Dominic POV
The next morning I exit my room to find a soldier standing there waiting for me, he salutes me. "Good morning sir, I regret to inform you that Miss Schnee is still not well after your match yesterday so you are still confined to the Academy unless the Ace Ops are sent out on patrol." I blink. What the fuck is going on?
"Uhhhhh…. Ok. Dismissed?" The soldier nods and turns swiftly walking away.
"Oh and sir," he pauses at the corner not turning back to look at me. "You may want to take a different path to the staff cafeteria today." He then turns the corner and I see a smirk on his face before the wall blocks him. I wish I knew his name but I only know the night shifts.
"That was weird," I whisper to myself and begin walking on my normal path. The inside of Atlas Academy is a maze designed by a drunken squirrel hopped up on cocaine and LSD, but I've more or less memorized a few routes. My path to the staff cafeteria which Is the only place I've eaten since arriving, is four hallways away from my room. Right, left, then two rights.
I would occasionally pass students and staff alike. The soldiers before today were all slouched and would wave vaguely, even a small hey or hi every now and then. I have the reputation of being cold and distant but nice as I would wave back or nod with my grin. The students ignored me outright or would give me disgusted looks. But today so far I haven't seen a single student and all the guards in front of doors or marching through are ramrod straight and salute me as I pass. If they address me they address me as sir…. I have a bad feeling about this sudden change, I round the third corner and freeze.
Before me blocking the hallway to the next turn are easily 30 students, ok this is a bit much James. "DOMINIC!" One of the students notices me, most of the heads turn at the shout and the flood gates get unleashed. The mass of people rush at me and almost on instinct I raise a hand. "Away." I'm no introvert by any means, because of my looks I've always been invited to parties and hang outs. But even I'm intimidated by 3 dozen hormone filled teen with a new idol.
The crowd breaks on the invisible wall, I only expand the bubble to a yard that way I'm not swarmed. "Whoa," the lead person; a second year from the stripes on her uniform, marvels at air and taps a finger on the bubble. I'm sorry to all my dead goldfish. "That is so cool, my names..."
"I care why?" I ask beginning to walk foreword. She gets shuffled to the side as do the others. Two months ago I would've been eating up this attention.
"Come on, we just want an autograph!" "I want his scroll contact!" "Dude you gotta explain how those swords work." "Can I have a picture?" I keep walking letting the masses chatter around me refusing to answer questions. Now I know the spar was televised but I was not expecting this reaction, though with the popularity of Hunters and the fact there's trading cards, endorsements, ect. I wonder if I can sue for not consulting me about it? Maybe I should get an agent? Did they see it…..
I fight my way down the final hallways to the Staff Cafeteria, keeping the mass of students at a distance with my Semblance. The crowd booing and groaning as I press the close button on the sliding door, I take a deep breath and turn to the rest of the caf. All the guards are staring at me, I glance the Ace Ops all sitting together, Harriet close to bursting with laughter. "What?" I ask the room.
I have to cover my ears from the cheers that erupt, I get swarmed again feeling hand after hand slap my shoulder and a mountain of congratulations are dumped on me. This continues for a few minutes before a chuckling Clover makes his way over. "Ok ok, enough guys let him eat," he pulls me away from two female guards, one trying to snap a picture of the other hanging on my arm with her scroll.
"What the fuck is going on?" I whisper yell to him as he plays bodyguard on my way through the line.
"Fresh blood in the water kid," I raise an eyebrow at him. "I told you yesterday, your an Ace Op, you should've gotten your Hunters license already and your registration." I blink at him with a blank stare. "Hand me your scroll," I comply and he presses a few panels, we exit the line and sit with the Aces. "There," he hands me the device back and I see a digital license similar to I.D and drivers permits.
Name: Dominic Fain H:5'7
Age: 15 D.O.B: N/A W: 147 lbs
Hair: Blond: Platinum/White Eyes: Brown
Semblance: Ruler's Domain(Gravity) RW: Twi and La (Duel Dust Swords)
Military Status: Active Unit: Ace Operators
I flick the screen and see all the Military paperwork, and a Ward of the Kingdom of Atlas registration. "Uh oh," I hear Marrow squeak out as the trays start shaking gently, my anger raising.
"Dom I know what you think this means but…" I don't hear anything Clovers trying to say as I'm already out to door stomping my way to Ironwoods office, hearing my "team mates" scramble to follow.
Ironwood POV
"So…..?" I take a sip of my tea looking a the woman lying on my couch, an ice pack on her back.
"Uh?" is her undignified response.
"How long are you going to nap in my office?"
"I don't know…. I can't face the soldiers today..."
"Hmmmm or Dominic?" I get a muffled reply." You know when he said come at him, I don't think he meant it like that," I smile as she jolts up her face crimson.
"James!" She shrikes and I laugh, she's not even like this with her real father. Winter Schnee has only ever let her guard down in front of me, I see the woman as a daughter and I value her trust highly. That won't stop me from teasing the hell out of her in the slightest.
She winces and settles back down onto the couch, "You shouldn't have underestimated him." Speak of the devil, I look at the monitor that observes right outside my door to see Dominic storm up and raise a fist. It gets caught but a panicked looking Harriet who gets promptly thrown back by his Semblance only to get replaced by Marrow. Dominic raises a leg to kick the door now, Marrow reaches under and picks him up in a weird half nelson modification only to get pulled into a head lock by the furious blond.
I raise a brow struggling to not lose it and press the button to slide the door open, the look on their faces when their head snap to me. I'll carry that memory to death, and Winter hasn't noticed the show yet. Is it my birthday? "How could I not? He's arrogant, unruly, ungrateful, stubborn, flirts with anything with tits and two holes."
"I think he's rather charismatic, he reminds me allot of myself when I was younger. A ton of unrefined talent and a problem with authority." I answer honestly, it seems the two in the doorway had taken the hint to stay quiet and let go of each other.
"Does he?" she sounds surprised though I've told her about my youth. "I'd be lying if I said I don't see why all the female guards talk about him, and why Harriet seems so infatuated. For all his faults, he's an amazing swordsman, precise and brutal. He seems undisciplined but gives off this air of control, he's got a sharp tongue. And with his face, I can only imagine if I introduced him to Weiss," she giggles. "What do you think James should I apolo…." She stops, she had turned her head and noticed the shadows in the doorway.
She bolts upright again, tilting she begins falling and lets out a shout of surprise when she realizes who just heard her. One of Dom's arms fly out and she freezes in midair, his Semblance catching her. "Dominic what do I owe the pleasure to?" I ask knowing the answer.
It seems I reminded him, his slightly red face turns into a scowl and his eyes grow darker. He growls and stomps foreword gently pushing Winter; still trapped in the anti gravity bubble and still flushed pink holding the ice pack in place. Did she faint out of shock, oh no she's blinking. She's fine; she begins to float randomly around my office as he slams his hands onto my desk.
"You know damn well why I'm here!" He snarls, "Here I thought I'd have some fraction a freedom. But Clover pulls this out," he throws his scroll on the desk, its open to his Hunters License. "So when did I agree to be part of the Atlas Military?"
"When you stopped trying to escape a week in, you've received training, food, shelter. Equipment, and now status. Do you understand what being an Ace Op means Dominic? You now have the full support of a Military at your disposal, anything you need to do. We'll help you," he seems to deflate slightly. There's that look behind his eyes again, the look of wanting to tell me something so badly but holding himself back.
"We both know this is just a pair of golden handcuffs," he crosses his arms.
"Better than an iron cage," I raise an eyebrow and we lock eyes.
"Tsk," he turns away and begins to walk out of the office.
"Dominic," he stops and tilts his head back, "My lieutenant?" I gesture to the still floating Winter who had drifted over by the window and is now upside down. He nods and walks over, grabbing her ankle he pulls her back to hover over the couch. Harriet's glare is piercing as he maneuvers Winter until she's back in a lying position about an inch above the cushions. He snaps his fingers letting her fall to the couch and goes to exit again. "Dominic."
"What now? If I'm stuck here another day I'm at least taking a break."
"I was going to say the Ace Op's have been cooped up almost as much as you, I'll issue a patrol for Mantle. It should be a quiet route, you guy's can have dinner that not re hydrated rations. On me," I nod to Clover who had stayed by the door and smiles his thanks.
"Awe the Tin Man has a heart," he rolls his eyes but his smiles back. He is just a kid James, no matter what your plans are with him.
/
Dominic POV
"This isn't awkward at all," I grumble to the group, I look around to see the citizens looking at me. Some are looking at me in awe, others in disgust, a few have come up to me for autographs like the students this morning. I ignore most of them, but cant help but accept offers from women, mainly to annoy Harriet. I gotta have fun somehow. But it seems she's taking it as a challenge and has been holding my arm for a few minutes now.
"Dom there's this great vendor," I look to Marrow to help as I get dragged down the street. That rat dog bastard, he's holding his sides to keep himself from laughing. "The cherry ones are the best!" She exclaims ordering two cakes on a stick covered in red icing.
She offers me one with a smile, "Giving me your cherry huh Har?" I take the treat.
"Can't do that lost it," she hides the snack," you could give me yours," she opens her mouth wanting me to feed her a bite. I put it in her mouth and let go of it.
"I don't have a sweet tooth sorry," I shake off a bad memory and look around at the people. Awkward attention aside it feels nice being around people again drinking in sunlight and fresh air, I see Elm pat a sulking Harriet on the shoulder as well as Marrow and Clover trying to reassure her. I smile, I think I could get used to this.
Of course, right as I have that wholesome thought, reality has to crash back in, "STOP! HELP!" My head snaps to the woman's shout, she was leaning on a light pole as I see a person dart down the street. A snatcher?
I start to move to follow, only to feel a hand land on my shoulder, "Don't worry, she can file a report and they'll find the culprit and compensate her," Clover tries to assure me and I look at him.
"But we're right here," I argue back.
"But we're Ace Ops, a purse snatcher is an overuse of resources," Vine interjects. But all we've done on this patrol is walk around and get food, treating it like an off day. Just when I thought I was like them…
"That was all my money….." I hear the woman sob gently and more memories trigger, what Clover said echo's in my head and I raise a hand to masage my temple. The repeating words matching and syncing with what that police officer said all those years ago to my Grandmother who was also sobbing after her purse got stolen.
"Fuck off," I feel the bubble pulse and his hands gone from my shoulder. I let it pulse again and I jump, the low gravity carrying me. I start jumping from building to building, hearing the people at the street level gasp and shout.
I soon catch up to the snatcher, seeing them dart in and out of crowds. Pushing more people out of the way. With a final leap I overtake them and land gently on the light pole at the next corner. I sit down and wait, the snatcher still glancing behind him approaches the corner. "Sup dude?" I yell down at him. "Yeah you with the purse, it looks nice but I don't think it matches the whole "Discreet mugger" get up though." He looks up and finally notices me as I let myself slip off the light.
Clover POV
"You should've seen that coming Clo," Marrow snorts eating his third cake pop. Yeah I'm getting chewed out by Ironwood later, maybe I could talk Winter into distracting him?
"Hey the kid has a strong sense of justice and what's right and wrong, I can't fault him for it," Elm points out laughing heartily.
"What's wrong Clover, new recruit hard of hearing or something?" Robyn Hill giggles. Her and the Happy Huntresses had shown up not too long after Dominic ran off, most likely called about the snatcher by a local. Fiona, the little sheep girl, was busy comforting the woman whose purse had been stolen, and May is writing down witness testimony in her scroll.
"Kind of," I try to laugh it off but the gesture of scratching the back of my head was too obvious of a tell and she raises a brow at me. "He doesn't like the word No," I sigh letting my hand fall.
"NO! I DONT WANNA!"
"WELL TOO FUCKING BAD! I DONT CARE WHAT YOU WANT YOU LITTLE BRAT!" My case in point.
"Oh thank god," maybe I said that a bit too soon. I look to see Dominic walking back down the street holding the purse in one hand. The other resting on his right sword handle in the barrel, which I believe is Twi. The snatcher is hanging above his head, being dragged by the ankle with the purse string. Caught in Rulers Domain. "Dominic you cant run off like that!" He completely ignores me and continues walking over to the woman.
He snaps his fingers letting the snatcher fall and land in a huff on their butt, the Huntresses watch him closely, May moving to stand by Fiona and Joanna staying to the side. He shoves the purse back into the snatchers hands. "Do it!" He commands, crossing his arms glaring daggers at the kid who cant be older than ten. When the kid hesitates, I almost have a heart attack as Dominic draws his sword. The huntresses go on alert, pulling their weapons.
He smacks the kid gently on the back of the head with a wide, flat, blunt blade, "Come on, apologize. Like we talked about," his tone suddenly gentile. The huntresses relax and look at each other confused, I'm more than slightly ashamed to admit their perception of the Ace Ops isn't the best and part of that is my fault.
The kid almost in tears hands the purse back with a mumbled apology, "Ehh I couldn't hear you?" Dominic leans down.
"I said I'm sorry! I'm hungry! I don't have parents! What am I supposed to do?"
"Maybe ask, like this, Clover. Where's my salary?"
"Salary?" I blink at him confused.
"Yeah I'm a member of the military now right? Fork it over," he holds out his hand and does a gimme gesture. "Room, board, and rations are all covered right, where's my spending money? Wait it is my first official day, so lets call this an advance."
The Huntresses heads bounce between me and Dominic, I'm just as confused as them. "I can just call Jimmy?" I sigh and pull my wallet out. I hand him a stack of 300 lien, about a weeks pay, and he counts it quickly, splitting the stack he puts the smaller one in his pocket. "Here kid," he kneels and hands the kid the rest of the money. "Go buy something to eat, and a night in a warm bed. Tomorrow I'll be back here and we're gonna find you a job okay?" The look on the kids face as he smiles, tears flooding down his face as he tackles Dominic's torso, kind of makes me remember why I got into the military in the first place. He shuffles over to the women and gestures for Fiona to take over, the sheep girl transfers the hug to her midsection and pats the child's head.
"Never thought I'd see an Atlas Elite willingly hand over Lien to a Mantle pick pocket. What're you an alien?" May comments smiling slightly.
His white blond head snaps to her, well I wonder what sass he's about to give her and I'm about to apologize to Robyn in advance when. "You have pretty eyes," he turns and walks away not seeing the blush creep across her face, or her raising a hand to her cheek to feel the heat. I let my mouth hang open, he's never even complimented Harriet or Winter honestly like that; its been layered behind sarcasm.
"Interesting. So kid, you're the guy that gave it to the Queen of Mean," he raises an eyebrow at Robyn who has an outstretched hand. I probably should stop it but I'm just as curious as she is. He reaches out and grabs her hand in return, "My Names Robyn Hill, you?"
"Long hand shake," he smirks, "Dominic Fain," their hands glow green.
"Where are you from?"
"Keep holding my hand like this and people will start to talk, I'm from Earth," he answers and again their hands flash green.
"That really doesn't tell me allot, did you mean what you said?"
"Oh yeah her eyes are stunning, yours aren't bad either. But hers reminds me of a hawk's or a fresh flower. Now if you're done interrogating me," he pulls his hand away from the green glow of his last answer. May's frozen in the background, her eyes fixed on the ground and her face basically a stop light at this point. Joanna beings poking her friends shoulder and I roll my eyes, slightly jealous at his ability to speak his mind.
"I meant about the job?" Robyn crosses her arms annoyed.
"If you have to ask if I was being honest about that, then I'm not to dignify that with a response," he begins to walk away. I nod to Robyn and the other huntresses and start to follow. "Clover, try to stop me again and I won't come back next time." I sigh at his obvious lie.
"Um Dom I know you're a playboy and all, but she has something extra…" Harriet whispers to him, Robyn's still close enough to hear and I feel my face get hot as hers darkens.
"Extra?" He looks back to the still blushing woman and some realization dawns on his face. "Hmm, I mean she is bigger than the rest, almost your size Har. And you're what a double E?"
"No Dom she means," Marrow tries to be subtle but fails and obviously points at his crotch.
"I only see women standing over there," he shrugs pulling off his leather jacket. Robyn's eyes widen at his remark and she nods at me.
"Heard of hearing but he's got good eyes," Robyn lifts her hands walking back over to her team.
"You know what, we need to get you a uniform," I state clapping him on his back, my pride for the kid raising even more.
"OH HELLLLL NO!"
/
A/N: I am still looking for a beta reader, please comment or DM me if you're interested. Or just tell me how you liked the chapter. I hope everyone's having a great week!