Settling In
"Well this is awkward." I said looking at the large dorm room we were shown to since I had joined the recently created Team RWBY which included the three I was asked to keep an eye on and the one I was watching in case they slip up. "If you ladies don't mind I'm going to make myself a corner on that side of the room while you guys have the rest." I went to walk away but was grabbed by Yang before I could get too far.
"Wait a second Ninja Boy. You've got some explaining to do." Yang said plopping me on the bed closest to the corner while RWBY surrounded me. "How did you find Mum and why did Pyrrha look like she was about to cry at seeing you?"
"I fought a Roe in the forest and fell into an underground cavern that she happened to be in at the time. As for Pyrrha, by rights she should be angry with me considering what I said to her as we parted ways years ago." I winced remembering the things I had said to her in anger. "If you see her trying to gut me then don't interfere please. It wasn't exactly my proudest moment back then."
"What happened? You don't exactly seem like the type of person to get angry outside of combat." Ruby said while Belladonna snorted to herself at her forgetting how we met. I sighed and gestured for them to sit which they did on the bed opposite the one I was on.
"When we were young it quickly became apparent that Pyrrha was born to be a fighter. She excelled at everything our parents had her do and was a prodigy with a sword and spear. Once they saw her skill they started comparing us and were very vocal about finding me lacking before I was even allowed near a weapon. It only got worse when it became obvious I couldn't use a sword to save my life. Things built up and built up before, after Flare's Fall, I snapped. I put our parents in the hospital and reduced Pyrrha to tears with an anger fuelled rant that she had no business of being on the receiving end of. I'm not stupid enough to think I could be forgiven so I don't plan on being in her way."
"You're an idiot." Weiss said making me blink at her. "Pyrrha spoke about you before we left our lockers. With the lack of news about you, or at least the ones that use your actual name, she feared the worst. I think she'll hug the life out of you when you're together again. I think the only reason she didn't was because you had that woman on your back."
"What did you mean by news that used his name?" Yang asked in confusion that Ruby mirrored. Weiss looked between them before sighing.
"I guess you wouldn't know since I only put things together thanks to Winter. Ignis here is widely known as White Fang's Bane due to his actions in interfering with White Fang operations and also earned the name Red Shadow due to red being all people see before he defeats them. People feel safe when they read about his deeds and people like the fact he doesn't discriminate."
"Not technically true. Me and the other Banes, including the Faunus ones, go after the White Fang." I said before Belladonna could say something too bring suspicion onto her just because she still had rose-tinted glasses on. From what little I had seen of her she wasn't here to cause trouble which explained why Ozpin allowed her to be here.
"We've gotten off track, you said you found Mum in an underground Cavern." Yang said getting my attention back to what she believed was most important. "How did you get her out of there when it was likely she had been trying for years?" I gave her a deadpanned look.
"I can Teleport. It makes getting around a lot easier. Summer, while obviously a badass for surviving in there for so long, wasn't exactly in top shape. In fact I think she wouldn't have lasted more than a few days if Fortune hadn't favoured us. Now since we have an early start why don't we get to bed, I'll just go change in the bathroom while you lot do the same in here."
WFB
"Ow, ow, ow, why is it always the ear?" I asked as Pyrrha dragged me out of Port's class by the ear. It was clear to me she wanted to talk all day but I had been skilfully avoiding her until she used her semblance on my belt buckle before she used the distraction to grab my ear. She threw me into a seat and folded her arms while her Team flanked her. "Um…hi?"
"Ignis Nikos! Just where have you been for the last three years?! Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?!" Pyrrha almost shouted making me wince. Over the years Pyrrha had always been there for me so finding out I had hurt her even more than I thought was not a welcome feeling. She looked like she was about to question me more when the black haired guy, Lie Ren if remembered correctly, placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I don't fully understand what's going on between you but I'm guessing you two didn't part in the best of ways." He said making me wince again and no one missed it.
"I might have said quite a few things that were horrible and untrue to her before leaving." I said not wanting to admit I was a right tit to her.
"Oh, and because of that you think she hates you. Pyrrha being Pyrrha doesn't and has been worried about you." The blond, Jaune Arc, said making everyone turn to him in surprise for figuring it out so quickly. "What? I have seven sisters. The amount of fights and name calling is ridiculous at times and yet they're all best friends at the end of the day."
"You have my sympathy, I know I got lucky with Pyrrha." I said honestly surprised he was still sane. I blinked when the ginger, Nora Valkyrie, was in my face. "Can I help you?"
"You look familiar~." She drawled out slowly making me shrug. I had been around a lot so it was possible. Thankfully Ren has pulled her back from me.
"I think it would be best if you apologised for your words and worrying Pyrrha with your absence." Ren said making me blink as I realised that Pyrrha had yet to actually attack me like I thought she would or otherwise show anger towards me. I turned to her and saw that she only had a hopeful expression on her face.
"Pyrrha, I was a complete dick and shouldn't have taken my anger and insecurities out on you. I'm sorry." I said genuinely and suddenly found it difficult to breathe as she hugged me as tightly as she could.
WFB
So far life at Beacon was going well, as long as you didn't count the frequent chases between me and Ruby whenever I tried to improve Raptor. Her Speed and my Blinking made it difficult for anyone else to keep up when it happened, which was quite often much to Yang's delight. I shook my head as I got back on track, to the fact that having Pyrrha back in my life had healed an ache I didn't even know was there. It was good to catch up with her.
"Are you ready?" Professor Port asked bringing my attention back to the task at hand while he tapped a cage with a Boarbatusk in it. I had been surprised when he had called on me after an impassioned speech about what a proper Huntsman was but had quickly received my Combat Gear. I shifted Raptor into Kill Mode and got into a ready stance.
"Yes sir." I said not taking my eyes from the cage even as he opened it. The Boarbatusk immediately curled in on itself and launched itself at me.
"You can do it Ignis!" Ruby cheered making me smirk as I deflected it and watched it turn, still spinning, to charge me again. "Its underbelly is unarmoured!" I gave a feral grin as I timed my strike just right to plough through the underbelly and make a hole in the ground.
"Bravo! It seems that we are in the presence of a true Huntsman! Just, please, go easy on my floor next time." Professor Port said as most of the class clapped. I nodded to them and winked at Ruby who beamed back at me as the bell went. As I grabbed my things I decided to thank Ruby and chased after her only to find Weiss berating her. I had to bite my lip to keep from doing anything but listen as I doubted it would go well if I decked Weiss, especially as I was meant to be watching over her.
"She's wrong you know." I said making Ruby jump in fright despite her depressed state. "You were made Team Leader because you were the best for the job and despite what Weiss thinks you are the only one qualified for it. Blake and I are too much the Lone-Wolf types and are still learning to be part of a team and that doesn't take into account her current delusions. Yang is simply too straight forward to even think of being a leader." I waited a few moments as she digested that.
"What about Weiss? She thinks that she should be Leader." Ruby said not sounding as depressed as she had looked.
"She's the least qualified to be a Team Leader." I said stunning her. "She's been raised with people following her every whim which doesn't happen in real life which will make her angry and that doesn't take into account her hatred of Faunus at the moment."
"I thought you hated Faunus?" Ruby asked as much as stated looking quite confused.
"I don't hate Faunus but the White Fang." I paused before sighing and pulling out my scroll. "That's Kin, my ex and a Kangaroo Faunus with a pouch."
"Ex? What happened?" She asked looking at the picture of me and Kin before covering her mouth as she realised how personal that was. "I'm sorry-…"
"The Fall of Flare happened." I said cutting her off. "She couldn't handle the trauma and her mind broke. She's currently getting professional help but made it clear we were over."
"I'm…you said that I was the most qualified. What makes me qualified?" She asked deciding not to give an apology for something she never knew of before now.
"You make plans for everyone, you inspire respect in most people you meet, you keep up peoples spirits and most important of all, you listen to the advice of your team."
"All true." Ozpin said making us jump in fright. "Mr Nikos, if I could have a moment with Miss Rose." I nodded and left them to it hoping he could bolster her spirits even more.
WFB
I usually like Oobleck's classes as they were both informative and entertaining, mostly because he was like Ruby hoped up on sugar. I wasn't going to enjoy this one in the slightest though given the topic.
"…and the negative feelings towards the White Fang, be it fear or anger, brought the Grimm down on Flare. Of course they were still recovering from the previous attack and as such Flare is no more." Doctor Oobleck said as he swirled his flask around with a regretful look on his face. "It is events like these that make it obvious that we need to learn from the past. Can anyone tell me why, out of all the Fallen Academies, is the Fall of Flare such an important part of modern history?"
"It is the point that most Banes decided that they had enough of the new direction of the White Fang and that the authorities weren't doing enough." A Faunus from the class above us said in a grim tone. "Banes then started a wave of Vigilantism that curbed the worst of the White Fang until recently where they have been targeted specifically by the Police."
"Exactly Mr Sol, the rise of the Banes and their violent actions against the White Fang has ironically made people feel safer, especially as just over 50% of Banes are Faunus themselves. That is not to say that Banes are perfect. Many of them have targeted Faunus that are even peripherally connected to the White Fang."
"Why should we care about animals killing animals?" Cardin, the idiot that had tried to bully me on the induction day, said with a sneer quickly pissing off all the Faunus in the room.
"Faunus aren't animals, dipstick. Besides, even if they were, the damage a fight between a powerful Bane and a high ranking White Fang member is quite substantial. I believe a couple of Villages near Vale have been wiped out thanks to such conflicts." I said aloud in a bored tone making Cardin bristle as he was still trying to get me back for getting him in trouble.
"What would you know about fights, brat? You shouldn't even be here at Beacon." Cardin snarled making me snort and Oobleck sighed.
"You would be well to check your facts before making accusations Mr Winchester. Mr Nikos is not only considered the first Bane, having earned the full Title of White Fang's Bane which resulted in the shortened version for those that followed in his footsteps, but the most successful one. I believe that at least three towns have been destroyed in a fight he himself has been spotted in." Doctor Oobleck explained causing most of the class to stare at me in shock.
"Five; Shiroyuri, Cherry Lake, Mars Springs, Iron Cross and Proton." I supplied having burned the names into memory along with the names of the White Fang Members I had killed those times.
"I will be sure to update my records. Perhaps you could explain why you decided to take matters into your own hands rather than leaving it to the authorities." I sighed but shrugged since I hadn't actually been asked before.
"To start with I would like to say that I took things into my own hands not because the Police weren't doing enough, but because they couldn't. Thanks to the Good Will the Faunus had towards the White Fang for their previous efforts into gaining equality the Police couldn't come down as hard on the White Fang as they wanted to. They also couldn't just let nothing happen either so they came down extra hard on anyone that they could without a doubt prove was a threat. After seeing so many friends either die or be driven insane because of their actions I knew something had to be done. So I became White Fang's Bane and the Red Shadow that has cursed them." I saw a few people nodding but it was Blake that I was watching. I was glad to see that there was no anger in her but sorrow at losing friends. It was a start to neutrality at least.