Finn nervously adjusted his neckerchief in the mirror. With his mother dead set on revenge, she hadn't had time to make Finn a counter curse. The ball was tonight, and Finn hadn't talked to Harv since his little discovery. Would the spell act up again? How would he explain it if something happened?

"Finn, your ride's here." Leenan knocked at the door to his room. "I'll meet up with you two a little later. I have some research to do." She saw him leave his room and crouch down to fix his jacket. "Aren't you the most precious thing."

"Mother." Finn objected.

"Handsome, I meant handsome." She smiled. "Go on now, you'll be fine." Finn nodded and grabbed his coat to leave. "I love you."

"I love you too." And with that he left.

+ o +

Harv had anticipated Finn to talk his ear off, but Finn was oddly silent the whole ride to the castle. The lights from the chandelier cascaded off the fancy clothes and chased away the night. The soft hum of violins filled the ahl as couples danced and socialized. Harv looked down to the blond tightly bundled in gold, a solemn frown painted across his face.

"Hey Finn, is everything alright?" He lay a hand on Finn's shoulder.

"Oh, yeah." Finn sighed and quickly looked to the floor. He shouldn't ruin this for Harv. He must have spent a personal fortune to get tickets and then there was the suit he bought for the warrior. But his heart had already started to flutter at the slightest touch. "I'll be right back."
"Finn?"

"It will only take a minute, I swear." He scampered off toward the bathroom. A quick breather and he'd be ready; he hoped. If he was going to play this off, he needed to act normal. Harv was nervous at even the mention of magic. If he found out Finn was cursed, a number of things could go wrong. Most of them ending with Harv destroying their friendship in order to avoid being cursed himself. Not only that, but heaven knows what would happen if Harv found out he was magically attracted to him. Finn would just have to build his resolve.

"I hate you." Growled a familiar, feminine voice.

"Emet, hey." Finn turned to see the female warrior in an elegant green dress. "Why would you-" She held up a hand covered in bandages from pricking her fingers. "Oh." None the less, he was happy to see her. His muse, his goddess in pants.

"Yeah oh." But when he looked at her, he felt nothing. It was like a spark had vanished from within him. Not that he wasn't fond of her, it just wasn't the same fondness he had felt before. "Why are you staring at me like that?" Emet frowned.

"Like what?" What was it that had changed? Was it the hair, maybe the cut of the dress; or maybe the irate look in her eyes. Had that always been there?

"Like I'm a foreign language." She shook her head. "Whatever, look normally I wouldn't do this; but if you're dead, I can't torment you."

"G-"

"Shut up." Emet cut off. "Darren's looking for you. He knows your mom isn't here yet and is planning something." She shrugged. "Probably something stupid knowing him." She smirked. "So, just don't die; O.K.?"

"Emet-"

"Don't touch me." She scuttled off to join the giggling princess.

+ o +

Harv had found out a long time ago that whenever Finn was quiet, something was wrong. Finn had been looking forward to this ball for months, if he didn't have a good time Harv was sure it would be held against him forever. What could have happened to make Finn so glum. Finn returned to Harv's side, albit sad and slightly on edge.

"Hey," Harv bent over to pear at the blond's face, "you sure you're alright?" Finn's face lit on fire.

"Y-yeah, stop worrying about it." Please. Harv didn't seem satisfied with that answer, but his success was minimal. This curse was driving him crazy.

"So...what do you want to do?" Harv asked.

"... I don't know."

"Want to get something to eat?"

"Sure." They made their way over to the buffet table. "Do they have anything light?" He wasn't really that hungry, but he'd do anything to lift this terrible awkwardness. Finn glanced at the swarming ball room, and froze when he saw a flash of green. It was Darren, uncannily close to his target. "You know what, on second thought, I need some air. Let's go." He started ushering Harv to the door.

"Finn!" Harv exclaimed. The knight turned toward them, but only caught a glance. Harv's mind spiraled out of control as they went through the door. The voice of Finn from his dream rattling about in his head. 'It's too crowded here. Why don't you meet me outside for some air.' Harv was flustered, but still he followed Finn out the door to the court yard before Darren could check to see it was really them.

+ o +

Harv couldn't stop fidgetting as they sat on the stone bench. The trickling of the fountian echoed around them. He couldn't help but be nervous, this was dangerously close to the dreams that haunted him through the week.

"So..." Harv said, trying to break the silence. "Here we are."

"Yeah." Finn chuckled nervously. "Harv- I'm sorry. This is all my fault."

"What it?" Harv frowned.

"You're not having any fun. I wanted you to enjoy your first ball, but I've made a mess of it. A rock would be more fun than me right now." Finn rambled. "Now we're out here hiding from Darren-"

"Is that what this is about?" Harv chuckled. "Don't worry about it Finn. I'm used to being dragged around because of your 'mortal' enemies." Harv sighed. "Though if I'd known you wanted to avoid him, we could have gone somewhere else."

"But you bought tickets." Finn objected.

"Rhodri could have found someone to sell them to. It's not like I would have lost money or anything. I didn't want to come here to begin with. If you're not having fun, that spoils my whole reason for coming." He blushed.

"W-what?" Finn felt his heart beat faster. His face was blushing, he could feel the heat radiating off him. It wasn't the only thing he felt. He was hyper aware that Harv's hand was on top of his own.

"I came here for you."

"Harv," Finn shuddered, "don't say things-" He turned to face Harv, "like..that..." Damn his blues eyes, and damn Finn for getting lost in them. He found himself lean closer, or maybe it was just Harv. Soon he could feel Harv's breath mingle with his own. He tingled all over with anticipation, wanting so badly to close that gap. But was it really his want, or the spell's. Just before Harv could close in Finn shoved his face away. "NO!"

Harv fell off the bench and into the grass. When he sat up he saw Finn trembling.

"I-I'm sorry, I just. I haven't been myself lately." Finn quaked as Harv stood up. Partially in chock. but mostly concerned for his terrified friend.

"Finn-"

"Don't touch me!" Finn shrieked. "Don't, please. If you so, I might not be able to control it and just now I-I tried to." Finn faltered, and furious realization flooded through him. "And you didn't stop me! If I hadn't come to my senses!" Finn ranted. "Good god Harv, didn't you notice that I've been acting differently?! I-I've been making an utter laughing stock of myself; running around like a fool possessed thinking that we-" He cut himself off again. "Why!? Why didn't you stop me!?" Finn sobbed.

"Finn, you're not making any sense." Harv tried to reason. "What do you mean you've been acting possessed." Finn glared at him through sorrowful tears.

"I'm under a spell Harv." He spat. "It keeps making me feel things and I try to fight it, but I look at you and it; it keeps happening. My heart starts racing and I want you to like me. But I don't even know if these feelings are mine or the curse's" Finn cried. "I just wish it would all go away."

The wish reminded Harv of his own. Then it hit him. Not long after his wiash, Finn had started to be nicer to him. Could it be that instead of cleansing him of his sin, the wish dragged down the person closest to him? No, it couldn't be. That was nonsense.

"I'm sorry Harv, but until I get this sorted out; I- I can't see you again." Finn ran off into the night, but Harv couldn't bring himself to chase after him. How could he, without a single touch, lose everything he had struggled to save? It just didn't make sense, but somewhere in the depths of his heart; he knew it to be true.