Outed! (Michael/Dare)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael smiled at Dare's excitement, and, since he had no idea what to say about the choices, he latched on to Dare's last question. "That's according to what kind of dancing you're talking about," he said. There had been a period of about a year that he had been into clubs, dark, smoky places where no one knew who he was or what his past was like, well...at that point in time it had been his present. And it was odd to think of that kind of dancing in a room with only two people.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's smile widened into a grin. "Help me make a club, then," he said. Dare looked around the room, and, still not entirely certain how it worked, began mentally asking for things. The room began to darken, leaving strips of colored light here and there as a faint beat started. The couch melted into black leather, and the music grew louder, a Muggle Alternative Rock band Dare loved. Whatever it was, it appeared to be working.



Dare pressed a quick kiss to Michael's lips, then pushed back and stood, reaching for Michael's hands with his own. "Dance with me!" he called over the music.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael sighed through his nose and looked up at Dare for a second, shaking his head lightly before taking Dare's hands and standing. He didn't recognize the music, but then, music was never really something he was very in to, and he felt a little awkward with the room being empty. He was used to the anonymity that came with being in a dark club with smoke swirling around on the floors. "I haven't done this in forever," he argued, though his tone was light.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"And who's going to laugh at you?" Dare asked, dragging Michael back away from the couch. "Close your eyes," he said, taking his own advice. He wanted to be in a club, not an imaginary club. He could dance by himself any time, but taking Michael out... The heat in the room rose, a warm breeze flitting here and there, giving the impression of a crowd closing in, moving by them, but giving them space. Dare brought his arms up, his hair swinging, body swaying with the music. He loosened his grip on Michael's hand, giving him the freedom to pull away, but unable to let go on his own. The music was taking him over, though. He let it, loving the feeling.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael didn't immediately follow Dare's advice, but watched him first, smiling softly as he watched him move. Slowly, though, he started to move to the music. So, unable to stall any longer, he closed his eyes, keeping just the slightest contact with Dare's hand as he began to feel surrounded by people. He didn't actively try to dance, but just let the music flow and make his body move with it.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare could feel the slight motion of Michael's body, could feel when Michael's hand began to shift with his ever slightly. His lips curved, and he lost himself entirely to sensation. The beat drove him, the singer's plaintive, emotional voice calling out his fears, his worries, and discarding them with the beginning of every new verse. He began to sing along, trying to match the emotion, letting the feel of it pour everything out. I promise you...I promise you...And I am...finally free! He figured the music was loud enough to mostly drown his voice out. He thought he had a decent singing voice, but he just wanted to feel it right now.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael couldn't stand the distance between him and Dare and so when he was finally comfortable with dancing again, he shifted, bringing himself closer to Dare and, surprisingly, hearing just below the music of the club another voice. He couldn't hear it very well, barely enough to even be sure it was there, so he didn't focus much on it, just on the strange idea that he was dancing with Dare for the first time. The thought pulled up the corners of his lips.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's lips curved again at the feel of Michael drawing closer to him. The hand that wasn't holding Michael's dropped, settling on Michael's hip and following the motion. The song was drawing to a close, and Dare willed another to start, not caring, as long as it had a beat he could dance to. He didn't want this to end!



The next song started out slower, and it was almost a shock after the first. Dare's heart was racing as he changed the motions of his body to match the new sound. He pulled Michael slightly against him, though he knew the music would shift all too soon.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael wanted to open his eyes to see Dare, but he didn't want to break the illusion that they were in a crowded room, and not seeing him was bringing back memories of the day at Emilian's where they had been disillusioned. He followed Dare's lead in the dance, not knowing how the song went or how it would end up. His hand rested lightly on Dare's arm and he reveled in the feel of Dare brushing lightly against him.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's hips moved in wide, purposeful motions as the heavy beat started and the music intensified. He shifted dangerously close to Michael, bringing their bodies lightly against one another. His hands both settled at Michael's hips now, but shifted against him slightly, his thumbs creeping above Michael's waistline to brush against his skin. It was a short song, but he was going to enjoy it while he could.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael moved his arms, his own hands dropping to Dare's waist as he let himself go, forced his mind to stop over-thinking the fact that they were really just dancing in the middle of an empty room, and let the music take over. He found his hands moving farther around Dare's waist, taking away space and bringing more contact as his muscles remembered old patterns.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

It was a seductive song, but all too short. Soon, it faded, and the song after began, melded together. Dare shifted just far enough from Michael not to step on him, and it started all over again, the bouncing beat and infectious music. Dare's dancing was mostly jumping now, but it was a relief as his hair swung in his face, as one arm left Michael's waist, rising up into the air. He sang along again, louder this time, as the music called for enthusiasm as much as rebellion.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael couldn't keep his eyes closed and they opened enough to watch Dare. He smiled broadly at the excitement and happiness in Dare's face, and he didn't feel the vulnerability of being the only other person in the room. While he didn't join in the jumping, he didn't let himself stop moving, knowing that if he did he wouldn't start again.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare bounced through that song and the next, threw himself into the music until he was too tired to do more than sway, both hands on Michael's hips again. His mind was pleasantly numb, his ears buzzing lightly, and the adrenaline still flowed through his veins. Still, the room seemed to sense that things were changing, and the music softened, then began to fade. Dare opened his eyes at last, the tightly repressed stress and buried worries that had been buoying him since he left the Room of Requirement earlier having worked themselves out with the energy of the music. He felt strangely calm now.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael's arms were lightly wound around Dare's waist, the feel of skin on skin comfortable, natural. He had closed his eyes when the music had slowed, a soft smile still on his lips from seeing Dare so happy as his head had dropped slightly. Then a light chuckle came from his throat as bits of the conversation they had had during the ball came back to him, about swans and the waltz, and he shook his head lightly before opening his eyes and glancing up at Dare.