Chapter 34: A Conversation of Pride and Prejudice
The morning hit Team VIEW as expected… Rough.
Granted this time it wasn't any of their faults their mission was moved two hours earlier then they were expecting and well…
BOOM! The sound of a gunshot echoes throughout the room, causing Viralious and Winter to both jump out of their beds. Viralious looks to Winter and starts mouthing out a plan, "I'll rush low you use your semblance to knock th-"
"OW Ifiral what the hell?!" The voice of Professor Murt rings out, getting both Viralious and Winter to drop an annoyed look. Walking out of the door, Viralious glares at his maroon haired professor who is clutching his head. A metal water bottle is laying on the ground.
"You walked in and shot a gun at 5:30 in the morning. I feel like I'm justified in throwing the water bottle." Ifiral shoots back from the doorway to his suite.
"What the hell Professor? Did you shoot a hole in our ceiling?" Viralious says stepping out.
"No, I fired a blank." Murt shoots back.
"Why?" Winter asks.
"Waking you guys up."
"By shooting your weapon?" Eckhart dead pans.
"Yes."
Suddenly, Murt's scroll starts ringing. Pulling it out he looks at the caller ID and grimaces.
"Hello Gener-"
"MURT, MY OFFICE NOW!" Ironwood screams echo out.
"Yes General…" Murt drones out and hangs up. Sighing, he turns to Team VIEW… "Go get some breakfast, Cafeteria's open early today… be at the hangar at 8 sharp." he says before rushing out of the room.
The four just stand there in their night clothes for a moment before turning and looking at each other.
"Did we forget to lock the door?" Winter asks?
"No, Professors and Staff can open any of the dorms… Yes it's bullshit." Eckhart deadpans.
"How the fuck do they justify that?" Viralious asks, concerned.
"I don't even know." Eckhart shrugs.
Just then, Delphi pokes her head through the door, "Is… is everything ok?"
"I… I don't even know." Viralious responds with a shrug.
Shortly after Team VIEW had grabbed a meager breakfast, they stood ready at the hangar for their first mission. Sure, they had about ten minutes until the scheduled departure, but being early was better than missing the transport.
"So, anyone know where our escorts are?" Ifiral sighs out
"They should be arriving soon… Also, they are our superiors and mentors, not escorts." Winter responds annoyedly.
"Hey, you managed to beat Lute here, that's a shocker." Murt calls out approaching.
They turn to face him and jump back slightly when they see a massive black eye. On his back his two tonfa are folded up.
"Umm, sir are you ok?" Viralious asks, staring directly at his swollen eye.
"Perfectly fine Viralious, in fact you should see the guy who gave it to me… His right hand is bent backwards." Murt replies smiling. "Also, my Aura should heal it within the hour."
Eckhart shook his head in annoyance, "You must have some serious dirt on my uncle if you can pull shit like that Murt…"
"What was that Mr. Slate?"
"Nothing, sir."
Murt rolled his eyes, "Well then all we need to do is wait for Lute to show up then we can get this train rolling."
"Shouldn't be too long… I mean we're supposed to leave in like 7 minutes." Viralious says with a shrug.
That seven minutes would quickly turn to twenty.
"Where is that son of a bitch?" Murt annoyedly sighs out.
"No idea professor… Like the last five times you've asked it." Winter sighs out.
"This is getting ridiculous… Here, you guys board the bullhead and I'll find him… it's B-9." Murt sighs walking off towards the Academy again grumbling about a teal haired son of a bitch.
With that, Team VIEW walks towards the bullhead annoyed that their first mission has been delayed for a stupid reason.
"Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come." Eckhart groaned as they walked towards the bullhead.
"I didn't think you were one to give into superstitions, Eckhart." Winter responds.
"I meant more with how much of a pain Lute's going to be."
"I'm sure there's a rational explanation… maybe someone got shocked by Murt's stunt this morning and injured themselves in shock. He is the medic after all." Viralious shrugs.
"Speaking of which, how is that going to work? Like half the professors are going on missions with the first years only? What about everyone else and who's managing the medic office?" Ifiral ponders aloud.
"Probably Ironwood, and pulling random people qualified in the army." Eckhart deadpans.
"Oh joy… hopefully we get to miss that." Viralious rolls his eyes as he opens the bull head door.
Sitting inside is Lute with his anti-material rifle folded on his back. "What took you guys so long? We were supposed to leave a quarter of an hour ago." he asks, annoyed.
"We were waiting for you with Murt… you know what, I'll just send him a message so we can get going." Viralious says rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Character Change: Viralious - Winter Schnee
Location: Bullhead on route to Ansel.
After the annoyance of getting everyone together to leave was taken care of, the actual flight to Ansel seemed to be going off without a hitch. Winter looked around the cabin and clocked that Ifiral was 100% sleeping, something that was not a surprise in the slightest.
On the other side of the cabin Eckhart was currently on his scroll looking over topographical maps and seismic readings to try and track the grimm's movement… Currently there was basically jack all they could plan for other than target them when they came. As for Viralious, he's currently talking with Murt about the cargo… as in what the plan is for them to transport the thing…
Please be calling in a bullhead to pick it up.
Winter sighed as she looked over the scene. She should be excited to finally get out there in the field and show that the Schnee name meant more than her father… but her mind annoyingly flew back to last night.
Delphi's words and Celica's annoying question rattled her mind and annoyingly continuously stole her focus. It was getting old fast…
I don't even know what to think… I really should focus on the mission but…
Her thoughts are interrupted by a hand with a small white tablet being thrust into her vision. Blinking twice, Winter looks at the pill before looking up and seeing Lute standing there.
"I've seen that face a million times; motion sickness is no joke. Here take this and it should stop you from vomiting for a good few hours." Lute says pushing the pill closer.
Winter waves her hand dismissively, "Thank you but I'm fine… I don't get motion sick…"
"Really, cause it looked like you were focusing hard on not throwing up your breakfast." Lute shoots back.
"Yes, I'm fine… just been thinking about a few things…" Winter dismisses while gazing towards Viralious.
Professor Lute gave her a look of 'really' before following her gaze towards Viralious before smirking and taking a seat next to Winter.
"I see, so why haven't you asked him out yet? Are you waiting for him to ask you?" Lute says in a snarky tone.
Winter visibly jumps back in annoyance, "What are you talking about sir?"
"Heh, young love… I remember when I was young and stupid when it came to this shit." Lute leans back and reminisces.
"In all due respect I don't know what you're talking about." Winter lies.
"With all due respect Miss Schnee, I know you're full of shit." Lute shoots back earning the ire of Winter, "It's pretty obvious so tell me why haven't you?"
Winter lets out a deep sigh upon realizing there would be no escaping this, " I…don't know…"
"You're unsure about whether you like him or not." Lute deadpans.
Winter nods "I guess… but I don't understand this feeling and what I should be doing… Besides, we're a team and if things go poorly then well…" Winter trails off.
"I understand what you're going through." Lute hums "I've gone through the same thing. Honestly, you're worried that if things don't work out that your team's going to fall apart. Am I correct?"
Winter gives a nod before adding, "They've started to feel like a second family… sometimes more than my actual one."
"Yeah, that tends to happen." Lute smirks, "So you're worried about upsetting that and causing you to be stuck with your pompous father."
"I wouldn't word-"
"Winter, I've been on your father's security detail… he's a jackass." Lute deadpans.
"I… I see." Winter says looking down, "Professor, how do you know when you like someone?"
Lute raises an eyebrow before shaking his head, "You're way too much of a teacher's pet if you're asking me that." he then laughs and looks over towards Murt, "Well it's not something I can explain Winter… but common symptoms are happiness when with them, a feeling of closeness and well you'll just know…"
"I see…"
"Winter, I'll be honest you're young, it's fine to be stupid and just jump into something. Seriously, people don't often find the love of their lives on the first attempt. Real life isn't a fairytale.
"But what if they are the one… I don't want to muck that up." Winter sighs, "What would you do if you were the one unsure about asking someone?"
Lute looks at Murt and sighs, "Follow him around for 15 years and make coworkers and everyone question the fact you're actually dating. Then waiting patiently for his dumbass to pop the question but you know he's not going to because he just forgets even though the rings have been bought for 12 years."
"What?"
"I mean that's just a hypothetical situation and isn't based off of anything at all..." Lute stammers out quickly with an awkward laugh.
Winter stares at Lute like he had just told her he was the reincarnation of an ancient wizard and she needed to claim magic power… sufficient to say he was crazy.
Lute coughs, clearing his throat before looking back at Winter, "After this Mission Winter, I'd say be spontaneous and just ask him out." He then uses his thumb to point back at Viralious.
"I'm not entirely sure I follow, professor." Winter responds curtly… a small lie but it's better to save face sometimes… now is just not one of them.
Lute rolls his eyes, "Maiden in the moon, you really need a lesson to not be high society and do things how the rank and file do it." He then looks back at Murt and smiles, "tell you what, I've been meaning to do this for a while and it will be a great moment for me to teach you… After all, I am your professor."
Winter looks at Lute confused before asking, "What are you planning to do?"
"Just watch and learn, pay attention now." Lute says standing up and walking over towards Murt.
Over on the other side of the bullhead, Viralious had finally convinced Murt that no, the four of them could not carry a two-ton anti-Grimm battery 30 km from the drop site to the town. Murt barely had time to turn around and look Lute in the eye before Lute's fist connected across his cheek.
Murt began to drop before his collar was caught by Lute and pulled up to look him straight in the eyes.
"OW, Lute what the-" Murt starts before he's cut off by Lute kissing him.
The kiss was long as in, "everyone else in the bullhead was uncomfortable and unsure of what to do" long. Viralious had a look of 'that just happened' while Eckhart had taken a picture and was either forwarding it to Johanna or Celica… Winter didn't know which was worse.
After a long time, Lute finally broke the kiss and looked Murt directly in the eyes, "Murt, I've been waiting for you to do this for too long so I've decided to say fuck it." He then gets down on one knee.
"Guided by moonlight, I, Anthony Lute, ask if you Murt would make me the happiest son of a bitch this side of Remnant?" Lute says with a smile.
"Oh God, Lute, I never thought that this would happen, I mean we don't even have rings yet."
Lute gives him a stare of 'really?' before saying, "Murt I've known about the rings in the drawer for the past 12 years. Seriously, don't even try and pull that on me."
Murt gives an awkward laugh before smiling and looking Lute in the eye, "Never could hide anything from you."
"I'm a sniper, we're good at picking up on the little details. Unlike a mushroom like yourself." Lute smiles.
"Huh, yeah intelligence loves to keep me in the dark and feed me on bullshit." Murt laughs out jovially.
"Now are you going to answer me or am I jumping from this bullhead with no aura?" Lute asks, still on one knee.
Murt doesn't answer for a moment before punching Lute in the face and dragging him up by his collar into a passionate kiss in a mirror of the very thing Lute did to him not three minutes prior.
After a while they break the kiss with Murt smiling and saying, "Like you even need me to answer… Of course, I'll marry you!"
Lute is smiling like he just won the lottery as they go back into another kiss. After a few moments, they break apart and straighten their clothes out before Lute coughs, "We can plan after we've finished the mission… Until then be ready to drop, it's likely the zone will be hot." Lute speaks professionally as if the last display didn't just happen.
Murt coughs, "Right, I'll check with the pilot before preparing for a hot landing, I've been itching to punch a Megoliath in the trunk for a while."
Lute's smile drops fast, "Oh joy, we're going to have a repeat of Crocus, aren't we?"
"You cannot keep holding that against me, Lute. How was I supposed to know there were 30 Beowolfs on the other side of that wall?" Murt responds offended.
"The radar reading we just took." Lute deadpans.
"I promise I won't have to spend 30 days in the medibay and need another two ribs removed." Murt teases.
"Good, cause I'm done wasting morphine on you." Lute responds.
"That's cruel and can get your license revoked for not upholding your oath." Murt shoots back.
"You forgot I never actually-" Lute stops himself before coughing, "I mean morphine is currently on backorder, so I have a right to ration it and not give it to soldiers who do stupid things."
"Sure, Lute, I know you have a first aid kit stocked with enough pain killers to make these kids taste the color purple. Hell, they could probably rival some of the drugs that are pushed onto the slums." Murt deadpans.
"I'm a medic, making sure my patients are not suffering is part of my job." Lute sighs.
"Sure, you're not going to use your semblance to control the flow of blood in their body?" Murt jokes.
"Jackass."
"It's why you love me." Murt responds.
"I know and I hate that." Lute sighs.
"Ahem". Eckhart coughs catching everyone's attention, "What do you mean 'use your semblance to control the flow of blood in their body?'"
Lute rolls his eyes, "My semblance allows for me to control the flow of liquids, I can only do it if I see said liquid and can plan its path, I mostly end up using it to seal a wound or something."
"Still more useful than mine." Murt jokes, "Who would ever think the ability to harden every part of your body would be useful?
"Would be more so if you didn't scream whenever you were about to use it." Lute deadpans.
Murt shrugs, "everyone's a critic." He then walks towards the cabin to talk with the pilot.
Winter sat there confused by the showing that had just occurred in front of her… she didn't even know where to start and was slightly startled when Viralious sat next to her.
"So are we going to stop them from sneaking into each other's tents or rooms when we stop to get some sleep? He says jokingly.
Winter thinks for a moment before scowling, "Great now I've got that stuck in my head thank you Viralious."
This gets him to give a small laugh, "Yeah, well you have any idea where that came from?" he asks with curiosity.
"No, I really don't, he just spontaneously decided to do that." Winter lies.
"Well, it happened and it's going to be the talk of the rumor mill for a while." Viralious responds.
Just then Ifiral stirred and woke up. Shifting forward, he looks over towards Viralious and Winter and asks, "What did I miss?"
Winter blinks once, "I don't even know where to start."
Character Change: Winter Schnee - Viralious
Location: Bullhead: Outskirts of Ansel.
"You're all clear to drop, proceed with the operation." The pilot says giving the signal for the team to jump from the Bullhead. Taking the initiative Viralious jumps from the Bullhead incorporating a modified landing strategy with alternating glyphs from Winter's semblance to slow his descent without using a full magazine to accomplish the same thing.
Landing in the powdery snow below him Viralious takes note of the area, surrounding the landing site there are a bunch of trees, snow, rocks and no tracks in the area signaling grimm which was a good sign at least.
Ifiral was the next to land, knocking up a small area of snow around him while doing so. Eckhart just rolled out onto the snow through one of his gates and Winter gracefully stepped down using her glyphs.
"Landing area seems clear at least, which way to the Cargo?" Viralious says turning to face the rest of his team and getting to see the glorious landing strategy of Professor Murt.
Murt diffused wind dust through his tonfas creating a kind of paragliding mechanism… it would have worked if Lute hadn't barreled into him using him as a makeshift surfboard to land on. He landed with the grace and style of a drunken bull face planting into the snow.
"Landing area is secure; we're about 2 kilometers east from the suspected cargo drop. Eckhart, you take the rear while Ifiral and Murt make up the front. Viralious, Winter, watch our sides respectfully, we're in hostile territory so keep weapons ready but not free." Lute says in a military stern voice.
"Is your preferred landing strategy landing on someone else, professor?" Ifiral says looking straight at Professor Lute.
"Now isn't the time for stupid questions, come on let's get moving." Lute says ushering them into the forest proper.
A/N
This chapter was fun to write and is officially the start of the first mission arc of the story so there's not much to cover right now but there is mostly humor in this chapter as next one not so much. So, I'll say this now.
CONTENT WARNING FOR NEXT CHAPTER: BLOOD AND GORE.
I could explain that, but I think leaving you with that is more interesting.
I would like to thank my editor, AmoebaHewdraw, for nearly delaying this chapter so it didn't go out during pride month.
AmoebaHewdraw's Note: Editor's Note: What the fuck?
Until next time, Xcom out
