Chapter 23
A lazy day
Anastasia was up in a watchtower looking to the east for the return of the air group. Peach was standing beside her. Both Huntresses had not slept the night before having constantly moved between the watchposts and checking on the students on watch. The entire camp had been on alert ever since they got the distress message that had been transmitted by the air patrol. They kept the alert level high despite Peter's later messages that the threat had been neutralized and would do so till all were back in camp.
"Movement on the road." Nebula Violette called
A yellow frontender construction vehicle was in the lead, scraping the road clear and level. Three off road vehicles followed in its wake. The vehicles had several stars on it marking it as the marshals vehicles. Behind them an enclosed refrigeration truck followed, another four off roads followed behind the truck, all seemed to be full of people. Anastasia looked to Peach
"Flip you for it, loser deals with the politics." She suggested, pulling out a Lien card
"Why should I take the chance when the senior teacher is already here." Peach snorted
"I could always order you to do it, you know." Anastasia replied
"Not happening, besides it is not like you will be dealing with the Council here." Peach stated, turning her attention back to the east
Peach stiffened and lifted the binoculars up
"I think you won't have to either, they are coming in." She said
The ship was perfectly backlit by the sun as they were moving in. The students acknowledged their return by staring to play a song over the speakers that had been set up and the teachers suspected was being streamed to the approaching craft. The group Rolling Stones song Paint it black filled the air. A song they knew Mister Arc had a fondness for.
Peach chuckled
"A suitable dramatic entry, Peter will be pleased." She said
"How long do you think before he uses it for putting students to sleep?" Anastasia joked
"He wont, he might tell the tale but he will credit the teams their full due. Though a variant may pop up some time." Peach replied
The two Huntresses climbed down the ladder and approached the area designated as the landing area. The teams started to assemble excluding those on watch, having the used the senior search teams for that meant that the original teams were available. The craft settled down and Arc started shutting down. The teams exited dragging their prisoners out and following their professor as he headed over to the delegation from the town
The refrigerated truck and two off roads pulled close to the camp and the occupants jumped out and offloaded several boxes and crates before driving up to the marshals vehicles. The prisoners were shoved into the back with armed deputies climbing in after them with a few occupants from the off roads. The door of the truck was closed before it left with a marshall vehicle in front and back of it. The Huntresses knew that by the time the truck stopped the prisoners would have "fallen" repeatedly in the back of the truck. The Marshall and the town mayor were conversing with Peter before the mayor stepped forward and shaking the hands of the students, followed by the marshal. If this had been Vale it would have been recorded by a multitude of press. The two moved to their vehicles and the vehicles left the area.
Peter led the group over to the assembled students, Jaune was still busy at the craft manually refuelling it. Hina pressed Velvet forward
"Go get him and bring him over here, drag him by his ears if you have too."
Velvet need no second urging and went over to where Jaune was, grabbing Pyrrha en route. Hina noted Coco giving Velvet a confused stare as she broke ranks. Hina moved up to Coco's side
"Let her be, the three of them still need to decide what is going on between them." She said softly
"But you know something?" Coco replied as softly
"I always do." Hina replied smugly
Coco pushed her glasses down her nose and looked over them to Hina
"Care to put some money on it then?"
"Okay, fifty Lien per pairing." Hina extended her hand
"You are on." Coco shook on it
"Shall I start recording and keep the book?" Yatsu asked, a notepad in hand
"Okay." The two nodded and said as one
Coco looked over the group, tapping a finger on her chin before pointing discreetly
"Ren and Nora. Dating after the Beacon Ball." She said
"Nope, not happening. Katya and Nora dating for the Beacon Ball." Hina replied
"Easy money for me then. You choose next" Coco shrugged
"Yara and April before we go back to Beacon." Hina said
"Not seeing that one happening but your bet. Yang and that fifth year from CORE. What is his name? Oh yes, Chris Copper."
"Yang is still deep in the closet, so till Blake settles her issues with her ex she will be pining in the background." Hina countered
"Blake and that Guy from Haven, Sun." Coco said
"Friend zoned after the first date. Come on Coco step up your game here." Hina replied slightly mockingly
"Okay. Ruby and that girl Penny." Coco said
"Friends only. Till Ruby realises what hormones are for she will be single, and then my money is on snowflake." Hina said
"Snowflake is too society, not happening. She will go for a society boy." Coco shook her head
"And nothing will come of it." Hina replied
"Well see."
"Can anyone jump in on the bets?" Fox asked
"Sure." Coco replied
"Fifty says the Girl From CORE, Melody Eiser. She will move in on our dear Coco before we go back. And a hundred on a three way between Velvet, Pyrrha and Jaune." He said
"What makes you say that?" Coco asked
"You need to sleep lighter. Our dear Velvet has been moaning in her sleep." Fox said smugly
"I will take the bet with Hina, Katya and Nora, Ren will lose out soon." Yatsu rumbled softly.
"Nothing on BROW?" Coco asked
"Cameron is already engaged, a sous Chef in Vale. Royce is seeing someone, not sure who. Olson has a bookkeeper waiting for her, a spring wedding I believe. Walsh is actually already married, a mechanic with his own shop." Hina listed of
"How do you know that?" Coco asked surprised
"Walsh has a real weakness for chocolate bars, she spilled the information for a half box of marshmallow chocolate eggs" Hina answered
"Team NDGO."
"I have not decided yet, still have to really get to know the girls." Hina replied
They broke up as the teachers turned to face the assembled teams.
"Good news for you all. You all get a rest day. For the next two days JNPR and BROW are confined to base, no patrols or escort duty. That also goes for Miss Miller of KHYA. So Yara and Hina will be spare for whichever team and Katya will be taking over as pilot for the next few days." Moody informed them
Peach pointed to the pile of goods that had been left by the refrigerated truck
"We have received some fresh food and a few other things as a thank you from Serenity town. Go and enjoy it, just leave some for the fifth years teams as they come from watch duty. CLAP and NDGO you are on watch tonight. Oh and Coco, Hina. You get dishwashing duty for the next four days as punishment for gambling, Fox, Yatsu you will be joining them. Once you are done you can clean the washroom."
Coco groaned
"I forgot how good her hearing is." She said in frustration
"Is she angry that we are betting on her sisters love life or is she angry that she could not place a bet?" Hina asked
"Make that another day added." Peach stated
Coco grabbed Hina and muzzled her with one hand and started to drag her back to the camp. Port waited till the students had broken of and started drifting into the camp before nudging Peach
"You have not answered the question though." He remarked
"Peter, I really do not need to hear of the romantic entanglements of my students. Especially my young innocent little sister." She stated
"They don't always stay that way." Moody pointed out
"Okay, excluding your sister who shall stay young and innocent forever. What is your take?" Peter asked
" Hina is right as is Fox. Honestly do the students have nothing better to do." Peach replied
"I take it then we are changing our bets in the teachers lounge book with the next report in with Beacon." Moody replied with a smile
" Of course, as far as I know no one has predicted a triple relationship." Peach answered
"I believe you are wrong on that one. Miss Booker from the library has placed a bet on Miss Schnee and Belladona with miss Rose." Peter informed them
"What?! A Schnee and a Belladona, not happening" Peach exclaimed
"She insists that forbidden love will conquer, and well what is more forbidden than deadly enemies and a side of jailbait." Peter replied
"Remind me to tell that one to Qrow and Taiyang. I just want to see their expressions." Anastasia said smirking
"Qrow will down his flask and Taiyang will try and pull his baby out of Beacon." Peach predicted
"I would rather see Winter Schnee's reaction, she might actually show an emotion." Peter remarked
"No. that stick up in her ass will keep that from happening. Though if we are taking wild bets on forbidden love Qrow and Winter." Anastasia snorted
"Another one that should be amusing to reveal." Peach chuckled
Peter started moving to the camp
"First things first though. I could use a nice hot meal, a decent shower and a long nap." He said, yawning
"Go ahead Peter, we will keep an eye on things, take the day of as well we will update Ozpin at the regular time." Anastasia responded
A decent breakfast and a long shower later and the nine felt mostly human or faunus again. They decided en masse to go catch up on their missed sleep, a clear exception being Ren who drifted off without a word to the others. Katya placed a hand on Nora's shoulder as the girl followed him with her eyes, her eyes watery.
"It is him that is at fault, not you." Katya said softly in her ear
"It just feels like I am losing him, there is a gap between us that has never been there." Nora said brokenly
Katya pulled the girl down to sit on the platform that held their tents and hugged her.
" For a relationship to work both sides have to work on it. You keep on trying and you are only hurting yourself. Ren may not be ready, and he may never be ready for a relationship, but you can not put your life on hold for someone. Nora you deserve better." Katya said firmly
"But who would have me? I am loud, brash, hyperactive, an orphan with nothing to her name. I would drive anyone insane, not that I would know what to do in a relationship anyway." Nora said softly
"All of those things are what makes you, you. Nora you are not a girly girl, you live with your heart on your sleeve and a laugh on your lips. And if someone can not see you for you it is their loss. And for the record there is someone who wants you for you, not for what you have." Katya replied
"Who would that be?" Nora asked
"Me." Katya stated shyly
Nora turned her head to her companion so rapidly that her neck hurt. Katya did not look away though a small blush lined her face and she was biting her lip in worry.
"Since when?" Nora asked
"That night we went out. You looked so beautiful and alive, I could not stop looking at you. Nor could I stop looking at when we were at Beacon." Katya replied
"Why did you not say something?" Nora asked
"Because I did not want to come between you and Ren. Also I was not sure if you would even consider dating someone else, never mind an alien female." Katya whispered
"What has changed? Why are you telling me this now?" Nora asked as softly
Katya looked over to where the LAATi was standing, she sighed deeply
"Yesterday brought it back to me how quickly things change. To my mind you were in worse danger than before and I was afraid for you. I decided that when you came back I would stop being a coward and take my shot." Katya said
"And what were you hoping for?" Nora asked
"A wonderful girlfriend and at worst someone I can still call a friend if you were not interested in me like that."
Nora rubbed her neck
"I would always want you as a friend. I… damn it!"
Nora grabbed Katya's face and kissed her on the lips. She pulled back uncertainly. Katya pulled her in against her and kissed her hard and passionately. The two were soon lost in their own world. They broke apart breathing harshly
"Can I take that as a yes?" Katya asked
"You can." Nora panted
Katya jumped up and grabbed Nora's hand
"Come, cuddle time in my tent. No excuses." She said happily.
They found April passed out, her head on Yara's lap while Yara leaned back against her backpack, a datapad in one hand, the other carding April's hair and rubbing her ears. April purred in her sleep. Yara gave Katya a questioning glance. Katy lifted their entwined hands. Yara gave the couple a smile before motioning for silence and pintingto her companion. The two nodded before Katya pulled the two of them down on her bedroll and plopped her pillows under Nora's head, settling her self on Nora's stomach.
Hina spotted NDGO sitting down at the table they used for their meals a pack of cards being shuffled by Octavia, piles of candy lying before each of them. She went to her tent and retrieved a case from her backpack, carefull not to disturb the four within and made her way back to the table. CFVY minus Velvet had sat down as well, a pile of candy before Coco and Yatsu. Fox was idly sharpening his knives. Hina put the case down
"How would you like to learn two new games? They are called Sabac and Pazaak." She said with a grin
" We were actually planning on gambling for candy and chores. Vacuo Poker rules" Coco replied
"Okay, never mind then." Hina nodded
"I am willing to learn a new game." Ruby said
Hina looked over to where RWBy were finishing cleaning up.
"Fair warning, the games are games of chance and you would neet to put up stakes for it." Hina replied
"Snacks and chores?" Ruby asked
"Sure, why not?" Hina shrugged
"Ruby! No gambling, we could get into trouble with the teachers." Weiss hissed
"No risk no gain. Okay I am in. so is Blake." Yang said
" Says who?" Blake replied, drying a pan
"What else are you going to do? read Ninjas of love for the third time, or would that be the fourth time? Or were you planning a long catnap?" Yang drawled
Blake put the pan down
"Fine, I will play but your stash of shampoo is the first thing that gets bet on." Blake said defiantly
"Against your smut, bring it." Yang said airily
"Ninjas of love is not smut!" Blake hissed
"Team RWBY is in, prepare to lose." Ruby said loftily
Ruby pulled her winnings into a very large pile , happily humming a tune. Hina and the rest of RWBY looked in shocked silence at her
"How?" Yang asked weakly
"I want to know that myself." Hina said looking at her pazaak deck
"It is just maths." Ruby said dismissively
"But you do poorly in math class." Weiss protested
"That is in class, knowing the value of x is boring. It is not like you are going to use that to calculate trajectory for a shot." Ruby snorted
"Or cheat people out of their possessions." Blake stared longingly at her ex books
Ruby got an evil grin on her face
"There is a way you can get back what you gambled away." She said innocently
"How?" Weiss asked, her eyes on the boxes of dark chocolate
"Nothing much, just some chores." Ruby replied, running her hands over the pile
Their eyes were drawn to the four stacks she had made. Hina leaned back and packed her deck away.
"Good thing I only gambled what I could afford to lose, Enjoy your winnings Rubes." She said
Ruby looked to her team and she could see them wavering on taking up her offer. She lifted the bottle of shampoo and opened it over the books.
"So Yang. You use two handfuls of this each wash right and another of the conditioner."
Ruby tilted the bottle slightly so that it was close to spilling. Both Yang and Blake tensed, warily looking at their precious items.
"How about you close that bottle and we discuss terms." Yang suggested
CLAP had been tagged for lunch making, Penny kept on sneaking glances at the tables. Ciell was pointedly looking elsewhere, going to the extreme of keeping her back on the groups, huffing each time laughter and cries of dismay came from the tables between the constant bantering
"Valeans, no respect for regulations." She muttered
"I am sorry, cadet Soleill, I do not find any proscription in our mission orders." Penny said
"That is because it is an unspoken order." Ciell replied
"Shall I alert the teachers then?" Penny asked
"That would be a big no." Anne Greystoke broke in
Penny gave her attention to the other woman
" Despite Soleills feeling on the matter, there is nothing wrong with playing around or games of chance when off duty. It is a good way for teams and units to grow closer. It also help to keep tensions down in units. Yes officially gambling is not allowed, but unless it impacts operations it has and will be ignored. And for letting the teachers know, again if it impacts operations do so by all means, but since it does not let it go. We do not need to make enemies of the people we are with, ratting them out will turn them against us, especially since what they are doing is harmless."
"Thank you, private." Penny replied
"Anne. No ranks in the field remember?" Anne replied
"Thank you for the reminder."
" How about we get back to cooking, which is what we are supposed to be doing." Marks suggested.
Ciell bit back a retort and went back to chopping carrots, a bit aggressively and not uniformly even if one were to pay attention.
Day turned to night and the camp settled down, Jaune laid on his bedroll cradling Pyrrha against him. They laid down in companionable silence, every few moments one the spotlights would sweep over the roof of the tent. They had seen Ren join Yatsu in his tent, Nora had yet to leave KHYA's tent, so the two had some privacy. Pyrrha had taken advantage of that and had discarded her usual pyjamas and had settled on a very short t shirt and black lace panties. There was a scratching noise on the canvas. Jaune pulled the blanket higher over Pyrrha.
"Who is there?" He called softly
"Velvet, can I come in?"
" Of course." Pyrrha gave permission
Velvet undid the zip and climbed in, doing the zip up again. She visibly braced herself before sighing deeply.
"What is wrong, Velvet?" Pyrrha asked gently
"Here goes nothing." Velvet breathed out
She looked at the two before her
"Jaune. Pyrrha. Would you consider me joining you in a relationship?" She said rapidly
"Come again?" Jaune replied slightly shocked
Ruby returned to her tent and climbed in, blushing up a storm. She carefully set her shower kit down and sat down on her sleeping bag.
"Is there any hot water left?" Weiss asked, distracted by something on her scroll
"I don't know. Did not get to shower yet." Ruby replied with a squeek in her voice
Weiss caught the tone and looked up as did Yang from where she was repacking her case, her shower kit to one side. Blake lowered her reclaimed book and stated over it at their leader
"What is with the blush?" Yang asked, grinning
"Nothing!" Ruby yelped
Yang grabbed her and tickled her till she begged for mercy
"Now spill. What did you see?" Yang asked , holding Ruby in a headlock
"Yang!" Ruby whined
"Tell us." Yang demanded
"I saw Jaune in the shower." Ruby mumbled
"And did you like what you saw?" Yang said teasingly
"I saw nothing, he had Velvet before him and Pyrrha behind him." Ruby gabbled
"You are lying." Weiss gasped in shock, a hand before her mouth
"If you don't believe me, ask Nora and Katya. They were there too." Ruby replied
"Surely they were wearing bathing suits like we do." Blake said
"Nope." Ruby replied, her blush reforming with a vengeance
"Anyone else?" Blake asked, pinching her nose as it began to bleed
"Just April and Yara, they were sharing a bath."
Blake fainted, Weiss following soon thereafter