Kayleigh rocked back, feeling awkward. “Oh. Shoot, I could’ve sworn it was this room. My bad. I hope I didn’t interrupt–I mean, you looked really good. That seemed like good dancing. Not that I know anything about dance, though…” As usual, she could hear herself rambling as she tried to make up for the awkwardness, and as usual, she couldn’t seem to stop herself. “Oh, it’s good! I like it. It’s a good workout. I don’t know how ballet-ish it is though since I never danced but it seems like you do?”

.

“You didn’t interrupt anything.” Natasha reassured her with a gentle smile, watching the way she rocked. “I’ll have to give it a try sometimes. Zumba really does get old after a while.” She laughed, though she was unsure how relatable the statement really was. “I’ve been dancing since I was little,” she recalled fondly, “I was on my way to being a ballerina at one point so maybe someday i can tell you if barre is close. You should give Zumba a try, worst you can do is hate it and never come back.” It was a terrible joke but she chuckled to herself all the same.

Startled the young woman looked up when she heard someone speaking to her about the bags. She offered the older woman a smile and nodded. “I was afraid of that, kinda hoping I could get it home before that happened,” Alexa said with a shrug. Alexa chuckled nervously and shook her head. “No, no dead body, at least not… technically.”

.

“Technically?” Natasha straightened, pulling her hand away from the bag. “Is there a live body in there?” She doubted there was, but had to ask before she’d touch the bags. It looked too heavy to be a body but then again, she was a young girl. “And what do you plan on doing with it when you do get it home?”

Kayleigh wandered into the studio, surprised to see that there was one person in there–not exactly a class–and that she was dancing. As she entered, she slowed to a stop and began to gnaw on her fingernails, sinking into herself a little. She hated to know that she had gotten the time wrong in either direction. “Uh…so, it’s not a barre class?” She rocked on her heels. “I think maybe I’m early, unless you’re having a class at 6am.”

.

“Barre is actually in the studio next door.” Natasha indicated with her thumb and a tilt of her head to the room next door. “I couldn’t possibly be up that early,” she laughed, “But I have been thinking about taking a class, how do you like it?”

Landon shook his head, wincing a little as he did. Nothing was broken, as far as he could tell, but the soothing feel of his icy hand on the sore spots really helped to take off the edge. “Nah, my face is fine, I think,” he offered a cheeky grin just to show that his spirits were still high. He gave a concerned glance to her hand. “Is…you hand okay? I didn’t realise my face was that hard…”

.

Natasha wasn’t sure she believed him, given the wince he gave as he shook his head. Her fears were soothed somewhat as he smiled at her. At least his face didn’t hurt too much for him to be able to do that. “I think so?” She lifted her hand up with the non-injured one, glancing over the reddened knuckles. “I will admit that I don’t really know how to punch, though.”

He was definitely at the wrong place and the wrong time. Jackson looked down at his phone to see if he had maybe read the text he got wrong, he had, he even got the date wrong. “Shit” he mumbled when he realized that he was to be in the next room tomorrow and not today. Jackson was getting ready to leave when he heard Natasha speak to him. “Entirely lost and also a day early.” He chuckled. “Impressive moves you got there.” 

.

“Thank you,” Natasha smiled, her heart racing in her chest, and putting her hands on her hips, “On Fridays I’m in here leading the Zumba class in the morning and afternoon and I’ve got the studio to myself in the in between. Not officially though, so you’re welcome to it if you need a room.” She gestured around them. “Or I can show you what room you’ll be looking for on the right day.”

Zane moved towards where the gear was and decided that not only did he want to be part of her power, but he wanted to stand in it. He didn’t care if he got harmed, especially since his power allowed him to heal himself quicker than most. Unless he broke a bone or something worse, that is. He pulled on all of the gear and then smiled at her. “Where would you like me to stand?”

---

Natasha’s eyebrows quirked upwards at not only how willing he was to wear a padded suit, headphones, and helmet, but by how fast he put it on. “Over there.” She gestured to a length of pads at the far end of the gym, not sure if he could hear her but hoping he would get the point. Once he had reached the spot where she told him to stand, Nat carefully widened her stance, gripped her hands into fists at her sides, took a large gulping of air, and let her jaw drop open as her scream erupted from her chest. Hands shaking, she fought to keep it under control, holding it back to only knock the man over as the sound waves blasted forward. She closed her mouth and swallowed the rest of her scream as the light fixtures started to rumble and buzz. Jogging over, she squatted beside the man, “Are you okay?” She asked, holding a thumbs up for clarification if his ears were ringing. 

“It’s fine.” He waved it off, not wanting her to worry. He had dealt with it for years now so it wasn’t like it was fresh. It only felt that way whenever he’d wake up from a nightmare just like tonight. “Natasha.” Kaden’s voice was a little stern now as he glanced towards her. “It is fine. There’s nothing I can do about it, so why should I act any differently?” He hadn’t meant to be rude about it but this was just how he dealt with things; on his own. 

“Years.” He let out a sigh. “I was in my mid twenties when it happened.” He was too tired to sort through his brain for the exact date. That didn’t matter though. “I… I don’t know.” He muttered lowly. “I don’t normally have anyone around when it happens. I usually just… stay awake after. If I go back to sleep, it might happen again.” 

---

Natasha frowned as he waved her off, ready to say something in response when his voice became sterner than he normally spoke to her. She imagined he used a similar tone as a guard and an officer and dropped her gaze from his face, finally, focusing instead on where her palm lay on his chest. “I’m sorry.” Nat said finally, still looking at their hands. “I don’t mean to push, but you don’t have to keep it to yourself. It doesn’t have to be that way.” She swallowed, glancing back up at him, “You let me in this far.”

She nodded as he spoke, “Then I’ll stay awake with you. And don’t argue with me, I can sleep after my class.”

Natasha Foladare | Eliza Schuyler Hamilton Look around, look around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now

Kaden’s eyes averted away from her at her next statement. Yes. He saw it happen. He was right next to his best friend when he was shot and killed without mercy. His jaw clenched against her hand. “It’s fine. There’s nothing to be sorry for.” Kaden insisted as he finally glanced back towards Natasha. He hadn’t wanted to tell her like this but if she was going to stay with him more in his bed, which is what he wanted, then she had to know what she was getting herself into. A lot of sleepless nights. 

“Ah…” He ran a hand through his hair and shrugged. “Once? Twice? Sometimes I only have them once a month. It really just depends on how stressed I am throughout the day. Or… what day of the year it is.” He pressed his lips together into a thin line. “It’s fine. It was a long time ago.” 

---

Natasha felt his jaw tense beneath her hand and her gaze on his face softened even further. “I’m sorry for your loss.” She near whispered, heart aching that she didn’t know how to help him, make him sleep, or make his sorrow go away. Her eyes held his as he finally looked back at her. “It’s not fine. It’s okay to not be fine.” She knew he knew this, knew she didn’t need to remind him, but she wanted him to know that he didn’t always need to be so hard around her. This was a side of Kaden she hadn’t seen before and while she hated that it was this memory he was sharing with her, she was happy to be let in. 

“How long ago?” She asked gently, unsure how much longer the window would be open to ask. “What can I do if one happens again when I’m here?”

“Oh, protective gear, huh?” Zane asked, raising his eyebrows slightly. “Someone’s power is fancy.” He chuckled and then nodded. “I’m willing to wear whatever it is they’ve made so I can withstand your power.” Zane was always curious about other people’s powers. He wanted to experience every single one of them. He was just a little surprised that the woman in front of him didn’t mind letting him use his power on her. “Ladies first?” 

Natasha merely nodded, still comfortable with the full breadth of her power. She thought for a moment that maybe she should’ve asked what the man’s power was before agreeing but rolled it off her back with a physical roll of her shoulders thinking it was too late to turn back now. “There’s ear muffs if you’re just going to stand nearby or a helmet and full suit if you’re going to stand in it.” Nat headed to the side of the gym where she had been told the gear would be, glancing over her shoulder at him, waiting for his answer.

He wasn’t used to having someone so close to him during one of his panic episodes. He hadn’t even shared a bed with anyone in a long time. But feeing Natasha close to him, placing a hand on his bare chest and being there with him was relieving. “I had a nightmare.” He explained as he lifted a hand to hers, the one that was on his chest, and interlocked his fingers with hers. 

“I ah… I lost someone, during my time with the police force.” Kaden explained, finally telling her a little bit about his past. “Every now and then, I get nightmares about it. Sometimes more frequent, depending on my stress levels.” He let out a sigh as he stared down at their hands that were clasped together. “It’s no big deal.”

Natasha nodded, waiting for him to continue. Her own breathing had slowed by then and she kept her palm pressed to his chest as if the weight of her hand, though dwarfed by his own, could remind him that he was awake, there with her, and safe. This was the first time she’d stayed with Kaden overnight. He’d mentioned in passing having trouble sleeping and now she could understand why. 

She listened carefully as Kaden spoke, understanding how monumental it was for him to share his life with her before Grimstone, as he so rarely did. Her head began to tilt and her face grew increasingly sympathetic. Nat’s free hand came up to rest on his cheek, thumb slowly stroking the skin there. She kept her gaze on his eyes thought they weren’t looking at her. “And you saw it happen.” Natasha had meant it as a question but suspected she knew the answer. “Oh Kaden, I’m so sorry.” she sighed, meaning it sincerely, “It is a big deal. How many times a week do you have them?”