Rumba
New York – Plaza Ballroom
Two weeks had passed and Clark and Diana found themselves back in the Plaza ballroom for the next lesson. The instructors, Bob and Elaine welcomed everyone.
"Okay tonight we're going to start learning the Rumba." Elaine said. "Rumba! It's even a fun word to say. Rumba! Everybody give it a try."
There was some nervous laughter among the group as everyone said the word Rumba out loud.
"See, I told you it was fun to say." Elaine said with a laugh. "Keep that in mind as we go through this lesson. Now the Rumba is a dance that tells a story of love and passion between a strong, male lover and a coy, teasing woman. Full of sensual movements, the Rumba is considered by many to be the sexiest of the ballroom dances. "Rumba" is a term that refers to a variety of dances or a "dance party." This dance of love is one of the most popular ballroom dances and is seen around the world at nightclubs, parties, weddings and dance competitions."
"Think you can pull off being the coy, teasing woman, Diana?' Clark whispered to her.
"Just pay attention to the instructors, Kal,' she replied.
"The Rumba is a very slow, serious, romantic dance with flirtation between the partners. The dance is fun to watch, as many of its basic dance figures of the dance have a teasing theme in which the lady flirts with and then rejects her male partner, often with apparent sexual aggression. The Rumba spotlights the lady's rhythmic body movements and hip actions resulting in intense, almost steamy, scenes of passion. " Bob said.
Clark looked at Diana out of the corner of his eye. She smiled at him.
"Yes, the aggressor, I think I can do that, Kal,' she whispered.
"Okay, just a little history of the Rumba,' Bob said. "The rumba is often referred to as the "grandfather of the Latin dances." Originating in Cuba, it first came to the United States in the early 1920s. The Rumba is the slowest of the five competition Latin and American dances."
Elaine continued. "The distinctive hip movement, called Cuban Motion, is a very important element of the Rumba. These hip movements and characteristic sways of the Rumba are generated by the bending and straightening of the knees. The intensity of the Rumba is increased by sharp eye contact that is maintained between the man and the woman. The stillness of the upper body, while adding dramatic intensity, also emphasizes the strong, sensuous leg and foot movements. The basic rhythm of the Rumba is quick-quick-slow with distinctive side-to-side hip movements. Hip movements are exaggerated, but are not generated by the hips - they are simply a result of good foot, ankle, knee and leg action. When these weight transfers are well-controlled, the hips take care of themselves."
"Okay, everybody, Elaine and I will show you and then you give it a try, okay?' Bob said and then took his wife in his arms. They did a quick, slow run through of the dance and then indicated the couples should give it a try.
The music, Mondo Bongo by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros started and the various partners began a slow walk through of the steps to practice. Diana and Clark faced each other and practiced like the others. Clark casually glanced down and had to admit Diana picked up the hip movements very well.
"I believe they said eye contact was an important part of this dance, Kal."
Caught.
He shifted his eyes to hers and saw the teasing twinkle in them along with a little more than a hint of a smile.
"Just, um, well, checking your form,' he fumbled to say.
"Oh really?' She questioned.
"Your dance form, Diana, get your mind out of the gutter,' he replied.
She couldn't help laughing just a bit. They practiced a few tries and moved up the pace just a bit.
"So is my 'form' all right, Kal?"
"You're not going to let that go, are you?"
"What do you think?"
"You certainly have the teasing part down,' Clark replied.
"I think you'll survive,' Diana countered.
They continued practicing. Diana held his eyes even as other thoughts came to both their minds.
"Why haven't you asked me out, Kal?" Diana ventured.
"I thought that was against the rules."
"I don't mean just now, but before this,' Diana explained.
"You were dating someone else as far as I knew." Clark replied. "I know you don't like the rules, but that's one I still agree with. Don't hit on the lady if she's already with someone else."
"That's been over for quite awhile, Kal, even you must have heard the gossip,' Diana countered.
"True,' he admitted.
"So?"
"We're friends, Diana,' Clark said. "I guess part of me thought if I asked you out and you said no, it might ruin our friendship. It's been known to happen."
"Why assume I'd say no?" Diana asked.
"I didn't, but I had to consider the possibility,' Clark replied. "Unless you're a raging egomaniac, you can't just assume the answer is always going to be yes. I'm not by the way."
"So it was a fear of rejection?" She asked.
"No, I've been turned down before,' he admitted. "It's not something anyone likes, but you have to deal with it. I guess I was worried it would ruin our friendship so that made me cautious about changing the dynamic of our relationship."
"I weighted that concern too before I came that first night," Diana admitted.
"And?"
"It seemed to me getting to know each other better would only strengthen our friendship,' Diana explained. "If this didn't or doesn't work out, it of course would hurt. Endings always do, but I'd hope we could continue being friends no matter the outcome."
"I would hope that too."
"Good." She said. "So when did the thought of asking me out first occur to you?"
"Why?"
"I'm curious,' Diana said with a smile. "It's something I've wondered about and we are getting to know each other, remember?"
"And that's going to help us get to know each other better?" He asked.
"Yes. So when, Kal?"
"The first moment I saw you."
Diana was a bit surprised by this.
"The first moment? During the fight?" She asked.
"Yes, but then Hal called dibs, so I realized you had that effect on everyone,' He said with a smile. "You made quite the first impression."
"Thank you,' Diana replied. "Your turn."
"Oh, we're taking turns now, are we?"
"Yes."
"Okay, tell me a joke, Diana," Clark began. "A dirty joke."
"What? No, I'm not doing that," she replied, caught off guard by his request. "Why would you want me to anyway?"
"You have your way of getting to know someone, I have mine," He replied with a smile.
"I don't know any dirty jokes Kal," She stated.
"Everyone knows at least one, Diana," he countered.
"I don't. " She stated. "Besides, why does it have to be a dirty joke, anyway?"
"A joke tells you something about the person telling it," He said. "We're supposed to be getting to know each other, remember?"
"But why a "dirty" joke?" She asked.
"Because I realized I've known you for five years and I've never heard you tell a joke of any kind. You tend to be very serious," he explained.
"What we do is important, Kal," She said her defense.
"Yes it is, but even Bruce has told a joke Diana," he countered. "I just wanted to see if you knew one."
"Perhaps you should date Wally if jokes are what you're interested in," Diana offered with a smile.
"Yeah, I don't think," he replied with a shake of his head. "Oh and by the way that was a snide, humorous comment not a joke."
"Take what you can get, Kal."
"See? I'm learning more about you all the time," he said with a grin. "Rumba, he's right it is a fun word to say."
"You seem in an especially good mood tonight," she observed.
"Why shouldn't I be? I'm dancing with the prettiest woman here," He offered.
"Dirty jokes and flattery, is that your strategy?" She inquired.
"Part of it, yes,' he admitted.
"As someone that's studied strategy her whole life, I think I should tell you yours is lacking,' Diana said.
"Possibly,' he replied. "But I guess that would depend on what the goal of my strategy is, wouldn't it?"
Diana considered this as they completed another walk through.
"And what would that goal be, Kal?"
"To challenge you,' he said plainly.
"Excuse me?"
"I think you heard me the first time,' he replied.
Diana looked at him as they continued to dance and started to wonder if perhaps this was a mistake. She had been upfront and straightforward with her desires and intentions, but it seemed he wasn't taking it with the same seriousness she was. Of course, once the thought came, Diana put it into words.
"I assumed from your apology two weeks ago you were taking this seriously, Kal." She stated. "If that's not the case, perhaps this is a mistake."
"I am taking this seriously, Diana,' he offered.
"Dirty jokes and flattering me doesn't really indicate that,' she countered.
"One dirty joke, just to see if you knew one,' he corrected her.
"The points the same."
"As I said we have different approaches, Diana." Clark said. ""I've had two weeks to consider all of this. I know you as Wonder Woman and Princess Diana to a lesser extent, but the person I'm interested in getting to know is the 23-year-old woman under all those titles. I thought since you had issued something of a challenge about getting to know me, what you wanted was someone to challenge you. If I'm mistaken please tell me."
"How is me telling a dirty joke a challenge?" She asked.
"It takes you out of your comfort zone,' he replied. "Just like you always seem to do to me."
"How do you figure that?"
"Probably because of your responsibilities, you are always poised and a bit serious. More so as the years have gone by,' Clark explained. "I completely understand. You're under the microscope of public attention all the time and you not only represent yourself, but your people. The thing is, you are only 23, Diana and it seems to me there should be some time for you to just have fun and laugh, maybe even be a little silly."
'And that's what you consider your challenge?" She asked.
"I know she's under all that poise and seriousness,' he replied. "If I'm going to get to know you, I'd sort of like to know that part of you too."
Diana considered this for a moment.
"So it appears you don't like following the rules either, does it, Kal?" She said with a smile.
"Like you said earlier, you're not dating Superman, you're dating me,' he replied. "In the same sense, I'm not dating Wonder Woman; I'm dating Diana the woman under the uniform. And yes, I do like your form and I'm not talking about the dancing."
Diana smiled, but decided to shift the conversation, even as they continued the Rumba.
"So you were hesitant in asking me out,' Diana said. "I've noticed you're rather cautious in all things, is the reason the same?"
Clark didn't say anything at first, but he ever so slightly squeezed her hand just a fraction of a bit harder.
"Did you feel the difference in the pressure on your hand?" He asked.
"Yes."
"If I'd done that to anyone else in this room I'd have shattered every bone,' Clark explained. "I grew up always surrounded by regular people just like these people. Some had said I could be like a bull in a china shop around normal humans if I'm not careful, but that's a misnomer. If I'm not careful, Diana, I'm a stick of dynamite in a china shop. I'm superfly TNT, I'm The Guns Of The Naverone."
"Superfly what? What?' Diana asked in confusion.
"Sorry, I was watching Pulp Fiction last night,' Clark replied, then waved it off and continued. "What I'm trying to say is one mistake and I could destroy everything surrounding me. You grew up among an immortal warrior race, but imagine growing up like I did and you'll understand why I'm always cautious. I have to be or someone gets hurt."
"I've experienced that since I arrived here too, Kal,' Diana countered.
"Five years Diana." Clark gently said. "When I was a toddler I lifted a tractor off my father. I've always been stronger than anyone around me. Can you imagine what it's like to be a 3 year old and worry about hugging your mother in case you squeeze too hard? I can, I have."
"Why are you telling me this, Kal?"
"Because I want you to understand,' he replied. 'You're probably one of the very, very few people that can. You and a lot of people thing I'm too cautious. Bruce thinks I rush in without thinking. I can't even explain to them how wrong they are. Most people can never understand, but you can. Every moment of every day I have to be careful. Every action, every impulse I have to weight against what might happen. If Bruce or most of our teammates make a miscalculation there could be damage and even people ending up in the hospital. If I make a miscalculation it's destroyed and people die. If I was doing the Rumba with almost anyone else one false step or the smallest squeeze of her hand like I just did to yours and it's a disaster. That's my responsibility every day, every hour, every minute and every second. That's why I'm cautious. You shouldn't mistake that caution for reluctance about dating you."
"This is about my questioning why you're still Clark Kent, isn't it?' Diana asked.
"Partly,' he admitted.
"I do understand being different and wanting to fit in, Kal,' Diana replied. "Our situations were different growing up, but not completely. I was always stronger and faster than every other Amazon. I could fly, where they could not. On top of that I'm the Princess, so you see at every turn I've been different, separated from those I grew up with. I know what it's like to want to be part of the crowd sometimes, Kal. It's just over the years I've come to accept I'm not."
"I'm sorry, I know that must have been difficult for you, Diana," He said. "I would point out you're part of the crowd right now, though."
"This is just pretend, Kal,' Diana countered.
"Not all of it,' he said softly. "These people only know us as Diana and Clark. Some of the details might be made up, but that's who we are, Diana. Here, in this room, taking these lessons, we're not Superman and Wonder Woman or Princess Diana and the Man of Steel, we're just Diana and Clark. When we're dancing together, like we are right now, it's not pretending it's real."
Diana started to reply, but then stopped to consider what he'd just said further. Dancing like this, they were just Diana and Clark or Kal as she preferred. They were talking and sharing thoughts they hadn't before and that felt real too. This had started for her to get to know him better and Diana felt like she was and that part of it felt real as well. The larger questions about the future and what it all meant were still out there, but perhaps they all didn't need to be answered right now. Maybe dancing together and talking, really talking was real. They didn't need to be wearing their uniforms or shout to the world who they really were just so they could say it wasn't pretending. Pretending would be if they continued on as they were and hadn't taken this step forward and towards each other. So perhaps he was right, this was very, very real after all.
A smile came to Diana face as she thought about something else.
"What?" Clark asked.
"A boy and a girl are alone together and the boy suggests they play the fire truck game,' Diana began. "The girl asked how do you play? The boy said, I run my fingers up your leg and you say 'Red Light' when you want me to stop. The girl agreed and they started playing. A few seconds later the girl said Red Light! The boy smiled and said, Fire Trucks don't stop for red lights."
The expression of shock on Clark's face was too much and Diana burst out laughing.
"Rumba!" She giggled. "You're right, Kal, it is fun to say!"