Disclaimer: Ishinomori's, not mine

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"I-I'm not so sure about this. I mean, I got two left feet, and I'll probably spend the entire time stepping on yours, and--"

"Nonsense, you'll do fine." Francoise extended a slender hand to help Joe up, and then guided his calloused fingers to rest on her hip. "I want to dance with you."

Joe hadn't felt very comfortable in his tuxedo to begin with, but now it felt like it was cutting off his blood flow. "That's just it. You are a dancer. I'm certain you'd rather do that tonight than trying to teach me."

"I was a ballet dancer," Francoise corrected him. "I know about as much as ballroom dancing as you do. So try to relax, okay?"

He knew she meant well, but it didn't help. This was Francoise, after all. Even if this was the first time she danced on a ballroom floor, she was still easily the most graceful person there. She was the most graceful person he had seen in his life. And he... well, he was checking the ground every few seconds just to be safe.

"Joe, look at me."

"Can't. I'll step on your feet."

He heard a sigh as she cupped his chin, lifting his head enough so that he had to look at her. "I'm with the man I love tonight. I think I can risk sore feet for that."

As Francoise smiled up at him, one arm still around his waist, a feeling began to come over Joe. He may never learn so much as one dance step, but maybe what they had at that moment was enough for both of them.

Finally, he began to dance with her.

"Yow!"

"Oops. Sorry."