The dorm was near silent, aside from a constant tap-tap-tap. Now nearing their third year the team was assigned regular missions, but they were always presented to Ruby first. The wait for their leader to return from debrief had given Yang an anxious habit; tapping.

Blake didn't mind too much.

Weiss was being driven to visible insanity.

She was staring off in to nothingness, only occasionally blinking. No doubt all her concentration was being spent on not murdering her teammate.

She would not hold back forever.

Luckily for Yang, her red sister chose that exact moment to carelessly barge through the door. Though normally they would be subjected to her excited gushing about their new job, they were just met with silence. Ruby was staring down at her scroll with a scrunched up brow, and when she looked up at them she seemed uncertain of what to say.

"What'd we get, Rubes?"

Silver eyes flashed up at Yang.

"Uh, well...It's not really normal."

Confused glances darted around the room.

"For the entire semester we have to switch partners."

The room was dead silent. Three teammates stared at their leader blankly, slowly processing.

Weiss broke the silence. "Are you joking?"

"Nope."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Really?"

Ruby rolled her eyes and tossed her open scroll to the heiress. Weiss quickly snatched it, her eyes pouring over every line of text in the assignment, looking for the part that marked it off as a prank. After a minute of her frustrated mumbling she looked up at them and confirmed "She's right."

Ruby scanned the room once, then her face pulled into perhaps the cheekiest grin Weiss had ever seen. With it, she happily announced "I call Blake!"

With their new role as partners Yang and Weiss argued more than ever. Only four days in, the team had gotten used to splitting down the middle during training so one half could bicker while the other actually tried to improve. Blake was pleasantly surprised with how driven Ruby became, and not just with this assignment. Though her academics may still be lacking, her combat prowess and tactical ability had gone through the roof. She was ranked as one of top of their year, and climbing still.

Blake wasn't too sure anyone had noticed, though. JNPR certainly had, offering small congratulations during meals, but aside from them and herself it seemed as though Ruby was doomed to being considered a non-threat. Somehow, despite being watched by a class of combatants, her wins were generally attributed to her unique weaponry.

And so Blake, as teammate and temporary partner, was going to help them see the truth. She had been srudying Ruby's fighting style for a while, trying to figure out what could be improved. It became glaringly obvious once she noticed it, hard to spot in the quick flurry of movement that was her leader.

But she found it.

Though Ruby could probably find the weak points on any grimm in her sleep, she couldn't say the same for humans. Despite her excellent performances, her fights were riddled with small missed opportunities. A chance to take the legs here, a chance for a feint there. Fights that went on longer than necessary because she didn't take advantage of her opponents failures. If Blake could solve this, Ruby trouncing her competitors would be undeniable.

And so, with roughly six months of partnership to go, she would try to make her leader unbeatable.

And maybe make the other two stop fighting for a full day.

Though that was seeming more and more like an unrealistic goal, as her and Ruby simply stared on while they made snide comments and jabs at each other.

"Ruby, should we just start without them?" 'Again' went unsaid.

Ruby gave a tired sigh, before a resigned "Yep."

They began their spar without fanfare. As it went on, Blake avoided using force as much as possible. Instead, she focused on keeping Ruby at bay with the exact techniques she wanted to teach her. Blake wasn't going ot last long doing so, but she needed to start the lessons somehow. She quickly noticed, however, that Ruby was fighting differently as well. She wasn't using her semblance much at all, instead almost entirely using her scythe as your average hunter might, More skilled, of course, her years of experience never wavering.

Blake's plan went out the window as the massive blade prevented her from getting close. She peppered in shots when she could, but her partners gun outmatched hers at range. Her bullets very slowly whittled at Ruby's aura, but every sniper shot that hit took off a chunk she could not afford to continue losing.

She had no choice but to get in close. If she could get around the monstrous weapon, she would have the advantage. Her semblance kept her from getting struck as long as it could, shadows taking heavy swings instead of her. She managed to get in behind, but with too much distance for a close strike. Instead, she used her ribbon to make it up and sent the black blade towards Ruby.

It didn't land.

Ruby spun and fired behind her, launching herself under the ribbon and towards Blake. The faunus couldn't react fast enough, and the scythe made contact. It sent her flying, and even though she landed on her feet and her aura still held, it felt like getting hit by a car. Ruby didn't relent, coming at her again. Blake was faster this time, leaving a shadow so she could try to get in on Ruby's side.

She got one hit in.

It was the only proper strike she had landed the entire fight. One hit to ribs, and the moment it landed, Ruby reacted. All she had to do was lift her weight and pull the trigger, and her scythe did the work. The recoil pushed, and with just a bit of movement it was striking Blake in the kidney.

Blake tried to hit high and force a retreat and create distance. Ruby ducked under Gambol Shroud, and hooked her massive weapon around Blake's legs. She fired and the faunus was almost immediately on her back, a combat boot on her chest and staring down the barrel of Crescent Rose. Ruby was smiling, proud as usual.

Blake couldn't help but smile back. "You win. Well done."

Had she even put up a fight?

Ruby offered a hand and helped her up. Once Blake was standing, they turned to their teammates and found them on opposite sides of the room, training separately and silently fuming. Well, less silent in Yang's case. Ruby looked up to her partner with silver orbs that always seemed to somehow look through her, and asked "Do you know why I picked you, Blake?"

She did. Or, thought she did. Ruby had gotten quite clever when it came to keeping the team from killing each other, so little surprising things like that could usually be traced back to her leader trying to help.

"I assume you wanted them together so they could sort out their issues. You knew Weiss would try to choose me and Yang you, so you had to ensure that was not an option."

Ruby gave her an appreciative look, and seemed to ponder her reply. She held on to the small smile that rarely seemed to be missing from her face when they talked, though whether that smile was genuine or merely a kind gesture honestly alluded Blake.

"Nope, but that'd be pretty smart. My plans for them were a bit different. More handcuffs."

Blake couldn't help but laugh at that. She was quite certain one of them would not walk away from it alive, but it would be amusing nonetheless.

"Oh? So why did you choose me?"

Ruby's smile widened. "Isn't it obvious? I like spending time with you."

Blake didn't really know how to take that.