I do not own RWBY or any of the characters.
Denied
Fox stared at the two guards on the other side of the gate. Yang slammed her hands into the gate, growling angrily.
"You didn't even hear us out!" Yang said.
"Our orders are very clear," the gate guard on the right, the two of them seeming to be twins, said. "The Mistral Atlas border is closed."
"Please," the other said.
"Have a good day," the first said.
"But-"
"A good day!" both snapped, interrupting Yang, who groaned irritably, turning away from the gate.
"Look, if you don't want to believe I'm friends with Ironwood-" Qrow began.
"General Ironwood!" both guards said, their bodies swaying in a circle as they said general.
"...Yeah," Qrow said. "General Ironwood, that's fine. But we have Weiss Schnee here and we're just trying to get her home safe."
The two looked at each other before turning back to the front. "Approach."
Weiss walked over to stand in front of the gate and both bent down, Fox wondering how much of her they could actually see with their hats' visors in front of their eyes. Finally, they straightened back up.
"Very well," they said. "You may speak with our commanding officer. We will fetch her at once."
Then, they turned, beginning to jog away with their knees above their waists, saying "hup hup hup" with every step. Fox sighed, resting his face in his hand.
"These two are going to give me a headache," Fox said, Blast slipping a hand into his. "I'm alright."
"Hm," Maria hummed.
"What's wrong?" Oscar asked.
"Well I...may know this commanding officer," Maria said.
"That's good isn't it?" Ruby asked. "If she's your friend, maybe she'd be more willing to help us."
"I wouldn't exactly call us friends," Maria said.
"Acquaintances?" Weiss asked.
"Not quite," Maria said.
"Colleges?" Blake asked.
"Former," Maria said.
"Enemies?" Yang asked nervously.
"That's the one!" Maria smiled.
"Wait, what?" Oscar asked before sighing.
"Oh yes, I come through here about once every ten years to get my eyes checked up at Atlas," Maria said. "You bring outside cashews on one flight and suddenly you're placed on the additional screening list for life!"
"You've gotta be kidding me," Qrow sighed.
"Now now, let's not give up hope yet, maybe she's dead," Maria said.
Suddenly, the gates opened again and the two guards from before stepped through.
"Introducing..." the first said.
"Special operative..." the second said.
"Caroline Cordoven!" both said.
After a moment, a short woman about Maria's height walked out wearing an Atlas officer's uniform and a superior smirk. She walked over and stopped in front of Maria.
"Witch," she said.
"She devil," Maria said.
"Hm, I see you've chosen not to smuggle contraband this time," Caroline said.
"Oh Cordo," Maria smiled. "You know they say time changes people. But I see you've still got that stick right up-"
"So!" Ruby interrupted, shoving down Maria's hand, with which she was gesturing as though shoving a stick up something. "Miss...uh...Cordoven...uh...My name is Ruby Rose, and I was wondering if you would hear us out about-"
"I've already heard what your other little friends had to say about it, miss Rose," Caroline said, looking past them and seeing Team JNPR standing a little ways down the bridge. "What are you doing back here!? I thought I told you to leave!"
"And I told you we wouldn't leave until you let us through!" Nora shouted back, Jaune and Ren holding her back.
"Nice to see you again as well!" Ren said, waving.
"You civilians are clearly incapable of understanding the importance of our mission here in Argus," Caroline said. "So allow me to say this slowly with smaller words. This base, that relay tower, the very safety of Argus are all gifts from the glorious kingdom of Atlas. And it is my duty to uphold them, as only I have the wit and tenacity for such a task."
"Such wit!" one of the guards said.
"Such tenacity!" the other said.
"Or maybe Atlas just wanted to get you as far from the kingdom as possible," Maria said.
"You're just like the rest of these Argus ingrates!" Caroline spat. "This city wouldn't even be here if it weren't for our Elysian ancestors, and what do we get in return!? The entire world is ready to put a knife to our throats!"
"With that attitude, I can't imagine why," Fox said, rolling his eyes. "No one blames Atlas for the Fall of Beacon. The only reason the borders were closed is because the organization that is behind it are very dangerous and may want into Atlas. But we know General Ironwood."
"No one is happy about the Atlas borders, or embargo, but I know General Atlas is just worried," Weiss offered. "It's why we need to talk to-
"The general is no coward!" Caroline spat as though personally offended. "Atlas is strong! If all the kingdoms plan to make us their enemy then so be it! Atlas will prevail!"
"Atlas will prevail!" the two guards said, stepping up beside her.
"Do you guys seriously have to do that?" Blake asked.
Caroline took a long breath. "If Miss Schnee has truly come to her senses and wishes to return to her family, then of course the Atlas Military will escort her home. But the kingdom will not be responsible for her friends of..." she turned to stare at Blake. "...Questionable character."
"The fuck did you just say?" Fox snarled, stepping forward, ears tilting forward and irises glowing. "Do you have a problem with Faunus, bitch?"
"Fox," Blake said, catching his shoulder. "It's alright. It doesn't matter."
Fox glared at the woman for another moment before taking a breath and forcing himself under control. "Sorry."
"As I said," Caroline said. "We're done here."
And then, she walked back through the gate with the guards, who slammed the gate and locked it again a moment later. Fox glared after her before turning away.
"You okay?" Blake asked.
"Yeah," Fox said. "I just hate her, is all."
"I don't..." Weiss trailed off.
"Weiss, I told you we wouldn't leave your side for a second," Ruby said. "We'll find a way to Atlas, together."
Weiss smiled and nodded and Qrow turned, beginning to walk away.
"So, where are we going now?" Ruby asked him.
"Yeah, what's the plan?" Nora asked.
"The plan?" Qrow asked. "The plan just got shut on our face three times over. I'm..." he sighed. "I'm going shopping."
"Qrow," Fox said.
"Relax," Qrow said. "I'm not going drinking."
Then, he turned, walking away.
"What's his problem?" Jaune asked. "It's not your fault we can't go on."
"If he's gonna be a jerk then we'll just come up with something without him," Nora said. "I mean, we've got Ozpin with us. He usually knows what to do."
"Yeah...about that," Fox sighed.
"What happened?" Pyrrha asked.
"There's something we need to tell you guys," Ava said. "But, we wanted to wait until the Relic was safe. Since that's not going to happen for a while, we should head back to Jaune's sister's house."
Jaune and the others exchanged confused looks before nodding, all of them heading back toward the house.
Jaune slammed his fist into the wall, cratering it.
"Jaune!" Ruby said.
"Everything we did was for nothing!" Jaune spat.
"That's not true," Blake said.
"Really?" Nora asked. "Because it sure does sound like it."
"I...um..." Blake trailed off.
"If Salem can't be killed, then how are we supposed to win this?" Ren asked.
Everyone was silent for a long moment.
"Wow, great plan everyone," Jaune said.
"Look, none of this is great, we know," Oscar said. "But we're not the bad guys here."
"Are we sure about that?" Jaune asked, Fox's head snapping around to stare at him.
"What?" Oscar asked.
"He's in your head, isn't he?" Jaune asked, walking over to Oscar. "Did you already know about this!?"
"He didn't know any of it!" Weiss said, less than a second before Jaune grabbed him by the front of his shirt, slamming him into the wall.
"How much longer can we even trust him!?" Jaune demanded.
"Jaune!" Yang shouted.
"How do we even know it's really him!?" Jaune demanded. "What if we've been talking to that liar this whole time!?"
"Jaune!" Ruby shouted.
Fox grabbed Jaune by the back of the neck, squeezing and making Jaune instantly release Oscar, gritting his teeth in pain and sinking to his knees. "Oscar is not Ozpin. I know Ozpin. I can recognize Ozpin. Hurting Oscar will not change the fact that we're fighting an immortal monster. I'm sorry that we don't have the answers you want. I'm sorry that saving the world isn't easy. But if you don't want to help anymore," he turned his hand, making Jaune look at the building's front door, "there's the door. You're free to walk out it any time you want. But if you do walk out, do not come back. I'm going to keep looking, and keep fighting until I find a way to, at the very least, seal Salem away. If you don't want to do that, that's fine. I'll do it alone if I have to."
He released Jaune and Jaune stood, staring at him for a moment before turning and storming up the stairs.
"Is he gonna be okay?" Yang asked.
"I don't know!" Nora snapped, then stood, also storming up the stairs.
"I think it would be best if we had some time to ourselves," Ren said, following her.
Fox turned to Pyrrha.
"I was going to sacrifice myself for him," Pyrrha said. "For a lie."
"No," Fox said. "We did need to stop Cinder getting the powers of the Spring Maiden. And we do need to protect the Relics. Even if we can't kill her, she cannot be allowed to wield the power of the Relics. No one should."
Pyrrha sighed heavily and stood. "I don't know what I'm going to do. But I'll talk to Jaune and get him to settle down."
Fox nodded and she walked up the stairs, leaving the rest of them alone.
"Maybe...we could...all use some space," Yang suggested.
The others all nodded, Oscar staring at the door.
"Oscar," Fox said. "You are not Ozpin. And you may never be Ozpin. There have been times when he and his host didn't combine. It all depends on you."
Oscar nodded. "Thanks."
Fox nodded and glanced at Blake. "I'm going to go and get something to eat."
"Right behind you," Blake said, standing.
They left the house together and found a small tea shop, getting some food and tea. Then, a few hours of shopping later, Fox's scroll buzzed.
"What's up?" Fox asked.
"Oscar's missing!"
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