It was an average day at Beacon. The sun was shining, the grass was growing, the birds were flying, and everything was exactly as it should be. It was also intensely, mind-numbingly boring.
Boredom was not something that Nora Valkyrie handled particularly well. She skipped along the pathways towards Beacon's cafeteria itching with unspent energy. The redheaded girl had only one thing on her mind so early in the day: food and not-boredom! Well, that was two things, but nobody got to tell Nora how many things she really had on her mind.
Seeking to satisfy her need for hunger and entertainment, she kicked in the doors in a display that might've been dramatic had the rest of Beacon's student body not been inured to it months ago. Wildly scanning the area, Nora ignored everything she saw until her eyes alighted upon the usual table claimed by teams RWBY and JNPR. There, alone, sat Yang Xaio Long. A solution!
Nora was quick to retrieve her breakfast, bulling aside anyone foolish enough to stand between her and her heaping tray of morning pancakes. She made her way just as quickly to her usual seat across from Yang, who seemed to be listlessly scrolling on her Scroll while pushing around a few scraps of bacon on her nearly clean plate.
"Morning Yang!" Nora sang as she slammed her tray onto the table, shaking every loose item atop it and earning a start from Yang, her lilac eyes shooting up to meet Nora's cerulean.
"Huh? Sorry, morning, Nora," the blonde replied, shaking off her lack of awareness.
"Whatcha doin'?" Nora singsonged to her friend before stabbing a fork into her tray of fluffy delights, shoveling food into her mouth, "''ere'f 'eam 'oo-by?" she garbled.
"Uh, what?" Yang snorted, amused, "And I'm just trying to figure out what to do today. Got nothing."
Nora made a hum of agreement in the back of her throat, swallowing her mouthful of food before washing it down with a swig of maple syrup straight from the bottle.
"I said, 'where's team RWBY?' because it's just you and that's normally not normal," elucidated Nora before stuffing herself once again.
"Oh, well Blake disappeared somewhere, Weiss went to go call her sister, and Ruby uh-" Yang pauses for a moment, watching her friend eat, "Well, she ditched me, the little runt! Ran into Vale to go look up some parts for her weapon."
"Boring!" Nora cried, thankfully having swallowed before speaking.
"Ugh, I know, right? Where's the rest of team JNPR?"
"Well today's Renny's long meditation day, Jaune's sleeping because Pyrrha took his training to the next level last night, and Pyrrha's sleeping because I smashed the alarm clock when it woke me up!"
"Heh, you know that could sound really weird any other way, right?"
"What, smashing the alarm clock? I do that all the time!"
"No, no – Pyrrha taking anything of Jaune's to the next level," Yang explained, waggling her eyebrows.
"I guess," said Nora, "Smashing is more interesting, though!"
"Ha! I'll say!" Yang agreed, looking far more amused than Nora thought she ought.
"I'm bored, Yang!" Nora declared, cutting to the root of her problem now that she was adequately fed.
"I can tell. I guess you want me to fix that?"
"Yes! The Queen decrees it!" Nora decreed.
"Alright – well, since we're talking about smashing, why don't we play a game?"
"I love games!"
"Then we'll play 'Smash or Pass!'" Yang decided, fixing Nora with a curiously intense grin.
"Alright! How do we play?"
"Simple – I'll throw out a name, and you tell me if you'd smash them or if you'd pass them. Then when you're done, you do the same for me," Yang explains.
"Oooh, alright! Sounds fun!" Nora said impatiently, waiting for the game to start.
"Okay, we'll start with an easy one," Yang began, folding her arms and leaning back on her bench. She fixes Nora with another of those intense looks, her grin tightening before she issues her first name.
"Ren!" Yang declared, watching Nora expectantly.
"Oh, that's easy, pass!" Nora said.
Yang nearly fell off the bench as she boggled at Nora. She swayed dangerously and had to flail her arms, abandoning her detached pose for the sake of balance. She sputtered as she righted herself, leaning in on her arms to fix Nora with her full attention.
"Wait, really? I wasn't expecting that!" claimed Yang.
"Uh-huh! Pass! Now, next name, I'm getting bored again!"
"Uh, okay – Pyrrha?" asked Yang, much more cautiously.
"Smash!" declared Nora quickly, a fire in her eyes.
Yang just blinked at the other girl. A moment later that grin slowly returned to her face and she relaxed once more. Once again, she leaned back and folded her arms, affecting a cool pose.
"Ha! Well, I'll be – and me, too, I guess - I didn't think you'd be that way, Nora – that's pretty cool!" said Yang. Nora shrugged in reply, not really seeing what the big deal was.
"Okay, well, Jaune!" continued Yang
"Smash!" Nora said emphatically, nodding her head twice. That also seemed to surprise Yang, but this time not so much.
"Blake?"
"Smash," Nora decreed.
"Weiss?"
"Smash!" the redhead growled.
"Me?" asked Yang, not sure what to make of her replies.
"Smash!" Nora boomed in response. Yang only blinked before continuing on.
"Ruby?"
"Smash!" Nora commanded, bringing her fists together. That seemed to be the wrong thing to say, though Nora couldn't imagine why. Yang's eyes flashed red for a moment.
"What?! But she's –" started Yang.
"My turn now! Oh, oh, Ren!" Nora interrupted.
"Uh – smash," Yang recovered. Nora fixed her with a disapproving glare but quickly moved on.
"Pyrrha!"
"Oh definitely Smash," Yang replied, her voice dropping half an octave and a faraway look coming to her eyes.
"Jaune!"
"Pass. Wait. No, I changed my mind. Smash," nodded Yang firmly.
"Okay, Weiss!"
"Hmmm, Smash."
"Blake!"
"Mm, oh yeah, I'd make that kitty howl – absolute smash."
"Me!" said Nora. Before Yang answered, she fixed Nora with a wry look, leaning in with half-lidded eyes.
"Smash," Yang declared, waggling her eyebrows once again. Yang seemed to be expecting a reaction from Nora, but she didn't understand what it could've been, so she just continued.
"Ruby!" crowed Nora. Immediately, Yang's face screwed up, and she made a noise of utter disgust, not dissimilar to Ruby when she was forced to eat a 'balanced diet.'
"C'mon Nora, you can't be serious. Pass," complained Yang, glaring at Nora as if she'd done something wrong.
"What? You guys fight all the time, what's wrong with smashing her?" asked Nora simply.
In reply, Yang just blinked at the girl, a pregnant pause overtaking the two. Nora was about to press her for an answer when Yang suddenly came back to herself, bursting out into laughter and doubling over the table. She slapped the table, shaking it while Nora watched on, confused but her attention held by Yang's outburst.
"You thought I was asking if you'd smash them? I mean, like, with a hammer or something?" Yang clarified, still giggling between words.
"Uh, well duh! What did you think you were asking me?" interrogated Nora.
"Nora, when you play 'smash or pass,' you're asking if you'd –" a hush came over Yang, and her eyes glanced back and forth as if making sure no one was listening in, "- you know. Go all the way."
Nora just blinked. Yang groaned.
"Do the deed? Get lucky? Knock boots? Get down? Do it?" Yang suggested, growing more and more annoyed each time she was met with Nora's vacant stare.
"Yang, what on Remnant are you talking about?" Nora replied blankly.
"I'm talking about having sex, damnit!" Yang all but shouted, immediately clasping her hands over her mouth as several of the surrounding students paused in their conversations to glance her way. With a flash of red eyes and a snarl, they quickly returned to their own business.
When Yang looked back to Nora, she was met with an unnatural stillness. Every muscle on Nora's body seemed to be completely locked up as she gazed into some infinite distance. The redhead didn't even so much as twitch while Yang looked on. Yang wasn't entirely sure she was breathing. A moment passed and Nora's entire body seemed to deflate with her breath.
"Oooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh," droned Nora in a strange mix of realization, resignation, humiliation, and amusement. Yang just snorted.
"Yeah," Yang agreed.
"Can I change my answers?" asked Nora tepidly. Yang just chuckled and nodded.
"Sure, let's start over. Ruby," began Yang.
"Pass!" Nora said quickly, and Yang gave her an approving nod.
"See why I was so surprised, now?" asked Yang. When she received a nod in turn from Nora, she continued, "Weiss!"
"Pass!"
"Blake."
"Pass!"
"Me."
"Pass!" replied Nora just as quickly as all the others. Yang set her with an aggrieved glare for a moment before rolling her eyes and continuing.
"Jaune?"
"Pass!"
"Pyrrha."
"Pass!"
"Pfft, you're crazy. Ren?" asked Yang, looking much more interested in Nora's answer suddenly.
Nora drew in on herself, having somehow not seen this possibility coming to pass. She raised one hand to rub across the opposite arm. She looked around carefully, nervously scanning for any of their friends – especially Ren. When she finally replied to Yang, it was in a small voice. She was unable to meet her eyes.
"Smash," admitted Nora gently.
"Ha! I knew it!" crowed Yang, victory writ on all her features. Nora just looked uncomfortable.
Nora relaxed slowly, then all at once, when Yang didn't seem like she was going to tease further. When she could finally face the blonde again, she had stuffed the last crumbs of her food into her mouth, quickly swallowing.
"Alright, well this was fun, Nora, but I'm gonna go hit the Gym. You wanna come with?" asked Yang as she started to stand, snatching up her tray. Nora joined her as she stood, taking her own tray in hand.
"Eh, nah, I think I'll go find something else to do – I just don't feel like the Gym right now, you know?"
"Heh, yeah, I get it – probably got the ol' heart running as fast as you like, huh?" teased Yang as they dropped off their empty trays.
"Sure. Hey, wait a minute, so if that's – you know – what 'Smash or Pass' is, does that mean you'd-"
"With everybody?" interjected Yang, "Yeah, I would, I like everybody on our teams."
"Even Jaune?"
"Yeah, even Jaune. Way I see it, until I'm taken, everybody gets one."
"Huh."
Nora turned that thought over in her head as they exited the cafeteria.
Nora Valkyrie was distracted when she and Yang went their separate ways. She had enjoyed their little game, but it gave her a surprising amount to think about as she walked Beacon's paths. If Yang would smash everyone she liked, does that mean she'd smash everybody? Who didn't Yang like? If a girl smashes a guy, is that smashing or getting smashed? As Nora attempted to work out the details of her wandering thoughts, the elegant white head of Weiss Schnee turned the corner, heading in the direction Nora just came. A distraction!
No longer needing to think things to not be bored, Nora bounded up to Weiss happily, meeting the girl halfway. Weiss didn't seem to notice her as she approached, her eyes glassy with a pleased smile on her face. When she finally glanced up, she nearly jumped out of her skin as she met Nora's grinning face.
"Ah! Nora! You startled me," greeted Weiss.
"Yup! That's what I do! Whatcha doin', Weiss?" asked Nora.
"Ah, I was just returning from the CCT for breakfast. I had to go early to speak with my sister due to the time difference," explained Weiss in a cool tone. Both girls had come to a stop, Nora blocking Weiss's path.
"Oooh, had a good talk?" questioned Nora. A fond smile came over Weiss's face for a moment before she schooled it back into neutrality.
"Oh yes, it was very pleasant. I always enjoy speaking with my elder sister."
"Neat! Did you ask her if she'd smash or pass anybody?" queried Nora, the earlier topic reappearing in her mind's eye.
"Wh-what?!" balked Weiss, leaning away from the redhead with a scandalized look.
"Smash or pass! Yang taught me the game at breakfast this morning and I thought it was really fun and interesting and now I'm thinking about it and I think I want to play with everybody! You play it by someone telling you a name and you say if you'd smash or pass and then you go back and forth- oh, but smashing doesn't mean to smash them with a hammer like I thought!" explained Nora breathlessly, Weiss struggling to keep up.
"I-I know what it is, you crass boor! Why on Remnant would I bring something like that up with my sister?" stammered Weiss.
"Silly Weiss, I'm not a boar! And because it's fun! You know how to have fun, right Weissy?" Nora insisted, earning only a snort of derision from the heiress.
"Absurd! Perhaps for someone of your… circumstance," Weiss began diplomatically, "it may be fun, indeed, but we have much more interesting things to discuss!"
"Oh yeah? Like what?" asked Nora honestly.
"Well – well, you know, like…" Weiss trailed off as she tried to recall the specifics of what she had just discussed with Winter. She always enjoyed speaking with her sister, yet somehow, she couldn't recall any specific details under the weight of Nora's expectant gaze.
"You guys probably talked about your grades and stuffy things like how everybody isn't as refined and smart and important as you two!" giggled Nora as Weiss failed to reply. That snapped the heiress back into reality and she shook her head, clearing her thoughts.
"Be that as it may, Nora, it's still more interesting than playing 'Smash or Pass,' especially since I already know the answers," boasted Weiss.
"Oh really? Do me, do me!" encouraged Nora, grinning wide. Weiss simply scoffed and adopted an imperious pose.
"Pass on everyone on our teams with the exception of your partner," declared Weiss with the force of immutable truth.
"And what would I do with him, huh?!" pressed Nora, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Unlike with Yang, she didn't have to worry about Weiss exploiting uncomfortable truths.
"Well- well, of course, you'd-" Weiss began hesitantly.
"Smash!" interrupted Nora giddily, laughing at the fluster that creeped up Weiss's face at the casual admission. Nora took advantage of the interruption, "Okay, okay, good job! Now it's my turn! Yang!"
"What?" Weiss asked, caught off-guard.
"I answered yours – well, you answered mine and I just let you know you were right – but now it's my turn! So, Yang! Smash or Pass?!" insisted Nora. Weiss was caught flat-footed as she returned to her usual complexion, but nonetheless acquiesced to Nora's demands.
"That churl? Please. Pass," Weiss declared dismissively. Nora's grin faltered at the tone of her voice.
"Well, how about Blake?" continued Nora.
"Hmm, she's certainly quite composed, but I can't see inviting her to my bed with that combative attitude of hers. Pass," decided Weiss. Nora relaxed again when Weiss seemed to be taking things seriously.
"Heh, okay! I know the answer to this one, but I want to hear you say it! Jaune-Jaune!" crowed Nora
"Eugh!" cringed Weiss, "Pass, pass, pass! I admit he's not quite as worthless as I had believed but I just can't get over that ridiculous first impression," muttered Weiss in shaky tones. Nora raised an eyebrow.
"What, the whole 'Snow Angel' thing? Didn't Neptune call you that?" countered Nora.
"Well, yes, but before that, after Headmaster Ozpin's little speech, Arc had also butt into my conversation with Ruby and her sister to declare that he was a natural blonde – I had singled him out a moment ago to Ruby, you see. He had been eavesdropping on us! It was most rude but that I kept running into him afterwards quickly became quite creepy – though I now know he didn't mean to be," explained Weiss. When she put it like that, Nora found that she couldn't disagree, even if she had a soft spot for her fearless leader.
"Yeah, that makes sense, I didn't know about that! Man, fearless leader sure is hopeless! Okay, how about Ruby?" asked Nora.
"Pass. Ruby is far too young for me to even consider such a thing," Weiss said simply with a roll of her eyes. Nora screwed up her face.
"Huh? But she's only two years younger than the rest of us? What's the big deal?"
"Nora, Ruby is fifteen. That's an eighth of her life – about 15% - that we've lived longer than she has. It's about the difference of life experience and I'm just not comfortable with such a gap," elaborated Weiss.
"Really? That's kind of weird, isn't it? I mean it's not like you're twice her age or anything. What's a normal gap thingy?"
"Personally, I believe 10% of your age should be your range. It is my belief that all partnerships should be as equal as possible, and life experience is an important part of that," finished Weiss. Nora wasn't quite satisfied with that answer but given that she couldn't really tell Weiss what to believe or not, she let it go.
"Okay! Well, what about me, then? Smash or pass?" asked Nora, returning to her bubbly mood.
"No offense, Nora, but I'd have to pass. I don't think I could get comfortable with your… energy," Weiss explained. Nora simply giggled in reply.
"That's fine, that's fine, I would pass on you, too!" Nora replied, earning a brief but surprising look of offense from the Schnee. The Ice Queen opened her mouth to retort but Nora cut her off, "Ren!"
"I - Hm," hummed Weiss, brought up short as she considered the idea, "Well, he is quite sharp," began Weiss, looking down and raise a hand to her chin. So involved in her musing, Weiss didn't notice the sudden intense gaze Nora fixed her with.
"And he's very refined. He could easily fit in among the Atlesian upper class. He's as fit and attractive as any other Huntsman, too," continued Weiss in a low tone as she worked out her thoughts. Nora's gaze intensified into a glare by the time Weiss spoke up again.
"Yes, and those eyes of his are quite striking – yes, I think I'd -!" Weiss finally looked up to meet Nora's furious eyes, the redhead girl's teeth openly grinding as she looked down upon Weiss as though she were a particularly squishable bug. Weiss yelped in fear.
"Yes. Weiss?" Nora prodded through her teeth, the sound of them grinding together was not unlike a blade upon a whetstone.
"Pass! Pass! He's not my type, I have no interest in him! Not at all!" pleaded Weiss desperately, feeling like she was begging for her life under Nora's scrutiny. Nora brightened immediately, the pressure evaporating.
"Oh! Good! I was worried there for a second!" giggled Nora.
"Ah, of course," sighed Weiss in relief.
"Okay, well, all that's left is Pyrrha!"
"Oh, that's hardly even a question. She's the only one who was worthy from the moment I met her. Before then, even. Smash for sure," nodded Weiss firmly, wholly comfortable with admitting it. Nora nodded in turn as Weiss stared off into the distance.
"Well, that's all I got, thanks Weiss! Have a nice day!" Nora declared, moving out of Weiss's way. The heiress didn't move immediately though, and Nora stopped to watch.
"Yes, yes," mumbled the Schnee, "Yes, we'd make the perfect power couple. With her martial prowess and my brilliance and resources we'd be at the top of the food-chain! She's the only one who could ever truly understand my plight, and I'm the only one who could ever understand hers!" rambled Weiss to herself as Nora watched with a raised brow.
"O-kay, if you think so, Weissy!" cried Nora before turning on a heel and skipping along in no particular direction.
"The Invincible Girl and the Inevitable Heiress! It's a perfect match, a perfect story! All the world would stare upon us in envy and wonder as we became the greatest team of boss bit…!" Weiss's manic voice slowly fell off as Nora skipped away.
That was weird! If she wasn't fantasizing about Renny, though, it didn't matter!
Nora Valkyrie found herself wandering Beacon's main thoroughfare, meandering towards the bullhead docks. Her boredom was beginning to set in again and she reviewed how her day had unfolded. She had played 'smash or pass' twice now! And it was fun both times! Sure, it got a bit weird with Weiss at the end there, but that was entertaining! Now, she needed to figure out what to do with the rest of her day.
Fortunately, Nora was saved from having to puzzle out a plan as a bullhead docked. Before the ramp could even fully open to offload its cargo, a red blur shot out of the entryway. Nora only had to look for a second to know exactly who it was. Ruby! Her newest victim! As petals flurried towards her, Nora reached out with a single strong arm and planted her feet.
"Ack!" cried Ruby Rose in a strangled gasp as Nora caught her by her hood. Such was her velocity before Nora arrested it that she flew wholly off her feet, her body stretching out past Nora before rebounding back in front of the ginger girl. Pieces of metal objects scattered in all directions from Ruby's arms.
"Ruby!" Nora greeted as she set her on her feet, ignoring the metal scatterings and Ruby's panicked expression as he grappled her in a powerful hug.
"Ack! Nora! Can't breathe – my parts!" cried Ruby desperately.
"Hi Ruby!" sang Nora, "whatcha doin'?" she asked as she released her from the hug of airway constriction – though keeping a firm hold on her hood.
"Nora! My parts! They're everywhere! What are you doing?!" continued Ruby, struggling against Nora's grip.
"Securing my entertainment! We'll get your stuff, but you have to play a game with me!" decided Nora.
"Okay! Okay! Just let me get them, I gotta make sure they're not hurt!" cried Ruby. Nora happily nodded, releasing the dark-haired girl, and together they picked up the various pieces that had flown out of Ruby's hands.
"That's all of them, I think," said Nora as Ruby fussed over each piece, turning them over and over in her hands, checking for scratches or boo-boos or whatever other things weapon parts could get when they're dropped.
"Thanks, Nora – even if you're the reason I dropped them in the first place!" scowled Ruby sourly, "Now what did you want?"
"We're gonna play 'Smash or Pass!'" announced Nora, placing her hands on her hips. Ruby just looked at her flatly.
"Really?" deadpanned Ruby.
"Yup!" acknowledged Nora.
"Did Yang put you up to this?" asked Ruby cautiously, narrowing her eyes.
"No! Well, sort of, I guess? See, we played this morning and it was fun after she explained to me what smashing meant so now I want to play with all our friends and you're up, bucko!"
"Ugh, fine, but can we make it quick? I wanna get these babies back to my baby and see what I can do with them!" pressed Ruby, bouncing lightly on her feet. Nora thought that looked fun, so she started to bounce too.
"Yup! You answer first! Weiss!" Nora started. Ruby stopped moving which caused Nora to stop moving.
"Weiss? Are we doing our teams?" Ruby asked, receiving a nod from Nora, "Uh, I mean she's cool I guess, and I like her, and she's pretty? So smash, I guess?" decided Ruby, though she didn't look convinced of her own answer.
"Blake!"
"Oh!" Ruby flustered lightly at the pace of their game, "Well she's really pretty! And she's super smart and cool and mysterious. And I like her weapon and I like her –" Ruby interrupted herself for a second, glancing around them, "-her ears," admitted Ruby.
"Her ears?" asked Nora – that was an odd thing to like!
"Y-yeah, her ears! You know…" Ruby trailed off, gesturing vaguely towards the top of her own head.
"Oooooohhhhhh," Nora crowed in understanding, then grinned widely.
"Y-yeah. They're really cute! And so is she. So, smash! Who's next?" pressed Ruby, her nervous energy beginning to set in again as she looked over her parts.
"Yang!"
"Yang?!" Ruby screwed her face up and flustered mightily, but the color drained as fast as it appeared once Ruby processed the question, "Gross, Nora! That's my sister! Pass!"
"But she's like your half-sister, right? So that should only be half-gross!" needled Nora.
"Ewwww! It's half too much, Nora, that's disgusting! Pass! Pass and I'm leaving if you don't accept it!" mandated Ruby. Nora giggled and nodded her acceptance.
"Okay, okay, Me!"
"Um," Ruby blanched, not expecting the question. Her silver eyes darted up and down along Nora's form.
"W-well, you're pretty and - and nice when you want to be. And you let me work on Magnhild. And you don't mind when I go fast," rambled Ruby as she didn't quite meet Nora's eyes.
"Uh-huh?" pressed Nora with a wide smile.
"Smash?" answered Ruby with a small voice and a flush on her face.
"Ha! Knew it!" singsonged Nora, much to Ruby's further embarrassment, "Okay, okay, Jaune-Jaune!"
"Jaune? Yeah, I like him. He's really nice, he's tall, and he was my first friend here, and he says funny things a lot – though I don't think he means to. Smash," declared Ruby, a normal hue to her skin now that she was no longer being forced to literally face up to her admissions.
"Oh-ho, he's just nice, huh? You called everyone else pretty – is Jaune-jaune not pretty to you, Ruby?" teased Nora, watching Ruby's cheeks pink as she grew smaller.
"Well I mean – he wasn't at first? But now that he's been training for a while – I mean, not that I was looking! But after seeing him in that dress at the dance – I guess, yeah, Jaune's pretty! I mean handsome, Jaune's handsome!" confessed Ruby haltingly.
"Ha, yeah, he's really turning into Mr. Muscles! It's crazy what unlocking aura will do for you!" mused Nora to Ruby's sudden confusion.
"What?"
"Nothing, nothing! What about Pyrrha?"
"Uh!" began Ruby, eloquently, "Well she's almost as tall as Jaune and her eyes are so pretty and I love her hair and she's so nice to me and she's always willing to help and Miló and Akoúo̱ are so cool and she's so good in a fight," Ruby rattled off as Nora watched. Man, everyone loves her teammate!
"So smash?" Nora interrupted.
"Of course! She's the best girl!" accepted Ruby. She stuttered again as she added in a smaller voice. "B-but don't tell my sister I said that!"
"Heh, she might just agree with you, you know!" teased Nora before moving onto the last name. "Ren!"
"Eh," said Ruby flatly, shrugging her shoulders.
"Excuse me?" Nora asked, suddenly turning serious. Ruby wilted like a rose beneath her stare.
"E-eh? There's not much to him!" muttered Ruby, growing worried.
"There's not much to my Renny!? You don't even know Ren!" Nora shot back.
"I-I-I know! I don't really know him! I can't talk to him, he's always so calm and boring!" protested Ruby desperately, Nora's stare only increasing in disapproval.
"My Renny is not boring! He is strong like a rock, calm like the ocean, and smooth as a breeze!" praised Nora as she defended the honor of her partner, placing a threatening hand on Ruby's shoulder.
"R-right! Whatever you say Nora! I just- I pass? I pass! It's me, not him, I swear!" pleaded the young Rose. Nora's grip disappeared immediately.
"Good answer, Ruby!" complimented Nora with a chipper smile on her face. Then, she folded her arms and waited for Ruby to speak. It took a moment for Ruby to calm down from the combination of fear and confusion and embarrassment before she finally realized what Nora was waiting for.
"Oh, it's my turn to ask now, right? Okay, so-" Ruby began.
"In order of RWBY-JNPR: Pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, that's me, pass, Smash!" interrupted Nora fluidly, earning a start from Ruby and a narrowing of her eyes.
"Oh. Kay," accepted the young girl – until she realized an important point, "Hey! You wouldn't smash me?!" she accused, insulted.
"Well, everyone keeps telling me not to, so they must know something I don't!" explained Nora.
"What?! Why not!?"
"Well Yang got all mad when I said I'd smash the first time she asked," Nora began, earning a blush from Ruby before she continued. "And she made me change my answer to Pass! And then Weiss said you were too young and you need to be within 10% of my age for me to smash! I'm 17 so you'd need to be 15.3!"
"H-hey, I turn 16 in a month! That's like 15.9!" Ruby objected.
"Oh, then I guess I'd smash? Well, if I didn't have Renny, anyway," Nora shrugged to Ruby's luminous glow. "Thanks Ruby, I gotta go find Pyrrha now!" decided Nora on a whim, already starting to skip away in the vague direction of the training grounds.
"Sheesh, is this how normal people feel when I talk to them?" mused Ruby before she turned towards the dorms and resumed her breakneck pace to her room.
The search for Pyrrha Nikos was long and arduous. It took every ounce of Nora Valkyrie's considerable grit and patience to pick up on the trail of her quarry. She searched high, she searched low, she searched about 5 minutes away from where she left Ruby. At long last, after scores upon scores of seconds passing, she finally spotted the vibrant red hair of her target! Pyrrha was walking from the training grounds towards their dorm, her weapons in hand!
"Pyrrhaaaa!" cried Nora as she bounded over to the other girl. Pyrrha looked up and smiled warmly at Nora as she approached. The skilled champion fighter knew her opponent well, and she placed her weapons on her back in anticipation of Nora's strike.
"Hello again, Nora- oof!" grunted Pyrrha as Nora slammed into her, trapping her arms in a bear hug that would've broken a lesser woman. Pyrrha replied with an expert counter, returning the hug briefly and warmly before flaring out her elbows, shattering Nora's hold in an instant. The two redheads sized each other up, Nora grinning in excitement and Pyrrha smiling in fondness.
"Whatcha doin'?" asked Nora simply as they stood an arm's length apart.
"I was just retrieving my weapons and preparing to continue Jaune's training tonight," Pyrrha answered smoothly.
"You guys are training again? You really wiped him out last night!" noted Nora.
"Yes, but Jaune was excited by his growth and wanted to continue immediately. I couldn't say no to his enthusiasm," chimed Pyrrha in reply, her smile growing warmer.
"Ha! Sure, and the extra one-on-one time's got nothing to do with it, right?" taunted Nora. The Champion replied with an accepting nod, ignoring the brief flush on her own cheeks.
"Well, there is that!" tittered Pyrrha, one hand raising to her face. For a moment, the two shared a companionable silence – a rarity for Nora, who quickly shattered it.
"Hey, let's play 'smash or pass'!" Nora suggested suddenly. Pyrrha blinked in turn as her expression blanked.
"I'm sorry, what?" inquired Pyrrha.
"'Smash or Pass!' Yang taught me how to play and I'm playing with everyone! It's super fun! Do you know how to play?" asked Nora.
"I'm familiar, yes, but I can't say I've ever done that before," stated Pyrrha hesitantly. Fortunately, Nora knew Pyrrha's one fatal weakness that wasn't Jaune-related.
"Aw, c'mon! We're all friends – all friends play games like that!" Nora coerced.
"Oh! Really? I wasn't aware," Pyrrha stated, but the warm look returned to her face at the prospect of being a "normal" friend.
"Yup! So do you want to ask or answer, first?" Nora asked to Pyrrha's shrug.
"I am in your hands, Nora, what would you like?" Pyrrha demurred from the decision. Nora jumped on the opportunity.
"I'll ask first then! Ruby! Smash or pass?" Nora posed.
"Hmm," Pyrrha hummed, adopting an intense yet serene gaze. Her eyes were far away, but Nora watched her pupils dart from side to side as the Champion considered. Nora waited patiently, only bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet instead of outright vibrating, "Pass, I'm afraid, I'm sorry!" chimed Pyrrha.
"Okay, how about Yang?" Nora continued.
"I don't think I'd like a relationship with Yang. She's sweet and kind when she wishes to be, but I worry I'd feel like I was competing with her. I have the arena for competition, I don't wish for my home to be a part of it. I'll have to pass, I'm sorry!" Pyrrha declared, her smile strained but steady.
"Huh! Relationships? – Yang told me smashing was just sex!" Nora declared heedlessly, earning a much more vibrant flush from Pyrrha at the casual mention of it.
"Yes, well, I like to believe the two go hand-in-hand. I wouldn't want to… To smash someone I wasn't in a relationship with," Pyrrha elaborated. She took a moment to breathe and re-adopted her serene look as she regarded Nora patiently.
"Hmmm, okay, fair enough! Well how about Blake?"
"I don't think I know Blake well enough to accept, though she seems kind enough. I'll also pass, I'm sorry!" chimed Pyrrha.
"Okay! Weiss?" Nora continued easily.
"Mm. Pass," Pyrrha answered much more quickly, hardly needing to consider it that time.
"Oh? Why not? And you didn't say you were sorry!" Nora pounced on the openings as they appeared.
"I suppose I didn't, did I? I didn't appreciate how she treated me. I don't think I could build a relationship with someone like Weiss," Pyrrha explained, pausing for a moment before adding, "And I think I'm still a bit sore about the whole situation between her and Jaune," she admitted guiltily. Still, she didn't apologize, much to Nora's surprise.
"Wow! What about if you did get over that? And what if Weiss changed?" Nora pressed.
"If Weiss changed, she wouldn't be the Weiss I know now. I can only answer based on the circumstances as they are. Where the chips have fallen, if you will," Pyrrha replied smoothly, smiling wanly at her friend.
"Fair enough, Pyr-Pyr! Renny?" asked Nora with a raising of her brow.
"Oh, not at all, Nora!" Pyrrha panicked, waving one of her hands in a placating manner, "I couldn't – I wouldn't – between the two of you? Ren is nice and kind and handsome but he's not what I'm looking for in a partner. I'm sorry!" Nora grinned as she watched Pyrrha try to dig herself out of a hole that didn't exist, relishing in that look of unease for several long moments before giggling happily.
"That's fine, Pyrrha, I know you'd never do something like that! What about me, then?" Nora posed, lowering her voice an octave as she fixed Pyrrha with a challenging smirk.
"You? Oh, I'm so sorry, Nora, I'll have to pass – I couldn't do that to Ren either!" Pyrrha replied easily, meeting Nora's smirk with one of her own. The two redheads smirked at one another for a long moment before Nora's began to widen, manically forming a wide grin. Pyrrha's expression blanched as she realized what was about to happen – and that she had no defense against Nora's incoming devastating strike.
"What. About. Jaune-Jaune? Smash or Pass, Pyrrha~" sang Nora in clear, threatening notes.
Pyrrha froze at the question. This had been Nora's plan all along, and she had allowed herself to be maneuvered right into it! It was obvious from the beginning! Pyrrha cursed herself in her mind as she made such a beginner's error, and her lack of immediate action only reinforced her opponent's advantage. Her eyes darted across Nora's form, taking in every detail of her stance she could, judging the best angle for her response to save herself.
In a flash, she reached out to grab Nora's forearm. Nora didn't seem surprised by the grapple, flexing her considerable muscle in response to Pyrrha's iron grip. Holding her like a lifeline, Pyrrha's expression darkened as she pressed forward with her plan. She had to psyche herself up!
After all, what did she have to be ashamed about? Nora already knew how she felt about Jaune! In fact, it seemed like everyone knew how she felt about Jaune except Jaune himself! What did she have to be ashamed of? That her beloved partner could make her weak in the knees with his brilliant smile and earnest eyes? That for all his faults, his sincere desire to do better inspired the same in her? No! Pyrrha was strong, she was the strongest! She could answer this question and answer it well! She would win!
Pyrrha took one final look at her opponent, evaluating the smug, expectant gaze upon Nora's face as Pyrrha's grip tightened. Then, she opened her mouth and executed her plan.
"Jaune is…" Pyrrha began slowly, carefully schooling the blush that threatened to overwhelm her, planted no doubt by Nora's devious planning, "One of the most driven men I have ever met. He's not the strongest, but he knows that. He didn't know what he was doing or what he was getting himself into by coming to Beacon, but he did it anyway. Some would call that foolish, others would call it brave, but I believe it to be more than either," claimed Pyrrha, pressing her attack as the weight of her words pushed into Nora's smug guard. The smirk dropped, fading into a stunned regard, and Pyrrha pressed onwards.
"I unlocked his aura, Nora, you know that," Pyrrha continued, striking from unexpected angles as she continued her offense, "I saw into the very depths of his soul, lighting its fire with my own. He is afraid, without confidence, self-deprecatory, and overwhelmed," Pyrrha feinted gracefully, "And he is also unable to quit. Even if it's just for the sake of his pride, he will never stop so long as he draws breath," struck the champion as she found the rhythm that would break Nora before her.
"He pushes now, not just for himself, but for others!" Pyrrha passionately declared, "He shares my own drive to defend those without our strength, for he knows what that means more intimately than any of us! A civilian that would've been smeared across the Emerald Forest's floor were it not for my spear!" Pyrrha danced between her points as she weaved to target the heart of the matter.
"From that low point, even before being gifted strength, he chose not to flee, but to stand, and become that spear for another – for all others! He has worked towards it every day! Clumsily at first, but once he accepted my mentorship, he has become so much more than any could've expected, even I, who know him better than any other!" Pyrrha set Nora up in her own trap, satisfied with the way the battle had unfolded, and launched her final strike.
"So yes! Yes, I would smash! By my spear and his sword, with every fiber of my being, I would smash!" Pyrrha all but roared in victory as Nora crumbled beneath her. Her expression had vanished long ago, but the last legs of Nora's resolve fell out from underneath her before Pyrrha's onslaught. Where Nora sought to exploit Pyrrha's greatest weakness, Pyrrha Nikos, the Invincible Girl, had turned that weakness into her strength! Her emerald eyes blazed with passion and mastery as she awaited her opponent's yielding.
"Oh, wow, Pyr-Pyr, that's awesome! Could you let go of my arm, now?" Nora happily agreed to Pyrrha's passionate confession and Pyrrha immediately stilled.
"Um, I'm sorry?" Pyrrha offered, carefully releasing Nora's arm before raising her hand to her mouth once more, tittering nervously as she blushed once more, finally realizing what she had just done.
"Ah, don't worry about it, that was really neat!" laughed Nora, "But it's your turn now!"
"Ah, I suppose so!" agreed Pyrrha as a graceful smile returned to her features. She clasped her hands before her and fixed Nora with a calculating gaze, "Jaune."
"Pass!"
"Oh! That was fast, any particular reason?"
"Pyrrha, even if I liked Jaune-Jaune like that – and I don't – there's no way I'd tell you that to your face after that!" giggled Nora, "Who's next?"
"Hm, well honestly, Nora, I don't really mind not knowing. Whoever you like or desire isn't much my own business, yes?"
"Unless it's Jaune-Jaune, right?" teased Nora viciously, Pyrrha's answering blush all she needed to see. "Thanks though, this was really fun! I need to go find Blake, then Jaune, then Ren before the day is over!"
"Oh, of course Nora, thank you for playing with me, it was fun!" Pyrrha agreed as Nora started to skip away from her. A thought occurred to her as she watched the slowly retreating form of her teammate, "She's… going to find Jaune?"
Pyrrha jolted in place, immediately taking off after her friend, "Nora, wait! Nora?! Nora! You can't tell him what I said! Nora!" the Invincible Girl cried out as she desperately chased after her.
The journey to find Blake progressed much faster after Nora Valkyrie calmed Pyrrha back down. Of course Nora wasn't planning on telling Jaune anything she said! She wasn't sure what the big deal about the whole thing really was – Jaune could use somebody to just come out and tell him how Pyrrha felt – but she wasn't going to be the one to do it! Probably. She didn't think so, anyway.
Fortunately, even with that interruption, Nora knew exactly where to go to find her Faunus friend. It was the one place no one would ever think to look. The one place that Blake retreated to when she desired total solitude. The one place none but Nora could ever find her. The other side of the library than her usual spot! And there she was, sitting alone, surrounded by a fortress wall of books! She must have been having a great time these past few hours!
Well, time to interrupt her!
"Hi, Blake!" greeted Nora cheerfully as she sidled up alongside the brunette. Yellow eyes closed in consternation, a great sigh escaping the girl. Nora waited patiently for her address to be returned, shifting her weight between her feet, while Blake studiously ignored her and finished her page before marking her place with her ribbon. Finally, Blake turned in her seat to look up at Nora, who grinned in return.
"Yes, Nora?" Blake asked tiredly.
"Whatcha doin'?"
"I am – was – reading my books. Now I'm probably fielding whatever it is you want," Blake sniped, making her displeasure well known.
"Oh, awesome! This'll be simple then!" Nora cheered, oblivious to the way Blake's eye twitched as her hints once again went either ignored or entirely disregarded.
"What will be simple, Nora?" Blake asked carefully.
"I want you to play 'smash or pass' with me!" Nora announced. Blake blinked in reply, looking Nora over slowly.
"That's all?"
"Yup!"
"Just a quick game of smash or pass?"
"Uh-huh!"
"And afterwards you'll leave me alone?"
"Uh, yeah!"
"Okay. Go ahead," Blake accepted. She well knew that the quickest way to be rid of Nora was to indulge whatever whimsy struck her.
"Okay! Ruby? Smash or pass?" began Nora.
"Ruby and I?" questioned Blake, blinking.
"Yup!" confirmed Nora. Blake remained silent for a moment, then her eyes widened, pupils dilating to tiny pinpricks.
"Oh my," gasped Blake, her mouth hanging open listlessly. Then she began to speak again, "Sweet, innocent little Ruby Rose. The kind protector, ever striving in the service of others. So, so selfless, and so, so trusting," Blake all but whispered, her eyes glassy and unfocused.
Nora squirmed lightly, uncomfortable, as the Faunus continued, "And then there's me. The experienced, dark shadow who lives in the night. I could show her. I could show her the night and all its secrets. All its pleasures…" Blake took a shuddering gasp as she continued, "My little Rose… I could show her so much," Blake looked up to Nora and spoke clearly, "Smash."
"Uh, right! Um, Weiss?" Nora tried to rally.
"Oh, the stuck-up, spoiled Princess?" clarified Blake, not really paying attention to Nora's noncommittal grunt, "She thinks she's so above it all. She thinks nothing can touch her on her ice throne. But I know her secrets. She's told me – I've seen them. She's so, so alone up there, on that throne. I could take her from it. Take her off that throne and onto her back," hissed Blake.
A feral grin crossed Blake's face for a moment before she collected herself, "She'd resist at first, but how could she? I have experience she couldn't dream of. I know exactly how I could get her to open up to me – to do exactly what she wants but won't admit. Yes, yes, I can see it now. The poor, lonely Princess dancing to the tune of the Kunoichi at her back…" Blake trails off before looking back up Nora again, "Smash."
"Ahem. Right. Yang?"
"Oh, that's almost boring," Blake rolled her eyes, then stills, "But then again, would it be? The passionate brawler, always so outgoing, so gregarious, so dominant. How would she handle someone that would meet her blow for blow? That would roll with her punches before throwing jabs of their own? Could she handle the same heat she lays down on so many weaklings and sycophants? Or would she melt beneath the words and tongue of someone meeting her, not head on, but where she least expects it?"
Blake trailed off as her fantasy plays out in her mind's eye, "She probably would think she has life all figured out – as if everything is on a script, playing to her tune. She teases, they balk. She preens, they stare. She fights, she wins. All it takes is that one moment when things go off-script to shatter every bit of that self-sure attitude. The brawler teases and the shade teases back. The brawler preens and the shade grabs. The brawler fights and the shade wins," Blake breathes out slowly. This time, she doesn't meet Nora's eyes, "Smash."
"Wow, okay. Um. Jaune," decided Nora, almost curious to see Blake's reply now.
"Ick, the wannabe-knight?" started Blake, but her voice drops as she continues, "But then, he may be a fool, but he's the favorite kind of fool for people like me. An honest one," Blake muses as she continues, "All that honor, all that passion could be turned to my ends with just a swish of my hips. He'd fight it, of course, but men like him? They can never fight it long. Even with all his stupidity, all that means is that the displays must get more and more overt. He'd never stop them – that'd be unkind," mocked Blake.
"It won't be long until he's flustering just at being in the same room as me. The pressure would get to him. It would build and build and build until all he can think of is release. Until he'd do anything for relief. Until he's dancing to my tune towards whatever end I like. Then all that passion, all that honor, all that loyalty and all that devotion? It'd all be mine, to do anything and everything with. He'd never, ever break free," finished Blake in low, almost hungry tones, "Smash."
"Huh, don't really see it, but you do you, sister! Pyrrha!" Nora chimed, eager to see how this may play out.
"The unmatched Champion," said Blake with a gasp, "She'd be the one to finally match the Kunoichi. The Champion would come for the Knight, of course, she'd never lower herself to dealing with the shadows, otherwise. She's too bright, too pure, to be motivated by anything other than concern for her Chosen," reasons Blake, lost in the grips of her fantasy, "She'd come for the Knight. Perhaps she'd be drawn at first by his strange behavior. By the way he lost focus on everything else. The Champion would be concerned at first – that's not his way – but she'd be too late to stop the Kunoichi's plan unfolding. But she'd be just in time to bear witness to its climax. The Knight, finally relieved of his burdens, the Kunoichi, basking in the afterglow of victory. Neither one of them would expect it when the Champion busts down the door seeking her wayward charge. She'd be furious. Livid."
Blake shivered at the thought, "A battlelust would take her immediately. She'd charge the Kunoichi, who would barely be able to fight back. Even on her best day, the Kunoichi couldn't hold a candle to her in martial skill, but now? Spent after claiming what she thought was her prize? She'd pick the Kunoichi apart like so many greater foes the Champion had vanquished. And then when she's standing triumphant over the Kunoichi that stole her protégé? Well, it's tit-for-tat, isn't it? To the victor goes the spoils, and she'd be sure to spoil the Kunoichi so thoroughly that she wouldn't be able to think of anything but how to recompense the Champion she wronged for the rest of her days," Blake declared as she finished her most vibrant imagining yet. She looks to Nora once again and speaks simply, "Smash."
"Ha, wow, that was kinda wild! Um, Ren?" Nora asked, though she's a bit concerned, even as she tries to detach herself from what she's sure she's about to hear.
"Ahh, the other shadow in the night," began Blake, "He, of course, would understand the Kunoichi intimately. It wouldn't be anything like those that came before. They're both creatures of the darkness, they both live in the shade," Blake elaborates, "It would be in passing, at first. One professional to another, a few dry quips traded as they proceed on parallel work. There'd be passing glances, of course. The Kunoichi and the Ninja are both in their prime, after all, they know the game."
Despite herself, Nora couldn't help but start to tighten her expression as Blake continued, "Maybe it starts one night after a mission – maybe even an opposing one. They'd come to blows, they'd both fail, and then after reporting to their superiors they'd meet, totally by chance, in the same run-down inn."
Nora's teeth began to grind while Blake spoke, "Tensions would be high, emotions higher, and the sake would wear it all down. It'd be passionate, understanding, both giving when the other takes, and taking when the other gives. They wouldn't sleep that night at all – or the night after. And it'd last long after their contracts would end," finished Blake, turning to Nora and meeting her jealous glare with a firm, convicted gaze, "Smash."
"Nn," is all that Nora grunted in reply. Blake holds her eyes, never flinching, "That all you got to say, Blakey?" Nora challenges.
"You asked," shrugged Blake, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Nngh. I did," Nora deflated as she admits defeat, "Okay, fine, what about me? But keep it to one word, I don't wanna hear your crazy stories about me!"
"Pass," declared Blake smugly, raising a brow at Nora's scandalized look.
"What?!" shouted Nora, heedless of the library's need for quiet.
"Pass," repeated Blake, "I don't think either one of us could handle the other. We'd both hate it. Now, is that all, or can I go back to reading?"
"What, you're not gonna ask me?" tutted Nora in reply, still smarting over being the only one left out of Blake's fantasies – she even had one for Jaune-Jaune, for crying out loud!
"As if I care," dismissed Blake, turning back to her book as though the matter were closed.
"Well, fine! You just go on and be a sourpuss then! See if I play games with you again!" threatened Nora, already turning on a heel and heading away from Castle Book.
"Would I be so lucky," murmured Blake as Nora disappeared.
Nora Valkyrie was in a mood as she stomped along Beacon's paths once again. The students around her gave her a wide berth, staggering away from her as she made her way to an unknown destination. That stinky kitty-cat dared to admit to wanting to smash her Renny! And if that wasn't bad enough, she refused to want to take a swing at Nora herself! Well, who needs her? Nora certainly didn't need any kitty-ninja's lusts focused on her! So long as she keeps away from Ren, Nora could handle a bit of a blow to the ego.
Still, it smarted, and Nora needed something to take her frustrations out on. Someone who she could easily torment to regain some of her earlier vigor. Someone who might-as-well-be duty bound to put up with her and make her happy! Someone who had to suffer her but wasn't Ren because no matter how frustrated she got she didn't want to make Ren's life any harder. Someone like her fearless leader. And speak of the Grimm, there he was, looking at her with those sappy, concerned, stupid blue eyes of his, his weapon at his hip! Recompense!
"Jaune-Jaune!" Nora greeted her fearless leader ferally, stalking up to him even as he shrank away from her. For someone so used to commanding her in battle, it never stopped being funny how afraid he was of her outside of it.
"Um, hey, Nora, uh, is everything okay?" Jaune asked lamely, and even though Nora barely came up to his chest, she felt like she was towering over him.
"Everything is absolutely fantastic, Jaune!" Nora lied, "Whatcha doin'?"
"Uh, well, I got my stuff here," Jaune replied, shaking his weapon and armor lightly as if Nora hadn't already spotted it, "I was just going to meet Pyrrha, she was going to show me more shield techniques, and-and help me work on my semblance, maybe."
"Well guess what, fearless leader? That can wait!" declared Nora, and to her satisfaction, Jaune only looked like he was going to resist her a little bit.
"Um, for how long? I told Pyrrha I'd be ready in an hour and I'm not – I'm not gonna bail on her, she does so much for me, Nora, I can't," Jaune negotiated, half apologizing to her. Nora felt quite satisfied as Jaune groveled for mercy, chuckling sadistically.
"Oh, that depends on you, Jaune-Jaune! As long as you answer honestly and quickly, I won't keep you from Pyr-Pyr too long! She'd never forgive me!" crooned Nora at Jaune's concerned, scared expression.
"Ah, okay, I guess? I guess I can do that. Um, what did you want to ask?"
"I will give you a name, and then ask 'Smash or Pass' and you will answer honestly!" defined Nora. She wasn't making the same mistake as with Blake – this wasn't a game anymore, it was an interrogation!
"Wh-what?" squeaked Jaune, wilting under her determined glare.
"Blake! Smash or Pass?!" demanded Nora suddenly, earning a light startle from her blonde leader.
"Blake?! What? I've barely said two words to her, I don't think she likes me very much at all, pass," dismissed Jaune, but Nora wasn't satisfied.
"No Jaune, it's not about what they want! It's about what you want! Now try again, smash or pass?!" commanded Nora. Jaune straightened up, his eyes glinting steel when Nora questioned him.
"I'm serious, Nora," began Jaune, "Of course I'd want to smash Blake – She's beautiful and she's got those eyes and that long hair – but only if she wanted to, too! I'm not going to act like I'm some sort of gift to women or something dumb like that!" he stopped himself, remembered his history, and stuttered, "N-not anymore, I mean."
"Whatever," Nora rolled her eyes as her leader wilted once again. "So, you'd pass on Blake, what about Weiss?"
"Ah!" Jaune hissed as if he'd been struck, "C'mon, Nora, that's not fair," he whined as he looked at her pleadingly. Nora was unmoved and fixed him with a look that demanded honesty.
"Weiss? Smash or Pass?!"
"Pass! Are you kidding, Nora? I can barely look her in the eye anymore!" lamented Jaune, his eyes downcast as he slouched dejectedly, "I wish I had never tried any of that dumb confidence stuff. At least then I could be friends with her and it wouldn't be weird, you know?" he whined.
"Now I know you're lying!" shouted Nora, happy to find an excuse to vent her anger, reaching out to smack Jaune's chestplate with a satisfying thwack, "C'mon Jaune-Jaune, I said be honest!" She encouraged Jaune's honesty by continuing to hit him.
"Ow, hey!" complained Jaune as she rained half-hearted blows upon him, "I'm not lying Nora, what's gotten into you? Weiss is gorgeous and her voice is beautiful and she's so elegant and graceful and delicate, but I trashed any chance I had with her on the first day – I was just too stupid to realize it," Jaune groused.
"And then I humiliated myself because I didn't, and worst of all, I made her uncomfortable and made her feel unsafe. I never wanted that! I'm here because I want to help people, not make things worse," Jaune spoke, though Nora was hardly listening, amusing herself with her assault upon her leader's armor. Quickly, she grew bored of it, but it made her feel a bit more balanced.
"Yeah yeah. Well, what about Ruby, then? She likes you."
"I mean, yeah, she does, she's my friend," started Jaune, relaxing just a bit as Nora stopped whacking him, "But I dunno. She's kinda young, right? Like she's pretty and fun to be around and we have some of the same interests, but I wouldn't want to take advantage of her like that, you know? I mean, I guess if she came to me first, maybe? Yeah, that's it, I'd smash if she started it, but I'd pass otherwise," reasoned Jaune, slowly coming to an answer he was comfortable with.
"Hmph. Alright mister, I'll take it. Yang, then, smash or pass?" interrogated Nora.
"Actually," Jaune cringed inwards on himself, "That's kinda weird, you know?"
"What? How? What do you mean?" Nora asked, shocked.
"Well, it's like – I told you guys I have 7 sisters right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Did I never show you a picture of all of them?"
"No, why?"
"Well, we're all blonde," Jaune explained, "Every one of us. Just like Yang. Like, if it wasn't for her eyes, she could walk into the house and Mom would probably mistake her for Saphron," He elaborates, but immediately walks back his comment, "Wait, who am I kidding? Mom never mixes any of us up. But she could definitely pass for one of the family. She'd fit right in, and my sisters would love her."
"Soooo…" Nora lead on, "You'd pass on Yang, then?"
"That's the weird part!" whined Jaune, "I kinda don't want to! But I also kinda do!" he cried, "It's really, really confusing, Nora!"
"Heh," snorted Nora. This is what she was looking for! "Sooo, little Jaune-Jaune has a thing for his sisters, huh?"
"What?! No!" Jaune protested immediately, "Eugh, that's gross, Nora! No, I don't have a thing for my sisters! Grimm, I helped them through their – you know – their uh, womanly business!" Jaune struggled to explain.
"Oh?" Nora raised a brow, "So what are you saying, fearless leader? A little bodily function is enough to kill your interest? Because news flash, every girl has to deal with it!" challenged Nora, the sadistic grin on her face betraying her enjoyment of Jaune's squirming.
"No, no!" struggled Jaune, "But, I mean, c'mon, I lived with them my whole life! I saw them at their worst – and let me tell you, Bleu was just a bit of a late bloomer and she was a terror when it hit her! She took it all out on me, too. I was basically her lapdog – and that was just the first time!" Jaune complained, then straightened up as he found a path to salvation, "Nora, do you know what happens when 8 women live in close quarters?"
"Huh?" questioned Nora, surprised to be faced with a question of her own and honestly unsure of the answer. It had always been her and Ren, no other girls to speak of, so she answered, "Well, no, what?"
"They sync up, Nora!" exclaimed Jaune, "All those cycles sync up at the same time – or close enough for it not to matter! Me and Dad had a calendar, and it was like the house was on fire every day for like a week every month! We were run ragged, Nora! Grimm, he's probably more upset that he's the only one dealing with 6 of them than that I took Grandpa's sword when I came here!" he lamented.
"Wait, girls sync up their cycles?" Nora asked.
"Well, sorta," Jaune said, calming down slightly, "So it's like – not exact or anything – but, like, you and Pyrrha started getting closer, and when you had a headache or she did the other wasn't far behind," Jaune explained casually as Nora paled white as a sheet.
"You- you guys noticed all that?!" she squeaked.
"Uh, yeah? It's kind of hard not to – Ren and I take out the trash, and I do all the budgeting for the team. Why do you think I'd always bring Pyrrha extra chocolate and Ren would make extra pancakes?" Jaune offered lamely.
"Well that's –" Nora started, then stopped. She'd lived with Ren her whole life, and he certainly had to explain to her that she wasn't dying the first time around. It didn't bother her then, why was this different? Oh yeah, it was because – "It's different when we're all living together! We tried to hide it!"
"Why?" Jaune asked simply, "It's just your body."
"It's gross!"
"It's nature, Nora, come on," calmed Jaune, "Look, for what it's worth, we did notice you guys trying, so we never brought it up. Ren convinced me not to when I was gonna get Pyrrha a few things, so we're trying, right? We'll just keep pretending if that makes you happy."
"Grr. Okay," acceded Nora reluctantly, "But I want my pancakes to have chocolate chips from now on – and Pyrrha deserves dark chocolate! Oh, and can you get us those heated pad thingies? Pyrrha said she used to have one and it helps a lot but was too embarrassed to bring it here."
"Yeah, sure, no problem, Nora, I'll grab them the next time I'm in Vale," Jaune agreed, always happy to help out his team. Nora, too, was feeling a lot better. It was always nice to feel supported, and that was something Jaune was really great at – the simple things! She was turning and almost about to walk off when he spoke up once again, "So is that what this is all about? Did we run out of something, or is it just hurting really bad this time?"
"What?" boggled Nora.
"This smash or pass thing? How upset you were? All the talk about – uh – cramps? Should I tell Pyrrha I need a rain check because we need stuff, like, now?" asked Jaune. Nora boggled at him again and even though he was being earnest and thoughtful and sincere, she felt all that goodwill he built burn up like so much ash.
"No, Jaune!" Nora snarled, "I just wanted to play a fun game – hey! You tricked me! I forgot we were playing!" Nora remembered, brightening as she turned on her leader with renewed vigor, "Where were we?!"
"Um, we had just finished?" tried Jaune with a weak grin, shaking slightly.
"No, no! I'd know because I wanted you to answer one question the most when I walked over here!" Nora announced, her grin returning to her features.
"O-oh," Jaune replied lamely, wilting under her gaze once more "W-what's that?"
"Pyrrha," announced Nora coolly, and she saw the panic in Jaune's eyes, "Smash. Or pass?" she demanded of her leader. He stumbled back as if struck. The fear and shock in his eyes gave Nora sweet, sweet, life-giving Schadenfreude (whatever that was) that would last for days!
"P-Pyr-?!" Jaune couldn't even say her full name, falling back on her sometimes-nickname, such was his shock, "Nora, you can't ask me that!"
"I just did!" pressed Nora, and she twisted the knife, "And you have to answer! Or I'll tell Pyrrha all about that stuff we just talked about, and she'll be sooooo upset!" Nora cruelly exploited. But, like always when his team – or especially his partner – was threatened, Jaune rallied.
"You want to know if I'd smash or pass Pyrrha, Nora?" he questioned with a dangerous edge to his words. Nora nodded eagerly, "Fine, the answer is neither! I could never do that to her!" he declared resolutely.
"What?" Nora despaired - she wasn't expecting the third option!
"I could never just smash her – she deserves so much better than that – and I could never pass her, either. I'd never turn away from her like that!" Jaune announced as he stood his ground, rising to his full height and towering over his redheaded teammate.
"Oh, come on, Jaune!" pleaded Nora, "Pyrrha answered when I asked her!"
"What?" That brought Jaune up short, stunned.
"Yeah! Heck, you were the only one that she said she'd smash! She got all wild about it too, talking about how she saw into your soul and stuff when she unlocked your aura! She was really, really insistent about taking that smash, and she wanted to make sure the rest of us didn't want to!" exclaimed Nora, frustrated that Jaune was trying to get out of his torment.
"She – she said that?" Jaune's eyes were wide as saucers, but Nora just scoffed at him.
"Well yeah, what did you expect?! She's been making goo-goo eyes at you since the Forever Fall thing! She just makes sure you're not looking and makes the rest of us swear not to tell you-" Nora stopped abruptly, her own eyes widening in turn.
For a brief moment, both of them were completely silent.
"I've- I've gotta find Pyrrha," Jaune exhaled breathlessly, already starting to turn. In a panic, Nora reached out to snatch her fearless leader by his arm, digging her heels into the ground and refusing to budge as she held him in place.
"W-wait, Jaune! You can't tell Pyrrha I let that slip! She'll break my legs!" cried Nora in fear.
"Wha-? Yeah- Nora let me go!" Jaune struggled, "I've gotta – gotta find Pyrrha – I 've gotta apologize to her – Grimm, I asked her for help asking out Weiss! Oh, Grimm, I've got so much to make up for! I need to find her now!" Jaune panicked, his breath racing. Nora could feel his aura pulsing as it instinctively responded to Jaune's panic. Nora just dug her heels in deeper, her aura clashing with Jaune's own. She may not have quite as much as he did, but she was second on the team and she wasn't giving in!
"Not – not until you answer me, Jaune! Pyrrha! Smash or Pass!?" Nora demanded, even as she struggled to hold him back.
"Smash! Grimm, of course I'd smash Pyrrha, Nora, are you crazy?! Pyrrha's – Pyrrha's incredible! She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life! I can't – I can't even put it into words but sometimes I just look at her and it's like nothing else is there! And she's the kindest, most patient, most wonderful partner and she's always believed in me," Jaune's voice began to gain strength as he spoke of Pyrrha, his flaring aura ebbing into a steady flow. Quickly, Nora found her strength failing, dragged along even as she poured all her soul into trying to plant her leader.
"She's the whole reason I'm as good as I am! Anything I do right, it's all because of Pyrrha! I owe her everything: my life first, my skills second, and every other thing I do will be because Pyrrha gave me a chance! I've got to find her and start making it up, now!" Jaune cried, and with that he broke free of Nora's hold, taking off towards the dorms at full tilt – even if he stumbled and tripped once or twice along the way.
"Hmph! That was rude, he didn't even say goodbye!" Nora grumbled, her hands on her hips, as she watched her leader disappear.
Nora Valkyrie had had a surprisingly long day. She hadn't expected to have such fun tormenting all her friends (and Blake!) when she sat down with Yang that morning, but here she was! And while the whole day had somehow slipped away from her, there was one thing she was still missing. Ren!
So, Nora found herself with a destination in mind, for once, walking towards her dorm. It was kind of funny, normally if she went for even a little bit of a day without Ren she ended up in really weird situations. Like that time she set the Forever Fall on fire, or that time she set that dust shop on fire, or that time she set the dorm on fire – actually, pretty much anytime she didn't have Ren with her something ended up on fire! But not today!
Nora hummed happily to herself as she entered the dorm building, very satisfied with her little victory. There weren't many people around at this time, but as she ascended the stairs to JNPR's floor, she found Jaune and Pyrrha! There was something weird about them, though. Pyrrha's weapons were just laying on the floor around them, and they were both holding each other's hands – that's not something they usually do!
They didn't even notice Nora as she walked by them, staring deep into one another's eyes and smiling wide, happy smiles at each other. Nora was pretty sure Pyrrha was crying, and tears of any kind, happy or otherwise, was definitely not something Pyrrha did! Nora considered stopping for a moment to find out what the heck was going on, but then thought better of it – better leave them to their moment!
"I'm so – so happy you feel that way, Jaune! I had no idea you were struggling the same way! You weren't going to say anything, though? What – what changed your mind?" Pyrrha choked out, laughter in her words even as she hiccupped every now and again in a weird mix of disbelief and utter joy.
"Well, ah – okay, so that's the embarrassing part, Pyr," Jaune began as Nora continued to walk away, his voice slowly fading away even as Pyrrha's happy laughter sounded through the hall at the nickname turned pet name. "You see, Nora…" was the last thing Nora could make out before she found herself just outside of RWBY's and JNPR's dorms.
"And then I benched three-plate without aura!" Yang regaled Blake with her exploits at the Gym. Nora glanced over to look into team RWBY's dorm and watched her gesticulate wildly.
"That's nice, Yang. Hey, does 'passionately thrusts' or 'thrusts passionately' sound better to you?" replied the Faunus, evidently distracted by something much more important as she scribbled in a notebook.
"And now that I consider it further, Ruby, it would do well for us to determine an advertising strategy for the first wave of SDC-sponsored Rose weaponry – your namesake of course – when you agree to be my COO of small-arms engineering," rambled Weiss.
"Sure, Weiss, that sounds fine. I'm sure your idea's great – hey could you hold the light a bit higher?" requested Ruby as she fiddled with some unseen, tiny mechanisms within Crescent Rose. She wore a comically large headpiece fitted with a variety of lenses, almost like a jeweler's, as she tinkered on her weapon.
Nora smiled idly at the sight of her friends then turned to the closed door of JNPR's dorm. She had never had a home for long when she and Ren were on the road, but here it was, and it had never looked more welcoming. She let herself in and there, just as she expected, was the person she most wanted to see!
"Welcome home, Nora," Ren spoke placidly, sitting on his bed in a stiff, focused pose of meditation. His eyes were closed, and he just looked so gosh darn handsome, all intense and calm and stuff!
"Thanks, Renny!" giggled Nora as she closed the door behind her and flounced over to her bed, sitting across from him and just watching him for several long moments. He made no move to speak, and Nora felt no need to interrupt him, happy to just watch as he found his center – or whatever it was he did while sitting still like that for so long. She sighed happily as she drank in the sight of her partner.
"Have you had a nice day, Nora? I hadn't heard any panicking, so I extended my meditation," Ren offered after hearing the sound. He always knew when Nora wanted to talk! And ironically, she never had to say anything!
"Yup! It was great! I missed you though," she admitted. There was a twitch of his lips as Ren gave her one of his smiles-that-weren't, and he hummed in an attempt to hide it that never worked on her.
"I missed you too, Nora," he stated simply, and her chest warmed with those words. Emboldened by him, Nora decided to play one last game of the day.
"Hey Renny, can we play 'smash or pass?' You have to go first though!" Nora dictated, and she watched that cute way Ren's features stitched themselves into confusion as he processed her words. When they settled, he answered her.
"Of course, Nora," Ren agreed easily, settling back into his pose as he went with the flow Nora set. She loved just how accommodating he always was of her! He hardly ever questioned her when she asked for something anymore. "Am I asking or answering?"
"Oh, answering!" Nora clarified, "Are you ready?"
"Mm," Ren hummed in agreement.
"Okay. Ruby!"
"Pass."
"Weiss!"
"Pass."
"Blake!"
"Pass."
"Yang!"
"Maybe in another life. Pass," Wait, that was very wordy by Ren standards!
"Maybe in another life?" Nora questioned, a strange hitch in her chest even if Ren already passed.
"She has been enjoyable company. She reminds me quite a bit of you, in fact, though perhaps a bit more crude in some ways," Ren replied easily. Nora's heart-rate slowly returned to normal at the mention of her own monopolization of his interest.
"Oh yeah? Well, what's stopping you from taking a swing, then?" Nora asked boldly, teasing him, "It's not like we're together-together!"
"Hm," Ren hummed an amused response, "Well, I already have the better model," and oh how that answer warmed Nora's whole soul! But still, she couldn't let him off that easily, the charmer!
"That's the only thing holding you back?" Nora tested.
"Well, that, and a fear of getting my legs broken," Ren wryly replied. The short chuckle he gave her was enough to make her feel like she was floating.
"Hee-hee, okay, Ren, what about Jaune?" giggled Nora.
"Pass," Ren replied calmly.
"Pyrrha?"
"Pass."
"What, really? Man, everyone else was talking all about how they'd totally smash Pyrrha! I don't think a single person said they wouldn't!" Nora exclaimed, truly surprised – though quite happy – to hear his answer.
"Well, I am not everyone else, am I, Nora?" Ren answered by asking. Nora had to admit, it was a good point, especially when he added on, "Besides, she has eyes only for Jaune, and I have no interest in coming between them."
"Aww, that's sweet of you, Ren. Okay! Last one! You ready?" Nora asked, excited.
"Mm," Ren affirmed with another low hum.
"Me! Smash or pass, Renny?" Nora demanded with sudden intensity.
Ren somehow stilled even further at the question, his handsome features screwing up once again in that cute confusion. It took him a moment or two longer than usual to parse what she said, and Nora wasn't sure why he was so thrown off, but suddenly Ren started to relax his pose! Slowly he stretched himself out of his meditative pose and opened his beautiful pink eyes to regard her completely.
"Nora?" he questioned her, and that single word explained exactly what he wanted to know. Well, to Nora, anyway. Anybody else would probably have no idea what Ren wanted to know!
"C'mon Ren! Smash or pass me!" encouraged Nora, though to her consternation Ren still didn't immediately reply.
"You really want me to answer that?" he asked with a graceful arching of his brow.
"I know, I know, I know, but I wanna hear you say it!" Nora urged excitedly.
"Nora," Ren began slowly, drawing out the syllables of her name like he was singing to her – and he may as well have been for how it set her heart aflutter, "We've been having sex for three years. Of course, I'd smash. I will continue to do so - unless you've decided otherwise?"
"Oooooh!" Nora squealed in delight as he admitted his interest in her – and his concern that she wasn't interested in him, as if that would ever happen! "I just love hearing you say it, Ren!" she cried, stepping forward to wrap her arms around him, pressing her body into his and cradling him in her grip as if he was made of the most precious material on Remnant.
"Mm," Ren chuckled, and the vibration of it passing through his body into hers filled her with satisfaction more than a hundred stacks of pancakes! When he wrapped his arms around her in turn and pulled her in tighter, it matched a thousand stacks! "I would say it more if it would make you happy, Nora, though people likely wouldn't believe you anymore when you tell them we're not together-together."
"I know!" Nora lamented, "It's a price I'll have to pay, Renny. It's way too funny to see them watching us and trying to figure out our business!" giggles Nora, delighting in placing themselves apart from everyone else at Beacon. This was something just for them. Just theirs, when for so long in their lives they had nothing at all.
"Mm, as you decree, Queen of the Castle," Ren teased lightly, relaxing with her in his arms.
"I had a nice day, Ren," Nora admitted easily, burying herself in Ren's chest, "Smash or pass is a fun game!"
Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie enjoyed their privacy together while Pyrrha Nikos and Jaune Arc explored the new depth of their partnership late into the night. Ruby Rose reduced Crescent Rose's average shift time by a tenth of a second while Weiss Schnee idly rambled about her plans for the future. Blake Belladonna found herself with a glut of inspiration for her original works while Yang Xiao Long bragged about beating her personal bests in the gym.
And so ended an average day at Beacon.
Well, this is my first published work gentlemen, I hope you enjoyed it. For those of you willing to review, I will ask that you consider a handful of questions on top of general comments:
1) Did each character read as if they had a unique voice, or did you find yourself relying on the narration to know who was speaking?
2) Were there any phrases or words you noticed repeating that you found distracting?
3) Did anyone seem particularly out of character?
Thanks again, have a great day!