Author's Note:

Kindly listen to the song: 'Partners in Crime' by Set It Off, featuring: Ash Costello to have an idea on the concept of the special stage.

By the way, you are older than Lily and Haewon in this scenario.

_____

You are a former trainee under JYP Entertainment who is now a solo artist under the record label: P NATION. You could have debuted with NMIXX if you did not leave the company back in late 2020, however; you wanted more freedom in terms of the concept that you wanted to live out. 

You have been gifted with the talent in writing songs and producing music. Most of the songs that you have written and produced fall under the dark concept. For this reason, they were most often rejected. 

PSY, the founder of P NATION, saw your potential and offered you the opportunity to do so by joining his company. After a little over a year of being a trainee there, you debuted as a solo artist with a mini album consisting of your self-produced tracks.

Despite your departure from JYP Entertainment, the friendships that you have formed within the said company remained. One of them even went up to the next level. Specifically, it is your friendship with Haewon that leveled up into a romantic relationship. However, it was kept among yourselves. You have been exclusively dating each other for nearly a year already, yet no one else knew about the real deal between the two of you.

It is because you have been romantically involved with Lily back then. It was not surprising that you two would develop feelings for each other, since you have trained together for the longest time. You got into the company only a few months after Lily was able to do so. 

That romantic involvement with Lily did not reach the level of having a specific label though, you two were pretty much in a mutual understanding. You were going out by yourselves but not fully committed with each other. 

You also ended on good terms. So, the two of you kept on being friends.

This is the reason why neither of you had any issues in collaborating for the intro of your performance for MNet Asian Music Awards or more popularly known as the MAMA Awards. 

Haewon was all good about you and Lily performing together. However, she had no idea what the two of you had prepared. Lily wanted it to get the members off guard with your stage together.

It is actually a cover of the song: 'Partners in Crime' by the American rock band: Set It Off, featuring Ash Costello. You rearranged it in a way that it would fit the song that you were set to perform after it. After all, the song that you will be performing after that is your debut song: 'Pawn' which mainly revolved about permissiveness and submissiveness.

Lily would sing the lines of Ash, while you would take on the lines of Cody.

By the way, you were nominated for the Best New Female Artist. This is not a shock, since you were one of the most anticipated debuts. You have gained some reputation back in your trainee days. Despite which, you knew that you had no match with your fellow nominees, so you just wanted to give the viewers a good show.

As of the moment, you and Lily are on the pathway leading to the main stage, ready to get on it anytime. You were set to perform in a few.

You were wearing a black tank top underneath your brown leather jacket and tucked into your blue flare jeans. The color of your belt matched the color of your jacket. You had an adhesive bandage placed on your cheek and a fake wound done on your hand. Your hair was styled to be charmingly messy.

You were really looking like a troublemaker right now. 

Meanwhile, Lily was wearing a white mock neck sleeveless racerback crop top underneath a red leather jacket. She was wearing blue ripped flare jeans as bottoms. To spice things up, she had a red beanie on as well.

You and Lily momentarily locked eyes with each other amidst the nervousness that the both of you have been feeling now that everything was sinking in. Knowing each other well, you knew how words of affirmation could help in putting both of you at ease.

"This suits you." 

"You look good." 

The two of you spoke at the same time. You chuckled among yourselves afterwards. 

"We have been commended during our rehearsals. I believe that we will do well, especially now that we are dressed like this, and the stage has been practically set up to intensify the feels." 

"I hope so." You sighed. 

Lily was about to say something, but she was unable to do so. The two of you received a signal from a staff member. 

Shortly after, the opening VCR providing the storyline for your performance has been played. From the pathway, you can hear that the audience cheered as soon as it began playing. You closed your eyes for a moment, doing your breathing exercises. You remained like that until you felt Lily's hand brush against yours. 

You opened your eyes and found her looking at you with such an encouraging look in her eyes. Your lips uncontrollably formed a smile.

"Let's claim it. Let's give them a wonderful show!" 

You nodded.

"Oh, yes, we will definitely do it!" 

Just in time, the VCR ended, and it was the time for you to get onto the stage. Lily let go of your hand as the two of you made your way. The lights were dimmed still, you settled in your positions. You were standing on the extended stage.

As the stage lights shone, you went on your act and performed the action stunts as you made your way to Lily while holding onto a money sack. 

The two of you began brawling with the dancers dressed as officers who caught up with you.

After having all of them 'knocked down' — the intro of 'Partners in Crime' started to play. Lily began singing her line.

"You'll never take us alive..."

"We swore that death will do us part, they'll call our crimes a work of art."

"You'll never take us alive..."

"We'll live like spoiled royalty, lovers and partners..." 

You two looked at each other as you both sang the line. 

"Partners in crime!"

The crowd was cheering loudly for the two of you as you danced along with the choreography as the beat dropped. 

"Partners in crime."

You sang as the break was approaching its end, then proceeded to sing the verse. 

For the rest of the song, the two of you would occasionally provide fanservice. Once in a while, you and Lily would look at each other's eyes intensely or touch one's cheek or chin enticingly while singing. Whenever you do so, the audience would be left squealing. 

All the while, Haewon was watching the two of you closely. Her jaw slightly clenches and her lips quiver whenever the two of you would get a little physical. She would shift uncomfortably on her seat whenever the girls would point out the chemistry between you and Lily.

Everything was getting on her nerves. She was annoyed by the lack of distance between you and Lily. She was annoyed with how the people react with your interactions. She was annoyed hearing the people around her pinpoint how strong the chemistry between the two of you.

Little did she know, the worst is yet to come. The song is coming to its end. You were walking towards Lily, stopping right in front of you as you sang the two 'Partners in Crime' before leaning in, resting your forehead against hers, and settling your hands on her hips.

You sang the very last 'Partners in Crime' together.

Haewon's eyebrows raised out of amusement. As the entire venue was filled with cheers for you and Lily, Haewon could no longer stop herself from letting out a dry laugh. She folded her arms across her chest, shaking her leg.

_____

"You did such a great job right there!"

Lily remarked as you returned backstage after you finished performing. Lily basically fled the stage after performing 'Partners in Crime' as she has been 'exterminated' during the act that you two did in transitioning to your 'Pawn' performance. She already changed her clothes.

"All thanks to you. You were such a great motivator." 

You winked at her, wiggling your eyebrows afterwards. Lily beamed at this. She was about to call you out for flirting, but she was cut off as she heard someone clearing his or her throat. Honestly, it nearly made you jump. Neither of you was not expecting anyone else.

The two of you turned your heads towards the direction where the noise came from and found Haewon. 

"Sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to congratulate the two of you for that wonderful performance. 

Haewon spoke, flashing a smile afterwards. However, that smile doesn't look real to you at all. You gulped nervously. Meanwhile Lily failed to recognize that it was fake, she grinned widely in response.

"Thank you, Haewon!"

"And, oh, by the way, Lily, someone wanted to talk to you. You should get going."  

"Is that so?" 

Haewon nodded in response. Lily looked at you, chuckling.

"Too bad, I can't get back to you for getting me off guard. You heard it. I have to get going." 

She uttered. You were about to say something until you felt something soft against your cheek. Your eyes widened. Haewon subtly rolled her eyes.

"Ha, you really think that I will go off without getting you flustered as well?" She smirked. "I will see you around, Y/N!" 

As soon as Lily left, Haewon gazed at you amusingly and clicked her tongue. You quickly look down, unable to look your girlfriend in the eye.

You can hear her footsteps as she made her way towards you, tracing your jawline with her index finger before she grabbed your face assertively to make you look at her. You felt shivers down your spine. 

By the way, the grip that she had on your face wasn't too strong that it would hurt you.

"Seems like I would have to remind you to whom you belong, huh, Y/N?" She husked.