"Do we have to?" Elise groaned when I found my team in the morning. She was fresh from the shower and Elin moved in behind her. Elise could care less about covering herself up so she strode through the room stark naked to get to her clothes.
I mean, I'm in love with our Headmaster spending a majority of my nights with him, Peyton was gay and Elin was her brother. We had stopped caring about the rest of the team seeing us naked long ago. We've all seen each other naked before and it was no big deal now. The only thing I regretted were all the scars that I could see that hadn't been there before the Tunnels. The claw marks and bite marks, the scrapes and scratches that contoured her body.
Once Elise was dressed and her hair was beginning to dry, Peyton sat on the bed and motioned for her to sit. It was a nice picture. Elin's boyfriend braiding his twin's hair. Really brought home how close we all were to each other. No one was excluded.
Made me wish that Blake were there but she was with her team, watching other battles. Enjoying the tournament.
"Yes, Elise. We have to go. General Ironwood says he may have an assignment for us and if we are to stay in his good graces, we need to show him that we value him." I had already had this argument with Oz that morning. "We also need to show him that we aren't at his beck and call. We will not be four new special operatives that he can command." Peyton rumbled. I smiled at him and Peyton relaxed.
Ever since Ironwood had tried to split us, Peyton was defensive of our team which made my heart warm. "Don't worry, my darlings. I have a plan for General Ironwood that should put him in his place and show him that we are not his weapons of war."
Elise smiled. It was a smile as sharp as her sword. "He won't even know what hit him." Peyton tied off her braid and gently place her stilettos in her hair. "Come dears. Chins up. Before we meet with Ironwood, we have a few competitions to win." I said grinning.
The singing contest would be first and Elin and I were quite thrilled to try. Then the art contest would come next and Peyton and I already had our pieces to turn in for judgement. Then in the evening would be the dance competition and no matter what Ironwood said or did, I would not miss that. Daren would be crushed.
"I can't wait to see In Noctem again." Elin said stepping from the shower room. His lean muscled body stretched and rolled. He too bore the scars of veteran. His left arm looked somehow inhuman. None of his old skin remained and now it was a crosshatch of scar tissue, varying in colors from deep wine red to burgundy, to soft pink and silvery white.
Peyton walked into the shower, humming Elin's song for the contest. The sound soothed all of us in strange ways. We were okay.
"Hey, Dally. What are you singing for the contest?" Elise said, adjusting the metal plate to settle more comfortably on her hips. I stood and stretched myself, limping over to where she sat. "Well, I-" She traced her fingers along the ridge of a deep scar that ripped across my left waist side, emphasized by the diamond shape the leather straps made around it. Hesitant fingers.
It was like a butterfly's touch, following the line around and back. I had almost forgotten, looking at my teams' scars and pain, that I was marked as well. There were scars that I hadn't born before our time in the Tunnels. Scars that Elise, Elin and Peyton could look at; that Oz could look at, and think 'I'm so glad she survived'. After all, I thought that too.
Elise, Elin, Peyton and yes, Oz with his battlefield of scars, I looked at them all the time and thought 'Good Gods, I'm so glad you survived all of that.' Since every scar could've been a death wound.
I pulled Elise into my side and let her bury her face into it as her arms wrapped around my hips. We were such melancholy girls. "Scarborough Fair." I said quietly. Elin, dressed and ready, saw us hugging and came up behind us and put his arms around us. "I'm singing: Scarborough Fair. Remember how much you liked that song when I sang it?" Elin smiled and kissed my cheek. "You're gonna kill it, Mommy." I kissed his cheek back and grinned.
"Have you seen Peyton's piece yet?" I asked. The siblings shook their heads. Peyton had been hiding it from us, wanting the full effect of our surprise when it would be presented in the gallery.
I had trouble picking my piece before I settle on a lovely watercolor picture of the waterfall in Vasilius that turned to rainbows in the light. Just seeing it brought me back to that wonderful time with the Thayet's and my golden memories of normalcy and wonder.
Peyton came out and dressed quickly. "I hope you guys are ready. The contest starts in an hour." He said, kissing the top of Elin's head and running a hand over my hair. I could feel the warmth radiating from his chest and his soul.
Today would be fun and we would deal with Ironwood's request on our own terms.
There was a wonderful turn out for the miscellaneous contests and I could feel Elin's nervous energy when he saw the seated crowd. Near the fairgrounds was a small outdoor concert hall and it was full of people. Those who didn't get the provided seats had brought picnic blankets to sit on.
"Elin Thayet, singing a mashup of songs for our enjoyment!" The announcer called as Elin stepped forward onto the stage. Everyone was there to support him, and we eagerly awaited for him to sing. The music started; pianos and acoustic guitar. The Elin began to sing.
There was a short applause when he started but we managed to hold it down. Wow, he was amazing! I looked at Peyton who was grinning ear to ear with his heart bursting with pride. Elin had a wonderful, earthy tenor and he sang with his heart. I could hear the emotion in his voice even if the words didn't quite match up with Elin's feeling for Peyton. (A/N: See bottom of chapter 39 for song list)
When he sang his final note, I used all the air in my lungs three or four times cheering for him. But I was nothing next to Elise and Peyton. I'm fairly certain that the people in the arena could have heard those two yelling their claims to Elin.
When he came down he was jittery and oh so happy. His boyfriend swept him off his feet and I had to look away when Elin touched his forehead to Peyton's. Envy was an evil emotion but gods sometimes I wish I could do that with Oz somewhere besides behind closed doors.
Things will be different once I graduate…
Then what?
I thought as I took to the stage. Well, I'll be a Huntress. I approached the mic and spaced out when they announced me. I barely heard the song start. I'll go on missions and save people. When I sang I could feel the air in my lungs coming and going but I didn't even hear my voice. I knew I was singing passionately but strangely enough I felt nothing. I'll marry Oz and we'll have children together. I knew the lyrics and I could feel my mouth forming the words. It was a song from my childhood. A lullaby my mother had sung for me to learn my basic herbs. He'll work here still and I'll take missions when he can watch the kids. Everyone around me felt muted and I couldn't see their faces.
Then towards the edge of the song, my nightmares crept in. Oz dead, kids dead; Ghost, my little brother Ghost, chewing on their little bones; blood across the room. You can never truly leave the Family. They would always find me…
When the song was over, the crowd brought me back. I didn't even know that I had stopped singing. I had been so lost in my thoughts that I had sung in a contest and didn't remember any of it!
"Go Dahlia!" Elise roared. I blushed, bowed and then made my way off stage. It felt like I was floating. "Wow, Dahlia that was … powerful." Jaune said coming up to clap me on the back. Pyrrha's eyes were glowing. "You have such a lovely voice!" Peyton came up behind her. "That's why the twin's bullied her into this."
Elise beamed at our sister teams, proudly admitting her bullying. There were chuckles and Nora pounced on Elise for a hug. It was a little terrifying sometimes to see those two together. United, Nora and Elise could destroy anything in the world if they chose.
"She's always been a wonderful singer." Blake said so quietly I'm not sure anyone but me heard. She came up next to me and brushed her arm near mine. I gave a small rumble in my chest. Blake returned it with a purr, just like what we did as children.
I felt Blake in my soul and remembered all the nights when her Mum and my Mum, her adopted Aunt was working late so when it was Blake's bedtime I would sit next to her and hold her hand, singing quietly, badly made up lullabies or ones Mum had taught me to my blood sister.
Blake remembered Scarborough Fair from when we were just children. It had been our favorite.
It was good for me to remember that not all of my childhood was riddled with pain and regret. There were moments of light in the darkness. Sensory images that reminded me of home. The feeling of Mom running a brush through my thick black hair, her strokes strong and relaxing. My Father playing games with me in our tiny yard. The looks on their faces when I had chewed the leg off a bar stool during my teething phase.
Yes, Omar hadn't always been a madman. I remember.
He used to come home when I was still a toddler and I would run on my little baby legs out to see him and he would pick me up and swing me around laughing before he would kiss my cheek. He had loved me so much. Mum and I had been his world. His face had been kind and his eyes, the ones he and I shared, had been so warm, his hands always gentle.
Then in a day he changed and after that neither Mum, nor Omar ever looked upon me with love again. I hadn't been old enough to even consider holding a weapon when Omar began to train me. Gods, I had been young.
Mum cared for me in a fierce way after Omar had changed. I was already a warrior in her eyes. She wanted me to be strong for what I would face and despite her coldness, I still think of her fondly, regretting that she had died because of me.
I remembered that she had been beautiful with ice blue eyes and curly black brown hair. Her Wolf ears had always been soft to the touch.
"Weiss is up next!" Ruby called to us, startling me, motioning for us to take our seats before fixing her eyes on the lovely pale girl on stage. Weiss was solemn but inside still as a calm pool. Just like how Daren felt while he was dancing.
I reached out and let her calm wash into me, reminding me to live in the here and now. The past, well, needed to stay in the past.
Blake sat next to me on my left with Elise on my right and we watched enraptured as Weiss sang Mirror, Mirror. Her voice was enchanting. A high soprano as clear and cutting as a cold winter wind.
Even though I had sang in the contest, I wanted Weiss to win. Her song stirred feelings in me that I hadn't felt since coming to Beacon. Since finding my friends, finding my sister, falling in love and figuring who I really was beneath the assassin.
Tell me who's the loneliest of all.
Once I would have said that was me. Now?
I clasped Blake's hand in mine and smiled at her, revealing those fangs that I tried to hide. And Blake smiled back, showing me her little ones. She filed hers down but I could never stand the sound in my skull of a file on my teeth. Besides, they were another weapon and I never threw away a perfectly good weapon.
Memory Flash: Losing Orchid. Backed into a corner. One man. Flash frame of me leaping onto him, grabbing the back of his head. Click a frame forward yanking his head back to expose his neck. Click as I slowly bit down on his soft throat, those sharp fangs piercing the skin. The feeling of hot blood in my mouth. His screams were cut off as my jaw clenched down, crushing his windpipe. Pulling my head back with his jugular still in my mouth. Blood spraying, gurgling breaths, sirens in the distance. Someone called in an animal attack. What else could it be with the man's throat ripped out?
I shuddered and Elise looked at me worried. I covered it with a grin and a wink. She smiled too, thinking of course that it was Weiss' song that had given me shivers. Blake was less deceived. Her tawny amber eyes told me that she knew and she ran her thumb over my fingers in a soothing motion. Between the song and my sister, the weight of that life I had taken so brutally, lifted enough that I could breathe.
I looked at her gratefully and slowly blinked. I love you.
She smiled and slowly blinked back at me. I love you too.
When Weiss sang her final note, we stood and cheered for her. She seemed startled and I understood. Whenever she had performed before it had been for her Father's cronies who clapped politely. Her friends cheered raucously, making sure everyone who was watching knew that Weiss Schnee had people who loved her in the audience.
She beamed, curtseyed and waltzed off the stage. Her cheeks were rosy and there was a sparkle in her pale blue eyes that was so rarely there. It warmed her face and it made me think back months ago to when I had first seen the little ice queen.
She used to seem so aloof and cold… take a look at her now.
In a throng of her friends and teammates congratulating her and praising her for something that she was proud of. She was warm and sweet and there was no coldness in her now. Unless you crossed her.
"C'mon, Mommy Quicksilver. We gotta go turn in our pieces for the gallery." Peyton said nudging me. I looked at Blake. "Go on. We'll all be there tonight to see you and Mr. Glass destroy the competition." My heart leapt. The Dance Competition was my goal. I wanted to win that contest. Daren and I had been working on it since we had heard about it.
"See you there, little sister." I said so only her Faunus ears could hear me. She squeezed my hand and let go. "C'mon, Dally! We gotta head back to the room to grab the art!" Elin hollered at me. Elise came up to me and took the hand that Blake had just let go of and pulled me close to her.
My left arm snaked around her shoulders and her right arm wrapped around my waist. Such a familiar pose.
No, I wasn't lonely. I had a family of the heart and soul. My wonderful family made up of crazy teenagers, teachers, my lost blood sister and my love who was my headmaster.
Who could be lonely with all that?
We stood at attention in Ironwood's command ship before his desk. We weren't the only ones there. A squadron of Atlas militia stood to my left and Ironwood stood behind his desk looking at a map of Remnant behind him.
My eyes traced familiar borders and towns. I had been many places in my years. I knew the feel of each Kingdom but none of them had ever felt like home. Beacon felt like home. Vasilius felt like home. The little inn in Mistral felt like home. But Vale, nor Vacuo, nor Mistral nor Atlas nor even Menagerie felt like home.
Especially Atlas. Or what used to be Mantle.
"Thank you for coming team DEEP. Congratulations on moving onto the next round of the tournament. It was a stunning victory." I smiled and nodded while the rest of my team remained blank faced as they bowed their heads. I could have crowed with pride.
They were professionals now.
"I called you here because you are an abnormality in our system. You're a first year team but you behave and perform like a fully-fledged Huntsman team. And that provides us with some unique opportunities." His scroll went to his desk which read it and suddenly there was a red dot north of the black dot that I knew was Mountain Glenn.
I had to steady the twins and Peyton steadied me. The red dot was Vasilius, the Thayet's home village. There were many black dots surrounding Vale and the other Kingdoms. I figured those represented attempts at expansion, attempts that had failed.
But why was there a red dot on Vasilius?
"As you can see, we've received word from a passing Huntsman that it seems Vasilius is having a few Grimm troubles. Not any sort of big deal and since he was there, the huntsman took care of it."
We knew of the Grimm troubles. Mama Thayet had told us about a Beowolf or two in the woods and an aquatic Grimm taking refuge in the lake but nothing major. No causalities, just annoyances. I nodded, wondering what he was getting to. I hated it when men beat around the bush.
"We've now asked to receive hourly reports from Vasilius to ensure that there is no other problems. It seems there were more Grimm than the Huntsman had taken care of. We believe there is a nest out there near the village and that's where the Grimm keep coming from. Since, you, Mr. and Ms. Thayet, are from the village we were hoping to call upon you and the others in your team to go clear it out." I looked at Elise and Elin, noting that they had relaxed hearing the explanation.
Their mother was fine. They nodded at me and Peyton nodded but was wary. Something didn't seem right to him.
"We accept." I sensed the squadron leader's frustration and resentment. Ironwood nodded and I could feel his triumph. He thought he had us. "Excellent. Now there are no more than seventy people in the village so if the threat is too great, evacuation would be simple but I doubt it will come to that." I nodded. "You will be taking Strike Team Charlie with you for backup in case there are more Grimm than we think."
I touched the necklace, the light bouncing off the pretty glass beads, bring the eye to see the broken teeth and claws that had been embedded in my flesh by the Grimm I had decimated. "Oh General, I don't think we will have any trouble with the Grimm."
He gulped, nodded and turned to his squad leader. I turned as well.
The entire squadron wore the Atlas Military high tech uniforms, different colored stripes representing what they are be it technicians, snipers, grunts, or of course their leader who had black stripes. "Squad Leader Ryke. Dahlia will be your commanding officer while you are on this mission. See that you listen and observe her."
What a double sided statement.
Ryke, seething with resentment, saluted. "Yes sir."
Ironwood turned back to us. "You leave at first light and should report back in the evening before last light. Dismissed." I bowed, turned on my heel and walked away with my team following me closely. "Well, it's an excuse to see home but why do I feel like we are being tested?" Elin murmured.
"Because we are. Ironwood wants to get a sense of how we'll work in the field. Giving us command was an interesting move but it's to see if we can command the respect of those in the Militia." Peyton said back, typing on Tech Slash's panels.
"Actually… he gave Dahlia command, not the team." Elise said thoughtfully. Peyton nodded already speeding through coding sequences. "Peyton… are you hacking into Ironwood's system?" I said incredulously. His wicked grin made me chuckle. "Of course. I have an itch to know what Ironwood's plans are."
Elin ran a hand through his blonde hair and sighed. "Dahlia, you need to be careful. He wants you in his army and he won't stop until-"
"He wants to sleep with me and have me run missions for him. One of those he can have on my terms. I decide if and when I work for him and if and when I don't. And he will not take me from my team. He can flatter me, he can give me command of whatever he wants but I'm nothing without you guys."
Elin's mouth dropped and Elise smirked. "I wonder what Oz has to say about Ironwood's interest in you." I groaned. "For such a collected man, he can get so protective!" Elise wiggled with joy, the serious moment gone in a millisecond.
I was very lucky that Elise was not one to be jealous. Sometime Daren and I moved very intimately and even Oz felt flares of jealousy when he saw us dance together. Elise though, with Elise-like thinking, knew that I loved Oz with all my soul and that Daren and I were just close friends who met in a bar one night.
And Daren looked at Elise and found everything he'd been searching for.
I looked out the window of our transporter and traced the patterns of orchids across my weapon, enjoying the feeling of the rough ridges and smooth metal beneath my fingers. My constant companion.
My scroll beeped. I had two messages.
Oz: I'll be in the box seat in the back. Good luck sweetling.
I went hot and cold with excitement. Oz would see me dance. Somehow that made me much more competitive.
When I looked at Daren's message I grinned and rolled my shoulders a few times.
Daren: You ready to bring it?