~First Person~
Dammit! How could I forget!? The Dance is just in a couple of hours and I NEED to find something to wear! Wait! I can call Coco...! Who's on a mission! Shit! Pacing around my dorm, I frantically tried to think of something to wear to the Dance. Yet everything seemed like a poor choice or just plain ole poor! Damn me and my military sense of fashion!
"PILOT, I SENSE YOU ARE-"
"In great distress! I could have had more time but I decided to play merry-go-round with that fucking Deathstalker!"
"IN ALL FAIRNESS, YOU ENJOYED IT. ENJOYMENT IN A JOB OR PROFESSION CAN LEAD TO INCREASE IN EFFICIENCY."
This ain't the same thing! With Coco on her mission, I only have one remote option left! And I know its a good option because Ruby sent me a message earlier saying Yang was picking out a dress for her. Even requesting I come save her yet, I was too busy fighting Grimm. Grabbing my scroll of my desk, I flicked it open before looking for Yang's contact info. And finding her? I immediately pressed down on the call option as I waited impatiently. I say impatiently but, she picked up almost a second later.
"Hello~-!"
"Does it take you half an hour to respond!?"
"Ah!"
Hearing Yang yelp out, I couldn't help but growl out as I practically kicked my door open as I began to run through the hall. Making my way to Team RWBY's dorm, I twisted the door handle and flung it open as I saw Yang standing in the middle of the room with her dress already on. She looked amazing but, there was a bigger issue at hand.
"What the-!?"
"Yang! Not the time for your antics!"
Dashing in, I grabbed her hand and began to haul her away as she yelped out but, I could swear I heard Ruby call out for her sister back at the room. Only to be followed by a "I'm free!"
It wasn't long until I got Vale with Yang in tow as I skid to a stop in front of that store that Coco had taken me to against my will...Huh. The irony. And speaking of irony, I soon felt Yang grab my shoulder and turn me to face her before-
"GWAK!"
Yeah! That was a headbutt! Now on the ground, I rolled in circles around Yang as she growled and barked out to me.
"Are you crazy!? You could have just told me yet, we ran all the way down here with you dragging me in my heels, you moron!"
"I need to find something to wear for the dance!"
"All this for a dance attire!?"
Stopping me with her foot, she picked me up onto my feet before grasping the sides of my face with a growl. However, she soon stopped with a pissed sigh as she walked on into the store while grumbling under her a voice.
"Hurry up before Ruby goes off the grid!"
"A-Aye Aye!"
Sprinting on in after her, I was greeted by the same view of the same store as expected yet, their clothing options had...jumped in terms of regality. Numerous tuxedoes, dresses, high end boots, all expected to have been chosen out for the fact Beacon was having its Dance in just a couple of hours. Not to mention, the students already being there to finish up paying...all guys mind you.
"Huh...Guess you aren't the only one."
"Gee, thanks...Let's just hurry up! Coco said my style is more casual but, not 'Vacuo Casual.' Her words, not mine."
"Hm...Then we aren't going to find that here."
Grabbing my hand, it was a twisted revenge plot when she hauled me out the door as I let out a yelp. Dragging me down the street with a few turns here and there, she was practically making me a human kite! I even had to use my jump-kit a few times to stabilize myself.
Before this nightmare could go on anymore, Yang suddenly came to stop as I crashed into her from behind. My legs go to her sides as I looked up to see...
"'From Dust Till Dawn?' You took me to an armament store for clothing!? For a dance!?"
Stating my clear displeasure for her choice in shop, Yang would let out a loud laugh that honestly shook me a bit to the core. However, she then walked on in without thought as I sighed and followed after her. Immediately upon entry, we were greeted by the Shopkeeper old man who was probably related to Port due to his constant closed eye expression.
Making eye contact with Yang, he went to say something but, Yang would just hold a hand up as he stopped. Nodding to him and him nodding back with a small grunt, there seemed to be some mutual understanding as he walked over to a set of Dust dispensers. Note to self that I need to buy some dust for my experiment...
Experiment aside-
"Holy hell!"
Watching the old man smack one of the tubes, a click would ring out as as the wall suddenly split at the sides before turning it a good ninety degrees to reveal a backroom with all kinds of articles of clothing. Yet all had the same type of style...Casual. From button ups to tank tops, khakis to cargo shorts, this was a hipster or beach bum who happens to be an undercover's paradise! Standing aside with a grin, the man would give way to Yang as she led me into the backroom to look at all the hangers as the Shopkeeper stood by with a pole arm in case we need to reach something on the higher racks.
"Hmm...Let's see here...Coco has a pretty refined definition of 'casual' so she probably meant something like this!"
I would watch her dash around the room and past me a few times as I yelped out. Seeking refuge in the door way of the room as she went on for a solid thirty second. Hell, I even heard her approve or disapprove of clothing sets before finally skidding to a halt in front of me. Her hair was a met as she yelped out and patted it down flat until her little curl usually atop of her head sprang up. Smiling and content with her hair now being back to normal, she would shove the clothes into my arms as I let out a small "oomf!"
"There! Now you are ready!"
"Don't you think I should try this on?"
"Are you doubting my clothing expertise?"
"N-No ma'am!"
Yang suddenly gained a dark aura as her eyes were shadowed over yet, they also glowed a crimson red that caused a menacing aura. Making me shiver and instantly react as Yang then perked up with a large smile.
"Perfect! Now let's go!"
Yang then burst off in a sprint out the store as I yelped out before whipping my head to the Shopkeeper.
"Look! I ain't no thief! How much!?"
"Mm-mm."
Shaking his head was enough for me to notice that he owed Yang a favor so, he would let me take the outfit for free...How I got that from just two hums? I have no fucking clue yet, I would give him a small salute before bursting off after Yang.
Now in a Bullhead, Yang and I sat opposite to one another as the bundle of clothing sat in a chair next to me. We were the only ones on board since I know Yang wanted to not make my face public. Allowing me to have my helmet on my lap as I sighed out in relief.
"Thanks, Blondie..."
"It's no issue! But...do you really plan on going to the Dance?"
"I...don't know..."
Even though I promised Cinder I would give her my first dance, I still had a small set of doubt in me. One that stemmed from the fact I was in, what I've come to know as, my suit and tie. My flight-suit and gear...
"Oh...Ruby...really takes a liking to you. She always says how cool you are and how you show your care in subtle ways. From how you joke to how you walk next to her as if guarding her...she's come to know you almost like her big brother..."
That's...true. I've come to see her as a little sister too. Hell, even our banter hangs on the border of fulling on sibling war. This made me chuckle softly enough that Yang perked up yet, I soon remembered something. Something that...was my driving force for Ruby...I couldn't help but frown a bit...
"Back...Back when I was in the IMC as a Cadet Pilot...I met this girl who was just a year younger than me..."
I now began to fiddle with my helmet as I scratched at the IMC logo hidden under the paint-job I used. Revealing a bit more of the glossy red coloring of the M in IMC...
"I bowed to defend her...To keep her safe yet..."
~Two Years Ago...~
Fuck! Where is she!? She said she'd meet me here! I was currently ducked behind a large crater as Athena stood not to far away. She was keeping watch of a road that led down to that crate and a maintenance tunnel. One that was flooded with burgundy toxic sludge from the power converter of the base. In my hand, I shakily held my RE-45 as I was on a mission...Leave the Base. Leave the IMC...However, I soon saw a grate fall flat nearby as I whipped my aim towards it. That's when she hopped down from a large vent that was a source of the grate. She had a raven set of short hair and her skin complexion was pretty pale. Her eyes were a nice pleasant shade of hazel green and she wore her regular maroon red IMC Pilot attire minus the gear.
Spotting me as I spotted her, we met half-way as I smiled and almost tackled her in a hug yet, I kept my cool. Instead, just grabbing her hand but, I soon noticed something. She didn't have her Titan's Data-Core...She didn't have a smile on her face like I did...
"I...Where's-?"
"I can't go..."
"Li-Little Red?"
"I-I can't! I'm sorry but, I can't! I'm scared of what the IMC would do if they found out I was run away with you!"
Hearing this...I felt my heart split in half as my smile turned into a heavy frown. My head felt heavy as my vision sort of blurred...
"R-Red, we've been planning this for a year, we can leave! Join somebody else or just leave this life! I made that promise-!"
"I know! But...I-I'm not strong enough...Aniki...Please just, go..."
I then saw tears streaming down her face as I swear I heard a snap somewhere...Blinking away the blurry effect in my eyes, I let go of Red's hand as she stepped back.
"I...can't force you.."
"Aniki...Please, be careful out there..."
Offering me a smile, I couldn't smile in return as I turned and ran off to meet Athena half-way as she extended out her hand. Hopping onto it, I then climbed into her cockpit as I faced Red one last time before Athena began to run down the tunnel...I was leaving Red behind...
~Present~
"I...I had to leave her...is what I told myself...I had no option...Yet, I was lying to myself...I felt as though I let her down by not fighting to get her to come with me...Whenever I look at Ruby, I see her little smile and glee when she spots me and I think...I think real hard...'Is this Red in another life? Maybe even happy...?"
Yang had made her way to my side and sat next to me as she wrapped an arm around me. My hand now just outlining my helmet's curves...
"It was her choice...Like you said, you couldn't force her. Her situation might have been different so, I can assume she stayed to protect her family...You're a great guy and an even better Big Brother figure...That's why I stopped trying to get with you! Because I saw you almost like myself. Protecting Ruby. Like a sibling."
Now hugging me, I couldn't help but smile as I placed my hand over Yang's arm before the Bullhead landed at Beacon. She was the first to stand up and leave the Bullhead as I slipped my helmet on. Grabbing the clothes we had "bought." Yet, she stopped and turned with a large smile.
"I think Ruby would be super happy to see you there! I know I would!"
Watching her walk off, I smiled before looking at the bundle of clothing in my hands. Shirt, pants, boots and even socks...I trust you, Yang...
...
...
Is this a tie?