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Beta(s) :
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Once the gun-toting airships, the silver-white drones and their accompanying, armored and uniformed soldiers and Huntsmen had swept in and sealed the breach in the ground, the battle was quickly dealt with. Going up against so many Hunters left the Grimm hopelessly out-matched, it seemed. And he was glad for it, as much for the obvious safety it brought to the city as for… Well, it was simply intriguing, to watch the Hunters and soldiers work. To study their movements, their tactics, even just the way some of them turned to interact with the soldiers, it was all interesting.
"So, you didn't get your dumb ass killed." He turned, looking up into a somewhat dirtier face belonging to Cardin Winchester as he came up, resting his heavy mace's head on the ground and leaning on the top of its shaft comfortably. Chuckling, he said, "Owe Dove some Lien, now. I figured you were done for."
"You bet on me dying?"
"Gallows bets are something of a tradition for Hunters." Winchester's brows furrowed, "You didn't know that?"
"No, I-"
"Oh, don't tell me this bastard is your friend, Cerulean." He turned as Coco came trotting up, arms crossed and face marred by a deep, almost feral scowl. Stopping next to him, she cocked a hip and grunted, "You know how he treats Velvet, right?"
"Velvet?"
"My partner-"
"I give the animal a rough time sometimes." Winchester shrugged, "What the fuck ever-"
"I will put you in the-"
"Adel." He cut her off, stepping between them and laying a hand on her shoulder when she tried to push past him. She met his eyes, finally, and he said, "He is not worth your fist, or the breath you spend on your threats. Save them both, and yourself the energy."
"Excuse me?"
"There is no excuse for you." He tossed over his shoulder, turning and gesturing away with his head. "Go. I will find your Headmaster and submit my report personally. I thank you for getting Teal to safety, but now, our business is very much concluded."
"You back-stabbing son of a…" Scowling, the large man turned and thundered off, muttering curses all the while.
Cerulean watched him go, for a long moment, and wondered if he'd done the right thing. The man definitely held more than a few beliefs he found disgusting, but he'd done him a favor in spite of them. And then come back to fight, and even come to check on him after all was said and done. And done his job back in the mountains, too…
But did that outweigh what he'd said and argued for?
He couldn't be sure - even if his gut said 'no'.
"Thanks for that." Coco tugged his out of his musings and he turned to see her smile. "He's a proper dickhead… Runs his mouth, harasses people, the works. But he's just good enough a fighter, and his family is just influential enough, Beacon can't really do shit without an army of lawyers queing to make a quick buck."
"That's… Unfortunate." So he'd definitely done more than talk, then - which made him feel a bit more validated in his own actions. Even if, logically, he knew it was unfair of him, since he'd acted before he even knew any of it. Still, it was good to know the men hadn't just been acting out for the stress of a mission, or whatever else. Shrugging it all off, he said, "Regardless, it's good to see you up and about, Adel. When we parted, you… Were in a rough state."
"Ah, I was fine." She chuckled, waving him off. "Just, ya know, mildly chewed. What Hunter doesn't get a bath case of tooth marks once or twice, though?"
"Lucky ones."
"Yeah, lemme get my rabbit's foot then." She chuckled, turning she called out, "Hey. Honey Bun, c'mere real quick, would ya?"
In spite of the noise surrounding them, it was only a moment before a thin, nervous looking woman with two long ears perched on top of her head appeared from the crowd and joined them. Arms crossed, she pouted at the other woman as she reached them and complained, "Coco! We've talked about you calling me that… In public…"
"We did, yeah." Adel smirked, throwing an arm around the woman and waving at him, Velvet, Cerulean. Cerulean, my girlfriend, more or less."
"Coco…" Velvet sighed, rolling her eyes and pouting at the slightly taller woman who only beamed a smile back at her in response. Shaking her head, she turned to him and explained, "New girlfriend, that is. And, um, thank you, by the by. For saving this idiot's life and keeping her daft little head right-side on her shoulders."
"Daft…?"
"It's my job." He smiled and nodded, "But you're welcome. I'm just glad I got there in time."
"I am, too." Velvet frowned, "Coco told me what they found down there… An ugly way to get buried, that."
"Hey." Coco leaned over, pecking the Faunus on the cheek and earning a blush, a scowl and a tiny smile all at once as Velvet turned to look up at her. Smiling, Coco said, "I'm alive. No one is burying me anytime soon. Unless you count-"
"Shut. Up." Velvet scowled, blushing all the harder as she pointed a long finger in the woman's face. Coco held up a hand in surrender and nodded, and Velvet turned back to him. "You took CRDL out on their mission, right?"
"I did."
"Our Headmaster and Headmistress are just up the street, fielding reports from students about what happened."
"More like trying to figure out what happened…" Coco sighed, "Pretty obvious what happened, isn't it?"
"Is it?" He asked, looking at the mess that remained - namely, the wrecked train - and turning back to her. "Really?"
"Some morons tried to dig out the old rail lines, smuggle Dust in and out of town with 'em, and poked their heads in the wrong hole." Coco shrugged, smiling like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
In spite of the surety of her words, though, he found himself… Doubtful, somehow. His gut told him there was way more here. Something she, and Cerulean himself, were missing in the chaos and the mess. But whatever it was, it'd have to wait, for now.
"I'm sure they'll sort out whatever is going on." He shrugged and nodded, "Which way was the Headmaster, specifically?"
"That way." Coco grunted quietly, pointing past him, along one side of the square at another main road leading off into the city. "Look for a police line, and a little tent that's been pitched. They're conducting sweeps of the city to make sure none of the Grimm got away. Last thing we need is a few of those bastards running around out there."
"Alright." He turned, leaving with a wave, "Thanks."
"Of course." Coco answered, calling after him, "Hey, hit me up on Scroll sometime! Honey Bun and I will show you the best clubs! Maybe find someone to hang on your arm- Ow!"
He chuckled and left the couple to their squabbling, avoiding the heavier concentrations of police, Hunters, soldiers and drones as he made his way. Until something red flashed in front of him and a faintly familiar voice crowed, "Cerulean! It was you!"
"Hello, Ruby." He nodded, stepping past her and waving for her to follow. "It was. You did well out there, too."
"Awww, thanks a bunchies!" The small woman laughed, bouncing after him, "But I saw you, too! You were crazy out there! Like right out of my dad's stories!"
"That interesting?"
"That cool!" Ruby gushed, flashing ahead of him with a trail of rose petals and her arms spread wide, walking backwards as she argued, "Come on, you can't tell me that wasn't cool!"
"I suppose." He shrugged, flicking a look to where he sensed Guiding Light was, hovering over her head and no doubt looking over everything curiously. The city, the work to search for Grimm and the work already starting on cleaning up where the train had landed, it was all probably incredibly interesting for the ever-curious Ghost. Feeling a bit curious himself, he asked, "You know what happened, right?"
"With… The train?"
"Mhm."
"I-I do, yeah, but…" The girl ducked her head, tapping her fingers together, and sighed, "General Ironwood said not to talk about it…"
"Why not?"
"I dunno." She shrugged, "But I gotta do what he says, right?"
"I suppose…"
"It's quite likely that, whatever the true story behind the Breach, as local reporters are already calling it, they worry that it would cause anxiety." Guiding Light chimed in to him in private, humming as he thought it all through. "Sensible enough, I suppose, if a bit… Under-handed is not the proper word."
To both of them, he asked, "Won't the truth come out eventually regardless?"
"I guess?" Ruby shrugged, turning as someone called her name and then waving as she jogged off and called, "See you later! Stay safe out there, Mister Cerulean!"
"Just Cerulean is fine." He murmured, waving goodbye as she left and he sighed, turning and continuing on his way.
Up ahead, he could see the little area he'd been told about, or so he assumed. A Bullhead with markings he assumed represented the fleet circing overhead. Under its wing, he could see a broad shouldered man in a white coat talking to an officer of the police, along with a woman in a tight skirt who looked more annoyed than nervous at the distant echoes of isolated gunfire where, he assumed, the last Grimm were being found and put down by searchers. Ignoring it, he approached them, and all three turned as he did.
"And who are you, son?" The uniformed officer asked, flicking the one in white a look. "One o' your Hunters?"
"No." The large man growled, "Identify yourself."
"Relax, James, he's one of mine." The woman sighed, stepping forward and offering a hand and a thin smile, "Headmistress Goodwitch. Ozpin, the Headmaster who handed out the job you took, he told me about you. James, this is Cerulean, a Hunter from the frontier who, if I didn't hear wrong, stepped in to help us here."
"He did." Ironwood grunted, a note of… Something approaching respect in his voice. "One of my fast response officers reported him. A Huntsman in armor and an old Atlesian helmet who joined the fray."
"That was me." He nodded, "Happy to help."
"Mhm."
"Deputy Headmistress of Beacon." Guiding Light chirped, "And that's an Atlas uniform. General's markings, and he matches the 'James' of 'General James Ironwood' in description. Vey no-nonsense, the both of them, from online reporting."
"A pleasure and an honor." He grunted, shaking her hand and paying the General a nod as she released his hand. Quietly, he asked, "Where's the Headmaster? I was hoping to get my report on Cardinal in before I head out to rest and was told he should be here."
"You just missed him." The General grunted, crossing his arms and frowning deeply. "He had to head back to Beacon, to… Check security there."
"Is there a problem?"
"None that are your purview." Ironwood grunted, though Cerulean didn't hear anything nasty in the words. "Private security matters, concerning myself and the Headmaster."
"I won't pry, then."
"Good."
"I can take your report." The Headmistress offered quietly, "So long as it isn't overly complex. In that case, I'll need you to do a write-up. But, after your help here, we can skip that step if you like."
"That's fine." He shrugged, "It'll save time."
"My sentiments exactly." The Headmistress sighed, clearly already worn by the day's events and grateful to have just a bit less to manage. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "Well then?"
"Their attitudes are all lacking, too motivated by hatred, but I suspect you already know that." Somehow, he highly doubted that their racism began and ended when they weren't at Beacon. Even without what Coco had said about it. Goodwitch frowned, but didn't say anything, and he went on, "However… They can be professional. Winchester stepped in to help a Faunus girl without my prompting. And, in combat, they did their jobs. Though they refused to go out at night to investigate a burned settlement."
"A wise decision." Ironwood offered without anyone's input. "Humans going out at night with Grimm about is a death sentence. You went out?"
"I did."
"Unwise…"
"'Wise' would be not being a Hunter." He argued simply, gesturing at his helmet and adding, "Regardless, I had what I needed. And saved a girl because I went out."
"Ah." Ironwood hummed, "Night-vision? Thermals?"
"Both." He nodded, "I would have gone without, though. It's our duty, isn't it? To save people?"
"Yes, but-"
"You're both right." Goodwitch cut in, flicking each of them a weary look and sighing tiredly. "A Hunter should be willing to go into danger, obviously. But a town you're told was destroyed, in the middle of the night? That isn't 'danger'. It's foolishness."
"We only have one life." Ironwood nodded meaningfully, "I'm glad you saved the girl. But if you'd died, then a lot of girls like her wouldn't have you to save them. Value yourself, and learn when to accept losses."
"Hmph." He couldn't argue with him, really. His advice very well could be sound for anyone else.
But when he died, it was more of an inconveniece than anything else.
So. finally, he shrugged and said, "Fine. Regardless, that's my report. They took Teal to Beacon before coming to the fight here, too, so she'd be safe. They're racists, and need to work on it, but professional."
"On a grade out of ten?"
"A number one through ten," Guiding Light offered quietly, "with one being the worst and ten the best."
"Hmph." It made sense, he suppose, even if that kind of ranking seemed… Odd, in a way he was sure had to do with his nature. Here, it was probably perfectly normal. Regardless, he said, "Seven. I'd say seven out of ten. Professional, but hateful."
"I'll inform the Headmaster." She nodded, "And you have my thanks, and Lien on the way, for another job well done."
"You've used him before?"
"Used me…?"
"A turn of phrase." Goodwitch told him, answering the General, "We have. He has, both times, gone above and beyond the call of duty. Saved this girl, Teal I believe you said-"
"Mhm."
"-and also our own Miss Adel, when she was taken by a subteranean Grimm in a mine." Goodwitch went on, eyes narrowing just a bit, "Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm in need of a man who can do a job." Ironwood answered simply, turning to Cerulean and explaining in brief, "You'll have a unit with you, and will be well-paid. The job itself is simple - scout out and, if needs be, engage any White Fang left on the other end of the tunnely they took to get into Vale."
"White Fang…?" He murmured, shaking his head and going on before the man could read his confusion for a lack of common knowledge and instead asking, "They're responsible for this?"
"They are." Ironwood nodded, "Are you willing, then?"
"I am." He nodded, "When do I leave?"
"In the morning." Ironwood nodded, turing and waving a hand, gesturing a tall woman a few feet away to leave the officers she was talking with and come to him. She was white-haired, and carried herself with purpose, and Ironwood spoke to her as she reached them, "Winter, I have a Hunter to lead Squad Beta. Do you have a proper mission brief?"
"Not here, but if he'll come with me," she turned, gesturing with her head for him to follow, "I can get him one."
"See it done." Ironwood nodded, paying him one as the woman left and he turned to follow. "Cerulean."
Cerulean just nodded and turned, following the woman to get the info on his next job.
Just another day, and more problems to deal with.
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HarrumphIsay :
XD
Axelmere :
Aura IS the manifestation of the soul. So if a Guardian is, more or less, just a reincarnated person…
Dino Guy :
To be fair- A Guardian would TOTALLY do that, lmao.
Lea Rosenwulf :
Alas, if only he weren't a Titan and thus wasn't wearing a helmet the whole time. Lmao.
Hello Ever :
Glad you enjoy it!
MM Browsing :
You KNOW I've seen V9 lmao. I don't have much plans for the elements presented yet, but I'm cooking with it.
Cheesus Christ :
Forty three US states allow marriage under the age of eighteen in general, and seven have zero statutory minimum age at all when all exemptions - almost exclusively religious - are taken into account.
Vinni the Pooh :
Thanks, I fixed it. My bad. XD
Pokemon 5191 :
Yeah, that's where I'm having fun. Finding out just how loose rules are is both helpful and crippling in different ways. XD
Steel Rain :
Tbf, he's just comfortable with it on. If a situation asked him to remove it, why would he hesitate? Y'all just get to sit, tense and terse, and wait for it. XD
Prawns Man :
I get that, but, and forgive me, but I think you misunderstood me juuuuust a bit.
What I meant was that, due to the White Fang's involvement with early plot, I needed Cerulean - a blank slate - to learn about the world so that he could naturally form opinions and ideas regarding the coming events, and those involved. If the Fang were just mooks shooting at him, it'd have no stakes, morally or otherwise since he's effectively immortal.
But now, when he inevitably faces them and finds out who they are, and WHY they fight, he has a moral conundrum to deal with - he supports their GOALS, so how can he actively fight them? Because 'violence isn't the answer'? Kind of a hard sell for a super soldier. Kind of a 'why do you really fight' question.
The story isn't SPECIFICALLY ABOUT racism, lol. Sorry if that got lost in the weeds.
Dunno if you'll read this chap to see this, but no hard feelings! Hope you enjoy my other works.
