Okay, I might need help. This mini-series is taking over all of my fanfiction writing time. That, and I put in way more effort into this chapter than I initially thought. But before anybody says, I am aware of the original RWBY canon and I know how Cinder is portrayed in that story and her very apparent crimes. Though I do remind you all, that this series of stories are nothing but fluffy romances, so I hope you enjoy it all the same.
On another note, it'll be Ruby's or Yang's turn next, and don't worry as Weiss and Pyrrha are on the way. Don't think that I'm done with Blake though, there's still plenty of room for her still.
With that, cheers all, and have a wonderful day.
Searoar.
"So you ate all the food and bumped into Ms. Goodwitch in the hallway?" Ren curled a brow at his best friend's puffed cheeks as she nodded in the affirmative. "And you haven't seen Jaune since?"
"I've tried contacting him with my scroll, but I think his scroll's battery died or something," Nora sighed. "We could try asking Ruby or the others."
"I'm sure Jaune's capable of taking care of himself," Ren shrugged as his team leader wasn't usually prone to causing a panic. Or at least not being the fault of it. "Let's just get these dishes in order so when Pyrrha and Jaune come back they won't be annoyed with your mess."
"Fine," Nora sighed and submitted to her fate. "When does Pyrrha come back though? She's been gone since seven o'clock!"
"She'll be back in the next hour, at least that's what she said when she last called me. Apparently, her sponsors wanted her to try out some new hunter gear, but I don't think Pyrrha's too keen on it." Ren replied and smothered a sponge in hot water and soap while Nora grabbed a handful of dry rags.
Their dish-cleaning task commenced, it was rudely interrupted by the harsh knocks on their dorm's door which Nora was far too eager to reply to.
"Oh, Ren!" Nora whistled. "We have a visitor!"
"Yes..." The boy sighed as he'd only gotten through a quarter of the dishes. "Who is it?"
"It's a very angsty Blake! And she looks like she's been through a whole lot!" Nora's words were muffled by a fair palm that slapped over her mouth.
"Don't tell any of them that I'm here! If you do, I'll make sure you never eat another pancake again." Blake's threat seemed childish, but the intensity of malice in her eyes showed her words needed to be addressed seriously.
"O-Okay!" Nora chimed with a forced smile. "How about we go to the kitchen? Ren and I were planning on making a few pastries for tonight's movie after we cleaned the dishes, so you can chat with us while we do the chores."
"I just want a place where I can write in peace," Blake growled and tightened her grip on her notebook and pen.
"That's fine, you can use the table in the kitchen!" Nora beamed and dragged her friend to the kitchen.
Ren offered a polite hello and wave, which was returned as Nora went back to her duties as dish dryer. Little did the Valkyrie and yoga master know, that Blake's disappearance was a catalyst for chaos to come. Which happened to be in the form of a very apologetic Yang, who was trying to comfort Sun for the disappointment of not being able to take her partner on a date.
This did, however, lead to another sled competition. Which, to Yang's delight, was offered by Sun as the new bet would revolve around buying snacks for the movie night to come. The monkey Faunus was sure that he and the other members of his team got invited as an extension.
Meanwhile, back to Jaune...
"So, how are you and your partner adjusting to the campus lifestyle?" Cinder grinned and tightened her grip on Jaune's arm.
The boy was like putty in her hands, easy to manipulate and shape into whatever she craved. His lips were also rather loose, revealing several details about Pyrrha's personality and character. The only issue was, these details weren't based on battle data and were more along the lines of what Mistral's champion preferred for breakfast or what music she liked.
Jaune blushed at the intimate contact. He could feel Cinder's clothed breast push against his forearm, and soon his face was covered in a cherry hue. Jaune gently shook his head. Now was not the time to get caught up in hormones, as he already had enough of that in his mishap with Coco in the library. To be fair, the fashionista's buttocks did look splendid when she did the splits...
"U-Um... what was I talking about?" Jaune laughed nervously and rid himself of the lewd picture his teenage brain had devised.
"Your partner, Ms. Nikos." Cinder said flatly.
"That's right!" Jaune snapped his fingers.
"She also likes to keep a planner on her at all times, kinda like Weiss, though Pyrrha's is more revolved around her diet instead of schedules and study work. What about your teammates? You said you came from Haven Academy, right? Would you happen to know a couple of guys called Sun and Neptune? They're good friends of mine as well."
"No..." Cinder sighed. "I can't say I've had the pleasure."
"That's a shame," Jaune chuckled, "as I've heard that those two are pretty popular in Haven. Why Scarlet told me that there once was a popularity contest, and Neptune came in ninth place. Pretty impressive, eh?"
Jaune was about to go on another ramble, but when he looked down to see Cinder's reaction to his thrilling tales, he gulped at her disappointed and peeved expression. Cinder raised a single eyebrow, but this made Jaune question himself. Should he continue his story? Or should he pursue getting to know more about his acquaintances' team? Jaune chose the latter, as he'd allowed his own memories to stale the conversation.
"Sorry, I tend to ramble when I'm nervous," Jaune scratched his cheek with his left arm as his right was still wrapped with that of Cinder's. He glanced at his surroundings and found that he was no longer in the courtyard. Instead, the majestic view of the calm waves of the ocean was his background, and the shattered moon was but a spectacle.
However, with the dazzling view blinding his eyes and derailing his train of thought, Jaune failed to notice that he and Cinder had entered the more dangerous part of the campus where attendants were less likely to plow away salt the ice and pitched many warning signs for potential students and staff who would tread the frosted ground. This made for an excellent makeshift skating rink, but not a good walkway.
"I consider it a gift," Cinder said through a bitten lip, "but how about we return to our initial conversation? The one about your partner's prowess for combat-"
"Whoa, the sky is really beautiful during winter, don't you think?" Jaune cut in which caused a vein to twitch on Cinder's forehead.
"For the love of..." Cinder took a deep breath to compose herself. She needed to keep up the pretty and innocent act and continue to approach her interrogation with a cool, calculating head. "Forgive me, Jaune, but I recall that my interests were about your partner... and you of course."
Then it happened. In her frustrations, Cinder slipped on a streak of ice and pulled harshly on Jaune's arm which caused him to fall while she remained upright. From the view that was granted from being on his back, Jaune's cerulean pupils traversed Cinder's long, slender, pantyhosed covered, legs and his cheeks flushed at the revelation that Cinder wore hot red panties with pink hearts. Before the aim of his eyes could be detected, Jaune scrambled to stand and was back on his feet in a heartbeat.
However, when the boy moved to resume his walk, he noticed that Cinder remained still with her hands clasped behind her back. Her expression unreadable, Jaune could only guess as to what was going on in his cohort's head.
In Cinder's perspective, she debated whether or not she should use her maiden powers or semblance to melt the ice that surrounded her. This would solve her problems to be sure, but revealing her abilities to Pyrrha's partner would greatly hinder her nefarious plots that were to come. Then again, Jaune did appear to be on the slow side and judging by the clueless face he wore, the boy could be considered harmless in the grand scheme of things.
"Er, Cinder, I don't mean to pry..." Jaune scratched his cheek as he watched Cinder's leg tremble. "But are you not used to walking on ice?"
Cinder blinked and her eyes widened. H-How did such an incompetent fool discover this petty trifle she possessed? She may have had a history in Atlas, as loathsome as it was, but she could never grasp how the common folk managed to trek across streets of flattened snow and slippery ice. After all, such cold weather was beneath Cinder. She was the fall maiden, and her dominant element was fire, so why should she put herself at a disadvantage and engage her enemies on winter terrain? It just didn't make any sense on a strategic front.
Jaune witnessed the faint tint of pink that filtered into Cinder's cheeks, and couldn't help but chuckle at the death glare directed at him. Little did the Arc know, that the secret assassin was debating on whether she should roast him to ashes then and there.
Then, to Cinder's bewilderment, Jaune reached out both hands and asked for Cinder to follow his example. The assassin glanced at the physical offering and the one who made it. Was this a trap? Had Jaune been acting the kind fool to bide his time and lure Cinder to a battlefield of his choosing? This would not stand, and Cinder was more than ready to get rid of an insignificant hunter in training. Her golden eyes flashed a dangerous red, which sent sparks into the chilly air that produced steam which blinded Cinder's view for but a second, but that second was the opening that Jaune needed to strike-
Cinder's ramblings came to a complete halt at the warm touch that covered her cold, deadly hands. When the steam around her pale face cleared, Cinder was met with a visage that darkened the pinkish hue on her cheeks.
"Come now, there's no need to be shy. Believe me, I've bit the ice more times than I can count when I was growing up in Mistral, and I can't say I'm proud to admit it either." Jaune smiled, and the genuine care in his eyes made the killing intent in Cinder's heart waver for but a moment.
"The trick is to grab the ground with your toes," Jaune instructed and took one step back. His movements were gentle, and Cinder was forced to comply as her trembling balance threatened to betray her.
If Cinder were to fall here, not only would it destroy the imposing picture she'd built up until now, but it would definitely leave a dent in her pride to have someone else pull her around the yard like a child. When it appeared to be safe, Cinder tried to remove herself from Jaune's grip, but the boy warned her that they were far from the safety of the courtyard.
"Oh, I bet you just enjoy the feeling of a pretty girl's soft skin, don't you?" Cinder tried to keep a gentle tone, but her words came out bitter and her footsteps slowed.
"Well, there's that, but I'm speaking the truth when I say the courtyard is quite aways." Jaune gestured to the far warning signs in the distance. From where Jaune and Cinder stood, the signs were but toothpicks on a plane of white, blue, and black.
"Though, there is another way to reach the courtyard quicker. That is if you're up for a little skating. That, and your hands are pretty rough, though that's expected of a huntress in training. I like the shade of black nail polish you chose too."
"What?" Cinder deadpanned.
"Er... skating? You know, the sport where people wear fancy metal shoes and dance on machined ice?" Jaune's courage wavered as Cinder's angry gaze returned. "Here, let me show you, I practiced a lot because I wanted to impress-"
Jaune bit his tongue as a rare frown marred his kind features. The boy knew how to skate from the previous winters he shared with his family, but he wanted to study the more refined art of Atlesian skating through lessons online to impress Weiss. That was embarrassing enough to admit, but to reveal it to someone he'd only known for less than a day wasn't ideal.
"I never understood why anyone would enjoy being cold." Cinder huffed. "I'd much prefer a sunny beach with an umbrella over my head as I watch the waves from my reclining chair."
Jaune's smile returned. "You say that, but that's because you've never had the patience to experience what blessings the cold weather has to offer. Here, let me show you."
"W-Wait!" Cinder panicked in a dramatic childish voice. Her arms tugged without her consent, the secret fall maiden was forced to abide by Jaune's whims as he guided her over the ice with long and practiced strides.
"See, you're doing fine!" Jaune boasted as he repositioned himself behind Cinder and wrapped his arm around her waist. "But it's not good to be stiff, here, if you follow me like this..."
Jaune's warmth seeped through Cinder's cold clothes, and when the blonde pressed his chest against her back for support, Cinder could feel his heartbeats and could not hide the redness that showed on her pale visage. This was humiliating, this was uncalled for, and this was against all that Cinder stood for! She would not be reduced to some fairytale setting and be rendered as the typical princess in distress!
"It's funny really, as the sturdy soles of Beacon's shoes do last long, they don't make for great traction. I guess that's perfect for this scenario, isn't it, Cinder?" Jaune hummed and his hot breath tickled Cinder's ear.
"I-I'm not enjoying this..." Cinder growled cutely as the two made a perfect circle over the ice.
"Hmm?" Jaune showed a genuine face of discontent. "Alright, how about this?"
The blonde guided his dance partner in the shape of a figure eight, and at the end of the swing, he dipped her slightly so that the cold breeze would brush through her raven locks. The longer that Cinder looked at Jaune, her lust for death and destruction grew inconsistent. This would not stand, for the secret fall maiden was a harbinger of doom, a calamity that would shake Remnant to its core and have the wretched souls who occupied this heartless earth cower at her very presence!
"T-That was rather tedious..." Cinder puffed her cheeks in the most adorable manner, which made Jaune question whether or not she was enjoying herself.
"Okay, time to spice things up then!" The blonde hastened his pace and broke into a straight, stooped line that ended with a loose twirl.
Why... why is it that Cinder found solace in Jaune's warm embrace? The heat the young man radiated, did not burn like wildfire, nor sting like a heated piece of steel. It was balanced, and... comforting, but did this heat come from Jaune alone? No... for Cinder's own heart had provided a second flame, one that felt happy to be kindled, and wanted to remain no matter what.
"Okay, it seems you've gotten the hang of a simple stride, how about we mix things up a bit?" Jaune smiled and for a brief moment, Cinder felt her own lips twitch upward.
Their bodies in sync, Jaune removed himself from Cinder's back so he could grasp both her hands and skate beside her. He led her in a series of circles and lines, and every time Cinder caught a glimpse of the pure happiness that showed on Jaune's grinning face, she felt compelled to show her own pearly whites as well.
Then Cinder realized, that her cheeks were covered in a blazing blush. Jaune hadn't noticed, as his focus was on helping his partner across the ice and keeping an eye out for hazards, but Cinder would be damned to let the blonde know she was enjoying herself.
However, Cinder didn't really have a good place to hide her face, and she couldn't risk showing her back to Jaune as it was hard for him to hold onto her if she did, thus the fall maiden narrowed her golden eyes on the simplest hiding place... Jaune's broad chest.
Jaune blinked as his own cheeks were now emitting a cherry hue. H-Had Cinder pushed herself willingly against him? And the way she nestled her head beneath his neck, that couldn't be his imagination!
"Deep breaths..." Jaune whispered and did all that he could to regulate his emotions and heart rate. This was easier said than done, as a boy on the verge of adulthood tended to lose control more often than not. Yet despite this fact, Jaune took it upon himself to ensure that Cinder's dislike for winter evaporated, and he knew a perfect way how.
Hyperfocused on his movements, Jaune's inner thinker emerged like the first flower of spring, and of course, this came with an elaborate poem of course.
"H-Hmm?" Cinder's train of thought paused as she heard Jaune's ramblings return. What a way to ruin a perfect moment, the fall maiden grumbled, but her expectations were dashed when she lifted her head to witness the serious face of her dance partner.
It was as if his cerulean eyes were studying her very soul as they peered into her golden irises, and they understood all of her inner confusion and current turmoil. That, and had Jaune started to recite a poem? A boy of his age wouldn't usually waste his time with such boring things... yet the more Jaune talked, the more Cinder was willing to listen until she found herself completely captured by his musings.
What followed were a series of elaborate twirls, spins, and brave leaps that sent shivers down Cinder's spine. When Jaune separated his left hand so the two could skate alongside one another in perfect harmony, the feelings were too precious to tuck away or ignore. For the first time in her life, Cinder accepted the bitter colds of winter, for the warmth that burned in her breast was an irreplaceable compensation.
Then an abrupt tumble, chased by an unfortunate loss of balance, which resulted in a most awkward predicament; left both Cinder and Jaune dry of words as they stared at one another with wide eyes and flushed cheeks.
"Oh..." Jaune seemed surprisingly calm despite having a beautiful girl straddling his stomach. "I guess we've reached the courtyard."
"Y-Yes..." Cinder squeaked, then clamped a hand on her mouth with how high-pitched her nervous voice was. She took a few deep breaths, then stood up from Jaune's toned body without another word.
Jaune was fearful that he'd hurt Cinder with his mishap. He'd allowed himself to get sidetracked by his rambling personality and wasn't paying attention to where he was going or how close he'd gotten to the pavements that were well-maintained. This led to his shoe skipping a section of ice, which was the cause for his now awkward situation.
Cinder turned so her back faced Jaune, and she kept her head low. This sent warning signals in Jaune's brain, and the blonde jumped on the opportunity to fix their misunderstandings. He placed two hands on Cinder's shoulders, and he felt her tense up and tremble.
"Cinder?" Jaune asked meekly and gently spun his new friend around, only to find that she had both her palms over her face. "Hey, you're not hurt are you? Do I need to bring you to the nurse's office?"
"I-I'm fine..." Cinder said softly as Jaune patted the snow from her hair and uniform.
Then, with a brave heart, Jaune took hold of Cinder's hands and gently rubbed them with his thumbs. This action did wonders to Cinder's quivering form, and she put whatever strength she had left into keeping her face hidden. This would not settle with Jaune, however, and the boy's determination grew stronger still.
He forced Cinder's hands down, as smoothly as he could, and was shocked to witness the seemingly uncertain beauty hidden beneath. Golden eyes, on the verge of tears, were set above a quivering pair of thin, pink lips as a dribble of snot leaked from a straight, pointed nose.
"C-Cinder..." Jaune felt horrible as the idea that he was the cause of such a sad expression hit him. "I'm sorry, I probably said something rude or stupid during my ramblings, didn't I?"
Cinder shook her head and closed her eyes. She tried to squeeze the tears away with her lids, but all this accomplished was her revealing the very tear she'd tried so hard to destroy. Heh, destroy... for some reason, Cinder despised the very word she'd chosen to affiliate herself with.
"D-Do you think..." Cinder's breath hitched as Jaune leaned in to hear her words. The way he looked at her, again, it was as if he were truly trying to understand what she wanted- nay needed.
"Do you think a m-monster like me is truly b-beautiful?"
There, Cinder thought. I said it. I said what I wanted to say and I'll let this foolish boy judge me however he sees fit. He's probably caught on by now, that all I wanted was information on his partner so it would be easier for me to eliminate her. Such a fool, this boy is, to assume that we could ever be friends. The world is filled with nothing but liars, and competent deceivers who would-
"What are you talking about?" Jaune's stern voice rattled Cinder. Why... did the blonde seem so offended?
"Stop lying," Cinder said bitterly, then let out a hollow laugh and dug her nails in Jaune's fingers. "If you knew what I truly was, you'd be begging for my death like all the others."
Jaune ignored the pain, as his befuddlement at Cinder's statement made him think she'd hit her head on the ice a lot harder than he'd first anticipated when they fell. His expression also made Cinder question the boy's true intentions, as he hadn't made a hint of a movement. He just... stared at her for a minute then sighed deeply.
"Alright," Jaune said as a short smile graced his lips. "You want to know what I see? Well, here goes."
Here it comes, Cinder thought and smirked maliciously as she perceived a reason to kill the boy had the potential to emerge. Yet, the smirk did not last, and was replaced by another face of confusion that soon turned to admiration as Jaune listed his findings.
"Well, I see two gorgeous golden eyes defined with two sleek black brows above them." Jaune gently poked Cinder's forehead and chuckled.
"Second, we have a thin nose that's hard to miss," Jaune pinched Cinder's nose which earned him a soft squeak.
"Then, a delicately pointed chin that's connected to warm cheeks and even hotter ears," Jaune rubbed his thumb across Cinder's pale skin, and his touch was as light as a feather.
"Ah, last but not least, I see a pair of delicate pink lips. So, to sum up, my observations, all I see is a magnificent girl who I'm glad to have befriended. That description sounds a whole lot better than the title of a fake monster, doesn't it?" Jaune used both hands and cupped Cinder's face, which was now flooded in hot crimson.
Cinder's heart shattered. Whatever grievance she had, had all but evaporated in this one interaction with Jaune. She wanted to hate it, to reject all that he said on the pretense that he was luring her into a trap, that he was nothing but a well-trained liar. Yet no falsehood could be seen on Jaune's sincere, but cordial face, and the sound of his laughter at Cinder's perplexed visage warmed her very soul and uttered a very feminine giggle from her.
"Say..." Jaune said. "I need to get going, but if you'd like, I'd love to introduce you to my friends. Though I have to warn you if you want to keep a sense of calmness, it'd be in your best interest to avoid Nora after she's had sugar, and Yang if you're not a fan of puns. Blake might also be in a bad mood given recent circumstances, though my good pal Ren and Pyrrha are always great company."
"...Stop talking about other girls." Cinder huffed with pouty cheeks.
"I-I... er, okay?" Jaune fumbled. Didn't Cinder want to hear about his partner, who she knew was a girl from the get-go? Huh, he figured having them share a conversation at tonight's movie would be an opportunity to make new friends. Apparently, that wasn't the case at this given moment.
"Well, I'll see you around, Cinder." Jaune released his grip on Cinder's face, and when he realized where his hands had been placed, he transitioned back to the goofball we all know and love and profusely apologized for not respecting his new friend's personal space.
Quick to retreat before the amiable atmosphere was ruined, Jaune slipped on some ice and continued to skid to his dismay until he found his balance and performed a perfect pirouette before sliding out of view. He gave an exaggerated wave to Cinder, who stood in the same spot as he'd left her, and offered a humble way of her own as she bit her lower lip to try and hide the smile that crept on her blushing face.
/-
"Sheesh, where have you been?" Mercury yawned as he lay on his bed. He didn't bother to change out of his hunter attire, as he'd assumed Cinder's plan of gathering intel on the senior students' involved combat. However, Mercury's questions went unanswered as his team leader remained silent and simply sat down at their shared study desk.
"Are Neo and Emerald around?" Cinder asked calmly.
"Yeah," Mercury shrugged, "Neo wanted to spend the holidays with that Torchwick guy, and Emerald's got herself caught up in your most recent nefarious scheme. I'm still waiting for mine as you can tell."
"Send a message to the others," Cinder hummed and pulled out a black pen, "that there won't be any mischief for the rest of the winter break. That, and I do not wish to be disturbed for the remainder of our free time, understand?"
"Oh, so I guess movie night is a bust then?"
This made Cinder turn as she retrieved a blank piece of paper. "What was that?"
Mercury pulled out his scroll. "Apparently, Emerald's been roped into seeing a movie with that Ruby girl you were trying to keep a tab on. The one with the silver eyes, and that Pyrrha girl is supposed to be there too. I figured it'd be a good place to gather information subtly, y'know? Start a conversation about weapons, that'll dip into semblance and combat-style territory eventually."
"Pyrrha? Oh yes, the Mistral champion who's partnered with Jaune Arc..." Cinder tapped her pen against the desk and told Mercury the two of them would indeed be joining Ruby's little movie night.
This confused Mercury, not because his leader accepted, but the fact that she seemed genuinely interested in the whole idea. The boy shrugged, ah well, free food and entertainment were always good incentives for a boring winter vacation.
"You may leave now," Cinder's suggestion came off as more of an order.
"Er, why?" Mercury checked the time. "There's still five hours until we're supposed to meet with team RWBY."
"I said, leave." Cinder's eyes flashed a fiery hue, and Mercury took heed of the clear warning. Though he had to wonder as he left for the hallway, as to what had caused the faint tint of pink on Cinder's cheeks when she made her threat.
"...Finally, some peace and quiet." Cinder sighed dreamily as she started to write. The movements of her pen were reminiscent of how Jaune and her skated over the ice, with elaborate twirls and elegant strides...
One simple step is all it takes.
To make a friend on this spanning frozen ground.
I find myself bewildered beyond belief.
That I am now enthralled and spellbound.
/
Not too fast, and not too slow.
I aim to please and see how things go.
For a rushed start has never boded well.
This I know from past mistakes.
I hope to not repeat such folly.
With my new friend, Ms. Fall.
/
Her movements are no longer hindered.
The frost is no longer a chain.
She wishes to fly, and who am I to deny?
Let my strength forever last.
As I serve as your bastion, Ms. Fall.
/
Our strides lengthen, as does our freedom.
We keep each other in humble balance.
As we allow harmony to be our song.
I witness only her freedom and pleasure.
Will you smile again for me, Cinder Fall?
/
As here comes the end of our dance...
Much sooner than anticipated!
I brace my arms and pray to Oum!
That when we fall I soften your doom!
Alas, my hopes are dashed.
/
I now lay beneath you.
In this awkward sense of relief.
I am given a view of your beauty from a new angle.
This is a face I can approve.
For there is nothing more beautiful than an honest smile.
The image of being wrapped in Jaune's arms, while he shared his heat as they performed a perfect figure eight brought redness to Cinder's cheeks. Then came a subtle dip that allowed the chilled winter breeze to free Cinder's raven locks from its constrictive plastic band. With another twirl, she was back in motion as Jaune led her down another streak of flat ice as her hair flowed uncaringly. After that, Jaune was bold enough to support Cinder by her waist, and hoist her into the air as he spun around with puffed cheeks of exhaustion.
Yet, the happiness in his cerulean eyes never faded, and when Cinder returned abruptly to the ground and found herself atop him, she was inclined to stand up with wishes to resume their dance on ice.
Cinder patted her hot cheeks and gently shook her head. The fact that Jaune managed to recite this poem while in strenuous motion, was a feat that deserved Cinder's respect. A thick dot to finish her poem, Cinder took out her favorite red lipstick from her nightstand and puckered her lips.
"Mwah!~" As the makeup left its mark at the bottom of the paper, Cinder's golden eyes sparkled with power, but not the type she was used to feeling. This strength wasn't fueled by distaste or hatred, but by genuine respect that wished to be noticed on a physical scale.
"Video complete, save to gallery?"
Cinder's entire being seized up at the robotic voice that echoed from the front door.
"Hehehe... Did you know you talk aloud when you're in the zone?" Mercury gulped as his gaze met with that of his temporary leader.
Cinder said nothing, closed her eyes, and calmly folded her poem and tucked it in her skirt pocket. She stood from her seat, and when she lifted her lids...
"Aw... shit." Mercury proceeded to slam the door while laughing his ass off. Thank Oum he had mechanical legs that didn't rely on stamina and were fully recharged with electric dust.
"Mercury, if you don't delete that video, I'm going to make sure you only feel pain for the rest of your miserable life!"
Cinder shrieked at the top of her lungs as the door of their dorm was burnt from knob to hinge. Covered in flames, Cinder burst into the hallway in hot pursuit of Mercury's teammate as he bobbed and weaved while whistling at his leader mockingly through screaming students as they all tried to avoid Cinder's erratic flames.
/-/
"Man, I really need to span my horizon on this campus." Jaune scratched his head in frustration as he stared at the red hair tie in his hand. Cinder had dropped it during their tour over the icy pavement, and he wanted to return it as any good-natured friend would.
If Jaune had paid more attention, however, he would've realized that the hair tie was the standard that was issued to every female enrolled in Beacon's ranks and that each uniform came with ten of them and could always be replaced after a simple request from the store manager.
"Oh, isn't that... Mercury, that was his name right?" Jaune squinted at the young man who ran in his direction. He'd seen the silver-haired lad with Ruby sometimes, at least when Emerald was around, though he'd never really talked with him, to be frank. Though he did see him sitting next to Cinder during combat class, so it made sense to assume they were teammates.
"Excuse me-" Jaune called out but was promptly ignored as Mercury blitzed past him. "Huh, guess I really am on my own for this one. I doubt any of my other friends know where... Cinder?"
Jaune blinked in alarm as the person he sought spotted him and proceeded to slam her heels against the hard floor sending sparks and embers to pitter off the walls as she flailed her arms in comedic fashion. To Jaune's relief, Cinder stopped but an inch from where he stood, as he hadn't been able to move as the fear after seeing his new friend's rage-induced visage had frozen him in place.
The momentum catching up to her, a draft whisked below Cinder's skirt which fished out the poem she'd recently written, and to her dismay, Jaune snatched it after moving back a few steps.
"J-Jaune, w-wait!" Cinder's hands clasped over her rapidly beating chest as Jaune's eyes perused what she'd written.
"Wow," Jaune hummed and offered the paper back without a second glance. "That's a wonderful poem Cinder, did you write it yourself? Or if someone else wrote it for you, they must really admire you."
Cinder's jaw dropped. "Y-You mean you don't r-remember?"
"Um... remember what?" Jaune rubbed his neck, then snapped his fingers when he pulled out Cinder's hair tie. "That's right, thanks for reminding me. I wanted to return this since it is yours after all."
Cinder's eyes shifted slowly between the poem and hair tie, then to the one who held them. "Thank you..."
The poem back in her possession, all Cinder needed to do was take care of Mercury, but to her horror, her teammate was already working on securing a friendship that would no doubt twist her arm.
"Hey there, Jaune, I've been told that Ruby invited my teammates and me to the movie tonight. Cinder will be there too of course, and while we're on the subject, there's a video that I'm dying to show you." Mercury wrapped his arm around Jaune's shoulder and turned him around.
Forced into an uncomfortable strut, Jaune struggled to keep pace with Mercury as Cinder made sure to stay close on their heels. Mercury shot his leader an all-knowing grin and wiggled his eyebrows along with a silent warning that she shouldn't push her boundaries. Alas, this proved to be Mercury's undoing, as the moment he pulled out his scroll and held it up in front of Jaune, Cinder focused her maiden powers and shot a precise bolt of fire that penetrated the electronic trinket from screen to camera.
Blowing her index finger in the likeness of how one would a pistol, Cinder pushed Mercury aside and ordered that he help her prepare for the night to come. The lad showed a displeasured face, but shrugged as he figured there was little to come from Cinder's threat with how flustered she looked.
"I'll see you later then," Jaune waved.
"Yes, till we meet again." Cinder said primly, then narrowed her eyes as Mercury had somehow disappeared in the crowd of students that had begun to clear out of the hallway when the staff arrived to clean up the damaged hallways.
BREAK.
"Okay!" Jaune sighed with a smile. Only five hours until the movie, though I am kinda hungry now after all that skating..."
"Hey, Jaune!"
Jaune's ears perked at the familiar happy tone. "Oh, Ruby, hey!"
"Um... you're not doing anything right now, are you?" Ruby asked.
"No, but I am in the mood for a meal. Your dorm wouldn't happen to have a few eggs and slices of bacon I can cook, would you? Nora at all of ours..."
Ruby giggled and pressed her fingers together. Jaune recognized his friend's behavior and knew that something was amiss.
"Ruby, is something wrong?" Jaune wondered.
"Well..." Ruby stressed the word and snagged Jaune by the wrist. "Yang needs a sledding partner, and I figured that you'd be the best candidate for the job!"
"Wait," Jaune blinked, "you mean the same sister who crashed her sled?"
"Nope!~" Ruby popped the P and before the boy could react, he was gone in the whizzing storm that was Ruby's semblance.