This is another short drabble! It's more with the intetion of being cute than anything else, really. Super self indulgent because I secretly like mushy stuff like this and I was kind of in a rush.

Anyway, hope you guys like it!


"I like dancing."

Takumi gently lifted his gaze away from the book Elise had lend him. Staring at the Nohrian princess who was currently sitting near the window, kicking her bare legs slightly as she toyed around with a stuffed bear.

"You do?"

"Mhmm!" Elise nodded, a small smile on her lips. "Yeah, it's kind of relaxing. I used to practice Waltz back at the castle."

"What's a Waltz?" Takumi asked, not yet familiar with much of the Nohrian culture. As soon as Elise said 'dancing', his mind had just conjured the traditional shrine dance maidens did back in Hoshido.

Elise mused for a few seconds. "A waltz it's a ballroom dance! Kinda fancy, and you need a partner for it. You dance slowly, though that gets boring."

"Huh" Takumi flipped a page from his book, half listening. "Wait, so you can't have a...waltz...on your own?"

The princess giggled, jumping from her seat and with a flourish, she started twirling around the room, twirling as if an imaginary dance partner held her. "Kinda! You can waltz alone, too! Like I'm doing now!"

She looked...silly, for a lack of a better word. Twirling and holding the air as if there was someone with her.

"Don't step on the floor barefoot." Takumi mumbled, going back to his reading. The rain outside making a good atmosphere for staying inside the castle. He really had to thank his lucky stars for not having to march today. "You'll catch a cold."

Elise frowned slightly, freezing in mid twirl. "But you're barefoot, too."

"Socks."

"Hmph!" With a hop, Elise was back on the fluffy rug that covered most of the room, going straight to the fireplace and adding one more log to the burning embers. "There! Now it's no problem!"

Takumi gave a sigh, but didn't say anything else. The soft pitter patter of rain created a nice background noise for his lecture, and Elise's quiet humming of a tune unknown but soft enough blended in nicely.

It was almost comfortable enough to stay for a while and fall asleep. That is, until Elise, ran over to him and with a bright smile took hold of his sleeves.

"Let's dance!"

Takumi stared at her for a second, confused. "I don't know how to dance." And it applied to both Hoshidan and Nohrian dances, he just didn't do dancing.

That didn't stop Elise, in fact, her smile seemed to get bigger. "That's alright, I'll teach you!"

She pulled at his sleeves, urging him to get up from his seat and take a spot besides her in the impromptu dance floor. Takumi sighed, half tempted to pull back but not wanting to even move from his spot.

"I don't feel like it."

"What? Aw, c'moooon!"

"Elise…"

"Just a quick one! A reeeally tiny one! Please?"

"Ghh…"

"No one will ever know!"

He sighed, forgetting his book for the time being and slowly getting to his feet. Elise cheered happily, throwing her hands in the air with an excited grin.

"Yay!"

"Fine, fine. So, dancing. I don't know anything about any sort of dance."

"That's alright! Waltz is kinda easy when you get the right steps."

The petite nohrian stood in front of him, smiling, her body being almost pressed to his as she invaded his personal space and gently tapped his shoulder.

"Woah, okay. This is too close."

"Waltz is a close dance, duh! The dancers have to be close."

"This close though?"

"Hey, some people are even closer! Now, put your hand in my waist."

Takumi blinked, fingers twitching uncomfortably as the tiniest bit of color went to his ears. "Excuse me?"

Elise rolled her eyes, her free hand taking Takumi's and letting it rest at her side. "Your hand. My waist. That's how you hold your dance partner!"

"I-It's...ugh! Too close! You nohrians are so...so…"

"Touchy feely?"

"...N-Not the word I was going to use, but yes!"

She giggled, clearly amused. Her hand released Takumi's and instead went to his shoulder, her other hand taking his to hold.

"Just gotta hold your partner like this and dance slowly. Oh, away from the seat though."

They took a few steps away, standing in the center of the room and holding each other in silence.

"Now what?"

"Now we dance. The man has to lead the woman in the dance, though."

"I really don't know how to do this."

"That's okay! Just, sway slightly, like this."

They moved slowly and silently, swaying from left to right and so on as the fire crackled behind them. Very, very slowly gravitating around the room as they grew comfortable.

"Ow!"

"Sorry, sorry!" Elise apologized, removing her bare feet from Takumi's toes. "This happens sometimes."

"Even in your lessons?"

"Oh, yeah! My dance partner stepped on my toes a lot! Boots, they hurt."

"Well, I changed my mind about you being barefoot, a steel toed boot doesn't sounds appealing."

The princess giggled, nodding her head in agreement and prompting their makeshift dance to be a bit more faster, a bit more fun. Their movements were less mechanic, more lively and fluid. Takumi cracked a small smile when Elise freed her hand from his shoulder.

"Twirl me, please!"

"Twirl?"

"Hold your hand, no, the other. Yes, hold it up with mine and let go of the other!"

Takumi did so, holding their hands in the air over Elise's head, who giggled happily and gave a small spin on the tip of her toes, her pigtails flying behind her head.

"Like that!"

She held onto his shoulder again, and Takumi hesitantly brought his hand back to Elise's tiny waist. The teengers danced between silence and breathy giggles, twirling and swaying to a melody unheard by everybody.

"Okay, okay! Now, for the end!" Elise smiled, her body swaying much slower than moments ago, taking one step closer to Takumi and looking up to see his face. "We hold on, like this, sway a little, and then part."

Takumi did so, an embarrassed smile on his face. It lasted no longer than a minute before Elise gently pulled away, all but their joined hands apart.

"Now, we stand apart, and bow to each other."

Elise curtsied, taking the hem of her dress with her free hand as Takumi gave a polite, mild bow on his own. Their hands slowly releasing each other until their fingertips were the only thing touching. A second later, they stood apart entirely.

"And that's the basics of a Waltz! Whatcha think?"

Takumi cleared his throat, a small grin on his face. "It's...not so bad."

Elise beamed, a soft squeal of delight on her lips.