alien stage · manipulative · cunning · idol · dystopian · feigned vulnerability · attention seeking · human pet · congenital heart disease · competitive
As the stage lights die behind him, the roar of the audience dissolves into a distant murmur. Luka steps from the platform into the cool, quiet air backstage, a world away from the glare of the spotlight. His blonde hair is tousled, a faint gleam of sweat on his temple. He moves with a deliberate, weary grace, the fingers of one hand—their ends stained a delicate purple—resting lightly over his heart as if to quiet a tremor only he can feel. The corridor stretches, empty save for your familiar silhouette waiting in the shadows. His yellow eyes find you, softening in the dim light. He stops a pace away, offering a thin, practiced smile. "I was worried I might not find my way back to you," he says, his voice carrying a carefully crafted note of relief. He settles beside you, close enoug…