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Soft music filled the hall. Waiters wandered deftly between guests. Dancers mingled on the dance floor. Okhema was throwing the greatest ball this side of Fiore, and the wizards of Chrysos were the guests of honor.
Mydei stayed on the sidelines, watching his guildmates eat and chat and dance. He was never one for these massive events, preferring to keep to himself and let his achievements speak for themselves. However, one does not win the Grand Magic Games every day, so he owed it to his guild to be present for such a momentous occasion.
From where he stood, he started playing a game of “Spot the Guildmate”. Aglaea and Cerydra were by the cocktail bar, more than likely discussing politics. Hysilens nursed a drink while watching the band play. Anaxagoras and Castorice stood by and watched the party with a tray of appetizers between them. Hyacine was trying to stop Cipher and March from stuffing their pockets with desserts. Caelus and Stelle were chugging champagne flutes to an audience of a dozen people while Dan Heng watched on helplessly.
Now where was-
“Come on, Deliverer~”
“Ah- Cyrene-”
Mydei turned to his left to see the flutter of a pink dress dragging a tall figure in a white suit onto the dance floor. Cyrene twirled around with a cheeky smile on her face as she took Phainon’s hands into her own and affectionately bullied him into dancing with her.
They looked good together. Cyrene was beautiful, her long pink hair pinned back by white feathers that complimented the white bolero over her shimmering pink dress. Even in heels, she only came up to about Phainon’s shoulder.
And Phainon…
Gods, Mydei had to take a minute to breathe.
Phainon was immaculate tonight, a shining star, a blazing sun. His hair was pushed back and out of his face, his sharp features framed by the stray locks of hair intentionally left to give him an effortless look. He was smiling so brightly it hurt to look at him. His suit was the same white as his hair. Criminal, because it meant he was practically glowing under the venue lights. He wore a long coat tied around the waist that swished with every turn he did and his pants were cut so slim it felt like they were tailored that way so Mydei could feel like a pervert for noticing his thighs.
Damn you Aglaea for being good at dressing people up. Mydei thought, grabbing a champagne flute from a passing waiter and downing it in one go. He was sure his face was as red as his tattoos right now, so he figured he might as well have a plausible reason to be flushed other than his overwhelming crush on his teammate.
Mydei watched the two waltz around the dance floor, laughing based on how wide their smiles were. A deep, dark, ugly feeling twisted Mydei’s chest; one he struggled to smother. He knew Phainon and Cyrene were more like siblings to each other than anything else. He knew they would never like each other romantically. But, seeing other people eye them with interest, nodding their heads in approval at the two dancing together; it was difficult for his poor, lovesick heart to ignore.
He downed a second glass of champagne and sighed. This was ridiculous. They were teammates, for crying out loud. They all trusted each other. Jealousy was a horrible look for him. Mydei gave back the champagne flute and took a deep breath. He was just tired, that’s all. Parties like this always exhausted him. Once he left, it would be fine.
“There you are, Mydei.”
Mydei snapped out of his thoughts to find himself face-to-face with Phainon, beaming and bright as always. The blonde man blinked in surprise. “I thought you and Cyrene were dancing.”
“Yeah, well…” Phainon smiled and turned to the dance floor. “It looks like my dance partner was snatched from me.”
Mydei followed Phainon’s gaze and saw Cyrene now dancing with Stelle, who looked a little less than coordinated from all the alcohol in her system. Still, they were managing a clumsy waltz around the dance floor.
“So it would seem.” Mydei mused. “Is Cyrene aware of how much Stelle has had to drink?”
“Probably.” Phainon chuckled. “Hard not to, given how much she’s stumbling over her own feet.”
Mydei turned to the other side of the venue and huffed. “Looks like Caelus isn’t faring any better.”
It was Phainon’s turn to follow Mydei’s gaze as the two witnessed Caelus bent over a flower pot, Dan Heng gently patting his back.
Phainon barked a laugh and shook his head in disbelief. “Those two are something else.”
Mydei hummed, his eyes falling back on the white-haired man standing before him. He was even more attractive up close, where Myddi can catch the faint whiff of the cologne Cyrene probably sprayed on him before they left. Something light and breezy, reminding Mydei of a beach in the summer.
Phainon looked back at him, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “Hey, wanna dance?”
Every thought in Mydei’s mind evacuated. “I’m sorry?”
“I’m inviting you to dance.” Phainon held his hand out to Mydei. “Unless the great Mydeimos is scared of a little public performance.”
“There is no word for ‘fear’ in the Kremnoan language.” Mydei bristled, despite the heat in his cheeks. He stared down at Phainon outstretched hand and, after a brief hesitation, took it.
Phainon’s smile got wider and he gleefully led them to the dance floor. Immediately, Mydei could feel eyes lock onto him, and he felt like prey in a den of predators. Only the warmth of Phainon’s hand in his kept him grounded.
“Nervous?” Phainon whispered as he pulled Mydei close, his smile more reassuring than cocky.
“Focus on me. Forget everyone else.”
Mydei swallowed the lump in his throat. Focusing on Phainon was half the problem, but he had to admit it was as comforting as it was maddening just looking at eyes that reflected the dawning sky.
“Alright. Follow me.”
Phainon quickly took the lead as they waltzed across the dance floor, joining the dozen or so other pairs at the center of the venue. Mydei was so stunned by the sudden movement that it took him a minute to realize what was happening.
“Wait a second, why are you leading?” He grumbled.
“Well, first off, I asked you to dance. Second, I’m taller. Third, I’m the better dancer.” Phainon grinned.
Mydei rolled his eyes. “You’re not taller by much, and you are most certainly not the better dancer.”
The white-haired man’s eyes lit up with mischief. “But I did ask you. You didn’t refute that.”
“Tch.” Mydei looked away. “HKS.”
“I believe I won this round, Mydeimos.”
“Take your shallow victories.”
Phainon laughed, a beautifully bright thing that shot Mydei straight through the heart. “That I shall.”
They danced their way to the center of the crowd, peeling away from the prying eyes of onlookers. Mydei caught a glimpse of Cyrene leading Stelle off the dance floor, the latter looking a little worse for wear.
“Seems like Stelle’s finally reached her limit.” Mydei commented.
Phainon spun them around to look over Mydei’s shoulder. “So it seems. She hung on for a lot longer than I thought she would. Mad respect.”
“Downing enough alcohol to drown a horse should not be respected.” Mydei deadpanned.
“Oh, come now, Mydei.” Phainon chuckled. “That’s a feat in and of itself. Requires endurance, will-”
“-and an utter lack of self-preservation.” Mydei dryly finished.
Phainon choked on his laugh. “Mydeimos!”
Mydei shrugged. “Just calling it like I see it.”
Phainon swung them again to the side. “Always so blunt. Stelle would cry hearing this from you.”
“She’d have to be sober first.”
That was enough to get a full laugh from Phainon, wheezing and heaving. “You’re a riot, Mydei.”
“And you are far too easy to entertain.”
“Maybe you’re right.” A devious smile spread on Phainon’s face. “‘Cuz I just got a really fun idea.”
Mydei raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Wanna see if I can dip you?”
Heat flared up Mydei’s face in an instant. “Don’t you fucking dare-”
“Too late!” Before Mydei could react, Phainon leaned them both to the side and dipped him down.
Mydei gripped onto his shoulder and hand, face completely red. “HKS!”
Phainon burst out laughing as he pulled Mydei back up, a laughter that only intensified when Mydei stomped on his foot. Tears started forming at the sides of his eyes as he struggled to get a word out. “You were- HAHA- You were so red! HAHAHA!”
Mydei started cursing him out in Kremnoan. Nevermind it was so damn attractive how effortlessly Phainon managed to pull that off, it was still embarrassing. “You’re impossible.”
Phainon took a deep breath, still smiling so radiantly. “Yeah, but you love me.”
Mydei froze. His eyes widened and his jaw fell slack from the surprise. His heart jumped to his throat, his lungs collapsed, his stomach twisted into a pretzel. If he was hot earlier, he was downright blistering now.
The blonde man could see the exact moment reality slammed into Phainon, when his eyes widened and his cheeks turned a concerning shade of red. “A-As a friend! Yeah! Just- Just friends!”
Everything around them faded to the background. Suddenly, all Mydei could see was Phainon, stuttering and stammering and trying to justify his choice of words. This was just an accident. A slip of the tongue. A harmless comment like all the other times Phainon got flirty or touchy.
But what if it wasn’t?
“No, teammates! We’re teammates! Th-That’s what I meant!” Phainon was still scrambling over his words, his face getting redder and redder.
He was flustered, too. He didn’t mean to say it. It meant nothing.
No, it meant something.
Mydei gripped Phainon’s shoulder, determination and impulsivity coursing through his veins.
“It’s not- I wouldn’t assume- You probably don’t-”
It was now or never.
Mydei pulled himself closer and pressed his lips against Phainon’s. He doesn’t know how long he lingered there; it could have been one second, it could have been an eternity. All he could focus on was how warm Phainon felt, how he could feel a frantic heartbeat against his chest.
Eventually, he took a step back, and what he saw was a starry eyed Phainon staring back at him, mouth slightly agape, face and ears flushed red. “M-Mydei…”
Mydei grabbed Phainon by the lapel and started dragging him off the dance floor. They had to talk. This was not the place to talk.
“M-Mydei? Mydei, wait-”
The blonde man spotted a waiter carrying a tray of champagne and made a beeline for him. The waiter looked up in surprise, but offered the tray regardless. “Champagne, sir?”
“Two. Thanks.” Mydei grabbed two off the tray and kept walking, still dragging Phainon behind him.
Phainon nearly tripped over himself trying to keep up with Mydei. “M-Mydei! Mydei, I can walk- MYDEI!”
They needed to get out.
Mydei pushed open the doors of the balcony, where he finally let go of Phainon’s jacket. With a sigh, he placed one of the champagne flutes down on the railing and gestured for Phainon to pick it up.
Phainon didn’t move at first, then slowly fixed his jacket and walked over to stand next to Mydei. He picked up the champagne and raised it to Mydei. “Thanks.”
“Yeah.” Mydei swirled the alcohol in his glass and took a tentative sip. Now that they were alone, the weight of what he just did started to press down on him.
“I’m sorry about that. I was acting on impulse.” He stared down at the garden below where he could make out a few of the flowers in the moonlight.
He kissed Phainon. He kissed Phainon. Forget the fact that he did it in a place where half the city could have been watching, Phainon knew now. There was no way he could wave this off as nothing more than a friendly gesture.
Phainon tapped the glass in his hand, took a small sip, then chuckled awkwardly. “That’s… rare of you. To be impulsive, I mean. Usually that’s my job.”
Mydei hummed in response, still refusing to meet Phainon’s eyes. His heart hammered away against his chest, worse than when he was facing the endless hordes of monsters by himself. What does he say now? Does he deflect the subject? Does he try to rationalize his impulses?
No. He really only had one option.
“I like you, Phainon.” Mydei confessed bluntly, holding onto the champagne flute like it was a lifeline. “I’ve liked you for longer than I care to admit. This wasn’t how I ever imagined confessing, but… I guess it’s too late to back out now.”
Silence hung in the night air. Mydei could feel his stomach start to churn from anxiety. It was out in the open now. No funny banter or snide remarks to hide behind. He glanced over to Phainon to gauge his reaction.
Phainon was staring at him, his pale features tinged with pink. In the dim light, his eyes were piercing, glowing like a pair of stars against the night sky. Surprise filled his gaze, replaced soon by something like determination.
Before Mydei had a chance to process it, Phainon downed his champagne, slammed his glass on the railing, grabbed Mydei by the lapels and pulled him into a kiss.
Lightning surged through Mydei at the point of contact, shocking his heart and erasing every thought in his mind. The world condensed him and Phainon and suddenly nothing else mattered. Not the fear, not the uncertainty, not the impulse. Phainon was here, kissing him like it would be the last thing he’d ever do. What else could Mydei do but reciprocate?
Mydei hazily registered setting his glass down and reaching up to cup Phainon’s face in his hands. He could feel Phainon slide his hands down to his waist and press him against the railing. He knows he kissed back, again and again, and Phainon was eager to respond to every one with his own.
Their breaths mingled. Mydei’s hand found itself in Phainon’s hair. Phainon pressed so close Mydei could feel his heart drumming against his chest. It could have been hours since they started. It could have been days. Hell, Mydei wouldn’t have minded if they were at it for a week.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. Despite how into this they were, they still needed air and they broke apart breathing heavily into the space between them. They stayed like that for a while, foreheads pressed together despite the sweat and the warmth.
It was Phainon that broke the silence, a dumb smile on his lips. “I… I’ve always wanted to do that…”
Mydei chuckled softly as his arms settled around Phainon’s shoulders. “What, kiss someone on a balcony…?”
“No…” Phainon pressed a quick kiss to Mydei’s lips. “Just kissing you…”
Mydei’s heart melted. Phainon’s eyes were so full of affection and bliss. His voice, normally sharp with confidence, had softened into something honest and vulnerable. Mydei could still feel how frantic Phainon’s heart was beating, almost as erratic as his own. In this moment, backdropped by the light from the ball, Phainon looked positively radiant.
Maybe it was just the high of having his feelings reciprocated so passionately, but he didn’t want this to end just yet.
“Let’s get out of here…” Mydei whispered, pulling Phainon closer to kiss him again.
Phainon blinked in surprise. “Right now…?"
Mydei nodded. “Yeah... Not like I’d be able to focus on anything anymore...”
The white-haired man was stunned for a moment before smiling oh so sweetly and nuzzling his nose against Mydei’s cheek. “Alright… Whatever His Highness demands…”
Mydei could have purred with delight if Phainon’s next move didn’t catch him completely off-guard. Without warning, Phainon swept Mydei’s feet from under him and carried him up before stepping up onto the railing.
“Wh- Phainon! What-”
“Relax. I got this.”
Phainon stepped off the balcony, dropping them both down into the garden below. Seconds before they hit the ground, he activated his magic and slowed their descent to gently land them amongst the flowerbeds.
“See?” Phainon beamed, setting the blonde down. “Told you I got this.”
Mydei huffed, adjusting his suit jacket. “You could warn a guy next time.”
Phainon slid his arm around Mydei’s waist and pecked a small kiss onto his cheek. “Now where’s the fun in that?”
Before Mydei could protest further, Phainon took his hand and pulled him along. “Come on, let’s go!”
“Where are we going?”
Phainon looked back with a grin, giddy and lovestruck written all over his face. “I dunno. I just know I want you with me.”
Warmth blossomed in Mydei’s chest, fuzzy affection taking over all rational thought. “You’re a horrible lead, HKS.”
“But you’ll still dance with me, yes?”
Mydei smiled as he intertwined his fingers with Phainon’s. “Yes, I will.”