Author's Note
Two days and I've already got 6 followers on my first story... Wow... I actually have people interested in my story... Okay. Here's chapter two, I hope you all enjoy it.
Chapter 2
A Fleeting Memory
The massive gates to Beacon Academy for Huntsman stood towering in front of a dark individual, illuminated by the glow of artificial lights. He stood tall, dressed in blacks and greys standing out amongst the blue backdrop of the night, his hands bearing the only hint of colour, blued steel encompassed his hands and forearms. His eyes came to rest upon the towering spires of the academy itself. Glaring at the tallest one, the clock tower, knowing his quarry was waiting for him there. The figure began striding towards the gate, a focused expression plastered on his face.
"It's been a long time." The figure thought. "Twenty years since I lived in Vale."
As the figure approached the large double doors that lead into the academy's entrance hall a tall man stepped out of them, his cane clicking as he walked towards the figure.
"I don't know why you are here." The man said. "But I know who you are and I know what you do. If you don't want every faculty member to reign fire down upon you, you will tell me why you are here."
"And if you don't like my answer?" The figure asked, his face a mask of serenity.
"Then we revisit the fire scenario."
"Well then, I better tell you why I am here."
"Yes, promptly please."
"I would like to enroll as a student here, starting this semester preferably." The figure responded cooly.
The man maintained a straight face that betrayed his immense surprise.
"Why would you want to do that?"
"I wish to be a huntsman. Isn't that what you do here, train huntsmen?" The figure inquired.
"Yes, but I doubt one such as yourself needs training to be a huntsman. What is it you really want?" The man demanded.
Oh Oz, you always were the smartest one in the room.
"To learn to be a huntsman. I have no reason to lie to you. I have never sinned against the academies, and they have never sinned against me." The figure stated, as though it were the truest fact ever said.
"While that may be true at face value, we both know that an assassin rarely does something without ulterior motives. And this request of yours reeks of ulterior motives." Ozpin said, his mask of calm concealing a racing mind.
Oh Oz, what are you thinking about? Trying to figure out why I would even bother contemplating going back to school? Good luck figuring that one out, if the guy doing it can't figure out why, how could you?
"Are you armed?" Ozpin asked, a flicker of worry crossing his brow.
"Oz… You know I am armed. When did you start asking such idiotic questions?" The figure taunted.
"Then disarm yourself and come inside." Ozpin demanded. "We'll talk in my office."
"Ok Oz… Tell me… Is she here? Now, watching, waiting to strike?" The man inquired, his mask cracking for the briefest of moments.
"Oh she was the first to take arms." Ozpin related with a chuckle, a slight smirk raising his brow.
"Well, that's to be expected." The stranger said, exasperated. "I'll give you my arms then. Just make sure she doesn't end my life before we can talk."
The stranger raised his arms above his head and started to walk forward. When he was five paces from Ozpin he slowly and deliberately reached above his head and began to unbuckle the clasps that held his gauntlets in place. One after the other he gently tossed them at the feet of the headmaster. Ozpin slowly bent down to pick them up, inspecting them quickly before tucking them under his arms and turning around to lead the intruder into the school.
"Come along now." Ozpin called back. "And for dust's sake put your arms down."
A chuckle escaped the stranger. Well this is going better than I thought. Let's just hope she doesn't show up to ruin it all. I am sure that I could keep my cool so long a she kept her's, but knowing her she wouldn't and then I'd probably kill someone. The stranger contemplated grimly.
As they made their way through the school in silence the stranger inspected his surroundings. The bright white stone walls, the dark carpeting, the old oak wood trim, every bit of it bringing back memories of his days walking these halls as a student. Days he had told himself to forget, days he almost did forget, but now they were coming back to him clear as day.
When did I become sentimental? That's all this entire thing must be, one big sentimental phase. Who am I trying to fool with this? There is no way I could be a student again. I could pass any test they gave me in seconds. Not to mention the whole 40 year old man thing...
"Here we are." Ozpin said stopping in front of an elevator. "Come along then."
"Right behind you"
The ride in the elevator was a quiet one. Both parties thinking about the possible conversations they could have when they reached the top. Neither of them liking the prospects.
Well, now I just have to be… Honest… This is going to be pleasant.
The elevator dinged, telling it's occupants that they had reached the desired floor. Ozpin stepped out into the antechamber before his office, waiting there was Ozpin's right hand, Glynda Goodwitch. She was standing there in her usual dress of white blouse and black skirt, however on this night she had forgone the high heels and the purple and black cape.
Well here is where things could get tricky. Well she looks good. I guess twenty years treated her very well. I wish I could say the same. Fuck, this is going to be harder with her here.
"Headmaster, Intruder." Glynda greeted them with equal parts respect and disdain.
"Hello Glynda." Ozpin greeted. "I think it best you leave us to talk."
"Hello Glynda." The intruder replied. "It's been quite some time."
"Go die." She spat as she walked out of the antechamber and into the elevator.
"Well then. She was pleasant." The dark figure quipped, barely containing his anger.
"If my understanding is correct she has reason to be so… aggressive…" Ozpin reasoned as he led them into his office taking his seat behind his desk.
"You could say that." The stranger agreed, his anger subsiding.
"My apologies. I don't think I actually introduced myself." Ozpin suggested. "Though that hasn't hindered you in calling me by name."
"No we haven't, and no it hasn't." The stranger replied with a hint of sarcasm to his tone.
"Well then. I am Ozpin, Headmaster of this school."
"Morningstar. That's what you can call me for now."
"Oh really, Morningstar, that's all?" Ozpin inquired. "Not Lucien?"
"No that name isn't one I've gone by in a very long time." Hell, when did I become so cliche?
"Well as cliche as that is, I think I'll be calling you Lucien." Ozpin replied, nearly reading Lucien's thoughts.
*sigh* "Fine. But down to business. I want to attend your school. I may be too old, and too skilled, but I'm not looking to grow into a huntsman here, I want to remember what it was like to be a huntsman." Lucien explained.
"Ah… You wish to give up the life you've been leading for the last twenty years? Is that what brings you to my doorstep in the middle of the night?"
"Yeah, I guess it's something like that." Lucien answered calmly. "Though don't think it's as simple as you make it sound."
"Oh I'm sure it's not." Ozpin said, glaring into the eyes of the man standing before him. "One last question though."
"It better be a good one cause after this you had better give me an answer."
"Why would a killer of men suddenly want to be a protector from grimm?"
"I have my own reasons. Not too many make sense even to a killer." Lucien answered, a slight glaze coming over his eyes as he thought back on his life. Years of killing and lien. That's all he saw in his past. Some good had come of it, taking down a corrupt government one assassination at a time, eliminating an entire crime ring, and many other atrocious acts that he'd been hired to do "for the greater good". What he also remembered were the many lives he had ended for money for no other reason than someone wanted them dead. In the last few years he had caught himself doing more and more of that kind of work. It didn't bother him. That's what he told himself, that's what kept him going, telling himself that he was just the weapon, other's money pulled the trigger. A clearing throat brought him out of his revelry, Ozpin staring into his eyes as if trying to read his thoughts.
"Is there something else you want to ask?" Lucien growled.
"No need for hostility. I understand the maze one's thought can become. What I said was that I will allow you to become a student here, with a few strict rules, rules that if broken could mean more than expulsion."
"Understood. Now what are these rules?"
"One, No More Killing."
"Already done. I put down those blades. The ones you are holding right now haven't and will never touch the blood of man." I hope.
"Good. Two, you must not let another student learn of who you were."
"Didn't intend to."
"Excellent. Three, no contracting outside of the school. If you are going to be a student here you are going to do it properly, and we both know you don't need anymore lien."
"Fine." Lucien replied grudgingly. I was hoping I could keep amassing wealth, I didn't have to take jobs that involved killing... *sigh*
"Also, don't talk to any of your old contacts. We don't need the world finding out that a deadly assassin is attending Beacon."
"Cut most of those ties already."
"Four, respect all of the faculty, they are no longer your peers. You lost the right to call them that long ago, and here they will be your teachers."
"Fine." Lucien choked out. These rules are starting to piss me off.
"Five, keep your anger in check. It was legendary once upon a time and I'm sure that it hasn't gotten any tamer."
"Fine." Barely restraining his anger, determined not to after Ozpin's previous statement.
"Six, and this one is quite important, remember your place here is as a student, but you are also quite a bit older than the average student here. Try to keep a low profile and don't get involved with the student's problems too much."
*sigh* "Easily done, I doubt any of their petty squabbles would interest me."
"Last one, don't upset Glynda. Or don't upset her anymore than your presence already does."
"I get why you are worried. But you don't need to be. I fully intend to keep our interactions to a strictly professional basis."
"Good. I'm glad we have that out of the way. We have no teams that aren't full, so you will be a one man team. You will also be staying in one of the dorms that is less populated. I'll have Oobleck show you to your dorm and fill you in on everything. I'll have your schedule delivered to you in the morning."
"Thank you Ozpin. I'll see myself out."
"Good night Lucien. I'm sure we will be speaking more soon." Ozpin said, a hint of a smile appearing as he waved Lucien off.
Damn he hasn't lightened up one bit. Well it's not like I am one to talk. Damn it, fuck!… Why do you have to be here?
"Come along." Glynda Goodwitch commanded.
"I thought Oobleck was going to show me to my room?" Lucien asked, a hint of venom in his tone.
"No." She snapped back.
"Fine."
They walked in silence through the halls of the school. When they finally entered into the cool night air Glynda finally found the breath to speak again.
"You don't deserve to be here." She started, her full of ire. "You deserve to be in the ground."
"I tend to agree with you there." The usually sarcastic assassin replied, a healthy dose of sorrow and guilt weighing down his voice. Bracing himself for the tongue lashing that he knew would be coming. What I did was unforgivable, who I've become is unforgivable. I don't blame anyone for hating me. But I won't lose any sleep because of it. They kept walking in silence for sometime, finally arriving at the doors to the dormitory where he would be staying. She stopped ahead of him and turned around. Her expression fierce, but her eyes betrayed her body. They looked as though she was about to start crying.
"Do you have any idea what happened?" She whispered to him, her tone full of ire. "When you left."
"I don't think you want the answer to that question." He said, his voice nearly catching in his throat as he spoke.
"No, I know I want answers. I just don't think you have any." She accused, raising her finger to point at his chest.
"No I suppose I don't have any answers for you." None that would make up for what I did.
"Well then, come along." She commanded, returning to her professional demeanor with the flick of a switch.
"Lead the way." He said bitterly.
As she lead them into the building his extreme hearing picked up the sounds of snoring coming from above, as well as what sounded suspiciously like a couple enjoying each others' company a bit too much for a high school dorm room. Disgusting, in my day we never would have thought to do that in the dorms. We at least waited till break to have our fun. They continued on through the common room until they reached the flight of steps that took them to the upper floors, stopping on the second floor landing. Oh for the love of... I was right! These kids are just pitiful.
"Damn it. Hold here for a moment, I need to go be a teacher." The blonde said as she began to storm off in the direction of the offending dorm.
I almost feel sorry for the poor guy who is about to lose his little head. But if he didn't have the decency to keep it stowed than I can't feel to bad for him.
"Miss Belladonna! Miss Xiao Long! You know that this kind of behavior is strictly forbidden!" Shouted the blonde woman into a the now open door of the offending dorm room.
Wow, girls? Hmm, I guess I'm old fashioned, never would have thought girls would be that stupid.
"Professor Goodwitch! We weren't doing anything! We swear!" Cried out a dark haired girl as she came stumbling out into the hall, fully clothed, dragging her blonde partner in crime with her, also fully clothed.
"Then Please explain the quite elicit noises coming from your dorm! As well as the lack of your team mates!" The frightening woman demanded.
"Well we were sore after sparring today and..." The dark haired girl began before being cut off by her partner.
"Professor we were just helping each other relax our sore muscles. Just some massaging of non-erogenous zones. You know what I mean." The blonde teen replied, her tone dismissive, as though she felt it proper to talk to a professor that way.
"Miss Xiao Long, do NOT speak to me that way. Now both of you to bed, and find your team mates and have them go there as well."
"Yes ma'am" The dark haired one replied dragging her partner back into their dorm before her mouth could get them into real trouble.
Damn she is just as scary when she's angry as I remembered.
"My apologies for the interruption." Glynda said as she turned back to Lucien.
"Not a problem"
"Well come along then, you room is at the end of the hall."
"Lead the way, Ma'am" Lucien prodded with a hint of sarcasm.
She lead him to the last door on the hall and opened it with a key she pulled from a hidden pocket on her person. Unlocking the door she stepped back and motioned for Lucien to take the first step into the room. Obliging he entered to see a musty room, clearly having been left to sit for quite some time, book shelves placed against the northern wall covered in a thick layer of dust, bedding made neatly on four twin mattresses positioned in the corners of the small room.
"Thank you for showing me to my room, but it has gotten late and I would hate to keep you up any longer." Lucien said cordially as he inspected the room.
"Good night. Remember you have class in the morning, you'll schedule will be sent to this scroll." Glynda informed as she handed him a scroll that she had somehow concealed. As she began to leave she stopped, turning to face Lucien.
"You should know that whatever you told Ozpin about why you wanted to come here, I don't believe a word of it." She stated threateningly.
"How could you not believe it, when you don't even know what I said?"
"You aren't the honest man I once knew. You do work that always involves ulterior motives." She reasoned.
"Did work, did, work that involved ulterior motives."
"I will wait to see how true that statement is." She replied curtly. "Good night."
"Good night Glynda, I'm glad to see you are doing well."
A scoff and closing door was the only reply he got. Well that went horribly. I guess she was right all those years ago. I still need to work on not saying everything I think. He walked over to the bed closest to the window overlooking the courtyard, standing in front of it as he pulled off his shirt and pulled back the covers on his new bed. Laying down his mind was a swirling pool of memories he had spent so long burying.
Damn it all. Why am I here? What has possessed me to come back to this place? This whole idea reeks of insanity. Maybe that's it, I've finally gone crazy like everyone said I would. Well at least I'll be doing it in comfort, surrounded by people who are just waiting for a chance to end my life. Could be worse.
His last thoughts were of the past, of his days spent in the halls of Beacon, of the days after beacon, before he fell prey to the life he had lead for the last twenty years. Soon enough oblivion took him, a restless sleep that had him waking every few hours. In time he awoke to find the sun just beginning its slow climb across the morning sky.
Well I guess it's time for a new start. If those exist.