Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction based on multiple existing anime/manga series. The characters and settings used in this story belong to their respective owners and creators, and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to infringe upon any existing intellectual property. I do not own any of the original works that inspired this fanfiction, and I fully support the original creators and their works.
I'm also exceedingly exceedingly exceedingly rarely chilling in JaxWolf4's (Author of Nah, I'd Adapt and Zenin Days) Discord Server. It's a chaotic lobotomy mess. Not for the faint of heart.
Here's the link:
Disc: HrPrTeam
-Story Start-
While Alex's icy teammate was getting to know the foreign freshmen and their handler, it didn't take long for someone out of the bunch to redirect their attention towards him.
He wondered whether the saying 'Let sleeping dogs lie' was a foreign concept in Mistral.
"Yo, Andrite! Don't tell me you gotta take a dump this time!" A familiar monkey faunus snickered as he positioned himself in front of the amber-eyed blonde.
"You're blocking my view of the moon," Alex complained with a thin line on his face.
'It's the guy who picked a fight with me.' Was his most astute observation.
Alex's distress fell on deaf ears. "Name's Sun Wukong!"
"I wasn't asking-" He paused, blinking for a moment. "Wait, what's your name?"
"Ohhhh now we're interested~?" Sun leered like a loon as he repeated, "My name's Sun Wukong! Now... fight me!"
...
"Are you being for real? Is that your actual name?"
"What? What's wrong with my name?"
[...I know what you're thinking; he's not THAT Wukong. He can't take on your role.]
He knew that much, just by looking at him. But he wasn't looking for a replacement, in any case.
Someone to, well, make things easier wouldn't hurt, though.
Alex sighed, "Nothing. Could you move out of the way?"
Sun scratched his chin, humming aloud. "Hmm, I don't know..." He raised a finger. "If you agree to fight me, I might consider it!" He said cheekily.
...
Alex just stared at him, to which Sun only quietly tilted his head and did the same.
"Aha! A staring contest! Well, I won't be backing down from a challenge."
They stared at each other for a good minute; Alex's gaze was perfectly blank, whilst Sun struggled to stay still in one place.
"Feeling the burn, are ya?"
...
"Wanna hear about the prank I'm working on?"
...
"Cmon man, give me something! I heard you were strong, dontcha wanna stretch a little? I promise it'll be a blast!"
...
"Cool sword."
"Thanks."
...
Sun was feeling the burn, and just before his inevitable defeat at the hands of the meditation prodigy, salvation came in the nick of time.
"Is it so hard for you to make favorable first impressions, Sun?" A rather tall blue-haired Haven student approached, having detached himself from the conversation Weiss and the rest of them were having.
"Shut up, nerd! Instead of being a stick in the mud, how about you help convince him to fight me? Unless you wanna fight him too, in which case I'm willing to share-"
"Intellectual." The 'nerd' corrected, smiling coolly. "Are you that keen on getting your ass handed to you?"
"Who says that'll happen-"
"No one back in Haven talks about you like you're the boogeyman, Ghoramu wearing human skin, when it comes to spars." The blue-haired boy shrugged helplessly, then pointed a thumb at the still-faced Alex. "I'll admit, even having taken a few glimpses, he's not that intimidating, but I've heard enough to be conservative."
Alex ignored the fact he was speaking to him like he wasn't even there. "Look, blue-haired guy, I'd appreciate it if-"
"Yeah, we'll get out of your hair. As much as I'd like to have a conversation with you, I think this idiot's-"
"Hey!"
"Ruined any chance of that today by pissing you off."
"Thanks, not angry though-"
"Oh, no, I insist."
"Wait-" Sun's protest died a horrible death as the unnamed blue-haired guy pulled him by his shirt with heavy insistence.
And unfortunately, Alex managed to overhear the blue-haired guy's actual reasoning.
"WHY are you getting that beautiful Snow Angel's teammate angry? Are you seriously trying to ruin my chances with that flawless maiden?!" He pushed an accusatory finger at him. "I don't care if he turns you into a smear on the wall or tears your arms off, just don't ruin this for me."
"Sheesh, I can feel the love, man."
"I'm serious!"
"Relax, he didn't seem like the kinda guy to lose his marbles over banter." Sun confidently remarked, folding his hands to lecture. "Also, if you womanize too much, they say you get a special place in Hell, Nep. Focus on the real man stuff."
"Yeah, yeah 'real man' stuff, get a grip bro. I pray for the day you quit being an asexual limp-"
"Hey! I just haven't met the right woman!"
"Whatever lets you sleep at night-"
Thank goodness they got far enough away that filtering their whispers wasn't a difficult conscious effort for Alex.
Finally, he regained sight of the night canvas... well, for just about a couple more minutes before movement erupted in the group.
His eyes turned to lightly stare at his periphery, as he took note of their movement.
The Haven entourage, as well as Weiss, conveniently moved towards his bench, strangely guided by the long-haired... Professor's Aide from Haven, judging by her tag.
They walked close enough that listening in was no longer a voluntary act. "We wouldn't like to intrude on your privacy this night any longer. It has been a pleasurable talk." She seemed to speak for the other smiling Haven students who had conversed with Weiss.
"The pleasure was all mine. I hope to get to know all of you better in the coming month." Weiss smiled back, and the Professor's Aide mirrored her expression and led the pack away. "Besides, I believe a teammate would prove better company than strangers for tonight." She jested one last time, directing a wink at Weiss.
"I believe we're no longer strangers, though."
"Hah, I suppose so. I'll see you later, Weiss." The Aide remarked as they passed Alex by, giving him small waves and curious looks.
He was pretty much used to being stared at as if he were some sort of rare animal; with these foreign exchange students, it was at a record-breaking amount by now.
At least the number of awed and stupefied expressions directed at the ethereal glow of Excalibur by his side equaled the zoo observations, so it was not all too annoying after all.
Slowly, the entourage's steps grew distant as only he and Weiss were left in his favored spot.
Well, two more familiar figures decided to hide behind one of the trees, at least having enough sense not to eavesdrop or anything.
Ignoring them, Alex turned his head to take note of Weiss sitting down on the same bench as him. A cool distance between the two, just enough for another person to sit between them.
Before he could even say anything, an utterly exhausted groan left her lips as her hand was uselessly attempting to subdue what he could only imagine was a severe migraine.
"I take it you had fun?" He casually inquired, his voice even.
"Ar, ar, when'd you get so funny, Alex? Trying to make me mad just because I patronized 'your' favored spot is petty-"
A resigned shrug interrupted her rant, "Alright, lady, keep the accusations to a minimum, I ain't trying to start anything."
She glared at him lightly from the side, a note of suspicion crossing her features before she relented with a sigh.
She leaned back into the bench, sitting in an undignified and loose manner, at least compared to her prior visage. "...Cinderella and the other Mistral freshmen are really vibrant people; I enjoyed our short conversation, however... they just caught me in a bad mood."
He thought nothing of it. "Aren't you always in a bad mood?"
She snapped back immediately. "Alex, don't try me."
"My bad." He shrugged indifferently.
A comfortable silence enveloped them, a quietude that both of them, it seemed, appreciated.
Broken by Weiss herself, as a small, amused smile graced her lips. "You know, I can't remember the last time we got to talk like this. Just the two of us."
Alex nodded, "Not doing much talking right now, but yeah, you got a point."
She huffed through her nose, rather indecorously, as she finally turned her head to look at Alex. "Apologies if the message I sent you earlier was too... curt; I was in a bit of a dishevelled state."
He turned his head to be met with her genuinely apologetic smile, his amber eyes meeting her pale blue orbs. "No need to be so stiff. I'm in your debt anyway; even if Ozpin can't take over, I'll manage."
"Are you sure? You can't be skipping therapy-"
"I'm sure. I won't be skipping; I'll pay for it."
She tilted her head. "Truly? How much Lien have you got saved up currently?"
"About two million, give or take."
"...What? D-Did you work part-time?" Her voice stuttered as she tried to fight off the shock at the surprising wealth.
"No, most of it came from getting Ozpin to sell my weapon, the one I had before I got Excalibur." He explained simply enough.
He hummed lightly, "It was a pretty decent thing I had forged back in my preparatory school, so in a way this is laundering their money."
Hmm, upon thinking about it, maybe he owed them and the orphanage at least a visit for that one.
"Is that all?" Weiss seemed unconvinced.
"Pretty much, as I said, the weapon's pretty impressive, forging costs-wise. And I didn't have Beacon's substantial wealth or a Ruby to lower the costs for either my half-ass prep school or me."
He gave it one last effort, thinking where his money came from. "I guess I also got some money from the God's orders, but it's usually pocket change."
[...It's not a matter of being stingy, it's about getting to the truly important quests.]
"...Well, well, now I feel like I've been had." Weiss chuckled good-naturedly. "However, even with two million, depending on how many more sessions you need, you'll run through your savings remarkably quickly."
"I'll cross that bridge when I get there."
"Hmph. Sometimes I fear your blissful, foolish ignorance would infect me." She shook her head lamentfully, smile still in place.
"Your problem. Now, what about you, Weiss?"
"Hmm? What about me?"
"Do you even want me to ask?"
...
Her lips lowered to a thin line. "Ah, only the consequences of my actions." She shrugged apathetically, dismissively.
"Wasn't intending to turn this into a grand mess, but my Father's cut off all of my funds."
Huffing through her nose, her apathy was exchanged with a brave, determined smile. "But it's no big deal, I'll manage just fine. Just... promise me you won't tell the others? I'm only telling you this because you were directly and gravely affected by it-" She said, pausing mid-sentence at Alex's contemplative expression.
"Damn, that sucks." He admitted with a light frown.
'Imagine having a no-limit credit card, possibly with millions of dollars to spend on anything you want, and then... gone, only canned beans and job-hunting it is.'
After having tasted the luxury of premium beans, being deprived of them, and then returning to them, Alex was convinced that he was nothing more than a helpless swine, slave to his instincts.
He could understand the crisis of his friend; truly, he did.
Before she could reply, he raised his lowered head. "If you need anything, even that useless, expensive skin care cream you use, I'll chip in." He gave her a thumbs-up.
He was planning on doing so anyway, out of his debt to her, but now he was motivated.
Weiss snorted loudly in response. "I'll sooner croak than let you pay for me." She regained a softer smile. "But thank you, it means a lot.... coming from a good-for-nothing like you."
Alex's thumbs-up went down. "Is being decent and cordial an impossibility for you, woman?" He said with his usual flat face.
"Depends on the person, I wager~" She sing-songed smugly, her mood brightening at his misery.
Sighing casually, Alex turned his head from her, to which she called back to him with, "Hey!"
"What? Can't I enjoy the quiet?"
"You didn't promise me."
"Promise what?"
"That you won't tell the other two!" She almost screamed in his ear at that.
Scratching his ear, "...What happened to no more secrets?" He retorted casually, with an arched eyebrow.
That made her pause for a moment, as her lips lowered into a genuine frown.
Seeing that expression, he huffed through his nose. "Forget it. It was an impossible request anyway. I guess everyone's gotta keep a secret or two."
As she processed his words, a slight relief crossed her features; it was almost transparent as she made no effort to mask it.
To which he continued. "What I don't get is why this is even a big secret in the first place? Sure, I get it if it's your personal feelings or whatever, but wouldn't they discover this one way or another in like a couple of days?"
"I told you, Alex. I don't want to make a big deal out of this. This is my problem."
He took a good, long look in her eyes.
He was no good in these things; he knew that. It was always hard for him to tell what a person was truly thinking.
But this wasn't something he'd mistake.
The firmness in her eyes, the light trembling in her lips.
Whether he liked it or not, his physical attributes made it inevitable. Whenever he focused his senses, physical tension became almost impossible to miss, even from a distance.
The slightest twitch, the rhythmic beating of her heart, the warmth from her breath.
He wasn't confident in telling apart lies, nor did he wish he had such an absolute ability.
But he could tell this much.
He'd respect her decision. "Got it. As you know-"
"If I need anything, I can talk with all of you, mhm, I know."
[And what if she can't bring herself to ask for any favors? Even from any of you?]
That insidious inquiry was one he had already answered in the past.
The System knew this, and before Alex could wonder why it was digging a hole in his mind with its incessant questioning, a loud ping rang in his mind like a drum.
'Fuck.'
[PING!]
-Sub Quests-
↓
[NEW!] Promises Made Under The Shattered Moonlight↓
Requirements - A maiden's shattered heart sings of truth like a songbird under the moonlight. Soothe Weiss Schnee's trembling visage.
Static Rewards - 3000 Lien.
Performance-Based Rewards - Validity for accelerated progress of [Main Chain Quest - Hell Is Empty - #N/A] & Significantly raised Relationship Progress with Weiss Schnee & Moderately raised Relationship Progress with...
Time Limit - 1 Hour.
Punishment for Failure - None.
Difficulty - C+
'Shattered heart? Trembling visage?' Alex repeated with contempt in his mind, turning to look at Weiss, who looked nothing like that sort.
Sure, she was sad, but that was understandable - she lost the infinite wealth that had been in the palm of her hand.
Of course she was sad; what's he supposed to do about that?
Hell, he's even encouraged her just fine thus far without this vermin's input.
'What gives, you piece of shit? I was doing just fine without you.'
[Think a little harder; I'm not bugging you for no reason; shouldn't be too difficult.]
His eye twitched, and before he was about to even say anything, Weiss's voice forced his eyes to widen considerably.
"That look on your face- let me guess: did your 'God' tell you to do something about me?"
[...]
Alex's expression hardened, and he nodded firmly, almost immediately. "Yeah, sorry."
Her lips quivered momentarily before rising up broadly. "As touching as it is for you to go with such a roundabout way to show your sincerity, Alex-"
"We're still on this?"
He was ignored. "Then tell your 'God' what I'm about to say, but I certainly hope he can hear me if he is some 'Deity'."
Suddenly she leaned in, closing the distance between the two of them enough that they were just inches apart.
Her ice blue eyes drilled into his own immovable amber. "I'll say it slowly, just to make it as clear as possible."
"I. Don't. Need. His. Help. I. Suggest. You. Make. Yourself. Scarce."
She leaned back, smiling smugly at him with a tilted head. "Did he get the message?"
[...]
In a rare showing, Alex's lips curled up to mirror Weiss's own satisfied smirk. "Loud and clear."
Thus, finally, quiet settled between them for a longer period of time, before Weiss got sick of it.
"Come on, let's go back home. I need my beauty sleep." She stretched out her hand to the Wielder of the Holy Sword.
He took her hand as she pulled him up from his comfortable seat, Excalibur thrumming pleasantly at his hip as they walked out of the park and he kept pace with her rather brisk stroll. "Let's just hope their little meeting ended."
"A shame, would've liked to contribute an idea of my own."
And, ironically enough...
[PING!]
[Sub Quest - "Promises Made Under The Shattered Moonlight" Complete!]
[Issuing Rewards...]
[3,000 Untraceable Lien sent to Alex Andrite's Bank.]
[Calculating Performance...]
[Rough Estimate... 3/10]
[PING!]
[Due to underwhelming performance, a chance to accelerate the progress of [Main Chain Quest - Hell Is Empty - #N/A] has been declined!]
[You could have made things far easier for yourself.]
'I wouldn't have it any other way; besides, this isn't me failing the Main Quest.'
[It is not. You can take solace in that, at least. Your behavior has been improving, but your stubborn nature has yet to truly manifest substantial change.]
He let that irritating comment pass him by, thinking on more positive things... like the sleep he was about to indulge in.
As for the two guys who were waiting for them to finish their conversation... well, they seemed to lose their patience and waltz off.
Whatever they wanted, they could just ask him or her tomorrow, he wagered.
...Or he could pull off the same trick; that wouldn't be bad either.
To Be Continued!
-Author Note Start-
Well, well, well.
Been a while, my good friends! Hope some of you are still alive!
Mass Release - Sorta.
This is just a little tasting, so I'd like the input of those who read thus far.
Since I have the schedule of a withering GRRM, what would you prefer?
For me to stockpile chapters and release like 10-20 at once with a similar wait time (The other 6-14 chapters will be coming pretty soon, I hope; I'm in a bit of a spree right now)
Or to release them as they are written (like I used to). Which will still take a long time, but not as long as a stockpile mass release XD.
Given that real significant WORLD SHAKING plot development is still a bit away, I'm torn between the two choices.
In any case, I am determined to finish at least this fic. Since I've got big things coming (eventually lmao).
Love ya and bu bye!