I'm not real sure how I like the way this chapter turned out... but meh, i'll see what you guys think and improve it later. Maybe...
Jaune's dislike of dances are my own feelings towards dancing. I was a very awkward kid in elementary and middle school, so when a dance came up, I just watched. Prom was practically torture, but when you have a date, you have a date.
Also, something I want to add before it becomes a problem. No one has said anything yet, but it's bound to happen. Please do not write any reviews about 'canon pairings'. Nothing, at this point (pairing-weiss (XD)), is canon. Please, just don't.
Darkblaze40: Jaune, outrun a very angry older sister? He wouldn't get very far... XD
Frik1000: Thanks for pointing that out, I tried to fix the writing style in this chapter so that it wasn't 'that' literal. And yay for fluff! Also, yeah, i dislike yuri, yaoi, and most smut. White rose and bumblebee fans scare me the most... they're so... vicious... but i think that might be due to the fact that we haven't had any 'new' rwby for a while. Hopefully the fandom, all ships included, will calm down a bit and stop trying to rip each others throats out when the new season comes out. Cheers!
Hunter113: Well, Frik didn't say the title, but his review made me think he knew the song... so you both win! Cyber cookie for both of you! And that is one of my favorite songs! Hope you like this chapter!
Shiranai Atsune: As do I! Let us be friends!
Nasha Rei-kun: That sounds like it'd be interesting, but it wouldn't work with the style i'm using to write these stories. My style is more of using the song to provide the mood and general setting of the story, not having them do a performance. But, I think you should try your hand at writing something like that! I'd love to read it!
Blackr0s3: It's alright, we all get carried away and miss stuff sometimes, no biggie! As for your request, I'm having trouble understanding the song. The context and meaning behind the lyrics give me mixed signals. If you could explain it to me as best you could, I'll do my best to write it. You'll have to forgive me, I'm not very good at understanding certain songs ^^;.
The Ballad of Rwby
Rwby is the property of Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth; I do not own anything, please support the official release.
Chapter 2: Can I?
'I hate dances…' Such were the thoughts of a blonde hunter-in-training. Ever since he was a kid, Jaune never liked dances. While some would hang out with their friends, others would partner up and dance. Jaune was one of the ones who sat in a corner and waited until it was over. It wasn't so much that he hated dancing, he was simply a bit awkward when it came to dancing or being asked to dance. So, here he was again, in the auditorium of Beacon Academy, sitting in a corner and waiting. He glanced around and caught glimpses of his friends chatting with each other, Ruby at the snack table, and Weiss rolling her eyes and sighing. How nice it must be, not having to worry about things like being socially awkward. Watching them, he noticed someone was missing. Where was Pyrrha? He figured she would have been one of the first ones to be asked to dance.
Pyrrha. Jaune could tell something was up with her for the past week. When they announced the dance the week before, she was quite roughly pulled away by most of team RWBY and Nora. He turned to ask Ren, but the quiet boy just shook his head, telling Jaune to let it be. When she returned, everything seemed normal so he didn't question it much. Probably just some 'girl talk' about what to wear and things of that nature. However, she did seem a bit off whenever they were alone.
"Jaune?" He was pulled out of his thoughts by a familiar voice. Looking up, he saw his partner, her hand out in front of him. She looked amazing. So much so that he didn't register her question when she asked it. "Come again?" She smiled softly at him and repeated, "May I have this dance?" He blinked dumbly for a few seconds, and glanced around. Quite a few other male students behind her seemed disappointed or resentful. Some were even glaring at him. "Uh… huh?" Apparently, she took that as a 'yes' and grabbed one of his hands, standing him up, and leading him out onto the floor. He panicked. "P-Pyrrha!? I-I don't… I can't… I have no idea how to dance!" By the time he finished his rather weak protest, they had already made it to the middle of the floor. Turning around, Pyrrha moved his hands into position, a slow song just then starting to play. "Just follow my lead."
~Take my hand… Take a breath…~
Jaune tried shuffling around, doing his best to match Pyrrha and failing miserably. His eyes stayed glued to his feet, trying to make sure he didn't step on hers. He continued to do this until Pyrrha gently put her hand under his chin and lifted it up, chastising him gently, "Keep your eyes on mine. Trust me." He did trust her. She was his partner after all, so he nodded his head and began following her lead again.
~Won't you promise me?~
Surprisingly, he seemed to get better with every turn. The nervousness and awkwardness seemed to disappear, and was replaced by a sense of… right. This is where he should be, right here, dancing without a care or concern for anyone else but the girl he was dancing with. As always, however, a small seed of doubt sprouted within him. 'She's doing this because she's a great friend. This isn't anything special,' and, 'It was probably because I looked so pathetic sitting by myself,' and finally, 'What if she just pities me?'
"Stop that."
~It's like catching lightning…~
He blinked for a second, before he realized it was Pyrrha who had spoken. "Stop what?" Another series of turns. "I know that face. You're worried about something, aren't you?" It was that obvious huh? Well, he wasn't surprised. Pyrrha had been very good at reading people, so for someone like Jaune, who practically wears his heart on his sleeve, she could easily see through him. "It's just… you didn't have to do this. I was having fun watching everyone else. You didn't have to ask me to dance." She frowned, and Jaune almost tripped, "That's what you're thinking about? Jaune, I didn't ask because I thought you looked lonely or sad." Their dance resumed, almost like it had never stopped. "Huh?" Good one Jaune. Very eloquent. "All of last week I was a bit nervous about this dance." Woah, time out! Pyrrha Nikos, 4-time Mistral Regional Tournament champion and Pumkin Pete's Cereal box mascot, was nervous!? "You were nervous? About what?"
~And with every step together, we just keep on getting better…~
She sighed and they turned again, "Jaune, was there anyone you wanted to ask to this dance?" Wanted to? He never thought about it. As soon as the word 'dance' registered in his head, he just tuned it out. Dances never mattered to him, so why bother worrying about who to ask? Upon telling this to Pyrrha, she just nodded her head, "I thought so." Another turn, but this time, her hands shifted to the back of his neck. Is this how friends are supposed to dance? He coughed nervously, the close contact making him sweat a little, "So, you didn't answer my question?"
"I wanted you to ask me."
~So, can I have this dance?...~
"You…. What?" She wanted him to ask her to the dance? "Yes, Jaune. I wanted you to ask me. I waited all week, but nothing happened. So… I got tired of waiting, and asked you." His mind was frozen. Why ask him? "Have you still not figured it out?" Emerald eyes stared into Sapphire ones, waiting for an answer. Call it impulse, fate, the Great Lord Monty getting sick of watching them beat around the bush, whatever, but when his lips connected with hers, he could feel her smile, which felt kinda weird, but he rather enjoyed it. Neither one noticed that the song was over, that they were the only ones left on the floor, or that Yang could be seen handing Blake twenty lien with her palm against her forehead, laughing. Oddly enough, it wouldn't have mattered, this was their moment. Nothing was going to ruin it.
'I love dances…'
~Can I have this dance?~