XxX

A/N: I originally posted this on my tumbr with a gif set so feel free to check it out! :)

XxX

A collection of pins was precariously tucked between Nigel's lips as he finished hemming the skirt. It was his fifteenth Snowflake fitting of the day, and he was beginning to question his life choices.

"Prima incoming." One of the drapers warned, quickly gathering her things and scurrying out.

Jordan Cavanaugh rushed in firing off a thousand words a minute as she blamed everything from the T being late to the slow pedestrians to a jaywalking pigeon for her tardiness. She was a blur as she began pulling off her coat and layers of scarves.

Nigel just chuckled as he readied the brilliant plumb tutu and held it out for her. Jordan snatched it without a thought of a thank you and disappeared behind the curtains.

His amusement grew when he heard Jordan stumble; a series of colorful words, mostly directed towards her costume, quickly followed.

"How you stand her…" Renee tutted, collecting the finished costumes to hang up, "Angry porcupines are easier to get along with."

"She has her edges, but even the prickliest of porcupines have hearts." Nigel answered, his kind heart steadfast.

"I would say our little Nigel has a crush, but I don't think she has the type of quills he like." Lily jested, not meaning any harm.

Nigel just smiled, not one to rock the boat. Everyone in the department assumed that men in his profession were a certain way, and he hadn't felt the need to correct them. Besides, it wasn't anyone's business but his.

"Is that what the kids are calling it these days?" Renee hummed as Lily and her headed to the closet.

Jordan finally staggered out of the changing room and onto the podium; the trio's conversation having either gone unheard or ignored.

Nigel set to work on the bodice and skirt, making notes as he went on any issues in movement or look, all the while reminding himself that he was a professional doing a fitting, which was something easier said than done. He could feel Jordan's teasing eyes following his every move.

Of course, he was respectful of every dancer that came through the shop, but there was something about Jordan that always made him look forward to their appointments. He couldn't help the stirring he felt when he touched her or how his heart race when she tossed him one of her infamous half-smiles, or the pride he felt knowing she was wearing a design he had sketched with her in mind.

He cleared his throat, "Try a high fifth."

She did as instructed, and he moved closer to correct the liner.

"Why are you so nice to me, Nigel?"

Her question surprised him, and he caught himself before his pin missed its mark.

Her smile was flirtatious, "Do I make you nervous?"

"No, luv." He chuckled, pretending to focus on his work and continuing to straighten out the already straight line.

"You're a bad liar." Jordan said, looking down to where he knelt beside her, "You didn't answer my question."

Leaning back on his heels, Nigel sighed, "I guess because there is enough cattiness between dancers, and between designers and seamsters, and the later with the former and so on, that I just think a bit of kindness can go a long way."

She weighted his words and, after a moment, gave a nod. He breathed a sigh of relief. Silence soon filled in around them and Nigel was ever thankful for it as he finished up their appointment.

"I was thinking it might have something to do with everyone getting it wrong." Jordan mused as she hopped off the podium and headed for the changing room.

Nigel looked up from his notebook, curious what she had meant, "How so?"

"Well," Coyly, Jordan peered out from behind the curtains, her bare shoulders brilliant against the dark blue fabric, "Because I do have the type of quills you like." She winked, breathing a laugh when his face colored, before disappearing once more.

Clearing his throat, Nigel began collecting what he needed for the final touches to her costume. Jordan popped out a moment later and laid the tutu on his table.

His nerves did start to get the better of him, especially when, from the corner of his eye, he saw her settle herself across the workbench. Apparently, she was planning on staying a while.

"When's rehearsal?" Nigel finally asked, curious why she was lingering.

"Oh, I have the rest of the day off." Her eyes were hinting at something, but he couldn't make heads or tails of it. So, he cleared his throat and nodded as he jotted down a few more notes.

Finally, he couldn't take the silence anymore and had to fill it, "Are you excited for the performance? Opening night's only a couple days away."

One of her dark brows peaked, her eyes studying him, "You're not good at this, are you?"

"Small talk has never been my strong suit." Nigel grinned, "Which is funny because I've never been able to handle awkward pauses."

Jordan picked up a seam ripper and began toying with it, "What about flirting though?" She looked to him again.

His eyes grew slightly as his smile grew nervous; he cleared his throat again.

She decided on a different plan of attack and shrugged, "I love performing, nothing can really compare to the rush you get on stage." Jordan set the ripper down and began fiddling with a trim of crystals, "When your choreography becomes an expression of your soul instead of a head count, there is just nothing like it. Or when you take the stage and you feel the anticipation lingering in the air, the awe of the audience." She smiled as the crystals caught the light and cast a beautiful rainbow across the table, "And wearing a dress designed just for you. I think that is my favorite part, being transformed into someone completely different. A sleeping princess, a mythical being, an impish fairy. I have lived a thousand lives thanks to you." Jordan offered Nigel, who was lost in her words, the trim.

"The only annoying part is the roses." A half smile tugged at her lips, "They remind me of funerals and yet every show, no matter how many hints I drop, they always fill my dressing room with them." From the corner of her eye, she looked at him, wondering if he'd step up to the plate this time.

Nigel let his eyes wander to her, finally catching on, "What would you prefer instead, if I may ask?"

She playfully considered the question, "I love wildflowers, all their different colors and shapes. It's like the messiness of life and all its beauty. They're a much better fit for me, I think."

"I will have to pass that along to your many admires then." He quipped as he began sketching a design for their next show, suddenly feeling inspired.

"Thanks, Nige." Jordan hopped up and quickly kissed his cheek before she started for the door.

His hand lingered on his cheek; his grin wide, "Anytime, luv."

XxX