"Hey, what are you doing out here by yourself? You're not too scared to face my killer dance moves, are you?" Naomi had finally found Mateo outside on the balcony.

"Haha, no, it's not like that." He assured her after he'd startled at her arrival, "Sometimes, I just need some quiet."

Naomi looked skeptical. All the fun was inside! Why would anyone want to miss a second of it? He smiled knowingly, shrugging, as he turned back out towards the waves.

Her plans to talk him back inside stalled for the moment and she joined him at the balcony rail. She didn't mind waiting a bit for him to get his nerves back or whatever it was he needed. She could use a break from certain royal guests anyway.

She rested her head on her crossed arms and tried to enjoy the view. The stars were very pretty, the ocean too with the moon reflected in the crevices between the waves. Just like most nights, especially nights when she was out at sea.

In other words, nothing she hadn't seen a million times before.

Naomi strained with all her might to hold back a sigh so she wouldn't offend her friend who seemed to be quietly enjoying himself, smiling softly out at the sea, moonlight dusting his hair and illuminating his hazel eyes. Quickly abandoning that train of thought, Naomi was soon drilling her fingers against the rail, now more than ready to go back inside.

Mateo's quiet laugh had her turn her head towards him as he gently placed his hand on top of hers.

"What?" Naomi wished she could control her blush, but she knew she was red as a pomegranate even in the half darkness.

"You're fidgeting."

She pouted and looked away, which was good for Mateo as a small amount of his calm had ebbed away at his own boldness. His heart sped up as, after a few moments, Naomi flipped her hand over to hold his properly. And then they settled and the calm flowed back as their hands seemed to fall into place and the twinkling stars reclaimed their attention.

Until Naomi heard a familiar tune from the ballroom.

"Ooh! I love this song!" she started to drag Mateo back into the palace, but was jolted to a halt as he didn't move.

"Mateo?"

He lessened his grip, but Naomi wouldn't let go. He swallowed before stuttering, "We're, uh, going back inside. So we probably shouldn't…" He glanced at their hands and back to her bemused face.

"It's fine! You're about to dance with me anyway, nobody's going to care."

Still, his blush remained on his face as Naomi masterfully guided him to the dance floor.

They began in a more traditional position, one of Mateo's slightly sweaty hands holding her own and the other around her waist.

She smiled and laughed joyfully as the two of them twirled around the room, and after a few numbers, Mateo seemed to catch the contagion.

"Dip me!" Naomi said, voice full of giggles, at the end of a particularly exhilarating salsa.

"Well, I can try." The wizard-in-training spun his sailor friend once more before dipping her low, his right hand clutched over-securely around her waist.

He smiled sheepishly, though he had performed perfectly well. She grinned back, proud and giddy.

And then she kissed him, a short peck on the lips.

"I knew you could do it!"

They maneuvered back into a standing position, Mateo momentarily speechless with bewilderment and nerves.

He itched the back of his neck, not quite meeting his partner's eyes, "Heh, th-thanks."

He was smiling nonetheless.