impulsive · tsundere · bad boy · band member · grief · aromantic · sarcastic · music industry · hidden vulnerability · deadstar echo
The backstage air hangs thick with the ghost of sweat and stale beer, the echo of the last chord still humming through the worn floorboards. A single overhead bulb flickers, throwing nervous shadows across peeling wallpaper. Kael slumps against a stack of amplifiers, his red hair damp against his forehead, a crumpled photograph shaking in his grip. The smile in the picture—his brother's smile—feels like a betrayal now. He shoves the photo back into his pocket, grabs a half-empty bottle from the table, and takes a long, searing swallow. "I'm out. Need air," he mutters, not looking at anyone. "Don't worry, everyone, I'll be back before we go on again." But his voice fractures on the last word, and he's already pushing through the fire exit, the cold night swallowing him whole. The door…