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“Yellow,” Blue stepped into the cafe. “Do you think you could help me practice my new routine?”
The cowboy perked up. “M-me? Well, sure. But… me? Y’know I can’t dance.”
“Yes, but you’re closest to me in height.” Blue smiled.
Yellow nodded and followed him to his stage.
“Don’t worry, dear, this routine is simple.” The ballerina stretched.
Yellow blushed at the nickname, but pushed it away. Blue calls people dear all the time.
Blue motioned for Yellow to take his hands. “Don’t worry so much.”
“‘M not worried!”
He smirked. “Yellow, your hands are sweating.”
“…Darn, I guess they are. Sorry.”
“Don’t fret it. Just follow my lead, alright?”
Blue led him across the stage, doing simple steps and spins. Yellow was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn’t realize that this dance was nothing like what Blue typically did.
“You know,” Blue opened an eye to peek at Yellow. “You’re not nearly as bad a dancer as you say you are.”
A bead of sweat rolled down his face. “You flatter me too much, pardner.”
“But it’s true. You humble yourself..” He leaned in closer to Yellow. “I really admire that about you.”
Yellow’s face flushed, and, completely distracted by the compliments, tripped over himself and brought Blue down with him. The two clattered to the floor.
“Ah! I apologize, Blue, I-“
Yellow looked down.
Blue looked up at him.
“You- you’re not hurt, are ya?” Yellow stuttered.
“No.” Blue didn’t break eye contact. He moved his hand and reached towards Yellow. “Are you-“
Yellow stood up quickly and dipped his hat. “Well, pleased to have helped you practice, Blue. It’s right time I head back to justicin’, you know?”
“Yellow-“
But he was already out of the room.
Blue stood up and brushed his tutu off. With a sigh, he left the room in pursuit.
But… Yellow was nowhere to be seen.
Not in the punishment rooms, not in the jail, not even in the cafe! Now just a bit worried, he sat at a table that a few of the flowers had gathered at.
“Hi, Blue!!!” Aqua grinned. She noticed his furrowed brow. “Uuu, you’re making a new expression!”
“He’s upset about something.” Seth looked up from their book. “Did your practice not go well?”
“No, it went fine.” Blue shook his head. “The dance wasn’t the issue.”
“Did Yellow step on your foot?” Aqua tilted her head.
“No…” Blue took a deep breath. “He tripped when we were practicing and knocked me down. He ran off and I haven’t been able to find him since.”
“Oh.” Seth said.
“Ohh….” Aqua nodded. “Uuu, I wonder if he’s buried himself!”
Blue shook his head. “I already checked the sand. He wasn’t there.”
“He didn’t lock himself up?” Seth raised an eyebrow. “Or tie himself to the train tracks again?”
“No.” He sighed. “I haven’t checked the cliffs yet.”
“Heheh, I wonder if he’s jumped off yet.”
Blue looked up quickly. “No. No, surely he hasn’t.”
Seth tapped their fingers on their book, thinking. “Well, we know how Yellow is. He probably did jump off of the cliffs, but I don’t think he’d have gotten hurt.”
“Not yet!” Aqua giggled.
Blue stood up and excused himself. Yellow surely wasn’t hurt. Yellow was alright… physically. Blue wasn’t worried about that.
He was worried that Yellow was wallowing in his own self-inflicted sorrow. A sort of pain that was, well, a pain to deal with. Not that Blue ever minded, but his efforts in cheering Yellow up tended to make the cowboy feel worse. It was a depressing cycle to witness.
Blue made his way out of the castle and looked along the horizon. No sign of Yellow, yet.
He carefully traversed the cliffs, searching every nook and cranny of the rocks and grass that he could. Eventually, he spotted the ever-so-familiar sight of Yellow’s hat.
Yellow sat alone at the edge of one of the lowest cliffs. He was quieter than Blue had ever seen him and was fidgeting with his hands.
The danseur silently sat down next to him, ignoring Yellow’s startled jump when he noticed him.
“…Howdy, Blue.”
“Hello, Yellow.”
The cowboy sighed. “Y’know, I’m real sorry ‘bout earlier.”
“I know.”
“I should’ve looked where I was steppin’, and-“
“Yellow,” Blue turned to face him. “It’s quite alright, dear.”
“I could’a really hurt you, Blue! What if I had fallen on toppa ‘ya?”
Blue couldn’t help but grin. “Dear, you weigh as much as a box of tutus. I believe I would have been fine.”
Yellow shook his head. “You… you shouldn’t ask me to dance anymore. For your safety.”
His grin fell.
“I’m no good at it. You know I’m no good at it. I dunno why you asked me in the first place!” His eyes welled up with tears.
Blue put a hand on Yellow’s shoulder. “Dear, I asked you to dance with me because I like you.”
Yellow wiped at his tears. “Huh?”
“Forgive me for lying, but the truth is that I just wanted to be with you. There was no routine that I needed to go over.” He moved his hand from Yellow’s shoulder and took one of his hands instead. “I’ve been wanting to show my love and appreciation for you for so long. I meant to do that today, but… you know what happened.”
“You…” Yellow blinked, clueless. “I… we’re friends, I’d hope you liked me.”
“Yellow. Like-like. Love. I love you.”
His eyes widened and his face turned red immediately. “Oh, tin stars! Oh, my goodness! Oh, gosh… Blue! Really?”
Blue smiled gently. “I wouldn’t lie about this.”
“Gosh…” Yellow tipped his hat down to hide his face. “I… I love you too, Blue.”
Then Yellow straightened his hat back on his head. “Wait, I nearly ruined your confession! Oh darn it!”
Blue laughed. “Let’s go back inside, dear.”
“Well, alright.” Yellow stood and extended a hand to help Blue up. “But no more dancin’ for me. At least for today…”
“Of course, love.”