Back again. Let's hope Roman and Blake haven't killed one another in my absence. Or Winter and Jaune. Or Ironwood and Jaune.
On with the show!
Cover Art: Jack Wayne
Chapter 5
If someone has asked Jaune what he thought the most awkward situation imaginable would be, he'd have said his stupid ass getting made a teacher. That was only because his life was one giant joke, though. Sitting at a table between a woman who wanted you in a cell, her father who wanted you to date said woman, your current (although on and off) girlfriend, and the General of a military country who fancied said girlfriend and wanted you dead was still pretty damn awkward.
At least a seven out of ten.
Yet again, Jaune was forced to admit his tolerance for bullshit had outstripped that of many other people. That wasn't exactly something to be proud of.
At least Blake and Roman aren't at the table. That would have been the final straw…
Of course, those two were off on their own with other important people they could make fools of themselves in front of – not that they hadn't given it their best shout already on the dance floor. Although, better they aggravated each other than anyone important. Roman wasn't driving Ironwood or Mr Schnee up a wall and Blake wasn't glaring at every SDC member or stood up on the stage demanding better treatment for faunus workers. In that regard, his plan to force them to come together was a roaring success.
He wished he had a plan for this, but hey. You couldn't have everything.
"Dinner this evening has been prepared by Pierre Fascheu-mont-derrere-delacourt," Mr Schnee boasted from beside him. "I'm sure you've heard of the famous chef."
"Of course," Jaune bullshitted. "Who hasn't? I suppose it's a three-course meal."
"Goodness no!" Mr Schnee laughed. "While I'm sure the adventurous would enjoy sampling something so minimalist, I would never be so gauche. We're having an eleven course meal this evening."
"Naturally. I never expected less." Jaune laughed. He glanced to Glynda for aid.
Glynda was locked in an argument with Ironwood.
"Personally, the sixth course is my favourite," Jaune waxed. "Though it comes close. The ninth course is a particular delight."
"Ah. A fan of sorbet, I see."
"What can I say? I'm a child at heart."
And body, he thought as he laughed along with Mr Schnee, wishing he could be anywhere else. Eleven courses? Why? How? What could you possibly have before each of the different main dishes? Was there even a main dish? Was he supposed to have not eaten all day?
Somehow, talking with Jacques was still preferable to looking on his other side, where he could feel ice-cold eyes boring into the back of his skull. Winter probably wished she could follow it up with a sabre.
"You're only as old as you act, as my father used to say. That's how I can run the SDC even at my age. Although, you've certainly done well enough yourself, no? Headmaster of Beacon Academy at the age of twenty. Impressive."
"Atlas does not recognise Jaune Arc as headmaster," Winter said, almost sullenly.
Jaune smiled politely back at her. "Beacon isn't in Atlas. So that's not much of a problem."
"Ah. You've met my daughter, Winter, of course."
"I've had the pleasure." Jaune did not extend his hand. "I believe she failed to convince me to use SDC Dust for the Vytal Festival in her role for the SDC." He watched Winter simmer. "And then she failed to keep me in a cell in her role for the Atlas military."
Winter's hands clenched into fists.
"At least she's consistent in failing."
"You dare!?" Winter hissed, standing.
"Winter!"
"Winter!"
The tall woman froze, trapped between the sharp rebukes from both Mr Schnee and General Ironwood. For a fraction of a second, she looked like a young girl who had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She recovered quickly, coughing into her fist and sitting down once again.
"My apologies. I was… embarrassed."
"Understandable, I'm not offended." Jaune's teeth flashed. "I'd be embarrassed if I were you, too."
Mature it was not but seeing her eyes blaze filled him with glee.
At least until a shoe hit his shin under the table, making him buck and slam his knee up into the wood. He glanced under, seeing a black heel minus a foot or anything in it. The shoe hovered threateningly in front of him, then glided back under the table in the opposite direction.
Above the table, Glynda glared his way.
Don't cause a scene, her eyes appeared to say.
Ugh.
"I apologise," he said, aware that even if Mr Schnee acted like he wasn't upset, he might be. "Winter and I…" Excuse. Excuse. Excuse. "We like to joke at the expense of one another. Right, Winter?"
Her wide eyes met his.
"Y-Yes. That's right. It's… teasing…"
If nothing else, they could agree to get out of trouble together.
"Ah. I see." Jacques' smile became a little more genial. "Winter's mother and I were not so different at her age, often trading little barbs and insults to mask our true feelings."
True feelings? Jaune and Winter exchanged a glance.
They both looked like they wanted to vomit.
"Well, you know how it is. We're such good friends. I helped her with picking out a gift for Weiss."
"What are you playing at?" Winter hissed under her breath.
"You are friends, then?"
"Of course!" Jaune ran ahead, leaving Winter to stammer in the background, unable to call him out for lying without causing a scene. "She was so shy at first, not to mention upset at having let you down on the dust deal, that I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. And then there was our little spar. I regret to say I went a little too far with her."
"I was not-" Winter swallowed when all the eyes landed on her. "That is, Jaune exaggerates a little." Her cheeks heated up. To anyone watching it might have appeared to be from embarrassment, but he could feel the rage simmering underneath.
Winter's glare promised murder.
Diplomatically immune, Jaune sent her his best `Yang Xiao-Long` cocky smirk.
He even mixed it with a Neo grin for added penetration.
"One thing she kept saying to me is how she wished her father would give her a little more responsibility within the company, and how she so desperately wants to earn his approval."
"Really now?" Jacques look towards his daughter. "Is this true, Winter?"
"I… Well, I… ah…" Winter looked to Ironwood for help but found none. The Atlas military relied as much on the SDC's goodwill as Beacon did. Winter couldn't afford to scupper that. "It's not inaccurate… That is to say, ah, I… don't not want more responsibility?"
Leaning closer to Jacques, Jaune whispered loudly, "I think she's shy."
A sharp heel stabbed against his aura under the table.
Luckily, he had a lot of the stuff.
"My daughter always was rather shy." Jacques nodded sagely. "Still, you should have come to me with such concerns Winter, though I can understand if you thought me too busy to address them. While your role in the military precludes you from having too much responsibility, I'm sure I could find something for you to do."
"That's too kind, father."
"I suggest paperwork," Jaune said. "It's how I'm training one of my students up."
Jacques nodded. "A wonderful idea."
Winter looked physically ill. Given that it would be SDC paperwork, it would be illegal for her to delegate it to anyone under her command.
Smiling like the cat who had not only caught the canary but killed its entire clan, Jaune turned to Winter. "Aren't you glad to have that out in the open, Winter? I'm sure you are."
Her teeth began to grate together.
"I must admit, I had my doubts, but I am pleased to see the two of you so close," Jacques interrupted. "Especially given the trying circumstances between you. Then again, I suppose it's difficult to ignore one's feelings."
Feelings?
Uh-oh. Time to head that off. "We're not-"
"Entirely comfortable with that being aired," Winter interrupted, smiling oh so happily into his eyes as she spoke. There was a hint of steel underneath, along with a viciousness that reminded him of Cinder. "Jaune was only just getting into his new job and dealing with the Vytal Festival. It was hard to find any time to spend together, even if he did take me out to dinner."
Dinner? Oh hell no.
She's trying to play me. Trying to make me bow down and give up first and look like an idiot. He glanced to Jacques, who almost seemed to be waiting to see what the response would be. If I look stupid in front of him or are caught lying, we might lose some of the funding.
Damn her.
Two could play that game.
"I think I must have taken too long, because the next thing I heard from my students was that Winter was going around asking them questions about me. Things about my favourite hobbies, my past and my family. Talk about flattering, if a little direct."
Jacques laughed. "My daughter always has been forward. Perhaps a little too forward. You need to take these things slowly, Winter."
"Well, you know how it is, father." Winter smiled at Jacques, but her eyes were locked onto Jaune's. "Jaune was such a mysterious man. Why, it's almost like he came out of nowhere with no background whatsoever."
A beat of sweat ran down his face.
"A man of mystery, hm? Little wonder you were interested."
Winter's eyes narrowed. "I always did enjoy a puzzle."
I win, her smile said.
Not on his watch.
"Really? I thought you enjoyed handcuffs. You were certainly quick to use them on me."
"Pfffft!" Glynda spat her drink back into her glass.
Winter paled.
Ironwood choked on air.
Jacques Schnee leaned back with the look of a man who had heard something about his daughter that he hadn't really wanted to know. The escalation had reached critical mass, leaving Winter with no option but to accept defeat, bow out and grant him his well-earned victory.
Winter drew a deep breath.
"At least I'm not pretending to have lost a battleship in a childish attempt to get the girl I'm obsessed with to come around and visit."
Son of a bitch…
/-/
"What do you think they're talking about?"
"Nothing as interesting as what we could be talking about, I'm sure." Whitley winked at her and Yang laughed awkwardly back, wishing she could walk outside and smash her face into a tree trunk.
It wasn't that he was bad.
Well, he was… but he was young, so she let it go. Inexperience was fine. It was just that he was so persistent, and the young aspect hurt. Yang felt like a child predator just being flirted to. Were the police waiting around the corner for her?
So, this is what happens with a male version of Weiss. Less bitchy, more overconfident and thinking he's a gift to all women. Huh. Amazing to think I prefer being bitched at all day.
Of course, Ruby – being both socially clueless and not the brunt of Whitey's attention – somehow found the annoying idiot cute.
"You're so funny, Whitley."
"Ah. Yes. Well, ha, I try…" He rubbed his cheek and fought to conceal a flustered smile.
Oh God, it was worse than she'd thought. Whitley was responding way too well to Ruby's innocent remarks. Think Yang, think. How does this equate with Weiss? Well, Weiss had been stand-offish in Beacon at first because she thought everyone wanted her for her name or money, and Weiss had always been flustered by Ruby's genuine admiration.
Yang's eyes widened.
"Your entire family is Rubysexual."
"What?" Whitley asked.
"Yang, WHAT!?" Ruby shrieked.
"Oops. Did I say that out loud?" Ruby's face – currently the same shade as her cloak – said she might have. "Uh. What I meant is that - hey look, food!"
Butlers and maids flooded the hall, bringing with them an assortment of trolleys, trays and plates stacked high, which they brought to each table in descending order of importance, starting with the lead table with Professor Arc, Miss Goodwitch and Mr Schnee, and then descending through the rest. Theirs was last, which didn't bother them any but certainly seemed to offend some snotty girl on their table who had been glaring at Yang since they sat down. She knew the type; ones to get jealous when something was taken away. She wanted Whitley, or his reputation.
Yang would have let her have it if she had a choice.
When the food came down at their table, Yang stared down on what appeared to be a single biscuit about the size of her fingernail, with a tiny slap of duck pate on and a single slice of zucchini.
It was bite sized. Quite literally.
Ruby looked lost.
In a rare show of awareness, Whitley noticed and came to her rescue. "It's a course meal," he explained. "Many courses of small size and the highest quality designed to tantalise the palate and delight the senses."
"When does the actual food come?" Ruby asked innocently.
Yang sniggered.
"Ah, well, this is all food but there is a fish meal on the sixth course."
"Six…?" Ruby's stomach grumbled. "W-What are the ones before that?"
"Well, the second course is amuse-bouche, where we'll be having pea soup. The third course is a cold melon and basil soup-"
"Two soups?"
"The first one is served in a shot glass."
Ruby tilted her head to the side. "Why?"
"Um…"
"Why is an entire meal course a shot of soup?"
"It's… well… because it just is!" Whitley fell back on the default argument of every person ever. "Course four is an appetiser-"
"But we've had three appetisers…"
"Course five is a salad."
"Who designed this menu? The Grimm?"
"Course six is fish," Whitley continued valiantly.
"At least Blake will be happy," Yang mumbled.
"Course seven is the main course."
"Finally," Ruby sighed.
"Eight is a palate cleanser, and nine is the second main course."
"What? Why!?"
"Because the first main course isn't filling enough."
"Then… make it bigger?"
"But then we wouldn't be able to have a second main course," Whitley pointed out.
"Y-Yeah, but you wouldn't need one."
"Then what would we have where the second main course is supposed to be?"
Ruby gripped her head. "You wouldn't need one! Why is this hard to understand!?"
"Course ten is sweets," Whitley pushed on. "And course eleven is dessert."
Ruby froze. "Wait…" Her eyes shone. "Sweets and dessert?"
"But of course."
"M-Maybe this isn't so bad…"
Yang rolled her eyes, having already finished her first course in a single bite. It tasted of zucchini and that was about it, but she imagined the chefs, because there had to be an army of them, had spent more care and attention on that single bite than anything she'd ever shovelled into her mouth before.
"You said you'd be able to get us a chat with Weiss."
"Hm. Oh, I will. After dinner, though. It would draw too much attention now."
"Are we not supposed to talk to her?" Ruby asked.
"It's not that there are any instructions against it. Just that it has been hinted rather strongly that father would prefer if Weiss not." Whitley's smile was a little too pleased. "Not that I would deny you the chance, of course. I'm sure my sister would be delighted to speak with you."
More like you're willing to get her in trouble, Yang thought.
"Thanks Whitley! You're the best!"
"Ah, well…" Again, he flushed and looked uncomfortably like he had no idea what to say or do with Ruby.
A few more courses came and went without too much incident. Whitley introduced them to the other children at the table – and Yang did use the term children. While they were teenagers like them in most cases, they were so spoiled that they acted five or more years younger than their actual age. Even Ruby came across more worldly-wise.
Blake would have lost her shit if she was here.
Curious, Yang looked over to their table to see how they were doing, just in time to catch Roman holding a fork out towards her with a little fish on the end, a cocky grin on his face. And to see Blake's furious eyes as she opened her mouth and allowed him to feed her.
Yep. They were going to be hearing about that one for the better part of forever.
Sheesh.
A spoon tapped loudly against a glass up on the main table, bringing silence to the hall. Jacques Schnee was standing, holding a champagne glass loosely in one hand and smiling charmingly to all of the guests.
It was strange how charming he could appear given his bad rep, but Yang realised that spoke more of his skill than anything. It wasn't like someone who ran around abusing the faunus would wring their hands together, sneer and loudly proclaim his evilness.
They'd leave that to Roman.
"Ladies, gentlemen, guests one and all, I would like to take the time to thank you for coming to this, our annual charity gala. The SDC Charitable Giving Foundation has been running for over fifteen years now and has, in its time, given out more than two hundred million lien to good causes all across Remnant."
Polite applause scattered around the room, with Ruby and Yang joining in so as not to look out of place. The only ones not clapping were both Roman and Blake, who had agreed on something for the first time in forever and looked entirely unimpressed with the self-serving speech.
"Thank you, thank you. Giving has always been something close to my heart and there's nothing more fulfilling than looking back on all the good we've done over the years. Selecting a cause to support has always been difficult, but I'm sure we all know what has been decided on this year." His smile fell. "After the White Fang's callous and indiscriminate attack on Beacon Academy, using such terrible methods as the Grimm themselves, it seems only right that the Schnee family – who have also endured such attacks – step in to offer aid. That is why, as of tonight, the SDC is proud to announced that our charitable partner for the year and the recipient of twenty-five million lien in donations, is none other than Beacon Academy."
Everyone in the audience clapped politely, and this time even Blake and Roman had to join in. They'd done it. Amazingly. Yang wasn't sure how much it actually cost to run the school, probably more than twenty-five million, but that money had to be enough to at least keep them going for a bit. Miss Goodwitch certainly looked relieved enough.
"I'd like to offer the esteemed headmaster of Beacon Academy a chance to speak."
Beside him, the happily clapping Jaune Arc froze.
"Thank you," he said, standing a little too quickly. "I'd love a chance to say a few words."
Yang didn't think anyone in the audience missed the panic there, but it was easily written away as expected nerves and those among the tables laughed with him rather than at him.
It wasn't the first time the prof had been made to speak, but Yang supposed it was the first time he'd had to do it with twenty-five million on the line. At least this one wouldn't be interrupted by some treacherous bitch making out with him.
"I'm sure you all want to go back to this gala and having fun so I'll keep this short. The money offered here by the SDC today will go towards the rebuilding and stabilisation efforts of Beacon Academy, to train the next generation of huntsmen and huntresses who will protect our borders for generations to come."
"The attack on Beacon gave us an opportunity to test ourselves, and to discover who our friends and allies truly were. Some of which turned out to be surprising." He paused, and Yang had to hide her smirk as more than a few eyes shifted towards Ironwood. "Beacon would not be standing as it is today were it not for the hard work of our students, staff and our trusted allies. Although the White Fang sought to bring us down with the aid of the Grimm, international terrorists and even Atlas' own military hardware-"
"Savage," Ruby said.
"Winter will be furious!" Whitley whispered, sounding delighted at the prospect.
"-I think it is important to recognise that such short-sighted individuals will never truly bring down Beacon. I'd like to personally thank General Ironwood of Atlas for lending his men to the defence against his robots-" A table might have cracked. "And my good friend, Winter Schnee, for securing me a flight to the Atlas battleship so that I could neutralise the virus that had so easily taken control of Atlas' Paladins."
Winter twitched.
"I'd also like to comment the previous headmaster, Ozpin, whose sacrifice bought us the time to fight back Cinder Fall and the White Fang. His spirit helped both to create and maintain the academy, and his spirit lives on within every student." Jaune smiled. "Quite literally in some cases. Thank you."
The hall burst into applause.
Whitley, oddly enough, was one of the loudest.
"Incredible. So much said in so few words."
"That's our Prof," Ruby said proudly. "He has a way with words."
"I'll say! He managed to insult Ironwood and Winter no less than three times without them being able to say a word, and without coming out and saying it. I've never heard such backhanded compliments before."
"You don't like your sister?" Ruby asked.
"Ah… Well… It's not that per se…"
"Because I hate her," Ruby hissed. "She betrayed Prof. Betrayed Weiss."
Whitley stilled. A slow smile spread across his face. "You know, she ran away from her responsibilities with the SDC as well, forcing more expectation onto Weiss and I. Neither of us asked for that kind of pressure."
"That's not fair. Yang always looks after me. Winter should do the same for you."
"I could not agree more."
"I think Weiss would agree with you too," Yang offered. "Since Winter as good as kidnapped her with Ironwood, forcing her into Atlas when she doesn't even want to be there."
"Is that so…?"
"Yep. Weiss doesn't even want to be here. She wanted to stay with us in Beacon." Ruby's smile was just a little too eager, a little too sinister. "I bet if you talked to her, she'd ask you for help in escaping. But that would make her dad really angry."
"Would she now? That is interesting…"
Ruby, you clever little monster.
"Got a point there, sis," Yang chipped in. "I mean, they're not even letting Weiss send letters to us or vice versa. Ironwood wants to control her or something. I bet if someone were to help, say by taking letters from Weiss and passing them onto us, then they'd earn her gratitude. And ours."
Whitley was not stupid. "An interesting proposition. Weiss and I have always been in competition of sorts."
"You needn't be, though. Weiss wants to be a huntress. You want to take over the SDC."
Whitley rubbed his imaginary beard. "True."
"We'd be ever so grateful."
"Enough so for a kiss?"
Yang balked.
"Sure." Ruby leaned forward and planted a chaste kiss on Whitley's cheek.
She expected it to earn a roll of the eyes, a polite `not you` or something else, but to her shock, Whitley's pale skin slowly flushed, red creeping all the way from his neck to his forehead, making his white hair stand out all the more.
He coughed and tried to recompose himself, but Winter he wasn't. He couldn't quite hide his reaction. Not from Yang, and not from the others at the table.
Ruby, naturally, failed to catch on.
"W-Well, I shall have to speak with Weiss! L-Leave it to me!"
/-/
"You did well."
"Did I? I feel like I could have done better."
Glynda took a sip of her glass, the two of them having retired in a moment of peace as people danced on the main floor. "We can always do better, but you shouldn't waste too much time searching for perfection. Sometimes it's enough simply to achieve one's objectives."
"Should a teacher really be saying that?"
"It is advice for life," Glynda muttered. "Not for essays. I'll thank you not to repeat it or I'll have students claiming they only did the bare minimum as per my advice."
"My lips are sealed. Twenty-five million, though. It sounds like a lot…"
"But it isn't. In the grand scheme of things, it will buy us only a few months. Such is the nature of running an establishment as large as Beacon. Still, these are months we would not otherwise have. It will be enough to pay off the builders and maintenance staff."
Funny how the world worked. The money wasn't his by any means and he wouldn't see a single lien of it. Their wages were already on voluntary hold, with them only taking what they needed to cover their own costs.
"The sooner Ozpin is back, the better."
"I liked that line. And the ones about Atlas."
He grinned back. "I thought you'd be angry."
"Nothing you said was untrue. I think I'd be more upset if there was any hope of reconciling with James, but his mind has been made up. You are a criminal to him."
"He's not wrong…"
"No. He isn't." Glynda sighed. "Don't remind me of that. I would like to live in the fantasy that my boss is of sound mind, reasoning and capability to turn the Academy around. I don't want to think that he is an eighteen-year-old student in disguise. Or that he has hired Roman bloody Torchwick to our staff."
"This coming from someone who worked under Ozpin?"
"I have become very adept at living in a fantasy world." Glynda's eyes narrowed on something off to the side of the hall and Jaune followed, seeing a white-haired boy sneak away with Weiss, Ruby and Yang. "I shall be having words with those two once we are back in the Bullhead."
"We've officially got the money now. Right? They can't take it off us."
"Go check on them."
"We could dance," Jaune offered.
"Go." Glynda repeated, giving him a little push. "You're the one who signed their forms without looking. They're your responsibility."
Jaune slipped away with a little sigh, placing his empty glass down on a tray carried by a butler and making his way to the edge of the hall, being careful to skirt around where he knew Ironwood and Winter were talking, probably plotting his downfall.
He wasn't against Yang and Ruby catching up with Weiss. In fact, he hoped it went well for them. But the risk of them doing something stupid. Well, it was Team RWBY. That tended to come with the territory, though, in their defence, they didn't have Blake with them, and the White Fang weren't involved. That normally cut down on the idiocy by a good four hundred per cent.
Rather than interrupt their conversation and make things awkward, Jaune took up position outside the corridor they'd slipped into, close enough to listen in and with enough time to intervene should someone come to find them.
"Weiss!"
A muffled `oof` suggested a Ruby glomp.
"Ruby, you dolt," Weiss said affectionately. "I can't believe you're here. How did you manage to convince the headmaster to bring you along?"
"Eh." Yang laughed. "I can be very persuasive."
Jaune crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.
"We had to see you," Ruby said. "Blake wanted to as well, but she's stuck with Torchwick."
"I saw. Please tell me they're not actually dating."
"Ew. No! It's-"
"Not important right now," Yang interrupted. "Don't know how much time we've got before someone noticed we're missing."
Say what you would, but Yang had a head on her shoulders.
"We want you back on Team RWBY."
Direct approach, huh?"
"I want to be back, but I don't exactly have a choice. I'm practically a prisoner of Ironwood's right now, for all that they're calling me a VIP. They're even cycling me between teams trying to find one I can settle onto!"
"But you're ours…"
"Don't say it like you own me, you idiot." Despite the harsh words, he could tell she was touched. "And it's not me arguing against it. Ironwood and Winter are convinced this is the best for me, and I'm not being given a choice in the matter. Penny had to smuggle your letter in to me! Don't ask how."
"How?"
"I said don't ask! It's not important. Anyway, I'm not sure what can be done. I wouldn't say I'm being held hostage but it's close. I could apply for a transfer to Beacon but we both know it would be rejected by Ironwood. He's the headmaster of Atlas Academy and has to approve everything. As long as that stands, I don't have a choice."
Pretty much what Glynda had said. They hadn't asked for Weiss back, but only because they knew it would lead to more problems. If Ironwood even acknowledge the request. They refused to consider him the headmaster.
"Can't you just change that?"
"Just!? Are you suggesting I stage a coup for his position? Where would I even start? How is that something I change just like that? No. My only hope is to sneak out somehow or escape from under his influence."
"Father would not like that," the boy with them said.
"Of course not. And what are you doing here, Whitley? Come to gloat?"
"Not at all, dear sister. I'm simply helping the delightful members of your team, who I have kept company thus far. Why, I've even offered to ferry letters back and forth between you to beat Ironwood's censors. He would not dare intrude upon mail directly from the Schnee manor."
There was a pregnant pause.
"Why?" Weiss sounded suspicious. "Why help us?"
"Because I am your brother, of course. I care for you."
"You don't-" Weiss cut off. "That's it, isn't it? You know that if I get out from under Ironwood, I'll have to sacrifice position. Even if father wanted to keep me as the heiress, he wouldn't be able to do so without infuriating our biggest client. He'd have to cut me off and you would become the sole heir."
"Now Weiss, that's rather pessimistic of you. I've offered to exchange their mail and not asked a single thing in return. And weren't you just talking of running away from Atlas anyway? How is that my doing?"
"He has a point, Weiss." Yang said. "It's your choice at the end of the day and we'll support you whatever you choose, but if your only options are to stay there and leave Team RWBY forever, or escape and lose your spot as heiress, then that's a decision only you can make. Whitley is offering to help, but he isn't trying to make the call for you."
"Tch. I know. It's just… aggravating. Taking over the SDC was my ambition for so long."
"You can still keep it," Ruby said weakly. "School is just three more years. Right? We can stay friends and exchange letters. And maybe when we all graduate, we can be a team again." There was a tentative note of pleading to Ruby, as if she wasn't quite prepared to believe Weiss would want to be on a team with them after so long.
People moved on. Jaune knew that. Even best friends could drift apart given time and distance.
"Ruby…" Weiss recognised it. The ultimate decision would be hers, however.
He wondered which she would choose.
"No. I am a member of Team RWBY first and foremost."
Jaune grinned. Good old Weiss.
"I… I am sick of Atlas Academy. Everything is so plain, so regimented. I miss the stupidity. I miss the food fights. I miss Zwei, I miss Blake and I even miss watching Cardin and Velvet dance around their feelings."
"Sorry to tell ya but they got together already."
"WHAT!?" Weiss hissed loudly. "Damn it all! I've missed the best part! Enough. I am sick of being trapped here. You want to be heir, Whitley? You can be. Take it all. I'll even help you rise to the top if you want, just get me out of here."
"Dear sister, I believe we have an agreement here. It will be a pleasure to work alongside you in this. Though, we shall have to be subtle. General Ironwood is no fool and Winter is keeping an eye on you. Naturally, I cannot be implicated in any of this."
"I understand. Exchanging letters will be enough for us for now."
"You're the best, Whitley!" Ruby cheered. "I'm so grateful you're helping us."
"A-Ah… well… what can I say? Hah. I'm just – ah – doing my best…"
"Oh, my good god," Weiss murmured.
"I know," Yang said. "Trust me, I know. I feel the same way. Look, we have to cut this short." He heard a muffled sound as she pulled Weiss in for a hug. "It's so good to see you and we're always thinking about you, but we're going to be caught if we hang around much longer like this."
Yes they were, because Ironwood was already approaching.
Loudly, Jaune greeted him. "Ah! General Ironwood. How are you?"
In the corridor, he heard a gasp and a muttered curse, followed by the sound of the four making a run for it. Jaune clapped his hands and loudly took a glass from a passing butler to disguise the sound, taking a second and offering it to the General.
"Thank you." Ironwood shot back, voice like chipped gravel. "You must be quite pleased at snagging your money, Arc. I do hope you will put it to good use."
"Repairs, maintenance and food for the student. I'll be doing everything I can to see the school Ozpin died for brought back to its former glory."
"I hope so, Arc. Atlas will be watching."
"Then you'll see our success."
"I want my battleship back." Ironwood hissed, leaning forward.
Jaune smiled. "What battleship?"
/-/
"I think that worked out okay."
Sat in the Bullhead with him, Glynda, Roman, Blake, Ruby and Yang all stared at him.
"What? We got the money."
"Sir," Blake said uncertainly. "Ironwood punched you in the face."
"I know." He was inordinately proud of the fact, and his black eye. "Do you think I can demand a public apology from him?"
"You could… if he acknowledged you as the headmaster. As it is, he'll have to apologise to Jacques Schnee, but he'll refuse to do so with you." Glynda looked irritated, though whether that was at James for hitting him or him for baiting James, was unknown.
"That'll still count, though. Right? Everyone who reads it is going to know it's aimed at me."
Glynda sighed. "Yes."
"Wait, you got yourself decked in the face so we could leave early and to get one back at Irondick?" Roman grinned. "Kid, you make me so damn proud right now. Here, a gift of my appreciation." Roman brought a hand out of his pocket, holding a gold and diamond-encrusted wrist watch out towards him.
"Where did…" Jaune groaned. "This is a woman's watch…"
"Oops." Roman put it away. "You want a man's?"
"HOW!?" Blake screeched, suddenly aware that Roman's pockets were filled with valuables. Her face went as pale as Weiss' hair. "I watched you the whole time! I never took my eyes off you!"
"Hey, I'm a master criminal." Roman made little air quotes with his fingers. "You think they give that title out to every schmuck who's taken something that doesn't belong to him? If I couldn't distract you with one hand and make a few lifts with the other, I'd be a common mugger." Roman held out a pocket watch on a chain. "How about this one?"
"Roman-"
"That one is Ironwood's," Glynda groaned, hand on her face. "Give me one good reason not to kick you from this Bullhead right now."
"How about this." Roman drew out a handgun.
Glynda froze.
"Picked it off a faunus butler. Interesting little snarling wolf insignia on the side, yeah?"
"The White Fang…" Blake breathed. "Where?"
"By the potted plant, kitty-kat. I told you. Looks like our little meeting with the SDC has been taken note of, and yours truly may have just prevented an assassination." Roman swept one hand before him and bowed from the waist up. "Please, ladies, contain your admiration."
"Sending a gunman after requesting a meeting with us," Jaune said, taking the handgun. "I think I'll have to ask Sienna about this…"
Blake's ears perked up. "You're meeting with the White Fang!?"
Yang's head slammed back against the Bullhead wall in despair.
Ruby groaned.
Glynda pinched the bridge of her nose.
Roman sighed.
"You and your big fucking mouth, Jaune."
Blake should come with a trigger warning for that phrase.
Not much else to say. Today is a day of constant phone calls of way too many politicians, lobby groups and other idiots calling to try and talk to me to all give their statement on the Brexit nonsense going on right now. Pretty much get a call every ten minutes.
Help meeeeee
Omake:
"I can't believe Port had Zwei," Nora said, hugging the little corgi to her chest.
"That's the thing you can't believe? Nora, a cannon was just fired into a room two down from ours. I feel like that is the more unbelievable thing to have happened tonight." Velvet sighed and held the door open for her and the dog. "That could have been our room."
"That would have been awesome!"
"No. Not awesome. Painful."
"Pft. We have aura."
"You… I don't…" Velvet growled and spun on Ren. "How do you put up with this?"
Ren looked back. "Sorry, what? I was tuning Nora out."
"That… explains a lot. You know what, never mind. We got the stupid dog back, we didn't get blown up and Port isn't angry at us. That's enough for me." Sitting down, she kicked off her shoes and took a deep breath. "I just want to sleep and forget this ever happened."
"And never agree to look after Zwei again," Pyrrha added.
"That too."
"Aw. Come on. It's not Zwei's fault." Nora put the pup down, who wagged his tail at her. "He's just a cute widdle puppy. Yes, he is. Who is? You are!"
Said cute widdle puppy barked once happily and hopped off Nora's bed towards his own, landing on the cushion with a big belly-flop. The cushion squashed down suddenly, letting out a loud farting sound and shooting white powder out in every direction.
It splashed against the round edges of Zwei's bed and blossomed into a cloud of white over the dog, bathing him in it and kicking up a white cloud that covered the rest of the room. Velvet coughed and hacked, rolling off her bed to escape it.
"Flour…" Ren said, tasting the air. "Did someone leave flour in Zwei's bed?"
"You say that like it's a totally normal thing!" Velvet howled.
"It wasn't me this time," Nora said immediately.
"WHY IS THIS A TOTALLY NORMAL THING FOR YOU!?"
As the four teammates backed away from the cloud and wiped their faces clean, Zwei's little form became revealed, covered not only in a coating of white flour, but also, for some reason, little bits of gold and pink glitter, all of which had become stuck to the flour itself.
Zwei's bed was also ruined, along with his chew toys.
Unbidden, the corgi's head swept towards the window. There, in the corner, mismatched eyes looked gleefully back.
Zwei's ears fell flat. His eyes narrowed.
Neo offered him the middle finger.
"Grr…"
Short omake because I'm busy today. The Neo vs Zwei war is on.
May the heavens watch over us all.
Next Chapter: 11th April
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur