Thank you, everyone, for 700 followers. This is insane and I appreciate all of your support.   

     "Pilot, I would like to inform you that the match between Yang Xiao Long and Weiss Schnee against the select members of team FNKI in the tournament has concluded," Osiris said as his pilot walked into the hangar.

     "Already?" (Y/N) questioned in disbelief. "It's been all of twenty minutes since I left the stadium."

     "Affirmative. After a fifteen minute break, the fight commenced and lasted four minutes and twenty five seconds."

     "Damn. Maybe I should've stayed and watched. Wouldn't have lost that much time."

     "It is alright, pilot. I am sure you will be satisfied with the finals matches."

     "Are you? You'll have to remind Marvin to get my ticket, then." (Y/N) pulled his Wingman from its holster and tossed it to the workbench on his right when he heard the robotic greeting of the MRVN unit currently responsible for piloting the dropship the titan shared the hanger with. 

     "I would do so sooner rather than later. According to the schedule, the first finals match is tonight." Osiris's eye followed his pilot to the workbench the Wingman had just landed on.

     "Is that so?" (Y/N) waved it off. "I'll get to when I get to it. I'm too close to finishing the weapon design. On that note, if you would . . . ?" The pilot gestured to the space above his personal crafting table and looked to Osiris. The titan's mono-eye shifted and spun within its housing, eventually settling before moving forward a few centimeters and flashing with a brilliant blue light that traveled through the air as a projector would through dust. Only this light stopped, forming shapes and patterns before the pilot who requested it.

     (Y/N) reached his hands toward the shapes created by the light and, once his fingers made contact with them, began to move them around. "God, I love your holographic display function. So much nicer than paper blueprints."

     "It was a very good idea on your part, pilot. The holo-display is almost always used to replicate previously given briefings by titans to their pilots. The efficiency of 3-dimensional design abilities has not been addressed prior in the Militia. By my calculations, it will improve the speed and quality of the finished product by nearly fifty percent."

     "Yep." (Y/N) responded. "Well, all that and it makes me feel like Tony Stark." (Y/N) touched his fingers to the glowing rectangle representing one of the blades before moving it into a bracer. Both of the objects began to blur, the system's way of notifying there was an error. With a sigh, he took them apart to find where exactly the error was occurring and why. As he moved the blade piece to the right, he caught a glimpse of the light shining through the space between the large door and the wall at the hangar entrance. He saw the dimmer orange rather than the bright yellow-white. The sun was going down, and he was running out of time. It wasn't as if that caused serious problems. There was always more time to be used, after all.

     Hopefully, he would not need it.

     After some adjustment, the final piece of the model fell into place, completing and allowing it to become one solid object. (Y/N) used his hand to rotate it, checking various places and connections to ensure stability. "How's it look on your end?" He asked his titan, hoping the machine's literally inhuman observational skills would render useful.

     "Structurally, I can see nothing wrong. However, the construction process will be difficult when compared to your experience with holograms. You are very fortunate to have Qrow's assistance."

     "Probably. I hope the process is quick, though. I know I'm lucky to have that drunk ass's help but that doesn't mean I like his company." (Y/N) held out his palm to the completed holographic model, seeing a dim white ring form around his hand before he moved said hand backward, taking the holo with it. He then turned his hand to face him and pushed the model into his helmet. The light projections from Osiris faded away as a series of numbers and letters lit up the left side of (Y/N)'s HUD, depicting the flow of new data as lines of code moving down his field of vision. Eventually, the sequences receded from top to bottom and the message 'data transfer complete' in white letters appeared only long enough to be read. "Now to contact the ass himself." (Y/N) thought aloud, digging his scroll and opening his contact list. He deemed it wise to stick to direct messaging when it came to the rather unfriendly huntsman, as one might assume Qrow would be in bars or love hotel rooms and almost never in the mood to respond verbally.

     Weapon design is done. I can build. Can you forge metal?

     He did his best to keep it punctual as he typed. The scroll buzzed nearly a minute later.

     Port's room. Now.

     (Y/N) looked at the response, puzzled. "Port's room? Why the hell are we going there?" The beginnings of a huntsman's weapon were generally found in a professional blacksmith's forge, which Beacon did not have.

     "Professor Port is a weapon specialist for the students. It is possible that he posses a private forge." Osiris suggested.

     "Well then, I guess I'll be listening to a story while I work. Please kill me now." (Y/N) began collecting the various supplies and miscellaneous parts he had purchased a few days prior for the occasion and carefully placed them into a duffel bag before zipping it up and throwing it over his shoulder. "I'll be seeing you, Osiris." He walked for the exit, hearing a wish of luck from his titan before palming the door button and stepping out without another word.

     Qrow was found in the hallway leading to Port's classroom, walking slow, hunched over with his hands shoved into his pockets. (Y/N) jogged to catch up with him.  

     "I assume we aren't going to Port for his legendary stories?" (Y/N) finally asked, trying to confirm his titan's idea. 

    "No," Qrow answered quickly. (Y/N) said nothing else for a brief moment, thinking about Qrow's tone and the best way to go about it. 

     "You know, you don't have to hate me." He chose his usual method of warming up to people. Qrow gave no response, only eyeing him for half a second before looking back to the hall. 

     After a sigh, Qrow answered. "I don't hate you. You're just a bad influence. Especially on my nieces."

     "Oh, Qrow, I'm hurt! How could you not like me unconditionally for no other reason than the fact I'm the main character?!" (Y/N) placed a hand to his chest in mock offense. "I think I've been a very great anger management therapist for Yang."

     "For one, you're an asshole-"

     "And proud of it."

     "-and two, you operate in a team of teenagers but don't seem to give a damn about anyone but yourself. I've heard some pretty indecent things about you and killing people unnecessarily."

     (Y/N) rolled his eyes with a huff. "Oh, please. Like you're innocent of killing."

     "You don't that. You don't know shit about me." Qrow sneered. 

     "No, but I do know that anyone emo enough to tell me that is either a drama bum or has seen some fucked up shit. And given that flask of yours is always on you, I'm willing to bet it's the second since normal people don't drink as much as you do for leisure." 

     Qrow 'tsked' his tongue in thought. "So you're 'perceptive', huh?"

     "It's not perception. I can see it in your walk. In how you talk. How you carry yourself. It's almost obvious with enough experience."

     "Is that so?" The huntsman asked sarcastically. "So what? You just take one look at me and think you know all there is to know?"

     "Not everything, but I'm sure you could tell too when you first saw me." The two reached Port's room. (Y/N) stepped ahead, grabbing the door. "All I'm saying is that when it comes to fucked up souls, it takes one to know one." He pulled the door open and stepped inside. 

     "Gentlemen!" Boomed Port's voice. "How nice of you to stop by. Please, the forge is this way!" The larger man turned and began walking to the back of the room followed by his guests. When he reached the far wall, he pulled a lever mounted to it. Soon after, the walls parted to reveal a wide, spacious room filled with tables, the occasional anvil, large hammers, and what looked to be ovens. "Welcome to my forge! I'm sure you'll find it quite convenient, especially since there's only two of you and not an entire class of students." Port released on of his bellowing laughs as he stepped to the side and allowed the two to pass. 

     "Ah, you know, watching two people put aside their differences and come together like this reminds me of something from a long time ago." Port started. 

     "Fuck my life." (Y/N) palmed the face his helmet in dread before looking to his right after hearing the exact same words from Qrow. The two shared an awkward glance before they turned to the tools they had been supplied. The huntsman began to heat an oven as (Y/N) removed his scroll, retrieving the weapon data from within. Both began to prepare for the long, hot, tiring, and now ear-removing-ly boring evening ahead of them.      

                                                                                                                                               * * *

     The dull roar of the crowd filled (Y/N)'s ears as he approached a Colosseum entrance. He was here, of course, much earlier than he wanted or expected to be. But misfortune and inconvenience were things the pilot was slowly becoming accustomed to. This time, however, it may have been worth it, as seen by the new armored bracers that adorned either of his forearms.

     After several minutes, (Y/N) found the seat he was looking for, slowly coming to the realization that telling someone they would get a front-row seat didn't mean much when the first several rows were reserved specifically for students.

     "(Y/N)!" Ruby cheered, smiling wide as he took the seat next to her. Her teammates, Weiss and Blake sat to her right. They looked over at the sound of her voice, the two having slightly different reactions. Weiss, being who she was, gave only a silent eye roll.

     "You actually came." Blake's commented in slight surprise.

     "What did you think I'd do?" (Y/N) leaned past Ruby to look at her.

     "I'm not really sure. But I know Yang will have an extra reason to compete now that you're watching." Blake smiled before turning back to the arena.

     "Well, I don't know what she thinks she has to prove but- "(Y/N) raised his right forearm, showing off the results of his handiwork. "- I'll take her on myself next time." Slight and instantaneous regret followed shortly.

     Ruby gasped, her eyes becoming inhumanly wide before (Y/N) felt his arm yanked to the right faster than he was comfortable with. "You made a weapon?!" Her hands grabbed and moved about the piece eagerly, trying to find every little detail or mechanism hinting to what its function may be. "That's so cool! What does it do?! Is it also a gun?! Does it shoot?! Can I see it?!" Ruby's storm of questions was stopped when she felt the palm of (Y/N)'s left hand pressed against her face.

     "Kalm." He said, deadpanning.

     "O-Oh! Right. Sorry." A light red dusted Ruby's cheeks as she shied away, releasing (Y/N)'s arm.

     "While I appreciate the enthusiasm, I would prefer my arm not be torn off. And on the topic of what it is, well, I'm not going to reveal my latest and greatest lethal invention just yet."

     "Aw, come on!" Ruby pouted. "Please?"

     "No."

     "Pretty please?" Ruby clasped her hands together and leaned closer.

     "Negatory."

     "With a cookie on top?" The silver-eyed girl suddenly had one of the most pitiful looks in her eyes (Y/N) had ever seen. Like a puppy. A blonde eviscerated puppy. Except not blonde.

     Is she trying to use puppy dog eyes on me?! You think I'll crack that easily, Ruby Rose?!

     "Nope." (Y/N) popped the 'p'. "But if it's really killing you that much, you can just ask your Drunkle about it later."

     "Uncle Qrow? Did he help you build it?!" Ruby asked, somehow finding excitement in that fact as well.

     "Yep. Couldn't tell you why, though. Heh. Maybe felt bad about attacking me. Fucking asshole." (Y/N) turned away from her, muttering the last part.

     "He did what?" Ruby reeled back, shock and concern taking over her expression before she sighed, running a hand down her face. "Are you okay?!" She suddenly asked, frantically looking the pilot over for any signs of injury.

     "It happened a while ago. Got a few bruises but I'll manage."

     "I'm really sorry! I think he means well. He just has a weird way of showing it."

     "Yeah . . . right." (Y/N) drifted into his own thoughts for a moment, thinking back to Qrow's reason for helping him and how it was essentially just to make him a bigger target. He would have stayed there in his mind had the dull roar of the crowd not become a cacophony of shrieking and cheering. (Y/N) and Ruby looked outward to see a line of students, some they knew, others they did not, but each adorned a weapon and unique combat gear. At the end of the row closest to them was Yang. Further down the line was Penny, Mercury, and Pyrrha.

     "Now for the moment you've all been waiting for: the one on one finals!" Port's voice announced over the speakers followed by storms of cheers and claps. (Y/N) found himself slowly and begrudgingly joining in with a slow clap of his own, while also tempted to plug his ears, having decided he didn't want to hear Port's voice again for the next week. "Barty! Why don't you explain the rules!"

     Oobleck quickly took over. "Ah, it's quite simple, Peter. Instead of a bracket system, each round of the finals will be randomly determined immediately before the match takes place."

     "Much like any good hunt, there will be Zero time to prepare!" Port finished.

     "Ah, yes, yes, now let's see who our first match will be!" Oobleck pointed to the camera filming him in the booth as the megatrons around the arena lit up, each with two rectangles side by side that were quickly filled with a speed scrolling of every student on the roster. The left was filled with the portrait of Mercury, something that excited (Y/N) with the idea of watching the metal-legged assmunch get humiliated on live, world TV.

     And somehow, in the second space, appeared Yang Xiao Long.

     "Yang Xiao Long and Mercury Black!" Port's voice blasted over the speaker system.

     "Break a leg, sis!" Ruby yelled over the cheers of the people.     

     "Well, shit." (Y/N) leaned forward on his elbows. "I think I'm going to enjoy this."

     "Me too!" Ruby's fists shook in anticipation. "Yang's a really skilled fighter. It might be weird, though. Mercury kicks a lot, which is basically Yang's opposite." (Y/N) though of her words before humming in acknowledgment.

     Punch Happy Vs. Never Miss a Leg Day. Yeah, this is going to be fun. Why is Mercury twitching so much?

     As the other students left the stage, the central platform Yang and Mercury stood on began to rise, as did a ring of lights around it, illuminating them from every angle. Both dropped into their respective fighting stances, inching closer, practically touching by the time Port finished the countdown. When he did, the two were off in an instant, throwing punches and kicks with the power to shatter the ground beneath them. The fight was set to be quite the kick-off for the finals. 

     And then it wasn't. 

     It happened in an instant. Faster than could have been seen and too unexpected to stop. Before anyone knew exactly what had happened, Mercury sat crumpled on the ground, clutching his leg, and screaming in agony. Even from the seat (Y/N) could hear it over the booing and jeering. 

     "My leg! My leg!' Mercury held it, his eyes filled with panic. 

     "That's what you get, you little-" Yang started, only to be silenced by the Atlesian Knights that surrounded her. 

     "Yang Xiao Long, stand down!" Yelled a guard in the Knight circle. 

     "What? Why?!" She turned to the speaker. Emerald was quick to join her partner in the arena.

     "Why'd she do that?! Why'd she attack me?!" The silver-haired boy looked to Emerald who kneeled next to him before she turned to glare at Yang. The blonde in question, confused, looked to the large screen at the top of the stands, replaying the last minute of the fight. 

     (Y/N)'s gaze flicked to the members of team RWBY sitting next to him, each with a different expression of horror. He looked back to the arena. Holy shit. What the hell happened, Yang?

     "Pilot, can you hear me?" Osiris's voice sounded through the helmet speakers. 

     "Yeah. You're seeing this, right?"

     "Affirmative. However, there is something strange about Mercury Black's current state. Scans from your fight with him depict fully prosthetic legs from above the knee down. If Yang Xiao Long's punch connected with his prosthetics, it is unlikely he would feel pain."

     Shaking from its initial shock, the pilot's mind focused, connecting several dots and ideas before coming to a conclusion. "Is he faking it?"

     "That is currently unknown. A neuro scan would be able to answer that question. You will need to get closer, however." 

     "Right." (Y/N) stood up from his seat and jumped off the railing to the ground below. "If he is faking, then I doubt he'd let me close to him." The suits cloaking system activated as its user closed the distance to the possibly injured student. A pair of paramedics carrying a stretcher was running toward Mercury as well. (Y/N) had to beat them. 

     The pilot fired his grappling hook at the ground and slingshot himself straight to Mercury, dropping into a kneeling position and sliding the last few feet. When close enough, he looked straight at Mercury's head, allowing the system within his helmet to begin scanning. He was, unfortunately, not invisible long enough to complete the scan, given that cloak only lasts four seconds. (Y/N) ignored the renewed panic on Mercury's face when he became visible. 

     "What the hell?" Emerald yelled before pushing (Y/N) away. He paid her no mind, attempting to keep his eyes locked on his target. It was apparent that she would not allow it as she stepped in between them. (Y/N) continued to ignore and look past her. He felt her hands on his shoulders as she pushed again with greater force. "Back off! Give him some air!" The paramedics reached Mercury, talking briefly before putting him on the stretcher, effectively covering his head. 

     "I can give him medical attention." (Y/N) finally addressed Emerald, who frowned as he lied through his teeth. 

     "We don't want your help!" She glared at him. When he tried to push past her again, she turned to the circle of Atlesian guards surrounding Yang. "Can one of you help? This guy's harassing us!" 

     The two human guards turned before one came running backed by two Knights. "Sir," the guard started, "please back away and let the professionals handle this." They blocked him, and (Y/N) grit his teeth in frustration as he watched Emerald run to catch up with her partner. He made one more attempt to move past them and was met the hand of the guard on his chest. "Go back to your seat." It was an order. 

     "Pilot, I believe you are too late. It would be best to follow their instructions before you draw any more unwanted attention." OS's said through the comm. 

     "Damn." (Y/N) relented, raising his hands to show he wasn't hostile before turning back to the stands. "Osiris, find me General Ironwood. He and I are gonna have a talk."  

I hope you all enjoyed this. I wasn't sure how to go about the weapon forging. I didn't know if it should have been super dramatic or whatnot. Either way. Sorry if this felt off to read. It certainly felt off the write...