Fangs of the Exiles

Rated M

Rwby

Summary:

Life is not about what happens to you, but what you make of it... At least that's what everyone says. Two faunus will answer whose way is right, carrying the will of a titanic kingdom while the other, the spirit of one who shouldn't exist. Forgotten, their paths will cross, for better or worse.

A/N:

Chapter 8: Baring Our Fangs-3

[Beacon Academy-Grand Hall]

The night of the dance had finally arrived and the students were enjoying the elegant affair. Many of them were dressed to impress and were already on the dance floor. Yang was managing the usher's table. Weiss, though she was simply a guest now, would check over the decorations for any signs of imperfections as means of distraction. Team JNPR, or at least Ren and Nora were busy enjoying one another's company. Jaune was busy sulking alongside Ruby due to their social awkwardness (and neither having a date).

Team ASRE would arrive shortly after, minus their leader. When asked about Aganju's whereabouts, they simply agreed to state that he was still in recovery so as not to arouse any worry. Given his reputation as a hard worker, it worked like a charm.

After a toast with the scythe-wielder, Jaune opted to approach Weiss after finding out that Neptune rejected the girl. However, upon his path to the heiress, he suddenly noticed his fellow teammate stepping past him. Despite his drive to test his chances with the lonely Weiss Schnee, Jaune felt his mind pull him to check up on Pyrrha.

His trek led him to find her staring out over the balcony of the banquet hall.

"Hey, Pyrrha!"

"Oh... Hello, Jaune." she turned around to greet him.

"You okay? I haven't seen you tonight."

"I arrived late, I'm afraid."

Sensing a dark cloud hovering over her, the blond warrior approached her, hoping to cheer her up. With a compliment about her attire, she thanked him but gave him nothing more to work with, making it more awkward for him to keep the conversation going.

"Um... Your date isn't going to beat me up for saying that, is he?" he nervously chuckled.

"I think you're safe for tonight..."

"So, where is the guy?"

At this point, Pyrrha felt her guarded resolve finally crumble. As she turned to him, her green eyes began to shimmer as she gazed down at the stone floor.

"There is no guy..."

"What?"

"Nobody asked me."

Jaune incredulously tried to form a coherent sentence about how amazing the girl was and how any guy would be lucky to have the chance to be with her. He mentioned her status as one of the strongest students in Beacon and, her sponsorship with Pumpkin Pete's cereal only to be met with a knowing sigh.

"I've been... blessed with incredible talents and opportunities. I'm constantly surrounded by love and praise. But, when you're put on a pedestal like that for so long, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place." She did her best to hold her emotions in check but, it was evident that the "invincible girl" was now completely vulnerable. "Everyone assumes that I'm too good for them; That I'm on a level they simply can't attain. It's become impossible to form any meaningful relationship with people."

She was about to continue, but, by some twist of fate, Jaune interrupted.

"What about Aganju? Aren't you two friends?"

"Well... yes," she answered, flustered. "But, he never asked me either or... rather, I haven't seen him since he was released from the infirmary."

"What are you talking about? I just saw Yang talking to Roxanne about him on my way here!"

"What?" Pyrrha blinked at the boy in shock.

Jaune nodded with a lopsided grin. "Before everything with Merlot happened, it was common knowledge. Everyone kind of just assumed that you and Aganju were going to come here together. It was kind of obvious, even for a dense guy like me."

Pyrrha eyed her team's leader with uncertainty. Surely Jaune and their peers were mistaken. Right?

Aganju Umbrae wanted to ask her to the dance. Why didn't he mention this to her? Or did she not notice? Based on what she'd just told him, Aganju seemed to be precisely the type of person she was referring to. When they first met, the fox boy didn't even know who she was despite them both attending the same combat school at some point. They bonded shortly after and not once did he appear to not care about her prior accolades, Aganju chose to focus on the person she was from their initial meeting, building a strong friendship and attraction.

She stood there stunned by the revelation made by Jaune.

That shock quickly transformed to regret upon realizing her earlier conversation with Atsura a few days earlier. If what Jaune said was true, and Aganju did want to ask her, she muddied that chance by mentioning her interest in wanting the blond to ask her.

"Sounds to me like he's the type of guy you deserve to be with."

Unsure of what to say, so she simply left with a small bow and a 'thank you', leaving behind a speechless Jaune to steel his nerves for what was to come.

As darkness blanketed the clear sky, Sango watched the students dance with contentment. He wore a simple wine-red dress shirt with a black vest that matched his dark slacks and shoes. He was a little worried about Team CFVY as they were still on their mission; taking a mental note to check in on their status upon their return alongside Professor Port.

For now, he would try to maintain an unshakable serenity as he took notice of the blissful atmosphere that saturated the ballroom. Dancing. Music. Cake and Punch. It all reminded him of the dance he missed out on throughout his academy days. A dark truth haunted him as he watched a blond male, Jaune Arc, standing next to a much shorter girl with black & red hair.

"It would appear that Miss Rose and Mr. Arc are still working through their... Awkward phase."

Sango felt his tail stiffen at the voice of his superior.

"Heh... I can't say that I blame them. It's not easy when you're still trying to find yourself."

"Very true," Ozpin chuckled to himself. "Though sometimes we should break out of our shells in hopes of truly appreciating what the world has to offer us. It appears that Ms. Belladonna has welcomed that sentiment if only a bit."

Sango noticed the feline faunus not only engaging with some of her peers, but she was laughing and genuinely enjoying herself. Even Lie Ren was having a blast dancing with his partner Nora Valkyrie. To his dismay, Weiss appeared to be a bit down, choosing to occupy her time by tending to details about the party. The only one he hadn't noticed was Pyrrha Nikos when she departed for the balcony earlier.

"I suppose you're right, sir. I only wish I had taken hold of such opportunities when they were presented."

"Oh?" Ozpin sat next to the young faunus. "I'm not completely sure how Atlas runs their facilities, but I would hope they engage in recreational activities as well as training and exercises."

"They do, but, it was difficult to engage with others when you're viewed as lesser than others. I won't bore you with the details, but it's safe to say that I'm still wondering about my purpose in life. I've been a top-level agent and yet, it feels like I'm missing something. To be honest, being here in Vale, teaching and guiding the students, it's been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life."

"Perhaps you would be receptive to a permanent transfer?"

"What?" Sango stared at the man blankly. "You... You're serious?"

"You're an excellent teacher. The students love you. You've transitioned to the ways of Vale quite well without issue. I don't see any reason not to offer you an opportunity. If you so desire, I would gladly welcome you on board as a member of Beacon's staff on a more permanent basis. I believe there is a great deal of good you can provide by staying."

Sango took a moment to process the proposal by the headmaster. It all sounded too good to be true.

"I don't know... I would be giving up my life back at Atlas. My rank and status. My..."

"...Association with Miss Ederne?"

The silence of the faunus spoke much more clamorously than his words could ever hope to achieve.

"Take some time to think about it; There's still time before the Vytal Festival," Ozpin stood to his feet upon noticing the appearance of another faunus, a kitsune with mismatched eyes. "There's more to you than meets the eye, Mr. Bagheera. We'll discuss this later."

As Ozpin left, Sango decided to grab a cup of punch. He hoped that the sweet liquid would distract him from the weight of such an important decision. In truth, he liked the idea of remaining at Beacon to teach. It provided him with a new lease on life, away from the usual machinations of the military outfit. The looks he'd receive from humans in Vale paled in comparison to the glares he get among the floating kingdom.

Why don't you focus on the REAL reason you're conflicted?

Shut up... He grumbled, taking a drag of the concoction.

We both know that you'd hate to leave your 'friend'. Heck, she's the main reason you've been so down in the dumps tonight. Reminds you of the good old days, doesn't it?

Sango didn't reply to his inner voice, instead, he pointed his awareness to the fox faunus, Aganju if he remembered correctly. Like him, the vulpine appeared out of place at the party, only shifting into some form of comfort when he noticed the tall redhead girl. Seeing them interact brought a soft grin to his face. Their laughter and dancing soon died down as the music mellowed out.

"Must be nice..." he took another sip of his cup.

"I guess..." a mischievous voice cut in, compelling Sango to nearly choke on his punch. "...If you're into that lovey-dovey stuff."

Sango wiped the remains of his drink from his lips before turning into a sight that made his jaw drop.

Elm stood before him in a dress, a form-fitting honey-brown dress that meshed perfectly with her olive-tan skin. If speechless had a face, it would be Sango's as his dark skin gave way to a ribbon of beet red across his face. Maybe it was due to it being strapless? Or perhaps it was the slit that stopped at her mid-thigh? Even her hair was down, falling just short of the nape of her neck.

"Elm? Is... That you?"

"Do you like it?" she cursed internally at how much of a schoolgirl she sounded at that moment. She felt her heart pounding in her throat harder with each passing second, blocking out any sound from the faunus' reply. Only when Sango gently frowned did she finally snap out of her state? "Huh?"

"You... You look amazing, Elm!" he averted his gaze, his chest beginning to drum violently.

"Thank you... Would you like to dance?"

This time, Sango was the one who needed a moment to compose himself but it was clear by his forced attempt to remain composed. She noticed the slight fidget he had as he stammered something about 'having two left feet'; She found it rather cute. To see someone who was normally able to keep his feelings under control act in such a way was enough to make her laugh a bit.

The only problem?

Elm's eruption at the poor faunus' plight exposed a glaring flaw of her own. A snort slipped out before she slammed a palm over her mouth; brown eyes expanding wider than a saucer. She detested her snort, staring at her companion, mortified that he'd heard it too.

"I'd love to dance," he extended a hand with an awkward grin.

Despite her initial discomfiture, Elm took his hand, following him to the dance floor. Once more she felt a wave of nerves begin to well up in her stomach as she noticed the eyes of the students and even some of the faculty. Logically, her mind pondered why she would care about the opinion of others. She was a member of the Ace Ops, Atlas' best team.

She was a top graduate and huntsman in her own right and yet, she something in her knew that didn't matter.

Here, she was just Elm and she was about to dance in front of others.

The gentle music did little to steady her nerves but once she turned to face Sango, his silver eyes gazed at her with softness. Neither were skilled at dancing, but they didn't have to be as the melody lulled them to sway against one another. Elm appeared to experience the most discomfort as she couldn't resist the urge to pay attention to the eyes on her which led to her stumbling on occasion.

She was certain that some of them were mumbling about her. Did they think something was going on between them? Were they laughing at her? It was her academy dance all over again. Why did I go through with this?! she wailed, feeling her insecurities beginning to creep throughout her.

"Elm?" she tensed up while carefully turning to the faunus. "What's wrong?"

"It's... nothing," she lied shamefully, holding back a familiar stinging in her eyes.

Sango knew it and lifted her chin so that she was gazing directly into his silver portals. Those pools showed patience and understanding while his smile confirmed this.

"I'm nervous too... Heh, why don't we just focus on each other for the moment?"

Elm bowed her head and allowed him to lead her, short steps keeping them in a contained space while getting the fullest of their motions. She was still nervous, yet it was more centered on stepping on his feet. To her surprise, Sango was adept on his toes. His hands rested on the small of her back while her own settled on his shoulders, giving the panther full supervision of her body.

He's so close to me... Erm... Don't think like that, Elm!

"You're not a bad dancer," she snapped out of her inner scolding to find the chuckling faunus' face reddening. "I'm not too close to your um... you know."

"No, it's alright. I kind of like this."

The duo continued their dancing, no longer worrying about any eyes that may have been watching them.

Of the eyes watching them, two held much significance. The first was a pair of blue orbs staring in amusement at his subordinates, his Atlesian uniform serving as his formal wear. He stood among the faculty and yet his identity was as clear as polished.

"I do hope you're enjoying the festivities, James" he turned to the grey-haired man. "I would hate for you to miss out on such revelries running security. Even your men seem to be getting in on the fun."

"Rest assured, Oz, I've taken notice."

Ozpin cut his eyes at his ally with caution. Like him, the general was a tactician, and rarely did he speak lethargically. It was one of the qualities that the headmaster enjoyed about James, but even he was not exempt from the mysteries of the man's words and tone. He truly earned his position as the head of Atlas' front. Mental chess was a game they both relished.

"I forgot to mention when you arrived," this pulled Ironwood's attention from the dancing couple. "Your acceptance of the exchange program was a success; our students have benefitted much from their contributions, both in and out of the class..."

"...And you're considering extending the duration of the program? Am I on the mark, Oz?"

"Guilty as charged. If only for another semester... I feel the students would truly grow under further guidance."

"I'm sorry, Oz. I simply cannot part with one of my Ace Ops. We both know that I protested sending Specialist Ederne in the first place..."

"And yet, here she is... Perhaps she was a scout?"

James picked up the teasing tone of his comrade, smirking to himself. Ozpin nor his staff knew Elm's true purpose, and he'd prefer it stay that way if possible.

"I should know better than to think I could pull the wool over your eyes. I only parted with her because there was intel about the White Fang so close to the Vytal Festival. By letting her come to Vale, I hoped to get info on the area before bringing in my men. I apologize for withholding such information from you, but I wanted to ensure that things wouldn't be compromised."

"Hmmm... I do hope that things are to your satisfaction."

"I must admit, the festival seems to be in good hands. I'm still wary about her forces though."

Ozpin understood the man's concern.

"I understand, James. However, I was more interested in the services of Mr. Bagheera. He's aided in the students' development while acclimating to our school's culture like a fish to water. He's an exemplary teacher, one of our best."

"Sango?" The general didn't get a chance to inquire further due to his scroll sounding off. "Ironwood speaking. Yes. What? Are you sure?! We're on our way." He hung up the device and eyed the older gentleman. "We can discuss this later. Someone's infiltrated Beacon Tower!"

They took their leave, allowing the dance to proceed without interruption. What they didn't know was that the one responsible had made it back to the dance without being spotted. Her long raven hair draped over her shoulder as amber eyes found her target, a young man with grey hair. She tapped his shoulder and took his hand, graciously given by a dark-skin woman with mint green hair who stepped aside.

"Glad you could cut in," he smirked.

"I promised I would arrive before the stroke of midnight, didn't I?"

"How did it go? I heard the guard's report about you."

"Rest assured, everything is in place," she giggled, her sultry whisper matching her dark outfit. "Did anything interesting occur in my absence?"

"Nothing much. just noticed those two..." the young man shrugged. "From what Em and I gathered, at least one of them is a member of Ironwood's elite group. A little more digging and we'll find out which one it is."

"Perfect..."

As the party continued, Pyrrha had grown bored and decided to head home. While she smiled at her classmates on her way out, she couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness in her chest when she noticed the various couples. From Esu and Scylla slow dancing with one another to Roxanne flirting with Yang, it was more than a selling point for her to head to her dorm.

The sound of crickets was a perfect contrast to the muffled music behind Pyrrha. It allowed her the opportunity to simply gaze at the broken moon. She found it just soothing enough to distract her from the itching in her brain. After an eventful dance number with her team and some casual conversation with others, she still couldn't shake off the urging thoughts swimming in her mind.

Recalling Jaunes words with a sigh, Pyrrha decided it was best to go back to her dorm.

Sounds to me like he's the type of guy you deserve to be with.

Meditating on his words, Pyrrha couldn't deny the accuracy of her leader's words. Though he wasn't the greatest of fighters, there was no denying his intelligence and wisdom, whenever he wasn't cowering or trying to act macho. She giggled at the embarrassing situations the blond found himself in, but, something was missing from her reflections. After facing off with Dr. Merlot, there was the sight of a weary Aganju that graced her mind's eye. Now, she found herself deliberating the gravity of such a claim.

If what he says is true, then that would mean...

"Aganju must've asked me before his mission!"

As if listening to her realization, Pyrrha's feet bolted for the dormitory; Maybe if she could change clothes quickly enough, she could make it to the infirmary and check on him before visiting hours concluded. With resolve, Pyrrha skipped several steps until she reached her floor. To her surprise, there he was standing outside of her room, slipping something under the door before unknowingly turning to her.

Like a deer in headlights, their bright eyes locked on one another.

For Aganju, his expression was simple enough; Anxiety from having gotten caught in the act while Pyrrha's expression was a little more difficult to decipher. Though, miraculously, her face bore no visual signs of her feelings, she could feel the fire arriving on her cheeks. This was enough to make her avert her eyes to the nearest wall if only to retrieve some semblance of focus.

Brothers... He's hot!

That was the only thing she could think of without her brain drawing a blank again. Indeed, Aganju was shirtless. Though he didn't notice the significance, Pyrrha could make out the scars that adorned his body, like misunderstood strokes on a terra canvas. Each one told a story and, to her surprise, the Invincible Girl wished to know every line. There were still minor signs of swelling around his blackened left eye as well, but she didn't feel pity or worry about his condition.

There was something else inciting within her core, something unfamiliar.

"You... look very nice..." he flashed a lopsided grin, causing Pyrrha to shuffle her feet. "I mean, red looks great on you!"

"Thank you! I'm glad that you like it," she giggled at his plight. "You should've seen it under the disco ball. Nora said is shined like diamonds under the lights."

"Yeah... I was trying to get out before the dance, but Professor Goodwitch wouldn't let me until today. I just made it back here a little under an hour ago."

Pyrrha smiled, knowing now that he was doing well enough to be released from the infirmary. Between the dance and the upcoming Vytal festival, she hoped that the fox would have recovered enough to participate. Despite his status being in question for the latter, seeing him before her would suffice.

Especially when he looks like that...

She swiftly banished those thoughts in an attempt to recover some integrity. She let Aganju explain the situation as best he could while Pyrrha listened intently. It wasn't a long story but, it was impactful as it carried a deeper comprehension of the foxes' personal feelings. She saw his disappointment. Bitterness. Despair. Even guilt managed to emerge for a moment as he concluded all that he remembered.

It was a stark contrast from the last time they had a conversation. Where he was closed off before, he appeared to be more open with her about himself. Possibly it was being kidnapped and abused. The mere idea of being in his shoes was enough to close anyone's heart, but with him, it was the opposite.

By the time he finished, Aganju could see the one thing he never wanted to see. Pity. No, she had concern for his well-being after hearing him out. Though her intentions were pure, Aganju found it difficult to shake off the irritation welling up inside of him upon noticing the girl's expression. Thankfully he remembered the headmaster's words though and pondered what to do about this awkward moment.

While he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was eating at his friend, he figured out a potential solution. Taking her hand, Aganju led Pyrrha to the battle center, much to the girl's confusion.

"Aganju!" she squeaked, acknowledging the obvious fact. He's holding my hand!

"Hold on..." he called out from within the gloom.

It took a moment, but the girl was finally able to see once more as the canine faunus appeared in front of her. She was about to inquire again about his reasoning for bringing her here but, that was halted when he charged at her. She used her honed reflexes to block the incoming elbow strike only for him to twist his body behind her own.

"What are you doing?!" she yelled at him, but her words fell on deaf ears. "You're not in any condition to do this!"

Pyrrha managed to turn her form around fast enough to block another strike from the boy, confused as to why he was suddenly attacking her. Still, this didn't mean she was going to drop her guard as she threw a kick to his midsection, grateful for the slit along the side of her gown. This forced him to leap back to avoid the blow but, he managed to grab her hand, closing the distance. That's when she noticed the reason for his sudden attack.

Aganju Umbrae had something to prove, not just to himself, but to her as well.

Long before they were accepted to Beacon Academy, Pyrrha had heard horror stories about him. Possessing a ferocity that rivaled his dual animalistic traits, he was an enigma that many refused to engage with. She never understood why, but after seeing him go after her with no restraint despite his injuries, this was a message that she slowly began to accept. With every blow blocked or countered, she began to understand more and more the truth behind the faunus warrior.

He carries more rage and agony than a hundred armies could ever hope to bear. Betrayal. Deception. Rejection.

This wasn't an act of hatred, but one of respect.

Sanctum did little to dispel the rumors of the pair, daring to keep them apart until Ozpin arrived. The Invincible Queen was being challenged in her element by The Faustian Yokai. Though she found traces of those horrendous aspects of his past, there was one thing she could manage to find; While expertly hidden, she could see the peace overwhelming each of those demons.

Aganju continued his onslaught but, after paying closer attention, Pyrrha began to notice a pattern in his movements. Anytime he attacked or defended, he always made sure to close the gap, drawing her close if the space between got too big. It was like they were dancing, but rather than a simple waltz, they were letting their fighting styles lead the way.

Eventually, Pyrrha caught on to the actions of her friend, and, using her semblance, she pulled Aganju in by his belt buckle closing the gap between them. Expecting a rough test of force, he was pleasantly astonished to find her touch to be innocuous. With a knowing grin, she swayed her body to the imaginary tune, inviting him to follow her step by step, she proceeded to get a proper dance from him.

Despite his perplexion, Aganju carefully obliged.

They remained like this as time stood still for the pair as she hummed the tune for him to heed. Somehow, he avoided tripping over his feet while swaying along with Pyrrha. Now it was his turn to feel the kiss of apprehension course all over his body. She could feel his hands trembling, yet she persisted with the lead, ensuring the vulpine that he wasn't alone in his feelings

Perhaps Jaune was right?

After a few more minutes of this, she eventually pulled away, creating just enough space to curtsy.

"This is the part where you bow."

"Oh, right...!" he hesitantly did so, earning a giggle in the process. "Sorry."

"It's quite alright. Though, if you wanted dance lessons, you could've just asked."

"Was I that obvious?"

"As noticeable as a Beowolf in the middle of the city," she giggled at his predicament. "But, I am glad that I got to share a dance with you. It was very wonderful, Ganju."

Oh, how the vulpine was glad that nobody was there to hear her use that nickname. Still, this was enough for the two to break the ice and ease whatever tension might've been among them.

"As long as you're smiling then it was worth nearly tripping over my own feet."

"About that," Pyrrha's smile slowly fell. "I want to apologize for earlier..."

"It's okay, Pyrrha. I did say that I wasn't sure how long the mission was going to take and I didn't expect to end up being asleep when I returned. So, it makes sense that you'd want to consider going out with someone else."

"No. I should've paid attention to what was in front of me instead of pining after someone else." She looked at him, noting his perplexed expression. "Jaune told me about how you wanted to ask me to the dance. I was so focused on Jaune possibly asking me out that I never considered that as a possibility, even with the circumstances."

The sadness in her voice was heartbreaking, but Aganju held it together long enough to take her hand. When she looked up, gone was the uncertainty, replaced with empathy.

"You know? I didn't make it clear that I wanted to go with you. If I'd been more direct and stopped being afraid, we both could've had a date to the dance, or at least my feelings would've been clear. I guess what I'm saying is... We're both equally at fault. Deal?"

Pyrrha just stared at the boy, slowly feeling her lip twitch upward.

"Deal."

They remained that way until the two pairs of green orbs noticed that they were still holding hands. As if a spark shocked them, they released the other only to stare at their palms. It was still too early but, it seemed that something was there. Neither was able to discern it but, the air was perfect for whatever they wanted to try. A hug? A kiss? No...

"One more dance? I think I got the hang of it now."

"Sure. I'll try not to laugh if you slip..." she snickered, causing him to roll his eyes.

Once again they locked hands. This time, Pyrrha would take the boy's hands and place them on the small of her back, prompting his tail to stick up. She simply tittered at his reaction then began to hum a tune to give them something to work with. She placed her hand around his neck and soon they both were just lost in the moment. Pyrrha leaned her head on his chest, listening to his quickening heart rate.

They swayed and shifted steadily to her tune, Aganju making sure not to step on her toes. Somehow it felt right just the way they were. Once they finished their rendition, the two friends finally breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever they were feeling, it could wait until later; all that mattered was that things were settled before they escalated into anything serious.

That didn't change the fact that something had indeed been sown between them but, only time would tell what would grow as a result. Both were attracted to each other, that much was clear. For now, Pyrrha would take a page from her teammate's book.

"Ganju?"

"Yeah, Pyrrha?"

She smiled and pressed her finger against his nose.

"Boop!"

Wiggling his nose, Aganju tried to make sense of what the gesture meant only to watch her walk past him with a knowing grin. He quickly followed calling after her down the pathway, leading to the dormitories. When they reached Pyrrha's floor, she shook her head while silently urging him to the next one, much to his bafflement. He wouldn't have time to inquire further before arriving at his room.

Still taken aback, he opened the door, ushering her inside. The room was empty, much to his delight; The last thing he wanted to deal with was Roxanne or the others teasing him about having company over, especially Pyrrha! Sure, they were only sitting on the edge of the bed laughing and talking about the upcoming event, but, deep down, the pair felt something more brewing.

They were both exhausted and sweaty from their dancing, and with Pyrrha's feet aching more than ever, she made a rather bold decision.

"Do you have an extra shirt I could borrow?"

"Hmmm? Why do you...? Oh!"

Pyrrha giggled at his slow response as he moved over to his and Esu's closet, grabbing a large T-shirt for her. She graciously took it and kissed him on the cheek before leaving for the bathroom to shower.

Hours passed by and the others soon returned to their dorms. While Team RWBY, save for Yang who was busy flirting with Roxanne, was excited to get some rest. The members of Team JNPR were surprised when Pyrrha was nowhere to be found. Her bed was perfectly made, showing that she hadn't been inside. All that greeted them was a sealed letter with her name on it.

"Maybe she's at the infirmary?" Nora tilted her head in bewilderment, yawning before plopping on top of her bed. "She did leave the dance pretty early."

"It would stand to reason. Ever since we brought him back, Pyrrha's been asking us about him."

"As long as those lovebirds are finally chirping together, I don't care what they're doing!" Roxanne grinned, punching a fist in the air.

"20 lien says they're sharing a bed right now at the infirmary!"

Turning to the redhead, Esu, Roxanne, and Yang accepted the wager before heading their separate ways for the night. It was a long night and they were all eager to get to bed.

"Thank the brothers tomorrows Saturday..." Scylla hissed wearily. "My feet are killing me."

"Agreed! I'm going to sleep like a log!" Esu chuckled, sparing a kiss to the serpent's temple. "We're still going to the Vale in the afternoon for the festival, right?"

Scylla smiled brightly beneath her lace veil, giggling softly at her partner. Though they weren't the type to be in the limelight, the reptilian faunus were more than content with playing the background role, especially when they could enjoy their relationship without dealing with rumors.

"What about you, Roxie?"

The ram faunus didn't say a word. She just stood there staring inside the room with her jaw threatening to hit the floor. When the pair arrived to see what the problem was, they were equally as shocked to find the sight before them. As if seeing their best friend out of the clinic wasn't enough, he was sound asleep. Even more shocking was the girl in their leader's arms with adoration.

They slept so peacefully, Pyrrha lying on his chest with her arms around his waist while wearing one of his shirts.

Scylla couldn't help but quietly coo at the scene. The same couldn't be said for Esu and Roxanne, both looking at the moment with disbelief and dread. The snake faunus ignored their gawking and took a picture of the adorable scene, sending it to Nora with a short message about Pyrrha's whereabouts.

"I assume we all know what this means, right?" she raised a brow at the two.

Barely mustering the strength to glance at the other, they announced in unison.

"We owe Nora 20 lien..."