Showing Off
“Okay, sweetheart, have fun,” Bucky said, stopping the car outside the dance studio just long enough for your daughter to get out of the car.
“Dad, you always drop me off. Can’t you and Mom stay just one time? Please?” she urged, her black dance bag slung over her shoulder.
You gave him a “Come on” look, and he smiled and nodded, telling her, “Okay, you go in, and I’ll go park and meet you.” She squealed joyfully. She was only seven, and right now, dance was her favourite thing. She and her best friend went to this tiny studio near your house, and they both wanted to be ballerinas. Her best friend, of course, being Steve’s son, James.
For some reason, Bucky never wanted to stay and sit through. He always dropped her off and went and did something instead of doing what most parents did. You’d asked him once if he’d had some traumatic event pertaining dance studios, because he had no problem dancing at home. He said he didn’t want to talk about it.
He looked nervous as he entered the studio, not realising that Steve was one of the parents watching the kids warm up with the overenthusiastic dance instructor.
“Hey Buck,” he said under his breath as you two approached him. “Y/N.”
“Hey Steve. Where’s—”
“Oh, she’s out getting groceries. Like you usually do during lessons,” Steve said teasingly.
Bucky pressed his lips together whilst you laughed quietly, about to reply when the teacher turned to the three of you and the nine other parents there. “So, as you all know, it’s that special time of the month!” You and Bucky and Steve all looked at each other, giving each other weird looks to avoid pressing them all on the teacher. When none of the parents responded, the teacher exclaimed, “Parent inclusion day!”
You let out a quiet, “Ohhh”, along with every other parent in the room, as all the kids cheered.
“So, I—I’m assuming you’re Stephanie’s dad?” the teacher asked in a peppy, high voice, raising her eyebrows at Bucky, comparing her brown hair and pouty lips to his, and then, turning to you and noticing her Y/E/C eyes that were obviously yours, “And you’re her mother?”
“Yep,” you two said in unison.
“Okay, will the two of you join Stephanie in her spot, please?”
She assigned every other parent to their child.
“What the hell are we supposed to be doing?” Bucky asked you in a hushed whisper.
“I have no idea. Roll with it.”
“Now, we’re going to be taking a break from ballet today to have a little fun. We’ll be doing...swing dancing.” Your eyes lit up and you looked at Bucky, who was chuckling at Steve’s panicked expression.
“So, we’ll have Stephanie’s parents demonstrate, since you seem to be the only complete couple today. If you two could come to the front, please?”
“Of all the days to come to class,” Bucky muttered.
“Now, have you done this before?”
Bucky raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips, almost in a way to say, “Bitch please.” You nudged him, confirming out loud that you had. Your daughter was squeeing in delight. You and Bucky had done swing dancing at home before for her, doing intricate flips and spins to entertain her.
Bucky sighed and you could hear Steve holding back laughter behind you.
“Anything in particular that you want us to do? We’re what you could call experts,” Bucky said, and Stephanie giggled.
“Just the basic movements for now,” she instructed putting on music, and you complied, grabbing Bucky’s hands and getting into the movements. “Now kids, you see what they’re doing?” Murmurs of agreement came from around the room. “With your mom or dad as your partner, do what they’re doing.”
You couldn’t help but laugh. You were leading the class.
“Now, if you want, you can do some spins and flips. Show off,” the teacher whispered to the two of you.
You both grinned, getting into the feel of your usual routine before doing spin after spin, flip after flip, showing off like no one’s business. You were the best in the room, that was damn sure.
Little “wow”s came from all the kids as Bucky did one last over-the-shoulder flip and you both took a break, slightly dazed. The teacher stopped the music.
“Dang, Steph, your parents are cool,” said one of the girls.
“My dad kept stepping on me,” said James, and Steve turned beet red as the kids erupted into laughter.
“Well, I never learned to dance,” Steve said in his own defense.
You and Bucky ended up giggling as well, and you kissed him on the cheek and said, “Good job, partner.”