AN:
So the reason why this a week late is because I've fallen behind on alot of schoolwork.
Also I may have watched the entire first season of Brooklyn Nine Nine, as well as the last episode of Supernatural S9.
Man, that episode was intense.
Anyways, I still have some work to finish off, but for mostly I'm (almost) done with that so updates should go back to the norm soonish.
I have some things to talk about:
1. Have you heard the new RWBY Theme, 'Time to Say Goodbye'? It's pretty good; plus RWBY S2 Opening was just released this week. Go check it out, it's pretty rad.
2. My official school term is almost over, but I got an extra week of lessons over the month-long holiday, so expect some delay.
3. I'm going to remove the Bonus Chapters, but they will be reuploaded in another story along with some other stuff.
4. For the Q&A, I'm gonna be changing some details. I'm going to shorten the period from 4 to 2 weeks, but you can post your questions on the review section. PMs get priority though.
Speaking of the Q&A, the first to be on the hot-seat is...
'Drumrolls'
Alexis Maven!
In case you don't know what's going on, I'm holding a Q&A session for each OC in the story so far. Just submit any questions you want answered by either PMing me or posting a comment in the review section.
Go submit any questions you have! In the meantime, R&R and enjoy.
Chapter 8: Support
The entire room simultaneously flinched as the sound of crushing wood reverberated throughout the hall. With the upcoming Vytal Festival, Professor Goodwitch decided that it was time for the students to begin trial matches with each other, in order to better prepare themselves for the Festival's tourney.
Alexis couldn't help but wonder if that was a wise decision, as he watched his leader dodge yet another overzealous punch from the Beacon's very own "Sweetheart."
"C'mon Strom, kick her ass!" his sister yelled, caught up in the fight's intense atmosphere.
"You're not helping!" Strom shouted back, pausing to block one of Yang's punches with Wrath, only for it to be sent flying through one of the hall's windows.
"Go get 'im, Yang!" Ruby cheered, bouncing up and down on her seat.
The blonde didn't reply; too busy chasing her prey with a maniacal grin on her face.
"Just give up, you'll die quicker," Rudy loudly advised, causing some of the audience to snicker and chant "give up".
"That's not an option!" the blue-haired leader of SALV yelled, rolling away as a cascade of wood splinters showered the hall's floor.
"As much as it pains me, Rudford is right. It would be in your best interest to surrender," Allistar suggested.
Strom's retort died in his throat as a hand grabbed him by the collar. With one hand, he was completely lifted off his feet, and was brought face-to-face with his opponent, noses almost touching.
"You're gonna have to pay me back for doing all that running," the blonde smirked, already pulling back one of her fists behind her head.
The entire crowd winced in pain and sympathy as a sickening crunch echoed throughout the auditorium.
"That had to be the most pathetic match ever," Laci commented through a mouthful of salad. "Of all time."
"Lay it off, would you sissy?" Strom groaned, pressing an ice-pack onto his face. "I'm too busy being in pain."
"Pfft, whatever."
Strom wasn't in the best of moods, having come back from the match with a concussion, a bruised eye, a broken nose and a minor ankle sprain.
"How did you manage to sprain your ankle anyway?" Allistar asked.
"Must have sprained it during all that dodging I did," Strom muttered.
"I told you to just give up," Rudy snarked.
The injured bluenette didn't reply, muttering darkly to himself.
"So, did she say what you'll have to do for her?" Alexis questioned, gesturing towards Yang who was busy being enraptured by Nora's story.
"Not yet," Strom shrugged, pausing to shift the ice-pack to the other side of his face. "I just hope I don't die from whatever she's planning. "
Alexis didn't reply, shifting his attention towards Jaune, who had just stood up.
"Besides, he's not only a jerk to me, he's a jerk to everybody," the blonde told Pyrrha before leaving.
"Who's he talking about?" Alexis whispered to Rudy.
"Cardin Winchester. Jerk's a grade-A bully," he grunted back, glancing at the nearby table, where the armored-clad hunter and his team were currently harassing the bunny-eared Velvet.
"And Jaune's just another one of his victims," Allistar muttered, his eyes fixated on the blatant discrimination. "Utterly deplorable."
Alexis inwardly sighed, watching the retreating form of Jaune.
Over the next few weeks, the blonde leader of JNPR became more withdrawn; shunning his friends and hanging out with team CRDL. Only Pyrrha seemed to know the reason behind his change, but refuses to tell; only giving the same answer over and over again.
"Jaune knows exactly what he's doing. Who am I to judge?" she would snap at the questioner.
But there wasn't any time to contemplate Jaune's strange behavior; the first-years have just received their first field assignment.
"Guys, I got the details," Strom declared as he strode into team SALV's room.
"Where're we going?" Alexis asked behind his book.
"Someplace called the Ruins of Áki. It's about a 2-hour flight from Beacon."
"We're going treasure-hunting?" Laci queried, her eyes brimming with excitement at the promise of treasure.
"Something like that. Some archeology group wants us to map the entire thing," Strom answered whilst consulting his scroll. "It isn't that big; just a couple of square metres. We leave around 7 tomorrow."
"Might as well get ready," Alexis said, shutting his book and getting off his bed. "Laci, can you and Vachi go pack some things for the trip while Strom and I will go pop over to the city for supplies?"
"Sure," his partner replied, already beginning to drag out a travel knapsack from a pile underneath her bed.
"Yeah, good plan. Except… I can't come with you," Strom said hesitantly.
"What? Why not?" Alexis questioned suspiciously.
"The thing is… I got a message from Yang. She wants to see me."
"Is this about the favor you own her. Fine," Alexis stated. "I'll be okay on my own."
"Great. Thanks," Strom beamed before exiting the room in a fast walk. "Wish me luck!"
"...Bet you 50 that he dies," Laci quipped after checking that her brother was out of earshot.
"I think I got all of it," Alexis wondered aloud as he stepped outside the store, checking for the umpteenth time in the plastic bags he was carrying.
"Yeah, got all of it," he affirmed, spinning around and bumping into...
"Jaune? What're you doing here?"
"Oh, me?" the blonde answered nervously. "Getting some fresh air, that's all."
"We're near a trash processing plant."
"We are?" What a coincidence," Jaune babbled, getting flustered.
"What is that box? Why is said box making buzzing noise?" the brunette pointed at the small brown box under Jaune's arm.
"Oh, you know, Rapier wasps," Jaune said as nonchalantly as possible.
"Rapier waps," Alexis deadpanned. "You hate those things. You ran out of the room screaming the second Port released a bunch of them."
"What? No, I like them. Love them," Jaune denied.
"This is about Cardin, isn't it?"
The blonde stood expressionless for a moment, before slouching dejectedly.
"I messed up big time," he sighed, slumping onto a nearby bench. "I have to do whatever Cardin tells me and Pyrrha's not talking to me."
"So, life's the pits?" Alexis questioned, sitting next to Jaune.
"Yeah. The absolute pits."
The two sat in silence, the night sky twinkling above them.
"Your teammates are really worried about you," the brunette claimed. "She doesn't show it, but Pyrrha's pretty hurt."
Jaune didn't reply, staring dejectedly at his feet.
"As the leader, shouldn't it be your job to make them, I dunno, less worried?"
"But I'm no good," Jaune complained. 'What use am I as a leader if I don't have any thing going for me?"
"Pfft. Being a leader isn't just about being the best of the best."
"What do you mean?"
"Ruby's more hyperactive and childish than Nora. You're suffering from severe self-doubts. Strom's pretty unfocused most of the time. And Allistar's a pompous ass," Alexis continued, listing each name with his fingers.
"But..."
"But they have their teammates to fall back on. That's what makes a good leader: someone who is able to rely on his allies for help if he or she fell down."
Jaune sat in deep thought for a while, before letting out a huge sigh.
"You know, you're easier to talk to than Ruby."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Alexis smirked. "So, you going to get rid of those wasps?"
"Not yet. There's something... I have to take care of," Jaune answered.
"Eh. Suit yourself. Now come on. I don't want to wake up late for my trip tomorrow."
Once again, I would like to remind you guys that there is a Q&A session going on right now. Please post any question you want or you can PM your question straight away.
As always, please R&R, it helps me out alot if you guys leave any constructive criticism about my writing. I want to improve so that more people can enjoy this story.
Adios!
