"Join… you?" Sapphire asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm already eating lunch with you, aren't I-kuh…"
He winced painfully, clenching his fists as Cinder widened her playful smile.
"I'm sorry, did that hurt?" she asked pleasantly. "Dust can be pretty painful even via fabric, can't it?"
"Oh, was that what it was?" Sapphire asked, trying to keep his smirk. "I thought it was a bug bite. Say, while we're at it, how about we continue conversing in the form of questions for the next hour or so?"
"That could be fun," Cinder replied, considering what he said. "Alas, we don't have the time. So how about you answer my question?"
"Of course I refuse, dumbass," Sapphire snapped. "Who on Remnant would be stupid enough to join a bunch of unknown assholes just like that?"
"Well, maybe having your life threatened can be an incentive," Cinder offered, tapping the sleeve of his uniform for emphasis. "Besides, you ought to know by now that we have enough significance to influence even the White Fang. Do you really need convincing on our power?"
"Then let me ask you the same question you asked me," Sapphire said. "What're you fighting for? You hate the world, good for you, but what're you trying to achieve?"
Cinder considered him for a moment. This was probably a ploy to buy some time, but even if someone he knew came along, they would not be able to help him; she had Emerald standing guard outside for that very purpose. She told herself that she had nothing to lose in replying, but Cinder understood that there was something else behind her answer. Something unknown that made her want to reply.
"Do you know what it feels like to lose someone you love?" she asked. "Do you know what it feels like to see everyone else take for granted what you can never have, to witness them laugh and enjoy life while they rob you of everything?"
Sapphire raised an eyebrow. He felt like saying smugly that he did understand how that felt, and that he knew far better than she thought he did. However, with the unfortunate circumstance of his life being in danger, he held his tongue.
"I'm going to take it all away," Cinder declared. "That's all. Simple and straightforward, isn't it?"
"In short, you just don't want to explain everything to a guy who may not join you," Sapphire summarized. "Understood. Y'know, I was worried at first, but it seems you're simpler than I initially thought you were."
"Oh?" Cinder asked. "Would you care to enlighten me on what you mean by that?"
"I thought a third party that dangerous was going to be difficult," Sapphire replied. "But if your motivation and goals are as you say they are, you're not mysterious or anything anymore – you're just a childish brat. I don't even have to lie and pretend to join you; simple-minded morons like you won't pose a threat no matter how much power you have."
"Pretty big words, for someone whose life is in my hands," Cinder mocked. The uniform on Sapphire tightened, sticking to his body tightly and constricting him even further.
"I can't get violent here, but that applies for you too," Sapphire said calmly, even though his face gave away the pain she was causing. It hurt like crazy, but he did not care. "How're you going to get away with killing me in front of so many people?
"You're far too simple," he went on, ignoring the force exerted on his entire being. "You're jealous of everyone else, so you're venting that frustration on the rest of the world. You don't want to blame yourself, so you're blaming others instead. Aren't you just sore over the fact that you're so pathetic you couldn't protect the ones you loved?"
He knew that he of all people had no right to say that; he had bared his own fangs against the world for a similar reason as well. It was stupid and selfish, not to mention childish to boot. He resented the world, he hated everyone else, and above all he despised himself, so he fought.
He fought endlessly to rid that weakness, to perhaps hurt this wretched world a little. In the end, he, too, was the same as this woman – he was just sore over his own worthlessness.
So why was he telling her off? Why was he not able to take her side? She was making the same mistake that he had, so why was he not helping her either? Why was it that the only thing he felt from her words were-
Why am I feeling glad? He wondered.
"Hah," Sapphire winced, as the uniformed tightened further. If this kept up, his Semblance was going to kick in, making his eyes turn red against his will. "Trying to cover it up with a display of power? Just so you know, not everyone's chicken enough to give in to you just because you can show off a little."
"You can really run your mouth, can't you?" Cinder mused, her voice filled with a barely suppressed rage. "But you seem to be misreading the situation here; you're completely at my mercy, you know."
Smiling, she rested her free hand's palm against Sapphire's cheek. Sapphire, still unable to move, let her continue with whatever she had in mind.
"You're not to tell anyone about this conversation, okay?" she asked.
Sapphire wanted to burst out laughing and call out how utterly ridiculous that was, but could not. Instead, all that filled his thoughts was how he had to agree. And how her words were absolute.
Don't think. Obey.
"Of course," he replied easily, as though it was common sense. It was only natural, so why did she even have to ask?
"There's a good boy," Cinder said, chuckling as she stood up. "That's all I have to say today, so I'll take my leave here. I'll decide again what to do after this battle, so good luck. Oh, and keep this in mind…
"Don't ever use that name in front of me again," she warned, her eyes brimming with genuine rage this time. "And don't you dare insult him any further."
Before Sapphire could process that last sentence, he had already lost consciousness.
"He's waking up."
"Quickly; stab him."
Reacting on instinct to that last comment, Sapphire leapt out of bed. The moment he did so, a wave of giddiness assaulted him, causing him to lose balance and crash miserably to the floor.
"Now's your… chance, Weiss…"
"Miss Schnee, kindly refrain from talking so much when you're injured."
Getting up shakily, Sapphire finally managed to grasp the fact that he was in the infirmary. The bed had been a very familiar one, and the scenery outside the window had not changed. It was all serene as usual, save for the fierce blonde glaring daggers at him. From a bed next to his was a rather amused Winter, with her sister seated right beside her as they looked at him like he was a unique animal. Winter looked fragile and sickly as heck, but she had a very amused and infuriating smirk on her face.
"Well, Mister Fall," Goodwitch said in a very authoritative manner. "Would you care to explain why you were all bruised and bleeding in the cafeteria?"
"Er… What?" Sapphire answered like the intelligent man that he was.
"You were found collapsed in the cafeteria," Goodwitch explained impatiently. "Your entire body was bruised pretty badly and there were small cuts here and there as well. Do kindly enlighten me on the circumstances that led to such an event."
"Er… I hurt myself while working out," Sapphire said. "It's a guy thing."
Winter's smirk grew wider. For a critically wounded person who was supposed to be resting, she had a lot of energy. Then again, she did have a rather bad history with Sapphire, so a little sadism towards his current predicament was probably justified.
"Really," Goodwitch said flatly. "Very well. Let us hear you out in full detail in front of the headmaster later. I'm sure you won't refuse."
"Er… I refuse," Sapphire said flatly, diving out the window before Goodwitch could say anything else. "Adios, suckers!"
"Is something on your mind, Emerald?" Cinder asked pleasantly. The girl in question stopped whatever it was that she was doing and just stood there. "Are you by any chance upset over how I handled the conversation?"
"I'm just… worried," Emerald confessed. "You- we were supposed to bring him to our side, by force if necessary. I don't think it was… wise… to just let him do what he wants."
"So you think I'm not wise enough," Cinder mused. "It's okay, Emerald; it was a bad move and I know it as well. I won't try to cover it up. It's just that after speaking with him, I decided that we don't need him anymore; I have another role for him now."
"What's that?" Emerald asked.
"He's challenging Adam Taurus of all people," Cinder reminded her gleefully. "I'm very keen to let him realize just how powerless he is right before he dies."
His words – his ignorant, infuriating comments – returned to mock her. He knew nothing about loss, but he had made a fool of hers. He thought Sapphire's death was trivial, and to mock him even further he dared to use his name. Regardless of the threat he possessed, regardless of the value he had, Cinder would rather see this insolent fool suffer.
"Such a shame," she thought aloud. "I won't get to see the despair on his face just before Adam tears it apart."
"Oww…"
For all his supposed bravado, Sapphire Fall fell spectacularly and head-first into the bushes on the ground floor. He had managed to avoid breaking his neck, but as a result his body felt like it was on fire.
Swearing excessively under his breath, the former mercenary staggered in the direction of the dorm, making sure to pick the longest, most deserted route he could find. While complaining in his head about how he had to deal with this now that his arm was finally healed, Sapphire overheard a familiar voice.
"I still can't be at ease."
It was Sun's voice, and judging from his tone and words, his conversation partner was Blake. If it was not, then a video camera and a funeral were in order. And probably a plan to break a certain Faunus out of prison after that too.
"I'll be fine, Wukong," Blake replied. Sapphire sighed; there was no scandal to be had here. Such a shame. "Besides, if Sapphire's right, Adam will be there. I have to go."
"Who… is he?" Sun asked. Even Sapphire could tell that he was worried if Adam was Blake's ex; the monkey-boy had no idea what it meant to be subtle.
Well, he exposes his chest everywhere he goes, Sapphire reasoned in his head. Wait, why do they have to be so secretive?
He understood that it was something regular students should not know about, but Team RWBY's room was a far safer option than here. As a matter of fact, Sapphire was already eavesdropping while passing by.
Then he remembered. Ruby had told him before that Weiss was not particularly supportive of the White Fang, and that it took her a day to get over the fact that Blake was a Faunus (although it was mostly because they had to track Blake down after she ran away). While the heiress was on good terms with Blake, she still could not rid herself of that hostility towards the White Fang. Needless to say, that dislike did not get any better after the attack on the SDC and the attempt on Winter's life.
However, precisely because she was on good terms with Blake, Weiss kept her comments to herself whenever it concerned the White Fang. Sapphire could certainly see why; those 'comments' were less than friendly, and the adjectives she chose to use were anything but fitting for a prim and proper girl to say (which probably came from overhearing Sapphire's own rants). That being said, Blake had often chosen to keep her distance from Weiss to 'let her express her feelings openly without bottling it up for a change'. That probably applied now, too.
"I-I mean, who is he to you?" Sun corrected hastily, dragging Sapphire back to Remnant, and to the very important job of eavesdropping on a lovers' spat.
"He was my mentor," Blake replied. "That's all."
"Is he… dangerous?" Sun asked hesitantly. He had already asked Sapphire this, but the latter had not given him an answer. The (possibly murderous) look in his eyes might have given Sun some weird ideas to worry about as well. Just maybe.
"Do you find Sapphire dangerous?" Blake asked instead of replying.
"Yes," Sun replied without hesitation. "He's seen and caused the deaths of people – just for some money, no less – so I can't honestly say he's a safe guy to be around. Why do you ask?"
Sapphire could not help but smile at that. Sun had always been the honest type, and he was thankful for that; Sapphire had no intention of ignoring his past, and he was glad that there were those who understood the significance of those sins. Just as he was feeling glad over her boyfriend's words, Blake's answer made his blood run cold:
"Because the two of them are the same."
Just a little bit of trivia: Sapphire's various similarities with the characters are because I wanted to tell the story through his eyes and expand the canon characters through him (kinda like how a viewer would make their own interpretations while watching, if you will). Interestingly enough, some of these similarities were discovered as I wrote this story and weren't planned since the very beginning.
And yes, his similarity with Adam is one of them. :)