Chapter Fourteen

'She wasn't inviting me to the dance!' I scoff as we enter our dorm room.

'She asked you if you were going,' Sky points out.

'Yeah, so? She probably just wanted to make sure her dance would have people actually there.'

'People are definitely going. It's the first social event Beacon's done all year,' Cardin says.

'Then she was just making small talk on a safe topic!' I say irritably.

'Weird topic to choose,' Dove says.

'How is it a weird topic to choose? You guys just said it's the first thing this school's done all year. It's the most normal thing in the world to talk about!' I exclaim.

'Alright, chill out,' Dove says. 'You're overreacting.'

'And you guys are reading way too much into this!'

'You should ask her to go, though,' Sky adds.

'For fuck's sake!' I yell. 'She wasn't asking me to the dance with her!'

'I know,' Sky says calmly. 'But that's why I think you should ask her.'

'She's probably already got a date,' I say, calming down.

'I can't think of who,' Dove says thoughtfully. 'She doesn't really seem to date.'

'So I should ask her out of pity?' I demand.

'I didn't say you should ask her, Sky did.' He waits a beat then adds, 'Though I agree.'

'I'm going for a run,' I say, turning on my heel. 'You guys can come down off whatever you're on by the time I get back, right?'

'Hey, I'll come too,' Cardin says.

I spin on my heel and thrust a finger under his nose. 'If you say one goddamn thing about me and Xiao Long, I'm kicking you off the cliffs.'

Cardin holds his hands up. 'I just want to go for a run, man.'

I glare at him for a moment, then turn. 'Whatever.' I don't believe him. He's lying. I, however, am not. Luckily Cardin seems to pick up on it, and I don't have to see how well he flies in plate armour. Wise man.

The day of the dance seems to stretch forever. There are no classes; people just hang around in clumps, giggling nervously and not thinking to get out of the way.

'It's like a flock of sheep,' I bitch as we plough through the huddle of students at the door to the dorms. It's time to start getting ready, unfortunately. I'm seriously considering just going to bed and not getting up until the dance is over.

'It's not that bad,' Cardin says, giving me a curious look. 'You really don't want to go to this, do you?'

I shrug moodily at him, shucking my shirt and reaching for my deodorant. 'It's not as amazing as everyone's making it out to be. Recluse used to have dances all the time.'

'Ah, but did they have these?' Cardin asks with a grin, holding up a silver flask.

Dove is already dressed, and neatening his tie in a mirror. He sees what Cardin's holding in the reflection, and shakes his head. 'You're a classy guy, Cardin.'

Sky looks over and face-palms. 'For the love of God, don't spike the punch.'

'Hey, I'm not going with anyone,' Cardin says. 'I may as well enjoy myself.'

'Why didn't you ask anyone?' I ask, distracted from my bad mood for a moment.

Cardin shrugs, not looking at us. 'Nobody I was interested in.'

'Do you want to ask Xiao Long? Because that seems to be the default position,' I snark, sending a bitchy look at Sky.

Cardin snorts. 'I don't think Xiao Long's that attractive, to be honest.'

I pause in buttoning my shirt. 'You're kidding.'

'I don't. She's got weird eyes, her body looks like some horny teenager designed her, and honestly, the whole hair thing is a real turn-off for me.' Cardin waves his hand in the air.

I gape at him. 'So how many times have you refilled that flask today?'

Cardin grins and begins to knot his tie. 'I'm serious.'

'You're not serious! She's a total babe!' I can't believe he honestly thinks that. Maybe his tie is cutting off circulation to his brain? No, that wouldn't change anything about him.

'She's so obvious, though,' Cardin insists. 'There's no subtlety to her. Someone like Schnee, she's pretty, or even Blake Belladonna. They're not so–' He grasps for a word. 'Obvious!'

'Ok, in that case you're not drunk enough,' I say, turning back to the mirror. 'Xiao Long is smoking hot.'

'Exactly,' Cardin says in satisfaction. 'She's pretty like a fire, it burns you. I prefer something like water, that's a little more – delicate, and soothing.'

'You are definitely not drunk enough,' I say, smoothing my hair into shape.

'You really should ask Yang to dance,' Sky says doggedly.

'This again?' I say in exasperation.

'You've just said how hot she is,' Dove points out reasonably.

'I'm seriously done with this conversation,' I tell them.

'Actually, I'd take it as a personal favour if you'd ask her,' Cardin says out of nowhere.

I turn to glare at him. 'Excuse me?'

He gives me a serious look. 'Sky needs to talk to Ruby about getting a gun installed in Alouette like Ruby has in her scythe. He can't do that if Team RWBY is holding a grudge against you on Yang's behalf, and from the sounds of the assignment, she might be.'

I fold my arms. 'You are genuinely telling me I need to ask her to dance so that the rest of her team likes me?'

'You did describe the group-work as a bit of a train wreck,' Dove says. 'I mean, the rest of us got along with our RWBY member. You were the only one who fought with yours.'

'And you think that just because her sister doesn't like me, a weapons-nerd like Rose won't help Sky modify Alouette?' It's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. 'She'll be crawling all over you to get her hands on Alouette.'

'Ruby might not want to offend the rest of her team,' Sky says.

'We need Sky to be more combat-capable,' Cardin adds. 'Please, Russel?'

I throw my hands up in the air. 'My god, fine! I'll ask Xiao Long to dance.' I turn back to the mirror, shaking my head. 'You guys are morons, though.'

In the mirror I see Cardin, Sky and Dove roll their eyes at each other.

We get to the dance and I have my second nasty surprise of the night. Sky and Dove have led the way in, eager to get to the dance floor. Cardin is following them and I'm trailing at the back, behind his bulk. This means I don't have to hide my facial expression when I hear a familiar voice say, 'Wow, you guys look sharp.'

Xiao Long is manning the front desk. Sky grins at her. 'Thanks, Yang. You look pretty great, too.'

'Careful, you'll make your date jealous,' Xiao Long says, smiling at Dove. He grins back.

'Always. Are you stuck at the desk all night?' he adds casually. I resolve to push him down the stairs the first chance I get.

'No, only until all the guests have turned up.' She gestures at a piece of paper. I can see that she's marking off tickets. It's almost completed.

'That's alright, then. Have a good night.' He, Sky and Cardin step to the side, leaving me stranding in front of the desk. I'm going to push all of them down the stairs. I'll line them up, like dominoes. I'm rambling. I need to speak, she's staring at me, say something!

'Hi,' I blurt. She looks like the heart of a candle.

'Hi,' she says, smiling at me. 'You coming in, or…'

'Sure,' I mumble, following Cardin and managing to stumble over my own feet on the flat, stable, non-slip surface. I feel my face flush, and I glance back to make sure she didn't see me. I think she did: she's watching me go. Shit.

'Well that was fucking smooth,' I grouse, following Cardin as he reclines against the wall and watches the dancing. Sky and Dove have disappeared into the crowd already.

'I have something in my pocket that will make you forget all about it, if you're interested,' Cardin says idly.

I rub my forehead. 'You want to take a moment to think about how that sentence came out?'

Cardin bursts out laughing. 'Fuck you.'

'Had me worried, there,' I say, relaxing. 'I still can't believe you brought a flask.'

Cardin shrugs. 'It was mostly just a joke. I don't plan on getting hammered, if that's what you're worried about.'

'So who did you want to invite tonight?' I ask after a moment.

Cardin's hand strays towards his pocket for a moment. He's silent for so long that I wonder if he heard me. Finally, 'Serena,' he mumbles.

I blink at him. 'Serena Bronzewing? Dove's sister?'

He won't meet my eyes as he nods.

'Good for you, man,' I say as cheerfully as I can. 'I thought she was into you, but I didn't know it was a two-way street.'

'We aren't going out,' he says hurriedly. 'I mean… we've talked a couple of times. I – I said I'd meet up with her in the holidays. I, uh, haven't told Dove yet, actually.'

'Dove won't care,' I say, surprised.

'Yeah, but I mean…' He trails off and surreptitiously pulls the flask from his pocket.

I snatch it off him before he has a chance to do something we'll all regret. '"I'm not going to get hammered," huh?'

Cardin frowns at me, but I tuck it into my pocket with an air of finality.

We hang out against the wall for a while longer. Dove and Sky occasionally drop out of the dancing to keep us company – I figure it's when they need to catch their breath – but they're enjoying themselves, and they never stay for long. It's a good event: people are having fun.

'RWBY did a good job, didn't they?' I say finally.

'It's a good dance,' Cardin agrees. Suddenly he stiffens. 'The fuck?'

I follow his gaze and blink. Arc is… Arc is wearing a dress. Arc is wearing a dress? Arc is honestly wearing a dress. He walks right past us and we stare after him in open-mouthed astonishment. Why is Arc wearing a dress? Why does Arc have a dress?

'Ok,' I say finally. 'Someone is definitely drunk and I don't think it's me?' My voice rises at the end into an involuntary question.

'You've got the means,' Cardin says absently, still staring after Arc. 'Is that – Nikos? Are they dancing?

'It's about damn time,' I say without thinking. Cardin turns to stare at me and I roll my eyes. 'Oh, come on, Cardin. She's so into him I'm surprised she hasn't come full circle and developed a homicidal loathing for him.'

'I thought he was into Schnee.'

'Schnee was not into him. Guess he finally realised it...' I trail off, hearing what I'm saying. This is pathetic. If Arc can put on a dress and dance with someone he has to live and work with, I can man up and take one for the team. I check for teachers, pull out the flask and take a swig for courage, then press it into Cardin's hands. 'Tastes like shit. Don't get hammered.' Then I disappear in search of Yang Xiao Long.

I see her coming down the stairs. For a moment I waver, actually turning back around, but I need to do this. I catch her eye, approach her and hold out my hand. 'Will you dance with me?'

'What?' she asks, startled.

'Will you dance with me?' This was a terrible idea. She's going to say –

'Okay,' she says, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully, and she takes my hand.

Her skin is so smooth! Is it because she doesn't have to grip her weapon, that she has fewer callouses? I don't even know, but it's like holding silk. We step into the crowd and begin to dance. She's quick on her feet: she's sure, confident, knowing where she's going to go, and accommodating herself to me rather than allowing me to steer her. I have my hand against her back and it feels like it's on fire. Dancing with her is like dancing with weightless air, but she's warm and solid too. Over her shoulder I see Sky give me the thumbs up, then turning back to Dove.

'What are you smiling at?' Yang asks suspiciously. Her eyes are on a level with mine, and they're slightly narrowed.

'Nothing,' I say. 'Just – enjoying the dance. Your team did a good job decorating.'

'Thank you,' she says slowly, as if waiting for the trick. 'You're a good dancer,' she adds a moment later, as if in apology.

'We used to have a lot of dances at Recluse,' I say, thinking back. 'Usually outdoors, though, and not usually as fancy.'

'Yeah, I noticed that was a Vacuo thing.' She gestures at my shirt without letting go of my hand. 'You look – good.'

'Thanks.' I'm wearing a long-sleeved shirt with buttons. I guess compared to how I normally dress, I do look good.

We dance on in silence, neither sure what to say.

'You look good too,' I add quickly. She smiles for just a moment at my obvious afterthought. I can't tell her I didn't say anything earlier because it seemed so obvious that she was beautiful that it went without saying, without sounding like I'm trying to cover up for my mistake.

The song ends and we swirl to a stop. She frowns up at me. 'Why did you do that?'

'Ask you to dance, or tell you you look good?' I ask, taking refuge in a raised eyebrow.

The band takes a moment, then strikes up the opening bars to another song. 'Ask me to dance.'

I shrug at her. 'I wanted to.' It's the only answer I can give, the alternatives being a sure-fire way to a fist to the face, and, I'm surprised to discover it has the added benefit of being true. We're still standing in the middle of the dance floor. We'll have to move, or join in. 'Do… you want to dance? Again?'

She smiles slowly, still confused. 'Sure…'

We dance again, a quicker dance this time, too quick to really allow for conversation. When we finish we're right next to Belladonna and her date, the blonde Faunus who's been hanging around school lately. They're looking right at us.

'Uh – Russel Thrush, this is Sun Wukong,' Yang says. She lets go of my hand to smooth her hair nervously. 'Sun's visiting for the festival.'

'Hi,' I say.

He perks up. 'Hey – Vacuo?'

'Yeah, man. You?' His accent sounds like music to my ears. I didn't realise how much I'd missed it until now.

'Moved to Mistral, but originally, yeah! You probably know a couple of friends of mine.'

We discover that we do have friends in common from the academy – people he had grown up with, people I had trained with – and the conversation just evolves naturally from there. Schnee and the blue-haired guy she's been tiptoeing around come to join us; apparently he's on Sun's team too. I'm startled to find that with her boyfriend there to facilitate actual conversation instead of sniffs and sneers, Schnee is a surprisingly nice person.

After half an hour or so I decide I need to get back to my own team. 'It was good talking with you,' I tell Sun and Neptune. I'm kind of surprised to find it's true. 'Look me up if you're around.' I turn to Yang, but everyone else has paused their conversations, and the sudden silence unnerves me. All I can manage is a would-be casual, 'We should do this again sometime.'

'Throw a dance for the school?' she asks, crossing her arms and tilting her chin at me. It's a challenge, but there's no hostility in it.

'Why not? You do a good job of it. Later.' I nod at them and make my way over to Cardin, Sky and Dove. This night has been...nice.

'That was – weird,' Yang commented, watching Russel retreat.

'What did he want?' Weiss asked curiously.

'I have no idea,' Yang said.

Sun and Neptune both broke into snickers. 'What?' Blake asked.

'Um… I kind of think he wanted you, Yang,' Sun said, grinning.

'But not in a creepy way,' Neptune added quickly. 'In an "I'm enjoying dancing with you" way.'

'That's not the sort of guy you want to dance with,' Blake said, crossing her arms. 'He and his friends are bullies.'

Yang could have said some things to Blake about judging someone based on the actions of the people with whom they associated, but she stopped herself. For one thing, she valued their friendship too much. For another, she didn't disagree. But Team CRDL had gotten a lot better, lately, and according to Ruby, Russel had apologised to Velvet Scarlatina, or had planned to, or had tried to, or something. And the way he had looked at her…

He had wanted to dance with her. When she said yes, he had just looked… happy.

'It wasn't so bad,' she said out loud.

'It's good that he's better,' Sun said casually.

'Better?' Weiss repeated. 'What do you mean?'

'You know, with his girlfriend,' Sun said.

'Girlfriend?' Yang said, spinning to face Sun. Her eyes flashed red. 'What girlfriend?'

'Oh…' Sun had a look on his face that said he realised he had put his foot in it. 'You don't know.'

'Know what?' Yang gritted out.

Sun glanced around and stepped closer to them. 'He was dating a Huntress who was killed. It was a Grimm attack, right after graduation. One of the guys I was just talking about, he was at the funeral with the rest of their class. I called him again a month ago, said I was here for the festival, and he said I should look up a guy called Russel Thrush, see how he was doing.'

'That's so sad,' Weiss said, looking genuinely distressed. She had been emotionally-fragile lately. Neptune slid an arm around her shoulders.

'I had no idea,' Blake said. She looked stunned.

'I'm not surprised. My friend said he was really torn up about the whole thing, came here to train because staying in Vacuo was just too painful. Apparently everyone was pretty worried about him for a while.' Sun checked to make sure Russel was still out of earshot. The green-haired Huntsman was talking with a group of boys Sun imagined were his team. 'They were together for, like, years.'

Yang didn't look up. So much was making sense now. The dark, haunted look he used to get in his eyes, the way he would zone out sometimes, even the way his voice would lose energy mid-sentence. The tiny, fragile hope in his eyes when he held out his hand.

'My buddy said his girlfriend was a Faunus, too,' Sun added.

Blake and Yang's eyes met. 'That makes no sense,' Blake said in a low tone.

Yang wasn't so sure. She knew, more than anyone, that grief could drive you to do some strange things.

I enjoyed writing CRDL being on board with Phoenix. In real life I suspect Russel wouldn't be quite so oblivious: "You have to dance with this beautiful girl you're clearly into so that her sister will do what she would happily do anyway. No, really." That is the joy of fiction, though.

Another thing I should mention, and thank you to knight7572 for reminding me about this: I haven't said what CRDL was doing during the events of 'Painting the Town'. The thing is, literally nobody comments on the fact that RWBY got into a fight, on a freeway, with a stolen Atlesian Paladin. It's mentioned once, tangentially, then never comes up again. Someone breaks into a building and knocks out a few guards and Ruby gets pulled up in front of the Principal. Her team goes on a rampage on a busy freeway and starts a brawl with a mech that involves flipping cars full of civilians, and people write it off as peak hour traffic? Not likely. So my theory is that nobody realised that it was RWBY who was involved; they pretty much just chalked it up to those wacky terrorists. That obviously raises a whole bunch of other questions, but it still seems like the most plausible scenario. And I'm actually going to say that CRDL didn't even really hear about it, because the Atlas military hushed the whole thing up because they didn't want to admit they couldn't hold onto their tech. I honestly can't think of another scenario that explains it, but I'm open to suggestions.