Perfection † Dennor

Lavender Roses

The next day, Lukas waited until Tino made sure he was filled up on waffles and fruit before he headed to the theatre alone. He wanted to be early so that people wouldn't make a big deal of his return. When he arrived, the only person there was the director, who nearly smothered him to death in a hug. 

"I am so glad you're back Lukas, rehearsals have been a disaster. We had Feliks take your place. He was entirely too flamboyant- it nearly drove us all to insanity" he said, finally letting go as he gave Lukas an appreciative stare. 

"Sorry- I'll make sure to take care of myself from now on" Lukas replied, fiddling with the zipper on his duffle bag as he began to feel guilty about being gone for so long. 

"No need to be sorry! I think this experience really opened all of our eyes. You guys definitely need longer breaks in the day- and we decided to have a discussion about healthy eating with the other dancers. We wouldnt want anyone else hurting themselves" he stated. 

"Oh wow- that's great. Thank you- I better get going. I'm sure they'll have me stretching a bit longer than usual today. I'm feeling a bit rusty" Lukas said as he took a few steps forward. The director gave him an approving nod before headinf in the direction of his office. Lukas sighed and continued his walk towards the changing room. 

As he changed into his tights, Lukas looked in the mirror. He definitely looked healthier than before. After days of eating nothing but Tino's waffles and fatty foods, Lukas didn't look as sickly. The color was finally returning to his skin and he began to admire how muscular his legs were beginning to get. He always knew he had the skill to be a prinicipal dancer, but he had never truly looked like a principal. Directors of other ballets would always comment on his scrawny frame and pale, sickly look when he competed in international competitions as a kid. Now that he was the youngest male principal at any ballet in the world, he was proving all of the judgemental maîtres wrong.  

As Lukas checked himself out in the mirror, he heard a knock on the door, and nearly screamed as he jumped in surprise. "Come in!"Lukas called out, laughing at himself as he turned away from the mirror and towards the door. As the door opened, Lukas was surprised to see Mathias enter with a bundle of lavender roses in his hand. 

"Hey- it's nice to see you back in the building" Mathias said with a smile as he took a few steps towards Lukas. 

"It's nice to be back" Lukas replied, a slight smile on his face as his heart began to beat a little faster. Mathias chuckled and held the bouquet of flowers out in front of him. 

"I hope you're not allergic to roses" the Dane said as Lukas looked down at the roses being offered to him. 

"I'm actually deathly allergic" Lukas shot back sarcastically. 

"Oh my god are you serious?! Why didn't you tell me?! I'm so sorry" Mathias exclaimed as he frantically ran around the room looking for a place to discard the flowers. Lukas burst out in laughter as the Dane continued running around the room like a dog looking for a bone. It wasn't until Mathias saw Lukas doubled over in laughter that he stopped what he was doing. 

"I was- being sarcastic" Lukas said through fits of laughter. Lukas wiped his eyes and covered his mouth as he tried to control himself from laughing. He hadn't laughed that hard in ages.

"You're a bit more sadistic than I thought" Mathias began, "but you have an adorable laugh so I can't even complain." Lukas finally stopped laughing as he realized what Mathias said and tried to maintain his typically serious composure as he took the roses out of Mathias's hand. 

"Thanks for the flowers."

"They match your eyes" Mathias flirted, smirking as he watched Lukas turn slightly pink. 

"Well I have to go stretch but I'll see you later" Lukas blurted, setting the roses down on his bench before rushing out of the room. Their innocent conversation had taken a more coquetish turn than expected, and Lukas wasn't ready to reveal how horrible he was at flirting to Mathias just yet. 

As he ran out the room he realized he had forgotten both his ballet shoes and his pointe shoes in the changing room. Dreading whatever teasing remark Mathias was going to make, Lukas waited until he saw Mathias leave to slip in and grab what he needed. Before stretching he needed to see the trainer, and no one was at the theatre yet, so he figured he had time to heat and get his ankle looked at. When he had fallen a week prior his ankle had given out, and he wasn't sure if he had sprained it or not. He had been avoiding putting a lot of weight on it the past week, and he was hoping he would be alright to dance. 

When he arrived at the training room the two trainers squealed in excitement. Lukas was in the trainer's every morning before and after practice and the two women, Emma and Kat, loved to talk to him about the drama going on in the company every week. Lukas never listened to the gossip going on during classes and the time in between rehearsals, so he was always surprised to hear what the women had to tell him. Frankly, he didn't care what was going on in the sex lives of his coworkers, but he was glad to provide advice when they asked him about their dilemmas. 

"You're back! Life has been hell without you- who the hell are we supposed to gossip to when you're not here" Emma exclaimed, giving him a quick hug as she and Kat herded him towards one of the treatment tables. 

"I'm sure you're being dramatic, per usual" Lukas joked, eliciting an eye roll from Emma as Kat began to tape his rotator cuff. 

"No seriously- like there has been so much drama. Apparently the hot piano player everyone has been hitting on isn't, and I quote, 'looking for a relationship' right now- so annoying!" Emma complained, letting out a groan as Lukas suddenly tightened up. 

"I've heard some people say he has a girlfriend back in Copenhagen" Kat chimed in as she continued taping his shoulder. 

"Y-yeah that's probably it" Lukas stuttered, feeling uncomfortable as they speculated about Mathias's relationship status. 

"That could be true- but I also heard he's supposedly interested in someone working at the ballet" Emma said, "I wonder who it is." Lukas swallowed as he tried to think of something to say to change the subject. 

"Hey Emma can you tape my ankle? I think it's a bit weak from my fall last week" he blurted as Kat finished taping him. 

"If I tape this you'll be restricted in your mobility. Make sure you tell the maître because I don't want him to push you too hard today. It's only your first day back" Emma warned as she grabbed a roll of black pre-wrap from the bench next to them. 

"I'll try not to push it" Lukas replied with a reassuring glance.

"No pointe today" Emma commanded. 

"Wait- but I have to work on the solo today. It's only one dance on pointe- I can't do one dance?" Lukas asked, suddenly worried about what the director would say. 

"I told the maître you never should've been put on pointe in the first place. It's not natural for male dancers, and it's most definitely what has been making your ankles so shaky" Kat said from across the room, sighing as Emma finished taping his ankle. 

"Fine- but promise I'll be able to practice tomorrow?" Lukas questioned. 

"It depends on how you feel. Like you said- it's just weak. You should be cleared for tomorrow" Emma responded, eliciting a sense of overwhleming relief from Lukas. He didn't want to let the entire company down for the second week in a row. He was a perfectionist, but the past week had been full of imperfection after imperfection. 

After slipping on his shoes and thanking Emma and Kat, Lukas made his way towards the studio where he stretched every morning. He was glad he was finally getting back into the rhythm he had established before. Only one week before opening night, and he could not be more excited.