XxX-XxX-XxX

Official Supporters:

Compulsive Reader, The Impossible Muffin

Adeptus Militaris, Wilger

Commissioner, Gib, Death Daddy, Le Spork, Polemoduke

If you want to be on the Supporter list, PM me for details or join our private server for details. Hope you enjoy reading my stories, please leave me a comment to let me know if you did, or where I can improve. Link here, where able to be seen : /2UZncAm

Second link here, remove ( and ) and it SHOULD work : D(i) (slash)kfhkfUb

I have a kofi account now, too, under this name for those interested.

Beta(s) :

XxX-XxX-XxX

Requested By : Polemoduke

XxX-XxX-X

"Thirty one." Pyrrha grunted quietly, pushing herself up in the otherwise empty workout room, listening to her grunts and murmured words echo off the wall.

It was one of a few dozen small, long exercise rooms students could pop into whenever they liked - and so late in the evening, she could even get it to herself. This one was one of the simpler ones, designed for solo body work. Crunches, push-ups, stretches, the like. So each wall was lined by thin, padded mats, with lights down the center, and there was little else. Which only made the echo so much worse, but then, if that was the trade for some real privacy, she'd make it.

If not entirely happily…

Descending and ascending again, she growled, "Thirty two…"

Exercise had always been one of her ways of… Getting away, to think. One could be bothered working on gear, or reading, or studying, it didn't matter. Rude as it often seemed, when they did that sort of thing, they did so regardless often enough. Here, Mistral, even Atlas and Vacuo. It seemed people didn't think her weapons' maintenance was enough for her to need to focus on. Or merely didn't care as much. Regardless, the end was the same - no quiet time for her to relax and be alone to 'vibe' as Ruby described it. But simply trading out for her gym clothes and working out for a while?

For some reason, no one ever seemed to bother her when she was working out, though.

Which let her talk to herself, mostly so she could… Vent, without anyone getting upset over it.

"I just can't grasp her." She grunted, pushing up and grunting a final, "Forty."

Then, she rolled onto her back and started her crunch set, thinking more and more about her team and sighing. Working up and down, she frowned and talked to herself, "Why can't she just… Ease back? What is so wrong with them that she feels the need to- Ugh."

"Is there some trouble, Miss Nikos?" A familiar, amused voice said from the door at the other end of the long, but thin, workout room. She stiffened and turned, watching the Headmistress, dressed in a thinner, comfortable looking gown, lean against the wall beside the door into the small exercise room. When Pyrrha rolled over to push herself up, the woman laughed and waved her off, "Don't fret, you're in no trouble. And please, don't stop on my account."

"I'd…" She hesitated, kneeling on the floor halfway through standing, and frowned, "I-I'd hate to be rude, Headmistress."

"You aren't." She shrugged, "I'm only here on a walk through, to make sure all is cleaned up."

"I-I'll-"

"Please, continue your exercises, Miss Nikos." She cut Pyrrha off, eyes hardening just a bit to cut her off. Then she smiled, an altogether more pleasant display, and shook her head. "You're on a mat, it will hardly be the most difficult to clean."

"That… Is fair."

"Right, then don't feel like you need to stop." Goodwitch nodded, "But if you're here working out your frustrations… Perhaps simply talking them out may help more?"

"Is that…" She grimaced and stood all the way, crossing her arms and rubbing a small circle into her biceps anxiously. "Is that, um, proper?"

"Are you suggesting I would encourage you to do something improper, Miss Nikos?" Pyrrha blanched and started to say something, to argue against it, but seeing her reaction Goodwitch nodded, chuckling quietly and apparently pleased. "Good. That would have been the improper thing here, after all. And I'm glad you're wise enough not to accidentally step on such obvious landmines."

"Of course not." She chuckled, "I-I never really… Well, I had my media training, so I know better than to insinuate things."

"Oh?" Goodwitch coked her head and hummed curiously, "I suppose it makes sense you would have, but I didn't actually consider it."

"Yes. I did." She sighed, putting on the same smile they had taught her and explaining in the same simple way they'd taught her, "As exposed as I usually am to the public eye, my parents and agent decided it would be… Prudent, if I knew how to engage with media persons well enough. If only to get by."

"Mhm." The blonde nodded, "And I must say, those lessons do seem to have been well taught."

"I'm sorry?"

"Did you not expect me to pick up a canned response when I saw one?" The Headmistress chuckled, shaking her head when Pyrrha grimaced a bit. "I work regularly with political aides, liaisons from business and representatives of legal firms. I know politicking when I see it. Or, well, hear it. But rest assured, I'm not offended at all."

"I'm… Glad."

"Mhm. Instead, I'm…" Goodwitch sighed wistfully, "Well, rather sad."

"Sad?" Pyrrha's brows furrowed, "Why?"

"Because if you won't talk to me, openly, then how can I help you?" The Headmistress asked, pushing off the wall and striding across the space between them. Taking a seat on the little work-out pad and folding her legs primly in front of her, she gestured for Pyrrha to sit. Then, she simply waited, one brow raised in challenge, until Pyrrha did as she was told. When she had, the Headmistress finally asked, "Now, what is so wrong to have you hiding here at almost eleven at night?"

"I-I'm not hiding…"

"I was a student before I was a teacher." Goodwitch tutted, "Don't try and hide that you're hiding. I used to do the same, when arguments and… Events drove me out of my dorm back in my day."

"I…" Pyrrha chuckled and drew on another of her old lessons - deflect. Toying with a strand of hair, she smiled, "I-I confess, it's rather odd to think of you hiding from anyone or anything, Deputy Headmistress."

"I'm sure." She chuckled, pointing a long finger at her and narrowing her eyes. "But don't deflect, Miss Nikos. You don't have to talk to me if you truly do not want to, but please. Consider it. I only want to help you with whatever is troubling you."

"I just…" She wanted to argue, and for a moment considered just leaving, before she finally sighed and nodded. "Alright. As you wish… My team had another fight earlier, and they only ever came back to go to bed. Tomorrow, I am sure, we will suffer another. And I… I do not know what to do about it."

"I see." She hummed, "Well, judging by who is on your team… Miss Schnee?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"She's a prideful young woman." Goodwitch nodded, her smile thin, understanding, but just a bit amused by it all regardless in a way that irked Pyrrha. Just a bit. "And raised with every justification for it. I'd be surprised if she didn't cause friction, frankly."

"I-I suppose you're right about that." She chuckled anxiously, "It's just… She does not get along all that well with Ruby or Jaune. A-And I'm unsure of what to do about it."

"Well, what have you already done to try and… Handle this issue?" Pyrrha couldn't answer, shame making her turn away, and Goodwitch sighed tiredly. And understandingly, too. "Nothing, then. Understandable enough, I suppose. As much of a fighter as you are… Nevermind. Would you like my advice, then?"

"Yes, please."

"Call Miss Schnee out." Goodwitch said, standing with a grunt and turning to leave. As she walked, and Pyrrha trailed along behind her, the woman explained, "Miss Schnee isn't acting out of malice, Miss Nikos. She is acting as she's been taught, for all her life. Unless someone with a back-bone, and the authority to use it, pushes back against her…"

"Well," Goodwitch sighed, stopping at the door and turning to meet Pyrrha's gaze, "she will never learn the lesson. And will suffer for it. Do you understand?"

"I…" Pyrrha frowned, then sighed and nodded, "It falls to me to, well, break this habit. Doesn't it?"

"It does." The Headmistress nodded, sighing sympathetically and laying a hand on her shoulder. Offering her a gentle, reassuring pat she said, "I am sure this is quite outside your norm. But that is why you have come to Beacon. To better yourself, into your final, greater form. A protector for all. Someone that does what others need for them without question."

"But…" She sighed, avoiding the blonde's gaze, "H-How?"

"The Headmaster and I chose you for a reason. Not randomness. Purpose and trust." The Headmistress said, turning away and reaching out to push the door open. "You can be what you are meant to be, Miss Nikos. It's almost a tautology. So stand up, Miss Nikos. And do what Miss Schnee needs."

Pyrrha watched the woman stride away and chewed on her words. She was their chosen leader, as the Headmistress had said, and a Huntress beside. Could she stand failing Weiss - failing her team - so badly just because she felt a bit bad about doing something? That answer was easy to accept.

Obviously not.

XxX-XxX-X

"Headmaster."

"Glynda." Ozpin answered as she leaned back in her chair, back home in her quarters, and reached for her tea. "How did it go? Well, I hope."

"Very." She nodded, stirring some sugar in and sighing. "Miss Nikos just needed to know it was okay, I think, to command. Authority isn't something she is used to, for obvious reasons, like you said before. But… I think she will be up for it."

"Good." The Headmaster sighed, sounding… Wispy, somehow. Tired, distracted, and just a tiny bit irritable - for which she blamed the late hour. "That's good. With Miss Nikos taken out of the running for our needs, at least directly, we need these teams operable, ready and able. Whoever is chosen, among them, not, regardless, they will be excellent allies unto them."

"I know." Goodwitch nodded, "Miss Nikos is willing to listen. With your blessing, I will continue to… Look in on her."

"Do so." He answered, "Good work tonight, Miss Goodwitch."

"Thank you." She smiled, "And good night, Headmaster."

"Mhm." He nodded, cutting the call without another word.

She sighed and sipped at her warm tea and ease more into her seat, her hand plucking 'To Build a Fire' from its place on the floor beside her bed, and turned up the quiet music she had been enjoying before Ozpin called her. Sent her to nudge Miss Nikos along. Smiling at a job well done, she tucked into her book and let herself finally relax.

XxX-XxX-X

Dust Sciences were an old source of study, for all the obvious, massive and snarling reasons as much as for the less obvious, economical kinds. Dust was needed as much to arm Hunters and soldiers, facing down the Grimm as they ever were and would be, as it was to warm homes and power factories, after all. It was what had lead her family to such power and prominence - every last facet of modern, and even more traditional, individualistic lifestyles, relied upon Dust to merely function. And plenty of it, too.

So, when Jaune came into the dorm after Dust Sciences complaining about how little he'd grasped the lesson, she'd expected him to ask her for help.

Instead, even as she was preparing her most polite smile and less prideful consent to tutoring him, he plopped onto his bunk and grunted, "Hey, Ruby, mind helping me go over the quizlet Professor Goodwitch handed out?"

"Hm?" The girl hummed, looking up and nodding around a cookie she'd produced from… Somewhere, to snack on. Finishing it off, she hopped onto the bed beside him and grunted, "Sure, no problem. Lemme see?"

"Sure." He nodded, leaning over the end of the bed to pull his binder out. "Just having some problems with the, uh, combination sciences."

"Oh, das easy." The brunette smiled, "Here, show me the equation."

Weiss blinked, watching them start to work. Then she tutted, quietly, and took a step to intervene. To stop the little, well, girl from misteaching her teammate. Preferably before his bad grades reflected on her. But she only managed two steps before a strong, powerful hand landed on her shoulder. Dragged her to a stop, and then around to meet Pyrrha's stiff smile.

"Um…"

"Are you busy right now?" Pyrrha asked her, raising an eyebrow when Weiss' narrowed in confusion. "I was… Hoping for some help with my gear. And I'm sure you don't want to bother our partners while they work, right?"

"I… Was going to help them, actually." Weiss answered, trying to shoulder Pyrrha's hand off and flicking it a look when it remained.

Turning, Pyrrha asked, "Do you need help?"

"Hm?" Jaune looked up, confused, and shook his head while Ruby went over his notes. "Uh, no? Ruby's got me."

"Mhm." Ruby nodded, distracted while she pored over his notes and pulled out the work-sheet, making little notes on it with a little red pen she'd gotten from somewhere. "I'm a better tech, but Dust sciences isn't that hard anyways."

"Not that hard?!" She repeated, voice the very sound of indignation as she turned, pulling out of Pyrrha's grip, and went on. "Dust Sciences are among the most complicated scientific fields next to mecha-shift technology and advanced theoretical physics! If you don't think it's 'hard' then you're obviously-"

"A prodigy such as to have been admitted to Vale's most prestigious Academy two years ahead of time, by the Headmaster himself, with barely any loss in GPA outside history and philosophy courses?" Weiss spun, wide-eyed and surprised, to look up at Pyrrha as she chuckled and shrugged. "No pun intended, obviously, but… Well, I would know a prodigy when I meet one. Don't you agree, Weiss?"

"I-I suppose our name… Is appropriate, yes." Pyrrha was a combat genius, after all, and as much of an insufferable, hyper-active ninny as Ruby was, she was good enough to be moved ahead. Also like Pyrrha had said.

"Yeah." Jaune chuckled, "Between you three, the name fits."

"Snrk." Ruby chuckled, "Talk about hitting the nail on the head."

"Next thing you know, someone on Noble will be some manner of princess." Pyrrha smiled, flicking Weiss a look and then turning to pick up her bag. Back to her, she said, "Though perhaps we ended up with the princess, hm?"

"E-Excuse me?"

"I mean, 'Ice Queen' does work pretty well…"

"Ruby Rose, how dare you!" Weiss scoffed, heat shooting up her neck and into her cheeks. Turning for the door, she stammered, "F-Fine, you two work on homework. I will help Pyrrha with… Whatever she needs."

"Just some internal work on Milo."

"Right." Weiss nodded, "That."

"Bring pizza!" Ruby called as she and Pyrrha slipped out the door.

Weiss just rolled her eyes and sighed, murmuring, "Pizza? One day I shall show them real food…"

"I happen to quite enjoy pizza, actually." Pyrrha chuckled, leading her along through the halls and explaining as they went, "As for my work… I want to work a recoil dampener into my system. I already have one, mind, but I'm hoping we can manufacture a module with a bit more impact dispersal. The shots throw my spear throws off just a hair, and I'd rather work that out."

"U-Um, sure." Weiss smiled anxiously, "I-I'm sure we can find something to order to-"

"Oh, no." Pyrrha turned to her, "We're going to make one. You're up to that, aren't you?"

"U-Um, yes, of course I'm up to it." Weiss scoffed, shaking her head and sighing, "I-I am Weiss Schnee. Of course I can help make a little… Mechanism. With, um, y-your help, especially."

"Mhm." Pyrrha chuckled, "I look forward to seeing your designs, Weiss. And don't worry, if we have trouble, we can always call Ruby over to take a look."

"S-She…" Weiss grimaced, flicking the Mistralian's back a look and electing for the diplomatic answer. "Well, Crescent Rose is a tri-shifter… And she does claim to have built it herself. So I suppose she'd be an… Acceptable consult."

"I should think so." Pyrrha nodded, "She's a brilliant engineer. So don't fret if our little tinker session doesn't go splendidly."

"Right." She nodded, frowning and staring into the floor as her anxiety spiked. "I-I won't."

She'd just have to deal with the ball of anxiety and stress forming in the pit of her stomach, she supposed. But at least she was more practiced at that than this whole… 'Team' thing. So she wasn't as concerned about pulling it off.

XxX-XxX-X

Chibinh514e :

Jaune is an older brother. So of course, without the pressures of leadership and impostor syndrome from it, he defaults to more 'big bro' sorts of stuff.

Mengsk :

Yeah, there's a few tweaks based on who is involved and how. Like I said above, Jaune isn't so pressed by stuff so he's sliding more into his 'big bro' persona regarding Ruby. While Pyrrha, whose had respect but never AUTHORITY, and she's acclimating to her own style of control.

And yeah, I want some comedy and fluff, but a serious undertone. Slice of life, but slice of REAL life.