V3E1: A Day at the Fair
Money had always come easily to He Called Hope. Some would go as far as to say that making money was in his blood, he would probably disagree but acquiesce that his paternal family has been bankers and accountants for many generations up until his great-grandfather. Even still, the smell of money was something that brought a flutter to his heart.
Especially if it was other people's money.
Hope whistled chipperly as he counted the total cash count he scored off of the dozen or so Lien cards he acquired. A wide, evil grin exposed his greed.
"I mean, It made sense when you crunched the numbers!"
An evil chortle exited his lung before a violent coughing fit took him out of it. He held his fist in front of his mouth as his lung threatened to escape out of him through his mouth. He cleared his throat with a painful whine as he inspected his hand.
"... Well, at least there isn't blood this time."
He looked around the fair, his wheelchair-bound frame surrounded by the black silhouettes of the people of Remnant. Many were just your run-of-the-mill, casually dressed fun seekers. Some wore lighter clothing as they hung from their lover's arms. He also noticed a few too many police officers around. They weren't causing trouble or anything, but it was weird that there were so many.
I'll have to ask Glynda about this. There shouldn't be this many cops for one festival, even if it is an international event...
Tents, kiosks and attractions littered the area for what felt like miles. In the distant background, the floating Amity Arena loomed. Its sheer size was enough to impress Hope, let alone the fact that the fucking thing was floating in the air. Its history alone was fascinating. An ancient arena that was repurposed as a neutral ground during the Great War. The treaty that ended the war was signed there and named in honour of the hallowed grounds they stood on, any and all rivalries and conflicts would be settled on the battlegrounds where countless warriors fought and died in. Rebuilt with (at the time) the latest tech, the now floating fortress was a symbol of peace. In a funny twist of fate, an arena had become a place where nations settled their differences and instead of sending the common folk to die, only the best and brightest warriors were sent to represent their home...
So peace through regulated violence and competition...
Anon found the idea so Remnish it warmed his heart.
At least you fuckers haven't known war on the scale that my world has achieved. Thank Heaven.
Not much else caught his attention, other than a few fair games. He stopped in front of a shooting game. Pay for a clip of BBs, hit the centre target three times and win a big prize. The prizes ranged from bags of candies to big plushies the size of a man's chest. He smiled as he saw a childish silhouette struggle at the game. Maybe the BB gun was too heavy for them, hence why they kept missing. But the shadow's struggle wasn't the entertaining part.
It was the other shade right next to it, clinging meekly to the small of their shirt.
He let out an amused exhalation through his nose at the sight of childish affection. It reminded him of an easier time when he and his sister would go to the New London Carnival and play games and eat disgustingly unhealthy but delicious food...
"Those were the days..."
He wheeled close to the childish shade holding the gun and looked from the sideline. He watched as the silhouette missed yet again. It let out a sad sigh, having shot the last of its chances. Its shoulders slumped in self-disappointment as the other shade looked down, sad that they didn't win. Hope smiled, feeling generous.
"Hey chief," Anon called out to the guy in charge of the game. "Ten shots please."
The man behind the counter, a shade with what seemed like a doo-rag on his head, nodded and pulled out another gun with two clips of five shots. the childish shade looked like they were about to leave but once Anon shouldered the rifle, it stopped. The focus in his eyes, the way he handled the gun, the confident smirk across his face. Despite his apparent handicap, the bandaged man was poised like a marksman. Maybe they could learn a thing or two... The first shot pinged off the side, barely hitting the target. The bandaged man sneered viciously.
"Oh, I see how it is."
He adjusted his aim, the iron sights of the toy gun way off target. the second shot hit true, only an inch of dead centre. The childish shade looked on in admiration, at least, as much admiration as is apparent on a featureless silhouette. Hope's third shot hit right in the middle of the target. He rested the rifle on his lap, his sneer joined by a lidded stare.
"That's just dirty, old man."
Hope could feel the devious smile on the doo-ragged shadow's mouth. He scoffed, offering his rifle to the child admiring him. The shade looked surprised and pointed to itself.
"I wanted to see what was up for myself. Now's your chance."
The shade looked at its companion, exchanging dialogue that Hope couldn't hear. The small shades started to become more defined as talked together. The one who was shooting earlier became more and more like a tomboy while the other became somewhat boyish. The girl silhouette then gingerly grabbed the rifle and aimed. Hope laid a finger on the barrel and the girl looked up at him.
"You're left-handed, right?"
She tilted her head as if asking how he knew.
"I saw how awkwardly you held the gun. Switch hands and then put your right foot forward."
She did as she was instructed. Her position looked more natural now that she was using her dominant hand.
"The sights are off like mad." He warned. "So you're gonna have to compensate by aiming a few centimetres to the side."
She nodded, her form becoming more and more defined. Hope somewhat made out that she had a bob cut and was wearing a baggy t-shirt and boy shorts. Her bangs were in front of her eyes, restricting her vision.
"You might also want to get your hair out of your face too." He jabbed lightly. "Might help you see more."
She looked embarrassed, swiping her bangs to the side of her face. Of course... Why didn't she think of that?! The first shot was a crapshoot, but at least this time she actually hit the target. Hope could see her eyes widening with awe, even making out that her eyes were of some variety of yellow. She took another shot, this one was similarly off-centre but she was getting closer. she tried to emulate Hope for the third shot, aiming way to the side but missed the target. He heard her growl, the first sound he heard he emit. She shot a fourth and fifth time, getting closer to the centre. Hope grabbed her shoulder and forced her to stand straight.
"You're getting impatient." He warned. "Take your time, it's not a sprint."
She nodded slowly, taking a deep breath.
"I got this..." She murmured. "I got this."
She aimed carefully, knowing she only had three shots left. If she could hit all three, she could get a prize. She felt her companion gripping her shirt, looking at her in awe ever since she hit the target for the first time. She couldn't afford to mess this up. She couldn't disappoint her friend again! She took the shot...
Centre hit!
She smiled brightly but shook out of it. She was elated that she hit the centre but that was one shot.
"Two more," Hope said. "You got this, but don't get cocky."
She nodded.
"Don't get cocky..." She echoed.
Her stare sharpened and the black drained from her form, dripping off of her like fresh paint. Her golden eyes stared through the iron sight and shot again. She hit just barely in the centre. She gnashed her teeth.
"That was close!" she heard her companion comment. "One more!"
She let out a sigh and aimed again, her finger rubbing against the trigger. Suddenly, Hope put his finger on the barrel. Her eyes didn't leave the sights but she paused. He pushed her barrel ever so slightly to the right with his index before letting go. She slowly squeezed the trigger...
Dead centre.
She threw her hands in the air and bellowed victoriously. The green-haired girl with golden eyes did a little dance to celebrate her victory. The man behind the counter took the gun off her hands and handed her a large plush rabbit. She went to take it but Hope grabbed it first. He looked at the girl then at her companion. He was a bunny-tailed little lad with a girly face and short brown hair that covered his ears. He looked really shy and submissive, hiding behind the girl once he noticed he was being looked at. Anon eyed the girl with a teasing smile.
"I see why you wanted to win so badly now."
The girl's cheeks burned a bright pink.
"S-so what?!"
She chuckled gently.
"Just promise me that you'll keep making him happy, lassie," he said as he offered the plush.
She slowly took hold of it, thinking about what he just said. She hid her worsening blush with the plush.
"I... I'll do my best."
"Well?" Hope waved toward the bunny boy. "Don't you have something for him?"
She looked down at the plush, its sewed-on smile encouraging her to take the leap. She nodded furiously before slowly turning around and holding her arms out with the plush. The boy looked at it, elated.
"C-can, can I really?" he asked, failing to hold back how happy he was.
"I mean... I did win it..." She looked away, her blush worsening by the minute and her voice becoming smaller. "I did win it for you..."
He grabbed the plush cuddle with it, smiling sweetly.
"Yay!"
The girl hid the stupid grin on her face with her hand. She could feel her heart beating like a drum. The boy suddenly glomped her, nearly giving her a heart attack from not paying attention.
"Thank you, Chartreuse! I love it!"
Chartreuse, as she was now known, felt like she was going to die she was so happy.
"N-n-n-no problem, Velour."
Hope looked back at the kids sharing an embrace, his own benevolent smile across his face.
"Have a good one, kids," he said quietly to no one as he rolled away.
Chartreuse waited until Velour let go of her before looking back toward the kind stranger.
"Thank you, mister-"
The man was nowhere to be seen. She stood there, looking around only to see that he was well and truly gone. She frowned sadly. The least she would have done was thank him but, looks like she won't have that chance.
"So how are our new friends?"
Emerald, having just endured Team RWBY's sickeningly friendly nature, scoffed in annoyed disgust at her partner.
"I hate them."
Mercury shrugged with his seemingly natural asshole smirk.
"Orders are orders, Emmy."
She groaned.
"Don't call me that! And why am I the one who has to deal with them?!"
"C'mon, what's there to hate?" Merc counted on his fingers. "A dumb bimbo, an emo cat girl, a bratty princess and a stupid little girl!"
"I just..." Emerald began awkwardly mashing her fingers together, grimacing in befuddled anger. "How can they just be this happy all the time?!"
Emerald felt a chill go down her spine as a new voice joined them.
"Simple, they didn't let their issues turn them into whiny, cynical maggots."
The duo turned, shocked by Hope's presence.
"Kinda like how the two of you are." Hope continued.
"Wha?! How?!" Emerald blurted out. "Shouldn't you be in the hospital?!"
"I got the ok from the doctor." He revealed. "Turn's out I'm recovering faster than anyone expected. As long as I don't do anything too strenuous, I should be good."
He leaned forward in his wheelchair, staring at the pair with enmity.
"What? Disappointed I'm not dead yet?"
Mercury glanced at him, somehow both curious and disinterested at Hope's surprising return. Emerald, on the other hand, felt the spaghetti spill from her pockets as she bumbled.
"What? Nah, nah, not a chance! I... I would never, no way!" she chuckled awkwardly.
Emerald shrunk under his scrutinizing gaze before seeing him rub his eyes with a sigh.
"Emerald, if you're going to try and bullshit me; then let me give you a tip. Don't fucking bother," he told her. "I know you don't like me, so please don't pretend like you want to be my friend when you obviously would rather see me hanging from a noose made from my own intestines."
Emerald cringed at the mental image while Mercury snorted loudly.
"By Dark, that's a visual!"
The thief looked back at Hope. He seemed genuinely tired of the charade they'd been playing. Truth be told, so was she but Cinder's orders are absolute. She waved dismissively.
"Nah, that's crazy talk! I've no reason to hate you!"
Hope just stared at her with the most unimpressed look on his face. She cringed again before letting the mask slip.
"Oh, c'mon like you honestly care."
Hope blinked, the same unimpressed look as before.
"If I didn't, there would be a lot fewer people running around the fair."
Emerald rolled her eyes.
"Oh please, you don't know a single one of them. Don't pretend like you seriously care about every single stranger you've ever met."
Hope nodded in agreement, to her surprise.
"True, I don't care what's happening in the lives of the millions of people that live in Vale City. However..." He paused for dramatic effect. "What I do care about are the lives of the dozen or so people I cherish."
He looked into her eyes, a caring, honest look in his eyes that caught her off guard.
"I don't want to see their lives uprooted or ended. And if you'll pardon the double pun, I don't want to see their hopes crushed so grimly."
Emerald didn't say anything just yet. Slowly, a bitter, envious smile spread across her face.
"I bet they're really happy about how much you care about them..."
Hope stayed silent, his honest look turning to one of pity.
"I know exactly where you're coming from."
She scoffed.
"Do you?"
Hope didn't answer with words, but one sad pointed look seemed to have sent the message. At least, he thought, judging by her unsure expression. The thief was about to talk again but her paraplegic partner stepped in, looking like he got tired of all this talking.
"What do you want?"
Hope switched his sight to Mercury, looking more annoyed by his interruption than his demanding tone.
"Other than you two to not cause trouble? Absolutely nothing."
The iron footwork held his hand over his heart, his face stuck in shock in mock offence.
"What?! How could you?! What have we done to warrant such suspicions!?"
Anon gripped the handles at the sides of his wheelchair and shot to his feet. Despite only standing an inch above him, Hope was positively towering over the assassin. Anon bore his teeth with a murderous glare, his blood boiling in his bulging veins. The man that stood before him killed Tukson, his friend's uncle and to a degree, his friend as well. The fact that this murderer dared feign innocence made him want to rip the bastard's legs off and beat him to death with them. Mercury recoiled in surprise but also an emotion he hadn't felt for a while now.
He felt terror.
Hope leaned into his ear, his eyes still wide with fury. His tone was low and grim, full of murderous desires.
"Watch your fucking mouth, before you end up with a hole in your hollow head."
Hope sat back down in his wheelchair and turned around.
"Don't start shit, especially since I won't let you finish it."
The dastardly duo stared as the crippled Hope disappeared into the crowd of shadows. Once he was out of view, Mercury noticed that he had held his breath. He exhaled, a light sweat wetting his brow. He stared at the spot where Hope had been, his shaking hand balling into a tight fist.
"We should just get rid of the bastard..." The man in grey told his companion.
Emerald disapproved with a shake of her head.
"Did you forget? Cinder said don't touch him without her saying so."
"To heck with what she said!" Mercury snapped back. "This guy clearly knows about what we've been doing, why else would he be so damned aggressive?"
Emerald sighed deeply.
"Look, I don't like this either. Something is definitely wrong with him but I don't think it'll be worth the punishment Cinder'll impose on us if we do this."
Merc looked down with a powerless growl.
"Damnit!"
He rubbed the side of his head angrily, muttering as he walked away.
"We're making a mistake... Only other time I've felt that kind of pressure was from Salem..."
The thief glared at the back of her departing partner's head as if he had grown a second noggin. An oppressive presence akin to the Queen of the Grimms? She only partially dismissed the thought but at the same time, a part of her believed her partner. After all, if he can survive a fight with Neo and come back just to go on a Grimm killing rampage, he surely was a dangerous foe. That and the fact that he did all of that without an Aura, let alone a Semblance... Hope clearly wasn't someone to be trifled with. She looked into her own calloused hands and remembered his bandaged body shooting out of his seat. She had checked the extent of his injury on Cinder's order and she knew for a fact that painkillers hardly worked well on him. Yet there he went, putting sudden pressure on his mangled body for no other reason than spite and fury. How painful it must have felt, she had no real idea but she suspected that it must have been awfully harsh.
And yet he endured the pain just to make Mercury shit himself and prove a point.
She groaned, feeling like she lost.
"Anon Hope..." she muttered. "How can someone like you be that resilient? Am I missing something?"
She looked back into the crowd where he disappeared into.
"I need to find out for myself."
Hope scanned the crowd as he sat by the side, a fruity sparkly drink that tasted of melon and apples in his hands. He took a gulp, the liquid dancing inside of his silly straw as he sucked. To say that he was unimpressed and frankly, offended, was not doing his feelings justice. Not talking about the drink, it's actually really nice and refreshing.
No, he was thinking more along the line of the twelve or so guys dressed in the exact same manner sprinkled around the fair.
Fucking Christ. I feel like I'm at a rave, they glow so much.
Worst of all, everyone felt too awkward to tell them that their disguises sucked and not one had the heart to tell them...
They were even talking about "Yesterday's game"... Whatever that means.
Hope shook his head disapprovingly. He'll need to talk about subtlety with the general next time they meet.
He heard a commotion coming from behind him and after a curious peek, found himself looking at the back of his favourite people in the world. One of which was having an aneurysm and another was sobbing into her arms, crying quietly about "the fishies". His pale friend's Lien card was lodged on one of the stand's supports. Hope just shook his head as he took out his wallet. With a fluid motion and a quick flick of the wrist, he whipped out a Lien card of his own and flicked it like a throwing knife. The card lodged itself on the other side of the same support his snow-coloured compatriot's was stuck in. Weiss jolted in surprise at a projectile being thrown at her. The group turned around to face the perpetrator and stared bug-eyed at their displaced farseer.
"Anon?!" They yelled out.
Hope smiled at them with a two-finger wave and a wink.
"I thought you guys might need a hand."
A red flash took over his vision, blindsiding him with an affectionate lunge. Before he could react, Ruby had thrown herself at him in a crushing embrace.
"Anon!" She let out jubilantly.
Hope exhaled a loud, pained groan as Ruby squeezed his damaged body. The moment his plea reached her ears, she immediately let go of him.
"Oh my god, I'm sorry!"
Hope gripped his ribs, sucking air through his teeth.
"Ruby..." He muttered. "I love you too, but for the love of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, don't ever do that again until I'm healed."
Weiss stomped over looking like she was about to choke him.
"Anon! What are you doing here?!"
"That's something we want to know as well!" A masculine voice piped up from the left.
JNPR appeared out of the crowd, three-fourths of the group looking very worried. Can you guess who the last fourth was? Hope did, considering the ginger in question was tentatively probing him curiously.
"Does it hurt there?" She questioned innocently as she poked his shoulder blade.
"NORA!" Ren, for once, sounded genuinely revolted by her action rather than just mildly annoyed.
Hope winced slightly but didn't seem too bothered by her action.
"It's mildly annoying and it feels like you're poking a sore."
Nora poked the spot between his ribs where his kidney his.
"And there?" she asked again.
"Same as last time except worse." He answered again. "Also can you fucking stop?"
Ren marched over and dragged her back for a quiet but stern talking to. Pyrrha and Jaune approached, worry clear on their face.
"Good Light..." Jaune muttered under his breath at the extent of Anon's wounds. "C-can you still walk?"
"I can, it's just not very pleasant for me to support my full weight."
Pyrrha hunched down to be at eye level with him, her genuine look of concern was heartwarming.
"Anon, why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the hospital?"
"I would like to know as well!" Weiss demanded.
Hope rolled his eyes with a whiny sigh.
"Can't a man just get some fresh air and hang out with his homies?"
"Not when that man has almost died and is in serious need of medical care!" Weiss yelled.
Hope pulled out a piece of paper signed by his doctor and held it up.
"The doc is letting me do it, with a laundry list of caveats."
Weiss snatched the piece of paper and poured over it, utterly befuddled and angry that the doctor would let Hope, who was obviously physically unwell, do anything more straining than get out of his bed to take a leak. Hope rolled past her and stopped in front of the Simply Wok stand. As he was about to stand up, Jaune immediately placed himself behind him just in case whilst Yang went to help him up. Hope silently thanked them as the bother of getting up and getting on the high chair would have been an awful chore. He quietly let himself be gently lifted from his wheelchair by both of his blond friends and sat down. Weiss went to protest them humouring him instead of doing the responsible thing but the firm hand of her usually chipper leader told her to let it go.
"Much obliged." Anon thanked.
"You're welcome," Jaune said softly.
Yang nodded affirmingly as she gingerly and delicately held Hope's shoulder. Normally, Hope would have been annoyed by their fussiness but then again, he got quite literally torn asunder and nearly lost more than just blood and limbs. He was just glad that he had people looking out for him.
The shopkeep crossed his arms, his eyes eternally closed and his brow similarly always arched. Anon smiled at his old friend.
"Yo."
The old man's frown turned upside down.
"Glad to see you're still alive, son."
"Same."
The old man pointed at the girls with his chin to which Hope motioned to the card he threw.
"That's for their lunch."
The old shopkeep nodded firmly before giving the girls their bowls back with a kindly old man's smile.
"Bon Appetit, missus."
Not even his first word in had Blake plunged her face into her lunch, consisting of what could only amount to fish head swimming in ramens. Hope waved JNPR in to join them.
"C'mon in, my treat."
"Well, if you'll have us," Pyrrha said politely as she marched in.
"Can't say no to free food!" Nora sped into a seat, revolving like a turn table.
"Are you sure it's wise to have eaten before a fight?" Ren asked curiously.
Anon shrugged.
"In my experience, fighting on an empty stomach isn't all that pleasant."
Pyrrha hummed curiously.
"Do tell, if you don't mind me asking."
"Bah," Hope waved downward. "Maybe another time."
He held up four fingers to the chef.
"The usual for me and four orders of small ramen."
Nora's stomach rumbled like a starving beast, surprising everyone by its sheer loudness.
"...Ok, make it Average-Joe portions."
The growling returned even louder, almost sounding like a car engine.
"..." Hope sighed. "Fine, make it Huntsmen portions."
Nora's stomach made an agreeable sound before settling at a low rumble.
Hope stared silently in mild confusion and just a hint of fascination and fear.
What the fuck are you?
Nora waved childishly.
"I'm Nora!"
Hope blinked multiple times shaking his head.
"I'm not even gonna bother more than I already have."
The group's meal went quietly for the most part. At least, if you ignore the slurping, something that Weiss was desperately trying to do. Midway through his bowl, Hope noticed that Jaune kept checking him out. His eyes wandered to where his clothes ended and his bandages began. The future paladin looked...
Defeated. Defeated and demoralized.
Hope closed his eyes sagely.
It wasn't your fault.
Jaune stopped eating for a moment. He went to say something but stopped himself halfway through. He stared at his reflection within the rich fatty broth.
"I know..." He admitted quietly. "It's just..."
"Jaune."
The page raised his head to look at his friend. He saw Hope looking right back at him.
"It wasn't your fault. It isn't anyone's fault but my own."
Everyone had stopped eating and looked at the two. Jaune broke eye contact, holding his arm sheepishly.
"I just wish I could have done more."
"You've done plenty enough."
Jaune's eyes scanned Hope's body again, the future paladin's expression remaining dour.
"Clearly..."
"Jaune, it's fine." Hope asserted. "Look at me, I'm still here. Alive, kicking, in pain but getting better. That's what matters, right?"
Jaune slowly bobbed his head up and down.
"Yeah... I guess. but could you at least promise to NOT do this type of stuff without backup?"
At least he didn't forbid me from doing my usual reckless goon shit. I just have to do it with friends!
"I'll try as much as I can, bruv," he said with a small smile.
Jaune sighed, looking emotionally exhausted.
"Seriously, dude... Don't do this shit ever again."
"I'm never doing this shit ever again..." Jaune complained quietly.
Jaune was splayed out on the counter, his stomach comically bulging out of his hoodie. Nora let out a hearty belch, disgusting everyone within earshot. Jaune very much included.
"Urg..." The yellow paladin burped wetly. "If I puke, I'm blaming you..."
A sudden evil thought animated Nora's lips into a wicked smile.
"OH! I got an idea!"
"Oh, gods no..." Ren immediately facepalmed, knowing Nora far too well.
"Aim it at the enemy!" Nora continued.
"Nora, that's repulsive." Ren criticized.
"But is it a bad idea?" Nora countered.
Ren opened his mouth but upon thinking about it a bit more, he found that it wasn't a completely meritless idea.
"... It's still gross."
Pyrrha had been checking her scroll while her two teammates debated the efficacy of using vomit as an attack method. Not that she would say it out loud but she found the idea profoundly idiotic. But it was nice to see them so lively. She put her scroll away and hopped off her stool.
"I think it's time we leave."
"Awww," Nora whined. "So soon?"
Anon's head lulled back to look at Pyrrha.
"Right, you guys are next. You feelin' ready?"
Nora spluttered arrogantly.
"Of course we are! I mean, Pyrrha's a world-renowned fighter, I can bench press everyone here combined including myself, Jaune's decent and Ren's basically a ninja-"
"Wuxia." Hope corrected. "Ninjas are Japanese spies and Ren's a Chinese martial artist. So no, not a ninja"
Nora blinked.
"Dude, I didn't understand a damn thing you said."
"Thanks, I get that a lot."
"What's a Chinese?" Yang pondered.
"A really cool people with a rich history and culture bogged down by a shitty tyrannical commie government."
He ignored Yang's absolute confusion and smirked at Jaune.
"Also, just 'decent'? You gonna take that?"
Jaune shrugged.
"I mean, is she wrong?"
Pyrrha shook her head.
"I think so, yes."
Jaune looked at Pyrrha like she was crazy.
"huh?"
"I truly think that compared to how you've started, the difference is night and day!" Pyrrha affirmed with a big bright smile. "Your reflexes are better, your cardio and muscle building have improved tremendously, and your technique is, admittedly, decent but seeing as you had hardly any training prior, I'd go as to say that you have done brilliantly! And also-"
Pyrrha stopped midway. She looked past her team and saw Hope with a wide smile and a lidded stare directed straight at her.
"W-what is it?"
Hope kept the grin.
"No, no, keep going. Don't mind me."
"I-I'm not going to if you keep looking at me like that!"
"C'mon, there's nothing to be embarrassed about! I mean, look at Jaune! He's lovin' it!"
Pyrrha found that comment odd. What did he mean by loving it? A quick glance gave her all the info she needed. Jaune's cheeks were a deep pink as he looked away.
"Really?" He muttered while scratching his cheek. "I... I've gotten that good?"
Pyrrha bumbled quietly, blindsided by Jaune's cuteness. Hope's smile turned into a manic grin as he motioned her to push through and keep going. The gladiatrix swallowed the lump in her throat and did as her wingman recommended.
"Yes, Jaune. You've worked really hard and it shows."
She began mumbling quietly.
"I... I'm really proud of you..."
They stood there, quietly and embarrassedly, as steam shot out of their bright red ears.
"How cute~." Nora quipped as she held Ren's hand.
"Indeed," Ren admitted, kissing her on the back of her head.
Ruby and Yang did their best trying not to gush, only for them to let out a drawn-out squeal. Blake pulled her head out of her ramen long enough to take notes for future reference. Close by, Hope was snapping photo after photo at greased lightning speed with blood dripping from his nose like a broken tap.
"This can't be good for me, but I feel great!" The rapidly palling man said.
Weiss, meanwhile, rolled her eyes so far to the back of her head that her scleras were bloodshot.
"Gee, and here I thought some of you would be even remotely nervous."
Hope scoffed out a laugh.
"C'mon! You tellin' me that having a regulated fight's more nerve-wracking than fighting assholes for real?"
"He's got a point." Ruby agreed. "I mean... How many kinds of jerks have we faced so far before we are even out of the first year?"
Blake began counting on her fingers.
"Let's see... Murderers, thieves, gang goons, violent extremists, just tons of Grimms including a Grimm invasion, a Gang leader and his psycho lackey..."
"HA!" Yang laughed. "Imagine how screwed we're going to be once we graduate!"
The icy heiress grumbled as she finally removed her card from the stand's support.
"At least I'll be able to pay for myself..."
Loud reverb and audio scratching assaulted everyone's ears as the distant arena's ancient intercom system sputtered to life.
"NEXT UP ON IN THE TOURNAMENT! JNPR VS BRNZ! I REPEAT: JNPR VS BRNZ! WHO WILL WIN? FIND OUT TODAY! AT AMITY ARENA'S VYTAL TOURNAMENT!"
Jaune and the rest of his team shot to their feet.
"That's our cue!" Jaune announced. "You guys ready?"
Nora cracked her knuckles loudly.
"Ready to clobber, chief!"
"Ou!" Ren exclaimed with uncharacteristic excitement.
Pyrrha nodded, looking focused and determined. Jaune smiled confidently as he waved his companions to follow him.
"Go get 'em!" Ruby cheered.
"Try not to embarrass yourselves," Weiss added with a half-smile.
"Do well," Blake said while waving a JNPR banner she got from somewhere.
"Kick their asses!" Yang bellowed excitedly.
Hope smiled to himself, patting his wallet.
"Hey, Jaune!" Hope shouted.
The future paladin stopped in his track, not looking back at his friends.
"Make 'em regret facing you."
He nodded slowly before resuming his stride while shooting a thumbs up over his shoulder. Hope had to hold himself from barking out in uncontrolled laughter at how stupidly corny that exit was. Partially because he didn't want to mock his friend.
But mostly because he didn't want to start coughing up blood again.
Hope leaned hard against the corner, his eyelids feeling heavier.
I feel like shit...
He sighed out tiredly, his energy levels down to the ground. Before anyone from his remaining friend could ask him what was wrong yet again, he pulled out another lien card.
"Anyone wants dessert? My treat. Again."
Ruby gasped with stars in her eyes.
"Really?!"
"Anything you want, boss. Carte Blanche."
Weiss wanted to crumple her card so bad but cooler heads prevailed. Instead, she just grabbed Hope's card in one hand and Ruby's collar with her other all while grumbling like an old coot.
"Gee, someone's cranky she's broke." Yang bluntly commented.
"Can't exactly blame her. When you live like you'll always have money, it's always a shock when the water runs dry, so to speak."
"Well, you sound like you know about that."
"I mean, I was technically homeless for a year or so after my college days."
Blake and Yang leaned towards him with eyes wide in surprise.
"Wait, really?!" Blake exclaimed.
Hope nodded gravely.
"Ye. I had moved out of the student dorm after graduating but I couldn't land a single job. I basically had to crash at my granddad's synagogue so as to not be in the streets."
"Synagogue?" Blake asked.
"My people's house of worship. My paternal grandfather is its main Rabbi, or priest. He lives at the adjoining dorm and he'd let me crash there if I helped him at the homeless shelter."
"Really?" Blake asked curiously.
"Yeah, it was kind of rough. Lots of deranged assholes... But also some poor fucks who didn't deserve their station in life."
His expression hardened, his eyes out of focus and in his memories.
"Funny. I wasn't really in any better shape than them but I did my part to help them. Learned how to cook and clean, how to differentiate between someone who desperately needs help and those who can only help themselves. The grateful and the ungrateful. The bottom-feeding scum who deserves their lot in life and those who fell, whether through bad luck or their own unfortunate mistakes..."
He closed his eyes.
Had to deal with the Grandchildren of Cain on a weekly fucking basis... Sigh, I forgot about those assholes. Fucking monsters...
Blake let out a grunt of confusion.
"I don't get it," she admitted. "Why didn't you just, go back to your childhood home?"
"Well, for one, the entire neighbourhood was located on a mass grave."
"Wait, what?" Yang blurted.
"Yeah, during Sin City's founding there had been some pretty heavy political infighting that led to actual fighting. When the mini-civil war of sorts got resolved, all of the bodies were ditched into a big fucking hole and paved over. Decades later, a community established the neighbourhood, not even remotely aware of how fucking cursed the place was."
The yellow and black pair glared incredulously at their bandaged friend.
"Barring the fact that I haven't had a good memory of that place since middle school at the latest, That fucking place is so haunted I wouldn't live there even if I was paid to."
"Oh." The yellow and black pair exclaimed as one.
He Called Hope groaned as his eyes landed on the giant floating colosseum. His gaze sharpened and some of his energy returned. He flung himself off his stool, taking the two girls off guard. They went to help him to his wheelchair but as soon as they left their seating, he had already secured himself on his mobile throne. He looked back at them from the corner of his eyes. He expected his heart to warm at seeing them so worried about him but he could only see them as they did in canon.
Bloody, bruised, maimed.
He looked back at Amity and exhaled through his nose nervously.
The beginning of the Fall... Just hope we did enough.
V3E1: END!
NEXT ON PLAYLIST: V3E2 - PLAY?
