AN:That's kinda my first experiment in writing a story completely in english, so please do tell me what do you think about grammar, punctuation... well, everything. Beacon Infirmary: D0
Hope you'll enjoy the story
"I'm fine girls, seriously. Aura shielded me!" Ruby said nervously, visibly flinching under worried glances. Well, she tried to flinch, which was not an easy task considering the numerous bandages on her chest and the cast on her leg. Her teammates stood near her bed with grim faces. Honestly, she felt terrible and wanted to sleep, but her teammates mattered so much more to her right now.
"Ruby, your Aura shattered from that hit. Paladin stomped on you! You blacked out and we were worried that you may die! That's definitely not 'fine'!" Weiss was upset. Really upset. Yet, she was relieved that her worst anticipations didn't come true so she was balancing between two states – "Concerned mother hen" and "furious heiress".
The girl in red smiled apologetically
"Well, at least you're all right, guys. And we stopped the White Fang, so… yay?!" She tried to improve the team's mood but clearly failed to do so. Weiss wasn't pleased, Blake looked devastated and Yang…
Ruby vaguely remembered that episode almost eight years ago, when Yang dragged her into the forest, hoping to find at least some clues about Raven's whereabouts. They barely survived that day, but she remembered how worried and scared Yang was then. Now she saw that expression again.
"Yang… look. It's all right. I'll be fine in a few weeks. I'll even manage to go to the dance!" Ruby forcefully smiled. "Don't worry. You know - what doesn't kill us, it makes us stronger. And I definitely will be!"
Yang took Ruby's arm
"I know Ruby. It's just… just like that day. I failed to protect my baby sister… again. Everyone's scared and…"
Her sister looked like she was on the verge of tears. Ruby tightened her grip on Yang's arm.
"It's different Yang. I'm an adult, Huntress-in-Training. Your leader. It was my decision to engage Torchwick. I had my Aura and my weapon with me. It's just my clumsiness and misfortune. If you need to blame someone – blame me. It's not your fault," Ruby said with a comforting voice, gaining an approving nod from Weiss
Yang sniffed.
"You really grew up, Ruby. Mom would be proud."
Then Weiss' scroll started beeping. The heiress immediately unlocked the screen and started reading. It took a couple of minutes, while her face slowly changed color from her usual pale to unusual pink. When she finished, she raised her eyes and laughed.
"What happened, Weiss?" Blake asked.
"You know, I remember that time when you wondered – how it feels to be famous. Does it ring any bells?"
Ruby nodded. It happened two days before their trip to Forever Fall. Usual night-talk before going to bed. One of many team activities that she managed to think of to know her team better.
Weiss continued. "Well, then I must congratulate you. You made it on Vale-TV. I just got the script for tomorrow's news"
"Is it supposed to be good or bad news?" Blake sounded nervous.
"It depends. Reporters have a live feed of our fight with Paladin, but Beacon denied them any further information. However, some people have signature moves. Like wielding a scythe-sniper rifle and dissolving into a burst of rose petals."
Suddenly both Ruby and Yang became very, very pale.
"Weiss, please say that this will only be in morning news" pleaded Yang.
"I'm afraid that after we trashed highway fighting with cutting-edge Atlesian mech piloted by notorious criminal mastermind and lost it is virtually impossible."
Yang cursed clenching her fists. Ruby paled even further. It was very unusual for both of them. Weiss wondered what exactly caused this reaction. Yes, they made it into the news. Yes, they're on their way to receive a whole bunch of detentions for breaking public property and rogue activities against White Fang. Winter will be pissed and probably would scold her for irresponsibility until the end of times. Father also might read her a lecture about maintaining Schnee reputation.
But the heiress had no idea what could happen to scare both Yang and Ruby to this extent. Their family doesn't seem as strict and over concerned about public image.
"Yang… Dad will…" Ruby almost whispered.
"Yeah, he will," Yang answered quietly. Her face was darkened.
"What about your dad?" asked Blake concerning.
Both girls were quiet for a few minutes before Yang started.
"Our father… he is a kind man. Loving, caring, always ready to listen about every little problem we have. He loves gardening and experimenting in the kitchen. He is a damn good teacher, always trying to do his best to make the next generation better than the previous one." – Xiao Long stared into the opposite wall with a blank expression. "However, this is the man he became after our birth. Back then he was… not a pleasant person."
"He broke a man's arm for accidentally pushing me when I was five" added Ruby grimly.
"You mean your dad was somewhat a thug and now is an overprotective bunch?"
"You could say that"
Sixteen hours later. Patch.
He was beyond furious. Fury meant that he was quick to cool down and think rationally. Yes, he could break some bones and crush some skulls while in rage, but he learned to control those urges. Now he was so much more than furious.
His daughters. His precious girls, his most valuable treasure and possession. Those people that forced him to step down and cool his temper. They changed him for the better. Made him a man he always dreamed to be. But seeing the video of his daughters fighting in Vale, seeing his darling rose being stomped by an Atlesian Paladin made him cold.
He knew Ruby's Aura capacity so it was obvious to him that his daughter was hurt. But to what extent – he didn't know.
And his Scroll was silent.
However, the cat was out of the bag and He knew it. Five minutes later after the news report Scroll buzzed. He did not need to look at the display to tell who the caller was.
"What happened to Ruby?"
"She is fine, Taiyang."
"Do not attempt to lie to me, Oz. I knew her Aura. Even I would struggle withstanding that hit. She? No way. So, Oz, tell me, what happened with my daughter before I come in person."
"Broken ribs, compound leg fracture and concussion. Nothing too severe." – Glass that Taiyang held in his hand shattered, but his Aura flared in violent red so he wasn't hurt.
"We had a deal, Oz. A simple one. I held my side of the bargain. What did you do to held yours?"
"I cannot guard them from everything, Taiyang. Especially from their selves. Even if I could stop them, it would ruin the lesson."
"You call that a lesson, Ozpin?" He roared "Fighting against Atlesian Paladin armed with AH-weaponry AND an Torchwik's personal assassin being only in their first year?"
"I am sorry, Taiyang. But you must understand me. After Amber my hands are tied. Me and Glynda are obviously watched, we cannot give them the idea that they can lure us out by attacking our students. It's for their own safety."
Xiao Long angrily exhaled.
"So, you're bound to Beacon and powerless to directly do anything in Vale"
"Yes, at least until Qrow or James arrives"
He sighed, plan rapidly forming in his head.
"Well, Oz. You are lucky that I understand the significance of your deeds. At least I won't maim you when we meet. I will deal with this so-called 'Master Thief' and his pets and whatever mobs they have by myself."
"You don't need to…" – But he already ended the call, leaving Ozpin with his ramblings. He never hated that man for his attempts to manipulate him and his teammates. He never blamed him for Summer's death. But he absolutely loathed his passiveness and inability to make radical decisions when it comes to people who deserve death.
He sat on his chair staring into the void for half an hour before writing a resignation letter to the Signal Director. After doing so, he went to the basement.
It was time to dig out some remnants of misspent youth.
Junior Xiong considered himself a clever man. He was both a successful nightclub owner and underworld information broker with enough strings to pull.
But being a clever man inevitably leads to realizing that there are some people in the world that you really must avoid pissing off considering that you want to live well, have a full set of limbs and be successful. Understanding and following these simple truths made him the man that he was today.
So, when he received a call from the person that he really would prefer not to piss off, he had no other choice but to pick up.
He almost forgot about him. A ghost from the past, legacy of misspent youth. Emphasis on "almost". There were some things that he couldn't forget even on death's bed.
What was considerably worse - he had an idea why he was calling. And if he was right - which of course he was, he, Junior was in very, very deep shit.
Because what could be worse than royally pissing off a dangerous man? Pissing off two of them. But it wasn't like he had a choice in that matter.
"Xiong" He seemed calm. Which was bad considering what he remembered about him.
"Lung. How many years it has been since we last spoke?" He hopelessly tried to do the small talk. Which he expectedly failed to do.
"Enough to make you forget what we both agreed on"
So, he was right about the meaning of this call. Which he regretted wholeheartedly.
"I did not. Roman is no man of mine. Yes, I lend him my resources, but for substantial payment. Just business, no strings attached" It's not like he had a choice on this occasion because of that woman, but Lung didn't really need to know this.
"I remember differently" Of course he remembers differently. Because when he left, Vale was in a totally different state. Junior really doesn't want to be known for repeating what Vale was like in those times.
"It was fifteen years ago, Lung. Everything changed since then. Roman was independent for a long time" And being honest Junior rarely regretted that chose to let Roman roam free. He was too much of an opportunist, always looking for a juicy target or some kind of challenge. Which led him to the current situation.
"But now he is not and he dared to touch what is off limits""You declared those limits years ago, Lung. There have been new players in town since then. The old clique though… you know, it is hard not to overstep when said "limits" destroy your property because they are throwing tantrum"
"Your men fought her. She won. Victor takes the spoils, Loser covers everything. I see no contradictions" Lung always had… an somewhat unique perspective on law and morality, which was one of the problems that led Vale to it's almost ruinous state all those years ago.
"It is the only thing that stopped me from pressing perfectly legal charges, yes. Look, man, i get that your daughter got hurt in this mess, but they were after Roman and his goons on their own volition." It's not like he really cared about Torchwick that much, honestly this runt deserved a good old beatdown for all of this mess. Destabilizing Dust economy and raiding Schnee convoys, all while backed by radical faunus - that was more than bad for business - more like a recipe for disaster.
Which, he supposed, finally showed up on a horizon.
"Xiong. Do not attempt to distract me. My daughter is hurt and they will pay for that. I need names. Places. Everything you've got"
He knew he would ask for this. His intention was clear, if not blunt. Years ago he would not had a choice other than telling him what he wanted. Right now...
"And why should I tell you anything? We got a deal when you left. I held my end of a bargain and you know it. So give me the reason. A good one, please."
"Aside from staying alive? Ozpin"
Junior sharply breathed. Not, it wasn't some divine revelation to him. You won't be a good broker when you cannot follow the trend. But getting confirmation from one of The Four…
"Okay. But you will pay for the damage to my club that your daughter inflicted. Everything else… on the home. As an home welcoming gift"
"Just send the bill Junior and wait for me. I will see you soon"
Line went dead.
Junior grimaced. He got out of his private booth, got whiskey from the bar wall and poured bronze-coloured liquid into the glass then drank it almost in one gulp.
Alcohol burned through his throat, but he didn't care.
When bartender got to him for taking another order he shook his head, instead telling him
"We're closed for today, Auburn. Go to Miltia and Melanie and send them to me and then you're free. I'll pay for a whole shift, though"
Auburn got the idea, vanishing almost instantly. Clever dude. Knows when to keep his mouth shut. Maybe, when everything is over he'll give him a pay raise. Maybe.
Right now he needed to consider his options.
Dragon was back and hell hath his fury