No Trauma, Just Fluff
'I wonder what he was thinking'
'What?'
'You know... I wonder what he was going through before he...'
'Kid, it's best not to wonder these things. Believe me, you've seen it all when bodies count in the hundreds. Villages burn and settlement crumble. People die, kid. But it's best not to dwell on it'
'Thanks Cardin'
'No problem kid'
Cardin opened his eyes to a familiar ceiling, there was a counseling session for him yesterday and it was quite useful. After something as traumatic as a dead body, you would think that he would be depressed a little, of maybe just sad over it.
But he was in a profession where the dead littered the ground and the grimm rip and tear people limb from limb.
So after the initial shock, Cardin calmed down. By no means was he fully alright but at least he could function normally. The boys were still asleep, perhaps Cardin would let them rest and have the day off. Sad or not, he did have a date and he would want to honor it.
But the day was only beginning, and Cardin didn't only have one date. He had two.
"This is new... You sure you're good, man?" Jaune asked, he was waiting for Cardin at the training hall. Early mornings like these were times that Cardin took to train with Jaune.
"Nah just... I was just off game. I'll bounce back in a few hours" Cardin said stretching.
Jaune winced, he knew what happened but couldn't really say anything about it. "Hey man, if it's any consolation. It didn't happen because of you"
Cardin gave a weak laugh "You're right." He stood up and finally with a grin, "Doesn't mean I'm going easy on you today"
"Oh gods please spare me"
"You know what though? Thanks, those few words mean a lot. Okay now, to training" Cardin grabbed a wooden sword as a replacement to Crocea Mors. He threw it at Jaune who caught it easily.
"What's this? No live weapon training?" Jaune asked swinging the blade around to get comfortable.
"Nope, I'm testing your general skill. Word is that Pyrrha has been training you" Cardin smirked his characteristic confident smirk.
"Y-yoooou! H-how did you know about that?" Jaune asked with a nervous laugh
"You really thought I wouldn't know? Pyrrha is a championship fighter, she wouldn't accept mediocrity" Cardin said making a bumbumbum sound at the end.
"Thats true..." Jaune deflated. Cardin however, didn't let that happen and pat him on the back.
"Chill man, the fact that she's even training you means you aren't super mediocre, stop it Mr. Confidence Issues. Let's see what those deft hands can do" Cardin smiled
Jaune shrugged, "You're right... I do have confidence issues" he got into a combat ready stance.
"Alright kiddo, show me what you got" Cardin said, raising his mace.
"Kiddo?"
"Sorry, weird choice of words" Cardin shook his head, two people in the brain region makes it kind of difficult to keep one kind of vocabulary.
Jaune went on the offensive, an overhead slash which clanged with Cardin's mace. "All that strength training is paying off. I could actually feel that one!"
Jaune smirked, he leapt back "After all this training, I should at least have that much"
"Alright, guess not giving you a shield might be a good idea" Cardin said parrying the strike, sending it to the side. Cardin swung his mace horizontally, Jaune leapt back to avoid the strike.
Cardin took a step forward and swung again. Jaune couldn't dodge, so instead almost instinctively he swung his sword at Cardin. Not aiming for the boy in question but his mace.
Cardin smiled, it was an honest to goodness parry. It sent his mace to the side, Jaune landed on his feet but just barely. "God damn! That hurts" Jaune screamed
"It's wood! It'll be worse on metal" Cardin said, raising his mace again to go on another offensive. "Dodge this!" Cardin shouted as he leapt with an overhead swing.
Jaune rolled to the side, taking three steps back. He took a defensive posture and circled Cardin. "Heh, as expected of a championship fighter's training" Cardin nodded in acknowledgement.
Cardin was enjoying this fight. Jaune had been training well and all those mock battles he had with Jaune had built a foundation for him to be a confident fighter. Though he did lack a lot of that confidence. He bets Jaune could take down at least a few White Fang members on his own. He could probably solo at least two live beowolves now.
Cardin quickly took the offensive, clashing weapons with Jaune. Jaune pivoted left and sent a thrust toward Cardin's side. But Cardin was aware of this and spun to sweep Jaune's leg. Sending him to the ground.
"Agh!" Jaune cried as Cardin placed the wooden mace on Jaune's chest.
"Hmm, okay I think it's good. Nice fight Jaune, you've really improved"
Jaune huffed, "Thanks, please get this thing off of me" Jaune said as Cardin lifted the mace.
"I think the only parts that do need work is some offensive techniques."
"Yeah?" Jaune asked
"Mmhm, the last hit was a good idea but you have to be ready for your opponent's response. Trust me, your defense is really good. But all defense and no Offense just makes you a punching bag" Cardin continued, "What you should've done was when I went for the big overhead swing, you should've instantly leapt at the opportunity. Keeping pressure on sentient opponents is the easiest way to get them to mess up"
Jaune nodded, they went over to a bench where Jaune kept a little notebook of what he had to improve.
"Woah that's not your handwriting" Cardin said peeking over Jaune's shoulder.
"Y-yeah it's Pyrrha's. You know she's been such a huge help and honestly I feel like if neither of you were training me I wouldn't have made it this far."
Cardin pat his back, "Oh I bet you would've found one way or another"
"Well... You're right about that! Finally, I'm here. In Beacon, with my friends and my mentor. I really can't thank you enough" Jaune said in a heartfelt manner.
"Yuck are you gonna propose to me too? It's just what friends do man" Cardin said slapping Jaune on the back.
"C'mon man I was being serious here!" Jaune said following Cardin
Cardin looked to the entrance of the training hall and saw a familiar shade of red hair. "Pyrrha!"
Pyrrha Nikos looked at Cardin in shock. She was wearing her training clothes, a long sleeved sweater crop top that showed her midriff and under was her stylized sports-bra. She wore black tights that accentuated her figure and any man would die just to sneak a peak from behind.
Cardin wasn't one of them however. He had another woman in mind. But he did know who would enjoy the view.
"Cardin? Early morning training?" Pyrrha asked, water bottle in hand.
"Yeah, actually" Cardin came in close, "I came with your little someone who you really should talk with"
"Cardin what the hell! Why'd you... take... off running..." Jaune slowed to a halt. Seeing his partner in her training clothes probably activated a few of his monkey neurons. His amygdala was having a field day with the view he was getting.
Cardin snickered at the boys reaction but also had a great idea. He came close to Pyrrha and whispered in her ear, "I know you like Jauney boy, I'm doing this so he gets jealous. You better make out with him at the end of the month or so help me"
"W-what!?" Pyrrha shouted, her cheeks red and audibly surprised. She hit Cardin on the arm a little hard, sending Cardin back a little "Yeowch miss Champion that hurts"
"W-w-why would you say that then!?" Pyrrha whispered to Cardin.
"Look"
Jaune had a look on his face that Pyrrha had never seen before.
"He's jelly, now goodluck with that Pyrrha. I have a date to tend to" Cardin pat Pyrrha on the back. He looked at Jaune and gave him a thumbs up and quickly left the gym.
Jaune came up to Pyrrha, who was still flushed, "So... what did Cardin whisper?"
Pyrrha coughed into her hand, "Its... uhm"
"Are you his date for this afternoon?" Jaune asked straightforwardly, but quickly pack pedaled "N-not that there's anything wrong with two of my bestest friends dating or something like that-"
Pyrrha giggled, her crush was jealous because another guy talked to her? "N-no, nothing like that. He just told me a dirty joke about how I train you"
Jaune blushed as well "He said what!?"
"Anyway! Are you still training Jaune?" Pyrrha asked shyly
"Well, since my training buddy just left maybe I'll head too"
"Wait!" Pyrrha held his hand, "I-uhm. Do you want to train together?"
Jaune was shocked, his eyes wide open and his mouth agape. Such a beautiful partner, he didn't know if he could survive. He was about to say no until he met her gaze, it was intoxicating. He looked away quickly, "S-sure, yeah"
Pyrrha gave him a wide smile, "Yay!" She celebrated but quickly controlled herself. 'I guess all that following wasn't for nothing' she thought
"What do you guys think?" Cardin presented himself to his team
"You look like a twat"
"Damn that's a little harsh Russ"
Sky was eating chips, while chewing he gave his thumbs up. Dove was carefully studying Cardin, "Hmm I don't think the hair gel is necessary"
"Really?" Cardin asked, he wanted to look good for Velvet. Of course this and the fact that it was his first date.
'Cardin what do I do man! You're old you've probably had women before'
'Actually I've never married, so you're on your own for this one K'
Cardin sighed, "Fine, I'll wash my hair again. But the clothes are fine right?"
Cardin grabbed his dogtags that his father gave him. He wore a dark brown v-neck shirt that fit tight to show his muscles and over it he wore a greying black cargo shirt. He wore dark brown jeans and boots. This was some of his usual clothing but he at least had to look presentable.
"I think that just being yourself would be fine in this situation Cap" Russel said after taking the piss out of Cardin's attempts at trying too hard.
"Really? I really really want her to like me" Cardin said, showing his less cool and more emotional side.
The three looked at him weird.
'Ah right I'm with guys'
"Ahem, anyway. Wish me luck boys!"
Cardin went and washed his hair. The boys waved their leader goodbye as he headed to his date.
"Go get laid tiger!" Russel shouted. The door shut and off he was.
Velvet Scarletina was usually not the type of girl to go on dates or anything. Hell, in the year she spent at Beacon she had only ever gone on dates with Coco. She wasn't a lesbian by any means just super shy when it came to talking to the opposite gender.
However, maybe meeting Cardin Winchester might have done something to her. He was charming, sure. He was also someone who cared for her hobby and not to mention hot. Like, even thought he was a year younger than her, he was still a head taller than (You know, minus the bunny ears). He was just an all around nice, jock type of person.
'Who knew, the nerd falls in love with the jock huh?' Velvet thought to herself while she quietly waits. They said they would meet at 1:30 but Cardin was nowhere to be seen.
"I hope he doesn't ditch me..." Velvet said worried, "for his own safety" she added, knowing Coco? Something might happen to the Winchester heir.
But she digressed, she was excited for this date and even asked Coco if she could help with her clothing. She hoped Cardin would like it.
"Vel! Over here!"
Velvet heard a familiar voice, her orange haired date. She looked over to see him. And he did not disappoint.
His hair was still wet, haphazardly slicked back to not cover his face. He wore a dark brown shirt that showed off his well-trained muscles 'mama likey'. She slapped herself for that comment, and the combination of the colors of his outfit were earthy and comfortable. "Cardin!" She said walking over to her date.
"I see you're dressed up for this. I kinda feel you know... less dressed? If that makes sense" Cardin laughed
"Oh you, don't say that you look rather dashing" Velvet mentally slapped herself. Who says dashing nowadays?
"Dashing huh?" Cardin asked smiling, he continued "You look absolutely gorgeous yourself"
Now it was time for Cardin to slap himself mentally, 'Who the FUCK SAYS THAT'
"T-thank you. Should I give you a twirl?" Velvet asked, slapping herself mentally part two.
Velvet spun, she was wearing a brown sundress, over it was her light brown wool jacket and a carrot hairpin. It was cute, was what Coco said when she prepared the simple outfit.
Of course true to her word she gave Cardin a twirl
Cardin was entranced, the way her sundress moved was graceful. Her hair also lifted up to reveal her nape, her ample bosom lightly bounced as she gave her twirl, Cardin blushed red. He was speechless.
The two awkwardly stared at each other
"So... what did you think"
"Yeah you are absolutely gorgeous"
The both blushed even more profusely
Note: Heres like the next chapter, I took the old drafts and kinda frankensteined it into this one chapter
