Ghostly Visions and Living Partners

by Forest of Rubies

"A simple huntsman was all they wanted to be, all they planned to be. Life, unluckily, decided to play." Now hear me out about the OCs. There are only three, and only two of which that is considered important. Follows the main plot, with my own spin, but the main focus is on the main cast and the moments between them. POV is from an OC, but I needed it that way for story reasons.

27. Rose Camaraderie

Well, here's the chapter that I called interesting last time. I think I'll just let it speak for itself.

Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 27: Rose Camaraderie

.

.(Chapter Start)

.

August 30th

Friday

Clear

Azura was not exactly sure how he ended up next to a shirtless Ren, especially fresh from the shower. Nor did he know how to answer Jaune's questions about Weiss. Yet, he was apparently forced into such an act.

He looked over at Nora, who was wearing her pink headphones and blasting music, and wished he could do the same.

"I don't know...I just feel like I'm doing something wrong." Jaune said, sighing.

Azura glanced at Ren before responding. "So you came to us for help, or something?"

"Well, she has been kind about turning you down, at least." Ren supplied.

Jaune shrugged. "I mean...yeah. I don't know what to do from here. I mean, my father's advice is not as effective as he made it out to be." He finished, chuckling.

"I see." Ren said, his voice bland.

"The pick-up lines haven't worked…"

"Could've sworn Weiss said that they were pretty bad." Azura mumbled.

Jaune rubbed his hands together as he spoke again. "I thought I was confident enough. I don't know, I guess my ol' father was wrong."

"Hey hey, let's not go that far." Azura said, ignoring Summer's murmured comment about how Jaune wasn't wrong. "Maybe you're just going about it the wrong way?"

"Azura has a point, Jaune. I think it is likely that Weiss simply does not care for how you are attempting it."

Jaune frowned. "What other way would there be to go about it?"

Azura glanced at Ren, who looked at him. When Azura shook his head, moving to answer, a voice called from their side.

"The honest way, Jaune."

They all looked over, including Nora, who had taken her headphones off, to see Pyrrha looking at them. Pyra was behind her, eyebrow raised.

Pyrrha continued. "Just be honest, and be you, Jaune. No tricks or fancy moments. Just you and your honest feelings."

Jaune looked at Pyrrha, almost in awe. "Like...being open? Nothing else?"

"Yes." She replied, smiling warmly.

Jaune looked down again, thinking. The dorm sat in silence as they watched him. When the blonde boy they called their leader looked up, his baby blue eyes were bright and his smile was wide.

"Right." He said, standing up. "Then, I have some things to do. She still...doesn't have a date, right?"

"Nope." Azura said, simply. "She's been busy with setting the dance up, remember?"

Jaune nodded rapidly, moving the exit the dorm. "Then I have things to do!"

When he left, Pyrrha's happy face dropped, and she sighed. Pyra was digging through her bag for something, and Nora sighed.

"You need to practice what you preach, Pyrrha...it just hurts you when you don't."

Ren nodded. "It would be better for you, and possibly for Jaune."

"And maybe gives Weiss a bit of breathing room?" Azura said, hoping his joking tone was heard.

Pyra laughed in the background as Pyrrha spoke, sitting at the desk. "No, I shouldn't do that. Jaune has been trying very hard to at least have a chance with Weiss, so I wish to see him succeed."

Nora frowned. "Pyrrha…"

Azura notices his scroll go off, and sighed as he watched Pyrrha for a few moments more before standing up and going over to it. Noticing a message from Ruby, he pulled it up.

He rolled his eyes at the words. She was asking him to help rescue her from Yang and Weiss in the ballroom. He shrugged his sweatshirt on, moving to the door. Nora had moved to Ren, but quickly looked at him.

"Help cheer her up, okay?" He mouthed to her.

Nora grinned, saluting him.

He smiled back, then moved out the door. He had a rose to save.

.

.(Line Break)

.

"If I don't get them, you don't get your stupid fog machines!" Weiss said.

Azura had just stepped into the ballroom, and he could see and hear Weiss and Yang going back and forth with each other as they kept going around the ballroom. He shook his head, amused, and made his way towards Ruby.

"Hey, those fog machines took a lot of time to get by Goodwitch! I'm gonna get them whet-oh, Azura! Hello!" Yang called out to Weiss, then shifted to Azura as she looked at him.

"Azura?" Weiss asked, glancing at him. "Oh, hello." She turned around to get back to work. "What brings you to the ballroom? Hopefully not to see me and Yang argue over what goes where."

Azura shook his head, taking an empty seat next to Ruby, who was eagerly looking at him. "Nope. Poor Ruby here asked me to come and rescue her. From boredom, if I could guess."

Yang laughed from across the way. "What?! But Rubes, what isn't there to enjoy about me and Weiss Cream arguing?"

"If another nickname comes out of that mouth of yours, I'm destroying those fog machines before I even consider keeping them around." Weiss said, annoyance in her tone.

As they kept going back and forth, Ruby pushed her chair closer to him and spoke. "Thank you so much...they've been doing this for the past hour now."

Azura chuckled. "So you brought me here to have me suffer here with you?"

Ruby spread her arms on the table in front of them, a few scattered items on it already, speaking in amusement and laziness. "Yup."

Azura smiled, watching her. "Never change, Ruby."

"You got it, boss." Ruby said, giving him a thumbs up.

Azura looked up from Ruby, watching Weiss putting some lights up as she stood on one of her glyphs. Looking to the other side, he could see Yang frowning as she looked into a box. Eventually, she stood up, moving to stand at the table.

"Hey, Weiss!" She called out, a hand on Ruby's shoulder.

"Yes?" Weiss called back.

"Most of the lights over on my side are dead or duds. Me and Rubes are gonna grab the extras that were back with the other supplies."

"Got it."

Yang pats Ruby's shoulder. "You ready to go, sis?"

Ruby groaned, looking at Azura.

Azura himself shrugged, speaking. "I'll be here when you get back."

Ruby nods, getting up and making her way out of the ballroom with Yang. As they turned the corner, Yang yelled out back towards them.

"Put Azura to work if you want, Ice Queen!"

He heard Weiss grumble something under her breath, though he just shook his head in amusement.

"Do you need help, Weiss?"

Weiss sighed. "No, it's fine. I'm almost done for now."

"Aright." Azura said.

And so, Azura simply kept watching Weiss work. He could easily admit that he enjoyed the act. Similar to Blake or Ren, Weiss had an air of peace and elegance with her actions. It was fascinating to him, really.

"You might as well just start watching every single one of Weiss's fights in combat class once they get started again at this point." Summer said.

Azura rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I just like watching it. I mean, we fight so aggressively and reactively, so I just enjoy seeing the other side of the coin, you know?"

"You got me there." Summer replied.

Weiss quickly moved down to the ground again, then stepped over to Azura and sat down in the chair that Ruby had reluctantly left. She sighed, rubbing a hand down her face.

Azura raised an eyebrow. "Tired?"

Weiss gave him a sidelong glance. "No. But I've been working on this dance for a few weeks now. I'd like for it to go well."

"Fair enough. I think it will go great, though."

Weiss scoffed. "Are you even going? I haven't exactly seen you do anything in regards to it."

Azura shrugged. "I might as well, I guess. Summer's making me go anyway."

Weiss laughed lightly. "You and your ghosts. Sometimes I do wonder if you ever say no to Summer."

"Hey!"

"It's true! I have yet to see a single moment where you don't agree with her. It's quite amusing, I must say."

Summer's laughter didn't help his case.

Azura sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Okay, I see how it is. The Ice Queen has jokes now. Very funny."

"Of course I have jokes." Weiss said defensively. "I'm not a robot, you know!"

Azura laughed. "Uh huh, sure. I'll believe you for now."

Weiss frowned, a hint of amusement in her voice as she replies. "Maybe I shouldn't show you mercy and ask if you wished to join me for the dance, if that is how you will act."

Azura smiled, shrugging. "Hey, I can't get in Jaune's way."

Weiss quickly sobered up from her joking attitude, looking at Azura. "Really? I thought we talked about this already, Azura."

"Hey, easy. I'm just saying that Jaune hasn't fully decided to give up."

The Schnee heiress sighed. "You would think he would at this point."

Azura leans forward, reaching a hand forward to place it on her arm. "Weiss, at least give him the chance. And well, if you still feel the same after it, just tell him to stop and stay as friends."

Weiss frowned, looking away. "I guess so."

"Hey, he'll understand. He's a nice guy like that." Azura further said.

Weiss nods. "Yeah, that's true. He might be an dumb oaf, but he's a friendly one as well."

Azura nods in return, sitting back again. Weiss shook out her limbs, getting back up, then silently moves back over to where she was working, getting her glyphs working again to lift herself up. A few minutes later, Yang and Ruby returned with two boxes each. Once they set them down where Yang had been working, Ruby returned to her chair again.

"Hey." She said.

"Hey yourself. How'd things go with those boxes?"

Ruby groans. "I was forced to go to that stupid dance...Yang made me agree to it."

Azura chuckled, patting Ruby's shoulder in amused pity. "I am so sorry for you, you little weapon prodigy."

"Soooo…" Ruby said, looking at him limply from her chair.

Azura tilts his head. "Yes, Ruby?"

"Would you like to go with me?" She asked, before spiralling into rapid excuses. "I mean, like as friends, because I know that would be really weird, and if you still don't want to, then I understa-ow!" Ruby finished abruptly, rubbing her forehead from where Azura flicked her.

"Sure, I'll go with you." Azura said, laughing as he spoke.

Ruby looked away, tapping her fingers together. "Oh...okay. I just didn't want to be alone in there, and I bet I'll have to wear those evil things…"

Seeing Ruby start to descend into grumbles, Azura smiled. "You'd be fine even if you went alone, Ruby."

"Shush, you. Yang said the same thing." Ruby quickly replied.

"And Weiss would likely say the same, in her own little way. Unless she's still mad about you not studying." Azura jokingly retorted.

"Would Blake say that?" Ruby suddenly asked.

Azura was surprised by the sudden shift in the conversation, trying to say something in response. "Well…"

Ruby shook her head, her eyes looking at her lap. "I know, I know...she would. But she's doing her whole thing with being bitter and distant again. I mean, will she even go to the dance tomorrow?"

"Yes, she will. You can trust me on that, Rubes." Yang said, popping up behind Ruby and draping her arms over her.

Ruby smiled, looking up at Yang. "You sound really sure, sis. Why's that?"

Yang laughed. "Hey, I have my ways."

"Such as teasing into submission." Weiss said, moving to stand next to Azura.

Yang grinned. "I don't want to hear it from the heiress who marked our ghostly boy with her glyphs."

Ruby was trying not to laugh as Azura glanced at Weiss, who looked a little red.

"It's for a good purpose!" She defended.

"To mark your property?" Yang retorted, still grinning.

They all laughed while Weiss tried to articulate herself. In between laughs, Azura could catch a confident look in Yang's eyes. Whatever she had planned to get Blake to go to the dance, she was pretty sure of herself that it would work.

Tomorrow was going to be something, Azura felt. Excitement built inside of him, though he could tell it was Summer more than anything.

.

.(Line Break)

.

August 31st

Saturday

Clear

"She's just a little nervous, nothing that bad." Blake said, before speaking more quietly. "She's locked herself in the bathroom, though."

Azura frowned, adjusting his suit. It wasn't the fanciest thing, and he was even just using the tie from the student uniform. In his defense, it was red, going with the color he knew Ruby would have.

"Okay, I can handle that. You have a dance to get to as well, Blake."

Blake smiled, and while he could still see her tired look, it had lessened compared to what it had been looking like recently. "That is true, Just thought I would let you know, since I was left to try and help her."

Azura smiled, nodding. "Then get going. I'll handle this."

Blake nodded, turning and walking down the hall. Azura called after her a moment later.

"You look great, Blake. If I don't see you in the dance at some point, have some fun."

Blake waved back at him, still walking away. "Of course, Azura. You as well."

Azura shook his head again, then looked over at Luna. "You don't need to stick around, mother. If you want to, you can stay in the dorm. It's quiet in there, you know."

Luna tilted her head at him, fox ears twitching.

"Could always play music as well. I'm leaving my scrolls there." Azura added.

Luna nodded, moving forward to brush her lips on his cheek. Azura chuckled as she did so, speaking.

"Love you too. Now, get going, I have a certain Ruby to help."

Once she left, Azura breathed in and out, then officially stepped into the open RWBY dorm. He closed the door, hearing the sound of pacing feet in the bathroom. A look around the room showed what he expected, that being a room full of scattered objects. He had to admit that he liked the homely feeling, despite the dirtiness of it.

It also reminded him of Nora.

He smirked as he thought of how excited Nora had been to drag Ren to the dance. But, a moment later, he shook the thought, turning to look at the closed bathroom door. He slowly walked to be in front of it, then gently knocked on it.

"Heya, Ruby. I'm here."

The pacing stopped for a moment. "Azura? Oh no, I'm sorry! It hasn't been too long, has it?!"

Azura chuckled. "No, Ruby. It's only been twenty minutes since the dance started. We still have more than three hours. The dance ends at midnight."

"Right...right. I've just been thinking of different things." Her pacing continued, a bit more rapid now.

"Everything okay, Ruby?" He asked, a sense of urgency coming from Summer.

"What? Of course everything is okay." She quickly replied.

"That's not something a pacing introvert who locked herself in the bathroom would say." He said flatly.

The sound paused again. Then he heard a sigh.

"Azura?"

Azura leaned against the wall, looking out over the room. "Ruby."

"Do you think I'm good enough for this? I mean...dances and social stuff isn't my thing. I'm the weapon prodigy...the one who's younger than everyone else. I wasn't meant to be all pretty and dancy."

Azura frowned at her words. "Of course you're good enough, Ruby. No one will judge you for being a little less comfortable with being at a dance. And hey, if you feel pretty for yourself, then you're pretty enough. You make your own beauty, or something, you know?"

"...Are you sure?"

"Yes, Ruby. I'm sure."

"Okay."

Azura watched the door open, and Ruby stepped out, barefoot, but in her dress. A simple red design was fitting for her, and the black frills along the skirt made him feel like it was an inversed version of her normal wear. Black silk straps could be seen over a dark shroud covering the top of her chest up to her neck, where the straps came together to wrap around it. A thicker, belt-like, silk piece was wrapped around her waist, over the dress, and it overall completed the dress. It made his partially handmade suit seem less of a good outfit, but he didn't let that bother him.

"You look amazing, Ruby. You shouldn't worry so much." He said, smiling.

Ruby gave an awkward smile in return. "You look good, too."

She moved away, sitting on Blake's bed and grabbed the red heels with a sigh. Azura chuckled to himself.

"I did say I would…" Ruby grumbled.

As she kept making quiet complaints, putting the heels on, Azura was glad to see that moment of nervousness gone from Ruby. Though, he couldn't say he had done much to help, outside of a few words.

She stood up, leaning on the bed pole that was held up by books. After a few moments, she looked at Azura and gave a worried smile. Azura moved to stand in front of her, arms hovering at her sides.

"Baby steps, yeah?"

"Yeah. Baby steps would be what this is." Ruby said.

She stepped forward, taking away her own support, and stumbled towards Azura. He caught her, and she laughed a little with her hands on his chest.

"How does Weiss even walk in these things…?" She asked.

"Magic, probably." Was his response, before stepping back and gently holding onto her wrists. "You going to be okay with wearing those things?"

"Uh…"

"Would you like some help walking to the dance so that you can get used to them?" He asked.

"Yes, please." Ruby said.

Azura nodded, moving to stand at her side, then wrapped one arm around her waist, holding the other one out. "Grab on."

Ruby grasped his hand, lacing their fingers. He could feel her attempting to walk, so he stepped with her, going slow. One awkward step at a time, he made sure to keep an eye on Ruby, just in case she stumbled. They eventually made it out of the dorm, stopping for a moment to close the door, then slowly made their way towards the dance.

"You two are adorable." Summer said, warmth in her voice.

Azura smiled, shaking his head. When he spoke, he looked more directly at Ruby's face. "You're doing good for someone who doesn't wear heels, you know. Weiss would probably be proud if she saw you."

Ruby continued shambling along with him. "Y-you think so? I can barely walk without you right now."

"Bah, we all start somewhere." Azura said. "Come on, let's get to that dance."

.

.(Line Break)

.

When they finally got to the ballroom, it had been thirty minutes since it started. Azura looked at Ruby, seeing her still struggle, but clearly with a bit less support from him now. Fancy dancy or not, Ruby was a quick learner. The sound of the music in the ballroom was not quite as loud as Junior's club, and seemed more waltz-like, so it was easy to hear Yang, who had been waiting to greet the people coming in.

"There you two are! And looking quite adorable, with poor Rubes getting help to walk." Yang said teasingly, as Azura looked out to see the large group of dressed up students within the ballroom.

"It's not my fault these stupid lady stilts are trying to kill me." Ruby complained.

Yang laughed her off. "You'll be fine, I promise! Either way, you're some of the last people to come in, so just enjoy your time. Actual partner dances won't be starting for a while."

"Partner dances?" Azura asked.

"Yup. So, I hope you guys know some good slow dances." Yang replied.

Azura and Ruby shared a glance, then looked back at Yang. The look they got back was mocking with Yang's wide grin.

"You guys will do great, I'm sure."

Azura shook his head in amusement as Ruby moved off again, though slower than the urgency she probably had wanted. She moved off to the side, where a line of chairs were, and separated from Azura to sit down with a relieved sigh. Azura sat down in the empty chair next to her.

"These things are going to be the end of me."

Azura looked over to see Ruby looking at her feet. He nudged her with a shoulder, chuckling.

"You're doing good so far, Ruby. I'm willing to bet you will be able to fight just like Weiss by the end of the night." He said jokingly.

Ruby laughed at the words. "I feel like she'd be a great ballerina with how great she can move in heels. Those things are evil, I say."

Azura smiled, amused. "I wouldn't say heels are exactly evil, but I see your point."

Ruby sighed. "To the socially awkward?" She asked him.

"If only Jaune were here." Azura replied with a chuckle.

"We'd be a trifecta of this stuff, then. Where is Jaune, though?"

"Mister Arc is having a conversation with Miss Schnee. A good one, if I had to guess." A familiar voice said from Azura's left.

When they looked over, they saw Ozpin sitting there with his classic mug, looking at them. He continued a moment later.

"I am simply making sure my students are enjoying the dance. I noticed you two come in late, only to scurry to the sidelines."

Ruby looked at Azura, who simply shrugged, letting Ruby respond. "Oh...no, I'm enjoying my time so far. I'm just not much of...a dancey...fancy…person."

"Well, you can't spend your entire life on the battlefield." Ozpin replied.

"Yeah, that lesson's been floating around a lot recently…" She grumbled.

Azura chuckled. "That it has, Ruby."

Ozpin smiled. "You know, fighting and dancing aren't so different from each other. Two partners interlocked within an exchange of body movements." He chuckles. "Though, the only problem with dancing is that one wrong move could lead to a swollen foot or sprained ankle."

"That would hurt, yeah." Ruby said, glancing at her heels. "Better to sit here then, safe and sound." She continued, laughing awkwardly.

"It's not everyday that friends can come together like this. Time has a way of testing things...bonds, memory, even reaction times. But having days like this, to simply talk and be with friends that will keep those very bonds strong. Nights like these are ones we won't forget, I would hope." Ozpin said, looking out over the students dancing. "Now, if you excuse me, I must see if other students need anyone to talk to."

Azura and Ruby waved him off, watching him go. Azura looked over at Ruby after a few seconds, speaking. "Wel, that was a perspective changer, wasn't it?

"It was a very Ozpin thing to do, I think." She responded.

Azura laughed. "That it was. He wouldn't be the headmaster if he didn't do such a thing."

.

.(Line Break)

.

Azura and Ruby had been talking for a while now, a cup of punch in both of their hands as they stood at the table with the punch bowl. Azura had been keeping track of time, and they were starting to close in on the third hour of the dance within a half hour. It was also nice to see Ruby start to just relax and have a good time, heels forgotten.

"Hey, how's everyone else doing right now?" Ruby asked, looking out over the people.

"Hmm." Azura said aloud as he looked out over the crowd of people as well.

He could see Blake and Yang on the side of the dance floor, simply talking and dancing with each other, having a good time. Behind them to the right, standing at one of the tables, he could see Ren entertaining Nora as they spoke to each other. Further to the other side, Weiss could be seen talking to Jaune, the two of them seeming to just keep it simple.

"Well, I don't know where Pyrrha or Pyra are, but everyone else is having a good time, I think. I bet Sun is here as well, somewhere. Probably with his team."

Ruby smiled. "That's good."

Azura nodded, a smile on his own face. "Yes." He heard the current song end, some students leaving the central dance floor, and Blake get pulled a little closer to Yang. "Huh...going to a slower song, I guess."

"Should we...I don't know, join them?" Ruby asked.

Azura was surprised to hear the words. "I thought you didn't want to dance?"

Ruby looked at him, a look of confidence in her eyes. "I want to try now."

Azura laughed. "Then let's go."

Azura led Ruby out onto the dance floor, looking at Yang and Blake to mimic their position. He pulled Ruby closer to him, letting her relax and place her arms around his neck, while he kept his hands just above the waist.

"You can actually reach that high now, huh?" Azura teased.

"Shut up and dance with me, you meanie." Ruby said jokingly. "And for your information, I've grown two inches since I came to Beacon."

Azura laughed, copying the slow motions of the others, simply swaying and circling. "You know, I guess going simple and clean works sometimes."

"It's better, I'd say. I don't have a chance to mess up and step on your toes." Ruby said.

As the dance continued, Azura smiled warmly, feeling Summer's happiness within the moment. It was nice to feel that kind of joy come from the Rose mother.

"I have no aura up, just to say. I'm trusting you to not step on my toes."

Ruby giggled. "Hey, this is simple enough for me to not mess up, okay?"

"Good to know." Azura replied.

They danced in silence, and Azura looked around as they spun. He noticed that Jaune was speaking more urgently to Weiss, looking rather sorry and apologetic. Weiss smiled as she nodded and waved him off, and he smiled in return, swiftly moving off and up the stairs, towards the open balcony that was up there. Azura frowned as he watched Weiss sigh and frown, playing with her fingers.

"Hey, Azura." Ruby called to him.

"Yeah?" Azura asked, giving a small smile as he looked down at Ruby.

"You can give Weiss the next dance. I'm sure Jaune has good reasons, but I don't want her to feel left out."

Azura looked over at Weiss again. "So you saw that as well."

Ruby chuckled. "Hard not to when you were looking away and frowning at something."

Azura laughed quietly. "You have a point. And well, if you don't mind, I can give Weiss a dance."

"Course I don't, dummy." Ruby replied.

As the song ended, they stepped off of their place on the dance floor. Ruby moved around the outside of the dance floor, only slightly stumbling, and reached Weiss, and Azura watched as she pointed to him, and Weiss looked over at him for a moment before turning to Ruby to talk. They had a bit of a back and forth, before Weiss sighed and nodded.

They came back around the dance floor, and Ruby smiled and nodded to him. He smiled back, watching her go to the punch bowl nearby. He turned back, looking to see Weiss looking at him.

"You didn't have to do this." She said.

Azura shook his head. "It's fine, Weiss."

She frowned, but allowed him to bring her onto the dance floor anyways. They took up the same positions that Azura had used with Ruby, starting to dance the same way once the song started.

"Sorry if this is a bit simple for you, Weiss. I'm not the most amazing dancer."

Weiss shook her head. "It's perfectly acceptable, Azura. I may be an heiress and a Schnee, but I'm not going to expect some country boy to be the best waltzer ever."

Azura chuckled. "Country boy?"

"You know what I meant." She said, rolling her eyes.

Azura nodded, thinking for a few moments on if he should bring up Jaune at all. A few moments later, he decided to just go with it.

"So, what was...with you and Jaune? Nothing bad, I hope?"

Weiss frowned, looking away as they spun. "Not exactly, no. It just…"

"Didn't feel that, uh…'special'?" Azura said, attempting to finish her sentence.

"Well, that, but also something else. I just feel like Jaune began to, I don't know, realize something?"

Azura frowned, confused. "Realize something?"

Weiss sighed. "I don't know...but then, he said he had to go. Something about Pyrrha needing his help." She laughed quietly, but it sounded slightly hollow to him. "Of course I let him do it. It would be wrong not to."

Azura bit his lip, sighing, and tightening his grip on Weiss a little. "Sorry for bringing it up."

"Huh?" She responded, looking up at him. "No, no. It's fine, really."

He wondered if he would ever get a straight answer from Weiss. Even Blake wasn't like that all the time.

Azura smiled, letting it go. "Of course." He looked around him for a moment, then spoke again. "Well, I'd say all that work you and Yang put in for the dance was worth it, yeah?"

Weiss smiled, looking proud of herself as traces of darker emotions left her. "It was. I'm just glad that so many people have been enjoying it. Even Headmaster Ozpin seemed pleased with it."

"That's good, then. You know, you should mess around with this stuff more. The whole decorating thing." He responded, deciding to go with this topic.

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Maybe, maybe not. I'm quite happy with my current place, though."

"The huntress gig? You know, I could always ask Summer to regale you in her tales. She has quite a few fun ones."

"Maybe I will. We'll have to see, though."

They exchanged a few quiet laughs before simply dancing in silence. It was simple, and nothing quite that special, which left Azura to wonder if it was good enough for Weiss. He couldn't really help himself from thinking about it.

"I'm sure she's perfectly content with it, Azura." Summer came to the forefront, taking his focus.

"What makes you so sure?"

"Well, I know I would personally be delighted. That, and it's a gut feeling."

Azura hummed, trusting Summer to be right about it. Though, he took notice of Ruby staring out the entrance at something. He frowned upon seeing her leave, almost rushed.

"Go to Ruby." A soft voice whispered to him.

He turned, noticing Weiss. They had stopped dancing at this point, and Weiss brought them to the side.

"Weiss?" He responded after a moment.

"It's okay." She smiled, seeming honest about it. "You've given me enough. Make sure she gets back safely, okay?"

Azura looked at her with worry, before nodding. "I will, I promise." He said, before turning and moving off.

He reached the entrance, looking out along the courtyard, noticing that Ruby had been going left, her form visible in the distance. He started to stride swiftly in her direction, still unsure of what she was doing. As the distance began to shorten, the towering form of the CCT got closer.

"Why are you going there, Ruby…?" He said to himself.

He continued to shorten the distance, the path to the CCT now fully visible. He saw her stop and gasp, and he managed to close the gap between them. He reached her side, placing his hand on her arm. He saw her gaze staring at something, turning his head to find what held her gaze. It was a guard on the ground, just up the steps before the CCT doors.

Ruby looked up at him, her eyes wide. "He's dead, Azura."

Azura frowned, looking closer and noticing the twisted neck. "Damn…Ruby, get Crescent Rose!"

She quickly grabbed her scroll and called for her rocket locker. It zoomed towards them a moment later, opening once it impacted with the ground. Ruby moved to grab Crescent Rose, instantly unsheathing it.

Azura ran forward once he saw her do so, and she moved to be running next to him. She spoke as they entered the CCT.

"Azura, your weapons! Why won't you call for them?"

Azura shook his head. "Can't. Left my scrolls in the dorm."

"What, why?!"

"No time anymore! We have to go. I'll handle myself if a fight breaks out." Azura said, looking away from Ruby's worried eyes.

They turned down one hall, looking wildly for where the person went. Though, they quickly found more bodies on the ground, all dead.

"Fuck. How'd several guards get taken down like this so fast?" He quickly spoke, feeling Summer's spike in emotion.

"I don't know...but they are bad people." Ruby said, her grip on Crescent Rose tightening.

"They?" Azura said in worry.

"Two. Women, I think." She quickly responded.

Azura made a mental note before responding. "I think they went up to the top. Let's grab an elevator."

They entered an elevator, and he was just glad that more bodies weren't in there, waiting for them. As it moved up, the music that played seeming more creepy, Azura felt a surge of worry rip through him.

"Ruby…" Summer said, like she was talking to herself.

Azura frowned, grabbing onto Ruby's arm. "Ruby."

She looked at him, her eyes wide.

"Be careful, please. For her sake."

Ruby gasped, as if just now thinking of it. "You too, Azura. For my sake?"

Azura nodded. "Will do. Be ready for a fight, in case it does happen."

The elevator doors opened a few moments later. They quickly stepped out, looking around the room. The lights were dim, but Azura was sure it wasn't bad enough for Ruby to struggle to see in. They stepped forward together, and Ruby called out.

"Is anyone there?"

Azura kept looking around the room, trying to spot any movement. They closed in on the central desk, when two people stepped out from it. Azura jumped back, Ruby just to his side. He frowned, looking them over to see if he could spot anything suspicious or some way to guess if they would attack, and how. They had very similar outfits, purely black and skin tight, and masks that covered their entire face. They only notable traits they had being that they were indeed female, that they both had black hair, and that they could clearly see them, but they had no visible eyes.

"You aren't supposed to be here." Azura said simply, raising his fists up and spacing his legs evenly. "What were you doing here?"

Neither woman spoke, but they glanced at each other with a tilt of their heads. The one on the right suddenly created a short spear made of a dark material, throwing it the other one, who grabbed it with ease. A moment later, and the one that created the spear had two swords in her hands.

Azura glanced at Ruby, who looked at him. She nodded, her lips tight and her eyes sharp. They sped forward, petals flying out from their semblances, each of them picking a target. Ruby spiral slashed into the one with the swords, a sharp clang and screech being heard, while Azura brought an open palm up to slap the incoming stab away as he hit the shaft, his punch missing as she dodged back.

He kept up the aggression, going off of what he knew of close quarters combat and what Yang had shown him, and brought out a combo of keeping the spear away while trying to land a solid blow. He quickly sped back and away from the sweeping slash towards him, dodging and following after Summer's shadow movements once the unknown woman rushed forward with stabs and vertical cuts.

Azura jumped up onto one of the panels, then directly towards the spear wielder, spinning around the petals and bringing his heel down onto the spear, hearing a crack in the glass. She pushed back, flaring what seemed to be fire dust through the spear. Azura landed on his hands, flipping back and landing on his feet. Quickly back to dodging, Azura followed after Summer again, the spear seeming to get closer to his face than he would prefer.

He noticed that he was being dragged closer to Ruby and the other woman, but he couldn't escape the ruthless and unstopping assault of stabs and slices.

"Ruby!" He called out.

Ruby spared just a glance at him as she blocked and slashed, forcing the woman with swords off of her for a moment. "Petal Swap!"

Azura remembered the team attack she had brought to him. Well, he remembered several of her ideas, but he knew what she wanted to do.

"Go!" She called.

A sudden explosion of petals flew around the fight, and he slid down as Ruby leapt up and spun towards the spear woman, and Azura came up with a punch, making contact with one of the swords and hearing another crack. He growled, dodging one slash and pushing away the other one and taking the slash with his aura. He punched forward quickly, releasing a third punch and feeling it miss.

"Go!" Ruby called out again.

He flipped up, kicking towards the sword woman as he went over Ruby. He felt the spear slice along his aura, keeping the momentum and kicking behind him and spinning, punching down as he hopped up. It missed, but Azura simply kept going and punched with his other hand and feeling another crack along the spear.

"Go!" Ruby called out a third time.

Azura spun away from the spear woman, feeling Crescent Rose's large scythe head slice over his head as he once again punched towards the sword woman, who dodged this time and brought her swords against his arm, the only way he could block.

"Out!" Ruby called out, though she said it with a hiss of pain.

He jumped out, feeling Ruby's dress brush against him before he saw her fall over. He grit his teeth, standing in front of Ruby as the two women looked at him. Gunshots quickly went off a moment later, the sound of them heavy and loud. Azura whipped his head, looking at who had been firing.

"That will be quite enough." General Ironwood stated, his arm outstretched with a heavy looking pistol in his hand.

Azura moved to Ruby, lifting her up in his arms as he crouched down. He looked down at her, her face in a grimace, and frowned.

"Watch out!"

Azura looked up, seeing Ironwood crouch in front of them and grunt as both the spear and swords were thrown at him, before they crackled and vanished into clouds of smoke. Azura brought Ruby closer, trying to see through it.

As it started to disperse, and it became clear that only the three of them were in the room, Azura shook his head and looked at Ruby. "You okay?"

Ruby nodded, transforming Crescent Rose and putting it in her lap as she responded. "It was those stupid lady stilts. I think I might have sprained an ankle while we were doing Petal Swap."

Azura smirked. "On the bright side, it went pretty well, as far as never-tested-before team attacks go."

The smoke had fully vanished by now, and Ironwood was standing and looking around. After a few seconds, he turned and looked down at Azura and Ruby.

"You two are fine, I take it?" He asked, his voice serious.

Azura was the one to respond. "Yeah, we're fine. Ruby thinks she sprained her ankle, however."

"Aura should cover it, though." Ruby quickly said.

Ironwood frowned, but nodded. "True." He sighs. "Stay here with me, just in case they are still here." He paused for a moment, before continuing. "And I have several questions about what was going on here. But that will be for later, once Oz is informed of what occurred."

Azura looked down at Ruby again, a tired and nervous grin on his face. She gave him a just as tired, but more anxious smile in return. Azura was hoping it would be a memorable night, but it seemed he would get more than what he initially asked for. More so, with the imposing General standing next to them.

.

.(Chapter End)

.

Not going to lie, that fight in the CCT was a lot of fun to write. But, I do hope that the dance itself wasn't bad, even if I didn't really put a focus on it. That's all to really say here.

Have a nice day/evening!