Qrow's Room
"So, let me see if I have all the facts Qrow. Onyx Stone's kid has feeling for Ruby and Ruby has feelings for him. They have yet to act on them. Cobalt managed to beat Yang, so he has her blessing on the matter." Taiyang asked from the other end of the scroll.
"That about sums it up Tai." Qrow replied.
"Give him your fight tomorrow and keep me posted. The moment he decides to act on these feelings, I'll be paying a visit to Beacon." Tai stated.
"Got it." Qrow stated before hanging up.
Outside RWBY's Room
Cobalt had his bag as he knocked on the door. Ruby, with her bag in hand, had answered with a frown. Behind her stood Weiss and a reluctant Blake both with bags as well.
"Hey, you guys want to come swimming as well?" Cobalt asked.
"N…" Blake saw Weiss glaring at her "Yes."
Weiss raised an eye brow at him. "Is that going to be a problem?"
"Weiss, are you concerned I'm planning something outside of swimming with Ruby?" Cobalt asked.
Ruby blushed though she didn't exactly know why. I mean this was just meant to be some fun swimming, right? Why was Weiss trying to ruin their fun?
"Now that you mention it. That is exactly what I'm worried about." Weiss stated sternly.
"Yet, you aren't worried when me and Ruby are studying in my room alone?" Cobalt asked not really getting the situation either.
Weiss sighed, "There's clearly a difference. This time Ruby will be in her swimsuit."
Cobalt decided to drop it. "Okaaaaay. Well it is nice to see you carrying about your teammates. Did you also invite Yang and JNPR?"
"Yang said she was going to train, but JNPR shall be joining us." Weiss replied.
On cue, JNPR's door opened and its members joined them.
Cobalt shrugged. "Well, it'll fun to hanging out together. Let's get going everyone."
Boy's Changing Room
The three boys had finished changing. Cobalt, of course, wore blue trunks with silver trim, Ren wore pink trunks with green lines, when questioned he simply said he like color pink as much as green, and Jaune wore white trunks with gold lines as well as his families symbol.
"Looks like we're ready. You think the girls are waiting on us?" Cobalt asked.
"You think they'll be waiting on us." Jaune couldn't help but laugh. "You really haven't been around girls your own age, have you?"
"Yeah, I thought I told everyone what I did the past seven years. I never really made friends with anyone my own age." Cobalt replied confused.
Ren put a hand on his shoulder. "Some girls do and can get ready faster than others my friend, but most tend to take their time. Never comment on it either. Most tend to angry."
Cobalt raised an eye brow. "Are Nora and Pyrrha like that?"
Jaune sighed. "Yes."
Cobalt just couldn't see them being like that. "Okay, let's get out there a swim then."
Girl's Changing Room
Ruby had changed into her two-piece red and black swim suit, but she was still angry with Weiss. "I don't understand. How come me and Cobalt couldn't come down here ourselves?"
"You'll understand when your older." Weiss returned.
She was wearing a one-piece, light blue swim suit.
"You keep saying that, but it was never a problem back home. I'd go to beach with boys before, and no one would question it." Ruby stated.
"Ruby, was Yang with you whenever you'd go to the beach with other boys?" Pyrrha asked.
She was wearing a two-piece red swimsuit that matched her hair.
Ruby nodded, "Yes, and she would end up keeping my friends, that were boys, away from me." She sighed. "You guys aren't going to keep Jaune, Ren, and Cobalt away from me, are you?"
"No way." Nora assured. "We're going to play and have fun. If we kept you away from them, then I'd never get to play chicken. Ren makes the best chicken."
Nora wore a two-piece white swimsuit with pink trim.
Weiss shouted at Blake who was currently hiding in a stall. "Blake, get out her!"
"I don't want to! I already told you I hate the water!" Blake shouted back.
"If she doesn't want to be here, then we could just let her go" Pyrrha stated.
Blake didn't need any more of an invitation. She wanted to honor what she said to Cobalt, but there was no way they'd get her near that pool. Give her books any day. She also thought that he'd understand.
"Now that we've settled that, let's go have some fun!" Nora stated in her usual way.
Pool
The four girls entered, but only found Jaune in the pool. "Oh, hey ladies."
"Jaune, where are Ren and Cobalt?" Ruby asked.
"Uh, they went to get a surprise, but they said you four should come on in." Jaune stated.
The girls had moved closer to the pool only to pushed in by Cobalt and Ren who came out of hiding. All four of them screamed as they hit the water not having any idea exactly what happened until they surfaced. Weiss was glaring at them, Ruby and Nora were laughing, and Pyrrha seemed confused until she too broke out laughing.
Cobalt held up his hand and Ren high-fived him. "We got them!"
"You need to work on your deceiving skills fearless leader. Pyrrha and Weiss were starting to catch on." Ren half joked.
Cobalt had frozen when he got a good look at Ruby. He knew his feelings for her had something to do with it, but he was captivated by her beauty. So captivated that he didn't noticed Ren pushing him into the water as well.
Cobalt came back up and joked, "Very good Ren. I think your training in how to act normal is complete." He held out his hand to his friend. "Let me shake your hand." Ren rolled his eyes, reached down, and took the hand only to be immediately pulled into the pool as well. "Looks like I was wrong. You still have much to learn."
Ren came up and the two shared a good laugh until they were splashed by Nora and Ruby. Pyrrha and Weiss had already moved off. Both boys smiled, as a splash fight began with Ren and Cobalt facing Ruby and Nora.
CFVY's Room
Fox and Coco had stopped off at the cafeteria for some diner before returning to their dorm room. Velvet was sitting on the bed reading while Yatsuhashi was likely off training.
"Hey Bun Bun." Velvet looked up and caught the package her leader threw. "Cobalt said to thank you for his first date."
Velvet opened the package and found that it came with two boxes Both about equal in size. There was card on top of the first box. She opened it.
"Hey Velvet, I got in contact with my grandfather and asked him to make you some weapons. After explaining what you're did, these are what he came up with. They should make you stronger and give you options in combat.
Signed,
Cobalt."
Velvet opened the first box and found a note card. "Your weapon sounds like the prototype I created long ago. The first idea I had for the weapon Cobalt now uses. It was made public, but clearly no one has improved upon it.
Fortunately, I had other designs for that weapon tucked away. Put the camera in the carrying case provided. The technology and design will be updated allowing you to still take pictures of all weapon; however, they will no longer be single use."
Velvet did as the note said placing her brown camera with gold trim inside the carrying case provided. The case then snapped shut as gold and brown lights lit up all long the case. Velvet, Coco, and Fox watched it go for a while and returned the moment it was done. Now the camera was sleeker and gold with brown trim.
"Bun Bun got an upgrade. We'll have to take it out tomorrow and see if the note holds true." Coco stated impressed.
Fox asked, "What about the second box?"
Velvet opened it finding a brown pistol with gold colored trim. It came with a set of five clips. Each one was dust ammunition. Specifically, fire, lighting, air, water, and earth ammunition.
"There's no note with this one?" Coco commented.
Fox shrugged. "Does it need a note? Using a gun is self-explanatory."
Coco kissed him on the check. "Alright, no need to be a smart ass."
Velvet smiled. "Thank you Cobalt and Cobalt's grandpa."
Pool, Some Time Later…
Cobalt let out a sigh of relief as he sat in the shallow end letting the water flow over him. "I needed this."
Ruby sat down next to him. "Admittedly, I would prefer to be training right now. Even if this is nice."
"I understand were your coming from. I love to train and fight, but even the most battle crazy people need some down time. It's good to get together. To have these moments. It helps us appreciate each other and make good memories.
Without moments like these, all your memories would just be of fighting and training all the time." Cobalt smirked. "If all your memories were of battle and training, then you'd never remember any of the cookies you've eaten."
Ruby sighed, "I guess I never thought of it like that. I do have a lot of good memories that don't have to do with fighting at all."
"And you'll continue to make more just like the rest of us." Cobalt stated.
Then Nora shouted, "Alright, who wants to do a chicken fight!"
She immediately hoped on Ren's shoulder. Cobalt got down for Ruby. "You game?"
Ruby smiled. "Yeah."
She hoped on his shoulders and he took them down to fight with Nora and Ren.
Weiss, with a slight smile, rolled her eyes. "How childish."
Pyrrha laughed, "Maybe so, but I'm enjoying it. You seem to be as well."
Training Field, Next Morning…
Cobalt was almost to the field when Qrow jumped out of the forest and slashed his blade at his student. It went into Cobalt and he instantly faded revealing that he'd managed to pick up Blake's Semblance.
"A-are we practicing…" Cobalt began until Qrow whipped around and planted a foot on Cobalt's chest knocking him into the field's sparing ring, "Okay, what's going on?"
Qrow began to approach his student. "You got by Yang, but you still have two challenges left if you wish to date Ruby. I'm up next. If you want to think of it as something else, then think of it as me assessing your complete battle ability."
Cobalt jumped to his feet. "It's official. My feelings are trying to get me killed. Seriously, did I have to develop a crush on the girl that apparently has three overprotective people in her life." He drew his katanas.
"Who am I kidding? I love to fight." Qrow slashed at Cobalt pushing him back. "Damn it, focus on the fight. What do I have that can show I'm strong enough because I doubt he wants me to beat him. I also know I have no chance in hell of beating him."
Let's see, there's Yang's Semblance, Flaming Rage. No, that won't work. I only gain its effects if I switch to it and switching out of it would make me lose the acquired power." Qrow proceeded to relentlessly attack Cobalt as he tries to come up with something.
"Not to mention, Qrow's dealt with it before. By that logic, Speed is out unless I use it wisely. That leaves me with Shadow Clones, which he's just seen. Reinforcement for defense. Charge, though I doubt that would distract him.
I also have Getsuga Tensho. Okay, I'm going to have to get creative here. Why don't I have Polarity or Conduction? Those would be awesome. Damn my Semblance picking and choosing what I get. I'll just have to deal with what I do have."
Cobalt turned his arms into metal and crossed his swords at the right moment causing Qrow's sword to his arms. The leader of Azure then spun around causing his mentor's sword to hit the ground. He immediately acted managing to land a kick to Qrow's side.
The Huntsman came back around slamming his sword into Cobalt's gut and sending him flying straight into a tree. Almost immediately, the manager was assaulted by shotgun shells. He used his Speed to run into the forest and duck behind a tree.
Cobalt sheathed his left-handed blade before creating a decent sized, earth dust shield. With both the shield and a katana in hand, the manager charged back into the field heading straight for Qrow. The leader of Azure blocked the shotgun shells, that his mentor fired, as best as he could.
As Cobalt drew closer, Qrow shifted his weapon back to its normal stated. He slashed at his student only for him to fade once more. The Huntsman whipped around effortlessly blocking the manager's blade.
Cobalt attempted a shield bash, but Qrow blocked the shield with his hand. The leader knew what would come next, so he used his Speed to counter Qrow's kick with one of his own. Cobalt followed up by dispelling his shield and dropping to the ground.
He spun on his hand, but Qrow caught his foot before smashing his sword into the boy's stomach. Cobalt recovered, landed, and switched his right-hand katana to its gun mode. He then reformed his shield before pointing the gun at Qrow and firing. keeping his shield up.
The Huntsman blocked every bullet. Cobalt eventually threw his sword, in gun mode, into the air. He then created a water dust blade and slammed it into the ground. He let the dust flow and soak the entire area before jumping after his blade which had already began its descent.
He caught the blade and pointed it at Qrow while also creating a lighting dust machine gun and pointing it at the soaked field. Simultaneously, he fired. It amounted to nothing because Qrow jumped into the air catching the now descending student. He then threw him into the ground.
Cobalt crashed straight into the soaked ground while Qrow safely landed. The leader of Azure managed to get to his feet, stumbling, as he decided now was the time to try something new. He drew his second katana and began sending Aura flowing into both blades.
His Aura flowed between himself and the blade, much like when he was trying to beat Pyrrha, except this time the Aura would be fired out. Qrow recognized the technique, so he rushed in to stop it.
Cobalt smiled, "This isn't the technique you're thinking off because I just made it up. Double Tensho!"
Cobalt fired off two crescents of energy that slammed into Qrow, but it didn't stop him. "I see, Cobalt knew I'd stop him from using his full technique, so he switched to a less powerful, but quicker version. Not bad kid."
Cobalt's blades still flowed with Aura, so he continued pumping out the technique at his mentor. Qrow countered every Tensho, now, by slashing through them with his blade. Cobalt placed both blades together, as Qrow was right on top of him, and thrust them forward.
"Condensed Tensho!" Cobalt declared
Two blasts of Aurea fired out and become one before slammed into Qrow. He was pushed back a few inches but pushed forward and laid into Cobalt with a few more strikes. Cobalt's Aura shattered, so Qrow jumped back. He wanted to see what his student would do now.
Cobalt was exhausted and panting. He would have fallen if he hadn't thrust his blades into the ground to keep himself standing. The fight had taken its toll, but so had Tensho and Condensed Tensho. True, there were weaker versions of the Getsuga version, but his body had not been fully prepared for the sheer number of shot he'd done.
Qrow sheathed his blade. "You did well kid. Even managed to get a few hits in. You have my blessing to date Ruby. Of course, if you hurt her, you'll have more than me to face. Also, you did well enough that you can have the rest of the morning off, but you will still be expected to report for Combat Class."
Cobalt was now able to stand himself, so he sheathed his blades. "Thanks, Qrow. Can I have two of those waters now?"
Qrow threw his student two bottles. Cobalt then poured the first over his head before walking away and drinking the second.
"Onyx, he really is your kid." Qrow chuckled. "Except he's got a brain. I guess there are worse people that Ruby could date. Of course, I'm just the true warm up. There's nothing quite as frightening as Tai when he's protecting his daughters."
Lelouch of Zero:So that's why Ruby is still so innocent at 15, she has a triple layered defense force ready to destroy any unsuspecting potenial boyfriends. I'm diggin the new Cardin and I can't wait til we see Velvet's weapon. Seems that Cobalt's already grown used to having a big sister and that's really cool.
Quillion9000: They are a big part of it, but you have to remember that Ruby is socially awkward as well. Something that I've gradually been trying to bring her out of by having her spend time with Cobalt and the others. Often the best way to break a shell like this is to have them be surrounded by people that they become comfortable with.
I think Russel and Cardin may be taking a bit of back seat for awhile since Russel does have to help Cardin train. They're still only on good terms with Cobalt and kind of Coco and Fox now. Yes Russel is lumped in with Cardin. True he didn't do anything, but also didn't do ANYTHING. Even the best people can take that as acceptance of what someone does. Basically, it's going to take time for them to be accepted into the circle of friends.