Yang P.O.V
The Ride on the bullhead back was quiet. The only sounds were the engine working and Bruce breathing on the stretcher. None of us have said anything yet until I break the silence.
"So, how long have you two known?" I say to Ruby and Weiss.
Ruby looks up and answers "Since the second day."
"And neither of you thought it was important enough to tell us?" Blake says, anger is noticeable in her voice, which causes them to flinch.
Ozpin then decides to speak up. "None of you were supposed to know this yet. Do not place false blame on your teammates."
"You speak as if you get a say in this. Yet you did not inform me."
"Glynda. You work with the police force even more than me. If I told you….."
She starts to nearly yell. "That is exactly why you SHOULD have told me. I have been hunting him down, Ozpin. At times I have even thought of killing him as he never listened to me. And that feeling only increased after he started to get creative with his interrogations."
I peek up at this. "Wait, do you know Bruce personally?" I ask in curiosity.
"He has been at this school for three years, Ms. Xiao Long. And in that time I have grown attached."
I start to smile at this, until a voice is heard.
"Aww, you do care for the boy."
All of our eyes turn to see Bruce sitting up and looking at us. He has a smile on his face that doesn't belong and his eyes are back to that weird silver fire from before.
"Your compassion for my legacy is astonishing. No wonder he nearly killed himself for you."
Ruby decide to speak. "Umm, Bruce?" She says, but Bruce ignores her and talks to Ozpin.
"Ozpin!" He says. "Good to see you again, young man. At least you did not decide to waste my teachings after my death and did something with your life." He looks towards Glynda. "And found another love interest, I see. Shame of the other one."
"BRUCE!"
He slowly turns around and looks at Ruby, this causes me to stiffen a little in case something happens. He looks at her for a couple of seconds before speaking again.
"Ahh yes, the lone Rose." He gets stands up and starts to walk to her. "Your eyes pain me and give me hope."
He is nearly in front of her, but I jump in front of her, unsure of what he will do.
"I don't know what is wrong with you-"I say, ready to fight. "- But you aren't coming close till you act like yourself, Bruce."
He adopts a cheeky smile that makes us all jump back in fear. He starts to wiggle his finger in the sign of no.
"Uh,uh,uh, not Bruce." He then adopts a thinking look on his face. "Well, not mentally right now. Though I do have his incredibly strong body!" He starts to flex in the batsuit.
"Wait if you're not Bruce, then who are you?" Weiss asks, nervously.
"So, the ice queen can speak. (Chuckle) In response to your question, I am the beginning of dust in this world, and the creation of the Seasons was my doing."
We all look surprised. As he continues to smile. Noticing our confusion, he slumps his shoulders and points to Ozpin who looks as normal as ever.
"Just ask Ozpin, seeing as he supposed to give you knowledge."
We look at him expecting an answer to.. Whatever this is.
"Well-" He says. "I suppose it was bound to happen. (Sigh)Girls, tell me."
We look up at him.
"What is your favorite fairy tale?"
'Bruce' then starts to shake in joy. "Oh, yes! I just love stories. Spring would always read them." He then sits back on the stretcher with his legs crossed, his head in his hands, waiting for Ozpin to start his story.
Long explanation starts
"Okay, It all started hundreds of years ago, deep in the forests of Remnant, beside a great and mighty river, stood the small, fragile home of a cold, frail man- a lone wizard. Hidden from the dangers and distractions of the world, the wizard seldom had visitors. But on this day, as he peered out his window, his gaze fell upon a young maiden. Calmly, she sat beneath his tree in a state of absolute tranquility. When the wizard demanded an explanation, the maiden simply replied-"He is interrupted by the 'wizard' Bruce.
"I know, she said, 'My name is Winter. I am on a journey, and I am waiting for my sisters." He tries to imitate a female voice, but does a horrible job. We all look at him weird, Glynda smacked him in the head with her crop.
"I don't care who you are, don't interrupt." After that, she closed her eyes and sat in silence.
"Continuing where I left off, the wizard told himself the girl was a fool, but the longer she sat, the more he wished to share in the serenity the young maiden enjoyed. In time, he grew tired and decided to close his eyes as well, thinking on this strange predicament.
Upon opening his eyes, the wizard was befuddled to find that a second maiden appeared beneath his tree, cheerful and spry, with a basket of fruit and flowers.
When he asked for an explanation, the girl simply replied,
"My name is Spring. I am on a journey, and I am waiting for my sisters."
To show her gratitude for his reluctant hospitality, the girl retrieved a handful of seeds from her basket and planted them in the wizard's garden.
The old hermit could hardly believe his eyes as the maiden turned what was once a mere pile of dirt and manure into a beautiful garden, from which life would surely blossom.
It's likely he would have gazed for hours, were it not for the unfamiliar laughter he heard from beneath his tree.
A young woman with a warm smile now stood beside the two maidens.
The wizard begged her to introduce herself, to which she happily responded,
"My name is Summer. I am on a journey, and I am waiting for my sister."
"Of course," thought the wizard. But another chirp of laughter left the old man perplexed.
What in the world was so funny?
As it turned out, it was him. The new arrival found the wizard's insistence on staying indoors so very amusing.
Why choose to view the world through a small window when the door leading out to it was right at his side?
It was a compelling argument. And after only a moment of brief hesitation, the wizard left his home -
- and stepped outside.
The warmth of the sun brought with it a surge of energy and life, and soon the wizard wasn't feeling much like himself anymore.
He was feeling much better.
As the day drew to a close, the maidens and the wizard all settled down and prepared a feast. Winter set the table. Spring supplied the crops, Summer prepped the meal, and the wizard was the happiest he'd been in ages.
But in all the excitement, he nearly failed to notice the delicate woman that now stood beneath his tree.
He smiled, and beckoned her to join them, asking only for her name.
"My name is Fall," she replied softly. "I am on a journey, and am here to meet my sisters. Who are you?"
"Me?", the wizard wondered. "Well, I am but an old hermit - I have lived in these woods alone for centuries and I'm afraid my story is not very interesting, as I have no one to love and nothing to my name."
The elder sister looked up at all that surrounded them.
"But sir, do you not see? You have so much."
It was true. With their help, it was now clear to see that the wizard had everything he could ever need. He was grateful, but a question lingered in his mind.
"Why me?", he asked. "Why did the four of you choose to open my eyes? To share with me your gifts? Why am I so special?"
The four sisters looked to one another, perplexed. Finally, the eldest spoke.
"I beg your pardon sir, but we did not do these things for you because you were special. We do what we can for everyone, because we are able."
The old wizard was at a loss. Never in his years had he come across such kindness. It was in that moment that he knew what should be done.
The wizard summoned his magic, every ounce he could muster, and bestowed it upon the sisters.
He smiled. "Take this gift, and know now that you are able to do so much more."
Now armed with the elements, the very powers of nature, and the unimaginable magic of the wizard, the four maidens, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, promised to carry on with their journey, using their gifts to aid others, just as they aided him.
One by one, the sisters left. Before they did, they made one final promise.
They promised to return each and every year, to visit their dear friend.
Long explanation over
The Wizard possessing Bruce then wipes a fake tear from his eyes.
"Ahh, I remember it like it was yesterday."
I then ask, "But how does that explain why he is taking control of Bruce?"
I hear giggling and turn to The Wizard, who has his mouth covered with his hands.
"You (Giggle) You have no Idea do you? Do you think we have immortality?"
"Well, no.." I answer unsurely.
"Exactly, so what do you think happens to all the energy after we died?"
I don't know the answer to the question.
"Umm." I look at him, expecting him to answer. He slumps his shoulders and opens his mouth to speak, but is interrupted by Blake.
"It moves on to a different host. In his case, to Bruce"
"Ugh, why do you make it sound so boring? Put some creativity into it!" He puts his arm around her shoulder, but she replaces herself with a clone, much to his displeasure.
I then ask, "Why do you sound so much different than in the story?" He replies. "Blame it on the fifteen year old kid that pushes all his childlike behavior into himself." He shrugs as if I should know this.
" Wait, so how are we talking to you right now if it's Bruce's body?" Ruby asks. The Wizard then adopts a emotionless look on his face before answering.
"Because, he is lost." "Lost where?" Weiss asks.
"In himself." We look at him in shock, as he continues. "During his search for you four, he destroyed himself, to be simple."
We gasp and look at him in sadness as he continues.
"The longest any person can go without food or water is two weeks. He went for a month. Along with him blaming himself and rethinking this (he lifts up the Batman mask) slowly destroyed his mind. And the finisher was realizing he has killed people without a second thought."
I start to feel horrible for him. I look at the rest of the team. Ruby is already in crying her eyes out, Weiss is starting to cry like Ruby, and Blake is facing the window, a single tear going down her left cheek. I try to stay strong for him, but what I hear next makes all of us, even ozpin and Glynda start to cry.
"He should have died days ago, but his will to keep you all safe kept him alive. Now that you're safe-" He pauses. "-I don't know what will happen."
He lays down on the stretcher and grabs the breathing mask.
"I don't have much energy to talk for long. Right now, he is isolated like I was, until I found my four maidens. He needs his four to save him from himself. (He turns to Ozpn) Dark times are coming. She wants my powers on her side, and he isn't skilled enough to fight her. Not yet.(Ozpin nods) Keep him safe." He lays down, leaving us in silen-
"Oh, make sure to tell them about their parents knowing each other."
He lays down again, this time the silver fire around his eyes disappear as the intercom tells us that we have arrived. We pull his stretcher along as we walk towards the school.
"Proffesor Ozpin." I say. "What did he mean by Bruce's four maidens?" Most of what that guy said did not make sense to me, so I need an explanation. He gives a sad sigh and looks at me.
"Bruce…. Missed his childhood, to be gentle. His both parents were murdered in front of him at the age of three. He was taken by a group of assassins who trained him in hellish ways, making him what he is now. They did not let him have room room for happiness. He needed a caring person to be there for him."
I look at him as I finally understand what he is saying.
"He needs love, doesn't he?" He nods. After that, we have another awkward silence until Weiss talks.
"Wait, Professor goodwitch. (She looks at her) Since you know that Bruce is Batman, are you still going to arrest him?" This question makes her stop moving, probably realizing this happened. She answers, but it isn't what we hoped.
"I will never arrest him, but I have to report his murders. I am sorry."
I look down at my feet before hearing Blake scream.
"WHERE'S BRUCE?!" She yells. We all turn around to see the stretcher empty.
'I didn't even hear him move.' I think. We start looking around for any sign of him.
"I have his location." Ozpin says. We look at him holding his scroll. "He is at the cliff above Emerald forest."
Ruby is the first to go, using her semblance. The rest of us run after.
Three minutes later
Blake, Weiss and I finally reach Ruby hiding behind a tree.
"Ruby, why are you here? Where is Bruce?" I ask.
"SHHH!" She responds and points forward.
We look forwards and see Bruce, looking upwards at our broken moon. Tears dropping from him face. He brings the mask up and looks at it, seeming to be thinking. He then throws it over the edge and throws one of his bat-boomerangs at it. It blows up on impact, leaving metal plating to drop down the gorge.
He turns around and walks towards us, looks as his tears fall on his chest, on the symbol. We are suddenly pulled into a big hug by him.
"I'm sorry." He says, before collapsing in our arms/
Three and a half weeks later
No one's P.O.V
Ever since, Bruce has been in the school's medical bay. Team JNPR and RWBY have been visiting him regularly along with Team CFVY. The doctors tell them that he should be alright, but they are not reassured after what the Wizard said.
Right now, Team Rwby and Jnpr are sitting in the batcave, Ruby is on the computer looking any information Bruce has on Neo.
"I am 100% positive that I remember his description of her!" She says as she continued to search the police databanks on the batcomputer.
"If she is as good as you say-" Pyrrha says, solemnly "Then maybe there is nothing the police have on her."
"NO!" Weiss snaps at her. " We will find this fiend, and make her pay!"
"But would Bruce want you to?"
Weiss looks towards Ren with a pondering look on her face and doesn't answer. She instead looks towards the screen going through an encryption.
As a silence starts, everyone hears Jaune speaking.
"One right, two right, three right, four right, one right...." They look at him holding the fear suits voice modulator to his neck. Jaune puts it down and marks a checklist. He looks towards the others to see the angry faces of Team RWBY and the curious faces of his team.
" Mind telling us why you are touching someone else's shit?!" Yang growls at him, making him scratch the back of his head nervously.
"Umm... Well, Ozpin asked me to check all of the equipment in here for Bruce when he wakes up." He takes the still angry demeanor on all of their faces as a sign that the aren't satisfied with the answer.
"So he couldn't ask, i don't know, ME to do it?" Ruby says with anger (And a little bit of jealousy).
"Actually," Nora interrupts. "According to Ozpin, he takes better care of his weapon than you do. And ours too."
"Speaking of Ozpin." Jaune says, changing the subject. "He said that he always watches over Bruce on his missions, right? And you said that their was only metal plating and wiring left when Bruce threw the cowl into the gorge?"
"Get on with it!" Bake says, getting impatient with the poking around the main point.
"Well, Ozpin definitely didn't run across the roof with him. Maybe their was a camera in the cowl."
Everyone starts to think on his words for a minute or two. Ruby turns around and starts to type. The screen cancels the encryption and a memory search pops up. She types 'Cowl' and pictures of the blueprints are shown. She scrolls down and finds plenty of videos.
"There! That's her!" She opens a video and they start to watch it.
Six minutes later
Infirmary
Bruce slowly opens his eyes and sees all white. He blinks a lot to adjust to the light.
'I have been here a lot recently.' He thinks as he looks up and looks around to see if anyone is in the room. He sits up and disconnects the heart beat sensors from his chest, causing the monitor to flatline and cause an alarm. He waits patiently for others to come in as doctors barge through the doors.
Before the alarm goes off
Batcave
The teams are completely enraged by what they have seen, Especially WBY. They first thought that Bruce was just letting this girl do as she wishes to him, but Ruby explained to problem with his semblance and her allusions.
"If we ever find this skank, I swear i'll…" Before Yang can finish her sentence/threat, the Batwave goes off. Ruby starts to type and it reveal that Bruce has passed.\
"GUYS, BRUCE JUST FLATLINED!" She yells. Everyone launches from their seats and run to the nearest elevator.
Infirmary
Right now, Bruce is being scolded by Glynda while Ozpin stands by the door, laughing at the altercation.
"Sorry doesn't cut it, young man." Glynda says, " What you did just alerted everyone that you DIED." She holds that word out long so Bruce can understand what he did.
He then responds, "I didn't have any other way to contact anyone. That was the only option I saw to get you here immediately."
They continue arguing like this until they make up and she opens the door to go continue teaching her class. Seconds later both teams come crashing in towards Bruce, who holds his arms out in hope to avoid the pain. He is pulled into a bone crushing hug by his crying team, which he returns.
"H-Hey guys,Mi-ssed you t-o." he manages to wheeze out. They stay like this for some time before they calm down and back off.
"How long was I out for?" Bruce asks, trying to start a small conversation.
"Two week from yesterday!" Nora says in her usual cheery attitude.
"Ok."
Silence
"Wait, NORA!"
"Thaaaat's me!"
Bruce looks around the room in shook as he finally notices Team JNPR in the room with them. They all smile at him and he gives a nervous smile back.
"W-What are you guys doing here?" He asks nervously.
Ren then replies with his emotionless tone. "We thought that you passed away, so we rushed over."
Bruce looks over to his team a little less nervous. "So you guys found them before you came here?" He waits for them but Jaune answers instead.
"Uhh, no. We saw it on the." "SUPER ULTRA AWESOME HACKER-UTER!"
Nora interrupts Jaune by 'expressing' her fascination and throwing her hands in the air, tipping over a drip.
"As Jaune was saying" Pyrrha says ."We saw it on you batcomputer."
As soon as she says this, Bruce's mind goes in the fritz., but he doesn't show it.
'How did they find out? Did they tell them? (Mental gasp) Did they see me in my suit and confront my team to tell them, leaving them with no choice but to tell the truth?!" He begins to think a thousand questions a minute.
"I don't own a 'batcomputer' as you said. That sounds like one of the Batman's gadgets, does it not?"
"Bruce."
He looks towards Ozpin, who gives him a firm look.
"It's Okay, they know."
Bruce looks at him in shock before laying his head back down, wiping his hands over his face.
"(Sigh) Okay, Okay. (He sits back up and looks at them) You will never tell anyone, right?"
He gives them the infamous 'Bat-glare', making all of them, but Nora, look away nervously.
"We promise! (She stand in a mock salute and smiles brightly.) SCOUTS HONOR!"
Bruce looks at her for nearly a minute, before giving another sigh.
"Alright. I trust you guys."
Team JNPR starts to smile, but Blake and Yang gain shocked look on their faces and look between the two.
"WHAT?" They both yell at him, making him wince in pain.
"Careful, sensitive ears."
"You are fast to accept them knowing, but couldn't tell us." Blake says
"You tell those two instead." Yang points to RW, who look at her in anger.
"And what exactly are you implying when you say that?" Weiss says, Ruby following after.
"Yeah, we are just as good as you are!"
"I actually didn't want to tell anyone about this. They found out by accident, and by Ozpin"
Bruce says, but whispers the last part knowing that day is coming up.
They both get on one side of him and begin to complain.
"Bruce.( He looks to his left at Blake) We mysterious people have to stick together. That means no secrets."
"Bruce-boy. (He looks to his right Yang) We both ride motorcycles and are super strong. I have so many things that I could have told you in return."
"We both enjoy nice silences."
"We both love excitement."
"We both work best in the dark."
"We both scare people."
"WE both like the same foods."
"WE both like the same music"
After each similarity they list, They begin to talk to Bruce less and yell at each other more.
'I don't even listen to music.' Bruce thinks to himself.
Ozpin decides to intrude when they began to pull Bruce between themselves.
'At least they don't have to fake the love.' "Ladies please, behave yourselves. I believe he is hurt enough,'
They two stop yelling and look a Bruce, who's looks scarred from their game of tug-&-war. Both of their faces are tinted with pink as they move to the rest of their team. Making Ozpin and Team JNPR chuckle at this.
"Alright, (He gains a serious tone) On to pressing matters." Everyone straighten their faces and look at him. "Bruce, will you continue your current path? Or will you start a new one?"
"Oh come on! Just show me!."
"And I ask again, why should I?"
"I'm the one who kidnapped them and kept those freaks from touching the ice girl. Not to mention, the past two weeks I have been working my ass off to get as much dust as I can while he is gone. I deserve to watch that tape as much as you do, Cinder!"
Right now Roman is trying once again to get Cinder to show him the security feed of what happened in the warehouse. In the corner of the room that they are in, Neo is napping with a (sadistic) grin on her face.
"That tape has his identity, doesn't it? If you show me, I can just go and kill him while he is weak."
"I don't want him dead ever, Roman. I want him strong for me to enjoy. Well, Neo and I that is." The smile on her face made Roman finally realize who- no, what he was working with. As it dawned, he wanted nothing else but to leave these two to do whatever.
"(Giggle) Thinking about leaving, hmm? Do I have to remind you of what real fear is?"
Her hands and suddenly ignite in a flame that makes Roman step back in fear.
'Why is it not as strong as before?' She thinks without changing her facial experession.
"No ma'am." He says stuttering helplessly as he holds his head in pain. She walks slowly towards him and gets close to his ear and whispers.
"Now, go back out there and follow my every command."
He quickly rushes out of the room to finish the orders she gave him.
When she is certain that he is gone, she gives out a wretched scream and falls to her knees, grabbing her left eye in pain. She tries to cut her maiden powers off, but it stays active, confusing her.
She begins to calm down when she Ozpin staring at her in concern, but her right eye shows Neo above her, looking in confusion.
As her powers finally deactivate, she slowly stands up with one thought in her mind,
'Interesting.'
Three minutes before
'Just last week, the head police chief and professional hunter gave her press conference on the murders committed by the Batman. During the conference, she relinquishes her position to focus more on the students of Beacon.
This morning the new chief gave his first public announcement, stating that the Batman is a priority and an sightings of him should be reported immediately. We have hi-'
The television is shut off by Ren, who was the closest to it.
"You now know what has happened since you have been out. Glynda has not been herself since that conference, but knowing that you are okay will start to act the same." Ozpin says solemnly, before turning to Bruce. Bruce seems to be in deep thought before speaking.
"Do any of you hate Glynda for indirectly making me a wanted criminal?" Before any of them could begin to rant, he interrupts them. "Well don't. I am actually glad that she said that."
They are all in shock. "How can you say that, Bruce? Any hunter that sees you will try to arrest you now!" Weiss says in disbelief.
"What good would come in if this didn't happen? Men just all of a sudden murdered by some random person will never sit. People begin to get curious and blame others for what happened to fulfill that need for answers. When I first decided to become the Batman I didn't make it just so I could run around and beat the most criminals I can. I chose to become something that the people of remanent could rely on, to be what the people needed. I became something that does not follow the rules and regulations that hold back so many hunters, from all rules except one. Two weeks ago, I apparently broke that rule when I blacked out, but I still did it. Vale does not need the blame to be thrown around at civilians. I did it, I take responsibility."
The room is filled with silence as everyone reflects on what Bruce just said, before he starts up again.
"With that being said, there will come a time when remnant and will need the Batman once more, and he will be ready." He makes a small smile of hope. "The Batman isn't gone, just….retired for a while."
Ozpin then chuckles. "If you are set with that as an answer, you are going to need this." He then pulls out a box and hands it to Bruce, who looks at it in curiosity. Bruce tears the box open to reveal the brute suits cowl parts. He looks at Ozpin in amazement.
"That gorg isn't bottomless. After all,(He grins) You never know who is looking down there." Bruce smiles back at the use of his own words rearranged and used against him.
Ruby and Nora begin to shake suddenly making their rightful teams look is surprise.
"Ohhhh, did you hear that Yang? It is just like those old stories you used to read me!"
"I know a superhero! I know a superhero! I know a superhero!"
These outburst from the two make everyone laugh. As they do, Bruce looks around at everyone with a gleam in his eyes, a gleam of joy-no, a gleam of belonging.
'This is it. I am finally home.' He thinks to himself.
Suddenly, a nerve burning pain courses through his body, originating from his left eye. He throws his arms to the eye in hope to appease some pain. Everyone hears him scream in pain and shaking violently and move to either side of him.
His eyes and hands are suddenly engulfed in flames, making everyone who was on the Bullhead look in confusion/sadness to see him in more pain.
'These flames are not as strong as before. Do these truly belong to Bruce only this time?' Ozpin is fast to notice that there is a difference between the two times he has seen the flames.
Bruce notices his fire arms , but that is not what scares him. One fourth of the vision in his right eye's vision changes, showing Neo looking at him, confused. He would have thought that this was one of her illusion, but the feminine hand thst enters that field of vision tells him otherwise.
The pain finally subsides and he tells everyone present what he has seen.
"I CAN SEE IN HER POINT OF VIEW!" He screams out, making everyone but Ozpin and, surprisingly, Jaune.
"Who are you reffering to?" Pyrrha asks after recovering from her shock. The others nodding in agreement, some of which were looking at Jaune weirdly.
"THE WOMAN! THE PYROKiNETIC WOMAN THA-(SMACK)- Thank you, Blake. I needed that." Said girl gives him a grin and a nod. "Like I was saying , that Pyromancer that was there the day you girls were kidnapped. I could see see through her eyes, but only one-forth of my right. The bottom was completely black."
'Could there be some type of connection between the Wizard and the maidens. There are still three halfs of his eyes, perhaps the other three maidens. Hmm' Ozpin ponders on what Bruce has said, trying to find an explanation for why this is happening. 'He said the bottom half was completely black. Maybe that was Amber's P.O.V.'
"Also, why are my hands on fire, but not in pain?" Bruce asks, breaking him out of his trance. Before he could answer, Yang speaks.
"Those are your super cool, Wizard powers. Duh! Don't you remember?" She speaks in a lazy tone, as if he should already know.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"What?"