Lunar Chronicles One-Shots

So This Is Love

(above is Cinders dress) Hey guys, if you didn't already know, this is going to be kaider. Also, the title is a song from Cinderella, and what was Cinder based on? Mhm. If you watched Cinderella, you probably already know what's coming next.

The ballroom was filled with colors and chatter. People flirted with one another, while others drank and annoyed them instead. There was laughter, gossip, flirtatious remarks, and teasing. But it all came to a stop once the queen appeared.

Cinder didn't know whether to grateful for all the attention, or embarrassed. Right now, she was leaning towards embarrassment. People started to gossip once she was introduced because she was late, once again, to the Annual Peace Ball. But this time it was not her fault, it was her whimsical android friend. Yes, blame Iko for her late arrival, even though it was Cinder who refused to wear the 5-inch heels. Seriously, how was she going to be able to walk without tripping every 5 seconds with those on? But here she was, wearing those very shoes and repeating the words "don't fall" in her head while walking down the extravagant stairs.

When she made it to the bottom safely, Cinder immediately went to go find her beloved emperor in the judgmental crowds, only to find him talking to another woman. This would have been fine with Cinder under normal circumstances, but the woman he was talking to was no other than Pearl, her ex-step-sister. Cinder waited patiently while, Pearl flirted with HER beloved, and how he tried to fend her off, but with no prevail. She only then realized that people had been watching them. Cinder gave them a look, and they turned away.

"Just one dance, please your Majesty" Pearl pleaded with Kai.

"No, I have already told you this many, many times, just leave me-" he made eye- contact with Cinder, "a-alone." Kai tried to escape from Pearl again, but another girl blocked his path, forming a barricade with Pearl. Cinder decided that this was the best time to intervene, so she placed a metal hand on Pearl's shoulder and glared. Pearl glared right back. Her cheeks flushed and her bottom lip was puffing out as if she was drinking. Wow, Cinder thought, just what I need to make this night even better, a drunk Pearl.

She looked back at Kai, who had been staring at her, and raised an eyebrow. He looked at Pearl then back to Cinder again, like he was trying to help her connect the dots. She nodded.

"Pearl, dear, may I steal my beloved for a hot second, I promise to bring him back." Cinder said sarcastically.

"Of course, your Majesty." Pearl sneered. Usually, Cinder hated being referred to as 'your Majesty', but, oh, it felt so good to hear the words come out of her mouth. Felt good to finally turn the tables. She smiled and grabbed Kai's hand and dragged as far away as possible from the wretched girl.

"Hey," Kai said facing Cinder after she brought him to the gardens. "Did you miss me?"

They haven't seen each other all day, because of work, work, work, Iko, her friends who haven't seen Cinder in forever, Thorne, and more work. She bit her lip and nodded, daring to look up in his copper-brown eyes. They were so mesmerizing.

"Only a bit, Thorne kept me busy most of the time." Cinder teased

"Well, I did," he brought Cinder closer, "I wish we could see each other more often before you back to the moon." Kai kissed both sides of her cheek before moving to her lips. He dug a hand in her hair, no doubt messing up the perfect bun Iko spent hours on, but she didn't care. She didn't care that there were cameras in the gardens, watching them. That people inside saw them and were probably staring. She didn't care that their beloved Emperor was dating the young, cyborg, lunar queen with an attitude. All she cared about was the man that she loved. Who loved her back.

The music suddenly changed from inside the palace and Kai pulled away. He was smiling as he tucked back a rebellious strand of her hair behind her ear.

"May I have this dance?" He asked.

"If you catch me before I fall with these heels, then you may." Kai smiled as he grabbed her hand and led her deeper into the gardens. He put her hands on his shoulders and then grabbed her waist. Then they started to dance.

He hummed to the music since they were getting farther away with each step. Cinder finally took a look at his outfit only to find it was white. She had never seen Kai wear white before and of course, it looked amazing on him. She was wearing a baby blue dress with not much exposure, which was fine with her, but it was puffy and got in the way. The straps rested on her shoulder, making it look more like a ribbon wrapping around her chest. And of course the horrible 5- inch shoes that she despised. (Even though they were pretty)

Cinder never felt like she was a pretty girl, just a dirty cyborg mechanic that nobody wanted. But tonight, she felt pretty. Not head-turning like Winter, but pretty enough that when people bothered to look at her, they would know she looked good.

"I love you." Cinder didn't know that her head was resting on Kai's chest, but her head snapped up from the comfortable place it was in to meet Kai's eyes. Copper-brown eyes stared down at her with a hint of a smile. She smiled back, then placed her head back on his chest, hugging him.

"I love you too," she murmured into his shirt. Cinder felt pressure on the crown of her hair and then he pulled her closer like he couldn't get enough of her. They swayed to the music feeling at peace and like they were where they are supposed to be.

"So this is love, " he teased, "I like it"

"Me too"

"I'm also hungry"

"Me too," Cinder sighed happily, "how about we go back inside and scrounge for some food"

"I agree. Lead the way, Queen Selene"

"Of course, Emperor Kaito"

The rest of the night was one of Cinder's best. Her friends all came up to say hi, and to admire her outfit. They danced, sometimes taking turns with each other's lovers, they teased Thorne and managed to separate Winter and Jacin. He overreacted a bit. But in the end, the queen and the emperor came back to each other and took a stroll in the gardens a second time, wishing that the queen wouldn't return to the moon, wishing that they could be together. Forever. So this is love.