* * *
Eddie and Hakeem enter the grand ballroom of Primavera Castle, the air filled with the sound of a live orchestra playing what Hakeem believes to be a piece by a human composer. ‘Vivaldi’s Spring’ he believes it’s called. Appropriate. The odd thing about the fey realm is the popularity of human made musical compositions. Lack of magic aside, humans do make good music.
Sarah waves them over to a group of six other people. One of the men has chestnut hair, black eyes and a wide frame like Sarah and seems to be accompanied by a tall, curvaceous, curly ginger haired woman in a frilly dress. Hakeem goes over his mental notes:Michael and his mate Meghan.Besides them is a petite woman standing tall in six inch white, red bottoms heels, with dark brown hair and similar black eyes. Besides whom is a woman in a well fitted pantsuit who matches her frame closely. Her dirty blonde hair is kept in a neat bun.That must be Amelia and her mate Courtney.
As they approach the group, Hakeem’s attention shifts briefly to the last couple, a large man who shares Eddie’s ocean blue eyes, and a petite woman with whom he shares her black hair.His mother and father most likely.All the Seung-LaLune women wear similar evening gowns that sparkled inthe light in swirls of black and white sequins. They let their hair fall in elegant waves. The men wear their best suits, hair swept to the side. The group all have simple masks on for the event.
Polite greetings are exchanged as Hakeem and Eddie join Sarah and the rest of the group. It quickly turns to hugs and ‘I missed yous’, the familial warmth evident between Eddie and his family. Hakeem missed that feeling when he was away from home, he’s happy Eddie could experience it now.
“So,” Eddie’s mother steps towards Hakeem, arm looped through her husband’s elbow, “this must be Hakeem. It’s so lovely to meet you. Eddie has been going on and on about you and Jackson.” Her smile is genuine, a slight teasing tone in her voice assures Hakeem he hadn’timmediatelymade a fool of himself.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all. You all look amazing.” Hakeem falls into an easy rhythm as the conversation moves forward. It’s all idle chit chat really, small talk and introductions. Hakeem goes into the usual pattern he uses whilst at work, it helps keep his nerves in check.
Eddie’s siblings eye him curiously, knowing smirks creep up from their lips at how their youngest brother looks at his date.
The music shifts to something more modern. The band begins playing what seems to be an orchestral version of ‘A Million Dreams’, from a musical the boys watched together in the apartment. The songs were stuck in their head for a week.
The group splits up in their pairs, Sarah being asked to dance by a gentleman who had approached her as the music began. Eddie takes the opportunity to extend his hand towards Hakeem.
“May I have this dance?” His eyes don’t meet Hakeem’s. His offered hand is shaking slightly and a lump forms in his throat. All the tension drains from Eddie’s shoulders and he feels Hakeem’s hand in his; eyes darting up to meet ones as nervous as his.
“I’d love to, Eddie.”
Eddie leads them to a space on the dance floor, he takes one of Hakeem’s hands in his own as they face each other. Eddie places a hand on Hakeem’s waist, who in turn places a hand gently on Eddie’s shoulder.
They sway in place awkwardly for a moment, till they find the rhythm of the music and begin to take careful steps to the beat. Eddie has danced several times before at these events. Now it seems all prior experience amounted to nothing when it comes to dancing with someone he truly wanted to. Hakeem is grateful he got whatever lessons he could from Charlie and Jackson, though this seems a bit different from a standard waltz.
They soon lose themselves to the music, their gaze lingering on each other. They dance away in their small little world, chest bumping together every so often. They focus less on the music and more on each other’s warmth.
Hakeem’s hand wanders around the length of Eddie’s arm, admiring the firm muscle that lay under the tailored suit. He can feel Eddie’s pulse where their hands connect as Eddie leads them through the dance. He peers through his mask to find ocean eyes staring back down at him, desire pouring out of them. Hakeem’s throat goes dry as he lets himself be pulled closer. He feels safe in Eddie’s arms, he knows he always would.
Eddie can’t help himself, he wants to take all of Hakeem in. The curve of his hips where he holds him close, the quickening pulse he feels from Hakeem’s wrist. He loses himself in the silver eyes gazing up at him, longingly. From this angle Hakeem seems so small and fragile, despite the power he could command with such elegance and grace.
As the song comes to an end, both men linger in each other’s arms for a moment longer. Eddie releases Hakeem’s hand from his own, taking the smaller man’s chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting it up towards him, running his thumb along Hakeem’s lower lip.
Hakeem lips part in a shuddering gasp. He slowly wraps his arms behind Eddie’s neck as he rises up on his toes. They are soon nose to nose, warm breath tickling against parted lips.
Eddie leans forward, closing his eyes as Hakeem shuts his own. Lips parted, soon a new warmth brushed against their mouths. They seal this moment in their minds forever more, with a kiss. It’s sweet, gentle, and lingers for a few beats of their hearts. Eddie’s grip tightens on Hakeem’swaist as he deepens the kiss, swallowing a surprised yelp. Hakeem pulls Eddie in closer as the passion sparked between them says all he could never speak aloud.
Something literally sparks between the two of them, both too enthralled in each other’s hold to notice. Silver and blue static travel across their intertwined bodies, deepening the sensation of the kiss further. The world falls away as their unspoken affection for one another is finally allowed out into the world.
They exhale as their lips come apart, stepping away slightly to let the emotions running rampant in their minds and hearts settle. Hakeem’s hands find themselves pressed to Eddie’s chest. Eddie’s arms wrap lightly around Hakeem’s waist, barely a step of space between, both their cheeks gaining a rosy glow.
Eddie chuckles as he smiles down at Hakeem, “All that practice paid off.”
“I had a great dance partner,” replies Hakeem, sweetly, as they move to the side of the dance floor.
Eddie’s expression turns serious, gaze hardening. “One of the things I’ve admired about you, Hakeem, is the passion which guides you through life. You find wonder in the smallest things. You’ve awakened something in me I thought I lost long ago.”
Eddie cups Hakeem’s cheek in one hand, thumb stroking along his soft cheek. “I want there to be a future between us. I’ve reached a point where I can no longer imagine my life without you in it.” He opens his heart and lets all the emotions he had been scared to bear into the light.
Hakeem can hardly believe his ears, though his heart sings with joy. “Eddie, these past few months have been more wonderful than I ever dared dream. I didn’t just find new roommates, I’ve found dear friends to sharemy life with. I want a future with you too. It’s just,” He turns his face away, unable to risk seeing pain on Eddie’s face if this goes wrong, “I can’t honestly say my heart is yours alone right now.”
Eddie leans in, hand guiding Hakeem’s face up towards him. The second kiss they share on the dance floor is just as electric as the first, lasting for only the briefest moment. Their eyes lock, understanding spoken not with words. “I know. I think I feel the same way.”
Hakeem’s eyebrows knit together in worry, “So, where do we go from here?”
Eddie presses their foreheads together, a deep sigh drawing from his core, “I’m not sure. I think we have to have a serious talk when we get home.”
