Ch. 30
The night of dance…
"Hey Abb, you ready to go or what?" Jurano asked.
"Just about." Abaddon came out of the bathroom wearing a suit with dress pants and dress shoes. "Where the heck's my bow tie?"
"It's there," Jurano replied, nodding towards the black accessory sitting on the faunus' bed. "You need help putting it on?"
"Don't play with me, I know it's a clip-on," Abaddon said as he put the bow tie on his dress shirt. "Didn't the girls leave ahead of us?"
"Yeah, they did. Velvet told me she was gonna allow Yatsu to have her first dance," Jurano huffed.
Abaddon chuckled. "Coco did tell me a while ago that he could get jealous. Is it showing?"
"How the hell should I know when all I feel are giant metaphorical daggers staring into my back! Jesus Christ!" Jurano laughed. "Although, that's not the only thing that's on my mind."
"What else is there?" Abaddon asked.
"I'll tell you later. Let's get to the dance floor first."
XXXXXXX
In the ballroom…
The Beacon Dance had already started taking place, with Yang herself standing at the entrance to welcome all the guests. She wore a short, white, halter neck dress with a pale grey hem and white pump heels. As she was looking at the schedule and roster for the dance, a certain young girl caught her attention as she entered the room.
Yang gasped. "Ohh, you look beautiful!"
Ruby awkwardly stood in the doorway wearing a short, red, sleeveless dress with a thick black sash around the waist and black trim along the bottom. The bodice of the dress was split vertically to the sash and laced with black lacing while the yoke of the dress consisted of translucent mesh with an opaque color and hem, as well as opaque lines connecting the collar to her shoulders. She also wore black stockings and black heels.
"Can we have a serious talk about how Weiss fights in these?" Ruby whined.
She stumbled with every step she took towards Yang, the latter laughing at her younger sister.
"Did you even find someone to bring? Or did someone find you?" Yang asked.
"Actually…uhhhhmmm, they kinda found me," Ruby said.
"Ruby!" Emma and Neo suddenly appeared behind the redhead. Emma wore a short blue-green V-neck dress, in which the bodice of the dress was frilly in the front upper torso and a sash-like garment ran widely around her lower torso from the back and ended at the front with a blue-green rose. She also had blue-green long-sleeved gloves with a blue decorative flower on her left wrist along with black short heeled shoes.
Neo wore a sleeveless outfit that consisted of a black decorative collar that was connected to a dark grey sash which went over her right breast, around her back, over her left breast, and tied back to the neck. Over the grey sash, she wore a black overbust corset with pink lining in the middle and white lining on the breast, along with stripes colored to fade from white to pink, to grey going alongside the lining. She had a faded grey short skirt lined with black designs under two drape-like garments on the left and right of the skirt, connected to the corset. These garments left the front open to show Neo's legs and skirt and were double layered: the first was black and pink with dark magenta lining on the bottom and the second was pink with white designs on the bottom and faded white coloring on the inside. She also wore a small pink glove on her right hand and long black and pink shoes with long white socks.
"You made it!" Neo exclaimed.
"And with heels on!" Emma added.
"How did you two get her to agree to dance?" Yang asked.
"We said we would bring her hood, and an entire box of cookies afterward," Neo said.
"You lied, didn't you?" Yang surmised.
"Only about the first part," Neo answered.
"What?! Why?!" Ruby exclaimed.
Emma sighed. "Calm down Ruby. We're gonna have lots of fun!"
Both Emma and Neo then grabbed Ruby by her arms and dragged her to the dance floor, Yang smiling after them. The door creaked open again as Blake entered with Sun, Velvet with Jurano, and Abaddon with Cinder.
Blake wore a short, purple, asymmetrical, halter neck dress that was split up the right side and had a black collar. Translucent black mesh covered her shoulders, décolletage, and back, and decorative black swirls covered the left side. She also had black heels and a teal bow instead of black.
Velvet wore a long brown sleeveless dress with black designs and gold lining on the shoulder straps, bottom edges, and chest. An opening on each side of the dress exposed some of her legs and she had dark brown heels. Cinder wore a formal black evening gown with glass designs and black glass heels.
"Hey guys, you all look great tonight!" Yang complemented them.
"Thanks. Worked all day on it," Sun said.
"No, you didn't, that's your usual getup but with a black shirt and tie!" Abaddon accused.
"Hey, I grew up in Vacuo," Sun replied. "It's not exactly a shirt-and-tie kind of place."
"We noticed," everyone said, almost in unison.
"Well, if you excuse me, I'm gonna get my first dance in now." Yang went over to Blake, grabbed her arm, and went off to the dance floor.
"Isn't she your date Sun?" Velvet asked.
Sun nodded. "Yeah, but she told me her first dance was already spoken for. Who am I to get in the way. Besides, they are partners."
"True," Jurano agreed. "Sun, have you seen Neptune anywhere?"
"Yeah, he came in before me. He was looking pretty confident too," said Sun.
"Oh good, he overcame his fear," Velvet cheered.
"What fear?" Cinder asked.
"Abaddon, remember when I went with Velvet to get her dress? Well, we found Neptune on the way and he was looking quite unnerved. I pestered him until he confessed his shit. Turns out he was asked to the dance by Weiss, but he rejected her and felt guilty about it. The reason why? He couldn't fucking dance," Jurano told them.
"Are you serious?" Cinder sighed.
"We're not joking," Velvet added. "He didn't even want to confess at first because he was trying to be so cool. So, we took him to a private spot and taught him how to dance."
"Sweeeet," Sun said.
"When someone needs a lesson in dancing, Jurano's there to help. He always has been," Abaddon said. "But how about we cut the chitchat and go have a good time."
Everyone nodded, went their separate ways and ventured into the ballroom. Abaddon and Cinder stopped on the left side of the dance floor. They began dancing, with her right hand in his left, his right hand on her waist, and her other hand on his shoulder. As they danced, Abaddon looked around him at the other students around them: Sun was dancing with Blake, Velvet with Jurano, Emma, Neo, and Ruby were trying to be in sync, Weiss was talking with Neptune, Emerald was dancing and giggling at whatever Mercury was saying, and every other student was either by themselves, with a friend, or with a date. Even Remora, wearing a leaf green gown, and Klyde, wearing a suit, was having a great time.
"Checking to see if the others are having a good time?" Cinder asked, catching his attention.
"Yeah, especially Emma," Abaddon answered.
"Oh right, you did tell me about her…situation concerning dances and dating," she recalled.
"Mhm, but I can't take her to every dance like I used to, which is why I'm glad she's made friends like Ruby and Neo here," Abaddon said. "I promised her parents that I would look after her when I'm able, but she still has to grow. We all do."
"Plus, you need to make sure that Abaddon is having a good time," Cinder told him. "And speaking of growing, I've noticed you've grown less distant from me."
"Focus Cin. That's because you've taken a break from flirting with me like usual, but it's good to know that you've got my back." Abaddon slowly spun Cinder around, earning a giggle from the brunette.
"You're welcome," said Cinder. "And thanks for letting me get the first dance. Now you should go see that wallflower up there."
Abaddon looked up at the second floor and caught a flash of purple hair walking away from the railing.
"And remember what we talked about earlier okay." Cinder pinched his cheek. "Don't beat around the bush."
"Yes ma'am," Abaddon replied. "And what will you do in the meantime?"
"Hey!" Cinder pinched him again, harder this time. "I said don't beat around the bush and go have fun."
"Alright, I'm going."
With that, Cinder and Abaddon bowed to one another and separated. Abaddon went to the staircase that led to the upper floor, but on the way, he spotted Jaune standing against the wall nearby. Despite Cinder's advice, the faunus stopped to talk to the blonde.
"Hey, Jaune? How's it going?" Abaddon greeted him.
"Oh, hey Abaddon. Just having a great time like everyone else," Jaune lied.
Abaddon frowned. "You're standing against the wall by yourself dude."
"I know!" Jaune said, giving in. "It's just…I was gonna ask Weiss to the dance, but she wanted Neptune…so I don't know what to do."
"Damn, both you and Neptune are something else! But, I can't really judge can I," Abaddon said aloud.
"What do you mean?" Jaune asked.
Abaddon told Jaune about what happened with Neptune, which greatly surprised the blonde. "And don't tell anyone about that."
"But he's…so…cool," Jaune said.
"He is, but coolness isn't everything," Abaddon said. "You're pretty cool in your own way too Jaune."
"Okay, okay, don't lie to my face," Jaune whined.
"I'm not," Abaddon replied. "But you know what would make you even cooler? If you go talk to that tall, beautiful amazon standing over there."
Jaune looked towards where Abaddon was indicating and saw Pyrrha on the other side of the room also standing against the wall. Her hair was still in the same ponytail she usually had, and she wore her earrings and brown circlet. She wore a long, red, sleeveless dress with black heels.
"You mean Pyrrha? No, no, no, she's way out of my league," Jaune said.
Abaddon smacked him lightly upside his head. "You keep thinking like that and you're gonna blow it. She doesn't even have a date."
"What? But…she's Pyrrha Nikos," Jaune said.
"Just because she's famous doesn't mean every boy will be drooling over her. Now, how about this: we both have similar situations going on, so, if I go do what I gotta do, then you must as well. Agreed?" Abaddon held out his hand
Jaune was silent for a moment in hesitation, but then smiled and shook the faunus' hand. "Agreed."
"Alright, good luck." Abaddon left Jaune and went up the stairs.
He passed by several students until he found one lone girl overlooking the dance floor. She wore a dark purple sleeveless bare back dress. The front connected to a collar around her neck and had a teardrop shaped opening. A large bow tied her dress in the lower back at the waist. The sides had slits that allow some of her legs to be seen. The bow usually used for her ponytail was replaced with a dark purple flower. She also wore purple long gloves, her usual star pendant necklace, purple star earrings, another purple flower on the left side of her head, and black heels.
Abaddon smiled. "Hey beautiful."
Kathleen turned towards her partner and smiled. "Hey Abb, what're you doing up here?"
"I came up here to see you, Kat," Abaddon answered.
Kathleen blinked. "But, wasn't Cinder-."
"I'm sorry Kathleen."
Kathleen looked puzzled. "For what?"
"To put it simply: for being so dense," Abaddon chuckled. "Honestly, I didn't know that I had that kind of effect on you, or that you adored me that much. I was totally clueless until I was told about everything directly. And before you start glaring daggers at Jurano, it was Emma who told me because she was fed up with me. I would be fed up with me too. But what I want to know is, what is it about me that catches your eye?"
Kathleen sighed and looked back over the balcony. "Would you believe me if I said it started when we were little kids? I had no friends. I drove them away because I was being stupid, cocky, and foolish. I didn't get any second chances. I was alone until you came along. You gave me a chance, and through you, I made friends that I couldn't have achieved alone: Jurano, Emma, Grandpa Heracles. I even consider Jack as one of my closest friends, despite his insane antics. Furthermore, it was your perseverance, no matter how much you failed, you pushed on to keep going, especially when it comes to losing to me in sparring or anything else. You became someone special to me, which is why during your absence it affected me so much, like an important part of my life was gone. And I was full of regret that I didn't get to thank you at the time because I was afraid that I wouldn't get to tell you, or you wouldn't understand how I felt."
Abaddon grabbed one of Kathleen's hands. "And you're still foolish now, to think that I wouldn't understand my own partner. And I don't die that easily, but I shouldn't have put you through that emptiness. I'm gonna make it right, in any way I can. So how about it then?"
"How about what?" Kathleen asked.
"Will you let this dense motherfucker have this dance?" Abaddon asked her.
Kathleen chuckled. "I'd be happy to."
Just as they were about to go down to the dance floor, they heard a chorus of laughter erupt from the students below. The duo glanced over the balcony to see Jaune entering the dance floor…wearing a white dress.
"Oh my gosh Jaune!" Kathleen laughed.
"Holy crap!" Abaddon thought.
They watched as Jaune approached Pyrrha and asked her to dance. He then took to the middle of the dance floor with his team and engaged in an epic group dance. No one knew that Jaune was a good dancer, and his moves left many with wide eyes and bright smiles as they watched the blonde goofball. Abaddon and Kathleen went down to join everyone as they cheered for JNPR. Then, shortly after the excitement had ended, the dance floor became calm again.
"That was unexpected, wasn't it," Kathleen said as she and her partner danced.
"Sure was," Abaddon replied. "I still can't believe he wore that dress. He's got guts."
Abaddon looked to his right to see Jurano and Velvet smiling at them.
"About time dumbass!" Jurano mouthed.
"Yeah, I know! Shut your hole!" Abaddon mouthed back.
"What, was he waiting for you to talk to me?" Kathleen asked.
"Yeah, and now I'm probably gonna get an earful of excitement from Emma later." Abaddon checked on Emma again and was happy to see that not only had she and Neo managed to get Ruby to follow a beat, they even brought Penny over.
Abaddon smiled. "Great, a childish cat, three flavor ice cream, a socially awkward rose, and a Penny. That's a heck of a combination."
Kathleen chuckled, then placed her head on her partner's chest. "This is one night I'm not gonna forget anytime soon."
