[Fic] Crescendo
Crescendo by withertime
SYTYCD RPS, Ivan/Travis. ~1500 words.
betaed by frenetic
In Las Vegas, Ivan meets Travis and something begins.
The music was thumping through the hall, pumping out beats for the groups of dancers still waiting to show the judges what they had learned during the day. Ivan's head was still reciting the moves over and over again -- turn, step, twist, twist, twist, arm up and sweep, bow your head and ka-ka-pow -- and he couldn't stop his hand from absently swiveling out as the music reached the crescendo where he'd almost lost it, almost forgot what to do. It's over, Ivan reminded himself. You've done your thing. Relax, or you will be too stiff tomorrow to dance properly.
His feet twitched as the music boomed to an end and the people in the seats clapped politely. Ivan sighed. Yeah, this wasn't working.
Ivan adjusted his cap -- for all the heat in Las Vegas, Ivan had quickly discovered the buildings were surprisingly cold inside -- and pushed off of the wall he was leaning into, heading towards the hall. The music started up again and Ivan automatically fell into step. Boom, boom, ka-pow!
He found himself a seat to the side of the stage, where he could watch the others perform from the side. Ivan probably would have had a better view from the seats, but he didn't really feel like commiserating right now and his room mate had an unfortunate tendency to show up from nowhere to discuss the performances in a ramble of questions (Didn't he miss that turn? Was it supposed to be more firm? Do you think the judges saw that I wobbled a little on that stretch?). Ivan wanted to relax -- or at least, not be tense. Pulling his legs up so he could rest his arms around his knees, he watched.
The music stopped, then started and stopped again. Ivan's eyes hurt a little from the lights, his ears feeling a bit off from the music, but he didn't move; eyes following the movements of the dancer, watching the judges' faces. She didn't stretch completely there, his mind might notice. Mary likes him, it might say another time; and somehow, that calmed him until his muscles loosened and he could enjoy himself somewhat.
"Next group," Nigel called from the seats and the dancers waiting behind and to the left of Ivan filed onto the stage. One of them, a blond guy who'd been doing amazing centered turns that left his room mate green with envy, brushed against Ivan, looking down with a slight grimace.
"Sorry," he mouthed, giving Ivan a tense little smile.
Ivan shook his head a little, smiling back. "No worries," he mouthed back and their eyes met briefly. The guy had really nice eyes, Ivan noticed, feeling his heart thud a little. Then the moment was over and the guy was onstage, counting in the music. Ivan got to his feet; feeling like he had finally calmed down enough to get something to eat and drink without barfing. There was still waiting to do.
***
All the performances were over, and everyone had gathered in the seats again. Ivan had flopped down next to his room mate and was chatting about nothing as they waited for the judging to begin. He thought he had a pretty good idea of how things would go - some of the choices were obvious -- but still, nothing was certain.
The door closest to him opened and when Ivan glanced in that direction, he saw the guy from before wandering inside, eyes sweeping over the crowd. Catching Ivan looking at him, the guy smiled and nodded; ambling over.
"Hey," he said, still smiling with his eyes crinkling a little at the corners. "Sorry about bumping into you before."
Ivan smiled, adjusting his cap a little so he could look into the guy's eyes a little easier. "It was my fault," he said, biting his lip a little. It was sore from all the biting already done - he really should do something about that habit. "I probably shouldn't have been sitting there anyway."
The guy laughed. "Maybe not, but still." He hesitated for a second, then held out his hand. "Travis," he introduced himself.
Ivan took his hand -- warm, callused, his mind noticed -- and replied: "Ivan."
Travis seemed to be about to say something more, but then Nigel started call people onto the stage and there wasn't time. Ivan wasn't sure he was happy or sad about that.
***
Ivan found himself watching Travis after that. He hadn't really payed that much attention to him before, other than to note that he was an excellent dancer and could do things Ivan would bet no one else here could. Now however, Ivan found himself noticing the way he moved, the way he could manipulate his body so seemingly easily, bending at angles Ivan wasn't sure he would ever be able to do. The way he flowed to the music, the way his eyes flashed, the way the lights caught in his blond hair, the way his shorts sometimes slipped down his hips and bared a sliver of skin.
He found himself hovering around the stage as Travis danced, found himself watching him from across the room as the dancers left gathered to talk and relax in the evening. There was something mesmerizing about Travis, something Ivan hadn't noticed before, and he couldn't look away.
***
Then the last day arrived and Ivan was still left. To be honest, he felt a little amazed at that as he'd spent more time watching Travis lately than concentrating on his dancing. But the judges seemed to find something they liked in it, commenting that he seemed a lot less rigid and was getting more flow in his moves; so he must be doing something right.
Ivan had been preparing his solo since the first audition, testing it out on friends, family, teachers. He still felt a little hesitant though, and when he drew the lot to dance in one of the last groups, Ivan promptly adjourned to a corner of the foyer to warm-up and go through his solo a few times, just to be sure. Travis had his solo almost at the beginning, but for once, Ivan didn't stay to watch. This was a competition after all, and while Travis might be nice to look at (really nice, his mind added with lecherous little smile) he was also competition. So Ivan put him out of his mind and concentrated on his own thing, dancing along to a beat that was only in his head for now.
He was going through a tricky bit, eyes closed and lip tucked firm between his teeth when Ivan suddenly realized that someone was watching him. Finishing the movement, Ivan then opened his eyes and glanced around; coming to a stand-still, his eyes suddenly fastened on Travis, sitting cross-legged on the floor in those silly shorts of his. Travis smiled like he had found something delightful, his eyes locked straight on Ivan.
"You're good," Travis said, stretching a little and leaning back on his hands.
Ivan blinked a little, then smiled tentatively. "Thanks," he said, settling in a bit more securely in his stance. "You're finished with your solo?"
Travis shrugged a little, and for a moment Ivan could see the nervousness flash over his face. "Yeah," he said, shoving off of the ground and to his feet, hooking his fingers into the waistband of his shorts. The fabric dragged down a little, and Ivan saw a flash of hipbone before the shirt slid down to follow. "Just waiting left." He cocked his head a little, looking at Ivan a little slyly. "Want to see? You've been watching me a lot lately."
Ivan flushed deep red, looking down. "Sorry," he mumbled, knowing that there was a decent chance that Travis might be irritated about it. The dancing community might have a good-sized contingent of homosexuals and bisexuals, but there were still tension every now and then when straight dancers believed they were being hit on.
"Don't be." Ivan nearly jumped out of his skin when Travis' voice came from close in front of him and his eyes flickered up, meeting Travis' by chance and unable let go. There was something hot in them, something that made Ivan's breath stutter a little before slipping out in an audible exhale. Travis smiled, lips quirking a bit strangely. "I don't mind."
Ivan flushed again, but for another reason this time. Before he had the chance to say something, one of the personnel showed up at the door though, calling names. "I've got to go," Ivan said inanely as his name was called.
"Yeah," Travis said, then raised his hand to Ivan's face with a little hesitance, cupping his cheek for a moment. Ivan stopped breathing, the feeling of Travis' palm against his skin sending his mind reeling, then thudding to a stop as Travis removed it again, smiling in a way that told Ivan that he damn well knew what he was doing to him. "Talk later?" Travis asked.
Ivan nodded, then looked towards the doors where people were already passing through to wait in the wings for their turn. His eyes flickered back to Travis. "I'll look you up," he promised.
Travis nodded and Ivan grabbed his things and headed off. He was smiling, Ivan realized as he passed a mirror wall, and he wasn't nervous at all anymore. He laughed a little. Maybe this would all turn out well after all.
SYTYCD RPS, Ivan/Travis. ~1500 words.
betaed by frenetic
In Las Vegas, Ivan meets Travis and something begins.
The music was thumping through the hall, pumping out beats for the groups of dancers still waiting to show the judges what they had learned during the day. Ivan's head was still reciting the moves over and over again -- turn, step, twist, twist, twist, arm up and sweep, bow your head and ka-ka-pow -- and he couldn't stop his hand from absently swiveling out as the music reached the crescendo where he'd almost lost it, almost forgot what to do. It's over, Ivan reminded himself. You've done your thing. Relax, or you will be too stiff tomorrow to dance properly.
His feet twitched as the music boomed to an end and the people in the seats clapped politely. Ivan sighed. Yeah, this wasn't working.
Ivan adjusted his cap -- for all the heat in Las Vegas, Ivan had quickly discovered the buildings were surprisingly cold inside -- and pushed off of the wall he was leaning into, heading towards the hall. The music started up again and Ivan automatically fell into step. Boom, boom, ka-pow!
He found himself a seat to the side of the stage, where he could watch the others perform from the side. Ivan probably would have had a better view from the seats, but he didn't really feel like commiserating right now and his room mate had an unfortunate tendency to show up from nowhere to discuss the performances in a ramble of questions (Didn't he miss that turn? Was it supposed to be more firm? Do you think the judges saw that I wobbled a little on that stretch?). Ivan wanted to relax -- or at least, not be tense. Pulling his legs up so he could rest his arms around his knees, he watched.
The music stopped, then started and stopped again. Ivan's eyes hurt a little from the lights, his ears feeling a bit off from the music, but he didn't move; eyes following the movements of the dancer, watching the judges' faces. She didn't stretch completely there, his mind might notice. Mary likes him, it might say another time; and somehow, that calmed him until his muscles loosened and he could enjoy himself somewhat.
"Next group," Nigel called from the seats and the dancers waiting behind and to the left of Ivan filed onto the stage. One of them, a blond guy who'd been doing amazing centered turns that left his room mate green with envy, brushed against Ivan, looking down with a slight grimace.
"Sorry," he mouthed, giving Ivan a tense little smile.
Ivan shook his head a little, smiling back. "No worries," he mouthed back and their eyes met briefly. The guy had really nice eyes, Ivan noticed, feeling his heart thud a little. Then the moment was over and the guy was onstage, counting in the music. Ivan got to his feet; feeling like he had finally calmed down enough to get something to eat and drink without barfing. There was still waiting to do.
***
All the performances were over, and everyone had gathered in the seats again. Ivan had flopped down next to his room mate and was chatting about nothing as they waited for the judging to begin. He thought he had a pretty good idea of how things would go - some of the choices were obvious -- but still, nothing was certain.
The door closest to him opened and when Ivan glanced in that direction, he saw the guy from before wandering inside, eyes sweeping over the crowd. Catching Ivan looking at him, the guy smiled and nodded; ambling over.
"Hey," he said, still smiling with his eyes crinkling a little at the corners. "Sorry about bumping into you before."
Ivan smiled, adjusting his cap a little so he could look into the guy's eyes a little easier. "It was my fault," he said, biting his lip a little. It was sore from all the biting already done - he really should do something about that habit. "I probably shouldn't have been sitting there anyway."
The guy laughed. "Maybe not, but still." He hesitated for a second, then held out his hand. "Travis," he introduced himself.
Ivan took his hand -- warm, callused, his mind noticed -- and replied: "Ivan."
Travis seemed to be about to say something more, but then Nigel started call people onto the stage and there wasn't time. Ivan wasn't sure he was happy or sad about that.
***
Ivan found himself watching Travis after that. He hadn't really payed that much attention to him before, other than to note that he was an excellent dancer and could do things Ivan would bet no one else here could. Now however, Ivan found himself noticing the way he moved, the way he could manipulate his body so seemingly easily, bending at angles Ivan wasn't sure he would ever be able to do. The way he flowed to the music, the way his eyes flashed, the way the lights caught in his blond hair, the way his shorts sometimes slipped down his hips and bared a sliver of skin.
He found himself hovering around the stage as Travis danced, found himself watching him from across the room as the dancers left gathered to talk and relax in the evening. There was something mesmerizing about Travis, something Ivan hadn't noticed before, and he couldn't look away.
***
Then the last day arrived and Ivan was still left. To be honest, he felt a little amazed at that as he'd spent more time watching Travis lately than concentrating on his dancing. But the judges seemed to find something they liked in it, commenting that he seemed a lot less rigid and was getting more flow in his moves; so he must be doing something right.
Ivan had been preparing his solo since the first audition, testing it out on friends, family, teachers. He still felt a little hesitant though, and when he drew the lot to dance in one of the last groups, Ivan promptly adjourned to a corner of the foyer to warm-up and go through his solo a few times, just to be sure. Travis had his solo almost at the beginning, but for once, Ivan didn't stay to watch. This was a competition after all, and while Travis might be nice to look at (really nice, his mind added with lecherous little smile) he was also competition. So Ivan put him out of his mind and concentrated on his own thing, dancing along to a beat that was only in his head for now.
He was going through a tricky bit, eyes closed and lip tucked firm between his teeth when Ivan suddenly realized that someone was watching him. Finishing the movement, Ivan then opened his eyes and glanced around; coming to a stand-still, his eyes suddenly fastened on Travis, sitting cross-legged on the floor in those silly shorts of his. Travis smiled like he had found something delightful, his eyes locked straight on Ivan.
"You're good," Travis said, stretching a little and leaning back on his hands.
Ivan blinked a little, then smiled tentatively. "Thanks," he said, settling in a bit more securely in his stance. "You're finished with your solo?"
Travis shrugged a little, and for a moment Ivan could see the nervousness flash over his face. "Yeah," he said, shoving off of the ground and to his feet, hooking his fingers into the waistband of his shorts. The fabric dragged down a little, and Ivan saw a flash of hipbone before the shirt slid down to follow. "Just waiting left." He cocked his head a little, looking at Ivan a little slyly. "Want to see? You've been watching me a lot lately."
Ivan flushed deep red, looking down. "Sorry," he mumbled, knowing that there was a decent chance that Travis might be irritated about it. The dancing community might have a good-sized contingent of homosexuals and bisexuals, but there were still tension every now and then when straight dancers believed they were being hit on.
"Don't be." Ivan nearly jumped out of his skin when Travis' voice came from close in front of him and his eyes flickered up, meeting Travis' by chance and unable let go. There was something hot in them, something that made Ivan's breath stutter a little before slipping out in an audible exhale. Travis smiled, lips quirking a bit strangely. "I don't mind."
Ivan flushed again, but for another reason this time. Before he had the chance to say something, one of the personnel showed up at the door though, calling names. "I've got to go," Ivan said inanely as his name was called.
"Yeah," Travis said, then raised his hand to Ivan's face with a little hesitance, cupping his cheek for a moment. Ivan stopped breathing, the feeling of Travis' palm against his skin sending his mind reeling, then thudding to a stop as Travis removed it again, smiling in a way that told Ivan that he damn well knew what he was doing to him. "Talk later?" Travis asked.
Ivan nodded, then looked towards the doors where people were already passing through to wait in the wings for their turn. His eyes flickered back to Travis. "I'll look you up," he promised.
Travis nodded and Ivan grabbed his things and headed off. He was smiling, Ivan realized as he passed a mirror wall, and he wasn't nervous at all anymore. He laughed a little. Maybe this would all turn out well after all.