I have realized I'm a sucker for tragic figures, tsundere characters, and anti-heroes with good hearts. When I saw Tom in The Blood Moon Ball episode and saw how hard he tried to mellow the ball for Star (and be a better guy), I felt bad that she couldn't appreciate his efforts.
And I have seen a lot of Tomco fics related to that episode, so I decided to try a different path.
Before you start reading I will just warn you: This is not a Tom x Star nor a Tom x Marco fanfic... and I will not hint to that nowhere in this story. So, don't flame, complain or beg about it. It is not negociable.
Anyway, to those who still wanna give this story a try... thanks and you are welcome to stick around.
As always: italics are thoughts, the " o " is a page breaker, bold is for emphasis.
Tom, Star and Marco (along with the other characters of Start vs The Forces of Evil universe) belong to Daron Nefcy and Disney Television Animation. Any other characters are of my own invention.
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"Ugh! That's the wrong piece of music! This is gonna drive me crazy", he states and turns to face his partner, "alright, don't go anywhere. I'll be right back".
"Okay", Star says but she starts wandering throught the ballroom.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
A few moments latter - and a very intimidated DJ -, things are going as Tom planned.
"Now, to look for Star before the blood moon shines", he whispers to himself. He goes back to where he last left the girl to wait for him... only to discover she is gone.
Oh, man! Really?, he thinks and starts to look around for her. He sees a glimpse of her up-hairdo and - mustering all his cool - walks towards her in long strides. Tom looks up and realizes the blood moon will shine over the place any minute now.
"Star! Star!", he calls her name hoping she will hear him and turn but to no vail. The girl is almost at arm-lenght and the demon realizes the room is starting to get red tints. Desperately, he outstretches his arm and grabs the gloved hand, pulling her close. The light of the blood moon shines on them, drowning the ballroom in red light.
I made it!, Tom congratulates himself mentally. However, the girl seems stiff and her dancing seems clumsy and amateur. He leans to her ear and whispers: "It's okay Star, you don't need to be so nervous".
"I think you got the wrong person", the girl says and lifts her face towards him. She is definitely not Star. Tom gapes like a fish that has been taken out of the water; however, his dancing doesn't falter.
"Don't sweat it", she says in an understanding tone, "let's just stop dancing and we both can go our merry ways". When the girl tries to pull her hand away from Tom, it doesn't budge as if stuck to him.
"What!?", she exclaims and hears the young demon sigh. The girl looks up at him and he returns an apologectic stare.
"Blood moon light", is all he says and twirls her around. Their hands part just to allow the maneuver but they are thrown back together as if magnetized to one another.
"What's that supposed to mean?", she asks dumbfolded and still tries to pull herself away. Somehow, her rush to be away from him irrates Tom but he cannot pin point why. They dance some more - albeit some stomps on Tom's feet that the demon believes are intentional from her part.
The dance ends with Tom bending the girl back and then pulling her to him again. His breathing is raged but as much as in control as he can muster after the whole exercise. The ballroom no longer looks red. The girl shakes her head and slids her hands down to her sides.
"I'll be leaving now", she says and gives a half-felt smile to him, "you are a very good dancer".
"You too", Tom says, not knowing what he should say or do at the time.
"No, I don't... but thanks", she says and turns to leave. However, a tall, gray-skined, bony demon in blue livery stops the girl at the exit. Tom pales: that is his family butler. The guy has served his lineage as far as Tom's great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather.
The butler bows respectfully to the girl and he says something to her. The girl frowns and gives a reply. Tom doesn't like the turn things are getting; looking for Star is the last of his worries. The guy scurries to the first dark alcove he can find in the ballroom and closes his eyes - only the one in his forehead remains open and starts to give a white glow.
Behind his closed eyes, he sees the girl and the butler as if he were standing next to them: his third-eye is a good thing to have.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The girl - now that Tom can scrutinize her without worry through his third eye -, is propably Star's age and height. However, her hair is the color of seaweed - albeit a shade lighter - and her skin is blue and pale. Her face is a work of art: expresive aquamarine eyes, small and refined nose, and sweet, glossy lips.
"Focus!", Tom lectures himself and keeps assesing the girl. Her hairdo covers her ears but it also ends in a knot, just like Star's: her dress is knee-long and dark blue, her gloves are white with a bluish tint to them now that they are not disguised by the reddish glow of the blood moon - no wonder he thought he was clasping Star's gloves instead. However, instead of knee-high boots, the girl is wearing high-heels that match with the gloves.
When the girl reaches the exit, the butler steps in front of her and bows. "My Lady", he starts, "the King and Queen of the 8th Circle of Hell extend their invitation to you to stay as a guest in this realm for a while. You will be staying at the castle, of course".
This can't be happening, Tom thinks and for a moment his focus on the scene wavers. He regains his composure and concentration and watches the girl frown.
"I feel honored that someone as small as me is looked upon by the rulers of this Circle", she says - Tom can see that she is mocking the butler, "but I am not worthy of their attentions so... I'll be going now". She walks past the butler and disappears in the dark mouth of the gateway.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Tom's third eye stops glowing and he opens his eyes, shocked. He starts pacing back and forth.
"She rejected mom and dad... she rejected mom and dad", the demon mutters under his breath, "none has ever rejected mom and dad".
"Hey, Tom!", Star's high-pitched voice takes the demon out of his trance. He turns to face her with a smile... that fades when he sees the girl is holding the hand of a mariachi skeleton with a mustache. "Who was the cutie you were dancing with?"
"Dunno", he shortly says, "didn't catch the name". He doesn't want to admit that in his previous shocked state - due to his failed plan - he couldn't even think on asking the stranger her name.
"And who is him?!", Tom growls, eyeing the guy holding Star's hand.
"Well...", Start says and squeezes the guy hand, "... I think he is the one I'm destined to be with".
Tom's eyes glow bright red. Pillars of red fire burst around the ballroom. "That dance... was meant... for ME!", he claims in a menacing and demonic voice.
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Well, you know how the Blood Moon Ball episode ended after Tom outburst. So, yeah... that's the ending this chapter gets, too.
A/N: No needs for reviews unless you feel like doing so.