A/N: Hey there true believers. Just as I said there was a bit more a gap between updates but here we are. I want to say thank you to everyone who reads and follows my little tale. This story has broken the 100 follower mark while not an enormous achievement it is one I'm still proud of. Also as some of the more observant readers will notice this story finally has a cover made specifically for the story, this is what I was talking about in the last chapter when I said I was working on something and I hope you all enjoy it. Well, that's enough of my rambling I hope you all enjoy the latest chapter.

The past three weeks had seemed to fly by for Clark. His lacking in Grimm Studies hadn't been too much of an issue by the time the first week had finished. His innate ability to process information at an unnatural level had allowed him to catch up in terms of textbook knowledge. Now he found himself out ahead again and that brief moment of normalcy he had felt when he first started had begun to fade. But it was nothing that he wasn't used too.

The team had begun to become more and more cohesive, well that wasn't exactly true, not entirely true at least. Ruby's team seemed to be getting on well enough, and he got along exceptionally well with Ruby, Yang, and Blake. While Weiss seemed to have been able to put aside her dislike for Ruby and had seemed to at least attempt to curb her hostile behavior towards him she still seemed to have a problem with him, and he had no idea why.

She would often send him disapproving looks when she thought he wasn't looking and her constant use of "farm boy" and "hayseed" had begun to grate on his nerves. He would say that at least she kept them to grumbles to herself so she wouldn't upset the others but he could still hear them as clear as day. He wasn't even sure she was fully aware she was doing it. But even if the rest of the team never heard or saw what she did her demeanor had certainly made it very clear how she felt about him and they weren't blind to that.

When she spoke to him it was always in a very formal tone, very icy, cold, and distant. The way she conducted their interactions was all business. Granted this formality was in almost all the conversations she had, but with the rest of team her shoulders would relax, her spine would be less rigid and the occasional smile would grace her face or a small laugh would pass her lips. None of that ever happened with Clark.

"You know she's really not that bad," Ruby said to Clark as they made their way towards team RWBY's dorm room for another study session.

"You keep saying that, but she really seems to dislike me," Clark mumbled as he adjusted the strap of his bag on his shoulder.

"She just needs to get used to you," she said without really thinking about it.

"Just needs to get used to me huh? Thanks," he teased back.

"You know what I meant," she said back puffing her cheeks out.

"Well I'm glad you have such confidence in my ability to make friends, but it really feels like she's just tolerating me until I cycle out," he said a little dejected.

"How much longer are you gonna be with us anyway?"

"You should know, Ozpin should have been keeping you in the loop too. You are the team leader after all," he said knowing full well she had no idea and likely hadn't checked any school messages since term had begun.

"Pfft, yeah…I totally know, I was just making sure you knew," she responded in a tone that wouldn't have fooled anyone let alone Clark.

"Another week, then I'm moving to team JNPR,"

"Aww, we're gonna miss you. We'll have to throw you a little going away party."

"You do know I'm not leaving the school and I'm going to be cycling back in a couple of months, right?"

"Yeah…still though," she murmured as she looked down and began to fiddle with the hem of her skirt.

"Don't worry we'll still be friends, and I'll be sure to come and visit, I'll even write you guys," he teased.

"Okay, I get it, I'm being a little silly," she said with a smile as she opened the door to her room.

"Just a bit, I appreciate the sentiment though."

When they entered Blake and Weiss were already their books out and ready. Blake looked up and gave a small wave, Weiss simply gave a curt nod. Setting his bag down Clark took what had become his regular seat by the window and began to unpack his things. Just then the door to the room swung open.

"THE BEAST HAS AWAKEN!" Yang shouted triumphantly as she entered the room holding her prize over her head.

Slamming the box down on the desk she flung the lid open to reveal the steaming surface of the Pizza. Clark could almost hear Weiss grimacing at the site of the bizarre creation the others seemed to be so fond of. Last time they had ordered she had let forth a slew of criticisms of the creation. Processed cheese? Sugary tomato paste? All that was to say nothing of the bizarre hodgepodge of toppings.

"Don't make that face, no one's making you eat it," Yang said.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Clark said a little eagerly as he began to dig through his bag. "My parents sent me a care package, it just arrived this afternoon," he pulled out a container with a grin. "My mom makes the best cookies," he said opening the box revealing an assortment about three dozen homemade chocolate-chip, Toll House, sugar, and peanut butter cookies.

Ruby's eyes grew about two sizes and she zipped over and gazed almost lovingly into the container.

"Careful Smallville, you might lose a finger," Yang said with a laugh.

Ruby looked up at him and gave a questioning, almost pleading, look.

"Go ahead,' he said with a nod and Ruby began to dig in.

"What's this?" Blake asked as she plucked something else from the package. Looking up Clark saw a small envelope he hadn't noticed at first.

"Huh, not sure?" Clark said reaching out to take it. Breaking the seal and tipping the envelope over a small chip fell out. Lifting it up to examine it, he didn't really know what it was."What is it?"

"It's a data chip, your put in your scroll," Blake said looking over his shoulder and examining it.

"Oh, I wonder what's on it," Clark said looking over his scroll. He had never used anything beyond the most mundane functions. After about minute of looking the device over he heard an exasperated sigh come from behind him.

"Good lord, if we wait for you we'll be here all night," Weiss said in a rather irritated tone as she walked over and plucked the chip and his scroll from his hands. "Of course you wouldn't know," she mumbled in such a soft tone it wouldn't even qualify as a whisper.

She tapped the side and a port opened and she inserted the chip. As she fiddled with the screen Clark turned the envelope over and saw a small message written on the front in his mother's handwriting he hadn't noticed before. It read 'We Miss You' encircled in a large heart.

"It appears to be a video," Weiss said cooly as she tapped the screen before Clark could say anything, and suddenly everyone was watching his scroll and heard his mother's voice.

"Is it on Johnathan?"

"Yeah...pretty sure, the light means it's on...I think," his father voice answered back.

"Hey Clark, we miss you," Martha Kent said waving at the camera.

"Hey son, how's it been going?" Jonathan said turning the lens around to face him as we waved before turning the camera back around to his wife.

"We miss you so much Clark and we're so proud of you. We hope you're doing well," Martha said as her eyes seemed to start to seem to shine.

"Someone else wants to say high too," Johnathan's voice said with a laugh as the camera swung around and focused on a golden retriever. "Say hi Shelby," he chuckled as the dog began to bark and jumped on Johnathan and began to lick him. "Okay, okay, get down you dumb dog," he said through a laugh as he pushed the excited canine off of him. "Here are all the things you've been missing," he said as he continued to laugh. "The fields are still empty, we haven't started planting yet haha."

"Johnathan stop," Martha said with a chuckle.

"What? Clark will want to know that the tractor is still here," he said cheerily as he focused on the farm equipment. "Oh and the oak tree is still standing, the barn, of course, is still standing," he chortled as a large tree with a tire swing came into focus followed by the family barn.

"Johnathan," his mother said again still trying to suppress laughter.

"Oh, he knows I'm just funnin' with him," he said with a chuckle.

"Come on, say something serious,"

"Okay, okay," he said as he focused the camera on himself. "Clark, your mother and I... we...we can't tell you how happy we are that you've decided to put your talents towards helping others...to help everyone. We just...we're so proud of you," Johnathan said, his eyes seeming to become brighter which caused Clark's own eyes to water a tiny bit.

Walking over he pulled his wife close so that they were both in the frame. They smile warmly as they waved at the camera.

"We miss you so much Clark and we can't wait for you to come home for a visit," his mother said as she wiped her eyes.

"Oh and be sure you bring those friends you were talking about for the summer fair, maybe that pretty girl you were going on about," his father said jokingly.

"John, stop teasing him," she exclaimed with a smirk as she slapped her husband's shoulder. "Oh, and be sure you share those cookies!"

"We'll see you real soon son."

"Take care of yourself, we love you, son," Martha said as she kissed her hand and pressed it to the lens before she and her husband began to wave at the camera and the recording ended.

Clark felt his cheeks burning in mild embarrassment but he could bring himself to care. He was smiling broadly as he wiped a single tear from his eye.

"Wow...your parents are adorable," Yang said with a big grin as the video ended.

"Your mom makes the best cookies," Ruby said in a muffled voice with her mouth crammed full.

"They seem sweet," Blake said kindly.

Weiss made no comment but seemed to even more irritated than before as she walked back to her bed.

"They're the best," Clark said a little sadly, he really missed his parents, but it did him a lot of good to see them, even if it was just a video.

"So...which of us were you going on about?" Yang asked teasingly as she waggled her eyebrows.

Clark's faced turned even redder as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "It's not like that, I told them about all of you and my mom asked if I thought any...well...if that any of you were cute and well..." he trailed off as he hesitantly raised his eyes to look at them. Yang smirked, Blake gave an almost knowing look, Weiss looked irate and Ruby was absolutely flushing red.

Clark could tell Yang was about to continue her assault and probably poke at him a bit more than he would have liked but Weiss was the next to speak.

"Okay, are we done? Can we get to work or do we want to hear about Hayseed Harry's dirt farming parents again?" she said with a level of irritation and anger none of them had heard before. But the moment she finished speaking all eyes were on her in utter shock, they couldn't believe she had just said something so cruel.

Clark had finally had enough. She could mock him all she wanted, but she was not going to insult his parents. He could handle the irritation, the mocking and dismissal. But to insult his parents, two of the kindest people his the world, people who had opened their hearts and home to him, people she had never met. That seemed to be the straw the broke the camels back and he finally lashed out.

"What is your problem with me?" Clark exclaimed. "I haven't done anything to you and you just treat me like dirt! Why?" he didn't shout, but his voice carried a gravity none of them had ever heard before.

"I…" she began, but he didn't let her finish.

"No, you know what? I don't want to hear it. My parents may not have had a lot, but at least they could afford to raise me right," Clark regretted what he said before the words had even left his mouth but he couldn't seem to stop himself, and the silence that followed was utterly deafening.

Weiss looked up at him as though she had been slapped. Her heartbeat and her blood pressure were elevated. She let out a huff and stomped her foot before she turned away and left the room. The other three just stared at Clark, looks ranged from confused to mildly impressed.

"Whoa, Smallville...you totally torched her," Yang said not able to hide a tiny sense of amusement even though she was clearly shocked and somewhat disapproving as well.

"She has been treating you rather poorly, not that what you said was right but…" Blake said evenly.

"I have to go apologize to her," Clark said with determination as he made his way towards the door.

"Maybe let her cool down for a little?" Ruby offered meekly but Clark just shook his head.

"I shouldn't have said that...I'll be back," he said determinately and left the dorm and went in search of Weiss.

Clark's mind was racing. What had he been thinking? Lashing out at her like that. His parents had raised him better than. He was mad, she had no right to insult his mother and father let alone any cause. But even though he may have been justified in his anger he had not been justified in what he said.

So now he was searching for Weiss and she was easy enough for him to find. The sound of her heart was something he had, whether he like it or not, had committed to memory. Just like Ruby's rabbit-like heartbeat, Blake's constant metronome, or Yang's slow drumming beat. He had memorized all of their signals and could follow them.

He found her stand atop the roof of the dormitories staring off into the star-strewn sky.

"Miss Schnee?" he said hesitantly as he approached her.

"What do you want?" she said not turning to face him, but her voice sounded strained and almost as thought it was ready to crack.

"Well...I...uh, I wanted to apologize. I shouldn't have said that I'm sorry," and he meant it, he truly did. But she just scoffed.

"Why?" she responded harshly before mumbling "It's not like you're wrong," in a dejected, almost ashamed voice.

"I'm sorry?" Clark asked before realizing he probably shouldn't have been able to hear what she had said.

"I said you're not wrong!" she nearly shouted as she spun around to face him and Clark say the tears in her eyes and the wet streaks stained her cheeks and Clark was very nearly stunned.

"Weiss I…" he stammered but she cut him off.

"And it's not fair!" she shouted seemingly letting all reservation and checks she had in place fall away.

"Not Fair? What are you…" he began but again she stopped him.

"You're a nobody from nowhere and you are better than any of us...better than me," her voice finally cracked as she finished her eyes casting down.

"What? I'm not better than any of you."

"Oh please," she nearly scoffed as she wrapped her arms around herself and half turned away. "You completed initiation by yourself, faster than any team in Beacon's history. Your grades are perfect and don't deny it, you try to hide it but I've seen your records. On top of all that your combat capabilities…" but started but it was Clark's turn to cut her off.

"Now hold on, there are a lot of people doing better than be in combat courses, you included," he told her defensively but she only snorted.

"Oh please, Yang told us about your fight. You're holding back in class, I don't know why, but you are any huntsman worth their salt could see that. On top of everything else you're always so...so nice!"

"What?" Clark exclaimed sounding utterly dumbstruck.

"I've been nothing but a bitc…"

"Please, don't say that," Clark said cutting her off, but that only seemed to aggravate her more.

"Rruaagh!" she cried practically gripping at her hair. "You see! You won't even let me insult myself!" she very nearly screamed as she began to pace back and forth. "I've had everything! All the advantages. Training! The best tutors! Pedigree! My name! My resources! You're still better than me and your parents…" she stopped suddenly as though she had caught herself saying something she shouldn't have and turned away from him completely again. "It's not fair," she finished in a whimper and Clark could hear her making small hiccupping noises, as though she is trying to keep something bottled up.

Suddenly Clark understood, or at the very least he thought he did. She was; despite all her attempts to appear to the contrary, a terribly insecure girl. She had every advantage the world could afford her and she was still being outclassed by a nobody and he was fairly certain there was more at play with her parents but he wasn't going to press the issue.

"Weiss," he began.

"Just go...I don't want to hear it," she murmured.

But Clark wasn't about to let her sit here in distress. No, she hadn't been kind to him, she had been downright mean to him. But seeing her here, looking so alone and her heart being laid so bare, he could allow her to wallow in her self-loathing. Walking over to her he gently gripped her shoulder and spun her around before pulling her into a gentle embrace.

She let out a small squeak of surprise and was silent for a moment before speaking. "What do you think you're doing?" she mumbled into his chest.

"Hugging you," he said simply.

"Well...stop it," she grumbled into his shirt as she let out sniffle but made no effort to pull away.

"I'm sorry Weiss, I really am," he said again as he felt her begin to softly cry.

"Why are you so nice," she said with a cracking voice, her arms reaching up to pull him closer.