Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or the song "Shall We Dance" from The King and I, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.
Author's Note: This was one of the many suggestions entered by ACEo'SPADES. Seriously, folks, only one review for the last chapter? Let's see if we can do better this time.
Shall We Dance?
We've
just been introduced.
I do not know you well,
But when the
music started,
Something drew me to your side.
Aang looked around the candle-lit cave in frustration. He couldn't figure out why no one was dancing. The sound of the music was making it difficult for him to stand still, and it wasn't even native to him. Was 100 years really so long that these kids had lost such a large part of their tradition?
No, he decided firmly. They hadn't lost it; they'd only forgotten. Things forgotten could always be remembered again. So he began demonstrating traditional Fire Nation dances he recalled. The movements took him back to a simpler time, when he and Kuzon would imitate the grown-ups at parties, oblivious to the re-ordering of the world that was even then being planned.
The kids seemed impressed, but now Aang had to get them directly involved. His eyes lit on Onji. They'd just met, but she'd been friendly toward him as a stranger, and he thought she would come with him if he asked.
So
many men and girls
Are in each other's arms.
It made me
think
We might be similarly occupied.
When Aang extended his hand to Onji, the girls around her giggled, but he paid them no attention. She accepted his invitation blushingly, but with an expression that indicated she was happy to have been chosen, even if she did have a boyfriend. He guided her to the middle of the floor, leading her in a dance he'd seen while in Ba Sing Se. She picked up the simple sequence quickly, and Aang beamed when others began drifting onto the floor to follow suit.
His mind, however, was constantly on the partner he really wanted. Katara sat at one of the rock tables directly in front of him as he danced with Onji, but he deliberately avoided looking at her for the time being. The most important thing was to get the party well and truly started. Besides, he hoped that putting off the pleasure would make it that much better.
Shall we
dance?
On a bright cloud of music,
Shall we fly?
"Freestyle!" Aang called out at last, getting out of the way to observe the impromptu dances everyone came up with as they crowded the dance floor. The exuberant chaos also provided him with cover to make his way over to Katara. He took her by surprise, extending his hand in wordless invitation. He only had to add three words to get her to join him.
Aang was pretty sure Katara had never danced like this before, but that was okay. He could work with what she knew. They started with waterbending moves and progressed into more acrobatic maneuvers that he'd taught her during their travels. It was very hard to remember not to use airbending, especially when nothing seemed to exist for him except Katara and the music.
Shall we
dance?
Shall we then say goodnight
And mean goodbye?
Aang's plan was for this to only be the first dance of many, but that hope was dashed when Fire Nation guards (and the schoolmaster) broke up the party. Fortunately, the kids were grateful enough for the diversion that they assisted Aang and his friends in their escape. He waved his thanks to one just before Toph closed the wall behind them. He knew that his fellow students would probably be punished, but he hoped they would be okay, and that they wouldn't soon forget this night. He knew he wouldn't.
As they flew off on Appa's back, Aang couldn't help wondering whether he'd ever get another chance to dance with Katara like that. At the moment, it seemed unlikely. Still, the whole group complimented him on his efforts, and he earned another kiss on the cheek. That was his third one so far (yes, he was counting – what of it?).
Of a chance,
When
the last little star has left the sky,
Shall we still be
together,
With our arms around each other,
And shall you be
My
new romance?
Even when she pulled back, Katara remained close beside him, perhaps merely huddling for warmth as the chill wind rushed past them, but he enjoyed it anyway.
"I just have one question," she mused, tilting her head at him thoughtfully. "When did you have time to learn how they danced in Ba Sing Se?"
"That's kind of a long story," Aang said, sensing an odd tone in her voice, like she was worried that he'd left her out of something.
"Well," she replied, snuggling still closer to him and making him blush even harder than he already was, "I think we have some time before we reach the next island."
"Okay, I was out looking for Appa," he began the tale, his attention fully on the warmth beside him, the blue eyes watching him intently, and the dark hair whipping in the breeze.
On
the clear understanding
That this kind of thing can happen,
Shall
we dance?
Shall we dance?
Shall we dance?
--
Author's Note: I've been wondering ever since The Headband aired how Aang learned Ba Sing Se-style dancing. We know he hadn't been to the city before, but there was no dancing at the one party we saw them attend. I'm thinking of writing a oneshot about this.
Review responses:
airnaruto45: Thanks for being my lone reviewer for the Ursa story. I think she should have married Iroh, too, but he was apparently either not in the market or off leading the army somewhere. Ah, well.