Chapter Text
The gala was fully underway. Music was flourishing, champagne was being poured, and hors d’oeuvres were being served. To the average person, it was a simply fantastic event that only the rich and fabulous could attend. Though, you being you, you had your connections and were there as a guest of honor. Well, one of the guests of honor. You weren’t rich. And, in your own opinion, you weren’t that fabulous either. That didn’t stop nearly every man there from asking you to dance with them.
You would twirl and twirl and twirl. It was getting to the point where you were feeling sick. Though, you weren’t entirely sure if it was from the spinning or from the lack of food. While the food was plentiful, you felt it was your duty to make everyone there happy. Otherwise, you felt as though those that invited you were being dishonored.
There was a lull in the music as some of the live performers took a small break to use the restroom, rehydrate, and give their bodies a break. You glanced around, making sure no one was making a beeline for you. The coast was clear. Quickly, you made your way towards the buffet table hosting a variety of the hors d’oeuvres.
"[Y/N]!” a voice chimed and a man stepped in your way. He didn’t look at all familiar, but the smile and the way he said your name made you think you’ve met him in one lifetime. “It’s so great to see you, I’m so glad you could make it!”
“It’s so great to see you, too! How have you been?” you brownnosed and inwardly cringed as he gave you a hug.
“Just fine! I actually just got back from a trip from Africa. You’ll have to come over to my place again and the wife and I can show you some pictures. You’ll love them. We have so many interesting stories.”
You’ve been to his house before, you mentally noted. Still, you hadn’t any idea who the bastard was. That’s what you get for fundraising, being in deep with political crowds, and not having the ability to say no.
“That sounds lovely, just message me later, alright?” you smiled politely. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am simply famished.”
“Right, of course!”
As you walked away, you shuddered. Then, your eyes were set on the table. Your hands graced a small plate and you used a variety of tongs to fill it. There was fruit, cheese, crackers, and something that looked fancy but you weren’t sure what it was so you put it on your plate anyway. Just as you were about to take a bite, the music started playing once more.
“May I have this dance?” You looked over with your mouth open and the food making way into your mouth. There was a guy close to your age staring at you. You darted your eyes between the plate and the man. He started to tap his foot impatiently. “Well?”
“I-I’m sort of eating?” you said as though it was a question.
“You can eat later.”
It took everything in you to not curse the man out right then and there. He reached for the plate as if he was going to take it out of your hands. You tumbled backward in shock and bumped into a solid figure.
“I-I’m so sorry!” you stammered and turned to look at who you ran into.
There was another man with kind blue eyes, curly blond hair, and a gentle round face. He simply smiled at you and then glanced at the man who was attempting to steal your food. “No worries, my dear,” he said. “I was actually coming this way to see if you needed assistance!”
“Assistance?” you questioned. Your eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"Yes,” he mused. “It seems as though you were simply trying to feed yourself when this buffoon decided he was far more important than you and didn’t at all consider your feelings.”
“What?” the buffoon growled. “Who do you think you are?”
“A gentleman,” the blond nodded proudly. He turned his attention back to you. “Now, would you care to join me in eating? I was going to get another plate myself.”
“That sounds heavenly,” you sighed and finally took a small bite of your food. With your stomach growling threats at you, you didn’t bother to taste it and quickly swallowed it. “Thank you.”
"My pleasure!” The blond quickly filled a plate and led you to a secluded corner of the gala. “I’ve noticed you’ve been trying to make your way towards the food for quite some time now.”
You nearly choked on your cheese and crackers. “You did?”
He chuckled lightly and nodded his head. “Yes. It seems you’re quite popular here.” You grumbled to yourself. The blond frowned, “Not too happy with that?”
Straightening up, you shook your head. “I should be grateful that these people have welcomed me. But there’s a bit of a pressure to be perfect. I-I’m not really from this sort of scene, I’m not rich. So I feel that if I mess up, I’ll be scrutinized and tossed aside. I have to keep these connections.”
"And why’s that?”
With a sigh, you placed a bit of the cheese and cracker back on its plate. You looked to the side with guilt. “I need their money to support a non-profit I’m with. It’s selfish, I know.”
The blond chuckled lightly. “I would say it would be selfish if the money was for yourself. But it’s not. You put up with these stuffy people and in return your help a good cause.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. Now! If you’d like, I did see a balcony overlooking the gardens just outside of here. You could go escape over there. Oh! I could keep watch, like a spy! I could make sure no one bothers you for the rest of the night.”
You gave the man a crooked smile. He was a bit odd, yes. But he seemed genuine, not trying to one-up every other person in the room by talking about his grandiose stories of wasteful spending. “Actually, I wouldn’t mind being out there with you.”
“Really?” A look of shock formed on his face before turning into a wide grin and his entire body wiggled ever so slightly. You hummed in agreement. “Well, follow me!”
You glanced around to make sure no one was watching you before the pair of you snuck out of the ballroom. The night air was crisp. Goosebumps formed on your arms and you shivered ever so slightly.
“Here,” you heard the man rumble. A warm weight was placed around your shoulders. You glanced at them and noticed the man’s jacket covering you.
“Th-thank you,” you stuttered and a rosy hue painted itself on your cheeks.
The man merely smiled before looking up at the twinkling stars. You took a moment to take him in. At that moment, the moon was rising from the horizon. It almost made it seem like this gentleman had a halo. You smiled before finishing your food.
“If you could make one wish, what would it be?” he asked out of nowhere. Though, the way he was looking at the stars, perhaps he was referring to making a wish on one.
You glanced up at the galaxy surrounding the two of you. It took you a couple of minutes to think it over, through which he waited patiently. “That everything would turn out okay.”
“It will,” he said just above a whisper.
A small breeze blew through. Although you had his jacket on you, you still felt the chill. Shivering, you stepped just a tad closer to him. “How do you know that?”
He looked over at you and stepped closer himself to where your arms brushed against one another. “Miracles happen all the time.”
You hummed and pondered over it for a bit. Still, you kept your eyes up at the stars. There was one, in particular, that was shined brighter than the others. Closing your eyes, you did make a wish. You wished that everything would be alright.
The man watched you with interest. You looked so peaceful with your eyes shut. He felt a slight flush in his face, but he refused to look away. With the light from the stars and the moon, you were absolutely gorgeous. He found himself subconsciously making the air around the two of you colder. Your shuttered and opened your eyes. Taking a deep breath, he wrapped his arm around your shoulders and brought you closer to him to keep you warm.
“I’m sorry.” He realized what he had just done. “I should have asked first.”
He went to move his arm away, but you shook your head. “I-it’s alright,” you said shyly. “It’s either this or go back inside. I want to stay out here a bit longer.”
The man found himself smiling down at you. He looked back up at the stars, determined to make your wish come true.