Ballroom!Verse!
Title: The Rhythm of Life
Who: Kunzite, Dmitri, Minako, and a special guest or two!
Rating: R (because swearing)
A/N: Part One
The day after The Damned Meeting, as Kam was referring to it, he stood in one of the private studios waiting on his newest dancer. The others were all taking care of their various jobs, and he’d only heard minimal whining that morning, so he was going to count that as a plus.
Though he was sure he would soon hear yelling and Spanish curses when Ramona finally showed up for her appointment with Jaden. Oh well.
As he readied the stereo with the music for the session, back turned to the door, he heard the telltale signs of another person arriving. Kam turned slowly and found Anton setting down his bag in the corner, already dressed in track pants and a t-shirt. The young man bent to tuck his phone into the pocket of the bag and straightened.
Within the dance world Anton was known for his good looks. Kam personally thought his attitude zapped out all possibility of attractiveness, but he supposed if one was just glancing at him, they would find him pleasant to look at. Naturally fair skinned, he abused the self-tanner and tanning beds like most all professional competitors, his tawny brown hair had the barest hint of honey-blonde highlights. His face was all sharp angles and high cheekbones, and his full mouth always seemed to quirk in a condescending smirk. Or so Kam thought, he’d heard plenty of females refer to it as “sexy.”
Anton looked at Kam now, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth, back straight as he tried to draw himself up to his fullest height. Even then he fell several inches short of Kam’s considerable size.
“Well, old boy, looks like you finally gave in,” he said with a slow, English drawl. “I still can’t believe you actually agreed.”
“I can’t believe you never stopped asking. I thought I might humor you.” Kam leaned back against the table the stereo sat on, arms folded and one leg crossed over the other. “Where’s this partner of yours, I’m curious to meet her.”
“She should be here any minute, she’s new to London. Might’ve gotten lost; you are bit off the beaten track, as it were.”
“That’s how I like it.”
They stood looking at each other. Kam told himself he would not be the first to look away, but the sound of heels clacking against the tiles outside the door drew his attention from Anton. The door, which had been left slightly ajar, was thrust open with a slim hand, revealing a young woman stood in the frame. She was all golden hair, long limbs, and bright eyes.
She smiled happily at Anton as she stepped inside, shutting the door behind her. “This is a quaint little place, not at all like home!” she spoke enthusiastically, if not a little too loudly. “Is this really where we’ll be practicing?”
The woman trotted into the practice room, placed her bag next to Anton’s. She slipped a hair tie from her wrist, titled her head forward and started winding up her cascade of buttery blonde hair.
“Is there a problem with my studio?” Kam remained how he was, leaning against the table, but raised one eyebrow at the girl.
Her eyes snapped up from the floor and looked at him, as if she just noticed he was there. “No,” she said slowly and finished securing her hair. “It’s just different is all. Not like home, which is in Florida -- Miami, actually.”
She stepped forward and held out her hand. “Mina Clark.”
“Charmed.” He nodded, but did not shake her hand.
“Do be nice, now, old chap.” Anton popped up at Mina’s elbow, smile intact. “Mina’s very talented, it took a lot to find her.”
Kam had kept his eyes on Mina, watching her. “We’ll see.”
“Don’t mind Kameron, Mina. He’s an old grump, but he’s extremely good at what he does. He could be one of the most renowned trainers and choreographers in the business, but he refuses to work with most people.”
“That’s how I like it.” Kam pushed away from the table and started circling Mina, inspecting her posture.
“I’m well aware of Mr. Ryan,” Mina said lightly. She stood studiously, back straight while Kam walked around her. “I did my research before coming.”
“Actually, so did I.” Kam stopped in front of her, arms still crossed. “I read that you were nearly tossed out of the Finales last year.”
“That was a bit of a misunderstanding.”
“Funny, I thought you broke hold during the Quickstep and were quite upset when the proper points were deducted.”
“We were only trying to update it a bit. The Judges are so old fashioned and stuffy!” She waved a hand airily.
“If you think the American Judges are ‘stuffy’, I’m not sure how you think you’ll fare in the European circuit.”
“They always love me in Italy.”
“I’m sure. But I will state now that if you are to be here, under my tutelage, you will do things by the books. Even if it seems ’old fashioned.’ Is that understood?”
“It’s crystal clear!” She gave him a flirty wink, one hand lifting to give him a jaunty thumbs up.
“Right.” He relaxed his posture, letting his hands drop to his sides, and moved back to the stereo. “Let’s see that infamous Quickstep, shall we?”
***
Dmitri sat in Kam’s office, the only truly private place in the entire building, and stared at his mobile phone. All he had to do was call his brother. That was not a big deal, truly. He called his brother a lot.
Or he used to call him a lot, before things changed and Neven changed. Now the idea filled him with apprehension, especially since he was going to be asking him a rather large favor. He rubbed his eye with the palm of his hand and took a deep breath, hitting the speed dial. The phone rang twice before a gruff voice answered the other line in Ukrainian.
“Hello, big brother,” Dmitri said.
“Dmitri? What are you doing?”
Neven sounded… pleasant. Letting out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, Dmitri settled back in his chair. “Just checking in, we haven’t talked in awhile.”
“Oh, alright. How are things with you?“
“Fine. I have a new partner, her name is Maggie. She’s very nice. How have you been?”
“The same,” came the short reply, and Dmitri knew better than to push it.
“I have a…. a proposition for you.”
“I knew you had a reason for calling.“ Neven barked out a laugh. “What is it?“
“Things are not going well here, financially. Kameron wanted to know if you would come and be my trainer, so Maggie and I can compete in the European Championship.”
“That’s asking rather a lot, isn’t it? That’s what? Three months of heavy training?“
“He knows it’s a lot, but the entire place is on the line. We can’t let it close down, we need help.” Dmitri paused. “You do owe Kameron.”
The other end of the line was silent for a long time, but Dmitri knew his brother was still there. Likely weighing his options, and mentally cursing Dmitri and Kameron to the high heavens.
“Okay. I’ll come. See you in a few days, baby brother,“ Neven said quietly and hung up. Dmitri blew out a puff of air and ran his hands through his hair. That had been almost too easy.