"Ren! Where are we going?" Nora begged for the third time as Ren continued packing food into a bag. "Can't you just tell me?" Though Ren hated keeping his plans secrete from Nora, he loved how curious she got when she was excited.

"I feel it would be more enjoyable if you found out once we arrived." He responded, zipping up their cooler bag.

"That doesn't make sense." Nora argued, though she had stopped asking where they were going. Now that Ren had answered she knew he wouldn't budge about where they were going. That didn't stop her from wanting to try though.

"Have we been there before?" Nora asked as Ren handed her a bag to carry.

"No." He answered, grabbing his room key.

"Has anyone else been there?" She asked as they started walking out of the hotel. Ren shrugged in response. "Will I enjoy where we're going?"

"Nora, would you not think that?"

"Because you've not told me where we're going before and I didn't like it." Nora replied with a playful pout.

"Nora, that was when we were kids and it was because you were nearly doubled over in pain." Ren corrected, thinking back to time Nora had such a bad cramps he had to practically carry her to the doctor to make sure that she was fine. "And besides I wouldn't have had to take you to the doctor if you had told me what was going on."

"I would have been fine." Nora returned. "You didn't need to know what was going on." They continued walking side by side, neither one in front nor behind. As they approached their destination, Ren decided to give Nora a few hints.

"Alright Nora, what's the opposite of land?" He asked.

"Sea." Nora quickly responded, used to Ren's mini brain exercises.

"And if Huntsmen are to people what are Grimm to?" Nora had to pause for this one.

"Animals?" She tentatively answered.

"Now I'm thinking of a place where these opposites combine. Where some can walk on dry land next to the other incased by glass in brine."

"Are we going to an aquarium?" Nora asked, jumping up and down with anticipation. As they turned the corner, Nora received her answer. In front of her was a large aqua building surrounded by holographic creatures swimming around it. With an excited shout Nora dashed in front of Ren, eager to get in line to get inside.

As their team had found out early after their formation, Nora loved animals. Big animals, small animals, creepy animals, cute animals. If it was an animal, Nora just had to learn about it. Or save it. Ren smiled as he thought about the countless animals he and Nora had brought back to the orphanage to take care of before they were discovered and taken to a shelter.

"How did you find out about an aquarium here Ren?" Nora asked as they continued to wait in line.

"I just did some research." Ren responded.

"I hope they have penguins." Nora commented, bouncing on her toes.

"Penguins?"

"Yeah." She turned back to Ren with a smile. "They're just so cute the way that they walk. And I always thought they must have so much fun gliding down rocks or snow into the water. Then they swim like little bullets. Swoosh." Nora finished, her hands emphasizing the speed that the penguins reach.

"I don't think they have penguins here."

"But the other one had penguins." Nora replied with a large grin in anticipation.

"But that one didn't specialize in tropical and warm climate waters." Ren countered.

"Research?" Nora asked frowning. Ren nodded. He's always just so prepared. But maybe there'll be tropical penguins here! Nora smiled at the thought, trying to be patient as the line crept forward. Once inside, Nora quickly took lead of where they would go.

"We need to go up first and then make our way back down." She said quickly, as Ren grabbed a map just in case they got too turned around, though that hasn't happened for a while. "Race you to the top!" Nora quickly said spying the steps to the second floor.

Ren simply watched as Nora nimbly made her way through the crowd, being sure not to knock anyone over as she sped to the top. She beamed brightly once on top, waiting patiently for Ren to catch up.

"You didn't race." Nora observed as the two began walking together again.

"You always win." Ren answered simply.

"But it's no fun winning if no one else competes." Nora said with a playful boop to his nose.

"Maybe you could compete against them, they would be more than happy to play with you." Ren commented pointing over to an open topped exhibit. As Nora looked over she say fins sticking out of the water.

"Ren!" Nora said shocked. "Why would I want to race against those?" She asked quickly going over to look into the tank. "I'd much rather pet them!" She squealed as a bottlenose came up to the surface and greeted her. Ren smiled, fully knowing he couldn't trick Nora into thinking he meant swimming with sharks, but still amused at her excitement upon seeing the dolphins.

"Seems like Sophia likes you." A worker at the aquarium commented from her platform on the other side of the divider. Nora smiled at the dolphin and waved, grinning larger as it waved back.

"They're such cool animals." Nora beamed, leaning on the railing.

"Very majestic." Ren added, joining Nora along the divider.

"And intelligent too." The worker smiled. "Some have even been rumored to help sailors when sea Grimm attacked their ships."

"Can we pet them?" Nora asked like an excited child.

"Sorry, only if you do one of our special events." They apologized, looking almost as sad as Nora. "But you can touch some other creatures like sea stars at the Touchpool." Before Nora said anything Ren already started walking in the direction of the mentioned exhibit.

After spending time listening to Nora tell him about the types of Sea Stars and mollusk creatures at the Touchpool, they looked at some of the smaller aquariums highlighting various species of fish from around Remmnant.

"Ooh, Ren, look at this guy." Nora commented leaning over at one of the individual tanks.

"It's an octopus." He observed as the cephalopod moved across the sand and tucked itself into a crevice.

"It reminds me of you." Nora said absentmindedly, lightly tracing images on the glass as she looked at the animal.

"Me?" Ren asked, honestly curious to what Nora meant by it.

"Yeah. These guys are like the ninjas of the water." Nora explained. "Some species are masters of disguise and can blend in perfectly with their environment. Plus nearly all of them are escape artists. Any small space can become an escape route. They also have three hearts so they must be super sweet like you."

Nora looked back at her best friend, smiling. She knew that having a heart didn't mean you were sweet. She was almost certain Cardin has one but he was the farthest thing from sweet like lemons are from pancake syrup.

"Nora, I don't think I'm an octopus." Ren joked.

"Then what animal would you be?" Nora challenged as they continued walking around.

"Why not a shark?"

"A shark?" Nora asked, crinkling up her nose at the thought of Ren being a shark.

"A Nurse Shark. I nearly am that whenever you get sick." Nora playfully punched Ren at his joke.

"You're not a shark. People are scared of them, though I don't know why."

"And people aren't scared of me?" Ren sarcastically asked. Nora just rolled her eyes at the rhetorical question. Not like she was complaining. Ren always talked more one on one rather than with the whole group and at school they didn't get chances to be alone without people making assumptions.

Soon Ren and Nora had finished the second floor by learning a little about the species of aquatic Grimm and Nora nearly destroying a battle simulator.

"But why would you use a harpoon against a Grimm?" Nora asked slightly frustrated. "Those were used to drag in animals. You can't drag in something that turns into smoke once it's dead."

"I think it was supposed to help bring the Grimm into better range." Ren commented as they walked back down the stairs.

"Just hit it with the gun in the first place!" Nora replied, the sparkle she got in her eyes while battling twinkling slightly. Though internally Nora did think that Ren had a good idea. Even land Grimm were hard to land a solid hit on.

"Which way do you want to go next?" Ren asked as their feet hit the first floor. Nora didn't answer but simply took his forearm in the direction she wanted. Unknown to either, both of them wished they could just take the other's hand without worrying about what the other thought. However, that thought was soon gone as they started looking at the large, multispecies aquariums.

"Nora," Ren called over as he looked at the large tank, "I think I found me." Nora quickly skipped over to see what animal Ren thought he would be.

"Which one?" She asked as multiple creatures passed by them. Ren didn't answer but continued looking contently into the aquarium. There were lots of fish, sting rays, some sharks… "That one?" Nora eventually asked, pointing to a sea turtle as it gently swam by.

"Gentle, wise, and it's got the best color." Ren explained, smiling at Nora's eye roll about the color comment. She looked back at the creature, almost mesmerized by its simple movement through the water.

"Maybe." Nora drew out. "But I still think you're like a ninja." She commented before skipping down to a darkened hallway. The jellyfish exhibit.

"So have you thought about what you would be Nora?" Ren asked as they began looking at the bright aquariums against the dark scenery.

"None of them have been speaking to me." Nora answered, giggling as she watched a tank of jellyfish with them all resting upside down on the bottom of the tank.

"You don't think you'd be an electric eel?" Ren asked.

"No. Eels are slippery and slimy. Plus those aren't even eels, it's a misname like starfish. Though they aren't very harmful to people. You won't feel good but you won't die." Nora explained as she continued strolling around. "But maybe I'm one of these." She finished stopping in front of a large tank

"A jellyfish?"

"Yup." She said looking at the medium sized magenta pink jellyfish.

The mauve stinger. This jellyfish can easily be recognized by its vibrant colors. But don't get too close! These pretty jellies have one of the most painful stings if you get caught too close.

"What do you think?" She asked, turning to Ren.

"I agree." Ren said, looking back at the creatures in the tank. "Elegant, small but powerful, colorful-"

"Brainless!" Ren and Nora quickly turned around, the former about to charge at the voice and the second latching on to his arm. Ren rarely had to be held back by Nora so he forgot how powerful her grip could be.

"It probably was someone else's conversation Ren." Nora quietly said, seeing Ren's shoulders rise as he breathed. After a few moments, Nora released some pressure from his arm

"Maybe you are actually a dolphin." Nora calmly said. "And I liked what you said." She finished, smiling wide. Ren relaxed more as he looked at her eyes, the same color as the water around them. "Now come on!" She suddenly exclaimed. "We need to figure out what animals Pyrrha and Jaune are!"