Ch. 36

"Okay students! Time's up! Please put down your pencils. The test is finalllyyyy over!"

Everyone did as Oobleck said, except for one of course.

"Just one more question! Just one morree!" Jaune pleaded.

Unfortunately, Oobleck swiftly snatched the boy's pencil from his hand.

"I said pencils down Mr. Arc," the professor repeated.

Jaune silently groaned.

"Don't worry, I'm confident that you all did fine. For some of you this is your last test for today, for others you may have one more test to complete. If the latter is the case then I wish you luck, and I hope you all have a splendid summer vacation. Class is dismissed!"

Everyone began leaving the room as soon as Oobleck was done. Some left class in relief, others in disappointment.

"Finally! Summer vacation! I'm ready for some fun in the sun!" Yang bellowed.

"So you plan on going to the beach?" Blake asked.

"Correction. We, are going to the beach." Yang told her teammates. "I wanna see the Ice Queen get a tan."

"Sorry, I don't tan very well," Weiss huffed. "But it beats going back to Atlas."

"What's the matter Weiss? Won't you want to see your family?" Ruby asked.

"Its complicated. Don't worry about it," Weiss replied.

"I'm fine with going to the beach though," Blake added.

"Nice!" Yang put one arm around her partner. "Like I said, fun in the sun!"

"Oh! Maybe we should ask our friends to come with," Ruby suggested with a smile. "It'd be a great bonding experience."

Yang nodded. "Sure, let's ask."

Team RWBY went to the dorms, arriving at the dorm room for team KAJE. Fortunately, Kathleen, Emma, and Jurano were just from their tests.

"Hey girls, how was your test?" Jurano asked.

"Horrible," Weiss answered.

"It could've been worse," Blake stated.

"Pretty sure we aced it," Yang smiled.

"So, what brings you here?" asked Emma.

"We were wondering if you were down for going to the beach with us," Yang said. "I know a good spot that our dad used to take us to if you're interested."

Jurano shrugged. "Depends. We usually have plans that we go over as a group. Abaddon should be in here already, ready to discuss what we're gonna do."

They opened the door to find Cinder already talking to a shirtless Abaddon.

"Come on. You'd be doing me a big favor her-."

Cinder slightly paused, having just noticed that the others had entered the room.

"Oh, hey guys," said Abaddon.

Yang smiled. "Sooooo, what was going on here? Fido's shirtless and alone in a room with another woman? You sure know how to play your cards right."

Kathleen wrapped her arms tightly around Abaddon. "Mine only."

Abaddon chuckled. "Don't worry, Cinder was just asking me for a favor."

"Correct," Cinder added through a stuffed nose. "So, can I at least have the extra keys to the Florence's vacation home please? I'd really appreciate it."

"Hmmmmmmmmmmm, I don't know," the boy teased. "Your mother would be so sad if you didn't visit her for the entirety of summer vacation."

Cinder grunted. "Oh please, the entire time she'll just chastise me like usual. I'd rather stay here with my team. It's much more bearable and relaxing. Especially with this stupid fever."

Abaddon thought about it, then sighed. "Fine, but no parties or breaking shit please. The owner, Rick Florence, will be on my ass if you do."

He handed her a silver key with a burgundy feather attached to the keychain.

"Thanks. And don't worry, you know I'm a good girl," Cinder said as she left the room.

"I beg to differ. And clean your damn nose or your fever won't get better."

Abaddon then turned to face Yang and the others. "I already heard you guys outside. Can't go to the beach right now. Grandpa called earlier and said he needed me for a quick mission."

"That's fine, maybe next time," Yang replied.

"Yep. Family first," Ruby added.

"That's great, now you can introduce Weiss and Blake to them," Kathleen said.

"Exactly!" Ruby cheered. "In fact, lets go pack now and you two can stay with us all summer."

"Uhmmm, I'm not sure Ruby," Weiss told her.

"I'm game for anything," Blake said plainly.

"Alrighty! Next stop: Patch!"

Yang and Ruby immediately sped out of the dorm room, dragging Weiss and Blake with them.

Jurano closed the door. "Sooo, is it just you he needs, or all of us?"

"Welll," Abaddon began. "He said me, and one other is fine. You up for going to Atlas this summer Kathleen?"

Kathleen smiled. "Sure. I've never been to Atlas before. What's it like?"

"I'd rather not spoil it for you."

Jurano frowned. "So, Kat gets to see Atlas while Emma and I go home? Shit!"

Abaddon frowned. "What's wrong? At least you'll get to hang out with Vel and show her around Marrowshin. Or meet her parents. Whichever you choose."

"We could, but you know I usually help my aunt and uncle with their radio station," Jurano said. "I'll bring Vel for a bit. Afterwards, she'll want to bring Remora home to Mistral."

"True," Kathleen added. "And Emma will just go home to Mr. and Mrs. Trennair. The school year's over so we can get some good sleep."

"Amen to that." Abaddon then went to his dresser and started packing his clothes. "Let's get some extra training in Kat. We're leaving a week from now. Grandpa would want us to be in top shape for whatever he needs us for."

XXXXXXX

Forever Fall, Northwest Coast of Sanus

Kathleen and Abaddon sat together in a dining car on the Pasiphae Express. Abaddon used an old Atlas identification card given to him by his father to board it without complications or having to pay. They had been on the train overnight and were getting breakfast before reaching their destination.

"You like the train food?" Abaddon asked.

Kathleen nodded. "I was once told the trains had horrible food, so I had packed a few snacks. But this is the absolute opposite of what I had been told."

Kathleen ate another spoon full of grits, finishing her breakfast in full. She wiped her mouth with a napkin and gazed outside the window.

Abaddon scarfed down the last of his scrambled eggs and sausage before burping.

Kathleen smiled. "Your disgusting."

"My bad. Better out then in ya'know."

Kathleen placed her utensils on her plate, then drank the rest of her orange juice and stood up.

"Let's go back to our room and get our belongings ready. We may be arriving in Pasiphae before we know it," said Kathleen.

Abaddon nodded and stood up as well. Both huntsmen strolled out of the dining car and into a passenger car. Several families had their children running around. One of them tossed a blue ball in Abaddon's direction. He caught the ball and tossed it back to the kid.

"Wanna play?" the little boy asked.

Abaddon went up to the kid. He looked to be seven years old. He had dark skin with short navy-blue hair and wore a short sleeve yellow shirt with blue shorts.

"Maybe later kid." Abaddon rustled the kid's hair before leaving.

He and Kathleen went to their temporary sleeping quarters, a room with a single bed. Abaddon laid back on the bed while Kathleen made sure she had everything packed in her duffel bag.

Abaddon yawned loudly. "I think I'm gonna take a short nap until it's time to go."

Unfortunately for him, Kathleen had different plans. She laid on him and caressed his face with her hands.

Kathleen gave her boyfriend a soft peck on the lips. "I'd rather you not sleep yet."

Without saying another word, their lips met once more but this time it wasn't just a small kiss. They pulled each other closer, Kathleen holding his face and Abaddon wrapping his arms around her waist. Both their hearts raced, and their collective body heat rose as they continued to caress one another.

"Attention all passengers! We will be reaching our destination in five to seven minutes! I repeat, we will be reaching our destination in five to seven minutes!"

The couple's lips parted, and Kathleen groaned, burying her face into Abaddon's neck.

"Ten…..more…..minutes."

"We gotta get up Kat. You did say that we would reach the city before we knew it."

Kathleen groaned again. "But I'm not done yet."

Abaddon kissed her on the cheek. "Later babe. When we have more free time alright?"

"Fine."

A few minutes later, the train stopped at the station. Kathleen and Abaddon stepped off the train along with the other passengers. They walked out of the station, into the city of Pasiphae. The city was bordered by steep mountains, protecting it from most land-based Grimm. It was large in size with a number of interconnected canals. The architecture was largely urban save for some buildings having unique elements such as arches, rib vaults, and flying buttresses. There were also numerous gardens and a few small artificial lakes.

Outside the train station, the huntsmen were greeted by a waiting horse drawn carriage. Standing in front of the carriage was a man with short white hair sporting blue highlights and a pale skin complexion. He had light blue eyes and two vertical parallel scars running down the left side of his face, down his neck, and at his collarbone. The man wore a long sleeve two tailed beige colored coat with a folded, pleated collar over a blue shirt. His shirt was tucked into his dark colored pants using a belt. He also had black hiking boots, a dark grey pauldron on his left shoulder, and a chain necklace with a silver ring attached. He held a cardboard sign with the name "Rizer" on it.

"Abaddon Rizer? Kathleen Sillenyaa?" The man asked.

Abaddon saluted the man. "In the flesh."

"Eon Evergreen." Eon shook hands with them both. "I'm your ride for today. Get in, we're going to a village outside the city."

As Eon jumped into the front, Abaddon opened one of the carriage doors for Kathleen.

"Ladies first," he said.

"Well thank you," Kathleen replied.

She climbed in with her duffel bag, then said, "Abaddon, are these friends of yours?"

"Who's in there?" Abaddon asked.

He climbed into the carriage after her, and as soon as he saw who it was, he quickly smiled. Inside sitting across from Abaddon and Kathleen were two more people. On the left was a fair skinned woman with short red hair with long bangs and emerald green eyes. She wore a cyan shirt under a brown short sleeve jacket with dark jeans and brown combat boots. On the right was a pale white man with short brown hair combed to the front. He had brown eyes, except his left eye was white with a scar going over it. He wore a tan short sleeve shirt with grey cargo shorts and black sneakers.

"Holy crap! York! Carolina!"