A glare flashed upon Kyoya's lenses as the car came to a slow stop, pulling up to the front of the ballroom Tamaki had reserved for the event. The building was familiar to the Ootori boy; he remembered the idiotic blond showing him a picture of the place on his laptop when he was preparing for this weeks, no, months before. His eyes didn't move from their stare until the chauffeur opened the door for Kyoya. He looked up at the man and then back down. Quickly he adjusted his glasses before piling out of the leather interior, brushing off the creases from his dress shirt.
The driver tipped his hat and drove away, leaving Kyoya to take the marble steps into the ornate-looking building. The venue suited Tamaki well, standing in all its ivory glory and unhindered flawless structure. The dark-haired boy thought of this as he pulled the door open. A slightly older woman in a business suit and pencil skirt directed him to which room the Suoh event was taking place.
He thanked her with his faux-polite nice-guy smile and proceeded to follow the woman's directions. Past the large staircase in the main hall was a large fountain with numerous angelic-like sculptures adorning the scenery. It practically screamed European cultures, which is what made it so intriguing. If Kyoya didn't know better he would've mistaken the place for the palace of King Louis XVI himself. After taking a moment to observe the over-the-top foundation he averted his eyes and shook his head.
That idiot.
Finally he found the doors leading into the ballroom. The two main doors were slightly ajar, allowing Kyoya to scan the room before he came in. The first people he saw were Haninozuka-sempai and Morinozuka-sempai having a conversation with the caterers, making sure everything they ordered would be here on time. The Hitachiin twins were in charge of decorations and design of the room of course, and they were deep into their work making last minute preparations, and possibly hiding some well-thought out pranks for their tono to fall victim of.
This is just like the club...
As he walked into the room, he was greeted by his fellow club members and he returned the greeting with an uninterested "hello," since putting on a smile for them wouldn't benefit him at all. His gray-colored eyes flickered to the boy in a light gray suit, sitting at a piano bench across the room. His lavender orbs were focused intensely on a small pile of papers in his hands, reading them off in his head. As soon as the blond felt a set of eyes on him he looked up from the page, smiling grandly at the other.
"There you are," he said lightly, hugging Kyoya upon seeing him. The other rolled his eyes as he felt the French teen's embrace. You may be turning eighteen next year but you still act like you're in elementary school.
He pushed the blond off of him, careful not to be too rough with the overly-sensitive teen. "You're wasting time," Kyoya reminded him. "The guests will be here soon followed by Haruhi, am I not correct?" He sighed and took the pages of dance instructions and notes from Tamaki's hands.
"I believe my comprehension skills are probably more focused than yours, but shouldn't you be good at this type of thing? Based off my impressions you have a high intellect when it comes to music and things of that nature."
"I read over it a few times, and I think I understand it better now. I just need someone to practice with," he chuckled. Tamaki gestured to one of the musicians in the small classical band he booked to play and gave him the sheet music. The man nodded his head and sat down at the piano. "Whenever you're ready, sir."
Kyoya furrowed his brows at the other. You're kidding me, right. Downing his slight embarrassment, he hissed close to the blond's ear, "Couldn't you get a girl to do this?"
Tamaki blinked. "You mean one of the guests? I asked them to come at a specific time already. It'd be too bothersome to call them up now."
That's a poor excuse,the other spoke venomously in his head, casting his eyes off to the side.
"Okay, I think we're ready to start," Tamaki beamed, giving the man at the piano a thumbs up. As he started the piece, a hand was placed just on the small of his back and Kyoya tensed. This was something he did not expect. Kyoya was surprised by his own actions more than Tamaki's, since the host prince was so comfortable with the other. He let out a breath softly to slow his heartbeat to a regular pace. His eyes rushed back to Tamaki's face, his expression more focused on figuring out which steps went first. The blond's hand took Kyoya's gently and guided to where it was supposed to go.
"So her hand goes here, Kyoya. On my shoulder, and then our hands are held together with the other." Tamaki instructed aloud so he could remember better. The dark-haired teen swallowed, but on the outside remained calm and composed as he followed what the blond had said. "Step right, two-three-four, one…" he repeated as the music played, the orchestra following in backing the piano playing.
Tamaki's eyelids were lowered as he watched their feet, making his long lashes appear more prominently. Kyoya tried not to stare; he tried to focus on the dancing and the words the blond was saying but nothing processed. Thoughts of the other flooded his brain until everything that was so neatly organized in his mind completely rearranged. If he were asked to speak right now, the words would come out an incomprehensible stutter. He ripped his vision from Tamaki's complexion, peeved that he allowed himself to become completely out-of-focus. The light-haired teen took notice of his distant expression and moved his hand from Kyoya's back to lightly touch his chin so he faced him.
He flashed a smile. "Hey. Always look at your dance partner with interest. You should know that already from the club, mommy dear."
Kyoya's brows knit closer together as he bit the inside of his lip until it nearly bled.
Damn it all...
As they turned and made their way around the ballroom floor, the dark-haired teen found any excuse not to look Tamaki in the eyes while they danced. Kyoya could do anything but relax. His moves appeared more awkward and stiff than when he was dancing with some random girl at the host club.
This was Tamaki,though. His first true friend. One of the first people who saw through his façade, the façade that allowed him to so easily manipulate anyone he came in contact with and reap the benefits. Even when Tamaki was shown Kyoya's ugly true nature, he simply smirked and shrugged it off. The blond was a constant reminder that Kyoya wasn't all ulterior motives and good impressions. That there was something else in the dark-haired teen, that if he tried it didn't always have to be about becoming the next in line for the head of the Ootori family. He wasn't just the 'product of perfect breeding.' He wasn't only in it for himself. And Kyoya saw this as a fault. Loving Tamaki… was a weakness.
His father had told him early on growing up all weaknesses and faults must be either expunged or corrected. Notes played all around him, his heart quickened. You're ruining things, Kyoya chided himself sternly. Remember, the only reason Tamaki is your friend is so the Ootori family could have good ties with the Suoh family. It's strictly business. You didn't have to go this far and title him as best friend. You didn't have to dance with him today, or even show up. He has a girlfriend now. You should start looking for one as well. Whatever repulsive thoughts in your head about him, they should be properly disposed of. It's not in your favor to mess things up today.
…Six damn months with her!
Just then he ceased moving and removed his arms slowly from the blond's; his jaw was clenched tightly. The music continued to play on, like a soundtrack to a movie. Worried lavender eyes fixated on him as Tamaki pulled his arms back. "Are you feeling alright?" he asked, tilting his head. "What's wrong, Kyoya?"
What's wrong, he repeated bitterly inside his head. Fuck, everything's wrong. It really is your fault for wanting to be around me. If you weren't always so damn persistent…
He kept silent and spun on his heel towards the hall where the backroom was. His legs worked mechanically, his glasses hiding the resentment in his eyes. In the backroom he found the men's room and walked to the sink's mirror. As he stared back at himself he saw he was beginning to look flushed, from their physical exhaustion or Tamaki's words playing over and over in his head. "Show interest."
Kyoya removed his glasses and splashed water like he did just that morning, this time removing the bitter salt on his face. Patting it dry with a towel, he readjusted his glasses and walked back out towards the backroom. Not wanting to face anyone, he sat on one of the backroom couches and crosses his legs, slumping in his seat. It wasn't something he normally did, but looking proper was the least of his problems.
"Kyoya?" a voice sounded from further away.
Shit.
The blond stepped into the room in his gray suit, eyes staring at him in utter confusion. "Why'd you run off like that?"
"It wasn't anything; I was tired so I went to the restroom to freshen up," Kyoya lied, shrugging his shoulders for effect. Tamaki didn't buy it. His lips pulled to a frown as he walked over and took a seat beside the dark-haired teen.
"I… don't think you're telling me the truth," the blond said quietly, staring at his hands. He lowered his head, playing with the hem of his expensive-looking attire.
The other simply scoffed. "Why would I lie?"
"I dunno," Tamaki sighed, turning his head to face him. "You tell me."
Pent-up emotion bubbled inside Kyoya. He cursed inwardly. Every time he was with this person the feelings became more and more. He was beginning to think that this type of thing didn't go away so easily. But what was he to do, anyway? Forced to dance with him on his girlfriend's anniversary, moving together with his girlfriend'sfavorite song.
"Do you love her?" The words slipped out miserably before Kyoya could stop them or even think about it. Tamaki couldn't see behind his friend's lenses but his eyes grew wide. What the hell am I doing! He screamed.
"Do I… love Haruhi?" the blond repeated, looking even more confused if that were possible. "Of course I do."
Kyoya's stomach dropped despite himself.
"She makes me very happy. I was probably in love with her much longer before I realized it," he chuckled nervously, bringing his hand back to rub the back of his neck.
"…Why are you asking so suddenly?"
Kyoya wanted nothing more than to turn invisible right then and there. He lowered his head, his fist clenching to a ball as he took in Tamaki's words.
"It's nothing. I was just curious." He said in a strangely calm, accommodating tone. It took all this power not to appear as tense as he was on the inside. Has he always been this possessive other the blond? What was different? Why the hell would he care?
"Kyoya, really, if anything's wrong," Tamaki leaned in to show compassion towards the dark-haired teen. "You can tell me. Is it your father again? What did he say to you?"
"Shut up," he muttered under his breath, feeling the gap between them lessen more and more. His face grew warmer as he winced at his perfectly beautiful pools of lavender Kyoya had been oh-so familiarized with. He could never figure out how they could pierce right through him, right through the heart.
It happened so quickly.
Kyoya closed the gap, crushing their lips together, their meeting and parting unprepared. Tamaki's eyes widened; Kyoya closed his. What fazed Kyoya was that the blond kissed back. Without thought he then put a hand on Tamaki's arm, drawing him forward possessively. If the kiss ended soon, the blond would want to talk. Just the idea of what he would say frightened the black-haired teen, so he drew out the kiss longer. Surprisingly Tamaki became more aggressive as his eyes slowly fluttered shut.
Kyoya took all his resentment and passion and focused it all in that kiss. Right now this was the only thing on his mind. Haruhi, his father, the host club, the party… were tucked away in the back of his mind for him to mourn and regret later. Just let me have this kiss.
It ended quickly as well.
Tamaki realized what he was doing and removed his lips from Kyoya's, taken aback. He tried to speak, but the words didn't come to him. He looked away, never so distraught and confused in his life.
Kyoya wanted to walk out right now. This was unplanned. Normally for everything the teen would have a hidden agenda; everything would be written out in his little black book and everything would go accordingly. He just felt exposed. Acting simply on impulses and feelings, he soon discovered that simple kiss would crush his chances completely. Tamaki would tell everyone, and his reputation would be shattered. Not only for kissing a male, but for kissing him on his anniversary with his girlfriend. Six months was all he could handle.
The tension from his body was released but replaced with pain. He felt ashamed for doing this to Tamaki. It'd be in everyone's interests if he left.
He began to rise from his seat when he felt the familiar touch on his arm. Tamaki didn't speak, didn't look at Kyoya in the eyes but just nodded his lowered head no. It was too vast of an action for Kyoya to interpret, but he sat back down again and waited over the silence that felt like an eternity.
Thanks for the feedback so far, everyone :3 I really appreciate it! The more reviews I get, the more I'm motivated to write, hahah. (Is supposed to be doing an essay.) Whoops. :')