A/N: I actually meant to have this chapter up a good few days ago, but I've been so busy and exhausted with all this coronavirus stuff (I still have to work both of my jobs, grocery and drug store, lol, whoops) that I haven't had the energy or really time to finish this. BUT I got off early today AND two incredibly sweet reviews for this on AO3 made my damn DAY, and that gave me the motivation/energy boost I needed to finally finish! Hope this was worth the wait!

Chapter 3: "Third Position"

Two weeks later, things are better still. Fakir and Ahiru have stepped up their practicing some, mostly out of pettiness and spite so she can show up that Melody and her friends (Fakir's idea, really, but Ahiru remembered how it felt when everyone laughed at her and quickly agreed). Whenever Ahiru needs a breather or gets better at something that's tripped her up, he'll start to teach her something new, more advanced, and it's been great. She's having a lot of fun and actually learning more than she ever thought she could! She's still clumsy, and she's slow to improve, but Fakir makes sure to tell her she definitely is improving, and that's more than enough for her.

Honestly, Fakir thinks, watching her with a soft smile when he thinks she's not looking, it's great to see. Pique, Lilie, and the rest of her class are thrown, the former two at first thinking it's some kind of magic or something before begging her to spill her secrets. Her teachers are pleasantly surprised and relieved, too, especially Cat-sensei. He really didn't want to send her back to the apprentice class again, but he would if he really had to, so he's glad he dodged that particular conversation.

Ahiru herself is a lot happier, too! She and Fakir are getting along much better lately. They're actually becoming friends, maybe even close. They talk while they dance, in quiet, hushed tones, even smiling at each other and laughing together. They eat together and do the dishes together and, sometimes, when she needs it, Ahiru will ask him to help her study. They hang out together outside of practice more and more, too, when Fakir seems stressed or Ahiru needs a break. Ahiru usually pulls him along to one of his favorite reading spots (yes, she pays attention, and yet somehow he always seems surprised) so he can read and she can study or they can talk things out.

Mytho and Rue have noticed the changes in both of them, too. Mytho's been worried about how seriously his brother takes things for the longest time, and it's so good to see even those tiny smiles again, letting go for once. Rue is glad to see Ahiru happier, too. The redhead was one of the first people to reach out to her when she started here and is the entire reason she and Mytho are happily together now. She was worried, but Ahiru seems much happier and even a little more confident than when they first met.

Things have been better all-around for everyone.

Today, Ahiru is a little early for practice with Fakir, but she did that on purpose. She's usually late, after all, no matter how hard she tries, but this time, she was determined to be on time. Honestly? She's shocked it actually worked. Normally, this stuff blows up in her face—!

Suddenly, Ahiru trips and goes tumbling over something that wasn't there a second ago.

"Qua—?!"

She hisses and scrunches one eye in minor pain in sitting up, scraping her palms and skinning her knees on the ground. Luckily, she hadn't changed into her practice clothes yet or she'd have a ruined leotard on her hands. That would be just perfect… Looking up, she finds Melody's friends glaring and snickering down at her. "W-what was that for?!"

"Oh, I think you know!" the main girl spouts, auburn hair done up in a pretty bun and makeup on point. She's not much taller than Ahiru, but with her hands on her hips and glowering like this, she's somehow made herself very intimidating.

Ahiru just furrows her brow and shakes her head slowly in confusion. She's only met this girl and the others the once, and even then, she barely remembers them. "Sorry, but…I really don't…"

The older girl scoffs, rolling her eyes. "You think you're so much better than us! Just because Fakir's taken pity on you?"

Stumbling a bit in getting up and dusting herself off, Ahiru is even more confused, taken aback and a little hurt. "W-what?! No!" She shakes her head vehemently. "I don't think that at all! You guys are still way better than me, maybe than I'll ever be!" This next is the part that hurts worst of all, that starts a pained lump in her throat and sinks her stomach. "And—and Fakir's not taking pity on me! He's—he's being nice, that's all!"

"Really?" The girl draws out the word, slow and sarcastic, the smirk on her face sinister and smug. Goosebumps rush over Ahiru's skin. "Then why did I hear him calling you 'hopeless' to Mytho yesterday?"

The other girls snicker, and Ahiru blinks, pausing. Her defiant, tightly-balled fists loosen just a bit, shoulders drooping some. "He...he said that...?" she asks quietly, unable to keep the hurt out of her voice. She knows she needs work, a lot of it, but she thought...with what happened before...

"Out of fondness," a new, very familiar, decidedly pissed voice says to her left.

Ahiru jumps and looks over. Her eyes widen, and she's not sure if her chest should fill more with hope or indecision. "F-Fakir...?"

He doesn't look at her, too furious to take his eyes off these girls and too afraid to see how she might be looking at him (because he doesn't want to know he's hurt her, completely unintentionally this time). He glares at the group, who's more wary now, but still shooting Ahiru dirty looks. "I said it to Mytho and Rue when they asked about how your training was going." Ahiru's breath catches when she realizes he's explaining himself to her, really paying these girls no mind at all - a more devastating blow to their egos than anything else he could have done. It's devious, but she has to admit, she likes his style. She's come to like it more and more recently. He narrows his eyes a little more. "But I said it with a smile on my face. I laughed. You can even ask them, if you don't believe me. I meant it as a joke." He sighs, exasperated. "Honestly... Maybe I should joke more often. Maybe then things like this wouldn't get taken out of context."

He rolls his eyes, bored of these girls and their jealousy even before he walked up to see Ahiru on the ground and suddenly forgot all thoughts of practicing. This time, when he glowers, his attention is full-throttle on them. "You should learn to mind your own business. Like I told your friend: bother her again, and I will know about it. Don't think the proper school officials won't hear about this either." And he is definitely talking to Melody about this. Sending her girls to hound Ahiru like a bunch of dogs? What is this, high school? This is an elite arts college, for God's sake! They could stand to act like it!

Wrapping an arm around Ahiru's shoulders without even realizing he's doing it, Fakir steers her away from the girls and their practice building. "Ah—Fakir!" She reaches up to tug gently, yet urgently at his hand on her shoulder. "Fakir, we passed the building!"

"I know."

"What do you mean, 'you know'?!" Arms crossed over her chest, she's pouting by the time they leave the school grounds entirely. "Where are we going? Fakir—!"

"We're skipping practice today."

She stops in her tracks, forcing him to stop with her. "We are?" She tilts her head. "Are you sure that's okay?"

Fakir can't help but sputter a laugh at that. Another thing about himself since becoming friends with her he's had to get used to. Neither of them notices his arm is still around her shoulders. Unconsciously, she finds it comforting. "Of course it is. It's not like they're mandatory lessons. They're extra and our choice. It's fine." A heartbeat, and he opens one eye to look at her and smirk the slightest bit. "We're going for ice cream instead."

The starlit beam and delighted "Really?!" he gets in response is enough to blind him, have his heart stop in his chest and then restart a mile a minute, and he can only nod in response. He hopes the sunset hides the way his face burns.

"Yay!" she cheers, lifting him up into the air and squeezing him around the middle (why does he like that?!), making him yelp and blush even more. He knew she was stronger than she looked, and he's not exactly a tank, but he is much taller and more muscular than she is, lean muscle or not, so—geez! She eats like a bird, how the hell?!

Putting him down, she throws her arms tight around his middle and nuzzles in without a second thought, a muffled "Thank you, Fakir!" coming in a way that makes him feel soft and warm and protective all at once. He's about to set his arms around her, too, when she suddenly leaps away just to take his hand and start running them both down the cobblestone street. That's becoming a habit of hers, dragging him places, holding his hand...and yet, he doesn't hate it. He's still reeling from the fact that she hugged him. Hugged. Him. She's never done that before…

"Come on, let's go!"

And yet, somehow, he's unsurprised to be thinking he'd follow her anywhere.

("All right, but we're taking care of your injuries first." She whines, but he doesn't budge. Not with this, not with her. "The sooner we fix you, the sooner we get there."

"Fine…")

A/N: I hope this was able to entertain you during this potentially trying time! Stay safe and healthy, everyone! Thank you so much for reading!