#raisnball

[wade-wilson]

[dancingwtfiction]

Just Another Winter's Tale

Request: Mark telling aly he’s in love with her and aly confessing she feels the same way. + another raisnball one shot + more raisnball pls

I was quite liberal with the prompt.

The nights are colder now Maybe I should close the door And anyway the snow has covered all your footsteps And I can follow you no more

"Merry Christmas, princess."

He could hear her confused look on the other side of the phone. Which incidentally, was also the other side of the country.

“Mark?” she said, but her voice sounded like a whisper. “Is that you?”

He tries to smile and hopes she can sense it like he can her. “Who else would it be? Only I call you that.”

“I know,” she assures him. “It’s just…a surprise, that you called. A nice surprise,” she added.

He didn’t reply. Not yet. He hadn’t really been thinking when he pulled out his phone and dialed her number. The silence sat between them like the physical distance he already had to bear with everyday. The fire still burns at night The memories are warm and clear But everybody knows  It's hard to be alone at this time of year

They had phone conversations all the time, given their busy schedules. But this was their first in months. It was easy to reason the downgrade to text messages over the last quarter to him being busier than usual, between music and dance. But Mark refused to excuse himself that easily. He had juggled more commitments before. Also, dropping your most important ball was unforgivable regardless of context.

“I’m sorry,” he managed. It was hardly a white Christmas in California as usual, but he sounded like his voice was thrown into the wind. He had to repeat himself to ensure that she heard it.

“I didn’t mean for what I said to sound that way,” he started.  “I love Sadie – she’s a sweet girl.” He paused, half-expecting her to hang up on him. “But she’s not you, Als. You’re different. You’ve always been different.” Deep breaths. “You’ve got more sides to you than I can keep track off. You can be loud and energetic, but on the other side you’re also quiet and reserved. You can make me laugh and smile and cry, and – yeah other people have made me done that, but when it’s you I can’t help it.”

“And I should have called. You call me whenever you can, it’s only right for me to do the same. But I sidetracked,” he admitted. “I didn’t even text you as regularly. I basically ignored you for three months. So, if what you last said still stands, I’m sorry. I’ll respect you and I – I’ll stand down.” It was only a winter's tale Just another winter's tale And why should the world take notice Of one more love that's failed?

“But just so you know,” he said, so soft he wasn’t sure the phone would pick up, “I love you.”

A love that can never be Though it meant a lot to you and me On a world-wide scale We're just another winter's tale

The silence set in again, and Mark leaned against the nearest wall, imagining the snow settling on the Boston sidewalks with equal softness. He pressed the phone to his hear and listened to the faint white noise that was coming through – the sign that Aly still had not hung up on him. Although she could have easily walked away without disconnecting. While I stand alone A bell is ringing far away I wonder if you're here I wonder if you're listening I wonder where you are today

The seconds ticked by. Taking his chances, Mark took a deep breath and asked, “Als, you there?”

He faintly heard her exhale. “Yeah I’m still here,” she breathed.

There was another pause, as neither of them knew what to say. Finally, Mark spoke up. “So…any time you want, just, you know, give the sign.”

“I’m sorry too.”

Wait what? Was that the sign? He had been expecting something along the lines of “it’s not really working out” – that he could understand. He was not prepared to respond to that. Though, the back of his mind reminded him, he should have expected Aly to take him by surprise.

“You didn’t do anything,” he said.

Good luck, I wish you well For all that wishes may be worth I hope that love and strength Are with you for the length  Of your time on earth

“I should have talked to you first. I let myself be insecure and jealous, and jumped to conclusions. And it wasn’t courteous or whatever to try to break up with you in a text like that, let alone under premature bases…”

He smiled inwardly as she continued to falsely accuse herself. Maybe if they were talking face to face he could break her off with a kiss, and try to make amends. He shook himself out of his fantasy.

“Aly – Aly, hey,” he said, trying to get an edge in. Her voice trailed off. “None of it is your fault, okay? I screwed up, and you had every right to be mad at me.” His throat constricted. “Don’t blame yourself okay? Enjoy your holiday. Take it as my last request.” It was only a winter's tale Just another winter's tale And why should the world take notice Of one more love that's failed?

"What if I don't want it to be your last request?"

He was glad he hesitated to hang up. He wouldn't have caught that line if he did. And now he was rendered speechless.

Aly probably sensed that he wasn't going to reply for a while, because her voice came through the earpiece again. "Not yet. But I can let you try again." She paused, as if re-evaluating her decision. Mark wouldn't blame her if she did. "We can try again, right?" It's a love that can never be Though it meant a lot to you and me On a world-wide scale We're just another winter's tale

And this time he smiled a proper smile, one that stretched across his face. "I'll try again. I promise I'll do better, princess. I love you."

He got the feeling Aly had a small smirk when she said, "I know, Mark. Merry Christmas. Love you too."

[mghnmrkl]

IM CRYING i miss them a lot

[watchyourattitude]

I may or may not be starting to ship raisnball... Just watched their week 1 dance and I can see why people ship them.

[dancingwtfiction]

First Time

Aly and Mark's first kiss (requested)

Lyrics: First Time by Lifehouse

The brunette acing him immediately pulled away, mumbling something about getting him some ice. Although his initial back injury had alleviated reasonably over the last 2 weeks, he still got the occasional ache every now and then and lately he had been overusing it quite often.

We're both looking for something We've been afraid to find

Mark put his head in his hands as he thought about how close he got to doing it again - kissing Aly. He'd had a few shaves throughout the season but they were all easy to cover up, especially when he was trying to convince himself that he was just desperate for a distraction after his mutual split with BC. But now that they were dancing a rumba, he was actually positively sure that he had fallen hard, and the number of incidents were spiking precariously.

His back aches were an easy excuse to pull away then distract her from what would have almost happened, because Aly was always looking out for him, giving him massages, getting him ice packs, anything to appease her guilt no matter how many times he had to say, "It's not your fault, Als. It's. Not. Your. Fault."

It's easier to be broken

"You should go for it," the voices of the other pros said in his head. "It's getting too obvious, and it's not like you've got anything to be heartbroken about." It was true. He and BC still remained good friends, so there wasn't any reason for a rumba to get to him. But for some reason, he every time he looked into her eyes, every time he started leaning in, his body would jerk back like a reflex. Like when you're falling asleep and are woken up just as your head droops.

It usually starts happening while they are dancing, so Mark had taken to changing the choreography to separate their bodies before he ended up doing anything he would seriously regret. When that failed (and it did quite often), he would feign the back pain to cover it up.

It's easier to hide

There was a shuffling noise behind him and he felt something cold and wet press into his back, the coolness seeping through his shirt. Back pain or no back pain, he let out a content sigh, leaning back into the ice pack.

The ice pack resisted. "Stop it Mark," Aly said in a stern tone with an edge that said she was just kidding. "You're heavy."

"Really?" Mark replied, pushing back until he felt her knees poking at his lower back. "I'm the one lifting you."

She shifted under his weight. "We don't have lifts," she said matter-of-factly. "They are not allowed."

"But I can always break the rules," he quipped back.

He felt the coolness pull away from his back as Aly pushed him back into an upright position. "If you screw that up for me I'm never giving you a massage again," she threatened. "Or an ice pack."

He laughed, because he knew she was too nice. "You really can't hate me that much," he said between each chuckle. "You know you can't." He found her arm behind him and guided it back to pressing the ice pack against his not-so-aching muscles. Aly didn't reply or struggle.

It floored him to think about the concern she had been showing him since he got injured. Her fingers were wrinkled from handling too many ice packs. Her palms were sore from all the back massages (he knew because he caught her massaging them when she thought he wasn't looking). The darker shades of her lower eyelids were attributed to her staying up waiting for him to finish late troupe rehearsals with supper so he wouldn't have to trouble himself and in case he needed another massage.

Lost in his thoughts, he had somehow turned around to look at her. He smiled at the thought of her caring for him. "Thanks Als," he said softly. I love you.

Aly smiled abashedly and shook her head. "It's nothing, Mark. Really." A strand of hair fell across her face and she tried to brush it away but it slipped back. You're beautiful. Mark slowly reached up to push it out of her face. "Thanks," she said as he carefully tucked it behind her ear. "I owe you," he replied, not withdrawing his hand. "I owe you a lot." You've done a lot for me and I love you for it.

Looking at you, holding my breath

She was half-smiling, half-smirking when he realised that he was looking at her again. And that his hand was still holding her head, and he was slowly leaning in, as if he was drawn to her by some magical force.

For once in my life I'm scared to death

His eyes were slowly closing, turning his vision into a soft blur. It was happening again. And he was too caught up in his thoughts to stop it.

I'm taking a chance, letting you inside

Their lips met, softly brushing, at first, then Mark gently pressed into the kiss, his hand pulling her closer to him.

I'm feeling alive all over again

He felt the cold move down his back as Aly dropped the ice pack, her hands winding into this hair.

As deep as the sky under my skin

He twisted his body so that he was fully facing her now, not that she could see, but at least he didn't have to crane his neck to look at her when he pulled away and breathe and "I love you."

Like being in love, she said, for the first time

"You better," she said softly, her face just inches from his. "I love you too." Then she leaned in again.

Maybe I'm wrong, I'm feeling right Where I belong with you tonight Like being in love to feel for the first time

[watchyourattitude]

Hahaha this is still the funniest thing ever!

[dancingwtfiction]

Head over heels

Random anon asked for more raisnball. Nothing specific so here you go! Enjoy!

-----

"I am in mi-se-ry," Mark half-sang-half-groaned as he flopped onto the couch, rubbing his head.

"Oh come on," Aly told him. "You can't seriously expect me to tell Glamour that this is how you chose the song for our samba." She tossed him an ice pack which he accepted, smiling gratefully, before continuing, "because my dance partner is mean to me."

Aly picked up one of the pillows on the floor and threw it at Mark. She missed. He turned and smirked at her, his head throbbing as he adjusted his position.. "See what I mean?"

She giggled. "Yeah, because I'm totally helping you get over your headache."

Mark tried to retort, but the pain is his head stopped him from thinking clearly. Finally, he gave in. "Yes Aly, you are the most wonderful person in the world and the best nurse ever so please, if you don't mind, your highness, can I get some coffee?"

"Why coffee?" Aly asked. She heard that coffee could make headaches worse, even though caffeine supposedly helped with headaches. But Mark claimed that coffee had always worked for him, so Aly fetched him his favourite blend, though skeptical.

"Oh thanks, I love this latte," Mark mumbled as he took a sip. He turned his head as much as he could before the pain kicked in again. "You are the best person in the world," he said to Aly.

She raised her eyes. "Even better than Derek?"

Mark laughed. "Derek's got a...special status," he decided. "He's the best bro...and also the stupidest person ever. You're just the best person."

He shifted again to sit more upright and felt the unbearable rush. It probably showed on his face, because Aly's expression changed immediately and she went to sit on the couch arm. "Just the best person?" she teased. Mark felt her fingers in his hair as she started massaging his head.

He sipped his coffee. "You want me to call you stupid too?"

"You could," Aly replied, smirking although Mark couldn't see it. "But then you wouldn't get this." She emphasised her point by massaging his head even harder.

Mark sighed exhaustedly, enjoying the massage. "Ahhh...this is good... I love you, Aly."

Aly smiled, then suddenly leaned down and pecked him lightly on the forehead. "You better do."

[dancingwtfiction]

Sleepless

Mark is a budding musician who is trying to start a career while playing at small clubs on a summer tour across the country and who generally sleeps in his van. But one night, in a small town, a concertgoer offers to let him sleep on her couch.

-----

It's too good to resist. The air-conditioning in his van broke down and the closest workshop where he can fix it is on the far outskirts of town, so when someone good-naturedly offers you a better alternative for the night, why not take it? Besides, he's been sleeping on the back seats with his sound equipment for the past 3 weeks. It's about time he gave himself a break.

She tells him he will need his thin blanket in with him though. He doesn't mind. What she's offering him is more than enough.

Her house is only a fifteen minute walk from the club. He parks his van in the adjacent street and follows her in. The house itself isn't that big. It has a kitchen and a bedroom and a small storeroom. She gestures to the modular black three-seater sofa - his bed for the night. The seat on the far left sticks out like a chaise lounge. It's not long enough for him, but if he lies across the length of the seats, he still has enough legroom (he's not the tallest guy). The sofa looks wide enough. "Yeah that'll do great," he assures her. "Thanks. A lot."

She smiles in welcome. Her tiring eyes light up slightly and he realises he doesn't know her name yet. Just as she turns to her own room, he asks her. She turns around, her dark hair sliding softly over her shoulder. "It's Aly."

He holds out his hand. "Mark." She giggles. "I know." He tries to explain that he's never properly introduce himself. It only feels right, since he's in her home. She laughs at him, like it's not necessary. Her laughter is almost contagious. He smiles inwardly. She still shakes his hand nonetheless. "'Night Mark," she says softly.

"Good night, Aly," he whispers, taking in one more sweeping glance of her face before she retreats to her room.

He drops onto the sofa and stares at the ceiling, trying to recall all the details about her and maybe, just once, he won't mind losing sleep.