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Ducking under the mace that would've taken off her head, she tried to catch her breath. It was hard to keep moving when her limbs felt like they were encased in cement. Cruel metal bit into her palm as she held up her sword to block the downward strike only for her knees to buckle under the strain. If this was a few months ago, she wouldn't be having this much trouble. Growling internally, she tilted her blade to the side knocking away his attack. Stumbling to put distance between them it was hard not to frown when her body didn't move as fast as she wanted it to. She hated this.

Not even Nora cheering from the side lines or Jaune's worried gaze helped her calm down. She should be winning. There was no way someone like Cardin had the ability to defeat her not with her experience. From the moment she learned to walk, she'd trained to become a warrior, so why wasn't her body listening to her. Raising her shield to block his next swing, she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. Stumbling back, she didn't notice him hooking his foot behind her ankle until she was already on the ground. Her stomach flipped when her back hit the floor. With the world spinning around her there was no way she was able to tell which way was up much less continue fighting.

This wasn't fair.

"Easy Pyr."

Cardin's voice was soft as he kneeled beside her. Glancing at the indigo eyed man who looked at her with concern she forced down her internal despair. Breathing deeply, she sat up slowly despite how her head spun. When they started she'd known it would take a while to get back to normal but it was taking too long. Being this weak made her sick. How was she supposed to protect the others if she couldn't beat Cardin? At this rate she'd get everyone killed. Pushing herself up, she tried to smile despite how much her chest hurt.

Standing up, she mumbled something about getting some air before fleeing the room. The only reason that Jaune didn't follow her was Cardin taunting the blonde into a fight. In truth she didn't know how to feel about Jaune right now. She loved him, but being with him took time away from fixing herself. Right now, she was weaker than Cardin's team of fools. Rubbing her forehead she tried to relax, it wasn't as if she didn't have time.

Blinking when a soft meow reached her ears, she glanced down at the black cat watching her with knowing eyes. Relaxing as he jumped on her shoulder, she ran a gentle hand through his fur. Physical training wasn't the only thing she needed to work on right now. Her new magic wasn't something she had told the others about, mainly because she wanted it to be an ace up her sleeve. With Weiss's decision to meet with Ironwood about his plan for Atlas along with Ruby's trip to Mistral, she needed to get stronger.

(Ruby)

Today was going to be a bad day. Someone in the universe had decided that being happy wasn't what she deserved at this moment. The others were still asleep with Vernal wrapped around Dakota like some kind of snake. It was adorable really but just another reminder that she didn't have anyone. If this was Beacon she'd sneak into bed with Cardin or curl up with her teammates, but that time was over. What ever happiness to be gained from fighting the faunus yesterday had been chased away by the nightmares that haunted her.

There was something to be said for how easily her own dreams brought her back down to earth. Not for the first time she wished that Cardin was here to help her through her nightmares, he'd always known how to make her feel better. Pyrrha was still in a coma, Blake needed time, and Jaune was angry with her there was no one here. Hugging her knees tightly she hated this. It had never been easy to pretend to be happy on days like this but she'd never been alone on them. Letting her eyes flicker to the cold stream in front of her she wanted to scream. The whetstone and polish for her weapons lay abandoned beside her in favor of trying to shove down her emotions.

Of course, she knew that repressing her emotions was the reason she was in this mess. At some point the dam simply broke leaving her with nothing but what she'd tried to run from. There were so many things she could've done differently. If not for her own greed killing Cinder and saving everyone might've been possible. How could she be the girl who confidently basked in danger if the walls around her heart were shattering? It was impossible. Oh, she knew she needed therapy especially considering how easily her own emotions turned against her, but that wasn't an option. Being unstable was not a trait a huntress needed. It was better when she was fighting.

"You okay?"

Stiffening even more, she looked up at the man leaning against the tree with guarded eyes. How hadn't she noticed him? Either Adam was secretly a ninja or she'd been more out of it than she'd thought. It was most likely the second option. Cursing internally she tried to force a smile to her face, if she wanted him as an ally showing weakness wasn't an option. No one wanted to be allies with emotional idiots. Trying to push back her emotions she barely noticed him moving until he had sat down beside her.

Blinking at the sudden act she stared at him. Well this was a new development? He had to be planning something. Eying him warily she wondered what he was plotting, there was no way he felt any kind of concern for her. Hugging her knees tightly as he leaned back, she frowned before looking away from him. If she ignored him then he'd go away eventually.

"You were reckless both during your fight with Viper and Tyrian," he stated. The firm tone almost caused her to roll her eyes. Was he going to scold her now? Propping his arm up on his knee he considered what to say before deciding that being blunt was good enough for this situation. Throwing caution to the wind he said, "I was worried."

In less than an instant her mind shuttered to a halt. What in the seven hells was he talking about? Okay, she was old enough to know that he had emotions and a right to those emotions but why was he worried about her? They'd met less than a month ago after he sent his assassin to test her, there wasn't a bond between them past surface level much less one that gave him the right to be worried about her. It was hard to ignore the voice in her mind that whispered, she had an attachment to him without spending much time with him.

"That makes no sense," she said slowly. Blinking at the sudden smirk that crossed his lips she wished that seeing his eyes was possible; it'd be easier to read him.

"Oh, am I not allowed to care about you?"

The question caught her off guard. Narrowing her gaze, she frowned. That stupid smirk, that she liked far more than she should, was still on his lips. Maybe running away was the best option right now, there had to be a way out of this situation.

"We've only known each other for a few weeks," she stated in a flat tone that left no room for him to continue the conversation.

There, that should keep him from going too deep into this topic. Now all he needed to do was walk away and leave her here to sort out her thoughts. Watching him closely, it took her a moment to realize he wasn't moving. Instead he hummed as he considered her words. Why wasn't he walking away? Most people walked away by now. He couldn't possibly be thinking of continuing this. The only person stubborn enough to drag her out of her shell was Cardin and the only reason he did that was his semblance. Adam had no reason to care for her.

"You have issues with intimate relationships then," he said as if winning a prize. Noticing the girl pale before trying to laugh off the words, he resisted the urge to grin. He wasn't going to drop this subject, not when seeing her panic was far more interesting.

"I literally tried to proposition you a few days ago," she reminded him with a shaky smile. He was getting too damn close.

"Emotional intimacy," he clarified as if she needed help to realize that fact. Bristling she slowly uncoiled as her eyes flickered anywhere other than him. Although clearly unhappy with the subject she made no move to run away from him; it probably had something to do with the fact he'd sat down between her and her weapons. Ignoring the warning glint in her eyes, he said "I'll be honest, you caught my attention when your berserker protected Blake. You kept that attention after we met."

Nope. She was not going to do this right now. For one thing he had no reason to like her, she was a horrible person. Besides, he was a faunus, but also a member of the White Fang. His whole existence was driven by serving his people. There was no way that his men would accept him dating a human much less a huntress. If he even tried to have a relationship with her, then his reputation would suffer. Despite the fact she cared for him, putting his future in danger wasn't an option.

"The only thing we've done is fought and flirted," she snapped daring him to continue the conversation. He needed to drop this now before she did something to hurt them both.

"I've enjoyed both of those things," he said with an amused tone that did nothing to stop her rampaging heart.

He was too close despite not having moved at all. Glancing down a where her hands were shaking she didn't know what to do. Okay that was a lie, she knew exactly how to end this farce. The warmth that heated her body from his words did nothing to stop how sweaty her hands had become or the tightness in her throat. He was too close. If she didn't push him away now there was no chance of making him go away later. She had to push him away, for both their sakes. Fighting back the part of her that wanted to cling to his word she dug her nails into her pants.

Part of her liked him far more than she liked Roman or Neo. This passing infatuation wasn't something she wanted to give up, but that was all it could ever be. The walls she'd built around herself to keep people from getting to close were not going to be torn down in an instant. Squaring her shoulders, she met his eyes hoping that he would take the hint and leave.

"I killed one of your soldiers at Mountain Glen."

While the admission hung in the air between them like a loaded gun, neither of them moved. Studying the girl across from him, it was all to easy for him to see what she was doing. Why would she tell him about killing his people if she wasn't trying to push him away. The amusement he'd gotten from teasing her was far gone by now washed away by the idea that she wanted to cut the bond between them before it got a chance to grow. On some level he understood why, but that didn't mean he was going to let her get away. After all she'd started this little game.

"Was it self defense," he asked despite knowing it wasn't. None of the men he'd sent to Mt. Glen had been skilled enough to challenge her much less push her into a corner where killing was the only option. The only question was if she'd admit to the truth they both knew or try to lie.

"No," she admitted. Keeping her eyes locked on his mask she wondered if he was glaring at her. With what she was admitting he had to be angry. This had to be enough to push him away. Ruthlessly squashing the part of herself that wanted to lie she said, "I killed him because I wanted to."

He needed to hate her. If he didn't then she had no idea what she was supposed to do. Already he'd gotten far to close to her than anyone other than Cardin. Right here and now she needed to shove him away before it was too late. Flirting was fine, but actually involving feelings was not something that she knew how to do. What if she let him in only for it to end up just like Dante all over again? Her heart might not be able to stand it.

"Okay."

"What!"

"What," he repeated. Tilting his head he couldn't keep the amusement from his voice. Did she really think a bit of murder was enough to scare him away? Him, the future High Leader of the White Fang. The dismayed wide-eyed expression on her face was adorable almost reminding him of a stunned puppy.

"I killed one of your men and the only thing you say is okay," she repeated.

"The only people I sent to Mountain Glen were those I didn't care about."

Letting the admission hang between them, he watched her shift anxiously. No doubt she was tyring to find another reason to drive him away. After spending years with Blake it was easy to tell when someone was trying to run away from him without actually running. The mental reminder of the fact that she'd won their race was swiftly put out of his mind. Eyeing the way her nails curled into the fabric of her pants, he waited patiently. All he needed to do was destroy each of her attempts until they could have a real conversation.

"I sent Cardin after you!"

"I took his eye, then let him live," he said. The sharp glint that flashed in her eyes made it all to clear that if he'd made any other choice that day she would've torn him to pieces rather than talked to him.

"…I-"

"Are you done," he asked. While it was fun, he was sure that she didn't have any other reasons unless she pointed out Viper. Either way he'd rather not wake the others with this conversation. Offering her a tense smile he said, "I'd like to move on."

"I'm trying to push you away you idiot!"

There she'd said it. Now he had to walk away, right? With it out in the open there was no way he could ignore her intent.

"I noticed," he stated causing her eyes to widen. The fact she shifted away from him with a troubled expression almost made him reconsider his choice to be blunt. Almost. Ruby seemed like the type of person to refuse reality in favor of ignoring what scared her. There was no way she could misunderstand his intentions when he said "With your constant flirting I figured you were interested in a relationship, was I wrong?"

"That's not the point," she mumbled. Resisting the urge to run away, she stared at him. Why hadn't he taken the hint and left? Letting go of her pants before she tore the fabric she hated the tightness in her chest. There was no way this should be happening.

"Are you afraid, I'm not opposed to a slow relationship," he offered.

Usually, she'd jump at the chance to prove she wasn't afraid of anything. This wasn't really happening. It had to be a trick or something. Whining internally she wished more than anything that he'd chosen to walk away. How was she supposed to push down and ignore her emotions with him taunting her like this? That had to be it since there was no way he was serious yet he didn't seem to be joking. Did he actually like her?

"I'm not a good person, you shouldn't like me," she admitted hoping that he would buy her last shot at pushing him away.

"Do I look like I care," he asked causing her hope to falter and die. Slumping in defeat she leaned back against her tree with a sigh.

"Can't we just go back to fighting and flirting?"

"Do you want to?"

"No, I just don't understand why you would want a relationship with me of all people," she admitted. At the slightly disbelieving frown on his face she smiled. The expression was dull and twisted as she said, "you saw what I did with Tyrian. I'm more likely to get myself killed and leave you all alone."

"Be more careful then," he ordered drawing a dry laugh from the girl. There was a higher chance of Weiss dying her hair then her being careful during battle.

"Does this mean we're giving the whole relationship thing a chance," she asked despite wanting to hide behind her tree.

"Only if you want to," he said softly. The fact he was giving her an out was enough to make her shoulders relax if only a little bit.

"I'll think about it."

Eyeing the man as he turned his attention away from her, she tried to breathe. He was a terrorist, one of the people Blake feared more than anyone else in the world. He was also one of her aunts students. There was more to him than he allowed the world to show yet nothing he'd showed her gave her a reason to think he might hurt her. It was irrational to sit here afraid of something that might not happen but she didn't want to be hurt again. Opening herself up to a relationship, allowing herself to be vulnerable, wasn't something she knew if she was capable of.

Hi guys, hope you're having a good day.

So, to be totally honest I had no idea how to write this chapter. Mainly because I've never actually been in a relationship so all I had to go on was tip videos. Let me know what you guys think.

Right so moving on, would you guys rather have the side character interludes spread out like usual or have a single interlude chapter for each character (like have a chapter dedicated to their stories).

Anyway, I'm introducing Oscar soon...

stay safe and have a good day

- Shyla