BATMAN

SHALL WE DANCE?

Chapter Four: Leading the Blind

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.

Adios by Ricky Martin is owned by those who hold the copyright to the song. Such an awesome song!

However, I do own this fic. Have fun reading, and let me know what you think through Private Message and/or reviews!

Best regards,

PJ Zatken

After a day and a half of being man-slapped, Bruce had enough. He begrudgingly gave in and allowed Dick to be the lead during their dance training…feeling resigned in doing so, yet being so pissed off that he felt his jaw was about to lock up a handful of times.

Alfred watched as the son continued to train the father in quiet amusement, taking in how much progress Bruce had made in learning how to dance although there was still much to learn. He acknowledged Dick's gifted ability to teach and tailor the instruction according to his student could best learn…and Bruce was as hard as they come in terms of being a student in anything that did not have to do with criminals or business.

Another day and a half passed where Dick felt that Bruce was ready for the next step. His student now knew how to both lead and follow – the latter knowing the rudiments yet with him feeling that Bruce was lacking the suave refinement in movements and steps. He knew that in order for Bruce to achieve that, Bruce's confidence and instincts for dancing needed to be free-flowing and natural.

After mulling over and coming up with an idea, Dick waited much earlier at the hall where he and Alfred trained Bruce. He propped a chair in the middle of the room where mirrors faced him in all angles, his mind's eye trying to picture on how to fully execute imparting and having Bruce acquire the rest of what he felt the latter needed to master dancing the tango.

Dick purposefully took Bruce's training an extra mile. He could've just taught his father the rudiments of the Argentine tango and be done with it. He could've also budged just a little and worked on rudiments and technique for just one dance. Instead, he took it upon himself to go beyond his instruction by teaching Bruce not only the Argentine tango but also the foundation of what makes Latin ballroom dances unique, and slowly but surely instilling in Bruce the ability to translate what was being learned now into any other dance styles including Bruce's every-beloved waltz.

At this point in time, Bruce could be considered as an intermediate dancer when it came to the Argentine tango and could easily be considered at the same level in other Latin dances – all thanks to Dick and Alfred's instruction. Dick, with the acrobat and dancer in him naturally flowing through his veins and guiding his instincts, still recognized that Bruce still had much work to do.

To Dick, he was not satisfied yet with Bruce's confidence and command on the dance floor…the bravado which was akin to any Latin dance was not consistently there yet, and if it was on display then those flicker-of-a-moment were not enough to command attention or the affection of the audience and especially the partner during the dance.

"If I ever hear him mention the word waltz one more time…" muttered Dick under his breath as he let out a sigh, shaking his head as he thought over what he should do as an instructor for this phase of Bruce's training.

Dick's thoughts then went towards Alfred and the planned gala for the Wayne Foundation, the venue being the largest ballroom at Roycroft Hotel which was one of the venues for the grandest occasions and parties in Gotham City. Between him and Alfred, the latter had been in charge of smoothing things over as much as he could so that the stage would be set for a hopeful reconciliation between Bruce and Selina.

Time passed…

Once Bruce stepped in the hall, with Alfred arriving shortly thereafter, Dick had finally decided to proceed with what he originally planned to do to drive his instruction home and ingrain it in Bruce.

"Ready, Bruce?"

Bruce nodded, eyeing on the black strip of cloth in Dick's hands. He chuckled for a moment, being reminded of his favorite hero from long ago. "What's up with the Zorro mask? What is this – dress rehearsal?"

"Nope…" Dick let out a sigh and then got up. He folded the wooden chair that he was sitting on and handed it to Alfred. "We're going to work together in polishing up your instincts on the dance floor. So until I'm satisfied, you'll be blindfolded. We'll start off with me leading you. When you get the hang of it, I'll hand over the lead to you."

"Why?"

"It's like martial arts. There comes a point in time that the master teaches the student the next level by using the same methods, but covering the eyes. When your eyes are covered, other senses are heightened and adapt to the new change. It hones the instincts. Right now, you're relying too much in looking at the mirrors. Your movements are clunky and inconsistent because you're still counting in your head. You're not giving in to the dance."

As Bruce gave him a suspicious look, Dick further proved his point by adding, "For short, you're not completely present while you're dancing with your partner. And that is one of the biggest insults you could ever give your partner. It's like having sex with someone all while you call out another woman's name during the deed. That'll definitely earn you a slap across the face."

Bruce's forehead creased. "This sounds exactly like what we did before. The only difference is the blindfold. So why don't you teach me this with me leading all the way from start to finish. I'm the man, and I'm supposed to lead anyway."

"Oh, Good Lord… Here we go again," Alfred muttered under his breath, resignation and annoyance both coursing through his veins.

Dick's eyes narrowed. "Well, Bruce… You are right. It's exactly the same as we did before. So if you insist on taking the lead from the beginning, guess that comes along with it? There's more slapping to dish out, anyway. Care for more helpings?"

Father and son's eyes met, with neither one backing down.

"Tell me why we're doing a repeat of this?" was Bruce's growled question.

"Because you need to personally know how it feels on the woman's side of things… You learn her steps and develop those instincts so that you'll be a better lead on the dance floor." Dick, still not backing down, added, "You're right. You're the man. So it is your responsibility to be the perfect gentleman and affectionate lover on that dance floor from the start until the end of the evening. How the hell would you know to show the respect and affection that your partner deserves if you insist on only seeing things your way?"

The hall was silent for a long moment, with father and son still engaged in locked gazes.

Bruce still looked angry. "I don't understand all of this. I've learned so much already, so why are we repeating everything again? It's a waste of time!"

And Dick immediately deadpanned, "Really…? Is this what you think all this is about – a waste of time?"

With annoyance and haughtiness laced in his tone, Bruce countered, "Then tell me what I should call it. I call it as I see it."

Dick let out a deprecating chuckle and shook his head. "I stand corrected. You don't need the blindfold because you're blind to begin with, and you're too much of an ass to see that."

An air of uneasy silence filled the hall, with Alfred feeling as if his heart had such an anvil crushing it. But Dick Grayson, being the person that he always was, knew how to roll with the punches while not being intimated with Bruce or anyone…but it did not mean that his feelings were impervious from hurt. He could empathize with Dick, and he could see as to how the latter was hurt over Bruce's words.

Seeing Bruce's first ward and eldest adopted son at this time, though, Alfred unveiled a truth from seeing Dick – not because Dick was an open book, but rather he knew the dictates of Dick's heart. From there, he knew what the young man was trying to do all this time for Bruce, and Dick's unconditional gesture truly touched him.

Finally, the silence was broken…

"Alfie and I are teaching you something far more beyond this dance floor, Bruce. You're grown up enough, I hope, for you to see what we've been trying to tell you. I thought that I didn't have to spell it out for you. But here I am… I keep forgetting who I'm dealing with. Maybe that's the same problem that Selina's having. We're expecting too much when we shouldn't be expecting anything at all."

Dick then let out a sigh, saying, "Let's take a 30 minute break for now." He then walked towards Alfred, giving the latter the blindfold.

Bruce and Alfred then watched Dick walk out of the hall as if nothing had happened, with Dick's footsteps echoing loudly throughout the hall.

"It sounds like I screwed up again, didn't I?"

Alfred let out a burdened sigh, with him quietly inviting Bruce for them go towards the stairs and sit together. Once the two were seated, Alfred placed a consoling hand on Bruce's back. "Sometimes, you're still that same young boy you've always been. You keep forgetting that as much as Master Richard's grown up, he still looks up to you as his father. You may be Batman to his Robin…now Nightwing…but you're first his father and friend. That should always be the case – whether it is with Master Richard, Master Jason, Master Tim, or Master Damian. The same goes with Miss Kyle. You may be Batman to her Catwoman, but you should be the Bruce Wayne to her Selina Kyle first and foremost."

Bruce looked at Alfred with a rueful expression veiled on his handsome face. "He was so insistent in having me learn how to dance. I know that you and he are trying to get Selina and me make up, but…"

And then Bruce fell quiet, not knowing what to add.

"Then you're missing a much-greater part of why Master Richard is teaching you the way that he is. Sure, he wants you to learn so that you can sweep Miss Kyle off her feet again. But he didn't have to go out of his way to have you master it. You also didn't notice how passionate he is when it comes to teaching you."

"I do."

"No, Master Bruce…you don't." Alfred then kept his eyes focused on Bruce. "You did ask me the question on why Master Richard knows how to dance so well. He's been teaching you a fundamental since the beginning, and if you remember what it is without my help then you'll have half your answer on what just went wrong out there."

Bruce shook his head and sighed. "I don't know. He taught a lot of things."

"Latin dances are passionate dances. The dancer needs to communicate that passion through the body, movements, and gazes…giving their all. Otherwise, it all fails." This time, it was Alfred's turn to sigh. "Master Richard put himself out there. You can't teach someone to be passionate and to give his all when you're not doing it yourself while you're teaching it. When both student and teacher give their all, you learn a lot from each other."

Alfred could tell from Bruce's expressive eyes that the latter was still searching for an answer. He gave Bruce the most understanding, kindest smile that he could ever give the other. "You two really never had a normal life as father and son, and understandably so. Yet, if you remember how our family started with just the two of us first…with Master Richard joining us years later… He grew up in this house, under our care and your mentorship. You two may be father and son, but you rarely had normal father and son moments."

Alfred deliberately paused for a moment, letting Bruce absorb what he just told the latter before continuing, "Sometimes, Master Richard is still the same young boy that he has always been. Before Master Richard left for this break, I just realized something. He loves this time that you two are having together. To him, this moment in time will be a father-and-son memory for him."

"And I just told him that it's a waste of time…" Bruce closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Not a very smart or sensitive thing to say, young man – do you agree? True love, whatever form it takes, shouldn't be about fulfillment of expectations. But we're all human, and so at times we cannot love as perfectly and as unconditionally as we should. That's why we get hurt. So did I help you in understanding something, even just a little?" asked Alfred with empathy laced in his tone. He then gave Bruce a small, hopeful smile. "It's not too late, though. You could still make things right - starting with Master Richard, and then with Miss Kyle. After that, take a long look about how you've lived your life. You'll realize that you have a family who loves you for who you are...but their unconditional love and acceptance of you doesn't mean that you stop making efforts in becoming a better person."

The two sat there in silence, with Alfred allowing Bruce as much time as the latter needed to think things through.

"Thank you, old man," said Bruce with such reverence and affection, accepting the consoling and reassuring hug that Alfred had given him…the hug stirring up memories of when he was still a lonely and grieving boy. And throughout all that time and up to the present, the man who served as his guardian and father continued to watch out for and guide him in so many ways.

When the familial embrace between the two men ended, Alfred then extended his hand and opened up his palm where the black blindfold now rested. "Now go talk to your son, young man…and set things straight between you two while we still have time."

Bruce then took the blindfold from Alfred's hand, marching out of the hall and willing to search every corner of the manor grounds in search of Dick.

End of Chapter Four