Trapped

Chapter 9: Hatred

By Lightningstrxu

"Good morning Blake!"

Blake's eyes snapped open coming face to face with Tuscan. He was much closer than he had any right to be.

"Morning Tuscan." Blake said in a strained voice.

"What's wrong Blake you seem upset?" Tuscan cocked his head to the side.

It took everything Blake had to not scream at the oddly endearing shark faunus.

Oddly endearing? Blake shook her head; she had been here too long.

"Just tired and hungry." Blake sighed

"Oh well, I brought breakfast." Tuscan smiled holding a tray with some kind of oatmeal on it.

"Hooray." She cheered in mock glee.

How long had she been here, they never let her see the outside, she knew that she had been fed at least five times, but for all she knew Tuscan was just trying to fatten her up for whatever reason.

"Yeah isn't it great." Tuscan sat down across from her and scooped up a small amount of oatmeal and held it out to her.

Blake leaned forward and took a bite.

"Mmm." Blake sighed reflexively, it wasn't much, but any food was heavenly to her.

Tuscan just smiled as he fed her. When she was finished, he placed the bowl down and held out a pill.

"Time for your medicine."

Blake glared at the pill in his hand. Medicine he called it, she knew what it was. An aura suppressant.

Blake opened her mouth, and he dropped the pill inside, with an offered cup of water she washed the vile thing down.

"Open your mouth."

With a weary sigh, Blake opened her mouth to prove she did indeed swallow the pill. It was routine now at this point. She hated it; she had never felt so weak. Not since her aura had been unlocked.

"Are you satisfied?" she snapped.

"What's wrong Blake?" Tuscan asked both innocently and clueless to the cat faunus' ire. "I know I can read more of that book we were reading."

"Sure." Blake sighed, some entertainment was better than nothing.

Tuscan grabbed a book he had left on the nearby table, opening it he began reading.

"The man with two souls, chapter 12!" He grinned happily.

Blake zoned out; she had read this book before…thrice. It had been initially refreshing to hear someone else sing its praises but after…who knows how long it got boring.

"Blake, you're not happy are you?" Tuscan stopped reading and looked up to her.

"Gee, whatever gave you that idea?" Blake quipped sarcastically.

Tuscan looked at her with sadness in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm boring you aren't I?"

"What no, you're…" Blake stopped, why was she trying to explain herself. "Its cause I've been trapped here for who knows how long, bound to this chair only barely allowed to move around."

"Do you have any idea what that does to people!" Blake screamed.

Tuscan simply looked at Blake before standing up; he began to take off his shirt.

"What are you doing?" Blake's eyed narrowed not trusting the shark's possibly less than honorable intentions.

Ignoring her, he continued until he stood bare-chested before her.

Blake's eyes widened, crisscrossing his torso were lines of scars.

"I do understand what captivity does to people Blake." Tuscan said softly.

"What…" Blake gulped. "What happened to you?"

"I told you my condition, how I just can't help myself once that switch is flipped." Tuscan stared directly into Blake's eyes demanding her attention.

Blake slowly nodded.

"I was part of a small village in Vacuo, when my problem became…known." He began to put his shirt back on. "They didn't have hospitals, or doctors or anything like that. So they simply locked me away, chained me to the wall."

Tuscan sat down.

"After a while, I became something of an amusement to the village. Poke the shark boy, make him mad, and watch him struggle."

"That's…how could they do such a thing. The authorities…" Blake cried out aghast that such actions would be allowed.

"Vacuo is pretty much a lawless wasteland outside of Shade Academy." Tuscan sighed, "I don't know how long I was there, but one day Dr. Serqet and Russytt came to town."

Tuscan beamed his shark teeth proudly on display.

"They slaughtered them all." He said gleefully.

Blake should have been unnerved by the manner in which he spoke, the happiness he found in the deaths of his village. But instead, she found herself happy, happy that they got what they deserved.

"Yep, then they asked me to come with them. She unlocked my aura, and now I can never be trapped again."

Tuscan punctuated his statement by sinking into the floor and popped up behind Blake a moment later.

Blake gasped when he wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling into her neck.

Blake shuddered, although she wasn't sure if it was revulsion, or if she liked it. That only reaffirmed her goal.

Blake needed to get out of here; before she ended up caring…it's probably what Serqet wanted to happen, classic indoctrination.

"Please stop." Her ears flattened against her head.

"Sorry." Tuscan let go of her. "I get, excited. I've never been in love before."

Blake's heart sank.

"Look Tuscan…you're not in…"

Blake was cut off by the door to the room flying open.

"Tuscan grab Belladonna and get out here." Dirge ordered as walked inside. "Russytt says the show's about to start."

"Okay." Tuscan nodded.

"What's going on?" Blake asked worriedly.

"It's starting?" Tuscan smiled.

"What's starting?"

"Sorry Blake."

Dirge's tail rattled, and without the aid of aura plus the disadvantage of extra ears, she succumbed to it quickly.

Her vision spiraling into darkness.

#####

Yang was worried; it had been five days, five long and worrisome days since Blake had vanished without a trace.

They had scoured the entire city and still nothing.

Yang felt a hand on her shoulder.

"We'll find her." Ruby said reassuringly.

"You don't know that Ruby." Yang shook her head. "There's no trace of her, and they haven't demanded any ransom or anything. They just have her, if they haven't already…"

"Don't Yang." Ruby stared up at her older sister. "We'll find her, we'll save her and we'll stop these guys." Ruby smiled confidently.

"You're right Ruby." Yang smiled back.

They continued walking down the street, searching for any sign of Blake or White Fang activity.

Yang's scroll suddenly buzzed.

Ruby's as well.

"Who could that be?" Yang mused as she pulled out her scroll, rather than anyone's name the screen only showed the symbol of the White Fang.

"Uh, Yang." Ruby caught her sister's attention and pointed to the street around them.

Everyone had pulled out their scrolls the White Fang Symbol prominently displayed.

"Hoo, hoo, hoo." A voice chuckled over the scroll as a man appeared on the screen, while Ruby and Yang had never seen him before they knew enough from the descriptions their uncle had provided them.

"That's the one who hurt Winter!" Ruby gasped.

"People of Tempest, I am Russytt Strigidae of the White Fang, and I have come to cast judgment on you all." Russytt said triumphantly.

Yang rolled her eyes.

"Uncle Qrow wasn't kidding; he's certainly dramatic." She quipped.

"All of you waste your lives away in this city of decadence, a city that exists in defiance of nature, a city built from the coffers of the Schnee Dust Company!" Russytt gestured grandly.

"But did you all know it is a built on the legacy of the downtrodden, on the graves of nearly a thousand innocent lives. This city is domed because you feel that you cannot survive otherwise. You've no idea how wrong you are."

Russytt scowled into the camera leering at all who watched.

"I know this because I lived in this very spot. Before the dome was built, before Tempest, back when this city was my home. When it was Longitude, a proud city built by the faunus, carved out of the ice and snow."

People all around stopped what they were doing; captivated by the speech the faunus was giving.

"That was until Atlas saw fit destroy us, for daring to exist where they could not. Longitude fell here on this spot nearly twenty years ago, and yet I see no monuments, no memorials to our loss. None of you remember what was lost."

Russytt paused he pointed at the camera, eyes almost glowing with righteous fury.

"But no matter, for I remember. I remember Longitude's final breaths because I was there! I survived its fall, one of the few to do so. If you can call what I've become surviving."

Russytt made a show of his mechanical limbs.

"I have become a twisted monstrosity, more metal than man. It is the fault of Atlas I am this way, and it is the fault of Atlas that none of you remember my tragedy. But it matters not, for I shall remind you, I shall remind all of Remnant of what I lost!"

Russytt stood to the side and pointed to a rather large device behind him.

"The thing you see behind me is a highly pressurized container. Within it lies a gas that is deadly to humans, but harmless to faunus. There is enough here to cover a quarter of Tempest. Luckily we've prepared four for the occasion."

Russytt smiled before cackling like a madman.

"But I am nothing if not a sporting man; there are several ways to stop this from happening. First is for Atlas to issue a formal acknowledgment and apology for the genocide of Longitude. The second is restitution from the Schnee Dust Company in the amount of five hundred billion lien."

Russytt cackled again. He knew full well that amount would never be paid.

"Or there is a third option. You can stop us. But I will not accept police officers or Atlas' dogs if I or any of my associates see one of them the gas will be set off. However, I know there are Hunters here, Hunters that were called to stop us, and you can see how well they accomplished that. But I will give them one last chance to do their job."

Russytt drew his rapier and pointed it directly at the camera.

"You will face us, and try to stop us if you can, come however you wish, but there is one condition for this scenario, I challenge you, Weiss Schnee, bring whoever you wish with you but I will face you, or I release the gas. The choice is yours, farewell."

The screen went black.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment…and then panic.

The civilians around them began to run and scream not knowing what to do.

Yang and Ruby just stared silently at each other, unsure of what to do next, it was the fall of Beacon all over again.

Ruby's scroll rang again, and she immediately answered it.

"Uncle Qrow?" Ruby blinked in confusion.

"No time for small talk kiddo, you saw the broadcast?" Qrow said frantically almost as soon as he was onscreen.

"Yeah, we did?" Ruby replied.

"What's the plan?" Yang asked looking over Ruby's shoulders.

"The plan is for you to stop them, I don't want to play by this guy's stupid rules, but he's determined to make it some grand show." Qrow took a sip from his flask. "And Ice Princess and her boy toy are already headed for the bastard."

"Then we need to go back them up." Said Ruby.

"Not an option Ruby." Qrow shook his head. "There are four of these things, and luckily eight of us. Jaune and Weiss are taking care of Russytt, where are you at?"

"Downtown near the shopping district." Ruby replied.

"Well good that puts you right near Dirge then."

Ruby's eyes narrowed as she felt Yang's hand on her shoulder.

"We'll take it." Yang said confidently. "Do you know where he is exactly?"

"Yeah, Russytt sent me them, directly to my scroll." He sighed. "Cocky bastard. I'm sending the coordinates to everyone's scroll, get there and take him out."

"With pleasure." Ruby said with an uncharacteristic amount of malice in her voice, before hanging up the call with Qrow. "Let's go, Yang." Ruby raced off leaving rose petals in her wake.

"Ruby!" Yang called after her breaking into a sprint.

Running through the streets, she caught up to Ruby.

Ruby stood there completely still with Crescent Rose drawn. Her silver eyes were glaring at the man that stood across the plaza of the shopping center. Thankfully the civilians had evacuated the soon to be battlefield.

"Ruby?" Yang asked concerned.

Ruby didn't respond; she merely kept her eyes on the man. Her hands were trembling and knuckles white as she gripped her scythe.

"Well hello, again Miss Rose." Dirge said politely with a tip of his hat. "And hello to you too darlin." He smirked as he eyed Yang giving an appreciative whistle. "Who's your friend?"

"I'm her sister." Yang scowled. "Are you the one who hurt Ruby?"

"Hurt is a strong word Miss…" Dirge trailed off.

"Xiao Long." Yang replied. "Yang Xiao Long." She cracked the knuckles on her left hand. "But you can just call me sir."

"Ooooh I liiiike you." Dirge chuckled

Yang tensed as Dirge reached behind him only to pull out…a pocketbook?

Dirge flipped it open.

"Your name Miss Xiao Long, how do you spell it?" Dirge smirked with pen poised.

"Why do you even…" Yang began to ask.

Ruby ran forward with scythe raised screaming with rage.

"You're not going to put her name in your book, you bastard!" Ruby roared as she brought the scythe down on him. Dirge managed to duck out of the way of the blade. "No more names!"

"Aww no need to be jealous Miss Rose, I have your name right here." Dirge smirked as he held up the book, sure enough, scrawled across the page was her name.

Ruby froze as she stared at the book; she looked to the ground her bangs covering her eyes. Her whole body shook, trying to process the emotions she was feeling.

Hatred and rage.

Ruby had felt them before but never had she felt them so strongly.

"Now, now no need to be nervous darlin, I can check off your name right now if ya like?" Dirge eyed the scythe-wielder with an amused grin.

A single silver eye peeked out from beneath Ruby's bangs. It was cold and held none of Ruby's usual spark.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Ruby shouted out along with a hellish scream of anger and grief. Ruby charged Dirge again swinging wildly.

Yang activated the gauntlet on her left arm as the gun barrel formed on her mechanical right arm; she charged forward, she had to help Ruby, to protect her.

Whether it was from Dirge or herself was anyone's guess.

#####

Weiss and Jaune ran through the streets of Tempest; well Jaune ran, Weiss, however, was on the warpath. Currently using her glyphs to propel her as fast as she could.

"Weiss slow down!" Jaune stopped for a moment panting.

"No!" she replied tersely before bounding away again.

"Damn it." Jaune sighed before running after her. "You're going to get there before me at this rate!" he shouted after her.

"I know." Another succinct reply followed by another leap.

"I won't let you face him alone!"

"Then keep up you dolt!" Weiss was becoming increasingly annoyed.

"Weiss if you don't slow down I'm breaking up with you." Jaune ran using everything he had to keep up.

"Like I believe that." Weiss scoffed. "This guy he hurt Winter…I'm going to hurt him."

"You're just going to get yourself killed?" Jaune called out increasingly desperate.

"Not if I kill him first." Another leap.

Jaune watched her go, of to face someone she couldn't hope to beat alone. For a brief moment, the image of Weiss seemed to flicker before him, her white ponytail replaced with brilliant red, her blue dress became gleaming armor.

"Pyrrha…" Jaune clenched his fist. "Not this time…never again."

Jaune pushed himself harder than he ever had before and managed to catch up to Weiss.

"See you caught up." Weiss summoned another glyph beneath her only to find herself tackled by Jaune, pinning her to the wall of a nearby building. "Let go!" she struggled against his hands that had clamped firmly around her wrists.

"No!" Jaune roared.

Weiss blinked in surprise; she had never seen Jaune so angry before.

"Excuse me?" Weiss said annoyed her anger flaring.

"You are going to stop, and you are going to listen!" Jaune whispered. "I know he hurt Winter, I know you want revenge, but I'm not going to sit here and watch you run off to die, not again!"

"Jaune?" Weiss asked a little taken aback.

"I won't watch another woman I love throw her life away!"

Weiss was stunned, she could feel Jaune shaking against her; see the tears forming in his eyes.

Silence washed over them as he continued to hold her there.

"Did you?" Weiss finally found her voice again. "Did you just say you love me?"

Jaune blinked a few times, his grip on her loosening.

"I mean…I guess I did." Jaune turned red as his anger gave way to embarrassment. "I guess I just…"

Jaune didn't finish his sentence as Weiss broke free from his loosened hold and brought her lips to his and wrapping her arms around him.

"I'm sorry…" Weiss whispered as she pulled back from the kiss and leaned against his shoulder.

"It's alright." Jaune whispered back, rubbing his hands up and down her back. He let go of her, and she looked up at him.

"Together then?" Weiss smiled.

"That's all I ask." Jaune smiled back, as they started making their way to Russytt's location.

"Hey, Weiss." Jaune asked after a block or two of silence.

"Yes, Jaune."

"You know…I did say I love you back there."

Weiss's face turned red before smirking.

"I know." Was her very succinct reply.

Jaune would have pressed the issue, but they had arrived at their location. A branch office of the SDC where else would he choose.

Russytt stood across from the two of them eyes closed as he used his rapier to conduct some invisible band.

"Russytt Strigidae." Weiss called as she pointed Myrtenaster at him.

Russytt opened his eyes and held his rapier out before him.

"Miss Schnee." The faunus bowed.

The three combatants stared at each other for want felt like an eternity.

Russytt charged forward suddenly his rapier humming as it pierced through the air.

Jaune brought his shield to bear, to block the incoming strike.

The battle for Tempest had begun.

Well another chapter done, sorry this is shorter than usual I just didn't want to artificially extend the chapter and this felt like a good note to leave off on.

This was a weird one to write, it's sort of a transitional chapter I guess. Not much happens but exists to set up the events of future chapters.

We're getting pretty close to the climax of the story and the end of the DSRT arc. Jaune/Weiss v Russytt will have center stage, with a good chunk of Ruby/Yang v Dirge. Those are I feel the more important fights as the characters involved have more personal stakes than just stop the bad guy. Not saying that we won't see Serqet or Tuscan action, just might not be getting as much.

As always let me know your thoughts.