"Stupid... dumb... neck trap!" Sun complained as he adjusted his necktie the night of the dance. Neptune chuckled, reaching for his hand and bringing it up to his lips. He kissed the Faunus' knuckles and smiled. "Stop it, you look better in a tie."

The two were ushered into the ballroom, Blake and Ilia arm-in-arm not far behind. Blake wore a dark purple dress, most of her arms and legs revealed by the outfit. Ilia, at Blake's request, had helped to cover up her scars with makeup so she could feel more secure in what she was wearing. The chameleon Faunus wore a strapless black dress that exploded into rainbow-coloured feathers at the waist, her usually ponytailed hair now down for the occasion. Blake thought she looked rather stunning in her new attire.

Inside the ballroom were students in dark suits and bright dresses dancing together to the classy music that was playing. Looking around, Blake saw Yang twirling Weiss before dipping the heiress and bringing her back up, the two laughing and blushing as they held each other close. Sun and Neptune were sitting together at the side of the room, clearly involved in some sort of kissing contest. Aqua and Reina were nowhere to be seen. Ruby was also standing at the side of the room, locked in conversation with Professor Ozpin.

Ilia gave Blake a gentle pull and the two took their spots on the dance floor. They curtseyed and took each other's hand as the song changed. Blue-grey eyes locked on amber, Ilia spoke.

"I'm glad you changed your mind about coming out here," the rainbow-clad Faunus said.

"Yang talked some sense into me," Blake blushed as she twirled Ilia. She watched as the feathers of her dress flowed with the motion, the colours blending and dancing together not unlike the students in the ballroom. Pulling Ilia back to her body, she continued. "She was... uhm... persistent... for lack of a better word. I think you did most of the convincing, actually."

Ilia giggled and blushed at Blake's comment. "I would've let you in anyway," she told her partner. "You didn't have to come."

"I know," Blake smiled softly. "But I wanted to... I just..."

"Don't worry about it, Blake," Ilia reassured her, cupping a cheek in her hand. She was careful not to smudge the taller girl's makeup. "You have tonight. Just enjoy yourself."

Blake took Ilia's hand and placed it on her shoulder, moving her own hand to the shorter girl's hip. The two danced together in steps of threes, fitting for a waltz.

Napier stood at the side of the room, watching the other dancers. He hadn't brought a partner. He was just happy that Ilia had hers.

Ozpin approached the turtle Faunus, his gaze focused on the dancers as well. "Coming alone this evening, are we?" the Headmaster asked.

"Yes, sir," Napier nodded, suddenly reminded of the rope burns underneath his tux. Ozpin noticed the change and turned to the boy. "Still hurt?"

"Mostly healed now," the student informed him. It wasn't really a bother for him anymore.

"Hmm... I see..." The professor returned his gaze to the dancers, remembering what Napier had told him the other day. "If it's okay to ask?"

"Huh?" Napier looked up at the silver-haired man, whose copper eyes remained fixated on the dance. "What is it?"

"The other day when I asked you if you would regularly like to play, you declined, stating you don't lean towards men," Ozpin prefaced. "Yet tonight I don't see you with a partner of any gender. Which leads me to ask, if the question is welcome: Which way do you lean?"

Napier was a bit stunned that this question would come from the Headmaster of Beacon Academy, but he saw no harm in telling the truth. "I don't lean any way, Professor," he confessed. "I'm asexual and aromantic. A partner just doesn't appeal to me."

Ozpin nodded in understanding. "I see. I suppose that would make us opposites."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm pansexual and polyamorous," Oz smiled. "Gender doesn't matter to me."

"Are you out?" Since they were discussing sexualities, Napier didn't see the harm in asking.

"Have been for many years," the teacher answered before turning to the student. "You?"

"Didn't really see a point in it," Napier shrugged. "I've always been broken... why would I want to announce it to the world?"

Ozpin set a hand on Napier's shoulder, giving the boy a comforting smile. "You are not 'broken', Mister Reed," he told him. "You can't help not being attracted any more than you can help being a Faunus. It's all a part of who you are. Embrace it."

Napier gave the man a thankful nod in response before returning his focus to Blake and Ilia. This particular number had steps that made it difficult for partners of different heights, as the two girls had awkwardly firgured out. He couldn't help but laugh internally at the sight.

Ozpin had been watching, too, and gave a chuckle. "Shall we show them how it's done?"

"What?" Napier looked up at the man, confused.

"Those girls are clearly struggling to find the right steps," Oz explained. "If I may borrow you for a moment, I can show them how to adjust for height."

Napier looked over at the couple again. The routine had become painful to watch. He turned back to Oz and nodded. "Okay."

The Headmaster retracted his cane and put it away before stepping in front of Napier and bowing to him, offering his hand with a smile. "May I have this dance?"

Blushing, Napier took his hand and was led onto the dance floor next to Blake and Ilia. Oz placed the boy's free hand on his shoulder, moving his own to his hip before pressing their bodies together. He sharply turned Napier to the side and dipped him before slowly raising him back up. Their steps twisted like vines as they danced. Blake and Ilia watched in awe, the latter's teammate following the Headmaster's movements fluidly... although it was more like Ozpin was pulling the strings. He straigtened his arm out along with Napier's, their fingers intertwined as they they stepped to the side. He dipped the boy again, low to the ground this time as the student raised his leg up to hook over the Headmaster's hip. He pulled the boy back up and pressed him close, returning to Blake and Ilia, neither of whom realized they needed to collect their jaws from the floor. He twirled the student outwards until their arms were fully extended, then twirled him back inwards to close the distance.

Smiling, the Headmaster looked over to the two girls, a panting Napier resting on his chest. "Thnk you can follow that? Adjust for height and it should be quite easy."

Blake and Ilia nodded their thanks, after which he returned to the sidelines with his partner, who really needed to sit down. Ilia offered Blake her hand and the two girls repeated the routine. Following Ozpin's instruction made it a lot easier to pull off, and though they were far from perfect, they were at least bearable to watch.

Ozpin rested a hand on Napier's thigh and gave it a firm squeeze to capture the boy's attention. Smiling down at the student, he spoke. "I forgot to thank you for that wonderful dance." He stood up and took Napier's hand, kneeling before him. "Allow me to correct that mistake." He brought the boy's hand to his lips and softly kissed his knuckles before looking him in the eyes and letting go. Napier's face was thoroughly flushed. When Ozpin rose once again, he leaned over to whisper in Napier's ear. "When next you see Reina, tell her I would like to discuss something with her in my office." With that, he extended his cane and headed for the crowd of teachers elsewhere in the room.

The number came to an end and Ilia knelt down to kiss Blake's hand before the two made their way over to Napier. "Enjoying your date with Ozpin?" the chameleon Faunus smirked.

"It's not a date," Napier told his teammate. "He just needed me to show you how to dance properly. I've already told him it wouldn't work out."

"Right, but he did kiss your hand," Blake pointed out. "I think he enjoyed that dance more than you think he did."

Napier stuck his tongue out at the cheeky Faunus before every head in the room turned to see Jaune Arc in a dress, asking a giggling Pyrrha to dance with him. She accepted his offer and took his hand, Nora and Ren joining them on the dance floor. Team JNPR's synchronized choreography became the talk of the whole school for the rest of the night.