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IDrinkDiesel: Grammatical issues are sadly a given for me…
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'Fuck, fuck, fuck! Okay, no panicking, no panicking!'
It was hard for Felix to keep a straight face as he stared at the man in front of him. Nicholas Arc was the same towering man he remembered, the man Arc junior aspired to be when he graduated from the academy before getting his ass expelled. Sadly, Felix has now reverted to a state where his face closely resembled Jaune's even with the contacts, hair dye and the scar he made across his cheek, Nicholas would be the hardest one to fool since he's known Arc since the dumb buffoon came to this world.
Still for the sake of his identity, Cinder's plan, and most importantly of all: his payment. He plastered a smile on his face and walked towards the man with a hand stretched for a shake, and keeping his voice natural, forcing it would only call people's attention. "Nice to meet you sir, I'm Felix Naran."
Nicholas blinked, Felix's voice no doubt catching him off guard. His eyes narrowed as he gave me a look, analyzing me to see if I was his son in disguise. Yet I knew he wouldn't find what he was looking for in me, Jaune was as good as a corpse lost in the sea.
Eventually he sighed and put grabbed my hand to respond to the handshake. "Nicholas Arc," His voice was gruffer than Felix's remembered. "A pleasure."
"Likewise," He replied, pulling the hand away. "Not to be rude or anything, but what are you doing here on Beacon?"
"I had some… Personal issues to deal with Ozpin," He replied, crossing his arms and sitting on Felix's bed—Which annoyed him to no end. "As I'm sure you know, my son went… missing during the last semester."
As members of team NPR gloomed at their missing teammate, Felix just nodded, wishing the conversation could lead to somewhere else—Arc, Arc, Arc. Always about him in this fucking room…
"So I've heard," He replied curtly, wanting the man to get to the point.
"So I came to an agreement with your Headmaster. In exchange for me staying for a few days, he will help in the search efforts for my son," The man explained. "I won't be a teacher or anything, but aid in the incoming midterm missions for the first years and as chaperone in the dance."
SHIT!
"That's great!" Felix said with excitement…
…NOT!
Nicholas Arc was everything his son was not. Little Jaune once saw the man held back three Ursa Major at once, with nothing more than a short sword when he forgot Crocea Moirs. The man was a beast, and now that he knows what Semblances and auras are, he wondered what the man's Semblance was. Some strength enhancing one like the bimbo?
It didn't matter, the point was that with Nicholas Arc here, Cinder's plans would get even more complicate. And that means no paycheck and no way to getting back to Locus. He has to tell her as soon as possible as he can.
"Maybe you could aid us in a spar?" Pyrrha offered. "It will be grand to have another veteran Huntsman to give us pointers."
"I would love to," The man said, sitting up from bed and smiling at the redhead.
'Oh sure. You train a bunch of strangers but not your son,' Felix resisted the urge to not roll his eyes. Whatever, any time he has to show up is always a good time.
"Sure, I'm in," He smiled, rolling his shoulders as warm up. "I don't have anything to do right now…"
He will meet to Ruby tomorrow, to keep preparing his new weapon. Since she was apparently busy with her own father visiting from what she told him via message—Parents right?— And this will be a team bonding experience yay!
… And a way of gathering more info from the Invincible Girl that Cinder might be more than thankful for. He didn't saw who else was in the 'List', but he putting in Nora and Ren might be productive. He didn't know what the boss lady was aiming by just targeting the young ones but it was always nice to gain more points and coins from her.
However, the anticipation of training was cut off by Nora, who plopped her head to the side in what she might have thought was cute but to him just looked cringey. "Does it have to be right now…? I mean, we just had combat class."
"I agree," Ren said, wow then that means the ginger was actually right for a change. "And Nicholas just got here, he must be tired."
"I can still move around," Nicholas said with a merry tone. "I didn't raise seven daughters and a son without having some energy to spare in me."
"I'm sorry you have… How many kids?!" Felix asked bewildered, or at least faked bewildered. And in retrospective, was his family descent of some rabbit Faunus? Eight children weren't remotely normal.
Nicholas laughed and placed a hand on his hip. "Yeah, I get that a lot. But I assure you it is not a problem."
"There's still one of you and four of us…" Pyrrha muttered, putting a hand to her chin. "It wouldn't be fair for you."
No… It would be totally fair. Felix knew that. And least with his armor he might have a possibility, but by himself? No chance, even if the other three might provide a distraction. Maybe he would also have a chance if he could choose the environment, or have more time to plan, or more proper weapons, yet he only has his gun and knives on him right now.
'Note to self: Invest in grenades.'
Nicholas laughed again. "Girl. I know of your reputation, and by your age it is quite a feat what you've accomplished," He gave her a stern and firm look that just yelled danger at Felix. "But you have yet to see what a true Huntsman is capable off."
Ozpin kept a close eye on Nicholas since he left the office. He wasn't surprised to see that Taiyang had come as well, what did surprise him was the fact that the other blonde father didn't came and make threats or demands on him. He supposed it was due to this being more on the girls rather than on him, or that unlike Nick, Tai knew what his daughters sign for and knew this could happen. Or that his worry and relief at seeing that the girls were able to walk away from it overweight any anger he felt towards the headmaster.
Oh well, making assumptions on his friends wasn't going to help. He had other things to deal with like trying to tame in James' reactions so that people would not feel tension at having an army over their heads. Justified and well-intended as his friend might be, this time of the year was hardly the moment for preparations like this. And another issue was preparing the field expeditions for the first years.
That brought him to another point of concern: Team RWBY.
It was no secret for those who worked with him in his inner circle, that he had set his eyes on the young Ruby Rose to be the next greatest asset in their operation, why with her Silver Eyes and natural talent, she would be a worthy successor of her mother's position, even if said choice was met with opposition from none other than her own Uncle. Yet recent events had put a wrench to that plan for the sake of public image. While Team RWBY would still participate on an expedition, there was no way to truly put them to the test right now. He would have to wait for their second year to begin, or for when the successor for Autumn is found. So they would be their guardian in the future much like Qrow was right now.
It was slightly disappointing, specially with the increasing distress growing with the robberies and White Fang movement, whom he was sure were connected with "The Queen" yet for now he'll have to trust on his inner circle if they make another move again.
Or so he thought, until he received a call.
As his scroll vibed Ozpin raised an eyebrow. Few people had his number, and even fewer would call him at this hour. And when he saw the screen, it was a number he didn't recognized.
"Hello?" Regardless he picked it up.
"Mountain Glenn, Southeast…" A robotic voice, clearly one that's been put through a changer told him. Their words making Ozpin stop and freeze. "The responsible of these incidents will be there. Stop a tragedy before it begins."
Ozpin sat on his desk, the system in it flaring up as he tried to track the signal. One didn't live beyond mortal years without catching on some technological knowledge beyond the norm. "And who might you be?"
"I don't have much time. I just want to do the right thing. And don't bother tracking me. This number and device will be long gone by the time you triangulate it."
And with that he cut it off.
Said and done, Ozpin tried to pin the signal yet it was not found. The scroll either destroyed or at the very least the SIM card in it.
"Mountain Glenn…" Ozpin uttered the name with bitterness and sadness. The more he thought about it the more it made sense that that place would serve as a hideout.
What to do with this information? If he goes and tells James he will send his army raining down on them, Qrow is still scouting and will be a while before he is back to the city, and Glynda is needed here in the academy.
He observed the screen of the training room where Nicholas was having a friendly spar with his son's former teammates plus their Mistralian guest. An idea started forming on his mind, risky, but a way to know what was occurring in the southwest and to put the team he had high expectations on to the test.
Yet the question lingered in his mind: Who made the call?
Locus stepped out of the alleyway where he made the call. His armor discarded and just a hoodie and jeans, the man would go unnoticed by the members of the White Fang as well as Torchwick and his assistant. He had done his research after their latest mission was assigned.
Everything involving Mountain Glenn was a tragedy and a show that some things didn't change between worlds. How when they sealed the tunnels they left behind innocent people, sacrifices, to prevent the Grimm from overflowing the city.
And now, if Cinder completes her plan, those sacrifices will be in vain.
He stopped in front of a store, the glass reflecting his face. His younger face, lacking the scar that he received in the Great War, a scar that was the beginning for him. When he felt he lost his identity beyond what being a soldier was, an identity that was molded and manipulated by Felix throughout the years.
Not for the first time, Locus wondered why he kept Felix alive. It would have been so easy, to side with the Simulation Troopers in Chorus and eliminate Felix before Charon's forces arrived. Yet he faked their deaths and took him to this world… why?
'Your partner isn't who he thinks. Another person, with a different mindset lay within him. His name is Jaune Arc. He wished to be a hero, to help others.'
The words of the Alien A.I rang through his head. According to it, the boy named Jaune Arc still existed within the twisted mind of Felix, yet for the life of him Locus didn't see it.
He shook his head. The reasons becoming duller and more void as the days progressed, maybe he did make a mistake. But now that he is in this, he will see it through.
He could have told Ozpin Cinder's name, but that would only put him in the spotlight if she was threatened and Felix would no doubt sell him out, consequences be dammed, and that would be unfortunate…
Sighing, Locus turned around and continued to walk. This was a chance for him to carve a new path, and he feels like he already started wrong by making an impulsive decision.
If he succeeds and stops Cinder's plans, then he has to consider what to do next. To fade into obscurity? Sell his armor for parts and give this world a leap in technology against the Grimm? Or maybe… Join this Huntsmen Academies…?
"Focus on the present for now…" He told himself. "This breach Cinder is planning is just the beginning."
"Ugh…"
Ruby looked at her forging partner with curiosity. "Are you okay?"
"Have you sparred with a Huntsman that hit like a truck Ruby?" Felix asked, rolling his shoulders. "One that hits like a semitruck and that not even the invincible girl can stop? Have you?"
"Well… My dad and my uncle are Huntsmen and trained me and Yang so… yeah!" She chirped happily, the good old days coming back to her mind.
"Does any of them hit like a truck?" Felix asked dryly.
"Well…" Her dad had a heavy hand, but nothing like Yang. "Nope."
"Then tell me when you do and wake up feeling your body sore…" He grumbled grumpily. "Bloody Pyrrha asking for spars against a bear of a man."
"Oh, you're talking about Mister Nicholas!" Ruby said, face brightening as he remembered the man.
"Oh, you met him?" Felix asked, receiving an eager nod from her. "Then I'll arrange a tortu—I mean, sparring session for you and your team."
Ruby deflated at the mention of her team. She hoped Felix didn't noticed, but for her bad luck he did.
"Is… everything okay?" He asked unsurely.
"Yeah just… the past few days haven't been great for team RWBY," She revealed. "Weiss is… she is being the best partner I could ask for, so that's great. Yang is coming out of the infirmary so that's also good. But Blake… I see bangs under her eyes that grow bigger every day and she doesn't even come to the dorm at night and when she's there at day then she's glued to her computer looking for things about the White Fang."
"Again?" Felix did a face that had Ruby shrinking. "Ruby, I don't mean to sound ungrateful, or rude but, that is what got you and your team in trouble in the first place."
"I know," she said, shrinking even more. "But it's important to her…"
"Uh-huh, and being a leader and her teammate is important to you," Felix said, as he grabbed a screw driver to work on the handle of his future weapon. "I know I'm not team leader, neither here or in Mistral, but if one of my teammates is going through an obsession, I think is time for an intervention."
"It's not an obsession…"
"You said she has bags under her eyes," Felix fired back with a sigh, making her flinch. "Has she eaten?"
"Some tuna in a can…" Ruby answered.
Felix didn't comment, instead finishing with the screw driver and checking the handle of the weapon. "Let's change the subject, okay?" He asked, giving her the handle of the weapon with a cheeky grin. "This baby isn't going to be finished by itself!"
Ruby brightened considerably. Guns and weapons were always a way to break the tension from her. As she took it and looked over it, she saw that it looks like Felix's gun but with the handle straightened to be more like that of a sword. Now it just needed the blade that would be compatible with Dust, like Weiss' Myrtenaster. Oh, that would be so cool!
"Remember, keep it simple," Felix told her making her pout.
"Are you sure you don't want a blade that can be imbued with Dust?" Ruby tried to convince him. "Imagine giving a slash and sending fire, ice, or wind!"
"Why don't you have one in your scythe?" Felix countered.
Ruby scoffed and crossed her arms proudly. "Crescent Rose can do that as a riffle."
"And so will my weapon as a gun," With his piece said, Felix turned back to the schematic leaving Ruby to grumble to herself.
"Fine!" She said, clear disagreement on her face. "By the way have you thought of a name?"
"Mmm… Nothing comes to mind yet," he said with a shrug. "Any suggestions?"
She tapped her finger in her chin and looked up in thought, before smiling and suggesting, "how about Cleaving Fang!"
The look on Felix's face said it all, he raised a hand and waved it in a so or so motion with an: "Eeeeh…" Coming from his mouth.
"… We'll think of something when its ready," Ruby said sheepishly rubbing the back of her head.
Felix chuckled and sat up, stretching his arms and smiling at her. "I think this was good progress," he told her grabbing the recently build handle and twisting it so it would look more like a gun. "Thanks again for this Ruby."
"Oh, it was no problem," Ruby waved with a proud smirk and a hand behind her head.
"If you need anything while I'm around, just tell me so I can return the favor," He crouched and spoke in a more sotto voice. "Even if you want to hide a corpse."
"Hmmm nope, I don't need one of those yet…" She replied back, making Felix snort. Hey! Progress in socializing! Take that, Yang!
Small victory aside, she actually fidgeted in place as she pondered on a question. "Actually… Since you heard about my team problems… Any advice to help Blake?"
Felix blinked and then scratched the back of his head. "Well, kind of a hard one but… If Blake isn't listening to reason then… let her deal with the consequences."
"E-Eh?" Ruby blinked.
"You are her leader Ruby, you know what's best for her, her other friends know what's best for her," Felix said in a firm tone. "If she can't see that she's harming herself then you've done what you could. She's not a little girl. Put her in combat class and let's see how that goes, that in a state where she can't even stay awake, she wouldn't last long."
Ruby looked to the side, rubbing her arm. "I don't know Felix…"
Felix gave her a smile, calming and reassuring. "I'm not telling you what to do Ruby, or putting a gun to your head to force you. Just what I would do in your situation. You have your own way, keep talking and maybe she will listen to reason."
"Yeah… I rather go with that," Ruby said nodding. "Maybe if we could leave the school we could take her some place to have fun. Even the dance would have been a good choice…"
"You don't sound so happy about the dance…" Felix noted, and she made a souring face.
"It's the heels, when we were invited, Yang wanted to put me on them and let me tell you: THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE!" Wow, that came out harder than she thought, but the others just didn't understand! Those hurt her feet…
"Oh, and the dress was also awful…" She said, with a wrinkled nose.
"But you are… already wearing one…" Felix pointed out.
She huffed and stomped the ground angrily. "It's a combat skirt!" Where was Weiss when you needed a high five?!
Felix guffawed, making Ruby pout angrily. "O-Okay, sorry."
"You're mean," she said, turning away from him.
"Hey I said I was sorry," He protested, and in a more nervous tone she heard him say. "T-Those this cancel the weapons preparation."
She might… If it wasn't because she enjoyed doing this a lot, and because Weiss wanted her to be a 'Spy'. So, if she quits now, she'll be depressed and receive an earful from her teammate, so she settled with a 'reluctant'. "Sureeee…"
"He, thanks Ruby, you're amazing," Felix turned around and walked back towards her dorm.
Once he was out of sight, Ruby smiled. Felix was a nice guy to hang around, maybe she could convince her team to give her a chance, but… First, she has to fix things with Blake…
Felix's words rang through, to make Blake see what this behavior might cause her, but… That sounded wrong, even now. She will just continue to talk with her, and with Yang back at the dorm things could go even more smoothly now.
With Ruby gone, Felix allowed himself to groan and roll his eyes. Her teammates this, her teammates that, that topic of conversation got really boring after a while. At least he could talk about his upcoming weapon, that baby was going to be amazing to use, not as good as his Plasma Sword, but it'll be a replacement that will hopefully be buried in Locus' throat soon.
As for the advice he gave her, well, if it was his honest opinion he would have told her to just get rid of the cat. The weakest link breaks the chain unless you cut it off it before it happens. However, leaving her to just go down this streak and suffering the consequences might be a way for Ruby to realize how much of a liability that scaredy cat was.
And one that happens, he will just have to do the same for the rest of her team, even his sister. To succeed in this world, one just has to look after themselves, that's how he survived in the war. That's how he made a name for himself once it was over, how he could drown in the luxuries of the world with women, money, and alcohol. He missed that life, and he would have been set for the rest of it if it weren't for Tucker, Locus and the rest of the Simulation Troopers!
He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. 'Nothing will be the same soon. Crater face will see how much of a liability her friends are and she will come to the only one who hasn't let her down yet… Me!'
It was the only way to prepare her for the real world. A world that was much more violent than the systems in the UNSC. It was thanks to her that he become who he is, it was only fair he will return the favor.
Now onto other news.
"Who will be the lucky lady who will go with me to the dance?" He wondered to himself. 'If only that delicious Ice-Cream girl was here…'
Yes, he has it bad for her. Can you blame him?! She is hot as fuck!
Blake drank from her… fifth? Sixth? Seventh? Cup of coffee as she typed more about recent news articles with everything that revolved around the White Fang.
From other Faunus manifestations that reminded her of the original White Fang, which might be targeted by the current one to scout for new members. To news about Dust Robberies, which had decreased ever since the docks incident he was in with her team.
Then she looked for news about Atlas and their armament. From armors to paladins, anything that might have been stolen and used by her former organization or by Torchwick… Or by those two armored guys.
The thought of them makes her clench her fists in anger. Specially the orange one, that one… she was at the side of a monster for a long time and she could now tell one a person was long past the point of shedding any ounce of sympathy or empathy. That man, whoever it was beneath the mask, didn't have any regard for the life of others. Twice has he used a person as a living shield, and twice has they gotten away with it…
As for the green one, those thoughts were more tame in comparison. If anything, she just felt frustrated that she wasn't able to defeat him, or how he was able to keep up with her clones. No matter from which angle she attacked, he knew where she was coming from like a sixth sense, or maybe just another added feature from those armors. Regardless, he was as much of a problem as the orange guy, even if he doesn't share his sadism.
She shook her head and took another sip from her coffee before she started typing again. Until she realized there was… something… on her desk. An annoying red dot was in her keyboard, she smashed it but the blasted thing appeared on the back of her hand.
"Grr…" She smashed it with her free hand, but it moved. Was someone pranking her?! If so, she was going to have words with them!
The dot moved around her desk until it moved down from it and behind her. She turned, glaring at the other students walking around, yet did not find the culprit. She stood up and walked after the dot, the annoying red light making her turn around bookshelf after bookshelf, until it came to a stop in front of a familiar pair of red boots.
"Hello~!" Blake's eyes widened as she looked up to see Yang standing in front of her with a wide smile and the laser pointer in her hand.
Glee, relief and happiness replaced her annoyance and she immediately wrapped her arms around Yang's neck. "Yang! You're okay!"
"Blakey!" Yang said in joy returning the hug. "Yup finally out of the stuffy bed and horrible food! Though, annoyed that we can't attend the dance."
Blake separated and her ears flattened under her bow. "I'm sorry about that, I know you were looking forward to it."
"Eh, doesn't matter, we'll have more in the future," Yang waved off. "But you and I need a lot to talk about," She put her hands on her hips with a frown. "How come you didn't come to visit when I woke up?"
"Sorry I was… busy…" Blake said. That and she felt guilty for involving Yang on her mission and getting her hurt in the first place.
Yang's frown vanished and was replaced by a frown of worry. "Yeah, Ruby and Weiss told me about what you've been doing and…" She grabbed her hand. "We need to talk."
Before Blake could protest, she was dragged away by Yang.
Yang sighed as she closed the door behind her. Not one day out of the infirmary and everything has suddenly become a mess. Bonds with NPR are definitely lost, they can't go out from the academy, they can't go to the dance, all things she already knows since she woke up and that Ruby and Weiss had done what they could in keeping her up to date.
The most recent cause of distress being her partner's behavior, how she buried herself more in investigating the White Fang and barely interacted with them anymore. Well now that she was awake, she was going to set things right. Blake's problem was not her investigating on the White Fang—well it was since they decided to stay away from them…—but that she didn't know how to slow down. She could relate to that… and that's why this talk was necessary.
Blake was sitting on a desk, arms crossed and scowling at her. Yang ignored it and sat cross-legged in the same desk, prompting Blake to sat up and start pacing. "Yang, if you're going to tell me to stop then save your breath."
"I'm not telling you to stop, I'm telling you to slow down," Yang told her calmly and trying to give her a reassuring smile, even down she felt the nerves devouring her stomach.
Blake stops and gives her a side-eyed glance. "We don't have that luxury!"
"It's not a luxury, it's a necessity!" Yang replied firmly.
"The necessity is to stop Torchwick!" Blake said. "If not us, then anyone! That's why I'm gathering so much intel, so they take this seriously!"
"He will be stopped, but you have to sit down and listen to what I have to say first, okay?" She gave pats to the spot in front of her so she would sit down.
Blake started at the spot for a moment before sighing and sitting down. "Fine…"
And so Yang took a deep breath and exhaled. This was going to be the story of her greatest failure as a sister, and it might help in fixing the problem her partner had. And so… She told her.
She told her about Summer Rose, her mother in all but blood, and how she disappeared on an unknown mission, how her dad fell apart and Ruby couldn't grasp the situation yet. And how she learned about her biological mother.
"One day… When I was cleaning the house, I accidentally knocked a picture frame; it broke. Up to that point I always believed it was a picture of my mom, dad, and my uncle. But when I took the picture, I discovered it was fondled all this time… there was a fourth person in it," She explained. "A person who looked like me in almost every aspect…" She sighed and played with her hair. "When I asked my dad about it he came out clean and told me who she was: my mother. But then he clammed up again and never told me more about her aside that she was their teammate and that she left me right after I was born."
Blake's eyes softened with sympathy and a bit of pity. "Why did she leave?"
"That's the question… Why?" Yang responded with a bit of bitterness seeping through as she sat up and walked to the board with a piece of chalk. "I didn't know the answer… But I was determined to find out. It was all I thought about. I would ask anyone I could about what they knew about her."
As she started to draw she told her how she found about the place where the picture took place. And how she—stupidly, recklessly, deliriously—put Ruby in a wagon when their father was out, to search for that place. And how when they found her, she was so tired she couldn't talk, and gave the perfect opportunity for Beowolves to attack.
"Had it not been for my uncle…" Yang finished her story, snapping out of her own trance and staring at the board, where she drew her uncle's symbol. "My stubbornness should've gotten us killed that night."
She sighed and rubbed her eyes, feeling chills as she remembered that awful day.
"Yang I'm sorry that happened to you," Blake started. "But this is different. I'm not a child, and this isn't just a search for answers! I can't just…"
"I'm told you I'm not telling you to stop!" Yang said, her emotions swirling at her words and the relieving of that memory. I haven't! To this day, I still want to know what happened to my mother and why she left me, but I will never let that search control me ever again. If we destroy ourselves while getting our answers then what good are they, Blake?! What good are we?!"
"It's not like I'll engage the White Fang right now!" Blake countered. "Not while Ozpin and Glynda are keeping their eyes on us. At least with this information they can do… something, even if I don't like leaving this to others!"
"You are not getting the point, Blake!" Yang said. "This is not just about the Fang or Torchwick, but for your own health! And even if it is just about those things, then if Torchwick and those… armored guys came through that door, then what will you do?!"
"I will fight!" Blake immediately said, standing up.
"You'd lose!" Yang didn't let gave her the chance as she shoved her back.
"I could stop them!" She argued again, standing up.
"You can't even stop me!" Yang told her, shoving her back once again.
Blake stumbled and regained her footing, by supporting herself in a desk. She turned to glare at her but Yang ignored her and stalked towards her, Blake prepared to fight back, yet all Yang did was wrapped her arms around her.
"I'm not asking you to stop. Just please, get some rest." Yang pulls back to look at her partner. "Not just for you, but for the people you care about."
Blake looked at her then down in consideration. And Yang felt relief for a moment, thinking that she managed to break through. Those hopes however where immediately crushed when Blake pushed away from her and turned around.
"I'm sorry Yang…" She said. "I know what you are trying to do but… If this can stop you guys from getting hurt again… I have to do it."
Yang's eyes widened and her hand went to her stomach, to the same place where she was stabbed by the guy in orange armor. "No… No Blake, that was nothing! Just a mistake!"
"And I learned from it," Blake said, backing away. "With what I research, we'll be prepared this time. That's why I can't slow down, I can't stop, and I can't rest!"
"Blake!" Now feeling annoyed and frustrated, Yang tried to reach for her partner. But Blake used her Semblance and dodged her before bolting out of the classroom. "BLAKE!"
She ran after her, bursting through the door and looking around for her. Yet found no trace.
Yang clenched her fists in anger and with a yell she smashed it on the wall behind her. "RAAAAAH!"
Leaving a crack that would no doubt give her problems later, Yang panted heavily and then her eyes clouded with tears. She put a hand to her mouth to avoid the whimpers and the small sob from the frustration she felt.
Because of her. It was because of her that Blake didn't want to stop; it was because of her that she was going to continue on like this. Because of her… and because of that bastard in orange!
"Yang?" She looked up to see Ruby, and felt unable to look at her eyes.
"Oh… hey, Rubes…" Yang said, trying and failing to look as if nothing happened.
Ruby didn't buy it and charged to her to wrap her in a hug. Yang's breath hitched at her throat and she hugged her back. "I'm… I'm sorry Ruby, I couldn't… She didn't listen…"
"It's okay Yang…" Ruby reassured her, yet for all her good intentions it only sank Yang even further. It felt as if nothing she did as of late was helping anyone around her.
"W-What do we do now?" She asked, hating how her voice broke mid-sentence.
She felt Ruby sighing in her grip before parting from the hug. Like her, she looked distressed over what was happening with their friend. "For now… We… If she isn't listening to reason then… maybe we should just let her be…"
Yang gasped and took a step back. "Ruby!"
"Yang…" Her sister looked tired, far too tired from the energetic fifteen-year-old from just a few weeks back. "Blake needs a wakeup call and words aren't making the cut… maybe she needs to see the consequences of… of… her actions?"
"You don't sound sure…" Yang sighed.
"I'm not…" She admitted. "But I can't think of anything else at the moment…"
Yang ran a hand through her face, before deciding to go back to their room with Ruby following her. It honestly disconcert her that such an way of thinking came from her usually meddling—in the best way she could use the word—sister, but with their recent losing streak maybe she was right and they should just let Blake be. And deliver her a 'told you so' when she sees the results of such a burn out.
Even if she hates it… Even if she wishes she could prove they could solve this as a team.
This party was stupid, the teenagers were stupid, Beacon was stupid, Remnant was stupid, Locus was stupid. Everyone was stupid except for him.
It didn't matter that the children around him were having smiles on their faces, dancing and chatting or even sneaking away possibly to pop the cherry of their dates. All of it was utter stupidity for Felix, who stood near the bowl punch with a sour look on his face.
Teenage girls were so immature and tasteless. They couldn't tell they had the perfect prospect of a man in front of them even if he ripped off his shirt and pants to truly show what he has to offer. No, they all already had dates with their teammates or friends from another teams, or some exotic person from one of the other academies… blegh!
He came from freaking outer space, hello!? What's more exotic than that?!
Downing on another punch that he wished it was alcohol, he focused on another given task by Cinder. Keep an eye on the headmaster, the teachers, and on Nicholas so they can do their plan in peace. And as of now he could see the headmaster on a corner, Goodbitch and Irondick waltzing on the dance floor. And the teachers being way too distracted chatting to really pay any attention.
Now where was…
"Not having a good time?"
Sneaky bastard! He was lucky he didn't have his weapons in him!
"Oh!" Acting startled, Felix turned back to smile at Nicholas. "Mister Arc… You scared me."
"Hahaha, sorry son," Felix's eye twitched at that word, unnoticed by the laughing Nick. "It's just that I noticed you here by yourself, might as well say hi after the hospitality your team showed me."
"Thank you…" Felix said, trying to sound as harmless as possible. While keeping his voice from the squeaky tone the man might recognize. "And how are you finding the party?"
"Nostalgic," Nicholas said, crossing his arms over his chest. "My team was a full men team, so we were all scrambling for a date at the last moment."
Nicholas nostalgic tone was drowned by Felix's annoyance. In his mind, this was the same as a senile old man rambling about nonsenses. Who cares about his stupid team members. He never even mentioned them when little Jauney was alive, so who cares?
"… And as luck would have it she said yes!" Nick said boisterously giving the young man a pat on the back that almost knocked him over.
Knowing he had to react in accordance, Felix smiled with fake glee. "Of course, she would! You are a great guy mister Arc!"
"Hahaha!" Nick laughed at his praise. "Yeah, Juniper said that was the reason for her to accept at the café…"
Felix paused. Juniper… That was Jaune's mother. He blinked as the image of a beautiful woman with blonde hair struck his mind, smiling, frowning, laughing, angry. Many faces went through his mind, all owned by the same person.
"You okay there, son?" Nicholas asked, putting a hand to his shoulder.
"Oh… yeah just zoned out for a second," Felix said, shaking his head. Those were a dead man's thoughts, useless thoughts. Focus on the present, damnit! "Just thinking how lucky you got… should have though of asking people outside of Beacon." He ignored most of the conversation, but the café part gave him a good idea of how it developed.
"Ah, the past is in the past…" Nicholas said, while looking somewhere else. "We… can't fix the problems there, but we can do the best in the present."
Great, now he's throwing his words back at him.
The man's hand landed on his shoulder and pointed to one of the balconies. "And you might have a chance now."
Felix blinked, and he noticed that in that balcony was Pyrrha. Wearing a red dress and looking down. "What is she doing there?"
Nicholas shrugged. "Why not go and find out," he said giving him a pat in the shoulder.
Felix resisted the urge to groan and nodded.
Once again, this whole situation was just stupid.
He approached Pyrrha, the girl barely noticing his presence until he made himself known with a simple. "Hey."
"Oh!" She jolted and turned to him. "Felix! Hello, again!"
Felix crossed his arms and rested his back on the railing. "What are you doing here by yourself? Where's the lucky guy?"
Pyrrha's face turned into a frown and sighed. "If you're talking about my date then… There's no 'lucky guy.'"
Felix raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" That was honestly shocking. Nikos was not someone he would ever be with, but he thought she would have some simps waiting in line for this chance.
"No one asked me…" She said in a dejected tone.
"No, I get that part. What I don't get is why," he said, because it really baffled him how stupid teenagers are. "You are top popular girl on the first years. Even more so since Team RWBY got detention. At least some cocky guy who thinks himself above others should have tried."
Pyrrha sighed. "While that would have been better than nothing…" She muttered. "It's because of my position, I'm constantly surrounded by love and praise, but when you're placed on a pedestal like that for so long, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place."
Felix blinked. "That's dumb."
Pyrrha snorted. "Maybe…" Again, she slumped. "Only one person treated me as their equal right away. Not in terms of skill, but on a more… personal level. Saw me, met me, and talked to me like I was not a big deal. And now he's gone."
Oh my god. Arc again. Arc, Arc, ARC!
"You're partner…" He said, in an understanding tone.
She nodded, her eyes becoming misty. "I… I failed him. He told me his secret and instead of pushing on, to try and understand better where he was coming from I pushed him away, make him feel cornered… It shouldn't have mattered his background, just his intentions… Some partner I was…"
Ugh. He couldn't continue with this mopping party anymore.
"Pyrrha, you will hate me for this, or maybe just be angry at me," Felix said, trying to reign in his true feelings. "While I did said what Jaune did required balls and I don't doubt he was a great guy… He made his bed and he laid on it."
Pyrrha gasped and looked at him with wide eyes. Yeah, yeah, cry him a river.
"And while I do wish that he is safe… At least for your, Ren, Nora, and mister Arc's sake," He continued. "You should not put so much burden into yourself."
Pyrrha looked away, with hurt in her eyes. Grow the fuck up for Pete's sake. This was the real world; people already have to deal with their own shit to deal with others.
Again, pretending to sympathize, he put a hand on her shoulder that made her tense but didn't push it away. "You have to live in the present and not think so much in the past, learn from it, be better from it."
Be stronger, be faster, be smarter than those you've surpassed in the past to crush those from the future. That's the way to survive in this world.
"Who knows, maybe if Jaune appears, you can help him in your extra time so he can try to apply again," And since everything in this team revolved around Jaune, let's add him again for extra motivation. Yay…
That got a positive reaction as light surged back into Pyrrha and she looked at Felix with a beaming smile. "You're right… Thank you, Felix."
"No problem!" He gave her a charming smile that had made women swoon in the past. "Now… I'm not some cocky guy who thinks himself above others" He knows he is. "But may I have this dance."
He offered a hand to her which she accepted with a smile.
The two moved back to the building where he saw Nicholas giving him an approving nod. Felix almost rolled his eyes. 'You didn't do jack-shit.'
The song was a moved one. Not a slow down to waltz to, but the two still held hands and moved their feet at the beat of the music animatedly. Pyrrha more so than him.
It wasn't anything special. Just a stupid dance. Yet to Pyrrha it seemed like the best thing she ever had, she was laughing as she dance and twirled around in Felix's hands. With Felix smirking in return, just so he could up with his good boy act.
Pyrrha was a person that could achieve so much in life if only she would shed her morals. Those didn't mattered in this or any other world, that's what the war showed him. Carolina got that message at first, he heard about how she hunted down anyone related to Project Freelancer. Yet those Sim Troopers had to ruin everything as usual.
He already had his hands full with Ruby, shame… He could have found a way to teach her how his methods worked. His true methods. Oh well, can't have them all.
"Excuse me…" They stopped dancing and turned to see Emerald and Mercury, the former giving them an embarrassed look. "Hi, Felix!"
"How you doing man!" Mercury waved.
Feeling a pang of annoyance, he returned the greeting. "Hi, guys. What's up?"
"We just wanted to see how you were doing tonight," Emerald said, though there was an undertone that just outright asked 'what the heck are you doing?' "We're not… interrupting, are we?"
Felix turned to Pyrrha and held up a finger. "Give me a minute, just one."
"O-Oh! Sure…" She let go of his hand with a smile and he nodded, walking away with the two undercover assassins.
Once their backs were turned, Emerald sneered at him. "You're not here for fun, you're here to keep an eye on those surrounding us!"
"Oh yeah? I got my eye on Nick over there and the Invincible Girl, isn't that enough?!" He snarled back,
"It would if you weren't distracted just as Ironwood got out from here," Mercury pointed out, pointing him to Glynda, who was now chatting with Ozpin.
Felix clicked his teeth. "Shit. Is Cinder…"
"I'm fine, dear…" The three turned to see Cinder walking towards them with a fine black dress and glass heels. "Don't take it against Felix, our job here is done anyway."
"Then," Mercury held out his arm. "If I may."
Smiling deviously, Cinder took his arm. "Go back to what you were doing Felix, you have another task to fulfill soon. So go and enjoy the rest of the night. After all, it's a party."
Shrugging, Felix went back to Pyrrha who had reunited with Ren and Nora and were chatting amicably.
Yep. Tonight, was a stupid night…
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