Oh, my gods, you guys. Can you believe it? I actually posted this… I promised I would post it back in like… Chapter 15 or 16 of Banditry. Well, we're up to Chapter 21 of Banditry as I post this… that means it has been like five or six chapters since I promised I would make this oneshot. So, so, so sorry. But here it is.
This is the oneshot I announced I would make, where instead of Noir and Marron going to the official ball with all the Aesir, Loki holds a private ball for them in his chambers. I won't give anything else away, but just know that ;)
It ended up being… way, way, way long. Hope that's okay. Here it is.
A Royal Ball
Noir and Marron, the two neko thieves taking refuge in Asgard's palace thanks to Loki, sat silently in the safe room.
Both princes had visited earlier, apologizing that they couldn't stay long, but they would be busy with the ball all night. Both girls were rather down about the idea of their princes being gone all day… but there was nothing to be done about it. The girls could not go to the ball; there were too many Asgardians who might suspect something, and so they were to simply stay in their safe room all night.
"What do you think it would be like to go to a ball?" Marron asked softly.
Noir considered. "Oh… What's a royal ball? It would probably be frightfully dull, and… and boring, and completely…" She sighed sadly. "Completely wonderful…."
Both girls sighed in unison.
"I would have liked to go." Marron bit her lip.
"Me, too," Noir agreed.
In the ballroom, halfway across the palace from the safe room, the two princes of Asgard sat among the crowd. They had already fulfilled their duties: sitting and looking regal while the king made his drivelly speech of valor and honor in the realm… and blah, blah, blah. Both princes were thinking of the neko girls. But only one actually had any idea of how to remedy this stupid situation.
Loki waited for the guests to begin dancing, moving away from the feasting table. He glanced around. Couples were bunching together and moving to the dance floor, completely enveloped in themselves and not noticing the happenings around them. Carefully, the second prince of Asgard stood and began walking calmly and slowly to the door to the hall. He smiled to himself as he made it to the doors.
He had his own plan… he would much rather spend the evening in the girls' company than the formal, stuffy, pompous court of Asgard. And spending the evening in the girls' company was exactly what he planned to do. To merely… enjoy a night of simple pleasures. Casual conversation rather than the formal ones he was forced to have. To smile truly instead of forcing them. To perhaps teach Noir to dance… to hold one of her hands in his, while the other rested on her waist… He shook himself. No daydreaming. He edged out of the hall and took two steps in the direction of the safe room.
"Loki!" Thor's voice hissed from behind him.
Loki stopped dead and grimaced. "Blast…" he muttered under his breath. He slowly turned, putting on a face of neutrality. "Yes, Thor?" he asked flatly.
"You are leaving already?" Thor asked, following his younger brother.
Loki slowly nodded and turned to continue walking.
"Oh, good. I shall come with you."
Loki winced. Thor coming with him would ruin his plan. "Don't you think they'll notice if both princes of Asgard are missing?" he asked. "Perhaps you should go and keep up appearances."
Thor pulled a face. "I'd rather not. Where are you going?"
"Back to my room," Loki lied smoothly.
"Ah. I was thinking I would go visit Lady Noir and Lady Marron," Thor said brightly.
Loki groaned inwardly. "Maybe you should just go back to your room, Thor…"
"No, I'd rather not. I'd like to see Lady Marron—and Noir—tonight, as long as I'm not at the ball."
Loki sighed. "Thor…" He searched for something to say, but couldn't think of anything. He merely sighed and continued walking. Thor would either shove off or just find out for himself.
They walked in silence.
"Loki, you just missed the turn to your chambers," Thor said.
"Yes, and I'm not going to my chambers," Loki said grudgingly. "I'm going to the safe room."
"Ah, you are as well?" Thor smiled. "We shall visit them together, then?"
Loki shook his head. "No, Thor. I'm taking them to my chambers."
Thor blinked. "Um… Why?"
"Because, Thor…" Loki just shook his head. "You can come, I suppose…" He sighed. This was supposed to be something for just him and Noir and Marron… but there was no getting Thor to get off his back.
"Come? To what?"
"You'll see."
The girls looked up from their moping in the safe room as the door suddenly opened, and they saw both princes, dressed in fancy Asgardian tunics and capes and armor. They stepped in.
"Loki!" Noir jumped up.
"Thor!" Marron cried enthusiastically, scrambling to her feet.
"I thought you would be at the ball all night!"
"We were going to be…" Loki explained. He shrugged and smiled mischievously. "We snuck out. Now… I have a surprise for both of you." He paused and shot a look to his older brother. "All three of you, I suppose…" He beckoned to the girls.
Curious, they stepped forward.
"You'll need these…" he trailed off and waved his hand. "Good."
Noir and Marron gasped, gawking at each other. They were each wearing a gorgeous dress fit for a queen. Noir's was forest green laced with black, and Marron's was scarlet trimmed with gold.
Loki offered his arm to Noir with a smirk.
"What's… going on?" she asked incredulously as she carefully rested her hand on his arm.
"You'll see," he assured her. He then glanced to Thor and gave him a meaningful look. "Aren't you supposed to be a gentleman and offer your arm to a lady?" he asked mockingly, glancing to Marron.
"Loki, what is going on?" Thor asked curiously, then bowing to Marron and offering his arm.
"How many times do I have to tell you people… you'll see?" he asked in mock exasperation.
A few minutes later, Loki had led the group to his chambers. Loki detached himself from Noir and then stood with his back to the double doors of his room. He cleared his throat.
He surveyed the curious faces of Noir and Marron and Thor. "Well…. I had just planned for it to be Noir and Marron and me," he explained. "But… Thor, since you're here as well, I suppose I have to say lords, as well." He cleared his throat and in a grand voice mocking Odin's, he said, "Ladies and lords, I welcome you here tonight… and I pronounce this ball…" he flung open the doors to his room and gestured grandly. "Commenced."
Noir and Marron's mouths dropped open as they saw the interior of Loki's chambers. The sitting room was decorated with gold and silver banners and streamers, and the couches were gone. In their place was a square table with three chairs, laden with platters of food. The rest of the room was empty, like a ballroom. The dark wooden floors were gone, and so were the carpets. In their stead, there were white marble floors. The bookshelves had disappeared, revealing tall windows that showed the night sky. There was orchestral music playing, its source invisible. It seemed to emanate from everywhere at once, filling the air with its cadence.
Loki cleared his throat and gestured for the girls to enter, looking terribly smug and proud of himself. Wordless and stunned, the girls entered. Thor followed, his eyes just as wide, and mouth far more open than the girls'.
"Loki… you make it look as if you have taken a piece of the ballroom of the palace… and brought it here!" he said in awe.
"That was the plan," Loki smiled. "I thought… Lady Noir and Lady Marron should be able to enjoy their own ball, even if they can't go to the official one."
Noir turned to Loki after gaping at the room for another moment. "You did this for us?" she breathed in amazement.
She was surprised when she actually saw his cheeks brighten with a little color. "Er… why… yes. I did," he smiled sheepishly.
Thor's look of wonder suddenly disappeared, replaced with a mutinous glare. "…And you didn't invite me?!"
Loki scoffed. "No… I didn't."
"But why, brother?" Thor asked in an almost whiny voice.
Loki just shrugged, unwilling to say that he knew Thor would tease his younger brother for anything and everything, and draw the girls' attention constantly.
Thor opened his mouth to say something, but Marron spoke first.
"Thor, it doesn't matter… you made it here now, right?" she asked coaxingly.
Thor deflated. "But… he was going to just leave me alone at the ball…"
Marron shook her head. Thor sighed and nodded.
"Anyways…" Loki said awkwardly. "I thought we'd start with a feast." He nodded to the table. The girls excitedly skipped over to the table and took the seats across from each other. Loki headed to the head of the table and then paused, catching the look from Thor. Right. There were only three chairs at the table. Loki sighed and conjured up another chair, setting it on the unoccupied side of the table. Looking satisfied, Thor took it and sat.
Loki once again moved to sit at the head of the table and looked at his friends and brother. He cleared his throat and gestured to the platters of various foods. "Help yourselves," he smiled.
Surprisingly enough, the feast went rather well, though it was a little quiet. Noir and Loki were a little too nervous to talk openly, and Thor was too busy eating to talk much. The only conversation was mostly Loki answering questions about a dish the girls had never tried before, or Marron reminding Thor to please not make a mess.
Once everyone had eaten their fill, the four looked expectantly at each other, ending with Thor, Noir, and Marron looking expectantly at Loki. "So… now what?" Noir asked with a small smile. "What else happens at balls?"
Loki and Thor glanced at each other.
"Honestly, a lot of nothing," Loki said slowly. "Everyone is free to eat, talk, and dance all night to their own satisfaction."
Thor snapped his fingers. "Dancing." He abruptly stood and looked to Marron. "My dear Lady Marron, would you do me the honors of dancing with me?" he bowed to her and looked at her hopefully.
Noir giggled at Marron's bright red cheeks.
"Ah… er… yes, I'll dance with you, Thor," she stammered, taking Thor's hand and standing.
"Loki, you're controlling this music, aren't you?" Thor asked as he led Marron over to a clear area of the floor. "Play a good waltz for us, will you?"
Loki let out a sigh that only Noir could hear, and he furrowed his brows slightly, as if in thought. The music changed slightly, so that it was in triple-time for a dance.
Grinning, Thor took one of Marron's hands and placed the other carefully on her waist, while she placed her other hand on his shoulder, blushing as red as her dress.
Noir and Loki watched in silence as Thor began to clumsily instruct the neko girl how to dance properly. It took quite a little while for Thor to properly articulate what he meant, which foot to step when and where, and a few trodden-on toes for both Marron and Thor. Finally, though, they were dancing, chuckling, and smiling at each other self-consciously.
Noir giggled to herself, looking on at her best friend and Thor getting on so well. It was so sweet, she was sure she was getting a cavity just watching. She then glanced over to Loki, half-hopeful. But his eyes were also fixed on the dancing couple, though he was frowning bitterly. He propped his arm on the table and rested his chin on his hand with a sigh. "Stupid oaf," he mumbled under his breath mutinously.
Noir smiled wryly and cleared her throat a little.. Loki's eyes flicked to hers, as if he had almost forgotten. He smiled weakly. "Hello," he mumbled awkwardly, his eyes darting between Thor and Marron and Noir. "Um…"
Noir laughed lightly, but said nothing.
Loki glanced between the dancing couple and Noir again, looking very nervous. "Would… you… like… to…" he cleared his throat.
Noir leaned forward ever so slightly in expectancy.
"…help me clear all this away?" he finished in a stammer, nodding to the plates, platters, silverware, and goblets on the table.
Noir smiled slightly. He was too nervous, she could tell. That was a shame, really, but she wasn't totally surprised. She had seen the mutinous looks thrown at Thor all night: Loki was too uncertain in front of his older brother. "Certainly, Loki." They both stood, and Noir began to stack the empty plates and platters while Loki fumbled with the goblets and silver, internally berating himself. He could feel his heart pounding, and his face getting hot, and shame filled him. But he was really a bit terrified of dancing with Noir at the moment. It had seemed like such a brilliant idea when he had planned this little private ball.
But now, somehow, with the orchestral music playing and Noir before him in a ball gown, he had absolutely no courage to ask her to dance. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. He could tell, she had wanted him to ask her to dance. He wasn't quite sure what he thought of that. On one hand, he felt happiness and pride that she wanted to dance with him. On the other hand, though, he felt a little pressured. But she hadn't seemed too upset when he hadn't asked her.
But he was such an idiot… honestly. Asking her to help clear the table. What a dunce. He should have just asked her to dance. But another glance towards the dancing Thor and Marron made him reconsider. He would never hear the end of it from Thor if he danced with Noir. He glanced back to Noir when she cleared her throat quietly.
Noir held the complete stack of plates. "…What shall I do with them?"
"Here," he awkwardly took them from her and concentrated for a moment. In an instant, they disappeared with a small popping sound.
Noir giggled. "I didn't know you could do that," she observed.
Loki grinned and shrugged. "I can do a lot of things with magic." He gestured around the room. "I mean, all of this is just… magic."
Noir raised an eyebrow, looking around at the sparkling floors and golden banners. "All of this?"
"For the most part," he conceded. "My usual furniture was magicked away into a massless pocket of space, and the rest of it is a simple illusion."
Noir smiled. "I'm impressed."
Loki absentmindedly made the goblets and silverware disappear, too. "It's nothing, really," he said with exaggerated modesty.
Noir just shook her head. "You really shouldn't try to play the humble card, Loki. Modesty is terribly out of character for you, and feigning modesty only makes you more self-important."
Loki shrugged. "Ah, well. One can try to be humble, can't they?"
Noir just shook her head again, her eyes wandering over to Thor and Marron. Now the two were very close, talking quietly in hushed tones that Loki and Noir couldn't hear. Noir and Loki exchanged awkward looks, feeling like they shouldn't be watching the other pair.
"…I can show you other things I can do with magic," Loki offered, trying to find something to concentrate on besides Thor and Marron epitomizing exactly what Noir and Loki should have been doing. Loki really didn't want to think of how perfect Thor always was. He had ruined this night enough without just making Noir and him further awkward.
Noir forced a smile, tearing her eyes from Thor delicately twirling Marron in a circle and pulling her close again. "…Yes, I'd like to see more magic tricks," she said weakly.
Loki nodded towards the now-empty table, and Noir sat in her chair again. Loki dragged his own chair over to Noir's side and sat so that he sat facing Noir, and Noir faced him. Their knees bumped slightly, but neither of them minded much.
"So…" Loki gave Noir a trademark mischievous smirk and raised one eyebrow. "What would you like to see?"
"What are my options?" Noir asked slowly, fighting to not smile back.
"Oh, the options are infinite," Loki said impressively, spreading his hands to emphasize his point.
"Infinite, hmm?" Noir challenged.
Loki leaned forward slightly towards her. "Infinite," he affirmed with mock solemnity.
"See? This is far more like you; claiming you can do anything," Noir observed. "No more feigned modesty."
Loki scoffed. "If you insist. What would you like to see?"
"Well, I know you can create illusions," she recounted. "And I've seen you make things disappear… can you make things appear out of thin air?" she asked.
"Depends. Like what?" he asked, propping an elbow on the table next to them and leaning his head on his hand.
Noir tapped her chin in thought. "I don't know… perhaps… say, a gold coin."
Loki shrugged as if this was simple. He sat up straight, held out his empty hand, closed it into a fist, and opened it again to reveal a gold coin. He smirked in satisfaction at her impressed expression.
"What about…" Noir seemed to think for a moment.
"A flower?" Loki suggested.
Noir tipped her head to one side. "Sure, a flower."
Loki closed his hand again, and the gold coin disappeared. He then narrowed his eyes slightly, and a white rose appeared in his hand. With a half-smile, he held it out to Noir, who blushed..
"Such a gentleman," she gushed sardonically.
Loki laughed at her sarcastic declaration and shook his head.
"Can you stop time with magic?" Noir asked suddenly.
Loki tilted his head. "…Perhaps. But it would be extremely complicated and difficult. If it is possible, then it is beyond me. I would not know how."
Noir smiled drily. "That's a shame. I should like time to stop and to simply stay right here, forever," she murmured, twirling the white rose between her thumb and forefinger.
Neither of them spoke for a moment, glancing nervously between the floor and each other.
And unfortunately for them all, time did continue passing. Thor and Marron continued dancing, intermittently talking quietly and relapsing into silence. Noir and Loki pointedly avoided looking at the other two, resuming discussing Loki's magic. Soon Noir was surrounded by small trinkets that Loki had conjured, and an illusion of a songbird sat twittering on the table. Loki and Noir themselves were continuously giggling and talking animatedly, making suggestions or questions or explanations, making or accepting challenges, and lost in their teasing affection.
"Noir? Loki?" Marron's voice broke the atmosphere.
Noir quickly stopped laughing, and Loki hastily let the conjured snake slithering between his fingers disappear. Both of them looked up to see Marron and Thor standing there, smiling but obviously tired. Marron was the more tired of the two, leaning slightly on Thor, who had an arm around her shoulders.
"I'm really tired, and my feet hurt," Marron announced plaintively. "Are we going to go back to the safe room soon? I…" she broke off and yawned here. "…I really want to just go to bed."
Noir and Loki exchanged looks. They had hardly noticed how late it had become, and that Thor and Marron had been dancing for coming on two or three hours.
"Did you have anything else planned for this little ball of yours, brother, or shall the girls go back to their room?" Thor prompted.
"Er…" Loki glanced at Noir. He certainly wasn't ready to say good night just yet.
"…I'm not tired yet," Noir put in quietly, noticing Loki's reluctance as well. "But if you're tired, Marron…" she glanced at Loki. "I mean, we can go back to…"
Loki sighed. "I suppose we could…"
Thor quickly picked up on Loki and Noir's hesitation. "I've an idea. I'll take Marron to the safe room and tuck her in. Then you two can…" he gestured to the myriad evidences of Noir and Loki's fooling around (various flowers, rings, figurines, and other such things). "Continue talking."
Loki and Noir both threw him a grateful look, and Thor smiled slightly and nodded.
"Can we go?" Marron asked sleepily, her eyes drifting halfway shut.
"Of course. Let's go," Thor murmured to her affectionately, and led her to the door and out of the room.
Noir and Loki glanced at each other again.
"Well, they seem to have gotten… oddly close," Loki remarked.
Noir hummed in agreement. "Awfully risqué, you know… Thor, taking Marron to 'tuck her into bed.'" She wiggled her eyebrows and accentuated her words with air quotes.
Loki bit his lip to hold back his amusement.
The neko girl leaned forward slightly, and in a mock-horrified whisper, she said, "Scandalous."
Loki smirked, then snickered. Then he chuckled. And then he just burst into laughter, leaning his elbows on his knees and shaking with mirth.
Noir smiled slightly, but gave Loki an odd look. "…It's not that funny, Loki…"
Loki looked up, still grinning. "Noir… it's…" he sniggered. "Scandalous."
Noir stared at him, blinking blankly. Then she cracked a smile. "Mmhmm…"
Loki shook his head. "Do you realize, that's the first time that word hasn't been directed towards something I've done? Finally I can laugh at it rather than blush."
Noir thought about this idea briefly. Then she giggled as well. "That is so strange," she whispered, looking at him with bright eyes.
The two giggled for another moment before returning to silence. Carefully, Loki reached out and placed his hand on top of Noir's. Her heart jumped up into her throat. "In all seriousness, though… I'm kind of glad they're gone."
Noir's eyes flicked towards the closed door. "Are you? Why?"
Loki glanced away and shrugged, removing his hand from Noir's. Both were silent for a long moment as Noir bit her lip, wondering if she had said something, and Loki simply kicked himself internally again. "…Because it always seems like we can never talk when they're around."
Noir shrugged and nodded. "Or anything else, for that matter."
"…Were you disappointed when I didn't ask you to dance?" Loki finally asked quietly.
Noir looked up at him in surprise. Was that what he was so awkward about all night? Thor and Marron dancing, and Loki not asking her? The thought amused her slightly. He still wasn't meeting her eyes, choosing instead to focus off somewhere towards the corner of the room. "Well… no, not disappointed," Noir said dilatorily. "I mean, I don't know how to dance… so it would have been a bit of an embarrassment, really, with us stepping all over each other's feet."
Loki's eyes flicked to meet hers, a hard glint of determination in them. "I highly doubt that. I'm too careful to step on your toes, and you're too coordinated and agile to step on mine."
Noir smiled slightly. "I don't know, Loki. I'm fairly sure… why, I'm willing to bet you that you couldn't teach me to dance."
Loki smirked, knowing exactly what she was doing. But he didn't mind it… not in the least. In fact, he was rather glad it had come up like this. "Challenge accepted," he raised an eyebrow at her. "And what, Noir, do you bet me? If I win and teach you to properly dance, what shall I win?"
Noir smiled coyly. "Oh, I don't know. What would you like, Prince Loki?"
Loki looked at her carefully, considering. She didn't have much to offer him if he won this bet. His eyes wandered over her face for a moment, and he leaned forward conspiratorially. "Perhaps, Lady Noir, I should win a kiss from you."
Noir immediately flushed pink in the cheeks, but her eyes twinkled with mischief and her lips quirked up at the corners in a smile. "And you wonder why we always tease and call you scandalous, Loki," she murmured.
Loki laughed a little at this, sitting back self-consciously.
"But I accept your terms," Noir added. "If you can properly teach me to dance tonight, then you win a kiss."
"And what if I lose?" Loki asked quickly. "If I can't properly teach you to dance, I suppose I'll have to give you a kiss?"
Noir laughed. "Oh, Loki…"
The prince was smiling hugely, but was also blushing. But for some reason, he suddenly felt rather bold. Perhaps Noir giggling and smiling at the idea had bolstered his confidence. After all, she hadn't rebuked him.
"You're acting silly," Noir informed him, though her stern words didn't match her suppressed smile.
Loki shrugged helplessly. "What do you say, though? Is it a deal?"
Noir sighed, looking down at her hands in her lap. Did she really want to commit to this silly idea? Whether Loki taught her to dance or not, there was only one outcome. Not that the outcome was necessarily a bad one. Quite the opposite, actually. Noir kind of liked the circumstances: whether she won or lost, she would still win something. Smiling sheepishly, she held out her hand. "Deal."
Loki shook her hand, feigning solemnity through his mischievous smirk. "Then a deal is struck. Now. Prepare to be instructed to dance." He stood and pulled Noir to her feet. They found themselves face to face as they stood, and Loki was almost tempted to close the distance then and there. Noir almost wanted to rise on tiptoe to bring herself just an inch or two closer to his lips, but she didn't.
A smile fixed on his face, Loki led Noir over to a clear spot in the expansive room, and he cleared his throat.
"So…" he began. "We must start with the correct hand and foot placement. If I take your hand…" he laced the fingers of her right hand with his left. "And you put your other hand…" he guided her left arm to rest gently against his right upper arm, her hand trembling ever so slightly as it lay on his shoulder. "And my right hand goes… here" he finished in a quiet voice, carefully settling his hand just below her left shoulder blade, almost on her waist.
Noir felt a slight thrill go through her as Loki's hand rested gently against her back, and she felt herself start to go pink again as her face got hot.
"Noir, we're going to have to stand a little closer," he added in a hushed voice, shifting forward a little as he tugged her towards him. Now there were only six inches between them, and Noir was positive Loki could hear her heart thudding. But in actuality, he couldn't hear hers over his own, pounding hard against the inside of his ribcage.
"And now?" Noir asked nervously.
"And now…" Loki paused as if for effect, but really he was trying to remember the steps. Having Noir so close, one hand laced with his and the other on his shoulder, was unbelievably distracting. "We dance. Just listen to the music for a moment. Hear the beat?"
The orchestral triple-time music had been playing nonstop for hours on end, but Noir hadn't paid much mind to its beat. Bum bum bum, bum bum bum, bum bum bum. The main beat came in threes, with emphasis on the first. She looked up at Loki and nodded. "I hear it," she replied.
"On that first beat, I step forward with my left foot. You will step back with your right, at the same time," he explained quietly. "On the second beat, you will step back and to the…" he paused and considered, having to flip the directions around in his head. "You shall step back and to the left, with your left foot, while I step forward and to the right with my right foot."
"Would you stop talking so quietly?" Noir asked in a whisper, smiling weakly. His soft tone, reminiscent of telling her a secret, was making her jittery.
He paused and gave her a quick once-over. He smirked as he realized he was making her nervous just by talking quietly. He let out a breath of laughter and leaned close, whispering in Noir's ear. "Sorry," he breathed. "I'm nervous, too." He pulled back and took a deep breath, trying to not be overly distracted by Noir's trembling hands and bashful smile.
He cleared his throat again, and in a slightly louder voice, said, "So after you step back and to the left with your left foot," he explained. "You bring your right foot over, so you're back with your feet together. Then we're going to repeat the steps, but so that you step forward with your left foot, and I step back with my right. Then you step forward and to the right with your right. Then bring your feet back together. Then we turn slightly, and continue the same way."
Noir took a deep breath, repeating the steps in her head. "Okay," she let out her breath.
"I hope you were listening, because we've got a lot riding on you learning to properly dance," Loki reminded her.
Noir laughed. "I think you'll be happy whether you win or lose."
"Yes, but if I win, then we won't have sore feet by the end of the night," Loki observed. "So. Shall we begin?"
Noir bit her lip and looked down, listening to the music and trying to keep track of when she would have to take each step. "I suppose."
Loki removed his hand from Noir's back and touched her chin, lifting her face to look at him. "Don't look at the floor, whatever you do," he instructed. "Alright?"
Slowly, Noir nodded, and Loki replaced his hand on her back. Then, it seemed, without any perceptible signal, Loki stepped forward with his left foot just as Noir stepped back with her right. Then back and to the left for Noir, and forward and to the right for Loki. Then bring both feet back together.
Noir let out a quiet breath of relieved laughter.
"Not too hard, right?" Loki asked, smiling with something like pride. "Then the same thing, in reverse."
"Hang on," Noir said. "I step forward with my right or left?"
"Left," Loki answered promptly. "And I step back with my right. Got it?"
Noir nodded briskly. "I think so, yes." She gave Loki a bright smile. "You're a good teacher, Loki," she murmured.
Loki swallowed, feeling his face get hot and his mind go blank of any possible response. Instead of saying anything, he just let out a light scoff and shrugged a little. Then Noir stepped forward as Loki stepped back, and then Noir stepped forward and to the right, and Loki stepped back and to the left. Then it appeared they were right back where they had begun.
"And that's all there is to it," Loki gently squeezed her right hand, laced with his left. "We turn slightly, and continue. Nothing to it, hmm?"
Noir nodded slowly. "Again, then? And this time, no pausing?"
Loki nodded. And he stepped forward, and Noir stepped back. They completed the steps, turned slightly, and began again without even any hesitation.
"It's actually rather simple," Noir commented as they continued on. "When Thor was teaching Marron, it took far longer for him to explain."
Loki smirked. "Thor isn't very good at explaining things. Very imprecise, do you know what I mean?"
Noir nodded. "Precision would be an important thing, wouldn't it?"
"Mmhmm," Loki answered absentmindedly, eyes focused on Noir's. His mind, however, was reveling in the fact that he had successfully taught Noir to dance. Which meant he had won their little bet. And the realization had his heart almost jumping out of his chest.
There was silence for a few moments as they merely continued.
"Is this really all there is to this?" Noir asked in disbelief.
"Yes, it is. Why? Had you been hoping for something a little more complicated?" he queried.
Noir hummed and shook her head quickly, their feet still moving in time with the music as they talked. "It's just… well, you know, Thor was twirling Marron and all. I thought there might be some trick or timing to that," she explained.
Loki shrugged. "It's not particularly a conventional move in the classic dance, but more of a…" he tilted his head to the side, as if searching for the right word. "Superfluous piece."
Noir smiled wryly. "Ah. I see."
Silence except for the music.
"You want to learn, don't you?" Loki sighed.
Noir giggled. "I think it looks like fun, Loki."
Loki looked at her carefully and then nodded. Noir gave him an expectant look, waiting for instruction. But he said nothing, and merely smirked at her as they continued in their stepping. Forward and right, back and left. Turn. Forward and right, back and left. Turn. Forward and right, back and—
Loki, in one movement, removed his right hand from Noir's waist and raised his left hand, twirling Noir into a spin, then pulling her back towards him.
"Whoa!" Noir nearly stumbled as Loki pulled her back to him, so that she could step forward with her left foot while he stepped back with his right. But Noir tripped slightly and fell against him. Loki quickly wrapped his right arm around her waist to balance her while his left still held her right. Noir clutched at the fabric at Loki's shoulder to keep herself upright. She quickly repositioned her feet and let out an embarrassed breath. "S-sorry," Noir gasped out, starting to draw back from Loki.
Loki let her draw back about an inch before holding his arm firm so she couldn't move any farther from him. "It's… it's okay," he murmured.
Noir looked up at him and smiled nervously. "Can… we… continue?"
He nodded and loosened his grip on her, but she didn't draw away. Instead, she straightened, but she still stood standing against him. His heart quickened, and he swallowed. His arm stayed wrapped around her waist, and they initiated the dance again.
Now Noir wasn't the only one trembling slightly. Loki's heartbeat felt faster than a hummingbird's wings, and with Noir so close, he was sure she could tell. But if she knew just how tense he felt, she made no sign of it. His eyes didn't leave hers once, until it almost became a staring contest, searching for something in each other's eyes as their bodies went through the motions of the waltz.
Noir felt butterflies flitting around her stomach, making her feel even more anxious than before as she looked up at Loki. The idea that she now owed Loki a kiss was rather heart-stopping and mind-boggling. But… that wasn't why she was doing this. She was doing this because she wanted to be close to Loki. And… here she was, his body touching hers slightly as they stood.
At the same moment, they both realized that they had stopped dancing. Their feet no longer automatically stepped forward and right, and back and left. Neither of them was sure when they had stopped, but neither said anything. They continued to be still, looking at each other with a kind of anticipation.
Loki took in a deep breath, and then hesitantly muttered, "Noir, I win."
She let out a quiet breath she hadn't realized she was holding, and glanced away. "I—I know. I—I owe you now."
Loki couldn't help but smile slightly in triumph. He had just won a kiss from Chatte Noir Voleuse. Now all that was left…
Noir glanced up at him, smiling bashfully. "This is so stupid, Loki," she whispered.
He quirked an eyebrow and shrugged very minutely. "You agreed, didn't you?"
Noir giggled. "Yes. Yes, I did." She slipped her right hand out of his left and carefully rested it on his shoulder, so now both her hands were on either of his shoulders. Still blushing horribly, and hardly able to suck in a breath, she rose up on tiptoe.
Feeling his heart on the brink of explosion, Loki leaned down slightly as well. Their eyes met when they were about three inches apart.
Boom!
The doors to Loki's chambers were thrown open, and Loki and Noir immediately scrambled away from each other as Thor dashed inside.
"Loki! Lady Noir! I—" Thor broke off, observing the situation. He blinked, realizing what he had just interrupted. "Ah… I… Uh…" He trailed off, merely staring between the pair in green, both of which had their arms crossed and very red faces. Thor cleared his throat awkwardly.
"What the blazes do you want, Thor?" Loki snapped angrily, utterly disbelieving that he and Noir had just been interrupted. Honestly. What were the odds? They had been that close…
"Erm, Loki. We need to take Lady Noir back to the safe room… immediately. Father and Mother are on their way here at this very moment. They realized that both of us had left the ball, and they think you're up to some trick or another," Thor said urgently, beckoning for the two to come.
"Blast it," Loki growled. "How do you know, Thor?"
"I was on my way back to my chambers, and Fandral came looking for me," the older brother explained quickly. "He said that Mother and Father were just closing down the ball so they could come looking for us… and they would likely be coming to your room."
"Bloody fantastic," Noir huffed, walking over to Thor. "Very well. Off to the safe room, then?"
Loki grumbled to himself, snapping his fingers and waving his hands. The music stopped, and the marble floors were replaced with the hardwood and rugs again. The silver and gold banners strung around the room vanished, and now the room was back to normal, except for the still-missing bookshelves and couches. "And I'll get the rest of it back in order in a little while," he muttered bitterly, huffing and marching over to Noir and Thor, who were looking around the transformed room with slightly-widened eyes. "Come on," Loki mumbled, beckoning. "We haven't got much time if Mother and Father are closing down the ball now. We've got to get you back to the safe room as quickly as possible."
"Er… I'll wait a few halls down, and I'll distract them and buy you a little more time," Thor offered, glancing between Loki and Noir with a slight smirk. "You go ahead." He strode briskly off in the opposite direction while the other two sighed.
"We'd better go," Noir murmured, nodding down the hall towards the safe room.
Loki nodded glumly. "Yeah." He shoved his hands into his pockets and started down the hall, a sour expression on his face.
Noir caught up to him quickly and walked at his side, biting her lip and twiddling her fingers. Neither of them spoke. Noir's brow furrowed. "Loki?"
"Hmm?" he grunted, turning down the hall and continuing without looking at her.
"…I… had a nice night," she murmured hesitantly. "I think the little private ball was a fun idea. It was really nice."
He let out a breath of tired exasperation. "Didn't go as well as I had hoped," he said indistinctly. He said something else under his breath about "stupid Thor" and "dancing" and "bet" and "interruptions."
The corner of Noir's lips quirked up in the hint of a smile, and she touched his elbow gently. He immediately paused and glanced at her in question. "Loki, it was really fun," she whispered in assurance. His eyes remained on her face for another moment, taking in her tiny smile and gentle eyes. Then the neko girl let out an embarrassed breath. "Come on. We should go before Thor has to start juggling and dancing to distract your parents." She took another few steps down the hall, and soon both of them stopped in front of the door to the safe room.
Loki glanced between Noir and the door to the safe room. "Suppose… I'll see you tomorrow," he said slowly.
She nodded silently. "And you should get back to your room so the king and queen don't get too suspicious."
Loki nodded in agreement. Still neither of them made a move, eyes fixed on each other.
"…You have to open the door for me, Loki," Noir laughed shakily. "What with the spell on the door handle and all."
Loki nodded numbly and placed his hand on the doorknob. "Well… good night, then… Noir." He slowly started to pull the door open, but he paused when Noir spoke again.
"Postponement on your winnings for the bet?" she asked hopefully. "I'll… I'll make sure you get your prize. At a more opportune time."
A smile spread across Loki's face at the idea. "Deal. I'll see you tomorrow. Maybe then I'll get my award."
"Maybe," Noir said teasingly. Then she gestured for Loki to open the door a little further, which he did. "Good night, Loki," she raised her hand in farewell and slipped inside.
"'Night," he muttered, but the door was already closing. He let out a long breath, feeling something a little like hope somewhere in his heart. But for now he would have to hurry back to his room and convince Odin and Frigga that all was well, and he had not just been holding a private ball for two young neko girls.
And then he could look forward to whatever was to come next, whatever it may be.
Note from LoquaciousQuibbler: Well, there you have it. This is so much cuter and nicer than the way the actual ball went, huh? Oh, well. I hope we're all appreciating the fact that now there's no Blanc, no Rouge, and no Noir Soir. Things are so much simpler and cute in the alternate universe of oneshot spin-offs... *nods* Well, it is indeed way longer than I had originally planned… hmm…
So what'd you guys think of it? I had an internal debate raging on of whether or not Thor should come, so I had him kinda accidentally force himself into it… and then we had Thor and Marron dancing while Noir and Loki felt terribly awkward, but they still managed to have their moment, too. I actually did a search online of how to waltz, because I wanted it to be accurate when Loki was teaching Noir. And still no freaking kiss. I so badly wanted to make it happen, you guys… but something inside me just said "You can't have their first kiss in a one-shot before they even have a kiss in the 'cannon' story." So, no. No smooches for Noir and Loki yet ;P
I was thinking of doing another version of this oneshot… and have it be from Marron and Thor's point of view, you know. You know, have a little insight as to what they were talking about during their dance, and what happened after those two left Loki and Noir alone.
OH! AND WE HAD THE RETURN OF SCANDALOUS! AND FOR ONCE, IT WAS NOT ABOUT LOKI! I realized some time ago… practically every time we've had that running gag of "scandalous!" it has been directed at Loki. And just for once…
Okay, I'm realizing how long I'm making this freaking note… :P Here's an idea. I'll stop.
Let me know what you think of this, and tell me if you think I should do a Thorron version of The Royal Ball.
Also, tell me if you've got any other ideas for Banditry one-shots.