Chapter 33: The Bonds We Forge
It's been three days since you started your training. Your body has somewhat adapted to the increased weight, at least to the point of basic movement. You can walk, if a little awkwardly, but it's still progress. This has allowed you to start doing some basic training both with your body and your blade. Swinging Crimson Blaze is quite the challenge in this state, but it's also somewhat interesting to feel like a child swinging a wooden sword after you've been practically a master with the blade for years. Barely being able to swing the blade with proper form is frustrating yet refreshing.
At the moment, you're pushing yourself a little further than usual. You're on the ground doing pushups. A basic exercise, sure, but not when you're nearly five times your normal weight. Your body is kept cool thanks to Dior's genius, but your face is beet red with sweat dripping down your cheeks, chin, and nose. Of course, your face is the only place that isn't regulated by the suit, so it's getting the worst of it all. Still, you persist in your exercise no matter how tired you get.
"Fifty… seven!" You exhale, pushing up once more.
You hold yourself for a few moments before slowly lowering yourself down and push up once more.
"Fifty… eight…" You immediately collapse and start panting. "Okay… I'm done… my muscles want to crawl out and beat me to death," you whine. "Man… at least this is a workout. I already feel myself getting stronger… even just a bit." You shakily get to your feet, nearly falling over. "Okay… okay… I'm a super strong boy who can deal with weight… no I can't," you fall flat on your face, embracing the cool touch of grass. "Ah… this is where I belong."
You take a second to rest and let your body recover, if only for a moment. You've been training nearly nonstop for what feels like weeks, despite not even being one.
"Maybe… I should give it a break… wait…" You slowly grab your scroll and check the time. "Sparring is soon… maybe some actual combat would… give me some things to improve on…" You get to your feet and slowly stretch your legs out. "Okay… I'll just leap there. I don't want to take an hour," you laugh to yourself.
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"Okay, everyone, it's time for some training. Is there anyone who'd like to-"
Because of the increased weight, your teleportation is a little thrown off. You appear above the fighting stage and drop right on your back. You cough the moment you hit the floor, indenting the stage ever so slightly.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!"
Glynda sighs when she sees you screaming on the floor.
"(Y/N), could you please not interrupt our class. You're undergoing special training."
"(Y/N)!" Ruby screams, waving to you.
"Heya… Little Red," you lazily wave back. "And Ms. Goodwitch, I'd like to… participate. Test my training."
Ozpin has told Glynda, along with the other teachers, what you're plan is and how you're achieving said goal. She knows, despite not being the most mature student around, you're far more coordinated when it comes to your Semblance than that. Clearly, you're still wearing the training suit Ozpin spoke of. Which also means you plan on battling with that handicap. With all this in mind, it becomes clear to the teacher why you've arrived.
"Very well. You can start. You'll be paired with…" Glynda checks her scroll for the past matches. "Ms. Xiao Long."
"Yeah!" Yang cheers from the sidelines. "Get ready for a butt-kicking, (Y/N)."
You roll onto your stomach and proceed to stand from there.
"Yeah… probably…" You whisper.
"Students, please change and be ready to battle."
Everyone heads to the change rooms, but Ruby approaches you instead.
"Where have you been? I haven't seen you in three days! I was worried," she relays whilst approaching you.
"Yeah… I've been a little busy," you smile. "Tell you what, we'll have a night for just the two of us. Sound good?"
"Yeah! Oh! I know!" She happily jumps. "Your friend invited us all out! Yang didn't want me to go but I managed to convince her," she deviously says, rubbing her hands together. "It's to Illium's!"
"Illium's? It was Kin, wasn't it? He loves places like that."
"Yeah, the tall, loud one. He's really nice."
"That he is."
"Ms. Rose!" Glynda shouts. "Get changed, please."
"Okay!" She waves to the teacher, then looks back to you. "I… um…" She pokes her fingers together, seemingly unsure of something. You raise your brow, about the only thing that's been easy these past few days. She quickly leans up and kisses you, then bolts to the change room.
"She's a strange one," you shake your head. "Then again, I'm not so cut-and-dry either."
You slowly make your way to the other side of the fighting stage. Glynda can clearly see something is weighing you down, and not metaphorically.
"Do you plan to fight like that?" She speaks out.
"Yeah. I don't really plan to win this, hehe," go to rub your neck but it takes too long to reach, so you let it fall to your side once more. "Not used to this yet. So… you know, don't grade me or anything," you snicker.
"Of course. I'll admit, I'm curious to see how this will turn out."
"Hehe, you know its good when I have the illustrious Ms. Goodwitch interested," you say with a cocky smile.
Glynda rolls her eyes at your ridiculous comment.
"Just don't get hurt."
"Don't worry. I have a lot of Aura, remember?" You snarkily answer.
You patiently wait for the entire class, mostly Yang, to return. Yang stretches her arms as she approaches you, a smile on her face.
"This is my time to vent my frustrations about Ruby having a boyfriend."
"You're… you're joking, right?" You nervously chuckle.
"Whatever makes this easier for you," she smirks, raising her fists. "Just remember, you're the one who's skipped out on our jogging sessions. We haven't been able to compete lately, so I might be a little more aggressive," she says with twisted pleasure.
"Oh… oh, great…"
You shakily raise your fists and prepare for battle. Yang lowers her hands and cocks her head.
"No sword?"
"Nah, this'll help me more."
"Alright," she shrugs. "Let's get going."
"Hey, Weiss," Ruby leans closer to her teammate. "Does (Y/N) look… um…"
"Strained?"
"Yeah! Strained… I was gonna say that…"
"Mhm, well, yes, I agree. Something's different about him. He doesn't seem as relaxed as he normally is. How atypical of him."
"How… what?"
"Strange."
"Then why not say so?" Ruby whines.
"It's not my fault you have a limited vocabulary."
"Begin!" Glynda announces.
Yang fires her weapons behind her, bursting at you as she normally does with any opponent. The problem is you're nowhere near the speed to effectively dodge her. Instead, you raise your arms as fast as you can to block her attack. Only one hand manages to get high enough, but the force of Yang's punch hits you hard. Your saving grace is the sheer weight of the outfit makes you barely slide across the ground. Unfortunately, you're still within striking range. She throws some powerful punches, shooting with each attack. You can't keep up with Yang's natural speed, so every hit connects. She jumps, spins and kicks you away, then fires her gauntlets to launch herself at you again. She spins herself a few times, slamming your head further down with each punch, then she pushes off your head and lands behind you, fires her gauntlets forward, spins, and elbows your side.
"He's not even fighting back…" Jaune remarks.
"Hey! Stop beating him up!" Ruby protests!
"You'd rather your sister be beaten?" Weiss counters.
Ruby stops for a moment to think on Weiss' words.
"Kick his butt, sis!"
"Come on!" You shout back, desperately trying to defend yourself.
The entire class shares the same inquiry on your fighting state. You, on the other hand, are taking a ripe beating from Yang. You slide across the ground and fall to one knee, panting.
"Man… it's not even her attacks that're doing me in… I… can barely move… my body feels even more restricted when fighting…" You look to your hand as you open and close it. "I never noticed how tense I can get… how heavier I feel in battle…" You slowly get to your feet and gaze at Yang, who's waiting for you to get back up.
"Are you even trying?" She leans on her hip.
"Oh, more than you know," you chuckle, pushing yourself to your feet. "Well, you win, Yang. I forfeit," you say, turning to Glynda.
"Very well. Yang Xiao Long is the winner."
"What?" Yang shouts. "No! That's not fair!"
"I can't beat you right now, Yang. We'll have a rematch soon."
Yang crosses her arms, still showing signs of disappointment.
"Fine…"
"Hehe… I'll make up for it, Yang. I'll make you sweat next time," you wink.
"Hmph," she snickers. "Don't make a promise you can't keep, (Y/N)," she smirks.
"Yang! Stop flirting with (Y/N)!" Ruby screams from the sidelines.
"And on that note, I'm gone. See ya, Little Red. I'll visit you soon!" You say before leaping away.
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"Come on… another round…" You huff and puff, leaning over. "Okay, let's go!" You straighten up and slide back into your fighting stance.
You throw a punch one hand at a time, trying to do it as fast and precise as possible. After twenty punches, you start throwing kicks at various heights. This is the worst part of your regiment since your legs are literally dying at the moment. After a dozen kicks, you simply collapse and look to the sky.
"I… I'm done for the day… it's dark, I'm tired, I'm alone, I'm about to die, my god… someone come kill me… actually, no!" You stop talking and start chuckling. "Who am I even talking too. I'm gonna become a hermit at this point. Lose communication skills, Ruby will break-up with me… huh… I should go back to my dorm now," you end with a laugh.
You get to your feet, legs shakier than normal, and start walking back to your dorm. The training area all returns to the box before you grab it and attach it to your belt. Like always, you end your training at night. It's almost two in the morning so nearly every student should be sleeping or inside their dorms. This makes it easy for you to return to your room without drawing attention to your fatigued self. After a ten minute walk to your dormitory, which would normally only take one or two, you enter the building and are met with an odd group. Cinder, Mercury, Emerald, and another girl are leaving the building.
"Oh, (Y/N)," Cinder says with surprise. "I didn't expect to see you here, and this late."
Emerald and Mercury stand diagonal to Cinder while the third girl tries her best to hide away from you.
"Yeah… what're you three doing here? Isn't your room in another building entirely?"
"We were with a new friend, got caught up chatting. I'm sure you know how it is," Cinder playfully explains.
You attempt to shrug but your tired muscles won't allow it. You wince for a moment in response to the failure, but play it off like its nothing.
"I guess. Is that your final teammate?" You lean on your right leg to take a peak. "I don't think I've met her."
With a better view, you see the girl's entire appearance. Pale skin with emerald eyes that remind you of Pyrrha's. Her hair is black with a few lighter spots here and there, tied up in a twin-tailed styles with two white bows. Her outfit is almost entirely black, that being her sleeveless blouse with white frills on the chest and collar, black armbands and a knee length skirt. She looks at you curiously but doesn't say a word. You pass Cinder and lean over, getting closer due to her small stature.
"Huh… you're kind of adorable. Guess I'm meeting more people like that," you say before smiling wide.
She smiles back, quickly looking away so you don't discover who she really is. You already made the connection of her so-called "adorable" nature, but thankfully you didn't put two and two together.
"Anyway, I'm really tired so I'll let you all go. I can't wait to see you fight in the festival!"
"You're… battling? I thought you didn't have a full team?" Cinder inquires.
"Yeah, but I managed to convince Ozpin. I'm a charmer when I want to be."
"Good to know," she says, looking away and smiling.
"Have a good night, (Y/N)," Emerald says, waving to you.
"Right, sleep well! Nice to meet you… adorable girl," you wave whilst walking away.
Cinder's smile grows wider.
"Good to know."
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"Why can't this place have a goddamn elevator," you huff as you approach your room. "My legs literally want to run away from me."
You swipe your scroll, open the door, and fall flat on your face.
"Aaah… such a homey feeling."
"Nice of you to drop by," Dylan looks over his book to your collapsed state.
"Honey… did you make me something for working so hard?"
"Considering how little you come home, I should consider a divorce," he calmly retorts.
"Hehe… hehehehe… you actually went along with it."
Dylan sets his book on his lap, giving you his full attention.
"Where have you been, anyway? And get off the floor," he shakes his head as pushes off the bed to help you. He grabs your arm and attempts to lift you, but he simply can't. "What the..?" He tugs harder, barely moving you. "Slater… what's wrong with you?"
"Hehe… training."
He releases your hand which allows you to get to your feet with Dylan's assistance. You roll up your sleeve and reveal the suit.
"Those weren't just gloves?"
"No," you shake your head. "It's a Gravity Dust-laced suit Dior made for me. I've been trying a new training regimen to really get ahead."
"Hm… that explains your absences… that also explains why RWBY was so confused," he places a hand on his chin. "I heard you got quite a thrashing from Yang. It makes sense now."
"Mhm, I could barely fight back. Hell, I can barely walk anymore. I need a nice nap."
"How fun. I won't have to deal with you much. Here, I'll help you to your bed."
Dylan slips under your arm and helps you get to your bed. He lays you down and takes a few steps back.
"Slater… how are you walking around with that much weight?"
"I'm getting used to it. I've done weighted training before so I have a little experience, but… nothing like this. As I said, movement has been pretty limited but I think I'll get the hang of it. Probably not by the Vytal Festival, though."
"Seems you're trying to leave the rest of us behind," Dylan remarks as he rests on his bed once more.
"Maybe you should keep up, then?" You smile at him.
"Of course. I won't be abandoned by a moron like you. Now, I was reading. Rest, Slater."
"Right, yeah…" You lay flat on your bed and stare up at the ceiling for a moment. Something is swirling in your mind that needs confirmation. "Hey, Dylan?"
"Mm?"
"Is that one of Blake's books?"
"Oh, ah, no!" He answers in a flustered state.
"Oh… I thought I saw that on her bookshelf. My bad," you close your eyes and try to doze off. "So… are you and Blake, like… a thing yet, or..?"
"What kind of questions are these?" He says with a louder voice.
"Hey, hey," you open your eyes and look to him. "No need to get defensive. I just thought, you know, someone like you would have… made the first move, I guess."
"What makes you think that?" He says as if you've offended him.
"Well, you say I'm an idiot and since I never made the first move and you claim to not be an idiot… you know…"
Dylan puts the book down and sighs.
"I hate when your idiotic logic makes sense," he huffs. "But… I…"
"Wait, are you scared?" You chuckle.
"No! I'm just… taking my time," he says in a classy manner.
"While Sun keeps getting closer."
"Please, as if Blake would fall for someone like Sun," he looks away and smiles.
"Well, if there isn't a certain other guy going for her… I don't know," you jokingly say, trying to rile him up.
"I… hm…"
"Maybe just tell her how you feel?"
"Please, what would you know about relationships and feelings?" He insults.
"Well, not much, but I am one who does what I want and says what's on my mind, no matter how stupid it is. You never know how something will turn out unless you do it. Not many opportunities pass me by since I go for all of them. But since you 'don't like her,'" you say with air quotes. "I guess it doesn't matter."
Dylan's eyes mosey on down to the ground as he thinks on your words.
"I… suppose that's accurate."
"I don't know, just something to think about. I know you two get along, so… just wondering. Good night, Dylan."
"Good night, Slater."
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Dylan looks over the lake below Beacon. He knows you fancy this spot as well, but he enjoys it for the water and not the view. He's always more comfortable in and around water, much like his sister who prefers to be in hotter locations. After finishing the book that Blake indeed lent him, Dylan has been thinking about what you said. He wouldn't admit it to you, but Dylan isn't exactly the best with women, let alone ones he's interested in. The fact he hasn't said anything about his feelings or even tried talking to Blake about relationships is a clear sign that he's afraid. Perhaps it would be best to tell Blake upfront how he feels and what he wants. He and Blake have a lot in common, they're both Faunus of few words, yet the time they spend together is always enjoyable for him. In truth, it somewhat reminds him of how you and Ruby are. You just seem so happy when you're spending time together, no matter what you're doing. He feels the same with Blake.
"Hey, Dylan. You finished the book already?" Blake speaks as she approaches him.
Dylan turns around and hands the book to her.
"It was a good one. Thank you for allowing me to read it."
She shrugs.
"It's alright. I don't often get to share and talk about books with friends. Ruby and Yang aren't ones to read and Weiss… I don't think she reads the same things as I do."
"Indeed. She doesn't seem to be one who enjoys these kinda of books. They are quite entertaining though. I truly enjoyed the protagonist of that one."
"Did you?" Blake's eyes light up for a moment. "I thought she was really cool! Being stripped of her name then having to build up her respect from the dirt. The way she handled it was… oh, I could go on forever," Blake says with a wide smile.
"Heh… it's interesting to see you so… invested?" He throws out the word. "Usually you're more reserved."
"Well… we all have things we like. I'm curious what yours is, Dylan," she devilishly smiles.
"I'll keep that to myself," he snickers. "Anyway, I had something I wanted to ask you, Blake.
"Oh? What's up?
"Are you… um…" Dylan scratches his ears out of nervousness. "I… are you coming out to Illium's… with everyone?"
"Oh, um… I wasn't sure. Last time I went out with Yang she started a fight. Plus clubs aren't really my thing. I might stay at Beac-"
"I want you to come!" Dylan blurts out, only to immediately regret it.
"Oh, uh… really?" Blake answers, baffled by Dylan's sudden outburst.
"Damn you, Slater," he mumbles. "Yes. I'd like you to come. It… well… yeah… I think it'd be more fun with you around."
"Oh, well… okay, I'll… come… only if you come, though!"
"Yeah, that's… yeah," Dylan shifts in place, feeling the awkward wave coming over the two of them. "So… well, I'll see you later."
"Y-Yeah," Blake nods.
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"Hehe… hehehe… I'm surprised how… used to this weight… I'm getting," you pant while staring at the sky.
As per usual, you're lying on the ground after a round of training. Despite not having a trainer watching over you, it's probable that this is the hardest you've ever trained in your life. Which is surprising considering the people you've trained under. You've made arrangements so you're not training all alone all the time. Dylan, for some reason, offered to help you train the morning after you spoke.
"He seemed to be in a weird mood. Almost mad… but happy too. He's a strange one," you chuckle. "But at least I'll have someone to spar with. Always better to train with someone else, after all." You shift a little in place. "So I'll just relax a little until he gets here."
You place your hands behind your head and close your eyes. The breeze cools down your body and blows the grass around you somewhat. It's a very peaceful time for you, despite having to fight in the coming days. It's always good to have these relaxing moments, even if your body is completely worn out and sore from training. It hasn't been easy having all this increased weight on you, and, admittedly, it'll be difficult for you to take it off during the tournament. You're well aware you won't be accustomed to the weight by the time the Vytal Festival starts and there's no way you'll lose just because of that.
"Hm… maybe I'll stop using it before the tournament. I have no idea how weird it will feel to not have this extra stuff," say whisper, eyes still closed.
"I don't like this force field you have," Dylan speaks as he enters your training grounds.
"It's not a force field, Dylan! It's a camouflage… field…"
"I still don't understand why this has to be so secretive," Dylan questions, still approaching you.
"Because I want it to be a big surprise," you say with enthusiasm as you get to your feet. "I want to be like, 'Oh, I'm not the same (Y/N) as before!' And they'll be like, 'Where did you get this speed? This isn't your semblance!' and I'll be like, 'I don't need my Semblance for someone like you!' And the-"
"I get it!" Dylan shouts. "You want to do your stupid intros or whatever, like what you did when we met."
"Hehe, come on, that was gold," you smile.
"Mm… sure. So, is that really the only reason you're doing this? To not use your Semblance?"
"Well," you place your hand on your shoulder. "I told you already. I want to use my Semblance more effectively by attack almost instantaneously. Plus I got so used to not using my Semblance… well, I kinda wanna save it for if I'm in trouble."
"But you rely too much on your Semblance," Dylan points out.
"Coming from the guy who literally only uses water!" You shout back.
"Touché," he rolls his eyes. "So, you just want more combat experience with this suit."
"Yeah. Yang kicked my cahones last time so-"
"Cahones?"
You shrug.
"I heard it one time. Think it means butt or something. That's the context it was said to me in, anyway."
"Huh… alright, whatever. I get it. You think your combat speed is too slow compared to your Semblance. I can see the logic. You could become extremely dangerous if you could attack even faster. What's your final goal, anyhow?"
You smile at him.
"Lightning. Well, lightning faster than lightning is the final goal. But I don't even know anyone that fast, so Dior made sure to have a setting where the lightning is about half the speed or something. But still, if I can keep up and react to it…"
"You'll become near unstoppable. Be careful, Slater. Becoming too powerful will lead to-"
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine," you wave him off. "Trust me, nobody'll be able to stand up to me."
"You mean… Harrier?" The Faunus raises his brow.
"I… maybe… Dylan, you know how strong he is, right?" Dylan nods in response. "I won't lose to him next time. That's a promise. I'll get as strong as I can… I'll be the strongest Slater in history!" You smile, clenching your fist ahead of you.
"Is that so?" Dylan snickers. "Well, I'll be right with you. We are partners, after all."
You take a few steps back and raise your arms up to fight.
"Alright, partner, then let's get stronger together!"
Dylan slides his foot back and raises his hands to his hips.
"Very well… just don't get disappointed when I beat you!"
You both run at each other and its immediately clear you're hindered by the weight. Dylan almost wants to hold back but that won't help your training. Your movements are far too easy to read for someone like Dylan. You may be skilled in hand-to-hand combat, but that's what Dylan specializes in, so reading your tardy movements are simple. He ducks under your first punch and lodges his fist into your stomach.
"Oh, this will be cathartic," Dylan smirks.
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"So you're coming with that on?" Dylan asks as he sets his weapons down on his bed.
"Yeah, like I said, I wanna get used to it. Besides, I don't really wanna dance this time around. I'll just chat with my pals," you chuckle.
"Fair enough. Come on, we said we'd meet at RWBY's dorm."
"The team or the girl?"
"Does it matter?"
"I guess not… only if you're asking which one I'm dating."
"I suppose so."
You and Dylan leave your room and make your way to RWBY's dorm. It's a simple walk that takes no time at all so you arrive in seconds.
"Come on, Weiss! I wanna go out!"
"You have work to do."
"Yang! Tell her!"
"I don't know, Rubes, it's your fault."
"But Yaaaang!"
You and Dylan share a look of uncertainty.
"So… should we knock?"
"Go right ahead," Dylan gestures.
You squint your eyes at him whilst approaching the door. You knock on it twice and step back. Yang's the one to open the door and smile at you both.
"Hey, you two! How's it going!"
"(Y/N)!" A booming voice shouts from the hallway.
You, Dylan, and Yang look down the hall to team ORKD, mostly Kin who's walking in front with his arms wide.
"Heya, Kin! Dior! Onyx! R…Rogue…" You say with a little less enthusiasm and more nervousness.
"(Y/N), tell her!" Ruby runs out and points back at Weiss. "I can do the work later! I want to go out!"
"No, Ruby. I'll stay behind and help you. The rest of you can go," she says, looking to the others.
ORKD reaches the small group during this miniature turmoil.
"But I wanted to go!" Ruby whines.
"You should have thought about that before napping during class," Weiss scolds.
You chuckle and cross your arms.
"Weiss, you go out and have fun. I'll help Little Red with her work."
"You? You're not one to be a hard worker," Dylan snickers.
"He's more a man of action… like me!" Kin announces.
"We get it, Kin," Rogue pinches the bridge of her nose.
"You n-n-never were one to st-t-tudy…"
You sigh.
"True, but I think Weiss needs some time out more than me. You're more tightly wound," you smirk," gently placing a hand on her shoulder, making sure not to let your weight push her down.
"I am not!"
"Yeeeah, you are," Yang laughs.
"Go on, Weiss. I'll make sure she gets her work done, promise."
You and Weiss' eyes never stray from each other until Ruby speaks up.
"I'm… okay with this… if he stays with me."
Weiss huffs.
"Fine… but if her work isn't done then you'll be hearing from me!" She points at you.
"Don't worry, Weiss," you gently move her hand away. "Go have fun. You guys," you turn to your other friends. "We'll have to have hang out another time. I'm sorry."
"It's quite alright, (Y/N)," Onyx responds. "Please enjoy your time with Ruby. I'm eager to meet your other friends."
"I forgot he could talk," Yang whispers to Blake.
You wave to your friends and enter RWBY's dorm with Ruby right behind you.
"You all have fun! And don't kill each other!"
"A good fight is the best way to learn more about each other!" Kin says.
"We're going to dance, Kin. Who starts fights at a club?" Rogue jokingly says
Blake peers over at Yang, which makes the brawler squint at her partner.
"Don't you dare," she whispers once more.
You close the door behind you, closing you and Ruby off from everyone else. Ruby smiles at you, clearly excited.
"Alright, so what're you working on?"
"History," Ruby sighs, her excitement dying instantly. "I have… heh…" She points over to Weiss' bed where over a dozen papers are strewn about.
"Oh, well…" You place your hand on your hips. "Guess we have some work to do. We'll mess around after. Like, as a reward or break or something?"
"Okay!" She cheers. "Come on, we'll just sit on Weiss' bed."
"You're allowed to do that?"
"Well… not really."
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After a decently long flight and drive over, the large group of students approaches Illium's Night Club. They can all hear the booming music from inside, all witnessing the neon lights attracting locals to it, and blending in with the crowd trying to get in. Some smile at the sight, like Kin and Yang, while others shy away from the building, like Dior and Weiss. Still, the group is together and determined to have fun, despite the bridge between the two teams being gone.
Dior leads the group to the door and shows the doorman his ticket. He's instantly let in and the process repeats for every member of RWBY and ORKD, plus Dylan.
"Be warned, friends!" Kin shouts to the people behind him. "It's much louder inside! Prepare yourselves!" He finishes before pushing open the door and allowing the music to escape the square room, even just momentarily.
"People enjoy this?" Weiss shouts to her friends.
"What?" Blake shouts back.
"This is awesome! Look at that dance floor! I'm going down there right now!" Yang cheers.
The busty brawler immediately makes her way to the dance floor to enjoy herself.
"I'm eager to join her! But, please, follow me to our table!" Kin leads the rest of the group towards a seat that's pretty standard when it comes to reserved tables. Along the wall are tables that are separated by fairly thin walls and a curtain that can be lowered if the guests choose to do so. The group of young souls all take their seats in whatever spot they fit it. Kin stands at the front of the table, smiling at everyone.
"I'm glad you could make it today! It's unfortunate (Y/N) could not join us, but I'm sure I can make up for his enthusiasm!"
"You probably surpass it," Rogue chuckles, sitting at the edge of the table so she can actually hear Kin.
The others, however, cannot hear Kin as he speaks. They all just watch the burly man throw his arms around and see his mouth move. After he finishes his speech he gives everyone a farewell and heads to the dance floor to join up with Yang.
"I'm surprised you all decided to come. I wasn't sure if you were people who go out much," Rogue speaks.
"Last time we went out we fought an Atlas mech," Dylan responds. "Actually, you didn't come with us, Weiss."
"That's because I was with (Y/N)… when your sister came after us."
"Oh, yes… I almost forgot that was the same night," Dylan says with a darker tone. "I wish that night had gone differently."
"What happened?" Rogue inquires, speaking for her quieter team.
"Hm… well…"
As Dylan and Weiss explain their own stories, a person watches from a distance. His dark glasses continuously change colour thanks to the flashing lights in the building.
"Hm… Rose isn't here either. He's likely with her somewhere else… perhaps at Beacon," the man looks down at a stone cylinder with Salem's mark on its end. "I suppose I'll wait for a more opportune moment. Considering that… hm… perhaps a test is in order," he snickers to himself. "Perhaps its time for them to tell him the truth. At least their version of the truth."
Harrier tightens his grip on the item and walks towards the exit. Though his goal was not achieved, he thought of something that will be far more entertaining and worthwhile. That is considered a victory for him.
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"See, we're close," you smile at the frustrated girl. "We only have two pages left. Can't believe it's been two hours already."
"I know," Ruby whines as she lays upside-down on Weiss' bed, tears running down her face. "My poor brain is going to explode. Why do they do this to me?"
You chuckle as you pull Ruby towards you and set her up for more work.
"Come on. When we're done… maybe we'll snuggle or something. Maybe I'll give you a massage?"
"Can you even give a massage?" Ruby giggles, her mood instantly changing.
"I don't know. You can be my test subject. Maybe if it goes well I'll have something to fall back on if my Huntsmen career doesn't pan out."
"Hehe, I can't wait to be there with you for that," she says as she lays back down, resting her head on your lap.
"You… think we'll be together for that long?"
"Oh… I… I don't know. I want to be! Hopefully…" Her voice trails off in disappointment.
"Well, hey, you're not getting rid of me anytime soon," you say with a smile to raise her hopes once more. "So you never know. I might be able to deal with you for that long."
"Hey! I'm great to be around! Ask Weiss, we're besties!"
"I'm sure," you chuckle. "Come on, we're almost done. I don't want to get yelled at by Weiss."
"So you better stay on my good side," she playfully threatens as she lifts herself up and bounces over to the papers.
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Dior, Onyx, and Rogue listen intently as Dylan, Blake, and Weiss tell their own stories. With varied conversations, questions, and tangents, the conversation lasts forever. Some of it involved Dylan and his time in the White Fang, or the trip to Mountain Glenn that RWBY made. But, admittedly, the members of ORKD enjoy the stories of you the most. Hearing what you've been doing while you've been away is enlightening. Conversations broke off into the details of Merlot's island, the Grimm in the maze, Harrier's arrival, and, of course, the dumbest things you've done in during your time at Beacon. Most of this doesn't surprise Dior and Onyx, but Rogue is almost shaken by the stories. She hides it, of course, but her teammates can tell.
"Well… I think I'll go see how Kin is doing. I want to move around too," she says, leaving the table and heading down the nearest set of stairs.
"W-W-Well that was expected…"
"What?" Dylan asks.
"Is it (Y/N)? What's her problem with him? They dated but… that's not enough to hate someone," Weiss adds.
Dior shakes his head.
"I-I would agree. But it hurts K-K-Kin and Rogue the most."
"Kin? Why him?" Blake speaks.
"Kin and Rogue are together," Onyx finally chips in. "But Rogue has been taking her time at Beacon hard. What you said, Weiss, is true. But think of this: If you loved someone, adored them, looked up to them, and suddenly then they left without saying a word. Now imagine seeing them again, but they're happier than ever, making more friends, revealing more about themselves then to you and also having a new partner. It has clearly taken its toll on her and has put more stress on Kin. He wants to do whats best for his partner, but he isn't as effective as time."
"Wow… you haven't sp-p-poken that much in a long t-t-time," Dior remarks.
"I know about my team. I know their strengths and weaknesses. This is a weakness that exists, and I won't ignore it," he responds, still a minimal amount of emotion to him.
"Wait, what do you mean he's revealed more about himself?" Blake inquires.
"I was the only one who knew his p-parents were dead. He rarely opened up to anyone l-like he did here. For Rogue, I imagine that h-hurts," Dior looks to the dance floor, attempting to find his teammate. "I hope she can move on. K-K-Kin does everything he can for her… they're a v-very nice pair."
"Definitely an interesting one. I've never met a man like Kin," Dylan points out. "Well," Dylan leans back in his seat. "I remember one man from the White Fang being a little eccentric. Very excitable. Very dangerous."
"Excuse me, I need to freshen up," Weiss interrupts as she slips out of the seat.
"Actually, I have to as well. I'll come with you, Weiss."
The two girls leave the boys on their own to whatever conversation arises. They reach the bathroom where their ears get a little bit of a break from the booming music. The room is a red and pink colour that compliments it well enough. The stalls are lined up at the back with a nice set of sinks set up just across from the door.
"Hey, Weiss, I wanted to speak with you about something," Blake starts.
"Sure, what's on your mind," she responds, looking at her hands as she washes them.
"I… um…" Blake fiddles in place a little bit, unsure how to ask Weiss and still not believing that she'll ask the Heiress about this. "I… it's about Dylan…"
Weiss slowly turns her head towards her fellow teammate.
"Oh… is it now?"
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"Very convenient. I don't think we have anyone at Beacon with your skills," Dylan compliments to the golden boy, Dior.
The two girls return, gathering the attention of the three boys.
"I think we should all dance," Weiss declares. "Come on! I'm not taking no for an answer."
"You actually want to go dance? Didn't yo-"
"A girl can change her mind!" She quickly shuts down the Faunus. "So come on! You two as well! We're here to dance and I'll make sure we all do it!"
Blake internally smiles at her teammate. She's well aware Weiss is going out of her way to do this for her. Blake looks to Dylan and cocks her head over to the dance floor.
"Come on, Dylan. You invited me here so…"
"I… okay, sure, yeah, I can do this. Let me use the restroom and I'll join you."
"I'll wait here, then," Blake smiles, taking Dior and Onyx's seat.
"We'll see you down there!" Weiss waves as she drags the two boys down the stairs.
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"And so… the battle… came to an end…" Ruby says aloud as she writes on the paper. "What do you think?"
"It should work, I think," you say before taking a bite out of a cookie – one Ruby gave to you as a reward for helping while she guzzled down four. "We even went into detail about-"
You both stop when the sound of your scroll takes over. You grab it from your pocket and see a picture of Dylan.
"Huh…" You answer and put it on speaker for Ruby to hear. "What's up? Is the dance floor popping? Maybe you're performing more wetification st-"
"They want to dance!" Dylan shouts.
You and Ruby look at each other awkwardly.
"Aren't they at a club?" She whispers.
"I thought so... Who wants to dance?"
"Blake! I think she wants to dance with me!"
"Wow, I've never heard so much emotion in your voice," you snicker.
"Shut up, Slater! You got me into this mess and I don't want to screw up!"
"You like Blake?" Ruby exclaims.
"You're letting her hear me?"
"She's a girl, I thought she could help."
"You didn't even know why I called!"
"True… but it worked out so who cares?"
"Slater! This isn't some joke!"
"I know, I know, calm down," you lay back on the bed, resting the scroll on your stomach. "I don't know, Dylan. Just dance with her. Stop thinking so much about it. Relax, have fun, and tell her how you feel."
"I… right… I have to think more like an idiot – more like you."
"Exactly!" You proudly say with a large smile on your face. "Wait… no, shut up!"
Ruby giggles at the interaction between you two.
"It's okay, Dylan! We're cheering for you!"
"Right… thanks, Ruby."
"What about me?" You scream.
"You're useless. Goodbye."
The line disconnects and silence takes over once more.
"Sheesh, I try to help and get ignored."
Ruby slips beside you and cuddles up.
"I'm not ignoring you."
"Eh, true enough. But we're not done with your work yet. One more page."
Ruby pouts.
"Fine."
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Dylan approaches the table, taking a short breath to keep himself leveled. Blake is patiently waiting at the table, admittedly antsy for his return.
"Just remember what Weiss said… remember what she said…"
Dylan approaches the table and smiles at his friend.
"So… we good, or..?"
"Yeah, everyone's already down there. Even Weiss looks to be having fun."
Blake leaves her seat and follows Dylan's lead.
"I guess even an Heiress has to let loose every once in a while."
"I think she does that enough with her words," Blake playfully jokes.
"Yes, that's true," he responds with a snicker.
The two make their way down the stairs, past some other tables, and reach the dancefloor after another set of stairs. The lights are flashing, the music is booming, and everyone is enjoying themselves. Even Weiss, though a bit of an eyesore, is dancing her heart out. It's a sight to see for any who know her. It's something Dylan will definitely relay to you once he's returned. The two Faunus make some space for themselves amongst the crowd, though they were unable to really get close to their friends. To Dylan's surprise, Blake gets into it almost immediately, moving her body to the beat with a brilliant smile. Dylan doesn't have much experience with this sort of dance, but he adapts the best he can. He's far from the worst dancer in the room. If anyone looked around, it would clearly be Kin's over exaggerated movements that, at the very least, reflects his personality. Some would say that dancing, much like fighting, can help reveal one's true personality. Others would say it's just a fun little activity. No matter what it is, Dylan's just happy to see a smile on Blake's face.
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"I think my arm's getting numb," you whisper into Ruby's ear.
"Hehe, am I working it too hard?"
"Maybe. You have been resting on it for… actually, how long have we been here, anyway? I think I dozed off," you say, wearily.
"You did. It was really, um… well, your little breaths and stuff, I mean I wasn't watching you but I was here so I heard and it was really… cute…" Ruby somewhat curls inward out of embarrassment.
You pull her in a bit closer with the arm she's been resting on.
"Nah, it's fine. I remember once you fell asleep and snored a bit."
"I don't snore!"
"How would you know? You were sleeping," you chuckle.
"I just do!" Ruby pouts.
"Alright, alright, you win this one. You don't snore like a Beowolf."
"(Y/N)!" Ruby whines.
"I'm kidding! It was a joke," you continue to laugh.
"Why are you so mean to me?" She curls into you a little more, resting her free arm on your stomach.
"For cute little reactions like that," you tap her nose.
She looks up at the mattress hanging above you both.
"Hey (Y/N), can I ask you something?" She says with a quiet tone.
"Of course."
"I… I wanted to visit my dad before the tournament starts… and I… I want to bring you with me," she lifts off your arm and looks down at you. "I want you to meet my dad."
"Heh… sure, why not?"
"Wait, really?" She says with a hopeful smile.
"Yep," you nod. "I mean, why not? It's a couples thing, right? Besides, it shows I'm serious about us," you smile at the girl looking down at you.
Those words ignite such joy in her that she instinctively comes down and kisses you. As fast as she came down, she pulls away, cheeks red with embarrassment.
"I… uh, hehe, sorry, I didn't mean to, I mean, not that I didn't want to but I didn't mean to, I-"
You push yourself up from the bed, which, thanks to the suit is a tad more difficult than you'd prefer, and connect your lips with hers once more. Her eyes flutter as she gives into the sensation.
You pull back and rest yourself on the bed again.
"You never had to worry about that, Little Red. You got soft lips, so don't worry."
Ruby trails her finger across her lips.
"Soft… huh… I, hehe… okay…"
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"Alright, you sexy lads and lasses!" The DJ shouts. "I think it's time we get a little more… intimate…" He switches the song to a slower song, but still one that's catchy. "I know everyone's been eying someone here. Now's the chance. Build up that confidence, ask that girl to dance, have a great time, my people!"
Dior, Weiss, and Onyx take their leave and return to the table. Kin and Rogue take up a close position, Kin's hands resting on Rogue's hips while she pulls herself closer, resting her head on his chest.
"Hey, Kin…"
"Yes, Rogue?"
"Thank you… for… for putting up with me."
Kin can only assume this means one thing, thus he takes the compliment and remains silent. He holds his girlfriend close, slowly moving to the beat of the music. For a girl like Rogue, a sentence like that is rare. He won't ruin it.
On the other hand, Blake and Dylan are still on the dance floor.
"I… would you like… to dance? I mean, everyone else is gone and it's kinda awkward, so…"
"I don't think I've ever heard you be so… indecisive," Blake points out. "But… I think I know why."
"Huh?"
"You're… you're nervous."
"And you are?"
"Kind of. I… darn it, why am I like this," she quietly scolds herself.
All of a sudden Dylan pulls Blake closer to him. She yelps out of surprise but he quickly places a finger over her mouth.
"We were getting stares. I'd prefer not to be a focal point," he whispers, then takes his hand off her mouth.
"Right… fair enough. It's been a while since we danced."
"Yeah… last time I was at a dance…" Dylan's mind flashes to the masked woman and Harrier. "It was interesting. Not as… pleasant, though."
"Was that a compliment?" Blake smirks.
"I'm not very good at it. I'm trying… I'm surprised how much I try for the people at Beacon. It's… strange."
"You didn't feel that way in the White Fang? Even when you believed in it?" Blake asks in genuine concern.
"I… don't know. I thought I did, but it wasn't my choice to be in the White Fang. Granted, I didn't have a choice to join Beacon, but I'm… happier here. I'm not spiteful, I have friends… I…" He looks away from Blake's amber eyes… "I… I care a lot… for people…" He huffs. "Goddamnit, I mocked Slater for his inability to recognize others feelings but I'm incapable of actually going through with anything like he can…"
"Dylan… you're ranting."
"Right, yeah," he shakes his head. "I… listen, Blake, you're one of my favourite people at Beacon. You… I don't know, this is different for me and I'm not as… straightforward as Slater… but I'd, uh…" He looks down at their slowly moving feet. "I think…"
"Hey, you don't have to be complicated," she whispers. "I know exactly what how you feel."
"So…"
"We can just enjoy the moment… yeah…"
From above, Weiss watches her two friends bond.
"Not the most practical," she mumbles to herself. "But our plans rarely go smoothly, so I suppose things worked out. Speaking of plans," she looks to the ceiling. "I hope certain people fulfill their plans."
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After splitting off from ORKD once returning to Beacon. Everyone was satisfied with the night and thanked Kin for the opportunity. Blake and Dylan were both especially appreciative for the night out for reasons that differed from the others.
"Slater is still with Ruby, I assume?" Dylan asks Weiss.
"Hopefully. We'll check when we get there."
The four walk to their room and allow Weiss to unlock the door. They enter and find Ruby peacefully sleeping on Weiss' bed, alone. Dylan huffs and smiles.
"I know where he is. At least they got their work done," he points out, looking at the stack of papers set beside the bed.
"I suppose they did," Weiss huffs.
"It was a fun night! Don't worry about what Ruby was doing!" Yang confidently says.
"You're not worried what Ruby and (Y/N) were doing all alone?" Blake adds.
Yang pauses for a moment, blinking twice.
"I'll kill'em."
"That's my leave. Have a good night, girls," Dylan says before giving a quick wave.
The two Faunus share one last look – one that heats up Blake's cheeks. The door closes and Dylan heads back to his room.
"I can only imagine you being in one place, Slater…"
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"Huff… Huff…" Sweat drips down your forehead as you rest on one knee. "It's good to remember… what I'm fighting for… Meeting her dad, though… I didn't think it would happen so soon." You get back to your feet and look up at the darkened sky. "Tai Yang… It's been a long time since I've seen you. I wonder how you'll react to me dating your daughter," you chuckle at the thought. "Well… I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I won't let intimidation scare me off from Ruby. If I did, Yang would have chased me to Vacuo by now," once again snickering at your own words. "It'll be fine. For now, lets focus on training!"
First off, I have to thank all of you for the OC submissions! I have so many to choose from now… unfortunately, only three can be chosen, but I still value every entry! For those who're curious, submissions will close come March 1st, 2018. I'll announce the winners whenever the chapter comes out after that.
Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the story so far. I assume you can guess what the next chapter will be, and after that, I'll be starting the Vytal Festival Tournament! Yeah, exciting! Volume 3 is practically upon us and I'm hoping it'll be just as awesome! Hell, by the time Volume 3 is done, Volume 6 will probably be out… maybe… well, I'll see you all later!
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