Can't believe I was so bored I actually finished this before Monday! I was so sure I'd be doing overtime at work for the next few years. Oh well I guess this gives me a chance to start on the next chapter earlier. With any hope I might have the next chapter After this one sometime next week...unless there's overtime.
After sneaking passed vales security for so many years undetected the thrill of being caught didn't even register anymore. To make matters even worse Alec simply strolled around town without a hood on and nobody, not even the police stopped to even questioned him.
Alec walked down a nearby alleyway that was guarded by two faunus's who were smoking cigarettes. The two men watched the elder man walk right passed them without a care in the world so they decided to follow. When Alec came to a staircase that led downward into a hidden bar the two faunus's that followed him cut him off.
"What you doing here old man" one of the men asked. The elder man looked between the two jackasses and realized that they were probably two grunts who didn't know squat. That was fine with him since after his flight here he was in need of some light exercise.
/
Cinder sat at the table with emerald and mercury on each side as she swirled the wine in it's glass. Today was supposed to be the day when jaune handed himself over to her...them, she corrected. Her wine was placed on the table untouched because she didn't feel in the mood to drink it.
The sound of footsteps could be heard running up stairs before going silent. Something was off but she just didn't know what it was until the loud bang of a gun went off. The raven haired woman didn't look away from her glass of wine "go see what that is, will you".
Emerald and mercury exchanged looks with one another to mentally decide who would go. Eventually mercury decided to take the chance to leave since nothing was more boring than standing around like a guard to someone who obviously disliked him. The silver haired assassin rushed off and up the stairs to reach the small bar that was filled with a bunch of unconscious faunus's and humans alike.
Standing in the center of the wreckage that was once the bar was a white haired old man with a smile on his face. Mercury recognized Alec the moment he saw him and knew cinder would have his head if he didn't show the proper respect. He wasn't used to kneeling in front of people or showing respect to grown ups who hadn't deserved it but, after serving cinder he did understand the fear that these people could inspire in him.
Mercury was careful to approach the elder man lest he be viewed as a potential opponent. When the assassin was close enough he knelt on one knee "master Alec we weren't notified of your arrival".
Alec turned to the teen and was about to say something when a faunus tried to grab his pant leg from his position on the floor. The elder man struck the faunus in the face with his foot, knocking him out "he was tougher then I gave him credit for" he whispered to himself. Now that he was finished with his exercise Alec regarded the teen closely "get up boy, you and I both know I'm not your master".
"Dick" mercury whispered. He stood back up and faced the elder man with his usual confidence "cinders down below but she hasn't told us when you'd be arriving".
Alec nodded "not surprising since I didn't tell her exactly when I'd be here". The silver haired teen couldn't help the small smile that found it's way to his face "even so, I think we should go before she sends her guard dog to come find us". Alec nodded to the teen and allowed him to guide the way.
Cinder had finally finished her wine and was almost thinking about going up to see what was taking mercury so long when the teen came down the stairs with her master. She nearly flew out of her seat in surprise and fell to one knee as quickly as she could "master I'm surprised you didn't tell me you would be arriving so early". Mercury stepped to the side and allowed Alec to pass him by.
"You would do well to curb your dog less I do it for you" the elder man replied without looking at her. Cinders head shot up and turned to her side to see emerald glaring at her master "emerald"! The green haired teen looked to her mistress before bowing her head in apology.
Mercury snickered from behind Alec which earned him a sharp glare from both of his teammates. Alec took a quick look around and let out a tired sigh "I'm disappointed in you cinder". His words felt like a slap to the face and she couldn't help but grimace "I don't understand, what have I done to earn your disapproval"?
"Are you truly so ignorant that you don't see what you being here, in this place means"?
"I don't-"
"Silence" he commanded in such a furious tone that cinder couldn't help but tremble where she knelt. The elder man took a deep breath to calm himself "you are aware that you have two spies that know of this place, yet despite that knowledge you remained unprepared and unguarded".
"We have them under surveillance at all times" she tried to argue.
"Um about that-" a new voice interrupted. Cinder looked to see Roman and neo appear out from under neo's semblance. Roman tipped his hat to the elder before continuing "we actually seem to have misplaced the two spies" he said slowly. Cinder just wanted to roast the thief right then and there for humiliating her not just in front of her followers but also in front of her master.
Cinder looked to her master to see what his response was only to see the elder man rubbing the bridge of his nose with both eyes closed. "Roman have you by any chance acquired another safe house we could use just in case this ones compromised"?
Roman smiled triumphantly "well of course I do, after all what kind of master thief would I be with only one hideout"? A smile spread across the elder man's face at the news "and that's why I like you Roman. Have your men gather anything that might be important and have it transported to the new hideout".
Roman bowed like every great showman ever "will that be all sire or is their something else I could do for you"? Alec placed his hands behind his back while he smiled "as a matter of fact their is. From this point on you will refer to me as boss, seeing as how I'll be taking command of our operations going forward".
Cinder knew what those words meant and stood to her full length "I need some fresh air" she said before leaving their underground base. She didn't get far when emerald caught up with her. "I want to be alone" cinder stated before the girl could even speak.
Just like all the times before when she spoke, emerald obeyed and stayed quite while she walked away.
/
Beacon
"Jaune arc, yang xiao long please come to the front of the class".
None of the students really got what was going on because miss goodwitch said it would be a secret and kept what was about to happen from even the other teachers. When the two blondes got to the front of the class, Glynda called out two more name's "Sun wukong and Neptune vasilias, please join us". The two teens got up from their seats and made their way to the front of the class where jaune and yang were.
When the second pair stood to Glynda's right side she turned to the rest of her students "children I'm sure by now you know of the upcoming festival that was created to foster peace and trust with each kingdom correct"? Some of the students whispered to each other while others nodded in agreement with their professor. Glynda adjusted her glasses slightly "in light of the upcoming festival we will be using it's purpose to bring our students together as well".
The students seemed confused at first but soon understood what today's class entailed. Glynda turned to the four in front of the class "miss xiao long for this match you'll be teaming up with one of the two boys from your sister academy. Please choose carefully, for the spare shall be joining young mister Arc in a team battle against you and your choice of partner".
Yangs eye's widened in surprise "wait what?! But miss G I don't know anything about these guys. How am I supposed to trust them to have my back if I don't even know what they can do"?
The crop in the professors hand slapped against her palm and silenced yang in one move. "Trust, miss xiao long isn't something that happens instantly when you meet someone new. That being said, in a hunters field of work there will be times where you won't have the luxury of knowing who your working with or how they operate. When your not with your team will you be helpless or helpful"?
Yang crossed her arms and wore a determined look on her face "sorry but I'm never helpless xiao long as I have these" she said as she flexed her arm muscles.
Jaune groaned into his hand after hearing yangs terrible pun. He moved behind his partner and pushed her forward slightly "just hurry up and pick before you embarrass us anymore then usual". Yang shrugged nonchalant "fine let's go with...wait since when have I embarrassed anyone from our team"?
"Since always" weiss yelled over the class which earned a few giggles from their fellow peers. Yang gave her teammate the finger only for it to be smacked down a moment later by jaune.
Miss goodwitch cleared her throat and gave them a pointed looked "if your done wasting my and everyone else's time could you hurry up and pick your new teammate". Yang turned back to the two mistral students before sizing them up in the only way she knew how. Taking their looks into consideration she found her eye's drawn to the monkey faunus's impressive abs "that one".
Sun looked to his teammate and gave him a two finger salute before moving over to yangs side. Although he hid it well, Neptune couldn't help but feel a little let down that the hot blonde chose his partner instead of him. Jaune moved over to his new teammates side and nudged him with his elbow "yangs a close range boxer so be careful if she targets you".
Neptune turned to jaune with a shocked expression "I can't believe you just ratted out your own partners fighting style to me".
"Would you have preferred if I waited till after she shattered ribs or before"?
Neptune laughed thinking it a joke until he noticed jaunes very serious face. His laughter turned to a very nervous one before he cleared his throat "before, definitely before". Jaune smiled at the way his new teammate changed his tone "good, then now you know" he answered as he drew his sword.
Miss goodwitch looked between the teams and raised her crop "we will begin on my mark. Begin!
A brand new team up! Good luck Neptune, I really hope yang doesn't turn your ribs to powder. Lol.
Just in case nobody knows, the next few chapters will cover one day. The day of jaunes surrender.