Chapter Five: Date Night
Team RWBY and CABL had been hanging out for the better part of two weeks after the Atlesian's arrival.
CABL had not received any messages from Winter to assist in the investigation of the White Fang so currently they were just normal students visiting like everyone else for the Vytal Festival.
Currently, both teams were in Beacon's version of gym class also joined by JNPR who'd introduced themselves soon after their arrival.
Ash spotted Ruby who struggled with a smaller weight.
Nora and Loki were showing off their freakish strength having a weightlifting combination in the background.
"So, what do you like to do for fun Cobalt?" Yang questioned leaning against the wall right next to Cobalt who was currently on the bench press.
His muscles seemed to burst out of his arms, solid as iron with sweat pouring down his body.
"I'm concentrating…" Cobalt led out through his strained breathing.
"I think you concentrate a littleeeeeee to much you could definitely try to loosen up more" Yang thought back to Cobalt's intense studying in class never stopping his hand while also never attending any of the hangouts between the two teams aside from their first time.
"And you could…concentrate…way more" Cobalt was struggling more continuing to do his reps with good form but being noticeable shakier.
Cobalt remembered Yang sleeping in class and getting scolded by her teachers in the hallways for not doing her works.
"Whatever you say tin solider, I have a proposition for you" She went on standing up straight putting her hand on her hip.
"What…?" Cobalt gritted his teeth gripping the weight the veins on his forehead bulging out from his head.
Yang gripped the weight with two hands lifting it off of him causing a wave of relief to wash over his sore body.
Her strength being supernatural and above Cobalt's despite his religious gym attendance.
"Come clubbing with me!" Yang excitedly spoke getting a confused and dismissive stare in response.
"Never gone, never will I have things to do."
"Come on pleaseeeeeeee" The blonde began to give a puppy dog etc stare placing her hands together.
"Okay on one condition" the strict solider got up wiping sweat off his face with a towel.
"Sure!"
"You have to study three times a week for the whole semester" The energy of Yang left her face.
"Really…? Is there ANYTHING else I could do?" he shook his head.
"Okay…!" Yang groaned angrily gripping his collar.
"But you're gone have so much fun tonight, that you're gonna want to go out with me again" Yang squinted her eyes seriously.
Cobalt gave a similarly intense glare.
"You're on Xiao Long but I'll give you a word of warning, I've been told that I'm a complete utter buzz kill" He seriously spoke the two locked in their stare.
"True story!" Ash mocked across the room accidentally letting go of the weight crushing Ruby who flailed around.
Ash quickly rescued her, giving a dramatic apology.
"Challenge accepted"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Pick you up at 10:00? Or is that past your bedtime?" Yang mocked.
"It is but I'll stay awake" Cobalt said as if this argument was a mission to save the world.
"Okay I'm lost are they hanging out or about to fight?" Weiss questioned receiving a shrug from Ren and Blaidd.
"Okay it's a date!" Yang then turned around and left.
"Yeah, it is!" Cobalt shouted as she left.
"Wait…. what?" He paused contemplating his previous life decisions.
Hours later in Team Cobalt's room….
"I can't believe you're going clubbing! Without me?! I've been asking since I've known you!" Ash aggressively said watching Cobalt tear apart his wardrobe for non-formal clothes.
"Why areyougoing? This definitely isn't like you Bolt" Loki questioned sitting on his dorm room bed.
"Yang is strong and talented if she could just focus up, she could go anywhere she wants, if I can make her focus on her studies even a little, I'll survive a night of clubbing" he said beginning to change.
Inside Team RWBY's Room…
"I'm confused on why you're asking Cobalt of all people out" Weiss questioned studying as Yang similarly picked out an outfit.
"It's not romantic geez, I've only known him for two weeks" Yang remarked with a small smile.
Yang sighed.
"I can see him working himself half to death every day, I can tell somethings wrong I wanna figure it out and help" Yang explained holding a brown jacket thinking for a second.
Soon after….
Cobalt and Yang met outside of Beacon, Yang leaning on her motorcycle.
Cobalt wore a white button up and dressed pants with worn out black shoes, each piece of clothing having small blue accents.
A grey block was attached to the belt around his pants having no apparent function.
This was the least formal outfit he possessed that wasn't gym clothes or an Atlesian uniform.
Yang had a significantly less formal outfit wearing short black shorts, a sleeveless yellow top, and a brown jacket and shoes alongside them.
Yang looked at him and began to laugh.
"Dude, you look like you work there" Yang continued to chuckle causing Cobalt to sigh.
"Not everybody has a billion outfits for this kind of thing" Cobalt stated.
"I'm just kidding you look cute, incredibly dorky but cute."
"Um…thank you look."
"Good"
This was not the kind of conversation Cobalt was used to.
"I got all dressed up for good. I hope I can get a great by the end of the night" She joked getting on her bike.
Cobalt responded sitting on the back of her bike.
"You're gonna wear a helmet ri- "Yang immediately sped off causing him to instinctively hold onto her waist.
"Wooooo Hooooooooooooo!" Yang cheered recklessly driving through the streets weaving through the cars around them.
Cobalt hung on for dear life the wind hitting against his face, the honking of angry drivers along the ride rings in his ear.
'What did I get myself into?'Cobalt thought.
It would take twenty minutes to get to the bar if the bike stopped outside the entrance to the club.
Yang paused for a moment smirking looking at Cobalt who had closed his eyes and holding onto her.
"We stopped by the way" Yang teased causing Cobalt to jump off of the bike.
His face was red.
"I know! I mean…yes fine let's just go" Cobalt didn't like seeming scared in front of anybody.
"Of course, shortstack" Yang started walking inside turning her back to him.
"Don't call me…." Cobalt grumbled trying to compose himself.
Yang skipped the extensive line outside the bar the bouncer fearfully letting them in confusing Cobalt.
"Do you know the owner?"
"Something like that" Yang smirked walking inside.
"Guess who's back!?" She confidently posed in front of the doors, receiving a warm welcome of twenty pistols out in her faces.
She didn't react.
Cobalt did.
He tapped the grey box causing it to glow with blue light turning into a futuristic Atlesian pistol.
He pointed it out causing some of the men to point at him.
"Why'd you bring a gun with you?!" Yang questioned.
"I don't leave without one! And I knew you'd get us in danger somehow!" Cobalt defends back paying no attention to the growing number of guns for hire approaching.
"And I was right!"
The guards gave each other a look of uncertainty seeing the two continuing to argue before Junior would step up.
"Guns down! I don't want her to trash the place again! Blondie why are you here?" The junior spoke holding his head hoping that he wouldn't have to spend another million liens to repair the club.
The goons and Cobalt proceeded to put their guns away.
"I'm just here to party, give me the top shelf drinks and have the DJ play my favorite song and I'll be outta your way" Yang requested Junior sighing in relief.
"Fine whatever you want just no fighting" Junior then began to walk away his guards returning to their normal duties.
Having no threat of imminent gun fire, Cobalt looked around the club.
The noise pulsated through the ground till you could feel it in your chest, the DJ wearing a red bear head playing a remix of Celebrate.
Despite the bass, you could still hear the clinging of glasses from the active bar.
The club was completely packed with the dance floor especially.
It was dimly lit with blue and yellow strobe lights flashing in the face of everyone large holographic trees covering the large club floor.
"Let's get a drink" Yang began walking to the bar.
"I hope you just mean some juice…" Cobalt groaned knowing the futility of his wish.
The two walked up immediately receiving a bottle of Vacuo Whiskey.
"Oh yes!" Yang laughed pouring two glasses pushing one of them to Cobalt.
Cobalt looked at it hesitantly.
"I won't force you, but I promise it won't kill you" Yang not wanting to pressure him into anything he didn't want to say.
"Fine" Cobalt took a sip before sticking out his tongue.
"Bleh!"
She giggled in response.
"So, tell me about yourself, two weeks and I hardly know anything about you."
"Well, I'm from Atlas I rank number one in my academic success, I'm only rated eight in combat prowess, my goal is to be an Atlesian offic- "Yang put her hand up stopping the teacher's pet speech.
"I'm not your commanding officer I'm your friend, tell me about your ACTUAL self."
Cobalt took a second contemplating what to say next, taking a small sip of his drink wincing after it went down his throat.
"I'm from Mantle, the farthest from nice part of it to" He didn't look at Ruby staring aimlessly in front of him as he recounted the usually excitable Yang sitting and listening attentively.
"My family was poor, but we were happy, my parents used to make just enough to keep clothes on the back of me and my six siblings" Cobalt finally gave a nostalgic smile.
"Big family"
"It was big, yet I felt connected to everyone my sister Aria is a fighter, my brother Corbin loves collecting bugs, I still send my brother Duncan new copies of his favorite book's series- "Cobalt went on and on describing his two brothers and four sisters.
Yang just listened placing her hand against her face finding it cute how much he loved and adored his family.
Cobalt finally realized his ranting.
"Sorry, I know that's boring and not relevant to the question" Cobalt blushed embarrassed from his droning on and on.
"Don't be sorry, you're really adorable you know that?" She teased me in a soft tone.
"Aw shut up" he said playfully.
"So why join the Military Academy?" She bluntly questioned.
"My parentsusedto be able to make enough money to make enough, my father was in a cave in at the Schnee minds; he made it out, but his leg got severely hurt."
"I'm so sorry…"
"It was hard and my mom was working herself to death so I had to step up I decided that the best way I could make the money necessary was rising up the ranks of the Atlesian military, I'll do anything to take care of them" He took another drink looking over to Yang.
"It seems you do the same with everyone on your team" Yang recalled several times when he had been the older brother to his teammates.
Making sure Blaidd ate as he constantly would seem malnourished.
Keeping Ash from picking fights.
Checking in on Loki whenever he locked himself away to work on his tech.
Overall, he acted as the team mom on a daily basis.
"I like to joke that they're my three other brothers except they have guns and are stronger than me" Cobalt noted following a small chuckle.
"So, I got another question."
"Shoot"
"Who takes care of you?" Yang's smile turned more serious out of concern.
"No one I don't need to be taken care of" he said sternly.
"Everybody needs someone to help and look out for them I know we haven't known each other long but I get worried you're surrounded by people who love you, but you still seem…." Yang paused to find the right word.
"Lonely"
"People need to me to succeed, and I can't do that if I have to rely on everybody to carry me through life."
"I know you can do it Cobalt; I just don't want you to feel like you can't ask for help" Yang reached her hand gently holding his hand.
"And that you can't enjoy living" The soldier didn't know how to respond to genuine concern and support causing him to short circuit emotionally.
"Thank you…I don't know what to say"?
"Don't say anything let's just dance" Yang took his hand and ran off to the dance floor.
It was crowded but through the crowds of people, the blinding lights and the blaring sound Yang shined above everyone.
To Cobalt she was the only one on the dance floor.
He stood awkward and stiff, bumping into several people.
He was awestruck with sudden affection for Yang and a critical lack of dance experience caused him to a stationary pole on the dance floor.
Yang gripped his hand yet again.
"Come on! Just move however you want!" The two swayed back and forth together.
Cobalt eventually got the rhythm.
He wasn't anything close to a graceful dancer, but it was a victory just to get Cobalt on a dance floor let alone waving his arms around as flamboyantly.
His poor maneuvers made Yang snicker in response.
The night got later and later as the two sat at the bar again.
Yang exhausted from dancing sat down panting she'd also be in combat practice today, so her active expressive form of dancing coupled with the battle drills drained her stamina.
Cobalt had taken her jacket sitting down politely watching over her.
"That was fun…so tired" She leaned against Cobalt's shoulder as he froze for a second.
He tried to echo the sentiment Yang had been telling him all night and tried to not overthink wrapping his arm around her holding her close.
"You're older sister, right?"
Yang nodded through her exhausted drowsy daze.
"Us older siblings have to look out for each other, I know you want me to be supported but I'm here for you to" He held her tightly as she smiled sleepily holding onto her.
"You're the best…" She slowly began to pass out drooling on his shirt which usually he would make a swift action to keep his nice shirt clean but instead he gave a warm smiling staring down at the blonde drifting away.
The peace was nice.
It was warm.
But it didn't last.
The door blew open, a massive explosion sending the doors flying apart.
The emergency exits would be blown apart to White Fang members flooding from every direction.
Juniors' guards pulled out their guns entering a standoff while the boss himself grabbed his Bazooka walking up to the front to greet the White Fang.
Yang slowly came to her senses waking herself up for the clear fight ahead.
The leader of the attack could be clearly identified by a man wearing a much fancier wyvern Grimm mask.
He wore a similar outfit to Adam resembling a Yakuza member except his sleeves were torn off revealing dragon tattoos that went down both of his arms, on his belt there seemed to be a unique black dust container.
"What are you doing in my club?! The White Fang should know better then to mess with this side of the town" The White Fang usually stayed away from messing with the underworld to avoid conflict.
"Everyone needs to know they aren't safe from our wrath, men! Round up the humans, any Faunus can leave!" The leader spoke with a zealot's devotion to multiple of the Faunus in the club taking the chance and evacuating while the rest of the humans were not allowed to leave.
"Damnit….! That's enough...!" He fired a rocket at him.
It sped through the air straight towards him, the dragon flowing like water used the back of his hand to redirect the rocket away and hit several of Junior's men.
Junior looked in amazement before gripping his rocket launcher to launch a volley of rockets.
They were about twenty feet apart from each other, but the dragon quickly closed the distance appearing in front of Junior and in a singular punch sent him flying into the bar area.
Glasses broke all over the floor as Junior held his stomach coughing profusely.
The White Fang and Junior's goons began shooting as mass chaos erupted in the bar people running everywhere as bullets flew.
Cobalt and Yang looked at each other wordlessly communicating what to do next.
Protecting the civilians, Cobalt accurately shot electric dust nailing four of the assailants sending them to the floor.
Even without her gauntlets, Yang ran across the floor punching one goon to the ground cracking the floor before laying a boxing combo on another white fang members grabbing his leg after and throwing him at another two goons.
"Looks like we have some actually fighters here" The leader noted getting Yang's attention.
"How is hurting all of these people going to help the Faunus?! They're humans who want to help!" Yang advocated clenching her fist.
"Easy for someone who's never grown up in a mine, easy for someone who's never been chased by a mob of humans just because you have a tail, easy for a human to say!" He charged her.
Yang took a boxing stance as he had a more open Bruce Lee like stance.
He was the first to strike.
His barrage of kicks was flashy and strong, his long legs cutting through the air raining down on the Blonde who could only defend.
She tried to bob and weave out of the way of his kicks using multiple quick head Movements to get out of the way.
She needed to go on the offensive, so she leaned back and swung at him only for him to dodge, responding with a kick to the stomach that caused her to fall to the floor holding her stomach.
Yang growled getting up to attack.
She did a Dempsey roll, swinging her head side to side before doing the same with her fist.
Hitting him from side to side.
The dragon quickly avoided each blow to him. It was an improvised dance gently nudging the superhumanly strong blows just slightly off course, so they never hit him.
Yang punched and punched the torrent of blows enough to hurt even a trained huntsmen but none of the blows hit as he danced around her eventually responding by poking her chest with all of his fingers closing his fist at lightning speed performing a one-inch punch that sent Yang back to the floor.
Her aura flashed yellow severely weakened from the strike as she tried to catch her breath.
"Hey!" Cobalt shouted firing several shots at the figure who yet again dodged performing ridiculous feats of Acrobatics flipping in the air.
The soldier began to reload but he wasn't quick enough the Faunus closing the distance.
Cobalt wasn't strong at close range, attempting to block and dodge his barrage of blows but was incapable of receiving two kicks to the chest that made him crash through a table.
"Are you Beacon students? To weak and young to be huntsmen but you're not totally incompetent either" He mocked.
"If this is the best you can do maybe neither of you should become huntsm- "He was interrupted as the roof of the club would break apart two lockers crashing through dropping next to both of the students.
They opened revealing their weapons.
Armed with the shotgun gauntlets and the massive armory that was Cobalt's weapon, the two gave a determined glare towards their opponent.
"Now we can get serious!" His tattoos began to glow red stomping on the floor causing it to shake the whole club.
Authors Notes:
Hello again reader! Romance isn't the only focus of this story but it's something I will include though I will say that not every character will have a love interest as I feel that can be hard to flesh out with multiple couples. And for certain parts like introducing canon characters, I don't put as much focus on it because you already know those characters, so I won't write paragraph on what Ruby looks like unless there's something that I've changed from their original design.
Those are just some quick notes! Thank you for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day!