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:

This is going to be a major rewrite of several previous stories! I'll be taking elements of Bound by Shadows, Shadows of Destiny, and Behind Our Eyes as they all are around the same timeframe. So, bear with me as we go on this journey to keep things as simple as possible. With the series concluding Volume 9, it's a bit easier to work things out.

Some things will change, and others will stay the same. Either way, I'm going to have fun with this one.

Chapter 1: The Golden Knight

It was the Great War that ignited the flames; over a century of bloodshed and tears fueling the embers of hatred and destruction that resulted in the lives of so many being taken. Humans and faunus labored side by side to represent their kingdom's beliefs, shedding blood to protect their culture. Vale's versatility clashed with Mantle's brute force. Mistral's tenacity struggles with Vacuo's durability.

An all-out bloodbath was surely the only foreseeable result.

Upon the war's end, the four kingdoms suffered heavy losses, each looking to blame one another. However, from the shadows, there was one who found a solution that would bring the peace that each nation so desperately desired. The 'solution' was enough to warrant the compliance of every ruler who moved swiftly with the order:

Blame the faunus.

They all knew that it was wrong. The faunus were allied to their respective nations and now they were using them as scapegoats? Delegates from faunus villages and towns all joined together to plead their cases, providing evidence that would hopefully quell such baseless claims. Sure, they were different but that was not adequate to justify such accusations. Unfortunately, their efforts would fall on deaf ears as many of the faunus were hunted and enslaved as a consequence. Only those who escaped were spared such a dark fate that befell their brethren. Rather than hunt down those who escaped, the four kingdoms were content to allow the defeated faunus to run with their tails between their legs; It was the closest to an olive branch that would be extended to them.

Those unfortunate to be captured were imprisoned and later put into service to the victorious humans though some would still resist. This would become the new standard as the kingdoms grew and advanced throughout the decades that followed, yet they still maintained their hold on those they saddled with the weight of past sins. A different Remnant was birthed, bringing with it new forms of technology, ideals, and goals.

This is where the kingdom of Menagerie was formed, a refuge for the faunus who escaped persecution.

It was a testament to the perseverance of those once viewed as a blight on the world. Still, even a haven like this is not without its flaws. Many fall through the cracks and end up at the mercy of their persecutors, or the soulless beasts that roamed about.

It is here where the story begins for two who found themselves unfortunate enough to have to suffer in this cruel world.

[The Kingdom of Atlas]

Staring at the gaudily lit building with anxiety, several faunus stood on a nearby rooftop with eyes keeping close watch over their targeted destination from behind their plain white masks. The bitter chill did little to cool the flames of eagerness within them as they kept low to avoid being spotted by any nearby security. One by one, animal-like appendages twitched and flailed slightly as the suspense began gnawing at their core, only making their wait that much more torturous. Still, they wouldn't leave their post until it was time.

"Are you ready?" The members turned around to find a young man with red hair and two small horns approaching them. Unlike them, his mask was decorated with intricate red markings, clearly indicating his status as their superior.

"Yes sir" they spoke in unison, earning a nod from the stoic male.

"I must admit that you all have done well thus far, but now comes your final test," he pointed to the theater hall across the street. "As you've been told, our cause is to establish ourselves in Solitas as a force to be reckoned with. Tonight will be the first blow to that end. Tonight, you all will earn your place in the White Fang."

Each one of his subordinates exchanged a look of caution before kneeling to receive their orders. Soon each one was sent to fulfill their respective duty, leaving only a young pather faunus remaining.

"What is my role... sir?" he asked, keeping his head bowed in respect.

The older male tilted his head, noticing how the youth's tail swayed in anticipation while trying to resist the urge to smirk. He remembered the nerves he felt on his first mission quite fondly as motioned for the feline to rise.

"I have a special mission for you... But, I need to ensure that you're up to the task."

"Of course! Whatever you require, I will gladly do it for the cause."

The wicked grin only grew after hearing the determination behind the cat's tone. That kind of commitment would be valuable to him in the future, but there would be time for that later. For now, Adam Taurus would finish briefing the hopeful upstart of his mission.

"Follow me..."

The boy nodded and did his best to keep up with the slightly older and more experienced Adam.

From rooftop to rooftop, they stuck to the shadows in hopes of avoiding detection as they reached their destination. When they finally arrived, the panther soon found himself nearly overwhelmed by the staggering assignment that awaited him. His eyes widened as Adam abruptly stopped to grab his scroll from his pant pocket.

"Is something wrong, sir?" he raised an unseen brow.

"Not at all," he answered, eyeing the device for a few more seconds before tucking it away. "I was just checking the last details before we strike."

"Strike?"

Adam simply placed a hand on his charge's shoulder, pointing in the direction of their objective. The imagery of white pristine pillars combined with blue and gray accents adorned the massive manor, perfectly adding to the night sky. The young faunus couldn't help but gawk at the sheer size of the property, further adding to his nervousness. There was little time to take in the sights, however, as Adam drew his weapon, Wilt and Blush.

"There's little time to work with," he announced. "Our goal is clear?"

"G-Get in and steal the files for the high leader..." Adam nodded as the boy drew his spear, standard issue to basic grunts.

"Right. We get in and get out. Now, let's move."

Without another word, they leaped down to the ground below, tucking and rolling to minimize the impact of their landing. From there, the two were off, racing at blinding speeds to cover the distance without being made by the surveillance cameras. Adam was a pro at this, having spent a few years training in this environment with both the former and current leader of their faction.

Stick to the plan

[Schnee Manor]

"Hurry off to bed before Father returns and catches you." The stern and astute words of a young girl filled the dimly lit hallway. "We both know what'll happen if you're caught past your bedtime."

"But, Winter..." another adorable voice pouted. "I just wanted another one of Klein's cookies."

"What about our cake butler?"

"Um... I like him too!" the smaller girl giggled in between bites of the snickerdoodle.

Winter smiled and escorted her younger sister down the long corridor. The smaller girl let out a yawn in between her protests to sleep as they tiptoed into the room. Even still, the younger Schnee couldn't resist one final display of defiance, whining about missing her sister who was off to Atlas Academy the next day. Winter simply giggled at her sister while tucking her into bed.

"I promise that I'll be back, Weiss. I'm just going to a new school is all..."

"But... What if I never see you again?"

"Oh hush!" she flashed a small grin, filled with warmth and love for her younger sibling. "Don't be a boob. I'll be back once things get settled and we'll have plenty of time to just be together."

"Whitley too?"

"Yes. Whitley too. But, it can't happen until you go to sleep, okay?"

Little Weiss Schnee didn't object, simply content with shifting under the soft blanket that hugged her tiny form. Soon her pale blue eyes gave way to heavy lids as sleep began to overtake her. Winter watched her sleeping sister with a sad smile and kissed her head. She then took her exit but turned back around momentarily to get one more look at the resting child.

"Goodnight, dear sister."

She shut the door quietly and headed down the corridor to her room to pack. In her mind, she was nervous about joining the school, but, Winter figured that it was better than staying here with her family in its current state. From having a tyrannical father who only married to get the Schnee name and company to her mother morphing into a depressive drunkard after finding that out. It was enough to break the girl's heart, but she couldn't worry about that now. She needed to be strong in her convictions and do what she knew was the right decision for her life.

'I refuse to be his pawn.'

Winter continued to the other side of the family home, passing by her father's study, eager to pass the cracked door of the man's office. She stopped in her tracks when she realized something. Why is fathers door open? She wondered, stopping just past the ajar entrance. Slowly she crept closer, keeping her steps measured and silent as best she could on the tiled floor.

As the sounds of shuffling and clicking became more audible, Winter's heart began to race, beating against her ribcage violently. Still, her need to know far outweighed the fear screaming at her to leave. Why should she even be there? She cared little for the machinations that occurred inside the patriarch's study before. Perhaps the man came home early for some business-related reason? It wouldn't be the first time he'd left from a night out with her mother, Willow Schnee.

But, something felt different this time...

"How much longer?" her eyes widened upon hearing the foreign voice. Peeking in, she noticed that it was not her father or an associate of his. Instead, she was greeted with the sight of two males, faunus. One was slightly taller than the other but, there was no doubt that they were intruders as she continued to silently observe. "They could be back any minute."

The voice belonged to the younger masked boy.

Winter noticed how he was standing straight, a tall and lanky boy with a smooth black feline-like tail that hung limply. If she were to guess, they were about the same age given how high his voice was given his stature; probably 14 or 15.

"You worry too much... By now, the other male had caught her attention. He was much taller than the panther faunus, having a far more intimidating stature than his partner. Winter couldn't help but feel trepidation slither and wind its way tighter around her heart. "By now, the others should be completing their missions and the theater will be the only focus and we'll be out of here before they ever return."

"What do you mean?"

The red-haired male ceased his key tapping, sparing his subordinate a brief smirk that spelled nothing good.

"You needn't worry about that. Now keep watch!"

At that moment, sounds of something shattering alerted both infiltrators that their cover was blown. The panther was the first to check the cause only to find a young girl with snow-white hair. She looked no older than him, a teen with a world of potential. Her terrified eyes seemed to just keep growing as terror rooted her next to the broken porcelain bust of her father.

He held out his hand to ease her panic, but it did little to help as he was greeted by a harsh flinch.

"Wait..." he calmly smiled from underneath his mask. "...I won't hurt you. I promise."

Despite her anxiety screaming at her, Winter could sense no deception behind his words. However, what little peace they'd begun to establish was quickly snuffed out when the mahogany door creaked open. A chill permeated the halls, evil intentions radiating from behind the panther faunus. That sneer, coupled with the darkness that shrouded the taller figure brought that fear back into Winter's heart. Even the masked faunus couldn't shake the ill intent hovering over his kneeling form.

"You should know better..." The low tone of the red-haired figure froze the pair in place. "...than to show such weakness to your superior."

Trepidation morphed into confusion only to quickly transform into shock as something sharp pierced through his side. That initial astonishment would give way to an excruciating burning as the blade, Wilt, sat there for a moment, staining the previously white dress of the teenage girl. She looked on in horror at the scene before her, a betrayal of one's kind.

Winter couldn't wrap her mind around that, and yet, she was staring at the scene of someone her age being impaled by this beast. He must've read the girl's thoughts because the more defined Grimm-masked male slowly faced her. She couldn't see his eyes, but she could feel the almost trance-like glare directed at her, further making her stomach churn.

"Well, if it isn't my lucky day?"

"S-Stay back!" she growled, her futile attempt at intimidation. The man decided to show his reply by withdrawing his blade from his now-former subordinate, leaving him to sink to the floor clutching his wound.

Her defenselessness was like a drug to Adam, calling him to engage in its addictive high. It's intoxicating. The sweetness of its scent nearly drove Adam insane; enough to slaughter this girl, the daughter of the man responsible for most of his brethren's suffering.

Lifting Wilt, Adam allowed himself a deep inhale of the sweet scent of this child's fear. Watching her cower by the shivering body of his former partner was almost orgasmic but, he also knew the truth.

Killing her would only temporarily appease his rage...

It wouldn't be enough to quell his soul...

"Relax, brat..." he snickered, slashing the plasma from his blade before sheathing it. "You get to keep your life tonight and, you even get a 'pet' to keep... if he survives."

Adam turned without another word, leaving the traumatized pair. He had what he needed to complete the mission and, in his mind, got rid of some dead weight. That was the story he would tell the higher up and he was sticking to it. Success for the faunus was now accessible and that was the most important thing to Adam Taurus... at least for now.

His departure left a trembling Winter to tend to the wounded faunus, gingerly helping his head into her lap. Given her limited experience in medical treatment, she did her best to tourniquet the by wrapping her jacket around his waist. This helped enough but, even the teen knew that he would need better help. By now, his breathing was shallow but somewhat consistent which eased her worry, if only a little.

With the threat of death averted, for now, Winter allowed herself to finally take several deep breaths to calm herself. In the midst of this, the heir found herself staring at the blank white mask. Slowly, she reached for the small concealer but ceased that notion when her ears caught the sound of heavy breathing coupled with rapid footsteps.

Did that monster come back? Winter tensed, expecting the scarlet-haired faunus to have returned to finish the job.

"Miss Schnee? Achoo!"

Winter immediately recognized the voice and perked up for the first time since stumbling upon the theft of her father's files. Klein? Sure enough, the balding portly man appeared, huffing and sneezing all the way. "Klein!" she smiled at her most trusted butler.

"Are you alright, dear?"

"I'm... okay. I'm not hurt, Klein..." She forced a smile.

"Ah! I'm so glad to hear that..." he calmly gushed, his eyes turning colors in the process. "I came as soon as I heard the painful cry. I was so worried that you were hurt or worse."

Winter couldn't help but feel her heart swell after hearing the genuine concern from her surrogate father figure. She resisted the tears that tried to come, instead turning her attention to the injured boy resting on her lap. Klein finally noticed the faunus and frowned softly, his eyes shifting to a blood red.

"Oy! Shall I restrain this miscreant for you, ma'am?!"

"No!" she countered without hesitation, surprising herself as well as the steward. "Ahem... I mean, he... tried to save me from the true monster."

"But... He's wearing the symbol of the White Fang. Wouldn't that make him one of their associates?" he inquired, now in a more timid tone. "I doubt your f-father would believe such a story."

The girl took his words to heart before removing the mask, revealing glazed gray eyes. No, they weren't gray. There was a particular shine that was noticeable, even with his lids weighing down over them.

They're silver...!

She read stories about the mythical silver-eyed warriors, but, she never expected to see the rare-hued optics. But, there was little time to figure out if the rumors were true as he began to cough up a little blood, dragging her back to the moment at hand. She spared a glance before steadying herself for what she was about to do.

"Can you help him, Klein?" her tone even and soft.

He nodded without a word to his 'adopted' daughter.

"Then please try to stitch him up. I would be most appreciative if you would."

"I will do my best, Miss Schnee, but"

"If you're wondering about this..." she held up the mask. "I will handle it and my father if he asks any questions. As for the story, I hired him to help me pack when we were attacked by a member of the White Fang. The assassination attempt was thwarted by this brave soul. He took a potentially killing blow before dispatching the assailant. Get rid of the uniform and replace it with one of the staff. Understand?"

The normally kind Klein found himself unsure of whether the plan would work out, but he did know one thing: He wouldn't be the reason for its failure. With another nod, he helped the hazy faunus to his feet, ushering him through a secret door near the study, allowing them passage to the medical room without running into the other staff members, who would no doubt be returning from whatever hiding place they found when the cry of anguish was heard. He wasn't sure why Winter was being so caring but there was more to this boy than even he could see.

So, he would stick to the plan.

As for Winter, she settled herself for the fateful confrontation with her parents, though there would be an unexpected addition. Everything went according to how she conjured it in her mind. She told the returning Jacque and Willow Schnee everything that she'd rehearsed with Klein earlier, knowing that it wouldn't take much to convince them. While the latter, in a rare moment of sobriety, was simply happy to see that their daughters were safe, the patriarch wasn't too pleased to hear about a member of that infamous group.

"You see this Ironwood?!" he pointed at a tall and muscular man clad in a pristinely white uniform, noting his affiliation with the military. "This is EXACTLY why Winter shouldn't be going to that damned academy!"

"I fail to see how this incident has anything to do with Atlas Academy..." the clean-shaven James Ironwood rolled his eyes. "If anything, this only shows how training Miss Schnee can prevent her from being a victim in situations like this. It's certainly better than keeping her in some proverbial ivory tower if you ask me."

"I DIDN'T ask you!"

"In a way, you did... When you just tried to blame me a few seconds ago?"

Jacque found himself stuttering over himself before exhaling sharply. With no proper rebuttal available, he stormed off to his office, leaving Willow and James to survey the damage inflicted upon the now-recovering faunus. The former looked on with intrigue at the younger male's slim and toned form, but it was the newly christened general who truly dissected the panther.

"Mrs. Schnee?"

"James," she cut her eyes at the man. "We've been over this. Call me Willow..."

"Right. My apologies, Miss- er... Willow" he chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Sometimes, I forget to leave the formalities at the door."

Willow simply giggled at this nervousness, shifting her mood to a more favorable state.

"It's alright. I find myself doing the same in reverse whenever we're in public settings. Now, what is it that you wished to discuss?"

"Oh, um... Well, I wanted to ask you about the boy there." he directed his focus to the sleeping faunus. "Given what Winter told us, don't you think a reward should be for him once he awakens?" Willow raised a curious brow, sensing where Ironwood was going with this conversation. Sensing her impending inquiry, he continued. "The way I see it, with the attack on the theater and other key areas, it stands to reason that relations between the humans and faunus would be rocky at best, correct?"

"I would suppose," she rubbed a manicured finger against her chin. "But, what does that have to do with this 'reward' that you're proposing?"

"Well, I think there's no harm in using this scenario to benefit both of our future issues. I propose to offer this staff member of yours an opportunity to be more than a servant as a reward for saving the life of the daughter of one of the most powerful men in Atlas. If you agree, it could save your company from the inevitable bad press; a preemptive strike, if you will."

Willow was no idiot.

She knew that there was something more in her friend's recommendation. He wouldn't just pick out a random worker, let alone a faunus, to join his academy unless there was something far greater in it for him.

"What would you gain from this, 'proposal'?"

"Are you insinuating that I have underhanded plans, Willow?" he soothingly remarked, causing the woman to look away, hiding her blush. Amusingly, he chuckled at her flustered reaction before returning to his professional stature. "In all honesty, we both know that Atlas has a problem and it's not just with Mantle below. We're ranked second only to Mantle in faunus discrimination. Even with the programs put in place by the council, relations with the faunus are still glaringly weak at best, especially considering how your husband stretching civil rights statutes with faunus labor conditions. By allowing me the opportunity to bring this hero into the academy, it could go a long way in mending some of those bridges."

Willow considered his points, finding little wrong with them.

"What will Jacque think though?"

Surprisingly, James snickered at the mere mention of his old friend.

"If I know him, Jacque will bite at that bait without hesitation. By tomorrow, he'll be begging to get rid of an injured faunus, primarily if it means he can avoid having to do damage control with the media. All I have to do is give him full credit and everything will be settled without issue."

"Very well..." Willow let a small smile grace her lips before taking her leave. "I'll inform Jacque of your idea and have him contact you unless you prefer to meet in person."

"I appreciate your cooperation, Willow. The latter will just fine."

Hearing his gratitude, she stopped just short of the door, looking back over her shoulders.

"I won't pry any deeper into your affairs, but, I do hope that you know what you're getting into," sensing his inquest, she beat him to the punch. "I'm sure that you notice something odd about this one. Anyone with such a rare trait is already considered to be something to behold, but a faunus? Don't take away his fire James..."

Ironwood said nothing as Willow Schnee took her departure. He was grateful for the silence that granted him a reprieve before the warzone that was expected with the SDC owner. Perhaps it won't be so bad? he jokingly thought. On a more serious note, he hoped that things would go smoothly as he saw potential. No. He saw a warrior spirit radiating from the unconscious feline.

"You're going to do great things," he remarked while folding his hands behind him. "as long as Jacque plays ball."

Sure enough, one of the servants arrived to summon the general to his employer's study.

Here goes nothing...

Several Years Later

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!"

Merlot slammed his fists on the console as he watched several camera feeds disconnecting right before his eyes. No matter where he looked, one by one, the monitors would randomly fade from view. His eyes were practically bulging as the last feed soon blacked out as well. Eventually, he was left with no vision to see the action unfolding. There's little to worry about. He was still hidden deep within his tundra lab.

There's no way they'll find me... he figured, though not without a bead of cold sweat trailing down his cheek. Years of experimenting had brought him to a remote section of the tundra where he could operate in peace, and yet, after several years of prudent planning and tests, Merlot found himself infiltrated. Whoever these two were, they were foreign variables, and Merlot hated foreign variables.

Perhaps it's best if I do not tempt fate?

[Merlot's Lab/South Wing]

The panther's vision was locked as he rushed straight ahead down the slender corridor. This managed to slow the three-headed Grimm but not enough to declare himself safe. He was grateful still that the two outer heads were occupied long enough with this for him to put enough distance between himself and the chimera. After he managed to break out many of the kidnapped faunus and humans, all that remained was to take out the monster behind this heinous act. No sooner when he did, the Atlesian operative made a sharp turn, nearly sliding into a wall as he pushed through a pair of double doors.

"Operative Bagheera, come in!"

"What?! I'm kinda busy at the moment!" he growled into the communicator in his ear.

"It's been hours since you infiltrated the base. We feared that you had gone and gotten yourself captured," the astute, yet condescending speech made him want to grind his teeth. "It wouldn't be the first time..."

"Look, we can talk about that stick up your ass later. Right now, I need to avoid- WHOA!"

At that moment, the faunus ceased the imminent banter to roll out of the way of the large doors that were sent flying at him.

Here it comes... he smirked from beneath his hood as he drew his dual blades, Serenity & Malice.

Soon the feral beast stormed in, snarling at the one who owned its ire. Quickly, he flared his aura manipulating it into chains that wrapped around his arms and the hilt of his weapon. Cracking his neck, he took a deep breath before fully exerting his power, his eyes burning with ferocity. The chimera Grimm remained unphased by this cocky display and lunged at the faunus.

He narrowly avoided the ravenous fangs of the beast, each one closer than the one previous. One by one, each of the three heads snapped their jaws only to come up short.

Damn, it's pretty fast!

One after another, he carefully lept backward, slashing at whichever head attempted to gorge itself on him. The right Beowolf head swiftly extended toward him in retaliation only to miss him, resulting in its fangs sinking into the neck of the middle Ursa Major. The panther grinned complacently as it cried out in pain. Still, he knew this little victory wouldn't suffice as the left head turned back toward the young man.

While the two mammal heads fought amongst themselves, the Sabyr head kept its focus on the intruder. It charged, enraged at what its supposed meal had made them do. Bagheera once more rolled out of the way, this time avoiding a massive mutated paw that sought to crush him. He regained his footing and tossed Serenity at the monster, watching as the blade pierced the Sabyr's eye.

Its shrieks of agony made the faunus cringe slightly as the room rumbled from the outcry.

That should give me time to...

Agent Bagheera didn't get to finish his thought as a blinding white light forced him to shield his eyes. He grits his teeth at the sound of the dual sword clanking against the floor. "What the hell?" He hissed as the flash began to dim. Preparing himself for anything, the operative found himself standing across from four wounded Grimm.

Glowing green radiated off of their forms, proving that they were the by-products of Merlot's work. However, before he could attack the injured beasts, he began to notice the monsters beginning to fizzle away into puddles of green goo. A part of him felt pity as the chorus of groans and hisses of anguish permeated the room until each one was reduced to the contaminated ooze.

"That was... almost too easy," he brushed his sore neck.

"...Bagheera can-..." the voice returned, coupled with the crackling of the distorted link. "...hear...?"

"You're breaking up," he winced from the unexpected whine of feedback.

Another few seconds passed before the connection began to clear up, although, he wasn't entirely sure if that would be a good thing.

"Can you hear me now?"

"Yeah. What's up?"

"Do you ever exercise professionalism or is that too much for your brain to comprehend, assuming it functions?"

"Have you gotten that stick out of your ass or is it too big to remove?"

There was a lingering silence before the woman on the line let out a frustrated sigh. Even worse, the faunus couldn't help but smirk at her scorn, further signaling the small victory.

"A-Anyway, I was trying to reach you with orders from the general," she returned to her astute tone, ending their banter... at least for now. "He says that he needs you to return to base immediately: Priority Sigma."

"Are you kidding? I'm about to catch Merlot!"

"Well, unless you want to explain that to the general himself, Merlot can wait."

Even with her licensed demeanor, Bagheera could feel the self-satisfied grin that the operative no doubt had at this moment. The last thing he wanted to deal with was a 'private meeting' with the general. He let out a groan before resuming the conversation.

"Alright, Winter. I'll return as soon as I get the faunus back to Mantle. You think you can tell him about that?"

"Fine... I mean, understood. We await your return."

With that, the feed was cut, leaving the panther alone in the large room. Disgruntled and tired, he pondered his life thus far and how far he'd come since then. It was nothing short of a miracle that he wasn't arrested after being double-crossed by Adam. He wasn't sure how it happened, but he recalled, confusingly, how he was hailed as a celebrity; a hero who saved the eldest daughter of the Schnee Dust Company owner from assassination. Now, he was nearing the end of his solo trials but, after that call, it appeared that things would have to wait.

He took off through the corridor in search of the former prisoners, his lustrous eyes reflecting vividly with concern as he deliberated what could be so important that General Ironwood would command a halt to his mission. In any case, he only had one thought as he arrived at his ship where the captives cheered upon his return.

This had better be good...

[Atlas Academy/Mission Center]

"Name?"

"Solo-Trainee, Sango Bagheera" he replied, handing over his identification card.

The receptionist nodded, her fingers tapping away on her keyboard for a few moments. After scanning the holographic device, she returned it to the faunus before returning to the monitor. From there, she asked a few more questions that resulted in simplistic answers, thus allowing for the smooth progression of his post-mission briefing later on.

"Alright, you're all set," she announced, politely smiling at the faunus. "Your rank mission has been waived and the general is awaiting your arrival in the conference room."

"The general is meeting with you?" a snarky voice drew the attention of both personnel.

Only a few things made Sango miss being on solo missions, one being a certain team of Atlas Elites.

"Well if it isn't the solo warrior..." he groaned without bothering to look at the owner of the voice, a young faunus with long greenish-black hair and blue eyes. When he didn't reply, the cocky male turned his nose up. "...What? Cat got your tongue?"

"Marrow!" another voice called out, followed by the sound of a powerful thud.

The source had come courtesy of a tall young muscular woman with medium brown hair in a short ponytail, brown-tan skin, and brown eyes. By comparison, she towered over her team, standing at 6'5" (Sango didn't mind her height at all, standing only an inch shorter than she was). While their leader, Clover chuckled at the canine faunus, Harriet Bree and Vine Zeki rolled their eyes at the wacky antics, though not without a snicker from the former.

The moment, sadly, didn't last long as the receptionist cleared her throat.

"My apologies, but, I neglected to ask if you would like to register for new missions or bounties while you're here?"

"That's alright," Sango shrugged, still hiding his disappointment. "I have an important meeting to attend."

With that, he turned to leave only to find himself staring at a brunette. No, it wasn't Harriet Bree using her semblance. It was Elm, the bruiser of the Ace-Ops. This would come as a surprise to everyone, especially Harriet as they watched the powerhouse spark up a conversation with the still-stunned faunus. Even more surprising was the sight of him replying without much issue, almost as if he enjoyed the obnoxiously loud woman's company. No annoyance. No snarky comments. It was just casual pleasantries.

While the group exchanged looks amongst themselves, they all decided to press on without Elm. She was too preoccupied to care at this point as she too had her own business to tend to. That would all come to a head when a certain white-haired specialist approached them, calmly dragging Sango by the arm while Elm followed. It was a peculiar visual to behold.

An unranked graduate walking alongside a specialist and an Ace-operative.

The stares persisted as the trio moved onward, their trek finally concluding in front of a conference room. She pressed a series of numbers on a keypad that allowed the door to slide open. "After you..." she ushered. He silently obliged, entering the pristine room with a low whistle. Unsure of whether he should stand or sit, the faunus opted for the former. With Elm and Winter here with him, he wondered what was so important.

Only when the door finally sealed itself once again would he finally receive some answers?

"Where do I start?" Winter pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I hear the beginning is a good place," a chuckle could be heard from the Amazon only to dissolve under the specialist's glare. "Sorry..."

Winter took a moment to compose herself, taking deep breaths before recommending her 'professional' posture. However, before she could state her issue with her fellow alumni, the sliding door opened to reveal their host for the evening. The trio stood at attention as he walked around the conference table, taking his seat at the head.

"General Ironwood, sir!" Winter saluted.

"Please, take your seats," he extended a hand, watching as the three obliged. "I'm sure you all are wondering why I've called you all here today."

"Of course, sir," Winter answered first, earning an eye roll from Elm & Sango who resisted the urge to snicker at her 'teacher's pet' side surfacing. Though they succeeded in keeping quiet, Winter could feel the teasing energy, ignoring the pair. "When you initially instructed me to retrieve operative Sango from his mission, you appeared to be a bit... tense."

The general gently sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"Yes. Between dealing with the council, the Vytal Festival being hosted by Vale this year, and the task of running both an academy as well as an entire military, it's difficult to get a moment's reprieve these days," he chuckled half-heartedly. "Nevermind that though; For now, we should focus on this moment and the significant details that will be crucial in the coming school year."

"Understood."

He smiled lightly at his 'right hand' before resuming his address.

"First on the docket: Sango?"

"Yes sir?" the panther nodded.

"I'd like to be the first to congratulate you!"

"Um... Thank you, sir. But, what am I being congratulated for exactly?"

James Ironwood chuckled to himself before pointing to the perplexed faunus. "Why don't you check your scroll?"

On cue, a hesitant Sango pulled out the small device just as an image of an envelope appeared on the screen. Opening it, he found his identification information to appear. Everything appeared to be normal until he took a look at his rank, resulting in his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

"W-What?"

"Again, congratulations to you, Special Operative, Bagheera. You've earned this."

"But... How?" he gently shook his head in incredulity. "I mean, I didn't even finish the mission and Merlot escaped."

"Be that as it may, it was under my order that afforded him the time to escape. However, it was necessary as we've learned from the information you gathered that he has a second lab stationed in one of the other kingdoms. Had you brought him in or worse, eliminated him, we'd have had a tougher time finding the lab. Plus, you did manage to rescue many of the kidnapped faunus and followed orders, even against your judgment," he smiled warmly at the feline, relishing the new specialist's overwhelmed feelings. "In the end, you showed the marks of a leader through humility, and for that, along with your skills, I am confident in my decision."

Winter nodded in approval while Elm smiled brightly before slapping a beefy hand onto his back. That snapped Sango out of his stupor. As he recovered from the heavily playful blow, he grinned at the Amazon sheepishly to which she gave him a wide and excited smile of her own, causing the faunus to turn his gaze from her, failing to hide his flushed cheeks.

"Thank you, General."

"No need for that. You earned this and you deserve to celebrate after we conclude. For now, let us begin..."