Hey guys, I finally got around to finishing chapter two for you guys. Unfortunately this week has been pretty hectic at work which has been cutting into my free time considerably. I will still be working on this story at every opportunity I have but the chapters may come out slower from here on out due to the time crunch. Thank you guys for reading and I hope you all enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
"Speech"
Thoughts
Chapter Two: Partners?
"This isn't very comfortable" Slade sighed, holding onto Yang's waist riding on the back of Bumblebee.
"It's comfortable for me" she replied with a smirk.
"Funny" he groaned in mild annoyance "May I ask what your sister is doing all the way out here?" Slade asked curiously "She's a bit too young to be a Huntress"
"Ruby is hoping to stop Cinder's next attack, and I wouldn't underestimate her because of her age. Ruby is the youngest student to ever be accepted into Beacon Academy at only age fifteen"
Interesting Slade thought to himself considering their similar situations Hopefully that's where our similarities end, for her sake
"Cinder? Cinder Fall?" Slade asked curiously
"You've met her?" Yang asked surprised.
"Only briefly" he replied "I'm just glad I never have to meet with that sadist ever again"
"I see she didn't leave a good impression on you" Yang pointed out curious as to how he knew her.
"She certainly did not, she uses pain to not only torture her victims but also as a means of sating her bloodlust. I however only use pain as a tool to gain information"
"I know what you mean, intimidation can go a long way in gaining information. What exactly were you meeting with Cinder about?" Yang asked.
"She and I didn't see eye to eye on her... methods when in came to accomplishing a... certain task" he answered.
"Such as?" Yang asked growing more curious by his avoidance of the subject. Slade silently debated telling her the truth or lying to the blonde "Slade?" she asked, thinking he didn't hear her.
"I was recommended to her by an associate... a friend... Cinder hired me for a job. Officially I had been told we would be securing a stolen item. Not an unusual reason for wanting someone hunted down. This time, however... Cinder already knew where the man was but not what he had taken from her" Slade remained silent as he collected his thoughts "She gathered a team of specialists to assist her along with the White Fang to secure the town he resided in as mayor. I knew something was wrong but trusted my friend not to steer me wrong"
"What happened?"
"After we had secured the civilians safely without hurting anyone beyond the occasional fatality of the security guards" he explained "Cinder tortured the mayor for the location of someone name Amber. The man was completely fearless, refusing to give up it's location no matter what she did to him. Knowing she couldn't make him talk, she decided to try something different. That's when Cinder and I had a falling out. I left and refused to associate with anyone involved with that job, though that doesn't seem to stop people like Taurus from sending men after me no matter how many times they fail"
"Sounds like a good time"
"Maybe for you" he chuckled "I got the sense you enjoyed that bar brawl we had back there"
"Didn't you?"
"Let's just say I enjoy fighting superior adversaries, not local gangsters. Although sometimes those are the only game in town"
"I see it now" Yang laughed "The way you see everyone with money on their head as prey for you to hunt and you see money as the only thing that matters in the world. Definitely a bounty hunter"
Slade remained silent looking up at the blue sky above them deep in thought "Money is the only thing people understand, it is the only thing that matters because..." he left his statement unfinished.
"You're really good at talking about yourself without giving anything away" Yang pointed out "You don't have to put up a wall when you're around everyone you know, some people really do just want to get to know you better because they care"
"Maybe if you knew me better you'd understand" Slade sighed "Then again if you knew me enough to understand me you'd be dead" he shrugged.
"That's a delightful thought" Yang sweatdropped.
"Cinder better keep looking over her shoulder if someone ever puts a bounty out on her, I'd come to collect in a heartbeat" he smirked.
"Hope you don't mind me joining in on that action" Yang piped up "What exactly did Cinder do that caused you to leave anyway?"
"Another time" Slade replied looking to the sign on the upcoming fuel station named "Just Rite" Yang slowed to a stop just outside.
"This is our stop" Slade announced quickly dismounting Bumblebee and entering the station with Yang silently following behind him. They both entered to find a bartender cleaning a glass in his hands
"Aren't you a little young to be drinking?" the bartender asked looking to Yang.
Yang Xiao Long takes off her aviator sunglasses "A water. It's hot out"
"Ohhh. Sure, anything for you, sir?" he asked politely.
"Just a water for the lady, thanks" Slade replied leaning against the bar with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Coming right up" he disappears below the counter as laughter comes from the drunk man a few seats down from Yang.
"Are you telling me you're too young to drink? You look like a regular Huntress. And a beauty at that"
"I'm good. Thanks, pal" Yang attempted to shrug him off.
he approached Yang undeterred "Seriously. Not too bulky. Not too lean. You're..."
"Just right. Yup. Like I said, I'm good"
"I wouldn't if I were you" Slade warned without turning to look at the man "She's got a mean right hook"
The mook puts his hand on the countertop next to Yang with a soft moan before reaching out with his other ignoring Slade's warning "And your hair..." Yang grabs his wrist before he can touch her hair. When she turns to face him, her eyes are glowing red, startling him "Huh?"
He barely glances in the correct direction before Yang's metal fist slams into the side of his face. Falling backward, a tooth knocked out of his mouth, the man hits the floor and continues to bounce floor-to-ceiling toward the exit like a pinball before disappearing through the doors. As the doors close behind him, the "Open" sign flips around to "Closed".
"Left hook is killer though" Slade chuckled.
"He was too drunk to listen to sense" Yang replied as her eyes returned to normal.
straightening and setting the bottle of water on the counter "This one's on the house. He's been driving me crazy" the bartender said gratefully.
Yang reaches for it with her left hand, but it trembles. Her metal hand grabs and steadies it. She gives a long, shaky sigh before picking up the bottle and guzzling the water down. Slade didn't fail to take notice of this but chose not to comment.
"So, what brings you both around these parts?" Yang holds up a finger, still guzzling until the water is gone.
"Thanks. And we're, uh, looking for someone" she answered causing the man to chuckle.
"Not too many people come out here. Too far from the Kingdoms. Only person worth notin' around here is... well, Ra—"
Raven Branwen" she cut him off retrieving her glasses and heading out "Thanks again"
"N-now, missy! You don't want to go messin' with bandits! They're a world of trouble!" he warned concerned for her.
"So I hear" Yang replied pushing the door open.
"Thanks for the drink" Slade nodded to the man.
"Hey, girlie!" The Shady Man called after her as she exits the station.
"Seriously? This isn't over?" Yang asked impatiently.
Getting to his feet "I heard you're... looking for someone. Heh" He gives her a toothless grin.
"What do you know about Ms. Branwen?" Slade asked raising an eyebrow suspiciously.
This must be the stranger I heard about lurking here, the bartender did say he's been driving him mad Slade concluded Guess we'll just have to make him talk he smirked.
"I know where her camp is, I can take you to her-"
"That won't be necessary, just point us in the right direction and we'll be on our way" Slade interjected.
"It's not something I can explain to you, I just have to show you the way" the man insisted.
"You buying this?" Slade asked looking over to Yang.
"Nope, he's full of it. Besides there's not enough room on Bumblebee for all three of us anyway. You're gonna have to tell us where they are if you don't want me to kick your ass again" Yang warned.
"I get my ass kicked everyday, one more time isn't gonna change much" he laughed.
"I'm giving you one last chance before I break your arms" Yang growled.
"No can do-"
"Alright that's enough of that" Yang cracked her knuckles, Slade placed his hand onto her shoulder stopping her.
"Allow me, you'll find I'm a rather skilled negotiator" he chuckled as he stepped forward.
"Have at him" Yang said gesturing toward the man.
"Ain't nothin' you can say that's gonna-" Slade removed his revolver from it's holster and fired it into the man's leg causing him to drop to the ground screaming in pain.
"I'm sorry I didn't quite catch that the first time, perhaps you could repeat it for me" Slade said crouching down next to him.
"Raven's gonna kill you for this, you're both dead-" he fired again into the other leg just as the bartender ran outside to see what happened. Slade aimed the weapon toward him without looking at the man.
"You didn't see a thing" Slade yelled sternly causing the man to frantically nod in agreement and rush back inside "I'm terribly sorry but I just couldn't quite hear you the second time either, must be a strong wind out today or something. I'm going to ask again: Where is Raven Branwen?"
The man pulled out his scroll and handed it to Slade "Please stop shootin' me" he begged.
"Her location is in this?" Slade asked.
"I promise, it's the only location in my GPS other than this place"
"Do you think he's telling the truth?" Slade asked looking back to Yang.
"I'd say so" she nodded surprised by his brutality.
"I don't know, Yang. I think he might be holding out on us"
"I'm not! I swear!" the man begged as tears streamed down his face.
"I don't know, maybe I should even out the other row of teeth just to be sure" Slade said as a slowly blade emerged from his gauntlet stopping just in front of his face.
"Slade" Yang called "He's told us everything, you've already shot him twice, he won't be walking again for awhile. You don't need to do anything more to him"
Slade sighed in disappointment, his blade retracting quickly "You're a soft one, Yang... I suppose just this once I could leave him with all of his body parts intact... pray we don't ever meet again" Slade smirked standing back up, he holstered his weapon once more "Let's move, we've got a meeting with your mother to attend and I would hate to be late"
"Y-yeah" Yang agreed, quickly mounting Bumblebee with Slade doing the same, placing his hands around her waists as to not fall off. Yang quickly accelerated to get as far from the station as possible, there was a brief moment of silence between them as Slade filtered through the scroll's information to find the location of Raven's camp, having easily hacked into the device. Yang pulled off the road into the woods a short way before stopping and turning herself to stare at Slade questioningly.
"I'm not one for conversation, Yang. Whatever it is you're going to ask, just get on with it" Slade said never looking up from the screen.
"You were gonna mutilate that man back there"
"That's not a question, that's a statement" he pointed out.
"Why?" she asked not understanding.
"Why was I going to mutilate that man?" Slade clarified, earning a nod in return "I wasn't" he answered simply.
"You... weren't?" she asked tilting her head in confusion.
"I have a particular reputation I would like to keep intact. I knew you would never agree with me when I provided the threat of mutilation, I simply had to play along like I was surprised and annoyed by your response" Slade explained.
"You used me to keep your "image" intact?" Yang asked somewhat understanding.
"Precisely" he replied looking up from the device "My Clients need to know I am willing to do anything to fulfill my contract"
"Anything?" Yang asked skeptically.
"Anything" he answered "Well... anything short of sexual harassment. That's a step too far so..." he clarified in a joking manner.
"What else do you want your clients to know about you?" she asked curiously.
"Only that I will do any job you give me so long as you pay my fee" he replied "I work for everyone and anyone that can afford me. Nothing short of that is acceptable to me"
"You really only care about money that much?" Yang asked in disappointment "What about your friends and family?"
Slade sighed "No one sticks around forever, Yang"
"Well there must be someone you care-"
"Let me stop you right there sweetheart, I don't care about anyone-"
"Don't call me sweetheart"
"Whatever cupcake-" Yang grabbed him by his collar pulling them both off the vehicle as her eyes blazed red.
"Don't push your luck, Slade" she growled.
"What're you gonna do, sugarplum? Threaten me to death?" he asked.
Yang pulled her hand back to punch him only to stop at the piercing feeling in her abdomen, looking down she found Slade holding a knife to her abdomen in a lethal striking position "How did-"
"I'm ready for anything, Yang. Never let someone goad you into a fight, it'll always end badly for you when you fight angry" he warned breaking himself of her grip and quickly sheathing the knife "Goading your enemy into striking first gives you the advantage, you then have the ability to anticipate their next move while taking full advantage of any openings they leave as a result" Slade added turning away from her.
"You were testing me?" she asked with a smirk.
"Wanted to see just how far I could push you before you snapped. Yang... you really need to work on that anger of yours, if you keep using it during your fights you're gonna end up dead" he warned looking back toward her.
"It's worked well for me so far" she argued.
"That arm of yours tells a different story" he replied shocking her, she looked away ashamed "We all make mistakes, Yang. The question is: Can you learn from them?" he asked leaving her with a lot to think about.
"I-"
"We should set up camp" Slade interrupted her "Once we've rested we can head to Raven's camp first thing in the morning" he explained.
"Y-yeah" Yang agreed, wiping a single tear from her face before heading back over to Bumblebee to start unpacking her gear. "Can I ask you something?" she asked hesitantly.
"You may, depending on the question, you may even get an answer" he replied without looking at her.
"You said you worked for Adam Taurus in the past... did he ever have someone with him?"
"With him?" Slade asked turning toward her not quite understanding "Like Cinder?"
"Forget it" she waved off dismissively.
Slade wondered what she wanted to hear for a moment as he continued gathering wood and kindling to make a fire, he dismissed it.
(Nine Years Ago)
Slade walked through the meadow with his hand locked with an older girl's, no more than five years between the two.
"Do you have to go so soon, Elise?" Slade asked, the disappointment evident on his face.
"Yes, Slade. I really do, Beacon's first semester starts next week just like every year" Elise answered her younger brother in an amused tone.
"Why can't you stay?" Slade asked, unable to mask his growing sadness.
"If I stay I'll never become a powerful Huntress like Mom and Dad will I? Mal will still be around to teach you whenever you want and I promise I will be back every school break to visit you guys"
"Promise?" Slade asked hopeful.
"It's a promise" Elise assured him holding up her pinky toward him "You know once you make a pinky promise you can't break it right?" Elise asked with a smile.
"Uh-huh, everyone knows that" Slade said as if it were obvious.
"Then you know I will never break my promise to come back whenever I can, maybe you can all come visit me during the Vytal Festival" she offered trying to cheer up her younger sibling.
"That would be awesome! It's a promise" Slade practically yelled locking pinky fingers with her.
"I promise"
"What're you two going on about?" Malachite asked as he entered the clearing "Don't tell me you're still letting her buy you into her dumb promises" he sighed with a slight shake of her head "Elise loves us too much to just stay away forever you know, she doesn't have to promise that for me to know it" he explained. Malachite had a darker complexion than Slade's own pale, matching his sister's. Light brown hair and emerald eyes with just the smallest hint of stubble lining his chin and a large muscular physique.
"Slade's just making sure I'm still the same big sis he's come to love" Elise laughed standing back up straight "What're you doing out here anyway? Didn't dad tell you to clear out the Beowolves near the-"
"Yes he did and yes I have, unfortunately I found something else in there I think Mom and Dad would like to see" Mal replied rubbing his sore shoulder.
"What did you find?" Elise asked curiously.
"Is it treasure!?" Slade asked getting excited.
"Not this time little buddy" Mal chuckled tussling Slade's hair with his open hand as he continued nursing his shoulder.
"You planning on showing us what it is?" Elise asked.
"I suppose he's old enough that Mom and Dad will be fine bringing you to check it out before them, just keep Slade on a short leash. That hand cannon ain't gonna do much if he can't hit anything with it" Mal laughed at Slade's annoyed expression.
"I can too hit things with it! I hit the bullseye four times yesterday with Mom!" Slade said proudly.
"Well at least you can hit a target sitting perfectly still now, someday you'll be able to use it on a moving target" Mal smirked proud of his little brother.
"You just watch, he'll be a marksman before you know it" Elise said as she walked past Malachite "C'mon, Slade. Stay close to me" she called with a gesture of her hand as her left hand moved to take the rifle from her back into her hands.
"Coming!" Slade called after her as he rushed to catch up with her.
"Are you sure we shouldn't run Slade home first?" Mal asked concerned "He's a little young to be out here hunting Grimm with us"
"He's only a year younger than you and I were when we started hunting Grimm with Mom and Dad, it'll be just like that. Besides, whatever you've found could be gone by the time we round back with Mom and Dad"
"True" Mal sighed "Let's just make sure we don't run into anything then" Mal said as they silently approached a small cave in the center of the forest, hiding behind a nearby bush they looked into the cave using the scopes on their rifles.
"What exactly did you find?" Elise asked looking around the entrance to the cave.
"There were some Beowolves lurking around the cave, I took them down pretty easily but inside the cave I found what looked to be some type of planning room"
"Planning room?" Elise asked curiously.
"Looked to be some kind of plan for an attack on one of the neighboring towns to Vale, I couldn't figure out why someone would want to attack a town like that"
"Did you pick up anything we could use as evidence?" Elise asked curiously.
"No. If I did that, then whoever is behind this would know someone was here" he answered "I was going to take a picture of the plans but my scroll is still broken from the accident down at the shooting range"
"I said I was sorry" Slade argued.
Malachite chuckled "I know. Just wanted to rub it in a bit"
"The coast looks clear, what's the plan here?" Elise asked lowering her rifle.
"I figure we go in there and photograph anything we can see before leaving while someone keeps watch at the entrance for them coming back. Once we have what we need, we'll show it to Mom and Dad. They'll warn local law enforcement to the attack so they'll be prepared for it and likely go after the perpetrators themselves so they attack never happens to begin with" he explained.
"That makes sense to me-" Elise nodded in approval.
"Someone's moving inside the cave" Slade pointed out barely above a whisper.
Elise looked through the scope of her rifle once more to find a figure cloaked in shadow standing in the cave over the attack plans, the figure appeared to be that of a woman. She held her hand out toward the table at the back of the cave causing a small fireball to come shooting out of her hand onto the map and papers across the desk.
"She's burning the evidence!" Malachite gasped in shock.
"Who would be dumb enough to hide in a cave guarded by Grimm" Elise wondered aloud.
"Someone who doesn't want to get caught" an unknown voice said from behind them.
"Who-?" Elise began to ask turning to see Malachite jumping in front of her and Slade blocking the blade with his own rifle as it transformed into an axe.
"You're a quick one" the voice said as a man appeared in front of them from thin air "I'm surprised you were even able to tell where I was going to strike" the man continued with a small chuckle.
"Who are you?" Elise asked aiming her rifle toward him.
"Someone you don't want to cross, my boss is getting rid of all the evidence we left behind. But of course I can't just let a bunch of brats like you get away and squeal to the cops-" Elise interrupted him by firing her rifle forcing the man to leap backward vanishing in thin air.
"Damn it!" Elise growled.
"How rude of you to interrupt me when I answered your question. I'm gonna make your death especially painful" the man said with a low chuckle.
"His Semblance allows him to become invisible somehow, we have to be careful" Malachite warned.
"What should we do?" Slade asked.
"I can use my Semblance to keep track of him. Elise, take Slade and get as much evidence from the cave as you can before it's incinerated"
"His boss is bolting" Elise pointed out as the woman pulled the hood over the front of her face as she exited the cave running away from them.
"Leave her, she could be working with others. Get the evidence and we have a chance of stopping the attack" Mal said.
"On it" Elise leapt over the bush with Slade following quickly behind.
"Alright, come out of hiding" Mal growled "I can hear and smell you already, there's no hiding from me" Malachite suddenly jerked toward the cave leaping over the bush and striking for the invisible man as he attempted to sneak by him, the man appeared as he blocked the strike with his own mace.
"How can you track me so easily?" the man asked confused.
"My Semblance is rather unique" Malachite smirked "I can enhance any or all of my senses to inhuman levels so I can detect you from anywhere even if I cannot see you" he explained.
"Now I get it" the man sighed "You weren't kidding when you said you could hear me"
"Don't forget smell you, it's like you haven't bathed in weeks" he mocked.
"I'll show you not to mess with me!" the man yelled smashing his head into Malachite's throwing him onto his back. Malachite rolled to his feet, swinging his axe upward as he rose, throwing the man back somewhat from the strike.
The man remained invisible, sneaking around behind Malachite. Turning around abruptly, he slammed his axe into the man's chest, his axe was caught in the man's hands as he slid back from the force. Pulling himself forward, he slammed his arm into Malachite's face, knocking him onto his back painfully.
"I've got the evidence!" Elise yelled holding her scroll up triumphantly as the rest of the map on the wall burned to ash along with the papers on the table in front of her.
"Not for long you don't" the man growled rushing them inside the cave.
"Elise, look out!" Malachite yelled with concern as he struggled to his feet.
"Where!?" she asked struggling to find the man. a single gunshot rang out in the cave echoing out into the forest around them.
Elise and Malachite looked on in shock as Slade stood holding his revolver steady with both hands as the man became visible, he stood primed to attack his sister frozen in place.
"H-how... did you..." the man dropped onto his back without uttering another word.
"Slade... how did you know where he was?" Elise asked in shock and amazement of what he just did.
"I... I don't know, I could almost feel him like I could sense his anger and hatred" Slade explained "I'm not sure how though"
"You've unlocked your aura" Elise smiled brightly "And an amazingly sensitive one at that, I didn't even know you could sense someone's emotion with your aura"
"That's pretty unique" Malachite agreed "I wonder what your Semblance will turn out to be" he smiled down at him.
"You won't be getting off that easy" the man groaned from the floor as he held his scroll in hand, the man pressed his thumb to the screen setting off multiple explosions throughout the cave structure "I'll see you all in hell" he passed out shortly afterward.
"We must get out of here!" Elise yelled grabbing Slade's hand and rushing toward the exit with Malachite taking charge as the cave collapsed around them. Elise was suddenly struck in the head with a falling rock knocking her and Slade both to the ground.
"Elise, Slade!" Malachite yelled turning back toward them. Looking up he found a massive boulder falling toward them, he acted quickly using the back of his axe to scoop Slade up throwing him to safety shortly followed by Elise herself with his free hand just before the boulder fell atop him. The cave entrance completely collapsed trapping them as the cave settled.
Slade was the first to get back up from the ground "Elise? Malachite? Are you guys-" Slade stopped dead at the sight before him, Malachite's head was the only part of his body showing from beneath the boulder crushing him.
"No..." Elise gasped at the sight.
"Are you both alright?" Mal asked coughing up the blood pooling in his mouth "You're not hurt are you?" he asked concerned.
"Mal... you have a boulder crushing your entire body" Elise pointed out beginning to panic.
"Yeah, it's not the most comfortable position I've ever been in" he groaned "You need to get Slade out of here. It may have stopped for now, but the cave could collapse on us at any moment"
"We're not leaving you!" Slade yelled as he sobbed.
"You don't have a choice, if you both die here then what I did would be for nothing and no one will ever see the evidence we found to stop the attack" Malachite explained "Don't kill yourselves over me, I know you're both going to do great things someday... things I could never dream of"
"But-" Slade tried to protest.
"He's right, Slade. As much as I hate to admit it, we need to get out of here so I can get you home safe. Mom and Dad will know what to do with this evidence"
"But what about him!?" he asked frantically.
"It's okay, Slade. No matter what happens to me, I want you both to know I couldn't have asked for better siblings" he coughed "Now go!" he yelled with the last of his strength as his lungs collapsed from the weight of the boulder. Elise picked up his axe and smashed it through the nearby wall opening a path out and causing the cave to begin collapsing again.
"We have to go"
"I'm not leaving him" Slade insisted.
"You're not being given a choice" Elise picked him up with one arm, slinging him over her shoulder and running out of the collapsing cave.
"Malachite!" Slade yelled just as their exit collapsed.
Keep Slade safe for me, will you, Elise? Malachite thought with a small smile on his face At least I know they'll be safe
Elise ran as fast as she could as Slade's cries and shouts died off the farther they got, finally she dropped onto her knees in exhaustion, dropping Slade as well. They both sat there just staring at each other with tears in their eyes before sorrowfully embracing one another "I'm sorry, Slade. I didn't want to leave him either" she sobbed.
"I know" Slade sunk his head into her shoulders "I'm sorry I made it so hard on you... I just... I couldn't..."
"It's alright, Slade. You shouldn't have had to, it was my own dumb fault for not paying enough attention to where I was going. I should've seen that rock before it hit me"
"It's not your fault, Sis"
Low growls could be heard around them forcing Elise to her feet placing Slade behind her for safety "Stay behind me" she told him sternly as several different types of Grimm showed themselves, Ursi and Beowolves alike.
"Sis?" Slade looked up at her with fear.
"It'll be alright if you stay close to me-" the Grimm charged her forcing her down onto one knee pushing Slade onto his back, causing him to hit his head on a tree stump, his vision was blurred greatly as a Beowulf approached him "Slade!" Elise called out with fear. Slade's vision darkened just as he caught the glint of something large and silver along with what appeared to be a blur of red, white and black just before he fell unconscious. Hearing only the sounds of a blade slicing through something and the sound of Grimm whimpering.
Slade was startled awake by the comforting hands of his mother, he looked around frantically trying to get his bearings "Elise?" he asked concerned.
"Slade!" his mother cried grabbing him into a hug as tears fell down her face "He's awake!" she called back through the wooden cottage, his father and sister both came racing upstairs with a stranger he hadn't seen before.
Slade's mother had a pale complexion with dark black hair, matching her youngest son's and piercing emerald eyes lined with tears of joy. His father stood about a head taller than her with a slightly darker complexion, much like Slade's siblings coupled with light brown hair and sky blue eyes with a full beard covering his face. The stranger had a pale white complexion with dark black hair, red eyes, and a thin line of stubble leading away from his chin.
"Son" his father rushed to his side, joining the hug with his son. I'm so glad you're alright" he barely managed to suppress a sob from escaping his lips.
"Thank goodness" Elise sighed in relief.
"Kid is tougher than he looks" the stranger remarked aloud taking a sip from his flask "Not too surprised though, not after what you told me he did back in that cave" he added with a smirk.
"Thank you, Qrow. We might never have seen either of them again if not for you" his mother said gratefully.
"Glad I could help... I'm only sorry I wasn't fast enough to save the other one too" he sighed remorsefully.
"Who are you?" Slade asked curiously.
"Qrow Branwen, at your service kiddo" Qrow introduced himself with a slight bow.
"You saved my sister and I?" Slade asked surprised.
"Don't look so shocked, kid. I'm a seasoned Huntsman" Qrow smirked "I'm sorry about your brother" he offered, his expression turning sour.
"You did your best, Qrow. You cannot blame yourself for what happened to Malachite, nor can either of you" Their father directed his statement to Elise and Slade sternly.
"Yes, sir" they both replied.
"You run a tight ship, Sinn. No doubt thanks to Viri's help" Qrow smirked.
"We have to, the world isn't going to get better on it's own. There needs to be strong Huntsmen and Huntresses to face the trials humanity has yet to face" Viridian said "Fortunately for us, Elise and Slade are coming along well with their lessons and shall be your top students in Signal and Beacon before long" she boasted proudly.
"I'm sure of it, they've already proven themselves enough to me today alone" Qrow smiled warmly at the family "Well, I shouldn't take up too much more of your time. I need to report what happened back to Ozpin... you know how it is"
"The old man can't be kept waiting too long" Viri laughed.
"Go, we'll speak more soon. Keep us updated" Sinn called after him.
"Will do, Ozpin will likely call on all of us again anyway" he chuckled as he walked downstairs.
"I'm so sorry" Slade said surprising his parents "If I had known what was going to happen, I would've stopped Malachite and Elise from going to that cave"
"None of you could of known what would've happened" Sinn sighed "It's unfortunate what happened and we will all miss him greatly, but we cannot allow his sacrifice to be in vain"
"Your father is right, you shouldn't focus on what could've been but on what will be. Focus on what you will do to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else" Viridian agreed.
"Is Elise still going to Beacon next week?" Slade asked curiously.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, Slade. I-"
"Good" Slade smiled up at her, surprising everyone in the room "Malachite wouldn't want us to put our lives on hold for him, you should become the best Huntress you can be and help any friends you make to be the best they can be. Mom and Dad will keep training me so I can follow in your footsteps someday" Slade stated proudly shocking them all.
Viridian smiled brightly "Slade's right, Elise. You'll both honor his memory by becoming the best you can be"
"It's a promise" Slade said holding up his pinky, Elise smiled down at him, proud of him.
"It's a promise" she agreed intertwining their pinky fingers shortly followed by both of their parents.
"Look out world, the Strouds are gonna take you by storm" their father smiled at his wife proudly.
(Present Day)
Slade laid on his back looking up at the starry night sky, the moon lighting the area he and Yang were resting in. Looking over toward Yang he felt his heart tighten in his chest at the thought of something happening to her.
This is why you don't form attachments, Slade. If you care about people, they always end up dying horrifically he reminded himself.
Somehow in the short time that he knew Yang, he had already grown fond of having her around. Yang lightened the mood he constantly darkened, she had such a brightness about her that he immediately understood what drew him to her. The same brightness his family had... the same brightness his friends had... the very same brightness he too once possessed but had lost due to his... curse.
"Never again" he reminded himself Close yourself off from people like her and they'll never get hurt he believed he was keeping people safe from himself by pushing them away, it had been working so far... something was different about Yang though. Despite his demeanor toward her, she seemed determined to be as close to him as she could get. That thought alone scared him more than anything he could possibly imagine.
"Never again" he whispered aloud once more.
Elise, Malachite, Mother, Father, Willow, Dusk, Hazel... I'm sorry it took me so long to figure it out... I promise I won't let it happen again
Slade looked over at Yang one last time before drifting off to sleep.
Never Again
That's all for chapter two! Thanks for reading, hope you all liked it. For anyone wondering I left a list below of the names of each character I added in this chapter and the color associated with their name. I know some of them are pretty simple but they're what I decided to go with, I will have chapter three out soon for you guys so stay tuned for more!
Elise (Liseran Purple)
Malachite or Mal (Malachite)
Viridian or Viri (Viridian)
Sinn (Sinopia)