"As much as I support an individual's quest for redirection in life, I cannot let one student pose a risk for the safety of all others. I am not looking for a guarantee as occasional mistakes do occur, but how can I know your past…lifestyle will not induce conflict in such a drastically different environment. Besides your word that is." The grey-haired man leaned slightly farther back in his chair, folded his hands over his crossed legs, and steadied his gaze at me over small-rimmed glasses. Behind him, Ms. Goodwitch stared with an intensity that wasn't exactly a glare, but it was definitely close.
My jaw tightened slightly at the suggestion, and I turned momentarily to look out the enormous window which took up the majority of clock tower's walls. The outside view was impressive. Majestic even, with the city of Vale alive and pulsing thousands of feet below. Although I currently hated the office in which I had forced myself to visit, the view alone was nearly enough to ease my discomfort. Nearly.
Knowing they needed an answer, I tore myself away from the city to level my eyes with the headmaster.
"I've already told you why I would like to enroll, but a life at this school is just as much a safe haven for me as it is a huntsman academy. Any problem that arises as a result of my background merely invites my former…associates to review my unexpected departure. Personally." Although I tried to maintain my composure, my knuckles turned white from the death grip of my interlocked hands. I stole a glance at Goodwitch before continuing. "Keeping everyone safe and uninvolved in that aspect of my life is just as much a priority of mine as it is yours. If I mess up in that manner and draw their attention, I don't exactly get a second chance." I mentally winced at the image. I appreciated having all of my appendages attached.
The older huntsman narrowed his eyes briefly before chuckling humorously. I found it difficult to join in as the man was essentially deciding my own longevity. "While I applaud your decision to renounce unjust violence, I also understand the difficult position that puts you in." I very much doubted that. "Very well, I will accept the results of your entrance examination, but we will stay in touch. Regularly. I would hate to see you acclimate…" He paused. "Poorly."
I exhaled slowly and allowed the nervous heat in my stomach to dissipate slightly. Lowering my head, I nodded slowly, refusing to meet his eyes in the fear he would rescind the admission. "Thank you…sir," I managed to reply. I never considered myself an anxious person, but the past few months hadn't exactly allowed for a calm state of mind. Being part of a terrorist organization was certainly stressful, but running from said group proved much more so. And running could only work for so long.
"Should we be aware of anything else you're hiding?" Ms. Goodwitch cut in before I could make my exit. Although she had allowed her superior to conduct the meeting at his leisure, her own thoughts on the matter were explicitly clear.
"Is there anything else we should know as staff that would allow you an easier adjustment?" Ozpin stated more lightly.
Clearing my throat and choosing to look at my savior rather than the venomous pet he kept named Goodwitch, I considered his question. Was there anything else? Knowing the potential cost of such information, Ozpin hadn't asked anything about the White Fang beyond the extent of my involvement. Believing I could learn to fit in easily enough, I tried to think of what else beyond my past, illegal activities might cause me problems. Besides just people in general. Although I preferred to just mildly hate everyone, that mindset wasn't exactly conducive to blending in.
"I'm not quite sure how the selection process works, but I would rather not be a team leader." At that, Ozpin raised an eyebrow. From what I had mentioned earlier, he knew I was more than capable of commanding subordinates, especially in combat situations. "I know I'll regret it later, but I can give instruction just fine. I probably need to become better at listening to them more than anything." Yes, I would most definitely regret that. I casually wondered how many times I could shoot myself in the foot before I could no longer outrun my problems.
"Very well, I will keep your request in mind when the time comes. I invite you to do the same no matter how much you may come to regret it." I nodded and mentally fired off another round into the other foot. Glad to be rid of this godforsaken office, I rose quickly, nodded once more, and made for the door. "Oh, and Mr. Taurus," the headmaster called. I stopped in the doorway without turning. "Do try to conduct yourself more amiably among your peers. It's difficult to blend in when everyone learns to give you a wide berth." Although he couldn't exactly see the scowl on my face, the slam of the door probably conveyed a similar message.
God, did I hate people. And I did it blindly. In fact, one could almost say I reveled in it. Although I had tried to rework the entire terrorist thing in the last few months, that did not mean I was trying to be a good person. I was an asshole from the start, and I actively embraced that. The noise from the crowd of anxious and overly-talkative incoming first-years was still audible in the airship restroom despite my attempts to block it out. Do try to conduct yourself more amiably…bastard.
Splashing some cold water on my face, I slicked my hair back into its usual position and tugged the partial face mask back into position. I stared into the bathroom mirror and once again tried to get used to the drastic change in appearance which I had attempted since my sudden career change. I'd allowed the crisp, rose-patterned hair to become overgrown and fall into short, asymmetric spikes down my head. I hated the change, but to hell with it. The red-styled grimm mask had been removed to reveal cold, dark-grey irises, and the before-mentioned, contoured black face-mask continued from my shirt collar onto the bridge of my nose.
With the hood of my black combat jacket pulled up over my horns, I liked to think that I looked dangerous. Or at least relatively unpleasant. Although the outfit screamed non-civilian, the apparel served its dual purposes of making the former Adam Taurus unrecognizable while also falling in line with the atypical attire of huntsmen. I briefly wondered what my former partner would think of the change, but I immediately crushed the thought.
While I would have preferred to continue my musings in the locked compartment, the sound of a fellow student throwing up near the door encouraged me to vacate the only available vomit-receptacle that wasn't another person. Sighing internally, I opened the door to the site of a disheveled, puke-stained male moaning beside his unfortunate victim. The girl, with blond hair down to her ass, stood fuming while looking crossed between pummeling the leaking boy into oblivion and avoiding causing another acidic eruption. Laughing internally (because I'm an asshole), I sidestepped the two casualties and turned right into-
"-God, I just want normal knees-" The girl clad in a red combat skirt stopped her panic-driven monologue to look at me with an expression that screamed socially incapable. Well, shit.
"…And I wish you the best in that endeavor." I replied dryly. While waiting in vain for a coherent reply, I felt like a giant standing next to the red misfit. Honestly, she looked twelve, and her people skills didn't deter that assumption. A couple of seconds ticked by while she attempted to use her words, and I internally tried to rationalize life as a terrorist. "Well, it was…nice meeting you. I'll talk to you later-"
"Ruby! Introduce me to your friend!" The blond female exclaimed as she sauntered over to us both. Dammit. "I'm Yang, her older sister!" She offered with a large smile. I immediately disliked her.
"Adam," I replied, forcing a pained smile to my face. A few more seconds went by as I wracked my brain for something to talk about. I suppose I wasn't much better at this than the rose-colored dwarf. Thankfully I was saved by the voice of Miss Goodwitch coming over the intercom.
"Attention all new students, we have arrived at Beacon academy. Please exit promptly and gather before the statue directly in front of the school entrance." Seizing the opportunity for escape, I shouldered my pack and made for the opening shuttle doors.
"I'll talk with you both later," I called to them while praying the opposite. Suppressing another sigh, I locked my eyes upon Ozpin at the end of the walkway and took my place among the herd of students drinking in their new surroundings.
Finding a relatively quiet corner in which to settle down, I unslung my bag and sat down against the wooden wall, propping my weapon beside me. The induction activities had ended at least for today, and we had been dropped off in a large, bare auditorium. Although everyone else was busy spreading out their own, personal sleeping bags, I unfortunately couldn't afford that luxury, nor did I feel the urge to change into something more comfortable. I allowed my head to fall back and watched the sea of people in front of me.
While some immediately tried to sleep for tomorrow's examination, others chose to socialize while already scouting for potential friends and teammates. Maybe they were right to be so proactive in finding allies, and I had even been approached twice about the ordeal. I didn't think the headmaster would allow team formation to be so simple, however, and, to be honest, the idea of finding people with whom to be partnered for the next four years seemed daunting. Fortunately, I didn't seem to be the only one with that same nervous anticipation.
It took a moment to recognize her without the red hood, but Ruby was camped out nearby scribbling furiously into a notebook. Her well-endowed sister lounged next to her, obviously trying to put her mind at ease. While Yang seemed about the same age as myself and the other first year students, Ruby was obviously younger than the typical seventeen years of age for entering Beacon. I briefly wondered if her early admission was a result of skill, luck, or some other factor.
Unfortunately, at this point, the young girl became exasperated at whatever pep talk she was receiving and looked up from her note as she threw her pillow at the blond. Our eyes met, and her cheeks turned scarlet as she noticed my stare. Shit. She quickly looked away, babbling something to Yang as if in panic, and for a moment I actually felt genuinely sorry for the small girl. Although I certainly felt socially out of depth, she very clearly felt herself incapable of making friends with older peers, and today's experiences only appeared to exacerbate those fears. In terms of the isolation, I could empathize to some extent.
Although it felt out of character, I smiled noticeably and raised my hand in a slight wave when she glanced back over to check if I were still staring. While the small gesture really didn't mean much, I supposed the interaction was a small victory for both of us as her face lit up, and she waved back. As the small girl turned her attention back towards Yang, I closed my eyes and allowed my head to fall back against the hard oak. Tomorrow would be all sorts of hell, but I refused to let that stress diminish the last decent night's sleep I would likely get for a while.
Apparently, however, my appearance proved neither dangerous nor unpleasant since not even the guy wearing onesie pajamas was deterred from kneeling down in front of me and placing a hand on my shoulder. Although normally I wouldn't hesitate to break such a hand, his suggestive glance stopped me cold while also making me feel extremely uncomfortable.
My discomfort must have shown as he smiled confidently, and I then swallowed hard. In another setting, I may have noticed the distinct smell of Captain Klean's toothpaste on his breath as it filtered through my face mask, but at that moment, his blue eyes felt penetrating while my own screamed help me.
"You know, spots are filling up quickly, but Team Jaune could always use the strong, silent type."
"But sir..." the vomiting youth from earlier whom I'd come to know as Jaune asked in a timid voice, "what is exactly is a landing strategy?" Before last night's awkward encounter, I may have felt sorry for the ill-prepared knight. Now, I was actually kind of glad he didn't know. As Ozpin decided at that moment that taking a long sip form his ever-present coffee was more important than the young man's question, I felt like he shared my sentiments.
I scanned my fellow students one last time before we all settled into a half-crouch (save Jaune). Although I had seen a handful of other faunus the first day, my launch pad was completely surrounded by humans which merely added to my sense of dread. It was unrealistic to hope for a team of only individuals like myself, but at least one other would suffice. Of course, my luck would probably result in a team of only humans. Or females.
The launch of the student to my left refocused my attention to the task at hand. I crouched slightly lower and flicked my eyes towards the headmaster. The stoic huntsman met my gaze with a bemused smile. Before I could narrow my eyes, the platform clicked once underneath me, and I was launched into the air.
The blast of air immediately blew off my hood off, and I flew head first towards the fast-approaching forest below. As the tree line neared, I unslung Wilt and Blush and held the sheathed weapon upside down in front of my torso. Placing my foot on the blade side of the hilt, I pointed the downward-facing handle towards an oncoming branch like a stilt and fired the moment before contact. The hilt shot out at inch before connecting with the bark. The effect absorbed much of the impact and propelled me farther in a more horizontal fashion. With the crimson blade now unsheathed, I jammed the katana into another branch and used my momentum to swing onto lower ones. Wrenching the sword free as I went, I repeated the maneuver until I tucked and rolled on the forest floor. I had landed.
Staying low, I quickly backed into the dense foliage and scanned the surroundings. Nothing existed in the immediate vicinity, so I recombined my weapons and shouldered Blush. Although I couldn't even pretend to harbor the same level of visual and auditory acuity as my former feline friend, my faunus heritage still blessed me with senses far beyond normal human ability. I listened more closely for any sort of life nearby, but the only indication proved the last few thumps of launch pads ejecting students from the cliff now a few miles away. With nothing more to gain here, I chose to venture away from the starting point.
Though the guerrilla tactics of the White Fang had instilled an innate ability to move silently, I still felt uneasy moving through the dark forest. The dense foliage provided just as much cover for lurking grimm as it did for me, and, in this type of environment, I was both hunter and hunted. With some caution, however, I was fairly certain I could move quietly enough to avoid drawing any attent-A heavy gunshot ripped through the air nearby, literally startling every living being within a few mile radius.
Trying to suppress my rage at the fact that any chance of stealth was destroyed with any and all nearby grimm likely converging on this area, I tried to rationalize the discharge.
An accident maybe? Or possibly one of the dark creatures had managed to ambush a student, and the first-year utilized the gun as a last resort? More rounds echoed through the air. Excessively. Carelessly.
Or this person was just an idiot.
I quickly turned away from the source of the commotion in the hopes of avoiding unnecessary combat, but the howling of a converging pack of beowolves erupted through the trees, and black, oncoming shadows appeared at the edges of my field of vision.
Alright, yeah, fuck that guy.
Loosely gripping Wilt, I waited until the closest creature lunged before dropping low, bisecting the wolf, and sheathing my weapon in the same instant. Unfortunately for the attackers, my iaido style proved much too fast, and I dispatched another three grimm in a similar manner before the pack attempted to fight as a unit rather than individuals. This wasn't exactly the fabled grimm intelligence, but a pack mentality did exist in one form or another within most subspecies.
As the monsters converged, I decapitated the closest with a swift horizontal cut and used the dissolving stump as a platform to launch myself in the air. Sweeping Blush in a wide arc, I gunned down the creatures directly below myself while flipping twice to control the maneuver. I jammed Wilt's crimson blade into a wolf's gaping maw upon landing and brought the rifle into the crook of the dying beast's armpit (if they have those), effectively using the dead body as a shield and rifle stand.
After delivering the gift of dust-infused lead to the remaining beowolves, I quickly replaced the weapons on my back while maintaining a grip upon the katana's hilt. Once the bloodied meat shield had slowly collapsed, nothing stirred.
"I like it better without the hood, but I never pegged you as a horny sort of guy."
Sighing explosively, I slowly turned to face God's judgement.
