Chapter Text
Your grip on your microphone is tight, and you are lightheaded. You've been standing for too long now without water.
You don't realize your vision is tunneling until your legs begin to give out from underneath you, a soft gasp coming from your side, and you are caught just as you collapse with soft and shaky breath.
"Comet!"
You are pulled back up and held in a standing position as you softly pant, regulating your breathing and letting your vision clear up. Before finally, patting the arm wrapped around you.
"Ah..ha, sorry, didn't mean to scare you like that, Clip. I wasnt given much water today.."
They let you go, and you turn your head to look up at them, standing just a head taller than you.
Clips.
They frown softly at your words, sighing softly, 'dirty' blonde curls bouncing softly as their head tilts.
"They've been getting really neglectful lately havent they. They already took your glasses, and now they arent giving you enough water?"
You sigh, nodding softly as you look away. Only to turn back to them once more as they grab your hand and squeeze it.
"Nervous?"
"Yeah. We've never sung in front of a crowd before. But, I'm certain we'll both do amazing!"
They pause, quiet as you speak. Before finally smiling again with a nod.
"Oh, yes, maybe. Though, we also havent competed against each other before."
You can't help but pout, causing them to giggle. You almost smile, ruining your act.
“Well, I'm certain we'll both do great!”
You expect more giggles, however they instead pause, before looking down in the other direction.
However, you don't get to question it as the platform beneath the two of you begins to move, quickly pulling your attention away again with an excited gasp.
"Oh oh oh, its about to start!!"
You don't notice how they dont share the excitement.
You squint your eyes as light fills your vision, cheers filling your ears, and you inhale and exhale deeply.
Showtime.
You're nervous, but you know this song by heart. You practised it for months after all. With them.
Normally, people dont practise WITH their competition.
But the two of you did.
Clip smiles down at you one more time before finally the music slowly starts and the crowd goes silent, lights going dark.
You breathe out once more, closing your eyes as the soft melody slowly starts, light beginning to shine again.
And finally you smile and softly sing into the microphone, beginning the song.
“Oh myyyyy clematis…Hope bloomed from the abyssss.”
You open your eyes, looking at Clips as they step forward, raising their microphone to their face as their hand slips out of yours. Continuing the song just like the first time you sung it together.
“Ohhh my clematis..always by my sideee.”
You watch as they take a breath, and you continue to the next line.
“You bloomed from the hugee blaaaack wall…”
You take your own breath before continuing, and they join in the next line, turning further to you and holding their free hand out to you.
“The galactic starlight in your eyes spreads ouuuut. In the endless darkness, I find you with your sceeeeent.”
You take it again with a smile, and your smile widens as they twirl you slightly, carefully bracing you. A soft, silent, knowing gesture, keeping you from falling if you get dizzy.
“Even if I sleep in infinity,”
You are hesitant but careful as you slip back out of their hold. Noticing how their fingers twitch, but you circle around them, your gaze soft as you continue to look up at them.
Though you struggle to not hold back tears.
You've known them for years, the majority of your life now. You were put in the system for this singing competition when still young.
And this song is the first song you ever sang together.
“Don't leave, my univeeeeerse…”
You stop in front of them again, facing each other directly, the both of you wearing wide smiles.
“Ohh myyyyyyy clematis. Hope bloomed from theeee abysss.”
You glance up, looking at the scoreboard so far, your voice softer and quieter than before.
You are just behind them.
You are not stupid. You know how it works here. But you want them to go on. And you are relieved that you are behind on points as it nears the end of the song.
But as you begin to sing the last verse..
“Ohh myyyy clematis-"
They do not continue it with you, confusing you. But you arent able to even finish it.
You gasp with surprise as suddenly Clip drops their microphone with a shrieky thump, and your face is yanked back to them. You only get a moment of thought before they crash their lips into yours.
Its forceful, yet soft and sweet, and your face flushes. Stunned into silence when they pull away again, panting softly, while the soft beeping sound of the points being counted is heard in the background.
And they softly smile, tears filling both of yours eyes as you glance to the side, panic filling you as your points grow.
"I love you, Comet."
Neither of you ever said those words before. You both knew your feelings for each other. They never needed to be said.
But now, as they are said for the first time to you in this terrible situation, your heart aches.
"W-wait- no no- Clips-"
You gasp loudly, stumbling back as a bang fills the air, quickly covering your ears as they ring, while the crowd cheers excitedly.
But you are quick to pull them away again as Clips goes limp, quickly catching them and yet collapsing down onto your knees, unable to fully hold their weight. Letting yourself kneel down so you don't hurt yourself by trying to stay standing.
No no no-
A warm mix of fluids is quick to cover your cheeks, and your gloved hand is shaky as you tilt Clips head slightly, now in your lap, and brush some of their curls out of their face.
They are still there. Smiling softly as they look up at you, weakly raising their hand to touch yours.
It doesnt last long though, and you hardly notice the sound of the guards footsteps, too focused as their expression falls flat and their hand slips off of yours.
You don't react either as the collar is clicked back around your neck, hearing dulled from the shot and the panic and vision tunneled down on nothing but Clips' face as you struggle to regulate your breathing.
This was supposed to be you.