The young leader paced back and forth in her room, or at least she tried to, but she only managed a few steps before these damned heels tripped her up!
She wasn't even wearing ones that high, just enough to qualify as something you could wear to a dance. And, yes, the pacing could be argued to be practice walking in heels, but really Ruby was just nervous.
Agh! Why was she even nervous about this at all? She was a huntress-in-training, she'd fought Grimm, terrorists and criminals but she was scared of being in a room full of people and dancing.
This was so stupid!
She took a breath and checked herself out in the mirror. At least she didn't look awful: a dark red dress had been her choice with dark tights and heels. Ruby didn't really know how to pick out the fashionable clothes from the boring ones, but she was confident that it was passable at least.
She groaned. She really didn't want to do this. Dancing! Dancing of all things!
At least she could enjoy the food and drink, even if she knew Weiss would be watching her like a hawk so that she didn't have anything she wasn't allowed. She tapped her heels off the floor. She needed to calm down she told herself. All she needed to do was show up, be seen by her teammates, and not fall on her face.
Fleetingly she wondered where her teammates were. Weiss was probably already at the dace, having organised it she'd told Ruby that she'd greet guests for the first hour or so while team CVFY got to have fun before switching out. Which was nice of her all things considered.
She wasn't sure where Yang was exactly, just that she'd stayed over in Sun and Neptune's room last night for some reason. Were her and Sun really a thin? She didn't think so but if things kept going on like this what else could there be. She hadn't even seen what her sister was going to ear at the dace yet, but hey, at least it would be a spectacle.
As for Blake? Well she'd said she had something important to do and vanished for the whole day.
Fortunately it gave Ruby free reign to embarrass herself privately in her room before the dance, but would it kill them to be here to give her a pep talk or something? Wasn't that something big sisters are supposed to do?
'Isn't that your fault?' her mind whispered treacherously 'Yang never gets the chance to be a sister because you always push her away. Maybe if you tired as much as she did you'd have a healthy relationship.'
"it's not my fault, it's not my fault that I've been out in the world all this time." She whispered to an empty room.
'no, but it's your fault for never giving a decent explanation as to what happened. Why do you lie to her? She's your family'
I have to keep it a secret, it's to protect her!"
And who told you that? Ozpin? What's so dangerous about knowing the truth? She's already training to be a huntress. She's already putting her life on the line."
"But-"
Ruby was interrupted by a knock on the door. Sher had snapped towards it and she blinked. Who could that be? The dance had technically already started, and no one should be back at this time.
Ruby answered the door, and was surprised to see Amber waiting for her with a smile. She stared at the older girl in shock and awe, but before she could register why….
"Hey Ruby," she waved. "Ready to go?"
"W-what?"
The reaper stared. Was she…
"Don't worry, I'm not your date," she smiled, already hearing the unspoken question. "But I know enough about you to know that if I don't bring you with me you'll be in your room for another hour."
Ruby pouted. Just what was she trying to say? A smile spread onto her face despite herself however.
"Well I guess you're right," she admitted. "So you came to get me then."
"I did," the maiden grinned. She offered her arm. "Would you like to depart, my faithful protector?"
She giggled. "If we must, I suppose I will allow it." She linked arms with Amber and they made their way down the hallway."
As they did, the older girl inspected Ruby's dress. She smiled. "You look good," she told her. "I know it's pretty much a part of your everyday outfit but red looks good on you."
"T-thanks," Ruby coughed. "But what about yours? You look… amazing."
She wasn't exaggerating; Amber wore a dress reaching down to her ankles, but with a cut on the side to free her legs and show them off. The colours were soft reds, bright oranges and browns, autumn didn't stop there; her arms and legs were wrapped in golden jewellery, ringlets and jewels shining brightly and a necklace of pure gold to outshine it all..Her hair was tied back into a long braid that fell over one shoulder and her eyes shined bright, it was as if her scars weren't even there.
Amber wasn't dressed for a prom or a dance, she was dressed as if she were going to meet royalty.
Ruby said as much and the half-maiden's eyes shined bright with joy. "I know," she preened. "Ozpin had someone get it for me; he said I was going to be the guest of honour. I'm still finding it hard to believe how wonderful this all is."
Ruby blinked. "Well that's nice of him. I… I guess that's something he would do. Did he say why?"
"He did," she nodded. "He told me that I was under too much stress and that I should enjoy myself when even I could. He said that even with my responsibility to think about it came with plenty of rewards."
And he just happened to have something like this prepared for Amber. Ruby didn't like it. It might have just been her paranoia r not reading the situation, but the whole thing… no, she shouldn't think about it like that. Trust was important, if she started to think like that she'd tell Ozpin that she wasn't up to her tasks.
She needed to trust Ozpin and not end up like others before her, a traitor or a coward.
Qrow had told her what had happened with his sister, with Raven turning her back on all of them.
Ending up like that… wasn't something she wanted.
So she would have to trust Ozpin, that there wasn't some ulterior motive behind this and he was genuinely trying to make Amber happy for all that she was doing.
That wasn't so hard to do.
Right?
…
…
Yang sighed as she leaned against the wall. Why was she even here again? Oh yeah, because Neptune ordered her to be, how he'd managed that she didn't know but here she was, hanging around with a bored expression on her face.
At least the punch was good, she acknowledged as she took a sip from the cup in her hand. That was something, but she felt a little left out as her eyes roamed over the couples dancing together in the centre of the room. There were some pretty good dancers too, well, most were amateurish but every now and again she'd see someone like Cardin dancing with Velvet – and wasn't that a surprise – and see them move as if dancing together was second nature to them.
Ugh, and here she was watching it like some loser on the side. This had been a bad idea from the start, not only because she didn't come with a date, but because she was wearing a suit, which didn't do much for attracting any guys to her.
It's not like she cared whether she was wearing a dress or tux, and if she was honest it was kind of nice, but nobody was approaching her, and she just… didn't feel up to doing it herself. That fire from before had dimmed as soon as she'd stepped into the hall, and she didn't know what to do.
Ugh, and now she was getting all poetic.
Fuckin' Blake.
She sighed, kicking off the wall and making to leave when her scroll buzzed. She reached for it, wondering who would be messaging her now of all times and blinked when she saw it was from Sun.
It was a single line: come to the entrance. What was that supposed to mean? Apart from the literal sense why had he sent it in the first place?
She huffed, stashing her scroll away and finished her drink.
What the hel, it wasn't like she was going to be doing anything else, and it was on the way out. She manoeuvred her way through groups of people still flowing in, careful not to step between couples as she went and walked outside.
The night air hit her and she inhaled the cool breeze. It was great weather even for night, with the moon still rising in the sky and both the lamps along the paths and the stars themselves helping to illuminate it all. Yeah, it was nice to be out here at least.
Now where on Remnant was Sun?"
As if one queue, someone called out her name and she turned to the voice. She didn't know how she didn't realise it straight away but it wasn't Sun's voice.
It was Blake's.
The blonde froze at the sight of her.
Yang had thought that if she saw her partner so soon after the other day she'd have words to say to her, none too gentle and enough to give the girl a piece of her mind. Now though, nothing came to mind.
Blake wore a dress to match her hair, down to her knees, with bare legs and heels not too high but enough that she was Yang's height now. Blake's Bramber eyes flickered nervously to the floor and her ears twitched nervously. She managed a small smile as she looked at Yang, and the blonde had a moment to realise the bags under her eyes were gone. Yang hadn't seen her yesterday. Had she taken her advice and gotten some rest?
The brunt of Yang's anger towards her partner dulled, and although she was still upset, it wasn't enough to overtake the feeling she got when she saw the Faunus like that.
Blake was closer to her now, steeling herself.
"Yang," she said. "You look good in a tux. I guess that's not really a surprise."
"I…" Yang tried to force out. "What are you doing here."
"I-I came to the dance," Blake explained, suddenly nervous. "You… that's what you had wanted to ask me in the library on Friday… isn't it?"
It was. But she'd never actually gotten the chance to say it, and now Blake was here all dressed up and walking up to her like she was her date.
w-was she?
Yang didn't have a handle on what was going on.
Blake held up her hand, an offer for Yan to take it.
"So?" she asked. "Are we going in?"
"I…" suddenly, Yang's eyes flicked over her partner's shoulder (very nice shoulders by the way) and saw the blond Faunus in the background, grinning in her direction and giving the thumbs up
Sun! This was his doing! That beautiful bastard!
A not quite confident, but eager smile overtook her face. Alright, why not?"
She grasped Blake's hand and thanked that her hands hadn't gotten clammy from Blake's sudden appearance.
She did the tux-wearing thing and lead her date – oh god – into the hall.
Maybe it was luck, or another thing planned by Sun but a new song was about to start and with a look seeking permission from Blake she stepped onto the floor with the other couples.
To Yang's simultaneous relief and dread it was a slow song, r which was good to set things up so that she could mentally prepare herself, but dreadful because it required the two partners to be nearly flush against each other.
Which she most certainly was not mentally prepared for.
The music started up, and Blake let her take the lead as they danced. Maybe she should that Neptune too, the two days she taught him to dance meant that she got to practice her moves before tonight. She wasn't rusty in the art of slow dancing at least.
Yang's eyes met Blake's for a millisecond before both of them looked away. The silence ticked on for a bit longer before Yang went to speak.
Right as Blake did.
"Blake-"
"Yang I-"
They paused, and yang always herself a little embarrassed smile as she looked away for a moment. "You can go first if you want."
Blake hesitated for a second more before steeling herself.
"Yang I'm sorry." She said. "What I said to you in the library I… I shouldn't have said what I said. I was tired and irritated and, I know that's not an excuse but I didn't…. I'm so, so sorry for hurting you."
The blonde managed to crack a smile, as weak as it was, even as an awful feeling churned in her gut. "S'fine, not like it wasn't true."
"It's not true! Blake hissed out. The Faunus gripped her partner tighter and the brawler was forced to look into her eyes "Listen to me Yang, you have this. This hurtle that the rest of us don't that makes it difficult for you sometimes but you are not crazy. Do you hear me?"
She looked away. "I was an idiot for saying it, for saying the thing that I knew would hurt you the most at the time. I… I'm an idiot because I let this… this obsession with the White Fang take over and you were just worried about me and I hurt you and-"
"Blake," Yang cut in, holding her so that she could get her point across. "Stop."
"But-"
"No, stop apologising."
Yang took a breath. This wasn't like her at all but… she didn't like it. she didn't like hearing Blake apologising to her. Maybe that was because…
"I was just as bad as you," she confessed, but her gaze hardened when Blake went to argue. "Listen, just for a second, okay?"
A hesitant nod. She sighed again.
"You're right. You shouldn't have said what you said. It hurt, to be called crazy by my own partner even if I know now that you didn't mean it I was angry at the time and couldn't help it from stinging. But… that's my fault just as much as yours."
"Y-yang?"
"I pushed you," the blonde grit out. "I ignored your worry about them because I couldn't be bothered to think about it and I shrugged off your history because I was more focused on what I wanted. I was more interested in asking you to the dance than actually caring about your health and that makes me sick to my stomach."
She growled. "You can't say you're sorry Blake, not when I was just as bad, I mean, I even acted like everything that's happened to the Faunus was no big deal and that it wasn't something I cared about but I do because you care about it."
She swallowed. "And I… I…"
Why couldn't she say it? What was she even trying to say?
"At least you have something that drives you," She said instead. "To me it's crazy that anyone my age could have… goals beyond graduating. Look at me Blake; I'm a thrill seeker without a plan. I don't know what I want to do with my life and no matter how much I think about it nothing comes to mind. I want to be a huntress sure but… even they have to settle down eventually. Then I look at you and your goals."
She smiled. "You want to right inequality in the world, create peace and understanding between humans and Faunus, you wanna stop the White Fang, become a huntress, save lives and just make the world a better place."
Yang's smile turned brittle. "You've got amazing dreams that I couldn't even touch, and I know you can do it, because you're amazing." She sighed. "You really are.
Blake looked down for a moment, before meeting the blonde's gaze.
"I think that maybe… maybe we're both at fault, so maybe we should both a apologise, or," a smile flickered on the edge of her lips. "Or maybe that's what this was."
"Y-yeah," Yang breathed. "Maybe it was."
A beat of silence.
"So," Yang asked. "Why… did you show up here anyway? I mean, you could have apologised tomorrow."
Blake let out a small laugh as she looked up in amusement. "I don't think it would have the same effect if I left it any longer, and besides." She glanced around the room to the other people dancing. Yang had honestly forgotten about them. "You did ask me to the dance, or at least that's what you were going to do. It actually took me a while to get that. Sleep apparently is really important."
Yang licked her lips nervously. "So… is this…"
"A date? I think so yes."
Yang looked away for a second before she forced herself to look back. "And does that mean we're…"
"Together? I think so yes."
Yang forgot to breathe. Blake saw it and a smirk spread across her face. The dark-haired girl reached up with one hand and cupped Yang's face, tilting her head down a little and to the side.
"Here, let me show you."
Their lips met.
And Yang could breathe again.
…
…
Weiss let out a sigh of relief as she watched people move to-and-fro on the floor. So far, the dance was a success. The music was perfect, there was plenty of punch in the bowls and people were enjoying themselves. The night was still young but for now it seemed things were going well.
Why did she feel something nagging at the back of her mind then?
She shook her head. This was a time to feel good about her accomplishment, not worried about some invisible feeling.
Now if only she could have gotten-
"Salutations Friend Weiss!"
Weiss nearly jumped out of her skin at the greeting and suppressed an exasperated groan as she faced Penny.
"You know, you don't have to say salutations every time you greet someone Penny," she told her. "Saying hello is just as effective, and maybe 'Weiss' is good enough on its own."
"I see," the strange girl nodded. "I will add that to the database at a later date."
What? The heiress was about to ask her what she meant when she noticed the other strangers next to her.
"And who are these Penny?" she asked instead, glancing at the two men.
"Ah!" she said as if noticing them for the first time. "these are the Atlesian soldiers assigned to watch over me during my time at Beacon."
Weiss eyes them warily. Not that she was suspicious or anything, but for them to be guarding Penny meant that the girl was certainly more important than she acted.
"And… who is this then?" she asked again.
She was of course referring to the girl with navy-blue hair and dark skin standing next to Penny.
Said girl straightened and stepped forward.
"Ciel Soliel ma'am; a student from Atlas here to participate in the tournament and Penny Polendina's partner."
Weiss blinked. There was something… off about her.
"Ah, well in that case I am-"
"Weiss Schnee," Ciel finished for her. "Heiress of the SDC and aspiring huntress. Age: seventeen, hails predictably from high-society Atlas, member of team RWBY. Your status as of now is… unknown."
Military.
The word popped into Weiss mind almost instantly. It might have just been the regimental structure at their school, but something about Ciel was different. She was like her sister.
A professional.
Or, as close as one could come to such a thing at their age. It was obvious she wasn't in the same league as Winter, but no doubt she'd been put on a team with Penny for a reason.
Now if Weiss could just figure out what that reason was it would be great.
"It seems you are well informed," she said at last "Forgive me if that does not extend both ways. It is a pleasure to meet you all the same…Ciel."
"Likewise Miss Schnee. Forgive me for asking, but you do not seem to have a dance partner."
Weiss flushed. Well that was… why on earth would she say that? She expected it from Penny with all her social inequities but another one? Was Atlas just full of people who didn't have any tact?
But… well she was right. Weiss didn't have a partner. The heiress had been so busy helping to organise the dance and acquainting herself with team CFVY not to mention keeping up with her studies and dealing with her team… she had thought about asking Neptune, as he danced with a girl she didn't recognise.
It wasn't a sure thing, and it looked like he was relying more on talking than dancing, but it did seem to be working.
Weiss sighed. She'd planned on asking him to the dance, but he hadn't been around for her to do that.
That was… fine. It wasn't like she'd been rejected or anything, in fact she'd turned down a number of boys that had asked her. She was certain they only did it because of her name, not because of who she was. It was perfectly right for her not to associate herself with people like that.
Which was why it hurt now that she wished she'd said yes to one of them.
Weiss shot Ciel and Penny a smile, as forced as it was.
"Oh, it's fine. I was much too preoccupied to concern myself with such things. I am perfectly fine by myself at the moment."
Penny nodded understanding (Weiss was sure she was understanding it completely wrong but still)
"Ah yes! That explains it. You were too busy to arrange something so important. That makes it clear."
She blinked. "Makes what clear?"
"Why it's the same for Ruby," Penny told her, pointing to the side of the room, where her partner stood near the food table. "Ruby had been there since the beginning of the night." Her eyes snapped to the scene.
Penny was right. Ruby was stood at the edge of the room looking around like she was… lost. She looked nervous, and uncomfortable around so many people from the why she stood awkwardly on her heels to her shoulders hunched. She didn't want to be here, it was as clear to Weiss as the night sky.
She frowned.
"Excuse me for a moment." She said, not even turning to look back as she marched over to her leader. When she stopped in front of her she scowled.
"What are you doing?" she asked with her hands landing on her hips.
Ruby looked up from her drink in surprise and smiled. "Oh, hey Weiss, just uh, enjoying the night." She waved her cup in front of her. "Don't worry, it's just punch."
Her frown deepened. "That's not what I'm talking about."
Ruby looked up at her in confusion. "Um… what are you talking about then"
"You!" she hissed. "Why are you standing here instead of dancing? You shouldn't waste tonight."
Ruby blinked and raised a confused eyebrow. "Weiss… nobody asked me to the dance, remember?"
It was the older girls turn to blink. "What?"
"Nobody asked me. I told you the other day. I'm too young for anybody here so… I came alone. "It's still fun though," she assured, rocking back and forth on her heels. "I mean, I haven't really gotten involved all that much but people look like their happy. You did a great job."
Weiss stared. Had… had Ruby said she would be going alone?
Yes, she did. But Weiss hadn't listened. Or, she did, but she didn't believe it. Why wouldn't someone ask Ruby to the dance? She was wonderful! Had she really be so caught up in her own work that she forgot about her leader?
"I…" she didn't know what to say. What could she say?
Weiss had turned down scores of men, and had only ended up alone because she'd been too picky and lost her chance, and here was Ruby, who didn't even have that chance.
Honestly, what had she been thinking, when the obvious answer was right in front of her.
She blinked, before letting out an annoyed huff.
Dammit Nora.
(As if the thought had summoned her, Nora cackled in the background. Ren looked to his longtime friend questioningly, but, thins being Nora, quickly shrugged it off.)
Weiss held out her hand.
Ruby looked at it in confusion, before carrying that loo to her partner.
The Schnee huffed again. "Well then?"
"Weiss?"
"Come on you dunce, dance with me."
The reaper straightened with a startled look, Weiss looked away.
"Don't read into it. It would be poor form for the leader of team RWBY to be stuck on the side-lines. I'm just making sure that is not the case."
The girl in red didn't respond, simply staring at the hand. For a moment, Weiss was afraid Ruby would refuse, but then, she watched as Ruby grasped her hand, and looked up at her.
Weiss breathed sharply.
Ruby was… smiling… but… it was different. It was a different smile than anything she'd seen before.
Was this Ruby's genuine smile?"
"Come on then," Ruby giggled. "I'll warn you that I've never danced before. I hope you'll lead me"
The heiress straightened up. "Of course, just follow my lead; I'll be sure to show you just how good I am."
"I'll bet on it."
…
…
Blake looked up at Yang with a bemused smile. "What are you grinning act."
Said grinning blonde nearly giggled as she answered.
"Isn't it obvious?" she laughed. "I'm dancing with the most beautiful girl at the dance."
The Faunus rolled her eyes. "I'm flattered, but I'm pretty sure is an exaggeration. Especially with all these-"
"Nope."
She blinked. "Nope?"
"Nope," Yang nodded. "I don't care what anybody else thinks, cuz their wrong. You're the most beautiful person in this room." She gave a cocky smile. "Course someone as bangin' as me is second to that, and even then it's a close thing."
Blake shook her head in disbelief. "You're unbelievable. I think it might be a bit soon to be proclaiming my beauty in a roomful of people."
The blonde smirked. "You're the one that kissed me kitten, you pretty damn good at it by the way."
"Yeah…"
Yang's expression suddenly shifted to worry. "W-what's the matter? Are… are you regretting it?"
"No, of course not," Blake rushed to assure her, then hesitated. "It's just… I think I've done this wrong." She admitted. "Yang…I'm… I'm not conventional in these types of things."
"Don't you mean inexperienced?" Yang asked.
"No."
"…oh."
The dark-haired girl bit her lip. "I was with someone once, before Beacon. When I was in the White Fang. We… were together for a while and we knew a lot about each other. But more than that we… started off fast."
She glanced away. "I don't know how else to say that we got… intimate way too fast. I rushed it, we rushed it because we thought it was something more than it actually was and eventually and… eventually he became possessive, or at the very least it was moving towards that. he was quick to anger, violent and-"
She let out a shaky breath, and Yang had to fight the urge to hold her closer so that she could finish her story.
"A part of it was my fault. Like I said; we rushed it. I don't want to ruin this here by doing the same."
That was it?
Huh…
Yang smiled down at her.
"Hey." she whispered, getting her attention. Blake looked up, and Yang pressed their lips together. Blake gave a surprised, but appreciative noise as she leaned into it a bit. Before it could go further Yang broke it off. A part of her wished she hadn't, she could still taste Blake on her lips.
"You don't need to worry about that." She smiled. "I… I'm not going to say I get it, what you've been through but, I'm not going to leave you or hurt you or, or whatever else happened." Her smile turned amused. "I mean, maybe it's not an entirely healthy reason but you know how I feel about the whole abandonment thing."
Blake choked out a laugh at that, glaring up at her partner half-heartedly.
"That's not funny." She murmured.
"You sure? Because I'm pretty sure I tell the best jokes around."
"Whoever told you that needs a good smack on the head."
"Yeah, yeah you love it." Yang's eyes grew softer. "We don't have to get… intimate. Not if you don't want to. This right here is good enough for me."
Blake looked honestly shocked by her words, although for the life of her Yang couldn't tell why. As the girl opened her mouth to say something the music suddenly kicked up a notch, and more people congregated to the dance floor, moving faster than before.
A grin spread across Yang's face.
"Hey Blake? How good a dancer are you?"
The Faunus blinked. "What do you- woah! Hey!" she squeaked as Yang spun her around, pulling her close as she moved to the music.
Blake stumbled for a moment, before rising to the challenge and holding Yang's gaze, moving along too.
Yang breathed in. the two of them were closer now, bodies moving together as they worked together, and yet somehow managed to make it into a competition.
Blake couldn't dance, Yang realised as her eyes fell to the other girl's feet.
The Faunus couldn't dance, most likely didn't have any practice like Yang did, what with the whole freedom fighting gig.
But it didn't matter.
The brawler marvelled in awe as her dance partner kept pace with her. No, she couldn't dance, but she was quick enough on her feet that it didn't matter. With Yangs every step Blake followed, every push, every pull she reacted perfectly. Every so often the Faunus' ears would flick as she concentrated on her moves. It was amazing.
Blake pressed herself closer.
Their bodies were touching now, in a way that had Yang's body tingling in excitement, and her mind screamed as she struggled to hold on to her self-control.
Yang's eyes met Blake's again.
They burned.
The two of them danced.
It was the only word Yang's brain could think of at the moment as she was taken in by those golden orbs.
They danced and danced and danced. Through one song, then two, then three and four and still they held each other.
This was heaven; this is what it must have felt like, Yang thought.
It had to come to an end eventually however, the next song coming to an end far to fast, and the two girls were flushed with a short of breath.
Or at least that was what Yang thought it was.
The blonde was led by the hand to the Balcony outside, and the two of them sat on the marble rail overlooking the ground below.
They looked up at the shattered moon, shining back down in prisms of light.
Blake leaned against Yang.
"That was… thank you Yang."
The brawler laughed. "Really? For what? I don't think I really did much."
"For asking me to the dance. For helping me have more for than I have in a long time." She smiled. "This whole team has been more than I ever dreamed of. You, Ruby, Weiss. The three of you somehow became so much more than just my teammates. I don't think that happens often. Not with people like me anyway."
Yang shrugged. She shoulders moved up and down, and Blake suddenly became more aware of the muscles in her arms.
"Who knows," she said. "But you're right. For all the craziness that is our team it's better than I ever could have hoped. With everything that's happened things just feel… better, you know?"
Blake nodded. "I do."
They feel into a peaceful silence, looking into the night, it was relaxing, gentle, Blake felt-
"Hrk!"
Her head suddenly snapped to Yang, who was gripping the railing tight enough for cracks to form. She was wide-eyed and sweating. She was panicking.
"Yang?" she asked worriedly. "Yang what's wrong?"
The blonde sucked in a breath, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment before shooting Blake a feeble smile.
"It's nothing," she said at last. "it was… voices. They scared me a little." She laughed weakly. "I guess being with you made me a little too calm. That's fine though, I just got."
Yang reached for one of her pockets in the suit, where she kept her pills for emergencies. Blake's hands grasped hers however, stopping her.
"Blake?"
"Come on." The Faunus instructed, and Yang followed dutifully as she was led by the hand through the ballroom.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"You said you're too calm. So we're going to do something exciting."
Okay, that made sense.
"Uh, where?"
Blake shot her back a look, and Yang lost her breath at the smirk on her face.
"Back to our room. My bed."
Oh?
Oh.
"Oh."
She swallowed.
Oh indeed.
…
…
One two three step.
One two three step.
One two three twirl.
Weiss watched as Ruby's mask of concentration set in.
The younger girl was starting to get the hang of it, and despite the few stumbles in the beginning where she had begged Weiss to tell her how she fought in heels, she was steadily improving, catching up to Weiss even.
And every so often, that mask of concentration would crack when something particularly daring was done, like a spin, or lean and Ruby would burst into a fit of excited giggles.
The whole thing was honestly bizarre.
Yes, Weiss had seen Ruby laugh and giggle and be generally silly, but it was usually diluted, hidden behind something she couldn't quite place. It was close to maturity but, not at the same time.
Now however, all of that was gone, an in its stead Weiss realised just how much of a… well, how much of a fifteen-year-old Ruby really was. Dancing was new to her like she'd said, but it was exciting for the girl in red and it could be seen and hear in how her face would light up or she would let out little squeals of joy the faster they got.
This was her, Weiss realised. This was the real Ruby. Behind all the secrets and the distance, the younger girl put up she was still just a girl who found a child-like joy in what she did.
And what was more, it was infectious!
Weiss couldn't believe how much she was smiling. Wider than she could ever remember it being so, so wide that it was actually starting to hurt her face. She didn't care, it was just so wonderful, an indescribable feeling as she danced with Ruby.
Weiss wondered if this was how children were meant to feel like that… joy that she couldn't compare.
Simple, innocent and happy and so very, very bright.
"Come on," Ruby urged, "Let's go faster. Faster!"
The heiress rolled her eyes in amusement and complied, speeding up her footwork and watching as her partner hopped all over the place to keep up, that smile still plastered on her face. There were people sending them looks, she knew.
'What was Weiss Schnee doing dancing with a child?'
That was what they were thinking, she could see it on their faces.
But she didn't care. She was having fun.
Weiss linked her hands with the younger girl, leaned back and smiled even wider as Ruby gave a startled cry.
Seriously, how big could a smile get before it spilt a person's face? Was she about to find out?
Suddenly, Weis was shaken out of her thoughts as a person knocked into her with an 'oomph'
"Sorry!" a familiar voice laughed, as Weiss and Ruby turned to see Jaune and Pyrrha dancing more together. The blond grinned at them while the champion giggled behind her hand.
"I guess we got a little too caught up for a second there." He laughed.
"It' fine," Ruby gigged. "Come on Weiss let's keep going!"
She gave an exasperated sigh that she hoped Ruby didn't realise was faked.
"Oh alright."
She was about to start up again when suddenly the other pair bumped them again. Weiss didn't stumble, but she was certainly moved.
She turned to glare at Jaune, but was surprised to see him staring back just as intensely.
Was… was he challenging her?!
The heiress stood as tall as she could, and as she pulled Ruby in closer, held her gaze, watching Jaune to the same with Pyrrha. Beside them, both red-heads shared a look and laughed.
And so would begin a dance-off between partners but was really in reality a dance-off between an Arc and a Schnee.
The students of Beacon were not ready.
…
…
Breathing, gasping and groaning.
Touches, feather-light touches trailing across her skin. Nails ran across her back, a desperate cry of her name.
Golden, smouldering orbs.
Gasping
Choking.
Pleading, pleading for more.
Bodies pressed together and hands gripping frantically.
More, more!
Chest pulling closer, hips rocking closer, closer to the edge.
Moaning, loud moaning echoing through the bedroom.
Close, two bodies bathing in the afterglow.
Yang stared up at the bunk above her, eyes wide, breath ragged and spent. She was in a daze, as her blonde hair splayed out on the pillow.
Her tux had been discarded in the floor, along with every other item of clothing she owned and for the life of her she couldn't care less.
When Blake had said she was unconventional Yang had assumed she was shy, maybe she took it slow or like a softer touch.
Oh how wrong she had been.
Blake was… intense.
There was no other way to put it, she was like… Yang didn't even know. How did a bookworm who enjoyed peace and quiet and her own company become some kind of… of…
"Wow." She said at last, still breathless from all the craziness.
There was a rumble on her chest, and the blonde looked down at the warm, soft and very naked body on top of her.
The Faunus chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment." She smiled slyly as she trailed a finger along the brawler's stomach, up and down her abs.
Yang couldn't help but stare at the girl on her chest. "Yeah well… I did know you invited me to this but I didn't expect that." She laughed disbelievingly. How did a person even bend like that? Cat genes. It had to be her cat genes.
"You were good too," Blake assured. "I know I must have been a new experience for you, but you were a lot more gentle than I thought at first." 'that hadn't lasted long once Blake had got going' was what was left unsaid. contray to what she was like at any other time, Yang had been reserved or... shy.
Yang blushed even now. "Yeah well, you're kind of the only experience so… yeah."
Blake stopped, blinking, and pushing herself up to get a better look at her. Yang had to force herself to keep her eyes up.
"Yang," she whispered. "Was I… your first time?"
The blonde nodded. It was true, and the girl was reminded of what Yang had told her, about never getting past the third date.
Blake didn't look away, if anything, her eyes got wider. Then she stopped, catching herself and taking a breath.
Without a word, she leaned in close to Yang, and the blonde had a moment to be surprised before she was moaning into the kiss. The Faunus stopped, and nuzzled into Yang's neck, purring softly.
She wasn't even sure Blake knew she was doing it, but damn if it wasn't adorable.
"What as that for?" she couldn't help but ask.
The dark-haired girl hummed. "For letting me be your first," she said simply. "and for… being you."
"That's what you're thanking me for?" Yang snickered. "well if that's all it takes I can keep being myself."
Blake laughed along with her.
"I know you said we didn't have to be intimate but... I feel like this is a good thing. If... if you're as serious as I am about continuing."
"In a relationship? Yeah, I think I am."
The Faunus blinked again, looking up at Yang.
Suddenly she smiled, one filled with dark promise that made the blondes breath quicken. Or maybe that was the finger trailing up between her mounds.
Gentle, that same feather-light touch as before.
"B-Blake?"
"Yang." The smile grew, and her eyes smouldered again. "Do you want to go again?"
Yang's surprise was palpable, before the feeling morphed into excitement, into joy.
She answered sot with words at first, but by cupping Blake's waist, and rolling on the bed so that she held herself over the Faunus.
She grinned. "Do you even need to ask?" before diving in to press her lips on Blake's neck.
Blake tried to smile, but it became a moan before she could finish. "I'll take that as a yes." She said, before returning the gesture in kind.
…
…
Ruby gave a tired sigh as she practically fell into a chair. Weiss followed on a moment after in very much the same state, yet both of them ad a smile on their faces.
"That was so much fun!" she laughed, and smiled when Weiss joined in with her.
"It was," she agreed. "You were certainly a far better dancer than you let on."
The reaper rolled her eyes. "Not as good as those two." She said, pointing at Jaune and Pyrrha, who were still dancing together, the red-head laughing at something the boy said.
Weiss shook her head in disbelief.
"How that happened I have no idea." She paused. "I'll have to ask him later."
Ruby snickered. "You didn't think he had a chance?"
"Did you?"
She giggled. "Point."
Her eyes trailed absentmindedly to the rest of the party; to Ren and Nora over in the corner, the quiet boy smiling as Nora got up to her usual antics, an arm swung around Sun as they laughed together over something. Of Neptune chatting to some girls as they fawned over him. Hum, speaking of girls, where had Blake and Yang gotten to?
Lastly, her eyes fell to Amber, the guest of honour, who was laughing and dancing with some third years. She looked happy.
"So is that you danced out for now?" Ruby asked her partner.
The girl gave a breathy chuckle. "For now." She conceded.
"The younger girl nodded. "Alright then, I think I'm gonna go get some air then. Is that okay?"
"Of course," Weiss smiled. "Go ahead."
Ruby did just that, standing up and making her way outside to take a inhale the clear, cool air.
Tonight had been more fun than Ruby could have ever imagined. Had this been what she'd miss out in the wilds?
She wanted more, maybe she could- wait… what was that?
"Hello Friend Ruby!" the Atlas student waved, while simultaneously causing the red huntress to jump. "It is good to see you out here."
Ruby sighed and shook her head good-naturedly. "Penny," she gasped. "What are you doing out here?"
"Enjoying the cool breeze my friend. I saw you dancing with Weiss. You were quite wonderful."
"Um, thank you." She blushed. Before stopping. Her eyes fell back to the same place as before.
"Penny"
"Yes Ruby?"
"What does that look like to you?"
The excitable girl followed Ruby's line of sight and stilled at what she saw. An Atlesian solider, his body laying halfway in the bushes.
They ran over to the body.
Ruby kneeled down, checking for a pulse. She gave a sigh of relief. "He's alive." she assured.
Penny's shoulders relaxed a fraction she nodded. "How do you think this happened?"
Ruby bit her lip in thought, as her head turned to the tower.
"The CCT, she said. Someone's attacking it. We need to go in and stop them before they can do anything."
"Right!" I will call for back-up and join you."
The Beacon student nodded and ran into the tower, the other girl on her tail. Inside were more soldiers, thankfully none dead, although they would wake up broken and sore in quite a few places.
"They must be upstairs then," Ruby mumbled. She turned to Penny. "Alright, we need to get up there."
"Understood," Penny nodded. "I'm combat ready."
Right, she'd have to be. They called the elevator and hurried in, keying in the top floor and preparing herself for the likelihood of combat. The moving box was just big enough that she could open up Crescent Rose. Beside her, Penny armed herself with a single sword, although the reaper knew more were at the ready. They shared a last look and nodded as the door pinged open.
The entered the computer room cautiously, eyes scanning for threats. It was quiet, seemingly empty, but the screens of each computer were on. Power was spread out between all computers. If one was activated the others would be automatically. That meant someone had been here.
Maybe they still were.
Ruby licked her lips nervously. Alright, trying to see the enemy wasn't working, so the next approach was…
"Hello?" she called out. "We know you're here, come on out and maybe we can deal with this nice and peacefully."
In the silence Ruby heard a gasp that made her shiver, and suddenly she leapt away as a black arrow soared through the air towards her.
Penny called out her name as the attacker appeared; dressed in all black she was still moving, too fast in the dark for the red huntress to get a proper look between dodging another hail of arrows.
The Atlas student was beside her suddenly, deflecting one of the black projectiles with the flat of her sword.
"It seems we have found the attacker friend Ruby."
Another gasp and the hail of arrows increased.
Ruby dashed to the side to avoid them as they flew faster and faster, the black shadow of their attacker ducking and dashing behind monitors so that they couldn't tell where she was.
Ruby's only advantage was that she was fast enough physically to dodge them if someone didn't have that then-
"Hrk!"
"Penny!" Ruby cried out, whipping around to see an arrow lodged in her chest, where her heart was.
The younger girl gasped in horror. Penny had just been-
She gasped again in shock as Penny reached for the arrow and yanked it out of her chest. What was even more shocking was that no blood spewed forth, instead electrical wires could be seen. She didn't even look in pain.
What was this?
She didn't get time to ask, as the figure appeared once more, this time in full few as she let out a flurry of arrows at them.
Ruby got ready to smack them away, only to realise they'd missed.
No, not missed, not by accident anyway.
She just had enough time to burst into a flurry of her own before the arrowheads lit up and with a screech exploded in a flash of fiery light.
Ruby skirted back, almost tripping on her heels. She grit her teeth. She couldn't fight like this, not to their full ability when-
She froze; their attacker was aiming at them again, but had hesitated.
Just long enough for Ruby to get a look at her face.
She wore a black mask, covering the majority of her features, but even then, Ruby would never forget the eyes of her friend.
Her first friend.
"Cinder!"
...
...
Yep, that's where I'm ending it. You guys can think up what it means as much as you want until next week. SA I've said before, this, as well as the next few chapters are ones I had planned out in a lot of detail compared to others, but it was still difficult to write, mainly for the fact that I'm not sure I did the conversation between partners well or not.
I suppose you'll have to be the judge of that.
On the note of Judging, I have a new story coming out, starting clean as it was. It's a RWBY story, but a much different world than this one. THink medieval, yet still in Remnant with the Faunus at the bottom of the foodchain. It's... what do they call it? Monochrome centred? But I assure you it had a legitimate story. It should be up either today or tomorrow depending on if I can get the bugs ironed out.
Right now though, I hope you enjoyed, and be sure to let me know what you thought of the fluff interactions. If you liked them or think of ways to improve them, let me know, and if you thought they were awful and cringe worthy, let me know why. Either way, I'll try to make them even better in the future.
So Follow, favourite and Review.
Bye!
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