A/N: Here's another one.
Let me know what you think!
Scribbles
-teaching one another-
James handled the truth of the Maidens, of the world, differently than she did. Then again, he had always handled things a little differently.
With Dr. Polendina as one of his most trusted advisors, James was swallowed up in Atlesian research facilities, working day and night to develop new technology to fight against Salem and the Grimm. He took a backseat from teaching, only coming in to support combat classes- and yet, his efforts to reduce human and Faunus intervention in battle won him rank after rank. He climbed to new heights constantly, the medals collecting upon his chest growing more numerous by the year. It wasn't surprising at all- he brought hope in these long, arduous projects of his. With his technology, then one day, there would be no need for living intervention against the Grimm. Maybe one day, it would all be automated.
When that day came, they could finally focus all of the Huntsmen and Huntresses in the world on destroying Salem, once and for all.
Glynda, on the other hand, threw herself into teaching. It took her a while to fully come to terms with her role in the battle to come- the fact that she was going to be used as a glorified babysitter did not sit well with her.
At least, that was how she viewed it at first in the wake of being rejected for the position of Maiden. That thought quickly dissipated, however, as she grew to know and love her students. They were the reason she was there. They were the reason she needed to stay there. After all, teaching was what she had always wanted to do, and for good reason- no one was better suited for it.
If she couldn't be there to support them through the harsh realities of the world, who would?
So, she threw herself into her work. It came as a surprise to no one on Beacon's staff when Professor Ozpin announced that Glynda would become his official assistant in addition to her role on staff- she was, by far, the most well-rounded Huntress they had. Despite her brisk nature and her sharp tongue, everyone conceded to her without hesitation. And, for Glynda, it gave her the chance to do what she had always wanted to do, ever since stepping into Beacon's halls- she got to work closely with Professor Ozpin.
The man's schemes were absolutely ridiculous. His teaching style was so laissez-faire that it stressed her out, with his absolute, unwavering nonchalance at putting students into dangerous situations. They were young, and he had far too much faith in all of them.
"Faith is often all we have in times like these, Glynda," he often said. "We must hold strong to it."
She didn't like that sentiment. It sounded too much like he was praying to a deity. If the war was going to end, though, it was going to be by her hands, and by the hands of everyone else who was in Ozpin's wide network of Huntsmen and Huntresses fighting against Salem and her forces. There were no deities involved in this fight.
It was rare that those forces got together, however. Too much risk to be seen, to have their organization unearthed by the masses and spread hysteria. So, it was a surprise when Professor Ozpin finally sent out a summons to numerous people posted around the world during one Vytal Festival Tournament. It was an unexpected request, but the man insisted that it was vital to their operations, so she, alongside many others, agreed to rendezvous in Beacon.
To see James again in person after so many months apart was an odd feeling. She expected there to be sparks, some explosive reunion.
It wasn't like that at all- just a heating of her tattoo, growing progressively warmer as the elevator dinged again and again behind her, rising to the top of Beacon Tower with him inside. And then, when they met again, they simply nodded in greeting and turned to face Ozpin, alongside the countless others from around Remnant who had heeded his call.
There were two key announcements Ozpin needed to make. The first was that they had found the new Spring Maiden, and they had a feeling that they knew who the next Fall Maiden would be. The Spring Maiden was a sweet girl- kind and bright and knowing. Seeing how dedicated she was to keeping their cause secret and safe, Glynda felt reassured, the bitterness long having since faded.
It was the second announcement that threw her off-balance. The last four to enter the office were faces she had grown to fondly respect over the years. After all, despite all of their antic, the rookies she had worked with so long ago were undoubtedly the best current team at Beacon Academy. Team STRQ, ready to finish up their final year at Beacon, were ready to be brought into the fold.
And when they arrived, Professor Ozpin told them everything.
The four of them were shocked. Flabbergasted, horrified, uprooted entirely. Raven stormed out, Qrow pulled out his flask (although where he got that much alcohol as a minor, she would never know- every time she confiscated his flasks he always got another), and Taiyang merely shut down, slack-jawed and limp like a broken toy.
It was their leader, tiny Summer Rose, who stayed cool. "So. You're the Spring Maiden?" she asked kindly, turning to the other woman.
The Maiden smiled and nodded, and the two engaged in light banter. Glynda knew better, though- underneath that silvery cloak, she could tell that the woman was trembling from the revelation. But Summer's smile didn't waver, and she soon gave Ozpin her agreement to join his cause.
She stayed strong, all things considered. It wasn't an easy truth to bear.
Turning back to everyone else, Professor Ozpin assigned roles and tasks, redistributing work and rearranging lines of communication as necessary. Things were ever-changing in the war against Salem. They needed to always be ready.
At the end of the day, however, she was still a teacher of Beacon Academy. So, when Professor Ozpin asked her to find Raven and Qrow and send them his way, she did so without another question. Ozpin knew far more than any of them. If the Branwen twins would be able to help their cause, then so be it.
After fulfilling that task (much to the chagrin of both students, who were still angrily trying to process what this all meant for them and what their role to play was in all of this) she found herself back in her studio, James leaning against the windowsill.
"The situation is changing, Glynda," he murmured. "We have a chance. We can fix this world, I just know it."
There was an edge to his voice- steely, calculating. "You've spent too much time in the lab, haven't you," she murmured. It wasn't a question.
His metallic limb glinted in the waning light of the sun. "We'll fix it, Glynda. No matter the cost."
"…We have to."
