The next week was torture, while waiting for my delivery; I couldn't participate in fights, or anything physical. While I wouldn't be able to do those things if I had my foot, thanks to my burns, I was still upset. However, I was distracted by making friends!
Yang and Ruby were always nice, and I enjoyed their company, despie the constant fire puns from Yang. But, perhaps the best people were my own team and JNPR.
Ren's healthy smoothies kept me feeling good, along with Nora's constant nausea whenever trying them. Perhaps the most amusing part was Jaune and Pyrrah. How Jaune couldn't see her "interest" was always good for a laugh. While me and Nora had a constant rate of spats, the others put up with me.
However, I didn't want to push myself on them, so I told them after three days that I was fine. From then on, it was just me and the team! Carmella gave me some plants from her home, that worked like pain killers, while Lavender just gave me an incense ball.
After a week, my burns were gone, and I built a small peg leg. At that point, we had some free time to spend in Vale. Our first stop was Lavender's choice, her father's shop. As we walked in, we heard Tukson say, "Welcome to-LAVY!" Father and daughter embraced, and I couldn't help but smile.
Tukson broke free and said, "So. This is the team you wrote of! It's a pleasure to meet you!" he seemed to choke on his words as he saw me. Oh, god, he knows. Most people still remembered the "crime' my father committed, and I haven't been forgiven by many.
Lavender looked down as her father straightened himself, and hugged his daughter again. "Now Lavy, take care of yourself, okay?" She laughed and responded with, "Of course, daddy. Love you!"
As we left, Tukson called me out, and I told the others I'd catch up. He stared dead into my eyes, and growled. "Listen, kid. I don't know how you made it to Beacon, or why you're here. But if anything happens to my little girl, it will be on YOUR head, got it!?"
I felt insulted, to be honest. Ozpin wouldn't put on a team for no reason. "Listen, sir. I guarantee you that I have no intention of harming any good people. I know that the evidence against my father is incriminating, but I swear to be a better person."
He scowled, and sent me out. The crew was waiting for me outside, and Lavender looked ashamed. As we started to walk, she mumbled, 'Sorry. He's a little touchy about…" 'What? That my family allegedly enslaved faunus? That we killed and tortured them? Is that it?"
She seemed taken aback, and spat back, "Well, kind of! Everyone thinks that happened! And excuse me if I'm a little defensive, but Faunus are people too!" "I know that," I yelled, "But it never happened! We were framed! And why are you so defensive/ part of the fang?" None of us expected what happened next. "I WAS! As a child, my father was enlisted as a member of the white fang! But when we got a new leader, we left! I don't even remember anything about it! But what I do know is that he's spent all of our lives trying to hide us from it! So back off!"
The team all stopped and looked at each other. I murmured, "Lavender, I didn't know. I'm sorry" I reached out to comfort her, and she accepted. After a minute of crying, I looked at her and said, "if it'll help, I'll try to make things up to your dad." She looked at me, and gave me a "That's a start" look.
We made it back to the shop, only to find the store covered in police tape. Lavender demanded to be let in, as the daughter of the owner. Solemn, the police opened the door. Lavender fell to the floor, as we saw the body of Tukson, dead on the ground.
(Interlude out now! Along with part two!)