Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY! Even this fanfiction... is a product of my imagination!

Can I sue myself?

Pausechamp?

Chapter 3: Calm Before The Metal Rain

Rodin. Lv: 12

"Like this?"

Professor Peach adjusted her goggles, leaning in with a curious stare.

I blushed lightly at the proximity. Dr Peach was a beautiful dark skinned woman with pink hair, and I found her quite pretty. She was very firm and gentle, and although she sometimes was a little detached, her steady hand made this one of my favorite classes.

"Yes… yes. Quite well done Ms Solidago."

The teacher laughed with a grin.

"Remember class. Cooking, baking, it's all science. While Ms Solidago is a good example of what should be done, she is not a good example of what should be expected. Rodin has had multiple basics covered before even coming into my class, and is a very diligent and gifted learner. On top of that I've been led to believe you've been doing additional research outside of class?" She raised an eyebrow.

Embarrassed at being outed like that I stuttered on embarrassed, blushing bright red. "Er-well that is…"

Yang gave a snicker to my left and I shot her a quick glare, even as other students did the same, worsening my embarrassment.

Dr Peach waved me off. "There's no need to get all worked up Ms Solidago. You're gifted, and that's something you should take pride in."

That only worsened the heat coming to my cheeks, hearing my favorite teacher praise me like that. Instead of giving her an answer I just nodded shyly.

I'm just glad Ruby doesn't get to see me like this.

It's been a few weeks since school started. I went up a few levels more, did some light training, but mostly studied the world around me.

Remnant wasn't completely different to earth, but there were some huge differences. I poured myself into every class to make up for what I felt was lack of knowledge. With the help of [The Gamer] my abilities made me one of the top students of the school. It felt exciting to have that kind of achievement.

The best part about everything was my friends. Initially Yang and Weiss didn't get along at all, and Ruby struggled to find out how to be a better leader, but everything worked itself out. While most of my team still clashed, everything was friendly.

Yang still teased me every chance she got. But she was hot so it was okay.

Weiss and I actually found this zone where we kind of helped each other when studying. I felt like it made us closer. The girl seemed pretty lonely.

Blake and I were chill. Not much to add besides that.

And Ruby still kind of looked up to me. Fufu, as long as I could I'd hold that cool air around her. I felt like one of those older senpai from those anime.

Me and team JNPR got along too! Nora and I would go off and have fun, usually leading to crazy antics. I really enjoyed our time together. Ren was really mellow, and whenever I needed quiet I'd come to him or Blake. Jaune and I read comics together, which was always fun.

Pyrrha intimidated me. She was too pretty. And tall. And amazing. Whenever we got close my heart just clenched, and I'd run away. Uwaa.

Um, anyway, life had been great. I was glad to be a huntress in training. And be a really good huntress in training.

The bell rang and I was jolted out of thoughts.

Packing up my stuff, as we walked out the classroom I pushed Yang, giving her a glare.

"Yang." I groaned.

She snickered, giving me one of her charming grins. "Ha, sorry. I shouldn't have teased you during class."

I put my hands on my hips. "That's right." I glared. It probably looked ridiculous, with Yang being a good several inches taller than me.

"Well it's lunch anyways, let's meet up with Ruby and the others."

As we sat down the table beside us waved. Team JNPR was there as always.

I waved back, averting my eyes from Pyrha's delicious emerald green ones, and sat down in my usual spot.

"Rody!" Nora cheered. "I was just telling the others about my dream last night."

"The one with the Beowulfs?"

"Ursa, yeah."

"It's amazing how you and Ren can decipher Nora's speech like that." Yang commented.

"Ah, well…"

[Translation Formating

Proficiency(Lvl:14)]

"When you hang around Nora enough you kind of just know what she's saying." I settled with, beaming.

Nora had taken to calling me Rody. I kept telling her it was a boy's name, but she hits me with the fact that Rodin is in fact a boy's name. So I leave it be.

"Nora is not always easy to understand, and she's lost friends that way. How you two just connected… it's impressive." Ren glanced at me, away from his food.

"I'm too much!" Nora cheered, her normal excitement on display.

I sweatdropped. That's not something to be happy about.

Still…

"You shouldn't talk like that. Nora's awesome." I nodded firmly, crossing my arms.

Nora blinked, in a rare show of seriousness. "Oh, um… thank you."

I just gave her a smile.

Yang stretched, giving a groan. "Man I'm still sore from our fight yesterday Rodin."

Multiple people at the table agreed.

Blake gave a frown. "For someone so strong you're also quite fast." I could tell she was lamenting about her loss when we fought a week or so ago.

I just laughed embarrassingly. "I'm not a heavy hitter like Yang really. Can't afford to be slow." Luckily my dexterity went up a few points. Blake was fast, and it was hard to analyze how she fought.

As a low leveled fighter that didn't prioritise health, aura, or armor, if I wasn't careful some blows could really knock me down. A few good licks and I was out, which was what I was trying to explain to Blake.

"But how did you get so strong? You're not exactly built like a tank." Yang lifted one of my arms, showing everyone the skinny tan brown noodle arm.

I blushed, jerking out of her grasp. Feeling her hot hand searing my soft flesh-no! No no, away thoughts! "I have something called compact muscle. Not that you would know anything about that."

Ooh, burn.

She gave me a glare. "What does that mean?"

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Yang, you're constantly lifting weights and exercising. You're built like a bodybuilder supermodel."

Yang huffed, flexing her arms, leaving me drooling over them. "I happen to be proud of these weapons. I should get a gun permit, hey oh!"

Blake rolled her eyes. "More like a dork permit."

I bit back a laugh, glad Blake was here to keep Yang in check. Blake always had a sassy comeback for any situation.

It was a welcome reprieve.

"Seriously though where does all that strength come from?" Yang frowned curiously. "You carry around that big ass weapon like it's nothing. And I've seen you lift loads of heavy stuff with ease. It's unnatural, especially given your size."

I glared. "What's that supposed to mean?" I knew I was bite sized, she didn't have to hold it over me! Yang had no right, being a tall total bombshell.

"Maybe it's all the meat?" Weiss drawled, glancing down at my plate.

I blushed, embarrassed.

Ever since I got here I grew a dangerously big habit of eating absolute buttloads of meat. It was pretty much all I ate during lunch now.

Steak, cooked fish, meatloaf, and hefty servings of ribs.

I covered my plate, feeling like I was gonna cry. "Stooop. I'm self conscious about my eating habits."

Blake sighed. "Alright everyone, let's stop picking on Rodin. It doesn't matter that she eats more than her own body weight-"

I wined at her.

"-let's talk about something else."

A cry broke out.

We all turned to look at Cardin picking on a brown haired faunus girl.

A couple tables down Cardin, a brown haired pest, was picking on some girl, tugging at her ears. Him and his team, they had a less than favorable reputation.

Hey, I know her… she's my upperclassmen, Velvet.

"I-stop!" The girl screeched, trying to grab at his hand.

"Ha! Are these even real?"

"That really hurts!"

A jolt ran through my heart and my lips thinned.

"Rodin?"

Someone said my name but I ignored it as I got up and walked over to the two.

"Hey." I said seriously. "Leave her alone."

He was tall. In my haze I could barely make out the outline of his brown hair and ugly snarl. "Teacher's pet? Why should I?"

I seethed, utterly pissed off. "She said let go so let go."

"Fuck you."

I wasn't a particularly courageous person. I never claimed to be some white knight, saving people. I wasn't here to save people.

But this was utterly ridiculous.

"I'll give you five seconds, to take your hand off her ear, or I'll snap your fucking neck."

He jerked back, surprised. His little goons scowled at me and I sent them a fiery glare. They backed off.

My heart pounded in my ears. My blood was boiling. Face flushed with anger.

This… this jerk is hurting this perfect and beautiful woman. I could tell she was kind from the classes we had, and I hated he had the audacity to even think about bullying someone so obviously above him.

"Look know-it all, you're not gonna tell me what to do!" He snarled back at me, turning his full attention towards me.

"Where in your mind do you even think it's okay to pick on someone like this?" I hissed.

"Have some pride as a man. You're not proving a damn thing bullying someone who's not fighting back. Do some fucking soul searching." I shoved him into the table angrily, knocking him back on his ass.

Cardin fumed in his seat, gritting his teeth.

I calmed down, huffing lightly. Taking the girl's hand we moved away from them.

Where the heck did that come from? It's like hearing her cry out like that just triggered me.

{Trait}-[Heroic Spirit]

Due to circumstances and growth as a person, your [Heroic Slight Alignment] has evolved into [Heroic Spirit]. Seeing others hurting brings out the trait, which boosts your aura, physical, and mental stats by 20%.

Heroic Spirit? Wait-I have traits?

A feeling of weariness enveloped me.

It looks like I need to really focus more on my Gamer power… it's just been so unexplored that I don't know half the things I could do.

I glanced at Velvet, who was rubbing her ear, and wincing.

I felt guilty for budding into things.

"Um, I'm really sorry for that."

She glanced up, surprised. "H-huh? Oh no, I'm actually really glad Cardin got told off like that… he acts like a sleeze bag everywhere he walks, with his teammates backing up everywhere they go. I'm um… glad you gave him a piece of your mind. Especially for me."

…...

Yang Xiao Long

I glanced at the two of them, a light frown forming with a tilt of my head.

Every now and then I'd see that side of hers. Reminded of why Ruby looks up to her.

Even I had to admit… Rodin was pretty cool.

I looked away, huffing out a startled laugh.

Sometimes she was like a superhero.

The whole table and a few nosey students listened in on Rodin's and the rabbit faunus's conversation.

Rodin, as expected, blushed at the complement. She was such a mess. It was adorable.

"I just hated the way he made you cry out like that… I don't know what came over me." Rodin frowned, muttering to herself. "Um, still, if he ever bothers you again let me know. Cardin's pretty strong but I could probably break his legs with my pinky."

Nora giggled like a lunatic.

I sweatdropped, now a little worried a little Nora was bleeding off into my teammate. The world could only handle one Nora.

Velvet blinked. "Oh you're Rodin right? Um, we share history together."

Rodin beams. "Yeah. Velvet?"

Velvet nodded.

Having talked enough Rodin waved goodbye and went back to our table. Velvet scampered off, seemingly not liking being the center of attention.

I looked around, curious about my friends' reactions.

"That was amazing!"

"E-eh?!"

Ruby, of course, was gushing like a fangirl.

"Why did you do that?" Blake was frowning.

"Why did I…?" Rodin questioned, looking lost.

"You didn't have to help her. Nobody else was going to."

Rodin looked uncomfortable. "I… I don't know. Something just came over me? It was like my legs were moving on their own." She mumbled.

Blake glanced away. "I'm not telling you off, not for helping her. I didn't mean to… sorry." Blake cut herself off.

They both shared an awkward glance, before I decided to switch the conversation before it got to weird.

"So did anyone understand that homework Dr Oobleck gave us? Cause I'm pretty sure that isn't history." I laugh confidently.

Weiss, on cue, scoffs dramatically. "Of course you wouldn't understand. It's a simple matter of economics. With the rise in Grimm around the coast in Mistral Dr Oobleck designed to give us an essay."

Rodin, the far more kinder studious person in our group, gave me a wide eyed look. "Do you need help Yang? I've… already finished the essay." She blushed sheepishly.

Weiss glanced at her, surprised. "Already…? I guess that's why you're number 1 in academics." She trails off, lost in thought.

"Woo! GO Rodin!" Ruby cheered.

I clapped too, going along with the byplay.

Rodin blushed harder, wearing a bright embarrassed smile. "Ah, gosh guys. You know I'm not that good with compliments." She rubbed the back of her head.

Ren speaks up, contemplating something. "Strange. You're very adept at a lot of things Rodin. But you hate standing out. Is there a reason for that?"

She blinks. "A reason?"

Rodin brushes some hair behind her ear, thinking hard about something. "Um… yes? I didn't grow up particularly outstanding. I'm a pretty average girl and I've never thought too hard about being popular, but now I have people come up to me in the hallways asking for tips, or just to say hi. Suddenly getting all this attention is just a bit disconcerting. A bit overwhelming." She frowned.

"Average?" Jaune blinks.

She blushes. "I know I'm not that… pretty. I've never really stood out. I think… I kept my cards close to my chest, and no one ever really took interest in me. So I'm not very used to attention."

I frowned at that.

Rodin wasn't… knockout beautiful. She was pretty plain, but that in itself was an appeal. She was very genuine, and that made her seem very attractive in my eyes.

I blinked, running that thought back in my head a few times. Before shaking it off and continuing with my thought process.

It's hard for me to picture Rodin not standing out. She had an air to her. Like she was more than she seemed.

Although then again that might be a little short sided of me, I frowned. My initial impression of her wasn't all that impressive.

But I'm glad she's in my life now, she's my friend. More than that she's Ruby's friend.

I leaned against my hand, elbow on the table.

Rodin was, in a lot of ways, the glue of team RRWBY.

...

And there we go. Chapter 4 Might get a little intense, just warning you guys. I'm thinking of posting it tomorrow, and my other two fanfictions on Thursday!

Hoped you enjoyed, although it was a tad bit short.