LEAP OF FAITH
"Somehow it seems like we did this a little bit backwards."
For the first time in years Geist was actually scared. Some how none of his contacts in Vacuo had thought to tell him who Lord Winter's personal bodyguard was. He watched as Josef Hruska followed Lord Leon Winter to his room and seethed at the sight of his opponent. It was well known that Hruska was one of the greatest Beacon alumni in history. It was equally well known that he had chosen not to become a huntsman upon graduation, and had instead become a sword-for-hire.
Numerous rumors surrounded the man and none of them told of any weaknesses. Instead they all confirmed what Geist already knew about the beserker. His semblance allowed him to actually shut off his nerves, making him incapable of feeling pain. Even if his aura dropped he could still fight with the same focus on offense. It was a rare occurrence that Hruska got to use his semblance, however, since it was useless so long as his aura was still active. On top of that Hruska was undoubtedly the best great-sword wielder Beacon had produced in generations. Even Geist, who considered himself the most talented dual-swordsmen alive, didn't relish the thought of going blade to blade with the man. Most men in the underworld wouldn't even hear a prospective job out if the name Hruska was mentioned. No matter how much Lien was promised. This was how terrifying the man's reputation made him.
Of course Geist knew that half of the rumors were probably circulated by Josef himself. But even a bodyguard who payed people to spread rumors couldn't make himself as horrifying to would-be assassins for hire as Hruska was. So Geist was forced to conclude that where there is smoke there must be fire. Even if that weren't the case, some of Geist's own associates had made the mistake of taking jobs where Hruska was involved. And every single one of them had been killed. And now here Geist was thinking of doing the same thing.
He knew he had no choice, but he still couldn't shake the feeling that he should just try and disappear into the underworld. Maybe the man-in-black wouldn't find him.
/
Price woke up at four in the morning like he always did. He would go do his one hour run, followed by an hour in the ring. Then he would return to the room, shower, and take a quick nap til eight thirty. Tanner was getting up too, they always got up at the same time, but his leader never joined him in the gym. Instead Tanner would go to one of the hardlight building's individual training rooms.
Apparently today would be different, "Hey Price, mind if I join you in the gym? My wing is finally starting to feel better and I think the best place to work it is in the gym."
"Well then come on, but don't try and slow me down or I'll leave you behind," Price replied, a little uncertainly. He still wasn't sure if his leader was ready for any strenuous workouts, his cast had only been taken off last week. But if Tanner wanted to run with the beast, then Price wasn't going to stop him.
And with that said the two of them began Price's usual slow jog to the gym.
/
Ginny and Violet were halfway through their three mile run when Violet abruptly slowed down, Ginny glanced at what had caught her attention and then smirked. She smacked her workout partner on the back to get her attention. "Come on Violet! No free shows here, so I suggest you get back to the run or go join in."
Ginny laughed as Violet blushed in embarrassment. Violet sped back up and then she finally spoke in her defense, "I was just shocked at how many scars he has. I thought it was just the one on his face, but he has scars all over his chest and back too," Violet paused and looked to see Ginny's reaction to that, and when Ginny looked at her she continued, "It makes you wonder who could have done that to him back when he was in his prime."
To be honest Ginny was confused by the scars as well. She had seen every single duel Tanner ever competed in, either as it was happening or as a recording, for the earlier ones, back before he had gotten well known, and he had never taken hits that would leave scars like that. To be honest it was rare that he took hits that passed through his aura at all, even before he had become famous.
/
Tanner was doing a strange work out routine that his doctor had told him should help strengthen his wing and shoulder muscles. The exercise he was currently performing was a variation on pull ups, but instead of pulling with his arms he just used them to hang from. The actual pulling up was accomplished by flaring his wings.
He'd ditched his shirt two reps ago. His body was completely drenched in sweat and his wings were aching, but he sure as hell wasn't going to give up. The Beacon faculty didn't really care about him being shirtless, so long as he wasn't naked no one would interfere, besides the wet shirt had been making it difficult to properly flare his wings.
He was completely oblivious to the stares he was getting from those around him. Some of the looks were looks of admiration, some were amazement, and most were calculating. The Lightbringer's presence at the academy had not gone unnoticed, and quite a few students were eager to step into the ring with him. As for the female students, well he was in what could only be described as peak physical condition, and while many civilians would find his scars unattractive, to huntsmen and huntresses scars, while not necessarily attractive, were simply part of the job. Though he did have far more of them than anyone else at Beacon, instructors included.
/
Price was busy sparring with Michael again, his fellow first year was one of the ones from the other classes, and he was a fairly talented hand-to-hand combatant. He wasn't a match for Price though.
/
Tanner had switched over from the strange pull-ups, that used his wings to lift him instead of his arms, over to an equally strange hopping run. If he had been getting stares of admiration before, now he was getting stares of amusement. This new work out was possibly the most ridiculous thing most of the students had ever seen.
He was actually making good time though, he was moving at about an eight minute mile. After a mile of the hopping glide he stopped for a water break and saw Violet giving him strange looks. Violet and Ginny had already finished their three mile run and were taking a break before Ginny went over to start boxing.
He raised an eyebrow in an unspoken question as he took a drink from his water bottle. She shook her head at him before speaking, "So you're still determined to fly? I'm not sure if that's good or bad. I have to admire that kind of determination though, I might have just given up." She said jokingly.
Tanner wasn't fooled, that wasn't what she had wanted to say. He decided not to press the issue at the moment. If she wanted to say something badly enough she would say it. "Well I figure flying is just too good to give up. I could use it to support the team in so many ways. Besides, ever since my last attempt flying is all I can think about. I guess it's in my blood." He started to walk away and she paused, not she if she would be intruding if she followed him. Then as he walked he glanced over his shoulder at her with an inviting expression.
The two of them made their way over to the center of the running track. This space was dedicated to individual workouts. Once they reached a spot that was relatively clear of those around them Tanner began doing his cool-down stretches, and Violet joined him. As they stretched he asked a question that caught her completely by surprise, "So how long are going to wait before you ask me?"
She instantly froze. "U-u-um, What do you mean?" she stammered after a moment of silence. Tanner was still continuing his stretches.
Tanner looked at her and grinned, "About the scars. I know you were wondering where I got them." As she continued to remain silent he added nonchalantly, "Honestly you're one of the two people at this school I would actually be willing to talk about them with."
Instead of asking what he seemed to want, she countered with another question, "Who is the other person?" She really hoped it wasn't who she thought it might be, and at his answer she sighed in relief.
"Mark, after all he is probably my best friend here at Beacon," he responded, with that same matter of fact tone. It was slightly maddening when he responded to everything with that same emotionless calm.
When he said that it just gave her more questions. "Then why me?" she asked softly and not without a little bashfulness.
Tanner couldn't help but think how strange it was seeing the normally decisive, outspoken woman acting so shyly. It made him chuckle quietly to himself when he thought about it.
Violet misinterpreted his silent laughter and gave him a hurt look, but she didn't leave. Instead giving him the chance to explain himself.
"Sorry, its just funny seeing you so timid. I thought you would be able to figure that out on your own. Because I like you Violet. I don't want to keep secrets from you," Tanner's voice cracked, betraying his nervousness as he said those last few words.
Violet was so shocked by the confession that she couldn't even think much less speak. So instead she gave him her widest smile, hopefully that would get the message across.
"Well I guess you feel the same then?" Tanner asked confidence creeping its way back into his voice, but joining it was a hint of an emotion she had only ever seen him display once before, and then it had been caused by his car not a person. He sounded happy.
Violet, still not entirely trusting herself to speak, just nodded, the wide slightly goofy grin not leaving her face. If anything she was somehow grinning even wider.
By now the question of the scars had been completely forgotten. They had something far more important to discuss after all. "So I guess now that the awkward part is out of the way, we should go on a date. Somehow it seems like we did this a little bit backwards, but whatever works I guess," Tanner said to the girl. In an example of his seemingly super-human discipline, he hadn't stopped stretching during the conversation.
Violet, finally regaining both her ability to speak and her normal playful, mischievous personality, spoke again, "Well of course you are doing everything backwards. What else could I expect of someone who decides to come to Remnant's greatest combat school AFTER learning how to fight? And as for the date, well you better come up with something that can beat the fanciest restaurant in Vale. I'm not very big on formal settings, they tend to contain bigots. Besides I have access to all of those luxuries back home in Vacuo, where they actually don't hate the faunus"
Tanner sat in silence for a moment. He looked at her thoughtfully, then after reaching a decision of some kind, he finally spoke, "Don't worry. I have something in mind, and I think you'll enjoy it."
/
That Saturday
"Where are we going Tanner? There isn't even anything on this side of campus," Violet said as Tanner pulled her along through the undeveloped part of campus.
"Have some patience, milady. We're almost there." Tanner replied calmly.
"Don't call me that." Violet said, she didn't say with any emotion in her voice. Of course that by itself showed her displeasure at the nickname.
Unsurprisingly, knowing that she didn't care for the nickname was all the encouragement he needed to decide the nickname would be permanent. "Whatever you say, milady," Tanner said, this time with a smirk.
"You know, it's so rare you make jokes I don't even know whether to be angry or encourage you."
"Well that's easy. You let me win, after all I always do."
"Wow! Listen to you! You get me to go on one date with you and all the sudden you think you're king of Remnant. Well I've got news for you, so far this date hasn't consisted of anything but me getting my cloak covered in leaves. This better improve quickly," The worst part of the statement was that it was said only half-jokingly.
But Tanner didn't seem concerned by her aggravation. That by itself was nearly enough to calm her down. Then she really calmed down when they burst out into a clearing and she saw where they had been going.
Stretching out in front of them was a small meadow filled with wild flowers. Violet grinned as she recognized that most of the flowers were wild white violets. While this wasn't really that surprising, after all the wild violet is a common weed, that didn't make it any less beautiful. But then as they got closer she realized that these weren't the common weeds, they were domesticated hybrids. They were white with purple streaks in the center of the blooms. She gasped in surprise, "How did these get here?" she thought about it for a moment then looked at Tanner, "This isn't your semblance is it?"
"Nope, actually I found out about this place from one of the second year students. She happened to mention it in the cafeteria. I may or may not have been asking around about romantic spots on campus. This was one of the ones mentioned to me. And don't ask me how they got here, because I have no idea. Though I am a little amused that you didn't notice what I set up yet."
Violet turned from him in surprise and began scanning the meadow until she spotted what he had been talking about. Sitting in the middle of the meadow was a picnic basket. Violet didn't make any moves toward the picnic basket, instead she stepped over to Tanner, who was wearing his normal combat clothing, sans armor, but he still had his swords. She hadn't been surprised by this, Tanner wasn't going to change anything about his personality for her, and she would have been disappointed if he had. And the hoodie, cargo pants, combat boots, and even the swords were simply part of who he was.
Just like her hooded cloak was part of who she was. Violet however, wasn't wearing her normal black leather combat armor under the cloak. Instead she was wearing a loose, airy violet blouse, a black skirt that reached down to just above her knees, and black running shoes. The shoes were a necessity, even though they didn't go with the skirt. Tanner had told her to wear shoes she could walk comfortably in so she had.
She hugged him and whispered in his ear, "This is perfect. Much better than the Sierra Autumn, that's for sure."
Tanner just smiled at her, "I wasn't sure you would like it, I'm glad I guessed right. It certainly seemed more your style than that uptight bigot sanctuary. Now how about we eat? As much as I love holding you I've been running around all day and haven't had a chance for any food. And I did my morning workouts, so I honestly might pass out from hunger any time now."
She looked at him in surprise, but she could tell he wasn't kidding. "Tanner, you are an imbecile. Well in that case we better hurry up and get some food in you, huh?"
The two of them went over to the picnic basket and Violet flopped herself down on the field of flowers whose name she bore. Tanner opened the picnic basket and what he removed took her completely by surprise. He set perfectly grilled chicken breasts down on the platter he had already taken out, and then followed that up with her second favorite food, dates. She couldn't help but wonder how he had known what her two favorite foods were, but then decided it must have been Wulfe that told him. She grinned up at him, even as short as Tanner was he was still half a foot taller than her.
He pulled out plates forks and knives and then proved that he was too hungry to worry about them, snatching a whole chicken breast and proving that they were boneless by eating half of it in one bite.
Violet didn't take long to follow suit, though she ate more delicately. After all, unlike her date she hadn't starved herself all day. The two of them ate in silence, saving the dates for desert. The sweet fruit wasn't really meant as a main course after all.
Tanner raised an eyebrow in surprise as he realized that Violet was actually eating far more than him. He definitely had not counted on that, he had actually assumed there would be chicken left to share with his team, but that had been a mistake. She didn't eat ravenously, far from it. She was a slow, dainty eater. But she was still consuming quite a lot of food.
When Violet saw him watching her eat she blushed then explained, "Sorry! I know I must look like a hog, but I can't help it! My semblance makes me burn a lot more calories than the normal human. I'm told that's a normal side effect of pyrokinesis. It's funny to me that my last name is Winter and yet my semblance is fire based."
Tanner gave her a stern look as he replied, "Why are you apologizing? I made this food for you, so you eat it and quit feeling guilty about it. Besides it's a huge compliment, seeing as how I'm the one who grilled it. And if there is any left you are welcome to take it to your room."
"So, how did you keep it warm?" Violet asked, her curiosity finally getting the better of her.
"Well I had some help from one of your friends on that one. Apparently Price can control the temperature of each of the pocket dimensions he makes. And he can also control who has access to the pocket dimensions. Seems the only weakness his semblance has it the limit of how many dimensions he can have at a time. Of course with that number currently sitting at ten it isn't much of a weakness."
After that the two of them just sat in silence, enjoying each others company. Finally it started growing dark and Tanner stood offering her his hand. Violet let him help her stand and then they began the walk back to her room.
/
Professor Ozpin watched from his office as the two walked back to the dorms. "Well this is an interesting development. I do hope he knows what he is doing. If he should hurt the girl I'm sure her bodyguard won't hesitate to retaliate," The headmaster said as he turned to face his guest, "But that isn't why I asked you to join me. Now shall we get to business?"
Author's Note: I don't think I've mentioned this yet, but Violet has big pointy ears like a fennec fox, but with the coloration of a red fox. (The orange fox you think of when you hear the word fox.) Her tail is just as long and bushy as a red fox as well.
The dates thing was because of an urban legend about fennec foxes climbing date palms to get at the fruit. And the chicken was for what I would think are obvious reasons. But just in case I'll spell it out for ya. Red foxes are commonly considered pests because they like breaking into hen coops and eating them.
Anyway, I think that this and the previous chapter were a pleasant departure from the usual tone of the story. But next chapter it's back to the action, and in a big way. As always please drop a review, and my search for a beta continues. If you're interested or know someone who might be please send me a pm.
