Chapter 30
Wait," Nora said, squinting. She placed her index on her chin. "You're together-together?"
Nex shrugged, staring at the stage below. His partner did the same, probably trying her best to tune out the overactive bard. And definitely failing, judging from the twitching of her eyebrows.
"For the forty-seventh time this Wednesday, Nora," Nex said, killing the sigh in his chest. Fuck. "Yes. Weiss and I are together-together."
Ren sighed, shaking his head as he dragged a squirming bard away.
The AX and the BR of their little clique were off playing some video games or doing who knows what else. Well, probably reading a book in the ghost-ninja's case, while the silver-eyed girl tinkered with Crescent Rose or messed around with her semblance. The two pairs had combat class in the afternoon while they had it in the morning. Their teacher would be swamped if she did not divide their batch into two.
Beacon's combat classroom was a far cry from the one in Atlas Primary. For one it, was a stage instead of a field of grass. Second, the hard light barriers were fences instead. The tangible blue light stopped the peanut gallery from falling onto the stage. Third, there was no sound dampening of any sort.
Apparently, Professor Goodwitch was the type of teacher to be a little more hands-on with her craft.
The woman paced around the stage, her green eyes picking out someone.
Someone beside him.
Huh.
Nex blinked, rubbing his eyes just to be sure. But their teacher's eyes were definitely staring right into his.
"Mr Shade, you wouldn't be opposed to participating in today's first spar, would you?" Professor Goodwitch said, pointing her riding crop at him. "You've been very docile since the start of the semester. I don't think you've even participated in a single spar."
Admittedly, that was true. There was little point in fighting for what amounted to glorified exhibition matches.
But Professor Goodwitch would probably not take no for an answer.
"Nope," Nex said, gripping his weapon. The hilt bit into his left palm. "I'm okay with a spar."
Professor Goodwitch glanced at another student in the loose crowd. "Very well then. Mr Winchester will be your opponent. Combatants, step forward when you're ready."
That sweetened the deal a lot.
Nex smirked, laying his other hand on his partner's hip. "Ready to see Dumbchester stuck in a bed? Maybe stuck with a catheter?"
Weiss shot him a sideways glance, mirroring his smirk. "Don't overdo it. This is still a sanctioned match. However, if you just so happen to accidentally rough him up a little..."
"I'm sure no one will blame me," Nex said, heaving a sigh. It was such a shame. Such a fucking shame. "I can't be expected to hold back, right?"
Weiss pushed him towards the stage. Her smirk seemed to grow, stretching up the corners of her eyes.
Nex descended the flight of stairs, fingering the pommel of Hrunting and Vigilance. There was no need to use it in its complete form.
But it was there.
So very there.
Topped only by the particular brand of coffee they shared before curfew. And probably the one under the blanket after they woke up, making sure their teammates did not hear-
Nex shook his head, standing across Dumbchester. He really had to stop thinking about her for now, despite the fact that she was probably also thinking about him.
"You scared, pet?" Dumbchester said, smirking as he hefted an oversized mace over his shoulder. It was probably compensating for something he lacked. And Pareidolia confirmed it definitely was. "Your mistress can't protect you now."
It could not be possible. But it apparently was.
Cardin Dumbchester thought he needed Weiss Schnee to protect him. What Cardin Dumbchester failed to realize was he needed Nexus Shade to protect him from Weiss Schnee.
She was definitely scarier than him when angered, her temper running hot and burning out quickly. His temper ran cold, lasting for years on end. Colder than even ice. Anger froze his veins while he plotted out the most insidious ways to lash out at those who earned his ire.
Case in point—he who shall not be named.
But still, there really was no point in thinking about his father.
Nex shrugged, drawing his weapon with his left hand. No point in dividing it. "I happen to be more merciful than Weiss. I'll try my best to be gentle with you, Dumbchester."
"If you're done," Professor Goodwitch said, crossing her arms as she stood on the sidelines. "As a reminder, this class abides by the standard tournament rules. The combatant whose aura hits the red first is out of the match."
Her green eyes lingered on him.
Nex shrugged. What did he do this time?
Professor Goodwitch turned her head, her eyes zooming towards Dumbchester. "If you're ready, you may begin."
Nex squeezed.
Unseen gears clicked, his weapon shivering.
Anticipating the fight.
The barrels pressed into the sheathe, fusing the sword and its scabbard—the sleek cannons stark over the scabbard's flat as they protruded from the cross-guard. Vigilance slid up Hrunting's guard, rendering the two inseparable. The scabbard's golden rim crunched, narrowing into the sharps of a double-edged sword.
Nex released the trigger. His index brushed the rest.
No.
No.
The dust Vigilance funnelled into Hrunting should be enough—anything more was overkill. Pulling that out was overkill.
No need to bring down the roof on their heads, after all.
Hrunting and Vigilance in its cannon-sword form could do the job. More than do it, even, judging from how Dumbchester performed in his previous matches.
But, well—
Pareidolia flared.
Dumbchester sprinted across the stage, positioning his mace under his elbow for an upward stroke.
The idiot stilled. Grey wine lapped against the walls of a half-full glass.
Slow. Awfully slow. Slower than even Nora on her worst day.
The world blurred. Grainy like in those black and white documentaries. Lines of data raced through his brain. Calculating exactly where the idiot would strike. And what could happen next.
Openings. Hundreds of them.
The idiot's entire body was a giant tumour of flaws and amateur mistakes—ripe for Pareidolia to pick apart.
Ripe for Hrunting and Vigilance to deconstruct.
Nex stepped to the side, letting the mace brush his elbow. He spun with the motion. His hips twisted, his weapon whistling towards Dumbchester's exposed side.
Gold met grey.
Steel skittered over steel.
His finger twitched.
The cannons roared, spitting a bolt of thunder straight into the idiot's metal hide.
Dumbchester soared, flailing as he farted out a trail of sparks. His limbs convulsed as smoke rose through the joints of his armour.
The idiot crashed into the floor, screaming as he threw away his mace and pawed at his breastplate.
Well, there was a reason why huntsmen and huntresses refrained from wearing full armour. In a world where lightning dust existed, the risk of being roasted alive was too great.
But apparently, for idiots like Cardin Dumbchester, the risk did not exist at all.
Pity.
He should have used ice instead. Turn the idiot into a living popsicle or something. The cold would seep through his armour, numbing his insides while his aura dripped down the drain.
The match would have been longer and more agonizing. But now, there really was no point in extending their friendly spar.
Nex placed his boot on Dumbchester's chest, pushing down with all his weight. He donned a saintly smile, levelling Hrunting and Vigilance at the downed idiot's mug. His weapon's golden tip poked Dumbchester's nose. Angry, red lines were seared into the pale flesh of his neck—the results of a science experiment gone right.
Their eyes met.
The idiot's eyes trembled.
"Hurry. Dumbchester. Forfeit," Nex said, his saintly smile turning into a saintly smirk. A wicked canine brushed the edge of his lips. "I'd hate to turn that ugly mug of yours into barbecue."
Where hate was equivalent to something else, admittedly. But they did not need to know that.
Professor Goodwitch coughed. "This spar is over. Cardin Winchester is immobilized and his aura is in the red. The match goes to Nexus Shade."
Nex sighed, stepping off his prey. "Pheh. Way to ruin my fun."
"Whohoooo!"
Nora the Bard sang from the peanut gallery.
"Down with Cardin! Down with the bullies!"
The entire class chortled, only to flinch when Professor Goodwitch cleared her throat and crossed her arms.
Nex returned Hrunting and Vigilance to his belt.
The unseen gears clicked, ejecting the scabbard from the sword's grip.
Hrunting's barrels loosened, protruding out of Vigilance. The razor-sharp rim whirred, shrinking back into the sheathe.
It was back to looking like a shotgun sword inside its scabbard, Hrunting's sleek barrels running over Vigilance—down to an eighth of its length.
Definitely nothing fishy there.
Maybe ice dust would have been better. Oh well, oh well. Next time then.
"Mr Winchester, you should reconsider your choice of apparel," Professor Goodwitch said, stepping between them. "Wearing full armour in a fight against a dust mage is a risky proposition, even if it is effective against the Grimm."
Dumbchester nodded, hobbling to his feet.
The idiot glared at him, holding a hand to his side. As if it was his fault he exploited his blatant weakness. It was nothing personal. Certainly nothing personal about ending their spar with one humiliating strike.
"Mr Shade, you should participate more in class so I can form a proper assessment of your abilities," Professor Goodwitch said, shooting him a pointed look. Hardly unexpected, considering he did it again. Winning spars with one hit and all. Old habits died hard. "Your records say that you graduated as the best combatant of your batch from Atlas Primary."
Right. But it hardly mattered. There really was no point in arbitrary rankings and power levels. Anyone could die if they were stabbed or shot in the back, after all.
Professor Goodwitch crossed her arms, her eyes darting to his weapon. "But your official transcripts reveal surprisingly little about your abilities. Not even your semblance or a list of your weapon's derived forms. Why is that?"
Nex shrugged. There was no way to answer that without hurting Dumbchester's tender feelings—the idiot now glaring at him as if he just killed his dog.
"I never used my weapon's other forms in Atlas Primary," Nex said. Technically the truth—his weapon being Hrunting and Vigilance. Not either of them alone. Well, his longsword, spear, dagger, shotgun, and shield were more like his half-weapons. "And my semblance is a little subtler than most. You could say it skews the odds to my favour."
Nothing but the truth. Not as if he could simply blurt out an explanation about Pareidolia and Hrunting and Vigilance right in front of the class. That would have been stupid—something that only happened in Ruby's comic books.
"I see," Professor Goodwitch said with a curt nod, a smile curling her lips. She seemed amused by something. Well, good for her. "Then I'll update your records to account for whatever you display in my class. You may return to the stands."
Professor Goodwitch glanced at Dumbchester. "And you, Mr Winchester. You'll proceed to the infirmary for treatment. I do hope you've learned your lesson."
Nex grinned, running a finger across his neck. Dumbchester growled, red-faced as he limped off the stage. He picked up the mace and dragged the overcompensating weapon along the floor.
Nex clambered up the stands, stopping right beside his partner.
"That was satisfying," Nex said, breathing a sigh. "You think I should have used ice instead?"
Weiss smirked. "I think I'll be taking that one myself."
Terrifying.
And it was exactly why Dumbchester needed him for protection. There was absolutely no way the idiot would have escaped with only a few burns if Weiss had been chosen as his opponent.
Dumbchester would have gone down with at least a concussion. Maybe even a stiff arm from being frozen solid, or a few puncture wounds from her rapier.
Myrtenaster was designed to pierce through vulnerable joints.
"Miss Schnee, you'll be participating in today's second match," Professor Goodwitch said, glancing at his partner. "I trust you have no objections?"
Weiss nodded, placing her left hand on Myrtenaster. "No, Professor Goodwitch. I'm ready to participate."
And she was back to being formal.
"Very well then. Your opponent will be Miss Nikos," Professor Goodwitch said. "Both of you, step forward when you're ready."
And she was back to being stiff.
"What's wrong?" Nex said, tapping her shoulder. "It's just a spar, right?"
Weiss frowned, tightening her grip on Myrtenaster's hilt. "Nikos is the famed Invincible Girl. She's the four-time champion of the Mistral regional tournament. I can't possibly win against her."
Why did it even matter?
Oh.
Oh well, oh well.
She probably saw Nikos as an insurmountable obstacle. But then again, there was that saying about an unstoppable force.
"You haven't even tried yet," Nex said, smiling. He nudged her hip. "Don't start a fight with the intent to lose."
If she fought thinking she was going to lose, then it would cripple her performance. Mindset was half the battle. Tactics and application were the other half.
Weis shook her head. "I won't. I'd hate to disappoint my partner."
"Good," Nex said, nudging her towards the stage. "I'd hate to watch my partner lose."
Weiss nodded, loping down the stairs—a woman on a mission, rapier at the ready. She arrived at the same time as the redhead—the redhead who was always the missing P in Team PWDS.
Cardin Dumbchester's team.
He had no bone to pick with her.
But still, why exactly did she not hang around her team, especially since she was the leader?
In fact, it almost seemed like Dumbchester was the leader of Team PWDS instead of her.
Pyrrha Nikos stared down Weiss Schnee.
The green-eyed redhead held a round shield and a shortsword.
Weiss brandished her rapier, raising it into a salute.
Nikos smiled, bowing as she mirrored his partner's gesture, her sword over her face.
"May we have a fair and honourable match, Weiss Schnee," Nikos said, her face awfully flat. Sounding flat as well.
The back of his partner's head bobbed as she nodded, her ponytail right beside his hood.
"And to you as well, Pyrrha Nikos," Weiss said.
Ugh.
There was no honour on the battlefield. His match with Dumbchester proved that.
There was only the sword.
The sword, the hunt, and victory.
Or death should he fall.
"If you're ready," Professor Goodwitch said, crossing her arms on the sidelines. "You may begin."
Pareidolia engaged, turning its lens on the redhead.
Analysis of her weapons revealed her sword transformed into a rifle and a javelin. She had pretty good range, almost equivalent to his own, if not for the fact that Hrunting and Vigilance boasted more versatile forms than her weapons.
Her shield was sleek and round. Aerodynamic. Lending itself well to being hurled like a frisbee. Nothing about it suggested similar gimmicks to Vigilance. It was probably just an ordinary shield.
Well, shit.
Weiss was going to lose the match.
Pyrrha Nikos was the worst opponent for her. Next to him, Yang, or even Nora.
The redhead's muscular shoulders implied an aptitude for rigorous, physical combat. Her body language screamed experience. It was in the way she angled her feet to account for his partner's fencing stance. The way she held her weapons to compensate for their difference in height.
Her sword and shield would trounce his partner's rapier if she could close the gap. She probably could, considering her supposed fame as the Invincible Girl—as dumb and pretentious as that title was.
No one was really invincible, after all.
Anyone could fall if a poisoned dagger slipped through their ribs.
But still, he could be wrong.
And well, he often was.
To her credit, Weiss stepped back and swished Myrtenaster. Spears of ice rained from above.
Nikos rolled away, lunging into a mad sprint towards Weiss.
The redhead got the right idea. Closing the gap was her win condition. Whittling down Nikos with ranged attacks would allow Weiss to win the spar. He would have definitely done the same. Or perhaps he would have simply forfeited.
There really was certainly no point in beating up his partner and his girlfriend. Not even if it won him a match.
Whips of fire lashed at the redhead.
Nikos tucked her body, spinning over the flame. In the same motion, she hurled her shield at Weiss.
Pareidolia confirmed it was aimed at Myrtenaster. Smart. Take out her supply of dust and her glyphs would be next to useless.
The shield crashed into a blue glyph, screeching as it bounced off. It spun—a bronze blur embedding itself into the ceiling. It was a near-fatal counter—the flaw in Nikos' attack.
Weiss' play just shifted the battle. A rapier would do much better against a sword without its shield.
By then, he would have crushed Nikos in melee, overwhelming her lone sword with Hrunting and Vigilance. No need for its complete form, even.
But Weiss had Myrtenaster instead and none of his obsessive training.
Hopefully, she thought the same.
Nex groaned, his left hand slapping his cheek.
Pareidolia mewled, shrinking back into its cave. Contemplating the meaning of existence or something.
Fuck.
If only it were so.
Weiss lunged at Nikos, a white glyph spinning on her boots.
The redhead parried the telegraphed thrust, lashing out with a high kick. Her metal boot smashed into the side of his partner's face—the one with the scar.
Nex fingered Hrunting and Vigilance, running his index over the rough hilt. Stopping right over that trigger.
Was it too late to volunteer for another round?
Beacon could probably rebuild a classroom.
Right?
The bar under his partner's mug went from green to yellow.
Being squishy had its cons.
Weiss flinched.
Nikos rammed into her chest.
The two women fell, entangled on the floor. Metal screeched, flattening his extra pair of ears.
Her shield fell.
The redhead caught it with her left hand and placed its rim on his partner's neck.
Odd.
The shield should not have fallen that quickly. There was something strange about it. A variable Pareidolia failed to account for.
But that was neither here nor there. Right now, his partner was going to have an ugly bruise on her face.
Nex drew a long, deep breath. Vigilance had some ice dust left—the last of its dwindling supply. His partner could still get away without feeling the brunt of it.
"This spar is over," Professor Goodwitch said, waving her hand. "Weiss Schnee is incapacitated. The match goes to Pyrrha Nikos."
Nikos clambered off Weiss, holding out her hand.
Weiss took it with a smile. She patted away the creases from her coat. His hood hung from her back, fluttering as she swayed on her feet. She fastened Myrtenaster to her hip, even as she shook her head.
"Miss Nikos, your grasp of the battlefield is admirable," Professor Goodwitch said. "But throwing away your shield was a risky wager. Try to avoid doing something similar in the future."
Nikos nodded, placing her weapons on her back. She pursed her lips.
Professor Goodwitch turned to his partner. "Miss Schnee, you approached the battle from ranged, and you could have won because of it. You should learn to assess which openings to exploit and which to ignore."
Their teacher got that right.
He would have repulsed Nikos with a burst of gravity, then hobbled her with hard light and thunder—an elemental blitz. In theory, at least. Or even fire, thunder, and ice, like in his match against one Ruby Rose.
But then again, there really was no point crying over spilt milk.
The two exchanged hushed words before they returned to the stands. Probably just formalities or something.
"Come here," Nex said, gesturing at his partner. "I don't want that bruise on your face."
Weiss smirked, her left cheek bearing the start of an ugly purple. "Oh, very well, partner. If it troubles you that much."
Nex touched his scabbard, drawing on nature's wrath. He cupped her left cheek.
Weiss sighed, closing her eyes as she leaned into his palm.
His hand glowed pale blue, the purple starting to recede, giving way to pink-tinged pale. It was definitely healthy enough. Her aura would take care of the rest.
Nex removed his hand, smiling at her scar. "There. How does it feel?"
"Better," Weiss said, breathing a sigh of relief. Her eyes snapped open. "You're not worried?"
Nex shrugged. "Do they worry you?"
There was already a we in the equation, after all.
Weiss grinned, shaking her head. "Not anymore. I think you're a bad influence on me, Mr Shade."
Bad and good were relative. But just this once, she would have her victory.
"Yep. I think I am, Miss Schnee," Nex said, glancing at the door. "Want to skip the rest? Find a tree somewhere? Maybe get a cup of coffee?"
Weiss scowled, fixing him a heated glare. A glare like a few nights ago—splashing fire over his traitorous stomach. "You haven't influenced me that much. Not yet, anyway."
Nex grinned.
She smiled, her hand slipping into his.
It was worth a try.
Chapter 31
Forever Fall.
Or at least, in theory.
More like Forever Fail.
Jaune Arc heaved and wrapped his arms around his stomach. A volley of forbidden projectiles spewed from his mouth, tracing an arc towards the forest floor. The one covered by a mat of spiky, red grass. Trails of pinkish sap dripped from the edges of his lips, dotted with specks of brown, grainy cereals, and who knows what else.
Nex patted Vomit Boy's back, cursing as his black boots failed to dodge the multi-coloured projectiles. More casualties on Vomit Boy's fearsome path of destruction.
Screw Yang.
Screw Yang and Nora.
The boisterous duo were off tapping the thick bark of the trees, as they were all tasked to—their final output for the first semester.
Ren paced around the clearing, supervising while their leader was off on another one of his Vomit Boy adventures.
Team SSBR minus him gathered their sap together with the remains of Team AXRN.
Their leader was dying.
Pareidolia could tell.
There was no way this amount of vomit could be caused by just a simple allergy—an adverse reaction to the sweet, cloying sap housed by the overgrown trees of Forever Fail. A delicacy, if the masses were to be believed, which Beacon Academy sold to the highest bidder—a supplement to its yearly budget according to Professor Peach.
"Nex," Ren said, his eyes fixed on his team's dying leader. "I have some medicine."
Nex shrugged, rubbing his fellow team leader's back. "If you can get it in his stomach, then by all means."
Ren frowned. "That would be difficult."
"No, I'm fine, really," Jaune said, smiling. He bent down and drew deep breaths, his hands pressing over his knees. "I think I'm—"
Nex sighed, lifting his sticky, red-stained boot out of the way. The rancid-red ichor splashed over an indent in the mud. His nose wrinkled.
Fuck.
Was it too much lien to buy a new pair of boots?
"Yep. You're totally fine," Nex said, rolling his eyes. "Want to take my place?"
Ren nodded as he dragged the retching blonde away. "Jaune's our leader. You have your own team to take care of."
It just so happened that the statement was true. And it was definitely not just a poor excuse.
Nex thanked the green-clothed ninja, shrinking away from the battle that raged behind. He was performing a tactical retreat for the sake of his premium Atlesian leather boots—an old birthday gift from Roman and Neo.
But still, poor Ren.
First, paired up with Nora. Second, stuck with Vomit Boy in Forever Fail. And who knows what else in the far future. Not even Pareidolia could extrapolate the extent of the stoic man's misfortune.
"Is Jaune okay?" Yang said as he stopped beside her, her hands twisting a drill into the bark. "Pinky swear. Nora and I didn't know."
"I think he's dying," Nex said, breathing a sigh. It was such a shame, too. Vomit Boy was shaping up in the art of sword and board. "A flying shame that one."
Yang chuckled, shaking her head. "That's not funny, Nex. You can see the future. You could be telling the truth."
Ugh.
Weiss should not have told them he could see the future.
For one, it was only a half-truth. Second, it was an awful oversimplification of Pareidolia. It did not give him prophecies or visions like what the seers saw in the fairy tales. It only allowed him to extrapolate events from data. Any analyst worth their lien could do what he did. His semblance just did it much more efficiently, and in a much shorter time when fed enough aura.
"I've already told you. That's a misunderstanding," Nex said, licking his dry lips. Did his partner bring some drinks in her pack? "My semblance predicts things. It doesn't give me visions or prophecies."
Still an oversimplification, but it was somehow more accurate.
Yang nodded, catching the droplets of pink sap with a jar. "So that's how you totally wrecked me. You saw all my punches coming."
"Yep. To be fair, I had you at a disadvantage," Nex said, shrugging. Nothing but the truth. "I had two swords to keep you away. And you're taller than me."
Being taller meant she had to hit a smaller target. Difficult, considering her smaller target planned to dodge all of her attacks. Neo-style, even. Just one step away from her particular brand of parasol-fu.
"Size is a liability, huh?" Yang said, quirking an eyebrow. She grinned. "But it's still shady you told me that in a bar, short-stuff."
Nex fixed her a deadpan stare. "Har-har. Just so you know, I'm not laughing because of you. I'm laughing at you."
Yang frowned, sealing her filled jar. The pink sap stuck to the glass like peanut butter. "I don't think I've ever heard you laugh, Broody Face. Never expected you to see the humour in my awesome jokes."
Come to think of it, she was right.
Laughter seldom came.
He chuckled, sure. Or maybe giggled. But never full-blown laughter—the kind that once left his chest weightless, like a feather drifting through the skies. Maybe he still needed to relearn how. Baby steps. Change did not come so easily. Certainly not when it was changing something he had since he was eight.
"You're right," Nex said, managing a smile. A smile like ash on his lips. "I've forgotten how to laugh."
Yang raised an eyebrow, smirking as she grabbed another empty jar. "And the edge lord is back. With lines like that, no wonder Weiss-queen's head over heels for you."
Said Weiss-queen was working with Ruby Rose at the other end of the wide clearing, sharing the same batch of trees.
Weiss was gathering his sap for him—the perks of being her boyfriend, her team leader, and Jaune's impromptu nursemaid. In that order, of course.
Blake sat under a nice tree, a filled jar and an open book sitting on her lap.
Nora was further away in the next clearing, holding an entire batch of trees hostage for her own consumption.
Poor Ren.
Oh, the poor, poor Ren.
The sap would turn the overactive bard into a force of nature—something the AX of their team would avoid by hanging out somewhere else. And more often than not, it was in his team's dorm playing with Ruby's fancy console, while he and Weiss pulled out their shared playlist. An amalgamation of his bangers, her classics, and some of her songs—mostly classical ballads.
"I say other things when we're alone," Nex said, brushing back his fringe. Cold sweat clung to his fingers, his waves hugging his neck. "But I don't think we're together-together because of that. I'm not very good with words."
His actions spoke louder than his awkward, stilted words or thoughts ever could—case in point.
Yang smirked, drilling into another tree. "I'll bet. You'd be surprised that the ice queen and the edge lord are mushy mush when they're together. How'd it happen?"
Nex quirked an eyebrow. "What what happened?"
"Oh, you know," Yang said, filling a second jar with sap. "Together-together? The whole shebang?"
"It just happened, I guess," Nex said, nodding to himself. "Why do you ask?"
Well, it did not just happen. But those events were practically ancient history. It would take an awful long time to explain.
"Nothing," Yang said, her second jar half-full. "Say, tell me about your family."
An odd switch of topic.
But still, there was nothing wrong with reciting what he always told people. Not as if he was keeping that part of his past a big secret. There were more immediate skeletons to hide. Skeletons to kill with a hatchet and bury with a shovel. Preferably forever and without any of his friends knowing.
"My mom was Amariss Shade, a huntress and graduate from Beacon," Nex said, humming as the blonde drilled another hole into the bark. "She died when I was seven or so. But I never knew my father, so I can't really tell you about him."
Yang smiled, more of the sap trickling into her second jar. It was probably her partner's. "You sure about that?"
Nex shrugged. Relatively. "Yep. Pretty sure about it."
"Heh. Guess I have to keep asking," Yang said, her smile slanting into a smirk. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh, cousin?"
Nex flinched. The blonde was definitely sharper than she seemed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
But still.
Why was she even asking?
His father made a choice.
The huntsman chose to walk out of his life. Spewing some bullshit about how he was smart enough to put on a fucking condom.
And at the end of the day—far be it from him to stop the man. Certainly not when he was unwanted. An unwanted son. The unlucky sperm that just so happened to win the demented race for his mother's egg.
A bastard son, even.
Well, nothing new there. He could live with it. Being the unwanted student at the corner of a classroom. A burden. The lone wolf. Dirty laundry no one wanted to air. It was practically the story of his entire life.
But there really was no point in thinking about any of it. And there was nothing left to do but to close his eyes and hope for a better future.
Screw all the fathers in the world, wherever his father was. Probably flying away and getting drunk in a bar somewhere.
Good for him then.
Maybe he could actually put on a condom while he was doing stuff to a serving girl.
Spare another forlorn son his existence.
And spare the world another mistake.
Yang sighed, placing the now-filled jar on the grass. Right beside hers. "Don't? Or won't?"
Fuck it.
Nex groaned, thorns stabbing his temple. "Look, Qrow Branwen made his choice."
And it was a choice both of them would have to live with.
Well, it was just how the world worked. People screwed over each other all the time.
"He walked out of your life, right?" Yang said, waving her right hand. "It's a twin thing, apparently. The whole walking away from their kid routine."
It did not take a genius to know what she was talking about.
One did not simply ask a stranger in a bar about some random woman—a woman who might as well have been a clone of Qrow.
"What's her name?" Nex said, crossing his arms. "Your mom's the one in the picture, right?"
Yang nodded. "Raven Branwen. Good thing we're not birds, huh?"
Gods forbid. It would have been probably Robin Shade or something. Or Peacock Shade.
Curse his brain.
Nex chuckled. "Don't tell anyone. Or Ruby."
No need to bring up the past.
"Already knows," Yang said. She huffed, shaking her head. "No one's as dense as you, edge lord."
Ugh.
But then again, he was probably the last one to know. Jacques definitely knew. And Mekel. Hell, even Weiss probably knew.
"Have you talked to him?" Yang said, her lips a flat line. "Talked to Drunkle Qrow about your, you know..."
There was no point. Not even in kicking him in the balls. Qrow Branwen would probably just drink it away. That was, if it even made a dent in his aura.
"Nope. He made his choice," Nex said, cracking his neck. "I've got my own life to live."
Yang sighed, her shoulders sagging. "I dunno. My mom never came back. Your dad did."
Yep. His father came back to drink. And to give him some advice and a birthday gift. It was painfully obvious why the huntsman did so. Textbook politics. Bribery, even. As if some words and a fancy bracer made up for ten years of his life. And taking his mother to die for the greater good.
"Whatever reasons he has for coming back," Nex said, his jaw clenching. "It's not for me. Hell, he doesn't even have the balls to be straight."
No balls to tell him about his lineage. No balls to tell him how exactly his mother died. And certainly no balls to stop drinking the rain clouds away.
And if not for that mirror, then he would probably have never known. His father certainly had no plans to tell him. Too drunk. Definitely too drunk to even notice that he, well, noticed.
Yang frowned, her foot tapping the dirt. "He's not that bad of an uncle. Minus the shaving and the drinking part."
Come to think of it, he could look almost exactly like his father if he cut his hair and wore some contacts. And foregone basic hygiene like shaving. Nope. Not going to happen.
Weiss would probably stuff him with soap if he tried.
"He's a crappy father then," Nex said, rolling his eyes. "But good for him."
Yang scowled, her boot tapping a jar. "Look, you should—"
"Weiss! Watch out!"
Pareidolia screamed.
Ruby Rose.
Nex spun. He gripped Hrunting and Vigilance.
Ember Celica clicked.
A jar of pink flew out of the bushes, colliding with a blur of red.
Ruby Rose blinked, pink sap and shards of glass splattered all over her gothic dress. She stood petrified in front of his partner, her eyes wide as dinner plates.
The sap would have been all over Weiss if Ruby had not shielded her from the jar.
The only question was who had the balls to throw sap at any of them.
"What. The. Hell," Yang said, marching towards the duo. Her irises bled into crimson. "I'm going to send whoever threw that sap to the hospital."
"Leave some for me," Nex said, matching her pace. Grass crunched under his boots. "I'll send their remains to the morgue."
His wolf ears strained.
Thumps in the shadows. Heartbeats. Three of them.
Along with a familiar buzzing—insects that populated the forests of Mistral.
Insects that should not have been anywhere near Vale at all.
"Rapier wasps," Nex said, breaking into a dash. Too far away. He would not make it. Curse his inattention. And maybe his height. "Get away from the trees!"
Weiss grabbed Ruby's stiff arm and dragged her away from the treeline, jogging as fast as her legs could take her.
Blake closed her book. She sprung to her feet, leaping away with four jars cradled to her chest.
Black dots lanced through the bushes, flying too fast and too small for even Pareidolia to track.
They converged on one person.
And one person alone.
Ruby Rose flinched and pushed Weiss Schnee with her hands, shoving her a few feet away. The swarm buzzed around the silver-eyed girl, even as she tried to slap them out of the air. She fell, tumbling over the grass.
Insects and grass crunched under her flailing body.
But her assailants were too small. Too many for the girl in the red cloak to handle alone. Definitely too panicked and too taken by surprise to even think about using her semblance.
Weiss fumbled with Myrtenaster. A gout of flames wrapped around the swarm. Their husks fell towards the earth, crackling into embers. Like barbeque, even. If barbeque was made of insects instead of meat.
"Are you okay?" Weiss said, kneeling beside the downed girl.
Her fist tightened around Myrtenaster's hilt.
Ruby coughed, breaking into a grin as the ghost-ninja knelt beside his partner. "I'm okay. It just stings."
Ruby Rose was not okay. Her face was swollen pink, dotted with angry, red spots. Puncture-shaped holes littered her dress along with crystalline-white shards. And it was almost as if she just went through another round against his spear and shield.
Fuck. It was probably his fault.
He was their team leader, after all.
And he was distracted on such a routine mission.
Nex glared at the crimson trees. The heartbeats were fading. Trying to get away from the scene of their crime.
"Yang," Nex muttered, his calves tensing. "Whoever threw that sap's still around. I can hear them."
Yang growled, tearing her eyes away from her little sister. "We have to catch them."
The blonde sprinted into the red trees, her mane whipping against the sudden wind.
Nex glanced at his teammates. "Stay here. Wait for the others. We shouldn't get separated in Grimm territory."
The trio nodded.
Nex jogged after the definitely pissed-off big sister. Hrunting and Vigilance clicked. Ready to be deployed should any Grimm stand in their way.
No Grimm did.
Instead, Yang Xiao Long smashed into Cardin Dumbchester.
"You're going to pay for that," Yang said as she lifted the idiot a few centimetres from the dirt, armour and all. Her hands tightened around his neck. "After I'm done with you, you won't be able to lift your oversized mace."
Nex shrugged, smiling at Dumbchester's two cronies. "I wouldn't get in her way. Just my two pennies."
The two exchanged a look.
They fled, apparently deciding Dumbchester was not worth dying for.
Good for them.
Maybe the two other idiots actually had brains.
"Let go of me!" Dumbchester said, scowling. "I wasn't aiming at your sister!"
Yang snarled, shaking her captive. His armour clanked. "Then who were you aiming at?"
"The Schnee!" Dumbchester said, squirming like a worm. "I wanted to hit the Schnee!"
Yang shot him a red-eyed look, a grin on her face. "You're out of luck. That's no better at all."
Disappointing.
Nex clicked his tongue, wearing a saintly smile that just so happened to match her grin. "I think she's right. What are we going to do with him, cousin?"
"We should break an arm," Yang said, squeezing Dumbchester's neck. The idiot croaked. "Or maybe even a leg."
His brain spat out a better plan.
Inspiration.
Beyond just breaking his body, it would break Dumbchester's career. It might even get rid of the idiot for good. The only thing left to do was to act out the scheme.
"I have another solution. Why don't we let Weiss decide?" Nex said, waving a hand. "I'm sure she'll be eager to report him to Ozpin. If we act as witnesses, he might even get expelled."
A diversion.
Yang raised an eyebrow. "I didn't expect you to be a stickler for rules."
"I prefer permanent solutions. Short of killing him here," Nex said, smiling at their captive. "I think that's the best one we have. Any thoughts on that one, Cardin? Out here, no one would even know."
Hook.
Cardin stiffened, his eyes going wide. "No. Don't. I'm sorry. I'm not going to cause any more trouble."
Nex shrugged, drawing his longsword. Not good enough.
The barrels clicked, staring down Cardin's mug.
Yang brought their captive even closer to the sword—close enough that the tip poked his neck. There was that smirk on her face. She certainly never missed a social cue.
Line.
"I see. Then I understand you're going to drop out of Beacon?" Nex said, running his tongue over his canine. "The way I see it, the pressure is just too much for your skull. And I happen to have some medicine right here."
Sinker.
Cardin sniffled, tears bursting from his red-rimmed eyes. "Okay! I'll pack my bags. Just let me go. I'm sorry."
"Ewwwww," Yang said, smirking. A damp spot spread over her captive's crotch. "Losing control when a girl's just touching."
Yang dropped the baggage on the grass.
Cardin landed on his behind, paralyzed as Hrunting's barrels followed his face.
An insurance.
"Do pack your bags, Cardin. And don't even think about yapping. " Nex said, sheathing his longsword. Steel rasped against steel. "I have Jacques Schnee on speed dial. Imagine if he found out about this little incident with his daughter?"
Everyone had a choice. Just like his father. But then again, choices also had consequences. He was just laying them out, crystal clear on the table. It would not be fair to do otherwise.
Cardin stared at the grass. Shivering. He scrambled to his feet, sprinting after his traitorous cronies.
The bully would leave come evening.
It was simply Cardin's type. Trapped by the arbitrary ladders of society, fearing those he saw above and preying upon those he saw below.
Foolish.
But his foolishness played in their favour.
"Well, that was a thing," Yang said, heaving a sigh. "He's going to leave, right?"
Nex shrugged, offering her a smile. "If he doesn't, I can still catch him in a locked room. Make good on my other offer."
It was simply business.
Nothing personal.
Yang grinned, her eyes fading into lilac. "You're terrible, cousin. We're both pissed and the scum deserves it, but..."
Lilac eyes met his.
Her breath hitched.
"Nope. Just wanted to scare him off," Nex said, smirking. "He's not worth the ammo."
The cons of killing Cardin far outweighed the pros.
Yang laughed, tearing her eyes away. "Of course not. You're an edge lord. Not a murderer. Let's go back to our friends."
She got one thing right.
Chapter 32
You did what?" Weiss hissed, her eyes snapping towards him.
Ruby lay on her bed, wrapped in a thin blanket while they sat beside her, the chairs from their dining table serving a new purpose. Her skin was tinged pink, but the angry, red spots on her face were already starting to recede.
Blake had a book on her lap, but her amber eyes were fixed on Ruby, shimmering under the lightbulb.
"Yang and I convinced Cardin to drop out of Beacon," Nex replied, stretching his arms over his head. He leaned into the back of his chair. "We were especially convincing."
Weiss frowned. "Isn't that a bit too much?"
No.
But there was definitely a reason why she saw it that way.
Weiss probably expected them to report Cardin. Maybe earn him a detention for the entire month. But it would have solved nothing. Not when Weiss planting him in the ceiling failed to stop him. Not when a detention with Oobleck failed to dissuade him. And certainly not when humiliating him in the ring failed to scare him off.
Strike three, as the saying went. Once was a coincidence, twice was unfortunate, but thrice was a pattern. Throwing that jar of sap only proved Cardin's intentions.
"Cardin didn't want to stop," Nex said, killing the sigh in his throat. "This time, he got Ruby. He could have done something far worse in the future."
Ruby nodded, the sheets on her pillow shifting. "Our team leader's right. Bullies don't stop. Not here. Not in Signal."
Ruby Rose was a member of the socially challenged elite. One of them, even. She probably had her share of bullies. A short girl, quiet and shy to those she did not know. Easy pickings for bigots like Cardin. Her older sister could not have protected her every day. Not when Ruby had her own life, her own interests and quirks, while Yang had hers.
"Maybe it's better that the racist is gone," Blake said, smiling as she shot him a look. "He could have gotten someone killed."
Blake Belladonna was right, and they seemed to be of one mind on that front. That jar of sap could have attracted something more dangerous than a misplaced swarm of wasps. Maybe even a pack of Beowolves or Ursa.
With Ruby down, they would have been at a disadvantage. One of them could have died protecting her while they fled to the rendezvous point. Professor Goodwitch and Professor Oobleck were alone supervising more than sixty students. People spread out in a thick, giant forest.
There was no way their teachers could have made it to them in time. Certainly not when they failed to even check on everyone before they went up the bullheads.
Weiss heaved a sigh, rubbing her temples. "There's a process for this. But you did what you had to do. Winchester has been overstepping his bounds since day one, and I haven't forgotten his barbs against you and my family."
Well, the system did not work as intended. Remnant's vast underworld was proof of that, along with the packets of corruption among its elites—Jacques Schnee being a case in point, despite his intentions.
Sometimes, they had to take it into their own hands. His partner was intelligent enough to acknowledge that. Fair enough to not waylay his decision. Certainly not when it was made in retaliation to an assault on his team.
"Then all of you stand by my decision?" Nex said, stifling a yawn. Fuck. Not now. "We're a team. We can't let anything divide us."
If his team fell apart—at their second bridge, even—then they would be no better than Team PWDS. The one now missing its W.
Pyrrha Nikos was always gone for a reason. Maybe she loathed her team. And maybe she even tried to curb their tendencies, only to fail because she was outnumbered. Maybe she avoided them because it was painful to see her failings as a leader.
In hindsight, Pyrrha Nikos could have been him in another world, if he did not build a hoverboard the night before initiation.
Strength in the ring differed from strength in the command of others—the sword alone could not lead an army. The person wielding the sword lead, not the blade itself—that way led to the Great War.
Or so the history books claimed.
"You know, I wanted you to grow up ever since we met," Weiss said, chuckling as she flashed him a smile. "And I don't back out of my commitments."
Those memories still existed somewhere in the back of his brain. That semester when they were only lab partners in Dust Practical—strangers who got on each other's nerves. Maybe it was what she always wanted out of him. Growth. To try a little bit more. Help her do the lab work and stuff. Maybe even participate in class.
Now that they were here in Beacon, Atlas Primary seemed so long ago—a distant speck over the cloudless horizon.
Ruby grinned, raising her swollen thumb. "Yep. I'll follow your lead, team leader. I don't leave my friends behind."
Friends with a girl he almost crippled in a friendly match. A girl whose mother took away his own. Truly, the future brought about strange things. Not even Pareidolia could have predicted their friendship.
The B of their team leaned into the back of her seat, her hands pressed over her closed book.
"Blake?" Ruby said, staring at her partner.
Weiss frowned, shooting the ghost ninja a look.
Blake sighed. "I don't have a speech lined up. But I'll follow your lead. I see you want the best for our team."
Nex chuckled. Of course, the ghost-ninja did not have a speech prepared. She rarely talked. If ever.
But still, he had to say something.
Something inspirational.
Something a good leader would say.
Thus, he opened his mouth. Hopefully, his speech would not be fit for the garbage bin. Or even a dumpster fire somewhere in Vale.
"Then we're Team Snowbear," Nex said, managing his best smile. "And it's time for a trip to the cafeteria."
Three pairs of eyes blinked, staring at him.
Admittedly, he could have said something better. Something more inspirational and leader-like. But none of them had dinner. Or even lunch.
They spent most of the day in Forever Fail, and the round trip took a few hours, made even longer by Jaune's allergy and motion sickness. Yang was taking care of him in their room while they took care of Ruby in theirs. He was already used to the fires licking his stomach, but it was doubtful his team members were.
"Terrible," Weiss said, breathing a world-weary sigh. She placed her hand on his arm. "I'm willing to impart some of my diplomacy training, if you desire, Mr Shade."
Well, shit.
Nex shrugged, acid gnawing at the back of his throat. "You'll have to make do. I'm not very good with words, Miss Schnee."
"Our leader has a point though," Blake said, cracking her neck. "None of us have eaten since breakfast. My partner needs food to heal."
Nex nodded. Thank you, ghost-ninja. Really. At least someone else preferred action over flowery words.
Ruby sneezed, holding her blanket to her pig-swelled nose. "I can't go to the cafeteria like this. You guys go on ahead."
Weiss shook her head. "No. It's my fault. Winchester was aiming for me, remember?"
Ruby grinned. "I couldn't stand by and watch you get hurt. You're the best teammate ever, Weiss."
Weiss smiled, reaching out to rub the silver-eyed girl's hair. "Thank you."
"I'm just chopped liver then," Blake said, breathing a sigh—one that lifted her chest and her shoulders. It was definitely exaggerated. "Good to know."
"You're the best partner ever, Blake," Ruby said, pouting as she pointed at the ghost ninja. The finger turned to him. "And Nex is the best leader ever. Everyone wins."
Nex chuckled, patting her extended arm. "Nice save, Rubes. But we still need to get you something."
"Why don't the two of you bring back some food and drinks? We can eat here," Blake said, smiling as she snapped her book open. "I'll stay here and watch over her."
It was a good suggestion—probably the first time Blake shared a plan. It could only mean good things for their team.
Right?
"Yes. It's a good plan," Weiss said, pushing herself to her feet. "My partner and I will be back as soon as possible."
Blake smirked, rolling her eyes. "Don't end up on a bench somewhere. We still need to eat."
Weiss scowled, flushing as she snatched his hand. "How inappropriate. Nex and I know how to stay focused on our objective, and not be distracted by other things."
Other things like coffee and chess.
But still, she had a point.
"Right," Nex said, standing up and dragging her towards the door. Before she and the ghost-ninja could start a bickering session. "Brb, team."
The door clicked shut.
Shadows hung over the corners, reminiscent of that other time they left their counterpart alone in their dorm. But his eyes could pierce through the darkness, and he could definitely guide his partner through it.
Weiss smirked, her fingers lacing around his. "Brb, Mr Shade? Perhaps you do need some of my diplomacy training."
"I don't see the need for fancy words," Nex whispered, shaking his head. "You'll have to make do, Miss Schnee."
She sighed and leaned against him, her warmth seeping through his side.
They strolled through the hallway, sharing the silence. Their feet took the familiar path towards the cafeteria, the twists and the turns blurring into a singular road.
Moonlight glinted through the glass of the windows, clashing against the warm, overhead lights.
His skin tingled under his jacket, even as Weiss rested her head on his shoulder.
Other students passed through the halls, but no one really paid them any mind. There were throngs of others like them, sneaking time outside their rooms. Some were stuck against the back of the tall, marble-white pillars, doing who knows what in the dark avenue. Maybe sharing their own cup of coffee. Others sat on the green benches, looking up at the stars twinkling in the black sky, while some walked hand in hand towards the cafeteria.
Right beside them, even.
The familiar notes of an acoustic guitar flitted through his extra pair of ears—some sort of alternative love song in C flat minor. Hell, there was even some sort of incense floating through the air—a mix of lavenders loitering in his nose.
To be fair, coupling was probably common in a school with co-ed dorms. Placing huntsmen and huntresses in one team strengthened their bonds, with some even going beyond the call of duty.
And really, it was the perfect night for some poetry and music, as some of their schoolmates already did, if not for the fact that Ruby was stuck in her bed.
But he had to look on the bright side, as strange as it seemed.
At least Cardin was gone. Just another face to be forgotten by history. Or at least, if nothing unexpected happened.
"So, why'd you really do it?" Weiss mumbled. Huh. "My boyfriend's not the type of guy who makes bold decisions."
Nex chuckled. She was probably right. But still. "He's your boyfriend, right?"
Weiss hummed, the grin on her face practically audible. "I'm being serious. You didn't have to do it."
She was right, of course. He did not have to do it. But then again, no one was really required to do anything.
Right?
"I wanted to do it, I guess," Nex said, taking a long drag—like knives ripping into his stomach. "Or maybe I was just ashamed."
"Ashamed?" Weiss said, shooting him a look. She frowned. "It's not your fault."
Nex sighed. It probably was. "I was supposed to be there. I'm your team leader."
Weiss squeezed his hand, lifting her head from his shoulder. "You couldn't have known."
"If I didn't talk to Yang..." Nex said. And it would have been probably for the better. "I could've reacted in time..."
Pareidolia would have detected the jar of sap, just like it did with Weiss and the White Fang's improvised bomb. By then, it would have been easy enough to use Vigilance to block it, or maybe even shoot it out of flight with Hrunting. And then the rapier wasps could not have been attracted to Ruby.
Ergo, she would not have been injured.
Injured because of his inattention.
Injured because he was stuck talking and thinking about his father.
Nex sighed, his shoulders slouching. "I'm a crappy leader, aren't I?"
"Nexus Shade," Weiss said, dragging him to the side. She pushed him against the back of a pillar, the shadow falling over her face. Her hands lingered on his shoulders. She stepped closer, her breath warming his chin. Her eyes stared into his. "Stop drowning yourself."
Nex shuddered, her fingers curling over his uniform. "Drowning?"
"You're always beating yourself up," Weiss said, her knee nudging his leg. "Always so hard on yourself. Everyone commits mistakes, don't they?"
Not everyone committed mistakes that got their teammate stuck under her blanket.
"I can't let this one slide," Nex said, managing a smile. A smile struggling against the pull of gravity. "Ruby's there. Stuck in her bed because I was irresponsible."
"Winchester was aiming for me," Weiss said, tugging at his tie. And she adjusted the damned thing. Again. "I could have reacted better."
To be fair, she was right—in a perfect world, at least. If none of them were taken by surprise, then they would have returned to Beacon with no one puking their guts out or stuck in a bed for a day or two.
But shit went wrong. And it would probably not be the last time.
"We're both at fault," Weiss said, smiling as she parked her hands on his shoulders. "So stop blaming yourself."
Nex rolled his eyes, grabbing her firm hips. He pulled her close, her thighs hugging his leg. "Is this supposed to be the part where we kiss?"
Weiss arched an eyebrow, smirking as she tilted her head. Her palms pressed on his shoulders, the pillar digging into his back. "Why, Mr Shade. This is highly inappropriate."
She leaned in, her lips moulding over his, like silken sheets flushed against his skin. Warm pillows smothered his brain. The ones on his crotch squirmed, sending sparks through his core. Flowers and sweat tickled his nose, even as his hands rode up the arch of her back. He kneaded her tight rear, his fingers dancing over her rough skirt. She moaned, her nails biting into his shoulders, even as she nibbled on his upper lip. Her tongue snaked its way through. Salt lapped along the back of his teeth, together with the sweet, cloying sap of Forever Fail.
Evidently, she got a taste as well.
So much for not being distracted by coffee or chess.
By the time they came back—after a few more rounds of chess—it was with the baskets of food secured.
Unofficial, minor injuries were apparently common enough that the cafeteria was used to providing take-out. There was an addendum about not letting Goodwitch know and that Ozpin would probably encourage it. But that was already expected. The relationship between the headmaster and his deputy probably mirrored the one between him and Weiss.
Well, except for the couple part.
Probably.
He really had to stop thinking about that particular rabbit hole. His teacher's love life was none of his business.
"You're back!" Ruby said, their door slamming shut. "Did you bring cookies?"
Weiss glanced at the silver-eyed girl. The one already sitting on her bed. "No. You have to eat your meats and vegetables. Cookies aren't a good source of nutrients."
Ruby pouted, even as the ghost-ninja looked up from her book, giving her shoulder a comforting pat. "Awwww..."
"You're in luck, Rubes," Nex said, placing down the baskets on their table. He smirked. "It just so happens that I have cookies and milk. Don't tell Weiss."
Ruby's pout flipped into a grin, giving him a discreet thumbs-up, her finger poking through her blanket. "Yey. It's going to be our little secret, team leader."
Weiss crossed her arms, her baskets already beside his. "Just so you know, Nexus Shade. I'm right here."
"Semantics," Nex said, grinning at the flat look on her face. "Let's eat."
His team gathered around their table.
Blake slung Ruby's arm over her shoulders, propping her foot as she led the pink-faced girl towards a chair.
Weiss smiled, leaning against him as she watched the duo.
Well, Ruby's injuries did not warrant a stay in the infirmary. The nurse told her to get a good night's sleep and that her aura would take care of the rest. It was probably the truth. Aura did make the average huntsman tougher than the strongest civilian.
The light of their souls, the old books said.
The research on the subject bordered on pseudoscience, conjectures made through observing the effects of aura and semblances on the physical world. But still, there had to be a sliver of truth in the numerous studies. Or at least, their own versions of the truth.
Nex shook his head, biting into the bagel in his hand. His team was here, eating and laughing as Blake placed a cookie in Ruby's waiting mouth. The silver-eyed girl bit down, grinning as she took the half-eaten cookie from her partner's hand. Weiss stifled a snort. Underneath the table, her warm hand slipped into his—hidden from the rest of the world.
In hindsight, he could have dozed off or buried himself in his thoughts, but if he did, then he would have missed an entire meal with his team.
Chapter 33