Golden thorns chapter thirty eight

"You really aren't going to let me out of this are you?" Their eyes were locked, stone grey on reptilian amber.

"No."

"I left because I felt sick."

"Quit lying to me, Coran. I know you're better now."

"No, you don't understand. I felt physically sick just being there, watching as… I can't deal with it. I have nothing against the guy but it literally hurts me to see her with him. I… I have to 'distance myself' as you put it, just so it won't hurt anymore. When I see her… it… I feel more alive than I ever had before but when they are together it... I feel empty again. So I left. If I'm not there then it doesn't hurt as much. Are you happy now? Am I allowed to get on with my life now?"

"I'm sorry. If there's-"

"There's nothing you can do. Just… just go. I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"

"Yeah…" the door quietly closed and Coran was left alone in the room. He tore a page from one of his notebooks and scrawled a quick note to his partners, before slinging his pack over his shoulder, taking his glaive from where it leaned against a wall and left the dormitory behind.

Coran awoke in a coughing fit. The air in the small room was saturated with dust, and not the useful kind. He stumbled to the door and swung it open, breathing in the air of the corridor. It wasn't much better. He looked up at the old grandfather clock on the opposite wall. 7:37, 23 minutes until he had to be anywhere. He went back into the room to pick up his things. The piano had not made for a comfortable pillow but then again he hadn't realised that he'd fallen asleep so it didn't really matter a great deal.

He had better get going if he was going to make it to the hall before all the good missions were gone. He briefly wondered how his team were doing but then rationalised that they were relatively sensible. They knew that they had a mission the next day and wouldn't have gone over the top last night.

Coran pushed open the door to the hall and found it relatively empty. One or two teams were blearily looking at the screens. He scanned the room for his team but instead found Ozpin and Goodwitch standing by a side door, customary mug and clipboard in hand respectively. Coran listened in. They were periodically speaking to the wandering students about whether their choices were wise.

Coran remained where he was, surveying the students as they entered the hall in varying states of disrepair. Clearly last night had taken its toll. There were bags under eyes and hair was a little dishevelled. However the ever indefatigable team RWBY appeared positively perky at the prospect of going on a potentially dangerous mission. Eventually he spotted Devlyn wander into the hall, looking a little lost. He saw Coran and waved, before jogging over to him, pack on his shoulders and cinquedea at his hip.

"Morning Coran. I suppose we'd better pick a job before all the good ones are gone. We don't want to be landed with something cushy do we?"

"I guess not." He replied, "Where're the others?"

"After the events of last night Jo decided that she and Em needed another one of their girl-to-girl chats. It was clear they didn't want me around so I thought I'd come find you. Sleep well?"

"I did not know it was possible for a neck to be as stiff as mine is right now. We'd better call them. We are supposed to have chosen by now-" he was interrupted by a stern voice from behind him.

"Ah Mr Silverthorne, Mr Lazarus. I was hoping to catch team SOUL before you all left." They turned to see Ozpin "I have a mission that I think you will find is to your liking"