Battle between Brothers part 1
This was bad, very very bad. I haven't been this nervous since that time I read about Doc Ock putting his mind in Peter Parker's body. No scratch that, this is just like afterwards when I learned he made a new clone body for himself using his and Peter's DNA. I spent the last several minutes pacing around the room with Blake trying to calm me down only for me to unconsciously start walking up my wall and now I was pacing on the ceiling while talking to myself like an idiot.
Carlos: This is so very bad. Maybe I can convince them not to let me fight if I pretend to be sick...
Blake: Carlos...
Carlos: No, they would never fall for that old trick. Maybe I can say I have a doctors appointment that same day...
Blake: Carlos...
Carlos: Who am I kidding that's practically the same thing. Oh what if I...
Blake: CARLOS!!!!!!
I suddenly stopped since I wasn't used to Blake yelling at me. When I turned to face her it finally came to my attention that I was on the ceiling and my constant worrying was making her upset.
Carlos: Sorry Blake. Guess the news Ozpin gave me was a bit too much for me.
Blake: It's fine, I get that you're worried but getting overwhelmed by it won't do you any good. What you should focus on is what your next move should be.
She had a point, what I needed to focus on right now was my match with Jonathan and why the sudden addition to the tournament. If what Ozpin said to me was true and Ironwood suspects me of being Spider-Man than I needed to come up with a plan and fast otherwise who knows how this might affect our mission. Suddenly we hear a knock at my door and Blake goes to open it to reveal Ruby and Yang with their uncle waiting on the other side.
Blake: Ruby, Yang what are you two doing here and who's this?
Ruby: Sorry to bother you guys but this is our uncle Qrow and he said he wanted to talk to Carlos about something important so we showed him to the room.
Yang: Can we come in?
Blake turned to me as I nodded and I dropped down from my ceiling as they entered with Qrow taking a moment to approach me.
Qrow: So you and that other guy are the ones that Ozpin is putting his faith in huh? Gotta admit, you don't look like much of a fighter.
Yang: Wait, other guy?
Qrow: Yeah, remember how Oz asked me to talk to him after my little dance with the older ice queen?
Ruby: You mean after you two almost tore down the courtyard? Yep.
Qrow: Well after that I went to a meeting with him and good old Jimmy about the state of things and suddenly a guy in a fancy suit of flying armor shows up and starts threatening Ironwood about how he could blow up all of his forces if he tried something stupid. I honestly thought I had too much to drink, wouldn't be the first time.
Blake: So Jonathan went to confront Ironwood about arresting Spider-Man?
Qrow: Who said I was talking about Spider-Man? I was talking about this kid.
We all became silent as we realized that my secret identity was just accidentally revealed, suddenly Qrow just started chuckling to himself at the scared look on our faces.
Qrow: Don't worry, Oz told me of your little "double life" playing superhero a long time ago. If anything it hardly matters anymore.
We all began to relax after that, well except me since I was still kind of nervous about me getting exposed to the public.
Qrow: What really matters right now is what you and that brother of yours are planning for the day after tomorrow. I know for a fact that you ran into Ironwood after today's matches and believe me when I say it wasn't coincidence.
Carlos: So he was already looking for me?
Qrow: Getting lost in the crowd was just a stroke of good luck on his part, getting dragged away by your little girlfriend next to you was good luck on yours.
Yang: So If Ironwood already suspects him than why hasn't he tried anything?
Qrow: Remember he already did, in fact he's already tried twice.
Us: Twice?
Qrow: The first was declaring Spider-Man as an enemy to the city, he was hoping to scare him off in the hopes of avoiding a fight.
Carlos: The second was when we ran into each other today, right?
Qrow: Exactly. His third and I hate to admit it, his best attempt was to put you in a situation where you would be exposed to a huge audience where it would be easier to spot you using those spider abilities of yours.
Yang: But if he goes out there he can just fight like a normal human right?
Qrow: True, but have you seen this yet?
He took out his scroll and it showed both mine and Jonathan's student information.
Qrow: This information was just released to the public about the exhibition match taking place. Normally these kinds of fights are planned in advance with professional huntsman and huntresses taking part in it. Ironwood is playing all the right notes and unfortunately for you you're caught right in the middle of it.
Ruby: But how did Ironwood get this information? Isn't it supposed to be private or something?
Qrow: Normally it is, which brings up the million lien question: who gave Ironwood this information and why?
I had a strong feeling I knew the answer, but I could already feel the curse within me starting to slowly prepare itself to stop me from saying anything too important. Honestly I couldn't take it anymore, with everything that's happening right now I just can't do nothing without trying to change things if it meant keeping my friends and family safe. I was so scared that all of this could be for nothing if I don't do something now. I had to tell them everything, about Cinder, about Salem, about what's going to happen at Beacon and Haven, and most of all about me and my brother.
Carlos: I...
But before I could say anything my curse kicked in, only this time something different happened. I felt myself become constricted, I fell over in pain as these black vein like markings began appearing all over my body. Everyone in the room looked scared as they didn't know what was going on, Blake and Yang came over to me to try and help but as long as I wanted to tell them the truth I would continue to be in pain.
Blake: What's happening?!
Yang: Uncle Qrow do something!
I continued to try and say at least Cinder's name in the hopes that they would at least be warned about her but I began to feel something else, it wasn't just my body that began to experience this pain, it was almost as if my very soul was being constricted as well. Every part of me began to feel as if it was being torn apart from the inside, the pain became so intense that I began screaming a bit due to the amount of agony I was in. Soon Ruby began to approach me in the hopes of trying to comfort me, the moment she touched me a sudden flash of silver light began to shine from her eyes. It was only for a moment that went by unnoticed by everyone else, but in that one moment she was able to dispel the curse as I began to drift of into unconsciousness while uttering a single phrase.
Carlos: Cinder... must... fall...
Just before I completely blacked out I began seeing several visions in quick succession; I saw myself impaled by a familiar looking katana with the blade sticking out from behind me, I saw Yang's face and she was saying something to me but I couldn't make out what it was, I saw myself surrounded by rubble, finally I saw a vision of Salem herself over at Haven after retrieving the relic hidden in the vault.
( Blake pov )
Carlos: Cinder... must... fall...
As those three words were said I saw Carlos fall unconscious with me holding onto him as the others and myself remained silent as to what just happened. I had so many questions right now, one of which was why my boyfriend suddenly began having black marks appear on his body and why was he in so much pain. I remembered that time at the docks when he fought Rhino and right now I was even more scared for him than I was then, I needed answers and soon.
Ruby: Blake, has anything like this happened to him before?
Blake: No, this is the first time I've seen him like this. What was that anyway?
I looked over to his face and it seemed somewhat calm at the moment, if anything he seemed more exhausted but I still worried about the possibility of him still having to participate in his exhibition fight in this condition.
Qrow: I have a feeling I might know what's going on.
We all turned to him as he walked over and put his fingers on Carlos's wrist as if checking for his pulse.
Qrow: In our line of work we will often find ourselves traveling all over Remnant. Sometimes we'll travel to familiar places, other times we'll go the farthest corners and find things that will leave us questioning what's real and what's myth. The world is a strange place, and sometimes even the strangest of things are right in front of us and we don't even know it.
Yang: What do you mean?
Qrow: Simply put your little friend here is cursed, and if I had to take a guess I would say that his brother is in the same position as well.
RBY: What?!
Ruby: Uncle Qrow are you serious right now?
Yang: Yeah, we're talking about curses like in those stories that parents tell their kids so they don't misbehave or go where they're not supposed to.
Qrow: And just where do you think stories like that come from. Trust me this isn't a joke, the markings resemble the ones from an old legend I read when I was a student here. It's not exactly a well known curse, but what I do know is that it's only able to be cast on individuals directly related by blood and it binds them to specific rules that have been implanted by the user upon contact with their aura.
I honestly didn't believe what I was hearing right now, if what he said was to be believed than who's responsible for doing this? Just as I was about to get Carlos over to his bed we see Weiss coming in while carrying Jonathan as he seemed passed out as well.
Weiss: Guys I need some help!
Ruby: Oh no, not him too! Weiss what happened?!
Weiss: I don't know, I was on my way to our room after spending some time with Winter when I saw Jonathan out in the courtyard. Next thing I know I see these weird black markings appear on his body and he was screaming in pain until he passed out.
While Ruby helped Weiss get Jonathan over to his bed Yang helped me with Carlos. Soon after that we decided to let the two of them sleep while we went back to our dorm to continue our discussion as we filled Weiss on what we learned.
Weiss: So you mean to tell me that they're cursed?
Ruby: That's what our uncle told us. So what now?
Qrow: All we can do now is wait for them to wake up. Honestly I don't know much about those two, but you should keep an eye on them just in case. They might be hiding something important so keep your eyes and ears open.
As he left we began to wonder what caused this to happen to them. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to trust Carlos after this, if he really was hiding something like this from me than what else is he not telling me?
Yang: So what should we do now?
Weiss: I think we should listen to your uncle. He seems to know more about whatever is going on so we should just keep an eye on them for now.
I knew she was right, but deep in my mind I was beginning to worry that I would have to experience this pain I felt when I left the White Fang all over again. That feeling I had of being betrayed by those I considered my closest allies. I didn't want to relive those experiences especially not after becoming so close to someone I loved. As I began to tear up I felt Yang put her hand on my shoulder and she looked at me with a smile that said everything was going to be all right.
Yang: Hey don't look so down. Those two are going to be just fine. For now we just have to make sure they get some rest, once everything settles down we can ask them about what's going on.
Ruby: Yeah, those two have helped us out when we needed them and now it's time we returned the favor.
Weiss: You can't honestly believe that they're going to turn against us are you? I don't think that boyfriend of yours has the capacity to turn against someone he obviously cares for.
As I looked towards my teammates I realized how right they were. Even if there are some things I may not know about them, I do know that we have forged a strong bond that won't be easily broken. The two of them are alike in some ways, and I know that we'll be right beside them one way or another.
Blake: Thanks everyone.
The next day I stopped by their room and unfortunately they were still passed out. I basically spent the whole day there just waiting for them to wake up soon. As I looked at my boyfriend I thought about all we've been through since the school year started. I honestly don't know where I would be if it wasn't for him, but I hoped I would never have to find out. Soon the rest of my team came in to check on them as well as team JNPR and even team CFVY. We kept the truth of what really happened to them to ourselves, as the day began to end I let myself fall asleep while holding Carlos's hand and hoped he would wake up soon. If I only knew the truth about what would happen next, because if I did I would have hoped he remained asleep at least for one more day.
