Murder Drones Oneshots

When She Smiles

(Tessa x J) (Jessa/ripping royals) (fluff/angst)

I recommend listening to "When she smiles" by Gigi Perez when reading this oneshot. Thanks for the request!!

IMTHEREALJPLUSH

((I love ripping royals sm, writing angst was torture :'))

The small pitter-patter of her slippers against the floor is what I remember. Her smile and the giggles she couldn't hold back as we slowly descended the stairs to the ballroom is what I remember. The looks she'd give me, is what I always yearned for, always aimed to achieve. Every time she'd look at me with that gleam in her eye, that soft smile on her lips, the small tilt of her head with each beautiful laugh. She was always so irresistible.

"T-Tessa! You're practically dragging me there—s-slow down!—we're going to get caught if you're too loud—boss!" I sputtered as I tripped and treaded awkwardly along as Tessa dragged me helplessly by my hand to the ballroom, running at a speed that was almost inhumanly, especially for a sixteen-year-old girl at midnight.

"Oh calm down, girl! We're almost there! This will be quick, I promise ya!"

I couldn't help but smile at the girl's enthusiasm.

After a few more seconds of being dragged, Tessa finally stopped in the middle of the ballroom floor. The chandeliers above were lit with fake candles, the only fake thing about this enormous room. Each carving of each railing, each hand-sewn banner, each painting, all painfully authentic. Beautiful in the faint golden light of the fake flitting flames above. She looked beautiful in this light, as usual.

"Boss, why must you insist on dragging me here at this early hour?" I questioned, looking down at the hand that Tessa had just held and dragged me here by.

Tessa twirled, looking up at the tall ceilings of the ballroom in awe before finally turning to me once more, holding out a hand gallantly.

"We're gonna dance!"

My optics widened. "Uhh, huh?"

"I wanna dance! Whaddya' say, Jaybird?" That nickname. The nickname she'd always call me. Where she got it, I have no clue.

"Yes, I know, but why?" I hesitantly took hold of Tessa's extended hand, the warmth encompassing my cold metal like a blanket.

"Because, A, I wanta'. And B, the gala's comin up." Tessa smiled, holding both of my hands in hers, gently moving us in a slow rhythm against the tile floor.

My core dropped at the mention of the gala. Right. She's going to dance with one lucky boy. A boy of her parent's choosing.

"I thought ya'd wanna help me learn some moves. I know you have some tricks up ya sleeves." Tessa smiled.

She wants my help. She asked ME for help. Me.

"I can help you, sure, boss."

"Oh, thank ya, Jaybird! You know how much I appreciate this. I could always chip in with the chores, help ya out where I can."

You don't know how much I appreciate you without the help.

"You don't need to do anything for me, boss. Thank you for the offer though, I really appreciate that. Now, anything specific you want to learn?"

Tessa gave me a small eye roll, a smile never leaving her lips as she ignored my decline of her help with the chores. "Um... how about slow dancing? It is a gala after all, I think there'll be a slow dance. I don't know the first thing about dancing with another person like... that." I nodded.

As hard as it was to think about Tessa dancing with someone else, I pushed my hopelessly romantic thoughts away, deep into the back of my central processing unit, and focused on the task at hand.

"Okay. Well, the special boy will probably put his hands on your waist, like this." I gently put my hands on Tessa's waist, continuing to rock up back and forth slowly. "Put your hands on my shoulders." Tessa quickly followed my instructions, her smile had faded at this point, determination taking hold as she focused on each command from me.

"Slow dances typically start off like this. The boy's hands on your waist, yours on his shoulders, slowly rocking back and forth. You're doing well so far. There's really not much to it after that. He might adjust his hands or move them to your shoulders as well, but you shouldn't panic. Just take it easy, breathe, and you'll be fine. Don't worry much about your footing, as much as the movies say that you will, you won't step over his feet." Tessa nodded intently, looking directly at me, processing my words.

"You might want to adjust your hands a little too. Don't apologize if he looks at you a little confused by the way you do things. He'd probably be confused on how well you dance. If you look like you know what you're doing, he'll think he's the one doing it wrong. He might try to critique your methods, don't worry. Keep a calm composure, try your best, and you'll nail it. Don't overthink it."

"Okay." Tessa looked a little stressed, I could tell. "Stop worrying. You've got this. I know you do." I gently put a hand to her cheek, moved my visor close to her face. Tessa's eyes never left my optics.

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Good.

"Okay."

"You're doing good. Keep breathing. Relax your face. Let your muscles relax. Let yourself enjoy the dance. You don't have to look at me, you can look around a little bit, but don't look like your uninterested by looking away for too long. Even just looking over my shoulder is good for avoiding the awkward eye contact—"

"This isn't awkward to me."

She's still looking at me.

"Good. Feel free to rest your head on my shoulder if you like."

A few seconds passed of Tessa practicing looking from me to behind me. Her head on my shoulder, her head off my shoulder. Her breath on my neck, her breath on my cheek, on my face. Her eyes on me.

"You're doing great. That's really all it takes. You could try small talk, but I'd let him engage in the talking. Don't be too forward when sharing information. Don't give too much away, let him share too." Tessa nodded, her head back on my shoulder, her eyes looking to me as I held her hands at our sides.

"J?"

"Yes, Tessa?"

"You said my name."

"Oh. Sorry. Yes, boss?"

"Nah, it's okay. I like when ya call me by my name. Ya don't do it a lot, but I like when ya do. It's nice."

"Thanks, Tessa. What did you need?"

"I just wanted to say, thank ya for the help. Again. Ya really mean a lot to me. You're really special." My core skipped a beat and I stopped the rocking back and forth. "I— thank you, thank you, T-Tessa." I stuttered.

"Mhm." Tessa moved closer to me, putting her arms around my neck just like I taught her, nuzzling against my neck with her eyes closed. "We need to start hangin out more, girl. I miss not seein ya during the day. You're always so busy..." I swallowed, having trouble finding the words.

"I hope the boy I find tomorrow's a sweet one. I don't want a stud who's all prim and prop, no fun. I know ya wouldn't let a rude one head off anywhere with me."

Tessa stood up, yawning and letting go of me. "I think s'bout time I get to bed, big day tomorrow! G'night, J! Thank ya so much, again!" And then she left.

"I hope the boy I find tomorrow's a sweet one."