RWBY: Team CRML

Chapter 2

Liam

Standing in the massive auditorium, I stood with my arms crossed. "Liam!" I felt a tap on my shoulder. Looking over, my cousin stood with a smile.

"Hey, Yang."

"Don't you sound happy." she moved to stand next to me.

I shrugged. "It's too crowded. I don't like it."

We stood in silence for a few seconds before Yang suddenly shouted. "Ruby! Over here! I saved you a spot!" I glanced over to see Ruby rush over. "How's your first day going, little sister?"

"You mean since you ditched me and I exploded?"

"Yikes! Meltdown already?"

"No, I literally exploded a hole in front of the school! And there was some fire, and I think some ice...?"

"Are you being sarcastic?" Yang smiled.

"I wish! Liam saw!" Yang glanced at me and I just nodded my head in confirmation. "I tripped over some crabby girl's luggage, and then she yelled at me, and then I sneezed, and then I exploded, and then she yelled at me again, and I felt really, really bad, and I just wanted her to stop yelling at me!"

"You!"

Ruby jumped into Yang's arms as I turned around to see Weiss standing there. "Oh, God, it's happening again!"

"You're lucky we weren't blown off the side of the cliff!"

"Oh my God, you really exploded."

"It was an accident." Ruby got down from Yang's arms. "It was an accident!" Weiss handed a pamphlet out to Ruby. "What's this?"

"The Schnee Dust Company is not responsible for any injuries or damages sustained while operating a Schnee Dust Company product. Although not mandatory, the Schnee Family highly encourages their customers to read and familiarize themselves with this easy to follow guide to Dust applications and practices in the field." Weiss said quickly.

"Uuhhh...?"

"You really wanna start making things up to me?" Weiss asked.

"Absolutely?"

"Read this, and don't ever speak to me again." Weiss handed over the pamphlet.

"Look, uh, it sounds like you two just got off on the wrong foot. Why don't you start over and try to be friends, okay?" Yang suggested.

"Yeah! Great idea, sis!" Ruby held her hand out to Weiss. "Hello, Weiss! I'm Ruby! Wanna hang out? We can go shopping for school supplies!"

"Yeah! And we can paint our nails and try on clothes and talk about cute boys, like tall, blond, and scraggly over there!" she pointed behind her at that Jaune guy.

"Wow, really?!"

"No."

"I'll... keep this brief." my attention was turned to the stage as the headmaster approached the mic. "You have traveled here today in search of knowledge, to hone your craft and acquire new skills, and when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step."

Ozpin left the stage as another teacher took the mic. "You will gather in the ballroom tonight; tomorrow, your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed."

"He seemed kind of... off." Yang said softly.

"It's almost like he wasn't even there."

"I'm a natural blond, you know!" Jaune said as he stepped beside Weiss.

Hours later

Walking through the doors of the ballroom, I was surprised to see there weren't that many students here yet. Glancing over the room, I did see one student laying up high in one of the windowsills, away from everyone else.

Looking around, I walked over to an empty area next to the wall and laid out my sleeping bag. "You don't mind if I-" I glanced back to see Weiss standing behind me with her sleeping bag rolled up under her arm. She was also wearing a light blue nightgown. "Oh, it's you." she sighed before turning around to walk away.

Before she left, I spoke. "She's not my sister."

"Huh?"

"Ruby. She's not my sister." I repeated. "She's my cousin."

"Really?" Weiss asked. "You look almost identical."

"Yeah... If you want, I could move so you can sleep here." I told her.

"Oh! You don't have to do that. I was just wondering if I could lay my sleeping bag here." she gestured to a spot pretty close to where my sleeping bag was.

"Yeah, I don't mind." I said.

"You're not a whole lot like Ruby, huh?"

"Guess not."

Weiss suddenly walked in front of me. "Well, allow me to introduce myself formally." she curtsied. "Weiss Schnee. Pleasure to meet you."

"Liam Branwen." I gently grabbed her hand. "Pleasure's all mine." I brought her hand to my lips and gently kissed the back of it.

"Gentlemanly. That's rare." pulling away, Weiss suddenly took a step towards me. "Same with your eyes. Heterochromatic. Unique."

"Thank you." I smiled.

"It was nice speaking to you, Liam. But we should probably get some rest for-" she was interrupted by a series of short yells and soft bangs. "What in the world?" she walked passed me and towards the source. Quickly catching up to her, I found my cousins fighting. "What in the world is going on over here?! Don't you realize some of us are trying to sleep?"

"Oh, not you again!" Weiss and Yang said in unison.

"Shh! Guys, she's right! People are trying to sleep!" Ruby said.

"Oh, now you're on my side!"

"I was always on your side!"

"Yeah, what's your problem with my sister? She's only trying to be nice!" Yang growled.

"She's a hazard to my health!"

The candle was blown out, engulfing the room in darkness.

End of chapter 2