No One's POV

"This may be a stupid question… But, why again are you having me escort you to the Annual Nova Corps Peace Ball? Didn't you ask, Solider Boy?" Zander asks Aria as he walks into Aria's room, putting the finishing touches on his own attire just as Aria was putting the final touches on her make-up.

"Because… You have to be there anyways. You're a Nova Corps officer and your parents are Xandarian Socialites just like mine, if you've forgotten." Aria rolls her eyes at her best friend. "If you and I have to suffer, why not suffer together?" Aria teases.

"And, I did… Technically." Aria concedes, staring at Zander in the mirror of her vanity.

"And?" Zander questions. "Why did you invite him? Do you even like him? It's not like you to lead someone on for the fun of it. Even if you hate them."

"I don't know him. Sure, we talk. But I've met him all of, what, two times? And, in that time, it's been all of five minutes of conversation. So, how would I know? If I want the chance to know him or even to decide, then swapping coms back and forth isn't going to cut it." Aria reasons.

"Fair point." Zander answers.

"Besides, he might not even come."

"Looks like you underestimated Solider Boy." Zander nudges Aria as they stand together at the ball, throwing his best friend a smug smirk.

"You don't have to look so smug about it." Aria snorts and gives him an eye roll in return.

"Yes, I do." Zander replies. "Are you sure you haven't decided… Because, I'll decide for you. If you don't want him, can I have him?" Zander questions.

"Zander!" Aria shrieks lightly, slapping Zander playfully on the arm and pushing him. "You're insufferable! Why- why don't you- go get a drink or something!?"

"Fine. Go get your Solider Boy." Zander smirks again before sauntering off with a confident stride.

Yon-Rogg had a strategic plan, one that would ensure, that unlike his last interaction with his bloodmate, she would be much more impressed with him, and he wouldn't be left feeling like a complete, incompetent failure and moreover, utterly out of his depth when talking with her.

It had only been a month since he had seen his bloodmate, but his last interaction with her had been less than ideal. He had stumbled his way through his conversation and she had been clearly less than impressed with him; it was unacceptable, failure was not acceptable for a Starforce warrior and officer such as himself.

Aria walked through the crowed ball room of the Nova Corps Headquarters, her black ballroom dress shimmering under the lights of the hall as she made her way towards Yon-Rogg; it was in that moment all his strategic plans seemed to leave him.

"Aria." Yon-Rogg breathes, his thoughts seeming to leave his mind as his bloodmate stops inches from him; she was beautiful, her dress, with crystals inlaid in it, shimmering brighter than the stars and sun that shone over Xander and Hala combined.

"Hello there, Solider Boy." Aria answers, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I was wondering if you were going to make it." She tells him, a playful glimmer in her expression.

"I-" Yon-Rogg begins, but loses his voice; his thoughts seeming to get completely lost and crossed, stuttering, fumbling, and muddling together at the sight of her in front of him.

"Aren't you going to ask me to dance?" Aria prompts a little, looking to the dance floor and others dancing. "Or, are we going to stand here all night?"

"Dance. Yes… I-" Yon-Rogg answers as if turning the decision in his mind or not completely understanding Aria's words, his gaze following his bloodmate's before turning back to hers. "Aria Rael, would you like to dance?" Yon-Rogg finally manages to offer, holding his hand out for his bloodmate in a formal gesture.

"I would like to dance, Solider Boy." Aria replies, holding back a small laugh as she takes his offered hand and allows him to lead her onto the already flowing and moving dance floor.

As Aria and Yon-Rogg spun around the dance floor, Aria saw her father, Einar Rael, who not only was a Xandarian Socialite, but also a Nova Corps Centurion, watching her from across the ballroom with watchful eyes, her mother, Hania-Ell, standing close by engaged in a conversation, otherwise Aria did not doubt she would get looks from both of them; subtly, Aria pulled Yon-Rogg further into the crowed and away from her parent's prying and watchful eyes.

"Aria." Zander pops up, managing to startle his best friend.

"God, Zander!" Aria shrieks, spinning to look at Zander. "Don't do that!"

"Sorry." Zander apologizes, not looking very apologetic at all.

"What do you want, Zander?" Aria rolls her eyes.

"Can't I just say hi?" Zander smirks.

"Not at all." Aria offers back.

"Fine." Zander snorts back. "Your parents want to speak with you."

"Not a chance." Aria replies promptly. "This is ridiculous. Completely ridiculous! I am here with a date… He saw that! Father cannot keep intruding into my life!" Aria huffs, looking irritated at the fact that even at 22 her father still thought she was a child.

"Well… You know your dad, Aria." Zander shrugs. "He's going to keep trying to set you up."

"I don't have to like it!" Aria snaps again, clearly agitated.

"Why-" Yon-Rogg replies, unsure what was happening, other than it seemed that his bloodmate's father was attempting to set her up with people that were decidedly not him. "I do not min-"

"Because you're here." Aria answers quickly, turning to look at Yon-Rogg, with a look that tells him to be quiet. "You're a Kree, Solider Boy."

"And, you don't have enough command stripes." Zander quips, looking a little smug. "Told you, I'm the better choice."

Yon-Rogg did not like the insinuation that this- this Zander was possibly a contender for his bloodmate's affections; they were friends, close friends, they spend much more time together than he did, they had history together, and it was also clear that his bloodmate's parents approved of this person rather than him.

Instinctively, Yon-Rogg inched closer to his bloodmate, his body sliding between Aria and Zander as if to guard her from any threat or encroaching male.

"Relax, Solider Boy…" Zander notices Yon-Rogg's subtle movement. "I'm not a threat." He snorts a little at the thought. "I don't bat for the same team."

"You've neglected to tell my father that… By the way." Aria deadpans with a look at her best friend.

"Semantics." Zander waves off.

"It means I'm gay… I like guys." Zander explains point blank, staring at Yon-Rogg and his rather clear confused expression in his gold eyes. "Thank god you're pretty…" Zander mutters a little to the side.

"Tell my father we'll speak later. If he wants to keep parading people in front of me like some pony show, fine. But I reserve the right to act however I want. For now, I'd like to enjoy the ball with some semblance of peace." Aria tells Zander with authority.

"When did I become your message boy?" Zander complains.

"Since you brought me the message in the first place." Aria says sweetly, but her expression glints with fire. "Now, come on, Solider Boy. I'd like a drink now."

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Polkadottedgiraffe11