All things must end, and now is time for the curtain call. I've hope you've enjoyed this story. Thank you for reading.
Ava may have panicked that first day, but she was back at the center the next day, sheepishly knocking on the Legends' practice room. Sara abandoned her routine when she saw her, tripping up Wally who was meant to be doing a layered move with her at that moment.
"Hey," When the music noticeably turned off, she threw back over her shoulder, "Keep working," Closing the door behind her, blocking out the protests of, "But we need you to do this routine!"
"Hey," she said again.
"Hi," Ava echoed, "I need to apologise."
"No. About yesterday? No, pfft, that was a nothing."
"I. I guess. I shouldn't have run like that… when we needed to practice."
"We still have time," Sara said.
"Are we good to practice today?" She twisted her fingers together.
"I'll be over as soon as I finish the Legends."
"Okay, cool."
"Cool," Sara walked backwards into the door she forgot she closed. He cursed under her breath as she fumbled with the knob. But as promised she turned up an hour later to work with Ava. This time they both shifted into professional mode, all too aware of the crunching deadline quickly closing in on them. There were a few arguments, should Ava shift into a new composition at this point to match Sara, why didn't Sara try this sequence of moves instead to better match the music. They worked together every day after the Legends practised. Until finally the day before the concert was on them. They'd had their full rehearsal at the theatre earlier and now a couple of the performers were going again to clear up a technical hitch or two that happened with them.
Sara was with Thea, standing in front of the Theatre, watching Oliver give an interview about the concert.
"He's actually not half bad at this," Sara whispered to Thea.
With a snicker Thea whispered back, "Felicity helped him."
"Ah, that would explain it,"
"…There are so many talented young performers who'll be losing out on a great space to express themselves if the center is forced to close. Really their only space to express themselves."
The doors of the theatre burst open behind Oliver, making him jump a little.
"Caaaaan anybody find meeee… Somebody to love?" Kara and Barry harmonized, coming up behind Oliver. They sang a verse while Oliver gave a tight smile into the camera as they danced around him.
"Talented performers like Ms. Danvers and Mr. Allen here." He said when they stopped.
"Please, show us your love and support by attending tomorrow," Kara said to the camera.
"Who knows, maybe the great Oliver Queen will have a performance for us too," Barry said, making Oliver laugh nervously at the camera.
"No, I won't. But I will be there, supporting these amazing performers and I hope you'll join me."
The reported cut the segment and had a few quick for Oliver before she and the cameraperson left.
"Did you put them up to that?" Oliver growled to his sister as he stalked over with Kara and Barry.
Thea, a delighted smile on her face, shook her head, "Oh I wish I could take credit for being the mastermind behind that, but no that was all them,"
"Come on Ollie, you loved our song," Barry nudged him.
"I think Barry was on to something. You should come on stage with us tomorrow," Kara said.
"Why are we friends with them?" Oliver asked, this question directed to Sara.
She put up her hands, "They were your friends first."
"Yes, but you encourage their shenanigans."
"You love our shenanigans," Kara said.
"I put up with your shenanigans."
Kara and Barry pouted together. Oliver rolled his eyes, looking away.
"Yeah, he loves us." Kara chuckled.
"Kara," Alex called, stepping out of the building her bag on her shoulder.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow," Kara said, giving quick hugs to everyone.
"Do you want a grab a bite? We haven't caught up in a while," Barry said. He nodded to Thea and Oliver.
"Tommy's doing some last-minute shmoozing with some investors tonight," Thea said, glancing at her watch, "I promised I'd help, but you boys go ahead."
"Sara?" Barry asked.
She shook her head, "I should get some rest before tomorrow,"
"Looks like it's you and me Ollie," Barry nudged his shoulder.
"Don't get into too much trouble boys," Thea called before they went their separate ways.
Sara knew she should be heading home. Tomorrow was going to be a long day and they'd already been busy that day. She should be going home to whatever warm meal her dad was making and slipping under her covers. But that's not where she ended up. Without realizing it she was in the Glades, in front of the Youth Center. She wasn't too surprised when she spotted some of the Legends on the roof. She couldn't contain her smile, climbing up the fire escape to join them. Jax, Zari, Nate, Ray and Amaya were there, sitting on the edge together. When they heard her Amaya and Nate shifted over to give her a space in the middle.
"We're going save this place, right?" Jax asked.
"Of course we are," Nate said, "If I have to chain myself to the building to stop anyone else from taking it."
"I don't know if that'll stop anyone if this place does get sold or repossessed," Ray said.
"If anything if will give people more encouragement, the chance to throw you out,"
"Z, why must you hurt me?"
"Because it's fun," She shrugged. Nate leaned over Amaya and Sara to shove Zari.
"We're never going to lose this," Sara said, "Even if, god forbid, we lose the building, we're never going to lose this," She looked at each of her friends in turn, "Legends never die, right?"
"Legends never die," Nate echoed. Ray and Jax said the same a moment later.
"Well, technically…" Zari started, but Amaya cut her off with a look.
"Z…"
"Legends never die,"
"We should go, its getting late,"
"I'm surprized Gideon hasn't shown up to make us leave yet."
Ray stood first, dusting off his pants, "Even if tomorrow doesn't work, we'll figure out something." He nodded firmly, "We always do,"
The other stood one by one, sharing a hug on the roof before they parted ways. They'd always have each other, they knew that, but this place wasn't just theirs and they were going fight for it, for everyone.
It was chaos. Utter, pure chaos as Ava slipped backstage. Everyone seemed busy. Professor Stein and Clarissa were helping one kid getting into a costume. Lily slipped past her, a stack of programs in her hands.
As she pushed further backstage she could see Jax above them on the lights rigging, tugging a wire.
"Ms Sharpe, behind you," Rip called, making her jump back as he and Ray were moving some equipment to the other side the stage.
"Hi Ava," Ray shot her smile, "You should tell Gideon you're here if you haven't. Check the changing rooms!"
"Oh hi. Thanks," She called after him, but he was already gone.
She found Gideon talking Tommy Merlin and Thea Queen outside one of the dressing rooms.
"Ava, a small change of plans," She said when she saw her.
"Oh no,"
"Nothing bad. Something's come up for Mr. Green and he can't say all evening. We're switching his performance with Mr. Constantine and Ms. Darhk with your solo."
"Weren't they the second to last act?"
"Before Charlie and her band performed, yes. Is that alright?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Good. I'll make sure Mr. Queen has the proper order for his program."
"I'll come with you," Thea said, joining her as they went in search of Oliver.
"Its Ava right?" Tommy said giving a half-wave, "The friend Sara brought to Verdant."
"Yeah, and you're the troublemaker friend,"
Tommy laughed, "To be fair, that's doesn't really distinguish me from the rest of her friends. Sara mentioned she's performing with you tonight."
"Yeah,"
"Well, good luck tonight,"
"Thank you,"
One of the doors leading into the main section theatre burst open and Sara appeared, pulling Laurel behind her. "No one's going to care if you're backstage. Just a quick hello to the Legends for good luck," Sara was saying. They both stopped when they saw Tommy and Ava.
"Tommy," Laurel said instead of an actual greeting.
"Oh. Hi, um, Laurel,"
"Ava! Perfect! I wanted to through something real quick," she dropped her sister's hand and grabbed Ava, pulling her away.
"Sara!"
"This is important Laurel. Give me a few," She called back.
She pulled Ava behind her, into a small alcove behind some stage props. She careful crouched down, trying to see around the edge without actually having to poke her head out.
"Hey, Sara."
"Hi,"
"What are we doing?"
"Spying on my sister and Tommy."
"I got that much. Why?"
"Because they're both assholes who won't get out of their own way so I'm taking matters into my own hands."
"Ah, that makes perfect sense."
Sara chuckled, turning to Ava, "I have it on good authority they both miss each other, but are caught up with their drama to even try moving forward."
"Oh, that makes more sense." She peaked out too, "There's laughing, so I think that's a good thing."
"There is?" Sara glanced back and did a little fist bump, "I wonder if I get them to sit together for the show… have you seen Thea? She'd help with that,"
"She was looking for her brother,"
"Great," She gave her a quick hug and took off before Ava could properly process everything.
Eventually, someone spotted her in the corner and tugged her into a dressing room to get ready, not that she really needed it. She came dressed, wearing a suit Ann had bought for her. Someone from Charlie's band offered to touch up her make up and she figured it couldn't hurt. Even getting there early didn't afford her time to relax. The crowd at the doors had her, Nate and Mick tagged in to help hand out programs at the door with Lily. There was a hopeful bus with the number of people there.
"Annalise said you were performing tonight. Why are you out here?"
Ava felt her blood turn cold and she turned to face her mother. Her father was there too, looking mildly uncomfortable just behind her mother.
"And what are you wearing?"
"It's Ann," Ava corrected instantly.
"Um, Ava, you know this person?" Nate asked.
"Mother, Father," She said evenly, "Thank you for supporting the Center,"
"I wanted to see if Annalise was telling the truth about you performing. But it seems you're just an usher."
"I am performing. I'm also helping, now, if you'd take your program and find your seats." She said holding out a pair of programs for them. Her father at least sensed the tension and took them, trying to careful nudge his wife into the main hall.
"What are you doing? They're making you usher. You could be an orchestra-"
"They are not making me do anything," Ava cut her off.
"Do you want me to kick them out?" Mick simply.
"No," Ava rushed.
"Okay, I'll take them to their seats," He said, making a gesture to follow him. Both of Ava's parents didn't seem to know what to do. "Come on," He said, nudging them forward, with maybe little more force than he needed to.
Ava sighed and Nate put a hand on her shoulder. "You good Sharpe?"
"Yeah. I need to remember to thank Mick. I could kiss him for that,"
"That will just weird him out. Just buy him a burger or something."
Later, when she was backstage, listening to Oliver open the show as master of ceremonies Sara slid into the space next to her, "Hey, Nate mentioned a run with your parents."
"Yeah… it was… Mick make them move before anything could happen."
"Mick has his moments. Are you good?"
"Honestly… I don't how to feel that they're here."
"Well, I'm here to talk. You know, when I don't have to be out there."
She invited Ava to join the Legends where they'd found a little space to watch the show up in the tech box. They watched the first few performances, a few shorter sets by some of the younger kids from the Center. Then things really kicked when Constantine took the stage with Gary and Nora. They put on a fifteen minute magic performance, starting with Gary doing a fake-out pick the card trick, where instead of picking the right card, he made all the cards in a deck go blank, playing into the joke that he can't find the right card. They ramped things up with Constantine making himself appear to levitate. For their big finale, Nora made Gary and Constantine vanish, both guys appearing on opposite balconies among the crowd moments later. They ran through the crowds to join Nora on stage, taking their bows together.
Barry and Kara did a show tune together, their natural charisma easily getting the crowds to join along. Somehow, Barry had managed to convince Oliver to do something and he came out on stage with a bow and arrow at one point, shooting targets placed around the stage. Then Barry came running out onto the stage, throwing targets in the air, that Oliver hit without fail, finally hitting three balls Barry was juggling at once.
"Oliver Queen, a man of many talents," Barry cried into the microphone with a good-natured smile before handing it back so he could announce the next performance which was the boys of the Legends.
"We should get down there," Sara said when the boys were halfway through their song, "We're after the next performance."
"Right," Ava said, the pit in her stomach opening up. She'd been able to enjoy the show so far, but at one point during Oliver's performance, she'd glanced to the crowd and spotted where her parents were sitting.
"You okay?" Sara asked when she noticed her face while they were waiting backstage.
"Yeah," She lied.
"Ava… is this about your parents?"
"What if they think… I don't know what I want them to think."
"Hey. It doesn't matter what they think. You're doing this because you want too."
Ava swallowed and nodded. She followed Sara when Gideon called to them their place. And then they were walking into the stage. Under the lights, she felt too hot, too seen. Then Sara took first position and winked at her and suddenly they weren't on the stage. It was just them in the practice room, laughing at their mistakes. It was them on the sidewalk, improvising off one another. She didn't see the crowd or the lights, she only saw Sara dancing around her.
She was still buzzing, high on adrenaline when they were off stage again. She was vaguely aware of the Legends, making their way to them. But she leaned down to kiss Sara she wasn't thinking about their reaction. She wasn't thinking about the fact they would cheer or Gideon would have to shush them lest they get picked up by a mic.
She was just thinking that for once her life she'd gotten through a performance without caring what her mother would think of it. She was just thinking she was happy. She was really really happy.
"Hi," Sara said with a grin when they parted.
"Hi," She said.
It was impossible to ignore the Legends forever, who swamped then in a hug and a dozen questions all at once. And Ava just laughed, light and free.
A little later she watched the Legends perform from the side of the stage, cheering loudly with the crowd as they danced their hearts out on stage and then it was time for her solo. She felt the nerves creep in, with Sara there to focus on. But she reminded herself she was doing this for her, not for anyone else. Not for her mother or even Sara. This moment was hers.
Later, when she'd watch the recording someone had taken she'd think her face and never seemed so peaceful on stage before. But at that moment with her violin and the stage and the lights, her mind was clear and calm, the notes flowing one after the other. She'd never played this well.
Sara was there, waiting for her on the side of the stage, sweeping her into a hug. Gideon gave her a smile and wink, mouthing 'well done'. Charlie's performance was the last of the night, they all crowded around the edges of the stage to cheer her on.
Rip appeared at Gideon's side, out of breath, red in the face, Martin following a few steps behind. Rip said something to Gideon who turned to him eyes wide. He said it again and Gideon smiled as Rip picked her up and spun her around. Martin found Clarissa and Lily, shouting over the music, "We counted all the sales. We did it."
"We did it?" Lily shouted back, this time everyone near them heard. The cheer started off small, building and building until they were screaming backstage. Charlie and her band seemed to sense the energy from backstage and signalled to her sister, calling them out on stage for their final song. The Legends never one too shy for the spotlight didn't hesitate, pulling some of their friends with them.
That night might have had only a few minutes left until they called curtains, but as Sara took Ava's hand and tugged her out into the spotlights, they knew this wasn't their final call.
Once again, thank you for following this story and I hope you enjoyed it.
Nardragon - until the next page.