Chapter 5: Partners

G

Gavin awaited a response from the blue haired girl. Her eyebrows slowly raised and furrowed in a worried expression. "Um... hello?"

"Wha- O-oh, hi! I'm Mondy Blauer, who are you?" she stuttered, her tail flicked.

"Uh, I'm... Gavin Neirin... so are you already partnered with some one or...," Gavin hesitantly asked, the girl seeming to be growing more and more anxious about something, as she held her tail in her hands now and fiddled with it.

"Erm, well... no. Well yes, you now, I guess," she mumbled not quite meeting his eyes.

"Okay...," Gavin said still confused by the girl's actions. Finally he snapped, "Okay, what's wrong?!"

Having yelled a bit harshly, Mondy was caught off guard and literally jumped in surprise, dropping her tail. "Eek! N-nothing!" He didn't look convinced as his eyes narrowed. "It's just- I don't- you're not mean are you?" she finally made a complete sentence.

"... No, unless I have a reason to be," he carefully responded.

"Oh! That's good... I... I think," she said, a bit of uncertainty Still in her voice. What have I gotten myself into? An awkward silence filled the moment.

"So, I saw you take down that Boarbatusk... Your weapon is quite the contraption," Gavin attempted to break the silence and ice.

"Zuerst and Zweite? They're my babies. Individually they have two forms each, a nightstick form and then they can extend a blade for the sword form." She demonstrated as she displayed Zuerst, which was a slick steel. She pressed a button and a blade shot out one end. She then grabbed Zweite and pressed the bottom ends together, making them interlock. "They can combine to make Neigen. If Zweite's blade is extended it is sheathed into the base of Zuerst, but it doesn't need to be extended for them to interlock. This also allows me to create a single or double bladed staff, with the blades extending on each end. I can also just use it as a quarterstaff. Unfortunately, the blades only come out one end, so that becomes a problem when combining them. I also wanted to add a nunchaku form, but I felt that was going a bit overboard... that and I was afraid the bladed nunchaku form might cut my tail. What about your weapons?" She eyed his makeshift rapiers. Gavin stood in silence for a moment, mind reeling from all the information and the sudden switch from stuttering anxious girl to rambling weapon nerd.

When Gavin's mind finally caught up he said, "Oh these? They are just something I pieced together until I'm able to make better weapons. I just attached a hilt, a pistol barrel and body, modified it to work with a magazine, and attached the only blades that were the right size that I could find. Once I get settled into Beacon I'll make a proper set."

"Why would you replace them? They are so cool! What're their names? How did you managed to piece them together?"

"Um, well they aren't exactly optimal, like I said they are just to get me through until I can make something proper. For that reason I haven't given them names."

She got a thoughtful look, and Gavin could practically see a lightbulb above her head as she said, "How about the long one is Tafell, and the short one is Torri? And who says you have to throw them away? A little bit of tinkering and you could just improve them into permanent weapons. Aaaanyways, we should probably get going, um, where are we going again?"

Gavin resisted the urge to facepalm. I really hope she's just having an off day... I don't know if I can take four years of this. "We're going to the hidden temple to grab a relic and then returning it to Beacon Cliff. And you're right we should start moving."

At least she's a Faunus, that's one less thing to worry about, thought Gavin as they sped through the forest. They saw smoke rising in the distance and decided to go around the area it rose from. Along the way they ran into a pack of Beowolves fleeing the fire. Gavin readied his rapiers, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Mondy following suit.

In front of them stopped two Grimm, blocking their path. "Hey Mondy, what's your semblance?" Gavin asked, trying to come up with an effective strategy. Although he couldn't see it, Mondy smiled as she answered, "I can teleport short distances. I think I know where you're going with this, I'll follow your lead."

Gavin nodded and charged the closest Beowolf. Gavin thrusted Torri towards the monster, which it easily batted away with a paw. As it prepared to counter attack, two blades appeared in it's chest. When the blades disappeared the Beowolf fell over, Mondy standing behind the creature.

"Nice!" she cheered, not noticing the other Grimm approaching from behind. Gavin quickly shot a dust round at the creature, halting its attack. Taking advantage of its stunned state, Gavin used his semblance to jump over his new partner, and sink his rapiers into the beast's skull. "Whoa, um, thanks."

"It was nothing, let's just keep going before more show up."

They continued on their way, able to avoid anymore Grimm along the way until they finally they came into a clearing where a large structure stood with several pedestals upon which stood gold and black figurines.

R

Reyn ran through the bushes, occasionally calling out Mondy's name, just in case she was nearby. He was hoping to team with his best friend, but as time passed he felt his chances growing slimmer. Suddenly he ran into someone with red hair. He expected to collide with the person but when he should have felt impact he continued moving forward. He stopped and turned thinking he imagined the redhead.

However before him stood a girl a little shorter than himself in aviators, beaming confidently. "You should watch where you're going, y'know? You might hurt someone." Reyn just stood stunned for a moment, sure he should have ran into the girl. "Name's Carmina Karenia, what about you?"

"Um, Reyn Boe?"

"Really? I didn't expect such a, uh, colorful name from you, dressed all in black and everything."

"Yeah, I lost a bet." Reyn sheepishly replied.

"To that cat Faunus?"

"Mondy, yes," Reyn said defensively. He wasn't sure if Carmina was anti-Faunus, but if she was, they were going to have problems.

"So where is she? Are you guys partners?"

"Actually no. I haven't been able to find her anywhere. What about you?"

"I don't have a partner either. Why don't I help you find your friend?" Reyn was surprised by her response.

"But according to the rules we're partners now, right?"

"I mean I wouldn't say our eyes have met, what with these aviators being in the way," she gave him a coy smile. "C'mon let's find your friend." And with that they headed deeper into the forest.

Once again, I didn't change much. Chapters 4 and 5 are probably my favorites as it is. I would like to express my thanks to Grimguy, who left a review on the original Chapter 4, and I hope you return to rant about my story, words can't express how happy I was to read your first review.

Please leave a review so I know what you like (or don't like) and I can make this story all the better for you!