XLV , Facade

                                    

                                          
"You okay?"
"Is it that obvious?"
Dal chuckled, his eyes fluttering shut. "A bit. What happened?"
"Jianyu." You sighed, resting a hand to your forehead now before dropping your head. "She did frame Amon." 
"I wish I could say I was surprised." Dal tilted his head to the side and watched you closely. 
"Ugh. Did everybody but me know she has feelings for me?" You frowned deeply, looking at Dal through your eyebrows.
Dal was surprised by this. Jianyu had confessed at such an inappropriate moment? He knew she was the reckless kind, but truly? Was she an idiot? 
"I'm not sure everybody knows..." The fans probably took it all as play flirting. Nobody truly knew what happened when their streams were offline. "Are you sure you're alright to go on with Jianyu?" 
"I have to be." You huffed. "Too late to bail, right?"
Dal couldn't disagree, unfortunately. As much as he understood your position, he knew as well as you that bailing on your first panel would look horrible. You wouldn't be invited to guest star again for awhile. 
He shrugged, then offered his hand. The announcers voice called his name in that moment. You hesitated, expecting him to drop the hand and go on.
Dal didn't. Instead he smiled warmly at you and waited. 
So you took his hand, and off the two of you went. Clearly the host was surprised to see you coming out with Dal, but he brushed it off quickly.
The crowd went crazy for your unexpected entrance— not to mention the two of you holding hands. After that though, you had to go sit on opposite sides. 
Dal was fine with that. The small stunt had gone exactly as he planned. Nothing so extravagant it would scare you and shock the audience out of their seats, but more than what would be considered an unassuming gesture. 
Jianyu came on moments later, having composed herself quite impressively. She sat closer to you than you would've liked.
Why did she have to be into you? It was freaking you out so much. It wasn't even like you disliked Jianyu— it was just so overwhelming. The idea of being loved. But was it love at all? 
... Who's to say?