Dance With Me.

It was late, the Palentine's party winding down. One final song was left on the playlist for the party, soft notes came from the speakers as a slow dance played.

Quinn's gaze searched the crowd for the telltale locks of red hair and glittering green eyes of their date. Quinn's hands felt restless and they busied themselves with bunching up the hem of their dress. She was once again seen across the hall, chatting with one of her several friends who had kept her away from Quinn's side for most of the party. They did manage to talk for a little bit before their date became distracted once again by the crowd full of her other friends. They felt their stomach twist at the fact that everyone else at the party seemed to have her attention during their date. But then again, it *wasn't* a date. They were just friends. It was normal to do this kind of thing, right? Just because Berry was affectionate with them didn't mean they were dating. She was like that with everyone. Besides, they had a multi-step plan to confirm if she liked them back so it was fine for now. 

Quinn had written it a bit ago when they realized their feelings for her. They would spend 3 months casually bringing up... that stuff, and then hopefully that conversation would lead to people who they liked. Or perhaps they would have to talk to her kith, find out from them? Or maybe get her bot Snuggles to spy for them? 

It wasn't a very good plan. But even considering the idea of telling Berry in a normal way threw them into a panic. If they confessed without knowing how she would answer, and she rejected them, it would be incredibly embarrassing, not to mention leave a large bruise on their friendship, and then she'd pity them. No, sticking to the plan would be much better, and if it turned out that she didn't like them, they never have to confess and she would never know. Way better plan. Excellent as always, Edwards.

Then they'd just have to learn to get over their red giant sized crush. No big deal. Easy. Stellar. Radiant. Cool. That'd be fine. THEY'D BE TOTALLY FINE WITH THAT.

...

It was the last chance for them to dance together, so Quinn managed to gather up enough courage to walk over and interrupt her conversation. They tapped her on the shoulder. "Berry" they held out a hand, with all of the unearned authority and bravado of a child of the Crust. "Dance with me."

Despite the blunt and (honestly kinda rude) request, Berry turned and gave them that twice scorched sunny smile that made their heart skip a beat. In the low lights of the ballroom, the glittering reflected off of stray strands of her hair like a halo. The person who she was talking to gave her a knowing glance and a wink, and Quinn gave them a quick glare over Berry's shoulder. She nodded, delicately placing her hand into Quinn's.

It was dumb how they felt their hand fit perfectly in hers. Her smile made them feel even dumber. Like she somehow was in their head and schemed to give them a heart attack, Berry stood closer than when they practiced dancing before.

It was dumb how their gaze lingered on her lips for just a second too long, and Quinn actually considered closing the distance.

---

Berry placed one hand in Quinn's and the other on their shoulder. She felt their hands settle into place, they were shaking slightly. She looked up at them with a small smile reassuringly. The lights of the room reflected golden flecks in their normally stoic brown eyes. She stared, admiring the little glowing specks, before noticing that their eyes looked distracted. "Is there something on my face?" she leaned in and whispered.

Their eyes snapped up to meet hers. "No." they murmured back, "Nothing. You're all good."

Berry then realized the lack of distance between them. When did she stand so close to them? Perhaps they were uncomfortable? But when she took a step back Quinn swept her into the first steps of an amateur slow dance.

They settled into a comfortable silence, dancing alongside other couples. The music was soft and low, Berry felt the fatigue of dancing all day finally weigh on her, and closed her eyes as they swayed. 

It was nice, having Quinn here. They were always so nice to her, making sure she wasn't hurt, and helping her with homework, and talking with her about whatever. Berry had made so many friends before Quinn, but with them it felt different. Sure, they scolded her and fussed over her  and she got them both into trouble and played around with them just the same as with her other friends. It just felt like when she was with Quinn, doing all that stuff was even more fun. Having this moment was nice. Having a best friend was nice.

Quinn lifted their arms, encouraging Berry to do a clumsy twirl. Starting the spin, Berry quickly stumbled over her own feet. Quinn helped her regain balance and Berry couldn't help herself from laughing.

The two had forgotten about dancing in the last few seconds of the song. Quinn stared at Berry's hands held in theirs, conflicted in thought.  "...I wanted to tell you something." They took a moment to gather breath. "Berry, I..." After meeting her eyes, all of Quinn's gathered courage seemed to run dry.

"Thanks for asking me. To come here. It wasn't all that bad." They looked away, too embarrased to make eye contact.

"You're my bestest friend, I'd never have this much fun without you." She squeezed their hand, and smiled.

Quinn nodded stiffly, and released their locked hands about to wander away until-  

THWIP! 

Quinn was knocked down to the floor, a Heartseeker arrow planted firmly in their side and the crowd buzzed with concerned chatter.

"QUINN!" Berry cried and rushed over to them, hands hovering over the visible feathers of the magical arrow.

"Ugh... fucking, stellar." Head clearly dizzy from the knockback, they pushed themselves back up to a woozy but stable sitting position. 

Berry fussed over them, checking for any wounds. "Quinn, are you okay?? Please be okay, this is all my fault, I-" She looked down at the arrow, that faded as if it never was there into a mist of sparkles. She let out a sigh of relief and moved her hands to cradle their head. "Oh, it's gone. Quinn, are you alright? You're not hurt are you? Do you want me to get Rue?"

Quinn's eyes had squeezed shut tight. They were taking in great gulps of breath. After a few silent moments that seemed like forever, Quinn looked up to meet her eyes with their own,  face flushed. Berry stared, waiting for them to speak, hands gently framing their cheeks.

"I love you."

Quinn's hands quickly moved up to clamp over their mouth, eyes widened and shaking. Berry's hands retracted from the sudden movement, landing in her lap.

Berry found herself smiling and softly laughing. How silly of them. She knew that already. 

"I love you too Quinn, c'mon let's get you some ice." She went to move their hands away from the vice grip on their mouth. 

They flinched away. Huh? That'd never happened before. "NO! Berry, that's- that's not what I mean." Quinn's stood up quickly, face flushed and breathing still heavy. Their hands were clenched, twisting the fabric of their dress in their fists once again. 

"I... don't understand. " Her brow scrunched up and she slowly joined them in standing. "What do you mean?" Quinn was upset? What for? Was it the magic arrow? Maybe she should get help for them. She turned to get someone who knew healing magic when-

"I mean I'm *in* love with you."

Oh.

---

Quinn was panicking. This was it, they might as well die. Somebody shoot them again. Use a real arrow this time. Please. Literally anything would be an improvement to their current state. Quinn wondered if they wanted it hard enough, their brain would just shut down and send them into a coma.

Energy coursed through their veins. Some part of Quinn wondered what the hell kind of chemicals were in that arrow. It was dumb, this dance was dumb, this whole idea of going to another remnant was dumb. None of this would have happened if they just stayed home and studied and never talked to anyone and adhered to their life plan like they were supposed to instead of going and falling in love with oblivious charming travelers who'll never love them back. 

Idiot. 

Quinn felt someone pull them into a stumbling, weak walk. Berry had a firm grasp on their hand as she pulled them outside, away from the murmuring, shocked crowd. 

Once alone, Berry let go of their hands. Her voice quiet, "Are you alright?"

Confession forced out, Quinn regained control of their voice, worn out and tired, they focused on some pebbles sitting on the sidewalk. "Yeah."

"That scared me. I thought you were gonna die for a moment." She gave a small laugh. She almost went to hold their hands before moving to pick at her nail polish instead. 

"I'm sorry." Quinn's face was hot, a mixture of embarrassment, and shame. 

Berry did go to hold their hands, unable to stop herself. "Don't apologize, you didn't do anything." She brushed the back of their hand with her thumb. Quinn closed their eyes and focused on calming their erratically beating heart. 

It was nice. For a moment Quinn forgotten that they had just thrown their heart out onto the dancefloor open and vulnerable and afraid. Maybe she had already forgotten about it. They could move on, like this whole thing had never happened. Pretend for each other that it was fine. But then neither of them would be happy. Quinn saw how much it hurt her to pretend, even if she didn't know it herself. When she'd talk about her dad, or her leg like it was fine. Like they were still there. 

Berry's voice went soft, "Quinn, what if I didn't know how I felt about you? Would that be okay?" 

Quinn found it hard to swallow, and before they realized it, pulled her into a tight hug. There was a heavy mutual silence before Quinn whispered, low and gentle and vulnerable, this time of their own mind.

"You're all good."