"Okay, let's start with how I… did what I did back there." Amber said slowly. "I swear this thing never happens, it's been over a year since my last, uh,relapse." He laughed nervously, looking at the less-than-amused warriors in front of him. Running fingers through his spiky black hair, Amber took a deep breath.

"Okay, I going to tell you guys all I know. But I need no interruptions, ok?" His eyes swept over team RWBY. "Alright, so I bet Weiss has heard of blood magic. She's a little more…cultured than the rest of you. Basically, 20 years ago, there was a cult in the forests of Vacuo. My mom...she was the leader. She did some… some screwed up shit. Some stuff I can't remember… most of it, really. All I know is that she thought she could worship the Devil and gain power from it. Her name was Teufel. Even though I grew up in Vacuo, that's an Atlesian name. She tried all kinds of things: sacrifices, sex: fuck, I can't even...I'll get to the part where I come in. She got pregnant at one point, with twins. She killed the other one, sparing me. I don't really remember what it was like, I was too young. Eventually, she died trying to jump in this hot spring called the Sunwell. The cult dissolved, and I found my way to the streets of Vale City. I learned to live in the shadows, to do this," said Amber, gesturing at his computer.

"I wanted to make a difference, to be a hero, despite my difficult beginnings. I forged some transcripts, I thought I made them convincing enough, but Ozpin figured me out. He called me in, and it turned out he had...heard of my mom. We struck a deal. I told him all I know, and we worked this out," said Amber, sweeping a hand over his room. "Alright, any questions?" He looked expectantly at team RWBY. Weiss opened her mouth.

"I need to inform Headmaster Ozpin," she said, making for the door.

"I can't let you do that," said Amber in a bored voice.

"You are a liability to the safety of Beacon, no, Remnant itself! I cannot sit by and leave you here, knowing what powers you posses" said Weiss. Amber sighed frustratedly.

"You know, I try to be nice, tell you all about my dirty little secret, then you do this," Amber said, anger creeping into his voice like poison. The normally dim room plunged into pitch darkness. Rustles could be heard, along with Amber's voice. "Don't move. Hey, you know, your ninja friend can see pretty well in the dark." He stared through the darkness at Blake. "You don't think Ozpin knows? Of course he does. That's why I don't have a team, why I sit here, alone, trying to be normal." Amber spat. "You know, I'd talked with Yang a little bit, and I thought you might be different, that you might understand. I was wrong."

Light slowly came back into the room. Amber was at his desk, head in hands. Blake had her hand on Gambol Shroud, looking around uncertainly. "Just go," said Amber, voice suddenly tired. Weiss wasted no time, flinging the door open and storming out. Ruby and Yang soon followed. Yang looked like she was going to speak, then just shook her head and walked out. Amber called to Blake as she followed her team,

"Why do hide that you're a Faunus?" he asked lightly. Blake paused, looking back at Amber.

"You, of all people, should know why," she said, leaving and closing the door.

Amber let out a deep breath, spinning his chair around.

"Fuck!" he yelled at the walls. "Fuck you!" Amber put his head in his hands. Why did I do this, this was stupid, stupid, stupid...

Weiss crossed her arms.

"We need to take action! This is unprecedented, this is unnatural, it's wrong!" she exclaimed. Ruby looked crestfallen.

"I mean, it's not that different from when we found out Blake was a Faunus..." she said. Ruby looked Blake in her golden eyes. Blake sat up straight.

"He could tell I was a Faunus," she said quietly. "When he turned off the lights-I still don't know how-I got ready to fight him, and he could still see in the dark, at least as well as me." The rest of the girls nodded, all aware of Blake's heightened sense of vision in the dark.

Ruby stood up suddenly. "Look, I know that we're all confused, but… Amber seemed a little sad. It must have been hard for him to say all that about himself. He doesn't really want this sort of thing to happen," she said. "Maybe he just needs a friend."

Ruby stood outside Amber's door, visibly frustrated. "Go away!" called Amber, from inside.

"Amber, I want to talk. It's just me," pleaded Ruby.

"I'm done talking. If you have any questions, ask Ozpin," said Amber, still hiding in his room.

"Amber, I don't have any questions. I just… can you open the door? It's awkward standing out here," said Ruby, shuffling uneasily. The door opened. Amber's hard eyes softened when he saw Ruby, reminded of how much younger the girl was than him. He held the door open for her, gesturing Ruby to come in. Amber sat down on the couch.

"What do you want to talk about?" he prompted. Ruby composed herself.

"Well, it's just… you seemed sad when you talked about your past. You shut yourself away, but being alone just makes it worse: I know it does. You said you didn't want a team, but I think you're wrong. I want to help. I want to find a team for you." Amber shot up. "Ruby, I can't-"

"No Amber," Ruby interrupted firmly. "I know… I know it hurts, sometimes so bad you think there's no end in sight, but running just makes it worse, Amber. Sometimes, people don't make the best decisions for themselves. So I'm going to help you. Team RWBY is going to help you." Ruby sat there, smiling at Amber. The small man ran his hands through his hair.

"Ruby, I can't even fight." he said quietly. "I can't bring down the team I'm on."

"Pfft," Ruby waved away his complaint."You're not the only one who has trouble being a Huntsman. One of my best friends here didn't even know what Aura was. Despite that, he's the leader of his team, and they follow him without question. Amber, you need someone there with you, someone you respect: you need a friend."

"I don't have a semblance."

"Jaune hasn't found his semblance either! He doesn't let it define him!" Ruby shouted. She was getting upset. "Amber, please. I know how destructive it is to be like this. Don't push me away: don't push away people who are trying to help you!" Ruby's eyes glistened. She was on the brink of tears. Amber surrendered.

"What would you have me do?" he asked.

"Well, you know every Huntsman or Huntress has their symbol. I've got my rose and my crosses, Yang has her flame, Blake has her shadow, and Weiss has the Schnee family insignia. What I'm saying is: we all have something that makes us unique, and we express that with our symbol. Do you have one?" Ruby asked. Amber looked at his feet.

"No," he said ruefully. "I never really wanted one." Ruby frowned.

"Well, if you want any help, you can just ask," Ruby suggested. "Blake is good at drawing." She snickered.

Amber stood up. "Thanks, Ruby. I'll think on what you said. But for now, can I be alone?" he asked.

"Sure!" chirped Ruby, and she was gone in a flash of rose petals. Wish I had a cool semblance like that, thought Amber. Now, about the symbol...