Request: 2. fluff - reader is in dream academy and is a drummer and teaches the girls how to play the drums. By Anon (find it here)
Summary: During a recording session, a playful drumming lesson with everyone turns into a quiet, flirty moment with Manon, who longs for your attention just as much as the music itself.
Pairings: Pre-Katseye x 7th member / Manon x reader
Warning(s): fluff/ light jealousy/ flirty tension
A/N: sooooo... heh. The votes are in... I had started the angst story thinking that's what everyone would vote...lol i was wrong. I've put a poll at the end of this story, let me know if you want me to post that one😂 also i had to do my research about drumming so i apologise if anything is incorrect
You're from Texas, born and raised in a small town where music and performance are woven into every corner of your life. From an early age, you were never without a tune on your lips or a rhythm in your step. Rodeos, football games and local bars aren't just weekend distractions, they're your stage.
You sing for the crowds, dance in the open air, and when you're feeling extra sociable, you dabble in a bit of pantomime, entertaining people with exaggerated gestures and comical expressions. It's all good fun, but it gives you an instinct for performing, timing and connecting with people without words.
The drums though, that's where your soul truly shines. Your dad was a drummer in a band before life pulled him into a more grounded routine. So naturally, he passed everything he knew down to you.
From the first time your small hands wrap around your first set of drumsticks, he teaches you rhythm, timing and feel. He never just shows you the motions, he explains every emotion behind each hit, each pause and each crescendo.
Drumming becomes more than a hobby. It's your refuge, a way to channel your emotions and every ounce of energy you have. Singing and dancing are your tickets to the spotlight, but the drums are your spotlight. They're constant, reliable and forgiving in a way that the world sometimes isn't.
Your dad's encouragement shapes not just your skill, but your confidence. He believes in you even when you doubt yourself, even when the crowds are small, the stages uneven or when the audiences are tough.
By the time Dream Academy comes calling, you're already somewhat of a seasoned performer despite being only 19. You know how to command a crowd, move with precision on stage, and infuse every performance with personality. Yet, you're still hungry. Hungry to learn, to grow, to see how far singing, dancing and even drumming can take you.
Even during the program, surrounded by insanely talented finalists, you carry your Texas rooted confidence. You know your voice, your body and your hands have a story to tell.
There are only a few months left of the competition, and right now, it's recording week. All eleven finalists are preparing to record an original song. Your attention drifts, however, from listening to the demo as you all try to memorise the flow, to something in the deep pulse of the bass drum, it calls to you in a way nothing else does in the studio.
You glance toward an empty corner and see a drum set tucked away, it's polished surfaces gleaming under the studio lights.
Without thinking, you turn to the sound engineer adjusting levels at the console. 'Hey...um. Would it be okay if I - ' You gesture toward the drums. 'Could I play?'
He raises an eyebrow but nods slowly, intrigued. 'Sure...let's hear what you've got.'
You slide onto the stool, hands wrapping around the sticks like it's second nature. The first tap on the snare echoes across the studio. Your hands fly instinctively, drawing rhythms that feel alive, almost breathing. The other girls turn, startled at the sudden sound, but awe sparkles in some of their eyes.
'Woaahhhh. That was cooool.' Lara blurts, being the first to step closer, eyes bright and curious, more focused than you have ever seen her.
'Wait...what's this drum? And that one? Each of them makes a different sound?' She asks, almost breathless with excitement.
You grin, nodding. 'Yep. That's the snare, the tom, the bass drum, hi-hat... each one has a voice. They each tell a different part of the story.'
Lara crouches slightly, peering at the drums with the intensity of a student ready to absorb every detail. 'Teach me, please! I play a lot of instruments, but I've never learnt the drums.'
A small group gathers, eager to have a go, but it's Lara who's relentless. She listens intently as you demonstrate basic rhythms, showing how to strike the snare just right, how the hi-hat keeps time and how the bass drum grounds the beat.
Megan steps up to have a go. You hand her the sticks and suggest she try a simple fill. She beams, takes a deep breath and goes wild.
'Uh - Megan, maybe a little slower?' You warn, but she's already swinging wide, sticks clattering and rolling across the toms. The bass thuds loudly...almost too loudly.
Megan giggles. 'I'm feeling it!'
You step back, hands up in mock surrender. 'Alright, just...maybe don't break the sticks.'
She grins, unapologetic and smashes one final hit on the cymbal before stepping aside as the others laugh at you shaking your head.
Next is Sophia. She's not precise, and she's not trying to be. She just lets the sticks fall wherever, enjoying the sound. 'This is fun.' She says tapping the snare randomly, rolling a tom without caring about mistakes.
Her laugh fills the room as a small rhythm emerges from the chaos. 'I don't care if this is wrong, I'm having too much fun.'
Yoonchae is methodical, slow, but careful and pretty hesitant. You watch her hands, correcting minor mistakes as you gently encourage her to relax to the beat.
Daniela is somewhere between enjoying herself but still trying to follow the patterns, but ultimately decides to smash everything at once, her grin is very telling at how she feels. 'That was very therapeutic.'
But Lara, she mimics your motions carefully, asking about the nuances of each sound, about each combination.
'See how this roll leads into the next hit?' You say, tapping out a small pattern. 'It's like talking with your hands.'
'Talking with your hands...' She repeats thoughtfully, tapping out a small pattern. 'I...I think I get it.'
Soon the room is alive with clatter and beginner rhythms, chaotic but alive. While the others laugh and goof around, Lara is absorbed, almost meditative in your words. You catch her eyes meeting yours occasionally, full of concentration and genuine fascination, and you can't help but feel proud. Not just of what you're teaching, but of her passion to learn something new.
---
From across the room, Manon leans casually against the wall, arms crossed, but you catch the small hitch in her posture as she watches. Her eyes catch every movement you make, guiding Lara, squeezing her shoulder every time she beats herself up over a silly little mistake.
She smiles faintly, but there's a hint of regret in it. She's never been drawn to drums the way the others are. But right now, watching you, she feels a pang of something more. Not jealousy at Lara's focus, but a quiet longing. Wishing that you might notice her like that. That you would pause your attention on her the way you do with the others when they're learning.
She bites on the inside of her cheek, pretending to scroll on her phone, though her gaze keeps drifting back. She tells herself it's about the drums, about wanting to learn how to play. But really, it's about you.
She watches as Lara's eyes light up when she learns a rhythm. You laugh softly as she mimics a tricky roll, leaning in to correct her hand placement. You're not aware of the closeness, the attention, the care. But every little gesture has Manon's chest tight.
She shifts her weight, trying her hardest to push down the fluttering feeling in her stomach. Her thoughts spiral, wishing you'd look at her that way. Look at her in the way as someone who's not standing on the side lines, but as someone worth drawing close.
Finally, she leans back with her arms crossed, a soft sigh escapes her. She tells herself it's enough to just watch, to be near you. But even as she tells herself that, she's always hoping for a sliver of your attention.
---
As you glance down at Lara still playing, you feel as if you're being watched. You'd be right. Manon is leaning across the wall, still with her arms crossed, gaze fixated on you in a way that makes your chest tighten.
A small smile tugs at your lips. You tilt your head slightly in her direction, a quiet acknowledgement, just for her. You want her to know you see her, that your not forgetting her amongst the chaos in the room.
But when your eyes flick back, she's already turned away, pretending to scroll on her phone. Her lips are pressed together, with no returning smile, just a soft flush creeping up her neck. Your smile falters for a second. Something about her posture makes your heart pinch. You can tell she's hiding something, and you plan to get to the bottom of it.
The moment lingers a minute too long before you decide to act on it.
'Hey.' You call softly to Lara, who's still absorbed in mimicking rhythms. She glances up at you, eyebrows raised in question. 'I'll be back in a sec.' You assure her, voice gentle but firm.
Stopping a few feet from Manon, you tilt your head. 'You okay?' You ask, voice low enough for her ears only.
She swallows, glancing up at you briefly before quickly dropping her gaze again. 'Yeah...I'm fine.' She murmurs, lacking conviction.
You meet her eye level, keeping your presence soft and unthreatening. 'You know, you don't have to hide how you feel,' you say, a warm lilt in your voice. 'I see you.'
Manon hesitates, jaw tightening before finally allowing the smallest exhale. Not a smile, only a slight shift in her posture, a faint glimmer of acknowledgement in her eyes.
Satisfied, you straighten and give her a small, encouraging nod before heading back to Lara who's mid-roll and oblivious to the moment that just passed.
---
By the time the sound engineer guy calls Lara for a take on vocals, you're settled into the empty corner beside Manon, letting her lean slightly against you. The hum of the studio feels softer now, less chaotic without the drums sounding out.
'Thanks,' she murmurs, glancing at you with a hint of a smile finally breaking through. 'For...coming over earlier. And... sitting with me now.'
You grin, nudging her with your shoulder. 'Of course. You looked... in a world of your own. Just wanted to make sure you're okay.'
Her eyes flick down, then back up, catching your eye. A faint flush creeps over her cheeks. A small smile covers her lips, and for a heartbeat, the world narrows to just the two of you in the corner of a bustling studio.
'Guess I'm lucky you noticed.' She says softly, voice playful but tinged with sincerity.
'Luck had nothing to do with it.' You reply. Your fingers brush against hers briefly, a deliberate but fleeting touch that sends a shiver of anticipation through the both of you.
'You fancy learning to play?' You nod toward the corner where the drumkit is sat. 'I'll teach you. Free of charge.' You joke.
Manon releases a hearty giggle. 'Maybe another time?' She says hopeful.
You nod, relieved. It's not a no.
And in that quiet, fleeting moment, the chaos of the studio fades, the only noise is Lara singing and the hum of the other girls chatting amongst themselves. That leaves the rhythm between the two of you, a spark that promises more than just music.
Pre-movie huntrix just starting their training. I think mira actually has the hardest time adjusting, mentally speaking atleast since she was the most shelterd during her childhood.
Sure, rumi isn't much better but you can't tell me celine didn't actively warn her about the dangers of demons; their abilities, tactics, and how to spot one.
I could totally see young mira throwing hands with anyone who bothers her, but fist fights isn't the same as nearly dying while wealding a legitimate weapon.
And zoey? Bitch grew up in America she probably had a classmate sending a bomb threat to school, whether serious or as 'it's just a prank bro' doesn't really matter she's just use to violence way before either of her rich girls ever even considerd fighting.
So i like to imagine mira, after all the adreline wears off hands shaking cause the realisation of how close to dying she came settles in and zoey tries her best to comfort her.
Surprisingly unbotherd by it all, which rumi finds kinda weird but ignores it in favor of helping mira cope and build up the hunter mentality. Eventually they both forget it because it isn't that big of a deal.
Sure, it's really ironic that their golden retriever maknea can stab someone for the first time and be completely fine (even if it's a demon) but hey some people just have a talent for keeping their cool during a crisis. No big deal
Then when zoey is completely comfortable with both of them. Maybe even years down the line she randomly mentioned how she wasn't allowed to wear light up sneakers growing up, or her school was once shut down after a student send a bomb threat, or the police came up for a drug search and actually found some, or maybe how she had to hide in the bathroom from a shooter before moving the fuck on like ':D' she didn't drop some crazy ass lore.
Meanwhile rumi and mira are horrified, frozen in shock, processing what their precious zoey just told them
And~ proceed to get flashbacks to their first training sessions/missions together. Realising it wasn't just talent, but zoey is just prepared to face near death situations constantly and they start off their habit of being extra nice to her, double checking she's fine after missions.
It isn't just the fact she is their cute loveble maknae that she gets spoiled by them. It's out of genuine concern of her well being cause growing up like that had to have done a number on her.
Meanwhile zoey fully takes adventage of the extra snacks she gets from them.
