Chp. 53: Loss and Comfort

Beacon Academy

Library

It was now sunset, and in the library, Teams RWBY, JNPR, GRMA, CFDT, OBSA, and Ronin, Rin, Liberty, Azumi, Jesse, and Jacket were all gathered seated at different tables that were close together.

"We all heard what happened in Vale," Oscar said.

"All our parents have been sent to their hotels for the night," Blake said.

"Seriously! Can't we just have something good without having to face some fucking problems and shit?!" Jacket asked.

"How's Watson's dad?" Ruby asked.

"He didn't make it," Kelly solemnly answered.

"Poor Watson. He must be devastated," Pyrrha said.

"So what happened to that Augusto guy?" Jesse asked.

"My brother told me that he's being sent to a UHL prison facility to make sure he doesn't get out. His semblance along with his crimes and unstable mind makes him extremely dangerous," Jacob answered.

"So shouldn't you guys be with Watson right now?" Ricky asked.

"Yeah. With his father gone and no mother, he's now an orphan like me and Ren," Nora added.

"Don't forget me, Em, and Ilia here are in the same boat as you two love birds," Mercury said.

"I think we should just give him time to himself right now," Jesse replied.

"Yeah, he's been through enough already," Azumi added.

Emerald looks out the window as she grows worried for Watson's mental state since he had lost his last girlfriend and his recent father.

Dining Hall

March 16, 2021

The next morning, the students were all in the dining hall having their breakfast. Teams RWBY, JNPR, GRMA, CFDT, and OBSA, and Jesse, Azumi, Jacket, Rin, Ronin, and Liberty were all seated close together as they were all having their breakfast.

"When will all our families show up?" Rebecca asked.

"In about an hour from what I was told," Oscar answered.

"It's a shame that Jaune's family were unable to show up," Pyrrha said.

"Yeah. It would have been nice to meet them," Kelly said.

"But at least Saphron, Terra, and Adrian were able to show up," Ruby said.

"True," Jaune replied.

"Hey Rebecca, how did your parents react to you dating Ilia?" Britney asked.

"They were skeptical at first because of her history in the White Fang, but decided to give her a chance," Rebecca answered.

"That's good to hear at least," Kendra said.

"Hey, Blake, Yang, do your parents know that you two are dating yet?" Nora asked.

"Not yet, but today they will," Blake said.

"I'm kind of nervous on how Blake's dad would react when he finds out she and I are dating," Yang said.

"Who knew the great Yang Xiao Long would be scared of the parents finding out about you dating Blake," Kelly teased.

"Well let's see you go up against an angry Ghira Belladonna! He almost tore me and Sun a new one because he thought we slept with Blake!" Yang exclaimed.

Emerald had been silent throughout the conversation. After a moment had passed she then spoke.

"Jesse, where's Watson?" she asked.

"He's in our dorm room when we left him. He said, he'll catch up with us," Jesse answered.

"Poor bastard looked like shit when he got back to our dorm room last night," Jacket said.

"Speaking of which, here he comes," Allen said.

Everyone turned their heads to see Watson entering inside through the doors. His eyes were red from crying and had bags under his eyes. His clothes were all wrinkled up.

"Damn. You were right, Jacket. He does look like shit," Robert said.

"He looked like hadn't slept at all last night," Blake said.

As Watson was about to go get his breakfast, Cardin suddenly walks up to him and bumps his shoulder.

"Look who's here. What's up with you? You look like shit," Cardin said. "Maybe your old man can-"

Watson's hair suddenly bursts into flames as he activates his semblance, and gives a vicious punch to Cardin's face, sending him crashing into a table. Watson jumps on top of a terrified Cardin and grabs him by his collar.

"I already had a hell of a shit day yesterday and I don't need you rubbing it in!" Watson yelled.

Russel, Dove and Sky rush at Watson to help their team leader. Watson throws Cardin at his teammates. He marches towards Team CRDL with a vicious look on his face. A student approaches Watson with worry.

"Hey. Take it easy th-" the student was cut off as Watson punched him to the floor.

Teams RWBY, JNPR, GRMA, CFDT, and OBSA, and Jesse, Jacket, Azumi, Rin, Ronin, and Liberty all stood up from their tables looking on in shock at Watson. Yang runs over to him and puts a hand on his shoulder just before he could reach Team CRDL.

"Watson, what was that for?" she asked.

Watson turns around and gives Yang an uppercut, launching her through the ceiling and into the air. The students all around start to panic as Jesse, Jacket, and Azumi rush at Watson and tackle their teammate to the floor and pin him down.

"Watson stop!" Azumi shouted.

"Those crackers ain't worth shit, man!" Jacket shouted.

"Stop this now! I'm ordering you as your leader!" Jesse shouted.

Watson throws his teammates off as stands himself back up with a yell of rage. Team CRDL all rush at Watson, but the latter grabs Russel by the throat, then tosses him out through a window. He then punches Sky to the ground, then grabs onto him by his leg and throws him at Dove, knocking them both through a wall. Cardin tries to punch Watson, but Watson catches his fist with his hand and punches him in his stomach, making him drop to his knees. Watson then kicks Cardin in the face, sending him flying into a couple of tables.

Just as Watson was about to charge at Cardin, an ice wall formed in front of him. He turns around to see Weiss was the one who created the wall of ice. Britney runs up at Watson and with the aid of her semblance, wraps herself around his body like a boa constrictor, restraining him. Watson propels himself backwards and slams Britney into a wall, loosening her grip on him. He slips his arm free and punches her in the back of the head knocking her to the floor.

Watson was about to punch Britney again, but suddenly gets punched into the wall. He looks up to see Jacob with his hair in blue flame, realizing he had copied his semblance. Watson attempts to tackle the copycat, but Jacob grabs on to his torso and tosses him into a nearby table.

"That's enough, Watson! I don't want to have to do this!" Jacob shouted.

Watson quickly gets up and hurls a punch at Jacob making him stumble back a couple steps. He threw several vicious punches at Jacob, making him stumble back more with every punch. Jacob then catches one of Watson's attacks and gives three heavy punches at Watson before kicking him to the ground, leaving behind a small crater. Watson swept his leg at Jacob's, knocking him to the floor. Watson reels his arm back as his fist starts to catch fire and punches Jacob into the floor down a couple feet, creating a shockwave knocking all the students to the floor.

Watson gets up from the floor and slowly walks up to a terrified Cardin who was on the floor. He reels his fist back and just as he was about to punch the bully, he felt someone grab onto his arm. Watson turns his head around to see Hazel gripping onto his arm with his hand.

"That's enough, boy!" Hazel said.

Watson reeled his fist back at Hazel as he raised his hand, gesturing him to stop.

"I know your pain and understand your loss, but this is not helping. Keep going down this path, and it will only hurt those around you and it will give no peace. Only suffering. I should know," Hazel said.

Watson glances all around him to see all the students trying to get up. Some were looking at him with fear in their eyes. Rebecca and Kendra were helping Britney up off of the floor as Ricky and Allen were helping Jacob. Yang suddenly crashes through the ceiling and down onto the floor. The blue flames on Watson die away as his semblance deactivates. Tears streamed down his eyes.

"I'm... I'm sorry... everyone..." he said before running out through the doors and out of the dining hall.

Emerald approaches Hazel as he turns his attention to her.

"I suggest you should go talk to him. He may need company," Hazel said.

Suddenly the doors slam open as Glynda walks in to see the damage throughout the dining hall. She turns her to Hazel with a scowl on her face.

"What the heck happened here?!" Glynda asked.

Later inside one of the halls of Beacon, Watson was walking down the hallway by himself. He passes a student laugh and interacts alongside his family, much to Watson's annoyance. He walks a little faster as he covers his ears to block out the laughter. He suddenly bumps into someone as he was not paying attention to his surroundings. He looks up to see the person he bumped into was Winter.

"Sorry," Watson muttered.

He walks past the Specialist and just as he was walking away Winter called to him.

"Hold it!"

Watson turned around to face Winter just as the latter turned around to face Watson.

"Listen, I want to apologize about the loss of your father," Winter said.

"It's...it's fine," Watson said.

"And also I know that I wasn't exactly on good terms with you. And I never realized that you were autistic, but I do believe you've been pushed around too much and don't deserve any of that," Winter said.

Winter puts her hand on Watson's shoulder.

"But I must tell you that you should let all of this get to you. Otherwise you might end up like Hazel Rainart when lost his sister and then joined Salem," she said. "Also Professor Goodwitch heard what had happened. She told your headmaster about this. THey told me to tell you to take some time off to grieve. They give you their condolences."

Winter takes her hand off of Watson and walks away as Watson watches her leave. He then turns around and walks away.

Team JAAR Dorm Room

Later inside Team JAAR's dorm room, Watson sat on his bed with nobody else with him. He was looking through his phone, looking and scrolling through pictures of his father and Yara.

"I'm sorry. I could protect you both," Watson said.

A knock was heard at the door catching Watson's attention. He got up from his bed and walked over to the door. He opens the door to see Emerald.

"Emerald?" Watson spoke.

"Hey Watson," Emerald greeted.

"What are you doing here?" Watson asked.

"I came to check up on you," Emerald answered.

She walks inside the dorm room as Watson closes the door behind her. She walked over to Watson's bed and sat down on it. She pats her hand to an open spot next to her. Watson walked over to the bed and sat down next to her.

"Watson... have you slept at all last night?" Emerald asked.

"...No..." Watson answered.

"Lay down," Emerald said.

"What?" Watson asked.

"Lay. Down," Emerald said once more.

Watson leaned himself back and laid himself on the bed. Emerald followed and lied down next to Watson and cradled his head to her chest.

"Try to get some sleep," Emerald said.

"What?" Watson asked.

"I know you're still upset about the loss of your dad, but you got to get some sleep," she said.

Watson stared at Emerald, unsure on how to respond.

"Please? For me?" Emerald asked. "I promise I'll be here when you wake up."

After a short pause, Watson nuzzled the side of his head to Emerald's chest. Listening to the sound of her heartbeat, Watson soon fell asleep as Emerald kissed the top of his head and started stroking it.