Chapter 10

"Why are we out here again?" Percy asked for what seemed like the fiftieth time as his team dragged him towards Vale's most popular mall.

Weiss whipped around, icy blue eyes narrowing at him as she poked him in the chest, "We are here for a team shopping trip."

"Well, I get that but why am I here?"

"You need a suit, obviously," Weiss snarked, rolling her ice blue orbs at him.

Percy shrugged, "Well, yeah… but I don't really have a date so I don't know if I need one anyway."

"Pfff," Weiss waved her hand around, "Nope. No excuses mister."

Percy didn't miss Yang making a whip cracking sound, and he turned to glare at her as she shrugged innocently.

Weiss ignored her, continuing, "You most definitely have a plethora of girls waiting for you to ask them to the dance, at least two of them right in front of you."

Yang choked on air, as Weiss looked at him expectantly. Percy barely picked up Blake whispering to her, "I didn't think you'd be so upfront."

"Really?" Percy snarked sarcastically, putting a hand to his forehead and looking around the mall as if he were searching for something.

Audible, exasperated sighs were heard, for what reason though, he had no clue.

The mall was bustling, and they had to fight their way through hordes of people to get up to the second floor. Weiss led them towards an expensive men's formal wear shop.

Inside, rows and rows of suits hung from lines along each wall, with two changing rooms at the back covered by silky black curtains. An older gentleman from behind the wooden counter looked up at their entrance, smiling kindly.

"Sir. Madams," he inclined his head in welcome, "Allow me to take your measurements, sir."

The man produced a tape measure from behind his counter, and Percy walked over, standing with his arms out. The man measured his chest, waist, shoulders, and arms. He was efficient and professional, making small talk with Percy about the recent news and the weather. Once he had his measurements, he gestured Percy towards a certain rack of suits on the right side of the store and went back to his counter.

The five of them went towards the rack, Weiss and Yang already vehemently arguing on what kind of suit he would wear.

Percy looked at Ruby helplessly, and Ruby only shrugged her shoulders, putting her hands up as if to say, you're on your own!

Percy narrowed his eyes at the girl, mouthing the word 'betrayer'.

Ruby pouted innocently in response, and Percy instantly looked away from those dangerously cute silver eyes. It wouldn't do to have his will crumble like that, it was illegal. Ruby was cheating. No matter how much the others said his baby seal eyes were just as deadly.

Percy sighed in defeat.

"Sea green by itself doesn't pair well with him," Weiss stated with authority.

"It's his style," Yang argued, "You can't change that. It brings out his eyes."

"But a sea green shirt is too garish. What about a black shirt with sea green highlights?"

"I still think a sea green would look really good on him."

"Absolutely not!" Weiss crossed her arms.

"Then a black blazer and a black shirt with sea green highlights, sea green interior lining, and maybe a sea green pattern across the front. It has to have enough sea green in it!" Yang argued back.

Percy shook his head at their argument. He really didn't understand what the difference was. Perhaps that was just the difference. He'd worn t-shirts and jeans for most of his life, not really caring about style and what not. When he needed to be formal, he just wore a standard black suit with a white dress shirt. The way these two were arguing was reminiscent of the way Aphrodite campers would argue over the smallest things about style.

"I think a black tie would be better," Blake, who hadn't spoken a word the entire trip, quietly interjected, stopping Yang on the absolute tirade she was about to launch against Weiss.

"Too much sea green makes the bright colors seem like he's going to the beach or something," Blake explained at Yang's look at confusion.

Weiss only threw up her hands, "Thank you!"

Thankfully, after all their bickering, they finally settled on something.

He shrugged and accepted what was pushed into his hands, not willing to argue with three people who knew far more about fashion than he did. He wished he didn't have to wear that stupid tie, but a formal event was a formal event. He took the suit and stepped into the changing room, emerging just a minute later.

The reactions of his teammates were… something, to say the least.

"Very handsome," Weiss nodded with a light coloring of her cheeks, so light that Percy thought it might have been a trick of the light, and he mentally shrugged it off.

"Oooh!" Ruby bounced up and down on her toes excitedly, "You look really good Percy!"

Blake simply nodded her head in approval, while Yang's neck was slightly colored, but she grinned and gave him a big thumbs up.

Percy glanced down at himself, not really knowing what was going on. But he trusted their judgement, he shrugged.

Percy suddenly blushed, realizing he didn't have much lien on hand…

Weiss only smirked at him, "I'll pay for your suit."

"Why?" Percy replied, looking more than a little embarrassed, "I mean… I don't wanna steal your money or anything…"

The heiress rolled her eyes, "Please, Percy, we've already gone over this. You're not stealing our money, and you don't owe us some kind of favor. Besides," Weiss held up a gold lien credit card, "My sperm donor of a father set me a budget for formal events, and I'm going to spend all of it to annoy him. I'll buy the rest of the team's dresses as well."

Weiss had already told them of her asshole of a father before, so Percy just shrugged, completely approving.

"Then please. Max away."

"Gladly," Weiss shared a brilliant smile with him as she sauntered up to the counter with a Yang-like confidence.

The five of them walked out together, traveling to the women's formal clothing store all the way across the mall.

It was clearly expensive, but Weiss caught his eye with a knowing smirk, and she sauntered in with all the confidence in the world.

"Hello!" A black-haired woman approached them, taking a look at them, "I'm assuming you're here for Beacon's dance?"

"Yes. Have you been getting that a lot lately?" Weiss asked.

"We know all the dates of Beacon's big events, of course. It's pretty important that we do."

Pfff. Of course, the markups, the profit, the lack of any deals.

Not that it didn't work here. At least it wasted Weiss' dad's money, so that was a double-edged sword.

He immediately moved over to the cushioned benches facing the changing room.

And he definitely needed it. Weiss, Yang, Blake, and Ruby absolutely tore up the store, trying on all sorts of dresses.

Well, it was more like Yang and Weiss fervently dragging a poor Ruby all around the store as Blake reluctantly followed them.

Oh, Ruby whined and dragged her feet, but Yang and Weiss were more than insistent, and she only gave up.

Finally, they walked out of the changing rooms, the four of them striking poses in front of him. Or at least, Yang forcing, or attempting to force, Ruby into a pose.

"Rating?" Yang purred sultrily, leaning forward. She wore an off-white, creamy cocktail dress with bare shoulders that hugged her figure, accentuating her curves and her… assets.

Percy forced down a blush, maintaining a stoic façade lest Yang derive some kind of win from this.

"Nine out of ten."

She smiled, apparently pleased, and went back inside to go change.

Weiss tried to imitate Yang as best she could but ended up just doing her own pose instead. In contrast to Yang, she wore a brilliant white gown that flowed down, just barely touching the ground. It had a leg slit and one creamy white shoulder exposed. It was slim at the waist and hugged her figure nicely, with criss-crossed lines across her back when she turned around. Percy hadn't expected her to wear anything that was even remotely risqué, so it was a surprise to see her wear this.

The Ice Queen turned Snow Angel put her hands on her hips expectantly.

"Nine and a half out of ten," he said.

Weiss gloated to Yang in the changing room, "Ha! I have a higher rating than you! And you said you'd impress him more too, with your assets!"

Yang only stuck her head out of the changing room briefly to stick her tongue out.

Percy couldn't help but grin in amusement at their antics.

Blake stalked forward with a feline grace, hitting a natural pose. She wore a black dress with a flowing skirt that didn't quite hug her thighs but hinted at them underneath. It was smaller at the waist but flowed wider, hinting at an hourglass figure.

"Nine out of ten."

Blake nodded, apparently pleased as she headed back to a changing room.

Ruby hid herself upon Blake's departure, and she seemed to want to shrivel up in a hole, away from his eyes.

"Now, now, now, none of that," Percy got up from the bench, trying to soothe her by rubbing her shoulders.

It worked at least partially, as Ruby relaxed her shoulders.

Yang emerged from a changing room, her eyes narrowed into slits, "Don't you dare rate my little sister."

Percy raised his hands, taking a step backwards innocently, "I won't, I promise."

She gave a satisfied nod, even as Ruby pocked at the translucent black gauze on her red dress that covered her neck and clavicle. The fact that it was even translucent seemed to have her on edge.

Yang seemed to notice her sister's distress, "You look beautiful in that dress, sis. Give it a twirl."

"I-I don't know…" Ruby said hesitantly.

"It makes you look mature," Percy butted in smoothly even as Ruby jumped slightly, "Older. More graceful and eloquent."

Ruby had a tinge of red on her cheeks, "Y-You think so?"

"Of course," Percy reassured her.

"W-Well, if you say so."

She scurried back into the changing rooms, even as Yang tilted her head at him.

"What a smooth talker," she said almost teasingly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Percy rolled his eyes.

He placed his hand around the back of her waist, feeling her stiffen at the contact.

"Two can play that game," he whispered in her ear.

"Guys?"

Yang and Percy jumped apart at Weiss' questioning look like frightened mice. Thankfully, the moment didn't last too long, as the three of them settled into a comfortable silence, waiting for the other two members of their party.

Once Blake and Ruby came out, the five of them headed back to Beacon.

"So, Percy, have you got anyone to go out with to the dance?" Pyrrha asked him once they were alone. Getting rid of her teammates, let alone getting rid of his, had been a pain. She had to talk a detour with him just to lose them… first she had convinced them that they were doing a spar, and they asked if they could join. Then she said it was private business, and of course, Nora and Yang being Nora and Yang, they followed her doggedly, eager to see what was so 'private'.

"Nah, no one's asked me out."

"Well… I was thinking… maybe we could go together?"

Percy was silent for a second, which made Pyrrha worried.

She panicked slightly, blurting out, "A-As a friend. Not romantic or anything-"

"As friends…?"

"Y-Yeah," Pyrrha laughed nervously, rounding on him. She smiled widely up to her eyes, "I-I know you aren't really looking for a relationship right now-"

He cut her off, smiling handsomely at her and making butterflies erupt in her stomach. Pyrrha just about melted on the spot, her cheeks turning red. Heat crept up her neck, embarrassed, as Pyrrha resisted the urge to rub it.

Why did he have to do that? she thought, furiously trying to keep down her blush to no avail.

His mischievous sea-green eyes twinkled at her in amusement.

"I would love to accompany you to the dance, Pyrrha."

Percy came to the dance with his rather expensive suit that had been purchased with Schnee money, not that he cared, since it came from Weiss' father's wallet.

He had a sneaking suspicion that something would happen tonight. But it wasn't worth enough to obsess over, not with who he had by his side.

Walking with him was Pyrrha. She looked exceptionally beautiful today, in a stunning, turtleneck, shoulder less red dress that brought out her eyes in the best way. Her green eyes looked up at him, shining in excitement as they strode side by side.

Whispers surrounded them, as usual due to her fame and maybe the fact that he had beat her in a spar before. He didn't care though, as he led her towards the entrance.

"You look enchanting tonight," he told her honestly.

She looked away, a faint tint of color on her cheeks, "Thank you. You look quite dashing yourself."

"Wow! You two look fantastic!" Yang cheered enthusiastically, leaning in to whisper to him, "And look at you, handsome. Better save me a dance later."

Percy rolled his eyes, but he was unable to keep the smile off his face.

"Is that a yes?"

"Sure, Yang. You don't look bad at all yourself. I'm sure you're gonna turn heads tonight."

The cheeky blonde winked at him, "You bet!"

Percy pulled Pyrrha onto the dance floor with all the confidence of a dancer he could muster, even if he was effectively bullshitting his way through it all.

"I think I already told you I couldn't dance."

Pyrrha giggled, "You were so confident. Here, I'll show you."

She led the dance, showing him the footwork. It was surprisingly like fighting, flowing with ease.

"How did you learn?"

"Hm?" she hummed in question.

"Learn to dance, I mean."

"Oh, that. My father is a Mistralian noble," she said as they swung around the dance floor, "He would often take me to state dinners, and what not. Dancing was a part of the culture back in Mistral. You could say it was almost a necessity."

A noble, huh? That was surprising… although not to much when he thought about how Mistral was like an amalgamation of Ancient Rome and Greece along with Ancient China and Japan.

"Why hello, my princess," Percy gave a deep bow as they disengaged, Pyrrha flushing, "S-Stop that."

He only smiled at how easy it was to tease her, before focusing on the flow-like state that dancing was.

"Why me? Why did you ask me out to the dance?"

Pyrrha smiled indulgently at him, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you no one asked me out, would you?"

Percy stumbled in shock, before recovering his footing, "No, I wouldn't."

"When you're put on a pedestal, people treat you differently. Like you're an idol. I don't get an… organic interaction with people. I get fanmail all the time, sure, but sometimes it's a little creepy," she shuddered, "But when everyone knows your name? People just assume you're 'out of their league', you know? Guys are scared to ask me out because of my name. But you, you were different. You saw me for who I was, not what my name was. You knew me, and my accomplishments, but you treated me as me. Just another person."

Percy smiled at that. He tried for a bold move, spinning her in a small circle. Percy caught her easily, wrapping one of his arms around her waist as he held her hand delicately with his other.

"You really picked this up quickly."

"What can I say? I'm a professional," he jested, earning a laugh from Pyrrha.

He twirled her around with grace, somehow managing to not step on her toes as they laughed and chatted.

When the waltz finished, a slower, more sensual dance was put on.

Percy saw Jaune lurking in the corner by himself with a glum look on his face. He sighed.

"Excuse me, Pyrrha, but I believe your partner here promised me a dance earlier," Yang jutted in, a grin on her lips.

"He's all yours," Pyrrha gave him up willingly, as Percy made a few not-so-subtle gestures towards Jaune. Pyrrha caught it and understood almost immediately. Bless her.

Even if Jaune was an idiot for falling for someone who didn't return his affections, Jaune was still his bro, and a good friend at that. It wouldn't do for him to sulk on a night where they were supposed to enjoy themselves. Percy watched as Pyrrha went to cheer his friend up, the two dancing together.

"Hello Mister," Yang practically purred from his chest, as they rocked slowly to the dance.

Percy flung her to one side, letting her back fall on his hand before pulling her up and twirling her again.

"And hello yourself, gorgeous."

And he wasn't lying. Yang looked amazing in her white dress, her blonde mane trailing down her back.

"So, how did you get Blake to come with us to the store and come to the dance?"

Blake looked to be actually enjoying herself for once. She danced with Sun, surprisingly enough; the less surprising part was that Sun had come in half casual, half formal wear. Eh. Percy hadn't really expected anything more from the guy, and that wasn't being unfair.

"Heh," Yang smirked, "you know, I was just yanging around-" she was cut off by Percy's exasperated groan, but she continued, "and I noticed Blake! And so I decided to pull out one of your amazing ideas. The laser!"

Percy had to resist the urge to pinch his nose.

"That was a joke!"

"And it worked! It got her dumbass to come to me so we could talk!"

"That still doesn't explain how you got her to come shopping with us and even come to the dance," Percy said pointedly.

Yang smirked at him, "You could call me the master negotiator."

Percy scoffed in humor, "No thanks. I've already inflated your ego enough for one night."

"Oh? You should do more, clearly you find something you like."

"You? I would never."

"Your staring seems to say otherwise. Take a pic, maybe it'll last longer," she winked cheekily at him.

Percy rolled his eyes as the song ended, "You talk a big game, Xiao-Long."

She smiled at him, nudged him with her shoulder towards Weiss.

Huh. Did she not have a date? Had no one asked her either?

She was in a white sleeveless dress, her hair put up in a ponytail as her ice blue eyes latched onto him.

He approached her, and she brightened immediately, her lips breaking out in a smile.

"Percy!"

"Would you care for this dance, my lady?" he offered as suavely as he could, holding out a hand to her.

Weiss giggled, "And to imagine you of all people being formal."

He shot her a shit-eating grin, "What can I say? I can be smooth when I want to be."

He noticed the corner of her lips twitch in slight amusement.

She was a better dancer than he was, of course. That didn't mean he couldn't keep up with her, even if he had just gotten the hang of it.

The rhythm of the dance was quick, Percy having stumbled more than a few times to not step on the ice queen's toes.

He twirled her, or at least tried too. The beat was so quick that he stumbled yet again before righting himself and earned a giggle for his troubles.

He finished it with a flourish, giving her a gentlemanly bow, or what he hoped was one.

She laughed and waved him off. It was one of the first times he'd seen her genuinely happy, and if he was mood deaf, he might have commented on it.

Ruby was sulking in the corner in a sleeveless red dress with black gauze, no doubt forced into it by Yang.

"Stupid lady stilts…" she muttered to herself.

"Hi Ruby."

"Eek!" the black and red haired girl almost jumped in surprise, startled, "H-Hi Percy!"

"Not enjoying yourself?"

Ruby's face flushed, and she mumbled something under her breath.

"Can we have a serious talk about how Weiss fights in these?" she said, pointing to her heels.

"Just as how you and Weiss fight in 'combat' skirts," he smirked at her.

He had to muffle a laugh as she pouted cutely.

"Ugh. I hate you."

"No, you really don't," he pointed out.

"I wish I could."

Percy only laughed as he led her by the arm towards the dance floor.

She squeaked, "Hey! What are you-"

She was cut off as he spun her in a twirl, grinning at her, "It's dance night. Relax, and enjoy yourself Ruby. You can't spend your entire life on the battlefield."

"But I don't know how to dance!"

"Then I'll teach you."

Percy took her to the rhythm of the song, guiding her as he led the dance.

Her silver eyes were wide in panic, even as he guided her, and she stumbled more than a few times in her heels, clearly not used to them.

He only chuckled, even as she muttered with an embarrassed blush on her face.

He finished it with a flourish, leaving Ruby red faced and out of gas.

"Did you not enjoy it?"

"No, no, I really did!"

"Great," he smirked, "then you won't have any problem dancing with anyone else."

"Wha-"

Ruby was cut off as Yang grabbed her, reeling her into another dance.

Percy could only laugh at her betrayed look, before he turned to go outside.

Might as well get a breath of fresh air.

The night was still young, the shattered moon high in the sky.

Oh, how he wished Zoe was here. He looked for her in her usual place in the sky, only to not find her.

A lone tear slipped from his eye.

He shook himself out of it. No use in dwelling on the past, even if sometimes he felt like he wanted to implode.

His eyes narrowed as something dashed across the rooftop.

Okay, that was definitely a person. He narrowed his eyes. They were going towards the CCT.

He had to stop them. But a glance back inside showed him that his teammates were all having a good time.

He wouldn't drag them into this mess, even if it would earn him their ire later. This was a night where everyone was supposed to relax.

He wouldn't take that away from them.

The guards were knocked out. Of course.

That was never a good sign.

Percy's eye twitched. Guards were always knocked out.

He dashed inside, noticing a dozen guards littered around the room.

Ugh. It looked like he had to use the elevator.

It blared disgusting music. Not unlike Olympus' shitty elevator.

He chuckled at the thought, the door opening to reveal a command center. Computers were everywhere, screens green and glitching strangely.

He expanded his senses, noticing someone behind a pillar, crouching.

Still, he played the part of a dumbass.

"Hello? Anyone there?"

He walked cautiously forward, as if he didn't know the person was there.

They finally rose.

It was a woman dressed in black, with golden eyes and black, shoulder length hair, with a mask over her eyes.

Something about her was familiar, but he couldn't grasp it.

Not even a full mask. How pathetic.

He couldn't resist the urge to comment, "You know, it's not a masquerade party."

She growled, pulling something out in her hand and swiping it across the air.

Her clothing lit up orange.

Glass shards formed in the air, and a quick swipe of her other hand sent it towards him.

He held out his hand, a teal ward shield instantly blocking them.

He lunged towards her, Riptide flicking out immediately with a hiss.

The woman summoned two black swords, meeting him in a strike.

He knocked her in the face with his left hand, disorienting her. She retaliated with a sweeping strike that he ducked under.

Riptide countered, clashing against one of her swords as his right boot slammed into her stomach.

She rolled with it, launching glass shards at him again.

He rolled to the left, quickly sketching an expel ward that knocked her back.

She was good. But not good enough.

He closed the gap in a quarter of a second, Riptide instantly on her.

She struggled under his rampage; Percy took every opportunity to sneak Riptide into her defenses.

She tried parrying with two of her swords, but he came down on her with the force of a car.

It broke the swords like glass, and she moved at the last second, but Riptide cut into a heavy chunk of her aura.

She backflipped, creating distance, before knocking three arrows and firing them at him simultaneously.

None of them hit, but that wasn't her intention.

The floor superheated, and Percy rolled forward out of the way, as it exploded.

She was gone.

He scowled.

The elevator opened, revealing a man with grey hair dressed in a white suit.

"They were here… Ozpin they were here!"

General Ironwood slammed his hand onto the table, the cups rattling as the headmaster ran his hand through his hair.

"We are very much aware of that. Thank you, James," Goodwitch said.

"Fantastic," he snarked, "you're aware. Now are we going to do something about it or should we just stay the course and continue to ignore what's right in front of us?"

"Ahem."

The three froze as Percy stepped into the room.

"I'm right here, you know."

Ironwood took steps toward him, gripping his hand in greeting.

His grip was iron strong, but then again, so was Percy's.

"Perseus-"

"It's Percy," he timed his line perfectly, earning a slight glare from Ironwood, to his amusement.

"Perseus," he stressed, "I feel it's appropriate to let you know that I think what you did last night is exactly what being a huntsman is all about. You recognized a threat, you took action, and you did the very best you could."

"Thank you, Sir."

Ozpin stood up from his chair, "Now, the General has already informed us of the events that… transpired last night. But now that you've rested, we were wondering if you had anything to add."

"Was anyone else with her?" Goodwitch questioned, "Did she look familiar to you at all?"

"She was dressed in black, with gold eyes and shoulder-length hair, with a mask on. Fair skinned. She was shorter than me, but not too short. Maybe around five eight," he paced the room, hands clasped behind his back, "She fought with glass, but I don't think that was her semblance. Her clothing lit up whenever she attacked, it lit up orange. And she was a decent swordsman, dual-wielded swords, and she was an archer as well. One move caught my eye, however. She superheated the ground after firing three arrows."

"And why did that catch your eye?" Ozpin asked.

"It was the same move that the woman aiding Torchwick used the night you met Ruby and I. The woman who was in the CCT tower may be related to Torchwick and the White Fang."

"We still lack the required evidence to link the two together," Ozpin spoke carefully.

"She looked slightly familiar to me."

"Who did she look like?" Ironwood pressed, his hands gripping the edge of Ozpin's desk.

"A recent transfer student. Cinder Fall. She matches the height, the hair, and the eyes."

Ironwood sat back, "I will have her detained immediately-"

"No, James," Ozpin objected immediately, even as Ironwood turned to look at him in disbelief.

"No," Percy echoed instantly, "you shouldn't."

"Why?" Ironwood met him with a glare, but Percy glared back at him with the patented wolf glare.

The general took a step backwards.

Percy sighed, "It is only a suspicion. Ruby and I ran into her and her team the other night… she was acting suspicious. She was in Beacon's student dorms, a long way from the exchange student dorms… she was… off. Her teammates were with her, a silver-haired man and a green-haired woman. Although she matches perfectly, if you tried to question her and her teammates, she would likely make a break for it. It's better to keep her here, under our eyes and our watch. Do not supervise her. Act normal. Nothing has changed."

Ironwood slammed his hands on the desk furiously, "It has! We have to detain them-"

"General Ironwood," Percy cut in strongly, before Ozpin or Goodwitch could object to Ironwood's reasoning, "detaining them would only result in their escape. Especially if you consider that they may be connected with Roman Torchwick, who's basically an escape artist himself."

Ironwood looked like he wanted to rebut, but ultimately didn't fault his reasoning.

Ozpin merely chuckled, "Do you understand now, James? His reasoning is sound."

The two shared the briefest of glances, something Percy barely caught.

The man in question grunted, "I do."

"Which is why old Ozzy here asked me to spar with you," a new voice said.

Percy turned to see a middle-aged man with red eyes and raven black hair. He had a grizzled, veteran look about him, with a little stubble on his chin. The man wore a necklace with a cross on it, along with a gray and black themed outfit and a short red cape.

He turned with a questioning look towards Ozpin, who only sighed.

"This is Qrow. With a Q."

Percy raised an eyebrow at the name, as the man in question only glared at him.

"He is an experienced huntsman, one of the most premier huntsmen in the world, and I would like to test your skills against him, if I may."

Percy shrugged. Sure, it was probably a little bit shady for Ozpin to be testing his skills like this, but he could also understand why they had a vested interest in him.

"Nice to meet ya kid. Percy, right? My nieces have told me a lot about you."

"Your nieces?"

Percy shook hands with the man, and it felt like the man was trying his absolute best to crush his hand.

Except it didn't work not for him at least, and Percy squeezed the man's hand twice as hard, all while giving him his signature sarcastic grin.

"Ruby and Yang."

"All good things, I hope?"

"Of course, of course…"

By now, they were both squeezing each other's hands to death, pale red eyes glaring at deep sea-green orbs.

He wasn't backing down. A brave man, Percy supposed.

Qrow's bones creaked, and they finally let go of each other.

"You will head to the amphitheater to spar."

"Heh. Up for it, old man?"

Qrow narrowed his eyes at him, "I'm going to make you kiss the ground once it's over."

Percy took his stance across the field, Riptide sitting comfortably in his right hand. He twirled it a few times, relishing in the hum of the blade. It was perfectly balanced as always.

The man across from him pulled out a massive scythe not unlike Ruby's. Percy narrowed his eyes at the telltale lines on the scythe. Mechashift, probably.

He would need to watch out for any other forms it could turn into. Ruby must have taken her inspiration for Crescent Rose from his weapon. Yang probably took her inspiration from someone else, maybe her father.

"Rules of the spar are first to yield, aura depletion into the red, or loss by ring out," Goodwitch called out, getting nods from both of them.

"Begin!"

They circled each other first, analyzing stances.

He held his scythe in his left hand, the metal head pointing towards the ground as the red handle came across his back.

It must have been a minute before Percy made the first move.

He dashed forward, leaning left, then right and striking at the man.

The man countered, and Percy flipped backwards.

Qrow leapt at him, his scythe twirling at a blur. Even with his demigod senses, Percy couldn't see the actual blade.

But Qrow was no Kronos.

Percy ducked under, a ward dagger launching itself into Qrow. The man stumbled, and blocked the next one with a twirl of his scythe.

Percy pushed relentlessly. Riptide hissed, humming in his hand for action. He blurred as he became a flurry of celestial bronze.

Scythes were good, but only for multiple enemies and keeping them at distance. With Percy so close to him, the man was taking hits to his aura.

The man shot the scythe away to create distance, but Percy pushed himself and was there in an instant.

Qrow tried to shoot him with the scythe that suddenly turned into a shotgun, but an instinctual ward shield stopped it. Percy was on him immediately.

The scythe had turned to a massive broadsword.

Percy allowed a smirk to dance on his lips.

This was his territory now.

His blade became a blur, and the man struggled to keep up.

They locked blades, and Qrow tried to overpower him, but was left shocked when Percy shoved him off.

Percy took the opportunity to slam a haymaker into the man's jaw. He recovered admirably, giving him a boot to the stomach, but Percy tanked it, not even doubling over.

The demigod pushed aggressively, fighting the man with his right hand while his left hand scribbled wards in the air.

An expel ward left Qrow stumbling, and a blur of celestial bronze took a chunk out of the man's aura.

Qrow got a good hit in turn, but Percy was so used to pain that he didn't even blink at tanking it. He instead used the opportunity to slam Riptide down with the force of a truck onto the man's exposed shoulder.

Qrow cried out in pain, and Percy didn't relent. A knee hit the man's stomach, and a left uppercut left the man reeling.

He blocked the next one with his massive sword, but an immediate spinning kick to the side had him stumbling again.

Riptide met his sword in a hiss of steel, and Percy tried to disarm him, but the man's wrist was too strong, and the weapon too heavy.

He blocked the next haymaker he sent at him, but another one with more force clocked the guy in the head.

Qrow stumbled, still putting up a fight as he parried Riptide away and tried to go on the offensive. He was no slouch. Qrow was an expert swordsman, executing his strikes in a flurry of steel that promised pain and death. He pushed him, even managing to get Percy on the backfoot for a little bit. It was actually pretty impressive. He was being beat back by a mortal – a skilled and experienced mortal, nonetheless – but still impressive.

But Percy hadn't been the best swordsman at camp in three hundred years for no reason.

He easily parried away the huntsman's larger blade without a hint of effort, and Riptide danced in a flurry of celestial bronze, snaking past the man's defenses to chip away at his aura.

When Qrow tried to counter, Percy danced away, swapping hands so that he was now swinging Riptide with his left.

The man's eyes widened imperceptibly in shock, but he still recovered, parrying it away. Percy's right hand clenched around empty air.

A teal, translucent hilt formed in his hand as the ward sword came into being. Percy swung silently with his right, the man barely getting a block up in time, but it was all a feint.

Riptide crushed through his tired parry.

The man stumbled again, but Qrow seemed to have more endurance than it seemed.

He kept his left hand behind his back, discreetly drawing a ward and holding it, charging it with his aura reserves. A quick flip over his head left Qrow clueless, and Percy smashed the charged up expel ward into the man's back. He cried out in pain.

The man crumpled like paper, and Goodwitch called the match, her eyes wide in disbelief. Qrow lay on the floor, utterly exhausted. Feeling a little bit bad for the man, Percy held out his hand.

"Damn kid, where'd you learn to fight like that?" Qrow grunted as Percy helped him up.

"Where indeed?" Ozpin inclined his head respectfully, approaching with Ironwood and Goodwitch.

His eyes darkened at the memories, "Trial by fire."

None of them truly understood, he could tell, but he felt their palatable shock all the same.

"A crucible of war. My apologies. I did not mean to bring up… unhappy memories."

Percy grunted in acknowledgement.

"You're a talented young man," Ozpin continued, "strong enough to easily trounce Qrow here. Although that might be because Qrow has gotten a little old."

The man in question growled slightly, as Percy could only smirk a little at the shade thrown by the headmaster. Still, Percy couldn't help but notice the fact that the man hadn't used a semblance at all; perhaps his wasn't combat oriented, but it was still strange all the same.

"What do you say, General?"

"He is already an experienced fighter, no doubt. But let me ask you this," General Ironwood turned his attention to him, "where does your allegiance lie?"

He was hiding something. They all were. It felt all too much like a council meeting with the gods. Back then, he'd done the best he could, and often pissed them off to his delight. Not here, however. He'd have to cooperate to see what was going on behind the scenes.

"The people of Vale, and of the world. My friends. My teachers."

"Not your family?" Ironwood questioned.

"They are dead."

Ironwood winced at the steel tone Percy gave him, "Again, my apologies."

"Still, Ozpin, I believe he needs to be a little more… battle tested before we… give anything away."

Percy tilted his head in suspicion, narrowing his eyes at the general, but he gave nothing away, expression neutral and set in stone.

Ozpin only sighed, "Very well then. I had been hoping a spar with Qrow would be more than enough to convince you, old friend."

"Tactical skills are a necessity. As well as bravery and loyalty," Ironwood countered, "Unless you want him to become another Raven?"

Whoever this Raven was, she must have been a sore topic. Qrow and Ozpin flinched simultaneously, looking away.

"Very well. His next mission will prove this."

Percy looked up, one eyebrow arched in questioning as Ozpin faced him.

"Your first mission will come soon- well, your first official one anyway," Ozpin let an amused smile appear on his lips, "after all, you and your team were rather… eager at the docks, hm?"

Percy flushed in a little embarrassment at being called out.

"Factoring in the fact that your team has five members and your… prior experience, you and your team will be allowed to take on a mission normally reserved for upper years. What mission you will choose, I do not know. But you will have clearance to all missions you desire to take on."

Ironwood nodded, content, while Goodwitch looked like she wanted to object to putting them out there. Still, she held back, not doing anything.

"Better take care of my two nieces for me, eh? Seems like you can take better care of them than I can, after all."

Qrow flashed him a genuine grin this time, and shook his hand, patting him on the back.

"Perseus, please return to the dorms. I have a feeling you need a rest after today's spar."

Percy raised an eyebrow, pointedly looking at his aura reserves displayed above.

"Perhaps not."

Roman Torchwick had never been one for being restrained. He liked to be free, to live as a gentleman thief, to steal but never to kill unless absolutely necessary. He was nefarious for doing exactly that, being independent, able to slip under the radar whenever he felt the need, able to maintain good connections.

It all came crashing down with Cinder fucking Fall.

If you asked him, psychotic bitch didn't even begin to describe her.

She had stomped straight into the Valean criminal underworld… and threatened everyone. And when someone had the guts to threaten her back, she killed them. Mercilessly. She had fucked everything up for him.

And now she was still fucking everything up.

He was jolted out of his musing when her hand attached itself to his throat. It began heating up, scorching him. He sent a look to Neo that said 'don't interfere', and held her back from being burned by the psychotic bitch… who was burning him right now.

The pain jolted him back again, out of his thoughts, as he grit his teeth.

"You will have my dust ready by the end of the week, or there will be dire consequences…" Cinder Fall narrowed her amber eyes at him, increasing the intensity of the heat when he didn't respond.

"Y-Yes…"

She let him go, watching dispassionately as he fell to his knees, breathing in great gasps of air.

Not particularly eager to feel her wrath again, he tried explaining himself, "Dust has become harder and harder to steal, with those stupid brats on the council worried about the prices skyrocketing. Everything's on triple lockdown!"

Cinder's hand latched itself onto his throat again, as she began squeezing, hard, choking the life out of him in the process.

"I don't care how hard it is to get that dust, you will get it and have it ready by the end of the week. If you don't, I'm afraid you won't be of any use to me any more."

That was bullshit and both of them knew it. He was the only guy who could get her that much dust that quickly, but it was going to be damn near impossible to do so. He wasn't going to call her on her bullshit, though. There were some things worse than death.

Roman grit his teeth as Cinder allowed her hand to fall away from his throat, a cocky smirk gracing her lips.

What a psycho.

He would make his escape with Neo when whatever gigantic scheme she was cooking up started. Until then, he would have to bide his time and tread lightly.

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'til next time!

Next Chapter: July 1st (1 week)

-thann3