aurora rising one shots, volume one.

Mr Brightside ✨✨✨

The six of us stalk into the smoky bar, and music catches my ear.

"Oh, I've always liked to play with fire."

That's familiar I think. I look to my squad and the missing person.
Aurora.

She left us, three years ago, saying that she had to defeat the Ra'haam on her own. Two weeks later, there were reports of destroyed planets everywhere.

We haven't heard from her since.

I miss her.

I really do.

I run a hand through my short hair, and touch the tattoo at the base of my neck.
A white eye.

"A thank you to our performers tonight, Aurora and Flynn." A deep, booming voice says.

There's a chuckle.
"Thanks, sir. We're not done yet, though."

There's applause and cheering, and the pair of performers step out of the shadows, and into the spotlight.

It's a girl and a boy, both Terran. The girl has her long, waist-length dark hair out, and wears a crimson dress. The boy has short, dark hair and wears only a mischievous grin, a tight back t-shirt, jeans and boots.

They both have mismatched eyes.

"Hey!" The girl says, waving to the crowd.
"So, this song is dated back around, um, four-hundred years." She laughs, "I know, I know, it's ooooold! But it's a great song, I promise."

The boy starts up on his red guitar, and flashes the girl a smile.

"Oh, coming out of my cage, and I've been doing alright. Gotta, gotta be down because I want it all."

"Kal! Come on, sit down." Ty says, and I wedge in with the squad.

"I think that's-" Fin says.

"Aurora. Yeah." Scar says, and I train my eyes back on the performers.

"And I just can't look, it's killing me." Aurora sings.

The boy leans into the mic.
"And taking control."

They sing together.
"Jealousy! Turning saints into the sea, turning through sick lullabies, choking on your alibi."

Aurora sings the next part on her own.
"But it's just a price I've paid, destiny is calling me."

The boy sings the last part.
"Open up my eager eyes! Coz I'm mister bright side."

The boy does his instrumental with his guitar, and Aurora gets a dangerous look in her mismatched eyes.

She raises her hands, and galaxies and stars flow from it, covering the room.

The crowd cheers, and she dances, weaving the stars to her will.

The magic fades and the odd pair sing the next part without fault.

"How are we gonna get to her?" Ty whispers.

"Meet up with them after the show." Scar shrugs.

"I doubt she'd be happy to see me." I say.

Fin nods his head in agreement.
"Especially with Mr. guitar boy over there."

"Do you think they're dating?" Cat asks.

"Probably." Scar shrugs, and I sigh.

"You tried!" Cat says, in an overly-cheery voice.

I turn my head to Aurora and the boy.

The girl lost in time and memory, returned.

"I never!" She sings, and releases a torrent of energy.

"I never!" He copies, and dazzles the crowd with his violet and gold energy.

"I never!"

"I never!"

"I never!"

"I never!"

He lets the song fade, and kisses my Aurora. She laces her hands behind his neck and in his hair and
kisses
him
back

All the hope that I had for us is gone. Gone.

"Kal? You okay?" Scar asks.

"Fine." I reply, even though I want to hurt him. Hurt him until he screams and begs for no more.

I guess that I'm Mr Brightside now.

There's a giggle from the stage.
"That's all for tonight, but I hope you all enjoyed!" Aurora says,  and they wave as the crowd cheers.

I do nothing at all.

"Kal? Come on, let's go find her." Scar says.

"Let's go find the stowaway." Fin sighs, and helps Zila up.

We all leave the bar, without buying anything and head behind the store, where there's distant laughter.

"Tua, you should of seen us!"

"Nuh uh, oldie."

"Come onnnnnnn! What about our next show?"

"Where even is our next show, oldie?"

"Ares, I think. Dunno, boss is usually the one who sorts that stuff out."

Theres echoing footsteps.
"Come on, A."

"A?"

"Auri?"

There's a sigh.
"Let's just go, Flynn. Tua, Neb, you all coming?"

"Yeah just-"

We step out of the shadows.
"Aurora?" I ask, hesitant.

A flash of recognition flashes across her face.
"Kal..."

"Auri!" Scar screams, and wraps her arms around her.

"Hey, Scar!" She cries.

The rest of the squad rush in, hugging her and crying.
I stay back.

"Auri, what the hells going on?" A dark skinned woman says.

"Tua, you remember how I told you about...?"

"Yeah, what about I- ooooooh."

She giggles, and lets everyone go.
"Sooooo, you got a new booooyfriend?" Fin asks.
"Come on, I gotta approve."

She giggles.
"No! No, that's for show. We get more money coz everyone likes young love."

I can't help the smile that comes to my face after that.

"...does that mean I can have him?" Fin asks.

"Mine!" Scar cries.

"No, mine!"

They bicker, and Aurora rushes over and hugs me.
"I missed you."

"I missed you too. I'm sorry, Be'shmai."

"I know. I am too. I messed up." She whispered.

"I did too. I'm sorry."

She rests her head on my shoulder, and hums something.

I tilt her chin up.
"Can I..."

She cranes her head up and wraps her arms around my neck.
She leans in and kisses my lips, slow and soft.

"I'm sorry." She says when we break apart.

"You've already said that." I murmur.

"Yeah. But I am. I shouldn't of left you and it wasn't your fault and I'm sorry that I never-"

I lean in and kiss her.
"It's okay. We have all the time in the world now that we're together."

"All the time in the world..."