Author's Notes: Hey everyone! Thank you again for the wonderful reviews! Looking forward to the future of this fic even more so now! So to address a few things before we get started, I wanted to confirm some stuff:
Jaymes Ickford is officially confirmed as the Antagonist of Act One.
Oh and this story will have four long Acts. Think of each Act as a season (Volume) So this Act focuses on healing and repairing, mending friendships and stuff, while the next focuses on different story aspects and stuff. So the story doesn't get stale, and to keep you all filled in on where it's heading!
Oh and Dulcis is pronounced (Dool-chis) and it means sweet in latin. It'll be important later. So, on that note, enjoy and speak to you after! - Dave
Act One: Chapter Three: Older Sisters
...
A week had elapsed since returning to Beacon, and while Pyrrha and Jaune had darted around conversations on where they stood relationship wise, their friendship was slowly on the mend. Perhaps ignoring the idea of love for a while had been what they needed to rise to their feet again and rebuild that crumbled bridge between them.
Pyrrha was already a lot happier. She had started taking care of herself again, washing her hair and tying it up in it's usual bushy wolf tail of voluminous locks. She was out of her comfort sweats and into her school uniform again. Her make up around her eyes was once again bold and tipped with emerald green, and her cheeks were flush with a dusting of rosiness. And to top it all off, her circlet was firmly placed back around her head. She was back.
A smile adorned her face as she padded across the campus with her books hugged to her chest. She hummed a happy tune as she stepped around a clean up crew sweeping up stacks of rubble, only hearing her humming as vibrations in her head, drowned out by a Circular Saw nearby. Clanging hammers filled the chorus of power tools, as hard hat wearing builders walked scaffold poles over to the slowly forming exoskeleton of steel framing around the Dormitories.
"Hey Pyrrha." Blake said, startling the red head as she joined her in her walk, her studies held under one arm, and her "Ninjas of love" book pinched between finger and thumb.
"Oh! Hello Blake! How are you on this fine day?" Pyrrha beamed. Blake raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Man, somebody's happy, huh?"
"I am, I really am. I'm feeling myself again, Jaune and I are friends again, in fact everyone seems to be." Pyrrha sighed contently. Blake studied her face for a moment.
"So...you two..."
"Well...a few nights ago, on the roof...Jaune and I...we...we..." Pyrrha bit her lip to hide her grin, Blake's eyes widening, longing to know what she was talking about. "We started training again!"
"Oh..." Blake sagged, huffing. "So, I'm guessing you and Jaune haven't talked about...you know...where you stand." Blake waved a free hand before her. "...emotionally."
"Mmm, well, yes, that conversation is yet to be had, but I'm not thinking about that right now. It's kind of refreshing actually, not thinking about crushes or love." Pyrrha stepped around a temporary barrier, as a chunk of rubble fell off of the scaffolding. Blake stepped around, her ears lowering with a slight hiss. Pyrrha looked at her and smiled.
"I like your ears."
"Huh?" Blake snapped her eyes to her, before she calmed. "Oh, right...yes, well...It's nice, not caring what anyone thinks. And...to be honest, nobody's said anything derogatory." Blake smiled, touching a finger to her Cat ear. "I liked my ribbon and bow, but...it's nice not to constantly worry about forgetting it."
"Well I think they're cute. So does Sun." Pyrrha smirked as Blake stammered.
"Sh-Shut up." Blake smiled bashfully into her shoulder. Pyrrha chuckled. "But thanks."
"Fair enough. So umm...I wanted to ask you something." Pyrrha stopped walking by the fountain, Blake stopping too, looking at her with confusion. Her smile had dropped and bright emerald eyes had narrowed to sad slits. "Last week...first day back. That student had an outburst..."
"Oh yeah. Ickford was an ass, don't worry about it." Blake's ears lowered.
"He wasn't wrong though, was he?" Pyrrha looked up. "Lately, whenever I feel happy, it always ends with me feeling guilty. Like I don't deserve it."
"Because of what happened with Penny..." Blake finished with a sigh. Pyrrha bobbed her eyebrows in agreement. "Pyrrha, you gotta stop blaming yourself."
"How? How do you just stop...blaming yourself?" Pyrrha asked. Blake went to retort but sighed. Who was she to talk? She still blamed herself for what happened to Yang.
"I...I dunno. I guess you just rely on your friends, and hope time heals those wounds-"
"Hey guys!" Sun looped an arm over Blake's shoulders, startling the Faunus. "Wassup?"
"S-Sun!" Blake stammered. "Nothing much, just about to go to lunch. What are you-"
"Hello Sun!" Pyrrha waved around Blake. Sun winked and shot her a thumbs up.
"Sup Pyrrha?"
"Not much. You? How is your team settling in?" Pyrrha beamed brightly, hugging her books tightly.
"Ah, well, it's all good! Our new room's awesome! You should come check it out sometime." He bobbed his eyebrows at Blake, the girl growling and lowering her ears. "Yeesh, tough crowd today. But nah, I'm out here cos Scarlet said something interesting's out here, and I wanna see what it is."
"That's...odd." Blake raised an eyebrow, still rather enjoying his arm draped around her shoulders as they walked. Pyrrha chewed her lip, studying the courtyard, eyes landing on the wide open green by a tall statue of a man mounted upon a stallion, a sword aloft high above the noble steed, forever captured in cast iron.
"Who's that?" Pyrrha asked, pointing at the blue haired woman in the middle of the playing field. The youngest students were all gathered around her, some dribbling a foam ball back and forth between their feet.
"Dunno. Wanna go find out, Blakey?" Sun grinned at her.
"Yeah. Why not." Blake shrugged his arm off, Sun huffing and delegating to simply pacing beside her. The three students soon arrived at the square of grass, shadowed by the statue of one Thaddeus Rex Arc, atop his loyal horse. Pyrrha studied the statue for a moment as it blocked the sun's blinding gleam in the blue sky, before her eyes fell to Sun as he spoke.
"So err...hey!" He shrugged. The blue haired girl looked up from the students she was talking with, walking over with a fond smile on her face.
"Sun Wukong. I take it you're taking good care of my baby brother?" She crossed her arms under her generous chest. Pyrrha studied her with a thoughtful gleam. The woman was obviously older than them. She was tall, yet very curvy, like Yang's body but slightly wider at the hips. Her incredible form was clad in figure hugging charcoal grey leggings, with silver strips running down their outer length, to knee high leather lace-up boots. Her thin waist and buxom chest, wrapped in a maroon jacket, with graphite grey stripes running from the shoulders down to the very ends of the sleeves. The golden zipper across the front ran up to below her collarbones, stopping as the collar was peeled back to expose a touch of cleavage. She was a beautiful woman, no doubt, with rich long blue tresses, voluminous locks thrown over her left shoulder, leaving the right side of her head and neck bare to the elements.
Deep azure eyes scanned them, a bantering smirk on her lips.
"Baby brother? Wait..." Sun's eyes widened, piecing the chain of events together as he gasped loudly. "No way! You're Neptune's older sister?!"
"Err, yah? What, my bubby bro not speak about me?" She pouted, feigning upset. Her eyes snapped to Blake and Pyrrha. "Who're you two?"
"Oh, err hello! My name is Pyrrha, and this is Blake." Pyrrha smiled, setting her books down on the concrete step of the statue above. Blake thought it was a good idea, obviously, as she too set her books on the step, freeing their hands. "Pleased to meet you...umm..."
"Eryka. Eryka Vasilias. I would say you should know that, but apparently my little bro is embarrassed by his older sister." She frowned, shaking Pyrrha's hand. Being ever the perceptive observer, Pyrrha noted the gauntlet of rich brown leather hide wrapped around her right forearm. "Hi Blake."
"Hey." Blake smiled, shaking her hand. "So, are you...much older than Neptune?"
"Cos you don't look it! Grrr." Sun grinned, winking at the curvaceous older sister of his best friend. Blake slapped him upside the head, Eryka smirking "Ow! Sorry!"
"Cute. In a...you're a dumb shit way." Eryka smirked as Sun shrugged, before she turned back to Blake and Pyrrha with a huff. "No, I'm four years older. Graduated from Haven a year before Neppy joined."
"Neppy?" Sun grinned. "O-Oh this...this is too good!"
Pyrrha chuckled and looked back to Eryka as she bore her eyes deep into the Mistral champion. "Umm...do you have any questions?"
"Hmm? Oh sorry kiddo. I just...recognize you."
"Oh. Well...yes, that's probably down to-"
Eryka snapped her fingers in a eureka moment. "I know! You went to Sanctum, right? Before Beacon?" She stepped closer. Pyrrha nodded. "Same. Went there then to Haven. I remember when you were a first year, oh, soooo cute! These little ones all riled up and ready to prove em'selves!" She wrapped Pyrrha in a gentle headlock, knuckling her head. Eryka seemed very comfortable in herself, very forward. Like Sun and Neptune. It was refreshing. She let go of Pyrrha and chuckled. "Oh, you had such talent even early on. Glad to see you did well for yourself kiddo."
"Thank you." Pyrrha tried to tame her now futzed locks. "I'm sorry, I don't remember you."
"Ah, that's cool, little'en! I was a last year when you would of joined." Eryka shrugged. "So...how's my little brother fitting in?"
...
Walking across campus, Ruby, Jaune and Neptune shared idle chit chat, their stomachs grumbling at the promise of lunch. Jaune shivered as a gust of wind tore across the open expanse of the courtyard, Ruby leaping onto his back and throwing her arms around his neck.
"Ooof! Y-You're heavier than you look!" Jaune chuckled.
"I'll be heavier once I get some food in my belly! I'm hungry!" Ruby yelled into his ear.
"Same. Neptune? Neptune?" Jaune turned, confused at the lack of response. They both paused, looking back at the frozen blue haired boy staring out at the group of people laughing on the grass patch by the statue. His eyes were wide, pupils as small as pins.
"Neptune? You err, doing okay there?" Jaune set Ruby down on her soles, both looking confused.
"Oh no.." He breathed. "No!"
"What?" Ruby asked, trying to see whatever he was seeing. "Is it rain? Water?"
"Worse. Sun's...talking with...m-my-"
"Who's that girl with the blue hair talking to Sun?" Ruby interrupted. Neptune grabbed fistfuls of his hair, before running in that direction. Jaune and Ruby shared a confused glance, before shrugging and following.
"Lunch can wait. This looks like it'll be funny." Ruby snorted.
...
"...So, yeah. I've been fighting the White Fang for some time now." Blake finished her story, Eryka smiling warmly.
"Well, kudos to you, kiddo. That's brave. Real brave. You ever need a hand fighting those pigs, I'll put my number in your scroll, and you hit me up. Licensed Huntress and all." She smirked. Blake nodded with a beaming smile on her lips, before Eryka's blue eyes flit up to the wacky waving arms of a blue haired boy running towards her, dread in his eyes. "Neppy!"
"No! What're you doing here?!" Neptune panted, gripping her upper arms, his stare deathly.
"Hey, Neptune." Sun grinned. "Never told me you had a sister, let alone a hot one too!"
"Urgh..." Neptune lulled his head down.
"Aww, did you miss me, little bwuvva?" Eryka pouted, wrapping him into a tight hug.
"Lucky." Sun mumbled, Blake stamping on his toes. "OW! Okay, jeez I'm sorry!"
"Eryka! Why're you here?!" Neptune's muffled cry came from the Vasilias woman's chest.
"Err, to make sure you're okay?!" Eryka placed her hands on her hips, blue brow raised. "When I heard about what happened with the Tournament, I left my village and made my way here as quick as possible! I was so worried!"
"Yeah...great." Neptune huffed, lowering his head as Team CRDL stopped walking mid step, eyes locking onto the blue haired girl. Within the blink of an eye Cardin was beside her, clearing his throat and spritzing a mint spray into his open maw.
"So, who's this lovely lady?" Cardin winked.
Eryka turned to the large teen, raising her eyebrow. Neptune's face reddened and he dropped his head into his hands. Jaune simply grinned, enjoying his torment. He knew what this was like, what with seven sisters, most of them older than him.
"How does it feel?" Jaune whispered with a face splitting grin, Neptune whining.
Sun saddled up to his best friend. "Dude? I'm hurt! You never told me you had a sister?! What gives, man!"
"Cos you hit on everyone! I didn't want you hitting on my sister, okay?!" Neptune's usually calm and cool tones now raised and cracking.
"Fair enough." Sun shrugged, turning back to look at the current spectacle, being CRDL drooling over Eryka Vasilias. Russel shoved Cardin aside, smoothing a hand over his mint Mohawk.
"Wassup, hot stuff?"
"Aww, I'm sorry sweetie, but you've gotta be this tall to ride the rides." Eryka smirked, holding a hand way up over Russel's head. "So beat it, before I have Dulcis tear you a new one."
"Urgh...he your boyfriend?" Cardin sagged his shoulders. Eryka scoffed.
"To you? Yeah, he might as well be." She crossed her arms. "Oooor, being a fully fledged huntress who is...majorly out of your league, I could just use this here Constantine Damascus to blow you into teeny tiny chunks." She withdrew the block of gunmetal grey on her back, it folding out into a rather ferocious looking shotgun. "Now beat it."
"Y-yes Ma'am!" CRDL quickly stumbled over each other to escape her wrath, Eryka smirking proudly as she went to fold her weapon back up into storage form, only for a flash of rose petals to startle her.
"Oh my gosh! A shotgun! Wassit do?!" Ruby exclaimed with maddening excitement.
"It...fires...shells?" Eryka leaned back from the frightening girl.
"Oh." Ruby sighed, slumping back to her feet. "So it doesn't turn into an awesome...I dunno, SCYTHE! For example?" Ruby swung Crescent Rose round into her hand, hugging her beloved weapon to her cheek. Eryka let realization dawn on her.
"Oh! No, No it doesn't sweetie. I'm a stickler for the classics, and Neppy called dibs on being the family rifleman." her azure eyes flit up to her brother.
"Neppy?" Jaune grinned as Neptune whined even louder into his hands.
"Dude, be cool!" Sun whispered.
"I'M TRYING, IT'S NOT EASY!" Neptune yelled.
"Besides..." Eryka slung the now folded up Shotgun onto her back. "...I like to pick my enemies off from a distance."
The group of friends all shared confused glances. "With...a shotgun?" Jaune piped up. Eryka smirked, holding out her arm by her side, the arm with the leather forearm guard.
"Nope...with this."
Suddenly they all felt the innate desire to duck, as a shadow swooped over their heads, talons digging into her leather clad forearm, huge feathered wingspan clapping the air. A rainbow of eye colors widened as Eryka doted over the huge bird of prey currently stood on her arm. A few more gentle flaps of wings to right it's balance, and the Eagle gave a flick of it's beaked head.
"Meet Dulcis. My other weapon...and sweetie pie, hello baby." She cooed, reaching into a pouch at her hip, pulling out a dead squirrel and throwing it up into the air before the huge Eagle's snapping beak. Within seconds it had swallowed the mammal whole, turning to nibble at the feathers beneath it's wings.
"Oh yeah...and my sister's a Falconer." Neptune said with barely any enthusiasm. The group all exchanged looks of awe, until Pyrrha stepped forward, a shocked and excited beam on her face.
"Oh my goodness, he is beautiful!" The Invincible girl exclaimed, gingerly reaching a hand forward. "May I?"
"Of course! He won't bite." Eryka lowered her arm slightly so Pyrrha could gently pet the soft feathery head of the massive Eagle.
"Oh dust, he is gorgeous! So soft." Pyrrha doted, petting the creature. "Jaune, look! I-I'm petting an Altum Eagle!"
"I see that. Wait, a what?" Jaune looked befuddled, Ruby still slack jawed and in awe. Eryka looked at Jaune softly.
"Altum Eagles are native to Vacuo, in the Mountain ranges to be specific. They're the biggest non Grimm birds of prey on Remnant, and kill their prey by grabbing them and throwing them off of mountains. I know, metal as eff, right?" Eryka grinned.
"A bit." Jaune stepped over, next to Pyrrha, who was still wide eyed and beaming at petting the beautiful golden brown bird. Eryka winced and Jaune flinched a hand back due to her reaction.
"Just...don't overcrowd him. One at a time'll be okay with him, I'm sure. I've taken him to shows and stuff, and he's fine around people." Eryka kissed the bird's beak as he reared his head back up away from Pyrrha's retreating hand. The Invincible girl simply stared at her hand.
"My hand...just pet...an Altum Eagle...that's amazing!" Pyrrha beamed brighter than ever. "Thank you, Eryka. I've always wanted to see one, let alone pet one."
"My pleasure, kiddo!" Eryka sobered, looking softly to Dulcis. "They're pretty rare now. When I graduated Haven I went and killed Grimm wherever I could find them. But, I got tired of it. So, I moved to Vacuo for a while. I wanted to build up some Lien so I could continue my travels, so I got a job at a coffee shop. Short. Sweet. To the point. Shop owner eventually recognized me and my shotgun, Big ol' Lien signs in his eyes..."
The group all listened to her talk, Jaune gently stroking the Eagle. "...He got me to fight arena matches, rake in the winnings. Problem is I saw a pittance of that money. So, I moved on. Found this nice little village outside Vacuo. I protected it from Grimm, and they let me live there. Fair trade, amirite?"
"Pretty fair to me." Sun shrugged, Blake nodding.
"...This guy there, I'll never forget it. He's got two eagles, one on each arm, and he tells me...he tells me: "Hey kid, you wanna be a Falconer?" The beauty of these birds...how could I say no?" She smiled at her bird, kissing the beak of her loving Eagle. "So, yeah...here I am. Boring story, I know."
"No, No! It's amazing! What a life you've had, and you're only young." Pyrrha smiled.
"Take note boys, that's how you win a girl's heart. Call her young! Man, if I weren't straight I'd snatch you up, honey. Unless you're taken."
"There's...someone." Pyrrha said with an inflection, Jaune's eyes widening with fright. Had she moved on? Had he missed his chance? She gave the smallest of looks to him and Jaune blew out a breath, realizing what she meant. That she wasn't going to give up on the idea of "them."
"Well, whoever the lucky guy is, remind him of it. Or, I might just have to lend you Dulcis here. Drop him from forty feet up." Eryka winked. Pyrrha chuckled.
"I might have to take you up on that in future." She smirked at Jaune, as he tried to focus entirely on petting the bird, a blush in his cheeks. Ruby walked over, replacing Jaune in spoiling the Eagle with attention.
"This...this is better than a gun sword." Ruby beamed. "Woooow!"
"So...bro, you got any lucky ladies on the radar?" Eryka turned her attention to Neptune, his blush returning.
"Kinda..." Neptune rubbed the back of his neck. "No! Be cool, be cool, c'mon!" He slapped himself, throwing on his custom grin, winking. "I mean, yeah, they're err...lining up." He sobered with a sigh.
"Sorry, Neptune. Your sister's got you beat in the cool department." Sun smirked, punching his buddy's arm playfully. But Neptune's expression soured further, his downcast growing gloomier.
"Why do you think I try so hard?" Neptune mumbled, shrugging Sun off and walking away, hands in his pockets.
"Neptune!" Eryka called, before frowning at Sun.
"What'd I say?" Sun held his arms up.
"Neptune's always had confidence issues. Even though he's a good looking guy, and lovely person inside, he's always had this obsession that he'll never be good enough, be cool enough. Guess I did just suck all the attention away." Eryka sighed. Everyone all looked downcast, not realizing how far Neptune's obsession with being "cool" went. "I'm gonna go talk to him in a bit. I'll give him time to calm down first though."
"I take it you were close growing up?" Blake asked, bobbing on her toes. Eryka smiled sadly.
"Yeah, you could say that. It's surprising really, what with the age gap, but...Hey, I figured the mean older sister role is way overused, don't ya think?"
"Oh yeah. Big time." Jaune chuckled, Ruby still reveling at the feel of silky feathers brushing against her finger tips. Eryka looked at Ruby and smiled at an idea.
"Wanna hold him?"
"Wah? me!" Ruby gulped. "N-No, it's okay!"
"It's not a problem. Here." Eryka clicked her tongue, Dulcis walking up her arm to perch on her shoulder. Ah. So that's why her hair was thrown over the opposite shoulder. The Vasilias girl unclipped the leather padding on her forearm and gently took Ruby's hand, strapping it to her right arm. "You a south paw?"
"Huh?"
"lefty or a righty?" Eryka chuckled. Ruby blushed and gulped.
"left, I guess."
"So you'll be fine."
"What does that mean?!" Ruby panicked. Eryka giggled, ruffling Ruby's hair.
"I'm messin with ya. Dulcis, come." She clicked her tongue in command, the huge Eagle hopping down her arm with barely any pressure on his talons, though judging by the tiny pinprick holes in her maroon jacket, it took a while to teach. Ruby gulped as Eryka daintily perched the massive bird on her finger and thumb, holding Dulcis out as he flapped his gigantic wingspan to keep balance, before perching him on Ruby's arm.
"Whoa...h-he's heavy."
"Mmm. Big bird." Eryka shrugged with a smile, rolling her shoulder. "Good boy, Dulcis. Be nice to...I'm sorry sweetie, I don't think I caught your name?"
"Oh! Ruby! Ruby Rose!"
"Pleasure's mine, Rubes." Eryka reached into her pouch and pulled out a dead possum, throwing it up in the air above Dulcis, who easily caught it in his beak, snapping it up and swallowing it whole. Ruby just marveled at the creature on her arm.
"O-Okay, can you take him back please?" Ruby winced. Eryka chuckled and looked at Pyrrha out of the corner of her eye. The wide eyed gleam, the guilty obsession over the simply gorgeous bird of prey. It didn't take a genius to work out all these kids were struggling with what happened at the Vytal Tournament. If she could cheer them up with her Eagle? That's a major plus.
"Pyrrha? Wanna hold Dulcis?" Eryka smirked as Pyrrha's eyes widened.
"Can I? Oh my goodness, that would be amazing!" she bounced on her toes.
Eryka chuckled and took Dulcis onto her shoulder as she unstrapped the padding from Ruby's arm and transferred it to a very excited Pyrrha Nikos. The girl was practically bouncing she was so excited at the prospect.
"Oh! I uhh, probably not important, but he's got a taste for the flesh of Mistral girls. He's used to me, but anyone else, well..." Eryka bit her teeth together with a loud chomp. "That's not a problem is it?" Eryka said with such feigned honesty, that Pyrrha gaped, fear in her eyes. Eryka snorted and grinned, Pyrrha rolling her eyes with a loud exhale.
"You're the worst!" Pyrrha chuckled with relief.
"I kid! I kid!" Eryka laughed, strapping the padding to the red head's arm. "Ready?"
"Yes! Very!" Pyrrha bit her lip. Jaune just smiled from the sidelines. He hadn't seen Pyrrha this excited in...gods, months! It was so amazing. Eryka was amazing.
"Okay! Dulcis, play nice buddy boo." Eryka gently transferred the massive Altum Eagle to the Invincible girl. "Theeere we go!"
"Oh dust...oh dust...Jaune...Jaune! I'm holding an Altum Eagle!" Pyrrha's smile threatened to swallow her entire being, her eyes watering she was so happy.
"That's...That's awesome, Pyr!" Jaune beamed a toothy grin. He loved seeing Pyrrha's smile. But to see it this wide? To see her laughing joyfully as she pet the massive Eagle on her arm? There's nothing sweeter.
Ruby blew out a breath as she stood next to Jaune. "That...was kinda scary."
"Yeah, I can imagine. Big ol' killing machine on your arm." Jaune chuckled. Eryka stepped over to Pyrrha, a solemn smile on her face.
"Sorry to cut your time short, kiddo, but I gotta go find my bro, and Dulcis screams the place down if I'm not nearby." The huge Eagle let out a loud squawk, Pyrrha wincing. "Yes you do, don't argue." Eryka argued with the bird, letting him hop up onto her shoulder. She unclipped the leather from Pyrrha's arm, strapping it back to her own, as Pyrrha simply stared in awe at her arm, at the red prickling marks on her skin that had been pressed down by the heavy pads of an Altum Eagle.
"That was lovely! Thank you so much!" Pyrrha beamed brightly, wiping her eyes. "That's...That's one of the best experiences I've had in all my life."
Eryka placed her hands on her hips, smiling to the Invincible girl, a massive Eagle on her shoulder, shotgun on her back. She could not look more badass if she tried.
"My absolute pleasure, Pyrrha. Look, I'm staying here for a week, two max. Wanna keep an eye on my brother and catch up with some old friends like Winter Schnee."
"You know Winter?" Ruby stepped closer. Eryka shrugged, the action making the Eagle stagger slightly.
"Yeah, you know her?" Eryka tilted her head.
"Weiss - her sister - is on my team." Ruby smiled. "My friend too!" Eryka smiled warmly at the shorter girl, ruffling the breast of her Eagle atop her shoulder.
"Me and Winter, We hang out occasionally. She needs to just get laid. Seriously. So does that Qrow guy she drinks with. Bash their heads together, I swear." Eryka rolled her eyes, pretending not to see the blush on Ruby's face. "I take it, by the color of your face, you're the same Ruby Qrow speaks of so warmly?"
"My Uncle."
"Mmm. He's a good man. Good man who knows how to drink." She rolled her azure eyes. "Right. Everyone, it has been a pleasure meeting you. I have been Eryka Vasilias, thank you and goodnight." She took a bow, Dulcis falling off her shoulder and flapping his wings to gently drop to the floor with a thump. "Oops! Forgot you were up there, bubba!" She held her hand above the grass, the angry Eagle stepping back onto her hand, walking up her arm with extra digging talons. "Ah! Yeah yeah, I get it, you're pissed."
"It's been nice meeting you too, Eryka." Jaune smiled, shaking her hand. "Thank you so much for doing that for Pyrrha." He whispered with a heartfelt smile. Eryka simply smiled back.
"Remember what I said. Be good to her. Or Dulcis'll be comin for ya." She winked. Jaune stammered.
"Oh, W-We're not-"
"Don't kid a kidder. Just...figure it out, yeah? Happiness is in short supply." She cupped his cheek, before giving it a gentle slap. "Right. Time to find my brother..." the Vasilias girl narrowed her eyes at the group of friends, before pointing to each one individually. "Pyrrha, Ruby, Blake, Sun and...Jaune, right?"
"Yep!" Ruby exclaimed with a bright smile. Eryka grinned and saluted them with a swish of two fingers off her brow.
"See you guys around!" She turned, walking away across the Courtyard, people practically parting like the red sea for the Eagle wearer.
"Wow." Ruby chuckled. "She's cool."
"I didn't realize Neptune had those issues." Sun shrugged, his face somber. "I'm gonna go find him."
"Sun..." Blake grabbed his shoulder, the boy shrugging her off and taking off in a jog to find his friend. Blake huffed, wringing her hands, picking up her books, looking up at how the midday sun had morphed the shadows in their time talking with Eryka.
"We should get lunch!" Ruby declared, taking Blake's hand and disappearing in a puff of petals. Pyrrha was left standing with the biggest grin on her face.
"I didn't realize you loved wildlife so much." Jaune shrugged, stepping up to her and thumbing towards the cafeteria. She nodded, picking up her books and walking beside him with a bright smile.
"I do. Just...we very rarely see it. Around here, it seems to just be Grimm after Grimm. I used to love reading books on wildlife in whatever down time I had between training when I was little. The Altum Eagle was without a doubt my favorite growing up. To see one, let alone hold one was..." She breathed out heavily, grinning. "Wonderful."
...
The Cafeteria was dead, almost empty as lunch was practically past it's prime. Cold cuts and a few cellophane wrapped baguettes were all that remained at the front of the hall. Janitors began to mop the floors and cooks closing down their work spaces. Weiss looked up from her plate, frowning at the group walking in.
"Ahem! Where have you all been? I've been holding this table so no one takes it for..." She looked above them to the clock on the wall. "Twenty minutes!"
They all took their seats, Ruby bouncing next to Weiss. The Schnee scanned their expressions. Blake's was an odd mix of worry, awash in her eyes, and a small smile on her lips. Pyrrha was practically radiating happiness in blinding beams. Jaune was his usual content self, though as always his darting eyes revealed inner thoughts that no doubt contradicted his outer shell.
"Guys, we might wanna grab a sandwich at least." Jaune looked up at the front of the hall. "Hey, where's Ren and Nora?"
"Oh they ate. Twenty minutes ago! Said they were going to go study." Weiss shrugged, sticking a chunk of lettuce in her mouth. The others stared at her, puzzled. She gulped the bite, huffing. "Ren's studying, Nora's building a pillow fort."
"Better." Jaune nodded. "I'll grab us all sandwiches. Blake? What d'ya want?"
"Tuna please." Blake mumbled, looking at the tall glass windows as they let golden rays of light pour in, trickling across the tables and inevitably her black locks.
"Ham! Ham ham ham!" Ruby bounced, Jaune chuckling.
"I'll come with you." Pyrrha got up, following him over to the bank of cold food. Weiss' gaze followed the pair, before flitting her eyes to Ruby.
"So...where have you been?" The frost haired girl narrowed her eyes. Ruby bit her lip.
"I held an Eagle."
"Err...elaborate?" Weiss raised a very confused eyebrow. "Now?!"
"We met Neptune's older sister." Blake shrugged, enjoying the way the color drained out of Weiss' face. "She's nice. Scary. But nice. If you're on her good side."
"I get it." Weiss bit her lip, drumming her fingers into the table. Suddenly she snapped frozen still. "Wait, what does that have to do with an Eagle?"
"She's a falconer. Owns a big Eagle." Blake sat up straight, looking towards the front of the hall to check Jaune grabbed the right sandwich.
"Sh-She's...owns a..." Weiss gulped.
"She said she knows your sister?"
"Winter?" Weiss raised an eyebrow. "Hmm. Interesting." the Schnee tapped her chin. "I haven't had much contact with her lately. A few texts here and there to check everything's okay, but..." Weiss huffed, shrugging, throwing on a plastic smile. "Must be busy, right?"
"Of course." Blake nodded, a small smile playing over her lips. "Sun's looking for Neptune. He's...upset."
"He is? Why?" Weiss asked with furrowed brows, crinkling the pale line of her scar. Blake huffed and slid across the bench to be directly opposite Weiss.
"Between us, Neptune has some really deep confidence issues." Blake gave a woebegone sigh, Weiss' face awash with worry.
Jaune put his plastic wrapped sandwich on the tray alongside the others, Pyrrha looking at him intensely as he sighed.
"You remember the dance?" Jaune's azure gaze mingled with her emeralds. She nodded with a warm smile. Of course she remembered. How could she forget such a wonderful night? Jaune huffed heavily. "Well, Neptune came to talk with me on the balcony after you left."
"Mmm, I remember." Pyrrha picked up her own sandwich, looping a fallen crimson lock behind her ear as she did so. Jaune held the tray out so she could place it atop it.
"He told me he couldn't dance, and that's why he blew Weiss off. He's...really self conscious. I just didn't realize how far it goes, you know?" Jaune somberly shrugged. Pyrrha nodded.
"Mmm, yes. Perhaps having such a successful older sibling has made him feel he has to try harder to...live up to her?" Pyrrha said with an inflection to her words, unsure in her answer. Jaune bobbed his shoulders, their eyes locking.
"Maybe. Hell, he and I could write a book. We'll call it "Trying to live up to family names and successful siblings. The Jaune and Neptune story." He held a hand out, imagining the book's cover in his head. Pyrrha huffed.
"Yes well, we all know what lengths you're willing to go to to prove yourself. I'm worried how far Neptune's planning on going." Pyrrha mumbled sadly, pacing with him back to the table. Jaune set the tray down as Weiss stared at him with the most hurt, vulnerable look in her ice blue gaze.
"Weiss? You okay?" Jaune raised an eyebrow.
"Neptune. I didn't think twice about how nervous he was at the dance, only about how he blew me off!" Weiss sniffed. "Oh, I am such a bitch!"
"Hey, hey, whoa, what's goin on?" Jaune asked anyone at the table. Ruby bit her lip and shrugged, gingerly reaching for her sandwich. Blake huffed.
"I told her about Neptune."
"Blake." Jaune sighed. The Faunus shrugged.
"She has a right to know, if we do."
"Yeah, I...I guess." Jaune huffed loudly, chest expanding and shrinking back rapidly. "Weiss, we're in the same boat you are. We never really realized how much that "Cool" demeanor he has made for himself is really covering a lot of inner issues." The teen ran his fingers through his straggly blonde locks. Pyrrha leaned forward on her elbows.
"We met his older sister, Eryka. His...entire personality shifted around her. He looked...sad." Pyrrha solemnly spoke, Weiss chewing her lip as her ice eyes darted in thoughtfulness.
"Yeah, he kept going on about trying to "Stay Cool" you know?" Jaune bobbed his fingers, mimicking quotations. "Sun didn't really help the situation, either."
"What?" Blake's ears snapped up, frowning at Jaune. The blonde leader worried his lip, azure eyes fighting back the dam he knew was crumbling in his throat.
"I'm sorry Blake, but he didn't need to say what he did."
"How was he supposed to know Neptune was that uncomfortable in himself?" Blake tilted her head with a feigned curiosity in her eyes, that bled annoyance at Jaune. "And he's gone to find him, hasn't he? Stop badmouthing him."
Jaune groaned and scrubbed his face with his hands. "I'm...I'm sorry, Blake." He looked up at her, and she could see the irradiating apology swimming in his blue eyes. Her sharp ears softened and her rigid form slouched.
"It's...It's okay." Blake swallowed thickly. "I'm sorry too."
The patter of Weiss' nails clacking on the table top, admixed with the jittery bobbing of her knees under the table told a lengthy story in itself of her worries for the blue haired boy. Jaune watched her face, constantly flitting her eyes up to the doors of the hall, flinching upwards at even a pin dropping. The Arc blew out a breath, getting Weiss' attention. Finally the Schnee broke.
She breathed. "I have to find him, where is he?"
"Hang on Weiss, let Sun find hi-
"Where is he?!" The Schnee snapped, her eye twitching. Jaune sighed, shrugging in defeat.
"We dunno. He walked off upset. All I know is Sun and his sister are looking for him." The Arc grumbled, picking at the plastic wrap on his sandwich. Weiss stood up, wiping the moisture from the corner of her eyes.
"Well now so am I." She took off in a brisk walk, heels clacking as she held her head high, or tried to lest the emotional weight drag her down. Ruby frowned and bit into the plastic around her sandwich, tearing it off with her teeth.
"We all need healing." Pyrrha sighed softly, taking her sandwich and unwrapping it. "We can't do it alone though."
"True enough." Blake mumbled, picking up her own sandwich. "So umm...Ruby?"
"Hmm?" The Rose looked up, akin to a Hamster, her cheeks stuffed with bread and ham. Blake let out a gentle laugh, before carrying on with a thick gulp.
"W-When do you think you're going to visit Yang?" The Faunus asked with a very brittle tone. Ruby sobered, gulping her bite down.
"So, umm...since we couldn't go last weekend, this Friday I'm going to see Dad and Yang. I hope you guys can come, I-I know it's a little late notice an all, but I-I think she'd love to see her friends right now." Ruby shrugged her shoulders.
"I'll be there." Jaune smiled.
Blake cleared her throat and nodded slowly. "Y-Yeah...I'll see her. I umm...I want to."
"Thank you." Ruby beamed to Blake. She knew how hard the Faunus girl was dealing with what happened to Yang, and the fact she hadn't run away meant the world to them. She was here to stay, for her friends.
"I'll be more than happy to come along...i-if the offers open." Pyrrha bashfully shrugged. Ruby snorted.
"Of course it is, silly." The silver eyed girl beamed. "Thanks guys. Yang'll cheer up when she sees all of you there, I just know it!"
"We'll have to bring her something nice, like...flowers." Jaune shrugged, the table's eyes all looking at him with raised brows. "Eh yeah, good point. This is Yang Xiao Long we're talking about."
"Just bring yourselves, guys. That's what's gonna cheer her up." Ruby's beam began to droop and sober. "Oh, I hope it does."
...
Weiss' heels clacked as she paced around the school grounds, biting her lip as her eyes scanned every nook and cranny for the boy. She worried her lip further and grumbled a whine, throwing her fists down by her hips.
"Where are you, Neptune?" She huffed. She turned to walk back the opposite way, bumping into someone, the other stumbling back as eyes reopened.
"I'm sorry, I wasn..." Weiss trailed off at the purple mop of hair before her. Her teeth gritted at the sight of hazel eyes. "You! I thought you were expelled!" Weiss stamped her foot. Jaymes shrugged, looking over his shoulder at his teammates.
"Suspended for a week. Weren't enough grounds to expel me, plus my team put in a good word. Long story, want the details, talk to Goodwitch." He grinned. "I'm here to stay, frosty."
"Don't call me that." Weiss frowned.
"Why? What you gonna do? Punch me again? Think I don't remember how everyone humiliated me?" He scoffed, giving Weiss a shove, sending her stumbling back into two pairs of arms. She looked up at her balance bringers. Orange hair besides magenta eyes. Weiss sighed relief as Nora and Ren pushed her back up to full height.
"What are you doing here?" Ren challenged, stepping in front of Weiss.
"Yeah, what, you really want a pair of broken legs?" Nora growled, stalking around Weiss. Jaymes scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"Why you protecting a Schnee? They're dirt. Filthy fat cats." He spat a glob of spit on the floor by Weiss' shoes. The Heiress frowned. Ren smirked, Jaymes not liking the way his demeanor shifted. "What're you smirking at?"
"You. Nora, I think I've got Ickford sussed." Ren let his lips curl further.
"Mmm? Oh doooo share, Renny!" Nora grinned, crossing her arms beside her best friend.
"Got me figured? Pfft, I doubt it." Jaymes growled.
"Oh you were an easy puzzle I solved on day one. No, this just confirms my theory." Ren took a deep breath. "You're an Ickford, yes?"
"Well done, yeah."
"You said your Dad was a detective?"
"Yeah, once again, bravo." Jaymes clapped with fake enthusiasm. Ren smirked wider.
"So your Father must be Mauve Ickford, the same Detective made infamous for his inability to drop the case against the Schnee Dust Company, and eventually uncovered the controversial Faunus labor?"
"Yeah. Man's my hero. He showed these ponces where to stick it." He growled as Weiss' eyes lit up aflame.
"You! Your Dad is the reason I had such a horrible childhood?!" Weiss stepped up to him, gritting her teeth as her fists tensed. "My family's company has been at war with the White Fang because of your Dad!"
"Am I supposed to feel something to that?" Jaymes snapped.
"In fact, yes..." Ren cleared his throat, Nora grinning.
"Ooh this is gonna be the best bit! Go ahead Renny, finish him!"
"Your Father was hailed as a great detective, and heckled by others. You feel you have to live up to your Father's legacy, but also outdo it, so instead of being a Detective, you chose the path of a Huntsmen. When you saw what happened with Pyrrha during the Vytal Tournament, you saw a way to do your own detective work, and try to...as you put it, "Put her behind bars." All this, to impress your Father, yes?" Ren took a breath.
"I...I..." Jaymes stammered, controlling his gaping maw. "Sh-Shut up, you're wrong!"
"Obviously so right, Renny." Nora said out the corner of her mouth, Ren grinning. Jaymes frowned, his eyes snapping to Weiss. He shoved her again.
"You think I give a damn about your childhood? Pfft, you grew up in a mansion, people throwing toys and money at you every time you pissed the bed!" He ranted, enraged at how right Ren was.
"You really have no idea how bad my life was growing up, do you?" Weiss scoffed, letting Ren and Nora once again ease her back up onto her heels.
"Can't have been that bad, what with you being the Heiress to their damn fortune and all-"
"I don't want it!" Weiss yelled, everyone's eyes widening. Weiss calmed, wiping the tears out of her eyes. "Not anymore I...I...I...I have to find Neptune." Her voice cracked, turning and briskly walking away, gasps and hitched breaths sounding into her hands. Nora growled and withdrew Magnhild from her back.
"Oh just say the word, Ren!"
"Nora, no." Ren said softly, his hand placed over hers. Nora raised an eyebrow at him, but looked back to Jaymes as the bully grinned.
"See? Rich girls." He rolled his eyes, gasping at a tap on his shoulder. He shrugged it off, but was caught off guard as the world spun before him, albeit it was his heels doing the turning and the strong grip on his arm.
"Who are you, and get off me!" he squirmed out of her arms, turning to face the taller feminine form. "How dare you place your hands all over me like that!"
"Rich girls? Poncy spoiled brats? Kid, you're filling that quota quite well yourself." Eryka smirked as the shorter man grew angry.
"Yeah? I lead a team! Team JSPR! So, I suggest you treat a team leader with some respect. Besides, I am the son of-
A high pitch scream filled the courtyard's air as Jaymes suddenly found himself being hauled up higher and higher into the sky, kicking his legs at nothing but afternoon air. Tears in his eyes, he looked at the vice locked talons punctured through his brown leather jacket, up at the massive flapping wings of the giant Eagle currently hauling him up into the air.
Eryka pinched her brow with a sigh. "What an asshole, amirite?" she said nonchalantly, as if her Eagle wasn't currently dragging a student almost forty feet up into the blue sky. Nora grinned manically at Eryka.
"I've known you, like, three seconds, and I already LOVE you!" Nora laughed, eyes latching to the boy squealing high above. Ren stammered, pacing out from under the cover of the colonnades, squinting at the sun as Jaymes thrashed and screamed. It had gathered quite the audience, judging by the people staring up at the sky in awe, Jaymes' Team gasping and clutching their heads in worry.
"Stop thrashing or he'll drop you!" Eryka sing-songed, chuckling.
"Do something!" Ren said, wide eyed. Eryka huffed.
"Kiddo, I'm doing you a favor. I'm doing my friend a favor. He made her sister cry. I'm making him cry. S'no biggy."
"Please! He could get hurt!" Ren snapped. Eryka stared at Ren before sighing heavily, rolling her eyes. Placing curled finger and thumb on her lips, she whistled loudly. Dulcis squawked and released his talons, Jaymes falling freely to Remnant below. His screams wailed even louder and higher pitched. Ren's eyes widened as he gaped at Eryka. She smirked and shrugged, hugging her upper arms.
"Oops. He never was great with commands."
Jaymes fell at terminal velocity, thrashing as he tried at some basic survival instinct to slow his descent. With only mere feet before solid concrete and grass, a spinning glyph of white light manifested beneath him, stopping his decent suddenly. He panted, eyes fixed on the blades of grass flicking against his nose, before the glyph vanished and he dropped the last few inches with a thump, his chest heaving into the dirt.
Team JSPR were soon around him, coddling him as he shoved them off, windswept locks and an albeit dizzy look in his eyes. His hazel gaze snarled at the Vasilias girl. Eryka simply smirked and cocked her hip, arms crossed as her loyal Eagle landed on her shoulder. She just grinned wider as he gulped.
The crowds parted as Jaymes looked up at the clacking of heels, a lithe woman wrapped in a white military-esque coat, trailing behind her in the breeze. She sheathed her curved sword, offering her hand to him. He stared at the gloved fingers before gingerly placing his tan hand in hers. She hauled him to his feet, the frost haired woman staring him up and down. Her eyes were steely and hard.
"This is done. You leave my sister and her friends alone, and we leave you alone. Understand?" she snapped. Jaymes grumbled.
"I err, couldn't hear you there?" Eryka cupped her ear exaggeratedly. "But, it almost sounded like "Yes Ma'am, I'm sorry I'm an ass", didn't it Dulcis?" She looked to her Eagle as he let out a loud chorus of squawks. Jaymes gulped and nodded quickly.
"Y-Yes Ma'am, I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry...what?" Eryka held her hand out, open palmed as Dulcis hopped down her arm to stand in her hand, talons gently hooked around her fingers. Jaymes winced.
"I'm sorry I'm an...a-ass." He grit his teeth, before blushing at his embarrassment and walking away with his team, shoving through the crowds. "Get outta my way!" For the briefest of moments, the short and lithe, pig-tail haired girl of his team stayed behind, smirking at them with a look in her brown eyes. Eventually she turned and followed, not saying a single word.
The students who had gathered to watch soon dispersed, leaving Nora and Ren to sober and sigh, looking at their feet, until a pair of tall black boots filled their vision. Their eyes raked up the shapely form till they were staring into warm azure eyes.
"You okay there?" Eryka smiled, looking over her shoulder at the Ickford retreating with his tail between his legs, blushing madly at his massive embarrassment. "Don't mind him, I've met some little-dick nobodies in my time."
Nora giggled under her breath. Ren looked up at Eryka, eyes flitting nervously to the ferocious looking bird of prey on her shoulder. Eryka caught the teen's fidgeting magenta gaze and smiled.
"Dulcis. Meet..." Eryka's beaming smile soured. "I'm sorry, what're your names, sweethearts?"
"I'm Lie Ren. This is-"
"Nora Valkyrie!" Nora exclaimed eagerly. "Oh my gosh, an EAGLE! That is so cool!"
"Man, you're popular today, huh Dulcis?" Eryka looked into the black beady eyes of her loyal Eagle.
"Not every day you see an...err...Eagle, on school premises." Ren shrugged, smiling. Eryka huffed.
"Yeah, guess not." Eryka flit her eyes down to the duo, before lifting her azure gaze over their heads. "Uh oh, I'm in trouble." She sung, Nora giggling. Eryka sashayed around the two teens, arms outstretched to the incoming white haired woman. "Hey Winter!"
"Eryka Vasilias, that was incredibly reckless!" Winter snapped, hands on her hips, navy blue button shirt heaving with her angered breaths. Eryka simply grinned bashfully.
"Did ya miss me?" Eryka played cutesy, pouting with puppy dog eyes. Apparently it had no affect as Winter groaned loudly.
"Urgh! Honestly! What if I hadn't been there to cast that Glyph? A student would be dead, and you'd be held to blame!" Winter gestured to the blue haired girl.
"C'mon Winter, no harm no fowl. Besides, that weasel had it comin. He made your little sister cry. Forgive me for being overprotective of my honorary little sis." Eryka leaned over, palm cupped around her mouth to whisper. "Between you and me, Neppy totally has a major crush on your sis."
Winter massaged her brow. "The one time I'm here, not on business, and you're here causing mayhem." Winter rolled her eyes. Eryka looked genuinely hurt.
"Wait...A-Are you actually pissed at me? Cos I'm sorry, okay? I was ju-
"I'm only mad, because..." Winter paused, looking at Eryka's wide vivid blue eyes. "...Because you didn't let me know what you were going to do beforehand." Winter smirked. Eryka bit her lip and grinned. Winter smiled and rolled her eyes with a cross between a laugh and a sigh. "Come here, you."
Eryka chuckled, wrapping her arms around Winter, hugging her friend tight, while Dulcis leaped off her shoulder to slowly flap his descent down to the grass.
"Oh I've missed you, Winter." Eryka hummed.
"You too." Winter reeled out of the hug, standing straight, almost at attention, before clearing her throat. "But no more assaults on students, no matter...what they do."
"Let the kids solve it?" Eryka raised a brow, giving a loud exaggerated sigh. "Well where's the fun in that?!" She grinned. "Oh and by the by, you and I are so going to hit the town tonight."
"But-"
"Nope! You said it yourself, Winter. You're not here on work, so...yeah. Drinks, glug glug!" She mimicked downing a shot glass. "Set you up with that Qrow you like so much."
Winter blushed and shook her head, desperate to derail her friend. "W-Where is Weiss now?"
"Oh." Eryka sobered. "The poor sweetheart took off. I dunno where though." She looked at the orange haired girl. "Hey! Cray Cray chick, c'mere!"
Nora soon padded over, bright smile and matching vivid eyes.
"Hi!"
"Hey! So, listen, where'd Weiss go? Do you know?" Eryka bent over to be at eye level with the Valkyrie.
"Nope! No idea. Sorry. REN?!" she called loudly over her shoulder.
"Ah, I'm next to you, Nora." Ren winced, massaging his affected ear. A moment later, he relaxed his posture. "No. I don't know either. Although she did say she had to find Neptune?" Ren shrugged. "Does that help?"
"A bit." Eryka stood up beside Winter. "What d'ya say, Wints? Shall we go either cheer up our little siblings, or make em blush as red as tomatoes?"
"Well, as a professional adult..." Winter huffed, staring at Eryka as the Vasilias girl hung onto her every word. Winter sighed and walked away. "The latter."
"Oh atta girl!" Eryka laughed, clicking her tongue as she followed her, Dulcis flapping up onto her shoulder as she sauntered with the Schnee. "See you kids around! Nora and Ren, right?!"
Nora nodded excitedly "Yep! Nice to meet you..."
"ERYKA! ERYKA VASILIAS!" she called across the courtyard, before waving one final goodbye.
"Vas...Neptune's got a sister?!" Nora grinned. "This is too good!"
...
His legs hung off the edge of the concrete perch, grass billowing in the breeze a few feet beneath his soles. His eyes raked over the churning waves of vivid green, lapping tides of grass moving like the stormiest of seas. He sighed and took his goggles off his head, wincing at the straps plucking a few strands of light blue out of his scalp. He set his hands in his lap, eyes rummaging over the golden lenses of his goggles.
Voicelessly, a movement beside him. His blue eyes flit up to watch the blonde spiky mop drop to eye level, both their pairs of legs hanging off the step. Tall black shadowy lines raced over the courtyard walls, as the colonnade columns blocked the sun's beating rays. The Monkey Faunus sighed heavily, shrugging.
"I'm sorry, buddy."
Neptune looked up at Sun, his friend smiling back. The Vasilias boy gave a meek smile and looked back at his goggles.
"You are cool, you know that, right?" Sun said, staring out over the courtyard, smiling at the Cat Faunus and her friends leaving the Cafeteria. "To me. To...a lot of people, I guess."
"Mmm." Neptune shrugged.
"But, you're cool when you're not trying to be, d-does that make sense?" Sun raised a brow.
"Huh?"
"Dude, you're surrounded by people that see you as an awesome guy! I-I'm not good with this...stuff...but, yeah, you...I'm proud to have you on my team, and as my best friend."
"Sun..."
"Don't mention it." Sun shrugged, clearing his throat and avoiding eye contact. "S'fine." Neptune smiled and looked at his goggles, before setting them back on his head with a sigh. "Why umm...seriously, why didn't you tell me you had a sister?" Sun asked, bending his leg to rest his arm across the knee. Neptune sighed heavily closing his eyes.
"Cos she's done so much cool stuff, cos she's always been popular, when I wasn't. I always felt like I was in her shadow, you know? I dunno, I guess I do try too hard sometimes, but...it's like today! She's here five minutes and the whole school is swarming around her, telling her how awesome she is. I guess I-
"You're jealous." Sun shrugged. Neptune frowned at the grass, before sighing in reluctant agreement.
"Yeah. I am." Neptune breathed out. "B-But who wouldn't be?! I was the goofy kid who had braces and spots, growing up watching my sister get through school like it's nothing, surrounded by friends and...I...I wanted that!" Neptune sniffed. "It all comes flooding back when she's here."
"Have you, you know, talked to her about it?" Sun shrugged, hugging his knees. Neptune shook his head. "Well, why not?"
"Because how can I? I don't want her to feel bad, cos it's not her fault. But Sun. Dude. I wanna be like her so bad! I want to be able to just...be that awesome without trying so hard!"
"Well you never seem to try hard around us?" Sun titled his head. Neptune sighed.
"I do though. Maybe not as much as around other people, but I still feel like I have to keep this...this...this mask on so people can't see that I'm actually this self conscious loser." Neptune hugged his knees, tanned forehead pressing into the solid cartilage caps through his jeans.
Sun sighed and gently pat his friends shoulder.
"Truth is, Neptune. You're not."
"Huh?" Neptune looked up. Sun shrugged.
"You're not a loser. Even when you drop this...this try hard "Cool" bull, you're an awesome guy that everybody likes!" Sun smiled, before sobering. "I'm sorry, man. I guess I don't help with the "Be cool" all the time." Sun quoted with curled fingers.
"It's okay. I should have told you. Sorry I didn't." Neptune huffed. Sun shrugged once more.
"Ah, forget about it."
A moment of silence fell between them, before Neptune gave a dry laugh. Sun looked at him curiously. The blue haired boy looked at him. "Man. All these issues people are dealing with. Yang's injured. Pyrrha almost got killed. Blake got stabbed..." Sun solemnly looked at his fingers, sighing heavily as thoughts of the Cat Faunus washed over his mind. Neptune continued with a heaving breath. "...And I'm worrying about being self conscious. I mean, really sets it in perspective, right?"
"What?" Sun tilted his brow. Neptune quirked his lips into a humorless smirk.
"How much everyone sacrificed at the Tournament, you know? I mean, we...we helped, right?"
"Hell yeah, man! I mean, we got stuck in! Not to brag, but I took down quite a few of those Atlas Mechs." Sun grinned proudly, dusting off his knuckles on his coat. Neptune's eyes lit up.
"Yeah! Yeah, we did, didn't we? I mean man, I took out quite a few too! Y-You see that one Weiss took down? That was awesome!"
"What about the Grimm Blake took out?! That was wicked cool, dude!" Sun chuckled. They both paused, huffing and studying their hands. "So...you err, you like Weiss?"
Neptune paused, Sun on bated breath, as the blue haired boy sighed heavily in defeat. "Yeah. I do." A long moment past, before Neptune looked at Sun. "What are err...what are you and Blake now?"
"I..." Sun paused with a huff. "I dunno. I mean, one minute she's warm to me, the next..." he feigned shivering. "Brr, ice cold." Sun's diminishing smile regained brightness, to a blinding grin as he looked up over Neptune's head. "Speaking of ice...and cold..."
"Huh?" Neptune looked in Sun's direction. Her eyes were raw and strained red around the edges. She gave a small sniffle of her tiny button nose, scratching nervously at the scar on her cheek, before firming that strong Schnee upper lip and flicking her lopsided ponytail aside.
"Move it, Monkey boy." she frowned.
"Gladly, Ma'am!" Sun laughed, leaping off the step into the courtyard below. "See ya later dude!"
"Sun!" Neptune whined. Sun simply spun to walk backwards, thumbs held up and a shit-eating grin on his face. Neptune, simply sighed, looking at his knees.
"Is this seat taken?" Weiss managed. Neptune licked his lips and looked at her again, at the pleading in her eyes, the worry in her upward brows, the sadness on her lips. She was trying so hard, he had to throw her a line. Neptune slid over and pat the spot next to him, Weiss tugging the hem of her frilly skirt as she sat down next to him on the sun baked concrete, crossing her leg over the other and cupping her knee with both hands.
Awkward silence reigned for a minute, before Weiss leaned over and pressed a quick kiss onto his cheek, her cheeks aflame as she fidgeted. Neptune sat dumbstruck, rubbing the spot her lips had been.
"Just so you know, that even when you feel vulnerable and...the stupid "cool" facade is down...I still...I always...c-c...care about you." She managed to say, the talk of our emotions always being a language Weiss was never fluent in. Neptune smiled and gingerly reached his hand over and took hers off her knee, softening the pliable flesh in his hand like warm dough. He threaded his fingers through hers and smiled, Weiss smiling back.
Leaning against a column, not far away, Eryka smiled proudly, crossing her arms and looking over at Winter, her own proud curl to her lips.
"Let them fight their own battles." Winter smiled, patting Eryka's shoulder. "And they'll win every time. Together."
"Yeah. You're right." The Vasilias girl beamed, turning and following Winter. "Celebratory drinks later?!"
"Urgh...fine."
"Yay!" Eryka cheered, blood leaving her face as both she and Winter stopped in their steps, Glynda Goodwitch tapping her foot, eyebrow raised. "Busted!"
"Winter. Pleasure to see you, and a shame too. This makes two occasions you've arrived at this school with quite the disruptive outcome." Goodwitch raised a brow over her glasses. Winter huffed, rolling her eyes as Eryka's grin grew wicked.
"What was the first time?" She sung into Winter's ear, enjoying the way she bat her away like a buzzing fly.
"Miss Schnee decided it was fitting, and professional to start a fight with Qrow Branwen."
"Don't tell her th-
"GASP! Oh you two love birds!" Eryka placed her hands on her hips, her grin beaming pearly whites, a teasing gleam in her eyes. Dulcis on her shoulder squawked with a cocked head. "No, different love bird, sweetie." She said to the bird.
"Professor, I was merely stopping an incident today." Winter intersected.
"And protecting little siblings?" Eryka tilted her head. "What gives, Goodie? Why're bullies not getting punished?"
"Miss..." Glynda raised a brow.
"Vasilias."
"Full name, and I want your Huntress license, please." Goodwitch held her hand out. Eryka firmed her lip.
"Sapphire Eryka Vasilias. I hate Sapphire, so call me Eryka. I err...I don't have my Huntress ID. Soz, babe." Eryka shrugged. Goodwitch grit her teeth.
"You picked a student up with an Eagle, and dropped him from forty feet in the sky. I think you two should accompany me to my office. Immediately." Goodwitch turned, Winter frowning at her friend. Eryka shrugged.
"Oh well. We've gotten in bigger trouble for worse in the past."
"You are a nightmare." Winter massaged her temples. "Eryka, I'm a Specialist in the Atlesian Military's Special Operations Unit, I have to be professional! You're making me look bad."
"Cool. Well done. Wanna know what you were first?" Eryka walked up to her, a sudden fierce fire in her eyes. Winter rolled her eyes.
"I'll play along. What?"
"Weiss' big sister she looked up to. Still does. Maybe focus on being her big sister some time, not just a...army spec ops whatever. Why'd you think I'm here, Winter?"
Winter was silent, a guilty pool in her belly. She looked up at the Vasilias girl.
"I'm here to be a big sister. Oh...and my little brother who thinks I'm so perfect? Yeah, I'm not officially a Huntress either. Never graduated. Never told him I failed. Haven't got it in me to break the way he sees me, call me selfish if ya like. We're all flawed, Winter. Time to embrace your own flaws, and hell...just be a damn big sister for once." Eryka snapped, before turning and walking after Goodwitch, flicking her fingers up to the air, commanding Dulcis to take some time to explore the skies over Beacon.
Winter watched the Eagle leave Eryka's shoulder, letting her words settle in. She sighed and looked around the courtyard, back at Weiss and Neptune, her little sister resting her head on the boy's shoulder, hands locked together in between their legs.
Eryka was right. She'd missed out on so much with her sister. She'd come here out of work for a reason. To fix some damaged bridges, help out the overburdened Goodwitch, but most of all...help her healing sister. She cared so much about her sister, but the way she showed it, the way she taught her sister was that of almost military drill sergeant qualities. Right now Weiss wouldn't be able to handle being yelled at and smacked upside the head for small mistakes. She could teach her about mastering glyphs later, but right now...after all these children had been through, she just needed a big caring sister. Maybe they all did.
...
As midday lulled to late afternoon, Jaune allowed the cooling air to sooth his aches and pains, rubbing at a tender spot at his flank. He hissed on contact to the swollen and purple flesh beneath his hoodie.
"Urgh, that shower's gonna sting tonight." He grit his dentures, rolling his shoulder.
"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha winced in sympathy, stepping out of the combat hall alongside the aching Arc. "I didn't think Professor Goodwitch would be holding Partner sparring."
"Yeah...doesn't mean you have to go all out on me like a practice dummy. Think my IQ dropped to that of a practice dummy actually." He rubbed his head. Pyrrha winced.
"I am really sorry, Jaune. I'm not used to that training sword."
"Wait, that's your excuse? What if you had Milo?! I-I'd be dead!" Jaune scoffed, Pyrrha biting her lip to suppress a laugh. "S'not funny!" He chuckled, his mirth betraying him as Pyrrha giggled adorably behind her palm. The two smiled and sighed contently, eyes locking for longer than they deemed appropriate. Jaune noticed this first, blushing and turning away, coughing into his fist.
"S-So, umm...Any plans this evening?" Pyrrha tried to stop the flow of blood to her rosy cheeks.
"Mmm? Oh I dunno. We could train again if you want." Jaune shrugged. Pyrrha smiled fondly.
"I'd like that. As long as you're sure I won't injure you too badly." She smirked. Jaune huffed.
"Oh yeah? That the game we're playing, huh?"
"Mmm Hmm! Definitely!" She grinned brightly.
"I bet I can beat you tonight." Jaune announced, Pyrrha's eyes widening at the challenge, something she was never one to either take lightly or walk away from.
"Oh? Jaune, I do believe that today's lesson favored me." She smugly smirked. Jaune simply grinned.
"Ah I was going easy on you. No, No, see I got you sussed. You said it yourself! That training sword you've gotta use for the time being, it's too heavy. You're used to swinging Milo, meaning your swings take longer and are harder to control! I got you right where I want you." he said lowly, grinning at her with a fire in his azure gaze. Pyrrha felt a warmth in her belly, and her cheeks flushed at his words. She gulped, pushing her heart back into it's cage.
"Well, I've never been one to back out of a challenge, but I think our sparring is about learning, not-
"Chicken." Jaune said. "Cluck-cluck-cluck!"
"Oh that's it, you are on, Jaune Arc!" Pyrrha said loudly to combat his taunting poultry impression. "Tonight. On the roof. We. Fight."
"Not too aggressively though." Jaune added, Pyrrha snorting. "W-What?"
"Nothing. I just find it funny how you're already backing out." She smirked wider. Jaune smiled and sighed contently. Pyrrha noticed his smile and offered her own, tilting her head with a bemused confusion.
"Everything okay, Jaune?"
"Yeah, Yeah. It is." He grinned, pacing alongside her as they headed back to their dorm room. Pyrrha bit her lip, her heart drumming as she tried to suppress the urge to start the heavily avoided conversation of their feelings. Where they were at emotionally after a week of avoiding the very idea of love and adoration for each other. But, with it finally just being the two of them, She found that fight even harder to battle, as her mouth opened, words teetering on the tip of her tongue.
"Jau-
"Hey guys!" Jaune beamed ahead, Nora and Ren pacing up to him, a stack of books under their arms. Nora flung her books up in the air, Ren performing an incredible feet of balance and agility to catch them all one by one on their way back down. Nora wrapped her arms around Pyrrha and Jaune in a crushing hug.
"Ooooh! Hey guys!"
"Hey!" Jaune rasped. "Too...tight..."
"Oops!" Nora giggled, letting them go, both breathing erratically. "How'd partners combat class go?"
"Pyrrha might have given me a concussion." Jaune shrugged, Pyrrha rolling her eyes playfully.
"I did not." She chuckled, slapping his arm as he giggled. Nora nipped at her lip, enjoying seeing these two almost back to their old selves. While they still had major hurdles to overcome, it was a definite step in the correct direction. Pyrrha had come a long way in her repairing, especially since the damage Ickford had caused.
"GASP! Ickford!" Nora blurted upon realizing. Pyrrha and Jaune stopped giggling, looking at her with raised brows.
"Huh?"
"N-Nothing!" Nora teetered to and fro on her toes. Ren huffed and stepped over, dropping his and her books into Nora's hands. "Ooof! Hey!"
"Stay calm Jaune, but...Jaymes Ickford is still here. He wasn't expelled." Ren said gently, Jaune's eyes hardening to diamonds in his head.
"What?!" Jaune snapped, brows furrowed. Pyrrha's eyes were solemn, but she shrugged, gripping Jaune's paling fist.
"It's...It's okay. I'm sure if we leave him alone, he'll leave us alone-"
"Pyrrha, c'mon, that guy is gunning for you! He wants you to be punished for what happened, when it wasn't your fault!" Jaune choked. Pyrrha looked down with a frown.
"Wasn't it?"
"No, c'mon let's not go backwards, please!" Jaune held her arms lightly. "Please. Please, keep smiling!" He begged, pleaded, Pyrrha looking up at his heart warming compassion. She smiled brightly, Jaune sighing with relief.
"O-Okay, Jaune. Thank you." she hummed.
"That asshole comes within three feet of her, I'm gonna kill him." Jaune snarled, Pyrrha blushing at his overprotective nature. Nora threw all the books in the air again, Ren leaping to catch them all in a pile of stoic lotus and books on Grimm behavior.
"That reminds me, I made a friend today!"
"That reminds yo...who's your friend, Nora?" Jaune interrupted his train of thought, smiling. Ren stuck his head out of the pile of books.
"Eryka Vasilias. Nora thinks she's Neptune older sister." Ren mumbled.
"Uhhh duh?" Nora placed her hands on her hips. Jaune nodded, smiling to Pyrrha.
"Yeah, we met her too. She's great."
"I was allowed to hold her eagle." Pyrrha beamed. Nora's eyes bulged.
"Aww, wah?! No fair!" Nora pouted. Ren sat up, dusting himself off. "Ren! I wanna hold an eagle."
"I'm sure if Eryka's letting people hold it, she'll let you hold it sometime. Now come on, we need to get back to our room." Ren starting picking up books. Pyrrha helped, Jaune too, as JNPR soon made their way back home with idle chitchat.
What they never noticed, behind one of the pillars, was a purple haired boy grinning, taking notes in a notepad, pen scribbling across the parchment. Jaymes chuckled, sticking the pad in his back pocket.
"Oh I got you Pyrrha. I'm gonna dig up so much dirt on you, the way you fight, any cheating techniques you have, anything to get you in as much trouble as possible for what you did." Jaymes smirked, turning to the only other person with him. The short pig-tail haired girl of his team. He looked into her strawberry pink eyes, huffing.
"You don't say a lot, do you Rouge?"
The short girl smirked and shook her head, nodding towards the direction of their dorm room. Jaymes nodded, taking one last look at Pyrrha, before turning and following the chocolate brown eyed Rouge out of the courtyard.
"I'm gonna prove it to you Dad. I'm not gonna be as good as you. I'm gonna be better." Jaymes smirked.
Author's Notes: Hey! So yeah, I know, not my best work, but this chapter was a bitch to write. Writers block made it really difficult. Anyways, I really hope you liked Eryka, I love her character, really pleased with how she turned out. Let me know in the reviews if you liked her. I didn't want her to be a Mary Sue, I wanted her to have flaws and stuff. I hope you like her.
I know she's in this chapter a lot, but I wanted to introduce her. She won't be in the rest of the story anywhere near as much. Well, all depends on what you thought of her, not being funny but I wasn't expecting Jaymes Ickford to last as long as he has in this story, but your reviews convinced me to write this chapter and keep him in it! You all made such good points on him being the "Villain of the week" and you were right, so thanks for the critique!
Next chapter should focus on Yang, and Blake, not to mention a well needed talk with Arkos. Let me know if you want to see shenanigans of Eryka dragging Winter into being troublesome older sisters!
See you guys next time, love ya! - Dave