Howdy y'all. Let me say thanks for all the favorites, follows, and reviews. I must be doing something right.

Again: I don't own shit. This is for entertainment purposes only. Keep your damn money.


The second the nicotine hit his lungs, Cardin could physically feel his body relaxing. He was seated under a tree not far from the cafeteria doors. If this was normal day he would have never considered smoking in such a public place…but this was not a normal day. Normal days included hanging out with his team, getting mad swoll at the gym, or playing video games on his Dust Book. Instead, he was chatting with Ozpin about how someone drugged and tried to rape his favorite bullying victim. Cardin took a long deep drag and blew a big billow skyward. "Maybe I should take up drinking?"

The silence was broken by the sound of a long sip, "Ill-advised Mr. Winchester. You do not want to end up like a good friend of mind." Ozpin stood off to Cardin's side staring down at him. Cardin just snuffed his cigarette out, "What now?" Ozpin pushed his glasses back up his nose, "Go back to your dorm, inform your teammates of what has transpired, and prepare for what may come." With that, Ozpin turned and left Cardin to his thoughts. Cardin snuffed his cig out on the tree and called after the headmaster, "That sounded really cool and shit...but like seriously...this is all really fucked up." Putting his face into his hands, Cardin rose up and began heading off to the dorm of team CRDL.


As Cardin silently entered his dorm room a wave of relief washed over him. The only team member present was his partner Russel Thrush. Russel was seated at his desk sharpening his daggers. He looked up when he heard Cardin open the door, "Hey boss. Where the fuck did you go last night? Make a smoke run and get caught down in Vale?" Russel was the only member of team CRDL that knew about Cardin's smoking. It made for great blackmail/teasing material. Cardin just collapsed face down on his bed. Instantly realizing something was wrong when his leader did not immediately tell him to shove his daggers up his ass, Russel put said daggers down on his desk, "What's up?"

"Russ…what if I told you I'm the world's biggest douchebag?" Russel stared at his red headed leader for a second, "…Is this some kind of trick? If I say yes will you punch me in the dick or something?" Ignoring him Cardin continued, "I've been hanging out with Juane during my smoke breaks. Made me realize that I'm not happy with who I've become. I decided last night I'm gonna be a better huntsman…maybe even a better person. We ALL are gonna give that a shot." He sat up and looked Russel dead in the eye, "No matter what happens…you feel me bud?" Russel had never heard his partner look so serious since he had met him, "I got your back brother. If you think we fucked up somewhere I trust you." He then hung his head, "The thing with the Ursa…made me do some thinking of my own." He paused and took a deep breath, "You and I have always agreed that only the strongest survive." Russel punctuated the sentence with a chuckle before continuing, "And if you can't be the toughest, then be the meanest." Cardin let himself grin at the memory of one of their first conversations. Sighing, Russel continued, "So...what happens when you aren't the strongest or the meanest but you still come out on top? Doesn't what Jaune did to that Ursa prove us wrong?" "No...I will still stand by that. I think that there are different kinda strengths. Took awhile for that to sink in for me." Russel nodded, "That sounds like what I've been feeling like." He took a breath and cleared his lungs, "So what do we say to the other two?" Russel was referring to the D and S of their team, Dove and Sky. Cardin rolled onto his side as he answered, "Can either of them take me one on one in a fight?" Russel shook his head. Cardin grinned again, "Then fuck'em. This is my show bitches!" The two bullies each gave a hearty laugh.

Now that the mood was considerably lighter Cardin decided this would be the perfect time to ruin it. "So…about me not coming back last night." Russel looked at him and motioned with his hands, "Go on." Cardin started playing with his lighter, "No easy way to say this. You remember the bunny girl we always give shit to? Caught someone trying to rape her in the stairwell that leads up to my smoke spot. Drugged her and everything. She almost died. Apparently I passed out by her bedside…" Russel waited for the punch line and after waiting for a solid, silent minute, he realized that it wasn't coming. "Holy fuck boss." Cardin put his face in his hands and sighed, "I know right? I was actually think of apologizing to her today at lunch…hard to do when she is in the Code Red wing of the infirmary."

Russel knew that as hunters they would have to deal with truly awful things in their time. He always assumed that would be after they had become full-fledged hunters. "I have no idea what to say…I never really liked the freak…but that…fuck. You want to be alone or…" Russel never got to finish his thought as Cardin interrupted him, "First: Don't call them freaks anymore. New leaf. Second: The last thing I want to be is alone. Can we go hit something?" Russel cracked his neck as he twirled his daggers in the air, "Sounds like you need a good sparing match. Let's see if there are any second years down at the sparing arena. Goodwitch fucking hates us. She will let us fight whoever the hell we want." Cardin clapped his hands together and stood up, "Beat up on assholes? I'm game. We better get down there before all the violent ones are taken." There were many things that Cardin kept from his teammates. His unquenchable thirst for combat was not one of them.

The duo headed off for the combat arena not knowing how much more complicated things were about to get.