RWBY Heroic Demons
Chapter 12 Knight Fall
(Hi everyone, Blazing Saint here, Finally after so long I can finally give you chapter 12 of RWBY Heoric Demons, it took a lot of time and effort and I hope all you readers enjoy it. Anyway on with the show. As always Like and comment. RWBY as always was created by Monty Oum and is owned by Roosterteeth)
The broken moon rose in the night sky as the hour drew near. Iskandar looked around. Shouldn't be too much effort to lie about where he was going, Leonidas was intelligent yet loyal. Francesca however would be sceptical and Naomi would try to tag along. "Hmmm, I feel like going for a fly tonight."
"What? You do know it's past curfew right?" Francesca put down her controller to question him.
"Well, it's such a nice night tonight, perfect flying conditions I could use the exercise." Iskandar said.
"But you go to the gym at least ten times a week." Naomi rebutted.
"Yeah, but I've kind of been slacking with my wing exercises. If I don't strengthen my wings along with my body, it will make flying more difficult. I won't be out for long, if Glynda or the other professors come by, can you please cover for me, Please?" Iskandar said, clapping his hands in a begging motion.
"Okay fine, we'll cover you," Leonidas said.
"Just don't be long otherwise we'll all be in trouble" Francesca said.
"Okay, I'll be back in an hour, hour and a half tops" Iskandar said with a smile on his face.
"Oh can I come? I'd love to see the school from up high in the sky" Naomi asked.
"Sorry, Naomi, not today, maybe some other time" Iskandar said as he opened the window and spread his wings"
"Fine, just tell Yang I said 'hi' before you start making out" Naomi said.
"I'm not going to!-why am I even bothering?" Iskandar grumbled in annoyance as he jumped out the window and took flight into the night sky.
"Are you sure this is okay? " Francesca said.
"Well I trust him, besides" Leonidas said as he got up from his seat. "Gives me the opportunity to put the finishing touches of my little side project."
—-
As Yinsen watched his teammates climb up onto the rooftop, he looked at them with a contemplative expression. He already saw what they were capable of in combat class, and they were definitely more competent than the average freshman. But as a team on a mission? That had yet to be tested as the staff had not yet assigned assignments of that nature. At least nothing too complex.
"So. Now that you've decided against killing your teammates to hide your identity, what's your actual thoughts on them? As people"
"... They're all good people. Kind hearted, well intentioned. The twins are willing to stick their neck out for those they deem worthy of their friendship. Silver for Velvet.
"And Ebon for you?"
"Can you not?..." he sighed "yes. Like her for me. They're of strong mind, anyone else with their abilities would become arrogant and complacent. Instead they trained their abilities. Grey is a bit harder to read. He's definitely more focused than the others, but there's no telling what that means until I can learn more.
"Alright boss, so what's the plan?" Silver asked their slightly distracted leader, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Yinsen inhaled deeply. Then exhaled. "The White Fang, or White Fang lookalikes, usually take these heists in their vans. Our plan is to let them rob this store recording them doing so, and then follow it back to where it's hiding. Once we get to its final destination, we survey it and stake it out, while showing the van indeed stops at that location.
"And then what? Sneak in and get the dust back?" Grey asked.
"That requires more prep than I had time for. Finding out where the van goes is the only objective tonight. We can't sneak into a room full of faunus and not expect to get caught. After confirming the van's destination, we go home." Yinsen explained before continuing. "And afterwards we sell the information to the cops, then Goodwitch if she notices our absence. With any luck, our actions will have done enough good to save us from expulsion.
"Ebon will take the time to learn infiltration based semblances, while we three improve our combat skills. When we're ready, we storm the location with reinforcements and law enforcement, take down everyone and secure follow up information." Yinsen finishes, before passing out disguises.
"This sound like a plan to you three?" Yinsen looks for confirmation from his team, the trio giving affirmative nods, with an added thumbs up from Grey as they started changing.
"When is Iskandar going to show up?" Yinsen grumbled as he put one of the many hoodies on.
"Relax Yinsen... he'll be here." Ebon said. She was wearing a white and pink cat-ear hoodie and a white bandana around her mouth as well as a pair of sunglasses. She almost seemed like a celebrity going incognito.
"He'd better do it soon. " Yinsen growled. His hoodie was purple with a pink bandana around his mouth.
"Relax, save that energy for the fight ahead." The team turned to see Iskandar swoop down and land.
"Okay, that was just showing off," Silver said. Wearing a silver hoodie and a silver dragon scaled mask on his face
"What took you?" Yinsen growled as he threw the red dragon faunus a duffle bag. The latter opened it to reveal matching attire. A black hoodie with flames on it, a red bandana and sunglasses.
"What's with the pissy pants? I'm here 15 minutes early despite a drone nearly giving me a black eye on the way here." Iskandar retorted
"Yeah, and they could've been here earlier for all we knew." Yinsen scowled "Put it on now."
"I know I should make a snarky retort but I'm honestly not in the mood," Iskandar growled. "So why the hoodies?"
"We can't be seen in our school uniforms, so I bought this stuff from my last trip in town. And baggy clothing hides our figures so they'll have trouble pointing us out in a crowd if they get away." Yinsen explained in an annoyed tone.
"Alright, not a bad idea. It does help hide most of our facial features, hope you have my size," he replied.
"You weren't part of the plan to begin with, so just shut up and take the damn hoodie." Yinsen snapped.
"Okay, tight fit it is" the dragon faunus said as he tried to squeeze through the hoodie
"And here I thought it was an attempt to get Ebon to wear something sexy" Grey smirked. His hoodie was black with blue lightning and no sleeves while his mask and sunglasses were just plain black. He had his hoodie opened up revealing his abs with some temporary tattoos on his chest.
"Time and place, Grey." Ebon growled at her teammate with a blush on her face.
"Says the guy dressed as a male stripper" Iskandar retorted.
"Finally someone says it," Silver said, struggling to contain his laughter.
"I do not!" Grey snapped at Iskandar.
"You are showing a lot of skin." Ebon chuckled. "And what's with the tattoos?"
"These tattoos are temporary, all I have to do is wash them off and just like that, I'm back to normal." Grey retorted.
"Shut up, the both of you. Okay now that you're FINALLY HERE, this is the plan.." Yinsen groaned, rolling his eyes. As he opened his mouth to reiterate his plan, a large white van skidded down the street.
The five teenagers ducked peeking their heads out from their spot on the roof
"Do you think it's them?" Ebon asked the obvious.
"It's definitely them." Iskandar replied, his blood boiling.
White Fang grunts soon emerged from the van, clad in their uniforms, white grimm masks p covering the top part of their faces, black hoods white vest with a red jaguar head with a claw mark behind it armed with rifles. Among them was a larger one with red marks on as their caribou horn poked through his hoodie, his uniform was sleeveless showing off his muscular arms. One of the grunts grabbed a nearby trashcan and threw it at the glass window, glass burst upon impact scattering into the store as the can smashed against the counter startling the clerk inside.
Yinsen nodded, taking out his scroll. "Alright everyone, start recording."
"Wait, WHAT! Why the hell are you recording this! I thought we were going to stop them!. He yelled in a hushed tone.
Yinsen gave Iskandar a passive look. "And how are we supposed to do that when we don't know where they're taking this stuff, dumbass? If you were here earlier, you would've known that."
Iskandar took a breath trying to calm himself. "I guess that makes sense."
And so the five teenagers watched on recording the White Fang take container after container to their oversized van.
"Does anyone have the plates in view?" Yinsen whispered.
"Can't get it from this angle, boss." Grey responded. The others voiced similar sentiments.
"Okay, plan b then. One of us needs to keep recording the van at all times."
"I'll try to get a better angle." Silver slides down the building, digging in with some iron claws he sprouted, also getting a better look at the situation within the shop.
Silver looked to the store. The White Fang seemed to be preoccupied with something in the store, even having stopped loading the van to look at their leader. Silver followed the grunts' gaze and his eyes widened. Without a word, he dropped his scroll and charged through the busted window.
Meanwhile, Silver's charge did not go unnoticed. "What is that idiot doing?!" Yinsen screamed.
"Things probably went south in the store."Grey responded as he followed Silver.
Iskandar sighed, "well, I guess we're going to improvise then," as he ran after Silver and Grey.
"Actually have to agree with him and my brother, Yinny" Ebon added before running off
"Oh, to hell with it" Yinsen said as he put his scroll away and ran after them
"Guess plans don't really work with this bunch huh".
"They will once I'm done with them!" Yinsen growled as he ran after his team.
"That's the last of it we can carry, sir!" One of the grunts called out to their commander.
"Good work my brothers and sisters. Now then..."
The commanding caribou faunus strode up to the shopkeep gun in hand. "Now to tie up loose ends" he raised it pointing it at the shop keep.
A loud bang rang out, but the Shopkeep saw that he was still alive. As he raised his gaze to his would-be killer, he saw what looked like an armoured hand covering the barrel of the gun before promptly crushing it.
"No respect for retail workers these days." Silver deadpanned as he spun around, smacking the Fang commander with his tail, sending him into one of the racks.
Another two grunts readied their guns, taking aim at Silver, they let out a jolted scream as they crumpled to the floor twitching. Grey walked past them lightning dancing between his fingers before he knocked them out, kicking the assailants' guns away.
A fourth grunt pulled out a sword, rushing at Grey, only to be blocked by Ebon, who caught the blade with a crystalized hand, twisted it out of the swordsman's hand, and proceeded to deliver a barrage of blows at his abdomen. After the various punches, jabs, and kicks, she ends her little scuffle by driving her knee into the poor man's face, knocking him out and breaking his nose.
Yinsen blinked a bit at his partner's ferocity. He'd deny it for years but he was blushing under his disguise.
" I know she decked Naomi's asshole of a dad but I had no idea she was so vicious."
"Aaaaww is someone getting a crush?"
"FUCK! OFF!"
Iskandar moved swiftly as the other White Fang grunts had their attention towards team CRST. As one grunt pointed their gun at Ebon, Iskandar gave him a flying knee to the head, sending him propelling into the wall.
"You bastard!" another grunt said as he pointed his gun point blank to the back of Iskandar's head. Iskandar's tail wrapped around his hand and the rifles and yanked both upwards causing the grunt to fire into the roof. The dragon faunus turned and extended his arm, his fingers jabbing the grunt's throat. He let go of the grunts' hands allowing him to gasp for air as he confiscated the gun. A third grunt charged with his sword but Iskandar popped out the clip and threw the gun smacking the third grunt in the face into the arms of Yinsen who began to choke him out in a sleeper hold
The commander groaned as he got up from the destroyed rack splinters shaking off the various merchandise that littered on him. He looked around at the ensuing chaos, and pulled out his revolver. He slowly made his way to Iskandar since he was the closest. In a swift motion he pointed his weapon square to the hooded dragon faunus head. "Nobody move, otherwise I'll blow your comrade's head clean off!" the caribou faunus commanded as he pulled back the hammer of the revolver.
"Go ahead, he's not my friend anyway." Yinsen replied, barely batting an eye towards them as he maintained a firm sleeper hold on the grunt in his arms..
In an instant, Iskandar grabbed the revolver and the wrist holding it and his finger stuck between the hammer and the firing pin. The grunt quickly pulled the trigger but the gun's hammer, instead of meeting the firing pin, met Iskandar's finger. Iskandar then tightened his grip causing the commander to cry out in pain. Iskandar then pulled his head back and slammed it into the caribou's head knocking the assailant out. The dragon faunus turned to Yinsen glaring at him.
"Were you really going to let him blow my brains out?" he asked indignantly.
"Your own fault for getting caught." Yinsen replied disinterestedly.
Yinsen dropped the grunt he was strangling, and pointed to Grey and Silver. "You two. Check the van. Try and find out where it's going. Don't fuck this up anymore than you already have."
Silver and Grey shrug as they check the van, hoping to return the valuables.
Yinsen started nudging the bodies, checking for anyone still conscious. Eventually he got lucky and got a groan from a beaten racoon faunus.
"Hey, Dumbass. Still got my duffle bag?"
"I do not agree to that codename, and yes I do" Iskandar threw the duffel bag at his face. Yinsen for his part didn't let this faze him, simply extending his arm.
"Keep an eye on the leader. Don't be gentle if he gets up."
Yinsen reached into his duffle bag and pulled out a hammer.
"Now then." Yinsen proceeded to start slapping the grunt across the face to rouse him from unconsciousness.
The grunt groaned and met Yinsen's eyes. Yinsen then slapped a layer of duct tape onto his mouth.
"Here's how this is going to work. The more you tell me about your plans for the region, and any other questions I may have... I make this hurt less. If I get a lie or if I think you're stalling, I make it hurt more. And just so we have a starting point of reference...
Yinsen raised the hammer and swung it down onto the faunus' finger. The faunus screamed through the muffled groans. "Now then First question... "Where were you going to take all this dust once you had it.?" He ripped off the tape.
The grunt's only response was spit in Yinsen's face.
A beat passed as Yinsen stared at the grunt.
Yinsen spread him out and crystalized him to the floor. He reapplied the tape to his mouth.
"More it is." Yinsen raised his hammer and brought it down on his kneecap.
A sickening crack echoed throughout the store
The grunt screamed in pain. The tape muffling his voice.
" I'm going to keep going until you're ready to be cooperative… If you manage to die before then, congratulations! You're a true White Fang through and through, for what little that's worth. Though I have to wonder if your comrades are the same."
Ebon gripped his shoulder. "That is quite enough." Was all she said on the matter, rather coldly at that.
Yinsen didn't turn to look at her. "Darkness, we need that information. Help me find it or get out of my way.""
"I said," This time Yinsen could feel her nails digging into his shoulder, "that is quite enough."
Yinsen glared back. "Fine... take their scrolls. Maybe we can get something off their sim cards."
"Already got three of them." Ebon nodded as she went to grab the others.
Yinsen knocked the guy out with a quick blow to the head and got up from his squatting position. "Next time, open with that Darkness."
"Of course she gets the cool nickname" Grey pouted.
"Did you find anything in the van?" Yinsen asked.
"Some more dust, maybe they hit some more shops before here" Silver said.
"I don't care about the dust! Did you find out where they're going?"
"That's it. No notes, no map, no nothing." Silver listed off what he couldn't find, then scowled. As Silver walked by Yinsen, the amethyst-coloured teen felt something wrap and constrict around his throat, bringing him to look Silver in the eye. "We will talk about this later." With that, Silver released his tail from Yinsen's throat, going to check on Iskandar.
"You know it's your fault we're in this mess right?" Yinsen coughed.
"I prioritised civilian lives. So sorry for prioritising, ya know, our fucking job."
"And what about the other lives that are in danger because these psychopaths have a fuck ton of dust?!"
Before Silver could retort, the caribou faunus groaned as he was regaining consciousness earning the attention of Iskandar, not wanting to rouse the others he grabbed the leader by the collar "You're coming with me." he said as he pulled them into the back room.
"You have some nerve, boy. Do you have any idea on the people you're messing with?" he threatened. "I'm a White Fang elite, I am a Predator!" he bluffed.
Iskandar responded with a swift punch to the gut "A Predator you are not. They all died months ago in a train explosion."
The man was flabbergasted. "How did you-?"
"I'm asking the questions, now where is Adam Taurus? What does he need with all this dust?" He said with a venomous tone. He heated up his hand and reached for the Caribou faunus' chest. The Caribou started to sweat as the flaming hand inched closer and closer to his flesh, his pleading stare was only met with burning fury from Iskandar.
"We were going to meet up with another squad and they were going to transport it to our hiding spot."
"Keep talking" Iskandar presses a burning hot hand against his chest as he wrapped his tail around his mouth to muffle the screams "Nod if you are ready to cooperate" he calmly said as the Faunus' flesh began to bubble.
"Oi!" Silver growled as he tried pulling Iskandar away. "If I didn't like the idea of my own team leader doing it, what makes you think I'd let this slide?"
Iskandar grabbed the grunt's face and forced him to meet his face. "Does Adam make the trade?"
Yinsen broke the glare and pushed Iskandar away. "Dumbass, not now." He turned his attention back to the grunt. "Where were you going to meet this squad? When's the rendezvous?"
"I won't tell you that." The caribou said. Iskandar grabbed one of his antlers. The temperature rose as Iskandar began to squeeze.
"The location! Now!"
The caribou got scared, "Hey now, let's be reasonable." he babbled as a small cracking could be heard. Silver, Ebon and Grey started to show concern.
Yinsen for his part looked to Iskandar with curiosity, watching the Dragon faunus' fury with a quirked eyebrow.
"Come on please, Adam would have my head if I told anyone," and with a cracking sound and a scream from the faunus, he broke the antler halfway off.
"The only head I want is his. Now TELL ME!" He growled loudly.
"That's enough." Silver growled as he grabbed Iskandar's wrist. "Take that antler off, I take your hand."
"Don't get in my way!" Iskandar uses his tail to yank Silver off his wrist as his hand begins to glow red again.
"Now, Adam and Roman. Either I take their heads or your antlers as my trophy!" He said in an aggressive tone.
"Okay, Okay stop, PLEASE!" The caribou begged. "I don't know where Adam is, he contacts us through encrypted video calls. As for Roman, I think I saw him around a few of our bases but not for long. There is no telling where he is. That is all I know I swear!"
"Where are these bases!?" Iskandar fumed, demanding more.
"He said ENOUGH!" Ebon yelled out, a wave of what can only be explained as sheer dread crawling up everyone's spines as she grabbed Iskandar's wrist in a death grip, slowly crushing it.
"What did Silver say? You take his antler, I take your hand?" Ebon's voice was devoid of emotion, very much intent on carrying out the action,
Silver, Grey trembled, even Yinsen and Iskandar were taken by surprise, as if they were staring into their imminent deaths. This sensation was beyond fear. It was instinctual. As if someone was stomping out their fight or flight instincts, rendering them helpless. Some of the remaining grunts that witnessed the event looked as if they may pass out from sheer terror.
Silver, hyperventilating a bit, steadied his breathing, slowly regaining his composure, though it didn't stop his legs from shaking. As he regained his focus he heard the sound of Sirens, "Shit, guys we got cops! We got to move, now"
"Tch, damn it." Iskandar said as he turned to see the back door "Let's go.'' He said as he dropped the caribou faunus and led his fellow vigilantes outside. With a few jumps and kicks on the walls they made it to the rooftops. And kept running, even jumping over roads and rooftops. After five minutes of jumping throughout the city they decided to stop in an alley as they jumped down the walls. As they began to rest Grey was panting and the rest of team CRST were giving dirty looks to Iskandar. The latter didn't pay them any mind as he punched a brick wall in frustration shattering a few bricks upon impact. "Damn it, this was a total waste of time"
Before the dragon faunus could rant any more, Ebon delivered a haymaker to Iskandar's cheek causing his head to crash into the brick wall, leaving a nasty dent, followed by Yinsen getting a punch from Ebon as well, knocking him flat on his ass. The dread they felt returned, and somehow felt magnified, the feeling preventing them from picking themselves off the ground. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Ebon yelled at both of them. "I am all for stopping White Fang goons, but torturing them?! That was pushing the line" she screamed. "Iskandar, you were about to break off that guy's antler!'
"It would have grown back," he replied.
Ebon responded to that by punching him in the nose. "Don't worry, it'll heal." Ebon growled in a mocking tone.
"Last I checked, your dear old leader was doing the same thing, I was just following his example. Hmm… solid right jab." Iskandar mused in a sarcastic tone.
Ebon switched her attention to Yinsen kicking him into the wall, cracking it on impact. Yinsen coughed up a bit before groaning "It was the only way to get information."
"Yeah, torture a run of the mill grunt because they know everything about the organization, and I actually pegged you for the smart one in your group" Iskandar said in a sarcastic tone.
"Oh like you're any better!. Just charging in like a jumped up bull faunus the second shit hits the fan! If you idiots had waited, we would've followed the van back to where it was going! And now we have no answers, no leads, and no fucking idea what to do!"
"I would have had a lead if you didn't interrupt me, I honestly thought our objective coincided but I guess I was wrong." Iskandar stood his ground.
"And he finally admits it! So tell me dumbass, how does it feel to realise how stupid you are?!" Yinsen growled.
"SHUT UP!" Ebon screamed out at the Yinsen and Iskandar, her aura growing more visible.
"Um, Yinsen?"" Grey spoke up, taking a few steps away from the enraged Ebonique. " I'm gonna be real with you. If it were me down there going to get a view of the plates, I would've done the same thing.
"I wasn't going to let that storekeeper die when I could do something about it." Silver growled out.
Iskandar sighed trying to regain his senses "No point in what ifs for now. Now we need to focus on getting back to the dorms without attracting attention.'
"Oh nononono." Ebon wagged her finger before Iskandar and Yinsen. "I'm going to have a serious talk with you two real quick."
Silver gulped and grabbed Grey's arm. "We'll meet you three at the meet-up spot." He ran off silently praying for the two leaders.
"But what about them?' Grey spoke up as he was dragged away.
"Trust me, Ebon's got something planned for those two, whatever it is, it's not going to be pretty." Silver tugged harder, desperate to get away from the inevitable ground zero.
Iskandar just looked at Ebon, his demeanour remaining cool despite her outburst.
"I'm all for getting what we need, but torture is something else entirely." Ebon glares down at the pair. Anger wasn't in her voice. It was disappointment.
"I didn't enjoy doing it, but living in Vacuo you learn you need to do what is necessary." he replied.
"Oh, so just because you came from Vacuo, you figured you'd resort to FUCKING WAR CRIMES TO GET WHAT YOU WANT?!" Ebon yelled at Iskandar. "And don't you DARE play the "dead parent" card! I know that pain too!"
Iskandar's demeanour changed to anger as his aura noticeably flared "Do you think that they play fair, if the reverse happened tonight, the White Fang would be breaking you or your brother for answers. Not to mention the other criminal scumbags in the Kingdoms! Roman Torchwick, The Spiders, The Xiong family" Iskandar took a subtle glance at Yinsen with the last name. "And before you get on your high horse, you forget, you still have your mother and your brother. My father, my mother, my brother, all of them are dead, AND I HAD TO WATCH IT HAPPEN!
Ebon glared right back, the fire in her eyes flaring, matching his anger with her own.
"You think trauma makes you special? You think enduring suffering makes you entitled to inflict it? You're above this! Start acting like it. And the fact that you think Silver and I could ever be broken by runts like them sickens me. It's a damn shame that I'm forced to work with a pair of children like you two, who clearly can't get over the 'they started it' excuse, as if that's all they have to work with. Well guess what?! I don't care who started it!" Ebon's words cut deeply into Yinsen and Iskandar.
Yinsen finally managed to get onto his feet. "Don't lump me with him! I needed information, and we were running out of time to get it!"
"You're already on thin ice, you poor excuse for a leader! All I saw was a pair whining brats that can't play nice with each other. Leaders are supposed to be models for their teams. At this rate, I'd either follow Grey or Naomi."
Yinsen eyebrows shot straight up in indignation. "I'm the brat!? I'm the brat!? were you listening to this fuck nugget?! 'I want in' 'I want in' 'I want to help in taking care of the White Fang! I'm going to tell Goodwitch if you don't bring me along!'" The brawler danced around flapping his arms in a clear mockery of Iskandar. Once he stopped his dance he resumed his glare at Ebon.
"At what point was I the immature one? We never argued once on that entire mission, and I let him tag along rather than beating the tar out of him and leaving him in the bathtub!"
"I will admit that the fact that he'd drag Goodwitch into this was a bitch move. But the fact that you tried to turn down someone who knows how the White Fang works, and had to use a coward's trick to get what you want is just as pathetic."
"You think I wanted to spend my night ripping nails out? No! I was expecting a nice quiet tailing mission where we'd get more information to follow up on!"
"Clearly you didn't think of a few things." Ebon clears her throat and speaks like Yinsen, "Like "How will my team react to a White Fang about to blow someone's head off "?"
"I thought that you all understood that we had bigger things to worry stopping the dust robberies!"
"Really is that what you would have told his family? To his wife and children that'd have their lives ruined? Who'd never see him again? That we had 'bigger things to worry about'?" Ebon drove the point home, knowing that exact pain.
"Damnit Ebon, I don't want him to die anymore than you did! But at the end of the day, We're not even supposed to be here! The whole point of doing this the way I wanted to is to make it look that way. Our ideal scenario for this is getting more information without them knowing someone is after them. Now they do and will be on more guard."
"Well, our ideal scenario went out the window when Silver decided innocent lives were more important than the mission." Ebon hammered in another point Yinsen failed to account for.
"And the lives in danger due to these psychopaths having dust that we still don't know the location of?!"
"There's the next major problem with your plan: Misunderstanding your enemy. You honestly think every member of the White Fang are basically part of a cult who'd want to tear down the foundation of society and place themselves on top? This is hardly their MO."
"You think it matters how they *normally* do things? You have any idea how much dust has been stolen around here the past few weeks? If this isn't normal behaviour, the least I can do is find out why a self proclaimed "peaceful protest organisation" needs this much dust! That's what tonight was supposed to be. Not jumping in playing superhero to save *one shopkeeper*"
"So what? We just let the man die?!" Iskandar asked.
"Yes!" Yinsen shouted. " Because, there is a bigger picture here. Bigger than a single storekeeper.! I don't like the idea of anyone dying, but I needed to focus on what would save more lives! How many lives do you think are still in danger because we haven't followed the van to its location?.!"
"You don't think I get that? I get that people are in danger. I get that we have larger goals here. What I don't get is that one thing falls out of place, and everything in your plan goes to shit."
"Deviations." Yinsen growled. "I can handle. I was prepared for the van to notice us as we followed it. I was prepared for them noticing we followed them when they arrived. What I Can't handle is apparently my team jumping in without a plan! So we knock out the grunts and steal their scrolls, how are we gonna get anything useful out of the encryption?! How are you going to make it so the White fang won't know a squad of their guys got canned and that they need to mix things up for security reasons in case someone squeals! ""
"That's the main problem we seem to keep coming back to; you know NOTHING of your own team beyond power."" Ebon retorted. " You still forgot to factor in how someone like Silver would react when placed in certain situations. " In case you haven't fucking noticed, we're not going to school to become vigilantes. We're going to school to protect people from monsters. So we did our fucking job and protected the shopkeeper!"
At that Yinsen fell silent. This was getting nowhere, but she still had a point. These people were Huntsman first. He took a few moments to think out his response.
"Perhaps I was asking too much of you to put aside your moral code. I saw your progress and I was sure you could make the same calls that I would. I apologise for that. And only that. But the world isn't that simple. The sooner you and your brother understand that the better."
"I said it to Iskandar in more words than I'm going to say to you. Me and my brother. Fucking. Know. the world is harsh in almost every conceivable way." Ebon's demeanour grows dark.
"If you understand, then why? Why would either of you take such a shortsighted course of action?"
"Because we wouldn't wish the pain we felt upon anyone."
For the first time all night. Yinsen looked into her eyes. Really looked into them. Where there was once rage and passion for the innocent, now held a solemn vow. And all of a sudden Yinsen was 14 again apologising over a broken, bleeding corpse surrounded by burning debris.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for letting them manipulate me. I'm sorry for not listening. So please. Just wake up, Trojan!"
Yinsen blinked hard, forcing the memory away from his mind like he had so many other times before. "...I wouldn't either. But a moral code is not a cure all. I can change hearts and minds, I can bring people out of states of depression, but eliminating evil still takes more than just that. Evil and crime take all forms, and we need to mold ourselves into different methods, and ways to fight them."
"You're right. Evil and Crime DO take all forms. You two would know." Ebon shoots a glare to Iskandar. "Wouldn't you agree, Knight?"
Iskandar stood there in shock. Yinsen seemed just as surprised. How did she know?
"I bet you're wondering 'Oh wow! How did the innocent kitten find out?'" Ebon spat out in a mocking tone. "Remember when you were trying to talk Yinsen and Silver out of turning CRDL into crushed raspberries? Ya didn't go that far! I heard everything! Yinsen calling you the Demonic Knight, and you calling Yinsen a Crime Lord, which led me down a WHOLE different rabbit hole!"
'FUCK' Was a thought shared by the both of them, Yinsen paling especially.
"Yeah, safe to say you both lost the moral high ground a long time ago, so you're both gonna shut the fuck up, and let me speak, am I clear?" Ebon's glare has yet to leave the pair, daring them to try standing up for themselves with the loose foundations they had.
The two just kept silent
"Good answer." Ebon began by walking over to Iskandar. "Oh where do I begin? First off, let me reiterate., You're not special for your trauma. Losing family to Grimm is horrible and part of life, losing them to fellow humans and faunus, doubly so, but again, nothing new. I lost my own father when I was FOUR, and do you see me using it to fuel my drive? No! Because that's not what he would've wanted! How would your parents feel about what you've been reduced to?"
Ebon took a breath, seeming to pause, only to keep at it.
"You clearly can't trust your team, people that rely on you with anything involved in your personal life! You got injured, your pride broken, and even snapped at your girlfriend who was TRYING TO HELP YOU!" Ebon lashed out, referencing how Iskandar reacted when Yang tried to assist him after the fight with Cu. "The fact you don't want them involved won't help. They'll find out you're lying to them, and they'll start digging, and find out just who you really are. Either you tell them, or I do, and I won't leave out the fact you threatened to mutilate a man tonight."
"Yang already knows" Iskandar said.
"What?" Ebon said.
"I told her the night we went out dancing, after a fight broke out in the club" Iskandar said, his eyes darting to Yinsen.
"Oi! Eyes here! I'll get to him soon enough! If you trust your girlfriend, you can trust your team! The worst they can do is judge you for lying to them!"
"It isn't that simple" he repeated then looked down "Do you know exactly what I did for the white fang?" Iskandar asked Ebon.
"I assume raid trains" Ebon said unamused.
"Yes, as well as stealing high interest targets…. and sometimes putting them down" he added, surprisingly she seemed to not react to that bit.
"So I guess you've been nothing but a cold-blooded killer since you joined the White Fang. Dad was right about you train wrecks. No wonder he hated the idea from the start."
Iskandar's eyebrows rose in recognition "What do you mean?"
"My Dad, Alexander Redfox. I'm surprised you haven't made the connection." Ebon stated.
"Alexander Redfox is your father?… Your father made the original 'Predators'!?," Iskandar widened his eyes in shock at this revelation.
"Yeah he wasn't directly affiliated with the group, but it didn't stop them from appropriating the name after he hung up his mantle."
"Well, his actions were an inspiration for their more militant campaigns, He should've known the impact his actions had."
"That's not the fucking point!" Ebon growled as she slapped Iskandar, then grabbed his head with both hands to force him to look her in the eye, her stormy-grey eyes, one having a scar across it, that eerily reminded him of Ruby. "The point is that you're better than this. The least you can do, in honour of your family, is to be a better person, and make the world a better place."
Ebon's words rang around inside Iskandar's head. After all of the lies Iskandar told to his closest friends, all the verbal bludgeoning, she still sees Iskandar as a good person. All he had to do was prove it to her.
"I want to do the right thing, I truly do, but how can I do the right thing by the world, when the world sees me and our people as monsters. Ebon, you had your brother and your mother to help protect you from the cruelty,me I was the only one to protect Hephaestion, he trusted and I failed HIM!" Iskandar said as he punched the wall in anger. "Can you guarantee that I won't fail them as well!?" He yelled in a furious tone. Looking down at the scared Ebon,
Ebon sighed regaining composure "I honestly can't promise that"
"I do want to be a huntsman. It is what I always wanted, but after everything that has happened, everything I have done. I feel that dream drifting further and further. After our fight with Cu I've been wondering to myself, why do I keep fighting?"
"What the hell does that mad dog has anything to do with this?!"
"He may be a mad dog, but still his words struck a chord. After his beating I realised, I had no purpose, everyone at Beacon has a reason to be there. My reason for fighting was to protect my brother, but now that he's gone, I have nothing." Iskandar sighed solemnly.
"You don't have nothing! You have a new team filled with people that actually love you. It's what you chose to do now is what will define you" Ebon responded.
"I am sorry for forcing myself on this mission. As far as I'm concerned neither of us got what we wanted tonight" He said before grabbing his clothes, spreading his wings and taking to the sky.
"Hey!" Yinsen yelled. "You fucking owe me, Iguana!"
'I knew we should've turned him down. He didn't contribute a damn thing to this operation.'
"Remind you of anyone?" the voice in his head said.
"No"
Really? Big bad soldier boy who thinks he's above everything?
"Go die."
"AND YOU!" Ebon's voice rang out across the empty sky, causing Iskandar to do a double take. He could tell Ebon was angry with him, but the wrath in her voice directed at Yinsen was something else.
"E-Ebon, I-" Yinsen began to try to defend himself a little, resulting in Ebon's fist entering the wall next to his head.
"YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO CALL ME THAT ANYMORE YOU LYING BASTARD! A 'CRIME LORD'?! I WAS PARTNERED WITH SOME SICK FUCK WHO GETS OFF OF GETTING PEOPLE TO DANCE ON HIS PUPPET STRINGS?"
"It wasn't like that with y-"
"I CAN BARELY BRING MYSELF TO EVEN LOOK AT YOU! HOW DID YOU EXPECT ME TO TRUST YOU AFTER THIS?!"
"EVEN AFTER HEARING THAT, I NEVER DOUBTED YOU! I SAW THE QUIRKY FACE MAKING, HARD HEADED, MORON THAT GOT US TO FOCUS ON THE OBJECTIVE RATHER THAN THE DEATHSTALKER! EVEN AFTER HEARING THAT I… I I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE WE COULD'VE STARTED SOMETHING SPECIAL! WERE YOU USING ME TOO?! WERE YOU ABUSING MY KINDNESS SO YOU CAN GET YOUR SICK KICKS?! I CAN'T BELIEVE I EVER FELT SYMPATHY FOR YOU! THAT I TRIED TO COMFORT YOU!"
"AFTER ALL OF THAT! AFTER SEEING WHAT I JUST SAW! AFTER ALL THE LIES!..." Yinsen finally noticed the tears running down Ebon's face. "I... I still want to trust you. Please... please... just give me a reason to trust you after tonight."
Yinsen could feel that she was practically begging at this point. After everything, she had hope that there was a method to the madness.
Deep down, Yinsen knew what was more important… that he needed to answer this question right or lose her forever. But he couldn't help it…she… she still trusted him? After seeing him rip nails as easily as one would do household chores? The words were out of his mouth before he could stop himself. "Why? Why do you still want to trust me?
"Because... if I can't... what then? What becomes of us? Do we spend the rest of the next four years of our lives hating each other?... or will we get ourselves killed before then because we can't trust you?" Ebon was choking up on almost every word, trying to find her own rationale as to why she can find any trust in him. "I... I know there has to be a reason... There has to be."
Yinsen starred at Ebon. Completely floored about how much she meant everything she said. It was a first for him. For the first time in a long time, Yinsen felt lost.
please… please help me... please tell me what to do.
I can't answer that, and I never could. Follow your heart
Yinsen took a moment to collect himself. "Alright here it is... The truth."
—-
As Iskandar flew through the night sky, normally flying in the night sky would exhilarate him but his mind kept lingering on the actions and words that were exchanged that night.
'The least you can do, in honour of your family, is to be a better person, and make the world a better place.' Silva's words echoed.
'How can I trust my daughter with a man when he doesn't even know what he's fighting for or why he even wants to become a Huntsman?!' Cu's words ran into his head.
Iskandar's flight path began to pick up speed as his mind kept racing, the wind kept smacking him in the face. He closed his eyes and tried to calm his mind 'Dad why did you become a huntsman?' a childlike voice rang in his head.
"Why did you become a huntsman?" his own voice rang in his head.
His mind flashed to Oran and Wanda's faces
—-
"Well that's a personal question" Oran replied as he was helping the refugees get acclimated to the white fang encampment.
"I don't know before you two were respected huntsmen, why decide to change professions"
"Well we were huntsmen but we were rather low ranked back in Mistral, even though we had skills we normally lost jobs to human huntsmen, and with spiders running amok in the underbelly, It was hard to make a honest living." Val said.
"We joined the White Fang because we thought that was the best way to do some good for our people and the world." Oran replied.
Iskandar looked disheartened. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"It's fine, look it may not be the life we envisioned but you and your brother, you're different." Val said.
"What do you mean?" Iskandar said.
"Oh come on you two are the sons of one of the strongest huntsman on Remnant. You got the skill, strength and talent for the job. But as much as we enjoy having you as our leader, I'm feeling your heart isn't in it. As much as we would want you to stay, I feel you guys can do so much more." She said.
"You really think that?"
"Yeah, you can become great hunts-" They were cut off as Val was struck in the shoulder with a projectile, the blood splattered on Iskandar's face. He was in shock for a second as he turned his head and saw lights from pursuing Atlas forces vehicles.
"Fuck!" Isandar roared as he pulled out his weapon, as everything was enveloped in a flash of light.
—-
Iskandar snapped back into reality just in time to see a small drone flying towards him. He quickly flew above it and scowled. "Tch, god damn drones" He said annoyed. He looked over yonder to see Beacon on the horizon.
He found a nice spot to land just barely on the school grounds and change back into his regular clothes, afterwards he incinerated the clothes Yinsen gave him.
Iskandar looked up and noticed the lights were still on in his dorm room, even though the hour was late.
—-
Iskandar peered in seeing his team sprawled across the floor, his heart stopped fearing the worse he entered through the window. As he entered the noise made Naomi open her eyes.
"Naomi" Iskandar kneels down to her "What happened?"
"Oh nothing, just had a wild night after you left," Naomi replied, rubbing her aching head. "God you're loud, by the way where were you?"
"Sorry, I was so enthralled with the flight I lost track of time and my bearings." Iskandar replied. "Anyway, what about you guys? You look like you all ran a marathon?
"We were helping Leo with a special project." Francesca muttered.
Iskandar's eyebrow quirked upwards. "Special project?"
"You'll have to wait until morning, too tired for an epic reveal.," Leonidas said.
"Fine, I guess we all need some rest. Tommorow is a new day" the dragon faunus said as he and his teammates turned off the lights and shuffled into bed. They soon fell to sleep.
—-
Meanwhile the drone that nearly smashed into Iskandar earlier was flying into an open dorm window. Everyone inside deep in slumber save for a young man who stepped towards the drone and picked it up. In the moonlight it was revealed to be Raku in an Atlas academy shirt and pants, he pressed a button on his helmet and it showed him photos of Iskandar's adventure with team CRST. He picked up a tape recorder "Hmm target is co-operating with team CRST, and…. Fighting against the White Fang." He swallowed his disappointment.
"DAMNIT!" He said as he slammed his fist on the ground "I thought I finally hunted down that son of a bitch."
"There are only so many dragon faunus in Remnant Raku, maybe we can try again tomorrow." his A.I Carolina chimed in
Raku then sighed "Maybe, but for now I need to sleep on it" as he got up and walked over to bed. Without another thought about his prospective target, he lied down to get some rest.
—-
In the morning Iskandar was being led down into the garage. "Why are you leading me down here, you know I can't fit inside Leonidas' car."
"We know your wings and horns kept scratching the roof, but we got a fix for that, '' Francesca said as the two girls dragged him into the garage they see Leonidas next to a large object under a heavy tarp.
"Okay so what is this about?" the dragon faunus asked.
"Well, it has been some time since well….the night we followed you and Yang to that club." Leonidas said.
"You mean the night you stalked us." Iskandar said. 'Yinsen was lucky you guys didn't see him'
"Anyway I made this gift with some input by Yang." Leonidas said as Yang stepped out from behind the column.
"Hey Izzy" Yang chirped.
"Yang?" Iskandar said, confused. "Anyway Leonidas came to me asking for help last night saying this is to help whenever your wings get tired. I decided to help because I thought it would be awesome." She said as she and Leonidas grabbed the tarp and yanked it off revealing a black custom harley motorcycle.
"A motorcycle?" Iskandar was befuddled.
"Yea, for whenever you need help getting across town when you're having trouble flying, besides Yang told us she gave you motorcycle lessons. So why not practice on your own." Leonidas said.
Iskandar examined the bike in awe. He turned to his teammates and smiled in gratitude. "I honestly don't know what to say, thank you"
"Well, think of this as our thank you for being our strong, reliable and trustworthy leader." Naomi said. Iskandar winced.
"Yeah, anyway Weiss is planning for us to head down to the dock on our Friday off. Do you guys want to come? " She asked.
"Hell yeah, I can get some great seafood down there for tonight's dinner" Francesca said.
"Yeah it will be fun we can see them prep for the Vytal festival"
"I feel like I'm going to be dragged there regardless so may as well lean into it" Leonidas said.
"That sounds great, you guys go ahead, me and Yang are going to do a few practice laps before heading down there." Iskandar said.
"Okay see you there, don't take too long" Naomi winked at them as she got in Leonidas car.
Iskandar watched as his teammates drove off in the emerald sports car as they disappeared beyond the horizon. Iskandar's smile disappeared. "So what did you want to talk about?" Yang asked.
"I need to tell them," Iskandar said.
"Tell them what?" Yang asked.
"Everything, my past, what I was, everything" he replied.
"Whoa, whoa, are you sure about that?" she said
"No, but it's something I have to do…even if they end up hating me afterwards" Iskandar responded with a sullen look.
"Well hopefully it won't come to that, they think very highly of you, more than you know. But whatever happens I'll be there" Yang said, pumping her fist with a smile.
"I hope you're right. Thank you Yang, I am truly fortunate to get to know you."Iskandar said.
"Well you saved me from getting barf on my shoe so I guess we're both even" causing both her and Iskandar to laugh, once they stopped their eyes met they locked onto each other, his face inched ever so closely to hers. As their faces inched ever so closely Iskandar's eyes widened realising what he was unconsciously doing.
Iskandar jerked back. "We….should get going before they start wondering where we are."
Yang snapping out of it, a blush on her face "Uh, yeah" dumbfounded on Iskandar's behaviour.
Iskandar hopped on his motorcycle, ignited its engine as it began to roar; he slowly pulled alongside Yang.
"Okay, just remember what I taught you," Yang said.
"Yeah I got it" he said as the two began to drive off to a new day.
END OF CHAPTER!
A/N All right another chapter finished, and just before Ruby Rose's Birthday. I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter I've poured a lot of time, effort and passion into this. I want to thank my co writers and creators of Team CRST gigacanno and Pokespecshipper. Anyway we're real close to finishing Volume 1 and other chapters of my fanfics. I thank you all for being so patient with me, I won't lie this year has been a bit of a rollercoaster but that hasn't stopped me in the past and won't stop me in the future.