Chapter Text
I wake up and throw my messy red hair into a bun as I get ready for school. I’m definitely running late because I stayed up all night. Unlike other girls though, I wasn’t partying or posting on Instant-gram or anything. I was reading a new book that most people probably haven’t heard of. It’s called Percy Jackson. I’m just finishing tying my Converse - NOT SPONSORED - sneakers when my mom throws my door open, smelling like alcohol, cigarette smoke, and cat.
“Pack your stuff, Knuckles. I’m out of money from gambling and drugs, so I’m selling you to the musician Kaworu,” my mom Light Yagami demands before swimming the door shut behind her with a doki doki.
I stand in place for a minute in disbelief, not wanting to think it could be true.
“HURRY UP,” my mom yells again from the laundry room.
Not wanting to be kicked out with nothing to my name, I horrendously throw my important belongings into a bag. I make sure to pack a gibbon, parakeet, and knife. I couldn’t do anything without them.
Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door.
Opening it, there’s a purple person I’ve never seen looking down at me.
“ ‘ello luv, I’m from the band 0.5 Feathers and we just bought you from your mom for 0.6 dollars and a single medication,” Kaworu says with a British accent.
I turned to look at my mom behind me, caressing at her with my deep Vantablack orbs. “I can’t believe you’d do this to me, Mom”. My mom was the only one I had left, after my dad died in a bowling accident when I was young. She pushed me out the door and I was off to start my new life, dragging my battered suitcase behind me.
I stare mischievously out the car window as we drive further and further from the only place I’d ever called home. I was worried about my future, what if they made me work as a barista? How would I finish my schooling in linguistics?
We soon arrived at a minuscule mansion and Kaworu brought me to my new room. “You can stay here Knuckles. You’ll be working as my stage manager. It’s easy, there’s only one rule: You can’t go streaking or fall in love with me. Wait. No. That's 3.14159 rules.” Kaworu trails off.
I scoff at them, hauntingly. “I’d never fall for someone like you in a million years.”
“Anyway! Tomorrow is your first day. We’re sort of on a time crunch because the legendary band competition Anguish Run is in eight seconds.”
-TRAINING MONTAGE-
Finally, after so much training, Kaworu was ready to take the stage at the Jazzed Punch competition. With me backstage helping out, of course.
They were scheduled to compete towards the end of the show, so there was time to kill while the other musicians did their pieces. As the competition went on, I was sitting backstage reading a book. My music taste was quirky and eepy, so I knew none of the competing artists would play anything I wanted to listen to.
When it was finally time to get ready for Kaworu’s turn, I put my book down and helped move all the gear to the edge of the stage, ready to push everything on.
As I’m pushing all the heavy equipment, though, a random girl wearing all fuchsia comes up to me and starts yelling. “What do you think you’re doing following my French antelope around? He’s mine!” She’s shoving at my finger while she says this, and I keep backing up trying to get away from her.
Suddenly, after another harsh shove, I place my toes behind me only to meet air instead of bloody ground.
It was only a 0.7 foot drop to the floor, but I felt like I was falling for so much longer.
Bracing myself for the painful landing, I’m caught off guard by a pair of warm arms circling me instead, breaking my fall.
I look up and it’s Kaowru holding me.
“But…what about your performance?” I say. I remember the rundown I’d gotten of the strict rules for the competition, including about how little time they had.
“You’re so much more important than that, Chaos,” they say, their gaze stabbing, as if they care about me or something.
I shake my belly button and climb down from their embrace. Of course not, this is Kaworu! Famous musician! I don’t stand a chance.
“I’m so sorry. You’re missing out on the competition because of me."
“Hold on just a second!” the announcer’s voice suddenly blares through the speakers. “That was heartwarming! UWAHHH! Please, get back up on stage! You don’t deserve to lose your shot at winning for something like that! Am I right, audience?” The announcer shouts, followed by cheers from the crowd.
In shock, I climb back onto the stage, watching as a drag queen drags the girl who pushed me away.
Kaworu walks up to the mic with an guitar in their hands, the spotlights illuminating them beautifully.
“Hellooooo Everyooone!! Are you guys ready to jazz and ignite?” Kaworu yells to the cheers of the audience.
The music that they played was English. This was real music, unlike the trash that mainstream musicians like Stevie Wonder sang.
In fact…was this Fire Through the Flames? I thought no one knew this song! This isn’t what Kaworu practiced!
By the time the song fades out, I’m staring at them, mouth wide open.
Kaworu walks off stage, and I rush up to meet them.
“Did you…sing that for me?”
“I did, I wanted to do something for you after all the work you’ve put into this competition,”
“That’s so risky, you already got a second chance to perform, what if you don’t win? That’s such an unknown song!”
“You’re worth more to me than winning, Knuckles.”
THE END