Sorry for my bad English.
The chapter of the Dance, re-used and edited.
To make the youngsters that they are still teenagers and not warriors who would throw their lives away in battle, Beacon still had the same joys of a normal school.
The Dance was coming and the one Sally wished to go with was going to escort her rival, much to her displeasure.
As she walked back to her dorm along with her teammates after a hard day of classes, her mind betrayed her and makes her think about her day
She wanted to go with Kiron, but despite how annoying Laura was, she would act kindly to Kiron. He may be a bit stoic, but the brunette knew him enough to know he would not refuse Laura's invitation to the Dance just to be polite.
No matter how much she wanted to put the thought away, it always came back to haunt her mind. Yet, it did not stop her from trying.
-So, any of you have an escort for the dance? -She did not make a good job, unfortunately.
-Why would I want to escort a girl to where I can fill my stomach until it bursts? -Koro asked, and Sally suspected that his brain was located on his belly.
-I asked some girls but they all turned me down. -Ryan answered her.
-Do you know why? -Sally asked.
-I can think of a few reasons for that. -Ryan answered bitterly, and they all thought about his burned face but avoided talking about the topic.
They all look at the last member of their team. Unicorn merely shook her head and focused back on the path ahead.
A girl of a few words, as always.
-And what about you babydoll? -Koro asked, making Sally widen her eyes for a moment. -Do you plan to ask that archer?
Did not need to be Unicorn to notice the sad features on Sally's face before she turned her face away.
-Someone... asked him first... -She spoke in a low voice in hopes of her teammates not hear her disappointment.
They also did not need to be Unicorn to know that she was upset with this. What came next was an uncomfortable silence as they walked back to their dorms. Until Ryan spoke words that surprised his three teammates.
-Sally. -He called his leader, the tone of his voice made the three of them stop, his voice sounding harsher than normally is. -If you would like, I can take you to the dance.
The three pairs of eyes of their teammates widen in surprise, even Unicorn. Ryan just asked Sally to the dance and not only that, he just sounded like he was someone else. Neither of them heard the goof tone in his voice but rather, he sounded like a brave young man from a fictional story.
-R-Ryan... I... -Sally really did not know what to say. It took her only a second to think about it. Ryan had asked some girls but all refused, and she had no one to escort her. Regaining her composure, she smiles and answered him. -I would love to.
The night came and both Ryan and Koro were already dressed for the dance.
While Ryan had a tuxedo for the occasion, Koro had to improvise, which means he runs around the town and checked in each trash deposit in Vale after a suit. He was able to find one and had to sew and cover a hole or two... or seven.
The partners still were having a hard time talking since their battle in Forever Fall. Koro still could not believe that of everyone, he lost to his partner. The same boy who run around screaming in fear of almost everything around, can't walk in a straight line and fall on his own feet on a daily basis.
-Done. -Unicorn spoke.
They were with their backs to her until she dressed her dress. She refused to move away to dress herself forcing Ryan and Koro to turn to the wall to hide their blushing faces.
Currently, the violet-eyed girl wore a one-shoulder purple dress, purple heels combining, and purple cotton chocker.
Well, she once mentioned that purple is her favorite color, and Ryan commented saying that he thought it was black for obvious reasons.
The sound of a door got the attention of their three, and the team turn to the door and see the team leader leaving the bathroom after finishing dressing.
Sally opted to wear a black qipao dress with golden patterns that reached to her knees, her shoulders exposed and a side slid on the right. Instead of her usual boots, she chooses to wear black pointed heels and stockings to cover the skin of her legs. Her long brunette hair was tied in hair knots by two stick hairpins.
Her usual bright lips colored in a caramel color, making her lips look full.
-How do I look? -Sally asked her teammates, sounding a bit shy.
-Y-you look pretty. -Ryan complimented her.
-Pretty? -Koro asked. -Babydoll, you look divine. -He states making a motion with his only hand.
-Divine? -Sally asked, finding strange the word he chooses.
-It is a word, isn't? -He asked back, making Sally giggle.
-Shall we go? -Sally asked for everyone now.
She did not wait for an answer as she wrapped an arm around Ryan's and led him to out of the room, Unicorn and Koro following behind. The trip to the ballroom was relatively calm, and the team rarely saw any of their classmates on their way to the party.
Going through the door, Ryan groaned at the sight of the explosive blonde girl, Yang Xiao Long, standing at the entrance of the ballroom, receiving the students.
-Hey, hey Sally! Looking good. -Yang said, compliment Sally, then she looks to Ryan and her eyes turn red. -You as well, mummy-boy.
-Not tonight Yang. -Sally spoke, trying to back off the blonde.
-Fine, just because you are not the only one who wants to have fun. -Even as she spoke, the color of her eyes did not change. -But it not means this is over.
Seeing that Yang decide to back off for the night, Sally and Ryan went to the ballroom to the middle of the dance floor. Koro, who was behind them, left his team leader and partner alone and went to where lay his best interest, the tables filled with food, leaving Unicorn alone to do whatever she wants, and she decides to sit down and listen to the music which was playing.
So she found a nice spot, away from anyone who would want a word with her, sat down, and just relaxed. She was already used to be like this while accompanying her father in his events and meetings with business partners and people from the political circle. Showing little interest in how her father's business, she decided to just listen to her headphones, or in this case, the music the DJ was playing.
In the middle of the dance floor, Sally expects to have her feet crushed a few times by her teammate, but was surprised to see Ryan, who always walks like have two left feet, dancing slow music with some gracefulness.
She did not know about much of his life prior to Beacon but it seems that at some point, he learned how to dance.
This made her think back on the day of his birthday when she thought about it the fact Ryan rarely smiles. Sure, he's a bit goofy and is not a bad person, but she has yet to see his lips curl into a smile and not one he gets when he laughs some joke he sees on the TV or reads a comic book, but a real, warm, sincere smile like the ones she gives to him.
-Something's wrong? -Ryan's question got her out of her thoughts.
-Oh, it is nothing. Why do you ask?
-It just that you are looking at me all this time.
-Well, it just... you don't have a crush on me, are you?
-N-no! I would never... I mean... you are beautiful and all... it just... -Hearing the brunette giggling makes his stammering stop.
-Relax Ryan, I'm just messing with you. -Sally chuckled while admitting, but not admitted that Ryan was rather cute while blushing. Since they were away from their teammates, she decides to have a small talk with him. Not the best place, but she could delay it longer. -Can I ask how things are going with Koro?
-Mr. Picky Pants sill won't talk to me. -Ryan answered.
-But you tried talking to him?
-... I don't understand the question.
Sally sighed.
-Sometimes you can just wait for things to sort themselves out, especially someone so stubborn as Koro.
-Okay, but I'm not very good with that kind of talk.
-You're so cute sometimes, you know that? -Sally's comment made Ryan blush again and avert his gaze. -All you need to do is start a conversation and don't try small talk, go straight to the point.
-I don't know about that.
-Look, you two need to settle this as soon as possible. Our first assignments as a team will start soon, and we can't have two of our teammates fighting, can we?
Ryan sighed, she has a point.
The time the teams will take missions will start soon after the dance, and if he does not settle the problems with his partner until then, he knows he is up to some problems. But Koro is a bit hard to talk with, not even Goodwitch seems to be able to put some good sense on his head, or else he would not be still stealing food from the academy.
Speaking of the ninja, Ryan notices that his classmates hardly were able to find any food at the tables once Koro passed through. The food on the table had no chance with Koro's insatiable appetite, soon reduced to mere crumbs, which he also eat.
Unicorn, on the other hand, was sitting all the time since she arrived at the ballroom along with her teammates.
Ryan was put out of his thoughts once he notices the grip of his leader getting tight on his hands. He looks back to his leader and notices that Sally was not looking at him, but he could see that she was frowning. He looks to where she was looking and notices the upper classmate Sally always talks about, dancing with the blonde girl his leader lost a fight.
Laura Bolt was wearing a strapless yellow dress, a dreaming expression in her face as she danced with the archer of team DARK. Kion himself did not seem bothered with the golden-eyed girl, since she was with her mouth shut. Sally was having fun so far until spotted her crush and her foe together, wishing to be in her place.
-Are you okay? -Ryan's question got her out of her thoughts.
-I'm fine. -Sally answered, her tone a bit lower than normally is.
-I know that you preferred to be with him.
-But I'm glad that you invited me. It is a good way to keep my mind away from... them.
Their talk could not continue once they heard the laughs around them.
They turned around to see the source of the laughs and see Jaune Arc wearing a dress.
While Ryan did was surprised with the image in front of him, Sally let out a soft chuckle while Koro couldn't hold the laugh at the ridiculous look of the blonde.
Unicorn at the moment was wishing that the young arc was a girl.
The laughs soon were cut out as the blonde boy along his teammates began to rock on the dance floor. Sally was impressed, she knew that he could dance, but he practically is a dancer while had to admit that he knows how on move on the dance floor.
Far on the corner, Sally notices that Kiron was leaving Laura alone as the blonde girl was distracted by the dancing moves of team JNPR. Seeing a chance to at least have a moment with her crush, Sally did not waste time.
-Excuse me. I'll be right back. -She said to Ryan and went after Kiron.
Seeing Sally leave, Ryan looks to Unicorn and decides to join her in her solitude, he knew she would not mind as long he stays quiet.
Sally look around for her crush, but not see him anywhere. She has sure to see him some minutes ago. She looks and look, but didn't find him.
Where he could be?
Sally couldn't find Kiron, but find something equally good. His partner. The dog faunus was just standing with his back on the wall, talking to another student. But sometimes he gives a look on the dance floor where a monkey faunus and Belladonna were dancing.
-Hey Arno.
-Hello Sally. You look great.
-Thank you. Listen, I'm looking for your partner, but I can't find him anywhere. Do you know where he is?
-Lucky bastard. Wait a second. -Arno look around trying to find him, but if she couldn't, how come he... -Go up on the stairs and walk to the balcony.
-Are you sure?
-Sure as my ears are of a dog.
Sally thanked him and decide to follow his lead.
She passed on the dance floor, go up the stairs, passing through a door, she finds her crush, standing still and looking at the lights of the town in the night, a beautiful sight.
-Kiron, it is rude to leave your companion for the night alone. -Sally spoke getting the attention of her upperclassmen. -Even if is Laura.
-I told her I was going to leave for a moment.
-To the bathroom? -Sally asked playfully but Kiron's silence gave her the answer to her question.
-I heard about the little bet between you both. -Kiron's statement made her brown eyes widen in surprise.
-O-oh. So... how much did you know? -Her question sounded foolish, but she asked out of reflex.
-Only what Rarus told me.
-Rarus? How did he know about my bet with Laura?
-He was watching the fight.
And for the second time in less than a minute, Sally was surprised. She remembers not saying anyone in the arena during her fight with Laura. Someone like her who specialized herself in dodging, Sally learned how to pay attention to her surroundings. Yet, she could not notice the presence of the upper classmate watching their fight and from what Kiron just told her, Rarus was around from the time Laura challenged her.
Not even Koro was able to sneak around her like that.
-Sooo... what did he tell you?
-The obvious.
-Aaand...
-Laura defeated you, and now I'm stuck with her for the night.
Some take advantage of the nobility of others.
Seeing that Laura was not around, Sally decides to ask something that was bugging her since her defeat at the hands of her rival.
-If I had asked you before her... you would have accepted? -Sally asked.
Kiron's focus went from wherever he was looking to Sally once he heard the question, his stoic face seemed surprised for a moment.
-If you know the answer, why are you asking?
Sally knew that Kiron would have accepted only to be polite like he did to Laura. But she wanted to hear from him, to know if she can see or not that he would accept because he wanted or just to be polite and not refuse her request.
She wanted to hear from him to discover that.
-I don't know, I think I just wanted to be sure.
What came next was a silence between them. With nothing else to say, Kiron spoke the first thing it comes to his mind.
-I'm hungry.
-So is better to go back now. -Sally said her smile back to her lips. -My teammate is devouring everything that can be eaten.
Getting back to the ballroom, she parted ways with Kiron and went to find Ryan.
While walking around, she notices Rarus with four girls at the same time, two on each side.
-How come those girls agreed with that? -Sally thought tapping her cheek with a finger.
Kiron, now once again with Laura holding his arm in an iron grip, went to one of the tables to get something that wasn't eaten by Koro yet. Just like Sally said, the one-armed boy was devouring anything that was edible on the tables.
-Sally wasn't joking. -Kiron thought. -This guy is a bottomless pit.
Even with Koro devouring all the food, Laura was to get a snack and offered to Kiron.
-C'mon Kiron. -Laura spoke. -Say 'Aah'! -She tried to feed Kiron, but he refused, of course, not wanting to make an embarrassing scene or make his classmates start any rumor.
He keeps looking to the table for something to eat and when he finds the snack that he was looking for, but when he tried to get it, a scarf wrapped around it and was pulled to Koro's mouth.
The ninja with one arm chewed the food, ignoring the looks he got from his classmates but focused on Kiron for a moment, then his eyes Laura up and down.
-Why don't you take a picture? -Laura asked, sarcasm obvious in her voice, not like to be checked out by a boy who was not Kiron.
Koro said nothing as his focus alternated between Kiron and Laura for half a second until he made a statement that made Laura get red with anger.
-You choose poorly, Sally clearly was the best choice. -And not waiting for an answer, he turns his back to the couple and went after more food making Laura visible fuming.
She turns to Kiron and...
-Kiron, I wanna dance.
-Again?
-Yes. C'mon.
She dragged him to the dance floor, and he knew that would be impossible to argue with her and he doesn't wanna more headache than already have.
Have Unicorn as a teammate proved to be a challenge when the girl in question refuses to use more than two words to speak.
She silent sat on the corner in an empty seat and just waited for the night to end, something she had experience with it like mentioned before.
Meaning that Ryan sat silently by her side while she just took notice of her surroundings, some males going after her and asking her to dance, only for her to refuse before any of them said a word.
Mostly 'no' or 'out'.
-Hey guys. -Then Sally came to rescue. -Having fun?
-In our way. -Ryan answered and look to Unicorn who shrugged.
Sally sights, then look back to the dance floor where Kiron was dancing with Laura. His face wasn't of someone who has fun. He didn't want to come, be forced to dance or make a conversation with someone.
She starts to feel a little guilty, she wanted to do the same thing with him, the difference is that Laura doesn't seem to notice how is his face.
-Ryan -She called him.
-Yes?
-Thank you.
-For what?
-To worry about me. -She smiled, forgetting completely about Kiron dancing with her rival.
The moment didn't last long when they heard a loud burp and turn to the source of the sound.
There was Kiron, laid on the floor, his belly bloated from all the food he took. He really did not miss the chance.
-Heya, fellas! -Koro called his teammates, seeing them approach. -Did any of you have something to lift my belly? Maybe a little car.
-No. -Was Unicorn who answered?
-What about a pushcart?
-No.
-I will have to drag my belly to the dorm? Call our neighbors! I want everyone to see it!
turns out, the dance went quite well for the team STRK.
End of the chapter.
Well, different from last time I decide to end the chapter already. It is already a pretty big chapter and I don't want to bore everyone with too much at once.
I will move to new chapters after that until it comes the time for the last saved chapter. I've been thinking in make a second fic about the team STRK and they fighting since this one seems more like a high school drama poorly made, and I don't want to restart this.
I will put some more thoughts in that before the next chapter to see. Until then, stay tunned for the team STRK schoolar adventures.
Thank you for follow this story. See you next time!