Confidence and Cute Girls
Cardin woke up first that morning, it was around six and at the time only a few students were awake.
A mix of senior students who came back from missions, others who had really early lessons or very hardworking individuals.
Cardin though, was not one of them. Not particularly doing anything, he decided to just take a long jog around the campus again.
He put on a tracksuit and jogging pants, turning the knob of his door open and exited into the empty hallways of the dormitory.
"Cardin?"
Cardin looked up and saw Jaune, also wearing running clothes.
"Jaune? What are you doing up this early?"
Jaune straightened up, "I uh you know..."
"Hey man, don't be like that. Every one puts in a little bit of effort, and gonestly it's a good thing that you are" Cardin pat his back, spurring Jaune to move forward. "I'll follow your lead"
Jaune gulped, "A-alright"
Jaune started walking down the steps with Cardin just behind.
"So champ, where are we jogging to? Maybe to the gym across the campus?"
"We could do that, yeah" Jaune said nervously.
Cardin nodded, "Lead the way man"
They started jogging, Cardin loved the feeling. The wind on his face, the ground beneath his feet that was beating on his leg muscles. The fresh smell of morning dew faintly on the morning air and the pretty huntresses also on their morning runs.
Cardin was no lecher, but he was a man of taste.
Cardin looked at the way Jaune jogged, light breaths and free steps. His conditioning had gotten way better. But Cardin remembered the unsure eyes that Jaune wore, he knew that Jaune had a problem with self confidence.
"Hey man—" Cardin huffed while keeping his steady breathing "What's up?"
They were about seventy-five percent done with their jog. Jaune stopped with his shoulders drooped.
"I just— it's nothing... It's silly"
"Come on man, I'm here for you... As a friend though you know" Cardin comforted Jaune.
"Well... I feel like I'm not strong enough to do anything" Jaune said
"Jaune it's literally the first month of Beacon you wouldn't find meaningful progress in that time" Cardin said
"I know! But like everyone around me is insane... Ruby and her group are just the most amazing team like ever, even mine, Nora, Ren and especially Pyrrha." Jaune slumped even more "They're all so talented there's just no way for me to catch up."
Cardin tilted his head "Damn, I knew you were insecure but not this much." Cardin scratched the back of his head "Where did the confidence from the hardlight training go?"
"I mean it was there! But... I keep getting my ass handed to me in combat class"
Cardin sighed, "I mean obviously, they've all been doing this longer than you"
"See! Even you know I can't catch up"
"I didn't say that" Cardin countered, "look around, how many first years do you see doing muscle or aura training?"
The Beacon campus was empty, it was very early in the morning and the only ones awake were seniors and a few freshmen. "You see? No one in our grade is training, unless you look very hard. Only those truly excellent are training."
Cardin beckoned Jaune to follow him to the gym. The lights were open, "Look" Cardin pointed, "Almost all seniors"
The gym wasn't full by any means but were populated by a lot of senior students.
Jaune looked "Yeah I know, but—"
"Look who in our grade is training"
Jaune saw Pyrrha, his non-morning loving partner, hard at work carrying weights that were at least twice her weight. Next to her was Yang doing punching bag training.
"Y-yeah? It's Yang and Pyrrha, they're the best in out grade. I don't understand why that would be important"
Cardin sighed "They're the best because of the way they train"
"Geniuses aren't born, they're made" Cardin said.
Jaune tightened his fist "Are you saying that... I just have to wait? I have to just trainm more?"
Cardin shook his head "No, what I'm saying is you're already making progress."
"Think of the you from a year ago. Can he run a marathon? Can he swing his blade with enough force to cut through a log? No? Then that means you've improved"
Jaune loosened his muscles, "Thank you man..." Jaune sighed "I—maybe I'm just impatient but I want to get stronger fast"
Cardin smiled and pat his back "You're getting strong fast enough as is"
"That said" Cardin said "Your partner looks good in those shorts huh"
"W-what!?" Jaune blushed, "Don't look!"
Cardin grinned, "Or what?"
"Objectifying women is wrong"
"I'm not objectifying her, I'm just saying she's hot"
Jaune mumbled "B-but... It's wrong! That's my partner."
"Yeah and?"
"I'll have to fight you Cardin" Jaune said in all seriousness, the nervousness and insecurity evaporated from his body.
Cardin grinned, "Hey man, I'm kidding. I don't have any eyes for your girl. Though you should probably tell her that you found her cute"
Jaune blushed again, but Cardin didn't mention it "I liked those eyes Jaune, that's confidence and bravery. Remember that feeling"
Cardin smiled, at his close friend.
"Oh hey! It's Cardin!"
Cardin and Jaune turned, since Jaune was first to be flustered it was Cardin's turn.
"Heya! A little early in the morning no?"
"Goodmorning Cardin and Jaune, me and Coco were just... going to do some early morning exercise"
Cardin was stunned, "G-goodmorning Vel"
Coco was wearing a tracksuit and tight fashionable pants. Velvet had her little gym bag and she wore a small jacket, under which was a brown sports bra and she wore tight fitting shorts which really accentuated her curves.
Jaune elbowed Cardin and whispered "I thought it was all about confidence"
Cardin whispered back, "Man fucking look at her. She's the embodiment of a goddess"
"What are you boys talking about?" Coco asked.
Velvet was blushing.
"Oh shit..." Cardin slapped his face, 'damn faunus hearing'
"N-nothing, Me and Jaune were about to head in right Jaune?"
Jaune nodded furiously, "Y-yeah!"
"Coco, you go on ahead with Jaune. I want to talk with Cardin for a little" Velvet said cutely smiling.
"Make him do exercise too!" Cardin added
Coco raised her eyebrows, "Alright, blonde and lanky, I'm going to work you today"
Jaune was dragged by Coco into the gym, he was greeted by Pyrrha who had just finished her set.
"Good morning Jaune, who sre you with?" Pyrrha greeted Jaune brightly but slightly froze at Jaune getting dragged by a woman.
"Coco Adel, you're Pyrrha Nikos right?"
"Yes, I am his partner" Pyrrha smiled.
"Oh yeah, miss Adel, this is my partner and stuff."
"Oh I know, I'm stealing him for a bit. I'm going to work him to the bone today" Coco teased.
Pyrrha recoiled, "Work?"
"Oh, Cardin asked her to train me today. Or at least he told her to get me to exercise" Jaune explained.
"And that I will do!"
Pyrrha bit her lip, "Well— I hope you don't mind if I watch"
"I don't mind" Coco said but she came close to Pyrrha and whispered in her ear "Don't worry miss champ, I'm not into guys like these"
Pyrrha blushed, but nodded "Thank you"
"Welcs! Well, now then, Lanky!"
Outside, Cardin and Velvet were still in front of each other.
"So... I'm a g-goddess huh?" Velvet tried to ask in a teasing tone.
Cardin blushed "Yeah... I did say that"
"If you really think so then, I'm very thankful"
"I really do! You're just like... the most beautiful girl I've met in the school is all"
Velvet blushed, "Do you mean that?"
Cardin gulped "Why wouldn't I?"
Velvet turned around and smiled, "I heard you first years were going on the field trip to forever falls"
"Yeah... What's up?"
"D-do you want to go somewhere after? Just the two of us"
"Are you—"
"Asking you out on a date?" Velvet speedily asked, "Y-yeah... I mean! It's okay if you dont want to or can't."
Cardin smiled "I am the happiest guy in beacon right now. Is nine fine with you?"
"I-I can go with that"
"HELL YEAH!" Cardin celebrated in his mind