Hello everyone!
This is me going to be writing my own story for the time being as everything else seems to be not too interesting. Thought to myself, why not write? I've been writing for most my life now and initially didn't know about fan fiction. Then, after really connecting to RWBY, I thought of bridging those two. But, with a character I could enjoy putting into this universe. Cole was always going to be an OC, regardless of the fanon put into. I really do hope he lives up to expectations.
The first chapter will act as a sort of a prologue leading into this.
Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy. I appreciate criticism and critiques. Reviews and words of wisdom. Thanks again and hope you enjoy!
(All characters and story related to and part of RWBY are owned by Roosterteeth Productions.)
~Years before the events of 'RWBY'~
The early morning rays peeked through the curtains that hid the room away from the outside world. Just enough to cast a definite light upon the two shapes molded in the darkness. The male, easily trumping the female in size, lay strewn with his back against the mattress. His partner continued her motion of bobbing atop him.
The quickness of their breaths indicated the prolonged exertion each had endured. The male more than the female in this case. Sweat clung to their forms like second skin. Thus, while the two of them would abruptly tense at the peak of their finality, a long exhale ensued.
An unamused huff respired from her lips, seemingly uncaring of his drained demeanor. Thus, leaving her lover to toil the momentary peace she offered him. Shifting herself from the position atop him, she savored the prospect to rest against the edge of the mattress. The male chose to do so by swinging his legs out over and hunching over at its opposite edge.
He stole a momentary glance in her direction, finding no amity in such an action. It felt cruel. The lack of verbal communication.
The sudden click of a lighter and burning scent indicated the unattractive interest she had undertaken. Even with such doubts radiating in his mind, the male found himself admiring the outlines and curvature of her backside's design. The perfectly molded shape. The blanket of raven hair that blanketed the tattoos littering her upper areas.
"C-Cinder…?" She offered no sign of turning her attention to him, going seemingly unheard of. "…what… do I mean to you?"
Another huff exhaled from his lips, holding a somewhat amused likeness to it. She finally graced him with her attention, inclining to shift towards him atop her knees. The cigarillo still delicately held between her fingers. "Oh, Cole…" She spoke in such a demeaning manner. "…are you having doubts? After so long?"
The mess of sable hairs swayed as he tensed in posture, possibly due to her lack of attire even more so. "N-No… just… every time. There's no… follow up. No wanting. No love. Are we anything more than just… this?"
"Oh…" A nail dragged along the line of his jaw, flicking it back as it met its end. "…don't feel so sad. Did you want to lie and hug each other? Aw… how predictable." He was left dazed as she turned to depart the bedspread. "So naïve…" The sound of a showerhead in operation signaled her mindset in the bathroom.
His faunus heritage wilted against his crown, turning from the bath's entryway. The sight of crowds down below were his only companion. They were finished.
~Years before the events of 'RWBY'~
The unfortunate coffee table found itself upturned and thoroughly tossed against the wall adjacent to it. Its assailant barely considering the action capital as he stared daggers into the woman before him.
"That's it?! You are just… ending it? Like that? After all I have suffered?!" Canines barred against his gritted teeth, nearly snarling at her apathetic gaze.
She resided rather casually in the seat across from him, inspecting her nails in an uninterested manner. Every turn she enacted further infuriated the faunus. Electricity rampantly danced along the newly paired metal appendages.
"You've served your purpose, Cole. It's nothing personal…" She barely offered him a glance from the inspection of her person.
"My purpose? I loved you!" He declared, slating an outstretched palm to his chest. It enraged him. How she could be so dispirited. So listless. "Did you feel… nothing for me? For us?"
When she had finally decided to rid her perspective from her fingertips, Cole found himself on the receiving end of an almost irked expression. "Us…?" She made what sounded that of a laugh and scoff melded into one. "There was never… an us, Cole. You were there when I needed… something to entertain me. You were never good enough for me."
All he could do was gape back at her. His jaw hung agape. His arms limp with defeat. He had lost his family. And even seen as a traitor in the eyes of his brothers and sisters. He was nothing. Barely capable of calling himself even a huntsman.
So much rage boiled inside him. Begging to be set free upon the woman that had wronged him. The one whom he had offered so much to and held nothing in return. How much of his life that had been wasted with her?
And yet, he did nothing.
Seeing such, Cinder finally determined her time in the apartment previously shared between them was at an end. She slithered from the seat in a snake-like manner, barely considering him as she passed by. No words were exchanged in farewell. No communication to motion a goodbye.
Fury transformed into misery. The fire in his eyes replaced with a wetness of tears. His legs felt as if they were made of jelly, collapsing in on themselves. He was at his knees when the dejection erupted forth from him. A wail that nearly shattered the brick from the complex.
He was once again. Empty.
~Years before the events of 'RWBY'~
Her scream resounded through the alleyway. Shadowed only by the maniacal laughter of her pursuers. Her legs ached with the expressed effort in her attempted escape. The downpour soaked her clothes through and weighed her step with every stride.
The additional appendages flatted against her crown would undoubtedly be the cause of her distress. A faunus. A pair of snow white rabbit ears bounding with her every movement.
They were upon her with relative ease. The three partaking a relative glee in her evident fearfulness. Insults were occasionally tossed in her direction, alongside a frequent strike against her form.
Bruised. Bloodied. Debilitated. These what were felt by the faunus as she hopelessly crumpled to the aching concrete of the alleyway.
That would not sit well with her assailants.
She desperately attempted to shield herself from the spontaneous kicks meant for her vitals. Tears welled in her eyes. How she had loathed this torment her kind were ultimately forced to endure.
When all hope appeared lost, the physical shape of a passerby met her blurred gaze. A single arm outstretched as she croaked out with what little voice she held.
"...h-help..."
He was clad in an extensive cloak to shield himself from the unending rainfall and a trilby hiding his skull and most his features. He looked as if moving with a specific intent. At first, to her dismay, he showed no sign of halting his pace.
Would he show mercy?
Would anyone care?
It was then that she saw it. The piercing glow of amber that shone through the darkness of overcast. The single orb shifted into two as his footfall halted mid-step.
"Hey, you got a problem?"
While her attackers had come to an inevitable stop, one of the trio neared the newcomer. Her hopes rested on how he handled himself in what was to come.
The mysterious figure offered no semblance of response to the assailant, merely stealing another glance in her direction. As he returned his pointed stare, she would finally come to hear his voice.
"I will give you one opportunity. Let her go. Leave. Never come here again..."
At first, the thug looked astonished someone would dare question his authority. "You got a death wish or something?!" Spittle could be perceived spewing past his parted lips, and yet the newcomer remained unfazed. Another of the assailants sided the one speaking, as if wary upon the newcomer's abilities.
It appeared the mysterious figure had found their conversation to an end, pushing past what she believed their leader. The second goon stepped forth to interrupt his path, but followed suit the one prior.
The last, still clutching her in his dirtied hands, watched as the faceless defender marched on. Promptly shoving her from his person, leaving her to clatter to the ground, he was immediately forced backwards with a swift kick to his solar plexus.
Air rushed past his lips, choking for relief. She stole a glance at the figure now standing beside her, desperate to discern his features. The amber gaze looked to her briefly, murmuring a hushed warning.
"Close your eyes…"
The trio of attackers had begun to rise from the sudden strikes upon them. The last rising from his feet at the call of his leader. "Kill the fucker!"
Retrieving a small knife, the assailant charged forward with renewed vigor. The rabbit faunus bit her bottom lip in nervous trepidation. More than not at the rising stakes her defender was to take.
She would be relieved to find he would not be felled so easily.
Taking hold the man charging towards him, the newcomer rightfully flipped his foe into the gravel with skillful precision. What occurred next she could barely keep track of.
Disarming the first, the figure went to spinning the dagger between his fingers before jamming it into the shoulder of one. While their leader did attempt to grapple his backside, a pointed elbow would strike at his kidneys.
Red splattered about the area with the unknown preserver spinning beneath the hold. The fluid motion procured a dagger of his own from beneath his cloak, clutching at its handle for a grip. The other hand making to seize the leader's collar.
Surprisingly, he did not strike out with the weapons blade. Rather, preferring to bring his knuckles against the tender flesh of his opponents nostrils. Recoiling in agony, another assailant went to attempt his own luck.
He would be fatefully disappointed.
Grasping the wrist of his attacker, the cloaked figure brought the knife's edge into the man's armpit. In an experienced maneuver, he slunk about his current objective to bring the daggers edge into the last assailant's heart multiple times.
Crumpling to his knees at such a wound, the figure turned about on his heel before lodging the same weapon into the throat of his previous target. The two men fell to the ground still. She watched in horror at such a display of prowess in fighting capabilities.
How could one man do such a thing?
And yet he was not finished. His footsteps echoed throughout the alleyway as the attackers' leader shifted on his backside in retreat. Fearful eyes locked upon his pursuer. "W-Wait! Please, don't kill me! I'll… I'll give you anything! Money. Women. What?!"
The figure was still for a moment, perhaps granting the man some figment of mercy. Her eyes widened at the idea. The possibility of her savior being so easily sold out. Her worries would be proven ill-fortunate.
"What I want…" He croaked in the chilling tone he had uttered earlier. "…you cannot give me." The voice was passive yet provided a welling sense of anger. Frustration. All pointed towards the withdrawn aggressor.
In a horrifying statement of brutality, another dagger having fashioned from beneath his cloak, went to drive into the base of the man's chin. Metal erupted from within his mouth as the same filled with blood. Fruitless attempts to clear his throat of the liquid only found sickening coughs and gags.
The figure would not finish him. Perhaps forcing the man to dwell in his injuries in a slow and agonizing death. He moved towards her, no increase in pace would alarm her to flee.
Not that she could. She was certain her legs had been reduced to jelly. Unable to utilize them any further than shaking beneath his attentive gaze.
When at last he began to reach for her person, she flinched at the motion. Surely there was some form of violence to come upon her. Or perhaps he wished for a reward in the sense of herself.
Although, when no harm came to her, she permitted her eyelids to part. The cloak he had been adorned in now safely secured about her dampened form. The rainfall had not subsided in any way during his bout against their pursuers. As he reached to remove the trilby he had worn, he securely plopped onto her own crown.
Staring up at him, she now understood why he had gone to the lengths to protect her. A pair of sable colored wolf ears perked against the unrelenting torrent. He was a faunus. Just like her.
A hand went to outstretch towards her, with an open palm all that was to be provided.
"You are not alone…"
~Sometime before 'The Shining Beacon'~
"Ozpin… I would not speak to you if I did not believe this undertaking to be the right thing to do."
The two gentlemen sat within the Headmaster's office. A multitude of clocks and gears spun in constant motion alongside the movement of their own conversation. The man who would be Ozpin, turned in his rather unorthodox designed chair to face his companion.
"James… I do understand the 'undertaking' you wish to provide me with. I know of the two. Specifically the boy. His parents were…"
"Yes, I know exactly who they were. His father specifically. Nicholas and Sheena Lupine were incredible individuals in their own right. Their death marked a tragic path for him."
The man named James stood upright, stepping to gaze forth past the glass sidings of the office. All the while, Ozpin continued to observe the man's behavior. "He needs to come here. I believe… albeit regrettably, that he requires a change in scenery. The both of them."
Ozpin reclined into his seat, thumbing his fingers against his chest in a methodical fashion. "I can see great things coming from that boy. Terrible… but, great. I think you are making the right decision, James. And understand that this is not easy for you."
James silently nodded his head in agreement, choosing not the speak for some time on the matter. The third individual having been silent their entire conversation chose to add his own two cents into the mix.
"Kid's got a knack for trouble. I'll give 'em that. White Fang. No arms. Crazy Ex. Dead folks. The girl's just like my niece. Firecracker and all. How those two made it into Atlas… hell, I don't know. Disappointing what happened with the other two. The Tidalus name's a good family."
James whirled about to face the man, glaring daggers in his specific direction. "Dammit, Qrow! This isn't a game. Those two need help and I am not about to send them to some sort of hospital for recovery…" He paused, gripping his right arm. "…they've been through too much. Already."
Qrow, now properly labeled, idly sipped from the flask in his grip. "Fine. Fine. I'll look after the kid. I knew his Mom. Might be right thing for me to do."
Ozpin promptly leaned forwards, patting the desk to seize the other two gentlemen's' attention. "Then it is settled. The two of them will enroll at Beacon as soon as they are able. Let us hope this endeavor proves to be in our favor."
~Sometime before the 'The Badge and the Burden'~
All had departed from the expansive corridor from where the fireplace roared, leaving one to dwell nearest its flames. Shadows danced along the floorboards and played scenes for one to watch. One sat alone just in arm's reach from the source, ambers staring into the embers that licked the sky.
"I thought I would find you here…"
The female's entrance would have not been detected by most individuals, but she knew all too well she had no chance to sneak upon her fellow faunus. His wolf-like ears perked at her entrance, rearing his head to steal a glance.
"Hm. I am surprised it took you this long to make an appearance before me, Blake…"
He noticed the slight tenseness in her physique, indicating her understanding his harshness of words. Cat-like ears pinned against her crown in uneasy trepidation. "I was… nervous you would turn me away…"
"Turn you…" The faunus inclined from his position before promptly standing to his fullest. The height disparity was there indeed, and yet it seemed not to bother either of them. "…away. Blake. I am not…!"
The separation of distance between them and the sudden outburst seemed to worsen her anxiety further on the subject matter. The realization caused him to pause in his step, staring with jaw hung agape and wide eyes.
"I… I am not him."
He spotted her feline ears betray her attempt at hiding her emotions, perking upwards at the vague label he portrayed. "I didn't…! I just…" She bit at her bottom lip, turning from him as if to search for the correct words.
"You were not ready…" He finished the statement for her, allowing his pointed gaze to ultimately soften. "…and I can accept that. I am not him."
While she appeared startled at the sudden touch at her shoulder, the female eased herself into the familiarity of whom it originated from. "I was just… scared."
Cole exhaled a long held in breath, glancing away from the girl momentarily. "We were all scared. I took my leave from the Fang. As did you… We made the right choice."
She was left only to nod, confirming her fellow faunus's explanation. And yet, it did not sate his uneasiness. The two were indeed family in the Fang, but now felt as far away as those at first meeting.
"Blake. I shall not lie to you. While I do hold… some misgivings, I will do what I can to not hinder your academics here."
A single cat ear perked at his proclamation, canting her head to him curiously. It was almost comedic. "Cole we've… done terrible things. I hardly think this academy will be a problem for me."
He offered a sound of acknowledgement, nodding his head. Thus, leaving Blake to follow through. "Thank you, Cole. For… giving me another chance."
"Well…" The exchange met its climax as their hands shared each other's grip, clenching about each other as if one would depart soon thereafter. "…we are family after all. As messed up as we are."
The two shared a brief laugh at the understanding, calming their troubled nerves.
"That we are."
~Following the events of 'Black and White'~
"They are reckless…" The faunus began, pacing through the office with hands at the base of his spine. "They have no concern for the rules we attempt to enforce. And you wish to let them off free of punishment?"
The Headmaster, still seated, canted his head towards his student. Glynda sided him with her usual pensive mannerisms. "They accomplished a great deal, Cole…" Ozpin began, halting the faunus in his step. "…I believe they are to be rewarded."
"Rewarded? They broke nearly every school rule and nearly destroyed a storage yard. They put countless lives at risk, Ozpin! And you want to reward the-!"
The riding crop normally sheathed at the Professor's hip sharply belted the end of the desk, discontinuing Cole's declaration. "While I do favor your own disciplined views, Cole… I must say. I am rather impressed in the four of them."
"I get it. I do. But, there's too much against them. Are we going to reward every student that breaks the rules now? Or are we just doing this because you find a particular interest in them, Ozpin…"
The Headmaster in question respired a sigh he had held in for quite a period, ultimately rising from his chair. For a time, he gazed out past the glass walls surrounding them and down to the multitude of bustling bodies below.
"I see potential in them. The four have exceeded even those that came before them. I believe a proper reward will entice them to do even greater things."
Cole bit down a growl hidden behind his fangs, turning on his heel. "I knew Blake when we were pawns in the White Fang's ranks. She is the most knowledgeable and most experienced in my opinion. Yet, she acted on emotion. Brashly running into unrest."
The Beacon staff allowed the faunus to continue on, nodding as they acknowledged his words. "Yang… she is reckless. Finding only joy in the thrill of battle. She needs work in discipline and not the irresponsible abandonment of care. Weiss… she is still precocious in her own right. Acting in her own self-interests at more times than necessary. She needs advice in teamwork."
"And Ruby…" He chuckled dryly, shaking his head for the sable locks to flow freely. "…she is inexperienced. Not ready for the horrors of the world. She might be the child of Summer. She might have potential in being a silver-eyed warrior. But, she is a child. And yet..."
Ozpin's inspecting gaze brightened at the possibility of a newly found opinion of the Atlesian boy, remaining silent in his gesture. "Yet… I do see aptitude in them. All they require is the proper tutor. A hand to guide them. The road will not be kind, but I feel… confident that they will can be properly prepared."
"Then you agree. I am happy you could see my position on the matter." Ozpin selected to turn on his heel and remove the gap between he and Cole. While the faunus did not flinch beneath the hand now currently positioned at his shoulder in a reassuring manner, he did not appear all that in favor of it.
"I will… agree to watch over the four. As will Ebony. No harm will come to them as long we draw breath…" Cole finally elected the time to raise his attention to the Headmaster and lock eyes. Amber could not find any sign of reservations or hidden intentions beneath the ivy colors.
"I swear it."
~Several Days after 'Painting the Town…'~
A steady hand went to click the switch at his earpiece, signifying his intent to speak. "Ebony… I will be entering the compound now. If I do not return in roughly thirty minutes. Come after me. Understood?"
His partner on the receiving end would hastily speak up at the command. "Gotcha! I'll keep in touch, faithless leader!"
He could not deter the smile that crept upon his lips, promptly silencing the communicator. Cole stood before the entrance to a compound the likes they had been searching for. A time had been spent hunting for where the White Fang could operate from in Vale. This was proposed to be one of many.
A mechanism clicked as the faunus raised his palm out to the lock that secured the doors from releasing. At once, a spark of energy erupted out to sear through the steel of the latch and liberate the doors from their hinges. A silent curse slipped from between his lips. "Louder than I had anticipated…"
Not that it mattered. He plunged himself to the darkness of the unknown, thankful in his faunus heritage in assistance his vision in the dark. He was a hunter; that much for sure. Stalking the halls of the compound with none to discover his presence.
One fateful encounter proved his skills in the abilities of an assassin. Curling his metal appendage about his target's neck with ease and snapping it with little effort. The strength beheld by his new limbs was bountiful. Making another strike to his next target's neckline all the more easier.
His directive had originally been simply to investigate the compound for whatever secrets it could hold. Now, nearing the central compartment, Cole stood before a fairly large computer system. Keys of all kinds symbolizing a command for the mainframe. Information. Material. Evidence. Anything he could discover.
It was, however, too easy. He knew it all so well. His posture stiffened, leading his attention away from the processor. In an expert sole movement, his palm was outstretched at the chamber's newcomer.
Though, she was quite the individual.
"You…" He nearly growled, maintaining his hand outstretched at the ready. "What are you doing here?"
The enchantress settled one hand to grace her cheekbone, stroking the skin as she almost amusingly observed the faunus. She did not appear all that threatened by his methods. Nor in any true distress for herself. "Me? Oh, my sweet Cole… you are still so naïve."
The gears began to turn. Sense returning to the Atlesian. "You… No. You are affiliated with them? Why? What could they possibly offer you?"
"How you speak to your people in such a way almost paints you as worse as I am. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Little Cole." Her fingers danced through the air; Cole wagering he had just perceived flames billow from the digits. "I have my own reasons for doing this. You, of all people, should know."
Electricity laced along the mechanical limbs as their wielder grew ever increasingly agitated with whatever word poured from his once beloved's lips. "You… I am going rip your heart out. Like you did mine…"
The sudden emission of energy from his palms catapulted him forward, echoed only by the sound of his near animalistic snarl. She skillfully evaded his lunge, clashing with the ten steel claws that wished for her neck. Molten weaponry apparated from thin air and struck out to parry his strikes.
They were evenly matched. Deftly skirting about each other's moves to mirroring each attack with the intent to kill. Cole held ground in a fury of sharpened steel biting through the air in desperation of success. Cinder proved a worthy adversary in her regard of elegantly dancing to the rhythm of battle. Her serpent-like movements a perfect balance to his canine-like ferocity.
When at last their bout had met its stalemate, the two had found themselves in a rather opened area of the compound. White Fang members had encircled the two with weapons raised to fire upon their fellow faunus.
The sounds of 'traitor' and 'deserter' were caught at earshot in his direction. He had only one choice. Seeing has could not hope to contest against all of their forces and Cinder at the same time. Taking his time to steal an upwards glance, he caught sight of the opposite side of a manhole cover.
An idea sprang forth. Switches and metal plates chirped with life and sought to shift along his arms. His stance lowered to so that he shown much more guarded than before. Cinder appeared to have taken notice in the preparation and leaped backwards from her opponent. Their amber stares persisted in matching one another's even for when the Atlesian finally acted.
Electricity thundered down in a catalytic explosion of energy. All called down by the Lupine son. The land crackled, and leftover traces of voltage laced through the ground as all the Fang members attempted to right themselves. He took this chance to make his cumulative escape.
Energy erupted from his palms with enough force to l launch him from his original position. His take off marveled by the Fang members that stared with slacken jaws. One last look was offered in Cinder's direction. A woman that did not appear to be any sort of pleased at the faunus's actions. Good.
While the impact against the sewer gate was barely cushioned by his remaining aura, Cole made definite landing at the streets of Vale. Managing to right himself, the perplexed stares of the city goers did not go unattended. They, of course, did witness a faunus with metal arms burst through a manhole cover. A single wave of his metal hand dismissed any possible questioning posed towards him.
"Nothing to see here. Carry on."
A finger went to press at the communicator in his ears, electing to venture the Vale streets at an unsuspecting rate. His teammate was already attentive on the other end. "Ebony… we have greater issue at hand."
Well, hope that was somewhere to your liking. The beginning will feel a bit slow, I assure you it hastens with each chapter. In terms of chapters releasing, I cannot truly say. The frequency of work and what not really does become grueling. I will do my best to keep cranking out chapters.
So far, I am currently within Volume 5. And halfway through it! So, I eagerly await those reviews!
Anyway, until next time!