Glynda leaned against her desk and glared at the students in front of her. Their uniforms were a mess and Nora wouldn't stop fidgeting. She pushed her glasses up before saying
"Would any of you care to tell me what compelled you to start a food fight?" Nora glanced at her teammates, whose lips were drawn tight.
"We thought it would be fun?" she offered. Glynda narrowed her eyes.
"You are training to be the protectors of the world, and you thought it appropriate to start a food fight?"
"Yes?" Jet said. She glared at him, and he shrunk back. These students had seen firsthand what they would be up against for the rest of their life and they thought it was okay to act like children? She clenched her fists and stepped forward.
"This behavior is completely unacceptable for Beacon students. Starting today, you all ha-" There was a knocking at the door before it opened. Ozpin stood in the doorway, leaning on his cane. The students looked back at him and he smiled at them.
"You all look like a mess. Why don't you head to your dorms and wash up? I have to talk to Professor Goodwitch." Glynda glared as the students looked at one another before hurrying past Ozpin, shouting thanks as they left. Ozpin hobbled into the room and closed the door.
"Why would you do that Ozpin? They made a mess of the cafeteria and a mockery of this school," she said.
"They're still children, Glynda. Let them play the part."
"They are young adults and they need to act like it."
"There's nothing wrong with having some childish fun every once in a while. And I would rather have them enjoy their time here before they are exposed to the horrors of the Hunter life style." Glynda sighed.
"Fine." She leaned up against her desk. "What did you want to discuss, sir?" Ozpin looked back at the door before looking at her.
"While James is here I plan on discussing Amber." Glynda sucked in a breath, and gripped the edge of her desk. Ozpin couldn't be wanting to do that so soon. None of her students should be subjected to that. She shook her head.
"His plans for her are monstrous. You can't be seriously considering them?" Ozpin's face darkened.
"We don't know if she will ever recover. It's the only other option we have; I just want to have a plan encase she attacks before we are ready." Glynda looked away from him.
"It's wrong Ozpin," she said.
"I'm aware." His tone was firm. He sighed and Glynda looked back at him. He looked tired. "Do you know who could be a potential candidate?" Glynda's mind wandered to the many talented students she had, her thoughts lingering on a crimson haired champion. She shook her head again, clearing her head and looked into Ozpin's eyes. Ozpin was right, they were children. And she would be damned before she would let any of them be forced to bear that burden.
"No sir," she said. Ozpin closed his eyes and turned his back to her.
"I see," he said. He opened the door and left, leaving Glynda alone in her office.
She pressed her scroll to the dorm door before opening it. Penny sat on Ruby's bed, humming while she drew in a book. Weiss walked into the room and closed the door behind her. Penny looked up from her book before leaping down from the bed. She gave a small salute.
"Salutations Weiss!" She said.
"Hello Penny," Weiss said. Penny cocked her head to the side, bringing a finger to her lower lip.
"Is something wrong Weiss? Why are you not in class?" she asked.
"This is my free period, and I wanted to talk to you." Penny nodded her head.
"What do you want to talk about?" Weiss sighed before responding.
"I wanted to talk about Blake." Penny cocked her head to the side again.
"What about her?"
"Does she seem different to you?" Penny blinked several times.
"I do not understand your question."
"I mean, do you think she has been acting strange? More moody, more antisocial? I thought everything would go back to normal after she got back but she's been really distant and I'm worried about her."
"I am not sure of what use I may be to you Weiss. I have only known Blake a small amount of time and the behavior that you interpret as strange is normal to me." She said. Penny rested her knuckle underneath her chin. "Is it possible she is menstruating?" She offered.
"What? No! She's been acting like this too long for it to be that. And she hasn't acted like this before either."
"Hmm." She made a humming noise as she thought. "Is it possible that she did not want to be brought back?" Weiss furrowed her brow.
"Why would-?"
"You hate the Faunus, right?" Penny interrupted. Weiss' mouth fell open before she closed it and scowled at her.
"Who told you that?"
"No one in particular," she hiccupped. "Just a rumor," she hiccupped again. Weiss huffed and crossed her arms, looking away from her.
"I mean, I did… distrust the Faunus. And I still don't trust every one that I meet, but Blake is different. She's my friend."
"Maybe that is what is bothering Blake? You still hating other Faunus." Weiss glared at her.
"I said I don't hate them." Weiss sighed and uncrossed her arms. "But maybe you're right. Maybe she's still upset about our argument." She nodded at Penny. "Thank you Penny," she said. Penny beamed at her.
"I was glad to be of service Weiss!" Weiss smiled at Penny before taking her seat at her desk. She heard Penny climb back into the bed she and Ruby shared and resume her humming. Weiss opened up her textbook and one of her other binders and started to take notes for Professor Port's exam. She stayed there until the bell rang. At that she packed up her belongings and left the room, making her way to Professor Goodwitch's class.
She brushed her hand against the page, wiping away the excess graphite. She looked at her drawing; it had been a while since she had tried drawing a person or anything besides flowers. It looked like him, but she felt that she had made his nose a tad too big. She rubbed the side of her face as she looked at the drawing, astounded that she was able to accurately capture the intensity of his eyes. She heard the classroom door open and looked up.
Ruby walked in, followed by Yang, who looked like she was having a hard time walking straight. Blake closed her notebook as Ruby took her seat next to her and Yang slumped into her seat on the other side of her. Blake looked at her partner and saw that her cheeks were flushed. Yang looked at her and giggled.
"Whatcha lookin' at?" Blake turned to Ruby.
"Is Yang drunk?" Ruby gave a nervous laugh.
"Maybe?" She felt Yang start to play with her hair.
"And you though- stop it- and you thought it would be a good idea to have her in Glynda's class?" Blake grabbed Yang's hand and brought it to the desk. Ruby looked up at the ceiling.
"We're doing team attacks today, and we can't really do that without her."
"But she's drunk," Blake said. Ruby looked at her and raised her hands, the palms facing up. She gave a nervous smile.
"Maybe Glynda won't notice?" She heard Yang's head hit the desk.
"I think she's going to notice." The door opened again and both Blake and Ruby looked over to it. Weiss walked in, saw Yang, and looked at them quizzically.
"Is she-?"
"Yep," Blake said. Weiss glared at Yang, then at Ruby. Ruby scratched the back of her head as Weiss glared at her, offering a sheepish smile.
"Why would you let her drink with Coco? And why would you bring her here?" Yang looked up and smirked at Weiss, her head swaying slightly. There was a red spot on her forehead where it had made contact with the desk.
"Do you nots like me Weish?" Weiss looked at Yang, looking mildly annoyed.
"You're in no state to fight," she said. Yang waved her hand dismissively.
"I'm fines," she slurred. Weiss sighed and took her seat next to Ruby. She looked at Ruby, an irked expression on her face. "If we get detention, it's your fault."
The rest of the students started to file into the room and Professor Goodwitch soon arrived as well. Something about her seemed off to Blake, like she was tired or emotionally drained. She stood in front of the bleachers, her back as straight and stiff as a ruler, her hands resting behind her back, and her eyes wondering over the body of students. Blake saw her eyes linger on Yang, before they resumed scanning the room. The room was deathly quiet as the students waited on her.
"Today class we will be going over team attacks. While out in the field you are sure to encounter opponents who will require you to work alongside your partner to defeat. Due to the chaotic nature of battle it is good to be well versed in all of your teammate's combat styles and be able to aid them when the need arises. You never know who you will be forced to fight alongside and this exercise will help you prepare for that inevitability. Now, we will be leaving the classroom and going into the exercise field near the gym. Once there you will break into your teams and begin training. I want a list of every possible team combination and the basic battle strategy involved with each combination by the end of class." She said.
The students stood up and started to file out of the room, chatting about their combo attack and team formations and other things Blake didn't care about at the moment. She stood up, walked around Ruby and Weiss and followed the rest of the students.
Glynda's riding crop shot out in front of her face when she tried to leave the room. Blake looked at Glynda, who was looking at Yang as she stumbled down the bleachers.
"Team RWBY, stay in here a moment. I need to have a word with you," she said, her voice even. Blake stepped out of the line of students and stood off to the side, her ears felt uncomfortable as they tried to flatten against her head only to be held in place by her bow.
The rest of her team joined her, and stood waiting while the rest of the students left the room. Yang leaned against Ruby, as Glynda took her glasses off, cleaned them against her blouse, and put them back on.
"Would you care to enlighten me as to why Ms. Xiao Long is intoxicated?" She asked calmly. Yang got off of Ruby and gave Glynda a thumbs up
"I wash helpin' the coffee getready for their mishion," she said. Glynda sighed, and turned to Ruby.
"I assume she is referring to Team CFVY?" Yang stepped in front of Ruby before she could answer.
"Yeah dem! They got da good shit," She said with a giggle. Blake heard Ruby face palm as her sister beamed at Glynda.
"Ms. Rose," she said. Ruby peaked over her sister's shoulder to look at Glynda. "Due to the…condition of Ms. Xiao Long you will not be participating in the physical aspect of this exercise." Ruby groaned. "However, due to the circumstances involving her condition you will be exempt. But I will require the list of team combinations. You will remain in here for the remainder of the class period. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am," Ruby said.
"Good." With that Glynda turned on her heels and marched out of the room. Weiss exhaled as Ruby started to make her way back to her desk.
"All right Team RWBY! Let's get down to business!" She pulled out a pencil and a piece of paper. Blake took her seat again and Weiss helped Yang to her desk.
Blake rested her head against her hand and stared at nothing as her mind wandered and the banter from her teammates became a buzzing in her ears.
Why were the White Fang working with a human? Especially one like Roman Torchwick? Was Adam looking for her? Did her leaving him make him see that treating innocent humans like they treated their people wasn't the way to equality? She rubbed the side of her face. Would she have to be on the lookout for other White Fang members while out in Vale? How many White Fang member's new she had left? What would-
"Blake?" Ruby said.
"Huh?" Blake looked over at her leader. Ruby was looking at her, her pencil in hand. Weiss was looking at her, concern in her eyes.
"I said are those names okay with you?" Blake fidgeted in her seat slightly.
"Yeah, sure." Ruby grinned and started to write on the paper.
"All right! So Blake, you're attack names are checkmate, when you fight with Weiss, ladybug, when you fight with me, and bumblebee, when you fight with Yang," she said excitedly. Blake nodded and went back to her thoughts as Ruby prattled out the other combination attacks. That Sister had mentioned that the White Fang had been bought out; was it the entire organization or only the Vale branch? Why would the White Fang give up their principles fo-
"Blake?" Weiss asked.
"What?" she said, more than slightly annoyed at having her train of thought interrupted again. Weiss' face softened as Blake looked at her.
"We asked if you wanted to join us in the dorm for a game," she said.
"Remnant da game!" Yang shouted, pumping a fist into the air before slouching in her chair. Blake shook her head.
"No thanks, I've got some things I have to do in the library." She said.
"Okay, well you can play with us when you're done," Ruby said. Blake went back to her thoughts. A few minutes later the class began to file back in and, with a sigh, Blake returned her attention to Glynda as she walked into the center of the classroom.
"We will continue this exercise tomorrow, but I want the list on my desk before you leave." The bell rang and students stood up. Blake stood up and joined the surge of students and left the room and her team.
Perhaps there were a surge in news stories about the White Fang doing strange things that could provide a clue? With that thought Blake made her way to the library, walking around people as they stood in her way.