Stealth B4C4

"A Knight is callous and cruel, uncaring of those beneath him or those he considers unimportant. An Assassin like your girl, he should hate. People like Yang and Ruby? Trash to be ignored. That Mage might make an acceptable companion, but not with how she talks to you. About the only one you should give a damn about is the redhead, and only because of her Class. Knights are leaders, but only so long as there's glory in it. Those that don't match up to your petty notions of honour and glory are tossed aside in favour of the Kingdom."

Qrow stared at me, his eyes sharp and deadly. It occurred to me at that moment why he'd teased Ruby so badly. He'd wanted to get rid of her so he could corner me. Still, was that really what a Knight was like? I only had fairy tales and stories to go on, and those always portrayed Knights as gallant defenders of the people.

Then again… they would, wouldn't they? Tales were just that, and normally appeared thanks to acts of great daring and bravery. Glory, as Qrow put it. No one ever remembered the names of the little people who died in those stories.

"I'm not like that," I whispered.

"Are you sure? Earliest Annual Quest in the year, then a battle with a dangerous criminal followed by a trip to another country at a time when tensions are high. Sounds to me like a pretty good way to get yourself noticed. You aiming for glory, brave sir Knight? How many people will you drag down with you on that journey?"

"I'm not…" I trailed off, hands clenching into fists. I wasn't like that.

Or was I?

I'd never betray my friends, nor throw them away for something as petty as personal honour. Hell, I wasn't even a Knight at all, so the comparison shouldn't have hurt. But it did. It struck deep. Was I any different just because of my Class? I'd snuck my way into Beacon despite not really being strong enough. Now, I was better – more able to keep up, but I'd still risked my life early on. That was fine. It was my life.

But in the Dungeon my weakness had almost gotten Ruby killed, and was not that weakness born of the fact I wanted to be a Hero, despite not having the skills to be? Hadn't Ruby almost died because I selfishly wanted a life better than that of a Blacksmith? Because I wanted glory?

Maybe I was more a Knight than I realised – though clearly not one who deserved any shining armour.

"He's not like that," a familiar voice whispered.

"I wondered when you'd show yourself," Qrow said, not even flinching from the knife that tickled his chin. "Sensed you coming down when your boyfriend started to have his panic attack. Going to slit my throat for it?"