This is a short, incomplete story that I just wanted to get edited and out of the way while I focused on prepping for my last semester of nursing and getting my new job squared away~ If I have enough time then I'll edit another smaller story to have it ready for posting once school starts back but we'll see what happens =3 In the mean time, I hope all who take the chance of reading this story will enjoy it to some extent.
Matthew anxiously twisted the white gold band on his ring finger, its lavender and sapphire gems glistening and glinting in the sunlight streaming through his window. "Bonjour, monsueir…missyor…minsssur…m-monssueir…" The blond sighed, dropping his head a bit. It was incredibly nerve-racking to meet Francis Bonnefoy so suddenly. At least it was sudden for Matthew, the boy mused. Perhaps he would have been a lot less anxious if Francis had been just an ordinary man. Contrarily, he was quite the opposite, the blond knew, having done his homework. Francis Bonnefoy was a self made millionaire with shops, boutiques, and restaurant chains the world over. Bonnefoy was certainly a household name, and in a few weeks, it was to be Matthew's name. The blond swallowed hard as he squeezed the ring and looked out the cab window at the little Parisian shop sign. Suddenly, skipping French lessons didn't seem as smart as Alfred had made them sound…
Ivan glanced down at the engagement ring forced onto him by him parents; it was exquisitely crafted, perfectly sized, engraved with his name and his betrothed…and Ivan couldn't find it more distasteful. He had no interest in the man that they demanded he marry and this ring spit on his retaliation and the future he had planned for himself. The older man was very successful at heading the companion company to the Braginsky family's company and a marriage between Yao and Ivan, the next head, would join their companies but Ivan wanted to fight and earn his way to the top and this is just what he had set himself up for until his parents went behind his back. Ivan sighed and looked at the calendar on his phone, reminding himself of the ball later that night so that they could meet and all of the well-to-do families could mingle and establish connections. He put away his phone and stared out of the window as he finished his coffee, resolving to start the preparations for the ball his parents are planned afterward.
Matthew thanked the driver and paid with cash before going up the marble steps to the shop, the little bell ringing cordially over the door as he pushed it open, greeted by a symphony of orchestra music, and an array of bouquets with beautiful scents from various flowers. Exotic and rare the brightly colored blooms and blossoms illuminated the peach walls, bathed in the sunlight streaming through the French windows. His unsure expression faded into a small smile as his lavender eyes wandered around the vividly ornate, sunlit room.
"Bonjour, Monsieur…" the blond's smile slowly disappeared as his gaze settled upon the face of Francis Bonnefoy, not at all reflective of the lovely, Rococo styled shop. The man was unshaven, his wavy blond hair disheveled and shirt exposing his chest, wine glass in hand as his sapphire eyes studied Matthew.
"Well…finish then, garçon" he instructed, gesturing with the glass.
Matthew swallowed hard, stuttering a bit, "A-ah…b-bonjour…Monsieur Bonnefoy…"
The man stared with narrowed eyes for a moment, walking around the counter towards the young man, placing a finger on his chin, lifting it to his eyes, "Your French…is exquisite. You should have more confidence in your craft, Mathieu." He lowered his hand, "And my father's name is Monsieur Bonnefoy. Call me Francis."
The young Russian headed out of the little corner coffee shop and drove himself home in the sporty car he had received for his birthday just a few months ago.
Once he had arrived home he was swarmed by his parents again, shoving him towards the large ballroom already busy with activity as maids, butlers, caterers, and event planners ran about with decorations and dishes. He headed up to his room to change into a nice suit after checking how everything was coming along. Ivan glanced at the mask hanging across the mirror as he adjusted the perfectly tailored suit but he didn't touch it, finding the concept of a masquerade foolish, especially for an event meant to interconnect the other families. He shrugged and gave the suit jacket one last tug to straighten it before he headed back down to assist the preparations, determined to have a hand in it or, at least, keep himself busy until the party.
"I'd like you to freshen up before tonight, Mathieu" Francis said as he opened the door to the master bathroom inside the master bedroom, "This is also yours, Mathieu. I hope it is to your liking."
The blond nodded as he looked around, "Merci, Mons—ah, Francis…" There was a beautiful, wide dome ceiling as Matthew looked up, the angelic rococo fresco depicting cherubims and seraphims in heaven was illuminated by the crystal candelabra suspended from its center, the large, marble claw foot tub beneath it perfectly polished along with the other furniture. It was quite beautiful, Matthew mused. He found that he very much adored Mr. Bonnefoy's rich taste. Soon after the curtains were drawn shut, he was left to his own devices and decided on a hot bath to reward himself for the spiral staircase and winding halls as they toured the mansion. He had found it more than troubling to wear heels yesterday but the gown was much too fetching to shun. An off white ivory made of silk and lace trim, with a long ribbon in the back and sleeves, with a pearl studded bear eared mask to match. He had never attended a masquerade before, but it certainly was not an opportunity he wanted to miss…
Once the finishing touches were in place Ivan once again returned to his room to grab the simple half-mask, matching his own alabaster skin, and set it in place; making sure that it covered what it needed to cover and did not impair his vision but, as simple as it was, it too was custom molded and fit comfortably against his face.
He headed downstairs just as the main doors were opened and the outdoor lights along the driveway to guide their guests to the house. He joined his parents at the door to welcome everyone but only lingered for the first wave of greetings before dismissing himself to entertain the ones that had arrived. Ivan strolled through the grand ballroom, mingling with their guests and ensuring that everyone was happy. He was told to keep an eye out for a bear mask as Yao was supposed to be wearing one but he had no luck so far with finding him just yet; he had run across a few people donning bear-themed masks including a particularly interesting one decorated with pearls and accompanied with a lavish gown that came together to create an enchanting sight.
As the blond wandered inside the colossal ballroom gracefully sweeping the polished floor with the lace skirts of the silk gown, the orchestra began playing Chopin's Op.34 No. 2 Waltz in A minor. And just as he stepped towards the beautifully adorned ballroom he caught sight of a slender, phantomesque face semi veiled by a mysterious mask, through whose eye-holes he noticed luminescent violet irises gazing at him as they gleamed in the candelabra light.
The Russian smiled slightly as a pair of beautiful lavender eyes, electrified by the similarly coloured accents in the gown, met his own. He stepped forward to greet the stranger when Yao, the one he was supposed to be looking for in the first place, stepped up.
"Our joining is the main event, let's start the first dance" he said simply, taking Ivan's hand and taking position in the middle of the dance floor.
"As you wish" Ivan responded with a slight bow to the elder man as he started, taking the lead simply by the aesthetics of their audience. He took in the mask his partner wore; panda-themed with painstakingly crafted crystals bringing out the required colours and matching well with the slender man's suit.
Matthew wandered slowly nearer, before his waist was grasped gently from behind, along with his arm, as he was spun around into a dip by another masked man, who pressed his lips to the blond's warm cheek, smooth as velvet. Only by looking up into the sapphire eyes of the cupid mask halved at the bridge of the nose.
"You look stunning, mon petit ours…" he whispered against his ear, leaving another light kiss just below his left ear, another following across his throat and down to his collar bone that left the milk white flesh with a pink bruise, the soft voice quivering in rhythm with his heart.
"M-merci, monsieur…"
Violet eyes scanned the room unconsciously until they settled on the pearl bear dancing with another. There was something so intriguing about the blond stranger but whomever they were, they were occupied with a scruffy man lavishing the pale skin with kisses; a small flame of jealousy igniting deep within Ivan. He tried to brush the feeling off and entertain Yao, the one he should truly be focusing on. He gave the observant brunet an apologetic smile in response to the unamused gaze as they traveled the shining dance floor, others pairing off and joining them as the song continued.
"Within two week's time, we will be married, my dear Mathieu…" Francis purred as the two waltzed gracefully along the ballroom floor with the sweet, dark music. "…Then you will be mine, no?"
Matthew slowly tilted his head into a slight nod as Francis studied him, awaiting an answer "Oui, monsieur…"
The Frenchman continued after an acknowledging nod, "And that means…whatever you ask of me will be given to you…so long as you behave as a good little spouse should…" Undoubtedly the sight of the pristine gown hugging the slender, feminine figure was arousing to the man, though he tried to shun such thoughts until the proper time. There was a time and place for everything, Francis knew, and now was the time to shower the little blond with extravagant, lavish gifts and sweet nothings to tickle his ears and linger on his soft heart. And the man knew him to be soft in all manners of speaking, merely by his visage alone.
"Merci…" Matthew found his attention wandering away from his intended, as he drifted away on dilated lavender eyes in search of the passionate violets beneath the phantom mask.
The leading duo smoothly transitioned into the next song as the first ended. "Your company is doing excellently" Ivan said mid swing, trying to make conversation with the mostly silent man.
"It is" Yao responded simply "and the Braginsky company has been steadily improving since you have started managing it. I know that we will both benefit from this coming partnership."
Ivan smiled and thanked the man despite immediately catching the subtle jab; it wasn't his company, it was his family's company… "Two weeks and we will be married and our companies combined."
Matthew finally turned back toward Francis with the end of the first waltz, "Ah, tell me, monsieur…" he paused in an inquiry.
"Hm?" Francis replied, hand slightly moving down his waist.
"Who does this mansion belong to?"
The Frenchman chuckled at the blond's naivety, and answered, "Why, our hosts, the Braginsky Family, of course, dear Mathieu… Most notably Ivan Braginsky, the only son and rightful heir of the company." He spun and led the little blond to the livelier waltz.
"Ah" Matthew nodded as he tried to keep up with Francis' impeccable footwork, stumbling a bit.
Francis gently lifted his chin with the softest, smallest smile, "Mon petit ours…leave it to me." He held him against him delicately, leading his steps in three quarter time.
It even made the blond give a light, grateful smile, adding to his rosy cheeks "Merci…"
Ivan and Yao slowed as the second song ended and headed their separate ways for the time being; Yao to another partner and Ivan to the hors d'oeuvres to grab a drink for himself and people watch, unconsciously browsing the crowd for the bear in the gown, finding them still dancing with the bearded man in the suit. He decided to bide his time and see if he could steal the next dance with the beautiful stranger.
"Surely mon petit must be thirsty after such rigorous waltzing…how about I fetch you a drink while you rest your feet a minute?" Francis said as the waltz ended, rubbing the blond's bare back gently.
"Merci, monsieur" he smiled softly, leaning into the gentle caress.
"Anything for my little Mathieu" Francis whispered, stroking his cheek as they parted. With a ruffle of his silver cape he headed off to the banquet table.
Matthew took the time to look around, taking in the beautiful surroundings for the first time. It was breathtaking; the music and the whimsical scent of peppermint oil in the light air, the elegant, brightly colored gowns sweeping across the floor as countless couples danced in time with the orchestra as if hundreds of little music boxes…it certainly made him wish he'd brought a piece of canvas along to capture such an enchanting scene.
Violet eyes leisurely scanned the room until a man came to get a drink, noticing immediately that it was the bearded man that had been entertaining the pearl. He stepped aside to make room and went to find the stranger that had been occupying his thoughts since the first song.
Ivan found the signature mask and gown within moments of searching and headed for his target. He stopped by the table and extended his hand with a confident smile "If all of the attention has not worn you out, may I have the next dance?"
Just as Matthew sat down for a rest, he felt all fatigue within fade as he heard the most charming voice, accented smoothly with Russian, and looked up into the same violet eyed phantom mask he had seen when he first arrived and whilst dancing with Francis. With a slightly darker rouge in the snow white cheeks he nodded and took the man's hand, "Delighted, sir…"
Ivan's smile widened slightly as he pulled up the man and led him to the dance floor as the song started. He took his stance and they started "The gown is beautiful on you and the mask was an excellent choice" Ivan complimented, smoothly dipping the slender man before pulling him up again as they crossed the dance floor "may I get your name?"
"Matthew" the lavender eyed blond replied softly, his hand fitting the other's like a glove as they wandered out onto the floor to the most beautiful waltz that the blond believed had been played thus far. "Matthew Williams…" he added with a demure little smile and shallow curtsy "…and yours, sir?"
"Ivan Braginsky" he answered with a softer tone than usual to compliment Matthew's tone, trying not to intimidate the shy man "you have wonderful footwork and your confidence should match." Ivan tried to encourage the blond; he could tell that Matthew knew the motions but there was some hesitation that was preventing the perfect fluidity that Ivan knew was possible.
Matthew nodded with another small, polite smile, "As Monsieur Bonnefoy has told me…" But then he recalled the name, "Ah…the sole heir I have heard about? …Your estate is stunning, Ivan…if you don't mind me calling you that—or I could just call you Mr. Braginsky…" He giggled a bit nervously as he tried to keep rhythm with Ivan "…W-whatever is to your liking…"
"I would be honored to be referred to with such familiarity if I may do the same" Ivan asked as he kept the rhythm and timing as exactly as possible to give Matthew the chance to adjust and become comfortable with the repetitive dance steps and try to show him that he had nothing to worry about.
"Of course…" the pearl bear replied as he gazed into the dark violet eyes of the phantom adoringly, moving the slightest bit closer as the beat started to speed up, becoming more lively. "Ah, thank you very much for your invitation…I've never been to a masquerade before…it is beautiful" he added.
Ivan smiled "Thank you, I was not sure about organizing such an event but I believe this meeting has made everything well worth it" his hand lowered from the lace and silk clad hip to the bare lower back as the little blond shifted closer between steps, their movements getting more fluid as the song sped up and Matthew started to relax.
Matthew blushed with the compliment, once again smitten by the undoubtedly charming phantom "I agree…"
The Russian's smile simply widened, admiring the blush and how it accented the layers of pearls that made the mask. They stepped together smoothly, the skirts flowing around them with each turn and swing, flaring out with the occasional playful dip that wasn't a part of the dance.
Matthew found it much easier to keep in rhythm with the steps now that Ivan was guiding him. Even more effortlessly than Francis had, as if he had danced the waltz a thousand times before, as if a phantom of a former dancer transcending the ages "Mm my phantom…you dance divinely."
Ivan could have purred at the possessive attachment to his little nickname "It takes two and you are finally showing your true talent; as your phantom, I am merely a shadow of your talent."
"Ahh but how could a clumsy little bear know where his steps fell unless seen by the shadow?" Matthew replied with a little smile "my phantom is much too talented for humility…" An entranced incandescence sparked in his lavender eyes that wanted nothing more than to gaze at the exotic ghost before him until he had unraveled each and every minuscule detail of the existence that lay just beneath the stunningly unadorned, but all the more memorable for it, mask "tell me about your family's company"
"Hmm but my clever bear is far from clumsy" Ivan returned with a chuckle as they started the next dance heedless of the, now, crowded dance floor as their worlds became themselves, their partners, and the beautiful music. "There is not much to tell, we started it when we moved to America and it has been growing quickly ever since."
Matthew nodded, "Ah from Russia, I take it?" he guessed from the thick yet tame accent. "…Well there must be plenty; what kind of products do you sell?"
Ivan nodded in response "Our highest grossing product is vodka" he chuckled "it sells surprisingly well almost everywhere."
"Ah really? How interesting…more of a wine drinker myself, but only on occasion" he stated before trailing off in his thoughts for a moment. "Oh! White Russian—I remember seeing that flavor in quite a few places…including this lovely restaurant I went to the other night with some friends…Wang Dynasty, I believe it was…some of the best Chinese food I have ever tasted" the blond recalled.
"Ah, yes, we have a partnership with the Wang family" he chuckled a little awkwardly, suddenly reminded of his intended by the man he was flirting with "they serve excellent, authentic food."
"I'm certain it would be nothing without your vodka..." the blond purred. "Perhaps you could show me how it's made someday…or maybe a tour of your beautiful manor…?" the little pearl bear was certainly a blatant flirt.
Ivan's genuine smile returned "I would be honored, perhaps after this dance? I'm sure we could both use a rest from this crowd."
"I could use the company as well" Matthew smiled with a light squeeze of the larger hand in his.
"Why wait then" Ivan stopped mid-step and kissed the knuckles of the small, gloved hand. He led the little blond away from the dance floor "I can have you to myself for a little while" he chuckled "and give you a personal tour. I would love to hear more about you as we walk" Ivan said as they headed to the top floor so that the eager Russian could start the tour.
"What would my phantom like to know…?" the pearl bear asked, slightly lifting his skirts as his gown swept up the marble steps.
"What brought you to this party? Surely you would have far more interesting things garnering your attention" he asked, truly curious as to what would have brought the adorable stranger to his door and into his arms. He could not quite figure out how the man had effortlessly drawn his attention but, as if to a magnet, it was drawn and there was no parting now.
"I too have a suitor…a betrothed, if you will…my parents arranged it; more of a business merger I guess…" He paused with a soft sigh "Does it…even mean a thing to them to marry for love…?"
"I doubt it. My parents had a marriage planned from very early on but it was only recently that I learned about it…" Ivan sighed softly as well "I doubt my parents have even been in love though they claim that they grew to love each other, still, that was well after I was born. I would not want to put a child through that…though…" he chuckled "with my preference I would not have to worry, it caused quite the upset when my mother found out but the Wang family has several children so they worked it out…for now" He sighed again "Are they expecting you to carry along your family line as well?"
The pearl bear blushed, "Ah well…truth be told…I have always wanted a family…and they are happy with adoption…"
Ivan chuckled softly and the blush and embarrassed hesitation at the topic "I wish you luck with getting the family you want" he paused in front of a huge set of doors "perhaps you can give them a loving upbringing and they will choose their own paths and whom they love…" he trailed off with a soft smile and opened the grand doors to reveal a huge gallery of the art they had collected over the generations, the pricier exhibits that were not decorating the rest of the house at least. "The first room of interest; the gallery" he welcomed the blond in "feel free to look around."
Matthew gasped at the beautiful gallery, lavender eyes wide with awe, "Oh, my phantom…you have my heart…" His whisper as soft as a little silver bell ringing through a quiet room, its tinkling echoes in Ivan's wake as if little ghosts themselves before they vanished with the stillness of the grand room. Immediately Matthew's attention was stolen by the oil paintings. "John Singer Sargeant…one of my favorites…" he smiled, admiring the way the man captured the Victorian era and successfully painted children "one of yours?"
His eyes widened slightly at what Matthew had said as he glanced around at the artwork, paintings and sculptures alike, but he dismissed it as a slip of praise for the art. He followed his little crush quietly, making note of the pieces he lingered longer on, perking up with the question and nodding "Yes, this is one of the most recent ones discovered too."
Matthew smiled a bit wider at the response, "I've always wondered what it would be like to have a commission done by him…or rather in his style since he is no longer living… What do you like most about his work?" he asked with a genuinely curious tone, looking back at Ivan.
Ivan thought for a long moment "It is hard to decide but I think it must be softness of his style" he blushed slightly knowing it was far from a professional or educated term but he hoped that the colouring was hidden from the interested gaze "even his older, less practiced works have this softness… It truly seems to show that he loved what he did…"
Matthew nodded, turning back to the picture, "Ah yes…he really captures youth quite beautifully…"
"You are well learned, is art a career or hobby of yours?" Ivan asked, genuinely interested in what the little blond seemed to have a passion for.
Matthew turned to him again, "Hobby" he replied, rubbing his arm. If only his parents could see it was so much more than that, and allow him to pursue it.
"It sounds more passionate than a hobby, perhaps I can see your work one day" Ivan asked.
"Ah it's not that good honestly…" he said with a modest smile, though that's what his parents told him to dissuade him from pursuing art.
"I'm sure you are being modest, no matter what you would be better than me" Ivan laughed softly.
"Ah well…practice makes perfect…" the blond shrugged with a demure little smile. "I could…give you lessons—i-if you want…" he looked up at Ivan.
"I think I'm a lost cause but…perhaps with you as my teacher there would be hope…" Ivan trailed off with a playful smile "though…I think I would agree to anything to get to see you again…"
A soft pink blush warmed his cheeks once more, "I have an apartment in the city" he replied. "I could give you my number…and we could work out a schedule…?"
"I would lo-" suddenly Ivan was cut off by his mother practically storming in until she spotted Matthew, almost hidden by the Russian's stature, and quickly returned to the soft-spoken gentleness that matched the delicate swan mask she was wearing.
"Sweetie, your fiancé has been looking for you. Come" she insisted, guiding him out with a firm hand that contradicted her small form "there are plenty of other guests to entertain and we must finish planning the wedding!"
Ivan spared a glance back, regretful frown apparent even through the mask but he went along with his mother, knowing the consequences would be severe otherwise.
Matthew never recalled a time when he was so heart broken so quickly; heart stinging as he swallowed hard, dropping his head and sagging his shoulders, having fallen so rapidly and so deeply for the stranger he'd just met, his beloved phantom. He supposed maybe it was punishment for intentionally flirting in spite of knowing that he himself was indeed engaged. Perhaps he supposed he might find some kind of escape with the phantom. But such dreams dissipated as the Russian was whisked away.
Ivan followed his mother back down to the first floor to a displeased Yao "I apologize; I lost track of time" he said grimly "would you like to dance?" he offered, wanting to delay the rest of the wedding planning for as long as possible but a quick jab in his side from his mother quickly dispelled that.
"I have some excellent sample and idea books you two can look through so you two can finish planning your wedding" the insistent woman spoke up and encouraged the two into a quiet sitting room where everything was already set out and set up.
Ivan sighed softly, almost inaudibly and sat down to look through the books.
Matthew made his way back downstairs to the ballroom, where he noticed Francis frantically going from person to person.
"Have you seen my fiancé? He is wearing a white bear mask studded with pearls…" The pearl bear called him, and he turned, "Matthieu?" He embraced the little blond, "Oh mon petit ours…I thought something terrible…you mustn't run off in such a large place, mon dieu" he reprimanded. "Especially one you know nothing about…someone could steal you away from me…" he added with a slight possessive edge to his tone, planting a kiss on the pearl bear's neck.
"Ah…n-no need to worry, monseuir…" Matthew whispered as he blushed, "I was in good hands…"
While Ivan's thoughts were preoccupied with Matthew his hands were busy comparing samples that Yao picked out, wanting to mix their cultures and colours without clashing horribly. He saw another set of books on the other table and he recalled that this event was to celebrate several engagements and he wondered who else would be planning their wedding in the secluded room.
Francis smiled knowingly, "And now, my sweet, you are in even better hands…" he led him back out to the dance floor.
Ivan grew more and more frustrated with each and every minuet detail that they went over from the gold leaf accents on the placement cards to the vibrant red of the flowers that would decorate each table. And yet, despite all of this and the constant chatter, what stuck out the most was that no matter how many colour palates he browsed, Ivan couldn't find one shade of anything that came close to the complexities found within Matthew's eyes.
"Oui, monsieur…" Matthew simply couldn't stop thinking about his phantom; the dark illuminated violets peering out from the behind the darkened holes of the ghostly mask's eyes. The charming albeit mysterious smile drawing him in…the voice that sounded like a distant roar of thunder, disrupting the calm before the storm…the pearl bear could go on and on…and that he did, as he danced with Francis, comparing each and every attribute to Ivan's, all while wondering to himself how he could have fallen so quickly for this seemingly ethereal stranger.
The ashen blond distantly heard the music change and it helped him keep track of the time that seemed to drag on for eons as Yao took the reigns of the planning. Ivan leaned back against the couch, giving a nod when prompted.
After glancing around in mindless boredom he finally decided to get a couple of drinks for them, if only to kill a couple of minutes, and notified Yao. The emotionally weary man stepped out of the little room and headed to the grand table in the back, passing the servers walking around to buy more time to relax.
The slower waltzes made Matthew feel as if he was one of those figurines inside a music box, slowing and churning in time until the wind up key was turned once more. He wished he was resting at the moment, if not in a bed…at least in the arms of his beloved phantom.
Drinks in hand, Ivan turned back but stopped, a smile ghosting across his face as his eyes locked on his little bear. He hesitated a bit longer, just a few steps away from the table, simply watching the graceful dancing but the slight heaviness in Matthew's steps became obvious with Ivan's keen eyes and it worried him minutely. With just a moment's debate he passed off the drinks to one of their butlers that was helping to cater to the large number of guests and asked him to deliver them to the room he should have been returning to. Instead, he stepped up to the dancing couple and, with a polite smile, spoke "You two have been dancing splendidly so long" he threw out with confidence though it was merely a guess "perhaps you would like to rest in one of the quieter rooms in the house" he offered encouragingly. He tried to be as polite as possible but he also wanted to give the shy Matthew a much needed break without insinuating anything and insulting either of the two.
Francis smirked, his hand sliding down Matthew's waist, "Ah yes, very good…it is time for us to rest, no, Matthieu?"
"O-oui, monsuier…" Matthew blushed, following as his fiancé led him away from the dance floor, though sadly, away from his phantom as well.
Ivan's eye twitched imperceptibly as he read the possessive motion for what it was and the primal part of him wanted to retaliate but he restrained himself as they walked away. He headed back to the planning room to await Yao's final decisions.
"Come along, mon petit ours…"
They followed the butler up to the private room, and he handed Francis the key, "Merci, monsieur." He smiled and carried Matthew bridal style into the softly lit room, behind the silken canopy of the bed where he gently laid him, turning to the butler, "Bring your master's finest wine, s'il vous plait…"
The butler nodded with a bow and shut the door.
Francis' smile disappeared. He walked away from the bed, and plopped down in the fainting couch at the foot of it, a sigh of exhaustion expelling from him. He looked back at Matthew gently, "I imagine your feet ache, mon ami…" He beckoned him closer with his finger.
Matthew held his skirts and slid down a bit towards him, sighing in relief as Francis removed his heels, sending them to the floor each with a low thud.
He massaged the tender feet gently with a yawn, smiling slightly as Matthew relaxed on the bed. "Rest, Matthieu…you danced wonderfully…"
Again, Ivan settled onto the plush sofa to mull away the time and took a sip from one of the drinks that the butler had set down as he tried to brush the rest of the irritancy of the Frenchman's actions off.
"Merci, monsieur…" the pearl bear whispered, removing his mask, letting the soft blond curls tumble over the silk of the bed as he lay down, closing his eyes.
Try as he might to brush everything off, the thoughts of the two lingered in the forefront of his mind. He knew it was not his place to intrude on them but he wanted nothing more than to relax with Matthew in his own room rather than one of the countless guest rooms.
"When you are ready to leave, dear Matthieu, we shall…" Francis said as he continued to massage the blond's feet.
Matthew started drifting off, imagining his phantom at the foot of the bed, and murmured an incoherent whisper, "…I never want to leave…"
Ivan yawned and pardoned himself quickly for his rudeness. "I will excuse myself for the night. If you would like to continue, I can go over the decisions tomorrow" he offered but left before really giving either of them a chance to respond past a disapproving and downright angry glare.
He headed up a couple flights of stairs to his room. He tugged off the mask and set it on his dresser, flopping on the bed and closing his eyes afterward to simply listen to the soft silence around him.
It wasn't long before Matthew fell asleep on the bed and Francis carried him and his shoes down the steps and out to the limousine, leaving the little pearl bear mask lying forgotten against the silk in the guestroom.
What had started as a pleasant recharge from all of the activity and social stressors turned into a nap; Ivan's suit long forgotten with the embrace of cool silk and sleep.
It's just the first chapter and already our eager lovebirds are smitten with the wrong people~ Once again this is a short and incomplete story that just simply fell through with the partner I had so it will almost certainly stay incomplete. All the same, I hope you enjoyed it and I would love to hear about any parts that stuck out to you with a comment or message!
~Poison