Breaking Remnant: Bound by Shadows

Rating: T/M

Series: RWBY

Pairing:

Volume 2: Summer

Summary: Aganju came to Beacon wanting to be treated as equal. Pyrrha wanted to be viewed as a normal girl. Neither of them expected to be that fate would have them meet. Now, they navigate the academy grounds and beyond, with secrets and danger awaiting them at every corner. The alternate timeline takes place just before the start of RWBY volume 1 and AU in the Breaking Remnant series. (Rewrite of RWBY: Shadows of Destiny)

Author's Note:

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to RWBY... that honor belongs to Rooster Teeth. I do own the rights to my OCs.


Chapter 4


[Vale/Commercial District]

The city of Vale was abuzz with life. The late morning sun blessed the land with its tender rays as the residents were energetic throughout the shopping district. Even old man shopkeep wore a smile on his face as he put the finishing touches on his grand re-opening sign. However, the pleasant feeling did little to help when the elder Dust shop owner slipped down one of the rungs only to land on his behind.

Before he could gather himself, the old man was greeted by soft and light-hearted giggling. His old eyes spotted a young woman with medium-brown skin and dark-red eyes looking back at him. Her hair was a light, mint-green with a straight fringe and bangs as well as two long locks on each side in the back. Accompanied by a considerate smile, she gave no indication of danger.

"Excuse me... Sorry. I'm not from around here. " She helped him to his feet before pulling out a small piece of paper with what appeared to be an address written on it. "Would you mind pointing me in the direction of this shop?"

Shopkeep studied the information for a few seconds only to smile out of realization. He pointed the girl in the direction behind her and waved goodbye as she thanked him. Little did he know, his kind gesture would have both short and long-term consequences moving forward. What was thought to be just a simple girl was merely a shroud that hid the claws of a panther.

Claws that would soon be drenched in blood.


After the initiation, the students found there were tons of activities to get involved with during their stay at Beacon. Other than that, the first semester didn't have much to speak on for Team ASRE. From lectures to training courses, it was your typical academic term for the second year students. That mediocrity would soon begin to fade away when the second semester came around.

At this point, the teams were getting prepared for their biggest test to date.

With the Vytal Festival soon approaching, each of the second year teams was sent on their respective missions. Team CFVY chose a simple rescue mission in the Lower Caim region of Mountain Glenn, accompanied by Professor Port. This put a damper on their ability to set things up for the upcoming dance, but, Coco and co. knew that duty waits for no one.

Meanwhile, Team ASRE found themselves choosing a simple recon and investigation mission under the supervision of Professor Peach. While also being sent to the ill-fated settlement of Mountain Glenn, the group was taken to a northern region of the abandoned city. As expected, several Grimm blocked their path from time to time, but it was nothing that they couldn't handle.

"How close are we to the target?" Scylla hissed, blasting a Beowulf in the face with her dual pistols, Jester & Harlequinn.

"ETA says 2 minutes west!" Esu replied, hacking at another of the accursed creatures. "Aganju! Any sight of it yet?"

The fox confirmed this, firing off a dust constructed arrow from Nguangus' bow form. Roxanne would take advantage of the blinded monsters by bashing their heads in with her gauntlets, Arpagi. Using her raw strength, combined with the storage of flame dust, the pair made swift work of their adversaries, sending the hellacious creatures flying with each punch.

This cleared a path for the four to head to their destination; a science facility. It was a simple mission, secure the area while strengthening their teamwork skills for the future. They were briefed that there were no civilians but, it was no excuse for them to wreck the city either. They needed to complete their mission...

"Let's go, guys! We're on the clock!"

Aganju rushed through, expecting his team to follow close behind as he headed inside. It was dark and unkempt; expectant of a neglected facility. The fox checked his scroll to find that he was in the right place, noticing that his target was further up. He turned around to inform his team only to find them nowhere in sight. "Damn. They must still be fighting the Grimm..." he cursed, motioning to return to his comrades. However, something stopped him, a chilling stillness in the air beckoning him to remain where he stood.

An enemy...? he wondered.

He scanned his surrounding, clutching his blades. A bead of sweat ran down his face. His eyes darted in all directions, finding nothing out of the ordinary. This only increased Aganju's agitation as he was sure that he was not alone. His ears and tail stood up straight, the only tell-tale sign of his discomfort.

"Who, or whatever you are," he called out to the silence, with a conflicting. "You might as well come out..."

Nothing.

Only the whistle of the icy wind answered his invitation, leaving its kiss against the back of his neck. After a few more minutes of this, Aganju finally allowed himself to exhale, loosening his tense muscles. If the entity refused to acknowledge him, he wouldn't waste any more time.

He moved to return to his team when the sound of something snapping drew his attention. However, this time, the vulpine didn't have time to react as he did before as a low growl would follow immediately after. He slowly shifted his body only to find himself being blindsided by a mysterious creature. The last thing he recalled was a pair of flaming eyes before everything went dark.

Consequently, his mind was taken back to the last significant memory he had before departing on his journey.


[Beacon Academy-One Week Ago]

The morning sparked the beginning of training match-ups in preparation for the Vytal Festival. Many of the students who were there to participate sat around the small arena while Glynda Goodwitch officiated the battles. Among the established teams, there were some visitors from Mistral who also attended the practices. Sun and Neptune, the friendliest of the bunch, observed while trying to look cool in the process.

There was also a trio of students who hailed from Haven Academy; one of them a certain dark-skinned girl with mint-green hair who was currently watching a rather interesting matchup between Pyrrha Nikos and a certain grey-haired boy by the name of Mercury Black. The fight was competitive despite Pyrrha being slightly fatigued from her earlier encounter against Cardin Winchester and his team. Despite this, she was not only holding her own against Mercury but, she actually held the advantage throughout the fight.

During this period, Agangu paid close attention to the fighting styles of both combatants. Seeing his friend outclass yet another arrogant punk was more than worth the price of admission. Every kick he fired at her would wind up blocked by her shield. He'd counter with a solid back kick that knocked her spear off to the side, leaving her seemingly unable to mount a solid offense. It looked like he would finish things off with a simple roundhouse kick only to have it expertly waved off though, she didn't touch him.

Mercury seemed to more intrigued by the revelation than upset though.

He managed to turn and avoid a full-on bumrush from Pyrrha, using the gun barrels at the bottom of his boots to bounce off of her shield.

This didn't deter her as she kept charging forward, ready to deal the final blow of the match.

"I forfeit..." he called out, surprising nearly everyone watching.

Even Pyrrha herself gasped in shock before narrowly avoiding running out of the ring.

"You... don't even want to try?"

"What's the point?" he shrugged lazily. "You're a world-renown fighter. We're obviously leagues apart."

Green eyes glared at Mercury Black, clearly not buying his disingenuous remark; her hand now on her hip to emphasize her irritation as Professor Goodwitch stepped in.

"In that case, Pyrrha Nikos is the victor of the match... again. Next time, you may want to think a little harder before choosing an opponent."

"I'll be sure to do that," he gave the professor a thumbs up before walking off.

"That is all for today! Remember, the dance is coming up but you all have your first missions the day after." Glynda announced. "I will not accept any excuses."

As the students filed out for the day, Aganju rubbed his chin, as he observed the action that'd unfolded before his eyes. So many questions rattled his brain. Why would someone challenge Pyrrha so soon after she had a match? Why forfeit after keeping her on the defensive for most of the fight?

"It doesn't make sense..."

"I agree." He looked up to find none other than Pyrrha herself sitting next to him. Like him, she appeared to be puzzled at the results that'd just transpired too. She took a seat next to him and appeared to be lost in thought. "Why would he challenge me only to quit shortly after?"

"It's a mystery to me. He seemed to be a good match for you early on."

"While I hate to admit it, you were right. His technique is rather unorthodox, to say the least."

"You still held your own despite being a little fatigued. Don't be so harsh on yourself."

The two friends shared a lighthearted laugh. It was nice to be able to unwind, especially after having to exert oneself. For Pyrrha, she was able to release the tense aura around her after dealing with two matches. However, in Aganju's case, he couldn't help but smile upon seeing his friend upbeat again.

After calming down, they gathered their things and departed the combat class. As they headed over to their dorms, the two began to talk about the upcoming Vytal Festival and other miscellaneous topics. But, one event, in particular, overshadowed them all.

"Are you planning on going to the dance?"

The air around the fox came to a screeching halt upon hearing the question.

"Um... I uh... t-thought about it," he replied with a steadily red face. "I've been so caught up with staying ready for the festival and my team's mission, I nearly forgot."

This was clearly a lie, but it was one that was thankfully constructed well enough to keep Pyrrha from being the wiser.

"Oh... I was just wondering if I would see you there..." Pyrrha stared at him for a moment before turning away to hide her own flushed features.

"I mean... I'd definitely go if we can make it back in time."

"That would be nice," Pyrrha replied with a simple smile, now hiding her own disappointment. It was clear that she had some thought of meeting the faunus at the dance, but, something within her held back, almost convincing her that the upperclassman wouldn't be able to see her as anything more than just a friend. "I was hoping Jaune would ask me but..."

It was a hasty statement, one that held a little truth behind it. Pyrrha did find the scraggly blond attractive, yet there was something lacking between her leader and herself. She hadn't noticed the slight twitching of the fox's ears. Even less noticeable was how quickly those ears would droop upon hearing that she wanted to go with Jaune, not that he could blame her.

"But?"

"He seems to be more focused on Weiss."

"Oh..." he replied, his tail hanging limply before swiftly putting on a smile again. "He'd be dumb to ignore you, in my opinion."

Pyrrha giggled softly at Aganju's words, breaking out of her own funk.

"You'd be surprised. He told me he'd wear a dress if I came to the dance alone."

Aganju simply chuckled, mostly to hide his true feelings.

"I'd... actually pay to see that."

The two friends exchanged a legitimate laugh at the idea of Jaune Arc in a dress as they headed upstairs, unaware of the eyes that were watching them with intrigue and contemplation. When they arrived at Pyrrha's room, the pair would find their humor interrupted when they overheard Jaune talking to Ren about trying to woo the Schnee family heiress.

With a sad smile, Pyrrha entered her room, leaving the Faunus in the halls of the dormitory, quickly working to convince Jaune to just go for it while Nora noticed the disheartened fox taking his leave. Shaking her head, the typically hyperactive girl watched as her team's leader sped out of the room with newfound determination while a dispirited Pyrrha wandered over to her desk.

"Practice what you preach, Pyrrha."


Back in the present, violet eyes fluttered open only to immediately clench shut when a sudden brightness stung his eyes. He moved to shield his sore optics only to regret that decision when a violent sting from his right side forced him to lower his limb.

"Thank Oum," a familiar voice caught his ear. "You're awake."

Aganju turned his head, slowly over to the direction of the voice. Beside him sat an older gentleman with silver hair and green eyes that rested behind a pair of glasses. He wore an unzipped black suit over a green vest and shirt.

"Professor Ozpin?" he groaned, trying his best to sit up.

"Remain still. You've were hurt pretty badly and you haven't recovered from your ordeal in the Mountain Glenn."

The mention of that location spurred a sudden jolt in the faunus. As a result, Aganju quickly sat up, instantly regretting the pain that shot through his ribs. This didn't deter him though as the shock of what had occurred began to resurface in his mind. The small yet unmistakable sound of something approaching. That chilling sensation of fear mixed with familiarity soon overshadowed the dulling ache.

"My team! Where are...?!"

"They are safe and sound, possibly preparing for tonight."

"T-Tonight?"

"The dance," Ozpin replied astutely. "While it may be hard to believe, you were out for a couple of days."

This was troublesome news to hear, but, at least there the caveat that his friends were safe. Aganju finally allowed himself to lie back down, though his face still told a story that was discernable to the older man. A tale that shook the boy's to his very core unfolded in front of Ozpin, feelings of uncertainty leading the charge.

"I'm sorry..." he heard the fox whisper. "I screwed up and failed my team..."

"You're wrong."

"How? I got knocked unconscious for several days because I rushed in without confirming with my team and I paid the price..." the fox spoke through grit teeth. Ozpin chose not to cut in just yet as he observed just how far this was going to go. "I rushed in and I wound up being caught off guard. No real leader would've done that. I wasn't strong enough... I failed just like before."

"Before...?"

Aganju shook his head gingerly. His eyes began to water as his mind started to replay a scene only he could remember. He felt himself begin to crumble inside as that moment began to haunt him once more, his mind tearing itself apart as he tried fruitlessly to bury the past.

"I.. should just..."

"Before you start making rash decisions, I would like to say a few words, if you'd allow," the headmaster noticed the boy nod weakly. "First, you must understand that you did not fail. From what I was told by your proctor, the group wasn't able to follow due to the Grimm mysteriously emerging right after being destroyed. On top of that, there was a signal jammer already within the facility, a strange occurrence to be sure. This was discovered by Professor Peach after your disappearance."

"Wait... You're telling me that something or someone might've been using that building still?"

"Perhaps," Ozpin nodded. "However, what's important is that your teammates do not blame you for what happened. One can hardly be accountable for sabotage and an ambush. Whoever was using that facility, must not have wanted to be discovered. That would explain the jammers. For now, your friends wait anxiously for your awakening."

Aganju bowed his head, not in shame, but embarrassment. Ozpin could see this and wondered just what could be plaguing the young man.

"But... what about-?"

"Strength alone will not bring victory."

"Huh?"

"It is something I was told long ago... The raw strength of one's body will never bring victory without a powerful heart and relentless spirit. You, Aganju, must find your purpose and drive. Use that to fuel your fire and blaze a trail toward your own destiny. I can tell that you've struggled with this, your own path. You've lived with the burden of other's lives just as you do now with your role as a leader and while it is important to protect others, you must not neglect your own needs and wants, or else you risk becoming a tool for others to use; a pawn."

Aganju sat on the infirmary bed, digesting the man's words. Meanwhile, the professor began to take his leave.

"Remember what I told you when you first arrived?" The faunus nodded." I meant it. "Those eyes of yours are... special. There's a purpose for your abilities... You must take fate into your own hands, Aganju. Forge your own path and you'll never go wrong."

With that, the professor took his leave, a grim smile crossing his features as he left the fox alone to ponder his words.


The night of the dance had finally arrived and the students were enjoying the elegant affair. Many of them were dressed to impressed and already on the dance floor. Yang was managing the usher's table. Weiss, though she was simply a guest now, would check over the decorations for any signs of imperfections as means of distraction. Team JNPR, or at least Ren and Nora were busy enjoying one another's company. Jaune was busy sulking alongside Ruby due to their social awkwardness (and neither having a date).

Team ASRE would arrive shortly after, minus their leader. When asked of his whereabouts, they simply agreed to state that he was exhausted from their mission so as not to arouse suspicion. Given his reputation as a hard worker, it worked like a charm.

After a toast with the scythe-wielder, Jaune opted to approach Weiss after finding out that Neptune rejected the girl. However, upon his path to the heiress, he suddenly noticed his fellow teammate stepping past him. In spite of his drive to pick up on the lonely Weiss Schnee, Jaune felt his mind pull him to check up on Pyrrha.

His trek led him to find her staring out over the balcony of the banquet hall.

"Hey, Pyrrha!"

"Oh... Hello, Jaune." she turned around to greet him.

"You okay? I haven't seen you tonight."

"I arrived late, I'm afraid."

Sensing a dark cloud hovering over her, the blond warrior approached her, hoping to cheer her up. With a compliment about her attire, she thanked him but gave him nothing more to work with, making it more awkward for him to keep the conversation going.

"Um... Your date isn't going to beat me up for saying that, is he?" he nervously chuckled.

"I think you're safe for tonight..."

"So, where is the guy?"

At this point, Pyrrha felt her guarded resolve finally crumble. As she turned to him, her green eyes began to shimmer as she gazed down at the stone floor.

"There is no guy..."

"What?"

"Nobody asked me."

Jaune incredulously tried to form a coherent sentence about how amazing the girl was and how any guy would be lucky to have the chance to be with her. He mentioned her status as one of the strongest students in Beacon and, her sponsorship with Pumpkin Pete's cereal only to be met with a knowing sigh.

"I've been... blessed with incredible talents and opportunities. I'm constantly surrounded by love and praise. But, when you're put on a pedestal like that for so long, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place." She did her best to hold her emotions in check but, it was evident that the "invincible girl" was now completely vulnerable. "Everyone assumes that I'm too good for them; That I'm on a level they simply can't attain. It's become impossible to form any meaningful relationship with people."

She was about to continue, but, by some twist of fate, Jaune interrupted.

"What about Atsura? Aren't you two friends?"

"Well... yes," she answered, flustered. "But, he never asked me either or... rather, I haven't seen him since he and his team left for their mission."

"What are you talking about? I just saw Yang talking to Roxanne before coming up here."

"What?" Pyrrha blinked at the boy in shock.

Jaune nodded with a lopsided grin. "Yeah, they've been back for a couple of days, though they've been recovering up to this point. Still, Everyone kind of believed that you and Aganju were going to come here tonight as a couple. It was kind of obvious, even for a dense guy like me."

Pyrrha eyed her team's leader with uncertainty.

Surely Jaune and their peers were mistaken. Aganju Umbrae wanted to ask her to the dance? Why didn't he mention this to her? Or did she just not notice? Based on what she'd just told him, Aganju seemed to be exactly the type of person she was referring to. When they first met, the fox boy didn't even know who she was in spite of them both attending the same combat school at some point. They bonded shortly after and not once did he appear to not care about her prior accolades, Aganju chose to focus on the person she was from their initial meeting, building a strong friendship and attraction.

She stood there stunned from the revelation made by Jaune. That shock quickly transformed to regret upon realizing her earlier conversation with Atsura a few days earlier. If what Jaune said was true, and Atsura did want to ask her, she clearly muddied that chance by mentioning her interest in wanting the blond to ask her.

"Sounds to me like he's the type of guy you deserve to be with."

Unsure of what to say, so she simply left with a small bow and a 'thank you', leaving behind a speechless Jaune to steel his nerves for what was to come.

As she rushed down, Pyrrha found Jaune's words to be true when she spotted Roxanne laughing with the curvy blond and even Scylla sharing a dance with Esu, who felt rather dapper in his black suit and blue tie. Unfortunately, there was no sign of a certain vulpine faunus, only adding to the negative feelings she'd been plagued with thus far.

That feeling would soon giveaway to something far more delightful as a wave of laughter began to fill the room. One by one, the crowd began to part until Pyrrha turned around, noticing the reason for such eruption of hilarity. Imagine her surprise when none other than Jaune Arc was standing in front of her, surrounded by the hysterical laughter of his peers, wearing an off-white dress and his trademark grin.

"Jaune?"

He simply wore a smirk on his face as the laughter continued.

"A promise is a promise."

As expected, Pyrrha suddenly felt the urge to cackle hysterically at the sight of her leader and friend in this situation.

"You didn't have to..."

"Hey, an Arc never goes back on his word. Now do you want to stand there and laugh at me, or do you want to dance?"

Pyrrha watched as Jaune extended his hand and took it contently. He scooped her up close as the music began to play behind them. Off in the distance, Ren noticed the exchange between the two friends but Nora was focused on the arrival of a certain Faunus who looked around confused at all of the festivities.

"Ren! This. Is. Happening!" she happily exclaimed.

Confused, Ren raised an eyebrow only to be pulled off toward his teammates.

"Wait. What is happening?"

Baby, it's time to make up your mind

I think that tonight is when our stars align

Honey, it's time we leave the doubt behind

Take my hand 'cause you and I are gonna shine

The foursome then broke out into an amazingly choreographed dance to the beat that had the hall full of cheers and praise. Once the dance concluded, it turned out that the group performing was none other than Team ASRE save for Aganju. Somehow, in the midst of everyone's wonder, the group had snuck on stage to perform, much to Weiss' delight. Scylla used her melodic vocals to flow along with the music. Backing her up were Roxanne and Esu on the guitar and drums respectively. It was a great cap to a wonderful night as the lead vocalist swayed in sync with her partners.

I was cold in the dark

It was empty in my life

From the outside, it looked so bright

But nothing felt right to me

Like a sky with no sun

Like a night that has no day

My heart was eclipsed by the dark

Then something changed

While the two continued dancing, Jaune looked up and noticed someone talking with Glynda and Ozpin off near the main entrance. He looked down at Pyrrha and signaled for her to look behind her. When she did, Pyrrha could see Aganju, lightly holding his side while getting a pep talk from the professors.

I saw a little ray of light come through

The tiniest of sparks came into view

And then

You made me hope again

Roxanne looked up from her riffs and couldn't resist the urge to smile when she saw the red-haired girl approach Aganju. She nudged her friends as they continued to play, each one relishing in his arrival. Seeing the image of their friend on his feet again, and the addition of Pyrrha Nikos talking to him, the trio felt a new wave of energy as they proceeded with the song.

Interestingly, after a quick conversation, the pair took their leave. This left the others to ponder just what would happen but, with a look from Nora and sudden shift in the ambiance, they'd inquire about that at another time. For now, all that mattered was that they all enjoy themselves. Tomorrow was their first day back to classes for the first years, but tonight was a night to make memories.

But baby, it's time to make up your mind

I think that tonight is when our stars align

Honey, right now we leave the doubt behind

Take my hand 'cause you and I are gonna

Light the sky until it's dawn and

Baby, you and I are gonna shine


As Pyrrha & Aganju walked away from the hall, both were content with being in the other's presence. Nevermind the early silence; the peaceful night made for a perfect scene as the friends just strolled with their thoughts. After a semester of classes, homework, and exams, getting the chance to just relish the moment was much needed.

However, they both knew the quiet couldn't last forever.

"You... look really nice, Aganju." Pyrrha broke the stillness.

The faunus spared a glance at his attire, a simple grey dress shirt that was tucked in black pants, and a wine-red tie. It was evident that he wasn't the traditional suit wearer but, he still looked rather dapper in an underground rockstar kind of way.

"Thanks. You look amazing in your dress too!" he scratched the back of his neck.

"Thank you. I'm glad that you like it," she giggled at his plight. "I must admit that I didn't expect to see you here tonight."

"That makes two of us," he chuckled softly. "I literally just left the infirmary before coming to the dance."

Pyrrha looked at him with surprise at his explanation.

"What happened?"

Aganju explained the situation as best he could while Pyrrha listened intently. It wasn't a long story but, it was impactful as it carried a deeper comprehension of the foxes' personal feelings. She saw his disappointment. Anger. Sadness. Even guilt managed to emerge for a moment as he concluded all that he remembered.

By the time he finished, Aganju could see the one thing he never wanted to see. Pity. Though her intentions were pure, Aganju couldn't shake off the annoyance welling up inside of him upon noticing the girl's expression. He remembered the headmaster's words though and pondered what to do about this awkward moment.

While he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was eating at his best friend, he figured out a potential solution. Taking her hand, Aganju led Pyrrha to the battle center, much to the girl's confusion. Thankfully, it was still open as the duo entered the dark main arena, courtesy of his excellent vision.

"Ganju?" Pyrrha called out her nickname for him into the inky blackness. "What's going on?"

"Hold on..." he called out from within the gloom.

It took a moment, but the girl was finally able to see once more as the canine faunus appeared in front of her. She was about to inquire again his reasoning for bringing her here but, that was halted when he charged at her. She used her honed reflexes to block the incoming elbow strike only to for him to twist his body behind her own.

Pyrrha managed to turn her form around fast enough to block another strike from the boy, confused as to why he was suddenly attacking her. Still, this didn't mean she was going to drop her guard as she threw a kick to his mid-section, grateful for the slit in the side of her gown. This forced him to leap back to avoid the blow but, he managed to grab her hand, closing the distance.

Aganju continued his onslaught but, after paying closer attention, Pyrrha began to notice a pattern in his movements. Anytime he attacked or defended, he always made sure to close the gap, drawing her close if the space between got too big. It was like they were dancing, but rather than a simple waltz, they were letting their fighting styles lead the way.

Eventually, Pyrrha caught on to the actions of her friend, and, using her semblance, she pulled Aganju in by his belt buckle closing the gap between them. Expecting a rough test of force, he was pleasantly astonished to find her touch to be innocuous. With a knowing grin, she swayed her body to the imaginary music, giving him an indication to follow her step by step, she proceeded to get a proper dance from him. He calmly obliged. They remained like this as time stood still for the pair as she hummed the tune for him to follow.

After a few minutes of this, she pulled away just enough to curtsy.

"This is the part where you bow."

"Oh, right...!" he hesitantly did so, earning a giggle in the process. "Sorry."

"It's quite alright. Though, if you wanted dance lessons, you could've just asked."

"Was I that obvious?"

"As noticeable as a Beowolf in the middle of the city," she giggled at his predicament. "But, I am glad that I got to share a dance with you. It was very wonderful, Ganju."

Oh, how the vulpine was glad that nobody was there to hear her use that nickname. Still, this was enough for the two to break the ice and ease whatever tension might've been among them.

"As long as you're smiling then it was worth nearly tripping over my own feet."

"About that," Pyrrha's smile slowly fell. "I want to apologize for earlier..."

"It's okay, Pyrrha. I did say that I wasn't sure how long the mission was going to take and I didn't expect to end up being asleep when I returned. So, it makes sense that you'd want to consider going out with someone else."

"No. I should've paid attention to what was in front of me instead of pining after someone else." She looked at him, noting his perplexed expression. "I heard that you were thinking of asking me to the dance from Jaune. I was so focused on Jaune possibly asking me out that I never considered that as a possibility, even with the circumstances."

The sadness in her voice was heartbreaking, but Aganju held it together long enough to take her hand. When she looked up, gone was the uncertainty, replaced with empathy.

"You know? I didn't make it clear that I wanted to go with you. If I'd been more direct and stopped being afraid, we both could've had a date to the dance, or at least my feelings would've been clear. I guess what I'm saying is... We're both equally at fault. Deal?"

Pyrrha just stared at the boy, slowly feeling her lip twitch upward.

"Deal."

They remained that way until the two pairs of green orbs noticed that they were still holding hands. As if a spark shocked them, they released the other only to stare at their palms. It was still too early but, it seemed that something was there. Neither was able to discern it but, the air was perfect for whatever they wanted to try. A hug? A kiss? No...

"One more dance? I think I got the hang of it now."

"Sure. I'll try not to laugh if you slip..." she snickered, causing him to roll his eyes.

Once again they locked hands. This time, Pyrrha would take the boy's hands and place it on the small of her back, prompting his tail to stick up. She simply tittered at his reaction then began to hum a tune to give them something to work with. She placed her hand around his neck and soon they both were just lost in the moment. Pyrrha leaned her head on his chest, listening to his quickening heart rate.

They swayed and shifted steadily to her tune, Aganju making sure not to step on her toes. Somehow it felt right just the way they were. Once they finished their rendition, the two friends finally breathed a sigh in relief. Whatever they were feeling, it could wait until later; all that mattered was that things were settled before they escalated into anything serious.

That didn't change the fact that something had indeed been sown between them but, only time would tell what would grow as a result. Both were attracted to each other, that much was clear. For now, Pyrrha would take a page from her teammate's book.

"Ganju?"

"Yeah, Pyrrha?"

She smiled and pressed her finger against his nose.

"Boop!"

Wiggling his nose, Aganju tried to make sense of what the gesture meant only to watch her walk past him with a knowing grin. He quickly followed calling after her down the pathway, leading to the dormitories. Meanwhile, several pairs of eyes watched from the bushes until the pair disappeared out of sight.

"It's about time..." Yang crossed her arms.

"I agree." Ren calmly added his (literal) two cents.

"I can't believe she used my 'boop'!" Nora grumbled only to smile brightly a second later. "I'm so proud of her!"

"Yeah. Well, as long as they're not going to be all extra lovey-dovey 24/7, I don't mind." Scylla chimed in. "The last thing we need is for two of our strongest teammates getting distracted before the Vytal Festival."

"Keep in mind, they're not officially a couple yet," Esu cut in, earning an elbow to the ribs. "It would be best to let their... friendship develop without provocation."

Everyone agreed at the notion made. Still, it was nice to see their friends being happy and no longer mopey about this dance. They all decided to head back to the dance and savor the few remaining hours before curfew. However, unbeknownst to them, a pair of dark eyes gazed into the distance with intrigue and a feeling that ate away at them.

From the shadows, the figure began to leave, keen on enacting their own mission before the night had concluded her slumber. There were pressing matters afoot and everything needed to go according to plan. If nothing else, it would be interesting moving forward.

"Perhaps I was wrong about you?"