Chapter 17: Dates and Decorations.
After the whole debacle with the mechs and White Fang, things weren't exactly back to normal. Blake's behavior, while still typical of her, was more irradiated and more passive-aggressive, due to her not sleeping at night. At first, it wasn't exactly noticeable, but that all changed when the annual Beacon was just a day away.
"Beacon dance this! Beacon dance that! Argh! Why is everyone so set on the stupid dance!"
"It's because everyone is looking forward to having a good time and some fun before the school year REALLY gets tough again." Aoihi replied to Blake as he heard the complaints.
As they had just stepped out of the sparring lesson room when Cinder came running out.
"Oh! Aoihi!" She said with a suggestive voice. "Would you like to…"
"No." Aoihi stated flatly as he only continued to walk with his team. Ruby, Yang and Weiss laughed at this.
"Hahaha! Classic Aoihi!" Ruby chortled. "Being all blunt and straightforward, even when it's coming to rejecting someone."
"Yeah!" Yang added with a snigger. "You really are one tough nut to crack in a romantic sense."
Weiss giggled too, but was a little worried herself. She was actually going to plan on asking Aoihi to be her date.
"You… Wouldn't reject EVERY girl right?"
Aoihi just gave a shrug.
"Personally, I'm not usually at these events, especially when I was recognized as a student here at age 13, due to idiots only wanting to hook up with me due to my status as Ozpin's ward for if they get in trouble and I'm their 'lover' they KNOW that they can use my influence on Ozpin to give them just a simple warning. Although admittedly, I also have an age preference too, that being someone no more than one year older or younger than me. So, I suppose it depends on the person really, Weiss."
This point from Aoihi, Weiss can only empathize with.
"Well, I suppose I can't blame you on that point, Aoihi. Especially considering most men in my life only wanted me for my looks or the perks of having my last name." She then sighed. "Unfortunately, a great deal of them were players like Neptune. Henceforth a big reason on my distaste for him. The other main reason is because of how he is still stupid enough to think of you as lesser all because of your Autism, Aoihi. I mean SERIOUSLY! What is he? Stupid?"
"Probably." Aoihi remarked. "DEFINITELY NOT neurodivergent if you ask me. Just true idiocy."
Then bang on cue, Neptune appeared out of nowhere to hit on Weiss again.
"Oh! Hey, Weiss! I was thinking! Why don't we ditch our teammates, head somewhere nice to get to know each other better and then basically get our chemistry flowing in a good way so we can be the BEST dates in the Beacon Dance?"
Weiss rolled her eyes in annoyance as she slapped Neptune hard against the cheek.
"I am NOT dating you!" She spoke with a scowl as she walked away from the idiot.
"Give it up already, Neptune." Jaune Arc soon spoke as he and team JNPR were walking the same direction as team RWBYA. "You got no chance with Weiss!"
Neptune huffed, before deciding looking at Pyrrha with a look that made her quite uncomfortable.
"Hmm… you're quite the beautiful girl." He said with a grin. "How about you and I go instead?"
Jaune scowled and got between Neptune and Pyrrha.
"Leave HER alone!" He said darkly. "I don't know WHAT'S going through your mind, Neptune, but even I am smart enough to know that Women are people too, and shouldn't be treated as objects! Pyrrha is more than just a pretty face on my team! She's a very amazing and incredible fighter! Not to mention intelligent and kind! If you DON'T back off now, I'll MAKE you do so!"
Neptune, of course, was too stupid to actually take that into consideration as he shoved Jaune into the ground. However, as he grabbed Pyrrha's wrist forcibly, Pyhrra screamed and tossed him into the ground hard.
"Don't you EVER touch me again!" She scolded, before looking towards Jaune and walking towards him with a soft expression. "I knew you had it in you to be so brave." She said with an honest remark. "Thank you for standing up for me." She then pecked Jaune on the cheek as a blush came on his cheeks.
"Would it be okay if I.."
"Yes." Pyrrha answered promptly. "I would love to be your date, Jaune."
Jaune smiled more as Pyrrha helped him up. Nora grinned as she gave Jaune a double thumbs up, while Ren simply smiled and nodded in approval.
"How about I help you find something more suitable to wear for the dance, rather than the bland recolor of the Beacon uniform they give out?" Pyhrra then suggested. "I think you'll enjoy the dance more that way, Jaune."
Jaune couldn't help but smile.
"Sounds good to me, Pyrrha. Let's go back to the dorm and get ready to go to the store, before Neptune tries to hit on you again."
Pyrrha laughed, and took Jaune's outstretched hand. It was clear that they were pretty happy together.
Back at the dorm room of RWBYA's girls, Ruby, Weiss, Yang and Aoihi all stared at Blake with dissatisfaction as she sat down and began to read her book.
"What?" She asked in a grumpy tone.
Ruby sighed, having enough of Blake's behavior.
"We want you to go to the Beacon Dance." The girl in red finally stated.
Blake scowled and scoffed at this.
"Seriously?!"
"Yes, Blake!" Aoihi spoke with a stern tone of voice. "Listen to what they have to say!"
So she did.
"We're worried for you, Blake." Yang remarked. "This investigation is starting to mess with your head."
"Indeed." Weiss added. "You can't sleep, you can hardly eat, and your grades have been suffering."
Blake scowled. "You think I CARE about my grades?! People's lives are at stake!"
"And you CAN'T do too much when you're too burnt out, Blake." Aoihi soon spoke, firmly.
"And we KNOW and are still trying to figure out what Torchwick is up to." Yang soon responded, as Ruby then picked things up.
"Thanks to you and Sun, we know that they are operating somewhere in southeast Vale."
"And," Added Weiss. "The Schnee company records have singled out Vale as the primary target for dust robberies over the past few months."
"Not to mention the missing military tech too." Yang spoke in response to Weiss, but Blake was still unsatisfied.
"But there are still unanswered questions!"
"And you won't be able to answer them if you can't keep your eyes open, Blake." Ruby swiftly fired back.
"We just want you to take it easy for JUST one day, Blake." Yang said with her concern present.
"Just, relax and have at least a day of fun, Blake." Weiss soon said in addition to Yang's statement. "Yang and I will ensure of it."
"That's right! We're planning the whole event."
Blake was stunned.
"W-wait! What?! I thought team CFVY was planning it!"
"Well, team CFVY's away mission lasted longer than expected."
"So Weiss and I were asked to pick up where they left off. Now we can make sure that we have the perfect night!"
"Once it's over, we'll return to our search, rested and ready."
Blake was still displeased with Yang and Weiss's enthusiasm for the Beacon Dance, as Ruby then looked at her.
"So, what do you think?" She dared to ask as Blake scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"I personally think it's a colossal waste of time." She replied with a sharp tone as she stood up and prepared to walk out. "I'll be in the library."
She then exited the room as everyone sighed in defeat.
"Great!" Yang said sarcastically.
"She can't keep going on like this!" Weiss started with worry.
"She'll burn herself out for sure." Ruby added, as Aoihi let off a frustrated sigh.
"You three continue on with Blake's situation and the Beacon Dance. I need to speak to Ozpin on something personal."
The three girls watched him leave the room, as then a knock was heard on the door. Weiss quickly opened it and saw an excited Jaune in the doorway.
"Guys! Weiss! Pyrrha's my date!"
"Nice!" Yang exclaimed.
"Sweet!" Ruby commented.
"That's great to hear, Jaune." Weiss replied with a smile.
"I know." The leader of team JNPR stated with a smile. "She and I are heading into town to find me something more suitable to wear for the dance."
Weiss nodded in approval.
"Okay. Best of luck to you, Jaune."
Jaune nodded back.
"Same for you, Weiss." He then said before whispering. "I'm crossing my fingers that Aoihi accepts you as your date."
Weiss smiled and nodded thankfully to Jaune as she politely closed the door. She then faced Ruby and Yang as she sighed.
"As happy as I am for Jaune and Pyrrha, we NEED to get through Blake and her thick skull on the matter."
"I'll see if I can get through to her." Yang replied as she then looked at Ruby. "Think you can handle Weiss's planning procedures, little sis?"
"I'll certainly try." Ruby replied as she soon saw Yang walk out of the room.