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Chapter 26: Focus

Ozpin placed the still steaming mug of coffee down on the table and intertwined his fingers, staring over his glasses at the student sitting opposite him and gave them a look that he hoped was both firm yet encouraged trust; this particular student had been noted as a problem child with no respect for authority since he arrived at the academy in his first year
"Mister Slate" he started the Bear Faunus adjusting himself in his seat, trying to get comfortable despite his right arm still being in a sling while his Aura repaired his injuries "Several of your fellow students have told me that your involvement with the White Fang was merely a ruse to gain information; I am yet to hear your side of the story"
"You're not stupid Ozpin" Gangrel said bluntly "You know where I'm from, you know damn well that when I joined the White Fang I supported the cause"
"But that changed" the headmaster said delicately, the Bear-Faunus sighed
"Fighting to defend yourself is one thing and honestly something I think more Faunus should be willing to do but the White Fang have changed; the leader isn't the same person he used to be" Gangrel trailed off
"How so?"
"He's lost his fucking mind" Gangrel scoffed "Let's be honest with each other Ozpin, you want the information I have I want to know if I'm going to be handed over to the authorities as soon as I give you it?" Ozpin shook his head
"No Mister Slate you have my word as both your Headmaster and as a Hunter that you will be treated fairly, I believe in second chances and both yourself and Miss Belladonna have certainly earned yours" the hulking Faunus growled to himself in irritation before finally making a decision
"Fuck it what information do you want, I've been a lot less active since I came to Beacon so I can't promise I'll know everything"
"That is understandable" Ozpin smiled "What do you know of their plans moving forwards?"
"Not much" Gangrel sighed regretfully "I know they've been recruiting and have managed to get hold of some military grade equipment and a lot of Dust; the time frame is some point during the Vytal Tournament, I don't know the target I haven't heard about any air-ships being stolen so I've got a feeling it might not be the stadium itself"
"An interesting observation and one I will make the security teams aware of, do you know how they've been obtaining these assets?" Gangrel gave him a toothy smile
"The Dust was being supplied by Roman Torchwick, he's not a factor any more; as for the weapons I'm not sure I'd heard rumours about the White Fang having a powerful new business partner but I never met them in person. A lot of the funding was coming from a few legal shell businesses"
"Would you be able to provide a list of these businesses?"
"I could get a more complete one by the end of the day but honestly I'd advise against raiding them right now"
"And why is that?" Ozpin asked him, genuinely interested
"The White Fang and the Black Bear Syndicate are fighting for territory, while the Fang have the upper hand things are relatively calm I don't think messing with the balance of power right now is a good idea, it could complicate things moving forward if it changes their plans"
"Another interesting thought and I'll admit Mister Slate that your understanding of the nuances of the criminal element is greater than my own, however I am bound to pass this information on to the authorities and cannot guarantee they will agree with your suggestion"
"Fair enough" Gangrel sighed "Anything else?"
"No" Ozpin smiled "It has already been concluded that you cannot have been the one responsible for the death of the late Miss Pitch and your presence there can be explained by the fact you were working undercover; unless you have anything you wish to add?" Gangrel shook his head
"No Professor"
"Then thank you for your time and frankness; It takes a special kind of bravery to choose to do what is right when so many people you consider to be friends take the wrong path, one day Mister Slate you will make a great Hunter"

Gangrel met Squish in the mess hall, Weiss and Yang joining them soon after, the Bear-Faunus turning his attention away from his food as the heiress made herself comfortable on his lap making sure to avoid his injured arm, the two of them shared a brief kiss
"Remember when you told me and Blake to get a room for less than this" Yang griped
"You're right, sorry" Weiss smiled as she removed herself from the Faunus' and sat next to him
"So where's the rest of your team?" Gangrel asked, Weiss shrugged
"I think Ruby is training with Rover and Artemis, she's been training after class every day since what happened to you"
"She's not sleeping again, at least when she wakes up she's got Penny to talk to; that girl seems happy for Ruby to wake her up at any time" Yang added, Gangrel absent mindedly wondered if the mechanical girl actually required sleep
"So she's dating the ginger then?" Squish smirked "Well I suppose that's a step up from her drooling over half the school, Rover and Artemis were starting to get a little uncomfortable about the way she looked at them both" this got a laugh from everyone present
"I don't think she was attracted to those two per se, it was more of an attraction to what they have" Weiss said thoughtfully
"I know right" Yang agreed "Those two are relationship goals, they're adorable together"
"Yeah it's great until you've got to share a room with them" Squish muttered
"I bet you've seen them at it so many times they call you the monitor lizard" Yang teased, earning a chorus of groans
"That was abysmal Yang, even for you" Squish lamented, the blonde winking at him before continuing
"Don't judge me, all iguana do is have fun"
"You know" the reptilian commented "The fact you always go for Faunus attribute puns could probably be seen as racial bigotry, luckily I know better"
"Doubt anyone would believe she's racist when her and Blake are a thing" Gangrel interjected
"We're not a thing, we just made out once" Yang said sadly
"Wait what?" Weiss looked at her team-mate shocked "When did that happen?"
"After I took Ruby dress shopping" Yang shrugged eyes downcast, Gangrel gave an irritated growl
"Okay hang on, she's had a thing for you since you got put on a team together. You made out and yet you're not moving forward, the fuck?"
"She wanted to take it slow, we were going to go to the dance together but since you got hurt honestly I've barely seen her, she's been trying to find leads on the White Fang she keeps skipping meals and barely sleeping….curiosity is going to kill the cat" Yang sighed
"See that's the kind of racist shit I'm talking about" Squish grumbled, Gangrel silencing him with a glare
"She thinks because I got outed we've got no new leads?" he asked, Yang nodded
"Yeah, I told her I'll keep asking Junior but she says it won't be enough"
"It won't be, Adam had the Syndicate pretty much crippled Junior has got other things to worry about; but I left something out of my debriefing with Ozpin, Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai are here because Adams' partner wants them to be I kept it quiet specifically so we can keep an eye on them….and break their fingers until they give us information if it really comes down to it" The Faunus smirked at the last part
"Think you could tell Blake that?" Yang asked "She might actually take a breather if we've got something to work with"
"How about you tell her, you obviously want to see her so go find her" Yang smiled as she rose from her seat
"Thanks Gang" the larger hunter gave her a small shrug with his good arm as if to say 'no problem' before turning to his partner
"Hey Squish, you asked Neon to the dance yet?" the smaller Faunus' pale eyes seemed to brighten as he gave a smile that displayed his needle like teeth
"It's not a date exactly but yeah she's meeting me there; just going play it by ear and get to know each other a little"
"Nice, don't suppose you could go hang out with her now or something? We'll hang out later I just haven't really had chance to spend time with my Kostbar-Eins since I got out the infirmary, Weiss's face flushed at the Atlesian pet name
"Dolt" she laughed as she cuddled into him to try and hide her blush
"Yeah fuck this I'm out if you're going to be as bad as Missy and Rover were when they hooked up" Squish laughed as he left the pair.

Artemis watched the sparring match between her partner and the student he was coming to consider his protégé, more accurately she used her Semblance to try and make sense of the two steaks of light and energy racing around the sparring arena one a deep crimson leaving a trail of rose petals in its' wake, the other golden with arcs of electricity and sparks issuing from it. Artemis's ability to see the Aura of others only aided her slightly in understanding the progressing match but even she could see that Ruby was not on form today, Rover was managing to land hits from several angles faster than the cape wearing huntress could counter or recover
"Rover stop!" she called, immediately the golden blur stopped and the canine-Faunus became visible the edges and features of his body becoming more distinct as he body ceased vibrating, Ruby skidded to a halt next to him clutching her side, Artemis was unsure whether it was a stitch or the result of one of her partners' strikes
"What's up babe?" Rover asked removing his mask as he stepped out of the ring, she shook her head and looked to Ruby who was now sitting on the edge of the ring staring at the floor
"Ruby, want to tell us what's bothering you? There's no nice way to say it but you're just not getting it together tonight" the younger girl made an irritated noise and didn't meet their gaze
"I'm fine" she mumbled, the two older students shared a look before making their way back to the ring sitting on either side of her, Artemis wrapping an arm around her shoulders
"Come on Ruby" she said softly "We want to help but we need to know what's up" Ruby looked up and Artemis noticed the rings around her eyes
"Not sleeping?"
"Nightmares" Ruby nodded "Gangrel getting caught in that explosion at the docks, Gangrel and Pennys' fight ending differently, pretty much everything about what we found in Greybark" the Cat-Faunus gave her a supportive hug, she'd heard about the burned and mutilated body that had been there as well as Gangrel laying in a pool of his own blood was forcefully reminded that Ruby Rose was only fifteen
"Gangrels' tough as they come Ruby" Rover sighed "I didn't see so I can't imagine what it looked like when you found him, but trust me he's fine" Ruby was unconvinced so Artemis attempted to convince her
"Rover's right, I actually think a lot of is due to your partner"
"Weiss?" she asked disbelievingly
"They're only just starting dating but seriously Gangrel hasn't been drinking since he got out the infirmary; I really thought he was going to be a mess as well"
"That's actually really sweet" Ruby smiled "But it's not just that I've wanted to be a Huntress for as long as I can remember, I fought a whole pack of Beowolves on my own when I was fourteen, but since I came to Beacon it's just really hit me how messed up it gets"
"Fighting Grimm and fighting people are different" Rover surmised
"Are you considering calling it quits?" Artemis asked her softly
"No" Ruby said firmly "This is what my Mom did, this is what my Dad did and now he teachers others how to do, it's what my Uncle does. This is what I'm meant to do" Artemis ruffled the girls hair
"Ruby I'm going to be honest, when I first saw you in the initiation ceremony and found out how old you were I was livid, I thought Ozpin had lost his marbles letting you in; but I think I can see what he did, you've got the brains and the skills but it's more than that you've got the guts and the drive as well and I know you've impressed him" she nodded to her boyfriend "He said to me once that the only snot nosed kid he'd ever train willingly would be our own child; he tells anyone in our year who asks that your his protégé now"
"So what do you think I should do?" Ruby asked
"You got anyone you can talk to about your nightmares? Rover met her question with her own, she nodded smiling brightly
"Penny"
"Well talk to her, talk to us, talk to Gangrel he'll tell you himself he's okay; but if you really want to do this I can only give you the same advice I gave Artemis's sister when I was helping to teach her to ride a bike"
"What advice is that?"
"Pain comes and goes, get up dust yourself off and Keep. Moving. Forward"

Yang finally found Blake in an abandoned classroom poring over maps and disparate pieces of information that Weiss had finally managed to decipher from the SDC
"Found anything?" she asked her partner quietly as she stepped behind her, arms snaking around her waist as she peered over her shoulder at the numerous pages littering the desk
"Nothing" Blake admitted, anger at herself evident in her tone "What would they steal an Oum damned freight train for, the dust on it makes sense but how and why do you steal the full train, where would they even hide it?"
"Well Gangrel did say they have a base outside of the kingdoms" Yang suggested, Blake huffed
"But how would you get it passed the walls, it makes no sense" the blonde pulled her closer and gently kissed her shoulder
"I spoke to Gangrel earlier, he's had to tell Ozpin almost everything and who knows if the police start raiding White Businesses it might shake a few things up but he deliberately left a lead for just us"
"What is it?" Blake had suddenly turned to face her, eyes intense but lacking focus and with dark rings around them
"Merc and Em, he wants them in Beacon where we can keep an eye on them"
"Then let's go" Blake made to leave but Yang pulled her back
"Blake the only place you need to go is to bed, you look exhausted"
"The White Fang need to be stopped, Adam needs to be stopped" the dark haired Faunus snarled out
"Do you think I don't know that!" Yangs' voice raised in agitation "But you're in no shape to do anything right now, take a few days off come to the dance with me and we'll deal with them afterwards"
"Damn it Yang, I haven't got time for a stupid dance!"
"If Adam walked through that door right now what would you do?" Yang demanded
"I'd end him, I'd make sure he could never hurt anyone else" Blake said fiercely, Yang simply shoved her into the desk
"How? You can't even stop me, you can barely stand you're so tired" Blake tried to rise only for Yang to push her back into the desk again before wrapping around her waist and gently kissing the top of her head
"Yang" Blake whispered reaching up to kiss her partner on the lips "Thank you for always being here for me" the blonde did not respond with words instead cupping her partners cheeks with her hands and kissing her back, the pair growing more bold as the kiss deepend, Blake wrapping her legs around Yangs' waist and running her hands through her partners' blonde mane, Yang responded by taking the Faunus' lower lip between her teeth as her hands moved from her face to caress her breasts through the fabric of her shirt, Blake suddenly took the initiative rising from the desk and pushing Yang back against a wall, their fingers intertwining as Blake pinned her partners arms and proceeded to kiss along her neck eliciting small gasps of pleasure
"Blake, are you sure you want to do this here?" she managed to breath out, Blake gave her one last passionate kiss before breaking away from her
"That door doesn't lock so it's probably not a great idea" she admitted, Yang gave her a fake pout
"So about what I said"
"You're right" Blake nodded "I'll get some sleep but only if you come and join me, I enjoyed falling asleep with you before"
"Gladly" Yang beamed "But I meant about the dance"
"I'll come the dance but on one condition" Blake told her, Yang looked apprehensive but nodded for her to continue "I don't want us to go as friends, I want us to be so much more than that Yang" the blonde took a moment to ensure she had heard correctly, a broad smile forming on her face
"Are you asking me out" Blake nodded sheepishly and the blonde took her into her arms kissing her lips, nose and any other part of her face she could reach
"I take it that's a yes?" the Feline asked smiling, Yang winked at her
"I'm pouncing at the opportunity"

Authors Notes:

Ozpin always seems tricky to write because you're never exactly sure how much he knows, just that it's more than you.
Yes this chapter is this stories equivalent to the episode "Burning the Candle" because it makes sense to do it, in canon the team were going after the White Fang with no leads, in this story Gangrel being outed means they just lost their main source of information, Junior offered to share what he knows but the only thing that he's learned lately is that Adam like fire and payback.
I like the idea of Weiss & Gangrel (Still calling it Polar Bear) being one of those stupidly cute couples, he has an outer shell almost as tough as his armour, half of the fandom writes Weiss as the textbook Tsundere, it just appeals to me; the German I used as Atlesian in this chapter (Also let me know if you think I'm over doing it with that) is Kostbar-Eins or 'Precious One' I'm using it as an Atlesian term of endearment since they're both originally from there
The scene with Ruby, Rover and Artemis is to address the issue of Ruby being shaken up by some of the things she's seen, I don't know how well I handled it but I think Rover and Artemis did what they could in offering support.
Yang and Blake are fun to write because they can go from smut to fluffy snuggling in seconds, also Bumblebee is now happening.
Yangs' puns are an endeavour, that is all.

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