"My wife Mera and I have created this Masquerade ball for my sister in law Hila who has reunited with us as family a while back after so many years of being away. For now, we will start the dance, but after I will have a bit more to say. Please, everyone enjoy yourselves and have a wonderful time".
At this moment music started to play as everyone found dance partners and began to dance. Hila seeing this spoke to me. "I have something to do, but please save a dance for me". Just like that, she left the ball room and headed off somewhere I didn't know.
I wasn't one to be a wallflower and I came her to unwind and enjoy myself, so I walked over to the guests I had brought and spoke to Cosmic Starlight who was now in a beautiful purple dress with white lace ribbons and frill throughout. The whole dress seemed to sparkle as she moved. "Care to dance?" I asked her.
Cosmic Starlight smiled radiantly as she offered me her hand and I took it. Whisking her away to the dance floor I caught a glimpse of Supergirl who seemed a little upset at me taking her friend away, but I didn't care as I began to waltz to the sound of Dmitri Shostakovich, The second waltz. As the song played Barbara/Cosmic Starlight kept up with my pace naturally.
I had learned to dance many types of dance this week within the holodeck so that I didn't make a fool of myself here and my practice really paid off. Looking at the small yet skilled woman in front of me I couldn't help but be a bit curious. "You dance well, when did you learn?"
"Batman taught me" she replied.
With our hands interlocked we rotated around on the dance floor perfectly in sync with one another. I took a peak below her neckline speaking again. "I'm a little jealous, and here I was hoping that I was your first dance partner".
Cosmic Starlight giggled a little as I twirled her around, the length of her dress a moment behind her as she spun was somewhat hypnotizing to behold. "Bru- Batman taught me dance for a covert mission, I continued to learn after on my own because it helped me with my martial arts. Why would you be jealous? I am sure that I am also not your first dance partner either".
We went back to our rotating pattern like every dancer around us before I replied while keeping eye contact. "Actually no, you are my first ever dance partner that wasn't a hologram believe it or not and of course I would be a little jealous when I hear another man had the honor of dancing with a gorgeous woman like you before I did, what man wouldn't be?".
Unknown to Cosmic Starlight, she was also my first kiss in this life as well.
Cosmic Starlight giggled again. "You are so shallow, if I were not a pretty girl, would I stand no chance to catch your eye?"
We both knew the answer to that question, but I chose not to answer as I spotted Supergirl dancing with some Atlantean male nearby and began to dance towards her direction. "Cosmic Starlight, your beauty is unmatched, but your words are too sly, let me go bully Supergirl a bit to feel a bit better again".
Cosmic Starlight wasn't offended by my words, or at least she didn't show it. "I am happy I could be your first" She said as she separated from me still smiling and making her way to the buffet I had left a bit ago.
Walking over to Supergirl and her dance partner I spoke to them both. "Do you mind if I cut in?"
The Atlantean remembering the slap scene not long ago let go of his dance partner who was in a stunning blue dress with red ribboning and then went to dance with someone else as Supergirl refused to look up at me, yet she did not deny my hand as I began to dance with her. Unlike Cosmic Starlight she was not a great dancer and repeatedly stepped on my feet. Continuing not to look at me she finally began to speak. "Hmph, what a womanizer. Cosmic Starlight wasn't enough for you and so you come and grab me?"
I rolled my eyes at her words. "Sorry for being such a greedy man"
Her eyes finally met mine, her cheeks a tint of pink. "So you finally admit it?"
Moving my body a bit closer to hers to the point we could feel each others body heat while continuing to dance, I spoke softly into her ear, my warm breath tickling her neck. "If I were collecting beauty's like you said the other day, Id collect you tonight for sure".
Supergirl was suddenly silent as we continued to dance. The music changed to Liszt Liebesträume, S. 541: No. 3 in A-Flat Major and everyone's pace in the ballroom slowed. Everyone around us still danced traditionally, but I ignored the customs and pulled Supergirl closer, placing my hands on her slender waist. Realizing what I had in mind, she put her arms around my neck as we began a simple slow dance.
I knew she had been having trouble dancing this whole time and by doing this it made it easier on her. "Is this better?" I asked.
Supergirl meekly nodded her head as we slow danced in our own world, ignoring everyone else around us. As the song was about to end I spotted Nina watching the ballroom dance floor while she leaned against a wall standing by herself. She didn't look like she was having a good time at all, in fact it looked like she seemed extremely out of her element.
She normally seemed very extroverted so seeing this side of her was nice. With the song ending and Supergirl walking over to join Cosmic Starlight, I caught Nina's eye and extended my hand to her even though we were at least twenty feet away from each other. To my surprise she started walking my way.
To both Nina and Aeric, this moment in time felt familiar. Only Aeric knew why, while Nina found herself in a trance as she walked towards a man she had just recently met.