Night at The Oscars

They met each other backstage right before Ariana was to perform Somewhere Over the Rainbow, the most popular song from Wizard of Oz. She had not sung that song since the bombing at her Manchester concert, a day that she will never forget. Her nerves were getting the best of her, but Cynthia's hand on her back calmed her down a little. "You're going to do fine, babygirl. You are going to kill it out there, and if you find yourself getting nervous, just look for me. I will be there," She whispered before kissing her cheek. Ariana blinked back the sting in her eyes, her breath catching just a bit at the warmth in Cynthia’s words—and that kiss, soft and grounding. Babygirl. Only Cynthia could call her that and make her feel like the strongest woman in the room, not the shattered girl she sometimes still saw in the mirror.

She nodded, clutching the vintage mic like a lifeline as she stepped toward the curtain. The stage manager gave her the countdown, but all Ariana could feel was the weight of the moment—Manchester, the fear, the loss, the healing. And now this. Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

The curtains parted, and the spotlight found her. The first few notes of the intro drifted in from the orchestra, like a lullaby. Her heart pounded—but she kept her promise to Cynthia. She looked out into the crowd, past the bright lights and the shimmer of Hollywood, and found her. Cynthia, standing just offstage, eyes locked on hers like she was the only person in the world.

And with that, Ariana began to sing.

Her voice was a little shaky at first, but the melody wrapped around her like a hug. She sang not just for the audience, but for the people she lost… and the woman who reminded her how to Cynthia had been calm all evening—her usual state before a performance. But tonight wasn’t just any night. And Ariana wasn’t just any duet partner.

She’d watched Ariana hold everything together during rehearsals, her perfectionism wrapped tight around her like armor. Cynthia could see it: the way she’d tense every time they touched that part of the medley. The way her voice would crack—beautifully, heartbreakingly—on the first note of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” like it still carried every ghost from that day.

Cynthia never pushed. She just stayed close, steady. That’s what Ariana needed. Not the fanfare, not the fuss—just someone who saw her. Really saw her.

Backstage, as the final minutes ticked down, she could feel the tremble in Ariana’s back under her palm. So she leaned in, warm breath brushing against her skin.

“You’re going to do fine, babygirl. You are going to kill it out there, and if you find yourself getting nervous, just look for me. I will be there.”

Then she kissed her cheek, letting her lips linger just long enough for Ariana to know—I’ve got you.

When Ariana stepped into the light, Cynthia stayed right where she said she would. Just offstage. One step away. Watching the woman she’d come to admire—and maybe something more—stand in her truth and sing through her fear.

And when that first wavering note came out—raw and honest—Cynthia’s eyes welled up. She knew exactly what it had taken for Ariana to get there.

This wasn’t just a performance. It was a reclamation.

And Cynthia had never been prouder.

keep breathing through it all.

Ariana’s body was still buzzing—not just from the performance, but from the way Cynthia held her like she was something sacred. That hug wasn’t just comfort. It was everything. Grounding. Warm. A promise.

“You were beautiful out there. I am so fucking proud of you.”

Those words wrapped around Ariana tighter than the spotlight had. She leaned into Cynthia like a magnet drawn to its match, like maybe if she pressed close enough, she could melt into her and never have to come back out.

“You always know what to say,” she whispered, giving that half-smile she reserved only for Cynthia. Enigmatic. Dangerous. If she wasn’t careful, it’d unravel everything.

She almost did it—almost kissed her right then and there. But the universe, cruel and loud as ever, had other plans.

“Ms. Erivo, you're up next.”

The spell cracked.

Ariana stepped back just enough, biting her lip to keep her feelings from spilling out all over the stage. Before Cynthia could turn away, Ari leaned in and kissed her cheek, lips lingering just a moment longer than strictly necessary.

“You’re going to knock them dead, like always,” she said with a grin that masked the chaos in her chest.

Because God, listening to Cynthia sing was… unreal. Like the divine stepped down, borrowed her lungs, and decided to bless the Earth with sound. Every time Cynthia hit those notes, Ariana had to clench her thighs and pray. It wasn’t holy—it was filthy. An eargasm and an orgasm waiting to happen.

She watched Cynthia walk away, every inch of her dripping in power and elegance, and all Ariana could think was: how the hell am I supposed to survive this woman?

Cynthia stepped out on the stage, savoring the moment of being on the world's biggest stage, a dream that she and Ariana had shared those many nights they talked on the phone, or when they spent the night at each other's places. The moment was surreal, and she was taking it all in. The music started for "Home" from "The Wiz". It was the Black version of The Wizard of Oz and the song resonated with Cynthia, and she wanted to do the movie justice. When her performance came to an end and Ariana walked out when "Defying Gravity" started. Elphaba's signature song featuring her lover Glinda "Unlimited, together we're unlimited" Cynthia started.

Ariana smiled lovingly at Cynthia, no longer caring who was watching, this was their song and their moment. Singing with her Elphie was one of her favorite things to do. Their hands touched and it felt electrifying, Ariana literally felt sparks travel up her arm, the warmth of Cynthia's hand reminded her of the many times they spent together, wrapped in each other's arms after many nights of fucking each other senseless. The green eyed monster had reared it's ugly head tonight, when she saw Cynthia with Lena. Yes, she was with Ethan, but Cynthia was hers and hers only. After they finished their duet in a moment of jealousy, and a way to stake her claim on Cynthia in front of the world, she kissed her hand before leaving the stage. She smirked in satisfaction as Lena nearly lost her shit. Lena started the battle, but Ariana won the war.

Cynthia was caught off guard by Ariana's gesture, and she gave her the biggest smile, letting her know the message was received. Ariana stood off to the side of the stage and watched as Cynthia commanded the stage with her presence. She was so in love with this woman, that she was willing to risk it all to be with her. Ethan would be hurt, and Lena would more than likely crash out, but at that moment Ariana could give a single fuck. She was so lost in thought that she nearly missed her cue, but she course-corrected.

When Cynthia's voice changed Ariana had goosebumps on her arms and she watched in wonder as the audience was transfixed at the woman on stage. She was so proud of Cynthia, and she tried to hold back her excitement as the final battle cry (which Cynthia did flawlessly without missing a breath). The audience went crazy with a standing ovation and Michelle was crying, tonight they were celebrating with their entire cast and crew.

Ariana made her way towards the stage where they took a bow and skipped off the stage singing "We're off to see the Wizard...The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". Once they were backstage, they embraced each other still high from their performance. They may not have won any awards, but their performance was one that people will be talking about for days. They walked to their shared dressing room and Cynthia closed the door behind them, "What was that out there?" She asked Ariana regarding the kiss on her hand. Ariana smirked, "Nothing. I was showing my appreciation, something that Lena never does for you," She replied honestly. How could anyone not appreciate the goddess in front of her. Cynthia studied the woman in front of her. Ariana never did anything just because she knew that it was her way of letting everyone know that she was hers, "You claimed me on stage at the Oscars in front of our partners and our parents," She still couldn’t believe that Ari had done that.

Ariana didn’t flinch. She didn’t stutter. She didn’t even pretend to be ashamed. Instead, she took a slow step closer, closing the space between them until she could feel Cynthia’s breath hitch ever so slightly.

“And?” Ariana tilted her head, eyes glinting with a dangerous mix of amusement and something far deeper. “Did I lie?”

Cynthia exhaled sharply, jaw tightening. She was caught between frustration and something dangerously close to surrender. “Ari, you can’t just—”

“Can’t just what?” Ariana interrupted, voice dripping with unbothered defiance. “Show you off? Love you in the way you deserve? Because I know damn well Lena doesn’t.”

Cynthia blinked, lips parting slightly as if to argue, but nothing came out. Because Ariana was right, and they both knew it.

Ariana smirked at Cynthia’s silence, stepping forward until their bodies were nearly flush. “You felt it, didn’t you? When I touched your hand?” Her voice dropped to a whisper, sultry and full of promise. “That spark? That fire?”

Cynthia swallowed hard. Of course, she had felt it. She always felt it. Ariana was a wildfire that consumed everything in her path, and Cynthia had spent far too long pretending she wasn’t already burning.

Ariana’s fingers ghosted over Cynthia’s wrist, barely touching, yet setting every nerve on fire. “You can keep lying to yourself if you want,” she murmured, her lips just shy of brushing Cynthia’s jaw. “But you can’t lie to me.”

Cynthia clenched her fists at her sides, fighting every instinct in her body that begged her to give in. Ariana was intoxicating, infuriating, irresistible.

“This isn’t fair,” Cynthia whispered, voice strained.

Ariana tilted her head, her smirk softening just enough to reveal the love beneath the fire. “Neither is pretending we’re just friends.”

The room crackled with tension, the weight of everything unsaid pressing down on them. Cynthia had spent months—years—choosing restraint. But tonight, standing in front of the woman who just claimed her in front of the whole damn world, she wasn’t sure she had any left.

Ariana reached out and caressed well defined cheek, fingers lingering against her skin. “Say the word,” she whispered. “And I’ll walk away.”

Cynthia’s heart pounded. She could say it. She should say it.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she closed the final inch between them and kissed her.

Hard.

Desperate.

Like she had been waiting her whole life to do it.

Ariana gasped against her lips, but she didn’t hesitate—wrapping her arms around Cynthia’s waist and pulling her in, deepening the kiss, claiming her right back.

Because fuck the rules.

Tonight, Cynthia was hers.

And tomorrow?

Well, tomorrow, they’d deal with the wreckage.