Work Text:
Bold Letters are Song Lyrics
Italics are memories
Plain words are present
Kai’s Perspective:
You say to me your jeans don’t fit
You don’t feel pretty and it’s hard to miss
“Kai, I don’t think this is a good idea- like I feel we should just stay inside…”
“Cinder, you do seem to realize that you are the one hosting the party?” he asked only to receive a nod for confirmation as she examined herself in the mirror.
“I don’t think you can ditch your own party, one which has so many international leaders in it at least.”
“Can’t you just go and tell them I’m sick or something like that?” she lamented.
Now, this took him by surprise, Cinder had put hours and minutes to make the State Dinner cum Lunar Ball a success and seeing how she wanted to last-minute ditch it was strange.
“Hey, everything okay?” he questioned, standing behind her.
“Yeah,” she said, offering him a short smile, “Just stressed out to back out last minute.”
I wish that you could see my point of view
As someone staring back at you
Nudging his head in the crook of her neck, he placed his lips at the base of the collar bone, “Don’t worry, you would do good!”
“Easy for you to say- I’m panicking on the inside! This is my first time trying to act like royalty. I’m even wearing a pretty dress hosting a big parade of leaders like the Queen of Luna. I just don’t want anyone to think I’m the incompetent Queen who has no idea of what ruling a country is- I really don’t want to come out as a fool to anyone,” she rambled.
“Cinder, look at me,” he asked and stared into her eyes, “You will do fantastic and not come out as an ignorant ruler to anyone. I will be there to help you through it remember?”
“I don’t think asking you how to use the cutlery at the dinner table is the best thing to do to make an impression,” she sassed him.
“Now that depends on the person sitting near you- you won’t want Queen Camilla seeing you be unroyal enough to not know how to hold your spoon now would you?” he retorted.
“Well, I’m worried about that too,” she admitted, clearly going back to the same topic from which Kai was trying to drive her away.
Sighing he asked, “Is this because of what happened the day before yesterday?”
Reluctantly she nodded her head, her reflection seen in the mirror before them.
“C'mon no one cares even in the slightest if you hugged me before all the masses of people and journalists, I have heard we are quite trending in today’s news-”
“Kai, you are not helping!”
“Maybe you could go for a kiss next time,” he suggested.
“Ha, as if I would, after what happened?!” she exclaimed.
“Who cares about what Camilla and Andrea think anyways?”
Cinder had made a nice fuss in her own mind trying to regret her decision of bear-hugging Kai before everyone, which on his part he was delighted about. And maybe Queen Camilla and Prime Minister Andrea had been a bit too loud about speaking of Cinder’s rash actions.
“Hmm.. yeah. Obviously, I do,” she said, clearly not paying attention to her words.
“Did you sleep yesterday?” he asked.
“A little bit,” she hesitantly admitted.
“How long?” he demanded.
“A few hours maybe-” he shot her a glare which did its work as she answered,“- two hours.”
“Stars above, if not for this ball. I would have put you to bed.”
“What’s the hurry, Kai?” she asked, making the tips of his ears flush light pink.
“Okay- okay. I think you are fine now that you want to flirt with me!” he affirmed.
She smirked and moved around to face him, setting her hands on his shoulders and laughed, “Scared of me, are you, Emperor?”
He pulled her closer, holding her in a warm embrace and whispered, “Aren’t you wickedly evil, Your Majesty?”
He leaned in closer, capturing her lips with his own, tasting the red lipstick she had put. Before they could initiate anything more intimate, there was a knock on the door followed by Iko’s voice, “You two should really come out before someone makes the right assumptions about what you are doing in there!”
Now this made both of them flush with embarrassment as they gave flustered looks towards the door anticipating the arrival of Iko inside. She never came saving them both from a lot of discomforts.
“Well, I think we should get going?” he questioned.
“Yeah, I think I need a moment,” she replied.
“Then I would-”
She cut off his words, asking,“ Would you please stay here?”
“Uh- Sure, Cinder,” he replied.
“Thank You, Kai.” She said looking relieved.
He decided to sit on the armchair till she picked herself up to look like a regal Queen. With silence for his only companion, his mind wandered around, thinking about the person standing a few feet away from him.
One Friday night when we’re all out
I turn to you and you’re looking down
And you don’t wanna dance
I know you love to dance
You never stop given half the chance
“He looked at her only to find her avoiding his gaze. Staying back he asked, "Hey, what happened?”
“Uh- nothing!” she lied terribly.
“Cinder are you going to really make me believe that?”
“I don’t know but just buy that lie,” she pleaded.
“You don’t want to get your hands dirty?”
“I don’t feel like myself right now.”
Surprised he incredulously asked, “You, a mechanic doesn’t want to go under a podship and get your hands dirty?”
“No,” she muttered.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“You just seem stranger than usual self.”
“Trust me, Kai, I don’t want to become dirty before my first diplomat meeting as the Queen while another mechanic is already present there,” she insisted.
“Fine then.”“
Just keep your head up, love, keep your head up
Don’t hide away, don’t ever change
"Kai, do you think I should get a Garan’s device too?”
“Well, I don’t think you need to have that device. Like irrespective of what people tell you and what you try to convince yourself- you are a Lunar. The Lunar gift is surely fabulous- like don’t get me wrong but you can feel someone’s bio-electricity, it’s sorta a blessing in disguise unless you decide to use it for the wrong purposes- I know you won’t do that. Practically, I think it might help in Earth-Lunar political relations if you have the device but it does not really make much of a difference. Winter has it yet stupid leaders think she is manipulating them with her beauty. I think you should not install it- the gift is a part of you. Being Lunar- It is what you are! Don’t change it because some angry citizen calls you a Lunar witch. You are what you are and I love you for that!”
“Kai if I would have been there I would have kissed you senseless!”
“Good, I don’t deserve anything less after making such a sentimental speech,” he said, smirking.
Keep your head up love, keep your head up
Don’t look away, don’t look away
'Cause everybody’s looking at you now
My, oh, my
That time when she had addressed the issues on cyborgs and Lunar- discrimination on Earth. Her eyes were ablaze with passion as she happens to look determined to make a difference. To change the wrong-doings around her, to change the age-old prejudices in the society- to change the future of both her nation and her kind.
“-I believe that together we can make a difference. I hope the sufferings of people in the society decline and look forward to the situations changing for cyborgs, Lunars and Earthens. I look forward to a world where we can live together harmoniously. I consider that no one is liable for the nature of misery and treatment that my kind has suffered in the past. I trust we can change the world for every one of us- for the better of my kind.”
Even when your tears are falling down
Still somehow
You’re perfect now
“"I’m so relieved that I can’t cry right now.”
“Cinder, I told you it would have been fine and I’m sorry… Besides I care- ”
“Kai, they happen to call me names. I did not want to look like a sick crybaby before them who cried just because I was called an 'ugly Lunar slash Cyborg’,’” she fumed.
Seeing how she needed comfort more than ever, he hugged her, drawing circles on her back- trying to loosen the tension in her shoulders.
“Cinder, even if you were ugly crying right now, you would have been the most beautiful person in the world,” he reassured, meaning them.
“You are perfect just the way you are!”“
You never do but if you asked me to
I’d tell the truth lying next to you
'Cause you’re the only one
When it’s said and done
You make me feel like being someone good to you
He wondered if he should tell her how beautiful she was. She was the perfect mixture of strength, compassion and determination. She never fetched compliments, never asked Kai how she looked, if she was pretty. That did not stop Kai from showering her with affections that she had been lost on in her early years.
Even at your worst
You steal the scene and it’s unrehearsed
"Queen Selene Channary Jannali Blackburn was sighted in the outer sector TC-6 helping a young man of 20 named, Mr. Stiton. He tells that he was facing difficulties when Her Majesty encountered him during her tour to sector LM-14. He states that she helped him fix one of the technical difficulties faced while flying a podship. Her Majesty previously had worked as a mechanic in the city of New Beijing. Sources tell she was the best in town.”
Kai wondered who these so-called sources were. Somehow Cinder managed to excel at unexpected works- even when she was not trying, she had everyone’s attention.
’Every insecurity as a neon sign as bright as day’
“Kai, I really think I should cover my hand! Just pass me the glo-”
“No! You are not wearing the gloves to cover your hand,” he denied, making sure to keep the said pair of gloves away from his girlfriend.
“It’s so different, not to mention with the hand being gloveless I feel naked, can’t you please give me that glove, please,” she begged, with a pout.
“Cinder, I said ’No’. There’s no way I’m going to let you wear that. Stars- and Iko wanted you to flaunt your leg!” he exclaimed, dragging his girlfriend out.
How could a person as bold and determined and beautiful as Cinder, ever feel insecure?
If you knew what you were to me
You would never try to hide away
Cinder, through her own eyes, was an unworthy soul but if she only knew what she meant to Kai- more than just a lover. Within just a year, she was his everything. She was the one- being with her made him whole, made him feel blissful and lively, like all of sudden his life had found its meaning. She was like the water in a desert, the fire in the cold, the chill in the heat. He would convey the depth of his feelings someday- not today. This was a conversation for another day.
I guess some queens don’t need a crown
And I know why
She looked too good, even powerful without the Lunar crown and Kai finally understood the meaning of, 'Some Queens don’t need crowns.’
Still somehow
You’re perfect now
He keeps the crown on her head making sure to not disturb her intricate yet beautiful braid.
“Now you, My Queen are perfectly ready!”
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