The sunlight of late noon fell gently upon the Emerald Forest. A cool, mid-autumn breeze rustled the thick branches, sending leaves cascading down to the forest floor below. And the lush, vibrant green forest was filled with the echoes of Petunia's screams of agony.
"Fucking hell!" The blue haired girl exclaimed, her legs trapped under a thick, fallen tree.
"Petunia," Controlled panic prevalent in Eve's voice as she ran to her pinned partner. She hastily thrust her naginata into the dirt beside the tree and pulled her med kit off her belt. "I'm going to need you to stay calm." Eve urged as she kneeled down beside Petunia, unzipping her kit.
"Calm?! What are you talking about I'm the fucking embodiment of the word calm! Don't I look calm to you?!" Petunia shouted in a tone that someone could've mistaken for sarcasm.
"Stop cursing, I'm just trying to help." Eve whined as she removed her jacket and rolled it into a ball. She carefully lifted Petunia's head and set the jacket beneath. "Now, can you feel your legs?"
"If excruciating pain is a feeling, then yeah!"
"Hey, um Eve-" pop pop. "-I, uh, don't want to rush you or anything-" pop pop pop. "-but could you speed up your process." Automne asked politely between gunshots as a small pack of Beowolves ducked in and out of the tree line before him.
"Automne, I have to treat her for shock." Eve stressed softly as she tried to coax Petunia into laying back.
"Sure, yeah. Take your time." Automne said quietly as he took aim at a large Beowolf and unleashed a hail of bullets. The beast howled in pain as it was struck, by the majority of the bullets, in its shoulder and thrice along its side. A proud smirk sprouted behind his scarf as the monster retreated into the brush, fatally wounded. "How you doing over there Ty?"
"It's a trap, man!" Ty shrieked between gasps as he waited for the next wave of beasts to resurge. The bodies of nearly a dozen felled Beowolves laid at his feet on his own side of the downed tree.
Automne gave a small snicker as he shot a few rounds into another Beowolf. "It happens, man."
"Oh Dust, I can see the light!" Petunia screamed from under the tree. "Ohhhh, I was too bitchin' for this world!" her hands dramatically waving through the air as she moaned. "I was like a super nova, or whatever the hell they're called; I burned too bright for all y'all!"
"Petunia, please stop, you're not going to die." Eve practically begged as she tried to tend to the girl.
"Yeah, amputation is always an option." Automne smarmily joked, popping off a few more rounds.
"I could have no lower half and I'd still get more puss than you!" Petunia ruthlessly retorted as she tried to pull her shotgun out from beneath her round, wooden prison.
"I hope you die under that tree!"
"Automne!" Eve snapped.
"What?!" The head of a Beowolf, that is to say the majority of the head, spackling across a tree as Automne looked back at Eve, feigning innocence. "She started it."
"No, I didn't, you limp necked chicken-nugget fondler!"
"Both of you, shut up or I will cut the legs off the both of you!" Ty demanded as he slashed through another pair of Beowolves.
"I'd sooner believe Automne could get laid!" Petunia yelled, the fact that she was still being crushed beneath a tree somehow escaping her.
"I will shoot you!" Automne warned, unloading the remainder of his magazine into a Beowolf and a rather sinister looking tree.
"Automne, stop fighting with Petunia or I won't help you write that essay for Professor Lazuli." Eve ordered with a disappointed frown.
Automne gave an infuriated growl. 'Don't need your help anyways. I know all there is to know about that stupid sleep root powder crap.' He grumbled internally as he shoved his empty mag into his pocket and pulled a fresh one from his vest. 'Know so much about those stupid roots I'm practically a botanist… or whatever the hell one of those guys are called.'
"That's right, you better be quiet!" Petunia gloated, the pain of having a full grown tree lie on your lower body not so gradually creeping back into her.
"Petunia, shush." Eve said impatiently as she pressed her hand down on Petunia's waist. A pained scream promptly followed.
"Wish I had that job." Automne muttered, another wave of Beowolves emerging from deep within the forest. "Ty, we got more comin'!" Automne called out, draining the top half of his magazine into the advancing beasts.
"Guillotine wall, coming your way!" He quickly turned, raised his shuriken, and hurled it through the air, past Automne. Tugging at the shuriken's nearly invisible string he activated its spinning blades sending it hurtling through a tree as it picked up speed. Ty gave another tug to the string to send flaming dust flying from its ports, setting the brush ablaze and razing trees as it sliced its way through the forest.
Automne gave a slight chuckle as some of the Beowolves ran full force into the fire, igniting themselves. As the shuriken laid out a wall of fire that none of the remaining Beowolves dared cross Automne let his shoulders droop, a relaxed smile quickly crossed his lips. 'Now, all we have to do is wait for-'
An unsettling chill ran up Automne's spine.
The orange and yellow flames of Ty's fire wall began to twist and bend oddly as a short black-and-white figure moved behind it.
Automne squinted hard, his yellow goggles fixated on an odd section of fire which danced and turned ominously. As Automne tightened his grip on his pistol the flames parted slightly allowing a heavily armored Boarbatusk to come barreling through. 'Crap!' Automne shrieked internally. Raising his gun he fired upon the beast, only to watch the rounds ricochet off.
As soon as the gun's slide flew back and gave a loud click, Automne threw his arm out to one side, sending the empty magazine flying out of the gun. His fingers darted to his vest, ripped a pocket open and pulled out another magazine as he brought his gun forward. His heart beat against him relentlessly as the beast charged, a thick cloud of dirt hanging in the Boarbatusk's wake. With moments to spare Automne slammed the magazine into his gun, pulled back the slide, and opened fire.
Disappointment immediately overcame him however as measly, nonlethal paint rounds hit the beast like breadcrumbs… wet breadcrumbs.
Automne glared at his gun. "Shit!" He remarked right before the Boarbatusk curled into a ball, dashed forward, rolled up a small rock as if it were a ramp, and slammed into him, smashing his arms against his chest. However, as the monster barreled into him, Automne's aura reflexively shifted into his chest. So, as the aura broke the force of the impact sent him flying upwards through the tree line and into the sky.
As the wind battered against him Automne swore he could almost hear Eve screaming his name. He wasn't actually all that certain though, his mind was a bit torn on account of the excruciating pain which was rolling through his body in shockwaves. He tightly shuttered his eyes to the cerulean sky above and fastened his grip around his weapons as the pain devoured him.
Cold seconds passed as the wind whipped over his body. The air ruthlessly pounded against his skull as he crashed through the ceiling of the forest. Loud cracks rang in Automne's ears as he broke and fractured every branch he struck on his way to the forest floor.
Landing solidly on his back, the pain surged through Automne in slow bursts. An almost compulsory groan of pain slowly parted his lips as he curled and writhed in anguish. Tears began to cloud his vision as he rolled onto his side. Agony coursed through his body as his muscles screamed out in pain. He gave a gasp and held back his tears. Pangs of pain resonated though him like a terrible song, pounding against his bones as he struggled onto his hands and knees.
"Ahh," He moaned weakly, his voice cracking as the noise left him. Disheartening pain coursed through him, binding him in place. The boy stared down at the forest floor, what remained of his aura surging around his body like ice water, numbing pain for moments only to give way to acidic air.
He drew in a breath. His scarf clung to his sweat covered mouth as the fresh air burned his lungs. He let go of his weapons and wriggled his fingers tentatively. He whimpered slightly as fire burned his left hand and wrist. He released his breath in shaky pants.
His body trembling tears began to flow to him again.
There was a loud rustle in the brush before him. Automne looked up at the dark green forest surrounding him. Fear blistered his mind as the brush in front of him began to twist and snap. He swiftly rose and fell backwards onto his rear as a Beowolf jumped from the brush and snarled at him.
Automne's eyes darted to his weapons, lying on the ground in front of him, out of arm's reach.
The monster let out a roar and charged.
'No!' Automne screamed internally, raising his arms to cover his face.
Bang!
The sound of the gunshot rang through the forest for a moment before silence fell.
Breathing heavily Automne peered out from behind his arms. The Beowolf that had just attempted to charge him was now missing the majority of its head. Its body, still standing erect, listlessly swayed back and forth.
Bang!
The second round, landing squarely upon the monster's chest, sent the beast flying back.
Automne stared at what remained of the monster's corpse for a few moments. Black wisps rising from the body like smoke as it started to deteriorate. Automne hastily turned to look up at his savior, Sienaerde.
"Rise," She ordered, her eyes and her rifle pointed at the dead Beowolf.
Automne's lips molded themselves into a scowl as he turned forward. His body ached and jittered as he crawled forward and scooped up both of his weapons in his right hand. He looked back over his shoulder at Sienaerde, her sharp brown eyes were still scanning the forest for threats. Automne let out a shaky, pained sigh and forced himself onto his feet. "How did you find me?"
"My team and I were performing a simulation about a half mile from here." She hesitantly began to lower her rifle upon confirming that they were alone. "I saw you burst through the canopy and determined that you needed assistance… Are you injured?" Her eyes fixed on his left hand.
"I'm fine." Automne snapped dismissively, pocketing his ninjato. "Doesn't your team need you?"
Sienaerde gave the young man a scowl as she strung her rifle over her back. "My teammates follow their orders to the letter; they will not fail in my absence. Now, let me have a look at your hand." Her stern voice holding an unquestionably genial air.
Automne stopped and looked the girl up and down. His scowl softened to a bitter frown behind his scarf as he gave a resigned sigh. He silently stepped over to Sienaerde and held his forearm and hand out to her.
She gently took hold of his arm beneath the elbow. Carefully she began to remove his glove, occasionally glancing up at his face. "Those who practice common decency generally thank their protectors for saving their lives, or has that practice fallen out of use?"
"Considering most protectors don't constantly kick the crap out of their rescuee, I think an exception can be made here." Automne griped as he dropped the magazine from his pistol and used the grip of the gun to pull down his scarf.
"You fault me for being a competent opponent, but a battle goes far beyond the physical confrontation alone. One is not simply beaten by another; they allow themselves to be beaten, Noire." Sienaerde snapped, abruptly yanking of his glove.
A million needles shot through Automne's hand and up his arm, causing him to lurch forward, screaming in pain. His hand ripped from Sienaerde's clutches, he cradled it against his stomach as he shuffled across the forest floor, overwhelmed.
Sienaerde rushed to his side as he gritted his teeth and tried to shelter his hand from the very air that surrounded it. "Let me see it, let me see." Sienaerde urged, her voice calm as she attempted to unfurl the boy. Gradually, he began to straighten and reveal to her his swollen, red and purple hand. From the middle finger to the little one all looked awkwardly bent.
Sienaerde gave a soft sigh. "It looks like you've managed to break this entire side of your hand." She quickly swiped the pistol from his other hand, the one which he didn't manage to break, and ejected the remaining round from the chamber. "There's nothing I can do to help; you'll need to return to Howlite." She ran her hand across the pouches on his vest until she found one containing a magazine. "I need to maintain appearances, so I won't be accompanying you. Stick to the light, conserve ammunition, and try to repress your emotions." She hastily shoved the magazine into his pistol and cocked the weapon. She made to hand him the gun, but instead came to a pause. She stared at Automne, a grave look sitting in her eyes.
Its intensity wavered as Sienaerde and Automne's eyes danced together, sharing something unspoken. She looked between the gun and him once more before extending it. "Don't die, Noire. We're here for a reason, and you've already come so far… And if that doesn't motivate you, think of it this way: dying at this point only stands to prove everything I've said about you to be correct."
Automne stared back at Sienaerde, every syllable giving him renewed energy. He stoutly took his pistol back and swept his scarf up over his mouth. "Thank you," A small sincere smile sprouting behind his scarf as he turned and jogged back into the forest.
Sienaerde continued to stare at Automne even after he became obscured behind brush. She gave a small sigh and ran her hand across her chocolate colored hair before pulling her rifle off her back. She rolled her neck, and took one deep breath before sprinting off into the forest, rifle in hand.
"1, 2, 3, Lift!"
"Aahhhhhhh!" Petunia wailed as Ty and Eve lifted the downed tree and threw it off of her.
"Alright, Petunia's safe, now go find Automne." Eve said to Ty as she pulled her naginata from the ground, dirt and dust crumbling off the blade as she outstretched it. She squatted slightly over Petunia, her weapon at the ready and her gentle eyes diligently scanning the environment.
"Since I'm the one who gives orders on this team I'll go when I give myself the order."
"Ty!" Eve protested.
"Hey! ….. Okay, I'll go." He said, unenthusiastically sauntering off into the forest.
As Eve began to puff out her cheeks and internally chastise her leader Petunia let out quiet moans of anguish.
"Eve," The downed teammate grumbled, lightly tugging at her pant leg. "Eve,"
"What's wrong Petunia?" Eve asked as she kneeled down beside her, leaning slightly on her weapon for support.
"Eve, before I die-"
"Petunia, you're not going to-"
"Shut up, we're having a moment." Petunia said with casual bitterness. "Eve," she grumbled in an utterly pitiful, but clearly fake, tone. "Eve, let me cop a feel." She mumbled, adding an extra cough for dramatic effect.
"Petunia, NO!"
"C'mon, just let me play with them a little." She tried to reason still using her morbid tone. "I'm not asking you to let me lick 'em or anything."
"Petunia!"
"C'mon, they're not even that big... On second thought, let me grab your ass instead. You have a really nice ass."
Eve then, appropriately, responded by slapping Petunia across the face, her own cheeks a bright, offended crimson.
"Ah- what the hell?! You're not supposed to smack a patient!"
"You're a dirty, h-horrible pervert!" Eve shrieked as she tried to cover her already clothed breasts and rear.
"Oh come on, it's basically a compliment!"
"You are such a horrible person!" Eve cried out, her body violated by Petunia's words.
"Hey guys," Ty said casually as he walked back into the clearing with a juice-box in hand. "What's up?"
"Ty, why aren't you looking for Automne?!" Outrage and confusion overtaking Eve.
"Ty, Eve hit me!" Petunia childishly moaned, pointing up at her aggressor's face.
"Eve, did you hit her?" Ty chided.
"What, but she- Ty, go find Automne!"
"I already did; he's right behind me."
The three of them turned in unison to stare at the forest.
Ty stared on blankly for a roughly a minute before taking a loud sip from his juice-box. He paused again, stared for another minute, and took another sip. "… Huh… I told him to follow me, so that's on him."
"Ty!"
"Hey, I'm not responsible for keeping him alive, that's your job."
"Mistuh gov'ment man, she dun hit me across my face and I ain't seen no justice yet!" Petunia dramatically hollered from the floor. "Oh damn this insta-tution and its prej'dices!"
"She wanted to sexually assault me!" Eve screamed in defense as Petunia tried to turn the court system of Ty against her.
"Now Eve, you know the court system never sides with people who make allegations like those." Ty scolded, shaking his head in disappointment.
"What?!" Eve yelped, practically on the verge of tears.
"Hey!" A tired voice barked from the forest behind Ty. The quiet rustling of leaves being crushed crackled through the air as an exhausted Automne emerged from the forest. He panted heavily as he approached the three, drenched in sweat with his swollen left hand held against his stomach while the other dangled tiredly by his side.
"Oh, there he is." An almost surprised Ty mumbled as Automne lethargically approached.
"Why did you leave me?" Automne hissed at Ty.
"I told you to follow."
"I am injured…"
"Doesn't mean you can't follow." A very matter-of-fact smile resting on Ty's face as he took another sip from his juice-box.
Automne didn't immediately give him a verbal response. He took a few moments to picture chopping Ty's head off and burning his body before he replied with a simple: "I hate you."
"'You wanna blow me?' Whoa man, I don't swing that way."
"Hey, weren't we supposed to be doing something?" Petunia chimed in, a lost look in her eyes.
"Team Taupe, your exam time has expired. Please leave the Emerald Forest immediately." A woman ordered over a megaphone.
Petunia laid on the ground with a half shocked, half bored expression slathered across her face. "Oh yeah… that."
"So, basically we failed, Tracy." Automne sadly admitted to the school nurse as she finished putting his hand into a cast.
"Well, kid, you can't win 'em all." She replied disinterestedly before giving him a firm pat on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Tracy." Automne grumbled as he internally tallied his wins and losses. Unfortunately, it was so one-sided his head actually started to tilt to the side.
"So, where's Eve today?" The nurse asked as she grabbed a clipboard and started to write something down.
Automne stopped depressing himself with hard numbers for a moment so he could address another depressing subject: academics. "She's busy with an essay right now. She's been having to write a lot of them lately and after failing her test this morning she wants to focus on her work."
"Hmm, I'll bet she does... Alright," the second part chimed loudly as she placed the clipboard in Automne's right hand. "Given your normal healing rate, I speculated your hand should be completely healed in a week, but if Eve gives you regular treatment you should be fixed in about three to four days. Sign there and come see me when your hand feels less broken."
"Thank you, Tracy." Automne said with a slight mope as he laid the clipboard across his cast and scribbled his name onto the release form. "I'll see you in a few days." Automne returned the clipboard and calmly made his way out of the infirmary, his moccasins lightly pattering against the floor as he went.
Automne gave a tired sigh, his clothes chafing against his sore skin as he sulked down an abandoned, sparsely lit corridor. He held out his plain white cast and looked over it with disdain. His eyes scanned the drab plaster, loathing the material and all the stares it would bring. In fact, his eyes were so consumed with the activity of hating his eyesore of a cast that they forgot to watch for obstacles in the world around him. Obstacles such as Professor Baula whom Automne walked directly into.
"Auguu!" Automne exclaimed in shock. "Ge-Professor Baula, I'm so sorry, sir!" He pleaded as he gave the man a low bow.
The Professor gave a light chuckle and smiled down at the boy. "It's alright Mr. Noire, you seem rightfully distracted." The Professor said with a curious glance aimed at his hand.
Automne stared at the cast, mortified. "Oh- yes, I… I had an accident during an exam this morning." He explained as he tried to hide the cast behind his back.
"I can see that." His interest clearly piqued. "How did it happen?"
"I-uh, I was attacked by a Boarbatusk and it-it launched me into the air, and when I fell it was broken."
The Professor gave a small concerned frown as he folded his hands behind himself, his worn trench coat lightly crinkling as he did. "That's quite a shame. I hope you recover quickly. Things have been quite demanding as of late and you'll definitely need both your hands if you're going to pull your own weight."
"Don't worry about me, Professor Baula. The nurse said my hand should be fully recovered in a few days." Automne said hastily, pointing back towards the infirmary with his thumb.
A slightly relieved smile dawned on the Professor. "That's very good to hear." He nodded his head a couple times and raised a hand to his face. Gently, he stroked his black stubble as his eyes wandered off. He drew in a large breath and let out a sigh. "I really wish I could watch more matches and simulations. It gets tiring reading essays all day and night. One of the many inhibitions of being a Professor I suppose... Mr. Noire, how did your team do in this last- what was it, an Emergency Rescue Exam?"
"Umm, yes Professor, that was it and," Automne paused for a minute to swallow in shame. "We, uh, we didn't do very well."
Baula gave another small sigh. "That really is unfortunate to hear." He went silent for a moment before giving another sigh. "You really could learn something by watching your fellow students, Mr. Noire."
"I've learned a lot from the other students Professor. And especially my teammates, we're always improving, sir." Automne insisted, lightly squeezing at his cast.
"Well," Baula's tone lost somewhere between upbeat and disappointed. "I'm glad to hear that." The Professor began to shift forward as if he were ready to walk away, but his eyes lingered upon Automne. Baula stared into him, his expression becoming glum as his examination of the boy deepened. "Hmmm… Why is it that you seem so dampened?"
Automne perked up in shock, "What, I'm not-"
"Your teammates depend upon you, Mr. Noire." A reassuring calmness emanating from his pleasantly coarse voice, his honey colored eyes sparkling. "Whether you feel it, or not, you have become a vital member of their lives. They trust you… Mr. Noire, you are playing an important role here, so fret not."
Automne cleared his throat as Baula's words gently wrapped themselves around him. "Th-thank you, Professor."
A grin parted the man's lips. "You make it seem like my words are some large courtesy. I'm just making an observation." He gave a short chuckle. "I hope you manage to put whatever knowledge you've accrued to good use, Mr. Noire. You may be needing it soon." He pocketed his hands into his pants and began to walk away, his trench coat gently swaying behind him. "Oh! I'd almost forgotten." Baula chimed absentmindedly with a small chuckle. "I really trail off on tangents far too often. Mr. Noire, I was looking over your most recent essay and it seems you forgot to cite a couple of your sources, so, I'm considering it plagiarism and marking it as a zero."
Automne physically recoiled at the news. "What?!"
"But considering the fact that you're a good student, I'm willing to offer you a make-up essay which will be worth half the points. Also, I'm willing to abstain from telling Professor Ozpin of your plagiarism on the condition that you spend a lump of time with me in detention." The Professor looked off into the distance stewing on just how much he could consider a lump. "Let's say… eight to nine p.m. for the next two weeks. Meet me at my office tomorrow evening and expect to be put to use... also, expect to have some company." Baula finished with a small, satisfied smile and a wave before walking off towards the infirmary, leaving a flabbergasted Automne in his wake.
"Aw, dang it." Automne muttered to himself bitterly once he was certain Baula had stepped out of earshot.
"Ughhhhhhhhhhhh," Automne groaned as he pushed open the door to his room, marched straight over to his bed, and fell face first into his pillow.
"You seem happy." Ty remarked, contently chewing on a grapefruit as he relaxed on his bed.
"There is no escape from the madness of the world." Automne overdramatically grumbled into his pillow as he futilely attempted to merge with his blankets.
"It's good to know we have our emo back. What'd the nurse say about your hand?"
Automne rolled over onto his side, entirely unenthused to continue the conversation. "She said it'd take a few days to heal up." Raising his cast up for Ty to see.
"Nice going, man." Ty mildly shook his head as he took another bite from the grapefruit. "You need to learn to focus your aura or you're going to get people killed." Ty's voice lashing against Automne's weary mind as he pointed his grapefruit at him.
"I got hit by a Boarbatusk; my aura was focused on my chest." Automne snapped in defense.
"That's your fault. You need to pull your shit together." Ty's eyes listlessly returning to his snack as Automne silently dug into him.
A loud clap rang through the room as Automne twisted his lips in preparation for a slap-dash comeback. Petunia, the source of the applause, was laughing giddily at their sad excuse of a command center. Her laptop, sitting before her, was darkened with massive columns of text.
"I cracked another one!" She exclaimed, changing windows so she could triumphantly mark down her newest victory over the Phantom Clan's sealed files.
"Awesome," Ty said casually. With no sense of hurry he swung his legs over the side of the bed and sauntered to the station to look over Petunia's shoulder. "What'd you crack this time?"
"Hang on a sec, I just opened it." Petunia rebuked as her eyes flitted across the screen, taking in the wealth of words. "It looks liiiike… Conversation records."
Ty started to brush the corners of his mouth whilst he glared intensely at the text. "Are they similar to the last ones you found?"
"I think so." Petunia leaned back in her chair to look up at Ty, her smile a bit more serious now. "Remember that theory I was talking about a couple days ago?"
"You had a couple, jog my memory."
"It was the one about the chick from The Oasis. I think she's been having her girls listen in on conversations and record them."
"It sounds like a decent idea, but I'm still not sure what she would gain from it." Ty said with a small frown, the screen still holding his eyes. "A few days ago, I asked a guy I know who works in Vice to look into the owner of The Oasis, but he said they already looked into it before and the place wasn't doing anything illegal. So, unless they're listening in on random guys, it doesn't make sense."
"I don't know." An adamant confidence simmering in Petunia's voice. "I was checking public records and the name of the person who owns The Oasis popped up on about twenty other properties across the city on everythin' from warehouses to penthouses. Last time I checked strip clubs don't make people real-estate tycoons."
Ty gave a heavy sigh, scratching his chin lightly. "You said that name was a fake right?"
"Hella fake. Really had to dig before I realized I was lookin' for a ghost."
Automne gave a heavy groan from across the room, attracting his teammate's attention like moths to an annoying flame.
Petunia rolled her eyes at her battered teammate. "What?"
"Oh," feigned surprise heavy in Automne's voice. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I'm just lettin' out air since my hand is in pieces and I have a headache the size of a turkey."
"Dust damn it, do you ever stop whining?" Petunia griped as she turned back to her laptop. "Why don't you go find Eve and have her do'er mist thing and stop bitching about it already?"
Irritated knives darted to the forefront of Automne's mind and prepped themselves to fly from his lips in a jumbled half-baked insult, but a question at the back of his mind stayed his attack and left him muddled. "What d'you mean 'go find Eve'?"
"I mean, go find her." Each word accentuated with ire as she turned to glower at him. "She ran off a little while ago without saying anything."
Automne, painfully, arched his eyebrow, befuddlement surmounting the majority of his pain. He pushed himself up in his bed and swung his legs off the side. "What do you mean 'she ran off'? Eve's got an exam tomorrow, she doesn't 'run off' in the middle of her study time."
"Well, she did." Ty added with a stern glare. "I came in earlier, handed her some mail, and a few minutes later she bolted out of here. She didn't say anything, so we both tried texting and calling her, but she never replied."
Automne looked between the two, disbelief plastered across his face. "I don't believe you."
Ty rolled his eyes and turned back towards the laptop. "Fine, like we care." Ty said with a dismissive wave. "Go see for yourself if you want, all her stuff's still on her bed."
Automne scowled at the two and defiantly stood up. He sharply turned and made his way across the room, past the dividing curtain and over to Eve's cluttered bed.
And just like Ty had said, Eve was gone, but her study materials remained. Her bed was covered in notebooks, open textbooks and papers with long sprawling diagrams that dangled off the side. All across her bed-spread laid a number of unsettlingly eerie objects; an uncapped pen, three-by-five cards that weren't in a neat stack, a study guide that was only ninety percent complete, and a torn open envelope that ominously sat at the center of it all.
'This is… unusual.' Automne's puzzled mind whispered as he slowly edged his way up to the bed. He diligently scanned over her belongings while his good hand rifled through his pocket. His stomach starting to churn anxiously as he pulled out his Scroll and flicked it on.
A confused frown on his face he texted Eve: "Hey, where are you? Thought you were gonna study tonight :/" He gave the send button a firm press and let out a sigh.
He looked over the bed once again, this time focusing his hazel eyes upon the most irregular item from the bunch: the empty envelope. In a single, smooth motion Automne reached out and plucked the envelope from the bed. The dry white paper delicately scraped between his fingertips as he continued his impersonation of an expert detective by scanning over it with more zeal.
His examination, however, did nothing to assuage the now severe stress that stewed in his stomach. If anything it only became more intense as the address on the front of the envelope left Automne with the uncanny feeling that he was supposed to know the numbers.
His nerves calmed slightly as his Scroll vibrated energetically in his good hand. Automne hastily returned Eve's envelope back to where he found it before turning to his Scroll.
It was just a few words.
"Automne," the message read, "can you come to the roof".
A cocktail of emotions appeared and began to swirl wildly in Automne's mind. Tints of happiness were overwhelmed by fear, and the fear in turn was squashed by the comfort of her response. Curiosity dominated all others though, so much so that he had already started making his way to the door before he decided he need not reply.
"I'll be back in a while." He called out to his other teammates, shutting the door behind him and setting off down the hallway.
'Something feels… off.' His mind buzzed as he hastily strode down the hallway and entered the stairwell. 'She may just not be feeling well… But that wouldn't explain why she didn't respond to Ty or Petunia… Maybe she just needed to get away from her homework for a while… No, that's not like her…'
And then a thought was tossed forward from the much more pessimistic side of his mind.
'She could be mad at me.' Automne in the middle of bouncing up the stairs slowed down. 'We did kind of fail that exam because of me. And she did genuinely seem upset with me earlier… She's probably going to go off on me once I get up there.'
The soft reverberation of Automne's footsteps ceased as he came to a stop. Empty, he stared at the towering stairs as the thought coursed through his body. It weakened his legs and made time slow. 'She's always so serious about her exams and I just made her fail a big one. If I made her just pick up and walk out on her assignments I could've really upset her… She may even be mad enough to end our friendship. She probably thinks I hold her back and she'd be better off without me…'
Automne gave a heavy sigh and tried to get a rise out of any other emotions he had in him. 'I'm being irrational.' He weakly lifted his leg to the next step.
'Eve gets mad, but she'd never be mad enough to get rid of me.' He reasoned with himself as he tried to force a smile that didn't want to cooperate. 'I'm psyching myself out over nothing. She probably just locked herself on the roof or something. Who knows, maybe she did just get stressed from working and she wants me to come join her for some star gazing.'
His excuses and explanations failing to convince him of anything as he stepped onto the last flight of stairs and set his eyes on the entrance to the roof.
And just like that, rational thought hastily vacated his mind so emotions could fight their pointless fight and internally batter him from within.
The soft pattering of his feet on the concrete steps numbly struck his ears; his lips and mouth dried like cotton; and his stomach twisted and lurched fearfully. As he approached the door to the roof his mind began to fervently offer suggestions. 'We should to hang back for a few minutes. She could still be upset, if we stay here a bit longer she'll have plenty of time to calm down.'
He stepped up to the flat of the final floor and came to a stop, the door standing a couple feet in front of him.
He nervously licked his lips. The frightened voices began to beg him to turn around or seat himself at the door for a few minutes to wait out the storm that they were certain sat on the other side. Their screams of how he wasn't prepared began to blend, note by note, into a strange unintelligible cacophony of panic. He felt as though he were going to start hyperventilating when, out of the blue, logic gracefully stepped forward to guide him.
'It's just Eve.'
Automne reached out and took hold of the doorknob. He drew in a deep breath.
'I know Eve.'
He slowly exhaled and let his shoulders slacken.
'She called me up here for a reason. Let's see why.'
Automne pushed forward on the door.
All the voices silently slipped away, then there was stillness, at least for a few fleeting moments.
The brisk autumn air nipped at Automne as he stepped out onto the rooftop. He stopped for a moment to stare in silence.
The sky above him was glowing, the inky black and purple void was speckled with the dazzling glints of the stars which flickered like candles in the shadow of the silver moon. His eyes never met the sky though, they sat locked upon the lightly shivering black haired girl sitting on the edge of the rooftop.
Fear and nervousness chewed at him as he awkwardly stood there, staring. He waited for nearly a minute for her to turn and acknowledge him, but she didn't. She just sat there with her back towards him, she herself looking off into the distance.
'She knows I'm here. There's no way she didn't hear me… does she want me to go sit with her?'
The seconds began to crawl by.
Automne bit into his dry lip nervously. His anxieties slowly began to cook him from within. They sat in him like red coals, broiling his innards as they sat and simmered. It didn't take long for it to become excruciating.
With a suppressed shallow breath he took a step forward, the rest followed instinctively. Step by step he approached, his stomach churning unpleasantly with every move.
He swallowed hard as he silently walked up to the edge and sat down beside Eve. He didn't look directly at her at first, something about the air told him not to. He instead stared down at the ground below. And that's what he did, he stared off into dimness; fear nipping at him and telling him to remain quiet as the thick, cool air rested heavily upon his shoulders. And he probably would have continued to stare silently into nothing if Eve had not given a miserable sniffle.
Curious, he turned slightly to glance at her from the corner of his eye.
Her normally pale face was red and splotchy; her cheeks stained by the trails of her tears which calmly dripped from her vibrant white eyes.
Guilt poured over Automne, he felt as though he had no right to look at her right now, not in this state. But he couldn't ignore her. His spirit weakened at the very sight of her tears; he ached to right whatever was wrong.
He lifted his legs back to the roof and turned to face her. "Eve, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
Her lips jittered and shook as if she were going to say something. Unfortunately, all she could muster was a pitiful gasp. She quickly covered her mouth and tried to steady her breathing.
"Eve," Automne said, concern overwhelming his body. "If this is about the exam, I'm sorry. I screwed up a-"
"No," Eve croaked shaking her head as she tried to wipe her tears away. "I-it's not that. It- I- it's-" She gave a small gasp and looked down as she cradled her face in her hand. She shook her head again, pulled a slightly crumpled piece of paper from her pocket, and held it out for Automne.
With almost no hesitation he took the paper with his good hand. Illuminated by starlight he could make out every wrinkle and tear-stain upon the page. Barely legible hand written text was scrawled across the paper. Straining his eyes slightly Automne began to read.
'Dear Eve, I am sorry that I can't tell you this in person, but I haven't the heart. Eve, I'm so sor . . . Eve, your mother and I are getting a divorce. We've already tried therapy and we've both done all that we could, but our lo . . . the spark isn't there anymore. Your mother will be taking the house and I'll be moving into an apartment across town. This doesn't have . . . Eve, we both love you, and if you're having a hard time with this we can all meet-'
The letter continued, but Automne didn't need to read anymore. He gently lowered the letter and glanced up at Eve. He paused for a moment, searching for the right words. "I'm… I'm sorry, I didn't know your parents were having troubles."
"Neither did I." Faint bitterness in Eve's voice as she pulled her legs up from over the edge and hugged them tightly.
Automne fell speechless.
He was clueless. He didn't have the faintest idea of what to say to her. He tried to moisten his lips and think of something to say that might comfort her, but it was painful.
Eve squeezed her thighs tightly as she weakly drew in air. "It's all my fault." She whimpered.
Automne swiftly turned back to her. "What?"
"This is all my fault." Eve's whole body began to tremble as tears flooded her eyes. She clung tightly to herself as she began to gasp. "I-It's my fault I shouldn't have left home." Tears began to flow down across her face. "Before I left they were just as happy as always. They weren't fighting they were still in love. If I stayed they- they-"
Automne placed his hand on her shoulder and tried to turn her toward him. "Eve, look at me." Automne said as he tried to lock his eyes with hers.
Eve tried to choke back her worsening sobs, her eyes blinking rapidly to push the tears away.
"Eve, this is not your fault." Fear heavy in his voice as he tried to dispel the poisonous idea from Eve.
Eve began to shake her head violently. "No! It's all my fault! We were all still happy! We went to soccer games and we went out on weekdays! They were still in love!" Pain in every syllable she shouted as tears poured from her eyes. "It's my fault for coming here! Nothing good has happened ever since I decided to come to this stupid academy! Beacon has ruined my life! I hate it here!" Her cheeks burned pink and mucus dripped from her nose as she pushed Automne off of her.
"Don't say that." Automne pleaded, trying to keep a positive tone. "You're the one who always says things like 'look for silver-linings' and 'stay positive'. Look at all the good that's happened ever since you came here. You're learning to be a huntress, you're-you're doing things you've never done before, and you've made a few friends. Remember when we met, you said you'd never really had any friends and now you have three great friends."
"I didn't want to make friends just so I could watch them get killed trying to-to- save the world!" Eve ran her sleeve across her face while Automne stared on, his optimism deteriorating. "I've had so much fun with you, and Petunia, and Ty and now you three are dragging me along on some stupid suicide mission,and I know we're not prepared for this and I don't want to die and I don't want to watch you die either." Tears quickly began to pour back into Eve's eyes as her energy died and she crumbled into the fetal position.
Automne listened to Eve's harsh sobs with teary eyes. Again, seconds stretched on as Automne tried to think of a way to comfort her. What felt like an hour had passed before he gave a sigh and swallowed whatever doubt and fear remained in his voice.
"Eve, look at me." He paused for a moment, but she didn't respond. "Eve, please look at me… please." Automne begged as he gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
Painful, miserable moments trickled by, but Eve's sobbing slowed and she uncurled herself to look at Automne with fierce misery.
Automne gave a heavy sigh as he met her white eyes. He slowly slid his good hand from her shoulder and held out his casted hand, palm up. "Eve… give me your hand." Her eyes harshened with curiosity, only to be softened when he said: "Please." Tentatively she placed her hand in the palm of his cast and said nothing as he lightly sheltered it with his other hand.
Automne stared intently at her thin, dainty hand covered by his own swollen hand. He took a deep breath and slid his fingers into the palm of her hand. "Eve, I promise you, I will not let anything happen to you, or Ty, or Petunia."
"You can't keep that promise." Eve snapped, ready to withdraw her hand.
"I will keep this promise." Automne said, compassionately squeezing her hand. "Eve, I will not let anything happen to you… I promise."
Eve let silent seconds pass them by before she gave Automne's fingers a gentle squeeze. "What about you? You didn't include yourself." She murmured, locking her eyes with his.
His eyes shook nervously, the corners sparkling slightly. Automne pulled his eyes away from Eve's and looked down at their hands. He lightly rubbed his thumb against the back of her hand and forced a smirk. "Well, I always come out a little worse for wear." Automne joked as he pulled his cast away from her hand and held it up for comedic effect.
Eve gave a grim frown. "Automne-"
"Eve," A soft sorrow hidden in her name as he gently squeezed her hand. Automne returned his eyes to Eve's and paused. "… Please…"
Eve held his gaze for a short while before retracting her hand and laying it on her thigh. She turned away from Automne and looked out across the campus.
Automne slowly followed suit.
Silence hung between the two as they looked out at the dim campus before them.
"Do you want to go back inside?" Automne whispered.
Eve gave a quiet, depressed sigh and shook her head. "No… I want to stay out here a bit longer."
Automne gave a sigh and laid back on the roof. He rested his cast upon his stomach and gazed up at the stars with sad eyes. "The stars are beautiful tonight."
Eve gently laid back and scanned the night sky with her moon-like eyes. "Yeah, they are." Her voice solemn as she held her hand close to her heart, trying to mimic the way Automne squeezed it.
Rouge glared out at the city of Vale from behind the rim of her wine glass. The soft audio recording of a viola floated through the room as she looked out upon the cityscape. "What do you think? Would that be a good place for a monument? I was thinking something made from marble, maybe… twenty feet tall."
Arsenic, sitting across the table from her gave an offended snort. "If you get a statue, then I get a statue." His demand emphasized as he pointed his glass of wine at her.
"Yes, yes, of course. I just hope you'll be comfortable posing in the nude." She made to sip her wine, but her colleague's astonished face drew her back. "Well, we wouldn't want it to clash with mine." She had already begun to mentally prepare for his imminent retort when the Scroll in her lap vibrated.
Without a moment's hesitation she lifted the device to her ear. "High General," she chimed cordially.
"Team Taupe has become an impediment to the operation. Expect 'Contingency: Whiteout' to commence at any point within the next twelve days. All operatives are expected to be prepared for 'Contingency: Whiteout' at any given moment. 'Contingency: Whiteout' will commence upon my orders. How copy?"
"Understood, High General." Rouge responded with a devilish smile. "I'll celebrate with a smoke." She said as she raised her glass to Arsenic.
"Copy that, standby for further advisory." The scrambled voice on the phone ordered before ending the call.
"What did he say?" Arsenic asked, swirling the wine in his glass.
"'Contingency: Whiteout' is to commence within the next twelve days." Rouge giggled, a hot smile bending her lips.
"Who's the target?"
"Team Taupe,"
A grin crossed Arsenic's lips as he extended his glass for a toast. Chuckling he said: "It's about damn time."
Rouge extended her own and their glasses met with a soul-piercing clink. "I almost feel bad for them."
"They brought it upon themselves." Arsenic's head shaking as he contemplated chugging the rest of his wine in celebration. "They should've minded their own damn business. I only wish I could do the job myself."
Rouge gave a haughty smirk as she turned back out towards the city. "I did say 'almost'. You could never truly expect me to feel sorry for obnoxious, children who prance about like they're heroes. They'll get what's coming to them soon enough. Now, as I was saying I figured we could place our monuments where those houses are."
"I think that's an orphanage." Arsenic added reluctantly.
Rouge gave a giggle. "Even better."
Arsenic shook his head. "That's deplorable." A small smile on his lips as he set his glass of wine on the edge of the table, only to have it fall to the floor and shatter.
"You ape!" Rouge snapped, "That was crystal imported from Mistral."
"Sorry about that."
Rouge gave a sigh and looked back out at the city.
Sorry that this one took me so long. College has been thrashing me and this one needed a few rewrites, but I'm just glad I got this out for all of you.
I hope you enjoyed and if you're this far in and haven't decided to favorite and follow please do so. Leave a review if ya' want, all criticism helps and I just enjoy hearing from you folks.
Stay tuned, because you're not gonna want to miss what comes next. Until next time, peace out.
-CS