Chapter 10

I'm a dead man. I am literally a dead man waiting for the execution.

Jaune idly wondered if it was worth holding his breath to end it all now, or whether that would be too much emotional scarring for the two students sitting opposite him. He certainly knew which result Neo would vote for, considering the way she kept glaring at him from the corner of her eyes, in between smiling at the conversation the other two were having with them.

"I just mean Oobleck gives so much homework, it's impossible to keep up with it!" Yang complained, while Blake did her best to mitigate – no doubt worried the complaints would offend him. On the contrary, he knew the reason Oobleck gave so much was because the hyperactive man actually thought twenty pages was what the average man person could compose in ten minutes.

Oobleck honestly thought he was being kind.

"Well girls, homework is homework." Jaune laughed, desperately trying to figure out where he was supposed to put his hands. He wanted to rest them in his lap, but that was obviously dangerous territory now. Was he supposed to put them on top of Neo's legs? He had a feeling that would get him killed.

In fact, he had a feeling making any sudden movements towards the small girl would result in his head coming off.

The girl in question shuffled subtly, trying to manoeuvre the two of them into a more comfortable position, preferably one where his length wasn't running perfectly between her cheeks. Instead all that happened was his lower body twitching lightly at the friction, even as his breath caught in his throat.

"Quit it." He whispered urgently, his voice low enough that their two guests wouldn't hear anything. "You're not helping!" She shot him another dirty glare at that, clearly suggesting that he wasn't really helping matters either. Another shuffle pressed her small rump directly onto his tip, causing him to lurch reflexively, his arms wrapping around her stomach to keep her still.

Predictably, that action failed to please her. If the nails digging into his hands, which were joined romantically over her stomach meant anything. She finally kept still however, settling back into him in apparent realisation of how futile it was. Honestly, if she just kept still then it would probably go down of its own accord.

The two students hadn't seemed to realise their predicament, instead continuing to talk about their classes – a simple safe question Jaune had asked in order to get the two of them talking. His mother had once said it was easy to pretend to pay attention and be polite, that the true trick was just finding what they wanted to complain about. Then you could tune out and visit your own world while they yapped on.

Or in this case, he could take the time to try and calm himself down, and force his body to bloody well relax already!

But who could blame him!? She might be a criminal, a possible psychopath and vicious beyond all belief, but there was no one who could say Neo wasn't sexy as all Hell. She was exotic, cute, curvy and so incredibly soft and warm in his lap. He could perfectly feel her soft cheeks pressing into his crotch, and her warm legs moulding against the inside of his thighs-

No no no no NO! Stop thinking that!

The images were impossible to dispel however, and had the expected result, with him hardening even further. Neo flinched in his lap, brows shooting up as she looked back at him as if to say Seriously!? More!? There was even some colour coming to her cheeks.

I can't help it! He tried to transmit back telepathically.

Funnily enough she didn't seem to agree with his claim, and stated to lazily tap the heel of one of her boots against his shin. A subtle motion, almost as though she was doing it without thinking and rocking one of her feet back and forth. He might have believed it a nervous habit were it not for the metal-capped heels repeatedly driving into his shin.

He had no idea how Yang and Blake could have failed to notice the way he kept wincing and flinching, thankfully the two seemed locked in their own conversation – this time discussing Port's class. He could tell that if it weren't for his aura, his shin might be broken by now – but that knowledge did little to alleviate the pain he was feeling at that moment. It was causing his entire body to tense up.

Let it be said, Jaune Arc was not a masochist, never had been, never would be. It must have been a reaction to the pain, perhaps his muscles contracting or something. Or the blood rushing to his lower body, something… he definitely was not turned on by pain, despite what his further hardening member suggested.

He closed his eyes in a desperate attempt to ignore the pain as Neo increased the speed of her kicking tenfold.

"Okay you know what? I think you've learned your lesson!" Jaune shouted out suddenly, cutting into their conversation. "I trust if we call the detention here then I won't find you sneaking into my rooms again?"

"Of course not sir." Blake promised, bowing her head to him slightly.

"Don't worry, we know our way around now. No getting lost." Yang teased, getting another elbow to her ribs from Blake. "And I can't help but think you're getting rid of us for some late night action, eh? Eh!?"

"Yang! I'm sorry about her sir, she doesn't engage her brain." The dark haired girl apologised, dragging her partner behind her as she made her way to the door. Before they left however Yang leaned her head back in with a grin.

"If it's casual then that means he's still on the market ice-cream girl. Don't rule me out yet!"

The door slammed behind them, as the blonde motor-mouth was dragged away. Perhaps he should have focused more on her words, but all his attention was for the literal bomb in his lap, which was likely to go off at any moments.

Neo teleported off him the moment the door clicked closed, and it was a literal teleportation too, semblance enhanced or whatever she did. She reappeared across from him, standing up with one hand rubbing her rear and an accusing expression on her face as she watched him.

Jaune swallowed.

"Now Neo…" He began nervously, as she watched him with baleful eyes. "I think we can both agree this was a bit of a weird situation eh? Almost funny if we look back on it, ha ha…" His laugh died unconvincingly… as did his hoped of her considering the matter an embarrassing accident.

She looked positively murderous, eyes flicking between colours so fast he could hardly follow them. Slowly, and deliberately, she lifted up a spoonful of ice-cream to her lips and licked it off. He hoped she didn't notice the way his eyes followed her tongue.

Libido, please!

Perhaps the sugary treat calmed her, as a lazy smile came over her lips. She inspected him with a smile, eyes both settling on a light cream as she sashayed towards him, hips swaying from one side to another. Jaune's throat locked up instantly, as his eyes zeroed in on her.

Holy shit, had he misread the situation entirely!? She did seem unusually embarrassed by his actions… could it be? Could it seriously be!?

"N-neo?" He tried, as the girl leaned forwards and settled one finger on his knee, before a second and third joined it, her palm resting against his trouser leg, fingers splaying out to the inside of his knee. His breathing quickened as those digits trailed higher, tracing up towards his crotch

She looked up from staring down at him, coyly smiling.

Right before she slammed the freezing cold ice-cream down on his painfully erect member.

Jaune screamed.

~~~~~Professor Arc~~~~~

"I'm going out into Vale today." He said to the unnaturally still pile of blankets inhabiting his bed, doing his best to ignore the slight glint of something sharp and metallic in the darkness. He definitely wasn't running away from his own room in fear of Neo, he just wanted to go shopping and see the sights.

He'd thought his punishment last night to be the end of it honestly…. A quick and painful revenge for what was ultimately an embarrassing accident. Surely they would both laugh and forget about it?

The baleful eyes staring out from under his covers suggested not. Really, she was like a cat whose tail you had stepped on four days ago. Holding a grudge until the end of time.

There was a rustling from the sheets as the girl within them sat up, keeping the blankets wrapped around her pyjama-clad form. Which appeared to be a set of comically-large flannel nightwear in various shades of pink and cream. She held the blankets tight around her shoulders, covering herself from view as though she expected him to try and cop a feel at any moment.

Okay, he probably deserved that. Though it would be a brave man indeed who dared to try and touch the girl when she was wearing that kind of expression.

"So I'll be out of your way today, there's ice-cream in the freezer…" He trailed off as her eyes continued to follow him, still narrowed as though tracking his every move. He couldn't help but be reminded once more of a feline. A very angry house-cat, that was considering the most efficient manner in which to eviscerate him.

"K, bye!" He shouted out as he slammed the bedroom door closed behind him, grabbing his wallet and heading out towards the Bullhead docks.

Even motion sickness seemed preferable to being around certain death. Perhaps a little bit of time apart would make her forgive him?

Ha, yeah right.

Vale was as bustling as ever on a Saturday, crowds milling between shops and cafes as people took subtle pleasure in whittling away their free time. Jaune blended in with them easily, taking a simple joy in having absolutely nothing to do, and being able to revel in that lazy fact.

It was something he planned to participate in as well.

Classes were finished, and because he wasn't an official teacher with his own class, there was no homework he needed to look over. He even had himself sorted for the following weeks lessons, which were limited because there was some kind of first-year outing coming up.

All in all, it was a good day to do absolutely nothing, and Jaune Arc was a master of that skill. There would be no crazy lessons, no Grimm being let loose in class. No teenage girls sneaking into his room, and definitely no brushes with angry criminals liable to take his head off at a moment's notice.

Either of his heads!

No. This day was marked down as a day of lazy rest, of de-stressing and relaxing.

Which was why it came as some small surprise, when he went from standing upright with a can of grape-juice in one hand. To lying flat on his ass with a set of rock-hard abs threatening to smother him.

"Ow." He offered as greeting to the admittedly-fabulous pectorals.

"Shit, that hurt." His new friend greeted back.

"Professor!?" A soft feminine voice questioned from somewhere nearby.

"Hrro." Jaune attempted past bronzed skin, even as the weight above him was pulled off by someone. "Hello Miss Belladonna." He tried again, letting out a defeated sigh.

One day… just one fucking day…

Was that really too much to ask?

~~~~~Professor Arc~~~~~

"Sorry 'bout that teach!" The blonde faunus apparently known as Sun Wukong apologised, waving both his hands dramatically while holding a cup of tea with his tail. Jaune couldn't help but follow the movements of the prehensile limb as it lifted the mug to his lips so he could take a drink. Idly he wondered what Ozpin would give up to be able to do that.

"It's fine." He allowed, blue eyes flicking between the monkey faunus and his own student, who seemed significantly less content than she had just the previous night. At this point though it was none of his business, there were a million little reasons to feel down – but this was a weekend. His weekend. And he wasn't going to spend it working as a student counsellor when he didn't have to. He made to leave. "I don't want to be a spare wheel though, you two enjoy your date."

"What? It's not a date!" Blake refuted angrily, recoiling back as though stung at the idea. Jaune didn't fail to notice the other blonde wince at the blow to his ego. Jaune could empathise.

Ouch.

"Actually Professor, sir… I think I need to tell you something." She sounded solemn, broken, even as her amber eyes stared down into the tea before her. Jaune sighed as he fell back into his seat, seeing his day vanishing before his very eyes.

Damn his bleeding heart. He just hoped it would be something easy to work thro-

"I'm withdrawing from Beacon."

Or it could be something incredibly dramatic like that. No, it's okay life, it's cool. Free time was for the weak, right!?

"Why?" He managed to force out, leaning forward to listen to the unnaturally quiet response. Just last night she had been fine. Absolutely fine, with not a problem to speak of. What could possibly have happened in the intervening fourteen hours!?

"I've caused discord in my team, I don't think I can work together with them anymore."

"Miss Belladonna, you realise that teams have arguments all the time. There's no reason to feel so bad about it." He reasoned. Wondering what he was supposed to say. What he was supposed to do. She didn't want to leave, that much was oh so obvious from the expression on her face.

"I believe the damage is irreparable, it's best I left."

"Best for who?" He tried. She and Yang had looked so close last night… and he knew Ruby thought the world of her team. None of them would want to see her go, and he was sure Miss Schnee was the same, strange hobbies about ninja notwithstanding.

"For everyone."

"Bullshit!" Jaune accused, causing the girl to jump at the sudden tone. "Don't presume to decide what's best for others Miss Belladonna, to me it looks like you're just running away because you don't want to face them."

"I'm not running away!" She hissed angrily. Finally some emotion from the girl other than misery, though he couldn't help but wish she had chosen agreement or acceptance.

"If you withdraw without even talking to your team, then it's running away. You're not even giving them a chance to make up with you."

"Teach is right y'know?" The blonde faunus agreed holding his fist out towards Jaune. He felt foolish, especially since he was apparently older, but he still bumped it. "You don't know what your team's reactions gonna be like. You all looked pretty close from what I saw."

"You don't even know what this is about!" The girl hissed at the two of them, reaching up and tearing her bow from her hair. Jaune watched curiously, as two appendages that should not have been there twitched furiously.

She was a faunus… that was new.

"Sooo…?" Jaune trailed off, unsure what her point really was. There were plenty of faunus at Beacon, and while he was aware that some of them were bullied – he knew team RWBY never took part in that. "I don't see your point."

"I'm a faunus!" The girl clarified needlessly, pointing up towards her ears. Now that he thought of it, he did wonder if that meant she had four sets of ear canals, what must that feel like?

"I have eyes Miss Belladonna." Jaune rolled them to prove his point. As though he couldn't tell what she was when she had done a dramatic reveal like that. But what did it prove? It would be like him tearing his shirt open to prove he was a man. A very scrawny man, but still a man!

The girl laughed, almost brokenly as she placed her bow back in place, hiding the incriminating ears from view.

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised." She sighed, eyes closing. "Someone like you, who was taken on as a teacher so young. Of course you would realise… you're too perceptive to not have known. I wonder how many others did the same… was my disguise really so pointless?"

"Uh… yeah. Sure." He agreed with a nervous laugh, wondering where she had got the idea he had figured it out himself from. Still though, yeah sure, he was a highly perceptive hunter. That was definitely what he was…

"There's enmity between humans and faunus." The girl explained, pausing to drink some tea. "The Schnee family especially has fought with faunus for years… to discover I am one of them, Weiss was not pleased."

"Well that sounds like Weiss' problem as much as yours." Jaune pointed out. "Besides don't the Schnee just hate the White Fang, it's not like you were one of them as well, right?" The girl went silent, though he could see the way her nails tightened on her mug, and how her head drooped. "Right?" He tried again. "You can feel free to deny that now..."

"We were different back then…" She attempted, while Jaune could only look to the ceiling for answers. Seriously Remnant? Come on… throw me a freaking bone here!

"Does Ozpin know?" He asked uncertainly. She was his student… but she was also a terrorist, or an ex one… but more than that he dared think she might have been his friend had things been different.

He liked her...

"He does. He let me in regardless." The faunus answered, making Jaune nod. Well if Ozpin knew and accepted her then it should be fine… he could trust Ozpin to be in contro-…. Okay, he could trust Ozpin to be a responsib-…

Well at least Ozpin knew, right!? That had to count for something!

"If Ozpin accepted you, then I'm sure he had the utmost faith in you. It's enough for me too." Jaune comforted, hoping he sounded more confident in his boss than he actually was. In his defence, it was Ozpin...

"It's not as simple as that." The girl laughed, putting down her finished cup with a light clink. "I don't think things will ever be as they were."

"You're the only one complicating things Blake." The girl smiled at him, the first true smile he saw from her this day, one he could remember from when they first bumped into one another at the book store. When she had looked pleased of his defence of the faunus… which made more sense now.

"You called me by my name." She said simply. "Thank you Professor. For your attempt to help me, in the past and here. In hindsight it seems obvious now how you spoke of helping faunus who felt discriminated against to me. You were offering your help, should ever I need it. I'm… so sorry I can't keep studying under you."

She stood up then, slowly walking from the diner. Jaune let his head fall back, a soft curse slipping from his lips.

Failure.

You couldn't help everyone… but how he wished he could.

"I'll keep working on her!" The blonde monkey faunus promised, darting after her with a quick wave to the abandoned teacher. He supposed it was now on their shoulders… time for the students to fly on their own.

It might have been more poetic if he knew how to fly himself… or was even a real teacher.

"Sir, are you ready to pay the bill?"

Fucking Blake…

~~~~~Professor Arc~~~~~

Ruby sighed as she trekked through the streets of Vale with her new… friend. It was just like Yang to abandon her when she needed her the most, or whenever it was convenient for her to do so actually. And now she was stuck trying to explain to Penny exactly what the situation was with Blake.

She half-wished she had listened to their advice the first time and said they weren't friends… except that she could never be that cruel to an absolute stranger.

"So you're angry with your friend because she wouldn't talk to you?"

"Yes Penny." Ruby sighed for what must have been the tenth time. Explaining to Penny just what friendship meant seemed to be more difficult than she had first thought. "Now we need to find her and talk to her, before something bad happens."

"I see. I will help you of course friend Ruby."

"Thank you Penny." Sigh number eleven. "But we could really use more people to help us search." Actually she could really do with Yang and Weiss, though maybe it was better they split up – cover more ground and all that.

"What about asking him for help?" The ginger-haired girl asked, pointing towards a nearby diner.

"Penny we can't just ask any random-" Ruby began, only for her silver eyes to widen at the man she saw leaving the diner, his blonde shaggy hair falling across his face. "Professor! Perfect Penny!"

He would help her right? It was his job to help with students, and he was a full hunter unlike her. So it was like doubly his job or something.

"Professor!" She greeted, appearing before him with her semblance. The man leapt back slightly, no doubt caught off-guard by her sudden appearance. Sue her, she was worried for Blake! Enough in fact that she didn't even feel the slightest bit nervous talking to the guy she definitely didn't have a crush on. "We need your help!"

The Professor in question look down on her, blinking once, before looking to the sky.

"Why do you do this to me!?" He asked towards the clouds, making Ruby cock her head and look towards Penny. The ginger-haired girl shrugged back. "Sorry about that, of course I'll help. I'd be thrilled to help you."

"You would? Oh I knew you would Professor, thank you!" She gushed, rushing forwards to wrap her arms around him. The man only seemed to sigh louder at that, muttering something about unfairness. "It's Blake." She explained.

"She's a faunus - and she was in the White Fang and didn't tell you all, correct?" He cut in, making her gasp in shock. He had figured it out too!? Was it that obvious? Or was he just using his super hunter powers of deduction to figure it out almost instantly?

That was amazing!

"Yes! Yes that's it, we're trying to find her so we can talk with her. Please help us!" She clasped her hands together as she said it, doing her best to turn on the water-works which she knew usually worked with Yang. Not that she ever admitted she did it on purpose.

No way, that would be totally manipulative right?

"Alright, alright… I already said I would." The Professor surrendered, causing Ruby to cheer up instantly. Heh, always works!

"Ruby, I don't understand, is this man your friend too? Is he your boyfriend?"

"Wha! Penny no!" Ruby gasped, cheeks blazing as she shook her head in the negative. "He's my professor!" They hadn't even gone on a single date yet, or even held hands, or kissed! Or even really given him the slightest idea that she was interested now that she thought about it…

"So he's not your friend?"

"Ugh… Jaune this is Penny. Penny this is Jaune." She introduced instead of answering, walking onwards and trusting the two to he wanted to try and understand what she was talking about, then more power to him. He was a counsellor, this was what he did, right? Fix people who were very obviously broken.

And Penny had more than a few screws loose.

"I am her Professor at Beacon." Jaune explained as the two walked behind her. "Despite that, we're still friends I believe."

Ruby nodded, making a sound of agreement so that they could hear it. She didn't turn around to face them though, hoping to keep the victorious smile on her face hidden. Damn right they were still friends, just because he was a teacher didn't invalidate that friend-making process they had gone through.

She had even shown him her weapon, that made it official.

Plus, him seeing her as a friend was one step away from him just treating her like a student. Which meant it would be one step closer when she could figure out how to make him see her like a woman! There would need to be much milk-drinking when they returned to Beacon. She had to grow quickly!

"I see…" The girl trailed off, making it fairly clear that she did not see. "Can you explain then Mr Professor Jaune Sir, why Blake and her team are having this altercation?"

Oh come on… hadn't she already explained it like super-well already!? And what was with that weirdly long title?

"It's quite simple I suppose. The Schnee family and the faunus are bitter enemies, and Blake revealed that she was a faunus all along – causing immediate tension in the team. That she also once worked with the White Fang only made it worse."

"But Weiss and Blake were friends before." Penny explained. "How could they now not be friends? Weiss liked Blake, and Blake was no less a faunus with a bow on."

"It was because she never told us." Ruby piped up, eyes dropping to the floor. "Weiss feels like Blake lied to her, by tricking her into liking her and then revealing what she is. It probably wouldn't have even been a problem if Weiss knew in advance."

Ruby still believed it was shock more than anything, that made Weiss react as she did. If she truly hated faunus as much as Blake claimed, then she wouldn't have been so angry at seeing Cardin belittle Velvet. Weiss hadn't been cackling evilly then…

"I don't understand why Blake would keep such a secret then." Penny explained. "If she knew it was going to be revealed in time, why not do so immediately?"

"It's not always that simple though." The Professor sighed. "Sometimes the secret is too large, sometimes it's big enough that you know no one would ever forgive you if it was revealed. After a while you get so used to keeping it. So used to lying, that you start to believe it's true yourself. Blake might not have realised she was even keeping it anymore… the bow had become more a part of her than her ears ever were."

"That's sad." Ruby sighed, turning to face the two of them. "I don't understand how you could live like that though, or how Blake could… if you don't tell the truth when you meet someone, if you just pretend. Then how can you even make friends with people? If I pretended to be someone else, then I wouldn't be Ruby."

She didn't want to think that of Blake though… didn't want to imagine that it had all been a lie, some fake persona she had put on to distract them from the truth. She didn't want to think that one of her precious friends wasn't a friend at all.

"It's… not always that easy." The Professor started, before looking away with a frustrated sigh.

"I have secrets Ruby." Penny whispered emptily. "Will you stop being my friend?"

"No!" Ruby shot back, holding her hands out to ward off a sudden explosion of tears. Or worse, endless questions. "No, it's not like that Penny. It's… it's hard to explain."

Thankfully her favourite Professor came to her rescue, resting one hand on Penny's hair and ruffling it, as the girl looked up to him confusedly.

"You shouldn't try to understand friendship Penny." He explained with a light laugh. "It's not something you can put into simple definitions and categories. It's simply something that is."

"Something that is?" The girl parroted, looking up at the older man. "I see… I think then… I think you're my friend too Mr Professor Jaune. Am I right?"

In her defence, Ruby tried to deliver to him the warning she had ignored just earlier that day, waving her arms in a no motion from behind the girl. The Professor watched her uncertainly, his answer to the overly-friendly girl dragging out as Ruby urged him to save himself and just say n-

"Sure?"

You know what? Screw it, she tried. It would be nice to have someone to suffer alongside her.

"Sensat-! No. Double sensational! Two friends in one day! I am, as they say, on a roll!"

Good luck Professor… you'll need it.

~~~~~Professor Arc~~~~~

"I don't think this is working friends." Penny was the first to speak as darkness began to settle over Vale. Giving voice to the cynical thoughts they were each no doubt harbouring. Ruby didn't want to admit them, didn't want to admit that they might have failed.

Even now she begged for her scroll to go off, to alert her to the fact that Yang had come through and found her; that everything was absolutely fine and Blake was back in their room eating tuna and reading porn.

That things were normal.

Even if normal meant Yang and Blake were making out somewhere.

As long as it wasn't her bed, ewwww!

"We might need to call this off Ruby…" The older male sighed, making her shake her head angrily.

"No, we can't!" She complained. It was bad enough Blake being missing during the day, but the idea of it being dark and Blake not returning was one she couldn't accept. Where would she sleep? What would she eat!?

"We're not going to be able to find her in the darkness Ruby." The man explained. "She's too quick, not to mention she clearly doesn't want to be found."

"We just need a sign." Ruby urged, half-begging to any powers above.

"Ruby…" He sighed again. "We're not just going to get some kind of `here I am, come fine me` sort of event. What are you even expecting, an explo-"

Their conversation was interrupted by a loud explosion, even as the three of them turned to look at a thick plume of black smoke coming from the docks.

"That is an explosion." Penny pointed out needlessly.

"More like deus ex machina." The Professor mumbled.

"There's a fight at the docks!" She gasped. It had to be Blake, it just had to be! She didn't know why, or what she could be doing – but she'd asked for a sign and this had been delivered, so that made it fate, right? "Let's get over there!"

"Whoah." The Professor slowed her, grabbing hold off her hood so that she fell back onto her rear. Ruby pouted angrily up at the man, crush or no. He wasn't meant to pull Yang moves on her like that! "We can't just rush in there, if there is a fight then it's going to be too dangerous for you."

"Blake might be in trouble though!" Ruby argued. Couldn't he understand that? "I'm sure it's Blake!"

"With all the trouble your team causes, I'm fairly sure it's Blake too." He shot back, rubbing a hand on his forehead. "But the point is only criminals are going to be fighting her at this time of the night, you're not ready for that. I'll call for backup from Beacon. Let the teachers handle it from here."

"Backup!?" Ruby exclaimed, climbing to her feet and yanking her hood from his fingers. "It's not the job of hunters to call for backup when someone is in trouble! We have to get there and help her!"

"You're not hunters!" He shouted back, raising his voice to meet her own. She recoiled at the words, their meaning striking her far worse that he likely thought it would. "Not yet anyway. Stay here. I'll get backup."

He's worried about me. She realised… perhaps that thought should have pleased her… in any other scenario it would have. Might have made her stomach feel funny, and her head swim dizzily. But all it did now was ignite a flame of frustration within her.

He wanted to look after her. She could understand that. It was his job, what he was meant to do. But she was a team leader, and she had responsibilities too. And those didn't include letting her team-mate face things alone.

"I'm sorry Professor." She spoke, causing him to glance up from his scroll in confusion.

She caught him off-guard. She knew in any other situation she wouldn't have had a chance, but with her semblance and his complete lack of attention to her, she was able to barrel into him, knocking him to the floor. She did her best not to notice the betrayed look on his face, or the guilt it caused inside her. He was just trying to protect her.

"I'll save Blake!" She promised as she shot away, Penny following after her.

She tried to ignore him shout her name angrily.

~~~~~Professor Arc~~~~~

"Ruby!" He shouted out angrily after her, one hand reaching out uselessly from his position on the hard paving slabs. The two vanished quickly however, rushing towards the docks with reckless abandon.

They would be killed. They were just children… teenagers beginning to learn to become something more. Damn it, he was no better! A teenager pretending to be something more. There was nothing he could do to help them, in fact he was weaker than any of them.

He couldn't even stop her from going. Too weak, too slow… too distracted.

Damn it.

Team RWBY was falling to pieces. First Blake, one he hadn't been able to sway with words. And now Ruby, who had rushed off into a danger she knew nothing about. Swords and scythes didn't cause explosions like that… there was serious danger going on over there.

He shouldn't intervene.

What use would he be even if he did?

He would already need to explain come the morning what had happened with Blake, how she had withdrawn from Beacon and fled… he might even need to explain that to her team. Tell Weiss and Yang how she had given up on their friendship.

He imagined telling them that Ruby had died as well.

He couldn't imagine it.

Wouldn't.

"Jaune?" Glynda answered his call, even as his feet dragged him to his feet and towards his destination. "What's wrong?"

"There's an attack on the docks, explosions. Ruby Rose went in without backup, or even knowing the situation." He could hear the gasp coming from the stern woman, could understand her fear. He felt it just as keenly. She was his student. One of his special students.

"I'll be there in ten minutes." She promised, and he could already hear her slamming a door behind her. "I'll be there personally!"

"I'll be going on ahead." He whispered back, wondering if it would be the last words he spoke to his colleague. He knew he wouldn't be of any real use in a fight like this.

"Good luck." She replied as the call ended.

Luck… he would need that, wouldn't he? Or a miracle.

~~~~~Professor Arc~~~~~

Ruby climbed the last rung of the ladder onto the roof of the warehouse, rushing across it with Penny in tow. She wasn't as reckless as her Professor probably thought she was… not after her uncle had finished training her. Sure she could have rushed in there without a plan, but this would give her a chance to scope out the area from a safe spot and give her the advantage of high ground – not to mention a good firing angle.

Why could no one realise she wasn't a child? Just because she was two years younger didn't mean she had no idea what she was doing!

It was just as she'd feared though… with smoke billowing about she could see the blonde faunus guy from earlier, fighting a bunch of guys in uniform. And of course she could make out the distinctive form of Torchwick in his bright white coat. Fighting in melee with Blake.

Damn it Blake, you're meant to be the smart one aren't you?

He was clearly older than them, and judging from the way he was knocking her about with his cane he wasn't having too much trouble with her. Even with Blake using her semblance to try and distract him.

"Hey!" She shouted out, hoping to distract Torchwick before he could hurt one of them.

"Hey Red." He shouted back as Blake fled away from gunfire. "Isn't it past your bedtime?"

"Are these your friends?" Penny asked, drawing Ruby's attention as she tried to warn her new friend back, lest she be in danger. It was at that moment, when Penny's eyes widened, that Ruby realised exactly what she had done.

Qrow would have had her head – taking her eyes off the enemy. How could she claim to be an adult, if she made stupid decisions like that? She saw Penny's mouth open, heard the tell-tale sound of a rifle of some sort discharging.

Prayed that her aura would be enough to deflect it, even as her silver eyes turned back to see something red and angry shooting towards her. She could have dodged it… should have, but in that moment of panic her brain failed her.

"Move!" A voice shouted angrily, even as she was thrown to the side by something slamming into her. As she stumbled, her legs finally deciding to respond to her commands, she caught side of her Professor, before he was engulfed in a wave of fire.

"Jaune!" She screamed, realising he had taken the blast for her. Saved her. She didn't even consider that he might have died – didn't have time to really. Almost as soon as he was struck, the night-time breeze blew the smoke away. Revealing him to still be standing, albeit that he was leaning heavily on one leg, his clothing blackened on one side.

He was alive though, and in that moment that was all that mattered to her.

"You stupid idiot." He cursed, angry blue eyes zeroing in on her as she felt the desire to shrink into herself. That gaze… reminded her so much of Qrow, during his angry moments. They had all been for her safety too… "Didn't you even think what would have happened to us if you were hurt? Did you not even care what your sister might feel? What your friends might?"

"I'm sorry! I had to save Blake though!" She tried to defend herself, tears stinging at her eyes. Beside the two of them Penny leapt from the roof, angrily shouting that no one would hurt her friends. Ruby didn't see any of it though, unable to look away from the injured man looking at her – when he looked to be in so much pain. Emotionally as well as physically. "I'm sorry." She tried once more.

"You know, this is really heart-warming." That hated voice interrupted, even as Roman leapt from a Bullhead so that he was stood on the rooftop with the two of them, cane swirling lazily in one hand. "Mind if I interrupt?"

"Get back!" She ordered, leaping in front of the injured Professor and slamming her scythe blade first into the ground. She didn't feel confident about her chances, but he had gotten hurt protecting her. Now it was time to repay the favour.

"Oh hi Red. Nice job there by the way. Really impressed me." She grit her teeth at his taunts, knowing she deserved the scorn. "And you must be the new teacher I've heard about at Beacon eh? Are you really meant to be watching over them on weekends though? Seems like someone takes their responsibilities a little too seriously."

Oh Gods… the teachers at Beacon were fairly famous weren't they? The kind of famous that could make them targets for criminals, especially if they were already injured trying to protect stupid and idiotic students like her.

"Mind if we have a private conference Professor?"

"Like I'll let you!" She cried out.

"Ruby. Help Blake." Her Professor ordered, causing her to freeze. She didn't look behind her though, she had learned that lesson. "Blake needs your help with the thugs, leave Torchwick to me."

"You're inju-" She tried, only to be interrupted as he shouted.

"Obey at least one order Miss Rose! Get down there!"

She grit her teeth. Obey… follow his orders, and leave him to Torchwick when he was injured? Those weren't fair orders at all! She could fight beside him, could be of use to him… and he would just throw her away like that?

"Go on Red." Torchwick urged with a laugh. "Mummy and daddy are speaking."

"Get Blake out." Jaune urged. "Trust in me a little, eh? I'm a hunter for a reason."

Trust in him? She cried out in anger as she leapt from the roof, even as tears stung her eyes. She would trust in him. Like she had her mother so long ago… but if he let her down like Summer had…

She wasn't sure how she would cope.

~~~~~Professor Arc~~~~~

(Omake)

Jaune sighed as he placed another marked homework sheet into the done pile, picking up another from the remainder as he looked at the almost illegible scrawl across the pages. Who the Hell wrote with such crappy hand-writing!?

Yang… of fucking course…

"Thank you for agreeing to help me with this Jaune." Glynda spoke from across the desk, the two of them awake long after others had gone to bed. Marking papers wasn't something he would normally have signed up for, but he really did owe her a favour for the work she did at Beacon.

"No problem." He offered back, taking a sip of coffee for some blessed caffeine. "Why the rush for this stuff though? It's not like you to leave it so late." This had to be returned to the students tomorrow, hence their rush.

Hmm… maybe Yang would just get a B. Saved him actually having to try and decipher it. He marked it so, hoping Glynda didn't notice.

"Normally I would have had it done by now, but Ozpin was causing his usual problems." The woman sighed, rubbing her forehead with her fingers. "He was trying to assign 10% of our budget to send our chefs to a barista school."

Jaune laughed at the thought. Honestly half of what Glynda did at the school seemed to be cleaning up after Ozpin's mistakes.

"You know… I've always wondered why you aren't the Headmistress." He admitted, getting a surprised expression from her. "I mean you're much more focused and efficient, and honestly Ozpin only ever seems half-interested in teaching anyway."

The woman blushed at the praise, looking away from him for a moment to cough.

"Honestly the position never appealed to me. Not like it did Ozpin… this position was his goal for quite some time."

"Really?" Jaune asked, not having expected that of the man. "Do you mind telling me how he became Headmaster? If it's not too much trouble, I mean."

The woman paused, placing her pen down on the table.

"I suppose we could both use a break… let's see… it was at least fourteen years ago…"

~~~~~Omake~~~~~

Twenty-three year-old Glynda Goodwitch walked down the corridors of Beacon with her teammates Ozpin and James, the three of them angrily making their way away from the main auditorium.

"Those old fossils." James Ironwood cursed. "I don't know how they believed forcing the faunus into menagerie would be successful – all they did was fan the flames of war with their stupidity."

"The Council did have popular support." Glynda pointed out, despite agreeing with his words whole heartedly. "Beyond that, they had the support of the Beacon faculty. There's political power to be had in the ones who train the hunters in Vale."

"It is because they are fools." Ozpin spoke, looking away from them out of a window. "The Professors here will be the first to lose their positions in the upcoming fallout. I would not be surprised if the Councillors lost their seats too."

"Careful Oz." James warned. "Those Professors still have power enough to make your life difficult. They could sabotage your chances of applying for work now that we've graduated."

"Especially if they hear you mouthing off like that." Glynda added. The Professors were just bitter enough to try and take them down as well… she hated them as much as the other two did.

"That is a foolish suggestion." Ozpin replied. "For I will become the new Headmaster of Beacon. I shall replace them."

The three of them went silent at that sudden proclamation, James turning to look towards her as if to ask if she had known that dream. Glynda shrugged her shoulders in reply.

"That sounds like a terrifyingly bad idea." She replied instead, imagining how bad he would be at the job. He could barely even handle leading their team, and half the time it felt like she was doing it anyway…

"I have to agree with Glynda there Oz." Ironwood laughed. "Why do you even want the position? It just sounds like hard work."

Ozpin didn't face them. Instead looking down at the students milling around outside. First years she believed, still so fresh and open to new ideas.

"There is responsibility in this position, yes." Ozpin began suddenly, drawing their gaze. "He who rules Beacon shapes the future of all hunters in Vale… for better or for worse, they hold the future of the Kingdom in their hands. It is a grave responsibility, and yet what lessons they impart will live on forever. Decisions I make, would last for generations."

Glynda watched her leader, stirred by his words, and the promise within them. Did he truly think the position so powerful? Perhaps he was right… and if he truly believed it so important to their survival? Perhaps she could help him…

"And with that power…" He continued, turning to face them with one fist held high. "I would make it so that all huntresses wear…. Combat miniskirts!"

There was a dead silence in the hallway at that proclamation, even as Glynda let her face fall into her hands.

"Ozpin." She began. "That is the most-"

"Genius idea I have ever heard!" Ironwood shouted, rushing forward to take Ozpin's hand. "You're an inspiration to us all! I'll follow you to the ends of Remnant!"

"It's lunacy!" Glynda exploded, smacking James over the head so hard his feet collapsed beneath him. "It's also complete harassment! Not to mention pointless!"

"Pointless?" Ozpin crowed. "Combat miniskirts allow complete freedom of movement."

"No chances of clothing getting snagged on things." James cut in, black eye forming.

"Are cheap to maintain."

"And improve morale!"

Glynda watched the two of them evilly. She might have been more accepting of their arguments, if it wasn't for the trails of blood dripping from their noses.

"Wait, would Glynda have to wear one too?" James suddenly asked, causing her to grip angrily onto her baggy trousers.

"But of course!" Ozpin declared.

"You have my loyalty forever!" Ironwood screaned, falling to his knees and rubbing his face onto Ozpin's leg like a faithful dog. Ozpin simply nodded his agreement, staring off into the middle-distance.

"I'll die, before I let you perverts force me into a skirt!" Glynda screamed out, smashing one fist into the top of each of their heads.

~~~~~Omake~~~~~

"And soon after he went on to become Headmaster." Glynda sighed, pushing her glasses further up her nose.

"Riiight." Jaune mumbled, blue eyes inconspicuously looking down beneath the table, at his colleague's legs, and the skirt they came from. As his eyes trailed back up her form, he froze at her angry green orbs meeting his.

"Not…. One… word."