Masquerade | Marshmello

ONE

Caen lead Nikolai to the ballroom, where Anoranthe awaited his guests for the after party. The celebrities had already made their way to the room long ago, leaving a few stragglers behind. Those stragglers consisted of a few others excluding Caen and Nikolai, who had been talking so much they're failed to realise just how empty the dining room had gotten. Upon noticing the absence of everyone's presence, Caen had decided it was time to rejoin everyone else in the one room Nikolai despised the most.

The ballroom. The room that he'd made so many embarrassing mistakes in. He shuddered at the thought of making a fool of himself again, but remembered that he had made a new acquaintance that seemed different from the other ones he'd danced with before. This man actually seemed to know what he was doing, unlike the immature men he'd brought to these banquets the years before.

"Is dancing required, or could I just sneak out and go somewhere else?" Nikolai wondered aloud, watching all of the elite pair up and start dancing to the classical music that was playing.

"Anoranthe has put so much thought and time into this, and you don't want to enjoy it to it's fullest capacity?" Caen asked, turning Nikolai to him.

"Not really, no. Partiest like this aren't even my thing, Caen. I much prefer staying at home, cracking open a good book and sitting in my room with a nice, lit candle while a C-Drama plays in the background." He answered, crossing his arms as he turned back to the crowded ballroom. How many celebrities did his friend know to have such a huge party like this? He sighed with discontent.

"Try it. For me." Caen whispered, his breath fanning against Nikolai's neck. He frowned at the sudden closeness of his new acquaintance, preferring to keep a good distance between himself and others unless he intended for them to grow closer.

"I need to go get a drink. You go ahead without me." Nikolai frowned, stepping away from the man's chest. He didn't enjoy the warmth the man gave him as much as he thought he would.

"I'll go with yo-" He raised his hand, peering up at the man.

"Please, just let me have one sweet moment to myself. This place seems to be getting more and more crowded..."

"All the more reason for me to go with you. The more people, the more dangerous." Caen purred.

"For the love of all that is holy and unholy, please leave me alone for two fucking seco-"

"Is this man bothering you?" Oh for fuck's sake. Nikolai turned to the man standing beside the quarreling pair.

"He just doesn't understand that I need a moment alone, so I'm going to go get something to drink." Nikolai answered softly to the mysterious stranger.

"You know you don't ever have to answer to someone else, right?" He sighed.

"Hence why I was just fixing to walk off." He answered with a small frown. Why is everyone so suddenly concerned? God, I just want to go home... He studied the man carefully. Something about the man seemed... Familiar.

"Alright. I'll leave you two to it, then." The man walked away, rounding the corner into the dining area where the drinks were.

"As I was saying-"

"Yeah, no. I'm coming with you." Caen smirked, grasping Nikolai's wrist firmly.

"Who told you you could make decisions for me? Because I don't remember ever giving you my explicit consent to do so. Why don't you go somewhere else and leave me alone, now? I was fine with you before you started making decisions for me. That's when you started getting on my last nerve." Nikolai spoke softly, yanking his wrist from Caen's iron-like grip. His gaze dropped down to Caen's hand, then he shoved his palm into the man's firm chest, forcing him back into the wall with a loud thud. He shook his head. Wouldn't want to cause any more trouble for my friend than I already have by being here. Perhaps I should just leave... The music doesn't even sound that great anymore. This evening is turning into a vivid nightmare that will haunt me for months, if not years. He thought to himself, forcing his way through the ever-growing-crowd. He finally reached the table that had been filled with drinks, most of them containing insane amounts of alcohol.