Team RWVBY
Chapter 10
It was the final week of classes before semester break and as the week had progressed, Cassian found himself slowly easing into his new schedule; the classes were still a challenge, but studying with Ruby and Weiss was proving to be a big help. As bossy as Weiss might be, she was a prudent tutor helping bridge the gap in his lack of expertise.
As Cassian adapted to his school life, he also grew more comfortable with his team, opting to take off his prosthetic while relaxing in the common room. He spent more time with them after classes; doing homework together, engaging in more conversation, even talking with their friends from JNPR. His wardrobe still lacked uniqueness but he was planning on changing that during the break. If he was going to start finally living his life, he would live it fully.
It was time for Cassian's favorite part of the day, Combat Class.
"HRRRRGH," A strained voice rang out in the arena. It was another grueling match in combat class. Tomorrow was Professor Goodwitch's combat review so everyone today was trying to get one more win under their belt. Cassian hadn't had another match since his little show with CRDL. He figured it might have done with his certain tactic for victory.
"Pyrrha Nikos is the victor," Ms. Goodwitch called out. Pyrrha had just claimed a swift victory over two member of team SNDY but while the two left, Pyrrha has stayed.
"Would anyone else like to challenge Ms. Nikos?" Glynda addressed the class.
Cassian eyed his classmates around him. They all seemed quiet, even his own team were looking away hoping the professor wouldn't take it upon herself to call someone up. To see everyone so uninterested in a way ticked Cassian off. Back in Vacuo, Cassian looked forward to all the underground fights. Sure, the money was good but nothing beat the rush of a good match. He might have lost sometimes, but that was life. You were always going to lose at some point, it was eventual, but with loss brought learning; learning new techniques, new counters, and when the moment came and your life was on the line knowing more ways to fight would save your life. So, what she's some champion fighter.
"I'll challenge," Cassian shouted out as he lazily held up his hand.
He was holding up his metal arm, an action that sparked a singular shared thought through his team, Pyrrha's semblance. It wasn't a complete secret, Pyrrha's team obviously knew, they had found out, some of Pyrrha's opponents had figured it out after a while but Cassian hadn't and now, he was about to fight someone who could control over polarity. They couldn't even warn him by time they thought too he was already heading out to the locker room.
It hadn't taken long for Cassian to get changed and make it out to the arena. As he stood across from Pyrrha and he started spinning his knife.
"The match will be decided by aura count, you will begin on my mark." Ms. Goodwitch spoke up.
"Looks like we'll be finding out sooner rather than later," Cassian stopping spinning his weapon holding it out towards her. Pyrrha remained quiet holding her sword and shield at the ready.
"Begin!"
Ouroboros was out the second the professor began to speak, propelling him forwards at his opponent. Knife met shield as the two collided, but his rush didn't stop.
Slashing, stabbing, kicking, anything and everything Cassian could, he did to keep Pyrrha on the defensive. Of all the matched he'd seen her compete in in class, the second she went on the offensive, the match would be shortly over. He wasn't going to give her a chance to breathe.
"Is he always like this when he fights?" Jaune asked.
"He's a little tamer in spars," Yang answered and it was the truth. In their short team spars they had Cassian gave it his all but right now he was showing a ferocity he hadn't before.
"He did say to us, he can get a bit intense in fights." Ruby spoke up. Was this what he meant.
"Looks like Pyrrha doesn't seem to mind," Nora said. Pyrrha down in the arena blocked every strike and hit Cassian threw at her. If she was suffering under the assault, she didn't show it, she looked determined.
"Maybe he thinks he needs to," Blake mentioned.
"She is Pyrrha!" Nora agreed.
Back in the match Cassian tried something different. In between slashes, he threw his knife to his other hand, a variant of his move against Sally Sunday. But Pyrrha was no Sally, she was a regional champion winner, this move was nothing to her. Steel met steel as weapons clashed. Where Cassian's attack were crude, Pyrrha's had finesse, her form was perfect, engrained into her from a young age. What advantage Cassian was, it was beaten into him at an even younger age.
Cassian twisted his knife allowing Pyrrha's sword more room bringing it to his arm but Cassian pushed back with his metal arm bringing it a mere few inches from her face. A small port on his arm opened up and out spewed a puff of smoke right into Pyrrha's face.
Pyrrha coughed as the smoke reached her face, the minor annoyance gave Cassian an opening, his left hand jabbing Pyrrha in the stomach and with his right he followed with a stab right for Pyrrha. A stab that would have connected had not for a shimmer of black aura enveloping his weapon ever so slightly moving to the right making him miss.
Pyrrha transitioned her weapon into its spear form, slashing sideways to push Cassian back. His team watching on from up top noticed his startle look, not understanding how he could have missed. His offense was halted; Pyrrha was recovering, and now he had to come up with a new tactic. Reaching into his pouch he grabbed a red dust vile and slotted it into his arm.
Pyrrha ran at him, it was her turn now. Her shield thrown at him; Cassian rolled under. Expecting a hit, he brought his hands up to block but instead Pyrrha vaulted over him using his back as a kick off, and as her shield returned threw it again, this time hitting him in his back and sending him to the floor.
With a break dance like spin Cassina shot up from the floor with little time to block from Pyrrha's upcoming slash. Her weapon constantly transitioning between its many forms. Cassian had switched his hands, holding his knife in his left. He blocked her attacks as best he could and in the moments after each of her swings, he would raise his prosthetic arm and with the red dust vial he spewed fire like a flame thrower from the palm. Dodge, block, and fire were his only options against his opponent's onslaught. In one of his many attempts to try and fight with fire that Cassian's arm had suddenly stopped. The flames that at first showed no signs of stopping faltered. To some of the watchers above it looked like a classic weapon jam. To team RWVBY and JNPR, they knew the truth.
Ouroboros had quickly came out shooting behind Cassian and bringing him backwards. Landing back on his feet Cassian studied his arm twisting and flexing his wrist, A puff of flames had come up. A flash of realization hit him and he quickly threw his knife away.
"I guess he figured it out." Yang said as she watched Cassian's semblance wrap around his arms, the chains of ouroboros dropped to the floor.
Pyrrha ran at him, Cassian keeping his distance swinging his arms, the chains whipped out and connected with Pyrrha's shield. While they appeared mechanical and had a metal look, ouroboros was a construct of aura. Pyrrha's semblance would have no effect.
"I gotta admit, that semblance is nasty." Cassian said brought the chains up and slammed down trying to hit his opponent. "Almost didn't realize it but that last trick gave it away." He mixed swings this time, the chained whips of ouroboros swinging around the arena. "But my arm never jams."
The fight had changed, neither opponent was making headway. Cassian could keep the distance but Pyrrha was dodging easily. Pyrrha slide underneath a whip of his chains and with an aura charged kick sent his flying into air.
Recovering midair, Cassian send out ouroboros, the snaked heads latched onto the ground besides Pyrrha sending him back feet first. Pyrrha brought up her shield well in time. Cassian boosted off the shield landing backwards in a crouching position.
Cassian's semblance had disappeared and instead of standing, he kept in the crouch and brough his palms to the floor. He began to glow and all around him, multiple ouroboros popped up from the ground. Wasting no time, they slithered on the ground around Pyrrha, surrounding her. Pyrrha danced around them, switching through her weapon forms as she took them out one by one. With none left, Cassian sent one more out at Pyrrha, no slithering around, just straight at her. Pyrrha had her weapon ready in her javelin form ready to stab the snake head but as it reeled in and she stabbed, ouroboros dipped low and between her legs.
"Got you now!" Ouroboros wrapped around her leg, and up her body, the chains enveloped her and the snake head bit in. Milo and Akouo dropped from Pyrrha's grasp. Cassian himself, stood up the chains wrapped on his arms kept strong and with a grin he squeezed his fist. The chains wrapped around tightened and started to drain at Pyrrha's aura.
The crowd above were on the edge of their seats. Hushed murmurs were breaking out between the students. 'Was Pyrrha Nikos going to lose?'
Pyrrha's aura was crackling under the pressure, she needed to do something fast.
Focusing her semblance, she forced Milo to transform to her rifle form. The rifle raised and the trigger pulled, firing off a few shots hitting Cassian right in the chest. The shots were enough to break his concentration, his hold over ouroboros faltered and the chains shattered.
"Woah!" The crowd watched in awe. On the screen above them Pyrrha's aura was halfway, while Cassian's was in the low yellow. They watched as Pyrrha pull Milo and Akouo back to her and ran at him. Cassian guard was broken, unable to block as hit after hit connected, throwing him around the ring. Pyrrha jumped up for a slam, Cassian regaining his footing slightly, brought up his prosthetic arm and blocked the sword, backing it up with aura. Pyrrha didn't let up she applied more pressure keeping him pinned.
Her eyes narrowed as he started to glow, keeping a close eye to where his semblance popped up. She saw it shoot out from his side; she knew where it was going. He was trying to reach for his knife he discarded earlier. Keeping one hand on her sword she freed up here left and focused her semblance. He wasn't going to be getting his weapon.
"Made you look."
Pyrrha's eyes widened. 'What?' Her head turned back; Cassian was grinning. Her eyes trailed to his other hand he was holding a purple dust crystal. 'Lightning dust?'
Cassian flicked the dust crystal into his prosthetic palm, squeezing it tight and igniting the dust vial. Fire met dust, creating an explosion that made Ruby and Weiss' dust explosion look like a fire cracker. The explosion enveloped both of them before sending Pyrrha flying back.
The buzzer had immediately gone off calling the match as Professor Glynda rushed to the arena.
As smoke cleared out the students watching could finally see Pyrrha and Cassian; the former was slowly rising, huffing as she brought herself to one knee, the latter was laid back coughing up a storm. Their eyes trailed up to the screen both of their auras were low in the red almost broken completely. But who won?
Laughter had taken their attention back to Cassian as he stood up to his feet; his prosthetic arm was charred black.
"Now that was fun." Cassian said as he dusted himself off and walked towards Pyrrha. "That was a good match." He extended his arm to Pyrrha to which she accepted and he lifted her up.
"Mr. Vale, what in Remnant did you think you were doing?" Ms. Goodwitch was furious.
"Trying to win." Cassian answered. Clearing the wrong thing to say as the professor's map opened agape.
"I'd give you detention but with one day left there would be little point, so during the break you and I will be having multiple discussions about safety." Ms. Goodwitch lectured.
"Yes, Ms. Goodwitch." Cassian said the right thing finally.
The professor than changed her attention towards Pyrrha.
"Ms. Nikos, as always your form and technique were perfect but please be aware in real battle not everyone will fight fairly or sanely." She narrowed her eyes at Cassian. "You did well in response and while I don't approve of Mr. Vale's methods, in a real fight they are effective."
Pyrhha nodded her head and said, "Yes Ms. Goodwitch, but may I ask; who won?" Even she was curious. Professor Goodwitch brought out here scroll and the bis screen above them changed. The aura meter now displayed their aura count in number form. Cassian's sat at 5 % while Pyrrha's rested slightly higher at 10 %.
"I guess you keep your invincible streak for now." Cassian turned to Pyrrha.
"Next match though, I'll be wearing a plastic prosthetic." He grinned and extended his left hand for a handshake. Pyrrha extended her hand as well and the two shock hands, before Pyrrha answered, "I look forward to it." After that the two went back to the locker rooms.
Another match had started as Cassian made his way back to his team.
"What was that!?" Weiss instantly scolded him. "You could have seriously injured yourself or Pyrrha!"
"But I didn't! and it's all thanks to you Weiss." She looked at him dumbfounded.
"In the past I would have used like 3 or 4 dust crystals, but because of your helpful pamphlet I only used 1." Yang started snickering, covering her mouth trying not to laugh. Weiss just stared at him furiously. "It worked out didn't it." He raised both of his hands up in defense. His team's eyes traveled to his prosthetic. He dusted off the char from the explosion but that wasn't what they were looking at. His hand was limp, the fingers bent and barely hanging on to his own wrist. He caught their disappointed looks and said, "I can fix that."
It was a good thing Cassian was ambidextrous, or taking notes during the rest if their classes might have been an issue, thankfully now classes were over and team RWVBY sans Weiss, who took a detour to Beacon's mail room, had returned to their room.
"I'm gonna start working on my arm," Cassian said as he disconnected his prosthetic and placed it on their common room table. He walked over to his room and stepped inside. Taking a few minutes to change, Cassian walked back out with a different prosthetic arm and a bag of tools.
"Oh, you got a spare?" Yang, who had changed into some casual clothes, asked.
"Yup, I could fix it without but it goes a lot faster. It's a non-combat prosthetic too so good for walking around." Cassian sat at the table and began tinkering with his laid-out arm. Ruby had entered the room and joined Yang on the couch tom play their favorite video game. Blake had taken the love seat and per usual opened up her book for some silent reading.
"Crap." Cassian called out.
"What's wrong?" Ruby asked.
"Well, fingers are an easy fix, but the blast mechanism in my palm is shot to hell. I'm going to have to order some new parts." Cassian explained.
"OOOOO! I can help!" Ruby had shot up and joined him at the table. "I was top of my class in weapon engineering in Signal." She lifted up his prosthetic.
Yang had walked over to join them.
"She's not wrong, she even put people in my year to shame, she even helped with Ember Celica." Yang said.
"I can see it now! We switch out your normal blaster for a dust cannon! Or add a mecha shift blade in your forearm." Ruby was giddy with excitement. Cassian had grabbed the arm back from her.
"No to the dust cannon." He said and Ruby's face dropped. "I'll think about the blade though. Ruby's smiled returned. Before he could say anything else he watched his hand had fallen off the arm and landed on the floor and let out a strained sigh of annoyance.
"I got it!" Yang sounded way too excited to grab it. She picked up Cassian's hand and held it out to him before asking, "Need a hand?" Both Ruby and Blake groaned.
"How long have you been waiting to use that one?" Blake asked and before Cassian could retrieve his hand back, the door had swung open and Yang turned towards it. In came Weiss holding a suitcase with the SDC logo on it.
"Guess who just received a sample of the newest dust on the market?" She asked rhetorically in a proud tone.
"OOOOO! Let me see! Let me see!" Ruby had ran towards Weiss who pushed out her hand to hold her partner back.
"Down Ruby, you break any of these dust crystals and you're buying them." Weiss warned.
"Don't worry Weiss, I got a five-finger discount." Yang said as she waved Cassian's hand. Weiss joined Ruby and Blake in an extended groan this time. Cassian on the other side though made the fatal error of chuckling.
"Oh no," Ruby dismayed; Blake hid her head in her book, while Weiss shook her head.
"Oh yes!" Yang shouted. "Finally, someone with a good sense of humor around her." She clasped Cassian's shoulder with his own hand.
"Don't feed it Cassian. She's never going to stop now," Weiss spoke up.
"Uh, uh. Don't listen to her Cass, you laugh all you want. I'll think of even better one's from now on." Her grin widened. "I got one too, I just can't quite put my finger on it." She began tapping her chin with his metal hand. Weiss, Ruby, and Blake were dismayed at the blonde's continued bad puns, they looked at Cassian, hoping that he'd finally join them in having enough but the bastard looked amused. Sensing their dismay, Cassian decided to give them and break, stood up, and grabbed the hand from Yang before saying,
"Thank you, Yang." Yang giggled slightly sporting a cheshire like grin.
Author's Notes: Another short chapter. Took more then I wanted as I tried to write out the fight scene. It's where I want to improve most with my writing. It was a lot easier for the docks chapter cause I was basically transcribing what happened in the show, where as this chapter I tried to write how I envisioned the match in my head, Next few chapters should come out sooner. They will be filled with fluff and fun and be centered around specific characters and interactions during the semester break. As always feel free to comment/review. Hope you enjoy!