Work Text:
The King smiled as he twirled and swirled around the room, Courier six in his arms laughing all the way. It hadn’t taken much convincing to get her to come to this little shin dig they were throwing, even less to get her to dress up. It was spoiled slightly by some of her companions tagging along, but they made good dance partners for his boys if nothing else. Besides that sniper of hers hadn’t deigned to show his mug, and that alone was enough to put a smile on his face. The crooning voice of the original King was echoing around the hall as he and the woman of his dreams glided across the floor. It felt like he had sprouted wings, and any moment now he would be soaring. It was the perfect evening, and the only thing that would make it better would be happening soon. With that former NCR First Recon out of the way, he could finally make his move and no one here would put a bullet in his head for daring to try.
The King climbed the steps to the stage, making sure his hair was still perfectly slicked back as he stepped into the spotlight. He could barely see out into the crowd, only able to really see the few feet of open space in front of the stage they had reserved for dancing, but he knew exactly where he had left his battle hardened lady love. He tried to find her in the crowd as the music started, something slow, and filled with romance. He hoped to convey his feelings for the courier, hoping that she would understand what he was saying through the song.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boone made his way through the gate into Freeside, The King's place coming into view quickly enough. He tried not to make a habit of coming to the King’s School of Impersonation, but here he was about to walk through the front doors wearing a suit he’d dug out of some dusty wardrobe in the Lucky 38, he hadn’t even worn his First Recon Beret, already knowing that the courier would say it ‘ruined the look’. He removed his sunglasses as he stepped into the dance hall, tucking them away into the breast pocket on his suit jacket. It was crowded, but he managed to hone in on his companion immediately, her frizzy curls a dead give away in a sea of grease slicked pompadores. Craig hadn’t even fully entered the room before her head was turning to look at him. It was as if she had a radar just for him, she always seemed to know exactly where he was regardless of if she was purposefully keeping track of him or not.
Boone began to make his way through the crowd, taking in his companion as she moved to meet him halfway. The courier was in a black dress, it looked silky, and fell down to her shins in waves reminiscent of water. She’d also made an attempt to tame her hair, pulling half of it back out of her face. Leaving the rest of the surprisingly long hair to fall down her back in a mess of frizzy coils. The smile plastered to her face as they came to a stop in front of each other was blinding, he almost wanted to pull his sunglasses back out to protect his eyes from the light she seemed to emit.
“I thought you didn’t want to come? In fact I could have sworn you said something like ‘any time spent at The Kings, was time better spent doing literally anything else.’?”
“Yea, well, you seemed pretty disappointed that I wouldn’t be coming. Besides, someone has to keep that sexed up radscorpion in check.” a bark of laughter burst its way out of the courier, she hadn’t been expecting that from him clearly.
“And I suppose that person is you?”
“It might as well be.”
Amusement showed clear on her face as she looked up at him from under her lashes, and his brain promptly packed its bags and left. Her big brown eyes sparkled in the dim lights of the dance hall, and he could just make out the faint freckles that dusted over her cheeks. Faintly, he was aware of her hand coming up to his chest and messing with something on his suit, he had to physically shake his head to bring back focus when he missed her saying something to him.
“Sorry, say again?”
“I said,” he dragged his eyes to where she was fiddling with the fake pink flower pinned to the front of his suit. “What’s this?”
“Lily pinned it to me as I was getting on the elevator earlier. She used too much strength while clasping it I guess, cause I couldn’t get it off. Figured I couldn’t be the worst dressed guy here even with it, so I left it alone.”
Boone fought with himself to keep his eyes focused, and his mind firmly where it was as his companions hand trailed from the flower, down the lapels of the white suit jacket, to where the button held the coat together. And there her hand lingered, fingers splayed ever so slightly over his stomach.
“I like it, if you’re gonna dress up you might as well go all out right?” She looked pointedly up at his head, which was noticeably missing his signature red beret. He managed to scrounge up just enough brain power to huff a laugh at her.
“I was wondering when you were gonna mention the hat.”
“Well it is kinda your signature look, I’m surprised you managed to leave it behind tonight.”
The music seemed to abruptly cut off, and The king came up onto the stage slicking his hair back with a comb that was as promptly tucked into a pocket as he stepped up to the microphone.
“This is for you darlin’.” The King seemed to motion to where the courier had been standing when Boone first made his way inside, before he began crooning about falling in love into the microphone.
“Seems you’ve got quite the admirer.” Looking back to his companion she noticed her nose wrinkled slightly in distaste.
“It seems like that admirer won’t catch a hint.” She sent a small glare over to the man on stage. “I don’t mind being friends with the guy, but all the lavishing with attention and nonstop gifts is honestly a little uncomfortable.”
“Well. What do you say to sending him a more obvious hint?” Boone reached out to grab the hand that wasn’t currently splayed over his stomach, “Care to dance with me?”
She stared at him wide eyed, before another blinding smile broke out across her face.
“Craig Boone you never cease to surprise me. Here I thought I’d have to be the one asking you to dance with me.” With that, she was pulling him to the open spot in front of the stage where a few other couples were dancing together.
Boone had seen The King searching the crowd since he got up on stage, clearly looking for the woman now in his arms. As he twirled her out and brought her back in, Craig made eye contact with the showboating gecko on the stage, and he couldn’t help but smirk.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The King sat on the edge of the stage smoking, watching as his men cleaned up the mess from the party. It had ended an hour ago, and the Courier and her first recon sniper had left well before that. As far as he could tell, they had left shortly after their dance together, where the smug bastard had the gall to smirk as he twirled the girl of his dreams around the dance floor.
His chance had passed this time, but he’d have future opportunities he was sure. The sniper couldn’t be there to chase him off all the time, one day he’d get the perfect chance to tell the courier exactly how he felt about her. And until then? Well, until then he’d just continue on as he has been.