Soul's Reflection

by xT-Zealot

"It's not every day that friends are able to come together like this. Time has a way of testing our bonds, but it's nights like these that can help keep them stronger than ever. Nights like these are ones we'll never forget." -Soulbound Semi-AU/Pseudo-Novelization- -Completed-

8. Dance Dance Infiltration

Author's Note: Alright…so…this episode. Oh do I remember when I viewed it upon its release, went to work and then went to bed, only to wake up to see a firestorm of hatred having come through the internet. To be honest, I was surprised with the reactions. And, for a select few, I actually found them to be…shameful.

I'll express my opinion for the episode. When I watched this episode, I did not hate it. I still don't hate it. Now, did the episode have faults? Definitely. As I mentioned beforehand, the time and spotlight that was focused on Jaune I found to be a waste and wish that it had been put to better use elsewhere with more worthy characters. His talk with Neptune? Yes, there were a couple lines of dialogue that they exchanged that could've been worded a bit better, specifically when they talked about Weiss with me frowning quite a bit at who could 'have her'. I can understand people's dislike for those moments and if they hated the episode based on that, that's reasonable.

For those who hated the episode because they see it as nothing more than a destruction of their pairings…that's something entirely different.

One thing you need to know is that, despite our love for our pairings and how a lot of us think of them when we think of RWBY, the writers do not share this. When it comes to the pairings, one thing they had said in the commentary concerning them was, "We don't care". Now, don't take that as 'We don't care, they'll never happen' because that's not true. Pairings are not their top priority, only the story – as it should be. And, yes, I think they do need to focus on presenting the story a little better in future volumes. As for my own stance on romance, leave it in the fanfiction and fanart. Would I like to see White Rose and Bumblebee come to fruition? Yes, and I still hold plenty of hope that we'll one day get one or even both of them in the future. While the writers don't focus on the pairings, they are aware of them and their popularity with members of the cast being for them. I believe there will be a time that we'll be awarded for our patience.

But that day may come years later. We are only on Volume 2 and RWBY is still in their one of four years at Beacon. Cinder is only one of the many, many enemies that I'm sure that they'll face in the future on a world that holds an untold amount of secrets such as the ones involving the Grimm – mankind's doom - and Dust – their salvation. Before his passing, Monty had mentioned that it was his dream for RWBY to be that kind of show where kids who are watching RWBY with our favorite characters as kids will be able to grow up with them to one day see their adventures as adults when they become adults. Despite the issue floating around as to how far RWBY will continue without their creator, I have confidence in its continued airing as if there was one thing I have learned from the staff it's that they hold the same pride and love for RWBY as Monty did and I'm sure they'll do their best to honor and bring ongoing life to his dream.

These characters which we love and follow are kids as has been repeatedly stated by the cast and the show itself. Still innocent, still growing, still trying to find themselves. That's what Dance Dance Infiltration was: an episode where they were able to act as kids. This was not an episode to confirm or destroy pairings. When I remember the events of the dance, I remember how Blake smiled at her team while dancing with Sun, I remember that happiness on Weiss's face when Neptune came to talk to her, Yang squealing at Ruby's adorableness, Pyrrha's disappointment and later relief and laughter thanks to Jaune's goofiness, and even Ren and Nora quietly enjoying themselves on the dance floor as the best friends they are.

It was those images that I kept in mind while I wrote this chapter. And as I did so, I wondered when that day will come when they really will have to say goodbye to these moments of innocence and youth, when the peace they're experiencing is brought to an end and is replaced with strife, hardship…and maybe even loss that will take place in the conflicts that they will be thrust into. How they will lose, triumph, recover, and grow in the face of it all I can't wait to see.

Until then, enjoy.

---

Though by herself, having separated from Ruby at the platform and leaving her to return their team's dorm while she went to complete her own private mission, Weiss didn't feel the least bit alone. And how could she on a night like this?

They returned late, and they were able to see for themselves that the moon was in its rare lunar phase with its undamaged face being presented to better cast its pale light to establish an ethereal glow over the surrounding landscape. Weiss had been slow to get off the platform, donating a few seconds to admire the vastness of the wide open fields that surrounded the docks and the main path that led to the collection of high towers and arches that made up Beacon Academy.

She had experienced this sense of openness and freedom before: from her first time entering Beacon's grounds and many other instances after. It was exceptionally poignant this night.

Things were going well - as perfect as they could be which included the alignment of the stars, Weiss only having to glance up to see the twinkling shroud that filled the night sky to take the meaning literal as well as metaphorical. Yang had succeeded with Blake, she and Ruby spent a pleasant day out selecting dresses and other accessories, and what preparations that were needed for the dance could be finished before it began. This included getting a date for it.

The thought encouraged the swarm of butterflies to take flight within her stomach, providing her with the proper lift that had her feet nearly floating along the stones of her chosen path through the courtyard. The chirping song of real, nocturnal insects echoed all around her, adding to this feeling of liberation.

All of this was of her doing and that was what was responsible for this elation. Everything that she had now and what she would be experiencing later was due to her own choices. No obligations, no duties. She was doing this simply for herself and the freedom of making such decisions was such a new but satisfying sensation that she was basking in.

Getting to the heart of Beacon added to it; its courtyard as empty and open with the majority of students and professors having retired to their quarters. Weiss was heading to the dormitory that had been reserved for housing the exchange students. Though she had the hindsight to locate the building itself beforehand, she didn't know the exact floor and room of her objective. Her mood was too good to be dampened by that negligible bit of unpreparedness and she countered that a couple questions to the right people once she arrived could fix that.

Her perceived good fortune continued when she happened to catch her quarry walking outside the dormitory, the timing impeccable. "Neptune!"

Almost as soon as she called him did she remember that she was still carrying her dress. No matter. Nothing that a bench that seemed so conveniently-placed to suit her needs to create a presentable image couldn't fix as she left the dress and the protective plastic laid out across it before continuing on.

When she crossed the remaining distance to stand near him, Neptune had already stopped and turned around to face her, smiling that cool smile of his. "Oh hey, what's up?"

"I know this is a little unorthodox," Weiss started, instinctively making and holding eye contact with him, "but I wanted to ask you something."

It had been lectured into her time and again to the point where it was second nature but for some unexplainable reason Weiss found that she was incapable of keeping her gaze locked with his. It didn't help that her bodily functions were performing so strangely with her heart doing odd somersaults within her chest. Choosing to stare at the ground to hide the visible traces of her embarrassment for how she was acting, the action was accompanied with an odd crossing of her arms behind her back and she could see how the toe of one boot was digging into the stone.

Why was she acting like this? She couldn't count the number of times that she had been approached by boys who asked for her company which she then turned down with unshakable dignity.

It was because it was the first time that she was the one who was doing the asking. She shouldn't be as nervous as she clearly was though as she was Weiss Schnee: a daughter of the distinguished Schnee family. She should have nothing to worry about, the answer to the question she was about to utter obvious. Any boy would – or so they said – do anything for the chance of accompanying her to a dance like the one tomorrow night.

But none of them were like Neptune either. Smart, funny, and although she detested using the vocabulary so, she had no choice but to think of the word cool as she hadn't been compelled to think the same thing about anyone else before.

It was just adding to everything else that was hers. Her dance, her preparations, her dress, and now her dance partner. Maybe it was starting to be too much, even for her, to the point where she wondered how this could be all so perfect even if she had full control of it, meaning that it should be expected.

She mustered up her courage regardless, forcing herself to look back up at Neptune and voice her request. "Would you…like to accompany me to the dance tomorrow?"

She detected the moment that Neptune needed to understand pass and then he was smiling awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "Oh, the dance. Yeah, that's tomorrow, isn't it?"

Weiss nodded a bit too quickly, knowing that her own smile was just as awkward but, like everything else, she didn't have it in her to pay it any mind as she waited for his answer, sure of what it would be.

"Um, about that…"

---

With one final tug, Blake finished affixing the bow to the top of her head. It wasn't her usual black bow but one of a deep turquoise that she had chosen for a more festive appeal. For this night, she was determined to keep it gloom-free wherever she could.

She tried to keep black as much out of her outfit as she could except for the small touches, letting a dark but more enchanting purple take up the majority of her dress. After making sure that everything was in place, she stepped out of the team's bathroom and into the main dorm room.

She was mildly surprised to find Ruby sitting on Weiss's bunk, her leader having not been in the room when Blake went to change. The younger girl was also in what had to be her own chosen dress for the dance which, with a quick glance at the clock, told Blake that it was to start in an hour. I must've been in there longer than I thought, Blake mused, truly amazed that she had not heard any sign of Ruby beforehand. Then again, this was the first time she ever really tried to 'dress up'.

Ruby didn't seem to be any more confident than Blake was with how she held up her one hand in front of her face, the other holding a tiny brush dipped in red nail polish that she was bringing to one nail very slowly, as if afraid that one errant twitch could mess up the work that she hadn't even started on as the faunus was able to see that none of the girl's nails were currently painted.

She had a feeling that her presence was an excuse for Ruby to put it off a little longer with how quick she dropped hand and brush in order to face Blake with a smile. "Hey, you're done!" Her lips stretched even further when she took in Blake's attire. "I guess you really are going then?"

"It would appear that way," Blake replied with a small smile of her own.

"That's great! I know Yang will be happy!"

"Is she already there?" With only one hour left until the start of the dance, Blake figured that her girlfriend would be there by now.

This was confirmed with a nod from Ruby. "Yeah. She wanted to help with any finishing touches with Weiss and then start welcoming in the guests to help get everything going."

"Weiss is already there too?" Blake asked. She hadn't seen the white-themed girl at all throughout the day although, with her and Yang being the primary planners and Blake having spent most of her time in the city doing her errands, this wasn't a surprise.

"I think she may've been there since this morning." Ruby gestured to what she was doing before. "I was hoping that she would stick around and help me with this since she did pick this out for me but…" She shrugged. "I guess she really wants things to go well at the dance."

Her smile thinned a bit but Blake didn't read it as any more than mild disappointment. "Would you like some help?"

She may as well have thrown Ruby a lifeline with how she instantly brightened with relief. "Yes!" She held up the small bottle of nail polish. "I have no idea what I'm doing."

Blake snagged one of their desk chairs, dragging it opposite of where Ruby was seated before sitting down on it. The scythe-wielder held up her hand, Blake gingerly taking it and coaxing Ruby to spread her fingers apart before she reached over to take the nail polish. This wasn't exactly something that she had done before either but she had a basic idea for proper application, dipping the brush in the bottle but not bringing it directly to Ruby's nails, instead dragging it along the lip of the bottle to get a bit of the excess off so it wouldn't drip.

With a squint to her eyes, Blake made the first careful drag along Ruby's thumbnail, thinking it was best to start there to get it down and she experienced a flash of success when there came a perfect red line down the middle of the nail. Just as she was about to finish the rest though, Ruby curled her thumb, Blake just barely avoiding getting it on Ruby's skin.

"Sorry," Ruby apologized when Blake glanced up at her, grinning sheepishly. "It tickles."

"Try to control yourself," she advised, waiting until Ruby stilled before she moved the brush side-to-side, completing the coat. She admired her handiwork, Ruby tilting her head to get a look too, and her expression said that she was happy with it.

One down, nine to go, and Blake was beginning to think she had gotten lucky when she started moving to Ruby's other fingers, the surface area she was given to work with shrinking and causing her to be more careful. This wasn't just in applying the polish either as, despite her best efforts, Ruby twitched whether due to the slight tickle of the brush on her finger or what was becoming clear to be an inability to stay still, the girl needing to squirm here and there on the bed. Blake managed to pull off a save most of the time but a twitch of Ruby's middle finger while she was painting it resulted in a red splotch near the top joint.

"Sorry," Ruby spoke again, but not for the last time as a similar thing occurred at her ring finger.

"Moving is going to make this go longer than it needs to be," Blake patiently stated, taking a sheet from a box of tissue paper that they grabbed after realizing that they were going to need them and doing her best to wipe away the splotch without ruining what was already on Ruby's nail.

"I'm trying to stay still but it's hard!" she whined.

"Think about something to take your mind off it." Discarding the tissue once the skin was clean, Blake retook the brush to continue. "Like what you're going to do at the dance."

Ruby was about to make a move but stopped herself just as Blake was about to touch her nail. "Probably just stand around and watch you and Yang dance together while Weiss dances with Neptune."

'You and Yang' echoed in Blake's mind, causing her to pause with the image of Ruby standing there, watching her older sibling dancing with her faunus girlfriend. A girlfriend who had caused her and the team so much trouble, forcing Blake to remember not only the confrontation yesterday but their previous incidents.

Blake knew that it was nearly impossible for Ruby to have any kind of hateful bone in her body, her innocence and sometimes child-like behavior making it difficult for her to think of Ruby possessing any kind of lasting animosity towards anyone. Out of all of her teammates, she was probably the one who Blake had to worry the least about when it came to making her angry.

It was more than her own actions that had Blake suddenly thinking about Ruby in this way. It was also what Yang had revealed to her concerning their parentage. She wondered, after Summer's disappearance, how much of Yang's older sister duties while she and Ruby had been growing up became of a more…motherly sort. Blake did remember how much Ruby had stuck to her sister's side during their start at Beacon with Yang trying to push her into making new friends to the point of dragging her over to Blake during their first night in the auditorium.

It led Blake to becoming more mindful of their relationship…and how she may be interfering with it. "Ruby."

"Yeah?"

This was probably something she should attend with sooner rather than later. With the added bonus of maybe getting Ruby to hold still and allow her to finish, Blake pursued with, "I want to talk about your sister. Well, your sister and I."

Ruby blinked curiously at her. "Uh huh?"

"We're dating now." She immediately ridiculed herself at stating the obvious with Ruby herself having asked and she and Yang having answered truthfully that they were, to quote, 'together-together'. "I know you said you were okay with it but I want to know if you really aren't…troubled by it." Focusing on Ruby's pinkie in order to avoid looking at the girl directly, Blake resumed painting. "You two have always been close and I don't want you to think that I'm getting in your way, especially because of recent events. I mean, after hiding my identity for so long and me dragging you all into stopping the White Fang, I understand if you feel uncomfortable with me suddenly being so close to your sister after all that."

"I already forgave you about hiding about being a faunus of the White Fang," Ruby answered earnestly. "We all did. I do understand why you did it and I want to stop them as much as you do." She chuckled almost as soon as she said it. "Well, maybe not as much as you but I know part of the reason why you were working so hard is because you don't want us or anyone else getting hurt."

Blake nodded, not trusting herself to speak. By then she was finished and Ruby lifted her hand to inspect her fingernails which, Blake thought, went well with Ruby's dress. The pleased smile on the girl's face said that she was thinking the same thing.

"As for you and Yang…" Ruby lowered her hand to better stare at Blake. "She's happy and I want her to be happy. Yang had always looked after me when we were growing up. Read me stories, beat up any kids who were picking on me at school, making sure to take care of me when I was sick whenever our dad was busy. I love her for it but sometimes I worry about her since she never really had someone who was there to look after her or make sure she was always happy. When you and her became partners, I was glad that she ended up with someone she can work with and kick as much butt as she can."

Blake couldn't help but smirk at what was clearly a compliment.

"And with you being her girlfriend and all…I guess it was kinda weird at first but seeing her so happy and there being someone who can do what I never could makes me relieved. As long as you keep making her happy, I don't have any problem."

"I will," Blake swore, wishing that the words could carry more of not just the relief and the conviction but also just how moved she was by Ruby's words. She used the dipping of the brush in the bottle of nail polish as an excuse to hide the building tears in her eyes in response to how lucky she was.

"But I will say something that I think our dad would say," Ruby said, holding out her other hand for Blake to do.

"And what's that?"

"I have a scythe that's also a gun." Ruby glared at Blake. "Remember that."

The glare was more adorable than menacing, proving Blake's earlier opinion of Ruby's capability to be threatening. But it had the desired effect nonetheless with Blake setting her chin determinedly in its presence. "I won't ever give you an excuse to use it."

"Then we have nothing to worry about!" Reverting back to her cheerful self, Ruby shook her unpainted hand as an order to finish.

Taking it, Blake silently swore to Ruby the same promise that she did to Yang: that she would never, ever let the siblings come to harm, especially by her own hand. Her touching the brush to Ruby's nail she imagined to be her signing her name to this unwritten agreement.

"You want to know a secret?" Ruby asked when the faunus moved to the next finger.

"What?"

"I think you'll make a great sister-in-law."

A second later and it was Blake who was apologizing profusely for the line of nail polish that ran from the tip of Ruby's finger to the back of her hand.

After sufficiently cleaning up and getting the rest of Ruby's nails – with Blake warning and then watching out for Ruby touching anything before they dried -, it was about that time for them to begin making their way to the ballroom. Waiting patiently by the door, Blake watched as Ruby slipped on her pair of heels and immediately noticed how she struggled to walk in them upon making her first step to join Blake.

"Need any help?" Blake asked with a wry grin.

"Please don't start," Ruby begged, walking – the term being used very loosely - out into the hall with Blake closing the door behind them. "Weiss already made enough fun of me."

"I won't say a word, although I do wonder how you're going to make it down the stairs."

They reached the stairs in question, Ruby taking a long look at the several flights they were supposed to clear before switching to Blake, a silent plea on her features. The faunus spared her, simply holding out a supportive arm which Ruby gladly took.

They descended down the stairs together, Blake not minding the pace as Ruby stubbornly made do in order to get a better handling of walking in her 'stilts' or how her leader gripped her arm so tightly. The tiny smile that Blake tried to hide held a mix of amusement and…something else as she watched Ruby during their journey down.

Sister…

Blake mentally turned the word over as she viewed Ruby's young face, her visible concentration broken with moments of panic at the smallest wobble and stumble with her grip further tightening around Blake for support each time. It dawned on her that she spent so long trying to support an entire race that she was unaccustomed to what it felt like to carry the weight of a single person as she was doing so now. It kept her grounded in a unique way, limiting her thinking to a more personal level.

The wider, vaster view had left little room to think of herself. Her efforts – her life – had been dedicated to the many without thanks or recognition. When she thought of the future, she did so with her people in mind. What they would be able to do with their rights that she sought to attain for them. She had never really thought of what she would do or what she wanted from the future and sparing even a moment to think about it just felt so selfish and insignificant given the situation.

This was not to say that it wasn't a noble thing, but it was only with Ruby on her arm and Blake pondering about her relationship with not only her leader but her other teammates that she was able to touch on a sense of personal fulfillment that she hadn't been able to experience before. To actually have people who did think of her in return and worry about her and, as a result, unveil to her the value of her life that even she did not realize that she had. Her own wants and desires that she had neglected.

To be a sister, she thought. To have a real family. Is that what I want? What I could one day have?

That was much further into the future though. She, Ruby, Yang, and Weiss – they had only just started their four years at Beacon. Other than the White Fang and the Grimm, who knew what else may occur during their training and what they may be thrust into when they managed to complete it. And then there were her own problems concerning her heritage and the current worldly complications with humans and faunus. It was much too early for that kind of thinking.

But to be able to think of the future with the idea that she had a more tangible place in it and that there were those who would be there to help get her situated in it…it made her feel a bit more alive than she had ever felt before.

Ruby finally managed to conquer the stairs with Blake's assistance and their pace got a little quicker once they were on the more leveled ground floor of the dormitory, soon making their way outside. Cutting through Beacon's campus, Blake could see that they weren't the only ones making the journey to the ballroom, her night vision turning the silhouettes in the distance into more identifiable forms of students whether they be home or exchange.

It was catching sight of one in particular that Blake stopped. "Ruby, do you think you'll be able to make it the rest of the way on your own?"

"Sure," Ruby answered, not quite successful in hiding her dismay when Blake pulled away from her. "I'll do my best anyway. Where are you going?"

"There's someone who I want to speak with real fast."

---

"Ugh, stupid, dumb…neck trap," Sun grumbled, overcome with another urge to stop and fight with his tie, specifically the sloppy knot that he constantly repositioned. He could never seem to find a perfect balance; either stuck with it being too tight that it pressed uncomfortably against his throat or too loose and the tie would swing around everywhere.

As he's done countless times before, he wondered why he was even bothering with all this trouble. Other than a tie, he had gone through a whole debate with Neptune on what he should wear. A tux was out of the question for him, yet his partner had forbidden him from going with his normal wear. After what had to be forever, they settled on a compromise with Sun proposing to a black version of his shirt and to keep it buttoned, saying that it was close enough to a tuxedo. Neptune, upon realizing that he wasn't going to be gaining any more ground, agreed on the condition that he include the long white tie.

Sun had kept everything else: his sneakers, his red armbands, and his jeans with the rolled up legs and chains hanging from his pockets. He still felt like he lost that battle.

A battle in a war that he found pointless. For all his suffering, he couldn't see what the payoff was. He didn't have a date as he was traveling to the dance alone.

"It's not about dancing," Neptune had said when Sun was finished with his latest batch of complaints. "It's about appearances! You got students from academies all over the world attending with anyone who's anyone from each one bound to be there to mingle with! We can't miss out on this opportunity to make an impression!"

"What impression?" Sun questioned with a frown. "You can't dance."

"And we're keeping that a secret!" Neptune declared seriously. "If anyone asks, tell them I already danced with plenty of girls. You don't have to be specific - just say that you don't know as they weren't from our school. Actually, you can probably get away with saying that you think I danced with at least one girl from each school. Don't make up names though; we still need to play it a little safe."

Sun rolled his eyes, knowing his friend's inability to dance and how fiercely he kept that a secret. To be fair, he had seen his partner dance and while it wasn't very…well…good, he thought that Neptune was being too hard on himself and tried just as much to maintain a reputation that, in Sun's opinion, was mostly in his head.

I just hope he's not breaking any hearts of the girls who are asking that nerd to dance, Sun thought. By then he had gotten his tie back to a tolerable level of acceptability and as it settled back against his chest, he hoped that maybe there'll be a girl in the same boat as he was.

"I knew you'd look better in a tie."

Sun slowly turned to follow the source of the mischievous voice and suddenly everything seemed worth it.

Other than him having been the one to sneak up on her on such a night like this, it had also been when she was running from her friends. The bow had been missing, showing off those cat ears that had been low and sad as her features when she turned at his comment, golden eyes glinting because of the night and the tears that had been welling up in them.

They were clear now, contributing to their extra brightness and enhanced by her smile. Her purple dress was a modest one-piece worn over a mesh top and the front straps connected to the black collar at her throat, it and a thin black belt around her waist keeping the material tight to her lithe form. The skirt hung down to her knees, a slit at each side to get it to flow graciously along her legs.

Sun stood where he was, jaw hanging, and somehow he managed to register how the tip of one of Blake's lips curved higher along with a brow, the miniscule shift complementing her mysterious nature; a quality which had instantly captured his interest when he first saw her.

He wasn't even aware that she was approaching him, only her left arm slipping through his right snapping him out of his daze when a light tug got him to begin following her. Somehow he managed to get his mouth working again to form a slow question. "So, does this mean we're going…together?"

"Technically," Blake replied with an amused smile. "I thought it would be nice to have a gentleman such as yourself to escort me to the dance."

'Escort' hung over Sun's head, waiting until he was able to understand the meaning before it dropped onto him, crushing the hopes that had taken root when he saw her and been developing when she had approached and taken his arm. "Oh, escort?"

Despite the disappointment that he felt, he wish he had done a better job at suppressing it when he saw Blake's smile vanish, the cat faunus looking up at him with some apprehension, aware that she had said something wrong. "Is that okay?"

"Oh, no; it's totally fine!" Sun tried to recover. "I'd be happy to do so, what with that being a theme we got going on between us." When he saw Blake still staring at him with bewilderment, he couldn't help but add, "But I mean, when you're walking alone to a dance, and a girl suddenly comes up to you all dressed up and charming…makes a guy think that there might've been something…more to it than that."

Blake continued to stare at him and Sun actually took some entertainment when he saw the moment when she became aware of what he was getting at: the widening of her eyes that came with their sudden stop, the suction of air, and if Sun hadn't tightened his arm, she probably would've jumped away from him. "Oh! I – uh." Her gaze shot to the ground and she took a step away. A small step, what with their arms still linked. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean…when I got the idea I had been thinking…"

When her arm remained locked with Sun's, she increased her efforts to separate which in turn had Sun adding more strength to keep her in place. "No, wait, hear me out."

Blake did, staying in place and forcing herself to meet his eyes. His vision may not be as great as hers in the dark, but he could pick up the embarrassment and a hint of shame with how those ambers twitched, wanting to pull away but their owner stubbornly refusing in order to show how she wished to correct the wrong she unintentionally made.

And Sun did believe it was unintentional. For all the mystery and professionalism that Blake had exhibited when it came to working out in the field, Sun was witnessing a more awkward faunus girl bumbling her way through more normal interactions. It was all kind of funny, and it helped relieve the sting from earlier.

"You didn't mean any harm," Sun said. "I believe that." He shrugged. "And I guess I should've known better considering that you and Yang are together."

Blake blinked at him in surprise but he could feel how her arm relaxed against his. "She told you?"

Sun smirked. "I guessed, and it looks like you confirmed it. You guys did kind of make it obvious for me though – Yang more than you but I've seen how you've looked at her." His smirk lengthened when he caught the darkening of Blake's cheeks but it shortened a moment later. "I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up like that."

"I'm sorry."

He shrugged. "It wasn't your fault."

"Some of it was," Blake argued. "It definitely was just now. I was thinking of the night when we met and how you've accompanied me into such dangerous situations and I thought that maybe I could make it up to you in this small way. I wasn't thinking enough apparently."

"Nah, it's no problem. You're good at fighting, being all sneaky and quiet, and great when it comes to ruining Torchwick's day. You just happen to be terrible at putting guys down gently – which is why you're not going for them I guess."

His lack of hostility and how Blake gave him her usual look of annoyance told him that everything was still right between them. With a roll of her eyes, Blake said, "I don't know about that. This is all still new to me so I can't be sure about what I do and do not 'go for'."

Sun couldn't help but bark out a laugh which got Blake to hold up a hand to hide her own traces of mirth, a short giggle escaping. The air better cleared, they restarted their journey to the ballroom joined at the arms but doing so in a more comfortable fashion.

"Seriously though," Sun said. "I'm fine with it and think it's great. After bumping into the White Fang and all this focus on race and separation, even a guy like me can see what makes what you and Yang have so special."

"I don't disagree, but that's something a part of me wishes wasn't so," Blake replied. "About it being special in the sense of a faunus and human being able to be together. Much like everything else, that's something I want to be defined as 'normal': that faunus and human couples are as natural as faunus and faunus or human and human." It was a sad frown that marred her features. "As happy as Yang and I are right now, I still worry about the trouble that I'll bring her with that remaining to be such an issue. I'm aware of how silly it is with worrying about something like that considering all the more immediate and life-threatening dangers that surround our lives with our career paths but it still sneaks up on me too often for my liking."

Finding the frown to be too depressing on a girl dressed up for a night of fun, Sun thought of a perfect way to turn it around. "Sounds like someone who's speaking long-term for their relationship." Grinning slyly, he said, "I didn't think Bellabroody could think so far ahead there."

He got the desired response, Blake looking at him with shock and color flooding her features, chasing away the gloominess. When she turned away, it was with a mumbled, "Shut up."

Grinning from ear-to-ear, Sun took it upon himself to continue leading them, what with Blake being so intent to look as far away from him as possible even if it meant not keeping an eye on the path. Beneath the humor though, Sun recognized the hurt that came with the rejection.

He found Blake interesting, going as far as to say as attractive, and he only had to glance her way to support that claim. Being a faunus just like him added to that. She was also smart, a great fighter, but very aloof and he was sure it would've been fun to try and get closer and learn more about her as he had attempted to do once he settled into Beacon. In that respect, nothing really changed: he could still work with her and still learn about her, but he was now barred from doing so at a deeper level.

True, there was a feeling of sorrow at the loss and, immature it may be, he couldn't help but wonder if things would've been different if he had been 'first'. On the other hand, he couldn't throw away the possibility that, other than being of the same race, he was really attracted to the aura of secrecy surrounding Blake and if he ever got to the 'real' Blake, he and she wouldn't have been as compatible as he fantasied them to be.

Meanwhile, someone else was able to uncover the real Blake and the attraction between the two of them seemed protective, loving, and very much mutual. Even in the face of his loss, Sun could respect that and concede defeat with no lingering bitterness.

"I'm still mad at you but if you haven't found some other girl to dance with - one who I'm sure would be lucky to have such a guy like you -, I'd be happy to save you a dance," Blake offered.

"I may hold you to that," Sun accepted with a smile.

---

"Enjoy your night!" Yang said to the latest couple, waving them to the center of the ballroom where the tranquil melody of violins issuing from the speakers would take over in easing them into the gentle murmurings of conversation of the other attendants.

There was already a large crowd, the students of numerous years and the occasional professor who huddled close to one another in order for words of their groups to be shared. Although opening dances were performed, a break had fallen over the gathering in order for the last of the guests to properly situate themselves and link up with their chosen dates or socialize with friends. A few couples remained in each other's arms while their bodies swayed, seemingly lost in a universe that was only reserved for them and the beat. Along with the decorations, the dim lighting, the near-dark ceiling, and the chandeliers that reflected what little light that was offered, Yang hoped that those little details were enough to give everyone an impression that they were talking or dancing beneath a night sky.

With her alone until the next set of arrivals, Yang watched events transpire while remaining at her spot at the podium. Watched as students drifted on and off the dance floor with some smiling with their dance partners, others tentative as they were picked up from their lonely seats at the side when approached by an interested individual. There were those standing around at the punch bowl and sampling what the buffest had to offer, the caterers having recently finished retrieving trays of prepared food from the galley and laying them out along with the bowls, plates, cups, and cutlery needed.

The sights helped her relax, reminding her of past experiences of a previous Vytal Festival, of her other dances at Signal, and occasional celebrations that the islanders of Patch partook in which was when Taiyang and Qrow were able to take the time off to watch their much younger girls have fun. Happy moments that she held and cherished. It made her wish that another was here to experience what was in front of her and store it for fond recollection.

She hadn't pressed the issue with Blake, content with the hours that her girlfriend was able to lay in bed and sleep within the comfort of her arms and presence. Agreeing with Weiss's assessment of what Blake really needed – sleep, and to know that Yang would be there for her -, Yang had woken up and gone on ahead to help Weiss in finishing setting up while she left Blake to relax. There was no need to keep pushing the faunus into things she may not be comfortable with yet: best to let her go at her own pace when it came to fitting more properly into society.

Yang heard the doors to the ballroom open up behind her and she quickly straightened and turned to greet the arrival. What she ended up doing instead was throw her hands up to her mouth and hop in place excitedly as she squealed, "Oh, you look beautiful!"

Ruby said nothing at first, too busy shuffling ahead through the doors and letting them close when she was clear. "I still have no idea how Weiss fights in these," she muttered.

Yang only laughed as Ruby braved the rest of the way to her. Grabbing her scroll from its place on the podium, Yang snapped pictures of each of her baby sister's awkward, wobble-stricken steps.

So intent on making sure one foot managed to at least make it front of the other, it was when Ruby nearly bumped into the podium that she saw what Yang was doing and her hands swung around to obstruct the view of the scroll. "Yang, no!"

"But you're so adorable!" Yang's arm broke through Ruby's feeble defenses and wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her closer and holding the scroll out to snap a couple of them together. It was a chore, what with Ruby fighting against her and valiantly turning her head away from the scroll but Yang was sure that she could find a couple good ones out of the dozen she took.

Satisfied, she let Ruby go and had to smother more giggles as her sister flailed about and managed to save herself by grabbing onto the podium. With Ruby busy steadying herself, Yang used the chance to quietly admire her.

My baby sister just keeps growing up, she thought wistfully, witnessing another milestone reached in Ruby's life. The years clouded her memory but Yang remembered the photos in their family albums that featured a toddler Ruby first learning to walk on her own two feet. That mix of pride and sadness set in with Yang combating the latter with the thought that, for this year and the three others ahead, she was granted with such fortune to at least be given a front row seat to watch her continue to grow.

"Did you pick the outfit out yourself?" she asked.

"Do you think I'd include these if I did?" Ruby returned, shaking a heel-clad foot for emphasis. "Weiss actually helped me pick it out yesterday." She swiveled her head around. "Is she here?"

"Mmm…" Yang copied Ruby, taking a look around for her co-planner. "Should be. I think she was talking to the caterers when they were bringing out the food, last I saw." She didn't see Weiss at the buffet table now though and she only kept up her search for a few more seconds before ending it, sure that she would find her later. "No date?"

Ruby shook her head which had Yang being conflicted of whether it was a good or bad thing to not see her on someone's arm. No, definitely bad; she didn't think she'd have it in her to see Ruby growing up that fast. "No, but I thought I'd come and watch you guys enjoy yourselves."

"Won't be much of a show there," Yang pointed out. "I can't speak for Weiss but I'll still be here greeting guests for a little longer. I did make sure that some good stuff was on the menu with Weiss's 'finger food'." She added the air quotes to the last and was about to list more of her improvements until she happened to see Ruby's changing expression. "What?"

"Nothing!"

Yang's brows lowered at her. There was way too much scheming in that slow grin of hers, Ruby attempting and failing spectacularly on preventing the grin from not only showing up but spreading all across her face. "You're still a bad liar." She began to step around the podium and she lifted her hands, fingers wiggling dangerously. "And I remember how to deal with bad liars."

Ruby instantly became stricken at seeing those threatening hands, looking like she wanted to flee but was just as reluctant to follow through. It gave Yang the opportunity to grasp her arms while they remained fastened to the podium. "Yang, wait! Don't!"

"No, no, little sister," Yang rebutted, her tone growing more and more ominous while her fingernails tapped against Ruby's captured forearms, causing the smaller girl to grow pale. "You're hiding something, and with no one here to distract me or save you, I think I'll have some fun finding out what that is."

Just as she said it, the doors once again opened and Yang performed a quick glance, a reflexive greeting on the tip of her tongue that she would utter to see them off before she would begin her interrogation. But then she found herself doing a quick double-take with whatever she was about to say being forgotten when she saw Sun walking in and at his arm was…

Well, that was when Yang stopped thinking. And breathing. She was pretty sure her heart decided to stop too.

Against the sauntering, mesmerizing embodiment of beauty and grace, she really stood no chance. That went double for how said embodiment of beauty and grace had attention solely on Yang, golden eyes drawing the blonde in.

"Thank you, Sun," beauty and grace spoke, unhooking her arm from around the monkey faunus.

"No sweat."

There was a heavy amount of humor in Sun's tone but Yang wasn't aware of it. Nor was she aware that Ruby had managed to escape her numbed hold and was standing off to the side with Sun so that the two could watch with big, stupid grins. The only thing that existed for her right now was her beautiful girlfriend standing in front of her, hands folded and pressed against her legs, waiting expectantly for Yang to say something. An eternity – or that was how Yang perceived it anyway – was apparently enough of a wait as Blake tilted her head and said, "Hello, Yang."

"Habauwa." Huh, her mouth wasn't working. Oh, that was because it was busy trying to touch the floor. With a click of her jaw, Yang fixed that but there was still a small knot at her tongue when she finally replied, "Blake. Hello."

"Man, even I didn't look that bad," Sun whispered quietly to Ruby, eliciting a giggle from her.

The spell that had been cast kept up its work, Yang ignoring them and instead being drawn to the movement of Blake's arm being held out to her while her head motioned to the dance floor; another component of this spellcraft she was sure. "Would you care to dance?"

Yang wouldn't be able to recall it but suddenly her hand was in the smooth grasp of the faunus while her answer was made for her. "Yes." Further distracted by Blake's bewitching smile, she didn't know how she was able to speak her last words to her sister as she was led away. "Take over for me, Rubes."

She was pretty sure she heard an affirmative but after that Yang's hearing was devoted to those violins that became more prominent when she and Blake got to the dance floor. In light of her impaired senses, she wondered if it was memory that allowed her to drop into the right position for ballroom dancing: her left hand remaining clasped with Blake's and held to the side while her other hand came around, Blake's tresses parting between her fingers so that she could touch her back. In response, Blake's hand touched her shoulder with her forearm resting against Yang's upper.

Ironic as the position made Yang the lead when it was Blake who had led her out here. Nonetheless, she instinctively fell into the slow side-to-side steps of the dance, their bodies swaying together to match the movements of the other dancers.

With Blake so close, her thoughts were still muddled as all she could focus on was Blake's bright eyes, her smile, the feel of her arm on hers, and the curve of her back she felt beneath the mesh top of Blake's dress. Thinking of that, Yang was beginning to feel very self-conscious with how plain her white one with the frilled skirt was when compared to Blake's. "The dress looks beautiful on you," Yang complimented, finally speaking clearly.

"Thank you," Blake replied, gaze flicking down while some pink tinted her features at the praise. "I picked it out earlier this morning. It was a bit sudden and I was lucky enough to get it in my size but I thought it would be fine."

Yang nodded a tad fast. "Yeah, fine. Very fine, in fact. I'm impressed. But – and please don't take this the wrong way – I hope you hadn't felt forced into this."

Blake opened her mouth to reply, paused, and gave a tilt of her head that was meant to signal a concession as she replied, "I may've felt it a little bit but nothing like what you're afraid of. I remember what you said this morning."

Yang had actually said very little. When she had gotten up and noticed Blake coming to when she was about to head out, she had approached her bed and bent down to give her a quick kiss and a suggestion that she take it easy and relax for the day by doing whatever she wanted. She purposely left out any suggestion of coming to the dance, guessing – correctly, it seemed – that with all that Blake had been doing to herself, she wasn't prepared in the least for it and Yang didn't want her to get her worried and go rushing into Vale to get a dress and whatever she needed, all of which being done at the last minute.

Even if it was clearly worth it.

"I also remember what you said to me yesterday," Blake went on. "About not letting the White Fang control me. Tonight, I'm doing what I want to do and after you left and I asked myself just what that was, I decided that I wanted to come out here and dance with you."

It'd probably be a close contest to see who's face was hotter: Yang's due to hearing how earnest Blake was when she said that or Blake for being the one who got herself to say it. They spent the next few minutes letting their cheeks cool while they danced, taking delight in each other's presence. They maintained the steady side-to-side motion but now and again Yang lifted their joined hands up and Blake obeyed the signal to spin, giving the blonde a tantalizing view of how the skirt swirled around the faunus's legs. She decided that she could get away with it a couple more times, each repeat evenly spaced out and she taking what of the sight she could when Blake was turned away from her for that split second.

"You dance very well," Blake noted when she finished the latest one.

"This isn't my first. We have our own, smaller festivals that take place on Patch and Signal had a couple school dances. It's coincidence that I happened to have my graduation dance at the end of my last year only to have the Vytal Festival occurring so soon after it." Thinking of a couple of her club activities, Yang added," I'm also what people may call a social dancer."

"I caught the hidden meaning."

"What about you? You don't seem to be a stranger to it either."

A flash of sadness passed across Blake's face and Yang already knew the answer before she gave it. "I learned to dance while in the White Fang."

Yang immediately broadcasted her apology. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring them up. Not on a night like this."

She felt dual squeezes at her shoulder and her hand that were held in Blake's. "I know, but there's no changing how the majority of my life is being in the White Fang so speaking anything about my past is going to include them. However, it was only five of those years that were bad. The years before those have their good moments which included ones that were worth celebrating to keep spirits up. Some of those traditions even lingered for a little while."

She stared up at some of the overhead decorations, her body still moving in time with Yang's, but visibly lost in thought. "By becoming so obsessed with stopping the White Fang and only thinking of what they're doing now or what they will do, I've forgotten some of the good things of what they used to be and how some of what they used to stand for is still around. There are old members out there that still follow our peaceful guidelines and the faunus civil rights groups that are around now are based on their previous teachings. I've been trying to keep that in mind lately – that there are still those who hold onto the same hopes that hadn't been so much forgotten as they were…obscured."

"A good way to look at it," Yang offered.

"And maybe by actually looking it more like that I won't be such a…" Blake lowered her head, so low that all Yang could see was the top of her head and her turquoise bow. She mumbled something.

Yang leaned down and better directed an ear to her girlfriend. "What did you say?"

"…Bellabroody."

Yang didn't register Blake stepping on her foot when she suddenly froze and the faunus was already halfway through her apology when she saw Yang's face and how astounded she appeared. "Yang?"

Yang didn't say a word. Didn't make a move for a full ten seconds. And then she burst out laughing. "Oh my God!"

"Shhhhh!" Blake hissed fiercely, eyes wide and head whipping back and forth.

But Yang ignored her and whatever attention they were attracting. Nearly doubled over, it was only Blake that was keeping her up as she laughed. "Just…just…" She gasped for breath, trying to form coherent sentences. "Did you seriously come up with that yourself?"

"Sun did!" Blake blurted out. "I thought it I'd give it a try."

"That is awesome! The guy is a genius and you have great taste! Weiss has nothing on you two!" Yang wiped at the tears that were sliding down her face, still shaking with laughter.

"Please calm down."

"That was fantastic! I mean Bellabr-hehe-Bella-hahaha!" She broke down again.

Blake pressed her face against Yang's chest to conceal her red face and to hide from the stares. "Stoooop."

Yang tried, burying her face in Blake's hair and holding her tight but she kept laughing, this being another memory that she'll be sure to never forget.

---

"You guys are just in time!" Ruby greeted, fulfilling Yang's previous duties for the next pair of dancers to enter.

The two this time happened to be Emerald and Mercury which had her supplying extra enthusiasm into her greeting. She was glad when Emerald returned her smile, the exchange student wearing a plain green dress that matched her name with a black sash.

Mercury was more impressively suited in a black tux with dark orange trimming and matching bowtie. He didn't return Ruby's greeting in the same manner, his smile Ruby couldn't help but see as more of a smirk as he returned, "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

The scythe-wielder couldn't help but feel like something was odd about the delivery but let it pass, instead gesturing the two to the dance floor which they approached after Mercury held his hand out for Emerald to take. Once they did, Ruby added a pair of tally marks to the sheet. She had no idea if she should be keeping count; the marks were for something else as she checked the time on her scroll and wrote it down as well.

The last arrivals were more than five minutes ago, Ruby pondered. So that should be fine now, right? While she didn't have to worry about making a fool of herself by standing in one spot…she was still standing in one spot. And I'm sure anyone who enters can see that 'Hey, there's a dance going on right there! I think that's where we're supposed to go!'

Sighing, Ruby folded her arms on top of the podium with her chin setting itself down on them. Sun had left her to herself shortly after Blake and Yang went off to dance and the last she saw of those two was when Yang had been laughing at who-knew-what with her and Blake holding onto one another. Since then though, there hadn't been anything else to occupy her attention.

Can I go change back into my hood? Groaning in boredom, Ruby restraightened – and had to quickly save herself when she lost her balance. She glowered down at her heels. "Stupid lady stilts."

"Not enjoying yourself?"

Ruby turned at the voice, finding Headmaster Ozpin himself standing aside of her. "Oh, no!" she said quickly, shaking her head. "Everything's fine." Shrugging helplessly, she explained, "I'm just not much of a fancy-pantsy-…dancy kind of girl."

A benign smile came to the headmaster, Ruby noticing that he – and the other professors from what she saw – hadn't chosen to wear anything special for the night as he was wearing his usual black and green ensemble. He even had his signature cane planted at his feet, although sometimes Ruby wondered if he really did need it such as now with how he stood upright without any sign of the strain that would explain the cane's use.

She heard some students describe the headmaster as imposing – going as far as to say intimidating - but she never got that feeling from him. That could just be her possibly having had a bit more in the way of interaction with him, her being unsure of the exact number of times she's found herself speaking to him face-to-face and so informally. He never gave her a reason to feel any sort of apprehension around him - always polite, kind, and very relaxed. It was that kind of calming presence that he had where she could not only relax but believe that she could tell him anything without fearing any kind of harsh reprimand. The opposite of which could be said for Professor Goodwitch.

"Well you can't spend your entire life on the battlefield," he said. "Even if you may want to."

"Yeah, that lesson's been floating around a lot lately," she returned, commencing a visual search for Blake to find her and Yang in the middle of a break at the buffet table, chatting with Sun and Neptune.

"If you think about it, fighting and dancing aren't so different." He shifted to the swirling mass of dancers. "Two partners interlocked…" There came an exaggerated incline of his chin with a noise that was made for amusement as he added, "Although one wrong move on the ballroom merely leads to a swollen foot."

Ruby threw another glance at her feet. "Or a twisted ankle."

"It's not every day that friends are able to come together like this." Ozpin's gaze remained focused on his students. "Time has a way of testing our bonds, but it's nights like these that can help keep them stronger than ever. Nights like these are ones we'll never forget."

Ruby quietly observed him. Much like how he approached her on her first day after her altercation with Weiss, he spoke with such a warm, thoughtful tone that was tempered with the experience that a man like him must have. That kind that persuaded her to take another look at the scene before them and find the same appreciation that he had for it.

She liked to think she succeeded when she thought of how she and her teammates and their friends were all able to get together and spend a night like this in such a manner. All their time practicing fighting Grimm one day, giant mechanized battlesuits another night, and dealing with the worries and turmoil of the next engagement, and yet here they were now. Clad in dresses, dancing, making light conversation – discarding the uncertainty of what the next day would bring in favor of the pleasantries of the present.

It's…nice, she silently admitted, a little puzzled by how the gentle symphony from the speakers better washed over her in calming waves. She didn't fight it, letting it release the tension she hadn't known she was plagued with. The swaying and twirling motions of the students that were in conjunction with the instruments helped entrance her and she even began to forget about the risk of injury that depended on her continued error-free balance of the impossibly thin heels.

She could make out her professors enjoying themselves: Oobleck and Port speaking together off to the side, and, to her amazement, the investigation of the swishing ends of a torn purple cape led her to finding Goodwitch in the midst of her students, dancing with General Ironwood. She couldn't locate her fellow leader or his second in JNPR but Ren and Nora were paired up on the floor, the latter uncharacteristically quiet and pleased to be locked with her partner.

It was when she went back to inspect her team that she ran into something amiss: a member was absent.

Where's Weiss? Ruby was sure that she saw her partner somewhere, able to distinctly recall an off-centered ponytail of pure white mixed in somewhere in all of this which was supported by Yang saying that she saw her. Her first instinct was to check the dance floor again, wondering if Weiss had been cloaked from a casual scan thanks to the assembled bodies.

After what she deemed as long enough, Ruby checked back over at the dining tables or other spots where the most students were congregated. No, not there either.

It was in the last place that Ruby decided to look that she found her. Along one side of the ballroom were chairs that formed in a single line, nearly every one occupied by a female student. Including Weiss. Whereas most of the girls were talking adamantly with each other, Weiss was sitting with a straight-back posture, one leg thrown over the other, and staring ahead.

All Ruby viewed her partner with bafflement. What was Weiss doing there? After all the work she put into it and how excited she was when talking about the dance, Ruby was sure that Weiss would've been right in the center of the action.

With Neptune, Ruby remembered, Weiss having admitted to it beforehand. Actually… She turned to the other side of the ballroom where the boy in question was, still talking with Sun, Blake, and Yang.

Ruby moved back-and-forth. Back to Weiss, then Neptune, then repeating for however long it would take for her to figure out what was wrong with this picture. This was a dance. Weiss wanted to dance with Neptune. Neptune was on one side of the building, Weiss on the other. Not dancing. Not even standing close to each other.

Ruby was soon given a clue. During one return trip to Weiss, it happened to be for Ruby to witness one boy approach a girl-in-waiting a couple seats down from her. When he extended a hand and an invitation that Ruby couldn't make out, the girl reacted with surprise before it changed to one of shyness and she slowly took his hand and stood up to follow him.

Ruby hadn't been the only one watching. Weiss broke away from her focused stare to witness the newly-paired students move on together and her mask fractured long enough for Ruby to see her face and body droop with disappointment. She did recover…but not without directing that disappointment in Neptune's direction.

Did she not ask him? Grasping for answers, more so now thanks to this sudden surge of distress that was invoked by what she just saw, Ruby thought back to last night when she and Weiss split up after returning from dress shopping and when Weiss came to their dorm she was so sad and-

Oh. Ruby's eyes went wide as the light bulb above her head clicked on. Oooooh. She asked him! She asked him and he…said no?

That had to be it and she found herself spinning to Ozpin. "Thanks for the talk, professor, I-" She yelped when she took her first step, quickly remembering her stilts problem, and she waved awkwardly at Ozpin while she corrected and pressed on. "I have something to do! Enjoy your night!"

He waved back and Ruby wondered if she had indeed caught a twinkle in his eye behind his glasses when he said, "Take care."

So what am I doing? She wasn't sure. Once she was positive that she figured out what was going on, Ruby was overcome by this urge that had her moving across the room and towards her partner, uncaring of the added trips that came with her quickened pace. With Ozpin's advice in mind and having just thought how nice everything was with everyone being happy and having fun, seeing Weiss alone and miserable was a problem she suddenly became determined to fix.

Weiss did end up noticing her. With her stumbling everywhere – so much so that she had to pause and say a quick apology to a couple students that she bumped into -, Ruby guessed that she wasn't hard to spot. The fencer wasn't particularly interested in what she was doing until she slowly understood that Ruby was stumbling towards her when Ruby managed to lock eyes with her briefly.

Somehow Ruby succeeded in not ending up going face-first into the dance floor but when she did reach Weiss she was sure that she looked flustered, panting a little after her ordeal. Still, she did her best to conjure up a smile. "Weiss."

"Ruby…?" Weiss questioned more than greeted.

Neither spoke for the seconds that stretched between them after that; Weiss confused and Ruby disheveled. Weiss volunteered to break the ensuing silence. "Did you…want something?"

"Um…well, not really. I mean, I don't really want anything but I saw you over here and I came here thinking that I – er – you, could use something and…"

And just what is that? her brain interjected, having not been given enough time to think that far ahead.

Weiss stared up at her blankly. "Okay…?"

Ruby rubbed the back of her head nervously, having no idea on what the next step was. But looking down at Weiss, who looked back up at her in return, Ruby thought of how, once, she had been in Weiss's position. Her dreams at being at Beacon coming true only for her to realize just how alone she felt when she arrived, until someone came up to her and…

Ruby removed her hand from where it was rubbing and held it firmly out to Weiss. "Dance."

Weiss peered warily at the outstretched appendage. "What?"

Ruby cleared her throat. "Dance. I was wondering if you'd like to dance."

"With…you?"

Ruby hadn't thought that was needed but she nodded anyway. "Yeah."

She really didn't know how she could say it so calmly, becoming aware of how fast her heart was thumping within her chest when she realized, What am I doing? I have no idea what I'm doing! What am I doing? I just said I didn't know!

Weiss didn't make a move to accept and actually leaned away into her chair. "Ruby, that's really nice and thoughtful but I'd rather not."

"But you said how much you were looking forward to this." Ruby's kept her hand out but that was because it was really frozen there as well as the rest of her. Only her mouth was managing to move.

"I was and, no offense, but I wasn't thinking about dancing with you."

Ruby's mouth persisted in moving faster than her brain. "It should be fine though. We're partners."

"Partners in battle. In Huntressing. In studying. Not dancing."

"Well why can't it be dancing?"

"Because…because…ugh!" Weiss crossed her arms tightly over her chest while turning up her nose. "Because it just can't! Ruby, seriously, I appreciate the thought but I'm fine right here."

That would've been it. That would've convinced Ruby to drop her hand and turn away, thinking how stupid this had been and hoping that Weiss would forget about it. But then Weiss had to peek with one eye over Ruby's shoulder, towards the ongoing celebration, and Ruby was hit by this strike of yearning that reverberated deep within that spot within her heart that was Weiss.

And suddenly she was reaching out, grabbing Weiss, and she was off to the dance floor with her in tow. Her partner was uttering words of protest but Ruby had trouble making them out, too busy thinking how totally stupid this was and what am I doing and her thoughts were just too jumbled with how she was just standing there like an idiot with people beginning to stare and she felt like she needed to do something and she wanted to help Weiss and-

She nearly tripped again and Weiss's objections were cut off with a concerned "Ruby!" as she leapt forward. Still moving with action made way before thought, Ruby turned around, using this to her advantage to put her one hand at Weiss's waist with the other girl currently close while her hand that gripped Weiss's she held out to the side, trying to copy the stance of the other dancers.

Weiss found her own hand at Ruby's shoulder, it having conveniently managed to end up there when she tried to save Ruby from a fall that didn't happen. She didn't pull away and it appeared mostly due to how confused she looked at how they became like this. "Ruby-"

"It's fine," Ruby babbled, a strange tingling going up her fingers with how her hand at Weiss's waist was touching her bare skin that the slit on the side left exposed. I think I'm too low, maybe higher. She moved it higher and more to Weiss's back but the tingling persisted. Wow, her skin is cool. Or maybe I'm just too warm and – okay, uh, step to the side?

After a frantic check to confirm this with the others around them, Ruby tried to imitate the quick, easy move but wishing that she had paid more attention even if being in this situation had originally been an impossibility. In her hurry, she moved too fast, it and how she didn't quite land on her heel had her bumping right into Weiss.

"Ruby-" Weiss tried again.

"It's okay, it's okay!" she hurriedly assured, trying to delay the criticism long enough to get this right and maybe salvage something from all of this.

Her second attempt went better, Weiss actually following along – or just moving so Ruby wouldn't bump into her again. Whichever reason it was, Ruby tried to get the pattern down. Step to the right and a little forward. Step to the left. Then right but also back and-

The blasted heels would be her ruin. With her step back and to the right, her foot went out from under her, Ruby stumbling back with Weiss attempting to save her but not prevent her from colliding into another pair of dancers.

It was the annoyed glares of the two students that she interrupted that got her to cease what she finally understood to be her own idiocy. Once she was righted again, Ruby didn't try to resume. There was no thoughtless action to propel her to keep going, just an overwhelming sense of shame and guilt that had her head hanging low.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her throat seizing up while she dropped her hands and stepped away from Weiss. "This was dumb. I shouldn't have tried. I just wanted…I…"

…I just wanted to help.

"I-I'll…leave you alone." Throat tight, cheeks red with shame, and her vision blurring, Ruby turned and began to walk away, a hand coming up to wipe at her eyes.

A gentle but firm grip took her other one before she could get too far. Ruby didn't turn back immediately, wanting to wipe at the drops of moisture that broke free, but she did stop. The grip stayed, not pulling but making sure she remained in place. Somehow she managed to hear a long breath being exhaled behind her, tinged with familiar exasperation.

"Ruby," came Weiss's voice, just as firm. "If we're going to do this, can you at least try not to move like some hooligan?"

Ruby had cleared her eyes but didn't dare move. So Weiss decided to make her with a pull that brought Ruby back and turned her around.

"Hand here." Weiss followed words with action, bringing Ruby's hand to her shoulder. "And hand here." She took her other. "I'll lead."

The touch on her upper back made Ruby courageous enough to bring Weiss's face back into her view. She wasn't annoyed or angry, creating an expression of patience as she positioned them into the appropriate stance. Much like a few seconds ago, Ruby was trying to catch up with what was going on, following Weiss's guidance without conscious thought.

"We'll do it slow," Weiss instructed. "No rush. Ready?"

Ruby nodded soundlessly, that bulb clicking on again when she managed to grasp what was happening.

A corner of Weiss's lip twitched. "Just watch and follow. Now, one…"

Ruby watched Weiss's right foot move back and to the side and after a moment's hesitation she followed after her with her left.

"And two…"

Her left slid back to rejoin her right, Ruby matching it.

"One…and two. One…and two. One…and two."

The pace was slower than the others but Ruby blocked out the surrounding dancers, focusing purely on Weiss's footwork and trying to copy it. Her movements weren't as graceful, particularly her landing on her heel but Weiss didn't chastise her. Her initial shaky landings resulted in the subtle pressure against her back as Weiss offered the support she needed.

"One, and two. One, and two."

Forward. Side. Back. Side. Forward. Side. Weiss took her through the pattern again and again, Ruby's confidence growing with each repetition. It showed in her feet and Weiss speaking quicker.

"One, two. One, two. One, two."

The pressure on her back lessened when she was able to match the pace, Weiss showing more of her trust which encouraged her. Soon, Weiss went quiet but her instructions kept going in Ruby's mind.

One, two. One, two. One, two.

Eventually that mental voice was no longer needed, Ruby falling into the rhythm, her feet following and matching Weiss step for step. The heiress didn't offer congratulations but when Ruby was confident enough to lift her head, it was to uncover it in Weiss's smile.

It still wasn't perfect. Whenever Ruby completed the pattern a few times without fail, that confidence drifting into overconfidence, an unexpected twist of her foot from an imperfect landing or a similar failure in terms of balance was ready to put her right back in her place. It wasn't often, but when it did happen she was able to compensate and keep herself from looking like a fool. That and she had Weiss who withheld all judgment.

But the reason she was able to keep making those small mistakes was because they were still dancing together and it was that she concentrated on. Keeping close to her partner, following her lead, and moving in tandem with her as they waltzed amongst their fellow trainees, executing the learned maneuvers. Ruby couldn't help but find this funny.

Weiss had to have picked up on it. "What is it?"

"I was thinking that that this isn't really that much different from fighting after all," Ruby confessed. "Dancing, I mean."

"Leave it to you to say such a thing," Weiss berated but did so with a touch of that seemingly infectious humor as she looked down at their feet. "I am impressed that you caught on so quickly though."

Ruby tried to keep herself from glowing at the comment, knew she wasn't succeeding as well as she wanted to, and tried to pass off the achievement modestly. "It's not perfect."

"No, but it could be worse. I could be having some bruised feet right now instead of having to occasionally save you from your own clumsiness."

"Don't jinx it." The easy banter helped to get Ruby to forget her earlier shame, now pleased with how things had turned out. She wasn't shielded from all her insecurities though, the reference to her less-than-perfect dancing and a timely example of it dulling the positive praise. "I am sorry that it ended up being me."

"What do you mean?"

"It was Neptune you wanted to dance with." Ruby felt Weiss tense through their points of contact. "I don't know what happened between you and him but after you told me how much you were looking forward to the dance and seeing you put so much work into it, I didn't want you to miss out on any of it. So when I saw you sitting there, I acted."

"Well that is what you're best at," Weiss replied. "Being so impulsive to just dive right into things. In this case though…I'll consider it as one of your rarer moments of success."

"Rarer?" Ruby repeated, pretending to be hurt.

Weiss smirked in response while Ruby lowered her brows in mock anger. Both expressions melted and they giggled lightly. When it passed though, Weiss didn't revert entirely back to the joy of the dance, Ruby able to distinguish the invisible burden that weighed down on her and what had been placed there last night. She hadn't known then what had been bothering her, giving her so little to work with, but she had given what she could even if all that was was a comforting presence.

The strategy was actually the same here and Ruby hoped it would work as well again. She wouldn't force it - she would never do that - but she would offer and if Weiss wanted then she would help like always.

"I did ask him about going to the dance with me last night," Weiss revealed, her expression somber but the admission didn't pour out as it did trickle out of the gap that began to steadily widen. "He said no."

"Did he say why?" Ruby gently coaxed.

Weiss shook her head. "No, not why. He didn't give me a straight answer anyway. All he would say was that it wouldn't work out between us." A well-known fire sparked to life beneath the icy surface of her irises, scorn lacing the repeat of the refusal, but it didn't match the full blaze that Ruby had once been subjected to alongside the hateful screams that it once powered. The memory reached out a tiny claw to encourage a scrape of fear.

It was smothered long before it could erupt, quenched by the combined emotions of what Weiss must've felt after the rejection and what Ruby had seen when she returned to their dorm.

"It looked like you guys were really getting along though," Ruby said, remembering how the two had hit it off when they met. During the time after, they always managed to drift away from the group to converse in whatever topic that piqued their interest whether it be about Neptune's home kingdom and Haven or the going-ons of Beaocn – including the dance.

"I…thought so too." Teeth bit down of her bottom lip, Weiss quietly going over what had to be the same thing. "We've only known each other for two weeks now but I found him interesting and his company…pleasant. We've talked and he was smart and funny and I thought he found me to be as interesting – he never asked a lot of questions about my family or my company."

Ruby nodded, letting Weiss know she was listening even as her partner was lost in her thoughts, dancing on auto-pilot.

"I did mention the dance a couple times to be sure that he was going to attend. I would casually drop an idea or something that Yang and I were planning for it and he would like it. He never said anything about having a date in mind so I figured that he was available and was maybe waiting for me to ask or would ask me instead. When last night came around, I was sure that he would accept my invitation and then he…didn't."

Weiss was just staring straight ahead, trapped in that moment, and Ruby could tell that she was repeatedly going over it to find what went wrong. She may not have been selected as leader but Ruby had always been impressed at the amount of planning and thought that Weiss could put into her assignments, always making sure she had prepared the facts and information to make any argument that she presented or action she took irrefutable. To do the same here and not get the results that had appeared so certain…it confounded her.

"It shouldn't have bothered me."

Ruby blinked at her soft-spoken partner. "Huh?"

"When he said no, it shouldn't have bothered me as much as it did," Weiss explained, louder this time for Ruby to hear. "It was unexpected, sure, surprising…" Her features were becoming more sullen. "Hurtful, maybe, but he's just a guy. There have been plenty of others before him and I'm sure there will be more. And it wasn't like I wasn't going to attend because of him, not with me having spent all this work planning it…even if I did think about not coming."

Whether she was aware of it or not, Weiss had begun to slow, Ruby following suit until they were just standing there. They were still holding each other but didn't make any move while the other students stepped and twirled around them.

"…Why did he say no?" Weiss finally asked and Ruby felt like the question was open for her to take.

"I don't know."

"I know you don't. I said that he didn't tell me so why would you know?" There was a flash of irritation but Ruby didn't think it was directed at her as it was at the situation in general as Weiss proceeded. "I just wish he did. After how well things were going, when I put all this effort for this night, when I was the one to come up and ask him, the least he could've done was tell me why and not just leave me standing there after saying it wouldn't work out. But what really aggravates me the most…"

Weiss took a deep breath, quelling her irritation, and when she revealed what it was she did so wearily. "What really aggravates me the most is that I'm still thinking and talking about it like this. I thought things were going well, I asked, he said no, I was proven wrong, and that should be the end of it. I'm Weiss Schnee. Why would someone of my stature be so bothered by this? Why would I let it…hurt me…like this?"

Somehow, Ruby knew what the answer to that was. "Because it's the normal thing to do."

It rang true to Ruby, not just for right now but for the past week. She hadn't been particularly excited for this, not like everyone else, and Weiss was included in that group of 'everyone'. As her best friend, Ruby had at least been there if not directly taking part in everything that Weiss did to prepare for this. Decorating, getting the right dress, the right make-up, thinking of the right date to ask out, and always approaching each step with excitement. During all that, the only thing that Ruby could think of concerning Weiss was that she was doing everything that seemed normal – which was what the heiress herself admitted to always wanting to do and be.

Sadly, rejection and the pain that had to be dealt with in its wake was also part of being normal.

After some silent deliberation, Weiss accepted it, slowly nodding her head and quietly saying, "Yes, I suppose it is."

Ruby smiled sympathetically and her hands squeezed what of Weiss she held to better transfer it. "Do you want to stop? Take a break?"

Weiss met Ruby's eyes before switching to their currently unmoving bodies and the attendants around them, staring at the last for a long while until she gave her answer. "No." Returning her gaze to her partner, Weiss took a graceful step back, Ruby instinctively following her, and then they were stepping to the side in unison. "This is a party. Might as well enjoy ourselves."

"True." Smiling the whole while as they returned to their dance, Ruby later asked, "Want to try some other moves?" Noticing how other students were doing so, she suggested, "Should we try spinning or anything like that?"

"No." As they resumed moving back and forth, side to side, Ruby saw her partner relax, the depression being lifted by the contentment that was carried in her smile and there came a slight push against her back, drawing her a tad closer to Weiss who stated, "This is fine."

---

With more than enough time having passed for all the possible participants to arrive, there was a noticeable shift from socializing to dancing once everyone settled themselves in. That, Neptune decided, was the moment for him to take his temporary leave.

The stairs at the back made for the best exit, leading him up to the second floor. Less crowded, but it didn't put him as out of sight as he wanted so he ventured further out and took another short flight that would bring him to the balcony. He couldn't ask for a better place since, technically, he'd still be here and anyone who happened to find him and asked what he was doing he could explain it as getting some fresh air and enjoying the view.

He wouldn't have to remain there long. Half an hour, maybe a little longer to be on the safe side, but he figured that he'd be out of sight long enough that when he returned he could pass it off as having been enjoying the party and anyone who tried to approach him for dancing he could turn away by saying that he danced enough and wanted a break. Then the rest of his night would be secure and he wouldn't have to worry about making a fool of himself. Easy.

Cold air beginning to waft in preceded the open doors to the outside. Although he didn't know why anyone would lock them, Neptune was thankful nonetheless as he made it out onto the stone balcony, the ledge decorated with potted vine plants that hung over the side.

Along with a girl in red who leaned against it, the first thing that Neptune caught being the moon-highlighted skin that the sleeveless, backless dress left in plain sight.

He came to an abrupt halt but not before his footsteps had already made noticeable thumps against the stone in his haste, having assumed that the balcony would be clear. It was enough to grab the girl's attention, emerald green eyes peering at him over her shoulder and he could see the bronze circlet that was partially concealed in that long, red hair that was done up in the high ponytail.

He recognized her immediately: Pyrrha Nikos. The Pyrrha Nikos. The coolest, most amazing girl on the planet and having managed to catch her here, alone, with attention on him, Neptune was petrified by her gaze.

"Hello," Mistral's three-time champion greeted, gaze turning curious.

Speak, stupid! came the mental order, the visible jerk that was the result Neptune tried to play off coolly as he dared to move further onto the balcony, waving hesitantly in greeting. "Oh, hey. I didn't think anyone was up here. You're Pyrrha Nikos, right?"

Of course she was Pyrrha Nikos. He'd have to be an idiot to not know who she was and, having been raised in Mistral and attended Sanctum before his transfer to Haven, he had actually been in the same year as her. Not that they had ever spoken to each other before, she having been on the rise to fame during then and not possessing any time to waste on someone like him.

"Yes," she confirmed, eyes squinting to better see him in the low light. "And you're…Neptune. I remember you when you introduced yourself at the library."

Neptune was both astounded and thrilled that she had deigned to remember him as he didn't recall them conversing directly during that instance in particular. "I'm flattered you do." Standing uncertainly before her, he jerked a thumb back to the ballroom, trying to keep the conversation smooth. "Cool party, huh?"

He was caught off guard when he saw her visibly hesitate. "I…wouldn't know. I arrived late."

"Oh." Probably did to make more of an impression. Neptune could dig that. "Well it seems to be going real swell. Although, ballroom dancing…" He waved his hand in a 'meh' manner. "Kind of not my thing. Thought I'd take a break up here."

Pyrrha slid over and waved at the space she cleared. "By all means."

Oh, Pyrrha Nikos was inviting him to stand next to her! He had been lucky enough to get the occasional class with her and catch sneak peeks in his own lonely spot at the corner. He felt the weakness that came over his legs but managed to stay upright until he was able to use the balcony ledge for some relief.

And they stood there together. Alone. Not talking. He was standing next to the most popular girl and he wasn't doing anything.

"You up here waiting for your date or something?" Neptune asked, the only thing he could think of as to why she wasn't down there right now.

"It's going to be a long wait," she replied, staring ahead.

"He's still getting ready, then? Kind of rude of him to keep a girl like you waiting." The attempt at flirtatious humor didn't produce anything, Pyrrha not smiling or so much as glancing his way. Thinking of a different approach, he asked, "Who's the lucky guy?"

If they managed to land Pyrrha as a date, they had to be something, especially if she was willing to wait for them. Neptune couldn't think of anyone who could manage to do that at the top of his head so he was interested to find out who they could possibly be.

The answer was not what he expected at all. "There is no guy."

She had said it quietly, reluctantly, but he managed to hear it and all he could do was stare at her in surprise. "Oh, uh, I see. Why is that?"

He thought he had an idea and it was probably similar to his. Go alone, make herself more available. A nice way to get around.

"Nobody asked me," Pyrrha answered, shocking him again.

Woah, okay, he thought, the full meaning not lost to him but he sought clarification. "Wait, nobody asked you? As in…nobody?"

Pyrrha sighed which got Neptune to notice how unhappy she looked. "Nobody."

"But that's – wait, hold on." He waved a hand up and down parallel to her. "That's crazy. You're Pyrrha Nikos. How could anyone not ask you out?"

Yeah, sure, he never would but that's because he knew that he was nowhere near good enough for her, but she couldn't be serious to say that no one had thought that they could try their luck with her. She was Pyrrha Nikos. Guys had to be throwing themselves at her feet for the chance.

He didn't get the reason right away, Pyrrha seeming satisfied with staring out into the night-shrouded campus. When she spoke, her gaze didn't stray. "I've…been blessed with incredible talents and opportunities. I'm constantly surrounded by love and praise…but when you're placed on a pedestal like that for so long, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place. Everyone assumes I'm too good for them. That I'm on a level they simply can't attain."

That had been what he thought just a moment ago but his initial thought was that she was talking crazy. He had seen how students crowded around her, asking for her autograph or tips. He had seen her on mornings when he felt like eating some marshmellow flakes for breakfast, her face right on the cereal box. How was that a bad thing?

"It's become impossible for me to form any kind of meaningful relationship with people," Pyrrha responded to his unspoken question. She looked down at her hands folded on top the ledge, one raising up as a closed fist. "I attract fans and fame. But friends…" Her fingers opened up. "I've always repulsed them."

"So is that why you're up here?" Neptune asked, still trying to wrap his head around this. "You'd probably be the life of the party if you went down there now."

She shrugged. "There wouldn't be a point."

Okay, so she didn't have a date, and she was up here by herself. If this was what she had been planning on doing then… "Then why did you come here?"

"There was…one guy I hoped would be here and ask me," she said. "The kind of guy who I wish I was here with."

"Who?"

"Jaune."

An image came with the name: a blond, scraggly guy with mismatched armor over a hoodie. Neptune had remembered seeing him at the library as well, mostly hovering around their table while they played that card game.

In short, the kind of guy who would be on the bottom tier of the social hierarchy.

"Your leader?" he asked, incredulous. "But he's so…"

He didn't finish but he apparently didn't need to as Pyrrha said, "That's what I like about him. When we met, he didn't even know my name. He treated me just like anyone else and it's thanks to him that I've made friendships that will last a lifetime." A smile curved up onto her face, one of fondness and longing, but it fell away soon after. "But I guess I still manage to push him away too."

Neptune was silent, watching and listening to how someone who had everything in life – someone who everyone, including him, wanted to be - was so glum right in front of him. The popularity that he always envied and envisioned for himself, instead a source of loneliness.

"I apologize," Pyrrha then said, her guilt sincere. "You said you came out here to take a break and I kind of dumped my troubles on top of you."

"It's no problem," Neptune replied with a not-so-easy smile and flick of his hand.

"So what about you? Is there a date of yours waiting downstairs?"

Having spoken with someone who had opened up so much to him and it also being someone who he admired, it was hard for him to lie to her with the previously-planned excuses that he had carefully crafted. Rubbing the back of his neck, he said, "No but there was…one. A girl, that is, who asked me to go with her. I, uh…it, uh…" He bowed his head. "It just didn't work out."

Pyrrha blinked curiously. "May I ask why?"

"I…" Exhaling slowly, he confessed, "I can't dance. I don't like admitting it to anyone so when she asked me to go with her I told her I couldn't. I didn't want to make a fool out of myself."

"Did you tell her why?"

"Well, no, I pretty much just…left her there after I said it."

Left Weiss standing there when he turned his back but able to vividly recall how the hope in those blue eyes faded away, leaving nothing but shock at his words and a silent plea to tell him why. A plea he didn't answer to, letting her heart break in time with the sound of the dormitory door closing behind him while he went upstairs, his need to save face already having him planning on how he was going to avoid her for the next night – possibly a couple more afterwards.

"That's a shame." There was no accusation for the wrongdoing in Pyrrha's voice, only pity. For him? For Weiss? Both? "If you don't mind me saying, I think she would've been happy to just be here with the guy she chose."

She pushed herself away from the ledge. "Even if you hadn't meant to, thank you for being here to listen to what I wanted to say. I don't think I knew how much I needed that. I'll stick around a little, talk with some friends, and then perhaps leave." She started for the doorway but stopped when she was about to cross. "Will you be coming down?"

His reply was slow in coming. "In a little bit."

She didn't say anything else, the click of her heels fading into the building and leaving Neptune alone on the balcony. The solitude pressed down on him as it did when he had started out at Sanctum. Eager to learn, wanting to prove how smart he was. Sticking to libraries, reading books and articles, sitting in front of a holoscreen and catching the latest programs and news about the next breakthrough made on the science that mankind took so much pride and reliance on. Mastering the art of field energizers and power insulators to enhance his chosen weapon with the technology that fascinated him – and only him.

The disinterested and outright bored looks of his peer with no one to share the same interests and intrigues. Being brushed off so many times with names like 'nerd'. Just sitting at his corner desk, studying and completing the more mentally-challenging work with a hundred percent efficiency but with zero help or company. Watching jealously as all the popular kids got the attention and praise of their peers.

It all changed with the help of his first real friend, an outcast in his own way thanks to his monkey-like attributes. Along with the relief of having such a friend, there came the hope that he could do more if he worked hard enough. Become popular. Do what all the cool kids had done. Start off on a different track when he got to Haven and then this visit to Beacon that could let him try again all the way back at square one

All for what? he wondered to himself, following Pyrrha's example to push off and away from the ledge and reenter the ballroom. Sticking to this idea, defending it religiously to the point of disregarding the feelings of the girls he made passes to, only to finally see what would wait for him at the end: a similar, but more empty and shameful fate.

Returning to the second floor, a flash of white hair down below caught his attention. Peering down, it was to see Weiss in the middle of the congregation, in the arms of not some guy but her partner. They were dancing, they were smiling, and even when he witnessed Ruby nearly fall, Weiss helped right her and he could see those smiles widen, the two finding humor at the mishap.

"…Huh," he murmured thoughtfully.

---

"How is it?" Yang asked, retrieving a small plate.

Blake stuck up her index finger to request the second she needed to finish the treat in question: one of the small sandwiches that filled one of the trays of the buffet table. They came in a variety of choices although the ones that took up Blake's plate and the one she was currently chewing on was strictly tuna. It was something that Yang made sure would be included when she and Weiss were going through catering options.

Chuckling at the obvious bliss on her girlfriend's face as she savored it, Yang surveyed the other selections that went from salads and vegetables to pastas and meats. All delectable choices and the blonde's fingers passed over them in indecision before taking a provided pasta scoop to get a sampling of one batch of noodles drizzled in a sauce that a quick whiff earned a spicy kick to her nostrils. It was when getting a fork that Yang's gaze strayed to the dance floor and she froze in place.

She caught a pass of it but had to wait for them to appear again to confirm it. Ruby and Weiss?

It was her sister's uniquely red dress that drew Yang like a magnet. A second later, Weiss came into her sight as did her hands which rested on Ruby and that little amount of space between their bodies that Yang immediately thought made them too close together.

When did this happen? she wondered, staring transfixed at the scene that involved their Ice Queen dancing with her baby sister.

Something waved in front of Yang's face but it had to make a few passes before she took note of it. She needed a tremendous amount of force to rip her eyes away from the phenomenon in order to look at Blake, the faunus lowering her hand once she knew she had Yang's attention.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Yang thrust her chin to the dancing pair. "Did you know anything about this?"

Blake looked where directed and the lifting of her brows that came a moment later was the sign that she located their teammates. "No, this is news to me. From what I got from Ruby when we were coming here, she didn't have any date in mind. Had Weiss said anything to you?"

"She did, but nothing that implied this." When she asked about a date, Weiss had mentioned that she had one in mind. Yang had assumed she meant Neptune and not her sweet, pure, and innocent Ruby Rose.

There must've been visible traces of this sense of betrayal she was currently experiencing because Blake was nudging her for her attention once again. "Relax. Going by what we know, it doesn't sound like anything more than two friends enjoying themselves."

Yang tried to latch onto the assurance that came from the label 'friends' and not the 'enjoying themselves' that caused a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Friends. Right, friends. That's all it is.

It wasn't like Ruby ever expressed an interest in such romance before, saving her love for Crescent Rose. The only thing she ever admired about people were their weapons. Besides, Yang recalled a memory similar to Blake concerning Ruby intending to just spend the dance alone. No way would she be suddenly throwing herself into the dating scene like this.

A dance step later and Yang could make out the smiles on Ruby and Weiss's faces as they stared at one another.

…She is nearing sixteen, she thought, that sinking sensation coming back with a vengeance when she remembered how fast and how much she went out not long after reaching that age. With her puberty-granted gifts, she attracted a great deal of attention – male and female attention – and she hadn't been adverse to exploring the options that presented themselves to her. And if those two have as many ups and downs as Blake and I do- "Blugh!?"

"It's impolite to stare," Blake stated, pushing the rest of her miniature tuna sandwich into Yang's mouth which had opened enough for her to do the deed. "Need I remind you that you have a date of your own who you should be taking care of after all the fuss to get her here?"

Her girlfriend's words and needing to stop herself from choking derailed Yang's very troubling thoughts. "Sorry," she apologized once she swallowed. "I was so not ready for that."

"It's fine." Blake teasingly trailed her fingers along the skin of Yang's arm. "I guess that means I'll have to try to get you focused on something else."

The super sexy faunus girlfriend not-so-subtly calling for her was a good way to do that, Yang grinning as she better turned to her and away from Ruby.

Who's enjoying her scoop of Weiss cream. Every muscle in Yang's body seized and her grin was obliterated. Puns, why have you betrayed me!?

It was at that moment that there was a frenzied tapping on her shoulder, giving her something else to latch onto and save her from descending into possible hysteria. Looking back, it was to see Jaune Arc behind her and looking quite frantic. "Jaune?"

"Yang, I need your help!" JNPR's leader exclaimed.

"Now?" Yang questioned with a frown. She had a kitty-cat demanding for attention and a little sister who was becoming not-so-little as the night dragged on. Such an interruption was not something she needed right now.

Jaune nodded desperately. "Yes, it has to be now or it might be too late!"

How he was acting did pique her curiosity and, reluctantly, Yang decided to hear him out. She switched to Blake, her mouth opening, but the faunus spoke first. "Go. This sounds important."

"It'll only be a minute," Yang assured, hoping that to be true while she let Jaune lead her away to an empty corner of the room. "Alright, Jaune, what's up?"

"I messed up!" he blurted out. "It's Pyrrha."

"What, you spill punch on her dress?" Yang was already guessing. "Step on her toes too many times?" Thinking of how she hadn't seen either of them 'till now, she asked, "Were you late in meeting with her?"

It was the last that he appeared positively glum. "Try not meeting her at all."

"…Eh?"

His head lowering, he shamefully said, "I didn't come to the dance with her."

Yang stared at Jaune for several seconds. Then it was her who was dropping her head right into her hands. "Oh, Jaune…"

"I know…"

She shook her head slowly. "Jaune, Jaune, Jaune…"

"Look, I know, okay?"

When Yang raised her head, it was to see the boy look incredibly guilt. And why wouldn't he?Everyone knew how much Pyrrha was smitten with her leader. For how many times that Jaune had tried to attract the attention of multiple other girls in their year, he was all but clueless to the feelings of the one who was constantly at his side.

Make that totally clueless, Yang corrected, the current situation proof of that. Then again, Pyrrha's not much better when it comes to saying anything about it. Truly a hopeless pair. Practically made for each other.

"I thought she already had a date!" Jaune attempted to defend against the critical look that Yang knew she must've had on display. "How was I supposed to know that she of all people wouldn't have one?"

Maybe because she was waiting for one in particular. Yang didn't say that though, choosing to maintain her silent condemnation.

Funnily enough, he caught on to the futility of his defense and moved on to why he got her. "I just happened to overhear her talking. She doesn't have a date and she's only going to be here for a little longer before leaving. I want to make it up to her."

Yang laid a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Jaune, if you're planning on serenading her then, as a friend, I should tell you something about your singing."

"No I wasn't thinking of- wait, my singing isn't that bad!"

"Let's stick to the original topic. You need help making up with Pyrrha. If you need music, I can talk to the DJ and get something playing for you while you woo her in some other way."

"I'm not going to…" Jaune hesitated, considering something. "Actually, the music's not a bad idea. That's not what I wanted to ask though."

"What is it?"

"I need a dress."

Yang found herself staring at him again except her features had become unreadable. There came a slow blink…followed by a second. "I'm intrigued. Go on."

---

Ruby was starting to think that dancing wasn't so bad as she and Weiss went on. They had to have gone through the moves a hundred times by now but she didn't feel bored. She was actually having fun, and she knew part of the joy was that she could tell that it was the same with Weiss. It was more than what she saw in her smile or the liveliness that became more noticeable in her movements as they got more into it.

She also felt it in their Auras. As they gave into the dance, it was just not their movements that became more synchronized. Their shared energies traveled between one another, naturally touching and binding together like their linked hands. It gave an additional element to the dance as they were able to get a genuine sense of how they were both enjoying this – the music, the atmosphere, each other. It was such an enchanting feeling, one that someone could easily get lost in as she knew she was.

That was until the laughter started. It wasn't any more distinct than one shared between the small groupings of friends that dotted the ballroom, not until it became louder and began traversing throughout a section of the building.

When it eventually got too loud to be ignored, Ruby and Weiss stopped and turned for the source with the latter the first to speak. "What in the world?"

A sea of students parted before someone who made use of the space to cut across the room. Neither of them could see who it was, Ruby only managing to visually acquire and track a pair of running sneakers and a light blue skirt that hung over toned legs. It was only when they reached their destination that Ruby saw who it was thanks to the students who backed up enough.

"Is that…Jaune?" Ruby questioned aloud.

Her friend was sharing the space within the ring of spectators with someone else. The commotion in her vicinity, Pyrrha was the last to see what it was about, her eyes widening at who she saw. "Jaune…?"

The leader of JNPR stood in the center of it all in a dress. Other than the part where he was actually wearing one, it looked even more ridiculous with his broad shoulders and developed muscles. Yet he stood in front of everyone, offering a sheepish smile and shrug to his partner and it was only because everyone was so stunned with a convenient break in the music having occurred that Ruby could hear him. "Eh…a promise is a promise."

Almost as soon as he said it, Pyrrha began shaking in place, bending over with a hand clasped over her mouth but her efforts were for naught as she burst out laughing, tears trickling down her cheeks. Wiping at them with a trembling hand, body still vibrating with laughter, Pyrrha struggled to speak. "J-Jaune, you didn't have to!"

"Hey, an Arc never goes back on his word," Jaune replied, somehow completely at ease with the situation, including the snickers of the audience. "Now do you want to stand there and keep laughing at me…" He took a step closer and held out a hand to her. "…or do you want to dance?"

Pyrrha eyed it like she wasn't sure if it was real or not. Choosing to believe it was – or willing to continue with this delusion -, she placed her hand in his. "I would love to dance."

The invincible warrioress actually squeaked at the strong tug that brought her right into Jaune's arms who spun her towards the dance floor, Pyrrha floating along, enamored, as she was swept off her feet.

As they had become stunned onlookers themselves, it was only when Nora ran by Ruby and Weiss that the red and white pair snapped out of it, the hammer-wielder dragging her partner behind her as she energetically shouted, "Ren! This. Is. HAPPENING!"

"Wait, what is happening?" Ren asked and promptly ignored.

The speakers came back to life to produce a thumping, energetic beat as the members of JNPR came together and then separated with Pyrrha and Jaune taking the middle of the curved line that they formed with Ren and Nora at the ends. Instruments joined in, giving the beat a jazzier tone and, when the vocalist began singing, JNPR began dancing.

"Baby, it's time to make up your mind~
I think that tonight is when our stars align~"

"Woah," Ruby awed in appreciation as the four members began spinning, twisting, bending, and sliding in flawless synchronization to the music, right down to their hand motions. "I guess we're not the only ones who practice routines." The absence of a response had Ruby finding Weiss inspecting JNPR with an expression of deep thought. "What's up?"

"I was just thinking," Weiss mused. "About Jaune, actually. Do you remember all the times he tried to ask me out?"

Ruby flapped her lips. "Pffft, kinda hard to forget you opening the door to our dorm to see him with his guitar."

"Yes, that was a bit much." With a considerate tilt, she added, "Well, I had other choice words to describe those attempts. Thinking back on them though, and this one right here, I may have to…adjust my opinion about him a little."

"How so?"

"As obnoxious as they were, I do admire the courage it takes to do that. It's usually me that always gets asked by boys and I had never really thought much of it when I turned them down so easily after so many times. Last night was a first for me to do the asking and it's not as…easy as it looks. Maybe – maybe – I'd be willing to be a bit nicer to him in the future."

Ruby quirked a brow. "So does that mean you might give him a chance next time?"

Weiss shot her a look but it was void of any nastiness. "Let's not get too crazy."

The music shift and JNPR's show administered a change to the dance. The previous snickers and laughs had switched to cheers and whoops of encouragement. As soon as the first-year team broke apart, the members focusing on their respective partners, many took it as a sign to dive right in and join them. Unlike the quiet and tame movements of ballroom dancing, the ones who took the floor did so with wild, unpredictable actions. Jumping, clapping, skipping, and waving arms above their heads.

Caught in the center of this maelstrom, Ruby's confidence waned. The slow dancing she had been getting the hang of, but this? "As fun as this seems to be, I think I'll take that pass now."

Weiss was inclined to agree. "I could use a refreshment anyway."

"Oh, I'll get it!" Ruby volunteered, happy to use the opportunity to get away. "Go ahead and grab a seat."

It was only when they separated that Ruby realized that they had remained in each other's arms the whole time; from when Jaune made his appearance to now. There was a slight fluttering in her chest at the discovery that she couldn't explain but it was gone when she spun around to the refreshment table but didn't get the chance to take a step, Weiss's grip on her hand remaining. "Ruby."

The younger girl swiveled her head back around to look at her questionably.

"Thank you." Face moderately flushed – because they had been dancing, Ruby assumed -, Weiss smiled gratefully at her. "This was a lot of fun. I'm glad I came after all and I'm just as glad that you asked me to dance."

Ruby returned the gesture, a pleasant warmth replacing the fluttering that spread across her chest. "What are friends for? I had a lot of fun dancing with you too. Next time I'll do better!"

Weiss appeared startled at the idea of a 'next time' but it was short-lived, the gradual smoothing of her features a hint to her acceptance of the possibility. "I wouldn't mind a next time."

She let go and withdrew into the crowd, leaving Ruby to carefully navigate through her fellow students to get to the refreshment table. Somewhere in the middle, she couldn't help but notice that walking in her heels wasn't such a challenge anymore. Huh, guess all that dancing paid off.

A glass punch bowl dominated the center of the table with sugary treats present to give anyone who wanted them an energy boost. After filling a pair of plastic cups with the punch, Ruby knew as soon as she spotted the assorted chocolates and baked goods that she was taking some with her. Unsure of what Weiss preferred, she played it safe and loaded a plate with one of everything. Then, with a cookie in between her teeth, Ruby carefully balanced her haul and took the longer but more secure route around the dance floor, nibbling on the snack but not dropping it – a skill she had no business in possessing.

She had suspected and was proven correct when she saw that Weiss had returned to the same line of chairs that Ruby originally found her in. Instead of her straight-back posture, the fencer appeared very relaxed as she viewed the event merrily rather than dismally. That was until something out of Ruby's sight had her turning her head and her expression hardened.

The reason became apparent when Neptune appeared, well aware that he was treading on thin ice as he approached Weiss cautiously. He said something that Ruby couldn't make out but she could feel the spine-tingling chill that Weiss was giving off and she assumed that her partner's muted reply was just as cold if Neptune's grimace was anything to go by. Though he kept his distance, he again said something that took longer to transmit, shuffling uneasily the whole while.

When his lips stopped moving, Weiss's didn't break from their thin line, the heiress sticking him with that frigid glare. It surprised Ruby when she then gestured for Neptune to take the empty seat next to her, the boy complying with tangible relief.

Guess Neptune's the one getting that chance, Ruby thought. Though partially stiff, he resumed talking and, as the seconds ticked by, Ruby witnessed the subtle angling of Weiss's head to show that she was at least listening even if her countenance remained icy. I think I'll give them a minute.

She happened to stop near the open doors of the ballroom, a comforting breeze that cooled what little sweat she worked up beckoning her outside. She decided to accept nature's offer, leaving the party behind her to get a breath of fresh air. Setting Weiss's cup and the plate of goods down, Ruby finished off the cookie she had and took a sip of her punch.

She got more than a glimpse of the night sky with her sip. Across the way, on top of a line of dormitory buildings, a silhouette was vaulting along the rooftops. After making their way to the end, they traversed to the other side of the last roof, Ruby barely managing to make out the person jumping off the edge and disappearing behind the building.

That wasn't suspicious or anything. With her instincts concurring that something was wrong with what she just saw, Ruby dropped her cup and took off in the direction that the not-suspicious person ran off to.

---

"So this is what Jaune needed your help with?" Blake queried once Yang rejoined her.

"Yep!" Yang chirped proudly. "I had a talk with the DJ, selected the appropriate song, and then had him wait for my signal before playing."

Blake could only catch glimpses but somewhere in the heart of the frenzied activity she saw the blue and white of Jaune's dress and the red of Pyrrha's in close proximity, the two closing and spinning around each other before breaking away only to return again. It was obvious that they were enjoying themselves.

"I believe the term you once used was 'you done good'," Blake complimented. Yang hummed in reply but the way it was delivered so absent-mindedly had the darker girl twisting towards her. "Something wrong?"

"It does fit him," Yang commented, troubled, as she stared at what had to be the J and P pair. "Fits him a bit too well I think."

"What does?"

"The dress." The blonde became increasingly bothered. "It was what I wore at my graduation party at Signal."

Blake's eyes widened with understanding and the shock that came with it. "Wait. That dress is yours?"

"It was what Jaune really wanted," Yang explained reluctantly. "He couldn't exactly go out and get one so he had to think of who would have one that he could at least squeeze into. I was apparently his first choice." She wasn't pleased with that at all.

Blake couldn't help but look back in Jaune's direction before returning to her partner, gaze focusing on her well-endowed chest as she tried to bring up the full image of JNPR's leader in her mind. The hoodie, she had to admit, did astonishingly well when it came to hiding the boy's rather broad physique. If he wanted a dress from a girl like Yang who needed the right...accommodations for her chest, not to mention not being that much shorter than him then…well…

She knew it was the horrible thing to do and she tried to smother it with a hand held tightly over her mouth while she positioned her back to Yang but there was nothing she could do about her shaking or the choked noises that escaped, hoping desperately that the music would drown them out.

Whether she heard her or she translated what the shaking was about, Yang dryly said, "Yeah, rub that salt right on the wound."

"I-I'm s-s-sorry," Blake choked out between her fingers.

"I can tell you really mean it."

"I r-r-really do!" Gulping down air and reining in quaking shoulders, Blake forced herself to stand straight and confront her partner with an apology that she hoped would mask the humor she knew was twinkling in her bright eyes. "I'm sorry. Really." At least she managed to say that straight.

Yang remained unconvinced so Blake approached and threw her arms over her shoulders, fingers clasping behind her partner's neck. The pull that brought her closer let Blake see how unexpected it was to her girlfriend.

"Come on," Blake said, her voice low. She leaned forward, lips brushing against Yang's before they went to her ear. "This is a dance, isn't it?"

When Blake retreated to the dance floor with her hands now behind her back, it was to see Yang tracking her in a daze with a blush on her cheeks. Silently giggling, Bake added a hop to her next step back. She had no idea where this surge of energy came from but she didn't have it in her to care, especially when Yang got over her stupor to join her.

"I was cold in the dark~

It was empty in my life~"

The upbeat tone of the song had shifted, the tone lowering, the thumping ceasing, but Blake didn't let it deter her. Closing her eyes, she listened to the lyrics, letting it guide this energy through her body to take control, starting with a rhythmic bobbing of her head, the tips of her heels beginning to tap against the floor.

"From the outside it looked so bright~

But nothing felt right ….to me~"

She concentrated on the music and forgot about everything else. The past week that had been so trying and confusing. Days of such burdensome stress and worry straining her to what had to be the breaking point. This night would be one of respite - a break that had her separating herself from the unrest of the entire world in order to give herself to what was in this ballroom.

"Like a sky with no sun~

Like a night that has no day~"

The thumping returned and she could feel her heart thudding against her chest in order to match its vigor. Her hands removed themselves from behind her back, brushing against the fabric over her hips that began moving, her entire body now swaying to the music. She spun around on her heels, arms coming up and twisting around her, fingers passing through her hair.

A gradual difference of smell and touch in the air more recognizable due to her faunus senses had Blake opening her eyes to see a smoky haze falling over the crowd. Fog machines?

"My heart was eclipsed by the dark~

Then something changed~"

Gold cut through it, Blake catching it at her peripheral, and she was twisting into the arms that came around her waist and brought her close. She willingly pressed up against the other body, sweet friction created by warm skin and stretching materials. Hands rested at her hips to feel their movement while her own arms found themselves coming back on those familiar shoulders, fingers threading through the shining fibers of hair while amber met lilac.

"I saw a little ray of light come through~

The tiniest of sparks came into view~

And then…~"

The pull against her hips came with the one she made against that hair, their heads tilting and eyes closing together, and then she was fully swept away as their lips met and she became lost in that wonderful merger of body and soul.

"You made me hope again~"

---

So much for a dance, Sun thought, watching from the sidelines. There was no sharpness to the thought and, if he was being honest with himself, this hadn't been unexpected. Not with how he could plainly see how those two were. I think the best thing to do for something like this is step back and take my leave.

For as much as Neptune wanted to believe that he could write on the Book of Cool, Sun was of the opinion that he could pen a couple chapters himself. But now he was back at square one, wondering where he could find another interesting, quirky girl-

"Sal-u-tations!"

Huh, he's heard that perky, high-pitched tone before. Sun whirled around. "Penny!?"

"Hi, Sun!" the ginger-haired swordstringer greeted cheerfully with that fitting smile. "I'm absolutely thrilled to see you again!"

The monkey faunus took a moment to examine her and discovered that Penny was wearing a mint-green dress with matching heels, the latter doing little for her height with how Sun had to look down at her. The trademark pink bow was in her hair which happened to make her the second girl in a row that he happened to meet with that type of decoration since he arrived at Vale. With Penny though, her first impression involved her tearing through White Fang soldiers with floating swords and splitting apart armored airships with energy beams. All done with that unwavering, too-perky smile.

He hadn't seen her after they shared their goodbyes at the docks although seeing her here brought up the memory of her saying that she was to participate in the Vytal Festival's tournament and that she had, as she called it, 'temporary residence'.

She must be a transfer student, too. Belatedly, he realized that he had been staring at her for a while with her not having made a move or mention of it at all, simply beaming up at him the whole time. The hurried smile he gave her he found to be half-forced as, despite her abrupt appearance, he was actually happy to see her again and meant it when he finally returned her greeting. "It's nice to see you again, too."

"Thank you for saying so!" she chirped. "If you do not mind me asking, are you currently accompanied by a date?"

Sun considered it a bit odd for that to be the first thing for her to ask him but he took it in stride. "No."

Penny's smile widened. "Splendid! Then, would like to be my date?"

"What?" Sun asked, taken aback. He hadn't been expecting that.

"I've been monitoring the event," Penny explained without hesitation. "During that time, I managed to locate everyone that I had established previous acquaintanceship with. Through process of elimination, I was able to conclude that everyone else had managed to acquire a date which made them incompatible to act as mine."

She leaned in close. Very close, and Sun had to tilt back to get some space between that earnest face and his. "But you are compatible. So would you like to be my date and partake in a dance with me?"

Even with her explanation, the bewildered faunus still needed to process the request and Penny's green eyes were as immobile as her smile, spine in a permanent arch as she awaited his reply.

Eh, why not? With a shrug, Sun answered, "Sure."

Her reaction was the same as when he said that they were friends, Penny performing an excited hop while issuing a delighted laugh. "Excellent!" She turned and waved somewhere to the back of the ballroom.

When Sun looked, he was not expecting the girl to be waving at two men garbed in the armor of the Atlesian military who stood like sentries against one wall, their faces concealed by the visors of their helmets. The difference between them was that one was wearing a red bodysuit beneath his armor while the other wore blue. It was the one in red that waved back to Penny.

"Penny?" Sun asked, wondering why they were here or why Penny knew them. "Who are they?"

She returned to him, smile still on her face. "They're my escorts! They let me go once I told them that we were friends."

"Es…corts?" Sun gave them another look and, even with their helmets, he picked up a very threatening vibe from the two of them. Maybe because, when Penny turned her back to them, the one in red had pointed a threatening finger at Sun and was currently in the process of miming like he was digging a hole with an invisible shovel.

Sun didn't get it until he saw the one in blue begin tapping against the butt of the pistol strapped to his side.

When Penny took him by the arm, he was quickly reminded of that strength that made her fingers reminiscent of a clamp that cut off any chance of escape. He was equally helpless when she lugged him to the dance, oblivious to his stumbles or the glares of the soldiers that he could definitely sense following him.

This girl is going to get me killed one day, he thought with a justifiable amount of certainty and immediately rubbed at his arm where he expected bruising to come into play later after she let go. When he addressed his impromptu dance partner, he stared at her strangely. "Penny, what are you doing?"

"Dancing!"

To Sun, Penny had a weird definition for dancing. Rather than immerse herself in some form of erratic, fast-paced rhythm like the rest of the students, she was moving pretty slow. Her steps were stiff, her body turning in the same manner, with arms locked in a bent position. The best comparison that Sun could make to Penny's actions was that of an android or some other type of robot that was breaking down.

"Are you going to join me, Sun?" Penny asked.

Sun waited to give his answer which came in the form of the intentional stiffening of his body. "You know what?" Grinning, he began imitating Penny. "Why not?"

---

Ruby was really thankful to have gotten enough of a handling of her heels to traverse what had to be half the campus in her investigation of the mysterious person she spotted, the towering CCT acting as a marker to her progress. Yet walking beneath its shadow, she was starting to second guess the legitimacy of her suspicions.

It might've just been a student, Ruby contemplated. A transfer student who didn't go to the dance and got bored.

Yeah, it was pretty weird to see someone jumping around rooftops in the middle of the night, but how she had let the idea of it possibly being an intruder lead her out here was sounding more and more silly the further she went with no additional signs of them or any sort of trouble appearing. Besides, this is Beacon. An intruder? Here? No way.

Thinking of it like that, it really did seem ridiculous and Ruby wondered if some of Blake's paranoia rubbed off on her. Deciding that the CCT would be her limit, Ruby performed what would be her last scan of the area, promising herself that she'll return to her friends once it was done.

And it was during that last search that she spotted the body. Off to the side of the entrance to the CCT, partially hidden within a row of bushes, Ruby caught the yellow markings of the armor that stood out within the low light. With Atlas's arrival, she had gotten very good at recognizing the standard issue uniform of their soldiers and seeing one lying there, unmoving, had her gasping and she immediately got her scroll, inputting a code.

She didn't have to wait long. After mere seconds she was turning at the sound of the rocket booster of her locker to see it dropping from the sky and impact into the courtyard, embedding itself into the ground. The automatic release kicked in, the locker door being thrown open with explosive force to reveal Crescent Rose nestled within. As soon as she had the comforting weight of her scythe in her hands, she went to the downed soldier.

He was alive. Even when Ruby was checking for a pulse, she could see that he was breathing and the discovery relieved her immensely. That done, she switched priorities and checked for clues as to what could've happened.

There was a dropped rifle nearby but, other than that, the soldier had the rest of his weapons on him. If he had managed to put up a fight or fire a single shot, Ruby was certain that she would've heard it. With him in the bushes like this, Ruby believed that someone had snuck up on him, knocked him out, and then moved him into the bushes to get him out of the open so someone wouldn't easily spot him.

I'm almost like a detective, Ruby couldn't help but think with some pride. Much like how Beacon had emphasized the importance of strategy and tactics, she had also been taught to examine the details to get a handling on a situation so that she would be better prepared when she went in. Usually it was for tracking Grimm, analyzing footprints or other minor changes in the environment to not only figure out how close they were or what direction they went but calculate how big the pack was and if they were aggressively pursuing prey or wandering. As this just proved, examination of the details can help in circumstances like this.

She didn't revel in the accomplishment, the pride fleeting thanks to this confirmation that there was an intruder in Beacon, and she could guess where they went. After attempting to wake the soldier and failing, Ruby left him where he lay and moved to the door of the transmit tower, pushing it open and entering.

If the one soldier outside told her that there was an intruder, then the four that were sprawled throughout the lobby said that they were a serious threat.

These weren't taken out quietly. A battle had taken place here. Along with the bodies were discarded weapons: at least one pistol and the extendable blades that were used for close combat. It didn't do them any good. Ruby checked them too and found her luck holding out. All were alive although the damage to their armor – from small dents made from firearms to the long slashes of blades – were hints of a one-sided beating that had been administered to them.

All the casualties were the soldiers and no one else. Not anyone that could give Ruby an idea of what she may be dealing with whether it be one assailant or multiple ones.

As she figured out outside though, there was only one way they could go from here. Ruby approached the elevators, making sure to take care as her gaze wandered throughout the lobby, her pace cautious as if expecting an enemy to come out and attack her. The signs of battle and the unknown circumstances surrounding it made her nervous. She didn't think it would bother her this much what with her schooling that involved sending her out into the nearby wild that was the turf of the Grimm on more than a few occasions but this was different.

For one, this was Beacon. There were very few places that were as secure as here. If someone managed to infiltrate the combat school and engage in a fight, then they had to be good. And good meant dangerous despite how none of the casualties involved people being killed. But if there was such a person or persons here, then it was Ruby's duty as a Huntress to apprehend them.

She pressed the call button for an elevator, waited anxiously in the ensuing silence for its arrival, and her muscles tensed when they slid apart, expecting a fight. It didn't come, and all that was waiting to greet her in the elevator were two more unconscious soldiers.

Seven, Ruby counted with shock. That makes seven soldiers. And going by the sight, the pair here could've been in the elevator with the intruder and beaten. Their sidearms were lying amongst them but, unlike the lobby, there were no signs of the weapons firing before their owners had been taken out.

She didn't let it scare her off. This latest scene did intimidate her but her building determination to find this intruder and put a stop to them before anyone else could get hurt persisted. She entered the elevator but didn't go up immediately, using a few seconds to get the bodies out. She'd rather not take them with her with the likelihood of putting them in more danger.

Since entering the CCT, something had been nagging at her. While piecing together clues and taking stock of the soldiers along with remaining on the lookout for an ambush, there had been something else bothering her. A sensation best described as something being wrong and knowing it but she couldn't quite pin down what it was. It was when the elevator doors closed and she stood in it for too long did she realize what it was.

It was too quiet. Usually the overseeing AI would be greeting her and asking about her business, eager to fulfill whatever request that brought her to the CCT. It was strangely quiet.

"Hello?" Ruby called out, her voice sounding too loud within the empty and quiet elevator. Nothing answered her back and she regarded the panel. There was only one floor that someone would go to in the CCT and she pressed the button for the communications room.

It started ascending as soon as she did, supplementing this feeling of something being wrong. She didn't have to use her scroll for authorization.

If there was a threat, she suspected to meet it when the elevator arrived but Ruby used up part of the journey going over old details and asking herself new questions. What was going on with the transmit tower right now?

She thought back to the soldiers and she tried to remember what their yellow markings meant. Security, obviously, but had the CCT ever needed them before? Were the tower's systems being updated or was there another scheduled event of similar nature going on and had been set up to coincide with the dance when it wouldn't be busy? The Cross Continental Network was an invention of Atlas and maybe some engineers had been brought with the fleet and students?

Whatever the explanation was, even Ruby could grasp that some of the security protocols within the tower were offline because of it.

Ruby lifted her chin when the elevator came to a stop and she again tensed while she brought the fully-formed length of Crescent Rose in front of her, ready to engage. The doors slid open, Ruby holding her breath…and then letting it out slowly when an empty communications room was unveiled. No signs of battle, no more bodies, just an empty room.

She didn't lower her guard. No one may've been poised to attack her as soon as the elevator arrived but that didn't mean there wasn't anyone in here at all. Not unless they had managed to do whatever they came here for and leave before Ruby arrived but she doubted that. If the person she spotted beforehand was the intruder, there couldn't have possibly been enough time for them to get to the tower, defeat the guards, take the elevator up, and then ride it back down when they were done. Ruby would've at least bumped into them on their way out.

There was someone here. Hiding. Ruby was sure of it.

She slowly stepped out of the elevator, the doors sliding shut again once she was out. Her gaze scanned every corner of the room, her grip tight on Crescent Rose. The scythe blade and barrel were pointed ahead, Ruby's fingers wrapped around the shaft and trigger while those of her other hand grasped the bolt, ready to fire and reload.

"Hello?" It was the thought of convincing the intruder to come out – as unlikely as that was – and to break the unnerving quiet that got her to speak while she crept towards the front desk.

So engrossed in controlling her movements while her gaze swept through the room, the sudden trip had her heart jumping in her throat. Stumbling a couple steps, Ruby glowered down at her feet, quietly snarling at her heels before repositioning her feet for better balance. Fearing that the distraction may've just cost her, Ruby's eyes shot back up around the communications room but no one had taken that moment to strike.

"Is anyone there?" she tried again, wishing she could believe no one was when they didn't respond. There were the beeps of a couple active monitors, the only sound and activity she could find, but Ruby could feel the skin behind her neck prickling. There was danger here. It was faint but instinct told her that she wasn't alone. "Hello?"

She was close to the front desk when a figure in black slowly stood behind it, causing her to freeze. They had their back to her, leaving Ruby to make out long dark hair that fell over their shoulders, small capsules that she recognized as Dust capsules affixed to the belt around their waist and strapped around their thighs. When they faced Ruby, it was to reveal a mask hiding the upper half of their face, save for their eyes.

Their appearance outright screamed 'baddie', from the tight-fitting, zipped up sleeveless jacket and long gloves to the pants and stiletto heel boots that gave a glassy tink as they stepped away from the desk to stand, unobstructed, in front of Ruby. If she hadn't been sure before, she was certain now that this was a woman, the outfit advertising the curves and developed chest with the barest of feminine features unprotected by the mask. Delicate lips curved up to broadcast amusement as if the woman found Ruby's presence funny.

"Excuse me," Ruby said, her fingers tight on Crescent Rose. "You know, it's not a masquerade party. So why don't you take off that-"

The woman snatched one of the Dust canisters at her thigh and swung it in front of her, a cloud of Dust forming and then solidifying into a row of sharp glass shards with molten veins running across their surface. When her hand came back, it was to launch them at Ruby.

She barely reacted in time, spinning Crescent Rose sloppily but successfully to intercept the incoming projectiles, each one detonating rather than shattering upon making contact and Ruby felt heat blossom with each impact while glass fragments scattered through the air and onto the floor. The volley dispensed with, she pointed Crescent Rose at her opponent and returned fire, racking the bolt and pulling the trigger as fast as she could.

The woman held up her hand, sections of her pants and gloves lighting up with an orange glow. A bullet hit and ricocheted off an invisible barrier a foot away from her palm and it shifted to do the same to another one. Between each spark that marked the deflections, Ruby saw orbs of flaming gold alight at the eyes of the mask, burning bright-

Just as they did before within the shadows made within the interior of the Bullhead. Narrow and fierce, strands of dark hair whipping in front of them due to the jet wash. Along the sleeves and across the chest of the red dress, lines that twisted and curled burned the same orange as each projectile that struck uselessly against an unseen shield in front of her hand, diverting them effortlessly.

Ruby's relaxed on the trigger, seeing her attack as useless. Swinging her scythe around behind her, the next squeeze was to produce a shot and recoil that had her flying in close towards the intruder.

During the break in the salvo, the woman had spiraled in place, a ring of fire forming around her, and when it dissipated it was to reveal a pair of curved, obsidian swords in hand. Instead of having them clash against Ruby's scythe when the younger girl swung down on her, the woman somersaulted back once, the crescent-shaped blade stabbing into the floor where her feet had been, and then flipped higher up. Upon Ruby visually tracking her, it was to see that the swords had become a bow with three arrows rested and drawn back, the savage-looking points aimed directly at her.

She only had a split second to recognize and then avoid the attack, a retreating leap getting her clear when the arrows were fired, encased in a yellow brilliance of power that was unleashed when they exploded against the floor of the room. The blast and the wave of pressure and heat that was produced ruined her balance and Ruby had to embed Crescent Rose's blade into the floor in order to keep herself from falling over.

She was nowhere near ready to fight in heels and Ruby thought about sparing a second to kick them off until there came that sound of tinkling glass at her feet. A quick look showed the crystalline shrapnel littered around her.

On second thought, keep the heels, she decided, the handicap better than having her feet sliced open.

She switched back to the intruder, finding her to have landed in a crouch and those orbs of dulled gold seeking her silver ones. That smile had returned, showing no fear. Only the anticipation and confidence of one who believed themselves the predator that shook Ruby's.

Whoever this was, she was skilled and doubtlessly powerful, the blazing heat of those attacks lingering on Ruby's skin and kindling an innate fear that came in coming in contact with such abilities. Ruby stubbornly squashed it, the very suggestion of running away she tossed out of her mind.

Being so powerful just gave Ruby a better reason to stop her.

Before either of them could be the one to reengage, there came the sound of the elevator opening and Ruby looked over her shoulder to see General Ironwood rushing out and into the room, searching and finding the scythe-wielder first.

All right! Ruby cheered, the general's presence boosting her confidence. She refaced the intruder, sure that the two of them could take her. Wait, what!?

The intruder wasn't there anymore and when Ruby sought to locate her, it was to see that she wasn't anywhere in the room. She had disappeared.

---

Author's Note: Fun Fact:In the first version of Ruby's fight with Cinder, there was a Die Hard reference to be made where, due to Ruby's inability in fighting in heels and Cinder using glass, this would've ended with Ruby's feet being torn up. Fortunately for our red-themed heroine, the idea was cut.

In case anyone's wondering, I hold no extreme feelings for the Sun/Penny pairing known as Optimus Primate: I don't love it but I don't hate it either although I think their pairing name is awesome. I have no plans to turn them into an official pairing. I do, however, find my own imagined interactions of the two to be hilarious to write, particularly when I think of how Penny – while a combat-ready android that can smash skulls and shoot down airships – is seen as the adorable mascot of the Atlesian military with every single soldier wishing to protect her from the bad influences of the world.

Brain: Such as a rapscallion of a monkey faunus who would probably be on the hit list of every single one of those soldiers if Penny ever wanted to attempt dating with Sun being 'the most compatible companion'. Seriously, Sun is that stereotypical teenaged boy that any father/brother would feel threatened by if they see someone like him going out with their daughter/little sister. Except, you know, this is the largest and most advanced military we're talking about here so….oooh, like Sun picks her up and you got a whole dreadnaught spying overhead, while recon teams follow their every moment!

Focus.

Brain: And when the two go to a movie theater, stuff gets LOCKED DOWN! The entire building is quietly evacuated, unknown to the two except Sun notices that their booth is a tad empty. And when he goes to the bathroom or grab some popcorn, the entire staff has been replaced with badly-disguised soldiers and androids and and and-

Focus!

Brain: Huh, what? Oh, right, yeah. We need to finish this first…

So, couple notes for this chapter. I actually did not think of having Neptune replace Jaune with speaking with Pyrrha; that was an idea that was offhandedly tossed out by a user named Zam over at spacebattles and, when I asked permission to use the idea, he gave it and I used it. Now, it wasn't my goal to convince people to start liking Neptune. I'm sure there will be plenty of people who still hate him. My goal was to offer a more sympathetic viewpoint of Neptune as I – and I'm sure others too – have been in his shoes concerning wanting to be popular only to realize the interests and even friends that you'd give up all for people to have a good opinion of you. I hope I at least succeeded in that.

Likewise, the dress that Jaune wears being one of Yang's was another idea that was given to me, that one being one of the few suggestions that Kenju gave me for Reflection. Seemed like a logical – and hilarious – explanation to how Jaune managed to just run off and come up with a dress so fast that fit him. An idea that was mine and one I had wanted to get in here was a scene between Ozpin and Ironwood, expanding on that brief glimpse we saw when Ironwood was leaving, but when I got to it and tried to type it out, I just couldn't write it the way that I wanted to. I think the main reason was that I wanted to type it in Ozpin's POV but I just couldn't pin down the headmaster's thinking for what I intended to present with him. I do intend to delve into Ozpin's mind again but that won't be until the end. I think a lot of what I wanted to write will instead be used for Field Trip in someone else's POV.

On a more minor note, I know the wiki labeled the guards that Cinder fought as Beacon Security Personnel but in the credits of Dance Dance Infiltration they were labeled as Atlas Guard. So, obviously, I assumed the guards were provided by Atlas which will help later on as I give a bit more reason as to how Cinder was able to infiltrate it so easily as I know one common complaint people ask about is where the hell were the security cameras and AIs and stuff - some of which we saw during Weiss's visit, lol.

Using the lyrics to Shine like I did for that part with Blake…I expect a mixed reaction. It was kind of a sudden thing that I did on the spot as I happened to be listening to it while writing that part. I tend to have a low opinion of songfics as just writing down the lyrics of a song in a fic is all around pointless to me. When it comes to music – and I'm sure people know of my love for scores and the Williams family is great at always churning out amazing work for RWBY along with Lamar Hall -, I prefer to just put in a few lyrics and then put up the song as a suggested listening if readers feel so inclined. I decided to go a little further this instance mostly because of how a lot of the lyrics to Shine such as the portion I used worked well with this Bumblebee I have here. I doubt there will be a repeat as any future inclusion of songs will be through suggested listenings that people can choose to have playing or not.

As for my other major alteration, that being the White Rose pairing getting their dance, I hope people enjoy that. For what Neptune and Weiss ended up discussing…I'll leave that open-ended much like the show. I will say, however, that this won't be the end of the White Rose moments that I have planned for this fic. There will be more. I hope that this monster of a chapter will be enough to satisfy you for the time being.

Until next time.