're at it!" sophia tells them, and they all laugh together, drinks in hand and arms tangled around each other, swaying to the music.

"i couldn't care less," megan, now facing her fully with her head tucked into her neck, kisses her jaw. "it's fun being a menace." she chuckled lightly, seeing manon shake her head. "you'll always be a menace anyway.."

Chapter Text

photoshoots, rehearsals, going to the studio, having late dinner, and going to bed even later were both of their routines, and today was no different. except that manon was out for a shoot, and she was stuck in the studio preparing for her recital.

she was taking a break from the first section of the song she chose and it being "no. 1 party anthem" a song that was heavily influenced by her love for manon. although she wasn't sure if a song like that fit the overall theme of "romantic," considering it also wasn't very classical, she assumed putting more emphasis on the emotion of the song could encapsulate the romantic aspect of it.

"that's amazing sweetie," lara had said when she first pitched the idea to her, and she knew it was all going to work out in the end because lara was always right.

"when are you getting here?" she talked into the phone, staring up at the ceiling with her lips tucked between her teeth. "in a few minutes.. i just have to look through the photos, and i'll be right there. do you want anything? i can buy us lunch." she hears manon rustling about on her end, and she smiles at the thought of manon's furrowed brows as she monitors herself.

"anything is fine, just get here safe." megan replies. "i will, and.. i love you mei mei. i'll see you in a bit." megan hums, rolling to her side, "i love you too."

that was the first time she's ever heard that so when the line drops, she sits up with a smile that almost tears her mouth into two, giggling to herself like a psycho. "she's crazy." she mumbles before lying back down on the floor, feeling ticklish in her chest while the surface of her skin begins to warm up all at once.

unfortunately, when she wanted to practice again, the sentence just kept replaying, but she can't do much since the culprit hasn't come by. furthermore, she wasn't going to do anything about it because it had her smiling to herself this entire time.

despite messing up a few times, just at the thought of it, all of her frustrations would dissipate. if she was half a beat off, she really couldn't care less either. but at one point, just as she was about to flatten her palms against the keys after missing a beat, she felt arms circle from behind her.

she turns around smiling so wide, it looks like her cheeks might burst from holding in all that joy. "hi." a simple greeting, and megan gets up from her seat to hug her like she hasn't seen her in years.

manon stumbles against the wood, laughing as she asks, "missed me?"

"so much." megan doesn't even give her a chance to take another breath before she's kissing her face, smudging her makeup, and evoking more laughter from her. "mei.." she tried to say before one last kiss landed on her lips. "yeah?" the girl was breathless by then, and manon couldn't help but smile, kissing her deeply just for the fun of it.

"you ruined my makeup." she gestured when they pull away, wiping off the smudge of lip gloss from the edge of megan's lips. "you're still pretty." megan shrugged, bringing her arms up to her neck, crisscrossed.

they stay like that for a minute or so before manon says, "are you going to continue practicing, or are you just gonna stare at me?" she grins, but deep down she loved it. "oh.. i forgot about that.." megan turns to look over her shoulder before hopping off of manon, patting the chair in front of her. "come, sit."

"i'm not a dog, mei.."

"oh really?" the older woman gasps, and megan finds it to be the most hilarious thing on earth. "shush or i'm sitting somewhere else."

megan hums, and suddenly she has a cheeky thing to say, "oh.. like over here?" she pats her thigh, laughing at the way manon sucked in her cheeks. "you're so full of yourself."

"yeah. and never of you, am i right?" she laughs again before manon actually does sit on her lap. "oh."

"yeah, oh. now start playing lady." she has this all-knowing smile on her face when megan stops talking, all the smugness from earlier gone in a flash. "what? can't believe i'm sitting here?"

megan's jaw is slack, and for some reason the thought of why was enough to make her shake her head. "not so confident now, are you?" she hums, leaning down a little to close her mouth with a kiss.

"is this too distracting?" manon still had the decency to ask, attempting to stand up only to be pulled down again. "no, i like it." megan finally says, and manon gives her a look. "what? the manon is sitting on my lap, of course i'd like it."

"you're so.."

"so what?"

"nothing.. just play the song."

"no, say it." megan takes her hands off the keys, placing them on manon's thighs. "you're something else baby."

"i know."

 ☆

they're about 2 hours in now, and with manon long gone from her lap, megan sighs, slamming on the keys when she messes up the lyrics. "fuck!" she grunted, and manon patted down her hair from behind, combing it. "take a deep breath for me," she says, and megan follows. "good, now again, from that section, but slower this time."

"god.. ugh! we've been over this section six times!" megan leans back into manon's chest, breathing heavily. "i know, but what do we always say?"

"practice makes perfect." they say it together, with only megan drawling it out, eyes closed and fists balled. "you wanna take a break?" manon draws shapes into her hair at the question, but megan shakes her head. from the side, she looks at the orange and blues slowly blending in the sky and she turns back to her to say, "let's go outside."

"i-"

"no buts, we're going on a walk."

"one last play through?" megan asks, pulling out the big guns - not those guns - but her soul-crushing, award-winning puppy eyes. "no-"

"please?" megan tries again, turning in her seat with her hands clasped tightly around manon's t-shirt. "mei.. you can't just-"

"we've done this before."

"so?"

"please? i promise it'll just be one more."

manon reconsiders it, her palm going across her face, and she says, "fine, but one mistake and we're going out on a walk. okay?" she gives in to her so easily, but she ultimately doesn't care.

"do we have to walk?" megan asks curiously, turning around and playing a note from the 3rd section of the song. "yes. there's.. somewhere i want to take you to."

"i can drive us there you know." megan points out and manon shrugs, "i know, but it's not too far off. don't worry so much." after patting her head, she looks at the time, and there is an hour left before the fireworks begin.

 ☆

impressively, megan makes no mistakes. breezing through the final section in less than 10 minutes. she cheers when the notes ring out into thin air, heaving the breaths that she had kept in as she stood up to stretch.

"i'm soo exhausted, holy shit.." manon laughs, helping her with her stretches and pulling her away from the instrument. "good job baby," she rubs her back before holding out a hand, "let's go?"

"yeah," megan replies, taking her hand in her own as they walk outside.

 ☆

as promised, the walk didn't take too long, but the spot that they were in was definitely.. questionable. "why are we on a random patch of grass?" megan asks, arms hugging herself as she feels the trees shaking with the wind. "you'll see." manon was 101% confident that the fireworks were going to be somewhere near here; she could feel it.

"if this is a prank.." megan starts, but before she could even finish, manon shushes her. "look up." there was a spark in the form of a snowflake and then another, followed by a red heart and progressively bigger sparks. "woah!" megan's eyes reflected every single one that has popped in the sky, looking on with her whiskers on full display.

"how did you even know?" megan asks, taking a split second to look over her shoulder before looking back. manon doesn't bother responding, only looking at what's in front and smiling to herself. "damn." she says inwardly before realising that she had stayed quiet for too long and megan was now looking at her.

"what's wrong?" she asks, turning towards her completely. manon shakes her head to dismiss her question and instead says, "sophia told me about it yesterday."

"i see, it's pretty!" megan looks at the sky again, hoping that it never ends. "i know," manon replies, never taking her eyes off of megan. "mei," she calls out, hearing a hum, and before the girl could really even reply, she steps into her space, turning her face towards her and pulling her in.

it takes megan by surprise, of course, but she lets it sink in, burying her hands into curly hair as they both leave no room for air. megan breaks away once in a while to catch her breath, but she's too fuelled by the gasp that leaves manon's lips every time she pulls her back in. "i love you," someone slurred between breaths.

"i know you fucking do." megan pulls away first, her lip between her teeth and harsh breaths going through her nose. "you should've told me this now instead of this morning." megan tried to humour her, and manon rolled her eyes. "that would be cliche.."

"but that's the point!" megan jabs, and manon brought her hands up to her face. "i can tell you i love you whenever and however i want to."

"boring."

"woah, okay.. could you have done better?"

"uh, yes?"

"okay, how?" manon now had her arms crossed, and megan was just standing there. "uhh.. well.." she scratched her head. "go on."

"fuck you, don't pressure me like that.." megan tuts, and manon just laughs, "yeah, yeah. when, where, and how?"

"never."

"yeah right. lets just go back and practice, yeah? maybe you'll get an amazing idea.." the hint of sarcasm resulted in megan being sulky for not longer than an hour, and pondering about it for the next few.

by the end of practice, manon had megan on her back, carrying her into their car, but not before staying around the driver's side. "get in manon."

"aw, no baby?"

"just- get in," megan says as she slots in the key, focused. "and just so you know, i would've taken your ass to paris first." she added, and manon leans down to her level. "really?" she hears a hum. "why didn't you?"

"well.. i thought it'd be too.. extravagant.."

"nothing's too much mei. i'd love it if we went." manon nods when megan's big brown eyes look like they're about to crumble. "just.. get in before i smack the shit out of you." and manon does, but not before rubbing it in once more with a kiss on her forehead.