Two Minutes to Midnight
31 December 2033
Nervous and uncomfortable, it would be easy to mistake the two in Nick. The tuxedo he wore wasn?t uncomfortable, even if it was far dressier than he preferred. He?d rather be wearing something loose, with a hoodie while he did a crazy stunt. This wasn?t the time for that, tonight would be crazy enough, and this was the uniform for such an occasion. He knew he looked good, Alex would have been all over him if he hadn?t. Still he had the appearance of being uncomfortable. It could simply be the waiting, he had yet to see Averia though he?d seen plenty of other people entering with names and faces that he?d never remember. All of them were supposed to be important in one way or another. He stood at the bar with Alex, casually watching the doors as he reached into his pocket once again and only became more nervous.
Crowds didn?t bother him under normal, or even extraneous circumstances. He?d learned to perform for the masses in his upbringing. He?d had to considering who and what his parents were. Nick ordered a drink and tried to relax a little. ?How many people are going to be here tonight? If they pack in too many more this monkey suit is going to make me start to sweat.? He flashed a grin to Alex as he said it, talking would help. ?And **** dude, some of these hairstyles look like something we should be doing tricks on.? He said that as one of those odd updo?s in question walked by defying gravity. Nick wondered if it would last the night.
?Last I heard they prepped for five hundred.? Alexander was the picture of easy composure to Nick?s jittery posture. He leaned, one elbow on the bar and his ankles crossed to prop him up. The tux was sharp, tailored perfectly and paired with a deep blue tie and gold cufflinks. They may have wanted to put Averia in red but Alex wore the colors of the crown. He watched the partygoers come and go, smiling and greeting those that looked his way. Nick on the other hand was a veritable bundle of nerves so he tipped aside to bump him with his shoulder.
?Avy tells me that some of those crazier styles are held together with literal glue. Glue dude. In their hair. I just can?t.? He put both hands up, palms out as he shook his head. Mirth danced in his grin as he turned back to the bar, two fingers signaling the tender to set them up with another drink. It mattered little that Nikolai already had one, he needed another.
There had been one benefit to spending months with Addie and her squad, though some might not call a higher tolerance to alcohol a benefit. If Alex had been trying to pull Nick out of his agitated state, it worked. He snorted at his friend, in part because of the words. The rest had much to do with the gesture. There wasn?t much Alex couldn?t do, but those things were easily defined by that look of half surrender. Nick couldn?t remember where that had come from, but it had stayed long after. ?I?ll add that to the list. No glue in Alex?s hair, just don?t pass out at the same time I do or I won?t be able to stop people from following that idea.?
To his credit, Alex had never passed out that Nick could recall either. Gotten raging drunk, and done crazy things, sure, but he was rarely alone with that. ?Thanks, I guess I needed the laugh.? Nick?s glass hit the bar top empty even as the new one was arriving. ?Maybe I should slow down a little after this? It?s going to be a big night, and we?re only getting started.? Nick found himself grinning in spite of himself. ?So, you already have someone you?re planning on taking home tonight, or do I get to point out the one you go for??
?Lighten up, man. What?s the worst that can happen?? With a cocksure grin, Alex tossed back his drink and slammed the empty glass on the bar. The tender was quick to clear it and Alex was even quicker to turn his back on the counter. His golden eyed gaze swept the crowd, disinterest painting his expression when he looked back to his friend. ?Find me a challenge. I?ll be back in a bit.?
With a rap of his knuckles on the counter, he pushed off from his lean to disappear into the growing throng, leaving Nick there at the counter alone. Just how much time passed was hard to say but finally it seemed the crowd had swelled beyond the ballroom?s capacity. The ambient lighting dimmed save for a golden glow over the entryway. Without so much as a crackle of static a smooth baritone voice came over exquisitely hidden speakers, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. The entryway was soon passed through by pairs, the crowd parting to permit the entrance of what Alexander would have called ?the hoity toities? of the gathering.
Each member of the Lucian Council with their respective spouses came first, followed by delegations from almost all of the Eosian kingdoms or provinces. Solheim and Altissia were near the front, likely to keep the younger Altissian Prince away from the Lucian Prince. Duscae, Leide, and Cleigne all offered their own representatives. To no one?s surprise came the Oracle of Tenebrae by herself, and then finally the Lucian Royal Family. Alexander stepped through the entry first before turning to offer his arm to his sister. She hesitated but quiet words from her brother seemed to finally coax her forward. It was easy to see why when bright lights hit the brilliant crimson fabric of her strapless dress. All eyes were on her. Not Alex, not the delegates before them, not even Lunafreya in her flowing violet and white gown, just Averia.
The announcer?s voice lifted further to announce the arrival of the King and Queen Consort of Lucis shortly after Alex and Averia reached the end of the entry walk but still the eyes lingered on the Princess. The twins? father lingered for a few moments to welcome everyone to the twentieth annual Trinity Ball and with that, the festivities began. Even then it seemed impossible for either Alex or Averia to seek Nick out but finally Alex caught his sister by the hand and pulled her away from whatever awkward conversation she was being forced to partake in, dragging her through the crowd to where he had last left Nick.
Glass in hand, Nick abandoned his barstool. He hadn?t really been sitting on it anyway. He?d started moving when the honored few had begun to enter. Glancing up occasionally when a new pair of names were announced. He gave a hard stare to the Altissian royals, or to one of them in particular. He moved until he found an unobstructed view of the entrance. The room was packed full of people, and pieces of the hushed conversations made it to his ears as the families moved into the light. One person had even had an opinion about the Altissian Prince and Avy. Nick looked away for only a second, trying to see who might?ve said it. He very nearly missed the announcement of Alex and Averia. He might have if every head in the place hadn?t seemed to turn as one and focus on the twins.
Nick looked to his glass for a moment, his head turning back towards the entryway. His eyes slid slowly towards them, towards Averia and the sight of her made him gasp silently. He wasn?t the only one, a collective gasp was audible. If Nick had been thinking clearly, he?d have commented about the oxygen in the room being depleted all at once. The entrance of Aunt Claire and the king were all that pulled him from his own staring. He tried to make his way through the crowd to the twins, but there seemed to be a line forming, and everyone thought they were at the head of it, or they wanted to be.
Alex solved his dilemma, or would have had Nick not moved in the first place. He tracked the twins, as he headed back for the bar. He would arrive there after they?d already made it. Up close, Averia was even more breathtaking. Nick?s head tilted to the side as he looked at her, a toothy smile pushed its way across his lips. The glass found its way to the bar as Nick closed the space between him and the twins. ?Seeing you in that dress makes me forget that I was complaining about the wait a few minutes ago.? He said the words, then bit his lip, feeling stupid for saying anything. He leaned in towards Alex, and pointed out a dark haired, mocha skinned young woman as the challenge he?d requested. To Avy, he whispered something he hoped would make her blush.
As the trio reconvened at the bar, Alex ordered up another shot to go with his appraisal of the indicated target that Nick had given him. On home turf like this it would easy but he still hemmed and hawed over it before finally shooting his friend a devilish grin that said the challenge was accepted. With a quick peck to his sister?s cheek, he disappeared into the crowd so that he wouldn?t have to hear whatever was making Averia blush furiously and so he could put Nick to shame with how easily he bagged his conquest.
?You match.? She said just loud enough for him to hear, her fingers seeking out the knot of his tie to adjust it slightly before sliding down the silk until it disappeared into his suit jacket. Her silver eyes, rimmed with kohl yet especially bright tonight, lifted up to his face. In the moment he may as well have been the only one in the crowded room for all of the gravity of her attention. There were whispers around them but few she seemed to notice. Who was the young man that had captured her attention? How long would she stay before she disappeared as she always did? Have you ever seen her smile so brightly? What about the Prince of Altissia? Averia could have used a drink but instead she took a step closer to Nick under the guise of the crowded room. ?You, um, you look? very dapper.?
Nick watched Alex move off knowing that he?d likely succeed, honestly he hoped that he?d found someone that could keep up with Alex, or at least hold his interest for longer than a day. The touch at his tie caused the world to fall away. ?Yeah, Alex kind of made that happen or I don?t think they?d have done it.? Nick had always known that Avy was beautiful, even though he?d picked on her fiercely growing up. Tonight that beauty seemed to be magnified ten times. ?Thanks, I was hoping you?d like it. You look?? He did his best to find a word suitable, but without trying she was making it impossible for him to think of anything. ?...like the night sky, when it?s pitch black because the power is out across the city. All darkness, and shining stars? too many to count.? He would never be called a poet it seemed, but he meant every word. ?I?d kiss you, but they?d probably have me arrested.?
He wanted to touch her, to make a proper mess of her again. Instead he offered his hand to her. ?Dance with me.?
?Want to know a secret?? She asked, her smile coy as she leaned up further onto her toes until even the heels of her shoes lifted from the floor so she could confide said secret beside his ear. ?Nobody is supposed to match me. But here you are.?
Averia leaned back and tilted her head to one side, hoping that the owlish cant might prevent the flush of red in her cheeks. At least it couldn?t compare to the red of her dress even if she felt like someone had set her face aflame. He could have kissed her then and there. People would have talked. Her father likely would have hated it. It would surely cause a stir, all the things that Avy avoided. But some part of her didn?t care. Still she didn?t bridge the gap between their lips, instead slipping her hand into his. ?You might not be able to kiss me but you can certainly dance with me.?
Nick owed a great deal of what he was to his father, directly or indirectly. He?d been taken to Jin and Charlie young enough that dancing came almost naturally to him. This was different, and he owed his mother for the lessons in formal dance, almost like she?d expected this moment to come. Maybe she had. He led her to the dance floor, noting that there seemed to be an invisible force moving before them. People stepped out of their way, only to close the gap behind them once they?d passed. He cared little for what people thought of him, that I?m adorable smile he wore now was purely for the woman at his side. He took her as close to the center of the floor as he could before turning to her and putting his arm around her waist. He spared a look to the crowd, searching for Alex more than anything else. ?You ready? Just remember, I?m supposed to lead this time.? He gave her a joking wink, as he tried to settle both their nerves.
Fortunately the orchestra was playing a waltz instead of something more complicated. Nick took a few moments before starting into the dance, with the same sure footed confidence he had when scaling a wall. ?I?m not really sure that I?m not dreaming this right now. It seems like something that isn?t real.?
?If you step on my toes, I?m going to lead.? Averia gave him a private little smile and a glance through a veil of dark lashes. It mattered little that the crowd opened and closed around them, most eyes on the pair as they were. She had him and that was all that mattered in the moment. Alex was nowhere to be found. After all he had a mission to accomplish before the clock struck twelve. There was an innate intimacy in the wrap of his arm around her waist and the splay of his hand across her lower back. It was comfortable, natural instead of awkward and stiff.
?If you?re dreaming, I?m dreaming. And if we?re both dreaming the same thing, we have a whole different level of problems to deal with. More than all of these people staring at us.? Yes she had noticed. It was hard not to. Somewhere higher up, she was certain her parents were watching too. Still her steps were graceful, aligning almost perfectly with his as he led her through the waltz. Both twins had been pushed through ballroom dance lessons growing up at their father?s insistence, but Averia always bragged that she was better at it because she could do everything Alex could but backwards and in heels.
?Nah, I?m pretty sure I wouldn?t be dreaming all these strangers, or these clothes.? Any, he?d replaced that word with these. Nick had already made her blush enough for now. There was plenty of time for more later. He took her through practiced steps without any toe stepping. Avy was only a little shorter than his mother, making her gate close enough to avoid that kind of embarrassment. He?d shut out the people, beyond avoiding bumping into the other dancers, or he?d have noticed the black cloth of a tux approaching.
He?d seen it peripherally, but only as an object to avoid. Then words cut through the music and into the world where only he and Averia existed. ?May I cut in?? Nick stopped his dance when he finally registered the meaning in the words, and that they were directed at him. He recognized the voice immediately, bristling a little before turning to look at the Prince of Altissia coldly. He gave Marcus a smile that blatantly said he didn?t care who was here, he?d gladly give him another beat down.
?That?? He looked back to Averia. ?... isn?t up to me. Not after what you did.? If she?d asked him to, Nick would ignore the prince, or more if she really unleashed him. For now at least he was doing his best to hold it together as he waited for Avy?s desire to be known.
Marcus had been a shark in the water, circling until he found his in. Compared to the silent serenity of her moment with Nick, the Prince was a discordant sharp that cut through the music and her calm all in one fell swoop. Thankfully she didn?t trip as she came to a stop, turning just enough to see who wanted to cut in despite already knowing the voice. Her hands stayed on Nick, one to his shoulder and the other within the warm grasp of his palm. The latter tensed, tightening with the need to ball a fist. It anchored her, keeping her from running when every other instinct said to do just that.
?My dance card is full, I?m sorry.? She said, forcing every ounce of politeness that she could muster. Rebuked, Marcus frowned and opened his mouth to protest. Averia knew it was considered poor form to turn down a dance with a foreign dignitary but it was even worse form to touch a woman without her consent. She let go of Nick and turned toward the man, her gaze leveled upon his. Unlike Nick or Alex or her parents, it was much too easy to get into his head. Not so much as a single syllable slipped free of her lips but whatever message she delivered seemed to crack the young royal?s deliberate calm. His eyes widened fractionally then narrowed at her as she gave him a tight smile. ?I?ll do it and you know it.?
?F-forgive my intrusion. Have a happy birthday, Averia.? The color had drained from his face by the time he turned away but it wasn?t until he had disappeared into the crowd that she finally turned back to Nick, her hand searching for his. As her fingers inched along his palm, her gaze swept the crowd until she found her mother and father. Just as she expected they were both watching. Her mother?s face was etched with amusement though her father?s less so. From afar she gave them both a smile, took a breath and looked back to Nick at last.
?Where were we?? Dancing, that was right. She tried not to look flustered but her composure was thinly veiled thing and finally she whispered. ?We could get out of here, you know. Just you and I.?
Nick watched Averia face down Marcus, and wished in that moment that the entire room was empty save for the two of them. He?d felt her grip tighten on him, and solidified his own. He?d felt a grip like that before, from Addie when they?d been forced to make a jump that he knew terrified her. From himself as he held tightly to her hand around the hilt of a dagger. He wasn?t privy to what had passed from her to the prince, though from the look on Marcus? face he might be grateful for that. He didn?t notice Avy?s parents looking at them, instead keeping his gaze on Marcus, as if he were a snake deciding if it should strike.
Only after the prince had walked away did he realize how coiled up he was as well. Avy didn?t need him to defend her, that was one of the things he loved about her. That didn?t mean he wouldn?t do so anyway. If he had his way, she?d never have to face anyone or anything alone. He was tempted to say something to the retreating form, but knew that would only make matters worse.
?Dancing, we were dancing.? He smiled at her whispered suggestion. He?d wanted to do that the moment she?d walked in. ?We should do that. Just give me a minute to do something.? Nick turned from her for a moment, looking at the large clock on the wall. The song they?d been dancing to came to a close, and there was relative silence. Nick took that moment to turn back to face her.
?Averia, I?ve known you all of my life, seen you do things many of these people wouldn?t believe. Somehow you still manage to surprise me. I once thought we had all the time in the world, until the day that time took you away from me. I know that I have only now.? Nick put his hands in his coat pockets and looked at her seriously.
?Right now.? His hands came free of his coat, the left one taking hers as he took a knee before her in front of a ballroom jam packed with witnesses. He looked beyond Avy to her mom, a small smile in place that disappeared as he looked back to Averia from his place on the floor.
?Averia Luna Caelum, you?ve seen me at my best and at my worst. You?ve been through things with me that no one will ever truly understand. You?ve taught me without trying, supported me without being asked, loved me before I knew that I loved you too. The only time you?ve been out of my life, I was a walking trainwreck. Avy, you?re the order to my chaos, and I want to spend every now that I have left with you.? He?d rehearsed his speech to her many times since he?d written it. He knew every word like the back of his hand, or did until the moment he knelt before her. Then things came out of him that he hadn?t been expecting. Nick brought his right hand forward and opened the box that he held in it exposing the ring to her. ?If you?ll have me that is. Marry me, my Averia.?
31 December 2033
Nervous and uncomfortable, it would be easy to mistake the two in Nick. The tuxedo he wore wasn?t uncomfortable, even if it was far dressier than he preferred. He?d rather be wearing something loose, with a hoodie while he did a crazy stunt. This wasn?t the time for that, tonight would be crazy enough, and this was the uniform for such an occasion. He knew he looked good, Alex would have been all over him if he hadn?t. Still he had the appearance of being uncomfortable. It could simply be the waiting, he had yet to see Averia though he?d seen plenty of other people entering with names and faces that he?d never remember. All of them were supposed to be important in one way or another. He stood at the bar with Alex, casually watching the doors as he reached into his pocket once again and only became more nervous.
Crowds didn?t bother him under normal, or even extraneous circumstances. He?d learned to perform for the masses in his upbringing. He?d had to considering who and what his parents were. Nick ordered a drink and tried to relax a little. ?How many people are going to be here tonight? If they pack in too many more this monkey suit is going to make me start to sweat.? He flashed a grin to Alex as he said it, talking would help. ?And **** dude, some of these hairstyles look like something we should be doing tricks on.? He said that as one of those odd updo?s in question walked by defying gravity. Nick wondered if it would last the night.
?Last I heard they prepped for five hundred.? Alexander was the picture of easy composure to Nick?s jittery posture. He leaned, one elbow on the bar and his ankles crossed to prop him up. The tux was sharp, tailored perfectly and paired with a deep blue tie and gold cufflinks. They may have wanted to put Averia in red but Alex wore the colors of the crown. He watched the partygoers come and go, smiling and greeting those that looked his way. Nick on the other hand was a veritable bundle of nerves so he tipped aside to bump him with his shoulder.
?Avy tells me that some of those crazier styles are held together with literal glue. Glue dude. In their hair. I just can?t.? He put both hands up, palms out as he shook his head. Mirth danced in his grin as he turned back to the bar, two fingers signaling the tender to set them up with another drink. It mattered little that Nikolai already had one, he needed another.
There had been one benefit to spending months with Addie and her squad, though some might not call a higher tolerance to alcohol a benefit. If Alex had been trying to pull Nick out of his agitated state, it worked. He snorted at his friend, in part because of the words. The rest had much to do with the gesture. There wasn?t much Alex couldn?t do, but those things were easily defined by that look of half surrender. Nick couldn?t remember where that had come from, but it had stayed long after. ?I?ll add that to the list. No glue in Alex?s hair, just don?t pass out at the same time I do or I won?t be able to stop people from following that idea.?
To his credit, Alex had never passed out that Nick could recall either. Gotten raging drunk, and done crazy things, sure, but he was rarely alone with that. ?Thanks, I guess I needed the laugh.? Nick?s glass hit the bar top empty even as the new one was arriving. ?Maybe I should slow down a little after this? It?s going to be a big night, and we?re only getting started.? Nick found himself grinning in spite of himself. ?So, you already have someone you?re planning on taking home tonight, or do I get to point out the one you go for??
?Lighten up, man. What?s the worst that can happen?? With a cocksure grin, Alex tossed back his drink and slammed the empty glass on the bar. The tender was quick to clear it and Alex was even quicker to turn his back on the counter. His golden eyed gaze swept the crowd, disinterest painting his expression when he looked back to his friend. ?Find me a challenge. I?ll be back in a bit.?
With a rap of his knuckles on the counter, he pushed off from his lean to disappear into the growing throng, leaving Nick there at the counter alone. Just how much time passed was hard to say but finally it seemed the crowd had swelled beyond the ballroom?s capacity. The ambient lighting dimmed save for a golden glow over the entryway. Without so much as a crackle of static a smooth baritone voice came over exquisitely hidden speakers, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. The entryway was soon passed through by pairs, the crowd parting to permit the entrance of what Alexander would have called ?the hoity toities? of the gathering.
Each member of the Lucian Council with their respective spouses came first, followed by delegations from almost all of the Eosian kingdoms or provinces. Solheim and Altissia were near the front, likely to keep the younger Altissian Prince away from the Lucian Prince. Duscae, Leide, and Cleigne all offered their own representatives. To no one?s surprise came the Oracle of Tenebrae by herself, and then finally the Lucian Royal Family. Alexander stepped through the entry first before turning to offer his arm to his sister. She hesitated but quiet words from her brother seemed to finally coax her forward. It was easy to see why when bright lights hit the brilliant crimson fabric of her strapless dress. All eyes were on her. Not Alex, not the delegates before them, not even Lunafreya in her flowing violet and white gown, just Averia.
The announcer?s voice lifted further to announce the arrival of the King and Queen Consort of Lucis shortly after Alex and Averia reached the end of the entry walk but still the eyes lingered on the Princess. The twins? father lingered for a few moments to welcome everyone to the twentieth annual Trinity Ball and with that, the festivities began. Even then it seemed impossible for either Alex or Averia to seek Nick out but finally Alex caught his sister by the hand and pulled her away from whatever awkward conversation she was being forced to partake in, dragging her through the crowd to where he had last left Nick.
Glass in hand, Nick abandoned his barstool. He hadn?t really been sitting on it anyway. He?d started moving when the honored few had begun to enter. Glancing up occasionally when a new pair of names were announced. He gave a hard stare to the Altissian royals, or to one of them in particular. He moved until he found an unobstructed view of the entrance. The room was packed full of people, and pieces of the hushed conversations made it to his ears as the families moved into the light. One person had even had an opinion about the Altissian Prince and Avy. Nick looked away for only a second, trying to see who might?ve said it. He very nearly missed the announcement of Alex and Averia. He might have if every head in the place hadn?t seemed to turn as one and focus on the twins.
Nick looked to his glass for a moment, his head turning back towards the entryway. His eyes slid slowly towards them, towards Averia and the sight of her made him gasp silently. He wasn?t the only one, a collective gasp was audible. If Nick had been thinking clearly, he?d have commented about the oxygen in the room being depleted all at once. The entrance of Aunt Claire and the king were all that pulled him from his own staring. He tried to make his way through the crowd to the twins, but there seemed to be a line forming, and everyone thought they were at the head of it, or they wanted to be.
Alex solved his dilemma, or would have had Nick not moved in the first place. He tracked the twins, as he headed back for the bar. He would arrive there after they?d already made it. Up close, Averia was even more breathtaking. Nick?s head tilted to the side as he looked at her, a toothy smile pushed its way across his lips. The glass found its way to the bar as Nick closed the space between him and the twins. ?Seeing you in that dress makes me forget that I was complaining about the wait a few minutes ago.? He said the words, then bit his lip, feeling stupid for saying anything. He leaned in towards Alex, and pointed out a dark haired, mocha skinned young woman as the challenge he?d requested. To Avy, he whispered something he hoped would make her blush.
As the trio reconvened at the bar, Alex ordered up another shot to go with his appraisal of the indicated target that Nick had given him. On home turf like this it would easy but he still hemmed and hawed over it before finally shooting his friend a devilish grin that said the challenge was accepted. With a quick peck to his sister?s cheek, he disappeared into the crowd so that he wouldn?t have to hear whatever was making Averia blush furiously and so he could put Nick to shame with how easily he bagged his conquest.
?You match.? She said just loud enough for him to hear, her fingers seeking out the knot of his tie to adjust it slightly before sliding down the silk until it disappeared into his suit jacket. Her silver eyes, rimmed with kohl yet especially bright tonight, lifted up to his face. In the moment he may as well have been the only one in the crowded room for all of the gravity of her attention. There were whispers around them but few she seemed to notice. Who was the young man that had captured her attention? How long would she stay before she disappeared as she always did? Have you ever seen her smile so brightly? What about the Prince of Altissia? Averia could have used a drink but instead she took a step closer to Nick under the guise of the crowded room. ?You, um, you look? very dapper.?
Nick watched Alex move off knowing that he?d likely succeed, honestly he hoped that he?d found someone that could keep up with Alex, or at least hold his interest for longer than a day. The touch at his tie caused the world to fall away. ?Yeah, Alex kind of made that happen or I don?t think they?d have done it.? Nick had always known that Avy was beautiful, even though he?d picked on her fiercely growing up. Tonight that beauty seemed to be magnified ten times. ?Thanks, I was hoping you?d like it. You look?? He did his best to find a word suitable, but without trying she was making it impossible for him to think of anything. ?...like the night sky, when it?s pitch black because the power is out across the city. All darkness, and shining stars? too many to count.? He would never be called a poet it seemed, but he meant every word. ?I?d kiss you, but they?d probably have me arrested.?
He wanted to touch her, to make a proper mess of her again. Instead he offered his hand to her. ?Dance with me.?
?Want to know a secret?? She asked, her smile coy as she leaned up further onto her toes until even the heels of her shoes lifted from the floor so she could confide said secret beside his ear. ?Nobody is supposed to match me. But here you are.?
Averia leaned back and tilted her head to one side, hoping that the owlish cant might prevent the flush of red in her cheeks. At least it couldn?t compare to the red of her dress even if she felt like someone had set her face aflame. He could have kissed her then and there. People would have talked. Her father likely would have hated it. It would surely cause a stir, all the things that Avy avoided. But some part of her didn?t care. Still she didn?t bridge the gap between their lips, instead slipping her hand into his. ?You might not be able to kiss me but you can certainly dance with me.?
Nick owed a great deal of what he was to his father, directly or indirectly. He?d been taken to Jin and Charlie young enough that dancing came almost naturally to him. This was different, and he owed his mother for the lessons in formal dance, almost like she?d expected this moment to come. Maybe she had. He led her to the dance floor, noting that there seemed to be an invisible force moving before them. People stepped out of their way, only to close the gap behind them once they?d passed. He cared little for what people thought of him, that I?m adorable smile he wore now was purely for the woman at his side. He took her as close to the center of the floor as he could before turning to her and putting his arm around her waist. He spared a look to the crowd, searching for Alex more than anything else. ?You ready? Just remember, I?m supposed to lead this time.? He gave her a joking wink, as he tried to settle both their nerves.
Fortunately the orchestra was playing a waltz instead of something more complicated. Nick took a few moments before starting into the dance, with the same sure footed confidence he had when scaling a wall. ?I?m not really sure that I?m not dreaming this right now. It seems like something that isn?t real.?
?If you step on my toes, I?m going to lead.? Averia gave him a private little smile and a glance through a veil of dark lashes. It mattered little that the crowd opened and closed around them, most eyes on the pair as they were. She had him and that was all that mattered in the moment. Alex was nowhere to be found. After all he had a mission to accomplish before the clock struck twelve. There was an innate intimacy in the wrap of his arm around her waist and the splay of his hand across her lower back. It was comfortable, natural instead of awkward and stiff.
?If you?re dreaming, I?m dreaming. And if we?re both dreaming the same thing, we have a whole different level of problems to deal with. More than all of these people staring at us.? Yes she had noticed. It was hard not to. Somewhere higher up, she was certain her parents were watching too. Still her steps were graceful, aligning almost perfectly with his as he led her through the waltz. Both twins had been pushed through ballroom dance lessons growing up at their father?s insistence, but Averia always bragged that she was better at it because she could do everything Alex could but backwards and in heels.
?Nah, I?m pretty sure I wouldn?t be dreaming all these strangers, or these clothes.? Any, he?d replaced that word with these. Nick had already made her blush enough for now. There was plenty of time for more later. He took her through practiced steps without any toe stepping. Avy was only a little shorter than his mother, making her gate close enough to avoid that kind of embarrassment. He?d shut out the people, beyond avoiding bumping into the other dancers, or he?d have noticed the black cloth of a tux approaching.
He?d seen it peripherally, but only as an object to avoid. Then words cut through the music and into the world where only he and Averia existed. ?May I cut in?? Nick stopped his dance when he finally registered the meaning in the words, and that they were directed at him. He recognized the voice immediately, bristling a little before turning to look at the Prince of Altissia coldly. He gave Marcus a smile that blatantly said he didn?t care who was here, he?d gladly give him another beat down.
?That?? He looked back to Averia. ?... isn?t up to me. Not after what you did.? If she?d asked him to, Nick would ignore the prince, or more if she really unleashed him. For now at least he was doing his best to hold it together as he waited for Avy?s desire to be known.
Marcus had been a shark in the water, circling until he found his in. Compared to the silent serenity of her moment with Nick, the Prince was a discordant sharp that cut through the music and her calm all in one fell swoop. Thankfully she didn?t trip as she came to a stop, turning just enough to see who wanted to cut in despite already knowing the voice. Her hands stayed on Nick, one to his shoulder and the other within the warm grasp of his palm. The latter tensed, tightening with the need to ball a fist. It anchored her, keeping her from running when every other instinct said to do just that.
?My dance card is full, I?m sorry.? She said, forcing every ounce of politeness that she could muster. Rebuked, Marcus frowned and opened his mouth to protest. Averia knew it was considered poor form to turn down a dance with a foreign dignitary but it was even worse form to touch a woman without her consent. She let go of Nick and turned toward the man, her gaze leveled upon his. Unlike Nick or Alex or her parents, it was much too easy to get into his head. Not so much as a single syllable slipped free of her lips but whatever message she delivered seemed to crack the young royal?s deliberate calm. His eyes widened fractionally then narrowed at her as she gave him a tight smile. ?I?ll do it and you know it.?
?F-forgive my intrusion. Have a happy birthday, Averia.? The color had drained from his face by the time he turned away but it wasn?t until he had disappeared into the crowd that she finally turned back to Nick, her hand searching for his. As her fingers inched along his palm, her gaze swept the crowd until she found her mother and father. Just as she expected they were both watching. Her mother?s face was etched with amusement though her father?s less so. From afar she gave them both a smile, took a breath and looked back to Nick at last.
?Where were we?? Dancing, that was right. She tried not to look flustered but her composure was thinly veiled thing and finally she whispered. ?We could get out of here, you know. Just you and I.?
Nick watched Averia face down Marcus, and wished in that moment that the entire room was empty save for the two of them. He?d felt her grip tighten on him, and solidified his own. He?d felt a grip like that before, from Addie when they?d been forced to make a jump that he knew terrified her. From himself as he held tightly to her hand around the hilt of a dagger. He wasn?t privy to what had passed from her to the prince, though from the look on Marcus? face he might be grateful for that. He didn?t notice Avy?s parents looking at them, instead keeping his gaze on Marcus, as if he were a snake deciding if it should strike.
Only after the prince had walked away did he realize how coiled up he was as well. Avy didn?t need him to defend her, that was one of the things he loved about her. That didn?t mean he wouldn?t do so anyway. If he had his way, she?d never have to face anyone or anything alone. He was tempted to say something to the retreating form, but knew that would only make matters worse.
?Dancing, we were dancing.? He smiled at her whispered suggestion. He?d wanted to do that the moment she?d walked in. ?We should do that. Just give me a minute to do something.? Nick turned from her for a moment, looking at the large clock on the wall. The song they?d been dancing to came to a close, and there was relative silence. Nick took that moment to turn back to face her.
?Averia, I?ve known you all of my life, seen you do things many of these people wouldn?t believe. Somehow you still manage to surprise me. I once thought we had all the time in the world, until the day that time took you away from me. I know that I have only now.? Nick put his hands in his coat pockets and looked at her seriously.
?Right now.? His hands came free of his coat, the left one taking hers as he took a knee before her in front of a ballroom jam packed with witnesses. He looked beyond Avy to her mom, a small smile in place that disappeared as he looked back to Averia from his place on the floor.
?Averia Luna Caelum, you?ve seen me at my best and at my worst. You?ve been through things with me that no one will ever truly understand. You?ve taught me without trying, supported me without being asked, loved me before I knew that I loved you too. The only time you?ve been out of my life, I was a walking trainwreck. Avy, you?re the order to my chaos, and I want to spend every now that I have left with you.? He?d rehearsed his speech to her many times since he?d written it. He knew every word like the back of his hand, or did until the moment he knelt before her. Then things came out of him that he hadn?t been expecting. Nick brought his right hand forward and opened the box that he held in it exposing the ring to her. ?If you?ll have me that is. Marry me, my Averia.?