Title: The Observant
Author:
maleroleactressFandom: Sailor Moon, AU
Summary: Haruka watches Michiru dance, every of her movements an explanation in itself.
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Haruka watches Michiru as she leads the small group of choir musumeyaku through the simple, yet very difficult choreography of the Aida encore. Every of her movements is in perfect control without losing the frail elegance that her role requires; every change of posture is sharp and quick, but blends into the graceful and somewhat whimsical feel of the dance, leaving no real trace behind - except for a breath-taking experience of butterfly fragility.
This, Haruka knows, this is the reason that Michiru has become the most noted musumeyaku in the company's history. A top star, fully equal to the many otokoyaku leads that have reigned Takarazuka for years. This; how she encompasses the very essence of what ideal femininity looks like, moves like, speaks like.
Even now, clad in her loose-fitting rehearsal dress, dancing bare-footed across the gym floor without the make-up that usually (even offstage) emphasize the line of her mouth and the colour of her eyes, she manages to take Haruka's breath away.
Quite easily.
Later, after the other musumeyaku actresses - first with a bow to Michiru and a quick nod in Haruka's direction - have filtered out the door, Michiru sits down next to her, freeing her hair from the bun she mostly wears it in during rehearsal. The scent of a flowery but not overly sweet perfume fills Haruka's nostrils.
"I still need to work on my lifts." Michiru's voice is conversational with only a hint of the fatigue they both know too well. They have their perfectionism in common. Among other things.
Haruka turns her head, observing Michiru in silence as the shorter woman rolls her left shoulder, the wince of pain only noticeable to her partner because she knows her so well by now. Rolling her eyes good-humouredly, Haruka twists in her seat and reaches out one hand to start a soft massage of Michiru's neck.
Knuckles dancing over vertebrae, fingertips digging into soft skin where neck meets shoulder, palm warming the taut muscles underneath. She's done it before and Michiru's reaction is the same as always. Closing her eyes, she leans her head back, a sigh escaping her lips.
Seconds tick by in silence.
"You should be training your lifts too, Haruka," Michiru says softly a few moments later, granting her co-actress an amused look out the corner of her eye. Her words are gentle, but bear the hint of teasing which makes Haruka smile nonchalantly. She's well-acquainted with the subtle warning.
Their invisible border. This far she (they) can go, but no further.
Haruka doesn't tell herself that she doesn't mind. She doesn't try to convince herself that it's enough; getting to observe Michiru while dancing - being granted the chance to dance with Michiru. If nothing else, Haruka is honest to her feelings.
Yet, she accepts that they've chosen this path and thus there are certain detours they can't take.
Even when her muscles ache to be allowed the freedom of exploring forbidden territory.