Penny paused as she looked over the woman wearing a black dress that seemed almost too formal for the occasion. She couldnt help but flash a smile as she looked to the Atlas soldiers to her sides. “I am not alone.”
The woman smirked and took Penny’s hand. “But you arent actually dancing with anyone, just standing alone while being watched. Doesnt that make you lonely?”
“Ruby was here with me earlier-”
“But she seems to have left you alone. A pretty thing like you should be having fun. So, will you have a dance or two with me?”
“I do not…” Penny’s voice trailed off for a moment as she took a glance to the soldiers at either side of her. They were as vigilant as ever, standing and watching over the crowd at the dance, only there to protect her. Not that she was sure what they were protecting her from. The General had never really been too forthcoming about her purpose beyond saving Remnant, nor why she needed the soldiers for her safety. “I do not know if they will let me.”
The woman pulled Penny close to her and smiled at her. “I’m sure they wont mind if we stay in sight of them.”
“I-I uh…” Penny found herself moving along with the woman and practically staring into her amber eyes. She took another glance at the soldiers behind her and relaxed when they hadnt moved, only keeping their gaze on her and the woman she was with. A small smile crossed her own lips and she could feel her body start to relax as she lost herself in the dance.
She moved along with the woman’s motions as if her mechanical body was being pulled along with strings attached to her limbs. It was almost like a dream for her, something that she had dreamt of with Ruby. And yet, as she looked up at the woman’s eyes, she could feel the same feelings deep in her soul as when she laid eyes on Ruby.
She felt love.
The bell rang midnight and the woman slowly pulled away from Penny as the music started to die down. “Tonight was much more fun than I expected. Thank you for the dance.”
“Do not go!” Penny half yelled out as her hand instinctively reached for the woman’s. She stopped just shy of holding her hand, pausing for a moment before pulling back. “Yet. Do not go yet.”
“Afraid you’ll miss me already?”
Penny shook her head. “You never told me your name.”
The woman smiled. “My name’s Cinder. And yours?”
“Penny.”
“Thank you for the dance, Penny. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”
Penny nodded slowly as she watched Cinder watch off, almost certain her body was malfunctioning as a heat warning came up in her vision. She dismissed it as quickly as it came just so she could watch Cinder walk away with the rest of her team. It wasnt quite something she remembered doing with Ruby when she first met her, but when it came to Cinder, she couldnt help but keep her eyes on her.
“Its time to go, Penny,” one of the soldiers said as he put a hand on Penny’s shoulder, only to pull away to keep from burning his hand. “Though, I think you’ll want to get looked at by your father.”
“I am… fine,” Penny answered as she turned towards the soldiers. She paused for a moment, then looked for any sign of Ruby. “There is nothing wrong with me.”
“If you’re sure. The General wants you back to your room as quickly as possible. Sounds like there was trouble at the tower and he wants to make sure you’re safe.”
Once Penny finished scanning the room without finding any sign that Ruby had come back, she gave a slight nod and started to follow the soldiers back. Her body started to cool again as she made sure the correct process started to run, and yet, her mind kept going back to the woman she had danced with. She couldnt seem to get those piercing amber eyes out of her memory as it played the dance over and over to herself. A smile crossed her lips and she couldnt help but feel like she’d known Cinder for much longer than a night.
