Work Text:
Waverly waltzed true the ballroom with ease, it was as she was floating over the floor. Truly in her element because dancing was her life... She was smiling a happy smile, a fake one yes! But a smile nevertheless.
Her partner let her through the dance, and she maneuvered around with expertise like no one else. Waverly was well aware that she was only as good as her partner and was not going to lie James hardy had been a hell of a dancer and even though waltz was not his go to, he had performed perfect. but even in that moment she couldn’t shake the feeling of not being safe and doing her absolute best, because she had to take the lead and make him finish with his head held high and sadly it was not the first time.
She should be happy as the score of their performance showed and told them that they had nailed it and won. but Waverly ever the overachiever was not happy with James. He smelled more and more of alcohol.
every practice he was sweating more than he ever had and he reeked of old alcohol.
today's performance was just like that he was soaked in sweat and his breath was disgusting.
he lead them out of the hall and almost broke down as soon as they had left the room.
"Jesus that was a though round!” he breathed out and bend over to placed his hands on his knees. Waverly could only stare at him with hard eyes and hand on her hip. just so damn tired of his attitude and lack of respect for her...well in reality them!
“What is wrong with you! given the amount of practicing we are doing, you are in the worst shape ever… you almost choked out there! and please next time, do take a mint before we dance because I cannot take your alcohol breath any longer” she hissed before she stormed away leaving him to stare at her back in disbelieve and his own company.
Waverly loved to dance and if she could choose she wouldn’t be doing anything else. but she needed to find a new partner, because James was not as serious as she was, and his actions lately were not working with how Waverly wanted her dance career to go..
So, Monday she walked into the studio with a clear head and was determined that this would be a good practice and she would shake James into action, if he even showed up. And if not, she would ask her trainer for a new partner. not that it was an easy thing to do, because your dance partner was like your life nerve, you had to have 100 percent trust in them and the amount of time you spent together. so, it was crucial that the chemistry was there.
Lucado, her trainer was already in, and she was staring at a screen probably examining the forgoing dance. She turned and waved Waverly over to her and while holding hard focus on the screen.
“Please tell me what is going on with James? He seems so out of space, the only reason you won this weekend was because you took the lead.” She said not looking at Waverly, eyes locked on the screen where Waverly could see herself dancing and twirling around
“Well, I could say a lot of things that’s wrong with him , but won’t say anything other than he is possible a little bit drunk?” Lucado's head snapped in Waverly’s direction.
“Excuse me what?” she narrowed her eyes
“Yeah, He doesn’t think he have a problem and every time I talk to him about it he tells me to shut my brain off and just smile and look pretty.
Honestly Lucado, I need another dance partner, the championships are coming up and I’m not sure I can deal with him anymore.”
“Huh!” Lucado didn't say anything else but tapped her lips and left Waverly standing alone. Confused, she began her warmup - at least she would be prepared if James came in.
It had been going so well for them and they really have had a great connection, but when Waverly turned him down once in for all, he had started to be more reckless and unprofessional.
She sighed knowing it was her own fault… if she just hadn’t let him kiss her that one time.
By the time James walked in an hour later, Waverly had done the routine by herself and was just deeply annoyed by his presence.
“Hey Waves, you ready for a run?” he asked with a bright smile and tried to charm her and all she could do was roll her eyes at him.
“JAMES HARDY!'' Lucado’s voice rang through the studio and a “Ohh shit” could be heard whispered from the man next to Waverly.
“Yes coach” he piped up
“I want you in my office now” James ran toward her office and Waverly felt as if she was a teenager all over again, being scolded by her Highschool principal even though it wasn't even her it was directed at.
“Oh, and Waverly you will dance with Haught, while I have a talk with Mr. Hardy” Lucado said a matter of fact
“Haught!!!” Waverly said with a confused look on her face.
“Yes Haught! you still need the practice today, so go have fun”
“But she’s a she!” Waverly noted and Lucado tilted her head and smiled a little.
“I am fully aware, but I think you will find her company very soothing” and with that she walked to her office. From the other end of the studio a tall redheaded woman walked in with a confidence and a swagger that Waverly had only ever seen before with this specific woman.
“Oh, hey Waves. Lucado told me to step in, instead of the lazy boy man… is that a problem?” Nicole pointed over her shoulder and Waverly couldn’t help but giggle at her words.
“No no not at all. Was just a bit confused… but I do need the practice though… eh so Nicole just for info it’s waltz we are practicing today. I know you are more of a freestyle dancer.” Waverly starred a whole in the ground, not wanting to look into those beautiful brown orbs that always had her spellbound.
And whenever Nicole was going through her routines Waverly was paralyzed, she couldn’t help it, there was something magical whenever the tall, beautiful woman started to dance. it lured her in.
Nicole was a vision and Waverly couldn’t get enough of the redhead. she had been caught staring more than once.
“Well, if you will let me guide you, Miss Waverly Earp. I don't think you will find a better partner than me!” Nicole said with a wink and Waverly’s knees buckled a bit.
“Ehh, yeah… great …great ok” Waverly stuttered and blushing so hard and all she wanted to do was run away. But then again she would have an excuse to be in the arms of the redhead that she admired.
Nicole had caught Waverly's sight the moment she had laid eyes on her for the first time, but they were dancing hugely different styles. Their training passes never really collided, but that didn’t mean that Waverly would drag out her leaving. sometimes she would ‘forget something'
just to make sure that she could have another glimpse of the redhead.
Nicole had caught her staring but had never said anything, just winked Waverly’s way and loved her eyes on her body. There was always an extra sway in her hips whenever Waverly was staring at her.
“I will put on the music, do you…eh o you need warm up or are you ready?” Waverly questioned with a small voice.
“Oh no I’m good, been going for it in the studio next door for the last hour or so…so let's do this” Nicole said enthusiastically and clapped her hands together to emphasize how ready she was for this. She was stretching out her hips a bit with pushing them in circles and Waverly had a challenging time focusing.
She more or less ran over to her phone and connected it to the sound system and the song was flowing out of the speakers.
Nicole walked to the middle of the room, took her position and held out a waiting hand toward Waverly so she could take it whenever her cue was on. Nicole was smiling big, and she had only eyes for Waverly, who’s blushing hasn’t gone down one bit and she also felt as if the room was burning up.
“Come on flaming ladybug, don't be such a stumbling fool in front of Haught” she chastised herself in a whisper, as she took her own position and waited for the music to hit the spot.
Once she started to move, she felt the light slip down on her.
she felt the rhythm in her body, the memory muscle kicked in, in full gear and when she looked up and finally took Nicole's hand, it felt as if this was something that she always should have done, she felt a spark of electricity …and she looked up at Nicole who smiled an encouraging smile.
Nicole held her in a firm but safe grip and took over the moment their body touched each other. she guided them over the dancefloor and twirled Waverly around and dipped her down at the perfect moment, and Waverly was over the moon, up and down and using the whole floor to get the most of it.
Waverly had thought it would be awkward, different when she had a female to lead her, but she found it quite the opposite.
Waverly has had her share of partners over the years but never one who was so attentive on Waverly and guided her in such an elegant way. Waverly was a bit starstruck giving the fact that this kind of chemistry was unheard of with only single dance in.
Waverly was seen, she was heard, and she knew that Nicole would catch her if she fell. was this what it would feel like to dance at a wedding? seen! she could totally imagen Nicole in a tuxedo.
Nicole was a vision and such an elegant dancer that gave a trill down her spine.
she felt as this was it.
she never wanted another dance partner in her life.
The song and dance came to an end and Nicole finished it off with a spin around Waverly and pulling her into her core and Waverly could feel Nicole’s heart beating strongly, her breathing hard but Waverly was not sure if it really was from the dance alone.
She did a little curtsy toward Nicole and pretending to lift her gown up with her hand, with a humongous smiled plastered over her face.
“wow” Nicole breathed out as she stared at Waverly in awe.
“Oh my god Waverly, you are so elegant and flawless” she continued. ”I have never danced with someone with such a grace before.” Nicole bowed down and kissed Waverly’s hand as a gesture.
Waverly raised herself and could only stare into those deep brown eyes.
“That’s my line, wow…you are so perfect” Waverly whispered in awe as she took a strand of red hair that had loosened itself from Nicole’s bun and looped it around her ear.
Nicole smiled a shy smile and looked down at Waverly’s lips, still holding her hand.
everything in Waverly pulled her closer to Nicole and she took a step into her private space and tip toed, close enough to touch her lips
“I see you found the connection, dancing with Haught!” Lucado shouted from the other end of the studio and Waverly almost jumped back as if she had been burned.
“Ahh yes…yes, that was very satisfying, Nicole is a far better ballroom dancer than I had ever expected” Waverly answered her trainer.
“Glad to hear it, thank you Haught for your participating in helping Mrs. Earp out here.”
“Oh, I would gladly do it again, Waverly is such a pleasure to work with!”
“Really? would you do it? “ Waverly said in surprised, she turned to look at the redhead
“I would do a lot of things to you!” Nicole answered honestly not breaking eye contact
“Eh for…for me?” the red in her cheeks instantly blushing up
“Yeah that too” Nicole smirked and Lucado cleared her voice to let the two women know that she was still in the room.
“Well, I'm glad you two had a lovely dance” she raised her brow and smiled a knowing smile.
“Waverly just for your info I let James of the hook, I cannot have a man with wrong attitude dancing my championship dances, also he got a little pissed when he saw you two sweeping around the floor, as if you never had done anything else your entire lives” the vicious smile that was on her trainer’s lips made he chuckle
“Okay, so I’ll have to find a new partner…but it is for the best, thank you Lucado and thank you Nicole, you really are an incredible dancer” Waverly took a step away from Nicole, not wanting too but she felt that she had spent her time, and that she would let the redheaded goddess go back to her own dance schedule.
“Waves, where are you going?” Nicole asked with a curios voice
“Home, you need your own time to practice and I need to search for a new dance partner” Waverly stated.
Lucado looked at Nicole then on Waverly then back to Nicole. “Waverly, I believe that Nicole would love to be your dance partner!” Nicole smiled shyly but nodded
“What? I’m not even sure if that is legal in the competition… I mean she’s a she” a panic started to spread in Waverly. She wasn’t even sure why.
If Waverly could choose she would love to have Nicole as her dance partner, but wasn’t it supposed to be a man and a woman who was dancing in the competitions? Also, this was never heard of before. Waverly had never seen two women dancing in that level.
She walked to her bag and collected her stuff before more or less running out of the studio.
Nicole stood with mouth agape and a little confused about what just had happened
“Eh is it me or did you also get the vibe that she is scared of dancing in public with me?” Nicole asked while untying her bun and slowly ran a hand through her hair in frustration
“Honestly no, but she gave me the feeling that she is scared of herself… you two was killing it out there, I knew I kept you around for a reason!” Lucado winked and patted Nicole on the back.
“Don’t worry about it, she will come along. I’ve seen the longing looks and the way she is too stunned to say or do anything whenever you are dancing.” Nicole sighed
“Do you think she will ever see me?” Lucado barked out a laugh.
“See you! she was about to kiss you if I hadn’t interrupted you. Look Haught I know you have been pining over little miss Earp and you have heart eyes whenever she enters a room, so yes she will see you. I know you are not a ballroom dancer, but this is your chance to get even closer to Waverly…well that's of course if you want’s too? Just give her time and she will come around. because no matter what she will say, she has never had a dance just like she had with you and we both know it. you showed her that she can be seen on the floor..”
“Wow…Okay, and thank you, Lucado. and thank you for giving me the chance,” Nicole smiled but Lucado just shook her head.
“of course…I can’t have my two dancers pinning and moping around in my studio…someone have to act on both of your feelings.” and with that Lucado left the room and a shocked Nicole.
More than a week had gone by since Nicole had danced with Waverly in the studio, it wasn't because they often ran into each other. but since then, Nicole had craved to see the beautiful brunette twirling around.
Maybe she was a creep, but she had more than once been ogling Waverly when she was dancing and she had not missed a heartbeat whenever Waverly had been standing and watching her perform from the doorway, and whenever that happened Nicole would throw in some extra hip swing and make sure her breast was a bit more out…did she like Waverly, yes, did she wanted to be her dance partner, holy moly yes…she was a vision when she danced and even if Nicole was not a ballroom dancers she knew the dances to perfection. she had in a sap moment told Lucado that Waverly was a vision and from then on Lucado had called Nicole out whenever she was drooling around the tiny brunette.
so, when Lucado in a fast track had asked Nicole to step in and help Waverly with her practice, Nicole had pumped the air with her fist and silenced a victory scream. and nodded very wildly with her head.
Lucado had laughed at her, while telling her that she was needed ASAP.
This was her chance and she knew whatever dance Waverly would want her to dance she would be doing it a 1000% so she finally could show her how it had to be done and not like the boy man. Not That Nicole knew James in person. But the way he had been behaving in the studio and the way he had been trying to hold Waverly back, did something to Nicole.
Waverly was her own person and she didn’t belong to anyone. And now it seemed that she could spread her wings and fly… and Nicole would be damned if she didn't get the chance to help her see how it also could be done.
Nicole stretched out and was ready to do her routine, when the door to the studio was pushed open and Waverly walked in.
“Waverly?” Nicole breathed out and stood a little taler, Waverly didn’t stop; she walked with determinant paces toward Nicole and stopped only when their feet was touching.
“Did you mean what you said?” Waverly asked Nicole who in this moment seemed to have lost the ability to talk. “Did you ?” Waverly questioned her again
“Eh… what part?” Nicole got out, staring into beautiful eyes “because if you refer to ‘I would do a lot of things to you!’ then yes” Nicole smirked feeling noticeably confident.
Waverly narrowed her eyes a bit, but chuckled “yes that too” Nicole almost choked
“Did you mean what you said? that you would be my dance partner?”
“I want to be your partner!” Fully knowing she was referring to so much more than dancing.
“Good, now dance with me Haught!” As on cue the music started. Both of them whipped their heads towards the door where Lucado was standing with a big grin on her face
“Chop chop ladies, I think you need the practice before the big race this weekend” she said with a strict voice but her eyes told a different story.
Nicole took Waverly’s hand and guided her to the middle of the floor, smiling big.
“Are you ready?” Nicole whispered and Waverly nodded. Waverly placed her one hand on Nicole’s shoulder and took a grip on her hand, swaying her head out to the side.
Nicole was in awe of the woman in her arms, she could see how Waverly had let her guards down, how she melted into the touch as two became one.
They started to move around, lost in each and the motion, they moved effortlessly around the floor, breathing each other in and never lost sight of their equal goals.it was if they were floating through the air both of them aware that what they were doing was quite unique.
Nicole had Waverly out in a spin and effortlessly pulled her right back to where she belonged. It was magical and beautiful.
Nicole felt like she was on cloud nine as they waltzed trough the studio and never had a dance been more perfect as it was with Waverly Earp.
As the music faded, it would seem that the two women would come to an end but they kept on twirling around not even noticing the lack of music, the only thing they had was eyes for each other.
“Nicole, you are so beautiful when you dance” Waverly sighed and they stopped their movement.
“And you miss Earp is a vision” Nicole breathed out; she placed her forehead against Waverly’s breathing the same air for a moment. Waverly pulled back and starred into Nicole’s sparkling eyes.
“I want to be your partner too” she whispered as she pulled Nicole closer and kissed her on the lips.
Nicole felt as the angels was singing and the feeling of Waverly’s lips on her own made her fly.
kissing Waverly Earp was more than Nicole had ever dreamed of, soft tender and so addicting.
They pulled back and starred at each other, giggling but feeling content that this was how it was supposed to be.
“Hmpf…I thought she was a she?” Lucado snorted from the other end of the room. Waverly instantly started to laugh, Nicole looked curios.
“Yeah…I know, but she is pretty perfect and I figured out that even though ‘she a she’ I have never had a better dance partner.” she moved back to Nicole’s lips and kissed her like there was no tomorrow.