King: Quick warning. This one is shorter than normal and contains material that can attack the feels. You have been warned.
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Yang walked into Junior's club with a real flare! Yeah. A flare. She destroyed the door, again. No one would ever doubt that she knew how to make an entrance. "Hello~"
"Damn it, blondie! How many times have I told you to stop doing that?!" Junior was mad, but he knew getting Yang mad would mean having to rebuild and a rather substantial hospital bill.
Yang made her way to the counter. "I'll take the usual."
"Strawberry Sunrise, no ice, a little umbrella, and some info?"
"How'd you know?"
Junior just rolled his eyes and prepared the drink.
"Why are you here now, anyway? Don't you have classes or something?"
"My class was canceled today." Yang let her eyes wonder and noticed a bottle sitting on the counter. "Who's this for?"
Junior looked at the bottle. "Some guy that stops in every year around this time. He buys the bottle and leaves. Never speaks."
"Huh…" She took a closer look at the bottle. It was an Atlasian alcohol, the kind that were used to drown out the past. "Why would he need this stuff?"
"Don't know. I don't ask."
"Who is he?"
"I told you, he doesn't exactly talk to anyone here." Junior looked up over her head. "Well, speak of the devil."
Yang turned around to see a young man with bright blue hair and mirror glasses. Despite wearing a white coat instead of his vest, Yang could tell who this was rather quickly. "Professor Justinian?"
"You know him?"
"Yeah. He's one of the teachers at Beacon."
Justinian walked up to the counter, paid for the bottle and left without saying a word.
Yang watched as he left. Once he was gone she finished her drink and pulled out her scroll. "I need to make a call. See you."
Junior just shook his head.
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Yang had called in her team. Now, all four were stealthily following their young professor. Yang told them about the bottle and this confused two out of three of her teammates. The only one who knew what she was talking about was Weiss.
"Father would drink that brand after the White Fang attacks on our company. He was not a pleasant person."
"Shush!" The team continued their 'mission.'
After a while, Justinian walked to the edge of the city and stopped in front of a small set of rocks. The team got a close as they dared without being caught. From their new position, they saw him remove a small vial from his pocket and pour the contents into his hair, turning it a bright orange. Next he removed his glasses, revealing his blue eyes. He looked eerily familiar.
"He looks kind of like…" Ruby whispered. She tried to think where she had seen his face before. The realization hit her like a brick. "Torchwick?!"
The team took a close look at the professor. He did look like the criminal, but it also clearly wasn't him. Their thoughts were cut off when he started to speak.
"Hello again."
They froze, thinking they were caught.
"It's been a year… Sorry. I'd visit more often, but I have a job now. I'm a professor at Beacon!" He was smiling, but he sounded… pained?
Team RWBY looked between themselves. Who is he talking to? Ruby was wide-eyed. She point to the stones and as they looked on, it became obvious what they really were. Gravestones.
Justinian was holding back tears, but he kept his smile. "I miss you guys. So much." He wiped away a tear drop. "Roman misses you, too." He continued with a laugh. "He'd never say it out loud. He's fine. Still gets in trouble, though. I don't really blame him too much. After we lost you, he just… broke." He paused, unable to speak. "I'm fine, too. I love my job and my students are always fun to teach. I wish you could meet them." He stopped again, overcome by tears. "I miss you guys, but I know I can't change what's happened. But, if nothing else, I can do you both proud and make sure no child has to go through this." He leaned in and wrapped his arms around the stones. "I love you both." He stood up and wiped his tears away again. "I'll visit again sooner. I promise." With that he turned and walked away.
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Team RWBY only now left their hiding spot. No one was sure what to think. They looked to the graves. The one on the left read, Athena Torchwick. While the one on the right read, Julius Torchwick. On a small plaque between them,
Two souls taken from us far too soon. You we're our light. Our heroes. We know you're in a better place now. All we can do now is hope we're making you proud.
–Roman and Constantine.
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King: Hello there everybody. This one actually kind of hurt to write. Here's hoping we never have to experience this again.