P.R. Alright, so one thing annoyed me about my Roxas fic: for some reason the words all mashed together without spaces. How does that even happen? But anyways, on to the next one about Terra and Aqua. Sorry for another one that has "dancing" in the title.
...
Eternal Dancing
…
Aqua didn't particularly like dancing. As the sea of suits and beautiful ballroom dresses twirled and waltzed about the room, she knew that she'd only be a clumsy rock, deterring their fluid motions. Still, Aqua couldn't help but smile a little when she saw how utterly blissful Cinderella looked as she danced with her Prince Charming. With a sigh, part of her wished it was her there with that special someone.
"My lady, you look ravishing," said a young man, suddenly appearing before her.
She had to admit that she did look nicer after changing into a pretty gown lent to her by a lady in waiting for defending the castle. It was a nice peach color, bringing out the rosiness of her skin tone, while its corset accentuated her petite waist.
Looks like I might get my wish after all.
"Why, thank you," she replied politely, thinking that she would maybe do well in old, high societies like these.
"You do not seem like the others, my lady," he declared, kneeling to kiss her hand.
Aqua could feel a strong blush coming on, but hoped he wouldn't notice.
"You are most beautiful with tresses like the sky."
"Oh, ah, I'm flattered," Aqua replied, stuttering a bit in surprise.
"It is the truth," he insisted. He seemed quite charming and he was certainly very handsome, but there was something about him that was…off. Perhaps it was the way he stood a little too close to her, especially compared to the polite distance men seemed to keep from women here. When she took a subtle step backwards, he took one forwards.
"Now, I do believe it is quite stuffy in here. Would you like to go outside in the royal gardens?"
"I-I don't know if we should…" she responded, avoiding his penetrating gaze.
"I insist, they are quite lovely at night."
"We're in a ballroom, perhaps we should dance instead?"
The man's pleasant smile fell as his expression became thoroughly disappointed. "I do not care to dance."
Yes, there was definitely a darkness about him that Master Eraqus had taught her to spot. "Maybe another time, then," Aqua responded coldly.
"I am afraid, my lady, that rejections do not suit me," he said, grabbing her tightly by the elbow while wearing an angry expression on his face.
As she looked around for help, only one woman seemed to notice what was happening, but when Aqua noticed her, she pretended she hadn't seen a thing and diverted her attention to the dancers. Aqua sighed. She could, of course, go outside and defeat him easily, but she really wanted to keep a watch on all these people in case the Unversed decided to come back. Just as she was about to signal for a guard to escort him out, Aqua saw the floor shadowed with a presence behind her while her suitor paled slightly.
What now? she wondered.
"I think she told you to leave," said a very familiar voice behind her.
She turned around with a grin to face her best friend looking very different, but definitely very good in an old-fashioned suit, tailcoat and all, fitting to this time.
"Terra, you're here!"
"And who might you be?" the man asked with a sneer.
"Oh, me? I'm her…fiancé," he replied. Aqua could hear the mischievous amusement in his voice that only she could recognize, having known him all her life. However, everyone else would hear the most serious solemnity.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave now."
"Gladly. Remaining here any longer would be an insult to my reputation." Glaring, he walked off coldly, scanning the crowd for more unattached women. Aqua wondered whether to stop him, but then figured he was sort of a coward and not much of a threat; his next target could deal with him if she was stubborn enough.
"What a liar, I wasn't special in any way," Aqua blurted out loud before remembering Terra was standing right there. "I mean…not that I cared."
With a half-smile, he replied, "Well, I think you're special." He said this with a quiet jauntiness, teasing, but maybe not completely.
Aqua could feel the goofy grin that was usually accompanied by a blush making its way to her face, so she smothered it playfully and whacked his shoulder. "Oh, you."
"Fine, don't believe me," he said with a soft laugh. "Care to dance then?"
She finally let herself smile broadly as she took his hand. "It would be my pleasure, good sir."
They fell in step perfectly, spinning around and forgetting they weren't the only ones there. Since Aqua needed some work, Terra did most of the leading, though where he learned this was a mystery.
"Where did you learn to dance so well?"
He chuckled. "Right now, with you."
So he was a natural, Aqua noted, pursing her lips enviously. "I must be an amazing teacher then."
"Yeah, you're decent," he teased.
"Just decent? Thanks a lot!" But she laughed to tell him she was joking. "You know, seriously, I like being here with you. It's…calming."
"Calming?"
"Umm-hmm." When I'm with you, it's as all my troubles are forgotten. I almost wouldn't mind if time just stood still. Eternal dancing doesn't sound too bad.
