All eyes were now on Riven as he completed his introduction to team RWBY. His appearance was nothing short of unique. Obviously of faunus descent, his smile bore two small fangs escaping the corners of his mouth, as well as two black wings spanning about a meter each from the center of his back, leading the girls of team RWBY to assume he was a bat faunus. His attire consisted of a simple black dress shirt with rolled sleeves, modified with holes in the back to allow for his wings to be extended. The dark blue jeans he exhibited had a few small rips trailing their height, and his black boots appeared to have steel toes.
While Riven's attire was more or less uncomplicated, his teammates' outfits were nothing short of astonishing. Zeal's display of fashion was quite extravagant; her black pantsuit revealing a bright red undershirt and slightly intimate black bra straps. The black tie she loosely wore around her slender neck trailed downwards to her knee high skirt, and black stiletto-type laced shoes with three inch heels. Christie appeared to be wearing shorts similar to Yang's in design, but made with a hint of silver. Trailing her legs were tight, slightly mangled fishnet stockings. Her top half consisted of a daring black camisole, to which the straps were loosely sliding down her shoulders.
Having taken in their appearances, Yang couldn't help but notice out of the corner of her eye Christie, who hadn't taken her eyes off the blonde this entire time.
"Uhh…" trailed Yang, quizzically looking into the girl's green eyes. "See something you like?"
"Let me look for a few more seconds, and I'll be able to answer that." replied Christie with a smirk plastered on her face.
Yang's eyes widened with the girl's blatant, flirtatious remark as she turned her head to meet with Zeal's. The two groups found themselves caught up in a few moments of solid conversation, involving personal attributes, weapons and experiences as hunters and huntresses in training. The only one not caught up in this social exchange of teams was Blake, who had a hard time focusing on anything but the bright blue eyes, handled by Riven. Plenty of thoughts had coursed Blake's mind over the past few weeks, involving relationships; or her lack thereof. It bothered her that she hadn't really been in a legitimate relationship her entire life. Curiosity trailed her mind, leaving behind lots for her to think about. Just looking at the groups interacting was enough to aid in her realization that she had an introverted mindset. Sure, she wouldn't mind becoming more social, but she had no clue where to begin. She took immediate notice of how fast the teams were getting to know each other on a personal basis. Yang and Weiss were caught up in conversation with Christie involving clothing, or something else Blake had no real concern for, whilst Ruby was proudly showing off Crescent Rose to Zeal, and Riven, who looked absolutely enthralled at its design, poking at it with his index. She decided it was time to involve herself.
"So, uh, Zeal," Blake stumbled, hesitantly stepping into the group. "What are your reasons for wanting to become a huntress?"
"Simple!" exclaimed the garnet haired girl. "It's fun."
"E-excuse me?" Questioned Blake.
"It's fun killing monsters, I've always had a knack for combat, even at a young age. My parents are always so supportive of me in whatever I do that they had no problem letting me become a huntress as a career."
"It's true," Riven intruded. "Once 'Z' gets an idea into her head, there's no stopping it, even against all logic."
"Doesn't that make her an unpredictable leader?" Weiss asked, thinking back to what Ruby was like when they had first encountered each other.
"Of course, but we've always worked well together as a team." Riven explained, slapping Zeal on the back with his hand.
"What about you?" Blake inquired.
"What about me?" replied Riven, his wings flapping gently, excitedly.
"Why did you choose to become a hunter?"
"More or less to help this world out. The way I see it, I'm not harming anything by becoming a hunter and killing grimm." Riven explained, fixing his sleeve. "Plus it's a paycheck."
'Their reasons seem pretty simple' Blake thought, casting her gaze at Riven's tiny fangs poking from the corners of his mouth. Riven shot a quick smile towards Blake, his eyes meeting hers for only a second, causing her to instantly become slightly more comfortable with the conversation and social interaction she was experiencing with this transfer team; this man before her was the cause. She in fact, could slowly feel herself becoming more maternal to the faunus. Even though he was no longer looking at her directly, her eyes were locked onto his.
"My girlfriend doesn't always agree with what I wanna do, but we make it work," stated Riven.
Blake immediately developed a slight blush and an expression of minor disappointment at his statement as she lowered her eyes to the grass and took a small step back.
"Oh? Who's this girlfriend of yours?" Yang pried, with a coy smile.
"I don't think you'd know her, she isn't a student in any combat school. She works in southeast Vale," Riven admitted, looking at his feet, sliding his fingers through the wavy hair on the back of his head. "Though she hasn't really told me what she does. She tends to keep quiet about it."
"Interesting," replied Yang. "Although, it is odd that you're a couple and you don't even know what she does!"
"Like I said," reciprocated Riven. "She's really quiet."
"She's just adorable!" squealed Zeal, as she grabbed Riven by the waste from behind, lifting him off the ground into a forceful bear hug. "They're such a cute couple!"
Desperately, Riven attempted peeling himself out of her mighty grasp, but to no success, all he could do was flap his wings vigorously. It was only when she put him down herself that he could breathe once again.
"Thanks for that 'Z'," Riven sarcastically spoke to the chuckling girl, gasping for air as he did.
With that, he reached into the back pocket of his jeans, producing a small red package. Opening it, and removing one if its contents, he placed the cigarette between his lips. He then motioned his head towards Christie, who proceeded to snap her fingers. A small ignition of fire could be seen at the tip of her index, as she moved it to the summit of his cigarette. This earned mixed reactions from team RWBY; Yang and Ruby alike bore expressions of intrigue whilst Weiss simply shook her head in disapproval. Blake, with a blank face simply stared at the exchange between the two members of ZRCN.
Moving her finger away from Riven's mouth, the tiny flame dissipated. Inhaling deeply, Riven turned his face away from his newly found comrades in hopes of preventing his exhale of smoke from reaching their lungs.
"How many times have I told you to quit smoking Riven," exclaimed Zeal sarcastically, as she snatched the cigarette from his mouth.
"About as many times as you steal them from me, Zealie," he retorted, as the girl herself inhaled her own fill of smoke, causing her to cough sporadically.
Quickly removing it from her hands, Riven returned the cigarette to his own mouth.
"Wait, how did she do that?" Weiss questioned, motioning her hands to Christie, who was bent over adjusting her stockings.
"Hmm?" Christie inquired, looking up at the snow-haired heiress.
"I think she's asking about the fire, Chris," Riven aided whilst snapping his own fingers, meaning to show Christie exactly what Weiss had been referring to.
"Oh!" sounded the girl, standing straight again. "Well, notice how I don't really have a weapon?"
The four girls nodded in sync.
"I myself, have kind of a unique style of fighting. All I do is inject small amounts of dust into myself through a needle and my semblance amplifies its power!" Christie explained. "Wanna see?!"
Team RWBY shared in the same quizzical expressions, hesitantly nodding. The girl, walking towards a black satchel that was placed at the food of the tree she had previously been found leaning against, bent over and unzipped it. She removed a rather menacing looking syringe with a wide capacity and five inch needle, and returned to the group with a carefree skip. The dust injector was appropriately labelled 'Christie's Dust' with rather sloppy handwriting. Removing the cap on the tip of the freakishly wide needle, she turned her left arm around, such that dozens of small red dots could be seen, scarred into the underside of her forearm. Lining the needle up with one of the few vacant areas on her arm, she plunged the needle deep into her skin, causing her to squint in pain. This caused team RWBY to gasp in horror as a small bead of crimson dripped down the length of her arm, from the point of insertion. Using her thumb, Christie then pressed the plunger slightly so that a small amount of the crimson red content inside the barrel was pushed inside of her.
All but Weiss, who turned her head slightly to avoid the sight, cringed and bit their lips at the small yelp the girl had produced as she removed the tip of the needle from her arm. Closing her eyes, Christie flexed her aura, causing parts of the afflicted arm to turn into what looked like magma. As tiny droplets of lava dislodged themselves from her skin, a small burst of flame exploded from her palm.
Having witnessed a rare form of dust manipulation, the girls of team RWBY were in amazement; with Ruby clapping frantically at the spectacle. Christie then deactivated the fire by shaking her arm ferociously, and proceeded to give a clumsy curtsy.
"Impressive!" Ruby declared as the girl slipped the cap back on the needle and placed it back into the satchel.
"Impressive yes," declared Weiss with a frown. "Unethical? Absolutely."
"Oh shush you, you're just too jealous of her to say anything nice," Yang accused, earning one of Weiss' distinct hand-on-hip grunts of disapproval.
"Now that I think of it, I haven't seen your guys' weapons…" declared Ruby. "Don't you guys have weapons of your own? Or do you fight like Christie?"
"Oh, we have our own actual weapons. We have them laid just over there right now," replied Riven, pointing to the tree at which Christie's satchel was previously found.
What could be seen were a pair of fairly normal looking weapons, leaned against the far side of the tree. Motioning for team RWBY to follow, Riven led them to where the weapons were placed and proceeded to pick up what looked like a modernized lever-action rifle. The weapon was onyx in color, with an array of small green lights emanating dimly from between some of the parts.
"This is 'Spectral Carbine'," explained Riven, holding the rifle out, so that team RWBY could harness a better look. Ruby, gazing deeply at the weapon, looked into the eyes of Riven as if to ask 'can I hold it?' Motioning forward slightly, he placed the weapon in Ruby's petite hands, causing the girl to grunt somewhat.
"I-it's so heavy! Ruby exclaimed, struggling to grasp the weapon in her arms whilst examining its details.
"That's for sure, but the heavier a ranged weapon is, the more accurate the shot!" replied Riven with a smile,
Handing the weapon back to its owner, eyes were now focused on Zeal, who now held a small, seemingly collapsed stick. Pressing a button on its side, the piece unfolded into a magnificent bow. Its color matched her eyes, a deep shade of blue, with hints of silver lining parts of its exterior. In Zeal's other hand was a strapped container holding three dozen or so arrows. Each one, unique in its own way, was tipped with a dust coated arrowhead. The vast selection of colors and shapes of the arrowheads dictated what each one could be used for, and what element it would produce.
"Shriek Compound is its name, yes, yes feel free to be amazed," boasted Zeal, placing an arrow against the bow and drawing it back with the string, striking an exaggerated pose.
"Oh stop bragging," Riven retorted, placing Spectral Carbine against the tree once again.
"I can't help myself! It's just so beautiful!" cried Zeal, rubbing the exterior of the weapon with her fingers in such a way that pushed the boundaries of explicitness.
"Then put it away, dirt bag," Christie chuckled, with a hand against her mouth.
"Fiiine," sighed Zeal, returning her weapon to its original form, producing mechanical sounds of metal on metal as it collapsed.
Weiss, noticing something odd about this entire encounter, developed a rather quizzical expression.
"Hey, isn't there something missing here?" the heiress questioned. "Like, another teammate?"
"Yeah, aren't there four members on your team?" Ruby continued.
"There is in fact a fourth member to ZRCN, but his situation is complicated." Explained Riven; his expression changing to one of strain.
"His name is Nicky." Christie continued. "He flew in with us today, but I'm afraid he won't be training with us today."
"Or any day soon, for that matter." Zeal mentioned.
"Why's that?" Weiss asked curiously.
"About six months ago, he came down with a terminal illness; a rare one. To put it simply, he was born with a weak aura." explained Zeal. "His aura is slowly dissipating, and when it does, his body won't be able to live on."
"He came with us yes, but until his condition is cured by some miracle of science, he's bedridden. Has been since this started." Christie finished.
"That's… So sad," whimpered Ruby, who was indeed fighting back the urge to tear up a little.
"It is, but he keeps on telling us to continue on, no matter what happens to him. So we do." admitted Riven with a faint smile. "
"Plus, we visit him often. He enjoys that," beamed Zeal, wiping away one of her own tears with her palm. "At least I think he does."
"You're all so sweet!" squeaked Yang, passionately.
"Maybe we could take you to meet him soon, I'm sure he'd like that." Christie stated.
"For sure!" added Zeal. "But shouldn't we get to training?"
Author's note: Hey guys! I'm finally getting a chance to get these chapters out. Please, feel free to message me with critique. Would love to hear from you! Cheers.