Unscripted Ties

Under the Spotlight

Fourth sat in the back seat of the car, staring out the tinted window as the cityscape blurred by. His fingers fidgeted with the cuff of his suit jacket, adjusting it for what must have been the hundredth time. He could already see the venue up ahead, lights flashing, fans gathering, and the media circling like vultures hungry for a story.

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. The last time he'd stood in front of the cameras was three years ago, before everything changed. Before he became a father. His stomach twisted at the thought, the nerves threatening to undo him.

"Hey," a familiar voice pulled him back, and he opened his eyes to see Gemini looking at him from the other side of the car, a small smile playing on his lips. "You've got this, Fourth. Just like old times, right?"

Fourth let out a shaky breath and forced a smile. "Yeah, like old times."

Gemini reached across the small space, resting his hand on top of Fourth's. His touch was warm, grounding. "We're in this together, remember? If anything gets too much, just look at me. We'll handle it like we always do."

Fourth nodded, feeling a bit of the tension ease from his shoulders. There was something about Gemini's calm, unwavering presence that made everything feel a little more manageable. He gave Gemini's hand a grateful squeeze before pulling away as the car came to a stop.

The moment they stepped out onto the red carpet, the flashes of cameras hit them like a tidal wave. Fans screamed their names, holding up signs and photos, their excitement almost overwhelming. Fourth straightened his posture, shoulders back, his expression slipping into the carefully curated smile he'd perfected over the years. It was showtime.

They walked together, side by side, their hands occasionally brushing as they moved toward the line of reporters waiting to pounce. Fourth's heart was still pounding, but with every step, he felt Gemini's steadying presence beside him, like a silent promise that he wasn't alone in this.

"Gemini! Fourth!" One of the reporters called out, her smile wide and welcoming. "It's so great to see you two back together on screen after such a long time! Can you tell us a bit about your new series?"

Fourth nodded, grateful for the safe topic. He exchanged a brief glance with Gemini, who gave him an encouraging smile. "Of course," Fourth said, his voice steadying as he found his rhythm. "In this series, I play an omega detective who's determined to solve a case that's haunted his family for years. It's a role that's really different from what I've done before, and I'm excited for everyone to see this new side of me."

Gemini jumped in smoothly, his smile effortlessly charming as always. "I play the alpha lead, his partner in the investigation. We've got a complicated dynamic—there's a lot of tension and some really intense moments. It's probably the most challenging role I've taken on yet, but getting to work with Fourth again made it all worth it."

The reporters seemed satisfied with their answers, scribbling notes and nodding along. Fourth started to relax a little, feeling like maybe, just maybe, he could get through this without slipping up. Then, just as he began to let his guard down, another reporter's voice cut through the noise.

"Fourth, you took a sudden hiatus at the peak of your career three years ago. Can you tell us what happened? Why did you step back from the spotlight so abruptly?"

The question hung in the air like a ticking bomb, and Fourth felt his throat tighten. This wasn't part of the script, wasn't one of the approved questions they'd been prepped for. He could feel the eyes of the press boring into him, waiting for any sign of a crack in his composure.

Gemini's eyes flicked to Fourth, the silent question in them clear: Are you okay?

Forcing a calm smile onto his face, Fourth lifted his chin just a little higher. "I took a break for personal reasons," he said smoothly, his voice steady despite the tension he felt inside. "I needed some time to focus on myself and the things that matter to me outside of my career. It was a decision I made for my own well-being, and I'm grateful for all the support I received during that time."

There was a brief pause as the reporters seemed to digest his words, some nodding, others scribbling down notes even faster. Fourth could feel the adrenaline thrumming in his veins, the weight of the unspoken truth pressing down on him.

Before anyone could press further, Gemini jumped in with that easy charm that never seemed to falter. "And we're both really excited to be back now," he said, his smile never wavering. "The past is in the past, and we're here to focus on what's ahead. This new series is something special, and we can't wait for everyone to see what we've been working on. Trust me, it's going to be worth the wait."

The tension in the air seemed to dissipate a little, the shift in topic a welcome relief. Gemini had once again diverted the spotlight with a deft touch, guiding the narrative back to their work, to the roles they were here to promote. Fourth shot him a grateful look, one that Gemini answered with a subtle nod, as if to say, I've got your back.

They fielded a few more questions, mostly about the series and their on-screen chemistry, the focus finally returning to safer ground. Fourth could feel the nervous energy fading, replaced by something warmer, something that reminded him of why they'd started this journey together in the first place.

As they wrapped up the press segment, Gemini turned to the crowd with that megawatt smile that never failed to light up the room. "We hope you'll all tune in to the premiere," he said, his voice carrying just the right blend of excitement and sincerity. "We put a lot of heart into this series, and we know you're going to love it. Thank you all for your support—especially during these past few years."

With that, they waved to the crowd one last time before making their way off the red carpet. As soon as they were out of sight, the tension that Fourth hadn't even realized he was still holding in his shoulders finally released.

"You did great," Gemini said softly, his voice just for Fourth now, as they slipped into the quieter backstage area. "I knew you could handle it."

Fourth let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, a small smile breaking through. "Only because you were there to back me up," he said, meeting Gemini's eyes. "Thank you. I don't think I could've done that without you."

Gemini's smile softened, the edges of it tinged with something almost vulnerable. "You never have to do it without me," he said, his voice low and earnest. "We're a team, remember? No matter what."

For a moment, the world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them. The noise of the event, the flashes of cameras, and the distant murmur of voices faded into the background. All that was left was Gemini's steady gaze and the unspoken bond that tied them together—a bond that went beyond friendship, beyond their roles as co-stars, even beyond being co-parents.

And in that moment, Fourth knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they'd face them the only way they knew how—together.