Author's Notes

One day late. So it begins. The beginning of the end.

In reality, just been busy playing Death Stranding (was recently released in PC) and preparing for a job interview. I also was on a roll writing a later chapter, so I took my time doing the final revision of this one.

Chapter 23: Azure eyes

"You're a faunus."

Blake was not expecting that. Throughout her entire time at Beacon, she never suspected. She thought GV was just another human indifferent, but not malicious, to the faunus' plight. When he confronted Velvet a month ago, the niggling doubt that GV might be prejudiced wormed in. She was relieved when GV took some time to explain to both Jaune and her what exactly happened. And the doubt completely extinguished when she saw Velvet hanging out with GV, both actively engaging in conversation.

She would have never thought she would create a rapport with someone as taciturn as GV. But here she was. For all his aloofness, GV wasn't blind to the world around him. He held strong opinions on matters and would act upon his ideals if confronted. It is why he was critical of Velvet passivity. Why he was willing to bet himself when Jaune and Cardin fought. Why he pushed Jaune forward, with whom he shares a sense of justice, despite Jaune's initial lack of skill.

If Blake had to describe GV in one word, 'conviction' would be on the running to win that distinction. GV would bet all-in on his beliefs. He never showed any self-doubt. Unlike Blake, who hid her faunus heritage because she wanted an out from her past. The prejudice, the White Fang, the struggles of being a faunus. She wanted to leave all that behind and start with a blank slate.

'And I'm doing a fantastic job at that,' Blake thought bitterly, the thick sarcasm almost nauseating.

But why GV, confident GV, was hiding his eyes?

"I don't like labels."

"Huh?" Blake said blankly.

"You know… I don't really care I'm a faunus. It's almost like I forgot I was one until you pointed it out." GV didn't meet her eyes, opting to browse to the menu the waitress had thrown at him. "I always thought to myself as… well, a person."

GV's expression hardened. "No, that's not right. I do remember a time when I allowed that to define me. But that was long ago."

Blake was suddenly too aware that what she was hearing was something GV didn't divulge readily.

"Back then, everything I did was driven by me being a faunus; just trying to survive in a world stacked against us" GV shook his head, as if waking from a stupor. "Nowadays, it's less of a memory and more of a fever dream."

His eyes met hers.

"If you need to catalogue me as something, then yes. I am a faunus. But frankly, I don't really make a distinction between human and faunus. Haven't in quite some time. Similarly, when I met you, the fact that you are a faunus was more of an idle thought than a worthwhile observation."

"Y-you knew?"

GV nodded. "Raven-haired girl with a cat ears-shaped bow surnamed Belladonna? It wasn't that hard to figure out. Mytyl and Copen might have also known, or at least suspected. For all their oddities, those two can be uncannily observant when they want."

And when Gun Volt called someone 'odd' and 'uncanny', you didn't give that person your back. Blake made a mental note to be on the lookout for the twins.

"Blake… I do understand what you feel. And I don't mean in some nebulous, empathetic way." GV leaned in. "I colored your experience using my own. For that, I apologize. Not everyone in the White Fang believes themselves a monster. I know that much." GV took a forlorn looked, his eyes looking at the case where he stored his contacts. "But I sure did…"

Blake had to refrain from yelling a succinct 'What'. Was GV…

"GV… you… you were part of..."

GV nodded. "Former Lieutenant Gun Volt, infiltration specialist for the White Fang, Vacuo's Branch." His words whispered at an even lower volume. For her ears only.

Today was a vortex of surprises. And Blake wasn't ready for any of them. First GV found her and already knew about her identity as a faunus. Then he revealed his heritage. Then his involvement with the Fang. And in the same breath, that he was a high-ranking member. High enough to have soldiers under his command.

Blake stared numbly, still processing the information. There were so many questions. "Why did you leave? When did you leave? Lieutenant? Do… do you know who I am? Why are you-"

"Calm down," GV stopped Blake's string of question. He was looking at her, but his expression carefully neutral. "Of course I know who you are. Like I said, your family is not exactly unknown. And I'm not proud of it, but I like to think I was good at my job. I left almost a year ago. The last… three years? They were… a haze. I wouldn't be able to tell you what I did, just that one day I woke up disgusted with myself. Realized I became a monster and wanted out.

"Of course, you just don't leave. Even less someone like me. But… well, you heard my specialty. I know how to get into places, and I know how to get out. And no," GV stopped Blake incoming question, "I did not sneak into Beacon. Ozpin is aware of my past. And yours, in case you honestly believe the Headmaster isn't aware who someone called Belladonna is."

Blake internally winced. She might have entertained the idea that she pulled a fast one over the Headmaster. She was just glad she never vocalized that thought.

"Blake, you and Weiss… you traded harsh words. Both of you. I understand where you are coming from, but I also can see Weiss's point of view. Those… executions she mentioned…"

Blake's eyes widened and felt a nauseating feeling rise to her throat. "No…" she muttered softly.

"I never pulled the trigger, but I was behind the camera."

Blake had trouble meeting GV's eyes. She had never participated in the executions. She had fought in raids, even killed soldiers, if not by her blade by association. How many times she tried to stop Adam from finishing an opponent? How many times before she stood by the sides and let it happen?

But to have someone defenseless and unarmed, completely at your mercy, and just…

Blake shook the thoughts away. She wanted, craved, to ask GV more. To really get to know him. Not only the current him but also his past. But this wasn't the time. This definitely wasn't the place.

"Let's go back to Beacon. I'm sure by now Weiss is willing to talk things out with a cooler head."

Blake nodded.

"E-excuse me?"

Both faunus' attention were drawn to the waitress, who placed an assortment of appetizer in front of them and bowed profusely.

"My apologies. For the lacking service, I mean. Your food will be on the house. Can I bring you anything else?"

GV looked from the waitress to the appetizer, then to Blake and finally back to the waitress, who blushed a bit upon meeting GV's eyes.

"I didn't even notice the lack of service. Bring us two root beer and the assorted grilled meats… Thanks," GV added as an afterthought.

The waitress bowed and gave her apologies once more before retiring.

"Do you know what just happened?" GV asked in a rare case of genuine confusion.

"I… think they realized you are a faunus. She did throw the menu at you before." Blake pointed out.

"She did?" GV asked, looking at the offending item and deciding to actually browse it rather than the idle look over from before. He squinted his eyes.

For her part, Blake, not one to waste food, indulged herself. The restaurant might have horrible policies in place, but, with the food on display, she realized she was hungry and if they were willing to give her free food, she would exploit that. If nothing else, the waitress's interruption had broken the underlying tension in their conversation. Not wanting to bring down the mood again, she opted for a lighter topic. Also indulge her curiosity.

"GV, why do you wear contacts to hide your faunus trait? It seems like you don't care if people know."

Blake looked up from her food to GV. And froze.

GV was still looking at the menu. That much was how she left it. However, he was now wearing glasses. Honest-to-god black-trimmed glasses. It was bizarre.

GV looked up from the menu. And her heart made a flip. Blake couldn't place what it was, but something about the glasses just made GV look less threatening and more… boyish. Like he was the kind of guy you would meet at a bookstore and engage with in a meaningful and enriching conversation about your favorite authors and the legacy of their works.

Wait a minute…

"S-s-sir. Your f-food," the waitress stuttered, placing the plate and drinks on the table and making a valiant effort to not stare at the boy. And failing spectacularly. Between the blushing face, the looks, and the wildly wagging dog tail, it did not take an expert to guess the girl's thoughts.

And Blake traitorous mind admitted she too could see what the girl saw.

Making a hasty retreat, the waitress left Blake alone with GV, who was quick to fill his plate with food. But not before a jealous glare was thrown her way. Huh…

"Pity this is not a place I would actively patronize. The food is tasty. And it's also a great place to talk shop."

"You wear glasses."

GV looked up from the food and absentmindedly adjusted said glasses. Blake had to bite down… a sound. She wasn't sure if it was a moan or a squeal and she was afraid to dig deeper.

"So I do..." It was clear he didn't know what to make of her statement.

"Why?" Blake asked.

"Why I wear glasses?" GV asked for clarification. Blake was too out of it to give it, so GV pushed on. "Because I need them?" Seeing no reaction from Blake, he tried again. "To see stuff? Like glasses tend to allow?"

Blake mouth turned into an 'o' shaped as the pieces fell into place.

"You're blind!"

GV frowned. "That's disrespectful to people with actual blindness. I'm not blind, I'm farsighted… and a bit of astigmatism, but it's not that bad, really."

GV didn't wear contacts because he wanted to hide his faunus trait. He wore contacts because he needed them to see! That was… such a normal reason that it looped into being absurd. Or at least that's how Blake felt.

GV chuckled, a nostalgic smile on his face.

"What's so funny?" Blake asked, suddenly self-conscious. Was her bewilderment so obvious?

GV smile faltered a bit, but he forced it to remain steadfast. "Just recalling simpler times." He mulled for a moment whether to tell Blake the story or leave her hanging. In the end, he did consider Blake a friend. He could part away with some of his past.

"I'm remembering when I found out I needed glasses. It was during shooting training soon after I joined the Fang. I kept missing the targets. Needless to say, I was frustrated beyond reason."

'GV, frustrated beyond reason. Now there's a thousand lien image.' Or at least, that's what Blake was willing to pay to see it.

"A… friend… of mine pointed out that it was getting late. Literally pointed at a clock close by. I was surprised she could read it from that distance."

She shouldn't, but Blake just had to press on that pause in GV's story.

"A lady friend?"

It was minute. A blink or miss deal. But for a fraction of a second, GV faltered, caught off guard by her seemingly accurate comment. The aftermath wasn't as tidy, red brushing his cheek and azure eyes averting hers.

Did she… did she make GV blush? Oh no… he was adorable! Retreat, Blake, retreat!

"I would appreciate if you kept that tidbit to yourself," GV said, not meeting her eyes. Blake made a zip up gesture. She would go to the grave with that secret… or drag GV down with her if she needed the blackmail material.

"A-anyways, I soon realized what was happening and in the heat of the moment said something akin to 'I am blind'. She responded with along the lines of 'that doesn't seem fair to blind people."

Blake softly laugh, hiding her mouth to retain a semblance of civility. The same exchange they just had, if not word by word, in spirit. She could see why GV would recall a fond memory. A fond memory they inadvertently recreated- no, not going there!

She was about to ask what happened to the girl, but thankfully her brain decided this was one of the times where it would stop her mouth from eating her foot. If the girl was there while GV was training for the White Fang, she must have been a member herself. She knew from both secondhand and personal experience that such fraternization has good chances of ending… in less than ideal terms, be it for the inherent risk of being a freedom fighter or GV defecting.

It was a sweet story. One that Blake was happy GV shared with her. But it didn't explain the hiding aspect.

"But why the contacts? I see why you'll need them, but why do they hide your eyes?"

GV munched on a piece of meat, savoring before answering. "Oh, they are a gift and are pretty expensive. Atlas tech, in fact. To this day, how she got them remains a mystery for the ages. Kind of. I have a hunch but never got around to confirm it. You can actually program them to look normal, I just never bothered to reset them. It's easier and quicker to make to book a flight and leave Vacuo if people don't bother you about your eyes. I'm sure you can think of a reason or two why I wanted out of Vacuo as soon as possible. I had forgotten they were hiding my eyes until you mentioned it. Was it the golden eyes setup? I like that setup…" He scrunched his face. "And I think I owe Velvet another apology. Damn."

Incredible. Simply incredible. Blake had thought GV not acknowledging he was a faunus was simply his way of saying he didn't care about such a distinction. But he had completely forgotten about his faunus trait. He genuinely acted like he wasn't one. Not even out of fear of shame – you do not rise through the ranks of the Fang with shame – but due to how unimportant his race was to his identity.

To her eyes, right now, GV was infinitely approachable. Relatable. Empathetic. And that was wrong. GV was never that open. It was the glasses. They were misleading her. Those damned, back-trimmed glasses and his dreamy, azure…

Blake cursed internally at the traitorous direction her mind was taking and busied herself with stuffing food into her mouth. They ate in comfortable silence. Or at least in what Blake assumed was comfortable silence for GV. She was having a mini-panic attack on her side of the booth.

Then a voice a few tables away spoke, just loud enough to be overheard with the newfound silence on their table.

"Yeah, tonight at the docks. Orders are to wear full uniform, masks and all."

Blake made her damn best effort not to react and continued eating. But she shot GV a look and met his eyes. And saw GV sending her the same look.

Author's Notes

This is a good place as any to leave the story. Keeping it contained to GV and Blake's conversation with no contamination from others.

Oh boy, here we delve into GV's past. So yeah. GV, in this story, was White Fang. And not some random schmuck like Blake appeared to be despite her legacy. GV sat at the big kids' table. Heavy stuff.

Let's do our rundown:

GV, the lieutenant: Calling back to my little spiel last Author's Notes, making GV part of the Fang plays into the whole "making the ASG characters part of Remnant". And since GV WAS part of a terrorist organization in the games, it just made sense.

Tone: The tone in this chapter took a sharp turn for the dark for a bit while I was writing it. A bit of a mood whiplash, but I like the context it provides. Gives perspective on the depths the higher-ups and officers of the Fang (like Adam, Sienna, and in this fic GV) will go to versus the less involved (from volunteers like Deery and Perry all the way up to more permanent members like Blake and Ilia). The Albain brothers would fall under higher-ups, but due to their role as the friendly face of the Fang, they cannot be traced back to the more unsavory acts.

GV with glasses: It is canon that GV has poor eyesight and uses glasses. I don't think it's ever mentioned exactly what his impairment is, so I went with farsightedness, to make the squint at the menu imagery, and astigmatism, to make it so that fighting from a distance still proves a hindrance.

In the games, contacts lenses are one of GV's equipment. He can equip two different lenses (because two eyes), which provide a variety of modifications. I translated that into Atlas tech, though I have no plan for them beyond allowing GV to disguise his eyes. I mean, they can do more, maybe, but I really have no plans to actually use them as of this writing.

As for the glasses, I based them from one of GV's concept art. It still is a canon thing GV wears, since it is mentioned in-game that, when not working, he wears glasses instead of contacts in a Clark Kent fashion. Since in that concept art GV lacks the stern face he normally sports, I decided that's the effect of the glasses. For the lulz.

The docks: Without Sun there to tell Blake about the SDC shipment, she has to find out in some other way. Or I could screw the Stations of the Canon (Disclaimer: TvTropes ruins lives) and write something better. But this is my first fanfic. I am not better.

Finally: People familiar with ASG are probably starting to piece together quite a lot about GV's backstory, if they haven't already.

Next stop, the actual docks!

Reviews

Blue Bragon: Thanks for the review. I do recall receiving a notification about a previous review, but when I went to look at it on the page itself, it was gone. Oh well. This is probably not what you expected out of GV and his reasons for hiding his eyes, but here we are.