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It really was a beautiful ceremony. The unity of both brides through the combination of their cultural vows spoke to everything that had happened over two years ago now, and Corvus was proud to be even a small part of it. He had taken his music down hours ago, and set his instrument back in its case in his room while the reception was set up. Sunfire lanterns –which were really just bulbs of magical lights– floated around the canopy like stars, the central courtyard was lined with desert flowers, and an ancient mosaic decorated what was now the dance floor as band of new musicians played the jovial folksy songs of Katolis.
He sat on the outskirts, of course using the excuse of keeping an eye on the king to remain where he was rather than being swung around in contra dance. That excuse quickly fell apart, as Soren was probably the most energetic and noticeable of the dancers. In all honest, Corvus just wasn't much of a social dancer. If he had to, he would rather it be a subtle and elegant ballet. But seeing as those are not usually part of wedding celebrations, he would be happy to sit this one out.
In the courtyard, Soren let out another boisterous laugh, catching Corvus’s attention. Thinking of all that Soren had been through in the past few years, and even before that, something about the crinkle at the edge of Soren’s eye and his toothy grin warmed Corvus to the core. Soren was the most outwardly warm person he knew, and Soren deserved to experience every drop of joy possible that day, and each day onward.
Maybe it was the slight desperation in the way Soren had fallen into embracing him two days prior that had drawn Corvus’s mind to Soren’s past and present. Perhaps it was the letter that came in the post before the wedding that said Viren had made his way to the castle hours after they departed. Perhaps it was the stark contrast in how Soren moved now, with complete freedom. He was never un-genuine in how he moved or acted before, but there was always something else like a chain around his ankle, constricting any true joy that came his way. Corvus knew all too well what the ball was at the end of that chain.
But they had won, in the general sense. They had stopped Aaravos, and Callum and Rayla, two very capable people, were on their way to solidify their victory. Ezran had run the kingdom with compassion for the past two years. Janai and Amaya had gotten married, reflecting the new peace between humans and elves. They had found Zubeia safe in the mushroom mage’s care, and could visit whenever they liked. And Viren, the source of all of Soren’s pain... Well, he was gone as far as Soren new, and even then, he was locked away, unable to hurt anyone else. Corvus was determined to tell Soren about Viren after the wedding, but only after the wedding. After he celebrated with as much joy as possible. Soren deserved it and so much more.
On the dancefloor, the song changed, and a different contra dance began, one with groups of four. Soren linked arms with a sunfire elf, one of Janai’s guard. He laughed again, and opened his eyes to look at his new dance partner. A heat rose to Corvus’s face. Something like…
Jealousy?
No, that couldn’t be right. Perhaps protectiveness. This dance partner was a little clumsy, a bad trait for a queen’s guard, and had stepped on Soren’s foot. They apologized, and Soren laughed it off, but still. It was a hitch in what made him happy. Corvus was just being protective of his friend. Nothing more.
But Soren didn’t need protection from a bruised toe, and this poor guard did not need Corvus picking apart every flaw they had for Soren's sake. If he hadn’t mastered the skill of remaining expressionless, he might have blushed even darker at how silly he felt. He tore his eyes away from his fellow crownguard, choosing instead to watch the newly wedded couple, locked in the dance with each other, no other partners needed.
But somehow, Corvus’s eyes drifted back across the space, finding that big dumb blonde again.
“Wooo! That was so fun.” Ezran dropped into the seat next to him. The young king had occasionally drifting into Corvus's line of sight around Soren, spinning a very green looking Bait in circles. The glow toad looked worse for wear even then, but gave a joyous smile through his dizziness, an ailment of which was likely why Ezran decided to take a break. “Why aren’t you up there. You should go dance!” Ezran was hopped up on energy, that much was obvious. But Corvus had the feeling the young king would have badgered him to dance either way. He breathed heavy through his words, never quitting smiling. Corvus had to admit, the king’s happiness was infectious, and he soon found himself smiling as well.
“I’m not much of a dancer, King Ezran,” Corvus said. “I’m happy to watch you from the sidelines. Make sure no one steals your cake.” He bumped the king's shoulder with his own.
“Hmmm, somehow I don’t believe that,” Ezran giggled. He turned his head, and Corvus followed his gaze. “You’ve been staring at him all night.”
“What?” Perhaps he said it too quickly and too disbelievingly. It did not help that his poker face was failing him by becoming very flustered and hot. He looked away from the king’s cheeky stare. “I haven’t. Part of protecting you and your chocolate deserts includes protecting my colleagues. No shame in that right?”
“Who said anything about shame?” Ezran said. He threw his hands into the air. “C’mon. Its a day of love. If nothing else, I’m sure it would make him happy to dance with a friend.” The way he said the word friend told Corvus that Ezran meant something other than ‘friend.’
“Like I said, I’m happy here–”
“Hey gang. What are we talking about.” There finally was a lull between songs, where the band and the dancers were able to catch their breath, so of course Soren would gravitate towards them. Corvus shouldn't have been startled, but he was. Between Ezran’s accusations and Soren’s sudden appearance, he had no time or ability to stop himself from becoming even more flustered than before, and averting his gaze. Hopefully Soren wouldn’t notice. “Corvus, you should come dance with me!”
It was a perfectly platonic invitation, Corvus was sure. Again, he tried to decline, holding up his hands in a sort of surrender. If only that was enough. “Really, I’m not a dancer. You should go on—”
But Soren grabbed his hand, his grip firm yet lovingly gentle, and tugged Corvus to his feet just as the band began to play again. Corvus yelped as he was pulled into the center of the dancers, which were now forming pairs. A partner dance, then. He would have loved to watch this from the sidelines, he convinced himself.
“Have fun!” Ezran yelled from his seat.
“We will,” Soren yelled back. Corvus watched him, watched his smile, the way he cupped his mouth to talk to his king as if Ezran was just his kid brother, and he a loving sibling. A display of that big heart Soren had. “You should probably have Bait lay off the Jelly Tarts for now, though.”
Bait groaned in response, and Soren turned his attention back to Corvus, nearly stunning him. Corvus didn’t know what to do, between Soren being so close and placing his undivided attention on Corvus, and the high energy dance, he limbs suddenly became as heavy as led, and his leg weak.
This had been so easy a few days ago. When Soren could say his silly jokes and Corvus could roll his eyes without feeling so jittery, and Soren could give him a lift on his shoulders and Corvus’s brain wouldn’t implode on itself. It was so easy until Corvus had to go open his stupid mouth –or...hands– and say Soren had a big heart, and make Soren hug him, and then hug him back, and have his heart start to flutter and his breath start to skip and...argh!!!
‘I don’t know…” Corvus stammered. Soren gave him a smile as gentle as his touch. He took both of Corvus’s hands in a loose grip, and Corvus told himself it was just part of the dance.
“Follow my lead,” Soren said. “I did this dance all the time with…” His face fell. 'With Claudia,' he was about to say. Corvus couldn’t have this, even if it did mean humiliating himself in front of the wedding party.
“Okay, then. Show me how its done!” he said, hoping he wouldn’t regret it. And Corvus knew he wouldn’t when Soren’s smile immediately returned, just as blinding as before. Soren whooped, and started to dance.
The first move was a simple step between partners. Bur Corvus wondered if Soren was dumbing it down for his sake, as the partners around them were already adding a skip between beats. Next was a spin, led by one partner, then the other. Again, the couples around them were already spinning at the same time, instead of one after the other, and Corvus wondered if he was ruining the night for Soren with his bad partner dancing.
“Hey,” Soren said. “Where are you looking?”
“Maybe I should sit this one out,” Corvus said. Losing focus, he stumbled, only caught by Soren guiding him upright. Soren frowned, looking like a kicked kitten, and Corvus nearly cursed for it.
“But I thought you were having fun,” Soren said. “What's the matter?”
If Corvus knew one thing about Soren, it was how much the man took care of everyone around him first. Despite him obviously wanting to keep up with the dance, despite him needing it after everything, despite how much fun he could be having if he just let Corvus sit down and he moved onto another partner, he wanted to spend his time making sure Corvus was alright. It was why Corvus loved…
Woah. that was not the right word. Right?
He sighed. “I’m weighing you down,” he said. “That's all. You’ll have more fun with someone else.”
“I want to dance with you,” Soren said. “But if you’re uncomfortable, please don’t stay for me.”
Damn it. “No! No, I’ll stay,” Corvus said. Soren gave him a timid smile, and Corvus nearly dropped to the ground right there.
"I'm glad," Soren said. "The point of dancing isn't to be the best at it, or to look pretty. The point is to let it all out and have a good time!" At this, Soren shook his entire body like he was a wet dog. He had the same amount of energy as a puppy, at least. Corvus finally admitted to himself that Soren was just as adorable as a puppy too. The corners of Corvus's lips curled into a grin despite himself.
Soren retook his hands, and they continued the dance, the song around halfway over by then, and picking up in tempo, so Corvus would need to similarly pick up the pace and learn some steps faster.
The next move was a small skip, then palms pressed together as the partners circled each other, then tugging back, and bounding forward as partners crossed sides. Pretty soon, Corvus was surprised to find himself getting the hang of it. Soren took his arm, swinging him in a do-si-do, his smile back, his laugh loud but no less bright.
But throughout the dance, it was as if the world fell away, the other dancers becoming nothing more than stardust alongside the sunfire lights. The music vaguely in his perception, but the joy packed in each note just as present between them as when he could make out each measure. This dance seemed to bring out something particular in Soren. But Corvus didn't know what had changed. All he knew was the warmth growing in his chest, and the love that nearly choked him.
And what remained after everything else that had fallen away was Soren, outshining all else, even the city dedicated to the Sun itself. With him, Corvus forgot any memories of cold. Soren's kindness, his compassion, his joy, all thriving in spite of everything thrown at him, everything done to him over the years, all served to make him so beautiful. Soren caught his gaze, and God...
Corvus held onto the look of those eyes in each memory, blue like the ocean and the vast sky. He remembered the hopefulness and the pain hidden behind them when Soren had asked him to be a crownguard, the love in how he looked at his friends, his chosen family, the little sparkle they got when Soren thought up some new quip or joke. Corvus remembered them on one hard night, where he had caught Soren on the ramparts again, those beautiful, soulful eyes rimmed with red, and he found himself wanting to keep pain from them since.
With these memories, with these admirations of Soren's character, Corvus realized that it was always Soren. What had driven him since the Storm Spire, what guided him out of his introverted shell. Soren had somehow wormed his way into Corvus's life, and made him a better man, when he had already believed himself to be great. Made him want to be as fierce a protector, as patient a friend, as joyful a person.
Soren was beautiful, outside and in, and he would always be a beautiful soul, and mind, and heart.
Everything around the two of them came back into view as the song picked up even more energy. Soren twisted in dance, not particularly graceful, but free, and Corvus threw his pride to the wind and did the same, throwing his hands into the air and laughing and cheering with everyone else. The fiddles tore through sixteenth notes, and drums leading the band and setting an exhilarating tempo. Soren took him by the arm, pulling him close, and spinning the both of them, his hair whipping around his face as the song ended in a final, energetic-yet-drawn-out, climax. Soren whooped, and laughed his bright, joyful laugh, and looked at Corvus with so much love, that Corvus thought he would crumble.
And he realized what had changed between Soren's earlier dances and this one. It was Corvus, and to Soren, it would always be Corvus.
He took one hand, brushing Soren's golden hair back into place from where it fell into his eyes. Soren gasped, his breath heavy from the dance, but his smile no less strong. Corvus brushed his fingers over Soren's temple, and took his face in the palm of his hand. They were so close now, he only had to inch a little further. He moved slowly, but it was Soren that made the final leap, pressing forward, and meeting Corvus in a kiss, as strong yet gentle as he was. Perhaps they shouldn’t have done so in the middle of the dancefloor, because everyone around them cheered, loudest among them Ezran on the sidelines. Corvus jumped back, flustered, but Soren caught him in strong arms, lifting him off the ground and into an ecstatic spin, laughing with so much love the entire time.
In a few hours, they would talk, and they would solidify this new relationship they had literally danced their way into, and it would be new and exciting and frightening and Corvus couldn’t wait. But for now, he threw his head back and laughed, the sound bursting from his chest, because it was all that he could do to release the buzzing energy and happiness building in his heart. Building all because of Soren. Always because of Soren