Chapter 4-4; Verity
The trials of nature's tears. The torrential downpour that peppered his person. The unknowing populace minding themselves through the streets. Umbrellas like tiny ink droplets of sable. His attire more akin to a second skin saturated with the ever-present rainfall.
His solemn expression held most to the previous night. Flashes of past memories flickered with light and inducing sudden increments of pain. Cursing at his predicament; currently perched atop an overlooking gargoyle.
With one leg loosely dangling to the persons below, his metal arm lay atop the bended knee. His free hand remained outstretched to examine.
"What am I... except a slave to this torment?"
The moments of the day prior haunted him. The horrid look James held when facing him. The pain they all had suffered in their truth.
Raising his chin to the sky, he endured the overcast pearls soaking his features. The exhilarating sensation. He recalled his memories of the Fang and the atrocities he would commit. His joining in Atlas and commitments he would create.
The sacrifices and hardships he would suffer. The comrades and allies he would forsake.
Adam. Sienna. Ozpin. Salem. Cinder.
"You know you'll catch a cold sitting out here..."
He gave no spontaneous effort in turning to the newcomer, observing how she relaxed beneath the shelter of an umbrella. At his lacking in enthusiasm, she neared at a steady pace. Gracing his chin with the tenderness of her fingers. "What's wrong?"
While the faunus's eyes did glaze upon her, they did not truly hold merit. Lost in the sea of amber they held. "Cinder... did you know...?" She discerned the passive tone, awaiting his excess. "...of my connection with Her?"
At first, she did not garner an explanation, rather bearing the unspoken silence between. Then leaning to his level and taking hold his underarm. Lifelessly, he rose to a slouched height with faunus ears pinned against his crown. Her lips parted in a hushed gasp, curling her free fingers about his cheekbone.
Tentatively, startling her at first, his own fragile hold raised to her marred and unmarred skin. Dampening the nearly pristine peach coloration. The twin couples of ambers stared into one another for what seemed like an eternity. Yet, neither could reign their desire for the other and pressed their lips as one.
By what method had he ached to hold her. Not of ire or hatred. But, of adoration. To relinquish the animosities the two had marked upon one another. To love.
How they shivered against one another's touch. Even after having chanced on each other nights prior from their separation. The sensation never dulled. Before long, Cinder drew to disperse for a warranted breath.
"Come on... let's get out of the rain."
He proved no resistance in her escort. Letting her lead him through narrow streets and curious onlookers. How effortlessly she ordered their room and board at a Mantle hostel. The method in which she navigated their pathway into their chosen space.
As Cole stood idle amidst the middle of the room, still drenched in physique, Cinder went about preparing. "Off" she commanded until the faunus obliged and left his clothing to a puddle of the area.
What piqued her curiosity being his overall lack of wariness in showing himself. This, until being led into the bathroom. The familiar sensation of water droplets resumed as he entered, inclining against the tile surface.
Why did she not answer him outright?
Was she hiding something from him?
Perhaps it was only to be his imagination. Overreacting on matters unnecessary. Amber stared deafeningly at the malformed reflection of himself against the tile. Swearing he could perceive himself in white; cursed by bone protrusions and blood.
He would pay these visions with little regard, moving from the showerhead. The scene that exhibited could only be sworn to be stuff of dreams. His beloved perching his clothing to hang, a pin tucked beneath her lips.
For a moment, he forgot everything he had suffered. His chest quaked in an unquenchable drive, gazing upon the woman he had tossed everything for. All weights seemingly dissipating before reappearing duly after.
"Mm?" Her head twirled to spot him, shifting to stare forth his direction. Only to find his wistful smile at her mercy. The single golden orb rolled in meek disbelief, stepping from the mattress.
"Cole..." He felt her hand against the bare of his pectoral, leisurely taking in the sight. "...I had believed there was some connection between you and Her. I thought there had to be something for her to be so drawn. Even before you bonding with Ozpin."
There was an unspoken response by the faunus, but she knew he meant for her to persist. "But there was more than that. Almost like a mother. Drawn to your semblance and how blackened your soul had become."
"So, she's known about me some time then?" All she could manage was a confirming nod. Not that any alternative would have been more sufficient. "I can only imagine she was the one to send Tyrian to... to kill my parents..."
Again she nodded, shifting ever close atop the mattress. Once in adequate space, her head nestled in the crook of his neck. "You've known me since I was a child, Cole. You knew who I was and yet, you still accepted me. Loved me..." he made to glance her direction. "...there might be darkness in you. But you are not Salem."
He went to interlace his fingers in hers, gripping the flesh as if it were to flee the moment he relieved. "Sometimes I see a distant land..." she gingerly twisted her head to perceive him clearly. "...splotched skies. Bloodied crags. It almost looks like Hell-..."
"That would be her domain." Cole was at a bit of surprise at the abrupt knowledge. He hastily cast a glance her way yet did not push the subject further. "I've been subject to this for years. Waking in the night. And it's only gotten worse… ever since I encountered her at Haven."
A pregnant pause followed shortly afterward, leaving the two to remain in each other's company. Listening to the other's breath and matching their heartbeats. Though, their contentment would soon yield a downward spiral. Some means of tip in his psyche that secured his subsequent actions.
"Cinder...?"
While he did discern a word of acknowledgment, it was soon replaced by her sounds of bewilderment. Dusted from her seated position, she promptly found herself pinned from above. A glower of bloodied crimson was what she was to receive. For the few moments of her lifetime, she felt an inclination of fear.
"C-Cole! What are you-…?"
Both wrists secured in his synthetic limb, whilst its sibling perused the curvature of her waistline. Expecting some manner of harm, she shut her eyelid from the sight. To her dismay, the crimson shade illuminated their surroundings was all the awaited her
"Shhh..." the gravely sound of his newly acquired tone pronounced, shooting down an unnatural shiver. "...just… enjoy it."
What displeasures that remained were quickly snuffed out as his canines met her jugular. A soundless gasp occupied her as she clawed at his back. The methodical creaks of the bedspread soon replaced said sound at their musings.
They pursued their desires for what seemed like hours. Sweat clinging their exhausted forms. While not at all objectified against, Cole mysteriously was to take initiative in all courts. Even more peculiar were the boiling irises colored akin to blood. The two set aside any second thoughts and indulged in one another's company. Resuming their carnal impulses after any given pause for breath.
While his slumber was indeed plagued with terrors of similar kind, what concerned him greater was his behavior. The rising beauty beside him appeared content in their nightly urges, despite the implications of said prior.
Her swirling abyssal locks in disarray. The method at which the sheet hugged at her figure. All hesitancies could be tossed aside once she had pressed herself against him like a cat for warmth. It was if she knew exactly what to cause his heart to flutter.
"I was surprised... seeing you take such an initiative."
Cole's amber stare remained constant, only leaving once his chest rose and fell. "Yeah..."
"We'll figure it out some other time..." Cinder recognized the held in breath of her adored, gifting his cheek a tender slap. "...stop agonizing for once. You look better not doing so."
The faunus was offered no other option but to relent. Their time together would be brief yet accepted in full accord. Cole understood the two could never truly know peace until the dreadful job had been done.
Her leave was as like at his original home, assuring that they would see each other again. As she quoted 'when the time was right.' A part of him desired to convince her in coming to Atlas. He knew full well it would only result in chaos. The other teams would be downright furious with his behavior.
Something was occurring in his home, having elected to gaze out towards the bustling streets. Unwitting civilians. Events that would inevitably shake this city to its foundations. Praying that he was incorrect on assumptions, the initial signs...
...were in himself.
The days that followed built a structure of sanctity. Cinder's whereabouts remained a mystery. Not that he could explain searching for her to the military, let alone anyone sides his team. The Atlesian yielded to the day to day efforts of training to cool his mind.
His conversations, if any, with team RWBY were brief. Ruby would be the only reasonably voice held in the female quartet. Jaune, Pyrrha, and their team were occupied on all fronts catching up on their own business. What little time the couple embellished Cole, he accepted gratefully.
That left the Ace Ops and his own team.
Both of whom were thrilled to enjoy more time with their treasured wolf faunus. Or in the fact of utilizing his skills in practice of their own. All originally comrades from his days within Atlas; they had borne witness to his change in aura and personality. Overjoyed in his lacking of strictness, the mess of eight did what they did best and relished in the time. How he had forgotten how each member resembled their previous incarnation.
When the Operatives were all but students as was his team. They were just kids. What did they know about anything? Would his future have been different he had strewn from its original path? Away from the Fang or involving himself with Salem.
Each question reverberated a quaking ire in his mind as the days progressed.
Until one day.
Stalking the Mantle streets, Cole was left to his own devices. Every daybreak that slipped from his grasp was another unfounded answer to his multitude of questions. James had set himself to working alongside Aunt Marie in the fit of curing Cole of his ailment alongside the Amity Tower. More and more tasks began to pile on.
Let alone the elections were reaching their final night this eve and the scales were leaning ever closer in Robyn's favor. The hometown hero growing more erratic in her attempts at remaining Mantle's 'Hometown Hero'. Ever-increasing lines of stress leveled upon his cranium, reaching to soothe the region just thereafter. All that was happening was soon to induce some manner of damage to him.
"Ay, bub. I said lay off."
That voice. How he recognized its tone, yet not in its particular mannerisms at the current moment. Curious on to the mysterious individual, he lifted his attention from the sidewalk brickwork.
She was a faunus, that much was for sure, with the pair of rabbit ears idle atop her crown of hair. She held an unknown beauty to her. One that kept Cole mesmerized from the gentleman keeping her progress from the tavern. She, however, did not reside in her position after taking notice of his presence.
With only the agility gifted to her by her faunus heritage, she bounded from her original standpoint to hook her arm about his. While altogether startled at his sudden predicament, Cole relented in the knowledge that she would explain herself. "See? My boyfriend's here so. Sorry, buddy."
Discerning the discontent in the ill-conceived patron, he soon departed from their location. A time that Cole initiated his expectant stare of that inquiring an explanation. Immediately retreating from his limb with both her hands up in a gesture of surrender, nervous laughter would be his first answer.
"S-Sorry... that guy was really giving me a hard time. You saved me an-... wait a minute."
His brow wrinkled at her sudden change in pace, furrowing further as she grew closer to inspect him. While she excused no ill will, it did not amend the idea of a beautiful woman in such close vicinity. "Uh... ma'am...?"
"It's you!"
"...me?"
She clicked her tongue at his obvious lack in clarity on the subject manner, hastily gesturing to the pair of canine ears perched at the roof of his head. "It's you. From the alleyway! Remember?!"
Her eyes were alighted with excitement, clearly cemented in her ideals. Though, with the finality of her statements, a flash of memories did come to pass. An alleyway. Three men. 'I... protected her...'
"You..."
She grinned in his dawning realization, pleased in his dumbfounded expression. "Yep! Sure have changed a bit. Oh! My name's Azaela, by the way. And yours is...?"
"Cole. Good to... finally properly meet you."
Her giggling was something of a common sound in their interactions, skipping to the pace of his step as they moved. He had already explained his leave of the Fang and her understanding in the matter. The rejoining of the Atlesian military and a few choice details left out for convenience. While he did not exude such, he was assuredly pleased with her in good health.
"Hey... um. Did you wanna maybe hit up this party going on? It's in celebration of Robyn's inevitable win."
"Inevitable? Doesn't that seem a bit presumptuous?" While she opted onto the singular response of a shrug, Cole could understand her stance. Against a woman as fiery as Robyn, Jacques Schnee was destined to lose. After a moment to himself, the faunus returned his attention to her. "Y'know what? Sure."
Their trek to the assembly of persons was short-lived as more and more bodies of the Mantle populace were marked traversing in a similar direction. It appeared everyone was prepared for the oncoming results of the election. A fairly large crowd had gathered inside a relatively small auditorium, leaving bodies to sporadically bump into the other indifferently. Wires and posters of the female nominee decorated the walls, while an enormous hologram screen illuminating the live election saturated the back end of the chamber.
Cole and Azaela would have arrived in just the correct time, as the male's name would soon be called forth. "Cole!" Amber darted about inquiringly, until landing upon the petite crimsonette scurrying towards him. "I'm so happy you're here! Nora and Ren are doing their own thing… which is weird, and I only know Penny. PLEASESAVEME!"
With arms aloft in a show of surprise, the two finally graced Azaela with their attention. The same giggling at the duo's interaction. "Here, Cole. I've got some friends here anyway." He was powerless at the genuine laugh she fared to exude from him, nearly raising a hand to shield his lips. One she gleefully joined in. It was then, did Azaela slip nearest him and peck a small sensation against his cheek. "We'll talk later, m'kay?"
A smile. A motion he could truthfully endear her with. The pair exchanged heartfelt waves before the faunus returned to Ruby. At least, it had previously only been the scythe-wielder, as now Penny had materialized just beside her. "Greetings!"
Respiring at the fact he would soon be surrounded by the younglings, he relented in the two dragging him from place around the crowd of persons. "I am so glad you made it too, Cole. Ruby here just came earlier as before it was only Marrow and I."
While his interest did glance in the way of Ren and Nora beginning to argue back and forth, he conceded in pitying the automaton in moving backstage. The fellow canine-faunus had been intently observing the proceedings of the crowd, before greeting his fellow sentry. "Oh hey, what- what're you doing here?"
"Just, uh, hangin' out with a friend while she's on the job."
While he watched in amusement the pitiless show of a fist bump between the two girls, he approached Marrow in the time it took. "So, guessing you drew the short straw for this one." While his courtesy remained on the stage, Cole did occasionally glance towards the Ace Operative.
"No…" a brief exhale followed suit. "…I wanted this. I wanted to see what would happen. I was hoping I wouldn't have too much of a distraction. But, since you're here it'll be easier." Cole raised his eyebrows at the sudden praise he received. "We need to be vigilant in case-…"
"In case what?"
Both males stiffened at the unexpected advance of a May Marigold, having previously read the file detailing her name. She brazenly settled the tip of her weapon to the floor as if challenging the duo to act. Dejectedly, Marrow would begin to feed into the encounter.
"In case someone tries to start trouble."
"Oh, funny, that's why we're here. So feel free to take a hike."
"Listen, the General's trying to help, all right? Just 'cause you can't understand-…"
Cole soon stepped between the two adolescents with hands outstretched to both, baring a nonchalant gaze all the while. "Alright. That's enough. We're on the same side." While May seemed moderately taken aback by the advancing of the much taller faunus, Marrow soon fell silent.
"What's going on here, Wags? And… Oh! Who's this here?"
None other than Robyn appeared with a Joanna Greenleaf shouldering her approach. Cole was somehow relieved he had humored Clover's explanation of striking names in Mantle. "Oh, and the pipsqueak is back."
Ignoring the slight glare she received, Robyn took the steps to near Cole in a manner only meant for a confrontation. He was assured she recognized whom he was from his involvement in Atlas. Still, he would not give in to her goads. Or Marrow doing the same. "Cole. Cole Lupine. Atlesian Military with-…"
"Alright. Didn't need the whole shebang. So, what, you're here on guard duty with Wags here?"
It was in this clear instance that the wolf faunus grew a mild distaste in the jagged humor Robyn dealt, squinting to either woman shouldering the candidate. "Marrow, Penny and now I are making sure nothing happens to you."
"Fine but stay out of the way." Never surrendering her self-assured façade, Robyn went to stand just before the stairs leading onstage. Cole was mildly certain the woman meant well, but her overall posture and mannerisms cultivated disfavor in himself. "If I get elected tonight, we'll all have to learn how to get along."
"Sure, we won't have any problems…" A brief respire could be heard from the Atlesian as Marrow spoke up once more. "…as long as you stay within the law."
"The law isn't perfect, you know. It's certainly not equal-…" She cut herself short at Cole's advancement between the two adversaries. His pointed stare was something she could decipher with the hand outstretched to Marrow's chest.
"I think that's enough bickering for now. Robyn…" she looked to the amber stare that radiated a sense of professionalism. "You have a stage to go on."
The sheep faunus, now labeled as Fiona Thyme, had cordially introduced Robyn to grace the stage with her presence. The contender's name was shouted repeatedly from the crowds until her eventual arrival. With microphone in hand, she began her address. "I've never been much for public speaking, probably wasn't my best idea ever to go into politics."
Cole surveyed from the sidelines at the woman's discourse, only turning from it once Marrow had gestured for Ruby to leave such location. It appeared he and Penny would handle differing points of the auditorium for better coverage.
"Thank you so much, everyone, for choosing me. You said you believe in me. But I'm the one who believes in all of you. You've proven to me that as individuals, we are strong. But together, we're unstoppable."
'Unstoppable…' he thought, shaking his head at the cynical thought process. How they populace was ignorant of the fact of a greater evil. A greater purpose in life. Perhaps it was best to enjoy smaller ideals for now. At least, that is what Cole hoped would be true.
"So no matter what happens tonight, win or lose, we will continue to fight for our city, because it is this city that brings us together!"
The mass was overturned in liveliness as an upbeat tune soon flooded the chambers. Robyn, having moved offstage, was swamped by her trio of huntresses duly thereafter. Cole, from the sidelines, observed at a gentle pace until returning his attention to the crowd. Perchance it was virtuous to think as the people did.
One threat at a time. Brush the larger threat away to focus on a singular entity. The faunus thought back to James, and how overwhelmed he was at the events of nights prior. Salem garnered his true attention, but smaller issues of the kingdom seized his reigns on all courts. A long respire left his lips, electing to situate himself against one of the nearby support beams.
"At least they have hope now…"
His musings fell on deaf ears, spotting Ruby's brilliant choice in color coordination in the masses of bodies. She looked happy. Carefree of any issues precedented in the midst of contentment. It was something he too desired to yearn for.
Happiness.
'You should think of that for yourself for a change…'
"Oz?
'Indeed…'
The voice of the Beacon was indeed relieving to hear, exhaling a held in-breath from the subject. "You've been silent for quite a while now."
'Merely observing how you handle your life without my expertise. You've certainly left your mark on Miss Fall.'
Cole immediately felt his cheeks heat at the images that threaten to flood his mind, clutching at the skin. "R-Right… well. I'm just glad she's beginning to show some dissuading from Salem's cause."
'I wouldn't be so sure. She has yet to speak to you further on their plans or her urge to harm Ruby. Has she not?'
"Well, she…" It was true. Cinder had indeed parted ways whenever Cole had brought up the subject matter. His eyes whizzed from place to place as if the solution to his issues would be aided in some way.
'I thought naught… Cole…' A sound akin to that of a sigh flooded his mind, judging the Headmaster was arranging himself for some manner of statement. '…I want you to be happy. Truly, I do. But you also must be so careful. Please. All I can do is observe your choices. Advise you. But you must be careful.'
"No…"
'What? Cole, I-…'
"No. Not that…" Cole's attention as indeed not of the Headmaster's previous plea, but to the notable individual amongst the crowd. More of a prosthetic tail slithering out from the front of the line of persons.
"No. No… Not now."
He disregarded the fact Robyn was to step back onto the stage. He disregarded the announcer broadcasting the final seconds of the pol. He pushed past the shoulders of eager onlookers, in some hysteric urge of unearthing the scorpion faunus.
"Ten, nine, eight…"
His chest rose and fell in a repetitive state, before lastly emerging into a graciously sized space in the mob to notice Ruby. The girl's panic-stricken expression was enough to confirm his own suspicions on her grasp of the situation.
"Seven, six, five, four, three-…"
Both heads veered to the sole character perched on the stage beside Fiona. Their target.
Robyn.
"Watch out!"
Ruby's cry in cautionary was overheard amongst the applauses but was left wanting when the lights artlessly shut out. They were surrounded in the pitch black. Murmurs in confusion were wafted through the crowd, while Cole utilized his ability as a faunus to peer into the darkness.
Nothing. He still could not distinguish the location.
It was as if time had halted around him. The sound of a microphone impacting the stage. A blood-curdling screech as flesh was torn asunder. Amber feverishly scurried about, until lastly settling upon the perpetrator.
"Tyrian!"
He stalked so methodically. Jerking legs out from under their stance and cutting into the unknowing skin of their owner. The darkened coloration of their lifeblood painting the ground and himself. At the call of his name, however, Tyrian solidified his stare onto the Atlesian.
"Ah, Cole. So good to see you in our set. Too bad I won't be able to stay and chat."
Marrow's frantic calls onto the communicator in his ear was deafened by Cole's agitated cry. Lunging towards Tyrian, a clawed swipe was hurriedly avoided before the two began exchanging blows. Pivoting from his stance, the wolf sprung from the site at his adversary's surprise. Only after further revolving midair did he descend by the edge of his heel against the scorpion's cranium.
Inches.
By inches did he narrowly miss the nimble stalker, stealing further from the Atlesian. Each bout the scorpion merely evaded in a means of escape. 'Don't let him get away!'
What neither of them predicted, was Penny's abrupt touchdown between the pair. Drawing her Floating Array, she directed the blades in Tyrian's course. "Put down your weapon and surrender!"
Quickly siding the girl, both were left lacking as their objective vanished into the crowd of civilians fleeing for some method of aid. Cole cursed under his breath at his sloppiness on the matter, but combed on, nonetheless.
"This is Ace Operative Marrow, requesting immediate assistance!"
The faunus boy's sound for aid was heard, as a shriek from the stage produced their consideration. Whether it be Fiona or Robyn, Penny seemingly was not prepared to wait and differentiate who. "Robyn!"
Nearly propelling Cole from aside her, the automaton glided towards the stage. Blinking away the daze leftover, the wolf faunus perceived Tyrian's flee from the stage into the rafters. "Don't worry, Lupine son. We'll keep in touch. We know all about your little escapades… and your Fallen maiden."
'No… they know about Cinder and I…'
The metaphorical cuffs were off. Waning into the darkness, Cole might well have given chase if not for the lights to brim with newfound life. Momentarily blinding him, the faunus forced his vision to adjust to a scene he had not intended on witnessing that evening.
Penny, with blades drawn, stood above a collapsed Robyn and Fiona. The hologram behind said persons presented an image of Jacques, with the word 'VICTORY' above it.
" And the winner of the Atlas Council election is… Jacques Schnee!"
Cole mimicked the girl's befuddled stare into the bloodied civilians laying at the floor. The remnants of the crowd remained, weeping and yelling hysterically. 'Ruby…' he thought, finally spying the crimsonette against the stage's apron. Nearing her, the faunus brought the girl into his person before properly examining the damage wrought. One citizen, whom had been applying pressure to the wounds of a fallen comrade, jabbed a pointed finger towards Penny.
"It's Ironwood's robot!"
'No…' he thought, turning to Penny as she stood disordered and frightened above Robyn. 'This is what they wanted…'
Having folded her swords away, she swayed her hands about in a nonviolent manner. The hologram behind them altered to display live footage of the Schnee father at a podium before his manor. The lot acknowledging the populace for their abrupt rise of votes in his favor.
Cole and Ruby both climbed up onto the stage, with the latter commencing to put pressure on Fiona's wounds. The former began hoisting Robyn to her feet, with the woman nearly heaving him away from her. Instead selecting to glower at Penny and growl heatedly.
"Robyn it wasn't-…"
"What happened?" Nora and Ren had fittingly arrived onstage beside Ruby, with Marrow mimicking the action shortly thereafter. Ruby, while still assisting the wounded Fiona, recalled how she had recognized Tyrian before the power outage. What they were sorely ill-equipped for was the looming charge of the crowd concerning them.
"STAY!"
At the command of his semblance, Marrow had paused the encroaching mass to a stop. "Get Penny out the back, now!"
Nora encouraged the despondent girl backstage with Ren tailing swiftly after. Even after Robyn had unfolded her crossbow, Cole detained the woman's arm for her to consider him. "It's not what you think! We didn't do this-…"
Shattered concentration was what he was to receive, as she propelled the faunus from her person. Hastening to Fiona, she accordingly shoved Ruby away and began her own appliance to the wound. With the faunus girl struggling at relieving any worries at admitting her condition.
"Ruby! Marrow! Get out of here!"
While at first unprepared in abandoning him, the scythe-wielder made to tug at his associated faunus, already making a dash for the exit of the auditorium. Left alone, Cole repaid his courtesy to the former candidate once again. An effort to near the wounded was made, if not for a crossbow bolt to just scarcely miss his hand.
Snarling under his breath, Cole resumed his chances. "Robyn! We didn't do this! This was a setup. Listen to me!" Joanna and May were already upon him as both seized a corresponding arm to themselves. Struggling against their hold, the wolf faunus would not concede in his convincing of the Huntresses' leader.
"I can mend the wound!" That definitely earned her inquiry, signaling with his cranium to the synthetic limb Joanna had apprehended. Even the two women clasping him froze to overhear. "It's nanotechnology. I can reattach tissue. She'll need actual medical attention, but I can guarantee her survivability to it." To their marvel, the augmented index finger altered its figure into that of a needle-type shape. "You can watch me the entire time and kill me if I try anything."
Robyn, still untrusting in the Atlesian, signaled with her head for the women to discharge him of their care. 'At least she trusts me that much…' Properly rolling his shoulders to ease his muscles, Cole knelt beside Fiona's crumpled form. He gently took the sheep faunus's head into his lap, before directing his finger to the injury.
"Hold her hand. This will hurt a lot."
Doing as instructed, Cole initiated the procedure after suitably grasping the huntress's head. Immediately she hissed as the sensation of nanites reattaching tissue and muscle commenced. Fascinated, the Lupine son commented on the behavior. "She's better than most in taking the injury. She's tough."
Robyn stifled a laugh, lingering in clutching the girl's hand in both her own. Red had stained both their attire, yet together they stayed optimistic. It was all they could do as the other huntresses did their best to quell the crowd's ire on the situation.
"I'm sorry…"
A pair of widened violet discs gaped at the admittance, noticing Cole's melancholic expression. "If I had been faster… I could have intervened. Stopped him from harming her. From killing them. She didn't deserve this… none of them did."
For a time, as Cole finalized his process, Robyn regarded him prudently. How he lightly coddled her huntress's head in his arms. How meticulous he was in her recovery. How dejected he looked at her current state.
"Take my hand."
Gawking up at her in mild perplexity, Cole concluded his procedure. "Wha-…"
"Just do it. You're talking about trust. Now take it." Still overall puzzled at her unexpected demand, Cole readapted the nanites in his finger and took the extended hand in his own. "Now tell me again… were you involved in this?"
Swallowing down the brimming nervousness in his throat, he accepted. A pale lilac-colored aura manifested over their hands and forearms. "No. It was an assassin. Tyrian. He orchestrated the attack and used this to frame Penny."
The aura then abruptly turns a shade of light green, leaving Robyn to let go of the hand in disbelief. The aura quickly reverting to its original lilac color as she did so. "You're telling the truth."
Cole could almost hear the incredulous gawps both Joanna and May shot in his direction at the discovery. "See? We're on the same side, Robyn."
"Then why-…" She was sorely interjected by the sound of crashes and animal thunders from outside the auditorium. Both of them understood what was to occur following the chaos of the election results. To her surprise, after placing Fiona in her care, Cole rose to his full height.
"What are you-…?"
"I need every available huntsman on the streets of Mantle. We have a-…" Cole's decree over his communication device was interrupted at an additional foreboding exposition. Clover's hassled tone occupied both his and Robyn's ears.
"We'll have to do a raincheck on that. Mantle's not the only one in chaos right now. There's an uproar about Jacques's unforeseen election into office. We'll get you the backup when we can. Over."
"Dammit…" he cursed, signaling off the comm device.
"How bad are we looking at?" Robyn's inquiry turned his regard back to her with due haste. Earning the wolf faunus's conflicted glance, he passively rolled his augmented shoulder blade.
"Well. Did you want the bad news… or the bad news?"
Discerning the profanity murmured under her breath, Cole moved from the group at an objectified pace. One the former candidate took particular notice in. "Wait. Where are you going?" Now with his back facing the trio, Cole turned to scarcely perceive them in his retreat. Taking hold his metallic bicep, the digits of said limb formed as one in the shape of a hard-light blade.
"I'm going to go save our city."
Cole had witnessed pandemonium in the Mantle streets many a time before. Yet, nothing as he had beheld this evening. Garbage overturned and dirtying the streets. Civilians fleeing in terror, while others rioted on the newfound Councilman. There was little time for reprieve in the chaos swamping him.
Sights of Tyrian or Cinder had still been absent as the faunus sprinted through boulevards; occasionally halting picketers or shielding the unknowing citizen from invading Grimm. The latter having soon besieged the city in all their ire and wrath.
"I don't have much a choice here, Ozpin…"
Skidding to a halt in one of Mantle's main squares, a substantial foothold was made manifest. Exhales that brought the rapidity of his lungs closure. "If my semblance attracts the Grimm…" Amber shut away from the world, enclosed by the lids that sheltered them. "…then that's what I'll do!"
'Then let's, Cole. I shall do my best to reign in the malignance is radiates!'
"Understood!"
The poignant crimson hues illuminated his lenses as washes of aura lingered along the surface of his person. Onlookers of all persons observed in marvel and revulsion as the young faunus's body lurched excruciatingly. Jaws unhinged and the petrifying thunder of antagonism radiated through the stone and metal of Mantle's streets.
"COME ON!"
On all shares of the city, Grimm bowed from their earlier beset prey onto the bestial roar of their nature. Muzzles upturned to the sound. While the civilians they had hunted remained either wounded or unharmed, it mattered not to the creatures. Soon thereafter, they sprang towards the directive.
His whole physique flinched in agony at the anguish of his semblance. The multitude of sensations it endeavored upon his skin and mind alike. "Endure it…!" He commanded himself, stabling the scorching impression that scuttled along his heart. At last, the first descriptions of Beowolves entered his vision.
'Time it right, Cole!'
"I know!" It would end in the last seconds of their interval, twisting to evade the lunge one Grimm made for him. Apprehending the beast's jaws, the edge of hard-light sliced cleanly through its form. Sliding to a suitable position, their dance would commence with all Mantle citizens as their audience.
Leaping its follower, his wrist segmented to the alteration of a chain and spiraled to hook into the Beowolf's cranium at his rear. His consequent target would end stamped to the earth as its brethren was swung atop it. Landing beside, both were subsequently skewered by his bladed appendage.
He could not permit them an opportunity to rid their concentration from himself as another veered from the group. The woman's scream rung his eardrums, swerving the chain that held his blade to strike through the Grimm.
He would protect them all.
Or so he thought.
White-hot agony fired through his left thigh, veering to spot the fangs about his limb. He would have moved to interfere, if not for the next set now clenched about his nanotech arm. Beset by an additional whose claws dug into the skin of his shoulder. Now he recognized the damage his semblance could properly distribute upon him.
His aura.
It had depleted to its barest amounts. Had he been gifted by its graces the injuries he was now being beset by would be null. His taste of copper did nothing to quell the worried expressions of Mantle's civilians. Their horrified stares. Ones of misplaced hope. Ones of unspoken faith in a savior. Even of horror at his present quandary. Yet, one stood about the rest.
A small boy. Looking no older than seven years of age. A pair of dark-colored canine ears perched atop his head.
He had been watching from behind the other onlooker's care at a safe distance from the conflict. It was his anxious look that struck Cole so wholeheartedly. "No…" This could not possibly where the faunus would fall. "No… No. NO!"
A mysterious strength would overflow his muscles, gradually raising the Beowolf still occupied by his artificial forearm. To its dismay, it would suffer the abrupt manifestation of barbs protruding from the metallic surface of synthetic skin. Its snout pierced unreservedly before falling limp to the pavement. His consequent mark would be the creature gnawing upon his calve, taking hold both segments of its jaws. In a ruthless show of power, Cole wrenched free the beast's whipping mandibles trailed only by the faunus winding them backwards in a harrowing method.
A third of the trio was sorely tossed from its position and taken hold before it could grasp the thought of retreating. While his flesh-gifted hand grasped the sizable pearl-white canine, its nanite sibling astonishingly plunged deep past the Grimm's jaws. As performed of the first victim, spikes soon erupted from inside its throat. As like its comrades, the beast flattened to the asphalt thereafter.
Even as his shoulders and chest heaved in painstaking breaths. Even as his skin was disfigured with imprints and bloodied splotches. Lips soon curved upwards into a smile he bore with newborn assurance. The swift confidence glowing explicitly to the child having observed from his beginning.
"A hero… smiles… even in the face of death."
'You're always so dramatic… but, you might want to watch from the sky now!'
As did the Headmaster indicate, Sphinxes soon paraded from the heavens towards his position. Shying off his injuries, Cole swiveled and fixed his freshly-formed blade hand through the dodged Grimm. Swerves and escapes would be the faunus's aid as each winged beast parachuted down upon him. Ensnaring one by its tail and swinging it into another unwittingly. Their demise made manifest by a shaped hand-cannon firing off a repulsion of kinetic energy. The likes of which searing through their conjoined bodies.
Lithering from their charred corpses, Cole reserved the scarce moment to catch his breath. Sweat and blood tarnished his hair and clothing, while each newfound injury screeched to be mended. Even in these misbegotten times, he refused to dissuade the smile he had elected in adorning himself with. 'That… seems to be the last of them. It seemed the chaos invigorated some few invading Grimm to act.'
"Yeah… maybe I can get some of these injuries looked at. Really starting to be a pain-…"
"WATCH OUT!" The adjacent civilian's cry unnerved the two's concentration just enough for the faunus to advance his arms in guard. The action possibly ensuring his survival in being slingshot through the road into the aching brickwork of the following building. A pained gasp slipped past his limps, collapsing to the earth from his indentation of the structure. Raising his chin to the sight, a ragged gasp would shadow it.
The Grimm was unmistakably a Beringel, sides the undeniable set of feathered wings at his back. "That's new-…" The phrase was unexpectedly cut short as he lurched forward, coughing globules of lifeblood into his open hand. Cursing under his breath, the faunus shook the daze from his crown and shot from his position.
'A solid right hook and…' Performing so, Cole bemused he could take advantage the relatively dull mindset Beringel's typically held. To his petrified dismay, the metallic fist was caught with comparative ease and a wide-eyed expression met the oncoming fist of his opponent. Further gore spewed from his wounds and lips as the Atlesian lifelessly clattered against the pavement. His muscles felt heavy to a place he had no opportunity to raise. Vision was faltering to which each streetlight replicating.
The figure soon occupied his sight, but not to offer him some means of assistance. The blackened skin and bone-like plates littering its facial features of the Beringel. Dread set in his person as the beast raised a fist into the air in preparation. What tailed triggered many of the civilians to shy their children and even their own eyes. The unbearable sound of each time the Grimm brought down an assault to the huntsman. Each time the land quaked in impact.
Why did they not act?
Why did no one move to help him?
What chance could they stand against something like that? When a huntsman could not stand to face such a threat. Again and again, the beast struck out. With each, the people yearned for it to end. Even the Headmaster was powerless but to watch on in horror.
Only once the pavement around them had caved in at the disparaging power the Grimm held and the faunus lay near unresponsive, did the unexpected occur. As the Beringel raised its paw one final time, a small stone struck against its crown. Through his throbbing sight, Cole watched as the beast yielded no recoil at the pitiful occurrence but soon twisted its attention. Managing to mimic the action, the faunus's heart plummeted.
The boy.
The same faunus that Cole perceived through all other faces in the crowd of people. Screams for the boy to retreat and hide could be heard, yet he stood his ground. Sluggishly, the Beringel shifted from the huntsman's frame and stirred to its fresh quarry. Trembling as he did so, the same grit through the agony he was gifted with. Sliding along the gravel and blood that coated his landing, protested speak slurred. "S-Stop… run!"
Immobile the faunus boy persisted, now having to incline his vision as the Grimm approached. The blemished skin smudged with tears remained steadfast in resolve. Hallucinations of persons prior apparated and shattered soon thereafter.
Pyrrha during his fight with Cinder.
Yang during his fight with Hazel.
Blake during his fight with Adam.
"Get… away…" The child shut his eyes once the Beringel unhurriedly lifted its fist to the air. At a similar pace, Cole forced his body to rise. The tendons and bones screeching in protest were put aside. "GET… AWAY!" Gnashed through bloodied teeth, the garbled speech dissented. The nanite compelled themselves into a katar-shape, leaving the wrist to segment off akin to before.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!"
Having upstretched himself to an appropriate height, the hand would launch to its desired target. No doubt the hide of the Grimm would be extremely durable. Cole bet all costs on this lasting attack. The sharpened edge tore through sinew like a hot knife through butter, before ricocheting out its front end.
"I've got you now…" Startling the young lad, the katar appendage shifted its form to take on that of a normal hand. While still attached by metal cable to its owner, Cole let forth an agonized lurch backwards. In its process, its finger warped about the Beringel's face and wrenched it home. "COME ON!"
The boy's eyes were alit with fervent delight, watching in awe as the smiling senior smoothly apprehended his foe. Having been artlessly ricked from its residence, the Grimm was despondent to counter even as Cole retracted his bladed arm. Nanites zealously shelled into the shape of an arm cannon. Calling forth whatever strength the faunus had left remaining, spheres of energy coalesced at its barrel.
Then, in a blinding illustration of radiance, the spell was let forth.
The repulsion would have been undeniably been speckled from all corners of the city, and even to onlookers from Atlas. A beam of cerulean light evaporated every inch of the Grimm in its wake. Illumining the square at which he prevailed, Cole would inevitably cut the display short and recoil to the terrain.
The arm unconsciously retracted to that of a normal limb, parting only to grasp his knees. Badly beaten and near unconscious. There was but one last act he was to take, still being viewed by the myriad of the city's eyes. Steadily, the faunus pressed himself to a full height. Inch by inch he made his effort in defiance to his injuries.
A fist.
His fingers enclosed to raise outward to the sky, with each press he made to stand. A hand held to the heavens for all peoples of Atlas to gaze upon. It was in this moment; did he hear the applause made concerning him. The cheers and cries of onlookers at his display of heroism.
To someone so young to stand in their defense. Those he did not know. He had saved them.
Remorsefully, Cole felt his vigor disperse and progressively tumble from his stance. For it not the figure that clutched him and brought him to bear, would he had collapsed. "You really did need my help…" Stained amber elevated to the enigmatic, granted the sight of Robyn's self-assured smirk.
"Robyn…" What could only be described as a weakened laugh shadowed. "…never thought I'd be… so glad to see you."
"Yeah. Feeling's mutual, Wolfy. Now c'mon. Let's get you to a hospital and-…"
No…" The former nominee was astonished at the barked command she had received, leaving only for him to continue. "…bring me to… one of the billboards. I…" She nearly withdrew as he turned to face her unstintingly. "…need to make a speech."
A well-earned respire would be her immediate response, shaking the ivory strands. "Don't think I have a chance in changing your mind… Alright. Guess I can indulge you. Hold on with what strength you've got left."
As instructed, he clutched onto the ragged coattails, unknowingly nestling his head into the shoulder of his associate. Taking little time to waste, Robyn approached the desired location with due haste. For how he coached, she carried him to the control panel of the display and watched in virtual wonder of how his fingers adjusted to the necessary ports. Before long, an authorizing click filled their ears and a small screen manifested from his forearm.
"Those nanites sure are something…"
In her unending awe, Robyn surveyed the monitors of not only their adjacent but all within Mantle attuned. An image of the bloodied faunus beside her. The huntress leader's companion permitted the surrounding oxygen to fill his aching lungs, conveying his heartbeat to a steady pace.
"People of Mantle…" All eyes would have been observing the screens and resolute amber staring back at them. The faunus's voice reverberating throughout the kingdom to all spectators. "No… people of Atlas. You have been wronged. Yet, you have also been defended. Not by an Atlas Huntsmen…"
"…but, a son of Mantle."
"That's right… I, Cole Lupine, was born here. Raised here. I… I am not the perfect huntsman you may have thought me to be…" His gazed flickered to the woman still supporting his stature, originally staggering her as he relented. "…of the Atlas Military, yes… but, of formerly the White Fang as well…"
With Robyn's resulting gasp, he was assured the other populace of Mantle would have similar reactions. Still, he could not stop now. "I have seen both sides. I have seen the good. The bad. In both sides. Ja-…General Ironwood… means to protect all of Atlas. Which means the people of Mantle as well. Yes, the manner of which… is not perfect. But… if you cannot put your faith in the leaders of Atlas…"
It was now or never. He had to mend the damage Tyrian and his associates had wrought. Relinquishing his arm from Robyn's care, he promptly settled to the visible segment of his chest. "…then put your faith in me! In Robyn Hill! Together we will make Atlas and Mantle one once again… even with the Grimm… even with those meaning to harm us… we will NOT FALL!"
"Because we are the PEOPLE of MANTLE!" Both of them could hear the inklings of applause and cheers below, yet it was not enough for him. He required more. "…we will NEVER be broken! We will SURVIVE! And we will NEVER SURRENDER!" Ever-increasing ovations ensued as any traces of protests and fear soon dissipated. He had won them over. The shies of newly molded tears made shape, yet Cole grinned on to his people. Their people.
"For… MANTLE!"
"For… REMNANT!"
Salem may have won the prior battle.
But she was far from winning this war.