Ch.31

Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one-hundred. It's too light.

Putting the bar back upon its resting place, I stood up slowly, stretching as I did so. Nearly the entire gym watching as I placed two more fifty pound weights upon the bar, making the total a staggering five-hundred and fifty pounds. But to me, it was nothing, not with my frustration carrying me through the burn, the stress upon my mind lifting the exertion on my body. It was understandable to me, clear in every sense, but to everyone else, they were still staring at me as if I were some type of monster. Parts of their theory relying on how I was even able to lift this for such a period of time, they all stood far away from me, all in fear.

I hadn't expected their feelings to change much; it had only been a day after all. But what I hadn't expected were the ones I knew to follow a similar path. Teams RWBY and JNPR are all but avoiding me now, barely even noticing my presence or going out of their way to avoid me. But for some of them, it wasn't really their own fault. Every time I had seen Ruby, she was dragged away from me by a teammate that happened to be close, mostly Yang. But each and every time, I saw the same look in her eyes, that of pity.

I returned to the bar, alone, starting another set once more. I couldn't really blame her, if the majority of the team disliked me, how was she to go against them. So I didn't really blame her, I just wished she would stop giving me that look of pity. That look, telling me of how sad she felt of my predicament. She couldn't understand, even if I told her, this isn't loneliness, this isn't pure isolation. This comes nowhere close to it, I wish I could tell her to keep the look, I don't deserve it. Weiss…I wasn't sure how she felt, we haven't had much interaction, but for some reason, I saw the same hint of what Ruby showed to me, how could she feel the same? Blake was also different, when I saw her, she didn't run, turn away or pretend to go in a different direction. She just…stared, burrowing deeper and deeper into my soul. I couldn't tell what she wanted, and I wasn't about to bother with why.

JNPR was a slightly different story, Ren saw the devastation I created, all with his keen eyes. Deeming me surely to be someone very dangerous, set on keeping both Nora and himself away, it's a slight shame, the man is smart, and someone I enjoyed talking to. Jaune…Jaune is afraid of me, just like all of the rest. Fearful of my power, I showed just what kind of monster I was; it wasn't too hard for him to rethink his relationship with me. Pyrrha was also willing to follow in her leader's footsteps, but she carried a different look, that of doubt. Doubt of what I said to her is true or not, for if a monster spoke those words, could they really be true.

…Eighty-eight.

Coco, Yatsuhashi, Fox…Velvet. None of these I have seen since the incident, save for one. But I didn't really count that, following me from a distance wasn't an interaction. I wasn't sure how they felt about the situation, the rest of the team. I wondered if they felt the same fear as the rest did? Maybe that was why Velvet was avoiding me, from hearing about the violence I showed, about the death I wrought. Maybe she wanted to talk to me, but couldn't…it was a possibility, given her nature. But still, I wasn't to go chasing dreams, if she wanted to talk, she could come to me.

Ninety-nine. The bar weighed heavily above my head, my body straining against the weight, shaking but holding. Breathing heavily, I prepared for the final push, the final burst of pain that I needed. But before the bar could drop, it was caught rather easily by a large shadow over me. Looking behind me, I saw a rather large man now holding the bar with me, not even beginning to strain as he did so. "We need to talk."

His voice was deep, and full of emotion, I could tell honestly what he needed to talk about before we even began the conversation. Yatsuhashi lifted the bar with me, resting it again before I rose, seeing the man in almost the same outfit as me, a dark grey shirt and a pair of blue, light shorts, minus the scarf of course. He walked back around the bench as I rose, still sitting upon the object as he stood infront of me, arms crossed and his look serious. "I don't care what you did, and neither does the rest of my team."

"Then why are you here?"

"You know why, Velvet is in despair. Talk to her."

"Why?"

"She blames herself, she thinks she is the reason everyone fears you now. Because you had to go all-out against that man and save her-."

He stopped slightly, his head hanging low for only a few moments before returning to me. He felt guilt, I'm sure they all did. They could only watch as their teammate was taken, in his case his partner. It must weigh heavily upon the man. "Talk to her, settle this out. We both know she is already in enough emotional turmoil. She doesn't need this."

"She won't believe you?"

"She refuses to. It must come from you. Speak to her as soon as possible; resolve this before it can grow any further…please."

That one word spoke for him much more than any other could. He was worried, and I'm more than sure he has tried other options before coming to me. But somewhere deep he knew that I was the only one that could help. There was reluctance, fear, and…something else. I'm not sure what it truly was, but I could at least tell that he truly cared for Velvet. If she does blame herself for this, if that is the reason she will not approach me, it seems I have a job to do. "Ok."

"I would not advise this."

Good thing I'm not listening to you.

"Why won't you listen, that woman isn't good for us and we know it."

You would like to think that, but she is pure. She is just nothing but confused, a misunderstanding on multiple fronts.

"…Do what you will, but heed my words. Truly Agent Maine, you are stubborn."

I locked the man out once more, pushing him back towards the deepest parts of my mind. Internally sighing, I placed my head against the wall I leaned upon, just outside of Velvet's current class. It had taken me little time to find it, with Yatsuhashi's words leading me here. But I really despised this, I tried to contact the woman via my scroll, but she wasn't answering, leaving me with no choice but with this. I get that the woman is feeling some type of guilt, but she could at the very least answer my messages, forcing me to wait out here, inconsiderate really.

This woman…causing me more trouble than what she is worth really. Hm, would you just look at me, completely entangled within the very thought of her. She is truly enchanting to having me chase her like this. Enchanting…what a strange word for me to use for her. But it is the truth, I mean look at her for three seconds, anyone could see the woman is beautiful. And it seems in more recent weeks that I am noticing this more than usual. Back at the coffee shop, I thought I would almost lose myself there. But why, I certainly can't be feeling that for her can I?

It could be a serious possibility. I do feel a deep attachment for the woman, and without my knowledge it could have grown into something serious. But it is not yet out of my control. Do others see this as love as well? That could also be true, the way Yatsuhashi talked as if really only I could help her is a good indicator. My team, Sun, even Nora has jested at this but I never considered it as a possibility…or I was just too lazy to face it. Could I seriously be developing something towards Velvet? I'm not sure, but…maybe it's for the best that I-. "Augusta."

The voice, the one that disrupted my thoughts was familiar to me, slightly deep but still held a feminine quality to it. I already knew who it belonged to before I even turned to face Blake, and I was dreading every second of it. What did the Faunus want this time? She seemed to shake her head, as if deciding upon her words before speaking. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why help her, why try to save her?"

"A strange question you should already know the answer to. She is special to me."

"No, that can't be it."

"Why not?"

"You cannot be that man…that man that cares for a team of bullies even when no one else does! That trains with Jaune when no one will! That spends time to help Ruby make bunk-beds! And yet at the same time, be the monster that I know you to be and that you showed everyone else…! How?"

I turned my head slightly at the last word, facing her directly now, I spoke cleanly through the voice box. "How what?"

"…How did you stop…becoming that monster?"

"What are you asking me Blake?"

"…The reason I knew of…what you were. The one you fought on the train, he was my partner, Adam…"

"You want to save him."

She stopped, looking downwards before speaking. "Yes. I pushed you, berated you because I thought you were exactly like him. But then…you weren't. And once upon a time, he wasn't a monster either. I just….want to know."

"…I…I don't know how to explain it really. It's a matter of will I guess. For me at the very least it was. I've wanted to stop being what I was for a long time, and when one day…it just happened. I can't explain it very well, but I know one thing that might help. He must be willing to die in order to be reborn again. Would he willing to do such a thing?"

Blake was in a mental battleground, trying to walk through the constant bombardment of things she thought were real. The more I looked at the girl, the more she looked distressed. Now that I really noticed it, bags were hanging under her eyes, the orbs themselves seeming like they were in a far-off place. Has something happened that I am not aware of? She turned away from me suddenly, voice slightly cracking as she spoke. "I'm…I'm not sure."

"If the answer isn't a yes, then I doubt he will be able to come back."

The faunus turned back to me, hurt in her eyes along with a small amount of water starting to well within them. I know what I said must be hurtful, but it's something that she needed to hear. If the man isn't prepared to die to save himself, then he won't be able to come back. I was ready for death, I was ready to die before I came here. Only then was I released, I was able to remove the chains. She and Adam both need to understand this, otherwise it might be the end for one of them.

With that final thought leaving me the woman left, no more words needing to be exchanged. She left without another sound, but I didn't need any indication to tell that she held a storm of thoughts within her mind. All trying to piece apart what I just told her. It would take a while for her to understand, but she would come to know of what price Adam would have to pay in order to be embraced by light. And in truth I had doubts of this, if this was Blake's plan, to redeem him. The man is a known White Fang member, and a higher ranking one at that. There were more than several doubts of him actually leaving the group for Blake. Then again, I had no idea about the depth of their relationship, maybe it is just enough.

The sound of a piercing bell carried me from my dream, jolting my body awake and forcing my attention upon the door infront of me, leaning my body against the wall as I did so. Students began flooding out of the door, all seemingly missing me, as if I were invisible. But there was one, one who could never see me as that way, not anymore. I saw it in the way she stopped at my form, as my eyes met hers. I saw it in the way she looked towards escaping, towards molding with the other students in an attempt to leave, but only in vain, as I would find her again. I saw it in the sadness in her eyes, even before she saw me, something was wrong.

I approached the woman, the sea of students bending around my form, as if I held some type of barrier to distance myself from them. Eventually, I made it over to the stopped woman, towering slightly as I looked at her, my eyes questioning, telling what words could not. Velvet turned her head slightly, looking down upon the ground, ears trying to hide the majority of her face. With only a slight amount of force, as little as I could muster, I held the woman's face, turning it back towards me. Something must have been wrong about what I was doing, as when I met the woman's face once more it had changed, starting to turn a crimson color, her breathing also increased in rate. Was she…blushing?

Before I could investigate this further, she gripped my hand, leading me away from the mass of students and towards an empty hallway. I said nothing as she continued to lead me down the empty halls, students starting to become more and more sparse. Eventually we reached a place in which not many wander apparently, as most people here were obviously gone. Velvet then turned once more, opening a door suddenly and entering it, my body in tow.

The room was a classroom, but had obviously been empty for a while now, patterns of dust showing that students had been here only a short while ago, but had left rather abruptly. This however wasn't the source of my attention, it was the woman infront of me. Velvet was shifting, shaking, her face covered by one of her hands. She stood like that for a short while, I didn't know if she expected me to take the lead or for me to leave. But she knew what I wanted, what she needed to let out, I'm pretty sure she understood that well enough, even as she spoke. "Is something wrong?"

"You think you can fool me that easily?"

She laughed slightly, still hiding behind her hands, her ears folding downwards slowly. "Can't help a girl for trying. Who was that woman?"

I figured she saw that. "It's no one of any importance."

"She didn't seem to think the same as you."

That tone…was she? "Believe me when I say that she holds no meaning to me. You know I would prefer your company in place of any other."

That was the truth, absolutely and without hesitation. This seemed to surprise her however, even if she should have already known. Velvet, jumping slightly, ears rising back up, even as the tone from her became more and more miserable, breaks in her voice telling me tears were escaping. "But why, I mean I just get in the way, I'm not special, I-."

"It's not your fault."

Velvet stopped shaking, as if time itself had stopped for her as I continued to speak. "What I did was of my own accord. It is not your fault; he could have gone after anyone I knew."

"No…he went after me because of what he saw Augusta. He saw us, and knew that I was weaker. He knew that I would be an easier target. I'm sorry I should have-."

"Stop."

I was suddenly infront of her, removing one of her hands to where she had to look at me. Her eyes wide, red and filled with emotions I couldn't explain or define. I could feel the same rising up from a deep pit within my chest, one I once thought vacant for quite some time. "You are not weak. You are strong, kind, and compassionate. Showing strength that not even I can have. Do not believe for a second that you are weak. You…you don't see me as a monster, not as a beast but as a person even after what I did. You are a wonderful person, everything about you. You…you are-."

I was…interrupted. My thoughts, my words, the world around me stopped almost instantly. It was if my soul was taken away from me. But…I could still feel myself, I knew that I was there but somewhere else at the same time. The void within my chest dropped, my eyes unbelieving on what was actually happening. I was stopped…by a pair of soft rather warm lips. Their caress intoxicating and electrifying. A bolt of lightning shot through my body as she pulled me down, removing the scarf out of the way and planted her lips upon my own.

It horrified me. It caused my black heart to turn within me, causing a pain nothing physical could match. But even with this, I wanted more. The kiss from Velvet anything but chaste, the pure and undeniable pleasure from this forcing me deeper and deeper within this act. This was something she had been holding back for a while. Unleashing the built up hunger upon this moment, wrapping her hands around my neck, preventing any escape…and I don't think I wanted to. I found her hunger, her scent…her, to be utterly alluring, a war I couldn't fight, but…I had to…I didn't want to hurt her.

Very, very reluctantly, I pushed the woman back slightly, Velvet almost instantly getting the message, stepping back slightly and stopping the kiss. We stood like that for a while, both of us looking into each other's eyes, breathing erratic and heavy, I could see the look in her eyes, the want. But…I couldn't, if I hurt her, I would never forgive myself. I know what I can become when I am not thinking clearly, I just…I can't. "It's ok Augusta."

I turned back to her eyes, her hand upon my face. Velvet's eyes, full of emotion, full of wonder beyond words even while seeing my scars, my past. Her voice calm, considerate but still filled with passion. The tone completely changing to something understanding, to something all-knowing. "It's ok, we don't have to."

I nodded slightly, thankful. "I just…I don't want to hurt you."

She giggled, I found it to be utterly adorable. "I'm a strong girl yah know. But it's ok, don't worry about it. So…I guess the cat is out of the bag now huh."

I pushed the scarf back up as she removed her hand, looking down towards the ground in slight embarrassment. I shrugged slightly, crossing my arms as I did so. "So what now?"

She put a hand upon her cheek, face in a sarcastic deep thought. Velvet smiled slightly, speaking in a light tone. "Well there is that dance coming up."

"And?"

In a very sudden movement, she got down upon a knee, holding one of my hands while speaking in a very deep voice that almost sounded like Port. "Oh Augusta, will you do me the honorable favor of accompanying me to the dance?"

"Never do that again and we got a deal."

I replayed the memories, again and again over and over. Trying to find the hidden piece, the last to this puzzle played all around us. A game that I hated not to be included in. A game in which I had no idea in just who my enemy should be. So many people, not enough time.

But there was at least one, at least one person I was truly suspicious of. Even now Agent Maine was interacting with her. Velvet…this woman honestly baffled me. The way she held an attachment to him was strange, even if she was smitten something was missing. The way Ozpin lead him to her, from the very beginning he pushed for them to be together, even going as far as to put them in more than a few classes, without making it look suspicious to Agent Maine at least. But I could see the game being played, I could see the pieces moving but I couldn't see the board in which we were playing. There was something missing, something I couldn't see and it infuriated me!

No, I mustn't lose focus. I had to keep searching, for my life was on the line, a gun pointed towards us but I couldn't see the attacker. For now, I had to trust in Agent Maine, trust that he would not get us killed. Well…could I be killed? In truth I had no idea, no idea of what I was, what I had become. Could I die again?

My mind drifted, suddenly I was infront of a different memory, one I didn't recognize, but at the same time…what in the world? I knew of Maine's fight with Argum, the new power he obtained, I just assumed it was the Aura that was building in his system, suddenly unleashed. But the more I thought about it, the more I stared at the picture of Agent Maine's newest form, the more it upset me. How could I not remember anything about that fight past Maine transforming…? What a mess I am caught up in.