Chapter 19!

Full chapter!

I don't own RWBY.

Enjoy!

Team DHLA

Good Talk

A few weeks later

"What are you waiting for?! Take the shot!" A voice shouted in his ear. Daien's hand shook, causing the gun in his hand to rattle, "I... I can't." Daien said into his earpiece. "You have to! Remember what they did to us!" The voice shouted again. "I-I'm sorry." Daien said into his earpiece, before ripping it out and crushing it under foot. Daien's hand settled, the room going silent except for the rise and fall of the room's occupants breathing and the wind as it pounded against the window. Daien raised his hand skyward, and fired three rounds, violently waking the room's only other occupant from an otherwise peaceful sleep. "I didn't sign up for this." Daien said in a gentle voice that was filled with regret. A flash of lightning lit the room for a moment as Daien looked into the terror filled eyes of his former target and simply said, "Scream" before running at and crashing through the window.

Daien woke with a start and rolled forward onto one knee, pointing Strife and Fury around the room. It was late morning, about third or fourth period, or eleven or twelve o'clock, and Daien was alone. Daien relaxed, it was Sunday and everyone had plans, including Daien.

After a modest breakfast of beef jerky, toaster sweets, and cola, Daien opened the window. Team DHLA's dorm was on the seventh floor, making looking down a dizzying experience, just outside the only window was one of many large trees that ringed the dorm building. Daien dove out the window onto one of the tree's larger branches. After climbing to the highest point in the tree, Daien transformed Strife and Fury into axe form and then combined them into fire/saw axe form. Daien took a deep slow breath and held it.

As he released the breath, Daien began twirling and spinning his axe somewhat like a staff. As he ran through a number of different kata, Daien entered a zen like state, focusing on his breathing and where his weight went. The events of the last seven months ran through his mind as Daien expertly controlled the whirling blade that moved around him less than an arm's length away.

"Take the shot!"

Daien made a misstep and wobbled a little but recovered quickly.

"I-I'm sorry."

Daien's grip on the axe slipped a little, causing him to shift his grip positions to keep from hurting himself.

"I didn't sign up for this."

Daien distributed his weight wrong, almost putting his foot through the tree's canopy.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH"

Daien lost his balance completely, accidentally throwing his axe to the side and falling through the tree's canopy. Using his Semblance, Daien cut or smashed any branch that was in his path as he fell before landing in an uncontrolled roll and ending up on his back. Covering his eyes with his hands, Daien let out a frustrated groan as he lay in the grass. Daien felt the presence of someone else and heard footsteps coming toward him. The visitor sat down next to Daien.

"You okay?" Daien recognized the voice as Yang. "I'm fine. Just fell." Daien put his hands at his sides and stared up at the clouds. "Are you alright?" Yang asked. Daien caught her meaning and sighed, "No, not really." "Wanna talk about it?" Daien shook his head, "I can't." "Why?" Daien looked at Yang, seeing she was being genuine. "There are some things that should stay buried, and I really hope and pray they do." Daien said sitting up. For a moment it seemed like Yang was wrestling with whether or not to pry. "Look, Yang, I appreciate the concern, but I'm just dealing with some personal stuff in my past." Daien said, hoping that that would help her understand.

"Ahm"

The two students turned to see Professor Ozpin standing on the sidewalk holding his cane and with a polite smile. "Saved by the Ozpin." Daien thought. "Good morning, Professor Ozpin! How can I help you?" Daien said getting to his feet. "I hope I'm not interrupting." Ozpin said, walking toward Yang and Daien. Daien detected a suggestive undertone but let it slide, Yang on the other hand, "No! You're not interrupting anything!" The blonde haired girl said turning a light shade of red that surprised Daien, who actually thought it was kinda cute. "Oh, then may I borrow Daien for a bit?" Ozpin said pointing his cane at the teen in question. "Of course." Yang said before whispering, "We'll talk about this later." In Daien's ear.

"Walk with me." Ozpin said as Yang left.

After fifteen minutes of leisurely strolling from the dorm building to the gardens, Ozpin started the conversation. "Daien, over the past month or so I've watched you and your team closely." Professor Ozpin and Daien entered the Beacon gardens, Daien took note of the cocktail of sweet smells that surrounded him and the buzzing of bees.

Ozpin pulled out his Scroll and instructed Daien to do the same, "Daxtrus Heliotrope Henna, rebellious tendencies, thirty six different counts of shoplifting and petty theft, and quote, 'doesn't play well with others'." Professor Ozpin swiped a file over to Daien's Scroll and it came up on the screen. "Lilac Rampuri, social disabilities, homeschooled since birth, and is quote, 'a cheerloner'." Ozpin swiped another file over to Daien's screen. "Chichi Auburn, extremely shy, numerous encounters with bullies, and is quote, 'the ghostgirl who's a musical prodigy'." Ozpin swiped another file over to Daien's screen.

"And last but not least, Daien." Ozpin swiped a final file over to Daien's screen. Daien looked over the files, and noticed that they were copies of official assessment and informative records documents. Daien swiped away all the sections that had changed, leaving who his team was and excluding who they used to be. Coming to his own file, Daien stopped and knit his eyebrows together in confusion.

"Most of the information in these files is gathered during the selection process for attending Beacon. When we started searching for information on one 'just Daien' we came up with nothing." Ozpin explained as Daien deleted the empty file. "Naturally we couldn't allow you to attend classes without knowing something! So I had your teachers and several other staff members send me regular reports on your development and any information they thought was prudent." Ozpin swiped a file over to Daien's screen that was different from the others. Daien noticed the tell tale signs of an edited government document, as well as the official Beacon Academy watermark.

"This is the result of those reports. Daien, unreadable, very protective, eleven unsanctioned fights with multiple opponents all resulting in total knockouts, recently came out as a Faunus, and is quote, 'the mysterious stranger with a kind heart and a dark past'." Daien read through his file. "I knew that 'mysterious stranger' thing had to come from Professor Black!" Daien thought.

"Based on the information here, a team comprised of these individuals would constantly be at war with itself or fall apart. So why hasn't it?" Daien let out a small chuckle and smiled at the headmaster, "Because sir, as you said we're misfits, no one else will take care of us. So we take care of our own, that's something I did my best to teach my team." Ozpin nodded at this. "And besides, who gets to decide this stuff?" Ozpin looked quizzically at the boy before him, "We were all told that we couldn't do something, you can't fight, you can't get strong, you can't make it, you can't leave. So I ask you, who decides these things?"

Daien paused and swiped over his teammates edited files, "It works because it shouldn't." Daien closed up his scroll and put it in his pocket, "If you'll excuse me, sir, I have things to do, people to see, and stuff to be mysterious about." Professor Ozpin let out a chuckle and said his goodbyes.

"Unreadable indeed." Ozpin muttered as he walked away, the words 'FILE COPIED' flashing across his Scroll.

Daien walked down the street of downtown Vale, listening to his 'wicked guitar' playlist and reading off directions on a piece of paper. "...take a left at From Dust Till Dawn, then take the third left." Daien arrived at From Dust Till Dawn and stopped in his tracks when the shop's door opened. "Hey Daien!" Ty said with a wave. "Hey, what's up?" Daien said pausing his music and pulling his red and gunmetal grey over ear headphones off to rest around his neck.

"N-Nothing much. Just doing some shopping." Chichi said coming out of the shop with a small bag. "Fuck! What are they doing here?!" Daien thought. "What're you doing around here? I thought you were going to be spending the day training around Beacon." Ty said, giving Chichi a small nudge.

"Fuck!"

"I had to take care of something, so I stepped out." Daien said, using a vague excuse. "O-oh we'll come with you!" Chichi chimed in, handing the bag to Ty who put it in her weapon purse.

"FUCK!"

"Oh no it's alright, I've got it." Daien said evenly, hoping they would get the hint. "No, it's no trouble! We'll be happy to help!" Ty said, closing up her weapon purse tightly.

"FUCK!"

Daien sighed, "Alright, I guess y'all can come. Just... no questions, got it?" The two girls nodded and Daien lead the way.

A few seconds later the teens arrived at their destination. The 'third left' was a dark alley behind a shop that was closed for renovations. Daien turned to his companions, "Listen, I wasn't exactly supposed to bring guests, so just keep your heads down and your mouths shut." Ty and Chichi shared a look before giving Daien a reluctant nod. Returning the nod Daien turned to the alley and pulled up his mask. "Keep your distance a little." Daien said, giving one last piece of advice to his companions, and walked into the shadows.

Once everyone's eyes adjusted, they realized they weren't alone. "Tinito Blake, it's good to see you." Daien said, greeting one of three men that were sharing the alley with the students from Beacon. "Likevise, Mr. Daien. How are tings?" The man in the middle said as he took a few steps toward Daien.

Tinito was a tall skinny man with nothing but muscle filling out his body. He wore what looked like a cross between a black business suit and samurai armor, complete with a sword hanging from his belt that had a lever action rifle mechanism and sawed off stock instead of a handle. He spoke with an accent that meant he was from the north, where the ground is cold and the people even more so.

"Let's drop the formalities and get down to business. Why am I here?" Daien said not wanting to be there any longer than he had to. "Who are your friends? I thought you vere comingk alone." Tinito said, dodging Daien's question. "Insurance, they're here to make sure no one gets shafted." Tinito seemed satisfied with that explanation. "Vell the reason you are here, Mr. Daien, is because you must pay for your last order." Tinito said. "Well that's where we have a problem." Tinito frowned. "You see, the shipment of grenades I ordered was subpar at best and downright dangerous the rest of the time. So until I get the grenades I ordered, neither you or Ladron is seeing a single cent."

Tinito shook his head and sighed, "Mr. Daien, Ladron is not goingk to like this." Tinito said with a threatening edge to his voice. "I'm sure he won't. But right now I don't give a damn about what he likes!" Daien responded, completely unimpressed by Tinito's attempt at intimidating him. "Mr. Daien, Ladron is a very powe-"

"Don't do that!" Daien said, cutting Tinito off, "Don't try and threaten me like that! Unlike most of his clients, I'm not afraid of Ladron! So don't insult me!" Daien said, his voice raising slightly. "You set something up and bring me the grenades I ordered and you'll get your money!" With that, Daien turned and started walking away with Ty and Chichi following after him. "Ve vill be seeingk you soon, Mr. Daien, count on it." Tinito called after the huntsman in training.

After they got a good distance away Ty broke the silence that had settled over the small group. "Well that was shady." She said bluntly. Tyrian and Chichi may have looked alike but they were completely different people. "W-what was that, Daien?" Chichi asked. "I buy my munitions from a man named Ladron Viridian, he is very successful and just as powerful. Lardon does legitimate business as well as off the records stuff, that's how he got so successful." Daien explained. "Why? What does he have that you can't get legit?" Ty asked, a little upset.

"Nothing in particular, but ammo for these ain't cheap!" Daien said giving his weapons a pat. "I've been working on mixing my own powder and pressing my own rounds, but I still have to buy grenades and that's what that was about." Daien pulled out a piece of charred metal and handed it to Chichi. "W-what's this?" She asked as she looked the piece of metal over. "That is what's left of the fuse mechanism from one of the grenades we used on Beastie." Daien said, receiving a strange look from Ty as Chichi handed her the bit of metal.

"The big Grimm thingamajig we killed during initiation!" Daien clarified. "The Basilisk?" "Whatever it's called, yeah, that thing." "Ok, so... what's wrong with it?" Ty asked in confusion as she and Chichi both looked at the device. "To an untrained eye like yours, nothing, it's just a bulk grenade from a company no one really pays attention to. But to someone who knows something, like me, a lot!" Daien took the remains of the grenade back and slowed his pace so he was walking between the two girls.

"The first and most obvious thing is the biggest problem. It doesn't actually have a fuse mechanism, someone just jury rigged a delayed detonation." Daien noticed that neither of his companions fully understood, "These grenades are all the same except for the type of Dust used in their payload. So every one of my grenades are built exactly like this one!" Some understanding flashed across their faces, but they were still lost. "So what's the problem? Isn't a fuse the same as a delayed detonation?" Ty asked. "Yes and no. See no one knows when these things will actually go off, it could blow up right when you pull the pin or not at all! In fact I lucked out with the first one I used! If I held onto it any longer, I'd either not be here right now or be missing body parts!" This seemed to get the message through.

"Oh, but that's not all!" Daien said shaking his head. "T-there's more?!" Chichi asked in surprise with a hint of worry. "None of these grenades have a measured payload, meaning no one knows how big the boom will be. We're talking the difference between a firecracker and a Goliath Buster mortar!" Both girls took a small step to the side, putting a little distance between them and Daien. "So let me get this straight, you paid a guy for good grenades and got really bad ones?" Ty said, venturing to sum it all up. "No. I paid a guy for a case of military grade, variable fuse grenades with different Dust payloads and I got a box of Vacuan roulette suicide style!"

"S-so what now?" Chichi asked looking up at her partner. "I get that whole mess sorted out, start mixing and pressing my own ammo, and use the money I save from that to buy grenades legit." Daien said plainly. "Mr. Daien! Just the man I was looking for!" A voice shouted from behind the students making them jump.

Daien recognized the voice immediately, "Mr. Black! What's up?" The extremely heavily armed man bopped Daien on the head lightly, "Prof. Black!" He insisted. "Anyway, I need to have a word with Daisy here, so could you girls take a walk or something?" The girls took the hint and said their goodbyes. "What's up?" Daien asked turning to his teacher. "Well, let me say how happy I am to hear you're going legit. The criminal underworld is a scary place and certainly not one for a child like yourself." Prof. Black said giving his student a cheeky smile as Daien paled slightly. "But that's not why I wanted to talk to you."

Daien raised an eyebrow, "Okay, why'd wanna see me then?" Prof. Black smiled, "You've been fighting." "Great, a lecture." Daien thought. "While I'm elated that my teachings have taken hold and led you to eleven fights and eleven straight knockouts," "Or... Not?" "I'm afraid if you get into too many more unsanctioned fights you're gonna get kicked outta Beacon." Daien went white as bleached bone. "THAT'S NOT AN OPTION!" Daien shouted, grabbing his teacher by the collar.

Daien instantly realized what happened and let go, apologizing three or four times. "As long as you settle things in the ring from now on, everything will turn up millhouse." Prof. Black said after he recovered from his shock, fixing his collar, "I'll even ref for you if you want." "Thanks, I appreciate it." Daien said, gaining a new appreciation for the sidewalk, a behavior that was very uncharacteristic of him. "No prob." After an awkward silence Daien said farewell to Prof. Black and went back to Beacon and back to training.

Aaaaaaaand that's chapter 19!

Kinda long, this one.

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