Chapter 9: One Team, One Fight

Victor walked down the halls of Beacon, reading a good book he got the other day. It was quiet, which he enjoyed, so he was also alone and flicked his ears beneath his hair. He hated having all that hair around his ears, blocked a good chunk of his hearing, plus… he wasn't being true to who he was. He knew he would eventually have to reveal that he was a Faunus, but he wasn't 100% sure how people would react to it. His team might take it in a decent way, since he had been getting along with them to a degree.

There was also the… romantic interests… he had that if he was able to pull them off he would have to reveal his true nature. It made him feel better that he wasn't the only one who was hiding who he really was, Blake Belladonna the Cat Faunus. The two had become good friends during the time they figured out each other's secret, so he at least had one Faunus friend. Victor was still in his thoughts when he felt someone's arm wrap around his neck and yank him back. He slammed onto his back and heard Deveraux cheer "Oooooooh! RKO! From out of nowhere!"

Victor closed his book and growled "You little bastard." He jumped onto his feet and charged Dev, who had his back to him and connected with his shoulder.

An hour and a lot of damage done later…

Dev and Victor sat in Professor Ozpin's office, both looking like they ran through several walls… which they did. Dev had a black eye and his normal arm in a sling with Victor had a bandage wrapped around his head and a tissue stuffed up his nose. "And that's how the fight started." Victor finished to Ozpin, who was currently seeing what might be done with the two rivals. "So, after Mr. Mercer performed this…" Ozpin exclaimed. "RKO." Dev finished.

"RKO. You two began the fight that broke three columns, four windows, 200 feet of concrete…"

"Six walls." Victor added. "And seven tables." Dev finished.

"Eight."

"Eight?"

Victor turned towards Dev and exclaimed "Yeah, remember. I through you through four and then you slammed me through four." Dev looked like he was thinking hard and then questioned "You went through that last table?"

"Well, only my head did, but I still count it."

The two nodded in agreement and Professor Ozpin cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the two. "This has not been the first altercation outside Beacon permitted engagements between the two of you, or the others of your team." Ozpin exclaimed. Which was… very true, Vanguard would get into fights outside of the arena with each other and it had become pretty common. "This has not been the first time I have had to speak to Team VAND about these incidents." Ozpin continued. "Consider this… your final warning." Both Dev and Victor gulped as Ozpin finished "If this occurrence happens again between any members of Team VAND, you will ALL be expelled. Have I made myself clear?"

"Crystal sir." Dev and Vic exclaimed at the same time. "You are dismissed." Ozpin exclaimed, releasing the two into the hallway. "So what now ass hat?" Dev questioned. "Call Nigel and Alexi and tell them to meet us in the room. We need to have a team discussion." Victor exclaimed as he pulled the tissue from his nose. Dev nodded and pulled out his scroll to contact the team as they headed to the room.

The team met up and Victor informed Alexi and Nigel of their precarious situation. "You can't be serious." Nigel exclaimed at the end of Victor's recount. "Completely. We need to learn how to work together or we can kiss our dreams of being huntsman goodbye." Dev updated as he removed his sling. The four sat in silence around their room, pondering the very thought of being expelled from Beacon… basically their nightmare. "Look, we need to learn to tolerate each other." Victor audibly sighed. "We are a team, so we should act like it. We did so once against Team CRDL, so we can do it again."

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Alexi questioned. "Why are we all here? Why don't we start there?" Victor exclaimed. The rest of his team shrugged and Alexi started "I guess I'll start. I wanted to become a huntsman for freedom." Everyone looked at him with a strange look as he went on "From where I'm at, there is nothing other than town guard or work in a shop. I didn't want that kind of life, I wanted to travel the world and see new places… meet new people. That's my reason." The room was quiet until Nigel exclaimed "I want to learn the different weapon applications to hunting. I want to make better weapons for people, save lives and the what not."

Nigel had a sad look on his face as he placed a hand on his mini gun box. "My weapon's name is Edgar's Revenge, it was originally his weapon before… before he was killed." Nigel finished with a tear in his eye. The room was silent again until Nigel exclaimed "He was a soldier, and this was his weapon. It was during a White Fang raid on a weapons storage, there was no warning. He never had the chance." Nigel explained. Alexi patted his partner's shoulder to comfort, prompting Nigel to mutter "Thank you my dear boy."

Dev spoke up and exclaimed "I came here to learn how to become stronger, to protect those who cannot protect themselves." Victor took a deep breath and thought "Well, they are my team… better they learn now." Vic was apparently silent too long and Nigel questioned "Well? Are you prepared to share your reason?" Victor exclaimed "To establish better relations between Faunus and Humans." Dev chuckled "Well, you and your sister get along fine, so you're doing great."

"That doesn't really count for one major reason…"

Victor reached up and flattened his hair out, revealing the brown wolf ears his hair concealed. He let his hair go and looked to his silent team mates, Alexi and Nigel's jaws on the floor while Dev nodded his head a bit. "Grey and I came to Beacon to try and make better relations between Human and Faunus." Victor explained. "I hid my true nature since I could conceal it better. We figured, if this human and this faunus can get along, what about the rest of us?" The room was silent for a bit until Dev exclaimed "Well, didn't see that coming. It doesn't really change anything about you or who you are." Alexi added "You're still our team leader and that doesn't change."

Nigel exclaimed "It does explain the unusual behavior that you would display though." Victor raised an eyebrow and questioned "What do you mean?" Dev laughed "Where shall we begin? Let's start with in the morning." Alexi answered "You shake when you walk out of the shower to dry yourself off." Nigel added "When they cut the grass out front you roll around in the clippings." Dev added "When they serve stew you don't use utensils, oh, and you were growling when we got into the fight with Team CRDL."

Victor shrugged and exclaimed "It's hard to suppress base instincts, behavior you were able to show your whole life." Dev chuckled "Some team we are."

"But we're a team none the less. So why don't we start acting like it? We all know a little bit more about each other and our purposes here."

Nigel chuckled "Well then, what shall we do now… team?" Victor shrugged and suggested "Lunch?" His team nodded and they all moved towards the mess hall for lunch. They arrived, grabbed their food and sat with Team RWBY, who was already there for lunch. They all sat with the team and began chatting with them. The lunch was going good, until a certain team walked in that had a bone to pick with Team VAND.

Cardin walked up to Victor and growled "Hey, freak-lover." Victor immediately stood up and Cardin attempted to size up to him while the other team members took their target. "I've still got a bone to pick with you." Cardin growled as Victor looked down on him. "What? You want to go another round?" Victor questioned. "Because that worked out so well the first time." Cardin scowled and replied "Tomorrow, a match. Between my team… and your group of freaks. You in?"

Victor looked to his team, all of them with fire in their eyes. Victor smiled and replied "You're on. Tomorrow, and be ready to go back into the infirmary." Cardin and his team left, eyes burning for the fight as much as VAND was. Victor turned to his team and exclaimed "This… is going to be fun. Now, since we've decided to act as a team… let's talk strategy. "

O00000O00000O

Team VAND gathered their gear and waited in the locker room. Victor had his armor and mask on with his assault pack vest on and his axe, Defender, in his hands. Deveraux holstered his revolvers, Judge and Executioner, and set his longsword, Red Queen, into its sheath on his back. Alexi twirled his dual sickles, Lenin and Trotsky, by his sides in anticipation. Nigel spun Edgar's Revenge barrels as he made sure they spun freely without any hitches.

"You guys ready to take CRDL down a peg?" Victor questioned. His team smiled a group of pretty devilish smiles as they started heading out. They were greeted with the bright lights of the arena and the cheers of the students. Victor took his axe into two hands, one towards the end and the other towards the head, and brought his weapon over his head to accompany the cheers. Dev looked around and waved, seeing Team RWBY and JNPR with a poster saying "FRONTLINE VAND".

Nigel waved to the crowd, spotting Velvet and her team, and then promptly winking at her. Team VAND joined their challengers, Team CRDL, waiting for them at the center with Professor Goodwitch mediating the match. "Thank you for joining us." Professor Goodwitch exclaimed. "Now, these are the rules for the match. Both teams will face each other until all members of one team are unable to continue. When a member's aura reaches red, they are to leave the arena immediately. Are the rules clear?" Everyone nodded and set up their targets. Victor against Cardin, Dev against Russel, Alexi against Dove and Nigel against Sky.

Professor Goodwitch stepped back and shouted "Begin!" The teams charged each other, weapons ready to come down on their respective targets. Just before they collided, Victor bellowed "Switch!" All of Vanguard immediately swapped their targets to whoever had a similar weapons. Victor's axe collided with Sky's Halberd as Alexi's sickles caught Russel's daggers. Nigel's cricket bat was able to stop Cardin's mace from striking Dev, who was sword to sword with Dove.

All of Vanguard had evil smirks on their face as they pushed against their opponents and started swinging. Victor was unrelenting in his blows against Sky, who was doing his best to block every swing with the handle of his weapon. Victor took a different approach and swung to Sky's side, but the Victor side swung his axe and caught Sky's side, sending him flying. Victor didn't let up at all, he charged Sky as he hit the ground and grabbed caught him by the front of his armor. Victor spun and threw Sky as hard as he could, causing Sky to bounce several times.

Dove's fight against Deveraux was fairing as well as Sky was against Victor. Dev was striking at Dove with vicious speed, Dove barely being able to block the blows Dev was dishing out. Dev struck Dove's blade again and again until he started to get bored and decided to have a little fun. Dev jumped back and charged Dove with his blade pointed straight out. Dove was ready to parry the blow, but there was a blue flash and Dev was gone.

Dove didn't have a moment to think since Dev reappeared behind him and delivered a power swing straight to Dove's back. Dove flew through the air and would have landed on his feet, until a blue flash blinded him and he received a knee straight to his stomach. Dev didn't let up, he jumped into the air and delivered another kick that sent him straight into the ground. Dev grabbed Dove by the back of his armor and threw him into Sky, who was thrown by Victor. A loud clang echoed over the cheers of the fight as Cardin's mace slammed into Nigel's bat.

The clangs echoed again and again as Cardin tried to break Nigel's defense, but he wasn't even close to breaking. Cardin growled "Why *clang* won't *clang* you *clang* give *clang* up!" Nigel side stepped and let Cardin's mace slam into the ground as he spun and struck Cardin. "Because someone has to stand up to you." Nigel exclaimed as he stepped up to Cardin. "And it appears that I am that someone." Cardin scowled and charged Nigel with his mace raised, ready to strike the smug Brit down.

Nigel readied his weapon and deflected a blow from Cardin, then delivered a punch to his side. Cardin flinched from the blow, but delivered his own punch to Nigel's face, breaking his monocle and knocking his top hat from his head. Nigel stumbled back and looked at the shattered remains of his monocle and watched Cardin stomp on his hat. "How very rude." Nigel commented as he pocketed what remained of his monocle. "It appears that I have to teach you some manners." Nigel hit a switch on his weapon, causing the plank to connect from one end to the other and form a circle.

A red light turned on his weapon, causing a part of his metal pack to jump to it with bullets right behind it. Nigel pulled the trigger and sent a storm of bullets after Cardin, who ran for dear life from the bullets. Nigel continued his fire until Cardin was within range of Victor, who saw what Nigel was setting up. Victor took a step and swung his axe, connecting the handle to Cardin's stomach and dropping him. Nigel returned Edgar's Revenge into its bat form as Alexi's laugh filled the arena.

The trio looked over at Alexi, who was dodging Russel's daggers as if he was simply trying to slap him. One swing came close, but Alexi deflected the blow with one of his sickles, and then continued to dodge the swings. Russel appeared to be getting more and more aggravated as Alexi dodged and yet didn't do anything to attack. "Why don't you swing back?" Russel snapped. "Oh, but I have." Alexi chuckled as he side stepped. "And you've been feeling it, haven't you? Felling a little more tired than usual? Like something is sapping your strength?" Russel continued to swing as if he never heard Alexi, who continued to step aside.

Russel stopped his attacks for a moment and held his ground panting like he was almost out of breath. "Now, it's my turn." Alexi exclaimed as he readied his sickles. Alexi took a fighting stance and charged with Russel charging with the remainder of his strength. Russel swung a weak swing, but Alexi blocked it and delivered an onslaught of attacks aimed at Russel's extremities. "Do you know what sickles were used for in the military?" Alexi mocked as he struck one of Russel's legs. "Torture and removal of limbs."

Russel dropped to his knees and Alexi delivered a kick straight to Russel's face. "Well that was fun." Victor chuckled as he shouldered his axe. He started making his way to the edge of the arena when Professor Goodwitch announced "The fight is not over Mr. Roman." Victor looked over his shoulder to see all of Team CRDL's aura levels in the yellow, and then they started to get up. "Alright then, the fun isn't over yet." Dev chuckled as he readied his sword.

"How about we show off some moves." Alexi exclaimed as he twirled his sickles. Team CRDL finally brought themselves to their feet and got ready for the next round. "Titanfall!" Victor bellowed as he with his team. Dev shot forward and jumped onto Victor's shoulders, the two vanishing in a blue flash. Everyone but Team CRDL saw the two reappear over the arena, and Dev throw Victor straight to the ground. Victor crashed in the center of Team CRDL, sending the rival team flying through the air.

Dev dropped down next to Victor and chuckled "I can't believe that actually worked. Never tried to Blink with someone." Team CRDL started to regain their bearing when they heard Nigel declare "Batter Up!" Cardin looked around to see Alexi with his rifle out and grenade launcher pointed at Nigel, who looked like he was ready to play baseball. Alexi fired a grenade and it flew at Nigel, who hit the grenade and sent it flying right at his team. The grenade exploded and sent his team flying again, throwing their balance off.

Victor looked at the screen to see Russel and Dove's aura hit red, eliminating them from the fight. "Clean up time!" Victor bellowed as he strode into the smoke of the explosion. "Cardin! Sky!" Victor called. "It's time to end this!" Victor looked around, not seeing any movement in the smoke… but he caught something out of the corner of his eye. Victor turned to see Sky swinging his halberd straight for Victor's head.

Victor ducked under the swing just in time and swung his own weapon, sending Sky out of the arena and his aura into the red. Victor stood up straight as the smoke finally cleared to reveal Cardin waiting with his mace ready. "Your time has come Cardin." Victor proclaimed as he pointed his axe at Cardin. "No wonder you beat me senseless after I was picking on that rabbit freak." Cardin laughed with a sly grin on his face. "You're nothing but a freak yourself! And a dog for that matter!" Dev moved next to Victor as he questioned "What's he talking about?"

"Uh, your ears Big Guy."

"What about them?"

"Everyone can see them."

Victor noticed that the entire arena was silent, like big reveal from a TV show silent. He reached up and ran his fingers through his hair… or where it should have been. He didn't feel anything but his own ears, his faunus ears. Victor took a deep breath and sighed as he put his axe on his back. "Well then, looks like it's time to reveal my true nature. Dev, stand back if you please." Victor exclaimed. Dev stepped back as Victor took a step forward with a very wolfish grin.

Cardin readied his mace as the freak stepped forward, actually afraid of the thing as it stepped forward. At that moment, Cardin stared into the eyes of his opponent and it felt like staring into the eyes of a predator. Victor stopped and lowered himself to the ground, eyes locked on Cardin. He placed his palms on the ground… and then launched forward at Cardin with lightning speed. He barely had time to get his mace ready for a swing before Victor's fist collided with his stomach.

Victor threw everything he had into that punch, sending Cardin into the air and damn near out of the arena into the stands. The arena was still silent as Victor started to laugh in victory, and then howled into the air, a very bestial howl. He turned to his team, who were looking at him with raised eyebrows. "It is good to be back!" Victor declared as he held out his arms. "Say hello to the real Victor Roman!" He looked up to the ceiling and filled the arena with another howl.

Chief A/N: Apologies for taking so long to get this chapter together. I'm a busy guy. So hope y'all enjoyed it!

SOVIET's A/N: ^ He really is.