It was the night of the dance. Elise and I decided to devote the day to beauty. We leisurely washed ourselves, painted our nails to match our dresses and did all the things that normal girls did before a dance. Which was strange because neither Elise nor I were what you'd call 'normal'.
I was still stung by Oz's rebuttal and since I knew he'd be there tonight, I intended on looking stunning. Total girl logic.
These feelings in my chest were incredibly unfamiliar and I couldn't decide if I should follow them or not.
"So, is Daren going to be there tonight?" Elise asked innocently.
I gave her a wicked grin. "Of course. He may be my dance partner but I think he has another date in mind."
The little blonde girl blushed.
I pulled my hands through the length of her beautiful blonde hair.
It was straight or braided all the time so I decided we would curl it. I had no idea how to but we were going to.
"I love this smell." She said smelling her hair. I smirked. I must be a matchmaker.
Daren's favorite smell was strawberry so Elise smelled delicately of strawberries.
I took the long tresses of her hair, rolled them into the hair curlers and pinned them to her head. When they dried, hopefully, she'd have long lazy curls. She looked ridiculous though, with the curlers all over her head.
I'd never done makeup beyond disguise makeup so I called in backup in the form of Elin.
After a while of him carefully painting Elise's face he pulled back and admired his handiwork.
I almost didn't recognize my sweet, exuberant warrior.
She looked smoky and sexy with all the alluring sweetness of her big, doe-like eyes.
Elin had done something that gave her face beautiful definition, her lips her soft and pink, just waiting to be kissed but it was her eyes that would make men swoon.
Her eyes lashes were long and curled up like the petals of a flower and his work with the black eyeliner was both bold and subtle.
Tonight she would sparkle for my dancer friend.
I helped her into her dark sparkling gray dress that draped on her firm, curvy body enticingly, fit her high heels on and then began to unroll her curlers.
I was a genius.
With generous amounts of hairspray, which I had plenty of from my charcoal work, her curls were perfect.
Elin and I stood back and admired. "You're going to stun them tonight, sis." Elin said. Then he glanced outside and then at me in horror.
"Oh my God, we haven't even started on Dahlia!" I shrugged.
I'd look fine how I was but Elin was having none of it. He was almost offended by how indifferent I was. This was his thing. He loved makeup and dress up and Elise and I were his little dolls to play with.
I was ushered into the chair and the two siblings went to work.
Elise decided since the last time I had gone out my hair was curled, tonight she would straighten the wavy mass of silver.
Elin immediately began work on my face.
We had plenty of time before the dance when Elin finished. That boy worked well under pressure.
He applied his own subtle makeup to his face and then dressed in his suit. He cut quite the dashing figure. I was proud of him for going with Peyton despite his worries over what other people would think.
Peyton came in as Elise finished up the last of my hair.
He too was quite dashing but his was a very manly figure. He had his long brown hair tied back with a ribbon and he smiled tenderly at his boyfriend.
"Elise, Dahlia, you look wonderful." He said kissing Elin on the cheek. "You look beautiful, sweetheart." He whispered to Elin who blushed and smiled.
She gave my hair a light spray of hairspray but didn't do much else.
It just had to look nice when I walked in. Dancing would sufficiently muss it up.
She helped me into my custom dress and she squealed.
"Oh, Dally!" I blushed and continued putting my heels on.
The last things I slipped on were two thigh sheathes. One held three throwing knives on my right thigh and Orchid was collapsed on my left.
Elin had once again outdone himself as an artist.
He had accentuated the upward tilt of my eyes making me look exotic with little wings of black tipping the edges with smoky coloring only a little different than Elise's. My already defined face looked wide awake and fresh, for he had liberally covered my heavy bags and the red lipstick popped from my face. I looked sweet and yet, somehow very savage. Elin had captured the wild animal inside me and made her desirable.
My dress was blood red, with a tight bodice that utilized the significant curves of my body to play up my large chest with a sweetheart bust line. It had thin straps because strapless dresses and dancing don't work well together. Someone always ended up embarrassed.
My skirts were layers of flouncy red gauze that flew when I spun. I spun around and enjoyed the way it fanned around my legs and I thanked Daren for reminding me to wear black boy shorts to conceal my weapons. The red really brought out the heavy contrasts in my look. It made my eyes bluer than usual.
My hair fell like moonbeams around my shoulders and down my back. Straightened it was even longer than usual, reaching the down curve of my butt.
I smiled at myself saucily. I never knew silver and red looked so good together except for maybe the way fresh blood looked on steel.
Elise insisted on getting a group picture and we had Jaune take it for us.
"You guys look incredible." He said looking me and Elise up and down.
I hooked my arm around his left arm and Elise took his right arm and we dragged him stunned and happy down the hall with our lovebirds trailing excitedly.
We met Daren outside to fix my leg for the night and Jaune vanished before we could tell him to stay. He says Daren looks psychotic and that may be slightly true but Daren wasn't too crazy, though I think his floor polish could make anyone high.
He looked magnificent in a black suit and gray tie.
The rose though was not for me.
Bless his heart.
"Elise, you smell incredible! The scent of strawberries on you is… delectable." He said when she came near. I grinned at his over the top compliment and Elise looked as if she would faint.
I caught Sun on the way in and expressed approval.
He wore most of his usual attire but he wore a dark, dark gray button down shirt with the collar flipped up and a white tie. Which didn't match the jeans or the red gauntlets but I was proud of him for trying.
His eyes grew wide and he eyed me appreciatively, his emotions feeding my pride a little.
He complained about the tie being a neck trap but stopped when Blake appeared. My blood-sib looked beautiful in a purple calf length dress with slits up the sides and black mesh covering her chest and shoulders. She had broken out a purple bow for the occasion. "I knew you'd look better in a tie." Was her comment.
Knowing I'd talk to her later, I vanished with Elise and Daren into the dance hall where Yang waited to check us in.
"God have mercy on every man in the room." She said as I strode in.
No, just one man in particular.
She looked lovely in a short simple white gown with a full skirt and a halter top bodice with a low v-neckline.
I spotted Ruby trying to blend in with the shadows and I looked at Elise with caught my eye and followed it.
Ruby looked adorable in a short dark red dress with a corset type bodice in the front and black mesh covering her chest and over her shoulders, but still left them bare. Around her tiny waist was a black scarf.
She looked shaky in her black heels. Elise walked determined toward her.
"Ready, partner?" Daren asked me.
I nodded and lead me to the floor.
Thanks to his dance lessons, my three teams danced marvelously.
It was a simple waltz and Daren's eyes scanned the room. I had already done that out of habit. Everyone had a pretty good turn out and looked gorgeous.
Peyton and Elin danced together and it made my heart soar to see them so happy.
Weiss looked thrilled with her work in a white off white tea cup dress with that similar black mesh on her back and chest.
Yang was deeply satisfied to see Blake and claimed her first dance as Elise claimed Ruby's.
When it was over Weiss, Ruby and Yang stood near the punch talking happily as Blake laughed with Sun on the dance floor.
"This is quite the party, Quicksilver." Daren said whirling me gracefully through the dancers. I smiled. "Weiss and Yang's doing. They planned most of this."
Then I spotted the face I was to ignore tonight.
He looked heartbreakingly handsome.
Daren saw my face and followed my eyes. "Is that him?" I nodded. "Do you want to go dance with him?" I shook my head.
"Do you want to make him jealous?" He asked excitedly. There was nothing Daren liked more than drama. Elise would be a good grounder for him. And he for her.
I hesitated then nodded.
"Well then." He said spinning me and pressing me to his chest, his hand resting on my lower back.
Ruby was talking to him, looking pained and uncomfortable. She really didn't like dress up.
But whatever Oz said to her gave her a little joy in the moment.
She looked at everyone and I wished she could feel what I felt.
The room was filled with happiness. There was talking and laughing and friends and loves mingled in a way they normally couldn't.
Then Oz saw me and his feelings were painful. Sad and yearning and jealousy consumed him.
I'd have him begging by the end of the night.
I reflected again on these intense feelings and wondered where they came from. Never had I felt anything like it.
Then something whispered evilly down my back.
I turned and looked. Ah, Mercury and Emerald had arrived. Yang greeted them happily and an ugly sense of anticipation rose in them.
I shivered and ignored it.
There was nothing I could do tonight.
Not tonight at least.
I nodded to Yang when I was ready and she nodded to the DJ. I smiled at Daren who clasped my hand.
Everyone who knew the queue began to usher people away from Daren and I.
We began the dance and I fed on the energies around me. My skirts did exactly as I wanted and flared around me.
Others danced around us, but even the dancers watched with rapt attention as Daren's feet and mine flew in complicated movements.
My hips moved incredibly fast and my arms intertwined and circled then crossed as Daren and I continued.
I felt beautiful and admired.
My hair fanned around as I spun and shimmied.
There was a cheer as Daren flung me around his body and then dropped me into a split.
I laughed as Daren tossed me in the air and caught me dropping me into another split before pulling me back up.
He slid me between his legs as I bent backwards, almost like limbo and I rose on the other side grinning mischievously at Yang.
I turned back to my partner and he clasped my hand and pressed me tightly to his body and it looked very intimate.
When the song ended I was smiling and there was a light in Daren's eyes. This was what he loved.
But when I saw Mercury and Emerald, there was hunger in Mercury and jealousy in Emerald.
I hid a smirk.
Then I handed Daren to Elise.
As I flounced away, I felt Oz's raw desire and jealousy. He was good at hiding it though as he stood with Glynda.
A ballroom dance song came on and I had a line of would-be partners.
I saw the General swagger up and tap the blonde woman on the shoulder.
She looked long suffered but inside she was happy to be asked to dance.
She took his hand and was led onto the floor.
Ruby and Jaune hid together at the punch bowl. Which confused me.
Wasn't Jaune supposed to be Pyrrha's date?
I saw my red haired friend enter late, looking exquisite in a plain maroon floor length with a high halter neckline and a long slit up her right leg. She still wore her head piece but I doubt she ever took it off.
She moved quietly through the throng of people towards the stairs of the balcony. My confusion grew.
I saw Weiss fiddling with some flowers that weren't doing what she wanted. So I went over plucked out the offending flower and tucked it in her hair. The white rose looked perfect there. "See? Problem solved. Now I think you owe me a dance." I said taking her hand and leading her out onto the dance floor.
She had fun dancing with me but it was clear that I was not the partner she wanted.
He was standing with Sun and Blake laughing.
When the song ended she deferred another dance, claiming I had worn her out, which I had, and went and sat down.
Jaune had vanished somewhere and a good not so clean dance song came on. Yang and I grinned at each other and showed everyone how to dance like you mean it.
It's hard to believe that that was the first dance I'd ever been too outside a club.
Assassins didn't go to formal dances except to kill a target.
Once it was over I saw Pyrrha coming down the steps feeling wounded. "Pyrrha!" I called. Her head came up and she smiled at me. "Come dance with me!" I said grabbing her hand and pulling her onto the dance floor. She tried to resist but I was a little enthusiastic.
I was actually having fun.
I spotted Penny between two guards and smiled as I pulled her away to dance too. They tried to stop me but I just smiled and said I would take special care of her.
General Ironwood looked none too happy with me but I didn't care. Penny deserved to dance with her friends.
She looked cute in a flouncy light green dress and she was thrilled to be able to dance.
Even Pyrrha felt better for dancing with me.
She was a great dancer but she had to think about it. I wasn't sure what Penny was doing but I danced with her anyway. She had her own style.
The best part was when we did the robot and Ruby laughed.
I saw the sisters up on the second floor leaning over the banister. I waved and laughed happily.
The guards had to come to Penny so I made them dance too.
Nora was actually calmly dancing with Ren who felt a glow of contentment.
I spotted Neptune sitting and talking with Weiss and she radiated happiness.
This was better than I thought it would be.
I heard the opposite end of the room erupt in laughter. I turned to see what it was and was shocked to find Jaune walking towards Pyrrha, Penny (and Penny's guards) and I... in a dress.
It was a pretty dress admittedly. Strapless, white with a purple ribbon tied in a bow at his waist. It looked wrong to see his broad shoulders and newly defined muscular arms and a dress with his black sneakers.
"A promise is a promise." He said half smiling at Pyrrha.
It started out slow but Pyrrha suddenly broke into uncontrollable laughter. I wondered what he meant but giggled. "You look beautiful, Jaune." He winked at me.
"Jaune, you didn't have to." Pyrrha said between laughs. "Hey, an Arc never goes back on his word." He said confidently.
I put a hand on his shoulder. "You're wonderful for her." I murmured in his ear. "Now do you want to stand there and laugh at me or do you wanna dance?" He said offering Pyrrha a hand. She took too long with her speechlessness to take it so I shoved her into him. "I would love to dance." She said and they were off.
Nora came roaring up with a frightened Daren in tow in a short pink dress with a darker pink heart bodice. "Get ready, you have to watch okay?! Ren! This. Is. Happening!" She yelled at the boy sipping punch.
It must have been a code, because he set his cup down and team JNPR came together on the dance floor.
Daren and I looked at each other then back at the four people, three in dresses and one in his suit.
And then they broke into synchronized choreography.
I laughed and gave a thumbs up while Daren watched with a teacher's eye.
If there was one thing to say, it was they were completely in synch.
It was great.
Good job Jaune, you almost did something cool... and then you're in a dress.
Jaune, again, was an amazing dancer. Pyrrha was thrilled. "Yeah, these things tend to happen when you grow up with seven sisters." He said, dipping Pyrrha over confidently.
"Not bad, not bad." Daren said before being swept off with Elise.
I was alone for the first time that night. I watched Penny and the guard in red and gray armor dance together and I smiled warmly at the guard as he and Penny did the robot again together.
"Well, that was unexpected." A voice said coming up behind me.
I barely glanced. "Yes. But unexpectedly wonderful." I replied coolly.
"You know, Ozpin here used to be quite the dancer in his day." General Ironwood said coming up next to me.
I smiled. "I had no idea." I said looking at Oz out of the corner of my eye.
"James, this is Dahlia Derivalle, one of my best students. Ms. Derivalle, this is General James Ironwood." I held my hand out for the ritual kiss to be bestowed.
I still didn't understand the custom but I had come to accept it. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, General." I said warmly.
"What a beautiful young lady." He replied, not letting go of my hand.
Possessiveness flared in Oz and I smiled demurely.
"You flatter me."
The General's smile was kind but there was an uncomfortable fire in his eyes. "I see you have become friends with Penny." He said off handed.
My smile was warm and caring. "She is a dear friend and a wonderful girl. I'm glad she could come tonight. It wouldn't be the same without her... interesting dance style." I said motioning to the happy girl.
He nodded slightly.
"I'm glad she could come as well."
Oz came a little closer to me and I could feel the heat of his body against my back.
"I've heard that you have trouble walking and use a walking staff. How is it that you can dance so?" He asked, again with that tone. This was meaningless information so I didn't mind giving it to him but I knew he would ask a sensitive question in that same tone to take me off guard.
"My dance partner can ease the pain of a wound for a short amount of time. He cannot heal wounds like I can but he can take the pain away so that I can dance."
The General looked fascinated. "If he can do that, why not have him do it all the time?"
I smiled but this smile was not kind nor gentle. "I use my pain, sir. It's what makes me such a powerful opponent. Pain is nothing but untapped energy to me."
Oz shifted and I used a little strand of healing to relax him. It would do very badly for him to attack the General for being nosy.
"Truly? I would enjoy a match between you and my best student." He said. He motioned to a large boy, who easily matched Peyton for bulk but was a few inches shorter. He moved with grace and I eyed him. "I think we could arrange that sir."
He smiled. "Ozpin, you need to tell me where you find these incredible women for your school." I blushed.
It was pretty easy to distinguish the student's from his Academy.
"Ah, James, I'm sorry to say but you'll never find one like Ms. Dahlia." Oz replied.
"Then I'll just have to steal her from y-"
There was a fight on the dance floor.
"Dahlia! It's Elin!" Elise screamed.
Daren bravely was holding her back.
I went cold.
I didn't hesitate. My strides were long and powerful and even the crowd who had gathered around the fight parted before me. None wanted to be the idiot who got in my way.
It was actually the General's best student and his team. Peyton was unconscious on the floor and three of them had Elin pinned while the fourth punched him in the gut.
Since Daren had relieved the pain in my leg, I had little choice. I grabbed the pinky of my left hand, gritted my teeth and yanked it sideways, breaking it cleanly. Pain course through my body, transforming into glorious energy with my rage.
My eyes narrowed and I slung myself into action. They weren't expecting it so they had no time to defend.
I hooked my arm around the fourth boy's neck and rolled mid-air to slam him onto the floor.
I didn't pull Orchid. This I'd do with my two bare hands.
I whirled and kicked and flipped and punched, cracking heads and ribs as I went till finally the four of them just laid on the floor. They weren't too injured. I kept tabs on them and Healed their broken bones as I gave them. They were just too afraid to get back up.
They didn't get a hit in on me and I looked like I had merely done an intense dance routine.
I put my foot on the leader's neck, General Ironwood's best student.
"If you ever cause my team any physical, mental or emotional distress again, I'll skin you alive and feed your corpse to the crows." I whispered to the terrified boy.
I took my foot off his neck and snapped my fingers. Four big guys from Beacon came to carry the offending boys from the hall.
Elin was moaning. "I didn't touch him." Over and over again. I shushed him and began to heal him. "No, Heal Peyton. He tried to defend me but there was four of them. He didn't want to hurt them. He just wanted them to leave me alone." He whispered.
I shushed him again and when I was done, he looked no worse for wear. The crowd didn't disperse. They watched as I Healed Peyton as well. He woke up looking for the four guys who had already been removed. He calmed only when he learned that they had come face to face with me.
The dance started again but now I could feel people's wariness of me. I walked back to the two Headmasters. "I apologize for leaving so abruptly." I said calmly running a hand through my hair. "It looks like you got your match-up, General."
The General's mouth opened and closed but he could find no words. He was shocked. I hadn't been kidding about the pain to energy thing. He looked at my now healed pinky.
"If you'll excuse me, I think I'm done for the night." I said before turning to walk away.
"Wait!" Oz, said grabbing my arm.
I turned around eyes blazing. he took his hand off my arm immediately and held it out. "Could I have this dance? Just one more." He said gently.
I felt his hope of mending our relationship and fear of rejection.
I sighed. "Just one more." I said taking his proffered hand. "Actually, may I have the dance after?" The General asked as we walked. I sighed again smiling and nodded in agreement.
That meant Oz would want one more.
So one dance turned into three.
I spotted Neptune on the floor, doing his own thing. Much like Penny had done her own thing.
It was a fast waltz and talked as we did. We kept the proper distance from each other but inside we were all tangled up. He really was quite the dancer.
"You look... I can't even find a word for you tonight." He murmured. I looked at him, still unhappy.
He sighed. "I'm sorry for what I said, back in my office. It was just truly terrifying to see a knife sticking out of your back. And I don't like being lied to." He said. twirling me.
"I shouldn't have lied. For that I am sorry. I'm just trying to keep everyone safe." I whispered back.
He waited expectantly. Inwardly I sighed.
No lies, Dahlia.
"It was an assassination attempt. A miserable one at that. He made noise that woke me up from my unintended nap." I said.
I shook my head. Sloppy, sloppy work.
"Who wants you dead, moonflower?"
I smiled, happy to hear him call me by his affectionate nicknames again. It eased something inside both of us.
"That is the question, my darling. Who?" I asked. I knew it wasn't Omar. So was it someone eliminating a risky player?
So many unanswered questions.
The song ended. "I get your last dance, Ms. Derivalle." He said handing me off to the General.
He was a big man, who dwarfed me but I felt much bigger than him. "M'lady." He said bowing. I curtseyed and he clasped my hand, placing one large hand on my left hip.
"You truly are the star of the evening, Ms. Derivalle." He said, spinning me gracefully.
"Dahlia, please. You possess a silver tongue, General." I replied smiling.
Oz's jealousy reached me and I looked at him.
"Please, call me James." He said smiling. He had a bandage over his right eye. "So informal, James." I said. "Would you like me to Heal that for you?" I said nodding at his bandage.
"I had heard that you had remarkable Healing capabilities." He said but he declined my offer.
"You seemed to have heard quite a bit about me, James." I said raising an eyebrow. "It's hard not to hear about someone as remarkable as you." He said suavely. "Obviously, you did not warn your students of anything." I said cuttingly. He winced.
"As I should have. You show incredible leadership and your threat to Edmund will be noted. He will not be so foolish again."
I smiled that icy smile. "I should hope so. I do not make idle threats."
His smile faltered for a moment as he realized I was completely serious and we danced around the room.
He, unlike most, felt the danger I presented. But instead of being afraid, he was intensely interested. His hunger was noted.
"Perhaps we could meet again and talk more. You are a fascinating creature, Dahlia." He said as the song ended.
He bowed and kissed my hand. "Perhaps we could do that James."
I would have to be very careful with this man but I could not ignore the opportunity he presented.
Such secrets he must be privy to.
I motioned to Oz but to our amusement, a slow waltz began to play.
"Oz, you shouldn't be so jealous." I said as he came up to me, even if I secretly enjoyed his possessiveness.
"I cannot help it, darling. Every man in the room is jealous of me right now. We are jealous of whoever gets to bask in your attention and gets to touch you even if only for a dance."
And I called Ironwood silver-tongued.
"Besides. it doesn't take a mind reader, nor an empath to read the General's interest in you. He is my friend. But I'll kill him if he moves in on what is mine." He said, another surge of possessiveness.
"Am I yours?" I asked.
"You are, aren't you?" He shot back, spinning me slowly.
"Of course, but it's nice to hear you say it." He smiled.
"You are mine, Dahlia. As I am yours." He said, still keeping his distance but again, inside we wound ourselves tighter to each other.
It was interesting. Omar's possessiveness had made me feel chained and oppressed. Oz's made me feel wanted and cared for.
Maybe it was Omar didn't want to give anything back to me. He just wanted to own me.
Oz wanted to give me everything, so that while he was protecting and caring for me he also finds himself protected and cared for.
I wanted to kiss him so much it hurt but I had to remember that our relationship was a secret. Besides, there were eyes in the room, watching me.
"Come to my room tonight." He said. "Come in your secret way." He murmured.
I blushed.
The song ended and I was forced to let go of his hand and I missed the warmth of his other hand on my hip. He drifted back over to the punch where he and James Ironwood became deeply engrossed in conversation.
The party was beginning to wind down. I looked at the clock and it was almost midnight.
The General left with Oz following him slowly. Somewhere in the room there was a flare of annoyance and concern but I couldn't figure out where it came from.
I looked around and saw Elise and Daren slowly swaying together, foreheads touching.
Elin and Peyton danced together in spite of the attack and everyone guarded them, daring for someone to try it again.
Blake and Sun were still dancing, Jaune and Pyrrha had gone for something to drink, Jaune still in his dress.
I was absurdly proud of him for keeping his word.
I was told that he had said, if no one asked Pyrrha to the dance that he'd wear a dress.
And so he did.
I didn't see Ruby anywhere.
I decided I had waited long enough and I turned and walked out the door, and headed for my room before swinging towards the massive clockwork tower.
I changed into a short black night dress with my charcoal colored sleep robe and I wiped the makeup off my face. I packed a small bag with toothbrush, an extra pair of low soft boots and clothes in it for tomorrow.
I left a note saying that I wouldn't be back that night for my team and then set out barefoot for Oz's room.
Outside the tower, I looked around before jumping up. I caught the edge of a stone and began the treacherous climb up.
Another skill of an assassin. I could climb basically anything, one way or another.
My fingers and toes ached but I continued to climb, utilizing every nook and cranny I could fit my appendages into keep climbing. I didn't look down.
I was high enough that a fall from the tower would be hard for my body to bounce back from.
It would do it. It'd just be hard. Not only that but how would I explain it to whoever found me? Well, don't fall and we won't have to find out, I told myself.
Up I continued climbing, shivering as the wind blew across me. My leg began to ache.
It took guts to get up this high. So I just looked up and kept going.
It was a relief to reach the big windows around his office. There was a thin concrete ledge, only maybe a foot wide but it was enough.
Only when my feet were firmly planted on the concrete did I look down.
I gulped imagining me, like a tiny spider climbing up a seemingly flat wall.
Thankfully, I didn't have to disarm his security system again. I just pried off one edge of the floor to ceiling window and slipped inside, pulling the window back and shifting it back into its frame before turning to observe his dark office.
The enter room was a circle and all the walls were thick circular windows, paned with ornate clockwork like fixtures. To the left, if one was sitting by the desk were the complicated mechanics that powered the clock. The enormous clock that was the wall behind his desk was the giant clock that commanded the students and teachers of Beacon. Yet when I had first broken into the office, I had no idea where his personal room was. Where did the man sleep?
I had found it by snooping around and finding the lever in the bookshelf near a seemingly empty part of his room.
The staircase that the gears above us wheeled down led to a room above the office. Cleverly hidden with the cogs and the use of mirrors. When one looked up in the office, it looked as if one was looking up at the sky through the cogs. In reality, there was another room above the office that was Ozpin's bedroom.
It was amazing.
It wasn't a big room but it made up for it by being entirely made of dust infused glass. It was one way so that you could see out but no one flying overhead could see in.
The ceiling became the point of the tower and there was a bed with a canopy, a bookshelf, a lamp, a nightstand, a ugly but comfortable chair, a small closed room that I figured out was a bathroom and shower, a very basic kitchenette and a few special memorabilia around the different surfaces; awards and pictures and such. The Beacon Crest was printed across his bed cover though I knew his personal emblem was a series of interconnecting cogs and wheels.
I didn't light the lamp as the moon provided plenty of light and looked around. I set my bag down near the bed and I walked to the middle of his room.
His big bed was neatly made with the canopy pulled back to see the sky and on his night stand was a special book. I smiled.
It was his album from me.
I set the lamp down and picked up the book. Its spine showed the constant use. He looked at it often.
I looked up at his enormous glass ceiling through which you could see the entire night sky and all the stars that twinkled overhead.
Looking up, I felt the weight of all my weeks not sleeping. Surrounded by the smell of Oz, I felt safe and sleepy. No one knew where I was. For the moment I was safe.
I would wait till he got back though.
I spotted his coffeemaker in the little kitchenette. I knew he drank the tea I had given him the first night I met him to sleep. I had supplied it for him since them. I knew how he took his tea so I stood, swaying and made him a cup.
Since I didn't know when he would be back I put the cup in the hot sleeve to keep it warm.
It wouldn't hurt to lay down.
I slid my over robe off and tossed it over the chair.
His bed was amazingly comfortable. It was like sleeping on a firm cloud. I laid down and shivered.
He wouldn't mind if I pulled the covers over me.
His thick black comforter was warm and smelled of him.
I'll just close my eyes for a second.
In moments, I was blessedly asleep.