A/N: We recommend listening to "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" by John Mayer.

"I suppose the council decided the best song for the dance would be John Mayer's Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, so we'll have to train you with that beat!' Arthur concluded.

The Brit led Alfred into the room and set up the audio system that the Student Council Room had. Once everything was set, he walked over to Alfred and held his hands, beckoning him to sway to the beat of the song.

"Step one to dancing is to figure out the beat. The DJs will give some allowance of time for everyone to assemble on the dance floor, so make use of that," Arthur advised. "I suppose if you feel a little nervous or odd during the dance you could just start off at the corner of the dance floor."

"Ri-right. Erm..." Alfred focused on the music as he tried to get the beat, but the song was so different from the loud and fast music he usually listen to, making it a lot harder than he thought.

He ended up possibly wriggling about like an intoxicated penguin.

"First question, are you dancing with a lady?" Arthur asked. You'd never know what to expect.

"How am I supposed to know?" Alfred sighed. "I've never thought of a dance partner since I've never thought of actually learning how to dance and going to the ball, you know..."

In fact, this was his first time dancing, but he decided to leave that out.

"Hmm...If that's the case I shall assume you're taking a lady," Arthur concluded.

"Alright. Basically you place one hand on your lady's hip," Arthur positioned Alfred's hand to his own hip, ignoring the awkwardness.

"You lady will have a hand rested on your shoulder," Arthur proceeded to do as he had explained. The next part was a little awkward. The thought made Arthur blush.

"And then the other hands hold each other, like this." Arthur showed Alfred. "The interlocked hands are to be lifted to shoulder level."

Alfred almost jumped when his hand was put on Arthur's waist. He could see that Arthur didn't mind it as much as he did. In fact, Arthur was literally ignoring how awkward it was. He took a deep breath.

Just a lesson Alfred, now stop being so childish and learn it properly.

And he thought that it would work.

When Arthur placed his hand on Alfred's shoulder, Alfred thought it was still okay and he's probably getting the hang of things. But the next requirement really got him.

As Arthur instructed him, their hands interlocked. And he swore, the moment their hands met, his heart almost jumped out of his chest. Awkwardness aside, he was just extremely nervous.

The distance between them was short, and even though they were hugging just a moment ago, the little bit of space between them now was making it hard to breathe.

Alfred decided to look down at the ground, as he counted his heartbeat and tried to calm down.

Relax. It's just a dance lesson. Just a lesson...

For some reason, the statement he used to calm himself down had also unknowingly planted a shard of disappointment in him.

This was just a lesson, and Arthur's probably already had a dance partner. On the day of the ball, he won't be dancing with Arthur.

"Last part is to just take small steps and sway naturally," Arthur finished. They swayed together to the beat of the music. Ah, what a beautiful piece of music. Yet it just had to depict the sadness of a heartbreak.

Was that what he was feeling in his heart now? A Heartbreak?

Heartbroken because he knew Alfred would just forget him soon?

Heartbroken because he'd be watching Alfred dance with another girl on at the ball?

The distance between them was slight. It reminded him of their earlier emotional embrace. He looked up at Alfred. The American seemed distracted and slightly uncomfortable. Arthur frowned and spaced themselves a little.

Oh well. The moment was beautiful while it lasted.

As they continued the step-by-step dance lesson, Alfred kept looking at the ground, fearing that should their eyes lock, his heart might actually leap out of his chest.

But when Arthur took a step backwards and widened the distance between them, he felt as if something in him just fell down a cliff. Just a moment ago, he was dying for a bit more space, but when Arthur did give him some, he felt disappointed.

But it was for both their good, right?

After all, the distance between them during the real ball would be even greater.

He sneaked a look at Arthur's face and felt his heart pricked when he saw the frown returning to his face. But there's more to the frown this time. There was disappointment.

Alfred didn't think he could take it anymore.

"L-let's have a break, shall we?" He stuttered, trying to act like his normal cheerful self and pointed at the wall clock. "It's already 10 pm."

"Y-Yeah," Arthur replied, trying so hard to keep disappointment out of his voice. Alfred sounded like he was afraid. Of me mostly likely.

Maybe he had reasons to. Everyone was afraid of him anyway. Who knows, a few hours down the road, Arthur would be lonely again.

The Brit walked over to the sound system and switched it off, then forcing a smile at Alfred.

You walk a lonely road, Arthur. A road no one has walked before.

Alfred sat down on the couch and pat at the empty spot beside him, motioning for Arthur to sit down. He figured that as long he doesn't make eye contact, he would be able to keep calm.

Besides, Arthur looked too sad when he's alone.

Alfred wondered if he could hug Arthur again. Just to assure the other that he's still here.

With that thought, he stood up, reached out, and pulled Arthur to sit beside him. And the two did, for a moment, just sat beside each other in silence. Alfred held on to Arthur's hand.

Just for now, he thought, let me hold his hand

Because on the day itself, someone else would be dancing with Arthur, someone so much better than me.

Arthur felt warmth returning to him, the sadness and loneliness from previously felt dejection melting away with their interlocked fingers. He just wanted to pause right here, right now, and stay here forever.

But time was cruel. It moved on.

But for now Arthur thought as he slowly intertwined his fingers with Alfred's. Let me hold his hand.

The silence between them got Alfred thinking. They've spent time together, not long, but somewhat quality time. But now that he thought of it, he didn't actually know much about Arthur.

"So uhh..." Alfred broke the silence as he changed his position a little so he could look at Arthur. Heck, he's not going to care about avoiding eye contact anymore. For all he knows, everything might be gone after tonight, and he's going to make good use of the night.

"What do you like to do? You know, as a hobby."

Alfred bit on the inner wall of his cheeks at how horrible a question he had asked. But it was a start...sort of.

Arthur raised his eyebrows at the sudden question. He smiled a little and looked at his lap, where his free hand rested.

"Promise me you won't laugh..." Arthur tried to sound intimidating, 'tried' being the keyword here.

Alfred shrugged. "Promise."

Arthur felt his cheeks burn with the intensity of a thousand burning suns. "Embroidery," he muttered, barely moving his lips. He took interest in his calloused hand on his lap, waiting for the American to laugh his head off.

"Embroidery? Like, the one you sew patterns on cloth and stuff?" Alfred clarified, trying hard not to notice how cute Arthur was acting.

"I-It's more practical than playing video games all the time okay!" Arthur retorted. It's a wonder how his face wasn't on fire already.

"Hey, chill." Alfred let out a chuckle at how defensive Arthur became. "Embroidery is hard core okay. It takes like ten million years of patience to finish one small design. If anything, I think people who actually enjoy embroider are amazing."

He paused.

"What's wrong with video games anyway? That takes skills too you know. "

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "How do video games require skill?"

"Of course it does! Have you ever played one before? Video games are amazing okay, and you need to be super good to stay alive in some of them." Alfred explained; talking about his hobby had almost literally installed a new core in him as he enthusiastically explained things to his newfound friend.

Arthur felt like giggling. He felt like a 13-year-old girl experiencing an infatuation for the first time. It wasn't his fault. Alfred was really…adorable being so hyper. At least for once the random rambling was adorable. Arthur took time to appreciate the moment. Alfred's eyes were sparkling. Oh what a beautiful shade of blue! And that smile. How it made Arthur himself want to smile with him. The room seemed so much brighter now.

Alfred was just about to start talking about how shooting in video games needed extreme accuracy when he noticed Arthur's expression. Arthur was looking at him with a small, but warm smile. His emerald green eyes were quite big for a male, and they shone with life under the soft moonlight.

Before he knew it, he'd gone silent, completely enchanted by Arthur.

It took a while before Arthur realised that they were making direct eye contact, regarding each other with such an… endearing? Was that the word? Yes endearing gaze. His cheeks were about to combust into flames, but he couldn't care less.

All that seemed important now was how beautiful Alfred looked.

Completely lost in each other's eyes, the two didn't notice a thing as their faces came closer to each other, as if drawn by an invisible force called love.

The air around them took a standstill and it was as if the world had kept quiet for the two and their little moment. Before they knew it, their face were closer than ever, and just when their lips were about to meet. A shrill sound cut across the air and immediately snapped the two out of their trance.

The two, as if they've awoken from a dream, noticed how close they were and almost leaned back at the same time. Alfred looked away, ignored his burning cheeks, and took his ringing phone out of his pocket. It was from Matt

Arthur looked away. The hand that held Alfred's felt scorching hot, just like his cheeks.

God, what was he thinking?

Was he seriously in love with Alfred?

Alfred on the other hand, pressed the answer button and pressed the phone to his ear, turning to mouth a sorry to Arthur. He had no idea why he had to say sorry, but he just had the feeling that he needed to.

"Yes Matt I am sorry I didn't call early- you don't have to worry about me. What could happen to the hero anyway." ... Well maybe a few hours ago a stapler in the hands of a certain British boy could have murdered him.

"Yeah... I umm... Long story short I got locked in the school and now I'm taking dance classes."

As he spoke, he wondered about the feeling he had just now. It felt like he was being hit by a jolt of lightning, and electricity was just passing through him, making him numb yet.. He couldn't quite understand or explain how it felt like. But in that moment, every part of him was sure that he's in love.

He's in love with no one but the person sitting beside him, who threatened to kill him with a staple just a few hours ago.

"Yes, dancing classes." He replied Matt, who sounded extremely confused. "Look, I'll explain later, alright? Oh and do me and help me tell mum and dad. Yes I'll stay alive thank you for asking. Nights."

With that, he ended the call and put his phone on silent mode, just in case... Just in case what? Alfred shook his head a little and turned his phone back to normal mode.

Arthur scooted a little further away from Alfred. Goddammit, what was that weird feeling?

What was that electric shock?

Was he really head over heels over someone he had tried to murder a few hours ago?

No.

Yes.

Maybe?

He needed some air.

"I…erm…need to use the washroom," he said lamely, before dashing out.

Breathe, Arthur breathe.

"Oh, ermm... See you later?" Before he could finish his sentence, Arthur had already disappeared down the corridor. For a second, he wondered if he should follow Arthur. It was already dark, and the empty school could be pretty creepy...

Well to him it was.

He sat back on the couch and made himself at home as he counted the seconds Arthur's been gone. But all the action earlier on combined with his lack of dinner and extra laps had drained quite a lot of energy, and that every fact's came back to haunt him.

Before he knew it, he drifted to sleep on the couch.

"Breathe."

Arthur splashed water onto his face. He was almost disappointed when it didn't sizzle, given what had happened in there.

…whatever that was.

"Arthur!"

"Flying Mint Bunny! Have you come to cheer me up?"

The flying green rabbit nodded her head and flew in circles around Arthur, leaving a trail of shimmery sparkles.

"Aww you're such a dear!" Arthur smiled.

"NEIGHHHH!"

Arthur looked up. The whole gang of magical friends were gathered together. He couldn't help but smile. Uni rubbed her nose against the Brit, making him chuckle.

"Stop that! It tickles!" Arthur laughed.

"What seems to be the problem? Why so glum?" A fairy in a red dress asked.

Arthur's face fell into a sad smile. "Love I suppose?"

A mutual silence fell upon the group. They had heard Arthur's conversation with Scott. As his guardians, they had to know.

"Cheer up Arthur! Love at first sight can happen. It's just like when a mother looks at her child and embraces the beauty and loves it!" A troll chirped

All the fairies stopped and glared at the green troll that mentioned it. Arthur's face fell as bad memories engulfed him, wrapping him in a dark pit.

"You shouldn't be sad, silly." A fairy consoled as she flew to give Arthur a peck on the nose.

"To be able to love someone is a blessing and the little struggles while you wait for your feelings to be returned, that's a surprise. And if your feelings are returned, then it's a present. You should be happy, Arthur."

Arthur smiled a little, though everyone saw how strained it looked. How could they not read him life a book, they had watched him grow up.

"Alright lads! 'Tis night be dandy and fine, but alas all good things must come to an end. Let's all go get some shut eye, yes?" Arthur choked out. His eyes were watering.

Everyone nodded as Arthur stood up and walked back to the Student Council room.

Arthur walked into the room, finding Alfred unmoving on the couch. Bad memories struck him. He raced towards the American to get a closer look. A dreadful feeling of Déjà vu washed over him.

NO IM NOT LOSING—oh

Alfred was sound asleep, chest rising up and down at a slow but steady rate.

No blood.

Not dead.

Thank God.

Arthur sat down next to him and ran a hand through the other boy's hair. The silly teen left his glasses on. Arthur carefully took them off and set them on the table. He took the blanket from the emergency box on the table.

He walked back to the couch and draped the blanket over Alfred.

He looked so adorable, that Alfred. Arthur allowed himself a little chuckle.

His own eyelids felt droopy but before he lay down on the couch next to Alfred, he couldn't resist…

He leant down and kissed Alfred's forehead, smiling bitter sweetly.

"Sweet dreams, love."

A/N: I hope you've enjoyed this. Both Koko and I were convulsing in the feels the dance part was giving us. But seriously, perhaps in a extremely technical way, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room is slightly inappropriate, however I feel that this song is about things not working out no matter how hard you try, which is basically what both men are thinking.

Alrighty, this is a long chapter, but thanks for sticking through it! We'll upload more soon~

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See you guys next chapter!

- Kuma