La paix du silence et de la musique- the peace of silence and music.

Sara had been leaning against the wall for the past five minutes, watching Ava fiddle with the tuning of her violin.

"So, care to share with what exactly it is you need my help with?"

"I can't get La Paix from Coppelia down,"

"I don't understand… how can I help with that?"

"Gideon isn't here… and you've heard it before, so I thought…" Ava shrugged, looking unbelievably timid and small. Sara didn't really know how to process the vulnerability Ava was showing. It was such a far cry from the Ava Sharpe she was used to. A usual interaction with Ava would have meant some sarcastic remark right now. But right now, Ava looked on the verge of breaking open. Sara wasn't sure if it was in a good way or bag way.

"You should know the last time I hear music from Coppelia was when I was 12, not counting when you play it," She said honestly, wading into the waters. Slowly prodding to see how deep Ava would let her go.

"I don't know if there's anyone else around who would know what it's supposed to sound like. And… I need to get it right,"

"Why? Do you have some performance coming up somewhere?"

Ava shook her head.

"Then why the big concern of getting it down right now? Just wait for your next time with Gideon,"

Ava shook her head again, a bit more forceful this time, "No, I need it down. I just, I need to know I can do it,"

There was something about her voice, a little tremble that made Sara stop questioning. She nodded, giving a small smile that she hoped was reassuring.

"Alright, I don't know how much help I'll be, but I'll try my best,"

Ava smiled, but despite that, she seemed tenser now. As she lifted her violin, Sara watched as she took three slow, steadying breaths before placing her bow to the strings. The melody was slow, filled with this unbidden quality. Sara tried to remember the piece from its place in the ballet. The whole story was about a town celebrating a harvest and a couple about to get married. But the guy falls for another girl, Coppelia. But Coppelia turns out to be a clockwork doll so the couple gets married anyway. If her memory served La Paix was from the section of the ballet with the wedding. Sara closed her eyes, trying to remember the performance she'd seen. She saw the guy and girl moving around the stage together, but they were fuzzy in her mind. The visuals of the movements not quite there.

Her mind replaced it with Ava, as she was now, polished ankle boots, skinny jeans that still looked more formal on her than anything Sara had ever worn and a crisp button-down that somehow didn't have a single wrinkle. She saw her on the stage instead, in front of the dancers who'd turned into an indistinct, out of focus patch of colours that shifted in the background.

Sara had seen performers get lost in their art before. Wally was someone who could get completely lost in a dance, becoming something or someone else entirely. People had said the same of her, but she never quite saw it when she watched back performances of herself. There were some other performers who were regulars of the center. Kara Danvers when singing a song from her childhood.

But, Ava Sharpe… she'd never seen anyone quite like Ava. Ava was giving her everything to the music, but there was something… Sara didn't know to put it. The music sounded beautiful. And Ava looked beautiful playing. But there was tension in her. Some seed of doubt that was stopping her from fully get lost in the music. Sara could see it the frown on her lips and in her locked knees.

She hadn't looked like this when Sara had watched her play before. She remembered the ease that she played from Swan Lake for her. And the smile that came when she played Smooth Criminal.

"Well?"

Sara startled, not really realizing Ava had finished until that second. "Oh, it sounded like it should. But, I'm not the best judge," And idea hit her just then, "Hold on," She pulled out her phone, searching for La Paix. She pulled it up on YouTube, turning the music up, "We can just listen," She nodded Ava over.

There was a second of hesitation, but Ava went over, next to Sara. She leant against the wall next to her, placing her violin on the desk. Sara held the phone towards her, but Ava still had to lean down to see comfortable. She was very aware of how close she and Sara were suddenly. Plus, the video was really just instrumental with a static image as the placeholder. There was no need to get this close. Ava straightened her head, hoping the blush on her cheeks wasn't as intense as it felt.

Sara noticed the way Ava jerked her head away after a few seconds. She looked up at her, taking in her gaze, locked on the opposite wall, the flush on her cheeks and neck. Sara wished she had a better read of Ava Sharpe. She felt like she was reading a book that would change language every few pages.

The video was only a third of the way through then Ava groaned, rubbing a hand down her face, "I messed up the notes,"

"You did?" Sara looked at her, "I didn't hear it,"

"I played the wrong sequence," She balled her fists in frustration.

Sara could tell something was off now. Ava had her intense moments, but she never acted like this.

"Hey, it's okay. It's just a few notes out of order. Most people wouldn't even notice that,"

"Well I'm not playing for most people am I?" She snapped suddenly, catching Sara off guard.

"Who… who are you playing for?" Sara asked, making her voice soft and gentle.

"It…" Ava faulted, hand frozen just above her violin "No one. No one. Not anymore," She said as she picked it up, steeling her tone at the end.

"You may not have played La Paix perfectly, but it still sounded amazing," Sara offered.

Ava sighed, "Thank you, Sara. I know you mean well, but that doesn't help,"

"Is there a way I can help?"

Ava shook her head no, "I just have to keep practising,"

"Do you, uh, do you want me to stay?"

"Oh," Her violin dipped and she looked like the question was processing in her head. "Ah, you don't have to. I know I dragged out of your practice,"

"No, you didn't. We're finished with serious practice for the day. We were just messing around when you checked in before. I don't mind hanging out here,"

"Really?"

Sara shrugged, "These rooms can feel empty without company,"

"I don't think so," Ava glanced around the room, "It's like this place has a history. Faulty sprinkler heads and all,"

Sara chuckled, "My dad says this is part of the city is one of the oldest. The only buildings that are older are some of the official city buildings like City Hall and the Police HQ in the Triangle,"

"The Triangle?"

"You don't know the Triangle?"

Ava shook her head.

"It's what they call the area in-between the financial district, the red light district and the upper side of the Glades,"

"Why Triangle?"

"Because when the people and lifestyles of those three places mix," Sara held her hands up, making a triangle with her index fingers and thumbs, "That's just asking for a trifecta of trouble. Dad hates when he has to patrol that area. According to him, most people in the Glades at least avoid the cops. In the triangle, anything goes. A few gangs are supposed to have their bases their too,"

"You're dad's a cop?"

Sara nodded, "A detective,"

"You don't seem… never mind,"

"Don't what? Seem like the kid of a cop,"

Ava gives an embarrassed smile, "It didn't sound as bad in my head,"

"You should meet my sister. She's the perfect daughter. I'm the one who keeps everyone's lives exciting,"

Ava snorted, "Exciting. That's one way of putting it,"

Sara grinned, "Oh, and you want to describe what your life was like before you met me? Bet you twenty that nothing as thrilling as a broken fire sprinkler system happened to you before coming to the center,"

Ava narrowed her eyes with an amused glare, "Maybe, Lance. But that's not saying much. The most exciting thing that happened in Fresno was the ice truck breaking down and the guy sells everything half off so he wouldn't completely lose his stock,"

"Wait, you're from Fresno? Fresno, California, Fresno?"

"Yeah. Didn't you know?"

Sara shook her head, "Some of the other kids said you're from uptown. I just assumed that's where you'd always been from,"

Ava shook her head, "I've only been in Star City a few months,"

"What brought out to the lovely crime hub that is Star City?"

"Um," Ava glanced away, all the walls that gradually come down during the conversation being thrown up all once, "Family… stuff,"

Sara knew the signs of an off topic subject when she saw it. She steered away, "It's a bit of trek to Uptown from here, isn't it?"

"Two trains and a ten-minute walk. It's not that bad. Gideon's a good tutor. So she's worth it,"

"Even with all the sneaking around she's been doing with Rip?" Sara teased.

Ava smiled, covering her giggles behind a hand, "We don't know that for sure,"

"Oh come on. Everyone here knows there's something going on with them. And they've been very busy lately and they always seem to be gone at the same time,"

"Would you care if they were sleeping together?"

Sara snickered, "Hell no. I'd probably cheer them on. They both work so hard here, they deserve some stress relief. And sex is great at that,"

"You sound like you're speaking from experience,"

Sara shot Ava a knowing smirk. A blush lit up Ava's cheeks and she looked away pointedly. "Oh… that's on me for assuming,"

"Well, now you know who to call for stress relief,"

Ava made a show of rolling her eyes, "Oh please Lance. Get over yourself,"

Sara nudged Ava with her shoulder, "Anyway, I don't have a reason to be upset with Gideon. I'm not the person she keeps cancelling on,"

"She's here more often than she isn't. And I can't complain too much when she refuses to take payment,"

"So, Gideon was what got you here?"

Ava nodded.

"But she isn't classically trained,"

"No, she certainly is not,"

"Why her? Why here?"

Ava looked down at the violin in her hands, idly thumbing at one of the strings, "I wanted a change of tone. Besides, Star City doesn't seem like the classical kind of city,"

Sara snorted, "Shows you haven't lived here long enough. Our theatre scene is to die for,"

"Seriously?"

Sara nodded, "Have a few friends who are in that circle. You'll meet them here if you're coming to the showcase,"

"I..."

"Oh come on. You have to come, even if it's only to go to the after party,"

"Are these fabled after parties that good?"

Sara shook her head, "They're better than good,"

"Something tells me we don't have the same standards of good,"

"Ouch. You're ice cold Sharpe. But, you won't know unless you're there," They both knew it was a challenge.

"We'll see," Ava sad evenly. That seemed like a good enough answer to Sara who broke into the widest smile.

"So Sharpe, are you going to tell why you really wanted my help,"

Ava hesitated, her hand clutching at the neck of her violin. She looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Am I that obvious?"

"No one is that anxious to perfect La Paix,"

"Sure there is. You just don't know them,"

"Are you one of them?"

"I might be… I used to be,"

"Well, I don't really know anything about you, Ava Sharpe,"

Ava exhaled her gaze breaking away from Sara, "Nothing much to know,"

"I doubt that's true,"

"I'm sorry,"

"Wait, what?"

"I'm sorry," Ava said, "About the incident on the roof,"

"Wow, I wasn't expecting that,"

"What were you expecting?"

"I... I don't know honestly,"

"Rip talked to me. I get where they're coming from. Where you were coming from,"

"I guess I'm sorry too. I wasn't honest up front,"

"I probably would have shut you out if you had been up front,"

"The asking you to play… that was only a half-truth. I was honest about everything I said,"

"I know. Rip told me,"

Sara arched a brow, "Oh? Look who's talking about who behind their backs with the director now,"

Ava rolled her eyes, but she was smiling, "Sue me,"

"I know one hell of a lawyer, so I just might,"

"Of course you have a lawyer. I don't think it would be professional for your Detective dad to post bail for you,"

"Hey," Sara jabbed Ava with her elbow, laughing with her "Suddenly you're the comedian?"

"I'm hilarious Lance. You just don't know it yet,"

"I'd like to,"

Ava looked at her, surprise in her expression.

"I mean, I've seen a lot of each other already and we're going to see a lot more. If you continue coming here, that is,"

Ava glanced down, the flicker of a smile on her lips. "Getting to know you wouldn't be the worst thing, I suppose. The Legends seem tolerable. When you aren't playing your music at full blast,"

Laughing, Sara bumped her shoulder into Ava's. Ava bumped back. And Ava had to admit, it felt good, laughing with Sara like this.

The next day, Ava was up and pushing through the doors of the performance center at a time that even she would consider early. But still, here she was, the extra-large thermos of coffee Ann had pushed into her hands before she left still seeping a grateful warmth through her palms. Whatever was keeping Gideon so busy would have her out most of the afternoon so she'd asked if Ava was willing to come in in the morning. Ava didn't really mind the early call, even if it was on a Sunday.

Gideon was waiting for her when she stepped inside. "Ah, Miss Sharpe, as punctual as always I see," She said emerging from the little kitchen area, "I put on a pot of dark roast. Would you care for some?" She was holding two mugs off coffee on her hands.

Ava held up her thermos, giving a sheepish and apologetic smile, assuming the second mug was for her.

"All set on that front I see," Gideon smiled, "I found some pieces for us to try. They are a bit more contemporary than your usual style, but I believe you'll enjoy the challenge they bring,"

"I won't say no to a challenge,"

"That's what I knew you would say," Gideon nodded, extending one of the mugs to her, "Would you mind terribly carrying this upstairs for Miss Lance? The music sheets are in my office, I'll just a moment to get them,"

"Wait," Ava did a double take between Gideon and the large blue and black mug with a Beebo on the side now in her hands, "Sara? She's here?"

"Yes, practising the Legend's usual room," Gideon called over her shoulder, "And you don't have to worry about her music. It's just us and her so we can use another room further away,"

"Oh-okay," She went up the steps, looking into the Beebo mug of coffee. Sara's mug of coffee, that she apparently took with milk or cream if the colour was anything to go by. At the top of the steps, Ava came to a hard stop as she heard the music. She knew this tune. She'd played this tune. It was Tchaikovsky, there was no doubt. Swan Lake, she realized with a jolt. It took her that long to recognize it because the melody was being played on modern instruments, with some heavy techno elements. There was an upshift to the tempo as well.

Her legs carried her to the door of the Legend's studio which was partially opened. Her jaw hit the floor. There was Sara, tights, pointe shoes and all. Her hair pulled back into a high ponytail. And she was dancing ballet. Truly dancing ballet. She glided around the floor on her toes effortlessly. Ava couldn't believe it had been years since Sara had done ballet formally. She had to been keeping her practice up to move like this. She watched as Sara extended her leg high behind her. It was then she caught sight of Ava, catching her staring in the reflection of the mirrored wall. Sara grinned and winked and suddenly Ava wanted to look anywhere else.

But her eyes wouldn't let her look away for long. When she looked back Sara was in the middle of executing a string of spins. She was up on just her right leg, as her left whipped around before bending back behind the knee. A near-perfect string of fouettés.

Heat rushed up the back of Ava's neck when she realized Sara's eyes fixed on her for a beat after each rotation. Ava knew enough about dance to know Sara was just spotting. It helped dancers control their balance and prevent dizziness during any sequence of turns. But she still knew Sara could have picked any point in the room to spot. There was something imitate at the way Sara's gaze zeroed back in on Ava each time.

She finished the sequence, flowing into a leap that ended with a half turn, one knee going to the floor as the music faded away. Sara was heaving breaths, eyes still on Ava's reflection. Sara was the one who had just danced around the room and yet Ava was the one who found herself short of breath.

Sara pushed herself to her feet, turning with an unnecessary level of grace now that she wasn't dancing. She strode to Ava, "Is that for me?" She asked, pointing to the mug in Ava's hand. Ava looked down at the mug, a little surprised it was still there. She shook herself out of her stupor and nodded quickly, extending her hand.

Sara's face lit up, said with that ridiculous, glowing smile, "Thanks Sharpe,"

Nardragon~ until the next page.