Chapter 4
Ozpin sighed, grabbing his cane and sliding it into the small holster on his side.
"Where are you going?" Glynda asked.
"To meet with Mr. Taurus." He replied aptly. "I'll be back shortly."
"Oz, this is mad." Glynda stomped her foot, her expression hardening. "Adam Taurus is a criminal, a terrorist!"
In a professional setting, he would've chided her for her uncharacteristic lack of professionalism. However, this was a private setting, there was no need for their normal formalities.
"Glynda." He spoke calmly. "I appreciate your concern, but I am well aware of Mr. Taurus's criminal background."
"Then why are you even entertaining this!?"
The headmaster moved towards his office, motioning her to follow, which she did. He reached down into a drawer and pulled a folder from within.
"What is this?"
"His record since his departure with the White Fang." He handed it to her.
She took it hesitantly and opened it, skimming through the stack of papers, her eyes widening.
"He's registered under Vale, his criminal record is clean and has been for two years. No traces of any suspicious activity before his run in with the fang recently." He let her finish thumbing through the last few pages.
"He has to be planning something." She shook her head, slamming the file down on his desk. "I refuse to believe his intentions are for anything other than the good of the Fang or the good of himself."
"You allowed Miss Belladonna a chance to-"
"Miss Belladonna wasn't a monster when she came here." She cut him off. "She was a scared little girl trying to escape her past. This is a different circumstance and you know it."
"Do not cut me off again." He stood with a sigh. "I have not decided what I'm to do with him, however, I will not let a potential ally against the White Fang be hurt or killed on the streets of Vale."
"Why are you so involved?" She pinched the bridge of her nose, tapping her foot in frustration. "This is a huntsman academy, we train our students to fight grimm, not people. Why not leave this to Atlas?"
"You know full well that Atlas is not capable of justly handling the White Fang." He shook his head.
"I know." She sighed. "I just..."
"You worry." He grinned lightly. "I genuinely appreciate and understand your concern. However, this stays with us and those involved until further notice, understood?"
"Of course." She nodded hesitantly. "I'll keep my mouth shut, but Oz, promise me you know what you're doing."
"I've dealt with much more serious matters than this over my long lifespan, Taurus is of little concern to my personal wellbeing, I can promise you that."
"Alright then." She looked away. "Do what you must."
Yang laid back in bed, her arms pulled back under her head, her eyes shut softly. Though it may have looked like such, she wasn't sleeping, rather just thinking. After what's happened with Adam, she wasn't sure what to do at all. Should she tell her team? Well, the answer to that was obvious.
Yes.
But could she?
They deserved to know, that much she knew, but... This was Adam, Blake's evil ex-boyfriend, how would she even react to that kind of news? Anger, probably. Stubbornness too, she was like that. Yang loved her to death, but, she could be surprisingly hard headed. She supposed she was in no place to fault the faunus, for she herself suffered from the exact same thing. Still...
"Yang?" A soft and unsure voice startled her from her thoughts.
She peeked one eye open to meet Blake's own, she held her gaze, waiting for a response.
"Are you alright...?" She asked. "You look upset."
"Just thinking." Yang sat up.
"About what?"
"Nothing." She shrugged, looking away for a moment. "Erm... nothing I quite know how to talk about."
"It's upsetting you though?"
"Yeah." Yang replied with a nod, unsure of what else to say to that. She didn't want to lie, but... maybe she should've.
"I won't pry." She sighed. "But if you need to tell me anything, I'm here."
"I know, Blake... I know." She stood up, stretching her arms as she threw on her boots. "I've got somewhere to be, I'll be back."
"Alright." She waved her off.
Yang moved to the door, sliding her jacket on as she left. She wasn't wearing anything fancy, not as flashy as her usual outfit. Rather, she wore fashionable brown combat boots, black jeans, a brown leather jacket, and a light orange tank top that only slightly exposed her midriff underneath. It was comfortable and a lot more to her liking than her combat outfit.
Maybe it was time for a change, most people, including Jaune had gone through some form of outfit change. She, however, hadn't yet. She looked down and admired what she was wearing. With a few touches for practicality, she could certainly do something with this. She shook the thought off for now as she walked to the door of Jaune's dorm room. She lifted her hand and knocked three times, patiently awaiting a response.
"Hello?" Pyrrha had opened the door.
"Hey there, P-money." She waved, putting on a light smirk. "Jaune here?"
"Uh, yeah." She glanced back. "Come on in, I'll get him."
She nodded briskly and stepped inside, shutting the door quietly behind her before taking a seat on their couch. She didn't have to wait long for Jaune to emerge from his bedroom, his eyes looking rather heavy for it being the middle of the day.
"Did you just wake up?" She lifted an eyebrow.
"No." He scratched the back of his head. "Just didn't get much sleep last night."
"Ah." She nodded in understanding. "Sorry."
"It's whatever." He shrugged, sitting beside her. "What's up?"
She shared the same gesture as his own, unsure of what to say.
"It's about everything going on." She started, looking around to make sure Pyrrha was back in her room and no one else was around. "I... My team deserves to know, especially Blake. I just don't know how to tell them, or her. She won't take it very well."
"Yeah, cause her time in the Fang..."
"Not just that." Yang shook her head. "She knows Adam, hates his guts too."
"They worked together?"
"You could say that." She thought hard about how to address that situation properly. "They were a little more than teammates, though."
"Hm?"
"You know, like..." She sighed, unsure of how to continue.
"Like what?"
She groaned both internally and externally, raising her hands in frustration.
"Do I have to spell it out for you!? You're so dense sometimes it's insane. They were lovers, Jaune."
"Oh..." His eyes thinned as he began to take in the situation. "That's... interesting. Maybe you could start with the White Fang and leave Adam out."
"I don't want to lie to her." She shook her head once more. "It doesn't sit right."
"I wouldn't want to in your position, either. What are our options then?"
"Our options are to tell them everything or say nothing at all." She spoke in frustration. "And honestly, I've been leaning towards the latter. For now, at least."
"I don't blame you. But if Adam's right and they're in danger, they have to know as soon as possible. My team as well."
"Ugh, this is so stressful." She leaned back and buried her face into her palms.
He nodded in agreeance and sat back as well, kicking his feet up on the coffee table as he let out a deep, exasperated sigh.
"Let's just take it one step at a time, okay?" He lifted an eyebrow towards her. "We can start with trying to figure this all out."
"What should we do then?"
"We should start by telling Ruby, as leader of your team, she takes priority in being aware of this. From there, she can help us figure out the rest."
"Good enough for me." She sighed. "I just want to be done with all this."
"Me too." He admitted.
Later that day, in Vale...
"Mr. Taurus." Ozpin leaned against a table across from Adam himself. "I want to begin by thanking you for both your trust and cooperation. It'll make this a much easier process for the both of us."
He'd chosen to speak with the faunus outside of Beacon for obvious reasons, they'd met at the second floor of a vacant old restaurant. Needless to say, seeing the rather professional headmaster of Beacon Academy in such an unprofessional setting was... jarring to say the least.
"You wanted to speak to me, that's all I'm here for."
"I admire it nonetheless." He remained adamant in his appreciation.
Adam furrowed his brows, allowing them but a moment to show his distaste in this entire situation.
"If I might start by asking." He started. "What's hiding behind the bandage on your eye?"
"A scar, and not one I'm proud of." He shook his head. "Don't ask to see it."
"I will refrain, then." He nodded. "You departed with the White Fang two years ago, yes?"
"Two and a half." He corrected. "But yes, I'm no longer affiliated with them in any way, or... I wasn't. Not until they decided to affiliate themselves with me."
"For what it's worth, I believe you." The headmaster added. "I've been over your records multiple times, you give me no reason for concern, and since the return of the Fang, you've given me no reason to believe your intentions to be ill."
"And how do you know all this?"
"The blonde young man you met recently, Jaune Arc, one of my most promising students. He's informed me of the recent developments, including your efforts to help as well as the second division of White Fang stationed here in Vale."
"Tch." Adam looked away. "For what it's worth, I apologize for getting your students involved in this mess. If it were under my control, it never would've happened."
"I appreciate the sentiment." The headmaster nodded. "However, they are involved, and I must take the necessary steps to insure their safety. I hope you'll show yourself to be a good ally against the Fang."
"Why trust me, though?" He thinned his eyes. "I'm a terrorist, used to be, at least. You don't know if I still am, I could be lying. Why not just ask Atlas for help? They hate the White Fang more than anyone else, they'd be happy to deal with their mess."
"My assistant shared the same concerns and the same solution, so I shall give you the same answer." He started. "I do not believe Atlas capable of dealing with the White Fang in a just manner, I believe them too reckless and too prejudiced against your people."
"They are." His voice was low. He touched a finger to the black patch on his eye.
"Your scar, was it caused by Atlas, then?"
Damn, he was observant. He should've left it alone, but the mere mention of Atlas had his eye all sore.
"A byproduct of their actions, the Schnee family did this to me."
"The Schnee family?" He repeated. "I am quite concerned now. If the time comes that you must fight alongside my students, you should know that one of them is a Schnee. However, she doesn't share the same prejudices as her family, she came to Beacon to get away from them. I hope this won't impede your willingness to be an ally should the time come."
"It won't." He shook his head. "I got one of your students involved in this, it's my responsibility to make sure he doesn't get hurt. That is my only concern."
"Then, Mr. Taurus, I'd like to offer you something."
"What." His response was made to sound more like a statement than a question.
"A place to stay at Beacon, so long as you provide your assistance against the Fang."
"You're insane." He shook his head. "You should consider me a threat to your students."
"Yet I don't." He admitted. "I've been around a long time, longer than I care to admit. I recognize sincerity just as well as it recognize deception. I see none of the latter in your intentions."
"You should be concerned." He pressed on in frustration.
"I am not naive, Mr. Taurus. I recognize the concern, that is why you will be close to me. I will not put you amongst my students, rather, in one of the many empty staff dorms. It will have a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, and any requested means of entertainment. All of the staff members will be informed and asked to remain vigilant, your presence, however, will be kept a secret to the students who are not involved in the matter."
"And if I refuse?"
"You have options. You aren't being forced to do anything. However, if you refuse, you will be left to fend for yourself."
"Hmph... Forgive me if my options feel rather limited, then." He shot back.
"Do you require more time to think?" Ozpin inquired.
"No." He shook his head with a sigh. "I accept your offer. What do I have to do?"
"You'll be coming back with me, I'll show you to your room and we'll discuss the terms of your staying. While I do trust your intentions to be well placed, my judgements have been wrong before. If you attempt to harm any staff or student of my school in any way, I will not hesitate to take drastic measures. We'll have to get you something to help you remain incognito until you are safe within Beacon. I will not risk a student recognizing you and spark an unnecessary uproar."
"Let's make this quick, then." He stood up.
...
Beacon was a lot bigger than Adam had anticipated. He'd seen the place only in passing and in pictures, but actually being on its grounds was a different story.
He wore a concealing hood to hide his features as he walked alongside Ozpin, who had also chosen to walk a less travelled pathway, once they made it to the tower, they stepped inside an elevator.
"The staff dorms are one floor under the tower. The elevator requires a key to access this floor." He handed Adam a small bronze key. "Try not to lose it."
He took it from him and turned it within it's respective keyhole. There were two others that required different keys, he almost wanted to ask what they were for. He knew, however, that to do so would be encroaching on a subject he had no part in. Once the doors slid open, he was introduced to a long and wide hallway with more than a few doors.
"Not many of the staff stay on Beacon grounds, most have families to return to after a long day. However, Professor Oobleck and my assistant Headmistress Ms. Goodwitch both opt to stay in the staff dorms. I also stay on school grounds, however, my room is located elsewhere."
Adam wasn't surprised at that tidbit of knowledge, of course the headmaster would likely have his own special quarters to stay in. The headmaster guided him to a room at the end of the hall, handing the faunus a black and white key card for the door.
"This will get you in and out of your room, I would also recommend keeping it on your person most if not all of the time."
He nodded and scanned the card, pushing the door open after the light on it flashed green.
"As for you're conditions of staying." He continued, shutting the door behind the both of them. "All I ask of you is that you offer your help when needed. Whether it be to investigate or hold back enemy lines in the event that the school is attacked."
"I can do that." He nodded.
"As for your entertainment, is there anything you request?"
"Books and access to a TV." He spoke blandly, looking around the place. "Is it not a hazard to have a kitchen underground?"
"I can assure you the oven vents are properly installed and carry any smoke up and away from you. In the case of a fire, the room is built with powerful sprinklers to keep it under control. Is there anything else you need?"
"Food?"
"If you give me a grocery list, I will have them ordered for you as soon as possible. For now, you'll have to make do with what I've put it in the fridge and the freezer." He paused for a moment. "I do want to add that you are not a prisoner here, you are free to leave. However, student dense areas are off limits, the outskirts around the forest are not. If you need to walk or clear your head, you're more than free to do so. Do remember, however, to remain unnoticed by anyone of you do."
"I'll do that, that'll be all for now." He nodded. "I... ugh, thank you."
That was not easy for Adam to say. He'd spent so long blocking himself off from positive communication with others that it seriously hindered his ability to be friendly in any manner during conversation. However, he offered his thanks to the headmaster nonetheless. Ozpin nodded and left the room soon after, leaving the faunus to his own devices for the time being.
When he made it back to his office, Ozpin wondered if he was making a mistake, keeping Adam Taurus so close to his students. He trusted the man's intentions, however, the thought did still weigh on him.
It was then that Glynda Goodwitch walked into the office with an annoyed expression.
"Did you talk to him?" She asked.
"I did."
"And...?"
"I offered him a place to stay in the staff rooms below us." He admitted. "The rest of the staff will be informed soon, as well as the students involved."
After coming out with it, he immediately prepared for a verbal lashing from the woman. However, no such lashing came.
"Are you angry with me?" He inquired, not wanting to leave that tension in the air.
"No." She shook her head. "I actually believe that was your best option. In Vale he's too far to keep tabs on, and around the students would be asking for trouble. In the staff rooms, we're close. If he tries anything, we'll be right there to stop him."
"I'm glad we can see it the same way, then." He nodded. "Walk with me, it's been far too long since we've enjoyed ourselves outside of the office."
Jaune's dorm, later that night...
"You needed me?" Ruby lifted an eyebrow, gazing at Jaune softly.
He returned the look with a deep sigh, folding his arms as he made to speak.
"Yeah." He nodded. "It's important."
"What is it?" Her face was now filled with concern.
"Ruby, this is gonna be a bit to take in all at once, but..." He pursed his lips in frustration. "The White Fang is back."
*dramatic music plays*
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