"For the record, I am the price of war."
"Explain." Rex sat across from Ozpin in his office. The sun had yet to rise, but Rex was okay with the dark. Ozpin sat with a notepad in his hands, ready to record every word from Rex. They both held mugs filled with their drink of choice. Coffee for Ozpin, apple cider for Rex. The room was warm, like sitting next to a fire. He could hear the howling wind outside. The light in the room came from a single lap in the room and soft music came from a record player in the corner. Rex believed it to be the Inkspots. Much to Ozpin's dislike Rex smoked a cigar.
"Have you ever walked the line between black and white Headmaster?" Rex took a draw from his cigar and Ozpin took a drink. After a second of thought he replied.
"Every day." Rex took a drink from his cup and offered the cigar to his interviewer. Much to his surprise, the Headmaster took it and took a long draw.
"You smoke cigars Headmaster?" He took the stogie out of his mouth and inspected it.
"In a past life. I don't anymore, it brings forth painful memories." Ozpin cringed and handed it back to Rex.
"Should I stop?"
"Don't worry, I'm sure this conversation brings up painful memories too. Consider it a trade off."
Rex took a long drag and breathed out smoke, "My very existence is the gray line. I was born in hell and became hell. I was made in the fire of war and became it. I've done unspeakable things, but those things have been done to me."
"Cryptic." Ozpin jotted down notes while Rex drank from his cup. "I believe I'm owed a full explanation of yourself."
"Where should I start?"
"Your birth."
X( ok, imma put this here so no one gets confused. When there is italics like this it's a kind of narration by either Rex or Ozpin. So don't be confused.)
"The doctor that delivered me told me that right after I was born my parents started arguing and screaming at each other. My household wasn't loving and nurturing, but it made me tough." A boy walked through a village in the afternoon. He smiled at everyone that passed him even though he had no reason to. He was bloody from his last meeting with his father, yet he didn't seem to realize. Many people looked on at him in pity, but those looks were reciprocated with a kind smile. Many people say that looking upon the child was a great cure for any sadness, as he simply radiated joy. All knew of his parents, if they could be called that. His father was the town alcoholic, his mother the town drugie. In the face of this the town had adopted him as the "Community Kid." No one dared to scold the guardians of the boy, as they would kill people who told them how to parent. "A suprisingly optimistic outlook." The boy looked at a girl crying in the grass slightly off the dirt path. Many people were either too busy looking at him to notice her or simply didn't care. Stepping through the crowd he towards the girl he mustered all his strength. Stopping behind her, he bent down and hugged her. She stopped sobbing and tensed up. Speaking softly he said, "It's ok. It's ok." She relaxed and fell into the hug. She cried away all the pain she had and enjoyed the company of this strange boy. It was short lived however, as the drunk father came and took the boy away by the neck. Even though his father squeezed his neck hard enough to leave marks, even though not getting the father his booze on time meant a beating for the boy, even though his life held little to no meaning anymore, the boy kept his smile. It was the only defiance he could muster. "Perhaps, but men need to rationalize thing that don't make sense. It was the only lie I could tell myself that made sense."
A day passed and the boy was once again seen walking the streets. It was dark and dreary. The people of the village were low in spirits, and the boy sought to change that. New scars were etched into his face. And yet he didn't see this as a bad thing, and he told everyone with a smile how cool they would look when he got older. His joy was infectious, and so the day turned into a celebration. The streets were filled with laughter and happiness in spite of the gray sky. It seemed as though the boy was a hero, an incorruptible force for good. "I was joyful in the face of hell, but hell didn't care for my happiness." The boy was held in his room for a week afterwards. It was a Friday when he was last seen. Rumor has it that men in black gave the drunk father money in exchange for his son. The son smiled and hopped into a van with the men and was off. "I was taken from my home, but I believe it was for the better."
"Why?"
"Because it turned me into a machine, and machines don't feel pain." The boy sat with many others in the dark and damp room. The darkness was almost tangible, so the children huddled together for safety. It only served to anger the dark however, as they were shocked and beaten vigorously when they came in contact with each other. Eventually, after a few days of starvation and beating they were let out of their cage and into blinding light. Before being allowed to survey their situation, they were shot at from behind. The air was filled with smoke and the mud below him gave with every step. The boy quickly believed he was outside. Screams could be heard far behind him from the boy's unlucky enough to be shot. He figured that he was in the front of the pack. He regained vision just in time to jump over barbed wire. The silver metal gleamed as it sunk into the less aware boy's shins. Their screaming was quickly silenced by the gunmen. At last he could see far enough to effectively make his way out of this kill zone. He was surrounded by green trees and yellow flowers, and seven feet high walls. That's where the gunmen were. They fired down from the walls at the children in the back. Some couldn't have been older then him and struggled with the recoil of their rifles. Others were much older then him, and they hit their targets just fine. The path ahead was clear except for randomly placed barbed wire and small prongs sticking out of the ground. Choosing to avoid them, he danced around each prong with agility unbefiting a 10 year old suffering from starvation. A few seconds later explosions rocked the ground behind him. The prongs were only the tip of the iceberg it seemed, as explosives were buried below. "Mine...!" A kid tried to shout out behind him, but was immediately shot up by all the gunmen. "They thought that they were better than me, for that they paid dearly." A man jumped down from the wall despite others telling him not to. He wore a patches all over his vest of a cracked skull and knife though it. The boy dived into the dirt and right onto barbed wire. He was about to scream in pain, until he remembered the gunmens hate for voices. He covered his mouth as boy's ran past him. They were gunned down instantly. It looked like they were boxed in by the killers. He heard what could only be explained as horrible words from the top. The gunman was distracted by his friends up top, presenting the boy with a opportunity to strike. Through teary eyes and muffled screams of pain, he wrapped the wire around his right hand and formed a very painful sort of brass knuckle. "I don't know what came over me then, but I knew it was me or him. It wouldn't be me." With utter silence he rushed the soldier and tore at his throat. The barbs tore through his skin and punctured his larynx. Making a fist, the boy tore the mans throat out. Blood trickled down the improvised brass knuckles and fell onto the boy's skin. The gunfire and screams seemed to fade away for a moment, and the dying man was the only thing the boy saw. He struggled and held his neck in a vain hope he would survive. There was regret on his face where moments ago there was a smile. Men started screaming from up on the wall, reminding the boy about his situation. Quickly grabbing the fallen man's gun, he sprayed the gunmen down, successfully hitting two and pining the rest. The boy turned back around and ran. A door had opened at the far end of the kill zone and light flooded out of it. It was blindingly bright and inviting. Slinging the weapon, he ran towards it. Bullets rained down around him, but he remained undeterred in his run. As he approached the opening he felt warm and happier. With one last leap he jumped through the opening. He was immediately shot in the leg by a man on the inside. The man watched him fall, having no urgency to finish off the boy. He hit the ground and felt a sharp pain in his hip. Thinking fast, he wheeled the gun around and aimed at the man. The gunmen's face lit up with fear, and then it was ripped apart by a bullet, all in the span of a second. "You fought for your life despite having no training, impressive."
"I wouldn't call it that, it was just instinct." The boy tried to get up, but a strong kick was delivered to the back of his head. The floor became blurry and his brain mush. The glare from the bright lights became too bright and the gunfire to loud. He noticed how cold the floor was and how hungry he was. Some long piece of metal touched the back of his head.
"Stop!" A voice called out and the metal was removed. A man in a blue uniform walked into his view. "Good job, you'll do nicely. Kill the rest and patch this one up!"
"And like that, I became a soldier."
X
"Over the rest of my childhood years I was tested on, built up to perfection, tore down to nothing, and taught more ways to kill then most think possible. I became the 'superist super soldier,' if you understand." Rex took another drag from his cigar. A silence followed, not uncomfortable, but not perfectly comfortable either.
"A sad story to be sure, but yours nonetheless."
Ozpin stared at the door with distaste, "You!" Rex turned around to that a black mass was the source of the new voice. It had the figure of a human, but it was covered with a cloak of constantly moving black liquid. It had a hood which encased his face in total shadow
"You greet me like a villain. Oh how you wound me!" Rex turned around and blew out the smoke in his mouth.
"You sound familiar, do I know you?"
The man held his hands up to his chest, "Oh, how improper of me!" He bowed and placed his hands at his sides. "I am Imperator. Or, to you, the falling voice." The falling voice? If memory served him correctly...
A smile found its way to Rex's face, "The sword."
"Ah, you remember."
"Uh-hem," Rex heard Ozpin clear his throat, "You know him, Rex?" The teen turned back towards Ozpin and breathed in the cigar.
"Know may be an over exaggeration. He helped me during initiation though, and gave me the sword." He took the weapon out of its sheathe on his side and inspected it. "And might I add that it's a fine weapon." Imperator walked up and placed a hand on Rex's shoulder.
"That's what a certain Jacques Schnee said, until it disappeared from his collection." Upon taking a closer look at the weapon, Rex noticed the striking similarity to the one he gave to Weiss Schnee a while back. "Of course, I gave it my own stylist flare. Can't have anyone linking it and the sold 'antique,' can we?" Now that he mentioned it, the sword was nearly jet black. The many languages decorating its sides were also new when compared with the 'antique,' as Imperator put it.
"These words, what do they mean?"
"Ah, inquisitive, I like it. That, my dear boy, is a name in every single language on the face of Remnant. Your ultimate title if you will."
"Which is?"
"Not so fast heir. You must earn the ultimate title first. But I guess I should give you your first title. Please, stick your tongue out." Rex turned to the cloaked man in confusion. "Come now heir, you must trust me." Reluctantly, Rex poked his tongue out. The room suddenly smelled of charcoal and ash. The black liquid covering Imperator churned and bubbled angrily. Blood red circles opened and peared out from under the oppressive darkness of the hood, lighting the room up. Waves of black liquid crashed together on the cloak, and from the collisions long spikes emerged. They twisted and curled in on themselves before eventually falling back towards Imperator. Eventually one spike caught traction and started to steadily grow. It eventually turned into a long tendril with a point on the end. It inched closer and closer to Rex's face before stopping right over his tongue. In a quick motion, it shot down stabbed it. There wasn't pain immediately, but then Imperator held his hand infront of Rex's mouth. Ripping sounds could be heard from inside Rex's mouth. The pain was horrible, a mix of burning and slicing and tearing. After a few seconds of pain and Ozpin holding a hand over his mouth to hold back the incoming bile, the pain stopped. There was something in his mouth, and it was big. He tried to move it around with his tongue, but there wasn't enough room in his mouth. Looking at Imperator's hand, he spit whatever was in his mouth out into his palm.
"My lord."
"Indeed."
"No matter how many times I see it, I still want to puke." Along with a hefty amount of blood, Rex had spit out his entire tongue. Rex quickly put a hand in his mouth to feel if he still had a tongue. Much to his suprise, he did.
"Rex, look here." Imperator took his hand away from Rex's mouth and put up his other. At once a mirror like surface appeared. Rex stuck his tongue out. In the place where Rex's old tongue used to be, there was a black mass made of the same liquid running across Imperator. It quickly changed pigments and became almost normal, except for a splotch of black at the back and various veins running through it. "May I be the first to congratulate you on your new title, Brother Black." Imperator spoke in a joyous tone. "Now anytime you need me, just speak my name. I shall be at arms reach. Now, for your gift."
"Was the tongue not a gift?"
"No Brother Black, it is your badge of office. Give me your cloak." Rex grabbed his cloak protectively. "Oh Rex, ye of little faith." With an sigh, he handed it over. It was quickly engulfed in the liquid black. "Here, your gift." As soon as Rex put it on the dark corners of the room became completely lit up. He could see through every shade and shadow, and yet he knew where they were perfectly. "Your gift, it is a powerful weapon. The gift of sight."
"Wait, would you please explain the tongue thing again."
"Should you need me, just call-"
"Yeah I get that, what does it mean. And why did I just through up my tongue?" Rex was nearing his limit of bullshit.
Imperator let out a sigh, "Honestly kids these days. You can call out my name should you need help in battle. But be cautious, as you can only do it once. You can call out for me however many times you need outside of combat, but I will be limited to, essentially, a walking encyclopedia."
"I guess that's useful."
"I've come to expect that reaction honestly, it's the most common one I get."
"You've done this to others?"
"Oh yes, just ask Ozpin. He loves watching the bestowing of titles, especially the body part replacing. Isn't that right Ozy boy?" Rex turned around only to see Ozpin hunched over a garbage can. Heavy breathing could be heard, along with the occasional mutter of something. "Well, I must take my leave. I wish you good luck in the school year Brother Black. I will be back with a mission for you in a few days." Before questions could be asked the shadows darkened and he disappeared. The sun has started to rise during the course of the conversation, and so Rex said goodbye to the Headmaster(who attempted so say it back, but failed) and left to start the rest of his day.
X
It seemed that he wasn't the first of his team to class, but he did beat team RWBY and team JNPR. He held the door open for them as they rushed into the class. He wasn't thanked, but he believed that the enjoyment he got out of their antics covered any cost. Laughter erupted out of the door, signaling to Rex that he could enter relatively unnoticed. Rex walked through the door only to see both teams tangled with each other on the floor. "Rex, team RWBY, team JNPR," The laughter stopped and everyone turned to the professor, "Please, get to class earlier next time. I would want this to become a normal occurrence."
Rex nodded his head, "Yes Sir." With that he walked over to three waving hands. Fae looked annoyed, while the twins smiled with malicious glee.
"Where were you this morning, I thought you left!"
"I went to talk with the Headmaster about things." She nodded in understanding and patted a empty spot next to her.
"Well now that your here, why don't you sit. If I can trust upperclassmen we have one hell of a boring lecture ahead."
He did, and Yossif immediately passed him a lunch box. "Place your bets on who losses their shit first boss."
Fae took exception to that, "He's not your boss. You have a leader, and it's me."
"Yeah, you're the leader, but Rex is the boss." Luka took over for her brother. "Boss is like second in command." The twins repeatedly nodded and looked back and forth between each other and Fae. Fae argued back and forth with them about the team's hierarchy. For a second it felt like they were family.
"I don't bet, but if I did I would bet 1,000 Lien on Weiss Schnee snapping first."
The twins all but blew Fae off in amazement, "Wow! How do you know?"
"Easy, her and Ruby's personalities don't mix well. If it doesn't get fixed now they'll have a hell of a year." The twins placed their fingers under their chins in a thinking gesture. After a few minutes of silence, class started.
X
Grimm studies is a subject that is infinitely interesting, the only reason so many slept in the class was the teacher. Port droned on and on about personal stories and accomplishments(which Rex doubted were his own), all the while almost oblivious to the pain and suffering of his students. The class, however, was nothing but resourceful. Everyone had their own way of pushing through the class. The twins played cards. Their box of betting money securely placed under their feet. Fae slept peacefully, how she did so he couldn't fathom as she had taken a uncomfortable looking sleeping position. Her arms held onto her desk as her head dipped down towards the floor. Rex had been the only one of his team to attempt to gleam information from the useless lesson. He had failed quite spectacularly though, and so he started to doodle in his notebook instead. His aimless art eventually turned into battle plans. He drew up strategies for many of the eventualities of team battles. A copy of Art of War sat off to his side, ready to be reviewed as needed. Briefly looking up from his notebook, he looked over at team RWBY. Ruby was attempting to get Weiss's attention. Weiss was, for the most part, succeeding in not acknowledging her, but her fuse was running short. She had somehow taken notes through the "lesson." Rex made a mental note to ask her for them later. Yang looked bored out of her mind. She leaned over her desk and sighed loudly. Blake was holding up a class textbook and reading out of a smaller one hidden inside. Every time she would turn a page her bow would... twitch? Rex would look into that later. He tried to return to his battle plans, but Port seemed to have a keen eye. "Team FLYR( I just realized that I never specified how to pronounce the name. It is pronounced Flier, like a high flier.), you haven't been paying attention the entire lesson. What do you have to say?" Rex elbowed Fae, who woke with a start and caused some laughter in the class.
"Sir, me and Fae were making battle plans. She put her head down so you would not see her talking."
"Is that so? Young lady, is that true?" Fae nodded rapidly at him while looking very unsure.
Port didn't buy it, "Well, if you both went over it, why don't you one of you come down and write it. The other will explain from your seat." Fae immediately panicked and looked to Rex for a plan of action. He slid Art of War towards her and opened it. Giving the line he wanted her to read a slight tap he rose and made his way to the chalkboard with a notebook in hand. He started to draw on the board while Fae read.
"It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army in two. If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him." Rex had drew a four on four fight in which many lines flew back and forth between the combatants. All the students focused on him, finding much more interest in his drawing then anything Port could say.
Rex spoke, "With a even fight, you may enter into open combat, but hit and run tactics should be prioritized. Open ground should be avoided and enclosed spaces favored." Port looked over the diagram. After finding no mistakes, he nodded and sent Rex back to his seat. The twins cheered for him back to his seat
"Hell yeah boss!"
"Light work boss!" Rex smiled at the childish glee of his teammates. He sat next to Fae. She smiled at him and handed back his book.
"Thanks Rex, you really saved me some embarrassment."
"Hey, I live to serve ma'am." He gave her a quick salute and a smile. She smiled back and looked towards the front. Rex did the same. Ruby was annoying Weiss by telling her how cool that was and how she would be just as good of a leader as him.
Port looked over the class, "Now who thinks they can demonstrate this?" There wasn't even a delay before Weiss's hand shot up
"I do Sir!"
X
The next day had come. The "falling out" between Ruby and Weiss(as if it could even be called that due to their relationships one sided nature) had been fixed. Today was the first combat class, and Rex wasn't very excited. This was due to his most likely opponent, Yang. He did not fear her, nor think himself less capable of combat than her, but he would have to make an example of her. He would have to end the fight as quickly and brutally as possible to put her in her place, as well as anyone who thought themselves better then him. He, however, enjoyed Ruby, and worried that he might damage their relationship. He had grown rather attached to the young girl, and viewed her as a sort of little sibling. He hoped that Yang would have understood that he meant Ruby no harm by this class. His hope was destroyed as he walked into the room. Yang immediately cracked her knuckles and neck towards him in a threatening manner. Rex sighed and made his way over to Team RWBY with the rest of his team in tow. He chose the seat next to Yang and readied himself for the impending dick measuring contest she would start. "You come over here to forfeit our fight?"
"No, I just figured that if we need to fight we should sit next to each other. It would shorten the distance we need to walk and shake each other's hands."
"You mean shorten the distance you need to crawl on all fours to beg me to go easy on you?"
Fae had enough, "Hey, you don't talk to my team member like that!" She glared at Yang with a look of anger.
"Keep out of this girly." Yang shot back. They were about to kill each other before Glynda caught them.
"Ms. Norden, Ms. Xao-Long, please take your seats!" They did so. "Who started this argument?"
Rex stood and crossed his arms behind his back, "I did Ma'am. Yang and I got into a argument, Fae had nothing to do with it."
"Is that so, well then, why don't you two start off class?" Yang gained a devilish smirk and turned towards Rex.
"Don't keep me waiting in the arena."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Rex held his hand out for a handshake, which she never reciprocated. It was personal now. This fight would be brutal and short
X
Rex walked into the arena in his gear. Yang was already there, cockily telling everybody who would listen how she would wipe the floor with him. Many people knew her at signal, and were scared of her. People started betting on who would win. Ruby looked on anxiously, scared of what Yang would do to the boy.
"Well Rex, this is your last chance to back out." Rex didn't reply, opting to just pull his hood up.
Glynda spoke, "Here are the rules..."
Yang cut he off, "We know. Just start the match."
"Very well. We'll talk about your tone later Ms. Xao-Long. Fighters ready?" Yang got into a fighting stance and glared at Rex. He deployed his shield and unsheathed his sword. He slammed his sword on his shield and got ready. "Begin!" Yang had learned from past experiences and opted to not charge blindly, instead staying still. Rex banged his sword against his shield and moved forward slowly. Every loud metallic bang served to put everyone in the room on edge. When Rex got within seven feet of Yang she lost her patience. With a yell she rushed forward and delivered a strong right hook to his shield.
It was a fatal mistake. Rex jabbed his sword into her side. That act wouldn't do much alone, but he wasn't done. His gauntlet sparked to life and pushed electricity into the black sword he held. Her muscles seized and she stood shaking. After a few seconds of that he let off and she fell to her knees. Rex proceeded to deliver a titanic kick to her face and knock her on her back. Before she could rise to retaliate Rex stuck his improvised shock baton into her gut and delivered a hell of a charge. Her eyes turned red and her hair glowed, but not even her semblance could combat electric paralysis. Many students in the audience looked on in horror, shock, respect, entertainment, or a mix of everything. The twins sat slack jawed, Fae covered her eyes, Ruby had her hands over her mouth, Blake had taken her nose out of her book and couldn't look away, Weiss sat scared. After a few seconds of Yang not being able to fight back Glynda called the match. "Stop! Yang Xao-Long is unable to fight. Rex Goodwitch wins." Rex removed the sword and brought his shield to bear in case Yang attempted to attack. Much to his amusement, as soon as he took away the charge she scooted back and looked at him with fear in her eyes. Her team jumped into the arena and stood between them.
Weiss took charge, "What's your problem?" She shouted at him with rage evident in her voice. The arena was quiet. Everyone waited for his response.
Rex looked around Weiss at Yang, and then back to Weiss, "I fought her and won. What's the problem?"
She was furious, "The problem is what you did! You didn't need to do that!"
"Why?"
"Why you!" She was about to rush him, until Ruby stopped her.
"Weiss, help me get her to the infirmary."
"But..."
"Weiss!"
"...Ok." She reluctantly took her eyes off Rex to help her leader. Blake took Weiss's position as a watch dog, taking in Rex's every movement. He still had his sword and shield out, ready for use should he need. She stared at him with cold judgment, she had condemned him to scum. He could care less about her. Ruby and Weiss walked past supporting Yang.
Rex stopped them, "Ruby, your sister has no permanent damage. The most she'll get is a rash where the electricity ran through her body. All she needs is rest. If I caused you discomfort I apologize. Yang," The person in question looked over in fear, "Do not test me further." With that Rex sheathed his weapons and walked over to Glynda, already knowing about the future scolding.
"Rex." Ruby called out to him. He turned and took of his hood. "Please don't do that again." Rex gave a nod and she left, team in tow.
"Class dismissed, Rex, I need to speak to you."
Oh boy.
Oh boy indeed. That's 4 baby, and I'm going strong. I don't know if I'm just a psychopath or not, but making the "fight scene," between Rex and Yang was great fun. On a slightly unrelated note I have something to say. For some reason, I think the song Nikolaj Hardbasov (Dj Pelix remix) by hardbass school goes really well with RWBY. Do you? If you do go and listen to it then tell me. As always criticism is appreciated. Have a good day! Don't die!