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:
I'll be honest, this chapter is a little slow, but it's needed for the direction of the story. I just want to make that clear. Anyways, hope you all are enjoying things and be on the lookout for the next chapter.
Chapter 5: Parallels 3
[Beacon Academy/Lunch Hall]
"There we were, in the middle of the night." Nora Valkyrie spoke in a dramatic tone to her friends at the table.
"It was daytime." Ren corrected.
"We were surrounded by Ursai!"
"They were Beowolves..."
"DOZENS OF THEM!" she stood up to emphasize her point.
"Two of them..."
"But, they were no match, and in the end, Ren and I took them down!" she announces triumphantly to Yang, the only one paying attention. "...and we made a boatload of lien selling Ursa-skinned rugs!"
Jaune and Blake were concentrating on their food and book respectively. Pyrrha and Ruby noticed the former's depressing mood, though neither could do much aside from gazing at him as he poked at his peas.
"She's been having this recurring dream for almost a month now..." Ren sighed, masking his amusement with stoicism.
Meanwhile Pyrrha and Ruby eventually did their best to try and get some answers from the blond boy. It'd been weeks since their first day and there were some standard issues that the two teams couldn't deny. From Miss Goodwitch's strictness in combat class and Professor Port's boring (or entertaining, depending on how one views it) lectures to Dr. Oobleck's energetic near-skittish moves during lessons, these were minor annoyances at worse; typical school woes.
One such issue though stuck out above them all, even making an appearance when a cry of pain broke through the group's pleas to Jaune.
"Ow!" a rabbit faunus, Velvet, was the one who made the sound while a boy with brown hair in a crew cut style tugged at her ears. Sky Lark, Dove Bronzewing, and Russel Thrush all laughed at their leader's terrible act. "That hurts!"
Cardin Winchester, the leader of Team CRDL (Cardinal) was a bully. He was your typical jock, big and brawny, and not much going on upstairs. He believed that true strength came from how big your muscles were and anyone smaller than him was meant to be dominated by those like him. His team (or cronies, if you'd prefer) would encourage his brutish behavior and within only a few days, they had established themselves as the resident bullies, ready to pick on anyone unfortunate enough to cross their paths, with only a few exceptions.
This was never more present with how Jaune would deflect from the boy's actions against him, counting them as 'games' rather than him being picked on. This only provoked more prodding from his friends, until another timid moan came from the bunny's lips as she tried her best to maintain her balance without dropping her tray of food.
"Please let go..." Velvet whimpered.
"See? I told you it was real!" Cardin boasted while tightening his grip on the poor girl's ear.
A chorus of laughs followed by words like 'freak' and 'animal' followed. This was all witnessed by Pyrrha and the others who, despite finding the action appalling did little to help. In truth, even Blake seemed content to just speak on the issue rather than do something. Nobody would come to Velvet's aid it seemed. Coco and Fox were in the middle of classes while Yatsuhashi had a session with Professor Peach, leaving her with no one brave enough to do anything.
That is until a certain pair arrived.
"Would you mind letting her go?" a deep voice asked, venom dripping onto his otherwise calm request.
"And what if I don't want..." Cardin turned to find two pairs of glares directed at him, one crimson and the other violet. "...to?"
The faunus who spoke was about Cardin's height and build, though some would say he was taller if they counted his ivory horns. Aganju and Esu stood in their school uniforms, black suits lined with gold, accompanied by blue vests, white shirts, and red ties. Esu was the one who spoke up in defense of Velvet, who was still struggling under Cardin's callous grip while Aganju's evil stare grew darker by the second. Hearing the arrogant reply, the fox began cracking his knuckles, a grin matching his glare perfectly.
"We'll make you...!"
Pyrrha and the others watched as the altercation began to heat, neither of them sure whether to intervene or stay out of it. As things began to escalate, Cardin released Velvet's ear, but only to pick a fight with the dragon and fox. The air in the place grew thick, nearly smothering as the other students watched to see what would come from this.
"Do you know who this is?!" Russel barked.
"Should we care?" Aganju's glower cut to the one speaking.
"This is... is Cardin Winchester! The best huntsman in the whole school!"
The pair turned to one another before shrugging and walking past, each checking on Velvet and ignoring such a pompous claim. The brunette male didn't take kindly to such a disrespectful display and grabbed Aganju's tail, looking to replicate his previous crime. Pyrrha and Blake noticed this and were about to warn the fox only to find the animal part wrap around Cardin's wrist.
"I'd advise against doing that..." Aganju peered over his shoulder with a dangerous look in his eye.
The brute didn't take kindly to the looming threat, showing that he wasn't just some meat-brained idiot. That said, it still didn't help that he tried to rip his hand away from the rather tight grip but to no avail. It was like being caught in a bear trap but it paled in comparison to the look in Aganju's eyes. Bright violet gems had long disappeared in favor of sanguine rubies, shrouded by an inky abyss.
"Let me go!" Cardin grunted, his natural strength failing to reclaim the limb.
"Spare the guy, will you, Aganju?" Esu stepped in, placing a hand on his leader's shoulder.
"Fine..."
The vulpine then released his arm, swatting it away before joining Esu in comforting Velvet. While Ruby and the others sat, impressed, Pyrrha couldn't help but feel an uneasy presence, if only for a moment. It was a dark presence, one that felt similar and yet, foreign. At that moment, she also felt bad for not having done anything to help, but, seeing her friend and leader departing, maybe she could rectify her mistake.
If she could be convincing enough.
[Training Room]
With the new rookies coming in, Elm and Sango wasted little time preparing for the school year. With the short time frame, the Atlesian pair got their curriculum together while being introduced to the other staff members. From the boisterous Peter Port to the eccentric (Doctor) Bartholomew Oobleck, many characters were eager to meet the two.
Sadly, the same could not be said for Olivia Peach. While the others tried to get to know the Specialists, she would instead go out of her way to subtly antagonize the larger woman. Whether by making sly remarks about Elm's frame or shamelessly flirting with the panther faunus, much to his vexation, it was evident that the two would sooner be bitter enemies than best friends.
Thankfully, all that personal time wouldn't last much longer as the first day of classes had officially begun.
It was the first day of combat class and Elm was itching to see what the recruits were made of. She was particularly fond of a certain blond brawler, citing her as a potential top student. Yang Xiao-Long.
She was a powerhouse which made her smile brightly, even if she was dressed rather... provocatively. Perhaps it was her conservative upbringing at the academy or maybe she was just behind on the times? Either way, Elm wouldn't make a fuss about things. Besides, she was doing an excellent job as she took on a brawny brunette.
"Winchester! Keep your guard up!" Elm called but the boy disregarded her instruction. This only resulted in Cardin eating an uppercut that knocked him on his rear end.
"That was a lucky shot!"
"Right..." she rolled her eyes in annoyance as he rubbed his rear. She was about to scold him for his poor technique when the bell sounded, once again igniting her usual fire. "...That concludes our lessons for the day. Make sure to review and be ready for counters and parries in a few days. You'll find the techniques uploaded in an hour, so there'll be no excuses."
As each of her wards filed out of the training room, a familiar face was entering. Unfortunately, instead of the dark-haired faunus, Elm's annoyance quickly returned upon spotting Professor Peach, with her infuriatingly sweet grin.
"My apologies, Miss Ederne. Were you expecting someone else?"
ANYONE else would do, you annoying shrimp...
"Is there something I can help you with, Olivia?" Elm fixed a smile, feeling her frustration pulling her facial tissues.
"Straight to the point. Well, I just wanted to stop by and see how things were going. I trust the kids are meeting your high expectations?"
"They're doing just fine. The rookies are adequate in combat without their weapons and show promising potential," the Amazon replied evenly, finally dropping the strained grin. "If there's nothing else to discuss, I have to go and..."
"Meet with that darling partner of yours?"
"Excuse me?"
"I think it's just precious that you and that fine young man have such a close bond... If not a little concerning..."
For once, the irritation left Elm's face as she eyed the woman's suddenly low tone. There was something far more sinister in Peach's demeanor, despite her sweet smile. The taller woman shuddered internally as the air around her began to sting her lungs. It reminded her of her training down in the Solitas tundra.
"What... What's going on?" she wheezed softly, clamping her hand over her mouth soon after.
"Nothing that you can't handle, I'm sure, Miss Ederne," Olivia giggled. Shortly after, the temperature had returned to normal, allowing the giant of a woman to take deep breaths that surprisingly soothed her lightly damaged throat. "I would be remiss, however, if I neglected to reintroduce you to our faculty policies. I'd rather not have grounds for your dismissal before the festivities next semester."
Rubbing her throat, Elm cautiously eyed Olivia Peach who still retained her motherly smile. That being said, now the Atlesian could see the darkness hidden behind that sweet grin, further urging her to keep her temper in check. Through gritted teeth, Elm stood to her feet before clearing her throat in hopes of regaining some level of professionalism.
"I'm... well aware of the code of conduct. If you came to flex your abilities, I'd be more than happy to..."
"Are you aware of the confidentiality agreement?" The muscular teacher said nothing. "It's the oath that we took when we became educators at this institution; our promise to not withhold any information that could prove to compromise the security and wellbeing of the academy, as well as her students. Correct?"
"What are you getting at, Peach?"
Olivia gave Elm a knowing grin before turning to leave.
This ignited a fiery rage in Elm's core.
Did she do all of that just to get a rise out of her?! Did she fall into another trap of pettiness? Ironwood would surely have her head if he'd witnessed this encounter. But, if this was all the annoying woman wanted, then it was truly a small price to pay for her lack of discipline just now.
"I wonder if that cute faunus knows the true reason why you both are here?" Elm tore herself from her inner loathing to see Olivia standing in the doorway; darkness behind her eyes sent a chill down her spine. "It's been several months since you both arrived and he's taking a liking to Beacon. I do hope that whatever the general is plotting, it's truly worth it in the end. Secrets have a way of tearing even the strongest bonds apart. Remember that Elm..."
Without another word, Elm watched as Professor Peach exited the room, leaving her to process what'd just happened.
[Vale-Shopping District]
After classes, Aganju decided to check out the city as he wanted to get a change of scenery. In truth, he'd been on edge since the incident with the first year, Cardin Winchester. His team did their best to keep him calm after that, reminding the fox that people like him, unfortunately, existed in the world. Still, his feeling of anger wouldn't go away so easily.
Rather than stay on campus and risk running into the insufferable punk again, Aganju decided to come to the city. Walking down the city streets, he headed toward the shopping district. Seemingly wandering at this point, the vulpine allowed his feet to carry him until he arrived a block away from a bookstore that he hadn't noticed before.
"First time for everything..." he shrugged, heading toward the venue.
His entrance triggered the doorbell, literally causing the instrument to jingle, signaling his arrival. He was greeted by a man with thick sideburns that connected to his beard along the side of his face. There was also a girl leaning against the counter, one he recognized immediately just as she turned around. It was the mysterious girl with the bow.
"Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun!" the clerk greeted with a large smile, showing off his canines. "Let me know if you need anything."
He nodded at the man and proceeded to browse his inventory. From biographies and nonfiction to fantasy and romance novels, there appeared to be some truth to the store's branding as he turned to the more supernatural genre where several books began to catch his eyes, some even enchanting him. One such volume happened to be about dark powers and secrets behind the essence of semblances.
"I hear that's a really good title..." the girl's voice broke his trance. "I hear that it's rare to find nowadays but, it could help with Oobleck's class down the road."
He turned to the young woman, surprised to see her out of uniform and in her traditional garb. She wore a black, buttoned vest with coattails and a single silver button on the front. Underneath this was a white, sleeveless, high-necked, crop undershirt, and white shorts with a zipper on the front of each leg. Of course, there was that familiar black bow that he recalled from the initiation footage.
"Thanks," he allowed a small smile to grace his features. "Brothers know we could use all the help we can get."
They both shared a laugh at his statement, mostly because it was true.
"I agree. He's not exactly the easiest professor to follow..." the girl noted.
"Are you referring to his style of teaching or the inexplicable way he moves faster than the eye can see?"
"Both."
Another wave of laughter filled the room. Only when it died down did the owner loudly clear his throat, his amusement finally drawing the attention of the teens.
"While I'm glad that you both are enjoying yourself, this isn't a library" he chuckled softly. "I am running a business, you know?"
They both apologized to him before taking their respective books to the front for purchase. He happily rang their purchases and the two bid the shopkeep goodbye.
"I'll have to remember to check this place out," Aganju chuckled softly. "I've been here over a year yet this is the first time I've been there."
The girl giggled at his pseudo-shame while clutching her new book, "Howl at the Moon" to her chest. He had his book tucked under his arm while they continued to walk through the district. They continued to chat about their time at Beacon so far and the girl even made a motion to applaud him for standing up to Cardin as they approached a clothing store.
"By the way, I never got your name..." the fox chuckled sheepishly.
"I'm Blake..." she replied meekly, forgetting to introduce herself back at Tukson's. "You're Aganju, right?"
"Yeah! How'd you know?"
"I wish it was under better circumstances," She frowned slightly at the mention of that unsavory moment. "I... saw what happened with Cardin..."
"Oh..."
"But, I also saw how well you handled bullies like him too!" Blake quickly added. "Not many people would've done what you did for..."
"...Those like us?"
Blake froze in her tracks, her breath hitching in her throat. On instinct, she looked around in terror to see if anyone around had heard him. Thankfully, the citizens were too enraptured with their own company to care about the conversation between two Beacon students. While she was relieved to see this, Aganju merely stared at the girl with confusion, only to be met with a wicked glare.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about! You're mistaken."
"You're a faunus hiding who you are to avoid persecution. What's there to be mistaken about?" he shrugged casually. "If you're content with playing human, that's your business, Blake."
"I'm not playing at anything!" she snapped back, cursing herself when those around them caught her outburst. "I'm just... It's complicated, okay?"
Aganju could see the slight twitching of her bow once again, and like before, it was barely noticeable unless one either sought it out or was good at spotting details; Thankfully, he was the latter. He noticed how her shoulders fell slightly, revealing that there was something far more significant than just her true identity bothering her.
"I'm sorry... Whatever it is, you don't have to mention it if you don't want to."
"Thanks," a tiny grin began to surface, though she didn't meet his gaze. "It's just that... My past wasn't exactly pleasant and..."
"You're trying to forge a new future?"
Blake bowed her head. It was enough for Aganju to grin before heading over to the bullheads.
"We should head back before Professor Goodwitch comes looking for us."
"Agreed! The last thing we want is detention for breaking curfew," Blake giggled softly.
The pair made their way back to the bullheads that would take them back to campus. The trip wasn't long, mainly due to the light-hearted conversations aboard the near-empty ship. Blake began to open up a bit, careful to only bring up certain topics that were appropriate for their current relationship status. Aganju did the same, creating an air of mystery about him that did much to the feline's delight. Soon, they were back on the school grounds, the sky illuminated by the soft green glow of the lamp-posts stationed all around.
Aganju and Blake walked to their dorm only to stop midway when the sounds of shuffling caught their ear. This was followed by soft grunts and whines from a familiar voice. Sure enough, the two found a rather scraggly blond boy in the friendly headlock of none other than their least favorite person.
"What is Jaune doing with Cardin?" Blake raised a brow, uncertain of what to make of this display.
Aganju on the other hand merely shook his head and kept moving. It was the only thing he felt capable of doing without losing his cool. While it was universally known that few people were fond of the brutish boy and his team, very few held him in disdain like him. Blake, being a faunus, picked up this aura of hatred from the boy, deciding to take his arm and head to the dorms.
"It looks like he's buddy-buddy with that Cardin guy..." he growled once they were far off from the two.
"But... It doesn't make sense."
"You can go back and try to figure it out..." the fox yawned, his tail swaying lazily. "I'm going to bed."
Blake contemplated his suggestion but settled for heading inside, leaving Jaune and Cardin to their own devices. Little did they know, their inability to act would prove beneficial in the long run.
"Oh, Professor Sango!" The panther faunus' tail twitched upon hearing the loud sing-song tone behind him.
He spared a glance over his shoulders to find three of the first years approaching. The first was a rather tall girl with scarlet red hair tied in a high-up ponytail and Grecian armor. Then there was a young man outfitted in green with black hair and a pink streak along with a young woman with white hair tied in a side ponytail and a dress to match.
She looks just like Winter! he registered with wide eyes before recovering his composure. "How may I help you all? I hope today's lesson wasn't too dull..."
"Not at all, Professor!" the red-haired girl spoke up, eyes filled with intrigue. "Your lecture on aura manipulation and emotions were more than interesting. I never realized just how much our aura levels could be impacted by an impulsive shift in our personal feelings."
"I must agree..." the young man bowed respectfully. "While I'm known for overseeing my feelings rather well, it's refreshing to know there is more to this than simple armor and semblances."
"No offense Ren but I was certain you didn't have emotions until just now," the heiress nudged him in the side with a playful smirk.
Both members of JNPR frowned at the girl, earning an "I'm sorry" before they all burst into laughter. Sango shook his head with amusement before clearing his throat, regaining everyone's attention.
"Not that I don't appreciate a good joke or two, but I doubt that you all came to get a chuckle out of me."
"Right," they all announced in sync.
"So, to what do I owe this visit?"
"We were wondering if you were available to assist with a previous subject you discussed before? It was about maintaining balance within ourselves to keep our aura under control..."
Sango eyed Ren and began to notice something much akin to the others.
Averted gazes.
Shifting feet.
Rubbing arms.
Flushed faces.
Typical teenagers... he silently chortled at their apprehension. "You're hoping for some 'tutoring' i.e. friendly advice about personal feelings towards someone or something?" If possible, their faces turned beet red, further cementing his inquiry. "Very well. Normally, I would refer you to Professor Peach, but, I'll gladly assist you all however I can. I'll set up one on one sessions with each of you along with some solutions for your problems, alright?"
He took a seat behind his desk and began to record the best times and dates for them all. It wasn't too difficult to adjust his after-hour schedule, especially if it meant he didn't have to run in Olivia directly after his classes.
Once he finalized things and the students left, he took a moment to check the private notes they left for him, contemplating the best resolutions for their respective cases.
Lie Ren:
Issue: Aura control while around Nora Valkyrie as well as dealing with personal feelings about his past and future.
"A simple case. Young love and hidden family issues," he rubbed the stubble of his chin. "Proper meditation and counseling should help, but I'll probably need to ease things since his semblance is linked to emotion suppression. With power like that, it's evident that he requires basic therapy about emotional expression outside of battle. Who do I have next?"
Weiss Schnee:
Issue: Family problems and expectations linked to her identity and purpose in life.
The next in line for control of the SDC... She's Winter's sister, alright. It's going to be a little difficult to figure out a plan for her. I'll have to approach this delicately. I'll have to be careful, but maybe the other teachers could give me some insight into her personality and mannerisms around campus, and the others for that matter.
Setting the two files down, he checked the final one that belonged to the redhead. Half expecting a lengthy file, her records showed the opposite. There was only a single page that read:
Pyrrha Nikos:
Issue: Emotional support
That was all that was needed. Such a divulgence left the panther perplexed until he ran across a single line that was written by Olivia about the girl. "Considered a celebrity in Mistral?" Indeed, that piece of the puzzle was crucial.
Before Sango could read further, he darted his head upward upon hearing the hiss of his classroom door. Given it was nearly nighttime, he assumed it was his usual companion.
"Sorry, Elm... I'm finishing up." He paused when he noticed that it wasn't the brawny woman standing there but rather the headmaster. Silver hair and orange-green eyes peered at him with calmness, yet, Sango couldn't shake the feeling of anxiety beginning to well up inside of him. "Headmaster Ozpin! My apologies; I thought you were someone else."
"Indeed," the man replied plainly, a ghost of a grin dancing along his lips. "I must apologize for such an abrupt appearance. I saw some of your students earlier and was wondering if you were still around. I do hope they haven't been too much of a handful?"
"Not at all. They're some of my best pupils. They were just meeting me for a little assistance in aura stability, along with some personal information that I've been entrusted not to share without their consent."
"I see..." Ozpin pushed his glasses up and took a seat across from the panther. "Trust is such an important thing; so precious and fragile. Even the tiniest of slip-ups can shatter it if one is not careful. Wouldn't you agree, Professor Bagheera?"
Sango nodded, frowning slightly at the man.
"Of course. Without trust, how can we ever hope to defeat our enemies and establish any pretense of peace throughout Remnant?"
Ozpin chuckled. "Well said; I should expect nothing less from one of Ironwood's specialists."
"A-Actually, only my colleague possesses the official rank of specialist. I haven't been honored with such a status myself."
Interesting... the headmaster crossed his legs, setting his cane in his lap. "I must admit, while I know little of Atlas' politics about their huntsmen. I was under the impression that the general would only send his most elite warriors. Perhaps I pegged him wrong this time."
"Just what are you implying, sir?"
"Nothing, I assure you. It's just rather unorthodox for him to send two of his own for something as trivial as an exchange program. Given my history with the general, I'm well aware that he rarely commits an act without a strategic purpose. My apprehensions about his goodwill are less about you and more about him."
Sango still felt a bit sour from the veiled insult, but even he couldn't deny the headmaster's claims. From his account, he knew that General Ironwood was not one to do things without there being a Plan B; If what the man across from him was true, there would be no denying the validity of his concern. Even more true was the reality that hiding things wouldn't result in a positive outcome as, clearly, he knew there was more to their presence.
"You may have a point..." the faunus bit leaned in his chair, releasing a heavy sigh under Ozpin's gaze. "The general thought it best to have us here before the festival as a minor security measure; scouts if you will. As far as I know, there's no added reason other than that for myself and my partner being here."
Ozpin narrowed his eyes at the male, studying his demeanor for any signs of deception. Green orbs analyzing the brilliant 'grey'. When he found none, he finally allowed a gentle smile to grace his features as he stood.
"Well, if that's all, then I welcome your assistance, both with your mission and with the students," Ozpin turned on his heel, heading for the door. "They seem to respond quite well to your teachings. I wouldn't mind having you on permanently if you ever bore of the military life."
"Is that an offer?"
The headmaster stopped at the door, placing a knuckle under his chin as if deeply mulling the panther's inquiry.
"Consider it an option."
With a chuckle, the older man left a perplexed Sango to review his paperwork. Waiting for him was none other than his subordinate, Glynda Goodwitch. As she opened her mouth to question his purpose for coming, a silent finger graced the man's lips, reminding her of the professor's enhanced hearing. Once they exited the building, Glynda finally chimed in.
"What do you make of him?"
"From what I was able to gather, he appears to be as much in the dark as we are."
"That doesn't help us in the slightest..."
"On the contrary, this may prove advantageous for us," he simpered to himself while Glynda knit her brows. "What I managed to assemble from our chit-chat, while not what we were hoping for, possessed many seeds that could sprout a good harvest."
"Such as?"
"By learning that he's not listed as a Specialist officially, he's free to operate however he sees fit. Mr. Bagheera is not under the direct jurisdiction of the Atlesian Military which reveals that his devotion is of his preference, not out of obligation. The second thing is that his purpose here is truly innocent. The way he cares for the students proves that much..."
While normally the skeptic, Glynda had to admit that the man's words held merit. Lie Ren. Weiss Schnee. Pyrrha Nikos. Her mind recalled seeing the trio leaving the classroom with smiles and a little more openness in their conversations. While they were some of the top students in their class, she did find there to be some traits that raised some concerns.
"Very well..." she sighed gently. "I supposed we can rest easy for the time being, at least until we get Qrow's message."
"That would be best."
"But..."
"Yes, Glynda?"
"I... have an update about another student, but we should speak privately."
"If you're referring to him," Ozpine twirled his cane jovially. "I'll need a cup of hot coffee first."
While he held his carefree attitude, Professor Goodwitch shook her head. How could someone of his status be so casual about such matters? Between governing a school, a council seat, and... other activities, she was sure she'd lose her mind. Maybe it was just her way of handling things? Even now, he was whistling into the dusk as if nothing was afoot while she couldn't get rid of this nagging feeling within her soul.
What was Ironwood's true reason for sending two of his own to Vale so easily, one of them being a member of his most honored company? She knew enough about Elm Ederne from the information given to them, though there were still plenty of mysteries surrounding her being here; if was Ironwood's way, after all. However, Glynda's mind focused on the panther faunus, more specifically a physical trait, a rarity that didn't go unnoticed.
A trait that could lead to more harm than good around campus.
[Beacon Dorm Rooftop]
Sitting on the rooftop of the dormitories, violet eyes peered at the shattered moon his weapon drawn. Cerberus was what he called it, slowly spinning it in its glaive form. It was the most elegant style, coupled with his graceful movements as he spun the armament. His body swayed perfectly and fluidly with each motion, matching his movements with the springtime breeze.
He continued this, picking up speed while spinning it around his back and neck flawlessly. The smoothness of his motions meshed with the whistle of the world around him as Cerberus began to create a sphere of slashes; a seemingly impenetrable shield. He focused on his breath as his mind cleared, but, while controlling his movement was one thing, mastering the demons that plagued his soul and thoughts was a completely different task.
Such a pity...
Aganju gnashed his teeth, bitterly exposing the canine in the corner of his mouth. His head began to pulse as an image began to materialize before his eyes. Those cursed eyes. Those bloody portals, each filled with superiority and cruelty, made his chest tighten. That voice was no better, contrasting the hellish gaze that flickered periodically within the deepest crevices of his heart.
Have you forgotten the truth? They still look down on you...
"I don't care..." he whispered to the discordant voice in his head. "All that matters is what I think."
Is that what you've told yourself?
"I proved you wrong..."
In a matter of seconds, more of the figure's identity became clearer to the faunus, making his movements shift from a graceful and serene display to a more aggressive and brawler style. No longer was his intention to just practice technique, each action he committed to was out for blood as he envisioned the source of his angst. A figure, surrounded by the creatures of darkness, stared back at Aganju with luminous crimson. Though it was only his mind's projections, he could feel Cerberus' blade slashing any beast that dared come too close.
One by one they stepped into the dome, feeding his lust for destruction. For each one that fell, his lips twitched tighter, for he knew that he was proving his point. He hoped...
How do you not tire of the pointless effort?
His eyes blazed, no longer with rage, but with despair. Though his muscles ached, they paled in comparison to the pain in his head and heart. The monster smiled back as he dropped to a knee, exhausted. Deep in his heart, he couldn't deny their claim. His canine bit into his lip, threatening to draw blood. That still couldn't match the misery eating away at him.
Aganju wouldn't admit it...
He COULDN'T admit it...
"I'm not weak," he hissed through shivering breaths. "I... I..."
"Are you alright?"
Aganju snapped out of his furious stupor, hearing a voice that didn't match up with the taunting image. The voice wasn't soft and full of pride, but now gentle and... hurt? The fox shook his head, noticing the figure begin to fade away, giving way to another. The dark raven hair morphed into scarlet locks. Amber turned to emerald green. That dark and heartless smirk gave way to a saddened expression.
"What?" he whispered, blinking away the hazy sensation.
Just then, a sharp pain hit his head causing the confused fox to stumble forward, dropping his weapon in the process. Before any more damage could take hold, Aganju would feel something warm wrap around his arm. He turned his head and found it was Pyrrha. Though he couldn't hear her clearly due to the throbbing in his head, the vulpine could make out her worry... no, he didn't find concern behind her eyes.
It was nothing but pity gazing back at him.
Just like my dream!
Aganju ripped away from the girl as if he'd been stabbed before running off without a word, leaving behind his weapon, and a stunned Pyrrha to ponder what'd just happened. Somewhere in his heart, he felt guilty for how he treated her just now, but he couldn't handle that right now. Through blurred eyes, the fox stumbled through the dorm before reaching his room. Opening the door, he was grateful that only one of his teammates was in the room.
"Well, look what the..." Roxanne stopped when she turned and found her partner and leader shivering against the doorframe. "Sug! What the hell happened? Ya look like death rotting in the desert!"
His only response was heavy breathing and a wide-eyed horror settling on his features. Roxanne soon dropped her teasing tone, rushing over to help the boy to the edge of his bed. She leaned his head onto her shoulder stroking his hair as he mumbled something delirious.
"Shh, it's okay. I'm here," she whispered into his ear. "Focus on my voice. Think of our team. The Vytal Festival. You're a great leader and a better friend."
To anyone else listening, Roxanne's words might've been considered nothing more than babbling, but they knew what this was. They'd been teammates long enough for her to recognize when he was having a panic attack. She continued to soothe him, refuting any negative statements that he'd manage to eke out until his convulsing shifted into his head resting in her lap. She'd smile at his serene form before supporting him into a seated position.
"Business as usual?"
"Yeah," he lowered his head in shame. "Sorry about that, Roxie..."
The ram faunus responded with a punch to the arm of her exhausted ally and a light chuckle. Rather than the expected annoyed reply, Aganju joined her in the humorous revelry. Neither knew how long this ordeal transpired, and neither did they care. To them, it was just one teammate aiding another. That was the story that the school was given to maintain their statuses as two of the toughest huntsmen-in-training.
"Seriously... Thanks for helping me out, Rox!"
"Whatever," she rolled her eyes playfully toward the door. "You made a scene earlier and we both know I can't leave a wounded pup unattended."
"Ha-ha... You know, if being a huntress doesn't work out, you should go into comedy."
Roxanne stuck out her tongue toward the dry sarcasm before noticing someone was standing at the door. Long red hair and Grecian attire. She was holding something that spelled out the reason for her being here.
"So, are you alright now?" she flicked her gaze back to the boy below, raising a brow.
"What do you mean?"
"You told me you were going to clear your head, right?" he bowed his head, perplexed as to what she was alluding to. "So, what could've caused you to have an episode and have you sweating like you were being chased by a swarm of Nevermore?"
Aganju snapped out of his stupor, his eyes slowly lifting to be greeted by her unamused frown.
"I was... was jogging when it triggered. I... I pushed myself too hard?"
"I'm three seconds from punching you square in the mouth."
Aganju quickly shot up and scrambled from the girl, nearly tripping over the bed. Once more, his body tensed in a panic; Thankfully, he was in control of his senses this time. He prepared to explain himself but stopped short when he noticed they had a visitor.
"Pyrrha?"
"Hello, again..." she weakly waved, forcing a smile. "I hope I'm not disturbing. You left this on the roof."
Roxanne crossed her arms and cast her sisterly glare at the fox. Aganju picked this up and, with ears splayed, steadily headed to the girl. Thanking her for bringing him his weapon, another glance at Roxie told him all he needed. Returning his attention to Pyrrha, the vulpine felt his heart sink at how hurt she appeared, especially knowing why. He closed the door to his team's room allowing them enough privacy to have a much-needed talk.
"Pyrrha... I'd like to apologize..."