Chapter Text
The sweet, ambient music swirls around the throng of dancers who meander around the centre of the hall leisurely. Laughter and chatter murmur through the warm summer air and even though Makoto hasn’t had a turn dancing yet, he is honestly quite enjoying himself. The music is good – live ensembles are somewhat of a rarity. He takes a sip of his drink, and as he lifts the cup to his mouth his gaze falls on a distant pair of deep, blue eyes. Makoto doesn’t hesitate to stare back, because the guy’s looking through or behind him or something, not at hi- wait.
He is looking at him. A dark-haired adolescent watches intensely as Makoto gulps down his drink, his gaze never leaving Makoto’s brown eyes – which briefly drop down as Makoto sets down his glass. Haru’s heart drops slightly, but then his gaze is quickly recaptured by Makoto, whose kind eyes and gentle smile give way to the slightest of nods.
Ah. So he does want to dance.
Haru rises just as Makoto also stands and their locked stare draws them closer through the edge of the dance floor. The last song has just ended and some of the other dancers retire to the small round tables peppered round the edge of the hall and there is a brief interlude of chatter. Just as the music restarts, they take up the tango embrace – Haru’s hand clasping Makoto’s palm and their other hands on each other’s upper arm. Makoto can feel his partner’s warmth pressing against his chest, their faces only inches apart. He catches Haru’s faint musk of cologne, feeling his breath lightly tickling his neck and the heat of his skin off his palms. Makoto takes the lead, slowly swaying back and forth with the music, only gently rocking back and forth at first. Unlike some other dances he’d had in the past, there was no fumbling or awkwardness with this partner – he had a surety in his movement. Resting his weight on Makoto, Haru twists and swirls around with ease and grace.
As the sultry melody from the violin gradually picks up speed, they move faster as the music becomes lighter, even playful in its tango rhythm. Tracing the floor with his foot, Haru pivots and suddenly his back is against Makoto, who is slightly taken aback – but this is a milonga after all, so of course a little improvisation doesn’t hurt. A little skip is followed by flick of the leg to the back (which Makoto copies as a little cheeky afterthought) and Haru spins back to face him. Taking bigger steps, they glide faster over the floor, Makoto taking the liberty of adding a few spins as they circle the hall. The lively beat of the music complements the two dancers as they cross over each other’s legs in the tango stride, twist and turning around each other. As the music swells, everything else seems to melt away – and it’s just the two of them, dancing together as one. Time passes in a haze for Makoto and before he knows it, the last note has been plucked from the instruments and the dance is over. The sound of brief applause sounds through the hall, which gently jolts Makoto from his reverie.
Breathing slightly heavily, Haru inclines his head towards Makoto in a nod, with a slight smile as he says “Thank you.” Makoto is slightly disappointed – it was so enjoyable, he hadn’t wanted it to end. But as per the social norm, likewise Makoto bows back a little as he thanks Haru and leads him off the dance floor. They part ways, and he catches a glimpse of Haru through the crowd and their gazes meet for a final time.
Even as Makoto is walking home, he still can’t shake the feeling of Haru’s intensity in his eyes.