@percahliaweek Fly/Fall (modern musical theater au)
Percy is just getting out of the makeup chair when Pike comes to find him, her headset around her neck and a worried expression on her face.
"It's Vex," she says, before he can ask. "She's panicking about something and we can't find Vax, can you talk to her?"
He follows her to a dark corner backstage, his heart clenching when he sees Vex huddled in the dark, her arms wrapped tight around her chest.
"Vex?" He says her name softly, and she looks up at him with tears welling in her eyes. He searches his pockets for a handkerchief before remembering that he's already in costume. He takes one of her hands instead, rubbing gentle circles with his thumb. "What's wrong?"
She tilts her head back, blinking rapidly up at the ceiling. "My father's here."
"He-" she sniffs, letting her eyes fall shut for a brief moment. "He never cared when we were younger, you know?" she continues. "No matter how many opportunities he had to come see us, he never bothered."
Percy hums sympathetically. "Did he ever say why?"
Vex sighs, her shoulders slumping. "I asked once, and he said that he'd consider it if he thought we were good enough to be worth his time."
"Fucking hell," he mutters, pulling her into a hug. She tenses for a moment before relaxing into his chest. "For what it's worth, you've always been worth it," he says, failing to keep the bite out of his words. "It's his loss that he's just been too fucking blind to see it."
When Vex pulls back, she's smiling just a little. "Thank you, Percy."
"You're incredible," he reiterates. "And Elphaba is the best you've ever been. If he can't see how amazing you are after tonight..."
"Flatterer," she accuses, but she's smiling a little more, her posture relaxing. She sighs. "I should probably get back to Zahra, so she can fix," she gestures to her face, "this."
She walks away, singing under her breath, and he can only watch her go, something warm and wonderful starting to blossom in his chest.
"For the first time, I feel...wicked."
Percy pulls her in for a kiss, just like he's supposed to, but it feels different than any of their kisses during rehearsals. It builds, it lingers, it burrows into her heart and cracks her open. When they pull apart, to whoops and cheers, there's a mutual recognition and she smirks.
They have a show to finish, and an afterparty to attend, but they're going to talk later.
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