When Illuga had randomly suggested taking dance lessons while he had time off, which was on orders from his ‘Pops,’ I couldn’t deny that I was surprised.

Illuga typically kept himself busy with Lightkeeper work to what sometimes seemed like an unhealthy degree. But there was no denying that the events of the past haunted him, and I understood that. At this point, his dedication to the Lightkeepers was a part of who he was. It had shaped him throughout these years, and I was proud of him. 

But I also definitely approved of him getting a break, because I knew he pushed himself far too hard. A matter that consistently frustrated me, Flins, and Nikita.

There was no denying that he’d definitely gotten us both in over our heads when he’d signed us up for Balboa classes though. 

Apparently he’d heard that swing dancing was easy to start, though difficult to master, and after observing some lessons in his characteristic way of making sure he was prepared, had decided that Balboa would be a simple choice.

After we’d actually started lessons, though, it quickly became all too obvious that we were way in over our heads.

Evidently enough, Balboa was a dance that required impressive levels of subtle communication between the lead and follower. Furthermore, we’d been told from the very start that, despite the complicated nature of the dance, it wasn’t one for impressing an audience.

Rather, it was apparently a dance that impressed other dancers rather than spectators, due to an innate lack of showiness.

Admittedly, that was a comment I sort of wanted to object to, because I couldn’t help but be impressed while watching our classmates, and since this was the only dance I’d learned anything about, I could easily say I was not what one would consider a ‘dancer.’ But even with that, I could see the effort that went into the dance and the careful way the follower matched the lead dancer.

I shifted slightly, noting the weight of our instructor's gaze on me and Illuga as we took to the floor. But this was the final class, and our performance here essentially amounted to our final exam. So I supposed her stare was warranted.

 I wrapped my arm over Illuga’s shoulders as he took my hand in his. Flashing me a brief smile before he wrapped an arm around me and pressed his hand against my back. 

And this was possibly one of the first things that startled me when it came to the Balboa. The lack of space between us. I was essentially pressed to Illuga’s chest.

To be fair, the lack of space between us did make for easier subtle communication. It was just that it also required you to be very comfortable with your partner. Which, luckily, I was with Illuga.

But then, I honestly felt like it would be difficult to be uncomfortable around Illuga. He was reliable and easy to get along with. I was fairly certain that everyone in the Lightkeepers was fond of him, and I was positive that the members of his squad both adored and respected him.

Which made sense, because everyone could rely on him. No matter what it was, Illuga would do his very best to make sure it was done, even if he might end up in over his head. And that mindset had extended even to these dance classes. 

Over the past months we’d practiced the balboa relentlessly, and now we could piece together a performance.

Illuga gave a slight bob of his head as he seemed to fall into the rhythm of our music, and I stepped back slightly. My hand sliding down from where my arm had been wrapped around his shoulders so that my hand now pressed lightly against his bicep.

We rotated with quick, short little steps. Our heads inclined toward one another as we followed a pattern only we seemed to know.

His hand would leave my waist, and I’d immediately give a little twirl as if on instinct before his hand would land gently against my waist again as we continued to rotate. Almost like we were on a little turntable rather than a smoothly polished dance floor.

The only time our spinning would stop would be for an occasional more specific move. Such as when he stepped back and spun under my arm before I mirrored his motions. Doing the same and spinning under his arm as if I were completing his motion.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the instructor and a few of our classmates nodding, but I really didn’t have time to pay much attention to them. I was too busy focusing on Illuga to see what our next motion would be.

After all, we’d already had several missteps that we’d had to do our best to cover for. With me even going so far as to spin around behind him to cover for a fumble before we carried. Relying on each other and the brassy music to give us cues as we danced.

But perhaps one odd thing through it all was that, despite the level of concentration we were both putting into our dance just to make it through one performance without completely flubbing everything, we were both smiling. Almost as if there were something innately lighthearted and enjoyable about dancing, even when one was largely muddling their way through it.

And while I couldn’t speak to what anyone else thought of it, that was what mattered the most to me. The smile on Illuga’s face.

All told, Illuga was not really that somber of an individual, which was something of a miracle considering everything he’d been through in his life. Rather, Illuga was actually a fairly happy young man who all too often took too much on.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle the jobs he took, though. Instead, it was more of an issue where he had trouble truly relying on others. He didn’t want to trouble anyone, and he incessantly worried after others without seemingly realizing that others cared and worried for him.

That was precisely why Nikita had told him to take a break. Even if Illuga was a rising star among the Lightkeeper ranks who brought everyone hope, he also needed moments like this. Where he could be at ease and away from the danger and pressures of his duties.

As the music picked up pace, racing on to its finish, Illuga relied more and more on twirling me. An easy motion to pass the time and make up for any moments of uncertainty. And each time I made it back around in a circuit, I was greeted with his smiling face. His soft blue eyes, which were offset by the flash of red that circled his pupil, alight with genuine joy.

And right then, rather than a Ratniki with a world of troubles on his already scarred shoulders, he was a young man who was simply enjoying a dance. And that meant the entire world to me as he caught me against him in a loose hug as we both laughed and stepped out of the center of the floor. Having finished our dance together without a care in the world.

If you would like to read more:

Previous