Chapter 10: The Forever Fall

ME: Well this is direction I'm taking

Dis: Yeah the whole RWBYF not getting along then he's training Jaune and Cardin.

Waiv : Fenrir should make up with them and try for a date with a Yang.

Me: Jesus Waiv you know that's not gonna happen. Until after I make the boys fight something ridiculously big and horribly non-canon

Me : Well let's start the show

RWBY chapter 10 Forever Fall

Jaune, Fenrir, and Cardin have been training together for the past month after that night on the rooftop. Jaune and Fenrir still haven't quite made up with their respective teams.

While Cardin told his team that he conned the big Faunus into showing him his techniques. Fenrir pulled him out of the dorm belonging to Team CRDL, ", Oh ho, you believe you could get the better of me dumbass?" He said holding him over the side of the roof ",Now apologize dumbass and I won't drop you."

Cardin squeaked out an apology for his actions ",Good boy, now then." He said, before dropping the idiot off the side of the roof. ",Now dumbass, lay there and think about what you've done." He said before Windwalking away.

He appeared on the rooftop in front of Jaune immediately drawing Grimsever and swung horizontally, forcing the shorter boy to duck under the attack. Fenrir continued the assault against his trainee forcing him on the defensive. Jaune dodged around the bigger students attacks impressively.

Jaune patiently waited behind his shield still narrowly avoiding the Faunuses Broadwhitzer for his chance to counter. After all, his training wasn't going to go to waste. Jaune jumped over the horizontal slash and attempted a thrust at Fenrir's armored torso. His weapon struck true, but unfortunately the Faunus's armor held.

Fenrir grabbed Jaune's sword by the blade, jerking it out of his hand and slapped the handle against the humans head. Jaune fell to the ground almost instantly.

",Well you're getting better, dumbass, but you're still trying to fight me like this is a God damned movie fight. In a battle you attack your opponent with the intent to render them immobile and end the fight." He said holding his hand out to pull the boy back to his feet.

The two began training again through the evening.

",So Fenrir did you make up with your team?" Jaune asked.

",Have you?" Fenrir growled back.

Both men held their heads in shame as neither one has made up with their respective teams.

Fenrir attacked again striking at Jaune.

Jaune blocked Fenrir with his shield spinning around and letting inertia guide him to follow-up with a slash at his neck. Fenrir quickly raised his bracer to block the oncoming strike ",Good try Jaune you nearly got a hit in. That's more than you could say a month ago." He said, before pressing the sword back and then getting back into his ready stance.

Fenrir normally wouldn't let such an inexperienced opponent so close but for training purposes he wasn't using his aura to enhance his attacks. He raised his sword for an downward slash.

Jaune charged again only to get slapped down by the wolf.

Fenrir looked at the blonde knight whose currently imbeded in the rooftop.

"I think that's enough for the night." He said, while sheathing his weapon.

"You know Jaune if you expect me to teach you how to use a shield forget it. My view of them is that they're a crutch." He said before pulling the boy out of the Jaune sized hole

Jaune groaned audibly as he was lifted out of the hole. He looked at his trainer, ",Fenrir what was Oobleck talking about when he mentioned Minagere?" He asked as he tried to stand up on his own.

Fenrir growled ",It's not something I like to remember Jaune but..." He breathed a heavy sigh ",I was sixteen but I already had three years in the Legion when the order came through to get to Minagery and prepare for a massive Grimm invasion. An invasion of unknown number and strength, but the company I was with was among the last to arive." He said pulling off his armor.

Fenrir removed his mask ",The situation was F.U.B.A.R before the Ravagers squad, my old squad even touched down." He wrapped his armor in his coat and sat down on the bundle.

To Jaune the wolf Faunus in front of him seemed to age twenty years as he told his story.

Fenrir continued his story. ",There were already two hundred mercs on the ground fighting the Grim by the time we arrived. Our squad leader Lucifer Milion ordered me to back up a platoon to south of the island. By the time I arrived, the first squad leader was dead, and I was the most senior mercenary there. In fact the mercenary in charge was a guy who barely joined the Legion.

Fenrir huffed not facing Jaune. ",He tried to keep it together for the Legionnaires who were left, but he'd watched his superiors and subordinates get ripped apart too many times. He was so shell shocked that he could barely function. I assumed command and held it together for the most part.

Jaune couldn't help but ask ",If you were holding things together what happened? Where did things go wrong?" He asked his face grim. Fenrir held Grimsever point down. His hands were shaking and his eyes were clouded as though he was seeing it all over again.

Fenrir let his head hang. ",The squad and I held the south of the island but it was only a matter of time before we fell to the oncoming swarm. Until...he came in his ship. A giant skyship owned by one Ezekial Maxamillion.

Jaune recoiled at the malice in Fenrir's voice when he said the name.

Fenrir's hands were shaking again but this was different rather than sadness, this was rage. The kind of rage that could consume a person. ",He said that in exchange for one of the mercs I commanded, a rabbit Faunus named Alice. He would provide aid and troops to the eradication effort. All I had to do was sacrifice the freedom of one miserable fifteen year old mercenary girl." He said, his eyes downcast and any trace of the confident warrior from even an hour before was gone.

Jaune knew this was hard for him, but he'd come this far and he had too know.

",What happened?" He asked.

Fenrir growled again. ",I just pulled out one of my pistols and told him that our radio man had gotten word that the Minagery Government had finally done the smart thing and asked the kingdom of Atlas for help. And that the Sixth, Armored air division of the Atlas fleet was en route to provide aid to the people of Minagery and to relive the defenders." He said, his hands gripping the handle of Grimsever in a white knuckle grip.

",I told him that I didn't need his deal and she wasn't going anywhere. That was what happened. He swore that we'd regret not taking the deal." Fenrir said his hands flexing like he wanted to tear someone apart...violently.

",He evidently had most of the Atlas high command in his pocket and our backup was delayed greatly." He said tears threatening to fall. ",By the time the fleet arrived two hundred and seventy three mercenaries didn't leave that island." He said tears flowing freely now.

",All those lives...that didn't have to end. Even Alice who I saved from Maxamillion died on that island. All because of my choice. By the time the Ravagers found me I was the only one left." I left the Ravagers to wander the world alone. I didn't want to put them through the hate I received. I survived them trying to kill me for two years. Alone."

Fenrir's ears twitched up hearing a noise from behind him and four flashes of color disappeared from the doorway.

",heh it seems I had more of audience to my little story then I thought." Well Jaune, come on let's go put our gear up." He said, before gathering up his gear and going inside.

Cardin just laid on the ground where Fenrir dropped him ",Hey uh Fenrir could you please come back and get me?!" He yelled into the night.

*(With RWBY back in their dorm)*

Weiss was livid ",The nerve of that animal! Implying that there's corruption in the Atlas Council!" She shouted trying not to think about the tragic events in their teammates past he unwittingly revealed.

Blake rounded back on her her eyes watery ",I can't believe you! After all Fenrir said, the first thing you think to do is defend your kingdoms council?!" She seethed, thinking on what she knows about her partner, and how he'd been hurt in his life.

Weiss glared back at her ",How dare I? He's the one spouting the corruption nonsense. Honestly something bad happens to a Faunus and suddenly it's the fault of those in power!" She fumed remembering her own family's struggles with the Faunus.

Ruby was still processing the idea that Fenrir had unknowingly doomed those mercenaries. ",He was a leader before and that happened to him... That's why he didn't have a problem with me being the leader."

Weiss looked at the little red reaper ",He made a choice and Hypothetically, he was punished by this Maxamillion character. So really it's Maxamillion who's responsible for the lives lost." She said keeping her icy front.

Blakes eyes softened some ",You're right Weiss, but that doesn't change the way Fenrir feels. In his mind his choice killed all those people. That's why he blames himself."

Yang who had been quiet for this discussion spoke up. ",He's like our moon. He seems so untouchable but in a lot of ways he's broken." Ruby looked at her big sister with a sad sympathetic gaze. ",Sis." Was all she could say.

Blake looked to the door as the Faunus in question came through the door. His eyes were on them ",So...how much dis you girls hear?" He asked, his tone serious.

Ruby looked at him ",We heard everything Fenrir." She said her sympathy showing in her voice. Blake nodded, as did Weiss. Yang was still turned facing the window.

Fenrir looked at his blonde teammate ",Yang...?" He said wondering why she wasn't talking or at least crying. In his mind it wasn't like her at all.

Yang finally turned around ",for three years you've held this in...you left your old squad and dealt with assassins, vengeful families and, monsters alone and now you're here." She said her eyes red like she was ready to hit him. ",You said that we had a right to know who we're working with when you explained about your scars! So why didn't you mention what happened to you on Minagery?!" She shouted at him.

Ruby tried to placate her big sister but to no avail. Then Fenrir's gaze softened ",You're right Yang I was looking for a place to die for the past few years. But, when I saw the village of Thorn stand up for me I changed my mind. I saw that I couldn't die to make amends for those who died that day I had to live. I came to Vale looking for work and found you and now here I am. That's how that chapter of my life ended." He said hugging Yang.

Fenrir broke the hug and looked to the rest of his team. ",It's just that bringing back up...I'd forgotten how much hate I'd felt towards Maxamillion and I needed time to process that.

Weiss turned her eyes to him ",Well now that we have that off our chests it's time for us to turn in for the night." They all agreed, it had been a hell of a day.

Fenrir laid in his hammock that night, his eyes seeing perfectly through the darkness. His two partners were fast asleep, Yang was spilling out of her top much to his joy/discomfort. Blake was once again letting her ears twitch wildy. 'If people saw her sleeping there's no way she could pass for human. What is she hiding from I wonder? Hmm questions for another day.' He mused.

He turned over to se his team leader and her partner. Ruby was grumbling about the lack of cookies at team meetings. Weiss was stripping out of her nightgown unconsciously. 'Yeah this is my life now...At that point he decided to go get some solo practice in.

Fenrir went to his locker and retrieved Grimsever and Calamity in Dance and went outside.

Yang woke up to see that Fenrir's hammock was empty so she quickly dressed and went out to look for him.

Yang was running through the school at night until she turned and saw him through the window.

He was standing in the moonlight, it reflected off his white coat and his massive blade he propped up on his shoulder. To Yang he was like the warrior heros in the stories she used to read to Ruby as a child. Though there was something else in his stance something she couldn't determine. She watched him in the courtyard wondering what he was doing.

He leapt high into the air and swung in an arc and a swath of ruin followed the path of his sword sending debris up around him.

Fenrir quickly drew the dance sword and swung out, slashing at the debris still in the air and turning them into shards of lethal shrapnel. Fenrir slammed down to the ground and put his hands together and went through a series of hand-signs. A roaring tornado descended from the sky and surrounded him.

The windows rattled with the force of the storm the wolf Faunus had called down. Yang felt somewhat afraid, not wanting to be in front of them should they shatter from the shear force of the wind. She watched Fenrir walk through the wall of the twister. His ninshoto sword and long knife dancing about in his hands as he moved blocking the shards of debris.

As Fenrir left the twister he sheathed his weapons and drew Grimsever from his back and and breathed out. He slashed along the eye of the storm and the resulting wave of destruction flew high into the air and dissapated after clearing the skies in a huge radius.

Fenrir replaced Grimsever on his back and turned to go back inside his white hair blowing in the wind. His eyes flicked over to where Yang was watching him. ",You know, stalking a Wolf hasn't been added to the list of advisable things one should do at night, Yang." He called over to her.

Yang opened the window and hopped out into the courtyard. ",Well I wouldn't have to if you'd just let us know where your heading." She countered. He looked over at her ",In my defense you were all asleep and Weiss was... yeah," He trailed off, not wanting to think of the Schnee heiress in anything less then a solid polar suit.

(A.N: -

Me: I'd like to take a moment to clarify that Fenrir doesn't really hate Weiss. He holds a lukewarm attitude towards her as a person and as a woman she does nothing for him in any respect.

Dis: Yeah frigging lolicons

Waiv: Who taught you that word?

Dis: I found it rummaging through Grim's subconscious

Me: Damnit Dis! I thought I told you to stay out of there!

Waiv: Grim! How could you look at such awful things?!

Me: What the hell! Oh never mind chapter resume!

(A.N.-over)

Both of them looked to the side the conversation taking an awkward turn.

He looked at anything other than his blonde partner ",So... last month thanks for helping me knock the rust off." He said hoping to end the awkward silence.

Yang grinned, walking up to him, swinging her hips slightly "Mm so you were rusty when we fought? Hmm so how about we have a real bout, right now?" She asked suggestively.

Fenrir smirked back at her "heh alright but you'd better not cry when I trounce you Yang." He said, throwing his coat and hanging it on the statue in the center of the courtyard off the arm of the stone huntress. He looked over at it ",Hold that for me would you?" He asked the statue, clearly not expecting an answer.

Yang felt her face heat up seeing him in that armor. While she felt better seeing him shirtless, the imposing presence he had wearing his mecha-shift capable armor was enough for her.

Fenrir got into his Northern Ursa Taijutsu stance and swept his tail behind him ready to fight.

Yang got in her boxing stance and used her aura to activate both Ember Cilica and Novas Chorona. There was going to be no gun practice here just a good fist fight.

(Queue up 'You don't know me' from Madworld OST)

Fenrir made the first move rushing forward and using flat palm strikes pushing Yang on the defensive.

She narrowly dodged around his blows and trying to land her own, sadly she was having just as much trouble as he was.

At least Fenrir was until he lashed out with a hooking side-kick connecting with Yang's upper body under her shoulder. She felt the kick but shrugged it off and hooked her arm around his leg and brought her elbow down on his knee.

He jumped using his other leg to get lift and delivered another kick to Yang's head avoiding the elbow to his knee. Sending them both to the ground in the process.

Yang rolled away from him getting back onto her feet. Fenrir pushed up from his hands to standing position. He rushed forward slashing his claws creating Arcs of slicing winds to continuing to put her on the defensive.

She narrowly avoided the arcing blades of air he sent forward only to be caught by a vicious flying knee from him sending her sprawling across the ground.

Yang fired her Novas Chorona to stop her backward movement. She used Ember Cilica to launch her forward right into Fenrir. Her flying fist connected with his chest following up with a uppercut backed by a shot from her gauntlets which he narrowly avoided.

Fenrir was getting pressed back as her onslaught forced him on the defensive. Until he lept forward with his claws bared. Missing with his claws he landed on his hands and began spinning around on them creating a small whirlwind of limbs.

Yang barely blocked his flurry of blows only to kick him in the chest with a blast from Novas Chorona. Fenrir growled and pulled back getting to his feet only to get hit again from her legs.

He grabbed her left leg this time punching her repeatedly. Then knee striking her in the chest and letting go of her only to hit her from the other side with another vicious combo.

He followed the combo up with a double clawed strike to her unprotected back sending rolling across the courtyard.

(End song)

The fight was over and Fenrir fell back onto the courtyard ground and started laughing. ",Oh hahaha I haven't fought like that in three years." He said before getting back up and walking over to Yang.

Yang looked up seeing him standing over her. ",Are you gonna stand there staring at me all night or are you going to help me up?" She asked him with a little smirk. He held his hand out for her to take it.

Goodwitch came out as Fenrir pulled Yang up to a standing ",What was going on out here!?" She yelled making Fenrir flatten his ears against his head ",Damnit, Goodwitch! Too loud dammit." Yang let her jaw hang in shock at her teammate and partners audacity. Talking to the deputy head mistress like she was bothering him like Weiss does.

His annoyed tone dissapated as Goodwitch stepped closer ",Well if you must know 'oh consort of Ozpin. We were sparring." He said a shrewd grin on his face like a predetor that had caught the scent of prey. Goodwitch stepped back ",I beg your... how did you even guess?" Fenrir grinned evilly and tapped his nose.

Goodwitch blushed furiously at what the young man was implying. Fenrir held a sinister smirk on his face ",Well...you children shouldn't be up this late anyway." She said spluttering.

Fenrir put an arm around Yang ",Of course, Professor Goodwitch we'll be going now. Give our best to Ozpin for us...well after he takes the gag out of your mouth." He said, laughing as he and Yang disappeared in a swirling mass of air currents. Leaving a very flustered Glynda Goodwitch ",How did he know about the gag if he's never... Damn that shrewd wolf!"

(With Jaune and JNPR )

Jaune had come walking in his body still covered in bruises. Groaning as he collapsed on his bed, Jaune tried to pull off his armor but he was too tired to remove the plates. He was considering just sleeping in his clothes.

Pyrrha saw him stumble into his bed and struggle with his armor. 'As a trainer Fenrir must be a brutal taskmaster. And what's more he may not show him how to use his shield. He needs someone to show him how to use all the tools he posses.' She thought looking on at her recently absent team leader.

Jaune did manage to get his chest armor off and his hoodie showing the white t-shirt under it all. And Pyrrha's face did a passable imitation of her hair. His body was shaping up under the Faunus's training as his plain white t-shirt was stretched over his torso.

She got up and went over to him. She lightly touched his chest wondering at how this formerly soft and admittedly squishy boy was shaping up into what promised to be a wonderful man. Pyrrha let her hands roam feeling the lines and defined muscles of his arms as she laid him on his bed.

She noticed his shield arm was slightly weaker. 'Fenrir won't show him how to use his shield.' I should show him how. After he apologizes.' She got him out of his armor and got him under the covers she went back to bed.

*The Next day in Team RWBYF's dorm*

Fenrir growled menacingly at his scroll when Ruby looked over at him ",Hey Fenrir whats wrong?" Fenrir shook his head ",let's wait for the field trip I'd like to tell everyone about a job I was asked to do that way I don't have to repeat myself."

Weiss looked at him ",If you're wanting to become a legitimate hunter why are you still taking mercenary contracts?" Fenrir shook his head ",Not all of us have access to daddy's money Whites but if it makes you feel better, I don't want to take this job because of the nature of the monsters I've been asked to hunt this time."

Blake heard the way he said "monsters" He never called the Grimm monsters. At least not the more common ones. He went to his locker and retrieved Grimsever and Calamity in Dance, and a belt of things that had the words incendiary explosives on it. "Uhh Fenrir what are those?" She asked worriedly seeing the belt of large cylinders with pins at the tops.

He strapped the belt to himself and looked to his team. ",These bombs are for the 'scorched earth' protocols set forth by the World Legion. I'll tell you why when we're in the air.

*Aboard the aircraft with Goodwitch's class*

The other students had fearful yet quizzical looks on their faces. Fenrir growled low ",Hey jackasses it's rude to stare!" He said in low tone.

Goodwitch stepped forward ",Then tell us why your ordinance laden then Mr. De Lobo?" She asked sternly He sighed ",Alright, I guess I've put this off long enough. I was contacted by an old client of mine who has learned of an infestation in the easternmost part of The Forever Fall forest. He's asked me to take care of it" He said, his gaze focused on the red trees below

Ruby gave him a look that said 'keep going' Fenrir sighed ",It's an infestation of Grimm known as Ursula." Goodwitch stepped back with a shocked look ",U-ursula?" Fenrir nodded and she paled visably.

The rest of the students looked confused and very scared. Until Weiss stepped up ",What makes these...Ursula so much more dangerous than the average Beowulf?" She asked tired of not being told everything.

Fenrir growled menacingly towards her "it's not how they attack. It's how they reproduce." He said, his voice low and as dangerous as the predetor he was at his core ",If any female, human or Faunus were to be snared by these monsters...one could become dozens or even hundreds if her aura is enough to sustain them that long. That's why the bombs, the 'scorched earth' protocol is meant to make sure nothing survives."

Weiss paled visably at what her male teammate was insinuating by that statement. Fenrir looked over the students "Goodwitch, if I fall...get these kids out of Forever Fall and call on the Military to firebomb the whole eastern sector." He said loading a red banded magazine into the mag well of Grimsever.

He turned to Ruby ",Ruby, permission to leave for the Mission point?" He asked standing at attention like a soldier in front of the much smaller girl. She stammered ",Uhh permission granted?" She said confused as to why he was being so formal.

Fenrir looked at his team ",Don't worry about me girls I've dealt with these monsters before this will be no different." He said before opening the door of the Bullhead and jumped out