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heroescutiesTitle: The Kord Waltz
Fandom Justice League International
Genre: Humor/Romance
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairing: Ted/Booster
Word Count: 1,474
Summary: When the JLI is invited to an upscale party in which dancing a proper waltz is required, Booster has to seek out lessons from his good ole buddy Beetle. [Prompt: Booster doesn't know how to waltz. Ted does.]
Notes: Written for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
poisonivory [on community link]
It was yet another average day at JLI Headquarters. Guy was ranting about being stuck on monitor duty, Max was once again prancing out his superheroes in the public spotlight and expecting everyone to uphold some sort of "sophisticated" image, and the rest of the team was arguing with Guy, or Max, or both.
"Why is it when you take everyone else out to a swanky party with free food, drinks and girls that I get stuck on monitor duty?!"
"It's a social event, Guy! Key word there being social, which you are not."
"Max, if I can bring Barda along- it's really no problem. But we had plans, and you know how she is, and..."
"Why again is Bats not going?"
"I told you, Batman had a previous engagement and probably wishes to avoid the publicity. Blue Beetle will not be attending with us since he was already invited under his civilian name."
"Beetle?"
He almost didn't hear it over the loud racket created by the multi-way argument/discussion. And in fact, Ted was certain he wouldn't have heard it had it not been accompanied by a rather timid tap on his shoulder. Turning, he faced the superhero seated beside him.
"What?"
Booster Gold didn't look his usual confident self. His head was slightly bowed, and he was leaning in to whisper with his eyes scanning the table for eavesdroppers. "Promise you won't laugh."
Now he was worried. Giving him a genuine smile, Ted leaned towards him. "What's the problem Booster ole buddy?"
"Did Max say we have to waltz at this thing?"
Racking his mind for the spiel Max had just gone over, he recalled that dancing- specifically a proper waltz- was indeed something mentioned. "Yeah. It's a rather upscale party."
Booster cleared his throat and then leaned over and mumbled into Ted's ear. "Don't laugh. It'll draw everyone's attention. But..." He sighed in resignation. "I don't actually know how to waltz."
Ted jerked back, eyes wide and mouth agape. He was trying so very hard not to laugh, or smirk, or...oh damn it, he was grinning now. "You're kidding right? Just a joke...?"
But Booster's completely serious expression meant that this was not a joke or prank or anything of that sort. Ted's grin dropped off his face immediately.
"You don't..."
He shook his head in the negative and whispered back. "I know what it is. I've seen others do it. But since it's an older dance, I never thought I'd need to know the...actual how to of it in the twentieth century."
Glancing back at the still chaotic discussion at the table around them, Ted shrugged. With a smile he patted Booster's hand. "Don't worry. I can teach you."
"Really?"
"I can dance a mean waltz, Booster. Why I often just waltz right through life!"
At Beetle cracking a bad joke, Booster smiled- giving him a playful nudge in the arm. "You'd better be good. If you make me look like an idiot..."
He teased right back. "Oh, I'm sure you can do that all by yourself."
"So..." Booster gave one last fleeting glance at the rest of the team. He had a feeling J'onn had mind read the two of them in an attempt to make sure they weren't plotting something, but otherwise no one else seemed to notice them. Thank God Bats is out today.
"Tonight. After everyone else is asleep. My room?" Ted murmured under his breath.
Booster repressed a chuckle. "Is this a date or a dance lesson?"
Ted raised his eyebrow and smirked. Booster smirked back. Across the table, J'onn started shaking his head in hopes that he could unmind read the duo's devious thoughts.
----------------------------------------
The host of the party, Mr. Jones, had gone all out. A wealthy politician, he’d invited everyone from the Justice League, to the big names of industry- including Bruce Wayne and Ted Kord. This, of course, meant that Ted was dressed in his normal civilian tux and tie, while Booster and the rest of the leaguers were in some strange half-formal wear, half-superhero costume combo.
But their strange attire aside, they were all having a great time mingling and Max was smiling and doting over them like a proud father. They were doing him proud, and in Booster’s case, dancing up a storm.
Not a single person at the party would have ever guessed that Booster Gold, dolled up in his finest tux with a tie that matched his blue cowl and yellow goggles, had never waltzed before. With his dazzling smile and natural charisma, he was literally sweeping most of the female guests off their feet. No one knew he was just acting the part, smiling and hoping he could remember the dance correctly.
After dancing with what had to have been his fifteenth lady, Booster excused himself and started looking about the dance hall for a familiar tousle of reddish hair.
The fact of the matter was, as much as he was indeed enjoying himself, every dance partner he had was just not quite living up to his dance instructor’s firm hands and mischievous blue eyes. With every spin around the dance floor, he’d sought him out, hoping to catch his gaze. Even if they couldn’t be too friendly, the need to keep Ted’s civilian name as unassociated with Booster Gold as possible, he couldn’t help but want to at least share a drink and some small chit-chat with the man.
“You’re quite right, that episode is a classic. It’s rare to find Americans that appreciate it.”
The British voice caught Booster’s attention, and he whipped his head around to find Ted talking with Mr. Jones’s overseas business partner.
“Well, Doctor Who is something I think anyone with a good sense of humor and a love of adventure can appreciate.”
Booster smirked, nodding his head at Ted and hoping he wasn’t intruding.
“Ah, if you’ll excuse me- I needed to speak with Mr. Gold here about something KORD Inc. is developing.”
The gentleman excused himself, and Booster raised an eyebrow as he leaned up against the wall by Ted. “So what is you’re developing for me, Mr. Kord?”
He chuckled. “Oh all kinds of things, Mr. Gold.”
The two smirked at one another before Booster dropped his voice to a whisper. “So, how was I?”
Ted shrugged. “Well, I usually don’t give dance lessons just to have my student run off and win over every lovely lady in the place. I must admit, I’m a bit jealous. Stealing my moves like that.”
“Your moves?”
“That is the patented Ted Kord waltz you are waltzing out there, mister,” he taunted.
Booster just laughed, and then when he was sure no one was eavesdropping, he leaned over to whisper in Ted’s ear. “I’ll have to give you a personal demonstration of my abilities, Mr. Kord. They don’t call it the gold service for nothing.”
Stifling a yawn, Ted looked around to the party. Then, with that glint of mischief in his eyes, he whispered back. “If you don’t mind, Mr. Gold. I’d love to have you come over right now and give me those demonstrations. If they’re as golden as you’re promising, then perhaps KORD Inc. can work out a marketing scheme with you. I’m more of a…private party sort of guy, if you catch my drift.”
And unnoticed by the other guests, the two slipped out the back door and returned to Ted’s room at headquarters. Thankfully, Guy on monitor duty meant that he was snoozing on the job, unaware that two people had snuck back early.
-------------------------------------
“One, two, three. One, two, three,” Booster counted the steps as he waltzed Ted around the room, circling the edge of his bed as best they could.
He could feel the firm hand on his back and the rough calluses on Ted’s palm from working on all his gadgets and projects. Booster smiled to himself as he started counting off in his mind. There were a lot of things he’d learned about the twentieth century after actually arriving in it, but he was beginning to think that waltzing- specifically the Ted Kord version - was going to be one of his favorites.
Pausing mid-step, he dropped Ted’s hand and gave him a timid smile. “So Beetle, can I actually waltz now or were all the ladies just being nice? Tell the future guy the truth.”
Ted smiled, reaching up to cup Booster’s cheek. “Gold standard, that waltz is.”
“Really?” He asked, insecurities prickling at the back of his confident-mask.
Pecking a kiss to his lips, Ted nodded. “Really. Now…I was thinking you might be interested in learning the horizontal tango.” He raised an eyebrow, waiting for the return quip.
Booster grinned, starting to push his partner back towards the bed. “That dance Beetle, I already know all the moves for.”
Fandom Justice League International
Genre: Humor/Romance
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairing: Ted/Booster
Word Count: 1,474
Summary: When the JLI is invited to an upscale party in which dancing a proper waltz is required, Booster has to seek out lessons from his good ole buddy Beetle. [Prompt: Booster doesn't know how to waltz. Ted does.]
Notes: Written for
poisonivory [on community link]It was yet another average day at JLI Headquarters. Guy was ranting about being stuck on monitor duty, Max was once again prancing out his superheroes in the public spotlight and expecting everyone to uphold some sort of "sophisticated" image, and the rest of the team was arguing with Guy, or Max, or both.
"Why is it when you take everyone else out to a swanky party with free food, drinks and girls that I get stuck on monitor duty?!"
"It's a social event, Guy! Key word there being social, which you are not."
"Max, if I can bring Barda along- it's really no problem. But we had plans, and you know how she is, and..."
"Why again is Bats not going?"
"I told you, Batman had a previous engagement and probably wishes to avoid the publicity. Blue Beetle will not be attending with us since he was already invited under his civilian name."
"Beetle?"
He almost didn't hear it over the loud racket created by the multi-way argument/discussion. And in fact, Ted was certain he wouldn't have heard it had it not been accompanied by a rather timid tap on his shoulder. Turning, he faced the superhero seated beside him.
"What?"
Booster Gold didn't look his usual confident self. His head was slightly bowed, and he was leaning in to whisper with his eyes scanning the table for eavesdroppers. "Promise you won't laugh."
Now he was worried. Giving him a genuine smile, Ted leaned towards him. "What's the problem Booster ole buddy?"
"Did Max say we have to waltz at this thing?"
Racking his mind for the spiel Max had just gone over, he recalled that dancing- specifically a proper waltz- was indeed something mentioned. "Yeah. It's a rather upscale party."
Booster cleared his throat and then leaned over and mumbled into Ted's ear. "Don't laugh. It'll draw everyone's attention. But..." He sighed in resignation. "I don't actually know how to waltz."
Ted jerked back, eyes wide and mouth agape. He was trying so very hard not to laugh, or smirk, or...oh damn it, he was grinning now. "You're kidding right? Just a joke...?"
But Booster's completely serious expression meant that this was not a joke or prank or anything of that sort. Ted's grin dropped off his face immediately.
"You don't..."
He shook his head in the negative and whispered back. "I know what it is. I've seen others do it. But since it's an older dance, I never thought I'd need to know the...actual how to of it in the twentieth century."
Glancing back at the still chaotic discussion at the table around them, Ted shrugged. With a smile he patted Booster's hand. "Don't worry. I can teach you."
"Really?"
"I can dance a mean waltz, Booster. Why I often just waltz right through life!"
At Beetle cracking a bad joke, Booster smiled- giving him a playful nudge in the arm. "You'd better be good. If you make me look like an idiot..."
He teased right back. "Oh, I'm sure you can do that all by yourself."
"So..." Booster gave one last fleeting glance at the rest of the team. He had a feeling J'onn had mind read the two of them in an attempt to make sure they weren't plotting something, but otherwise no one else seemed to notice them. Thank God Bats is out today.
"Tonight. After everyone else is asleep. My room?" Ted murmured under his breath.
Booster repressed a chuckle. "Is this a date or a dance lesson?"
Ted raised his eyebrow and smirked. Booster smirked back. Across the table, J'onn started shaking his head in hopes that he could unmind read the duo's devious thoughts.
----------------------------------------
The host of the party, Mr. Jones, had gone all out. A wealthy politician, he’d invited everyone from the Justice League, to the big names of industry- including Bruce Wayne and Ted Kord. This, of course, meant that Ted was dressed in his normal civilian tux and tie, while Booster and the rest of the leaguers were in some strange half-formal wear, half-superhero costume combo.
But their strange attire aside, they were all having a great time mingling and Max was smiling and doting over them like a proud father. They were doing him proud, and in Booster’s case, dancing up a storm.
Not a single person at the party would have ever guessed that Booster Gold, dolled up in his finest tux with a tie that matched his blue cowl and yellow goggles, had never waltzed before. With his dazzling smile and natural charisma, he was literally sweeping most of the female guests off their feet. No one knew he was just acting the part, smiling and hoping he could remember the dance correctly.
After dancing with what had to have been his fifteenth lady, Booster excused himself and started looking about the dance hall for a familiar tousle of reddish hair.
The fact of the matter was, as much as he was indeed enjoying himself, every dance partner he had was just not quite living up to his dance instructor’s firm hands and mischievous blue eyes. With every spin around the dance floor, he’d sought him out, hoping to catch his gaze. Even if they couldn’t be too friendly, the need to keep Ted’s civilian name as unassociated with Booster Gold as possible, he couldn’t help but want to at least share a drink and some small chit-chat with the man.
“You’re quite right, that episode is a classic. It’s rare to find Americans that appreciate it.”
The British voice caught Booster’s attention, and he whipped his head around to find Ted talking with Mr. Jones’s overseas business partner.
“Well, Doctor Who is something I think anyone with a good sense of humor and a love of adventure can appreciate.”
Booster smirked, nodding his head at Ted and hoping he wasn’t intruding.
“Ah, if you’ll excuse me- I needed to speak with Mr. Gold here about something KORD Inc. is developing.”
The gentleman excused himself, and Booster raised an eyebrow as he leaned up against the wall by Ted. “So what is you’re developing for me, Mr. Kord?”
He chuckled. “Oh all kinds of things, Mr. Gold.”
The two smirked at one another before Booster dropped his voice to a whisper. “So, how was I?”
Ted shrugged. “Well, I usually don’t give dance lessons just to have my student run off and win over every lovely lady in the place. I must admit, I’m a bit jealous. Stealing my moves like that.”
“Your moves?”
“That is the patented Ted Kord waltz you are waltzing out there, mister,” he taunted.
Booster just laughed, and then when he was sure no one was eavesdropping, he leaned over to whisper in Ted’s ear. “I’ll have to give you a personal demonstration of my abilities, Mr. Kord. They don’t call it the gold service for nothing.”
Stifling a yawn, Ted looked around to the party. Then, with that glint of mischief in his eyes, he whispered back. “If you don’t mind, Mr. Gold. I’d love to have you come over right now and give me those demonstrations. If they’re as golden as you’re promising, then perhaps KORD Inc. can work out a marketing scheme with you. I’m more of a…private party sort of guy, if you catch my drift.”
And unnoticed by the other guests, the two slipped out the back door and returned to Ted’s room at headquarters. Thankfully, Guy on monitor duty meant that he was snoozing on the job, unaware that two people had snuck back early.
-------------------------------------
“One, two, three. One, two, three,” Booster counted the steps as he waltzed Ted around the room, circling the edge of his bed as best they could.
He could feel the firm hand on his back and the rough calluses on Ted’s palm from working on all his gadgets and projects. Booster smiled to himself as he started counting off in his mind. There were a lot of things he’d learned about the twentieth century after actually arriving in it, but he was beginning to think that waltzing- specifically the Ted Kord version - was going to be one of his favorites.
Pausing mid-step, he dropped Ted’s hand and gave him a timid smile. “So Beetle, can I actually waltz now or were all the ladies just being nice? Tell the future guy the truth.”
Ted smiled, reaching up to cup Booster’s cheek. “Gold standard, that waltz is.”
“Really?” He asked, insecurities prickling at the back of his confident-mask.
Pecking a kiss to his lips, Ted nodded. “Really. Now…I was thinking you might be interested in learning the horizontal tango.” He raised an eyebrow, waiting for the return quip.
Booster grinned, starting to push his partner back towards the bed. “That dance Beetle, I already know all the moves for.”
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