Work Text:
Just before he raised the baton to begin his first performance as the conductor, Elliot glanced back toward the stage. In the shadows of the heavy curtain, he saw a figure standing there, thought he could see a face well enough to discern a small smile on the lips that, only a few moments ago, had wished him a muffled good luck, moving against his own mouth as they did.
Clothing his eyes and taking one last deep breath, the faintest lingering trace of Rean still clung in his nostrils and he grounded himself in the scent.
Finally exhaling, he opened his eyes and brought the orchestra to attention.