Beauty and her Beast (Nokto)

~Chapter 2, Part 4~

Nokto: But since you clearly feel out of your depth here, this seems the perfect time to show you something that'll make you feel better.

Veronica: Like what? 

I gave Nokto a suspicious look, but instead of answering, he simply took my hand. And in my spite of myself, I let him lead me across the room. 

Nokto: You see, this way we can avoid making pointless small talk, and we can also avoid your scowl ruining the mood. All we have to do is dance. 

(Dance? Wait, you and me? Are you serious?)

Veronica: Hang on, Nokto-I can't dance!

Nokto: Oh don't worry, that's hardly a problem. 

Veronica: What do you mean, it's-

I was still in the middle of protesting when I felt his arms wrap around me. (What the-) Somehow, I was in his warm embrace. Somehow, my feet were sliding gracefully across the floor. Somehow... I was dancing. (But-all you're doing is supporting me! How is this even possible?)

Nokto: See? There's nothing to worry about. You CAN dance. 

Veronica: I'm not really dancing-I mean-I've just never had anyone lead me this well before.

Nokto: That's what you get for underestimating me. I'll have you to know I take pride in my dancing abilities, even compared to the other princes.

Veronica: In other words, you've danced with a lot of women. 

Nokto: Mmm, that's right. Probably more than all the other princes combined. 

(I definitely wasn't praising you there, so why do you sound so pleased? Weirdo.) But unlike our previous conversations, I felt oddly elated to be sparring with him like that, and his smile set my heart pounding. (Maybe it's because I suddenly feel like I really have been transported into a fairy tale.) Bright chandeliers glittered overhead, beautiful music wove its way around us, and as we spun around the dancefloor, everything I could see was beautiful. (And the man leading me so gracefully is an honest-to-goodness prince, too. And he's handsome, and-)

Nokto: Well? It's not half-bad, dancing with me, is it?

Veronica: I guess not...

Nokto: Haha! You could sound a little more sure. 

(My first impression of you hasn't changed-I still think you're a flirt and a sleaze. But-) He was smiling, and I was smiling, and we were sharing that dazzling, exhilarating moment together, and I was genuinely having fun. And when the dance ended, far sooner than I was expecting, I felt strangely bereft as his hand slipped free of mine. (I can't help wishing we could've danced like that a little longer. It felt magical.) As I sank down in my seat again, I realized I felt giddy and breathless, and then Nokto handed me a glass. 

Nokto: Here you go. You look thirsty. 

Veronica: Thanks. 

I smiled at him as I tilted the glass back, assuming the clear liquid was water... until suddenly my throat was burning. (Hang on-!) 

Veronica: This isn't water!!

Nokto: Isn't it? Oops, sorry, my bad. 

**END OF FLASHBAck**

But the cunning smile on his face told me that he'd known exactly what he'd given me. (I can't believe I trusted you for even a second!) Nokto looked completely unrepentant, and I glared at him for only a moment before I called over a waiter to get me an actual glass of water. But it had been a long, confusing, exhausting day, and I'd never actually managed to have any dinner in the end. The alcohol hit me much faster than usual, and the next thing I knew, I was throwing my arms around Nokto and burying my face happily in his chest. (But the less said about that, the better. Ugh, why do I have to be cuddly drunk? Why did you have to be so warm, and smell so nice, and-)

Nokto: I see you remember everything.