It's a week and a half until the choreography festival and Robin's feeling a lot better about his piece. It's still not nearly as refined as it should be by now, but he's been putting in a lot of extra time in the studio, and it's paying off.
Regina and Killian have been a godsend, they do practices and critiques together, and the two of them have really helped him work through the bothersome sections of his piece.
Theirs is coming together well, too well. Robin had thought it would be torture having to do it with her, but watching her perform it over and over is so much worse. While dancing there's the distraction of the movements, the athleticism, but when watching there is none of that. It's an erotic piece to watch regardless, but having the woman you love dance it, and dance it well, just brings it to a whole other level.
The only good thing about how he struggles with his own piece, is that that stress prevents him from fully appreciating their dance and embarrassing himself. His thoughts stay on his own anxieties and don't drift too far into what it would feel like doing that with her, what it would feel like doing other things with her. He manages to keep it relatively PG, though there have been times where he has lost himself watching it and had to drag his mind out of the gutter to give proper feedback.
Robin subbed in a few times to give Killian corrections, to show what he meant, and god, the feel of her, moving that way together, was both incredible and painful. Somehow she does not realize the effect she has on him, especially when she turns on the performance, but he felt it down to his bones.
He'd be lying if he said images of that dance didn't filter into his thoughts alone, at night, making him pent up, needy, then leaving him feeling guilty.
Regina will never know how often he's fantasized about her, she'd drop him as a friend if she realized how dodgy he is, how often he thinks of her like that, and this damned dance has only increased the frequency of the impure thoughts.
She's melting into Killian's arm right now, her leg in arabesque coming to his shoulder as he lunges and scoops her up, before she rolls down off of his back.
There is something about the way they roll on each other, each movement flowing into the next, always touching somehow that gets to Robin. The dance is all passion and desire and damn does he ever feel it.
Regina herself has said the dance is sexy, and that sent his brain into overdrive.
She nearly kicks Killian in the head when her leg flows to the right above him while he rolls to the left below it. They both notice, he can see it in their amused expressions, but he adds a note to his book just to be sure, so he doesn't forget.
That little mistake brings him back on track, leads him away from his out of control libido back to what he's supposed to be doing, critiquing.
Robin thinks they are ever so slightly off in the synchronized section, Killian just a hair behind, and that won't do.
He should record this for them, play it back in slow motion so they can really see it.
Next time for sure.
They end on the floor, Regina on top of Killian, an expression of pure bliss as they arch up as the music peaks, then melt into each other as it tapers off.
"Bravo," Robin applauds. "Really well done, just a few little things."
"My leg in the swing around, I know." Regina pants as she stands up. "I'm so sorry, Killian, nearly took you out there. I'm just tired and was starting to shake."
"It's all good," Killian drawls, "If I'd let any woman kick me or step on me, it would be you, Mills."
Regina rolls her eyes, "In your dreams, guyliner."
Killian winks, "Already happening, baby."
"Oh god, don't ever call me your baby again. And don't hold your breath on that ever happening. I mean or do, no skin off my back, but then I'll be out a partner for the show."
"You are always so mean to me, Mills. Admit it, it's because you secretly love me."
Robin snorts at the same time Regina shoots Killian a death glare. "Yeah, no. Just trying to stop you from hurting yourself."
Killian clutches his chest, "I didn't know you cared."
She scoffs, "I don't! But right now you're useful."
These two kill him, they do deeply respect and appreciate each other, but it's buried under faux animosity and relentless, highly entertaining banter.
Robin gives them their notes, then it's his turn and it goes okay.
He completed all the moves, managed to land in the right spot every time, but it still feels awkward, unnatural and he hates that.
Thank god the group piece he's in is fairly easy. He hasn't put all the work in he should on it, but he knows it will be fine. He does the group rehearsals, but that's it, which isn't like him. But his focus is on this solo piece, and he has to show it to Neal and Gold tomorrow, which is making him nervous as hell.
It's because he's nervous he's screwing things up he can do easily. He is never like this and now that he's experienced it, he doesn't know how people can cope with feeling like this. It is ruining the process for him, and he hates that. He wanted to enjoy every aspect of this, and instead he's frustrated and irritated, but it doesn't take away from how much he loves the piece.
Robin's getting better at marking his places, but it's not instinctive yet, and there's a part of him that worries it never will be.
Once the dance is natural, the performance and the character come out of him, but he hasn't gotten there yet and time is running out. He longs for that moment when the movement flows out of him without thought, for that rush as he glides through moves that feel easy. He knows that if he can get there it will feel even better after all this frustration, but what if he never gets there? What if it continues to be not his best and he has to perform it like this?
These difficult moments make the ones where it all works so much sweeter, will make him appreciate them more, but he would like it better if it were always good, if he didn't have to deal with this. Why couldn't he be one those dancers that's just good at everything immediately, that always makes it look easy?
His notes aren't all that bad, considering. He needs to run it again, and again, and again—will run it all night if he has to to ensure it looks good tomorrow, but he won't keep Killian and Regina for that.
Killian bows out apologetically, though there is no need to apologize, and Regina stays, once again being his saving grace.
Robin has done this for her before, but he still feels guilty for keeping her so late, when she could be relaxing at home, enjoying her last night with her roommate. He won't keep her too long because Kathryn's leaving, and he can't imagine they don't have some sort of loose plans tonight.
"Ready to do it again?" Regina asks, and he sighs, which leads her to comment, "You've been doing an awful lot of sighing over there."
That makes him chuckle because it's true, he thinks he's sighed more since getting this piece than he has in his entire life. "It's still not easy, and I want to enjoy it, you know? I love this piece, I want to experience the magic of it, not be bogged down in how awful my own rendition is."
"Robin, it's not awful, not at all. You are being way too hard on yourself."
"You don't need to keep humouring me."
She rolls her eyes, "I'm not. I wouldn't, come on you know that."
He does. He does, but hell, this piece is driving him absolutely mad. "I wish I could see what you see."
Her smile goes wistful, "Me too," then she grins, "I may have a solution for that actually. Let me record it, then you'll see."
Oh god, no, he's not ready for that, not at all. He must show it on his face because she's urging him to trust her, and okay, fine, he will. It's a line he's said to her on multiple occasions when she couldn't see how good she was, and he's learning now what a hollow comfort it is. Clearly, he needs to work on his encouraging words. But he really can't feel worse about this so what's the harm anyway?
Once Robin finishes it and Regina shows it to him. He is so glad he listened to her, because it looks a thousand times better than it feels. Of course he wants it to feel good, but it's nice to know he's not the clambouring idiot he feels like he is while doing it.
He has a lot of work to do but with his best friend at his side encouraging him, he actually believes he can do it.
He dismisses her shortly after, assuring her he will be fine on his own, and asking that she wish Kathryn goodbye for him.
Robin will see Kathryn over the summer, so he's not too bothered that he's not saying a proper goodbye. Regina though, she leaves for the entire summer, so this is it for her and Kathryn for at least thirteen weeks. While Regina isn't ordinarily sappy, he wouldn't be surprised if the idea of this as their last summer sets her off. She's had a short fuse ever since deciding to leave—and though she hasn't said anything about it since sobbing on his couch two weeks ago he knows Gold's revelation had added more grief into the mix.
Robin doesn't understand how Daniel can see her so tortured over this and still ask her to leave, but then Robin's never had Regina, he doesn't know what lengths he would go to to keep her. He likes to think he'd be better than that, but he has acted selfishly time and again in indulging his crush, so perhaps not.
Robin likes to think he's the better man—but is it really true?
"How's it going, baby? I'm so excited to see you," Daniel breathes into the phone on his break, and Regina smiles at the sound of his voice.
"Two more weeks, then soon after we'll have the whole summer together," she marvels, truly excited to have such a long uninterrupted period of time with her boyfriend.
Where some do travelling shows over the summer break, she always spends it in Detroit with Daniel. She'll guest teach as needed in the summer intensive at Ballet Detroit, and in exchange have free access to the studios whenever she wants. Some dance the whole summer, and others take it off, but Regina can't imagine not dancing for such a long period.
She should try and get herself a permanent position at the ballet school. She really does enjoy teaching, instructing what could be the future of dance. It's not the same joy as dancing herself, but it's pretty close.
And since this time next year she'll be done with the company, she should start to put out feelers at the school. It's the best in the area, and only a fifteen minute walk from Daniel's place.
"Yeah, I cannot wait for that. How does it feel being all alone in the apartment? Are you missing her already?" Daniel asks and Regina nods looking around their empty place.
"It feels weirdly empty. I've obviously been here without her before, but this is more permanent and it's odd. It just doesn't feel right, I don't know how to explain it."
Daniel chuckles lowly, "I know what you mean. When you leave after the summer my place always feels wrong for a few weeks, like it's missing something. After a while I get used to it not having you, but it's always an adjustment."
That warms her heart, she too feels that way when she comes back, it feels wrong not to be with him for a few weeks, to live here again, but it always passes. "Yeah, like that. It's weird to think that come this time next year she and I will be packing up this place. It's… the end of an era, and it's really hitting me now that she's gone, even ever so temporarily."
"Change is hard," he murmurs, then his tone goes teasing, "But think of all the fun we can have in your empty apartment. I can finally have you in that kitchen, no chance of being walked in on."
"Daniel," she hisses, "Aren't you in public?"
He laughs, "Relax, I'm in the corner of the breakroom and the only other person in here has headphones on."
Regina shakes her head, not that he can see it. "Still though, can we maybe save that kind of talk for when we are alone."
"I mean you are alone," Daniel says leadingly, before sighing overdramatically, "But fine, I'll control my baser impulses, for now."
Regina lets her smirk shift into her tone as she tells him, "See to it that you do. And perhaps you'll find yourself rewarded."
"That was unfair," he scolds. "But back to safer subjects, I know you are going to miss Kathryn, but hey you never know what will happen. Maybe she'll get a job around here."
That's highly unlikely, and she's about to comment on that when Daniel says, "Oh, before I forget, my summer vacation approval finally came out, so we'll have two full weeks in August to do whatever you want. We can go anywhere, do anything, as long as we're together, I'll be happy."
Regina knows what she wants to do with that time, and she bets Daniel already does, too. "My mother bought a new place in the Hamptons—" she's interrupted with Daniel's surprised Another one? to which she just hums in affirmation before continuing, "so the cottage will be free of her, not that she ever went anyway. I'd like to spend some time there, unless there's something else you wanted to do."
She can picture the way Daniel must be shaking his head, his mirth coming through clearly even over the phone, "I think that would be perfect, it's nice to unplug and unwind there. I'll look into flights in a bit."
She frowns at that, she can't afford that, and though she knows he would be paying, there really isn't a need for that. It's a thirteen hour drive from Detroit to Storybrooke, Maine, and she enjoys the drive through Canada, stopping in Toronto to see shows, or spending a night or two in the beautiful city that is Montreal.
"How do you feel about doing the road trip instead?"
Daniel sighs, "If that's what you want we can do that. All that driving exhausts me, and I'd rather spend that time with you outside of the car."
Regina can admit it's much nicer on the way there than the way back, but perhaps they can break up the events so it's more of an adventure at both ends. "We don't have to decide that right now."
"That's true. Why don't we save the firm plans for when you are here?"
"Mm, or when you are here."
"I'm just sorry I can't be there for longer, we're a bit short staffed right now. It was hard enough to get those three days off."
Regina smiles and reminds Daniel, "It's okay. All you are missing is me packing, which you tend to distract me from anyway."
He laughs, "I'd say I'm sorry but…"
"When do you get in again? Is it eleven pm?"
Daniel makes a noise of agreement, "Eleven thirty. Leave the door unlocked, I'll take a cab over."
As if she'd do that. "No, don't be silly, I'll meet you at the airport."
"Baby, you need your sleep, and so will I. It's not like I'll be rousing company after a twelve hour shift, and a four hour flight."
He very well might be though, Daniel somehow sleeps like a baby on flights.
"I don't care, I want to be there. I miss you so much, and I don't want to waste any of your time here."
Regina can hear his smile in the way his voice goes softer and sweeter, "I love you for that. God, I can't wait to see you, it's been so long and I miss you so much." She hears something muffled, then Daniel's cursing, "Shoot, I'm sorry, I have to go, talk soon, I love you."
"Love you, too," she breathes as he hangs up.
They need this summer more than usual. There's a distance between them that wasn't there before and the missed visit for Romeo and Juliet didn't help.
Long distance is hard, but these summer breaks are a godsend, allows them to reconnect and have time together like a normal couple.
Performances start in eight days, and Daniel will be here in two weeks, then in twenty days she'll be there with him, for the last half of June, all of July and all of August. Two and a half months of uninterrupted bliss.
Things are looking up.
Something is off with Killian; he is not his normal, sassy self, is just taking her biting comments without response, and that is not like him at all.
They are showing Gold and the company their piece today as a part of the full rehearsal, but Regina doesn't think it's solely nerves that are bothering him.
"Are you okay?" she whispers, as they sit in the front of the studio, waiting for their turn.
"Fine."
He's being really short with her, and that, too, is not like him. Whatever it is, he clearly doesn't want to talk to her about it.
Regina can't decide what would be best—if she should try to distract Killian, make him laugh, or if she should leave him be.
Killian has taken to calling her "baby", after she told him off for it, and so she downloaded that Don't Call Me Baby song, planned to blast it the next time he referred to her as such, but it doesn't seem like that will be happening any time soon.
She watches the dances, everyone is doing well, but Robin's is still her favourite. He has given it so much, and it shows. All that care and devotion has shone out when he practices.
Regina is so proud of him, he's had a difficult time and as much as he's beaten himself up about it, he hasn't let it get him down. Now, it's all paying off, and he has been dancing it beautifully.
She really hopes this rehearsal goes well so he can gain the confidence he deserves, that he's earned.
Regina is holding her breath as Robin starts, silently cheering him on as he makes it through the most difficult section with ease. He catches her eye just for a second and she smiles broadly, hoping it shows how proud she is of him.
He's performing so he doesn't acknowledge it, but she knows he saw it and that's all that matters.
When he finishes, no mistakes were made, and the studio breaks out in applause. His expression is one of sheer relief and she jumps up to congratulate him, getting swept up in a tight embrace.
Robin twirls her around as he breathes, "I did it," and all she can do is smile and tell him, Yeah, you did.
It's Gold who interrupts their moment, with a cough and a, "We have other pieces to go through."
Robin smiles sheepishly, grabbing his sheet off of the floor, and makes his way to the front of the studio with her. He takes a seat behind her and marvels quietly over his success.
Regina barely pays attention to the next two performances, too caught up in celebrating with Robin, until it's her turn.
Killian grimaces as he stands and she asks again what's wrong. This time he gives her a half answer, sighs out, "My foot's bothering me, but it will be fine."
She's not so sure about that. He was out for almost a whole season two years ago after he tore a tendon and had to have it surgically repaired. But he knows his body, he knows best, and she can't imagine he'd risk it if he were actually worried, not for this.
Still, she's distracted as they start and she flubs one of the opening moves to her chagrin. From then on she focuses on the dance, and tries to push Killian's injury from her mind.
Unsurprisingly, they get sent off to practice and perform again at the end because of her amateur mistake.
She takes that alone time to ask, "Are you going to be okay with this?"
Killian nods, "It's just sore, this happens sometimes. I've overworked it, that's all. I'm glad we put all that time in up front because I feel okay taking an extra day and the weekend off to let it rest."
"Yeah, we've got this. And listen, we don't need to run it, I was distracted worrying about you, that's why I messed it up."
"One more run won't kill us, I messed up a few things, too. Let's one and done, baby."
Because he's in a good mood now, back to his joking self, she grabs her phone and the opening lines ring out which have Killian eyeing her curiously until the chorus bellows, Don't call me baby, don't call me baby, anymore.
He breaks out in full throated laughter, and she pats herself on the back for that move, as his mood lightens considerably after that.
Their friendship may seem odd to others, but they do care for each other, in their own way. If anyone asked, she'd deny it, she does have a reputation to uphold after all.