Chapter 11 - Beacon Days Pt. 2

"Again." Alfie ordered eliciting a round of tired muttered protests.

"Why, we've been going on for hours now" Neely demanded. Since classes had ended, Team ANGL had been practicing non-stop. Alfie leading it like a drill sergeant commanding his troops. "I hate to agree but we have these patterns of attack down" Lenox added cracking his knuckles.

"We're not good enough as a team yet" Alfie said impatiently.

"We've only been a team for a few months now" Gren stated somberly "There is still plenty of time for us to get these moves down"

"I know that," Alfie grumbled.

"Then what has you so fired up," Neely asked kneeing down in the cool grass of the quad. The sky was beginning to darken as dusk arrived. Alfie didn't reply, instead he just scowled at his restless team. Neely sighed checking her scroll, there was a message from Neo. A chill ran down her spine, she kept her features neutral in spite of that.

"Is this about the team battles" Lenox guessed. Alfie glared at his brother, the darker shades of amber in his gold eyes flared like fire in the light. Earlier in the day during the sparring matches Glynda had announced that the rookie teams would be participating in team matches. Alfie had gotten a spooked look in his eyes at the news.

"Please just run the patterns one more time" Alfie asked through gritted teeth.

"Why are you so worried ?" Lenox asked "We're a great team." His ever present smile appearing on his face.

"The other teams are skilled" Alfie replied as he began pacing back and forth "Ruby and Jaune are both splendid leaders and they work well under pressure and Cardin may be an asshole but he is a good as a leader,"

"You're a great leader, Alfie" Gren said "and as Lenox said we're a capable team" Alfie stopped pacing, he stared down at the grass.

"We need to practice regardless" Alfie muttered.

Neely stood up walking over to her partner.

"We have practiced and now we need to rest for a moment" She told him. Alfie looked up at the nearly dark sky.

"Fine, but we need to get in more training before the matches" Alfie said stubbornly.

"Of course but now let's go get some dinner and sleep" Lenox said.

Alfie nodded reluctantly as they headed back to the locker room. He felt a knot forming in his stomach as they did.

Neely shut the bathroom door in Team ANGL's dorm room. She turned on the shower head, drowning out the soft mummers of her friends conversation. Despite her protests, the training sessions were a welcome distraction from her mission. Neely, however knew that she couldn't ever completely forget. She took out her scroll and read the message from Neo. It had a date, time, and place for Neely as which to met with her sister in it. The date was the day after the team matches were done. Neely thanked whatever luck she had for this. With Alfie so on edge lately she wouldn't have known how to slip away without her partner noticing. Neely sighed setting her scroll aside. There was only a short time before she'd have to return to her real life for a time. Neely ran a hand under the water of the shower. Remembering that none of this was real, after all relations couldn't be built upon a lie.

Next Day

Alfie felt a dull ache forming in the front of his skull. He set down his pen, which he had been using to sketch out formations, taking in a soothing breath. Professor Port had gone into one of his long stories of former glories. It had allowed the time for Alfie to think up new plans. Professor Port's class was becoming a welcome distraction for him. A chunk of time to focus on the upcoming battles. the Vytal Festival coming in a few months and the team battle in only a few days. Alfie was getting even less sleep than he normally got. Also, he didn't mind it as, less sleep meant he dreamt less.

"Alf" Lenox whispsered jabbing his brother in the side. Alfie looked up, Professor Port had stop going on and was looking at Alfie.

"What was the question, sir?" He asked his mouth feeling dry.

"I was asking if you knew the proper way to defend against a nevermore when you had little upper ground ?" Alfie gulped, curling up his finger into fists. His palms grew sweaty when he found no clear answer in his muddled thoughts.

"Um, I not sure." Alfie replied looking down at his desk. Professor Port lingered on Alfie for a moment longer before turning to Weiss who held up a hand. She gave the answer elegantly to the previous question. It was one that Alfie knew well but it had fled his mind.

"Damn it" He muttered, closing his eyes to the room. Feeling the dull ache in his head grow worse. Lenox and Neely exchanged a concern glance. Class ended without farther incident. However, as Team ANGL went to leave, Professor Port stopped Alfie.

"May I have a moment Alfred" He asked in his gruff voice. Alfie nodded, the circles under his eyes looking dark and heavy.

"I know the stress of being a student, my boy" Professor Port began, walking towards his desk. Alfie braced himself for another story.

"It can be hard to manage it" He said "Especially when you're the leader of a team, however to best help your teammates you need to be in the best mental state as possible." Alfie's eyes widened at the words.

"I," Alfie stammered, he rubbed his tired eyes, "Thank you for the advice, sir" Professor Port nodded.

"Best of luck on your team battles, Alfred." Alfie nodded mustering up a smile before he headed out.

The talk with Port had lightened Alfie mood slightly but the dull ache in his skull hadn't gotten any better. He rubbed his temples trying to soothe it somewhat, as he sat in Professor Goodwitch's class. Lenox was in the arena with Dove Branzewing as his opponent. Alfie's brother was doing his best to toy with Dove. Nimbly dodging out of the way of all of the other boys strikes. Though it was no surprise as Lenox had yet to fight seriously in any of the matches. Much to the ire of Glynda, who watched the match with a hint of irritation in her green eyes. Lenox's movements looked more like he was practicing for a dance than a fight.

"Would it kill him to take these fights seriously," Neely asked

"No, but if he did, then it could kill someone else" Alfie answered, plainly.

"Delightful" She said in a droll tone. Gren watched the fight, his mind wondering back to the night he caught Lenox returning from his fight with a White fang member. There had been a vicious glee in Lenox's crimson eyes. The playful grin and whimsical way he moved, were a welcomed change.

"He's going to end the fight soon" Alfie predicted glancing at the clock. On cure, Lenox halted, side stepping out of the way of Dove's sword. Lenox slashed his shadowslayer at Dove's chest throwing him off balance. With a cunning glint in his red eyes, Lenox lunged forward slamming the blunt edge of his other sword into Dove's neck. He went down hard onto the arena floor. The green bar for Dove plummeted down into the red.

"Enough, the match goes to Mr. Zane" Glynda called. Lenox grinned sheathing his shadowslayers. Dove groaned sitting up, his neck aching from Lenox's blow.

"Good match, Dove" Lenox said holding out a hand for the member of team CRDL. Dove frowned dejectedly before taking Lenox's offered hand. Allowing himself to helped up, before he nodded quietly. The two exited the arena toward the locker room.

"and he continues to be undefeated" Gren said leaning back in his chair. Glynda walked to the center of the arena, clearing away the two boys stats.

"The last match of the day, shall be" Glynda began, "Ruby Rose, and Alfred Zane"

Ruby and Alfie looked at each other in surprise. Ruby gave him an encouraging smile before she stood up.

"Good luck, little brother" Lenox said clapping his brother on the shoulders. Alfie nodded anxiety replacing the pain in his head.

"Yeah."

Alfie stood at the entrance to the arena, now dressed in his battle uniform. Metal braces over his forearms and shines. His fingers tapping his guns, as he watched Ruby walk out to the arena. She looked so much confident standing there with Crescent Rose in her hands. Alfie let out a breath, marching out to meet her. Their stats were displayed on the screen, both had full green health bar.

"Begin" Glynda called from the sidelines. Alfie took a slow step towards Ruby, her silver eyes watched him carefully. Following him as he inched closer with each cautious steps.

Move, He thought unholstering his guns. Ruby's eyes flashed just before she charged at him. She brought Crescent Rose down in a tight arc towards him. Alfie activated his semblance, and time slowed down. He saw all the ways to dodge the blow, there very few of them. Alfie chose the simplest, restoring his perception to normal. Alfie ducked under the blow rolling into a crouch before he fired at her. Ruby quickly spun Crescent Rose in a circle deflecting the rounds. Alfie smiled, adrenaline flowing through his veins. The last remains of his headache gone completely. Ruby grinned slightly prepping for her next attack. He charged, his vision flicking from normal to slowed down speed. Alfie changed his guns into blades, letting them loose at her. Ruby twirled around moving as the blades pasted her. Alfie danced out of the way of her next strike. His back inches from her's as he caught his blades. Slashing them towards Ruby, she ducked away from it. Sweeping Crescent Rose towards Alfie's feet, He leapt up landing atop the scythe dull edge. Ruby transformed into a gun, forcing Alfie to back flip off Crescent Rose. Throwing his blade in midair, as Ruby shoot at him, the blades cut in front of them. The blades spinning back to Alfie as he landed gracefully catching his blades.

Ruby felt her heart flutter in excitement at Alfie's moves. He stood across from her a wonderful smile on his face. His eyes burning like molten amber. Ruby grinned at him, this was one of the things that she loved about being at Beacon, putting her skills to the test with her peers. Her Crescent Rose against Alfie's, wow they really needed to name those things.

Everything outside of the arena and the two of them drowned away. They matched every attack the other dealt, their aura's burning brightly. They finally met in a clash of their weapons, their smiles may have faded but joy radiated in their eyes. Ruby managed to deflated one of Alfie's blade away, twisting the handle of Crescent Rose towards his head. Alfie brought up one of his arms, taking Ruby's blow on his metal brace. He grunted at the force of the blow, throwing it off, he knocked Ruby's foot out from under her. She hooked the end of Crescent Rose on one of his boot. The pair toppled to arena's floor, facing another, Alfie had a one of his guns pointed at her and she had Crescent Rose resting near his shoulder. It was quiet between them for a moment before they dissolved into laughter.

"That is time." Glynda called breaking into their laughter. Alfie and Ruby glance up at the clock it blinked all zeroes, both their half bars evenly matched. Both still in the green.

"A tie" Alfie said catching his breath.

"Seems so" Ruby breathed. "We probably should get up now" she added.

"Agreed." They helped each other up, holstering their weapons, before bowing dramatically. Glynda clapped her hands once.

"Well done, Miss Rose, Mr. Zane" She told them both, before they headed back to the locker room.

"How did you keep anticipating my attacks" Ruby inquired, they two of them hung back after Glynda had dismissed class for the day. Both still bursting with a surprising amount of energy.

"Trade secret," Alfie said with a mischievous smile.

"No fair" Ruby said playfully, "It has to do with your semblance though right?"

"Perhaps," He replied "Or maybe I'm just that amazing."

Ruby giggled as they crossed the quad towards the cafeteria.

"Also that's nice to see again" She told him, pointing to the easy smile on his face.

"It is nice to feel this...at ease" Alfie said taking in a breath of the cool late afternoon air. Ruby looked up at the darkening sky, her red cape flowing out behind her.

"You've been so worried about the team matches" She said

"I'm just anxious about messing up as leader" He admitted to her, "This will be the first real test of my ability to lead, to prove that Professor Ozpin made the right choice making me leader of Team ANGL"

"You are a good leader" Ruby told him, "You're always cool under pressure when it counts, plus you have that whole knowing things before they happen"

Alfie chuckled, "It's not predications" He said "Also, I just act calm, I'm really just a ball of stress."

"I can see that" She teased.

Alfie sighed slowly down, "Still, sometimes that it would be nice to just jump without worrying about where I land."

Ruby grinned "It doesn't always work out for the best though" She told him, thinking of when she charged out to fight a Death Stalker and the less than stellar results.

"Maybe but it's still pretty amazing how quickly you come up with plans"

"Fast is sort of my thing" Ruby boasted.

"I guess that kinda makes us opposites" Alfie said.

"Really ?"

"You're semblance allows you move faster than anyone" Alfie told her, "Mine, lets me see the world in slow motion."

Ruby looked into his eyes they looked like a cross between molten gold and a brilliant shade of amber.

"That fits you perfectly" She said more quietly than she intended.

Alfie smiled. "Yeah, it kind of does."

They finally reached the cafeteria, "Ready for dinner" She asked.

Alfie nodded, hanging back as Ruby headed in to find her team.

"Hey." he called, Ruby turned looking back at him.

"Yeah"

"Thanks for the great match today, Ru." He said, a slight blush across his cheeks. Her own face flushed and she couldn't say anything but nod before she hurried inside. Alfie lingered outside, smiling up at the sky that was now turning a navy blue, with a orange, gold in the horizon.

Next day

"We could totally break their legs though." Nora reassured eagerly. Jaune gave his cheerful teammate a weak grin.

"I don't think we have to go that far," He said waving his hands, "Cardin's a jerk to everyone after all."

Cardin Winchester was on the other end of the the lunch room. He and the rest of team CRDL were tormenting Velvet Scarlatina once more. She pleaded with them to leave her alone. Team RWBY that sat at the same table as Team JNPR also saw the commotion. Blake looked on in disgust, she wanted nothing more than to go help her fellow faunus. However she gripped her book tightly willing herself to remain still. It would draw too much attention to herself and she still wanted to keep her own faunus roots hidden. Ruby as well wanted to help out Velvet. Who had never been anything but nice to her. Her legs trembled at the idea of making a scene in front of her classmates. Their inaction left Cardin to continue tugging on Velvets ears.

"Atrocious, I just can't stand people like that" Pyrrha said in disgust,

"It's gotta be hard to be a faunus" Yang lamented resting her head on her hand, she saw Blake staring sharply at the scene. She was about to say something to her partner, as she saw someone walk up behind Cardin. The person gave him an impromptu shower of tomato soup, soda, and grilled cheese. The entire cafeteria went quiet.

"Sorry about that my hand slipped" Lenox said holding up his hands in a show false peace, his voice laced with insincerity.

"You dirty punk." Cardin growled grabbing ahold of Lenox's collar.

"I'd really advice you to let go" He told Cardin, "Especially if you want your arm to remain unbroken." A predatory glint shone in Lenox's crimson eyes. Rage contorted Cardin's features, raising his free hand and forming it into a fist.

"Enough." a commanding yet quiet voice said. Cardin looked back to see Gren's towering form, standing mere feet away.

"Leave now" Gren went on simply. The members of team CRDL looked at the faunus wearily.

"Whatever." Cardin said trying to sound bored, but failing to mask the anger in his voice. He let go of Lenox's collar before he matched past Gren.

"Let's go," He ordered at his teammates, who followed him without protest. The cafeteria erupting into a chorus of low conversations as they left.

"Are you okay, Velvet" Gren asked her his features softening

"Yes, I'm alright Gren, thank you both of you " She said gratefully, smiling at the boys.

"I'm sorry that his always picking on you" Gren added, Lenox giving a nod of agreement.

"I'm used to it really, " Velvet said sadly, "But, it's nice to have people who stand up to him,"

Lenox nodded seriously "If you ever need any help or just want to talk we're here"

Velvet smiled "I'll remember that Lenox" She said "See you both around" departing from the boys.

"Ladies," Lenox greeted sliding onto the bench next to Yang, and stealing a grape from her tray. "Gentlemen" His usual grin slipping back into place.

"Help yourself" Yang told Lenox lazily,

"I will, as it seems that I lost my lunch" He said playfully.

"All you did was start unnecessary trouble." Weiss interjected.

"Sometimes doing what's right, comes off as being a troublemaker," Gren said taking a seat across from Lenox, next to Ruby. Weiss scowled fiercely at him. Blake also looked at him, those same word had been spoken by a leader of the White Fang. Years ago, long before they changed into the more militant group that they were now. She made a mental note to ask him about that later.

"Do I have to add cafeterias to the list of places you're not allowed unattended" Alfie broke in before the heiress could reply. The other Zane brother took a seat besides his brother. Alfie's eyes drifting to Ruby, who gave him a small smile.

"There's a list ?" Neely asked sitting down beside Gren.

"Of course," He said taking a bite of his sandwich. "Night clubs, warehouses, and fireworks stores"

"Firework stores ?" Weiss and Pyrrha asked sounding just a bit baffled.

Alfie sighed, "Lenox and Yang are legally banned from entering any store that sell mostly fireworks on Patch unattended" He said.

"Why ?" Jaune asked glancing at the pair who had rather guilty smiles on their faces.

"It's apart of the reason the prank war had a ceasefire," Ruby answered "The event is never to be spoken of."

The teams looked at Yang and Lenox in a silent awe and concern.

"What the hell did you two do?" Neely asked speaking the question on most of their mind.

"You know shenanigans and what not" Yang said, without farther explanation to the story.

"In other news, I can't wait to thrash Team CRDL in the team match tomorrow" Lenox said boastfully. Team ANGL nodded in agreement, Alfie and Neely had caught only the tail end of the confrontation but it had made their blood boil. Alfie was determined to knock Cardin and his pack of loyal bullies down a peg.