Team VICS

by The weird artizt

Beacon Academy is About to be turned upside down as Team RWBY Will meet a team just as destructive and chaotic as they are. Team VICS (vicious) Will they be great allies or their worst enemies or will they be both? (based on an Rp I did with a dear friend)

7. Getting know each other

As the first day came to a close, Verdo was utterly exhausted. He and Ruby had explained what had happened with Ozpin before their teams had gone their seperate ways as some classes had to be taken by the whole team others were more varied. The man's words had left a lasting impact on the young huntress, inspiring her to push herself even harder.

The rest of his team had been relieved to finally return to their dorm after a long day of classes. However, the day hadn't been as easy as they had hoped, with Doctor Oobleck assigning them homework on the very first day. Needless to say, he was not a favorite among the students. It was frustrating to have to start working immediately, especially when the other teachers had simply informed them of upcoming subjects and given them the freedom to do it on their own time.

Veridian's mind though wasn't on his homework he was consumed with Ozpin's words, his thoughts racing as he contemplated his own potential as a leader. And he couldn't help but wonder if he truly had what it takes?

Sure during initiation, he had taken charge, but leading the other three members of his team on a day to day basis was a whole different challenge.

Speaking of the team he was supposed to be leading, they had returned at the same time as he had. As they began talking about their day, he instinctively quirked one of his badger ears towards them.

"I cannot fucking believe that we actually have homework on the FIRST DAMN DAY!" Ilene said as she threw her books onto their shared desk. He could tell her head was still throbbing from using her semblance excessively all day. It made him hopeful that she wouldn't last until dark, not that he really needed that twenty lien. He just liked to win.

"I think itll be rather easy" Sasha commented as she began setting out her own notes which Ilene could see were color coordinated and catalogued meticuously and with utterly perfect handwriting. one would guess it helped her hands came with precision balance.

"Of course it would be with a computer for a brain," Ilene joked with a good-natured jab. If it wasn't for Sasha's ability to sense emotions, she might have taken offense to the comment. Sasha began to explain in a calm and measured tone that she didn't actually have a computer in her head. She tried to hide any hint of frustration, knowing that Ilene was just teasing her in her own blunt manner.

"Yeah, she's just really smart." Charlie was clearly trying to impress the girl, hoping to gain her favor in hopes of getting help with his home work. And as the words left his lips, Sasha couldn't help but blush a little, flattered by the compliment. However, Ilene,gave them both a disapproving glare.

She couldn't shake off what Sasha had told her about deliberately using her semblance. While she appreciated the reassurance that Sasha wouldn't invade her mind without permission, she couldn't help but feel wary. After all, she barely knew the girl and didn't trust her not to dig too deep into her thoughts. But her biggest fear was the lumbering hulk of a man who was sitting next to Sasha, sorting through his notes. She knew that, despite his facade of a gentle giant, he was the spider's fang and he knew about her past just as she knew about his.

Verdo could sense the tension emanating from Ilene as she observed the interaction between Charlie and Sasha. Her eyes were fixed on the back of Charlie's head, seemingly glaring at him, as he tirelessly worked next to Sasha. Despite his attempts at compliments, Sasha remained withdrawn and embarrassed, hiding under her hat. Verdo didn't blame her for her guardedness. After all, he had never met anyone as cybernetically enhanced as her, except for his own father.

The thought of what she had to go through to become like that sent shivers down his spine.

His large partner seemed to struggle with fitting in and being well-liked. It was almost as if he had never had any friends before. He constantly tried to please others, showering them with compliments and being overly friendly. However, there were moments when he would just stand there quietly, unsure of how to act. It was clear that he was trying too hard to be a people pleaser, perhaps in a desperate attempt to make meaningful connections with those around him.

It wasn't as though his attitude was much better. Veridian didn't want to involve himself in other's business or interact with them at all. But now he had several people who he wouldn't be able to escape. It wasn't that he didn't like them; it was just that he didn't give a honey fuck about being a team leader.

But he shook off the thoughts, even though they were true, they were an awkward mess. Just because they were, doesn't mean he should try and force it to be better. It didn't seem to be a big problem, but he could tell they weren't all truly friends, they were just trying to get along, which wasn't a bad thing. However, it was like having a scraped knee and just ignoring it. Eventually, it would become infected and have to be removed painfully. He didn't know what to do about it. He didn't know if there was something he could do to fix it.

"I'm going to get a soda before we start this homework," Charlie said, taking off his school blazer as he stood up from the pile of notes. Ilene saw an opportunity.

"I'll come too," Ilene said, standing up to follow him. loosening her tie and throwing her blazer onto the floor "I still need some fresh air, and being in this room with my nose stuffed up from the man smell, I'll need all the odor-free air I can get."

Verdo could sense that something was off with Ilene, but Charlie just smiled and nodded, thinking that her reasoning was genuine. However, Verdo could tell that she wanted to be alone with his partner. He didn't know the reason, but he could hear a slight naughty undertone in her voice.

"Sure, that's cool with me. Do you guys want anything?" Charlie asked as Ilene finished making herself comfortable for a walk.

"I'll just have a soda, I'm not picky," Verdo said with a shrug, and Sasha simply shook her head as she didn't want anything. They sat there as the two of them left the room side by side, leaving Veridian alone with the cyborg girl.

They stared at each other for a moment. Verdo was thinking about how he should ask her about herself, but every time he thought about it, he could see her awkwardly swiveling on her bed. This made him think that she could hear him or sense him as he was thinking those things, so he just decided to dive in and say "FUCK IT" and rip the band-aid off.

"Um, Sasha, I was thinking, you know, our first day as a team was a little rough. Maybe we could all sit down and get to know each other a little better?" He suggested, trying to fill in the void of the silence.

She glanced at him with wide eyes, a mix of curiosity and uncertainty swirling inside her.

"I mean..." she started, her voice soft and hesitant. It was as if the words were stuck in her throat, fighting to escape. "I'm not saying I don't want to, but..." Her gaze dropped to the floor and she felt small, wondering what he might think of her hesitation.

"I'm not saying we have to delve into each other's deepest, darkest secrets or anything," he tried to assure her. "I just mean let's tell each other a little about ourselves because we are going to be living with each other for the next four years. It could be a good start."

Why did he suddenly wanna get to know them what happened to not giving a fuck?

Sasha seemed to mull over the idea in her head, and he had a point. It would make things run more smoothly between all of them and it would be better for everyone. She hated the thought of the team falling apart, but she could feel that each one of them had their walls up - even her. So perhaps this would be a good start.

"Oh well...I think that's a great idea, Verdo," she said, easing up a little bit. And he was glad that she was open to the idea of their team getting closer and learning about each other.

"Yeah, I haven't exactly been the friendliest all day," he admitted, thinking this was off to a good start.

"You've been fine with us. It's rather one person in particular that you've been hostile towards," she said warily as he raised a brow at her. She felt the emotions coming from him. He knew exactly who she was talking about.

"Look, it's not my business," she shifted awkwardly on her bed, looking to her leader.

"It really isn't," he growled lowly, not wanting to get into this again today.

"But Professor Ozpin has a point. And not only that, but I could sense how she's felt all day. Do you have any idea what it's been like for her?" she argued, knowing from his thoughts his conversation with the headmaster. "I mean, I know you have your own grievances with her, but you and I both know how you really feel."

"Hey, have you been getting in my head?" he said, furrowing his brow at her, not liking the idea of being on a team with a telepath.

"Not on purpose,"she admited with a shameful turn of her head as she tried to defend herself," but every time you argue with her, your thoughts project so loudly I couldn't ignore them if I tried... Why don't you just tell her you still love her?"

Verdo turned away from her, his thoughts on periwinkle eyes that he could never hate.

--

At the top of the dorm stairs, those same periwinkle eyes scanned the halls for her team. However, when she couldn't find them anywhere, she thought she might find them in their team room.

Weiss had been spending a lot of time thinking in between classes. She had tried her best to avoid Ruby, and especially Verdian. Just thinking about him again made her furious. However, she remembered her encounter with Professor Port.

It was bad enough that she had to deal with a childish leader, but having HIM here while she was trying to prove herself was embarrassing. Being scolded by a teacher as though she were a child only added to her frustration.

She loathed Veridian more than anything. The last time they had met, he had caused her so much embarrassment by leaking all that they had done to the press and telling the tabloids some of their most private moments.

Her father had been so cross with her that he nearly took away her chance to become a huntress. She couldn't believe her former lover's accusations that she was doing this to please her father. Her father was abhorrent to the idea of her being a huntress. Why would she be doing this for him? This was for her and her honor as a Schnee. And if, by some chance, her father gave her praise and affection when she graduated at the top of their class, or perhaps even earlier than that, it would just be a beneficiary bonus.

But how could she do anything to further those goals when her team leader was a doltish child?

...But she had promised to be less difficult. And it was only the first day. Perhaps she was just being a little high-strung. After all, Ruby was younger than her, and Professor Port had told her that Ozpin wouldn't have made the choice lightly. So she resolved to offer a small apology to her diminutive leader.

She walked through the commons of the dorms, trying to find her way back to her team room, when she saw Yang and Blake sitting on the commons couch. The buxom blonde was playing some sort of game on her scroll, and Blake was nonchalantly leaning on the couch, reading a book. Ruby was nowhere to be found. Likely she was off sulking after her own scolding to her.

'What a team,' she sarcastically thought as she walked up to them and coughed, letting them know of her presence as she came forward.

"Oh hey, Weiss Cream," Yang said with a brimming smile, briefly looking away from her game, while Blake barely even looked up from her chapter. Weiss scoffed at the nickname.

"Have either of you seen Ruby?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips.

"Uh, yeah, she went to the library. Something about getting us the books we're gonna need for Oobleck's homework so we decided to take a moment for ourselves before she got back," Yang said with a lazy smile as she stretched herself further along the couch , and she herself couldn't help but admire that Ruby was taking the initiative like that.

"Why do you want to have it out again?"

Weiss wouldn't blame the girl if she was being defensive of her younger sister. She must have told them about the fight they had with veridian coming to her sisters defense.

"No, I... wanted to apologize to her," Weiss said, her usually composed demeanor faltering for a moment. She could see the confusion on both Yang and Blake's faces before she took a deep breath and continued. "I promised that I was going to try and be... a little more agreeable. It would be remiss of me to not try and repair things with my partner and hold true to my word."

"Aaawe Weiss she does have a heart."

Yang paused her game and cooed in agreement.Even Blake, who seemed to always have a more cynical view of the heiress, looked up from her book with a curious expression.

"What about Veridian?" The bookworm asked, as if the mere thought of a Schnee apologizing to a faunus was unheard of.

"What about him?" weiss said oddly that she would bring him up at all as far as she knew blake and he were barely even aquaintences but blake had her own reasons she was curious what this faunus had history with weiss schnee

"are you going to apoligize to him?" she clarified but she could see on weisses face the idea of doing such made her tense up as she crossed her arms and turned up her nose.

"Maybe ...if that flea bitten rat would apologize first !" she growled under her breath still irritated at the mere thogut of him and blake shook her head un surprised at heruse of such a derogatory term for a faunus, what ever hhad done to her she obviously wouldnt let her hatred of the badger faunus go and she just returned to her book but it was yang who spoke up against this tense aura

"What's your deal with him?" She sat up on the arm of the couch, looking down at me with a sly smile. It was clear that she knew something, and she was enjoying teasing Weiss about it. "You said you know each other, but I heard the real scoop was that you and him used to be a thing."

Weiss could feel heat rising to her cheeks as Yang revealed this information. Clearly, she was looking for some juicy details on her illicent relationship with

Veridian and Weiss wouldn't risk indulging her curiosity.

Blake, meanwhile, dropped her book from her hands at the revelation that the daughter of the most tyrannical abuser of Faunus had loved one of Blakes own kind. Not only that, but he was also the illegitimate son of James Ironwood, the White Fang's most fought enemy. She was at a loss for words, and in disbelief, she could only ask, "You dated a Faunus?"

Weiss crossed her arms at Blake's question, her expression a mix of disbelief and shock. The idea of her loving a faunus seemed so outlandish to the dark haired girl that she couldn't help but react with a defensive stance. She rounded on Yang, who was smirking at her, and asked annoyed. "Where did you even hear such things anyway?"

"Ohhhh I have my sources."She repleied with a sly grin With a sly grin on her face, She didn't want to reveal that she had actually learned the juicy information from Ruby, who had heard it from Jaune, who had heard it from Verdo himself. She didn't want to undo Ruby's hard work at impressing Weiss. With a hint of amusement in her tone, she questioned,

"So what was it? A bad break up? Been there."

Yang had been around a few times quite a few times back at signal she knew how messy those could be.

"Bad... would be an understatement," she said with a tone of voice that was filled with frustration and annoyance as memories of love adventure and heart break filled her mind. Weiss groaned as she tried to banish those thoughts and looked at Yang, who just kept smiling at her, and Blake, who had a curious look in her eye.

She didn't want to talk about it, but Yang and Blake's curious expressions only made her more uncomfortable. She hoped that they would drop the subject and move on to a more positive conversation.

"I DO NOT want to discuss my past relationship with Veridian."

"OH COME ON PLEASE TELL ME!"Yang's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she pleaded for more details. She was determined not to let the conversation end without getting all the juicy details. Even Blake, who usually kept a cool demeanor, seemed interested in the gossip that had captured their attention.

"Look don't tell us how you broke up then just tell us a little about what it was like being together?"

THUD

Weiss's response was cut short by a loud thud in the hallway, all three of them stood up in alert. They could hear the sounds of harsh voices and knew that something was going on. Without hesitation, they went to see if anyone needed help. As they turned the corner, they were met with a shocking sight. Charlie had Ilene pressed against the wall, with her arms wrapped around his neck and their mouths locked in a passionate kiss as he looked completely embarresed to be caught.

--

(a few minutes before)

Ilene and Charlie were strolling around the dorms side by side. The day was drawing to a closeand she was almost done with this stupid bet. Ilene needed to emerge victorious, and she was determined to do so. As they walked, Ilene couldn't help but notice the distinct scent coming from Charlie. It was a mixture of sweat and whatever he had last eaten.

Although what she could smell off of him wasn't half as interesting as what she could hear from him. As she walked beside Charlie, The thudding of his giant steps were impossible to ignore, but when she concentrated, she heard something even more captivating - the strong, steady beating of his heart. It was so powerful that calling it anything other than "giant" would have been an understatement. She could hear it so clearly that it was almost as if she was resting her head on his chest, feeling his heart beat with every step they took.

Her ears were exhausted after hours of practice; she couldn't bear another moment of listening to the shrill, loud voices around her in their dorms. But there were quiet moments when she focused on working on one of her team leader's skills: the ability to decipher truth from lies. She had no doubts that the badger could tell the difference in falsehoods. She had noticed that when someone got a little cagey or nervous, their heartbeat changed, and she could sense other small details in a person's demeanor.

She had been trying to hone this skill all day, but she wasn't sure if she had perfected it. However, she was about to put it to the test and get some answers from the intimidating guy next to her as they walked to the commons.

"So, Charlie, where are you from?" she asked, flicking her flowing blue hair behind her shoulder. She flashed him a little smile, but noticed he kept his eyes forward straight as an arrow as he answered.

"Oh, you know, just a village out in the wilderness called Henderberg. It's just a small little village really a nice little place," he saiddescribing his home But even with her limited experience, she could tell he had no emotion in his voice and his heartbeat remained steady. Nevertheless, she pressed on.

"Huh, Henderberg? I think that's near the Southern Mountains on this continent, right?" She saw him nod. She knew where it was because sometimes Raven would send out scouting parties and use her portals to transport the whole tribe. After scouting out Henderberg, she realized it wasn't small at all - it was massive and too big to conquer, even for Raven. So, that was a blatant lie. "Huh, I would've figured you for Mistralian. You have the distinctive traits for it. But I guess your mother must be Mistralian?"

BUHBUMP BUHBUMP BUHBUMP BUHBUMP BUHBUMP BUHBUMP BUHBUMP BUHBUMP BUHBUMP BUHBUMP BUHBUMP BUHBUMP

"There it is," she thought to herself as she felt her ears find a chink in his armor. Now she had to exploit that chink.

"Yeah, she is amazing," Charlie says with a smile, the tension in his face visible even through his cheerful expression. His plump face remains an impenetrable stone wall, without any cracks or tells that could betray his emotions. But as he starts talking about his mother, a small smile appears on his face, revealing the deep love and admiration he has for her. "She runs the house while I work, and we lived a modest life, but she always made the best of it," he continues, his voice filled with fondness. "She loves to bake and has taught me so much, shaping me into the man I am today."

As he patted his belly with a hearty laugh, she couldn't help but notice the mischievous twinkle in his eye. She knew without a doubt that Little Miss Malachite had a penchant for sweets, but what surprised her was how warmly this woman was being spoken about. After all, Little Miss was infamous for her brutal punishments when someone had given her bad information. And as a smirk spread across her face, she couldn't help but form a naughty idea in her mind.

"Well, I'm from Mistral too. Maybe I know her?" Ilene innocently asked.

"Ooooooh, I doubt it," he shook his head. "My mom came to Henderberg when I was just five. I doubt you would have been old enough to recognize her."

He's trying to avoid the question. But Ilene knew she could get him to admit who he was; perhaps she just needed to be more direct and less subtle.

"Your name is Malachite, right? (she saw him nod)Malachite... Malachite... I feel like I know that name. Her ears caught the sounds (BUH BUMP BUH BUMP) as his heart sped up. Where have I heard that name? Oh right, that's the name for a criminal gang in Mistral."

"Really?" he said with feigned curiosity, as if he had never heard of them before. "I doubt we're related."

He was trying to downplay it and she played along.

"Oh yeah, they're the worst," she said as she watched his large hands tense into fists. "They all have these mean-looking spider tattoos," she continued, "and I heard that their leader, Little Miss Malachite, is the vilest, most ruthless and ugliest old bitty you could ever imagMMPH."

Suddenly, a giant fist covered her mouth and pushed her against the wall. He glared down at her with fire in his eyes and kept her pinned. He could feel his heart beating even louder than before, like thunder, as he seethed the words out of his mouth with pure venom and gritting teeth in a harsh drawl of a person born in the country side.

"DONT ...EVER ..TALK ABUT MY MOMMA LIKE THAT AGAIN...BANDIT."

The threat in Charlies voice was palpable as he uttered those words. She could feel his anger and protectiveness towards his mother, and knew she had crossed a line. Her heart raced as she struggled under his weight, barely able to catch her breath. In that moment, she realized just how serious he was about defending his loved ones serious enough to almost crush her wind pipe. It took all of her strength to push his large finger away from her mouth.

"MMMMHMMM (gasp). So," she gasped, moving his large fist away from her mouth as she gazed back into his dark hazel eyes that werent the kind eyes of her team mate but those of a killer. Either way, with that intense look and him calling her a bandit, she had her answer. He knew her, alright. "You do remember me...huh, I guess spiders do remember those who cross them."

She smirked, but the smile dissapearred when his hand grabbed her throat and pressed a little harder, pushing her against the wall with a thud. With her super senses still tingling inside her brain, she felt the pulsing of his muscles as he pressed ever so slightly, but to her, it felt like a vice tightening around her neck.

As she felt his large frame tense up in anger, she knew she had to defuse the situation quickly.

"Whoa whoa easy there big guy," she said in a calm and soothing tone. She was about to reason with him, but then she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Her sensitive ears perked up, and she looked towards the commons room. Charlie followed her gaze and turned his head to see if someone was coming. But before he could even see, she grabbed his head pulling him hard down to her and kissed him hard on the lips. His first instinct was to push her away, but her arms tightened around his neck, keeping him in place. He was completely shocked by the suddenness of her actions, but for a moment he dared to enjoy the warm softness of the kiss.

"WHOO" Suddenly echoed from the end of the hall. The two figures, caught in a passionate embrace, broke apart to see Yang cheering them on. Weiss, on the other hand, stood there looking shocked and scandalized at the scene before her. Yet Blake remained unfazed and nonchalant, standing there without care for either of them.

"Get it Ilene!"Yang cheered them on Charlie, on the other hand, seemed to have a mixture of shock and embarrassment on his face as he quickly broke away from the girl who had kissed him by surprise.

"What can I say, the big guy couldn't keep his hands off of me. He's an animal," Ilene teased with a chuckle, making him burst into guffaws and turn completely red. It was a stark contrast from the killer he had just been, glaring into her soul moments ago. He was now embarrassed like a horny teenage boy. Suddenly, he understood what she was doing. Instead of looking like they were caught fighting, they were caught kissing. One of which would cause less worry than the other, and so he just looked meek and shy playing the teenage horomones card.

"Oh yeah, he looks insatiable."Blake said sarcastically The comment only made the person in question, who was already blushing furiously, become even more embarrassed now that he was the main focus of everyones attention. But she just could't beleive that Charlie was the type to make out in hallways.

"Well you know what they say, always be wary of the quiet ones right Blake?" Ilene's words echoed in the silence, causing Blake to shift uncomfortably in her shoes. She wasn't sure what Ilene was trying to imply After all, Blake was known for being reserved and introspective herself. Just because she enjoyed adult-themed literature didn't mean she was some sort of closet pervert.

"Anyway, Big Boy and I have some things to talk about." Ilene grabbed Charlie's tree trunk-like arms, making sure to press his elbow into her chest. She listened as he made her heart beat like thunder, but for a different reason. It made her chuckle inside as she pulled him past their three spectators.

"It takes all kinds, I suppose," Weiss said as they watched the pair of them retreat, likely to find some sort of dark corner to continue where they had been interrupted.

"I don't know ,they dont seem like eithers type," Blake thought because she couldn't see how Ilene, with her abrasive personality, could ever be interested in someone like Charlie. In her eyes, Charlie was nothing more than a large, clumsy butterball. And he definetely didn't seem like the type to make out in hallways.

"Speaking of types, Weisses seems to be a rebellious faunus." Yang teasingly smirked as she made it clear that she was not going to avoid discussing Weiss's heated affair with a faunus in the past. However, Weiss did not want to continuously be pestered. Even Blake couldn't help but raise a curious brow, wondering if Weiss would talk about her relationship with Veridian. The white-haired heiress let out a heavy sigh before turning to them both.

"Uuuuugh, if I tell you about mine and Veridion's relationship, will you please stop constantly prying into my personal life, Xaio Long?"

Yang held up two fingers and crossed her heart. Blake just nodded, and Weiss hadn't known them long enough to truly gauge their words. However, they had fought together, so she supposed that was good enough.

"Fine, let's go back to the dorm, please.I will not have my personal busniess be told where anyone can hear."

--

Verdo and sasha still sat upon their respective beds as she kept up her insistence that he still loved weiss and that talking about it could help him move on.

"Look, I don't wanna talk about my relationship with Weiss."

Verdo said sternly , yet despite his reluctance to delve into the topic, the small and timid cyborg surprised him with her own resolute attitude. Though she may have been shy, she showed an unexpected strength in standing her ground on the subject.

"Veridian, please. You and I both know the truth. The others aren't around, and you know I don't spill secrets." He couldn't figure out why she was so insistent on this. The tone of her voice was almost pleading, as if she was desperate to understand. But he couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something more going on here With the telepath.

"Pleeeeeeease," she said in the most innocent and pleading voice, as she gazed up at him with the biggest puppy dog eyes she could muster. She knew that this was one of his weaknesses, a result of having numerous younger siblings that constantly used the same tactic on him. But she couldn't help herself, she wanted him to give in to her request and she was willing to use every trick in the book. Even with her scarred face she knew he couldn't resist her plea. Infact some how the scars made her seem all the cuter..

And so he just relented.

"I met her when I first arrived in Atlas. I had been there for about a week and I didn't have any friends. The only person I had really interacted with was my dad. I remember feeling lonely and out of place in this new city. I came when school wasn't in session for the year and i hadnt really made any friends didn't really think I would because compared to all of them I was just a country bump fisherman. It was actually winter who convinced my dad to take me with him to meet her family instead of just walking around The academies empty halls with a father I barely knew."

--

As Yang and Blake settled onto the bottombed of their shared bunk, Weiss took a deep breath and positioned herself in the desk chair in front of them. It was clear that this was a difficult topic for her, and Yang and Blake sat quietly, giving her the space and support she needed to open up about her past with Veridian.

She supposed the day she met him was a good start.

"After weeks of practicing alone and feeling unsure about my performance, it was finally going to be my first concert. But there was a cloud of doubt lingering in my mind. My father had hired an instructor who constantly pointed out my mistakes and told me I was hitting the notes wrong. I had been practicing harder than ever. When my father came to tell me that we were having visitors, and not just any visitors, but General Ironwood's bastard son."

"General Ironwood had a child with a faunus?! "

Weiss and Yang both turned to look at their teammate Blake, who had just blurted out the information. Blake herself seemed surprised at her outburst. She quickly sat back down, composing herself. "I'm just surprised," she explained, her tone of voice reflecting her shock. "I mean, considering that the main enemies the general fights against are the white fang, it's unexpected to hear that he has a faunus child."

As Weiss looked at Blake she wondered why she was so keen on Veridians connection with the general. But whether one was scrolling through their social media feed or engaging in discussions with Their peers, the topic of politics or the White Fang seemed to come up in conversation.

"I know how you felt when I met him. I was shocked as well when my father told me." She recounted the tale, remembering that day vividly.

--

"The general had taken me out of the academy to introduce me to someone my own age in Atlas. As we arrived at their unbeleivebly Gaudy house, I couldn't help but notice the extravagance of it all the place was a palace.But i could'nt focus on the house because Even from the courtyard, I could hear her voice ringing through the air. It was absolutely perfect, with a pitch that was like listening to an angel sing."

As Sasha smiled, She could sense the admiration and awe in his voice. It was clear that Weiss were held a special place in his heart. She listened ever closely to his story.

"As we entered the house, we were surprised to find Jaque Schnee waiting for us. The house was so pristine, that the usual smells of other people were non existent allowing me to focus solely on Jaque. However, it was clear from the moment I stepped inside that he despised me. His eyes, and lips were all carefully trained to conceal his true emotions, but I could sense his disdain for me. His mustache would twitch every time he looked at my badger ears, and I couldn't help but think of him as a pompous prick."

Verdo could vividly remember the man's face stone like face giving him looks of hatred. It was a subtle yet powerful expression that left a lasting impression. However, he doubted that it was solely due to his geneological heritage. No, it was more likely a result of his social standing. Whether he was the general's son or not, he was still the son of a poor fishermans island. A nobody.

"As I stood there, between the two of them my father made the introductions and Jacque shook my hand . His questions were simple enough, asking about how I was finding Atlas. But when I inquired about the beautiful singing voice that had caught my attention, Jacque looked at me like i was crazy because the house was so quiet . It was then that my father revealed my semblance for enhanced senses and Jacque informed me that it was his daughter, Weiss, practicing for her first concert. As my dad and Jacque delved into light business talk, my ears were solely focused on the soft footfalls of high-end heels and the gentle scent of dust and lavender. And when I laid eyes on her, my heart skipped a beat. She exuded elegance in her white dress, her hair cascading behind her like pure silk. Her teal eyes sparkled against her perfect pale skin. As she came down the stairs, I knew I was in love."

--

Weiss recalled when she first layed eyes upon Veridian.

"He...was just standing between my father and his own, just looking at me like I was the last woman on earth. It was as if his eyes were tracking my every move. It was quite unsettling, really."

She laughed inwardly at the thought, knowing how he had described their first meeting to her before. He thought she was an angel, but she just thought he was a ragged-looking young man, Faunus or not.

"We greeted each other and my father, ever the businessman, wanted me to give Veridian a tour of the manor while the adults discussed business. Of course, I plastered on a fake smile and began showing him my home. He, as a common courtesy, asked questions about the house and almost every question was followed by a joke, clearly designed to annoy me."

"You know, some people say that's the language of love to some people." Yang said lightheartedly, hinting at her mischievous nature. As a known jokester, Yang knew that a sense of humor was definitely a must when it came to relationships. She couldn't imagine herself with a drole boring humorless guy ..or girl.

"Yes, for juvenile children. I said as much when I grew tired of his jokes. He etorted that my joyless smile irked him as well.and he explained to me he was actually just trying to make me laugh and genuinely smile." Weiss explained.

Blake despised those types personally. They purposely tried to make jokes and infect everyone with their positivity. However, given her past experience with the edgy, broody kind, it didn't turn out well for her. Perhaps she should reconsider that type. At least they would be interested in her joy instead of their selfish desires to hurt humanity.

"He then apologized for his ignorant behavior, and asked me what I would truly enjoy doing while our fathers droned on about the tedious topic of military dust expenses. I began to share my own hobbies and discuss some of my favorite things, hoping to make our time together more enjoyable. In return, I inquired about his home, the island of Fade, and we must have talked for hours. It was refreshing to connect with someone on a personal level amidst the dullness of the Atlesian elite I converse with almost daily."

Weiss couldn't help but smile fondly at the memory of her interactions with Verdidian. While most people were constantly trying to get on her good side and kiss her posterior , Verdidian was the complete opposite. He purposely tried to rile her up, not to make her angry or to make sly comments, but simply to be playful. And surprisingly, she found herself enjoying their banter and teasing. They both knew it was all in good fun, and they cherished each other's company until their time together inevitably came to an end.

"As he prepared to leave with his father, he turned to me and expressed that he had never met a woman like me before. He told me that he wanted to do something that he knew wealthy people did often. With a graceful bow, he kissed my hand and bid me farewell with the words, "Till we meet again snow fox." "

"Awww," Yang cooed at the idea of a guy chivalrously kissing her hand. "That sounds so cheesy and romantic."

My father certainly didn't agree with that sentiment. " Weiss said with a wince, recalling her fathers demand to go and wash her hands after that. " My father saw him as a troublemaker, always causing chaos and then taking the blame for it. He believed Veridian was nothing but a rebel, constantly causing trouble just for the thrill of it."

As Blake stood there, staring at the Schnee before her, she couldn't believe that she had found commonground. Being a Faunus, Blake had always hidden her true identity and lived in fear of being shunned or rejected. Yet the Schnee shared her fondness for rebellious Faunus boys. Maybe, just maybe, she could reveal her secret.

"So how did you guys start dating?" Blake asked, eager to hear the story unfold. It was almost like the story of the princess and the warrior faunus. However, she noticed a change in Weiss as she seemed to become a bit apprehensive. He could sense that she didn't want to speak about their more intimate relationship.

"Well we started getting closer to each other because of my father. "

The two of them awkwardly looked at her, thinking it was odd that her father, the notorious Faunus-slaving Schnee, was setting up his prized heiress with a Faunus for dating. While Blake felt this way, Yang found it odd that a father would set his daughter up with a boy at all. Most would rather kill a boy than let their daughter date anyone at all.

"My father always wanted to have a reason to pressure the general for more dust contracts. So, whenever he would meet with the Ironwood, he knew that Veridian wouldn't be far behind. I mean, after all..."

--

"I never grew up with my father," Verdo explained to Sasha. "He didn't even know I existed until a few weeks before we met for the first time, so he wanted to spend as much time with me as possible. Whenever there was a party or some other function that wasn't military training, we spent it together. Which still wasn't alot of time with his council busniess and military whatever."

Sasha could feel the intense emotions radiating off of Veridian as he spoke about his father. She knew that their relationship was complicated, to say the least.

"So her father used her to distract you away from the general?"

Verdo tapped his nose to let her know that she got it right.

"But I didn't mind. I liked Weiss. I liked spending time with her. She was passionate, strong, and a little cold, but she was warm inside. We had so much fun and got into so much trouble together."

"It sounds like you and she had a lot of fun together." Sasha could feel the warmth radiating from within him as he spoke of the good times with Weiss. She knew what he really wanted, so she stood up and walked over to his bed and sat next to him. "Maybe she remembers the good times too. You should talk to her, just talk to her without any underlying antagonism. I don't know what you and she did to each other, but is it worth getting detention for the whole team just to get under her skin?"

He hated to admit it, but it was likely that it wouldn't.

--

"He seemed to have a sixth sense for when I needed a break from the pressures of being an heiress and dealing with my family's expectations. Without fail, he would come up with some crazy plan that would inevitably lead to chaos. But in those moments, I felt truly free and alive, away from the confines of my responsibilities. "Weiss said with a far off look in her eyes as she remembered those times.

"Weiss likes the bad boys weiss likes the bad boys."

"Oh please," she exclaimed letting out a exasperated sigh, her voice filled with frustration. Her nose turned up in a clear attempt to deny the teasing from the blonde. "He wasn't a bad boy. He only acted out to get his father's attention. And no matter what trouble we got into, he always made sure that I never got in trouble with my family."

"Oh brave enough to face a grimm, but too afraid to get in trouble?" Yang taunted, causing Weiss to feel a surge of irritation. Accused of being a coward, she couldn't help but stand up and wag her finger in the blonde's face. She wasn't going to let this busty blonde brawler call her a coward.

"I'll have you know there has been plenty I have done that would get me in extreme trouble," Weiss declared with a hint of defiance in her voice. However, her statement did not seem to convince either of her audience, which only irked her further.

"I am the secret leader of a Faunus rights rally," she declared, crossing her arms. She let the statement sink in for a moment, her serious expression clear that she wasn't exagerating or lying.

"You're serious?" Blake said, confused. She had never heard of anyone seeing the wealthy and elite Weiss Schnee out in public, speaking and advocating for Faunus rights. "There's no way that you're being for real, I've never heard of you attending a rally."

"WELL, OF COURSE, it wouldn't do for me to be seen standing against my own family, fighting for Faunus rights in the streets, could you imagine the scandal!" Weiss stated, obviously. Before she looked a little impish, "I did it disguised... as a Faunus."

They both looked at her, unbelieving in her statement, wanting an explanation.

"Veridian and I were exhausted from constantly being bombarded by paparazzi and other intrusive people in public. In order to escape the constant attention, I came up with the idea of dressing up as a faunus named Vixen, with a fiery red wig and a robotic fox tail. This allowed us to blend in and enjoy our time together without military or the need for bodyguards. It was refreshing to just be ourselves and live in the moment, without the constant fear of being recognized."

Blake had always been aware of the existence of people who would dress up as faunus, for various reasons. Some did it out of a desire to be like the faunus, while others had a more sexual motive. However, when Weiss disguised herself as a faunus, it was to hide her true identity and be with the one she loved, However, there was still one question that remained unanswered. As Blake asked in a curious tone, "So how exactly did you become a leader for a faunus rights group?"

As Weiss she studied her teammate, she couldn't help but wonder how she could broach the sensitive subject at hand. It was clear to Weiss that there was more to Blake than met the eye; despite her easygoing and neutral demeanor, there seemed to be a strong political stance that she held onto. Weiss couldn't quite understand the reasons behind this, but she knew that it was a delicate matter that required careful handling.

"Well, when Veridian and I first began sneaking out as Vixen and his alter ego Finnegan, we started in Atlas as that didn't require us to use our ID cards for transportation. However, people's view of Faunus in Atlas isn't the best."

She promptly continued her story, ignoring Blake's snort.

"As we walked into the coffee shop, I could feel a sense of unease from the other patrons. But even before we got to the front, I could sense the disapproving glares from the other customers. Veridian seemed unfazed by it all, but I couldn't help but wonder what he had heard that I couldn't. I found myself wanting to leave Because it was obvious we werent't welcome. However, Veridian was determined to not let them have this victory, reminding me that we couldn't let these judgmental looks stop us from enjoying a simple bit of time together just because they were uncomfortable with faunus."

Blake had experienced racism herself, and she could understand the pain,discrimination, prejudice ,and frustration that came with being faunus. That is why she and many others like her chose to boycott certain businesses and hold marches right in front of the companies that supported their oppression.

"As we approached the front counter, I knew all too well the reception I would receive from the owners but i still dared hope that we would be treated fairly . How wrong I was . They looked at me with disgust, as if I were a rabid animal, and demand that I leave immediately and return to my "master."

"Oh my god!" yang couldnt beleive what weiss just said She told them sadly about the ordeal the actions and words left a lasting impression on her, one that she will never forget.

"They didn't say anything of the like , but they might as well have. They demanded that we leave, exercising their right to refuse service to anyone. Needless to say, Veridian would not take that lightly. He began stating his own rights and, before we knew it, passersby had gathered to watch the spectacle. Then, I was shoved by someone's thoughtless actions. Veridian was on the verge of assaulting the man, but I stopped him. I stood upon a table and demanded that everyone stop. I convinced them all to disperse peacefully. By the next day, I was being asked by several groups on the scroll net to lead them in a non-violent rebellion.Or rather vixen was being asked upon the media, I may not have been born a Faunus, but I deeply understand and sympathize with their plight."

As Weiss recounted her experiences, she told tales of standing up against racists in the streets, countering inequality laws that people abused. She shared how she used her artistic skills to create powerful and thought-provoking pro-faunus graffiti. As Blake listened, she couldn't help but feel a deep respect for Weiss. It was clear to her that Weiss had gone through a lot , and she had come a long way for a cause she didnt know she was a part of. Blake knew that there was more to learn and understand about Weiss, but she also knew that she was already starting to view her in a different light.

"Veridian and I used to go out with other Faunus all the time, fighting for justice for our kind. However, we never associated with the White Fang...they can all burn in hell," stated Weiss matter-of-factly.

Blake would never reveal her secret at all.

"That seems kind of contradictory," Blake countered, earning a harsh look from Weiss. And Blake quickly amended her statement "I mean, I would think that a Faunus group would want to help them."

Weiss scoffed at the idea of being associated with them at all.

"While the idea was certainly presented at several meetings, I could not support a group that kills people indiscriminately. Plus, I'm a Schnee. If I was ever discovered, a scandal would be the least of my worries. I would have been killed."

Blake couldn't deny that if Adam had known that Weiss was parading around as a Faunus, he would have used it to create propaganda and spread hate speeches. He would have also used the media to tear the Schnee Dust Company apart and possibly send Jacques Schnee back his daughter's head.

"I think we kinda veered off topic, didn't we?" Yang recalled how their conversation had started off with discussing Weiss and Verdo's relationship or past relationship rather. But somehow, they had gotten sidetracked onto faunus rebellion and oppression.

So to redirect the conversation back on subject, she asked Weiss, "So if you were both so passionate about each other, what happened? Why did you break up?"

As Weiss looked at the two of them, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of shame wash over her. She knew she had promised to tell them about her and him, but in the end, she had only given them a small glimpse into their relationship. However, despite feeling embarrassed, Weiss remained quiet and silently sat back down, crossing her arms in front of her.

"I said I'd tell you about him and I have. That was all." It was clear that she had no intention of telling them any more she had already revealed quite a bit about herself things that no others knew except one.

Yang's expression resembled one of disappointment, almost as if she had been denied something she desperately wanted to know at the end of her favorite show and then was put upon a cliff hanger. Weiss however stood her ground and refused to budge. However, Blake seemed to have found some satisfaction in her conversation with the heiress. She had learned more about Weiss that portrayed her in a much more dignified light to Blake. While she could still come across as a bit pompous, Blake realized that she was not just a stuck up rich girl.

"So what are you going to do about it?" Blake asked Weiss letting the question linger in the air for a moment while Weiss collected her thoughts.

"What do you mean?"

"You and him," Blake clarified. "It's obvious that his team and ours are going to be around each other a lot, so you can't spend all of it at each other's throats. That would be awkward for everyone."

Weiss had to concede the point. It was already awkward enough when she ran into two divorced millionaires at the same gala, She had seen such drama all the time in Atlas. She didn't want to add any more fuel to the fire by causing unnecessary drama. After all, the last few days had been filled with enough drama and she didn't want to contribute to it any further by igniting anything between her and Veridian.

"Maybe you don't need to apologize, but perhaps you and he could just promise to try and stay out of each other's way?" Yang offered a solution. There had been plenty of drama like that at Signal, and she had been in the center of it caught between friends and being the cause a few times.

Weiss thought it over for a moment. It was definitely preferable to put an end to the friction between her and Veridian, rather than let it continue to build and fester in their group. Just as she was about to make a decision, Ruby burst into the room, carrying at least a dozen books in her arms.

"Hey guys, I got all the OH!" Ruby jumped in excitement as she caught sight of Weiss. AndWeiss could sense that she was still a little frazzled from their earlier encounter. Blake and Yang could also feel the tension between the two, evident as if they had it painted on their foreheads

"Hey Weiss, I was just getting our books. We're going to need them for the homework that Professor Oobleck assigned us. As team leader, I really need to be prepared," Ruby began ranting quickly. But she stopped when Weiss interrupted her rambling.

"Look Ruby, I want to apologize."

Ruby's face was filled with confusion as she turned to her siter for gauindance . But she looked just as utterly lost, unsure of what would happen next.

"I realize that I was not able to keep my promise of being nicer for even a day. My temper got the better of me, and I let other things get on my nerves. This was wrong of me, and I am genuinely sorry for my behavior. I want to assure you that I am sincere in my apology, and I will make a conscious effort to do better in the future. " Weiss nodded her head softly as she apologized sincerely to her partner. Ruby put the books down on the desk and tugged at her skirt as she spoke.

"I'm Sorry too Weiss,I know that I havent been acting as the responsible leader that I should be. I've been acting like a kid and not a huntress. I promise to do better Weiss."

Weiss couldn't help but be impressed by Rubys words and she wasnt the only one both blake and yang gave soft smiles to the scene between the partners.

"Well...maybe it's alright to be a kid every once in a while," Weiss said with a small smile. "When I was a child, I always wanted bunk beds for me and my siblings."

Ruby's eyes widened in surprise and she couldn't contain her happiness. Yang couldn't help but think that Ruby looked like she had just won a cookie jackpot and now had a giant bag of chocolate chip soft cookies the size of Beacon.

"Now come on you three, we should get started on that homework," Weiss stated firmly, taking one of the books Ruby had brought for them. "Professor Oobleck doesn't seem like the kind to provide any sort of leniency on shoddy work." She was serious and determined, showing that she was ready to take charge and ensure that their homework was done correctly. Yang couldn't beleive this was the same girl who had declared not minutes ago for being a rebel.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Weiss couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment as they worked together as a team. This was a good step forward for them, and Weiss knew that with their determination and hard work, they would be able to succeed in all their future endeavors together.

--

As Sasha sat there, looking at her team leader, she could see the exhaustion in his eyes. It was clear that he was done talking about Weiss and their past for the moment. He was just sitting there, lost in thought, contemplating all the complicated feelings he had for her.

As Sasha stood up from her bed, she walked over to his and gently placed her robotic hand on his. At first, he was taken aback by the coldness of her touch, but he soon realized that it was also gentle. It reminded him of someone else he knew who also had a similar touch, someone who was more alike to Sasha than she knew.

"Feel better?" She asked and despite the coldness of her robotic hand, Sasha's touch brought a sense of comfort and understanding.

" A little ...yeah." A little shy smile crept onto her face as he nodded to her and cupped her hand. Despite the fact that she couldn't physically feel his touch, she could feel the warmth and sincerity in his emotions.

"You're welcome," she said before he could even say the words he had on his lips, and he smirked.

"Anyone ever find that annoying?" She felt her cheeks turn red with embarrassment, but he immediately pulled her into a hug, chuckling. "Don't stop being you,"

As the hug from her friend didn't help her blushing, she couldn't help but notice the change in her emotions. It wasn't out of embarrassment anymore, but instead, she could feel the happiness she caused him. It felt good to be able to see the positive impact she had on her leader.

"It feels good to get things off one's chest...Sasha."

"I know what you're gonna say... I don't know if I'm ready for that conversation." She couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes, instead choosing to focus on her clenched robotic hands. He could sense the sadness in her heart as it gave a deep thump in her mettallic chest. She continued, "But maybe we could get to know each other and Charlie and Ilene first too?"

Baby steps then. She obviously wasn't ready to discuss how she became the young woman she was.

"Okay... where are those two anyway?" he wondered out loud. She couldn't help but wonder as well, "How long could it take to get a couple of sodas?"

Veridian stood up from his bed and took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scents of his teammates lingering in the dorm.

"We better find them," he thought to himself, "I'm not doing their homework. Lets go find them and we can do that sharing time as we do this homework."

With determination, Veridian followed the scent out of his room and into the dorm commons, determined to find his teammates.

--

A few minutes before Verdo left the dorm, Charlie and Ilene continued to walk side by side trying to find someplace quiet to talk. Ilene's demeanor appeared to be that of a young woman leading a boy into a romantic rendezvous, but underneath the surface, both could feel the tension between them. As they approached the stairwell where she had pushed Charlie into, Ilene took a quick glance around and checked around with her hearing. She then turned to face the large boy who had been looking at her with those intense dark eyes.

""So... just to be clear... you know me?" She asked and his glare into her soul said that he was still irked by what she had said about his mother perhaps it had been a little tactless in her search for answers.

"Of course, I know you and that psycho mask wearing... woman," he said, hesitatingly refraining from using a more offensive term. It was clear that he had no love for Raven not like she did either even if she was the closest thing she had to a mother. "You guys came to us often for information."

"Well yeah, but we've never really talked before," she said, emphasizing the word "talked" with a slight sneer. "You always just stood silent by your mommy's side, never daring to speak to us. And we would only ever hear the stories of the cruelty of the spider fang from others."

She couldn't help but smirk with great zeal as she watched him grip the metal railing so hard it creaked. It was clear that her words were getting to him, and she reveled in it.

"And I know plenty about Raven Branwen to know that you have plenty of blood on your own hands," he spat back at her.

Ilene stared back at him, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and curiosity. She knew that this man, as the child of Mistrals top information broker, likely had an abundance of information on her. Memories flashed through her mind of the pudgy woman who ate ice cream in front of her while her men chopped off a man's finger for Raven's tip, all with a sickening smile on her face. Ilene couldn't help but wonder what secrets this man held about her, and the thought left her feeling vulnerable and exposed though she had no one to blame but herself for that.

Ilene's eyes narrowed as she locked gazes with Charlie in the dimly lit stairwell. Their intense stare down was filled with tension and neither of them were backing down.

"So... I know you, and you know me," she stated factually, tapping her finger on her crossed arms. And he nodded keeping his gaze locked on her.

"What of it?"

"...Nothing of it," she said, brushing away his confused look as she leaned against the wall. "Look, I got caught on a job and was almost sentenced to an Atlas prison. But then, I was given a a choice to be a huntress and serve the kingdoms all that jazz. This is my second chance, and I just wanted to be sure you weren't gonna out me."

"So what is this...I keep your secret, you keep mine?"

He questioned the blue-haired bandit in front of him. Ilene with her sly grin and mischievous eyes, simply nodded her head.

"Yeah, that sounds about right to me," she said with a casual shrug. He looked at her, his mind racing as he contemplated whether she was telling the truth or not. Being in the business of information, she may have been able to hear his racing heart with her partner's semblance. But he had enough experience to know when someone was lying to him. And when that happened, he had to hurt them. And sometimes, he had to hurt them even more when they finally told the truth. He wasn't one to be easily fooled, and he was willing to do whatever it took to get to the truth.

Looking at her, he couldn't tell if she was telling the truth. But what else could he do except go on faith that she was? It wasn't like he could beat it out of her without getting into trouble. This wasn't the spider's web, this was Beacon.

"Ugh fine." Shaking his head, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. "I should've known this kind of shit would happen to me," he mumbled, his voice laced with annoyance. He had been hoping to avoid any complications, but it seemed like his luck had run out and sooner than he thought it would.

"Though I thought it would've been the headmaster figuring out my transcripts were fake,"

"Oh? Why did he figure that out?"she asked and she saw those dark hazel eyes once again.

"I used the identity of a dead man as my tutor."

"What, did you kill him yourself?" she chuckled, but her laughter died in her throat when she saw him staring at her as if that were the case. "Really?"

An awkward silence enveloped them and dragged on for what seemed like an eternity as he glared at her. She could feel the weight of his unspoken truth pressing down on her, causing her to wince in discomfort as she cough awkwardly into her hand.

"And here I thought I'd like having someone like me in school."

"WE ARE NOT ALIKE!" He growled at her. She could feel her fear rising up again, like a beast ready to consume her. But she refused to back down and readied herself for a fight. Deep down, she knew that if it came down to it, she would have to use every trick in the book, even steal his own semblance, to have a chance at winning. Surprisingly, it seemed he had the same thought, as he kept his distance. But his shoulders sagged by his side and he let out a tense breath.

"I'm here to for...forge a different future for myself - one that isn't in my mother's gang, not because it was the better option, but because I didn't want to rot in an Atlas jail cell."

He looked away from her and crossed his arms, in what may have been the most confrontational way she had ever seen him. All day, he had given off a façade of a bumbling giant, who was just a bundle of nerves around pretty girls.

Now, he looked like a man who was tortured by his past. She had seen it many times in the tribe, in the faces of the elders who had survived to be that old. They looked mortified by what they had done over their long lives In this world, of the strong live and the weak die.

It made her feel a bit remorseful, knowing exactly what men like that had lived through. She could only imagine what a boy of seventeen had gone through to have that look upon his face.

"Well... Maybe I could've... Asked nicely about this," she said, running her hand through her pale blue hair, trying not to look at him. She was feeling a bit ashamed by her actions now... or rather awkward than ashamed.

"You know how to be nice?" He asked as though he couldn't believe she understood the concept of the word. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at his condescending tone.

"Hey look,... I get it. I outed you when you wanted to hide... But let me make it up to you." She offered and he raised a brow wondering what she could offer him in exchange for this awkward moment.

"Wanna make out again?" She asked bluntly. He couldn't help but guffaw at her unexpected offer nearly choking on his own spittle. And she let a small chortle escape her lips as she saw this giant of a man who had a fearsome reputation gawk at a girl offering to kiss him.

"Hehehehe, how is it that you could work for an underground gang, doing things that would make these kids cringe, and yet the idea of kissing me makes you..."

She moved with a confident and alluring sway in her hips that immediately caught the gaze of the giant. With a subtle smirk on her lips, she looked up at him through lidded eyes, conveying a sense of seduction. Placing one delicate hand on his massive chest, she leaned in closer to him, her voice taking on a teasing tone as she whispered, "Shudder...and make that heart of yours palpitate eagerly."

In that moment, Charlie's previous thoughts dissipated from his mind as he gazed into Ilenes's sparkling eyes and noticed the way her glistening lips curved into a pucker. As she leaned closer, he couldn't help but feel captivated by her presence. Her sudden gasp and laugh broke him out of his trance, and he looked at her as she backed away.

"You seemed really eager for that big guy?"

He stood there, dumbfounded he couldn't believe how naive he had been. His mothers gang was infamous for their seductive women getting in bed with others looking for information. And he should have known better than to fall for this Bandits tricks.

"Ugh, figures that my first kiss would cause me this much inner turmoil."

Ilene stopped laughing and looked at him.

"Oh, was that...oh?" She felt a little awkward now, knowing that she had taken something special. Or, she knew that normal people would feel that something like that was special - her first kiss. Well, she couldn't really remember it all that well, as she had been drunk. It wasn't like The tribe had an age limit on drinking.

But these people were soft. She couldn't believe this giant of a young man was such a giant butterball. And yet, just a minute ago, he looked ready to rip off her head. He was kind of a contradiction.

"Well, I mean, hey, it wasn't a bad kiss."

"Wasn't a good kiss." He rolled his eyes in disbelief, clearly dissatisfied with the experience. In response, she crossed her arms and strutted out her jaw. There was a flare in her hair, adding to the intensity of her glare.

"Well!" Ilene exclaimed She couldn't believe how offended she felt from what she had just heard that from this chubby dork who had never even kissed a girl before her.

"Not you!" he quickly amended, frantically waving his hands about as if it would somehow protect him from her wrath. "I meant me,...I just stood there like an idiot when Weiss and Yang came up."

She thought about his words for a moment she had to admit he hadn't responded well when she kissed him he kind of just stood there as she went to town on him. she just figured it was because he had been shocked but now realized it was shock and a lack of skill.

"Yeah, I guess it was kind of awkward when the abandoned daughter of the woman who raised me caught me making out in the halls."

Charlie's eyes widened in shock as he processed what he had just heard. He could guess the girl in front of him who he had met many times had been raised by bandits. But knowing that the one who did was the infamous Raven Branwen who apprently had abandoned her own child was surprising. He never even knew Raven had a child. And Ilene said that they had caught them making out in the halls. And since Weiss had been raised by her family. That left only one option.

"YANG?!" he practically screamed.

"You're sure?" He couldn't fathom the idea that Yang, a girl that was so bright, could be related to someone as dark and evil as Raven Branwen. However, Ilene's resolute nod and sheconfirmed her words.

"I've been around Raven since I was eight. She's alright, just bleach blonde. She's got a temper and everything."

Charlie could believe it.But what he couldn't believe was in just five short minutes, he had been given even more secrets to carry along with his own. He couldn't help but ponder if Sasha already knew about their secrets, thanks to her semblance to read minds, but if she did, she kept it to herself or she trusted him enough not to reveal them. Now, he was also a keeper of Yang's secret that she didn't even know about.

Ilene was right, that was an awkward thought. Speaking of awkwardness, that silence was back, leaving both Mistralians wondering, what now?

"Soooooo we good then? Do we both just keep each other's secrets and try to make this team work?" he asked his teammate, restating the offer she made before.

"Sounds good to me."She agreed with a smile, she extended her hand for him to shake. He reciprocated, his hand engulfing hers with his giant, meaty paw. However, he wasn't here to cause harm or instill fear. He was determined to make amends for the violent past he had left behind. Now, he had to trust a girl who had been raised by a ruthless bandit, in order to keep his secret but then she was placing her hand into a former gangster.

It wasn't ideal, but it was doable.

"Deal"

His words hung in the air as he tentatively agreed, thinking that this exchange was over. But just when he thought he was in the clear, she surprised him once again by jumping into his arms and kissing him with such force that he nearly lost his balance. His hands reached for something to grab onto, which happened to be her firm, tight buttocks. And so he stood there, dumbfounded once again, as she kissed him with experienced technique that he found himself following, briefly suckling her bottom lip.

When the door behind them suddenly opened, revealing their team leader, who screamed in shock at the sight before him and their fourth teammate hiding under her hat., Charlie looked at them both. When he realized what Ilene had done, he knew it was another fake out makeout because she had heard Verdo and Sasha coming towards the stairwell. Knowing that pretty much destroyed any joy he felt from that kiss.

...Okay, more like eighty percent of the joy.

"Dude didn't need to see that!" Verdo let out a discomforted sigh as he watched his teammates, caught in a passionate embrace in a dark stair well. He couldn't help but feel awkward and slightly disturbed by the scene. He watched Ilene leap from Charlies arms as she began to clean her appearance up and his partner just stood there awkwardly like a kid who got his hands caught in the cookie jar.

"Then, feel free to look away," she taunted her leader before asking, as she adjusted her hiked-up skirt, "Why are you here?"

"Just wondering why it was taking so long to get a couple of sodas. Now I know." He looked at his partner and gave him a wink, showing his support as a bro getting some action. Though Charlie didn't enjoy the support as much as Verdo would've liked as the boy's face lit up like a holiday tree.

"Also, we still have that homework from DOCTOR Oobleck, and I...Sasha and I thought it would be a good idea to take a moment and tell each other a little about ourselves tonight. You know get to know the team What do you guys think?"

Ilene and Charlie exchanged a knowing look they had already shared so much with each other, beyond just spit. And they both nodded in agreement to their leader's plan, they followed him through the stairwell they realized that they could stand to share a little more about themselves and learn about their teammates.

Sasha couldn't help but smile when her team agreed to have some team bonding . She was glad that they were willing to take the time to get to know each other better and strengthen their bond as a team. However, her happy thoughts were interrupted when Ilene passed by. The recent memories invaded Sasha's mind. As if sensing her thoughts, Ilene gave her a look that said nothing but "SHUSH".

The cyborg mimed zipping her lips shut and crossing her heart. She then hid herself under her sun hat and followed behind her partner as she skipped along.

Charlie saw the exchange and knew that the small cyborg probably knew what they both knew now, which meant that his own partner was the only one who still knew nothing about them or what was said...or did he? Would the stairwell be thick enough to hide their voices? Or was he just going to go along with what was happening?

"Are you guys a thing now or what?" Verdo asked curiously. Charlie blanched at the question, but luckily Ilene stepped in to answer for him.

"No," she said with a yawn. "Just having a little fun. We were both a little bored and just looking for a little excitement, right Charlie?"

"Uhhh, right," he agreed, unsure of what else to say. Of course, he knew that this was just a cover, but that didn't mean it was any less awkward.

"So don't worry about teenage drama," she assured her curious friend, addressing her as the team leader.

Verdo looked between Ilene and Charlie, trying to read their body language. Ilene was acting nonchalant as if nothing had happened, while Charlie appeared shy, which suited their personalities. However, there was something off about the situation. Turning to Sasha, he could see the awkwardness in her body language as well. He wondered if it was because she had caught them making out earlier. But before he could ask any of them, he noticed a scent coming from ahead. As they rounded the corner to the commons, he saw her. She was standing by the coffee maker, holding a tray with four steaming cups. And she was looking right at him.

'Why don't you just tell her that you still love her?'

Sasha's words kept ringing in his mind. He wondered if he could tell her, but how the hell could he even tell her after spending the majority of their time at Beacon terrorizing her? How could he look into those beautiful perriwinkle eyes and say-

"Hello," her greeting abruptly interrupted his thoughts, jolting him back to reality.

"Hey," he said stoically as he tried to push past her through the commons. He didn't want to deal with anyone, especially not her. But as he and his friends sauntered on, she suddenly stopped him with a light touch on his arm. The sensation of her touch sent shivers down his spine, as he couldn't help but be amazed at how soft her hands were. Despite trying to ignore her, her touch had a way of capturing his attention. He couldn't resist turning to face her, curious to see what she wanted.

"Veridian ...May I speak with you...privately?" She said her tone demanding yet pleading at the same time. Ilene and Charlie exchanged a knowing look, both eager to avoid any potential conflict between the two and quickly made their escape, pulling Sasha along with them. Leaving Verdo to face Weiss alone . The bunch of traitors.

Though he couldn't blame them this wasn't their problem. Yet he still felt betrayal.

"I suppose so." He turned around to face Weiss, and as he made eye contact with her, he noticed the apprehension in her stance as she set down the coffee mugs and prepared to speak by clicking her heels together like her public speakers had taught her. She seemed hesitant to speak, and he couldn't blame her. He himself could hardly find the words to say. The only sound breaking the heavy silence in the room was the faint drip of the coffee maker.

"Look"

"I want to"

They both stopped speaking at the same time.

"You first," he offered, and She took a deep breath, steeling her nerves before speaking.

"I want to apologize," she said, leaving him completely surprised. It was not something he had expected to hear from her, especially after all that had happened between them over the last few days . But her words were genuine, and he could see it in her eyes. She continued, "I have been looking into myself a lot lately and, well, I haven't been the best person to Ruby or to you."

As he looked at her, he could see the sincerity and truth in her expression. She had none of her usual tells - no scrunching toes, no cringing of the heart, no twitch of a scar - indicating that she was being completely truthful. And the least he could is give her the same.

"It wasn't like I made it easy...I tormented you on purpose...well, except for that landing on you at the welcoming ceremony. That was totally by accident, I swear." He held up two fingers in front of his chest.

"I'll choose to believe that," she replied snarkily, with that little smirk of hers.

"And I will choose to apologize for it all the same. I was being an ass to you without any good reason."

he said sincerely hping she beleived him.

"And I accept it. Perhaps for now, we should just give each other some space because it seems like our teams are going to become friends. So, you and I will be spending time together.Whether we enjoy it or not."

As he listened to her speak, he couldn't deny the truth. He could see it in the way JNPR interacted with his team and the rest of team RWBY - they were all becoming friends and seemed genuinely cool people. Ruby reminded him of his own little sisters, with her innocent and playful spirit. Blake, on the other hand, was more reserved and mysterious - a fellow faunus in hiding just like him. And then there was Yang, with her spunky and humorous personality, who had caught the eye of his partner.

"Even if our friend groups were different, we'd still be around each other since we're both in the same grade," he noted to her

"All the more reason to try and be civil with each other," she urged him, trying to put her business and diplomatic training to use in order to get him to see the truth in her words. And he had to admit, he didn't want to spend four years here bickering and arguing with her.

"You ...really hurt me once upon a time Weiss" he said crossing his arms and she looked remorseful as he stared at her. Making her squirm on the spot recalling the hurtful thngs said long ago.

"Veridian...I-"

"And I hurt you," he said with shame. ashe cast his eyes to the ground "You're right... it's the past, and we could be here forever trying to figure out where it started and who did what, but that's wasted time. I'm sorry, you're sorry, let's try to end it there."

Their apologies hung in the air for a moment before she let out a soft scoff.

"Hmm, always to the point, aren't you?" she said with a chuckle, shaking her head at his blunt attitude. Despite his lack of tact, she couldn't help but find his straightforwardness refreshing. He didn't care about being discreet, and she admired that about him it was better than all of the people used to kissing the ground she walked on.

"Honestly, I couldn't care less about being polite or cordial. That's just not my thing." He said when he flashed that fanged smile at her.

"Oh, I can recall a few moments when you were undeniably on your best behavior, just like a wealthy nobleman set on wooing me. I remember how you held my hand with such gentleness and charm. You acted with such grace and sophistication, almost as if you had a golden spoon lodged right up your fadish arse." She teased him recalling times at debutant balls they had spent dancing and acting like perfect little children .Where he ad to behave or else her father may have terimanted their relationship.

"Oh Weiss," he guffawed with a posh accent of Atlesian upper crust society. "I dare say, you have more vulgar language than those deplorable Faunus types. I may need to go have a whiskey in the drawing room before I head to the country club for a round of golf on the Atlas Greene. Hahaha!"

She couldn't help but stifle a giggle as she smirked at his foppish laugh. With its exaggerated upper-class tone and the way he exhaled it through his nose like a braying horse. It never failed to make her smile. That perfectly white smile the way her lips curved in a soft smile perfectly framed by her pristine white hair like flowing white silk.

He had a knack for knowing the perfect ways to bring a genuine smile to her face. Whenever she smiled, he couldn't help but stare at her, feeling a sense of warmth and happiness wash over him. He didn't even realize that they had been caught in a silent gaze until the sound of someone opening and closing their dorm room door broke the moment. They both couldn't help but laugh awkwardly at their unintentional staring.

"Ahem, I think I better go. My team wants to get to know each other tonight, you know, for bonding," he said, scratching his badger ear.

"Yes, I better get this coffee to my team. We have a lot of work ahead of us."

She said grabbing her try of coffee for her and her team making sure to grab the suagr entire sugar dispenser like Ruby had requested. They walked towards their rooms side by side, Verdo couldn't help but admire her. Her presence had always brought a sense of comfort and happiness to him. Verdo could sense that she was content and happy with their decision to be more accomodating to the other. They finally arrived at the first year hall where their rooms resided. Weiss reached her room first and opened the door with her scroll before turning back to him with a friendly smile.

"I... am glad we could talk like this again," she said, looking at him with those soft, beautiful blue eyes that always had a way of making his heart skip a beat. It reminded him of how easy it was to talk to her. There was a warmth and comfort in their conversations, and he couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with her. As he gazed back into her with his dark green Emerald eye's, he knew that this conversation was exactly what he needed.

'Come on, just tell her. Say something, say anything.'

"...Good night Weiss ." He said with a thankful nod, He wanted to express his true feelings, to scream out 'I STILL LOVE YOU' to her, but he knew it wasn't the right time or place. Instead he walked away trying to ignore the persistent thoughts in his mind. So he left her standing in the doorway of her dorm. And when he got to his door and put his hand upon the handle to go in he heard.

"Goodnight" in a tone so low, it was almost inaudible. But she knew that he, and only he, would hear it. Just like they used to say goodbye when they were together. The familiarity of this simple gesture made him turn around quickly, barely missing the smile on her lips as she made her way back to her dorm.

That goodbye brought a big smile to his lips as he went into his dorm with hope that this year at beacon would be a good one.

--

I know from the title i made it sound like i was going to delve deeper into the back stories but i kinda let them get away from me and got lost in delving deeper into weiss and veridians history instead of letting the team getting to know each other im hoping to amend that in the next chapter and i will add more of rwby and jnpr along the way in fact next chapter will begin a little of jaundice. so hopefully focusing on them will make me divulge more of them.

(please give me some reveiws i NEED TO KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT MY STORY.)