Chapter #2: Board games & Frustration

One Saturday afternoon Pyrrha found herself in the library along with her own team and team RWBY. Nothing out of the ordinary apart from the latter team occupying one table playing a board game where each try to take control of Remnant.

It had been a few days since Blake walked out on her training, and although Yang did manage to have that talk with her partner. Pyrrha still felt as though there was something more to the way Blake was acting and continues to act.

"Yang Xiao Long! Prepare your Kingdom for battle!" Ruby cries from her team's table while Yang only tells her little sister to bring it on.

Ruby falls to a trap card Yang had played which was so like her, a risk that could cause self-harm, but also destroy her opponent being Ruby's army. She won the dice roll and Ruby sobbed silently enough to not bother anyone else. But as Pyrrha glances over to check up on things she spots Blake looking completely uninterested in her team's game.

Mean while on her table there was a small amount of school work being done. Pyrrha was of course studying as was Ren. Nora had fallen asleep and was mumbling gibberish as Ren turned the pages resting them on her unconscious head.

Jaune, even though he needed to catch up on some study was reading a comic book of little to no value other than entertainment. Clearing her throat Pyrrha grabs the comic and replaces it with a text book that earns a groan from Jaune. Pyrrha just flashes a smile, turning her own attention to the comic seeing as she was already done.

"Well Weiss, your turn". Yang voices from the other table.

"I have…. Absolutely no Idea what's going on". Weiss responds causing Yang move to her side and begin going through a few strategies that Weiss can use to get herself that much closer to victory. Yang even goes so far as to call out how Weiss can get through her own forces. Well that was kind of her. Pyrrha can't help but think as she overhears their conversation.

Weiss sudden changed to a somewhat tyrannical ruler who was going to win the game. Her hope fades fast as Yang once more uses a trap card, destroying all of Weiss's army, reducing the heiress to tears.

"I hate this game of emotions we play". Weiss declares before slumping back in her own seat defeated. While Yang sits there looking as if all had gone to plan. I take it back, that wasn't kind at all. Yang had set Weiss up knowing that if she did attack she could clear another army off the board.

"Stay strong Weiss, we'll make it through this together". Ruby calls, jumping onto Wiess's lap.

"Shut up don't touch me!" The heiress responds putting her arms around the reaper.

Pyrrha turned her head slightly, seeing Yang sitting back in her chair, hands behind her head looking confident and happy. "Alright Blake, you're up".

Those amber eyes snap up as Blake is torn from whatever she was thinking about. "Huh? Oh umm, sorry what am I doing?" She asks, and once more Yang starts talking, explaining that the aim of the game was to conquer remnant.

"Right". Comes Blake's unenthused voice, as Jaune wanders over to the table.

Pyrrha had a fair idea about why Jaune went over there, recalling how he'd basically ignored her and had set his mind to talking to Weiss when they first met. Not that the two got along then, or even now for that matter. But there he was again, going to try his luck.

"Hey, can I play?" He asks harmlessly only for Ruby to shoot him down as they already had a full game going. Weiss however takes a small gab at Jaune's inability to play due to a need for 'tactical cunning'.

Pyrrha balls her hand into a fist while Yang goes on to tell everyone about how Weiss attacked her own forces a few turns ago. She couldn't help but smile, using the comic to hide the lower part of her face.

"Bring it on Ice Queen. I'll have you know I've been called a natural born leader". Aaaand here we go again. She sighs.

"By who? Your mother?" Weiss demands with a hint of amusement in her voice.

"And Pyrrha". Jaune's voice wavers.

"Hello again". Pyrrha joins in with a small wave to the team next to her.

"Come on let me play your hand for a turn" Jaune implores her only for Weiss to deny him even that small chance to impress.

"Come on, you've trusted me with way more important things before. I mean you told us all that Blake is secretly a Fa.."

Pyrrha had moved so quickly that both Jaune and Weiss are taken by surprise. Her hand covering Jaune's ever so loud mouth, she finishes his sentence for him. "Fun loving person, whom we all admire and respect".

Jaune laughs awkwardly as Blake's team all eye her nervously waiting to see how she responds. Which is with a glare and unimpressed face. Dammit Jaune, every time.

"Right, that, ladies". Jaune bows while Pyrrha turned and went to leave when an unfamiliar voice was heard.

"Sup losers". Standing there was a blonde guy with an open shirt and red gauntlets. Ruby greets him as Sun and Pyrrha's mind quickly figured out who it was. The boy that was with Blake at the docks and who fought the White Fang with her.

"Ruby, Yang, Blake. Ice Queen". He greets them all, including Weiss with her least favourite nickname which made Pyrrha smile. Even this guy knew how to annoy Weiss.

"Why does everyone keep calling me that?" Weiss moans with distaste.

Sun continues as no one answers. "I never got a chance to formerly introduce you to my old friend".

"Ah, aren't libraries for reading?" The boy with blue hair asked.

"Thank you!" Comes Ren's pleased voice, obviously having a tough time studying with all the noise. Followed quickly by a Nora's snort.

"Pancakes!"

"Shut up, don't be a nerd". Sun says, trying to tell him off.

"Geh geh geh geh. Intellectual ok, thank you". Goggles responds holding his hand up. "I'm Neptune". So that's his name. Makes sense with the hair colour… I suppose. Pyrrha ponders as Weiss speaks up.

"So Neptune, where are you from?" Her voice was laced with interest, having obviously already taken a liking to the newest member of the gang.

"Haven… And I don't believe I've caught your name, Snow Angle". He says, walking closer to Weiss with a lot of confidence and for once, the Heiress didn't just shoot a guy down, something that surprised Pyrrha and annoyed Jaune greatly as Weiss then gave Neptune her name. "Pleasure to meet you".

The interaction between Neptune and Weiss was great to see. Pyrrha shone a smile even though she'd been mean to Jaune not five minutes ago. On the other side of the table Sun bent over slightly, placing both hands on the table. His eyes flicked from the game to Blake, making Pyrrha feel a little conflicted.

"I never took you as the board game playing type".

"Right, well I think I'm done playing actually. I'll see you guys later". Blake announced before standing from her chair and heading towards the exit of the library. It had pained Pyrrha to see Sun talking so close with Blake for a reason she didn't quite know, or at least a reason she was trying to deny.

However, the sight of Blake leaving and the gloomy presence she had around her made Pyrrha worry. She knew Blake was anti-social, and quiet, but this was something different. Sun didn't know what to do either as he raised his arms in a questioning fashion. Something that made Pyrrha oddly happy.

The rest of team RWBY slowly returned to playing their game, with Neptune taking over Blake's spot and Sun acting as his advisor. Jaune had re-joined their team with a now conscious Nora. Pyrrha remained standing, unable to decide what to do. Chase Blake or read the comic. What am I doing? Of course I'm going after Blake. With that decided she too excuses herself, grabbing her bag and study book, waving goodbye to the two teams and two new friends.

Blake had made it outside and to one of the gardens, making her way from there to one of the sheds and then above it to a secluded spot where she sometimes went to read. This time however, was to think, to plan, to try and calm herself down.

Surrounded by flowers and a chirping bird Blake closed her eyes and started to think, unable to relax. Her mind quickly fell again to the White Fang and the lack of any authority doing anything. Her brow furrowed and she pinched the bridge of her nose. How can they just sit there and play games when there's something larger going on? For a moment she thinks of how useless her team is, how naive her leader Ruby is before mentally kicking herself for thinking so unkindly of them.

Checking her surroundings, she scans the walls and archway covering her. They all have plants of some kind weaving through the netting and blocking her view outside and the view of the people outside looking in. She reaches up and begins to undo the bow that hides her ears when to door leading to the stairs flies open.

In a panic Blake rips the bow off in her rush to hide, not wanting whoever it might be to see her cat ears and expose her as a Faunus. Sucking in and barely breathing, Blake stands pressed against one of the flower covered walls with the arch beam partially blocking her body. There she began praying to Oum that the person finds the place to be of no use to him or her.

Only as the door closes her sensitive cat ears can easily hear the footsteps of whoever came up getting closer. Gritting her teeth all Blake thinks she can do is hope the person will get bored quickly.

"Blake? It's Pyrrha, are you up here?" Comes a searching voice belonging to the shield maiden Pyrrha Nikos. What on Remnant is she doing here? She was one of the last people Blake expected to come after her. Yang or Ruby sure, hell even Jaune or Weiss were higher on her list.

She remains hidden, now slightly more at ease. Pyrrha already knew she was a Faunus thanks to Ruby and Weiss, but she hadn't actually seen her ears yet, none of them had. Eventually Blake decides speak.

"Can you face the door for a moment please?" Not expecting Pyrrha to oblige she waits for a no, or a why.

"Not a problem Blake". Pyrrha replies almost happily, taking Blake by surprise. She hesitates for a moment before stepping out and twitching her ears before grabbing her bow off the ground and tying it back over her cat ears. Hidden she sighs.

"So why are you here? Did you follow me?" Her tone once more sounding annoyed, mostly at the fact her secret spot had been discovered and her reprieve from everyone interrupted. Pyrrha turns around and their eyes meet.

"I did follow you, sort of. I saw you turn into the garden but lost you. My reason well. You look frustrated, tired, not to mention you're acting more anti-social than usual. I've never seen you walk away from your team like that".

Blake frowned while continuing to stare at Pyrrha. The two didn't really talk much and now Pyrrha was speaking as though she knew what Blake was like. A single thought jumped to her mind and she latched onto it for no reason.

"Just because you're Human you think you know me? Think you're better?" Blake fires at her, spitting venom at Pyrrha who was only there to try and help.

Shocked Pyrrha puts a hand to her mouth and her emerald eyes widen. It's then that Blake thinks perhaps she overstepped, that perhaps she is a little tired.

"Of course not Blake. Faunus and Humans are basically the same. Save for a few not so subtle differences". The red-haired warrior steps closer, stopping when Blake takes a single step back.

"I'm not saying it is easy being a Faunus, and I can only imagine what it's like, poorly at that too I'm sure you'd agree. But I just want to make sure my friend, you, is ok". Blake and Pyrrha continue to look at one another with Blake noticing the smallest of changes in her friend's eyes. Those emerald eyes usually full of positivity were filled with something else. Concern, not for a Faunus, but for her, for Blake.

Blake looks away, confused as to why Pyrrha is being so… well, normal, nice. Blake was a Faunus, she'd seen her team's initial response and none of them were good. But she hadn't seen Pyrrha's and she had known for a while now. Was Pyrrha more interested in her now because of what had happened or had she wanted to be friendlier before the revelation?

Not knowing what to do or what to think Blake grumbles and looks at Pyrrha. "So you don't care that I'm a Faunus? Even though you're from a similar background to Weiss? To people with wealth and class that discriminate against us Faunus?" At that Pyrrha looked taken aback, a hand placed on her chest as if she'd been hurt.

"So that's how you see me Blake. A person of renown who cares nothing for others, only wishing to further her own life. Do you still view Weiss that way?"

Blake's eyes had gone big while her mouth hung ajar. She hadn't meant to imply that… but she had indeed said it, and Pyrrha had definitely taken offense. She moves her mouth but nothing comes out, and Pyrrha just continues to stare with wounded eyes. She'd come to help and been verbally attacked.

"I'm sorry, I just… I just need to be alone, I need to work things out for a bit". She hangs her head not wanting to look at those eyes on her any longer. She was trying to escape once again, to run from her problem, one she'd created.

There are a few steps and then blocking her view of the ground was a scroll, Pyrrha's scroll to be exact. Blinking a couple of times, she looks up to see Pyrrha with a calm expression covering her pretty face.

"Add yourself. Then if you ever want to talk or need a hand, please, don't hesitate to message or call me". With that she smiles at Blake and the Faunus feels a little warmer inside. She means it? She still wants to help me? Though the gesture was appreciated, she still wasn't convinced Pyrrha didn't only want to help her, but couldn't put her finger on it.

She adds her contact to Pyrrha's scroll and the girl then messages Blake's scroll, allowing her to add Pyrrha. With that the red-haired warrior smiles and gives a small bow while bearing a smile.

"Contact me anytime ok. I'll leave you to your thoughts for now. Just know you have friends in your team and beyond". She then turns away offering one of her standard waves and leaves Blake alone on her shed top hide out.

Blake remained standing there for a few minutes with a lot of thoughts running through her head, some about her team and partner, others about the White Fang and the authority's ineptitude. But mostly, they were thoughts about Pyrrha. Wondering if she was genuinely interested in her as a friend despite being a Faunus.

She sinks back into the seat she was on before being disturbed and lets her arms fall imp. Hearing the soft connection of scroll on wood she brings it up in front of her. There was Pyrrha's name and a few small details. Blake reached to it and touched the pictures cheek, feeling her own begin to heat up.

With her free hand she touched her cheek and felt the heat. Clearing her throat, she pocketed the scroll and shook her head. Get a hold of yourself she's not interested Blake, she's just trying to help. Her ears turn back as she starts to overthink why Pyrrha had been wanting to help. Denying the small feelings that were beginning to grow.

"Agh! I can't think here!" She yells at herself and leaves the rooftop, her destination being her dorm room.

Once there she found herself alone and climbed onto her bed after opening the window. There she sat with her knees tucked up to her chin and her arms wrapped around them. Again her mind began to swim with possibilities and even thought back to the day on the docks and how headmaster Ozpin had taken her to talk somewhere private.

He told her that the school accepted everyone from all walks. But she scowled when he brought up Faunus. He knew she was a Faunus and had never once done anything wrong to her, the same as Pyrrha. He asked her who she was and she was unable to answer, he asked if she knew anything which she denied.

Then finally he offered his time to talk to her whenever Blake felt like she needed it. Blake had only continued to glare at the elderly man during that time, but now found herself thinking that Pyrrha had done the same. Offered to listen without judgement, and Blake had hurt her by judging her because why, because she was famous? A renown fighter and tournament winner. She was nothing like Weiss who was a Schnee, that would always be that name that every Faunus hated, or at least for a very long time.

But Weiss Schnee was her teammate and they'd grown close, she was nothing like the stories she'd previously heard. She accepted Blake as a Faunus after their spat and continued to go about her life almost as normally, only with a bit more of an insight as to why Faunus hate the Schnee name. And Blake with a little understanding as to why Weiss disliked the Faunus, more specifically the White Fang. Yet Pyrrha still offered to listen, to offer her ears her time.

Time passed quickly for Blake who was interrupted by the return of her teammates, led by Yang and a complaint.

"Urgh! We should never have let him play".

"You're just made cause the new guy beat you". Ruby points out as Yang throws her head back. "See if you had just attacked when I told you, none of this would've happened".

Just as Blake was about to turn the doorknob and escape once for, run. There was a loud and demanding "Stop!" That came from none other than Weiss. So close.

"Lately you've been quiet, anti-social, and moody". Blake just blinked at her list, it quite accurately described how she felt lately.

"Ah, have you met Blake?" Yang asked rhetorically.

"Which I get is kind of, you're thing. But, you've been doing it more than usual. Which quite frankly is unacceptable. You made a promise to me, to all of us that you'd let us know if something was wrong. So Blake Belladonna, what, is, wrong?"

She opens her eyes to find Weiss pointing a finger right at her and closes them again. She sighs. "I just… I don't understand how everyone can be so calm".

"You're still thinking about Torchwick?" Ruby asks stepping forward.

"Torchwick, the White Fang, Pyrrha, all of it! Something big is happening and no one is doing anything about it". Blake fires back with a raised voice. Ruby tilts her head while yang smiles hearing a strange word, a certain name among her partners list. Something that she knows Blake hadn't meant to say but was already forgotten she said it.

"Ozpin told us not to worry. Between the police and the huntsmen, I'm sure the can handle it". Yang offers a smile and a calm relaxed posture to show off her faith in the authorities.

"Well I'm not!" Blake yells stepping forwards. Her brow creased and her amber eyes slightly narrowed. "They don't know the White Fang like I do". She spoke the truth and her teammates al turned to one another. They knew she was right but Blake didn't know what they were going to do in their exclusive team talk.

Weiss tries to talk some sense into the team as the two sisters look to Blake with small grins of their own. For a moment she thought they were going to restrain her but Weiss's argument about them not being able to made her think otherwise.

"We're students. We're not ready to handle this sort of situation". Weiss says.

"Well yeah, but… heheh". Ruby nervously chuckles with an extended arm gesturing at Blake.

"We're not ready!" Weiss repeats in a louder voice, trying to sound more authoritative. Blake choses this point to jump in and retort to Weiss's claims.

"And we may never be ready!" She starts with a loud voice, louder than Weiss's. "Our enemies aren't just gonna wait around for graduation day. They're out there, somewhere, planning their next move and none of us know what it is!"

Her eyes flash from one individual to the next and then back and forth and so on. She wanted to get her point across, wanted her team, her friends to side with her and help stop what she used to be a part of.

"But it's coming! Whether we're ready, or not". She finished with the whole team staring at her and waits for someone to respond. It doesn't take long with the team leader breaking the silence.

"Okay. All in favour of becoming the youngest huntresses to single-handedly bring down a corrupt organisation conspiring against the kingdom of vale, say aye". Her voice was quick and full of excitement, something which Ruby never seemed to be lacking.

"Yes! I love it when you're feisty". Yang yells pointing at Blake who was standing there, hands by her side and smiling in a seemingly relaxed posture for the first time in days.

"Well, I suppose it could be fun". Weiss chirps in with another smile, something Blake thought she wouldn't see happening, yet had just happened.

"None of you said aye". Ruby complains, looking away from the group for a moment.

With that all of team RWBY were on board to track down Torchwick and the White Fang that had joined him. Blake was happy for the first time in weeks, she had thought her team would try and talk her out of it, thought her friends would have been against her because of the danger they faced.

While Blake was thinking about how to go about begin the search, Ruby raced out of the room as she'd forgotten her board game. Shaking her head Blake still kept her smile. Ruby was the youngest in the team and yet she was fully prepared to chase after the criminals with her.

Perhaps I should ask Pyrrha if… No, no she's… I should at least text her. Weiss and Yang go about their nightly routines as Blake gets into her pyjamas. Crawling into bed she pulled up Pyrrha contacts from her scroll but got lost thinking about what to say to her warrior friend.

Hey Pyrrha, hopefully I'm not interrupting anything. Just thought I'd say, thanks for the talk today. Thanks for reminding me I have friends here.

Setting her scroll down Blake reaches for her book, wondering if Pyrrha would even reply after she treated her so coldly that afternoon. A reply comes before too long.

Your welcome. I take it that something good has happened?

Blake checked the message twice over. Do I tell her we're going after Torchwick. She decides against letting Pyrrha know as she feared she'd want to help and for some reason she was still denying, Blake didn't want to put the red head in danger, any danger.

You could say that. Even Weiss is helping out.

Pyrrha's response only took a few seconds.

That's great news! I hope you're feeling better Blake.

She couldn't help but smile at Pyrrha's apparent joy of her being helped, feeling better. The two friends continue to exchange messages a few more times. Blake doing her best to hide what her team is planning while trying to keep Pyrrha's interest.

When the others were ready for sleep and the light was out Blake sent one last message.

I'm off to sleep now Pyrrha. Thanks for the talk earlier and the messages tonight. It's been nice. Anyway, goodnight Pyrrha. See you tomorrow.

She waited for a reply that she knew would be coming, and sure enough her scroll vibrates with Pyrrha's face lighting the screen.

My pleasure Blake. Again, I'm always ready to help a friend. Sleep well Blake.

Reading the message thrice, she set down her scroll and pulled up her blankets. The image of Pyrrha burned bright in her mind as she slowly edges towards sleep. She hoped tomorrow and the following week would be filled with fun and with advances towards finding Torchwick. Though Blake wouldn't oppose spending a little time with Pyrrha.

Hey everyone. Took a little longer than I thought as I'm down to one handed typing for a while. Thanks for your patience and I'll probably be starting chapter #3 tomorrow.

As always, if you want to leave a comment or so constructive criticism I'd appreciate that. Follow it, share it if you enjoyed it and know that chapter #3 will follow within a week… hopefully.