Chapter: Pyrrha

Her mother is the person to drill it in her head.

Help the weak. Be the sword and shield. Protect and guide those who can't help themselves.

You can prove them all wrong by becoming a Huntress.

If only it is that simple.

She can still remember the horrible, awful moment her semblance activated.

…And still sometimes struggles to get her metallic cereal spoon to stop sticking to her.

But, it is because of her mother's teaching that Miló and Akuoúo͟ each have one soul mark. Not that anyone would have said something to her. Students at Sanctum Academy didn't talk about those things openly with others.

At Signal, on the other hand, she learned loads about soul marks. The instructor of her short, intense training there explained that, no, her soulmate would not say those words to her four times. Miló and Akuoúo͟ are different weapons. Yes, the two words on the gears of Miló Xiphos and the two words on the inside of Akuoúo͟ are the same for a reason.

'Yeah, yeah.'

Two words, noticeable to only her, in places you wouldn't think to see anything importance. Slightly sunken in and small.

To Pyrrha Nikos, it becomes so obvious at Beacon that her soulmate is Jaune, it is almost painful.

To others, they just think it was love at first sight for her.

No.

Help the weak.

It wasn't.

Be the sword and shield.

And it wouldn't be love for a long time.

Protect and guide those who can't help themselves.

Her mother's teachings just made her gain his soul mark before he got hers.

And then, when she is alone in the library one day-

"Hey, Pyrrha," Yang chirps, sitting down across from her.

The redhead blinks, brain not computing the cat-caught-the-canary grin Yang has on. "Hello, Yang. How may I help you?"

"I've got a question." Yang continues to smile, curiosity on her face.

"Alright?" Pyrrha answers hesitantly. She hopes this isn't a bored Yang. It has been learned early that bad ideas come from a bored Yang.

"Have you ever been to Patch?"

Such an innocent question, yet so much weight to it.

"Yes," Pyrrha replies, not giving anything away.

"Did you go to Signal?"

Pyrrha purses her lips and nods, Yang watching her every move. "For a short while, when I was much younger."

"Ah," Yang says, as if it all makes sense. "Askans Guide or personal reasons?"

Pyrrha is a bad liar on a good day. She hesitates a second too long. "Personal reasons."

Yang's eyes narrow slightly and her grin stays in place. Cold shoots through Pyrrha.

She knows.

"Danny is my aunt," Yang explains, watching the redhead carefully. "I was just wondering because you looked familiar. Must be my mistake. Hey, maybe we had classes together!"

Pyrrha relaxes slightly, a nervous laugh escaping. "Maybe."

"Do you know Shutter?" Yang asks suddenly.

Pyrrha relaxes fully. She knows the insect Faunus. "She took photos for me during my first Regional Tournament."

Yang seems to take her words as conformation to blurt out, "You do know she only took classes in the Askans Guide, right?"

Pyrrha slowly places her clenched fists on her lap under the table. "Is that so?"

Yang finally loses her smile. "I'm not going to mention it to anyone, Pyrrha. I'm just making sure you're okay."

"I'm fine," Pyrrha says with a fake smile. Yang stares long and hard. "Really. You don't need to worry."

Yang looks over in sympathy. "If you don't mind me asking… how bad is it?"

Pyrrha unclenches and clenches her fists. She quickly looks around, but no one is in position to hear them. She looks over to the blonde who truly seems to want her to be okay. The words come out before she can stop them. "My chest and ankles are the worst physically. And… I am… unable… to turn my semblance off."

Yang's eyes widen. "Do you need me to get you something?"

"No," Pyrrha denies, a smile tugging on her lips. "Don't worry, please. I have it under control." When the blonde doesn't look convinced, Pyrrha reaches across the table to take her hand. "I am fine, Yang."

Yang sighs and shakes her head. "Just, let me know if you need anything. I may not have a broken semblance, but I do understand not being in control." She pauses, lips twitching up and Pyrrha can practically feel the tension-breaking puns coming. "Auntie says dust is good, but it costs a pretty copper. You gold to let me know if you feel even a silver of the side effects. And, if anyone bothers you, I'll make sure they never metal with-"

"Yang," Pyrrha cuts her off, laughing. "Thank you, but I will be okay." She calms and gives a worried smile. "Just, please, don't let anyone know."

Yang sighs and nods, getting up. "I really think you should let people know. It's nothing to be ashamed of." Pyrrha opens her mouth, but Yang waves her off. "I think you've more than shown the world what you're capable of, Pyrrha. Just think about it, please."

Pyrrha sighs and goes back to her homework. "Thank you, Yang, but…" She can't come up with the words to finish her thoughts.

Yang seems to understand it. "We're here if you need us. I just don't want to see you hurt."

Pyrrha doesn't reply to that, and Yang leaves with a 'goodbye'.

Help the weak.

Pyrrha knows what it's like to be weak.

Be the sword and shield.

It isn't that the Untouchable Girl uses her semblance to win her matches.

Protect and guide those who can't help themselves.

She had to work to survive. With her semblance always on, she needed to work on her stamina to live. One good hit, and she's dead.

You can prove them all wrong by becoming a Huntress.

Well, she's working on that.

And, with Yang knowing, a part of the Untouchable Girl feels lighter.

That doesn't explain why the side of Miló's rifle form is suddenly branded and why Akuoúo͟ has words written on the side facing her opponents.

'Did you just throw your javelin straight through an Ursa's eye?!'

A/N: Thanks for reading!

Thank you, Littlest1, for your review! Agreed! I find a lot of RWBY ships can be both… Just goes to show how much it plays with heartstrings. You're actually spot on; a bit more on Ren's marks next chapter. Thank you again for reviewing, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Thank you, sakuralovelight, for your review! Danny is female, and uses that version because it's a short version for her first name (her first name is spelt closer to Danny then Dani). Thank you, though. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thanks again for your review!

Have a great March