Of Temperance (Prt. 2)

*Summary: A series of connected vignettes on how an OC meet’s the four chocobro’s. Warning, a lot of liberties were taken.

Meeting the Prince was the quietest of all the meetings.

It was their first dancing lesson, and he looked very…enthusiastic about being there. He was sitting on the floor of their studio, leaning with his back pressed against the wall. His eyes were closed, and at first glance he just seemed to be bored and resting with his eyes closed. However, being able to hear the snoring was something of a tip off that the prince was actually deeply sleeping.

Alec sighed heavily and pressed their fingers into their eyes and rubbed them. They’d never had a student fall asleep on them. With a huff the stalked over and crouched down in front of him. They tilted their head and tried to decide what they’d do. Wake him by yelling or shake him? In the end, they decide on neither and simply reached out and plugged his nose.

With his air supply so suddenly cut off, Noctis sputtered awake. At first he glared at the one who dared disturb him. But then it dawned on him where he was, and he connected the dance studio to the person in front of him. Presumably his instructor. His face immediately began to burn when he realized that he had already been caught sleeping in class and they hadn’t even met yet.

They beamed brightly at him, and he had the sudden sinking feeling they didn’t appreciate finding him asleep. “Welcome to the world of the living! Now that you’re back, you ready to get started?”

“Uh…Yeah?” He said hesitantly.

“Good!” They stood up in a fluid motion and pulled him to his feet. “My name’s Alec in case you don’t know. And we have exactly 6 months before you have to be able to dance at the king’s ball.”

He was about to cut in but they did’t pause in their talk. It didn’t help that he was suddenly rendered speechless when they grabbed his hand and placed it on their waist and took his other hand in theirs in the most basic of forms.

“The king’s ball, as you probably know, has been something of a tradition for ages. It’s held annually, but only adults are allowed to go. And this is your first year in attendance correct? Don’t interrupt.” They had placed their other hand on his shoulder, and when they saw him try to respond they frowned and mildly scolded him. “Anyways, it’s not every year we have a prince in attendance. And considering your lacking knowledge of the most basic of courtly dances, your father sent you, and your friends because I’m assuming they’re going to be in attendance with you, to my mother’s academy. Keep your hand here.”

They guided his hand back onto their waist, as he had let go while they were speaking. “My mother taught your father this too. And my grandfather taught the beloved queen before Regis, may she be at rest. So, I guess we’re next in this odd tradition. Now, pay attention and remember where your hands are. This is just a simple box step.”

They used their feet to guide his to their places, one at a time and step by step. Noctis was a bit tongue tied at how they seemed to be rushing things. He suspected they were a tad nervous, but didn’t want to point it out. When they were satisfied that he had the basics, they nodded and pushed him a little faster through the step. For a moment he thought it was rather easy, and there was no way it was going to take six months to learn this. But then he stepped down onto their foot and they winced.
“S-sorry.” He looked up from their feet and they shook their head.

“Happens all the time, don’t worry about it. I lost count of how many times Ignis has stepped on me. And don’t even get me started on PROMPTO.” They snickered and he couldn’t help but chuckle along with them.

They spent the rest of their time together talking about nothing, and just going through to motions. Muscle memory would be key and they wanted him to memorize this. And there was never an awkward moment, though there were a few times where Noctis stumbled or stepped on them again. But they were good at keeping thing moving fluidly. When their time came to an end, they both felt as if they had made another friend.

~

Meeting the fourth of the quartet went smoother than they expected. Smoother, if the definition of smoother was ‘most stressful’.

They had yet to meet the infamous Galdiolus Amicitia, as he had skipped about a month’s worth of lessons. Which wasn’t too big of a surprise. He’d texted the first week to let them know just how useful he thought dance lessons were in the first place, and that he wouldn’t be attending. Now, it was rather petty of them they knew, but they had gone straight to Ignis with his attitude. They felt it unfair, considering the lessons had already been paid for, that he’d walk out of lessons with them without having learned a damned thing.

Ignis told them where he could be found when they stated they were going to drag him to his lessons by his ear. Though he didn’t say anything against it, and even gave them a fair warning the Galdiolus could be difficult. He wouldn’t even go when Ignis had asked him to. Then they saw that look on his face and knew that there was something he hadn’t told them. And they quickly found out what it was upon reaching the training arena for the recruits for the crowns guard. Apparently, like them, he was the child of an instructor. Difference being his family specialized in combat. But still.

They were not expecting a GIANT.

They had barely asked a recruit where Galdiolus was, or rather demanded to know, they heard a gruff voice say, “Behind you.”

The recruit scurried away with a look of terror on their face and Alec frowned at the reaction. Surely he wasn’t that scary. They turned on heel, ready to give him a piece of their mind only to come eye to eye with his chest. They blinked and then craned their neck backwards to look up.

…Sweet mother, what had they done to get him as a student?

Unfortunately, they were so caught off guard that the first thing to pop out of their mouth was, “Whoa.”

Then they shook their head and took a step backwards so they didn’t have to crane their neck so far, and he had the audacity to laugh of at them. They crossed their arms and waited for him to quiet himself before speaking, their cheeks turning color. They knew they were a tad bit on the short side, but standing next to him seriously made them feel like a child again. No wonder Ignis laughed. Even they had a hard time picturing anyone dragging him by anywhere by his ears.

“So you’re looking for me?” He finally said after settling himself, a wide grin on his face.

They nodded, their face still burning. “Gladiolus ‘won’t dance’ Amicitia I take it.”

He frowned but the amusement never left his eyes. “The one and the same I guess. I take it you’re…”

He paused and then frowned for real this time.

Alec’s eye narrowed. “You don’t even remember my name, do you.”

He shrugged and didn’t meet their eyes in embarrassment. “To be fair, it’s been a month since we spoke…”

“Which is why I’m here.” They sighed. “You haven’t been showing up for your classes. At all. And you’re still listed as one of my students. As one of my students, I fully expect you to be in your sessions and-”

“Yeesh, when did ballerinas become bounty hunters?” He drawled, turning his head to hide his smirk. He didn’t want them to know he was messing with them. It was kind of funny seeing someone so small trying to scold him.

Their mouth dropped for a moment before they could collect themself, “Excuse me?”

Their arms dropped from their chest and they seemed a bit stunned by how offended they felt. So they marched over to where he was standing and jabbed him in the chest before launching into a rant.

“Now listen here Tiny!” Gladiolus blinked at the nickname, but was curious enough to let them keep going. “You are currently listed as one of my students, and as such you are expected to show up and learn something! IF you’re not going to attend, then tell whoever it is who paid for the class to get a refund so I can drop you as a student. I can’t have you walking out of my class having learned NOTHING! You are messing with my reputation and I WON’T HAVE IT.”

Alec, at the end of their rant, looking like a small bird with its feathers ruffled, sent a scathing glare at Gladio when he started laughing. Again. While his eyes were closed and he was distracted, they muttered to themself, “Well, Ignis didn’t object to it…”

So without really thinking it through, they reached up and grabbed his ears and pulled him down to their level. “Ignis said you’d be difficult.”

The got Gladio’s attention and he fell silent, shocked that this person had actually GRABBED HIS EARS. When they were satisfied they had his attention they let go and crossed their arms once more.

“Now, I know you don’t think much of dancing, but you will be attending the king’s ball in 5 months. No student of mine is going to walk into something that important without knowing what to do. So either quit or start showing up.” They narrowed their eyes, “Am I clear?”

He blinked and shook his head, shaking the surprise away. “Yeah…”

They then smiled almost too sweetly, and said, “Great! So see you tonight at 6.”

They then pushed past him and walked out, with a triumphant smile on their face. Neither seemed to notice that a small group of the trainees were watching them with amusement. Nor did they notice Ignis when he stepped out from where he had been observing the event. He couldn’t keep the chuckle from leaving him as Gladio saw him and walked over to speak with him.

“Really Iggy?” They both watched Alec disappear around the corner, their grin still in place. “You siced a rabid pigeon on me?

“Well, they’re perfectly civil when you DON’T call them a ballerina.” Ignis shrugged. “…And I honestly didn’t think that they’d actually grab your ears.”

Gladiolus laughed at that, and asked, “So, you wanted to meet up to talk about something?”

Ignis nodded. “Yes. Combat lessons for someone who wants them.”

His head tilted. “I’ve already got Prompto, who else would to learn how to fight? And why me?”

“Well, I don’t rightly know. And I may have mentioned something about knowing someone who might be able to help.” Ignis got that look in his eye again, and Gladiolus frowned.

“Alright…Doesn’t answer my question, but I’m willing to meet with them if they’re serious about learning.”

Ignis huffed with suppressed laughter. “That’s good. Because you’re meeting them at six tonight.”

“I…already have a meeting then as of five minutes ago…”

Ignis raised an eyebrow.

“…You mean…”

“That’s right ‘Tiny’.” Ignis smiled, “And for future reference, their name is Alecto Sollertia.”

Now there was a name he knew. “From the Sollertia family? Like the ones that received the king’s commendation?”

Ignis shook his head, “And you called them a ballerina. No wonder they got so riled up.”

Gladiolus sighed. What a wonderful first impression. Though… “So what’s an artist want with learning combat?”

“You’d have to ask them that question, I didn’t pry.”

It was then the conversation turned from Alec and onto other things. Gladio went to his lesson that night, and talked it over with Alec about them learning a form of combat. Which they decided to merge both lessons into one, spending some of their meeting time on dancing, and some on fighting. Slowly, not that Alec noticed, Gladio shifted the lessons completely from dancing to fighting. Which was fine by him.

Though he never got his answer on why they want to learn how to defend themself.
Not until much later.

~