Red Roses, White Scales
It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience.
Julius Caesar
Chapter 10
What is a Man?
"Ah man, my head…" Mikhail woke up, his head and body ached. He opened his eyes, and saw, that he was in the nursing room of Beacon and he was currently lying on a bed, it seems that the fight was more tiring than he thought.
The window was open and the wind caused the curtain to flap. He could hear the birds outside chirping and a breeze stroking his skin.
"Pyrrha?" He saw, that his friend was also in the station, lying on the other side of the room. She was peacefully sleeping and had bandages over her body.
"Finally woken up?"
His head snapped to his right side and he gasped, when he saw a familiar female sitting on her chair, close to his bed.
"You gotta be kidding me!?" He cried out "Accord!?"
"You look good Mike, how are you doing?" The bespectacled sitting girl was Accord. She had brunette hair, bind into twin tails. She had a light complexion and a small head. Her body was slender and she had long legs. She wore a white blouse, with wide sleeves, whit leggings and a frilly miniskirt. Her shoes were thigh-high boots. And she was currently sitting and cutting an apple.
"Okay….I am getting crazy….."
"Don't be silly my dear Mikhail, aren't you happy to see me?"
"I am not pleased …..And by the way, did talk with Raven?"
"Yeah, she was rather….trigger happy…." Accord rolled her eyes "Also, you are not getting insane, just wanted to visit…here." She finished cutting the apple and put them on a plate "If you want, I could feed you?"
"No….."
"Oh," She faked a tear and held her chest in a melodramatic manner "After 800 years we didn't see us….."
"Okay that's it! Your ass is grass." He wanted to stay up, but Accord didn't let him, she held her hands before her.
"Easy…wow you started to speak in a crass manner like Zero."
"She was my…." He clicked his tongue and took the plate.
"See? Wasn't so hard, wasn't it?"
Now this time he rolled his eyes and ate an apple piece "Why are you really here?"
"I looked everywhere for you, and imagine my surprise, I found you in this world….and I can't myself to be…." She scowled "Disappointed."
Mikhail answered with and raised eyebrow "And please pray tell, why?"
"Really," She crossed her arms "After all this time, after Zero gave you a chance, you choose to fight again?"
"So what!? I want to protect humanity and all what I love!? Sue me!"
"Want or must!?" Her voice became slightly angrier "This is not what Zero wanted for you!" She stood up "She wanted you to have a life were you could have peace. You have everything, loving parents, sisters and friends."
"Which I want to protect!" He replied.
She sighed again and put her forefinger on her forehead "I believe you, but I think there is another factor in this game of yours."
"….And this is?"
"You may have the body of a human, but you have the soul and mind of a dragon. And dragons are not soldiers or warriors; they are conqueror, deceiver, usurper and predators."
"I…"
"Look I know that you had to change, you were once a pacifist and even know you believe in the good of people yet you choose to do things that sometimes are questionable and this is the right way…sometimes.
"….." Mikhail still didn't say anything.
"But at least, come to your mind; don't have secrets let your true feelings out and please be not someone that minimalize his own happiness."
"Okay enough," He rebuked "First I made my priorities a long time ago."
"Yes, but does this mean lying to the ones to love?"
"Hmpf," He chuckled "Isn't this, what men are? Miserable piles of secrets?"
"Indeed, that's quite right, but can you really go on this way? Sacrificing yourself to others and letting your own happiness shrivel?"
"I….Zero did it too…"
"Zero, had no chance…but you…" She touched his cheek "Are different. Don't you see it? Your beloved ones are in pain, because you are neglecting your own wellbeing."
"I…I just what to save everything I can….but," He looked at his hands "I…. know these are my new hands….. yet…I can feel it. They are stained with death…I burned and killed so many, that their ashes and corpses could cover this entire land, I spilled so much blood that could color the entire ocean red….I fight with my instincts as dragons….yet I am a man….But I still want to protect this world…yet I yearn for the glory of death and blood…..but what am I? A human, a dragon, a faunus?" Sometimes Mikhail could lose himself, in his memories, in his thoughts. He came over his past life, learned to love his new home and family, yet you can't erase a life that lasted millennia…You can't keep a weapon down….and dragons are always drawn to death and war.
"I know….but you are not alone anymore….You are you, you are Mikhail Rose, not Mikhail the Lone Dragon."
"What I need, is more strength to protect….them…."
"I know this, too." She opened her bag and took a syringe out "This will help you."
"What is this?"
"Power." She rammed the syringe into Mikhail's neck. He twisted in pain and grunted.
"Argh!"
"Shh, easy. Let it flow through your body.
After some seconds, Mikhail's body stopped to spasm his breathing became quick "What the hell did you…" She put her forefinger on his lips.
"Shh, it will give you strength. But know this…don't let the dragon inside you change you, and trust your friends, find happiness…."
Before Mikhail could reply, his world became twisted and he fell asleep.
"This is a gift from Zero…" She looked at the other syringes, lying in her bag….On them was something written…..Maso-Particles…."I hope you are watching over him from the Spirit World, Zero…..or rather Rose….You have an awesome child." With this words, she brushed gently through his hair…."You will have your happy ending…..Soon you are released from this eternal circle…that bound you to the world for all eternity….Mikhail….But soon…you will to face her again, and then ….your soul can rest." Accord sobbed, really she sobbed. The android couldn't even stand the thought, of what Mikhail will have to endure and bear in the near future, for one second.
XXX
Evening, Room of Team RWBY
"Ah, that was really good!" Yang who finished the food from her brother, leaned back and patted her stomach. Ruby was lying on her and Mikhail's bed while groaning from too much eating.
"Well, it was simple yet good." Weiss cleaned her mouth with a handkerchief and sighed from her full stomach. She didn't eat much of the grilled meat, more from the vegetables "I must say Mikhail is a good cook."
"Yeah, before Mike became older, all we did was easy made stuff and eating out or ordering."
Blake who looked in delight, that Mikhail made salmon for her, noticed suddenly something "Talking about your brother, where is he?"
"Mike said that he needed some fresh air, dunno he is probably on the roof."
"Why?" Weiss asked.
"He likes to watch the moon…" She shrugged "Ah, also here!" Yang threw a book at Blake who caught it "Mikhail said he is done with it, you can read it."
The Faunus looked at the book; Black Song, White Scales. She blinked and her eyes wandered from Mikhail's bed to the moon, visible through the window.
"He should rather rest…"
"Huh, are you in worry for my little brother?"
"No, I mean yes…." The heiress threw her dirtiest glare at the blonde bombshell who bathed in the spite of her teammate.
"Weiss, is right….but yet your brother has some insane life force in him…."
"Finally someone listens to me….wait isn't that Black Song, White Scales!?"
Oh boy…
XXX
Roof of Beacon
Mikhail was currently sitting on the roof of Beacon Academy while eying the moon. Whatever Accord injected him, it was awesome. He felt really good, his body didn't hurt anymore and his limbs weren't sore. He felt more powerful.
But yet, he thought about the things she said. He sighed and rubbed his eyes "Blake I know that you are behind me."
He didn't even turn around; Blake who appeared behind him smiled "How did you notice me, I was walking against the wind and approached you without noise.
"Instinct…"
She quirked her eyebrow and sat beside him.
Mikhail looked at her, and she was currently wearing her usual outfit. She wore black low-heeled boots and stockings that started off black at her hips, but gradually faded to purple as they neared her shoes. On the outside of her stockings, there were white emblems that were most likely belladonna flowers. She wore black ribbons on both of her arms, with a black detached sleeve and a silver band on her left arm.
Blake clothes were a black buttoned vest with coattails, a white sleeveless undershirt that exposed part of her midriff with white shorts that may be connected to her shirt, although it was partly obscured by the vest. Her shorts had a zipper on the front of each leg. She also wore a detached scarf-like collar around her neck. She had a gray magnetic plate strapped to her back like a backpack, for holstering Gambol Shroud.
"Instinct….well after today and yesterday couldn't deny it….Many people including me saw something incredible…"
He chuckled "I should say that to you, making no sound despite wearing boots with heels.
Blake frowned slightly at the jab on her clothing "Still, many people saw you transforming into something that should never exist, something told in fairy tales and stories."
Mikhail tilted his head.
"You transformed into something like a dragon….How?"
He shrugged "I don't even understand it either, the Semblance is the reflection of his own soul and character…." He faced Blake and smirked "Who knows, maybe I have the soul of a dragon who wished to be reborn, like in Peyt's book."
Now it was Blake's turn to quirk an eyebrow, she looked at the book in her hands "Don't be ridiculous…." She shook her head "Well, after today I shouldn't say that…."
"Who knows?" Both teens looked at the shattered celestial body, decorating the sky.
"Mikhail?"
"Yeah?"
"I," She hesitated for a second "Want to tell you the reason why I am hiding my identity as Faunus." She tightened the grip on the book.
"I am all ears."
"The reason is….*sigh* I want people to see me who I am, not what I am." She pressed Mikhail's book against her chest "I want people to see me as Blake Belladonna the person, not Blake Belladonna a Faunus."
"Understandable…" Mikhail really could understand Blake, if people would see her second pair of ears; people would immediately judge her, only for being a Faunus.
"Not only this, I heard from Yang about those….."
"You mean the racism against me?"
She nodded.
He sighed "Blake, I understand your situation really." He looked back at the moon "When I was little, I was bullied because of my hair and eyes….well understandable…but once I get angry or people saw my canines or my horns, they yelled at me, tried to beat me up or even said their children that they should never touch me…." Blake didn't do anything; she just looked her leader and listened "They even went so far, calling my mother a bitch who cheated on my father with an animal. You had to see how my father beat them up…."
Now the Faunus reacted…with anger….'Yang didn't mention that….it is just horrible…..' She shook her head in disbelief "This is atrocious…."
"But every time it happened, every time I saw how they looked at me, pointed at me and whispered, I said this to myself, "He looked Blake directly in her amber eyes "I don't care about it or them."
"What?" The Faunus was taken aback by his declaration.
"They can shout at me, try to beat me up, ignore me and do many other things…but I don't care about it. Do know why?"
She shook her head.
"Because I will never give in." He took a deep breath "On the contrary, with this, the bullying, the hate I could finally understand Faunus a bit more, I could feel the same way they are doing. With this I could gain more strength to go on.
Blake blinked.
"My goal is peace between humans and Faunus." He raised his hand; it looked like he had the moon on his palm. "Did you know that I was present when the White Hood Incident happened?
Her eyes widened. Every Faunus and White Fang member knows about it. Several figures mixed themselves under the protesting Faunus and humans. All of them had had white hoods. Then suddenly they drew their weapons and attacked all humans and Faunus that were against racism. Many people were killed and injured. It was one of the reasons, why the White Fang became violent.
"Here," He pointed on chest "When I was ten, I went to that protest…"
Blake could already think what he would say next.
"I was shot when I protected a Faunus.
Blake gasped. Shooting a ten year old child ….this is downright horrible.
"For two weeks. Wouldn't it for my Semblance, Aura and my incredible life force, I wouldn't stand before you."
The female tightened her grip on the book.
"But that wasn't the first time my life was in danger…"
"What?"
"In my entire life….including the White Hood Incident, I almost died three times."
Blake was frozen….She wanted to say something, but couldn't.
"The first time was….when I was merely two hours old….."
"Two….hours….."
"Yes….my Aura, was massive and so dense…..that it literally crushed my body….my organism simply couldn't take it…"
"Then how did it go, did they activated your Aura?"
He nodded "Yes…but it was still too much…." He smiled "My own soul's power was killing me…."
"Then how….." She widened her eyes "Your Semblance activated, didn't it?"
"Yes, it," He raised his hand and extended his claws "Changed my body, so that I could adapt."
"You evolved…." Blake couldn't believe it. In Peyt's book, dragons evolved to become stronger to contain and control the power within them.
"Yes, every time I get stronger my Semblance, too, the amount of my life force is so much that I heal even wounds that normal Auras can't. You saw it didn't you, my sister's reaction of my tail." Blake looked behind him when she saw his tail wagging around, like the one of a Faunus.
"Yes, she was rather surprised….but why are you telling me this? Because I told you my secret, so that you think you need to tell me yours?
"No," He shook his head "My mother was a huntress, who died protecting the world, wanting to make it a better place for me and my family and I lost many friends too because of this conflict, both humans and Faunus. I didn't want my mother's and my friend's death to be in vain. They died protecting this world, they died to make it to a better place, and I couldn't bear it, that no one respected their wishes and sacrifices." He clenched his open hand into a fist.
Blake understood it. Mikhail was probably the only human, who could ever understand the pain of being a Faunus. Even though, he was human, he was insulted and attacked, because he had long canines and a Semblance that changed his body. He lost his mother and friends, who wanted to make the world to better place. He was almost killed, by doing it, too. And yet he didn't stop, on the contrary it encouraged him to continue.
Suddenly Blake felt a warm feeling in her chest followed by a shiver, and when Mikhail looked smiling at her, the warm feeling spread.
"My mother taught me this, to help people wherever you can and always cherish love. I know that I can't save everyone. I know that sacrifices must be made and I made my priorities a long time ago, but if I don't try it, I would or will regret for my entire life. And no matter how many times I will fail or land on the dirt, I will stand up and try again, because this is the person my mother was…this is the person I want to be. You can trust me Blake.
"I….I will…."
"Thanks!" He smiled brilliantly at her.
Blake felt her cheeks burn up. She broke the eye contact "Then what should I do Mikhail?"
"You mean telling the others about you being a Faunus?"
"Yes," She hugged herself "I don't know what to do, what to say. How would they react, especially Weiss?"
Mikhail nodded "My sisters are pretty much angry, not because that you didn't tell them. They will be angry for not trusting them and for Weiss…" He tapped his chin "Even though she is from the Schnee family, I don't think it would so dramatic…okay a little bit…. maybe…."
"I just…I don't know….I am afraid…" Blake felt a hand on her shoulder and looked at Mikhail who was still smiling.
"Blake, if you are ready, to tell them about you, being a Faunus, than know this. I will be there to support you. You can count on me, that I will not let you alone."
Again, the warm feeling in her chest spread "Thank you Mikhail."
"Silly," He laughed "Blake, I am your friend, teammate, comrade and leader. You don't have to thank me, no matter what I will be there, for all of you."
The Faunus smiled "Still thank you." Both of them looked back at the moon and Blake shivered and rubbed her arms. Beacon Academy was near a cost, and Vale was close to Mountain Glenn causing cold nights, even in spring.
Then she suddenly felt something warm and soft engulfing her, Mikhail put his white wings around her.
She widened her eyes…They felt like warm blankets, yet she could feel even more. Blake could feel Mikhail's pulse, his heartbeat surrounding her. Slowly but steady her own heartbeat synchronized with his…and what made it more weird, that she felt so save…..tranquil….something she didn't feel a long time.
Both teens continued to look up at the moon…..
'But wait, didn't the tell me, that died almost three times?'
XXX
Somewhere in Vale, A unknown storehouse
"This one is probably the worst week in my entire carrier, and now I have to work with those stupid mutts from the White Fang." Roman Torchwick was currently plotting his plans. Before him, was a map of Vale. All districts were marked and something is written on them.
"Why the grumpy face, old man?" From behind, a person spoke to him. He turned around and glared.
Behind him was a young man with pale skin. He was well-built and gray eyes and hair partially slicked back while unkempt at the front. He wore a gray and black two-tone partial-zip jacket that covered his upper body. He now also wears a single notched belt with what appears to be a sash or bandana draped over it. Protecting his arms are sets of rerebraces and vambraces.
"Watch it kid, or you will pushing the daisies tonight."
The silver haired boy shuddered and put his hands up while shaking them sarcastically "Oh, I am so sorry, I wouldn't dream to make the Great Torchwick angry." Then he smiled, which caused Roman to harden his scowl.
"Come on Mercury, don't be such a big asshole." A female joined their conversation and walked towards them.
She was a thin female with medium-brown skin and dark-red eyes. Her hair was a light, mint-green cut with a straight fringe and bangs, as well as two long locks on each side, in the back. She also wore two bronze-colored rings on her middle fingers as well as a pair of high-heeled shoes. She had a thin top and wore undershirt with a shallow-cut. She had white pants and brown chaps that ended at her calves and an overlong belt, twice-wrapped, where she kept her weapons as well as a single pouch.
"Finally someone with manners, thank you my lady!" He bowed mockingly at the girl who rolled her eyes at his antics.
"Hey Emerald, first I may be an asshole but not a big one," Mercury pointed at himself with his thumb "But there are other things on me, that are big." He grinned.
Emerald quirked an eyebrow "All bark and no bite…."
"Wuff, Rawr." He waggled with his brows while growling in sarcasm.
She scoffed "Get neutered."
The silver haired boy put his hands on his crotch and again answered in mockingly way "Oh, so feisty today."
"If you both of are done, can we start with our briefing?" All three twitched and straighten up, when a seductive voice called in. From the shadows emerged a young woman.
The woman had ashen-black hair and bright amber eyes, while her fingernails were painted dark red. She wore a dark-red, off-the-shoulders, v-neck minidress with yellow designs. There was a blue feather-like accessory on her right hip, at the top of an open portion of her dress. The dress ended in an upside-down triangular tail in the back, ending just above the knees.
There was a baseball diamond-shaped keyhole on the dress' upper back at the same height as her chest. The sleeves ended in a triangle shape, which are wrapped or tied around her middle finger, with the gold designs of the sleeve taking over at the wrists. Underneath her dress her black shorts, as well as a black choker on her neck. On her ears was gold loop earring with a black gem that dangled from it on her right ear. She had dark, glass, high-heeled shoes and a jeweled anklet on her right leg.
On her upper back, in the keyhole of her dress, she had a black tattoo of what appears to be a pair of high heel shoes placed sole to sole, forming a heart shape inside.
"Cinder!" Both teens said in stiffening manner, or rather reverent.
While Roman brightened up "Ah Cinder my dear. Finally joining us, the infantry?" His smiled faded into a scowl.
While the woman named Cinder tilted her head at him "Roman, are we still sore about the last time?"
"Sore, sore!?" He hammered his cane on the ground "That was a goddamn clusterfuck, do know how much it cost me, to repair my Bullhead!?"
"Drama Queen!" Mercury called out and everyone looked at him. He shriveled back when Cinder's amber eyes glowed.
Cinder turned around and looked back at Roman "Don't worry Roman," Her voice sweet and seductive "We will compensate for it." She put a finger on his chin and raised it up a bit "But now," She glanced at Mercury and Emerald "Do you have the information, I asked you?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Emerald took her scroll out and gave it to Cinder "Here."
The ashen-black haired woman took it and opened a file "Interesting." She smiled…."Mikhail Rose."
"That's the kid you are looking for? The boy that attacked us?" Roman could take a glance on the screen.
"Indeed." She continued to tap on the scroll.
"Never thought of you, as a cradle robber Cinder?" Mercury stated while crossing his arms.
Emerald gasped and palmed her face, while Roman tried to hold his laughter.
Cinder froze and glared at Mercury, while the golden parts of her dress and her eyes glowed.
Mercury realized, that his joke would cause his ass to be burned, held his hands up "Okay, sorry. I take that statement back."
Cinder rolled her eyes and continued to look at Mikhail's file.
"But seriously why are you interested in that guy? I mean how could someone be dangerous, that has flame-like hair and awkward eyes?"
Emerald deadpanned at her partner "Merc, you are an idiot."
"Hey, look what…" He raised his forefinger to snap back….
"Enough." Both teens stopped their quarrel and looked back at their female boss "You asked how dangerous that boy is, Mercury?"
He nodded.
"Then how is that? That boy as the highest amount of Aura ever being recorded, he was trained by both Branwen siblings and killed a Giant Nevermore? In the tender age of 12, he even killed a Goliath."
All three, Roman, Mercury and Emerald eyes widened.
"You gotta' be kidding me, Cinder."
She smirked "I kid you not, my dear Mercury."
"Indeed," Roman spoke up "That boy pierced, with his scythe through the armor of my Bullhead."
"Don't worry about that anymore Roman."
"What do you mean… your highness?"
"His scythe broke when he killed the Nevermore. He had to lower the caliber of it and made it much lighter. But that doesn't mean it is less deadly."
"No freaking way….. that guy?" Mercury asked "He doesn't really look like a fighter…."
"Well," Emerald shrugged "I think he is looking kinda cute." But then she realized her mistake, when Mercury began to open his filthy mouth.
"Oh, finally having someone for your slippery fingers?"
"You son of….."
"Emerald, stop, and Mercury it is a wonder, why you are still single…really." Cinder closed the file and put it back.
"Hey!" Mercury rebuked while Emerald grinned with satisfaction.
"Roman," She turned around "You will continue to steal dust; Adam is still waiting for the next payment. And you two, observe the boy, he is either a great ally for our cause or an enemy.
"Yes!"
Before you ask, Accord is only a minimal character, who will appear and mentioned now and then.
If you have questions, pm me.
I am also still looking for someone who would help me, making this story more known, and makes it into a 'Reading Story'.