Somewhere Only We Know [Bokuto x Akaashi Fantasy AU]

Eight

Bokuto did everything in his power not to look Akaashi in the eyes. The prince, however, was not having this.

"Bokuto."

He said nothing.

Akaashi sighed. "What's wrong, Bokuto?"

"I don't wanna talk about it. It's embarrassing."

Quietly, Akaashi laughed. "You know I won't judge you for anything. If you tell me you'll feel better you know."

At last, Bokuto yielded and looked up at his friend. "I don't know how to dance."

"What?"

"Your parents are holding a ball in a week, which is stupid considering we're in the middle of a war, and I don't know how to dance."

Akaashi smiled softly. "That's nothing to be embarrassed about, Bokuto." He pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "Besides, you've never even danced at them before. Why does it matter now?"

"Because I... I wanted to ask you to dance." Bokuto watched as Akaashi's face flushed red.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean, even if you don't want to tell people about us yet, there's nothing wrong with two friends dancing right? And your parents did see us the other night, so I figured it wouldn't be a big deal."

"I would love to dance with you. But your leg-"

"It's already feeling much better," Bokuto protested. He grabbed the prince's hands and looked at him with his infamous sad eyes. "Akaashi, please teach me to dance."

The smile on Akaashi's face grew. "I'd love to."

~

Akaashi watched as snow fell to the ground, sparkling under the light of the many lanterns lighting up the courtyard.

He glanced from his blue and black suit to the glittering gold crown on top of his head. Well, he might not always, but tonight, Akaashi certainly looks like a prince.

He sat in his room, waiting for a knock on his door. He tried, and failed, not to feel nervous.

There was a light knock on his door before it slowly opened. Bokuto stepped inside.

Akaashi nearly gasped. He didn't know where to look first. The brilliant white suit, the sword at his hip kept in a new, fancy sheath, his eyes... Definitely his eyes.

"Hey." Bokuto smiled as he took in the prince. "You look great Akaashi."

"So do you. Are you trying to show me up?"

Bokuto gasped. "Me? Try to show up the prince? Never!"

Akaashi rolled his eyes. Bokuto laughed. "Ready to go?"

"After you, your highness."

"You truly are fancy tonight, even with your words."

"Of course."

The two walked side by side, hands connected, and made their way to the ball room.

There were hundreds of people all dressed in their best clothes, mingling and eating and dancing.

Akaashi quickly greeted his parents before dragging Bokuto over to a big window. There, they ate and talked with some of the guards friends for awhile.

When the orchestra started playing Akaashi's favorite song, Bokuto smiled at him. Gracefully, he swept into a bow and held a hand out.

"My prince, may I have this dance?"

Akaashi smiled too. "Yes."

He took Bokuto's hand and followed as he was lead to the center of the ball room. Bokuto kissed his hand before they started.

The dance started out slow and simple, the first steps Akaashi had taught his friends. But as the music went on, it got more complicated, complete with spins and even Bokuto lifting Akaashi off the ground.

Trying not to gape, Akaashi laughed with joy. He'd watched as Bokuto had improved with his dancing over the last week, but... Damn.

Bokuto grinned. Oh, he'd definitely practiced on his own too. And oh boy did it pay off.

When the dance ended, the two were flushed and grinning. Bokuto kissed his hand again and pulled him into a hug.

"Happy birthday, Akaashi."

~

Bokuto couldn't sleep. In fact, there was no way in hell he'd get any sleep at all tonight.

He'd been staring at his ceiling for what felt like hours, thinking about everything that happened at the ball.

Working his butt off to learn to dance had been worth it. Seeing the smile on Akaashi's face and the light in his eyes had melted Bokuto's heart.

All night, he'd wanted nothing more than to kiss the prince. Not for long. Just a quick, light kiss that could perhaps convey the things he couldn't say. He didn't though. After all, Bokuto wasn't sure how the prince felt about public displays of affection.

Bokuto rolled onto his side for the seventh time. His thoughts kept going back to Akaashi's laugh, and the way he looked when he was all dressed up. He'd been even more flustered than usual to be around him.

Of course, he should be surprised. The guard had loved him for quite some time. But still...

Dammit.

Bokuto is utterly and truly in love with Akaashi.