I don't know if you've not noticed, but things are getting a lot scarier out in the world.

T'was the night before the finals, and all through the halls, not a student was stirring.
Except Yin and his incessant pacing throughout his bedroom.
The Golden warrior couldn't believe that he was in the singles. Representing RWBY in the finals like this was something he never saw coming. He must've watched that arena lifting elbow drop video at least a dozen and a half times before night had fallen.

Yin took a break from his pacing to throw his hands up into a boxing stance. Uneasy from the butterflies in his stomach and needing to relief some stress. His eyes resting on an opponent he imagined was faster than him. Who's knuckles were thicker and harder than concrete. Who's form was perfect and offered no openings for a solid strike. Who wouldn't give Yin even an inch to work with.

The perfect opponent was never the same, he never was the same age. She never was the same height or weight. It was never a thing. It was nature. It was made up of everything Yin viewed as perfection. Swift strikes. Uncanny dodging. Impeccable form. Devastating strength.

Yin was on edge, and he couldn't help but smile as his feet spread shoulder length apart. His hands curled into blunt fists. How he could imagine the lights beating against him as he slowly started rocking back and forth in his spot. Hands bobbing up besides his head, the shadow taking their stance and shaking out it's wrists. Then the jabs were thrown.

Yin dodged the shadows and their invisible hands. His head ducking as fast as he could under their swings. Shifting out of the way of their high arched kicks and backhands. His arms rotating and his knees bumping to a simple beat. The clicking of his heels against the wood. The steadiness of his hot breath. The thumping, tribal rhythm that was his heart.

His eyes dead set on the Shadow as he threw out a right and left jab. Who effortless ducked and dipped out of the way. Yin didn't relent. He continued the assault. Quickly followed by a hard falling elbow and a quick hard knee. Trying to meet the shadow as it was brought down. It missed entirely. Just lifting Yin off of the floor and looking as though he just did an odd bunny hop.

When his heels clicked against the floor, body still tense and his hands still locked into tight fists. Yin let out a grunt. The kind that was disappointed about his form. Disappointed that his strikes didn't meet their marks. That his arm was still giving him some trouble to this day. Yin gave his wrists a solid shake before he resumed his march along the floor. Just as he did before.

"RWBY Is in the finals!" Yin roared, continuing his pace around the room, his hands resting within the flowing locks of his golden hair. He kept his eyes resting just in front of him, his heart thumping hard in his chest as he couldn't keep the smile off of his face.

The mere thought that he was good enough to even be considered one of the best, if not possibly the best, fighters in the school was a concept that seemed so alien to him. Seemed so very far and away.

That Yin Xiao Long, from the humble beginnings as a boy from a little prairie house in Patch, could be dodging, ducking, dipping, diving and dodging into the finals of the Vytal festival tournament. The boy, who's long hair once passed his knees, who got into school yard scraps over his little brother was now a contender to win Gold. A boy who spat at his own disappeared mother could be considered for greatness.

Yin glanced over at Ruben and Blair every now and again as he paced, just to make sure that his pacing didn't begin to stroll into the long lengths of night. The marching and walking that he could have been doing in the dark would have been a disservice to the rest of his team as they tried to get a good night's rest.

But they weren't asleep as they should be. For leaving Yin to rest with this restless energy, They were just sitting atop of their beds and watching Y just continue his endless walk. Which was bordering on about hour two at this point in time. Yin stopped, before clutching his hands into fists and pumping them into the air with every word. "RWBY is in the finals!"

Their room was at full capacity, with Ruben and Blair sat cross legged on their respective beds and keeping their eyes on Yin. Winter was laying on his side, facing away from the rest of team RWBY and simply laid face to face with the wall. Counting all the minuscule divots and paint bubbles that littered the wall's surface.

"No need to just...relax." Blair said, his elbows shifting to rest atop of his knees and his interlaced hands tucked under his chin. His dark eyes resting on Yin. Who was now peering over his shoulders to just watch the faunus sit and relax. Two things Yin couldn't do if he tried.

Yin was just clad in his typical tank and sweats. Showing off the definition in his thick arms and the curvature of his broad shoulders. The tank snug against his abdomen, showing off his toned stomach. The bumps and grooves of his body stressed and flexing as he marched.

"No need to overreact Yin." Ruben rotated his neck as he stretched out his arms. Before throwing himself back onto the bed and nuzzling against his bundle of blankets. "You got this in the bag. Just get your rest, eat your breakfast in the morning and win. Things you do without even trying."

"Winter," Yin walked along over towards Frost's bed, jumping onto the end of the bed. Folding his legs under his knees as he glanced over the heir. "I'm really freaking out here buddy."

"Ok, Yin? What?" Winter sprung up in his bed, his hands resting along side his waist. His eyes resting upon Yin's. Seeing the strain in the golden warrior's eyes as he let out a growl. He wanted to tell Yin that he didn't even need him when they fought in the doubles. That Yin was more than capable of taking care of that team. That Winter didn't even need to be there. That he was dead weight. But he saw Yin's chest convulsing. His cold sweat. The bags under his eyes. The trembles in his legs and the shakes in his hands. "What do you need to worry about?"

"What if-what if I make a fool of myself." Yin felt Winter's hands shift to his own hands. Taking a hold of his paws and gripping them tightly. Yin looked up, seeing Winter's mouth open for a hard yawn. His shoulders slumping and his dry lips smacking together. Winter gave Yin a tight squeeze, before nodding his head. Yawning once again. "Winter? Winter?"

"Yin, all I can say is 'Break a leg' and do your best. If you do that. You'll win."

"Just got to remember who I am." Yin sat along the bench of the prematch locker room. His thumps tapping against his index, middle, ring and pinky finger in succession then reversing. Trying to keep his focus. Not trying to get too worked up and excited. He was going out on the big stage now, and he wanted to be at a hundred percent. He wanted to be at his absolute best.

He wanted to show everyone what kind of fighter Yin Xiao Long really was. To show off just how healed he was. To show what kind of name Yin made for himself. As any number of goons and mob bosses would not be happy to hear on any given night. He wanted his name to be one that would bring respect. Bring a sense of admirably. One that would bring honor and glory to his team.

Yin stood up from the locker room bench, feeling the wraps around his arm beginning to fall off once again. Yin's eyes took a moment to glance over his bandages, taking a brief second for himself before he began to unravel them. Finally ridding himself of something that has ailed him for the past few months.

To rid himself of a reminder of a time where he could not raise a fork to eat. A time where he couldn't even take off his own pants or scratch his own back. A time when he couldn't make a proper fist or spar with his little brother. A time that reminded him of how weak he could be if he wasn't up to full form.

His wrapped up hand flexing and tightening into hard fist. Just to make sure he could feel the tension in his fingers and forearm. Feel those healing nerves in his hands once again.

He could still see the healed over wounds all over his arm a blistering shade of red and wounds that laid deep in his shoulder looking like bolts of dark lightning. His eyes trailing over the healed over scars and gashes with a wince and sorrowful sigh. Yin finished unraveling the bandage, watching the wrap crumpled atop the ground.

Yin removed his shirt and tank top. His eyes glancing over the full size mirror. His eyes taking in the sight of the bulbous biceps and thick triceps. His firm forearms and his chiseled chest. He took into account the definition in his form, the power and strength that laid dormant under his frame. That manifested in his hands and feet.

His thick hands shifting down his cut abdomen and resting along his chest. His nails glazing over every groove and bump of his abs. His tight muscle constricting under his digits. As though his fingertips were freezing cold to the touch.

His eyes not, for one moment, ever taking it's sights off of the scars across his arm. The kind that would not let him forget. That would not let him ever not remember. Yin growled, flexing his arm and barring his teeth. It was time to go to work.

Yin zipped open his travel duffel bag, gazing over his wardrobe and threw on his sleeveless golden top. Opting to keep his loose black sweats with the golden strips along the sides. If anything, just to keep himself loose and free.

His boots were tied on tight, and his bracers were as always locked along his wrists. Yin tossed his shades on, the world taking a darker hue than it usually did. His hands spiking his hair up and up out of his face. As if there were pictures to be had, he'd like the camera to stay on his good side. Yin approached the mirror, seeing himself in it's reflection.

He smirked, knowing that no matter who stood opposite of him in that arena, his hardest and strongest opponent would be the man who he saw in the mirror. Yin knocked his fists together, cracking his neck with a twist. He began to rolled back and forth from the tips of his toes onto the balls of his feet.

He rose his hands up into fighting stance, seeing his reflection do the same thing. Yin hunched over, his opponent doing the same thing. The golden boy's eyes shut, his breathing and shallow heartbeats his rhythm. His sharp breaths his song. His lips began to mutter and mumble, his body bobbing and weaving.

"Red like roses fills my dreams and brings me to the place you rest..." Yin's hands sent out a series of jabs and elbows, his eyes imagining those beasts in his paws. His knuckles smashing bone and holding off claws.

"White is cold and always yearning, burdened by a royal test." Yin rose up his leg into a round house position, keeping his stance perfectly as he began his kicks. Keeping form with every single kick. His body not failing to keep his stance, even after the second dozen kick.

"Black the beast descends from shadows." Yin slammed his palm into the breeze-less air, his knees bending and his fingers curling into tiger like paws. His lips curling back to reveal a scowl. The orange hair and the cigar smoke clouding his thoughts. His cackle and laughter silenced by the palm strikes and the high knees.

"Yellow beauty burns..." The air-horns bellowed in the arena outside to signify the beginning of the bouts. Firing off like starters pistols that excited the crowds and the competitors. Following by the roars and screams of the crowd outside, were the orders for the semifinalists to meet int he center of the arena. Yin's eyes shot open after the announcement had finished, his breaths returning to normal and his hands curling into tight fists. Meeting his own gaze in the mirror's reflection, he winked to himself before breaking that scowl and smiling softly. "Gold."

Time to make Ruben and Dad proud.

Yin found himself marching out onto the arena floor against the stomping and knocking of the other competitor's walk, his eyes glancing over the other fighters. Wondering which one he would have the pleasure of facing off against in the matches to come. Given that all these men and women had fought so very had hard and fought for so very long to get where they are tonight. Fought long and hard, Just like he has. Just like he is going to.

Pyrrha would be the most obvious choice for the one on one, despite the history they both shared. Being buddies with both Jaune and Ruben, going to the same school, being both very smart and remarkable individuals.

There was the added bonus that she was in the running with the highest bet of winning of the whole competition. There was also the fact she was and is publicly known to be the absolute and undisputed best fighter in the whole school. Beating out Yin, Coco, Daichi and even a few teachers in the polls.

Although, her greatest accomplishment in Yin's eyes was she literally has Cereal Box Cover credibility. Which had to say something about her fighting capabilities. Seeing as how Yin doesn't have branded cereal boxes with his face on the front.

Yin could imagine dipping and dodging her swipes with great speed. Her sword chopping off bits of his hair or wardrobe. Her shield bashing into his stomach and her hard heels smashing into his shoulders. A fight that would surely keep Yin on the edge of his seat.

Though, he could also see himself grabbing her short sword mid swing and snapping it into two over his knee. Like a cheap and teriyaki sauced drenched chopstick. Rushing over to her and overwhelming her with his speed and dexterity. Denting in her shield with his hefty barrage of hard jabs and jagged elbows. Before finally wearing her down enough to the point she couldn't keep up with him. It'd be a long, drawn out fight and Yin was already getting butterflies in his stomach.

Then there was Ruben's old girlfriend, Penny. Which in end of itself, would prove to be vastly more interesting than the fight with Pyrrah. Regardless of Ruben's long and intimate history with Lady Penny, which Yin would have to push to the back of his mind out of respect for both Penny and the competition. He couldn't have feelings come in the way of mellowing down an exciting and thrilling bout.

As of today, Yin never had the pleasure of fighting off a dozen or so swords being thrown at him by a single person before. Especially ones that could be homed in on him with deadly and exact precision.

She would be awfully quick and dangerously deadly at a distance. That's not even accounting for the woman's laser beams. Which lit up Yin's eyes the moment she used them in open combat.

He could feel his heart pounding when he would to deal with all those sentiant blades flying towards him at breakneck speeds. But when he got up close, where Yin held all his chips in his hand, she would not be able to keep up with him sadly. At least, Yin would hope she could be able to keep up. The idea was more interesting than the actuality, though Yin would have to wait and see the bracket.

"Yin Xiao Long Versus Mercury Black!" The noise that erupted out of the speakers rocked the stage. The other combatants, Pyrrha and Penny included, began to march off of the stage while wishing the two of them the best of luck.

Leaving Yin and Mercury to their bout, the arena began to grow silent. Yin watched the ladies leave and thanked them, rotating his wrists as his shoulders rolled back as he approached Mercury.

"I know, I know what you're going to ask." Yin peered over Mercury, flashing the kick boxer a smirk as he knocked his fists together. The knuckles echoing throughout the arena. "I won't go easy on you, Sir. Don't think just because you're a little cute and an ok fighter doesn't mean I won't bring the smackdown, Mister Man."

"Please, in your dreams, Long." Mercury raked his hand through his hair, the squees in the crowd rumbling the building. Which made the kick boxer roll his eyes before meandering over towards Yin. The kickboxer entered his stance, hands pulling up on the legs of his pants before he rose up his right hand and shifted over towards Yin. His fist was curled back and reaching out towards Yin. Signaling a tap between the two combatants.

Yin nodded, hands retracting to his side as he nodded towards Mercury. Giving his opponent a soft bow, out of respect. The golden warrior took up the same stance as his enemy, the back of his hand tapping against Mercury's own. Knuckles brushing against one another just as the announcer began to count off.

"3!"

Yin squeezed his hands in sync, his gauntlets twisting and locking, taking their form and forming around his hands. Mercury simply watched the weapons lock into place, before squinting his eyes and lapping his tongue against the front of his teeth.

"2!"

Yin's left hand fell and rested along his thigh, his eyes peering down towards Mercury's right leg. Knowing that is going to be the first attack that he was going to lead with. With a front rather than a spinkick, considering that his foot was prepped to pivot towards the left for leverage. Yin had to give props to the young man, seeing as how he'd think Yin would immediately go for a quick jab or a rising knee strike.

"1!"

Yin blew Mercury a playful kiss, before letting out a sinister laugh. His eyes shifting to a shade of dark violet and his teeth gnashing together.

"Go!"

Mercury, just as Yin had predicted, threw his right leg out as to smash the blow against Yin's chin. Yin responded, reaching out with his right hand and catching Mercury by the ankle. Yin pivoted his right foot towards the left, spinning out his left foot and slamming it into the center of Black's chest. Knocking the air out of Mercury's chest and knokcing Mercury against the floor. Yin slammed his descending heel into the arena floor, chunks of floor jumping into the air as he geared his right leg for another pivot.

Yin spin-kicked the bits of arena rubble, propelling them towards Mercury. They shot through the air like a load of buckshot.

The kickboxer scrambled up onto his feet, dodging and dipping out of the way of the incoming wall of projectiles. Before jumping back into his stance, Yin was already running towards Mercury. Yin's gauntlets extended out into his elbows, preparing himself for a couple of hard knees and kicks.

His eyes fixated on Black's foot positioning and his stance. Ignoring the blaring sights of flashing lights and stadium thumping due to the stomps and claps. Yin slowed down into a skid, bringing himself to slow glide before he began his shuffle forward. Yin's hands up in a boxing stance as Mercury sprinted forward.

Yin shifted and bobbed in his spot. Awaiting for one of Mercury's kicks to come sailing towards him. Black jumped up and tried to dive right into Yin's chest. Yin deflected the kick with a forearm slam, driving the heel of Black's attack into the floor just before jamming his right elbow into Mercury's chest in quick succession. Yin took that dazed moment by following that blow to the gut with a hard left roundhouse kick to the side.

Yin's thick and hard shin smashing against Mercury's ribs and bending him around Yin's leg. Mercury resting along Yin's strike before rubber-banding him out of the air.

Mercury slammed against the concrete and begun to roll across the floor several dozen feet away. He skidded to a halt, his pant leg torn to shreds and this loud scraping noise being heard against the roars of the crowd. Yin could have sworn it sounded like dragging metal against the concrete.

Mercury let a hand begin resting along the bruised side of his ribs. Nails clawing against his hurting side as he unsteadily tried to rise to his feet.

Yin bolted over without a second thought, smashing his knee against Mercury's open cheek and keeping Mercury against the floor. The kickboxer now rolled over on his side and spitting out a tooth.

Yin glanced down, Mercury's hands pressing against the arena floor and throwing his foot up towards Yin in a loose and sloppy strike. Yin simply dipped backed, missing the wide swing and back tracking away from Black. To give him a chance to get back up.

"This is the best you got? I mean, you're in the finals for a reason here, Buddy. I would have swept the knees. Not kick my stomach." Yin explained , staring at Mercury as he rose to his feet with an uneasy breath. His eyes straining and his hands coiled into loose fists. Black shuffled forward, hands up and his heels digging into the floor. Dragging his legs against the ground. Yin threw his hands down with a sigh, simply walking over towards Mercury.

"Look, see. Now you're fighting smart." Yin waved his hands towards himself, asking for Mercury to attack him now. "Let's go."

Black threw a high kick, which was slow enough for Yin ducked right underneath. Mercury followed up with a high left knee, which Yin saw a mile away and promptly stepped out of the way of. Mercury jumped up and threw out his right foot into a hard side kick. Yin rolled his eyes and dipped back to avoid the top of Black's foot and followed it up with a hard uppercut to the chin. Which rocketed Mercury into the air and having him crash land against the earth.

"Look, I get it. Finals are here, and you're nervous. But are you even trying?" Yin asked, pounding his fist against his chest. His nose flaring and his hands shaking. Yin didn't want to watch this replay and to be bored. Just sitting back and reflecting on just this ten minute round of him battering away this 'trained combatant' like a nanny waving off a child throwing a temper tantrum. Something he didn't want to his debut as a solo combatant to be made of. Not something that he wanted to reflect on when he is an old man telling his grandchildren how he was a skilled fighter. "Give me something to work with here, man! I want a good fight!"

Yin then felt this weight upon his chest, his eyes drooping down and making him shut his eyes for a few moments, this sudden feeling his head was stuffy and a migraine starting came upon him like a flash flood. His stomach churning as though he was being thrown through a washing machine set on ultra. His vision blurring for a quick moment as well. Mercury's tired frame swirling and tripling right before him. His teeth barring as he tried to focus on getting away from this disgusting feeling.

His heart began thumping hard in his ears, his hands twitching and fingertips going numb. His blood began cold and a cold sweat running down his cheek. Yin turned towards his opponent, seeing Mercury was now on his feet and marching over towards Yin. No longer huffing and gasping for air as he once was. No longer in pain as he once was.

His right hand was cocked and it threw a hard hitting right hook. Yin didn't even attempt to dodge, as he could have sworn that the other two Mercury's were simply standing still. Yin ended up taking the full blunt force of the attack. Knocking him back, turning his proud stance into a hunched over shuffle to remain on his feet.

"What the heck was that? What are...what are you doing?" Yin mumbled, feeling his mouth slosh around a mouthful of spit and blood. His eyes shooting over the blaring lights. Trying to drown out the noise. He focused on trying to keep his composure. As he was sure he was not in the right state of mind.

Yin shuffled back, his hand gripping his bruised and aching cheek. That's when he started to hear the giggling.

Yin glanced back up, a pair of mis-colored eyes instead of Mercury's gray. And pink hair instead of gunmetal now. A skirt resting along his hips and an umbrella twirling in her right hand.

A pair of thin lips blowing Yin a flirty kiss as a hard heel knocked under his chin. Yin's lights went out, his shoulders knocking against the floor and the back of his skull smashing against the concrete. His ears ringing and deafening all other noise.

Yin blinked, his eyes shifting over the flashing and neon colors of the crowd. His breaths seemingly echoing for what seemed to be forever. Yin turned back to Mercury, his jaw dropping.

"Do you really need saving again?"

The flowing black hair, the kabuki mask, and the sword that rested in hand. She strutted over towards Yin, cocking her head and smirking. Almost mocking her son in his moment of defeat. Lifting up her foot to slam her heel into his face. To keep him pinned to the floor. Keep him on the ground. Remind him of how weak she made him feel.

"No wonder everyone can see right through you."

Yin roared, his hands flexing and slamming into the floor. His fists denting into the ground and cratering around him. His screaming and his shaking making the whole floor beneath him rumble. His armor forming as his hair stood on end. His eyes glowing into a very bloody shade of red. His facemask clapping down around him and his hands shoving him off of the floor and standing him up on his two feet.

Yin shoulder charged the woman, knocking her sword out of her hands and causing her to stumble back. Yin decided to tackle her, taking her to the floor. Jamming his elbow across her right cheek before cocking his right arm back for a haymaker.

"I wonder they see what you see everytime you look in the mirror?"

Yin found orange bangs topped with a bowler cap instead of a pair of black locks, a cigar against his lips instead of it being curled in a scowl. Yin barred his teeth, reeling his right hand back. Slamming it against his left cheek.

"I wonder if they see a boy who's own mother had left behind?"

The strike was then followed with a left strong left hook.

"I wonder if they see a boy who would wonder where his mother was every birthday?"

Yin slammed his foe with a right straight right between the eyes.

"I wonder if they have any idea what kind of person he really sees himself as? As someone who will wake up one day,"

Yin tried to silence him with a combo of left and right crosses.

"After realizing he has no more friends,"

Yin grabbed the foe's skull and slammed his helmet against their forehead. Ignoring the cracking noise he heard.

"No love,"

Yin grabbed a tuff of hair, bringing down his elbow right in the same spot as his headbutt.

"And he'll be all alone."

Yin was ready to follow with another strike as his right eye got blinded. As though something had dripped into his eye lid. Yin moved his hand to see what was in his eye, only to see red run down his fingertip. His heart stopping. His breathing coming to a halt as he felt his world seemingly blink. There were no more flashing lights. No more cheering. No more roaring from the crowd.

Yin felt his body shudder as he shambled off of the body beneath him. His eyes shooting up towards the ceiling. Staring into the ceiling. Hands shaking as he glanced around the room. Yin's helmet came off with a cranking and a mist of steam, dozens of armed guards rushing towards him the moment the armor revealed his head.

The golden warrior's eyes trailed up towards the titan-tron. His eyes swelling up as he saw what had happened. His stomach dropping after what he had seen

Yin had knocked Mercury to the floor with a backhanded fist. The poor boy's screams and cries were silent on the screen, but Yin knew.

Yin could hear them. The straining in his voice to stop the fight. The shaking of his body as Yin overpowered him. Yin had mounted him, and laid into his face blow after blow.

Yin's eyes shifted over towards the body, seeing medical respondents begin to lift him up into a stretcher. Rushing him towards a nearby emergency room. Leaving a large trail of crimson in his wake. The spot where was his head looking as though someone had spilled a whole can of red paint across the ground.

Yin simply raised his hands up when he heard the guns cocked, his heart racing in his chest as his eyes chilled to a cold stare. Tears streaming down his cheeks as his lips quivered. His salty tears running around his mouth and down to his chin. Dripping off of him in a shower.

"I didn't want this..." Yin's lips trembled as he spoke. He gently shut his eyes, shaking his head softly. His wrists feeling the cold steel of handcuffs clap around him as he was raised to his feet by two of Vale's finest Officers. "I didn't want this..."