The morning after was filled with eerie and unusual silence in the dorm of Team RWBY.
After the altercation of the night prior, everyone had been relatively silent. Even the ever enthusiastic Ruby had remained silent under Yang's words, as to not accidently stir the pot even more. Weiss was already up and ready for the day, a cold expression plastered over her face. It was clear she was still very pissed about what Blake had said last night. The Faunus girl hadn't returned to the dorm last night.
She better not be with him, Weiss thought angrily to herself.
She quickly left the room with the slam of a door as the two sisters just looked at each other.
"We need to do something Yang" Ruby told her older half-sister worried.
"We can't do anything Ruby, those two need to solve their own issues or have a fight to the death for the professor's hand" Yang said sarcastically, grinning at her own joke.
"I'm serious sis, we're supposed to be a team. We can't let this tear us apart" Ruby said, throwing her hands in the air for emphasis.
Yang chuckled at her sisters overly theatrical expression.
"Look Ruby we can't always be peacemakers especially of something like this. Weiss has officially been crushing on professor Carlisle since the beginning and Blake apparently once went out with him. These girls were going to clash no matter what. Besides after last night I think we have bigger things on our mind then a girl fight for a boy."
Ruby looked at her sister with an open mouth, surprised at her sudden insight.
"Yeah….what will we do now?" Ruby asked crossing her arms.
"Don't know sis, heard anything from Jaune?"
The younger sister shook her head "No nothing. Nora messaged me that he had returned to the room after his meeting with Ozpin but that he didn't say much about what was discussed. She said he went on and on about how Carlisle is responsible for Pyrrha's condition" she said.
"Do you believe him?" Yang asked.
"I don't know," Ruby said unsure "Jaune is so convinced of it that he was willing to fight him for it. But how can we know if he is responsible?"
Yang smiled and put a hand around her sister "well sis there is only one way to find out. Break into his house."
"Yeah….wait what!"
Ozpin's office:
Ozpin sipped his coffee as Goodwitch stood next to him. It was the early morning in the weekend and they were waiting for their visitor.
"Are you sure that he can help us?" Glynda asked curiously.
"Have faith Glynda, you know he is a friend" Ozpin replied sipping his coffee.
The doors to his office opened. Revealing a tall black haired man in a military uniform, a bandage above the right said of his head, his pose refined and his eyes piercing.
"Good morning James, glad you could come here so quickly" Ozpin said as he put the hot cup of coffee on his desk and sat up, walking over and greeting his friend with an embrace.
"You told me it was urgent so I came as soon as I could" General Ironwood proclaimed.
Ozpin smiled "well I know you like to get to the point of the matter quickly so let's get started" he said as he went over to his desk and pushed a button, a screen appeared above them, showing three photos, one of Pyrrha Nikos, Cardin Winchester and Firen Carlisle.
Ironwood looked at the pictures with pure curiosity, Glynda joined at his side, acknowledging him with a nod.
"In the span of two weeks, two of our students, Mr. Cardin Winchester and Miss Pyrrha Nikos have fallen into a curious catatonic state. Our best doctors can't find out what's wrong with them. Yesterday an altercation took place that left us puzzled about how to proceed, that is why you're here James" Ozpin said.
He pointed to the screen as the picture of Carlisle grew in size.
"This is Firen Carlisle, a young professor whom we hired two weeks ago when one of our resident professors fell ill. The altercation happened yesterday between a student and him, and the student claims to believe that this man is responsible for the state of the two students. Looking back on information about him we don't find much other that he might come from Atlas and has studies there."
Ironwood walked forward, taking a long hard look at the photo.
"I don't recall seeing this man, though the name sounds familiar, I have to relay with my people at Atlas about it. Tell me Ozpin, do you think he is truly responsible?"
Ozpin shook his head "too be honest I do not know. But the situation is becoming very worrisome and I need answers. Please help me get those answers James."
Ironwood nodded and flashed a smile.
"Of course my friend. For starters I need all the info that you have on him."
In the halls:
Jaune Arc angrily strut through the empty halls of Beacon Academy.
After his altercation with Carlisle and his talk with Ozpin, he had been left even more angry then before. Ozpin refused to believe his claims because of lack of evidence, something Jaune could understand but it was still getting to him. Pyrrha was gone, put into the same state as Cardin and he was sure it was Carlisle behind it.
That night after he returned to the dorm he had an intense argument with Ren and Nora about what happened. He had even shouted at them to believe him.
"You have no evidence Jaune. And without evidence we can't do anything" Ren had said to him, stoic as per usual.
"I want to know what happened to Pyrrha to, but we cannot go about it the way you did, if we do that we will never discover it" Nora had told him, dropping her usual cheery and enthusiastic demeanor.
"Why won't they believe me" Jaune said angrily to nobody in particular. He was all alone in the halls, it was still early. He just needed to get out. He needed to clear his head.
His eyes took in the empty halls before him, not a soul in sight.
Jaune turned around as soon as he heard the faint sound of footsteps, but he saw nothing behind him. He turned forward and proceeded to walk again. I must be getting paranoid he thought.
Another set of footsteps echoed throughout the room. But the moment Jaune turned around there was once again nothing. Nothing but the empty hallways.
Out of nowhere a sudden weight dropped on him and Jaune fell to the ground, a cloaked figure standing above him, brandishing a special knife with an unknown symbol.
The figure plunged the knife down towards Jaune's chest, but before it made contact the warrior managed to grab the assailant's hand. The figure groaned as he pushed his strength into his hand in order to force the knife down faster.
Jaune began to sweat as he saw the edge of the blade creeping closer, he held on as tightly as he could, trying to hold back his attacker.
Thinking quickly, Jaune hooked his foot underneath the assailant and twisted it to the left, causing both of them to tumble off each other, the blade clattering on the ground.
The figure immediately got up and tried to go for the knife, only for Jaune to quickly push him away back on the ground. The two wrestled each other, fighting for control of the situation.
The cloaked figure groaned audibly as Jaune managed to land a hit upon his cloaked face, and in response was pushed off by the attacker who quickly managed to jump further away from the young warrior.
Who is this guy? Jaune thought quietly.
The figure stood quiet for a while as Jaune took a stance, preparing for an incoming attack. The figure moved about quickly on his feet, closing the distance between them and landing a gut punch right into Jaune's stomach. The boy hurled over as the attacked walked past him towards the knife of the ground.
Acting quickly, Jaune once again hooked his foot around the attacker, causing him to fall over on his back, his hood slipping off of him.
"You!" Jaune said surprised. Looking at the uncovered face of the man he had seen with professor Carlisle, his right hand man Vadim.
Panic grew over Vadim's face as he saw he was discovered and he quickly jumped away, too fast for Jaune to ask him anything. Jaune turned right and saw the man running away at a great speed, he immediately followed.
Vadim turned a corner in incredible speed, and as soon as Jaune turned it to follow, he saw that the man was gone. No trace of him having turned it. Jaune turned and looked up, then left and then right. This man was clearly a very agile person and Jaune took too looking around him at every turn as he tried to find the exit of the building, or find a sign of anyone who could help him.
As he sought a way out of the situation a thought came to mind. One thought alone that validated all his theories.
He is behind it! Why else would he send his minion after me?
The thought put a smile on Jaune's face. He needed to find someone, his team? Goodwitch? Ruby? Anyone.
At Carlisle's Home:
The young professor's eyes opened to the sight of a beautiful and peaceful Faunus girl sleeping next to him.
He smiled at himself. Never had he expected when he came here to be intimate with someone, nor for that fact that anyone found him interesting enough to begin with. To him the plan for coming here was a simple search and rescue, not an overly complicated 'let one of your students fall in love with you, while another one fancies you and is your only hope for getting what you need so you cater to her whims' situation.
Yet Carlisle couldn't help himself, looking at Blake so peacefully after their night of passion. He began to think, maybe he should take her with him?
"Morning sunshine" he said as he softly kissed Blake's forehead.
The Faunus girl opened her eyes and stared at the man in front of her, her lips curling up into a smile.
"Good morning professor" she said almost a bit seductively as she kissed him.
"We are not in class yet Belladonna," Carlisle said as he got out of bed and grabbed his nearby pants and put them on "besides I don't have to teach today I need to take care of a few errands."
"Aww," Blake coed disappointingly "and I was hoping we could just stay in today."
She saw giggling at him, it almost made him blush. This girl is really getting to me he thought as he stared at the black haired beauty in front of him.
"SIR!"
A voice rang as the door suddenly busted open and a sweaty and tired Vadim came through it. Blake yelped and covered herself with the sheet as Vadim's eyes were placed upon her in surprise. Vadim took in the sight of the Faunus girl in with almost undivided attention.
"You imbe…..I mean Vadim have you ever heard of knocking" Carlisle said in almost angry tone, quickly correcting himself.
"Could you excuse me for a moment Blake?" Carlisle asked politely as he walked up to Vadim and pushed him out of the room, the man's eyes still glued to Blake as the door was closed.
Grabbing him by the collar, Carlisle pulled Vadim away from the bedroom door to another part of the house, right in front of a big door, out of earshot from Blake.
"You incompetent imbecile!," he yelled quietly as he slapped Vadim across the back of the head "do you have any critical thinking skills to not barge into someone's room unannounced!"
Color returned to Vadim's face as he snapped out of his haze and looked terrified at his angry employer.
"I'm sorry sir truly, but I did as you requested and went after the Arc boy and…well…it didn't really go well."
"Why does that not surprise me?" Carlisle replied placing his hands at his sides.
"Well being surprised would mean that you didn't expect this and since you're not I assume you expected…" Vadim was silenced by another slap to his head.
"That was a rhetorical question you idiot! Now what happened?" Carlisle demanded.
Vadim gulped and scratched his arm, a nervous tick he developed everytime he had to tell bad news. "Well sir….he saw my face, but I quickly ran away so…"
His words where stopped by Carlisle grabbing the collar of his shirt and pushing him up against the door behind them.
"You imbecile, do you have any idea what this means. If that boy saw your face that means we are now in serious trouble. Why do you always have to find new ways to screw up Vadim!" Carlisle demanded. Vadim was at a loss for words, too terrified to speak. Carlisle's hand changed as robotic parts formed around it, turning into a clawed metal monstrosity.
"Sir please…I promise I'll do better" Vadim pleaded.
"If you actually did better we wouldn't be in this mess. Sometimes I wonder how the Conduit even hired you considering your track record of bumbling."
A sudden pinging was heard, snapping Carlisle out of his anger. He recognized it as the sound of his Scroll, he took it out of his back pocket and saw the message written.
Firen! I have good news. I met with General Ironwood and he has the device, but he wants to meet you before he can loan it to you. We can arrange a meeting tonight if you wish.
The message was from Weiss.
Firen looked at the message with glee, this was good news, just a few more steps. He turned to Vadim and said "you're lucky this message came through."
Dropping the man to the ground, Vadim gasped for air as he hit the ground, the metal arm disappearing from around Carlisle, leaving him with a normal human hand once more.
"You stay here, do not leave this house Vadim! If the Arc boy recognizes you we are in deep trouble, so stay put understood!" the young professor said.
Carlisle walked back to the bedroom and opened the door, finding Blake getting dressed in her outfit, she looked up as he entered.
"Everything alright?" she asked worried.
Carlisle flashed a smile at her "yes my dearest Blake everything is fine. Vadim just came to tell me something very important and I'm afraid that requires my attention now. I was planning to make you breakfast but I'm afraid duty calls, I am afraid I will have to ask you to leave"
Blake pulled him in for a soft kiss.
"Of course. Will I see you again soon?" she asked him sweetly.
Carlisle nodded "for sure. This is just really important at the moment. But I will see you again soon, if I need you I will message you first" he said.
He led her to the front door and as he opened it he shared one last look with the woman he had just spend a passionate night with, a smile appearing as he thought back to it.
As she stepped down on the grassy grounds of Beacon Academy she turned back to her lover standing in the doorway.
"What we did last night…do you regret it?" she asked.
Carlisle smiled and walked towards her, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"Not a chance. It was a night I will always remember, having spent it with an incredible woman" he said smoothly. Blake blushed and kissed his cheek.
"You are the best" she said, looking at him with an unquestionable loving look. Carlisle replied with "that's because you bring out the best in me."
With that Blake turned around and walked off, leaving Carlisle behind as he became lost in his thoughts again. He grabbed for his scroll and looked at Weiss' message. It was clear to him that it was now or never, the chance to find Milena was close at hand. He had allowed himself to be distracted by his desires and his passions. As much as he adored Blake, in his heart he knew that the mission he came here for was more important. Finding Milena and bringing her home was more important.
But even so, Carlisle couldn't stop thinking of Blake, the passionate and beautiful Faunus girl that had enthralled him. His priorities where clear from the start, he was too succeed in his mission no matter what, the mission would always come first.
"No more distractions. I am this close" Carlisle said to himself as he stared off in the distance.