Title: Dancing Tiger
Fandom: Tiger and Bunny
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Tiger and Bunny belongs to Sunrise.
Warning: songfic! I know that songfics usually only work if the reader already knows the songs you quoted but I wanted to try it anyway. Hope it's not too bad.
It's Karina's birthday so they all go to a dance club to celebrate. There's loud music, bright colors, lights, a sea of heated bodies moving to the hypnotic beat of electronic drums. It's intoxicating even without any alcohol in your system. That's why Karina builds up the guts to grab Kotetsu by the hand and drag him to the dance floor, and that's why he didn't even try to resist.
Everybody dance, now!
C+C Music Factory explodes in the speakers, a hat flies up to the ceiling and Kotetsu starts dancing, really dancing, his usually clumsy, accident-prone arms and legs moving with the agility and grace of a professional street dancer. Karina frozes in surprise for a couple of seconds, then smiles and follows.
Watching them from afar, Barnaby can't help feeling cheated. Kotetsu was never this good when they had to perform that dance act with Karina - he would often complain that the steps were too difficult, that he was too old for that.
"He's no good at those choreographed things", Antonio says, "Don't do this, don't do that, too fast, too slow, he hates being directed. But this is different. He is free to move as he pleases, and that's when he does his best."
Kotetsu lifts Karina in his arms and they are grinning happily at each other in a way Barnaby has never thought it would be possible. He's just being nice because today is her birthday, and she's young and makes him think of Kaede, that's all, the rational part of him says. It doesn't stop his heart from sinking, though. For the first time in his life, Barnaby feels a pang of jealousy and it hurts, oh, how it hurts.
But then, the music ends, everybody claps and now it's Phil Collins playing.
We never talked about it but I hear the blame was mine
I'd call you up to say I'm sorry,
But I wouldn't want to waste your time
Kotetsu ruffles Karina's hair and leaves her, going straight to where Barnaby is. He offers an inviting hand to a surprised Bunny.
"That's not our song, Bunny-chan, but I can't wait to slow dance with you anymore."
Barnaby hesitates, a flippant "why would I want to dance with you?" almost slipping from his lips, but he knows any protest will sound weak and half-hearted because the way Kotetsu is looking at him now can melt the hardest resolve.
He takes the offered hand and is immediately enveloped in warm, welcoming arms.
Tell me now, tell me now, tell me now,
tell me
do you remember...
Author's notes:
Songs: Gonna Make You Sweat, C+C Music Factory and Do Remember, Phil Collins.
1) Haha, the word "remember" is becoming like a mantra for Barnaby... it was not on purpose, I tell you, but whenever I'm writing Barnaby the words "forget" and "remember" tend to show up repeatedly.
2) Thank you so much reviewers, your words are a great encouragement to go on with this. Also, thanks a million to everyone who added this series to their favorites and/or story alerts.
