Emerald leaned back, snickering as her least favorite blonde missed every shot she directed at a cat faunus.

"Her fighting style is sloppy and her partner's is too proper. No matter who moves one, Mercury won't have a problem, especially if it's the Schnee girl." Cinder watched carefully, making contingency plans in her head. Emerald made a sound of agreement.

She noticed a stray thread on her Haven uniform. She started to pick at in boredom. It was important to know the enemy, but she thought it a little unfair that Mercury didn't have to sit through the battle.

Emerald was only there so she could best observe how to use her semblance when the duel rounds occurred, whereas Mercury had already seen how both of his opponents would fight.

Emerald returned her bright red glance to the arena when she heard a small laugh from Cinder. Weiss had just been burnt out of all her aura on the battlefield, literally pushing herself and the Atlas boy into a lava geyser.

At first, Emerald thought her mistress was simply laughing at the girl's injuries, but once the geyser died, she could see the musical boy dusting off his pants. Weiss had failed completely. A vague feeling of disappointment settled over Emerald. For some reason, she wished the heiress had shown more potential.

The whole situation only made Yang fight harder, though, leading to the outcome Cinder had predicted; Team RWBY won the match.

The fair skinned leader stood and straightened her skirt.

"You may leave." Cinder made a face a picked off something small.

"This better not be from that corgi…" she muttered, making Emerald snort.

She got up and prepared herself to look for Jaune. Cinder didn't think, "He doesn't know anything," was a decent enough answer, so she ordered Emerald to continue her investigation. She wondered what the clumsy boy could be doing right now.

"Why is this so hard for you Pyrrha?!" Ren sighed in exasperation. Pyrrha lowered her head in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. I've never had to do anything like this before." The fire haired warrior looked to her partner for help, but Jaune was in no mood for helping.

"We've done these same steps for three practices now! I need a water break!" Jaune threw up his hands and tried to walk away from the group only to be stopped by Ren.

"Where do you think you're going? You still need to lose those seven pounds." The pink eyed ninja pointed out. Nora burst out laughing.

"Then I guess to do that! Help Pyrrha with this or we will never have this ready by the dance!" The team leader was fed up with the dragging of his team. They would never synchronize if Pyrrha couldn't get over her two left feet.

He stomped out of the dorm room and made his way to the front of the academy. Thanks to him, JNPR never really got to be the cool team with the great bond. They usually ended up falling apart mid way because of his skills, or rather, lack thereof.

Jaune splashed his face with the fountain water.

"I don't think that will make your wish come true." He turned to see Emerald looking at him amused, head tilted to the side.

"Oh, well, I just thought the fountain gods would really see into my brain that way." He replied sarcastically. Emerald put a hand on her chest and feigned hurt.

"Dang, who stole your last cookie?" She played. Jaune sighed and sat with the water to his back.

"No one did. I shouldn't have snapped at you, I'm just kind of upset at myself right now." The girl nodded and plopped down next to him. He felt the fabric of her Haven blazer brush against his bare arm. He had forgone his armor this time around because of the rehearsal.

"I know how that feels. I've had a lot of times where I wasn't very proud of what I'd done." She admitted.

"B-but it wasn't like anything horrible! I didn't like… steal someone's motorcycle or anything!" Her face was flushed. Jaune chuckled.

"The worst thing I've probably done like that is steal a candy bar. Then again, it turned out I hadn't even stolen it." He put his hand on his chin and thought about if that count.

Emerald laughed out loud then. "You really are as pure as can be, aren't you?" The blonde boy gasped, he'd forgotten that his dad said girls like bad boys.

"A-absolutely not! I've played a few pranks on my sisters." He crossed his arms and puffed out his chest before he realized what he said.

"I mean, I used to." He cleared his throat.

"Not to mention the harsh battles I've been in. I'm a little better at combat then you'd think." Her red eyes studied him. In them he could read the question, "What aren't you telling me?" Maybe he was just being paranoid.

"So, then that makes you regular stud, huh?" She joked. Jaune hid his relief, instead opening his mouth to retort, but she stopped him.

"For some reason, I kind of like the nice guy thing you have going on. I'm just glad you're not as innocent as Ruby."

"I do worry about her sometimes." Jaune commented.

"Right. I do have a question for you though. Promise you'll answer me honestly?" Jaune wasn't sure what she wanted to ask, but he knew that he wanted to know her a little better, and that started with her knowing him. He nodded.

"Have you ever done anything really bad? Like, something that a lot of people would look down on? Something that makes you really just think that maybe you might regret it later?" He looked at her for a long while, but she didn't look at him until the last moment.

He knew that she had some kind of hardship in her life, he could tell just by the way she carried herself, but what exactly did Emerald have to go through?

She waited in a harsh silence. She meant only to get him to admit what was off about his transcripts, but for some reason, looking at him, she couldn't help but let out too much information. She had the urge to let down her guard around him.

It briefly occurred to her that it might be his semblance in action and tried to compose herself.

"I'll tell you, but not here, okay?" He spoke slowly and offered his hand to her. Was he really going to tell her something so secret? The only reason he would want her alone is so no one overheard. If his transcripts were fake, he could be expelled. Her heart beat a little faster, but she didn't take his hand. This was strictly business.

Once outside the gates he spoke.

"If I tell you, then I want you to tell me your own secret, okay? I want to know more about you, Emerald. I want you to trust me just a little."

Her face felt hot. Why did he want information on her? She thought about it as leaves and sticks crunched underfoot. If it was only one thing, it shouldn't be that hard. Mercury and Cinder knew way more about her past than the little stuff.

"Okay."

They stopped in a clearing of trees not too far from the grounds. Jaune looked around with sharp eyes. He'd brought his sword and shield, but he could only do so much if he had to protect Emerald against a grimm attack.

Once he felt no danger, he turned to her. Jaune had only told Pyrrha, and accidentally Cardin, about his transcripts. It was still hard for him to admit, and he wasn't sure he could answer the girl in front of him if she asked anything specific. Even now, he himself wasn't sure how they ended up in his hands.

Emerald stepped closer to him, still a good distance away, but trying to make sure he didn't have to talk loudly. He took a deep breath. He felt it was right to tell her the truth. He had to own up to his mistake.

"I don't really belong at Beacon. The truth is, my transcripts… are fake." Emerald's eyes widened, but she said nothing.

"I've only told one person that," Jaune didn't count Cardin eavesdropping as 'telling'. "I'm telling you now because you asked. I know I shouldn't have submitted them, but I've always wanted to be the hero. I've always wanted to carry on the family tradition." He touched his sword affectionately at his side.

"I don't know why I became the leader of JNPR, that had nothing to do with me. I ask myself why Ozpin chose me almost every day, but that doesn't mean that I stop trying." He explained shakily. He didn't want her to think he was just a cheap weakling who got lucky.

"I know why he picked you. I can see it when you lead your team. You're more capable than you give yourself credit for." She shifted on her feet uncomfortably.

"I usually don't give out compliments, so, uh, yeah." She cleared her throat and looked to the trees.

"So, you feel bad about that?"

"I do," Jaune began, "But I don't regret it. I'm going to be a huntsman. Part of me wishes I could've done it on my own, but I know that did what I had to to make it.

"Everything I've done since I was admitted, I've done on my own. I've become a leader, killed a Ursa Major, gained the respect of my bully, and helped protect Beacon when grimm filled the streets."

"Wow. That's really cool, Jaune. You're not just surviving, you're moving toward a goal with all your might. I wish I could know how that feels." Jaune moved closer to her. If he reached out, he could touch her.

"You don't have to tell me anything. I shouldn't have expected that." The boy said, but Emerald shook her head and looked him in the eye.

"When I was younger, I was poor. I lived in the worst part of Mistral's capital. Once, I stole an entire cart of apples from a man just trying to get by.

"I knew when I tasted them that they were from a forest a ways away. One surrounded by grimm. In the end, I brought the man back his cart and maybe about six apples for him, but the rest, I kept.

"He probably had a family, and I had none. Most of the food I kept was from spite, and because of that, I sometimes wish I had done that, but I would've starved if I hadn't. I couldn't fight well enough to kill grimm."

Jaune didn't know what to say. He knew from his dad some of the stories told about lower class Mistral. It was a place where the black market thrived. It may have even been where his documents came from.

"You did what you had to." He said carefully. "The fact that you still regret it, that means a lot, Emerald. At least, in my eyes." The training huntress seemed genuinely surprised by his words.

Not even Cinder knew how she felt about some of the things she'd done. She killed people for standing in her way, and she didn't always feel bad about it. She couldn't or she would be useless to Cinder and become nothing again.

The fact that Jaune understood that she only did bad things for survival made her feel better. It made her feel normal. Instead of being disgusted by her weakness like Mercury might, Jaune accepted it.

He wasn't ready go hear anything worse than what she'd just told him, but his acceptance made her feel like that could change.

Emerald stopped her racing thoughts.

"Why do I care about that? Why would I trust an enemy like this?" She thought.

"Emerald?" She looked from his outstretched hand to his bright pools of blue. His messy hair to his silly bunny sweater.

Maybe it was all just a semblance, but suddenly she wanted to trust him like she trusted her adopted family. She reached out her own hand slowly, the beads on her forearm tickling her under the uniform.

She was only inches away before she realized what she was doing. Memories of their date flashed through her mind. It was a one time thing, not a reality. She wasn't supposed to actually like him.

"I can't do this. I don't know what's going on." She spoke, her hand still hovering above his.

"I just want to help." Jaune whispered. His heart was racing. He wanted to know why she looked scared, why she seemed so conflicted. This wasn't about wooing her or anything like that anymore. Jaune just wanted to be her hero.

Emerald suddenly took her hand away and shook her head.

"I-I'll see you around!" She shouted, her head aimed down. Before he could speak, she turned on her heel and fast-walked away.

"What?" He was dumbfounded. Had he done something wrong?

Emerald didn't relax until she made it into the library. She put her head in her hands and groaned quietly. Her head hurt and now that she was alone, she felt much better.

There were only a few students dotted around the library, including Blake Belladonna, who was bow-deep in some book about ninjas.

Emerald didn't know where her earlier thoughts had come from. Even now, they haunted her.

It's just a mission, but he is really cute.

He would only get in my way, but maybe that isn't so bad.

Cinder would be furious with me, but she might understand if I like him just a little.

Emerald groaned again and messed up her hair.

"Are you alright, Minty?" A familiar voice chimed. Mercury had spun around a chair and was sitting in it, arms crossed on the backrest.

"I told you not to call me that a million times already." She wasn't in the mood for his banter. He scooted the chair forward. Emerald could probably hit her knee with his if she turned.

"Fine, that's my bad. I just thought you seemed a bit stressed. I thought I might come cheer you up." She rested her cheek in her hand, raising an eyebrow at him. Her legs were crossed between them.

"In that case, shouldn't you leave? You're not very good at making me relax." She grinned, happy to have a normal conversation.

"Em, that is so rude. You know you enjoy my company. I know I enjoy yours." He said dramatically, as if he were genuinely offended. She giggled.

"So, did you find out what you needed? You don't have to follow around that loser any more?" Mercury leaned in again, speaking low. Emerald frowned and shook her head.

"Not yet. Besides, I think you're more of a loser than him." She joked. Mercury was silent for a moment.

"You think so?" He teased. Emerald moved forward and nodded, an evil grin on her face.

At that moment, Mercury grabbed her by the chin and tilted her head up. She could feel his breath on her lips.

"You shouldn't say things like that. A guy's ego is all he has." He had an affectionate,yet teasing glint in his silver-violet eyes. He held her there for a moment before releasing her and standing from his chair.

He gave her a wave while he walked out of the library. Emerald didn't moved, unsure of what just happened.

She looked around her self-consciously only to make eye contact with Blake. The pale girl blushed when their gazes met.

"I wasn't- I just-" Blake stammered. Emerald just held her hand up and went to find a book. She desperately needed a distraction.

Jaune sat Ren's bed. He came back to his room to find all his teammates away, probably in the showers.

His friend returned a moment later, drying his hair with one towel, his waist covered by another.

"Oh! Jaune, is everything okay?" He asked in his somewhat monotone voice. Jaune looked up at him with a frown.

"I need help." He whined. Ren sighed and sat on the bed.

"I suppose I won't be able to get dressed until I give you that?" Jaune nodded, pouting and giving the puppy eyes. Ren briefly thought he learned he trick from Zwei.

"I just don't understand women. One moment they're all joking and adorable, and the next they're all over the place and walking away suddenly." The knight threw up his hands.

"It's like, why won't you let me help you or hug you or- grrr!" Ren leaned back a bit. Jaune was clearly frustrated.

"Is this about who I think it is?" Jaune sighed and nodded.

"I just don't get it. I thought we were getting close and then she just left." Ren thought about his friend's problem.

"Maybe she just isn't used to people? If you think about it, she really only seems to be around those two other students. Perhaps she didn't know what to do?"

"You really are perceptive. I guess that could make sense." Jaune brightened.

"Yeah, I just have to keep it up until she's ready to accept me as a friend." He stood and starting gathering shower supplies.

"By the way, Jaune, do you still have that photo in your wallet?"

"Wha-?!" Jaune dropped his shampoo and stumbled. Ren laughed softly.

"Everything is normal. Everything is normal." Emerald repeated quietly to herself, still shaken up by the day's events. She held firmly to the book her hand. When her mantra wasn't enough, she went through the plan for the dance in a few days over and over until she could recite Cinder's words by heart.

"Everything is- oof!" She was so busy studied the carpet as she walked that she didn't notice the person in front of her.

"It's fine, I wasn't- Emerald?" She slowly looked up right into Jaune's bright blue eyes. He had his arms on her shoulders to steady her.

She tried not to pay attention to the fact that there was a shampoo bottle by her foot or that he only had on a towel. His hair was still dripping.

"Sweet mother of grimm." Was all she could say. Her face was burning. The boy just looked confused.

"You're not, um, clothed?" She never broke eye contact. It was Jaune turn to get flustered then. He quickly let go of her and stepped back. Emerald picked up the shampoo, staring only at his blue bunny slippers. She held out the bottle.

"What are you doing in this dorm? I thought yours was on the other side?" His voice cracked slightly as he grabbed the bottle from her, brushing her fingers lightly.

She squeaked at the contact.

"I g-got lost. Shouldn't you be wearing something?" She asked.

"Well, my room isn't very far from here. It isn't usually an issue. Besides, most girls ignore me either way." He laughed nervously. Emerald snuck a glance at his bare chest.

"Right, I guess. I, uh, have to go." She tried to rush passed him, but he grabbed her arm. Since her blazer was tied to her waist, she felt the warmth of his hand on her bare skin. She suddenly wished she had longer sleeves, but at the same time didn't.

"Emerald, I'm really sorry about today. I shouldn't have pushed you." She looked at him, remembering how she'd run away.

"Please, don't worry about it." She said softly. He looked so worried and upset, she couldn't help but want to forgive him.

"I'm okay, Jaune. I promise." He smiled and sighed.

"Good." He released her and started back down the hall. Emerald relaxed, touching the spot where his hand had been. She watched him until she realized it was his bare back she was staring at, and slightly admiring.

"Ugh!" She growled then angrily made her way to her room, not even caring if Mercury was there anymore. She really hated guys sometimes.


Sorry this chapter took so long! I ended up adding to my other story. I really like this one, but I didn't want to forget about my first story.

So, I know that I had a little Mercury fan service in there, but it just seems like what he would do if he were jealous, you know? Total territorial type haha. I was going to get to the dance in this one, but I thought Emzies and Jauney needed some alone time to bond.

I feel kind of bad tormenting Emerald with all these feelings but it'll be good for her in the end, let's be honest. :3 I tried to make this one a tad longer for you guys to hold you until the next one. I will be changing jobs soon and hopefully moving to a new apartment, so if I slow down in the next few chapters you know why.