dekiaixdevil

Klaus has a couple of surprises in store for his adorable boyfriend; one being impromptu waltz lessons and the other serves as a reminder of just how special Leo is to him.
Word Count: 1276
Characters: Klaus/Leonardo

"Weird," says Leo with a sigh as he cranes his head back to get a closer look at the sign in front of him. Its title matches the one scrawled across the card his rose came attached to, but he takes a glance around to see that no one else is here. "The note said to – "

CREAK. Suddenly the double doors open wide. Leo is pretty sure he almost wet his pants, but he opts to peer inside. The hotel is dark and vacant, just like outside.

"Ehh, is this really the place you wanted to meet at?" he mutters to himself and swallows thickly before heading inside. Lanterns hang along the walls and light a single path through the darkness. Their light is warm and welcome, and Leo follows the string of sconces until he comes to another set of doors. His heart pounds so hard inside of his chest that it almost hurts. "Waah!"

The doors open on their own again, and Leo starts to wonder if this isn't a trap set by one of the Kings or Aligura. Just as he's about to shuffle aside, he spots someone familiar in the middle of the room, bathed in a golden spotlight.

"You're a bit late, Leonardo." Klaus smiles and replaces his pocket watch in the breast pocket of his black jacket. Upon approaching the boy, he notices something a little off. "I trust you found the hotel all right? You look shaken…"

Leo has no idea why, but he's blushing from his ears down to his neck. He backs away from his boss some and waves his hands around, stammering, "No, no! I'm fine! I just, uh…" His voice trails off into nothing, but he can't help thinking, "Man, Klaus is dressed really nice. He looks good in a suit."

Then Leo looks down at what he's wearing and slumps over some. His eyebrow twitches. "I, on the other hand, look like a bum."

"Don't concern yourself over your attire," cuts in Klaus with a soft chuckle. "I wanted this to be a surprise, so I didn't expect you to come dressed to the hilt as I am."

"S-So, what was the rose for? I mean, I'm glad to have it, but I…" Leo runs into another proverbial wall and stops himself short again. Inhaling deeply, he tries again, "It's a really nice gesture, and I'll be sure to treasure it. Aren't these a symbol for something, though? I always thought – "

Klaus doesn't mind having to repeat himself on the matter. His smile never fades as he takes Leo's hand in his and raises it to his lips. "You mean a great deal to me, Leonardo. Yours is a special existence, and I'm happy to be a part of it."

"Oh. That's what he means," thinks Leo with another thick gulp. "I-I l-love…" He struggles to get the words out despite his shyness. "…y-you, too."

With a snap of Klaus's fingers, a slow melody wafts through the speaker system overlooking the ballroom. It's so simple compared to what Klaus normally listens to, with nothing but an acoustic guitar strumming in time with a woman's hushed vocals, but Leo remembers it from somewhere. He can't put his finger on it as Klaus leads him towards the center of the room.

"We're gonna dance?" he asks with a vapid expression when Klaus puts a hand on his shoulder.

Libra's headman laughs again and nods. "Have you forgotten about the charity gala this weekend? I believe I invited a fortnight ago," he explains while he laces his free hand with Leo's and holds it aloft. "I promised to teach you the waltz since you didn't know it."

Their first few steps are clumsy and end with Leo stumbling over Klaus's shoes. The boy comes to an abrupt halt and heaves a sigh. "I don't think I'm cut out for this."

"Nonsense. You just need to follow my lead and not your own." Klaus takes his hands again. "Slower this time…That's it." He circles once and Leo fumbles along with him. "The waltz isn't an energetic step like the Jazz you're so used to, Leonardo. Easy…Ah."

Leo stumbles again and falls forward into Klaus's arm. It's aggravating that he can't keep up with his boss, lover, boyfriend, protector…whatever, he thinks. It's frustrating that he has heard this song before but he can't quite place it; it's important to him, so why can't he remember where its from? He's so short that –

"Leonardo," Klaus interrupts his thoughts, "is something the matter? You seem flustered."

"I'm too damn short for my own good, that's what…" As if looking for an added effect to his incompetence, Leo stares up at his tall superior. His expression falters. "I'm sorry, Klaus."

Klaus holds his hand up and silences Leo. "I believe I have a solution to our stark problem." Placing his hands firmly around Leo's waist, he lifts the boy off the marble floor and sets him down on top of his shoes. "You should be able to follow my steps now, yes?"

Leo is forced to lean on his partner to keep any sense of balance between them. It's embarrassing this way but also endearing. Klaus's consideration knows no bounds, he thinks as they start off on Klaus's right foot. Leo's breaths even out and follow along with the music after a few times around the large room.

"Moon River, wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style someday," sings the woman over the speakers. Her voice is a lot like Klaus's, muses Leo; soft, certain, and rich. It takes him a moment to realize it, but he has heard this song before.

"Michella," he murmurs against Klaus's jacket. "This is Michella's favorite song."

"That's the other surprise," whispers Klaus as they take another turn and continue gliding along the floor. "Miss Michella Watch consented to being the guest of honor at this weekend's gala the moment she heard you'd be attending."

The song continues, "Oh, dream maker, you heart-breaker, wherever you're going I'm going your way." Leo dares to lift his head and open his eyes a bit, reading Klaus's calm aura with a sigh. His eyes shift down to his own hands and he sees the same colors in his own aura.

"Klaus, I…" he begins.

"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see."

"You don't have to say anything. I can tell just by the look in your eyes what you need to communicate." The Libra headman stops their gentle waltz where they began. Shimmering in the spotlight, he wraps both arms around Leo and holds him close. "Who is important to you is also important to me."

"We're after the same rainbow's end, waiting 'round the bend, my huckleberry friend," croons the song over the ballroom. Leo just stands there on top of Klaus's shoes, doing nothing, not protesting, not stammering, not objecting; he just lets the weight of Klaus's adoration crash over him.

"Thank you," he says at length, trying his best to put his arms around the larger man's waist. "It means a lot to me 'cause I haven't see Michella in such a long time. I just…Thanks. Really."

Klaus sets Leo on his own two feet again and bends down to kiss his forehead. "I should be thanking you, Leonardo," he says with that smile again.

"Moon River and me."

"Your happiness is quite infectious," he finishes and presses another kiss to the top of Leo's head, ruffling his hair after. "So thank you, Leonardo Watch, for crossing my path to begin with."