Hi everybody! This one shot was inspired by Nightshade 1999's And The Light Embraced The Shadows Chapter 8, where Hazel tells Nico," When you take me out swing dancing and to a play, then I will let it go." And, so yeah this is the brain child.
Also, if I owned these marvelous* books/movies, I would be so happy and you would all know my name, but I don't.
Percy: Oh, man! I want you to own me and feed me and take care of me your whole life!
Me: I know sweetie, but that's Rick Riordan's job. Go eat some blue cookies.
Percy: Ok!
And so here's the story!
*Get it? Marvel-ous?
Hazel
Hazel was amazed. How her brother managed to get tickets to a live swing concert, she'll never know. Yet here she was, in her yellow polka-dot dress with matching flats, at a concert in Central Park. And here Nico was, in a black suit with a yellow tie, looking very uncomfortable.
"Nico! Stop fidgeting with your tie! You're messing it up." Hazel scolded. Nico shoved his hands in his pockets and gave a sheepish grin. Hazel just laughed as she straightened his tie. "I still can't believe you got us tickets! Now will you tell me who is playing?"
Nico laughed. "You won't know who they are. They're a tribute band, playing all the old songs the greats made famous: Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, y'know."
Hazel nodded as she bounced up and down. She couldn't help it. It had been so long since she last heard live swing jazz. Listening to recordings was one thing, listening live was completely different.
Steve
Steve Rogers tugged nervously on his suit jacket as he squeezed through the crowd toward his seat. He wasn't scared of crowds, in fact, he wasn't scared at all. He was excited, really, but worried. What if this wasn't the music he knew and loved during his childhood? What if the style of swing wasn't the same as seventy years ago? What if his seventy years as a capsickle made him forget something important, like how to not drop a girl when dancing? What if nobody danced?
Natasha seemed to feel his anxiety, and gently squeezed his hand. His fiance had her shoulder-length red hair pinned up in a 40's 'do, and wore a cherry-red cocktail dress with matching pumps and clutch. She turned toward Steve and started adjusting his tie.
"Steve, I know you're nervous. Relax and just have fun!" She reached up to kiss his cheek. "You'll be fine. Don't worry. In fact, you should be excited that so many people came to celebrate jazz music!"
Steve nodded. Then he straightened as the band walked on stage.
Hazel
Hazel grinned excitedly as the jazz performers made their entrance. She couldn't stop bouncing up and down. Nico looked at her and shook his head, laughing. "Hazel, if you keep jumping, you'll jump away and miss the show!"
"Hello New York!" The M.C. announced. "Thank you for coming and celebrating with us the history of swing! There's just one thing I'd like to say: don't be afraid to dance! That's the reason there's no chairs, so you can swing the night away. Please note if you feel tired or if you need to sit down, there are tables and chairs in the back of the audience, and a refreshment stand as well. Now that that's all said, let's start swinging!"
"Good evening, folks!" The lead singer grabbed the mic. "Alright, gentlemen, hold your ladies tight! We're going to start the night off with a fast song!"
Nico turned to Hazel and held out his hand. "Care to dance?"
"I thought you forgot how to swing."
"Forget how to swing? Never!"
"Alright, but if you drop me, I won't stop Frank from killing you!"
Steve
"Come on!" Natasha said, gently guiding him through the crowd," Let's dance!"
Steve grinned and shook his head. Only Black Widow would be so eager to dance just to cheer him up. "Alright," he said.
oOoOoOo
"Alright! Sorry, gents, but now find a lady you haven't danced with yet tonight. And, yes, couples must choose another partner," the lead singer announced as a light collective groan sounded.
He chuckled. " Yeah, yeah. Go on, find a partner."
Steve looked around. Most of the ladies already had a partner, except for one young girl. He had seen her dancing earlier, and was surprised to see how well she danced, almost like she had grown up in the 40's. Steve walked up to her." Hello. It looks like everyone has a partner except you. Would you care to dance?"
The girl turned to him. She was younger than he thought, no older than 13 or 14, wearing a yellow polka-dot dress with matching shoes that stood out against her dark coffee-colored skin, and her curly cinnamon hair was held back with a yellow hair ribbon. Her eyes were what startled Steve the most: a pair of sparkling golden gems that stared up at him. " Um, sure. I'm Hazel."
" Hi. I'm Steve. I saw you dancing earlier. You are very good."
Hazel blushed. "Thanks. My mom taught me how to dance."
Suddenly the music started. "What are we waiting for? Let's dance!" Steve said. He held out his hand.
Hazel gently took his hand, and he led her to the dance floor.
Hazel
Hazel was nervous. Here was this extremely tall man (at least 6'0) dancing with her (5'1 ¾). Granted, she was 13, and she hadn't had a growth spurt in, what? 70 years? But still, it was a little scary.
Steve was a pretty good dancer. He sure knew how to swing. He would twirl her at one time and lift her at another. She even flipped over his back at one point*. All in all, it was a very good dance.
Before she knew it, the dance was over, and she was saying goodbye to Steve. It was the best dance she had ever had, even better than Nico's. It was like Steve actually grew up in the 40's.
Which, of course, was impossible.
Steve
"Hey. You look tired. Who were you dancing with?" Natasha asked.
"A girl. Her name was Hazel. It was weird, it was almost like she had grown up in the 40's, she danced that well." Steve replied, out of breath.
"Alright, Grandpa," she answered, slinging her arm through his,"Let's get home, the concert's over, anyways."
Steve chuckled, and kissed her head. "Ok, let's get home."
Hazel
Nico walked up to Hazel. "You ok?"
"Yes, just tired. This was the best birthday present ever, thank you." She stood on her tippy-toes and kissed his cheek. "You are the best brother ever."
Nico smiled and wrapped his arm around her. "That's what brothers are for."
And that's it! Also I was thinking of keeping this a one shot, but if I get enough reviews, I will continue.
Please note updates may take a while as I'm still getting the hang of using this site, and also please if you have any ideas you want made into stories but you don't know how to write stories or you don't know what to write, tell me and I will do my best.
Also if you have any ideas for this story, don't be shy! Every writer needs to have constructive criticism in their career for them to be successful.
Please Review!
And may the gods be ever in your favor!
Oh, I'm saying this late, but the reason Bruce isn't dating Natasha is because I don't ship them. I just don't. Sue me.
Also:
* The flip is from the last scene of Hairspray, with Zac Efron. I thought you should know.