Chapter 11
Trying things out
"I help people because that's who I am."- Royce Walker, reflecting on his actions in the Capital Wastelands to Moira Brown.
Royce let out a breath as he stretched his arms before finishing up the last part of his homework. He wasn't really too confident with his essays but he hoped this one was good enough for Professor Port. The Wanderer put the paper carefully into his folder and tucked it into his backpack. It was a new one that Weiss bought for him and while he offered to pay her back, Weiss had stubbornly refused and that always made him feel guilty.
The Wanderer packed up and left the library to go meet his teammates. Blake, unfortunately, was off doing research on the White Fang and still staying up late. It was to the point that her grades were starting to drop. The only reason she was still passing was because Royce would often hand copy his own notes for her.
Actually he did that for everyone except Weiss, but that's another story.
Royce sighed in irritation. He did not like what Blake was doing to herself. But what could he do? Every time he'd ask her to rest she'd snap at him and nothing changed. So he just made sure that nothing bad happened.
/
Royce was still watching her back.
Blake Belladonna was not in the mood. "What is it?" she snapped.
"You're gonna end up collapsing at this rate." Royce told her sternly. "Would it kill you to get some rest? Ruby's not happy, Yang is quite close to putting sleeping pills in your drinks and I don't know what Weiss is going to say apart from actually getting the Headmaster involved."
"And yes," Royce added. "I managed to convince Yang that slipping a sedative in your drink is a really bad idea."
"I..." Blake hesitated, especially with the part with Yang putting sleeping pills in her drinks. "We have to...I have to..." she stumbled and Royce caught her by the arm.
"Whoa! Royce? Blake?" It was Sun. "Aww man is she being Blake-y again Royce?"
Royce decided not to answer as Blake glowered at Sun. She ripped her arm out of Royce's grip and pushed past Sun.
"Does that answer your question?" Royce calmly asked Sun who looked at his fellow Faunus worried.
/
Cinder Fall watched Royce Walker out of the corner of her eye. Getting into Beacon was very easy, all she had to do was play pretend. He was certainly quite tall, and very strapping. He was also very dangerous much like their mutual friend the Courier.
"Man...The guy looks like he could break anybody in half." Mercury Black commented as he took a sip of soda. "You think I can take him Emerald?"
"If he doesn't break you in half." Emerald pointed out. Cinder shrugged. He was strong but she was sure she could take him. No talent in Aura but he had quite a skill set. She was a bit disappointed that she could not recruit him to the cause. The Courier would have been perfect but considering that he was aiming to put Roman's head on a pike she decided that both of them would have to be...disposed of.
The problem? The Courier and Royce Walker were more than capable of handling themselves in a fight, which also meant that they sucked at dying. Cinder continued thinking, she could always go after the people they cared about...
As though sensing her thoughts Royce Walker set his eyes on her. Cinder narrowed her eyes as the young man's glance soured for a brief second before he turned and walked out of the cafeteria.
/
Watching the entirety of Team CRDL getting their collective ass handed to them by Pyrrha was somewhat therapeutic. Of course that meant that Royce could have been on the receiving end of Milo and Akuo.
Royce remembered sparring with Pyrrha and how much he hated getting smacked in the face with a shield. As he watched Cardin spin in the air before landing in a heap behind the redhead, he idly turned to glance at some of the transfer students.
"Exceedingly well done, miss Nikos." Professor Goodwitch put another win tally down on her scroll. "Now...are there any other volunteers?"
Royce raised a hand. Next to Ruby one of the transfers also raised a hand.
"Ah, mister Walker and mister Mercury Black. Good. Step into the ring please."
Black was a younger kid with grey hair. Royce idly wondered what kind of combatant he was before strapping a newly retooled Fisto to his right arm. He walked down calmly to the ring, facing down Black as he stepped idly to the opposite side. The kid put his arms up. Royce did the same, turning to the side as he waited for Mercury to make his move.
He didn't have to wait long.
Mercury went high, aiming a savage kick at Royce's head. The Wanderer jumped back out of range, reared back Fisto and let fly with an uppercut that Mercury barely managed to block. The force of the blow was enough to send him a considerable distance away. Mercury landed on his feet but not before stumbling a couple of steps backwards.
The surprised look on his face turned into a smile. Which promptly disappeared and turned into a frightened grimace as Royce moved forward, Fisto raised for an overhead strike. The Wanderer went in with a jumping strike that would have scared anyone.
/
On the sidelines Emerald gave a slight grin as she watched the big guy rush Mercury. She found it funny but anyone would be scared if a six foot tall brawler built like a brick wall was coming at them with a massive power fist. She watched as Mercury barely dodged the power fist as it hit the floor with a crack. Royce Walker turned blocking a kick aimed at his side with his arms before pushing Mercury back with his off hand. Royce turned and reared back Fisto again, letting loose with a terrifyingly fast straight that would have caved in Mercury's side if he hadn't held back. Mercury flew backwards, rolled onto his feet and got back into his fighting stance panting.
Damn, she mused. Royce Walker is pretty darned good.
/
"I am finding this dreadfully uncomfortable." Royce said as he held his shirt up inside the dorm room. Weiss calmly held the ice pack in place. There was a growing bruise on his right side.
"Oh hush," Weiss told him. "This is first aid. There's no need to be so embarrassed."
Royce could feel Ruby's and Yang's eyes on him. Yang's was especially disconcerting because he swore he saw her lick her lips twice but hoped he was hallucinating. Ruby, being the one told to get ice packs was a bit jealous that Weiss was the one with the ice pack. The Wanderer did not know how he got into this situations. Then again he really didn't mind how close Weiss was...her perfume smelled nice...That and her shirt was a bit low...
Royce quietly and firmly pushed the thought out of his mind.
"Ow!" Royce backed off as Weiss attempted to, in Royce's opinion at least, shove the ice pack in between his ribs.
"Are you listening to me!?" Weiss looked irritated.
"...No?" Royce tried hopefully. Weiss just sighed.
"Do you have anyone in mind to ask out to the dance?" she asked again.
Royce bit the inside of his cheek as he reddened slightly. "Do you?" He returned.
Weiss felt her cheeks warm. She knew what he was going for. "Not really no..." She mumbled.
"Then I suppose you'd like to go with me then?" Royce asked smiling awkwardly. "I kind of don't know how to dance."
"You're in luck, I am quite capable of teaching you." Weiss said cheerfully.
/
"Go!"
The Courier dropped down alongside a squad of Atlas's finest. Why the esteemed General Ironwood wanted to scout this area out was beyond him but it beat staying at Beacon doing nothing except for twiddling his thumbs. It felt good to be out on the trail again.
This section of Forever Fall was home to a rail station that fell out of communication a few days ago. Grimm or White Fang it didn't matter, Ozpin wanted to check it out but Ironwood had volunteered a squad to go recon the area. Ozpin had, reluctantly, asked the Courier to go as well. He offered payment of course but the Courier was more than happy to go out on the hunt.
He checked his carbine, the All-American, before following Fugazi and his team as they headed towards the rail station. The Courier could feel their stares on him and knew he was not well liked amongst the Atlesian Military. They were fine soldiers...just not ones the Courier wanted on his side.
They reminded him too much of the NCR, who he wanted nothing to do with.
/
"You, Courier." Fugazi's command was sharp. "Get up there and see what's up, the gate ain't opening."
The Courier gave a nod and with a running start he climbed over the fence and dropped into a crouch, Ranger Sequoia in one hand and Blood-Nap in the other. He moved towards the warehouse overlooking the gate and walked inside. If his hunch was correct the warehouse should have some kind of switch to open the gate into the rail yard.
It was dim compared to the rather sunny day outside. The Courier found no signs of struggle but no sign of life either. It was...a bit creepy. The Courier honestly preferred fighting the White Fang over the Grimm. Watching or finding out that people were eaten alive was not a good experience. He had enough of that in the Mojave. Once during his travels he had been tasked to get the eggs of several creatures for an arena known as the Thorn.
He hated getting Deathclaw eggs. At least he managed to get a good shotgun out of it, Red Lucy was nice enough to reward him for that.
The sex was also good. But that was another story.
The Courier moved towards the second floor, clearing the hallways with his Sequoia before finally opening the gate. Fugazi's squad pushed into the main yard while the Courier covered them, using his binoculars to survey the area. He signaled Fugazi that he didn't find anything.
The squad, plus Courier, continued forward.
/
Private Bonnie Brown kept her rifle in hand while at the same time she kept checking the Courier out. The man's helmet was currently clipped to his belt as he kept digging through the office. Why Fugazi had her assigned to this merc was beyond her. Hell, he was technically in the SDC's employ so she also didn't know why the merc was here.
He was pretty damned cute though...if a bit too scarred for her tastes.
The Courier kept going through the reports then shook his head and slammed the drawer closed. "Fuck," he muttered. "Nothing but trash."
There was nothing here. It was a waste of time. Bonnie noticed that the Courier had turned his gaze on her. "What?"
"Any particular reason why you've been staring at me for the past few minutes?" He asked.
Bonnie reddened considerably before snapping back. "And what's it to you?!"
The Courier shrugged. "Just curious is all..." He answered.
"Yeah, well keep it to yourself merc." Bonnie's sneer was ineffective as the Courier merely continued looking for clues.
The squad rendezvoused in the main area of the rail yard.
"Nothing?" Fugazi asked the Courier who shook his head.
"Nothing." The Courier asked. "Either we got set up or something else is up." Fugazi frowned but every soldier worth his or her salt knew that a gut instinct was something to listen to. The Courier's helmet obscured his face but it was easy to see that he was getting...jumpy about something.
That was when the sniper blew one of Fugazi's soldiers to hell. The high powered round punched through his armor and out his back in a fountain of gore.
"Sniper!" Fugazi roared. "Get into cover! Now!"
Another shot rang out and the Courier caught a glimpse of a flash in one of the warehouses before he ducked behind some crates. He checked his carbine once again. Boone would have been quite useful in this situation but there was no point in wishing for things to be different.
The Courier kept his head down as Fugazi's men started firing all over the place. He waited for an opportune moment to fire.
Yep, this was just like the Mojave.
Another one of Fugazi's squad mates were down. The Courier didn't see that but he did see a bullet nearly take off one man's helmet.
Another shot, this one impacting the crate where he was taking cover, and the Courier knew exactly where he was going. He moved suddenly, cover to cover his head low his carbine in both hands.
"The hell are you doing!?" Fugazi roared. "Get back into cover you maniac!"
"Keep him busy!" The Courier shouted back as a bullet whizzed by his head. He heard Fugazi swearing up and down as he ordered his mates to provide suppressing fire. The Courier moved up towards the tower until he was directly below. There was a series of stairs behind the tower, concealed enough by the multitude of shipping containers.
He heard boots ringing on the metal and snuck around the containers. He peeked around the corner.
There! Bastard was running across the yard, rifle tossed aside. The Courier crouched, and shouldered his carbine. The world slowed down around him as he activated VATS. He took aim for the left leg and slowly squeezed the trigger.
His carbine barked and a few hundred meters away the White Fang Sniper fell over screaming, clutching his leg.
The Courier nodded in satisfaction as the world returned to normal, he stood up and walked over to the wounded sniper.
Whimpering the man reached into his jacket but the Courier simply stepped on his arm as he drew his revolver.
"Don't bother, you owe a debt for two lives." The Courier told his prisoner. "You're coming with me."
/
"They should stop this." Glynda remarked as she watched Fugazi beat the White Fang sniper within an inch of his life.
"I have to agree." The Courier quipped as he took a swig of water out of his canteen. "Torture is such a poor method of gaining information."
"I rightly assume that you are also concerned that Sergeant Fugazi is going to kill the man." Ozpin interrupted quickly before Glynda started arguing.
"In a way headmaster; killing a possible source of information is wasteful." The Courier said. "General, I think you should stop Fugazi. He's frothing at the mouth right now."
General Ironwood exhaled through his nose and hit the intercom. "That's enough Fugazi." he said. "And what do you propose we do?" He asked the Courier.
The Courier yawned before he unclipped his helmet from his belt and put it on.
"What you want to get some swings in as well?" Glynda asked him derisively.
"It's easier to break a man's will when you don't have a face." The Courier's voice was muffled and cold."Don't worry gentlemen, and lady, he'll be fine." He turned to Ironwood before entering the impromptu interrogation chamber. "Dim the lights."
Ironwood did so. They weren't able to see anything. As Fugazi took his place by the general he shook his hands as though he were in pain. "Miles and Greene are dead." He said bluntly. "And what is that guy going to do sir?"
"I suppose he has his own way of getting results." Ironwood remarked. "Even if I do not like his methods."
Ozpin and Glynda simply looked at each there before all of them heard a series of low sobbing. The door slid open and the Courier walked out of the interrogation room. "He knows nothing," The Courier spoke simply as he took his helmet off. "Apart from supposedly drawing our attention mister Silas White is nothing more than a pawn."
"Oh right, yes." The Courier said, almost forgetting. "You might want to be a bit gentle he's...terrified of me."
"What did you do?" Ozpin asked keeping an eye on Glynda who looked ready to kill. Fugazi and Ironwood watched the Courier warily.
"Most people don't react well when you threaten their families. I played a bluff of course, who do you think I am? Some sort of psychopath?" The Courier smiled at their incredulous expressions.
/
"So...we are back to square one." Ironwood looked irritably at the map of Remnant.
"Unfortunately," Ozpin said. "Our enemy is rather clever at hiding his tracks."
"Well, if it helps I'd say we're getting to them." The Courier said. "Still, where we caught the bastard..." He pointed at the Forever Fall Rail Yard and traced a line towards Beacon. "That is way too close for comfort. It's practically at your doorstep Ozpin."
"We'll manage." Ozpin told him quietly.
"With all due respect Ozpin, there was an operation going on practically next to a school. Your school. We have to consider our options." Ironwood interjected.
"I have to agree with General Ironwood headmaster." The Courier said still looking at the map. "Any inaction is going to bite us all in the ass."
"And if we incite panic?" Ozpin asked them both.
"It doesn't matter, we have soldiers to keep the peace." The Courier spoke. "We fuck this up, and we're not gonna be the only ones who pay the price."
"Either way, I believe we should wait." Ozpin said. "We have the means of countering our enemy's moves and your reputation mister Courier may keep the White Fang in check."
"For now." Ironwood muttered. The Courier sighed. While he really didn't like the man Ironwood had a point.
"Well, since we have to be subtle with our security." The Courier said with a humorless chuckle. "I'm gonna go get a drink. Or two." He left without another word.
As he heard more arguing from Ironwood and Ozpin he realized that one of them was going to end up in a world of hurt. And he was betting all his chips on Ozpin getting the shit end of the stick. He was a nice guy...the problem was he was too hesitant to use force.
"Times of peace my ass." The Courier muttered.
Shit was about to hit the fan. And the mess was going to be spectacular.
/
"Uh Yang?" Royce said as he looked over Yang's shoulder. "Yang, that question was on Oobleck's last test."
"Wait, it was?" Yang looked at the review. "But-"
"Yeah he just worded it differently, I'm sure it's still about Fort Castle." Royce said. Fort Castle? Seriously? "And I'm sure he's gonna ask about the resulting consequences on the Faunus leaving the Menagerie."
"Err..." Yang scratched her head. "Okay. Man, Royce. You're really smart."
"Oobleck always says that you're gonna go far." Ruby commented.
Royce chuckled as he scratched the back of his head. "I just do my best." He told her. Yeah so his grades were pretty top notch. He didn't let that get into his head. "I mean Weiss is pretty good too."
Weiss put down her notes in frustration at being distracted. "And unlike a certain young man who is far too relenting for his own good, I actually encourage studying by not lending my own notes to someone who ought to study!" She glared at Ruby and Yang who started whistling innocently as Royce gave a nervous laugh and promptly stopped when her withering glare settled on him.
"Still, I suppose it's better than letting them fail and all." Weiss turned back to her studies. None of them wanted to mention Blake's absence. Royce just simply walked over and put the copies of his history review on her bookshelf and continued helping Yang and Ruby.
It was all he or anybody could do. He just hoped Blake was doing alright.
/
"Now, put your hand on my waist." Weiss instructed Royce as they stood facing each other in a secluded area on the academy grounds.
"...What?" Royce asked blinking rapidly.
Yang snorted. Weiss glared at her.
"Put your hand on my waist." Weiss told Royce who did so...uncomfortably.
"Keep it in your pants Royce!" Yang crowed and Royce just let his head sag in embarrassment as Weiss shrieked at Yang to stop.
"Sorry, sorry." Yang said. "I just had to see the big guy dancing."
"Well, he hasn't stepped on my toes yet so he is making progress." Weiss commented. "Besides weren't you supposed to be trying to get Blake to go to the dance?"
"Yeah, I got an idea." Yang tossed a laser pointer up in the air and catching it.
"Wow...Wow!" Royce said shaking his head. "Really Yang?"
"What?" Yang had thought about using a laser pointer to get Blake's attention and thought it was rather funny. "I'm just appealing to her nature."
"Because she's part cat, Yang." Royce deadpanned. "That is totally racist."
"No it's not!" Yang argued. "And you're racist for saying Blake's part cat! She's a Faunus. Stop putting stereotypes on her!"
Weiss giggled at Royce's stupefied look as the boy thought about it and realizing that Yang was right and he was wrong. Yang departed with a smug smile on her face. "You go on ahead and make sure the big guy is ready for his dance, Weiss. I'm gonna go persuade our teammate to let loose on the weekend."
Weiss and Royce looked at each other. "I suppose we can continue?"
"Uh...sure..." Royce said. "You don't mind do you?"
"Not at all!" Weiss assured him. "Now, follow my lead and please try not to step on my toes."
"I will do my best."
/
"I still feel like I made a complete ass of myself but hey at least you only yelled at me about ten times." Royce said to Weiss as they approached the cafeteria to finish up their decorating.
"You've improved." Was all Weiss said about their little dance classes. "Still..." she smiled. "It is better than nothing." As they entered the cafeteria they made sure everything was in place. The caterers would take care of the food but it was Team RWBY's deal to set the whole cafeteria up for the dance.
Royce made sure the speakers were in working order. He also did the lights and the music...and made sure that the fog machines were working. As he plugged the machine in he heard Weiss sigh.
"Ugh...Why did Yang put these doilies down on the floor?" She picked up said doilies and began to put them back to where they were supposed to be.
"I'm pretty sure Yang's not the interior design type. Either that or she really doesn't like doilies." Royce said watching the fog machine sputter up some...well, artificial fog. He covered his mouth and nose. He didn't want to breath in any of that shit. Seriously if he got the chance, he was gonna go find out whoever sold this to Beacon and throw it at him. Or her. Royce was equal minded.
"Humph! She obviously has no aesthetic taste!" Weiss took another step on the ladder. Which was starting to tip to the left.
"Better tell Yang to get a replacement." The Wanderer muttered scowling as the fog machine made a spitting noise briefly before stopping and looked over at Weiss. "Uh Weiss?" Royce started walking towards the ladder, faster when he saw it tilt to port at an extremely alarming angle. "Weiss! The ladder!"
The Schnee heiress gave a frightened shriek as she fell off the ladder and collided with the shocked wanderer that caught her as she fell. Unfortunately he somehow managed to trip over his own feet and fell backwards. Both of them fell to the floor. Royce rolled over onto his back so Weiss wouldn't get hurt.
"Ow...you okay Weiss...?" Royce trailed off as he realized that Weiss was, one, on top of him. And two she was straddling his waist. Beet red, the both of them turned their heads to the doors horrified as they opened.
/
"Um..." Ruby said as she reddened considerably at the sight before her.
"...Wow..." Penny chirped with a smile on her face. "You guys must be really close."
Weiss was currently straddling Royce. It wasn't her fault, Royce had caught her before she fell on the floor and well, he tripped backwards because he was surprised.
"I-I-It's not w-what y-you think!" Weiss yelled shaking her head trying to convince everyone looking. "Royce just caught me because I fell!"
"Yeah!" Royce nodded most enthusiastically agreeing with her. "All of this is definitely a big misunderstanding!"
"Hey what's the hold up- whoa!" Yang grinned when she saw what happened. "Looks like you started your party a little too early Weiss..."
Behind her Blake had covered her mouth and was just flat out laughing. While Royce was glad that things had turned around for her, he was not too happy about all of them seeing...well, all this.
"Shut up!" Weiss was so red she resembled a tomato. She stood up and Royce was finally able to get back onto his feet. Much to his and Weiss's embarrassment the ribbing started. Royce hoped that none of what happened here never made it out of the cafeteria.
/
"I am so sorry," Weiss mumbled to Royce the next day. The quartermaster had his eye on something else as Royce cleaned out the Xuanlong's receiver.
"No...No problem." Royce said just as awkwardly. "It was an accident." He finished up with the Xuanlong and proceeded to work on his Blackhawk and a relatively new weapon that Weiss hadn't seen before. It was a shotgun considering the red shells sitting next to its drum magazine.
"Shotguns are always nice." Royce answered Weiss's questioning glance.
"How...How did you fit that into your pack?" She asked him incredulously.
"I disassembled it. I have a lot more at home. You really don't think that I can carry an entire armory around on my back do you?" Royce asked her with a raised brow. "My weapons don't fold up like they do here."
"No...I was just...never mind." Weiss sighed. Inwardly she wondered just how many weapons did Royce have? And why does he need so much? He was kind of like Ruby...except taller. And quite a bit more intimidating.
Royce finished with his work, he loaded a drum magazine of twelve gauge shotgun shells into his weapon and aimed down range. He hit the button to his left and a target appeared. Royce pulled the trigger on his shotgun once and watched with some satisfaction as the Ursa shaped target simply disintegrated.
Weiss crossed her arms watching. He was definitely a very good shot.
He fired two more blasts at what remained. "Excellent, it's in good working order." Royce said as he hit the magazine release. "Now I need to get it retooled for Dust shells and I'm set." He noticed Weiss looking curiously at his rife.
"You wanna try?" Royce asked her.
"If...well, if you don't mind."
/
Jaune was feeling confident about his chances, and his good mood, went straight down to the dumps as he saw Royce instructing a rather uncomfortable looking Weiss on how to shoot. When the first shot hit Weiss cheered then, blushing madly as Royce grinned at her, scowled and shoved the rifle back in the taller boy's arms. Jaune didn't hear Royce commenting Weiss on her shooting skills.
Neither did he see Weiss blushing rather prettily as he dropped the flowers and left promptly.
"What was I thinking?" He swore under his breath. "Why would she go for me when she has him?"
Jaune always thought of Royce as a good guy. But seeing him getting so close to Weiss hurt way too much. And she really deserved him, a part of him thought positively about that. Royce was a good fighter and a wonderful friend. Who wouldn't choose him? Every girl Jaune had seen always had something good to say about the Wanderer even if he was a bit quiet.
What was he compared to Royce?
/
When the time came Royce realized that he was totally not ready. Yes he was freaking out over a dance. The Lone Wanderer, conqueror of the Pitt, survivor of the dreaded Point Lookout and the savior of the Wastes, was having a near panic attack over getting ready for a dance.
"You know what fuck this thing." Royce readjusted his tie for what seemed to be the hundredth time. "And fuck this shit. Go have fun you prick." The tall boy in the mirror looked way too nervous for his own good.
He felt like a right idiot, insulting his own reflection. He stepped out in his new formal digs and headed out. He kept his head wrap of course. Weiss had objected to him wearing it but gave up when Royce just kept her from reaching for his head and yanking it off.
Being tall certainly had its advantages. He walked out of the dorms and saw Sun walking in the same direction, muttering and swearing about his tie, i.e. neck trap.
Royce had to agree.
"Hey!" Sun waved. "So...you and Weiss huh? Man...Somehow I'm not surprised." He kept tugging at his tie.
"Uh...we're not dating." Royce said looking somewhat confused. Mentally he was starting to get real nervous.
"Yang was pretty sure you guys are." Sun looked at him surprised. "I don't mind if you're trying to keep it down low dude."
Royce sighed to himself and wondered if he would get out of this night unscathed.
/
Sorry about this late update. A lot of stuff happened including my laptop dying. So yeah here we are.