Amber sat on an oversized armchair, staring at the ceiling. "Professor Ozpin, there's been some stuff going on." He took a deep breath. "When I went to help team RWBY, I changed. This time, I went farther than I ever have before. Team RWBY saw me. At first I thought they would... I don't know. It's been a long time since someone has seen me change, but team RWBY was different. That Ruby girl, she's different." Amber looked at Ozpin. The man nodded.
"She is certainly something else," Ozpin mused. "Please, continue. How did she approach you?"
"She wanted to help. She wants me to find a team, to get a symbol, to learn how to fight. I don't know if I'm ready." Amber looked Ozpin in the eye, dark eyes pleading.
"Amber, when you came here years ago, I asked if you were prepared to live in the open, to be known as a shade. I don't recall your answer."
"It's because I didn't have one. I've been here for years, trying to live a normal life. Professor, the more I think about this... I don't think I'll be able to be normal." Ozpin merely sipped his coffee. "I was born for a reason: regardless of why or how, I'm here. I've realized something. I don't care anymore, Professor. I'm tired of living in shadows, bound by them into obscurity. Prof... Headmaster... Ozpin, I want to join a team."
Ruby bounced in line, energy hardly contained. "This is gonna be so cool! We're gonna get to see new people, and their weapons, and get a prize... is there a prize? I don't really care, this is just so exciting awesome cool fantastic!" Ruby squealed. Her team stood beside her, ignoring her cries of elation. Weiss sulked, arms crossed. Blake held a book in one hand, absentmindedly following the group. Yang, hands on hips, peered ahead in the line. A tin voice crackled on the PA system.
"Attention, registration for the Vytal festival combat tournament is now open. When you register, make sure to include full name, where you can be contacted, and your year. We will have 4 divisions. Ask the registration booth if you have any further questions."
Team RWBY made it to the front of the line, filling out their information. Ruby smiled over at her teammates. No more underground armies, no secret missions, just me and Crescent Rose. Weiss had already finished, handing the slip of paper to an attendant. Blake was making slow progress, eyes flickering from book to table. I wonder if Amber could still register, thought Ruby. I should talk to him.
"Look, man, are you sure that's what you want?"
"I'm sure," said Amber, frowning. The artist looked at him skeptically. "Look, how about I give you an extra 20 Lien and you just shut up and do it." suggested Amber. The artist shrugged. Amber sat down in the chair, taking a deep breath. Probably going to regret this, but fuck it, I want to live. As the tattoo needle started it's buzzing, Amber closed his eyes. No going back.
Ruby knocked on Amber's door, her team behind her. Weiss was indignant.
"This is a travesty! We should not be helping him, he's a monster! He's a threat!" she exclaimed, arms thrown up in exasperation. Ruby turned to her partner.
"Weiss, you can't judge people like this anymore. The world isn't that black and white. He's been alone, hidden away, living with all those memories, those scars, and nobody has helped him. He deserves a chance at life, even if he doesn't want one." The door opened, flung open wide by a bombastic Amber.
"I'm glad you came. I was actually about to go see you guys, please, come in!" A huge smile was plastered on his face.
"A-Amber, you seem more... energetic than usual," stuttered Yang.
"Yes! I know. That's why I wanted to talk to you guys. You know how you wanted me to get a symbol?" Ruby and her team nodded slowly. "Well, I got one." Amber held up the backs of his hands. Tattooed on both his hands, in ink so dark red it was almost black, was...
Weiss drew Myrtenaster, hands whirling in complex motions too fast to follow. She bound up Amber in shining glyphs, blue eyes flashing.
"You would dare!" she shrieked. "Do you understand what that symbol means? You have crossed a very dangerous line, Professor Ozpin will know of this." Her eyes, blue steel, stared daggers at Amber. The small man merely laughed.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Something got you upset?" He laughed, his normal voice dropping until it was deep and rich as chocolate. "I needed a symbol. I thought this one was pretty fitting." The backs of his hands were still visible. Printed on them, as if in dark blood, was a pentagram. Amber smiled. The pentagrams on his hands danced and spun, and all light vanished from his room. "Please let me go," he said, a hint of anger creeping into his voice.
"You aren't going free until the proper authorities are contacted." said Weiss, adamant.
"Please, honey, play nice. You won't like me when I'm angry," warned Amber's voice, booming from everywhere. Light crept back into his room. He was still bound by Weiss' glyphs. The pair stared daggers at each other. Amber struggled to no avail against his bonds. He let out a tired sigh. "I did say I warned you," he started, black filling his eyes until shadows poured from them. Veins showing against his pale skin turned black as pitch. The glyphs binding him turned red, then black, then shattered as if made of glass. Amber dropped to the floor. Weiss stumbled back, trying to form more glyphs. Amber advanced, stepping slowly. He waved a hand, inky shadows wreathing his body. Weiss' blue eyes widened.
"What did you do?" she asked, incredulous. Ruby quested for Crescent Rose, feeling the metal strapped to her belt. Yang had Ember Celica ready to fire. Blake's hand crept toward Gambol Shroud. All three girls looked to Ruby.
"Amber, stop!" Ruby cried, stepping forward. "Is this what you want? We can't help you if you're like this!" her silver eyes pleaded with Amber.
"I'm always like this, Ruby!" he shouted. "Don't you understand! This, this is who I am!" His black eyes unnerved Ruby. She glanced at Weiss, who was still in shock. Her mouth opened, but no sound came.
"Weiss, what did he do?" Ruby asked.
"He... I can't make my glyphs..." Weiss trailed off. Her face was a mask of horror. Ruby turned to Amber.
"Amber, please, let her go!"
"Why? So she can call me a monster, a freak? I don't give a shit. I'm tired of being treated-"
"Treated like what? Like what you really are?" interjected Weiss. "Blood magic is wrong. Ruby, the others- they may not know much about it- you aren't alive! You are a husk, a mockery of something that should be beautiful. Some cruel joke on-"
"I am sick and tired of arguing!" shouted Amber. He was barely taller than Weiss, but he seemed to loom above all now. His hand reached into the air, grasping his blade of shadows. "You want a fight? " The shadows poured from him now, whirling in a maelstrom of dark energy. "Let's fight." His midnight eyes swept over team RWBY. He took one step towards Weiss, then all was black.
Yang cocked back Ember Celica. "Please, go to sleep," she asked Amber's unconscious body. She let out a deep breath. "He might need a doctor." Yang moved to pick up his body, but was stopped by a luminous glyph. Weiss stepped towards Amber.
"Do any of you know what the pentagram is?" she asked of her teammates. "It is the symbol of the Devil. Not one that you read about in storybooks, oh no. No cloven hooves, red skin, or pitchfork. This Devil is far more real than that." There was silence. "He is dangerous: that was proved today. He cannot be allowed to, to... use these powers!" she exclaimed. Ruby merely shook her head. Yang and Blake were both staring at their feet.
"Weiss, he could be hurt." Ruby said quietly. "Please, let us help him." Weiss let out an exasperated cry, turned on her heel, and stormed out of the room.
Amber opened his eyes. He was back in his room. What the hell? What happened? The room plunged into shadow. That's right. Amber looked at the backs of his hands. Why did I do it? I just want to be normal. Do I? Didn't it feel good to channel that power, that raw filth. As much as it filled me with disgust, I've never felt so good in my life. That girl, Weiss, the fear in her eyes. It was like a drug. Maybe she's right. Maybe I am a monster. I don't care, because I want to live. I want to be me. I can't hide anymore, it feels too good to have someone genuinely care about me. Does team RWBY even care? The floor dissolved to ash, replaced with the fires of hell. Amber didn't even flinch. I'm dreaming. It's not that different from life. It's like I'm in a dream in single day, hoping that I'll wake up and everything will be ok.
But I won't because it isn't a dream. I need to wake up and start living. Wake up!
"Wake up!" cried Yang. She punched the side of the bed. Why did it have to be me? she thought sullenly, storming out of the infirmary. She trudged over to the gym, where an unfortunate punching bag waited.
Ruby sat on her top bunk, legs dangling idly. Weiss was off doing something for school, while Yang had gone to check on Amber. Blake was reading in her bed. Ruby lightly kicked the side of her bed, getting lost in the rhythm. I should read up about the pentagram, or blood magic, or how to make new friends, she thought sullenly. Blake sat up.
"Hey, can you stop kicking?" she asked Ruby.
"Yeah, sure," said Ruby. "Hey, what do you think about all this? About Amber? You've been a little... quiet when we go over to his place. Blake set down her book.
"I've been trying to observe him. He's very... shut away. Not just physically. I have a feeling that what he told us what just the tip of the iceberg. I can't imagine what it was like: first his mom dying, then living on the streets... he hasn't had anyone to talk to, and what's inside tears him apart. When he wakes up, things need to be different." Blake finished. "I'm going to talk to Weiss." The Faunus got up and walked to the door. She turned before leaving. "Ruby?"
Ruby looked at her teammate. "Yeah?"
"You're doing a good job." Blake said softly, leaving and closing the door without a sound.