{Blake's perspective}
Well we made it to Menagerie without problem just like Triton said. He wouldn't specify why that was the case.
Most of his responses boiled down to "Trust me." Which is hard to do when he doesn't tell us anything we want to know.
"So this is where the humans thought was the best place for the Faunus?" Triton asked.
"Yes, it wasn't until we settled here when we learned the ugly truth." I answered. "An island which is half desert that is uninhabitable."
Triton mumbled something under his breath.
"Nothing's wrong with a little desert." Sun stretched as he said "Besides, it'll be good for a vacation. Where do you live? Is it that house over there?"
I grabbed his wrist and pointed over to my family's house at the end of the path.
Triton seemed intrigued. "Is your family well respected here?"
"You could say that."
Sun gasped out of confusion as I rolled my eyes at him.
We proceeded to my house and knocked on the door. Sun remarked something that I tuned out.
The door opened with my mom, Kali Belladonna, who was shocked at my appearance. Behind her, my dad, Ghira Belladonna, asked who it was before he saw for himself. He greeted me with open arms and both Sun and Triton in for tea.
We had tea in our dining room where I told them a little about my adventures at Beacon Academy and… them…
Sun was being… Sun.
Triton stayed silent the entire time as if he were analyzing every word we said.
Soon we were interrupted by a knock on the door.
Dad went to greet them.
I asked mom "Who is that?"
She gave me a small explanation of how hard it's been dealing with "them" lately. And when I asked who she answered "The White Fang."
Two faunus stood in front of my dad asking him questions. And as soon as they saw me they changed their attitude.
"Who are they?" Asked Triton.
"Corsac and Fennec. Twins and members of the White Fang. Who are just leaving." Dad said with disdain in his voice.
They politely bowed and apologized "We didn't mean to interrupt a family reunion…" One of them said before they noticed Triton "However we do want to ask what is this… human doing here in our sanctuary?"
Triton glanced at them puzzled "So is this island not open to humans?" He asked. "I thought this place is for everyone to be themselves as Blake explained?"
One of them cleared their throat. "I'm sure what she meant was for Faunus-kind to feel like themselves. I'm sure you understand."
Triton scoffed "Sure, like a certain other person I know who thought their race was superior to another."
They turned to each other with an eyebrow raised before the other with his ears out of his hood asked "And whom are you referring to?"
"Classified." Triton said coldly.
They gave a confused look as they studied Triton before they returned to dad "See to it that he leaves as soon as possible."
As they left, dad slammed the door shut.
We went back into the dining room, there my dad had another question for my other guest "So… who are you? You've hardly uttered a word since you were brought in here." He asked Triton
Triton took a sip of his tea before answering "I am just a simple man here on a simple mission."
Mom and Dad looked towards each other before back at Triton "Which is…?"
Triton was in the middle of another sip of tea before he answered "The White Fang."
"I should have known…" I deadpanned.
Sun jumped slightly to be on one knee as he asked "For what reason exactly?"
Triton put his cup down "Not for the reasons you think… I am simply here to see what they do in the presence of a human. And apparently my reception on this island has been… warm enough…"
Ghira sighed "A lot of Faunus here do have a mistrust of humans due to our history."
"As I have been informed." Triton added.
Mom then asked "My question is why come all the way just for the White Fang? Surely there are other threats that need your attention."
He glanced around the room as if he were checking for anything hidden before he answered "We have reason to believe the leader of the White Fang will be assassinated and taken by someone within their organization. We have someone on the inside that's keeping an eye on their every move."
That sent a shock through all of us.
"Senna…" Dad mumbled. "We need to-"
"No need, our guy on the inside will make sure nothing happens to her." Triton abruptly said right before he picked his cup back up and sipped his tea.
Ghira raised an eyebrow "But… How?"
"Unfortunately I cannot go into detail about that." Triton answered.
I rolled my eyes at Triton. Dad was about to ask more before I stopped him. "Don't bother trying to get anything out of him. He said the exact same things to me."
Triton quietly sipped his tea again.
"And who's this "we" you spoke of?" Dad asked.
"Here we go…" I mumbled.
"Classified." Triton answered swiftly.
"Classified? Why? Who do you work for-"
"Forget it Dad, I've already tried to ask him. He didn't want to answer me either." I told dad as my head drifted towards Triton.
Triton chuckled, "You should be proud of her."
{Justin/Achilles' perspective}
Come on… Come on… pick up Aaron…
I've been pacing back and forth for what feels like hours waiting for him to pick up so he can help me regather my thoughts
Finally he answers. "What's up dude? It's too early…"
"Don't care, hey can you help me lie like a politician?"
"Huh…? Why do you need to know?" Aaron asked.
Bits of memories from… that night… flood back into my vision as I answered "No particular reason. Something came up and I'm trying to find a way to persuade someone to hand something over."
"So you're asking me for my Among Us skills for a reason you don't want to tell me?"
"Glad you understand. Now can you help or are you gonna keep talking condescendingly?"
"... See I want to help but I kinda need to know what you've dug yourself into."
"Look something happened that was out of my control and now I need evidence to prove I didn't do it. What is so hard to grasp about that?" I growled.
"Well like what?! If it's anything like what Neo did to me I'd understand. Well I'd first make fun of you for it, but I'd understand. Ok? What did you get yourself into?"
I pinched my nose ridge with a sigh. There's no way around this is there? "I was drugged…" I mumbled.
"What was that?"
"I said I was drugged. Someone slipped some sort of drug in my food and… It was all blurry after that…"
I honestly don't want to tell him what really happened… He'd never let me hear the end of it.
"... You fucked Weiss or something?"
"Dunno, like I said it was blurry, for all I know I might have fucked with Willow or worse." Hopefully he buys my lies.
"Like Winter?" He snickered.
"My brother in Christ this is nothing to joke about." I deadpanned.
"Ok ok… I'll stop messin with you. But in all seriousness, I need to know what happened."
Great… Well I'll just repeat what Jacques told me "Jacques is accusing me of raping his daughter and I need proof that I didn't, and the only way to do that is to get access to Willow's scroll and get into her cameras. Trouble is, when I tried she kinda just ran away."
I heard him sigh from the other end "Please tell me you didn't tell her you know about the cameras?"
I stared out the window as I answered "No comment…"
"Oh my god… Ok well first find a way to explain how you found her cameras."
"Sounds reasonable…"
"Second, try not to sound desperate. I know you probably did that and that led her to not want to talk to you. Maybe find her hiding places?"
"And how can I possibly do that, she's not in her den and she's not out in the garden so where could she be?"
That's when I saw a glint of sunlight bounce into the corner of my eye. Glaring at the area with the glint I realized it was a hidden camera.
Which means she installed it in Weiss' room without her knowledge. And pointed directly at her bed… Disturbing, but ultimately helpful…. maybe.
I don't think Jacques knows about them. And I intend to keep it that way. If he gets ahold of that footage, my reputation is ruined. And it will be impossible to do anything covert if the public constantly has their eye on me.
Though that gives me an idea where to look… If only I could find her room.
Pretty sure Aaron was talking to me the entire time but I couldn't hear him over my own thoughts.
"Did you get all of that?" Aaron asked.
"Just text it to me so I can remember. Have too much stuff on my mind as is."
He gave an annoyed groan "Fine… whatever you put yourself in, I hope you can get out of it… unlike me and Neo now that she released… that video…"
"Yes, and I'm sure people are giving you weird looks too. Anyways, got to go, Weiss will be out of the shower soon."
"Ok… see you soon then dude I guess…"
I then hung up as Weiss got out of her bathroom "Who was that Achilles?" She asked as she made her way to her wardrobe… wearing nothing but a towel- STOP IT, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING AGAIN BRAIN.
"Aaron, he says hi by the way." I answered as I made my way to the bathroom.
"Oh did he- Hey wait!"
I shut and locked the door behind me with a heavy sigh.
I see you're in trouble once again. Its voice rang throughout my head.
"Yeah and I can get through it without you. Didn't need you with my job at that grocery store, don't need you now." I told it as I made my way to the mirror.
As I stared into it, The Beast made his appearance. This time with white hair and red eyes as it goaded Sooner or later you're going to have to accept me as part of you.
"And that day will come on my deathbed, when you can't do any harm to anyone." I told the Beast.
My best bet usually isn't to give into anger like he wants.
It chuckled Cute, but don't you remember? You've already died, all of your loved ones have no idea that you're still alive in this other world.
"Which is why I've kept you silent. Because you'll constantly remind me of that." I argued.
The Beast chuckled Of course, you hate being reminded you're no longer of Earth.
"Yeah, so I'd appreciate it if you would stop bringing it up."
He gave me a mock sympathetic look as he said Why all I want is for you to be who you've always wanted to be.
"Yeah, by giving into you and hurting people closest to me. No thank you." I turned my back on the mirror as I went to strip down for my shower. "Why are you even talking to me? You know how it ends."
He chuckled with an answer. I'm your reminder that you're no better than anyone else.
"How? I'm no murderer. I don't just let people suffer. I give what I can." I retorted
Oh sweet naïve Justin, you may lie to yourself with all of these "morals" and "honor" you claim to have. But at the end of the day, you want revenge on all of humanity. You have no sympathy for anyone, retail has taught you people are greedy, selfish, hateful and stupid. They don't care about you or anything else. And you're no better. You want them to suffer like you, you want them to feel fear, you want them to choose between shelter and food like you had to. Admit it Justin! You're no better than the one who gave you your life. You just refuse to embrace it.
"I'm not a monster like him!"
But you are! That's all you'll ever be! Heartless, emotionless, all you've been good for is hurting or damaging anything and everyone. You act intelligent but you graduated by the skin of your teeth. You pretend that things don't get to you when I know you're boiling with rage. I know your true intentions to harm all those that stand in your way! YOU. ARE. A MONSTER!
After that, I clenched my robotic hand and sent it hurling towards the mirror, shattering it.
Great… gonna have to pay for that later I guess.
"Achilles what was that?" Weiss yelled through the door.
"Sorry, I thought I saw a bug… I'll be out in a few, I'm not decent anyway." I replied.
"Not like that matters after what happened the other night." She retorted.
"Which I thought we agreed we'd never talk about." I replied.
"We never agreed to anything!" Weiss retorted.
"Can we talk later? I hate yelling through a door!"
"Fine… have it your way…" The sound of Weiss' footsteps fade away, presumably to her bed or something.
I need to shower… I feel gross.
Hours later
{Blake's perspective}
I met Triton on the balcony. He was staring out at the village below. He had to have heard me open the door, because as soon as I took a step closer to him he remarked "Quite a beautiful village you grew up in."
I leaned against the railing next to him "I suppose it has its charm. When I was young this was all I knew. Eventually I ran from my parents when the White Fang changed."
Triton glanced over at me with an eyebrow raised "So this group was not always what it is now?"
I softly sighed "There was a time where the White Fang advocated for peace between humans and fanus. Of course eventually they swapped from signs and boycotting to axes, swords, maces, and guns." My eyes drifted away as I continued "And for a while, I thought we were doing good…"
Triton nodded "Reminds me of my sister in a way…"
"You have a sister?" I asked.
Triton chuckled "Yes, sometimes she can be rather hotheaded for who she is." He chuckled with what seemed like a solemn smile before he continued, "Our parents were never really good to her. And one day I came down to our living room to find her with a blade covered in blood and glancing at me like she had not processed what she did yet."
"So she murdered your parents?" I couldn't help but be curious.
Triton solemnly nodded "She told me why later… But that is not a tale for me to tell. She can tell you herself if she wants."
Confusion set in "So you can't tell me?" I asked right before I heard rustling behind me.
I turned around to see a white mask just barely visible by the lights.
I think I recognize her. "Illia?"
Triton seemed alarmed as he stood up.
Illia snapped a picture then ran.
I heard something that sounded like metal clanging together behind me before Triton leaped into action.
Those blue gauntlets weren't there before… Weird.
Sun came bursting out of the door a moment after "What happened?" he asked.
"Illia happened, Triton's going after her. We need to help him!" I told him as I drew Gambol Shroud from my back.
We gave chase. Barely keeping up as Triton ran towards Illia. He then went a separate direction. As Illia looked back to see us.
We found ourselves on a rooftop as she used her whip against us. Sun blocked some of her attacks as I went in for a counter.
She ducked under my attack and went for a stab at Sun.
Triton burst out of the roof to deliver an uppercut to Illia, which sent her flying down to the ground where Triton met her.
Illia ran to take a slash at Triton, which he ducked under her weapon and slammed his fist into her midsection.
Illia slid backwards into another house. Which nearly crumpled under the stress.
Her scroll must have fallen out of her pocket since it was between Triton and Illia.
He then went into the scroll and deleted whatever picture was taken.
Illia recovered from her daze as she then grabbed for her weapon.
"Triton!" I yelled to warn him.
He turned too late as her weapon connected with his chest sending lightning throughout his body, causing him to scream in agony.
He then fell to the ground as Illia stood over him. She raised her weapon up to finish him off before Sun tackled her with his semblance.
I glanced at Sun as he yelled "Get him out of there! After all, he still needs to answer his questions."
Illia broke out of Sun's semblance as I tried to run up to Triton.
Illia nearly stabbed Triton's heart when I slashed it out of her hand. "You don't have to do this Illia!" I pleaded.
She managed to get her scroll back and snapped another picture before she vanished in a cloud of smoke.
Sun and I stood there dazed for a moment before we decided we needed to take care of Triton first.
We carried him back to my house.
{Aaron's perspective}
Well we were finally on the road again. Pyrrha's up and about and we decided it was best we moved on. Thankfully we have Yang's bike Bumblebee to speed things along.
We were a few minutes from a nearby village.
And I'm holding onto the map because I don't trust Jaune with it one bit.
Though I'm pretty sure that the village ahead was attacked by Raven. But I have no idea if we're ahead of her or not… Guess we'll know in a matter of hours.
Meanwhile ahead of the group
The bar was full of life. Everyone there that evening was winding down after a long day's work when a mysterious cloaked stranger walked in. He sat down at the bar.
A man sitting next to him gave a curious glance. "What're you here for? You a huntsman?"
The cloaked stranger chuckled, "You could say that."
The bartender raised an eyebrow "Well then huntsman. Want a drink?"
"Water'll do. I need to keep my reflexes sharp." The stranger replied.
"Ok… for what?"
As soon as the question left the bartender's lips, an explosion was heard from outside.
"For that." The stranger replied as he placed his glass down.
People ran in fear of the bandits that attacked any and all of those who stood in their way.
Where people ran, the cloaked stranger walked towards.
One of them noticed. "Hey! You lookin' to die?" The dirty blonde man leveled his revolver at the cloaked stranger.
The cloaked man didn't stop.
The bandit fired his gun three times and each one bounced off the stranger as if his skin was steel. And as soon as the cloaked stranger was within striking distance the bandit tried to pistol whip him with the knife at the bottom of the gun.
The knife blade snapped as soon as it made contact.
The bandit looked down at his weapon then up at the stranger.
And faster than anyone could process, there was a blur of attacks and before he knew it the blonde bandit was on the ground groaning in pain.
"Relax, all I did was attack your pressure points. As much as I want to put your lights out. My wife won't let me. So this'll have to do… However, the same can't be said for the rest of you." The stranger announced.
The bandits didn't heed his warning as they charged in with their weapons brandished.
Taking slashes at him, he dispatched them one at a time. Ducked under one and made a swift punch in the gut sending the bandit into a wall.
Another tried to swing which was swiftly disarmed and used against the bandit, chopping their head off.
More tried to shoot to no avail. The cloaked stranger closed the distance quickly and killed them without any indication that there was an attack until after they fell.
"ENOUGH!" yelled a voice in a crowd.
The stranger held onto a bandit as he looked towards the sound of the voice.
Raven Branwen stood at the front of her army. She had her mask on with Vernal by her side. "You've proven you're skilled." She said "You have my respect. However, I cannot allow you to leave knowing you've killed some of my family."
The stranger threw the bandit towards Raven.
Raven took offense to that. "Alright, so be it." She glanced over at Vernal and gestured towards the stranger with a nod.
Vernal drew her weapons. She fired a blast of electricity.
The cloaked stranger's cloak was pierced. Which made everyone assume that it killed the stranger. The stranger then appeared again in front of Vernal with his eyes glowing emerald green.
Vernal blocked the incoming attack which sent cracks throughout the blades of her weapons.
The crimson blade glowed with an ethereal light. It was almost beautiful. It illuminated part of the stranger's face revealing his crimson mask.
"Ozpin's enforcer…" Raven mumbled.
The crimson stranger and Vernal continued to attack and parry each other.
They ended up landing a few feet away from each other.
The stranger tightened his grip on his blade as he charged in one final time before lightning struck just inches away from the stranger's feet.
Which he glanced over at Raven for a moment as if he were studying her.
Vernal went in for a jump attack which the stranger grabbed her by the throat and threw her behind him before vanishing for a split second.
Raven reacted with seconds to spare as her blade made contact with the ethereal blade of the crimson strangers.
"As I suspected." The crimson stranger remarked. "You have some supernatural capabilities like me."
"And how would you know that?" Raven asked
"There are few people who react with the speed you did." The crimson stranger answered. "However, I'm here to ensure the safety of these townspeople. And I can't quite do that with you and your posse."
"Grimm on our 6!" One of them yelled.
Raven looked back then back at the stranger. "Fine, protect these fine townspeople. You seem to have a knack for dispatching multiple foes."
The bandits retreated into the woods to the west as the grim set in.
The crimson stranger took out one of his guns and fired a few shots towards the crowd of grimm.
{Justin/Achilles' perspective}
"So you mean to tell me you managed to sneak past Atlesian security undetected and find the relic room, UNDETECTED?" I asked out of disbelief.
Jocelyn nodded "Yeah, but I have to return to Salem now."
I pressed my fingers to my forehead as I said "I just- Where was this when we were in highschool?"
She gave me a smirk as she said "I guess there's more to me you didn't know about."
"Yeah appara-fucking-ly." I mumbled.
"Anyway, I've got to go." She said as she turned to the little shuttle she used to get to Atlas apparently.
"W-Wait." I beckoned "Can we talk… about what happened to me and Weiss…"
She turned half way around as she asked "Do you have any feelings for her?"
I shook my head. "You know my mother raised me better than that. And my scale is broken because of you."
She smiled sweetly "That's all I needed to hear. Goodbye."
I held my arms out to the side and asked "What no goodbye kiss?"
She quietly giggled "Of course." She then grabbed my chest and yanked me close to her for a kiss that lasted only a few seconds.
We parted lips as I sighed "If only we could go back to the good ol' days."
She nodded "But we're here to save Remnant."
I chuckled, "I was just gonna say that."
She then got into her shuttle. The engines roared to life and left the Schnee manor grounds. It orbited for half of a cycle before it shot off in a southwestern direction.
Well… That's one headache done, two more to deal with.
I then headed back inside the manor. The fundraiser is gonna be in two days. I just hope I don't fuck it all up…