You know I realized something.

Waiver: What's that?

The story I was inspired by to write this, The Cardinal and the Hare?

Disclaimer: What about it?

My story has more reviews, follows, and favorites.

Disclaimer: Hey congratulations man!

That's bullshit!

Waiver: How so?

First off, he is the better writer. Second, his story is longer. Third, he is the better writer in all sense of the word! That story is not getting the recognition it deserves! Go to Gear001's profile and check out his Holy Bun fics, you will not be disappointed. Onto the story. Disclaimer!

Disclaimer: We own nothing, it all belongs to Monty.

"What the hell has gotten into you Cardin?!"

Cardin cursed himself over and over again. How could he have been so stupid?! Of course they could hear them on the roof; he listened to Jaune train every night! Now he stood in front of his team as his partner chewed him out.

"Playing nice because she saved you is one thing I can understand, but this?! I mean what the hell is wrong with you?" The leader of CRDL ground his teeth. He knew his team would find out sooner or later but he was quite happy fantasizing about them remaining in the dark.

"Russel cool off." The redhead sighed quietly in relief. He could always rely on Sky to be the voice of reason. Mostly. The blue haired boy turned to his leader. "Cardin, I think you have some explaining to do."

He wasn't an idiot. He saw the scowl he was trying to hold back, and how Dove's jaw was clenched. They may b more reasonable than Russ but they still held no love for Faunus. Cardin took a deep sigh. This was going to be rough.

"Vel and I are dating."

"Vel?!" Russel began before Sky stopped him. "When did this start?"

"When do you think?" Once again Sky stopped Russ before he could keep ranting. He gestured for Cardin to stop. He watched his three teammates for a moment before speaking.

"It was after we made it back to Beacon. That's when I . . . started to see things differently."

"Different how?" Cardin jumped slightly when he heard Dove speak up. He had almost forgotten he was there with how quiet he was. Strange seeing as how usually they couldn't shut him up. He took a moment to think. Talking about something like this wasn't exactly easy, especially for him.

"She . . . she just . . ." What was he supposed to tell them? How, she made him think that everything he thought was wrong? How he didn't know what to think anymore? How he thought about her? The fact she is probably the most compassionate, caring, and kind person he had ever met? She's also the strongest he's ever met. And the most beautiful. Without a doubt the most drop dead gorgeous girl. "Look I don't know what t think. About the Faunus, or shit even about us and what we're doing. We're supposed to be training to be hunters but here we are acting like a bunch of prick bullies on a playground. But one thing I do know . . . I care about her and that's not about to change. I don't think I've forgiven the Faunus yet, but for her I'll make an exception."

He didn't need to tell them what he meant. They may never have talked about it but they weren't stupid. No, instead he waited for them to yell at him, insult him, and tell him he's crazy. They didn't do that. But he wished they did.

-0-

The sound of metal on metal sounded throughout combat class as the students of Beacon watched two hunters-in-training exchange blows. All accept one who was too wrapped in his own anguish to either care or notice. Despite what the students next to him thought, Cardin wasn't angry. No, the dents in his desk that looked suspiciously like fingers attested to that; he was beyond angry. He was fuming. He had been like this ever since the talk with his team yesterday. Sky just had to open his mouth; they couldn't just leave well enough alone could they? The metal under his fingers groaned as he dug his fingers in them. Just the thought of him made it impossible for him to even think straight, and Sky just had to bring him up.

Too caught up with his own thoughts, he didn't notice Professor Goodwitch glare at him when she saw the dents he put in his desk. "Mr. Winchester." Her sharp tone snapped him out of his stupor and he looked down at her beside the arena. "Seeing as how you seem to have some pent up energy, you will be the next fighter." Cardin exhaled deeply. A fight sounded good right about now, he could use something to distract himself from his thoughts. "Now for your opponent. Mr. Arc." The blonde knight looked up from his desk at the sound of his name. "It's been some time since you fought in my class. The two of you get ready; your match starts in two minutes."

Cardin swung his mace a few times as he watched Juane enter the arena. He smirked in anticipation. Beating on Jaune may have been fun but it gets boring after a while and he could use a challenge for once. From what he heard from Jauney Boy's training with Nikos, he's been really improving on his technique. The larger boy wasn't disappointed as the knight stood at the ready, shield forward and sword at the ready, his stance filled with confidence. At least by Jaune's standards anyway. Goodwitch waited for a nod from the both before starting the match.

"Begin!"

The red haired knight charged the blonde knight, mace raised high before bringing it down hard. Jaune knocked the blow aside with his shield and reacted with a slash from his sword only for it to be blocked by Cardin's mace. The next few minutes passed like this, the two exchanging blows with not a single bit of Aura being lost. Cardin had to admit he was impressed. Jauney Boy had really improved, his footwork was excellent and his sword skills were far more developed than the last time they fought. But he couldn't last forever and Cardin knew that. The larger knight rushed forward suddenly, Jaune was out of breath and he hadn't even broken a sweat yet. This fight was his. The ground meeting his face surprised more than he cared to admit. What the hell just happened? Years of practice and instinct made him roll just as the sword came down on the spot he had just moved from. He jumped to his feet and back a step, the blonde knight's sword gleaming as it cut the air in front of him. What the hell just happened?! He had lost his mace in the fall, he was unarmed with Jaune coming at him with quick slashes and stabs and all he could do was keep out of reach. This wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to be running like this he was supposed to win. He had fought too hard for it to end like this. He nearly died keeping her safe he couldn't lose Velvet because of HIM!

A shield bashed into his stomach and he jumped back again. He shook his head; he needed to stay focused on the fight. But he couldn't help it, his mind kept wandering to places he didn't want it to go. Word spread fast in a place like Beacon and if he ever found out about him and Velvet . . . he didn't know what would happen. Sky may have brought it up to shake things between him and Vel but he had a point. If he wasn't strong enough, she could get hurt.

He dodged yet another slash to his head and growled. He had enough of this! How the hell could he protect Velvet if he couldn't even beat Jaune? He dived to the side and grabbed his mace. He ground his teeth and growled again, his hands clenching his mace in a fist. He swung at Jaune, pressing his thumb hard on his maces switch, an explosion rocked Jaune's shield knocking it from his arm. Cardin swung again with all of his fury. He knew it was pointless. Even if he beat Jaune it wouldn't be enough, the doubt was already firmly in his mind. He couldn't protect Velvet from a bigot like his father. The only way he could, would be to break it off with her. But that wasn't the worse part. The worse part was he was actually considering it.

"And that's the match." He didn't hear Goodwitch end the match or Jaune's team help the groaning boy up from the ground. "Excellent work Mr. Arc, you may have lost the match but you showed vast improvement. As have you Mr.-Mr. Winchester? Cardin?!" He ignored her calling after him. He just needed to get out of there. He dropped his mace and ran down the hall. He kept running. That's all he was good at: running. He ran from the Ursa, he ran when his mother needed him, and he was running now. He had no choice. He had to end this. As he finally stopped running and slid down the wall of one of the many hallways in Beacon a single thought went through his mind.

"I'm a coward."

"Cardin!"

He didn't get the chance to look p before he was grabbed by the throat and lifted off his feet. His boots scraped the floor as he was held against the wall. He looked down to see his attacker was none other than Yatsuhashi, Velvet's partner.

"What do you think you're-"The hand around his throat tightened just enough to keep him from talking.

"I don't know what sick game you're playing at Cardin," the big samurai growled. "But if I hear you even looked at Velvet the wrong way I. Will. End you."

"Screw you, I would never-"Cardin stopped before he could say anything else. What was he talking about? He was about to say he would never hurt Velvet. That's exactly what he was about to do! How could he say anything when he was going to do exactly that? A feeling filled Cardin. Like many times before in the past couple of weeks, it was a feeling he did not feel often but unlike the other times, he hated this feeling. He felt shame. His armored frame crashed to the ground as Yatsuhashi dropped him and stomped away. Cardin didn't care. He just sat there wallowing in his shame. He didn't deserve a girl like Velvet.

"What do you want Cardin?"

Her words from last night echoed through his mind. His fists clenched.

-0-

Velvet was worried about Cardin. Something was obviously bothering him when she saw him in Oobleck's class, but he left before she could talk to him. She hadn't seen him since then. Now it was lunch and his team was here, but their leader was nowhere to be seen. She kept glancing at team CRDL. Surely they knew where to find their leader, but she wasn't too confident about talking to them. She and Cardin were more than passed their qualms with each other but the Faunus girl didn't know where she stood with his team. She breathed deeply and gathered all the courage she could. She could do this. The skittish rabbit rose from her table and approached team CRDL.

She could feel the stares of the rest of the lunch room on her. Was she actually walking up to CRDL? Their stares didn't help her nerves but she walked up to them none the less.

"You want something freak?" Velvet swallowed and shuffled her feet. She could do this. "Do you know where-"

"Velvet!" She spun on a dime faster than most could track. She knew that voice anywhere.

"Cardin-Mph!" The instant she turned around she found a soft pair of lips crash into hers. Her eyes could not have widened more than they did in that instant. Cardin was kissing her! In the lunchroom! In front of everyone! And yet . . . she found she didn't care. She wrapped her arms around his neck and melted into the kiss.

Cardin could feel the stares of everyone focused on them but he didn't care. He didn't care if word got around he was dating Velvet. He didn't care if his bastard father found out. As he held the smaller rabbit Faunus in his arms he confirmed it in his mind. She was his just as he was hers and he would protect what belonged to him no matter what. He knew that was selfish but he didn't care. He just continued to enjoy the kiss.

Nothing else to say but I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Waiver, if you will.

Waiver: Review please!