A/N: And thus, classes begin. I hope you enjoy! Don't hesitate to PM me/leave a review with your comments/questions. I love hearing from you all :D
Laws of Attraction
The next morning, Pyrrha's eyes opened to a beautiful blue sky from outside the wide window. Rays of gentle sunshine washed the room with a bright, warm glow, the sleepiness fading from her body into simple contentment. Snuggling back into her sheets, she allowed her eyes to droop once more, burying her cheek in her pillow.
And then, a loud clatter resounded through the room, shaking her bed frame. With a yelp, she sat up, brushing her hair out of her face. Staring at the door, she quickly stood, jogged over, and looked out into the hallway. Nothing could be seen, but a series of loud crashes and drills came from the room across the hall.
Pyrrha rubbed her eyes blearily, reading the nameplate on the other door. She hadn't taken the time to examine the surrounding rooms the previous night, after all. "'RWBY'… oh, it's their room?" she realized, the clamour refusing to cease from behind Team RWBY's closed doors.
"What the hecky is going on?" Nora moaned, sitting up in her bed slowly. Ren and Jaune were groggily getting up as well, but no one made any move to get out of bed.
Bringing her hands to her hips, Pyrrha sighed, realizing that all of them were more than content to stay in bed. "Who knows? C'mon, everyone, we have to go," she gently chided. "Get dressed in your uniforms. Brush your teeth. I don't know if we have time to go to the dining hall- I'll bring us some leftover pancakes."
"'K, Pyrrha," Jaune yawned, crawling out of bed. Pyrrha bit her tongue to stop her from commenting on her leader's slouched figure as he trudged past her in his onesie, toiletry bag in one hand and small towel- almost like a tiny blanket- trailing on the ground in the other.
Nora sprung out of bed, suddenly energized again. "Alright, time to go!" Ren nodded, slow but steady as he stood up, remade his bed, and primly began getting dressed. It was clear that he was not a morning person, as even Nora's light babbling didn't phase him.
This is going to be an interesting few years. With a wry smile on her face, Pyrrha began getting ready for the day, putting aside her curiosity about whatever was going on in the opposite room.
After half an hour, the group was reassembled and enjoying some reheated pancakes. Nora was eagerly talking about what they were going to learn that day with food flying out of her mouth. Ren ate in relative silence, still fairly deadpan from the slow morning start. Jaune, on the other hand, was looking greener by the minute. "Hey, Jaune, are you alright?" Pyrrha asked, concerned.
He let out a nervous giggle. "Me? Pfft, no. I'm fine, everything's fine." But his face said that no, everything was not fine.
Pyrrha sighed, but didn't pry. Instead, she simply collected everyone's plates and stacked them up on a desk, making a mental note to go wash them later that day. With their meal over, though, the sounds of banging and drilling from Team RWBY's room were even more prevalent.
"Ooh, I have to know what's going on!" Nora yelled, jumping up and peeking out the door. "Why are they so loud?"
Pyrrha had to admit that she was curious, too- so, the rest of them simply stacked themselves above and below Nora to look into the hallway. Suddenly, RWBY's door opened, and Weiss' shrill voice echoed, "It's 8:55, you dunce!" And with that, the white-haired girl sprinted out of the room and past the peeking four, the rest of RWBY looking out after the high-strung girl.
Ruby's expression was of utter shock, but after a moment, she said, "To class!" and bolted out of the room, followed by Blake and Yang.
"Class…?" Jaune muttered from the bottom of their stack, but the sudden shift made him lose his balance and topple everyone over. Pyrrha felt herself fall onto the soft carpet with a thud.
The panic on Jaune's face was only growing by the second. "We're gonna be late!" he squealed. Sharing a look, Pyrrha and the others stood up and began running to the classrooms. I should get a large clock for our room, she told herself absentmindedly, adding it to her to-do list. Maybe I'll let Nora pick it. She really wants to decorate, anyways. The group didn't have any notebooks or texts, but they had been informed via Scroll that they wouldn't need anything for the first day, so at least that was taken care of.
The classes that day were mostly another round of orientations. Each of the professors introduced their subjects before diving lightly into the material they would be covering, ranging from history, to weapons management, to tactics, and more. A few of them took place in the amphitheatre, and others in small, more elusive corners of the school, but the majority of their lessons would occur in the central school buildings where the Professors conducted their research and studies. With lunch being a small picnic hosted by the dining hall staff to commemorate the start of a new year for Beacon Academy, the students were constantly kept on their toes for where they were going next.
Finally, they managed to reach Professor Port's class right on time, concluding an overall busy day in a positive way. Although he did give her a wide smile and nod to acknowledge her when she walked into the room, it was quite a relief to see that he didn't intend to treat Pyrrha differently than the other students after their initial conversation.
It was a simple lecture on the different types of Grimm known to infest the local region, and the rotund man was more than happy to deviate from the lesson to add flavour text in the form of odd anecdotes throughout. Pyrrha paid rapt attention to every word. While Professor Port wasn't the most entertaining person, there was something so enjoyable about sitting in a large lecture hall. The room they were seated in, similar to most of their other classes, was full of rising seats and long desks set up like a mini theatre for the students to watch their professors- it was a vast improvement to the small, level classrooms of Sanctum. It felt like a real academy, and that sense filled her with pride.
The majority of the class was not so focused. More specifically, Ruby, seated in the front row, was having a grand time doodling and making faces at her team. Even though she was seated behind her, Pyrrha could see how silly the girl was being. It half brought a smile to her face, and half filled her with unease- Yang had explained that Ruby was two years younger than all of them, meaning that she was still so much more naïve. What hardships would she have to go through?
The one person who was clearly not amused was Weiss, the steam practically rolling off the girl in anger. Although Ruby had been more focused in the morning, it was clear that her attention was waning now. It didn't surprise the redhead at all when Weiss threw up her hand, volunteering to show off her skills when Professor Port asked for someone.
I guess we'll get to see her Semblance firsthand, Pyrrha thought, leaning forward in anticipation as the girl left to change into her combat gear. We only saw her glyphs from far away yesterday, after all.
The fight with the Boarbatusk the Huntsman had procured for the class was short, sweet, and anything but comfortable to watch. The entire time, Weiss simply degraded Ruby for even trying to cheer her on. It made Pyrrha's blood boil, seeing the younger girl be constantly berated by her teammate.
At last, Professor Port called, "Class dismissed" and allowed the students to escape from their desks. Without even looking at the rest of her team, the white-haired girl stalked off, leaving the corpse of the Boarbatusk to fester on the ground before it disintegrated into dust, snub nose pointed high in the air.
Jaune scoffed at the girl's exit. "Jeez, what's with her?" he asked quietly. Pyrrha exchanged a worried glance with Ren, but neither commented, nor did they go after the girl as she left the room. Ren had to make sure Nora didn't wander off before dinner, and Pyrrha had someone else she was concerned about.
Before Team RWBY could leave, Pyrrha called out, "Ruby, wait!" as she ran down the lecture hall's steps.
The younger girl halted in her motions, her expression downcast. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and the smile she planted upon her lips was anything but genuine when she saw Pyrrha. "Oh, hey, Pyrrha," Ruby breathed. Yang paused at the end of the row, waiting for her younger sister, but Ruby waved her away to allow Pyrrha to speak. With a shrug, Yang and Blake left, leaving Ruby and Pyrrha some privacy. "So, what's up?"
"Ruby, are you alright?" Pyrrha asked gently. "That didn't seem very… friendly."
"Oh, well, you know Weiss!" the girl chuckled half-heartedly. "Always… always a kidder."
Pyrrha placed a gentle hand on Ruby's shoulder, heart twinging as she realized just how much smaller the younger was- there was almost a foot between the two. "I, um… I know that we're all older, and that some people may have differing opinions on you getting into Beacon early," she said, struggling to find the words, "but…"
At her comment, Ruby sighed, slumping over slightly. "Yeah," she muttered, "I'm a real trendsetter, and we all know it."
Pyrrha squeezed her shoulder, getting her attention. "After fighting alongside you, Ruby," she murmured, bending her knees slightly to look the younger in the eyes, "I know for a fact that you belong here. Don't be discouraged, okay?"
It was only then that Pyrrha realized that everyone's eyes were on them- the Pyrrha Nikos, and the exceptional transfer from Signal. Raising her voice, Pyrrha announced, "You deserve to be Team RWBY's leader. Your plan was what helped everyone survive, and you were the one who took down the giant Nevermore in the end, by yourself."
At those words, a few of the eavesdropping students gasped, murmuring, "That runt took care of a Nevermore alone?"
Ruby's silver eyes widened, but Pyrrha maintained her grip, smiling gently at the girl. "Just know that I believe in you. I mean, I think Jaune was the best choice for JNPR, despite his… clumsiness- and I think you'll do RWBY proud. Weiss just… needs time."
The girl's eyes momentarily misted over, and she quickly threw her arms around Pyrrha's waist, much to the redhead's surprise. "Oh, Pyrrha," she cried, looking up at her with a wide smile. "I'm glad you're my friend."
Pyrrha froze, but quickly relaxed and returned the hug, albeit awkwardly. "I'm glad we're friends too," she murmured, heart pumping in her chest.
Suddenly, an orange head blocked her vision. "Pyrrha, we've got to get to dinner!" Nora said bluntly. "Let's go!"
The two girls released each other and nodded, stepping back as Jaune and Ren joined the group. "Team JNPR, I'll see you guys around!" Ruby saluted goofily, skipping off to find Yang and Blake.
"Bye Ruby!" Pyrrha and Nora called before the latter pulled everyone towards the door. "Now, it's off to dinner!"
Pyrrha chuckled and allowed herself to be dragged along, the warmth in her chest glowing brightly. Ruby- and potentially Yang and Blake, too- thought of her as a friend already. She bit her lip, thinking, Is it acceptable for me to suggest it now? "In the dining hall," she began aloud, not paying attention to her surroundings.
"Hm?" Jaune asked, trotting to keep up with Nora's speed as she dragged along Pyrrha and Ren by the arm. "What about it?"
They turned the corner, and Pyrrha kept her eyes trained to the floor. "Um… where should we sit?" she said quietly, keeping her voice low.
Jaune snorted, confused by her question. "Um, wherever there are tables, I guess?" he replied nonchalantly. "I think most tables seat eight or sixteen, or something like that, at least."
"Jaune, run!" Nora yelled enthusiastically. "Grab us a seat! I need to get food."
Jaune waved a hand dismissively. "Meh. I'm sure we can just find Ruby and Weiss and sit with them."
Inside, Pyrrha was doing flips in joy. She was doing far better than she had expected for herself, her track record at Sanctum consisting mostly of awkward conversations and isolation from the other students despite all her efforts. Maybe Professor Ozpin only chooses certain people to enter Beacon? I wonder if that's why everyone seems so nice so far. However, her thoughts immediately soured, flashing to Team CRDL and Weiss' aggressive actions earlier. If only he did- that would be grand.
"Do you… still think she's a 'snow angel'?" Ren asked out of the blue.
The blond stopped dead still in the center of the hallway, the other three pausing to watch what he was doing. Jaune's face immediately turned purple, eyes bugging out in embarrassment. "Who told you that?" he shrieked, voice shrill, eyes darting to Pyrrha.
Suddenly, a beeping from her pocket saved her from answering (although no, she was pretty sure Yang had been the one to tell Nora and Ren about that little incident). She pulled her Scroll from her blazer pocket, clicking it open to check her messages. There was one new text, the icon flashing brightly to indicate the sender.
Mother. Her good mood was immediately gone, instead replaced by a sinking dread in the pit of her stomach. Tentatively, she opened the message. It was only one word- "Call."
She raised her eyes to her teammates, plastering a smile on her face to ease the concerned looks the others were giving her. "Jaune, could you save me a little bit of food?" she asked, keeping her voice bright. "I have to go call. My mother, she… gets worried when I don't call her often."
Something in Ren and Nora's eyes flickered, the two sharing a look. Jaune opened his mouth to speak, but Nora grabbed his shoulder and dragged him away before he could say a word. "I'll make sure Nora doesn't steal your dinner," Ren commented lightly, turning to follow the other two.
Pyrrha watched her teammates go, sighing heavily. And dinner was sounding so lovely, too, she thought tiredly to herself. Taking the next turn, she began jogging towards the library, where they had free-to-use CCTS visual booths.
The library was practically empty, as it was dinnertime, and the first day of classes, to boot. She smiled respectfully at the prim librarian as she approached. "Would I be able to make a call to Mistral?" she asked politely.
The elder woman nodded, eyes friendly despite her rigid posture and utterly tidy appearance. "Of course! Where would you like to address the call?"
She quickly tapped her Scroll to bring up her mother's contact information, scanning it over to the librarian's terminal. Immediately, the woman plugged in the correct area code, then pointed with her pen, "Third terminal. Try not to be too long- we wouldn't want you to miss your meals."
Pyrrha nodded, briskly heading over to the terminal. The wide screen was much smaller than the ones available for use in the CCT Towers, but she didn't feel like wandering over to the separate building at the moment. The library terminals would have to do.
Taking a seat before the holographic monitor, she ensured that she was the epitome of composed, allowing the anxiety to wash away. She straightened her back, held her chest high, fixed her hair, and put on a polite smile. Her mother expected a positive report, after all. Anything else wouldn't end well.
After a few moments, the stern face she remembered appeared upon the screen, face painted stiffly into a picture of a loving mother. "Hello, mother," she said quietly. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing well, Pyrrha," her mother responded warmly, pencil-thin eyebrow raised. "Is there anyone around you right now?"
Pyrrha let out a little sigh. "No, mother."
"Good." Suddenly, the calm was ripped away from her mother's face, tone shifting in the blink of an eye. "So, would you like to tell me what happened yesterday?"
She gulped, balling her hands upon her knees below the table where her mother couldn't see. "The Beacon Initiation took place. I was one of the successful participants-"
"One of your old teachers at Sanctum watched the highlights and the closing ceremony," the elder woman cut in. "He tells me that you are not the leader of your team."
"Mother-" Pyrrha tried, but her mother was not paying any attention.
"While I would not mind you being in the backseat during a mission with, let's say, established Huntsman," she said bluntly, "it's disappointing to see that you showed less initiative than a boy who, I've been told, lacks any and all talent for combat."
"Look, mother, being the leader isn't my-"
"You are Pyrrha Nikos," the woman said, frigid voice sending chills up her spine. "You will do Mistral proud. You will do me proud. And if you do not…" She trailed off, but Pyrrha knew exactly what she wanted to say.
And if you do not, then what good are you?
Her mother clicked her tongue, annoyed. "Honestly, do you have any idea how frustrating it is, knowing that despite all your talent, you can never use them when it's an opportune time? Gods, you're just like your father-"
"Is there anything else, mother?" Pyrrha interrupted, staring hard at the ribbing in her nylons, the pleating of her skirt- anything to avoid eye contact, avoid seeing the shame, the disappointment, in her mother's eyes. "Anything else?"
"…don't make another mistake. You are not there to be frivolous, Pyrrha," her mother said at last. What expression she wore now, Pyrrha couldn't say- her eyes were still focused upon her lap. "You are there to become the best Huntress in the world, like I always knew you would. Don't disappoint me again."
"Yes, mother," she said, keeping her voice level.
Her mother was silent for a moment, before letting out a long, heavy sigh. The icy disdain which had filled her voice eased, just a little, replaced by something more akin to rueful regret. "Look, Pyrrha, about your father-"
"I have to go for dinner, mother," Pyrrha said quietly. "They don't serve it for long, and they don't wait for anyone. In the future, it would be ideal if you contacted me later in the evening, after daily duties are over."
Her mother paused, running her fingers through her short-cropped auburn hair. "Noted. I shall be busy for the next few weeks- in the meantime, think about what you're really trying to do. Do not make another childish mistake with that hesitation of yours, Pyrrha." And with that, her mother ended the call, and Pyrrha was left to sit in the quiet library for a few minutes of calm. She simply caught her breath, chest heaving as she tried to wrangle her face back into an expression of neutrality.
No one needs to know. And with that thought repeating like a mantra in her mind, she breathed in, out, in, out- 1, 2-
And she stood up, face bright, mask in place. She waved to the prim librarian as she left, the elder woman returning the smile without hesitation nor concern. However, her footsteps did not lead her to the dining hall, as she had promised the rest of JNPR.
But I've made friends, mother, she thought to herself numbly as she wandered back to the dormitory. Pyrrha wasn't in the mood to sit at a table and continue to put on a smile, although every fiber of her being wanted to rejoin everyone, so desperately. I've made friends. They talk to me. They haven't abandoned me, nor have they tried to use me yet. This is the first time anyone at a combat school has honestly wanted to be my friend.
Why can't you be proud of that?
But Pyrrha knew the answer, and no matter how many years had passed since she had first heard it, she still did not like it.