As we glided into the room, I saw Puck and Glitch chatting, already dressed in tuxedoes. Or should I say, I saw Puck annoying the hell out of Glitch. When they realized we were here, they stood up from their armchairs. I expected Puck to go to Meghan since he knew her more than me, and for Glitch to escort me, but when Puck's eyes landed on us, he took long strides and stopped right infront of me.
Of course he greeted Meghan, but it was like his eyes were permantly glued to me. I shuffled my feet as Puck scanned me, making me uncomfortable.
Glitch and Meghan walked into the ball before us, not bothered that Puck was going to excort me. Puck offered me his elbow. "My lady?"
I smiled softly, and somewhat shyly as I took it. Wait a minute. Since when am I shy? Before we entered the ballroom, Puck whispered in my ear, causing me to jump slightly in suprise. "You look completely amazing tonight. No one else in the room will be able to compare," he whispered in a husky voice. My eyes started to blink furiously. Is this real?
Before I could respond, he gently tugged on my hand, and led me into the ballroom that was filled with all the fey of the Seelie Court. I saw Meghan heading toward her father for their meeting. Glitch had already disappeared somewhere.
I felt Puck's hand pull me onto the dance floor. The music was hypnotizing, and upbeat. It made me want to dance and never stop, but I had faced this kind of music before, and I controlled my body. When we got onto the dance floor and stopped in the center, a slow song started to play. What a coincidence.
Puck bowed deeply, but never lost eye-contact with me. "Shall we dance?"
I curtsied in a manner that I hoped was elegant, and responded. "We shall." Then we set off.
Puck was an amazing dancer. We twirled all around the dance floor, passing other couples. Spinning and dipping, we never lost the rhythm to the music. We ended the song with me in a low dip, my back and neck were arching back gracefully, and with Puck's hands supporting me, helping me keep my balance.
After a few moments in that pose, Puck brought me back up slowly. As I was pressed softly against his chest, I could feel our hearts beating irratically. Our breathing was also slightly irregular.
I stared into his glittering emerald eyes. A soft smile graced his face, far from his usual taunting smirk. I beamed back, showing my white teeth. His eyes twinkled as he led me to a table where we could rest. Some servants came to us and left on the table two plates of deliciously steaming food. We attacked our food without any mercy.
I sighed contentedly and sipped my glass of water. "You're an amazing dancer. How did you learn so well?" he asked curiously. He placed his elbows on the table, and his face was held in his hands, leaning forward slightly in anticipation.
I hesitated. "It's my hobby," I confessed softly, looking down at the napkin I was slowly tearing into tiny pieces.
He raised his eyebrow, a small smirk appeared on his face. "And I thought not getting eaten was your hobby," he joked. I laughed, happy that he was helping to try to get me to smile.
"So... If dancing is only your hobby..." he said, drifting off. "What's your passion?" he concluded.
I tilted my head teasingly. Oh God. What's gotten into me? Am I flirting? "Wouldn't you like to know?" That came out without my permission.
"Yes, yes I would," he responded with a half-smile on his face.
"Hmm..." I put my forefinger against my cheek, making it look like I was deep in thought. What the hell is going on? Did someone slip something into my food? I knew that one servant was a bit suspicious-looking.
I put my finger down and gave him a genuine smile. "My passion is singing. I love it even more than dancing," I said, giving up my charade.
He raised his eyebrows, and whistled softly. "Aren't you a bag of surprises?" After a moment he asked, "Sing for me?"
I shrugged, "Maybe one day. But not today." He looked disappointed at that. I almost gave in and sang for him just to get that sad expression off his face when I saw Meghan and Glitch heading over to our table. I decided against it.
They sat down, and we mindlessly chatted about random things. We were talking about how Glitch would fade away with a female fey to go with him. That's how random our conversation was. Guess who the only one not to laugh was?
As we were chuckling at Glitch's snappy mood, a servant came over and set down a platter of fruit in the center of our circular table. Puck immediately plucked a fruit from the pile and popped it into his mouth. He closed his eyes and moaned happily. "I haven't had Arinium in ages." He took another one. "Mmmmm..."
I picked up one cautiously. It was shaped like a strawberry, but was smooth and lavender purple. I hesitantly bit into it. My eyes widened at the deliciously-sweet juice that filled my mouth.
I immediately tossed the rest into my mouth, completely in love with the fruit. You've heard the saying "Love at first taste," right? While the others talked, I became absorbed into eating as many Ariniums as I could.
Puck Pov (I know this is Ira's Story, but Puck is sexy, so DEAL. Luv ya's:)
I was talking with Glitch and Meghan. Fine, fine. I was teasing Glitch while Meghan was laughing and adding in her own little comments when I heard a random giggle erupt from Ira's side of the table. I looked over and saw her popping Ariniums into her mouth as if they were gummy bears. My eyes immediately widened in alarm.
The strongest faery wines were made out of it. Usually, other faery fruits that are used in wines, aren't very strong, but Arinium was strong even if it isn't in wine form yet. Fey could easily become drunk from it. This'll be good. Or bad. Depends on how you might look at it.
All of a sudden she stopped eating, and hiccuped. Then she almost fell out of her chair, but just ended up hanging the upper part of her body over one of her armrests. Then she started to mutter, "I... I... I want..."
"What's wrong with Little Miss Loopsy over there?" Glitch asked me with an eyebrow raised. He was grinning evilly.
"Err..." I responded, running my hand through my red hair. "She maybe... Kind of... Had 12 too many Ariniums..."
His eyes widened also. "Crap," he breathed, and turned to tell the confused Meghan about the situation.
"I... want..." she muttered again. Her eyes were slightly glazed over.
I leaned over the table. "What do you want?" I asked her the same way I would ask a toddler.
"I want... I want..." she blinked slowly. Meghan was now caught up, and was beside her, asking her what she wanted, trying to humor her.
"I... I.. I want to eat a unicorn." Then she sat up straight. "Does it taste like rainbow?" her head was tilted slightly, thinking about it.
Dead silence around the table. What. The. Hell.
The silence was broken by Glitch's choked laughter. He practically fell on the floor laughing. Then he started to say, "Oh. This is good. This is very good blackmail."
Meghan just cast her a horrified look. Then turned to me. "Was... Was-Was I that loopy when I got drunk off the Summerpod?" Is she seriously bringing that up *now*? I nodded anyways. She slumped into her chair, a dazed look on her face. Then she started to moan. "Oh crap. Oh *crap*. What did I *say*? I didn't say anything about unicorns did I?" I didn't bother answering because I think she was talking to herself.
Beside me, Glitch was still on the floor, laughing his butt off, not helping *at all*. I sighed in annoyance at the lack of help by anyone. I strided over to Ira and picked her up bridal-style. "For a girl who could out eat a sumo-wrestler, you weigh almost nothing," I muttered to her while walking to the exit of the ballroom to take her to her own room.
She was giggling one moment, the next she was whining, trying to get back to the table. "Noooo! I want my frrruuuuiiit!" she wailed. "I not done eating!"
As she was struggling to get out of my arms, the upper part of her body hung, threatening to drop out of my arms.
"Oh no you don't," I said while hoisted her up onto my shoulder. "Damn you poofy dress," I spat out a piece of fabric, annoyed. And I thought it was pretty...
Ira was dramatically hitting my back with 5x less the real Ira had, and was trying to kick her legs too, but I kept them in a firm grasp. When I reached her room door, I kicked it open and stepped inside. She had stopped complaining. I set her on her feet gently, and gave her a little push towards her bed.
"Night Ira," I said while turning around to leave. Then I heard her broken voice.
"Don't leave. Don't leave me Puck." I whipped around alarmed, to see her standing alone in the middle of her big room, looking miserable.
My face immediately softened, and I rushed over to her. "Hey now. What's wrong?" I asked softly, slowly stroking her soft, dark locks.
Since when am I so sensitive?
"Stay here. Don't leave. Please?" she whispered, her eyes pleading. With the natural fey I was, I was tempted to take advantage of her, but with that expression, I just couldn't. I couldn't say no either.
"Alright," I agreed. "I'll just go get a chair," I was about to turn around when I felt her arms wrap around my waist. I froze then twisted my neck to look at her frantic expression.
"No! Don't go... Just... Just-" her eyebrows scrunched together adorably, trying to think of a solution. What did I get myself into? Am I calling her, the girl that was going to chop me into thin Puck slices, *adorable*?
Then she hopped onto her bed and patted the empty space beside her. "You can sit here," she beamed. I blinked and complied to her orders. She leaned against my shoulder, I automatically wrapped my arm around her waist, trying to make her comfortable. I blinked, confused by my own actions.
Her plump, pink lips stretched into a small O. "I tired," she said, her eyelids drooping. Suddenly, she stood up. Then took off her gloves. Then necklace. Then shoes. I understood where this was going, so I turned around to give her privacy.
After a few moments, I hear her sleepy giggle. I turned around her see her in a loose white tank-top and sleep shorts. I guess it was pretty hot in here. She climbed into bed and crawled over to the other side, waiting for me to join her. It was becoming really stuffy in here, so I ended up taking off my shirt (AN: -faints-), and I sat down beside her.
"You gotta lay down," she commanded while trying to push my chest down. I breathed in a sharp breath at the electric tingles I felt from where she put her hands. I ignored them, and complied to her wishes with a small smile. She's so going to kill me tomorrow morning.
As soon as I layed down, she scooted over and cuddled into my side, bringing back the tingles. She yanked my arm over her, so I was holding her, shielding her body with mine.
I pulled the blanket over her body, and lay still for a few moments, listening to her slowing breathing, trying to calm my own erratically beating heart. What the hell? Wow. I'm thinking that alot tonight. But... Is this how people act when they get drunk? They turn... adorable? I sure as hell know that doesn't happen to *me* when *I* get drunk...
I looked down at her, and found her fast asleep. I was about to carefully move her away, so I could leave, but then a cute, soft snore escaped her lips. Lips I found myself wanting to match with my own. I shook my head hard to clear my thoughts, but gently enough not to wake her.
I can't kiss her. I can't. Especially since she's sleeping. That's creeper-like. She doesn't like me anyways... Though, I found my head leaning down to her sleeping figure. Before I realized what I was doing, I kissed her forehead gently.
My eyes widened, and I reeled back, waiting to her to wake up and start yelling at me for kissing her. She only stirred a little bit before burrowing her face into my bare chest. I found myself tightening my grip around her waist, so there was almost no space between us.
I relaxed my body and rested my head back against the pillow, breathing in her minty smell. I closed my eyes, preparing for sleep to overcome me. Scary thoughts were running though my mind.
I think I'm in love.
I think I'm in love with a Winter faerie.
I think I'm in love with Ira.
Oh crap.
Mmmmm. Puck is seriously hooked. :)
Disclaimer: IDNOTIFS (I Do Not Own The Iron Fey Series)
Fighting!
~Ira
