Close Mic—
Pairings:: Keonho x F!6th member illit reader Genre:: slow burn, fluff, backstage romance, idol AU Warnings:: online attention, awkward flirting, idol stress WC:: ~1,150-1,250 Synopsis:: A collab between 6th member reader from illit and Keonho from cortis turns into a viral moment when their ending fairy eye contact steals the entire stage.
The practice room had smelled faintly like cool air conditioning, convenience store ramen that someone had abandoned two hours ago, and hairspray.
It was almost around midnight.
You sat on the cold practice floor tying your shoelaces tighter while music echoed from the speakers for what felt like the thousandth time that night.
Across the room, Keonho wiped sweat from his forehead and the back of his neck with a towel before bringing his gaze towards you.
"You keep rushing the turn during the second chorus."
You looked up immediately. "I don't."
"You literally just did, I was watching your timing."
"That sounds like you're blaming me."
"That's because I am."
Keonho stared at you for a second before laughing quietly under his breath. Not loud. Never loud.
Just to make you feel strangely victorious. The choreographer had clapped his hands from in front of the mirror. "Again from the partner section!"
Groans filled the room.
You pushed yourself up with a very dramatic sigh while Keonho reached over to carefully steady your wrists before you lost balance.
The touch lasted much more longer than it should have. Still, both of you noticed, but didn't say anything.
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳
The collaboration announcement blew up online two days later. Fans were already dissecting the blurry rehearsal photos and videos like detectives solving a national crisis.
"I'm sat."
"WHY DO THEY LOOK SO GOOD STANDING NEXT TO EACH OTHER GUYS???"
"The height difference HELLO??"
You instantly regretted opening social media. Inside the Illit dorm, the members crowded around your phone like tigers spotting their prey.
"Oh my gosh," Wonhee gasped dramatically. "People are already shipping you two."
You dropped face first onto the couch. "I hate all of you."
"Seems like you don't hate him though," Yunah sang.
"C'mon, I barely even know him."
"Then why are you blushing?"
"I'm actually not."
"You actually are."
You threw a pillow at Yunah's face.
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳
Meanwhile, somewhere in Seoul, Cortis was being much more unbearable.
Keonho sat quietly scrolling through comments while his members leaned over his shoulders.
"Bro," James wheezed. "This leaked post has 400k likes already and rehearsals haven't even happened publicly yet."
Martin pointed dramatically at the screen. "Wait, pause there."
Keonho frowned. "Why?"
"You looked at her like she was the most cutest thing on this Earth."
The room erupted.
Keonho shoved him away immediately. "You guys are so annoying."
"You're not even denying it though," Seonghyeon whispered.
A water bottle went flying across the room.
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳
The very first public rehearsal happened at an award show pre recording.
That was somehow much more worse. There were cameras everywhere, staff running around with clipboards, idols greeting each other backstage.
You adjusted the sleeves of your oversized jacket nervously while staring at the stage monitors.
"You nervous?"
Keonho had appeared beside you so quietly you almost jumped off the stage.
"A little."
"You know the choreography perfectly."
"That's not the scary part you know."
"The cameras?"
"The cameras."
Keonho nodded once like he understood completely. Then he held out a cold water bottle.
You blinked. "Is this for me?"
"You look dehydrated."
Your fingers brushed his slightly, neither of you moved away fast enough though.
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳
Practice after that became much more easier.
You started recognizing his footsteps outside of the rehearsal rooms.
Keonho started saving the spot beside him without thinking twice about it.
You guys shared earbuds while reviewing your stage recording, and argued over choreography details, mocked each other's terrible midnight snack choices.
And somewhere in the middle of the exhausting rehearsals and the fluorescent lights in the practice room, being around each other stopped feeling nerve wracking. It started feeling comfortable.
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳
The night of the performance arrived much more faster than expected.
The entire venue buzzed with noise, stylists rushed around backstage fixing outfits and microphones while the staff had counted down the remaining minutes.
You stood near the side stage entrance trying to steady your breathing. Your in ear monitor cracked softly. Then Keonho bumped his shoulder against yours.
"You okay?"
You quickly nodded. "Yeah."
He chucked softly. "You look terrified."
"That's because I am."
"You hide it well."
"We'll do fine." Keonho said softly.
Not you'll do fine.
We.
Something about that settled your nerves almost immediately.
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳
The stage lights exploded across the arena.
Music thundered through the speakers, the crowd screamed loud enough to shake the floor beneath.
You barely remembered the opening formation afterward.
Everything blurred together into one: sharp choreography, silver lights, camera cranes moving overhead, Keonho's hand catching yours perfectly during partner work.
The audience's reaction got louder halfway through the performance, especially during the center duet section.
Your chemistry had become too natural to have to fake anymore. Every glance lingered for half a second longer, every movement looked effortless together.
And fans noticed, of course they noticed.
Then came the ending pose.
Confetti drifted down slowly as the music slowly faded. You and Keonho held your positions, breathing slightly uneven, still caught in the intensity of the stage.
A second passed.
Then Keonho turned his head towards you, not fully, just enough to look at you.
His expression softened in a way that didn't match the stage anymore. Like the performance ended for everyone else... except for you two.
You looked back at him without thinking.
And for a brief, unguarded moment, you guys just... stayed like that.
No camera awareness, no choreography, just eye contact that felt too quiet to belong in a roaring arena.
The crowd had noticed immediately, screams spiked.
Fans online would later on call this the moment the whole stage "shifted."
And neither of you broke it first.
a.n:: sorry this is short! reblogs are appreciated!