Pyrrha changed out of her uniform and sat on the locker room bench. "How did I get myself into this mess?" she asked sliding her legs into their appropriate armor. Her intent was to stand up for Jaune and to show that people wouldn't take harassment in Beacon's walls. Instead, Pyrrha was getting ready for a sparring match with Cardin Winchester. Well actually...Nora got her into a sparring match with Cardin. Either way, Pyrrha had to fight the leader of team CRDL. How would Cardin fight? Was he all bark and no bite? Would he forfeit before the match even started so everyone could go on with their day?
"Not likely," Pyrrha chuckled at the silly thought. She tightened the armor protecting her chest and the rest of her upper torso. Cardin was all pride and ego so of course he wouldn't back down from a fight and definitely not this one. Win or lose, Cardin would have felt blessed to fight the great Pyrrha Nikos. The golden armor across her forehead glistened in the light as she began brushing her beautiful flaming red hair.
"So, you're the one they call Nikos?" someone asked from the end of the locker room.
"Yes," Pyrrha confirmed. She turned, "And you are...Miss Adel?" she asked in surprise at the girl dressed in cocoa and black apparel. Coco's caramel-dyed queue of hair hung long at the side of her face. Sure, Pyrrha had read up on team CVFY's accomplishments and flawlessly completed missions. Coco was one of the best second year students, but Pyrrha had never actually met her.
"I admire your outfit and accessories," Pyrrha waved at the ammo belts filled with golden .30 caliber bullets that hung around Coco's waist and right shoulder. "Must have been expensive," Pyrrha thought as she stared at Coco's high-heeled leather boots with golden buckles.
Coco slid down her sun glasses and rolled her eyes, "You know, you don't have to be so gosh darn perfect all the time."
"SORRY," Pyrrha said brushing her hair faster in embarrassment. It was true. Pyrrha was always so nice to friends, family and strangers alike.
"And, yes," Coco agreed holding up her foot for Pyrrha to get a better view, "expensive. But you don't even want to know the fortune I had to pay for this," Coco flexed her black beaded necklace.
"If I remember correctly," Pyrrha said, "you're the leader of team CFVY? A second year team and one of Beacon's best. Rumors say that one of your members, Yatsuhashi Daichi, could even put Banner in his place if need be," Pyrrha informed Coco. "Though, strength can only get you so far unless you have an amazing leader," Pyrrha said.
"You're fighting Cardin, right?" Coco asked ignoring Pyrrha's complemented. Today Coco wan't playing games, especially with the great Pyrrha Nilkos.
"Sparring, but yes. In a sense."
"Good," Coco nodded and pushed her glasses back up. She walked over and took a seat next to Pyrrha setting her golden studded handbag next to the bench. It smashed into the ground due to it's weight. "So...do you think...you could...could you...?" Coco kept pausing and sighing, hesitant about what she was going to ask.
Pyrrha opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She couldn't believe a second year student, especially Coco Adel, would come and ask for help. "Miss Adel, you can ask anything of me," Pyrrha smiled hoping she could help a new friend in need.
"I need you to hurt Cardin. Badly. I want him to have trouble breathing after you're done with him..."
"W-What?" Pyrrha asked as her smile slowly turned to a face of horror. Did she hear that right? Did Coco want her to...
Coco yelled and let out her anger, "I WANT HIM DEAD!"
Pyrrha stood in shock, "WHAT ARE YOU ASKING?"
"Knew it," Coco sighed. "The great Pyrrha Nikos is above giving someone what they deserve."
"What you're asking me is something even Cardin doesn't deserve!"
"What? I'm just asking you to rough him up," Coco argued. "Maybe give him a couple hits after his aura depletes..."
"No."
"What do you mean no?" Coco asked as she became more and more pissed off at Pyrrha's goody-two-shoe mentality. "You know Cardin will just go back to harassing Vel-SOMEONE ELSE."
Pyrrha sighed, "Coco...so this is about Velvet, isn't it?"
Coco crossed her arms and let out a deep breath, "Yeah...it is." There was no use lying to Pyrrha now. Everyone knew Coco was protective of Velvet and would do anything for her. Coco was going to confront Cardin herself until she found Pyrrha would spar against him. She was hoping she wouldn't have to get her hands dirty and maybe convince Pyrrha to give Cardin what he deserved.
"Listen," Pyrrha said with guilt, "I'm sorry I didn't stop him from doing those things to her..."
Velvet endured days of verbal and physical abuse from Cardin and his team of goons. But Velvet didn't do a thing to stop it. Velvet was too nice and thought if she just ignored him, he'd just eventually leave her alone. Velvet was so embarrassed about her situation that she'd lie and say Cardin was just playing around whenever people began to question. It was weeks before Coco 'caught' on to what was happening to her teammate. From that day on, Coco was always by Velvet's side and Cardin left her alone. But what about the times Coco couldn't be by Velvet's side? Fox and Yatsuhashi, the other members of team CFVY, had offered to stay with Velvet and protect her. But as usual, Velvet refused and said she was fine.
"But what you're asking me is just wrong. I'd be no better than him if I went through with what you're wanting me to do. And I will not allow myself to go to that level," Pyrrha stated.
Coco stood to her feet and pressed her glasses up, "Forget it. I should have known you weren't able to do something like this...I'll do it myself." Velvet was one of the only people who liked Coco for being herself. Hell to whoever would lay a hand on Coco's favorite Faunus...no, person in all of Remnant.
"NO," Pyrrha yelled. She grabbed tightly onto Coco's wrist and lightly pulled.
"I said, Never. Mind."
"No, you didn't." Pyrrha's vivid-green eyes starred into the brown eyes of Coco. "You said that you'd 'take care' of Cardin. I think I have an idea of what you mean...I won't let you."
"Are we really doing this?" Coco's grip around her golden suitcase tightened as her armed stiffened, ready to swing. "It doesn't matter if you are the best fighter in all of Vale. HELL, I'd say in all of Remnant. You do not want to cross me." Coco was ready for Pyrrha's next move. "Come on...come on," Coco thought to herself waiting for Pyrrha's attack.
Pyrrha let go of Coco's arm, "And I won't. I'm not in the mood to fight you." Maybe being nice and polite didn't always work. Maybe you had to be mean and threatening to get your point across...but not Pyrrha. She would never be like that. She wouldn't allow Coco of all people to be the one to make her snap.
"Why are you so perfect?" Coco groaned in frustration.
"Excuse me?"
Coco ranted, "You're the most beautiful girl in school, besides me," she quickly added. "You're so polite and calm. If I were you, I would have already socked me in the mouth three times. And to top it all off, you're only a first year! What I would have done to have half of your skills when I was younger!"
"Well...," Pyrrha blushed at all the compliments, "...when you're held to as high a standard as I am, you're expected to act like it."
"I know what that's like...," Coco agreed since she always had money to spend on whatever she wanted. She got boring...sometimes. Whenever that happened, she'd take Velvet shopping with her and help expand her outfits. "Goodbye, Nikos. I'm sorry for disturbing you." Coco pressed her glasses up again and headed out.
Pyrrha sighed and looked at the ground, "Wait...I'll do it."
Coco stopped in her tracks. She smiled, "I knew you'd come through for a sista."
"But, on my terms." Pyrrha lifted one eyebrow and looked at Coco.
Coco sighed in frustration, "Here we go again!"
"I will make sure he doesn't even look at Velvet or anyone else in the wrong way," Pyrrha promised. "But, you have to make sure you don't even lay a finger on him."
Coco got into Pyrrha's face and agreed, "I won't. But you have to promise me...he can't endanger Velvet."
"I promise. I just need you..." Coco walked out mid-sentence on Pyrrha. Now, filled with more questions and less answers, Pyrrha had no idea what to do. She really didn't need Coco to come and blackmail her to hurt Cardin or she'd do it herself and much worse. Either way, Pyrrha's and Cardin's match drew nearer and nearer...
"Who you think will win?" Ruby asked as she, Weiss and Yang found seats in Glynda's classroom. Her foot tapped frantically as she awaited the upcoming match between the great Pyrrha Nikos and Cardin, the school's biggest bully. Ruby's semblance activated due to the speed of her foot and rose petals began to lightly coat the ground.
"Are...you serious?" Weiss asked.
Ruby nodded like a little puppy dog, "Yeah! I want to know who you guys think will win."
Weiss face-palmed, "You really are a dolt, aren't you?" Ruby nodded again. "It'll be a quick and easy win for Pyrrha. She won't even break a sweat."
"I don't know," Yang shrugged. "Cardin's been known to bench some serious weight...NOT AS MUCH AS ME THOUGH!" Yang flexed her right bicep. Ruby's eyes sparkled at her older sister's muscles.
Weiss rolled her eyes at her yellow-haired teammate, "You act like strength is everything!"
"You act like it's not," Yang said.
"Because it isn't," Weiss pouted. "Speed and technique are essential!"
Yang comforted Weiss in a headlock, "Don't worry, Weiss! Your big strong teammates will be here to protect you!"
Weiss tried to wiggle out but was outmatched by Yang's superior strength, "UNHAND ME, YOU SAVAGE!"
"I mean," Ruby giggled, "Banner kinda destroyed us all with just strength alone."
Yang quickly made an excuse, "I-I WASN'T TRYING."
Weiss tried to argue with her face in Yang's side, "That's...a...different...story!"
Ruby laughed at her sis and Weiss roughhousing. If they weren't careful Glynda might make them spar as a pre-show to Pyrrha's duel. Ruby turned and began talking. "So, Blake, how are you..." Oh yeah, Blake wasn't there.
Yang's playful attitude died out like a flame when she heard Blake's name. "Yeah, Blake...how are you?" she thought to herself. She lifted her arm, allowing Weiss to escape while she could.
Now Ruby felt bad about ruining the mood. She had to change the subject so her teamm-, "HEY LOOK," she said pointing. Yang and Weiss looked to see Banner entering the room.
"What about him?" Weiss questioned.
"Yeah," Yang agreed.
"BANNER," Ruby yelled to get his attention. He turned to find Ruby waving for him to come.
Banner looked at his watch, "Eh, I got some time." He took a seat next to the girls, "What's up?"
"Oh nothing much," Ruby smiled. "We just wanted to see how you were doing."
"Oh," Banner said in surprise, "that's very kind of you. I'm calm if that's what you were asking. Ozpin has suggested that I have a chamomile tea throughout the day."
Weiss asked, "And how is that working for you?"
"I, uhhhh...I've never felt more calm and relaxed," Banner assured. He didn't need to worry the girls by telling his horrid nightmares.
"That's great," Yang nodded. Even though Yang didn't show it, she felt it was amazing that Banner was able to feel calm and relaxed. Hulk may have good in his heart, but he's still strong enough to rip everyone that Yang cares for in half with ease.
Banner caught wind of Weiss and Yang's mood. "Everything alright? You actually look sad for once, Yang," he tried to joke.
"That's cause I am, Bruce," Yang responded with some annoyance. She wasn't in the mood for jokes and puns. Blake's turning her down to the dance coming up hurt her personally.
Banner finally realized that team RWBY was missing one. "Hey, where Blake? I could have sworn I saw her with you guys earlier..."
"No?" Weiss questioned. "She hasn't been with us all morning. She..." Weiss choked since this whole incident could be her fault, "...Blake left."
"Left?" Banner asked in worry. Blake was already a secretive and mysterious person and now she was gone? She was one of the few people that understood Banner's struggles with society. "What happened?"
"She's broken," Yang sighed. "She doesn't eat. She doesn't sleep when she's supposed to. That Roman Torchwick guy and the White Fang cloud her mind and...I may have made it worse by begging her to come to the dance."
"Don't say that, sis!" Ruby embraced Yang and hugged around her waist.
"I'll tell you what...," Banner said scratching his chin thinking of a plan. "You three just pay attention to today's match and I'll take care of everything. I'll talk some sense into Blake when I find her."
Yang tried to object, "But-,"
"I promise," Banner interrupted. "I will take care of everything. You three just need to take it easy," he said patting Yang's shoulder. "Now, I need to get ready for today's match. Glynda wants me close by so she can keep an eye on me."
You know, Banner may be right. Maybe Yang was overthinking things. Blake was a mysterious person and this isn't 'too' out of the ordinary for her to do. Yang smiled. She believed in Banner. Her glowing personality came back like a raging fire. "Or, did you come here today to keep an eye on Miss Goodwitch?" Yang winked at Banner.
"I...uhhhh," Banner blushed.
Weiss, blushing also, hit the back of her hand against a laughing Yang's head, "OH HOW LEWD!"
Ruby looked around at the three of them, "I don't get it..."
Banner sighed in assurance knowing Ruby's innocence was still intact. "You will...one day," he said smiling at her.
"I WANT TO KNOW," Ruby pouted shaking her fists into the air.
Weiss bopped Ruby over the head, "Quiet, you!"
"OWWWWWW!"
Banner chuckled softly as he watched the members of team RWBY actually acting like friends and having a good time. His smile faded as he realized that eventually this moment of peace would pass. The girls would be back out there, fighting dangerous Grimm and enemies who wanted them dead. "Anyway, I had better be off."
"Later, Bruce," Ruby waved as Banner left to join Glynda who was sitting at her desk. She was setting up the aura monitors and everything else they would need for the match. Ruby quickly giggled to herself, "Heh, Bruce. What a funny name."
As Banner walked away Mercury yelled at him from the stands, "Hey, you!"
"Yes? Were you talking to me?" Banner asked as he turned to face the silver-haired teen.
"You the one they call, The Hulk?" Mercury smiled with malicious intent.
Banner felt a small surge of anger. He wasn't just the monster everyone calls Hulk. He was his own person who tried to do good but ended up doing more harm."Yes, I am." There was no sugar-coating it. He couldn't deny that The Hulk was still part of him.
"Heh, cool," Mercury said with a stupid smirk. "Didn't you almost destroy Vale a couple-,"
"Do I know you?" Banner interrupted. "You seem...familiar," he said squinting. It was at the tip of Banner's tongue. He knew this kid, but from where?
Mercury's whole childish attitude changed in a heartbeat. "Nah," he shrugged with his best poker face. "I just wanted to get to know the one-and-only, Green Scar. Or, one of the many names they you're called around Remnant."
"What's with your friend?" Banner asked motioning his head toward Emerald. Her head rested in the palm of her hands. It looked like she was in pain. But in reality, she was using her semblance to the best of her abilities on Banner's strong mind.
Mercury quickly came up with a response for Emerald, "Yeah. She's just been having trouble with headaches lately. I told her to lay off all the homework," he said patting Emerald on her shoulder like he actually cared for her well-being.
"I know the feeling," Banner agreed. The moment he started talking to this couple, he had gotten a minor headache...
"But don't worry about us," Mercury smiled. "We'll behave ourselves."
"If you say so," Banner glared. He was still very unsure of this couple of 'students.' They looked a little old to be in this class. Maybe they were seniors? "The match begins soon...I'd suggest being respectful and keeping your mouth shut." He aimed that right at Mercury.
Once Banner was out of hearing range, Mercury whispered to Emerald, "What the hell was that? He almost recognized us. In case you've forgotten, we both still haven't fully recovered from that green brute's last attack!"
"H-hey...like you could do better," Emerald said feeling a little sluggish. "I told you and Cinder...he's getting stronger and stronger. Eventually...I won't be able to get into his head at all!" She pulled her hands away from her face and found blood had dripped from her nose due to the immense pressure of Banner's mind.
"Goodness, Emerald..." Mercury cringed. "You need to leave?"
Emerald looked Mercury dead in the eyes, "I. Got. This." She hid her nose with her arm and bled into her uniform sleeve.
The atmosphere was too quiet. Like the minute on the battlefield before the war starts. Now, everyone awaited the two fighters of today's match.
"Everything okay?" Glynda asked as Banner took his place at her side looking over the whole class. "Are you calm?"
"Do you always have to ask me that?" Banner rolled his eyes. That little confrontation with Mercury had left a bitter taste in his mouth. "And, yes...I'm calm. Just something on my mind."
"Care to tell?" Glynda began adding the finishing touches on her tablet before the match.
Banner motioned his head toward Mercury and Emerald, "Those two over there...who are they?"
"Oh?" Glynda said. "I believe the boy's name is Mercury Black, son of a great assassin. Rumors are his father was about to take a bounty on you," Glynda shrugged.
"And no one was going to tell me?" Banner asked in shock.
"What?" Glynda shrugged. "The bounty was only worth a couple hundred thousand Lien. Not nearly enough to try and take you on, so I didn't bother you about it."
"That's not the point!" Banner sighed and face-palmed. Glynda let loose a small grin in victory over annoying Banner. After spending time with him, she found out Bruce wasn't a complete and total monster. More like...a man with no control over a devastating semblance. Banner lifted his head from his hand and questioned her, "Wait...how did you know I had a bounty?"
"Like I said, it was just a rumor. But we do have a member of Ozpin's group who spends most of his days in that part of Remnant."
"Who?" Banner asked. He thought only Ironwood, Glynda, Oz and himself were in the group.
"Not important at the moment," Glynda stated. She didn't like talking about that drunken Qrow. "All you need to know is that he's Ruby's Uncle."
"Oh, I didn't know Ruby had an Uncle."
"There are a lot of things you don't know, Bruce."
"Yeah...hey, what did you say happened to Mercury's father?" Banner asked trying to get back on topic.
"He was an assassin who made a name for himself. Logically, someone put a bounty on him and someone must have taken him out. Now, Mercury travels with Emerald Sustrai under the leadership of Cinder Fall."
"Cinder Fall?" Banner asked. That name brought fire into Banner's mind. He could remember the horrible pain from...'The Glowing Woman!'
"Bruce?" Glynda asked as she slowly reached for her wand. She could see Banner's shirt hugging against his flexing arm coated with green veins.
"I'm so sorry!" Banner had just gotten lost within his own thoughts.
Glynda glared at him, "You need to be more careful. Sorry won't make up for the lives you would have taken if you lost control!" And just like that, Bruce had lost all respect from Glynda.
"It won't happen again..." Banner said looking at the ground in shame.
"No need to get upset over spilled milk," Glynda said lighting tapping Bruce on the head with her wand. "Here she comes."
Pyrrha strode through the entrance hall, her hair flowing behind her and her golden armor sparkling in the light.
Nora elbowed Jaune in the gut and chuckled, "Still want to take Weiss to the dance instead?" Jaune was speechless as his jaw hung open. Sure, he had seen Pyrrha in her outfit before, but this was different. It was like he was seeing her for the first time.
"Where is your equipment?" Glynda asked as Pyrrha stepped onto the stage. She held out her arms and Milo and Akouo flew into her grasp. "Impressive," Glynda smiled at one of her favorite students.
"Woooooow," Ruby said in amazement. "How she do that?"
Weiss sighed and flicked Ruby on her nose, "Maybe if you listened more, dolt, you would have heard Pyrrha talking about her semblance."
"Ohhhhhh," Ruby said remembering. "What was a semblance again?" she innocently asked.
"Oh my goooood," Weiss said trying her hardest not to scream at her imbecilic leader. She calmed down and quickly recited the lesson from a few days ago, "A Semblance is the manifestation of one's innate and personal power as an ability unique to each individual, with the effects varying greatly from user to user. The nature of one's Semblance is noted as representing an aspect of their character. However, a person's Semblance can be similar to the Semblances of their parents or other family members. For instance my family Semblance, summoning glyphs, is completely hereditary."
Ruby's eyes swirled in confusion, "Semblance...hereditary...big words."
Ruby's big sis came in and easily explained, "Pyrrha can control metal."
"Thank you, Yang," Weiss nodded. "Now quiet, you both! I want to hear what they're saying!"
"If your opponent doesn't show up in the next minute, Miss Nikos," Glynda said looking at the huge clock, "It'll be counted as a forfeit."
"I thought he was serious when he challenged me," Pyrrha said stunned. "I never thought-,"
"There he is...," Banner growled as the school bully stepped onto the stage.
"Am I early?" Cardin shrugged with a huge smirk across his face.
Glynda glared at him. "You're cutting it close, Winchester."
"I'm sorry, Goodwitch," Cardin mocked. He bowed at the Professor.
Glynda started toward the most disrespectful student she ever taught. "You little shi-,"
"Don't worry, Professor Goodwitch," Pyrrha smiled sliding her shield between Glynda and Cardin, "I've got this under control."
"I see that you will," Glynda said feeling proud for her student's maturity.
Pyrrha and Cardin approached each other and stopped right in the middle of the sparring arena.
"Today, our match will be between Pyrrha Nikos and Cardin Winchester," Glynda began. "The rules will be..."
As Glynda explained the rules, Pyrrha whispered to her opponent.
"It's not too late to forfeit. There's no shame in it."
"Just shut up, princess," Cardin snorted.
"Please...I won't ask again," Pyrrha offered. Her eyes wandered and found team CFVY taking their seats. Coco looked directly at her.
"And miss out on taking the hottest bitch here to the dance?" Cardin smirked. "No chance in-,"
"THE COMBATANTS WILL BEGIN SHORTLY," Glynda yelled overhearing Cardin's words.
Pyrrha held out her hand, "I wish you the bes-,"
Cardin slapped the hand away. "You're dead, princess."
"Let the match...BEGIN."