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May watches Ravi dance with a gorgeous brunette with green eyes, and her fingers tighten harshly around the flute glass she's holding.
Stupid charity event.
It's not stupid, but her being here is because now she wants to shatter the glass in her hands.
Ravi's dancing with someone else.
He should be dancing with her dammit.
They're not together.
It's not that big of a deal.
Except that it is because she's liked him for so long now that having this chance stolen right out from under her…
It hurts.
But she knows she can't really be hurt.
They're friends.
Maybe.
He might not even consider them acquaintances.
May hopes Ravi considers them as more than strangers that sometimes hold a twenty minute conversation about hospital nicknames.
But he probably doesn't.
She can't really blame him if he doesn't either.
"If you squeeze that cup any harder, you're going to be picking glass out of your palm," says Hen softly as she steps up next to May, amusement curling through her voice. "Why don't you just ask if you can cut in? Ravi definitely won't mind."
"He seems to be enjoying himself," retorts May as she rolls her eyes and twists to set the half-empty glass down. "Why would I interrupt that?"
Someone will pick it up later if she doesn't finish it off.
"Because he's been giving every single one of us panic eyes for the last two dances. He's too nice to say no at an event where that woman's father has become one of our biggest donors," replies Hen seriously as she nudges May's side and nods towards where Ravi has turned a panicked face in their direction. "Go save him and then confess so we can all stop hearing about how much you two like each other."
"If this ends badly, you're going to owe me, big time," grumbles May with a shake of her head before she takes a deep breath and adjusts her deep blue gown that matches the blue tie that Ravi's wearing. She approaches cautiously before clearing her throat once she's next to them. "Sorry for the interruption, but I was hoping to steal a dance with Ravi before I head out."
The woman's eyes narrow, lips parting with what is definitely going to be a retort that May will spit back.
But Ravi holds out his hand to May and steps back, creating distance as he says, "I'd love to, May. I'm sure, Amie wouldn't mind a break."
May takes the hand, half-smirk on her face as she looks at Amie for a moment. She feels victorious at the sight of that scowl before it's carefully tucked away, then May's attention falls on Ravi.
Completely.
Her other hand finds his shoulder, sliding over to gently curl against his neck as his free hand rests firmly on her hip.
"How have you enjoyed this event?" asks Ravi softly as he steps a bit closer, removing some of the distance between them.
Distance they'd both put there.
She steps forward too, removing the last of it until they're pressed together, his cheek against her own.
"It's been okay, a bit boring, but that's because I've mainly been by my mom and Hen. I did get to talk to a few donors that want to donate to the pediatric ward of my hospital though," replies May quietly as she lets her head drop a little more, forehead pressing against his shoulder. "It looks like you've been busy schmoozing. Are you having any fun?"
"I am now," says Ravi as he leans his head against hers, hand spreading against her back, firmly pressing her into him as she gets comfortable in his arms. "Thanks for cutting in. I didn't think I was going to escape her for two more songs. That's when Karen agreed she'd step in, if I couldn't get free."
"Why were you dancing with her when you wanted free?" asks May curiously as she slowly pulls away, head tipping to the side. "You could've said you needed a drink, some more food, anything. Why let her drag you around the dance floor when you were tired?"
"Because I wanted to make sure I could escape her for the rest of the night, not just for a few minutes," sighs Ravi as he looks at her, his other hand finding her back as well as she slides hers up to his shoulder. Their fingers thread together, behind his neck and against her lower back. "She wants me to take her on a date, give her my number, and I do not want that. She's not really my type. I've been trying to be nice about it, trying to let her down easy, but she's either not noticing or doesn't care."
"Doesn't care would be my assumption," replies May softly as she catches Amie's eyes over his shoulder, watching them narrow in their direction. "Do you want me to help?"
She would enjoy every minute of it, but only if Ravi is comfortable with it.
"How would you be helping?" asks Ravi as he tips his head to the side, drawing her attention back to him again.
"I can try something subtle. For example, I could kiss your cheek, something that's not quite a claiming but also is at the same time," offers May softly, cheeks growing warm at her own idea. "We've already gotten closer than you two were when I interrupted you, so this could add to that. It might have her come over and try to cut in. If she does, I could kindly interrupt that as well. But I also don't have to do anything. It's completely up to you."
"Do it," replies Ravi genuinely as he smiles at her. There's something in his eyes, in that almost lopsided smile, something that sends warmth spreading through her faster than her own words had. "I'd greatly appreciate it."
The emphasis is something she should think about, but as they turn a bit with their swaying, she just giggles softly instead. She catches Amie staring again, and May leans up and presses a kiss to Ravi's cheek, the one not in clear view, so Amie can watch every single movement. When her lips brush his cheek, it's gentle, but enough to leave a light smudge of the barely there pink lipstick to match the smattering of petals that adorn the bottom of her gown.
"Oh, oh no," May actually breaks into giggles as she pulls away and catches sight of the lipstick smudge. "I thought my lipstick was gone, but apparently not. Here, let me um.. I've got a napkin in my bag here."
"You smudged me?" Ravi's amusement is glittering in those brown eyes when she looks up at him, napkin firmly in hand now.
"It was an accident," May's still giggling as she reaches up to wipe the smudge from his warm skin. "I swear, I thought it was all off. I've left three different smudges on my drink flutes, and I didn't put a heavy layer on today since it's supposed to match the petals on my dress."
"If you don't mind, I'd like to cut back—" Amie's voice starts rolling through with a tone that has May clenching her teeth.
"He's not available anymore tonight," replies May in a sweet tone that's sharper than it needed to be. "I'm sure you can find someone else to dance with though."
"Well, you can't just decide that for him," Amie's hands go to her hips, clearly ready to make a scene.
May simply smirks before leaning up and pressing another kiss to Ravi's cheek before turning fully to her and replying, "I can decide that for him, actually. I don't intend to let him go, so if you'd like to make a scene, you're more than welcome to. But this isn't a dance, ma'am. It's a charity event. Do you really want to draw everyone's attention to you pestering a firefighter who puts his life on the line every single day over a dance that he intends to keep sharing with me?"
Ravi steps behind May, arms wrapping around her waist as he rests his chin on her shoulder, and she leans into him, melting as one of her hands comes up to cup the cheek that holds her lipstick smudge.
They look like a couple.
This feels like they're a couple.
May's heart is breaking.
But for Ravi, she will do what she can to help him be comfortable.
"I enjoyed dancing with you, Amie, but I was saying no for a reason. Now you know the reason," adds Ravi softly as he leans his head against May's.
"I— I— Ugh!" Amie stomps her heel-covered foot before turning and walking away.
"Well, that was eventful," snorts May as she shakes her head gently.
"Thank you," murmurs Ravi as he pulls away. "For the only dance I've enjoyed all night, and getting Amie to leave me alone."
"It was my pleasure, trust me," replies May as she turns to him, hand lifting again to clear the lipstick smudge with the napkin in her hand. "There, all clean again. Do you think I could steal you for one more dance before I leave for the night?"
"I'd love that, but then maybe I could give you a ride home?" offers Ravi softly, a bit nervous as he brings a hand up to scratch at the back of his head. "I know you caught a ride with your mom, and she doesn't seem ready to leave or sober enough to drive."
"Yeah, Harry is supposed to drive both of us home, but if you don't mind, I'd love to take you up on that ride. But first, one more dance," May's voice is amused, but soft, a bit shy as she tucks her napkin back into the little pink bag she'd brought with her.
His hands find her back again, and she lets her fingers lace together against the back of his neck. They press together and sway, slow and comfortable to a song that May doesn't recognize. Their heads lean together, and all May can think about is how romantic this moment is, even if she's the only one seeing it that way.
She thinks she is too.
The only one looking at this moment, feeling this moment, in a romantic way.
Until they pull back, halfway through the song as May is bumped into and shoved into Ravi. Their bodies pressing firmly together in a way they haven't this entire time.
"I'm sorry," breathes May as she looks at him, their noses brushing.
"Are you okay?" Ravi's voice is hushed, like speaking any louder would be a problem.
"Yeah, I'm fine, are you?" May returns the question, her voice trailing off as she realizes just how close they are.
"Even better now," Ravi says it like it's a secret she isn't supposed to hear, and maybe she wouldn't have.
Except they're so close that they're sharing oxygen.
"Oh?" May's not sure how she managed to pass that word through her lips as she looks at him.
Really looks at him.
She's seeing something that has hope building in her chest, warmth dancing across her face for another reason besides their closeness.
Fondness.
Adoration.
Love.
She's not sure if she's right, but May hopes so badly that she is.
When Ravi rubs their noses together, something gentle that has his eyes going half-lidded, that hope builds as her own eyes fall shut. She rubs their noses back, soft and hesitant, but this moment is more than that.
Their lips are brushing, just barely, not even noticeable really.
But May notices.
"Can I kiss you, properly?" asks Ravi so softly that May knows she would've missed it.
"Please," whispers May as she leans back a little more, their lips pressing more firmly together.
Ravi pecks her lips once, twice, then May parts her lips so the next peck slots them together into something more.
Something real.
Something that has her fingers unlacing and sliding into dark strands of soft hair.
That has her melting forward as fingers press into her back before sliding up to cup the back of her head, threading through her hair gently.
She gets lost in it, fingers curling in, tugging on the strands between them as she whimpers into the kiss.
His fingers grip her, pressing in until all she feels is his touch, anchored in everything him.
Until he pulls away, and she realizes just how breathless she truly is.
Her eyes stay closed because she can't quite bring herself to open them.
Not yet.
Not when she doesn't know what's coming.
She just knows what happened.
That kiss.
What it felt like.
Home.
She knows that.
"I did this backwards," Ravi's voice is quiet, breath ghosting over her ear, and she shivers into it. "I wanted to ask you to dance, before Amie got in the way, and I was going to do it right. I was going to try."
"Do what right, Ravi?" her voice is just as quiet as she pulls back, eyes opening to meet his.
"A lot of things," sighs Ravi as he looks at her softly, his eyes are a little sad but mostly hopeful as he holds her close, swaying them together to the song that's starting now. "For example, I wanted to ask you to dance, like this. Then I wanted to pull you in, close, like we are now. I wanted to tell you how much I like you, have liked you for ages. How I can't see you as anything other than the woman I want to treasure. I was going to ask you if you'd go on a date with me on Monday because I know that you're off that day, and so am I. I wanted to kiss you after, if the date went as well as I was hoping. I did it out of order though."
"I don't mind," replies May seriously as she leans in, pressing her lips to his ear. "Doing it out of order doesn't change the fact that I would love to go on a date with you. It doesn't change the fact that I spent half of my night jealous of Amie being all over you, practically cracking the glasses I held to keep myself from making a scene. I've liked you for ages, falling for you was the easiest thing I've ever done in my life, Ravi."
"Let me ask properly, okay?" asks Ravi softly as he pulls back to look at her. She can feel his hands on her back, trembling just enough to be noticeable. "Will you go on a date with me on Monday, May Grant?"
"I would love to, Ravi Panikkar," replies May softly as she leans up and brushes their noses together. Ravi's breathless laugh has May pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "Now, I think you've schmoozed enough for one night. So, how about that ride home? And maybe, you can come inside instead of leaving?"
"Whenever you're ready, May," they stop swaying as Ravi responds in a quiet murmur.
"Then let's get outta here," replies May as she steps back and tugs at his hand gently.
Together, they escape the charity event, laughter escaping them as soon as they step out of the building.
May can't wait to get home, get out of this dress, and settle with Ravi at home.
Maybe, if he's comfortable with it, she can convince Ravi to stay the night. Just to hold her.