Bruce stumbled to the front of the Transmit building. What had he just done? Or rather, what hadn't he done? A criminal played him like a fiddle and escaped. The glowing woman had taken advantage of the dance and used innocence as bait in her sickened trap. Hulk was right about Bruce all along. He was a nobody - a weakling. Thinking only about himself and the blood on his hands if he allowed Hulk to take over. That's why he always kept Hulk in a cage until needed.

"Banner..." Hulk growled in the back of Banner's head as he grabbed around for the pills that were no longer there. Now, he would have to endure the head-splitting migraines that came from Hulk's lectures. "Banner always taking advantage of Hulk. Ruby would be safe, IF HULK IN CONTROL! Glowing woman not escape if Banner not so-,"

"ENOUGH," Bruce screamed smashing his fist into a concrete pillar. Blood dripped down his knuckles, painting the now cracked pillar that supported the massive building. Bruce's scream along with the strike attracted unwanted attention...

An Atlas soldier yelled from the front entrance to the left. "WHO'S THERE?" He aimed his rifle and slowly advanced to the disturbance. He leaned his head to his shoulder, activating the communication scroll attached in the shoulder pad. "Disturbance, left of entrance. Flank around the back," he ordered.

The response came within seconds, "Copied, Captain."

"Damn," Bruce cursed under his breath. He had done so well escaping the dance and getting to the Communication Tower without getting caught by the abundance of security. Armed soldiers from Atlas stood at attention all across Beacon grounds. Students were either to be in their dorms or participate in the dance tonight. Ozpin had made it clear during morning announcements that students or other personal could be meet with 'unfavorable' consequences if caught during this period. Bruce's case was different - he was the Hulk! Every soldier, student, civilian would have heard what he was capable of. The small school of Signal located on Patch to massive schools like Alsius located in Atlas would bound to have heard of the infamous Bruce Banner.

The Captain continued forward, carrying out his job and seeing if there was danger. Banner's silhouette sneaked in his range of view, "FREEZE!" The Captain aimed down the sights of his rifle. A loud click notified Banner that the safety on the rifle had been turned off. "I won't ask again."

Should Bruce run and try to successfully get back to the dance? No, Ozpin and Ironwood along with the other professors would be alerted and rumors of a threat could throw the whole school in chaos. Should Bruce stay and try to explain himself? Should he lie and say he was getting fresh air? Either way, he had to think before he was-

Light blinded Banner as a second solider, coming from the right, shot a flash light in his face, "GOT HIM!" The solider looked down his sights to his target, "What...the hell?" Fresh out of training, this soldier, now a Private, was given the order of guarding Beacon's Communication Tower with a superior. He knew Banner was on the premise, but he didn't know he'd meet him up close and personal! The tip of his rifle began shaking as his finger tapped against the trigger.

The Captain came from around the corner, hearing the threat had been caught. "Who's-," he turned away from his private and his gaze locked with Bruce, "Dr. Banner?"

"And there goes my cover," Bruce thought. He slowly raised his hands and arms, surrendering to authorities. He'd been through this maneuver one too many times back on earth. Bruce shuddered remembering Ross's deep and nasty voice along with his scruffy mustache.

"What are you doing here? Ozpin has instructed you to be at the dance." The Captain leaned into his shoulder again, "Backup needed. Location, Communication Tower. Cause, Code Green. I Repeat - Code Green, but not turned."

Bruce also knew how to lie to soldiers and other military personal. He wasn't proud of his slyness, but you learn things being chased all the time. Bruce's muscle memory snapped and he came up with a lie on the spot, "I just just going to retrieve Glynda's belongings from the tower-,"

The nervous soldier screamed from Banner's slow movements, "DON'T MOVE!"

The Captain's hand raised toward the young soldier, "AT EASE."

"I'd listen," Bruce agreed. "I promise you, none of us want the 'other' guy to come out. Please, take it slow. It'll be all okay if you put the gun down. I promise."

The private lowered his gun, "O-okay." He was hesitant, but followed orders from his superior once reason came back into play.

Cinder stood on a building across, watching the little confrontation between Banner and the two Atlas soldiers. "This could be fun," she snickered. Scroll in hand with all of Beacon's network hacked, she was able to listen in. She knew other soldiers were on their way from the chat feeds her scroll provided. "Ohhhhh, what to do...what to do?" she asked keeping a close eye on Banner. She smirked as the young soldier caught her eye. It seemed as if, any sudden moments and bullets would fly. Glass shards slithered down Cinder's left arm and through her fingers like a snake. She aimed her newly formed bow at Banner's head. "Say," she let an arrow fly, "Smash."

"What were you thinking?" The Captain asked Banner, disgust and fear in his tone. "You could have killed somebody."

All Bruce did was own up to his mistakes. "I know, sir. I should have known better."

"YOU SHOULD HAVE," the private barked up again. His rifle aimed high again and at Banner's face. "He can't change if he's dead," he thought. What was he doing? For he was no ordinary soldier - a Faunus in disguise. Not only that, he was White Fang. His nervous behavior was all a setup to cover up his upcoming homicide.

Bruce stepped back and held up his hands. This time, he believed he could actually get shot. "No need-,"

"AT EASE!" The Captain yelled this time. "Soldier, surrender your firearm, now."

The double agent continued his act, "HE COULD KILL US ALL! I HAVE TOO-," his words were cut short as something flew right in front of his face. The sound of glass shattering penetrated everyone's ears as the arrow crashed into the ground.

Another flash blinded Bruce. Instead of raising his hands up, Bruce tasted iron and coughed blood. His chest felt wet and soon, his entire upper-half was drenched. Goosebumps formed as his body felt the chill of being in shock. He choked as the familiar pain of being shoot point-blank soared through his body. Another bullet pierced his left shoulder, then again in his chest and the last one in his throat, rendering him incapable of speech.

The gunfire seized as the Faunus was tackled and pinned. The rifle skid across the ground as the superior wrestled to apprehend the rouge soldier.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?" The Captain held his 'private' in a chokehold, his hands and arms subdued by handcuffs.

The White Fang member felt his eyelids become hundreds of times heavier as he couldn't breath. "I..did...nothing..." he choked as his vision blurred. Passing out, the young private prayed he had finally done what everyone was afraid too do - getting Banner for killing all his brothers and sisters back at Vale's docks. His head hit the ground. He had lost consciousness.

The Captain ripped off his communication scroll and brought it up to his face. "Back up needed, NOW! Banner is shot. Repeat, Banner is shot!" He turned back to Banner who still lay on the floor, motionless and almost lifeless. A transformation was sure to insure as Banner retracted back into the depths of his mind...

"NO!" Bruce screamed into the dark abyss. He always came here whenever Hulk began to take over, stuck in the background and to see what destruction was caused. "DO NOT DO THIS," Bruce screamed into the darkness.

A weak response came back, "Leave Hulk alone..."

Bruce continued to plead. "Hulk, you do NOT want to do this. If you kill that man who shot me - US, you're no better than he was. Everyone will see you as the monster and he the hero. Don't let him have that glory. Be the hero. Be the hero she wants you too be."

Hulk's voice showed interest in the subject. "Who thinks Hulk is...hero?"

Bruce weakly smiled, "You know who I'm talking about."

"Ruby?"

"Yes," Bruce nodded. "Now, come out into the light. I just want to talk with you, that's all. Nothing more, nothing less." He held out his hand for his incredible other half.

Hulk rolled his eyes and reluctantly agreed, "No smash..."

"You got this," Bruce encouraged as Hulk sat next to him. Even sitting, the green giant towered over the frail scientist. "There we go, big guy," he patted Hulk's back in hopes of calming him more.

"Hulk calm...now."

"Thank you." Bruce was grateful for Hulk's understanding of the situation and didn't take over. "Gonna have a hell of a time trying to explain this to Ozpin, aren't we?"

Hulk turned his head to look down on Banner's attempt at lightening the mood. "Not funny."

"Aww, come on! It was a little funny..."

"Heh..." Hulk accidentally chuckled. His smile faded as he remembered telling Bruce what he thought of him. "Hulk...sorry. Ruby is safe with Banner and not with Hulk. Banner not take advantage of Hulk...Hulk is just selfish and greedy."

"Come on," Bruce held out his hand to help Hulk to his feet, "It's time to go back now. You can apologize when we get back to the dance."

Hulk frowned and formed a fist. "Hulk should always be in control. Puny Banner needs to know what it feels like to be trapped for days, even weeks, without ever seeing the light of day..." But, he didn't give into these personal wants and desires. He couldn't if he wanted Ruby safe. If he wanted Yang save. If he wanted Glynda to be safe for Banner. The list could go on and on for the people Hulk cared for. "Banner..." both of Hulk's giant fists began to shake.

Bruce filled with worry. Did all of his advise and hopes fly out of Hulk's mind? "Hulk, DON'T-,"

"KEEP RUBY SAVE!" Hulk's palm slammed into Banner's chest, propelling him back into the darkness - back in control of his body. Their body began breathing once more, the bullet wounds beginning to heal.

Bruce breathed softly as a light cool breeze brushed against his face. The stars were shinning bright into the night sky as his vision cleared up. "Thank you...Hulk. I won't fail you."

Hulk heard Banner's kind words and a light smile crossed the giant's face. He sat without any company, trying to fight against loneliness. Even though he hated Banner at times, he'd gladly accept his friendship and company. "Hulk stay here...stay here forever to protect Ruby..."

Ozpin sat down on the sidelines of the dance. Many of the students had already left back to their dorms to call it a night once the music died down. But, there were some students who stayed - the Headmaster's favorite.

Pyrrha leaned and rested her head upon Jaune's chest. Each one of them moving to the tempo of the slow, relaxing and soothing beat. Their teammates on the other hand...Nora had danced and worked Ren to near death. He hung over Nora's shoulders as she moved off beat, still full of energy from the sugary punch. The rest of JNPR feared how they'd get their orange-haired death machine to sleep. Last time someone mentioned sleep to Nora, Jaune went flying out the dorm.

Ozpin's attention shifted toward Ruby who happened to sit right next to him. "Yes?" he asked as the young Ruby leaned against his shoulder. There was no response as the young Huntress slept.

Penny soon followed, finding her dance-partner. "Oh, Ruby!" Her smiled stayed, trying to get Ruby back on the dance floor. "Come, dear friend Ruby! Let us continue this festive event you call dancing!" She grabbed Ruby's hand and pulled to no effect. "Ruby?"

Ozpin smiled, watching Atlas's greatest creation become more and more human. "Do not fear, dear Penny. Miss Rose here is just extremely worn out from said dancing."

Penny went into medical care mode. "Is she okay? I can tend to her wounds right now!" Banner had asked her to take care of Ruby and make her happy. If Ruby was happy, Banner was happy which in turn, made Penny happy.

"No worry, Penny," Ozpin said.

"W-what if friend Ruby is hurt-,"

"She isn't," Ozpin nodded. "Trust me, Miss Polendina. If Ruby were hurt, I would make sure she'd get the best medical attention. And Bruce, heh," he pushed up his glasses, "he wouldn't have let Ruby get hurt in the first place."

Penny was immediatly calmed as she heard Ozpin's tone. "Okay!" She sat right next to Ruby, shifting closer so their sides were touching. "Do not worry, friend Ruby! I shall make sure no evil-doer gets in your proximity."

This small interaction between Penny and Ruby warmed Ozpin's old heart up quite a bit. To him, right now, he was the luckiest person in the world to experience such friendship between two individuals. Though, there was more than friendship in the air that night. Team JNPR had left, leaving Blake and Yang the dance-floor.

"Heh. Looks like you did have a good time, kitty," Yang smirked as Blake rested against her chest.

"Hush, Yang." Blake hide her blush to the best she could.

"Come on, it's late," Yang pulled away from the embrace, still holding onto Blake's hands.

"O-okay."

"Penny," Ozpin directed his attention to her, "would you mind escorting the rest of team RWBY to their dorm?"

"Rest?" Penny activated her scanners to only find Ozpin, Ruby, Yang, Blake and herself in the building. "Where is Mistress Schnee?"

"I believe Weiss was escorted back to her dorm by young Vasilias once she got tired," Ozpin recalled seeing only half an hour ago.

Penny nodded. "Ruuuuuuuby," she whispered into her ear.

"Nuuuu, I sleep," Ruby snored.

"There will be cookies," Penny chuckled, remembering her friend's weakness. She took Ruby's hands and helped her to her feet, acting as a guide.

Ozpin watched as Penny escorted the rest of the girls out. He was the only one left in a huge, empty and surprising clean Ballroom. "Huh, teenagers picking up after themselves and not leaving the place in shambles? I most be losing my mind," Ozpin chuckled to himself. His moment of amusement was abruptly kicked in, just like the entrance to the Ballroom.

"HEADMASTER!" It was the Commander that Ozpin ordered himself to guard the Communication Tower. He walked into the dance-floor, along with twelve other elite Atlas Specialists. Each one nearly on pair with Huntsmen and equipped with the latest Atlas weaponry.

"What is the meaning of this?" Ozpin asked. Had something gone terribly wrong and caused danger to the students? Grimm getting onto Beacon grounds? A student had gone missing and was in danger? Had Bruce turned-WAIT. "Where is Dr Banner-," The soldiers moved out of the way to reveal a bloody Banner in chains. Blood dripped off of his new purple suit as the chains ripped into the cloth from the weight. It was a feat within itself that Banner was even able to stand. "I order you to release this man."

"I..." the Commander struggled for a response. He was instructed, by Ironwood himself, to follow orders from Ozpin no matter how big the situation. "Are you sure, Headmaster?"

"Affirmative. Now, release Dr Banner from those retched chains at once."

The Commander turned to his men, "Release Code Green. Repeat, release target." The highest ranking Specialist nodded and released Banner from his shackles. The cold steel snapped open, finally letting up on Banner's throat, waist and wrists.

"Thank...you," Bruce said to the Commander. Now free of the immense weight and tightness of the horrible steel, he slide onto his knees and rested. The Commander couldn't even respond from Banner's politeness to thank him. He was the one to put the horrid chains on Banner the second he regained consciousness. Maybe...maybe the Hulk and Dr Banner were separate entities.

Ozpin brought the Commander back to the question at hand. "How did this happen?"

"Men," The Commander ordered, "fall back." The soldiers followed as instructed, forming into position and standing outside of the entrance. "There were...complications. Banner was caught sneaking around the Tower only minutes ago. One of our Privates, who was one of my personal soldiers..." he had to pause from the pain of truth.

"Yes? Commander," Ozpin couldn't waste any time, "tell me what happened."

"It turns out White Fang have infiltrated Atlas forces. He was sent to trigger Dr Banner to turn and attack a Ballroom full of defenseless civilians." Ozpin's eyes widened as his world, along with Ironwood's, would be turned upside down from this information.

Bruce overheard the conversation. "White...Fang?" he thought. The glowing woman, she had to be behind the attack. Bruce wouldn't allow a terrorist organization to make him turn. A familiar voice spoke from the back of his mind from his spike of emotions...

"White Fang...want to hurt...Ruby?" Hulk asked.

Bruce's heart began to beat faster and faster from the adrenaline rush. "Yes..." he growled.

"WE SMASH WHITE FANG!" Hulk roared within Banner's mind. All of his power and anger leaked out, healing Banner from the onslaught of bullets from a rouge soldier. Scars around Banner's body dissipated, leaving not a single trace. It looked like as if he was never shot in the first place.

"Ozpin," Bruce said behind the Commander. He and Ozpin turned to face the now serious scientist who wouldn't let anyone get the best of him.

"Dr Banner," Ozpin nodded to his quick healing friend. "Just in time. I was afraid your healing was falling behind. Now, for you," he turned his attention back to the Commander, "you shall return back to your quarters with your men."

"What of Ironwood?"

"I shall take care of your General, soldier." Ozpin placed his hand on his shoulder, "Go. Everything shall be taken care of, I promise you, Commander."

The Commander nodded, then headed out with the rest of his men.

"I'm in trouble, aren't I?" Bruce asked once the soldiers disappeared from view.

"Oh, that's putting it lightly, Dr Banner," Ozpin confirmed. "Where shall I start? How about snooping around the Communication Tower? How about breaking Yang's heart if she ever finds out you left the dance she planned? HOW ABOUT," Ozpin took in a deep breath, calming his temper and frustration, "leaving said dance you were ordered not to?"

"I..." Bruce was at a loss for words as he couldn't imagine breaking Yang's heart.

Ozpin sighed and sat at the nearest table, "What is done, is done. Come, Bruce," he offered the seat across from himself.

"I can explain," Bruce said as he took his seat. "I never meant to cause this much trouble-,"

Ozpin held out his hand for silence. "Bruce, enough. I know you had good intentions, but went about in the wrong way. Now tell me," Ozpin crossed his legs, pulling out a flask from a hidden pouch within his suit, "why were you snooping around the Tower this evening?"

"I thought you didn't drink." The way Ozpin talked to people, walked around and even stood, he seemed to be a clean and healthy man.

Ozpin took a good, long swig. Whatever the drink was, it was strong and it burned Banner's nostrils. "I usually don't drink, but you pick up habits from friends who happen to be heavy drinkers. Also, it helps to lower my stress." He hid his flask back in the pouch and leaned against his cane as he listened.

"Oh..." Bruce looked down, feeling guilty for making Beacon's Headmaster succumb to alcohol. "If you really want to know, I went out to feel safe."

"Elaborate."

"I didn't feel safe in here," Bruce looked around the Ballroom. "What Yang did was beautiful, yes. But, I didn't feel conformable with that many people around me. I was afraid someone was going to mess up, get me scared or enraged and then in turn, I'd accidentally hurt someone."

"Bruce, I'm pretty sure the Hulk knows people here at Beacon won't hurt him-,"

"He doesn't!" Bruce interrupted with a harsh tone. How could Ozpin even imagine how Bruce felt and what he went through every single damn day. "He's an uncontrollable force of pure anger and power."

"Let me ask you this," Ozpin leaned back in his chair, completely relaxed and unaffected by Banner's negativity, "how many young students does the Hulk know?"

"What does that have anything to-,"

"There's Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha, Ren, Yang, Blake, Weiss, Penny and most importantly, Ruby. All of them willing to give their lives to calm the brutal rage your other half hides. He hides his immense rage that resides within himself. Why? Because, he doesn't want to hurt anyone and wants to be left alone. Now tell me, Bruce," Ozpin looked deep within Banner's eyes, "are you scared Hulk will hurt people? Or mad he keeps proving you wrong by showing he's nothing more than a gentle giant?" Ozpin leaned in again, "Next time you tell a lie, make it a good one. Now, why did you go to the Tower this evening? Did you pick up on the dark aura as well and decided to act? If so, congratulations."

Bruce was dumbstruck. "Excuse me?"

"You acted like a true Huntsmen and acted in the moment. Truth be told, I would have gone if you decided to ignore the aura and continued on with the dance."

"So, you're not mad, Ozpin?" Bruce asked with some hope.

"Oh, I still am," Ozpin smiled.

Bruce also smiled, knowing he had a real friend in Ozpin. He told the Headmaster everything. How he was able to sneak into the tower, his encounter with the glowing woman, the experiences with the soldiers and how it felt to be shot. Bruce wouldn't allow Cinder to blackmail him. Bruce was going to take a stand, him and Hulk.

"I see," Ozpin nodded at all the new information he received. "Very...interesting." He stood, cane by his side and tucked his seat back into the table.

"You're not going to do anything?"

"Not yet," Ozpin smiled. Within thousands of years of life, he'd picked up on some techniques. "Let this woman think you're still in her trap. Make her think you're still in the palm of her hand. Now, I'll see you bright and early in the morning, Bruce. Sleep well," Ozpin ended with a light smile.

"But what about..." Ozpin was gone, unable to hear Bruce's voice any longer. The lights turned off, leaving Bruce alone in the dark Ballroom. He soon got up himself, locking the building up and heading back to his quarters.

"U-uhm, excuse me, sir?"

Bruce tensed up, pressing his ripped up and bloody suit against his body. "Yes?" he turned to face a young female student. She was still in her dress from the dance that ended an hour ago. Bruce saw this, becoming more suspicious. "Why are you here?"

"I, uhhh," she held up a box. "This is for Yang and Ruby."

"What do you want me to do with it?" Bruce asked. He still took the package and held onto it carefully.

"You're always seen next to team Rwby. And, I don't know where their dorm is. Anyhow, goodnight Dr Banner!" That was another person who called Banner that...

"Huh..." was all Bruce could say at that little encounter. "Let's see where you're from." He looked to find the package was from Patch. Ruby and Yang's home island? Must be from their dad in that case. Bruce had never actually met Taiyang. Yang takes more from her father than Ruby does, or that's what Bruce had heard. "What could he have sent-WHA!" Bruce let the box fall to the ground as it shook within his hands.

"BARK!" The box began growling and bouncing all by itself.

Bruce began to tear the package down the middle, "If this is what I think it is..." A black and white corgi with grey eyes stared adorably back up at Bruce as he opened the box. "Of course it's a dog. But, why though?" Bruce picked up the small dog and held it to his face. Bruce had always liked dogs back on earth. But Remnant...he hadn't actually met any real animals yet besides the Grimm. "Zwei?" Bruce asked looking upon the dog's collar.

"BARK!" Zwei responded by licking Banner's face over and over again.

"Hahahah," Bruce laughed at the sensation of a wet nose and tongue. "What's this?" he asked, reaching into the box to acquire a folded piece of paper. "Dear Ruby and Yang..." The note read of how Zwei needed a place to stay as Tai headed off of Patch for a couple days. "Days worth of food?" Bruce read. He looked back into the box to find weeks of dog food had filled the box. "Come on, little buddy!" Bruce set the small dog at his feet. "Can you sit?"

Zwei's tongue held out of his mouth as he sat his butt on the ground. "Bark!" he nodded at his command.

"Good boy!" Bruce leaned over and petted Ruby and Yang's dog. "Come," he ordered again, "I'll take you to Ruby in the morning. You can stay in my dorm for the night. That sound alright?"

Zwei flipped in the air full of joy that he'd be able to spend more time with this new human, "BARK! BARK! BARK!" They headed off, leaving behind the night of fun, drinking, dancing and danger...