Multifandom Oneshots

Dancing Lessons (A Disney Oneshot)

(A/N: So in celebration of my favorite Disney story being made into a live action film starring some of my favorite actors, I thought I'd write a little fluff about it. )

The Beast was so unused to laughter in his halls that he stopped dead in his tracks, just listening, in awe, to the delicate delight wafting out of the ballroom. His animalistic lips curled up into a rare smile, as they usually did nowadays, when he heard her voice, and he went to investigate.

Pausing at the door, he debated with himself. He'd never been a shy man, not in his spoiled prince days, and never in his cursed existence, but when Belle was around, when she smiled at him or laughed at something he said or just sat with him, reading, in the library on lazy afternoons...he couldn't seem to remember how to speak. He was terrified of saying something wrong, of scaring her away, but when she took his paw and led him into the gardens because "they're the most beautiful in the sunset, come and see!", he felt almost human again.

He shook his head, willing himself to pay attention. Deciding against going in and spoiling her freeness with the knowledge that a beast was in the room, he opened the door as quietly as he could, just enough for him to see her.

She was dancing around the room with the coat rack, mis-stepping every few beats of the waltz and giggling madly. Mrs. Potts was sitting on a banister, shouting out instructions and compliments.

"That's right, dear, it's a square step. Just remember that and you'll be- No, no, dear, it's front-left-back-right, all while you spin, but slowly, don't get dizzy! Now, one more time...One, two, three, one, two three, front-left, back, right, front-left, back, right..."

"Mrs. Potts!" Belle laughed, stepping back from the coat rack and bowing. It returned the bow and hopped to the edge of the room. "Let's take a break for a minute, please. I feel as if I'm spinning when I'm still!" She wobbled over to the stairs and sat beside the teapot, reclining comfortably onto the steps behind her.

Mrs. Potts seemed just as amused. "Well, dear, it's very hard to teach a beginner when you haven't danced in years. I still can't believe you've never danced."

"Well, my village didn't have dances very often, and never formal ones," Belle replied, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. "And whenever we had them, I never had anyone to dance with."

"Oh, but my dear, I'm sure a pretty girl such as yourself-"

"Oh, lots of boys asked me," Belle waved a hand dismissively, "And once or twice I let them sling me around awkwardly for a bit. Why, when I was twelve, I even danced with Gaston for a bit, oh I hated every second!" She laughed, but it faded away as she grew more thoughtful. "But that was just the problem, you see. Boys would ask me to dance, and then just...stare at me. They didn't talk to me except to tell me how pretty I looked, how lovely my hair was, how my dress complimented me, things like that. Always about my looks. But never once did anyone ask me because they genuinely liked me."

The Beast's shoulders sagged slightly. How could anyone not see that Belle wasn't just beautiful? That she was smart and wonderful and kind...

Mrs. Potts seemed to agree with him. "I'm sure at least one of them saw more than that, Belle."

Belle smiled at her friend, then watched her hand as it traced patterns on the stair. "No. That was all anyone cared about in town. Being a beauty. That was all anyone wanted." There was something wistful about her, but after a moment, it was gone, and she shook her head and stood.

"Well that doesn't matter anymore." She walked out onto the floor again and motioned toward the coat rack. "If I'm ever going to dance like a character in my books, I've got a long way to go before tonight." And with that, they were back to work, like nothing had even happened.

But the Beast had heard.

That night, he was living a dream, dancing with Belle in the shining ballroom, serenaded by Mrs. Potts, swirling under the stars.

As they danced, he began, shakily, "Ah, Belle?"

"Yes?"

He gulped. "You dance wonderfully."

Belle's face lit up in surprise. "Oh...thank you."

"Your...your dancing is almost as nice as when you read to me. It's hard to remember...th-that they're just stories, when you tell them." She blushed slightly, smiling a bit wider, and he thought he might collapse on the spot.

"Thank you."

"And...you s-sing very well, as well." She blinked.

"You've heard me sing?"

"When you're walking, or when you're looking for a new book," he said rather quickly, turning his face slightly as he spun her out slowly. "I never want to interrupt you, you see, and it...It echoes in these halls. It makes them...brighter."

She didn't reply, and he thought he'd mucked it all up until he looked at her, and saw the wide smile and scarlet blush on her cheeks.

"Thank you..." she looked up at him, suddenly curious. "I'm sorry if this seems rude but...well, I-I never thought to ask, and I suppose that was terribly rude of me, but...You've never told me your name. Your real name."

It caught him off guard. All these days, and she'd never called him by name...and he'd never questioned it. He hadn't heard it in so many years that he almost wanted to say that he didn't remember it, but...the memory was slowly floating back to him.

"Adam," he said quietly, testing the name on his tongue to see if it still fit. "My name is Adam."

"Adam." It sounded like music on her lips, and her smile was the orchestra behind it. "That's a lovely name."