Chapter Text
"I feel ridiculous," Maya whispered.
"You look incredible as always, my hero," Haurchefant replied, pulling her close to him, closer than propriety allowed. He gave little mind to the others in the ballroom with them, no doubt whispering about the position of his hands as they danced, instead focusing on the feeling of the waltz music and the woman in his arms. With a smirk, he let his eyes glance downward. "There is something...riveting about seeing you in the colours of my house. I should like to see you in red more often. Perhaps if you considered my offer...?"
The Miqo'te flushed deeply, instead trying to focus on the count in her mind so she would not accidentally step on his feet.
"Ah, see? Red looks quite lovely on you," he laughed, but pressed a soft kiss to her head, spending an extra moment to smell the oils in her hair. Another bold move, another inappropriate gesture, but he most certainly did not care. Let the old men talk. "How do you like your clothes? And the hair and makeup the stylist gave you?"
Maya felt the hem of her ballgown brush against her ankles and the uneven steps she took in her heels. She was hyper aware of the bodice wrapped around her, making it difficult to bend or even breathe. Or perhaps that was her nerves. She swallowed nervously.
"I feel...vulnerable," she confessed. She glanced to the side and caught the motion of someone putting a fan up to their mouth to talk to their neighbour, eyes boring into her. A hand to her cheek brought her focus back to his face, kindness and love reflected in his eyes.
"You look as powerful in this dress as you do in your robes. They whisper about you because they fear you, you who are not one of us yet are the strongest of us all. A cat amongst the cranes," he said firmly.
A fresh hand at her wrist made her startle and turn as the interloper began to speak.
"I do not believe that is quite exactly how the idiom goes, my friend, but it still holds true." Blue eyes flashed to hers as the new arrival drew her knuckles to his lips. The kiss was chaste, but the gaze was deep and full of promise. "Might I steal you away, Lady Maya?"
"Ser Aymeric," she said softly, dumbstruck by the vision he made in rich blue military dress. All sharp lines and finery, medals upon his breast and silvery braided aiguillettes around his shoulder left her speechless. Haurchefant took pity on her, kissing her other hand as he passed her off.
"Don't go keeping her all night, ser!" he said with a wink, before disappearing into the throng of people not so subtly stepping closer to see her dance with the viscount. Maya was trying to remember herself as her fluster took her all over again. She bowed as best she could, but Aymeric was already sweeping her into his arms, holding her just as close as Haurchefant did. The music swelled as they settled into a rhythm and she desperately tried to not to think.
I'm too short. Nothing like these beautiful Elezen women. Are my hands in the right place? Do we look ridiculous? Oh, he's spinning me, don't trip, don't trip, don't trip--
"I can hear you thinking, my love," Aymeric whispered. "You're doing wonderfully, just like we practiced."
Her mind flashed to her lovers' guiding hands, Aymeric and Haurchefant both walking her through the motions of a dancing, teaching her some basics about how to not accidentally offend anyone at the party. They had been so patient. And the rewards after each lesson...Their guiding hands were not just good for war and waltzing.
Her dance partner's fingers tightened around her wrist. Glancing up at his warm expression, the subtle turn of his lips and the dusting of blush across his cheeks, he no doubt was remembering that aspect of their lessons as well. As the song faded, he bent down to kiss her head just as Haurchefant did, but lingered a moment by her ear.
"Perhaps later...we could...?"
The unfinished question razed a blaze through her in an instant, surely leaving her red from head to toe.
"So bold tonight, ser!" Maya said. "Where is that bashful lord who could hardly look me in the eye a few weeks ago, hm?"
Aymeric's smile became more wide, one could even call it dopey if someone could imagine such a regal and composed man being that. Another kiss, another rumour being made in an instant, yet still he smiled.
"He is still here, I assure you, my lady," he chuckled. "Our dear Lord Haurchefant was the one who recommended I speak more frankly with you and, I must say, I quite like the effect."
The Elezen did not wait for her response as he guided her on his arm to their waiting third, his hands bearing champagne flutes for each of them. The men crowded in beside her, Aymeric with a hand at her back and Haurchefant with a daring grip on her hip. They were filling her vision, guarding her as much as they were distracting her from all else around them. A wash of affection for them surged through her. How had she become so lucky?
Then she felt it.
Long fingers toying with the lace of her bodice. A hand drifting lower down her side. Her own hand trembled around the glass in her fingers as she tried her best to keep any hints of allure out of her expression lest she betray them all.
How ever was she going to survive?