The heat was beginning to die down finally, adjusting to the month of October and allowing everyone to no longer fall victim to the uncomfortable humidity. As he drove his motorcycle down the main avenue, the rider could only sigh mentally as to how grateful he was he could receive a break during the day. The night before certainly drained him, mentally.

If they couldn't hear it from the loud roar and purr of the incoming engine, the many people heading in one certain direction would shout loudly as they would jump out of the way of the biker who drove as if the devil was on his trail. In his mind, this was nowhere close to speeding, he could go much faster if he ever needed to. All he wanted was just to get some food in his stomach and be lazy for a few hours.

Day in, day out, it was the same routine he had followed for months. Get out of bed and from there, he would throw on his mean face. If he was a real dropout, then he'd have better things to do than just attend school, get in trouble and skip detention long ago. Although, back then if things hadn't changed, he would still go to school, mainly just for kicks since the city of Vale didn't seem too interesting at the time.

He could recount back then how life was just going down the toilet like a dirty spiral. It was sickening and made the rebellious teenager sometimes dizzy if he hadn't learned how to forget about it until the next day.

Now, most people figured him to be a completely brainless punk who had the most pitiful luck of even staying here, but he had the right to say that he wised up enough to know the score. At least enough for him to get by.

Lunchtime rolled around, which was his favorite time of the day in actuality. Nothing seemed as satisfying like fetching some fries, burgers and a few cold bottles of cola. The teen boy usually ate by his lonesome, not because he was shy, complete opposite of it really. It was simply because people simply hated his absolute guts, girls, especially.

It was fine, he preferred being alone most of the time. So long as no one irked or thought of egging him on, he was fine with how the day transpired.

With the burger wrapper crumbled into a ball, the teen didn't feel like making it difficult for the janitors to pick up his stuff, so choosing to be less of a pain in the neck, he threw it away in the nearest trash can. The burnt haired teen just needed to relax during the time he had here at Beacon, for returning would still prove to be an everlasting challenge.

To call Beacon a safe haven was rather tricky, but he'd admit that it sure did beat being back on the old plantation. He felt free here because other's weren't getting hurt as much and families can live to see another day.

Knowing he still had plenty of time left to spare, he figured he may as well go for a drink.

Stepping from the table, he began to head towards the soda machine. His nostrils filled with some of the chicken fried steak still being served. Convincing himself that he was plenty full, he turned his attention to the soda machine.

He didn't feel like forking over a quarter, so being the cheapskate that he also was, he slammed his hand against the machine as it spilled out a few cans.

'Bingo.'

As he made his way out towards the front doors, Cardin felt an abrupt mass collide into his right shoulder. Thankfully, whoever it was didn't cause him to spill the now opened drink on his leather motorcycle jacket he had worn even before arriving at Beacon.

Immediately, irritation caused him to grunt as a verbal response, eyes locating whoever was the one responsible for bumping into him. Low and behold, the same girl with rabbit ears stood there with alarmed eyes.

In Cardin's mind, he had no intentions of allowing her to leave Scott-free, he was going to instill his aggression into her system in order for her to remember who he was. With a sharp poke, he drilled his index finger into the girl's smaller shoulder.

"Watch where you're going, you've got those eyes for a reason."

"I-I-I'm sorry, I didn't see-"

"That's what I just told you to do," his face became level with hers now, "Shut up and listen, it'll teach you more than you already know, you dumb animal."

Any other Faunus would give the racist a piece of their mind, emotions such as anger and disgust clouding their judgment in order to convince them to make a stand. But such feelings were not evident for Velvet. No ounce of bravery was existing in herself.

"I thought you Faunus were supposed to have superb hearing, unlike us humans. What a croc, apparently even you dirty vermin like fooling us. Typical."

"B-b-but..." all that could come out was a mere mutter under her breath as she faced down to her side, "...didn't fool you."

Unlike Velvet, Cardin was able to make out every word she thought she was able to sneak past him.

"Say it louder," he ordered, coldly. Regret was what further escalated inside the poor girl as she felt herself shrink beneath Cardin's glare. "Go on, you little pest. Say. It. Louder."

"I-I-I-"

"And quit stuttering, you're so keen on speaking your mind for once, so get your message across."

"Hey, Cardin, that's a bit much, don't you think?"

Both the bully and the bullied turned in the same direction as to who dared to oppose the most hated student in all of Beacon. Standing a definite number of inches smaller than Cardin, scraggly and with blonde hair that was in need of a trim, stood a boy who he was able to recognize.

"What did I tell you about keeping that mouth of yours shut, Arc? This doesn't concern you," warned the burnt-haired.

One thing he couldn't stand was when someone decided to play the good guy due to them watching too many superhero films. This guy who stood a few away like a coward was seen reading comics practically all the time.

"Look, you don't need to act so harshly on her. I mean, what all did she do?" asked Jaune, who was looking to just diffuse the situation after separating from his friends.

"She didn't receive a punch in the teeth. Unless you would like to face the opposite of that right now."

The popping of his knuckles was what truly made Velvet grow fearful of what would happen to Jaune and herself. Whether or not he would truly go so far as to breaking school rules to such an extent isn't what she wanted to find out.

"P-please, I-I'm sorry, I was stupid for running into you. It was my fault, it was my-"

Her sentence was cut short as Cardin's fingers gripped her sleeve, earning the rebellion a surprised yelp of discomfort from Velvet. Jaune could feel his body tense up, not expecting for him to actually face these kinds of moments with a fellow person. Sure, when he had faced Grimm, they were just hulking, mindless beasts... And also because he faced them with his teammates.

Pulling her close, Cardin whispered to her in a composed tone without making eye contact. "Take the drink."

She couldn't quite process his order, what sort of trick was he pulling? "W-what?"

"Just take it."

Knowing it was best not test his patience, she obediently grasped the soda with both of her hands.

"Drink it, may even help calm your nerves. Now scram."

Releasing her from his grip, he gently moved her behind him. So long as she wasn't in front of his path, he was fine with it. Whether he knew it or not, Velvet couldn't find it within herself to just scurry away. She was a second year for crying out loud, she should act like one. Yet, here she was, intimidated greatly by a first year, doing as she was told by sipping the grape soda. She watched the event unfold in front of her with a shiver.

"Now then, perhaps I should remind you how things work. When something doesn't include you in the beginning, don't even decide to jump in."

As Cardin kept taking each slow marching step towards Jaune, the blonde boy seemed to have been having second thoughts, mainly because he didn't devise a backup plan.

"Shutting up and listening for once, I see. First time for everything. Question is, are you wanting to have a black eye for the first time?" asked the taller, rude teen, standing over Arc who couldn't utter a proper sentence, let alone a single word.

Suddenly, most, if not all the chatter completely vanished as Jaune could sense everyone's eyes on him and Cardin. The bully couldn't ever feel humiliation, nor any sort of nervousness. A rule breaker such as himself didn't have any sort of care for how others judged him.

"Well, I'm waiting for a response now. Go ahead, if you want a lesson taught to you, then I'll fill in the teacher's spot and give you one."

All Jaune could do was gulp audibly, at a loss as to what he could possibly do now.

"Oh yeah? You and what army?"

Behind the shaking boy was a group of students, consisting of seven, stand from their spots and glare as one towards Cardin. Jaune felt only slightly relieved that he had assistance from his friends.

Scoffing at the intimidation attempt used by Arc's friends, Beacon's Bully shook his head. Temporarily ignoring the rest of them, he diverted his attention back to Jaune.

"Is this the only card you'll ever play, you scrawny maggot? I thought ever since the trip to Forever Fall, you still wouldn't act like some chickenshit with no strategy."

"Winchester, you need to cease and walk away now," commented the crimson-haired Amazonian fighter of team JNPR, walking to Jaune but took a step forward ahead of him to be closer to Cardin.

"If it isn't the Mistral Champion. Let me ask you something, did the four years of winning tournaments ever teach you that shooting rounds with your mouth is definitely not the best tactic?"

"You see it as pointless banter, I like to think of it is as advice for you to use. Being hateful and disrespectful has never done anyone any good whatsoever."

"Oh. And sticking up for a pile of worthless Grimm shit is doing you a fat lot of good?"

"Pyrrha, it's okay, I got this-"

"Shut it, trash," Cardin said with venom as he pushed Jaune roughly onto the floor, his partner greatly fuming on the inside from seeing her friend being manhandled.

Pyrrha's body took another step as she now stood dangerously face to face with Winchester. Her eyes connected with ignorant, fierce indigo orbs. Both of the clashing forces never had the intention of backing down from the other, exchanging narrowed glares. Pyrrha's was calm unlike Cardin's who flared with intensity.

"Do not. Ever. Touch my friends, again," her voice was flat but implied caution.

"Claiming that deadweight as your friend is going to screw your team over, Nikos. Look at what he's got himself in back then and look what he's gotten you into now."

"This happened because you treated Velvet unfairly as if she was a lower being," claimed Pyrrha through gritted teeth.

Cardin lowered his face level with hers as he had done with said rabbit girl.

"I'm not an animal lover. Don't like it? Then that's simply too bad for you."

"Just off the prick, Pyrrha!" shouted a female member who was known for being a violet-eyed brawler.

Meanwhile, a high-pitched feminine voice followed with, "Yang, shhhh."

"I wouldn't listen to the broad, Nikos. Don't attempt a move that's bound to fail, you'll be spending the rest of the month in the infirmary."

She didn't give a reply, only bravely putting her foot down in silence whilst everyone else watched.

"Remember, I took down that Ursa without even breaking a sweat. Imagine what I can do to you. After all, I'd hate to mangle that pretty face of yours, but nothing's more ugly than being so incredibly naive when you know you're carrying a crutch."

His head lifted back up in its proper place, standing tall with his shoulders broad and massive.

"Make yourself the leader, Nikos. Keep your friends out of my way, and mind your damn business. Do that for the rest of the year, and I'll maybe I'll consider us even."

Cardin's eyes then lowered to the right of Pyrrha as he directed his attention to Arc.

"And as for you, be grateful I managed to kill that Ursa before it had the chance of having you for lunch. Remember that, or I'll do the janitors a favor and sweep you clean off the campus grounds. Permanently."

After witnessing the self concern on Arc's cowardly face, he finally began to make this way past the Mistral Champion, his boots clicking as he dug his hands in the pockets of his motorcycle jacket.

Even as Cardin's feet walked forward, his mind always would find itself brewing in a boiling fit of hate and ill intentions for those he despised.

'Stupid excuse of a man.'

"You should learn to treat people the way you want to be treated, Cardin."

Even if she wasn't in his peripherals, Winchester absolutely couldn't stand it when those he hated would treat him or the situation as if they were in pre-school. Having it also come from the blonde brawler of team RWBY proved itself to be increasingly annoying since she herself lacked certain skills in this department.

The distance between the group of eight and the infamous bully wasn't quite long nor too close, giving him the advantage to not have to raise his voice in order for them to hear him.

"Just how old are you to even publicly announce that? Don't answer, because I know I shouldn't have to ask, tomboy."

Titles such as those were as dangerous as tapping the snout on a beowolf, except anyone could have the advantage of no longer having to worry about one Grimm compared to a punch-happy beauty who could wipe any normal human out. Yang was now already starting to feel irritation rise close to the next level.

"At least I know I've been taught how to be a kind person, taught by both teachers and loving parents, unlike you," she retorted, playing that card.

Almost all members in the circle of friends groaned inside how this would ensue, but their friendship still reminded them as to whose side they would be on.

"I'd pipe down if I were you, you loud wanton whore. If you want to involve our parents into this, by all means, go for it. All you're doing is putting your interests in dead folks, one was quite recent, believe it or not."

Yang didn't want to believe it, no one in the circle did, but lying just quite wasn't one of the remaining traits the bully seemed to show anymore. Could it be possible that Yang was taking this too far?

"But let's think about it like this. If I had a father like yours, I'd definitely prefer his worthless carcass put in a grave so he'd quit dragging me down with the rest of your family."

Like the flip of a switch, the words that escaped from Winchester sent Yang's blood level skyrocket. Slamming her hands on the table, she leaned over the table, tempted to murder the bully.

"What did you just say?"

Not a grin nor a chuckle of amusement was given by Cardin, which was noticed by everyone. That didn't decrease their feelings by much, however.

"You heard me, Xiao Long. Don't be upset for someone speaking their mind."

"Okay, stop, just stop," Ruby threw her hands as if to ward off the trouble radiating from the sides, "Just leave, okay? Just leave and let's quit mentioning our families, Cardin."

"If you can even call them that. To me, it seems only to be an entire mash-up of strangers who are completely dysfunctional. Just look at the two of you."

Doing her best to repeat any self mantras, Yang had become her own spectacle as the students could see her talking to herself in order to not explode. It was a pitiful sight.

"Shut up, Cardin. Attacking people's parents is so mediocre for an ass like yourself." Valkyrie was the one responsible for putting her two cents in.

"And attacking an entire ceiling stack of pancakes isn't very healthy for some freak like yourself," retorted the bully, "You eat more than an over-bloated hog as if each bite was your last. Did your family not have enough to fatten you up as it is?"

The Queen of the castle was no longer mighty as shown with her eyes widening and her mouth agape. Unbeknownst to Cardin, he had also tampered with a touchy subject for her.

"Is that defeat I see on your face, or is your low blood sugar making you deflate?"

Seeing Nora falter and grimace when remembering her past was enough for her closest friend, the zen and humble Ren, to narrow his eyebrows and finally speak to Cardin.

"That's enough from you. Please refrain from running your mouth and just be on your way."

Even as he coddled the hammer-wielding girl, all Ren wanted was for him to peacefully leave.

"Running my mouth reckless would mean I've no idea what could possibly come out next. I already know what I'm saying, so therefore I've no need to worry."

"Do you enjoy taking part in making it even harsher upon people, Winchester? Who's to say you aren't another prime example of a troubled hoodlum." came the snooty remark of Weiss Schnee, soon putting herself in the crosshairs of all this madness.

"Say and believe what you want, it's of your own free will to do so. Just like how I'm free to believe that a so-called heiress like yourself is only here because Papa Schnee got tired of having you as a trophy daughter. Then again, knowing your family, I wouldn't be surprised if he's trying to ditch you for good. And you think my heart is ice-cold."

"How dare you speak so ill of the Schnee name!" shouted Weiss with her pitch going higher, making anyone close to her want to nurse their eardrums."

"Yeah, how dare me alright."

The only one left who wasn't yet to be targeted for Winchester's rain of verbal assaults was the golden-eyed bookworm of RWBY. Of course, she knew that this session of stupidity and degrading would only keep going if she were to speak. Cardin noticed that when he had quickly glanced at her glaring expression.

"All this because people think falling together is the best choice that they could even think to make. What a bunch of brainless fools."

"Shut the Fuck up! Goddamnit, just shut up!" came the outburst of Yang, "All you ever do is ruin everyone's day with just being here! You're better off just being gone from the rest of the Earth!"

The fact that he could detect the whining in Xiao Long's voice made Cardin shake his head out of pity. Throughout this entire time, he didn't have any sick satisfaction when having both of the teams react in such a way. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he ever smiled, even if it was out of spite.

"If you're going to cry, don't do it publically. Just shows you can't even be strong for yourself, or for that ridiculous half-pint of piss and vinegar."

Fists and teeth clenched.

"Acting like that is gonna get those close to you killed."

Breaths were held.

"If it hasn't already before."

Out of the circle of eight friends, Jaune was the one immediately blamed himself for attracting Cardin's attention. If it wasn't for his stupid attempts to help out, he wouldn't have felt the color drain from would soon occur.

Yang's eyes converted from their original peaceful purple into a piercing, deadly crimson with her gorgeous hair flaring wildly in a gusto of fire. Those around her saw her grab an unopened can of soda and reel her hand back as quick as a snake recoiling. Not a single one could stop her in time.

"Yang, no, don't!"

"Yang!"

"Yang!"

"Oh nonononono!"

Whether you were from afar or up close to witness the small full tin can being chucked directly at the bully's face, it wouldn't have mattered one bit. It was the silence that filled the entire area. Nobody picked up their forks or even set it down. Everyone was frozen in place, and it wasn't the Schnee heiress to thank for that.

Slowly, he could feel the warm, dark red fluid trickle down from his nose until it stopped upon his upper lip. Unfazed and clearly not even shaken up, his eyes were closed but remained to be calm.

Finding the recklessness as a means of motivation for voicing out in triumph, Yang spoke. "Y-yeah! How'd that feel? Not so tough now huh?!"

Ruby's fingers had dug themselves into her silky, conditioned hair the moment she saw the drink bounce against the nose of the rebellion. Turning to her older sister, she began to give Yang a barrage of lecturing.

"Yang! That's taking it too far! Look at him, he's bleeding!"

With a look of fatigue and disbelief, the hot-tempered sibling faced the younger team leader. "Ruby, you heard what he said. He talked badly about Dad... About mom."

"I..." she stopped herself, pausing to console Yang while convincing her that she was still no better, "I know, Yang but..."

"What the? D-did he just?" stammered Nora who seemed to show a look of utter disgust that seemed to also hold a meaning of being creeped out.

The two sisters finally joined their friends to witness what was going on.

Standing still, eyes closed and still at ease, he went to go for seconds of wiping the rest of the lasting crimson fluid with his index finger. It was then that Yang and Ruby, as well as everyone else, saw him lick the blood clean off of his finger. They found it revolting, but the display of the fresh blood began to crawl its way up back into his nose was unnerving. Chills were slithered down in waves down their backs

He brought the soft drink up to his lips before pausing. Opening his eyes revealed tiger orange orbs, giving an empty, eerie gaze exclusively fixated on them and not once did he break away from them.

With the same hand, he used his thumb to raise the ring tab up enough him to grab ahold of it with his front teeth. Many had cringed when seeing him easily pull back and spit the aluminum piece out, seemingly unharmed.

Raising the can as if saying to them, 'Cheers,' he began to down the rewarding, cool, grape flavored drink quickly before crushing it in his grip. Despite being a rude, cruel teen, he didn't belch out loud like a poorly mannered child.

Walking forward to the table, he stopped as he gently placed the empty can on the table before sliding it to Yang who didn't seem to be on the verge of wanting to strangle Cardin. Both had locked eyes with the other, no one dared to interrupt them. Her glare didn't diminish, tears welled in her eyes from frustration.

"If that father means so much to you, do him proud then. Unless you think this what he'd want you to do. Is it?"

The question wasn't one that Yang anticipated on ever hearing, the easiest option was to pick a smug remark that would leave his question unanswered. But she wouldn't become a level below Cardin's.

With her eyes narrowed further than his, she responded, "No."

A bold tone that everyone else wouldn't have been able to use if they ever could was the one Yang chose as she was confident that what her family wanted was what they'd get, not failure or disappointment.

"Then don't take the bait. You really want them to expect the best of you, don't waste your energy or attention on scum. Besides, be grateful."

Yang and her friends all had exchanged looks with one another, not prepared whatsoever to witness the interaction.

"For what?" asked the blonde.

"Everything, Xiao-Long. Everything. You got a future. You got friends. You got family, and you know what else you got," he asked with a voice that delved into a lower pitch than how he originally sounded.

Unlike her friends and the other students who watched on the edge of their seats, Yang could see something burning in the infamous bully's pupils, growing and glowing brightly.

Like a fire.

"I'd take a guess, but I'm not. What is it," she asked, skeptical if this was just an act. JNPR and RWB felt the same.

"Humanity. Keep it, or else you'll be something worse than Grimm. You'll be like me."

The group friends could feel their noses pick up the scent of something burning, and the spot they were in became uncomfortably humid. Sweat was somewhat running down the backs and foreheads for a few of them, but together their throats became dry like the Vacuo outback.

That's when they could see another unwanted sight, the rising smoke coming from the body of the most hated student there was. If he was fast, then he would able to not set off the sprinklers to have anyone drenched.

He began to leave, his back turned to everyone as he was lead slowly away with the return of his boots clicking. Yang's mouth was slightly open, and despite no longer being dragged deeper into the hateful, cold but fierce void belonging to Cardin, she was unsatisfied with just seeing him walk away.

'They're not here. It's just me. And that's all I need. I don't need anyone.'

In this life of his, hitting rock bottom wasn't anything he had wished to prepare for. Most of his years he had taken them for granted, believing that great opportunities would just lunge at him every step of the way. How wrong he was.

Why did he attend this school, exactly? Was it to make friends and battle against the monsters, bandits or those who opposed the innocent? No, he only joined in escaping the same place that reminded him of his childhood.

Sometimes he questioned if he would still have turned out this way if he was raised differently or by different parents in general. The thought would buzz around inside his head for hours on end, distracting him from the real world. As of now, he was just a fool who squandered throughout his entire time on this rock.

What was even worse was the fact he was a racist, discriminating the Faunus kind harshly. In truth, he did see them as different beings, not real people. Though, what did they do to him for them to be treated with such hate?

How exactly did he finally feel the immense weight of reality and his sins? Well, he didn't have to face humiliation, although someone else did one a certain day. Jaune's life was even spared as well during that same day. Had it not been for the bully to step in and brawl with the monsters they've trained to combat against, Arc would have most likely been dinner for them.

Looking back then during the field trip in Forever Fall, and looking where he was now, Cardin knew he himself wasn't truly spared.

Oobleck had it up to here with how Cardin slacked off in his classes, staring off into space so long as it wasn't anywhere near the teacher. His student didn't even bother to pick up his pencil and jot down the notes needed for this Friday's test. Instead of trying to sneakily throw paper wads at Jaune, he would just rest his head down on the desk.

Each second he would spend in any class would be all for nothing but to be assigned afterschool detention, being sent out or being kept after class to be scolded by the teachers. If he had an ounce of care, then he would have actually been surprised that he wasn't expelled, but no.

"Mr. Winchester," came the voice of their teacher. Several students looked away from their journals, curious to see what would happen if they didn't have anything else going on in their uneventful day.

No reply, not even a grunt came from the scumbag. That's all he could ever see in the mirror in the morning, afternoon and night. Aside from a blank stare, his eyes began to have dark baggy circles from underneath them.

Silence followed for an uncomfortable amount of seconds, save for except the scribbling of pencils. If he had to walk over there for the 4th time this week...

No, no. Not today.

"Mr. Winchester, pick up your things and see the principal."

This was the compromise between Cardin and the teachers as a way of working with the other. However, as the misbehaved boy stood up, he refused to gather his supplies and walked up the steps and out the door. No longer did he care if everyone's eyes were directed at his back.

'There shouldn't be a reason for everyone to feel somewhat tensed during these moments,' he thought to himself.

Talking wasn't rare for Cardin, he just would speak when he believed he needed to. It had been like that ever since a few days after the trip.

For a seemingly disturbed, self-loathing individual, most could see that a harsh and strange change was taking its toll on him. This was just a husk who wore Cardin's skin like leather that was a few sizes too big.

Finally, he reached the door to his room that was devoid of his teammates, they took off due to their own reasons, to escape from pulling a stunt that Cardin had faced like a man whilst being framed. The cowards.

After closing the door, he took off his leather jacket and shirt and crashed upon his bed, sighing as he no longer needed to rub the sleep out his eyes. These days were just slowing him down, and he couldn't say it sucked the life out of him if there wasn't one anymore.

His heart, if it didn't feel numb then it would feel empty. A painful hole that seemed to be drilling deeper until his back seemed to show a flesh crater.

How much longer did he have to stay here? Here at school, here in Vale...

...

...

...

...

On Remnant?

His eyes popped open as he stood upright, digging his fingers through his hair. Did he seriously contemplate taking his own life and back out of the deal? What's next, he was going to walk up to people and beg them to just kill him?

He thought in his head, he actually did it. Kill. Someone kill him.

'Kill me, kill me, kill me, kill me, kill me, kill me, kill me, kill me, kill me.'

The open palm of his right hand smacked his cheek enough for a sharp clap to be heard. Sighing to himself, he shook his head at how long this was being stretched.

"Screw this."

This was probably just another act, just another stupid act that his brain had to urge him to do.

He didn't know what to do.

He didn't know who to go to for help.

What questions seemed appropriate to ask.

How to think.

His world was frustrating, traitorous and a waste.

Before he could sink deeper into his depression, a notification ringed on his scroll. Snatching it out, he looked to see that an unknown contact that held no identity message him.

My office. Now.

There was the icing on the cake. It tasted bitter.

/Cardin/

How long exactly did I have to stay in this room? If they wanted to eagerly sentence me detention, then they needed to hurry it up, pronto. No point in having their number one troublemaker wait all damn day or whatever the time was.

No ounce of fear or anxiousness was evident in my soul anymore, just boredom having to wait for these idiots to step in and be done with it all. With nothing else to do, I sat with my eyes closed, hopefully, maybe I could get some sleep after what happened.

It wouldn't matter how much longer I had to sit here and wait. Truthfully, despite the fact that they've kept me in here in order to discuss amongst themselves on what happens next, I realized I have plenty of time to indulge myself and actually have some clarity.

I figured that I might as well relish myself in this one-time open window, by allowing myself to have the same plethora of emotions that a real teenager would feel.

Angst.

Humility.

Anticipation.

Anger.

And lastly, guilt.

All of them weren't positive, but see, where I'm heading, I won't have time to experience them again. I can't afford to. I've made a deal, and so I need to uphold it. Not that I would have a choice. They made the choice for me, despite that, I would still see through with it.

I was just hoping that I wouldn't have to meet them in person again any time soon, it was already bad enough they were in my head. Damn this bloodline.

No ounce of fear or anxiousness was evident in my soul anymore, not even boredom settled in. As I've said, I was taking the opportunity of allowing myself to be a teenager for the final moments Still, having to wait for the staff to step in and be done with it all was absolutely needed.

The click of the door was able to eliminate the growing irritation of just sitting in my chair. Stretching my neck, I allowed myself to display my attitude.

"Took you long enough. For a headmaster and possible domination lover, you sure do take your sweet ass time."

"Patience could grant you so much if you knew where to search for it inside yourself."

I opened my eyes to see the same familiar man who held his cup of joe or whatever it was along with the same crop wielding woman who accompanied him. This was far from interesting, and just provided even more of a waste of my time.

"Well, give me that card then."

He didn't raise an eyebrow, even as he asked, "Card? What card do you speak of?"

"The one that explains why I'm facing expulsion. Come on, old man. You have had plenty of years of experience to realize that having a bad image for Beacon doesn't help anyone."

Then I scoffed. "Unless you're getting senile."

The moment those words left my mouth, a single whip cut through the air and next to my propped foot on the table. I didn't flinch, and all she would get were my unamused eyes lazily dragging them up to interlock with hers.

"Not impressed, Witch."

"Unless you would prefer I enchant your mouth to be closed shut, then you will heed my advice that you respect the headmaster."

If I was a regular student who cared about attending this dump of an academy, then maybe I'd be concerned with how sharp her warning was. But I'm not. Glancing at the calmer four-eyed adult, I spoke while keeping my eyes conjoined in the stare off with the dominatrix.

"I'm assuming you've made your decision, Ozpin"

"If you are referring if your occupation resides here, that is still yet to be decided, Mr. Winchester."

He adjusted his glasses while taking a sip from his cup.

"Do you mind if I make a small request in case this takes a while"

"Ask and we shall see."

"It's nothing major, but… I'd really appreciate it if I can have a bottle of water.."

A nod was enough for Glynda to reluctantly head back in order to fulfill my very needed beverage.

"Might wanna make the two bottles of water, actually."

Despite the fact that the temperature in the office was far from warm, the same couldn't be said for me. I felt as though my skin was doused in cooking oil and being heated by the sun.

Shortly, Goodwitch returned with what I wanted. Just in time too, because it didn't take long for my body to start expelling actual smoke from every pore imaginable. Ozpin's eyebrows lifted in amusement whilst Goodwitch's eyes widened.

"Are you-"

"Just give me a minute."

Immediately, I opened one bottle and chugged the first half of it before pouring the rest of it on my face without hesitation. Although it wouldn't last for too long, the water was enough to cool down the heat from within me. After I finish here, I'm going to need to talk to them about these small irritations.

"Thank you, you don't know how badly I needed that."

"Let's start from the beginning, shall we?"

This... was going to take a while

"If that's what you want, so be it."

"We want the truth."

"Then let's see if you can handle it."