How'd you like it? This is a joint with 40(?). Enjoy!

"Really now?"

I couldn't help but laugh at the story Ruby had just told me about her food fight from a couple years back. Yang scratched the back of her head as Hotel didn't hold his laugh back, bringing her close as he embraced her from behind. Sierra hit the ground laughing at the thought of Weiss using a swordfish as her rapier.

Suddenly, a knock on the door caught my attention. I muttered to Ruby, "Hey, gotta get the door."

With that, she slid off my lap as I stood up, walking over, swinging it open to see a…well…the best way to describe it was a "nervous" Windsickle.

"Windsickle? What's up?"

He looked away, opened his mouth, but then closed it. I raised an eyebrow as he took in a breath and said, "I-is Lima free right now?"

Lima?

I blinked in surprise, turning around to see her standing right behind me. I jumped in mild surprise, sighing as I said, "Well?"

She blinked, cocked her head, then nodded, opening the door a bit and said, "…alone…please…."

"Ah…okay…," I said, slowly closing the door behind me. Immediately, all of us had our ears pressed against the door, trying to listen in on what he had to say.

"U-umm, I was just wondering if you were…well…free tonight."

"…tonight…?"

"Y-yeah! You see, I have a table reserved for two at a restaurant in Vale tonight, but the person I asked to come with…well…cancelled on me at the last minute and…well…yeah…."

There was a moment of silence.

Why did they…?

I suddenly remembered why, grabbing Ruby and jumping back on my bed as she creaked the door open a bit and said, "…No listening…."

The others dropped their heads in disappointment as I held back a laugh, pulling Ruby closer to me as I said, "I think it'll be fine."

"But Delta," Sierra said, "he's a part of team SWRD-."

"He did stop Dagger in my last duel, too," I interjected. She opened her mouth, closing it and turning to Hotel. With that, she sighed and said, "Alright then, Lima…if you wanna go, you can go."

With that, everyone took their spots in our team dorm room as Lima came back in and said, "…seven…."

Sierra let out a whistle and huddled with Weiss and Yang. Ruby and I both stared on in confusion as they slowly turned to Lima, who basically had question marks floating over her head. Then her ears folded as her eyes widened, slowly backing up as the girls began creeping up on her.

"Li~ma!"

The wolf girl began reaching for the door handle until Blake walked up to her, grabbing a hold of her before she could open the door as the girls all jumped on her. I could hear Lima's yelps of fright as the girls began grabbing things like make-up and formal gowns as Hotel, Ruby, and I laughed uncontrollably.

"Will she be fine?"

"Yeah…probably," I answered, walking with Ruby down towards the cliff. Sierra decided till after they were done changing Lima to send me to go get dust with Ruby from the "Dust till Dawn" dust store. And from the sounds of it, Ruby's had quite the history with the owner of the store.

"Are you positive?"

I turned to Ruby, who looked really worried.

I'll admit it, even if it's Windsickle, it's still a little worrisome.

"Well," I replied, "there's really nothing that I'd be able to do about it."

Ruby cocked her head as I replied, "Well, I trust Wind, even if he's my technical 'rival.'"

With that, I felt Ruby's head on my shoulder as we took our seats in the travel ship. I blinked, bringing an arm around her as she said, "…I guess you're right."

"So…what do you like to do?"

Lima's ears perked at the peculiar question as she felt extremely exposed from the skirt that they made her wear despite the stockings. She looked around, her ears flattening as people began talking about her.

"What's with that girl?

"Is she a faunus?"

"She's weird."

A blush crept up on her as she flinched at the feeling of Windsickle's arm snaking around her waist as he said, "What's with the nervousness?"

Lima's blush intensified as she nervously reached an arm around, her ears lying flat against her head as he stroked her hair. Strangely, Lima felt…attracted to it.

"Hauu~…," she whined out, leaning towards him as her ears propped back up. Windsickle smiled to himself, finding her awfully cute as they made their way to the restaurant that he had booked.

Lima looked up, seeing the sign in fancy lights as he said, "C'mon; nothing impressive, Lima."

She begged to differ. Whenever she was allowed in this kind of restaurant when she was young, it was considered a luxury. Windsickle laughed and said, "C'mon, wolfie."

With that, he dragged her into the building, heading straight for the reception desk.

"Mr. Vice, was it? Right this way, please."

Lima felt out of place as a faunus in a human filled restaurant as she took her seat across from him. He chuckled as she squirmed uncomfortably in her seat, reaching over and grabbing her hand. She flinched as he said, "Don't worry; I'm here for you."

Lima blinked; he sounded exactly like Delta. Was it coming from a different voice? Sure. But it still sounded like something that her partner would've said in a situation like this.

Windsickle felt the tension in her hand relax as the waitress came by, ready to take their order.

"Phew! I'm stuffed!"

Lima nodded in agreement as they walked back towards the transport ship. Windsickle looked at her as she took her seat in the waiting area. With a sigh, he slumped down next to her, smiling as he said, "I hope you had a good time."

The girl turned to face him, replying, "…enjoyed…."

She blinked as he kept his smile on her. It strangely reminded her of Delta's whenever he congratulated her. Except, Windsickle's smile made her chest feel warm. Made her feel…complete.

"…Wind…?"

His smile faded to a look of question as she quickly turned away and said, "…sorry…!"

"N-no no! It's okay! Really!"

Lima turned back to him, giving him a smile. He blushed, quickly glancing away as she suddenly cupped his cheek. He turned to face her, blushing madly as she kissed him on the cheek.

"…Thank you…," she said, keeping her smile on.

Windsickle blinked, the air in his lungs leaving him as the PA announced, "The ship to Beacon will be leaving momentarily; please conclude your activities and board quickly."