Chapter 2: Dinner and a dance

For the first time in a long time, Aymeric felt a little nervous as he waited inside the dining room. He had sat down, stood by the window, paced back and forth, and finally, settled on standing in front of the fireplace, looking over at the tapestry over the mantle. He held his hands behind his back, so he didn't fidget and tried not to worry as the minutes ticked by. Keshi was not late, nor had she ever kept him waiting, but of course, tonight was different.

Almost as if summoned by his thoughts, the doors to the dining room opened and Keshi was announced formally.

He turned and faltered for a moment, stunned by just how pretty she looked. She'd worn the outfit before, but he could fully appreciate it tonight. Especially since he knew she was dressing for him.

Her purple dress matched her hair and the fur on her ears and tail perfectly, and the golden embellishments and jewelry dazzled in the light. It also helped that the outfit bared her skin in the right places, and he could freely look at her shoulders and midriff.

"Keshi," he bowed low in greeting, his hand coming over his heart, "may I say you look lovely this evening."

"Oh, this old thing?" She nonchalantly tidied up her wrist cuff and shrugged, "I just threw it on, but thank you. And may I say, you tidy up very well."

His blue robe had just been cleaned, but he was sure she was teasing.

"I do try," he chuckled and looked at the table, "would you care for starters or wine?"

"I think we can drop the informalities," she leaned close to him, lowering her voice and winking, "why not bring out everything? Like a mini buffet?"

"I think that's a wonderful idea," he walked with her to her chair, pulling it out for her.

"I think I've been a bad influence on you," she held her skirt as she sat down, secretly pleased he had pushed her chair in for her.

"Perhaps we should stop thinking and," he leaned over the table and lifted up the cover from her plate, "do."

"Oh," her stomach growled appreciatively, "alligator salad!"

"And baked Pipira Pira," he snapped his fingers, and two more stewards entered with two extra plates, "and then…hot chocolate for dessert."

He moved to his side of the table, and she didn't know where to look. The food looked amazing, but she knew he had put extra effort in, just for her.

"Now, since I know you're supposed to be VERY gifted in the culinary arts, I'm going to accuse you of making these dishes."

He chuckled and sat across from her.

"Guilty as charged."

"You are," she searched for the right word to tease him but decided to be sincere and earnest, "incredible. You impress me more and more."

He had the decency to bow his head, though she swore she saw a familiar pink tinge spread on his cheeks.

Luckily, more stewards came in, delivering the drinks and glasses and providing a good distraction for both. She gave him a moment and pretended to busy herself with her glass and cutlery whilst he regained his composure.

They both began to talk normally over dinner, her complimenting him on his delicious skills and him asking her to tell more hilarious stories of her adventures. The wine coursed through them both and loosened their inhabitations as they laughed and Aymeric happily let himself relax in her presence. He didn't feel like a ruler right now.

"Keshi…I know I probably shouldn't be telling you this as I do not wish to cause you to worry, but you have made my evening truly happy now."

"I'm sorry, were you having a bad day?"

"No more than usual," he sighed and let his straight and stiff posture relax, leaning back against the wood of his chair as his hands rested on the armrests, "Ishgard seems safe in my hands but it's still a heavy responsibility. What, with the rebels going around and trying to cause havoc, there's always something to worry about. But with you…I feel like myself."

Now, it was Keshi's turn to blush.

"If we're being honest with one another, you make me feel the same," she investigated her glass and contemplated how she had come here, "wherever I go, people only see me as the great 'Warrior of Light'. But you are the only one who calls me by my name and looks at me as he always has…thank you."

He smiled at her and nodded and for a moment, they were unsure of what to say to one another. And then, from outside the stone walls, drifting in with the light wind from the window came gentle music from revelers somewhere below.

"Keshi," he stood up, keeping his eyes on her as he walked slowly around to her side.

She quickly sipped her wine, putting her glass down and turning to him as he came to stand by her chair. This was it! He was going to kiss her! Bend down, lean close, and press his lips against-

"Would you share this dance with me?" He offered her his hand and she blinked at it a few times, surprised (and a little disappointed) that it wasn't a kiss.

"Of course," she regained her composure and pushed her chair out, reaching out to take his hand, "though I warn you, I'm not a very good dancer."

"Well, I have been told I'm a very good teacher," he guided her towards the open space by the fireplace, "and you are a very skilled fighter. It's practically the same."

"Really?" She looked up at him, trying to hide her laugh when he winked.

"It's all in the footwork."

"Won't it be tricky since I'm a little shorter than you?"

"Nonsense. Put your hand on my arm and I shall rest mine on your waist."

Despite the great height difference between the two, it was quite easy to put her hands where he guided her to. Though it was very difficult to not let them wander when she could feel his strong limbs.

He patiently told her when to move and counted steps with her, before going quiet as she concentrated. He had been right; he was a good teacher, and it WAS a little like fighting. Though she was nowhere as skilled as he and he seemed to move as though he was floating.

She looked up into his face just once to ask if she was doing ok, but when she saw his cool eyes staring directly at her, she stumbled and accidentally lost her footing. He kept his grip on her and stopped so she wouldn't fall, but she still tripped over her own feet and the side of her head hit him in the chest.

"Are you alright?" He waited for her to right herself, but he could feel his heart throbbing in his chest, not just at the surprise but at her closeness. He'd never held her this way before, though he'd longed for it.

Keshi wanted to stay pressed up against him but knew she had to answer him. She made sure her feet were firmly planted on the floor and pulled back to look up at him again.

"I apologise. Perhaps the wine was stronger than I thought."

The music that drifted in quietened down and the only sounds were the crackling of the fire and their own heavy breathing.

Keshi couldn't lie. She'd dreamed about kissing him many (many) times and each with a scenario where they were both the same height (or at the very least, he was sitting down, and she was on his lap). But right now, he seemed so far away and even when he leaned slowly forward, she had to restrain herself from jumping up, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pulling him down hastily so her lips could finally-

"MY LORD!"

The doors burst open with the accompanied cry and they both jumped apart, immediately reaching for their weapons…only to remember they weren't wearing them.

A guard skidded to a halt and looked a little shamefaced at interrupting an obvious intimate moment.

But they weren't angry. Disappointed. Embarrassed. Definitely feeling LOTS of things that had the guard not interrupted, they probably would have had to be prised apart, but not angry.

"What is it?" Aymeric immediately straightened himself, his voice becoming that of the leader everyone else saw.

"I-I'm sorry my Lord, but it's an emergency!" The guard bowed low quickly before standing back up, looking ready to run out again, "They're attacking at the gate!"

"They?"

"The revolutionaries!"

Keshi groaned and knew date night was over.

"Great," she rolled her eyes and looked at Aymeric, "the rebels have amazing timing."