Blake - Still in the sparring class

It had been a short while since Ruby had her sparring match and had unfortunately messed up and left. Blake's heart was going out to her, from where she was sitting on the outdoor bleachers. Making the occasional slip up was one thing, but to be teased for it was just wrong.

Blake concluded that thought with a firm glare at Cardin, who was currently the one sparring with - once again - Jaune. Miss Goodwitch must do that intentionally.

It wasn't even like Cardin was the best fighter among the class, but Blake gathered that any other student would probably want to go easy on Jaune. Blake didn't want to say that the class pitied him or anything but wailing on the skinny blond just felt like kicking a puppy sometimes.

Of course, Cardin seemed to be the only one not to care and gave Jaune all he had. Granted, Jaune was improving somewhat. He was at least thinking of strategy rather than fighting blindly; that was giving him a few more seconds of time. However, it still wasn't much of a fight, as Cardin soon gave him one last blow and Jaune's aura was near depleted. The fight was over.

Blake wasn't surprised by the outcome, but she was still a little disappointed that Cardin hadn't got some karma for making fun of Ruby the way he and his team had.

Continuing to glare at the subject of her thoughts as he was making his way back up the bleachers toward his team, Blake wandered if there was any redemption for him. He bullied Jaune a lot less, after the ursa incident, but still gave no care to him in training and he was still a pain to everyone else.

Just then, she spotted Cardin casting his attention elsewhere and then changed his route, walking up the bleachers to a new destination. He seemed excited somewhat. Blake looked to where he appeared to be walking and saw none other than the faunus student, Velvet Scarlatina.

Of course, Blake thought, her expression growing dark as a hiss emerged from deep within her.

Coco, who would typically be sitting with Velvet, had not been present for the sparring match, due to being under the weather. Cardin must have saw Velvet as a sitting duck right now.

Not only that, but the other CRDL team members must have seen what their leader was intending and were making to head over to the poor girl as well.

Cardin was practically already there by the time Velvet realised what was happening. Blake could see the girl's expression turn to that of dread, knowing what was coming.

Blake simmered from where she sat, happily. Huh?

She shouldn't be angry

Blake's brows lifted and her scowl faded into a brief look of confusion...

She should be happy

... before a contented smile replaced it.

Yeah, I should be happy, Blake thought, as she continued to gaze at the group closing in on the faunus girl, who also had a strange, confused expression before she too started smiling at the group.

After all, Velvet was going to get teased for being a faunus by a bunch of racist jerks. Just the idea brightens my day.

And indeed, she was happy. She was happy that she got to watch Team CRDL bully Velvet. She was happy that Cardin and his posse were a bunch of jerks. She was even happy that faunus were the subjects of bully and ridicule.

Blake sat on the edge of her seat, getting a little giddy as Cardin pulls on the girl's bunny ears, glad that she's got such a good view to watch. She hoped it won't get called off, but she would be happy just to have seen this little bit. Cardin was talking to the girl, but Blake couldn't make it out. That was fine, though. She was content enough.

The victim in question seemed to be enjoying herself too, which pleased Blake.

She should be happy.

Velvet had been minding her own business, deliberately sitting up in the top corner, to keep out of the way and out of sight. With Coco absent, Velvet usually had a difficult time. The occasional comment here and there she could deal with, because Coco would usually be there to have her back. Alone, however, Velvet felt ****.

One would have assumed that her ears would be on high alert, if she felt so uneasy. Alas, she hadn't been aware of her number one danger until he was practically on top of her.

"Hey, Carrots," Cardin, as soon as their eyes met.

Velvet face instantly fell and she let out a squeak in drea- happiness, knowing that a bunch of rude comments and ear-pulling was on it's way.

Wait, _Happiness?_ She shouldn't be happ-UPSET, the rabbit girl thought, growing confused.

"Your girlfriend ain't here to save ya?" Cardin said.

Velvet, bizarrely, found herself giggling as she replied, "Nope," with a ready eagerness that she had never expressed before in this context.

She should call for help. She should-sh- should... she should...n't.

She shouldn't be upset. She should be happy.

Cardin responded just as eagerly

"Well, that's good. I want to see, if I can get these antennae off your head."

Velvet sat by and let him get behind her and began yanking on her ears, harshly.

Velvet was so happy being bullied.

She shouldn't be upset. She should be happy.

And indeed, she was happy. She was happy that Cardin was yanking on her ears and that Coco was not here to defend her. She was happy that she was an object of ridicule for her faunus nature and couldn't stand up for herself.

Why had this ever bothered her before? Velvet didn't know. She didn't care. She just sat by passively and enjoyed her torment.

Hearing some noise close by, she turned to see the other members of Team CRDL closing in on her.

Goodie, Velvet beamed.

"Hey, Scrub Hair. You're looking cheery today," Russell said, noting her big grin, with one equally as big.

"I am," Velvet said.

"What up? Did you break her already, Card?" said Sky, reaching his leader's side.

"I guess. Don't worry. Just be happy that she's making this easy," replied Cardin.

"Yeah, -oof- be happy," Velvet said, enjoying the yank that Cardin delivered.

Sky took the time to slide her box away from her. He wasn't sure what her weapon actually was, but he didn't want to take the chance that she wasn't just playing along to get her own back when they let their guard down.

I shouldn't be worried, though, Sky thought, I should be happy.

Yeah. Cardin was right. Just enjoy the moment while it lasts.

In this time, both Dove and Russell had taken each ear.

"This is General Bronzewing, calling the Easter Faunus. Do you receive me? OVER. KSSSH" said Dove, putting the ear to his mouth and putting on a radio voice.

Russell, on the other hand, just held the ear and belted straight at Velvet's head, "CAN YOU HEAR US!!!?"

Dove, following his friend's lead, also yelled, "DO WE NEED TO FIND YOU A THIRD PAIR OF EARS TO HEAR US WITH?"

Velvet felt her head quake as the boys shouted right down her ear canals. They were certainly bold today.

Velvet began to laugh at the jokes, finally realising the happiness that came at being the butt of them.

She was glad that Coco had not shown up today. In fact, Velvet was glad that she was sick. Normally, Velvet would be concerned for her best friend's health, but she shouldn't worry. She should be happy.

Today was shaping up to be a great day.

Blake had witnessed all of this, clapping slightly in excitement as the bullies had shouted down at her. She got to hear the "third ear" comment.

"Ha ha. They are so clever," Blake giggled to herself.

She felt so blessed that she'll get to hear anti-faunus racism from these lot every day until they graduate.

She should really have been more grateful to them before now. They had always made her so angry. She had been angry a lot, even when she hadn't realised that she was. When was the last time she smiled this much, she wondered.

She thought of when CRDL had made fun of Ruby for falling over during her turn. She had felt so bad for Ruby and felt utter hatred for the guys for teasing her. In retrospect, however, she can't think of that event without feeling happy that Ruby failed and got made fun of.

The inquisitive Blake would typically have thought that this mood change was strange, but SHE SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED. SHE SHOULD BE HAPPY. The idea of anything weird going on quickly left her mind.

"Hey Blake," she heard the familiar voice of Ruby call her. She had clearly washed herself off, although her dress was still a little grubby. However, she seemed a lot better than last the cat girl had seen her.

"Hey Ruby," Blake beamed back.

"What did I miss?"

"Jaune lost to Cardin."

"Good for Cardin," replied Ruby, genuinely pleased with the result. The animosity she had for them mere minutes ago completely gone.

"I know, right? After that, I'm not sure. I was watching them pick on Velvet until you turned up," said Blake, with a sing song voice that Ruby would have found concerning, if she wasn't feeling so happy.

"Huh. Cardin's certainly having a good day. The one-day Coco is absent."

"Great, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Oh hey, where's Yang and Weiss right now?"