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"One, two, three… one, two, three… Oh, not again!"
Frustrated, Noé stopped spinning and looked down at his own feet. It wasn't supposed to be this hard to learn basic waltz steps, yet he somehow managed to trip over his own feet again and again. His learning session probably would have gone better if he had a partner to practice with, but that wasn't an option at the moment. In fact, the very reason why he had spent the last hour dancing with his own shadow in one of the many empty rooms of his Teacher's castle was because he wanted to get better by the time Domi came to visit. Noé didn't want her to be disappointed in him… and more importantly, he genuinely dreaded her dancing lessons. Usually sweet and soft-spoken, she tended to become surprisingly ruthless when it came to teaching him how to dance. It wasn't his fault that he kept stepping on her feet! Well, all right, it was his fault, but why did his dancing skills have to be flawless in the first place? Wasn't it all supposed to be just for fun? Try as he might, Noé couldn't understand why Domi insisted on everything being perfect.
Besides, it was hard to concentrate on memorizing dance steps when he knew someone else was watching their lessons.
Louis never offered to join his friend and his sister on their dancing sessions, but he was always there whenever they practiced. Most of the time his face was buried in yet another book he'd borrowed from his grandfather's extensive library, and he didn't seem to show the slightest interest in whatever the other two were doing. Yet Noé could feel a solemn stare piercing his back from time to time, although he never managed to catch it; he offered Louis to dance with him or Domi every time regardless, but the only answer he ever got was a staunch "no". Seriously, those de Sade siblings… Noé simply could not understand what went on in their heads.
"Okay, one more time. One, two-"
"You look so stupid."
He stopped in his tracks and turned around abruptly to see Louis leaning on a column near the door with his arms crossed on his chest and a faint smirk playing on his lips. Noé was glad to see it, even if it was at his own expense; his friend's smile was a rare sight these days.
"Louis! I didn't even notice you!"
"No kidding," Louis replied dryly, studying his fingernails as if he found them more interesting than his interlocutor. "You were so caught up in your little routine. Are you, perhaps, training to perform at Her Majesty's court?"
Noé shook his head vigorously. "Domi is coming to visit in a week," he visibly shivered, making the other boy lift his brow in surprise. "Y-you know what she gets like when I mess up my steps…"
Louis stared at him for a few moments, then doubled over, clutching at his stomach. " That's what prompted you to spin around in this dusty room for the past hour? You're so…" He finally managed to stand upright, his expression serious once more. "You know you'd get a lot better at this if you had a partner, right?"
Noé looked aside with a faint blush on his cheeks. "It's not like you would have agreed if I asked you. You always say no."
"Why don't you give it a try?"
Noé froze, taken aback by that reply. Louis had detached himself from the column and started approaching him, piercing him with those amber eyes. Was he serious? He certainly looked like he was…
"Louis… Will you dance with me?"
A crooked grin. "If you insist."
Noé hesitantly put his right arm on the other boy's waist. It shouldn't really be all that different from his usual dancing lessons, and yet standing so close to Louis, alone in an empty room, made him very… nervous? happy?
Both.
"I, um, will be leading, I suppose? Domi says…"
Louis snorted. "If you always do what she says, are you really leading?"
"You know what I mean," Noé explained patiently. "If I'm practicing before my dancing lessons with Domi, you should take her place as my partner."
Louis wordlessly put his left arm on his friend's shoulder, allowing him to be the lead. Noé looked at him, puzzled. Was his reply that offending? He only explained the situation as it was…
"Louis-"
"No, you're right," Louis said, taking a step back and pulling Noé with him. "I'll take her place. For today only."
They danced in the haunting silence of the room, interrupted only by their steps and Louis's rhythmic counting. A phonograph would have been a good idea, but Noé didn't bring one before he started practicing alone. He didn't regret that oversight, however; the sound of Louis's voice was so soothing…
"Ouch!"
"Sorry!"
Louis winced, slightly shaking his right leg to alleviate some of the pain. "If this is how you're going to dance with Domi next week, you're dead meat."
Noé looked at the floor, flustered. "I was distracted by your voice… I'm sorry."
Louis stared at him. "My… voice?"
"Yes. I don't get to hear it often these days. It was nice." Noé stepped closer and took his friend by the hand, trying to meet his gaze under the dark bangs. "Louis, when will you finish my present? Then maybe we can spend more time-"
"I ruined it again," Louis answered quietly and took a step back. "I'll have to start from scratch. Never mind that." He gave Noé a small smile, just barely lifting the corners of his lips.
"Try to find a phonograph for tomorrow, okay?"