A/N: Here we are, off in the wilderness for the rest of volume 1! I'm pretty excited to lay down the groundwork here for future content. Enjoy! Let me know what you think :D

Laws of Attraction

"Oh, wait- is that how you do that move?" Jaune spluttered, incredulous at her demonstration.

She giggled, punching his shoulder lightly with her fist. "Well, if you paid attention when Professor Goodwitch was explaining it," she teased, "this wouldn't be that much of a surprise to you."

Jaune rolled his eyes good-naturedly and straightened up, stretching his arms high above his head. "Yeah, yeah, I know," he said wryly, relaxing and sending her a sweet smile. "I'll do better."

"Good," she responded, stretching as well. At last, she gestured towards the door. "Well, I think you deserve some of those pancakes now."

The blond laughed aloud at that, running his fingers through mildly sweat-streaked hair. "Y'know, we've been training for a while now," he admitted, tucking away Crocea Mors at his waist. "Nora's probably already eaten everything."

Pyrrha shrugged, sliding her own weapons onto her back. She had grabbed both of them before they had officially begun the training session, allowing the boy to practice his stance holding his weapons. It had been clumsy, but some progress had finally been made. "It's alright. At the very least, we should help Ren roll her back into our room." Her words were met with a light snort, and the two of them headed towards the exit of the rooftop. Right as his hand was about to turn the doorknob, however, Jaune paused, taking a deep breath. "Jaune?" Pyrrha asked, concerned. "Is something wrong?"

Jaune sighed heavily, leaning his forehead against the closed door. Avoiding her gaze, he whispered, "I really, really am sorry about everything, Pyrrha. I hurt you a lot- and if I had listened to Cardin, I could've hurt you even more." He finally raised his eyes, gratitude shining from every pore. "You're a good friend. I'm glad you're my partner."

And Pyrrha's heart simultaneously swung into the heavens and fell from the rafters- the elation at being recognized sung throughout her body, and she had to fight down the wide smile which wanted to overtake her calm expression. She murmured at last, "It's okay, Jaune. You stuck up for us in the end. I'm just glad I can help you now."

Jaune nodded enthusiastically. "Yup. I've lucked out with the best tutor, huh?" He stuck his tongue out at her like a child.

It was a cute expression, but there was still a part of Pyrrha that was almost distraught as she watched Jaune carefully. His expression was still a bit stiff, tired- worry lines were etched deep into his brow, gaze unsure and tentative. Had he been suffering all this time alone? Had he been waking up every day for the last week fearing for the morning when Professor Ozpin would suddenly find out about his lie?

Although she still didn't approve of Jaune's methods by any means, the thought of Cardin's callous manipulation and tyranny made her blood boil. His actions had been absolutely disgusting. And, with the rapier wasps in play, it was clear that he was more than willing to pick fights that he wasn't ready to see through to the end, choosing the coward's way out instead.

Maybe I should teach him a lesson, a dark part of her murmured.

No! I can't- what if someone found out? For so long, she had been working hard to maintain a respectable image. She valued fighting people fairly, and took pride in her stance as a warrior. What was the point of potentially sullying her own image with a needless conflict?

But would anyone really be angry if I just… talked to him? she couldn't help but wonder. The idea was dangerous- it was so innocent that it lingered in her mind, and she didn't bother immediately dismissing it. Just talking to Cardin wasn't so bad, right? And, if a few fists were involved in that conversation, would anyone really bat an eye?

As much as it pained her to admit it, Pyrrha knew that this unease in her wouldn't settle until she faced him face-to-face.

"Hey, Jaune?" she said as the blond finally opened up the door.

"Yeah, what's up?"

She turned away from the door, affixing a pleasant smile onto her face. "I think I need to cool down a bit. Go check up on Ren and Nora for me, okay? Tell them I'll be down soon."

Jaune's face immediately clouded. "Pyrrha, did I do something wrong?" he asked, unsure, scared.

She shook her head frantically, waving her hands in front of her face. "No!" she objected. "No, you didn't. We're fine, Jaune. It's all okay."

The boy paused, but after a moment of searching her eyes, he relented. "Okay. I'll go talk to Nora and Ren."

She grinned at him, softly this time. "Say you're sorry properly, okay? They were worried, too."

"Yes ma'am!" Jaune saluted, giggling as he left the rooftop. Pyrrha watched the door clink shut before walking to the edge of the platform, peering down over the ledge.

I could just knock from inside the building on CRDL's door… no. He'll run away, or something equally cowardly. Time to find him. Carefully, the girl kept her gaze away from the large drop below, searching through each of the large bedroom windows on the top floor. From the angle she stood, it was hard to really see anything- but all she really wanted to find was an open window, a potential break-in point. After all, if Cardin had overheard their conversation that day from his bedroom and then immediately spoken to Jaune after she had left, then it only made sense that his window would've been close enough to the top gutter to climb out.

And there it was- the second bedroom from the left had an open window. Peering down to the wall, there were more than enough ledges to easily clamber her way down. Thank goodness I'm in tights, she thought bemusedly as she kneeled on the edge of the rooftop. The bare brick would've ripped my knees.

As she slowly lowered one leg over the edge, she had to pause. It would be so easy to let go.

No. I have to get to Cardin. Forcing her eyes to focus upon the wall, she tested her weight upon the first ledge below her. And then, swinging her other leg over the side, grip tight upon the edge of the decorative banister on the rooftop, she lowered herself farther down, until she was on one side of the opened window. Please let this be it.

Her prayers were quickly answered, however, as a familiar voice cried out from inside the room, "But what're you gonna do, man? Your dad's going to murder you!"

Pyrrha knelt down on the extended windowsill and peeked carefully around the windowpane, only allowing one eye past it to see what was going on. The smell was the first thing she noticed- unwashed laundry and dirty dishes covered multiple chairs and tables, the odor almost making her gag as it leaked out of the room. Breathing through her mouth, she peeked inside further.

Inside the painfully messy room, Cardin was seated on an unmade bed, holding his head in his hands. There were shards of glass on the ground, and with the amount of papers covering the floor haphazardly, it seemed likely that he had knocked everything off one of the study tables.

Russel was leaning against another table, anxiety written all over his face. "Seriously, dude," he muttered, combing his hair upwards in messy spikes, "what the hell are you gonna do?"

"I don't know!" Cardin roared, punching the bed in frustration. Pyrrha almost jumped in shock from the sheer anger in his voice. The boy quickly wilted, however, rubbing his face tiredly. "I don't know. My dad's not gonna be happy."

"Not to mention your brothers," Russel muttered, crossing his arms. "They just got back from a recon mission, right?"

"Yeah." Cardin's voice was muffled by his hands as he slumped over on his bed. "They're gonna kill me if Dad doesn't finish the job."

"Damn it all," the smaller boy groaned. After a moment of tense silence, however, he picked his way through the broken glass and sat down on the other side of Cardin's bed, swinging his feet lightly. "Should we get back at that Nikos chick for doing this? Or should we get Jaune to-"

"Just drop it," Cardin muttered, not even noticing Russel's crestfallen expression. "Don't act like you didn't run from that Ursa and leave me there."

"I thought you were behind me!" Russel cried, but Cardin simply barrelled onwards, "And I… I don't want to talk to any of those punks ever again." Even from the window, Pyrrha could see how tightly his fists were clenched upon his knees, knuckles straining white. "Because they messed with me, I'll…"

Russel scooted over a little closer to Cardin, and Pyrrha's breath caught in her throat. She watched, wide-eyed, speechless, as the smaller boy placed a hand awkwardly on his leader's shoulder, still staring at his feet.

"Cardin," he said at last, "it doesn't matter if your brothers are all Huntsmen. Whatever, man. If Beacon kicks you out for doing something as small as this, then…" he bit his lip, mustering up his courage, "then I'll go with you, dude."

Cardin started, shock written plainly across his face. "Wait, you-"

"Dove and Sky'd do the same," Russel continued quietly, leaving Pyrrha straining to hear. "You've always been our leader, man. We can kill some Grimm and get the glory without this stupid Academy, if we really need to."

Cardin stared at his friend in disbelief before a small fit of chuckles shook him, and soon, he threw his head back, roaring with laughter. Finally, he wiped a small tear from his eye and held out his fist. "Of course. You guys would die without me to save your asses," Cardin sneered, but his tone was lighthearted, and Russel bumped his fist, a grin on his own face.

Although she was still angry at the boy, she couldn't help but melt a little at how sweet that interaction was. She had never thought about Cardin as someone struggling with his own issues before- seeing him being supported by Russel sent her mind flying back to the countless times Nora and Ren had held her up when she had wanted to crumble over the last few weeks.

Seeing him now hunched over in this mess of a room, it all kind of made sense.

It doesn't make what he did to Jaune, to Velvet, to all of us, acceptable- but at least I understand where he's coming from more clearly.

And with that sweet moment in the air, Pyrrha stood up, leapt into the bedroom from the windowsill, and kicked Cardin against one of the cluttered desks before either boys could react, drawing Miló into her hand and extending it to form its sword.

"Holy- what the actual hell?!" Russel yelled as Cardin coughed, winded from her blow.

Pyrrha didn't respond, simply taking on a battle stance as she said calmly, "I wanted to talk, Cardin. I heard that you wanted to use those wasps you made Jaune pick up to hurt me."

To her surprise, as Cardin regained his balance, Russel jumped in between them, throwing his arms up to protect his team leader. "Get out of here, Nikos!" he snarled, bringing up his fists wildly. By the terrified glint in his eyes, she could tell that he knew what the end result of fighting her would be. However, he wasn't backing down.

She smiled softly, bringing down her blade and easing into a casual stance. The two boys frowned at her, confused by her sudden change in demeanor. "What do you want, Pyrrha?" Cardin spat, massaging his chest from where she had kicked him.

"I heard your conversation. All of it." There was a pang of satisfaction in her heart as the two boys instantly paled, trading nervous glances at each other. "So, Cardin- how many Huntsmen are in your family? And how ashamed are they to have you representing them?"

"You little-" Russel screeched, but Cardin simply held him back with a firm hand on the smaller boy's shoulder, veins bulging out of his neck as he tried to restrain himself.

"And what does that matter to you, you bitch?" Cardin hissed, face drawn.

Pyrrha shrugged, kicked aside some of the broken glass on the floor, ignoring his words. "You really should clean up," she commented airily. When they didn't respond, she said, "So. Now you know what it feels like to have someone know what you're so desperately trying to hide."

Now, it was Russel's turn to hold Cardin back as the tall boy lunged at her. "Who do you think you are?"

She shrugged, eyes locked on Cardin's furious gaze. "Is this fun for you? Do you think it was fun to mess with Jaune like that?"

"Back off, Nikos," Russel said through gritted teeth. "This isn't your business. What Cardin's doing with his suspension doesn't matter to you. At least he got into Beacon legitimately."

She raised a brow. "Oh, so you know, too? Cardin, that's not very nice, you know. You shouldn't tell other people's secrets to your friends." She paused, adding, "You wouldn't want to find out what that feels like, right?"

Cardin froze in place for a moment, then tottered backwards to lean upon the table. "You wouldn't dare," he breathed. "Don't say a word."

Internally, Pyrrha grimaced. What she was doing was just cruel, just as terrible as what Cardin had done to Jaune. It felt wrong.

And yet, she had to continue- otherwise, what would this all have been for? "What do you not want me to say? That you're the family disappointment, Cardin?"

His face flushed a deep maroon at that comment.

She waved a dismissive hand. "I'm not like you, Cardin," she said plainly, dropping her casual attitude. "I would never share someone else's secret- unless I needed to, of course." She took a step forward, raising Miló to point at the two menacingly. "But if you decide to spill Jaune's secret, or if you ever bother us again… I won't hesitate."

Russel attempted to brush off her words. "What, you're just saying that 'cause you're scared-"

"No," she interjected. "No, I'm serious. I'll do it. The only reason I'm going to hold myself back right now is that Jaune risked his life to save you, Cardin." She glared at the boy meaningfully. "I'd rather that you owe him, so think about his efforts. Don't let them go to waste. If you do that, then I don't have a reason to fight you, even if you did try and attack me like a coward."

Cardin pushed off from the desk, planting himself firmly beside Russel. "And what if I share old Jauney-boy's secret, hm?" he muttered.

Pyrrha shook her head. "I believe you're familiar with Magnhild?" When the boys treated her to blank stares, she added, "That giant hammer Nora wields."

The boys paled. "W-what of it?" Russel scoffed, all empty bravado.

Pyrrha sighed, letting her calm mask slip for just a moment- just enough to allow an evil, dangerous grin to show upon her face. "If you mess with me, with Jaune, with anyone- I'll break both your legs. And you can believe me when I say," she added, leaning forward menacingly, "that Nora would love to get acquainted with your bones. I'm the only reason she hasn't sent you to the infirmary permanently. If you try and cross Jaune again, you'll have her to contend with, too."

They stared at her, slack-jawed, faces pale and horror evident. They could finally see that she meant business.

"Fine," Cardin muttered at last. "You say nothing, and we'll say nothing."

"Fine," Pyrrha agreed, smiling cordially at the two boys. With her business taken care of, Pyrrha strode confidently to the door, past the two figures still frozen in place. Before she left the room, however, she added, "Well. Good luck with your dad, and cleaning the archives! Here's to hoping that he doesn't totally kill you after you're done your suspension." She paused. "Also, the laundry machines are down the hall, to the right. You might want to use them." Wrinkling her nose at the pervasive smell which lingered in the room, she opened the door, slamming it behind her with a satisfying bang.

I need to return my weapon to my locker, she thought idly, and then check up on Jaune. As she skipped down the hall towards the dormitory exit, she felt lighter than she had in weeks- and all of the nervousness, the fears, the anxiety… suddenly, the pressure upon the lid of the little black box in her heart wasn't so painful anymore.