^^Swan Lake.
***

Welcome back NJ gang! I've missed you all and I've missed writing. It's good to be back!

- NJNJ14 xo
                         ****

Nova Lux's POV

Once more.

It needs to be perfect.

My sweat drips onto the wooden floor.

My feet ache and my arms are numb.

My head is light from dizziness and the stage lights are blindingly bright, burning down onto me like the sun.

Perfection.

I move to the beat of the 'Swan Lake' theme music, gliding like a knife through the air.

My clothes stick to my body, my hair, to my neck.

Perfection.

I bend into the next pose, completely ignoring the pain in my ribs.

A lot of people have danced to this music.

But not like me.

I have to be better.

I jump.

The landing is perfect.

It's perfect.

But something is missing...

"Lux?" A voice calls.

The voice snaps me out of my thoughts and I shield my eyes from the blinding light to find the source of the noise.

I peer into the darkness to find a tall man, with dark hair, an impressive build and a gym bag slung onto his shoulder.

"Itsuki." I respond.

I look at the time.

"You're early" I remark.

He smiles all big, so proud of himself, and I nearly crack.

He's adorable.

"Yes ma'am I am. I don't wanna keep you waiting" he says.

I nod and move to turn off the stage lights, calling for him to open the curtains.

He does as he's told, and he throws the curtains open, allowing daylight in.

He blinks at the light.

"What are we doing today? More stretching? Drills? Something new?" He asks all at once.

He's like a golden retriever.

Well... better a golden retriever, than the way he was before.

"We're doing something new" I tell him.

I pick up a pair of ballet slippers and throw them for him to catch.

"Wear these and get used to them. I'm gonna clean myself up. I reek of sweat" I say to him.

He looks ready to complain, but he bites his tongue.

Good.

He remembered.

He wears the shoes and stands in them, trying to get on his toes and he immediately drops with a thud.

I laugh aloud and he looks up at me shocked, before grinning.

"I've never heard you laugh like that" he says.

His voice is almost gentle.

"I like it!" He says.

I look away.

"Keep practicing, I'll be right back" I say, moving past his compliment.

I walk into my office, to change my clothes and clean myself up a little bit.

I look back at Sora and I see him still trying to get on his toes.

He sees me walk in and he huffs out, seemingly a little bit, frustrated.

He walks up to me.

"Teach me how to do it" he says.

"How to do what, Itsuki?" I ask.

It's as he gets closer that I realise that he quite literally looms over me.

I have to look up to make eye contact with him.

He shrugs.

"I wanna do what you were doin'" he says to me" genuinely.

I pull back, feeling a little lightheaded from him being in my space.

"You wanna dance with me?" I ask him.

He nods.

"I wanna at least try it" he shrugs.

"Itsuki, this dance is difficult. Furthermore I'm being paid to teach you the simple stuff and work on your flexibility." I remind him.

He shrugs.

"But you looked like you were having fun" he says.

I blink at him.

I did?

I shake my head.

"Let's learn the basics and then you can learn something like this when I think you're ready" I say.

He nods, eagerly.

I walk up to the ballet barre and he follows.

"Stand upright" I tell him.

He does it.

I pat his stomach.

"Stomach in." I tell him.

I walk behind him and I trail my fingers from the base of his spine to the top of his neck.

"Imagine you have a string, holding your back straight. It has to be constant. Don't let the string snap." I instruct.

He's silent.

I look at his face.

He stares straight ahead.

"You okay Itsuki?" I ask.

He nods, but his skin is a little red.

I shrug it off.

"Okay relax" I tell him.

He loosens up and I take him to stretch.

We stretch together and do some drills.

I snap him through each and every one until his breathing is shallow and he looks ready to drop dead.

"Take a 15 minute break then we're back" I tell him.

"Yes, Lux." He breathes.

"You okay?" I ask.

He nods.

He looks flushed.

I let him rest, before we get back to work.

Before long, it's time to slow down.

"Let's stretch and then you're done" I tell him.

He nods, barely looking me in the eye.

"Legs hip width apart" I say.

He faces me and does it.

"Do as I do" I say.

He watches me.

I bend forwards, keeping my legs completely straight.

He does it too.

He keeps his back straight as well.

Perfect.

"Hold that stretch for me" I say.

He does it.

"Could you sit down with your legs out in front of you?" I ask.

He does it.

I hold his shoulders and push him forwards, until his chest is almost against the floor.

His flexibility is improving a lot.

"Good. You're doing so well" I say, genuinely impressed.

"Lux" he says.

"Mhm?" I ask, holding the stretch.

"I- can I be excused?" He strains.

I let go of him immediately and he stands up, searching for his gym bag.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

Let me ask before I assume...

He nods.

"I promise I'm not bailing on you. Something- I just remembered something extremely important I need to take care of. I'll do double of what you ask me tomorrow first thing" he rambles out all at once.

I nod.

He nods and bolts out of the studio, snatching up his shoes, and running out in the dancing slippers.

Well.

I clean the place up and I get ready for the kids to come through.

Their lesson will start soon.

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~ NJNJ14.