Because of cheerleading AUâs, Derek/Scott/Kira feels and pocketlass.
âHe has a tattoo,â Derek hisses, certain that he doesnât sound nearly as scandalized as he feels. He pushes his mirrored aviators back into his hair, so he can look Kira in the eyes and better convey the ridiculousness of the entire situation.
Kira stares at him like sheâs waiting for him to continue, like thatâs not enough of a reason to keep Scott out of their squad in and of itself.Â
âDerek,â Kira says slowly after several seconds of them staring at each other, âyou have a tattoo.â
âNot one thatâs visible while weâre performing!â he defends.Â
Derek refuses to call what they do âcheeringâ. Cheering is for spectators. What they do is a finely honed craft and so he treats it that way. Itâs performing, or cheerleading. They are leaders. They donât practice; they train. And, most importantly, they compete.
âCheerleading is a traditional and...and wholesome sport, Kira!â Derek tells her, hoping he can well enough express the seriousness of the matter so that even Kira, who is too sweet and soft hearted by half, can understand why they need to tell Scott no. âHe is a mockery of the entire institution!â
âDer, youâre being kind of...â Kira drifts off, because sheâs too nice to insult him even though he can read her like the latest edition of American Cheerleader -- cover to cover without putting it down.Â
She doesnât seem to understand any of his concerns. Sheâs even still smiling. Itâs almost like sheâs not listening to him at all, except sheâs Kira and sheâs too...too caring and considerate to ever ignore someone.
âIâm just saying,â Derek tells her, trying to be more calm in the face of Kiraâs ever pleasant expression (which sometimes he thinks she does because she knows he canât get mad at her when sheâs smiling like that), âthat we canât let a...a biker join our squad and represent us at competitive events! Weâll be laughed out of Regionals, let alone State! What do you expect the National judges to think of us when we have unsavoury characters on the squad?!â
Kira lets out an indelicate snort. âHeâs a gymnast who happens to ride a dirt bike and has a tattoo. Heâs not exactly a terrifying member of a gang.â
âYou donât know that.âÂ
Kira blinks at him, once. Twice. Three times. Then, âOh my God. You have a crush on him!â
âThatâs not the--no, I donât!â he argues. He doesnât. Only a little bit. It doesnât even really count.
He can already feel his cheeks and the tips of his ears heating up, but he knows he sounds convincing when Kira doesnât tease him any further.
Instead, her expression brightens. âWell, I do. Heâs gorgeous! And that smile!â
Something swoops in Derekâs gut at the idea of Scott and Kira dating. Of Scott and Kira kissing. Of Scott and Kira--
âBut thatâs not why I want him on the squad,â she adds, like she thinks Derek will call her out on that. Normally he might, but itâs Kira heâs talking to, and besides, heâs more concerned with the acrobatics his stomach has taken up.
âOf course not,â he agrees weakly.
âIt doesnât hurt, though,â she says with a cheeky grin.
Heâs not entirely sure that the feeling twisting its way through him is jealousy, but heâs not sure what else to call it.
