Sorry for my bad english. I just wanna explain this. The beginning scenes with Ceodore don't have a especific time line to follow, sometimes the scenes happen when he is just a child, in others he already is a teenager. I just wanted to explain this if someone have any doubt in futures charpters. Now to the fic.
He was hurt, dirty, bleeding and crying. The man who he call master didn't know what take easy means. Every time his master hit him with the wooden sword, make him a pain so big that he could stop the tears. Every mistake he commits, he scold with a voice of pure anger. All these words were screaming on his mind.
"Are you hurt?ARE YOU HURT?! This world will hurt you ten times worst than me!"
"You arm is hurt? Do you think your enemy or a grimm will give a dawn to your arm? No! He will use as a opportunity to finish you! You have to keeping use that sword until you die!"
"Tired? If this is all you can handle in a fight so you already would be dead. Get up,NOW!"
Still crying, he laid on his bed, still hurt, he close the eyes hoping he would not fell nothing while sleeping, after a couple of minutes he sleep but he forget to cover himself with the blanket.
In the middle of the night he feel a cold breeze on his body, was enough to him open his eyes, when he was about to grab the blanket and cover himself, something did before he could move, confuse he didn't move but hear heavy footsteps before the sound of a door open and close. Have only two person living in this house and one of them is him, he didn't expect smile after a day like this, but he could see his master as a person again.
-Now everyone is here, we can start.
-Start what mr. Minuano? -Asked Pyrrha with curiosity.
-I wanna your team help me to test a little test of trust ms. Nikos. -Three members were confuse, but Ren knew where he was going with this, but why involve Nora and Pyrrha? -This part of forest don't have too much grimm so don't need to worry about fight. -He explain and Nora make a "aww". -It's simple, i think some of you know the test of the band on the eyes right? -All of them nod. -I wanna try this test in a different way, two of you will cover your eyes with a band and will be guided by a teammate, but who is blindfolded not gonna know who is guiding him.
This last part get everyone by surprise, even Ren. He knew why he and Ceodore was there so why make this rule? The next instruction he give was to the four split up , he gonna guide who is blindfolded to a teammate. Ren was waiting for the mr. Minuano give to him a band, he really think he gonna trust Ceodore like that? No, but make him wonder what he was planning. To his suprise come mr. Minuano guidind Ceodore, pushing a rope around his waist and a band on his eyes, he was about to ask when Minuano make a "shh" signal and give to him the rope.
-Alright Ceodore, one of your teammates is here, i will go ahead and wait for your team, good luck.
Without explain anything he jump in tree to tree leaving him alone with Ceodore. Part of the rules was the teammate who is guiding cannot say a word to keep himself anonymous until arrive on the destination, that mean Ceodore don't have any idea that who is guiding him is Ren. This let him more confused. If this test was to make him trust in Ceodore, why he was the one who will guide? Not the he would let Ceodore guide him while he was blind, but didn't make sense to him.
-Hey. -His thoughts were interrupt by Ceodore. -We gonna go?
He knew that keep stand in the place would not help him figured out, he pull the rope to make Ceodore follow him. But one thought come to his mind, who of the girls is guiding?
Pyrrha in her current state knew that the one of was guiding her was Nora. The fact the Berseker Girl ws pushing her ahead with a hurry was a sign, but other than this was the fact the mr. Minuano left her partner and Ceodore alone. Both of her knew how Ren fell about Ceodore, Nora more than Pyrrha, everything because of his master did to him... and her.
This make her ask to herself, why she seems don't be so bothered with Ceodore presence? After all, his master did to her the same thing he did to Ren.
Oh right. Because Ceodore is Ceodore and he have nothing with what his master did. If Ren could see in that way.
-Excuse me. -Pyrrha spoke and Nora stopped. -I see you are in hurry but this is not easy to me, could you please slow down a little?
Nora have forgotten about the test, she was worried about her friend but this not mean she should almost drag Pyrrha like that. She slow down her steps to be more easy to Pyrrha to follow her. She have to admit, she didn't expected Pyrrha follow her like that, who would? Nora was not the most careful person, but Pyrrha not get off the band, not even a second. She really trust her like a teammate, this make feel really happy. Ren and Ceodore might have problems but seemed she and Pyrrha were good.
They were almost there, just a feel more minutes and this test will end. Ren never was the type of talk, but this silence make him uncomfortable, Ceodore don't say a word since they started to walk. Why he was so quiet? It doesn't matter now, he already could see his professor ahead. he make again the "shh" sign to Ren.
-Good work you two.
-Can i get off this band now?
-No yet Ceodore, lets wait for your other teammates.
Another moment of silence started. Mr. Minuano was stand without move any muscle, Ceodore was sitting in a rock moving his legs, he seemed bored. Ren start meditating to pass the time, after a couple of minutes, Pyrha and Nora finally appeared.
-We...
Before Nora could celebrete Fernando put a hand on her mouth, he get off the bands of his eyes.
-Now i wanna talk to all of you alone, you first ms. Valkyrie.
After talk to Nora, he talked to Pyrrha and then Ceodore. Finally was Ren turn.
-So, how was Ceodore?
-He just keep following me, he didn't say a word.
-Good, good. What this tell you?
-I... don't know. Nothing i guess.
-I'm surprised you didn't get it.
-What?
-Let's go back.
He said leaving Ren confused. When the team were together, he said the test was a success and all of them did well and of course, will have a extra credit in his class for helping him. He dispersed them and walk away.
Beacon
After this test, Pyrrha and Ceodore decide to walk back to their dorm. She give some looks on Ceodore, he seemed fine, no bruises, no injuries, he was fine.
-So, how was this test to you Ceodore?
-Normal, Ren didn't make anything too hard to me.
She sighed in relief, she have worried for... wait a second.
-Ceodore, you knew it was Ren guiding you?
-Yes.
-How?
-Well, Nora breath smell like pancakes and you have a good smell of apples. -She blushed with the comment. -Besides, i could recognize his footsteps anywhere. I mean, you wear heels and Nora keep jumping.
-And you trusted him to guide you?
-Of course, if i don't trust in my teammates, who i gonna trusting in a battle?
Pyrrha didn't know how to react. He and Ren didn't have too much interaction, but he trusted in Ren, not like a friend but as a teammate. She could only smile for have a leader like him, she didn't care what everyone say, she was glad to have Ceodore as a partner.
They were unaware of Ren listening their conversation.
Fernando office
Knock... Knock... Knock...
-Enter!
Ren enter in the Fernando's room.
-What i can help you Ren?
-How was your test for Nora?
-Well, she said Pyrrha sometimes have doubts about keep following her.
-And what about Pyrrha?
-I don't think i need to tell you right?
Of course not, telling how was the test for Nora was the same of how was to Pyrrha, unfortunately seemed Pyrrha didn't trust a hundred percent in Nora yet, but she trust in her enough to let be guided by her.
-How... about Cedore?
-Well, he said whoever guide him, he can trust in a battle.
Ceodore trusted him, Ceodore really trusted him. This was hard to him assimilate.
-So what now? -Asked Fernando.
-I was hoping you could answer me.
-I cannot force you to trust him, this is something you have to decide.
-But is seems like i'm been obligated. I should trust him just because he trust me?
-No.
-So why did you do this test?
-How do you feel now?
-A little bothered.
-About Ceodore.
Silence, he don't have a answer for this, he was just confused. Started since he hear the conversation between Ceodore and Pyrrha. He was feeling bad. Why?
"if i don't trust in my teammates, who i gonna trusting in a battle?"
Remorse. Maybe? But for what?
*Flashback*
Pyrrha stop walking and turn around to Ren.
-To start... i wanna apologise for last night. I should not lose my temper that way.
-it's ok, but i feel this is not the main reason that you wanted to talk.
Pyrrha bit her lip, she was a little nervous, she is not used of ask directly.
-How... do you feel... about Ceodore?
Ren keep himself in silcence for a couple of seconds but answer the question, but was not the asnwer Pyrrha expected.
-Ceodore... is not the problem Pyrrha.
-So, what the problem would be? -She really need to ask, the problem was not Ceodore, but him. -But if him is the problem, why act like that with Ceodore?
-He is related with him.
-We all know that Ren! I wanna the truth!
-It's... personal.
-It's really involve Ceodore? I not talking about the fact that he is related with him, but he really was involved with whatever is this personal thing?
No, he wasn't. Only his master. But... if he involve himself with Ceodore...
-I made a promise Pyrrha.
-What... promise? -Silence, Ren's face frowned, his first clenched. -Y-y-you don't need to tell me, i just want to tell something.
-I listening.
-Ceodore... is Ceodore. And if you don't know how to deal with that, i think you should talk with mr. Minuano.
He feel remorse for try stay away from Ceodore's life, if them start a friendship, this could make hard to Ren fulfill the promise he make long time ago.
-Ceodore... is Ceodore.
Fernando smiled, he make the first step with Ren, but more steps he make, more hard will be to deal whatever is bothering him.
-I think this is enough for today mr. Ren.
-What?
-If you still have some doubts, you can come to me.
He get up and walk away again leaving Ren alone and confused. He left the room, he decide to walk to think a little about his situation, he went on the entrance, the night was calm and the sky full with stars.
-Hey Ren. -He hear the voice of none than Ceodore, on his side, looking to the star night. Ren didn't respond, just stared back to the sky. -It was a interesting test right?
-...Yes.
Needless to say, Ceodore was surprise of Ren actualy respond, this is the first time they change words since they meet.
-How was the test to whoever you guide?
-... It was easy, she... trusted me enough.
He lied to Ceodore don't know that he hear his conversaton with Pyrrha.
-Good.
What come next was silence, none of them spoke for a while, just keep looking to the night sky, but Ren make a question.
-Why do you come here?
-What?
-Almost all night, you come here, why?
-Oh. Look to this sky make me remember of my times traveling with my... y'know.
-Oh, ok.
The next question no one expected.
-Ceodore.
-Hmm?
-How is your... master?
Ceodore didn't stop looking to the sky, his face make a sad expression, is hard to him talk about this.
-Like i told to Pyrrha, he is not a bad guy... -Ren raised a brow. -... but is not a good one either. He don't fight for good or for evil either, he... just fight.
Ceodore's voice have a sad tone, Ren couldn't say why, but seemed what Ceodore respected his master but was disappointed with him too. Ren turned around.
-I will go back to our dorm.
-Ok.
In the corridor, Ren start to wonder if Ceodore still care about his master. If not, maybe Ceodore and him could be allies. No. It was a stupid line of thought, this man was with Ceodore since his childhood, a feeling like that don't dissapear like that. But he start to look Ceodore in a different way after today.
-Ceodore is Ceodore.
He mumbled to himself, but if he make any bond with Ceodore, will be more hard to him when the day he meet his master come.
Ceodore was walking back to his dorm, the night was really calm, almost no sounds. so he didn't expected someone to bump on him.
-Blake?
She was with a sad expression, almost crying, she just push him and run away. Looks like his team is not the only one with some troubles.
End of (edited)chapter. Ren only get used a little of Ceodore, but not trust him completely yet. Next time we gonna see a little of team RWBY. Now if you read the chapter until here, i want ask you to give a look on my OC based fic: STRK - A RWBY Behinde story, if yes thank you, if not okay then. Until next time!