Dance,Dance Interruption.

Leave a review please, hope you enjoy (sorry for the shortness) more to come on Friday!

The ward, Friday afternoon.

The following morning progressed much the same as the previous days of confinement, but with one key difference; Cardin was walking. Albeit with Velvets hands firmly pressed against his shoulders, but Cardin didn't care; he was standing on his own two feet again. Each attempt he made progress. Each step he stood a little straighter. Each effort he made pushed him further across the room before collapsing. Velvet kept insisting he took longer rest breaks but Cardin wouldn't listen. He was so relieved that the surgery had been a success and his body hadn't rejected the spinal implants.

Every time he asked for Velvet to help him walk she couldn't help but cave in. She wanted him to rest but she also wanted to help Cardin, plus a small part of her craved physical contact with the tall, muscular first year, though at this stage she was unlikely to admit it. It was strange, Velvet mused, less than a week ago Cardin wouldn't have spoken to me civilly. Now we grow closer every hour, eroding down the barriers between us. I'm starting to think he likes me and I know deep down I've grown fond of him too. She looked over at Cardin who slumped in an armchair, trying to reign in his breathing after his latest attempt at walking. It was now 17:45 and professor Peach was due any moment. Cardin couldn't wait to show him the progress he'd made.

Right on cue a jaunty whistle warbled down the hallway, accompanied by the irregular tapping sounds of Peach's shoes and Cane. As the professor entered the room, the crescendo of the tune died in his throat as he bore witness to an unexpected sight. In front of him Cardin stood unaided, Velvet by his side eyeing him warily for the slightest sign of Cardin falling, ready to catch him at a moment's notice. Peach clapped his hands together in excitement, a beaming grin on his face as he took in the pleasant surprise. "Couldn't wait for me, huh?" He tried to inject a little venom into his voice like Glynda would have (after all the boy had ignored medical advice), but he couldn't be anything but happy for the young team leader. Cardin slapped a smug grin on his face and puffed out his chest with pride. "I bet you've been helping him." Peach added, pointing an accusatory finger at Velvet.

Her eyes widened as she attempted to form a lie "um... No I -I -I." She stammered meekly.

Peach rolled his eyes, "relax! You aren't in trouble..." Velvet breathed a sigh of relief. Cardin lurched suddenly to the side and Velvets arm shot out instinctively. Her fingers interlocked with his as she steadied him. "...Besides" Peach continued. "It's really kinda cute" he said pointing casually at the students hand holding with a smirk on his face. Both students let go suddenly and stepped away from each other, blushing furiously. Peach laughed at the display of embarrassment as both students took their seats. The professor clapped his hands together as he remembered the purpose of his visit. "Ah!" He exclaimed suddenly, startling both students. "I just remembered why I came to visit... Beyond teasing you two lovebirds, of course." Peach didn't think it was possible but somehow both students cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red. The professor cackled as he sat down opposite the unlikely couple. "Anyway, good news for both of you. Velvet, I'll give you a final once over tomorrow afternoon and if everything checks out you'll be discharged."

The second year's reaction puzzled the professor. At first Velvet smiled but then a forlorn look settled in her gaze as she turned to regard Cardin. The boy was oblivious to her expression and cheerily congratulated her on her recovery (or escape, as he called it). Within a few seconds Peach put two and two together, realizing that Velvet didn't want her time alone with Cardin to be over just yet. I can bend the rules just a little can't I?... "But you'll have to come back each evening for a quick check up, shouldn't take more than ten minutes." He added hastily, following his sudden realization. Velvet's eyes lit up with joy at the news.

"So what's my good news professor?" Cardin asked hopefully as he and Velvet sat down.

"Oh just call me Jamie." Peach replied with a dismissive and effeminate wave. "Seeing your current progress, I'm expecting to be able to discharge you in three days. Providing there are no surprises, you should be back to fighting fitness by the end of the week."

"Just in time for the mission" Cardin beamed.

"Yeah, normally I'd be worried about letting Professor Port take you both out on a Grimm hunt so soon after your recovery. But since I know you'll have each others' backs every step of the way I finally gave Peter my consent... Just don't prove me wrong ok? Be careful." Jamie said with fatherly concern.

"We will" both students replied in unison.

Peach nodded appreciatively and called the catering staff on his scroll. The trio passed the time with idle chit chat until the food arrived. Today the meal consisted of an array of steamed vegetables accompanied by a lean pork steak. Jamie and the catering staff soon left, leaving the students to enjoy their meal in each other's company.

Cardin was relieved to find the water cool instead of tepid for once. "So..." He began, "...bet you're looking forward to freedom?" He broached, glancing at the gorgeous faunus sat across the table from him.

Velvet looked up from her meal and smirked, shaking her head as she swallowed her mouthful of food. "While it's true I won't miss my spell in captivity... I'll miss hanging around with a friend instead of going to class." Her cheeks tinged pink at the admission (which Cardin secretly found adorable).

"You'll still see me when you come back for your check-ups" he soothed, half smirking. The smirk was replaced with a look of pure sincerity "I'll miss spending time with a kind friend too..." He tailed off and looked back down to his food as he felt his cheeks grow hot.

The pair ate the rest of their meal in silence, enjoying both the food and each other's company. After around ten minutes Velvet hopped nimbly to her feet. "Cardin, can I use your scroll, please?" (Velvet hadn't bothered to ask a teammate to retrieve her own from the dormitory).

"Batteries dead, I forgot to ask Russ to bring up my charger." Cardin admitted sheepishly, holding up the scroll and tapping at the screen. A small red light flashed in the top left corner, denoting that the scroll was indeed out of charge.

"Lucky for you I can help with that" Velvet announced proudly, she held out her hand for Cardin's scroll. He raised a skeptical eyebrow before handing it over. Velvet gently cupped her left hand around the back of the scroll and raised the index finger of her right hand to the charging port. A small blue arc of electricity leapt from her fingertip and into the scroll. It emitted a series of soft beeps before finishing with a soft ding. The electrical current emitted by Velvet's finger fizzled out. "Fully charged" she declared cheerily as the screen flashed white and the scrolls display lit up.

Cardin leaned forward in his seat, his mouth agape in disbelief. "That's awesome!" He exclaimed. "Where did you learn to do that?"

"My sister and I used to camp out in the backyard at weekends. We had a big tent, a stupid amount of junk food and a wireless speaker." She smiled as she recollected the fond memory. "The speaker had great sound quality but the battery life was terrible, used to put a real dampener on our dancing when it shut off. After a year or so of combat school, I figured out my semblance was electrokinesis and my sister suggested I use it to power the speaker."

"So you recharged it just like that?"

"Not exactly... It was early on in my combat teaching and I didn't really have full control of my semblance... It exploded."

Cardin chuckled and Velvet smiled, feeling the heat creep up her neck as a blush broke out onto her cheeks. "So how long did it take for you to learn enough finesse to charge things?"

"Wasn't so much a question of time, more a matter of practice... Three more speakers and one extremely pissed off sister to be precise." Cardin erupted into laughter again, this time Velvet joined him. She looked down at the scroll in her hands and began tapping away. A few seconds later some soft ballroom music flowed from the scrolls integrated speaker as she placed it down on the table and rose to her feet, stepping slowly around to Cardin's side.

"What's the music for?" He asked.

"Well... Remember last night I said I'd have you dancing before too long?..."

"Yeah?"

"Well I think now is that time" she answered shyly, her face a mask of patient confidence, totally at odds with her heart hammering away in her chest. Velvet leaned forward and held out her right hand to Cardin.

Cardin took Velvets hand and rose to his feet, his gaze never leaving his partners eyes. He was doing his best not to look any further down, because being stood this close to the shorter Faunus girl meant he could see straight down her tank top. He was doing pretty well at not looking down as the pair stepped away from the table to give themselves room to dance. That was until Velvet unexpectedly placed her left hand atop Cardin's right, her soft palm grazing against his hard knuckles as she gently guided the hand just above her waist. She then ran her hand up Cardin's arm with agonising slowness, caressing his bicep as her hand finally rested on his right shoulder.

Velvet looked up with a wry smile as Cardin blushed furiously and alternated between staring at the floor between them and her alluring brown eyes. "It's ok Cardin, this is just how dancers hold each other" Velvet whispered coyly.

"I- it's just I-I've never danced with a girl before." He stammered in reply.

"I've only danced with one boy before so I'm not much more experienced you know." Velvet admitted.

A moments silence was followed by a new piece of music warbling from the somewhat tinny sounding speaker on Cardin's scroll, because Velvet had selected a playlist. He breathed out deeply, gathering his wits, "ok I'm ready."

"It's really easy. Just step in time with me, I'll guide you." Cardin nodded silently. "Step" Velvet instructed, applying gentle pressure with both her hands to pull him in the right direction. "Step, step, step. Bigger steps."

"Sorry Bunny" Cardin replied as he redoubled his efforts.

"It's ok, you're doing fine. And step, step, step step. See? You're doing it!" Velvet exclaimed. Her dance partner smiled upon hearing the praise but didn't dare to look up and break his concentration. Velvet pressed her body lightly against his "stop watching your feet, feel the rhythm of the music, you can do it." Cardin somehow managed to blush more deeply as his view of the ground was eclipsed by Velvets cleavage being pressed against him. She turned her head to the side and leant it against his chest. His heart hammering loudly against her ear drum, audible even over the sound of the music. Cardin nearly flinched away in surprise as one of Velvet's rabbit ears brushed against his chin. "Step" she instructed. "Step, step, step."

Velvet fell silent, getting lost in the romantic moment the pair were sharing. Yet Cardin kept stepping. He'd finally found the rhythm, Velvet's movements unconsciously following her dance partners. "You're a natural Cardin, you found your rhythm." Velvet praised meekly, silently hoping her voice didn't throw him off keeping in step.

"I'm doing it, I'm actually doing it!" Cardin exclaimed happily.

"Yeah you are, in fact you're that good how about we try something a little more fast paced?" Velvet proposed. As if on cue the lights automatically dimmed to the evening setting, making the garish white room a little easier on the eye.

"Hell yeah!" Cardin replied enthusiastically, still riding the high of picking up the basics of dancing astonishingly quickly. Velvet smiled as she broke off contact from Cardin just long enough to search scrolltube for a fast paced Jig originating from Vacuo, the swell of violins, harps, pipes and flutes burst forth from the speaker as Velvet snatched Cardin's from his sides and the pair resumed dancing at a much more fast paced. She kept the steps simple, no fancy twirls or dips this time, but who knows, he's a natural so maybe soon I can teach him some more advanced moves, Velvet hoped. Cardin managing to keep up with Velvet's nimble footwork, the chemistry between the two interlocked dance partners was surely something to behold, as they laughed and danced, lost in both the joy of the moment and the beauty of their partner.

Velvet's sock bound feet slipped on the smooth floor tiles. She fell backwards and managed to get her forearms behind her partners neck as Cardin leaned forward, tucking his arm around her waist and arresting her fall. The tip of Velvet's long brunette hair brushed the ground as her descent was halted. The breathless pair held that position, their faces mere inches from each other. Velvet's eyes switched between Cardin's indigo orbs and soft looking lips. Cardin's gaze alternated between her glossy chestnut eyes and the lips he so desperately wanted to kiss. His bicep tensed as he pulled Velvet upwards, simultaneously Velvet's arms snaked further around the nape of Cardin's neck pulling their faces closer. Was this really happening, it was... What would his family think? Him and a Faunus girl, they'd disown him. Cardin decided he didn't care. She pursed her lips as they were a moment from making contact with his. He can't possibly miss the signals this time, this is it, we're going to kiss. My first... Is it his first too I wonder? She could worry about that later, the moment was upon her and nothing was going to get in the way of it.

The door slammed open and Cardin dropped Velvet, their perfect moment denied. Cardin recoiled from the sudden noise, doing so while off balance did him no favours and he ended up falling after her a moment later. "Ow" Velvet sighed as her larger peer landed on her.

"My sincerest apologies students, I didn't mean to interrupt." Both Cardin and Velvet glanced up to see professor Port standing in The doorway, hands on hips and one grey haired, caterpillar like eyebrow cocked to the sky.

Dust fucking damn it, thought an extremely frustrated Velvet and Cardin.

Professor cleared his throat as the pair untangled their limbs on the floor and clambered to their feet, Cardin collapsing into a chair while Velvet remained standing.

"Sorry once again for my poor timing, you know in my youth I was also a keen dancer. Why, I remember being sent on a mission to a village far away from any of the kingdoms, no spoken language whatsoever. They communicated entirely through interpretive dance. I'd been asked to protect the village from a rampaging herd of Boarbatusks, and being the valiant warrior I am I accepted. Being an academic sort of chap I soon picked up the basics of their language." Port puffed out his chest with pride. "After I had the slain the beasts, a feast was hosted in my honour. I was talking with the village chief's daughter, well talking isn't quite the right word, dancing would be more accurate... but conversing all the same. After performing a backflip the room went deathly silent and for a moment I believed I had offended my hosts. Unbeknownst to me a back flip was actually considered a form of formal proposal and so a wedding ceremony began without my knowledge and- blah blah, blah, blah..." The story (which was by far the most interesting tale professor had ever told to a student) became background noise as Velvet and Cardin stared into each other's eyes, both possessing flushed cheeks after nearly being caught in the act by teachers. Both equally relieved that the teacher had been side-tracked with another one of his stories. Both frustrated to have their moment snatched away from them when it was so very close...

"-So mister Winchester, do you understand what I'm trying to say?" Professor Port asked. Snapping Cardin out of being mesmerised by Velvets brown orbs which shined brightly despite the rooms low light levels.

"Um... That a huntsman must endeavour to dance only at appropriate times?..." Cardin's voice broke towards the end of his half statement/ half question, he hoped his guess was at least somewhere near the mark.

"Precisely my point my dear boy!" Professor Port congratulated vigorously. "I suppose it's time I brief you on the mission, miss Scarlatina, do you know what a Razorwing is?"

"Yes professor, it's uh... a male Nevermore." Velvet replied, caught somewhat off guard by the unexpected question.

"Correct as always my dear girl. A Razorwing has been harassing air traffic south of Vale for quite some time, it's actually mating season for Nevermores and we have located a large nest in the area, atop one of two large peaks. Having all these foul creatures gathered in one place makes it an ideal time to attack and thin their numbers. However being south of Vale, away from most supply routes and major settlements makes dealing with this particular nest a low priority so withdrawing huntsman from more pressing duties is out of the question, which is where teams CFVY, CRDL and RFGE come in. Although this isn't a pressing matter, it is an ideal opportunity to give you students some hands on training, a field trip so to speak."

He paused and Cardin and Velvet nodded their understanding and politely waited for him to continue, their curiosity piqued. "So you shall all be accompanying me into the nest to confront the beast and slay any Nevermores' who happen to have taken up residence with it atop their mountain perch. Now killing a Razorwing is no easy task. It's wings are sharp enough to cut through all but the thickest armour and strongest weapons and its beak is capable of crushing almost any material. This particular Razorwing has grown enough to develop a 60 metre wingspan that can propel it to almost two hundred miles an hour, that's faster than a bullhead drop ship can achieve without diving. So we shall be taking a striker airship and hopefully the extra manoeuvrability will allow us to evade it and any other airborne Grimm long enough for us to reach our infiltration point. A paltry seven miles from the nest, I believe you're familiar in piloting the Striker aren't you miss Scarlatina?"

"Yes professor, I can pilot a Striker, Bullhead or a Shadow." Velvet answered proudly.

"Good show. Initially I planned to have Flint in the pilot's seat, but professor Greenwood insisted that I have you pilot the craft instead, though I have no idea why. According to their transcripts they're both also very capable pilots..." Port tailed off as he mused.

"I've no idea why professor" Velvet said sweetly.

"In which case I shall bid you both farewell and goodnight, you may return to your dancing."

"Thank you professor" Cardin and Velvet replied in unison as the Peter Port turned on his heel and began whistling the very same Vacuo Jig that the pair had just been caught dancing to. As the whistle faded away, both of them burst into laughter, so relieved to have escaped reprimand and further embarrassment. Finally the two students caught their breath. Both wheezing from the exertion such unabated laughter had put upon their lungs.

"So... want to dance some more? Velvet asked.

"I don't think my back can take it, I've been on my feet for too long" Cardin panted, hunched over slightly in his seat, the still tender spinal implants obviously a source of persistent discomfort.

"I'm sorry Cardin I should have thought about your health and-"

"Stop apologising!" Cardin said sternly, Velvet winced slightly at his change of tone. He spoke again, softer this time. "Bunny, you've helped me so much, you have nothing to apologise for. You've been there for me all this time despite how I used to treat you, please don't ever apologise for helping me."

At his words Velvet moved forward, leaned down and embraced him. "Sorry for saying sorry..." she teased, Cardin rolled his eyes in dismay. "So... what do you want to do instead?"

"I want to know more about you Velvet..." He tailed off, unsure if he had overstepped his bounds.

Velvet dragged a chair closer to him and sat down, "what do you want to know?"

"Um..." Cardin paused for a moment, caught totally off guard by Velvet's openness. "How about why you wanted to become a huntress?"

"Good question, I don't really seem cut out for all the fighting and war do I?"

"Well I wouldn't say that... you're extremely capable. I saw those news reels of what you did during the breach. You were amazing."

"Thanks" Velvet laughed as her cheeks tinged slightly pink from the praise. "So you mean why do I want to be a huntress when I only use violence as an absolute last resort?" Cardin nodded in affirmation. "Trust me, I have no problem killing Grimm. Soulless monsters hell bent on humanity's destruction aren't really something you can feel sorry for or relate to... But people, Faunus, humans... they're just people. They aren't monsters, there is good and bad in every soul. My parents and my step parents always taught me that all life is precious."

"But aren't there some truly evil people in this world, aren't there some people not worth saving?" Cardin asked.

"No, why take a life when you can spare one? I'll give you an example, remember how my mother's death and my father abandoning me was caused by the Schnees? Well even if I could kill a Schnee without any sort of consequences, I wouldn't. Not unless my life or someone else's was in danger. They are a family of murderers. Becoming a murderer myself doesn't make Remnant any better, and that is the point of being a huntress to make the world a better place." The conviction in her voiced quelled any sort of doubt Cardin had had. Velvet seemed to take a breath to calm herself before they spoke again. "They have caused a great many Faunus pain and they deserve to be put on trial for their crimes, but not murdered."

"It still hurts, doesn't it?" Cardin said quietly. "I can't remember my parents at all. I don't have that same void you must feel in your heart because they were never in my life to begin with. You have something to miss, you have memories of yours, and I'm not sure if that's a blessing or a curse. I don't know which of us is luckier." Cardin said quietly, staring at the floor.

"Neither of us is the lucky one" Velvet sighed. "Memories don't last forever you know. I find it harder to picture my mum's face each time I remember her... I- I wish I'd thought things through when I left, I wish I'd grabbed a photo of my parents... too late now..." She said wistfully.

The sadness in her voice was too much for Cardin to watch. He leaned forward and clasped her hands with his own. His meaty paws encompassing her slender fingers. He pressed his forehead gently against hers. "I'm sorry Velvet I shouldn't have brought it up." She didn't react to his words and Cardin wasn't sure she had heard him. "Hey, Bunny, look I feel weird asking this but I'm hoping it might cheer you up. Do you wanna... cuddle?..."

At his words Velvet looked up, her watery brown orbs finding his indigo gems. "More than anything in the world." She answered with a smile.

"Good, well I'm just going to set an alarm on my scroll, hop in bed and I'll be right there Bunny" Cardin said, relieved she hadn't rejected his proposal.

"Don't take too long" Velvet replied with mock sternness, having perked up at the prospect of spending the night cuddling Cardin.

He grabbed his scroll from the table and opened up the texting app. He needed to do some good in the world, he needed to pay back the kindness Velvet had shown him.

He needed to message Weiss Schnee.

PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW!

Special thanks to my two beta's Pastrami and Nemris, without them this story wouldn't be more than mediocre, so they deserve most of the credit.

And there you have it, a new chapter after a stupidly long amount of time, sorry I took so long. My grandmother passed away and I had some issues with someone I worked with. Anyway I should be back with more stuff for you on Friday, I'm just putting the finishing touches on it. Sorry this is shorter than usual. One more chapter of set up after this (plus a twist you may or may not have seen coming and then it's time for the mission, which if things turn out how I hope your going to love it. Hope you enjoyed this, let me know what you thought.