Hello all! This is my very first story. I liked the ideas behind Pondering Fool's The Price Of Redemption, and Alley Cat Sunflowers 'Pyrophobia'; both are Rwby fics. So those were an inspiration for this. Some constructive feedback would be appreciated.
A special thanks to xT-Zealot( an amazing author) for helping me start off as well.
Rwby, it's characters, and its setting belong to Monty Oum and Rooster teeth.
Enjoy!
'I hope you bleed to death you racist bastard!' She spat after him with venom.
His head was dripping, the thick blood spilling down his face like water droplets on a broken window. He kept pushing his weighted legs to carry him through the forest. Its soft alluring red was only amplified the rays of sunshine igniting it. On any other day it may have been a welcoming sight, a sign of peace or comfort.
Not today.
'Ha, 'Bout time someone kicked his ass'
His Eyes began to water in frustration, and he gritted his teeth.
'Douche finally got what he deserved'
Why didn't he fight back? Why was he running? Was he running from her, from all of them, from his fear, or from the guilt: He didn't know.
Probably all of the above.
Cardin felt his heart pound against its cage, a mix of his jagged running and harsh thoughts. His run slowed to a jog, then to an awkward stumble. He winced as his back slammed into a worn out tree harder than he meant to, using it to support his weight.
"Shit" He grunted, his body sliding down onto the dirt " I think she fractured my leg."
He was talking about Yang Xiao Long, the fiery brute. Known for her flamboyant flare, which was only outmatched by her fiery wrath. Most at beacon knew by now not to try and test that wrath. Mainly those lucky(or unlucky) enough to win a front row seat to any conflict that involved damaging her hair. Or those who used common sense.
Cardin Winchester wasn't known for thinking things through.
However; It wasn't the hair that put him in this situation, but a hare. The shy bunny faunas, Velvet Scarleta. She was one of them. An animal, a subhuman, an abomination, a disgusting mutation of animal and human flesh and blood, not deserving of sympathy. Just another beast.
But then why does he feel so damn guilty? Above the humiliation and rage, why is that the guilt is growing the heaviest in his heart?
'Did I deserve this?'
"DAMNIT!" He roared. Cardin slammed his fist against the tree, shattering bark and sending chips flying through the air. Red leaves fell from the sky to surround him.
'This doesn't make any fucking sense' He thought through his adrenaline fueled rage 'I'm not the freaking monster here'
The aura that was being used to heal his leg and his head, now went into protecting his hands from his anger. Again and again he dug his knuckles into the bark. Afters a few seconds, his motions became slower, as did his breath.
Silently, he returned his body to its previous position. The sharp bark digged into his back; His knuckles battered and bruised, His aura flaring dangerously. He never thought of himself as a masochist, but...the pain felt strangely good. His breath ceased it's rapid intake, and he let his mind wander to think of the event earlier today.
'Stop! Please just stop!' she screamed at him.
He only smiled, bearing his teeth as he began to twist the long, brown ears. She gave a painful screech, hitting, and flinging her arms at him in order to make him stop.
"C-Cardin man...maybe we should just chill." Russel squirmed at the annoyed gaze aimed at him. He held his hands up in surrender " I mean I...uh..just think she had enough."
Cardin rolled his eyes.
" Don't tell me you are going soft Rus?"
He gave another pull and then a twist. Velvet gave out another screech. Her eyes were now red with tears sliding down her face. She gave a small whimper.
Her small Hands tried pulling his hands away.
Glancing back at his 'friend', he could see Russel look on in fear.
"Cardin... Shit man! you are really hurting her. " Russel began to back away from CRDL'S leader, disappearing into the crowed than now formed in the hallway." A professor could be here any second. You are going way too FAR man! I-Im not staying here this time, not for this" He gave one last, almost apologetic, look in Cardin's direction before turning away.
"FINE!" Cardin called after him, in a voice that mixed between anger and amusement " Run like you always do, just like those other two cowards!"
"HaHa" He chuckled dryly, the irony wasn't beyond him now.
More students began to gather in the area. It was early in the morning before classes. The only people up at this time were those who were either bored and couldn't sleep, trying to study, or were going out to train.
He knew that as soon as he saw the Girl walking by herself, that he had the perfect moment to resume his almost daily torment.
He didn't know what it was about this particular Faunas, whose bruised ears were currently quivering in his hands. He didn't know why he choose her out of every other one of the beast to hate, but he did.
He felt Something primal in him every time he saw her. A Strange hunger, a burning rage, a thirst to see her suffer. He felt like the predator. Velvet, she was frightened prey whose eyes were filled with paranoia. They were always wide and fearful, looking in every direction for the wolf that was prowling in the dark.
But today; seeing her alone, seeing her smile as she casually walked through the hall; it set him off. It was like she was taunting him, like all of her kind do. Seeing her so care free, so relaxed, it felt almost insulting.
"Probablydidn't think I'd be up early today'" He whispered in her human ears, while simultaneously lifting her off the ground by the ears. " Big mistake, Cause it looks likeIcaughtthe poorlittle rabbit once aga-*CRUNCH*"
Cardin's body suddenly went sailing past the crowd and into a wall, causing a spider web like crack where he planted. He was practically embedded into the concrete surface. The breath was knocked right out of his longs, and his eyes closed as he tried to shut the pain out.
"What The fuck was that" he grunted out. He felt heat, and unimaginable amount of heat. It wasn't from him but from in front of him. His eyes dazed and confused, looked up to see a fiery fist come for him again.
"Me"
Eyes wide, he quickly launched his body out of the way.
* Crack*
Cardin screamed as he felt his leg break apart like twig. He landed in a heap on the tiled floor, covering his mouth to stop the string of curses from flying out.
Looking up, he could see the glowing red eyes of Yang. The muscle of team RWBY.
He glared "Fucking bi-"
"LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID TO HER!" She shouted at him, while pointing behind her. When he didn't attempt to move, with a glare, she grabbed him by the head and forced him to focus in the right direction.
What he saw actually scared him. Velvet was on both her knees, surrounded by members of both team RWBY and JNPR. Her shivering hands were desperately trying to cover her ears. He could see rivers blood leaking from them.
Both teams were trying to comfort her. The Black haired girl, Blake, yelled out something about medical attention. The short, annoying one(Ruby If he remembered right), went running off in a burst of red petals.
They all glanced back at him with hate, as if suddenly noticing he was looking in their direction. Right then, Cardin didn't care about them. He could only look at Velvet's shaking figure, could only hear the mind numbing wails that escaped her form.
He had to leave.
He ripped himself out of Yang's grasp. He tore through the hallway knocking over anyone and everyone that got in his way. He heard the fiery blond yell out behind him.
' I hope you bleed to death you racist bastard!'
Others joined in. Jeering, booing, calling out for blood. What they saw replaced fear and caution, with rage and blood lust. His image transformed from the school bully to the school monster in an instant.
But, the words float over him. Cardin felt nothing as he ran. His heart and mind were both devoid of feeling. It was as if his soul suddenly became hollowed out. His leg hurt, but he didn't care. He just kept moving.
That's how he ended up here, in the thick woods of Forever Fall. Not far enough to come across the violent Grimm who littered the area. Which was good for him, he was sure even a lone Beowolf could kill him right now.
The whole school hated him. Cardin knew they did before, and he enjoyed that negativity; but now? How does he come back from this? Even his own team thought low enough of him to leave him to die in this same forest.
'To that Ursa' Cardin remembered. 'That fucking Ursa' How could he forget, probably the closest he's ever been to dying. 'And freaking Arc of all people is the only reason I'm here'
Jaune Arc, another victim of his, was the one who saved his ass. He spent days tormenting the clown, and intimidating him. But when it came down to it, He was the one on his back scared shit-less.
That was the first time he had second thoughts about himself, and he endured a building sense of inadequacy. That inadequacy eventually turned into insecurity. Then, that insecurity turned into rage.
'If there was one sin that would define me, it would be pride.' He deduced.
Leaning his head back against the rough surface of the tree, Cardin looked up. He must have been there for hours. The sun was beginning to grow dim, It's rays failing to light the dense foliage surrounding him. Shadows began to close in on him, almost in synch with his own dark thoughts. Only a single beam of yellow light remained. Strangely enough the dying ray closed in on his person, singling him out.
It was as if it was saying, 'You are pathetic mess and I will highlight it for everyone to see.'
He felt memories from years ago float back through him. Mere hours ago when he looked at that young boy he used to be, he saw weakness. He never felt the hate he had developed now, or lifted a finger against another. He used to smile, laugh, and play games with human and faunas a like. Hell, he didn't even notice if someone had a large horn on their head or dry reptilian skin. It was before everything changed with him.
He thought he 'grew' out of it. He justified his hate as strength, and his cruelty as a necessary show of force. His growing size and bulk added fuel to the pyre. Show the pack YOU were the leader. He was the strong, the alpha, and everyone else was below him. They would see how he wasn't fragile.
"Now" He said quietly "I can only see her bleeding" Cardin lowered his hand to the ground and squeezed dirt between his fingertips."I'm such a fucking moron."
'I'm so tired of all of this'
"I'm not the victim here" Cardin whispered. Finally succumbing to the guilt, to the frustration, to the insecurity, to the angry words floating inside his head and ringing in his ears.
He chuckled, not moving his head away from the sky "It's true what they say about 'bullies'. Pathetic on the inside, crying out for some fucking attention. ….It's not worth it" He closed his eyes, As the sun finally left his face.
Everything leading this moment came back to him. His childhood, his family, the faunas, Beacon, everything that lead to this point. Then, Cardin felt something shatter inside him. It was something that broke away and then reformed itself anew. His lungs heaved as if a great pressure lifted from his throat, and brought in a burning resolve. His hands that were moments ago idly playing with dirt, clenched into iron hard fist.
'This isn't how things are going to be. I see it now' He thought, dragging his back slowly back up the tree trunk.' I am NOT gonna let myself stay like this. I don't care how hard it will be. I'm tired of being the fucking bad guy. I won't let his words control me anymore. I'm no longer going to act like a dog'.
He opened his eyes again.
"I'll change".
That's chapter one! Please review with some feedback. I thinking of doing weekly or biweekly updates.