Challenges

By J.C. Thomas

Chapter Six: The Dance

There's always a tightness when you sit still for too long, like your muscles are misused and they're warning you to move before you become a statue. That's how Pietro felt in the back room of The Bat Cave. He'd probably tried every position in the chair and he could still not get comfortable, especially with the music pounding away on the walls.

"Hey, Blade?" He looked at his companion who was scratching at her mop of purple curls that had long fallen from the spikes she liked to keep them tamed in.

"No." She didn't even bother looking up from her book.

"You didn't even let me finish, how do you even know it's a yes or no question?" He tried hard to keep the whine out of his voice.

"The answer is still no, Pietro." She finally looked up; they had been locked in this room since after practice. Allana working here gave them certain privileges, but tonight they were off and she had insisted on studying here of all places. Not that he blamed her, he wasn't up for either of their respective home lives much these days either.

"Please?" He finally let his body get the best of his pride and whined, getting on his hands and knees begging at the foot of her chair.

She snorted, but closed her book and stretched, "Maybe a break wouldn't hurt, and besides Jasper on music tonight is very persuasive."

Pietro and his body let out a sigh of relief as he followed Allana out of the cramped Employee's Only room.

For a school night, the Bat Cave wasn't as deserted as he expected. Before Allana could wonder off he yanked her on the dance floor as Jasper started the latest dance jam.

It felt good to be dancing after a long study session and Allana was always a great partner. After a few rigorous beats, Jasper changed the pace and went with a slower, swaying song. Pietro and Allana made their way through the couples and found their way to wear the deejay equipment was parked.

"Having fun?" Jasper smiled at their approach.

Pietro nodded and felt Allana jab him in the ribs, "Ow! What, Blade?" She pointed noiselessly toward the door. Standing in the entrance stood the new siblings of the south. Rogue was smiling at her brother's scowls. He looked again at Allana who grinned back at him and shrugged going back to her conversation with Jasper.

Oh no, she wasn't getting out of it that easily; they had a bet to fulfill.

"Come on, Allana, they're both here, lets say we make this more interesting?"

"Uh huh." She shook her head, "I'm going back to studying." She started walking back to the back room.

"Chicken." He called to her retreating back. This caused a halt in her pace.

"Excuse me?" She turned to face him, and eyebrow raised."

"You heard me."

She gave a groan, damning her status as his best friend, but he didn't care heading to the hot goth chick known only as Rogue.

"Wanna dance?" He said without greeting her.

She looked at him as if she were deciding whether or not to answer or ignore him.

Rolling her eyes she answered, "Hi, Pietro, no thanks."

He raised his hands in a submissive stance, "Hey, I'm just trying to be nice, but if you want to be rude…"

"—No, I'll dance with you." She said quickly.

He smiled slightly as he led her to the dance floor. Jasper on cue started a slow song. Politely he placed his hands on her hips and she put her hands on his shoulders.

"So, what are you doing here, I thought you were supposed to be studying."

"We were, up until you came. Study break and all that."

"Ah."

Silence fell between them and the soft crooning voice of the singer took over. It was a sad song of lost love and almost unintentionally he brought her closer ever so slightly moving his hand to the small of her back. He waited for her to pull away, but she didn't, instead she wrapped her arms around his neck bringing her chest closer to his. He enjoyed this play of his senses, the warmth of her breath on his neck, the sweet smell that came from her hair, the feel of the rough fishnet top and her denim mini. A sliver of her back was left bare where her top and skirt didn't quite meet. He gently glided his fingers over it and felt her shiver and draw even closer.

The song faded out and they stood wrapped against each other, coming out from the spell before both moved away from the other. Pietro gave a weak a smile and turned to go.

"Where are you going?" Rogue called.

"Studying, big test."

"Oh." She sounded disappointed.

He was too, but there was no way he could go through another slow song with her, if only one made him this strung out. "See you tomorrow."

Without even gathering up Allana he headed to the back room and laid himself on the floor unable to do anything but think of her. He rubbed his face, how pathetic was he? He couldn't like her that much, could he? Get a grip, Maximoff.

And he stayed there for a long time.