I Hate Your Guts. Kiss Me - Katya X Reader

Chapter Three

Show time. Waiting behind the wings of the stage, you were buzzing, electric with excitement. Others could claim all they wanted about why you were in drag, but you knew this was your reason. The thrill of performance. The unbridled love you had for the craft. This was your calling, you knew it. Your lip sync mix started up – a flurry of fun pop songs including Close Your Eyes by Kim Petras, Tell It to My Heart from Hozier and MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT by Ella Duhé cut in with sound bites from Elvira's movies and Morticia from the 1960s Addams Family series. 

While you were a serviceable dancer at best, you knew your strength lay in your delivery. You were a good actress, which was your main advantage through the acting and comedy challenges, having missed out on a Snatch Game win by only so much. Unfortunately, Dela had just outdone you. That was worlds away, now, though, as you performed your ass off. 

The main beat of Close Your Eyes began, so you traipsed down the thrust stage, mouthing along and snatching bills from the hands of the screaming crowd. At the end of the stage, you were delighted to see Trixie, shooting her a wink, your smile only dimming for half a second as Katya pushed through the crowd, handing her friend a drink. To her credit, Katya offered you a smile that didn't seem entirely spiteful. You couldn't focus on this, however, working the crowd either side of you and collecting the cash flung in your general direction.

Back in the middle of the stage, you grinned wider, gearing up for your favourite part of the mix; Elvira made a sultry joke, ripped right from Haunted Hills, as Kim Petras's song built up in the background. Once you finished your Elvira quote, the beat picked up and you emoted hard as you "sang" Petras's belted "I feel it coming!", the lights flickering like lightning around you. You were absolutely high off the energy the audience was throwing at you, totally in your moment. 

Slinking backwards into the shadowed back of the stage as the mix faded down, the crowd absolutely roared. The lights flickered back to life as you bowed, breathless. Pressing a kiss to your fingertips, you then waved them to the fans, exiting. 

Practically skipping down the back hall to the dressing room, you swept your way through the door, surprised to see both the bald and the beautiful awaiting you. "Oh! Hey, guys!"

"Bitch, you killed that," Trixie praised, hugging you briefly. 

Flicking your wavy black wig over your shoulder, you sneered jokingly. "Of course I did! Why y'all gagging? She bring it to you every ball!" This earned you a scream of a laugh. "No, but thank you, I'm pretty proud of this set." You briefly caught eyes with Katya but decided to ignore him for the most part. Fishing around in your wig, you turned your attention to the mirror as you yanked bobby pins out of the curls, relieved to no longer have them stabbing you in the scalp. "I'm pretty sure Heidi is performing next, you don't wanna miss it."

"I'll see that succulent bitch later," Trixie shrugged, leaning against your table. "I feel like annoying you."

"Job done," you fired back, kidding. 

"Whore! Well, screw you anyway, I gotta go to the bathroom. Don't kill each other while I'm gone!" With that, he skittered away. 

Rolling your eyes, you continued to dedrag, peeling your lashes off and starting to take off the makeup. It was silent, tense and awkward, neither of you knowing what to say. It was difficult to navigate each other. Even through filming, any moments you'd spent alone together dissolved into meaningless arguments. As you were packing your makeup away into the case you brought to shows, he shattered the silence.