They’ve danced before; something traditional and folksy at Maiden’s Peak, but nothing like this.
Nothing slow and intimate and, dare she say, romantic, like she always daydreamed about doing with him since she was a little girl, watching him across the room at banquets and Christmas parties, the music soft and the lights low and twinkling.
Her hand is cupped with his, his other hand resting delicately at her waist and her hand on his shoulder. They’re facing each other, eye to eye, swaying to the music, and she wonders if he can tell how brightly she’s blushing.
He’s not a fantastic dancer, which is the least surprising thing part of all of this, but he’s trying, and that is more than enough to make her forgive a few stepped-on toes. As far as she’s concerned, he’s the best dancer there.
“You look really nice tonight,” he says quietly, finally breaking the silence. Misty smiles.
“So do you,” she tells him honestly. “I didn’t think you even owned a suit.”
“Oh, I don’t,” he chuckles. “Someone gave me this to wear tonight. Apparently I can’t be trusted to dress myself.”
Misty giggles, biting back the ridiculous, lovesick smile fighting to reveal itself, as Ash flashes her a goofy grin.
They relax a little as the song plays on, Ash even loosening up enough to lead her into a twirl that ends with them closer together than where they started. Misty waits for him to back up a bit again, but he never does, so she enjoys the rare closeness while she has it.
“Thank you, by the way,” Ash whispers. His breath against her ear giving her a chill.
“For what?” she asks, hating that she can hear the tremble in her voice.
“For, you know, coming to this.”
Misty raises an eyebrow. “Of course I came,” she tells him with a scoff. “Why wouldn’t I come?”
Ash raises an eyebrow back at her. “Because you’re busy? And you had to come all the way to Alola?”
“Oh no, a long weekend in a tropical paradise with my best friend,” she teases, rolling her eyes. “How will I justify taking off work for something like that?”
Ash laughs loudly, somehow leaning even closer to rest his forehead against hers. “Okay, fair,” he says, his eyes closed and his smile sharp before softening into something more modest. “It just seems like a long way to travel for something kinda silly.”
“It’s not silly.” She frowns. “Five years of being a regional Champion is a big deal, Ash.”
“I know, I know,” he says, standing back up straight and waving her off. He meets her gaze again and cringes. “But the big party? It just seems like a bit… Much.”
“It’s Alola, Ash. You guys are always partying and celebrating something. It’s one of the reasons I love visiting.”
He can’t argue with that, so he shrugs sheepishly and drops it for now, twirling her again to change the subject.
They slow dance together until the end of the song, electric tingles shooting up her spine every time she feels one of Ash’s fingers move against her.
The songs ends, and maybe she’s imagining it, but it feels like Ash hesitates before finally pulling away. It’s only when a man in a League lanyard and ID card appears at his side and taps his shoulder, motioning for him to follow, that Ash sighs and steps back from her arms.
“Thank you for the dance, Mist,” he says, smiling handsomely, his brown eyes soft. And before she can stop him, he takes her hand, bows chivalrously, and kisses just above her knuckles.
He winks, and then he’s off, disappearing into the crowd. Back to reality.
All she can do is watch him go, stunned into silence.
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