DARK Ch.6

   Sometime amid this pain, Professor Port orders Greyson to take me to the infirmary, and the rest are sent to see Headmaster Ozpin. Greyson and I walk silently for what seems like forever, most likely due to the immense state of agony I am currently in. After a while, I realize Greyson is leading me away from our destination, the infirmary.

    “Uh, wait, where are you taking me? I-I thought the infirmary was the other way...” I ask apprehensively.

   “To the dorms,” Greyson states flatly, as if I should know what his plan is. What could be his plan? I don’t think he has any ulterior motives for me, even if I didn’t have a knife sticking from my right shoulder. I want to go to the infirmary. I know that much.

   “Please, no... W-what are you going to do to me?” I inquire. They aren’t the exact words I was planning, but they’ll work.

   An odd look comes to Greyson’s face, a mixture of curiosity and pity. He looks into my eyes, but interestingly, I don’t shy away. “Azure is better than that dreaded nurse, trust me,” he assures. I am left staring blankly as the scroll in his pocket begins to ring. He pulls it out and begins to talk with who I assume to be Azure.

   “Hello?... No, we’re just outside the dorms... Because you’re much better than the nurse... you’re welcome, Raven looks alright, but come up here pretty quick. And tell Ember to snag some bandages from the infirmary... She won’t be if she isn’t caught... Just, trust me, okay? ... Alright, see you in a bit.”

   Greyson unlocks the door to room 452, and walks inside, returning the scroll to his pocket. I stand back from the door.. I know Greyson wouldn’t try anything funny, but I’m scared. One boy. One weak, injured girl. In a room. Together.

   One day, my trust issues are going to get me killed.

   “No, I-I’m not going inside, a-at least until the others are here,” I declare, standing up straight, trying to appear confident.

  Greyson cocked his head slightly, with a curious look on his face. He steps toward me, and raises his hand to my uninjured shoulder. I can’t stop myself from flinching.

   “What’s wrong?” He asks compassionately.

   Really, I don’t think anything is wrong. Greyson seems like a good guy, and I know I’m going to get medical attention soon. I’m just a mental mess. “Oh, i-it’s nothing. I just... d-don’t want to go inside,” I state, leaning on the wall. I let my feet slide outward until I sit.

   Greyson nods, and gingerly takes a seat a few feet away from me. We sit in silence for a few minutes, until the sound of several pairs of rushed footsteps can be heard.

   I look down the hallway to see Azure leading Rusty and Ember. Azure stops, asks for the bandages from Ember, then turns to everyone else.

    “I’ll go inside the dorm with Raven, the rest of you stay out. I’ll probably have to remove her shirt,” Azure instructs. This is going to be embarrassing. I’ve always been self-conscious about my body, and I’ve barely met Azure. I guess there’s no way out of it. I’ll just have to go along with it if I don’t permanently want a knife in my shoulder.

    Azure lightly takes my arm, and leads me inside. I can’t help but notice how large Team GRAE’s dormitory is. Immediately visible from the door is on bed, with a shelf and desk behind it. Behind, and slightly to the right of that bed is another. Two more beds are arranged in the same diagonal fashion on the left half of the room, with a television in the adjacent corner of the room from the door. Being a corner suite, the room has an open feel, with large windows occupying most of the two outer walls.

    Azure leads me to the second bed from the right, sets the bandages on the desk, and begins closing the windows of the dorm. I notice a major contrast between her normal behavior and her behavior regarding medicine. Right now, she seems intent and businesslike, her deep blue eyes focused on the task at hand.

    Azure sits on the bed next to me, and looks at the wound. She nods slightly. “Here, look me in the eyes,” she demands softly.

    I do, and, lost in the sapphire blue, do not even realize the dagger is out of my shoulder until Azure is removing my shirt. I make a small sound of shock, but let her do so. She carefully wipes the blood from the wound, and covers it with bandages. I’ve never had to visit the nurse, but Azure is pretty darn good.

    Once my shirt is on again, Azure welcomes the rest inside. Greyson sits near Azure, Rusty takes a seat near me, and Ember gives a slight nod, then retreats to her desk. Try as I might, I can’t suppress my feeling of apprehension around her. She is probably fine, as she gets along with Greyson, Rusty, and Azure, but I can’t forget how fearlessly she stood up to Darien. I will not get on her bad side.

    Rusty begins making some horrible puns to take my mind off the pain. It works. Some of them are so bad I laugh. Some are truly decent. Throughout all of them, however, Ember glares at Rusty intensely.

    Rule one: Don’t make puns, I guess.

    Suddenly, Rusty says something that catches me completely off-guard.

    “I really like the feathers in your hair, Raven,” he compliments. I wonder if he knows I’m a faunus. My feathers aren’t as obvious as extra ears or a tail, but people still seem to catch on usually.

   “Y-you do..?” I stammer. I’m fairly sure I’m smiling, but trying to keep it down.

    “Of course. they look so real,” Rusty replies. So I guess he didn’t know. Should I tell everyone? I think I should. If I do become friends with them, without them knowing I’m a faunus, it may lead to trouble.

    “W-well, they are. I’m... a faunus,” I admit.

     “Oh, really? That’s wonderful. My parents are actually human-faunus equality advocates in the Mistral region. I hope one day it won’t matter who’s human and who’s faunus. I mean, they’re basically the same thing, right?” Rusty responds.

    I can’t believe it. I’m sure I’m smiling now. Rusty, at least, is completely okay with me being a faunus. Maybe this is a chance to find new friends, hey, even one would be fine.

    After some more time with Team GRAE, I leave to return to my team. This can’t go over well, but knowing there are friendly people out there is enough to get me through the night.