"You think she'll feel like going to the dance?" Ruby asked as she, Weiss and Yang watched Blake sleep. It wouldn't really be a 'dance' if only three members of RWBY came.
Weiss patted Ruby's shoulder, "It depends how long she sleeps. She could be out for days for all we know! She probably hasn't slept for days and I don't think getting a lecture from the world's angriest person could help with someone's mental state."
"Weiss," Yang said sternly. She didn't even turn her head to look at the young Schnee. Ever since she tucked Blake in bed, Yang had watched the Faunus like a hawk. "I think we're at the point where the 'angriest man' can be addressed by his name."
"I...Y-you're right." Weiss could feel the tension in Yang's voice.
"I'll get it," Ruby sat up as hard knocks came from the dorm door. "Whatcha doing here?" she asked the visitor.
"Hey, Ruby," Sun chuckled when the door was opened. Once Yang and Sun arrived to RWBY's dorm, he bounced. It'd be awkward when Blake woke up and saw the person who admitted that they had feelings for her. But, Sun couldn't find it within himself to leave her side.
Ruby tilted her head not knowing of Sun's awkwardness and affection toward Blake. "I thought you wanted to leave."
"I came...TO GIVE HER THESE," Sun held up stems of catnip.
Ruby snatched the plants from Sun's hand, "She'll love these!" Her whole body dissipated into roses as she dashed back to her bed. She began to wave the plants in Blake's face, "Come on! Wake up already..."
"Hello, Sun." Weiss acknowled his presence.
"Hello, Ice Queen," Sun remarked as he walked inside the dorm.
Weiss pouted hearing the nickname she hated so much. "Whatever!"
"How's she doing?" Sun asked Yang as he came to her side. They both looked upon their sleeping beauty - Blake.
"She's..." Yang hesitated. She really didn't know how Blake was since her talk with Banner. "...I hope she's all right."
"Me too," Sun smiled weakly.
Yang saw his stupid and childish smile and giggled softly. "Thanks, Sun. I don't know what I would have done without your help. I don't think I would have gotten the dance ready for tonight."
Sun shrugged, "Don't mention it! I loved helping Weiss set up the doilies."
"What did I say about the doilies?" Yang yelled. "You promised you'd drop them entirely, WEISS!"
"DID YOU WANT THE FOG MACHINE OR NOT?" Weiss yelled back.
Yang frowned and glared, "Fair point, Ice Queen."
A voice came from the door, "Did someone say, Ice Queen?"
"There he is," Sun smirked at the familiar voice.
"Sup, dude!" Neptune and Sun fist-bumped.
"Neptune," Weiss nodded trying not to lock eyes with her slight crush. Neptune winked, coating Weiss's face with a light blush. "Oh stop it, you."
"So, what are you guys wearing tonight?" Sun asked the girls.
Yang flicked one of Sun's abs, "Bigger question is-,"
"OW!"
"What are you two wearing?" Yang waved to the Faunus who loved showing off his body and his pretty-boy buddy.
"Uhhhh, this?" Sun asked tapping his shirt.
Neptune spoke to help Sun's situation, "IGNORE HIM, for he knows not what he says."
"HEY," Sun shoved Neptune to the side so all attention was back on him. "I may be from Mistral, but I grew up in Vacuo! And it's not really a suit-and-tie type of place." He shivered from memories of the wind splashing sand in his mouth.
"Yeah," Yang rolled her eyes, "we know."
Sun's smile and playfulness quickly faded. "So, what's gonna happen with Blake since you know, she's...out."
"What's the point?" Ruby sighed. "Blake isn't going. But that doesn't mean you guys can't have your fun tonight. Go," Ruby waved. "Someone has to watch over Blake while the dance is happening..."
"Ruby," Yang frowned. "You don't have to. I will. I know how much you've been looking forward to this dance! I can't just let you waste the night like this-,"
"OR," a soft voice spoke from the bed, "we can all go. Together." Blake smiled at all her caring friends. Before she knew it, she was in the embrace of Yang Xiao Long. "AH-...Yang..."
Yang stayed in the hug for a full minute. She pulled away with light traces of tears, "Hey...Kitty."
"Yeah! Hey, Blake," Sun chimed in getting her attention.
Blake gulped, "O-OH, Sun." The two Faunus looked away from each other, remembering the kiss they shared.
"Blaaaaaake," Ruby said grabbing for her friend.
"Heh," Blake chuckled, "hello there, Ruby."
"Did you miss me?" Ruby asked with a shine in her silver eyes.
"Of course I did," Blake responded. This only made Ruby cuddle and hug more. Blake looked up to find her most troubling teammate. "Weiss," she acknowledged her frenemy. "I know we-,"
Weiss leaned over and hugged. "No matter how I act," she pulled out and confronted Blake, "you are my teammate. And, I will treat you as such. But, you need to promise us, all of us," Weiss waved toward Sun, Ruby, herself and Yang, "you cannot run anymore. If there is any problem, let us know. Please..."
Blake looked into the Ice Queen's frosty light-blue eyes, "I promise you." She looked to the rest of her team, "I promise you all!" Hopefully, that promise would be kept.
Time waited on Ozpin like a monster hiding in the closet. The dance would soon start whether Beacon's Headmaster was ready or not.
"PROFESSOR," Yang screamed in glee right next to him.
Ozpin had been spooked, but he remained calm. "Yes, Miss Xiao Long?" he asked with no reason for being angered or upset. He understood Yang's excitement to be having a dance at all. He turned to be taken back by her dress, "Oh."
"You like?" Yang turned around to reveal all sides of her white halter-neck dress.
Ozpin spoke his his mind, "Your father would be proud of the young woman you're becoming, Miss Xiao Long. Though," he adjusted his glasses, focusing on Yang's legs, "I don't think Tai would approve of how short the dress is."
"W-well, he's not here," Yang protested. She turned her head and crossed her arms. "I think it's acceptable for a girl to have fun once in a while!" Her playful attitude broke through as she turned back to Ozpin and stuck her tongue out.
"No worry," Ozpin assured. "I won't tell him anything if you follow the rules tonight. There is to be no trouble. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir!" Yang saluted like a solider to her Headmaster. Her formality and comfort around Ozpin made him remember what Tai used to be like when she was just a baby. Tai would barely let anyone hold Yang every since...ever since Raven left. Ozpin was one of the lucky individuals who, along with Summer held Yang as a baby.
"Damn," Ozpin sniffled as he flicked away a tear.
"OH, MY GOODNESS," Yang gasped. Ozpin grabbed his cane, ready for combat against a dangerous foe.
Bruce gulpped, "A-am I wearing proper attire?" He tightened the black tie that adorned his colorful purple suit. "I could go get something less flashy AH-,"
Yang hugged her friend - Banner. "You came!"
Bruce opened his mouth to free himself, "Yang...of course I came. I wouldn't miss this for the world." Yang eased her tight grasp once Bruce hugged her back. "Gosh," he smiled seeing Yang's dress, "you sure look pretty! Are you sure you're Yang? I could have sworn she wasn't this good looking," he joked with the 'coolest' member of RWBY.
"Are you flirting?" Yang smirked.
Bruce smiled as he was discovered by the queen of flirting herself. "Am I doing a good job?" he chuckled.
"Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-NOPE," Yang teased.
Ozpin entered the conversation, "Bruce! Looking sharp enough to slice through an Ursa if I do say so myself."
Bruce smiled seeing a side of Ozpin not many people knew he had. "Thank you, Headmaster. Not too bad yourself," he nodded to Ozpin's finest suit.
Ozpin patted Banner on the shoulder, "I'm glad you could make it! Even after our discussion."
"Were you planning on not coming?" Yang asked. Banner could have broken Ruby's heart if he hadn't shown up...
"Yes," Bruce nodded. "It's about the safety of the students, Yang," he tried to explain. "If i'm being honest, it's probably dangerous for me to even be here. But, I promised Ozpin that I would be on my best behavior. AND," Bruce reached in his pocket and pulled out a light-blue substance.
"Pills?" Yang asked. She tilted her head and looked at the colorful 'medicine.' Yang could feel a chill radiate from them.
"Yes," Ozpin nodded. "Weiss's family, The Schnee's, were convinced to send over a prototype of sorts. What you're looking at, is Dust in an edible form."
"I-Is it safe?" Yang asked. "What if it causes more harm than-," Bruce swallowed one, "okay..."
"You see," Ozpin told Yang, "Ice dust has an effect on Bruce's transformation. We've found that freezing part of the Temporal Lobe forces the adrenaline from rage, pain or sorrow to go nowhere, in theory, thwarting a transformation."
Bruce nodded at Ozpin's explanation, "What he said." He lightly shivered from the sudden change to body heat.
"Well, my services are needed elsewhere," Ozpin said after glancing at his watch. "Banner, Yang," he lightly bowed to them both, "I pray you two will have a safe night."
"Headmaster," Yang said before he turned to leave, "where are you going? Are you coming back?"
"Do not fear," Ozpin smiled at his student, "I'll still be here to enjoy this event of yours. I will merely be addressing guests. If you need me, you'll find me."
Bruce was still in awe at the decorations. Yang must have worked all day and night to make sure the dance would be ready. "This is pretty impressive, Yang!"
She acknowledged Bruce's compliment, "Awww! Why thank you-,"
Bruce finished, "For someone like you! OW," he chuckled from Yang's lighthearted strike to his shoulder. "But in all seriousness, how did you do all of this?"
Yang's eyes sparkled, "REALLY?" She popped her knuckles as she told her amazing adventure of death, sorrow, pain, badassery and guns! "It wasn't easy. It was such a blessing when CFVY were able to come back early from their mission. Even with all of the extra help, we're just now finishing up on little details. We barely finished due to...all that's happened."
Bruce looked down in guilt. He knew it was he who hindered Weiss and Yang from working on dance preparations.
"BUT," Yang patted Banner on the shoulder, "the dance must go on! And so, Weiss and I were able to get everything ready!"
Bruce looked into Yang's lilac colored eyes, seeing a child. He gently set his palm on her cheek. "Don't ever lose your innocence, kid." Bruce had no right to speak about innocence. The Hulk has taken every ounce of it from Yang, Ruby, every person he encountered. Bruce just wanted everyone safe and happy. "Just," he took a deep breath, "have a blast tonight, okay?"
Someone addressed him from behind, "She'll be okay. As long as you're here, everyone will be."
Bruce turned to face his once enemy and now 'friend.' "I was wondering when you'd show up, Ironwood."
James was dressed in a suit similar to one he usually wore, but this one was more polished and stylish. "I'm surprised you actually decided to try out the Schnee's newest invention. Considering the bad blood between you and Jacques."
"Ironwood..." Yang growled and balled her weaponless fists. She would never forgive the General for what he'd done to Bruce. First, blaming the death of thousands on the Hulk then forcing him to be a one man death-squad all across Remnant.
"Yang," Bruce turned to face her, "not now. It's okay."
Yang was confused. "B-BUT HE-,"
"Miss Xiao Long," Ironwood held his hand up to quite the enraged Yang, "if you'll let me explain myself-"
Yang's eyes exploded into blood red as her fist shook violently. "You no good dirt-bag..."
"It is true," Ironwood continued, "I am responsible for many heinous crimes against Faunus and human alike. All the families affected by the deaths weeks ago in Vale have been cared for. I am deeply sorry for the trouble I have caused you, your team and Banner."
"What's your game?" Yang glared.
"To right all the wrongs I have, am and will create." Ironwood bowed toward Yang.
She was taken aback by the General's words. This wasn't Ironwood, was it? He was never the one to admit he was in the wrong. Maybe people do change. "I..."
"Yang," Bruce smiled, "Go. Ironwood and I have some things to talk about."
"A-all right," Yang agreed reluctantly. Her fists fell back to her side as she retreated to the refreshments table to cool off.
"You're fashionable as ever, for a General," Bruce chuckled at Ironwood's apparel.
"Well," James began thinking of his comeback, "at least I'm not the one who looks like the head of a Circus."
Bruce looked down to inspect his all purple dress suit. "Damn you, Ironwood. Damn you," he confirmed.
"INITIATE HUGS," Bruce heard a somewhat robotic voice. A green blur blasted in front of his eyes and he was almost tackled to the ground. "Banner!" Penny beamed.
"P-PENNY?" Bruce asked looking down to see the pink bow she always wore. He could hear Ironwood laughing at the scene. "What are you doing here?"
Penny pulled away from the hug to reveal her light green dress that suited her personality very well. "Dr. Banner," she said, "I am here to enjoy Beacon's annual dance for students."
Bruce was impressed. "Wow, I haven't heard anyone call me that in a while..."
Penny showed puppy-dog eyes and almost whimpered. "I didn't mean to offend you. I can call you something else if you wish!"
Bruce, a person who controlled the Hulk, a monster with unmatched rage and destruction potential, was having his heart melt from a robot's facial expression. "NO, NO!" Bruce assured her quickly, "You can call me whatever you want if it makes you happy!"
"Okay!" Penny hugged Bruce's waist, "Dr. Banner. Hehehe!"
As Penny snuggled against Bruce's waist, he looked up to her guardian. "What did you do to her, James?"
"I may have...altered some of her settings," Ironwood chuckled.
"Meaning?"
"I've reprogrammed Penny's entire combat software for the night and replaced it with more of a..." Ironwood paused to think of the word, "A more 'social interaction' setting."
Bruce leaned over the hugging Penny to find her backpack was gone, thus ridding her of swords. "Ah," he nodded at Ironwood's actions. "But, why is she...being so touchy?"
james' chuckle slowly turned to a laugh, "That's the other thing..."
"James, what did you do?"
"I may have, programmed Penny to have a crush on you."
"You WHAT?"
"All for good reason, dear friend," Ironwood assured.
Bruce's eyes turned green, burning off the Dust in his system. He couldn't believe Ironwood's treatment of Penny. She was a robotic, but she had feelings and her own free will. "I DON'T-," his rage was washed away as he felt warm and sleepy.
"Don't worry, Dr. Banner," Penny smiled looking up at him, "I'm soothing-ready!" Penny's body began to lightly vibrate as warmth radiated off her body. "I am your personal therapy device and bodyguard!"
Ironwood filled in the blanks Penny neglected. "Penny has now been enhanced to help you. She can read your heartbeat, blood-sugar and other categories that would spike to indicate a transformation."
"And if they were to spike?" Bruce asked, wondering how she was calming him.
"I would release a sedative in the air that is comprised of Fire and Ice Dust," Penny nodded.
"Goodbye for now Bruce," Ironwood said. He left Bruce to Penny just as students began to arrive for the dance.
"WAIT," Bruce yelled toward the General, "WHAT AM I-," he was stopped by Penny who still held him in her grasp. He sighed, "Penny, please let me go." The students arriving began to stare at Bruce and who they presumed was a regular teen girl hugging him.
"Not until your vitals have reached a stable condition." Bruce swallowed another one of his pills, changing Penny's readings. "OKAY," she glowed brightly as she let go of her comfy hug. She was ready to take on the night and whatever it threw at her. "We are ready to head out!"
"Penny..."
"Yes, Dr. Banner?"
"You don't have to hold my hand."
Penny questioned, "Oh? Is that what you want?"
"Do you want to hold my hand?" Bruce asked.
"N-no," she lied. Penny let out a hiccup that sounded like a squeak. "I-I do not want to hold your hand! AH-," she hiccuped again.
Banner looked over to find Ironwood looking right back at him from halfway across the room. "Just go with it," he mouthed before he went back to dancing with Glynda. They seemed to be having the times of their lives. It was weird for Bruce to see Glynda smiling while interacting with other people.
"Penny, you can hold my hand if you want to." It was hypocritical for Bruce to have told Yang to have a blast tonight while stripping Penny of what she wanted to do.
"YEEE," Penny blurted out. Her grip tightened around Banner's hand as they traveled deeper into the dance.
"Blake!" Sun shook her shoulder once he realized she zoned out, again. "The dance is about to start."
"I'M AWAKE," Blake jumped off the brick wall she was leaning on. They had just arrived back at Beacon from Weiss' huge shopping spree.
Sun's jaw hung open from seeing Blake's gracefulness and beauty in her dress. "Wooooooah!"
"S-stop it!" Blake blushed and rolled her eyes. She lowered her head, hiding behind her new teal bow. "I'm not even that good looking..."
Sun's childish tone began to take over. "Oh, come on! You're so nice looking in that dress of yours," he waved at Blake's purple asymmetrical halter neck dress that Weiss had bought for her. "I'd totally date you! I MEAN, if you wanted me-er-US TO BE-,"
Blake almost screamed, "SUN!" Blake's cry sucked Sun's playfulness right out of him, like blood through a needle.
"Okay..."
Blake was on the verge of tears. Maybe she could have gotten through the night without the memory of Sun's kiss! But no, Sun had to push her over the edge. "What are you getting at?"
"Excuse me-,"
"What do you want from me?" Blake's ears perked up from underneath the bow as she went off. "Since the first day we met, you've always been flirty with me. Why? Why do you like me so much? Why do you risk your life for me? I'm nothing to you!"
"That's not true," Sun objected.
"This was a mistake!" Blake stormed off, already thinking of the apology she'd give Yang for missing the dance. She was stopped in her tracks as Sun's hand wrapped around her wrist.
Sun remained calm and cherry. He had to - for Blake. "You're everything to me, Blake Belladonna. You showed me I was more than a Faunus that had to steal for the rest of my life. You actually taught me I was worth something. Yeah, I've done stupid things, but they were great when we did them together. You took down Roman, an Atlesain Paladin, Atlas's finest soldiers and White Fang! You're Blake Belladonna, the most beautiful person I've ever seen. But for you..." Sun lifted Blake's chin to look deep into her amber colored eyes, "...I'd die again any day of the week if it meant you'd be safe."
"I-I..."
Not even the Hulk could have lifted the weight Sun had gotten off his chest. "I have feelings for you, Blake. But," he sighed and accepted fate, "I know you don't feel the same. I've seen the way you look at Yang. It was selfish for me to make a move on you when I clearly knew how you felt for someone else."
Blake blushed, confirming Sun's observations. "I...I..."
All Sun did was smile, "Heh. Don't worry, I'll keep this a secret. Matter of fact, I'll go beyond than that. I'll just skip the dance entirely. That way, you won't feel antsy and can focus on Yang for the entire night."
"No! I want you to come," Blake grabbed Sun's arm and held on. Her world was turned upside down from Sun's confession. Blake cared for Yang deeply, but never had an idea how much Sun loved her. Maybe she did love him too...she felt something when he died. Absolute pain and sorrow from the death of someone who got too close. "Listen...I need to think about things. My mind is swirling from everything's that happened. Right now, I'd like to focus on capturing Torchwick before worrying about my love life."
Sun took this extremely well. "So, you're going to the dance?"
"Yes, Sun. I'm going to the Dance."
"ALL RIGHT THEN," Sun smiled.
"Goofball," Blake chuckled as she jabbed into Sun's chest.
Sun yelped, "HEY! You're gonna crease the suit..."
"Whatever," Blake chuckled at Sun who fixed his tie that showed off his wonderful black dress shirt.
"STUPID SHOES," Ruby squealed in pain. She leaned against a wall as her legs lightly shook from her first time wearing heels.
Blake and Sun both decided to head back into the dance, helping Ruby along the way.
"Wooooow," Ruby said taking baby steps in the heels, "these aren't that bad!"
"You'll get used to them," Blake smiled at her maturing leader.
"I don't want too," Ruby pouted. "I like my boots better!"
"Heels are going to be your best friend if you wish to be a lady," Sun threw out there. "Or...that's what my mom would say to my cousins."
Ruby shook her head, "I don't want to be a lady. I want to be a Huntress!"
"RUBY!"
"Wha-," a pair of arms wrapped around Ruby from the back. Blake and Sun froze up as they saw Penny. Last time they did, she leveled part of Vale and gave Hulk a run for his money.
"Ohhhh, friend," Penny smiled as she cuddled against Ruby's back.
"P-PENNY?" Ruby yelled. "What are you doing here?"
"She's with...me," Bruce said as he separated Ruby from Penny's grasp.
"Looking sharp," Sun smiled at Banner's outfit.
"Well don't you three look festive," Bruce smiled at the group.
"Bleh!" Ruby snorted at the compliment. She tugged at her red dress, "I don't like it!"
"Where's Weiss?" Bruce asked. He looked for the only member of RWBY that he hadn't seen.
Blake frowned, "She's..."
Bruce became antsy. "Is she all right?"
"It's complicated," Ruby sighed. She aimed her head toward Weiss, sitting all by herself.
"Where's Neptune?" Bruce asked.
Blake tilted her head, "You don't know? Weiss came to the dance alone."
"E-excuse me?" Bruce asked. Was Neptune taken? Was no one left to ask? No one would ever reject Weiss! She was way too amazing to be shut down, right?
"Apparently, she was too 'busy' to deal with boys," Blake shrugged.
Weiss looked toward all the couples who were having a blast - who actually had a date. Her eyes wandered to the balcony and saw Neptune. Weiss began to question, "What are you-," until seeing her crush talking to other girls. She choked up and had to wipe her face to hide that she was on the verge of crying.
Bruce saw all of this and his fist began to shake, "I'll be right back." He made his way toward Neptune, his most recent pill burning out of his system.
"Uh oh," Penny gulped. Warnings in her system alerted to Banner's increase in vitals.
"Uhhh, Penny?" Ruby asked seeing worry across her friend's face. "What's wrong?"
"I-I need to go!" Penny rushed to Banner's side, grabbing his hand. "Dr. Banner, you need to clam down. Please!"
"Penny, I'll be fine."
"I..." Penny was conflicted. Did she do what she was programmed to do and stay by Bruce's side, or let him do what he wanted. "O-okay..." she let go of Bruce's hand and watched.
"Oh, hey," Neptune waved toward the approaching Banner. The girls he was talking too saw him and left their conversation with Neptune. "Lame party, right?" he smirked trying to lessen the tension. Banner and Neptune were the only ones on the balcony.
Bruce glared at the blue-haired boy, his fists clenched and lightly shaking. "Neptune..."
Neptune gulped. "Banner...are you oka-,"
"Do you even care about the girls you're hitting on?" Bruce's eyes exploded green. "HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT YOU?"
Neptune jumped back in fear, "W-WHOA! Where's this coming from?"
"HOW COULD YOU JUST TURN HER DOWN LIKE THAT?" Neptune could see the veins in Bruce's neck turn green as he got in his face.
"W-who?" Neptune shook in fear. Was Banner going to kill him? Just like that?
Bruce roared, "WEISS."
"I-it didn't work out!"
"Oh?" Bruce asked, his green eyes pounding into Neptune's soul. "SO, you think you're too cool? Do you have better options? Weiss Schnee asked...YOU TO THE DANCE. WHAT REASON WOULD YOU TURN HER-,"
"I CAN'T DANCE," Neptune screamed.
Did Banner hear that right? Neptune would rather break an innocent girl's heart, making her go to the dance alone, than admit he can't dance to the beat of a song? Bruce took a deep breath, looking at the ground. The concrete railing Bruce had grabbed onto was nothing but dust now. He looked up, "Do you like her?"
Neptune nodded, "Yeah...but, I don't know her too well. She seems pretty cool."
"Then," Bruce tried not to get angry again, "Just go talk to her."
"But what if she-,"
"Shut, up." Neptune bit his tongue like Bruce instructed. "Just go talk with her. No pick up lines, no fancy moves...just apologize for your stupidity and selfishness."
"T-then what?" Neptune asked, scared he'd be yelled at again.
"You'll know," Bruce nodded. He walked over and patted Neptune on the shoulder. "You're a good kid, Vasilias. You just messed up, big time. Now go, make it up to her. Weiss deserves to be treated with respect."
Neptune lightly smiled knowing Banner was just trying to make him a better person. "Thank you, Banner. I'll make everything up!"
Bruce exhaled as he watched Neptune go to make peace with Weiss. "Should have smashed boy who hurt Ice Queen," Bruce heard in the back of his head.
"Maybe," Bruce chuckled as he watched Neptune explain himself.
"Hulk want to come out...enjoy pretty lights and food..."
"No. You agreed you wouldn't do this anymore-,"
"HULK WANT OUUUUUT!"
"L-leave...me," Bruce grunted in pain from the massive migraine. It was like his brain was being torn apart. Bruce swallowed two pills before reentering the dance. The Hulk went silent...for now.
"N-Neptune?" Weiss asked as her ex-date sat next to her.
"H-hey, Weiss..." Neptune scratched the back of his head, guilt all in his voice. "I was an idiot to cancel our date by text. I should have at least told you face-to-face. If you hate me for the rest of your life, that's okay. I just want to let you know I'm sorry."
Weiss smiled knowing Neptune was different from the womanizer he was only hours ago. "What made you change?"
"Heh." Neptune smirked, "You're looking right at him."
"Who would-," Weiss looked to find Banner standing next to JNPR and the rest of her team. There Banner was, a monster known as The Hulk, making sure Weiss' highly planned night turned out wonderfully.
Neptune patted the Ice Queen's shoulder, "You've got some great people looking after you, Weiss. There's probably nothing Banner wouldn't do for you and your team." A weeks ago, Neptune wanted nothing more than to kill Bruce for Sun's death. All he saw was a monster who wanted destruction and power. Now, he saw a man who was trying to do the best he could.
"Well," Weiss stood to her feet and held her hand out toward her date, "what are you waiting for?"
"What?" Neptune gulped realizing what his crush wanted him to do. "I-I don't think I-,"
"You wanted to make things up to me, yes?" Weiss asked with attitude. "Then get up and dance with me!"
"I can't dan-WHA," Neptune yelped as Weiss pulled him to his feet. Before he knew it, they were on the dance floor.
On the other side of the room, Banner was the center of attention.
"HAHA," Nora laughed at Bruce's joke.
"I never knew you were so funny," Jaune panted. "This 'Tony' guy sounds like an idiot!"
Bruce ended with the punchline. "AND THEN I-," he felt a tap on his right shoulder. It was strong and firm, a powerful adversary.
"I believe you owe me a dance~," Yang smirked holding her hand out.
Sun saw Yang's interaction, needing him to act quickly. "AH-HA!" His tail wrapped around Blake's waist.
"Sun?" Blake questioned. "What are you-AHH," she yelled when the tail pulled her away. "Y-Yang?" she asked crashing into the arms of her teammate.
Yang blushed from the sudden interaction, "H-hi, Blake."
Blake's brain shut down from being in Yang's arms. She spoke what first came to mind, "W-WANT TO DANCE?"
"WOULD I EVER!" Yang grabbed Blake by her hips and pulled her away.
"What...what just..." Bruce tried to process what happened.
Sun smirked and popped his knuckles, "I just became the ultimate wingman!"
"Yang just adopted a new kitty~," Nora giggled. "OW," she shrieked as Ren smacked her across the head for her comment.
"Pyrrha," Jaune held out his hand for his date, "care for another dance?"
"I would love to accompany you," Pyrrha smiled taking her date's hand. Team JNPR joined back in as the song changed, leaving Bruce alone with Sun and Penny.
"I thought you liked Blake?" Bruce asked Sun.
Sun sighed and smiled as Blake and Yang danced their hearts out, "I do. But, if you love something...let it go. If it comes back, it was truly yours."
"I'm proud of you, Sun," Bruce smiled at the Faunus. He looked to his side to find Penny dancing to the beat, "You having fun?"
"Yes!" Penny smiled.
"Well, catch you around, guys," Sun nodded to Bruce and Penny.
Bruce watched as everyone had the time of their lives. Weiss was teaching Neptune to dance as Sun laughed at him. Blake and Yang danced together getting closer and closer. Nora led Ren aggressively during a peaceful song as Jaune and Pyrrha stole the show. Soon, it was Jaune and his team wowing the crowd with a dance routine they'd been working on.
"Dr. Banner, what is the matter?" Penny asked picking up on Bruce's worry. His head turned as he looked for something...someone.
"I can't find Ruby," Bruce noted. She didn't just walk out because she didn't have a date, did she?
"Oh!" Penny smiled and reassured Bruce, "Do not fret, Dr. Banner! Best friend Ruby is standing alone near the punch table!" Bruce looked and sighed seeing Penny spoke the truth. Ruby looked awkward, not knowing what do except get out of everyone's way.
"Penny," Bruce began to get an idea. "Would you mind doing me a favor?"
Penny nodded fast, wanting to do anything for her most favorite person ever!
"Date's are overrated anyway," Ruby said as she kept stirring the punch with its ladle. It was her only source of entertainment outside of her scroll which was on low battery.
Penny walked up to her friend's side. "Pssssssssst!"
Ruby looked up to find Penny trying to conceal her giggling. "Yes, Penny?"
"Would you like to dance with me?" Penny's smile was hard to turn down.
"I...I don't think I'd be a very good partner," Ruby said kicking her tall shoes under the table.
"Don't worry, dear friend!" Penny leaned in and gave Ruby a hug. "Dr. Banner says he wanted you happy. So, I am here to make your night!"
"He did?" Ruby looked over Penny's shoulder to find him watching.
All Bruce did was smile. "Go on," he motioned to Ruby.
"A-all right," Ruby agreed. "I'll dance with you, Penny." Bruce allowed a single tear to fall down his face. The four girls who made team RWBY were growing up right in front of his eyes. They weren't his daughters, but he'd sure as hell protect them like they were.
"Banner not angry?" Hulk asked in the back of his mind.
"No," Bruce smiled, "I'm proud. Very proud."
But, as there was happiness in this word, there was evil that grew in the shadows.
Across Beacon avenue, Cinder stared down at the dance as its multi-colored lights shone through the windows. Her scorching hot voice stabbed though the ear pieces, "How long do I have?"
"It appears all the important dancers have partners," Emerald said. She watched the dance from the second floor of the building with Mercury at her side.
"Oh please," Mercury smirked. "You could get eight hours of sleep then get what we need. You have all the time in the world. All security has its eye on your giant green friend. They're too anxious to worry about what you're doing." Elite Atlas soldiers stood at every exit, armed to the teeth. The face masks concealed their faces, but their eyes focused on Banner.
Cinder nodded, "Good. Alert if anything changes." She flipped off of the roof she was on and dashed toward Beacon's Cross Continental Transmit System. She effortlessly avoided the guards who patrolled the front. She made her way inside, ending up in the main room. Dozens of servers and huge computers connected to a main frame.
"This is just getting sad," Cinder smirked considering the lack of a challenge. She pulled out a hard drive as black and dark as the tattoo on her back, "Let's see if Watts was right about you." If everything went according to plan, Beacon's Network would be hacked into along with the information about this years Vytal Festival and everyone's scrolls, undetected.
Emerald almost yelled through her ear piece, "Cinder, we got trouble! It's Ban-,"
"Don't worry, dear Emerald," Cinder brushed the warning off. "I'll be out in less than a minute." She inserted her deadly virus into the computer and gloated in her brilliance, "The best part is...No one will ever know what hit them! Send Arthur news of his latest invention's success-"
"What are you doing here?"
Cinder's heart froze as the voice caught her off guard. Had she been compromised? Would her whole plan fail now from her slipping up?
"Turn around, slowly," the voice instructed.
Cinder's worry turned to a smirk. She raised her hands in the air and slowly turned. "Funny, did you give all those people in Vale time to surrender before you slaughtered them all, monster?" She turned to face Banner, a huge smile across her mask-covered face.
"You..." Bruce growled. He wouldn't allow this woman to escape again. "What are you doing here?"
"Can't a girl just enjoy a nice party?" Cinder smirked. She glanced down quickly, seeing the hard drive had only two minutes remaining.
"Yes, but you're not at a party." Bruce reached for his scroll making Cinder disappear from sight. She sped past, snatching Bruce's scroll.
"Oh no you don't," Cinder smiled playfully as Bruce's scroll burned to a crisp within her palm. "Now, go along and be a good boy." Cinder patted his cheek, "Wouldn't want to get angry, would we?"
Bruce was now the prey in this situation. The dance was close by...if he and this woman fought, there would be casualties and she knew!
"Now," Cinder smiled in Bruce's face, "Don't tell of my visit. Or else..." she retrieved her hard drive, "...I'll kill everyone you care for. Or," she chuckled, "you might just do it yourself!" She patted Bruce's face for the last time before heading out. "Goodbye for now, Banner. Better keep your mouth shut." She was gone, in and out without a trace.
Bruce couldn't believe what he had just done, or hadn't done. He had just let the 'glowing woman' escape. Was she serious about killing everyone if Bruce told?
"Banner..." Hulk said in absolute disappointment, "...you weak."