Cold As Ice: RWBY

Bonds That Hold Us Together

"And down goes another one!!!" the announcer said. I cracked my neck. "Who's next?!" I demanded. After finding out the truth from Weiss, I wandered Vale until I stumbled upon an underground fighting ring. So here I was, knocking out guy after guy, taking beating after beating, and getting more drunk than I had ever been. A large muscular man entered the ring. "You're going to die here little man," he said. I put my arms up. "We gonna fight or we gonna talk?" I asked. He grinned sinisterly. "Place your bets!!! a bookie yelled. "Will the newcomer or the gargantuan claim victory?!" People placed their bets and got ready for the fight to begin. The bell rung, signaling the fight to begin. "I'll crush you!" the giant yelled. He raised his fist and brought it crashing down on my head. I took the hit and listened as the crowd gasped, amazed I was even standing. I brushed his hand aside. "Let me show you a real hit!" I said. I ducked under his arms and threw an uppercut into his stomach. "OOOOF!" The giant got the breath knocked out of him. I turned and roundhouse kicked him in the head. He went down with a very satisfying boom. "That concludes today's matches!" the bookie yelled. "Come back tomorrow for a new roster of fighters!" I left the ring and wiped the sweat off my body with a towel. "You did good today," the bar owner said. He handed me my payoff, 400 Lien. I counted the money. "What you doubt me?" he asked mockingly. I glared at him and left the bar. 

I stepped out into the night, feeling the breeze blowing down my back. I started to walk home, but didn't get far before a couple of druggies stopped me. "Look who's got a pocket full of cash," one of them hissed. I looked around me and saw the four of them had surrounded me. "Looking for a fight eh?" I asked. I took a defensive stance. "Idiot thinks he can take us on," one rasped. "GET HIM!" another yelled. They all drew their switchblades and rushed me. I grabbed the nearest one's arm and bent his arm until he stabbed himself with his knife. "AHHH!" he screamed. I grinned sinisterly and broke his arm, leaving the knife stuck in his chest. The other three seemed smarter and teamed up on me. Two rushed at me at the same time, and tried to cut me. I dodged and weaved around their slashes. I didn't notice the third one until it was too late. He lodged his blade into my shoulder. I hissed in pain. I twisted and smashed my elbow into his face, feeling his nose break. He fell back, leaving two more. They thrust their blades at me, cutting my arms. I grabbed their arms and pulled them towards me. Before they passed, I grabbed both of them by the back of their necks and smashed their heads together. They crumpled and stayed down. I cracked my knuckles and pulled the knife out of my shoulder. "A job well done," I thought. I left their bodies behind and disappeared into the night, fading into the darkness.

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I woke up the next morning on the roof of the dorms. I stood up to see the sun shining, everything quiet, not a single sound was heard. "Oh Ryan," a voice said. I turned to see my mother shaking her head at me. "Drinking? Fighting for money? You have lost your way and pride as a Huntsman," she chided. I narrowed my eyes at her. "This is the only way to deal with the pain in my heart. The feeling I get in battle is the only way I can get relief," I said flatly. I sat down on the edge and swung my legs over the side. My mother shook her head in disagreement. "When one door closes, another opens," she said. I looked at the courtyard and saw students starting to head to their classes and meeting up with friends. I saw Yang and the others walk out of their dorms, laughing and talking. My mother gestured towards them. "There's one right over there, that has opened for you. All you have to do now is step through it." I looked at Yang, her hair waving in the breeze. She looked up and saw me. I waved and she smiled. My mother sat down next to me. "There is always hope. When you lose hope, that is when you truly have lost," she said. I nodded, acknowledging her words. I stood up, and headed for the stairs. "Don't forget Ryan, not only can you help your friends, your friends can help you too," my mother said. I turned and smiled. "Of course." I ran down the stairs and went to my dorm.