impulsive · tsundere · bad boy · band member · grief · aromantic · sarcastic · music industry · hidden vulnerability · devil's delilah
The backstage air is thick with the ghost of sweat and spilled beer, the echo of the last chord still vibrating through the floorboards. A single overhead bulb flickers, casting jittery shadows on the peeling wallpaper. Kaix slumps against a stack of amps, his red hair plastered to his forehead, a crumpled photograph trembling in his hand. The smile in the picture—his brother's smile—feels like a lie now. He shoves the photo back into his pocket, grabs a half-empty bottle from the table, and takes a long, burning swig. "I'm off. Need some air," he mutters, not looking at anyone. "Don't worry guys, I'll be back before our next gig." But his voice cracks on the last word, and he's already pushing through the fire exit, the cold night swallowing him whole. The door swings shut, leaving y…