Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction based on multiple existing anime/manga series. The characters and settings used in this story belong to their respective owners and creators, and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to infringe upon any existing intellectual property. I do not own any of the original works that inspired this fanfiction, and I fully support the original creators and their works.
I'm also exceedingly exceedingly exceedingly rarely chilling in JaxWolf4's (Author of Nah, I'd Adapt and Zenin Days) Discord Server. It's a chaotic lobotomy mess. Not for the faint of heart.
Here's the link:
Disc: HrPrTeam
-Story Start-
Alex found himself strolling the glittering streets of Vale's upper-class residential district once more, having left yet another session at Doctor Indigo's.
It was one of their final sessions before the... 'practical' that is to come in a week.
His presence was noteworthy, mostly due to Glory attached to his hip, and while the peaceful and busy streets drew their eyes towards him, as his visits turned routine, at most he was rarely approached or waved at.
Waving back or ignoring was standard depending on the assailant, as he did his best to enjoy his stroll across the city on his way back to Beacon.
Well, usually, he had things to do today within the city in addition to his usual routine when here.
On the road within the upper-class district he was in, just at the edge of it heading towards the bullhead station that would take him to Beacon, he always liked to stop at a specific coffee cart.
It wasn't anything special or expensive, as his recent tastes had acclimated to.
It was cheap, with a decent brew.
The taste was nostalgic; it reminded him of home.
Unfortunately, this time, he had to take a different route; he had things to take care of within the city.
Oh, how regrettable it was that he had to...
Stop at a corner shop within the upper-class district. It looked downright luxurious, prestigious, and disgustingly overpriced.
He hummed to himself as he paused before the entrance, his figure drawing a few looks, respectful or otherwise.
'I'm getting scammed today.' He thought to himself as he shamelessly entered the shop, his weakness for coffee prevailing today.
Walking in, the intoxicating smell overwhelmed him immediately, and he let it do so. A line towards the register formed to order, so he casually stood behind a dozen clearly pompous and well-off individuals.
"Alex Andrite, correct?" The one in front of him mentioned, an older man, unfortunately drawing attention towards him.
"Yes."
"Ah, a Beacon Huntsman does a great service to us all. Please, you can skip my turn-"
Alex shook his head firmly, "Thanks, but no thanks. I'm in no rush."
If he was, he wouldn't wait in a line.
"...Well, if you're sure."
"H-Huntsmen are always welcome to skip the line." Another from the front mentioned.
"No thanks."
This was both nice and irritating; Huntsmen, especially Beacon students, are treated incredibly well.
Of course, depending on which part of the city you are in.
A few minutes passed by, and Alex managed to order his eye-twitchingly expensive brew, but after tasting the boiling liquid without the slightest flinch...
'Worth it...' It was pristine, similar to the quality he had in his own room.
Without any sense of urgency or anything he was particularly concerned about, he took his cup and sat down in one of the many seats, casually looking across the glass walls of the shop to see the usual, almost therapeutic humdrum of Vale's streets, albeit in the more privileged section.
His mind went back to his session with the Doctor, as he recalled his words.
'What breaks me out of an episode is essentially something that my mind recognizes as being impossible for Purgatory...' He contemplated grimly.
It's what always broke him out before: sounds, noises, specific wordings, certain voices and tonalities, cries, pleas... it wasn't anything possible in there.
His mind needed to recognize something concretely impossible for him to experience in Purgatory; once it did, he'd get out of the episode.
But there wasn't a surefire way of actually doing that; hell, there was no making sure that would actually be his solution until he got another episode.
'Easier said than done... I just hope the breathing's enough.' He huffed as he took a deep sip of his brew.
As he mulled over his situation and possible solutions, as well as enjoying his coffee, a familiar tone called out to him. "Alex, what's gotten a creature of habit like you to stroll in the wrong direction? A rare whimsy?"
This man finding him and chatting him up during his trips into Vale had become something of a routine, expected encounter by now.
Alex turned to regard the familiar voice, his expression lacking surprise. "Hello, Grey. I've gotta buy a few things." He answered casually as he watched the older man holding a steaming cup of coffee take a seat across from him.
"I see, that's a little unpleasant. I was really used to our conversations being accompanied by my favored cigar." The man remarked in amusement as he held his cup patiently, waiting for the hot liquid to cool down.
Noting Alex's lack of sympathy with a casual shrug, Grey spoke honestly. "So, this should be about perfect timing as any; how're the foreign spies treating you?"
"How'd you know-"
"Oh come on, Alex, cut me some slack." He waved his cup with a bemused chuckle. "You should really quit this insistence on ignoring power."
"What?" Alex didn't quite understand his point.
"Look, kid, I'll be frank with you because I like you. You make my job real easy, so I owe you this much." He took a sip of his coffee. "Whether you like it or not, surely you understand the sheer gravity you hold?"
"I know," Alex answered simply, taking a sip.
He understood perhaps far more than Grey would credit him for.
"Good! And that the more gravity you have, the more things will orbit around you." He gestured with a finger, making circles around an imaginary blob.
"So basically, kid, if you hadn't gotten the memo yet, this is just the beginning. Spies are just the tip of a very large and inquisitive iceberg, but I'm curious what gave them away-
"Tried to seduce me, and a friend of mine took the reins on the situation, I guess."
"Oh wow, straight for the jugular. Let me guess, Vacuo?"
"No, Jacques guy."
That had made Grey's grip on the cup falter for a moment before he fixed it. "...Seriously?"
"Yeah."
Grey leaned back into his chair, scratching his chin in visible contemplation. "Huh, I see. Well, keep in mind there are more who are subtler, but damn, Atlas really is playing it poorly."
"Atlas?" Alex arched an eyebrow.
Grey sneered, folding his arms with his cup held near his chin. "They probably have a few more guys keeping an eye on you, contemplating a subtler approach maybe, but my educated guess says that they're all in on it. Even if it's primarily Jacques's enforcer, I bet my secret stash of luxury cigars that some of Atlas's council and other people of interest have a little hand on that table."
"If, for example, Ironwood hears some hearsay rumor from his own spy within the SDC, he wouldn't protest it."
"Uh-huh," Alex remarked.
Grey snorted. "Lost your interest, didn't I? I'm giving out pristine wisdom here, kid! Come on!" He didn't seem too troubled by Alex's dismissal.
"I appreciate the heads up, but I more or less expected this... maybe not this soon, I guess." Alex shrugged and had another sip of his coffee, contemplating getting scammed again.
"Oh, and what's that supposed to mean?"
"You'll get it eventually." Alex sighed with a dismissive swipe of his hand.
"Not making my job that easy for me, are you?" Grey chortled and shook his head. "Well, I've done my due diligence with my daily good deed. So let's get to the meat of the matter."
"Ask away." Alex relented to what was coming.
He was doing his job, and he was being reasonable.
"And that's why I like you! See, Ozy's been real difficult and protective of you, so I'm real thankful you're this open."
"Sure."
Alex understood where Ozpin was coming from, and he did keep a few of the things he asked close to his chest, but he wasn't really too keen or understanding of his deep concern about not answering any questions about himself.
Those mysterious 'forces' he's neglected to elaborate on- whatever the case, what could they really use this information for?
He had an idea, but there was no avoiding it either way.
Perhaps being this open will draw them out, make his life easier.
Grey started, "Anyway, I've mentioned earlier that you're a creature of habit, so I can't help but wonder..." He withdrew a folded piece of paper from his coat, unfurling it, which revealed a map of Vale with clearly marked pathways. "You keep a real strict path when you stroll around the city, and sure, you sometimes get a whimsy and decide to go eat in the harbor or in some other place, but you never stray from the usual road."
His finger glided towards a specific area on the map that Alex hadn't passed by. "This area, it'd be far quicker to get to the Bullhead to Beacon if you passed by there. Why don't you?"
Alex's lips pursed as he tilted his head. "You know why."
"I know, your orphanage and school are there. I get that, but my question is why?" His finger tapped rhythmically at the exact spot where Alex Andrite grew up. "I hope I'm not poking the bear here; otherwise you'd be meeting a different me, but I think I've got a good enough idea of what kind of person you are to ask you this question..."
"You strike me as an avoidant person, not out of discomfort or awkwardness, but out of the mentally taxing effort something like that would bring. But why would visiting the place you grew up in make you feel this way?"
"I've talked with your caretakers, your previous teachers, and your good old Nanny, the one who trained you. You've had a... mild childhood as far as one like you could have. I know you aren't avoiding them because it probably hurt them that you've been ignoring them."
"So, kid... what is it?"
Alex's stoic expression hadn't faltered as he contemplated the question calmly.
A quiet moment later, his lips parted. "It's difficult to articulate, but basically, I'm not the same person. I'm not interested in keeping contact."
...
"That's... confusing."
"It's what it is." Alex shrugged and raised a hand. "Pardon, could I order another cup?"
A nod met his raised hand, to which Alex turned to regard the contemplative cop private investigator, whatever this guy was.
"I'll probably wire them some money, or visit them one last time, haven't really decided yet." Alex casually added.
"...That's even more confusing, but I'm getting an idea here."
"Okay."
A few quiet minutes passed by as Alex let Grey get lost in his own world, as he returned his gaze to the therapeutic sight outside.
A cup was set on Alex's table. "Thank you." He remarked as his old cup was taken and he indulged in his fresh brew.
Grey's mulling seemed to cease as he adjusted himself and rose up, placing the empty cup on the table. "I won't linger too much and bother you; I'll be keeping an eye, a job's a job."
"Right."
"Need a smoke anyway, but, well, Alex, after a good few conversations I must admit you're more of a Tree, a large oak tree specifically, kind of man."
"Okay."
"See what I mean? Would you like to hear my assessment?"
"I'd rather not."
"...It means it'd take a real storm to uproot you; my job's to figure out what it is, and how to avoid it~." He nodded and smiled keenly. "Have a great rest of the day, Alex. I'll be seeing you... Oh, before I go, would you care to tell me about your visits to Doctor Indigo? Perhaps that would-"
"Bye." Alex deadpanned, sipped his second cup, and ignored the investigator, staring straight at him.
Huffing at Alex's dismissal, "Was worth a shot... next cup's on me! Oh, and tip of the day! Your scroll's location is being tracked!" Grey strolled out of the store with a good-natured chuckle as he casually pointed a finger at Alex's pockets, presumably where his scroll was.
"Alright."
Alex nodded and watched the distant back of the investigator leaving the store, returning his gaze to the streets through the glass wall.
To Be Continued!