Fangs of the Exiles
Rated M
Rwby
Summary:
Life is not about what happens to you, but what you make of it... At least that's what everyone says. Two faunus will answer whose way is right, carrying the will of a titanic kingdom while the other, the spirit of one who shouldn't exist. Forgotten, their paths will cross, for better or worse.
A/N:
Chapter 25: Throne of Titans-3
Around Atlas and Mantle, everyone had been in a state of disbelief.
The streets of the latter city were filled with hushed whispers of such an event occurring, their future indeed in questionable status. It had been several days since the results of the Atlas Council elections and no one was as shocked as General Ironwood. He didn't want it to be accurate, especially after the stunt he pulled that incited a riot before voting.
Robyn Hill had lost the election to Jacque Schnee.
The champion of the Mantle was indiscernibly defeated by a wealthy oligarch.
No one saw this coming, yet that was only the beginning of the downward spiral.
While he sent some to monitor the streets of Mantle in hopes of keeping the victory party from escalating past simple merriment, it appeared the general's move would serve a far harsher purpose. With reports of Penny attacking and slaughtering innocents, she was currently decommissioned until everything was settled. Thankfully, reports were revealing that Penny's involvement was nothing more than a case of her being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Still, the leader of the most secure kingdom in all of Remnant wouldn't dare to smile at this news. While it was uplifting to know that Penny hadn't gone rogue, it created a new problem that left him with more questions than answers, a fact that Jacques would happily exploit upon his first day as an official member of the Atlesian council.
Between the two, James felt like dealing with Penny's tribulations was far more manageable.
In less than a week, he's shut down multiple shops... he rubbed his forehead with his good hand. ...no doubt to protest the embargo. Using the plight of the people to push me out and gain some measure of support for his avaricious goals.
It didn't make any sense.
Mantle's 'non-essential' SDC stores closing down was one issue, but it wasn't the only concern. Following the closure of the stores, he promptly announced a sudden layoff of workers, primarily from the city below, which should have spelled the end of any possibility of triumph. And yet, in a horrible turn of events, the owner of the Dust Corporation won the election at the very last second, on top of the several deaths that occurred during a victory rally.
James was aware that something was off, but he didn't have time to worry about it just now. No matter how you twisted it, Jacques Schnee was now a member of the Atlas council, which was a sad reality that could not be avoided. Since then, he'd been working hard to keep things from escalating further since the outcome was revealed.
The situation was dire as several Atlas trucks had vanished, leaving the Happy Huntresses to divert resources meant for the Amity project to the citizens of Mantle. A group of skilled individuals, including Ren, Aganju, Nora, Pyrrha, Ruby, and members of the Ace-Ops and Team SMK, had gathered in the office to strategize their next move.
James Ironwood discovered that his efforts to foster harmony among some members were, as with everything else, at best strained. Once he realized the pather faunus was around, the division between the members of his Black Ops and Aganju became obvious. He was annoyed to see that, unlike what he had been led to believe, time had not completely healed their wounds as they sparred over various trivial matters, though at least the elder faunus had a more strategic approach.
Despite the past, the general did feel some pity for the fox, especially when his passionate rebuttals were dismissed.
What he didn't realize was the rift was more like a virus that would infect others as well.
A virus that would need a drastic act to prevent calamity.
"We're so close! There must be something that we can do!"
"There is..." Winter turned to Ruby Rose, her tone filled with a grave edge. "With our resources being depleted, it seems that the best course of action would be to declare Marshall Law."
The woman's words left Ruby and Nora stunned, while Ren and Pyrrha tried to remain composed, exchanging a doubtful look. The vulpine's expression turned dark, clearly disturbed by the casual mention of such a grave matter. In contrast, the panther and his crew seemed pleased with themselves. However, Aganju's reaction was the most severe, glaring at the woman before turning to the general, who remained silent and turned away.
"You're not... considering Marshall Law, are you?" everyone turned to the now distraught Nora Valkyrie.
Ironwood seemed unphased by the girl's fruitless plea.
"I understand your concern, but you must ask yourself what is more important. Reestablishing global communication through Amity Coliseum... or a few city blocks?"
"You can't trivialize the needs of so many people!" Nora cut him off. "You keep talking about we need a little more time, but you're not the ones having to struggle!"
"We've all had to make sacrifices for the greater good. The city of Mantle has had to bear a lot of the burden, but-"
"They're bearing ALL of it! The longer this waiting game goes on, the harder each day gets for them down below. Now you want to send in more soldiers?! You can't force people to fall in line! If you do that, you'll just be trading all of these problems for the Grimm!"
Ironwood was now losing what little remaining patience he had. Simmering embers in his gaze were fixed on the ardent fire glowing behind Nora's. Fortunately, those flashes of anger subsided, and the man gradually regained the genuine sorrow that had before troubled him. To calm the fighting parties, Ruby intervened and assumed the position of a mediator.
Clover and Winter took over the dialogue, riding the momentum of the girl's efforts. They pushed the conversation away from the state of the two cities and unto a more pressing matter.
"Tyrian Callows; He was accused of murders all over Anima. He's a homicidal maniac who escaped justice when his prison transport was attacked by Grimm. After that, he was never seen again."
"He works for Salem now..." Ruby announced. "...and he's here. We should tell the people and-"
"What? We tell them that a long-lost serial killer is on the loose in Mantle. That would only make things worse before it would make it better. Come up with something smarter before you start throwing ideas, Ruby."
"Brothers!" Aganju growled at the threesome, mainly their arrogant leader. "Do you ever get off of your high horse?! What are you even doing here besides taking up space?"
"My job, little cub! Maybe if you all would open your eyes and realize that the world is not a fairy tale, you would make a decision that merits our consideration!"
"You're condemning innocents to death!"
"When you've seen what I have, you'll finally understand!" Sango spat in a venomous tone. "Just ask your two teammates..."
Aganju felt something inside of him call to him, like a sickly pale melody that made his mouth sting with ash. His feet moved slowly without his consent as he slowly stalked toward the pretentious elite. Even when Kairi and Marik blocked his path to Sango, the fox kept his vicious glare pointed at the feline, bloody orbs burning hotter with each passing second.
The Atlesian faunus fired back with a glowing silver stare that clashed with the hatred-filled eyes of the younger male. Neither would admit it, but their visual exchange pained the other as if their presence was toxic in some way.
"Not so tough like before, huh?" the panther whispered. "Esu. Scylla. Even Ciel left you when she got a chance, didn't she?"
"I... am so sick of secrets! If we'd just told everyone about Amity, about Salem-"
"WE CAN'T!"
The animosity between them was quickly broken when Nora and Ironwood resumed their argument. For once, Aganju ignored his problems, though the agitation inside of him was another story entirely. Between the two of them, he was
Everyone else was focused on the frustrated general, completely missing the sudden slamming noise behind them. The members of the Ace-Ops. JNPR. RWBY. Qrow. Winter. Oscar. Roxanne and...
It appeared that everyone was accounted for, except a certain vulpine.
[Atlas Academy-Main Gate]
With his ear unable to take in any more of the briefing, Aganju began to shake in disgust. Even while he was aware that leaving immediately would not have been professional, he nevertheless ran the risk of losing his cool as Nora did, any longer. He remained looking front as he stomped off, his raging wrath ready to burst at any second. In search of a departing airship, his journey brought him to the front courtyard.
Hypocrites! Living in their ivory tower while others suffer for their sake?! Is this the world you were tasked to save?
The voice wasn't his own, but it spoke the truth from within his heart. Like Nora, he knew all too well what it felt like to be left behind. His chest ached as the foul taste of ash intensified. His eyes were brimming with tears and his head throbbed, but at least the fresh air was helping.
"Agan!" he cursed inwardly as the voice of his girlfriend caught his ears. Pyrrha crossed in front of him with an incredulous stare. "What was that all about? Why'd you just leave the meeting like that?!"
"I... I just need to get some air, princess."
While Pyrrha could see that he was a bit paler than usual, something in her, like Ren and Jaune prevented her from giving the empathy she was known for giving. Why this was, she had no clue, but it was best to address the reason she chased after him.
"We should return to the meeting before things get further out of hand."
"I can't..."
"Excuse me?" she narrowed her eyes.
"I can't go back to being in the same room as that asshole, Pyrrha" he choked out. "Nora's right and you know it. We are supposed to be the good guys, but we're entertaining the idea of sacrificing innocent people just so we can protect some image of dominance? We should be hunting down Tyrian or at least evacuating them to Atlas, not sealing them in their homes!"
"Give me a break," The annoyed warrior crossed her arms, clearly not buying his justification. "You could've just excused yourself, formally."
Hearing the sudden dismissal of his plight, Aganju shook his head in disbelief. While the problems between Nora and Ren were apparent, the couple's issues were kept a closely guarded secret. After finding out about his training session with Kairi, Pyrrha had been distant, giving him passive-aggressive answers or replies.
Neither could predict that today would be the day that things would detonate.
"Whatever." Aganju pulled out his scroll, searching the listings for any assignments available. "I'm heading down to Mantle."
"He's right, you know?"
The shock of hearing Pyrrha's sudden change in focus compelled Aganju to halt in his steps, his boiling rage briefly giving way to shock. His violet orbs flared in alarm at her calm emeralds when he had fully comprehended his girlfriend's words.
"What are you saying, Pyr? How can you support any of this?!" He hurled. "Arresting Robin while Tyrian runs amok? Marshall law? There's no justification for him wanting to do something so radical and you know it!"
Pyrrha didn't back down from lover and friend.
"You're being childish, Aganju..."
No nickname.
Hearing Pyrrha use his full name in such an even tone; Aganju couldn't help but ball his fists at the inevitable. She sighed as she hearkened to the foxes' discontent with everything that was happening around them, his face otherwise unmoving. His tail stood upright, cautioning the girl to choose her next words wisely.
"Operative Bagheera made some valid points if you were willing to get over your trifling dispute with him," she chided calmly. "Grow up, Aganju..."
"Excuse me?!" his face twisted in disbelief.
"Look at the state of Remnant, Aganju! We're not kids anymore and this isn't Beacon Academy; We both have witnessed how cruel the world is long before reaching this point. We've encountered monsters that can rip up limb from limb without effort... We've both dealt with life and death situations." Pyrrha's counter was emphasized by her passionate tone."
By this point, their friends and allies had caught up to the two, though neither noticed their presence as Pyrrha continued.
"The world isn't some fairytale! There's no way that we'll achieve a happy ending without making some necessary sacrifices. The general knows this and he's taking measures to ensure that we are prepared for the incoming threat."
"You're not seriously buying into this crap, are you?" Aganju could feel that burning rage beginning to burn his throat as evidenced by his quiet tone. "You're talking about condemning the citizens of Mantle just to save the elite of Atlas." His fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning a bright shade of red from the pressure. "That's not the Pyrrha I know..."
Sensing where the conversation was going, she held up a hand to halt his momentum.
"I may not like all of the rules, but I can't turn a blind eye when others break the rules either. Robin Hill has been doing just that and must be taken into custody. It's not rocket science. Plus, the general is willing to offer her a deal if she's willing to cooperate, so what's the problem?"
A powder keg that was rapidly growing in tension was only waiting for someone to formally spark the fuse. Like in Ironwood's office, the two opposing forces exchanged ferocious glances, challenging the other to take the bait. Ruby attempted to intervene to stop the situation from getting worse, but Nora's extended arm stopped her. Something was brewing in her eyes, and it had been coming for a while.
Whatever it was, Aganju picked up on the twinkle, a spark of pink that quickly vanished within the pool of green.
As the silence threatened to choke the pair, it was a glaring Aganju who finally spoke up again.
"What is this REALLY about, Pyrrha?"
Everyone watched as the steel expression began to crack, revealing a sliver of confusion. Whether it was from his question or the intensity lurking behind his calm voice, her resolve was beginning to break.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about-"
"Cut the crap! You just berated me like I was a child but now you're acting like one! We both know that there's more to this than just 'law and order' but, you're too stubborn to admit it."
"You've made your point..."
"Have I? Because it seems like you're content to just stand on your pedestal, miss high and mighty!"
"I'm warning you, Aganju..."
"Warning me?!" he flashed a feral smirk that send a paralyzing chill down the spines of everyone who befell it. "Did you think I wouldn't notice? Are you that jealous because of one training session? You've hardly been around me aside from missions and you wouldn't even try to see my point of view before passing judgment! How dare you?!"
Pyrrha wanted to fire back, but whatever compelled her before had left her to face the faunus' wrath.
"What can you possibly do to me that I haven't already endured?! I was an orphan living on the streets while you were given a loving family! I was an outcast while you were heralded as some celebrity! I've had multiple trying to kill me just for existing. I don't even know my mother and the one I was given to didn't even want me! I have one teammate dead and another missing...!" he seethed, finally taking a breath.
This was his final warning to her, enough to silence the previously vocal Pyrrha.
"Even with all of that, I still find a way to care for others! I didn't give up on you even when you left me behind at Beacon to chase some suicidal quest of heroics or did you forget about that, Pyrrha?"
"I... I didn't..."
"Go ahead! Just tell me I'm wrong and I'll stop!" Aganju crossed his arms, silently hoping for an excuse. When he didn't receive one, he continued. "I don't know where this is coming from, but, you're not sounding like the Pyrrha I know. The Pyrrha I know wouldn't just agree blindly to possibly sacrificing people to get what she wants. You say I'm living in a fairytale, but we both know that between the two of us, I've experienced more of reality than you could imagine..."
The pair exchanged angry gazes while the group watched in silence. The atmosphere had become tense around them, adding fuel to their argument. After a while, the vulpine sighed and his crimson orbs changed back to violet. Pyrrha inhaled deeply, turning away from Aganju.
"If you want to go, then go..."
"Pyrrha!" Nora called out in an irate tone.
Rather than expressing more anger, Aganju brandished a sorrowful smile before heading off to the nearest airship. Deep down he had prayed that she would at least join him and continue their discussion, if only to give him more hope in their relationship. To his surprise, it was Nora who hooked an arm around his just before the doors closed.
Deep down, Pyrrha wanted to follow him but found herself rooted in place by her resolve. Sure, there were plenty of flaws in the general's plan, but she felt more secure in his disposition, much like her teammate, Lie Ren.
"Every couple has problems, Pyrrha..." Ruby meekly consoled. "He just needs to blow off some steam. I'm sure things will get better after he takes out a few Grimm. Besides, he has Nora to keep him out of trouble..."
"Or get him in it..." Jaune rubbed the back of his neck when Weiss jabbed an elbow into his ribs.
Pyrrha nodded in agreement, putting on her best smile before the gang made their way back to the general's office. Little did they know, that all of this was orchestrated by a single soul whose smile radiated from the shadows of the pristine halls.
All is according to plan...
[Streets of Mantle]
Hours passed, bringing with it the familiar burgundy blanket of dusk over the grounded city.
After a peaceful flight, Aganju and Nora decided to spend their time helping Maria at Pietro's Pharmacy with supplies and simple treatments for the patients. While it wasn't as exciting as fighting the Grimm, neither of them grumbled because they both believed they were having an impact. Both hunters appeared comfortable knowing that they were helping individuals who were suffering, so to say the least, it was a mood booster.
It was nice to be able to help those in need without any strings attached. On top of that, it was refreshing to get the earlier events off of their minds, even if it was temporary.
Unfortunately, the good times couldn't last long as the doctor thanked the pair for their service. He offered to give them a ride back to Atlas but, they declined, citing the previous conflict to which he understood. They gave a simple farewell to the pair, opting to wander around Mantle, mostly in search of food.
"Ugh! I'm starving!" Nora stretched her limbs.
Me too... I could eat a horse!" Aganju clutched his rumbling gut.
"Where's the nearest restaurant?"
"You know we could've gone to a place back in Atlas."
"No. Way. I'm not looking forward to Ren scolding me..." she chewed her lip anxiously. "We haven't seen eye to eye either on the whole Ironwood vs the world situation."
Aganju chuckled at that, averting his amused gaze when Nora flashed an annoyed look his way. She followed this with a playful punch. He rubbed his sore limb but never dropped his delighted attitude.
"Sorry... But, I can't blame you for not wanting to go back right away. I'm not eager to face Pyrrha again after our..."
"...bickering?"
"Yeah. It wasn't exactly my best moment, was it?"
Nora placed a hand on the foxes' shoulder, in hopes of soothing her ally's mood. He smiled in gratitude as they continued to wander the streets.
"It's not like you were completely wrong, mind you."
"How so?"
"You and I, we come from a place where we had nothing. Not much of a past. Hardly any direction. We were empty until fate finally dealt us a break. For me, it was stumbling onto Kuroyuri while you wandered into Argus. We've had to fight to survive and only those who've been there can truly understand that."
Aganju nodded.
"Like Ren?"
Nora shook her head, surprising the vulpine.
"Even Ren had a family before I met him. Like Pyrrha, he had something that he once possessed. He had a home, a life, and friends; these things he can always look back on with fondness. I can't say the same..." Now it was Aganju's turn to comfort the unusually somber Nora by rubbing her back. He could see glimmers of tears beginning to form before being wiped away by the hammer wielder. "I honestly can't remember much about my life without Ren. Kind of lame, right?"
"Nope."
"What?"
"Whether we like it or not, the hand that fate dealt us made us who we are. We've had to scratch and claw to get where we are and, thankfully, we've had allies to keep us from losing our minds. It stands to reason that sometimes we tend to lean too hard on those pillars when we need to stand on our own at times. Much like today, we challenged the powers that be just to get a damn point across. That's pretty awesome if you ask me."
"And, what about facing our current fears?"
"What do you mean?"
Aganju was stopped by Nora crossing in front of him, her hands on her hip with a knowing scowl on her face.
"Uh... Nora?"
"There's no way that Pyrrha's leaving you, idiot!" she huffed, knocking her fist against his noggin. "If you think that one little disagreement between you is enough to break up the bond that you two have built, then you're not as smart as you think. She loves you deeply, even if that Kairi girl's gotten in her head."
"Wait, what?!"
It took everything in Nora to resist smacking him with Magnhild, settling on knocking on his forehead.
"Hello? Don't tell me you didn't notice Pyrrha's weird behavior!" she deadpanned. "We've known her for around the same time and we both know that she'd sooner throw herself in the fires of hell itself, even if it was just to save a single kitten from burning up. What on Remnant would compel her to act so out of character?"
"You... make a good point," he confessed sheepishly.
"I'm smarter than I look, huh?"
"You're an evil genius, Nora," Aganju nodded and rubbed his chin before a troubled look led him to gaze at the girl. "What were you doing sneaking around so late, anyway? Atlas Academy has strict curfew rules."
"Doesn't matter. Just promise me that you'll have a serious talk with Pyrrha when we get back, okay?"
"Okay! I'll smooth things out with Pyrrha."
"Thank you!" she chimed in a sing-song tone.
"Only if you stop being scared of telling Ren how you feel about him..."
"What?! I. AM. NOT. SCARED." she announced in a low growl, shaking Aganju by his jacket collar.
Aganju's face glistened with a single bead of sweat, conveying his comprehension of Nora's point. When Nora finally let go of him, they both sensed that something was amiss. Their eyes gravitated toward the empty street in the southern district.
There was nobody in sight but, thanks to the vulpine's heightened sense of hearing, he was able to pick up various noises nearby.
Footsteps echoed.
Nora soon noticed his countenance transition from nervous to observant, spurring her to be on guard as well.
Aganju narrowed his eyes and grasped for Nguangus slowly. As the footsteps grew louder, Nora mimicked his motion, snatching Magnhild and transforming it into a grenade launcher. Soon after, it was accompanied by a twisted giggle that sent shivers down the duo's spines. The fox calmed his breathing, gradually determining the source to be from a neighboring alley.
Whatever was lurking in the shadows lifted both arms, sparking the faunus' instincts as he threw Nora to the ground to prevent three shots ripped through the air. When the bombardment stopped, Aganju saw a shadow-like creature speed by, leaving behind a twisted cackle that might freeze fire itself.
As Nora struggled to recover, Aganju grabbed his weapon and sped after the one who attacked them.
"Wait! Aganju!"
Nora's cries reverberated down the otherwise silent passageways, but his sigh of exasperation drowned them out. His target maintained the gap as it leaped over several barriers. As Aganju tried to catch up, the poorly lighted back roads blurred. He was determined not to lose sight of his objective. The scene surrounding them was haunted by the manic laughter, which echoed off the brick walls.
His lungs were on fire.
His muscles ached.
None of it mattered as Aganju turned a sharp corner, entering a wide-open space. However, there was no sign of his quarry.
"Where'd they go?"
Nothing but the brisk wind answered his question, making goosebumps rise on his neck.
No veiled area went unnoticed as he thoroughly searched the area. It wasn't his expertise that kept him looking around; rather, it was something else. No. Something far worse existed. Something ultimately compelled the elusive attacker to make their identity known.
"Heheheh... Is that fear I smell?" the boy turned to his left, golden eyes staring back at him hungrily. "I wonder, what that tastes like?"
A man emerged from the darkness with a grin that resembled the Cheshire cat stretching his face. Aganju had a chance to identify the man because of the way the man's hair was braided; it looked like the tail of a scorpion. As the moonlight fell on the raving faunus, his violet eyes grew larger and gradually changed to their crimson counterpart out of rage.
"Tyrian..."
He gasped, dramatically placing a hand over his scarred chest.
"You've heard of me? I must admit, I'm truly humbled to be known by the younger generation." He took a bow, further making the fox uncomfortable. "But, I'm sad to say that I don't know your name. You do seem rather familiar though..."
Whether he was speaking nonsense, Aganju couldn't shake off that familiarity of his voice. The only problem with that was, he had no concise knowledge of ever meeting this creepy individual. As far as he knew, Tyrian was nothing more than a sadistic serial killer who needed to be taken into custody.
But a notion stuck with him.
"Does the name Ella sound familiar?"
Tyrian tapped his chin a few times, his shoulders slumping in disappointment.
"Nope. Doesn't ring a bell... Wait! You're the one 'she' spoke of? The one with eyes like my goddess?"
As the man overflowed and shrieked in joy, Aganju glared in perplexity and disdain, his dread vanishing as a consequence. He thought that this man was completely insane, but even that word couldn't fully describe him. The vulpine was forced to be cautious since he was unable to read him. Tyrian turned back to the younger faunus after eventually coming to a stop in his love-struck outburst.
"What joy! In that case, perhaps you'd be sporting in accompanying me to meet the savior of this forsaken world?"
"Savior?" Aganju narrowed his eyes.
"Surely, you've heard of her. The magnificent and glorious Salem!" Tyrian twirled in demented pleasure before licking his lips. "She's been very intrigued by your existence and it would be such a wonderful occasion if you presented yourself to her. So, what do you say?"
"I'm not going anywhere with you" the fox snarled, pointing his glaive at the scorpion faunus.
Tyrian's smile widened, much to Aganju's surprise. Instead of getting angry, The foxes' defiance delighted him, rendering his body to jolt in glee. However, Tyrian was unaware that his reaction had unknowingly played right into the reptilian's hand.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
[Atlas Academy]
Elm stomped down the various halls of Atlas Academy; Her eyes flashed with determination and focus on the task at hand. Various members of the Atlas ranks stepped out of the way of the Ace-Op, allowing a clear path for her. It'd been a long day and, despite her woes, there was something that required her immediate attention.
Too bad it took me this long to get off the damn clock...
Eventually, she reached her destination, letting out a sigh of frustration before forcing the door open with a mighty swing and an angry stare.
"You!" she roared with fire.
Pyrrha paled, wishing he was anywhere else but there. She was trapped in her team's dorm room, prime pickings for the specialist's wrath. "I'm sorry! Wait... What did I do?"
"Don't pretend you don't know!" the taller Amazon pointed. "I heard all about it!"
"I mean it! I've been in my room since the afternoon meeting!"
She moved closer, casting a shadowy figure over the uneasy redhead. Elm ultimately realized that the woman's ignorance was genuine after her initial outburst. She became a little less enraged as a result, just enough for her frightening visage to change to one of impatience.
"What's this about you and my training partner getting into a fight?" she impatiently tapped her fingers across her toned bicep. "When he didn't show up for our session, I grew worried."
"Oh... You heard about that?"
It was all Pyrrha could say as he bowed his head in disappointment, his slouch hat concealing his face. Such a defeated position revealed the level of guilt and shame weighing down on the guy. Elm just sighed out loud before shutting the door.
"What happened exactly?"
Pyrrha Nikos, once known as the "Invincible Girl," reluctantly opened up to the Atlesian expert. The conversation eventually turned to the Mistralian's history with Kairi, how she came to support the general, and even the collapse of Beacon, which started the relationship. Elm made an effort to pay attention despite finding it difficult to process everything. She didn't omit any information, flinching every time she thought back on the exchange of words between the two. No one could dispute Pyrrha's regret by the time he was done.
"So there you have it..."
Though she was no longer the girl's teacher, there was a great degree of empathy that washed over Elm.
"Well... I'm not the greatest at this type of stuff but, I'm going to try my best," Pyrrha silently bowed her head. "First of all, I think you both needed this, whether you wanted to or not."
"You think so?"
"No relationship is gonna be sunshine and gumdrops all the time! It's the trials that truly strengthen us. From what I remember, Aganju was never the type to venture out of his circle unless it was someone worth sticking his neck out for. I don't need to explain your role in his life, do I?"
"No..."
"Good. That being said, while I'm a soldier, and following orders is my job, you aren't the type to just accept orders without thinking about them."
"But, what about the general? or Operative Sango?"
For the first time, Elm's lips curved downward into a deep frown. Her shoulders slumped as if releasing the weight of the world. Pyrrha almost regretted mentioning the faunus' name but a forced grin told her that she was safe.
"You might not know this, and it might not be my place to say, but... The Sango you kids knew hasn't been around in a long time. After we left, the general gave him a new position, one he took without hesitation. Before the attack on the school, he was reluctant to leave Beacon, even to the point of staying behind to help with the rebuilding efforts, but... after that scuffle with the White Fang and Salem's forces, something in him broke."
"What happened?"
"He... said that one of your friends chose to stay behind and fend off one of the leaders of attack, a faunus named Adam Taurus. Though he was hesitant to do this, he inevitably trusted her to accomplish this while he rushed to get medical help for Ciel. Sadly, when he returned..."
"I understand. But, what does this have to do with me and Aganju?"
Elm swallowed the lump in her throat, mulling over her words and peeking at the door as if someone would walk through at any moment.
"When we returned, he was partnered with Marik and Kairi, forming his first team since our Academy days through something was off. As the months passed, he grew increasingly distant and secretive. Any time we'd try to ask him what was going on, he'd simply brush us off without a word or tell us to mind our business. Soon, the guy I knew and... Let's just say that things aren't what they used to be."
"Do you love him?"
"I always have..." Elm chuckled weakly. "It's the only reason I haven't renounced him."
Pyrrha placed a hand on the woman's shoulders, giving some support of her own. Elm gratefully accepted this, finally allowing a true smile to grace her lips.
"While Aganju is a knucklehead, you aren't above accountability either. That being said, I'm almost certain that things can be repaired, especially since you both share such a strong connection. I expect this from my team; we're more of a formal unit than friends. But, if he's as important to you as you claim, then you shouldn't take such measures, even if you're disagreeing with each other."
"But..."
"No 'buts'. Trust me, we all say things that can hurt, but if it's true, don't you at least deserve to analyze your actual feelings rather than letting them dictate your every move? No amount of guilt, frustration, or even mind control can stop the strongest of bonds!"
Pyrrha sharply exhaled, but there was a hint of a smile on her face. She had been unable to come up with a real answer to Elm's query. Unable to find fault with the older woman's assertions, and after taking some time to collect himself, she realized that this wasn't about supporting one side or the other. She started to comprehend Aganju's ardor for Mantle during his period of reflection.
She was his partner, his closest friend at Beacon.
Though their bond started on rocky ground, they traversed nearly every obstacle together. From fighting Cinder to striking out on their own to being kidnapped, even reaching Atlas. There was nothing that they couldn't overcome before, yet this time, there was something different. While she did understand the general's point of view, why did she pendulum swing toward his side without considering others?
"I should apologize..." she whispered, voice shaky and haggard.
"Excellent!" Elm smiled brightly, shocking Pyrrha with the sudden shift of disposition. "The sooner you do that, the sooner I can get in a good sweat with him!"
"W-What?!" green eyes shot open in embarrassment as her face began to burn beet red.
"He and I have been training to increase his endurance and tactical management in combat. He's truly a strong and sufficient warrior and you're lucky to have someone as capable as him. Most guys are pushovers and wimps. Only one other guy could push me to the limit..."
Hearing Elm starting to stray off into her selective musings, Pyrrha finally calmed down, tittering at this.
"We're both students of destiny. Luck has nothing to do with it."
Elm simply shrugged.
"If you say so... Just make sure to send him by the training room after you two lovebirds have made up." Elm flexed with a mighty roar of triumph. "I want him at his best!"
The two shared a laugh when Pyrrha's scroll went off. She reached into her pocket to find Aganju's face on the screen, causing her to smile awkwardly.
I can do this... He'll understand and we can fix things.
After a few deep breaths, she finally answered. "Agan? I wanted to..."
"Hello?! Pyrrha?" The voice interrupted. "Can anyone hear me?!"
"Nora? Why do you have Aganju's phone? What's going on?"
"I just found it lying near a gutter but he was nowhere in sight!" the ginger yelled back in a winded tone. "We were attacked by Tyrian and he chased after him. When I finally caught up, both of them were gone!"
As Nora did her best to explain further, Pyrrha could feel her heart climbing into her throat. Eventually, Elm had to take the device when she wouldn't respond to the energetic girl's call anymore.
"We'll tell the general and meet you in Mantle. We'll get the others as well so keep searching and keep in touch."
They ended the call and took off for General Ironwood's office, however, they were stopped rather quickly when they ran into the last person either of them wanted to see at the moment.
"Yang?!"
"Hey, guys! What's the rush?"
Lilac purple orbs watched in surprise at the pair's urgency. If they had a choice, the Spartan and Amazon would've picked better options to break the news to first. But, if there was something neither was willing to do, it was lying to Yang Xiao Long. One could consider it a death sentence to even attempt to lie to her at this point.
"It's... about Aganju..."