#I’m about to absolutely pass tf out but I had to get this done firsttt hope you liked

[bugsonatugboat]

Thinking about the quintessential dancer AU Anderperry. Buckle in baby, this is about to be unnecessarily long.

(Not really a fic just an idea dump)

Ever since he was little, Neil’s been forced into learning more formal dance styles by his parents to add onto his list of “things I don’t care about but my parents can brag about to their friends at parties”. He doesn’t give a damn about their reputation or his, but he’s lucky his friends go to the same dance studio as he does. He’s always been great at picking up new things quickly, and he’ll practice more modern choreography in his free time.

When their new instructor John Keating joins the staff, Neil is in awe of the way he insists on combining old and new styles, breaking rules, doing what feels right to them. He allots them time to try out styles they haven’t done before, even staying late for extra practice, and Neil finally feels like he’s on the right track, so long as he can keep it a secret from his parents at least until their studio’s end of season performance.

One evening, Neil finds himself staying late practicing long after the rest of his friends had gone home, frantically packing away his things when he realizes how much time had gotten away from him. He slings his bag over his shoulder, taking note of the darkening sky and the sunset lighting the hallway. His dad will probably kill him when he gets home so late.

As he’s leaving, though, he hears music (piano, he notes) from one of the studios. It’s almost closing time, the students should all be gone. He must not have been the only one practicing late that day.

Peering in, he finds the source of the music. A phone is laying on the floor, and Neil’s eyes land on the dancer. A boy, blonde, must be about his age. The piano is quickly explained by the fact that he clearly dances ballet. He’s not frail, but he’s graceful, probably the most graceful dancer Neil had ever seen. It felt like the music was coming from him, and the light from the sunset is pouring in the window in such a way that he looks almost angelic. It’s impossible to tear his eyes away.

The door creaks just a bit too loudly as Neil leans forward. The boy halts immediately, whipping his head to the door with wide eyes. For some reason, he looks completely terrified. Neil searches for what to say before the poor kid tries to escape out the window.

“Sorry— I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he offers lamely. “You’re just incredible.”

The boy stares at him before shaking from his stupor, scrambling to pick up his phone and his belongings to stuff into his bag. “I-It’s fine,” it doesn’t sound fine, “I have to go anyway.”

“I’ve never seen you before. Are you new?”

“No. Keating, he— he uh, lets me use the studio. A-After it’s empty.” He’s tripping over his words while he changes into his sneakers, clumsily tying the laces and avoiding Neil’s eyes like he’s the plague.

“Ah, the Captain. He let me stay late too. I lost track of time.”

The boy slows up a little bit, perhaps feeling less threatened (not that Neil ever thought himself a particularly threatening person).

“You know instructor Keating?”

“Mhm. He’s great.”

“He is.”

“I’m Neil Perry.”

“Todd. Um, Anderson.”

Neil smiles. The boy, Todd, finally tossing a glance at him, bangs falling onto one side of his face. He’s zipping up his jacket when Neil remembers he has to actually respond.

He clears his throat. “That was beautiful, the choreography. You looked like a professional.”

Todd tenses. “Oh. It- It was fine. I messed up my footing.”

“Well, I thought it was stunning.”

Surprisingly, Todd offers him a shy smile. He slips on his backpack with red cheeks and ears. “…Um, thanks. You’re good too.”

They end up talking as they both make their way out, waving to Keating as they pass him at the front, waiting to close up. They talk until they reach the bus stop, they talk on the ride home, they talk until they hit Todd’s stop. Neil had never met someone so easy to talk to in his life, and he finds himself wishing he knew more about the mysterious dancer. He also thinks of the implications of Todd knowing he’s “good too”. Next time they meet, he’ll ask about it. Maybe he’ll even remember to ask for his number too.