Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction based on multiple existing anime/manga series. The characters and settings used in this story belong to their respective owners and creators, and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to infringe upon any existing intellectual property. I do not own any of the original works that inspired this fanfiction, and I fully support the original creators and their works.
I'm also occasionally chilling in JaxWolf4's (Author of Nah, I'd Adapt and Zenin Days) Discord Server. It's a chaotic lobotomy mess. Not for the faint of heart.
Here's the link:
Disc: HrPrTeam
-Story Start-
A half-open window in a certain room.
A gaze beyond its cold, deathly silent interior lay a beautiful day with clear, blue skies whose hallmark sight was the setting sun adding to the blue canvas its own, orange hue.
The beauty was a facade.
An illusion that starkly contrasted with the distressed city of Vale, which it covered.
From that orange-hued sky, a crow flew with purpose. Its wings flapped with the rougeish yet regal stride expected of a bird of its nature, eventually landing softly on the foot of the window of that cold room, which gave a scenic view upon the illusionary magnificence of the world.
The crow's coal-colored eyes curiously looked inside the interior of the silent room:
A sterile smell immediately assaulted the crow's senses even before its sharp eyes managed to discern the surroundings.
The room was spacious in its dimensions, a collective of six beds holding five rather silent, almost disturbingly so, individuals.
Said individuals were covered with a slew of bandaged injuries differing from one another, some looked fine whilst the worst appeared... to have just left surgery, judging by the abdomen and unconscious state.
Those who were conscious had their attention seized by the only sound cutting through the silence - a lone television whose words only made their grave expressions drown even deeper in despair and bitterness:
What appeared to be a studio belonging to the Vale News Network was filled with two argumentative reporters and a calm Lisa Lavender, with a headline beneath them that had not boded well:
[Ozpin's Worst Blunder Yet - The Mountain Glenn Tragedy.]
A hand slammed on the table as a chubby man complained with unadulterated fury and hatred, "This! This has to be the last straw! First, it was Lady Browning's scandal that cost our city billions of Lien, happening right under his nose. Now, his negligence has led to that scoundrel Torchwick and the White Fang to wreak havoc on our city, shutting down the whole city for an entire day, lying to us, and his own damned Beacon Student getting murdered!"
He nearly ran out of breath as he turned to look at his other two contemporaries, "Do I need to bring out the whole bloody list? Removing his authority as Head of Security is the bare minimum," he gestured at a big picture of the now deceased Blake Belladonna, "and he even got his own Student involved in a mess he's responsible for and got her brutally murdered by those low-lives that even target their own kin!"
"I say... remove him from his position as Headmaster of Beacon, hell, make the fool abdicate if that isn't possible!"
A glasses-donning man who sat beside Lisa replied to the furious rant, "You say that, Frank, but Beacon Students, whether trainees or not, are Elite Trainees. Although rarer than the common case of Huntsmen perishing in the line of duty, there have been no small number of cases of Beacon or any other Huntsman Academy student dying in an accident or tragedy, this is no outlier."
He pressed on, "Furthermore, there have been no other casualties on our side from our reports. On the contrary, in fact. Ozpin's elite impromptu assembled team has managed to resolve the issue, capturing the White Fang, and re-acquiring millions of Lien worth of stolen Dust," he paused, turning to Lisa with a swift inquiry, "Speaking of which, any news from the White Fang's High Leader?"
Shaking her head, Lisa mentioned calmly, "Sienna has yet to give any response through Mistral's CCT Tower, but we are on the ready to report once one comes through." She turned to give a swift, sharp look at the angered, chubby figure of Frank, who suddenly got a message on his scroll.
Silence overtook the studio as the man gave it a quick read, lifting his head to smile vindictively at the glasses-donning man, "Your information appears to be rather inaccurate, Cyril." He snappily stated, "While Ozpin's group had arrived to secure the Dust and arrest the criminals, they arrived with the incident alreadyresolved."
Pointing a finger at the frowning Cyril, he added, "And to further Ozpin's embarrassment, it was resolved by a Beacon Student single-handedly wiping out the force of multiple White Fang scum and an onslaught of Grimm, no less." Turning to Lisa, he inquired, "Do we have this heroic prospective Huntsman's identity per chance?"
She nodded, but gave a so-so gesture with her hands, "Given the severity of the incident, his identity is being loosely guarded. But deducing the identity isn't difficult, given he's rather notorious within Beacon itself and anyone curious enough to look into events going on in that Academy."
She raised her head and looked into the camera with a burning, almost disturbing intensity. "The very same boy who defeated The Invincible Girl with a single blow. Recently involved in a road accident as well..." Her words held a hint of vindictive contempt mixed in with that determination.
"In the name of Journalism, I can give but a name for now-"
Cyril lost his cool, interrupting her immediately, "You would use that very same Journalism to publicly announce an underage boy's identity and involvement in an incident... Damn it all this very same 'Journalism' is the reason our city's huntsmen have their hands full dealing with the Grimm as we speak!"
"The City deserves to know the name of the Huntsman who cleaned up Ozpin's mess! What, you'd rather lie to our proud, strong populace?!" Frank retorted sharply.
"A sweet lie is at times better than the truth! You've been to school, you imbecile! Grimm run on emotions, on chaos such as this, don't be a moron-"
Lisa continued unperturbed, announcing:
"His name is Alex Andrite."
...
And it is with that announcement that an audible click sound resonated in the hospital room, and the television screen promptly turned off.
A slow, measured inquiry reverberated in the hospital room; A bandaged white-haired girl lay with a tired scowl, "Why did you turn it off, Ruby?"
A similarly frowning Ruby retorted, hopping off her bed, donning a hospital gown, "It's because I don't like journalists."
Weiss sighed, but her expression held clear understanding mixed in with slight pain, her leg being in a cast, "You could have just switched channels instead."
Ruby's steady steps reverberated in the room as she approached Weiss's bed; upon reaching her bed, she extended her limb and handed the remote over to Weiss, who nodded with gratitude.
Turning to scan her surroundings, Ruby's silver eyes crossed paths with Ren's mute gratitude.
He wasn't all too keen on hearing the news any longer himself, it seemed.
Ruby's gaze immediately shifted towards a specific person - the most silent of them all, who wasn't unconscious like Nora.
Approaching the individual's bed, Ruby's eyes glistened with barely subdued tears.
Yang Xiao Long was the complete polar opposite of her usual self.
Her eyes looked dead, her expression blank.
With complete disregard for her sister's injuries, Ruby wrapped Yang in her arms with a crushing yet loving, yet... pained grip.
Indeed, there was a reason why Ruby had stood up and gone towards her sister.
Her sister, whose cold hands had yet to cease shivering, those very hands that held the remains of her partner.
The news, the television - it was all a grim reminder of their...
Failure.
"Both us leaders, and the rest of us, we..."
"We messed up-" she hicced, "b-but we'll be alright, I'm with you, always. I love you."
Yang's body shivered as she began to tear up herself, her arms extended to reciprocate the hug, to wrap her sister in her embrace.
Only failing to do so, as she hesitated to hold her sister with those very hands that had held...
Those very hands she so confidently swung...
Despite the hesitation, Yang placed her head on Ruby's shoulder, embracing her even without her arms as she stated weakly, "Love you too, sis."
-----------------------------
There were many places where one could receive treatment and surgeries within the large and densely populated city of Vale.
Small treatment centers, private hospitals.
The major place of treatment, as well as a government-funded hospital, was none other than the official Vale Hospital.
As the night fell upon the emotionally tumultuous city of Vale and the shattered moon loomed over the empty night sky, the streets were alight with artificial lighting.
Mostly empty with but few vehicles and pedestrians walking along the city streets, even amid the prior disaster and ongoing aftermath, it was business as usual.
Another source of light in these streets, however, was the eye-catching, magnificent blade clutched by a calmly strolling pedestrian.
Or, more aptly called - Huntsman In Training Alex Andrite.
His figure had caught no looks of recognition from the unknowing pedestrians, but the blade did cause a momentary pause of admiration before others turned away to not appear too nosy.
Even when not in a 'troublesome' section of Vale, at hours like these, it's better to mind your own damned business.
His stride was with a purpose as he crossed a few well-lit streets, and his eyes caught a distant glimpse of the looming and rather tall structure aptly titled - Vale Hospital.
Noticeably more modern than the usual infrastructure and architecture that ran through the streets of Vale, it was a sight to behold, almost as impressive as the CCT Towers themselves.
Thirty stories tall and well-lit, it stands as Vale's second beacon of light, wrapped around it was a decently spacious courtyard with a few adjacent buildings for patients to go on leisure walks and parking spaces for bullheads and ambulances.
Being rather familiar with its structure, given his prior memories, Alex hadn't lingered to sightsee and continued unperturbed in his silent stroll, only to pause at a message sent to his scroll.
Lowering his head and calmly taking it out of his pocket, he gave a read to the message:
[Ozpin: I ask that you not give anyone any DNA samples or let anyone run you through any tests under any circumstances. And if any reporter or individual asks you questions, it is best you tell them nothing, but answer however you like. If you need any help or any authorities approach you demanding such things, inform me immediately, and I'll take care of it. Thank you, and good night.]
Tapping on the scroll, Alex quickly wrote a response, 'Sure, no problem,' with a thumbs-up emoji.
[Ozpin: I have prepared a room for you to stay in the hospital with your teammates, if you'd like. Otherwise, inform me and I'll send a bullhead to take you back to Beacon.]
Alex replied with a grateful, 'Thanks.'
With that settled, it was a short moment later that he had arrived in front of the hospital gates with a guard standing with a rather bored expression.
The armed guard stood with a mechashifting shotgun-machete as he scrutinized Alex's appearance, his gaze lingering on Excalibur more than necessary before looking into Alex's amber eyes with a blunt inquiry, "ID and who are you visiting?"
Nodding, Alex withdrew his Beacon student ID and handed it to the guard, mentioning, "I'm visiting my teammates, injured Beacon Students. Do you need the nam-"
His words were cut short by the blunt guard's blunt response, "No, you're free to enter, I was informed of the possibility of your arrival by Headmaster Ozpin."
Gesturing for Alex to pass through, Alex nodded and entered the courtyard of the hospital.
A cool breeze swept past him as he walked the paved road of the courtyard leading into the main building, pausing in his step as he met a familiar face who paused in front of him as well upon eye contact.
Emerald eyes crossed with amber, as silence overtook the two individuals.
An awkward one.
Pyrrha's lips curled to form a rigid, awkward smile. "I was just released from being questioned; I was heading out to get you."
Alex replied evenly, "You didn't have to."
"You're planning on visiting the others?"
"Why else would I be here?"
"R-Right..."
Her awkward smile grew saddened as she voiced out with noticeable worry, "Are you... okay?"
Alex paused for a moment, uncertain of what she meant.
Noting his confusion, she filled in the blanks, "You know... with what happened."
She didn't need to elaborate further:
Is Alex Andrite Okay?
With what they did?
With what he did?
With what he had to be reminded of?
It was a loaded question.
A question he completely dismissed, "I should be asking you that question, I'm fine."
Sighing, Pyrrha shook her head, "I got away with only a damaged ear and a few surface injuries due to my aura shattering." She gestured at the bandage on her ear, "I was cleared pretty quickly, but as for how this all turned out..."
Lifting her head, she gave a long, ashamed look at the starless night sky above, "I can't help but regret. I should have sent the text sooner. I should have persuaded the others not to go through with this. I, we should have listened."
She lowered her head and met Alex's frown head-on, "They were relying on me, you know? When you're not there, I am the most proficient in combat."
"Was it arrogance? Was I too in my head? Did I not learn the broadness of this world when you beat me?"
She shook her head, repeating with cruel irony, "'Invincible Girl', I should have been stronger, I should have been smarter." She lowered her head as she clenched her fists tightly, her loose hair waving gently in the wind.
"And I should have come sooner." Alex genuinely admitted his own regret, with a frown.
[Proactiveness and obedience prevent regret.] A voice lingered in his mind.
Alex ignored it and added, "But what's done is done. There's no point lamenting pointlessly."
Silence overtook them for a moment as Pyrrha's eyes widened with understanding at his words, and she lifted her head to tearfully apologize:
"Sorry for using you, Alex."
Alex's eyes widened at that apology, his grip on Excalibur tightening momentarily.
Sighing, he shook his head helplessly and replied, "You didn't use me, and you don't owe me an apology. I came out of my own volition."
"You owe me something else, I'm not looking for an apology that you were an idiot or anything like that."
"Something else?" Blinking, Pyrrha's wide emerald eyes looked upon Alex with perplexion, only for realization to cross her features once more.
Her lips curled upwards for the first time in this ongoing tragedy to form a tiny, genuine smile, "Right, you're always so straightforward... thank you for saving me and the rest of us, Alex."
"Sure. Don't make me do it again. For real, don't." He almost begged.
She gave a silent and grateful nod, as she recollected herself, "They're on the twenty-first floor, room 249."
"Okay. Where are you going?"
"Since you're here, I'll make a quick call to my parents, they have a small CCT communication device in this hospital."
"Good luck."
-----------------------------
"Room 249," Alex mumbled aloud as he observed the number marking the door in front of him.
As advertised, on the twenty-first floor stood the hospital room holding his injured, rash, and irresponsible friends and teammates.
The muffled sounds of some kind of television show or game echoed from the soundproof room, as well as the sounds of light conversation.
His left hand extended forward, softly grasping the handle as he opened the door with an audible click, followed by the creaking of the door being pushed.
Alex's eyes were immediately greeted by the sight of a television to his left, some kind of fighting game showing on the screen.
To his right, a collective of six beds:
The unconscious and sleeping figure of Nora the closest to the door.
Then there was Ren's bed, whose eyes were tiredly looking at the fighting game, distracting him from his thoughts.
An empty bed.
Another empty bed.
A bed with a similarly distracted and blank-faced Weiss, who was looking at the screen calmly, feasting on a plate of sliced apples, her right leg in a cast.
Then there was the last bed, with three individuals on it.
Yang was lying on it with an overall better look, but her expression was still deathly, deathly exhausted as she held a controller in her hands.
Ruby herself as well, trying her best to appear cheerful as she played the game with a certain emptiness in her smile.
And a blonde man, an adult who wrapped his arms around their shoulders in a loving, almost panicked embrace beneath his relieved facade.
With the door pushing open, all eyes turned to the sudden visitor, with most gaining a glint of recognition.
Ruby immediately paused the game, but made no effort to look into Alex's eyes.
Once more, an awkward, solemn silence wrapped the cold hospital room.
Alex entered the room without a word, taking a look to his right to carefully scrutinize Nora's situation.
A moment later, he turned around and headed further into the room, similarly scrutinizing Ren's ashamed complexion.
His steps felt so disturbingly loud and heavy to everyone present, yet they were but gentle steps on the chilly floor.
Alex paused as the blonde man who had the two sisters wrapped in his arms stepped forward from the bed, approaching Alex himself.
Taller than Alex, the blonde man's blue eyes looked deep into Alex's amber eyes before lowering to take in the appearance of the majestic blade in his grasp.
Realization once more crossed his features, and...
He assaulted Alex with a sudden, unprompted.
Hug.
Alex's eyes widened momentarily as a whisper left the man's lips beside Alex's ears, "Thank you... for saving my little girls."
His tight embrace, his limbs, and his voice shuddered, "I-I wouldn't know what I'd have done if they-"
Alex cut him off by gently pushing him off, "It's nice to meet you, and you're welcome. Make sure they learn that I don't want to do this again."
He nodded firmly as a smile appeared on his expression, "I'll give them a proper fatherly lecture later, don't worry." He turned around and read the room, "But introductions, as well as that, will have to wait. I'll wait outside, I'm sure you have something to say to each other."
With that said, Ruby and Yang's father had made his leave, closing the door behind him with a soft creak and click.
...
The silence this time was broken by Yang's voice, a surprising hint of fury and venom formed on her previously anguished face:
A snarl escaped her lips, "What? Have you come to lecture us? To say you were right? Yeah, you win! I fucked up!" She gestured with wide open arms, as all turned to look at her with a knowing dismay and a mixture of shock, "We should have listened to you, not run in there guns blazing without a proper plan... but you?"
She whispered, "Why did you arrive in the end? Why couldn't you have come sooner? If you hadn't decided to join at the start, then... YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE JOINED US AT AL-"
Her voice was cut short by Alex's voice.
It was disturbingly calm, as his expression was a mixture of confusion and clear disappointment.
"What are you blabbering about? Are you asking to get slapped?"
"Because I won't even bother."
She froze.
"Do you want someone to punish you? To reprimand you for your rash dumbass actions? To curse at you, to hurt you?"
"No." He hissed.
"Past, present, and future. Remove those cumbersome expectations from me, I won't be meeting them. I'm getting sick of it."
"So punish yourself, hate yourself, blame yourself, do everything yourself."
"Because I won't be doing that for you."
His next words weren't directed at Yang alone:
"I am not your fix-all solution, nor am I your trauma-dump."
He sighed and tightened his grip on Excalibur as the room was frozen in stillness:
"...Do me this favor and learn to be better, I'll do my part as well."
He kept his eyes on the aghast figure of Yang, who trembled at his sharp yet accurate words, Ruby holding onto her tightly with her own mix of guilt.
Alex continued, following a calming breath, his voice a note, calmer and more genuine, "Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
Taking a deep, calming breath, a hesitant expression formed on Yang as she kept her head lowered, "N-"
Ruby answered for her as she lifted Yang's teary face, "Thank you for saving us!"
...
"Thank you."
To Be Continued!
-Author Note Start-
I won't lie, this has been a lil hard to write.
Hope this came out right and you've enjoyed it!
There's still lotsa things I need to deal with, but as you can see it'll be a bit awkward for a little while with Alex and the others, something you'll see next chapter.
Also a lota other stuff I gotta write that needs to be shown before we zoom into the next stuff.
Also also, the POV shifts to the traumatized cast will happen... a lil later, cause they, as Alex had asked will own up to their own developments.
They don't need him to develop - wow Messiah MC solves everything! Yeah!
Ahem!
In any case, hope it was somewhat worth the wait. I know there wasn't much in this chapter, but meh.
On that note, love ya and bu bye!