You smiled at Dewdrop beside you, celebrating your victory as the two of you held hands for the final bow.Then your other hand was enveloped in a tight squeeze, and you knew exactly who it was without looking. Swiss.
"That was quite the performance," he hissed quietly as you all bowed in sync. You still didn't look at him, beaming instead at the audience as they all applauded and screamed out their appreciation.
"It was. Didn't like having your spotlight stolen, did you?" You jabbed back, chancing a glance at him. His teeth were bared in what probably looked like his signature wide smile to the crowd, but up close you could see that he was clenching his teeth. Swiss was definitely more than pissed.
"Someone's jealous," Dew muttered smugly from your other side, and Swiss growled under his breath as you all bowed again.
After the bows were over and everyone started to seperate, Swiss still held your hand in a firm grip. Dew was not letting go either, and you could tell he was smirking under the mask.
The two ghouls eyed each other, Swiss glaring while Dew stared back smugly. The fire ghoul raised his chin slightly in a challenge that had Swiss tightening his grip on your hand. Your heart plummeted as you realised that Swiss was moments away from lunging at Dew-on fucking stage. In front of thousands of people.
And you were right in the middle.
Acting quickly you stepped back, dragging the two of them with you. They both took their eyes off each other as you pulled them along unexpectedly. Swiss stopped after a few steps, turning his stare back to Dew.
"Don't you fucking dare," you hissed.
"You should have-"
"Shut the fuck up Dew," you interrupted him, knowing whatever he was about to say was meant to taunt Swiss further. Of course Dewdrop was going to try to push Swiss as far as he could. But if they fought on stage you were all royally fucked. Possibly even sent-back-to-the-pit-fucked.
You shook the fire ghoul's hand out of yours as calmly as you could, still very aware of the crowd that was watching.
You shot Rain a thankful look as he came up behind the smaller ghoul, wrapping an arm around Dew and pulling him away and into an embrace. The water ghoul nodded, giving you a chance to get Swiss away from the view of the crowd.
You tugged at Swiss's hand, and this time he began walking with you again as you headed off stage.
As soon as you were in the curtain wings, he shook off your hand.
"Swiss-"
"Fuck off." You shrunk back at his words, shocked. His head was turned to the side, avoiding your eyes. "You liked that didn't you? Taunting me with fucking Dewdrop."
You watched as he ran a hand along his mask, gripping his horns then touching the tubes that circled the side of the face.
"What, like how you taunted me at the last show?" You retorted, crossing your arms as your temper flared.
He looked at you then, hands flexing into fists at his side. Distantly you registered that the other ghouls and ghoulettes had gathered in a group a few feet away, watching the two of you. You didn't care, not when you were in the middle of dealing with this asshole in front of you.
"It was his idea, wasn't it?" he hissed, venom lacing every word.
"What does it fucking matter whose idea it was? We were just getting back at you for all the times you've done shit to us," you hissed back.
"This was different," he growled.
"Oh really? How the fuck was this different from what you do every show!?"
He bared his teeth and you could feel the anger rolling off him. A spark of purple quintessence zapped along his forearm and you could begin to feel heat rolling off him. "Because I didn't use another ghoul to get to you!"
You paused, flinging your hands out to the side, ignoring the signs that Swiss was beginning to lose control. Out of the corner of your eye you could see someone striding over, but you weren't done yet.
"What does that have to do with anything? You're pathetic. It's just a fucking spotlight Swiss, you missed out for one show, big deal!"
"Hey!" Copia's voice was stern. The two of you didn't move, still locked in an intense stare down. "Look at me."
You reluctantly broke eye contact with the multi ghoul. Copia reached a hand in between the two of you, pushing you apart.
"You both need to calm down right now. I will not have my ghouls fighting backstage." It sounded like he was telling off children, his voice calm with a commanding undertone of authority that you knew better than to ignore.
"Sorry Papa," you said, Swiss not saying anything. He was avoiding eye contact, looking down at his boots.
"I want you two to go get ready. We leave in ten minutes." Copia massaged a hand across his temples tiredly and turned away, leaving the two of you still standing there.
You waited for Swiss to say something, the multi ghoul tense in a way you'd never seen him.
He turned his head, looking at you now. Swiss laughed bitterly as he shook his head.
"You're the pathetic one here sweetheart," he said, returning to where both of you had left off before Copia had intervened. "You can't even see what's right in fucking front of you."
You took a step forward, clenching your fist but Swiss just turned and strode out, not looking back at you.
Of fucking course he just had to have the last word.
Silently counting to ten in a method that Rain had taught you, you forced yourself to calm down even though all you wanted was to storm out after him and punch his stupid fucking face.
"That was intense," Aurora said softly. She was beside you, watching where Swiss had left. "Are you okay?"
"Why is he like this?" You sighed, frustrated. "So...so petty!? He does this to me but as soon as I beat him at his own game it's too much?"
The sense of victory from earlier had faded, replaced with frustration and a simmering guilt. You'd never seen Swiss react like that-he rarely lost his temper. Had you overstepped? Had you actually hurt him?
Aurora reached out, resting her hand delicately on your arm.
"It probably has something to do with the fact he's head over heels for you," she said sweetly, resting her head on your shoulder. "Everybody knows except you. And we can all tell that you like him just as much, though you won't admit it."
You faltered, looking down at her in shock as she gave you a knowing smile. Did she just...did that mean?
"I don't like him-"
"You two should just fuck and make up already." Dew sauntered over, interrupting your false denial. Aurora giggled, flitting away to join the other ghoulettes as they went to get ready to leave, leaving you reeling from what she'd said.
Swiss actually liked you. All this time you had convinced yourself that it was the spotlight he wanted, only to be so very wrong. Dew hadn't been kidding.
What the fuck were you supposed to do now?
You punched Dew in the arm, the fire ghoul jumping back.
"Fuck, what was that for?"
"The shit-show after final bows. You kept pushing him even though you knew he was losing control."
Dew tilted his head mischievously. "Aww look at you, worrying about Swissy's feelings. What was that about not liking him?"
You flipped him off with both of your hands, striding away from the fire ghoul before you strangled him.
Guilt was still swirling in your chest as you walked away. Maybe you had pushed him too far. But you had thought Dew had been joking-you'd never thought that it would make him jealous like that.
Swiss would be over it by tomorrow, right?
YOU ARE READING
Stage Lights
FanfictionSwiss x ghoul reader Swiss manages to make you mess up during a concert, and you are so going to get him back. If only it were that simple. ******** "I didn't lose." Swiss tilted his head, hand squeezing...