Neptune nervously tapped the floor with his foot as he sat next to the hospital bed. "Hey buddy," he said to Sun who was in a deep coma, "you're going to make it, I promise." Sun was at rest. He looked so peaceful. The young Faunus could go at any time…and Neptune knew it.

"I know…," Neptune choked, trying to not to sob again, "…I know we've been through some times. But you'll get through this," which was a hopeful lie. Sun and Neptune had gotten into trouble many-a-time before, but neither of them had been beaten half to death. "Remember that one dream you always wanted, Sun?" he asked, hoping for a response. "Y-you wanted to have a whole island full of banana trees all to yourself," Neptune said remembering Sun's big stupid smile.

Sun's chest dragged up and down, but he remained almost lifeless. The heart beat monitor beeped very, very weakly. Sun was barely holding on. Monkey boy and Neptune had been friends as long as they had been teammates. Sure they butted heads, especially when Sun was declared leader of team SSSN. Neptune was way smarter than this monkey Faunus could hope to ever be. But Sun had a way of making friends and he became Neptune's best.

"Oh goddamn it," Neptune sobbed. Hot tears burned as they trailed down from his light-blue eyes. "How am I going to tell Scarlet and Sage?" he yelled out. "Who will lead us?" he asked looking at Sun's body. "You've always been there for us, the fearless leader of team SSSN! Now, you're just gonna die on us, ON ME?" Neptune sobbed into his hands. The door closed...

Neptune quickly looked up…Blake. She carried a bouquet of red roses. "Hello, Neptune," she said as the door closed. Her voice was a mix of guilt and…sadness. Bags hung under her beautiful amber eyes.

"Hi there, Blake," Neptune sniffled, wiping his nose on his red jacket sleeve.

"How's…," Blake tried to say. "How's…how's," she couldn't bring herself to say Sun's name.

"He is fine," Neptune said harshly. He leaned back in his chair, putting one leg over the other and crossing his arms. He shot a stabbing glare at Blake.

"Look," Blake sighed, "I don't expect you to like me…,"

"You're right," Neptune interrupted, "I don't like you."

"Just…listen to what I have to say," Blake said. Blake wasn't the most social person. She had spent most of her childhood outside of the kingdoms just trying to survive. She was lucky just to have as great a team as she had.

"Fine," Neptune growled. He adjusted his goggles and listened.

"I just came to see how he was doing," Blake said taking a seat across from Neptune. "I'm so sorry that this happened to him." The bouquet of roses lay across her lap. "If there's anything I can…"

"Blake," Neptune said. He was so disappointed, "don't you dare come in here and try to feel sorry. Sun has been in here for 12 hours. I have stayed with him every minute of the way. Ruby, Weiss, JNPR and even General Ironwood came to give his respects. Luckily that monster Banner didn't come. He's probably on the way to finish Sun off! So don't come in here and act like you care. When one of your friends is on the verge of death, then you can talk about sadness…"

Roses exploded everywhere across the room as Blake stood and slapped Neptune across the face. "You idiot," Blake growled at Neptune. He rubbed the right side of his face; did Blake really just do that? "You don't know anything about loss. You know how many of my friends were killed weeks ago, WHEN BANNER SAVED ME AND SUN?"

Blake remembered that night. Sun almost had given up his life to save hers. Then, when Blake was almost shot, the Hulk was unleashed. Banner saved them, but at a horrible cost. Blake's brothers and sisters from the White Fang were engulfed in the Hulk's fury.

"Yet, he almost killed you yesterday," Neptune barked back.

"Yes, Banner is dangerous. But yesterday something happened. That wasn't him," Blake hoped she spoke truth.

"Oh, it wasn't?" Neptune asked sarcastically, "Because that sure as hell looked like a big green monster!"

"You're just like everyone else," Blake realized. No one understood. No one understood what Banner had to go through on a daily basis. Not even Blake herself who was rejected from society for being a Faunus. At least she had people who understood what she was going through. Banner had no one…and probably wouldn't get anyone.

"No," Neptune said shaking his head. "I'm not like everyone else. I'm just a Huntsman who's trying to graduate, help my team and…and," he had to swallow a sob. "And not have my best friend die on me."

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND," Blake yelled putting her head in her hands. "You out of everyone should know what it's like to protect your friend from the people who don't like him!"

Neptune began, "Blake, what are you talking about…"

"The White Fang, racists and everyone who hates Faunus," Blake interrupted. She cried into her hands. She let loose all of her emotions through her tears. The people she had lost, leaving the White Fang, the lives Banner had taken and everything else that had gone wrong.

Neptune watched the sobbing Faunus. He felt guilty for making Blake cry and he realized how crazy he sounded. "Blake…," Neptune sighed; Blake looked up at him. "I'm sorry. Listen, I know you're a Faunus," he said, making Blake's eyes shoot open. "Don't worry," Neptune said holding up his hands, "Sun told me. I never really knew or realized how much the Faunus struggle. Sun was always so happy that I thought they were all happy. I never knew how they really felt."

"Now," Blake began as she wiped away a tear, "you know what Banner has to go through every day, but even worse. People hate him, Neptune. People want him dead and don't care who gets in the way," Blake said as she turned to look at Sun. "That's why," she said taking Neptune's hand, "everyone needs to stop fighting and work together."

"You're right," Neptune smiled, looking into Blake's eyes. Their tender moment was severed by Sun's heart beat monitor going flat.

Right after Banner's rampage in the city that killed thousands and Ironwood's confrontation, Ozpin had escorted everyone to Beacon. Team RWBY were to report to their dorm and get some rest, except for Blake.

"What could he possibly want from me?" Blake asked as she rode the elevator to the Headmaster's office. Blake was extremely tired. Not only was she drained from Roman's punishment then Banner's fury, she felt awful for just leaving her team days before.

The elevator doors opened to reveal Ozpin sitting at his desk. The air was filled with…that smell that that Banner gave off when ever the Hulk came out. No mere human could detect it, but Blake's animal senses could pick up on the scent. It smelled of...radiation.

"Miss Belladonna," Ozpin said nodding to Blake, "come. Sit. We have much to talk about."

Blake slowly walked over, and took her seat. The scent was extremely strong, catching the young Faunus off guard. It smelled like Banner had recently gotten mad in this exact chair. The smell reminded her of a few hours ago when Roman had almost killed her and Sun. Then, Hulk had come and unleashed his fury.

"Well, this has certainly been an eventful evening," Ozpin said.

"It still might be," Blake said, snapping out of her train of thought.

"I'm sure after a night of thwarting attempted robbery, fighting against the White Fang and dealing with Banner when he's upset that you just want to go home and take a nap, but," Ozpin said raising a finger, "I was hoping that we would have a chance to talk."

"O-of course," Blake immediately responded. Where was her Headmaster going with this?

"Wonderful," Ozpin smiled with glee. He began, "As you know, in order to enroll at my academy, students must first pass a rigorous entrance exam. Most applicants spend years of preparation training at one of the many combat schools around the world. You are one of the few who did not. You passed the entrance exam with flying colors," Ozpin said taking a sip from his mug.

"What are you getting at?" Blake asked, tilting her head. "I was raised outside of the kingdoms. If you can't fight, you can't survive."

"Well," Ozpin said setting down his mug, "you have most certainly survived, Blake. I admire your drive and I am proud to run a school that accepts individuals from all walks of life. Rich, poor, human, Faunus," he said looking at Blake's bow. "And…," Ozpin breathed, "Banner."

Blake couldn't help but nod. Nobody would allow Banner to stay at their academy, except Ozpin.

"Why do you wear that bow, Blake? Why hide who you are?" Ozpin asked her.

"You may be willing to accept the Faunus, Professor Ozpin, but the rest of your species is not," Blake said crossing her arms.

"True," Ozpin nodded, "but we are continuing to take strides to lessen the divide."

"With all due respect," Blake said trying not to sound ungrateful, "you need to start taking some larger strides. Until then, I'd rather avoid any unnecessary attention. You've seen what has happened to Velvet…," Blake growled. "I want people to see me for who I am, not what I am."

"And what are you?" Ozpin said, quickly throwing an unexpected question.

Blake was caught off guard, "I…I don't know what you're asking."

"How did you know the White Fang would be at the shipyard tonight?" Ozpin asked, interlacing his fingers.

"I didn't, I just happened to be at the right place at the right time," Blake stated.

"You wouldn't have been the first," Ozpin smiled. "You were pretty lucky that Banner was there when he was. Or, you would have been seriously hurt. Or worse…"

"Was I lucky?" Blake asked as she filled with regret and sorrow. "Lucky that Banner took the lives of many?"

"I didn't mean it that way and you know it," Ozpin said, almost slamming his mug on the desk. "What happened tonight wasn't an isolated incident. I may be your headmaster, but I am also a Huntsman. And it is my sworn duty to protect this world from the evil that dwells. Blake," Ozpin said looking into her eyes. "Is there anything you would like to tell me?"

"N…n…," Blake tried to say. She had made a promise not to lie anymore to her team and anyone that could help her…or not lie as much.

"Yes, Miss Belladonna?" Ozpin asked as he leaned in to show he cared.

"Where do I start?" Blake asked. "I ran away from home in Menagerie to join the White Fang." Blake almost broke down regretting that stupid, stupid decision.

"Yes," Ozpin nodded, "Menagerie, island of the Faunus. They earned that island by participating in the Great War many years ago. It's a peaceful island, a little crammed from overpopulation."

"Well that's what happens when you give us an island that still has massive Grimm activity," Blake growled, referring to the humans who gave the Island to the Faunus in the first place. "Your species, Headmaster, sees Menagerie fair and just. Many Faunus see it as a slap in the face. All we want is to be treated equally."

"And I understand that," Ozpin nodded. "But it's a start. Don't worry, Blake. The Faunus and the Humans will get there eventually. Now, continue with your story."

Blake didn't really want to continue with her tale. It brought back too many bad memories, but Ozpin deserved to know. "I was an idiot. The White Fang didn't used to be all bad. In the beginning, there were only peaceful protests. Then," Blake said, remembering.

"Take your time," Ozpin nodded.

"The leader of the White Fang stepped down. And in his place…someone took charge, Adam Taurus." The name brought a frown across Ozpin's face. He had heard of this ruthless man. "At first, he was a good man," Blake said trying to remember the good times. "But as time went on and on…he became more and more evil. Embittered, sadistic and he became a vengeful man, willing to cut down anyone or anything stopping him from dispensing his twisted idea of justice upon humanity and the world," Blake said. How did she ever fall in love with him?

"I have heard of this Adam," Ozpin sighed. He could easily kill well trained Huntsmen without breaking a sweat. "How did you get away from Adam and the White Fang?"

"Adam and i…," Blake admitted, "We were sent out to steal a huge shipment of dust off a train. After we took out the guards and collected the dust…he wanted to blow up the locomotive along with everyone aboard. So, I cut off the cart he was on I and was taken away."

"Taurus is a very dangerous man, Blake," Ozpin agreed. "He feels completely justified in how he went about trying to make the world a 'better' place. However, his vision for a perfect future did not include everyone and he himself became a monster in the process of trying to obtain it."

"You don't have to remind me," Blake groaned. The image of Adam's Grimm mask still haunted Blake to this day. "And, that's how I got to Beacon."

"Thank you for your time, Miss Belladonna," Ozpin said as he stood. "If you ever need to talk to me…please don't hesitate to ask. And please, dont be afraid of Banner. He is only trying to do the right thing." Ozpin turned began to left his office.

"I'm not afraid of Banner," Blake said, stopping Ozpin in his tracks. "I'm scared of the other guy."

"We all are, Blake. And in my fear, I have made stupid and dangerous decisions. I just pray The Hulk knows right from wrong." Ozpin left his office.

Blake proceeded to the elevator, headed back to her dorm for some well needed sleep. Her ex-lover in his long-sleeved black trench coat, blood red sword and horns would surely haunt her dreams that night.

Neptune screamed as Blake's heart skipped a beat, "NO!" He shoved Blake out of the way as he grabbed his weapon. His gun morphed into a trident and began to spark with electricity.

"You're gonna kill him," Blake yelled, trying to pull Neptune away from Sun's body.

"GET OFF," Neptune screamed. Blake slammed against the ground and banged her head. "I can't lose him. He's my best friend," Neptune sobbed as tears rapidly dropped from his face.

Blake tried to stop him, "Neptune don't..."

Neptune aimed his trident and laid it onto Sun's chest. Electrical sparks engulfed the Faunus's body, shattering the rest of his already low aura.

"STOP," Blake screamed as she grabbed around Neptune's waist and threw him against a wall.

"Get off me," Neptune yelled in her face as Blake held him there.

"YOU IDIOT. YOU CAN'T SAVE HIM," Blake yelled as tears flowed down her face. "He's...he's gone..."

Neptune took deep, horrified breaths as he realized the situation. Sun couldn't be dead, could he? He and Neptune had been through so much.

Blake let up, allowing Neptune to fall to his knees. "I'm so sorry, Neptune...," she said through tears. Another person who had gotten close to her, gone. Now Blake remembered why she didn't want to interact with people. They all either got hurt, or were killed.

"Goddamn it," Neptune sobbed into his hands. "I never meant anything i ever said bad about you."

Blake turned and faced Sun. She picked up his hand, "Thank you. You risked your life for me," she said recalling Sun's bravery just to save her from Roman, "and I failed you!" One of Blake's tears fell onto Sun's cheek. "I can't believe you would risk your life for me..."

"I'm gonna kill him," Neptune interrupted.

"W-what," Blake asked in confusion with tears still in her eyes.

"I'm gonna kill Banner."