The door flew open with the frantic ringing of bells that weren't used to the trauma they just endured, clinking and jingling.

Ruby and Weiss got into the diner first, Weiss physically exhausted by her partner's antics while Ruby was still jumping around at the ready. However, her attention wasn't directed towards Weiss now, but her surroundings. It was only a few seconds more when Yang and Blake entered the room as well, visibly calmer compared to their two teammates with a laid back smile and a small smirk, jokes being traded between the more composed of the two.

The man behind the counter was even more surprised, seeing two customers bumbling indoors like they were running for their lives. However, when she saw the face of a specific black haired girl with signature red tips, he gave a wide smile and spoke in a booming voice as he made his way out of the semi-circle counter.

"ROSE! Little Rose, is that you?!" Ruby and Weiss immediately stopped their mini-quarrel, and both froze up. The former ran over to the man, exclaiming.

"DAN!" She swamped him in the best hug she could manage, but her arms weren't able to reach around his large belly. She settled for a half-hug, and beamed as Weiss just looked onwards, wondering who the man could be if he was able to call her partner, 'Rose,' so easily.

He looked up and somehow, his smile just got wider. "Hah! And you, Xiao-Long! C'mere!"

Yang was already on her way over, open-mouth grin her expression as she swamped both Ruby and the man known as Dan in a larger hug, eliciting a squeak from Ruby.

"Yang, you're- eek- crushing me…"

The man and the blonde both let go, letting Ruby to decompress from the pressure she just endured by two forces acting upon her. Not missing a beat, Yang spoke up with a rueful grin filled with memories.

"It's good to see you Danny! Looks like you've grown too!" She laughed, and Dan laughed with her, holding his stomach all the while. During the period when Yang, Ruby, and Dan were getting reacquainted with each other, Blake and Weiss were standing off in the distance as if critiquing the whole conversation.

"That 'Dan' guy really looks like Professor Port," Weiss mumbled to Blake.

She nodded in agreement. "The stomach's probably why."

It was true; the stomach that Dan was carrying truly was reminiscent of Beacon's local Grimm professor and folk tale extraordinaire.

"All he needs is the mustache and he's there," Blake said.

"Agreed..."

The three turned to the white and black colors on their team, Ruby gesturing them as introductions.

"And this is Blake and Weiss! They're on our team!"

The man smiled at them, mirth nearly radiating from his smile as he greeted them.

"Hello you two! Rose, which one did you say was your partner again? The nerdy one or the grumpy one?"

Both B and W took immediate offense to their assigned nicknames.

"Nerdy?"

"Grumpy!?"

Ruby's eyes went wide in embarrassment, and rose an index finger with an 'uh' to explain the situation before the portly man interrupted her.

"I'm guessing it's grumpy over there," he said as he pointed.

"Who're you calling grumpy? Do you know who I a-"

"Weiss Schnee, heir-apparent to the Schnee Dust Corporation, and loyal partner of a little Rose I know." He looked down at his long-time customer, and she greeted his gaze with a thankful smile that conveyed a message.

'Dear Oum thank you thank you thank you thank you.'

Looking back up, he was pleasantly met with the raised eyebrow of a certain white-haired teen.

"So you know who I am?"

"Schnee, you shouldn't act so surprised. While Beacon allows a respite from the outside world of politics, I sadly do not reside in said academy. Media works wonders."

"I see."

Directing his attention to the bow-clad teen to her right, he spoke.

"I assume you are Xiao-Long's partner, then."

She nodded. "I am."

He leaned over slightly towards Yang, and brought his left hand over his mouth, palm facing out as he tried to make a stealthy whisper.

"You were right, she is quiet."

Blake was able to pick up on the words easily, but she didn't mind being called quiet; it was better than being called nerdy.

"Yep, that's Blakey in all of her kitty glory."

She rose an eyebrow. "You told him?"

"Blake, I trust Dan as much as I trust Ozpin, maybe even more. He's one of my Dad's best buds!"

Things clicked together in Blake and Weiss' minds. But if he was friends with Yang and Ruby's dad, who was a hunter…

Treating the man with a renewed reverence, Weiss changed her approach and changed it to elegant and respectful. She strode over to the man with the expert steps of an heiress, and extended her hand.

"You must be a hunter, then! I apologize for making such a bad impress-"

She couldn't finish her sentence as she was swallowed by two large arms pulling her in for a large hug, the rest of her words fading away into the surprisingly clean smock of the large man.

"Nonsense, Schnee! First impressions do not make a person! Time is the true judge."

The wise words didn't really process in her mind because she was being crushed by surprisingly strong arms, but when they finally relinquished she gasped a breath of sweet, sweet oxygen before responding.

"Thank… you."

The man regarded her with a smile as Yang punched Dan on the arm.

"I think you went a bit too rough on her, Danny."

"Oh, come on! You ladies are huntresses in training! Surely you can handle my classic welcome hug!"

"She's really fragile though…" Ruby regretted saying the words right as she said them as Weiss greeted her with an icy gaze, cold like the ocean that her eyes were framed after.

"Ignoring that, it's an honor to meet you, sir."

"Please, no need for the formalities." He waved them off, and looked at Blake, who had now made her way to Yang's side. "And you, uh... Shella…"

"Belladonna," she finished. "Blake Belladonna." Extending a hand, she was met with a large, crushing hug as well, almost eliciting a yelp at the sudden grasp as her head was forced to turn and see Yang chuckling at her. Blake just narrowed her eyes as she was let go, shaking her head.

"You're remarkably strong," she commented. Large arms tensed up for a moment as the diner's proprietor took notice of his own strength.

"I run this diner. Includes heavy lifting… and aura helps." He gave a hearty chuckle, and immediately everyone on RWBY could see more audible and visual connections their professor to Dan. "Keeps age from creeping up on me, at least for a bit more."

"Oh, come on you old geezer. You're not that old!"

"Old enough to complain about back problems, Xiao-Long! And that's enough for me."

A wave of laughter swept over the three as Blake and Weiss continued to watch this three-person dynamic unfold.

"This is so weird." Blake's eyes were still looking at the three laughing.

Weiss didn't even look at Blake to respond. "I agree."

After they were done with their mini-romp, the man backed up a step. "So, what brings you all here?"

"We wanted to have lunch here! It's been forever since I've had one of your steak burgers…" She was about to start drooling again before she remembered the more important reason for why she came today. "And because my partner…" She made a show of fake-whispering to Dan, and he played along with a lean and a smile. "She's never had a burger before!"

His eyes went wide, and his hand went to his slightly greying hair. "No way! Schnee, is this true?"

If the man wasn't wearing a smile as broad as daylight, she legitimately would've thought she was in trouble. "Yes?"

He grabbed her by her petite shoulders, and guided her to a seat.

"We're changing that. Right now." Relinquishing his grasp, he gestured for the rest of RWBY to sit down at the long, semi-circular elevated table. "Please, please, sit! Rose and Xiao-Long, the usual I assume?"

The sisters smiled and nodded.

"You betcha. It's 'bout time I had round two with that quad-stacker of yours…" She slammed her fists together, grin on her face belying the competitive tone she was setting.

Weiss and Blake looked at her with deer-in-headlights eyes.

"Quad-stacker?" They asked in disbelief.

"Oh, yeah! It's the best. Thing. Ever."

Weiss twitched an eye, thinking about all of the calories, carbs, and sodium that must've been loaded into that burger. "You're willing to eat something like that?"

"You betcha!"

"Xiao-Long here has tried to conquer my house special countless times, but to no avail. I used to be confidant in my skills to best her appetite, but… now? She's a grown woman!"

"Oh, you shouldn't worry about me, Dan. Rubes is the one who's developed the appetite."

Everyone knew that for a fact; Ruby seemed to inhale food- sugary mind you- in the same fashion that a certain orangette did with pancakes.

She just grinned. "I'll still have the steak burger, though, please."

"Of course, of course." He walked over to Blake, and brought his arm across his chest, propping an arm up on it. "First of all, your secret is safe with me, Belladonna. You've earned my respect and trust, mainly for looking after this firecracker over here." He gestured, and Blake looked over at her partner. The blonde just gave her a thumbs up back.

She smiled. "Thank you."

"So, how'd you like to try my newest invention? It's a barbequed salmo-"

"Yes please!" At the mere mention of fish, Blake (literally) popped up, ears and head going up at the simple word. "I mean, uh, that, uh, sounds good, thanks."

He gave a knowing smile and laugh, slower compared to the ones he shared with Yang and Ruby. "Alright then. That'll be comin' right up for you."

All that was left on the team's order was Weiss, who was busy looking at a menu that she found next to her spot. Ruby was still giving her an earful when Dan made his way over, looking on at the energetic red-tinted brunette give her silver-white friend recommendations rapidfire as she pointed out burgers.

"Ooh! The bacon cheeseburger looks good! Oh, wait. You said you didn't want onions… but I think Dan could fix that! Hey Dan, could you tak-"

He held up his hands in a placating manner, and Ruby slowed down. "Whatever the Schnee would like, I can accommodate just as easily." Turning to the heiress, he put on that same, warm smile. "So, will you be ordering, or will she?"

"Ruby will order for me."

"You're in good hands, Weiss, trust me!" She closed the menu in front of Weiss' face.

"Hey!"

Passing it back to Dan, who put it under the counter, she just got in close and tilted her head slightly, looking left and right as if she were undergoing some ludicrous deal, hand planted down as if cementing the words.

"She'll have the special," Ruby said.

Dan gave a smirk and a knowing nod. With that he went off with an exaggerated bow that made Ruby giggle, Weiss being given respite from her partner's babbling as the redhead turned to Yang for conversational pleasure. The diner itself was set up in such a way that seating was mainly focused around the semicircle, and multiple monitors lined the overhead. Occasional booths were aligned against the window, allowing onlookers to peek inside and see the works of food that were on the tables. The setting gave an overall homely feeling, and even though the stools that they were sitting on offered non-existent lumbar support, she compensated for leaning on the counter with her elbows.

A sudden sizzling noise was heard, and instinctively she looked for the source. It was coming from the kitchen behind the door that Dan had passed through, and immediately a smell wafted out of the room as the sound hit her ears.

Even Blake, who would take fish over other meats any day, had to admit that it smelled heavenly.

Taking a deep sniff in, Ruby grabbed the bottom of her stool and spun a few circles with her head back and eyes closed, the smells taking her back years.

Yang propped up her head on the palms of her hands, elbows planted as she closed her eyes as well, taking in a deep breath of the aromatic beef sizzling on the grill.

Blake, with her faunus senses, could smell out individual ingredients and seasoning, cumin, salt, pepper, and...

Sugar?

While Blake was contemplating why exactly she smelled something familiar to Ruby's daily breakfasts, Weiss was busy testing the air around her.

It certainly does smell good, she thought. Much better than I expected… Shaking her head, she tried to remember her true purpose for being here. But I'm here to prove a fact. I'll show Ruby that burgers are no more than over glorified pieces of seasoned meat. She took another breath, and the aroma only got stronger. But it smells so good…

"So, Weiss!" Her voice was chipper as always, but she was wearing a smile that didn't bely happiness; it was a grin that Yang always wore when she caught Ruby eating cookies in her bed, raised brow and everything. "Whaddya think of this place?"

Remaining as neutral as possible, she spoke. "It's quaint."

"So you don't hate it?"

"... No."

"Alright!" She pumped a fist in the air. "One point to Ruby Rose!"

"I hardly think that counts as a point, Ruby. I haven't even tried my meal yet." Crossing her arms, Ruby just kept at it with that same smile.

"But you don't hate this place, soooooo… that has to add up to something, right?"

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Ruby took that as a sign of early victory, and turned back to Yang.

"It's working!"

"See? I told ya!" They shared a fist bump.

Weiss leaned over on the counter. "I can hear you two."

They stuck out their tongues at her at the same time, and she just turned back to her own attention, looking at her nails as the sisters continued their conversation.

"Yang, do you think you can finish it this time?"

"Oh, definitely. That burger's going down."

"I wanted to ask you about that, Yang." Gunmetal and lilac went to gold. "What's... in that quadstacker?"

"Oh, everything that's needed to make a burger heavenly..." Blake rose an eyebrow. "No, no fish."

She visibly deflated. "I'll pass on trying that, then."

"Daww, wanted to share?" She nudged her with an elbow.

"I was planning on stealing some bits when you weren't looking."

"Aaand back to normal." Blake gave that same smirk, only a glance of lip curled upwards in a smile.

"I think I'll be okay with my burger, though. It's been forever since I've had one anyway." Before Beacon, her diet mainly consisted of stolen Atlesian military rations or game from the wild.

"Even better!" Ruby had her fists together in front of her chest. "A long time away from burgers only makes them tastier!" She looked at Weiss, who was still busy looking over her nails. "Which means that you," she jabbed a finger, "will find this burger to be heavenly."

"I doubt that."

"You won't doubt it when you're at the amusement park with me later."

"Oh, really?"

"Yep! You're gonna love this burger so much, you're gonna..." She trailed off. "Uh... love it?"

"Smooth, sis."

Haven't uploaded something in a while, I wanted to get this out there. Besides, this is like my little hideaway when I'm stuck on writer's block. Random updates are random. Call me unprofessional; this is probably the worst ending to a chapter I've done in mah lyfe, but hey.

whatev's, man.

also, who found the little Ren's Dare easter egg? hue...