The song fades, applause rolling softly through the hall as couples drift away from the dance floor.
Erik and Pyrrha rejoin the others, warmth still lingering between them. Almost immediately, Pyrrha is pulled into conversation with Team RWBY-Ruby animatedly reenacting parts of the dance with exaggerated spins, Yang grinning like she's just witnessed something extremely satisfying, Weiss trying (and failing) not to look impressed, and Blake listening quietly with a small, thoughtful smile.
Erik, meanwhile, finds himself flanked by Sun and Neptune.
Sun slings an arm around Erik's shoulders like they've known each other for years.
"Okay, dude," he says brightly. "First of all-nice moves out there."
Neptune nods. "Yeah. That didn't look like 'I'm just winging it' dancing."
Erik chuckles. "Practice helps."
Sun snaps his fingers. "Knew it. Nobody looks that smooth by accident."
Neptune smirks. "Called it."
Sun tilts his head. "So, what's next for you guys? Missions tomorrow?"
"Probably," Erik answers, glancing across the room to where Pyrrha laughs at something Ruby says. "You two?"
Sun's eyes light up instantly. "Funny you ask. We're thinking of taking an investigation mission."
Neptune straightens, flashing an imaginary badge. "Junior detectives."
Erik smiles. "That's actually pretty cool."
Sun squints. "Wait-actually cool, or polite cool?"
"Actually cool," Erik says. "Mind if I give you some advice?"
Both of them freeze.
"...Advice?" Neptune repeats.
Sun blinks. "Like-you've done investigation work?"
Erik rubs the back of his neck, a little sheepish. "Yeah. Field work. Civilian cases."
Neptune's eyes widen. "Hold on. Seriously?"
"I've helped local police a few times," Erik continues easily. "Missing persons, fraud, pattern analysis."
Sun stares. "...Bro."
Neptune leans in. "How many times is 'a few'?"
"Enough to get some recognition," Erik says. "Community medals. Commendations."
Sun grabs Erik by the shoulders, shaking him slightly.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU LEAD WITH THAT?"
"I wasn't asked," Erik laughs.
Neptune shakes his head. "I thought you were just the quiet cool guy."
"I am," Erik replies. "I just read a lot."
Sun points dramatically. "Nope. You've been promoted. You're now 'mysterious competent guy.'"
"Highest rank," Neptune adds solemnly.
They laugh.
"So," Sun says eagerly, "what kind of advice are we talking about?"
Erik's tone shifts-still relaxed, but focused.
"First rule: don't chase answers. Let patterns reveal themselves. Second: don't trust the loudest clue. Real evidence is usually boring."
Neptune nods, hooked. "Paper trails?"
"Timing," Erik says. "Omissions. People lying without realizing it."
Sun whistles. "Man... you sound like a pro."
"I've had good teachers," Erik replies.
Neptune grins. "Okay, yeah. We're coming back for more tips."
"If you want," Erik says, pulling out his Scroll, "I can send you a few of my reports. Redacted. Just methods, structure-how I approach scenes."
Sun leans in immediately. "YOU HAVE REPORTS?"
"I keep them as references," Erik says. "Helps me not repeat mistakes."
Neptune's eyes light up as Erik scrolls through neatly organized files-case summaries, timelines, pattern charts.
"These are real?" Sun asks, suddenly serious.
Erik nods once. "Every one."
Sun exhales. "That's... insane."
Neptune points. "What's this case?"
"Missing cargo," Erik says. "Everyone assumed theft. Turned out to be a scheduling exploit."
Sun groans. "Why does that make so much sense?"
"And this one?" Neptune asks.
"False witness," Erik replies. "Not a lie. Just bad memory."
Sun presses a hand to his chest. "That hurts my soul."
Neptune scrolls further-and then stops.
"...Wait."
Erik pauses. "What?"
Neptune tilts the Scroll toward Sun. "Dude. Look at the case name."
Sun squints-then freezes.
"...No way."
VALE DOCKS DISAPPEARANCE - CLOSED
Sun slowly looks up. "Hold on. That case?"
Neptune's voice drops. "The one where three shipping crews vanished over six months. No witnesses. No ransom. Everyone thought it was Grimm-related."
Sun nods rapidly. "Yeah! The police bulletins were everywhere. People said the docks were cursed."
Erik blinks once. "...Oh. That one."
"That one?!" Sun yelps. "That case was legendary!"
Neptune scrolls quickly, eyes widening.
"Cause of closure: logistical manipulation and falsified manifests?"
He looks up sharply. "You're kidding."
Erik shrugs. "It wasn't flashy. Just... boring crime."
Sun stares. "BRO. That case haunted Vale for a year."
Neptune scrolls again-then goes very quiet.
"...Hold up."
He points to the bottom of the report.
COMMENDATIONS & AWARDS:
Vale Civil Merit Medal
Community Protection Gold Star
Joint Task Commendation (Police & Dock Authority)
Sun's jaw drops.
"...Those are real medals."
Neptune swallows. "You don't just get these."
"They insisted," Erik says, a bit embarrassed.
"They insisted," Sun repeats faintly.
Neptune scrolls again. "There's another gold star."
"Missing persons case," Erik explains. "Child reunited with family."
Sun puts both hands on his head.
"WHY are you at Beacon like a normal student?"
Erik laughs. "Beacon doesn't ask for résumés."
Neptune looks between Erik and the Scroll.
"...So we're doing an investigation mission with the guy who closed the Vale Docks case."
"Different scale," Erik says. "Same principles."
Sun suddenly grips Erik's shoulder-reverent now.
"New rule. We listen to everything you say."
Neptune nods firmly. "No shortcuts."
"Relax," Erik laughs. "I'm not in charge."
Sun grins. "Yeah, yeah. You're guiding."
"Like a sensei," Neptune adds.
"I really don't like where this is going," Erik says.
Across the room, Pyrrha glances over.
She sees Sun and Neptune bent over Erik's Scroll like kids discovering a treasure map-faces lit with awe, voices hushed and excited. Erik speaks calmly, explaining without boasting.
Something warm settles in her chest.
Yang notices and smirks. "Guess mystery-boy leveled up."
Weiss exhales. "...That explains a lot."
Back with the boys, Sun straightens dramatically.
"Alright. Tomorrow-we investigate properly."
Neptune nods. "Prepared. Careful. Professional."
"I'll send the files tonight," Erik says.
Sun grins wide. "Man, drinks are on us if we pull this off."
Erik chuckles. "I'll hold you to that."
The music swells again, laughter filling the hall.
Across the room, Pyrrha barely has time to breathe before Ruby pops up in front of her.
"So," Ruby says brightly, hands clasped behind her back, eyes sparkling, "how does it feel?"
Pyrrha blinks. "F-Feel about...?"
Yang slides in beside Ruby with a grin that Pyrrha immediately recognizes as dangerous.
"Don't play innocent," Yang says. "That dance? That was smooth."
Weiss crosses her arms, inspecting Pyrrha critically. "Suspiciously smooth."
"I-I mean," Pyrrha stammers, cheeks already warming, "we practiced a little."
"A little?" Ruby gasps dramatically. "You two looked like you rehearsed for weeks!"
Yang nods. "Yeah. And the way he led? Confident, relaxed, not stepping on your feet even once."
Pyrrha presses her hands together. "He's... very attentive."
Blake, who has been quietly sipping her drink, looks up.
"Attentive," she repeats. "That's a careful choice of words."
Pyrrha swallows. "...Is it?"
Blake's lips curve faintly. "Very."
Yang leans closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially.
"So. Be honest. When did this stop being 'just practice' and start being that?"
Pyrrha freezes. "I-I don't know what you mean."
Ruby leans in too. "We do. The eye contact. The timing. The smiling."
Weiss adds, "You looked... comfortable. Not pressured. Not performing."
Pyrrha hesitates, then exhales softly.
"I just... feel safe with him," she admits quietly. "Like I don't have to be perfect."
For a moment, the teasing pauses.
Then Yang grins wider.
"Oh, wow," she says. "She's gone."
Ruby squeals softly. "That's so cute!"
Weiss looks away with a huff. "Honestly, it's about time."
Pyrrha blinks. "About time?"
Weiss sighs. "You've spent years being everyone's symbol. It's nice to see you being... a person."
Blake nods. "He doesn't treat you like a pedestal."
Pyrrha glances across the room, where Erik is laughing with Sun and Neptune, relaxed and completely himself.
"...No," she says softly. "He doesn't."
Yang follows her gaze and smirks.
"You know he's kind of intimidating, right?"
Pyrrha looks surprised. "He is?"
"Yeah," Yang says. "Not loud. Not flashy. But people listen when he talks."
Ruby nods enthusiastically. "He helped Sun and Neptune earlier! They looked like they'd found a hero."
Pyrrha smiles, warmth blooming in her chest. "That sounds like him."
Blake watches her carefully. "You care about him."
Pyrrha doesn't deny it.
"...I do."
Yang claps her hands once. "Welp. That settles it."
Ruby tilts her head. "Settles what?"
Yang grins at Pyrrha. "If he ever breaks your heart-"
"He won't," Pyrrha says quickly.
Yang laughs. "-then we break him."
Pyrrha's eyes widen. "Yang!"
Weiss sighs. "Violence aside... we're happy for you."
Ruby beams. "Yeah! You look really happy."
Pyrrha feels it then-not embarrassment, not pressure.
Just warmth.
"...Thank you," she says sincerely.
The music swells again, and somewhere across the room, Erik glances over-just in time to see Pyrrha laughing, surrounded by her friends.
For the first time in a long while, she isn't the Invincible Girl.
To Be Continued...