Class Assignment

"Come on lanky! Let's get you that one more rep!"

"Coco I can't anymore!"

"Jaune keep going! You're almost there!" Pyrrha cheered

"HA!" Jaune shouted, raising the barbell up and placing it on its rest.

Jaune stood up and was overwhelmed with joy "LET'S GO!"

Cardin saw this and smiled, "YEAH MAN! LET'S FUCKING GO!" running toward him and giving him a bear hug

Coco smiled, "I thought you wouldn't be able to lift that much but you have me impressed blondie"

"T-thank you"

Pyrrha came up behind him, "That was amazing Jaune. Have you been doing strength training?"

"I've told him to keep going" Cardin said, "He's been lifting since... last year?" he asked

Jaune nodded, "Yeah"

"But still, to be able to bench 405. You're already stronger than most guys in the planet" Coco said

"Really?"

Pyrrha nodded along with the comment, "Yeah, its very impressive. Even among huntsmen, the only people who do that are those with heavy weapons"

"Like me!" Cardin smiled

"T-thanks guys" Jaune was blushing.

Cardin pat his back "Good work man, but let's not get comfortable. Let's aim higher"

Jaune nodded, "Alright!"

"Are you guys already done with your workouts?" Velvet asked, wiping her forehead of sweat.

"Jaune was just finishing up" Coco answered

"Shall we head out?" Pyrrha asked.

The three nodded and headed to the showers.

The water was warm, it was still early in the morning. "Cardin" Jaune asked as the water from the showers pitter pattered on the floor. The steam covering the shower.

"What's up?" Cardin asked as he was applying shampoo

"I know you aren't but... A-are you nervous for our assignment? You know... Forever Falls"

Cardin laughs "Of course, I heard it was crawling with Grimm" he continued "Who wouldn't be scared? But it's all sbout mindset baby"

"Mindset?"

"Yeah, if you're scared just remember. You can fight back" Cardin finished. Turning off the shower, "Come on, the girls might be waiting for us"

Jaune also finished, "They sre probably still in the shower"

"How can you say that?"

"Seven sisters"

"Oh"

After the workout, Cardin bid farewell to Jaune, Pyrrha, Coco and Velvet.

"I'm gonna head back to my team. They should be awake by now"

Cardin started jogging back at a leisurely pace. Smiling happily, he had a date with Velvet Scarlatina. Beacon's resident cute rabbit faunus, who wouldn't be happy?

'Relax there boyo, chicks don't dig overly eager guys' Old man Cardin advised in his mind.

'C'mon man, who wouldn't be happy? A cute girl loves me' K answered

'Likes, love's a strong word' Old man Cardin laughed.

Cardin finally made it back to his dorm.

"Can't believe Cap'n left us" Sky pouted jokingly

"Yeah, imagine ditching your team to jog with hot faunus girls" Russel agreed

"Good morning Cardin" Dove said rubbing his eyes.

"Morning team, shut it you two. Ready up, we have two hours to prep" Cardin said with a grin "Let's head to Vale for a little before the trip"

"What's up? Did something good happen?" Russel asked

"I don't like this" Sky added, "You won't have us run to Vale or something right?"

"Pfft, that was one time! " Cardin shook his head, "Nah, I'll treat you guys to steak"

"What's the occasion?" Dove asked.

"Nothing, I just feel good"

"He probably got a date or something" Russel commented

"Or got laid" Sky shrugged

"Maybe both" Dove chipped in

"I hate you guys"

The travel time to Vale was faster in the morning because of the less dense population of people getting in and out of Beacon.

They arrived in about fifteen minutes and soon enough they reached the steak joint. "Order whatever you want, on me" Cardin said.

"Alright then" Russel answered.

The end total of the meal was 500 lien, Cardin sighed "You guys really went all out huh?"

"Mmhm, you're treating after all" Sky said stuffing steak into his mouth.

"Well, finish up. We have to get back to Beacon in thirty or so minutes"

And to finish up they did, after ordering two more steaks each the total ended at 875.

Cardin ponied up the money and they hurried back to the platform. While walking, they were talking about what the assignment could be.

"Hey wait!" a familiar female voice sounded in the air.

Cardin didn't mind and kept walking with his team.

"Y-you! Orange hair!" The girl called.

Cardin turned his head, after all he did have orange hair.

"Cap'n somebody's callin'" Russel elbowed him.

Cardin turned to see a familiar face, two antlers and a cute face. "Hey it's that deer faunus"

The faunus in question ran up to him, "I did say the next time we meet I would owe you right?"

"Well... Yeah"

"Cardin, who's this?" Sky asked

"Do we tell Bunny girl?" Russel followed up

"Come on you two. Cardin, we'll wait for you on the platform" Dove dragged the two toward the platform.

"So... I forgot to ask, what was your name again?" Cardin asked

The faunus girl tucked her hair behind her ears, "Deery, I know a little on the nose right?" she pointed at her antlers.

"Nah, I think its kind of cute. So, what's this about owing me?"

"You don't remember?"

"Of course I do" Cardin stated, "But I didn't think you'd mean it"

"What do you mean! You saved me from a traumatic experience that could've gone even worse. I can't thank you enough"

"Tell you what" She continued, "I take you to my family's restaurant as a treat. On me, and maybe we could hang out. You seem like a cool dude" Deery added.

Cardin agreed, "Sure, if it makes you feel better"

"Nice! Just shoot me a message when you're free" Deery took her scroll out, "Have this" and she typed out her number and gave it to Cardin.

"Call me when you're free alright?" She ran back to her friends, waving a goodbye at Cardin.

With a smile, Cardin waved back. He looked at his scroll "Oh shit we inly have an hour left"

He booked it to the boarding platform.

"Took you long enough, lover boy" Russel teased

"Ah to be young!" and so did Sky

"I'm getting back at you guys somehow I swear"

"Come on! We're gonna be late!" Cardin hurried off the bullhead and ran toward the other first years being gathered by Glynda.

"And CRDL, last here. You are on time today but please be more time conscious" Glynda advised

Cardin saluted "Yes Professor"

"Good, any questions before we leave?"

From team RWBY, Weiss raised her hand "Professor, why are there less teams here today?"

"Good question miss Schnee, other teams are sent to different assignments depending on their strength. The few teams selected here are cleared to enter the deep parts of Forever Fall"

"Why are we going in the first place?" Jaune asked raising his hand.

"Mr. Arc, the reason is that we are going to collect sap samples from the trees. It's an assignment given by Professor Peach"

"Noted, Professor"

Goodwitch nodded and continued, "The deeper parts of Forever Fall are teeming with tough Grimm, some are mutated. This means that even if I am with you, I hope you observe caution and vigilance"

"Yes ma'am " The group agreed

"Good, now get on the bullhead the activity will start soon"

"Me first!" Nora shouted as she sped toward the ramp. Jaune gave a sheepish smile as Ren sighed. Pyrrha giggled at the silliness of her teammate and all three of them followed.

Next was RWBY, then CRDL and everyone else. Soon enough they were in the sky, the green Emerald forest soon turned orange and then to red. This signalled that they were approaching Forever Fall territory.

"Attention students, we will be arriving at the marked destination soon. Please carefully inspect your equipment before we arrive." the pilot said on the intercom.

"Alright! We're almost there team!" Ruby said excitedly.

"Sit down, you're gonna hurt yourself" Weiss said as she grabbed Ruby by the sleeve and yanked Ruby to her seat.

"Awww" Ruby pouted.

"Sure looks pretty huh?" Cardin asked

"Honestly kind of mid for me, too much red. I'm more green forests you know?" Russel replied

"Well, to each their own" Cardin shrugged

"Pyrrha look! The trees are red, it looks so beautiful" Jaune exclaimed with excitement, "I have to get a picture of this"

Pyrrha asked Jaune "Do you like red, Jaune?"

"Well, I do like red, it's very striking" He explained, "Pyr come here for a sec"

"Sure!" Pyrrha said giddily.

Watching the two, Cardin felt happy that he was able to get them so close together so early. It filled him with a sense of accomplishment.

'My OTP, I'm so happy right now'

Cardin smirked at his thoughts.

"Pyr, say cheese!"

"ch-cheese!"

Pyrrha was awkwardly smiling with a red face while Jaune was beaming with excitement. He took the picture and saved it, "Wow its so beautiful" Jaune said excitedly.

"Jaune? What's up with you today. You seem more... I don't know, confident?" Nora asked

"Well, I guess I did have a confidence boost this morning. Right Pyr?"

"Yes, Jaune was able to achieve a great feat earlier this morning" Pyrrha smiled truly, "He was so cool"

Jaune blushed at the comment

"Yeah but, fearless leader aren't you motionsick?" Nora shot back

"Well, Cardin gave me these pills a week ago and said if we ever used bullheads that I should use one" Jaune explained

"Huh... anti motionsickness pills" Nora pondered, "Ren do you think they have one of those. But for like hunger?"

"I don't know Nora, probably not" Ren answered

The conversation kept going as Cardin was listening, "Hey guys, Sky, Dove. We're almost there"

"Huh, wha—" Sky said as he rubbed his eyes.

Dove opened his and just stared at Cardin and nodded.

"Students, get your jars ready. We will be landing in three minutes" Glynda warned the students.

"Yes ma'am" some of them sleepily replied.

Author note: Long chapter, taking my time going through this part.