RWBY
The Strength of Revenge
Chapter 10 - Volume 1 - A Well Deserved Break
Ozpins silence made Ebris nervous. The headmaster had personally come to talk to him about something, and all of a sudden when they were alone, he had fallen deathly silent. This would have to be about his heart attack-like seizure. But nothing about that seemed normal. A heart attack doesn't make your skin glow purple.
"Please be assured Mr. Eachos, this is in no way to frighten you" Ozpin finally spoke, clutching his mug in his hand "I only want to reassure you about what happened to you"
Nailed it.
"As you might have deduced, that seizure you had wasn't natural" Ozpin said in a low, yet calm voice "It is a result as to what happened to you when you were young, but I am afraid that, because of security reasons, that I can't tell you much beyond that"
Ebris felt a sting of annoyance.
"It's my body, and my past, isn't it?" He asked, trying to hide a growl "This information is in regards to me, correct? Then it would only be natural for me to know"
"I know that it's frustrating" Ozpin said, turning towards Ebris in his bed "But this isn't just about you, Mr. Eachos. This information could kill, or heal depending in which hands it lies"
What the hell is going on here?
"So it's a trust issue huh?"
"I wouldn't exactly call it that. I would say… Classified."
Ebris drew a deep sigh. Despite his growing frustrations, other emotions that was growing inside him was intrigue and curiosity, as well as a tinge of fear.
He remembered his family, and the place he called home, but he didn't remember much about the actual night the Grimm attacked his hometown. He had an inkling feeling that whatever was wrong with him, had a connection to the scar that was currently still feeling like it was pulsating under his shirt. He put a hand over his chest to check, but nothing seemed to pulse against his palm. Was it just his imagination?
He sighed again and rested his hand back in his lap, looking up at Ozpin with a defeated look.
"Alright, Ozpin" he said, narrowing his eyes up at his headmaster suspiciously "What is the point of telling me this, if you're not gonna elaborate anything past that?"
"As I said, I wanted to reassure you that the attack you suffered wasn't a serious illness or condition" he mumbled, the steam from his mug running up his features "I might not be able to tell you further details, but I can still settle your mind by saying that this won't be a common occurrence as long as you don't strain yourself or put yourself through too much stress in too long time periods"
"So basically, Velvet was right" Ebris mumbled, clenching his bedsheets in his hands "Training and stressing really is 'tormenting' me, as she put it"
A sigh escaped the headmaster as he gazed back out the window.
"Beacon academy is based upon a foundation of hope, trust, and partnership" He mumbled his gaze seeming steeled in seriousness "Mr. Eachos, I have made more mistakes than any man, woman and child in this world. But I don't believe that enrolling you into Beacon was one of them"
Ebris frowned in confusion of the older man's vague explanation, but kept quiet.
"I believe you can do great things" He said softly "With the right guidance and a good team, I am sure you will become a fine huntsman. And eventually reach your goal, whatever that will or may be"
Ebris nodded and was about to fall back into thought when Ozpin turned back towards him with a weak smile. Now that Ebris got a good look at him, it didn't seem like he had slept much the last at least 12 hours or something.
"Just listen to your teammates, and stay out of training for the next couple of months" He said softly "Stay fit, but don't push yourself too hard. And do keep up with your studies, okay?"
Ebris nodded and looked down at his bedsheets. That sounded like a decent plan. Now that he had nearly died from exhaustion basically, he had to calm down, maybe even stay in bed for a couple of days. A bit of relaxation wouldn't be too bad.
"Yes sir"
That following afternoon, after all of Ebris' tests were done and over with, he had begun to get ready to leave the hospital. After taking a last look in the mirror and putting on his usual wear, the rest of his team strode in through the door.
"Nice to see you back on your feet" Yatsu said with a small smile as he patted Ebris' shoulder "You ready for school?"
"Isn't it a bit too late for classes?" Ebris asked confused as he gazed up at the clock of the room "It's four in the afternoon"
"Does that exclude studying?" Coco asked with a smirk, gazing over the rim of her glasses "You have a whole year to catch up on, Bob"
She punched his shoulder playfully as he rolled his eyes and groaned loudly in frustration.
"UUUURRGH!"
The team laughed as they led him outside, and stepped into the bullhead ship that was waiting for them to take them back to Beacon.
"I don't suppose I arrived in one of these, did I?" Ebris asked curiously as he stepped up and took his seat between Yatsu and Velvet.
"No, not really" Coco explained "The bullhead ships are mostly used for transport and combat situations. The savers normally use a small helicopter, or a plane called a Med-Wing whenever ground transport isn't available for whatever reason"
"They can also double as a rad escape vehicle, should you ever need one" Fox smirked as he patted Yatsus shoulder "Remember that one time we were chased around by a pack of Ursai, and had to…"
Fox's story of adventure zoned out in Ebris' mind as he gazed out of the window of the Bullhead, the headmasters words echoing in his mind.
"It is a result as to what happened to you when you were young, but I am afraid that, because of security reasons, that I can't tell you much beyond that"
Those same words seemed to play on a loop in Ebris' head. Why would his past be something that the headmaster of the most popular huntsmen school, maybe in all of the world, had to keep a secret? Something about it was so fishy. If Ozpin of all people knew what happened to him back in his childhood, then how many other people knew? And who were they?
Glenda was probably one of them. She was practically the headmaster's right hand woman after all. But who else than the two?
He caught himself thinking about secret governmental research and projects when his thoughts were cut off by a gentle hand to his shoulder. He looked up and realized that Velvet was looking at him in worry.
"Ebris, are you okay?" She asked silently "You're zoning out…"
"O-Oh, yeah I'm fine" He smiled slightly, hoping it to quell Velvet's worries "Just have a lot of things to think about"
She nodded softly and looked away, a blush running up her cheeks. She remembered how scared she was the night prior, at the thought of losing her teammate, not to a Grimm or a White Fang member, but to a heart attack. Not only would it have been horrible, but she could not stand the thought of Ebris' name disappearing in time, without him ever getting a chance to show the world what he was capable of.
Deep down, Velvet knew it wasn't all about killing Grimm for Ebris. He cared deeply about people, even if he didn't show it on the outside. He especially cared about the wellbeing of his friends, even though they had basically just met.
She sighed as she gazed up at him, a worry crossing her mind.
'Just what did Ozpin talk to him about?'
A couple of weeks later, Ebris groaned as he was huddled over his Grimm studies homework, trying to remember just where the Griffon typically grew its armor-like bones on its body, Weiss stomping back and forth behind him in irritation.
"For the last time, a griffon grows its armor on its belly!" She yelled, swinging her arms with a bestiary book in one hand "I must have explained this three times now! It's to protect its most vital parts!"
"That makes no sense!" He yelled back, glaring up at his teacher "It's an eagle crossed with a lion! Why would it grow armor like that!?"
"It's a Grimm! Normal evolution doesn't apply!"
He groaned loudly and collapsed against his desk, his head hitting the wooden surface comically as the rest of his team snickered from their bunk beds. Watching Ebris study the last week and a half had been amusing to say the least, his tribulations bringing them much entertainment. This was all material they had studied on their first year at Beacon, and they had asked Weiss to go through the material with him, her academic prowess seeming useful to the team at the point of asking her.
They hadn't considered her ill temper though.
"URGH! THIS IS SO STUPID!" Ebris slammed his book shut and stood up from his desk "I need a break! Timeout!"
Velvet couldn't help but giggle under her hand, noting how Ebris seemed to have the same frustrated temper as Yang whenever her hair got damaged. And you never. EVER. Damage Yang's hair.
"Ten minutes, then we go again" Weiss instructed sharply, before rubbing her temples and sitting down besides team CFV_Y, who were still snickering from their respective beds.
Weiss was just as frustrated as Ebris, but of different reasons. She had hoped to call her sister today, but Team CFVEY's request to help Ebris had put a dent in her plans.
Ebris groaned in annoyance and collapsed on his own bed, thoughts of how many talons a Nevermore had or just what an Ursa eats, filling his head.
"Grimm studies are the worst!" He groaned again, spreading out his limps in mental exhaustion "I'm trying to kill the damn things, not learn their biography!"
"Grimm studies are just as important as any other subject, Ebris" Yatsu said softly "Knowledge like this can help you make strategies on just how to deal with them"
"I know, I know" He said, rolling his eyes "having a nap sounds like heaven right now"
"Too bad" Weiss said in annoyance "You can sleep when you're dead! I have fifty other things that require my attention"
"Like what, what kind of shampoo you should use tonight?" Ebris grumbled, resulting in Weiss puffing out her cheeks and stomping her foot.
"I have my own homework to take care of, you asshat!"
"Guys, guys, calm down will you?" Yang smirked as she stepped in through the dorm room door, carrying a tray with steaming mugs "I got your hot chocolate"
"Oh my god Yang, you're my savior!" Ebris yelled as he jumped up and grabbed his mug off the tray "I could kiss you right now!"
Ruby groaned and stuck her tongue out in playful disgust, and Blake rolled her eyes at her team leaders childlike behavior as they followed inside behind Yang.
"I'd prefer you didn't" Yang smirked teasingly as she handed out the rest of the mugs "Wouldn't want Velvet to be jealous"
Velvet had very nearly dropped her mug in embarrassed surprise as she hid her burning face with her ears, making the rest of them laugh.
"Velvet's jealousy issues aside-" Began Blake silently, getting an annoyed "hey!" from her teammate "how is studying coming along, Ebris?"
"I'm still trying to remember just what difference there is between males and females of the Nevermore species" Ebris groaned "But besides wanting to put a bullet in my own head, everything is fine"
"No one said that enrolling at Beacon would be easy, Ebris" Fox said softly, currently cleaning his blade-gauntlets as he had nothing better to do.
"I know dude. Still, didn't expect that I had to do two years' worth of studying in my first school year" Ebris said, looking defeated.
"Come now, turn that frown upside down" Coco said, jumping down from her bed and over to the radio placed in the window "How about some music?"
Some flickering noise later, and Coco had quickly found a proper radio signal, peppy pop music quickly filtering out of the radio and filling the room:
"Dream of anything
I'll make it all come true
everything you need
is all I have for you
I'm forever
always by your side
Whenever you need a friend
never far behind"
"God damn" Ebris smirked, soon finding himself tapping his foot and snapping his finger to the music "This sounds good! What artist is that?"
"I don't remember, but I think she got really popular rather recently" Weiss said softly, finding herself smiling a little herself "I rather enjoy her music as well"
Everyone almost fell out of their beds in shock as a rather loud commotion formed outside, before something burst through the doom room door. Before anyone knew it, Nora was suddenly standing there, holding Pyrrha, Jaune and Ren behind her in a bear grip by their collars.
"YOU GUYS ARE LISTENING TO CASEY WILLIAMS WITHOUT TELLING US!?" She yelled, immediately zooming over to turn up the volume "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?"
"Hello to you too Nora" Ebris mumbled, having actually fallen backwards onto the floor by the side of his bed from the shock "I take you're a fan of her?"
"She's been a fan since day one" Ren mumbled, straightening his clothes as he helped Jaune onto his feet "She's bought all Casey's songs down onto her scroll"
"Hehe, she almost got busted in class because she wouldn't stop humming the songs" Pyrrha giggled, taking Ebris' hand and helping him onto his feet.
"You guys, we're taking the radio down into the main hall!" Nora yelled, unplugging the radio "I can hook up my scroll to the speaker, and we can dance and have a good time!"
"Fitting for you to have such a crazy idea Nora" Jaune said "But we're not allowed out of the dorm rooms after curfew"
He nodded up against the clock, which was showing 10:30PM. Curfew was at 10 precisely.
"Argh, who cares about that noise?" Nora laughed, having already heaved Ren under one arm and the radio under the other "We're going, whether you like it or not!"
"Just the fact that you made such a commotion outside could potentially get you in trouble!" Weiss lectured Nora, everyone knowing full well she weren't reaching her with her lecturing.
Yatsu, Fox, Velvet and Ebris all looked up at their team leader expectantly.
"What's the final verdict, boss?" Yatsu asked "Not much we can do against Nora, is there?"
"Not really" Coco laughed, shrugging her shoulders "Whatever. This once can't hurt"
Everyone cheered and pumped their fists in the air, all except Weiss.
"But what about Ebris' studying!? What about MY studying!?"
"You can stay here and study if you want!" Ebris was already pulling on his boots by the door "I'm gonna hit the dance floor!"
Not much time had passed before they had all arrived at the main hall, Nora already in full swing of hooking up her radio and scroll.
"Damn you guys are slow!" She laughed heartily "What, are you afraid we'll be caught or something?"
"Now that you mention it, yes" Jaune mumbled, being a bit fearful "I don't want to be kicked out of the academy, you know?"
"Come on, Jauney-boy!" Yang smirked, patting his back "The teachers all rest in a separate building! You can be perfectly relaxed"
"Sure, tell me that when you're being escorted off school grounds for breaking curfew"
"Come on, let's get the party going!" Nora yelled impatiently "I already know which one to start off with!"
She pushed a button, and the party was on.
Ebris chuckled and laughed to himself as he watched how Nora was dancing with Ren, Ren's moves being well-thought and coordinated, reminiscent of hip hop, while Nora's mostly resembled a humbled mess of random movements and swings of her arms. She seemed to be enjoying herself though.
Team RWBY were dancing by themselves, holding each other's hands and jumping and moving around to the music. Blake was a little slow and awkward, but eventually caught onto the rhythm of Casey's "I Burn".
"Damn I love this song!" Yang laughed, twirling her sister around.
Over by the stage, Jaune was having a good time dancing with Pyrrha, a goofy grin on his face as he twirled her around and caught her in his arms.
Ebris' sight was suddenly cut off as a pair of hands latched over his eyes, and a teaseful voice whispered in his ear.
"Don't just stand there and watch, sir edgelord" He could tell it was Coco "You're showing us some moves"
"Moves? Do you know who you're talking to?" He chuckled by himself as he felt how Coco was leading him somewhere "I don't know how to dance!"
Coco let go of him and he opened his eyes, realizing that his team was standing around him in a circle and moving their bodies to the music, clapping along to the rhythm.
"Come on Ebris, show us what you got!" Yatsu cheered.
"But that's the problem, I don't have anything to show!"
"Come on you pantsy!" Coco laughed "You gotta have at least rhythm!"
Velvet hesitated but frowned in determination, before stepping forward and grabbing Ebris' hands in her own.
"Come on, it's not that hard!" She smiled at him encouragingly, before beginning to move to the rhythm again "You don't have to do anything, just move in place!"
Ebris blushed a little from her taking his hands, but nevertheless gained the courage to begin to try and follow the rhythm. In the beginning his movements were sloppy and off rhythm, but not much time went by before he let go of Velvet's hands and rocked his head and swayed his hips to the music.
"There we go!" Coco cheered, before dancing over and bumping her hip with Ebris' playfully "See? Was that so hard?"
"No, but it's damn fun!" He laughed, having the time of his life "Hey Ren! Would you be willing to give me dancing lessons?"
"Sure Ebris!" Ren smiled, happy that someone shared his passion for dancing "If I can get Nora to let go of my hands for long enough!"
"NEVER!" Yelled Nora, making the rest of the room resonate with laughter from all sides.
The laughter died as the music suddenly cut off, leaving the young teenagers confused. They looked around, their faces paling when they saw professor Goodwitch with the radio plug cord in her hand, looking at them with a scowl.
"Can anyone explain to me why 13 youngsters are up past bedtime and blasting music that can be heard well across campus?"
Total silence followed, until Ebris took the first initiative.
"EVERYBODY RUN!"
The young huntsmen and huntresses scattered to all sides, all except Nora, who quickly sped over and grabbed her scroll and the radio from Goodwitch, before running like her life depended on it.
"YOU'RE NEVER TAKING ME ALIVE!"
After a long trek along the halls of Beacon Academy, Ebris laughed as he burst through the door to the open rooftop, Velvet running after him with exhausted laughter. They had run from the great hall all the way here, and were both tuckered out by the long run.
"We just HAD to make a dance party in the middle of the night, didn't we?" Velvet heaved, trying to catch her breath "And on a school night no less…"
"Come on, you gotta admit that was fun!" Ebris laughed, trying to hide his wheezing.
"I have a vague suspicion that we have differing definitions of fun Ebris" Velvet said, unsuccessfully suppressing a giggle.
"Whatever, it's a memory to remember" He chuckled.
With a final deep breath he sat down by the roof's edge, looking out at the campus before him.
He had yet to appreciate how truly beautiful the campus grounds were. Being placed on high ground in the first place, many spots around Beacon served as a way to look out across the rest of the surrounding land, stretching a canopy of trees along the surrounding city of Vale.
"Kind of an odd thought but…" Ebris mumbled, looking down onto a well-lit street in the city below "I've never really been to the city of Vale before"
"Huh? How is that possible?" Velvet asked curiously "You have to get through the city to get to Beacon after all. And even if you were transported by Bullhead, the airport is still in the central city"
"Well..." He mumbled, rubbing his neck "I've just never explored the place is all. I was flown directly to the academy by Bullhead straight from Patch"
"Oh, that makes sense" Velvet blushed and smiled before looking away "You know, we have to do something about that. This weekend, the team and i could take you into town if you want"
"And what about all my homework?" Ebris asked, eyeing Velvet mischievously. Any excuse to escape studying was a good excuse.
"I'll get the rest of the team to help you out on what you missed!" She said excitedly, looking over at him with a bright smile "What do you say?"
"I don't exactly need an excuse to skip studying" He snickered "Okay Velv. It's a date"
Velvet blushed a little at his last words but hid her blush and turned away from him.
"O-Okay. I'll see you tomorrow. I really need to find some way back to my dorm room"
"Okay, see you tomorrow"
Velvet took a calming breath and clenched her hands on her chest, walking over to the door of the roof. A last look over her shoulder at her latest teammate, and a smile crept onto her face.
'He really is special isn't he?'
She stopped dead in her tracks as Ebris suddenly called out to her.
"Hey Velvet? Why did you try to avoid me during the first week I was here?"
A/N
Once again, thank you so much for reading!
Got any tips for my writing or how to structure my chapters? make sure to leave a review and all that jazz.
See you soon guys!