Penny
Series: CCS
Ship: Eriol x Tomoyo (you do it so well! ♥)
Preferred Rating: whatever goes
Theme(s): impromptu, garden
Genre: romance...? shrug

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A Mostly Quiet Interlude

Eriol was very aware of the fact that it was Valentine's Day, had made plans that were in a binder on the shelf in case of emergencies. Ever since Tomoyo had come to his home (it was really quite convenient for both of them that he had a door that opened on Broad Street, right across from Trinity College), he'd only come to be more and more besotted with her. It was completely natural for her to be there with him and his guardians; embroidering in the library with Nakuru nestled beside her, reading manga, or protecting Spinel from flying marshmallows while they made dinner. Unfortunately for his patience, the family often got in the way of his as-yet-non-existent love life. It was exceedingly difficult to woo a girl when one's Guardian is in the most prominent patch of sunlight working his way through the many works of Wallis Budge. It was a trial to even consider stealing the warmth of her touch with Ruby Moon zooming around the ballroom chasing after her Suppi, shrieking and giggling like a banshee on ecstasy.
It was even more trying, though utterly fetching, that Tomoyo herself would get so completely caught up in their games that he felt bad for even considering ruining the mood with something so banal as romance. Her own romance, at any rate. There was no way to deny Tomoyo and romance as a concept got along swimmingly. She had been instantly awake when the phone rang and Sakura squealed for Tomoyo. He had seen her go from indulgent to practically intoxicated with glee while her best friend chattered on, speakerphone echoing in the morning silence. Enough was enough, he was going to confess today, or hang it all, he was going to send himself to the bughouse and save the girls the trouble.

Spinel Sun awoke from a sugar induced stupor to find himself stuffed inside one of the several all-out Victorian boudoirs scattered throughout the house. The last thing he remembered was Sakura calling Tomoyo to tell her Syaoran had proposed. Of course, in her rapture, Sakura in Hong Kong had forgotten that the sun would not be up over Reed Manor for at least two more hours. After that, Ruby Moon had insisted on a celebratory sugarfest, and everyone had been too tired to help, or even slow her down. Freeing himself from the ribbons and combs and hairpins, he took a seat on the edge of a drawer and watched in disinterest as Ruby Moon rampaged through closets that hadn't been opened in years. He barely flicked an ear when an ornately pearled shoe flew out of the closet to crash into the wall half a centimeter from his whiskers.
"I don't think even lovely little Tomoyo-chan could have worn any of these things at six years old! Who the hell was living here?" She turned at the discreet snort Spinel made. "Oh you're finally up. You took a really loooong nap!" Nakuru giggled.
"And whose fault was that?" Spinel asked tartly.
"Eriol's," the other Guardian intoned solemnly.
"Eriol-sama wasn't the one who shoved me into a knapsack and dumped a bag of confectioner's sugar and chocolate powder all over me."
"You forgot about the heart shaped sprinkles, and I didn't say he did. But it's still Eriol's fault. He didn't stop me." She bubbled over any comment Spinel might have made. "All part of some devious master plan, for sure."
The cat made a noise of disgust and fluttered his way to the door. Dropping his weight on the curling lever of the doorknob, he was affronted when it didn't open.
"It's not going to work, not the windows either, he's Locked us up good. He might have also used the Shield to keep us from using our attacks, I haven't gotten annoyed enough to find out, and since now Suppi-chan is awake, I won't be bored for hours."
Spinel's survival instincts kicked in before his sarcasm, so it was from a perch in the bowl of the ceiling light that he replied. "It's Valentine's Day, there's no sugar, the room is too small to play in, and Tomoyo-hime is on the outside, most likely in a floaty haze of happiness. Are you sure you don't want to be trying to escape?"
Nakuru paused and considered his reasoning. "Ooh, that Eriol, when I get out of here, I'm going to pull his cheeks so hard, no one will want to kiss him, not even Tomoyo!!"
"He's not ten, Ruby Moon."
"He'll always be my cute little master, and we'll have cocoa and cookies and watch T-Bag and Blackadder…"
"This might be why he stuck you in here. I only want to know what I did to deserve being stuck here with you."
"That's not nice at all, Suppi-chan." She rose to her full height in order to better menace him, and in doing so caught a glimpse into the garden where Tomoyo appeared to be practicing the steps for a waltz. Her vantage point on the fourth floor also let her see Eriol leaning against a hedge, wavering between enjoying the show and being part of it. "Oooh!"
The exclamation of mostly-pure delighted surprise was enough for Spinel's curiosity to perk.
"What's happening now?"
Nakuru was captivated enough to gesture him down, rather than tease him. "Tomoyo-chan is practicing for Sakura-chan's wedding… but Eriol looks like he might be practicing for his own! Spinel Sun, get down here and help me! We have to find out what's going on. We should have enough magic to at least listen without his consent, right?"
The little guardian held a quick debate in his mind, and decided he might be safe, since Ruby Moon was so clearly taken with the tableau in the garden. He lit upon her shoulder and the magic was a little like trying to find a station on the radio.

It was just a thread of power, Tomoyo wouldn't know or care how he played his tricks, but it would still be horribly rude if he dropped the spell on his garden like a piano. Today was for subtlety and no interruptions, and after all he'd done to take care of any more interruptions, he wasn't about to ruin the rest. And Tomoyo did look particularly enchanting in the white lace.
Tomoyo was a singer, a talented one at that, and she had long since been able to keep time without moving a muscle; she simply kept the song playing in her head. So she didn't realize the melody she was dancing to, petal-soft and fairy-light, was no longer only in her mind until warm hands took hers, startling her out of her concentration, but the music went on and so did her feet.
"How about helping me practice while you're at it?" He was awfully close, but the innocent smile was familiar territory, so she forced her blush to a minimum and answered as pertly as she could.
"He may have called you for advice last week, but I think it's awfully bold of you to presume Syaoran will send you an invitation."
Something flickered in Eriol's smile, a sudden flurry of affection and amusement and enamor. "Well, even if not Xiao Lang and Sakura's wedding, there are still plenty of people who like me. You don't mind an impromptu dance student, do you?"

"Impromptu, my left wing! Planned from the very beginning, and you even locked up Ruby Moon! Eriol, you're such a naughty boy. Nasty, lying, tricksy master!"
"Ruby Moon, keep it down, I want to be able to hear after this."

"If you expect me to believe that you can not dance and that you are here by anything other than design, I may step on your foot." She didn't let go though, and followed his lead with dainty, mincing steps.
"Tomoyo-san, I'm a boy; all boys hate dancing," he concluded with an effortless pivot.
"You don't seem that incapable at it."
"Clow was very popular with the ladies, and in ballrooms. I hope I inherited at least part of that charm. But I myself have never danced."
"Then it seems I have no choice but to instruct you. You know I would resort to 'base and inappropriate' if any part of Sakura-chan's wedding were spoiled." She smiled up at him, sublimely serene. "Like torture, or murder, or pink hair dye."
"I thought I wasn't going to be invited."
"And I shall have Spinel Sun and Keroberos sit on you if you continue to imply that Sakura-chan would be anything but loving and open-hearted and accepting of everything, you included, even if were not for her day of bliss."
"I knew you wouldn't abandon me to loneliness."
"Never," she asserted, responding to more than the teasing words. She recovered her composed face. "Think of all the trouble you'd make if I weren't there."
Eriol surreptitiously bridged songs to something more complicated. If he had nothing to think about but Tomoyo being catty and bewitchingly lovely, he was going to kiss her senseless, and heaven knew Tomoyo had better manners than to let someone kiss her in the middle of a th́́e dansant, however unexpected. He could taste a drencher in the wind, and glumly put aside any thoughts of a lantern-lit supper in the garden. He wondered how long it would be before Tomoyo noticed the quiet where usually one heard insane laughter and mildly aggravating joy. He'd have to let his Guardians out at some point, and heaven only knew the row Nakuru would kick up at being forced to stay in one room for half the day. He thought briefly on Sakura's indomitable spell, that eventually everything would be alright, and decided that there was always next Thursday. Spinel postulated Ruby Moon might not have the hang of them yet.

Daidouji Tomoyo was not one for impetuosity, but she had become accustomed to surprising herself in Eriol's company. So it didn't surprise her too much when she caught his arm mid-twirl.
"Eriol… if you're not going to kiss me, perhaps we should go inside before it rains on the rest of our Valentine's Day." She met his eyes with a serious smile, which turned into a grin as she watched several different shades of happiness and stupefaction play across his face. Finally he regained some measure of control and pulled her close to whisper warmly into her ear.
"You are too clever for your own good." He laughed and reveled in the feel of her tensing her shivers into obedience. "Or for mine."
"I thought you were going to kiss me."
"Anything you wish."