Chapter 24: Aggravation and Realization

I scowl as Summer addresses the council. Each of the older members of the committee is looking down at her in clear disdain of her ideas and suggestions. She's proposing a more exact and official treaty with less bias clauses to be established, starting in Vale. The whole process would take but a few hours to draft and start rolling through the legislative process, but these bigots and fucking oppressors want to delay anything that won't put a dime in their pocket. They want to keep the Faunus where they are so that they can keep their reduced labor costs and not have to provide excessive health care or anything like they would to Humans.

It's a fucking disgrace, really. These people were put in power to protect the rights of the citizens, but here they are, taking them away. It makes me seethe with anger every time one of them opens their mouth. "I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do unless there's a majority vote within the committee, and as I see it, there's only a two to three vote for the changing of the legislation. We can't even pass a draft."

I have to clamp my teeth shut to keep from saying anything. I'm just supposed to stand here and look like a bodyguard. Summer looks at them incredulously. "You really can't just write out one piece of paper that gives the Faunus the same rights and liberties that Humans have?"

The man in the center just shakes his head. "As much as I'd love to help you, young lady, rules are rules. We must abide by the council regulations if we must bring justice to those who fairly deserve it. Liberty by false means is not truly freedom at all."

The indignation in Summer's eyes is somewhat placated by his words. "I suppose. Don't get too comfortable with this decision. I will be back." With that, she flicks her cloak behind her and walks out with a determined step and a huff. As soon as we cleared the door, I can see the tears forming in her eyes. "Those blowhard, filthy, apathetic assholes don't even care! They just want to line their pockets and keep so called inferior beings out of their way. I want to march in there and show them where to put the pointy end of my sword!"

I walk up behind her and place a hand on her shoulder, tenderly squeezing it. "I know you're mad, but any type of retaliation or even speaking out about thinking about said retaliation will just cause a whole different can of worms to be opened, and I'd rather not have to either bail you out of jail or kill them all for touching a single hair on your head."

She sniffles a bit and wipes her nose on the back of her sleeve, which makes me cringe inside a bit, before nodding her head once. "Yeah, you're right. I'd rather not waste our money on something so stupid like a supposed threat or some other bullshit." She swallows a bit. "Let's go home. It's been a long day in front of those bigots, and I'd rather not be near the scent of racism."

A smile tugs at my lips. "Racism has a scent?"

Summer wipes her eyes one last time and releases a soft bark of nervous laughter. "Yeah, it smells like that room. I mean, did you get a wiff of those guys? It was disgusting." She shudders in revulsion.

I roll my eyes. "Thankfully, I didn't really get close enough to smell them. It makes me appreciate the whole body guard thing all the more." Summer just sticks her tongue out and starts to walk away. I laugh and follow behind her, not too close, but just far enough away that I can pull my weapon without slashing into her first. This bodyguard stuff definitely has its pros and cons. Pro: not talking to those fucking chauvinistic pigs. Cons: I can't just hold Summer's hand or anything. I have to actually, consciously watch for danger, and not from Grimm.

"I really don't think that we're going to get through to them. It seems like such a waste of time and conscious effort to try to sway them to our side. Two of them may have voted with us, but I can tell that they didn't want to make any real effort toward this movement." She hangs her head as we near the car and shakes her head defiantly. "This doesn't change anything. We just need to find something that could possibly make their interests align with ours. That's politics, true manipulation." She plants her fist in her open hand, resulting in a soft smack. "Now, what could we use to change their minds?"

She looks at me expectantly, and I just snort in amusement. "Wasn't my whole problem the fact that I hate politics? They're just a bunch of money grubbing fuckers with a god complex."

Her eyes widen. "That's it! We just have to convince them that they'll make more money after the bill is passed than they are making right now, forcing the Faunus into almost pitiable, paid servitude." She smiles widely before having it drop into a deep frown. "How are we gonna do that?"

I take a deep breath and just shoo her into the car. "You can sleep on it. It's getting pretty late. We should have done all of this this morning." I pray that whatever she comes up with will end this stupidity once and for all. Why did I have to fall in love with such a virtuous do-gooder who has a strange savior complex, wishing to help the entire world at the same time? I look at her as she stares out the window in contemplation, the rays of the setting sun making her glow, irradiating the complex and thoughtful look that makes her look oh so adorable, like a little pixie lost in thought. I smile to myself as I pull out of the parking lot, heading for home. Ah, there's one of the reasons.

A/N: Okay, well, this was short, ended sweet, and was utterly pointless. Hey, you try writing when all of your muses are either in Australia or won't be around you til Fall! Ugh, the indignity of me posting such a halfhearted, stupid piece of crap. I think my next chapter will be much better, and maybe longer, but gah! Okay, okay, self bashing over. I may have a bloody forehead from all the head banging stuff, and not to rock, more like with a rock. I think I'm getting a little bit better with the whole conversing thing in these notes... though, it isn't a conversation if you don't answer, soooo...

Follow, Favorite, Review!

Also, I do have a account, but I gotta say I don't much deserve anything at the moment. The link is on my profile... Any contribution is much appreciated. :)