* ⠀& 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐔𝐒𝐓;

against every warning alighting in their body, they allow themself to be swept away at his lead, his hands carefully holding them at the hand and waist. their expression maintains a neutral skepticism. betraying anything deeper—their thrill, their nerves—is more than they can handle for now. “ did you learn to dance, or are you just a natural? ” they ask, a hint of teasing in their eyes. “ i didn't think any of us had the time for something like that. ”

❝ you think cinder would let us attend without a crash course? ha ha. ❞ a perfectionist, through and through—— not that he cares. ( if he has to even think about the box step again, he might just say fuck it to their cover and set their room on fire. ) ❝ what about you? did your dad teach you? ❞ a low blow, maybe, but it's not like fathers ever meant anything to him. mercury twirls them, letting go of their waist and arm raising into the air as he does so. ❝ 'cuz it seems like he'd have two left feet. ❞

alt version ( with roses ) on next reblog :).

i don't get the choice.  i don't get the choice.  was the option of stepping away even an achievable possibility for any of them?  when have any of them been given the choice to be anything other than a hero  /  a soldier  /  a martyr  /  another pawn in a centuries old game designed by asinine fools?  destiny is all but branded where the metal of the weapon meets innocent flesh,  an oath signed in blood and sacrifice.  not even death could offer respite,  nothing more than a pause before the culling game began once more.  ❛  of course you can’t back down.  ❜  it’s because he understood so well,  that sora could answer with a smile  (  of sadness?  of acceptance?  did it have to be anything more than just a simple smile?  )  ❛  not when everyone’s depending on you.  not after everything that’s been lost.  if you back down now,  then what was it all for?  ❜

his words feel like a mirror to her own, like he'd peered into her heart to say them out loud—— she knows better, though. he smiles like he's a hero as he says them, tired and trying and still fighting for the better—— he understands, too. ruby gazes at him with her silver eyes, feeling like she's just as tired as he is. ❝ but why should it be us? ❞ she says, before she can stop herself, and flinches back—— retracts in—— she can't take it back and it stings like betrayal, her body repulsed by her own words. why does it matter, if you get to be the hero? why does it matter, if you're doing good in the end? why does it matter, if you were the only one that could? ruby shuts her eyes tight as she hunches inwards, wishing she were anywhere, anyone else. ❝ why do i have to be the one constantly keeping everyone together? ❞

❛ if i have to think about one more thing today, my head will explode. ❜

From Yang’s shock-pale face, her gaze flickers down to the absence where an arm should be, and her own hands roll into fists, nails in her palms. Summer shuts her eyes, exhales, looks up again; torn-open wounds and an agony of confusion stare back at her. The explanation, she knows, will hurt far more than it heals. “It’s,” she says, strained, “a long… story.”

❝ you were alive this whole time, and yet you—— you were—— do you know how hard it's been? for us? for me? ❞

further protest builds in their throat, but it dies away quickly. they have the urge to wipe that smug look off his face, but they doubt they'll put up much of a fight in this awkward dress. “ okay, okay. if something goes wrong, i warned you. ” as they raise their hand to meet his, one final moment of hesitation gives them pause—should they take this step? (what would their father think?) but they steel themself and rest their hand, gently, in his. “ you have to lead. as the taller one. ”

he pulls them in immediately, squeezing their hand as that smug grin of his widens—— of course, he hadn't expected anything else, but he won't let them slip away now. so mercury laughs at their request, louder than he expected, but it's not like it matters in the middle of a party. ❝ it's not like i'd let you, ❞ he says back, ❝ so no complaints on my part. just don't step on my toes and i won't step on yours. alright? ❞ and they both know that won't be a pleasant experience at all.

mercury doodles

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“ you don't know that. maybe the first time i dance, someone will break a leg. literally. ” they are dressed for the occasion, but surely mercury didn't have the time to waste with them.

❝ was that supposed to be a personal jab? ❞ still, he doesn't move—— in fact, he's outstretching his hand to them anyways, grinning from ear to ear in an all-too-smug way. ❝ i think you owe me a dance just for that. i'm just trying to be nice, y'know. ❞ don't cause a scene, he seems to say, with a brow quirked up and his head tilted towards the crowd. it's an important night for them, after all.