You moved through the hazy darkness, pulse quickening with every step. The arena pulsed with ultraviolet light, fog curling at your ankles, laughter ricocheting off the walls like stray laser fire. Somewhere in the distance, someone shouted your name. You ducked behind a barrier, pressed your back to the cold plastic wall, and tried to steady your breathing.

It was supposed to be a casual night—just laser tag for a friend’s birthday. A fun, chaotic mess with too many mutual friends and not enough cover. You hadn’t expected anything more.

Then, out of nowhere, Lando appeared.

One second the space in front of you was empty—and the next, he was there, stepping through the mist like he belonged in it. His eyes met yours, glinting under the black lights. He didn’t raise his blaster. He didn’t say a word. Instead, he closed the space between you in two strides and pressed you back, gently but unavoidably, against the wall.

You froze.

“Hi,” he said, voice low, casual—like this was nothing. Like this was normal.

Before you could react, he leaned in and kissed you. Softly. Just enough to taste like something beginning. It lasted no more than a heartbeat, but the surprise of it landed like a jolt—your breath snagging in your throat, the air thick with heat and confusion.

He pulled away slowly, eyes studying your face. You could feel the color rising in your cheeks, burning through the chill of the arena.

Then—almost lazily—he lifted his blaster and tapped it against your vest. A quiet tone sounded as your sensors lit up red.

You stared at him, mouth parting, the moment spinning like you’d just been knocked off balance.

Lando grinned, unbothered. “Whoops,” he said, like he hadn’t just rewired the night.

Then he winked—and turned, slipping back into the fog as if the whole thing had never happened.

You stood there blinking after him, the cold of the wall against your spine, your heart racing not from the game anymore—but something else entirely.