Players on the Chessboard
Vale, Limestone
Before Eregion, large crowd of people gathered, and the forge was once again up and running, it's owner moving between the furnances, attending the flames and the newest request, all the while a tv installed outside played a podcast between Junior Xiong and Lisa Lavender.
"Many voters ask themselves a question: What a retired-mobster is going to promise to buy my vote?" Lisa said with a playful smile while Junior, much to Sauron's amazement managed to keep his composure. "Aside of those who question your campaign as a whole."
"Well Lisa, I will tell them this: Promises are cheap, actions speak louder than words. So I won't promise them safety, I will guarantee it. I won't promise that I will resuscitate the Industrial district, I will hire the best of best to ensure that miracle will happen, and personally put the first bricks in every new building if I must."
"Many question your motives, you know? Most can even say that your candidature has an ulterior motive."
"I was told that during the time of crises, people show who they really are." Junior commented. "And I truly learnt something that day."
"That you are actually a patriot?"
"That getting hit by a metal pipe hurts a lot. But that too." Both laughed while Sauron smiled a little before refocusing on molding the sphere of glass in his hands.
So far, Junior is slowly managing to warm his public image. Just like he predicted, Xiong actually taking a lead and fighting against the Fang resonated with many of the Vale citizens, who are known for admiring bravery. Now, reforging this spark into a solid electorate is fully in Xiong's hands.
Well, most of it anyway.
Sauron didn't want to endorse Junior publicly, for pulling your business into politics can put it in a unsure predicament. But subtle support like playing this podcast for a crowd of people, some of Junior's goons in the crowd speaking positively about their boss, inquiring some favors in the public services, as well as playing opposing candidates fumbles and mistakes. He often played Junior's errors too, to make his persona more appealing: "a flawed, reformed man" resonates more in the eyes of the public than "A Mobster turn Saint in one day".
That's what is called a clever marketing. Speaking of…
He took out the glass orb out the furnace, with a gentle breath it finally hardened. He looked into the small diamond floating in the middle of it, then turned to his customer.
"You asked me for a way to preserve your memories, my lady." He approached with a glass sphere an old lady sitting on a comfortable armchair. "Because, like you said when we met: It's hard to remember my youth any longer."
"It's hard to remember anything in this age." She tried to stand up, but her muscles were too weak, so two of her grandchildren helped her up. She looked at the glass orb in Annatar's hands. "How… does it work?"
"Just a touch." Annatar passed her the glass orb, and the lady took it, and her eyes widened, her senile mind started to remember her youth…
She remembered her mother's tomato and chili soup, a recipe passed for generations, then how she used to play with her brothers just outside the family home, unbothered and innocent, and then her dream - When she sat on one of many dunes surrounding the Vacuan capital, overlooking the flying ships departing towards the distant Kingdoms, desiring to see the world outside of the great desert…
Her adulthood…
Thanks to her ceaseless studies she got a degree in Archeology and managed to finally embark on her very first mission to Mistral..
How she uncovered many artifacts predating the Great War, dodged traps and Grimm, then attended grand reveals in the museums, met such famous people like Nicholas Schnee, who patronized many of her expeditions. But the greatest treasure she found was not gold, trinkets or ancient plaques…
"Quién es esa abuela?" Younger of the three grandkids pointed at the image of a man in the glass, and old woman smiled.
"That's your grandfather." She said, a small tear gathered in her eye. "He was Huntsman." She turned to Annatar with rather nostalgic look. "I remember everything, not just good things, but also… those bittersweet."
"Life has plentiful of colors, and with it…" Sauron gestured at the glass orb with diamond inside. "…You can relive it, without missing any detail. You can even save it for your descendants." But she only partially listened, her eyes focused on the bright smile of the Huntsman of her dreams…
"Thank you, Dream Smith." Old woman's daughter nodded her head to him while the old lady slowly walked back to the family's vehicle. "I never saw her smile that wide since when Alex was born.
"I am glad to provide." Annatar bowed his head, while one of his workers gently pat woman's shoulder and pointed at the register, and Annatar raised his hand. "And, since I'm in a really good mood, so let's lower the price by… twelve percent."
Gunther nodded his head, acknowledging the order while Annatar turned towards the crowd.
"I am in such a good humor in fact, that I will make a gift for a person of my choosing." People immediately sprung to action, trying to position themselves in the potential spot while Annatar closed his eyes raised his left finger high and slowly moved it from right to left.
He often used this technique to choose the most interesting or influential people that stumbled to his forge, but in cases like this, it meant to be an absolutely random choice.
But suddenly, he felt the shift in the air, how the chances of him choosing a particular person swing in favor of a single soul.
He could counter this hidden display of magic, but why should he?
"I choose you." His finger fell down on the man in a green hood, and two of his workers immediately went up, like usual.
"I will go by myself, thank you." Man under the hood said, his voice commanding and confident, keeping both men in place as he made his way forward, crowd dispersing before him while Sauron watched with a small smile on his face.
When the Stranger stepped into the forge, Sauron could fell an impenetrable veil surrounding the newcomer, his thoughts well-hidden from his gaze.
"Please, take a seat." Annatar offered, and Hooded man sat on the armchair while Sauron sat on his custom-made one. "What is your heart's desire, my dear guest?"
"What I want from you can't be forged or molded with your hands, yet is worth more than any gold, Master of Gifts." Newcomer slowly removed his hood, revealing a short white hair. "For I wish for a piece of your time."
At first, Sauron frowned at this request, only for a childlike grin to appear on his face.
"A piece of time…" Sauron chuckled as the man before him patiently awaited his response. "…The most precious of all resources, that flows the same way for the plants and the animals, for the Remnant's very bedrock and the distant Stars, for men and 'gods'." He nodded his head in acknowledgement. "It's a bold request, Headmaster Ozpin."
Crowd looked at one another in disbelief. Headmaster Ozpin was with them the entire time? From where did he came from? When? How?
Kris raised his scroll and dialed Daniel on the lookout.
"Shitface, you could have warn us!"
"Is something wrong?" Daniel asked in surprise.
"Headmaster Ozpin is here!"
"What!? How!?"
"I am the one asking!"
As two men argued, Ozpin put his cane on the side of the armchair.
"I am very aware that what I am asking may be hard for you to give." Ozpin commented.
"Indeed, time is so easy to spare, but to give it away…" Sauron shook his head. "…That being said, you asked, and at least should give you an opportunity to earn it."
Ozpin pondered on Smith's words, then nodded his head. "Then, how about a game?" he asked, and Sauron clapped his hands.
"Splendid idea! A game of your choosing it shall be!" Sauron snapped his fingers, and Ozpin's stare briefly turned to the crowd, noticing the invisible curtain separating them both from the outside world.
"Impressive Illusion." Ozpin remarked, studying the veil with his eyes. "For them, everything appears to be normal…"
"…And yet, all they shall hear is us exchanging pleasantries." Sauron smirked while Ozpin raised his left eyebrow.
"Are you afraid of something leaking to the public?" But Sauron just shook his head at this question.
"Like I said many times, I have nothing to hide in my forge. But, I have a feeling that the due to nature of the topics we shall discuss, our words should not befall unto unwanted ear."
Two workers put an oak table between two armchairs, and Sauron leaned towards the Headmaster.
"What game are we going to play?"
"Do you, by any chance, play chess Annatar?"
Sauron chuckled in response.
"Of course!" He gestured at two men standing beside him. "Bring me the finest set at once." The two men left, but Annatar's eyes were locked with Headmaster's, none looking away even for a second. "I figured some time ago that you are really fond of this game."
"I admit, I have a soft spot for chess." Ozpin remarked, his thoughts a mystery, Sauron's mighty gaze unable to pierce through and lay Headmaster's secrets bare.
"After all, you send children to the forest to become figures themselves." A smirk danced on Annatar's lips as he saw Headmaster's hand twitched at this remark, and with delight watched the "ace" Ozpin held in his deck fall apart in an instant.
They didn't start the game, and already the first shots were fired.
"I should have expected that you won't deny the undeniable." Ozpin said, his hands clutched together on the table, while Sauron laughed and spread his arms wide.
"What can I say? Playing this charade at this point would not serve any purpose other than waste our precious time. Although, I have to say, I adore the way you used symbolism."
"Thank you."
Two men returned with a wide chessboard, put it on the table, then quickly put the figures on said board.
"Thank you. Now please, make sure that no one will interrupt us."
"Of course boss." Two workers walked out from the forge, passing through the invisible curtain, and taking a stand alongside their buddies just outside, forming a human chain.
"Since you are the guest, you may pick white or black pieces." Sauron gestured at the board while Ozpin took a good look, then Sauron leant closer, crossing his fingers with anticipation. "What will be your choice?"
Beacon Academy
"During both the tournament and missions in the field, being able to relay on your teammates is as important as relaying on your own senses." Glynda Goodwitch explained as half of the First year students wrapped their eyes with a pieces of cloth. "Not only with your partners, but also teammates."
"Alright, just tell me where are they and I will hit them!" Ruby said with excited smile, but Blake didn't respond. "Right?"
"Oh yeah, sure." Blake said half-heartedly, her thoughts focused on something else.
"Just do what I say and everything will be fine." Weiss said as Yang wrapped a piece of yellow cloth and blond brawler left an annoyed huff.
"Hold your horses, Weiss Cube, you are supposed to help, not command me."
"Can you stop with your ice puns!?"
"Nope."
On the other end of the training hall Jaune narrowed his eyes as he watched Cardin wrapping his eyes while Sky talked to him about strategy or something. Of all people, he and Nora were paired against him, and Jaune was not really happy about it.
He snarled as he saw Cardin's smile as the bully laughed and pat Sky's back. He really wanted to wipe this smile, and his carefully concealed second Shadow only encouraged that, for it already knew that, although usually Jaune Arc could be categorized as "nice man", Winchester was his trigger to unlock his… more sinister emotions, these that young Arc didn't even realize he had.
"Don't worry Jaune, Cardin is louder than a Goliath and dumber than a Creep!" Nora raised her thumbs up. "I will wipe his cocky smile out of his face!"
"Nora, I'm standing right here." Jaune said as Nora was giving a thumbs up to the wall.
"That was completely intentional!" She turned to Jaune and gave him a wide, happy smile, then picked up Magnhild from her back. "Ready for this?"
Jaune paid one more glance at Cardin consulting with Lark, and his anger was quickly replaced by anticipation - Nora is certainly a match for Cardin in terms of strength, and they both trained together, while knowing Cardin, he didn't pay much attention to his other teammates.
It's an opportunity he just couldn't waste. He wanted to see him humiliated, to crawl on the floor and cry…
The Everpresent could basically inhale the resentment, but it had to ensure success.
Jaune put his hand on Nora's shoulder. "Just do what I say when I say it, okay?" He asked unsure why he phrased it like that, just a feeling that he needs Nora to agree.
"Aye aye, Fearless leader!" She smiled playfully and saluted him with her free hand, and when she said that Shadow grinned, it's long claw attached itself to Nora's shadow.
She felt a brief shiver running down her spine and she instinctively turned her head.
"Did someone touch my back?" She asked, and Jaune raised his eyebrow in surprise.
"No?" After a second Nora shrugged her arms.
"Nyeh, I guess I imagined something."
"Hey, Jaune-boy! Are we fighting or what!?" Cardin's voice grabbed their attention.
"Let's not keep the ass-hat waiting." She remarked and with a small, eager smile Jaune led Nora onto the arena.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the classroom Yang walked onto the fighting field, Russel walking from the opposite end.
"It's not fair Lusser!" Yang said out loud and Russel took a step back. "I would love to see your nasty face once I pummel you to the ground, but it wouldn't be fun! How about I wrap one hand behind my back and jump on one leg to make it somewhat possible for you!?"
"Miss Xiao Long." Glynda's voice ceased Yang's taunts, but Russel already looked unsure of himself.
"Don't worry Rus, I got you!" Dove shouted, trying to reassure his teammate. "Just don't overextend!"
"Don't get too cocky Yang!" Weiss shouted as well, but Yang just rolled her eyes beneath the cloth.
"Yeah yeah I know, 'don't have fun Yang', 'you must listen to me Yang' yada yada."
"It is exactly what this practice is all about…" Weiss tried to argue, but seeing Yang dismissively shake her hand in her direction made the Heiress pout her cheeks in anger.
"They can't get along together?" Pyrrha remarked to Ruby as they prepared for their duel.
"Mhm." Ruby sadly nodded her head. "They get as well as Zwei with and a vet." Then Rose raised her scythe up. "So, are you ready Pyrrha?"
Pyrrha lowered her stance, ready to pounce.
"Ready."
"Begin." Glynda ordered.
First to blows came Nora and Cardin, Executioner and Magnhild slammed against one another with a violent crack.
"Left, right, left!" Jaune gave few quick commands and Nora's first swung Magnhild from the right.
"Switched! Left open!" Sky warned and Cardin immediately blocked the blow, then at the same time, uppercut Nora with his free left hand.
"Hey!" Nora backed away "That's…"
"What? Cheating?" Cardin smirked. "There was no rule that force me to hold Executioner with both hands!" To prove a point, he started juggling his titanium reinforced mace from right hand to the left hand Nora tightened her hold on her hammer. "Who is dumber than a Creep now huh?"
"Stay calm Nora!" Jaune shouted, still trying to compute that the first fight didn't went the way he had hoped, and Nora raised Magnhild high, preparing for another exchange of blows.
Meanwhile Ruby jumped forward, Crescent Rose ready for a wide slash.
"Right!" Ren shouted and Pyrrha jumped to the left, avoiding Ruby's attack and making no noise.
Rose immediately tried to follow after her opponent and jumped right, slashing air before herself.
"Huh?" Before she realized, Akuo struck Ruby's back, sending her tumbling on the ground, but she managed to recover just before she fell of the arena.
"You okay Ruby?" Pyrrha asked, concerned that she probably struck too hard.
"I'm fine!" Ruby replied as she picked herself up. "I thought you will jump right…"
"It was Jaune's idea." Pyrrha replied. "We practiced that together a while ago."
"Swing from right!" Weiss's angry voice shouted before Ruby could reply.
"Stop telling me how to fight!" Yang snapped back, trying to catch the nimble Russel, who dodged and jumped around her, avoiding her attacks and slashing her with his daggers, doing minimal damage.
"On your left! Watch low!" Dove called out in rapid succession, allowing Thrush to control the fight.
"Just do what I say for once!" Weiss shouted again as she watched increasingly angry Yang failing to kick her foe.
"Then maybe tell me where he is for once?!"
From the seats above the arena, team CFVY, LYOKO and few others watched the fights, discussing them and occasionally making bets.
"It's almost hysterical!" Odd laughed out loud and looked at Yatsu. "She won't be able to hit him if they keep it like that!"
"But notice how his attacks are doing nothing to her." Yatsu pointed out to him. "He lacks strength to deal a finishing blow."
"Especially to Yang." Fox added. "She has too much aura".
"And her semblance is certainly helping." Ulrich commented.
"So… Yang will win simply because Thrush will make a mistake?"
"Yep."
"Definitely."
Coco looked briefly as Ruby and Pyrrha restarted their duel, then at Blake who was clearly sunk in her thoughts, and at last professor Goodwitch, who was making notes on her scroll regarding the exercise, then at the fight between Nora and Cardin…
"It seems that Cardin is working quite well with Sky. And Russel with Dove." Coco said to Velvet, and Rabbit Faunus nodded her head.
"I saw them training together some time ago." Velvet said just when Cardin clashed with Nora once again, and this time, although she score a hit, Cardin quickly counterattacked, still holding the initiative. "They are getting better as a team."
"You aren't bothered by it Vel?" Yumi inquired, surprised. "I mean, they bullied you…" Velvet lowered her ears for a moment.
"I don't want to hold grudges. And besides, they recently stopped, in fact, they avoid me altogether."
"Considering their encounter with the White Fang, I think they finally learnt something." Jeremy added, but Coco shook her head.
"Not entirely." She pointed at Cardin.
"What's the matter, you were so confident!" Cardin mocked as Nora got up again. "Louder and dumber, that's what you said! But I guess you and Jauney boy are not that good."
"Twist!" Jaune shouted and Nora spun Magnhild in Cardin's direction.
"Left High!" Sky warned and Cardin, who instead of dodging, braced for impact.
Impact cracked against Winchester's aura, sending shockwave through young man's body, his knees came low, but the tall hunter in training withstood the blow, and much to Jaune's horror, he retaliated with Executioner, striking with such brute force that it sent Nora painfully tumbling on the arena's floor.
"You had your five minutes, but I should not remind you who is on top of the foodchain." Cardin smirked again, proud of himself while Jaune gnawed his teeth in frustration.
He knew that Cardin is a monster in pure brawn on brawn battle, being able to keep up with Yang of all people, and in training, often whole teams had to gank on him to beat him up, or Pyrrha had to fight him alone. Nora was able to keep him in place during sparring matches, but Jaune hoped that this time, thanks to the blindfold, Cardin would be at an disadvantage and lose this fight.
And yet it looked like Cardin was about to win, which made Arc desperate.
"Low!" He called out as Nora and Cardin started to circle one another.
"Big-talk Losechester!" Nora quickly broke the distance between and kicked with her left leg, swiping Cardin of his feet, his back hitting the ground with a loud thud.
"Swip!" Sky yelled, and without hesitation Cardin swung Executioner from the ground level at Nora's knee.
"Back!" Jaune ordered, but he was too late, or rather, Cardin was too quick.
Nora fell onto the floor face first, and Cardin pounced on her right away, tackling her, and both tumbled, kicking and slamming fists against each other.
"Miss Valkyrie! Mister Winchester!" Glynda Goodwitch's voice stopped both students from further fight. "It's a training, not a bar brawl! Back to your corners and fight like huntsmen!"
Cardin got up first, brushing of dust from his trousers.
"Next round, I won't go easy on you."
"Likewise." Nora replied and both went to their respective corners, following their teammates voices, and as Nora approached Jaune, she lifted her cloth and tried to give Jaune an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry J…" She stopped, taken aback by her leader's face.
It looked like anger was about to burst at any minute, his face red, and yet managed to keep his emotions under control.
Unbeknownst to Valkyrie, the Everpresent tried to seize the occasion and projected his emotion onto Arc but, human stayed his hand, for he didn't want to lash out on Nora.
"It's not your fault Nora. Really." He said, then took a deep breath. "We will got him next round."
After a brief moment of hesitation, Nora nodded her head in agreement.
"Right." She put the blindfold back on her eyes and turned her back on Jaune, while the blond boy eyed Cardin.
"She will got you this time." He thought, not realizing that his right hand found its way onto the ring.
Attack.
On the other end of the training hall, a quick yelp could be heard as Russel flew across the room only to bounce of the wall.
"Finally!" Yang remarked, then removed her blindfold. "Thanks for Nothing, Ice Queen!"
"You would have won few minutes earlier if you just listened!"
"You first have to remove the stick out of your…"
"Miss Xiao Long, Miss Schnee." Glynda Goodwitch stepped in. "Do I have to tell you what you did wrong?"
"But I won!" Yang protested, pointing at Russel as Dove help him get up.
"Goal of this exercise was not to "win" like you did." Professor Goodwitch said. "It was a test of cooperation, not another brawl."
"See?" Weiss remarked as Yang rolled her eyes, but Glynda now shifted her focus to Weiss.
"And you Miss Schnee, cooperation is not just giving orders."
"But… She wouldn't listen to me anyway!" Weiss replied, genuinely flabbergasted.
"If you at least tried, then I would have scolded only Miss Xiao Long." Glynda stated, looking at both girls with disappointment. "There is no place for animosity between…"
A sharp scream from the other end of the training hall cut Professor's sentence short.
At the same time, just when Ruby and Pyrrha were about to clash once again, Ruby's left a surprised yelp of pain as her eyes burnt.
"Ruby?" Pyrrha held her strike as Ruby fell on her knees, while Ren's eyes widened as he turned to the source of the scream.
Nora perfectly avoided Cardin's guard and hit him in his back, forcing Cardin to roll away.
"Sky, what the hell!"
"She is moving too fast!" Lark shouted, but before he could yell a warning, Nora was once upon Cardin, Magnhild clashing with the Executioner.
Again!
Nora's body performed a wide swing, striking Cardin from the right, her movement jerky, like her limbs were attached to some invisible strings.
"Jaune, what is going!?" She shouted to him.
It's okay Valkyrie! I got you! Deep, irresistible voice said directly to her very being. Strike again!
She launched at Cardin once more, and Winchester painfully tumbled on the arena floor. When he removed his blindfold he noticed Nora pouncing at him, hammer coming down.
He rolled just in time before Magnhild made a large hole in the ground.
She moved against her will, her body unable to resist as the invisible strings pulling her like a puppet, stretching muscles and nearly breaking bones in her pursuit of Cardin, who now desperately defended himself.
"Jaune, please!" She tried to call him yet again…
You agreed to do what I say when I say it! You pledged to follow my commands! So follow! Dance!
Attack!
Jaune on the other hand had an entirely different perspective, like in a trance – he saw how Nora started to absolutely dominate the fight with Cardin, forcing the bully to cheat.
"Right and left Nora!" He said and Nora did just that, pushing Cardin further back to the edge, all the while he held tightly to the ring in his pocket. He couldn't hear Nora's pleas, shocked shouts of other students, what only mattered was that Cardin was about to lose…
Suddenly, someone tackled him to the floor, back of his head bounced off the floor, nearly knocking him out.
"What the hell are you doing!?" Ren yelled directly to his half-conscious face, and at first Jaune gave him a surprised and confused look, then started to notice that everyone is staring right at him.
Second year teams discussed what the saw between themselves, team RWBY, SABER and CRDL stared at him with wide open eyes, Lark with fear, Cardin with anger, Ruby only now removed her blindfold to see what was going on…
And the only thing she saw was a long Shadow retreating to Jaune.
"What have you done to Nora!?" Ren let Jaune go and run up to the girl.
"What do you mean…" Only now he looked in Nora's direction.
She was on her knees, breathing quickly, her hands shaking and Ren quickly knelt and embraced her.
"It's okay, I'm here." He whispered to her, trying to comfort her as best as he could, but Nora couldn't just shake off what happened.
Jaune just stared blankly, unable to comprehend what went wrong. Everything was fine just moments ago, he could swear…
"Mister Arc." Glynda Goodwitch snapped him out of his thoughts. "Care to explain what happened."
"I don't know…" Was his first thought. "She agreed to follow!" Was his second.
"I just wanted to win…"
"She is MINE to command!"
"I didn't want to hurt her…"
"It's her disobedience that caused her pain!"
"…I used my semblance on Nora, Professor Goodwitch." He said, genuinely apologetic. "I discovered it only recently and… I don't fully understand it."
He looked towards Nora. "I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry."
She looked at him, tears swelling in her eyes while Ren's gazed narrowed, Pyrrha gave him a shocked expression as she approached Nora, all the while he could hear everyone quietly exchanging opinions about him, but it was his teammates glares that hurt him the most.
He didn't meant to…
Oh, so now, when I finally got strong, they dare to condemn me like this!? The Everpresent started to spill his poison into Arc's ear. Are they even my friends?
"What am I thinking? I hurt them, of course they are angry."
Friends like this are worse than any foe. Instead of elevating me up, they bring me down. The Everpresent continued. Who needs people like that?
"In this case, I will have you attend special course during a weekend Mister Arc, so thing like what you just did will not happen again." Hearing Professor say that, his eyes widened, and he clenched his fist in rage.
"What?!"
They punish me for my power!?
"That's unfair!"
They are against me!
"I don't want to do it!"
ALL OF THEM ARE SCHEMING AGAINST ME!
Both he and Professor Goodwitch remained silent like this, her piercing stare trying to put Arc in his place, while emotions boiled in the blond boy, but feeling her gaze, he took a deep breath and recomposed himself.
"Yes Professor Goodwitch." He surrendered, even though a part of him was absolutely fuming.
"Class dismissed." Glynda said and as everyone started to pack their things to leave, she turned to Ren. "Go with student Valkyrie to the doctor's office, I will write a note to Professor Oobleck."
"Thank you professor." Ren helped Nora stand up and both slowly made way to the exit, at first Pyrrha wanted to join them, only for Ren to stop her and gesture towards Jaune. He said something that Arc couldn't exactly hear, but from Pyrrha's worried look, he understood everything.
He told her to keep an eye on him.
Arc wanted to run up to them, to say sorry yet again, help somehow, but part of him knew that he would just make things worse.
"I didn't mean to…" He murmured again while the Everpresent grinned viciously.
Bonds and chains… Less than a whisper, desperate to warn
Team RWBY watched how Nora and Ren were walking away while Pyrrha approached Jaune and pat his back.
"That's a bummer." Yang commented, trying to ease the tensions. "Certainly wasn't on my bingo card."
"Yang please, not now." Ruby replied.
"First he can teleport between shadows and now that?" Weiss said. "What kind of semblance is this?"
"I once met someone who could store energy in his weapon…" Blake added, and Yang's frowned her brows.
"Wait a minute, sounds way too similar to my semblance!" She questioned with genuine curiosity. "How does it work?"
"He…" Blake bit her tongue. "Nevermind that."
"Oookay, so!-" Ruby clapped her hands before Yang could press her question. "-We have twenty minutes to History class, so how about quick tea in our dorm and then we take our seats?"
"Sorry Rubes, but I have to pass." Yang said. "I have to vent a little, and the last thing I want to do is to sit and listen to Professor's fairy tales."
"So you are going to skip classes? Just like that?" Weiss remarked, displeased.
"Makes it even better once I don't have to look at you Weiss Cube." Weiss just sighed angrily.
"Alright, fine, forget I even bothered."
"Yang, it's kinda important, so maybe…" Ruby asked, and Yang laughed then pat her sister's head.
"I appreciate that Rubes, but believe me, I really need it."
"I have to skip the class too." Blake suddenly said. "I have something important to do in town."
"Oh… sure." Ruby nodded her head. "May I ask, is this what distracted you during class?" At first, Blake was not sure if she wanted to answer that, but after a moment she nodded her head.
"Yeah. Sorry for that."
"That's no problem at all!" Ruby quickly raised her hands in a defensive gesture. "I will pass you notes later."
"Hey, how about we go together huh?" Yang took Blake under her arm. "We deal with what you have to do, and then go have some fun! What you think?"
"I would like to go alone, sorry." Blake politely brushed Yang's arm, and turned on her heel. "I should get going."
"Hey Blake!" Ruby called out, and Blake turned her head back. "Please remember what have we talked about!"
Blake went silent for quite a while before answering.
"Sure." And she hurried away, leaving her teammates behind, and Yang for a moment to call after her.
"You know what? Fine, I can have fun on my own." Yang mumbled under her nose.
"See you at the dorm!" Ruby shouted as she and Weiss left Yang alone, and blond brawler looked after them for a moment.
With a sad huff, Yang walked away, towards the Academy's parking lot.
Stonewall Prison
In Prison's cafeteria, a long line of prisoners with plastic plates waited their turn for food.
"Mmmm, something smells really good!" One of the prisoners standing behind Larian commented and looked at the cook standing beside large pot with something boiling inside. "What are you cooking Marek?"
"Water". Cook replied, mixing the pot's contents with a large wooden spoon.
"What you have added?"
"Salt."
"Ah, classic."
Lion faunus looked dispassionately at the paste now put on his plate, three potatoes and an apple, a treat that many Stonewall "residents" drooled over.
It's not like they are starved here or anything, it's just… Food they served in the prison felt like they put special effort to make it as tasteless as possible. Though it will keep your stomach full for the entire day, it will feel like eating a toothpaste.
Larian took away with his "Dinner", walking between the tables to his favorite spot, all the while guards on the catwalks above them overwatched the entire crowd.
He sat on a long bench before one of the human prisoners, took a hold of a spoon and started eating it his meal.
"So, our deal stands?" Prisoner whispered while ducking his spoon into his "food"
Larian handed him an apple and nodded his head, and the convict gladly took it.
"I still don't know why are you looking for him of all people." Prisoner said after taking a bite, visibly enjoying the taste. "Are you having a Death wish?"
Larian gave him an impatient look.
"Right, right, sorry." He leant a little bit closer. "If you want to get to Hazel, you have to do something more… spectacular."
Faunus raised his eyebrow.
"Listen, I know they told you the rules, that if you start a brawl, you are sent down there and guards will put you with some of the worst. But Hazel…" Prisoner giggled. "…To be sent to 156, oh, you have to *earn* it."
"What for example?" Faunus tapped his message onto a table with his finger.
"Killing someone that's for one." Larain shook his head in response to that. "Trying to start a riot for two, but it's impossible. Or the third…" his head made a little twitch, towards one of the guards patrolling the catwalk. "But Blueshirts rarely come down to our level, prefer to watch things from the above."
"Is there a way to lure them down here?" This time, he quietly tapped the plastic plate with a spoon."
"Like I said, shit really has to hit the fan for them to risk their necks like that, but if you are lucky, you might find someone willing to cause enough ruckus. You know, people here have their grievances and rivalries…"
As this conversation took place, on the other table, another talk between three men took place – one was looking like an ordinary taxi-driver with short brown hair, the other two convicts were well-built, and while one was a bald faunus with bat ears, his colleague was a human with curly black hair.
"Hey Killer, I am getting released soon." The bald faunus said while "Killer" added more salt to his soup. "And I hid couple of lien just in case."
"Cool I guess." Killer replied after taking another spoon, shaking his head in disgust and adding even more salt.
"I am sure it will be enough for the 'Mosquito'." Convict continued, his eye moving in direction of the large prisoner slowly walking towards them, but Killer didn't react, focused on his meal.
"I will add something too." Human with curly hear added.
"I have no idea what are you talking about." Killer nearly spit the soup, and grabbed salt once more.
"Oh c'mon Killer I will give you everything." Prisoner insisted. "Just eliminate the guy."
"I will think about it." Killer tried to brush off the conversation and add more salt, but suddenly, a top part of salt shaker fell into the dense soup. "Shit…" Killer cursed a little under his breath and tried to find it with his spoon, but suddenly, someone's heavy hand pushed him away.
"So this is 'Killer' huh?" Convict known as Mosquito laughed as he grabbed killer's soup. "It's an embarrassing fuckup, not a killer!" With a mocking grin he lifted the deep plate with the soup to his face and started to basically drink it as a proof of dominance.
Suddenly, his eyes went wide, he tried to gasp for breath, and then started to violently choke.
"Situation in the cafeteria!" One of the guards immediately called through the radio.
Security door opened in an instant, and medical response team consisting of two atlesian medical droids in an escort of eight armed guards rushed to the scene.
"Well, that's unexpected." Convict said and turned to Larian. "You can…"
But Faunus wasn't with him anymore.
"I didn't do anything, it was an accident!" Killer struggled as four guards took a hold of him and carried him to security exit. "You got the wrong guy!"
"Shut up!" Guard looked at the window of the checkpoint high above them. "Betty, open the door A."
Betty waved her hand, pulled the lever and heavy doors opened wide, revealing the security airlock.
Guards stepped inside with a wiggling Killer.
"Betty, we are in the clear, you can close the door A." Guard said, but, much to his mild surprise, door A didn't close. "Betty, close the door A."
Few prisoners who weren't as distracted by the medical robots saving their compatriot narrowed their eyes on the still open security door.
Suddenly, door B started to open, much to four guards horror.
"Code Red Code Red!" Guards immediately dropped the wiggling prisoner and tried to reach for her weapons, but they were too slow.
Larian pounce on them, his retractable claws slashing across the face of one guard while his left fist sent the second one against the wall.
"They forgot to close doors!" A message spread among the prisoners like a wild fire, and like a tidal wave, hundreds of men charged towards the open wide set security checkpoint, while guards on the catwalk fired stun rounds into the crowd.
As the havoc spread from cafeteria into the prison, Betty, the guard assigned to control the checkpoint, dreamt like a rock after drinking her *spiced* coffee, while Neo made sure to walk as far away as possible, trying her best to not show running guards her mischievous grin.
'
"Code Red! Code Red!" Alarms were blaring in the Stonewall's control room, and when the Prison Warden pressed the Green button. security was already up to the task.
"Switching to central control!" He shouted to men and women sitting before various computers. "Get this riot under control!"
"Isolate section D-9, S-8 and Y-5! Direct them to section KZ-1"
"Shutting down doors."
"Locking up the tunnels."
"Unable to close section S-8, activating electric floor."
"Squad F and G, take up positions the KZ-1"
"Some convicts are trying to make it into the vents, activating gas."
Prison warden overwatched his staff's job with pride as they, with great professionals an precision, managed to wrestle back control, then tried to look at the cameras, but he found himself unable to use them.
"Bring me the Riot's leader! And I want camera footage of the incident on my desk before the sunset!"
Prison Warden didn't know it at the time, but at this exact moment of the day, most of the cameras in prison went through an unscheduled reboot, and none recorded what happened exactly. He wanted to ask a lead technician for an explanation later that day, only to realize that she had a sick leave today, even though some swore that they saw her doing her job.
Neo learnt from the best how to cover her tracks.
Limestone
"Black pieces." Ozpin made his choice.
"Figured as much." Annatar nodded his head and leant back on his armchair. "You seem to, for some reason, give up an early initiative." With that said, Sauron moved a white pawn from G2 to G3
"Ohh, the contrary, when you allow your opponent to make first move, you are forcing them to choose the strategy." Ozpin remarked as he moved a black pawn from C7 to C6. "And later, you can turn said strategy against them by exploiting its flaws."
"This logic has a major downside." Sauron remarked and moved another white pawn from B2 to B3. "If your adversary is skilled, he can turn his early lead into a long-term advantage."
"Yet at the same time, by allowing your new opponent the first move, you can study his way of thinking." Ozpin moved another black pawn from D7 to C5.
"I see." Sauron moved the white bishop from C1 to A3. "So I suppose, three months of observation were enough for you to study me?" Ozpin raised his brow.
"I only sent Glynda few days ago…" He said while moving another black pawn from A7 to A6
Suddenly, Sauron hit the table with his fist, pieces bouncing a little but not falling off the board.
"I didn't insult your intelligence, Headmaster." He said with a 'friendly' smile, behind which was a hidden threat. "So please, do me a favor and refrain from insulting mine."
After a moment of inaction, Sauron moved another pawn from D2 to D3.
"Let me rephrase my question: You started to observe me three months ago, but I wonder what exactly perked your interest?"
Black Knight from G8 to F6.
"Your encounter with Governor Lark caught attention of many people in the Capital." Ozpin answered.
White Knight from G1 to F3 as a response.
"I figured as much." Sauron said with a sad sigh. "Not my proudest moment."
Black Pawn H7 to H6
"One thing still confuses me is your reaction back then." Ozpin said, and Sauron looked at him curiously. "I expected you to be a choleric, but after all this time, you have never repeated that reaction."
White Bishop F1 to G2
"And to what conclusions did you come, Headmaster?"
Black Bishop from C8 to F5.
"Either a really traumatic encounter with someone similar, or maybe strong hatred to people like the former governor." Ozpin thought about his next move briefly. "But in my opinion, it's both."
"Am I correct?" Ozpin sked, Sauron left a sigh and took a brief pause.
White Reshuffled – White King from E1 to G1, White Tower from H1 to F1.
"You could say that I had some rather unpleasant encounters, but, truth to be told, former governor represented one thing I truly despise."
"What exactly?" Ozpin asked, not making his move yet.
"Wastefulness."
After that, Ozpin moved his Black Knight from B8 to D7
"Wastefulness?" Ozpin raised his brow. "Isn't it the same thing as being useless?
Sauron decided to not make his move yet, just to explain his stand on things.
"Being simply useless is just that – you have no use, your presence changes absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things. But to be wasteful, ohh, that takes a special kind of effort." Sauron explained. "Those endless pits make my blood boil."
"All because their presence makes you waste resources?" Ozpin asked, and Sauron nodded his head. "Then, wasn't Junior also wasteful by your definition?"
"Junior was ineffective, that's true." Sauron said as he took another peek on Headmaster's preparations, thinking how to crack him open. "But not wasteful. His presence didn't bring much, he missed a lot of opportunities, but he wasn't subtracting. Unfortunately, some are the truly lost causes, not worthy of attention." Sauron looked Headmaster deep in the eyes. "Which brings up a question."
Sauron finally went with a probing attack – white pawn from C2 to C4
"Why did you keep such wasteful man in a position of power?"
'
Tukson leant on the bridge's railing, looking at the ships entering and leaving the port to faraway Kingdoms beyond the horizon, and imagined himself to be on one of those ships…
"You still think about leaving?" A new, familiar voice said, and Blake leant on the bridge right beside him.
"Am I that easy to read?"
"You never hid that you wish to leave for Vacuo in the first place." Blake added, and Tukson just nodded his head.
"Yeah, I still think about leaving this whole mess behind and starting anew somewhere. To lay down on a chair and enjoy the sun, and who knows, maybe I would finally start gardening? Maya loved nature." He looked at the horizon with nostalgia. "But, if I leave, who will help those kids?"
"You helped enough faunus leave the Fang." Blake said. "No one will blame you if you leave."
"Except myself." Faunus left a heavy sigh. "But enough of that talk, you called saying it's something urgent, so, what is it?"
"I need to get to the Stonewall prison." She said bluntly and Tukson laughed.
"You and your sense of humor!" Faunus laughed for a moment until he looked her deep in the eyes. "Oh shit, you are not kidding."
"During the raid, one entire column of the Fang was taken prisoner, and from the footage I saw that Elder was there too." Blake explained. "If I interrogate him…
"You can't be sure that he was taken as well!" Tukson protested at first, but then he scratched his chin. "On the other hand, from the info they shared with me recently, Elder was strangely absent…" He shook his head. "But still, we are not talking about breaking into some corporate labor camp or mine! Do you even realize where to what you want to break into?" Blake nodded her head in confirmation before speaking.
"I know Tuk, but Elder is the only person aside of Douglas who knows what is going on with the White Fang." Blake explained her reasoning. "Why they switched tactics and targets that drastically."
"Why?" Tukson asked, and at first Blake frowned her brows in confusion
"Besides me, he and Zenith were always the closest with Adam…"
"No, I meant 'why do you want to do this?'" Tukson interrupted. "Now you are Huntress in training with possibly a bright career that many would be envious of, why do you want to risk it now, after everything we did to get you out?"
Blake turned her head away from Tukson, not looking him in the eyes.
"I know them Tuk." She finally said. "Even though they started getting radicalized by the circumstances, they are not evil. Douglas, The Brothers, Lar, Nikki – They always wanted to do what was right. They wanted some justice in the world, not to start a racial war."
"Things change Blake, not always for good."
"Doug told me that too, but none changes that dramatically!" Blake raised her voice. "They would never attack the city like this, they would never strike an alliance with Roman Torchwick, not unless something else was at play here!"
"You suspect that someone is using the Fang?" Tukson shook his head. "You saw what was happening with Adam, actions like the raid were the natural escalation."
Blake paused for a moment, memories of Adam came flooding in, and she found her opinion of him… conflicted.
On one hand, he was willing to go too far, even put innocent lives at risk, to burn the unfair system to the ground, even if this meant war, something Blake could not agree with. But she also knew his more gentle, honorable side – many times he put his own life at stake, protected faunus from cruelty and abuse.
Senior members of the Fang, even those who followed her, jokingly referred to him as a "Two-face" – One cold, of a vengeful criminal for humans, who hate everything they stand for, the other – of a revolutionary, the future leader of faunuskind, who will carry the torch of change.
"I know Adam is willing to go far, but even he would noy do one thing in the world - Ally himself with humans." She looked back at Tukson, confident in her words. "He said to me that he don't want to 'sully' the faunus cause with 'humanity's manipulations'. His alliance with a likes of Roman is too unbelievable."
"Maybe…"
"I am certain of it Tuk." Blake interrupted. "Something else is at play here. That someone is manipulating the White Fang for his own advantage. And that's why I need to find the Elder – to prove that Fang never wanted war."
Tukson again leant against the railing, looking unconvinced. She was always like it – clinging to the little bits of hope that things are not as bad as they are, even when all signs in the sky or in the earth are against her. That the Fang and those within are not truly lost yet.
"Please."
She is just like her father.
Tukson took a deep breath.
"I can get you in, but once you are there, you will be on your own." He said and Blake's muscles eased. "I won't be able to get you out, you understand that?"
"I do." She replied.
"And I guess your friends don't know about it?"
Blake again looked away. "I don't want to drag them into this." And when she said that, Tukson stepped away from the railing.
"Let's head back to my bookshop, I may still have an old maps of Stonewall stored somewhere."
"Thank you Tuk." Blake thanked, but Tukson shook his head.
"Don't thank me yet, we still have to figure out how to get you in, and hopefully, out once you are done."
Vale's National TV station
"You have eight minutes before we resume our podcast, so catch some breath!" One of the assistants said to Lisa Lavender as she sat on a chair, visibly tired. "Here."
Her amber eyes crosshaired on the cup of coffee right before her nose.
"I added little bit of sugar." He said with a smile as Lisa took it from his hands.
"Ohh Chuck, how sweet! Thank you." She took a sip, her mood visibly brightening. "Nothing beats a cup coffee, especially when you make it." She gave him a smile, put the cup on the desk and returned to checking her make-up in the mirror. "I just love the way you make it."
"Complement taken." Man said, then paid her a closer look. "Muscles on your arms are really tight. Stress?"
"No, It's because of all this office work." She sighed as her assistant stepped behind her chair. "It's always just sit on the couch, talk with guests, give public news and repeat all over again the next day."
"I thought you love this job." Chuck started massaging her arms, much to her delight.
"Because I do! But something to break the routine once in a while would be refreshing, like when we documented the various types of Grimm! That was so exciting, especially when we encountered that Beringel…" Chuck nodded his head, remembering how they were fleeing for their lives while the Huntsmen fought the Grimm, his fingers delicately massaging Lavender's arms.
"Little to the left…" She said and then gasped as her muscles now loosened a little bit. "How are able to you do this like it?"
"Years of practice." He said, clearly proud of himself.
Suddenly, a scroll in Chuck's pocket started ringing, and he picked it up with one hand, while his left hand continued the massage.
"Yes? Of course, right away." He ended the call and left an annoyed huff. "They apparently need me on the first floor, Terry has some problems with his back"
"Can't you stay few more minutes?" She playfully asked. "My back could use your hands too." Chuck nervously chuckled in response.
"I would love too, but you know that they would later paster you about it." He stopped the massage and went for the door. "You still have few minutes so finish your coffee while it's still warm! And like always, blow them out of the park."
When the door closed, Lisa left a sigh, looked back into mirror, then started applying a little bit of lipstick.
Even though she really loved being a reporter, sometimes her job felt like a model for some fashion brand with a significantly less pay in comparison. True, most watched the news to see her talk about the recent events, but there were some who grew attached to her image.
This of course meant that while many reporters were allowed to go into the field, even risk their own health, Lisa was discouraged to that, since the execs weren't too kin for their lead reporter to get chomped by some Grimm or get a knife between her ribs while filming about the brawls between hardcore football fans, despite the fact that she was more than capable of defending herself.
As she was reminiscing about her time in the Lady Beat's Academy and what later followed, her scroll rung, and thinking that it might be her boss she immediately picked it up with her left hand, her right hand picked up the mascara.
"Lisa Lavender speaking."
"Lisa darling! How are you doing?" All too familiar voice made her drop mascara and stand up.
"Roman!? How did you…"
"Get your number? Please, it was a child's play for someone like me!" She heard him laugh on the other end of the call. "Besides, aren't you happy to hear me once in a while?"
"Considering you are currently a most wanted man in the Kingdom, not quite." She looked around to find the tracking device she got from her time with the police.
"Ouch, that hurt." Roman replied. "I thought we were on a good terms. We even worked together back in the day!"
"Just because you helped me expose Lady Browning doesn't mean I am your partner in crime." She picked up the device, connected it and tried to scan the connection to find the source.
"If you think about using that funny thing of yours, it won't work." Roman said with cheerful voice. "First, the scroll am I currently using is a burner, and second-"
Much to Lisa's surprise, it appeared that Roman is moving all around the capital in large circles.
"-Transmitter is attached to a pigeon."
"… Why?"
"Because it's funnier that way." She heard his laugh and couldn't help herself but smile a little. "But enough chitty-chat, I didn't call you just to make fun of you, in fact, I have something that might interest you a lot."
"Does it involve the White Fang?" She asked, already suspecting that's the case.
"Ding ding ding, ten out of ten! I have always liked your wit Lis, most of journalists lack it nowadays."
"Better be quick, because my podcast resumes in…"
"In next two minutes and twenty seconds, yeah, I know, I am watching it. Who would have thought, Junior of all people…" Roman chuckled. "Nevermind that, so let's cut the chase – wanna hop in?"
"What?" She blinked few times, surprised by Torchwick's words.
"An exclusive, close up report, directly from the Fangs next action! Unfiltered, full on field experience with an opportunity to interview Fangs leaders, something the public craves for! What you think?"
"It's…Tempting…" She scratched her chin, thinking about the offer. She of course knew what Roman wants to achieve here – top journalist of the Vale's National Tv releasing the footage from the White Fang action would gather a lot of attention, and if the Fang performs well – get a lot of good publicity, something they really need.
Recently, people started searching for an unbiased report of the Fang, since both the state and privately-owned media (often founded by the corporations) relentlessly attacked the Fang after the raid, painting them as criminals and terrorists while also trying to dismiss the allegations against both the SDC and MTC.
But there was a growing majority that wanted to know the other side's perspective, and if she does it right, her career could probably reach new heights. Not to mention that the idea of finally going back to freelancing, for even a bit, was really appealing to her.
"Under two conditions." She finally spoke up. "First, I will be able to walk around and talk with the individual members of my choosing. I don't want you to surround me with only good-two-shoes while the rest participate in a homicide."
"Fair enough, I agree, but you will have a bodyguard…"
"That's my second condition." She interrupted him. "I will choose the one who will be my camera man."
"But you don't know any of them." Roman pointed out. "On what you will base your choice?"
"Intuition." She replied. "I am good at reading people, comes with the job."
Roman was silent for a moment, clearly discussing something before returning back to the call.
"Two bodyguards – one of my choosing, the other of yours. Deal?"
"Deal." She briefly glanced at the clock, forty seconds. "How are you going to pick me up? And when?"
"One of my men will call you soon, then go to the place he tells you. Don't think about bringing in the police or telling anyone about it or our deal is off, understood?"
"I understand." She nodded her hand.
"Good. A bit of advice - take few days off after today."
And with that said, Roman ended the call.
Part of Lisa was worried – what if this all an elaborate scheme to kidnap her? What if Roman has another motive? On the other hand, her adventurous side nearly burst out in excitement.
"Lisa, we are coming live in next twenty seconds!"
"Coming!" She replied and went to the door, her smile far brighter than in recent days. As much as she didn't want to admit it, Roman clearly knew her well - She couldn't wait for another call.
Hopefully, that also meant he knows that if he tries something sketchy, everyone in Vale will know who is responsible for her disappearance.
Undisclosed location, the Kingdom of Vale
"Told you she will agree!" Roman said after tossing the burner scroll under the slowly rolling heavy trailer.
"It's not like we needed her anyway." Nobody remarked as she walked with Roman around the hidden storage, in which Fangs opened crates with promised weapons and supplies.
"We don't need her for this score, but to win a long game, that's a different story." Roman remarked, then quickly pointed his cane at the fangs below. "Hey! This jammer is really delicate, be more careful with it!"
"You speak about playing a long game, yet we still do not have a plan to get into Stonewall." Boar faunus angrily said, but Roman wiggled his finger.
"Tsk tsk tsk, so impatient. There is a general idea, but it lacks refining details, but once Neo…" Like it wanted to interrupt, Roman's scroll rung. "Speaking of the little devil!" He picked up while the Nobody peeked from behind his arm.
"FC Dynama's match was really well played!" Neo wrote, and while Boar faunus frowned her brows in surprise, Roman left a sigh of relief before typing a reply.
"How Legia fans took their loss?"
"There was some noise, flares went out and mob tried to pick up the fight, but the security had everything under control in five minutes, funneling the angry crowd using barriers and tear gas."
"Did the Commentators in the tower had something to say?"
"They overwatched the entire thing."
"Is this some sort of code?" Boar faunus finally asked.
"Oh, you are finally catching up!" Roman said while typing - We should meet up soon! I miss you. – "Alright, now I know everything I needed."
"Huh? Like what?" She asked and Roman left a heavy sigh and started counting on his fingers.
"Like the Stonewall guards response time during crisis is from three to five minutes, that they heavily rely on technology since they are currently low on numbers, that the whole prison can be controlled from the command center, should I go on?" At first, boar faunus blinked few times before nodding her head.
"Really impressive."
"Somebody please, both me and Neo are professionals, and codes like this are basic stuff." She rolled her eyes in response to his cheeky smirk.
"So, you will share your plan now?" She asked instead, while the Fangs started unpacking another truck, their eyes flashing at the sight of guns and weapons fresh from the factory.
"That's right, now I can properly plan this whole gig." He put his hand on faunus's shoulder. "So Nob, go and tell your friends to come for today's briefing, and that the operation 'Crumbling wall' is a go."
"Will do Torchwick." She run off to inform the others while Roman leant on the railing, overwatching the unpacking of the Fangs new toys, like high-quality jammers, handguns, melee weapons, but also tools, mining equipment, and even mulit-purpose mechs.
If he somehow got back in time and told his past self that his path of crime will one day make him de facto leader of the Faunus's revolution, he would just laugh and call his future self "A really poor Jokester". And yet, here he is, not exactly out of his own goodwill (In fact, none of it), but he slowly started to enjoy working with the Fangs. Even when they treated him with caution at first, they seem to quickly accept him to the team.
Now, he just needs to make sure that it will stay that way.
Authors note
Don't worry, this is only the first half! Second should have been already posted
I will see you there, and I shall explain everything.