It's been a little over a month since you first came to Beacon. Following your match with Pyrrha, Weiss's opinion of you seems to have changed. Since the first day of classes, you have fallen into a comfortable routine. At 5:00 you get out of bed, stretch out, brush your teeth, and get dressed, before making your way to the fields to train. When the cafeteria opens at 7:00, you take a fifteen-minute break for breakfast before returning to your training until 8:30. Returning to your room, you take a quick shower and grab your materials for the day. Classes run from 9:00 until 4:00, with an hour-long lunch period at 1:00. You spend your lunch eating outside, listening to the peaceful flowing of the rivers feeding into the lake below. After classes you retire to your room where you study, complete class assignments, and get a head start on future work. At 8:00 you put your notes away and have dinner, however you stay in your room and eat what you have stored away (usually soup or noodles). Once you've finished eating, you tend to your bonsai tree, ensuring its healthy development and maintaining its aesthetic. At around 9:00 you tend to Rhino's Charge, making sure the rope isn't becoming frayed and that the weight isn't too dull or dented. Finally, you brush your teeth and shave if necessary, before laying down on your mat at 10:00.

Your busy schedule means you don't see much of your teammates. "We never see you!" Ruby laments one afternoon. "Well, except for classes, but those don't count!" This is no coincidence either, you have intentionally scheduled your days so you can avoid them outside of classes. It's not because you don't like them, quite the contrary. It's simply because, due to the way you were raised, you are unaware of how to have relationships that aren't strictly professional. Regardless, your teammates seem determined to acquaint themselves with you.

About a week into the semester, Ren and Nora stop you as you're leaving Professor Port's class. "Hey, (F/N)!" Ren says, stopping you in the hall. "Team JNPR's having a cookout tonight. You should come, you are part of the team after all.

"Sorry," you say, "but I'm busy tonight. "

"Ugh, when are you not busy?" Nora whines. "Come on, Ren's making pancakes and... oh my god! You've never had Ren's pancakes! (F/N), you have to come!"

"I'll uh, I'll do my best to show up." You say.

"You better." Despite your promise, you have no intentions of making an appearance, and instead spent the night tending to your weapon like always.

A little over a week later, your interrupted in the middle of your morning training by a singsong voice coming from behind you. "Hello (F/N)!" Pyrrha calls out. "What are you doing?"

Ceasing your movements, you turn to face her. "Training." You say simply.

"(F/N), there's more to life than just training and classes. Besides, don't you think you're  skilled enough that you can afford a break every now and then?"

"Well, I couldn't beat you in our first match, so no, I don't think I can."

"(F/N), you and I both know you weren't really trying the first time we fought." She says knowingly. "Come on, take a day off. Your friends miss you."

"I don't have any friends." You say, resuming your training. Pyrrha smiles sadly, before turning and walking back towards the campus.

Not even three days after that, you're approached again. While sitting in Combat Class, watching Jaune fight Cardin Winchester, Yang sidles up to you and whispers. "Hey (F/N), Team RWBY is going to the movies tonight. You wanna come?"

"No thank you. I don't do well with groups of people." You say truthfully.

"Well if you like, it could just be you and me." She says, winking at you. After you don't respond, she sighs and moves back down the bench to her spot.

A month into school, you're interrupted once again by a knock at your door. Abandoning your notes, you sigh as you rise to your feet and move to open the door. Outside is an irritated looking Weiss, her arms crossed over her chest. "(F/N), while I admire your work ethic, even I think you're over doing it. You don't talk to anyone. We never see you. No one even knows so much as your favorite color. It's time that you..." Pinching the bridge of your nose, you interrupt Weiss by closing the door in her face. ("Hey!").

You wake in the morning covered in sweat. Closing your eyes and rubbing your temples, you recall the nightmare you had last night, forced to relive the death of Grandmaster Kun. Shaking your head, you get out of bed and throw on your robes. Slinging Rhino's Charge around your shoulder, you open your door only to find yourself face to face with one Yang Xiao Long. Stepping out of your room and closing your door, you turn and ask her, "What are your doing up so early?"

"I could easily ask you the same thing." She smirks.

"I'm always up this early to train."

"Every day?" She asks, looking surprised. "Geez (F/N), don't you think your pushing it a bit?"

"I understand my lifestyle may seem foreign to you. It is however, my lifestyle. I'm sure you'll respect it, even if you don't understand it." Yang rubs her arm uncomfortably. "So, what are you doing awake?"

"I could hear you moaning in your sleep. I thought you might be having a nightmare and was coming over to make sure you were okay." Noticing the shift in your gaze and change in your stance, she presses further. "Did you want to talk about it?" She asks, taking a step closer and placing a gentle hand on your shoulder.

"While I appreciate your concern, it really is none of your business." You say a little aggressively.

"You know what?" She says, removing her hand and crossing her arms as she takes a step back. "You're a giant asshole."

"Excuse me?"

"No. No 'excuse me' trying to hide behind your polite façade. Ever since day one you've been a huge ass. We all thought you've been avoiding us because of something we did. But you know what? It's just you." She jabs her finger at your chest as she says 'you'. "You're just some pretentious prick who thinks he's better than everyone else and who doesn't think anyone is worth his time. Well fine then. We'll stop bothering you. Sorry for wasting your time." With that, she turns on her heel and makes her way back to her room. Just as she's about to turn the handle and open her door, you speak up

"You're right." You say. "Well, not about me thinking I'm better than you or that you're not worth my time. But I won't deny the fact that I've been avoiding you all." Looking up, you see her standing in front of you, her arms crossed, waiting for an explanation. "Look, I wasn't exactly raised in what you would call a 'normal environment'. At Sun Zhang, we were taught that emotions were a danger to the safety of our home. Any relationships not strictly professional were a risk for negative emotions, something we couldn't risk. I've never had a friend before. The only person I've ever cared about was killed, and I'm to blame for his death. I don't want to feel that pain again." Yang uncrosses her arms, her expression softening. "I've only been avoiding you all because I don't know how to have friends."

"You'll never learn if you don't try." She says.

"I know. You're right. And if you'll still have me, I'll do my best to be a better... friend. Sit with you all at lunch and whatever else it is friends do."

"Well, there's a little bit more to it than that." She says, laughing lightly. Suddenly, she steps forwards and envelopes you in a big hug. "But it's a start."

You stand there awkwardly for a bit, the top of Yang's head tickling the bottom of your nose. You've never been hugged before. Thinking you ought to do something with your arms, you slowly hug Yang back, one hand in her golden hair, the other on the small of her back. As the two of you break apart, you look down at her and say, "You should go back to bed. I'll see you at lunch."

"Promise?" She asks.

"Yeah. I promise." Walking away, you smile softly. Making your way out to the fields, your mind wanders back to the hug you shared with Yang, trying to find the right word to describe it. It was tight, but not so tight it hurt. It was firm and assuring. It was tender and caring and warm. Staring off into the distance, watching the beautiful colors the rising sun painted the sky and listening to the sound of the morning birds singing. As the warmth of the sun bathes over you, you finally manage to find the right word to describe how the hug felt.

Nice.

It felt nice. 

Author's Note:

As a reader, I sometimes find it frustrating when characters just spontaneously fall in love without a rhyme or reason. I personally don't believe in love at first sight. Attraction at first sight, sure, but love is far more complex. As such, your relationship with Yang will develop naturally over time. 

As always, constructive criticism and feedback is welcome. And thank you so much for your continued support. It truly means a lot.