Battalion Life
"Come to the Navy Ball with me this year," Spencer blurted out as he lay panting on the bed next to Aaron.
An exhausted chuckle from Aaron was the first response. "You really need to stop asking me important questions immediately after orgasm, Spencer. You know I can't say no to you after you do what you just did."
"Maybe that is my goal, loosen you up with great sex and then get anything I want. You have officially stumbled across my evil plans to conquer you and the world."
"Oh, I have no doubt that you are an evil genius intent on ruling the world, but how does going to a ball further those goals? Are you going to leave your glass slipper there in hopes that your prince charming will whisk you off to his castle and rule the world at your side?"
Spencer stretched before curling up along Aaron's side. His movements, languid and smooth reminded Aaron of a cat, content to bask on a warm perch. "Mmm...did you know that in the original fairy tales, none of the princes were actually named 'Charming'? It was actually Oscar Wilde who coined the term "Prince Charming" in 1890 in his iconic work The Picture of Dorian Gray."
"Spencer…"
"I never did understand how Cinderella was able to walk let alone dance in shoes made of glass. Even well made glass of that period would not have withstood the impact force from walking. The high heeled shoe design most often associated with her slipper would have her weight being distributed over roughly 4 square inches, assuming she walked with a forefoot strike, far less with a heel strike. Various universities and shoe companies have conducted testing and found that the foot is subjected to forces anywhere from 1 to 3.5 times the weight of the person. Though most of these tests were conducted on runners, even assuming that Cinderella was walking and thus the forces she was exerting on her feet were equal to her weight, and assuming a weight of approximately 120 pounds, you would have about 24 to 25 PSI with each step. If she walked with a heel strike at all, she would be putting upwards of 120PSI on the heel, assuming of course that it was an inch square in dimensions. Based on all of this as well as the fact that we know that the chemical composition and forming techniques available at the time the story originated would produce a product that would be far more susceptible to flaws and variations than the processes used to create the glass for which current strength and toughness values are known, she would have been lucky to take a single step before her feet were cut to ribbons. At the very least the shoes would have fractured and been rendered useless…" Spencer trailed off as he saw the indulgent but expectant look that Aaron was giving him. "And you want answers don't you, Aaron? Well, as far as I can see going to the ball means that I get to spend the evening in the arms of my charming prince."
"Your charming prince agrees that it sounds like a wonderful way to spend the evening. Won't doing so cause problems? Won't dancing with me that way get you thrown out of the Navy? Last I heard they didn't think too kindly towards a prince who fell in love with another prince rather than the princess."
"Once upon a time you were right. A new era has dawned and there is not an evil step-mother or wicked witch in sight. Today is September 20, 2011 which means that, according to NAVADMIN 271/11, sexual orientation can no longer prevent someone from serving in the Navy or Navy Reserve," Spencer was practically glowing with excitement. "With the release of this message, the Navy and military have taken a giant step forward. We aren't in Kansas anymore, and that means that it doesn't matter who knows that I'm a friend of Dorothy!"
Aaron laughed at his euphoric lover. "I think you are mixing up your stories. Dorothy certainly isn't a princess but as we are both friends of hers, I will give you a pass on that one. Is this announcement why you jumped all over me as soon as I walked into the house? You wanted to celebrate not having to hide our relationship to the Navy?"
Spencer tried to appear properly chastised but his excitement wouldn't let him. "You don't like my method of celebrating?" he asked pushing himself up so that he was above Aaron. He didn't let Aaron respond to that before capturing his lips in a deep kiss. Aaron eagerly responded to the kiss, perfectly happy with Spencer's methods.
BT
Even though he had been to many a formal function in his lifetime, from dinner parties as part of Ambassador Prentiss' security, galas as a prosecutor, to events as a unit chief in the FBI, none of those had quite prepared him for what he was experiencing right now. Unlike all the others, this was not a work function for him. He did not have to run security checks, schmooze with the right people, or be the face of the BAU to garner continued funding and operations. This was simply a night of dinner and dancing for him. All Aaron had to do was look good and be charming, to be the arm candy for Spencer while he navigated the waters of a formal work function.
With no pressure to perform, Aaron relaxed into the enjoyment of the evening. He firmly believed that if fairytales didn't skew towards images of princesses in fluffy ball gowns, he would say this entire evening had felt like the he was currently starring in his very own. That though would have Dave Rossi cast as the fairy godmother and that was a mental image that he could go for the rest of his life without ever experiencing. Still, it was partially thanks to Fairy God Rossi that the night was going as smoothly as it was. While Aaron's tuxedo had survived the purging and moving process multiple times in the past few years, the requisite bowtie had not been so Rossi's seemingly magical intervention at the last moment, Aaron was dressed and ready to spend the evening with his prince.
Cast in the role of Prince Charming, Spencer was exceeding Aaron's imagination. Knowing that he would likely attract attention with another man as his date, Spencer decided to go all out for the ball. He splurged and purchased the dinner dress blue jacket uniform to wear despite the uniform not being required until he was a Lieutenant Commander. Aaron could see why it was commonly called "mess dress" as it turned him into an absolute mess of hormones when Spencer stood before him fully dressed. The base of the uniform mirrored his own tux, black pants with shining black shoes, crisp white pleated shirt with gold studs and cufflinks, and a sharp black bowtie snug at his collar. The jacket, however, is where the differences began. The Navy's version of this uniform included a short, bolero cut black jacket that hugged Spencer's shoulders and was came together in the front, not buttoning but being held together with a small gold chain between the gleaming buttons on each side of the coat. The bottom of the jacket flirted with the gold cummerbund that accentuated his narrow waist and hips. The jacket was then finished off with twin gold bands at his wrists, topped by the crossed oak leaf and acorn insignia of the Civil Engineer Corps . Finally, the miniature versions of his medals and warfare device adorned his left breast. Taken altogether, with the model like visage of Spencer, the man was utterly breathtaking.
Alone, Aaron and Spencer each drew the appreciative looks of the other attendees. When they came together, all eyes seemed to gravitate towards them. Even discounting being one of the very few homosexual couples at the ball, the two men were a striking couple. They were almost entirely oblivious to the glances and outright staring in their direction. Both men were far too lost in the other to care what was going on around them. From the moment they had walked through the door to now, as they held each other in a close but chaste embrace while dancing slowly as the music and dancing was winding down, their entire attention was solely focused on each other.
Conversation during cocktail hour, dinner, and after had been comfortable but neutral. Those with whom they had been seated were casual acquaintances to Spencer. Not being seated with any close coworkers meant that no long explanation of their history was requested by indignant friends who had been kept in the dark. In fact, no one had commented on his choice of companion for the evening or anything even vaguely controversial. It was both refreshing and frustrating at the same time. They had come prepared to defend to their relationship but were not challenged at all.
After a while, they started to relax and enjoy conversation now, away from the table of fellow Naval officers and dates, away from the speeches, toasts, and away from the ritual of the evening, was intimate and relaxed. The initial nerves of the evening had melted away as everyone had taken them in now, as the final notes to the last song faded away, Spencer rested his forehead against Aaron's and looked deeply into his eyes. "Did I do enough tonight to win the hand of the handsome prince?"
"Yes," Aaron replied with a small smile and a kiss.