Champagne, Spaces and Dances

Day Two: Spaces

Three inches.

Three inches was the space between Princess Lucy Heartfilia's face and the mysterious shadow-shifter's body. From this distance, she could smell the distinct chocolate scented cologne he wore, she could feel the heat of his skin radiate and most of all, she could see his eyes.

Those eyes. Unlike any other Lucy had ever seen before. They were a gorgeous deep red. They differed from Gajeel's in the sense that they were full of life and color. They shimmered in the candlelight of the ballroom, they glowed like blood red orbs and they were instantly the only thing the blond could see.

Those mesmerizing eyes blinked back at her. She blinked back at them with her chocolate brown ones. She was so captured and hypnotized by the man's eyes that she forgot to be frightened by his sudden appearance. Her mouth opened, stuck mid-shout, but no sound left it. The princess just sat there, unsure what to do next.

Lucy felt like she was floating. She couldn't feel the seat under her, she couldn't hear the noise of the upper class partying, she couldn't even hear her own thoughts. All she knew was the beating of her own heart and the color of the newcomer's eyes. As if she were under a spell, she sat there unmoving as the man looked back at her, equally engorsed by the blond as she was with him.

As if the world had been paused for those first few seconds, no one spoke. Then, suddenly, the rowdy Dragon Slayers came back to life. Natsu came up to the mysterious shadow-shifter and slapped him on the back. The man stiffened and moved back. The second he left her personal space, Lucy felt a sudden disappointment. She wanted him back where he was. She wanted only those three inches to separate them. She shook her head a little, clearing her head of those strange thoughts.

"Glad you could make it, bud!" Natsu told him in his usual excited manner. "I see you love to make an entrance." he finished with a small wink.

For the first time, the princess got the chance to clearly see the whole man's face. Jet black hair framed his face, hitting the nape of his neck. The mysterious shadow-bender had a small scar on the bridge of his nose, the sort of wound that you know has a funny story behind it. One that the young woman hoped to know.

"Yes, I apologize for my tardiness," his deep voice rang out, emotionless and even. "I had other things to attend to before I could come."

Like the others, his outfit matched his magic. Just like how Natsu wore a red tie, the Shadow Slayer wore a black dinner jacket and slacks with a white form fitting shirt and black bowtie. Lucy smiled a bit as he adjusted the bowtie, clearly uncomfortable in the attire he wore but she was glad he made an effort.

"Whatever Rogue," Sting said as he slung his arm around the red eyed man. "I'm just happy my twin came."

"Twin?" Lucy inquired confused. She had known Sting for years and she knew for certain he was an only child.

"Nah, just a nickname. Y'know, light and darkness and all that. People like making a big deal out of us," Sting brushed off her question nonchalantly. He turned to face the other Slayer, who by this time had stolen Sting's seat next to Lucy. "Dude, aren't you gonna introduce yourself to the princess? Or did you forget the last of your manners at home?"

"The princess?" Rogue looked around confused. His eyes passed over Lucy, unconcerned with her, clearly not recognizing her as the girl in question. "Where is she?"

Wendy giggled as the Shadow Dragon attempted to figure it out. Everyone snickered as Rogue searched the room with eyes, probably looking for someone with a shimmering tiara on. Lucy sat there, a bit shocked at not being recognized on the spot. Natsu finally gave into his laughter and pointed her out (while calling him an absolute moron, obviously).

"My apologies, your royal highness," the distant Shadow Slayer said, kneeling in front of the blond princess while bowing his head. "I did not recognize you."

"Very nice to meet you, Shadow Dragon Rogue," Lucy complimented politely. She gave him her hand as she had been trained since birth to do and he took it in his own. Unlike when she met Grand Dukes and foreign princes, her heart skipped a beat when he took her cold palm in his warm one. Like an electric current, she suddenly felt awake and alive for the first time that night. She smiled at him and he stared back at her, his face emotionless as if made of stone. It didn't matter that no emotions were shown in his facial features, as his eyes gave away his true feelings. Lucy had been taught to read people and Rogue was like an open book to the blond.

The way his eyes widen as she looked down at his kneeling figure. The way his blood red eyes kept shifting from their hands back to her face. The way his eyes lighted up as he squeezed her hand ever so slightly.

The way his eyes smiled for his face.

Lucy had been around handsome princes, famous film stars and everything in between. Yet she had never felt anything like that before. Because everything his eyes said, she had felt, too.

Only too soon, there hands parted. Introductions were made, Sting was forced to pull up another chair and sit down as Rogue was very unwilling to move. Conversation started up again and they discussed everything from the delicious meal they had just been served to the Slayer's latest battles. They talked about everything but the reason they were all there.

After all, Lucy Heartfilia would be going to sleep that night engaged. Probably to some wealthy senior citizen who had bribed her father with some prestigious trading agreements or such. No one seated at that table brought it up, not once, not even in passing. Even Rogue, a newcomer to the group, knew not to put salt in the wound by mentioning it.

An hour had passed and the conversation at the table never ceased. During the entire time, Lucy kept risking glances at the Dragon Slayer seated next to her. He was a rather silent type, rarely interjecting in the conversation, but always observing those seated around him. He was unlike any other man the princess had met in the past. He didn't try and grab her attention at all times, he never forced his opinion on the other members of the table. Rogue just sat there and looked completely content with only listening.

Princess Lucy giggled a bit to herself. She wasn't sure why she was so giddy, but being around Rogue made her brain feel a bit too mushy for her liking. She tried to snap herself out of it. She was the princess of Fiore and had a massive responsibility on her at all times to act proper. She couldn't just go around flinging herself at dark, handsome, mysterious strangers. The blond attempted to clear her thoughts but only managed to attract more attention to herself.

Rogue glanced over at the heiress, clearly wondering why in the world she was groaning and making strange noises. He raised an eyebrow slowly, asking the silent question : "Why are you moaning in the corner?"

She attempted to smile a bit to reassure the man but only succeeded in making herself look like even more of a nutcase. Lucy felt like getting up and slamming her against the nearest wall. She wanted to slouch in her seat and slowly hide herself under the table, but being a princess and all at a ball held in her honor, it wasn't like she could get away with doing any of those things.

The music quickly changed to a bit of a faster pace as most of the guests had finished their meals. The festivities would officially start now. There would be dancing, chatting and socializing. Then, at exactly midnight, Princess Lucy would stand in the middle of the massive ballroom and announce to all of her subjects the name of her life partner.

Lucy tensed as someone taped on her shoulder. Without even turning around, she already knew it would be some pretentious little twat who hoped to catch her eye before the end of the night. These men thought that it make a good impression on her by being "bold" and asking her to dance first. They had no understanding of Fiore Court and had no idea that it was considered rude to approach any member of the royal family without their permission.

Lucy prepared herself mentally for the dance as she turned around, plastic smile plastered on her face. When she turned around, she was met with a disgusting old man with a beer belly and a scruffy beard. No, not the sexy hipster beard, more like a santa-claus-wannabe beard. With bread crumbs stuck in it. She gagged at the sight of the greasy suitor but kept her face even.

"Wanna dance with me?" he said, absentmindedly sucking on his beard. This time, the princess was unable to keep her disgust to herself. Not only was this man vile in every sense of the word (he was easily three times her age!) but he was also rude and improper. No one in their right mind would ever address the crown princess in such a way.

But, Lucy, ever the respectful darling, found herself nodding her head in agreement. She started to get up from her seat, tears stinging her eyes as she had to leave her friends and go dance with the old man.

Suddenly, Lucy felt a firm hand grasp her wrist as she stood up. Her eyes looked up and met Rogue's gorgeous red ones. His eyes flashed with an unknown emotion, maybe protectiveness, maybe kindness as he stood in between the princess and her potential suitor.

"I think her highness promised her first dance of the evening to me," Rogue said evenly. He glared at the merchant fiercely, wanting him to contradict him. The Shadow Slayer was always up for a fight, especially when a friend's happiness was at stake. Rogue recognized the man as a famous textiles merchant. The black haired man's eyes flashed with defiance. The merchant may be rich and powerful, but just like everyone else in Fiore, he knew better than to mess with one of the Seven Dragons.

"Sorry, didn't know." the older man said lamely as he turned on his heel and walked away.

Lucy stood there, grateful for Rogue's intervention. She was glad someone noticed how uncomfortable she was. The other Dragons may have known her for longer and may be her closest friends, but that didn't mean they weren't dense as hell at times. The princess noticed with a start that Rogue had yet to let go of her arm.

Not that she minded.

The blonde was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed him speak until he was finished. His eyes looked into hers expectantly, clearly wanting an answer to whatever he had just inquired.

"Excuse me?" she said politely, blushing madly for being caught daydreaming.

"I said, maybe we should actually dance. They'll be expecting us to," Rogue explained, his voice even as always. She stood there, wide-eyed, as she let his words sink in. He wanted to dance with her. A small smile formed on her lips as she nodded slowly.

"Of course," and with that, he led her out onto the dance floor, where all eye's were on them as their hands interlocked.

The entire ballroom was completely silent as every single person waited in anticipation for the next song to start. All the other couples had left the floor, allowing the princess and her first partner to have the whole space.

"Ready?" Rogue whispered, his face three inches away from hers.

"Ready." And with that, the strings started and the dance began.