Edited as of (5/24/18)
PB: Da-Awesom-One
WHAT IS HATE?
-Maxine Argus-
"So tell me again why we have to make the trek all the way up to Ozpin's office this early in the morning?" I groaned, treading along after Ambrose's brisk march and Carson's shambling gait up the long flight of stairs. So many godsdamned stairs...
'Damn whoever busted the elevator! Damn them to the deepest pits of hell!'
"Well, Goodwitch's message said to come before classes started, so that's the time we're going with," Joel explained with a ticked look on his face. "Besides, it's only about an hour until you'd be up, anyway."
'Yep. Definitely annoyed.'
Someone, or someones, had snuck out after curfew, in the middle of the night and covered our door in graffiti, "DIE TRAPPER DIE!" being among the nicest. Our leader had laughed it off jovially earlier, saying one of the crude drawings they'd made actually captured his good side, but it definitely got to him.
"Yeah, and it's an hour I'd rather spend sleeping, and not doing this!" I growled venomously, staring out an open window towards the ground several hundred feet below, only to flinch back quickly with my hair standing on end, and my ears twitching in alarm.
'Shit, that's high!'
"You feelin' okay?" Poncho asked, pausing to look back at me curiously. I schooled my face back to normal within an instant, glowering back at him.
He just shrugged tiredly, trudging along after the rest of our team, fingers flashing back and forth with the mute in another of those silent conversations. Blissfully unaware...
'That was close...' I breathed a sigh of relief before my eyes shifted back to the window, suppressing a shudder. 'Okay, new plan. Demolish the school, and destroy all stairs. Stairs are the enemy!'
Within minutes, and a lot of tired complaints, we managed to pick our way up the last flight, coming to a stop in front of the side door to the Headmaster's Office. The pipsqueak raised her hand, flashing a few more quick signs in that strange little hand talk of hers towards Ben, who only shrugged in response.
"I don't think so. Why would Ozpin need the rest of us here if this was just about Psycho? Nah... Somethin' else's up."
"You realize this might also have something to do with you threatening another student with a knife, right?" Ambrose called back, causing Carson to shift uncomfortably while his partner glared at him angrily. "Let's just take what comes, be respectful, and try not to say anything we all might regret, okay?"
I had a sneaking suspicion that the last bit was aimed towards me, but kept my snide comment to myself as we entered the office.
"Ah, there you all are..." Ozpin greeted us from behind his desk, sitting in front of an enormous window pane that opened out onto the whole of the surrounding area, including Vale. My skin crawled just imagining how high up we really were.
'At least you can somewhat ignore it when you're in the rooms...'
"I'm sorry about making you come all the way up here so early." He nodded towards the elevator apologetically, giving us a small smile. "I know from experience the walk isn't pleasant."
Joel nodded. "It's no trouble, though I can see now why you'd keep a spare office on the lower floors." Ben muttered his assent, only to receive a stern punch from his partner. "Now, if you don't mind, Professor, we'd like to know what this is all about."
"Straight to the point, then..." Ozpin reached inside his desk, removing a small file from among many of the contents. "Before we begin, however, I need to go over some new ground rules with you, Mr. Ambrose."
"Ah, so you heard about my little...uh 'secret' getting out, then?"
The Professor nodded slowly, closing his eyes. I noticed dark circles under them, as well. Deep ones. The scent of coffee also hung off of him in waves.
'Someone hasn't been sleeping well, either.'
"Yes, I have. From over a dozen sources from the Faunus community, and other concerned students who flooded my office whilst screaming for your immediate dismissal, threatening to get parents involved if I did nothing."
I stomped forward, feeling my annoyance spike. "So what!? Are you gonna kick him out!? He hasn't done anything to them! They're just scared!"
I felt a hand on my shoulder, turning to see Joel holding me back, a firm expression on his face before he turned back to the Professor.
"Sorry about that, Professor..."
"It's quite alright..." The Headmaster looked over at me. "Miss Argus is merely speaking out in her partner's defense in her own way. A welcome change of character, I must admit. I was afraid the recent revelation might have negatively affected your working relationship with each other."
"Ambrose can be a bit of an ass, sometimes, but he has his moments." I pulled my shoulder free, looking back at the white-haired Huntsman. "Doesn't mean I don't want to gut him every now and then, but he's better than a lot of other people around here, Trapper or not. Says something."
Ben laughed at that stepping forward as well. "While I wouldn't have worded it quite like that, Professor, she speaks for all of us. Psycho, here's, only done good by us so far."
Ozpin glanced at all of AMBR once again, before giving us all a surprised, but warm smile. "I'm impressed, Mr. Ambrose."
"Believe me, so was I," our leader admitted, face red with embarrassment, before frowning once again. "You said you had new guidelines for me, so I take it I'm not here to get expelled?"
"Not at all," Ozpin reassured him, giving his head a quick shake, as if clearing it. "You are a student of this academy. That fact has not changed. However..." he gestured towards a stack of ruffled papers lying across his desk. "With this kind of outcry, some public show of action is necessary, I'm afraid."
I growled, teeth bared as I gave the Professor my best death glare. "But he hasn't done anything wrong! It was all CRDL's fault! Why the hell should he..!?"
"Max, that's enough!" Joel's voice silenced mine immediately. He gave me a calm frown before speaking up again. "Go ahead, Professor."
'This is complete bullshit! Why's he being so calm about this!?'
"I'm sorry, Joel. I managed to keep you enrolled, but only just by a thread. There will be some new restrictions." He pulled out a slip of paper from his pocket. "First, you will not be allowed to carry your weapons within the school grounds unless on an assignment, or under strict supervision from a staff member during all training sessions. Until then, your equipment is to be stored in your locker, along with a new lock that can only be opened by receiving a signal from both your own Scroll and one from Professor Goodwitch."
I noticed Joel flinch slightly, but he nodded in understanding. "Okay... That's bearable. Not much different from the regular rules, except for the teacher supervision part. What else?"
"Next, you are required to attend two hour-long sessions a week with a member of staff, who will evaluate your behavior, and can, at that staff member's discretion, suspend or adjust your position at this school."
Ambrose kind of deflated at that. "...Do I get to choose the teacher?"
"One has already stepped forward. I'm certain you won't be displeased. Your first meeting is later today. We will relay the location to your Scroll," Ozpin replied curtly, before glancing down once again at the list in his hand, shaking his head distastefully. "...And finally, you must give a spoken apology to the Faunus community for the assault of Richard Kaplan."
"Oh, HELL no!"
Ben stepped forward this time angrily, fists clenched as he pushed past Ambrose and marched in front of the Headmaster's desk, slamming both hands down hard as he did so, causing us all to jump as the piece of furniture rattled visibly. His scent radiated anger in waves.
"Professor, that wasn't his fault! That was all me! Punish ME!"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Carson. While I was against it, the demand was for Joel, specifically, to present the apology, not you, as he is Team AMBR's leader, and is thus responsible for your actions, however indirectly."
I could hear my teeth grinding together at that. Even Reika seemed to be fuming. 'Kaplan, that little shit! He just wanted the image of a Trapper begging him for forgiveness!'
"Joel can say no to this. However, if he does, it will mean your suspension, as you were the one who threatened him. There has to be some consequence, given the circumstances."
I almost cracked a tooth. 'Now he's essentially forcing Ambrose to do it!'
"I'm sorry, this was the best I could do. My hands are unfortunately tied."
"Done," Joel agreed quickly before any of us could say anything else, face set resolutely.
"Psycho!? Joel, no!..." Ben started to say before a look from Joel cut him off, leaving him grumbling at the floor.
"Anything else, Professor?"
"Just one last thing before you go to class..." Ozpin placed a finger on the folder, sliding across the desk towards us. "I'm putting your team forward for a mission just outside of the Kingdom. Well outside the scope of any heavy Grimm activity, but still out in the field."
"...A mission?" I noted in confusion, and rightly so. "Like, a proper mission, and not an assignment, or a practice, or something like that? I thought we wouldn't get one until next semester?" I could tell by the shift in scent that my teammates were shocked as well.
"That is true. Officially, you shouldn't receive your first mission until then. However, this is a special case, considering your team's active combat experience." Ozpin nodded towards Joel, Ben, and Reika in turn. "Your teammates, Miss Argus, possess practical knowledge of working in a hostile field. Thus, I trust that AMBR's more than capable of completing such a mission early."
"So you want us to go hunt Grimm early?"
I couldn't believe it. I thought it'd be months until I got to fight a live Grimm again. My way, and not like in Port's controlled classroom. Now this was more like it, some 'fun'. I felt the beginnings of a grin tugging just thinking about it.
"Not precisely..." Ozpin admitted, the words causing my ears to droop in disappointment. "This mission comes directly from the Schnee Dust Company, and concerns one of their mining operations outside the Kingdom." Joel opened the folder, which had aerial shots of a quarry nestled against the base of a large mountain inside. "One week ago, this quarry's crew went silent. Shipments stopped, and all attempts to establish contact have failed. After three days, a response team from the company was sent in, who have since disappeared as well. The main issue is that this area has always been noted for having a low Grimm population despite being outside the Kingdom's borders, one of the reasons the company was so interested in it in the first place. But it's possible an incursion of some sort may have occurred since then. The SDC has requested the assistance of a team of Huntsmen from Vale to ascertain the situation, and, if possible, resolve the problem."
"So you're sendin' us, rather than real Huntsmen and Huntresses?" Ben muttered, glaring at the Headmaster, robotic fingers clenched. "What? Everyone else on holiday, or somethin'?"
"Your team is different from the others at this school, Mr. Carson," Ozpin explained, resting his chin on top of both hands, leaning forward. "AMBR's members - namely Joel, Reika, and yourself - possess a wealth of experience that other students do not. Both of you have lived in the Badlands, while Joel hails from the Frontier, places both renowned for their excessive danger from both the Creatures of Grimm and other natural threats. I hope to use that experience, and mold your team into a force that can handle what other students at your level otherwise could not. Your victory over the Chimera only proves my point."
Something clicked into place at those words, and sick realization rose in my throat that killed my good mood.
"Bet it helps that no one'll miss us if we screw up..." I said slowly, eyes boring into his accusingly. "Joel's an ex-Trapper with a record. Ben and Reika don't have anywhere to go, and his dad can't do anything about it, while my parents are both gone. No one'll ask questions if we disappear, but we're strong enough that you can use us in situations you don't want to risk your teachers or students in. A real suicide squad..." I saw his eyes twitch in annoyance, but he said nothing, merely letting my words wash over him, face keeping that veneer of calm. "What!? Not even gonna defend yourself!?"
I saw Ben and the others eyeing him as well, their anger and frustration barely contained now that I brought up my point.
"...Defend myself for what?" Ozpin asked after taking a deep breath, eyes focusing on me, almost as if examining me. "For using the pieces I have available effectively? Miss Argus, you seem to forget that our duty as Huntsmen and Huntresses is to use our unique skills, and risk our safety, for Humans and Faunus everywhere. To throw ourselves in front of them as a shield against the Creatures of Grimm."
I opened my mouth angrily, but he silenced me with a glare. The pressure radiating off of the man was enormous, and the others could feel it as well. Every animal instinct in me was telling me to hold my tongue.
"Miss Argus... Maxine. I know that I'm being unfair. That I'm willing to place you in a dangerous situation because I cannot risk a full team of Huntsmen on an unknown situation. However, know that I am sending your team, in particular, because I know you all have the ability to succeed if the need calls for it. Not just any team can take on a Chimera, even a juvenile one, at your age, and best it. Not to mention the term 'suicide squad' can hardly apply in this case."
"Hmph... Still seems like a bum deal to me," Ben grumbled under his breath, arms crossed.
"In the meantime, you will be sent on small exercises so we can ascertain your reliability in the field. You will be clearing Grimm dens and such for the next week, which should improve your teamwork, and allow us to placate the SDC with tales of your successes. Regular class assignments will be suspended, so don't worry about falling behind."
'Fighting Grimm instead of homework for a week? Sounds like heaven.'
"That's all I have for you. Professor Goodwitch will be in contact with the specifics of your exercises, which should begin tomorrow. Richard has his assembly in half an hour. I expect you to be there." Ben let out an angry sound from deep in his throat, but stayed silent as Joel nodded. "Good. Dismissed."
My teammates and I moved towards the door to leave. However, I stayed behind to look at Ozpin one last time. "...If it's any consolation, Headmaster, I like you, and I know that you're only doing what you feel is right. It's for a shit reason, but at least you have the balls to admit it."
"Don't thank me, Maxine." He shook his head, massaging his eyes gingerly before looking back at the papers his desk with a heavy sigh. "In a perfect world, you wouldn't have to put your childhood on hold just because it's more convenient."
"Eh. In a perfect world, there wouldn't be any Grimm, and that would be boring for people like me."
I flashed him a wolfish grin before departing, chuckling to myself, until I remembered what we were leaving to do.
-Joel Ambrose-
"Ben, just shut up! It's my choice! Might as well give him what he wants, and get it over with," I said for what must've been the sixth time since leaving Ozpin's office, shooting the sniper a dark look. "Besides, if I don't...!"
"What!? I get suspended!? At least that way, we get to keep some shred of damn dignity!" Ben spat angrily, kicking at the ground as we neared the Amphitheater. "I just hate the thought of that smug prick usin' you to get back at her!"
"Who, Max? You're the one who threatened him, weren't you?"
"For insultin' her! I told you, she wouldn't help him out with his little witch hunt." He glanced back at Max. "She's not exactly as involved in the Faunus community as I suppose he wanted her to be." He sighed picking up a large rock off the path, juggling it in his free hand. "Fuckin' asshole..."
"Ben..." I started as I glanced at the rock, eyebrow raised.
"Calm down, Psycho. I'm learnin'. This is completely for stress relief..." He held up both arms in mock surrender. "'Sides, I get the nice mental image of bashin' ol' Dicky's head in. Should make this whole thing a bit more palatable. Want one?"
"I'll pass, thanks..." I grunted, trying to avoid the stares from Faunus and Human students both as they passed us by, which I noticed where growing more frequent asw egot closer. "You know, I think Max's starting to rub off on you."
"Nah, I've always been like this, Boss. People just think Rei's the violent one." He laughed darkly, tossing the rock between his hands now. "I'm just less open about it than Bitch is."
I shrugged, taking a deep breath, before opening the door to the Amphitheater, and striding into what I realized was a very crowded room, filled with students both Faunus and Human alike. I felt my heart plummet to somewhere beneath my feet.
'Ah, hell...'
A bulky, orange-headed boy with black striped cheeks stood on the raised platform, yellowish eyes staring smugly at me as I strode through the room.
Students parted out of my way as I walked by. I vaguely remembered the man as leader of RSET, one of the few all-Faunus teams on campus.
'Hmm, figure of authority. Probably likes to place himself on top, egotistic then... No wonder Max hates him...' I felt my lip tug to the side at the thought, aafew old lessons in reading people drifting back with every step.. 'Might as well enjoy the little things.'
"Mr. Ambrose! How nice of you to join us!" Kaplan said loudly, drawing the attention of the entire room to both him and me. "I have to admit, I'm surprised and elated you chose to come at all!" He gestured towards the space next to him.
He probably wanted me to stand next to him to prove his superiority to everyone right at my face. So predictable, these types...
"Let's get this over with, Kaplan."
I came to an abrupt halt only a few feet from the stage, denying him his little moment. I wasn't sure exactly what it was, but the thought of being up on the stage just to feed his ego sickened me. Ben was wrong if he thought I'd just completely debase myself without a fight.
"I understand you wanted an apology?"
"For your teammate's actions, yes..." the Tiger Faunus announced, pointing towards Ben, eyes narrowing at my lack of compliance. "For threatening my life in full view of the student body! Such actions may be tolerated in a barbaric group such as the Red Hand, but this is Beacon! We work hard to instill a sense of equality and safety within this Academy for both races. And I, for one...!"
A loud *crack* punctuated the room as the rock in Ben's right hand shattered under the crushing metal, robotic fingers grinding the gravel into dust.
"...I apologize for my comrade's actions. I'm certain you've experienced similar situations as a Team Leader, yourself, yes?" Kaplan seemed taken aback, eyes still darting towards Ben. "He recognizes his error, and I will personally make sure that nothing similar happens again."
The rogue waved at him, dust sifting down his hand onto the floor in a fine powder. 'I love this bastard.'
"E-excellent..." The Faunus shifted uncomfortably, before regaining his composure. "But I can't help but fear, however, that such... behavior... may have only occurred in part due to certain influences. In fact, I feel rather terrified!" Murmurs of agreement rose up from the surrounding students, drawn in by the buzzwords. "Can I be certain that you will not fall back to your old ways, one day? Professor Ozpin may have restricted your weapons, but I know about your other talents, Joel! Am I safe? Is any Faunus in this room safe!?"
The murmurs grew in volume at those words. I even heard a few "yeahs" yelled out. The whispers were even worse...
I could feel my hands shake slightly at my sides. "I'm not...!"
"You've yet to deny your affiliation with the Red Hand, a group infamous for its hatred of my people, Ambrose! Does that imply that there's some part of you that still sympathizes with them!? A part of you deep down that cringes hatefully at Faunus such as my...!"
"FOR YOU INFORMATION, Kaplan...!" I cut him off, voice noticeably angry now despite my best efforts to reign it in, hands fully clenched, no longer shaking due to my fury. "I've never hated the Faunus... Never!"
"How can you say that!? Need I remind everyone that you were in the...!"
"Red Hand! Yes! Thank you so much for establishing that fact!" I responded somewhat mockingly.
'I agreed to an apology, not this ego trip...'
"And just so no one's asking questions about it later, yes, I've killed members of the White Fang, who, yes, happened to be Faunus themselves!..." I let the crowd sink this in before continuing. "Does this make me hate all Faunus? No! I've taken down Humans in much the same fashion. They were all coming at me with the intent to do me harm, I responded in kind! I won't deny that!"
Well, if people weren't whispering before, they sure we're now.
"Yes! You heard that right. I've killed before. I've killed people... They were all bad people. But... that doesn't mean what I did was right. In fact, it wasn't at all. There were other ways I could've done things, but I... I..."
I looked out in the room, seeing a myriad of faces looking back at me. I recognized the likes of RWBY and JNPR in the back, watching with mixes of rapt attention and pity. Oddly, I saw Jaune sitting around with CRDL. He looked rather out of place, looking as if he'd rather not be there, contrasting greatly with CRDL's derisive glances.
"I didn't... I chose to wipe them out. I was so caught up in myself that I couldn't see any other way but that... And I have to live with that, I know. And I regret that part. But that doesn't mean the White Fang... They just...! They needed to be stopped!"
"So it's true, then!?" Richard blurted, cutting me off, and making me roll my eyes in annoyance.. "You admit that you hate...!"
"What is hate, Richard!?" The use of his first name shocked him, a trick that I'd learned in the Trappers and others that made interrogations much more effective.
"H-huh?..." he stammered, looking from me to the crowd. "W-why are you...?"
"Hate, to me, is watching the White Fang kill my best friend's father, and a host of others, in front of her for calling them out for the criminals they are. Hate is seeing those same monsters take my parents away from me for trying to protect him and the other innocent bystanders that were caught up in their wake! HATE is experiencing and hearing a hundred other stories just like that! Of how they've taken away homes, friends, and loved ones, all while trying to justify a terrorist fear campaign as 'fighting for equality!' We all have an Aura, Richard! A soul! It's what separates us from the Grimm! It also lets us feel the emotions we feel! Like painful grief, righteous anger!" I let out a deep mediated breath, clapping a fist into my palm. "...Or in some cases regret."
I looked back to those standing nearby. Some stared at me with fear, others with interest.
"I don't hate someone because of something as trivial as their race. I hate them because they hurt me, and those I care about, and would hurt others if left unchecked! I regret what the Red Hand became, the innocent people that I let them hurt, and my inability to stop it! However, that doesn't mean that I don't still believe that the White Fang needs to be crushed! No, this doesn't mean that I hate the Faunus as a whole. I just hate a group of weak terrorists that use them as an excuse to harm others!" I turned my eyes to all of the attendants in the room. "And I promise you all, right here, that as long as you serve to protect and uphold the principles that this school was founded upon, you will have nothing to fear from me!... I swear it on my honor!"
I nodded to them all, giving Kaplan one last withering glance before turning around. "Now you wait just one...!"
"But let's make something perfectly clear, here and now..." I looked to the assembled students sternly, standing to my full height. "If any of you try to make my team, or anyone else who interacts with me suffer for that fact, or mistreat them in any way... I will not stay silent, and will make sure those responsible WILL regret it! Any problem will be with me... and me alone!"
...With that unexpected speech finished, I began striding from the Amphitheater with teammates in tow, head held high as the students in our wake moving aside to let us pass.
"Holy shit, Ambrose..." Max said, falling into step next to me. "Not sure you made many friends with that speech, if that's what you were going for. Especially the whole killer bit... Maybe at the end, though."
"It's the truth, and I meant what I said, Max. I'm not going to hide my past, and let people wonder and make up stories. I'm here to make up for my mistakes. Simple as that."
"Hey, can't say ya didn't tell him you were sorry, though! That whole 'we all have a soul' thing? Really deep," Ben laughed, clapping me on the back before his face dropped in distaste. "Yeah, now ain't the time for that... I'm sorry, Joel. I know that can't have been easy, talkin' about your parents. Man... I had no idea..."
Reika tapped me lightly in the side, eyes staring up at me worriedly.
"No harm done, you two." I grinned at the both of them warmly. "I needed to get that out, anyway. What better place for it than there?... I feel pretty good actualy. Like a weight's been lifted."
"Joel!"
We looked around over our shoulders, somewhat startled to see a familiar girl with rabbit ears running towards us.
"Velvet...?"
-END
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed reading, Not much action and a bit shorter than usual, sorry. This is more of a Filler chapter, setting up for the first mission and whatnot. Please leave your comments, I love hearing them in my other stories and my philosophy is they only make the story better. Have a great week everyone.
