Pyrrha sat outside Ozpin's office and contemplated on the accident that she had caused only an hour ago. The sound of Cardin's elbow snapping played over and over again her in ears. It didn't help that she knew the adults were arguing with one another about her fate...
Glynda fought for Pyrrha's case. "This isn't a hard decision. Cardin swung after the match was called so he would been disqualified no matter what. It is a shame about what happened to the boy...but that doesn't change the fact that both of them are in the wrong."
"YOU SAID IT YOURSELF," Port yelled arguing against Glynda's point, "They should both be punished. If Miss Nikos had struck a little harder, young Winchester would have had his arm torn off!"
"SO YOU'RE DEFENDING THE BOY?"
Port stroked his mustache, "No. But you are defending Miss Nikos. And you have been ever since you found out she was in your class."
"Oh..." Glynda said putting a hand on her chest, "...DON'T YOU DARE GET ME STARTED, PETER."
"HAVE AT THEE, GOODWITCH!"
Oobleck and Banner looked to each other in worry that their fellow staffers were about to kill one another.
"Are we supposed to stop them?" Banner mouthed to Oobleck.
Oobleck responded as he tightened his tie, "I think it's best to let them sort this out themselves..." He remembered the last time Glynda and Port had gotten into a vicious argument.
"My goodness," Ozpin sighed knowing this altercation would go on a for a while. Not even he, The Headmaster of Beacon, could calm down these two when they went at it.
"OH, DON'T ACT LIKE YOU'VE NEVER PUNISHED YOUNG WINCHESTER TO THE LEAST DEGREE POSSIBLE!"
"HE WAS STILL PUNISHED!"
Glynda sighed, "Stubborn...Port, do you even know what he's done to Velvet and other Faunus around the school? Do you honestly want students and the people of Vale to know that we allowed that to happen? Did you forget why we need Miss Nikos? She is key to our survival!"
"What about Pyrrha?" Banner asked. If she was that important, why did no one tell him?
Glynda brushed him off before he could even ask. "Not now, Bruce. We'll explain later."
"I do agree what Cardin did and said to the Faunus was unacceptable and the slang he would call them was utter garbage, but if I may?" he asked turning the headmaster.
"You may." Ozpin nodded his head at his great mustached friend.
"Thank you, ole friend," Port said. He twirled his mustache, preparing for Glynda's rebuttal. "This is Beacon academy. One of the best combat schools in all of Remnant. A school built after the Great War to help train the Huntsmen and Huntresses to protect the world. Cardin Winchester shows amazing talent and potential. He has great instincts. He could be an amazing Huntsmen and warrior. What an incredible waste to throw away the talent young Winchester possesses over a small mistake..."
Glynda rolled her eyes, "Attacking after a match IS NOT a 'small' mistake!"
Ozpin held out his hand, "Glynda. I have allowed Peter to speak without interruption. He would for you." He turned to Port, "You may continue."
"Thank you, Oz." Port nodded and continued. "All being said...some harsh words and opposition is sure to make any person a stronger fighter at the end of the day! I'm sure what Cardin said to Miss Scarlatina was nothing more than simple horseplay and motivation!"
Banner was mortified at Port's response to Velvet's abuse. He turned to Oobleck who was also surprised by Port's choice of words, "Is...is he serious?" Banner knew what it was like to be hurt, called names, beaten and made to feel like he was nothing more than a waste of space. No one, especially someone as innocent as Velvet, deserved to be treated the way Bruce had been. Banner closed his eyes, bringing back pain and anger from his childhood.
"YOU ARE INSANE," Glynda scowled at Port. "YOU'VE SEEN HOW SENSITIVE VELVET OF ALL PEOPLE IS! HOW COULD YOU NOT SEE THAT CARDIN DESERVES TO BE EXPELLED?"
Port retaliated, "YOU SAID IT YOURSELF! MISS SCARLATINA IS TOO SENSITIVE. THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IN ORDER FOR HER BE A GREATER HUNTRESS! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?" Port looked to the guys for support. He found none."Oh, bollocks." Port said as green showed in Banner's veins.
How could the professors be arguing with each other? A simple sparing match that went south had turned into Faunus affairs and school politics. Banner knew how these arguments always went. They avoid who was really responsible, and blamed it on something else. Usually, Banner and the Hulk - sometimes when they weren't even in the area. Not this time.
"BRUCE?" Ozpin asked in fear. He stood and grabbed his cane, ready for combat against the green giant who had secretly turned green in the middle of all of them.
"HULK TURN TO TALK!"
Everyone was sent to ground as Hulk 'gently' slapped the palms of his hands together. The gust of wind felt as if a truck slammed into you going over one-hundred miles. Hulk breathed heavily as he stared down all of the professors who were still in shock that Banner had summoned him.
Glynda reached her shaky hand out slowly. She had to be very slow and gentle. If startled, Hulk could have torn them all limb-from-limb with one hand. "B-Bruce? No one is going to hurt you...you just have to calm down. Bruce?"
Hulk took a deep breath, "Not Banner...only Hulk." He took a step, instantly standing in front of Oz's desk from halfway across the room. "Hulk want to talk with good cane man."
Ozpin studied Hulk. Was he always capable of speech? For how long? Why talk now? "I see..." Ozpin took his seat. He leaned in, interested. He wanted to listen carefully to what the green giant wanted. "And what would you like to talk about, Hulk?"
"Pretty spear girl."
"Do you mean Pyrrha?" Ozpin chuckled. It was nice to have a civil conversation with someone without having their green fists clobber your face and decimate your aura.
"P-P-Pyrrha..." Hulk said. Even her name sounded beautiful to Hulk. "Pretty spear girl fight good. She even hurt Hulk sometimes!"
Ozpin smiled and decided to go along with this. He was a Headmaster He had talked to many children and calmed them down. This was no different. "And why does Hulk want to talk about pretty spear girl?" he asked with a gentle smile.
"Hulk want everyone safe."
Ozpin turned his head in slight confusion. "I do too. What makes you think they're not?"
"Grimm, glowing woman, stupid evil cane man and Ironwood." Just saying those names brought rage into Hulk's heart. He clenched his huge green fists and they started to shake.
Glynda gently set her hand on Hulk's shaking fists as she came to his side. "Bruce, it's okay. They can't hurt you anymore."
"Hulk not want any bad people to hurt Hulk's friends. Hulk don't want to Hulk's friends. But Hulk just always angry!"
"So, Bruc-HULK," Ozpin said catching himself. "What do you propose?"
Hulk declared, "No more fighting. Hulk protect everyone!" Ozpin's chair scooted back a little from Hulk hitting his chest.
"That's very sweet and kind of you," Ozpin smiled at Hulk's compassion. "I never thought I'd hear you say something that would lead to less violence. Actually, I never thought you'd actually 'speak.'"
As Port and Oobleck were distracted by Ozpin and Hulk's interaction, Glynda hid her scroll to her side and texted...
"Hulk also know," he turned and stared down Port, "Mustache Man wants bully that hurt Pyrrha not to get smashed!"
"WHA?" Port asked in shock. "I never AH-," he yelled as a green hand went around his large waist and hoisted him in the air. He was face-to-face with the green Goliath.
Ozpin held out his hand to the remaining professors. He knew Hulk wouldn't hurt his dear friend, but best not to startle him.
"Go ahead," Port said sticking his chin in the air with his ego. "Strike me down! Put me along-side the greatest Huntsmen in history!"
Hulk glared into the eyes of the professor in his grasp. "Pyrrha...is not in wrong. Cardin. Is." He released his grasp and Port landed hard on the ground. Oobleck couldn't contain himself and laughed at Port who was rubbing his back in pain.
Ozpin chuckled at Hulk humbling his dear friend. "So, Hulk..." Ozpin was nervous. Hulk usually went off every time Banner was mentioned. "Hulk, would you mind showing us Banner? Please?"
The doors to Ozpin's office were kicked open, "SORRY I'M LATE!"
Hulk's eyes shot open from the loud nose as he gritted his teeth and balled his fists. He turned to strike, "SMA-Ruby?"
Ruby looked up to find the being that only she could calm. "Hulk? That's why you called, Miss Goodwitch," Ruby said full of disappointment. She thought she was coming up to expect a new shipment of training weapons sent by Atlas.
Glynda hid her scroll in guilt. It broke her heart disappointing this little red rose of sunshine. Ruby was one of the sweetest, kindest and cutest girls the professor had seen in a long time. Glynda spoke without thought, "You really do take after Summer."
"M-mom?" Ruby asked. She hadn't heard her own mother's name in months, maybe a year. Everyone knew Ruby was very sensitive about her mother's 'death.' Ruby knew her mother was still there and she'd find her! "What about Summer?"
"NO," Glynda said in shame. "I didn't mean-,"
"Oh," Ruby almost whimpered. It had been so many years...Ruby was beginning to forget her earliest memories of her mother. A tear formed and slowly rolled down her cheek from her silver eye.
"Miss Rose, may I get you a tissue?" Ozpin asked.
"N-No. I'm fine..." Ruby wiped her eyes, dampening her sleeve.
"Ruby sad?" Hulk kneeled down and tapped his giant index finger on Ruby's head. "Boop?" Even his pinky was bigger than all of Ruby's head.
Ruby was surprised, "HOW? When did you and Nora-,"
"Pancake girl nice to Hulk. So Hulk nice to Pancake girl."
Ozpin let a cheerful smile come across his face. It seems that the Hulk can be a jolly green giant.
"Come on, Hulk." Ruby gently took Hulk's arm and turned to reveal the palm of his hand. She touched his wrist, full of stressed veins, and slowly brought down her fingers.
Hulk hummed, "Hummmm." Ruby's small fingers felt smoothing against Hulk's durable skin...and familiar. Banner had taught this trick to her in case he ever got out of control and there was no Ice Dust in sight.
"Easy there, Big Guy..." Ruby began to rehearse. "The sun's getting real low..."
Hulk looked dead in her silver eyes. "Yes...Ruby." He gasped and stepped back as it became hard for him to breathe. He took a knee and his palms hit against the floor. Cracks began to slowly form from Ozpin's glass flooring. The other professors were nervous that they would crash down to the bottom of the tower, but not the wise headmaster.
Ozpin was still intrigued by the difference between Banner and Hulk . Yes, Banner become much more intimidating once hundreds of pounds of muscle and unrelenting rage were added in a matter of moments. But what Oz found more fascinating was when Bruce had to come forth. Where did all of that power, muscle, color and rage go? What did it feel like turning back into Banner? Was it more peaceful to turn intentionally, or in anger? These questions would need to be asked later. Right now, Bruce needed to emerge.
The green in Hulk's skin slowly faded. He was losing large amounts of mass by the second. He was becoming human again. Ruby had never really 'seen' Banner regain control. Green flowed out of Banner's veins that were still on the verge of popping. His whole body looked like it was in a trash compactor, getting smaller and smaller. Then, it finally stopped.
"B-Banner?" Glynda asked the frail, skinny man who was catching his breath on the floor.
No response.
"Banner?" Ruby asked.
Bruce looked up and smiled, "I'm here."
Ruby sighed out her worry. Banner may be scary when he turned into and from Hulk. But no matter what, Bruce was still her friend.
"Where are you going?' Port asked.
Banner turned his head as he headed to the elevator. "I'm going to set things right. I hope you do as well. Ruby," he called.
"Yes?" She looked up from her train of thought.
"Come on. We have things to do."
Ruby nodded and hurried to Banner's side. The elevator beeped as they headed to the first floor.
"Ozpin," Glynda looked toward the headmaster, "what now?"
Ozpin sighed and went into thought. Expel Cardin for almost injuring Pyrrha Nikos, a girl that could help defeat Salem? Or be forgiving and hope to make himself a better person and in turn, a better Huntsmen?
Pyrrha's head hung low. She watched her foot tap on the ground in a steady rhythm. Her hand quickly reached as she felt a vibration in her pocket. "Did he finally respond? What did he say?" Pyrrha thought as she quickly flipped through her messages.
No response. Only her anxiety to get a response from Cardin.
Her first message was left on read. "Cardin...I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
So was her second. "I hope you are okay."
The last one, Cardin must have blocked her. It didn't even send. "Cardin, if you need anything, please, tell me. I will help you."
"Oh, Cardin..." Pyrrha sighed as she scrolled through her other messages. they were from her team.
"Pyrrha, you didn't do anything wrong! You should have gone for his legs as well," Nora sent.
Ren's message came right after Nora's. "Ignore what Nora said. We will always be by your side."
But what touched Pyrrha's heart, was Jaune's message. "Pyrrha...i'm kind of bad at writing these...all I wanted to say was, OR MESSAGE, I hope you're doing okay. That jerk deserved everything that he got and then some. But that's not important! What is, is that you remain who you are. The girl who believed in me and actually saw something in me. You didn't use me. You didn't ditch me. You helped me in times of need. What I'm trying to say is...Thank you. Without you, I wouldn't have lasted another day. Heh, to think I didn't even know who you were. I have no idea how me, the weak link, became the leader of the team. If I could, I would have given the position to you in a heartbeat. Thank you, Pyrrha, for everything."
Pyrrha felt something drip onto her thigh. She looked up expecting a busted pipe. Nothing seemed to be dripping from the ceiling. Tears of joy had formed and began to roll down the face of the Great Pyrrha Nikos. Jaune's message had warmed her heart and began to make it beat. So this was what falling in love was like. When would she tell Jaune how she felt? When would he realize her love for him?
"You okay?"
Pyrrha was ripped right out of her thoughts. She slowly turned to face the person who had taken a seat right next to her. "B-Bruce?" Just the surprise of seeing him blinded Pyrrha from the fact that Banner didn't have a shirt on.
Bruce nodded. He turned away and looked directly in front of him. "I know Glynda and Ozpin have probably told you this, but I'm here for you, Miss Nikos. You can tell me anything. You're one of the best students this school has ever had, or, that's what the professors say."
"Oh, thank you."
"Don't just thank me." Bruce looked at the floor. He had sent Ruby away as soon as they got to the first floor. He had to talk Pyrrha by himself. Or, have someone else talk to her.
Pyrrha began to ask, "What are you talking-," The bench they were both sitting at began to bend in the middle. Next to her, sat the Hulk. "B-Bruce?"
Hulk shook his head. "No Banner. Only Hulk." He was hurt. Why was no one ever excited to see him? They were only happy to see puny Banner, never strong Hulk.
"Hulk, did you force your way out?" Pyrrha began reaching her scroll for backup, if need be. Why would Bruce just change out in the open? Was he holding in rage? Was he secretly injured and was trying to tell Pyrrha to run?
"Hulk want to talk to pretty spear girl."
"Pretty...spear...girl?" Pyrrha asked trying to figure out what Hulk was on about. "Do you mean me?"
Hulk nodded. He looked to the ceiling as he felt the numerous eyes gazing in fear. The staff and students had finally noticed the huge green man in their presence.
"It's fine," Pyrrha mouthed, "go. Now." They all listened and quickly left the Tower without a sound.
Hulk continued to look up, staring right back up at Ozpin who was looking back at him through his glass flooring.
"Hulk?" Pyrrha asked.
Hulk brought his head down and looked at Beacon's best.
"You said you wanted to talk to me, yes?"
Hulk slowly nodded his massive head.
"Would you like to share?" Pyrrha's tone of voice had calmed down. She could sense Hulk radiating peaceful emotion.
"Hulk know," he didn't know how to start. "Hulk know Pyrrha isn't wrong. Cardin deserve to be smashed!"
"NONONO," Pyrrha quickly said as she waved her hands to calm him. "Everything is fine! No need to be angry. No one needs to be smashed."
"No smash?" Hulk's fist relaxed and became an open hand.
"Yes," Pyrrha nodded. "I have forgiven Cardin. Yes, he did something wrong. But i'm hoping he can learn from his ways and become a better person."
Hulk tried to argue, "Cardin almost hurt one of Hulk friends!"
Pyrrha screamed, "I HURT HIM BACK!" Hot tears began to roll down her beautiful face. "I could have killed him, Bruce! I didn't, but I still used full force against someone who I didn't need to! He had no aura. I could have slashed..." horrible thoughts surfaced into Pyrrha's mind as if she had stabbed into Cardin. "Then there's Jaune...Coco persuading me...Velvet's abuse..."
"You could have killed someone who wronged you," Hulk realized. That sounded like Hulk...but something Banner would say.
"Y-yes?" Pyrrha quickly wiped away her tears and looked back to Hulk...he was still the same.
"Hulk know what that is like. When someone hurts you or someone you love. You want nothing more than to end them. Make sure they never hurt anyone else again. Make sure they can't move, can't breath, can't..."
Pyrrha could hear the anger in Hulk's voice. This anger was full of pain, agony, sorrow and...the loss of a loved one. "Yes, Hulk? I'm listening..."
"Someone in Hulk's life who hurt Hulk. Badly..." he growled. Pyrrha leaned on Hulk's bulking arm in hopes of calming him. "They hurt Banner and Banner's mother..."
"I'm so sorry." Pyrrha didn't know how to respond. Even someone like the Hulk, had been hurt beyond measure.
"Hulk doesn't want to lose someone else...Hulk don't want Pyrrha to give in to rage and turn into something else. Hulk doesn't want Pyrrha to leave and have Jaune be lonely."
"O-OH," Pyrrha blushed. Was her love so obvious that even Hulk could find out she had feelings for Jaune. "Thank you, Hulk." She began cheering up. People here cared for her well being. If she was down and ruining the mood, it would mess with her whole team and bring down everyone who she considered family. It was time to stop moping around in the past and get on her feet.
Hulk let out a small sigh. He slowly looked to find a shadowy figure facing him and Pyrrha.
The figure smiled and chuckled, "Hello again, son. I see you're trying to help someone not fall down the same path as you. How heroic," he almost gagged saying that word. "She's cute," the figure said patting Pyrrha's head. "How long until you kill her and everyone here?"
"Brian..." Hulk growled at the imaginary figure known as Brian Banner, father of Bruce Banner, who had come back to haunt him and the Hulk.
Hey ya'll, I'm back! Sorry for the break, I had to catch up on school and its the holidays and all. I'm hoping to upload another chapter before Christmas...but we all know about my 'promises.' Anyway, thank you all for reading my story. Don't forget to leave a review to let me know how you felt and what i could improve upon!