#dance fic

Realistically speaking, I should have known something was going to happen when Venti, of all people, sat down next to me on a bench despite the festival that surrounded us. Because, for Venti, festivals were important. He could make a lot of easy money, get people to buy him drinks, and have a generally good time without anyone to really scold him about his alcohol intake. Because, bluntly put, a festival in Mondstadt always meant alcohol.

So for Venti, who could be argued to be the man of the hour, to abandon the festivities and instead sit with me on the sidelines was odd.

Even more so, though, I really should have known better than to accept his excuse that it wasn’t unusual for him to sit with ‘someone as dear as you’ as him flirting and taking a break from the celebrations.

I did, however, recognize my mistake for what it was when Venti’s hand crept over and across the bench to where mine rested. But that was far too late for my realization, though, considering I was barely able to even look down at where his fingers toyed with mine before I was being yanked up to a standing pose.

“Venti,” Despite his behavior, I found myself chuckling out his name as he looked at me with bright eyes.

“Come on, a day like this is made for music and dancing. Not for sitting off to the side all by your lonesome,” He pulled me further away from my now-abandoned seat and closer to the dancing people.

I grinned at him, tilting my head at the flirtatious young man, “Then shouldn’t you be playing music?” 

At my words, he grinned and shook his head, bowing at the waist as he gestured off towards the side at Six-fingered José, “A gentleman such as myself knows when to let others have their moment in the spotlight.”

I snorted at his words but shook my head. Surrendering easily to the grinning young man,  “Alright, one quick dance.” 

He looked all but diabolically pleased with himself as he twirled me lightly so that I was facing him, with my back to the crowd of dancers, as he interlocked our hands, “How does the Charleston sound, my lovely lady?”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t really complain as I laughed at him, “Figures you’d like a dance as fast as that one.”

He wiggled his eyebrows, causing me to laugh as he started to sway with the music, “Is that a yes?”

I nodded in lieu of responding, only lagging slightly behind him as he started dancing before I was matching his kicking motions perfectly. Grinning despite myself as we shifted around, trading off on who leaned backwards as our feet hit the ground in time to the upbeat rhythm of the music around us.

I could hear others laughing around us, and some even started clapping, making room for us as we danced. Matching the festive atmosphere perfectly as Venti’s sparkling, laughter-filled eyes continued to hold mine.

He pulled me towards him, and I laughed as we collided before I leaned back, letting him whirl me in a rapid spin before I was lowered once more so that I was in a limbo-esque position.

He tugged me back up with a carefree laugh, twirling me so that our bodies were parallel to one another with our arms extended across each other’s backs so that our hands could stay locked together.

Our footsteps clicking against the cobblestone path melded with the applause that clapped along to the beat of the song as we continued to dance. Spinning around so that we were facing each other and trading off on which side our arms were locked as we kept up our kicklike footsteps.

I was laughing out loud right now, knowing perfectly well that I’d lost to both Venti and the festival’s atmosphere of joy. Which was precisely what  the bard had wanted.

Because that was just the way Venti was. Always pushing me to relax and join in on his playful actions, even if I was usually more likely to sit off to the side and watch others’ celebrations.

I suppose that when it came right down to it, he simply couldn’t help himself.

He spun me out as the song ended, keeping a hold of my hand as he turned and walked with me away from the crowd of dancers who kept on going without us. 

“There. One dance, as promised,” I smiled at him, half out of breath from both having laughed quite so much and the raw amount of energy I’d just exerted.

He grinned back at me, tugging a flower out of one of the bouquets that filled the streets and holding out to me as if he were a magician who’d just whisked the blossom out of thin air.

I glanced smilingly at the Cecilia bloom before accepting it, causing his smile to only widen, “And I do thank my lady.”

I laughed slightly, shaking my head fondly and sitting back down on the bench before blinking in surprise as the bard sat down next to me, “You aren’t going to rejoin the festivities?” 

I leaned towards him almost worriedly, but he only shook his head. That usual smile of his on his face as he leaned towards me as if he were mirroring my motions, “I told you, it isn’t unusual for me to want to spend time with someone as dear as you.”

I blinked at him, twirling the flower in my fingers lightly as I held his wide-eyed gaze, “It is when there’s booze to be had that you aren’t going after.”

He pressed a hand to his chest, looking at me with a faux hurt expression, “If I leave you, you won’t be protected, and someone else will come by to make you dance with them!”

I hummed in response, not believing him in the slightest but opting to stay silent as I looked back out at the crowd. A slight smile on my face as I leaned relaxedly against Venti.

After all, it wasn’t unusual for me to be pleased that he was staying with me rather than leaving.

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Previous

You could barely recognize the Academy as you approached it with Deanna and Beverly beside you. You had beamed just beyond the building, deep enough in the gardens to appreciate the splendor of it all, “to make an entrance” as Deanna had put it, and the building was even more done up than you lot were. Boothsby had worked some serious magic, it would seem, because each and every flower bed was full to bursting with beautiful, vibrant flowers illuminated by garden lights. Along the walkways were strings of softly-glowing yellow lights, and around every door into the Academy were a myriad of floral strands and bouquets. Music and the sounds of laughter and conversation drifted out through the open doors. Captain Picard, Commander Riker, and Geordi were standing outside the doors, talking animatedly with two other officers you didn’t recognize. Upon seeing the three of you approach, they politely excused themselves and came to greet you. Geordi greeted you with a friendly hug and a warm smile. “You sure clean up well, Y/N.”

You chuckled and nudged his shoulder. “I could say the same to you, Geordi.” He, like most of the male officers in attendance, was dressed in his formal uniform. “Where’s your date?”

Geordi smiled and gestured a short ways away in conversation with a scientist you recognized from your time visiting DS9 this past month. “They’ve been at it for nearly half an hour now. If I were a lesser man, I might be jealous.” You chuckled with him but it died quickly when you began scanning the crowd. Geordi, as if reading your mind, gently patted your shoulder. “He’s around here somewhere. You should head on in. The buffet is to die for.”

You nodded and hugged him quickly before splitting from the group. The inside of the building had been decked out even better than the outside, red and gold carpets laid out and blue tapestries and banners hung overhead. From where you stood atop the grand staircase, you could see nearly everything from below. Groups of people milled about along the edges of the room, and directly across from the staircase was the band, playing a jaunty dance tune. In the center of the room, a few dozen people danced, many of them wearing flashy and fine outfits. You swallowed hard and looked down at your dress, smoothing it down nervously before you set off down the stairs.

As you meandered your way through the crowd and each moment that passed, you grew a little more nervous, a little more disheartened. True, Data hadn’t officially asked you to come to this ball, but you’d hoped he would’ve sought you out and ask you at least for one dance by now. You found yourself at a buffet table, a plate of various finger-foods and desserts in your hands, completely enraptured by a Trill woman who was the very epitome of beauty and grace. She was telling a rapturous tale of adventure to the crowd which had grown to nearly 10 people around her, all of you hanging onto her every word when she stopped mid-sentence to smile brightly. “Worf!” she yelled.

You blinked and looked in the direction she was, surprised to see your former crewmate making his way over to where the crowd was situated, looking very uncomfortable by the amount of people in the room. The small gathering broke away, some people grumbling at the lost end of the story, leaving just you and the Trill woman standing to receive the Klingon. “I have been looking everywhere for you,” he grumbled to her.

She gave him a dazzling grin that made even your knees weak and leaned in to place a warm kiss to his cheek. Though he glowered at her, you could tell he thoroughly enjoyed it, which only added to your confusion. “I’m sorry. I was storytelling.”

Worf shook his head but, upon seeing you, he let a small smile touch his face. “Ensign Y/L/N. It is good to see you. With whom are you here?”

You blinked and smiled warmly. “It’s Lieutenant now, actually. Technically, I’m on my own, but I was hoping to catch a dance or two with Data.”

Worf quirked a brow but nodded. “Congratulations.” Whether on the promotion or the formation of the relationship between you and Data that had occurred after Worf left for DS9, you weren’t sure.

“Aren’t you gonna introduce us, Worf?”

He jumped at the Trill woman’s words and swallowed. “I, uh. Yes. Lieutenant Y/L/N, this is—”

“Jadzia Dax,” she purred, her hand outstretched to you. “Worf is my husband.”

You took her hand, mouth agape. “Your… Oh. Oh wow. Congratulations, Worf! I had no idea!”

He tilted his chin up in an obvious display of pride. “Thank you, Lieutenant.”

“Worf, there you are!” Riker appeared out of seemingly nowhere. “Listen, we’ve got some guys over here who want to hear about that thing you did with the bat’leth and the Risan moonberries, would you mind?”

Worf looked back and forth from you and Jadzia, struggling to find a way to say no, but Jadzia smirked and waved him off. “Go, go.” Turning to you with another knee-wobbling grin, she purred, “Maybe the Lieutenant and I might share a dance?”

“Oh, I—” you started to protest.

“Splendid!” The plate was moved hastily out of your hands before you were dragged out into the very middle of the dancefloor just as the song began to change into a simple waltz in a 4/4 time. You were blushing furiously as Jadzia’s hands slipped easily about your waist and down along your arm to hold your hand. She led you easily, her steps smooth and fluid which more than made up for your stumbling. She grinned at you, her eyes alight with excitement. “You’ve known Worf long, then?” she asked.

You stumbled at the question and had to speak haltingly, your brain fighting to focus on words and feet at the same time. “For about… five years…” You winced as you stepped on her toe, but she didn’t seem to mind. “I was transferred… to the Enterprise… two years before… he left.”

“I see. It’s a shame we’ve never met. You seem fun.”

You blushed under her stare which made her laugh. The song was beginning to come to an end, but just before the last phrase began, Jadzia stopped rather abruptly and turned. You followed her look and grinned brightly, seeing Data standing there, looking very smart in a black tuxedo and bowtie. “May I cut in?” he asked.

Jadzia nodded and stepped back, smiling graciously. “By all means.”

Data took your hand in his and slipped his arm around your waist, pulling you closer than necessary. His lips moved down to press against your cheek in a warm kiss before trailing along to your ear where he whispered, “You look… breathtaking.”

You swallowed hard at the tone in his voice and pressed just a bit closer. “I could say the same about you.”

The next song began. It was alien to you, something you’d never learned before, and for a brief moment you panicked. Data could see the fear in your face and placed a kiss to your forehead. “This is a Denobulan dance reminiscent of a Terran tango. I will lead.”

Except… he stepped away. As you looked around, you saw that most of the other couples were mirroring it, the lead stepping back from the other. You opened your mouth to ask what was about to happen when a string instrument chimed in in a rather sultry way, and Data and the leads stepped in beat. He circled slowly around you, and though you doubted it was part of the song, you could feel his hungry eyes roving over your body like a hunter stalking prey. It was slow, languid, step two three step two three. Then, with a sudden molto crescendo, Data snapped around to the front of you, just barely within arm’s reach, and he reached up slowly, his fingers ghosting along the shape of your nose and across your lips, catching the lower one ever the slightest. You found yourself following his hand as he pulled it away, but the music moved again, and Data slipped closer to you, your bodies nearly flush but not touching. His hands followed the length of your arms, close enough to feel the disturbance of the air left behind his movements, until his hands mirrored yours at your side. “Do as I do,” he breathed, and you found yourself nodding, unable to tear yourself away from his impassioned gaze.

He lifted one hand slowly, brought it up towards your shoulder and curved it back down to your side. You followed his movements easily, and again as he mirrored the movement with his other hand. The music once again changed with a shift not just in volume but in time signature to something a little louder, much faster, split into twos instead of the previous threes.

His movements snapped quickly with the change, one hand slipping into yours, the other coming up to cup your cheek as he pulled you along into a quick set of steps. You stumbled after him, but he did not look away from your face for even a moment, so neither did you. Unsure of what to do with your unoccupied hand, you rested it against his elbow, and from the way his grin twitched, you could tell it was the right move. His thumb brushed against your cheek and down across your lips again in what you doubted was part of the actual song (though, with Denobulans, who knows?) and his eyes followed the movement hungrily, his grin faltering just the slightest while his teeth dragged across his own lip.

His other hand tightened ever the slightest on yours before he slipped from your grasp again, the beat of the song returning to one rather like the first. You stumbled, breathless, and looked around bewildered as did several other dancers. As you righted yourself, he stepped in from your back and you had to stifle a moan as you felt his arms slip about your waist. His lips met the crook of your neck as the two of you stepped slowly, slinking, and his hands roamed across your hips. You leaned against him, putty in his skilled hands, your hands resting easily atop his. He kissed up your neck just below your ear and practically purred. “I will never tire of the way you feel,” he whispered.

You shivered and leaned your head back against his shoulder, blushing furiously. Your mouth opened to whisper his name but his grip on you changed, his hand sliding along your far arm and tugging you into a spin away from him. You stood apart for nearly two whole beats, eyes locked on one another before he slid his way back into your embrace and met you with a fiery kiss, his hand upon the back of your head as the song came to a close. Applause broke out along the ballroom, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care as your arms slipped about Data’s shoulders to pull him closer.

After a long moment, he stepped back, chuckling at your pout, and brought your knuckles to his lips. “I hope that this was a sufficient way to make up for my previous absence.”

You chuckled, squeezing his hand slightly. “Hm, gee, Data, I don’t know. I mean, you did keep me waiting a long time.”

He affected a faux-horrified look and stepped close, already moving in time to the subtle song the band had taken up. “Perish the though, my love. Please, tell me how I can make up for this deficit.”

“Hmm. I can think of a few things. Though, they’ll have to wait.” You cast a glance about the ballroom, taking note of the surprising amount of eyes set upon the two of you. Leaning in, you lowered your voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I don’t think our present company would be too thrilled by the um… dress code.”

Data let out a hearty laugh that set your heart soaring and tugged you closer to him, practically hugging you as you swayed. “Once we return to the ship, you will have to tell me more.”

You smiled, laying your head against his shoulder. “Oh, I will.” After a few more minutes, you sighed contentedly. “Data?”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

background: I know from personal experience that anyone can learn a simple waltz. I, and I can’t stress this enough, am not a dancer, but when we were doing peer teachings in my music ed class, someone taught my group the waltz. It involves partners performing the same sequence of steps, but in opposite directions.

this one-shot occurs a bit later in the timeline. eurydice has stopped avoiding orpheus. he’s brought her to his conservatory’s studio and had a chance to see her dance. they’ve gotten to know each other rather well, but nothing has transpired between them except tension you could cut with a knife. orpheus has a penchant for going off to explore to city, often to find inspiration for his music. finally, after he has asked her many times, eurydice caves and decides to accompany him. as they’re walking through the park, inspiration strikes...

...

suddenly, orpheus’ eyes light up. he turns on his heel and lifts his hands as if looking through a viewfinder.  

“what…” eurydice starts, before deciding to just let it happen. after a moment, he’s standing underneath one of the streetlamps, smiling coyly for a moment before taking a bow. 

“it’s a spotlight,” she offers, forcing an incredulous look to conceal the smile that would betray her amusement. he extends his arm in a gesture that invites her to join him there in his pocket of light within the darkness. how fitting, she thinks, before shaking her head instinctually as if to disperse the thoughts from her mind. 

“come on… i haven’t seen all of the dance you’re working on yet. is it finished?”

“is your song finished?” eurydice quips, really smiling this time. at any rate, she does enjoy messing with him. orpheus frowns, an exaggerated one, and she moves closer, half of her face now illuminated by the beam of light. 

“fine, teach me then.”

“what?”

“teach me how to dance!” 

she can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of his request. she’s seen the way he moves around the apartment, tripping over things that aren’t there and running into anything that sticks out. she’d be surprised if he could manage even the simplest of steps. still, there’s something in his eyes that makes her want to say yes. 

“how much do you know about dance?” she asks as a formality. she knows the answer.

“absolutely nothing,” orpheus concedes. she sighs at this, crossing her arms. “so it’s a good thing i have the best teacher!” 

he looks at her expectantly, but she ignores him. she’s grown used to his way of always having something to say that should make her blush. it’s disgusting, really. 

she considers what the most straightforward thing she can teach him without being outright insulting might be, and her first instinct is the waltz. she almost recoils at the thought alone, but chides herself. it doesn’t have to mean anything if she doesn’t want it too. 

...

first, she demonstrates the box step pattern. “forward-side-together, backwards-side-together,” she repeats, watching him practice. good enough. she places his right hand on the small of her back and takes his other hand in her own. just the ballroom hold, she thinks, and to his credit, orpheus doesn’t seem to react. 

they start off slowly, and for a moment, eurydice thinks that he just might have a chance after all. his eyebrows are knitted together, and his mouth is turned up slightly on one end, a sure sign that he’s concentrating with all his will. 

then, she makes the mistake of picking up the pace. whatever rhythm he’s got going in his head skips a beat, and he runs straight into her. small as she is, the force of it knocks her off her feet. orpheus stares down, horrified, before coming to his senses and quickly offering his hand. eurydice lets him pull her to her feet, putting on a stern expression just to torture him for a moment before letting her laughter go. 

“you’re the worst,” she says, smiling as he finally relaxes. “we can try again.” they slowly get back to their rhythm, and she can hear him counting under his breath. as she gradually pushes the tempo, he holds on tighter. for some reason, she doesn’t pull away. 

...

“how do you do it?” orpheus suddenly asks, cutting through the silence.

“what?”

“dance the way you do?” 

eurydice considers this. “practice?” 

she knows he’s not satisfied with this answer, and she thinks a moment longer. “i think it’s like any art form. your emotions guide the movement. you tell a story.” 

eurydice thinks about all the times she’s overheard orpheus piecing together a melody, words flowing out of him like he has some sort of divine inspiration. it’s true: she listens a great deal more than she’ll ever let on. “maybe that’s how you write your music?”

 “yes,” he agrees softly. “i do like to tell a story.”

“so what about the one you’re working on now?” eurydice looks up to see that his gaze holds a new intensity. it’s then that she realizes they’ve stopped moving. she tries not to look away.

“well… it’s…” 

“orpheus…”