"Breaking news! The youngest member of the Schnee family, Whitley Nicholas Schnee, has been found alive by a combined search force of Beacon students and Atlas professionals! His father Jacques Schnee has commented that the boy is fine and recovering at home and refused to have any media outlets interview his son due to the stress the boy went through. I think all of Atlas, and the world, can breathe a sigh of relief that a innocent boy was found safe and sound! Lisa lavender, signing off!"

Innocent? Addam knew the Schnee's as many things, but innocent was not one of them. One could say that the youngest Schnee knew nothing- but how long would it be until someone raised in an environment of greed and privilege grow to become just as much of a monster as his father? The Schnee's...that damn corporation that had scarred him so long ago- innocent was the last thing they were!

Monsters, murderous, abusers, exploiters. The only thing they weren't was innocent.

He let out a deep disgruntled sigh as his fist released from his own grip, there was no use breaking whatever was near him. The truth was those loyal to him had been scouting the area the Schnee had been found in just a few days ago. They must of missed him by a hair.

But it was no matter. Found or not he had it under good authority the Schnee did NOT return home. The Atlas elite would like to pretend they are beyond things such as spies and backstabbers- but as long as a single faunus exists in that hellhole there was always a way in.

A little tidbit- information. The Schnee had a semblance of some kind different form his family's, it kept him occupied at a research station somewhere deep inside the military department of Atlas academy.

What it was and how it effected them was not something the man was privy too- quite frankly he didn't need to be at this moment. He had a deal with Cinder he was planning to fulfill. It was for the sake of bringing Beacon down. In fact it would be right around when the Vytal tournament is to happen. During such a time with increased atlas security it would become all the easier to take out two birds with one stone. Much more lax security around the Schnee most likely.

He was not to be kidnapped- no. He was to be killed on the spot and body marched to the highest point of Atlas and broadcasted for the world to see. That along with the fall of Beacon will truly make the white fang a organisation worth fearing. It might be enough to cause a second war. Good.

Addam had no plans to lose it.

He let out a smile as he chuckled to himself. Soon Blake...soon she will see exactly what she missed out on. The true glory of the Whitefang. What he has brought- what she could of had.

When it came down to it, Addam always had the last laugh.

"Stop laughing"

Ironwood's words came softly yet forcefully at the same time. It was almost like the way a mother would kindly ask you to do something but with an expression and undertone that let you know you'd not be hearing the end of it if you did not comply.

Hunter found that hilarious.

"Awww but I like laughing. Isn't being happy a good thing for you humans?"

Whitley's body was pressed against the glass, claws latched onto the metal slits of bars that now contained him along with the glass.

Hunter had been in control for a few hours now, it seemed after the meal Whitley had fell unconcious once again. While Whitley forced himself to control the body when awake- being asleep allowed Hunter control.

"You will either answer our questions or be silent."

"I will do no such thing, I know my rights!"

"In case you forgot, Whitley gave up his rights for protection and a cure. From you"

"Bah, damn politics..."

It wasn't politics at all. Ironwood knew this- it was...a mockery. This creature fed off Whitley's intelligence and grew the more the two interacted.

From the blood samples he got it was bad news. Whitley was more than just faking being an Alpha- his blood was...tainted. The Aura inside held trace amounts of structure identical to the Grimm replicate skin they had obtained.

It was like the semblance controlled him, tainted him, changed him entirely. There's been unique semblances before- but nothing to this scale in recent history. But there was something he found interesting. This was not Salem.

Ozpin pretty much confirmed that in their meeting earlier. Salem did not do this- meaning it was something new. And he had control of it. This skin- it was enough to ward off Alpha's. What if they replicated this? Could they remake the material and cover Atlas in a shield of this? Make Armor and weapons? They could become invisible to the grimm and actually get ahead of Salem for once. This boy held the key.

But that was the issue. The boy held the key, the boy and not the monster before him.

To say Atlas had done some morally questionable things was an understatement. He personally tried to keep things straight and narrow but when you're occupied fighting off an immortal enemy things like morals tend to go to the back burner. He had standards though. For now he was going to hold out hope that they could simply replicate this skin from the structure alone.

In all honesty...he doubted it. At the rate this creature was learning and the lack of empathy it showed, it would likely overpower the boy. Raised under Jacques he had no doubt they would be subservient to such a malevolent force. Much more than that- the simple answer was they were likely going to need to contain the boy for an extended period of time. It was not right- beyond the semblance there was a boy that had known nothing but Jacques and his abuse. He wasn't blind- Jacques had not physically harmed Winter as far he knew- but emotional abuse was still there.

It brought the general back to a time when he had attended one of the Schnee family's events to hear a rather harsh conversation. The youngest had simply held hands with a Faunus girl that had apparently been brought by some guests of guests. But the verbal abuse he heard was...unnerving. He'd already pulled every string he could to get that man ousted but he simply held too much power. Atlas was too old and traditional to listen. Pah, things like this made him want to declare marshal law. It's not like that spineless bastard Jacques could stop him.

Those small blue eyes he saw come from the way of the argument will never leave his thoughts.

It almost made him disappointed to see Winter not acknowledge it after he informed her. He knew she wanted to be professional- but the way she dismissed it was cruel. Whatever the boy had done, he was simply a boy and nothing more. He wasn't malicious or conniving- he was acting out.

But it was not his place to inform Winter how family's should work. It was something she must work through on her own.

As his thoughts began to wrap up the soft yawn of Hunter as the beast called itself rang out in the cell. A brief moment of pampering around on all fours and then finding a corner to rest on- almost like a dog- it was...disgusting.

But as soon as red eyes closed, blue eyes opened.

He let out a soft smile, greeting the young Schnee with grace.

"Good morning, Whitley."

It was simple, the boy rubbed his eye with his good arm- then went to the other arm to do the same before hesitating and backing off.

"Good morning, general."

He answered politely as he got up, seemingly unaware of what Hunter had been doing.

"I thought it best to feed your other side, to spare you having to eat raw meat again."

Whitley didn't seem as disgusted at the thought as he would of liked. But the nod of a head showed he understood the act of humanity.

"Thank you. May I make a request?"

He asked, prim and proper. Likely something that man drilled into him. A kid should be scared- unsure. This was...it was cruel beyond need. It made Ironwood sick to his stomach.

"You may ask anything, Whitley. I want your stay here to be a pleasant one as much as I can manage."

"...May I have a book?"

Ah. He expected something else for a boy of that age- comic books or the like. But just a book? It makes sense a Schnee would be well read.

"Of course, do you have any preferences? And if you'd be so kind, it would be best to return the book before you head to sleep. You see-"

"I know"

James sent a quizzical look to the boy.

"Hunter, when I sleep. I know."

Ah.

"...I would ask you some questions about this, but that's best kept to sessions with Aura and semblance experts. Our hope is you can learn to control this."

Whitley sat down in his cell, it was large- about the size of a small room. He wished he could give the kid more but it was all he could grant without security threat.

"I understand. I hope I can control it, too."

Dejected eyes trailed down.

The way those boys eyes just accepted his fate, as if he was always less- always undeserving. It strengthened Ironwood's resolve.

Too many children had grown astray under his watch. Not this time.

"I promise you. Whitley. I will help you through this. I promised your sister, I promised myself. But more than that I promise you young man, and you are just as worth as any of us."

Not much was heard after that. Only the sound of soft sobs to reinforce the strengthened resolve.

One too many lives had been lost. Whitley Schnee would not be one of them.

When he had next heard the door open Whitley turned to see a man he did not recognize. He was skinny- tall. Around the same height as Ironwood if not an inch or two taller. He wore a lab coat with a soft cyan jumper under to give off an air of comfort and stability.

His soft brown curls went to his glasses, sharp and jagged teeth came from his mouth as he smiled.

"Greetings, Whitley. May I call you that?" He nodded without question. "Fantastic. I am Professor Beryl Hammerhead, lead researcher on Aura and Semblances in the Atlas military. And a part time therapist when needed!" He added with a joyful chuckle.

It was likely purposeful. Whitley'd mind analyzed the mans actions and concluded it was likely a facade. A joyful carefree expression lets your guard down.

Still, it served no purpose to hide anything.

"...I see. What questions do you have?"

"Ah, straight to the point I see..."

He wasted no time in clicking a pen, taking it to a notepad.

"Alright, lets start with a softball. What is your semblance called."

"Hunter"

He knew that. The man had been present when Hunter introduced himself. Whitley was aware of how Hunter acted and what they did- albeit from a third person perspective. It was like he was dreaming, floating and unable to act.

"Gotcha. And what do you think Hunter is?"

That was harder to answer. Hunter started as a simple voice that called out to him- a soft warm feeling came over him as he bit into flesh for the first time. He...wasn't as disgusted at the thought as he would of wished to be.

Then it became something that guided him- then something that acted with him...then for him. Now it was like...another part of him.

"...I think he's my semblance, but something more."

"Care to expand on that?"

He was annoyed at the question, not that he could blame the man doing his job.

"I think he's...born from me. The things he says and does- those are...thoughts I've had. I keep them contained, intrusive thoughts you'd probably call them. He is...what I thought I needed to survive. Someone that can act like a beast strong enough to drive away anything."

The man gave a quick nod, scribbles coming down to the pad. He down gave the boy a rather interested look.

"You're right and wrong. From what I can tell he is not sentient beyond your hidden desires- he is not his own creation if that makes any sense. He's your inhibitions made manifest. I think...it's your family's semblance." To this Whitley gave a confused look. "Oh- Not the same of course. Rather I believe you...consumed a grimm. Much like your family's semblance can absorb their being to use as summons- you similarly absorb them and become them. You take their characteristics. For example the way your body was developing when under Hunter's influence- you resembled a beowolf. More accurately an Alpha. I am under the impression after the plane crash you happened to consume an Alpha beowolf before it had a chance to dissipate. It's a mutation of your family's semblance awoken by the trauma and strive to survive."

It...was a lot to take in. He was sure that was flesh he bit into- not a grimm. But it made sense, the way he explained it. This man was intelligent.

More than that, the way he spoke was matter of fact but with an underlying tenderness.

"You only just unlocked Aura, I believe if you practice manifesting it you may be able to use Hunters abilities without him. However, I am unsure as to how this may affect him manifesting when you sleep. It takes trained Huntresses and Hunters years to properly learn to control Aura as they sleep- much less fight off a semblance as they do so. But that brings me to my next point."

The lanky faunus stood up, getting closer to the screen keeping the two apart.

"I think you can work with him. Hunter is- forgive me for this- amazing! A growing learning sentient subconscious! He was born of beastly instinct but that does not mean it is without hope! He is learning from you. I wish to monitor you as you maintain Aura training- more than that I want to teach Hunter!"

He blinked.

"I know it seems insane, but think about it. An active subconscious that can be trained and used to your advantage- it could let you back into society. It's your best hope."

Whitley felt an odd sense of...relief.

"I want to help you, young man. You're a special case- beyond that I cannot sit idly by why you struggle with something that was never your choice in the first place."

The doctor spoke from experience, grief written on his face. The doctor was going out of his way to help Whitley- he truly...felt grateful. If this were any other situation he'd offer the man money or connections. But when stuck in this cell?

"...Thank you. Doctor."

"Oh please, Call me professor!"

That wasn't how the sentiment usually worked.

"If...I can control Hunter. My father- he...he would not take kindly to any of this."

That was an understatement. The shark toothed man let out a snarl at this.

"That bloody Jacques! Listen here young man, as long as you are here I will do everything I can to assure you get access to everything that man kept from you!"

Before he had a chance to ask why he was so invested, the door opened once more. Ironwood stood.

"Ah, I suppose our session is up. For now try and relax and feel your Aura before you sleep- try and extend it specific parts of your body. It's a beginner's technique."

As the eccentric man left, Whitley realized he left the notebook. On it was simply a drawing of a penis.

...This Doctor was a wacko.

Ironwood, James as his father would call him, sat down in the vacant chair.

"How was your session, young Whitley?"

He thought for a moment. Most of it was introspecting as the man rambled about his semblance and how it worked. But the man cared- that was plain to see.

"I suppose...it's nothing to complain about."

"Good, I sent the man to fetch you some reading material later. For now- I have something to ask."

With a deep sigh James let a tender look reach the boy.

"Would you like to see Winter? She's asked to see you."

Whitley stood for a moment before going back to laying on the floor padded with Blankets and pillows- going back to deep thought.

Winter...

He hated her.

It was not easy to say he hated anyone, he could count the people he hated on half a hand. His father and Winter.

Winter never gave him any attention- ignore him for Weiss entirely. More than that the moment she left was when mother took up the bottle. He attempted to send her letters but none ever were receiving back- only to Weiss. She gave Weiss training, she gave Weiss attention. She just...ignored him.

She was the first. Then came Weiss, then his mother. The only person to pay him any mind was Jacques- and he despised the man.

"No"

It was simple. He wasn't ready. Maybe Winter realized she had squandered an opportunity when they nearly lost him- maybe she just wanted to make amends and genuinely felt bad. But it didn't matter. He felt the black marks come up as the anger was pushed down by force.

"...Maybe tomorrow. I just want to be left alone for now."

With a reluctant nod, Ironwood allowed so.

A while later The doctor arrived and pushed a book under his door. Whitley took a single look at the cover being fainting.

Hunter meanwhile looked to the cover with interest, reading out the words.

"What the fuck is ninja's of love?!"