Tonight might be the nicest he's ever seen everyone. Gathered in one place, close, talking, laughing, together. No arguments, no fights breaking out. It was, almost normal. If he dared to say it at all.
Music of all things filled the air. It muffled the sounds of peoples conversations from across the room and their feet on the floor as people danced. He can't remember the last time he's been around.. well anything like this. For some reason he can't help the small smile that presents itself on his lips. Of all the places he could have wandered to, he's glad he managed to make it here tonight. It's not everyday they all get along, but when they do, Ryoga feels as if.. just maybe he does have a home.
He's taken from his thoughts as he realizes someone seems to be missing. He pushes off the wall peering around the room. Where is that attention hog? It's not like him to miss out. Until a small figure catches his eye, leaning against the wall a few feet away from him, watching everyone dance with a hard to read expression.
Ryoga approaches Ranma, curiosity getting the best of him. "Not going to dance with everyone else?"
Ranma practically jumps at the sound of his voice turning to look at him with wide eyes. He smirks at her reaction. Registering his question she awkwardly coughs into her fist, "oh, nah, not… um, jus' not really my thing, y'know?"
Ryoga hm's watching her, Ranma shuffles on her feet looking away from him. "I would have expected it to be right up your alley." He offers.
"Well, not everything's got to be my thing,"
Ryoga leans forward suddenly locking eyes with Ranma's shorter form. She steps back to escape his questioning, but finds her back hitting the wall instead. A wide fanged grin appears on his face.
"What?" She practically squeaks, "what's with that face?"
He stands up straighter, watching her with a grin and eyes which dance across her face like he's uncovered everything he needs to know. "You don't know how to dance do you?"
"What?! Of course I do!" Ranma cries in a huff, crossing her arms. She glares at him raising her chin in defiance to such a suggestion, "who doesn't! It's easy!"
"Oh really?" He teases in a sing song voice. He just knows he's hit the jackpot, as Ranma tenses looking about ready to punch him in the face. He leans back nonchalant, raising an eyebrow down at his rival, "then why aren't you out there with the others?"
"Well, I- I don't want to show off that's all!" Ranma shoots back.
"You? Ranma Saotome? The guy who has to be the best at everything he does? Cannot lose worth anything! Not wanting to show off?"
Ranma's cheeks puff up, "it's not martial arts, I don't have to show off! Dancings… girly, anyways." She fully turns away from him.
Ryoga's gaze shifts, glancing over his shoulder at the makeshift dance floor. He focuses his attention on the song playing, an idea pops in his head. He hesitates, before shaking his head, screw it. He takes a step and presents one hand out as a gesture towards the red head.
She glances at him, only to freeze, her arms drop as her gaze falls to his hand in confusion. "What-?"
He doesn't wait much longer for an answer reaching out taking her hand in his own, pulling her towards him as he leads her towards the open floor. "Woah- woah- h-hey!" She cries in protest, a rosy hue painting her cheeks.
She stumbles as he abruptly stops, twisting to face towards her, keeping one hand in his he pulls her closer. His every move seeming purposeful and practiced. Remarkably similar to how he was when he fought.
"Just follow my lead." He whispers. Flashing a smile down at her. Oblivious to the effect it seemed to have on her and too shocked to argue any further, she lets him.
That is for a moment. Ryoga tries to lead her into simple steps but she keeps fighting him on it, constantly stepping on his feet. "Wow, you really can't dance."
She glares at him with obvious annoyance. She tries to pull away but his grip doesn't change. He looks at her expectantly, a glint of a challenge in his eyes.
Ranma's cheeks puff up as she mumbles something under her breath but returns in front of him.
He takes charge again, one step at a time. Ranma's face screws up in concentration, keeping a close eye on their feet. After a moment she looks up at him with a satisfied smirk, "hah! Take that pig boy!"
"Think you got it down now?" He raises an eyebrow at her proud exterior.
"Obviously! I told ya it was easy! Not worth my time." She stuck her tongue out at him.
He leans back, glaring at her, then he smirks. "Let's mix it up then~"
"Wait- what?" She yelps as he suddenly picks her up spinning her around. He sets her down just to send her spinning away from him before tugging her back in front of him. Not missing a beat before leading her back into a simply sway, picking up the pace just a tad.
Ranma grabs onto his sleeve with her spare hand, eyes wide. Just barely able to stumble with him back into the steps. "What the hell was that?!" She nips at him flustered.
He looks at her unbothered, "I thought you said it was easy,"
Before she responds he switches the steps and they start to rotate, spinning with each step around the floor. Ranma's focus quickly turning to keep pace.
Ignoring her rival's insufferable prescience, Ranma feels her heart beat faster, her skin seems to prickle, and much to her surprise, she's actually having fun.
The two of them never once noticed the stares they had accumulated as they move across the floor. The shocked whispers and frozen conversations as they watched the sworn rivals dance. A sight not a single one of them could have imagined if they tried. However, they couldn't help but notice the widening smile on Ranma's face.
Ryoga suddenly stops, pulling Ranma close to his chest leaning forward, mouthing the words of the song with a glint of amusement in his eyes as Ranma's face flushes. She shoves him back but he doesn't let go tugging her with him in a wide circle.
With a bark of laughter he uses the momentum to twirl Ranma one last time. She's brought back towards him when suddenly his arms wrapped around her, as she falls into a dip just as the song cuts to an end. She stares up at him with wide eyes.
Silence fell across the room. The only sound, the hammering of their hearts. Strange, it wasn't that hard.
And then to everyone's surprise, Ranma starts giggling.
It's awhile later as Ranma and Ryoga stand side by side. A glass of punch in their hands. Ryoga takes a sip, keeping one eye on Ranma.
"Alright 'fine, I don't really know how to dance." She concedes with a huff. A blush still adorned her face from earlier. Hoping to distract from and forget her earlier reaction.
He snorts, pulling his drink away from his face, wiping his mouth. "I couldn't tell,"
She raises an eye to his face. "Ya don't gotta rub in it."
"Oh, I absolutely do. The great Ranma Saotome's weakness, music." He said dramatically jutting his drink towards the red head.
"Asshole."