#jive

You stared in dull surprise at your unexpected partner for the introductory dance for your class.

Introduction to Ballroom Dancing was a new class at the Grove of Epiphany. One you’d had to fight for in the form of debating the benefits of its inclusion in the curriculum offered with the infamous professor Anaxagoras of all people. 

Bluntly put, it was a miracle you’d succeeded and you still, to this day, did not know what you’d said that had convinced him. Especially since it felt like you’d been losing the debate the entire time.

Though you did have to say that calling him Anaxa had caused him to falter briefly in what you largely assumed was an incredible amount of irritation.

You never would’ve even tried to get the class started if you’d known you’d have to go through that….

Which was perhaps why it almost felt like a cruel joke that your partner was none other than Anaxa himself.

You tilted your head as he stood, arms crossed, with a largely bored expression on his face that had you pressing your lips together before you spoke in a tone that was only slightly strained, “I didn’t realize you knew how to dance, Professor.”

A grin slipped onto his face that reminded you of the overly intrigued way he’d watched you while you’d debated.

“I know many things, Y/n.” The glaring difference in the way you each addressed each other was almost impressive and had a ripple of whispers going through the crowd of students watching.

“Do you think they know each other?” 

That was Castorice’s soft voice. She’d asked if she could watch the classes but not participate due to her unique situation. You’d agreed, reassuring her that you completely understood.

“Oh, they definitely know each other, you should’ve seen them during the debate. And look at the grin on Professor Anaxa’s face!”

And there was Phainon. He’d been one of the students who’d watched you debate with Anaxa.

You hummed your response, walking over and closing the distance between the two of you as he watched you with an oddly curious glint to his lone visible eye as he spoke, “Why the jive? To excite the students?”

You frowned, confusion briefly flashing through your mind before you shook your head, “No. That’s the one the students asked about the most.”

He stared at you, his eye briefly widening before a maniacal laugh burst out of him and he pressed a hand to his head as if he truly could not believe what you were saying.

You frowned, but said nothing, opting to instead watch him frustratedly. Because it was true. There hadn’t been any grander scheme in mind when you’d opted to dance the jive as a lead-in performance for the class.

In fact, the whole reason you were even performing a dance for the students was because they’d asked you too. And it had seemed like a fair request. A preview of a small slice of what they’d be learning.

He recovered and met your gaze with a wide grin as you stared at him with arched eyebrows before he extended one hand, “Very well then. Let us dance.” 

Your hand had barely found his before the music had started with no warning and he was whirled you across the floor. And, all at once, this felt like some kind of horrible test to see if you actually did know what you were doing.

You’d certainly caught every single student’s attention with your sudden, rapid motions as the two of you pivoted across the floor, though. Staying largely side by side even as your hand left his and the two of you kicked out rapidly. Matching the beat of the music with fast moving steps, kicks, leg flicks, and cross over steps.

You spun across the floor together, parallel to one another and you almost snorted as you noted the way he almost fell behind. He managed to keep up though as he reached over and snatched back ahold of your hand to spin me towards him.

Your arm wrapped solidly around him with your hand pressing into his back and his arm wrapped around you in a mirror image as you spun together. Tilting with the motion and gradually speeding up the delight of your audience.

You let go, briefly spinning out to face the audience and kick out to the side before the two of you faced each other once more. Your hands colliding and locking together as you each danced to the side before he outright pushed you away from him. 

You leapt to the side, letting his motions whip you spinning through the air before you touched back down. 

You looked up in time to see him practically smirk  from where he’d followed you across the floor before he was twirling you once again. Letting go of your hand so that you stopped and reached out, your hand flattening against his before you twirled back the other way only for him to be waiting.

And it was almost frustrating that he was ready for you, but you also couldn’t quite fight the grin that was steadily beginning to creep onto your face.

You found yourself subtly starting to help him. Silently signaling your motions so he could better match you when you would spin. And you were almost impressed as, rather than exactly mimicking your motions, he would mirror image them. Adding extra interest to the dance with minimal effort.

As the two of you stopped, you spun, playfully pointing at him and he spun in response. His arms outstretched as he angled his body as he lightly jumped with motion creating something akin to a windmill effect before he stopped and looked your way with an almost challenging grin.

You followed his lead exactly, spreading your arms and spinning rapidly before stopping and reaching out.

His hand was waiting for yours and you tapped his palm in a light signal before you cartwheeled to the side, across the floor in front of him. 

Your arms locked around his legs as he caught your waist and then leaned to the side. Rotating up and into the air in a cartwheel as you touched down, using your momentum to help pull him on over before it was your turn again.

You let go as you turned back upright, barely catching your breath before he was reaching over and catching your hand to twirl you back toward him where he caught and practically threw you back into a small dip.

You were panting as you looked up at him, your arm having instinctively wrapped itself up and over his shoulder when he’d thrown you back as the students exploded into applause and cheers.

Similarly, Anaxagoras looked like he was fighting to catch his breath as he looked down at you. His strange pink and blue eye bright as held your gaze before pulling me back upright in a sudden, almost jarring motion that distinctly felt like it was meant to leave you unsteady. As if the two of you were still debating and in competition.

You swallowed as you let go of him and stepped back. Hurriedly placing at least a small amount of distance between the two of you as you nodded, smiling at the students before looking his way. Feeling oddly awkward despite the performance you’d just put on with him as you gestured vaguely, “You’re quite skilled.”

He nodded, his gaze staying on your face even as you looked away from him, faking a need to catch your breath as an excuse as he spoke, “As are you. Y/n.”

“Oh yeah, they definitely know each other.”

Phainon and Castorice’s voices mingled together and you pressed your lips together, half betrayed by the way you glanced in Anaxagoras's direction. After all, you  could practically already hear the rumors starting about the two of you.

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