Chapter Text
What a beautiful scene.
The golden light reaching all corners of the room hugging it in such a warm embrace. Dancing on all of the guests as they patrolled the room. It was Edgar’s goal to recapture this image for years to come.
He watched as people entered the room and painted how they would greet the security. The people casually chatting with fine wine and other goods prepared from the kitchen of the manor. The inventions of all the talented high esteemed inventors lining the walls for everyone to gawk at.
One invention caught his eye. It looked unfinished and messy but, two men stood proudly beside it. To anyone that came their way, the shorter one seemed to spark up in glee, happily explaining how it worked and grabbing all of his sketches while the older looking man sat peacefully beside him.
The old man was in one of those gross looking wigs. So clean and well kept but it just looked...trashy. His coat draped down to his thighs, it was a nice navy color lined with gold. His monocle sparkling from across the room as he quietly let the smaller man explain everything.
Wait a minute… I recognize them. Alva Lorenz, the prestigious inventor and that immigrant, Luca Balsa.
Edgar heard about them through word of mouth and seen them at a few other gatherings but never had bothered to approach them. He sat to the sidelines peaking up at them when he could. Commissioned just to paint the scene and nothing else.
The orchestra playing an accompanying tune to such a night. One that could easily be talked over by the guests. Edgar grabbed his mix of pink, black, and blue to paint the tuxedos of the musicians.
He watched as the violinist took the lead. He was captivated by him. His long and silky black hair bouncing on his shoulders as he pulled back and fourth on those strings. Such a rigid elegance he possessed.
The painter made sure to put as much detail as he could into this man’s unique appearance and aura; swirling together bronze and golden to highlight his hair.
“So whatcha’ painting there?”
Excuse me?
Oh, Balsa.
He doesn’t seem like someone Edgar would consider a friend. Then again, there’s no one Edgar would consider a friend around here. He preferred his solitude and this raggedy immigrant was invading it.
Edgar looked the man up and down. He took in his appearance. He was rather... cleaned up for an immigrant to say the least. His hair still looked messy so loosely tied together with bits and strands falling out. His silver eyes bouncing every direction taking in all the wonders in this ballroom.
“Hellooooo? Mr. Valden?”
Don’t get distracted... don’t give him what he wants either and he’ll go.
“I prefer not to be disturbed Mr. Balsa” Edgar responded in a rather displeased tone. Edgar attempted to clear his throat to make his point come across more sternly. Luca stared. He looked like an owl while he looked at Edgar with such wide confused eyes. He was trying to rack up some sort of response in his brain.
“You intrigue me.”
“Everything intrigues you. You’re an inventor.”
“Yes but you particularly. Everyone here is so uptight.”
“You assume I’m not?”
“Yes.” Edgar tried not to let his jaw drop. He continued, “You look like more fun to hang out with than everyone here. You’re around my age, Yes?”
“A year younger physically, but mentally older than you,” Edgar snapped back.
There was a pause in the quick responses. Luca stood there once again trying to think on his feet.
“You’re so gloomy,” He bluntly stated. “You sit off over here in your little corner just painting away your life. If your aura was a color then it would be blue and sad.”
What a child, Edgar thought to himself.
“What’s there to be happy about? Why do you care about what ‘aura’ I give off anyways.” Edgar questioned mockingly.
“Oh just because the Doc always told me I’m good at reading people’s energies. We’re surrounded by the most brilliant minds of Europe. Is that not something to be happy about? I worked so hard to get here an-“
“I didn’t,” Edgar said cutting him off. He came from such a privileged background next to the inventor and while he sympathized with Luca, his patience was running dry.
Luca took a step back almost. He seemed to have forgotten that a lot of the people here had been born into their riches and privilege. How silly. He took a few seconds to recompose himself.
“I like you Edgar. Can I call you that?”
“Absolutely not,” Edgar was balling his fists, the paint brushes in his hands could snap at this rate out of pure frustration.
Luca stopped for a solid few seconds. While they were a couple seconds of awkwardness for Luca, they were a few seconds of peace for Edgar.
“...Alright then.”
Oh thank God he shut up. Maybe he’ll actually leav- And just like that Edgars thought process was cut off.
“What a sharp tongue you have there Mr. Valden.”
Edgar growled under his breath. How he wished he was back to where he was 10 minutes ago when this immigrant wasn’t pestering him.
“Surely you must have just as strong of a bite as you do bark?” He smirked. His grayish eyes highlighting the scheming smile he had on his face. He made complete and full eye contact with the painter, who’s eyes just as crinkled, brewed another emotion.
“Balsa, leave me alone. Must you constantly state the obvious?” Edgar said in-between his teeth.
“It’s good to put your observations into the world, obvious or not. To some idiots or in your case, someone who is completely unaware as to how they present themself in public, it might help you to know how aggressive you come off to others.” Luca snickered at his oust response.
Edgar felt absolutely floored. Almost as if Luca attempted to sweep him off his feet at first and then left him to fall at the dip on purpose.
“I am aware how aggressive I come off. It’s for a reason. You’ve distracted me from my work enough so will you please leave me alone?” He was going to snap any minute now.
“And I could’ve spent this time showing off my invention to the guests but, I’ve left it to the Doc to come and greet you. You looked bored over here,” Luca responded as fast as the other man.
This whole conversation felt like a tango. Trying to out-dance the other and end this as soon as possible. But, it wasn’t ending. Luca wouldn’t let it end. He wanted to keep dancing. He wanted to talk to such a character and get to know him more than anyone else in this room.
“Oh what a nice song,” he chirped on, “Do you know how to ballroom dance, Edgar?”
“It never interested me. I have no sense of rhythm.” Edgar responded. He was trying to get back on track but the room had moved too quick for him to find the people he was currently studying. He tried his best to improvise but Luca just wouldn’t shut up.
And that’s when he broke the boundary of personal space. Something no one DARED to do to the painter. He yanked him off of his stool he was sitting on and onto his feet. Before Edgar could react, he grabbed his hands and moved away where there was a lot more space.
Edgar’s knees felt weak and his brain a convoluted mess of thoughts. This was the last thing he expected to be doing tonight. His face was turning red and his palms felt sweaty, but he couldn’t shake Luca’s grip off his wrist.
“W-w-what the hell do you think you’re doing?!” He whisper-shouted to the shorter man guiding him, trying not to cause a scene. Luca only hummed to the beat.
“Hmm, I’m going to show you how to dance is that okay?”
“Not in the slightest. How dare you try and pull this shit after we’ve known each other for hardly 20 minu-“
“God do you ever shut up?” He chuckled.
Did he? What a FUCKING HYPOCRITE. Edgar was screaming internally. He was losing his mind. Everything Luca said felt like a punch in the gut because of how easily he could keep up with Edgar’s pace and, at this point he had ran out of comebacks. So, he shut up. Like a stupid dog with a muzzle, Edgar Valden had shut up.
“Y-you’re gonna get paint on your hands and coat...” Edgar muttered out not even making eye contact.
“I don’t mind. I knew you had no bite after all!! Now, back to what we were doing... first put your right foot here and-“
He trailed off. Mindlessly beginning to listen to him. He followed his lead and did what he said while they span around. What a fool he was making of himself and the inventor. He missed the timing of the steps and dips constantly but, this was the first time he’s had a bit of fun in what felt like years.
Maybe Luca did have something special about him. No one would ever match up to Edgars intellect but he was a close runner. Luca even tolerated him. How rare. How special...
At some point the dancing had stopped. After what felt like ages, Luca swung Edgar back into his stool.
“You got the hang of it!! Maybe we can practice together again?” Luca enthusiastically asked.
“Well, it was....nice But, I’m rather delayed on this commission work now.” Edgar explained, realizing how much time he had wasted.
“How about sometime next week?” Luca suggested.
Next week? Its not like he had any plans ever anyways. Why did he want to see Edgar so bad? What was so interesting about him to Luca?
“If you really must insist. I’ll be free in a few days once I wrap this painting up and can present it,” Edgar huffed. Something about Luca was so...attractive. Not in a romantic sense. Maybe he did wanna be around him more and get to know him too.
“Then it’s a date?” He grinned again. Edgar never noticed the little snagged tooth sitting there. It really did give him some personality. Edgar’s face flushed a bit at the word “date.” It wasn’t a date. It was just a get together, with a man he hardly knew.
“Yes yes why not,” Edgar tried to shoo him off as best he could before the inventor could see how tensed up and nervous the painter had become.
“Great I’ll see you then!! Good evening to you Mr. Valden!” And like that Luca turned on the balls of his feet and started heading away from the painter. What a lonely way to end the night.
Hold on...
Luca never gave him any of the details. How the hell was he gonna find him next week? Edgar was so caught up in the fun he was having. He didn’t know his address or where they were going to meet. Hell, he lost his face in the dying crowd. Did he leave with his mentor after he said goodbye?
Maybe Edgar was being deceived. Maybe Luca just wanted to mess with him for the night to suppress his boredom. How fucking rude. A man of such high honor like himself just being treated like a toy. What a scumbag. Maybe Edgar didn’t want to see him again.
His gut feeling at the beginning was right. He should’ve ignored his offers. He shouldn’t have let Luca grab him and drag him onto the dance floor. This was such a huge mistake. Edgar was probably never gonna mentally live this down.
The way he looked at him and how he so delicately held his hands. He was aware how touched starved he was, but it was for the benefit of his work he remained unsocial with those around him. Luca isn’t any different from everyone here and certainly not after he attempted such a shitty trick to get the painter’s hopes up.
——
“Oh Doc I meant the most lovely man tonight at the convention!! Edgar Valden, the artist. You know him right Doc?” Luca babbled on and on about how much fun he had talking with Edgar and dancing with him.
“Yes I’m aware of that painter. He’s a total hermit. Why waste your time on him?” The doctor asked while fiddling with some screw boxes and tools he left around.
“Well he just seemed interesting!! Very gloomy... but I told him to meet me next week to hang out!” Luca was unaware of how much he was smiling. He had lots of coworkers, colleagues, and acquaintances all over the place but never any real friends around his age. But, Edgar seemed different. He didn’t seem like he had a care for Lucas money or status, or even his own status weirdly enough.
Just like that, Luca paused his train of thought. Did he... give him any details? What a klutz he was. Luca wasn’t always the best at remembering things like that. He’ll find someway to contact him again before that...hopefully.
“I haven’t heard good things about him. Every time that boy opens his mouth nothing but absolute sour words spill out.” Lorenz argued back.
“I wouldn’t say... sour, just more colorful?” Luca tried to defend him. Someone he hardly knew. Even if Edgar attempted to shoo him away for half of their time together, Luca knew he’d be up for such a unique challenge of friendship to say the least.
“You’re gonna get your feelings hurt when that kid shuts you out, Luca” The doctor warned.
Luca huffed to himself. No one was being helpful in this situation.
“And if that happened then you warned me at least.”