I do not own or lay claim to any of the characters or concepts that this story stems from, only the characters and concepts that I have brought. I thank Monty and the rest of the RT crew for giving us this, and add to it with the deepest of respect.

(A special thanks to AYangThang, for helping me develop this idea, and allowing me to take bits and pieces of their amazing piece of work and add them to my own)

By Oum I give you…

Leader of the Pack: Boiling Point

As the week comes ever closer to a close, the tension that seems to hang in the air around team RWBY comes ever closer to a critical point. Where Yang and Blake continue to make inroads, mostly from the blonde brawlers efforts, the divide between Weiss and everyone else only seems to be growing greater. It is quite noticeable with her exuberant partner. Ruby seems rather morose, watching the interactions of those around her, then comparing them to her own much colder and distant partnership. Desperate times call for desperate measures, is the thought that crosses through her head, but help comes from a welcome, if unexpected, source.

After another long day of classes and practice, Ruby is wandering back on her own, Yang having confiscated her temporary partner to show her something that she had found. She is hailed from behind by Pyrrha, who breaks away from the rest of team JNPR to join her. "Do you mind if I walk with you for a time, Ruby?" The ever polite and contained redhead asks before falling in line next to the younger wolf faunus.

With a surprised little quirk of her head and flick of an ear, Ruby gives the best smile she can muster to Pyrrha and nods "If you want to, Pyrrha. But what about the rest of your team? Wouldn't you rather be spending time with them?" She asks, glancing at the retreating, animated backs of the rest of team JNPR.

With that soft, caring smile that those who have been graced to know the demure champion have come to know so well, she shakes her head "We will have plenty of time to chat later. And it mostly consists of listening to Nora, to be honest. She does fill the quiet rather well by herself, after all." She says with a gentle little smile, nodding just slightly.

Ruby lets out an unexpected little giggle. "I still can't believe that her and Ren have been partners for so long, they are the exact opposites of each other." She trails off after that, looking down at her feet, then puts back on that smile of hers, and looks at Pyrrha "Soooo, what did you want to talk about?"

Pyrrha smiles again, then sighs softly. "I can't help but notice that you and your partner seem to be at...Odds. Weiss does seem to be keeping her distance, it would seem." She sighs and shakes her head sadly "I worry that the two of you might not be forming the bonds that the others are, and I can't help but feel that it is harming both of you."

Ruby puts back on that fake smile, even knowing that the rest of her body language tells the truth to the lie she is trying to sell "Everything is fine! Weiss is just Weiss, nothing is wrong. I mean, yeah, she can be a little distant, but she is just so amazing! It's not like I have much to offer her, but things are going ok. Really, they are…." She trails off, her ears wilting just a bit.

Pyrrha hums softly, a thoughtful look on her face. "It can be difficult, being pushed into the spotlight, being forced to take on the role of the Alpha, or even just being the center of attention all the time. You can quickly learn to feel that everyone has an ulterior motive, that nothing can be simple or genuine. That no matter what happens, or what is said, in the end you stand alone. The thing is, those that are put into those situations are often the ones that need someone to be there the most, a friend, a companion, an equal. The weight of expectations can be a burden that is too much for anyone to bear." She says with a soft tilt of her head, meeting the eyes of the younger team leader next to her. "I have the feeling that in the end, you two will be ok, as long as you can meet her on equal footing. As long as you can find that balance that, honestly, you both need." She smiles and stops "This is where I leave you, take care Ruby." She says as she steps into a room, leaving the young wolf to her thoughts.

Elsewhere, two other members of Team RWBY are having a one-sided, but somehow still animated conversation over a book that Yang 'Is just sure you will love, Blakey!'. Said book happens to be about the early years of the Achieve Men, one of Yang's favorite bands, and a quickly growing source of a headache for Blake. "Seriously, Blakey! You NEED to read this! You will understand soooo much better why I love them! I mean…..LOOK at them! Have you even listened to the songs I have recommended to you?" The pleading little look the blonde brawler is giving her partner would probably crack the resolve of a glacier, but Blake Belladonna is not swayed. Not a bit. Nope, not swayed by how her eyes light up, or her ears twitch in a way that is totally not in any way, shape, or form at all mildly cute or amusing.

"Yang, I have listened to them, and I just don't find them as intriguing as you do." Blake says with a sigh, trying to focus back on the book that she is currently trying to read while settled into one of the soft, comfortable lounger chairs that grace most of the out of the way nooks and corners of the library. She glances over the top of the book when she is sure Yang is not looking, watching the antics of the energetic bear faunus.

Yang, for her part, is enjoying the time with her full-time partner, finding it a relief from the distant and demanding nature of Weiss. With a sigh, she decides to address the Goliath in the room, absently rubbing the back of her head "Soooo…..How are things going with Ruby?" At the sudden glance she gets, she waves her hands dismissively "I'm not trying to pry, or find out what you two are working on, I just….. I worry about her, you know? She is my adorable little sister, and she can be a bit…. Well, shy is a polite way to put it. I don't know if things are going any better with you two than Weissy and I are doing. Honestly, I will be glad when all this is over, because frankly? The Ice Queen is getting on my nerves a bit." She sighs and slumps back into her chair "Yeah, I will do my best in the fight, and I get that Weiss is used to being in charge, but she can be a bit much to handle, you know? I get that her whole family probably have the stick implanted at birth, but it would be nice if she budged, just a bit on things." Yang covers her face with the book, sighing.

Blake puts down her book, carefully placing her bookmark into it. "Ruby is doing fine, honestly. She is….. Brilliant, to be honest. She has a good grasp of tactics, and is unconventional in a way that actually works. I don't quite get the whole power struggle that is happening here, I think that is a Faunus thing. But, I can see the strain it is putting on both of them. Something has to give, and if this is what it take, then so be it." She tilts her head to the side just a bit, then smiles softly "But, don't be upset when you lose, Yang." A soft smile graced her lips as her amber eyes meet lilac, then vanish behind her book once more.

With a happy little laugh, Yang nods and returns to reading her book, finding the quiet oddly comforting, a strange thing for the animated young woman to realize.

Elsewhere, Weiss is sitting in one of the study rooms, working studiously on her homework from classes earlier that day, going over her notes from Professor Port's class, being one of the few who actually takes notes of everything the rather verbose Boar faunus says. She looks up as someone approaches her, seeing Professor Port stop as he sees her, fluffing out his mustache, the tusks ruffling it as he purses his lips. "Miss Schnee, I see you are as studious as ever. You did well in class today, but there is a matter I would like to speak to you about, if you do not mind."

Certain that praise and acknowledgement of her achievements is sure to follow, she nods, rising and carefully collecting her books and notebook, each item being carefully arranged in the way she was taught. One must always keep appearances in mind, after all. "Of course, Professor. Do you want to talk here, or somewhere else?" She asks, keeping her posture and bearing proper for dealing with someone who is in a superior position to herself in mind, while not giving up totally on her implied status. He was just a common teacher, after all. Societal standards must be kept, after all.

He nods, his small eyes watching her intently from under his bushy brow. "Somewhere a bit quieter, I think. Some of what I have to say should probably not be shared with all of the student body, after all." He puffs and starts to head towards the outdoors balcony, Weiss trailing along behind him, even more certain of praise and acknowledgement now.

Once they have walked onto the balcony, and the doors have been shute behind them, Professor Port turns and regards the young heiress with a serious look on his face, his hands tucked behind him. "Now, I understand how things normally work in your circles, Miss Schnee, but I think that you are missing a few things with how things work in the real world. Yes, your abilities are quite remarkable, and your talent is undeniable. That being said, your attitude is not proper for a Huntress. You need to learn to work with others, to give a bit, or I fear you will break. Even I, when I was an active Huntsman, had to learn to depend on my team. After all, when you are facing the challenges of the wild's, Miss Schnee, they will be all you have."

Weiss stares at him for a moment, taken aback as the conversation she was expecting in her mind takes a completely different track. "I don't think I quite understand what you are talking about, Professor. My work in your class has been more than acceptable, I think. And I have always done very well in your live exercises so far. So, what exactly is the problem?"

The professor eyes her once again, then nods and looks at her from under his brow. "Miss Schnee, you lack a sense of teamwork, of camaraderie. You see others as tools, as a way to an end, and not as what they are. Young people who are willing to risk their lives for others. Not for what they can gain, but what they can give. And sometimes, the best way you can do that, that you can make a true difference, is by supporting others. By following others lead, and learning from them. To be frank, your talents on your own are amazing, but your ability to work with others is sorely lacking. If you learn how to be part of a team, and not just standing alone in the spotlight, then I think that someday, you too will have as amazing experiences as I do to pass along to the next generation of Hunters and Huntresses." With that, he nods his head once and leaves, chest thrust out brashly as always.

**A/N

Sorry for the long delay! My life has been hectic, and I have not been as focused as I would have liked. I have had to rethink a great many things, but i hope that I can once again start updating regularly on this, and my other stories.

Thank you for your patience, and your reviews.