Work Text:
It wasn't uncommon for love to grow between ballet partners. The closeness of the dance, the need to trust each other and the small touches that followed one across the whole show would stay on your skin like the darkest stain of lipstick. The feeling of their hands on your body, their breathing on your skin, the knowledge that you are giving them the power to hurt you or help you could make your heart race. It happened to Vi and Caitlyn, and it happened to more people. One wouldn't think of ballet like the perfect place for romance, but when there's that kind of air around you, it finds its way through the cracks.
For Caitlyn and Vi it appeared on the way the redhead would always trail his fingertips on the softest featherlight touch against his partner's back when they bowed together. It came in the way Caitlyn would glance at him even when he was hidden in the shadows, making sure he knew her dance was only for him. It came in the form of hidden smiles given to each other as the music built up and their breathing quickened, the moment for their final bow approaching faster than ever.
For others it came in more subtle ways. So subtle that no one had expected a marriage proposal in the middle of the Romeo and Juliet production from the next town over, where the main dancers had fallen in love in the midst of Shakespearean despair and sneaking around backstage with each other.
It was tradition for the masc lead to bow first before ushering their partner forward, allowing her to receive her praise. So it wasn’t unusual for the dancer to take advantage of their partner's distraction and to kneel down behind her and surprise her with the proposal ring. The thing is, when you are sitting next to the person you are considering to be the love of your life, the person that dances with you on stage and some other couple does that type of proposal, ideas get in your head.
It wasn’t difficult for Vi to get tickets for that ballet, he was friends with one of the protagonists and he managed to steal two tickets for free. It was easier to ask Caitlyn out, their relationship had bloomed and he could just ask his girlfriend out without stuttering. Though he would still trip over his feet when the blue-haired woman opened the door and revealed her outfit.
She had her hair down, a few strands framing her face that had the minimum of makeup she felt she needed. She had chosen to wear a black flowy dress that showed just enough of her cleavage, and when she noticed his eyes widening she gave him a small twirl, allowing him to see the low back, decorated with chains that went from one strap to the other. Caitlyn giggled when she heard him gulp, taking a step closer to her date. She was a few centimeters taller than usual because of the high heels she was wearing and it made him throw his head back to keep eye contact.
“Hello to you too, darling.” She whispered playfully, her fingers coming up to tug on his tie and pull him slightly closer. He was wearing one of his better suits, dressed in all black except for his tie that was the same shade as Caitlyn’s hair.
“Hi,” he answered breathlessly, allowing her to pull him as close as she wanted. “You look… I have no words.”
“I’m glad you like it, darling. You look delectable. Do we really have to go out?” She wiggled her eyebrows before stepping back.
He laughed loudly, his hand resting on her lower back as he guided her to the car. “If it were for either of us, we would never leave our rooms, Caitlyn. And you know we are going to have a great time tonight, even if we have to go out.”
She leaned down and left a kiss on his cheek, using her thumb to remove the small smudge of lipstick she left behind. “Alright, you are right. Let’s go.”
The drive to the theater was spent in small touches and laughter, their conversation flowing easily as Vi drove. Once they found their seats, a program in one hand and a drink in the other, they started to whisper to each other.
“Are you excited, darling? I know how much you like this show.” Caitlyn grabbed Vi’s hand, rubbing circles on his knuckles absentmindedly.
He hummed happily before nodding. “I am. One of my friends was casted as Mercutio, actually. That was how I found out about it.”
“Really? That’s amazing. We should’ve brought flowers for him!”
Vi smiled lovingly, enjoying the obvious happiness on his partner’s face. “He doesn’t like flowers, I bought him a bottle of his favorite wine instead, but because we can’t enter the venue with it I left it in the car. I will go get it afterwards.” He left a kiss behind her ear. “But it is adorable that you thought about it,” he whispered, letting his lips brush against her skin and force goosebumps to appear beneath her touch. “I love you.”
The last three words lit up her whole face, turning to face Vi and bumping her nose to his softly. “I love you too. Now shush, it’s starting.”
Their focus shifted to the stage where the first notes started to fill the air. Their eyes stayed on the dancers until the Balcony Pas de Deux, when Caitlyn’s eyes moved to Vi wanting to gauge his reaction to the part of the ballet he loved the most. And she had never seen a more beautiful sight as his face morphing into one of pure awe as he stared at the dancers. She couldn’t stop herself from reaching out and brushing some of the strands of hair away from his face, wanting to see even more of his awe. He shivered under her touch, his hand shooting up and getting hold of her wrist before leaning into the touch, never looking away from the stage.
By the time the show came to an end they had managed to cuddle as close to each other as the handrest allowed them to, his fingers running up and down Caitlyn’s arm. They stood up to clap, Vi’s voice reaching the stage as he yelled out in celebration to his friend, the dancer’s reddening face causing the redhead to laugh loudly. What no one expected was the way Romeo kneeled while Juliet was bowing, revealing a ring box hidden somewhere in his costume. Caitlyn gasped as her hand shot up to grasp Vi’s hand tightly, her eyes filling with tears as they heard the dancer’s sobs as she screamed out yes.
The applause grew louder as roses were thrown to the newly engaged couple and the redhead turned to see his partner and his breath stuttered. She was sobbing silently, her free hand trying to dry the tears but failing to keep up. He wrapped his arms around her, slightly confused but knowing he needed to do something to make her feel better. “Are you alright, cupcake?”
“I’m sorry. I just, it was so romantic!” She hiccuped. “I don’t know what happened. I started crying and couldn’t stop.” The blue-haired woman giggled between the sobs, doing her best to calm down. “That was amazing. I’m so glad we came tonight, we can honestly say that we saw a ballet proposal!”
Vi hesitated for a second, his face turning red gently. “Would you…” he hesitated. “Would you like that kind of proposal? Public?”
Caitlyn’s gaze found him and the blush that took over her face was so harsh that it fell down to her chest, and the knowledge of how far it would reach made Vi’s head dizzy. “I mean, I wouldn’t be opposed to it.” She nervously brushed some hair off her eyes, sniffing as her sobs finally quieted down. “I think that the knowledge that one of us knew about what was happening after the show would make the performance quite electric, don’t you think?”
Her answer stunned him but he instantly understood what she meant. He smirked, trying to release some of the tension. “One of us huh? Have you pictured us doing that?”
The playful tone on his voice made the blue-haired woman stammer out, her hand shaking as she played with the small chain on her neck. “I, yes? I mean, don’t you? Am I being too forward? I didn’t mean to! I just…”
Vi gently covered her mouth with his hand to stop her from spiralling down, his eyes shining with love. “I only see myself marrying you, Caitlyn. Don’t worry, you aren’t being too forward. Though I might keep teasing you over this to keep seeing your beautiful blush, pretty girl.”
It wouldn’t be until a few hours later, after Vi met up with his friend and drove back home, that the conversation they had finally dawned on him. His eyes flickered to Caitlyn for a split second before focusing back on the road, his hands tightening around the steering wheel.
Vi wanted to marry Caitlyn. He was sure of it. He was even more sure now, after seeing his partner sobbing over the engagement of strangers. He wanted to call her his wife, wanted to place a ring on her finger, wanted everything that came with marriage. But only with her, no one else would make him think about it as much as Caitlyn.
He knew it was too early, he knew that they still had so much things to go through before he was finally able to kneel before her and ask her to be by his side for the rest of their life. But he was going to do it, it didn’t matter if it was in a week or in three years. He was going to marry Caitlyn Kiramman. And that single thought was enough for him for the time being.