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His quick reply makes her smile grow, and she's so excited she's practically dancing already as they sweep out from the booth, floating across the floor carried by the music. Shiro laughs again as she turns to face Credence, reaching for his shoulder and swinging in close. This is so much different from New Year's, she thinks; so much better. And she doesn't think she needs words to tell Credence that, right now. She's pretty sure that he feels the same.

Credence puts his hands very cautiously on her waist and shoulder, like she's fragile - or as if he's frightened of his own strength. It's a very different kind of dancing that most people are doing here, looser and faster, and while he doesn't have the confidence to try to truly replicate it? He can be a little easier with himself, a little more fluid.

He's always so careful with her, Shiro thinks, like she'll break, even though he knows she won't. With anyone else, that might be frustrating, but with Credence at least she can follow the thought. He's not used to things not breaking in his hands.

Her fingers tighten on his shoulder just a little, and Shiro doesn't look away as they start to dance, that smile still lingering on her lips. They aren't moving quite as fast as the rest of the dancers, but that's okay; she can follow Credence's lead, and they aren't stepping on each other's toes, and every moment makes it easier to move a little lighter, a little faster. It's okay times like this to not worry so much about doing it right, she thinks. She thinks maybe when you're with the right person, there isn't a wrong way to do this at all.

There's so many people around them, focusing on their own partners, that eventually Credence's selfconsciousness falls away. It comes across in the way he moves: a little lighter on his feet, a more confident grip on her hand.

Eventually, he lifts his eyes from where he's been watching his own feet, and smiles as he makes eye contact.

There are a lot of people around them, more than Shiro usually likes, but it's hard to notice any of them when she's dancing with Credence like this. Easier instead to focus on his hand around hers, his other hand on her waist, hers on his shoulder, and she can feel by increments as the tension slips away from his muscles, the way the moving gets even easier as the band plays on.

Eventually, he looks up; looks right at her and smiles in a way that sets her heart to pounding. He never smiles like that, rarely looks her in the eyes, and she's struck all at once by how lovely the look is, how pretty his eyes are when he's not so worried about how he looks. She doesn't look away, only smooths her fingers over his shoulder, shifts her fingers in his to grip more tightly as she smiles back at him. This is perfect. This is just what she wanted. It's still a little too loud to talk, but she thinks he knows exactly what she's feeling. After all, her heart is pounding hard enough to practically feel in her fingertips.

Credence's pulse is likely just as rapid, so loud in his ears that it feels like it might drown out the music. The lights roll and swirl over them, painting bright stripes across Shiro's hair, her pale skin, her dress.

"You look beautiful tonight," he says, almost whispering it, as the song winds down.

The song is ending, but it feels like she's still flying, Shiro thinks, flushing slightly at Credence's words. Maybe he won't notice, her cheeks are already pink from dancing, but she can feel it.

"I'm glad you think so," she murmurs back, leaning in closer so she doesn't have to talk any louder as much as she wants to be closer. "Wasn't sure what I should wear, on a date, or to a place like this. I--wanted you to notice." Wanted him to see that she thinks he's worth all of this.

"You look really nice." Her fingers brush his collar, reach for a stray bit of hair. "These kind of clothes look nice on you, too." More than nice, she thinks. Enough that she can't stop looking, either.

"Oh - do you think so?" He glances down at himself, fidgets with his collar. "I wasn't sure, about - anything, really. But the lady at the store said I looked good."

Probably to make a sale, but he wasn't really thinking about it that way.

"Mmhm. You look good. I mean, you look good normally, but I think this looks really nice on you. It--fits. I mean, it fits, but it looks right," she corrects herself, and that flush deepens. She looks down, pushing her hair back behind one ear, trying to catch an escaping strand, but also to catch her breath.

"I'm really glad we're getting to dance, tonight. It's--really nice, being this close to you."

"It is? I - good. I'm glad."

He reaches up, carefully tucking back that white strand, fingers brushing her ear.

"...I like it too."

Shiro looks up at that touch, lips parted. It's easy to forget how tall he is, especially when they're this close; he has almost a head on her, but it doesn't feel awkward at all. It's just a thing to remember, to realize all over again with this sudden quiet closeness. The next song that begins to play is slower, and Shiro rests both hands on Credence's shoulders, hesitantly sliding behind his neck.

"Is this--okay?" She isn't sure how close is too close, doesn't want him to be uncomfortable, just knows she isn't ready to stop just yet.

"....Yes," he says, and lightly settles both hands on her waist as they move closer.

"Is this okay with you too?"

Remembering what Quentin told him, to be sure that she's alright.

"Mhm." She doesn't hesitate in her answer, nodding as she steps in just a little closer, looking up at him. There's no reason to hesitate. Of course she's okay, as long as it's the two of them. "I'm never uncomfortable around you. I don't--worry as much, about doing something wrong," she tells him. "I don't ever feel like you think I'm stupid for not--knowing better, I guess. You make me feel--better." Better than she is, or more like...maybe normal doesn't matter as much as she thought. It's nice.

"So do you," he admits softly. "I haven't - I know there's a lot I don't know, that people my age have been able to find out or do. But you never make me feel bad for not knowing. I feel..."

He searches for the right word.

"I feel safe. With you."

She's smiling again, or still, maybe, a soft look that's meant entirely for him. After all, he's the only one that makes her feel like this. Like things are just right. "You are safe with me," she tells him softly. "I won't let anyone hurt you again." He doesn't need it, maybe, her protection, but that doesn't mean she doesn't want to keep him safe.

"We'll look after each other," he promises. It doesn't matter that they can both take care of themselves and then some. Certainly in his case, nobody has ever really wanted to protect him, not truly.

It's not about being able to take care of themselves, she thinks, or how strong they are; her blood and his magic. It's about the fact that no one's ever taken care of them, before, or wanted to. That's what matters, what makes it different.

"We will." Shiro nods in agreement as they move slowly, after a moment leaning forward the slightest bit and resting her forehead against Credence's shoulder.

After a moment, Credence wraps his arms lightly around her waist, holding her - closer than he's ever been with a girl, at least for longer than a few moments' hug.

He can stay like this with her, swaying gently to the music, until the end of the song.

It'd be nice if they could stay here forever, she thinks; here in Credence's arms, where she can hear his heartbeat in his chest, feel his arms wrapped around her. It's closer than they've ever been, and it feels right. Like something she's going to miss when they have to stop. And eventually, they do; the song ends, and the people around them are applauding as the band wraps up, at least for the moment. Reluctantly, Shiro lifts her head, looks at Credence.

"This is--I'd like to do this again, sometime. It's--really nice."

"Yes, it is." He takes in a shallow breath. "Back on the Barge, we...we'll find a way to do something like this again."

"Okay." It's enough to make her smile, the idea of doing something like this again, the idea that maybe the future isn't a terrible thing, if there is one at all. The reassurance that they'll be back on the barge soon, which she's never been able to not let herself believe, but which has been--concerning, lately. Especially after that talk with the Authorities.

Impulsively, she leans in again, and this time it's to do something else she's never really done--to properly hug Credence, something which seems so easy for a lot of people, and yet never quite manages to be easy for her. It isn't a long hug, she'll pull away if he seems uncomfortable, but--if there aren't words for how she feels right now, maybe this will help.

"Thank you." For all of this, for trying again, for making her feel like she's something special.

There isn't even a brief, uncertain stiffening; he just puts his arms around her, a little tighter, and holds her for those few moments. It feels very good.

"Thank you," he echoes, and he knows she'll understand.

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