"Good afternoon, class! Welcome to Combat Training." Glynda Goodwitch called to the students who were assembled.
Most of the students said nothing, except one. "Tex?!" Grif shouted in horror, grasping his balls. Midoriya, Percy and Harry stared at him in surprise. They hadn't expected such a reaction from him on that.
"No, I'm Professor Goodwitch." She corrected with a glare before returning her attention to the stands. "Today, I will be teaching you some of the basics in combat. I find that the best way to learn is by doing." She then went on to describe the different mechanics of Tournament-style combat. "Do I have any volunteers for the first match?"
Cardin raised a hand. "I'll go…" He then grinned, "and I choose Jaune over there as my opponent."
"Very well. Suit up, gentlemen." They did so, went on stage facing each other. "And, begin." It went about as well as expected.
"This is the part where you lose." Cardin Winchester stated, towering over Jaune Arc who was already on the ground.
Jaune, to his credit, did what he could to stand up. "Oh no you don't! You…" He couldn't say any more as Cardin slams his mace right into Jaune's stomach, making Jaune hunch over. Cardin raised his mace, ready to strike him in the head, when a buzzer went off.
"That is enough, Mr. Winchester." Glynda Goodwitch said, stepping onto the stage.
"Damn! Now that's a beating." Grif said, staring at the Aura levels. Cardin's Aura was full while Jaune's was gone.
"It is." Midoriya said, gripping the railing. He was tense, his mind flashing back to his previous fights with Bakugo if they could even be called that. Harry and Percy said nothing, just glared down. Meanwhile the other students cheered as both students left the stage.
"Students, as you can see, Mr. Arc's Aura has dropped into the red zone. In tournament-style combat, this would mean that Mr. Arc is no longer fit for battle." Team DLPHI let out a snort at once. "And the match is officially called." She then looked into the stands. It was honestly hard to believe this was only the 2nd day at Beacon and already they had learned so much on the one style of combat. "We have enough time for one more match today. Ms. Nikos." She stood up. "You may choose your opponent." Pyrrha looked around the stadium before her eyes settled.
"Percy, would you please be my opponent?" She asked politely. Percy blinked then nodded.
"Very well. Please get your gear together." Percy stood up, same as Pyrrha, and walked away.
"Go on. Beat her ass raw!" Grif shouted as Percy left. Lots of people started shouting at Grif in protest but he just kept telling each 'go fuck yourself' always followed by Ruby's shriekly voice shouted "Language!"
"Okay." Percy said, trying to sound reasonable as he could. It was remarkable how you give him food and become a food-raiding partner, Grif suddenly becomes very agreeable to work with. And he didn't care what anybody thought of him. Percy was actually rather envious of that as he put on his armor over his clothes and a black sensor over his right ear, stepping onto the stage. Goodwitch had explained earlier that these devices were programmed to look at emissions to estimate the amount of Aura one has. They're about to be in for a shock. Percy stared at the water fountain nearby, wondering about it. Would Pyrrha be able to handle that, Percy high on water? Percy shook his head, he'd only known these people two days and besides, he didn't want to cause serious harm today. Pyrrha was already there, dressed in her combat gear. The device beeped in Percy's ear scanning. He stared up at the monitor above. Pyrrha's bar was shown as a brilliant green, but Percy's, empty.
Murmurs flew through the stands as Goodwitch made her way to him. "Let's go back. We'll fit you with another device."
"No need." Percy said breezily.
"What do you mean?" She asked, confused. "You can't mean you haven't unlocked your Aura yet."
Percy shrugged. "And if I haven't?"
The students murmured once more, some jeering him on now. "What are you doing here at Beacon?" Someone shouted. "Get out of here! Only the best belong here."
"Yeah?" Grif shouted back. "I'd like you to face off against him sometime, dick-tip!"
"Will you stop that!" Weiss shrieked.
"Silence!" Goodwitch shouted. Her presence was enough to get everyone silent. She turned back. "Are you sure you want to go through with this?" She didn't say anything, but Percy saw the concern on her and nodded. She sighed. "Very well." She turned back. "What we will be doing now is a unique style of Tournament style combat called First Blood. Now, most often this is due to both players being Aura-less where the first blood drawn is considered a loss. But in the case of Aura against Aura-less, the rules are relatively the same except only forefeit or excess injury can end a match. Are you ready?" Both nodded. "Begin."
Pyrrha brought up her spear, changed it into a rifle and fired. Percy rolled for a second, the bullet missing him completely before running at Pyrrha. She fired again, this one grazing his shoulder. Percy ignored it, swinging his sword at her. Pyrrha converted her rifle to sword and swung upward, blocking his blade. Percy pressed further. Pyrrha was strong, he would gladly admit it, but he pressed on. That is, until his blade suddenly flew back sending him back. Percy was stunned by that as Pyrrha swung at him. Percy planted himself, swing his sword at her feet. She leaped back, startled by the sudden move. Percy charged at her, taking another swing. It missed, going wide. Percy noted that Pyrrha's hands were pointed to Riptide. That had to be it! She had to be telepathically controlling his motions. Clever, Percy said, so I'll have to be unpredictable.
She swiped at him once more, but Percy switched hands and swung it back. Pyrrha hadn't expected him to do that, knocking the weapon from her hands. Taking the chance, Percy stabbed the blade at Pyrrha. "Pyrrha!" Jaune shouted as she was knocked to the ground. He glanced up at the stands. That strike alone knocked her Aura down by a quarter alone. In that moment, the weapon flew back into her hands and she turned it to a rifle, firing. Now! Percy dodged to the side, the bullet hitting him right above the right shoulder. Unlike the last shot, this one burned greatly and Percy had to bite back a yelp of pain.
Pyrrha gasped when she heard that. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" She said. Percy glared up at her, making Pyrrha step back. "Percy?" Her eyes suddenly became afraid. That's it, all or nothing. Percy lunged. Stab. Swing. Roll to the blind spot. Percy used everything he could. Pyrrha was beaten back, looking more and more scared of Percy. In that moment, he remembered the first lesson he took with Luke Castellan, and the disarming technique. By instinct now, Percy replicated what he was taught so long ago, twisting one edge of Riptide. Pyrrha grunted in pain, letting go of the weapon. He then pointed it at her throat. "Yield." He said, huffing. Tartarus's air was working its way out of him slow but steady although he still had no endurance.
Pyrrha stared at him for a moment before nodding. "The match ended by surrender. The winner is Percy Jackson." The room was silent. No one spoke a word at all. Percy hoisted Pyrrha up. She stared at his wounds, mouth agape. "That is all we have time for today. Class dismissed!" She said. The last class of their second day ended and students left.
"No, it's okay. I'll help." Pyrrha said, wrapping one of his arms around Pyrrha.
"It's alright. I've had worse done to me." Percy said as they reached the room.
"You what?" Pyrrha gasped, looking in disbelief. Percy nodded.
"I'm okay. I got something in my locker to heal me up. Don't worry." Pyrrha stared at him but Percy wouldn't back down. She sighed. "Alright. Just tell me if you need any help, okay? We're in this together."
"I really appreciate it." Percy said. He felt bad that he was being so secretive so he decided to add, "It's a family secret for me. I promised to keep it to myself."
"Really?" She looked surprised. "You get more mysterious by the day."
"Thanks." He paused. There was a slight shuffle to her steps and her head down. He had to do something. "Pyrrha. There was nothing wrong you did in the fight."
"Then how did I lose so badly?" Pyrrha asked, her voice rising. The win was hitting her harder than Percy expected. "You fought great, I thought I did great. You didn't even have Aura or a semblance and you still won. And that glare, I thought you were going to kill me. What happened?"
"Your form is some of the best I've ever seen." Percy admitted, her attention drilling into him. "But you're too stiff about it. You go from one formula to the next to the next. And that semblance, it's very good but you rely on it too much. In fact, that's you in a nutshell. I saw it in your eyes, you're so used to winning that when anyone gets an edge over you, you panic and lose everything. You need to adapt more, do something that no matter what, you can bounce back."
Pyrrha stared at him for a moment, waiting. When Percy finished, a bright smile formed on her face and she hugged him. She actually hugged him. Percy stared at her awkwardly. He hadn't been hugged by anyone, let alone a woman, since Annabeth so all he could do is stare. His shoulder certainly didn't appreciate it either. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." She kept saying then let go when she realized she was getting blood on her armor. She had the biggest smile Percy had ever seen on her, tears brimming in her eyes. She actually was very beautiful but Percy would not let those thoughts go anywhere. Annabeth was waiting for him after all. "Do you know how long it's been since I've gotten advice? Real advice? I've love fighting since I was a kid and I had great coaches. But ever since the last tournament back home is 'You're amazing,' or 'You should get your face out there.'" She shuddered at that. "No one is willing to say no to me anymore. Do you mind if I train with you? Get some pointers?"
"Ah, sure." Percy said. "I train in the early morning."
"Oh, good. I do too. And if I may offer you something too?" Percy nodded. "You need to have a shield with that sword to give you defensive options. So far, all you have is offense. And you do quite good at that." Her smile turned more intense. "I can even unlock your Aura if you'd like. Next time we fight, I want you to give your all so when I beat you, we will be better for it."
Percy grinned back. "In your dreams." She laughed and left him. Percy took off his armor and stepped over to the water fountain, holding his hand under it. The water crept up his arm, sealing the wounds that were made. Percy stepped away from it and capped Riptide. He left the locker room only to be bombarded by students, clamoring for him. "That was amazing! How did you do that? Can you teach me?" "How could Pyrrha lose to some Aura-less freak?"
"Get out of the way!" Grif shouted, pushing them aside then grabbing Percy's arm. Percy almost felt like his arm was greasy without grease as he pulled Percy along. "Anyone messes with him messes with me. And I got this Grif Shot here!" He held up his absurdly huge weapon. Something about it felt wrong to Percy, but he couldn't place why. The other students ran for it, looking scared as hell.
"Thanks." Percy said.
"Ah, don't mention it." He said bringing him to the rest of the team. Teams RWBY and JN_R were standing nearby.
"That was amazing!" Yang shouted, holding up a fist which he bumped. If he's going to be with these people for any prolonged period of time, then letting himself be reminded of Annabeth wouldn't do him any good. Yang seemed surprised for a moment by the return but smiled wider than before.
Jaune slapped Percy on the shoulder. "That was some amazing swordplay. I've never seen anything like it before. How are you already healed up? Those gunshots looked like they hurt." He then noticed Pyrrha walking around the corner, the students starting to sneak up on her. "I'll be right back." He said, rushing to her.
"Don't think I can't see you, assholes!" Grif shouted. The students creeping up scattered instantly.
"Must you scare them like that?" Ren asked.
"Are you kidding, Rennie? I want to do that sometime!" Nora bounced on her heels, grinning at the prospects. Ren just sighed and shook his head.
"Jaune did bring up a good point. How did you heal already?" Weiss was staring at him, practically radiating suspicion.
Percy kept to the same thing he told Pyrrha. "It's a family secret."
Something about that made Weiss's eyes narrow, a look of hate in her eyes, before she calmed down. "Fine. If you're all done, we need to get back to our homework. I've never seen such a stack already." She walked off without another word.
"She's right. If we're going to get anything done, we need to start now. To the library!" Ruby added, running to catch up. Percy stared at them. He still remembered the hateful glares Weiss sent Ruby's way, but today, they haven't yelled at each other once. There was one instance during History class with Professor Oobleck where Weiss looked like she wanted to get irritated but calmed down after a moment. Percy couldn't help but feel happy that they were starting to become friends, if nothing else than sparing headaches for the rest of them.
"We don't have anything else going on." Midoriya shrugged. "We might as well all go."
"Percy, can I talk to you for a second?" Harry asked as the group paused.
Percy shrugged. "Go on. We'll be there in a sec." They continued on as Percy turned back. "What's up?"
Harry looked up to Percy. He seemed very nervous. "I don't know how to do this. To fight."
"Come on, you shot well in the Emeral Forest. You'll do fine." Percy waved him off.
But Harry wouldn't have any of it. "Yeah, I can shoot. I'm fast especially when I'm in the air. But that will do me a fat lot of good, that will!" Harry caught his breath, calming down before resuming. "That jerk, Cardin, at least has the strength to back up his claims. Pyrrha moved like water shifting from shooting to swordplay. Even you, I've never seen anything like what you've done before. I've never told anyone, but the last time I picked up a sword, I got poisoned for my efforts. If I fight how I am right now, I'd be no better than that Jaune bloke."
Percy's eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?"
"I'm asking you to please teach me how to use a sword. Something, anything to help me get an edge. What do you say?"
Percy stared at him for a moment. He really wasn't a teacher, not like Chiron was at least, all he knew was how to survive. But on the other hand, he only needed to give another glance of Harry to know he needed help. Already he was hearing snickers behind their backs of how Harry was going to get pummeled because of how skinny he was. And he'd be damned if he didn't help out a friend. He laid a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Tell you what. Me and Pyrrha have already agreed to early morning training to get ourselves stronger. Let's see if we can fit you with another weapon suited to you. How does that sound?"
Harry beamed at him. "You're quite something, Percy Jackson."
Percy cracked a grin. "Been told that my whole life." They strolled off to the Library together where their friends had already gathered and were either neck deep in homework or playing board games to pass the time. Percy felt himself sweating, he really didn't want to do the homework. The ADHD was going to kill him if these people here didn't first. He couldn't help but notice that Yang was still with them. "You lose your friends, Yang?" He asked, trying to put some cheer in his voice.
Percy knew he screwed up when Yang flinched. "They lost me, it seems."
"What happened?" Ruby asked, suddenly looking concerned.
"It's nothing." Yang tried to wave it off, but Ruby gave a deadpan look theat even Percy could see was expectancy. Yang gave in rather quickly. "Okay, fine. You remember Amber, right?" Ruby nodded. "She's a classmate I went to at Signal Academy." She explained, seeing her friends' confused looks, "We trained together, helped each other out with boyfriends, taught me a few things of brawling, we even came to Beacon together. I really thought she was my best friend. Turns out she was using me this whole time. She stole the community service that I did for my Beacon Academy Application and put it on hers instead. All of 'our' friends turned out to only like Amber so they left me for her. As if that wasn't enough, she's just started dating that jerk-wad, Cardin Winchester. Now she's spreading stupid rumors about me."
"Language." Ruby said, much weaker than before. She then hugged Yang. "I'm so sorry about that."
"Amber, was it?" Weiss asked, slow in rhythm. Percy was honestly impressed that a mere mortal could make a voice sound so close to ice. It almost reminded him of Alaska. "Don't worry about her. I'll take… care of her."
Yang smiled. "Thanks, guys. Let's just get back to the game and we can talk more on this later."
"Of course. Our doors are open too." Percy added as he left the corner and walked several rows down. If he was going to get any homework done, he needed as little distraction as possible. Percy sat himself down on a table nearby, pulled the needed books off the shelves and. It went about as well as Percy expected. He hoped to start with Grind Biography but the words blurred before his eyes. Percy stared at the paper, trying to make sense of a single word but the harder he fought, the blurrier it got. Percy even got so frustrated with it, he slammed the textbook shut and threw it against the wall, the shelves shuddering against the weight. Percy huffed, putting his hands in his face. If he was to blend in at Beacon until he could find that portal at the bottom of the ocean, then he needed to keep his grades up. Percy couldn't help but laugh at the situation. Percy Jackson, the boy who survived monsters, helped bring an end to Kronos, one of the Seven demigods prophesized to defeat Gaea. Now, worried about surviving homework; the greatest of all evils.
"Are you okay?" Harry walked around the corner, looking down at the book on the ground.
"No, I'm fine." Percy said, picking up another book. "I was just going over…" Percy stared at the title, trying to read it. "Basalic Midic?" Damn it, Percy, get yourself together! You're embarrassing yourself!
Harry walked over and looked at the cover. "Basics in Medicine." He not looked to Percy, a sympathetic look Percy did NOT want at him right now. "Are you alright, mate? Can I get you a tea or something?"
"No tea." Percy grunted, hiding the book.
"Then what's happening?"
Percy opened his mouth then closed. Opened and closed. Percy grit his teeth for a moment. The cat's out of the bag now. "I can't do it."
"Can't what?"
"Can't read." Percy glared at the books. "Haven't been able to since I was a kid. I can see pictures fine, but words just, can't stay for me."
Harry picked up the book on the floor, looking at it. He seemed almost transfixed by it, not responding to anything. "Harry?" Percy asked, himself starting to get concerned.
That startled Harry from his thoughts. He murmured, "That's it." He looked to Percy, a fire of determination in his eyes. "Percy, let's make ourselves a deal. I want you to train me so I can at least hold my own with this lot. As for this," he thumped the book, "You need not worry about. Leave it to me. Just add in a word or two yourself to throw our teachers off."
Percy couldn't help but feel amazed at this opportunity. Years of agony, about to be lifted from his shoulders. "Just read everything back to me so I learn the topic and you got yourself a deal."
"Done." Harry said, holding out a hand. Percy shook it, grinning.
"Training begins at 6am tomorrow morning. Don't be late." Harry sat down next to Percy and they started pooling over the books.
The next two weeks passed like hell for Jaune Arc. On the one hand, he was getting a little closer with his team, forming team combos even. Pyrrha was the best partner he could have asked for, but he couldn't ask for her help, much as he wanted to. Asking her for help would only drag her own to his level and he wouldn't allow that. Every afternoon, when he got his work done, he would take Crocea Mors and try to get stronger. But he couldn't make any damn progress!
And the worst part about it, his friends are getting better already. Team RWBY typically all trained on their own, or asked others for advice on how to improve their teamwork. They've already perfected the Bumblebee technique. They went wide and it was prone to lots of mistakes in Jaune's opinion but they probably wouldn't listen to his suggestions. Least of all Weiss. Honestly, his flirting started out as a way to annoy her and it was beginning to annoy him too.
His own teammates were making strides in their training. Pyrrha was at first devastated to lose to Percy after that match which left Jaune dumbstruck, but after some morning sessions, she seemed like she just got to the moon. Nora has been hitting the weights to get stronger and Ren was working on precision training and at the gun range a lot. Maybe if they could inverse their training, Nora focusing on precision with hitting her targets and Ren stronger, they would be even better. He wanted to tell them but they trained together for years, what good would his suggestions do?
Hell, even DPHI were improving in their own right. He thought RWBY and JNPR didn't fit together, how those boys lived together and not killed each other is a mystery. The fact they were of differing ages (Midoriya was the youngest in Beacon history second only to Ruby Rose, Grif being the oldest at 19 years old) and all of them didn't have Aura at all; the latter was a major scandal for the entire Academy, and Jaune can't help but be suspicious of them. Especially that Midoriya kid; how could be one-shot a Nevermore but have no Aura? Still, they all held their own in Combat class so it was only the worst of the student body who said anything now. Their leader, who only went by Grif, was the fattest person he'd seen anywhere with a face that still scared Jaune no matter how much he was around. That grenade launcher/sword did an excellent job cutting open student's weapons and say what you will about him, he and his armor could endure more beatings than perhaps anyone else here. Midoriya was strong, quite possibly the strongest student in the entire campus. When he went to his first combat session against Nora, he didn't just beat her, he decimated her. He remembered the day she rocketed to him, expecting to pummel him in one go, but Midoriya simply punched her out of the ring. Whatever that green lightning he emitted was, it seemed to boost his strength astronimically. Many an eye bulged when Nora's Aura got knocked into the mid-yellow zone with just that single punch. From then, Nora vowed to hit the gym and get stronger until she could beat him back. Percy Jackson was an enigma, and one Jaune didn't like. He was always so distant and cold, barely saying anything about his personal life, and that glare he sent Pyrrha's way when they fought the once reminded him of a Grimm's stare, an unspoken promise of death. But when he wasn't fighting, he was nice enough and actually really funny. It was like two very different people co-existed in one body, and that adaptability in a fight with his sword. All in all, Percy was the last person Jaune wanted to mess with. Of all of them, Harry Potter made the most improvement since joining Beacon. Even Jaune in his inexperience could see that Harry balked at the idea of fighting these other students. And yet, one week into their course, when Harry fought against Ren, he did okay. Granted, Harry still lost, but Harry had incredible aim surprising even Ren though he wouldn't admit it. His sword skills were at Jaune's level but if anything, Harry seemed to become even more motivated. He would often hear Harry hacking at holographic opponents with a sword that really didn't fit him.
In short, Jaune was so screwed. "Jaune. Are you okay?" He looked up to see Pyrrha giving him a concerned look. Jaune was pulled from his thoughts. It wasn't just Pyrrha. Ruby and Harry were giving him sympathetic looks. Grif was scarfing down a bowl of noodles, slurping generously while Percy and Midoriya were debating something about 'ultimate moves.'
"Oh, yeah. Why?" Jaune asked. That came out faster than he anticipated.
"Well, it's just that, you seem not okay." Ruby said.
"Please. I'm fine. Seriously." He gave a thumbs up, hoping it would convince them. "See?"
Percy snorted, stepping into the conversation. "That could have fooled a blind man."
Jaune rubbed the back of his head. This wasn't going at all how he planned. His thought process stopped when he heard Cardin's laugh. He tried not glance over but did so anyways. He, his teammates, and a girl with silky brown hair going down to her waist and harsh blue eyes were taunting another girl with similar hair and long rabbit ears.
"Cardin's a jerk." Nora stated bluntly, glaring at the five.
"He's not the only one." Yang's eyes flashed red but looked down at her food to calm herself.
"Why aren't we stepping in?" Percy demanded, glaring across the table. "He's bullying one of your classmates and you're doing nothing about it. Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?" That made Jaune tilt his head down. Percy was right, but they couldn't do anything about it.
"Boy, wouldn't we." Ruby said, sounding saddened, "But don't you know who his family? The Winchesters come from a family stretching back to the Great War. They've sat on the Vale Council longer, and the Vytal Festival Council as long as it's existed. They have more power than even Ozpin."
Percy glared at Cardin again, but to Jaune's shock, Percy sat back down. Percy was such a rules-be-damned guy, he expected Percy to go up regardless. Grif said nothing, Harry just looked annoyed but Midoriya's face was hidden by his hair.
"Jaune." He looked back to Pyrrha. "Cardin's been bullying you and others since the first week."
"No, he just likes to mess around. Practical jokes and all." His mind flashed back to the time Cardin smacked the books from his hand or the time he activated Jaune's shield so it would block his doorway or even the time Cardin stuffed him in his locker and sent him flying into the Emerald Forest. Okay, he is definitely a bully but he's so much stronger than Jaune, what can he do about it? And his friends, strong as they are, can't intervene without higher powers getting involved. "Please, I'm fine. He's just a jerk to everyone."
"That hurts!" The rabbit Faunus from earlier yelped. She was sprawled on Cardin's knees, pulling on her ears. The other three boys and Amber cheered.
"See, I told you they were real." Cardin said, looking up to his 'friends' if Jaune could even call them friends.
"Wow, who would've thought." Amber added, a sneer on her face.
"Can't stand people like him." Pyrrha said, trying to look down at her food.
"You're not the only one." Blake added. Was it Jaune's imagination but did her bow twitch for a second?
In an instant, Jaune had enough. He slammed his cup onto the table and stood up, walking over. "Let her go, Cardin."
Cardin stopped pulling for a moment, a wide 'innocent' smile on his face. "Oh, hello, Jaune. We were just becoming acquainted. Would you like to join in?"
"Let her go." Jaune repeated. The other students stopped eating, watching the spectacle.
Cardin let her go, shoving her into Amber's wide arms before standing up, standing a whole head above Jaune. "Or what?"
Jaune had so many witty things to say, so many Spruce Willis moves he wanted to mimic to get at Cardin. But all he could do was stammer. What could he say now that wouldn't get him in trouble or beaten up worse in Combat Training?
"You mess with him, you mess with me." Jaune looked back. His rescuer, Midoriya, was standing behind him, a fierce glare boring into Cardin's eyes. It wasn't half as intimidating as Percy's glare but it was enough to get the point across.
"Oh, Greenie. Glad you could join us." Cardin said with the most fake smile he could have made.
"You will let her go and never mess with her again." Midoriya replied, his glare becoming even more fierce than before.
Cardin wasn't impressed, cracking his knuckles. "Please. You may have defeated Bomber-Girl but you couldn't do much to me. You're Aura-less after all."
Instead of replying, Midoriya in a flash placed his left hand on the metal table next to him. In a flash of green electricity, the table crumbled under his fist, clanging against the concrete ground and seats bending upward to create a sharp V. He looked back at Cardin and this time, Jaune stepped back. This glare was somehow much worse than Percy's. His eyes somehow formed a crescent moon shape, the neck muscles were bulging, and did he somehow grow shark teeth? "Did I ask you a fucking question, trash-heap? Get out of my face, you damn extra!"
This time, Cardin actually did look very afraid of the green-haired boy but it only lasted for a moment. "Come on. Lunch is almost done anyways." He walked off, faster than he usually did. His teammates went behind him, Amber walking in step with Cardin.
Jaune tried to keep down his trembling, holding out a hand which the rabbit Faunus took. "Are you okay?"
She nodded. "A few bruises, nothing I can't handle. Thank you. I need to get back to my friends. See you soon." She then ran off, glancing back fearfully as she left.
Midoriya took a deep breath. "Come on, let's get back." Jaune was acutely aware that people were staring at them as they sat back down. Even their teammates couldn't help but be shocked at the display as they sat down.
Percy was the most happy, giving a wide grin. "Dude. That was amazing!" He held out a hand for a high five which Midoriya gave, a small smile on his face.
"Was that necessary?" Yang asked, staring at the folded table which students were using their Semblances to pull the table back down. "That was awesome, sure, but a bit much."
"I've known guys like him all my life." Midoriya shrugged. "They tend to back down when they see someone stand up to them."
Ruby was the most shaken of them. "What was with that scary face you made?"
Midoriya, to Jaune's shock once more, looked ecstatic. "How scary was it, you'd say?"
"Very!" Ruby squeaked. Pyrrha looked disturbed and even Grif was looking perturbed.
Midoriya smiled. "Sweet!" He then saw the situation. "I've always had a gift of mimicking facial expressions. It was one of the many hobbies I had as a kid growing up. One of my oldest friends, Kacchan, gets angry like that. I knew that it would come in handy one day!"
Jaune recalled the sheer fury that was on his face. What kind of friend did Midoriya have who could look so angry? The question lingered in his mind, and clearly others, when Jaune couldn't it in anymore. "How did you do it?" Midoriya looked to him questioningly. "Your semblance. You don't have Aura but we just saw you bend that table. How is that possible?"
The table leaned in, especially DPH_. It seemed it was a question on everyone's mind. Midoriya gulped. "I don't know how it works, but I was born with a condition called Magenta-Cyan Syndrome. It's a medical condition where the human body cannot express a physical Aura for protection but my Semblance is left intact."
"That's bullshit!" Nora called out, pointing a finger dramatically.
Midoriya suddenly looked nervous but was saved by Blake of all people. "Actually, it's a real condition. I read about it in our biology and anatomy books. It's only in 1% of the population who have Aura unlocked." Blake looked at Midoriya inquisitively. "The symptoms do make sense given the circumstances. I'm sorry." The explanation made sense, but something about it felt off to Jaune as if Midoriya wasn't saying everything.
"Thanks." Midoriya smiled at her. "I've had training recently to get my semblance under control."
"If you need any help, you can come to me." Percy said. "I…"
Before Percy could finish, the lunch bell went off. "Time for the afternoon." Midoriya said, getting up and walking away.
Jaune did the same, making a mental note to not screw with Midoriya either. In fact, Jaune would need to observe more later, but he had a feeling all of his team were much of the same. Maybe that was what kept them together.