Chapter Text
"The stars look exceptionally beautiful tonight. Perhaps they're shining brighter just for you?" Laslow led his husband into a turn, hips swaying just a little bit with each step.
Niles followed his lead, but had to cover his mouth to stifle the cackle that bubbled up in his chest, to little avail. "I refuse to believe you were ever that bad."
"I was! That was one of my best lines."
"Used it on all the handsome gentlemen in your life, did you?"
It was Laslow's turn to fail to swallow his laughter. "Hardly. Inigo never dared to think of flirting with men. At least, not on purpose. Hell, it took Laslow a while to realize the possibility."
"Young and stupid, indeed."
"Hey!" Laslow giggled. "I resent that."
"Good! You deserve it after years of thinking that line was your best material," Niles said, grinning smugly.
"At the time, it was my best material."
"That's even worse." Niles shook his head. "Anyway, I prefer the moon to the stars. Some nights gone or barely visible, but other nights the brightest thing in the sky. Sometimes silver, sometimes gold, sometimes even red. The stars can't boast so many surprises."
"Hard to believe anything in the night sky shines brighter than you right now."
"Gods, I'm going to gag. Inigo is unbelievable."
Laslow scoffed. "No sense of romance! You really couldn't be the same Niles I married."
"So proving my theory."
"You're right." Laslow sighed in mock defeat. "Inigo and young Niles were never meant to be. We're best as we are."
They swayed together in silence for a moment, glancing up at the sky in all its dizzying infinity. Orange had bled into the purples that now stained the whole horizon. The grass was already wet with the beginnings of morning dew. Birds had begun their bickering in the treetops.
"I don't think I ever mentioned it, but it's a beautiful name, Inigo."
Laslow leaned forward to kiss Niles's jaw. "My mother was the one to come up with it. She...she loved me as her son without question, and it was with her blessing – that name – that I went into the world a new man."
Niles moved his hands from his husband's waist to take Laslow's hands and kiss them. "I would have loved to meet her."
"She would have been so anxious to meet you. I think she'd have really liked you."
Niles's eye slid shut. He let go and pulled Laslow in for a tight embrace. There was nothing but Laslow's warmth and the smell of Laslow's hair and the steady rise and fall of Laslow's chest with every breath and Laslow's heartbeat pounding against his own because despite everything, they were alive. "That's all I can hope for, isn't it?"
"Yeah." Laslow rested his head against Niles's chest, still swaying to a rhythm entirely in his head. "Thank you for all of this."
"What, the idea to dance at four in the morning? Darling, anyone can have a stupid idea. It's no special talent," Niles teased.
"You know what I mean," Laslow snorted, though his smile didn't leave his face. "For dancing. For listening. For understanding. For...being my husband. Gods, I still don't know how I got so lucky."
The sun was barely making its presence known over the distant mountains. The heavens were a watercolor painting, the clouds daubs of white and gold across it.
"I could say the same to you."