A/N: I just want to thank anyone who has favorited, followed, or bothered to read this! It's a lot of support and I hope you enjoy the story!
"Thoughts"-Italics
"Speech"-Regular
"Past/Flashback"-Bold
Hospital Daze
Have you ever been in a car accident? If you have then you probably know the achy feeling you get when you wake up the next day. It's like a heavy weight is pulling you down from your shoulders to you chest all the way to you rib cage. Your head feels like lead, your body is stiff, and you can barely keep yourself upright. Now multiply that by 3 times. Ash slowly turned his head to the right to look down at his shoulder. He winced as he tried to wiggle it up, "Well that's not good..." He mumbled trying to sit up only to feel a sharp pain in his chest, using his only capable arm he pressed against his left rib cage and groaned, "Ahh that's two broken ribs, that's two broken ribs." He said with grit teeth. He noticed that he was covered with bandages, more so than usual, "Oh yeah there was a fire..." He said in a monotone voice as if he was in a daze. His throat was dry and he felt stiff, looking to his right he saw his clothes, they were in tatters. In all his pain he didn't even bother to look around the room, not that he was surprised at what he found. It was white, plain, clean, and terribly boring. His heart monitor was steadily beeping, the birds were chirping which meant he either slept for a day or for several days, not that he was picky, he was alive. A sudden creak put him on edge but relaxed as two familiar faces greeted him.
"You're awake." Ozpin said taking a seat next to his bedside.
"Im alive." Ash muttered.
"We have someone that would like to meet you." Ozpin said gesturing to the door. A rather a young man, with messy green hair and brown eyes. His attire is disheveled: his white shirt partially tucked into his dark-green pants and its collar raised, showing a slack yellow tie, along with mismatched brown and black shoes. He also has round glasses that appear to be opaque.
"Hello there young Ash you look much better than you did before!" The man said with an exuberant tone.
"Before?" Ash asked with a raised brow.
"He was the one that found you crawling out of the fire." Glynda explained.
Ash nodded but felt his left arm forced up, bandages sliding off, "EXTRAORDINARY! It seems you've managed to create a limb purely out of dust! These patterns are so complex! What type of dust did you use? How did you manage to create a synthetic arm?! Not robotic! Synthetic!" The eccentric man raved pinching and poking at Ash's arm. Ash scowled pushing him off his arm, "Look, whoever you are, THIS." He said gesturing with his arm, "This was a mistake."
"Oh yes of course my mistake my name is Bartholomew Oobleck!" He said pushing his glasses to his face, "And im curious as to how a young man such as yourself managed to construct something that baffles scientist and doctors alike." He said peering into Ash's eyes.
Ash clenched his fist and glared vehemently, "What you're seeing is the result of my own arrogance."
The room got deadly quiet as Ash's arm suddenly started glowing chaotically spreading the circuit-like lines around the arms to his shoulder. With long steady breaths Ash relaxed, the light dying down until it faded into a light orange. Ash looked down into his sheets with a blank expression.
"Ash..." Glynda murmured placing her hand on his shoulder, she could see the scar tissue lined around it, "You...you thought that you could-"
"I thought that I could do anything. I thought that if I understood how the dust would react with one another that I could actually...reproduce a limb." Ash said gritting his teeth, "But I was wrong. I couldn't control the reactions when it formed, it went crazy and people...people died because of it."
"How did you lose your limb?" Ozpin probed.
"Unimportant." Ash mumbled.
"I see...Im guessing that this limb came into use in your escape?"
"Yes, I was able to form a armor perfectly from dust. No imitation." Ash said holding his hand out, "For as much as I hate using this thing, it perfects the creations I make, every little detail is perfect."
"But its unstable, creating very dangerous reactions such as...explosions and fires that won't stop spreading?" Bartholomew said with squinted eyes. Ash looked at him and sighed, "Yeah...like that...the dust in that factory was only half of that explosion, the other half was trying to control this stupid thing."
"You could have died." Ozpin said placing his cane down.
"I know. Im sorry." Ash mumbled.
"I just wanted a location. I didn't ask you to infiltrate their base. I could sent a team of my own, you could have had a team for backup." Ozpin lectured.
"Okay I get it!" Ash said in an annoyed tone.
"Do you?" Ozpin snapped his cane not even an inch from his face, "Do you understand that you would be lying as a corpse in some warehouse if you weren't lucky? Did you think of all the things that could have gone wrong? Did you even bother to ask my opinion before making a executive decision?"
Ash looked up for the first time today and had to hold back a gasp. He had never imagined what Ozpin looked like when he was angry, he didn't raised his voice. That was the worst thing. The look in his eyes, the anger laced behind his words.
"I suggest you start thinking about those things Ash because others think it for you." Ozpin said getting up and walking out of the room. Oobleck frowned at his colleague and friend before patting Ash on his shoulder, "From what I can see your arm is stabilized for now, if you have any problems just ask, and remember history is important. If you can't learn from it you're destined to repeat it." He advised before leaving. Ash sat quietly in his bed looking back down to his lap, taking notice of Glynda sitting by his side.
"You're still here." He said in weak voice. Glynda eyes softened, she usually wasn't one to be compassionate but right now sitting in front of her was a child that needed someone to talk to.
"Yeah, im still here. Did you expect me to leave?" She asked.
Ash looked back down again a bit bashfully, "I guess I did, sorry..."
"You know he's not mad at you." Glynda assured. Ash snorted, "That wasn't mad?"
"He's mad at himself, he thinks that he put too much pressure on you to produce results." Glynda said with a frown, "He's a man that will admit that he has made many mistakes and if you died...well you would have been another mistake to the list."
"Mistakes? He's seems like a guy that has contingencies for his contingencies...after several more contingencies." Ash said with a light-heart snort. Glynda let out a light laugh, "You're right about that but he wasn't always like that, in fact I would say he was a bit like you in his younger days."
"Hmmm and what am I like?" Ash asked looking at Glynda with curious eyes.
"Reckless." Glynda replied back sharply making Ash place a hand on his chest as if insulted, "But he was also very brave, kind soul." She finished with a smirk. Ash blushed lightly, "Thank you..." He mumbled.
"He was also pretty stupid sometimes." She remarked callously.
"Hey!"
Ozpin stood outside Ash's door for about 10-20 minutes gripping his cane tightly, looking at Ash was harder than he thought it would be. Battered. That was the only word that described it, bandages covering his entire upper body. 2 broken ribs and one hairline fracture. One stab wound that punctured straight through his shoulder although it seemed as if the attacker purposefully missed anything vital to motor function. And to top it all off 1st degree burns from being so close to the fire after he crawled out. He sighed to himself, he didn't mean to be hostile. Ozpin turned back around to open Ash's door and heard laughing from the inside.
"Hahaha! Wait so he actually punched him in the face?" Ash cackled.
Glynda laughed, "Yes, he didn't even wait for a response!"
Ozpin let out a small smile, choosing to re-enter the room, "In my defense he didn't have a response."
Ash and Glynda both looked over to the door, to see a Ozpin with a small smile on his face. Ash's face was blank for a moment before making a sly smile, "I didn't know you were such a jealous guy professor."
Ozpin looked at Glynda for moment before sitting next to Ash, "Well could you blame me?" giving a subtle wink to Ash.
Ash caught it and smirked before looking innocently at Glynda, "Yeah...I really can't blame you."
Glynda adjusted her glasses ignoring the slight red on her cheeks, "Quiet, the both of you."
Ozpin grinned this time and looked at Ash who was already laughing at the headmistress. Ash looked at both Ozpin and Glynda curiously, "You two were on a team together right? You didn't mention the other two members of your team Glynda..."
Glynda looked at Ozpin who gave her nod, "Well...you've met one of them." She said ominously.
"Can we not play the pronoun game and tell me who that 'one' is?" Ash said with a pout.
"Roman Torchwick." she stated bluntly.
"..." Ash stared in silence, "Roman? That asshole was your guys teammate?!" He yelled.
"He was different back then Ash, we changed as did he." Ozpin said placing his hands together over his cane, "I can't say I expected it though..."
"No kidding..." Ash mumbled, "What about the other one?"
Ash watched Glynda roll her eyes and raised his brow turning to professor Ozpin, "What's that about?"
"Well..." Ozpin started but was cutoff by a deadly glare from Glynda, "His names is James Ironwood and let's just say he's an old friend who is currently headmaster at another Academy in Atlus, a general."
"Whoa that must be some sort of dream team, Headmasters, General, and a notorious criminal." Ash said in bewilderment thinking about the rather illustrious resume's of his superiors, "Hey can I see a team photo?"
Ozpin pulled out and old photo from his back pocket making Ash snort, "No digital?"
"Very funny." Ozpin said handing him the picture. Ash looked at it and chuckled, "Hah Romans got emo hair." Looking to the right he saw who he assumed to be James ironwood, "Yuuuuup he's definetly a general..." Looking further to the right he saw Ozpin, "Whoa your hair used to be black? Although I can see you started greying early!" Ash said flashing his teeth at Ozpin before looking at Glynda, "And-whoa..." Ash mumbled with a blush, "You should wear your hair down more often." He suggested. The three continued their talk for what felt like several hours later, stories of the past being told before Ozpin knew it his scroll started buzzing.
"It seems our time has come to an end." He said silencing the alarm. Ash frowned, "Oh...Yeah I almost forgot you two have jobs to take care of."
"Unfortunately, but don't worry when I informed Miss Rose of your...predicament she wanted your room number so expect quite a bit of visitors later on in the day." Ozpin said pushing himself up, Glynda right behind him.
"Get some rest Ash, you deserve it. You can report the details of your first mission later when you're feeling better." Ozpin said glad that he got to leave this time with a much better atmosphere.
Exiting room Ozpin looked at Glynda gratefully, "Thank you."
"Cleaning up your mess is my job Ozpin." She replied with underlying playfulness.
"That it is, that it is." Ozpin said with a quiet laugh.
Ash slowly got off the bed and noticed a bag on the floor next to him, inside was a set of his regular clothes but another set as well. There was a pure black color hooded fleece men's jacket coat with an orange inside, a short sleeve white shirt that simply said trouble, and familiar orange cargos that he always wears. Ash smiled, "Well at least I have stuff to wear." He thought sitting in the empty room looking around he found the remote to the T.V. clicking on the screen the first thing that came on was news of the warehouse, with an audible groan he changed the channel, flipping through each channel groaning before turning off the TV.
"This is boring." He muttered before closing his eyes and letting himself drift off.
"Should I get the flowers? We should get flowers shouldn't we? Where do we get flowers!?" Ruby yelled running around team RWBY's room.
"Hey Ruby maybe you should get him some ROSES, Eh?" Yang said nudging Blake who stared blankly at her, "Boo."
"Why are all of us going to visit? I don't even know who this person is..." Weiss complained from her bed. Ruby popped down from the top their bunk-beds and pouted at Weiss, "Aw come on Weiss! Ozpin told me he got hurt really bad! And Jaune's team is going and only Jaune knows him!"
Weiss rolled her eyes, "Fine I suppose we can visit, it is Friday after-all..."
"Thank youuuuu~' Ruby sang falling off the bunk-bed, "Oh man it's already time to go, we have to hurry before visiting hours end!" Ruby said hight-ailing out the door in a swarm of roses. Team RWBY all looked at one another when they heard a light knock on their door, Jaune creaked it ever so slightly, "Uhhh I heard Ruby, that means were going now right?"
Both team RWBY and team JNPR entered the hospital together but instead of the serene and calm atmosphere they expected they were greeted with chaotic sounds of banging and yelling several feet from where they were standing.
"LET ME GO!" A familiar voiced yelled.
"YOU'RE INJURED!" A nurse yelled back.
"IM GOING TO THE BATHROOM!" He yelled, another bang resonated, it sounded like it was coming from the door.
"NOT WITHOUT SUPERVISION!" Another nurse yelled.
A muffled, "FUCK THAT! I CAN WALK AND PISS BY MYSELF THANKS!" A few more bangs and slams later.
"SOMEONE GRAB HIM!" A third nurse yelled.
A hand shot out from the hall grabbing onto the edge of the wall, both team RWBY and JNPR stared in silent awe. The nurse at the front desk had to let out a sheepish laugh as Ash pulled his way out of the hall with a nurse on his leg and lower torso.
"LET GO YOU MOTHER-" Looking around and seeing the room Ash flashed a toothy grin, "Hey Ruby, Jaune, Yang, Blake, er..." Ash sweat-dropped and whispered entirely too loud to Ruby and Jaune, "Guyssss who are the other ones?"
"They're our new teammates you don't know them Ash." Jaune said with a slight sweatdrop.
"Oh thank god I thought I knew them!" Ash said trying to pull himself closer to the bathroom, "Oh my- Jaune escort me to the bathroom so these two will LET.GO." Ash said shooting a glare at his nurses who glared right back, a somewhat childish response but Ash seemed to manage to make everyone a little bit immature. Ruby watched Ash drag Jaune towards the nearest bathroom and smiled sheepishly at the receptionist at the front desk, "Eheheh could we see Ash?"
Both team RWBY and team JNPR stared in disbelief as Ash tore through the food they had brought along as a get well present. Ash was halfway way through finishing the meal of assorted meats and vegetables before he noticed that everyone was staring at him.
"Uhhh Did you guys want some?" He asked with a piece of chicken falling out of his mouth. Ruby snickered before handing him a napkin, taking it gratefully he wiped his mouth and looked around the room at everyone.
"So Nora, Pyrrah, Ren, and Weiss!" Ash said committing each one to memory, "Thanks for coming, you guys don't even know me!"
"Well it was least we could do-" Ren said before Nora started poking Ash's face, "You look like a mummy!"
"Nora!" Ren said in a disapproving tone.
"Sorry Ren~" She said sitting closer to her best 'friend'. Ash laughed at the enthusiasm, "So you guys are are team JNPR huh? And Jaune you're leader? Good luck buddy!" Ash said giving a thumbs up. Jaune laughed nervously but gave Ash a thumbs up back, Pyrrah got closer to Ash examining his wounds, a frown on her face, "Oh dear...What happened to you?"
Ash froze for moment as both teams attention perked up at the most important question. Ash continued eating the food before looking out the window, "Would you believe a dragon?"
"Aaaash." Ruby said with small glare.
"Fine..." Ash mumbled, "I ran into the White Fang."
The reactions in the room varied, Blake stiffened, something that he noted, Weiss scowled, and the other just seemed shocked.
"It was fine at first just a few lackeys, I thought that I had the warehouse clear and then he showed up..." Ash muttered.
"He?" Blake asked.
"This guy named Adam. I guess he's leader of the White Fang or at least I hope he is, it's hard to believe that they have another guy above him." Ash said touching his cheek, "He caught me off guard and he almost sliced me in half but luckily I had learned enough of moves to just barely make him miss."
Blake was frozen, "Adam...He was there?" She thought, "D-did you beat him? How did you escape?" She asked, she wanted information, she needed it.
Ash looked at her with a raised brow, "Well we didn't finish our fight, you guys know Torchwick? Well he showed up with a partner of his and she beat me up pretty bad. Stabbed a hole through my shoulder." He said grabbing his cast covered arm, "They were gonna kill me...so I blew up the warehouse."
"That was you?" Yang said bug-eyed, "I saw that on the news today! They said they couldn't stop the fire for hours."
"Yeah...my bad." Ash said with tired grin.
"Humph the White Fang what an awful bunch of degenerates." Weiss said with a scowl. Blake scowled she was about to retort but Ash had already responded.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ash said angrily.
"What do you mean what do I mean? They tried to kill you! I just don't care for the criminally insane." Weiss said dismissively.
"Now listen just because I don't approve of the White Fang doesn't mean they're just a group of psycho-paths. If you were ever treated like 2nd class citizen maybe you would be understand." Ash said with glare.
"They're a group dedicated to the extermination of humanity!" She shouted back. Ash scoffed, "Humanities overrated." He bit out, "My point is the Circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are. There are many Faunus that chose peaceful protest...and then there are the ones that tried to kill me. The point is I can distinguish the two, can you?" Ash proposed staring right through Weiss.
"Anyways, this is not time for a debate. Ruby you said you had Remnant the game right?"
"Uh y-yeah?" She said stunned after the intense exchange.
"Well prepare your kingdom." Ash said with smirk.
"No way." Blake said staring at the board.
"How?" Ren muttered placing his cards down.
"Ohhhh man..." A downtrodden Nora added.
"D-did we just lose?" Jaune said in disbelief.
"This is unbelievable." Pyrrah said looking at the at the map.
"A-all of our kingdoms. All of them." Weiss said in shock.
"This is bullshit!" Yang said flipping the table.
"How did we lose!" Ruby said with comical tears streaming down her face.
Ash put his cards down with a sly smirk, "Guess you guys just need a bit of practice huh?" He said flashing his teeth, "And learn how to catch a cheater switching out cards in between turns." He thought laughing as they examined the board.
"YOU MUST HAVE CHEATED!" Yang said aiming to throttle at the smiling young man.
"I have no idea how I would~" Ash said placing a hand to his face, "Maybe you should just play better~" Ash teased as Yang was held back by Ren, Nora, and Pyrrah.
"COME HERE YOU CHEATING LITT-"
"Visiting hours are over if you could all start to leave it would be very appreciated." A nurse said from the doorway. There was a chorus of groans but both groups gathered their belongings and one by one started to leave with wishes of good health.
Ruby was the last one to leave but a familiar pull on her scarf made her stand still, Ash pulled her over close and gave her the most serious face she's seen him make.
"Hey make sure you don't go looking for trouble, these guys are are dangerous. If you ever plan on doing something dangerous tell your team, or me. I don't really care just...don't be reckless you'll end up in a hospital, "Ash said with concern-filled eyes, "Or worse."
Ruby nodded, "Don't worry, just worry about getting better so we can have a match."
Ash smirked, "I'll be sure to win."
Ruby scurried out the door but not before sticking her tongue out at her friend. "Yeah right!"
Roman was currently being stared down by a woman that could only be described as imperious,cunning, with a touch of cruelty. She had black hair and glowing yellow-orange eyes, while her fingernails are painted dark red. She wears a dark-red, off-the-shoulders, v-neck minidress with yellow designs. There is a blue feather-like accessory on her right hip, at the top of an open portion of her dress. The dress ends in an upside-down triangular tail in the back, ending just above the knees. This woman's name was Cinder Fall.
"Would you care to explain this?" She said flipping on a television showing coverage of the burning warehouse, "Roman?"
Roman withheld the urge to groan, "That brat showed up again."
"Ash?" Cinder said her eyes lighting up, "How was he? Was he a match for Adam?"
Roman raised his brow, expecting to get grilled, he was as pleasantly surprised as he was shocked, "Ehhhh well it looked like he was holding up okay before Neo took him out. I suppose he held his own?" Roman said inquisitively.
"Did he make it out of the warehouse?" Cinder said sitting on the table in front of Roman, crossing her legs.
"Don't know, we left him in the fire." Roman said with a shrug. Cinder glared ever so lightly making Roman stiffen.
"I guess ill check myself, tell Adam to gather more competent members for our larger stash here in Vale, I don't need another incident like this occurring. Understood?" Cinder said placing her hand on Romans cheek, though it showed anything but affection.
"Of course. It'll get done." Roman said lightly pulling away from her and straightening his scarf. He got up from his chair and began to exit but gave Cinder an odd stare, "Why so interested in Mimic anyway?"
Cinder's eyes lit up and she shook her head at Roman, "Roman Roman Roman, don't you even know his full name?"
"No not really, why? Is it important?"
Cinder smiled, "Of course it is. Or haven't you noticed the similarities?"
"Uuuh pardon?" Roman said in confusion.
Cinder pulled up a screen with a picture of Ash, his birth-date, Age, species, semblance, and name. The latter of which made Roman's mouth drop ever so slightly.
"His name Roman is Ash, Ash Fall." She said with a ominous glow in her eye.