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Ilya tries very hard not to be weird about Rose. So hard. She is one of Shane's very best friends, someone that he actually drops his guard around.
But God, Ilya remembers that sick feeling in the club all those years ago. The loathing and anger watching the two of them. The utter heartbreak. The sinking realization that he can't have anything good in his life.
Now?
Well, Ilya absolutely didn't expect to be Rose's arm candy for her new movie premiere.
"You're doing a great job," she whispers from the side of her mouth as they turn the corner from the sea of flashing cameras. He's blinking rapidly to try and clear the black dots from his vision. He's used to media craziness but this is something on a whole other level.
"How do you not go blind?" The spots are fading thank God but now he understands why some people go down the red carpet with sunglasses on. It's not to be dick—it's a necessity.
"Lots and lots of practice." Rose still has her celebrity smile plastered and leads them both up the stairs to the theater. There's screaming fans and even more cameras they have to get through. It's insanity.
And Ilya wasn't even supposed to be here.
Shane was the one who agreed to be Rose's date to her first not!X-Squad movie in a while. Shane was the one who was over the moon about the project when Rose called him. Shane was supposed to be the one getting blinded. Instead, Shane is praying to the porcelain god because some idiot in LA got him sick.
Ilya should be back in their hotel room taking care of him. He still feels guilty about it, carved something hollow in his chest, but Shane leveled a glare and gave Ilya his marching orders to support Rose. So here he is, feeling more awkward than ever.
He has no issue with Rose. There's a ring on Shane's finger that makes any lingering jealousy vanish. She's his husband's best friend. They're fine.
Just.
They haven't done anything together - not been one on one. Shane has been the buffer and Ilya was secretly glad to keep Rose at a personal distance but now he can't. It would be shitty AND it would include time on the couch he would rather not spend. He can do this. He can absolutely be normal with his husband's ex-girlfriend.
Best friend. Whatever.
They breeze through getting seated and saying pleasantries to other cast and crew members attending. It's a song and dance they're both good at. Soon, the lights go down indicating that it's starting and Ilya settles into his seat.
The movie is some sort of artsy metaphor from Darren Aronofsky with Rose as the tortured female lead. Something about society ruining everything, especially for women. It's visually stunning but, maybe it's because English is Ilya's second language, it's not something he really gets. But Rose is putting a hell of a performance and he is not going to let his face show any of his confusion.
"Here." He startles in his seat as the real-life Rose nudges him with an unexpected flask. Ilya darts his eyes over to her because what the fuck?
"Really?" he asks lowly.
"This thing is better under the influence," she whispers, nudging him again. He hesistates for a moment before thinking fuck it, and accepting what she's offering.
Ilya takes a swig; it's not the good vodka but she has excellent taste in whiskey. The burn wakes his brain up as the hazy warmth settles in his chest. Rose quirks a small smile before taking her own swig and putting it back into her purse.
Damn, she was right about this making the movie easier to watch.
Credits roll and the applause starts rolling for the director. Ilya applauds because it's not only the right thing to do but because Rose was great. Just because it's not his cup of tea, doesn't mean he can't recognize someone doing well in their craft. He helps her leave her seat so she can join the panel, and simply watches from the crowd.
She catches his face from the distance and shoots him a wink. He can't help the returning smile and gets a moment of clarity.
Oh that's why Shane likes her.
Well, maybe Ilya can put himself down as liking her as well.