Modern GoT: Bäahal: the perfect routine
A/N: I love these two, I miss them too. I love how impactful her golden lion is for her.
XX
She took a deep breath and yanked her head back. The black locks of her wig were teasing the small of her back. The dim light of the changing room felt like a constant reminder of what she was doing there. Sunglasses and a wig were a small price to pay to do what she genuinely loved: dancing. She was a semi-professional in the underground world, working hard, perhaps harder than anyone else on her craft. She was flexible, sensual, toned, and passionate but it still wasn’t enough to compete at high levels. Behind the door of the changing room was the real competition. Pros from all around Westeros who would challenge the aptly dubbed “unknown princess” and show her what Dancing truly meant. It was her second national competition, and the weight of her first loss was still overwhelming the young woman. Could she pull it off tonight? Could she truly face those professionals and win the competition?
Bäahal didn’t do it for the money, she was filthy rich. If she wanted to win, it was in order to prove herself. Dancing was in her DNA, it was what drove her and gave her a reason to endure her life. It was her true calling. The underground world was the only one where she didn’t have to face paparazzi or disappear behind her name. No. She wasn’t a Targaryen, she wasn’t one of the “8th wonders” as they called her. She was just a very good dancer, ducking it off with some of the best dancers around the country. Winning only meant establishing her presence in this world, showing her true self and not the socialite assigned to representation duties as Daenerys and Viserys wanted. There, she could prove with her hard work what she was truly made of.
“Are you hiding?” -The stern voice of her mentor ripped through the silence that had settled in the room. The redhead had just entered the changing room after looking for her protegee near the stage. “It will soon be your turn.”
“I’m not hiding. I just needed a moment to think.” -Her voice was laconic, almost absent as she was stretching her legs. Magali lifted her brow, unimpressed with the heiress’ attempt at hiding her fears.
“You can lie better than this.” She sternly said, closing the distance between the two. “The first time you competed, you were green. Losing was part of the process you had to learn. Now, a couple years later, you can truly show who you are.”
“And lose again?” Bäahal lifted her face and despite the sunglasses hiding her purple hues, there was no doubt in the fiery passion that animated her gaze. Magali shrugged but didn’t move.
“Even the number 1 is afraid to lose. What truly matters here is not who will lift the cup and get the money. Even the number 1 isn’t satisfied when he wins, and you know why!”
“Is this a test, Magali?” Bäahal asked, while shaking her head. The redhead looked up and down and shook her head. “Then what is it?”
“I asked you a question first. Why is it that the number 1 isn’t satisfied with his routine, even when he wins?” -Bäahal pinched her lips together and looked down. She changed her legs and started to stretch the other one. “Why are you so reluctant to answer me?”
“I’m not—”
“Why aren’t you answering this simple question?”
“It’s not what you---”
“ANSWER ME!” -Magali hit the lockers on her left with her fist. She was angrier than usual and the sight of the redhead losing her cool was so surprising that the heiress stopped stretching and quickly wrapped her arms around her legs and pulled them up in a defensive move. Her mentor’s breathing became laboured and she genuinely regretted what she just did. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to lose my cool with you. Something’s holding you back and I wanted to exorcise it off of you.” She admitted while crossing her arms above her chest. “I didn’t mean to scare you off. I won’t… I won’t hit you.” She tried to reassure her and clenched her fist out of frustration.
“It’s okay… you didn’t mean to.” Bäahal’s voice was softer now. While her body was relaxing now that she was certain she wouldn’t be hit, Bäahal put her legs back onto the floor. “The number 1 is not satisfied because all that matters is the routine. They want the perfect routine.. I want the perfect routine.” She bit her bottom lip and looked back at the redhead. “Maybe you’re right, I might be putting too much pressure on my shoulders. I just want a perfect routine.”
“Princess… Pour your heart into your dance, make sure that each move you make feels like you, expresses all that you can’t say. Make sure that each move is precise, perfect and yours and you would make a perfect routine.” She said finally sitting next to the black-haired-wigged heiress. “You came to me because you wanted to be yourself, the stage is nothing more but a place where you can express yourself. It is you who make the world stop for a minute to watch you grace our lives….this is not the other way round. This is /never/ the other way round. So, remember why you are going out there. Remember why you came to me.”
“Are you... encouraging me, Magali? You’ve always had a snarky remark for me, always… why the change of heart?” She asked with a bemused tone. Magali shrugged and glanced at her “protégée”. “Unless you are not encouraging me?”
“Don’t start… Let’s say I took a liking in you after all this while training you. You are truly passionate about your craft, you are genuine. I don’t know you very well, it’s true. I can’t say I am a friend to you, and I’d like to stay away from your family drama… but I have noticed how happy you were lately. Something good is happening to you and your dance conveys those emotions as well. It’s… I’m happy for you.” She then patted Bäahal’s shoulder with her left hand. “I’m sorry about my outburst, it won’t happen again.”
“I… no, it’s okay. I was startled but I know you.” She gave her a sheepish smile and nodded. “And you’re right, I have been happier lately.” She decided to keep it to a minimum.
Bäahal and Magali had a deal. The redhead would train Bäahal but for their safety, the silver head would wear a wig and sunglasses to hide her true identity and she wouldn’t talk about her family to her. It was decided right after a distraught Bäahal started to talk about living in a gilded cage, on her own, without any other freedom but to dance. She talked about how dance was the only thing that made her feel free, and the gift her mother passed onto her. It was enough to make Magali cave in and take her in. Yet, despite the deal they struck, Magali still cared enough to notice when Bäahal was happy and enough to genuinely be happy for her.
Bäahal would not tell her that it was Jaime. The Golden Lion was the reason she was feeling much better these days. He brought something new into her life: a connection. He brought her something she wasn’t sure she could ever have with people. Jaime made her happy, the little moments they could steal for the two of them. He showed her a different side of life, a fun way to enjoy it and the anticipation of their next meeting. She was determined, yes, but through a moment like this one, she was wishing that Jaime was there. He had never really seen her dance before, and she wanted him to. She didn’t’ know how to make it happen, but she wanted him to witness her in her element. She wanted him to encourage her, clap for her, maybe even watch her train, but it was asking way too much from him given the circumstances they were in. It wasn’t to be seen and known by the public, their relationship was to be theirs. It was to be secret, at least for the time being. This meant he wouldn’t be able to see her in public, she wouldn’t be able to hold his hand in public, she wouldn’t even dare say his name in public and Bäahal was okay with it.
Being okay with it, didn’t prevent her from wanting to see him here. In such a moment. She clenched her fists and sighed deeply. She would dance tonight as if it was for him. She wanted to give her best that night, dance as if she was dancing for Jaime because yes, she wanted to let her body express all she couldn’t with words yet. How confident he made her feel, how sexy, seductive, and powerful he made her feel. How happy she was when they were together. He was making her feel so differently from how her family was making her feel. He was making her feel so differently from how the world was seeing her. They were just Jaime and Bäahal. they were just JB.. they were just…humans.
“I will ask you once again… why are you going to compete?”
“I want to make the perfect routine.” She repeated while looking straight before her.
“Then go make it!” Magali patted her shoulder again and watched as the ebony dancer stood up.
Bäahal glanced at the front door and nodded with determination. Suddenly the stress she was feeling before vanished now that she was animated with a different desire. So, she went to the door and looked at the doorknob. Come on Bäahal, go on!
-TBC-
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