Chapter Text
Night seemed to drag on throughout the quiet moments. It wasn't that there was not anything to entertain people, it was that it wasn't something everyone particularly enjoyed. Usually nights were louder than others, but today had nothing eventful going on in the city, it was...a boring night.
Yet today, a wolf-eared Faunus with long dark gray hair with a blue fade, would welcome it, the last few weeks had been eventful, renovation after that blond girl came in and wrecked the place was costly, even had cops come around sniffing the place as well. Junior wasn't happy, but at least he came out unharmed, she had made sure of it.
Not lethally of course, she just made sure to take her down and kick her out. Bruises and burn marks aside, she came out from it fine. She had been more worried about her caretaker. Though she would never say that infront of him, it felt...out of place given what they have been through together.
She wondered about the twins though, while they weren't really friendly, they also protected Junior. Was it out of kindness? She could never tell with Spiders, but if they try anything, well they know what would happen.
She let out a soft sigh as she wiped a glass, the club wasn't open so there was no reason to, but it did keep her busy at the very least, her ears kept themselves up right as she listened in for trouble. She preferred being busy rather than useless, and as long as there were task that would keep her occupied, then she'd do it over and over.
Her earpiece then sounded off, her wolf ears perked up a bit at the sound, making her listen in on the discussion in Junior's office, while others may say it wasn't any of her business to hear a private discussion, it was her duty to protect her caretaker. He had allowed her to bug the room long ago incase they ever needed the blackmail, and she was his ears just as much as she was her blade.
"So, what exactly do you want from me, if you wanted information, I doubt you'd need something from me and my network." Junior had said as the sound of a bottle opening and a glass being placed down on his desk.
At the same time she also decided to make a drink, nothing alcoholic, just some orange juice she had packed behind the counter.
"Am I not allowed to hear and talk to a former student of mine?" The person said.
"Not when that student had been kicked out for misconduct and nearly getting his team killed for chasing old gangs." Junior replied with a hint of confusion.
The person hummed, "Yes well, when your student also becomes one of the more infamous criminals here in Vale, you would have to keep an eye on them from time to time."
"So what? Is this going to be the part where you use your authority as a councillor to have me arrested?" Junior asked with suspicion.
Her fingers clenched on the glass a bit as she took a sip of her orange juice and gently patted her weapon on her side. Her aura already up as she readied herself to intervene if necessary.
The person spoke once again, "That isn't what I'm here for."
Junior then huffed as he poured out his drink onto the cup. "So what then? If not me or information..."
Her caretaker paused until he let out a groan, "If this is about Blondie, she wasn't killed and was kicked out of the club. In fact, she should be the one charged for destruction of property and all."
The man chuckled, "No not her, but I'll have you know that you would be compensated for all the damages she had caused."
She blinked at that, he knew the blond? Does she work for him? No, she was near the same age as her, she doubted the man had her on his payroll, then again he didn't seem like the type. Her ears settled a bit before she let out a low hum.
"While I appreciate that...is it about-"
"It isn't about the twins either Mr. Xiong" The man said, making her caretaker sigh as he took a sip of his drink.
"It's about the wolf, isn't it?" Junior said with a hint of defeat and venom, not towards her but to the man.
Her body tensed, ears perked, and her fingers clenched as she set her glass of orange juice down
She then tilted herself forward onto the counter as she listened further. Why was she the topic, was she in trouble, was she caught, what did he want?
"She shows remarkable skill, even more than most first and second years. You've taken care of her quite well." The man said.
"You want her to be at your little school, this isn't a discussion, its an order." Junior said as he placed down his glass.
"I assure you, it isn't an order, it is an offer." The man said.
"Yeah? What you going to wave off her previous crimes as well, let her come there clean?"
"If it eases both you and her mind, then yes." The man said evenly.
Junior stayed silent, she assumed he was shocked at that, given that she herself was also surprised...yet she didn't believe him, there was a catch, there was always a catch.
The Junior sighed again as the sound of him turning his chair around echoed from the bug. "She already works for me, she doesn't need a fancy academy to teach her to hunt."
"Is that what she said to you, or is it something you think she would say?" The man asked curiously.
Her caretaker stayed silent as the man then continued.
"You have taught her well and equipped her with many useful tools, combat training, mechanical knowledge, some mixology-"
"That one more for appearances." Junior remarked, she rolled her eyes at it all the same.
"-And vehicle training. She is quite independent and resourceful already." The man finished, but then added on.
"But she still has much more potential...don't you think so Mr. Xiong?"
Junior stayed silent for a moment, likely thinking over what he had to say before replying, "You are aware of what she has done, right?"
"I am also aware of what she is doing to rectify them." The man replied. "Did she do them out of force or-"
"She did it to repay me after I took her in." Junior defended. "I denied her at first, tried to keep her away from what I do, but she was insistent...she wanted to be able to do more, to do something...I won't go into more detail about that."
"I see...and when she started to stop? When she starting becoming less and less, disinterested or relunctant?"
"I gave her jobs that didn't involve her doing any of that...some even to stop them, it helped clear her head a bit, let her do something that she wanted. Refined her a bit." Junior chuckled emptily, "Could let her take this place over once I retire."
"Will she?" The man asked.
"...No it isn't what she would want, I know that at the very least." Junior said as the sound of him slumping down his chair could be heard on her earpiece.
The man hummed at that as Junior took another sip of his drink.
"...I took her in long ago, when she was...maybe 9 or 10? She was young and...well stupid."
She perked up at that and let out a low growl at that.
"But she had fire, ready to charge in, not wanting tragedy like what happened to her." Junior finished.
"Yes well...it was a tragedy what happened to her settlement." The man said.
"And yet the council didn't seem to care much at all...then again with how distrusting and...corrupt they are, no small part thanks to me and all, along with the anti-faunus sentiment at the time." Junior said with an edge of anger in his tone.
"Do not worry, she won't face that in Beacon." The man reassured.
"That is if she says yes..." Junior added with slow drawl.
"With the training and knowledge you gave her, as well as from all the ex-huntsmen, she would be in good hands."
She huffed at that as she finished her orange juice and cleaned up the glass.
"...She is recklessly protective. Her semblance only makes her think that harder." Junior commented, yet it got her to stiffen.
"It is a powerful semblance, one which I would like her to practice." The man said as he stood up.
"Will Beacon curb it, make her use it properly and not recklessly?" Junior asked.
"Perhaps it will, or at the very least, it would show that she could ease herself, control it better. That is if she wants to of course." The man said.
Junior scoffs at that, "You always give people choices, don't you?"
"Autonomy is a great strength, I don't aim to take it away."
"...If she says yes, you will take care of her, right?" Her caretaker asked.
"I always do with my students."
"No...not like that, you always had something else, another purpose...I don't know what or even want to be a part of it...but if she inevitably becomes a part of it...will you take care of her?" Junior asked as he put the glass down on his desk.
The man stayed silent for a moment, before turning back to him, "She will not die in vain."
Junior sighed, his voice had been lined with almost a protective tone to it as he spoke about her. "Better then nothing...go ask her yourself now...I'm sure you got what you need from me anyways."
"Thank you for your time, Mr. Xiong." The man said as he walked out the door.
Junior sighed as he turned his chair again, likely looking at something in his office before he spoke, "Up to you now kid, try not to give him a bad impression."
She sighed at that and took off her earpiece from her wolf ear, pocketing it in her black blazer, and she adjusted her tie a bit. She then went back to business, to keep up appearances as the man then made it to her front and stopped.
"You want anything? A shot of whiskey, vodka, maybe a mix of the two, or maybe you want something more casual?" She asked as she kept her head down, wiping her glass.
The man chuckled, "Nothing right now I'm afraid...I'm more here for a few questions."
"Hm, questions are usually costly, but...I'm assuming it has been paid for already, right?" She asked as she looked up to the man.
He was wearing a black suit, with a green vest underneath his blazer, an emblem of sorts on a...scarf or fleece she assumed. He had white hair, and a pair of small glasses that rested on his nose, his hand held a mechanical cane that she had no clue what it could be.
The man gave her a small smile, "It has indeed yes, am I to assume you know who I am?"
"Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon Academy...hard not to know you when you are practically the face of the academies..." She said as she set the glass down.
"Now I wouldn't put it like that per se. Then again if you know me, then I suppose there would be no need for introductions, Cassidy Moon?" Ozpin said casually.
Cassidy tensed up, her ears perking up in alarm as her aura activated a bit to ready her semblance.
"There is no need for that, I assure you, you aren't in any form of trouble." Ozpin said as he held one hand up.
She looked to him with a small glare before easing herself. "If you know me then you know everything."
"Not quite...like I said I have a few questions." Ozpin said as he sat down.
Cassidy scoffed a bit before nodding, "Ask away then."
"You seem quite young to be doing the things you do, is it out of necessity or force?" Ozpin asked.
"Necessity." She replied evenly.
"Out of...tragedy I assume?" Ozpin added.
"No, out of revenge." Cassidy said sarcastically, before going silent for a bit and then nodding with a sigh, her ears drooping onto her head, "Yes...out of tragedy."
"Hm...I can understand your actions for survival, but you continued after you got onto your feet, did Junior persuade you?"
"I did them out of volition, to try and...repay him." Cassidy said with a hint of sadness mixed with determination. "I still want to repay him."
"Do you regret your actions?" Ozpin asked.
Cassidy blinked as she tapped her fingers on the counter trying to think of a reply, after a bit she gave a sad nod, "I do yes."
"What changed?" He followed up.
"Got into a job that had too much collateral...too many innocent people got hurt, and I stood at the front of it...I didn't like it..." She said with her hands resting on the counter, her amber eyes stared at the counter with shame and regret in them.
"Do you wish to atone for them?" Ozpin asked as his hand rubbed on his cane.
"Where? In a cell?" Cassidy asked with a scoff.
"There are other ways." Ozpin said with a slight smirk.
Cassidy stared at him for a moment then stood upright. "You think your academy could change me?"
Ozpin shook his head, "Not change, give you your chance at redemption. Teach you things that would benefit you."
"I learned enough from here." She said with a soft glare.
"Have you?" Ozpin asked with an eyebrow raised.
Cassidy growled, "What do you think I'm missing?"
"What do you think? As much as I would like to tell you, I can't give all the answers...though I suspect you know what it is anyways." Ozpin said simply.
Cassidy blinked and eased before sighing as her ears go down. "...I work better alone, for the sake of others if I'm alone, then they only need to worry about themselves without me."
"Is it because you lack discipline or you are reckless?" Ozpin asked.
She clenched her fists, "I know I'm risking myself too much, but when I have the time...what else am I supposed to do with it? If I can't...then..."
"Then you reassess...but you shouldn't retreat if you are still able." Ozpin said simply. "You have the skills, and you have the desire to be better, you want to be better to protect others."
"You don't know me enough..." she said hesitantly.
"But I know what you wish to be." Ozpin said a smile.
Cassidy stares at him for a moment as she took the discussion and played it over, she then let out a dry laugh, her ears went flat on her head, and he gave the headmaster a small smile. "You really think you'd be able to enroll me, I'm sure I'm pretty controversial."
Ozpin shrugs, "I have enrolled people for far less, and well...your identity isn't common knowledge at the moment to warrant you being controversial...unless you wish to be linked to them?"
Cassidy hummed in thought, "I come from tragedy, and I didn't exactly pick a very legal or morally good option."
"You chose the best option at the time, you may have chosen a...bloody one, but you are looking to repent for it. I see potential in you Miss Moon, one which I personally don't want you to waste."
Cassidy stared at him for a moment, trying to find a hint of deceit or deception from the old man, yet she found nothing, and with that she let out a tired sigh. "You think a simple uniform and a bunch of lessons could change me sir?"
Ozpin smiled, "No, but desire and purpose does, which only you can find, along with everyone else."
"I do better alone...I'm also free to do more." Her ears perked down at that answer.
"And yet...do you wish to continue it alone?" Ozpin asked simply.
Cassidy paused and thought it over, looking down at the counter as her mind wanders. As she does though, a letter slides under her, making her ears perk up and her body to stiffen, she then picked it up. "...If I decline?"
Ozpin hummed, "Then...I wish you the best. Choice is important, I don't aim to give one person no choice." He then made his way to the doors of the club.
She stared at the letter for a bit then looked to him. "How long do I have?"
The headmaster turned, "A few weeks at most, I'll come back to see if you made your decision. Hope to hear from you again Miss Moon."
With that, the headmaster turned back to the door and left.
Cassidy stared back at the letter before hearing more footsteps, her ears turned first before her head, she saw Junior. "...You think he was serious?"
Junior thought it over then nodded, "He always was, but are you serious?"
She then looked to the letter and pocketed it, then she turned to Junior and shrugged.
"I have time, best I make use of it."