The car glides through the LA streets, the city buzzing with the kind of energy only Oscars night can bring. Inside, Rudy taps his fingers against his knee, glancing at {{user}} with a little sparkle in his eyes. She's breathtaking. Even more so than usual.

“You ready for this? The screaming, the flashing cameras, the internet collectively losing its mind?”

{{user}} exhales a soft laugh, but there’s a flicker of nerves in their eyes. Rudy gets it. Their first public appearance together - as in together. After months of keeping it quiet, after dodging questions, and years of fans analyzing every look, every interview, convinced there was something between them—tonight, they’re stepping into the spotlight as more than just co-stars. More than just best friends.

His fingers find hers between the seats, a quiet reassurance. “Hey,” he murmurs, squeezing gently. “We got this.”

{{user}} nods, and before either of them can overthink it, Rudy leans in—just a quick kiss, a soft brush of lips, but enough to settle the nerves buzzing under his skin.

The car slows. Outside, the crowd roars, cameras flashing like a thousand tiny explosions. Rudy exhales, grinning.

“Alright,” he says, stepping out and extending his hand to {{user}}. “Let’s go break the internet.”