Here's To Us *Damned Coda* Matt Murdock*

1) To lead and to be led

Vera freed her hand, cupping his cheek. He leaned to her palm slightly, sensing she was on board with his plan. She kissed him again, playing with his lower lip, other hand interweaving in his hair, pulling him close. She felt like the luckiest woman on Earth.

"The answer is yes in case you didn't get that from-"

He captured her lips again, sucking thirstily and she got an idea which the way their training session was heading from there. His hand travelled down her side, sliding under her ass, freeing one of her legs just to wrap it around his bottom. Now, about the pressing issues...

---

"Okay. You got me ridiculously excited, just fair warning..." was the first thing she told him once he entered the gym the next evening. Her latin shoes were ready by the bench, begging to be put on. He grinned.

"Glad to hear that. Tell me what you want me to do, coach," he demanded dutifully, tossing his bag aside. He already changed into workout clothes. The idea of him dancing in the sweatpants was... weird. Actually, the whole idea of her teaching him dance was, but at the same time, it was appealing. The fact he was willing to learn for her. In the words of a modern teenage girl - she thought her ovaries might explode.

Vera quickly put her shoes on and cleared her throat. "So... I brought some songs, so you can get the basic idea of the styles- wait, do you know the dances? Do you have a particular dance you would like to learn?" She realized she had assumed he was tabula rasa when it came to dancing. Apart from slow dancing, obviously.

He smiled timidly. "No, not really... you have a favourite one?"

That was a shameless reminder of him learning for her. Dammit, Matt. "No, not really."

"You're a terrible liar."

"We'll see what you'll like, okay? I have songs and I thought I would show you bits and pieces and you'll decide. Basically, there are two main branches of ballroom dancing - Latin and Standard. Personally, I think we should go for Latin, 'cause Standard means more... moving around the room. You would have to let me lead a lot or at least make it look like you're letting me, which... hey, whatever. Just watch. Or sense... do your thing."

Vera started with standard ones. Waltz. Foxtrot. Tango, obviously. Quickstep. It was harder to show him with a missing partner who would hold her. But hey, they did lots of exercises when she was in the group. It just took her a while to get back in the settle.

Matt was... attentive. He had this crinkle between his eyebrows, as he was trying to take it all in, head titled to side. The moment she stopped the fourth dance and told him she would switch to Latin, the crinkle disappeared. His lips, slightly pursed in concentration, formed a small smile and he walked to her, kissing her forehead.

"You're beautiful. I'm taking it back. I don't want you to teach me. I just want to watch," he announced lowly, placing a kiss to her hair too.

Vera felt her cheeks flush. "Sorry. I told you I got excited-"

"It's lovely. I mean it. I'm gonna envy everyone who can see you for real."

She shivered at the sweet words. And she hated his face fell a little.

"Well, if you learn too, you'll be the one-" She took his hand, placing it on her shoulder blade, the other raising rather high in standard hold. "-who's gonna have that girl you're gushing about in his arms, so..." she joked and corners of his mouth rose again.

"That's one hell of a motivation," he said, slightly pulling her closer. She took another small step, leaning backwards - and she could immediately feel his palm resisting, taking some of her weight dutifully -, turning her head left and up to make it perfect. Then she straightened, still standing body to body.