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"What do you mean there's a gala?" Inference complains, sitting back in his chair at his and Truth's kitchen table, slamming his coffee mug down.
"The informant is very prestigious. It's the only way you'll be able to talk to her." Truth explains kindly. "I heard she's kind of like a princess, you know! Makes me wish I was the one going." She sighs dreamily, hands cupping her cheeks.
Inference sighs, talking another sip from his mug. "It would've been better if you were. I don't know how to dance, I can't believe that woman wants me to go to… ugh!"
"It'll be fine, you know? Why don't you get Ronald to teach you?" Truth asks genuinely, cradling her mug in her hands.
Ronald? That's almost laughable. "There's no way he'd help me. Not without a price, of course." Ronald has never been anything short of greedy , not even when it comes to people he considers close. That man would do anything for coin, status, whatever he wishes. It's a quality of Ronald's Inference has never been able to stand, but he can't say that he's never been curious as to why Ronald is the way he is. Whether it was just a poor childhood or something more, he's never figured out.
Inference doesn't want to incur any debts to him. That's just too dangerous.
It seems Truth thinks otherwise. Fixing him with a confused glance, she says, "But he's your friend."
"Yeah. That wouldn't stop him." Inference snorts, draining the rest of his mug. He stands, waving his hand nonchalantly.
"Just don't worry about it, all right? I'll figure something out." He really doesn't want Truth to worry about this case in his stead. "I'll be in my office if you need me."
After a day's work, Inference is almost satisfied with what he's gotten done. He's been very pointedly putting off dance lessons, but the gala isn't for over a week, so there's no need to hurry, right?
Inference gets up, stretching his back, hearing it pop satisfyingly. In the middle of his small break, there's a knock, knock at the door, and it's different from how Truth usually knocks.
But who is here so late?
Sighing, he heads over to the door, and calls out without opening it. Maybe he's being too cautious, but if the person doesn't respond he'll have to arm himself with something for self defense; his cane might not cut it. "Who is it?"
"Just your one and only." The voice on the other side responds.
…
Goddamnit. Inference opens the door to a sleazy grin from none other than Ronald of Ness, the last person he wanted to see anytime soon.
"Ronald." Inference exhales out his nose. "What are you doing here?" It was unusual to see him out of his theatre wear, truly – Here Ronald was in front of him without his mask and jacket, waistcoat still buttoned but his tie undone. He looked… a little good, like this, not as dressed up, but Inference would never tell him that. It takes him a belated second to realize Ronald's hat is missing too.
Inference doesn't want to assume things, but the last time he saw Ronald without any of those things was in the army. Does it mean anything, or is he just overthinking it?
"Heard you were having some trouble from the little miss. Something about a gala?"
Of course it was Truth, Inference growls. He won't be able to stay mad at her, of course, but he's sure as hell pissed right now.
"I'm not interested in any tutoring lessons, Ronald."
Inference starts to close the door, but it's forced back open with Ronald's unnerving strength. His smile is still plastered to his face. "Truly, I insist. Why would you want to go to anyone else?"
He sounds almost jealous.
"It's not that I don't want to ask you," Inference finds himself backtracking with a complete lie. Something about Ronald's tone scares him, almost. He doesn't want Ronald to think that he wouldn't trust him with this. "It's that I do not want to ask anyone at all. I find having to learn to dance for just one case deplorable. A waste of my time, even." He narrows his eyes. "Just like this conversation. I was working, you know."
"Lighten up, detective. It'll be free of charge, how about it?" Inference stares at Ronald, who stares back. The actor chuckles. "Ah, I hit the nail on the head, didn't I? And you think I'm stingy."
Inference growls. He hates it, how transparent Ronald makes him feel. He's the detective, he should be the one with secrets that can't be uncovered – so why is Ronald such a mystery, and Inference such an open book?
"But…?" He prompts Ronald, crossing his arms.
"But what?"
"There has to be some sort of catch." Inference says, point blank. "Even if it isn't monetary."
Ronald sighs, hand dramatically placed on his forehead. "Oh, does my darling detective not believe that just being in his presence is enough for me? I'm wounded."
"Cut it out." The detective grimaces, cheeks warming. He'd much rather believe that, trust him, but with Ronald demeanor and general track record of never saying what he means? No way. "If you have to insist like that, I suppose it's useless to argue. So, fine. Have it your way. You can teach me to dance if you so choose."
"I do choose." Ronald says brightly, his act disappearing quickly. "Now, come on, we don't have much time to waste. It's already dark out."
Huh? "Right now? Wait– Ronald!"
"I can't believe you want to do this now." Inference complains on their brisk walk to the theatre.
Ronald laughs and bumps his shoulder against Inference's. "You would've stayed up doing work anyways. I'm basically doing you a favor."
The night is calm, just the two of them bathed in the light of the moon. They're walking close enough to brush shoulders occasionally, which makes the pit of Inference's stomach feel funny – he can't believe his own feelings sometimes. It's undignified, how Ronald makes him feel, like a schoolgirl with a crush.
Inference turns to look at Ronald only to find the man already staring at him, face slack of emotion but zoned in on Inference like he's the only person in the world. Which, to be fair, it's not like there's much else to look at at the moment.
"Ronald?" Inference asks, breaking the illusion between them. Ronald blinks once, twice, and gives him a huge grin, barely visible in the moonlight.
"My bad, detective. Got a little lost in thought."
"Mm, surprising. I didn't realize there were any thoughts in there at all." Inference snarks back easily, taking a puff from his pipe.
"So mean!" Ronald exclaims, barking out laughter. He bumps his shoulder against Inference's again, and Inference pushes back a little, getting caught up in the atmosphere. He smiles something small, looking over at Ronald.
Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
It doesn't take them long to walk to the theater, their conversation lulling into a comfortable silence.
Ronald unlocks the entrance to the theatre with ease, closing it behind him and leading Inference to the main stage.
The stage lights Ronald turns on are low, casting the stage and the seats surrounding it in a dim yellow. Inference can't help but feel amazed at how subdued everything feels late at night without the roar of an audience. Ronald takes his hand, guiding him over to the stage. Washed in yellow light, Ronald almost looks…
Pretty. Yeah.
"Well. Shall we?" Ronald asks, extending his hand out to Inference.
Inference nods back at him, placing his hand in Ronald's tentatively. "Yes. Let's."
Ronald all but pulls him towards the stage, a certain childishness in his step Inference can't help but find himself grin at. Once they reach the stage, Ronald doesn't let go of his hand and instead brings them up above their shoulders. Ah, Inference knows this much, at least. He brings his other hand to rest on Ronald's shoulder.
It's something that feels more intimate than it should, being in this sort of proximity with Ronald. Like there's a string of tension that's so taut it could snap. Realistically, he knows that this is just Ronald teaching him to dance, of course, it can't be anything more.
Ronald wouldn't think of him like that.
"Let's have you lead first. We'll practice the box step before we start trying to move around the stage." Ronald tells him, "So what you'll want to do is…" Ronald instructs him on where his feet will go and Inference does the best to keep it in his mind.
It takes a few tries, and he stumbles a few times, but Inference is able to get the hang of the box step relatively quickly; one and two and three, one and two and three. Ronald praises him and it goes straight to his head, something heady taking root in his brain.
They practice for what seems like forever – one and two and three – before Ronald speaks up, saying it ought to be time for him to lead now. Inference allows it, of course, Ronald is his teacher for the night, and once again he's wont to stumble again, attempting to learn the steps for following rather than leading. Luckily, after so much practice leading, the reverse in steps comes a little more naturally.
What he didn't account for, was Ronald taking things a step further. While they did practice the box step for a good amount of time, as soon as Inference was going to speak up about practicing enough, Ronald grins at him cheekily, and his movements start to change.
This is definitely not the waltz anymore, Inference thinks as Ronald brings them chest to chest to dance. It takes a bit for Inference to get into the rhythm of Ronald's dance, but he performs it splendidly before –
Inference can't help but yelp at the spin Ronald twirls him into, face burning red. It's a bit of an odd feeling, the way his heart soars and plummets in his chest at each of Ronald's unpredictable moves.
There's an ebb and a flow in their movements, and he thinks Ronald praises him for being a natural, but his heart is beating in his ears and he can't think straight with all his blood rushing to his cheeks and the tips of his ears and he's blushing , he's blushing as Ronald dances with him and brings him down in a dip, faces way, way too close –
"Hey, detective." Ronald says, his voice low and gravelly, and it's too much, Inference thinks as he clutches onto Ronald's shoulder and he thinks they might kiss but he's pulled back up with nothing but a charming smile on Ronald's face and he wants to die . He wants to beat at Ronald's chest like a child and curse him out for toying with him so much, but this is a dance lesson and all he can do is follow the actor's footsteps in hopes they engrain into his brain. There is no tension here. There is nothing between them, it's just all in Inference's head; how could Ronald ever love such a boring man like him? The idea is preposterous.
"You're cute when you blush, you know." Ronald says suddenly as they sway around the stage, a wink adorning his statement. Inference blushes harder at his words, face hot.
"There's something wrong with you." Inference mutters, tone harsh. "Can you please stop this… this game you play with me?"
Ronald slows his moments and Inference stumbles to stop after him. His gaze on the detective is incredulous.
"That's what you think this is? A game? You're denser than I thought, detective."
Inference stares at him. Despite his excellent deductive skills – he's a damn detective for God's sake – he'll never be able to figure out Ronald. "What do you mean?"
But maybe it's because he's a little scared of what the truth is.
"I meean…" Ronald starts off dragging out his words, leaning forward to invade Inference's personal space again. He can feel Ronald's breath on his. "Can I kiss you?"
Inference's mouth goes dry, cotton stuffed in his mouth, but before he can think it over he's already nodding and Ronald closes the distance, slotting their lips together easily, like it was meant to be.
Ah, what an embarrassing thought.
Their stance for waltzing is abandoned for Inference to snake his up around Ronald's neck and for Ronald to pull Inference as close as possible, pressing into the small of his back. It makes Inference feel warm inside, and he tries to bring Ronald in closer as well, tightening the join of his hands on the back of Ronald's neck.
It's perfect. Something Inference could have only dreamed about.
When they break apart, Ronald is smiling, foreheads pressed against one another.
"I wanted to do that for a very long time." Ronald tells him, going back in for another kiss. It feels like the world is just the two of them, with Ronald's lips on his.
"Why did you wait so long then?" Inference asks when they stop again to catch their breaths.
Ronald hums. "You're not exactly the most open about your feelings, detective."
"And you are?" Inference shoots back.
The actor laughs. "You just thought I was joking, but I was."
Inference thinks back to earlier in the evening. Just today, calling himself Inference's "one and only" and insisting Inference is his "dearest detective".
"...Okay, so maybe there were some signals I missed." He admits, moving away from Ronald to cross his arms. "It's not my fault you say everything with the same tone. I thought you were just… Being Ronald."
"I was, though?" Ronald laughs.
"Ugh, you know what I mean!"
"I do, I do!" He yields, putting his hands up. "Now, for the real question, detective."
Ronald tilts Inference's head up and looks him in the eyes, his smile dazzling. Inference's heart flutters in his chest, and he feels like a teenager and not some old man again. He feels loved. It's just him and Ronald on this huge open stage, just the two of them and it feels almost magical the way the lights cast shadows over Ronald's face, curving over his cheekbones and down his neck.
"May I go as your plus one to this gala?"
Inference smiles dumbly. "Of course, idiot. I wouldn't have it any other way."