RWBY: The Hero in your Heart

by SlimPickensUK

Over the many centuries, the Gainsborough bloodline has given Remnant numerous warriors, scholars and artisans who have all been revered in some way, whether it be small or large. But after a horrible tragedy befalls the latest generation, only a son is left. Will he carry on his family's legacy and honour the name? or will he be consumed by his own selfish desire for vengeance?

10. Chapter 7: Homecoming

AN: Hmm, every time I post a new chapter, I lose a follower. Oh well, whatever happens. some may have noticed I changed the story's summary, in my opinion at least, the new one gets the premise of the story across better without losing the cryptic feel the old one gave; plus the old summary was hardly original. Something else I've noticed as well is that the RWBY episodes keep playing in my favour and I don't really have to change much to make my story fit in with the canon, so good for me!

I'm sorry if this story seems very jumpy at the moment, but it's needed to convey the hectic nature of the early chapters.

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Homecoming.

Aero didn't know how long he had been in the cell prior to him regaining consciousness. The cell was literally a box; with the only features being a solitary torch in a wall sconce, the smallest window in existence complete with its own bars and another set of bars making up one of the walls and the entrance. The frigid wind coming through the window was overwhelming, especially with him still donned in his tattered clothes and his fur poncho being confiscated from him.

He grunted as he pulled on the chain that bound both of his hands together, but the bolts on the chain loop showed absolutely no sign of budging. He braced a leg up on the wall and pulled again. The bolts did show signs of coming loose this time, but at this rate he would dislocate his wrists and rip his hands off before he would even come close to getting loose. He admitted defeat and dropped himself to the floor with a heavy sigh.

The shackles had already rubbed fiercely against his skin through his efforts and this only served to bewilder him. Aero looked down at the raw skin underneath the iron shackles and let out a frustrated groan. "I don't understand it." He thought to himself. "One moment I'm able to go toe to toe with a man twice my size and heal wounds that should've taken a few days at the least to mend in a tenth of the time." Helaid back on the cold stone floor of his cell. "And now I can't even break out of a rusty set of cuffs and chains. My Aura's unlocked, I know this. So this should be child's play."

He turned to look at the torch on the far side of the cell. The torch itself was out of his reach whilst he was connected to the wall and had no chance of providing any warm reprieve from the biting cold of the night. "Then again, that's what I am. I'm still just a child." He slowly rose to his feet and held his hands up in front him. "And yet, I've experienced more than any man should have to." He closed his eyes as he slowly inhaled and exhaled.

"Concentrate." Aero muttered under his breath.

Nothing immediate happened for a moment, until his arms and hands began to flicker with a blue glow. He felt a tingling sensation coursing through him, and even more so in and around his wrists. His flickering Aura soon steadied into a glow, but still seemed to be fluctuating like before. He could feel the tingling sensation turn into a light stinging as the worn and raw skin on his wrists began to heal. He had nearly finished the process, until his concentration was suddenly broken when he heard the metal clanging of the door opening down the hall from his cell.

"Visitors? Well maybe I can finally get some answers." Aero thought as he sat himself down where the wall met the cell bars, trying to get a look at whoever was approaching.

He heard the iron door at the end of the hall clang shut and then a couple sets of footsteps followed. One set was even, yet cautiously paced; while the other was purposeful and loud. It was clear that something or someone clearly didn't belong in this scenario.

His suspicions were confirmed when a woman stopped outside of his cell and she was being escorted by a guard. The woman looked a little afraid and nervous due to the surroundings and the tense situation. She had straight blonde hair that was tied up in bunches, rested forward over her shoulders and reached well past her chest. She wore cream coloured pants, a pair of plimsolls and a white apron over a short sleeved blue top. Under the apron was a very noticeable bump, she was clearly pregnant .She was carrying a folded up blanket with a tray balanced on top.

"Mrs Nash?" Aero questioned looking up at the blonde woman.

She may have looked timidand jumpy initially, but she smiled down at Aero when he recognized her. "Aero, it's wonderful to see you're okay."

Mrs Nash was a woman in her late twenties and she owned a restaurant that was situated quite close to the town hall with her husband. Their restaurant was the very same one that Aero, Ishara and their father had stopped off at for ice cream after Ishara's first day of school. After that day the Gainsborough family had frequented the establishment quite often and developed quite the rapport with the Nash family.

"It's good to see a familiar face." He smiled back as he rose up and stood before her. "Not that I'm what are you doing here, Mrs Nash?"

She took a step towards the bars. "I heard what had happened up in the mountains and I don't believe a word of what people have been saying." She turned to one of the guards. "Um, could you open the door please?"

The guard that was hidden round the corner that Aero had failed to notice altogether was reluctant to adhere to the request. He looked at Mrs Nash and shot her a disgruntled look.

Despite the nasty look, she offered a kind smile back. "Please, it's just a blanket and some food." The guard still refused. "You can keep an eye on us the whole time I'm in there if you want."The guard eventually caved and took out a ring of keys from his pocket.

The other guard that had escorted Mrs Nash in the meantime abruptly brought up his rifle and pointed it at Aero. "Step back!" he commanded "Murderer." He added under his breath through gritted teeth.

Aero obliged by slowly raising his hands and taking a step away from the bars. The guard with the keys unlocked the gate and deliberately went as slow as humanly possible as he did so.

"Is that really necessary?" Mrs Nash complained looking back and forth between the guards.

"It's for your own protection, Miss." The guard with the rifle said.

The childbearing woman turned to the guard aiming the rifle with a glare. "That's Mrs and don't you forget it!" She shouted before turning to the guard at the door. "And you!" He turned to her looking like a deer in the headlights. "Hurry up and get that door open." He grumbled turning back to the lock. "And lose the attitude." She barked. He hurriedly got the door open before retreating back and Mrs Nash strode into the cell with a proud smile. Seeing the woman who looked like a frightened little mouse when she entered the dungeon like environment stand up to and berate the guards was a truly comical site. Aero had a hard time not smiling despite his current door slid shut behind her and the guard who had escorted her hurriedly made his exit.

Aero had noticed that unlike the guards at the gates, these ones weren't actually in uniforms of any kind. The traditional uniforms consisted of a light blue tunic and trousers with a light red stripe going down the front of the leg with the prefecture patch on both shoulders, and they were usually armed with a collapsible baton and a xiphos on their belts if and when they needed it. Seeing them equipped with firearms of any kind was out of the ordinary and the guns themselves had fallen into disrepair.

These guards couldn't really be called guards; these were only townsfolk or previously retired prefects conscripted into a hastily organised militia. The town prefecture only numbered around forty to fifty and even then they were all pretty lax. So if the town council felt the need to conscript townsfolk this young and arm them, then something was very amiss.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side Mrs Nash." Aero smiled at seeing the conscripts reduced to snivelling children.

"Put it down to the hormones, they've been making me very paternal and even more protective." She chuckled as she walked over to where Aero's chains connected to the wall and set down the blanket and the tray with a sigh of relief before turning to Aero. "And how many times have I told you to call me Freesia."

"So what are you doing here Mrs N-...Freesia?" Aero asked with a smile still happy to have some good company.

"Just Freesia," she smiled. "And besides bringing something warm and a hot meal, I didn't think that you should be alone once we had heard you were in here."

Aero was a little caught off guard when Freesia brought him into a warm embrace. He wanted to return the gesture very much, but the hug was a little bit awkward due to the bump in her belly and Aero's shackles getting in the way.

Aero had tears in his eyes as this was the first caring touch he had felt ever since his parents and Ishara were taken from him and it felt like the best thing he had felt in an age. He moved into the embrace as freesia ran a hand through his short hair and kissed the top of his head. Aero may have put on a tough act when he was with Sculler under the assumption that that was all she would respect; but this was someone he knew and someone who's the closest thing he had to family now.

The two of them stayed like this for a while until Freesia said, "When we saw the guards dragging you through the street unconscious it sparked something in the people, but it also divided a few of them." She stated. "A lot of the townsfolk have a lot of respect and admiration for your parents and their family name, and in a lot of ways that's what divided them." She added sombrely.

Aero pulled back from her slightly and looked up at her. "What do you mean? People have been saying strange things ever since I came back to Verbist."

Freesia seemed afraid to say anymore at this time, so she decided to distract him and calm him down a little before she spoke another word regarding his treatment at the hands of the prefecture and the militia.

She put a finger under his chin. "Don't worry about that for now. Why don't you sit down for now, I think I have something I think you'll enjoy."

Aero sat himself against the wall next to the items that Freesia had set down earlier and she carefully sat herself down on the other end of said items. She took a moment to get herself comfortable what with carrying a child and all. She slid the blanket out from under the tray and put it on her lap. Aero took a moment to actually inspect the tray this time. On it sat a covered dish with a small plate of bread next to it and on the other side was a glass of water.

"Hopefully it hasn't gotten too cold." Freesia said with a confident grin as she placed her hand on the lid of the dish and Aero moved his face closer to the tray. She cracked it open slightly and a wave of steam hit Aero like a tsunami. The aroma in the darkness of the cell was like an oasis in a desert and it smelt heavenly. He could smell chicken, chorizo and prawns all in one lovely concoction. Accompanying this was a variety of spices; bay leaves, thyme and garlic were just a few he could detect. This wonderful blend could only be…

"It's jambalaya, made to special order and delivery for one Aero Gainsborough." Freesia said with a warm smile, taking the lid away fully and setting it aside.

The Nash's rustic and homely food is what had first sparked Aero's interest in cooking. Whenever Aero and his family had finished their meal, Freesia and her husband would always allow him in back to the kitchen. That's where he did most of his experimenting with his own recipes and with the Nash's guidance most of them turned out okay.

Aero's stomach growled and the sound echoed around the cell. Freesia giggled hearing this and Aero looked away slightly in embarrassment. He hadn't realized how long he had actually gone without food, and if what he has been told is true then his last meal would've been three days ago if not more.

"And by the sound of that I'd say you've waited long enough." Freesia said stifling her laugh.

Without waiting a moment longer, Aero moves to grab the spoon next to the dish. But his shackles made it rather awkward and he nearly knocked over the glass of water when he dragged the chains across.

Freesia puts a hand forward and stops his movement. "Here, let me do it." She smiled and she shifted herself off the wall and sat up across from Aero with the tray between them. She picked up the spoon and shovelled up a good portion of the meal. She blew on it for a moment whilst cupping a hand under the utensil before moving it towards Aero.

He gratefully and rather eagerly accepts the food, so eagerly in fact that he almost chokes on the first bite. He got a couple of chews in before it ended up going down the wrong hole and he started coughing. Freesia already had another spoonful ready for him when he waved her off so he could get at the glass of water. He snatched it up with both hands and chugged down a couple of mouthfuls.

Freesia put the spoon down back in the dish and retrieved a cloth from behind her apron. "Crap, I'm sorry. I put too much chilli in, didn't I?" She apologized as Aero put the glass down and was lightly panting. "I know you like it hot, but that might've too much too soon." She moved to wipe his mouth clean of a small bit of the jambalaya that had spilled out of his mouth when he started coughing.

Aero took in a deep breath and settled down. "No, it was fine. I just got a little overexcited, that's all." He reassured her as she wiped around his mouth with the cloth. "This would be the first meal I've had in about three days, give or take."

"Well, at least it's good practice for later." Freesia said with a smile as she lightly stroked the bump in her belly. It suddenly dawned on her and she looked at Aero with wide eyes. "How did you survive so long out there without having eaten anything?"

Aero didn't say anything for a moment as he was trying to think it through himself. "I…I think it might have something to do with my Aura unlocking. Maybe it sustained me and nourished me the entire time after it became active and from that point on."

"That's the only real explanation that there could be I suppose; anyone else would have trouble functioning let alone standing if they went that long without sustenance." Freesia touched the side of his face briefly before moving to his forehead. "But aren't Auras supposed to heal wounds and scars and the like?" she glides a thumb over the scar on his brow. "So why are these scars here? Between the time you were last seen in town and your return, these would still be relatively fresh and would take another week or two to scar at the very least. How did you get these anyway?" she added.

Aero sighed and hung his head as remember the series of event that left him with those scars marring his flesh. "That…that's a long story," he slowly looked back up at Freesia. "And if it's okay with you, it's one I'd…prefer not to go into right now."

"It's okay, you can tell someone when you're ready. I'll always have an ear available to ya." She told him with a kind smile and offered one back. "On a lighter note though, congratulations on unlocking your Aura!" She added with a tousle of his hair.

"Thanks." He responded with a gentle smile. "I think I'm ready for more please." Aero motioned to the food and Freesia happily obliged. He ate it slower this time and with more control. As he chewed he looked down at his hand, which was still marred with the burn mark from when he grabbed his mother's sword. "vhat dovn't evplain-"

"Don't talk with your mouth full." Freesia smiled and again she had to wipe his mouth.

Aero quickly swallowed and allowed Freesia to finish before he spoke again. "That doesn't explain this either though." He said raising his hand to show Freesia and she observed the burn marring his hand.

"What do you mean?" She looked back up at him puzzled.

"This happened almost a day before the other two and yet it still hurts like it only happened hours ago." He rubbed a thumb into his palm and winced at the stinging and also eliciting a worried look from Freesia. "And I'm pretty sure I broke this hand at one point." He added raising his unburnt hand from his palm.

"How'd you do that?" She asked.

"Hehe, that's a long story too. But I flared my Aura earlier to deal with some discomfort from the shackles, even then the burn didn't heal and I can't imagine the pain going away anytime soon." He groaned loudly. "It just doesn't make a lot of sense really."

"It will heal...eventually and then hopefully we can figure all this out. Sometimes these things have to happen naturally. It will heal, you'll see." Freesia assured him with a confident smile.

They settled into a good rhythm of her feeding him at a steady pace and stopping for when he reached for the bread or the water. They had just about finished the meal when Aero decided to ask the obvious.

"I'm going to address the elephant in the room here." Aero stated and Freesia looked at him curiously. "Why am I down here and in a cell, Freesia?"

She was silent for a moment trying to find the right words and think them over carefully. "Firstly you're in town hall, in one of the old dungeons."

"Well that does explain a few things; look like they haven't been used in decades, centuries even." He said looking around the confines of his prison. "How long exactly have I been missing?"

"Taking into account that you were going to spend the whole weekend up in the mountains, you were all over due by about five days."

"Then I guess I was way off. I went even longer without food." Aero said throwing in a chuckle even if it was just to keep up appearances.

"You should know; the guards and most of the council are very suspicious of you and even more afraid of you." Freesia warned.

"What do they have to be afraid of from me and what are they suspicious of?" He asked confusedly.

"Aero...I don't know if you know and I can't even express how sorry I am, but..." she started very hesitantly. "Your parents and your sister are missing and a lot of people think you had something to do with it."

"How are the town and the council so sure of this?" He inquired. He knew of their true fate all too well, but how did the town know so fast and how had half the town been turned against him so quickly. He would have probe and prod as much as possible for answers.

"Some hikers on their way to Verbist said that they saw you or someone who looked like you stumbling through the woods and they said that you looked crazed like a rabid animal."

"And?" Aero said with his voice filled with worry.

"They said that you were slashing about wildly with a blood stained knife and that you had a bloodthirsty look in your eye. They said they'd dare not approach you, fearful for their own lives."

Aero took a deep breath and sat in silence for a moment.

"Aero." Freesia said sounding anxious. "Say something, you can talk to me and I'll listen."

"They aren't missing; my parents and Ishara." He stated in a serious manner.

"How do you know? Aero, if there's something you're not telling me you should come out with it. Whatever it is, it's bound to help you get out of this cell and help your case." Freesia practically pleaded with him.

Aero slowly shook his head. "No, that will probably only raise more questions if anything."

Freesia gently rested a hand on top of both his shackled hands. "Either way, you're not alone in this."

Aero looked at her quizzically with a raised eyebrow.

Freesia warmly smiled at him. "Not everyone is against you. Like I said before people have a lot of respect for your parents. Some are very supportive of you and don't think you had anything to do with your families disappearance."

"And what about the rest of the town?" Aero questioned in response

"They're either unsure what to think altogether or think that you did have something to do with it. The whole ordeal has split the town down the middle." She paused as she seemed very uneasy to continue on.

Freesia has always been a very straightforward and forthcoming woman. Only when things came down to the wire did you ever see her loose her cool, and that was without hormones. Whatever it was that was making her so uneasy had to be of the most serious scenarios and frankly seeing was starting to get to Aero.

"Freesia?" Aero said worriedly. "There's something you're not telling me, isn't there?" He may have asked this, but in all honesty he didn't think he wanted to know the answer. Ever since he had returned to town had thought over the words that the older guard had said at the main gate. "Murderer, that's what he said."He then remembered what Freesia had said earlier when she first saw him in here. "You said you didn't believe what people have been saying. What exactly have they been saying?"

Freesia's mouth opened and closed as if trying to find the words before she looked away as if out of shame. There was a brief silence before she finally spoke up. "Some of the guards and townsfolk think otherwise." She actually looked in pain when she said this, but she almost seemed to grow a little angry when she continued. "They're saying that you murdered your mother and father in a jealous rage and then Ishara as well."

"A jealous rage!?"Aero snapped in anger at this revelation and startling Freesia as she quickly pulled her hand away from his in shock. This information was more confusing than anything he had been told this night tenfold and that's even if it was the same night when he came back to Verbist. "What backwards voice of 'reason' said this?" He said with surprise still writhe in his voice as he gesticulated wildly with his bound hands and rattling the chains as he did.

"The rumour spread around town and amongst the guards pretty fast, no one really knows its origin." Freesia spoke up as hastily as she could as she had reverted to the same timid state she had entered the cells with. It was easy to see that something had changed in Aero since he had left Verbist with his mother on that fateful day and frankly it terrified her. "L-look, Aero you need to calm down. Getting a-angry isn't going to make them think any better of you and you may lose what support you do have." She choked out.

Aero let out a heavy sigh and calmly interlocked his fingers together in his lap. "Well at least some people had the sense to not believe everything they hear and that explains the remarks the guards have been making." He muttered venomously.

Aero was getting to be tired of being kept in the dark about what had happened in town in his short absence and it was taking all of his patience not to use his full aura to break out the shackles. That way at least he could get some straightforward answers himself, then set the record straight and maybe feel a damn sight better about the whole ordeal. He was so wrapped up in his own desire to clear his name that He had only just noticed that his outburst had frightened Freesia and she was visibly shaking.

Aero promptly and gently clasped his hand over hers. "Freesia, I'm sorry. I'm not angry at you, I promise. It's just...heh well, it's been a rough few days to say the least and this just shows it's far from over."

Freesia calmed down seeing Aero revert back to the same little boy who she'd known for so long. "It's okay, I don't want to imagine what you're going through right now and-"

"But like I said, my parents and Ishara aren't missing and there is some truth in what has been said around town Freesia."

"What are you saying?" Freesia said in disbelief.

Aero heaved another sigh. "My parents and my sister died up in those mountains."

---

Meanwhile a few floors up from the cells in one of the offices of the town hall sat a man in leather chair with a high back. The man looked to be in his late fifties, but his weathered face made him appear over seventy. He had grey receding hair and his face looked like it couldn't do anything other than scowl; which really didn't do much for the ratty look it had on the whole. His hands were sprawled out on the large antiques desk in front of him.

The office had bookcases lining the walls and their shelves held many anthologies, encyclopaedias and codices that threatened to burst forth from the shelves at a single wrong breath. This wasn't because there were so many of them; it was quite the opposite in fact. The shelves themselves were very decrepit and in some places rotting from neglect.

The room itself was mostly in darkness with only the moonlight shining through the large window behind him. He took out a match and lit a single candle placed next to him on the desk. Spread across the desk was forms and notices with varying degrees of information regarding the town and the recent events scrawled on them. He ignored all these however and focused on a single piece of paper placed squarely in front of him.

His focus was broken when a knock came at the large wooden ornamental door of his office.

"Enter." He exclaimed in stern and haughty voice.

The door opened with a very audible creak and allowed the front of the room to be partially lit up from the torches outside the office. A relatively young looking guard in full uniform with a rifle slung over his back stepped in and stood at attention before the man behind the desk.

"Councilman Leonhart." The guard addressed the man.

"What is it guardsman and why was sergeant McCole not back here an hour ago with the report on the subjugation on the rioters? However pitiful their attempt was, I might add." Leonhart responded apathetically but with light chuckle as he practically leered at the piece of paper in his hands

"Sir, sergeant McCole has taken leave to tend to his son."

The councilman raised a disdainful and quizzical eyebrow at this.

"Err...his son was involved with the incident involving the Gainsborough family; as well the son of the Drummer family." The guardsman clarified.

Leonhart stood up with a scornful look on his face. "Then why aren't they in the cells with that Gainsborough brat!?"

The guardsman stumbled over his words for a moment as even he was caught off guard by the Councilman's harsh reaction to the news. Leonhart was never a nice man or a very fair one, this was common knowledge to pretty much everyone in town and it created a sort of bogeyman mien about him. Now,admittedly there were witnesses who said they had seen Aero out in the woods and in a very incriminating and belligerent to order the arrest of two more children no older than ten years old alongside Aero, that would be madness beyond reason if they were to share the same fate as him.

The councilman slumped back into his chair rubbing his temples and sighing in exasperation. "Did you at least detain the hikers that saw the Gainsborough boy near Mt. Haine, like you were ordered to?"

The guardsman regained some of his composure when he answered. "Eh…err, yes councilman. They're being guarded and are secluded in the west courtroom chamber."

Leonhart nodded. "Well then you're not as incompetent as you seem then."

The guardsman brushed off the comment and was able to smother a sneer that tried to show itself. "And regarding the two boys sir."

"In which I am in bewilderment as to why you are still here and not dragging them here right this very second!" Leonhart snapped back.

"S-sir, there is nothing to support that they were necessarily involved with whatever Aero is being accused of." The guard countered.

"Are you that naïve guardsman?" The councilman questioned, not really paying the guard much thought.

The guard looked at him dumfounded. "I'm afraid I don't follow sir."

Leonhart reclined in his chair and steeples his fingers. "No, I suppose it was my fault for expecting that much out of you."

The guardman's grip on the hilt of his shortsword tightened and he clenched his jaw. "Then perhaps the councilman would be gracious enough to enlighten me?" He muttered angrily. Leonhart's attitude was starting to get to him and his frustration was already boiling over.

The old man took no notice of the guards change in tone or character due to his own narcissism. "Think about it, those two boys are good friends of that Gainsborough whelp. So who's to say that they weren't helping him with whatever he planned and has evidently carried out?"

The guardsman was stunned at what Leonhart was proposing and continued listening.

"Those two boys are as much a danger as Aero is, especially if the McCole boy is able to sway his father against us." Leonhart sighed at this thought. "That's the problem with people today; they dote far too much on their children and believe any wild accusation or rumour they spew because they believe that a child can do no wrong in their eyes. It's because of upbringings like that that we have an alliance with Lenista," He emphasised 'alliance' with air quotes. "And have faunus blood intermingling with our own."

Leonhart paused for a moment, reached for a quill and began scrawling something on a spare piece of parchment as the guard stood there still completely dumfounded at what he had heard.

"Sir with all due respect; but what does that notion have to do with anything that has occurred this night?" The guard asked not really sure if he actually wanted to know.

The councilman continued scribbling on the paper in front of him when he responded. "The Gainsborough bloodline is a testament to that very transgression and if it wasn't for them then Verbist would be more prosperous and pure with the annexation of Lenista in the aftermath of the civil war." He threw the quill into its inkwell as if vexed and folded up the piece of parchment. He withdrew a stick of red wax from a draw and proceeded to hold it over the nearby candle. "Did you know that the Gainsborough's are part faunus? The civil registry dates that it became part of their gene pool five or six generations ago. Lynn Gainsborough, formerly Augurio I believe is who it was and she married into the family by being betrothed to one Thomas Gainsborough." He took the stick of wax away from the candle and by now the tip was melting. "And the Gainsborough's being so obnoxiously accepting of course welcomed her with open arms."

The councilman dripped a few globs of wax on the folded up piece of paper and sealing it with a ring seal he was wearing. The seal left an imprint of the Verbist crest, except this differed slightly in that it had the initials SL emblazoned over the top of it. Leonhart then gingerly placed the letter next to him on the desk before looking to the guard still standing at attention before him. The old man had deliberately not let the guardsman stand at ease for the simple fact that he liked now having unbridled control over pretty much everything within the walls.

Leonhart rests his head on his raised hands and heaves a sigh before he continues. "Well, we'll come to that all in due course."

"Sir?" The guardsman responds confusedly.

Leonhart gets up out of his seat and moves to the front of his desk. "For now let's deal with one nuisance at a time." He reaches behind him and retrieves the letter he set aside. "Take some men with you and apprehend Luz McCole and Andrew Drummer. If their parents do so happen to object, which they almost certainly will, then arrest them too and bring them here alongside their urchins." He explains to the guard before presenting the sealed letter to him. "This is a warrant for the two boys arrest and also any whom should be caught assisting in their abscondence. It bears my seal as the highest authoritarian at this time and for the foreseeable future." He added smugly.

The guardsman begrudgingly took the letter and slid it into his belt whilst managing to hide a sneer. Without saying another word he left to gather a squad and carry out the task he was given.

Councilman Leonhart had just returned to his seat behind his desk when another knock came at his door.

He groaned in annoyance. "Yes, what is it?"

The door flew open and in strode an older and more weathered looking guard. He had a close shaved haircut and a look in his eye that was dripping with malice. Marring his face was a jagged scar running across his cheek and to the corner of his mouth. His stride was confident and undeservingly. He stopped short of the desk and saluted. His uniform differed from the norm in that he had a thin red sash going across his chest and he was equipped with a sabre instead of the standard xiphos.

Leonhart sat up in his chair with a grin realizing this was one of the few people he could tolerate seeing at this moment. "Ah! Corporal Cassius! Just the man I wanted to see!" He exclaimed happily standing up from his seat once again.

"Councilman Leonhart." He responded lowering his salute.

Leonhart approached a small cabinet secreted in one of the bookshelves. "I trust our-" He looked to see the Cassius still standing rigid. "Er, you may stand at ease corporal."

Cassius relaxes, but retains his posture. "Thank you, sir."

"I trust our rambunctious young fugitive is comfortable?"Leonhart inquired as he opened to the cabinet to reveal a small selection of liquors.

"He is. We acquired him at the front gate and brought him here as ordered; I saw to it personally."

"Good! Good! There was no trouble I take it?" Leonhart questioned merrily as he poured himself a glass of cognac. "Can I offer you a drink, corporal?" He asked turning to him glass in hand.

"There was a minor hiccup, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle, and yes, a scotch if you have it."

The councilman sipped his drink before returning to the bar. "A scotch it is, and please do sit down, corporal." He said gesturing to the seat on the other side of the desk.

Cassius sat down on the less magnificent looking chair in front of him and rested his rifle upright against arm of the chair.

"Now, I can't imagine this hiccup you mentioned will put too much of a crimp in my plans." Leonhart stated handing Cassius his scotch.

The weathered corporal took a swig of his drink before answering him. "The boy seems to have his aura unlocked, but he didn't really seem to know how to use it, let alone maintain it. He'll probably be more a danger to himself than anyone else."

Leonhart returned to his seat and reclined back with a sigh. "Double the guard on him, and only men you trust; that guardsman before you seemed far too liberal for his own good."

"I'll see to it as soon as possible, councilman."

"See that you do," He responded as he gently swirled his drink. "Can't afford any slip ups just when we have things under wraps. That boy is young, but still a Gainsborough. If he's half as capable as his parents then he could scupper my entire aim."

"...our aim." Cassius interjected.

"Come again."

"Our aim." He repeated. "If Sergeant McCole wasn't convinced to relinquish his duties and to then leave me in charge, then the townspeople would still be rioting over the forced curfews and we wouldn't have the draftees we need for the prefectures numbers."

Leonhart smiled at this. "That's what I always liked about you, Cassius; you're never afraid to step on someone's throat and split a wig when it comes to the greater good."

Cassius cracked a grin and held his glass up to his face. "You flatter me, councilman. All I did was...set an example and provided the means for Verbist to take what it is owed."

Leonhart raised his glass as well. "And what a fine example it is."

They both downed their drinks in triumph.

Leonhart set his glass down on the desk and looked at Cassius. "Ya know, you always did show promise. At this rate, with the way McCole has shown that he is clearly incapable of doing what needs to be done, your future is looking better by the second."

Cassius raised an eyebrow at this. "I'm listening."

Leonhart let out a haughty laugh. "Why, you could take his place my good man!"

Cassius grinned from ear to ear hearing this, and combined with the scar it created an absolutely menacing look.

"And with Zafina now out of the picture," Leonhart continued. "You may one day be captain of the guard, and none of that honorary shit the rest of the council gave her after she refused to make it official. I'm talking the real deal."

Cassius started to laugh and it gradually picked up in volume. "Five years I've been stuck at corporal. All because of that Gainsborough bitch and that schlub McCole."

The councilman got up from his chair and collected his glass. "Well then, I think it's been long overdue then. They never really did approve of your particular way of approaching a situation, did they?"

The corporal slowly shook his head, all the while grinning like a madman.

"Well, once we have everything in order, we can discuss and celebrate each of our promotions." He motioned to Cassius' glass. "Another?"

"Please." He replied hand him the glass.

Leonhart went over to his liquor cabinet and went about refilling their drinks.

"We all have a place in this world, corporal." Leonhart told the soon to be captain. "And I believe ours is very high, very high up indeed. But, before we can get there, we need to take care of a few little skid marks on our otherwise perfect and unstained avenue to utopia."

"Very poetic, councilman. And what would these skid marks be and how can my skills be of use." Cassius said with a mischievous grin.

Leonhart stepped away from the liquor cabinet and closed it shut. "Firstly, I need you to gather the other council members and put together a jury. Despite the overwhelming incrimination against the Gainsborough boy, we still need to have a public tribunal or we'll end up creating more problems than that family ever did."

Cassius slumped back in his chair and scoffed. "Hardly seems worth my time."

Leonhart handed Cassius back his now refilled glass. "We need to do it this way for now. It has to appear legitimate in the eyes of the people. Besides, this will give you a chance to instil your own brand of fear into any and all who may have notions of rebelling."

Cassius didn't look convinced.

Leonhart returned back around to his seat and sat down with a smile. "That doesn't mean that we can't manipulate the outcome of the trial though; he couldn't see the light of day indefinitely if we want, or we could go with something more spectacular and memorable. And once we have that out the way and have the will of the people on our side, it can be changed it so that I...we stay on top and the worms stay down."

The scarred corporal raised his glass and smiled. "The boy's family's gone, a town that doesn't want him and is against him, and we have the guards and most of the townsfolk in our pocket. Can't think of a better thing to drink to."

"I can." Leonhart countered.

"Really?" Cassius looked at him quizzically.

Leonhart sipped his drink before giving the corporal his thoughts. "Once the boy and any collaborators burn, or whatever method takes your fancy, I'll leave that up to you."

"I'll go with my gut and whatever comes to hand." Cassius said in confidence whilst tapping his hand on his sword next to him.

"And I expect nothing less." Leonhart approved with a nod and a smile. "Once the boy and anyone who stands with him have been dealt with, I want you to take a selection of the guards, I'll draw up a list in due time, and then I want you to round up every pure blood faunus that you can find in Verbist. I will provide with the town records, which should make them easier to find. Discreetness is the key to this. We can't risk one of them getting away from us and spooking the others, or they'll scatter and corralling them will be made that much more difficult."

"They're animals; it'll be just like hunting. All you need is the right bait and strategy." Cassius chuckled. "Is that all?"

"No, and this must be taken care of as soon as possible." Leonhart stated sitting up straight and laying his hand on top of one another in a serious manner. "I want you to go down to the west courtroom chamber, and make sure you're armed. In there, you will find two hikers that stumbled across Mister Gainsborough in the woods, and they are currently under guard. You will order the guards to leave, thus leaving you alone with the captives. If they do not, or they question your orders in any way shape or form, you may subdue them in any way you see fit, use your imagination. Once the guards are dealt with and the room has been secured; you will then terminate the two hikers with extreme prejudice." He briefed the corporal in detail before downing his drink. "Is that understood?"

Cassius stood up and snatched up his sword. "This night is getting better and better by the minute." He said happily downing his own drink and putting the glass down on the desk.

"And I can assure you, the days ahead are going to be even better." Leonhart added.

Whilst Cassius was fastening his sword back onto his belt and getting ready to leave, Leonhart had shifted his attention to the piece of paper he was looking over before the first guardsman disturbed him. "How actually is prisoner by the way? I do hope he is suffering all alone in there, I did make sure to get him the cell with the leaky walls after all." Leonhart inquired with a smirk.

"It's so cold in there that even a Beowulf would be clawing to get out. But, he's not alone in there, he got a visitor."

"Oh?" Leonhart looked up at Cassius quizzically.

"Freesia Nash came to see him; she's a good friend of the Gainsborough family. She's still in there with him now." Cassius explained.

Leonhart cackled hearing this news. "That blonde bimbo! She always was fond of the boy, but I didn't think she was that fond. She's practically the boy's groupie" He laughed for a moment longer before continuing. "Well I think we can allow her to stay there for a moment longer. After all, it'd be rude to interrupt Aero in the process becoming a man, especially so soon before his demise." His laughter died down after a short moment. "Get her out of there once we have the rest of the council gathered. That should give them enough time to finish up in there."

Cassius saluted and stood at attention. "Yes, sir!" He exited the room to carry out the councilman's deeds.

Leonhart chuckled again and shook his head. "By Monty, that woman will open her legs and get on her back for just about anyone it seems; it's a wonder she wasn't pregnant sooner." He muttered as he pushed the two glasses aside. "Might have to visit her myself by tonight, once I have her detained as well that is." He thought as he tried to remind himself what he was doing before he set his pieces in motion.

A wicked grin pulled its way onto his face as he redirected his attention back to the piece of paper before him. He enthusiastically snatched up his quill and signed the form in front of him with as much flourish as he could muster.

The details of this form concerned one thing and one thing alone.

The execution of Aero Gainsborough.

---

There were other pieces to play in this game of fate however, as something was indeed going bump in the night. The streets may now be home to hastily put together patrols, and lit up so much it almost created the illusion of daytime; but the rooftops of Verbist were hardly devoid of activity.

Two hooded and cloaked figures darted along the darkened rooftops running the lengths of the streets below. One of the figures was tall and shrouded in grey, while the other was relatively short and in green. Green led the way while grey lagged behind a few metres but was able to keep pace. Their footsteps barely made a noise on the clay tiles as they dashed across them with their cloaks sailing in the air behind them.

Despite the drafting of any able and willing citizen; the town security was spread thin due the bolstering of the general patrols and recent double postings on both the gates and the town hall. The two infiltrators had a laughable time of getting into Verbist itself as the walls and rooftops were the least of the patrol's worries.

The cloaked strangers stopped on a high roof overlooking the town square where the market stalls were still set up. The green figure moved more nimbly to the roof than its taller comrade, as grey had slowed to a jog and was wheezing a little as it caught up. The shorter figure ducked behind a chimney to hide from the guard's sight and the light coming from the gas streetlights below.

The green figure turned to look at the grey figure that had dropped to one knee. "Are you sure you're going to make it?" She asked in a cold and somewhat harsh tone, without even a hint of worry in her voice.

Grey coughed a few times before standing back up. "I've been doing this before you were born, so don't worry about me." He responded in a gruff, but strained voice.

The girl responded with a huff and peered down into the streets and to the rooftops across from them.

The man walked up to the ridge of the roof and observed the patrols in the streets below. "Hmm, more guards than last time. Then again these aren't really guards, are they?" He queried looking towards the girl in green only to get silence in return. "You're always the best for conversations, aren't you, Kamala?" He smiled.

"Where do you think they're most likely holding him?" She asked ignoring his quip about her bearing.

"Most likely in the town hall somewhere. But look at these patrols." He said pointing down towards the square and the streets leading to it. "Not all of those men are guards. Half of them aren't even men, they're boys. Something's got them spooked enough to practically give anyone a uniform and a gun, and they don't even have enough uniforms or very serviceable guns by the looks of it."

"If they talked to him or know what he is now capable of, then they have more than one thing to be concerned about." Kamala told him.

They both quickly ducked down past the ridge of the roof when one of the guards of passing patrol turned his gaze up to their location. They laid down on their fronts to further conceal themselves just in case the roofs got a little too crowded for their liking.

"Boys or not, they're still sharp and they're ruling with an iron fist for what that's worth. We won't get far if we don't know exactly where he is in the building."Kamala whispered.

The guard eventually moved on and caught up with his patrol. Both of the cloaked figures cautiously stood up and they heaved a sigh of relief seeing that the patrol had advance further down the street.

The man smiled and clapped Kamala on the shoulder. "That's where you come in my dear. Your...talents should make finding him and slipping past these conscripts that much easier."

"A curfew has been set up for the townspeople to make them easier to manage and any vigilant citizens are much easier to find and subdue, despite some of the guards being citizens themselves literally only moments ago. But not all of them are just draftees. Some are fully fledged guards and some of them even have combat experience." The girl in green explained.

"You mean the glorified pest control? They wouldn't so much as draw their swords without a Hunter by their sides." He spat out angrily. He hung his head and took a deep breath. "And now they're both gone, and now someone has this town over a barrel and is having their way with it."

A painful silence set in between the two before the girl spoke up. "You have to focus, for his sake. You can't let your feelings on this matter get in the way."

The man chuckled at this. "That's like asking water not to be wet." He turned to the girl and gave her a stern look. "He's my family and he's the last of my family."

Kamala folded her arms and leant against the chimney. "Look, I understand what your-"

"You don't," the man cut her off. "But I appreciate the sentiment." He turned to look back over the rooftops. "If we do have to deal with the guards, then don't worry about it." He brought one of his arms out in front of him and made a fist. As he made the fist, a blade shot out from his sleeve and along the underside of his arm via an unseen mechanism. "I'll deal with them. You just worry about getting to the boy." He told her as he stroked his hand along the flat of the blade.

Kamala sighed in exasperation. "You realize if we are found out, it won't take long for them to overpower us, despite how capable you think you still are and then it will almost certainly mean the death of you, me and the boy."

The man retracted the blade and shrugged as he walked past her. "Well then we won't get found out, simple as that."

"After all these years I still don't understand how you can be so carefree in the face of danger."

"Years of practice." He replied with a grin looking over his shoulder. "Now, if there are no more questions. Let's get this performance on the way and put on a show."

Kamala nodded and fell in behind the man.

With that they both took off into a sprint along a length of roof that would take them all the way to the town hall.

---

Back down in the holding cells Freesia was still in Aero's cell and they were both sat in silence. Aero sat there gauging Freesia's response to his own revelation only moments ago and she sat there with unreadable expression as the information sank in.

"Freesia," The sound of Aero's voice snapped Freesia out her thoughts. "Say something, anything." She was silent and it was starting to unnerve Aero. He hung his head and sighed. He regretted telling her that the rest of his family was dead and now he'd probably lost the trust of the only one who'd believe him right now.

"And did you do it?" She asked suddenly and in a worrying tone.

"No, I did not." He plainly stated. "But, for all you know I could be lying and I have no evidence that says whether or not I did or didn't do it. So I ask you this; do you think I did it?"

Freesia was caught off guard by his countering question. She chose her words carefully and gently touched Aero on the shoulder. "Aero, sweetheart, look at me."

Aero obeyed and met her gaze.

She smiled at him. "I'll tell you what I think, and I think that you wouldn't even be capable of even thinking of such a thing and I'll tell you why I know this. Do you remember when you first came to my restaurant?"

"Like it was yesterday, it was Ishara's first day of school."

Freesia nodded. "She was asleep in your father's arms and you were right alongside the both of them. You looked a little beaten and bruised, but that looks to be a drop in the ocean to how you look now."

Aero scratched his cheek and laughed nervously under his breath. "Yeah, some bullies were trying to get at her when she wouldn't do what they said. And me being me, of course wasn't gonna stand for that."

Freesia shook her head in disagreement "No, that wasn't just you being you."

Aero looked at her, bemused.

"When your father set her down in one of the booths, and you sat down next to her, she clung on to you despite her being asleep. Even when she woke up, she wouldn't leave your side."

Freesia unfolded the blanket that she had brought in with her.

Aero looked downcast when she said this. "She blamed herself for what happened when I defended her. It's funny, whenever anything went wrong concerning me or I was hurt in some way, she would always blame herself. But I always told her that I knew exactly what I was doing and I promised to always protect and help her whenever she was in a pinch. I would do anything for her, all she had to do was ask."

"That's what made you such a good brother." She said with a smile before she suddenly swaddled Aero with the blanket. She pulled it tight around him and cuddled up next to him.

Compared to the chill of the night, the warmth from Freesia combined with the heavy blanket, felt like Aero was sitting next to a fireplace. Freesia slipped under the blanket herself and wrapped her arms around Aero with a sigh.

"I swear, how'd you get to be so cute?" she muttered under her breath.

Aero's face went beet red at hearing this and he felt a little too uncomfortable. "Eeeer, m-mrs Na-" he stuttered.

Freesia pressed her finger against his lips. "It's 'Freesia', remember?" She told him playfully. She removed her finger from Aero's lips. "And don't worry; I'm not trying anything. I just came over all motherly hearing you talk about your sister like that. Plus you are adorable, always so humble and modest." A massive smile crept onto her face. "I could just squeeze you until your head popped off."

His voice cracked when he murmured in response. "U-um."

Freesia giggled at this. "Rest assured I won't."

Aero's blush faded and he cleared his throat. "Thank you, Freesia."

"Only stating the truth." She replied whilst gently petting him on the side of his head. "Now, Getting back to that day. Your father had gotten all three of you ice-cream and I brought it over just as little Ishara was waking up. He might not've said it, but I could tell your father was immensely proud of what you did that day at school. I noticed that even though Ishara was awake, it looked like she had a deathgrip on your hand. If you two weren't brother and sister, and I was a betting woman, I'd reckon that you two would've been married within a couple of years."

Aero looked stunned and when craned his head up to look at Freesia. "That's...a little disturbing to think about, Freesia."

Freesia burst out laughing at his reaction. "Don't worry, it wouldn't have happened. But, I won't deny that you two looked like the cutest couple I had ever seen. Even when it came time for you all to go home, she still wouldn't let go of your hand, and in a perfect world, you two wouldn't leave one another's side no matter what."

Aero looked down and away from Freesia. "She was perfect in every way, and in a perfect world, she would be alive and I would gladly take her place in death." He said remorsefully. "Unfortunately, it's very very far from a perfect world." His tone came across unintentionally venomous.

Freesia lightly slapped him on the chest and glared down at him with a piecing stare. "We've got enough angst already in this town, thank you very much. And I don't think your family would be too happy with you being so negative, especially Ishara. What would she say if she saw her big brother being so pessimistic? Your mother and father would say that it's not in the Gainsborough way." She said sternly, so much so that she was virtually scolding him.

Aero looked at Freesia with genuine surprise. He wasn't expecting this sudden change in mood, nor was he expecting her speech to be so compelling. His words had only just repeated in his head and he mentally berated himself. Again, he had forgotten all those promises he made to Ishara that morning, and he felt nothing less than ashamed.

Freesia's expression suddenly softened and she laughed nervously. "Sorry, sorry. It's...these blasted mood swings. This far along and I still haven't gotten used to be pregnant and all the 'perks' it comes with."

Aero slowly shook his head and grinned at her shifting behaviour. "It's okay, Freesia, it's okay." Aero said. "I haven't gotten that far into depression. Actually, I really needed that kick up the ass. It reminded me of something that I seem to have trouble remembering as of late. Right now I think you're the only one that I can really trust as of this moment."

Freesia nervously laughed again. "Well, err, you're welcome, I guess. And I'm flattered that you trust me."

"Well, in our family, we considered you and your husband as a part of ours." Aero told her with a smile and he enclosed both of his shackled hands around one of hers.

"Awwww, you always know just what to say to make anyone smile." Freesia sweetly replied.

Aero rested his head on Freesia's shoulder. "I miss them, ya know?" He said drawing in a deep breath.

"I know you do." Freesia responded as she rested her head on top of his and gently massaged his hair. "They were good people and they will be remembered, I can promise you that here and now. And I can bet that they're gonna be right beside you in spirit all the way."

"You have no idea how right you are, Freesia." He thought remembering what Ishara did before she disappeared.

"And you're right; it wouldn't be doing me any good to take a negative approach to this." Aero said. "I need to stay positive, prove my innocence, and then get people to focus on the real issue at hand."

"What do you mean? What is the real issue, Aero?" Freesia asked.

Aero pulled away from her slightly and stared into space. He was taking a moment to word very carefully what he was going to say next. "There's a Wyvern out there and that's what killed my family." He said without missing a beat.

The colour immediately flushed from Freesia's normally rosy cheeks. "W-what?" She murmured in disbelief and horror. Her grip on Aero tightened out of fear.

"And it may well be coming here next, which is why I have to speak to someone or find some way to see about preparing the town as soon as humanly possible." Aero added.

"Are you sure it was a Wyvern?" Freesia asked.

"As sure as I am sitting in this cell."

"But, aren't they supposed to be extin-" Freesia tried to counter.

"Extinct, I know. But there is one out there and it is very much alive." He said interrupting her.

Aero knew he ran a risk with telling Freesia this information, the whole thing sounded completely farfetched, and he might lose the trust of the only he knew he could count on. But if he was going to be stuck in this cell, then he had no other option. Trying to convince someone that a creature long thought extinct was alive and was responsible for the death of two fully fledged hunters would be borderline making him sound like a lunatic.

"Well then, we need to get you out of here as soon as possible then." Freesia said looking down at him with a bright smile.

Freesia's smile showed that she believed Aero and that was a great load off his mind. Now he had pieces to play, so to speak. "I don't think I will be getting out of here any time soon, or at least not soon enough for the towns own sake."

"Okay, so what do we do then?" Freesia asked.

Aero heaved a sigh. He had one thing that had weighed heavily on his heart since he had returned to Verbist. "There's one thing that needs to be taken care of first before we…or rather you do anything else."

"Okay and what's that?"

"I need you to go to Andy's and Luz' parents," He started.

"Okay…" Freesia said unsure of what Aero was getting at.

"and tell them that…that, first off I'm very sorry for their loss and that…"

Freesia squeezed Aero's shoulder. "Aero, what is it?"

Aero groaned in annoyance through gritted teeth. He wanted to handle this situation as delicately as he could, but that just drew it out and made it more difficult. "Damn it, they're gone."

"Who's gone?" Freesia asked.

"Andy and Luz. I…I think the Wyvern might've gotten them too, and-"

"Aero, Andy and Luz are both alive." She stated interrupting him.

Aero looked at her in disbelief and stumbled over his words for a moment. "H-how, when did they….Are you sure?"

Freesia nodded with enthusiasm. "Very. They stumbled back into town a few days after you all left. That's how the whole town knew something was wrong in the first place and why everyone a little on edge anyway."

Aero heaved another sigh, but this one was in relief. "That's something at least." He said cracking a smile.

"But," Freesia started. "They haven't really said much since they did come back. They've been pretty catatonic. Every now and again though, they've apparently been mumbling something about black wings, and red and yellow eyes."

These sounded exactly what Aero went through whenever he fell asleep or passed out in that cave with Ishara. The thought of those visions alone made him come out in a cold sweat. He hung his head and wiped his brow. "That would be the Wyvern. They must've had similar visions that I had whenever I passed out by the sounds of it."

"What kind visions?" Freesia asked concernedly.

"The kind that should never ever come true. Just pray to Monty that they weren't as cruel as mine." Aero replied in a low voice.

Aero shifted and rested his head back on Freesia shoulder. She held him tight in her arms as he settled against her with the blanket wrapped around the both of them. Freesia rested her cheek on top of his once again. "What kind of a god would allow so many horrors to befall such a kind soul?" Freesia gently cooed. "I don't think Monty has any control over your destiny anymore, even if he wanted to."

They both stayed huddled together like that for at least half an hour. Aero was just about to drift off to sleep, voluntarily this time. But both he and Freesia were greatly startled by a loud rattling at the bars of the cell. One the guards had rattled one of their riot batons along the bars to get the occupants attention.

"Time's up! Time for you to leave Mrs Nash." A voice barked from the other side of the bars.

Freesia looked over to see a man dressed differently than the other guards, and he had a grisly scar going from his mouth and along his cheek. He had a sadistic grin plastered on his face and was staring at them both, but Freesia could feel his eyes crawling all over her.

"C-could you just give us a minute?" Freesia replied.

The grinning guard shook his head and let out a low chuckle. "You've had long enough. It's almost time for his trial and hearing." He said reaching into his pocket and fishing out a ring of keys. He opened the cell door and flicked out his riot baton. "Now…OUT!"

"GIVE IT A REST, CASSIUS!" Freesia screamed at him. "You're not scaring anyone, and the scar just makes you look stupid!"

Cassius pointed his baton at her in a threatening manner. "You'll get yours. Don't think that just cuz you're pregnant that you'll get any special treatment." He warned angrily. "I'll see to that…personally." He added with a perverse smile.

He returned his baton to his belt and sauntered down the hallway a short ways. Once Freesia was satisfied Cassius was out of earshot, she turned back to Aero who was wide awake next to her and just as on edge.

"I've never seen that guard before. Who is he?" Aero asked.

Freesia glanced back to the cell entrance to make sure Cassius wasn't leering around the corner. "That's corporal Cassius. He doesn't really do much guarding of the town itself, so it's a rare occurrence for anyone to really see him, during the daytime that is. He's either getting drunk in a bar or harassing anything with a pulse."

It suddenly dawned on Aero, he had seen that guard, once and only once before. "Wait, I have seen him before, he was the one who knocked me out by the gate when I made my way back. He almost seemed to want to make his personal business to arrest me and bring me here."

Freesia smiled down at Aero and ran a hand through his short hair. "Don't you worry about him." She told him. "You just focus on staying positive and calm for your trial. You do that, and you'll prove your innocence and hopefully the town will calm down after that."

"Positive and calm. Should be easy enough." Aero responded with a smile.

"You'll be out of here in no time, I promise." Freesia responded. "It's about time I left though."

Aero shifted his head off of her shoulder and pulled away slightly. "Thank you."

"It was just some food and a blanket, just some creature comforts that anyone deserves." Freesia coyly replied.

"No, I meant thank you for the company." Aero clarified.

"Oh, so the food was bad." Freesia said with a sly grin.

Aero threw up his shackled hands in defence. "No, that's not what I meant, it was good and-"

Freesia couldn't help but giggle at his frantic apology. "Relax, Aero. I'm just teasing you. I know what you meant. You're so cute when you're flustered."

"You can be very cruel sometimes, ya know that, Freesia." Aero pouted.

Freesia slid out of the blanket and patted her legs. "I aim to please. Now be a dear and help me stand up, my legs have fallen asleep."

Aero nods and happily obliges. He hops up to his feet and shrugs off the blanket. He takes both of Freesia's hand in his own and with a gentle pull he helps her to her feet.

"How far along are you now? With the pregnancy I mean." Aero asked.

"Oh, only about four months, still a ways to go yet." Freesia replied dusting off the back of her pants. "Hermes can hardly wait." She gently cupped one of Aero's cheeks. "What I said about Cassius' scars doesn't apply to everyone, just him really. On you though, they look rather dashing."

"Well, whether or not they're permanent or not is my only concern about them." Aero said with an intense stare.

"You mean you don't want to be a cool looking, cut up warrior type with a face that tells a story every time you look at it." Freesia countered enthusiastically with a smile.

Aero was surprised with the picture she painted in her own mind. "No, if anything I want the scars to stay. It may sound weird, but they hold a great significance to me and what I now have."

"Hmm, you're right, that did sound weird. But I think with the current circumstances, we have to be more accepting of the bizarre and macabre."

Freesia picked up the blanket from the floor and draped it back around Aero's shoulders. "I'll be sure to tell Luz and Andy that you're alive and well."

"Thanks, Freesia, for everything really."

She made a fuss of dusting off the blanket after it had been discarded to the floor. "This town owes your family a lot. This is the very least I could do. Oh! I'll see about getting you a change of clothes as well; the scars may look good on you, but the caveman look doesn't."

"That'd be great! These ones are starting to get a little funky. Thanks again, Freesia." Aero spoke happily.

Freesia waved her hand politely dismissing his gratitude. "Enough of the thanks already, you're gonna make me blush. Besides, it would be my pleasure."

"So, what are you hoping for?" Aero asked.

"Hm?" Freesia hummed.

Aero gestured to the bump in her belly.

"Oh! Right!" Freesia exclaimed in slight embarrassment. "I, er…haven't really thought about what I wanted it to be. I guess I was gonna let it be a surprise." Freesia rested both of her hands on her belly and gently stroked it with a big smile on her face. "What do you think it'll be?"

"I bet it'll be a girl." Aero said matching her smile. "And I'm also willing to bet that she'll be just as beautiful as her mother."

Freesia let out a hearty laugh. "Forget dashing. You're full on debonair!" She said, happily.

Aero looked away shyly and a little red in the face at her compliment.

"How'd you get to be such a sweet talker at such a young age?" Freesia asked while she gently pinched his cheeks.

She eventually released his cheeks and gave him a chance to answer. "I don't really know, I just say what I think is true and whatever I think people deserve to hear."

She yanked him forward into a bone crushing hug. "Cute and charming! You are going to break so many girls' hearts when you're older."

Aero managed to worm his head partially out of her grasp as it had gotten lodged in her bosom. "Freesia, I…can't breathe."

"Sorry." She said with a grin. She loosed her grasp but still held him close.

"My mom said the same thing to me once around a year ago." Aero spoke after catching his breath. "What do you mean when you say that?"

Freesia giggled at this. Once again, his boyish charm had warmed her. "I'll tell you when you're older, I promise." Freesia responded. "Meantime, I'm gonna start planning a big slap up meal to have once you're out of here, and then you can help me and Hermes think of some names for this little one." She added, tapping a finger on her baby bump.

"You're gonna be at my trial, right?" Aero asked.

Freesia smiled warmly down at him. "Of course I will, and so will many others. Like I said, you're not gonna be alone in this."

Freesia hugged him one last time before making her way out of the cell. Just as she exited, Cassius came back to the cell and leaned up against the wall opposite the entrance, and still exhibiting a sadistic grin. Freesia immediately tensed up seeing and hurriedly made her way down the hallway.

Cassius was watching her every second as she left and Aero noticed his gaze travel lower and lower as Freesia footsteps faded out of earshot in echoic passageway. Cassius' whole behaviour in general made Aero sick to his stomach and it didn't fill him with confidence for his upcoming trial. Even if Cassius hadn't been the one who knocked him out at the gate and wasn't mentally undressing Freesia right in front of him, Aero had a feeling he still wouldn't be convinced that he wasn't total scum.

The sound of the door clanging shut signified that Freesia had left. Cassius then shifted his gaze to Aero, who was standing idly in the middle of his cell with his chains pulling his arms slightly to his left.

Cassius pushed off the wall and took a few steps towards Aero. "Have fun with her, did ya?" Cassius asked stretching his smile more so his teeth were bared.

Aero didn't answer, he only glared at him and was trying to anticipate Cassius' next move.

He began to slowly circle Aero, and kicked aside the food tray as he did. "Aw, look at you acting all tough. Trying to be like mommy and daddy before you gutted them?" He cackled a little at the end.

"SHUT UP! That's not true!" Aero snapped at him in a rage.

Cassius struck him in the back of the knee with his baton and Aero fell down onto his hands and knees with a painful grunt. Cassius then crouched down and grabbed a handful of Aero's hair and pulled his head up. "Easy now. You're gonna wanna hold onto that anger. Don't wanna disappoint the audience of your trial now do we? It's gonna be a hell of a show." He cackled once more before he shoved Aero's face into the floor and let go of his hair. He then proceed to continue circling the boy.

Aero coughed a couple times as he pushed himself up off of the floor. "What's going on in this town?" he muttered under his breath.

Cassius had heard him though. "Only what will make this town great, and you maybe could've been a part of it if you really wanted to. But we couldn't run the risk of you being such a goody goody like your mom." He crouched next to Aero again, got right in his face and smiled. "And by the sounds of it you're going to be difficult and remain defiant to the greater good of this oh so lovely town of ours."

Aero spat blood in his face that was a result of when his face was shoved into the ground. Cassius didn't flinch from this action, but his eyes suddenly have a very animalistic look about them. Cassius sighed and calmly wiped the blood mixed with saliva off of his face using his sleeve.

"You really shouldn't've done that you know, I thought we were just starting to get along as well." He stood up and immediately struck Aero twice in the back with his baton, sending him flat to the floor.

Aero broke out into a coughing fit from the beating and he spat out a little more blood onto the floor.

Cassius sat down crosslegged in front of him and returned his baton to his belt just as Aero's coughing started to settle down to a laboured breathing. "Ya know, it's a shame it isn't your sister here instead of you, but I imagine you did her too, huh?" He gently patted Aero's head. "It's okay, though. I just imagine I could've had a lot more fun with her than you."

Aero felt an incredible pain in his chest at Cassius' words when he mentioned Ishara. It felt like someone had taken a giant needle, coated it in salt and rammed it into straight into his heart. He dug his fingers into his palms, so hard in fact that he drew blood. The rest of his body was entirely tensed up from the excruciating torment of his heart. Ishara's soul was feeling the malice of Cassius' words as well and Aero could do nothing to stop them getting through. What Cassius was saying made her feel vulnerable and naked, and Aero felt every bit of her fear as his own. He could almost hear her screaming and crying inside his head for Cassius to stop talking. Aero knew he would be able to protect her in the physical world, but to protect her subconsciously was an entirely new concept to him and one he didn't feel he would be able to any time soon.

"Tell me something, Aero." Cassius said, sounding apathetic to Aero's physical pain. "Do you think she would have been a screamer? Or perhaps maybe it would have been one those soundless moans where her mouth was open wide but with nothing coming out. I always thought she would have been a screamer. Oh! Oh! Maybe it would have been those really squeaky yelps and she would only scream when I smack that young and tender flesh of hers." He laughed maniacally at the end.

Aero slowly and with great effort, raised his head up and looked up at Cassius as he continued laughing. The look in Aero's eyes looked like that of a man possessed by that of a demon. The pain in his chest mixed in with the hatred for the man before him made it impossible for any form of control over his emotions. "You're sick." Aero muttered under his breath.

Cassius smirked seeing Aero struggling to even look at him. "Then again, every time she screamed, I suppose I could always find something to shut her up. Hah! What am I saying! I could just ask you. You must've had first dibs on her and with how close you were with her; she probably wouldn't let anyone else have her."

Aero gritted teeth so hard he thought they were going to shatter in his jaw. "I'm…I'm gonna…KILL YOU!"

Cassius leaned back slightly in surprise at Aero's outburst. "Well, you do sound very convincing and determined." Cassius quickly glanced around the room and then looked at Aero's chain leading up to the wall. "But you gotta pick your battlegrounds better. I mean, you chained to a wall and me armed and ready to kill something at the drop of a hat; hardly seems sporting, and that means a lot coming from me." He leaned back in toward Aero. "But for now, you're gonna satisfy my curiosity."

"I am going to kill you…and it's not going to be pretty." Aero muttered and with a maniacal grin threatening to twitch its way onto his face.

Cassius leaned into his hand and rested his cheek on his wrist. "Yeah, yeah, tell it to the judge, he'd be over the moon to hear those kinds of words coming out of you. Now, you always did everything with your sister, right? Held her hand when you walked to school with her, looked out for her when she was in trouble, things like that and more. But, I believe you were 'closer' with her than any 'normal' brother should be."

"Bastard!" Aero spat. One of his eyes had turned green and the other began to glow blue with wisps of aura coming off if it.

Cassius backhanded him across the face. "Such language! Did Ishara like it when you were like this? Did she like it when you talked dirty to her?"

"You don't dare speak her name!" Aero yelled. His green eye had begun to glow now alongside his blue one.

Cassius backhanded him again and Aero's eyes returned to normal. "Noooo, because only her biiiiiig brother is allowed to have her. Tell me, what was it like to have your baby sister at your beckon call like that." Aero tried to turn his head back up, only to be met with another backhand. "I bet that with all you did for her, she probably felt so guilty that you took all those beatings from bullies when you tried to protect her that she bent over for you the moment you were alone with her." He allowed Aero to look up at him this time, and Aero's glare had not diminished one bit. "Now the real question is; when you actually had a taste of the candy, how was she? What was it like to have her be your rutting bitch and have her whenever you wanted to?"

Cassius casually grabbed Aero by his hair and pulled him upwards as far as he would go without ripping off the top of his head. Aero winced and grimaced at the pain, both from his chest which was excruciating and from his scalp. "I feel comfortable telling you that I am very envious of you. I always did like em young and very very innocent." Cassius licked his lips as he finished.

Aero, surprisingly, laughed at this. This elicited a curious look from Cassius and he firmly tapped Aero on the back of the head.

"I didn't hit you so hard that you've now gone insane, did I?" Cassius asked slightly confused and a little bit curious to Aero's reaction.

Aero continued laughing when he answered Cassius. "No, it's not that." Aero slowly sat up on his knees. "I just find it incredible how someone like you ever became a member of the prefecture, and I find absolutely hilarious that you think you're the one in control here. Because I promise you that when this is all over, you will look up at me from the flat of your back and your death will be slow and agonizing."

Cassius grinned at this. "There's that attitude that almost bought you a place in this grand scheme. It was very convenient that you murdered your parents; it gave us our smoking gun to put the town under martial law and make them see who really has the power."

Aero didn't answer him.

"If we didn't have to have you disposed of we would probably give you a medal for your 'service' shall we say." Cassius continued. "But it would be pretty bad form to commend a murderer, no matter what family he belongs to."

Aero remained silent.

Cassius shrugged thinking he wouldn't get another rise out of him and stood up. He walked towards the cell exit before suddenly stopping at the door. He held a finger up and span on his heel. "Oh! One more thing." He exclaimed. He strolled back over to Aero and leant down close to him. "When you killed her, how easy was it? Did she accept it because you told her to, so it was pretty easy? Or perhaps you used your relationship and got creative with it, maybe convinced her to suicide in front of you?"

Aero clenched his jaw in an attempt to control his anger. He wasn't going to satisfy the corporal sick perversions or desires.

Cassius then did something that caught Aero totally off guard. The perverted corporal reach into his back pocket and produced Aero's hunting knife. It still had both his and Ishara's blood dryly coating it. Aero's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped at seeing this. This could be the one piece incriminating evidence that would seal his fate and possibly the fate of Verbist.

Cassius was casually flipping the knife up in the air and catching it when he spoke again. "Judging by the look on your face; this is what you used wasn't it?" Cassius stopped flipping the blade up in the air and took a second to admire it. "It's a good little blade, almost brand new by the looks of it." He went back to flipping the knife. "I hear slitting a little girl's throat, is like cutting through warm butter. Did it feel anything like that?"

Seeing the knife again put Aero over the edge. He wasn't angry though. He felt all the sadness of the loss of his parents and his sister come flooding back like a tidal wave. Tears spilled freely from his eyes and he hunched over slightly as he sobbed.

Cassius had the biggest smile he had shown so far in his face. Seeing Aero bawl in front of him had been the highlight of his night so far. "Don't have a breakdown on me now! Awww, you're gonna be cruel and keep me in suspense as to what the answer is, aren't ya?"

Cassius continued smiling as Aero continued to silently cry. He sat there for a good long moment, just admiring his handiwork of reducing the boy into a blubbering mess. After a while though, he did remember the whole reason he came down here. He stood and walked out into the hallway outside the cell.

"Alright, let's get him out of here and upstairs!" He called down the passageway.

Seconds later, a couple of guardsman came trotting in and set to work of unchaining Aero from the wall and getting him ready to move.

Cassius leant up against the wall opposite cell door and stared down at Aero as the other two guardsmen hoisted him up. "He's got a very exciting night ahead of him." Cassius said as he resumed flipping Aero's knife and began whistling a cheery tune.

Cassius didn't know how true his words would be.

Many pieces are now in play.

To be continued…

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AN: I went back and improved some parts in the prologue and a couple of other chapters, so they should be slightly easier to read, aren't too much of an info dump and actually have more emotion in them. Anyway, this story's starting to have a lot gears turning at once, and hopefully they will all mesh together how I want them to.

Also, about what Leonhart said about Freesia, she's not a woman that gets around, Leonhart is just an ass. And Freesia lines may seem a bit cheesy or cliché, but that's part of her character, she the sappy, always trying to cheer you up type. Lastly, here's something I can promise you all here and now; Cassius will get what's coming to him for what he said about Ishara, I'll see to it personally. Other than that, do the usual, drop a review or PM and let me know how the story's doing.

Side note: Anyone else excited for the X-Ray and Vav cartoon that's coming soon? Because I sure as hell am!