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Chapter Text

Moritz frowned, straightening his tie and running a brush through his hair which didn't help much.

It was his senior prom and he had nobody to go with, he'd thought about inviting Martha Bessell, but just the thought of it caused his stomach to churn. He thought Melchior would go with him as friends, but he told him he was going with Wendla. Great, Moritz thought, Spending my only prom alone. He tried to shake the thought and think happier instead, but he just couldn't. It seemed that everyone had a date but him. Ernst told him he'd be going with Hanschen as friends, Georg told him that prom was stupid and that he wasn't going, and Otto told him the same as Georg. 

"Moritz, down now." His father yelled and Moritz jumped, "Melchior is to see you, his mother would like to drive you." Moritz sighed in relief, walking into his living room.

"You look nice, Herr Stiefel." Frau Gabor smiled, shaking Moritz's hand and he nodded.

Then they were off to prom. 

Moritz sat there, watching everyone dance and enjoy the festivities, turns out Georg changed his mind and went, but Otto was nowhere to be seen. He shrugged it off, he knew it wasn't anything big. Moritz admired the ballroom, it was adorned with beautiful lights, but it still remained dim, there was little space to sit or to move, and a warm melody played. He fiddled with the buttons on his suit, looked up and there he saw Martha, all by herself. He swallowed, trying to muster the courage and go up to her to ask her to dance, but he couldn't. He sighed, maneuvering through the crowd of people and making his way to Martha, he immediately flushed. She still had her typical braids in, but something about her was different. He couldn't exactly put his finger on it. He sighed, finally gathering the courage to ask Martha to dance.

"Martha?" Moritz's face only seemed to get redder.

"Yes, Moritz?" She smiled and Moritz contemplated running away.  

"May I have this dance?" He sheepishly smiled, lending her a hand. Martha seemed to light up, she nodded and happily took his hand. They moved rhythmically, despite Moritz stepping on Martha's feet a few times, every time he did she'd smile and say its fine, she truly was an angel. The room they were in was grand, but the amount of people managed to make it seem small, Moritz never thought Martha would say yes. Soon, the time came and the song ended. Moritz let go of Martha's hand and she pouted, 

"Just a few songs more," Martha asked, "Please?" Moritz nodded and they continued, he was completely entranced by her beauty, he'd never met somebody he admired more, "You're a good dancer Moritz, better than I expected." Moritz blushed at the compliment despite the second part. 

"Thank you," Moritz smiled, "You as well." One song passed, then another, then another. Moritz smiled, this time genuinely. He enjoyed being this close to Martha, just her presence made him happier. 

Martha seemed to reciprocate the feeling, at least Moritz hoped so. 

They continued to dance, but this time Moritz stepped on Martha's foot, different then the other times he did. This one caused her to jump. 

"Oh my god, Martha." Moritz yelled, "I'm so sorry." He grabbed her shoulders and she shook her head.

"Moritz, it's fine, seriously." She smiled reassuringly.

"I'm such a fool." He muttered.

"Seriously Moritz, it's fine." She clasped his hands between hers, pulling him close, "I've met many fools in my life, Moritz," Moritz nodded along, "And you are not one of them, I promise." Martha smiled and gave Moritz a peck on the cheek, "I love you, I promise that it's okay." Moritz blushed once again, fully entranced by Martha's beauty, the way she spoke, and how she'd act. Moritz was distracted even, he knew he was where he meant to be. 

"I love you too, Martha." Moritz replied, kissing her forehead.

Maybe this night wouldn't be so bad after all.

Chapter Text

Melchior stood in the middle of a crowd of people, unsure of what to do. Today was his Senior prom and he was there alone. His friend, Moritz Stiefel was there and he glanced at him a few times.

There was something about Moritz that night that compelled Melchior to hang out with him. He couldn't quite explain what he felt for Moritz at the time.

Love? Passion? Care? Whatever it was, he wasn't sure. Georg teased him for going alone like he had anyone to go with, but Melchior didn't let it bother him.

These new weird feelings confused Melchior, sure, he'd liked girls before, but he's never felt this way about a boy, let alone one he's known since he was a child. He tried to ignore these feelings, he tried to push them down, but nothing seemed to work. He wondered if anyone he knew felt the same, surely there was somebody who could understand. He though about somebody who he could go to, Otto, maybe? Hanschen? For once in Melchior's life, he was afraid. Afraid of what people would think of him, afraid what would happen if any of this came out. His parents would disown him, maybe not his mother, but definitely his father. 

Melchior tried to shake the fear, but he just couldn't. What if everybody saw him differently? He sighed, looking down until somebody tapped his shoulder. Great, it was Moritz. The last person he wanted to see at the moment. 

"Melchi, are you okay? I didn't know you were going to be here alone." Moritz asked genuinely and Melchior continued to look down.

"Yeah, I'm fine, why do you ask?" Melchior responded.

"Just curious, you seem so down." Moritz awkwardly smiled, Melchior just nodded in response, unsure as of what to say, "How come you're alone? Most of the girls we know are always swooning over you." Moritz giggled.

"I just don't like any of them like that." Melchior shrugged, he didn't know how to explain that he didn't want any of those girls. He wanted Moritz.

"Ah, yeah, I get it, me neither." Moritz giggled, "Maybe we could hang out today? As friends, of course." Moritz asked. Moritz calling Melchior a friend stung him, he knew they were just friends most likely to be nothing more, but still, it hurt. "Would you like to dance?" Moritz asked and Melchior nodded, taking his hand, then they began.

Melchior wished that his feelings were reciprocated, that one day he could be more than a friend to mores, he wasn't sure if that would ever happen. 

"You're a nice dancer, Moritz." Melchior smiled and Moritz nodded, surprisingly enough Moritz seemed to be enjoying this, maybe the feelings were reciprocated. 

Then, it was time for the slow dance. Melchior gasped, realizing what he was doing with Moritz. He gently pushed him off and ran out.

He sat on the stoop outside, confused. He was confused why he came here in the first place, why he was cursed with this, why out of all people he loved Moritz. He sat alone with his thoughts for a bit until Moritz came out.

"Melchi?" Why did you leave?" Moritz asked with genuine concern.

"It's too much, Moritz." Melchior replied sorrowfully, Moritz sat down next to Moritz.

"What is?" Moritz asked yet another question. 

"All of this, what I feel for you!" Melchior admitted and Moritz furrowed his eyebrows. 

"What do you mean, Melchi?" Moritz placed a hand on Melchior's shoulder.

"I love you, Moritz." Melchior admitted woefully.

"Oh." Moritz gasped.

"I'm sorry." Melchior covered his face with his hands.

"No, no. I love you too, Melchior, I swear." Moritz smiled.

"Really? All this time?" Melchior asked.

"Of course I have!" Moritz yelled.

"Oh." Melchior buried his head in his arms.

"What does that make us?" Moritz asked.

"I'm not sure. But all I know is I love you, Moritz." Melchior responded.

Chapter Text

Moritz and Ilse have been meeting in secret for some time now. Ilse wasn't sure how to feel about it, today was Moritz's prom and he was missing it just for her. Sure, she felt bad for making him miss it, but secretly she was happy she'd get to spend time with him, she'd never tell him.

Ilse was waiting for Moritz to come to their usual meeting spot; a forest near the artist colony.

She sat by a tree, waiting for Moritz. They'd send each other letters every once in a while.  Moritz feared that one day they'd get caught. Deep down, so did Ilse.

She continued to wait until she saw him, she immediately got up and greeted him, "Hi Moritz!" She smiled, embracing him.

"Hi, Ilse." He didn't do much about the embrace, he just stood there. Oddly, Moritz was all dressed up.

"Why are you dressed so fancy, Moritz?" She slightly giggled.

"I told my dad I was going to prom, I had to commit to it I guess." Moritz shrugged and Ilse let go. 

"Makes sense," Ilse sat down and Moritz followed, "In the artist colony nobody really cares about what they wear." Ilse shrugged.

"Really? Sounds neat." Moritz replied genuinely, "I'd love something like that." He smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Me too, it's nice." She answered dishonestly and laughed humorlessly. 

"I think uniforms are stupid, Melchior told me that the school system wants to control everything we do! I agree." Moritz added. 

"Really? If you were to have kids would you let them wear whatever they want?" Ilse questioned, stretching.

"Of course! I'd let them do whatever they please, I'd let my daughter wear trousers if she wished! I'd even let my son wear a dress!" Moritz began to rant, Ilse just nodded along. She liked hearing Moritz talk like this. Though he wasn't the brightest, he could be pretty smart at times. "What about you, Ilse?" Moritz asked. 

"I'd let my children grow free as well." Ilse smiled, "That's if I have, of course." Ilse added and Moritz nodded. 

"I see no point in parents thinking children are clay for them to mold! If anything it's the opposite, us children should be who we please." Moritz yelled and Ilse just nodded in agreement, not sure as of what to say, she just rested her head on his shoulder. Moritz tensed up, clenching his fists. 

"Its sweet of you to do this, Moritz." Ilse smiled and Moritz blushed.

"Thank you," He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, "It's just nice hanging out with you I guess." 

Ilse blushed, maybe she should tell him how she felt.

 "It's nice hanging out with you too." Ilse looked up at him, her jaw still on his shoulder.

"I think I'm in love with you, Ilse." Moritz spoke fast, but Ilse heard him loud and clear.

 "Oh." She muttered, unsure as of what to say once again.

"I'm so sorry, I should've never said anything about it," Moritz jumped up and Ilse followed,

"No, No! It's fine, Moritz. I love you too." She smiled, cupping his left cheek, he sighed and they both leaned in, kissing.