The warm afternoon sunlight filtered into the dorm lounge, painting golden streaks across the floor. Fie lounged lazily on the couch, one leg draped over the armrest as she listened idly to the radio playing in the background. It had been a quiet, peaceful day—just the kind of day she enjoyed—but then something caught her attention.
A lively, upbeat tune drifted from the speakers, its rhythm contagious and impossible to ignore. Fie's ears perked up, her foot starting to tap of its own accord. Before long, she found herself on her feet, her body naturally moving to the infectious beat. She started with small, almost lazy movements—a step here, a little sway there—but soon enough, she was dancing fully in the middle of the lounge, spinning and twirling with graceful ease.
Her movements were effortless and fluid, as if the music was simply guiding her. Anyone who might have peeked in would've thought she was rehearsing some choreographed dance, but no—this was pure, spontaneous Fie.
Laura happened to enter the lounge just as Fie turned into another spin, her silver hair catching the light. Laura stopped in her tracks, blinking in surprise at the sight before her. "Fie?"
Hearing her name, Fie came to a smooth halt and turned to face Laura. She was clearly unbothered at being caught mid-dance, her green eyes sharp but bright with a flicker of excitement.
"Oh, hey, Laura," Fie greeted, not missing a beat. She extended her hand toward her friend. "Come here."
"Pardon?" Laura tilted her head slightly, startled.
Fie didn't give her much time to think. She stepped forward, taking Laura's hand into her smaller one with surprising firmness. "You'll see," Fie said simply, tugging Laura gently toward a more open area in the lounge where the sunlight pooled across the wooden floor.
"Fie, what are you—?"
"Just go with it."
Before Laura could fully process what was happening, Fie turned to face her, one hand still holding Laura's while her other lightly rested on Laura's waist. The music continued to play—a cheerful, jazzy melody that practically begged for movement—and Fie took the lead, guiding Laura into a simple rhythm.
Laura blinked once, twice, as her feet followed instinctively. "Are we dancing?"
Fie looked up at her with a little smirk, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "What gave it away?"
Laura felt her cheeks flush faintly but couldn't help the soft laugh that escaped her. "This was unexpected."
"Is that a problem?" Fie quipped, her tone light and teasing as she guided Laura into a small spin.
Laura shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips as she returned to face Fie. "Not at all."
The two of them moved together in perfect contrast—Laura with her poised, elegant motions and Fie with her playful, almost carefree style. Fie's small steps and graceful shifts kept them in time with the music, her movements confident despite how impromptu the entire moment was.
"I didn't know you danced, Fie," Laura remarked as they continued.
"I don't, really," Fie replied with a shrug, though her expression was one of quiet enjoyment. "I just move. Feels good sometimes, you know?"
Laura looked down at her, watching the way Fie's face softened in the light streaming through the window. There was something so genuine about the way she enjoyed herself, no pretense or hesitation. Fie had always been so comfortable being exactly who she was, and Laura found herself admiring that yet again.
"You're quite good at it," Laura admitted, smiling warmly.
"Mm." Fie's gaze flickered up to her, a little grin tugging at her lips. "You're not so bad yourself, Laura."
Laura laughed softly, following as Fie guided her into another simple step. "I've never been much of a dancer," she said. "Swordplay has always been more my rhythm."
"Maybe they're not so different," Fie replied thoughtfully, her tone quieter this time. "It's all about finding the flow, isn't it?"
Laura considered that, her smile deepening as she nodded. "I suppose you're right."
The song continued to play, and for those few minutes, the two of them danced together in an easy, natural rhythm—Laura following Fie's lead with a grace she hadn't expected of herself. The world outside the lounge seemed to melt away, leaving only the music, the sunlight, and the quiet understanding between them.
When the tune finally slowed to a close, Fie gave a small step back, releasing Laura's hand with a satisfied sigh. "See? Not so bad," she said, her smirk returning.
Laura chuckled softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face as she composed herself. "You're right—it was quite enjoyable." She looked at Fie with fond amusement. "You're full of surprises."
Fie shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a pleased little smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "It's more fun that way."