Chapter Text
Satoru adjusted his collar for the billionth time. He knew how to blend in, but it had certainly been a long time since he’d worn such stuffy clothing. He’d never wanted to attend one of these useless balls again, not to mention a royal hall full of the region's most wealthy and well-traveled is probably the last place he should be gallivanting about in the open, but he’d practically begged Shoko to get him in just for a chance at seeing him. His starlight. His muse. Something like a soulmate if he were so brave as to venture there.
Every night on Satoru’s walk home after a long day of serving drinks and mopping floors, he passed by the estate where at least half the town’s nobility lived, and every night, the boy with long black hair that held the starlight captive was standing on his balcony, looking off into the distance. Satoru was captivated the very first night he saw him, slowing to a stop before his brain caught up to his feet. At first it was just brief eye contact, a wave, a smile. Then it was "hello" and "good evening" and "get home safe". Then it was "sorry, I didn’t mean to stare, but you’re so radiant I thought you were the moon". Then the boy started calling him things like angel and darling and Satoru made every reference to the moon and the stars he could think of, finding nothing beneath them that could compare to this divine apparition’s beauty. He told him as much and the boy laughed and told him he was sweet. Satoru loved the sound.
So, Satoru found himself weaving through the crowd with his head on a swivel, searching for the moon in a sea of princesses and bachelors and merchants and nobles. He’d walked the entire circumference of the grand hall twice before giving up. Only to take a break. He wouldn’t be giving up for real until they kicked him out of this stupid ball.
He found his way to a side garden, finally some fresh air, and stepped outside with a sigh. He tugged at his collar again. A flash of silver bouncing off of smooth black caught his eye, and then he saw it-
The boy with starlight in his hair was sitting in the garden, in the grass with no chair or cloth or anything, facing the vast expanse of greenery beyond. He turned over his shoulder and their eyes met. Satoru’s heart fluttered in his chest. He’d never seen him so close. The surprise on the boy’s face softened into a cautious smile.
"Hello," he said. His voice was even smoother when a railing and a first floor weren’t separating them.
"Hello," Satoru replied, hoping his voice didn’t betray his nerves at suddenly, finally being face to face. He stood there, mystified, for probably an awkwardly long time.
The boy stared back, still and curious, lips slightly parted, achingly beautiful. Then he spoke again, the sound a caress along the night breeze.
"Would you like to sit with me?"
Satoru’s stomach flipped at the thought of the distance between them becoming even shorter. He stood there another moment, disbelieving, feeling somewhat as if a god had just invited him over for dinner. Then he accepted, trying to keep his footsteps as un-abrasive as possible as he stepped off of the stone floor and onto the grass and closer to his north star. He left a respectable distance between them, sitting and facing out to look at the garden, mirroring the boy’s position.
He was suddenly hyperaware of everything, every shift feeling so loud against the background noise of the party inside. He kept his gaze out, but he wasn't taking in the view at all, eyes constantly darting to the side, trying not to breathe too loud. There was a lull in the music coming from inside, a pause between songs. Satoru stole another glance at the boy next to him to find that the boy was already looking back at him. He smiled, then looked away, ducking his head down, seeming like he might be a little nervous too. Satoru’s quivering heart could barely handle being able to see his cute expressions up close. He took a few breaths before mustering the courage to use his voice.
"Not a fan of parties?" He asked.
The boy turned to look at him when he spoke, then back out at the garden. "Not really," he admitted with a shrug. "The music is fun. The posturing isn’t."
Satoru chuckled, half to himself. "Couldn’t agree more."
He felt the boy’s curious gaze on him again. He finally got the courage to meet his eyes once more when the boy continued to speak.
"So then, what brings you to the spring equinox ball?" The boy tilted his head with a playful grin and Satoru couldn’t help but smile back. He was utterly breathtaking like this, framed by flowers and greenery and the golden light spilling from inside.
"I convinced a friend to get me in," Satoru confided with a playful look of his own. The boy raised a brow.
"Even though you’re supposedly not much a fan of parties either?"
Satoru laughed again. "Yep. Well…" He leaned a little closer, shifting more of his weight onto one hand, and lowered his voice like he was sharing a secret. "I didn’t come here for the party, exactly."
"What for, then?" The boy matched the conspiratorial tone, watching his every move with amusement.
"I was looking for someone."
The boy’s eyes flashed, flicked over Satoru once. Satoru’s heart skipped a beat.
"Have you found them?"
Satoru held his gaze, his own softening without his knowing, trying to convey the strange gravity he felt tugging the space between them. "I have."
The boy held Satoru’s gaze intently. Everything else seemed inconsequential for a moment. Satoru could finally see those violet eyes clearly and he was irrevocably captivated.
Then, a familiar melody reached his ear as another song started up. A classic waltz, one that even the most common of peasants knew by heart. Satoru got to his feet and the boy kept watching from where he sat. Satoru extended a hand down toward him.
"May I have this dance?"
The boy’s eyes widened in surprise, lingering on Satoru’s hand for an overlong moment. He looked up at Satoru with something hopeful, then his gaze strayed again, to the ongoings indoors.
"I…" He started, voice dampened with trepidation. "I’d rather not go back inside just yet."
Satoru just smiled. "Me neither."
The boy seemed surprised again. Then he smiled back, eyes locking onto Satoru’s. He lifted a hand tentatively, reaching toward Satoru’s. His fingertips landed on Satoru’s palm, cold to the touch, and Satoru’s heart pulsed dizzyingly. The boy gently grasped his hand and let Satoru guide him up to his feet. Satoru stepped in close and the boy followed suit, bringing his free hand up to Satoru’s shoulder while Satoru’s went to his waist. Another second stretched infinitely as Satoru took him in, so close he could smell the muted flowery scent clinging to the boy. The crescent moon reflected flawlessly in his eyes, a meeting of twilight and daybreak in the loveliest shade of purple Satoru had ever seen. He could feel the boy’s body heat through his clothes where Satoru’s hand lay on his waist.
The second passed and Satoru took the first step. The boy followed along easily, clearly very practiced in the classic ballroom waltz. His eyes never left Satoru’s as they moved in graceful circles on the grass, small smile growing with every turn. Satoru twirled him and he laughed, pulling Satoru back in and taking over the lead, making Satoru’s stomach flip. They found their own rhythm as the music picked up. Satoru hadn’t been much a fan of dancing when he was younger, but he could do this forever, caught in this boy’s orchid whirlwind. The boy took him by surprise again and dipped Satoru, leaning him back low. Satoru gasped and held on tight, heart swooping with him, playing right into the boys hands. The boy laughed again as he pulled Satoru back up and Satoru fell further into him as he went. Satoru took back the lead as the music continued and took the boy by the waist, lifting him in the air for a beat. The boy let out a small yelp of surprise, grabbing onto Satoru’s shoulders for support. They both laughed again as he landed, holding each other close, losing the proper steps as they swirled around each other.
Rhythm forgotten, they just swayed for a moment while the song ended and the following applause felt lifetimes away. There, still caught in a moon-shaped trance, Satoru was already in love. He was overcome with the most inexplicable inclinations, to touch the boy’s midnight hair, to kiss his perfect petal lips, to offer himself to the very ground he stands on. With the way the boy was looking back at him, he may just be under the same spell. Satoru hoped it was true, breathless from their dance, helpless under the sea of stars.
Another song began, louder than the others. The boy’s eyes suddenly snapped toward the hall and the spell was broken. Satoru remembered to breathe. The boy looked to him again, suddenly a little more guarded.
"I have to go," he said, his tone and the way his eyebrows drew together giving away how much he would rather stay. Satoru just smiled and gave a nod, even if his heart tugged in protest.
"What’s your name?" The boy asked, his hands lingering on Satoru’s arms.
"Satoru," Satoru answered, his voice a little softer than he meant it to be. The boys lips curled into that little delicate smile again. He didn’t comment on the lack of a last name given. "And yours?"
He wet his lips, taking a short breath before responding. "Suguru."
"Suguru," Satoru repeated, barely above a whisper, the name like stardust rolling off his tongue.
The boy, Suguru, looked away sheepishly, taking the first step back. His hands slid down Satoru’s arms and Satoru reciprocated the hold as long as his reach would allow.
"I’ll see you again soon, right?" Satoru asked, his heart attempting to pull free of his ribs and follow Suguru wherever he must go next.
Suguru met his gaze again to reply. "I wouldn’t miss it."
Suguru lifted one of Satoru’s hands to his lips and placed a light kiss upon it. Satoru’s heart leapt at the brief brush of lips on his skin.
"Thank you for the dance, Satoru."
He could’ve collapsed right there at the sound of his name in that sweet, silken voice. Suguru slowly slipped from his grasp, his gaze lingering on Satoru with that adorable grin until he finally turned around as he reached the entrance to the ballroom. Satoru stared after him. He sighed like a lovestruck fool. His skin tingled with the ghost of Suguru’s touch. Suguru. Satoru muttered it to himself just to feel the name on his lips. A name he was certain he’d never forget.