Zero/Wataru (sort of, but not really) for the prompt "formal dancing." If you read the last one, this may seem familiar.

"Now I see where all the money they're not paying me is going," Yuuki said, eyeing the chandeliers. Even if the SDF were just renting the place, it must have cost a pretty penny.

"At least you get paid," I said.

As his eyes wandered the room, I couldn't keep mine off him. We'd both rented suits for the event, but his broad chest and shoulders made the formal wear fit him as though it were made for him. I was too lanky to look anything but awkward in comparison.

Then again, we fit into our Sirius uniforms in much the same way.

"You could always just join the platoon officially once your internship is up," he said. As he looked back toward me, I glanced away in the most obvious manner possible. "You won't be making much more than you are now though."

I tossed him a smile as he chuckled at his own joke. The violins of the small orchestra rolled out the first chords of a simple number, signaling the event's start. All the captains and lieutenants stood around or sat with a glass of something in their hands, while we rookies fumbled for something to do. The SDF held this little gala every year, and while not technically mandatory, I'd been told it was in my best interest not to skip.

At least I got to see Yuuki in a suit for my troubles.

"Well, Warrius, guess we'd better dance," Yuuki sighed. He'd used my first name since the moment I'd introduced myself. As his only junior on the crew, I was the only one he could address so informally without reprimand, and no one else on the crew called me by it. I liked it, though. Only from him. Always felt nice when he said it.

"Who should we dance with?" I asked.

Without the color-coded uniforms, I couldn't recognize half the people in the room. Spica was always easy to pick out, certainly, most of the girls dancing together as their captain stood watch at a nearby table.

Mizar was notable as well since they'd all picked out matching purple ties and dresses, likely on their captain's orders. He seemed to be having a good time, even if the rest of them looked uncomfortable.

Our captain sat alone, downing glasses of champagne a little too quickly. He pulled a face after each one, clearly not in it for the taste. Not too far away, our lieutenant stood against a wall. I swore his eyes were fixed on us.

Belatedly, I noticed Yuuki hadn't responded, and I turned to find him giving me that look – the one I'd gotten when I'd asked how to make the trains go without tracks and when I'd suggested we talk down a criminal.

"Warrius," he said, "you're smart as anything, but you're awfully dense, you know?"

"Yeah." I still wasn't sure what the answer was supposed to be.

"We'd better dance," he stressed and offered his hand. "That way we can say we've done it, and we don't have to worry about anyone turning us down."

My heart beat up into my throat, and I could feel my ears burning redder than my tie. "Oh," I croaked. He didn't mean anything by it. We just needed to keep the lieutenant and everyone else off our backs. But it still meant everything to me.

Surely he could tell that as I placed my trembling hand in his, but he just cracked one of those beautiful grins. "I'll lead, alright?" he said. "I am your senior officer, after all."

He still looked damn good in formal wear, all shoulders, even in the fancy kimonos his whole family was wearing. In my eyes, he was still that cocky young SDF officer, but the lines in his face revealed his age when he smiled or frowned. And boy, was he frowning now.

Not a scowl, exactly. No, Mamoru was the one scowling. Wataru looked more stressed than anything since he'd handed Manabu off to his new husband for their dance.

After trying to comfort her husband for a moment, Kanna gave up on him to go bother Harlock for a dance. Harlock had looked too startled to do anything but let her lead him to the dance floor. That look on his face alone had been worth the trip.

The free drinks were a nice bonus, but they muddled my brain a bit too much. Standing, I strode over to Wataru and offered him my hand with a half-bow. "Would you give me one for old time's sake?" I asked. The world swayed a bit around me, but he was in focus as his pinched lips relaxed into a smile. Still gorgeous.

"You think this round we won't step on each other's feet the whole time?"

"Even if we do, there aren't any officers to make fun of us."

"Just my family."

"And Harlock, I suppose," I said, glancing over my shoulder at him. He twirled a grinning Kanna as though he were afraid she might burn him.

"Harlock is part of my family," Wataru said.

"Oh, right, I always forget."

"I wish I could."

I'd forgotten my hand was still raised toward him until he took it and stood. That old grin eased onto his face. "Care to lead this time, Captain?" he asked.

"I'd love to."