Kaufman International Dance Center

Walking into the building, I return my gaze back to my phone while also sipping my orange juice.

"—Organa's support appears to be fading after a disappointing weekend on the campaign trail—"

What room is it again?

I give my screen a quick swipe up, then navigate back towards the picture of my schedule that I took.

109. Great. Back to reading.

"—Mr. Prestage remains the leader, garnering thirty-two percent of caucusgoers' support followed by—"

104.

"—While no single candidate has a decisive advantage, the strongest currents in the party appear to be swirling around candidates promising in different ways to challenge the existing political and economic order."

Not a bad message when your opponent is gunning for their third term in office.

"Notably, Mr. Organa is leading amongst minorities and younger voters at a disparate rate compared to—"

There's Sabine.

"Morning." I call out to her with a smile, then sip my orange juice again.

Sabine turns, then gives me a smile. "Good morning Ezra. How are you?"

"I'm alright. You?" I ask. Before she can respond, she yawns. "That bad huh."

"No, I'm good. Excited. Just didn't sleep well. It's good to see you."

Yeah.

Haven't seen her since Saturday night.

Which was…weird. She basically spent the last half of the break at my apartment.

"How's the dorm?"

Immediately, Sabine shakes her head. "You know."

Her appeal for a new roommate got turned down.

"Already?"

Sabine gives me a grim impression before she taps the bottom of the right hand into her left palm a few times, making a fleshy sound.

"Oh jeez."

"Had to sleep with headphones in." She adds, her frown saying it all.

"Come back over next time." I tell her while pinching my nose. "You shouldn't have to listen to that."

"But she's never there!" Sabine modifies her voice into a mocking tone. "Why should I have to leave if she's always gone?"

Yeah.

"Just a bad roommate."

Sabine nods, then smiles at me. "Are you…serious about that? I don't want to impose or seem like your new roommate."

"It's fine." I give her a smile in an effort to reassure her. "You have a key."

The Force lightens before Sabine leans in for a hug. "You're pretty great. In case you haven't—"

The door suddenly swings open, cutting her off and causing Sabine to take a half step away from me.

"In." A bossy voice commands everyone that's here lingering in the hallway.

Okay.

Sabine and I both slide aside as the first few students begin filing into the dance studio.

Haughty, swaggering…all with the same look of superiority—

Then what does that make you?

Vader…

Shut up.

Helpfully, Sabine gives me a little tug before starting towards the door, giving me something to focus on before walking inside a large room with mirrors on almost all sides.

Looks big enough for everyone to be able to dance and have space.

The door closes heavily before I hear "Eyes up!" and the small women marches past all of us to the front of the room.

"I am your instructor, Ms. Rinaldi. This is the 8 to 10:30 Ballroom Dance class that I will be teaching. If this isn't your class, this is your chance to get the hell out."

Beside me, Sabine makes a minor face before Ms. Rinaldi continues.

"If you are here for my class, welcome. I'm glad you're here and ready to bring some beauty out into the world." She says in a demanding voice. "This isn't a blow-off class, or some place you and your buddies can come and goof off in. I…was the Telestra Ballet Dancer of the Year in 1997. Which basically means I was the best dancer they could find that year."

Hmm.

"A quick lesson about dance, it is a discipline! And that discipline begins with the way students dress for class. By dressing the part a student looks like, behaves like, and becomes a dancer. A neat and tidy appearance sets an attitude of attentiveness and respect for the students, teacher, and the art of dance. Today, the first day of class is the only day that you will be allowed in the door while out of Dress Code!"

"If you are out of Dress Code in any way, you will be asked to leave. Violate it twice, and I will fail you from the course…your tears have no effect. On me." She says with a relish along with a smirk.

She's…something.

"Street Shoes are NEVER allowed in the Dance Studio floor!" She raises her voice again, silencing a few mutters. "Again, today is the only day this is allowed, and I wouldn't allow it if I could! In addition, Dance Shoes must never be worn outside. You will not only ruin your shoes but our dance floors could be damaged as well. And these floors are worth more than your tuition."

"Hair should be securely tied away from the face in a ponytail, braid, or bun. Ladies are used to this, men don't think this rule doesn't apply to you as well! Jewelry and accessories should be kept to a minimum. Not only is it a distraction, it is dangerous and items can be lost. Post/Stud earrings are… acceptable."

"All this is in the syllabus that you should have gotten last week, when emails were allowed to go out to your university accounts…on the fifth of the year." She makes a motion with her hands, then continues her pacing up and down the aisles that have naturally formed.

"Gum chewing is not allowed due to danger of choking and appearance. It's gross and nobody wants to see that! Cough drops? Leave 'em at the door, I don't want to see em. If you're sick, don't come and get the rest of us sick. Have some respect for the rest of humanity…and rest."

"Now!" She raise her voice once more. "Onto the topic and craft at hand! Dance…dance…reveals the mysteries of the soul and the depths of the music. The first dance is the worst one, the last dance is the best one. And in between is the odyssey, the reason humanity exists…to strive and create and discovery that the beauty isn't in the goal, it is the journey that is beautiful."

"Dance is an expression of beauty, of passion…and of love. Because to dance is to love and to love is to dance. There is nothing more a woman loves more in the world than to be asked to dance."

Impulsively, I lean over and whisper in Sabine's ear. "I think I know a few." Sabine giggles for an instant, which is audible as Rinaldi chose that exact moment to pause. Immediately she stops and glares at me.

Sorry.

…

"Soon I will ask you to choose you partners! This is not a decision to be made lightly, and if any indication by both who stands in this studio and prior history, many of you already have a partner in mind! Partners will forge a deep, personal connection between each other. When done right, you are in sync, one with each other enacting a singular purpose using a singular focus. You can't put it in a microwave, it's not instantaneous. It takes time…it takes trust."

Trust.

"You will know your partner intimately!" Her voice rises pointedly. "Your uniform for this class is meant to be functional! Not stylish or complimentary to you. Your hands…will discover every inch of each other. If you don't commit to that and are not comfortable with that—!"

Sabine slides a half inch back towards me.

"—you will not succeed in this course…" She concludes her point and continues her pace. "Not all partners last, not all partners are compatible! I don't like it when people switch partners, but it happens at least once a semester so I've given in to it at this point. But some are, most, I should say, are."

"I have had complete strangers partner up and discover in each other, eternal friendship and an unbreakable bond. Others have found love! Which is no surprise given that, as I stated earlier, to dance is to love and as the great George Shaw once said! 'Dancing is a perpendicular expression of a horizontal desire.' Keep that in mind."

Perpendicular expression of a horizontal desire.

"But don't let my little soliloquy give you illusions of grandeur and make no assumptions! I've seen couples break up in this room, engagements break off—"

Instinctively, I move to reassure Sabine with the Force.

It's okay.

"—many enter this class as a twosome and it is my hope that you leave as just that! There is nothing that brings a smile to my face more than my daily cup of coffee and an invitation to a wedding in my mailbox from two former students." Ms. Rinaldi stops and gives what very clearly is, a genuine smile.

"One final piece of advice: be flexible! Everyone will fail, and being rigid and stiff only makes you fail more. To a hammer, every problem is a nail. And the only nails in here are in the floor."

…

"Pick your partners!" She calls out and turns back to a stage before the room erupts into movement.

Sabine, however, only turns around slightly and wraps her hands around my waist before smiling up at me.

"Partners?"

—olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Divide up the asparagus stalks between the foils (three of four per foil!) and top with cheese of choice.

Olive oil, garlic, lemon juice first. Okay. Good thing I got that garlic press out.

Moving my large bowl closer to me, I grab a glove of garlic and crush it in the press, inducing the garlic through the holes in the bottom.

Another.

Grabbing the next clove, I empty the press and continue as I continue to hear the rush of water coming from my bathroom.

She takes the longest damn showers…

In her defense she looked exhausted after practice and immediately asked if she could clean up.

Now did I know that it'd be a 30 minute shower? No.

My phone lets off a quiet chime, pulling my attention to it.

Hera – New iMessage

"Don't forget not to wash the chicken before you start preparing it! How is it coming?"

"It's coming fine." I type out my reply. "Working on the asparagus now."

One more clove of—

Another chime distracts me.

"Did you buy the mozzarella with a bit of parmesan I told you to?"

Of course I did.

"Yes." I answer, then set my phone aside.

All these are her recipes, I'm just adding a little spice to the chicken. And Sabine said she'd handle the potatoes.

Even though I am nervous about why there was a hand mixer here when I got home today.

"Great! I'll stop distracting you! Call/text if you need help! Good luck!"

Smiling at the message, I send an smile emoji back to her before putting my phone—

The water's off. Better focus up.

Checking the recipe again, I double check the amount of olive oil again then grab my measuring spoons.

Two tablespoons…I'll keep those out for the lemon juice.

Wonder if I should wash it off?

…

Probably safe than sorry.

Pouring the olive oil, I then flip on the water and splash some water on the spoon before continuing my prep. The sound of a drawer in my room opening tells me that she's moving around and out of the bathroom.

Good to know…and now mix.

Grabbing a plain spoon, I start mixing everything together and cast a quick glance at my cutting board.

Ready there too, already cut off the ends and washed them like Hera told me to…and that brush too…

This is working out great.

I let myself smile as I dip the brush into the concoction I've whipped up in this bowl before beginning to brush the asparagus.

And…there.

Moving my attention to the sheets of aluminum foil I've set out, I grab three asparagus and set them in the first pouch-to-be, four in the second—

"Whoa." Sabine says abruptly.

I finish setting my asparagus down before asking "What?"

"You're…this is a lot. You never said you could cook."

"I can cook a little." I laugh. "I'm stealing this recipe."

Sabine's footsteps pad over to me before her arms wrap around me. "You didn't need help did you?"

"Nah." I say, turning back to face her and giving her a smile. "I got it. I'm more afraid of your mixer."

She stole another t-shirt of mine.

Sabine laughs, then repositions her hug and lays her head on my chest. "I'll handle it so you don't have to be scared."

Very funny. She smells nice.

I laugh in return before slipping out of her grasp. "Thanks for that."

"How were your classes today?"

"Alright." I reply, folding up aluminum foil. "You?"

"You were right. University Strategies sucks. It's so boring."

"I thought that was a Monday/Wednesday class?" I counter.

"It is." She sighs. "But still. The rest of mine were boring. Syllabuses and the like. What else did you have today again?"

I've already told her.

"Sociology."

"How'd that go?"

"About the same as yours." I finish folding the last packets and scoop them all up. "Syllabuses. A few notes."

Sticking the asparagus into the fridge, I turn back to wash my hands as Sabine is doing just that. "Excuse me…" I say before purposefully reaching over her to start washing my hands.

"Ezra…" She laughs as I easily maneuver around her, getting a squirt of soap before rubbing my hands together.

"Sorry, get outta the way." I tease her as I wash my hands over her hands just before Sabine tries to hip check me out of the way.

I don't move, and she bounces off me. "Nah teeny. Sorry."

Oh god what was that?

Sabine giggles even louder this time. "I'm not teeny! You just happen to be huge! With gigantic arms and a huge wingspan. Not my fault. I'm normal sized."

"Whatever." I fake roll my eyes while grabbing a towel to wash my hands—

She just splashed me with water.

"I'm gonna let that go…" I smirk in her direction, getting a full blown laugh out of her before I fold the towel back over the oven railing.

"What about your History of Mandalore class?" She asks with a laugh before the Force shivers.

She was leading up to this.

"It went well. Just the basics. Nothing I didn't know already." I answer casually before moving to pull out the chicken.

"I'm moving all your crap." Sabine declares. "And what do you mean by that? What'd you already know?"

Uh oh. I messed up.

"I, uhh, did some reading over Christmas Break."

As I turn back to the counter, Sabine is already eying me. "You never said anything?"

"I didn't know it was a big deal." I lie and set the chicken aside then move to grab a new cutting board.

Sabine bends down then states "I could have helped you. Is this a…Jedi thing? Or a you thing?"

"Me thing." I answer. "I used some of their resources."

"So they know you looked."

"Yeah." I laugh to break the tension. "They recommended I do it, after I'd already started when your Dad stopped by. They knew you were Mandalorian."

I met the head of state for Mandalore for grief's sake.

Sabine groans. "I… I wish you would have told me."

"Why?"

Sabine avoids my eye as she grabs a potato and sprays it down. "Well as I'm sure you read the Jedi and my people have had a…contentious history."

Contentious. That's a word.

"I would imagine that their point of view isn't balanced."

"That's fair. I didn't read too much, if it makes you feel any better. Like I said, basics, general personality traits, a little history and cultural information." I reply, then stick up my hand to—

WHOA—NO NO NO.

I cut off my Force Pull as soon as I let it go, only for my phone to quiver.

Oh that was close.

"Can you pass me my phone?"

Sabine barely looks up from her peeling as my heart continues to race.

I almost…holy hell.

I almost blew my cover right there.

Focus Ezra…

FOCUS.

"Recipe on there?" She asks, rotating her potato.

I nod silently. "But yeah. I was too busy to really dig into it. Sorry I didn't tell you, I didn't think that it was a big deal."

"Did your reading…help you keep your mouth shut over break?"

Oh. I see what she's getting at.

"A little bit." I admit. "I—"

My statement is cut off by Sabine turning and hugging me tightly. "You're so thoughtful…that means a lot to me."

"Thoughtful is good?" I blankly ask as I reciprocate the hug before kissing her hair.

Still kind of damp.

"Very good." She moves to smile up at me before letting go and something gives—

Nope. Nope.

Something else Ezra.

Think of something else.

My t-shirt flaps around as Sabine returns to her peeling.

Already got the salt, pepper and olive oil…I need the cayenne pepper.

Taking a few steps, I pull open my small spice cabinet and pull out the cayenne pepper before Sabine interjects. "Is that what you want?"

"Yeah." I nod. "The recipe says you can add spice to it if you want. I like spicy stuff and…"

Oh damn. I read that too.

"—I, uhm, read that most Mandalorians like spicy stuff too. Is that okay with you…?" I ask nervously.

Oh I think I stepped in it.

I'm on fire right now.

Sabine suddenly smiles and nods. "Yeah, of course. I love spicy food. You read that?"

"Mhmm."

Sabine's smile remains on her face as she sets a potato aside and goes for a new one. "What'd you learn in that class? Who is the professor?"

"A Doctor from somewhere." I shrug. "I—"

"Did he say he was Mandalorian?" Sabine quickly asks.

"No. he didn't."

Sabine's reply is unintelligible to me. "Huh?"

I…think she just spoke—

"Sorry." She turns and smiles. "it's just that…Mandalorian history should be taught by a Mandalorian. Period. Outsiders can think they understand, but they probably don't."

Whoa. It's…

It's starting to come out.

I smile at her before Sabine asks. "What?"

"I've never seen this Sabine before." I chuckle while moving to flatten out the chicken breast I'm working on.

"What do you mean by that?"

DAMMIT EZRA!

"Uhh." I sputter quickly. "Uhm, after your arrest is when all this came up. You being Mandalorian. The Jedi kinda warned me about it."

Sabine's eyebrows drops violently. "Warned? You—you knew and didn't say anything?"

"Would have been hard to bring up." I admit. "Sacramento was busy. And I figured I'd let you come to me with it."

And it worked. Kind of.

Sabine's Force Signature lightens just before her face does. "And 'this Sabine', I assume you mean me being more Mandalorian."

"That's a weird way to put it."

Sabine makes a understanding face before returning to her peeling. "I…get what you mean. I'm still me. Just…more me. Being a Mandalorian is important to me."

"You never said anything about it." I answer, then go back to my prep.

"It takes time. I…You pulled me fast. I'm not really an open book."

Quickly, I amend myself. "That's not what I mean."

"I know." She replies forcefully before gesturing to the back of the sink with her knife. "Anyway…what do you know about being a Mandalorian?"

"It's not so much about a race or a people." I answer. "It's more of a creed or an ideal."

Sabine's Force Signature lights up as she continues peeling. "But there are native Mandalorians. Like me."

She didn't give me a smile or anything visually.

Boy am I glad I've got the Force.

"You sound like you're proud of that."

This time Sabine gives me a smile and nods. "You know anything about Clans?"

"That came up briefly today in the lecture. Clans are families, Houses are associations of families."

Usually built up by trust over many years.

"I'm Clan Wren, House Vizla." Sabine turns and smirks at me.

Clan Wren. House Vizla.

"Clan Wren, House Vizla." I repeat after her. "I'll remember that."

"I wouldn't repeat that around the Jedi. House Vizla has kid of a nasty reputation." Sabine advises.

"How so?"

Sabine seems to hesitate, then flips over her knife, catching it by the blade and turns to me. "Who am I talking to? Ezra? Or the Jedi?"

"You're talking to me. As always."

Discretion.

I think I'll be able to get the Council to understand.

Sabine's Signature brightens again before this time she smiles. "A large portion of House Vizla used to be something called Death Watch. The leader was in it, Pre Vizla and his second in command, Bo-Katan Kryze."

"Used to be? It got broken up?"

Sabine's eyes flash to me before she answers. "It broke itself up. But like all Mandalorian things, it can be reassembled on the fly when needed."

So it's just buried…not dead.

"What else did you learn about in this lecture?"

Right.

I turn back to my prep before answering "I learned Mandalorians have their own language."

"Mando'a." Sabine nods. "You caught it earlier."

"Not really. I just heard something else. I don't know what you said."

Sabine smirks. "But you noticed, which doesn't and won't go unnoticed back home."

"Back home?"

Mandalore?

"Chicago. There's a large Mandalorian community. Maybe the largest outside of Mandalore proper over in Europe."

"Can you speak it?"

"Can I speak it?" Sabine barks out a laugh before saying something very quickly and turning to me with a smirk.

Uh oh.

"I…still don't know what you said."

Sabine's smirk remains on her face as she closes the gap between us and wraps her arms around my neck.

"Ni kar'tayl gar cyar'ika." Sabine says very slowly and deliberately. (A/N: I care for/love you, darling/precious/sweetheart.)

"What's that mean?" I ask, voice dropping down to a whisper.

"You…are very precious to me." She whispers back before closing the gap between us.

—

—

—

Our lips separate, but Sabine moves to rest her head on my shoulder while I realize the hold I've got on her.

One hand on her waist, one cupped behind her thigh. And she's wearing shorts.

That was great.

Sabine hisses out a breath then peers back up at me for a brief moment befo—

—

—

Here we go again.

—

With a final swish of her tongue, Sabine separates from me and gasps for breath. "Shh…you earned that."

"Earned?" I reach for air.

Sabine nods. "Yeah…nice."

Oh dammit.

I drop my hand down to her thigh. "My bad, I'm sorry."

"You wanted leverage." She giggles as she peeks up at me one more time before sauntering away. "Not the first time you grabbed my ass today."

Yeah yeah…

Focus Ezra.

Returning to my prep, the kitchen is silent except for the sounds of Sabine's knife and my actions.

"So what else did you learn about in class?"

Armor.

"The only other thing was the importance of armor."

Sabine's smile returns. "Yeah…it's important. Go on."

"He mostly talked about its uses in battle."

"Of course he would…" She rolls her eyes viciously. "It's not just that. It's about the unified culture. You can craft your armor a thousand different ways. But the visual signifies the culture that binds us all together as Mandalorians."

"Do you have armor?" I ask casually.

I've been wondering that since Christmas.

Sabine laughs at the question. "Do I have armor? Do I have armor?"

Uh oh.

"Of course I've got fucking armor." Sabine turns to me and flips her knife again. "it helps make me who I am. The armor I wear is five hundred years old. I reforged it to my liking, but the battles, the history, the blood all lives within it."

"Oh." I say meekly. "I'm sorry. Do you have a picture? What does it look like?"

At my question, Sabine turns back to the sink. "No. It's back home in Chicago. You'll see it when you come this summer."

"I will?"

I will?!

"Yeah." Sabine repeats herself. "I'm sure you'll get some time off this summer. You'll come to visit me at home and I'll be able to show you.

I'm…not sure about the time off.

I'd love to go though.

"That sounds great."

"It's not optional by the way. Mom really wants to meet you. I've told everyone a fair bit about you. Plus you can meet Tristan and Kayla, I'll show you around Chicago…it'll be fun. Really fun."