Chapter Text
The air resonated with a single, bittersweet note.
“~ Oh wish I…could be-! ~”
The melody gradually softened away, giving way to the lyrics flowing from the lone figure on stage - white and orangey-gold dress skimming the floor, light-brown hair cascading down her back.
“~ Part of your…. ~”
The young lady opened her eyes, the bright gold glimmering in the dim light as she looked longingly onward, reaching the end of the tale’s song.
“~ …..World! ~”
As the last notes of the musical piece faded out, the ballroom erupted into applause and cheers - some even wiping away tears the emotional song had brought forward from the well-known tale of star-crossed lovers. Comments and remarks praising the talented princess loudly bounded through the air as she waved, flowers thrown from the crowd littering the ground at her feet.
Meanwhile, quietly off to the side of the stage behind the curtains – right where he had promised he would be to support his best friend – a brown-haired young man looked on in silent awe.
For all the nerves and stress she’d worked herself into before her performance, it was like she was meant to be on stage. From the very start, Gabby hadn’t just sung words to a tune. She’d turned it into a story – one you could see and feel as easily as you could hear it.
Mako glanced down at himself, once again taking in the blue-and-tan vest and the rest of the brown-toned outfit that a month ago he never would’ve imagined wearing.
And for me…
His hand absent-mindedly rose to his neck, face and ears flushing a deep red as he couldn’t help but think of everything that had led up to him being here.
…that song is pretty close to the truth.
As the announcer stepped up to the stage, thanking Gabby for sharing her talent ‘cause of course she’s amazing, the girl herself discreetly leaned back and peeked over toward him, eyes wide and questioning. He threw her a thumbs-up and a wink.
Then the man announced the next performer and escorted her to the-
Other.
End.
Of the stage.
Oh, come on! I just happened to pick the wrong side to be on?!
Whirling around, he rushed down the steps toward the other side as he dodged around the props and a few other wandering people backstage. Honestly it wasn’t that different from navigating his way to his old cove.
Grasping the doorknob of the exit, he swung the door to the main chamber open – mindful to not hit anybody else of course. With a quick survey of the area, three things quickly became obvious. One, he had absolutely no idea where Gabby had gotten whisked off to. Two, that meant it was time to go look for her. Three, the ballroom didn’t seem terribly crowded, so hopefully this wouldn’t be too hard.
It didn’t take long to realize his third assumption was completely wrong. While he had noticed some other side entries like the one he had used earlier, as well as a couple areas of tables, still no luck finding the princess even after a good ten minutes of sliding and squeezing his way through the mass of people – already having offered several apologetic grimaces as he stepped on more than a few toes in the process.
Never realized how nice it was to just be able to swim over a crowd like this. Silver eyes flicked up toward the uselessly high ceiling in annoyance. Seriously, not even a third of the room can actually be used! Why make it so high?
A glint of light off to the side of him caught his attention, and he glanced over. With a reaction time akin to his namesake, Mako managed to scramble backward just in time to avoid getting rammed into by the unwitting waiter with a platter racing past the exact place he’d been standing moments before.
That he’d pushed back from with a little too much force…
NononoCRAPCRAPCRAP! The sleek ballroom floor did nothing to help his desperate attempts to regain his balance and stop his fall, leaving him to crash into someone behind him and send them both tumbling helplessly to the ground.
Not a second later, blearily looking up at the ceiling and already feeling a bruise forming where his head had collided with the floor, he was starting to question his decision to come.
I don't know how much longer I can take this…
Half-heartedly trying to hide his exasperation, he quickly righted himself and went to offer a hand to the other person. That didn’t keep him from starting in surprise though as he came face-to-face with Gabby’s little brother Greyson.
Greyson on the other hand, looked as if some hero had just descended out of nowhere to save him from some great peril.
“Mako? Ohmygoshthankgoodnessit’syou !” Suddenly able to teleport apparently, the prince vanished from the floor and now had him crushed in a hug.
“I HATE these dumb parties! ‘So glad you’re someone with a soul that can actually laugh!” The guppy-boy tilted his head back, green-gold eyes now squinted at him quizzically. “Which is weird since you can’t, ya know, laugh out loud and all. WAIT what happened to your bow tie?! ”
Rolling his eyes, Mako managed to wrangle himself out of the hug without a problem. Fondly ruffling the young prince’s hair, he leaned over a bit to make it easier to see the couple words he mouthed.
‘You okay?’
“Oh, the fall? Eh,” Greyson shrugged, still looking a little sour about the bowtie as he dusted off his suit. “I mean, I’m sure you didn’t mean to reacquaint me with the floor in front of everybody.” He sent a pointed side-glare in his direction. “Like you’re always doing.”
A couple seconds passed, Mako leveling his most dead-pan stare at the boy before turning on his heel and going off in a random direction. That’s it. I’m done.
“Waitwaitwaitwait I’m sorry don’t leave meeee….!” Greyson latched onto his arm like some limpet, sliding along behind him across the smooth ballroom floor. “There’s no one else here that’s as cool! And they won’t let me have Bucket in here because apparently a dog’s too uncivilized and they’d just make him leave!”
He threw a glance over his shoulder, brow quirked questioningly.
And you haven’t just left yourself and joined him because….
It took about 3.2 seconds for the little guy to give in, groaning in defeat and letting go of him at last as he moodily crossed his arms with a pout. “Okay, fine! Just don’t tell her I said this…I haven’t gone because I didn’t want to leave Gabby having to deal with the idiot parade by herself."
That had him turn fully around, grin wide and smug as he watched the little punk squirm in place for saying something as mushy as that.
Was this what Ladro felt like when he teased him? If so, he was quickly coming to understand why the Tang enjoyed doing it so much.
C’mon Mini G, just admit that you care! But he supposed he could graciously let the kid off the hook for now.
Striding forward, Mako tapped a self-wallowing Greyson on the shoulder to regain his attention and confidently gestured to himself.
The prince squinted at him, head tipped to the side like he was trying to read his mind. “...You’re offering to stay and help her instead?”
He nodded, and the squint quickly transformed into an incredulous look.
“Do you even know where she is? I was barely keeping track of her before we fell over.”
With a thumbs-up and an ‘I got this’ expression, Mako headed toward the nearest pillar and promptly climbed on top of its base - ignoring the bark of laughter from the boy he’d come to see as a little brother. He had spent more than enough time wandering aimlessly around thank you very much, and like the two siblings, he was becoming less and less concerned about what other people thought of him at the moment. Right now, he was a man on a mission.
Sweeping a glance across the space again, his luck must’ve decided to change its mind as this time he was able to catch sight of Gabby on the other side of the room.
Jumping back down into the crowd and pressing through with renewed vigor, he was most of the way there when he realized someone was talking with her, dressed in a fancy suit and their back to him.
“-had to meet someone who could sing like that!” Mako cringed, the stuck-up voice immediately bringing to mind various mermaids that he’d never cared to meet.
“Thanks…! That’s uh, really nice of you to say.” He got a few feet closer, the edge of her face now in view pinched in a tight smile.
“I’d love to show you off to my friends, come on!” The boy reached for her arm, Gabby quickly stepping back in surprise.
Mako felt his teeth snap together as his jaw suddenly clenched shut, the sharp pulse of pain mostly unnoticed.
Oh he did NOT just do that…!
Before he fully processed what he was doing, he shoved his way through the last bit of distance and yanked the pudgy-faced noble back. The unflattering, high-pitched squawk that followed was strangely rewarding.
Gabby hurried to stifle a snort at the noise, causing Mr. Idiot’s face to flush with rage he had no right to as he whirled around.
“Ruffian! You dare to-!” the words squeaked to a halt as he came face to face with Mako's penetrating glare.
He had to admit; it was almost funny to see the human pufferfish’s beady eyes widen as he gave him a sharp smile, more than a little unnerving even with his human teeth. Just a little exaggerated to convey the words he couldn’t speak but so wished he could.
Do you dare…?
A moment passed, sweat rapidly forming on the noble’s face before he looked away from the secret ocean prince, and stiffly walked away without another word.
That’s what I thought.
Laughter burst out behind him, Mako pivoting to see Gabby doubled over and shaking with giggles in a very un-ladylike fashion. But it was so her that he couldn’t help but mutely snicker along with her, the tension he hadn’t even noticed was there starting to ease from his shoulders, smile becoming much more genuine if not a little smug for a job well done.
“Oh man, that was priceless! Whew~” The still-grinning princess wiped away gleeful tears as she gave him a mock salute. “With a death glare like that I could almost believe you were actually a bodyguard!”
He just shrugged, feeling quite pleased with himself for getting the creep to back off and honestly not caring how obvious he might be showing it. Gabby rolled her eyes and headed to the tables set up a bit further ahead – ironically back toward the stage area itself – Mako falling into step behind her.
“Seriously, you went from some shark-fanged grin one moment –”
His feet suddenly forgot how to work properly at that, and his heart leapt to his throat as he pitched forward.
“–to being like Bucket getting away with the ham the next?”
Scrabbling for the nearest chair he just barely managed to stop his fall. Eyes frantically darting forward, he breathed a shaky sigh of relief as Gabby didn’t seem to have noticed.
How the chasm did she just happen to guess ‘shark’ of all things?!
Hoping he didn’t look too frazzled from his near-crash and being a little extra careful with how he stepped this time, he hurried over to where she was sitting down – taking a slight detour to grab a couple drinks on the way
She didn’t see anything, it’s fine! Just play it cool .
Easily catching up with the princess, it seemed that Gabby had decided that faceplanting onto the table was a great idea. He could faintly hear her mumbling to herself through the mass of hair splayed everywhere.
Fondly shaking his head, he set one of the glasses down in front of her. As it clinked onto the wooden surface, she instantly looked up at him with a desperate face alarmingly seeming to be pleading for either grace or death.
“How’d I do? Was it actually any good? Or were people just pretending to like it ‘cause I’m the princess? Nevermind I totally biffed it right?!”
Head jolting back in affront and the rest of her argument falling on deaf ears, Mako immediately slammed his hands down on the table, starling the girl out of her downward spiral. Channeling all the royal authority he could muster, he looked her dead in the eye as he carefully, soundlessly shaped a few words.
‘You were awesome , okay?’
“But-!”
He held up a finger, cutting off any further excuses. Nope. You’re amazing, stop doing this to yourself . He clasped her hand with his and gave it a comforting squeeze.
She opened her mouth again as if to protest, but closed it as he kept up that assuring gaze, refusing to back down. After a few seconds she groaned, looking away as she slumped into her chair.
“Okay, okay, fine! You win!”
Good! ‘Cause I’m right. Triumphant smirk playing across his face, the once-merboy sat down across from her, taking a sip of water from his own glass.
“…Thanks.” He heard a chuckle, prompting him to glance back at her to see her eyes cast to the side as she played with her hair. “I uh, think I needed that.”
He offered a one-shouldered shrug, returning the smile; then biting back a laugh as, after taking her first sip of water, the singer realized just how thirsty she’d been and drained the entire cup in one go.
They sat there in companionable silence for a minute or two, idly listening to and watching the party going on before Gabby spoke up again.
“Hey Mako?”
He immediately turned at the sound of his name, coming face to face with a very conflicted-looking Gabby. “Have you-?” She stopped, obviously fighting with herself on something.
Leaning forward, he nodded to her encouragingly. It did the trick, as she finally blurted out the rest of her question with a tired huff.
“Have you ever wished that not so many people knew you?”
He instinctively sucked in a deeper breath.
Oh …
A sad, frustrated look gradually overtook her features as she kept her intense stare focused on her glass. “Like- I mean, you want people to know and remember you, but you don’t want absolutely everyone to be that way who all have their own expectations for you to measure up to and stuff?”
Her bangs drooped in front of her face, keeping her from seeing how her companion’s expression softened, mouth shifting ruefully to the side as his shoulders slouched a bit like remembering some kind of weight.
Yeah, I definitely do. He shuffled his feet under the table, the sensation still a little strange even after two weeks. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to leave…
The brunette rested her elbow on the table, breathing out a small sigh. “Since I got off that stage I’ve had to talk to some person or another that simply has to talk with me. I don’t really like being the center of attention, but it always happens at these things! People want to interact with me all because I’m the princess and it always feels like they all want something from me…” Her fingers fiddled with the tablecloth, gold eyes sad and resigned.
You’re so much more than that though…
He could feel his ears turning red at the thought, a kinda nervous, fluttery feeling rising inside him. It’s not about your title, or what you have, or anything. You’re special because- well, ‘cause you’re Gabby!
Disjointed thoughts and ideas scrambled over each other in the secret prince’s head, struggling to think of how he could even begin to explain that to her. Oh if only he could talk! It was hard enough to just hear himself think over all the noise as it was-
Wait.
Something sounded different from before.
Reminded of the world outside of the little pocket of space they’d made for themselves, it took Mako a moment to register what exactly had changed.
It was the music.
A new song was playing. He wasn’t sure what it was about it, but it strangely reminded him of what would play back in Atlantica and the human song Gabby had sung earlier.
Gaze drifting back to his friend, that undeniable feeling in his gut stirred.
…‘Part of your world,’ huh?
He had a crazy idea. One that would probably give that purple butterflyfish of a butler a heart attack if he noticed - probably Greyson too now that he thought about it, though for an entirely different reason.
Mako moved before he could psych himself out of it.
Pushing himself out of the chair, he rounded the table and - with a small bow - extended his hand to the princess. It definitely caught her off guard, brows slightly furrowed in confusion as she looked at him before it morphed into….he wasn’t quite sure what, but suddenly it was like she was glowing .
His smile widened, the invitation he couldn’t voice still extended with his hand. Hoping that she could understand what his heart wanted to express through his gaze alone, his unspoken question hanging in the air.
Could I have this dance?
Excited grin on full display, Gabby slid out of her seat and gave him a curtsy, somehow even more radiant than she’d been in her performance. “I’d love to!”
Gently taking her hand, he led them back around the table and toward a side entrance he’d noticed earlier that separated the ballroom from the wide, spacious hallway. Away from the crowded floor where everyone else was either dancing or chatting - the unwanted noise thankfully muffling as they crossed the threshold even as he left the door partly open to let the light and music through.
After all, this was just for her.
Futilely trying to ignore his pounding heart and how warm her hand was in his, he pulled her into the starting position Greyson had helped him practice. Mako took one last second to make sure he had it right and to catch the timing of the melody before he finally met his eyes with hers again, sincere silver meeting curious gold.
Okay. Just remember you have feet, not fins…
.~*~.~*~.~*~.
As her unexpected rant finally came to an end, Gabby was seriously considering faceplanting into the table again.
Ohmygoodness I really just said all that out loud… And why did you ask Mako that?! He’s literally just getting to know people here, if anything he probably want to be known by more people! Don’t project your problems onto him AGHYUGH why am I like this…?!
This was all because her stupid post-stage nerves that she was this frazzled mess.
It really was nice that Mako was willing to be up there though, and say all of that just now. She could easily picture how proud he’d looked as he’d poked out from behind the curtain earlier, and how sweet he’d been to let her ramble the last couple minutes.
He may have only been around for a couple weeks, but already he’d become one of the people she didn’t feel like she had to be ‘Her Highness Princess Gabriella’ for to be accepted.
She just got to be…Gabby. Quirks and all. She liked to think that Mako felt like he could be himself around her and Greyson too.
There was the sound of creaking wood and footsteps, which she could only assume was the boy himself getting up. Turning toward the noise, Gabby expected a teasing look, for him to nod his head to the window like they should just ditch the party, or maybe even a hug.
She was not expecting him to silently offer a dance.
Plenty of people had done so throughout her life, many of them nobles or princes with fancy words and expensive clothes. But as Mako gave her a small bow - clothes well-made but simple, hair as wild as ever, saying nothing but his kind, dorky face practically shouting that he was offering this for her alone…
That, something inside whispered, is what a prince looks like.
Her earlier panic evaporated, an almost giddy feeling replacing it as she slid out of her seat and playfully gave him a curtsy. “I’d love to!”
Placing her hand is his, she let him guide her toward a door on the side she hadn’t noticed before out to the open hallway, leaving the door partially open behind them.
She could tell he was nervous. As they went into a waltz position, she didn’t think Mako realized how he was kinda tucking his chin into the collar of his cream shirt or how he was intensely staring down at their feet. She remembered accidentally spotting him and Greyson practicing a few days ago, her little brother being sweet for once and expertly instructing him and giving him tips. Drawing a breath, she was about to tell him he really didn’t need to do this if he was uncomfortable or anything-
He lifted his eyes from the floor, and the words froze in her mouth.
It had definitely gotten easier to read his expressions and figure out what he meant but couldn’t say. Right now though she just couldn’t get a good read on those silver eyes, and wished not for the first time that he could talk so he could tell her what he was thinking. There was something there that she hadn’t seen before in…anyone now that she thought about it. But she was certain of at least one thing.
He…really does want to do this.
The thought brought a warmth like a familiar hug, and as he took the first step forward she unquestioningly followed his lead, sliding her foot back in kind.
Music filtered back into her awareness as they strode in a few – somewhat stiff – box steps. It was beautiful piece she’d never heard before, but her focus was on her friend.
With each successful step he became more sure in himself. He also led more with his shoulders, as if he just trusted that the rest of him would follow along. Like he was drifting in water. Gabby let herself get caught up in the spell with him, almost feeling like she could float as Mako brought her into a twirl.
Something about the music and the light made the space around them feel a good kind of different as they danced across the hallway – breaking apart for a moment as they swung their non-clasped hands to the side before coming together again.
Something a little magical. Something a bit beyond words.
And she was enjoying every second of it.
Mako raised his arm for her again and she matched the movement, sliding underneath for another twirl. As her arm came down though she felt his arm link up with hers.
Gold eyes to darted to her dance partner, surprised at the unexpected change.
He looked excited , all traces of his earlier nervousness gone and a question clear on his face.
‘Can I show you something?’
Immediately curious, she wrapped her fingers around his a little tighter with an excited nod.
Next thing she knew they were surging forward arm-in-arm, whirling and spinning about the hallway – ducking under or weaving around the occasional drape or pillar, feeling very much like they were swimming in time with the flow of the song through the space, and the princess had to stifle another round of giggles as to not ruin the moment.
As the melody swelled she sensed more than saw Mako come closer, and suddenly that floating sensation became a little more real as she was swung into the air. This time she couldn’t help the small bubbling laugh as he turned in place, a grin of his own lighting up his face as he spun the two of them around in the light of the doorway.
Then the music began to ebb away, and he gently set her back down. Even as her feet planted themselves back on the floor, she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.
“Wow, Mako that was-!” She had to catch her breath, that dizzying thrill still lingering. “That was…!” Awesome? Absolutely wonderful? Immediately want to do it again because it’s you, and you’re the best friend I could ask for and when I’m with you I-
“Princess Gabriella!”
The jolting whisper-yell brought her crashing back to reality like glass shattering against the ground.
Both teens jumped, spinning around to see the purple-dressed Kasey through the open doorway, the butler squeezing between dancers heading toward them. But it was hard to focus on that as her world turned upside down and right-side up all at once, head spinning right along with it as the last few minutes caught up with her. She could feel her cheeks turning pink, and she thanked her lucky stars that Mako wasn’t facing her at that exact moment.
Oh…
Then he took her hand again, and suddenly they were running the opposite way from Kasey. She thought she heard something fall over, the butler crying out and Greyson’s laughter, but she wasn’t sure. The honest truth continued to burn in her mind as the two of them wove through the grand hallways. Away from the ball just like she’d wished they could’ve done before her performance even began.
I think I was denying it before…
That blurry memory of a voice, concerned and determined as the stranger rescued her from the shipwreck came to mind. It wasn’t like she was hard to recognize or find, yet it had been weeks and still no sign of him. As the time passed, she honestly didn’t think he’d come back.
… but…
Then there was Mako, who had literally stumbled his way into her life. He was silly, fun, encouraging, and sincere. He made both her and Greyson happy, a more genuine friend than any of the royal acquaintances they’d known for years.
And he made her feel special in a way like no one else had.
And here, heart racing abnormally fast for another reason entirely as they ran like they just pulled off the world’s greatest prank and were fleeing from the consequences, Mako laughing silently all the way and her partner in crime…
…I’ve got it bad for this dork.