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It'd been a few weeks since Blue had begun to try and teach Yellow how to dance. Yellow's feet were sore, and he was seriously wondering how his beloved could do this every day for hours at a time, including when he was doing other tasks. Each time Yellow gazed upon his partner, casually pirouetting as he assists Orange with cleaning her dojo, he wondered in awe just how someone could be that coordinated. Yellow famously had two left feet, unlike many of his family. At least him and Green could relate on this, as the young flower's back and gait prevented them from dancing with the same grace as Blue or even Flowery. Yellow's constant fumbling and crashes were teased good-naturedly by his family, but Blue, oh his kind Blue, never commented on it. He would always just subtly correct Yellow's posture or stance to ensure he didn't hurt himself in whatever he was doing and leave it at that.
Dancing was no different, in both Yellow's lack of coordination and in Blue's kindness with the issue. But it was seriously becoming an issue. How would Yellow ever be able to sweep his Blue romantically into his arms, old-fashioned like? Were there to be no scenes of the brave cowboy hero taking his darling into his arms and spinning him around, having sent those threatening his town to the stocks? No pistols at dawn, no bullets through tin cans to threaten wronguns?
…Those last few were unrelated to the problem at hand, but a good western man like Yellow could dream, okay??
He was broken out of his stupor by Orange tugging on his pant leg aggressively.
"YELLOOOO-Oh, you're alive again. Can youuu.. help me with my laundry? Green's busy. Seth got too many stains in their dumb shirts and Green had to help them instead. And Aqua'd just cut my clothes up. Again."
"'Course, lil lady. Just lead tha way then!"
As he let his little sister lead him to the section of her dojo that she often rested in. Darkners didn't strictly need to sleep, but Orange was little and needed her rest. But don't call her litle where she can hear you. So maybe just not at all, because them ears're HUGE! Yellow learned the hard way to be more careful 'bout patronizing sorta language about the little miss.
"You got lead in your brain or something, chibi??"
Right! Right. Get to work, cowboy! He straightens up and looks to Orange, the two of them having arrived right outside her room without his notice.
"Sorry, pardner, seems I got a bit to think 'bout! Trying ta get this "dance" thing I'm learnin' juuuust right."
Yellow does air quotes with his hands when he says "dance".
"You don't know how to DANCE? Isn't your boyfriend literally-"
"Yeah yeah, har-har, yuk it up ya chuckle.. fella."
Orange points to the laundry basket of clean clothing in the room and Yellow brings it over as she snickers about how he probably should have osmosis'd some dancing talent from Blue and Flowery by now. His larger hands make quick work of folding her tiny shirts for her, while she struggles along with tiny paws. Yellow doesn't mind it though. He was glad to be able to be useful for someone, especially the more vulnerable members of their ragtag gang.
..But it's not like he isn't vulnerable to danger on an hourly basis, or anything. Either way, he wanted to be a proper protector for his fam'ly. Be a proper charming hero. And be able to sweep his partner off his feet!
As if noticing Yellow's thoughts drifting off towards his dance kerfuffle, Orange narrows her eyes at Yellow and thinks for a moment before speaking up.
"Y'know, I'm real great at dancing! I could totally show you how."
She smiles proudly, showing off her large buck teeth. He had half a mind to just eat her up, the gang's little Ory was just too darn cute! But she'd bite him for sure, so he said nothin of that sort and kept himself from squishing Orange outta affection.
"That'd be real swell, Orange! Lemme just handle all this hooey here first."
Yellow takes the last few orange overalls left and folds them up neatly for Orange, placing them on her little makeshift dresser. It was a punching dummy that had been pummeled into the ground, its halfway-extended arms functioning as clothing hooks. The folded overalls went into the dummy's caved in chest and Yellow wiped his hands of the stray cotton from the dummy's insides.
"So, how d'ya plan on doin all this, pal? I don't think we're quite the same on tallness. Heigtlessness?"
"Hmph. I can be super tall! Just watch me!"
Orange summoned some orange-red fists from the floor, which lifted her above the ground to reach Yellow's shoulder height. Orange could be surprisingly competent when it came to her workarounds. But she only really used her magic for the fun stuff since her energy burnt out rather quickly, and Green wasn't always there to supply her with an endless buffet.
"Well that's mighty neat, pally!"
His tone was genuine. Yellow's praise always was. Orange positively bloomed under the shining gaze of it.
"Yeah, it IS neat!"
Orange seemed to be trying to go for a snarky tone, but it just came off as something joyful. She offered her paws out for Yellow to take for them to start dancing together. Yellow took them graciously, doing a small bow to her. Orange tried to do a curtsy in return, but it was hard to do that with just her magical boxing gloves below her.
"Okay okay, now lemme show you somethin' COOL!!"
Orange held onto Yellow's hands tight and tried to spin them both around, her lack of height and her rather short arms being a great hinderance there.
"Hey, y'ain't bad, pardner!"
"You're right I ain't! Now watch THIS!!"
Orange started spinning the two of them around a bit faster, and Yellow's grip on her little paws loosened.
"Woah, hold on lil buddy-"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING LITTLE??
She spun them both around more aggressively now, the boxing gloves beneath her flickering.
"Wait- WAIT WAIT WAIT-"
They crashed unceremoniously into the ground, Orange's glitching magic all around them. The dummy with the folded clothing was pushed aside, their (read: Yellow's) work ruined. They were both silent a moment before Yellow began to snicker lightly.
"H-HEY! WHAT'S SO FUNNY?"
Yellow's laughter grew, and he gestured for Orange to come towards him. She got the message and scuttled over to him, where he scooped her up in a light hug. He was full-on chortling now.
"Hah-hehah! Goodness, we ain't too great at dancing, huh?"
Orange's light (her demeanor and her magic) dimmed for a moment before looking up at Yellow's happy face.
"M-maybe not, hehe.."
She briefly nuzzled against Yellow before picking herself up.
"Why don't you just lemme handle the clean up, pardner?"
"Nuh- um, I mean uh, naw. I don't mind helping. S'fine."
She sheepishly began to clean up the scraps of cotton that were scattered across the floor at the dummy's upheaval as Yellow began to set the dummy back up and refold the clothing. Many hands make light work, eh? And this time, Orange used her magic to help. Probably to make up for the dance disaster. It was very endearing.
While in the midst of cleaning, the pair heard a call from outside'a the room. A very regal call.
"Oh, Yellooooow~! Are you ready for our afternoon lesson, love?"
Orange wags her tail around and makes a "blech" face at Yellow. He chuckles and walks to the door, bending down to ruffle Orange's hair on the way out. By the time he's out of Orange's little hideaway, Blue's already in the main hallway.
"There you are, Yellow. Are you ready?"
Blue offers a hand out to Yellow. The both of them know the way to Blue's little dance studio by heart, but Blue always takes his hand and walks him there personally. Yellow guessed at first that it was in a comforting gesture, meant to reassure Yellow of his gracelessness. But by the way that his sweetheart laces their hands together, he knows it's not. It's just so Blue can hold his hand.
"As I'll ever be, pardner! Just lead tha way then."
"Of course, sir."
Blue takes on a "hapless southern belle" voice, probably in response to the "pardner" thing, intended to riff off of Yellow's cowboyishness.
"H-hey, y'ain't gotta-"
"I know, love. I'm just messing with you."
Blue kisses Yellow on the cheek, and the poor wild west wanderer thinks his heart could damn near burst. Why's Blue always gotta do that after makin' fun of him? He swoons against his will and allows himself to be led to the dance room by Blue.
Blue steps gracefully (and Yellow, not so gracefully) through the sandy path of the zen garden and they make it out to his fancy little studio. Blue walks over to his portable stereo stored underneath some of his flowers and presses play. Their usual light piano number plays through its tinny speakers.
"Alright then, where were we? Hmm.."
Blue releases Yellow's hand and begins to recount the steps of the dance by himself while muttering about box stepping and the song's tempo. He seems to get his lesson plan for the day in order by the time he goes back to Yellow and motions for him to step into his space. Blue takes the lead, as usual.
They start, and Yellow steps on Blue's feet in the first few beats of the dance.
"Ack! I'm real sorry, huckleberry! I ain't seen where-"
Blue holds up a hand to Yellow's mouth to shush him. He snaps the fingers of his other hand to stop the music.
"Enough bemoaning your own failures, Yellow dear. I'm not upset. This is what I'm here for, no? You said you wanted to learn, and this is a part of that."
Yellow doesn't know how to respond to Blue's simple reassurance.
"Well, lemme get that scuff off them fancy slippers at least-"
Blue kicks out his feet to the side elegantly and the dirt from Yellow's boots are magicked off of them, blue petals falling from where he stood. He flicks a hand and the petals are magicked away as well. He looks to Yellow.
"See? No trouble at all, my dear. Now let's get back to it."
Blue claps and the stereo resumes, Blue holding Yellow by the waist to show him the proper moves. He counts the beats and moves at a slower pace, his face a little closer now to Yellow's. Yellow's mouth dries up.
It's real sweet the way Blue's guiding Yellow, but he really wants to be able to lead his partner in dance. Be a real gentleman, and what have ya. But the basics come first. He counts along with Blue and gains confidence throughout the lesson, a slower tempo than they usually dance to. It's nice. Reallll nice. He could dance all day with Blue, jus' been led around by his damn gorgeous flower as he shows him how to do somethin' as simple as a box step waltz. But Yellow can do more, he knows it! Just gotta make the first move.
Yellow moves his right hand onto Blue's waist, trying to assume the leading position. Blue raises an eyebrow but says nothing, falling back into the slow rhythm of the waltz. At some point, Yellow tries to move before Blue does, to properly be the leading partner of this damn fancy dance. He ends up tripping over his own feet and stumbling.
"Everything alright there, darling?"
Blue's concern just bolsters Yellow to keep going.
"M'fine, Blue. Let's just keep goin'!"
"If you say so!"
Blue just laughs gently and lets himself be clumsily waltzed around by Yellow.
They're a minute through this clumsy fool's dance when Blue cups Yellow's face in one hand. Yellow smiles sheepishly.
"I- I know I ain't so good at this! I just- uh… wanted ta be able to lead this time 'round. Pardner."
Blue keeps on smiling at Yellow's awkwardness
"Is that so? Lead away, my love."
He says it teasingly, but without a trace of any proper upset. Phew!
They continue with a one and two and, one and two and, one and two and, with Yellow getting lost in the weeds of it all. At one point the song picks up in tempo, and Yellow has his chance. He's actually leading now, and he can sweep Blue off of his feet! Just like in Asgore's cowboy movies!
Yellow's hand tightens on Blue's waist and he grabs their hand as he dips them. His palms are sweaty, and his smile looks more like a grimace. Oh no, he's screwin it up!
"Quite the charmer, aren't you?"
Despite Yellow's absolute fumble, he seems enamored with the display. Success! Yellow lifts Blue back up and they stand there together, Yellow's hand still around his partner's waist.
"I like ta think of m'self as such."
"Well you are one, darling."
Blue presses a kiss to Yellow's lips and the poor cowboy's face turns a shade of Orange not too dissimilar to his little sister's hair.
"W-well, thank ya kindly!"
The pair of them laugh together and Blue looks up at Yellow with a fond gaze.
"So what exactly sparked this, dewdrop? You already know I don't mind leading. You're still a budding dancer, my love. There's no shame in that."
"I- yeah, I know. I just, uh.."
Blue looks at Yellow. Which is NOT helping matters.
"Wanted to be a proper cowboy, sweep ya off yer feet and junk.."
His beloved sighs and just keeps looking at his with that same fond smile. Blue tilts Yellow's chin downwards with one hand and kisses him sweetly on the lips. Yellow's eyes are spinning, with those little cartoon hearts flying around his head. How did he manage to catch such a suave fella like Blue??
"You are a proper cowboy, Yellow. You don't need to be so.."
Blue waves a hand around.
"..Hetero normative? You can still be the devilishly handsome cowboy, saving the day. Dashing heroes can be the subject of affection every once in a while, and be sweet, and gentle.."
Blue quickly moves a hand to Yellow's hip and one to the flat of his back, and lifts him off his feet in a seamless dip in just a few seconds.
"And be attended to. I'm very happy to do so, my love."
Yellow makes some unholy squeaking noise in the back of his throat and covers his face with his hat. It's horribly embarrassing.
"Are you quite alright, Yellow?"
Yellow can't see his face, but he just knows he's smiling at him. Not helping!!
"Y- ya just SAY stuff like that.. 'N how'm I s'posed to respond??"
Blue slowly takes the hat from Yellow's hand, his other still resting on Yellow's hip and holding him up.
"A thank you could suffice, daffodil."
Blue sets Yellow to rights and stands them both up fully, moving his grip to Yellow's waist. He places the hat back on Yellow's head and tilts his head at him.
"..Thank you, Blue. Ya always say such.. perdy stuff. I wanna talk like ya, 'n make ya swoon, and do all that stuff too."
Blue giggles.
"You already do, darling! It's just different from how it looks on screens."
"We's ain't much like they show in the pictures, huh?"
"Unfortunately not."
Blue takes Yellow's hand and begins to spin him around slowly.
"But that just means we'll make our own story, my love."
There is nothing that Yellow would want more. He kisses Blue, and they the two of them continue their dreaming, dancing across the tiles together.