The lab's steel door slammed open, "Dammit Sin!" Ivy yelled marching over to him her heels tapping against the monolithic floor causing each step to echo.
"What now" the exhausted huntsman said.
Ivy stopped in front of his desk crossing her arms, "The hell do you mean what now? Classes for the day have ended and once again you spent the whole day in here instead of teaching."
"They had a substitute covering me" he told her.
Ivy slammed her hand on his desk, "That's not the point! Did you even realize the new day had started? How long have you been down here?"
Sin looked up at her, "I would guess I've been down here since I got back so four days."
Pinching the bridge of her nose Ivy sighed, "Velvet and her team came back from their mission last night" she told him snagging his attention from his notes, "You know her birthday was two days ago."
Sin set his pen down, "And I told her I'd be taking her and her team out to dinner and now that she's back I can do that" he checked his watch, "That gives me two hours to get some work done."
Ivy snatched the clipboard in front of him, "Not a chance. We both know if you keep working you'll lose track of time and miss the whole thing. Now get your ass out of this lab and go wash up, I'm keeping this until you tomorrow."
Sin stood up ready to demand the clipboard back, but he knew Ivy long enough to know she wasn't going to give up this time. He exhaled and agreed taking off his lab coat and draping it over his chair before leaving the lab with Ivy behind him locking the door as they left. He returned to his room in the faculty dorms to shower and change his clothes, dropping the ones he had been wearing for three days into the nearby hamper. A hot shower to relax his muscles a razor to touch up his beard and a fresh change of clothes made him feel relaxed after all that had happened, he checked his watch it was still early, but since classes were over he may as well spend time with Velvet alone before taking her and her team into the city.
In the student dorms Sin knocked on the door and waited, it was Yatsuhashi that answered.
"Professor Sin" the seven foot tall student said, "Hello."
Sin nodded, "Hello Mr. Daichi. How are you feeling?"
"I'm well sir thank you for asking" the towering student answered, "Are you looking for Velvet?"
Sin nodded, "I was hoping to spend some time with her since I missed her birthday, maybe take her and the rest of you to the city for dinner."
"That's nice of you sir" Yatsuhashi replied, "Velvet isn't here right now, I think she's around the garden, I would text her for you, but my scroll was destroyed during our mission, I'm still waiting on a replacement."
"Alright" Sin told him, "Thanks Mr. Daichi, I'll see you and your teammates later."
Approaching the academy's garden at the rear courtyard Sin spotted his goddaughter kneeling at the flower beds gazing mindlessly at them.
"Hey Velvet" he said crouching next to her, "How are you?"
She turned to him smiling, "I'm ok" she answered, "What about you? I heard what happened."
He hung his head, "Angry, frustrated, tired."
Velvet apologized, "Is there anything I can do?"
He pat her shoulder, "I'm just happy to know you're ok" he told her, "I was thinking about you the whole time I was there trying to get out."
Velvet looked back at the flowers, "You don't have to take me anywhere if you have work to do, I don't mind. I know how important it is."
She felt his hand squeeze her shoulder, "Velvet. My work is important. Even though I get caught up in it that I disappear for days at a time, it's nowhere near as important to me as you are. You're my goddaughter and I love you like you were actually mine."
Velvet's lips curved and she leaned her head against his shoulder, "I'm just glad you're ok."
He wrapped his arm around her holding her close for a time until the sun began setting. Standing up he told her to head back to her room and get her team ready and to meet him at the landing pad in thirty minutes. Kissing her forehead Sin returned to his own room in the faculty dorms to change once again, dressing himself in a navy blue dress shirt with matching pants, a black tie and black shoes, the same outfit he was wearing ten years ago when he first met Velvet. Stepping out of his room once more he adjusted his tie before hearing the door across from him open.
"Ah Glynda" he said upon seeing Glynda Goodwitch stepping out of her room, "How are you?"
She crossed her arms, "I'm fine, how about you? You missed your classes again today."
Sin shrugged, "I know."
Glynda shook her head, "If you're going to be a teacher here you cannot only teach one week out of the month, you need to be there."
Sin's gaze fell to the floor, "I know. It's just with everything that's happened I feel like I'm doing more good in my lab than in a classroom."
"I understand that" Glynda told him, "You dedicated your life to finding a cure, but you're still a huntsman and a teacher. You told Ozpin you could handle both responsibilities and yet these past two years you've been teaching less and less. If this keeps up you're going to have to choose one or the other."
Sin nodded, "I know Glynda. I'm just afraid. Afraid that every moment I spend out of my lab is a moment lost and a moment someone else could die or become one of those things and we've lost two capital facilities in two days. Labs everywhere are scrambling now to pick up the extra work, I'm no different."
She stepped toward him adjusting his collar, "So what brings you out of your lab then? You're dressed better than usual tonight."
He answered, "Velvet's birthday was two days ago. She and her team were still on their mission, but now that they're back I was going to take them to dinner."
"Right" the combat instructor answered, "Ms. Scarlatina, she's your goddaughter if I recall?"
Sin nodded, "She is, probably the only part of my life more important than my work."
"I see" Glynda answered, "Well enjoy your night, take care of her and please be sure to make your classes tomorrow."
Returning to the landing pad Sin saw Velvet and her team waiting for him. Coco was wearing her favorite outfit complete with her beret and sunglasses, while Fox was wearing a black tuxedo with a red undershirt and Yatsuhashi wore a plaid red shirt with khaki pants. Velvet's outfit stood out, something Sin would never expect her to wear. A brown dress with golden trimmings and thin shoulder straps and a new pair of shining black heels.
Velvet blushed when she saw him, "C, Coco made me where it" she told him.
Sin smiled at her embarrassment, "Relax Velvet, you look lovely."
Coco wrapped her arm around Velvet's shoulders, "Doesn't she? My fashion sense is second to none after all. Of course she looks lovely no matter what she's wearing" she pulls the faunus girl closer kissing her cheek.
Velvet's face flushed when she felt her leader's lips on her cheek, "C, Coco!" she gasped pulling away from her.
"What?" Coco asked, "I can't kiss my girlfriend now?"
Velvet blushed, "It's just, we're in public."
"Let people look" Sin told her, "It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, the only thing that does matter is how you two feel about each other. I told you that last year didn't I?"
Velvet slowly nodded, "Sorry, it's still a little embarrassing is all."
"It's alright" Coco told her wrapping her arm around her waist, "You're still my little honey bun" she tapped her finger against the tip of Velvet's nose causing her to blush once more.
Sin chuckled before ushering them onto the waiting bullhead that would take them into the city and to the restaurant where he had booked a booth for them.
"The Eighth Heaven?" Coco nearly gasped when Sin led them to the restaurant.
"Don't sound too surprised" their teacher told her.
Coco looked at him, "This is the most expensive restaurant in the city."
Sin's eyes went wide, "I am well aware of that Ms. Adel."
Velvet turned to him as well, "Sin you don't."
He held up his finger to silence her, "I wanted to, so I did. You're worth it Velvet" the faunus looked at the ground following her godfather inside and to their table.
The walls lined with intricately decorated fish tanks each with a variety of colorful fish swimming about. The portion of the wall under the tanks painted an oak brown while the portion above the tanks an ivory white at the top of which was a ribbon pattern lining the same oak brown as the bottom half of the wall. A red carpet covered the entire floor while the booths were each lined with a rich leather. Dozens of light fixtures hung from the ceiling and at the far end of restaurant was a girl around Velvet's age playing a violin. She was wearing a perfectly pressed long black with magenta trims, her golden brown hair had a single braided bang that was dyed red hanging by her left eye.
"Isn't that Talim?" Velvet asked seeing the girl as she sat on a stool one foot propped on the side slowly swaying back and forth while she played, the music proving quite relaxing.
"She's one of the third years right?" Yatsuhashi asked, "She's the one always playing violin in the courtyard every Sunday afternoon."
"Looks like she finally booked herself a gig" Sin said, "Let's leave her to her performance" he told them waiting for the host to lead them to an empty booth.
Yatsuhashi and Fox sat on one side with Yatsuhashi against the wall while Velvet sat between Coco and Sin on the other side with Coco against the wall. A waiter arrived after a few minutes asking what they would like to drink, Yatsuhashi ordered green tea while Fox just asked for water, Coco after going over their selection of coffee beans made her choice while Velvet ordered a lavender tea and Sin asked for a mojito from the bar. The waiter left to prepare their drinks returning a few minutes later and asking if they were ready to order.
The hours ticked by and it was time to leave, "I am so glad I get paid tomorrow" Sin muttered weakly as they stepped outside.
Velvet reminded him, "You're the one who chose this place. So don't complain."
Her godfather chuckled, "By your command milady. Well did you all enjoy yourselves?"
"I know I did" Coco said leaning against Velvet's shoulder, "I got to be in a cramped space next to my special girl at a fancy restaurant."
Velvet's ears dropped a little as she blushed, "I love you to Coco, now can you stop please?"
Coco pretended to pout as she straightened herself, "Alright I'll stop, for now."
Returning to the bullhead landing they saw a girl sitting alone with a violin case at her feet waiting for the airship.
"Talim!" Velvet called to her.
The girl turned around, the same girl from the restaurant, "Oh, good evening Velvet" she smiled, "How are you?" she noticed Sin with them, "Oh, Professor Sin, good evening sir" she bowed.
"Good evening Ms. Eden" he said, "Your performance tonight was lovely."
She blushed, "Y, you were all there?"
Sin nodded, "We were. Velvet's birthday was a couple of days ago so I took them out to dinner to celebrate."
Talim looked away, "I, see. Well then, happy birthday Velvet."
The faunus girl smiled at her, "Thank you Talim, you're playing was really good. I really enjoyed it."
Talim's cheeks grew brighter, "T. Thank you" she said shyly, looking away from them.
The last bullhead of the night landed to take them back to the academy, the third-year student was quiet unless directly addressed leaving the others to talk amongst themselves. Back at Beacon the group of six stepped off and Talim carrying her violin case bowed to them before running off back to the dorms. Coco chuckled the girl's shyness reminding her of Velvet when they first met, a comment that made the faunus blush.
Outside team CFVY's room Fox bowed to Sin, "Thank you for dinner Professor."
"You're welcome Mr. Alistair" the teacher answered, "It was my pleasure, have a good night."
Yatsuhashi followed his teammates example bowing his head as well and thanking their teacher before heading back into their room leaving Velvet and Coco in the hall with Sin.
Velvet threw her arms around Sin hugging him, "Thank you Sin, for everything."
There was something different about her voice, "Hey" he said hugging her back, "Why are you talking like this is the last time we'll see each other?" he pulled away from her looking into her brown eyes, "I'll see you tomorrow in class you know, and after that the weekend."
Velvet smiled at him, "I know, I. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant. You're always there for me, ever since the night we met and since my days at Signal and my days here. You've always been there for me."
Sin placed his hands on her shoulder, "I may not be your father Velvet, but you're still my little girl, there's nothing I wouldn't do for you."
"I know" Velvet replied her eyes falling to the floor, "Thank you. Good b, night."
Velvet went into her room leaving Coco with Sin.
"She's probably still tired" Coco told him, "Our assignment really took it out of us."
Sin told her, "It's understandable, just be sure to keep an eye on each other and always be there for one another."
Coco tilted her glasses down smirking at him, "Oh I'll be sure to take real good care of her, she is my girlfriend after all."
Her professor smiled back at her, "You make her happy Coco, for that I thank you" he held out his hand.
"She'll always come first" Coco told him shaking his hand, "No matter what, I love her."
Sin thanked her once more before saying good night and leaving, heading back to his room. Closing the door behind her Coco watched Velvet step into the bathroom closing the door behind her to change, coming back out minutes later. in her sleepwear and feeling lightheaded. Returning to her bed Velvet was plagued by another night of fitful sleep, sweating and tossing and turning waking up sore and aching, unable to move so she just waited to fall asleep again.
"Velvet" Coco said shaking the faunus girl in her bed, "Hey Velvet, are you feeling alright?"
The rabbit girl's eyes opened her pillow and sheets soaked from her sweating.
"Co...co?" she muttered forcing herself to sit up noticing her sleepwear was also soaked.
"Holy" Coco gasped feeling her forehead, "Velvet, you're burning up!"
"Am I?" Velvet muttered appearing to be in a daze, "I don't feel like I am" she stood up and the room spun causing her to lose her balance and stumble into Coco's arms.
"Velvet" Coco gasped catching her, "Hey Velvet!"
The faunus girl's body had gone limp and she fainted in her leader's arm.
"Velvet!" Coco yelled once more slowly lowering her to the wooden floor hoping it would cool her off as she yelled for Yatsuhashi and Fox, that's when she noticed it.
The left legging of Velvet's pajama pants was pushed up revealing a bite mark around her ankle where the skin had started to turn a ghastly white.
"No" Coco breathed.