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Chapter 12

Come the morning, Blake knew something was up with her partner.

To be fair, she wasn't the only one. You'd have had to be blind not to notice how exhausted he was, slumped over his breakfast with his head threatening to fall into it. She knew she'd been the only one awake and capable of seeing when he crept back into their room after midnight, but the others at least knew that he hadn't been there when they went to bed. Another late night for him, and this time he'd come back smelling of cigarette smoke. Her nose still twitched to remember it. He didn't seem like a smoker, but she supposed his Uncle's agent could have been.

There was something absorbing about watching his head drift down and then jerk back up again. Call it morbid curiosity, but there was no helping it. A part of her wondered if he'd finally give and kiss his scrambled eggs face-first.

She also vaguely wondered if a good partner would do something to stop that.

Pyrrha and Ren were all sympathy and concern, though the latter far less obvious about it than the former. Pyrrha had one hand on his shoulder and was asking him something Blake felt confident in saying he didn't hear. He nodded anyway, more because something was expected. His knife and fork came down, trying to cut a square from his toast. He managed it on the third try and somehow decided that was the job done, not even bothering to eat it.

It had become a spectator sport for Team RYWN too, who were unusually quiet lest they disturb the bizarre scene. Even Yang, who was normally the most antagonistic around him, sat with her cheek propped on one hand, watched with a half-amused, half-intrigued expression on her face.

"What on Remnant happened with him?" Weiss asked, turning to her.

That was another thing too, she supposed. Go back a year or two and the idea of a Schnee deigning to talk with her would have been ridiculous, let alone the thought that they could be friends in any shape of the word.

Despite that, Blake did sort of consider the proud girl a quasi-friend. The decision had been on her partner's suggestion, of course, but she'd found more common ground with Weiss Schnee than she'd expected. Or wanted, really. Both were disciplined and quiet, both focused on their grades, and they both liked to avoid the more rambunctious stuff their teams got up to. Yes, Weiss was a bit demanding at times and Blake couldn't imagine how annoying that would be, but since she wasn't on the team it was fine.

"He was out late last night," Blake explained. "He didn't come back until about half past twelve."

"Partying again?" Weiss scoffed. "And here I though Yang would be the worst among our teams."

"Hey," Yang complained, overhearing.

"It wasn't that," Blake said, feeling the curious need to defend her partner. "He had to meet with one of his Uncle's business associates for a meeting. It must have gone on longer than expected."

"He's in business?"

"Not him. As I understand it his Uncle is an author and Jaune's just sort of his assistant in Vale, meeting with printers and such." And if she'd paid more attention to that, it was only because she was curious as to who his Uncle was and what he wrote. Could he be the author of one of her favourite series?

Well, it wasn't like she could ask him – even if he might have already spied her literature and realised what it was already.

"Hm, well, at least it's not a hangover." Weiss watched him for a second as his head dipped lower. Pyrrha caught him, and Yang muttered something about her being a spoilsport. Weiss sighed and shifted in her seat. "He wasn't the only one coming back late, or getting into trouble out in Vale. Isn't that right, Ruby?"

The younger girl jumped. "Eep!"

"Oh?" Blake asked. "Did something happen?"

"Oh, something happened alright," Yang growled, answering for Weiss. "Ruby basically decided she was going to stop a robbery, specifically after she promised me she wouldn't get into trouble. Just jumped straight into action against Torchwick and his goons."

Torchwick. Again? Suddenly more awake, Blake leaned forward.

"T-That's not fair," Ruby protested. "It's not like I went out of my way to find them. They were literally robbing the place I was going to shop at!"

"Again?" Yang drawled. "Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice-"

"It did, though! It happened just like that! Besides, Torchwick wasn't even there, so it's not like I fought against him again or anything. I just had to beat up a bunch of his people."

"Except that they all escaped," Weiss pointed out, earning a long sulk from her team leader. Weiss explained for Blake's benefit. "She managed to save the store owner and protect the dust, but one of the men took a young woman hostage. Ruby was forced to let him escape so that she wasn't hurt."

"Ah, I see." Blake looked to Ruby, who was still sulking. "That's not a bad trade, Ruby. You couldn't have done much else."

"As I keep trying to tell her. You saved a life or two. That's enough." Weiss rolled her eyes. "Dust can be replaced."

"Easy for you to say, heiress."

"Can it, Yang."

"Wait…" Nora let go of Ren's arm to tap her chin. "If the dust was destroyed when Ruby blew it up but the store owners lived, wouldn't that mean they'd have to buy more dust."

Yang blinked. "Well, yeah… why?"

"I was just thinking who would profit from that."

Nora's words had them all thinking, until, as one, they turned to look at Weiss. The heiress' cheeks flushed and she slammed her hands down on the table. "Are you somehow suggesting I or my family were involved in this!?"

"No. Just that maybe it's a little easier for you to say `it's just dust`, when you're the one making the lien from it."

Weiss squawked angrily, and quickly went into a tirade about how the Schnee Dust Company couldn't be held responsible for such things. Blake tuned it out with a soft chuckle. She doubted the SDC had any involvement here, even if it was an amusing thought. Ruby had done well, too. The criminals might have escaped, but sometimes it was all you could do to prevent a bigger crime taking place. She wasn't trained for hostage situations. None of them were.

It doesn't sound like the White Fang were involved. I suppose I should be grateful for that. Would that she could just ignore the news she'd heard about that warehouse explosion. White Fang bodies among those who had fallen – but had that really been the case?

Sure, they weren't always well-trained, but they weren't stupid. Who blew themselves up handling dust? It didn't make sense.

"Jaune, are you sure you'll be okay for class?" Pyrrha asked. "This is ridiculous. You need to tell your Uncle to cut down on the work he gives you."

"I know," Jaune groaned. "I intend to."

"Pyrrha has a point, though," Ren added. "There is still forty minutes or so before class begins. You could go back for another shower. Perhaps a cold one would wake you up a little more."

"That's not-" His voice trailed off. What had no doubt once been a denial was instead replaced with a long sigh. "Actually, that's not a bad idea." He pushed himself up off the table. "Will you guys be okay without me?"

"No," Blake said with a roll of the eyes. "Without our leader, we might get lost in the hallways, starve and die."

Weiss snorted. Even Yang sniggered.

"Okay, okay. I get the point." To his credit, he did try to laugh. It was just that a yawn swallowed it. "I'll catch you guys in class. If I look like I'm about to fall asleep in it, give me a kick."

"Ooh, ooh, sit next to me!" Yang called. "I'll kick you."

"And don't let me sit next to Yang…"

Blake smirked. "Sure. Now go. You look about ready to collapse."

He nodded and staggered away, and for a second she thought he might falter before instincts kicked in and he managed to right himself. With her partner out of the way and on the road to wakefulness, she turned back to the other team before her. Weiss had just about finished her tirade, and Ruby was working a finger in one of her ears.

"SDC's motives aside," she said. "Will your little fight appear in the news today?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Ruby shrugged. "I had to stay behind for the police again, and Miss Goodwitch had to come pick me up." She shuddered. "Again. Ugh. I guess they might talk about it, but the robberies are going on all over the place."

"They're more likely to mention the Vytal Tournament," Pyrrha pointed out. "There's a limit to how much negative news the people can handle, and the dust robberies are getting a bit old now."

Weiss shook her head. "What kind of image does it set that we consider criminal activity boring? Is everyone just going to ignore this because it's commonplace? That's ridiculous."

"I don't think they're ignoring-" Pyrrha trailed off as she saw something in the distance. Her eyes narrowed. "Oh, no…"

"What? What's happening?" It was Ruby who asked, but they all turned in their seats to look in the same direction as Pyrrha. In the distance, by one of the doors – Blake caught Jaune being thrown back into a wall from a solid shove by Cardin Winchester.

The rabbit faunus was also whimpering nearby, surrounded by his team of merry idiots.

"Winchester," Weiss seethed. "An arrogant and pompous idiot if I've ever seen one. Just like his entire family line."

"You know them?" Yang asked.

"I know of them. The Winchester name is, unfortunately, somewhat well-known. Not famous, but respected. Not always for the best of reasons."

Blake would have advised her to avoid calling the kettle black, but it would have been out of line. Weiss had never displayed any of the blatant racism her family did, and she at least seemed to agree that Cardin's behaviour towards that poor faunus was out of line. And towards her partner, too. Blake's hands clenched into fists as she watched Jaune stammer some line out – clearly too exhausted to think straight. He'd probably blundered into them without meaning to.

"Should we help him?" Ruby asked.

"Should we?"

"Yang!"

"It was a joke, sheesh." The blonde was already moving, one hand on her chair as she made to stand. "Stay here, sis. I'll give him a hand."

"I'll come with," Blake offered. He was her partner, so it was expected, and she'd be lying if she said she didn't relish the chance to bring Cardin down a few pegs. As an added bonus, since it was Jaune in trouble and not just the girl, she could interfere without anyone thinking it was faunus related.

They might have to hurry though, since Jaune must have said something to piss Cardin off. The brute shouted something in return and lashed out with a meaty fist. Blake cursed, pushing past Yang to try and reach the fight.

She needn't have bothered.

Jaune swayed out of the way of the blow, which wasn't a huge accomplishment given how telegraphed it was. He took a step back at the same time, and Cardin followed after, punching straight towards his face. Jaune's eyes widened, and he ducked under it, letting the larger boy's fist fly overhead – straight into a wall.

"Arghhh!"

"Cardin!"

"Boss!"

The three members of his team rushed over as Cardin cradled his hand, shaking it to ward away the pain. There were spider-web cracks in the plaster of the wall, but hitting it still would have hurt, aura or no. Jaune slipped out of the cafeteria while he was distracted, and much to Blake's amusement, so too did the faunus girl.

"Well," Yang said, chuckling when Cardin looked around in confusion, only just realising both of his prey had fled. "That was a thing. Guess we got worked up for nothing. Vomit boy wouldn't be much of a Huntsman if he couldn't handle himself."

"He's not weak," Blake said. "Just… not built for direct combat."

"What is he built for, then?"

Sneaking, knifework, being subtle – just like her. She'd seen as such from his fight with Russel, but also from how he acted in the Emerald Forest. Most noticeably, how he didn't act in Beacon. Jaune had the skill to be better than he was, but chose not to for some reason. He held back. Forced himself to fight with armour that slowed him down and a sword and shield he didn't know how to use. She could see as such in his style, and how he often tried to close the distance. He moved like he was used to a lighter weapon.

Why, though? Why make that change?

And was it her place to question him? She was here in Beacon doing the same thing, making a new life for herself, away from the White Fang and everything she'd done before. If he wanted to do the same, then she would accept that. If his change included a change in fighting style and equipment? Well, she'd have to accept that too. And watch his back until he was good enough to watch hers.

"Nothing," she said, moving back to the table.

Her partner's secrets weren't hers to tell.

/-/

The shower had helped, but only to wake him up. His muscles were still sore, and there was a deeper fatigue inside him – one somewhere in his mind and heart. He was the first to reach the classroom, but that was on purpose. As he pushed inside, Oobleck was there – even twenty minutes early.

"I can't keep doing this," Jaune said.

"Hm?" Oobleck regarded him warily. "Doing what? Is this work-related? You may speak freely. I have thoroughly checked the room."

"I can't keep running three different lives at once," he said. "It's only the first day of doing it and I'm already exhausted. I'm not sure I'll be able to keep it going. I'm not saying I want to quit," he hurried to add when Oobleck frowned. "It's just… two was hard, but it was doable. I can manage that. But having a mission with you, and then one with Torchwick the following day? I haven't had a full night's sleep for two days running and it's starting to show. How Blake and the others haven't noticed, I have no idea-"

"They have noticed. Only a little, but I've seen them watch you."

"Then it's even more important to stop this now. I can't manage it, Oobleck."

"Take a seat." He gestured to one in front of his desk, and Jaune took it. The older man walked around the table and placed a finger above and below Jaune's eye, peering into it. "Don't move," he said. "I'm just taking a look. Hmm…"

"Are you even a Doctor?"

"Do you believe the letters after my name are for show? I did not earn this PhD for nothing, thank you very much. Tell me, is it the things you've been asked to do by Roman which have made you feel this way?"

"N-Not really," he replied, struggling to not blink. "I mean, it's illegal, sure, but the point wasn't to hurt anyone. I'm only there to protect Vale anyway, so it's not a big deal."

"The information you discover may well save lives. Do you use that to make yourself feel better?"

"Yes." He hesitated. "Is that wrong?"

"No. Not at all." Oobleck released his eye and stepped back. "You are doing good work, Jaune. Don't ever forget that. If it's not Roman's work, is it what I asked you to do? Does the thought of what occurred to those faunus terrorists bother you?"

The ones he'd killed. No. The ones that Magician and Vanguard had killed… except that it had been his suggestion to blow the place up (or rather Magician had assumed that was what he'd meant). He swallowed and took a deep breath.

"I'll admit it bothers me, but that's not the reason for this."

"You're speaking the truth, or as much as you believe it."

Jaune paused and looked up at the man, the words filtering into his mind and stirring an old memory. "Wait, did you just use your Semblance on me?"

"Only to test what the issue is," Oobleck defended. "We don't exactly have much time before class begins. Suffice to say, I'm pleased to see you're not having second thoughts. It looks like a clear-cut case of exhaustion to me."

Jaune threw his arms in the air. Wasn't that exactly what he'd been saying!?

"Now, now, don't be like that." The older man laughed. "It didn't take two minutes to make sure. So, the pressure of keeping your lives separate are eating at you, hm?"

"Yes. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just one… or it would, but I'd have less secrets to guard." And he was bad enough at that already. "It's just that now I have three, and I just know I'm going to mess something up. I'm Jaune Arc, the student. Jaune Arc, the spy. And now I'm John White, the criminal." He rubbed his head, already feeling a headache coming on. "What's next, Oobleck? Are you going to drop more on me?"

"That's not my intent – and it wasn't to give you those three, either. My decision to use you to infiltrate Roman's ranks was simply based on what tools I had available at the time. Your fellow Agents would not fit in for… various reasons. I apologise if this has put strain you, but-"

"It's for the betterment of Vale, right?"

Oobleck nodded.

"I get that, I really do. I'm just asking for advice. I need some way to make this easier on myself. I've got no idea when Roman is going to call with a job, or when I'll get any sleep. I can't handle more missions with Vanguard and Magician on top of that."

"Would it become easier if I suspended you from missions for a week or two?"

Jaune looked up in shock. "You can do that?"

"I am the Director of Operations, Jaune. I can do what I wish." Oobleck sat down behind his desk and placed his hands atop it. "You're not wrong in what you say. Your induction into the VSS has been too sudden. You're not practised in keeping a false identity, let alone three at once. It would have been better if we could have eased you into it gently. For now, all I can offer is to ease off on one of them. You will still be an active member of the VSS, of course, but I can hold off on assigning any missions to you until you've had time to rest and recuperate. I can't determine what Roman will do, however."

"That's fine," Jaune said, relieved to have even that small solace. "In fact, that's great. I'll still infiltrate Roman's gang and do whatever I need to there, but if I could just have a break from raiding warehouses or hunting the White Fang, that would be appreciated."

"Consider it done. I assume you will still be working on Miss Rose?"

"Yeah, of course." It was part of his guise as being a student, so it made sense to keep trying there. "Not that I'm having much success with it. I've managed to make myself look like a stalker. I don't suppose you've got any advice?"

"One does not usually ask a man over forty for advice on attracting young women, Jaune. Have you tried talking with her – casually, I mean?"

"Sure, but it's not exactly easy. She sticks with her team, and her sister is a little defensive around me."

"Let me guess, because she believes you a stalker?"

He winced and nodded.

"I suppose I can give you a hand just this once. Find a seat. The lesson is about to begin. I will see what I can do to help you interact with Miss Rose a little more effectively. Until then, continue to answer to Roman when he asks, but otherwise enjoy being a student for a while. I have a feeling you need it."

Jaune nodded. Honestly, this had gone better than he expected it to. Probably a sign of how Oobleck wasn't so much his hard-ass boss as he was someone trying to defend the Kingdom. It wouldn't do to overwork the people entrusted to do so.

"Thanks, Oobleck. I appreciate it."

"Actions speak louder than words, Rat. Continue to bring results and I shall consider that thanks enough. Now, go take a seat. You ought to be ready when your teammates arrive. I'll expect your full participation in class. Employed or not, your education is still important."

/-/

"Miss Rose? Miss Rose!"

The sudden shout – for the teacher had raised his voice – caught Ruby off guard. It wouldn't have if she'd been listening, but one look at Professor Oobleck's face told her that was the problem. He'd come to a stop in front of her desk, one hand planted on his hip and the other holding an open book before him.

Her hand, meanwhile, slid over to cover the tiny sketches of scythes and weapons she'd been doodling in her notebook. "Y-Yes, Professor Oobleck?"

"That is Doctor Oobleck, thank you, and I was asking you a simple question, Miss Rose. You have been listening, correct?"

"O-Of course." Ruby's eyes strayed to her team, but there wasn't much help there. Weiss shook her head with a solemn expression, while Yang winced and shrugged apologetically. Nora? Well, the less said the better – but that was fine. She could handle this. "What was the question, sir?"

"If you'd been listening you would have heard it."

Ruby laughed nervously.

"Very well. The question is simple. Under what situations can the Council of Vale take control of Huntsmen and Huntresses and instruct them to abandon a battlefield or territory to the Grimm?"

Her mind went blank. Panic settled in a second later. She had no idea, and not just because she hadn't been paying attention. She'd never heard of anything like being told to abandon places. That went against the very point of being a Huntress in the first place!

Nora and Yang were trying to mime the answer to her – for all the good that did. It was either too complicated to explain with gestures, or she was the stupidest person alive. She had no idea. None at all, and as other students started to snicker and laugh at her misfortune, she felt herself shrinking into her seat.

"They can't?" she guessed, hoping it was a trick question.

"I'm afraid they can, Miss Rose, as you should know." Oobleck turned away, and Ruby sank a little further. "Please stay behind after class to speak with me."

"Yes, sir," she said miserably. The laughter from the other students only made it worse, and her cheeks heated up as shame pooled in her stomach. She'd never been the best of students, but she'd been good. There was a reason she was allowed to move up early, after all. Dad and Uncle Qrow were teachers too, and if they heard about this? Well, she didn't want to imagine what they might say.

"I would not laugh were I you," the teacher went on. "Matters of Government control and how they work are paramount for you all to know. One day, it may be your lives which rest on such a balance. Now, moving on to the history of such laws. Turn to page 106."

Ruby did as told, her entire face red. Next to her, Nora shuffled a little closer in a silent show of support. She tried to smile back but it came out weak and half-hearted.

"Cheer up, sis," Yang whispered. "Everyone makes mistakes."

"It will be a learning experience," Weiss added – apparently not at all concerned that she'd been caught out. If anything, she was probably pleased. A learning experience, huh? Yeah, it might have been, but for one thing which ate away at her.

She still didn't know the answer to that question. She didn't know anything about what they were covering.

The lesson continued on for another forty-five minutes or so, before the bell signalled the end of the period and a short recess. The remaining members of her team offered to wait, but Ruby shooed them on ahead. No point in them losing their break because of her. They left after some short wheedling on her part, which mostly involved pointing out to Nora how Ren was slipping away with Pyrrha and how that might mean something.

Maybe she ought to feel bad about that later. Maybe she should go apologise to Pyrrha. For now, she had other concerns – and those involved the teacher collecting the text books and paperwork on his desk. It seemed like he'd forgotten all about her, but she didn't dare take that as a chance to leave.

"Um, sir? You asked me to stay behind…"

"Hm? Oh, Miss Rose. Thank you for staying." Oobleck didn't sound upset or disappointed with her, and Ruby's head perked up a little. "I won't take up too much of your time, my dear. I just wanted to ask you a few questions."

"Okay… like what?"

"Like the topic we covered in class. Did you understand much of it?"

Ruby's shoulders hunched, but she answered automatically. "Of course."

"Miss Rose, please be honest with me."

"I understood it."

He sighed. "Very well. Can you tell me who was the Councillor who drafted the laws surrounding Huntsmen and Huntress operations?"

She bit her lip.

"No? Very well. Can you tell me what those laws were called?"

"N-No…"

"Do you know what Mountain Glenn is?"

Ruby smiled tentatively. "A mountain?"

His face was flat.

"I-I'm guessing it's not a mountain."

"No, it is, but that wasn't quite the answer I was looking for." Oobleck moved to his desk and sat down behind it, gesturing for her to pull up a seat in front. She did so, though slowly and reluctantly, aware of how much of an idiot she must have looked.

It ate at her, too. Why didn't she know any of those things? She'd listened to the lecture – after being caught out, that was. She'd listened and done her best to follow, but everything had been too confusing. It was like they'd all been looking at different textbooks or something, except that she'd glanced at Nora's and it was the same.

So, why? Why didn't she get it?

"I believe I owe you something of an apology, Miss Rose."

Ruby froze.

What?

"You see, I believed your lack of a correct answer was disrespect on your part, or that you somehow found my lessons dull and uninspiring. I did not realise it was because you didn't understand the material. You could not follow what we were covering. Isn't that right?"

"No, I…" It only took a single look at his face to steal her words away. He looked patient, kind, but also incredibly sympathetic. Ruby wilted. "I… I didn't," she admitted. The shame returned, and this time her voice grew louder. "I didn't understand anything! I-I tried to listen, I really did. I just didn't get it. It was like… I don't know what it was like, but it wasn't right."

And now she'd gone and ranted at a teacher. Oh geez, Weiss was going to tear her to bits about this. With a wince, she went quiet and awaited her punishment.

"Did it feel like a piece was missing?"

Huh, what? "Y-Yeah, kind of."

"You would have studied this topic last year."

She winced. "If I did, I don't remember it. S-Sorry…"

"Allow me to rephrase that. You would have studied this topic last year, were you seventeen right now." Oobleck regarded her shocked expression with a tiny smile. "Today's lesson required foundations you should have been taught in your last year of Signal. You, however, did not stay for your final year. As a result, the lesson was all but impossible for you to follow." He nodded to her. "It was not your fault, Miss Rose. You could not have hoped to answer the question."

"Last year…? Wait, you mean because I was moved ahead!?"

"Exactly, Miss Rose. While your combat skills are doubtless at the level required to attend Beacon, your academics are not. Not that it is any fault of your own." Oobleck's easy praise made her blush. "Even so, some of this material is necessary for you to pass your exams and become a Huntress. Without it, you might find yourself held back a year."

"H-Held back!?"

"Of course. We can't have a powerful Huntress who does not know the laws of the land running loose. The reason why this subject is taught in the final year in Signal is specifically because it is the final year. People who have been taught to fight will be let loose on the world, some to places like Beacon, others to whatever career they decide on. Either way, they need to know the laws that will govern them. If you don't… well, you end up with more people like Roman Torchwick."

That… that made sense, as much as she wished it didn't. Not all of Yang's friends had passed initiation, but they still had aura and Semblances. They'd enter the normal workforce, or maybe trey to be Huntsmen another way. Whatever their decision, they'd have to hold themselves to different laws than the average person did.

"What happens now, then?" Ruby asked. "I don't know the material. I've missed an entire year. I'm guessing we won't be going over it in class?"

"It would be fruitless to revisit a subject everyone knows."

"Y-Yeah…"

Oobleck regarded her for a few, long seconds. Seconds of which she spent with her head pointed toward the floor. The teacher sighed. "Allow me to ask you, Miss Rose. Are you afraid of hard work?"

"No. No way!" Everything she'd done in life, she'd done because she wanted to. Hard work was never part of the equation. She just did it. If it took more effort, it took more effort. That was what life was about.

"I could teach you the material you have missed."

"R-Really? You would?"

"It would take away some of your free time, however. Are you prepared for that?"

Her first instinct was to balk. She loved her free time as much as anyone else, and way more than Weiss did. It was time for games, and playing or looking at weapon magazines and thinking what she could do to Crescent Rose. She had a feeling this offer wouldn't be on the table after this moment, though.

His eyes said as much.

"I accept." Her head bobbed up and down. "I'll do whatever is necessary."

"I'm glad to hear it. We'll begin our study sessions later this week. I'll be sure to send a message through to your scroll suggesting the time and place. For reference, you may not be the only person there. I often have students in need of additional instruction. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes, sir," she said. "I'll be there. I promise! Thank you for this. You won't regret it!"

Oobleck smiled. "I'm sure I won't. Be off with you, then. You still have some time to your recess, so enjoy it while you can. I shall be in touch later."

Ruby nodded happily, zipping out of her seat and towards the door. No punishment, no detention, and actually some help for the fact she'd missed important lessons. Sure, it would mean giving up some free time, but she couldn't help but think this hadn't gone so badly. She laughed as she slipped out the door, closing it behind her.

Back inside, Oobleck dropped the smile and reached for his mug. It wasn't brandy, but even this thick coffee helped to take the edge off just a little. Only when he was done did he speak. "Is that enough for you? I expect you see my angle on this."

"I do," Jaune said, slipping from behind one of the desks. If poor Ruby had paid more attention, she might have noticed him stay behind. He stepped down the steps towards the desk, face pensive. "This feels manipulative, though. Is it really right for us to take advantage of her like this?"

"If it's for the protection of the Kingdom, yes."

"But she's an innocent. She isn't White Fang, or Torchwick, or some criminals…"

"And no harm has befallen her." Oobleck turned his seat around and raised his mug in a silent salute. "Do you believe any of the words I told her to be lies? Ruby Rose did miss a year of schooling. She did miss important lessons. These will come back to haunt her if she does not learn them. I will teach her what she needs to know. Is any of that so bad?"

"Maybe if we were actually doing it because we wanted to help her…"

Oobleck sighed. "Perhaps. We shall have to see. What we do, we do to protect people, Jaune. If Miss Rose benefits from that, then who is she – or you – to argue otherwise? Don't you have a lesson to get to regardless?"

Jaune nodded and picked up his bag, sliding off towards the doors. Before he could reach them, however, Oobleck called out once more.

"Oh, and Jaune? You may be living multiples lives now, but keep them in order. Jaune Arc the student and John White the criminal do not exist. They are mere facsimiles of Jaune Arc, codename Rat, Agent of the VSS." He held Jaune's gaze for a long moment. "Your loyalty is to the Kingdom first, the VSS second, and your friends third. Remember that."

Rat hesitated at the door.

"Understood, sir."

/-/

"You can't tell me there isn't something going on," Pyrrha said, walking down the halls with her partner, Ren. Well, there was also Nora, currently hanging onto his arm, but she seemed away in another land, so it might as well have been just the two of them. Honestly, she was getting used to counting Nora as a part of him.

"I think that's obvious, Pyrrha. What I'm less sure of is our ability – or right – to intervene. Jaune is his own person, and while all of this late-night activity is clearly wearing him down, he has yet to have it negatively impact his grades." Ren stepped out of the way of an oncoming student, dragging Nora along so she avoided the crowds too. "Once it does, we might be able to offer advice, but right now there's little we can say."

Pyrrha groaned, but wasn't sure what to say in response to that. In the short time she'd known her partner, she'd come to realise that him being quiet didn't mean he never had anything to say. He was actually quite wise once you got him going. It was just a matter of being willing to listen.

"I'm just worried about him," she admitted. "Is that weird? Am I being too pushy?"

"I'm sure he'll make it clear if you were. As far as I'm concerned, you're not." He nodded at her, earning a sigh of relief.

"I'm glad. I know I'm not too experienced with having friends, but-"

"No one is experienced with that," Nora giggled, chipping in for the first time. "It's just sort of something you go with. Something that you feel – right in here." She poked Pyrrha's left boob. "Boop!"

"A-Ah, I see." If anyone else had done that, she'd have been offended. For some reason with Nora, it just felt normal. "Well, I just hope I don't ruin things by seeming too desperate. Seeing him this morning, though… I have no idea what time he came back."

"Me neither. I slept through it."

"He must have been pretty quiet," Nora said. "Ren's a light sleeper."

The boy's eyes narrowed, and he glanced to the side in thought. His lips were a thin line. "He is quiet," Ren murmured. "You wouldn't think it given his armour and fighting style, but now that I think about it, he doesn't make as much noise as you do."

"My armour has more moving parts," Pyrrha offered.

"Yes, but he still moves quietly. Almost like he's trying to mask his footsteps."

"Blake does, too. Are you sure you're not just mistaking the two?"

"Perhaps," Ren shrugged his free shoulder. "It's hard to say. At least with Blake, it makes sense. Her frame, outfit and weaponry support quick and silent movements. Given his use of a shield, however, I'd have expected Jaune to be more defence-oriented."

Pyrrha shuffled awkwardly. "W-Well maybe he's just not so proficient in it yet."

"You're saying he doesn't know how to use his weapons properly?"

"I didn't say that!"

"You didn't have to," Ren said, smiling. "I think we can all see it."

"Jaune's a bit weak," Nora echoed. "Not in a bad way, though. Not everyone can be super strong. Maybe he's one of those leaders who has like, super intelligence or something. Maybe he's going to be a General on horseback. Ooh, Ren. Do you think you'll be on a horse too? Can I ride it?"

"If I get a horse, then yes," Ren replied. His attention flicked back to Pyrrha. "I'd say his forms could use some work."

"He beat Russel, though."

"With a stolen weapon. Funny that he should fight better with that than his own."

"A mimicry Semblance!" Nora crowed.

She went ignored.

"I'm not sure it's related to anything," Ren said, "least of all his late-night activities. It may simply be that it's a new weapon purchased for Beacon and he's unused to it. Maybe you could offer to help spar with him. Help him improve."

Pyrrha tapped her chin as she pondered the idea. It sounded good, and not just because it would help him. There was a selfish and frightened part of her that said if she helped him grow stronger – if she was useful in some way – he would be more likely to stay her friend. She crushed that thought mercilessly. She didn't need to do that. Ren, Jaune and Blake were already her friends.

"It's a good idea," she said eventually. "I might do it. It can't hurt, and I don't want to let my own skills get rusty."

"It would also be a chance to get closer to him. Maybe find out what it is that bothers him so."

Pyrrha shot him a sharp glare. "You're asking me to take advantage of him!?"

"It was your curiosity," Ren pointed out.

Pyrrha flushed.

"You don't have to. It was only a suggestion. Still, if there is something wrong then it might be nice for him to be able to rely on someone. If you help him and he becomes stronger, that's benefit enough surely. What's the worst that can happen?"

"Maybe…" She hummed to herself, eyes ahead as they made their way towards Port's class. Despite her immediate denial, the idea still swam around her head. "I'll help him train," she finally said. "But not to try and get anything out of him! If he wants to confide in me, I'll listen, but I'm not going to trick him like that. No matter how curious I am, until this becomes an issue, I'll stay quiet."

"And if it does?"

"Then I'll talk to him. You will as well, right?"

Ren nodded. That was enough for her. It was the best option for all of them, and she was fairly sure Blake would have agreed if she hadn't gone ahead with Weiss, the two in a conversation about laws and the lesson they'd just had. Out of all of them, Blake always seemed the most... not awkward, but weird around Jaune. She kept watching him, especially when she thought no one was looking. It was probably a sign of how deep in thought she was that she never noticed Pyrrha watching her in turn. Still, Blake never pushed. Never tried to take advantage of her position as his partner to force answers out of him. She wouldn't either.

After all, Jaune wouldn't take advantage of them.

If he needed help with something, he'd surely tell them.

Drama, conflicts, and a chance for Ruby and Jaune to get a little closer. Well, that and suspicion all abound. Not much to say this week.

Next Chapter: 15th October

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur