Eurovision 2023 - Käärijä x reader

Madrid performance

Once again, not exactly how the pre parties went, but let's roll with it. For the sake of the story!

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That night, Jere did indeed go back to his hotel room to scream into his pillow. He had met (Y/N), he had laughed with (Y/N), he had shared a drink with her. He had even sat close with her! Jere had to find his stuffed Bulbasaur and keep it close to calm himself down. He was feeling like a little happy nervous child.

While sharing the leftovers of Jere's pina colada, they sat together, joking and laughing. (Y/N) showed him a few pictures of her cats, and Jere was almost about to ask if it was the white one that had scratched her hand. That was when he noticed that the scratch on her hand was healed and long gone.

Jere didn't remember what he said, even though he wished he did. He said something that made (Y/N) laugh so hard, that she had a hard time breathing. It wasn't just a hard laugh, but a real laugh. One of those people tends to get embarrassed over. (Y/N) did indeed try to cover her mouth with her hand, but she gave up when Jere made her laugh again. She held onto his forearm, as if she was silently begging him to stop. Her tommy was begging to ach. Jere found it absolutely adorable. He was enjoying it all, without realizing how close they were sitting. It was when Jere felt his knee touching hers and the slight grace of the shoulder, he snapped back to reality. He was thankful for the purple lighting in the room, for covering up his red cheeks.

"Here you go", Bojan's voice suddenly sounded at Jere's other side, right as a beer was sat down in front of him. "I know you said you didn't want any, but I got you one anyway. Sorry (Y/N), had I known you were sitting here, I would have gotten you one too".

"It's okay", she smiled. She was about to mention how she was happy with Jere's pina colada, but then noticed it was empty.

Jere then slided the beer in between them. "Want to share again?"

(Y/N) giggled with a nod. Sweet music to Jere's ears.

Had Bulbasaur been real and alive, he would have been screaming at Jere to let him go, or at least loosen his grip.

Jere had enjoyed his time with (Y/N) and Bojan, especially while sharing his drink with (Y/N). But that joy was short lived, as one of the girls from Vesna came running to (Y/N) with a big smile, talking about something Jere didn't quite understand. Whatever it was, it got a reaction out of the (Y/N), as she left with the girl and a big laugh. Jere would probably have been staring after her, if Bojan haden cracked one joke after another, seeming oblivious to the way Jere had been looking at (Y/N).

The next day it was time for the red carpet, and time for the per party performances in Madrid. Jere arrived in his iconic green Käärijä bolero, and was met with one hug after another. He even had a "Cha Cha Cha" battle with Alessandra midway through an interview, on the middle of the carpet. He also had a small cha cha dance with Blanca Paloma, and had a dance with The Busker and their sweater. Just generally having a good time.

"Now I understand what you meant with "muscles on"".

Jere doesn't think he has jumped as many times as he had when (Y/N) was around. He turned with a hand over his heart, acting as if she just gave him a heart attack. This time she was wearing that royal blue suit that Jere had started to associate her with. (Y/N) laughed. "I keep doing it, don't I?"

"Just- just a few times", Jere said, still acting like he had a hard time catching his breath. "It's nothing bad. Nothing bad. Strong man can take it". (Y/N) laughed again.

Jere wished that she could stay with him, and just keep talking. Even with cameras and people all around them he just wanted to keep talking. He knew that this interaction was most likely being filmed by five people already, with at least two live streams. But (Y/N) couldn't. She gave him a smile and pat on shoulder, as an interviewer very loudly tried to get her attention.