chance… didn’t really know what he was doing at this ball.

it was some fancy event he figured he’d attend. it was held at don sonnelinno’s casino, some annual event that brought all the most formidable & respectable figures in the city to one place for a night. chance had made up his mind to go when he’d read about it in the newspaper, but there was only one problem…

he didn’t have a date to go with.

of course, that didn’t deny him entry, only he got some nasty looks from the married couples when he loitered around on his own. no one he knew was there, & the people he did know he didn’t have quite such a good history with.

so, that was how chance wound up standing by himself in a corner, absent-mindedly swirling a glass of champagne in his hand, his other hand stuffed in his pocket, humming to himself, feeling rather bored. his eyes darted to the exit… he should probably leave soon since one of don’s goons in the corner of the ballroom was beginning to look at chance a bit too intensely—

hang on. chance’s eyes swivelled back to where he had seen a small, golden figure crouched in the corner of the other end of the ballroom, a pretty figure in a pretty white dress who seemed rather… distressed. the figure was sat on a chair all on their own as well, hugging themselves tightly, head bowed.

“elliot?”

chance’s eyes lit up at the sight of the other, even though his heart sank upon seeing elliot’s demeanour. chance didn’t have to think twice; he clumsily threw his champagne glass back onto the bar counter (earning himself a yell from the bartender in the process as the drink was tipped over spilled), but chance didn’t care. he deftly skipped across the ballroom floor, ignoring the glares he got from the slow-dancers, & skidded over to elliot.

his expression shifted to one more of sympathy as he approached elliot, taking in the other man’s distressed & upset look. he crouched down beside elliot’s perch on his chair, laying a gentle hand on the golden boy’s shoulder.

“..elliot? you feeling alright?”