Chapter 14: Doctors Without Leeches? You're Crazy!
Children lack perspective.
When I hold my newborn son in my arms, all I can think about is how beautiful he is. Every limb is perfect, and his face is like that of an angel. His perfect little ears twitch in his sleep, and his smile gives me such happiness that I never thought I would feel.
When he is depriving me of sleep by crying with the strength of Oum himself?
I am slightly less generous.
Despite my current case of insomnia, my mind continues to percolate. Ideas constantly draw my attention, begging for me to anchor them to reality by writing them down. Sometimes I oblige their unspoken wishes. Other times, my duties prevent me from doing so. I am unable to fulfill both my wants and my needs. I want to write, but I need to attend to the functions of the state.
My son is incapable of differentiating these concepts. What he wants must come first, and he will wail incessantly until whatever his desires are are met.
It is curious to me that this is how we develop: we start by only being aware of ourselves and our own wants. As time passes, we start to realize that other people have wants and needs as well. Of course, at first they are secondary to our own; we must have that toy that some other toddler has.
Eventually, we start to realize that if we help someone else, we may get something in return. So we help our fathers in the hunt, in the hope that we will receive a prime cut of venison or the like. This is the line of thinking that dominates the young and immature. For those that care only about themselves, this is the extent of their thoughtfulness and sensitivity. The wise, however, come to realize that helping others can be a reward in and of itself.
If I might digress, there is a new phrase circulating among the Altusian elites. When the scions of the Houses are trying to prove the supremacy of mankind over animals, they use the concept of "self awareness", the idea that man is able to recognize himself, as proof that we are meant to rule this earth. I very much disagree with this- animals are extremely self aware. That is the issue. They are self aware and only self aware. There is nothing that animals care for other than themselves. Humans, on the other hand, possess the capability to not only care for others, but to do so even when there is no advantage to themselves. It is this, among other things, that sets us apart from the beasts that plow our fields.
I would like to make one last point. There are some insane people who state that the Beastfolk are not mere beasts of the earth, but may in fact be equal to us pure- blooded humans. These heretics are derided as both insane and blasphemous. Insane to suggest that the murderous tribes roaming the wastes of Artuare are only trying to survive. Blasphemous to even consider that they might be part of the Divine plan. Within Altus, they are mocked. Of course, they do so out of earshot of the royal family. But in spite of His Majesty's best efforts, I still put on cloak and hood to walk to the local tavern to down the odd mug of ale. I was raised in a society where the rowdy, chaotic nature of the common man's pastime was considered normal. There, it feels the smallest bit like home. There, I hear the prattle of the foolish nobles who disdain the Beastfolk.
When I come home to find my lovely wife caring for our son, I must confess that only one thought crosses my mind.
I am proud to be a heretic.
After he woke up, all he sensed was pain.
Reshan's eyelids cracked open to a blinding white light. A beeping sound not unlike that of an off-key flute sounded regularly. He immediately closed them, regretting the headache that ensued.
Am… am I dead? Is this the afterlife?
He immediately discounted that notion. No afterlife would involve this much agony. It felt like his chest was being squeezed and forcibly expanded at the same time. Not to mention the burning feeling along the right side of his body.
The boy tried to get up, but his muscles shrieked in response and refused to comply. He gasped, and discovered two horrifying facts.
He couldn't breathe. And there was something in his mouth.
There was someone attempting to speak to him, but he had bigger concerns at the moment than the wishes of others. Attempting to scream resulted in nothing but a muffled groan. Whatever was obstructing his breathing seemed to run all the way down his throat and into his body. What kind of parasite was this?
Why was he being subjected to such torture? What had he done to-
A wave of tiredness slammed into him with the force of a gale. Reshan tried to resist, but he couldn't hang on to conscious thought. He slipped under soon after.
The next time he woke up, whatever had been in his mouth was gone. It was dark, allowing his sensitive eyes to see his surroundings.
He was in what appeared to be a healer's room, from what his short experience in the clinic at Beacon had taught him. Sterile white walls reflected the moonlight from the small window next to the bed on which he lay. A small rail on both sides of the bed would prevent him from falling off. A white sheet hanging off a steel bar shielded him from sight.
As he gazed around the room, a small sliver of moonlight caught his eye. Looking down, he saw a small pipe connected to a bag hanging from what appeared to be a small coat rack leading into a piece of metal that was currently stabbed in the crook of his left elbow.
I… what? What demented torture is this?
Reshan tried to yank it out. Emphasis on tried. His right side screamed in pain, refusing to move, and despite his best effort a whine and a tear crept past his lips and eyes, respectively. Only then did he notice the condition he was in.
The scarred teen was garbed in a filmy blue gown and nothing else. His chest was wrapped in bandages, restricting his ability to move and breathe. His right side was similarly ensconced.
A light rattle caught his attention. Reshan snapped his eyes to the curtain, which was in the process of being withdrawn. A chocolate hand revealed a bedraggled Levona wearing a pale blue uniform. Her blond hair was bound in a bun, lending her a sharp look.
"You're awake!" She exclaimed as her bright smile lit up the night. Reshan nodded, a grin creeping across his face. It was a welcome relief to know that she had remained.
"It is good to see you, Mrs. Oobleck. Where am I?"
"St. Oswald General Hospital", she said. Brushing a stray lock of hair that had escaped her bun, she walked over to the bag suspended near him. "Barty arrived to find both you and the Bandit Queen of Mistral-"
"Who-?" Reshan coughed. He tried to clarify, but a fit of hacking and wheezing prevented him from doing so. When he finished, Levona held a cup out to him. He tried to take it, but he simply lacked the ability to move on his own.
"The woman you fought. Her name is Raven Brawnwen." She held the cup to his lips, and the scarred teen downed it. It tasted bitter, as all medicines should.
"What was that?" he asked. Levona smiled.
"Something to help you sleep, honey. When you wake tomorrow, Barty will be here to answer all your questions."
"Thank… you… zzzz."
Coffee, biscuits, a razor, cookies, a surprise and a small selection from his personal library.
All of these were contained in his knapsack as he rushed through the hospital corridor. The early morning light from the windows bounced off the floor, bathing the hallway in a golden light.
Curious how there are refractions, despite no visible bumps in the glass.
Such things were a curiosity to be solved. However, they would have to wait.
The hospital currently had Reshan in one of the short-term care sections, where those who would only be there a few days stayed before either recovering or moved to whichever segment they belonged. There were approximately twelve beds per room, six on a side. Privacy was given to the patients via hanging curtains, which gave patients a small space to themselves. Windows ran along the left side of the room, causing the curtains on that side to glow a light gold from the rays of the sun.
A lone attendant tiredly stood vigil into the rising dawn. He waved to the green-haired professor, not bothering to ask him whom he was visiting. He'd been here so often over the past few days that the staff had grown to recognize him. He waved a mug of coffee to the stall at the back left corner, where a rhythmic snore could be heard.
Barty barged into Reshan's little nook to find the boy's eyes closed, sunlight from the window bathing his long hair gold.
And here I was hoping he would be awake, he groused. Levona had messaged him early last night, saying that while she had been on duty he had briefly awakened. The green-haired professor and his wife had been maintaining a near- constant watch over the scarred teen over the past three days, praying against all hope that Reshan would open his eyes. Besides for a brief stirring while intubated, there had been no sign of activity.
He had very nearly died. According to the initial findings, Raven's blade had gone right through Reshan's heart. While her blade had immediately cauterized the wound (using a blade comprised of fire Dust had some downsides), he had been written off as dead. After a puzzled attendant had found a strong pulse on the boy, he had been brought back for an x-ray. The scan had been nothing short of revolutionary.
Reshan didn't have a heart. Or lungs, or kidneys, or just about anything recognizable at the moment. Instead, his bloodstream (which was inordinately thickened, to the point of almost clotting inside of him) was regulated by several stiffened sections of arteries and veins, which pulsed in a stattacco rhythm as the blood coursed through his body. It was unknown what exactly happened to the air he breathed in. There were so many small tubes and organ sections criss crossing his chest that it would take months, if not years, to decipher it. Ozpin had pulled some strings to keep it quiet for now, thankfully shielding the boy from being poked and prodded as a curiosity for years on end by scientists.
"S-sire?" The green- haired professor jolted out of his reviere to find Reshan blinking blurry brown eyes in confusion. "What-"
Barty blurred to his bedside, pulling out a thermos for Reshan to drink from. "Coffee?"
Reshan's eyes crinkled in mirth. "Do you ever go anywhere without?"
He swiftly shook his head. "To do so would be both irresponsible and tasteless."
Reshan's laugh immediately broke into a sputtering cough. Heaving weakly for air, he wheezed, "Why?"
"Two reasons. First and foremost- coffee is delicious. The importance of this cannot be understated. Second, my Semblance is not like others. The vast majority of Remnant's population require Aura to fuel their Semblance. I require caffeine for mine, which accelerates muscle contraction and relaxation by a large factor." He sipped out of his personal thermos, holding the other one steady. "But mostly because I like coffee."
Reshan's fit subsided. With a grunt, he lifted his head off the bed. "I happen to agree with you on that. May I have some?"
Barty lifted the thermos to Reshan's lips. "There you go, young man. Drink up. You must be thirsty after three days of lying in bed."
Reshan took a few sips before his head fell against the bed. Tears started to leak down his cheeks, dripping through the stubble that had grown on his face. "I-I-I lived! I survived!" He started to laugh, wincing at the pain of his bandages contracting his breathing. Barty moved to steady him, letting the mirth die down.
"You did, my boy. But the doctors don't know if you will recover. You lost a lot of blood, and several organs have been damaged. If it wasn't for your-"
"What is an organ?"
The question caused Barty's train of thought to grind to a halt. "An organ?"
"Indeed, sire."
He… he didn't know what an organ was. He hadn't known practically anything about technology. Was it really such a surprise that he didn't know biology either?
Yes. Yes it was.
Barty cleared his throat. "An organ is a specific part of the body that fulfills a certain function. For example, hearts push blood throughout the body, while lungs absorb oxygen from the air."
Reshan's eyes widened. It was good to see that his desire for learning hadn't diminished after his injury. The light in his eyes still shone, as resilient as the boy who possessed them.
"What are lungs? And what is oxygen?"
Barty's lips curled up. "I will explain later. There are matters we must address first, however."
The scarred teen nodded with a semi serious expression, though his smile remained. "Indeed. Did Ruby's sister survive?"
The green-haired professor raised an eyebrow. "Miss Xiao Long was never in any danger to begin with." Why was she the first person he asked about?
Does he have feelings for her? That would be a suitable explanation.
His theory was dashed with the next words that emerged. "Apologies, I should have been more specific. Did Summer survive her injuries?"
Ah, he realized. I'm not surprised. He must think them sisters, given the apparent lack of difference in age.
"Yes," he answered. "Summer Rose did not sustain any particularly life-threatening wounds. Her husband, Tai, is also expected to make a full recovery."
Reshan nodded. "Good."
"I should note that Summer is, despite their similarity in age, Ruby's mother. The circumstances of that are for her to disclose, if she wishes." Barty took a quick slurp of his thermos before continuing. "Raven is currently in custody. Her wounds, while not life-threatening, were severe enough to require hospitalization."
"Unsurprising for a Sacred Maiden," Reshan mused. "The Shade of the Wizard sustains her."
Barty felt a cold chill creep down his. "I… I beg your pardon?"
Raven is a Maiden? And Reshan knows about them? Please let this be some sort of hallucination. Is he still on painkillers?
"Reshan… the Maidens are just a fairy tale," Barty started. "I understand that you just went through a harrowing ordeal, but-"
"Raven wanted to kill me to keep me quiet, you know," Reshan continued. His eyes were clear, a thoughtful expression on his unshaved face. "Said that there were people who she couldn't risk finding out." The scarred teen grew a smug smirk. "Looks like she failed."
So much for him being hopped up on medication.
Ozpin needs to know. And he needs to come talk to the boy to figure out what to do, now that he knows the truth. And a way to keep him silent on the matter.
Well, there was one way to keep him distracted.
"Peter had a breakthrough on your home," Barty started. The change in Reshan's demeanor was immediate. His dark brown eyes focused on his own, boring into the professor's visage.
"Really? Please, tell me, sire. When can I see my family again?" Barty couldn't help but shake his head sadly at the phrasing.
"I don't think that will be possible, young man. We believe you to be a native of Altus."
The boy's face went through a myriad of expressions. Joy at discovering his home. Confusion at why Barty said it wouldn't be possible to meet his family. Consideration of what he knew of the Kingdom, which was scant besides for knowing it was old. Confusion again at the realization that Altus was known by that name only by scholars of ancient history.
"You… you think I am a native of a kingdom that has been dead for centuries?" Reshan asked. He tried to shift his shoulder, but the bandages restricted his ability to do so.
"You have no knowledge of anything relating to even the most basic facts of modern life," Barty started. "All the Kingdoms you listed during your assessment with Glynda existed, in some form or another, during Altus's reign. And when I first met you, the one Kingdom that you knew of was Altus. At this time, we believe some method of time travel is involved. Your Semblance may be involved."
"Peter first realized that neither Atlas or Anima were your home of origin," he continued. "Atlas is simply too advanced for you to have no knowledge of technology. And Anima has been fully explored for quite some time. It was foolish of me to list it as a potential point of origin, but when looking at such a conundrum, one must explore all possibilities."
Reshan's eyebrow rose. "What makes the hypothesis that my knowledge base correlates to what I knew before my memory was lost?"
Barty was ready for the question. He had analysed Peter's theory intensely over the past three days, and he had the answer. What he wasn't ready for, however, was the voice that emerged from Reshan's throat.
It was his own.
"Your grasp of combat theory is too advanced to simply explain it away as common knowledge," the green-haired professor replied. "If we are to accept that your capability to fight comes from your own past, we must also accept that your idiosyncrasies do so as well."
Reshan frowned, sitting up. "An astute observation, doctor. But this does not explain how I ended up in this age, or if your theory is correct. This was the mystery, the conundrum that was unsolved as of yet." He cleared his throat, grabbing the thermos to take a slurp.
Barty's eyes widened. He really was made of sterner stuff, this kid was. Just a moment ago, the bandaged boy hadn't been able to move due to the pain. He noticed the beads of sweat starting to form on his brow due to his exertion.
Wasn't he to be on Aura suppressant for his injuries? Barty wondered. Looking at his IV, he noted that it was just about empty of the Dust-derived fluid. Why hadn't the attendant refilled it?
It was possible that his body simply consumed more than the average person- there was so much about him that was unknown. The X-ray had revealed a stunning amount regarding the scarred teen's anatomy. That one study alone was enough to merit several research papers.
Reshan put down the thermos. His hands started to shake. "Fortunately for us, I have solved one of our conundrums. My Semblance."
Barty grinned. Reshan must have figured it out through the tried- and- true method of trial by fire. "So? How does it work?"
Reshan wiped his mouth. "While the means of forming a bond are still unknown, I believe it is a situational Semblance. The more similar a situation I find myself in to whatever is associated with a person, the more my mannerisms and actions mimic said person."
With a start, Barty noticed a small blotch of red start to expand on Reshan's bandaged chest. He pushed a gentle hand against the boy, pushing him back on the bed. His exertions had reopened his wounds.
"How did you figure this out?"
Reshan said something, but he started to splutter. With a croak, his Semblance died, leaving him lying raggedly against the bed. Green eyes faded to brown as Reshan groaned in pain.
His Semblance is causing him to exert himself, he realized. If he's taking on my persona, he won't be able to sit still.
"I… I realized I was going to die," Reshan burst out. His look was one of both pain and shame. "Just like the officer… like Jay. There was nothing I could do in the face of a Sacred Maiden's holy power. So I didn't try to survive. I did my best to make something of my death." He coughed, pointedly not looking the professor in the eyes. Tears built up as he seemed to realize what he'd done. "I threw my life away."
Being a leader had its perks.
First in line from the team at the cafeteria. Being able to request extra rounds from the armory. Dibs on showertime after combat class. The small things that, while unappreciated by most on their own, added up to present a sweet bonus.
Weiss was seriously debating whether or not it was worth it.
She was currently standing above an unrepentant Yang in their dorm room, eyes narrowed in frustration as she gestured to an unfinished paper for Grimm 101. The white- haired heiress growled under her breath.
"And when, exactly, were you planning on finishing this?" Weiss asked. Yang rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she stood up. Weiss took a slight step back, giving her space so she might apologize.
All the blonde brawler did was walk out the room, a middle finger and a soft smile the only sign of recognition that Weiss had even spoken to her. Damn that oaf!
"Don't you walk away from me," Weiss warned. Yang turned, an aloof look on her face.
"I'm going to get Ruby dinner. I'll finish after." The words were enough for Weiss to relent, nodding before turning back to her own homework. It was Tuesday night, and the professors had not let up on work simply because someone had nearly died. When asked, Professor Port had said one of the most sobering statements in her entire time at Beacon. Dropping his jovial smile, he simply had looked at the class with a forlorn expression.
"This is the destiny of Huntsmen and Huntresses. We all fight every day, and with very few exceptions, none of us die in bed. So count yourselves lucky that he lived."
Immediately after Reshan had been taken to the hospital, Ruby had turned in her resignation as team leader. Unsurprisingly, Weiss had been chosen to replace her. Yang simply wasn't mature enough to handle organizing team activities, and Blake had yet to come out of her shell. Besides, her training to eventually take over the SDC made her the natural choice.
So why was she having such a hard time? Yang refused to do anything she asked, only caring about her sister. Blake wouldn't even give her the time of day, merely burying herself in her mature books whenever Weiss so much as walked in the door. And Ruby was so distraught by the consequences of that fateful day that she barely left the library. Not even for meals.
Weiss groaned, setting the textbook down. She decided that it was time to take a page out of Yang's book and put off the work for later. It was time to pay Ruby a visit.
The halls of Beacon seemed to echo with silence. With the exception of a bedraggled Ren heading back from a training session, no one seemed to even acknowledge her existence. If they did, it was with a look that seemed to bespeak pity for the plight the team was going through.
Weiss didn't need that pity. She needed time for her team to heal, both physically and mentally. Yang and Ruby were both still dealing with the notion that their mother was alive and well.
And the fact that Yang's birth mother had come to try and kill said long-lost mother, but that was another kettle of fish entirely. Weiss didn't want to touch that with a ten- meter icicle.
Stepping into the library, Weiss took a deep breath of the musty air. Some might say that the musk of old books was boring, lame and conducive to asthma. While the last part of that statement might have been true, Weiss secretly reveled in the arcane knowledge that lurked here, waiting for someone to reach out and seize it. Growing up, the library had been a rare sanctum from the shouting and arguments that wracked the Schnee family. She had spent many a day curled up by the fireplace, a mug of steaming hot cocoa in her hand (courtesy of Klein, of course), and a book perched on her lap.
Some would call those good times. In truth, they weren't. Winter had ran away to join the Atlesian military, leaving Weiss and Whitley alone with their power-hungry father. The lessons they had learned were not happy ones. Lessons on how to manage employees, tactics for covering up less than ethical business practices, and, of course, rants about the Beastfolk, as her father called them.
She pushed those memories away, simply staring at the sun setting through the large windows. In spite of all the chaos of the past three days, it hung there serenely, a sign that the old day would end and a new one would rise.
The library was mostly deserted, with one notable exception. Ruby was tucked away in a corner, bags under her eyes from lack of sleep. She was surrounded by piles of textbooks, each of them open to a different page as she flipped through one after the other. A few plates with trace amounts of gravy were the only indication that Yang had been remotely successful in getting her younger sister to eat. A sleeping bag was messily rolled up underneath the table.
Weiss cleared her throat, causing the Faunus to look up from her studies.
"Hey, Weiss," Ruby said tiredly. "What's up?" She stood up from her chair, yawning. Weiss pointedly did not answer, merely narrowing her eyes and letting the suspense build. Stalking stiffly over to her former leader, she sat down with a huff. Ruby watched her for a moment before saying, "Uh… Weiss? You feeling okay?"
Weiss cocked her head for a short moment before crossing her ring finger. A glyph manifested itself underneath one of the stacks of books. With a wave, the tower shifted towards her, allowing the heiress to see the titles.
Part of War by Moon Zoo
Manly Combat Theory by Professor Peter Port The Poignant
Pre-Modern Warfare: A History by Baldwin McOobleck Jr.
"Why are you studying all of this?" Weiss wondered aloud, trying to sound oblivious.
"I'm just practising for the next test." Ruby flushed, trying to pull the pile away before Weiss could continue reading. Fortunately for her, it worked. Unfortunately for the scarlet reaper, all this did was make the pile fall down upon her.
"Owowowow…."
Weiss sighed, helping Ruby up from her tomb of tomes. "Ruby. Those topics aren't covered for at least another two years. I sincerely doubt that we're going to be tested for that." Dropping the act, she looked her dead in the eye. "And beating yourself up for Reshan isn't going to make him better."
All signs of positivity drained from the Faunus. "I know that, Weiss." Turning back to one of the books, she put an elbow on the table. "I don't want to make that kind of mistake ever again."
Weiss yanked the book out from under her, snapping it closed with a slam. "And missing class is going to help that how, exactly?"
Ruby opened her mouth to object, then thought better of it. Sighing, she nodded. "Sorry."
Oh, hell no. There was no way she was getting off the hook with something as simple as sorry. The heiress shook her head, feeling her temper start to rise.
"Sorry? You think you can run away from your job as team leader at the drop of a hat, ignore everything around you, and expect me to forgive you with simply sorry?!"
Ruby started to tear up, her ears drooping as her eyes found something on the ground to fixate to. Weiss took a deep breath, trying to rein herself in.
"I get that you're hurt, Ruby. You gave an order, and it backfired horribly. Well, guess what. That's life. If you think that you're going to do everything perfectly, then you must be a bigger dunce than I thought at first!"
Weiss's voice rose, the words echoing in the spacious room. "You can't simply decide to put down the role, Ruby. Your team needs you! So stop hiding in the library and come to class!"
Ruby didn't answer. Softly shaking, she simply dashed away in a trail of petals and tears.
She needed to get out of here.
It wasn't the idea of prison that scared her. It wasn't the looks of shocked disbelief and anger directed at her by her own daughter the one time that made her dread this place. Though that hadn't exactly been stellar, either.
It was Summer's aching maternal instincts that would kill Raven Brawnwen, not any Grimm.
She was strapped to a hospital bed, a Noah collar around her neck to prevent her from opening a portal. It honestly wasn't necessary, but Raven knew that no amount of discussion would convince them otherwise. There was nowhere for her to go.
That kid had crippled her with the trick with the exploding sheath. She'd lost her left leg, and there was extensive scarring all over that side of her body. Her once beautiful face was now marred with cracks and peeling skin, remnants of the elemental power that had roiled her body. The tribe would never take back a cripple as their leader, no matter how much power she might possess. If she went back, Vernal would kill her without a second thought to take the power of the Maiden. No doubt she had taken over after Raven had failed to return. There was no escape from this nightmare.
"Oopennnn wiiiiide, Raven," her jailor cooed, holding up a spoon filled with bland pasta. The Bandit Queen jerked up her chin, refusing to give in to Summer's attempts to feed her.
"It won't bite," Summer cajoled, shifting in the hard plastic chair she currently sat in. "It's just pasta. Why don't you give it a try?"
The plastic spoon tapped her lip lightly, trying to gain access. It failed, just like it had the last thirteen times. Raven Brawnwen was a warrior, not a weakling. She would not be fed like an invalid!
After Raven had regained consciousness following the amputation of her left leg, Summer had decided that she would be her sole caretaker. What had followed could only have been described as three days of hell. Summer did practically everything for her, from feeding her to clothing her to changing her bandages. The white-cloaked warrior had read her the newspaper, practically cackling with glee when an article about Raven's arrest came under the Faunus's watchful eye.
After Summer mentioned something about reading her bedtime stories, Raven had had enough. She had made plans to escape, using the crutch by her bedside to limp her way out of the room. The shackles had meant nothing more than an inconvenience for a Maiden like herself. She'd melted them before limping away.
Raven hadn't even made it to the doorway before Summer showed up, a savage glint in her eye. Before Raven could so much as blink, her former leader had once again strapped her back into the bed, shaking her head in disappointment. The next day, Ozpin pulled some strings to arrange her transfer to Beacon.
"Would you rather Tai feed you?" The words elicited a growl from the prisoner. Tai had recovered from his injuries swiftly, thanks to him actually being able to use his Aura. He was currently in Vale, keeping watch over Qrow (who'd only showed up once to make fun of her being beat by a kid. Real mature.)
Raven jerked her head forward, knocking the spoon out of Summer's grasp. The utensil's contents scattered, falling all over Raven's face. Chuckling, Summer picked up a napkin to wipe away the mess.
"Aww, don't be fussy now," she chided. "Or do you want me to get Yang? I'm sure she'd love to-"
"Okay, fine!" Raven blurted. Accepting defeat, she opened her mouth. "Happy now, you- hmmphh!"
The last part was due to Summer ramming the spoon into her mouth, nearly causing Raven to choke. After a few bites, she swallowed. She ate the rest of the bowl in silence, deciding that getting her strength back was worth swallowing her pride (and food).
"Why didn't you come back after I left," Summer asked. "Tai needed you. So did the kids."
Raven shrugged, trying to convey a sense of nonchalance. "The tribe needed me. And the kids turned out just fine." She omitted that she'd taken almost every chance she could to shadow them. Summer raised an eyebrow.
"Not because you were scared of what Tai would say?" Raven rolled her eyes.
"I'm not some airheaded teen who can't take a harsh word, dumbass," she spat. "Give me some credit. I'm stronger than that."
Summer fell silent, a soft smile on her face. After a moment, she said, "Yet not strong enough to take on a kid."
Raven harrumphed, looking away. Summer grew concerned, leaning forward. Raven knew it wasn't going to be a good question she asked.
"Why did you try to kill the kid?" she asked. Raven closed her mouth, not responding. I did it because I'm a coward, she thought. Because he knew about me being a Maiden.
It wouldn't have been the first time, either. She'd killed scores to keep her secret. A lucky few had been forced into the tribe as members, lips sealed with the assurance of plunder and women (or men). But the vast majority of the time, it was someone who had simply been in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Summer huffed. "Again with the silent treatment? You're not a kid."
"Then stop treating me like one!" she retorted. Summer simply clicked her tongue.
"Then stop trying to kill them." She sat for a moment in silence. "You know, he woke up this morning."
Well, that was news. She honestly hadn't expected the kid to live. He'd been almost as close as she was to the blast, and he'd been skewered like a breaded Mistrali chicken. That kid was made of tough stuff.
"Great."
"He'll be your next door neighbour. If you can't tell me, you could at least have the decency to tell him." she muttered. "You didn't want him telling people about you being a Maiden, did you?"
Dammit. Stupid bloody Summer being stupid bloody discerning. Raven tried to hide her reaction, but something must have given her away. Maybe it was her eyes. Maybe it was the curve of her lips. She didn't know. Either way, Summer grew a shit-eating grin.
"Knew it," she crowed. "Ozpin should have made you a chicken, not a raven. It would have been more accurate."
Raven snarled. "Screw you, Summer."
"Now, that's not very nice," Ozpin interjected. Raven looked to the door, finding the aged professor leaning against the doorframe. His ever present mug of coffee steamed lightly in the air. "After all, she is the one who saved you from being executed."
Wait, what? Hadn't the death sentence been abolished decades ago?
Keeping her confusion from reaching her face, she rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. I assume you've come to gloat too?"
Ozpin chuckled. "At my age, one learns that revenge merely prolongs a conflict long after it has lain down to die. I'm here for a different reason."
Summer started. "You can't be serious."
"I am."
"No, Ozpin!"
"Yes, Ozpin!"
"What the fuck is going on here?" Raven interjected. This was getting ridiculous. Ozpin cleared his throat. "You are currently alone, Miss Brawnwen. You have nowhere to go. The tribe will doubtlessly have moved on, and your methods over the past decade have not endeared you to anyone within your immediate family."
No shit, Ozblock. Where are you going with this?
"Currently, you have two options," Ozpin clarified. "You can either go to jail, where you will spend the rest of your days. No one will mourn you. You will die alone, forgotten."
Ah. He was trying to press her back into his war with Salem. He'd go on about how horrible prison was, then pull a switcheroo and suggest that she help for the good of the people, for the sake of the future, blah, blah, blah.
Yeah. Not happening. Prison was bad, but at least she'd live. Plus, her powers basically meant that there wasn't really a way to hold her prisoner.
The real issue was that Ozpin was right- she really didn't have anywhere to go. Even if she escaped, she'd be spending the rest of her life on the run. Sure, she might last a few years, but her missing limb significantly raised the chances that she'd just die in a ditch.
Ah, well. A life on the run at least meant she'd be alive.
"Or, you can come work for me."
"Fuck you, shit-for-brains."
Ozpin sighed. "As charming as ever, I see." He walked over to the chair Summer currently occupied, the two switching positions. "I didn't think you'd want that. Fortunately, I think I have a compromise that will suit both of us."
Raven snarled. She really needed to get out of here.
The boy smiled. "Ah! So the lungs pull life from the ether?"
Alice groaned. She was so close to finishing her rounds and going home (Mr. Dinkins needed a bath, and to have his litter cleaned). But no. This dumb kid was acting like a total dumbass, pretending that he didn't know basic facts about the body. He'd been bombarding her with questions that ranged from Seriously? to I think you have a concussion.
How did he do it with such a straight face? He didn't even so much as crack a smile when he asked about why people sweated.
"No, sir. The lungs pull oxygen from the air." She took a step back, trying to give the indication of a finished conversation. "Now, if you'll excu-"
"If I might ask just one more question?"
Alice stifled a howl of annoyance. "What is it?" she snapped. The scarred teen seemed utterly oblivious to the coming temper tantrum.
"If you're a doctor, then where is your container of leeches? No one has drained my blood since I awoke."
That's it. He must be retarded.
"Are you really a doctor?"
Definitely retarded.
A/N: Hey, guys! Sorry I'm a bit late. Lots of stuff happening IRL, so chapters are taking longer than before. Folks keep asking me to help them out with projects, and it runs me a bit ragged.
Reshan is, in fact, correct about his Semblance.
Name: Reshan Oobleck
Age: Unknown (appears to be around his late teens)
Semblance: Connect. When in a similar situation to an individual, takes on their persona.
Personality: Quiet. Very polite. Does not like nicknames.
I'm going to drop a bio like the one above whenever they figure out one of the people Reshan has Connected to. I'd rather not keep dropping info dumps on you guys, and it's not easy to write into the story.
Well, I don't believe it. Over 100 follows. I never expected that this story would get so popular. Thank you all so much! It's things like that which continue to push me to keep writing this story! Here's to another 100 followers!
Have a good one!
Next Chapter: October 16
