"Thoughts"-Italics
"Speech"-Regular
"Past/Flashback"-Bold
Chapter 4: Connections
"I refuse." Frost said plainly.
"You can't refuse." Ozpin said not looking up from his scroll.
"Then I decline." Frost continued.
"Please refrain from using synonyms." Opzin said taking a sip from his mug.
"Ozpin..." Frost said holding back a growl.
"Yes?" He said looking up from his scroll with an eye smile.
"You really can't expect me to lead a team, I haven't worked with anyone...ever." Frost emphasized the last bit.
"Raven would be hurt...And you underestimate yourself Frost, from what my instructors gathered you showed plenty of leadership qualities, are you perhaps, scared?" Ozpin dropped a not-so-subtle taunt.
"Number one, no she wouldn't, number two, Raven is absolutely different and you know it! And number three, I'm not scared." Frost said annoyed, "And I don't care what they said Ozpin, I'm just not right for this type of job."
Ozpin shifted back into his seat, this was a low-blow and he knew it but he needed the push, "Raven was able to lead teams, despite her personality she still knew how to manage people."
Frost grit his teeth, "...Then advice." He bit out.
Ozpin smiled again, "What exactly is your problem?" He said feeling a sense of deja-vu with a certain silver-eyed girl.
Frost sat down in a chair as if he was speaking to a therapist and sighed, "Well..."
-A few days prior-
Frost winced as a crash erupted from the opposite side of the of the hall, "I really hope that's not a common occurrence..." He said with a sweat-drop as another crash erupted, "We had to be right next to them..." He thought as his team was only about a door down from team RWBY and JNPR. In contrast to the two exuberant, sociable, and loud teams, his team was...quiet. Awkwardly quiet. Like at the moment they had all finished unpacking not a single word was shared between the four. Frost looked wearily around the room, Evergreen had taken the window spot, she seemed to enjoy gardening a lot, plants in general really, and she was tending to her various plants.
"We got a greenhouse now I guess..." Frost thought as he looked at Orion who was throwing knifes across the room into a target board, he was supremely focused, after the team had been assembled he and Ozpin had a private discussion, "That man is too shrewd." He thought with a silent sigh before looking at Aurora who was reading a book. The atmosphere wasn't hostile...it wasn't even necessarily bad...it was just...awkward.
Frost figured it would pass, new people meeting each-other, everyone trying to get comfortable, taking solace in their own personal hobbies, "My god he put 4 socially inept people onto one team." Frost thought as an hour of pure silence passed, save for the few thunks from Orion throwing knives into the target board. After the third hour Frost started to sweat as he saw Aurora flinch every-time a thunk landed into the board, thunk, thunk, thunk, it was like the ticking of a clock for every second of silence. Suddenly a snap maybe everyone look up, Aurora had shut her but and her eyes were close, she turned to Frost, "May we have word alone?"
Frost internally cringed, "Even I know that's not good..." Frost thought with a forced nod. Both quietly left the room and with a soft click of the door Frost was immediately pinned against the wall by Aurora who was giving him an intense gaze, "Fix it."
Frost blinked, "Pardon?"
Aurora pointed to the closed door, "Fix that terrible atmosphere, it's just like your expression."
"Again with the expression!" Frost scowled before pushing her hand away, "It's not that bad!" He tried to deflect.
Aurora stepped in front of him, "Not that bad? We haven't spoken a word to one another for almost 3 plus hours, Evergreen talked to a plant before one of us, Orion has already thrown those damn knives into the target board 3600-" Thunk,"3601. Times." Aurora almost twitched.
Frost frowned, "And why do I have to fix it princess? Last time I checked you were most sociable one save for maybe Evergreen and she hasn't said a word to me since the forest..." He said with a sigh thinking they had at least one sociable person able to keep the awkward tension away.
"You want a list? Number one, I was talking with Evergreen just fine until you two boys entered the picture, she must not feel comfortable with mister wolf-man and terrible expression McGee."
"How many insulting nicknames does she have for me?!" Frost thought with a twitch.
"Number two, the last time I checked you were the leader of this team, have you thought about making the effort to fix any of this?" She said crossing her arms.
"Well..." Frost mumbled rubbing the back of his head.
"You were going to rely on me, right? Or maybe Evergreen?" Aurora seemed annoyed, "Are you really okay with how things are? That as long as we don't not get along, it should all work out?"
Frost shoved himself past Aurora, "Listen I'm highly self-aware. I know my weaknesses, this just happens to be one of them."
Aurora pulled him back and glared, "And you just affirm your own weakness? Why not work past it?!"
"What do you want from me?!" Frost said throwing his hands up and getting her hands off him, "I didn't even ask to be leader of this stupid team. Who said I needed anyone here? I was just fine on my own, without you, without anyone!" Frost yelled louder than he thought making Aurora recoil and give him a look that made him regret what he just said.
"Wait-Aurora I didn-" Frost tried to reach to her before she raise her hand up and shook her hand, a cold look in her multicolored eyes.
"No. You did." She said shaking her head, "If you don't want your job then quit." She said turning around and walking past their room. As she walked by Frost could see both team RWBY and JNPR slowly creak their doors open and looked back at him, an orange hair girl Frost remembered to be called Nora chimed in, "Relationship issues?" She said innocently enough and Frost's eyes narrowed into cold daggers that sent a cold snap through the hall making her and both other teams quickly shut their doors.
Frost sighed before going back into the room and seeing both Orion and Evergreen look at him a bit...sadly. Frost could only stand the looks for a few moments before he turned around and closed the door and running a hand through his hair, "Why did I say that? I mean...I know why I said that." He mumbled while throwing his hands into his pocket, "I need some air..." He thought.
-Present-
"And since that we haven't really talked at all...team practices are...sluggish...Orion and Evergreen feel even more awkward around me and Aurora..." Frost sighed, "She hasn't said one single word to me."
Ozpin took in the situation and nodded, "Well that is certainly a problem, I think I may have the solution though."
Frost perked up, "Really? Okay what is it?"
Ozpin sat up and placed his hands together for dramatic effect, "Talk to them." He said as if it was the most simple thing in the world. Frost immediately scowled in return, "Seriously? Talk to them? That's all you have?"
Ozpin shook his head, "Frost how does anyone become closer to one another? They talk, whether it be with words or with actions."
Frost snorted, "Stupid...It's arrogant to think just saying things out loud is enough. Self-gratifying on the part of the speaker, and conceited on the part of the listener. You won't always come to an understanding by talking things out." He ranted looking away from the older man who nodded.
"Hmm Miss Zara was right you truly do have twisted disposition..." Ozpin said loud enough for him to hear.
Frost's head twisted back around, "She talked to you about me?"
Ozpin had a small twinkle in his eyes, "Yes, said something about it being the job of the noble to help twisted people such as yourself and she needed my advice."
Frost scowled, "And she says I'm twisted! What kind of twisted nobility is that!"
Ozpin chuckled, "You two are very much alike." He said eliciting a snort from Frost, "Yeah as similar as fire and rain."
Ozpin shook his head at him, "Regardless, she talked to me about you. She was upset with you and what you said."
Frost frowned, "I..Didn't mean all of what I said...maybe I did...I don't know. I just want to fix this already." He said with a sigh, "And I don't think just talking is going to be enough..."
Ozpin nodded, "Then do more. As I said Frost, others respond to communication, talking is only the first step, the actions you take afterward are what they remember most. Learn about your teammates, create connections, try to see things the way they do." He said placing a firm hand on Frost's shoulder who seemed to be soaking it all in, "You have a lot to think about, I'll leave you to your thoughts." Ozpin said sending him out of the room, as Frost approached the door Ozpin spoke one last time, "Frost, the one who told me you had the potential to be a leader was Raven, when she first met you." Which made Frost stop and stand still, then open the door and leave.
Beacon was a very large institute, it had many different things, an amphitheater, the Beacon Tower, the Cross Continental Transmit System, libraries, lecture halls, locker rooms, ballrooms, fair grounds, a dining hall, but Frost wasn't looking any of those things, no what he was most interested in right now is the only place he would find his teammate Evangeline Evergreen. Frost hadn't gathered much on the girl but what he did know is that she loved plants.
"So the only place she could be would be..." Frost said aloud before walking into a pure glass structure, "Is the greenhouse." He said looking around the rather large building, the greenhouse had multiple purposes, using plants to create natural cures, many students took classes learning of different plants that they could use on missions, and it was pretty.
"Captain?" A light voice called out to Frost, he instantly recognized it to be Evergreen.
"Evergreen." Frost said with a small smile.
She seemed confused at his sudden appearance, "What are you doing here captain? Today is our day off..."
"So she doesn't expect me to ever seek her out outside of team-related things..." He thought holding back a frown, "I was looking for you actually, just wanted to see what you were doing." He said trying his best to not make the situation any more awkward than it was. Evergreen seemed slightly surprised then smiled, "Oh well I guess that's fine..." She said fixing her hair, she had casual clothes on, a loose green tank-top that matched her hair and a black skirt, "I was just looking at some of the plants here..." She said looking down at her feet.
"What's your favorite plant?" Frost asked curiously making her eyes light up before she took him by the arm and lead him to around the back of the building, she stopped and pointed and it seemed like a regular green plant.
Frost stared at it in interest, "What is it?"
Evergreen squatted down and looked closely at it, "It's called the Mimosa Pudica or the shy plant..." She said as gently placed her fingers on the plant and in response it quickly closed up and shut, as if shy or bashful, Frost saw Evergreen smile softly as it did so and retracted her hand and watched as it slowly opened back up. Squatting next to her Frost tried the same thing and yielded the same result, he let out a small laugh, "It's cute." He said with a smile, "It's a lot like you actually/It's a lot like you actually." He thought and said aloud, "I hate me sometimes..." He thought with mental frown.
Evergreen looked at him surprised and blushed, "R-really you think?"
Frost saw he had to explain and looked at the plant as to avoid eye-contact, "It's um...it looks like any old plant...Like you, you look just like Ruby or Yang, a nice sociable girl but in reality you're a lot more shy then you let on, when people come up to you, you kind of shrink up a little bit and it takes you a little time to open up...it's cute." He said, trying to sound casual as Evergreen processed what he said with a blush on her cheeks.
"Thank you..." She said quietly in response.
Frost stood up, "Uuuh n-no problem..." He said, "Ugh I feel so awkward..." He thought before Evergreen interrupted his thoughts, "Hey captain-"
"Just Frost will do Evergreen." Frost said raising his hand.
Evergreen looked down, "Oh then um Frost?" She said slowly, sounding out the entire thing as if trying not to mess up, "Do you like plants?"
Frost looked up thoughtfully, "Well I don't dislike them...I do like flowers though." He said shaking his head, "When my mother was alive she used to grow flowers, she had a particular one exclusive to our family that only she could grow called Borealis flowers. They changed colors depending on the light, they were...beautiful." He said remembering them.
Evergreen looked at him surprise, "I've heard of those before! I've never seen one in person though..." She said quietly at the end.
Frost hummed, "Well…I guess one day when we have time I could show you one, give you one even." He said before he felt his hands grabbed by hers, a bright smile on her face, "You mean it!?" She said like an excited child.
Frost looked in shock and nodded, "Yeah, well go together one day." He said with smile making Evergreen pump her fist up happily, "YAY!" She said causing a few people to look at them before she squatted back down anxiously and hid behind Frost.
Frost looked at her and threw his head back, "Hahahahahaha!" He started laughing causing Evergreen to pout.
"It's not funny! Frost! Stop laughing! Frooooost!" She whined throwing light punches on his head before crossing her arms, "You suck." She mumbled turning around. Frost finally stopped laughing and placed his hand on her head, "You really are a like that plant." He said wiping away a small tear, "Sorry." He apologized, Evergreen just pouted.
Frost gave a small wave as Evergreen happily went off, apparently she had plans with Aurora, "Guess they are pretty close when me and Orion aren't around..." He thought scratching his head, before thinking about where he would find his male teammate, "He's not like Evergreen he didn't really show any types of hobbies besides..." Struck with an idea Frost quickly headed back to his room and threw on his combat gear, "Are you as simple as I think you are?" Frost questioned as he ran out of his room and headed towards the training grounds.
Several resounding thunks hit a board dead center, Orion pulled his bow down and let out a tired sigh. He stiffened as a few steps echoed behind me and then relaxed, "Oh captain it's you."
"What's up with this whole captain thing? Oh captain my captain~" He thought rolling his eyes, "I figured you would be out here, you can't seem to sit still around the room or in class much..." He said walking past him and looking at the board, perfect dead center shots, "Figured you might want a moving target?" Frost said pulling out his gun with a quick spin.
Orion seemed to perk up at the idea and jumped back to summon his bow, "First to three clean hits." He said summoning his bow.
"Close combat or shootout?" Frost questioned loading his gun up.
"You think you can beat me in a shootout?" He taunted with three purple arrows appearing in his hand.
"Shootout it is." Frost said with an irritated smile and gunshot.
Orion moved his head, "Head shot, his go to, throws people off balance-" He thought before flipping sideways to dodge 2 more shots, "Then the abdomen to force movement and the third shot is a scare tactic." He thought releasing his fire, three arrows at three different altitudes. Frost spun in a corkscrew to dodge the first two and fired his gun to hit Orion in mid-air. Both went backward as they shot each-other in the chest. Looking up from the ground they grinned at one another, breaking out into a sprint they began firing. Bullets and arrows sprayed from either side as they ran, flipped, and twisted around. Both ducked behind cover.
"Run out of bullets?" Orion taunted. Boom. Frost responded with a gunshot, "Yeah fuck you infinite arrow bulls-" THUNK. THUNK. THUNK, "CUTE! VERY CUTE!" Frost yelled behind cover, in an instant he mad dashed towards Orion's side, Orion quickly fired but Frost pulsed blue, the floor froze into ice and hid slid on his knees, avoided each shot. Orion cursed as Frost closed the gap and quickly pulsed purple and flipped into the air. Two shots. Frost grunted as he took an arrow to the shoulder and Orion grimaced and spun out of control in the air as he got hit in the leg. Both quickly recovered and took aim at one another Frost shot and threw his hand up, an ice barrier shot up to block the arrow, Orion instantly weighed himself down and landed, a bullet hit him straight in the chest and he stared in shock as he looked at Frost. The ice wall had a bullet-shaped hole in it, "He used it to cover my attack and shoot his own..." He thought before closing his eyes and laying his head back.
He heard a few steps come near him, "I lost." He announced.
Frost gave him a hand to get up, Orion took it, "You're too tense." He said, "You've been pretty antsy here haven't you?"
Orion got to his feet and dusted himself off, "...I'm not used to...interaction." Orion said with a frown, "I lived almost all of my life alone." He said looking at his gauntlet. Frost saw him contemplating something and decided to take the first step, holding out his gun he caught Orion's attention, "Your gun..." He said taking a pause, "It's very well crafted, you made it yourself?"
Frost nodded, "Yeah I call it Hawkmoon, my teacher helped me make it...well helped is a bit of stretch really," He said scratching his head, "My teacher only got me the materials and she barely did that really, she just took me to the place to find them and told me to figure it out." He said with a sweat-drop, "But when I made it she was proud..." Frost finished looking at the engraving on the gun.
Orion looked at Frost and smiled, "I see..." He said before holding out his hand, "You see this orb correct?" Orion said pointing towards the purple orb, Frost nodded, "It was designed by my family, made from dust you can't find anymore, it's an heirloom. Whenever a new heir is born the father puts his remaining life force into the gem to keep it powered for the next generation and the next and so on."
Frost looked at the orb in awe, "So that orb...it has the life force of-"
"Of my ancestors yes." Orion nodded, "When I was young my mother told me this and I-" Orion bit his tongue, Frost frowned, "You don't have to say-"
Orion put his hand up, "No I-I want to. When I found out I...got scared. I didn't want to follow through with my families tradition. I was scared. So I ran."
Frost gave a sympathetic look, "So you ended up living in the forest..."
Orion nodded grimly, "Yes. I ran away to escape my heritage and yet here I am carrying it around, using it, what sort of hypocrite am I?" He said with a bitter laugh while looking at his gauntlet. Frost frowned and clenched his fist, with a strong swing, Orion face cocked around and he saw Frost giving him a cold look.
"You're no coward and you're no hypocrite, any kid would be afraid to die, so stop sitting there looking so sorry for yourself." Frost said rubbing his knuckles, "If you're afraid of that destiny then change it, find another way to charge the weapon, but don't keep running away."
Orion rubbed his cheek, "You make it sound so easy..."
Frost looked at him and snorted, "Hardly I just hate seeing that damn look on someones face...Look, I don't know much about your weapon, I don't know how it works but maybe you can change it. Change your heritage and then one day, you can go back. Back to your family, your mother."
Orion seemed unsure, "It's been done this way for years...What if I can't do it...What if I fail."
Frost bit his tongue, "There's no way to know, people have probably tried to change it multiple times, what makes us different, there's nothing that says we should have any possible chance of changing it but-" Frost held out his hand, "Then let me help you." He said, "Together well become stronger and somehow...someday...well change it."
Orion stared at Frost differently, it was a look Frost hadn't really seen before, admiration, respect maybe, he wasn't sure but Orion took his hand firmly, "I will hold you to that, captain."
Frost groaned, "Please just call me Frost." He said as they began to walk out from the training area, Orion smirked, "Of course captain." Another groan.
Orion looked at Frost curiously, "Well I told you about myself, tell me a bit more about this teacher you had?"
Frost paused, "Well I wasn't with her for too long but I guess the way you could describe her was...Harsh, unfair, and a bit crazy but...She was my teacher." He said fondly, "She would always set up challenges for me and even worse she would give me this look if I didn't follow through!" Frost continued the conversation as the two walked back to their dorm, both sharing stories of the past before the sun started to set. They both arrived back in their dorm, only Evergreen was in the room, she looked at them in surprise.
"Orion, Frost!" She greeted, "I didn't know you two hung out together."
Frost gave Orion a look, "It's a recent thing." Frost said as Orion gave a cool smile back, "By the way do you know where Aurora is?"
Evergreen smiled at the twos interaction and nodded, "She said she was going out to get a drink, she's probably still out there now actually."
Orion perked up slightly, "Going to kiss and make up captain?" Orion uncharacteristically teased making Evergreen giggle, "Oi I liked it more when you threw knives at the wall like a kicked puppy...ninja puppy." Frost thought while narrowing his eyes and switching back to a plain smirk, "Oh okay thanks Evergreen, oh by the way Orion says he thinks you look cute in your pajamas. Bye now." He said narrowly avoided an extra charged shot.
"CAPTAIN!" Orion growled before the door closed leaving the two alone in the room.
Evergreen looked at her pajamas and blushed, "Uhhhh..." She said pulling her pillow over her chest.
"I hate you. I hate you so much right now." Orion thought, "W-wait I didn't exact-" A pillow hit him in the face.
"Thanks..." Evergreen said with a small smile, "Your mask looks nice too."
Orion opened his mouth and then closed it, "Uh...thanks." The two looked at each other awkwardly before he spoke again, "S-so what did you do today?" He asked making her perk up, "O-oh well tday me and ca-Frost went through the greenhouse-" She continued with her story, making small talk between the two a lot less awkward.
"You got a team now Jaune, we both do! And if we fail then well just be bringing them down with us. We have to put our teammates first and ourselves second." Ruby said to Jaune while standing up and placing her hands on her hips, "Your team deserves a great leader Jaune and I think that can be you." Ruby finished as Frost came by and looked between the two.
"Well said kid," He said with a quick nod to Ruby before looking at Jaune, "Talk to em, let them help you, it's easier than it looks, trust me." He said walking past them down the hall. It was pretty empty at this time of night so there wasn't anyone else around the living area. Sure enough right outside the living are on the balcony. He saw her, alluring eyes and all, her thin night gown, and her raven hair. Frost took a deep breath before he walked out next to her, she saw him and pretended as if he wasn't there.
"Fair enough..." Frost thought before scooting slightly closer, she now gave him a look but stayed silent, Frost opened his mouth but then closed it again. She could see him struggling to get a word out, she waited a little longer before she sighed, "Evergreen told me you guys hung out today..." She said plainly.
"O-oh yeah we uh looked at plants together..." Frost said playing with the hair underneath his headband, "It was nice..." He said quietly. They returned to awkward silence, Aurora sighed, "You're hopeless."
"Gimme a break I'm trying." Frost said with a sigh.
"Hmm it must be true, she didn't run when she saw you, that must have meant you didn't have your terrible expression on your face..." She said as if that was the only way it could have happened.
"I'm sorry." Frost said suddenly, not bothering to engage in fruitless banter, "For what I said to you, I didn't mean it that way...I just...I'm so used to having to do everything myself."
"Well you're not by yourself anymore." Aurora said looking at him angrily.
"I know." Frost said putting his head down, "Getting used to that idea." He said looking at her with a small smile.
"You have a terrible expression, you don't think about others enough, you're horribly-" Frost covered her mouth with his hand and gave her an exasperated look, "Yes I know and I'm shitty with people sometimes too, I yelled at a girl who was just trying to help me change for the better and I. Am. Sorry. So please, shut up for 5 minutes Aurora." He said in a slightly stern yet tender voice. Aurora felt her face heating up and pulled his hand off her face and let out a small cough before looking off the balcony.
"Fine. Mr. Molester man." She grumbled quietly.
Frost rolled his eyes, "Were the same age." He said leaning his elbows on the balcony, "Come to think of it when's your birthday?"
"Trying to find out my personal information Mr. Creepy man?" Aurora said putting her hand up to her face in mock disgust.
"Come on." Frost said nudging her, "Mines December 21st. Okay?"
Aurora looked shocked and had a small red tint on her face, "The same actually."
Frost's eyes widened and he smirked, "Then I guess we can celebrate it together."
Aurora looked down at her drink and sipped it, "I guess so..." A small smile gracing her lips.
Frost nudged her again, "Is that a smile I see on the princess's face?"
Aurora tried to look smug, "The taste of this tea is simply exquisite."
Frost gave her a deadpan look, "From the vending machine?"
Aurora tried to keep a straight face, "Obviously." She said sticking her nose into the air. The two were silent for a moment before they both broke out into a fit of giggles and laughter. They both calmed down and looked at the fractured moon, they were a lot closer than they remembered, Frost was about to move but Aurora leaned against him. He wanted to say something but she seemed content, her muscles weren't tensed anymore, and her face seemed calm.
Frost leaned his head on her, "So do you forgive me?" He asked.
Aurora shuffled her head around, Frost blushed slightly, "Dunno." She said, "You put me through so much grief." She said, "Worrying about an idiot like you, it was annoying." She said making Frost fidget, "Maybe make it up to me more."
Frost let an out humph, "And how would I do that?" He offered.
She turned around to look him in the face, "Surprise me." She said quietly.
Frost froze for a moment as he saw her eyes shining in front of her, he could smell her lips, it was sweet lemon tea, "Don't look at me like that..." He thought as he felt his face magnetically move closer to her, "What are we doing?" He thought looking into her eyes that were half-lidded, "We hardly kno-"
"Getting cozy?" Orion's voice interrupted causing them to almost leap away from one another, fixing their clothes.
"It's cold out." Aurora tried to cover smoothly.
"Why are you out here?" Frost chewed out, "I WILL FUCKING MURDER-"
"Orion! I told you we shouldn't have come out here!" A cute voice said behind him, pulling on his sleeve.
"Huh? Why not?" He said with a shrug, "You were the one that was worried they were taking so long."
Frost shot a look at Evergreen who hid behind Orion, "I-I was just worried because Aurora was so mad at you and she was saying how she could just choke you today and..." She gave herself a small bump on her head with her first and mouthed a sorry, "You're precious Evergreen I could never hurt you." Frost thought before shooting a glare at Orion.
"Are you implying that I would attempt to murder our captain Eve? I'm hurt." Aurora said in mock shock.
"Oooooh Aurora I didn't mean it!" Evergreen said moving to her friends side, and pulling on her arm whilst apologizing. Frost mouthed a, "I'll kill you." To Orion who mouthed a, "Payback." To his captain. The four all continued to bicker and squabble before Frost clapped his hands together.
"Enough!" He said in finality, "Can we just go to sleep already?" He said drooping.
Aurora nodded, "Quite, this has been quite a successful day."
"Successful?" Evergreen said with a raised brow.
"This is the most we've ever talked as a group." Aurora said with a smirk.
"Yes yes and it's an incredible revelation." Frost said with a yawn, "Well all still have vocal chords in the morning." He said heading towards the room.
"Of course captain."
"Aw okay Frosty"
"Humph tired already. Mr. Lazy man."
Frost didn't turn back or answer and of them, he just smiled and continued walking, hearing the steps follow behind him. This seemed to be the beginning of his first connections.