Hello everyone and all, Melody here with a new chapter. I hope everyone enjoyed the previous chapter. Like I stated in the last chapter, this one will be all about Leon. The next chapter will finally get to the actual beginning of RWBY. Also, this chapter takes place parallel to the previous one time wise. Anyway, let's get to it.

Sincerely, Melody

Normal P.O.V.

Leon walked a few feet behind Amber once more. She hadn't said a word to him since she found out about the blood-drinking earlier in the morning. He didn't mind honestly but the occasional looks over her shoulder at him to make sure he wasn't about to eat her annoyed him. Once it happened again he let out an annoyed sigh.

"I'm not going to kill you dammit." He huffed out with a scowl as he took out a cigarette.

She gave him a small glare. "You might with second-hand smoke."

Rolling his eyes, Leon lit the cigarette. "Cry me a river. I'm not going to quit for you."

"You put out that cigarette for Sally last week." Amber shot back, starting to get frustrated with him.

"Yeah well, if your adopted kid didn't want you doing something around them you'd listen right?" He replied.

Amber stopped and turned around while crossing her arms. "Now I don't want to be rude but you seemed a lot nicer that day. Why are you being a prick?"

Leon just chuckled lightly. "Well, I'm nicer to kids than I am to adults. Treating kids like trash isn't something I'm going to do. Like I said though, I don't care if you hate me. You don't sign my paychecks."

"Is the only thing you care about money? You seem like a greedy asshole to me."

"Well money can do a lot of things in this world and I have to amass a good sum so friends of mine have a proper place to live where they won't be bothered by others." He explained plainly, his tone even and his eyes bored.

"Based on how you act, who would be friends with you?!" She shouted at him angrily.

"Oh, thieves, info-brokers, dirty police officers, ex-military members who got dishonourable discharges, mercenaries, scientists, my Wife and kid, a dog, a barber. Want me to go on? I got a few more to mention." He laughed as he told her, her annoyance just amusing him.

She just let out a huff and shook her head. "It's pointless to get mad at someone who doesn't care. Let's just continue, the village I planned on visiting shouldn't be that far from here. Couple hours at most."

With that, she turned back around and resumed walking with Leon a few feet behind her. Out of the corner of his eye, Leon noticed a few glowing eyes watching from the shadows. Reaching out with his Semblance he just felt around to see if anything unusual was nearby. By what he felt, nearby were around eight Grimm; Six Beowolves and two Alphas. Slinging Victory over his shoulder and pulling out Zhu-Rong and firing a few bullets around at the Grimm. Amber instantly pulled out her staff and looked back at him quickly. Motioning around, Leon pointed out where the nearest Grimm were before they all jumped out and attacked them.

Before one could pounce on Amber she saw it suspended in the air. Blackish red blood was pulled out from the Grimm and Leon started to puppeteer it as if it was a macabre marionette. Around Leon was a wild and erratic yellowish-orange aura, something akin to electricity surging to be specific. Amber slammed her staff into the Beowolves' face, shattering the mask, and killing it instantly. As the body began to disintegrate Leon ripped the remaining blood from the body before it fully disappeared. He formed it into a small perfect sphere above his head and continued to fight. The eight Beowolves quickly turned into twenty as more appeared from the forest. Using V.A.T.S. he targeted the heads of four of the Grimm before quickly firing the bullets.

With a bored look, he continued to fire at anything that came near. Eventually, Boarbatusks and Ursa started to come out and fight with them. It was easy for the duo due to their respective training regiments. Ozpin must've been one hell of a teacher because Leon was impressed with Amber's fighting skills. Eventually, the area they were in became too crowded and the pair started to run out of the forest with a hoard of Grimm at their heels. Using some of the blood from the orb above him, Leon shot out needles of solidified blood back at the hoard. It didn't stop many but the ones it did stop proved to be a tripping hazard for the rest. Amber conjured flames and fired deadly fireballs back at the Grimm which caused a great deal more damage than Leon was able but it wasn't a contest for them.

Eventually, they made their way to a large open field on the outside of the forest. In the far distance, Leon was able to see smoke columns. When Amber finally stopped running Leon continued until he was about twenty feet from her. Once he was a decent distance away from her, he holstered Zhu-Rong and pulled out Victory. Reaching onto his belt he pulled out a magazine loaded with armour piercing rounds. Waiting for a moment, he took a deep breath and lined up one of his shots. When three Beowolves were lined up he took the shot and watched as all three fell a second later and turned to dust. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Amber started to float off the ground as storm clouds started to form overhead.

Lightning bolts started to rain down from the sky and struck down most of the hoard. Chuckling, Leon continued to fire at the ones that were able to get near Amber. Before they could turn to dust he would use his Semblance and rip the blood from some of them. This fight continued on for the next half hour as more and more added to the mass. Eventually, they were all dead and gone leaving the duo breathing heavier than before. Amber cracked her back and walked over to Leon; Keeping her eyes on the orb of blood he formed which was now the size of a beach ball. Waving his hand, Leon brought the orb down to his chest and observed it. Even though he had complete control of the orb, it seemed to writhe and fight against his control. He chuckled again and reached his cupped hand into the orb and took some of it out.

"What are you even going to do with that?" Amber questioned suspiciously as she continued to stare at the orb.

Leon brought his cupped hand up to his lips and took a sip. Swashing it around his mouth, he tried to see if it had any taste. While regular blood had a strong taste and scent of iron, this blood was practically tasteless. One thing that Amber didn't notice was how his left eye briefly flickered from blue to a yellow-red. "Trying something new. Honestly, I don't really deal with Grimm most of the time. For some reason, they seem to shy away from me." He answered with his usual bored tone.

Amber just stared at him wide-eyed. "Are you insane?! You just drank the blood of creatures made from the worst emotions of people!" She exclaimed while strapping her staff to her back.

"According to the many therapists and psychologists I've met with, I am legally insane and should be thrown in the nearest psych ward for the rest of my life." He answered casually as he started to drink the rest of the blood from the orb.

"I am not surprised by that at all." She replied with a deadpan tone. "Why did Ozpin hire you again?"

"I'm a good person."

"Yet your friend's list is full of criminals."

"The best way to learn about the Underworld is to submerge yourself in it. Shall we continue on our way now?"

Amber just let out another sigh but nodded. Their walk to the village once again entered silence with Leon a few feet behind her. Traveling for two hours they arrived in the village. Most villagers seemed to be just waking up around now and going to open their small stores and stuff of that nature. There was a good mix of faunus and humans which caused a small smile to appear on Amber's face. Running around was a group of kids kicking a soccer ball around. Nearby there was an inn that the duo entered.

The inside of the inn had a small bar area with six stools and two tables. The tables looked like they were just slices from a log with the bark still on them. Standing behind the bar was a rather slim blonde man with a long leopard tail. He offered them a smile as the duo sat at one of the tables. Walking over he offered them both menus and threw up a few hand signs. Amber gave him a confused look while Leon threw a few back at him that caused him to chuckle.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're doing." She told them as she tilted her head slightly to the side.

"He signed that he was deaf but if we looked at him as we spoke he'd be able to read our lips. I signed back that I heard him loud and clear." Leon replied casually then looked back to the man. "I'll take black coffee. The strongest you have." He informed him then turned back to the menu.

"Oh, okay then," She said then looked over to the man. "Sorry. I'll take tea with honey." She ordered then looked back to her menu after the man nodded to her. "So you know sign language?"

Leon nodded. "Learned when I was still in that cult I grew up in. My Dad had me learn so we could pass secret messages back and forth. I also taught it to my girlfriend at the time so we could sneak messages by her prick of a dad."

"Ah." Was all that Amber replied before focusing on the menu.

They went silent once more after that as they looked at the menu. Most of the breakfast items looked good to Amber but Leon didn't really care. What the food was didn't matter when you lost your sense of taste over eight years ago. It actually depressed him. On Remnant, he was able to smell so many delicious foods and learned a thing or two about cooking but that didn't matter. He honestly forgot how most foods tasted. Texture was the only reminder but even when he tried a hot sauce from Vacuo he wasn't even able to feel the heat.

When the waiter brought their drinks the pair ordered. Amber ordered a rather large breakfast which included five eggs and three pancakes. Leon just ordered a couple of fresh apples. They ate in relative silence with the only real sound being the occasional clink of porcelain cups onto saucers and the waiter refilling their drinks. Leon looked out the window as he ate and smiled as he saw kids running around and playing and mothers chasing after them. Back in Vault 101 he didn't really play any games with the others since he was normally helping his Dad with his work. A small twinge of jealousy bit the back of his brain for some reason as he watched but he just chuckled and looked away.

Amber looked up from her food when she heard him chuckle and noticed a somber look in his eyes. She was about to say something when Leon set his cup down on the saucer and stood from his chair.

"I'm going to step outside for a smoke." He abruptly said and walked out of the room.

"Okay…" She awkwardly said as she just stared at his leaving form, the dull thud from the door closing being the only sound.

Once he was outside, Leon leaned against the wall and reached into his coat. The pack of cigarettes was partly crushed with a smokey skull and Death's Head written below it. Taking out a cigarette he slipped the pack back inside his coat and pulled out a lighter that had the words Bitter Sweet written in chipping red paint. Smirking, he lit the cigarette and took a drag from it. People stared at him as they walked by and offered him a friendly wave despite his appearance. As he let out a small puff of smoke he felt something gently hit his leg. Looking down he saw the soccer ball and a group of kids running over to him. Kicking his foot under the ball, he launched it five feet in the air then started bouncing on his knees.

"Sorry lady, could we please have our ball back?" A little faunus boy with mouse ears asked.

Leon let out a harsh cough and dropped the ball before bursting into a fit of laughter. "Sorry bud, but I'm not a girl." He explained as he held his sides, the cigarette hanging loosely from his lips. Looking mortified, the boy covered his mouth and began to profusely apologize before Leon held his hand up. "No need to apologize, I honestly get that a lot. Here." He said then kicked the ball back to the boy.

"Could you show us how to do that?" A little human girl asked and Leon smiled in response, putting out his cigarette and nodding.

"Of course, see you do it like this." He explained and showed them how to kick the ball up and start bouncing it on his knee before stopping and passing it to the little girl.

She tried to do it how she saw him and was successful after her third attempt before the little boy spoke up again. "Um… Mister… Are you a Huntsmen?" He asked shily.

Leon nodded with a small shrug. "You could say I am. I'm kind of like a Huntsmen but I usually hunt down bad people that hurt others. I'm a Regulator." He explained and took the badge off of his coat to show them to which they stared at in awe.

"Can we hold it?" The little girl asked innocently to which Leon simply handed it to her.

"That's so cool!" Another little boy exclaimed as he ran over and looked at the badge. "I wish I had something that cool!"

Leon laughed and smiled at them. "How about you guys keep it then? You can use it to play sheriffs and robbers." He offered which caused them to look up at him wide-eyed.

"Really?" the little mouse-eared boy asked with a large smile. Leon just nodded in response. "Thanks!" The trio then exclaimed and then they ran off to play more.

Amber watched from the doorway of the inn and smiled slightly before silently moving back inside. Leon continued to stand outside and smoke another cigarette before going back inside, Amber not commenting on what she had witnessed. Shortly after, Amber had finished eating and they had gotten rooms at the inn. While Amber went to take a shower Leon had gone around the village to get some supplies and see if there were any problems going on around the area. Nearby in one of the farming fields, there was an attack by some Grimm recently and one of the farmers had died before a Huntsman was able to step in. The poor man had actually been buried just two days ago so Leon went and paid his respects for a man he had never met.

Generally in Leon's opinion, when someone died, there was usually a reason for it. Raiders attacking caravans, an argument that went too far, an attack by Deathclaws that happened because someone wasn't prepared. He used to not care but now, on Remnant, he saw a real meaning to life and death. Senseless slaughter used to not make him bat an eye, now it churned his stomach. He made sure that the only people he killed were guilty now and he even had a couple of encounters with people trying to get revenge for their dead friends. The concept of monsters made from the worst emotions of man bewildered, baffled, and angered him greatly.

`He knew it made no sense to get angry over something like that but he didn't care about that. Grimm were just mindless beasts that fed on the negativity in his eyes. Shaking those thoughts out of his head, he bought some dried foods and went back to the inn. The innkeeper was a short, portly old woman with a kind smile that offered him a friendly hello as he went up the stairs. Entering his room, he took off his duster and draped it over the chair. Kicking off his boots, he walked into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Taking off his shirt he saw a few scars on his chest and stomach. Each one he remembered how he got vividly.

One on his left shoulder was from the first time he was shot. The pain was surreal and occasionally he still felt it. To the left of where Bittercup's name was tattooed was a scar from a stabbing by a chemmed out junkie. Despite his shitty luck in life, he was lucky it missed his heart. If he had been stabbed in the heart then he never would've even met Bittercup and found his bastard of a Dad. Aside from the scars though, he had a decent number of tattoos.

On his ribs on the right side of his torso was the Tunnel Snakes symbol. Butch had convinced him to get that tattooed on him. Leon felt the guy that did it though had done a shitty job so he touched it up and fixed it. If there was anything he enjoyed about being in Vault 101, it had been his job. Somehow the G.O.A.T. had deemed his job would be as a tattoo artist. He always enjoyed drawing growing up so getting a job like that actually made him happy. Another tattoo he had was the poem his Aunt Beatrice had written for him on his tenth birthday. Tattooed on his back was a sun during an eclipse. The first time he witnessed that he believed that the sun had turned into a black hole.

Stripping down, he jumped in the showered and washed quickly then dried off and went back into his room after getting dressed in more casual clothes. Sitting at the small table, Leon took out his scroll and dialed Sally's number while he put his hair up in a towel. After a few moments, she answered the call and he was greeted by her and Dogmeat, both smiling; Well, as good as a dog can smile in Dogmeat's case.

"Hey Sally, how's everything going?" He asked as he leaned back in his chair.

"Hiya Captain, everything's going well. Mercury is actually with one of the professors' right now training. Can't remember the guy really but he has a big mustache. Past few days he's actually been training with all of the professors." She explained as she scratched behind Dogmeat's ear.

Leon smiled slightly. "Glad to hear that. Should be good for him. When are you going to train with him?"

She nodded. "Tomorrow! I'm still going to become a Huntress so I'll be as strong as you. I wanna help you wake up Bittercup one day, she's such a nice lady." She explained as Dogmeat chimed in with a bark.

"Yes, yes she is. You too Dogmeat." He replied to the mutt who barked a couple more times. "What? You'd think I'd lie about that? I'm hurt girl." He replied, feigning hurt in his voice which caused Dogmeat to whimper. "I'm just messing with you."

"How do you understand her? I still haven't figured out how." Sally asked with a small huff.

Leon shrugged. "I don't really know, I've just always been able to understand animals. Maybe it was a mutation from when I was born out in the Wastes. So you three are doing okay?" He asked and got a nod in response. "That's good. Listen, I gotta go. I have a few other calls to make but know I'm thinking about all of you." He told her.

Sally just smiled. "Alrighty Captain, I'll see you next week. Be safe!" She said then the call ended.

Leaning back in his chair even more than before Leon yawned a bit then dialed another number into his scroll. First, he called Junior who informed him Six Sustrai wasn't the man he was looking for. That annoyed him but he understood Frank wouldn't be an easy man to find the pale fucker but his curiosity peaked. There was another Wastelander he didn't know about currently on Remnant. After that, he called Elliot to see how Mothership Zeta was doing. Elliot told him everything was fine but they'd need another shipment of food delivered to their usual pick up spot. The next call was to his usual food supplier, that call was simple really. Finally, he made a call to a barbershop in Vale.

When the call was answered he saw a familiar face which caused him to smile. "Hey man, how ya doin'?" Butch's voice rung through the scroll. He still had the pompadour but now he also had a light beard.

"I'm doing alright, currently on a job. How's the shop?" Leon replied as he sat up a bit.

"Ah, it's goin' great. People still love the Tunnel Snakes. Occasionally some of the older customers ask about ya, wantin' a tattoo ya know. Think you'll be able to stop by one day? I'll pay ya and people would be happy about it." He explained as he sent down some scissors and grabbed a straight razor.

Leon raised his eyebrow. "Are you working right now? Why the hell are you talking on the scroll?"

Butch laughed. "You know I ain't gonna fuck this up, Leon. I've never messed up once while cuttin' hair or givin' a man a shave. I gotta go though, I'll call you later." He explained.

"Well, have fun man. I'll be waiting for that call." Leon said then ended the call.

Letting out a sigh, he looked around the room. It was nice, a light calming shade of blue. Reaching over to his beg, he set it on the table and started to get to work on repairing his weapons. A thought entered Leon's mind, this would be his life for the next few years. Chuckling to himself, he continued his work silently, using his Semblance to reach out and sense his surroundings and make sure that Amber was fine. He didn't notice how his left eye had flicked from blue to yellow-red.

And that's the chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it, as I stated the next chapter will finally be getting to the beginning of RWBY. Anyway, let's get to the reviews!

ILikeHotDogs: Hope this isn't that rushed, anyway glad you enjoyed the chapter!

Kpmh2001: Glad I have your attention, you'll learn more as the story continues. Also, you're correct in your assumption of being incorrect for what Six is dealing with.

Anyway, as I said before I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Please leave a review because I'm always interested in learning what people thought of the chapter. Also, I don't think I have to mention it but I will anyway. I hope y'all stay safe with what is going on in the world with Covid-19. Anyway, I hope you all have a good morning, evening, afternoon and etc.