Chapter Text
There are several major social milestones in the life of a human being. First day of preschool, the first day of primary school, the first day of high school and so on. However, there is arguably no greater social milestone for a young teen than the first school dance and all the questions these dances bring. Such as should you wear a tie? Jeans or slacks? While probably the biggest question that is deeply intertwined with a school dance is… Who should you go with?
This question provides an immense trial for many young teenagers and is documented in many stories throughout history. Today’s story is focused on one specific dance and two teenagers that are faced with the dreaded question for all Teenagers… how do you ask out someone you like?
“You know Ruby, you should just ask him out like he’s not going to say no to you, you’re a Ruby in his eyes.” Lying on her back is Ruby’s older sister Yang who lets out a snicker before being sent a tired look from her sister. Before she too flops down on her bed.
“Urrgh! Yang! Stop with the puns. This is serious! I need to figure out how to ask Izuku to the dance without him laughing in my face!” After Ruby finishes chastising her sister another voice emanates from the bunk bed above Ruby.
“Yes Izuku is going to laugh at you when you ask him out, that's exactly what is going to happen and so you shouldn’t even bother asking him out.” Weiss, the resident ice queen of the team, is fully willing to mock Ruby’s anxiety.
“Weiss! Your sarcasm isn’t helpful!” Blake sick of being quiet on the sidelines speaks up too.
“No Ruby, your bellyaching is definitely the way to get Izuku to go to the dance with you. Really complaining about the futility of it to us is the best path.” Ruby raises her head sending both of her teammates withering glares.
“Come on Ruby your way too worried about this. Izuku looks at you like you hung the stars in the sky. You don’t have anything to worry about.” Ruby turns her withering gaze to her traitorous sister and bounces to her feet off the bed sticking her finger in Yang’s face.
“You don’t get it, Yang. he’s teammates with Momo… have you seen him with Momo Yang? They’re disgustingly cute together Yang! I need to figure out how I can compete! This is war! I need your guyses help with this otherwise I have no chance! None! I mean like look at Momo then look at me! I cannot compete!”
Ruby jabs her finger aggressively at Yang who leans back in response. While Weiss and Blake only stare at her bored.
“If you don’t help with this Yang you’ll be dooming your adorable baby sister to a life of loneliness. I could end up a nun… or living by myself with a bunch of cats… and not cat people like Blake, like actual cats with four legs and hissing.” Ruby raises her hands and hisses, and Blake raises her hand before speaking up.
“I would like to say I resent the comparison to a cat and the insulting of cat lady lifestyle.” Ruby turns to face Blake and points her finger in Blake’s face.
“Noted Blake! But save it for later!” Ruby quickly turns back to Yang she starts speaking.
“Ok fine Ruby what do you want us to do? How can Weiss, Blake and I help you get a date with Izuku then Ruby?” Ruby continues staring at Yang with her finger outstretched, thinking deeply. The rest of her team continue staring waiting for Ruby to answer.
“You know Yang? I didn't actually think I’d get this far.” in response to this lacklustre reply Weiss jumps off her bed pinching the bridge of her nose.
“So let me get this right. What you’re saying is that you were adamant and one hundred per cent sure you need our help but you don’t actually know how we could help you?” Ruby deflates as Weiss critiques her.
“Y-Yeah well, I admit, that I was kind of expecting you guys to have experience with this sort of thing. Cause you’re all older than me so I dunno I was expecting some team support for the leader here!” Ruby crosses her arms and looks to the side. “But fine then if you guys are just gonna mock me I’m gonna go get Pyrrha and Jaune to help me try and woo Izuku. I’m sure they’ll be perfectly willing to help me.” Ruby starts to leave the room in search of Jaune and Pyrrha before Yang speaks up.
“Wait wait don’t go to vomit Boy for help Ruby. I’m sure” Yang looks at Weiss and Blake both looking exasperated. “That the three of us can help you better than Vomit Boy and Pyrrha.” Ruby Drops to her knees crawling over to Yang.
“Oh, Brothers thank you thank you thank you!!! I am so glad you called my bluff Pyrrha and Jaune would be even more useless now they're all goo-goo eyes at each other.” Blake finally decides to jump off her bed and engage properly in the conversation.
“Ok Ruby, listen since I'm fairly sure I have the most experience with dating out of the four of us so I am going to give you the key to my success.” turning to face her bed Blake begins digging around her bag, “what I am talking about Ruby, will provide you with an in-depth guide for every single possible scenario that could come up in your attempts to sedu-” Yang interrupts Blake not liking where the conversation is going.
“Um Blake I don’t think Ruby is loo-” Blake finally finds what she's looking for before rushing towards Yang placing her pointer finger against her lips.
“Shhhh Yang let me talk. Just trust me I know what we’re doing.” removing her finger Blake turns to face Ruby, “now Ruby, see this book right here?” lifting her hands Blake thrusts the book in Ruby’s face displaying the pages inside “you see it, Ruby?” Ruby responds however her voice is muffled by the book in her face.
“Mphes mph Mphee mphit.” pulling the book back slightly Blake lets a small frown cover her face.
“This book Ruby holds all the secrets you need to know to get Izuku to go to the dance with you… And beyond…” Now in this room, there are three very different girls with very different reactions to what Blake just said. Yang well, even though she's spent the last month trying to work up the courage to ask Blake out, is about to punch her for what she is seeing as corrupting her baby sister.
Weiss in a similar but different vein is utterly scandalized by Blake's completely unrepentant discussion of… copulation. And is seriously considering reporting her to Ozpin for such blatant disregard for the sanctity of education. But before we get to what Ruby is thinking you might be wondering what in Oum’s name was Blake thinking telling Ruby how to make a man want to have sex with her in front of her big sister.
But the truth dear readers is rather simple, Blake is lonely and is trying to snap up what she sees as an opportunity to get someone else to read what she does. So she can bond and spend time discussing the books she loves with someone else. Why what she was saying didn't even cross her mind until she noticed how Yang was glaring at her.
But we all know that the most important reaction is Ruby’s, as she is the heroine of this adventure we find ourselves on. Ruby’s first thought of beyond was of course marriage, 3 children, two girls and one boy each with a mix of red and green hair. Which of course shut down RUBY.exe and resulted in Ruby being oblivious to the outside world for at least five minutes… Just long enough for Yang to impress the importance of not convincing Ruby to sleep with men in front of her sister. Finally just as Yang moves to take the Book back from the comatose Ruby she reawakens with frantic energy flipping through the pages of the book at rapid speeds.
“ ThisbookcouldgetmekidsandahousewithizukuaswellasmakehimaakmetothedanceohBrothersohBrothersohBrothersohBrothers. oh Brothers. Oh, Brothers!” stopping her frantic flipping Ruby looks up at Blake, “this won’t help me, Blake! This is filth! FILTH!!!” Ruby jumps to Blake and slaps her in the face with the book knocking her to the floor.
“Eeeeh can I have my book back then?” jumping back to where she was Ruby continues talking.
“No as Team Leader I have a responsibility to my team to protect them from filth like this… and so I am keeping it…” Ruby looks like the side shyly as she says this leading Weiss and Yang to both decide they want no further part in this conversation Blake however wants her book back.
“What no you can’t do that Ruby tha-” too bad for Blake though cause Yang doesn't want to hear any more about her sister and copulation.
“That is enough of that! Forget about the book Blake it’s irrelevant. Now Ruby what you’re going to do is just walk up to Izuku. That’s it nothing difficult just walk up to Izuku and make some conversation. So the two of you will just be walking and talking like you normally do until… wham pow you break out your puppy eyes and ask him to go to the dance with you. It's quick simple and easy, perfect for you right Ruby?”
“You know how loathe I am to agree with your sister Ruby but she is right here. Just keep it simple and ask him. Anything too extravagant will freak the two of you out and any subtle attempts will go over his head.” Weiss rolls her eyes pretending to not care but her body language says otherwise.
“Ok Alright. Ok alright, I can do this I can do this. I can ask Izuku to the dance. Whoo! Let’s go” with that exclamation Ruby dashes out of Team RWBY’s dorm to search for Izuku.
“Well,d I think we navigated that successfully team. Now we just have to wait for the two of them to go to the dance together and we’ll never have to worry about Ruby’s romantic breakdowns over Izuku.” Blake and Yang both turn around to face Weiss glaring at her.
“What do you mean we Weiss? You sat back and mocked us the entire time. You did nothing! Blake’s,” Yang visibly shudders at the thought of Blake’s book. “Book did more than you and all that did is try to corrupt Ruby!” Weiss just crosses her arms and glares defiantly.
“Well, whatever I had faith in my leader’s ability to woo a man so disgustingly in love with her that I may or may not have overhead stressing over asking Ruby to the da-” it was at this point Ruby dashes back into the room in a burst of petals and tears crashing into her bed
“I was right! He did want to ask out Momo!” Ruby wipes at her nose before continuing, “I knew I couldn’t compete -sniff- not with Momo…” Blake, Yang and Weiss all look at each other confused. Weiss slowly approaches Ruby caution in every step.
“Izuku asked Momo out… As in asked her to the dance? You’re sure Ruby?” Ruby lifts her head and responds through her tears her voice barely audible.
“yes, I’m sure. I saw it. izuku was all stuttery and anxious and cute, then he asked momo to the dance and she agreed of course who wouldn’t.” Ruby’s teammates look at each other all doubting whether everyone would say yes to Izuku but Ruby just keeps talking, “I didn’t expect feeling empty -sniff-. Anyway, so what homework does everyone have? We should get that done.” Yang goes over to her bag and starts rummaging through it looking for something while Ruby slaps a smile on her face that doesn’t reach the eyes.
Blake notices Yang’s rummaging and cautiously questions her, “Yang? What are you doing?” Yang looks up with a smirk before continuing to rummage which drags Weiss’s attention to her as well…
“Well, Blake I’m looking for my duct tape, my bag of duck feathers, and my jar of tar.” Yang’s reply causes visible disgust in Blake and Weiss while Ruby just continues crying in the background.
“Why do you need those Yang?” Yang jumps to her feet the previously mentioned items in her hands.
“Well, it looks like somebody needs to learn why they shouldn’t get my sister’s hopes up and then make her cry. It’ll be fun.” both Weiss and Blake are aghast in response to Yang’s vicious smile. Both move to begin speaking but are cut off by Ruby starting to sing actively ignoring everyone else in the room.
“♪Come on team RWBY let’s do our homework. Come on team RWBY let’s do our homework. Come on team RWBY let’s do our homework. Come on team RWBY let’s do our homework♪”
“Oh no, she's singing. The last time she covered up the pain by singing like this was when mom died. Izuku is going to pay…” Yang drops what she was previously holding and slams her fists together. “Big time.” Blake and Weiss look at each other, then at Ruby sitting on her bed singing to herself before finally sighing.
“Ok, then what are we doing to Izuku?” Blake’s resignation bleeds through but Yang ignores it as a wild grin splits her face.
“Well you see Blake what we’re going to do is- -KNOCK-” Yang’s scheming is interrupted by a loud knock at the door of their dorm. Each teenager stares at the door as if daring it to interrupt them again, and it doesn't take long for whoever is behind the door to knock again preventing the teens from continuing to scheme.
“Huh, I wonder who that is.” Weiss is the first to speak but no one moves to answer the door. Whoever is at the door continues to knock while Weiss, Blake and Yang just look at each other and then over to Ruby.
“I don’t think we should let whoever it is in while Ruby is…” Blake gestures to Ruby while continuing to talk, “like that.” Yang walks over to the door while speaking to her teammates.
“Well, we should at least see who it is don’t you think?” without waiting for a response from her two teammates behind her Yang yanks the door open. “Well hello, there Izuku.” standing there in the doorway is the object of Ruby’s affection, one Izuku Midoriya. Shaking in response to the look that Yang is giving him.
“Uhh… H-Hi Y-Yang. um. I was uhh just um looking for Ruby. is she uh here by-.” Izuku stops himself when he hears Ruby singing in the background. “Is that Ruby singing? Is she okay? Did something happen?” in response to Izuku's questioning Yang just crosses her arms and glares at Izuku.
“In times of extreme emotional duress for Ruby she has a habit of singing to cheer herself up heartbreak seems to qualify as extreme emotional duress.” Yang ignores how much Izuku deflates, writing it off as the beginning of a righteous vengeance she will subject him to.
“O-Oh uh what happened is she ok can I see her?” Izuku tries to lean around Yang and see into the dorm but Yang moves with him blocking his view and staring blankly.
"No sorry Izuku she doesn't want to see anyone right now. she's suffering from extreme emotional duress. I'm sure you know how devastating finding out who you're crushing on likes someone else." Izuku's whole body slackens and he just stands limply in front of Yang.
"Oh, ok then," Izuku speaks in a flat monotone as if all emotion had been sucked out.
Yang just looks at Izuku with a blank expression. “Yep.”
“Oh ok well I guess I’ll just go then. Um, see you later Yang. oh uh also tell Ruby I said hi.” Izuku turns around and just slowly shuffles down the corridor away from Team RWBY’s dorm. Yang closed the door behind him holding back the urge to attack, waiting for the perfect moment.
“Huh, that was weird.” Blake and Weiss both stare at Yang confused by what she said before Blake questions her about it.
“What Yang, that you let Izuku walk away without tarring and feathering him?” Yang shakes her head before replying.
“No not that, I’m not ready for that yet. I haven’t had the necessary time to set that up. No, it’s just that Izuku seemed weirdly down in the dumps for some reason, especially if he just asked Momo to the dance. Meh doesn’t matter.” Shrugging Yang jumps onto Ruby’s bed causing the younger sister to yelp out in shock.
“AAAH! YANG!” Ruby pouts while Yang only leans forward with a grin on her face.
“Ok Ruby here’s what you are going to do, first you are going to completely ignore Izuku until the dance.”
“Whu but Yang I can’t ignore Izuku even if he is going to the dance with Momo instead of me, we’re still besties better than the res-” Yang just wags her finger in Ruby’s face.
“Bup bup bup! No Ruby, the plan is, first you're gonna ignore him to make him realise how important your presence is to his daily activities.” Ruby pouts at Yang but nods in understanding.
“Where is she going with this Blake?”
“I don’t know Weiss but it’s interesting.” Yang turns to face Blake and Weiss before speaking.
“No comments from the Peanut gallery, please. Anyway, Ruby first you need to make Izuku miss you, and then you are going to show up to the dance looking amazing to knock the socks off of Momo and Izuku. Making sure he sees exactly what he missed out on.” Blake and Weiss both give a polite clap to Yang's plan while Ruby contemplates it in silence.
“I dunno Yang, it seems a little mean. Like I can’t force Izuku to like me if he likes Momo. Momo is my friend too and if they like each other. As much as it hurts me I can’t get in between them. It’s not right and I refuse to do it.” Ruby finally stands up, crossing her arms, closing her eyes and turning her head to the side.
“Fine then Ruby we’ll do this the hard way. Hey Weiss-cream, tell Ruby what you were telling us earlier.” Weiss looks up at Yang, shock filling her gaze.
“O-O-Oh well you uh see Ruby I overhead Izuku and Momo talking about asking you to the dance the other day. That's why we were confused when you said he'd asked Momo.” Ruby’s face drops again.
“You guys don’t need to lie to me. I am perfectly… fine. I’m fine with Izuku going to the dance with someone else.” Ruby ignores the involuntary sniffles she is suffering from to stare defiantly at her team members.
Weiss’s face goes red in response to Ruby’s statement. “How dare you accuse me of lying Ruby! That I would lower myself to lying about reciprocal affection for you! I neither have the time nor the interest in the banality of your life to care about this.” Blake and Yang turn to face Weiss, shock covering their features at Weiss’s outburst, while Ruby stares at her before storming out of the room leaving her teammates standing by themselves silently in the room.
“Well, that went well,” Blake speaks up disrupting the silence while also drawing the ire of Yang.
“Shut up Blake”
Walking through one of Beacon’s many hallways muttering to herself is Ruby Rose. she isn’t looking for anywhere or anyone, in particular, she’s just wandering the school frustrated at her teammates… and other things.
Eventually Ruby comes to a courtyard where she finally sits down and rests her legs after wandering the school for ages. “Stupid Yang and Weiss thinking they need to lie to me about Izuku practising asking me out. Stupid I can handle it.” muttering to herself Ruby misses the two other teenagers sitting on the bench behind her.
“Oh, Hiya Ruby how are You?”
“Good day Ruby.”
Sitting on the bench behind Ruby are the teammates of the source of her Ire, Jaune Arc and Pyrrha Nikos. Ruby turns to face them before responding in a monotone.
“Oh hi Jaune, Hi Pyrrha. How are you two going? Good? That’s great you keep doing that.” Ruby turns back around facing away from Pyrrha and Jaune.
Pyrrha and Jaune turn to face each other, confusion marring their features. The two have a silent discussion to see if either understood what was wrong with Ruby, establishing neither did know Jaune decides to speak up.
“So Ruby, are ya looking forward to the dance?” At the mere mention of the dance Ruby’s glum expression became even more distressed, shocking both Pyrrha and Jaune into a stupor neither knowing what has their friend so glum. Looking at each other and each seeing that the other is also confused silence falls over the three teens.
Eventually, however, Pyrrha, the brave warrior woman that she is, decides to stride forward and get to the bottom of what is distressing her friend. “Ruby, have you perhaps talked to Izuku recently?” Ruby’s response to Pyrrha’s question is to uncharacteristically pout in silence while Jaune has an epiphany.
“Ooooh was he doing that today?” Jaune looks to Pyrrha while asking his question who just nods in response, causing Jaune to excitedly turn back towards Ruby who continued to ignore the two other teens, “ooh ooh so what’d you say Ruby? Did you say yes? I always expected you to say yes. Wait but if you said yes you wouldn’t be out here upset.” Jaune confused looks to Pyrrha for help.
“Ruby? Has Izuku talked to you today?” Pyrrha’s final question finally prompts a response from Ruby but not one Jaune or Pyrrha were expecting.
In a flat drone, Ruby finally responds. “No Izuku hasn’t talked to me, he hasn't had the chance because he was too busy asking Momo to the dance.” Pyrrha and Jaune’s jaws both drop in response to Ruby, they look at each other flabbergasted incapable of even visualising what Ruby just said.
The two respond in total sync confusion still marring their features. “W-W-Wait you’re saying Izuku asked Momo to the dance?!?! That can’t be right. Ruby?!?” the two teens turn to Ruby in search of an answer from the other teen.
“Yep, Izuku asked Momo like I knew he would” Ruby folds in on herself crossing her arms over her legs with a frown, “Shouldn’t have let everyone get my hopes up.” Jaune is shocked into silence by the answer not knowing what to say. Pyrrha however speaks up in his place.
“So did Izuku tell you he asked Momo out? Or did Momo? Because even if Izuku asked someone else to the dance you are still his best friend aren’t you Ruby? and he would have told you.” Pyrrha had hoped this question would raise Ruby’s spirits but it seems to have the opposite effect causing her to somehow droop even more than she was.
“I thought I was but wouldn’t be the first thing I was wrong about today.” however this is the line for Pyrrha.
“Ruby Rose are you being serious now?!? First of all, how could you even consider that Izuku has romantic feelings for anyone other than you, he looks at you like you hung the sun itself and everything he talks about is ‘Ruby this, Ruby that’ and if he did ask Momo as you say it would’ve been because he thought you had no interest in him.” Ruby looks wide-eyed and confused at Pyrrha wondering what she means, Pyrrha is then cut off by Jaune starting up his own impassioned speech.
“Ruby for Brother's sakes he’s been working himself up to ask you out for months now! Momo last time we saw her was helping him put the last touches on how he was going to ask you. That is probably what you saw and then you jumped to conclusions after overhearing half a conversation! and anyway, Momo isn’t even into dudes!” Jaune finishes his impassioned speech with both women staring confused.
After a full minute of the two teen girls staring confusedly at Jaune, Pyrrha speaks up, “Momo is a lesbian?” Ruby nods along just as curious as Pyrrha about Momo’s sexuality. Jaune looks at the two his jaw slack.
“Huh, you guys didn’t know? Like why do you think she’s always staring at Cinder?” Realisation dawns on Pyrrha and Ruby’s faces, both teens letting out sighs of realisation.
“Wait does Izuku know?” Ruby frantically grabs Jaune by his collar noses almost touching.
“Well yeah, that’s what I’m trying to tell you they’ve been psyching each other up for months and today was gonna be the day they both finally did it. Izuku was gonna ask you and Momo was asking Cinder.” Ruby groans her entire body slackening in response to Jaune’s comments. She quickly realises something however as she jumps to her feet.
“Oh my gosh! I am such a doofus. I have to find Izuku then, I’ve been avoiding him all day. He’ll think I hate him oh Brothers I have to fix this! okseeyoutwolaterbye.” Ruby dashes off using her semblance leaving a storm of petals in her wake, all so she can hunt through Beacon for Izuku leaving Pyrrha and Jaune by themselves.
Pyrrha side-eyes Jaune and crosses her arms, “so why did Momo tell you she was a lesbian? Why didn’t Momo feel comfortable telling me?” Jaune rubs the back of his head awkwardly before responding.
“Well uh, she thinks you're hot and out of her league.” Jaune looks at his feet and mumbles under his breath.
“Whu-whu-what!?!” in response to Jaune repeating Momo’s words, Pyrrha’s face explodes into crimson.
“Yeah she uh actually told me that if I hurt you’d, first she’d break me and then um I don’t really want to repeat what she said.” somehow Pyrrha’s blush intensifies even further, her mind clearly coming up with possibilities for what she said.
“Oh um ok then.” Pyrrha’s face stays crimson and the tips of her ears even turn crimson as well.
“Can we um maybe not bring this up again Pyrrha?” Jaune rubs the back of his neck while Pyrrha tries to speak but finds herself only able to let out a squeak, resulting in Pyrrha just nodding her agreement.