Holy sh-t you guys, I'm actually going to write a multi-chapter story.

Chapter the First: In which a Setting is established; Characters are introduced; and Romance is sparked.

The day had finally come. After many tests, both theoretical and practical, Flora Summers was finally standing in the designated airship gate reserved for the new freshman students of the prestigious Beacon Academy. She had settled into a corner seat overlooking the gate and the door leading back out to the main airship terminal. She wished her parents could be there to wave her off and wish her good luck with the next step in her training to become a Huntress, but they were off at Signal Academy for her younger sisters' entrance exams. Good luck you guys, I'll be waiting for you at Beacon…

She shifted in her seat as she heard running footsteps in the main terminal. A tall girl with blonde hair rushed by towards the gate reserved for seniors.

"Hurry up Ruby, or we'll not make it on board!" A smaller, redhead girl wearing a billowing red cape ran up to her big sister.

"But Yaang, the airship doesn't take off for another ten minu-" The cloaked girl stopped as she caught a glimpse of Flora out of the corner of her eye, smiled and waved and then ran after her sister.

"Something wrong, Rubes?"

"Nah, just saw one of those guys we had the workshop with – you remember the girl with the axe sh-" Flora never heard he end of the conversation as the two sisters ran out of earshot. She chuckled to herself as she remembered the eight Wednesday afternoons she had spent in a weapons workshop with other hopeful future students in one of Beacon Academy's shooting galleries, designing weapons and just hanging out in general. She felt the comfortable weight of her axe-shotgun The Woodsman on her back as she stood up to stretch her body. With only a few minutes left until the airship was to leave for Beacon, some of her future classmates started to pile in. Some of them ignored her, some smiled and waved when they recognised her from the workshop event. Suddenly she spotted a boy stealing glances at her. When he saw that he'd been caught in the act, he tried to nonchalantly look away. Subtle.

She had no time to confront him however, as the signal to board the airship sounded over the gate coms.

As she got on board she spotted the boy further up in the mass of people, and started to move towards him.

"Hey you! Couldn't help but notice you were scopin' me out back there!" She said with a smile as she crept up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Gah! Please don't mug me!" the boy yelled as he recoiled in surprise.

"Now why would I do that? You don't look particularly rich… You gonna tell me why you were gawking earlier or not?" she teased, poking his ribs.

"Eh… hehehe… I… liked your weapon?"

"… Which I carry on my back, facing away from you?"

"… Your tunic? It's got a cute-looking… hood?"

"Try again."

He never got a chance to reply, as a hologram of a stern-looking blonde woman appeared in the airship.

"Hello, and welcome to Beacon! My name is Glynda Goodwitch. You are among a privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious academy! Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace, and as future Huntsmen and Huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and the training to protect our world." As the hologram faded, a multitude of whispers about "the Glynda Goodwitch" echoed in the airship.

Flora turned to face her newfound friend with a sly smile.

"Ok, now can you please tell me why you were so obviously checking me out earlier?"

"I… I remembered you from that workshop event and was trying to confirm it actually were you. Your name was… Flora, right?"

"Flora Summers, yeah. And you are…?"

"Xander. Xander Braun." He blushed slightly while holding out his hand for Flora to shake.

"Nice to meet you Xander. Welcome to Beacon."

"Thanks. You too."

AN: It bears repeating – I'm actually going through with this! I'm both super scared and super excited at the same time!

At least Flora seems a bit more alert to the lovey-dovey happenings than Jaune was with Pyrrha…

EDIT: Fractured sentence.

I do not own RWBY, that's RoosterTeeth and Monty Oum.