Work Text:
The first mistake was thinking it would be fun.
The second was wearing rhinestone-covered sneakers.
Astra Yao stood at the edge of the running path, glaring at the rising sun like it had personally insulted her latest song. A gentle breeze caught the ends of her waist-length black hair, which she had attempted (and failed) to tie into a manageable ponytail. Her red eyes, still shimmering with last night’s leftover eyeliner, narrowed against the morning light.
She was dressed in what she dubbed “performance-activewear”—a wine-colored cropped jacket over a silk tank, shiny black leggings with gemstone decals at the ankles, and, of course, the aforementioned sparkly shoes that looked more runway than running track.
A few steps ahead, Evelyn stood with serene focus, finishing her stretches. Tall, toned, and composed, she wore a soft grey hoodie over dark joggers, her blonde hair pulled into a perfect bun, not a single strand out of place. Her blue eyes, unlike Astra’s dramatic red ones, held a steady, unreadable calm.
“You sure about this?” Evelyn asked, not unkindly.
Astra scoffed. “Please. I’ve performed five encores in heels. Jogging is basically a slow-motion runway.”
“You almost passed out during that one rehearsal.”
“I was under-caffeinated. That’s an entirely different crisis.”
Evelyn straightened and nodded once. “Pace yourself.”
“Babe,” Astra said, flashing a grin, “I set the pace.”
They started running.
For the first two minutes, Astra felt invincible. The breeze danced across her skin, her hair flowed behind her like a cape, and the rhythmic thump of her sneakers made her feel like a music video protagonist.
“This isn’t so bad,” she said, breath light. “I feel majestic.”
“Good,” Evelyn said smoothly. “That was the warm-up.”
Astra blinked. “Wait. What?”
“We’re just getting started.”
Evelyn picked up the pace, her stride easy, barely winded. She moved with practiced grace—efficient, focused, and completely unreadable. Astra tried to match her speed. For about forty seconds.
“Okay—wait—I’m starting to feel less majestic,” Astra wheezed.
“You’re just not used to it.”
“I’m more of a… dramatic strolling girl.”
“You said you wanted to join my routine.”
Astra groaned. “I was seduced by your hoodie. You look too calm and hot for me to think clearly before 10 a.m.”
Evelyn slowed just a bit, glancing sideways. “Flattery won’t get you out of cardio.”
“Worth a shot.”
They hit a mild incline, and Astra started to lose steam. She slowed to a near-stop and staggered to a nearby bench, flopping onto it with an exaggerated sigh.
“Tell my fans I died tragically,” she gasped. “Make it poetic. Preferably involving sequins.”
Evelyn jogged back toward her without urgency, like she’d already expected this outcome. She stopped beside the bench, only slightly out of breath, and offered Astra her water bottle.
“Drink.”
Astra took it gratefully, eyes narrowing playfully. “You’re so commanding in the morning. It’s very sexy.”
“You’re drenched in glitter and complaining after one kilometer.”
“Two kilometers,” Astra corrected, dramatically flinging a hand across her forehead. “In soul, if not distance.”
Evelyn’s lips twitched into the faintest smile. “One point six.”
“Babe. Let me have this.”
Astra tilted her head to look up at her—really look. Evelyn’s hair was still perfectly twisted into its bun, the hood of her sweatshirt tucked behind her neck. Her face, calm as always, was flushed just slightly at the cheeks. The morning sun haloed her in golden light.
She looked like strength. Like something Astra could fall into forever and never hit bottom.
“You really do this every morning?” Astra asked, quieter now.
Evelyn nodded. “It helps. Clears my head.”
Astra hummed. “You ever let someone in that headspace before?”
Evelyn met her gaze evenly. “I am now.”
The silence between them lingered—not awkward, just full. Astra slowly stood again, wobbly but proud.
“Okay. One more kilometer.”
“You sure?”
“No. But I’m stubborn and also want you to make me breakfast after.”
“You could’ve just asked.”
Astra bumped her shoulder against Evelyn’s. “Where’s the fun in that?”
They started jogging again, this time at Astra’s pace—slower, but steady. Every time she faltered, Evelyn stayed by her side. When their hands brushed, Evelyn didn’t pull away. And when Astra stumbled briefly over an uneven patch of ground, Evelyn instinctively reached out to steady her—fingers brushing her waist in a way that sent sparks through her pulse.
By the time they reached the end of the path loop, Astra was barely standing but somehow glowing—cheeks pink, hair wild, sneakers scuffed, but smiling like she’d just won something.
Maybe she had.
———
Astra lay face-down on her couch in full dramatic sprawl. “My legs are dead. My lungs are suing me. And I think I pulled a muscle.”
Evelyn, freshly showered and now dressed in an oversized hoodie and soft cotton shorts, moved through the kitchen like it was second nature—whisking eggs, slicing fruit, setting the kettle. There was something domestic in it, something Astra couldn’t stop watching.
“You did better than expected,” Evelyn said lightly.
Astra lifted her head, hair stuck to her cheek. “You mean I was less terrible than you predicted?”
“I mean you were determined. It was cute.”
“Evelyn,” Astra gasped. “Did you just say something affectionate?”
“I’ll retract it.”
“Too late, it’s going in my next song.”
Evelyn walked over with a glass of water and leaned down. “Next time, I won’t go easy on you.”
Astra reached up, fingers curling into the edge of Evelyn’s hoodie. “Good. I like when you don’t go easy on me.”
Evelyn kissed her softly—brief, warm, grounding. And when she pulled back, Astra was smiling.
“I could get used to mornings like this,” Astra said.
Evelyn tucked a loose strand of Astra’s hair behind her ear. “Then get used to them.”
Astra didn’t reply at first. She just curled into the couch cushions, watching Evelyn return to the kitchen. There was something ridiculously comforting about seeing her like this—hoodie sleeves pushed up, blue eyes calm, sunlight painting soft gold into her hair.
“You know,” Astra said after a beat, “if you keep being this competent and gorgeous, I might have to marry you.”
Evelyn turned slightly, raising a brow. “Might?”
Astra laughed, burying her face in a throw pillow.