Child of Omens: Ruination

Chapter 10: Greatness Has Its Downsides

After Hawk's demonstration, the other class students, including team RWBY, chose to keep their distance from team HVRN. As team HRVN walks to their next class for the day after eating lunch in the cafeteria, Hawk walks upfront as the others walk beside him in relative unease. They didn't know how to react to what had happened in Professor Port's class. Not only did their team leader show how a Grimm, who are believed to be emotionless beast, afraid, but he also hijacked the entire lesson to prove his point. They also were mildly conflicted, one of the things they were told to believe their whole lives was just shattered. However, they didn't know what else to believe, and it seemed that Hawk had the knowledge and ability to break these deceptions and expose the truth. As the team makes their way into their final class for the day, combat training led by Glynda Goodwitch, they receive the eyes of everyone else as they watch Hawk take a seat.

Goodwitch: "Mr. Branwen, I heard what occurred in Professor Port's class earlier today. I expect you to know that I won't tolerate behavior like that in my classroom. Am I understood?" Everyone could feel Hawk glaring at her as the tension in the air skyrockets.

Hawk: "...Yes, mam." Sitting down in his seat.

As Goodwitch explains her class and what she expects from every student, Hawk could feel the eyes focused on him. While his mission was initially supposed to be "blend in and don't draw attention", his identity being revealed and getting in direct conflict with Ozpin changed that. He knew that he needed to make sure that the whole school recognized who he was so that they could stay out of his way, allowing him to do his mission in relative peace.

Dante(mental): "So since we're obviously deviating from the original plan, mind telling me what this new plan is and why you had to hijack an entire class to do so?"

Hawk(mental): "We have to make sure that we can complete our mission without anyone getting in our way. Ozpin could most likely send huntsmen from our class to try and "takes us out". So to dissuade them from complying, I'm creating fear and doubt in their minds. The demonstration earlier was to cause those who were there to question what they had been told. Doing so, they will begin to question more and more. Detecting the inconsistencies of the truths they have been told all their lives and begin to see that they were lies."

Dante(mental): "Ooh. My boy over here is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. Consider me impressed. But you forgot three things, Mr. Genius."

Hawk(mental): "And what might those be?"

Dante(mental): "Look to your left and your right." Doing so, he sees the eyes of the rest of the class solely locked on not only him but his team as well. "You're part of a team now. While your idea may work if you were a solo team, you aren't one, though. Drawing this much attention on yourself has also drawn the wrong kind of attention on your teammates. If you need them to trust you, you have to do your part as a leader and look out for them." 

This caused Hawk to go into deep contemplation. Dante was right, he's not only part of a team now, but he's the team leader. What he does from here on out will also affect his team, both positive and negative, and at this moment, they were paying for his little stunt. He had to find a way to apologize to them and hopefully get them on his side so one day he wouldn't have to draw swords against his team, especially Pyrrha. 

Hawk: "*Whispering* Pyrrha."

Pyrrha: "Hmm? *Whispering* Yes?" He seemed to catch her when she, too, was in deep contemplation. Was she thinking of him, he wondered.

Hawk: "*Whispering* I just wanted to say, I'm sorry. I didn't realize what my actions would cause for the rest of the team and to you."

This seemed to catch Pyrrha off guard. It was only a couple of hours ago Hawk had seemed so intense. But here he was apologizing for his actions to her. In truth, she was so confused by him in general. The way he acts towards people is usually cold and sharp. But when it came to his team and her, he flipped. He was kind and thoughtful, he cared what his team thought, and he truly trusted them. For some reason, she was drawn to him; it was as if both sides of his personality enthralled her. His more intense side showed that he could be a solid foundation for a team to be built upon, but his softer side showed him to be as caring as she was.

Pyrrha: "*Whispering* I understand where you're coming from, and I accept your apology. I don't know about Ren and Nora, but I'm pretty certain they will accept as well if you ask for their forgiveness. Just please try not to be so...system shattering, if you catch my meaning." Hawk nodded with a soft smile that seemed to cause her heart to flutter.

In Hawk's mind, her words stuck, and he felt a sort of ease wash over him. Knowing that she still trusted him after what he had done filled him with a fuzziness he didn't know how to describe. But what did catch his attention and give him a boost of confidence was that her views on what she had learned were beginning to crumble. If these same thoughts had infiltrated themselves into Nora and Ren, there may be a chance that he could convince them to join him. It was only a matter of how he went about it. As Goodwitch finished her long and drawn-out speech, she invited those who wished to do a quick one-on-one to make themselves known. A tall boy with dark orange slicked back hair, Hawk recognizing him as the leader of Team CRDL, Cardin Winchester, stood up.

Cardin: "Ms. Goodwitch. I want to challenge Mr. Bandit over there." Pointing directly at Hawk.

This didn't surprise Hawk as he knew some might see his earlier act as a bluff and try and call him out on it, luckily he was trained all his life to answer said challenges.

Hawk: "*sigh* If you wish. Then I'll make it quick." Standing up as Goodwitch directed them to head towards the lockers to get changed into their combat gear.

Coming back with his combat gear and Stormchaser, Cardin comes back in standard plate armor with his mace in hand. He gets in a combat position as Hawk stands across from him, with a seemingly bored expression. As Goodwitch starts the match, Cardin rushes towards Hawk. As he gets within range, he tries to go for an overhead slam with his mace, but Hawk is two steps ahead as he uses his sheath to deflect the attack. Capitalizing on Cardin's stunned state, Hawk slashes Cardin across the chest multiple times with his blade before sending him flying back with his final hit, subsequently destroying his aura.

Goodwitch: "The match is over. Well done, Mr. Branwen. It seems you have much better swordsmanship than your uncle."

Hawk: "I assure you, Ms. Goodwicth, my uncle wishes he could fight like me." Heading back to the lockers to change back into his school uniform.

As the day ends and team HVRN makes it back to their dorm room, Hawk could still feel their unease. As Hawk sits at the table in the dorm, he sees Ren take a seat across from him. 

Ren: "Hey...Pyrrha told us what you two talked about earlier today." Hawk looks over to Pyrrha as she's currently finishing up some homework.

Hawk: "Ah, I suppose she would've. Look, I wanted to apologize. I realize that what I did wasn't a very good decision as a leader, and because of my lack of forward-thinking, you three paid for it. This whole leadership thing is relatively new to me, making it very difficult as my background is not very suited to a huntsman lifestyle. So I just wanted you and Nora to know that I am sorry for my actions earlier today."

Nora: Finishing taking her shower. "It's okay, Hawk! I forgive you!" She yells from the bathroom.

Hawk: "How did she hear me?"

Ren: "It's best not to question what Nora is capable of. But look, as long as you try and do right by us, you can count on us to do right by you." Reaching out as they both shake hands.

Nora: Exiting the bathroom in her pajamas. "Aww. Look at you two, getting along. How sweet, now kiss."

Hawk: "Hilarious, Nora."