Veni, Vidi, Vici

"To be fair-"

"You attacked a very dangerous criminal!"

"Miss Glynda, if I may-"

"And the White Fang!"

"As a former member, I think I-"

"You purposely picked a fight with individuals who would Kill you if need be."

"Glynda..." Yin interlaced his hands together, got onto his knees and bowed his head before her.

It's been hours now, and they had been in her office for a great chunk of that time. Hearing her excessive need to explain to them the gravity of their situation. Yin didn't like that. "Miss, Miss Glynda. I do not approve of my brother's actions-"

"Are you kidding me?!" Ruben jumped off of his seat, throwing his arms into the air and walked towards her office's window. He stared out of the blue stained glass, rubbing his chin as he mumbled curses to himself.

Hours. He had been on the receiving end of what seemed to be an endless lecture.

He rubbed his broken nose, feeling the bandage against his thumb. He growled lowly, Roman's smug face still fresh in his mind. That forehead was as thick as Roman's ego. At least, felt like it was.

"RWBY, leave me with your leader." Glynda cracked her whip against the table, her green eyes glowing brightly. Yin and Winter jumped in their seats. Blair sat quietly, arms crossed and eyes staring disinterestedly at the wall behind her. "Now."

"Already out the door!" Yin shouted, Blair and Winter hoisted over his shoulders and out the door they went. With a loud slam of the door shutting, Glynda let out an exhausted sigh.

A long night didn't even begin to cover what she had felt. She felt pushed beyond her limits. As a teacher and as a person. She had received word that her students were involved with what seemed to be a dire situation.

Of course, her mind jumped to the worst conclusion.

Glynda turned towards Ruben, straightened her blouse and moved over besides him. Her heels clicking against the floorboards with every step. She watched him, and could have sworn to see him cringe with every click.

She watched his eyes carefully, how they just stared out the window. Not looking at her. Acknowledging her. Just watching the morning sun rise up from behind the clouds and into the clear blu sky. She straightened her posture, her eyes growing cold and her smile nonexistent.

Time to be a disciplinarian.

"Mr. Th-"

"I know." He grumbled, letting out a huff as he crossed his arms. Leaning against the window frame. He shook for a brief moment, shivers running down his back. "I know."

"This isn't a game." She said, her voice soft and low. A mile away from how she wanted to sound. She was suppose to incite fear and disappointment. Not concern. Not sounded as if she cared.

Her eyes glancing to the floor, she twiddled her thumbs together. Her lips curling into an awkward smile as she let out a single 'ha'. "I was scared."

"You?" Ruben asked, his voice gravelly and sharp. She noticed his shoulders tense, his breathing easing slightly. "You, scared?"

"One of my students..." She paced over before her desk, her hand running over the edges. Feeling the dust gather at her fingertips. Her lips tight together as she let out a sigh. "I thought the worst when I got the call." She finished in a huff. She looked over at him, his eyes meeting hers for what seemed to be eternity. Her grass green eyes meeting his bright silver. She saw his eyes get glassy, just as hers began to. She thought of that face, bruised and bloody. His broad chest having a wound that bled profusely. His eyes as dead as doornails. "I thought-"

"Don't." He grumbled, biting his lip as he moved over beside her. He grasped her hand, letting a whine escape his lips.

It was so soft. Surprisingly.

The only teacher that legitimately scared him, had the softest hands he had ever felt.

He shut his eyes tightly, barring his teeth as he pressed his forehead against her shoulder. Hunched over and huffing loudly. He shivered against her, his cheek rubbing against her. "Don't say it."

"Ruben..." She wrapped an arm around her student, her fingernails rubbing his back as he letting out a flurry of sniffles. She withheld a breath, trying to keep her composure and not cry too. "It's ok."

"I almost..." Ruben pulled away from her, his palms pressed against his face. He leaned against the desk, his shoulders quaking and his knees about to buckle. She watched him. He never looked this...well like this. "I thought-" He pulled his head back, tears running down his cheeks. "I could've lost him."

"He's strong-"

"Blair!" He shouted, pounding his fist onto her desk. Making her coffeecup fall off and shatter against the floor.

Glynda didn't even bat an eye. "He...he...If I wasn't...If I was...He needed me. He needed my help and I wasn't by his side!"

"He ran away." She whispered, taking ahold of both his hands with her own. His gloved, strong, and probably coarse hands. "Like you said. He was alone because he wanted to be alone. You couldn't have known."

"My team," He looked up at her. His glassy silver eyes looked strained, the vessels beaten red and irritating even her. "They...We thought we were done." He motioned his hands between the two of them, his mouth ajar and couldn't stop shaking. "I thought-I knew you would boot us out immediately."

"Yet here you stand." She said, pulling up his hands and giving him a coy smile. She pressed his hands against her, feeling her heart beating against his hands. She watched his own lips curl to a smile, his own eyes glancing towards the floor. "I believe you, you know. Everything."

"I know." He mumbled, letting out a sigh. He let out a chuckle. He wasn't laughing. Or happy. He sounded surprised. "I was...scared."

"I know." She said, laying a hand on his cheek, staring into his eyes. Her hand rubbed against his stubble and whiskers, her eyes taking a stern look. "But leaders can't be scared. You know that. They need to be strong. You need to be strong."

"I am strong-"

"I know." She whispered, shutting her eyes. She shook her head. "I know you are strong." She took her hands off of him, taking a step back and intertwined her fingers. She stared into the floor, her shoulders slouching and her breathing slowing. "But not where you need to be."

Ruben stepped off of her desk, rubbing his gloved against his tear stained cheeks. He let out a gruff growl, walking towards the door.

He was tired. Hungry. Angry. Upset. It wasn't a good morning.

"I'll see you when classes start back up, Miss Goodwitch." He said in a huff, looking over his shoulder one last time. She stood there silently, watching her student beginning to leave her office.

"Mr. Thorn," She started, turning heel to face him. He looked at her, his face plain and his eyes beat red from the crying. His chest heaving slowly and his hand shaking slightly. He waited for her to continue, to say her words so he can leave.

She straightened her posture, giving him a nod as she fixed her glasses. "I look forward to seeing you in my class, again."

He gave her a single nod and left without another word.

She fell back against her desk, glancing down at her hand. She smiled, remembering when she brought him into her office to fix his broken nose.

He was still bleeding when she finally got to get him to work with her. Not squirm under her very sight.

Clutching her hand into a fist, she turned towards her scroll. She pulled it into her lap and waved her hand over it.

"Ozpin," She whispered, smiling as she saw a picture of him and her together before his office door. Her smiling, him as stoic as ever. She hugged the scroll to her chest, bowing her head. "I hope you know what you're doing..."

Today was going to be a long day.

Blair stared. More accurately, he was critiquing himself.

"Chin's a bit too...shovel." He mumbled, taking up his eraser and etching it out. Swipe. Swipe. Swipe. Swipe. "Her's was more...gentle. Lose forefront. And soo cute. So very, very, very, ver-"

"Blair?" Yin glanced over, squinting his eyes. He chuckled, in line with the sound of Blair abruptly slamming his book shut. "Don't like people looking at your work?"

"Don't like them spying on it, either." He said, glancing over at him. Yin flashed him a smile as he tilted his head. "Besides, aren't you and Nora suppose to be throwing food at each oth-" Yin casually raised his hand, eyes still locked as he caught a bonbon and popped it into his mouth. Blair shut his mouth and faced forward silently.

"We play our games. But, not what I'm interested in right now." Yin raised his hand to catch another, hearing the doors to the school cafeteria open. There he was, pushing them open.

Sadly, a bonbon did hit Yin in the cheek. but he didn't care.

Ruben walked down between the row of tables, a hand resting on his chin. Middle and pointer finger resting just on the bridge of his nose. Hiding his shame. He moved as quickly as he could to his table. Not before catching the eyes of Cardin and the rest of CRDL.

And of course, he heard their laughing. Feel their pointing. Heard their jokes about how he broke it. Something about running into a door too fast.

He sat besides Yin, a hand on his forehead and face turned towards the floor. Doing all he could to try and make himself turn invisible.

"And our leader is here." Winter mumbled, glancing up from his book about Faunus history and after taking a sip of his morning tea. "Worried that Miss Goodwitch took a whip to you. Surprised you're still standing. I hear she's rather good with it."

"Yeah, well," Ruben smirked, glancing up at him. Winter smiled back, nodding his head slightly. "I was a bit tougher than she anticipated."

Winter's smile was warm, much warmer than the tea he was drinking. He toasted his tea to Ruben before laying it on the plate and pushing it towards him.

"Great to have you back, either way." He pointed towards it, squinting his right eye. "Mint Green. Your favorite, I believe."

"Thanks." Ruben mumbled, before taking it up with both hands and drinking away. He let out a satisfied 'ahhh' his lisp curling to a smile. "So, what's the plan now?"

"Not get kicked out?" Yin mumbled, before his eyes lit up with excitement and he opened his mouth. Catching another bonbon immediately after. He caught it with his mouth, pumping his fist excitedly into the air. "Ann heack awww hmm,' He swallowed, chuckling loudly. "Get ready for the tournament!"

"Right, right." Ruben said, his eyes roaming the cafeteria. He saw that there were still plates left at the serving table, and breakfast was hot on his mind. He stood up with an 'excuse for a moment' and moved on over to the serving tables.

He grabbed up a plate and began placing stripes of burnt black bacon and scrambled eggs. He heard another student walk up beside him, tapping her plate against the table.

"Ru-Ru-Ruben?" The voice stuttered, her plate now pressed against her chest. Ruben glanced over, seeing Velvet's beet red cheeks. He looked up, her chocolate brown eyes staring at the floor. Her floppy rabbit ears lower than her eyes at one point.

"I sa-sa-saw your..." She looked up for a brief moment. Her eyes staring directly into his, her arms pulsing and her breathing uneasy. She glanced at his bandage and her eyes were back at the floor. Her fingers tapped anxiously against the plate in her hand, her heart beating in her throat. "Is everything-"

"Yeah." He grumbled, nodding his head. He looked over her, before clearing his throat and turning back towards the table. He could feel his own cheeks reddening. She followed suite, standing feet shoulder length apart and her head bowed. She just stared at the food, her bottom lip being bitten. "I'm alright, Vee."

"I wa-wa-was worried." She watched him out of the corner of her eye, before brushing her hair to cover her side facing him. Her wavy brown hair working like a curtain. "I-"

"Thanks..." Ruben said, looking over at her. She could see him through her hair, her heart beating fast in her chest. He looked with a sense of astonishment, a sense of warmth. He shrugged his shoulder. "For worrying about me."

She felt her cheeks flush a deep scarlet red, if that was even possible given her already red cheeks. She went silent for a moment, her whole body quivering. Shivering.

"Welcome." She said, putting down her plate and scurrying back towards her table. He watched her, his lips curling into a heart-throbbing smile as he walked back towards Yin. Plate in hand.

"And then! I was like, 'Glynda, honey, calm down.'" Yin said, waving up a hand to receive a high five from a random classmate. Ruben raised a brow, wondering when Yin ever called Glynda 'honey'.

"Dude!" He said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I wouldn't even think about talking to her like that!"

"Confidence bro." Yin, pointing a finger gun at him. He fired, winking as well. "Works every time."

Ruben sat down, bitting off a piece of bacon and feeling it crunching in his mouth. Ruben picked up his tea cup, taking a sip of it as he lean in to speak to Winter.

"He didn't actually say that, did he?" Ruben whispered, narrowing his eyes. Winter looked back at Ruben, glancing at Yin for a brief moment.

"He wouldn't be alive, if he said that." Winter said with a smirk, shutting his book and nodding his head towards Ruben. "Feel better, Ruben. Keep that nose out of other's people's business. Don't want it broken again."

"You know I try, Mister Winter." Ruben chuckled. "You know I try."

"Well," Winter stood up, wiping his face as he saluted the rest of team RWBY. "I'll be going back to the room. I am very tired and-"

A pie slammed against the back of his head, knocking his head into Ruben's. Ruben fell back, his tea spilling all over his shirt and pants.

Yin sat there flabbergasted, staring at Nora. He mouthed, 'Not Good' to her. His eyes wide and his jaw dropped.

She stared back, nodding her head slowly as she stood up casually from her seat.

Winter turned heel, cracking his neck as he stared at Nora. Lie Ren stood up, eyeing Winter with a fiery pair of eyes. Ruben sat up, staring daggers at Ren.

Pyrrha watched Ruben, her arm protectively extending over Jaune just in case. Blair stood up from his seat, staring at Pyrrha with a look of death.

Yin glanced between the two groups, and chuckled. He jumped onto the table, cackling.

"MAY THE ODDS FOREVER BE IN YOUR FAVOR!" He shouted, beating his chest as he pounced Lie Ren. Lie's eyebrow raised, sincerely confused.

"What the-" Lie Ren mumbled, before taken to the ground. Yin straddled his chest, a hand on Ren's neck and a pie in the other.

"HUNGAR GAMES!" Yin bellowed out as he took a piece of the pie and shoved it into Ren's face.

Then chaos followed.

The boy adjusted his yellow tinted goggles, following Sun to meet his new friend.

"Dude," Sun said, clapping his hands together as he nearly skipped towards the front door. "I'm excited, Neptune!"

"Why?" Neptune asked, raising a brow. "This guy sounds...dange-"

"Awesome! Just like the stories, man!" Sun said, patting Neptune's shoulder. "I swear to you! The Beast is real!"

"He's propoganda. A morale booster." Neptune said, rolling his eyes. "Besides, then there's that Ruben guy I think you mentioned."

"The guy uses a big scythe! It's awesome! Look, they're nice guys!" Sun said. "Besides, I think I saw one or two girls who would like some-"

"One or two?" Neptune asked, raising a brow. "Do I look like the kinda guy who gets one or two?" He spread out his arms, flashing Sun a smile. Sun stood there, nodding his head.

"Fair enough." He mumbled, reaching the cafeteria doors. "Just...play it cool."

Neptune stepped between Sun and the door, letting out a gruff sigh.

"I'm always cool." He opened the doors to the cafeteria, only to receive an apple to the face. He flew onto his back, slamming against the ground. Sun glanced towards the thrower, his jaw dropping.

Tables and cues were stacked into a sort of blockade on the other side of the hall, a single table running down the middle. Green, red, blue, purple, and any colors that were in between covered the walls. The ceilings. The floor. The windows. Th-

"Nora!" Ruben shouted, sitting against a turned over table as cover. He peeked out, only to narrowly miss a thrown piece of cherry pie. He groaned, clutched his fists. "Yin! Pave the way, RWBY's taking the fort!"

"With pleasure!" Yin shouted, jumping over his cover and rushing towards Nora.

"Bring me their heads!" Nora shouted, jumping onto the floor and in front of a table full of watermelons. "Fire!" On cue, team JNPR launched a barrage of watermelons towards RWBY, blocking out the lights.

"My head?" Yin asked, running over and sheathing his fists into a two cooked turkeys. "My head?" He back fisted a turkey, his teeth barred and his eyes wide. The melon bursted into pieces on impact, shattering against the wall. "MY HEAD?!" He charged, knocking away every melon thrown at him. "TAKE IT FROM ME, THEN!"

Blair rushed behind, rolling over and grabbing a baguette. He charged behind Yin, grabbing three eggs. Blair jumped, throwing hard against Pyrrah. She readied her own baguette, breaking the eggs as they got too close.

However, they broke on impact and splashed against her face.

Blair took the opportunity to slam his weapon against her. The bread didn't give in, and slammed Pyrrah against the wall. Blair's eyes shot open, his jaw dropping.

"How old is this thing?" Blair asked, staring down at his bread. "It's like made of st-"

Lie Ren slammed his shin against Blair's cheek, slamming him into the wall besides Pyrrah. Ruben ran towards Lie Ren, kicking a handful of raspberries and throwing them towards Lie Ren.

Lie Ren dodged the berries, slamming his shoulder into Ruben's chest. Ruben fell back, getting the wind knocked out of him. He fell onto his knees, cradling his stomach in his arms.

"That..." Ruben sighed. "Hurt..."

Ruben glanced over at Yin, who was already making his way towards Lie Ren for revenge.

"Oh...great." Ruben mumbled, looking over at Ren. He smirked, staring into Ren's eyes. "You're in for-"

"Nooooo!" Ruben glanced over at Yin, who was now launched up into the ceiling. Then breaking through. And now he was gone.

"A...bad...time..." Ruben looked back at Lie, who then stepped out of the way. Ruben raised a brow, seeing Pyrrah step into the middle of the room. She motioned her arm forward, soda cans bursting out of the machines and whirling around her. She sent them forward, sending them crashing against Ruben.

Each one slammed against him, sending him further and further across the room. Soon, he was backed up against the wall. Sticky from all the grape soda and bruised.

"Do not be afraid!" Nora shouted, throwing her arm out. "Soon! Your heads will adorn my castle walls!"

"Don't think so." Ruben pulled himself off of the wall, cracking his neck. He rolled his shoulders back, letting out a growl. He pivoted his foot, let out a growl. "FEEL MY WRA-"

"Ruben!" A voice shouted. Ruben stopped, his ears peaking and his heart dropping. He looked over his shoulder. There she was.

Glynda stood there, arms crossed and fuming. Ruben's eyes went wide, and he froze.

"I love this place." Sun said, clapping his hands together.