in which oscar intends to walk away with you in his arms, all starting with a dance.
STARRING -> oscar piastri (op81) x reader
WARNINGS/TROPES -> acquaintances to lovers, modern royalty au (oscar is prince of australia), reader is royalty, skinship (lingering touches!!), soft (and sometimes flirty) banter, shy!reader, oscar is actually a gentleman, one kiss at the end <3
ARI SAYS -> the idea was inspired by @verstarris charming mind! prince oscar clicked instantly in my head and i had to do this asap so
ARI'S PLAYING -> bewitched, laufey
WORD COUNT -> eight hundred sixteen (816)
"may i?"
the voice is familiar, one that stirs up a feeling of timidness in your heart as you turn to meet the familiar smiling face of oscar piastri, crown prince of australia and your sweet acquaintance after many balls like this one.
he's offering his hand to you in practiced ease, and you do your best to nod and gracefully bow before him, taking his hand before he slowly walks you to the dance floor.
"you can loosen up. i'm not doing this for a show." oscar has a small smile on his lips as you swing out in front of him as due tradition, shakily inhaling before you come to meet him in the middle. his hand comes to your waist with practiced ease, and your hands join as he starts to spin you across the floor.
"i am as loose as i am going to be tonight, i fear." you try to sigh lightheartedly, and oscar doesn't press you on the matter, nodding as if he understands how you feel.
"let's have fun together. we can talk and catch up as we normally do." oscar's hand is reassuring on your waist as the two of you sway in time with the music.
"marriage candidates aren't boring you too much, are they, prince charming?" you quirk an eyebrow after gaining the strength to let your body do the moving as you conversate with oscar. he rolls his eyes, dark eyebrows scrunching together slightly as he heaves a sigh.
"not too much. i am becoming bored of how many nicknames they can all come up with." oscar softly jabs, and you smile up at him, noting the way his eyes glint at you. "what's the worst one you've heard this week?"
oscar pauses for a moment, cocking his head to the side as he thinks. his dark brown hair whisks with his movement, falling back into his place as he starts to laugh. "one girl called me 'osc-y wosc-y' at dinner, in front of my mother."
"'osc-y wosc-y'? i would have died if i were in that situation." you giggle at the light dust of blush garnishing oscar's freckled face, and he clears his throat, nodding. "i did die. on the inside, of course."
that makes you laugh aloud and lose your footing for a split second, almost stumbling over your own feet. oscar's quick to pull you tight to him, hands flying to your waist to steady you as the music comes to a close.
clapping brings you from the slow-motion daze you felt like you were in moments earlier, and oscar brings his hand to your cheek, lightly pushing a piece of loose hair away as he smiles.
"you okay there?" he asks softly, raising an eyebrow as his hand grazes the skin of your cheek before dropping by his side.
"n-never better." you shyly respond, pulling away from the close proximity to politely bow and clap in thanks to the orchestra for the dance. oscar is too busy trying not to laugh to focus on clapping, and he ends up clapping a little bit too long.
flustered, he clears his throat, and you can't help but laugh aloud, throwing your head back as oscar looks at you with a certain type of fondness in his eyes.
"another dance, please?" oscar softly pleads, stepping close to you to be heard above the din of another peppy violin solo starting off the next dance.
"careful, oscar. people may think you want to marry me after a few too many dances." you teasingly drag your finger down oscar's button-up, and he just smirks under your observation, body tensing slightly as he leans and whispers, "maybe i want that."
the way your cheeks start to bloom and flush is nothing short of embarrassing, and you smile softly, nodding anyways as you again swing out from oscar and bow to him.
"then, if you're ready to face the consequences of your oh-so-gentlemanly-actions..." you return your hands to the position you danced in earlier, and oscar nods, smirk softening into a pleased smile before he cuts you off.
"if only you'll let me add to my already flattering ways," he's pulling you in as part of the dance, slyly pecking your cheek with his lips before you spin away from him. no one would have even noticed the kiss oscar had just given you—he was so nonchalant with it no one could tell what had just transpired between you two.
cheeks warm from being swooned, you can't even find it in yourself to respond to him, content with the biggest smile you can muster as oscar matches it. he continues to spin you around on the tiled dance floor, heart fluttering with the idea of your shared dances becoming something more.
a prince can hope, can't he?
arinote: MEOWWW okay i'm a sucker for prince oscar </3
