Title: All The Right Moves
Author: perfectioninmypride
Summary: "The King of Spades is but a naïve child and the Queen a jaded fool." "Hush, mon cher. Do you not realize the consequence if your words were to fall on the wrong ears?" "It means naught to me." All he can see in the man in gold. Cardverse AU.
AN: I can't sleep, it's almost 3am, and I have an exam at 9:30. Here, have some Cardverse FrUK. Just to clarify, not a part of my Songverse Continuity, though inspired by the song of the same name by One Republic.
DISCLAIMER: Hetalia is owned by Hidekaz Himaruya
One
The ballroom is crowded, shining with the light of a thousand candles, reflected off bejewelled dancers in heavy dresses and tailored coats. Each one twirls to the melody of a small orchestra, masks set firmly on faces young and old.
It is all a bore, such a bore to the man in blue as he is led around the floor in the arms of the taller, younger, man.
"You look beautiful." whispers his partner before him quietly in that cheerful voice of his, a strangely awed look in the bright blue eyes shining behind the black mask.
He smiles softly at the flattery, face composed so that his partner will not see how blank he feels, how he is barely hearing his words.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
He repeats the words (a simple repetition, not a reply) and imbues them with warmth that is not from his heart, not from his soul.
His partner smiles, those sky blue eyes lighting up brightly before he is whisked away by some diplomat needing some useless favour.
He does not notice. He is blind to all the sparkles and lights now. Surrounded, day in, day out, by the excess of wealth, he is desensitized and oh so bored. He can keep the smile on all night, but behind the mask his own eyes barely see a thing.
There is nothing in the room that interests him anymore, except for him.
He cannot help but watch the golden one who flits around the ballroom like he owns the place, like he has his own light. He is the light.
The brightest flame burning in the room of a thousand candles.
He has been watching the golden man all night, tracking his every movement with his own green eyes. There is something about him, something about the way all in his path seemed to move for him.
A butterfly moving from bright flower to bright flower, the most beautiful among them.
It is a surprise when for but a moment he takes his eyes off the golden man, and in that instance the butterfly disappears amongst the crowd.
He suppresses a sigh only to feel a presence behind him.
"Bitterness is not a colour you wear well, mon cher."
The voice is honey - sweet, rich, and low – that sends a small shiver down his spine. He turns to face the owner.
"Who do you believe yourself to be? Strutting around like the King of Hearts."
A soft laugh.
"No, I believe he is over there." he replies, gesturing lightly towards where a tall blond man is fixatedly watching a brunette flit cheerfully from person to person.
"You are one to talk, mon cher. You remind me ever so much of the Queen of Spades."
The golden man leans in closer, lowering his voice until it is but a mere whisper in his ear. He can feel the man's breath, hot on the side of his face.
"Only you could not possibly be, since it is known throughout the four kingdoms that our dear Queen he never leaves his King. For how could he, when the young King keeps him clasped so tightly to his well built side?"
He scoffs at the retort, turning his head so that they are eye to eye. The man's eyes are blue – a dark blue, glaring cold sapphires wrought among all that gold.
"The King of Spades is but a naïve child and the Queen a jaded fool."
"Hush, mon cher. Do you not realize the consequence if your words were to fall on the wrong ears?"
"It means naught to me."
"You are a brave man. A little foolish, perhaps?"
"The Royal Pair can do nothing. Figureheads and icons – that's all they are."
He can practically feel the slow smile that curves its way up the man's lips.
"How very cynical of you."
The man extends a hand, fingers outstretched, the epitome of a courteous gentleman. He looks down at it with a quirk of his eyebrow.
"Care to dance, mon cher?"
"Do try to keep up."
He tries to keep the smirk off his face as he takes the proffered hand. The golden man gives a chuckle.
"I assure you, I will."
He feels the golden man place his other hand on the small of his back, and they start to dance as the orchestra starts a new piece. His feet start to move, and he is guided around the ballroom floor.
"So, pray tell, if you are not Hearts' royalty, then who are you?"
"Tsk, tsk. Is that not the point of the masquerade? To conceal our identities, and inspire a sense of camaraderie among the nobility of the four kingdoms, or so the official invitation on Spades'-blue card did say."
"Or in other words, you will not tell me."
"I do not think I need to."
"Arrogant, aren't you?"
"Some say it is what makes me so intriguing."
He can't help but smile a little as they twirl amongst the crowd, another beautifully dressed pair. The man is right. Tonight is a night of mystery, to let go of any official identities.
"Your wit astounds me. Perhaps you are a Joker."
"I am no more a Joker than a sad clown. Besides, we both know that one of our precious jokers is much too young to attend."
"And the other?"
He sees the man's eyes dart sideways in response, and he follows his gaze. A couple are dancing, together near the orchestra. He can't make out what the woman is saying, but the dark haired man lets out a small laugh.
Looking upon the pair is a man in black, silver hair glowing in the candlelight. There is a scowl plastered on his face beneath the domino mask, though whether directed at the man or the woman, he doesn't know.
"I see. You are a perceptive man."
"Not perceptive enough."
"You know much about tonight's events."
"Something tells me you know even more."
He lets out a small, bitter laugh.
"I know nothing. If I was wise, I would not be here."
"Why not?"
"This. All of this. It means naught."
"An insult, to the great Spades Kingdom. Though, you are unafraid of their ire."
"I don't have the heart to be afraid of anything, anymore."
He has said too much, but the lady that is luck smiles upon him. His partner catches the uncertainty that flashes across his face, but does not comment.
They keep up the banter, harmless flirtations that should not lead to anything more. The strange sense of ease of being in the man's arms is comforting, though he takes care not to become attached.
"Mon cher, you have beautiful eyes."
He snorts. Beautiful eyes – he is told this so often that the compliment means nothing.
"How very trite. As if I have not heard that a thousand times."
"Mon cher, you must let me finish."
"What difference will that make?"
"Your eyes... They are quite deep, are they not? The green of a forest that has not been disturbed in hundreds of years, holding so many secrets. I knew one once, with eyes like yours."
The statement hits him hard. It's too familiar, hitting too hard to home.
Harmless, it is not.
"Your eyes are cold. A man who let everything he loved slip away, so now hides behind his bright facade."
He catches a slight frown on the man's face, before it is replaced with yet another seductive smile.
"I see those eyes of yours are not just part of a pretty face."
They spend the next few bars in silence, gaze held to the swells of the cello and the smooth soprano of the violin strings.
The music slows down, and the ballroom seems to dim. Perhaps it is his imagination
The song ends and they must part ways. He can hear his name being called through the crowd, and he ignores it.
The gold man smiles, yet another slow smile, but one that does not reach his eyes.
"Until we meet again." says the man, kissing him on the hand before letting go.
He turns and walks away, returns to the side of the bright-blue-eyed boy, whose smile burns bright with the light of the sun.
"I missed you!"
"I missed you too."
An absentminded reaction. He turns back to where he came from and looks, but the golden man is gone. Moved on to another flower, another brightly dressed dancer.
His heart breaks, for the second time.
And what a oneshot of questions. Maybe one day I will elaborate. Tell me what you thought :)