BATMAN

SHALL WE DANCE?

Chapter Three: The Pimp and the Prostitute

To the Reader

General timeline for this multi-chapter fic is after the events depicted in the Batman and Nightwing series and before the DC 52 Reboot (except for Batgirl 2011—Volumes 1 to 3). Specific timeline for this fic is immediately after the events of Batgirl 2011, Volume 3. This fic also takes the position that events in Batgirl 1 to 3 and the entire "Mirror Arc" happen before the events of Nightwing 2011 #1.

This fic is also set BEFORE the events chronicled in the Grayson comic series...

This fic takes the position that everything that happened thus far in the DC universe will remain as true and that the reboot series (if applicable) are the characters' continuing adventures.

Disclaimer

Bruce Wayne / Batman, Dick Grayson / Nightwing, Alfred Pennyworth, Selina Kyle / Catwoman, and other DC characters appearing in this fic… I do not own these lovable DC / Vertigo characters.

Havana by Chris Heyman is owned by those who hold the copyright to the song.

However, I do own this fic, Have fun reading!

Best regards,

PJ Zatken

After three straight days of arduously learning the eight-roll to rumba, samba, and salsa music, Dick and Alfred deemed that Bruce was minimally ready for the next step of his training.

As always since dance training began, no matter what the upper attire was worn that day, the rule that Dick and Alfred insisted was for both Dick and Bruce to wear dress shoes specifically for ballroom dancing. Alfred had no problem adhering to the rule since he normally wore leather dress shoes everyday as Bruce's butler.

For the past three days, Dick and Alfred made arrangements to have mirrors surround most of the hall so that all angles could be seen while dance training commenced…this set-up making Bruce feel extremely awkward especially from the beginning days of instruction.

Alfred quietly rolled his eyes when he heard Bruce ask for the umpteenth time for the past three days, "Are you teaching the tango today?"

Dick, who had an eyebrow up, let out a resigned sigh and looked towards Alfred. "Alfie, what do you think? Are we giving our student a pass to the next lesson?"

"Barely passable… I say yes, as long as Master Bruce practices what he has learned thus far everyday."

"Well, Bruce… Your tango lessons start today. Now I'll take the lead, and you'll follow."

Bruce scowled. "Well, it's about time!"

Dick threw a glare towards Bruce, and a frown creases his forehead. He placed his left hand over his hip while his right hand touched his forehead as if his headache had already set in for today. "If there's a rating scale of how well you're doing the eight-roll, with tomato being the low part of the scale and a dollar bill as you've mastered it, I'd say that Wayne Manor will be enjoying many varieties of tomato-based recipes until Damian turns 18. So quit complaining because you're still far from your goal."

"Very funny…" Bruce quips, taking his position at the center of the large empty hall, "I'm not applying for Chippendales or going for The Full Monty. So enough of the eight-roll and on to the tango…"

"Your movements are still wooden. With how you are right now, if you don't learn properly then you'll send your poor partner at the hospital from injuries…unless she dies from laughing at you first, or unless you fracture your shins because of how hard and how frequent she'll kick you for messing up."

"You make it sound as if the woman's vicious."

"Those are your words, Master Bruce," murmured Alfred, shuddering from Bruce's lack of tact. "Very oaf-like behavior will never win a lady's heart."

Dick quietly laughed and shook his head over Bruce's words. "You're talking about Selina Kyle. If there's anyone who has the perfect moves to be led for the tango, that'll be her. And she will put you in your place. You'll end up getting whipped…figuratively and literally…"

"As if I'll let that happen…"

"You're stepping on extremely thin ice, Partner," said Dick with a lopsided smile. "This is no time for you to be overconfident. You're in hot water with her, and your dancing sucks. My words – not Alfie's, not Selina's…."

This time, it was Bruce's turn to frown, intrigued by what Dick had just declared although he had a haughty tone when he asked, "She has the perfect moves for tango? What makes you say that?"

"Well, tango is a 'walking' dance. It's five steps taken in eight counts. The basic step goes like this – slow, slow, quick, quick, slow," Dick said as he demonstrated the steps and movements while explaining them to Bruce. "Unlike your beloved waltz, tango has no rise-and-fall or swaying movements. Tango movements are quick and sharp. It's known for staccato movements and its well-known graceful head snaps and statue-like poses as the couple dances. The walking actions are done with the grace and fluidity of a cat. That's why Alfie and I insisted on you to learn and master the eight-roll for your torso and arms. It will help you with flexing your limbs like cats normally would as you walk and transition between movements and steps."

Bruce thought deeply and then fell quiet, taking in Dick's explanation…

Dick then added as he gestured over his chest, abs, and hips using his right hand, and ten allowing his right arm to move to the rhythm of the music with grace. "The eight-roll you've learned also teaches you how your torso moves during the dance, with your arms following the fluid movement. Now we'll add the leg movements by learning the steps. Let's work together in mastering the steps first by doing it together side by side. Once I think you've got the rhythm and your entire body's moving in sync from head to toe, we'll partner up. I'll lead, and you follow."

"So I need to be graceful and flexible like a cat, and combine that with sharp, snap-like movements?"

For the first time since the lessons have started, Alfred gave a small smile. Dick nodded in approval, saying, "Yes…those two things you've mentioned while dancing to the rhythm of the music and keeping count. All of this has to happen fluidly."

Alfred, feeling that there was something important that needed to be mentioned at this part of the instruction, now interjected, "So about good manners on the dance floor. There's etiquette that's followed especially when it comes to the tango. You don't come up to the person and ask them to dance. You two simply make eye contact. If you wish to dance with each other, let your eyes meet and then exchange smiles or nods. If the other party doesn't meet your gaze, you move on and find another woman to dance with. This way, both parties feel that there's less intrusion."

Recalling the good old days when he was younger, Alfred added more information by sharing, "Remember, Master Bruce…tango is a dance of endurance. A round or 'tanda' is four dances…so count that as four songs. If you ask your partner to dance the first dance, it's polite to complete the entire round. So if you feel that you can't endure, or you're not so keen on dancing with your partner for an entire round, then it's okay to ask your partner to dance on the second or third song. Of course you'll make adjustments depending on the setting, but what I described to you was how a gentleman and a lady would conduct themselves in tango before they partner up."

"I don't have a problem with endurance," Bruce declared as he frowned a bit from taking in new information from Alfred and Dick.

"Okay, Bruce…so stand to my left and let's start," said Dick as he looked at Bruce while facing at the panel of mirrors in front of them. "Look at the mirror and follow exactly what I do. Let's start with the footwork first. Don't worry about rhythm for now. Once you have the muscle movement committed to memory, then we'll do the steps according to rhythm – all right?"

Bruce let out a sigh and then nodded. He looked at his reflection on the mirror and shook his head in defeat. He then bucked up and focused on the task at hand.

Being the patient teacher that he normally was, Dick used a calm voice as he explained while taking a step to emphasize his point of instruction, "So the basic step for tango is also called the eight-count basic. As I said before, it goes like this – slow, slow, quick, quick, slow. It's five steps. Each slow step gets two counts. Each quick step gets one count. So three slow and two quick steps equals eight… Since you play the piano, you can tell beats, tempo, and timing. Tell me what can you tell about the music you're hearing right now?"

Bruce replied after a few minutes of listening intently to the piped-in tango music, "This one that's playing right now is in four-fourth time. Tempo's about 30 to 33 measures per minute."

Dick nodded his head, stopping his foot movements in the meantime. "You're right. However, there are times that tango music plays at two-fourth time. So let's practice the man or the lead's footwork right now while standing side-by-side. Let's give each other two arms' length space. Now look at your own reflection in the mirror and pretend that your reflection is your partner. Keep good posture at all times. That means hold your head high. Spine straight and core strong…. Chest out and shoulders back… Let your confidence come out through every movement you make."

With Dick leading and under Alfred's scrutinizing gaze, Bruce and his eldest son did a repetitive cycle of five steps. First was a step forward with the left foot. Second was a step forward with the right foot while passing the left foot. Third was a step forward again with the left foot, this time passing the right foot. Fourth was a step forward and to the right using the right foot. Fifth was the left foot meeting with the right foot, then feet together which marked the end of the cycle and the beginning of the next one.

True to his word, the patient teacher that was Dick focused on Bruce mastering the steps by focusing on consistent accuracy at first. Once that he felt that Bruce was ready, he silently by slowly but surely working with Bruce on applying what was learned while observing rhythm. When the milestone of consistent accuracy and rhythm was achieved, he then added movement and grace. The cycle of steps repeated in a never-ending loop, with father and son finally being in sync.

Dick gestured to Alfred using eye contact only, the latter queuing up tango music timed at two-fourths. When the music was about to end, he told Bruce, "Don't stop – just keep going with the footwork…"

And soon, the music transitioned from one song to another. Dick's footwork did not change. Bruce, still learning, was temporarily thrown off but was able to catch up.

"Good," said Dick as the footwork continued for the two of them. "Don't lose your count. So let's do two more songs, then we'll take a short break. After the break, we'll do the woman's footwork."

Bruce nodded for his reply, focusing hard on not making a mistake. Once the time for their short break had arrived, he began to feel the tension from another grueling round of dancing for the fourth day.

Alfred handed Bruce and Dick bottled water. He patted Bruce on the back, saying, "Keep up the good work, Master Bruce. You're making progress."

"Thanks, Alfred. I'll be back. I need to check with Lucius about a couple of things."

Alfred and Dick nodded and gave Bruce leave…

And for Dick, Alfred smiled and patted Dick on the back, "You're a great instructor, Master Richard. We're making slow but steady progress."

"Are we really?" asked Dick with a kind grin. "I haven't danced like this for quite a while. Never imagined that I'd be teaching Bruce…"

"For what it's worth, Master Richard, the efforts will pay off."

Dick let out a sigh and then took in a deep, cleansing breath. He gazed into Alfred's eyes as he shared, "I hope so, Alfie. Because if you heard Selina yourself over the phone, you'll know how pissed off she really is at Bruce as we speak. And I don't know how Bruce will like this next portion of his training."

Alfred blinked and wondered out loud, "Why is that? He's doing well…"

"Well," Dick said and then let out a heavier sigh. "I'm about to teach Bruce the woman's steps, and then the actual dancing begins. Remember when I said that I lead, he follows."

Alfred thought deeply and his breath hitched when he figured out what Dick was trying to say, "Oh…"

"Yes… Oh is right…" Dick frowned a bit and added, "Bruce needs to get rid of every stubborn bone in his body to learn this properly."

"If you need to be harsh with Master Bruce, then do so. You'll be doing your student a disservice by treating him too gently. He won't learn if you do that to him."

"I know…" Dick then pursed his lips, his attention diverting once he noticed that Bruce had returned and that break was now over. He then told Alfred, "Okay, Alfred…wish me luck…"

Bruce casually returned to his original place while Alfred started the music once more, the latter choosing another tango song with a four-fourth beat and setting it to perpetual loop.

Dick then talked to Bruce, facing the mirror to make eye contact with the latter so that he could continue instructing. "So let's do one more round with the man's steps to refresh your memory, and then we'll proceed with the woman's steps."

After father and son did a song's worth of steps in fluid succession, Dick gestured for Bruce to pause as the lesson proceeded to the next step. "So the woman's step mirrors the man's step. When the man steps forward with the left foot, the woman steps backwards with the right foot…. You'll pick up on the difference once you learn both steps. What's important is muscle memory."

Once Dick saw Bruce nod as acknowledgement, he added, "We'll do what we did before. We'll stand side by side. Let's work on your accuracy first. Then we work on you being consistently accurate. Once we get that, we'll throw in rhythm. When you're comfortable with the three, we focus on your movement and grace. Look at the mirror throughout the steps and pretend that your reflection is your partner. So let's begin…"

Alfred observed as Dick led Bruce through a new repetitive cycle of five steps intended for the woman dancer. First was a step back with the right foot. Second was a step back with the left foot passing the right foot. Third was a step back again with the right foot, this time passing the left foot. Fourth was a step back and to the left using the left foot. Fifth was the right foot meeting with the left foot, then feet together which marked the end of the cycle and the beginning of the next one.

This time around, Bruce had easier time learning, replicating, and becoming in sync with Dick's steps…managing to maintain it even when Alfred changed the song or even switched to faster-beat tango music.

Soon, another hour-and-a-half had quickly gone by followed by a 15-minute break.

Once break was over, Dick said to Bruce, "So I lead and you follow. Both dancers start with the embrace and pose. For the man, the left hand is raised and holds the lady's right hand. The man's right hand is placed on the woman's back along with bottom of her ribcage."

With the irritation reflected in his voice, Bruce asked, "And for the woman?"

"The woman's left hand is placed on the man's right shoulder. Her right hand is raised to the man's left, her right arm wrapped around the man and resting on the center of the man's back. Her knees are slightly bent. The man and the woman mirror each other's steps. The man starts with the left foot while the woman follows with the right. The walks usually curve gradually to the left. Do the eight-count, and then the cycle starts again."

Dick's eyes then narrowed, doing his best to ignore Bruce's obvious non-verbal cues of not looking forward to this part of the lesson. "I can't stress enough that the man and woman have to work in sync. They need to be able to 'read' each other's movement. It's up to the man to use his body to let the woman know what they're doing next. The woman needs to pick up on what's next based on how the man's guiding her using his arm, body, and weight. So more skilled dancers use variations such as turns, spins, and other movements… Those will require partners to be in sync with each other so that movements are fluid and graceful and the performance is flawless."

When Bruce was not budging, Dick raised an eyebrow and asked, "And…?"

"And what…?"

Undaunted, Dick said, "Now what's the problem?"

Bruce glared at Dick, his eyes narrowing. "I don't like this. Not one bit."

"And what are you suggesting?" Dick asked nonchalantly. He could tell from the corner of his eye that Alfred was throwing death glares behind Bruce's back.

"Why do I have to be the woman? Why can't you do that part?"

This time, Dick narrowed his eyes…doing so even more dangerously than Bruce did earlier. "Because you need to know how to be a follower before you can lead. It's the foundation of anything that had to do with being a good lead."

"I refuse to do it. Simple as that… I know exactly what I'm doing. I haven't made any mistakes for the past hour. I don't even like the concept that this whole dance has a rumored history of mimicking the relationship between the pimp and the prostitute."

Letting out a snort, Dick challenged Bruce by saying, "You have a huge misogynistic chip on your shoulder thinking that the prostitute is a pushover in this dance. Would you, for once, dump anything that has to do with waltz and crime fighting?"

Bruce admitted through gritted teeth, "I'm so frustrated and disgusted that I want to pummel the pimp."

Dick then quietly laughed at Bruce and shook his head, saying, "Fine, we'll do it your way. You lead, I follow – "

"Master Richard – "

Dick raised his hand to stop Alfred, knowing that the latter was protesting for a move that was catering to Bruce's wants and tantrums…making Alfred brace himself.

However, there was a gleam in Dick's eyes that gave Alfred pause…and since Bruce was too angry for his own good, he lacked the perception to notice what was about to happen…

"Fine, then… You lead, I follow. On one condition..."

"Name it."

"Give me your word that you're not backing away first and that whatever I say goes. This is also the first and last time you challenge the rules and instructions I give you. Do I have your word?"

Bruce let out a disgruntled sigh. "Fine! I give you my word."

Dick calmly explained, "You want a role reversal that badly? Sure... We'll play it your way. You'll be the lead. I'll follow. However, every time that you make a mistake – no matter how little it is – I will slap you across the face. That'll continue until you choose to give up your role. Retaliate even with a little pout and you'll get more where those slaps came from." He then knowingly smiled, adding, "That wouldn't be a problem since you've perfected it already, right Mr. Pimp?"

Alfred turned, squinting his eyes and trying to withhold any desire to burst out laughing or reacting over what he just heard. Instead, he gritted his teeth to curb his laughter while thinking, "Well played, Master Richard… Well, played…."

Meanwhile, Bruce was speechless….

With a smile feigning innocence, Dick prepared himself and assumed the follower position for the dance. He looked at Bruce and said, "All right, Mr. Pimp – shall we dance?"

"You're devious," Bruce growled, giving Dick a death glare as the two embraced for the dance.

"It's high time you learn what the true relationship is between the pimp and the prostitute. It'll also show you just how pissed off Selina is right now because of your behavior...the same one that's insisting that you do the lead when you haven't even properly learned the tango. You want the school of hard knocks? Alfie and I now give it to you in a silver platter."

The two then took the first steps….

Sure enough, Bruce – incensed over what just happened even though he got exactly what he wanted from Dick – took Dick's hand and the two danced.

Seconds later after the first steps were taken and throughout the duration of the first two songs, the sounds of someone being slapped square across the face echoed throughout the hall yet drowned by the music.

Both lead and follower had eyes glued to each other as the hours whiled away – with the lead giving the follower such a death glare as his face was flushed from the warm throbbing of being repeatedly slapped, and the follower giving the lead a defiant snicker and administering the required penalty with such gusto.

End of Chapter Three