A/N: I just needed a minute of.. well.. cheesy fluffy brain garbage to make girly claps to. You know what I mean.. Enjoy my first one shot!
New Years Eve, and Emma's date to the massive party was off somewhere with his tongue down another guy's throat.
She always thought she had decent gay-dar, but apparently this guy only let himself go the other way after too much champagne, likely unaware of his own sexuality.
She shouldn't even be here, it wasn't her scene. But she'd somehow scored tickets and was dying to buy a pretty dress and be a girl for once, getting kissed at midnight and all that.
She looked down at her dress, flattening out imaginary wrinkles with the hand not holding the flute. It was a floor length, sleeveless, gold dress, entirely covered in gold sequins, with a plunge neckline, and it was mostly backless right up to the top of her bum. She'd even gone to a salon, getting her hair, makeup, and nails all dolled up professionally, French-tips and regal half-up curls she kept on her shoulder.
She was an impressive sight to behold. She knew, because of all the double glances and stares she intentionally ignored. The attention was thrilling, and unexpected.
But.. she was sipping champagne alone.
She wasn't about to allow herself to feel sorry and waste either this evening, or this dress.
She walked around, taking in the details. She was on the upper level balcony, where most of the booths and tables were, along with the bar. Walking up to the railing and looking below, she saw the DJ and a sea of couples dancing. Down there, booths lined the walls.
This entire place was nearly packed. She made her way around the balcony, trying to decide on what to do to turn this night around.
She saw a man alone, dark hair, handsome from what she could tell. She suddenly wondered if, maybe, he had experienced a similar evening to hers. She could scoop him up for a midnight kiss, and company till the party ended.
She began to saunter over to him, when his face lit up toward Emma's left. She looked, to spot his date rushing toward him.
Good for you. Least now, she had some semblance of a plan.
Most of the other men standing alone had also just been waiting for their dates. She momentarily wondered if she should just call someone to step in, eventually rolling her eyes at that short list. The few men she knew, were either ex's, or coworkers.
Eventually, she made her way toward the bar, wanting to trade in the bubbly for something stronger. She stopped a few yards away when she realized she should have started here, seeing another man alone on the barstool. Given his location, he was likely here alone. His back was to her, though she could see his reflection in the mirror on the bar back wall.
Black hair, scruff on his jaw, and incredible blue eyes that lit up as he laughed at something the bartender said.
Her eyes wandered over to her own glass, wondering if she'd only seen this man through champagne eyes instead of her usual 20-20 (with contacts). Her flute still bubbling at over half full, she realized not only was this guy alone, but he was hot.
She had to take this approach cautiously.
"Holy crap, man, don't look now, but I think a Goddess in Gold just targeted you." The bartender said.
Killian laughed, his eyes flickering to the mirror. The bartender was right about the Goddess in Gold bit, but no way in hell had she come alone looking like that.
"Come off it, Charles. She probably spotted a favorite vintage." He chinned toward the shelf of alcohol.
Killian kept his eyes on the mirror, though, as she came over, sitting a few stools away.
Charles glanced from one to the other, raising his brows at Killian before moving her way.
"What can I get you this evening?"
She cocked her head at him.
"A replacement date would be nice." She told him candidly.
Killian, having poorly chosen that moment to nurse his rum, nearly spat his drink out. Blasted bartender might actually be right. He didn't dare look at her though.
"You okay there?" Charles asked him with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Aye, all good, mate. Wrong tube, you know."
His eyes flicked back up to the mirror, pleased to notice her shocked reaction at his accent. Most Americans assumed he was an American too, until he spoke.
She cleared her throat, asked for whiskey, and swiveled her chair to look back out to the floor behind them.
Charles looked at him, nodding in her direction, trying to encourage the pairing.
He himself had come with a date that night, but Milah hadn't been completely honest with him, and her husband had arrived to take her back home.
He supposed he was lucky. He was really starting to like the woman, but least things hadn't gone too far. He'd never forgive himself for breaking up a marriage.
The bartender asked the Goddess about her date when handing her the whiskey. She swiveled back around, taking it gently, telling her story in as few words as possible.
Killian glanced to the mirror in time to see Charles pointing to him, telling her about his own date disaster.
"Oh Charles, she really wasn't dragged out." He chuckled.
Her chair turned to fully face him.
"Well, I for one, am making the most of this night, and I want a midnight kiss. Care to join me?"
That made him look at her, not in the mirror, but actually look at her.
Her green eyes were hopeful, sparkling, and piercing directly into his soul making his skin tingle. Her blood red lips curling at the corners, expecting a reason to smile, but not quite ready to celebrate a win.
He felt a snap within him, as if something was falling into place. He shrugged off that ridiculous notion, blaming the alcohol.
There she was, staring into the depths of those ocean blues of the incredibly handsome brit, waiting to see what he'd do. His eyes sparkled, his smile salacious.
She couldn't help but to feel the spark between them.
She could see the cogs working in his mind, perhaps trying to decide if she were worth it. Whatever it was, he set down his drink and stood from his stool, closing the distance between them.
"Well, who am I to turn away a damsel in distress." He winked playfully, her smile brightening. "Join me for a dance, love." He held out his arm for her.
She felt her lips pull in a smile she was unaware she'd been holding back. She stood, taking his arm, as he led them downstairs to the dance floor.
They really didn't need to speak. They danced the night away, the spark growing into full fledged fireworks. He surprised her during the slow dancing, as he was graceful and confident while leading her, the desire in the both of them heightening the closer they got. They also enjoyed the energetic songs, seemingly dancing in sync with the other.
When the countdown finally hit, he pulled her in close, and he whispered the countdown in her ear, but it felt like a promise for some future event.
Her heart squeezed as he pulled away, just enough to catch her eyes and silent permission, before they bent together. Their lips touched, and everything else fell away. Gone was the music, the crowd of dancers, and everything else that could possibly exist outside of this kiss.
It didn't take much to deepen, as they got lost in each other.
Charles smiled at the sight. Finally, a happy ending.
Just the sight of them, he knew it was more than sexual attraction. Had anyone else seen this image, they might think the couple had been together for years.