2: Introductions and Surprises
"So Danny," Yang started. "Where are you from?"
A few minutes after the misunderstanding, Team RWBY and Daniel found themselves in an airship headed for Beacon. To pass the time, Yang kept asking random questions about Daniel's life. "Patch," he replied.
Yang smiled. "Wow, so are we! Hey, why haven't Ruby and I heard of you?"
Daniel had a lopsided grin on his face. "You haven't seen me," he said, "because I was mostly a loner. I've definitely heard of you though, Yang Xiao Long aka the Napkin Eater."
Ruby started rolling on the floor, trying to contain her laughter at that fond memory. Yang, on the other hand, wasn't as amused. Winding up her gauntlets, she said, "We do not speak of that subject. Ever."
Daniel held up his hands, feigning innocence. "Alright, alright. Yeesh. But seriously, you were one of the most popular girls in Signal. There was literally no one who didn't know your name when you were still there."
Yang relaxed after the new answer. Looking lost in thought, she said, "Come to think of it, there wasn't a 'Daniel' in my grade. So, how are you from Signal then?"
Daniel rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Well," he started. "I was actually moved up a grade."
Ruby's eyes widened in shock. "Seriously?! Me too!" She starts to rapidly wave her arms around in excitement. "I moved up two years. What did you do to get moved up? I had to fight these guys since they were robbing a store, and I was all like, 'WACH-'."
Weiss quickly covered Ruby's mouth with her hand. "Ruby," she warned with annoyance. "You're rambling again."
Ruby blushed and decided to hide her face behind her hood. Daniel chuckled and ruffled her hair through the fabric. "It's fine. I did that all the time like you. Anyways, I was moved up because I helped a team during a mission last year, and they vouched for my skills. Ozpin noticed, and here I am." He ended with a wave of his arms. A soft 'thump' was heard has his hand accidentally hit Blake's stomach. "Oh, sorry. Didn't see you there… um… sorry didn't get anyone's name besides Yang." Daniel said.
Blake extended her hand in greeting. "It's fine. I'm Blake."
Weiss dipped down into a curtsy. "Weiss Schnee."
"And I'm Ruby Rose," Ruby said, pointing a thumb at herself. "Welcome to Team RWBY. What's your team's name?"
Daniel's expression quickly soured. "Team DEFS (Defrost)," he managed to mumble out. He sat on his heels with his head in his hands. "Sorry, bad memories. Don't bring it up so quickly."
Ruby looked down in shame, poking her index fingers together. "Sorry, I forgot." Yang slung her arm around her shoulders to comfort her.
After a minute or two of awkward silence, Daniel shot to his feet. "Hey, don't sweat it," he said, putting on a fake smile. They felt the ship slow to a stop, and the side doors opened to the entrance of Beacon. Daniel got out first and beckoned the others to come. "Come on. I bet Ozpin and Goodwitch are waiting for us."
Team RWBY and Daniel walked for a few minutes towards Ozpin's office, trying to make small talk to pass time: from the music that they liked to the most embarrassing moments of Yang in Signal. "So, after the small fight," Daniel continued his story. "Yang just stormed off from the cafeteria, grabbing the first thing from the lines and eating it on the way out. Suddenly, I hear a girl laughing from Yang's side. When I looked at what she was eating, it was a napkin. A freaking napkin. At this point she was so stubborn and hotheaded that she just ate the whole thing." Weiss, Blake, and Ruby were all holding their stomachs from laughing too hard, but Yang had a murderous look in her now red eyes.
Not even thinking twice, Yang punched him in the gut. Hard. Daniel crumpled on the floor, wheezing and groaning. "I guess I deserve that."
Through her laughter, Weiss managed to choke out, "Wow, Yang. I didn't know you were into that kind of stuff."
Yang glared at her. If looks could kill, Weiss and Daniel would already be dead, arrive in hell, and then they would die again by Yang's wrath. Somehow. "That was one time three years ago," Yang shouted.
A few more seconds of walking after they recovered from their laughing fit (or in Daniel's case, just recovered), they arrived at Ozpin's office. After knocking on the door, they let themselves in only to find that he was not alone; Professor Goodwitch and Ironwood were hovering around Ozpin's desk, ending their argument to look at the five students.
"Ah, Daniel," Ozpin thought out loud. "We were just ending our discussion. Make yourselves comfortable."
The five teens stood shoulder to shoulder in front of his desk. "Now, Team RWBY," Ozpin started. "Can you tell me about the rescue mission?"
Ruby was about to say something, but Weiss started the report. "At about 5:15 this morning, we were sent on a rescue mission since a student's scroll used its distress signal. When we arrived at about 5:18, we found that the block looked like a war zone. Many of the structures were unstable, half the buildings on the block were destroyed, and," Weiss had to suppress a shiver, "we found dozens of bodies littering the streets." Ozpin leaned forward on his elbows, hands folded in front of his mouth, devoting all his attention on the story. "We, Team RWBY, started to load the Bullhead with the deceased to give them to the officials, but we were interrupted by a black and red hooded figure. He appeared to have control over fire since his clothes didn't light up with dust when he attacked us," Ozpin and Goodwitch's eyes widened in surprise. "The first thing he asked us was where we were taking the bodies, so we thought he was in league with the ones who were responsible for this attack."
Ruby continued, "Before any of us could attack him, my scroll lit up, saying that the survivor was nearby. I asked him where the survivor was." Ozpin turned his attention over to Ruby. "The person asked us if we were students since only scrolls issued by the police and schools were allowed to pick up the distress frequency. We said we were, and so he just dropped to his knees and laughed. Turns out Daniel here was the figure and the survivor that we were looking for. We got him back, and now… here we are." She ended, motioning to introduce Daniel.
Professor Ozpin nodded at Ruby and looked at Daniel. "So, Mr. Gotzon," he started, "what's your perspective before the rescue?"
Professor Goodwitch tried to usher out Team RWBY since their presence was not needed, but Daniel waved her off. "Let them stay," he suggested with a sad smile. "After all, the more the merrier."
She skeptically looked at him, but agreed and let Team RWBY stay for the story. Knowing he had everyone's attention, Daniel sat on the floor and took a deep breath. "My team's latest, and last, story started during the Grimm invasion…"
AN: Hey guys, fireflame here. Just wanted to let you know thank you for reading this story. Great big shoutout to my newest friend, my beta, TheRetroGamer. Somehow I convinced him/her to help me in my quest of insanity that is my story. It really means a lot to me that you've decided that you'll give this story a thought. I haven't gotten any great ideas for a character, but I've gotten a few decent ones. If you submit an OC, don't make it too cliche; I hate writing things that I know I've read about. I want something fresh and new.
I'll try to post 2 chapters every month from now on. If I don't, it's because I'll give a chapter out early or put 3 in one month. Like, favorite, and follow for more chapters! Signing out, Flames of Fire.
