Dedication - Kain Highwind x Reader (FFIV)

II. Dedication and determination

So far, everything had gone smooth with the wedding. The ceremony had been simple and endearing, especially how Cecil and Rosa had exchanged their vows. It made you smile from the bottom of your heart, delighted to see how much they loved each other. Unfortunately, you hadn't had the time to talk to Kain yet, as he always disappeared somewhere in the background or was not to be seen at all. You sighed to yourself, listening to the music in the ballroom, which sounded too distant at the moment. Even though you were among all people in the middle of the evening party, you were so engrossed in your thoughts, only able to ponder on how to find and approach Kain.

Moving your head to the side, you spotted Rosa and Cecil dancing together in the center of the room, lovingly gazing at each other, holding their partner close. Congruously, you noticed how dazzling Rosa's wedding dress was. It flowed perfectly with every dance step she took, emphasizing her beauty even further. Looking down at yourself, you had to admit you didn't make a bad appearance either. The purple dress fit you perfectly, making you wonder how Rosa had gotten your exact sizes. Furthermore, that exact shade of the color complimented your (H/L) (H/C) hair perfectly. The only thing that was missing, was Kain noticing your look.

As soon as he popped up inside your mind again, you unconsciously started scanning the ballroom for any traces of the person you cherished so much. You audibly gasped upon spotting him close to a wall in the distance, once more staying away from everything that was happening as best as possible. A smile automatically grazed your lips, as you hurried over to his side, navigating across the room while evading every dancer that could have caused you trouble. Soon, you arrived next to Kain, which made him raise his head, facing you. You came to an abrupt halt, strangely feeling self-conscious as he most likely eyed you and your gown. At the same time you used the opportunity to do the same with his outfit, quickly realizing how well the dark purple light armor fit him. You figured he wasn't allowed to wear his heavy Dragoon clothes, which was why he wore something unusual. Nevertheless, he looked dashing, especially the way his muscles were well defined through the rather thin material of his set of clothes.

"Hello Kain. I figured you would be standing in some secluded corner of the room. I'm glad I found you this way though." You shyly admitted, sending a soft smile his way.

Without his helmet on, you were finally able to observe his expression and see his face. It made you realize, despite how much you loved his armor, you considered it a shame to hide his gorgeous features most of the time.

As he slightly squinted his light purple eyes, he calmly responded. "Well, you know me quite a bit so I am not too surprised." For a second he was quiet but his gaze never left your face, which kind of made you happy.

"That dress suits you (Y/N)."

The way he gently said your name sent a shiver down your spine, causing you to blush even more. Moving a hand through your open hair, you bashfully replied, your eyes adverted, "Thank you Kain. You look incredibly handsome tonight too."

Of course, you were aware of what you had just openly admitted, yet you couldn't help but want to be honest with him, after he had even complimented you. Usually he didn't really do things like that, which led you to especially treasure the moment.

For a moment you two simply stood there, not saying anything, until you gathered all your courage and spoke up, "Say Kain, since this is a party, how about we dance?"

You faced him, mysteriously drawn to his face. His eyes slightly widened before quickly returning to their normal thin shape, as he moved his head a little to the side. Simultaneously, his long, light blonde hair, which was put into a loose ponytail, dropped over his shoulder.

"(Y/N), I appreciate the question, however, I am not in the mood for that. I apologize."

His rejection was like a punch to the face to you, yet you tried to cover it up as best as possible. You knew how he didn't like social events like this too much. Forcing him to dance was just wrong. Shaking your head with a weak smile, you looked at him, apologetically. "I understand Kain. It was a silly thing of me to ask."