Fine China 5

As the hours trickled off the clock, waves kissed the shores. Sunlight melted into rich, toasty light made of marshmallows. As the sun was making its way off the stage, families and lovers were heading home, having had their fill of beach magic and ready for a good night's rest. Another day was well on its way to unfolding-but for a certain chief of Dance Central Intelligence, the present day was anything but done.

Glitch wasn't anywhere in the picture. For the fifth thousand time that week, he had been summoned elsewhere; a magical place known as one of the local battlegrounds. After promoting their crew in flawless freestyle once again, he'd return home and work on more outfits. Sure, the hours weren't even close to what they used to be, but at least his protege's overcrowded schedule gave Mo room to breathe.

He wanted to stay as close as possible to Glitch, not wanting him to disappear the moment he took his eyes off of him. But being even within five yards of his prodigy made Mo wanted to grip the sides of his head and scream. Not a big deal, really. Just being so close to losing someone so precious made him want to scream bloody murder. For the night, though, screaming himself raw was shelved in favor of Bodie's company.

And Bodie's company was definitely something he needed.

They were planted in the Parker's living room, right next to a window with a refreshing view of a liquefied diamond. They were sitting right across from each other, only separated by Bodie's little table. The warm, cheerful host of Dance Central Live would've been more than happy to have company, if it had been two o'clock in the morning. As least Mo could breathe around him, knowing the blonde stud didn't mind his friend sitting inside his beachside condo as the skies grew darker.

"Good game today, huh? You guys had some pretty sweet moves out there!"

The Brea grimaced, but only for a second. "Thanks," he replied with one of his smiles. "But all I did was take a few moves out a pro's book."

"Never hurts to learn from a pro," Emilia's best friend chimed in, eyes twinkling. His eyes dimmed; a subject he didn't want to tread upon came up. He loved Mo beyond words, but his next question wasn't something he could ignore.

"He's learned a bit himself, hasn't he? Sure isn't playing the way he used to."

Mo thought about 'him' for a moment. He returned to the days of an eager yet shy, anxious ball of light scrambling on the basketball court, working to get as many points as possible as if he were in charge of building the Eiffel Tower. During his first games with his new heroes, Glitch burst into tears whenever he missed a shot, but quickly rebounded with his mentor's hearty, warm support.

That night saw Glitch playing so well, no one would've been surprised to see him walking on water. Least of all Mo.

"B, can I ask ya somethin'?"

"Sure, shoot," the Chief's friend said, his voice as soft as the ocean breeze rolling around. Compassion laced his eyes; he knew he had jumped onto a field of land mines. Emilia (or big sis Lia) was always telling him to be more tactful. 'Stop being such a dumbass, bro', were her gentle words of wisdom. But-

I know it's been bothering him.

Still smiling, but with a tinge of sadness, Mo went on. "It always seems like yer doin' a lot, even though we're off-season. How come? Ain't 'cha ever tired?"

"Huh?! Wha-no, not at all." the tv show host with three other titles to his name gasped, palms held up in surrender. The Brea chuckled over his friend's rosy red cheeks. One of Bodie's strengths was the ability to become easily embarrassed.

"Don't mind me! I love everything I do. It's not tiring at all. I mean, you've only got one chance to do it right, right? And if you're not gonna do it right, don't do it at all? Or something like that."

Emilia's big brother rubbed the back of his neck; a sure sign of nervousness. "Wait. Lia always says 'hit the ground running because you've only got one shot. Don't miss it because you'll never get it back'."

"Guess that's been yer crew motto, huh?"

"Yeah, guess you could say that," Bodie chuckled shyly. "Before every battle we bro-fist each other and say 'hit the ground running'. Sounds silly, doesn't it?"

"Not t' me," Mo replied instantly, shaking his head, his smile even weaker than before. "But hey. Didja ever wanna just play ball? Instead of, ya know, hittin' th'-"

In Bodie's book, interrupting someone was a crime worthy of a time-out. But desperate times called for desperate measures. "I don't like where this is going, Chief," he said, voice taking on uncharacteristic, rare firmness. Sure, he became close to Mo, Glitch and the others during Dance Central 2. But DC's third season saw them becoming a family. People, hearts cemented together. With Mo at the head of things, leading the way as Dance Central Intelligence's director.

But the Chief was steering the conversation into murky waters.

"Nah, man, I ain't sayin' nothin'. Nothin' like that. Just wonderin' if you ever wanted to play ball."

"If I've ever considered choosing ball or joining Dance Central, no, I haven't," the Parker replied sternly, with his own frown. He was visibly uncomfortable with being anything less than sweet and bubbly, but whenever a friend pointed him in dangerous waters, it was his responsibility to steer back into the clear.

"But if I were ever given the choice, I'd choose to stay right where I am. In a heartbeat."

The Chief's smile made a comeback. "Besides," Bodie went on, encouraged by his friend's reaction. "Who says I can't do it all, huh? I must be doing something right, with my Chief being proud of me and all."

Mo patted the other's hand. "Yeah, I am. You dunno how proud I am of ya."

For a moment, the only sound in Bodie's little home was the ocean's melody. In that moment, they reflected on everything that had led them to that point-their strongest points of reflection being Dance Central 3, in which they worked tirelessly to suppress DCI's latest threat. But then Emilia's other half broke the silence, looking at his friend with eyes made of moonlight.

"Mo, how come you just can't take him at his word? If Glitch says he won't leave you, he won't leave you. Right?"

Glitch's mentor said nothing at first, eyes falling into the waves of the outside world. "I just can't, ya know?" he replied, clutching the one thing he never took off: his pendant. The only thing he had left of his father.

"I've tried, over and over again. Believe me, B, I've tried. But the more I try...the worse shit gets. The more he tells me he ain't leavin', the more I feel left in th' dark. Him tellin' me shit like that should make it all right, but..."

Mo laid his forehead on his knee. "We aren't where we used t' be. I dunno, maybe I'm a dumbass for wantin' everythin' to stay th' same. But...the more time passes, the...harder it is for me to see him. It ain't like that for you 'n Em, I know it ain't."

Bodie, with the compassionate, firm tone of a funeral director, took his friend's hand.

"Mo...it's because I'm not going through puberty."

His Chief burst into laughter, tears streaking his face, and Bodie had one thought flow through his mind.

I really CAN do something right.

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Author's Notes: This originally was supposed to focus more on just Mo and Glitch, but the story's message has already been set up, and I'd rather not water anything down. Besides, I see the crews as a very close, loving family, and with Glitch sprouting, he's no longer spending ample amounts of time with his mentor.

Mo's last name came from Square-Enix's character Aya Brea. Her last name jumped out at me because it sounds warm, musical and beautiful, just as I picture Mo to be. Bodie's last name just came out of the blue.