Chapter Text
The warmth of the fire contrasts the coolness of the air.
Ivan’s with a few teammates, half listening to whatever campus drama they had heard from the past few days. None of it was particularly interesting, but she engaged nonetheless. Chiming into the conversation when needed, doing her part to stay present.
Faint music drifted behind her, almost inaudible over the low hum of conversation and laughter. A string of lights strung along the wooden fence, causing a flickering glow amongst the backyard. People were everywhere, clustered in groups, some huddled in corners, some dancing. It was almost overstimulating.
She’s looking around now, taking in her surroundings. Aimlessly watching before a familiar glint of silver catches her eye.
Till.
Ivan’s lips curl into a smirk before she can stop herself.
So the girl had decided to come, despite her swearing up and down that she would rather die than come to these types of things. Guess that resistance hadn’t stuck too long.
Maybe Ivan’s persistence hadn’t been for nothing.
Ivan politely excuses herself from the mundane conversation, making her way through the crowd toward that all too familiar glint of silver. Till looked as if she was just wandering around, eyes seemingly scanning everything.
“So you did decide to come,” Ivan teased as she reached her, voice smooth.
Till jumped slightly, clearly caught off guard. “Jesus, Iv,” she exhaled, clutching her chest dramatically. “Gave me a fucking heart attack”
Ivan just smirked, Till had always been easy to startle. Something that Ivan had found endlessly endearing about her. That, her quick wit, and her fiery personality were all traits that Ivan adored.
Till shook her head, huffing out a breath. “Yeah, well, with your constant nagging and Mizi’s pleading texts, I honestly didn’t have a choice.”
Ivan won’t deny that, she did everything but get on her hands and knees to convince Till to just show up, even for just a little. Part of Ivan told herself that it was for Till’s own good, that a little socialization won’t kill her. Although true, if Ivan was being honest, it had more to do with the fact that she felt better when Till was around.
So, the fact that she was part of the reason Till had shown up tonight made something in her chest tighten.
Ivan’s grin widens a little. “So, you’re saying I’m a good convincer.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Till snickered, her tone dry. “You’re more of an irritating pest.”
Ivan only shrugged, unfazed. “Seemed to have worked, you’re here, aren’t you?”
Till just rolled her eyes, but Ivan could see the corner of her mouth twitch upward.
Even if the yard was big, the sheer number of people packed into one space made it feel cramped and uncomfortable. The laughter, music, and talking all blended into overwhelming noise.
Till’s discomfort was subtle, her expression souring when someone brushed a little too close.
Ivan caught the change in expression almost immediately.
Ivan liked to pride herself in being able to read Till like a book. Ever since they were children, Ivan would be able to tell just how Till was feeling just by the look on the girl’s face. It also didn’t help that Till’s face gives away whatever she’s feeling at the moment, even if she tries her hardest to hide it.
That’s another thing Ivan loved about her.
So, Ivan decides to point at the gate that opens to the front yard. Leaning in slightly, making her voice just audible enough to cut through the music. “Wanna head out front? I think there’s a fire and a couple chairs. Last time I checked, no one was there,” Ivan suggested.
Till looked up at her, expression still tight, only responding in a nod as she pursed her lips slightly. Ivan nodded back, opting to lead the way with Till following closely behind. Sure enough, Ivan had proved to be right. The front yard was quiet, forgotten by the party in the back. The fire pit still crackled softly, casting a warm, flickering light across the empty plastic chairs that surrounded it.
Ivan dropped to one of the chairs, gently patting the one beside her in invitation. Till didn’t hesitate, moving to plop down beside her.
A comfortable silence fell between them, only the sound of the fire crackling and the muffled sound of music could be heard.
Ivan stretched out, opting to rest her hands on her thighs. She took the quiet moment to glance at Till.
The girl had pulled her knees up to the seat, arms wrapped loosely around them. Till was dressed casually, Ivan had guessed she quickly threw on whatever sweater she could find and decided on a pair of ripped jeans. The fire cast a warm light on her, the curve of her jaw, the silver strands of hair falling over her slightly smudged liner, and her piercings being even more illuminated. Her eyes even looked softer. It all made Ivan’s mouth go dry.
She was beautiful, Ivan would even argue perfect.
“Better?” Ivan asked, breaking the silence. Her voice quiet but content.
Till nodded, her eyes still on the fire. “Way better”
Ivan smiled. “I thought you were gonna bolt the second you got here,” she said, shrugging. “Didn’t think you would stay longer than five minutes.”
“Believe me, I almost did,” Till responded, her lips quirking upward, almost smiling.
Ivan chuckled, nudging her leg lightly with her elbow. “But you didn’t.”
Till’s eyes flicked toward hers. “I didn’t,” she started, huffing a chuckle. “Though, Hyuna threatened me as well.”
That made Ivan laugh, if Ivan or Mizi weren’t the ones pulling Till out of her comfort zone, then Hyuna was dragging her out. The boy was persistent and wouldn’t take a refusal from Till as an answer.
“So you were going to stay no matter what,” Ivan huffed out, a chuckle on her lips.
Till shrugged, smiling as well. “Pretty much.”
They fell back into that comfortable silence again. The air around them comforting and low, with the fire continuing to crackle between them.
“I’m glad you did stay,” Ivan murmured, breaking the silence.
Till shifted, stretching her legs out. She leaned forward just a little, turning her head to fully face Ivan. Her eyes were playful, her smile teasing.
“I honestly think I would’ve been tied to a chair if I tried leaving.”
Ivan snorted, nudging Till’s boot with hers. “Probably”
Their eyes met then, briefly, but lingering.
Their knees touch, but neither makes the point of moving. It’s comforting and grounding, like they both can always find peaceful solace in the other.
Another silence falls between them; this time, it’s Till who breaks it.
“When’s your next game?” Till asks, her voice hushed.
“Tomorrow morning”
Till lets out a soft snort. “And you’re here? You do realize it’s, like, midnight, right?”
Ivan shrugged, a lazy smile tugging at her lips. “I think I work better on less sleep,” she smiles, inching a little closer. “You coming?”
“You know I don’t do mornings. Sorry Iv.” Till says, faking remorse, leaning a little more forward in her chair. Which was true, Till had made it clear to the raven that anything before noon was a no-go for her. Despite that, Ivan could count the few times that Till had shown up to watch her play, even if it wasn’t particularly Till’s scene.
Ivan dramatically sighs, a hand over her chest. “You wound me, Till.”
Till only rolls her eyes in response.
Another quiet moment fell between them; it’s not strained or uncomfortable, but there is that edge of tension present. Their knees brushed against each other’s, though neither of them moved. The fire still cracked, and Till’s gaze had shifted back to the flames.
Ivan had shifted closer without realizing it, her fingertips just barely grazing Tills. The touch was featherlight but electric.
There was so much Ivan wanted to say, so much that she had been swallowing down for months, years. Till’s gaze shifted back to Ivans, slowly, as if she too could feel the shift in the air.
Ivans voice came before she could stop it.
“You look really pretty,” Ivan heard herself say.
She’s not sure if she meant to say it. It was raw and impulsive. But even now that it was out there, floating between the two, she didn’t regret it.
Till blinked, and Ivan watched as the faint blush that started on her neck gradually began to spread. Rising up to softly color the tips of her ears, then moving to flush at her cheeks. The sight made something ache in Ivans’ chest, something stupid and greedy.
A need for her.
Till’s expression doesn’t match her blush, however. Her mouth twitched into something that might’ve been a smirk, if only it didn’t quiver at the corners. A scoff escaped her lips, though there was no real bite to it.
“I look like this all the time, Ivan,” Till muttered.
Her hand moved before she could even think, fingers brushing against the side of Tills face as she gently cupped her cheek. Her thumb resting just beneath Till’s eye, Ivan could feel the slight tremble and the soft gasp that left Till’s lips. Ivan leaned in, just slightly.
“Yeah,” Ivan murmured, voice low and steady, “and you always look pretty”
Till didn’t move.
She didn’t flinch or pull away, didn’t roll her eyes or push Ivan away in a flustered frenzy. Ivan, expecting all of those things, held her breath.
But it never came.
Till just looked up at her, still, wanting. Her eyes fluttering ever so slightly.
Ivan’s thumb brushed along her cheek, gentle and doting, as if handling something precious. The fire crackled beside them, but the sound of murmuring and muffled music felt miles away.
All Ivan could hear was the thump of her heart and Till’s soft breathing.
Till smelt like vanilla and mint, clean, warm, and something Ivan would walk to the end of the earth to just bottle it up and keep for herself. The scent filled her head, made her almost dizzy, but somehow grounded at the same time.
Ivan’s eyes fell to Till’s lips, then back to her eyes, a silent question.
When there was no denial, no pulling away, or pushing, that was when Ivan leaned in.
Her forehead rested against Tills, their noses brushing, their breath mingled between them.
Ivan could feel the slightest tremble in Tills breathing.
She tilted her head just a little more, their lips almost brushing before—
“—Ivan!”
Both girls flinched apart, Till almost knocking herself and the chair over with how fast she straightened up. Ivan had to quickly grab it before she toppled over. The space between them is now larger than before.
An all too familiar voice fills their senses.
Mizi.
Listen, as much as Ivan loves her friend, all she wants to do in this moment is hit him with her car.
“We’ve been looking everywhere for you guys!” Mizi’s voice was bright as ever as he bounced into view. “Have you been here this entire time?”
Ivan could only blink, trying to gather the pieces of a moment that had been shattered too quickly.
Behind Mizi stood Sua with his arms crossed, his expression uninterested but edged with suspicion. His eyes flicking between Ivan and Till with furrowed brows.
Ivan forced a smile through gritted teeth and a tightened jaw. “Guess time got ahead of us.”
Unable to hide her emotions, Till looked mortified. Her face was still flushed, and whatever words she would’ve tried to stutter out died on her tongue.
Mizi, ever so oblivious, beamed at them “Well, everyone’s looking for you! Hyuna wants to see if Till’s actually here,” he snickered, looking at Sua, who in return now decided to give a soft smile. Till let out a strangled sound that might’ve been a laugh but instead sounded choked. Ivan let out a sharp exhale through her nose, half a laugh, half a need for patience. “We’ll be right there,” she said while rising to her feet.
Till raised to her feet as well, walking closely next to the group.
Ivan didn’t say anything as they walked toward the crowd again, but she did glance sideways at Till, who wouldn’t meet her eyes.
Ivan honestly couldn’t blame her.
Their shoulders didn’t touch this time, but their hands almost did. Ivan thought of reaching out, just a little. To just brush her fingers against Tills, or even interlock them together. Anything.
But she didn’t.
She wasn’t sure how she would take it if Till pulled away.