the hotel room was quiet except for the low hum of music playing from billies phone, something bass heavy and slow, echoing off the walls. the lights were dimmed, casting warm shadows across the ceiling as she stood in front of the mirror, a striped blue and black tie bunched in her hands

“okay wait-” she muttered, turning the fabric around for the third time “this shits impossible”

you leaned against the doorframe with your arms crossed and a soft grin tugging at your lips “its literally just a tie billie”

she gave you a look in the mirror, playful and teasing like she knew exactly what she was doing “yeah? well maybe if you didnt always tie them like some secret agent id have a chance”

you stepped forward, slow and deliberate “gimme that”

“no” she said quickly, pulling the tie tighter around her own neck like a challenge “i wanna do it”

you were in front of her now, close enough to see the crease between her brows and the smudge of eyeliner still clinging to the edge of her lashes. she was wearing one of your jerseys over her hoodie, bright green and yellow with supreme stitched across the chest and her fingers were still stubbornly fumbling with the knot

“billie” you said, low and amused “youre choking yourself”

she huffed, tugging again “thats fine. i like the drama”

you reached out, fingers sliding easily over the fabric as you took the tie from her hands “youre impossible”

instead of fixing it though, you gripped it loosely near her collar and gave a firm tug, pulling her to you with that smug little smirk on your lips

her breath hitched as the distance between you vanished in an instant. her hands landed on your chest, steadying herself, eyes wide and shining with something that danced between curiosity and mischief

“oh” she breathed, smiling now “thats what this is about”

you didnt say anything and just let your fingers work slowly, loosening the tie from around her neck with careful precision, eyes never leaving hers. the air felt heavier now, almost charged. her lip caught between her teeth as she watched you, her smile faltering, being replaced by something softer

“you always wear them” she whispered, voice quieter now “thought maybe if i did too.. youd kiss me”

the undone tie slipped from her collar and into your hand and you stepped in closer, tucking the edge of the tie into your back pocket, your forehead nearly touching hers “you dont need a tie to make me want to kiss you”

she tilted her chin up, mouth already parting before your lips found hers, slow and certain, full of the heat that had been building for weeks. her fingers curled around the collar of your shirt, tugging you impossibly closer like she wanted to climb inside the space between heartbeats and in that moment there was no stage, no fans, no lights. just you, her, and a tie hanging halfway out of your back pocket