Row crept through the derelict building. The walls had long since crumbled, with nothing but the skeletal steel keeping the floor up. He walked quietly but quickly along to the outer wall, taking cover behind a small piece of rubble. Peeking out, he viewed the street below him.
He'd been stalking this particular pack of griffins for a few weeks, since he observed their strange tactics used to kill a travelling pack of humans. He could have saved them, but he reasoned that the information that could be obtained would be more valuable than the few lives that had been taken. A tragic sacrifice, but an essential one.
Now, the griffins were gathered in the streets below, surrounded by other types of Grimm They were all acting strangely, and he'd never seen such a big congregation. They'd been moving with purpose for a few days, and now they all seemed to be migrating towards the same place. And if Row's internal compass was right… that place was Beacon.
(Switch)
Erik was shocked. He didn't know Yang well, but they'd had a few classes together, and at most she just seemed a bit lazy. But so aggressive..? He'd seen it with his own eyes. He was close enough that he'd heard the snap of Mercury's leg as Yang attacked him with fury… but it was odd. Erik'd broken his leg before, and he remembered the sharp, sickening crack as the bone splintered… but that wasn't what he'd heard. It sounded more like a… a pole? Metal, grinding and ripping? Erik wasn't sure, but he couldn't help but doubt the scene playing out in front of him. Troubled, he stood up to leave. "Where are you going?" said Grin, turning away from Leanna for a second. "I just.. need some air. That was pretty gruesome." Grin nodded sympathetically, turning back to Leanne, who was also looking at him sympathetically. Emmet stood as well, and followed him outside.
The cool air hit Erik's face, and he couldn't help but sigh with relief. He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. That sound kept replaying in his mind, over and over… and every time, he couldn't help but become more and more convinced that it wasn't right. None of it. Yang attacking so suddenly, that noise, even the way Mercury reacted seemed off.
He looked up at Emmet, who was staring at him with his arms crossed. Emmet rarely changed the frowning expression on his face, and now was no exception. But Erik had been his friend long enough to recognise the glint of concern in his eyes. "It's fine. I'm fine" Erik said with a smile. Emmet replied with a raised eye brow. "What? I am! I just felt a little off." Emmet's stare didn't lessen. "It was… I'm just… Alright fine just stop looking at me like that!" Erik snapped. Emmet smiled at him, then lent against the wall and motioned for him to start. Erik sighed again. "Well, you know back when mercury's leg broke? Something seemed… off." Emmet's frowned deepened, and he took the pad and paper out of his pocket. Erik continued "It didn't sound like bone. I've heard bone breaking plenty of times, but that… it wasn't right, it was like metal breaking. And we know Yang, she wouldn't snap like that." Emmet wrote something down and passed it to Erik. He read it and smiled. "You're right. Let's find out why she did."
(Switch)
Row stalked the group from the buildings. He would have preferred to use the roof tops, but flying Grimm had been circling the pack for a while, and he didn't need them to become alerted to his presence. His griffins were part of that flying pack, but his interest in them had lessened since they had joined up with the thrall of Grimm collecting on the outskirts of the city.
Row had made camp in one of the building with plenty of cover, but also plenty of holes to observe the Grimm from. He also knew that he wouldn't have much food left, and would have no animals nearby to hunt. He hoped that whatever the Grimm were waiting for, would happen soon.
(Switch)
The fight was heavily in Pyrrha's favour. But many people had seen Penny fight and knew that her unnatural fighting style and raw power would be a challenge for Pyrrha, and many even had her as a favourite to win. Not Erik. He'd seen Pyrrha fight, and was a big fan of hers, and was absolutely certain she'd be able to handle herself. That's why he wasn't so disappointed to miss the fight.
Erik knew that the security cameras for the building was in-house, and he also knew that it was very loosely guarded. He snuck through the corridors, keeping low and keeping quiet. He saw a few teachers and security guards, but slipped easily by them. It didn't take long for him to find the security room. He knocked on the door briskly, then flattened himself against the wall. The security guard opened the door and looked around. "anyone there?" said a voice from inside. "Doesn't look like it. Hello?" the security guard said, calling out into the hallway. Riddled with guilt, Erik grabbed his head from behind and wrapped his arms around his neck, forcing the blade of his forearm into his throat. He held him so tightly that he couldn't even choke.
"Tom?" said the second security guard. "c'mon, c'mon" whispered Erik to the security guard who stubbornly would not pass out. Erik knew he didn't have much time. He heard the footsteps of the second security guard moving to the door, slowly. But not slow enough. He turned the corner, and saw his partner being strangled by a student. "What the heck…" he said, as his partner went limp in the students arms. "Finally" said Erik, standing up an brushing himself off. The Security guard un-holstered his gun pointing it straight at Erik's face. Erik raised his arms slowly. "Don't move! You're gonna need a good explana-" the security guard started, but was rudely interrupted by a kick to the head from Erik, knocking him out cold. Erik winced. "Sorry."
Erik went through the archives, looking for the tape. He found it reasonably easily… and there was nothing. Everything he'd suspected… he shook his head. All the video showed was someone in terrible pain being escorted to the hospital. He cursed himself. Not only had he injured innocent people, but he did it for absolutely nothing. Erik rubbed his eyes, casually looking at the monitors mounted on the wall, the only source of light in the dark room. He froze. On one of the monitors, there was Ruby Rose, standing up against… Mercury?
(Switch)
Ruby was angry. He was just standing there, so cocky… after what he did to her sister? It was more than she could bear. She launched herself at him, but he easily dodged, jumping straight over her and kicking down onto her head. She fell to the ground, but was back on her feet instantly. "you monster!" she said, ducking low and using her momentum to punch him in the jaw. Mercury wasn't fast enough and was forced backwards by the blow, but quickly spun, kicking high towards Ruby's face. Ruby ducked, but it had been a feint. Mercury brought his foot down again, squarely hitting her in the back of the head. Ruby hit the floor so hard she bounced. Disoriented, she pushed herself backwards to give herself some space.
"Give it up." Mercury said cockily. "In a few minutes, our plan will be done" Mercury was thrown against the wall suddenly. He quickly got up, but something had grabbed him by the shirt and was repeatedly punching him in the face. Mercury head butted the seemingly thin air, and pushed whatever it was away from him. Out of nowhere, a teenager faded into view, in a fighters position. "Ruby, get out of here" said Erik. "Thank you! Whoever you are. I'll be back to help you, but I have to help penny!"
Erik stopped and looked back at Ruby with a serious look in his eyes. "Ruby… you don't remember me?!" Ruby frowned at him. He did look kind of familiar. "er…. No. Sorry!" Erik almost felt like crying. One of his heroes, the cool, young, attractive Ruby Rose… and she didn't even know him! "I sit next to you in Grimm Studies…"
"No, Yang does."
"The other side."
Ruby thought for a moment, then her face brightened, "Oh yeah! Eren!"
"Erik"
"Oh. Sorry, I'd love to catch up, but I have to go do a thing." Ruby turned and ran through the door. Erik sighed, again, and turned back to Mercury. "To be fair" Mercury said "you do have a pretty forgettable face. Want me to give you a cool scar or something?" Erik narrowed his eyes, then drew his twin daggers from his belt. "Sorry, but I doubt anyone would see it." He said, as he faded away, the last thing to disappear was his steely eyes. "Alright see-through boy" said Mercury. "Let's dance."
(Switch)
Row was careful, he always was. Years of training, and years more of experience had taught him almost everything he needed to know. One of those things was staring him in the face. That thing? Extremely bad luck.
Row hadn't lit a fire, as he didn't want to attract attention. So you can imagine his surprise when the flying Grimm had decided to start attacking the roof of the building he was in. Row crouched, staying very, very still as the Grimm smashed against the roof of his little hideout. He knew he couldn't stay, but he was devastated at having to leave. The roof couldn't hold out much longer, but he took the time and reached up, stroking it as if it was the flank of one of his griffins. "I'm sorry I couldn't stay to kill you" he mumbled, turning and leaving through the doorway, silent as a ghost. He knew once they burst through that roof, they would likely find a new spot, and be lost among the countless, boring griffins out there.
Row avoided the creatures flying outside, following a more central corridor that seemed reasonably untouched by decay. Up ahead, he could see the light from the grey sky streaking in through a hole in the roof. Actually, it was more like a lack of roof entirely, as it was a large room where the roof had been completely torn off. It was… strange. The rest of the rom looked relatively untouched. Row looked for another path to take, but they all lead him too close to Grimm he could plainly see flying outside. He would have to risk cutting across the room.
He looked up to check the sky was clear, then quickly but quietly walked across the open. He reached the doorway, and allowed himself a sigh of relief. But suddenly, Row was pushed back by a large, black hoof. A griffin pushed through the door way, its eyes fixated on Row. Row turned, looking back the way he had come, to see more griffins, probably the same ones that had destroyed his roof. He saw now that he had played into their hands. Row had ben outsmarted by the Grimm. He almost felt giddy with excitement.
(Switch)
Erik was disciplined, well trained in the full use of his power. He knew that it allowed him to fight in the shadows, and the proper use of which could allow him to end a fight before it began, and if not, remain completely flexible and launch any number of surprise attacks. He was, essentially, a trained assassin. So why could he not land a hit?
Mercury seemed to know every counter-stance, every throw, every strike as Erik threw them. He had closed his eyes, and Erik knew he was listening to his movements. Erik's Black, tight clothes were specifically made to be almost frictionless, and make no noise as he moved. His shoes were padded and just as silent, so Erik knew that wasn't the problem. No, the problem was that Mercury knew every technique he did. Erik had assumed Mercury was a brawler, using power over finesse, but now? He wasn't so sure. He didn't know where Mercury had learned Assassin techniques, but he knew that it made his invisibility worthless if mercury knew the way Erik would try to attack him.
So… Erik got creative. Instead of stabbing at Mercury's vital organs, and trying to finish the fight quickly, Erik started attacking fast and light, nicking his arms, punching his face. Mercury, could only cover his face and try to dodge the attacks, though he had no way to know where they were coming from. Slowly, but surly, Erik saw Mercury grow tired. He almost had him…
Suddenly, a scream came from the hallway. Erik knew it was Ruby, and, while every instinct in his body screamed at him not to, he looked at the doorway behind him. Mercury noticed the break in rhythm, guessed at Erik's intentions, and gave a wide kick at head level. His aim was true.
Erik felt the crunch against the back of his skull as Mercury's solid, deadly legs collided with him. He was thrown forward, concentration broken, visibility restored, dazed and stunned from the blow. He could feel the cold of the floor against his face, and while he knew his aura had protected him, he still felt like he was fighting just to stay conscious. He felt his body being rolled over until he was facing the ceiling, followed by a weight on his chest. Slowly, Mercury's face came into focus.
"I'll hand it to you, you know how to fight. Shame you can't keep your head in the battle." He stood up, looking at Erik with his dark grey eyes, which were both arrogant and intense. "I'd give you that scar, but it'd be a shame to mess up that face. Besides, I have to be somewhere. And you've already made me late" he turned and walked off.
Erik's head was swimming, but he forced himself to sit up. He breathed as the world grew sharper, and picked himself up, turned, and walked to find Ruby.