Jäger Chapter Nineteen: The Order of the Shrikes of the Mournful Dawn
MorgothII: Surprise! Wrote this entire chapter in about an hour or two today! Didn't expect to be posting a third chapter a day after the last one, but here it is! Read and enjoy please!
A nervous Ruby Rose tries (and fails) to do her best to stand still as three of the most powerful Hunters and Huntress alive look at her and her unofficial partner. While her body isn't moving, her silvery-colored eyes roam all over the room that is the office of Professor Ozpin. Her hands fidget with one another. She shoots the look of concern to the taller boy standing next to her.
If Ruby is visibly nervous, then Jake Torchwick is a slab of granite, revealing nothing of his thoughts or emotions. His hands are clasped against the small of his back, thought it is on his free will, not because of handcuffs. Though to the black-and-red haired fifteen-year-old girl, General Ironwood did seem to be tempted briefly with the idea. Jake's katana, Sōryū,now sheathed again, still remains attached to his belt at his side.
Aside from briefly asking if she was ok, the object of affection for the girl scythe-wielder had said nothing to her. Ozpin had allowed the young girl to head towards her dorm room to change into her usual outfit, probably having sensed the discomfort Ruby was feeling, or at least, the half being caused by her blasted heels. Then she ended up being a tad but embarrassed when 'someone' had accidently hit all the buttons of the elevator for the floors between the ground and the top floor containing Ozpin's office. Now she stepped forward as Ozpin addresses her.
"It's alright," Ozpin says in the even tone that Ruby knows aggravates the Jäger. Ruby feels a little less embarrassed by his reassurances. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay, I guess…" Ruby says, briefly looking down at her combat boots before continuing. "I'd feel better if my bad guy catching record wasn't zero for three." All three of the adults give her a long stare at her poorly-done attempt at humor. Jake still gives her nothing, which makes the scythe-wielder unsure if that is a good or bad sign.
"Okay so that's the tone we're going for…Got it," She says as she rubs the back of her head, uncomfortable yet again. As Ruby lowers her arm, General Ironwood steps closer to her as he speaks.
"Ruby, I feel it's appropriate to let you know that I think what you did last night is exactly what being a Huntress is all about," He says as he places a hand gently on her shoulder. His words cheer the youngest team leader attending Beacon slightly as he continues to speak. "You recognized a threat, you took action, and you did the very best you could."
Now feeling better, Ruby looks up as she replies. "Thank you, sir." Then her attention turns to Ozpin as the man who had let her attend her dream school two entire school years early takes over speaking.
"Now, the general here," the coffee-addict begins, gesturing at the Atlas headmaster, "has already informed us of the events that had occurred earlier tonight at the CCTV tower. But now that you're in more comfortable clothing, we were wondering if you have anything to add? The same goes to you, Mr. Jake."
"Was anyone else with her? Did she look familiar to either of you at all?" Glynda asks, crossing her arms against her chest. Ruby looks away as she answers, shaking her head slowly and sadly.
"I…I don't know. She was wearing a mask, and she never said anything to me. But I know she fought with glass. I don't think it was her semblance though. Her clothing lit up whenever she attacked," She says, reflecting back on what she was able to note about the woman she and Jake had fought.
The three Hunters exchange a glance before returning their attention to the two students. Glynda speaks up once more.
"Save for the glass…that sounds like the woman I fought the night we met Ruby," she says. Then Ironwood speaks up.
"Embedding Dust into clothing is an age old technique. It couldn't have been anyone," He says before Ruby cuts in.
"Wait, you think this girl is connected to Torchwick and the White Fang?" She asks, not noticing the slight shift in the nearby Jake's body language. Ozpin's face gains a thoughtful expression for a second before replying to the fifteen-year-old girl's question.
"It's possible. But we still lack the required evidence to link the two together," He finishes. Then Ruby speaks up, and what she says causes a bit more obvious reaction to her unofficial partner, who has still been dead silent.
"Actually, I think I remember her saying something about a hideout or something. In the southeast, just outside the kingdom," She informs the four other humans. Ozpin gives a slight grin at this new information.
"Interesting," He says. Meanwhile Glynda gives a quizzical look at the silver-eyed teen.
"I thought you said the intruder never-"the second-in-command of Beacon Academy begins before Ozpin interrupts her.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Ruby. Why don't you go down and get some rest? It has been a long night, and I'm sure your teammates are starting to get worried about where you went," he says, subtly dismissing the leader of Team RWBY. But then Ironwood interrupts his Vale counterpart.
"Do you know anything about why there is a member of the Order of the Shrikes of the Mournful Dawn standing right next to you?" Jake's gaze hardens, disguising his shock at this reveal. Meanwhile, a look of absolute confusion overtakes Ruby's face.
"The Order of the what-now?" She asks, having never heard the name before. But even as she gave her answer, her mind remembers that Jake had said something about some sort of order. Maybe the two are related?
"Never mind, Mr. Jake can fill you in about this if he desires to do so in the morning. You can go," Ozpin says. A confused Ruby looks worriedly at Jake before he nods his head at her, silently signaling that it's ok. Only slightly reassured, Ruby then enters the elevator and leaves the office, leaving the room silent as a thick tension forms between the Jäger and the three veteran fighters of Grimm.
After a few moments goes by, Jake finally speaks. His voice is gruff, low, and guarded. "I know for a damn fact that none of you are members, and very few outsiders know of our existence, even among the so-called mythical legends. So how the hell do you know?"
A furious Goodwitch opens her mouth in preparation of delivering a harsh tongue lashing for his tone, but Ozpin merely holds up a hand, silencing the blonde woman once more. "I was friends with your mentor. I knew that he had died a while back, for which I must say that the news greatly saddened me, and that he had been training a successor to the leadership of your Order. I just never knew it would be you. I guess he never told you that two hundred and fifty years ago, the then-current leader and her closest advisors had approached the also then-current headmasters of the four main Huntsmen Academies. The Order had been facing a possible second schism, and the leader had decided that if this was the end, that she wouldn't just leave the world in the dark. She told them about the four relics hidden beneath their schools, and the Four Maidens. She tasked them with protecting both of them, while also maintaining silence about what she had just revealed to them. They were allowed to have a few, select compatriots to be trusted with this knowledge and assist the four Hunters and Huntresses with their new task."
Jake nods his head. "That explains why the Maidens hadn't made contact with me, at least, until very recently. If this is the case, then you lot also know about what happened to Amber shortly before disappearing? We found her staff and signs of a battle, but no body, and not even a single hint of a new Fall Maiden," Jake says, his tone turning the spoken question into a demand.
James Ironwood gives Ozpin a warning glance, but the grey-haired Hunter ignores it as he answers.
"She's in a comma and on life support. As to her location, she is safe in the vault beneath this tower."
Jake says nothing for a few minutes, his face slowly shifting between surprise and shock, and understanding. Then his features settle on raw fury as his voice breaks the silence.
"Let me get this straight. You are hiding Amber, the Fall Maiden, underneath this tower?! My god, what arrogance you carry!" While it is even at first, Jake's tone becomes louder and more aggressive towards the end of the sentence. A red-faced Professor Goodwitch starts to speak up once again with the intent of delivering a reprimand.
"That's-"
"With all due respect, Professor Goodwitch, as of right now, I am not a student of Beacon. I stopped being that when we sent Ruby to wait down below. Right now I am the Grand Marshal of my order. And as Ozpin here apparently knows about my group, he should be able to verify the fact that we are not one to be treated lightly," Jake finishes, a look of resolve stronger than steel present in his gaze.
"Mr. Jake is correct. So, what are your intentions now?"
Jake lets out a long sigh before answering.
"We both know Salem is making another move soon. Now that I know there might be something towards Mountain Glenn, I will investigate that area. Seeing as how we will be, though by force if you ask me, to work together and combine our forces against a shared enemy, I will report anything. In return, you will allow me to summon one of my squads for the duration of the year, with the option of summoning more reinforcements should the need arise. You will also keep me in the loop, and will not treat me as a subordinate. Am I clear?" Jake says, his (in)famous steely resolve plainly evident.
For once in all their (at least for the Jäger) infuriating conversations, Jake is the one with the proverbial higher ground. Ozpin recognizes this, for he lets out his own long sigh before nodding his head.
"Very well, Grand Marshal. However, Team RWBY, along with one of my teachers, will be accompanying you. Knowing their recent habit of sneaking out whenever Roman Torchwick and/or the White Fang might be involved. They won't know your real reason, but I see that it would be best for everyone. In addition, I trust that the people you have in mind to arrive will keep themselves a low profile?" Jake scoffs at this last part.
"Stealth outside of fighting is one of my order's main tenets. And your 'suggestion' does make sense, seeing as I would pose as being ordered to provide back-up for a dangerous area. Now, I think that we are done for now. I shall take my leave," Jake says, once again stating a fact that he will do so regardless of if the three adults were fine with it or not. Thankfully, a tired Ozpin nods his head.
"Very well, you may go as well."
Without a second glance or reply, Jake enters the elevator and leaves for his own dorm room. The halls of Beacon are empty of all other humans and Faunus, such late is the hour. Even so, Jake activates his semblance, desiring the protective sense of stealth it gives him. His mind slowly shifts from the conversation he had just left to what had happened between him and his best friend at the dance. They had kissed on the lips. On the lips, and while it wasn't drawn-out or overtly passionate/carnal, it hadn't been a short one.
In other words, this couldn't be ignored, and the fact that the Jäger himself isn't sure what he wants this to become. Before he realizes it, he stands before the door to his room, and more importantly, his bed. He throws a quick glance at the entrance to Team RWBY's living quarters. For a moment, the wielder of Sōryū ponders if he should see if Ruby is up. Instead, Jake opts to go to bed and deal with it in the morning.
'It's kinda fitting in a way if you think about it,' His tired mind muses. 'Dealing with it at the start of a new day for what the new future between the two of us shall be.'
Then he closes the door and quickly switches into his simple sleepwear. He gripping his sheathed katana, Jake Torchwick crawls underneath the clean, soft sheets of his bed. He closes his eyes despite knowing that tonight's sleep would be anything but peaceful. After a while, he slips into a nightmare-filled sleep.
And done! Three chapters in three days, I am freaking out right now! To make up for the past two shorter chapters, this one is more of the typical length I have been striving to have. As always, big shout-out of thanks to you awesome readers who take the time to read this story! Also, to the guest reviewer known as The Critic, the demand for a solo team was already made in the preceding chapter as part of his terms for attending Beacon Academy instead of prison. Expect more chapters either later this week or like my minimum of one chapter a week next week, because I have no idea if this is it for the week or not. Have a wonderful day and until the next update! Next chapter: Burning a Bridge or Exploring New Grounds?