When you're out on the battlefield, your judgment can become clouded in an instant. Sometimes you see things that simply aren't there.
(Also, Happy New Year!)

"That's the sound of the men," Ruben kept his hands hands folded together as he rested on the bed besides his older brother. His cheeks were pale as a corpse's own, his knuckles as white as bone and his eyes resting on the floor beneath his feet. His heart beating in his ears as he tried to remain calm. His right foot continuously tapping against the floor beneath him.

"working on the chain ga-a-ang," Blair rested on the bed opposite of Ruben, with his legs folded under his person and his hands resting in his lap. His crimson scarf resting along his legs, his thumbs fiddling with the fabric and keeping his eyes fixated on Yin. Who remained in his hunched over and melancholy position.

"That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang." Winter kept his revolver in the palm of his hand, his free hand spinning the wheel with a brush every so often. His eyes watching the spinning and listening to all the clicks.

The arm guards at the doors didn't bother Yin. Yin even got used to the marching of the constant patrols and mandatory meals, which were made up of slop and stale corn bread, were always left spotless and clean whenever Yin was fed.

Those were fine. Those were things that Yin could nap to and ignore with his studying and his shadowboxing. But the cuffs around his wrists, the shackles that ran from his handcuffs to his ankles were what got to him.

Granted, Yin could easily rip them apart with a quick pivot and a quick pull. But the idea that they thought he needed to be chained up from causing more damage is what got to Yin. That is what really got under his skin.

To be looked upon and treated as though he were a rabid dog, ready to strike at a moment's notice at anyone and anything that had gotten in his way. Yin tugged slightly on the chain, watching one of the links snap without even a fraction of a percent of his strength. The edges of said link jagged. Yin pulled his cuffs back together, fiddling at the broken piece in his fingers. Bending it and twisting it back into a working link in the chain. Then Yin shook his wrists, listening to the chain clink and clang together. His lips curling to a melancholy smile.

"I've got...no strings...to hold...me down..." Yin's mumbled words rang to the tune of his jingling of his fancy new silver cuffs. The kind that kept on reminded him that they were to replace his golden bracers. Which were sitting in some armory or some police lock up somewhere in the city proper. It didn't matter.

All he knew was that it was very, very far and away from both him and Team RWBY.

"I don't need to explain the depth of your situation, do I Mr. Xiao Long?" Ironwood stood in the center of team RWBY's little abode, arms folded behind his back as he approached Yin. The young golden warrior who gave out a lot of punishment to a young and innocent Mercury Black. Who ended up being put into hospital care immediately after the affair. "Repeat the punishment now."

"The punishment, for Team RWBY, is a disqualification. In the respect that excessive force like that is not nor will ever be rewarded." Yin murmured, his voice a guttural growl and his thumbs brushed against his own finger tips. His eyes swelling with tears and his voice nearly getting caught in his throat. "And I will be courted if it turns out Mercury's wounds put him in the realm of critical rather than a simple visit to one of our doctors."

"Yin-" Ironwood's hand rested over his own profile, his eyes shifting from the cuffed young man towards the door. The general straightened his stance, letting out a shallow breath as he folded his hands behind his back. "Mr. Xiao-"

"You may go now." Ruben's voice rose from a whisper to a barking order as he spoke, peering over at the older man with a glare in his eye. His piercing silver eyes resting against Ironwood's own. "Or I will make you."

"Ruben-" Yin began to say, only for Ironwood clear his throat and march right over towards Ruben. Looming over the outspoken leader with a stern look in his eye.

"Excuse me? Did you speak to me like some sort of child? Did you order me like I was one of your little soldiers?" Ironwood asked, his hands curling to hard fists as he took the extra step and began peering down at Ruben. His cold voice rising to a shout. The kind that made even Yin jump at. "Who you think you are, Mister Rose?"

"I think," Ruben rose to his feet, with no hesitation in his step. No sign of fear, or second guessing in his stance. Making the General step back and make way for the boy to stand. Ruben didn't speak with any fault in his voice, he didn't seem to regret his choice when he met Ironwood eye to eye. His cool voice not raising any higher than a stern threat. "You should leave me and my team to our business. And it's Thorn. Not Rose."

The older gentlemen have to give credit to the young man, who had only recieved national attention for his older brother's utter domination in the Single fight. Leaving the other student resting in a Hospital wing. And is standing up to one of the most powerful men in the world with nothing more than his rage and fearlessness.

Things that Ironwood could respect, all things given.

Ironwood simply nodded at the young man, before turning heel and marching out the doors. Leaving RWBY to care for and discuss things among one another other. Granted,

Ruben had left a strong impression with the Commander that RWBY would be this team of stubborn, but hardworking and kindhearted, students who wanted to do whatever they could to protect the realm. With dreams of valor and glory, just like Ironwood had when he was their age.

Instead, they had a heir to a corporation who's family caused more damage to Faunus relations than fixed. A faunus who's been known to have ties to criminal organizations. A gray haired young leader who's temper got the better of him on more than one occasion.

Now, to only add to the list, a golden haired boisterous child who let his own anger get the better of him and let loose upon a poor competitor. Who seemingly valued brutality over fair competition. Beating his opponent nearly to death for all the world to see.

Ironwood was greeted by Qrow, who as leaning against Team JNPR's own door. His folded over one another as he nodded his head towards the Commander. Nudging his head towards the door he just walked through.

"How'd they take it?"

Almost on queue, the tip of a screwdriver was slammed into the door. The flathead sticking out of said door in what was either a hard stab or an even harder throw. Two pairs of guns were trained onto the door, Ironwood's eyes shutting ever so slowly and his hands tightening behind his back.

"Looks like they are taking it well." Was all Qrow could mumble.

"They can not do this to you." Ruben marched over towards the door to fetch his thrown screwdriver, driving his foot into the door and gripping the handle to his tool. Pulling it out in one great pull. "This is-is-Bull! Sh-"

"Did we all watch the same fight?" All eyes darted towards Winter, who immediately jumped and dropped his revolver onto the floor once all sights rested on him. Winter jumped at the sight of friend's gaze then once again when the cold iron slammed against the floor. "I-I-I-I mean! Look! Yin! He's one of my best friends, and he's one of the finest men I know, but you gotta face facts this time Ruben."

"What facts there, Princess?" Ruben was already looming over the Frost Heir, his hands coiled into fists. Winter squinted his eyes, steadied his breath, and glanced over at Yin. Who was shaking his head and letting his tearful eyes linger upon Ruben's back.

"Do not just get angry because Yin over there probably got,"
"Probably?!"
"Just got a little trigger happy and-"

"How dare you!" Ruben grabbed Winter by the collar of his shirt, lifted him up off the bed and hoisted him up into the air in a single arm swing. Giving the prince a proper shake and rattle before slamming him besides the window frame. "Who do you think you are believe that Yin could-"

"I don't believe it!" Winter's hands locked around Ruben's wrists, his teeth barring as he began to writhe in his spot. Huffing hard as he tried to the upmost of his ability to not deck Ruben across the face with a hard right cross. "I'm just offering that it's a two way street."

"I believe it." The growl that erupted from Blair, chilled the room into a sort of frozen state. The kind that could even freeze over fire. Ruben locked into place, Winter's blood ran cold, and Yin's tears seemed to stay in a droplet on his cheek.

Yin's gaze rested upon Blair, who's hands were curled into hard fists and resting on his knees. His body was hunched over his crossed legs, and his eyes shifting over towards Ruben "And if a single paw rests on me, it will not end well for you."

Blair's eyes turned back towards Yin, who's lips began blubbering and who's eyes were still glossy as can be. His hands trembling like leaves in an Autumn breeze and his chest convulsing like the rumbling earth. Yin didn't want to look this pathetic, nor this upset. But he wasn't going to try and act tough like Ruben. He was going to emote, and he sure did emote.

Blair cleared his throat, shut his eyes, and gathered his thoughts.

"I was once the kind of person who let out bouts of aggression and anger and rage. I took them out on people who struck first. Because the deserved it. Then I did it upon people who I knew were my enemies. That made it easy to assume they would have done it to me first had I not struck first. Well, not before long, I started lashing out because it felt good. Because all that anger felt nice to let out. To...to give into the beast." Blair's voice was lowered to a growl, his eyes opening as they locked into Yin. Who's eyes were still as glossy as ever and who's cheeks were stained with a series of fallen tears. Trailing down his face in long and thin strands. "I want you to look me in the eye, and be honest with me. Did you...let out the beast? Or was this all some sort of accident?"

Yin's heart could have stopped, with his mind screeching to a halt and his hands coiling into tight fists. He cleared his throat, his voice cracking as he tried to remain level and calm.

"I didn't...want this to happen. This was some sort of accident..." Was all Yin said, mumbling to Blair as his voice once more cracked and his lips blubbered. His groans and cries stopped when he buried his face into the palms of his hands. His shoulders locking and his body trembling as he bellowed out. Tears pouring out between his fingers as he sat.

Blair simply nodded, wanting to believe in Yin. Wanting to believe him. Wanting to see the truth in his words. And hardheartedly, he did.

The three both left Y to wallow in his room, to go not only watch the rest of the tournament but to calm down any social fires that might spring from such a devastating assault.

Blair shut the door behind him, leaving him, Ruben and Winter out in the hall. As he turned, he came face to face with Ruben.

That icy silver stare in his eyes was complimented by his perpetual scowl. His hands shaking at his sides and his heels dug firmly into the floor. He looked as though he were ready to start swinging, and Blair was nonchalantly waiting for the first strike.

Ruben swung up his right hand, his index finger out and only inches from Blair's nose. Ruben let out a hard growl, before pulling his hand away.

"You don't know Yin if you think he would do this." Ruben stepped back, eyes still on Blair as he walked along down the hall. Backstepping as he kept his eyes on the Faunus. Shaking his head as tears began swelling in his eyes. "Even when you ran away after that stint with Winter, even when we had no reason to trust you since you ousted yourself as some sort of radical, when you had no home to go back to, me and Yin stood besides you. We searched for you. We fought for you. We trusted you."

Ruben spat at the floor, turning his back to Blair and Winter before marching down the hall. "Just wished you'd do the same."

Blair crossed his arms, lowering his head as he let out a long and pain-struck groan. Digging his toe into the floor before storming off in the opposite direction. Winter, with his eyes shooting off towards his pissed off captain and then his angry faunus friend, threw his hands into the air. Leaning his back up against the wall and proceeding to slide down. His legs kicking out infront of him and his hands holding onto his white locks.

"Hey..." Winter looked up, seeing Jaune standing in his open doorframe leading to team JNPR's dorm. With NPR looming over his shoulder. "He doing ok?"

Winter let out a soft 'ha' before shaking his head and glancing off to the side. Biting his bottom lip and continuing his dark laughter.

"Yeah, Jaune." Winter rolled his eyes, his head resting between his knees as he let out a sorrowful sigh. "We're doing the best we can..."

"So, you got some pent up emotions..." Yin's eyes scrolled over towards the door, seeing Qrow standing besides it. Making Yin smirk at the thought of him somehow sneaking into the room like some sort of drunk ninja. Stumbling his way into the shadows. "Or are you just crazy?"

"Don't know anymore..." Yin voice was hard to hear, could give the noise of nails against chalkboard a run for its money on excruciating noise. Yin shook his head, letting out a growl. "A part of me is like...me. Then another part of me is..." Yin glanced at the re-bent chain-link in his handcuffs, letting out a heavy breath. "Broken."

"Here I thought Ruby and that horn guy were fighting over who was more emo." Qrow smirked, his hands retracting to his pockets as he marched into the center of the room. His chin bent low as he passed Yin. His eyes shifting up into the window. "You're a tough pinata, Yin. You are going to get some hits, don't doubt that. But you won't break."

"I saw her. In the hospital after..." Yin looked away, and let out another groan. "She's all I can think about. No matter how loud I play my music. No matter how fast I run. No matter how hard I punch, she's there! Day in! Day out! She's there! In my mind!"

Yin glanced up at Qrow, his lips trembling as his own hands began to tremble. His teeth barring and his eyes turning to that devastating shade of purple.

"I saw her...in that arena. She was being beaten." Yin stood up, digging his heels into the floor and cratering them in the wood. His eyebrow began to twitch, his hands coiled into fists. "She should have been there. Because of her, I'm here. That poor kid, is in the hospital, because of her!"

"Kid-"

"I'm going to find her," Yin barred his teeth, his eyes turning one shade more, Qrow's lips losing their typical rouge smirk and even began to tremble too. Yin's eyes were blacked out, his body was generating so much heat that the sweat off of his brow was steaming off of him. Yin stared into his eyes, panting hard and long as he straightened his back. "And I'm going to make sure she knows how horrible she is."

Ruben sat at the edge of the platform, hands curled into the concrete as he stared out into the evening sky. Letting the orange and gold crash against the simmering waves of the sea. The boy let out a growl, hearing the sound of boot heels clicking behind him. His ears perking and his heart once more beginning to race. He was going to have to explain to Miss Glynda how Yin was doing and how this could have happened.

"Save it. Please." Ruben shifted his torso and let out a groan. "I don't want to talk about-"

Velvet stood eagerly a few paces away, her hands intertwined behind her back and her eyes attentively on Ruben. Who's cheeks immediately blushed a blistering red and who's eyes grew wide. His jaw dropped, and his eyes sunk to the floor. "Hey, Vee."

"Ruben..." Velvet strolled over besides him, her hands steadying her as she sat besides him. Legs kicked over the ledge as she rested her hands on the floor. Her dark eyes glancing over at Ruben before letting out a soft sigh. "How are-"

"He's fine." Ruben shook his head, his hands returning to his lap as he took a stare at the descending sun. Squinting his eyes as he breathed in the seawater and soaked in the sun's rays. "He's fine. Rattled but-"

Velvet's hand shifted over to rest against his own. Her fingers running over his calloused knuckles and in between his own digits. Her soft, and delicate hand was a breath of fresh air. The kind that made Ruben's heart flutter and his breathing get easier. She was so warm against him, and she shifted closer to him. Her eyes running from his wrists, to his broad shoulders, and finally on his eyes. Which were that still as ever soft silver that she had grown so accustomed to seeing. She shook her head, tightening her right hand around his left.

"H-h-how are you?" She looked away for a moment, her cheeks now a blistering tomato red as she tried to ease her unsteady hand. She straightened her back, turned to face him. Red face, glossy eyed, and trembling. Making Ruben's heart soar. "I need to know if you are ok..."

Ruben's jaw shifted, his eyes glossing over and his hands beginning to tremble. His palms started to get clammy, his heart sank and his mind started to draw a blank. Then it all hit him. The devastation of the train explosion. Yin getting prodded with metal rods that were lodged in his arm. The burns that scarred Blair's back and the way Winter's family took him away when the team needed him the most. The way Glynda feared for Ruben's life. Not his studying or scruffs here and there. But his life. He worried about how his attempts to stop that Orange haired, cigar smoking punk only ended with innocent people in danger and nearly getting expelled on multiple occasions. He thought of Yin now in their room, bawling his eyes out because no one believes him and there is nothing Ruben can do.

Ruben took one long stare at the ocean, then turned towards Velvet. He flashed her a soft, melancholy smile. And shook his head.

"No..." Ruben's cheeks were stained with the trail of tears that began to dampen his beard. He bit his bottom lip, averting his gaze from her. As he didn't want her to see him as vulnerable. As weak. As pathetic. "I'm not ok."

Velvet's own eyes were glossy and her own tears were spilling down her cheeks. She took a firm hold of his hand, taking her free hand and running across his cheek. She made him face her, made his eyes meet her.

To show him she wanted to see him vulnerable. To show him that she didn't want him to hide his pain from her. She wanted him to trust her. As she trusted him.

"What...do you need?" Her voice was music to his ears, her touch delicate to the mere touch and heart steadily beat along side his own. Ruben's hands flipped and intertwined with hers. His fingers brushing past her small knuckles and his forehead leaning forward softly. Butting against her own as he shut his eyes. He let out a sorrowful sigh, a soft 'ha' breaking his lips as his left hand reached up to hold her right cheek. He licked his lips, feeling her hot breath beating against them.

"You." Was Ruben's answer, before he tilted his head and gently pressed his lips against hers. She gasped against him, her hand moving from his cheek to grab the edges of his collar. Twisting her wrist and bringing him against her. Pressing him against her as she tightened her hand around his own. Ruben's mind went blank, focusing on how hot and inviting Velvet. The way her lips moved to wanting more of him. To taste more of him. To be with him.

The kiss got deeper, Velvet's stifled moans only furthered by Ruben's own grunts and gasps. with Velvet's hand moving from his intertwined hand to holding onto his tight bicep. Ruben let go of her cheek, descending down her neck to the valley between her-

The snapping noise of Velvet's camera startled the both of them. Making Ruben shout and making Velvet 'eep' in response. She glanced down at her camera, rolling her eyes as her red cheeks were now flushed and her eyes were glistening and shimmering like the sea.

"I'm so sorry..." Velvet deleted the picture, Ruben's eyes shifting from her lips to the tiny screen. The picture of their legs intertwined now the profile of Emerald's scythe. Which was odd, as Ruben would swear she was with Mercury after that beating Yin dished him. Ruben's eyes narrowing and breathing slowing. Things weren't adding up. "This thing-"

"When did you take that?" Ruben said, pointing to the picture. Velvet glanced at the picture, checking the date.

"Just shy of thirty minutes ago. Just outside the stadium." Velvet said, Ruben's eyes flaring as he turned towards Velvet and his hands reaching over to grab ahold of her shoulders.

"Listen." He let out a soft sigh, shaking his head. "I would give...anything. To be here with you. To do...that...forever. But-Yin-"

Ruben silenced any questions she might have had with a kiss, followed by just a peck on the lips. Ruben jumped onto his feet, taking off in a full sprint.

"Thank you! For everything!" Ruben shouted, Velvet's eyes just rested on him as he ran. She smirked, glancing down at her camera. She tapped the edges of the box, before taking a long look at the horizon.

She let out a soft breath, her hands clutching into fists. She pressed her still hot lips together, shuddering at just the thought of what they've done.

"Forever?" She mumbled, breaking the question with a smile. "That sounds kinda nice..."

Ruben ran through the crowd to get into the arena, his eyes scanning through the crowd to try and find Emerald. As she had some questions that he desperately needed answers too. With the blaring music, blinding lights, and seemingly endless crowd, Ruben was sure it'd be impossible.

But then there she was. The emerald herself. One leg over the other, ready to watch the match that was about unfold. Ruben's teeth barred, and he cursed under his breath as she was in fact, on the other side of the arena. With no way to get through except through this ugly crowd.

Ruben glanced over at the maintenance door, before shooting a glance over at Emerald. Who's eyes squinted and seemed to be fixated upon him. Almost surprised to see him. Though, the feeling was mutual, Ruben's eyes grew sharp as he tried to devise a way to reach her before she got away.

Ruben wasted no time rushing through those doors and entering down the huge concrete tunnel. The overhead bulbs barely illuminating the hall as the music thumped and shook the hard ground beneath him. Rattling the metal grated door behind him. It didn't matter. All he knew is that Mercury wouldn't just let Emerald leave without some sort of reason. And Emerald wouldn't leave Mercury in that messed up state he was in.

"It looks like our first contender is... Penny Polendina from Atlas..."

Ruben's eyes scanned the hall, before hearing the sound of boots knocking against the floor. The kind that sent shivers down the boy's spine. Ruben pulled to a halt, his eyes widening when he happened upon a familiar face. Which was followed by a rather soft and gentle laugh. One that echoed down the hall for what felt like forever.

With gray hair, gray eyes, pale skin and devilish smirk. Mercury walked out of the nearby hall and into Ruben's sight. The kickboxer looked no worse for the wear, give or take a few bandages along his cheek and bridge of his nose. He rotated his neck, rolled his shoulders back, and shook out his wrists. He was gearing up for a fight.

Ruben's nostrils flared when he realized that Mercury was fine. That Yin was beating himself up for no reason. That there had to be more than Yin just 'losing it' as everyone seems to think. And now, the guy who was suppose to be in the hospital, was ready to send Ruben to one.

"And her opponent will be... Pyrrha Nikos from Beacon!"

"I don't know what you're doing here..." Ruben spat onto the floor, shook out his arms and threw up his fists. With a bend at the knees and a steady breath, he approached the man before him. "But Yin didn't do what he did on purpose. You are going to tell me...everything."

"Or what?" Mercury asked, waving his arms out to the side with a hearty laugh.

"I'll beat it out of you." Ruben tightened his fists, shuffling towards Mercury. "Yin didn't mean to send you to a hospital...but I'll make sure you end up in the morgue."

"Ok..." Mercury squinted his eyes as he entered his own stance, hands flexed out and his lips curling to that smile of his. Listening to the roars of the crowd and the thumping of the music. "Let's start with how sorry you're gonna be."