A/N: Who wouldn't be suspicious of Professor Ozpin? It's a surprise for the young Shadow Hunter to be standing by his side even if it means being able to help his sister Amber. But even Amber has shown to have her doubtful moments with Ozpin. Then there's Raven warning about what'll happen if Patrick were to stay with Ozpin's group. What will he decide?
Chapter 31: Framed Suspect
Two weeks have passed since the day Patrick wondered about Professor Ozpin. Ever since Raven met him on that day, Patrick felt himself wondering. Raven has a bad reputation as a bandit, trusting her would be the last thing he should do to her. Yet she seems to know Ozpin almost as much as everyone else. He certainly knows that her brother Qrow is working for him, so that could be evidenced enough of Raven containing knowledge of the mysterious man.
Every day it's the same. Classes. Lunch. More classes. Occasionally helping out the Student Council by Mashika-Force. Visiting Amber. Whenever he sees Amber he can't help but keep thinking about what Amber thought about Ozpin. Even though she had her doubts about his character she will choose to work with him as his Fall Maiden.
This morning, something different happens. Everyone is gathering at the wall in the foyer. Patrick and Selena take notice of the scene. "What's going on over there?" Selena asks.
"Beats me." Patrick says.
Patrick and Selena make their way through the crowd. When they reach the front, they take a look at what is happening. Only they see Akira is in front as well. "Akira? What's happening here?" Much to their surprise, there's no response from her. She's just frozen with a red shocked expression on her face. "Akira?" Selena is waving her hand in front of Akira's face. Still no response.
Selena then decides to see what it is Akira is starting at, and she is in shock as well. Patrick is the same but can feel rage building. The bulletin board is completely filled with inappropriate photos of girls. Nude shots, dirty photos, sexy poses. All the bad stuff. What's even more: All of the girls are actually students of Beacon. And Akira is one of them.
Seeing that picture, Patrick rushes up to that picture at great speed, ripping it to shreds right on the board while shouting aggressively. He breaths angrily heavy after the Akira picture is shredded. Selena is shaking Akira by the shoulders. "Akira. Are you there? Come on, say something." Akira doesn't. Even with that picture gone, she's still frozen.
Earnest and Rayla make their way through the crowd. Rayla takes notice of the photos and gasps. "My word. What ill-mannered barbarian would do such a nasty action?" Earnest shrugged his shoulders, then pounds his fist onto his hand with an angry expression. Obvious upset about this.
"Akira. Come on." Selena turns to Earnest and Rayla. "Earnest, Rayla. A little help?"
Rayla doesn't say anything, but Earnest, he nods, then he points his fingers to his ears. Selena, Patrick, and Rayla look at him wondering what he's talking about, then notice he's covering his ears. The three of them get the idea and cover their ears. Then Earnest gestures he's putting something on his ears, and he's holding something in one hand, holding it out directly at Akira. He presses his index finger on the invisible object and...
BLARE!
A loud air horn blares and it startles Akira. The young Faunus falls to her side. With that done, Earnest silences the invisible air horn and he and the others look down at Akira. "Thank you, Earnest...I needed that." Akira says, monotoned.
Rayla helps Akira stand up.
"You don't think they're real?" Selena asks.
"I'm pretty sure that you and I both know Akira wouldn't get involved in something so repulsive." Patrick says.
Akira glares at Selena. "Honestly, I am shocked you would even think for a moment that is real."
"I-I didn't mean it." Selena says.
"Now, now. Let's not get over our heads. Arguing against each other won't solve a thing." Rayla says. Akira realizes Rayla is right and calms down. "But I must say, I wonder who...Wait, what's that?" Selena, Rayla, and Patrick look at what Rayla's pointing. On the bottom corner of one of the pictures, there's a sign. It looks like an S with arrows on both ends, and an H under the S, with the left line of the H being long and piercing through the S, an arrow on the end, and a feather tail on the bottom, while the second line of the H is the normal height with arrows on both ends.
When Patrick sees it, he is shocked. Horribly shocked. 'It...can't be...?'
"What is that? Initials of a name? Some kind of sign?" Selena asks.
"I can't say for certain," Rayla says.
"It's strangely familiar," Akira says. "What do you think, Pat-" Akira turns only to find Patrick is gone. Only a dotted line figure of him where he once stood blinking indicating his sudden disappearance. "Hey, where'd he go?"
"Wasn't he just here behind us?" Selena asks, and Earnest shrugged his shoulders.
Patrick ran from the scene until he's at an empty hallway. He is slamming his fist against a wall, panting in exhaustion. "Damn it! Some prevented sicko is going around posting such revolting pictures of girls...and even worse, they're using my symbol on them." Patricks fist on the wall quivers in rage. "Grr. If everyone finds out about that symbol, they'll think I did it." While raging for a short while, Patrick takes a deep breath. "Okay, Patrick. Just stay calm. Just act like nothing's wrong...and try to find that creep without drawing suspicion."
The day goes on for the students of Beacon. It is lunchtime right now in the cafeteria. Many of the students, mostly girls, cannot relax after the event that's happened this morning. Patrick is a little one edge about it as well even though he doesn't show it. He tries to remain calm but Glynda's announcement doesn't help.
"Attention all students of Beacon. As some of you are aware, this morning an unacceptable event was acquired in the foyer of the bulletin board being covered with unmentionable inappropriate shots of the female students of this academy. I am here to assure you that such tolerance is unacceptable here in Beacon. We will find the culprit and will be dealt with effectively and immediately."
"Headmaster Goodwitch sounds pretty serious." Marlene says.
"I hate to think what she'll do to the culprit responsible for this." Selena says.
"Who would be low down and perverted enough to do this?" Akira asks.
In the silence, everyone stares at Peter. Peter looks around to notice all eyes are on him. "It wasn't me."
"He's right. Peter may be a Purr-vert but he would never do something so dirty." Clawdia says.
"Well, if it wasn't Master Peter, then who else could be responsible?" Rayla asks.
The girls and Peter go on about their conversation wondering who is behind all of this. Patrick tunes them out as he is lost in his mind. He can't turn off seeing his own symbol being on those pictures. As far as he is concerned, nobody in this school knows about his mercenary life as the Shadow Hunter. Ozpin might know given to his mysterious nature. Mashika might also have known.
Patrick doesn't know all here in Beacon but he does know many of the people in his Mercenary life as the Shadow Hunter and there is no way any of them other then possibly Raven would even be able to set foot on these grounds.
Patrick mind returns to reality when a sudden piece of paper falls in front of his eyes and lands just before his meal. He's surprised to see it. Patrick looks to his left to see nobody, then to his right, and sees a girl walking away casually. Judging by her back appearance he believes it's Rin. He then returns his attention to the note and opens it, reading what's inside:
'Auntie wishes to speak to you after class.'
Patrick has a feeling he already knows what this is about.
Time goes on for the rest of the school day. Finally, it comes down to Mashika's classes. Patrick finds it a bit surprising she's not affected by her male students staring and drooling all over her. He assumes she would be taking this kind of treatment seriously after certain events happened earlier today.
The final bell rings. "That will be all for today, we'll continue this session tomorrow." All of the students stand up from their seats and make their leave. All except for Patrick. He just remains seated at his desk. Once the whole room is clear, Mashika approaches before him. "I take it you were able to get my message, Love?"
"Why else would I still be here?" Patrick asks.
"Don't know. maybe trying to find the culprit that framed you?" Mashika asks.
Patrick scoffs. "So you know about that?"
"I know your symbol when I see it, Mister Shadow Hunter." Mashika says in a teasing tone. "But I'm sure you already know that this is a serious situation."
"You think I don't know that?" Patrick says.
"Now, now, just calm down, Love." Mashika says. "Whoever is behind all this clearly has it out for you to go this far. I'm even positive that whoever is behind this is the same one who set you up in the girl's shower."
"Do you have to remind me of that incident?" Patrick asks. "But, you might be right. I think so too." Patrick stands up from his seat. "Now, if that is all-"
"Not so fast." Mashika says. "There's a reason I wanted to speak to you after class."
Patrick is surprised to hear that. "I thought that perverted creep on the loose was it."
"It's true I wanted to talk to you about that, but that wasn't the reason." Mashika says. "The reason I called you here is to tell you that it's time we speak to Ozpin about it."
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Patrick asks.
"It's not like we have any other choice. It's our only opinion." Mashika says. Patrick doesn't say anything, but instead, he nods in understanding.
Patrick and Mashika leave the classroom and head for Ozpin's office. When they arrived, they find the headmaster sitting at his desk. They explain to him what they are planning to do and the situation behind it all. Ozpin listens well with a stern expression on his face. Once they are finished with their story, Ozpin speaks.
"I see. I understand the situation you are under, but I'm afraid it's not a request I can just simply grant." Ozpin says.
"Are you sure there isn't something you can work out, Professor Ozpin?" Mashika asks, practically begging.
"Hmm..." Ozpin folds his hands together and closes his eyes as he thinks. "...Well, I do have one position available. I suppose I will allow it, but I will observe it for myself and see how well it goes."
"Thank you, Professor Ozpin." Mashika says with a bow. With all that done, Patrick and Mashika take their leave. They ride the elevator to the ground floor. "Well, that went better than I expected."
"I agree as well." Patrick says. "Let's hope this works out, and that they don't find out."
The elevator doors open to the ground floor, Mashika and Patrick exit. "Try to lay low, Love. We don't want to attract any attention of our unwelcome guest." Mashika says.
"He'll be the one who has to lay low once I find out who he is." Patrick says.
Patrick returns to his dorm. For the rest of the day, he just remain with his team. Selena and Akira are feeling very uncomfortable about the photos from this morning. Marlene is at her desking inspecting the photos, searching for any traces of fingerprints or hair on them. But found nothing. Even tried searching the internet for the symbol on them, but haven't found anything. Now Patrick is feeling uncomfortable knowing Marlene is trying to search for his symbol.
"Well, did you find anything, Marlene?" Selena asks.
"Nope. Nothing." Marlene puts down her tools and removes the magnifying glasses. "Whoever did this was thorough with eliminating their tracks. No fingerprints, any locks of hair. I can't even find out what this symbol means."
Patrick lets out a silent relief. "Whoever is behind this is more clever than we anticipated." Akira says.
"I agree a Mastermind. So that leaves out Peter." Marlene says.
"Honestly, this whole thing makes me worried. We have a creepy pervert on these school grounds." Selena says.
"And what does that make Peter?" Patrick asks himself.
"What if...What if he comes for us?" Selena starts shaking nervously as her mind is plagued with dark thoughts. "I don't want to be bound and violated. Not again."
"Gaia all over again." Patrick says with an annoyed sigh.
"That's not going to happen, not as long as we stay together." Akira asks.
"That is indeed a wise thing to do in a situation like this. Nobody would dare to go after a group of people when it's only just one of them." Marlene says. "Besides, we have our fearless leader who also has a very strong hatred for characters such as this mystery creep. He'll never let anything happen to us."
"Damn right I won't!" Patrick says, getting aggressive. "If I ever find that bastard, he'll wish he was never born."
"Uh...Great. I feel safe?" Selena says with an awkward expression and nervous laughter.
For the rest of the night, everyone stays in their dorms. Glynda is on the hunt in finding the criminal student responsible for the photos from this morning. But comes to no avail. For Team PASM, Akira, Selena, and Marlene are soundly asleep in their beds. Patrick just lays in bed wide awake. He can't turn his mind off after seeing his own symbol being used in those photos.
The next morning, all of PASM gets up real early. They check the bulletin board to find even more of those inappropriate photos on them. Much to Patrick's worries, they are carrying his symbol on them.
Team PASM tears down those photos, rip them up, and toss them into the nearest trash can. "This is ridiculous. I thought Glynda was investigating at night for that guy." Marlene says.
"If Glynda can't find him, he's more clever than we thought." Akira says.
"Well, we can't do anything about it right now, let's get to class." Marlene says.
Patrick and his family starts heading to their first class. When they arrived they take their seats. Patrick is silent the whole time with a stern expression on his face. The classroom is filling up and the teacher still isn't here. He remembers the conversation him and Mashika had the other day.
'Professor Ozpin may have agreed to this, but please be on your best behavior.' Mashika says him.
Patrick lets out a sigh hearing that. "I just hope she doesn't say anything. I'm already regretting this."
When class starts, Professor Ozpin arrives. The students sit quietly as the Professor begins his speech. "Hello, class. As you all have known, your professor has retired last semester and I have been filling in for him. Well, today a new professor will be taking over this class. Bear in mind that she is a last-minute decision and very new at this, so I expect you all to treat her with the upmost respect as you would with every other professor."
The classmate's mutter with each other. '"I feel like I'm having another lecture from Mashika." Patrick says to himself.
Ozpin takes his sit beside the professor desk. Once the room is silent, footsteps echo in the class. The new professor arrives. The students stare at her as she walks in. Once she's in position, she turns and greets her students with a warm smile.
"Greetings, Students of Beacon. My name is Professor Rishima-Sapphire, but you may call me either Rishima or Sapphire." Marina gives her students a bow. "I look forward to being your professor."