Author's Note:
Hello, everyone! I just had to write this because Kaider is so adorable. I might add some other one-shots of the other TLC ships later on, but as of now, I'm obsessed with Kaider.
Disclaimer: The amazing Marissa Meyer owns the Lunar Chronicles and all of its characters.
Cinder stood on the balcony, overlooking the Eastern Commonwealth Palace. She had danced very few times, embarrassed to be the center of attention with Kai, but she felt proud for not tripping over her own feet. She had even danced once with Thorne, who smirked at her the entire time, calling her "Your Majesty" way too many times. But it was late in the night now, and she was exhausted after trying to avoid so many unwelcome questions and ignoring harsh comments.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" asked a voice behind her.
The Emperor and host of the ball. Kai.
"How did you manage to get away?" Cinder asked him as he moved closer to her.
"Iko and Thorne are currently providing entertainment for all the guests. They caused enough of a ruckus for me to leave unnoticed. I'm surprised no one else has found you yet. You're the queen of Luna, you know."
She turned to smile at him, and her breath hitched. This was their first private moment together. The first time she could look at him, without being assessed by thousands of judgmental people. It was the first time she allowed herself to really look at him, his hair that was much neater than she liked, his beautiful eyes, his dazzling smile.
"Not for much longer, though," Cinder said, staring off into they sky, where the half moon illuminated a small patch of space.
Kai moved closer to wrap an arm around Cinder, the warmth from his body comforting to her, and she moved her head to rest on his chest.
"Come with me," he murmured to her, taking her hand and pulling her toward the building.
"You better not be making me dance again," Cinder grumbled.
Kai laughed. "No, I won't, but the rumors are going to be flying like crazy once everyone realizes that the two of us are missing."
"Do you care, though?" Cinder wondered aloud.
"If it means I can spend time with you, then no, I don't," Kai said, and Cinder's heart fluttered.
He led her through a secret entrance that allowed them to completely avoid any other human contact, and Cinder had never been more grateful. Kai seemed to be very familiar with the passage, before he stopped abruptly in the empty corridor.
Kai pushed Cinder against the wall and gently began kissing her. Cinder loved this feeling, being pressed against Kai, treated so carefully. She kissed him back, harder, and opened her mouth against his.
"Careful, Cinder," Kai said against her lips. "The ballroom is right behind you. If we get too loud, the guests will start to wonder what's going on."
Cinder leaned back to glare at him. "You had to take me right next to the place I'm trying to avoid?"
Kai put his hands up in mock surrender. "To be fair, it is a huge ballroom. It'd take too long to walk anywhere else.
Cinder sighed, wanting too much to kiss him to argue.
When they returned, making sure to stagger their entrances, Thorne was more than happy to point out to Cinder that Kai's hair looked a lot messier than usual, and the back of Cinder's gown was rumpled, and Kai had to hold Cinder back from pushing Thorne off the balcony.