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:
We got another long one, guys! But, we're in the moments of Volume 3!
According to my knowledge, this was the final volume of "Behind Our Eyes" before I went on hiatus. This time, since I'm integrating this with "Bound by Shadows", I'm going to take a bit of liberty with how things concluded in the former story while continuing on with the latter mentioned. I'll still be chronicling Sango's story moving forward as well, just in a different way from the earlier version.
As always, enjoy the chapter as we enter day one of the Vytal Tournament!
Chapter 9: Baring Our Fangs-4
[Beacon Academy-Beacon Tower]
Sango found himself in Ozpin's office, donning his customary Atlas attire. The room had a tranquil ambiance, yet it was evident that pandemonium lurked beneath the surface. Sango approached the trio of superiors before him with caution, as the sun had yet to rise. Ozpin, who sat behind his desk exuding a soothing smile, was accompanied by Glynda Goodwitch, who seemed displeased with the third individual standing beside her. Sango had received a summons from the leader of Beacon Academy after the dance. While such an invitation should have filled him with pride and assurance, he was aware that it was not wise to make assumptions. As a faunus, it was in his nature to be vigilant. When they commended his exceptional performance, his apprehension turned to bewilderment.
"I don't understand..."
General Ironwood let out a heavy sigh and rubbed his temples, feeling a sense of overwhelming dread wash over him. The sharp gaze of the blonde individual fixed on him like a laser, making the task ahead seem even more daunting and impossible.
"Ugh, Ozpin wants you to stick around Vale permanently now. I assume it's because you did well on your last task or something."
"Permanently?!" Sango was taken aback, his jaw-dropping before he regained his composure and stood upright.
"I have to admit that I have reservations about the plan, but I cannot deny that you deserve the accolades. It would be preferable if you returned to Atlas after the celebration, but I comprehend..."
"The choice would be entirely up to you," Glynda added her thoughts, pointing out the hesitation of the general. "We took great care not to overstep any boundaries such as rank or status. Once General Ironwood confirmed your status, I proceeded with my submission. However, the choice is yours entirely."
Sango was taken aback by the news that he had just been told. Despite his efforts to keep his composure, he couldn't help but feel a swarm of butterflies in his stomach as he tried to process everything that was being relayed to him. The prospect of a new beginning, an opportunity of a lifetime, was simply astounding. While he cherished his role as an educator for the children, he couldn't shake off the persistent feeling that something was missing in his life. Thankfully, Ozpin was understanding and more than willing to present a solution to his predicament.
As the faunus expressed his hesitation, the headmaster respectfully lowered his head in acknowledgment.
"Feel free to speak your mind, Sango."
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm not sure if I'm the best fit for the job. While it's an incredible honor, I'm hesitant to accept because I was trained for fieldwork and I'm not sure if I could adjust to a more stationary role in the long term."
Ironwood couldn't help but crack a small smile, even though he tried to maintain his strong demeanor. He and Sango were both aware of the latter's exceptional skills as a huntsman. The sword had been Sango's companion from the beginning and would undoubtedly remain so. Ironwood wondered if he had been worrying for nothing.
Little did he realize...
"I am keen on contributing to the proposal," Everyone's gaze fixated on the elderly gentleman, whose smile barely concealed the mischievous glint in his eyes. "It just so happens that I have other like-minded individuals in my employ. In addition to being one of our professors, I would like to extend you the opportunity to be a free huntsman as well as a spot in my inner circle?"
"What?!" James explosively shattered the delicate harmony that was present by losing his composure. "Ozpin, we did not agree on this!"
"Dear General, I would like to ensure you that my initial proposal is still valid. Furthermore, I would like to suggest a few additional advantages to make it a more attractive offer. As you may know, incentives can often play a significant role in negotiations. Would you concur with this statement?"
You sly fox...!
Ozpin appeared to have a deep understanding of the thoughts running through the mind of his company. He took a long sip from his mug and then shifted his focus back to the uneasy faunus. The two of them were aware of what had led to the headmaster's decision, so the argument didn't even have a chance to begin. Nonetheless, the Atlesian gave Ozpin a fierce glare, indicating that the issue was far from being resolved.
"Dear Mr. Bagheera, I understand that this decision could have a significant impact on your life, and therefore, I respect the need for time to consider my offer. Let's revisit this matter after the festival is over. Does that sound reasonable to you?"
"...Of course, sir."
"Excellent! Glynda if you would..."
"Have you considered the possibility of joining the Ace Ops as an official member?"
As the general sauntered towards his ward, Ironwood, Sango, Glynda, and Ozpin each had a distinct response etched on their faces. Sango's jaw dropped in disbelief, Glynda's eyes blazed with fury, and Ozpin couldn't help but crack a small smile. The general casually rested his hand on Ironwood's shoulder, commanding everyone's attention to him.
"I understand that the current situation may cause doubt, but I genuinely mean what I just expressed. When you return to Atlas, I would like for you to join the Ace Ops. Your unwavering and unquestionable dedication to serving Atlas deserves the utmost recognition, and someone with your level of skill deserves nothing but the highest honor."
A lopsided grin began to twitch at the panther's lips as he bowed his head in understanding.
"Like Ozpin, I will allow you time to consider BOTH of our offers and we can speak on this after the festival."
"Thank you... Thank you both!" he saluted the trio, eager to leave the heavy atmosphere.
Just as he reached the elevator door, he was stopped by Ozpin's voice once more.
"Sango, I would greatly appreciate it if you could exercise discretion concerning our meetings. It would benefit everyone if we kept our discussions private, especially after the recent incident at the tower during the dance. We need to be cautious of any potential eavesdroppers, and maintaining secrecy is our best defense at this point."
"Got it."
"Great. Take some rest and enjoy yourself as best as you can."
Sango acknowledged the advice and left, saluting the general who smiled back. As soon as the door shut, Ironwood's thoughts shifted.
"That was a low blow, Oz..."
"And yet, you've recovered quite well. Such an invitation is certainly a rarity, or so I've heard."
"Do you think this is funny?!" James spoke with an outraged tone and stated. "You're talking about bringing him into our fold; telling him about a secret war with her... This isn't a game for your entertainment!"
"And yet, you couldn't resist throwing your weight around in hopes of buttering Sango up," Glynda mirrored his gesture. "We know about the secret you've been keeping from Atlas. His past and how he got into Atlas Academy? Your attempts to keep him from joining this program? Or how about using someone with connections to Sango to possibly keep an eye on him? Did I miss anything?"
Jame's silence articulated more than his words ever could; it didn't mean that he would stop trying.
"You don't understand..."
"Then why don't you aid us?"
The general took a moment to recollect himself before finally obliging his colleagues.
Amity Colosseum, a large floating arena or stadium, sailed through the sky above Beacon Academy. The roars and cheers from the crowd were deafening as they observed and marveled at the many battles that would unfold for their entertainment and subsequent bragging rights. This was the pinnacle of the Vytal Festival, and the cries for victory would only grow as the first fight of the day concluded.
"...And with that, Team RWBY is victorious!" Professor Port announced from the commentator's booth. Proud of his young pupils, he and his partner Dr. Oobleck began to announce the rules to give the crowd and the combatants a chance to settle down from such an action-packed match. "Professor Oobleck, would you be so kind as to start us off?"
"DR!" the coffee-guzzling professor corrected before nodding in agreement. "The rules are simple. There are three rounds in the tournament, the first being a 4 vs 4 teams round. The winners of that round may select two of their team members to fight in the doubles round, the victors of which may choose one representative to fight in the final 1 on 1 round. The remaining combatants will fight through a final round to prove a victor. There are no specific brackets for age or schooling; the only thing that is put to the test in the tournament is one's skill."
Port opted to give his colleague a chance to catch his breath.
"Contenders are knocked out of the battle by falling below an Aura threshold (15%) and/or by being knocked out of the fighting arena. Aura monitors can measure the aura of competitors as numerical values, which are made visible to spectators and competitors." he cheerfully announced. "With that said, we will take a 15-minute break before the next match commences."
"And just who is up next, my good friend?"
"Why that would be none other than Team BNNY from Haven taking on the enigmatic Team ASRE of Beacon!" Oobleck announced with enthusiasm.
"I'm sure it'll be a fantastic affair."
It'd been several weeks since the incident with Merlot, and most of the children had managed to recover enough from the ordeal. This was to be expected, seeing as they were skilled huntsmen-in-training. The only one who was uncertain was their leader, Aganju. After arriving back on campus, h had spent the majority of his time back in recovery, mostly mental.
Thankfully, Professor Peach was able to get through to some of the issues that plagued the faunus, citing abandonment issues as the root of his desire to prove himself. It would take more sessions, but, given his willingness, the good teacher was more than happy to clear him for competition as his physical wounds healed rather quickly upon his return. There was a bit of an issue with enlisting Professor Bagheera, but the fox didn't mind much.
Now, the team in question sat in the waiting room, gathering themselves for the battle ahead. Scylla and Roxanne were fine-tuning their weapons to make sure they were at their optimal settings. Esu calmly went over different strategies in his mind, both individual and team-related in hopes of maximizing his role to the fullest extent.
Lastly, there was Aganju who was clearing his mind of all distractions; he would thank Yatsuhashi for this idea later. After a few deep breaths, the fox had completely rid himself of every distraction... Well... Almost every distraction. After the dance, he couldn't help but wonder if their friends were being weird around them. Weird giggles from Nora. Ribbings from Yang and Roxanne. Even Scylla and Blake got in on the joke, flashing a knowing glance whenever the pair were brought up.
Thankfully, the one person who seemed to have their head on straight was Pyrrha herself. While their mutual attraction was evident, they both agreed to keep things platonic, at least until after their tournament.
From that moment, they rallied their teammates, working on chemistry and strategic training. From his time spent prisoner and pushed to his natural limits under the eyes of a madman, Aganju made sure to keep his focus on the task at hand. Even when his brain would stray off to more... pleasant thoughts, he fought to push them back for the time being; there'd be time for that later.
"You ready, Fang?" he opened his eyes to find the ram Faunus with her hands on her hips.
"Ready as I'll ever be, Roxie."
"Are you sure?" the ram frowned slightly at her partner. "It's okay if you're not 100% on all of this."
"I said I'm...!" he nearly shouted, stopping just short of a full-on outburst, bowing his head in. "S-Sorry... I'm just anxious to finally take out weeks of frustration on someone after everything that's happened. I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
"Good. We can't afford to take our competition lightly."
"Agreed," Esu nodded. "Their leader, Beverly may appear cute, but she can be a handful if you let her."
"Let's just fight our fight and stick to the game plan," Scylla added, polishing her newly upgraded pistols with a coy grin. "We wouldn't want to get eliminated in front of your girlfriend..."
Everyone nodded, each of them flashing a confident smile before sharing a moment to embrace. Aganju didn't bite the bait, but the serpent could tell he heard her and was trying to keep himself focused. It was evident that no matter the challenge, the four had become like a true family. From fighting their first Grimm in the Emerald Forest to this point, they had a bond that wasn't easily broken.
"Would Teams BNNY & ASRE please report to the arena for the next match-up? The next battle will commence in 5 minutes."
"Alright," Aganju grabbed his newly refined Cerberus. "Let's do this."
[Amity Arena]
"Welcome back everyone! This is going to be an exciting match-up, for sure!"
"That's right, Oobleck! With Haven's Team BNNY going up against Beacon's Team ASRE, we're guaranteed to have plenty of fireworks in this match-up."
Aganju, Scylla, Roxanne, and Esu stood in the middle of the arena as the crowd erupted with cheers and jeers alike. Across from them stood BNNY consisting of Beverly, a sword and shield rabbit Faunus, twins Nox & Nessa who both wielded chain scythes, and Yori, an archery expert. The eight remained still as the arena soon began to die down during the randomized terrain generator.
One by one, they all kept a close eye on the screens as the roulette spun over and over again. Eventually, it would begin to slow, drawing more anticipation than when it first started. The first of the screens soon ceased its motions revealing the first half of the terrain: Urban. On the other side, the second biome began to appear as well.
"It appears that Team BNNY will have the forest environment while ASRE will have to make do with the urban landscape! This is going to be interesting."
The countdown started.
3...
Aganju gripped the handle of his sword while Scylla cocked her dual pistols.
...2...
Team BNNY took their stances, eager to gain the upper hand as quickly as possible.
...1.
Esu and Roxanne readied themselves for the impending attack.
The alarm sounded off and the battle began.
Esu crashed his scimitars into Beverly's sword, struggling against the equally powerful hare. She flashed a knowing grin at the dragon Faunus. Seeing this, he raised a questioning eyebrow before the girl sprung on her feet, kicking him backward and opening him up for an attack from both of the fraternal twins, Nox and Nessa who appeared from overhead.
Tossing their chain scythes, Esu wasn't fast enough to lift Porunga in time to block the attacks, making him a sitting duck. Thankfully, Aganju's double-edged glaive was able to ward off the attack. Unfortunately, the impact was still hard enough to launch the brothers-in-arms into a pair of destroyed vehicles. Nox & Nessa giggled creepily before gliding and swinging their weapons.
"Damn... that was unexpected," Esu grunted, struggling to pull himself up. "Didn't think such frail weaponry could pack a punch like that."
"It's gravity dust..." Aganju exclaimed, tilting his head at the luminous chained kunai.
Both twins launched their assault again at the boys once more only to have the scythes bounce away harmlessly, courtesy of Scylla's quick thinking. Using earth dust, she was able to create smaller rock constructs that kept the two at bay while her partners recovered. Even better, her excellent aim would push back the pair while keeping Yori at bay in the trees.
"Stay focused! We can't have our tank getting blown out of the water!" she hissed, firing off several shots to keep the twins on the defensive. This allowed the duo to get themselves back together. "Are you two alright?"
Both boys nodded as they dusted themselves off. However, the feel-good moment didn't last as they both looked up to see a blinking arrow sailing toward them. Three pairs of eyes widened in horror as the glowing red arrow combusted in front of them, triggering a massive explosion. Everyone in the crowd gasped in shock and awe at the display, some even worrying for the safety of Team ASRE.
Team BNNY looked on with proud expressions as the flames built up around the area. Even the two professors stood up from their seats at the pure destruction that unfolded.
"Holy cow! Such massive power could result in the fastest victory in Vytal Festival history!" Oobleck raved in awe and worry. "I doubt even the Grimm could survive that blow. Thank Brothers that they have aura!"
"I think you went a little too far with the fire Dust, Yori..." the lagomorph chuckled.
"Wait... What's that?"
Everyone in the arena looked in wonder as the silhouettes of the trio appeared to be four now. As the smoke and debris cleared, it turned out that Roxanne was the one standing in front of the three. With a sneer of her own, the ram began to wave off the effects of the blast, her smile growing larger by the second. She spared a glance at the flickering in her palm, noting how the remnants of the attack resembled fireflies.
"Astonishing!" Oobleck called out. "It appears that Roxanne Octane has activated her semblance, Smeltery. For those who don't know, she can either increase or decrease the effectiveness of fire dust tenfold. While it may seem one-dimensional to most neophytes, against enemies who use fire dust, she can reduce the power it packs to the levels of regular dust on the ground and even use her semblance to increase the fire dust she or her allies may use. It is the perfect balance of offense and defense."
The members of BNNY looked over at Yori who blinked blankly at the realization of Roxanne's ability and the disadvantage of the archer's arsenal; she only had fire dust-based arrows. This realization only made things better for team AZRE who finally got their second wind from the sneak attack. The fox stepped forward, practically snarling to get back at the foursome.
"Burning rage?"
He smiled, flaring up his aura, and baring his canines.
"Burning rage..." he muttered, wiping the ashen spot from his grinning mug.
The pair looked over at Scylla and Esu who took their position.
Esu, rolled backward while twisting his lanky body and gaining momentum while swinging Porunga. Scylla rushed toward him, leaping on the flat part of the massive blade just when he began charging his semblance. A few seconds later, the dragon launched his reptilian partner into the air as Team BNNY finally realized what was happening. Nox and Nessa tossed their chain scythes and even Yori began firing a volley of arrows, content that the serpent couldn't block the attacks from the air.
However, that hope was dashed when Esu lept in the air, blocking them with the great sword while reflecting the blinding rays of the sun on them. This left only Beverly who avoided the same fate due to raising her shield in time. Meanwhile, the rest of her team stumbled around trying to regain their bearings. Scylla aimed, blasting off several ice and electricity bolts underneath their feet.
With the scattered shots, large shards of ice began to form a wall that closed in the stumbling opponents pushing them into a single-file line. This was all Aganju needed as he and Roxanne charged straight ahead with blazing fury. Seeing her friends in danger, Beverly managed to hop in front of the two, blocking their imminent attack with her sword and shield respectively.
"Not. On my... Watch!" she grunted, barely managing to drive Roxanne back with a swipe of her sword. Aganju, seeing his friend knocked rearward, used the dust stored in his blade to flare up the weapon with a red hue as the bunny screamed. "I won't let you take them out...!"
"Who said THEY were the target?"
Beverly looked at her opponent with confusion.
Aganju responded with a sly grin before pushing off of the hare's defense. Now off guard, Beverly floundered back when she finally saw the logic of his gesture. Red dust scattered all around her as the fox twisted his body leftward of her position, kicking her sword from her hand. She didn't have time to contemplate his actions as she was pelted with various shots from Scylla's pistols.
With only her shield to defend most of the shots, more red dust began to appear like a cloud around the faunus, obscuring her vision. Fits of coughing and choking ensued, but Beverly continued to stand her ground as she tried to make heads and tails of her surroundings. Unfortunately, the only thing she would see was a growing silhouette coming closer at a blinding speed.
Roxanne emerged from the dissipating smoke, propelled by Esu's semblance and immediately landed a headbutt on Beverly, causing her and her team to stumble like bowling pins. Unfazed, Roxanne maintained her position, spun around, and effectively delivered a powerful finishing blow using her velocity.
Without hesitation, she withdrew her right hand and unleashed her semblance, igniting a blazing inferno around her fist. With a mighty shout, she landed a devastating punch, hurtling the hare towards her companions with formidable power, resulting in Team BNNY slamming into the barrier and losing consciousness. Only Roxie remained standing, panting heavily and adorned with intricate dust patterns that glimmered like twinkling fireflies, jubilantly reveling in her triumph.
"With an explosive conclusion, Team ASRE will move on to the doubles round!" Professor Port announced over the intercom.
However, rather than the expected roar of the crowd, the arena began to fill with... boos and jeers?
It must have been quite unsettling for the group, especially since most of the attendees were representing the kingdom at hand. It's disheartening to hear that there was criticism from both Atlas citizens and those from other kingdoms. Unfortunately, situations like these can reveal the unpleasant side of the world. One could only imagine how the four individuals must have felt when they grabbed their weapons and left amidst the loud and clear jeers from the crowd.
"Filthy faunus!"
"Monsters!"
"White Fang trash!"
It was abundantly clear to the four Beacon students that they were unwelcome due to threats emanating from various quarters. The presence of other faunus in the tournament did not deter those who harbored discriminatory views. Such prejudice is unacceptable, but unfortunately, the damage had already been done. Faunus were often judged based on the actions of a few, rather than as individuals, regardless of where they come from - be it Vale, Atlas, Vacuo, or Mistral.
It was something they'd all experienced individually and it was something that would hit them harder than any blow from their competition. After entering the tunnel, the group silently agreed to take a short break before deciding on their picks for the next rounds; each one going in separate ships to their intended destination.
Amongst the crowd, several eyes paid close attention to the team's departure. Several agendas and purposes began to cultivate about the unsuspecting youth; a calm before the storm.
Concern.
Intrigue.
Deviance.
Compassion.
Even still, each member of Team ASRE had a measure of darkness that didn't go unnoticed by a select few as they passed by. Esu comforted his beloved Scylla, whispering gentle words to lift her spirits. It served a dual purpose as each utterance held back his anger. Roxanne's eyes hid a conflicting nature that borderlines rage and fear. Lastly, Aganju's emotions were the most complex. While there was indeed negativity, it was uncertain to what degree or place on the spectrum it currently resided.
[Beacon Academy-Courtyard]
The first round of the tournament came and went, leaving the pair of Atlesian warriors with nothing to do but enjoy the festivities stationed throughout the kingdom. Elm was fired up after witnessing the fights, going on about strategies, and how proud she was of her wards. To Sango's amusement, he watched as she punched the air in triumph whilst remaining silent.
"That Nora girl was something else!" she roared enthusiastically, startling a few people in the crowd. "That Jaune boy is a capable strategist in his own right, too. He may need some more work physically but he has a good eye for the battlefield. We could get him in tip-top shape back at the academy."
Sango's mind fell at the mention of returning to Atlas; his home. That strange feeling in his stomach returned while his mind reflected on the conversation he had earlier. That dread of making such a choice began to slither around his heart, coiling and constricting his thoughts to only the inevitable decision to come.
Remain a teacher and huntsman in Vale...? The Ace Ops? Atlas... Vale... What's so special about me that both General Ironwood and Professor Ozpin would go to extreme lengths to obtain me? I love the students and but... Can I do this full-time? Then Ozpin said I could be a pro huntsman here... It all seems too good to be true.
"Sango?" he snapped back to find Elm standing in from him with concern swimming behind her terra orbs. "What's going on? You spaced out on me."
"Sorry about that," he lied, rubbing his neck nervously. "I was just thinking about the um... our matches later. Don't forget we came to showcase our abilities soon. I got sidetracked about how seeding will go."
Elm wasn't convinced, frowning at her partner for such an obvious lie. Closing the distance, she prepared to berate her closest friend with a determination that wasn't easily shaken, much to his dread. It was a relief when an explosion could be heard off in the distance. Was it an attack? They rushed over to the landing pad, their weapons at the ready.
To their surprise and dismay, respectively, Sango & Elm found themselves wandering into a fight in progress between an unknown spiky-haired man and...
"Winter?!"
Indeed, Specialist Winter Schnee was going toe to toe with some guy with a massive sword that doubled as a shotgun. The pair were too busy running along the various pillars, the man firing shots while the Atlesian expertly dodged, drawing a dagger from her weapon, From the look of things, it appeared that the crowd was appreciating the battle. When Winter and the mystery man landed on the ground, things began to take a turn; For better or worse, that was up for debate.
Sango and Elm watched as the man's blade suddenly began to separate, steel curving and contorting into a sickle shape while Winter summoned a massive glyph behind herself. Whatever was about to happen, it was going to decide this contest. They were confused though when all of a sudden, the man ceased his weapon's transformation and stood before the specialist, armed with nothing but an arrogant smirk on his lips and beckoning the woman to come.
Winter let out an enraged battle cry that tore through the heavens. By now, she was seeing red and, using her glyph semblance, bolted at the infernal man with bloodlust. The victory was hers! All she needed to do was wipe that arrogant smirk from his face. Surprisingly, he didn't so much as flinch as her saber neared.
Why isn't he moving?!
"SCHNEE!"
The world appeared to halt as a stern voice pierced through the chaos. Akin to her namesake, Winter felt her blood chill at the voice of her superior ringing in her ear. She slowly dropped her weapon and, fighting her regret, turned to find General Ironwood standing next to a worried young girl. Bringing in the rear were Elm and Sango, and that was all that was needed for her face to flush beet red.
"General Ironwood, sir!" she stood upright, hoping to salvage what little dignity she had left.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"He started the altercation, sir!"
"That's actually not true..." the man peeked from around Winter, his hands held high in resignation. "She attacked first."
Ironwood narrowed his eyes, his annoyance aimed firmly at the specialist. Winter could only turn her gaze toward the ground, her only savior from the glare of her superior.
"Is that right?" The general's calm tone veiled his anger while she bowed her head in shame. He finally scouted the crowd around them, assessing their reaction to the event that transpired before turning to the man lazily staring at the sky in faux innocence. "...and you? What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question, James..."
"Now, now everyone..." Ozpin and Glynda entered the gathering, the former's cheerful temperament shattering the edgy ambiance. "There is a sanctioned exhibition happening right now at the coliseum that I can assure you has better seats and popcorn."
The blond woman began dispersing the crowds, leading them away from the impromptu battle.
"Let's go..." The general marched toward the headmaster's tower only to notice both Sango and Elm standing there with worried expressions. "Specialist Ederne, see to it that Penny is reunited with her team as soon as possible."
"Understood, sir. We'll ensure nothing..."
"Just Specialist Ederne..." Ironwood cut in, his anger having not been fully quenched. "I need to speak with Operatives Bagheera and Schnee... alone."
The air grew thick at the general's still words while shock and guilt masked the four's faces but none objected. Sango and Winter followed behind the general while Elm was put on escorting duty. As they parted ways, she missed the sorrowful gaze of her partner, too focused on the whimsical Penny asking questions about the festival.
"Operative Bagheera..."
"Sir?"
"Have you given some thought to what we discussed earlier?"
While Winter wasn't clear on what the general was referring to, one look at the conflicted faunus soldier gave her some indication. On top of that, if she was required to stay, then it must be serious.
[Dorm Hall]
The sun was still high in the sky when Team ASRE arrived at the main campus. The ride back was short, but awkward silence was a good way to make the time drag on in their minds. Esu took Scylla to the fairgrounds in hopes of cheering up the down serpent. Meanwhile, Aganju and Roxanne split up. While it was common for them to try and aid the other, it was evident to the other that they both needed some alone time.
They were strong, but even resilience had a limit.
Roxanne chose to go back to the dorms where she could lie down and rest up after a quick shower. The residue from the battle was a bittersweet reminder of her time as a machinist in Vacuo. From the unrelenting region to the vicious Grimm to the shady characters that lived there, every day was a fight for survival. She pulled off her huntress garments and stepped inside, letting the hot water hit her body, soothing her aching muscles.
Sadly, it did little to soothe her soul.
As she washed off the dirt and grime, her mind kept replaying the boos and jeers from some members of the crowd. It wasn't uncommon for her to experience discrimination but, there was one comment that pierced her intensely.
'Go join the White Fang!'
She clenched her eyes shut at the mere thought of that malicious group. Her auburn hair hung down to her midback, soaking wet but also clean as she grabbed a towel to dry off. She passed by a large mirror, hoping to wrap her hair up only to notice a glaringly obvious truth. On either side of her head, two uneven sections of broken horns, the evidence of her faunus trait.
Fiery orange orbs widened in terror before Roxanne was propelled back to the horrific day.
The day that she tried to forget suddenly reappeared, replaying the imagery of her unfortunate fate at the hands of the creatures that humiliated her. Her shrieks of pain echoed in her ears until they became too much to bear and she rushed out of the bathroom only to bump into someone, dropping her towel in the process. It didn't matter though as her team's room was next door.
Nude and trembling, Roxanne's eyes stung with the salt drop forming along the rims of her eyes. She curled up on her bed in an attempt to hide from the past that haunted her but found no reprieve from the nightmare that she was forced to live every day.
That wicked grin.
Roxanne recollected the look on his face before he used that cursed blade to cut off her horns! Such a helpless feeling was uncharacteristic for the bruiser, but it was very much a part of her.
"Hello?"
Roxanne looked up to see two girls entering the room with looks of worry on their faces. It was the members of team RWBY, the latter being the one Roxanne had bumped into only moments ago.
"Blake? Yang?"
"You um... dropped your towel..." The latter handed her the large cloth with a compassionate smile.
"Oh... Thanks." she sniffed, avoiding eye contact with the two.
"Are you okay?" This time Blake spoke up. "You appeared to be in a hurry just now."
"I'm fine... Thanks for askin'."
The blond looked at the girl's state and motioned for Blake to shut the door to which she obliged. The Faunus blinked back the last remnant of tears as the two sat across from her. Before she could inquire further, Blake cleared her throat.
"We heard some of the things that were said after your match..." her typically monotone voice spoke up. "...we stopped by to check up on you after you guys rushed out of the arena."
"Oh... so the humans care now?" she fired back coldly, making even Yang Xiao-Long cringe. "I appreciate your concern, but I don't want your pity."
Being the hothead of the pair, Yang was about to reply only to be stopped by the extended arm of Blake. The raven-haired girl then reached up, tugging at the ribbon on her head until it fell into her lap, revealing something that made Roxanne swallow her words. Instead of a verbal retort, the ram was greeted by twitching cat ears and a slight grin.
"How about someone who understands?" the catgirl inquired.
"And someone willing to listen?" the blond added.
After landing on the fairgrounds, Esu and a solemn Scylla wandered around, neither truly making an effort to talk or even enjoy the festivities. Instead, they just kept walking until they arrived at a nearby food stall while trying to keep their spirits up. After ordering their food, Scylla felt helpless as she watched her partner as he quietly slurped his noodles, staring off. Considering she was traditionally the brightest member in terms of his mood, it was like staring at a stranger for the Atlesian.
Being a reptilian faunus, she despised the chilly weather and cared even less for the people of the bigoted kingdom. That's why she adored Esu. As a dragon faunus, he was naturally warm, both inside and out, and it was a boon that they'd end up together as partners. He took a liking to her almost immediately after they locked eyes in the Emerald Forest.
Now, they were practically inseparable.
She spared a glance, watching him eat his bowl of steak noodles with a soft grin.
"Darling?" he missed her call, possibly due to the slurping. "Esu?"
This time he ceased his devouring to see her staring over the collar of her gunner coat. He blinked innocently, causing her to giggle at his naivete before returning to her bowl. Oh, how she adored her gentle warrior!
"Is something wrong, Scylla?"
"It's nothing..." She took a slow sip of the broth, savoring the warmth, even if it paled in comparison to the heat of her lover. "I was just lost in thought."
"You don't have to hide your feelings. If you're still down about earlier, we could-"
"I'd rather not talk about it. It's not the first time we've heard things like that growing up, so it's no big deal."
"That doesn't mean you can't feel anything!"
"And what would we do, Darling?" she casually remarked, concealing her annoyance at Esu's sudden display behind a courteous tone. Said tone sunk to frigid levels, matched only by her cold stare. "It's not as if we can go around and attack everyone who heckles us?"
"I can break their legs if you want me to!"
The pair nearly jumped out of their skin, screaming upon catching the voice one Nora Valkyrie. The hammer-wielding girl blinked giggled playfully while Ren sighed and shook his head in disapproval. They were accompanied by Ruby, Weiss, and Jaune. Even team SSSN was there enjoying the festivities.
"Nora?" she clenched her eyes upon the calling of her name. "Why are you startling people?"
I wasn't trying to, Ren. Honest!"
After regaining their composure, the pair released their rigid breaths. Seeing the group, it was clear that their conversation would be put on hold for the time. They wouldn't make a fuss about such trivial things, but the tension would need some time to fade away. Being a couple wasn't all fun and games, but even with their attitudes, neither could deny that they cared for one another... sometimes to a fault.
All it took was for one to extend their hand before the other accepted the invitation, and all would be well.
As the day concluded, Aganju ran into Pyrrha who wanted to check on him. From the looks of things, he was still sore about what'd happened after his match, but at least he was willing to accept company. With the others opting to enjoy the various purveyors of goods, this afforded the two some private time. Silence encompassed most of their trek and this worried Pyrrha to no end.
Seeing the fox in such a state troubled the warrior, for both himself and, potentially, others by extension.
Rather than press the issue, Pyrrha figured it was better to afford him the time he needed to speak on things when, or if, he decided to. Throughout their walk, she occupied herself by observing his features. Plush pointed ears and an equally fluffy tail. It was a good distraction, yet not enough for her to ignore the aura of negativity that shrouded him like a blanket.
How have the Grimm not shown up?
Such a thought would have to wait as they headed inside the dorm building. However, while it was expected for them to go off into their respective rooms, Aganju found it interesting that Pyrrha continued with him upstairs to his team's quarters. Even more intriguing was when he saw that she didn't seem to notice or care that they did.
"Uh... Pyrrha?"
"Yes?"
"Did we just pass your room a little while ago?" he raised an eyebrow.
"It would appear that way..."
"Then why...?"
"I'm not going to bed until I'm sure that you're okay!"
Aganju had no true argument as she ran a hand through his coal-black hair. When they arrived, the pair simply sat on his bed, neither saying much for another few seconds. The silence was smothering for them as the friends couldn't even summon the courage to look at one another. It wasn't until after some uncomfortable shifting that the pair's hands touched one another's.
"Sorry..." Pyrrha whined softly, immediately pulling her hand into her lap. She was grateful that he didn't notice her blushing or she might've rushed out of the room at that very moment. Still, she figured this was as good a time to address the elephant in the room; the very reason she was even here in the first place. "Aganju?"
"N-no problem."
"What's bothering you?"
"It's nothing..."
"Aganju? You know that you can tell me anything."
He bit his lip, a sign of his shield cracking. It was one thing to hide his feelings and thoughts from others, but, there was a small handful that he couldn't deceive. In light of that, Pyrrha was essentially at the top of that list, the others being Ozpin, Glynda, and Roxanne. Oh, how he dreaded having to share something with them, especially now.
"I know... It's not something that I like to talk about, Pyrrha."
"I'm sorry..."
He looked over at her with a perplexed expression.
"What? Why are you apologizing for?"
"I heard what they said during your match," she spoke up. "It was foul and disgusting! You and your team didn't deserve such cruelty!"
Slowly, Pyrrha's eyes began to water while she gripped her skirt, showing signs of her calm facade breaking. This was the first time he'd seen his friend in such a position, and he didn't like it. The slight trembling soon after made him feel guilty, despite not being the cause of her feeling this. In his eyes, Pyrrha was taking on the weight of others' crimes, even when that wasn't necessary.
"But, you didn't make those comments!" he quickly stood up, fixing his eyes on his friend. "It's just..."
"Just what, Aganju?!" she cut him off, finally dropping the proverbial shield. "When we first met, you were this quiet and mysterious upperclassman. Even more, you weren't even threatened by my reputation after it was revealed. You knew little about me and yet, you've become one of my closest... friends. I never once cared that you were a faunus, you've become one of the closest people ever since I arrived at Beacon, but now... now I feel like I'm staring at a stranger right now!"
Guilt washed over Aganju while he watched Pyrrha begin to shiver after sharing her thoughts. With his stomach in knots, the vulpine returned to his spot on the bed. Hearing her soft sniffles, he hesitantly pulled her into a light hug. It was completely foreign for him to show this side of himself, but for Pyrrha, it was worth it. She silently wept for a few minutes while her friend just remained there, allowing her to do so.
Somehow, he knew that it wasn't directly because of him, but it didn't change how he felt.
Her sorrow seemed to integrate with his soul, coiling his very core with a vice silence that allowed the two to communicate in a way that few had been able to comprehend, let alone experience. Was this part of what it meant to be accepted wholeheartedly? Was he merely afraid to welcome these newfound emotions?
Questions for later.
"I'm sorry..." he whispered with clenched eyes. "I didn't think you'd be so hurt by my actions, but I'm so sorry."
The depressing air around them steadily began to lift and evaporate after his plea. Aganju rubbed her arm, missing her slight grin due to her ponytail hiding most of her face, but he could feel that her mood was lifting as well. Combine this with her hearing his heartbeat, and Pyrrha could swear she was feeling his energy flow into her.
"If it makes you feel any better, I feel much better after saying all of that." she giggled.
"I'm glad you did," he chuckled. "I think it made me feel a little better too."
"Agan? What's been bothering you?"
The faunus hated how adorable she sounded using her nickname for him but, he wouldn't fight the warm feeling he got this time. Sighing, he allowed a soft grin, one not completely devoid of emotion yet, still lingered with pain.
"You said it yourself; the crowd just got under my skin!"
"Aganju?"
The irritated frown on her face spoke volumes to the faunus, prompting him to drag his fingers through his hair in resignation. There was no hiding from her at this point.
"It's not just what happened today," he leaned back on his bed, closing his eyes to better focus on the subject. Immediately, the image of another faunus appeared before him. Dark skin that matched his own, but a stark contrast made the vulpine wince as if feeling a searing pain coursing through his entire body. "It's Professor Sango too!"
"What? What about him?"
Aganju began to explain his encounter with the panther, citing how little he cared for his life. Compared to his "mission", Aganju was little more than a distraction to the Atlesian. Dr. Merlot was a madman, yet, he couldn't help but feel like a burden. He poured his insecurities and inadequacies out to the girl while she listened patiently, lying next to him with a dumbfounded expression.
Pyrrha was stunned upon hearing Aganju share his story. The more he revealed, the more she truly understood the parallels between them. For every memory of her receiving praise from her peers and others, he would be dismissed and shunned. Where she would find eyes filled with awe, he'd get nasty looks full of prejudice. Where she was predicted to be a hero, he would be viewed as nothing more than a leech and a blight.
"So, you're fearful of getting too close to others for fear of them leaving you behind?"
"It was easier to just go at it alone," he shrugged with a casual yawn. "Outside of Team CFVY and my team, I was content with staying to myself. That was..."
"What?" she asked, oblivious to what he was alluding to.
"I got to know you and the others..."
By the time he finished that sentence, Pyrrha's heart romped in her chest. Her face threatened to burst into a sea of red, much to Aganju's entertainment. Nevertheless, his amusement wouldn't last long as a hand rested on his chest. Now it was his turn to face the scorching heat traveling up her features.
"Do you know what I think?"
"What's that?"
She placed her hand over his own, feeling the tiniest of sparks from the contact.
"I think you and I would've been good friends back then had we met earlier."
"I was considered a troublemaker growing up. You'd probably get into a lot of mishaps hanging around me."
"Then, it looks like I would be your willing accomplice."
Seeing her bright smile, Aganju couldn't help but feel his pulse hasten. Despite that, he nodded in agreement, though he couldn't withstand the urge to chuckle again, this time to combat the excitement sneaking up his spine. Pyrrha noticed this sudden shift in tone and gasped in shock.
"Sorry!" He laughed at her embarrassing response, earning a glare from the girl shortly after. "What?"
"Nothing!" he snickered. "You just look cute when you're embarrassed."
"So... So, you think I'm cute?"
Immediately, the faunus ceased his laughter after hearing her tone drop to a more sultry variety, nearly choking on his spit from the question. Even his dark brown cheeks gave into a bright shade of red while his tail stuck up in shock.
"W-What?! I... I mean..."
This time, Pyrrha erupted in a fit of hysterical giggling much to his dismay.
Once she calmed down, Pyrrha leaned in and kissed him on his burning cheek before standing to leave. However, just as she was about to exit the room, she looked back to see the boy with a goofy grin on his face and his tail now wagging slowly as a result. When he was able to regain his composure, Aganju noticed that she flashed a beguiling glance in his direction.
"I must admit, I think you're cute too," she smiled brightly before resuming her departure. "Goodnight, Agan!"
"Night, Pyrrha..."
The remainder of the night saw the two, respectively, lying in bed staring out of the windows. Neither planned for their earlier encounter, but they wouldn't complain either. Soon the two would turn over to get some rest for the next day's trial. While they slept, however, they had no idea that they were being watched from a distance.
Two pairs of crimson eyes looked over the teens, one with curiosity while the other, a mere bird cawed its own disapproval before flying off into the night, neither knowing of the other's existence, let alone intent. The identities of their stalkers would remain a mystery, but those would be solved at some point, sooner than later.
As the fowl slipped away into the night, a young girl made her way back to the dorms where she was initially stationed for the duration of the Vytal festival.
She's definitely on the list!