[Gift] I don't want this night to end

The bells loudly chimed as the festivals began- It had been a couple of months now since Shadow first invited Checkmate to the festivals, and this was.. Around their third festival they had quote-unquote 'truced' for. The festivals were meant to be celebrations of their lives, so no use fighting- But Lancelot was in a very intense battle right now...
A battle of emotions.

See, he tried so hard to hate Checkmate. The king was a tyrant, had a giant bounty up for his name, likely killed many others who've tried to take him down- Yet Lancelot kept surviving. He wasn't expecting Checkmate to hold their truce true- But he did. He followed Checkmate around the first festival to make sure he wasn't up to no good, but the king actually enjoyed the festival and.. Wasn't awful company. Lancelot tapped his paws against the ground; He found himself anticipating Checkmate's arrival now, enjoying their truces as much as their battles. He huffed- How humiliating! He was supposed to be bitter rivals to the end, yet here he was.

They were friends during the truce, rivals otherwise. Nothing more, nothing less. Right as he turned to leave, a loud 'FWOOSH' filled the air. Of course. Right when he was hoping maybe Checkmate wouldn't show up for this festival. He turned, and the checkered king had landed onto the port. "Thy majesty," He greeted Checkmate with a dip of his head. "Lancelot," Checkmate did a slight dip in return. Lancelot quickly turned, heading off into the festivities; He wouldn't let his emotions win this internal war, even if he had to act unlike himself this festival.

---

"Lance, what's even wrong with you tonight?" Naomi questioned through sips of her milkshake- Lancelot tapped his paws angrily against the counter. "My emotions have betrayed me! Stabbed me in the back!" He angrily declared. Naomi raised an eyebrow; That was not something Lancelot would say when something is supposedly wrong. "How so?" She asked, and then it clicked. "...Please tell me you're not starting to like him." "I AM AND I AM SO MAD ABOUT IT!" Lancelot snarled, but quietly thanked the Luminite behind the bar as his drink was slid over to him. He sipped his drink, opting to avoid the liquor for tonight; If he ended up spilling out his emotions, he'd WANT to be dead. Yet, when he glanced over, and saw the king enjoying himself- His tail wagged. "..Playin' a risky game there," Naomi hummed. "I'm aware."

Lancelot sighed as he downed his drink, heading over to Checkmate. "Willith you ever get used to my presenceith?" Checkmate questioned, glancing down upon him- And Lancelot huffed, not wanting to admit that he *was* used to it by now. "Just ensuring that there is no trouble." Lancelot shrugged. Checkmate rolled his eyes, and the two headed off further in the festival; This witty banter had become basically become their usual, fun conversations that made him laugh after the fact.
The lights felt like they burned his pelt with each movement, the sky illuminated with stars. He glanced over at Checkmate, and smiled. Could he even be seen doing such a thing? He didn't know; Yet part of him didn't care. "Perhaps.. If thou wants, we could get a couple of drinks?" Stars, what did he just tell himself? No alcohol! But Checkmate looked down at him, and.. Smiled back. Lancelot's heart felt like it went aflutter for that moment, ready to rip out of his chest and fly away into the night. "Only if you payeth for it." "I can do that."

Lancelot laughed, his laughter shaking throughout his entire body as he continued to recall his visit to another planet. "And then the bastard had the gall to call me the coward!" He sipped his brew before continuing, "Just because I had a bit more grace than that sorry excuse of a criminal!" Checkmate chuckled as he listened to the silver Luminite talk. "How patheticith; And to think they were so smug just a moment before." Lancelot nodded, laughing again. "Exactly! Yet someone lands a proper hit, and they're sent scrambling for their life!" He swung his paw, nearly knocking himself off his chair with the force he did so.
Then, suddenly, two paws grabbed his shoulders, pushing him back up to his seat.

He glanced back at Checkmate, eyes wide for a moment; The world seemed to go on mute, the only thing he could focus on being the king. Checkmate stared back, raising an eyebrow at Lancelot's sudden silence; Lancelot snapped back to reality, quickly changing the subject. "Oh; I know this song!..." Lancelot paused, thinking. "Perhaps," He offered a paw, an invitation. "Thou would be willing to dance?" Lancelot questioned, and the king thought about before smiling. "Well, I hope you know howith to; with how you act in battleith, I'd be surprised." He cheekily said, taking Lancelot's paw; And with a laugh, the two went into the crowd.

---
Lancelot twirled around, paws a bit unsteady but still following along with Checkmate's lead. The music pounded in his ears; An orange Luminite played violin amongst the crowd, joining in with the band's music- The night had reached it's midway point, the festival still lively as ever. Lancelot felt like every breath was one he had been holding in, his tail wagging while trying to keep him steady at the same time. "And you offeredith to dance?" Checkmate joked, twirling Lancelot; he couldn't help but laugh in response. "I've never had a dance partner before, go easy on me!" Checkmate snorted at the knight's request, taking a step to the side; The two leaned apart, arms outstretched, before being so close to one another that Lancelot swore he could hear the king's heartbeat- Or perhaps that was his own, racing so quick? Lancelot smiled, barely avoiding his tail getting stomped on by a pitch black Luminite rushing by, looking for their dance partner. He peered around the crowd of dancing Luminites, noting Naomi and Alatar watching; Naomi looked alert, but Alatar had a big grin on his face. He had to resist the urge to call out to the two as their dance continued, paws entwined like they had never been at each other's throats before this night.

Lancelot laughed as the two swung each other around, pawsteps off sync but enough to keep them going. But a misstep led Lancelot to trip with a yelp; And to his shock, Checkmate caught him, the dance abruptly ending with a sudden dip. The two stared at each other, eyes wide, nothing from the other; If anything had been said, it was drowned out by the crowd's bellows and the music that echoed through the entire festival. Lancelot felt his breath catch in his throat, staring into the king's black and white eyes; Checkmate didn't speak a word, feeling almost frozen in time. He silently helped Lancelot back up, and Lancelot cleared his throat- Caught back to reality. "My apologies," He quickly murmured, but glanced around. "Perhaps we shall.. Go do something else?" He offered. "I know a good spot to look at the stars." Checkmate considered his offer, before nodding; The two heading away from the crowd and festivities for a moment to catch their breath and enjoy the silence.

---
Lancelot looked up at the moon, slowly lowering in the sky as the stars flickered softly. The crickets chirped as the lake they were overlooking reflected off the starlight, the warm lights and music of the festival being far behind them. Neither said a word, but the quiet was something they both were content with. He looked over at Checkmate; Biting his tongue as he considered speaking, but felt too.. Shy, perhaps, to get the words out. He sat down, tail curling around his paws as Checkmate sat nearby. It felt like a silent debate of who would speak first, before Checkmate opened his mouth. "You were lovelyith company, Lancelot." He said to Lancelot's surprise; And he cleared his throat, trying to hide his emotions as he adjusted his scarf. "Same to you, thy majesty." He glanced away, only for his gaze to fall back onto Checkmate once again. "...Checkmate?" He eventually spoke, the king glancing over. "Yes?" "Are we.. Are we friends?" He asked, and Checkmate stopped; Thinking about it for a moment. "Depends. Areith you still after my bounty?" Lancelot seemed to think about it. "I.. Suppose, but part of me feels like it's only just to see thou." Was that too much to say? Was it even true? Part of him wanted to deny that, but it felt hard to do.

Checkmate smirked, standing up. "Then continue going after my bounty. I hope to see you againith." Lancelot's eyes widened. "A-Are thou leaving now?" He asked, and Checkmate laughed, spreading his wings; Graceful in each movement. "I cannot leave my kingdom waiting for my return." Lancelot frowned. "Perhaps just.. A bit longer? I.. Don't want this night to end, yet." He offered, and Checkmate looked up at the stars, then back to Lancelot; Then back to the stars again, before sighing. "..I supposeith I don't see the harm in it. Perhaps we should get another drink?" Lancelot's ears perked, his smile widening. "I'd enjoy that." He stood up, trotting back to the party; Checkmate quickly caught up, their tails entwining for a moment; But neither said anything, opting to question their rivalry after the festival. For now, the night of revelry shall be a night of companionship.