Nm

Akiza's POV an hour later-

Watching the kids file out of the room, most of them sluggish after getting their asses handed to them by her monsters, Akiza couldn't help but think that she might have a thing for teaching. "~Perhaps it's the legal ability to harm others and suffer nearly no repercussion?~" Akiza wanted to say something to that but she didn't exactly have a good response, so she just settled for letting the Dowager have that.

Akiza looked over to her coworker, who was fixing some gouges left by Gazelle. "That went well, right?" She was genuinely curious since she had no experience teaching.

Glynda hummed in response, and going by the emotions she felt from asking her question she was feeling hopeful. "Aside from all of the damage done to my classroom," The look Glynda gave her made Akiza look away, embarrassed. It wasn't her fault they broke the arena as often as they did. Sure she could've controlled them and fought the kids herself, but she didn't exactly have practice controlling monsters for as long as the class was.. Which was something she'd need to train now that it was brought to her attention. "I believe it would be safe to say it went well."

Akiza mentally smiled at that but raised a brow at her coworker. "Only 'well' hmm?" She'd summoned a few Dragons, she thought she earned more then a 'well.'

Glynda matched her look. "I didn't know your ego required constant appeasement Akiza. Perhaps I should recall Mr. Winchester or the others of his team?" Fuck... Akiza had to admit that was good. Glynda must've known it too since she smiled at her and turned back to the classroom, a hint of smug in her emotions. "But still, I must admit seeing creatures such as Dragons and Beasts challenging our students is quite an experience." She could practically hear the appreciation in her tone.

That, and the fact she knew Glynda was being genuine, was enough to make her smile. "I'm sure having two cuties cuddling against you was another good point, no?" Seeing her coworker have to keep herself from reacting when Blue and White Rose Dragon started vying for her attention was quite amusing, so she just had to tease her with it. Her boys were just like dogs in that department while Red and Roxrose Dragon were her cats.

And just as she hoped for she saw Glynda turn her head to hide her blush, it wasn't a lot, just a slight reddening of her cheeks, but it was enough for her. "Though I do believe some students will require a reassigning of opponents should they not show any improvement by next Thursday." That was an obvious attempt to wave it off so Akiza saw through it.

With a smirk on her face she leaned towards Glynda, White and Blue Rose Dragon appearing over her shoulders with a brief mental call as she did. "Oh? Is it only the students or should I reassign some 'partners' to my co-professor as well?" Akiza saw Glynda's hand twitch, especially when her boys started cooing at her and flying towards her. They didn't drape themselves over her shoulders like they did earlier, staying just out of reach, but they were close enough for their coos to really get to her.

She was determined not to give in, but she eventually lost against her boys and gave in. The blonde glaring at her as she gave her boys their scritches. "This means nothing!"

Akiza just smugly smiled back. "Whatever you say Glynda. Whatever you say." The blonde just kept glaring at her, but it was ineffective since she could tell it was more out of embarrassment then anything.

Still, Akiza could get used to this. She could definitely get used to this.

-Ruby's POV a bit later-

Nora dropped her tray on the table, bonelessly following it as she all but crashed next to Ren. They'd managed to make it to the lunch room after getting their collective butts handed to them by Akiza's monsters, and were all tired, even Blake and Ren were visibly tired after their first Combat class. "Whyyy does slime hurt? It's not supposed to hurt!" Ruby mentally winced at that, kind of feeling bad for Nora. She hadn't known what to expect when Akiza summoned a giant slime monster to fight Nora, but seeing it turn an arm into a copy of Magnhild to take one of Nora's hits and then swing its other arm, which also took the form of her hammer, into her friend was not it.

Yang snorted. "Atleast you got to hit your guy! That stupid birdbrain just kept flying away from me and taking potshots!" Ruby didn't want to po...-

"But wasn't that the point?" She was going to hug Pyrrha. Even when Yang groaned she kept going, cutting open her apple as she did. "They were chosen because they would be difficult for us to fight against. If we won on the first try then we wouldn't learn anything." Yeah, she was definitely going to hug the redhead.

Pyrrha had undoubtedly fought the strongest thing there, so if she wasn't complaining then they shouldn't either right? It just made se...- "Says the girl that fought a DRAGON." Why was her Sister the way she was?

Hearing that just made Pyrrha blink and turn to Yang, a look of confusion on her face as she did. "Yes? I have an inkling on why my opponent was chosen, don't you?" Yang flinched at that, and Ruby could guess why. Pyrrha was honestly asking her if she didn't get it, complaining would just make her feel bad.

There was a lull in the conversation, she had to take advantage of it! "Actually, how're everyone's weapons looking? I think Crescent Rose might've been chipped trying to cut down that super giant soldier guy and I'm actually kind of worried." And she meant it! Trying to cut stone with a weapon was cool in shows but so not cool in real life. She was going to have to work on her babies blade after hitting a literal wall. (Thank whoever did our schedules for putting Weapons Maintenance/Forging right after Combat!)

Blake and Weiss sighed at the same time, shared a look, then just sighed again, apparently too worn out to get annoyed at each other. "That brute with the sword, 'Silent Swordsman' if I remember correctly, may have certainly tested Myrtanaster steel... I'll get it checked over later..." She frowned for a moment before shaking her head and turning to Ruby. "Thank you for bringing it up."

Ruby beamed at Weiss, this was progress! "No problem Weiss!" Her Partner looked at her for a bit before turning away and picking up some of her food. Ruby didn't mind the reaction, she had proof that Weiss was opening up to her and that was great!

"I'm more worried about my clothes then Gambol Shroud. That monster I fought has uncomfortably sharp claws, and I don't have a lot of spare outfits." Blake's bow twitched, making Ruby wonder if that was a tell or something. Uncle Qrow taught, or tried too really, her and Yang about tells for when someone was lying or not saying everything. Yang didn't pay much attention to it, but Ruby was grounded around that time so she didn't really have much else to do but listen to him talk. "Didn't help that it bleeds too."

Ah, there was a point. "It's just a little blood." They all looked at Nora, and even Ren to an extent when he nodded. "What?" Ruby had no idea how Nora could be inadvertently weird, but who was she to judge? The rest of them shared a look and somehow decided that no, they were not going to question that. "But yeah, Magnhild might need some... Ugh, work. That's gonna suuuck! What about you Fearless Leader?"

Jaune looked a little nervous being called out, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head as he answered. "Crocea Mors should be fine... But uh, I won't be against some maintenance. I might need some help with it though since its uhh... Been a while, since I worked on them?"

Ruby had a weird feeling that Jaune was hiding something with how he was acting, but before she could think about it Ren cut in. "Storm Flower will need a sharpening but that will be all." A man of a few words he seemed to be.

"Milo and Akouo will be fine, but a bit of maintenance would be prudent... Though I will also need to think about adding some fire retardant coating before class. I'd rather not have to rebuild them should they get distorted by the Dragon's breath." They all got quiet at that, making Pyrrha blink and look around the table. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Surprisingly it was Weiss who responded. "The fact Dragon flames is a genuine concern is still something we are wrapping our heads around." Practically the whole table nodded, making Pyrrha awkwardly chuckle. "Though while we are on the topic, you said you had an idea why that was your chosen opponent. Would you care to elaborate?"

'Oh absolutely!" Pyrrha absolutely lit up, practically glowing as... Oh, no, she actually was glowing since her Aura was flashing. Pyrrha had to really be excited to lose control of her Aura like that.

She must've realized what was happening due to them smiling or something since she blushed and reigned it in. "W-well, for me I gained an inkling after Alexandrite Dragon threw me into the air." Yang snorted, while Ruby was surprised that she knew it from the start. "I'm so used to guarding a straightforward attack that even when my opponent was different I did it instead of dodging as I should have." Ruby and a few of the others nodded at that, because seeing Pyrrha try to tank a Dragon's fist was hilarious now that class was over. "Then there was when I was airborne and had to act before the Dragon reached me. I didn't have time to think, so I had to act." The way Weiss, Blake, Ren, and Surprisingly Jaune, reacted made Ruby think they figured it out. "When it kept pressuring me I realized what was happening."

Thinking about it made Ruby frown, why would that... Oh! "You had to fight!" Pyrrha, even before the Dragon roared in her face, had moments where she didn't seem to know what to do. They were short and she was forced to act but they still happened.

Pyrrha smiled widely at her and nodded along. "Yes! I felt it during Initiation but outside of the Deathstalker it was too far and in between to really notice. But back in class I could really tell that the tempo of fighting people and Grimm, as well as that Dragon, are vastly different! I had to adapt on the fly and just move instead of reading what my opponent is doing and responding accordingly." Then she sighed, but like, a happy one. "And I lost." That... She seemed happy about it?

"... You seem real happy about that champ. Wanna share?" Ruby wasn't going to ask but she was curious too.

Pyrrha smiled again, idly eating the slices she made as she answered. "It's... Freeing, in a way. For years I've been the 'Invincible Girl', the 'Champion of Mistral', and so many other things that never truly mattered. But now I've lost, now I see something that I can improve on and a way to better myself, and I want more of it. I want to better myself as Pyrrha Nikos instead of as the 'Invincible Girl.'" That... That was wow.

No one really knew what to say to that, but the silence wasn't awkward or anything, it was more thoughtful... And while everyone reacted differently, Weiss thoughtfully staring at her food, Blake, Yang and Ren looking at where their weapons would be, and Jaune and Nora looking at her in admiration... Ruby realized that yeah, she could really see herself being friends with Pyrrha.

-Akiza's POV a few hours later-

After the last class of the day left Akiza slumped in her chair, manifesting her bouquet of Rose Dragons to cuddle with as she did. "I'm gonna need to work on that more then I thought I would." She'd never realized how tiring summoning upwards of a dozen monsters for over a four hour period could be. There had never been a moment where she could safely spam monsters back in New Domino like this, so she'd never had to flex this aspect of her Psychic nature. That was probably why she'd never known how taxing such an endeavor was.

Glynda stood beside her, reflexively catching Blue Rose Dragon in her hands as she reached out. "Do we need to rework the schedule?"

Looking up to Glynda's honestly concerned eyes made Akiza grin, despite how mentally tired she was. "No, I'll be fine. Getting used to this kind of strain will most likely be good for me in the long run." And it would. She wouldn't always be able to just nuke her surroundings by summoning the Dowager, or use a Field Spell like Black Rose Garden that didn't differentiate between friend or foe, so being able to summon a kill squad while her own Spirits supported her would be a valuable ability to have. And who knew, maybe it would help her with her issue with the aforementioned Field Spell(s).

Still she did like the concern Glynda had for her, and knew she couldn't let the chance she had go. She smiled at her coworker, telekinetically waving her braid in front of her face like a fan. "But talking about times and schedules so soon? How forward of you Glynda." It was a minor stretch but she could still make it work. These last two days had helped smooth over any issues they might have, though they weren't all gone they were comfortable enough to flirt with one another if they could fit it in. It helped that she knew Glynda appreciated her flattery, even if she didn't show it.

Though she didn't see it she felt Goodwitch's amusement, even managing to earn herself a minor twitch of the woman's lips, which was a win her books. "If you're exhausted after only four hours of work then we may need to rethink this relationship, Akiza." Her eyes widened at that, making the blonde woman smirk at her and cross her arms beneath her prodigious chest. "Truly, a sign of how far experience can take someone."

Akiza stared at Glynda, gobsmacked that the woman had damn near called her a virgin to her face. It wasn't helping that Black Rose Dragon, the only one in her Soul right now since the others were on expeditions to the Plant and Spellcaster planes, was roaring with laughter. "~Oh my bloodstained heir the audacity of this woman is splendid! Truly, you must make her yours to reclaim your dignity!~" Truly she could tell the Dowager was living for this.

That, as well as when she fully processed what her friend said, because anyone that could say that to her to her face deserved to be thought of as a friend, she laughed. Her bouquet scattered off her as she stood up and smirked at her friend, crossing her arms beneath her own chest as roses both red and black bloomed around her as stepped towards her friend. "Ohhh Glynda, I am going to enjoy making you eat those words."

Not to back down from the perceived challenge Glynda's eyes and smirk grew a competitive edge, taking her own step forward and pressing her chest against Akiza's, a sense of desire flickering beneath the blonde's emotions. "And I will look forward to proving them towards you Akiza, preferably after you've seen the folly of your actions and are recanting them beneath my heel." She could feel Glynda's breath on her skin, a slight blush working its way to her cheeks as she spoke, similar to the small yet noticeable hue on Glynda's own cheeks.

Despite, or because of that, Akiza felt her smirk growing into a feral grin at her friend's words. "Then we'll just need to see just who comes out on top in the end, won't we?" What went unsaid yet not unheard was just how they were going to determine the victor of their little match.

Glynda mirrored her grin, a veritable blaze of competitive desire igniting in both her and Glynda. "I believe we will Akiza. I believe we will." And with that she backed away, turning on her heel towards the exit. Akiza watched her friend leave, drinking in the deliberate sway of her hips as her heels clicked against the floor. When she reached the doorway she turned back to her, challenging smirk still on her face as she looked at her. "We'll discuss more once you can handle more then a simple four hours. Goodbye for now Akiza." And so she left...

Leaving Akiza to herself, motor running on overdrive and a desire to win it all. (I'm going to make her mine.) Akiza licked her lips as that thought sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. She would master summoning and maintaining over a dozen Spirits at a time, even go so far to work on her Field Spells while she was at it. She was going to go above and beyond to rub it in Glynda's face, and maybe get more then just that after she managed it.

Even if it took months she would do it.

For the gauntlet had been thrown and Akiza Rhodonite would not let herself lose something like this. "~OH YES, YES MY BLOODSTAINED HEIR! SUCCEED YOUR CHALLENGE, EXCEL BEYOND IT AND TAKE YOUR PRIZE! THAT IS HOW IT IS AND IS MEANT TO BE!~" Yes, Akiza liked the sound of that. She liked the sound of that a lot.

-Glynda's POV-

Leaving behind her undoubtedly excited colleague, Glynda felt eager about a paramour for the first time in years. It was only the potential for one, yet she had a good feeling about Akiza. She knew that both she and Akiza hadn't known each other for long, yet that didn't exactly matter on Remnant. Her bouts of jealousy aside, Glynda was becoming impressed with her co-professor. The way she not only handled assigning proper opponents for their students, showed and allowed her own input and questions about choosing what for whom, and kept her composure despite the strain getting to her were all impressive qualities that she appreciated in a paramour.

She knew they were in the physical attraction portion of a burgeoning relationship, yet she could tell Akiza appreciated far more then just her physical appearance. (Though being appreciated by people other then students, a drunk irritant that just wants to get in my pants, and a patriotic soldier is quite nice.) It helped that Akiza herself was quite pleasant on the eyes, and was someone she could see herself getting along quite well with due to her drive and personality.

So despite the short time they've known each other, Glynda was open to the idea of becoming something more with the woman. Though before that could happen she needed to ensure that Akiza wanted more then just a casual relationship with her.

Therefor the test.

From what she'd gathered during class, and what Akiza herself had shared with her during their lesson planning, then the challenge she'd thrown at the woman should take months to accomplish. If in those months she kept working on it, and also kept an interest to be more then sexual partners with herself, then Glynda would accept her advances.

If at some point she faltered or lost interest in being more then Glynda would keep their relationship professional... While also holding it over her, but that was to be expected. (Still to be truly chased after again...) Glynda licked her lips as a smile formed on her face. (Ah, what a rush.) She was looking forward to the result of their little wager, she truly was.

-Akiza's POV-

After... That, Akiza needed to do something to calm down... And get rid of the roses her Magic created. It was a little embarrassing that getting hot and bothered made literal roses bloom around her, but she'd gotten used to it after she hit got hit by the bullet train that was puberty. Akiza was horny now yeah, but teenage Akiza? Yeah, she learned that girls were just as horny as guys were, they could just hide it better. (Atleast I got some experimentation done in high school, one of the only things it was good for.)

When she finished gathering the actual bouquets worth of roses she kept three and placed them in her hair, all beautiful black roses, and put the rest away, she made her way out of the classroom. She'd figure out what to do with the rest of them later. Now she wanted to find Ruby and just pamper the girl until she was feeling to wholesome to be horny.

She'd usually do the same to Leo or Luna but they weren't here, neither were any of the brats, so Ruby it was. (Plus I'll get to see her be all shy and embarrassed.) The fact she'd get closer emotionally to the girl was a nice bonus too. (Now I just have to find the Little Rose.) That in itself wasn't much of an issue. Akiza knew the feel of the girls' mind and could easily pick it out over the hundreds of others within the building. The same went for her sister who was at the gym, Glynda who was at the Faculty room, Ozpin who was in his tower, and the woman with the Illusion Semblance who was out of her limited range. Though that last one was only because she'd actually read the woman's thoughts, while the former were due to her proximity with them over the last few days...

And Ozpin was weird even to her senses, his circumstances made it so, but he was the sole outlier so far.

That aside she knew the general direction her Little Rose was in and decided to go there.

She found her in her dorm, which wasn't a surprise since Ruby apparently hadn't had any other classes scheduled for the day. She knew that since she abused her privilege as an Assistant Professor to look up her schedule. Tuesdays and Fridays would be the days Ruby and her Team had the most freedom since they didn't have any classes after their 5th period, which was Weapons Maintenance/Forging with Mulberry, who reminded her of Yusei given his inclination towards creating and his general demeanor.

That aside she stepped up to the dorm door, idly noticed there were only two minds in the room, and knocked. She didn't have too since she was Staff and could walk right in, but it was polite. "It's open!" Well that was all she needed.

Akiza opened the door and walked in, eyes immediately finding her Little Rose at a desk, Scroll opened on what looked like a schematic of her weapon. With Ruby accounted for she peered towards the beds, taking a moment to see they were poorly done bunk beds and wondering how they managed to get that to work, before looking at the other mind present in the room. Said mind was a book reading cat girl/former terrorist, Blake Belladonna... Who really should've changed or hid her last name if she wanted to hide her Faunus nature.

The girl met her eyes and for a moment Akiza could see and feel her surprise before the look vanished in favor of suddenly and subtly tensing. "Hello Ms. Rhodonite." Akiza could tell Blake was weary of her, which most likely came from her being Staff and setting Gazelle on her in class, but Akiza wasn't really bothered by it.

Before she could greet her back she was distracted by Ruby's sudden spike of surprise... "Ack!" And that. They blinked and looked to Ruby, who had all but jumped out of her chair towards her with an adorable wide eyed look of surprise on her face. "Akiza?!" Oh she could tell Ruby hadn't been expecting her, but that just made it hilarious to her.

She grinned at her Little Rose, stepping towards the surprised yet happy girl. Outwardly she was smiling but inwardly she was frowning. The self doubt she'd felt before was still there, as well as what seemed to be some guilt and longing, which was not good. Akiza like her Little Rose, so she was going to pamper her until all that shit was gone. "Hello Little Rose.~" The burst of happiness and embarrassment was exactly what she wanted the girl to feel right now, so she followed it up by bringing the girl in for a hug, Ruby hugging back solely on reflex.

Then she realized what was going on and started sputtering as she tried to move away. Though for some reason she wasn't trying as hard as she could be? "Wa-wa-wait! Why are you here?!"

Akiza brushed aside her confusion and smiled at her Little Rose, moving back a bit so she could actually see her instead of her own breasts. "Because I wanted to see you. Do I need any other reason?" Ruby absolutely lit up with a dazzling yet embarrassed smile, one that made Akiza smile wider as well. Main objective done she broke off the hug, looking over to Ruby's desk to see that yes, she had a schematic of her weapon on her Scroll and what looked like notes about it too. "Looks like you want to work on your weapon hmm? Want to talk about it?" That seemed to be the right thing to say since Ruby's emotions lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Do I?!" She grabbed her hand and tugged her towards her desk, making Akiza quickly telekinetically grab a chair so she could sit besides Ruby. As soon as she sat down her Little Rose brought up some pages with many scribbled notes, even some highly detailed diagrams about her weapon. "So I realized that Crescent Rose isn't as great at cutting through solid stuff like stone," She wonder how she found that out. "Without damaging her blade, and damage like that is going to be terrible in the long run so I have to figure out something else that'll add a bit more oomph but keep her just light," That thing was light? "Enough for me to use without messing up her whole design! I thought about working on making her shoot higher caliber rounds but the only rounds stronger then what I use are Anti Material rounds and my baby and I can't really handle the kick without some serious changes...-" Akiza listened to Ruby talk with a smile on her face...

Meanwhile she was thinking that apparently her Little Rose was far more dangerous then she was giving her credit for. One of the reasons she gave her Giant Soldier of Stone to fight was for her to learn how to fight against foes with high defense and what to look for to bypass said defense, but here she was thinking about making her massive scythe/sniper shoot anti material rounds! She could swear that her heart was growing as she heard her babble about coatings and new Dust rounds. (Is this what it's like to be a proud Mother?)

The Dowager cackled in her Soul, so she was just going to take that as a yes. While Ruby kept talking about her weapon Akiza helped her organize her things, ask her about her day, and just all around spend time with her. Though as she did she still noticed the growing mix of guilt and longing coming from Blake, it reaching the point that the girl quietly left the room, a pensive yet more guilty look on her face as she walked out yet stayed close enough to listen in.

Akiza didn't bring attention to it, yet she made a mental note to dig into the girl a bit more if her spending time with Ruby caused her to feel that mix of emotion.

Blake's departure aside Akiza happily listened to Ruby, idly patting the girl's head as she spoke about her day. She'd even brought up something interesting while she did. "Pyrrha's great!" The mention of the spartan girl had made Akiza curious. Ruby's feeling about the girl were a strange mix of admiration, a tinge of envy, and eagerness. "Her fight with that Dragon was the coolest thing I've ever seen! And even though she lost she was still awesome!" She paused there, awkwardly fidgeting in her seat as she did.

Seeing her state Akiza gently brushed some of the girl's hair out of hey eyes. "But?" Because there undoubtedly sounded like there was more.

Ruby leaned against her, an action she was sure the girl wasn't conscious of, and spoke in a more guarded and wistful tone. "But would she wanna be friends with me?" Akiza blinked, there was a sudden vulnerability there that she hadn't expected to hear from the girl at this point. She'd also almost missed the spike of emotion from one of the two minds that joined Blake outside the room. Almost, yet still caught it.

Though she didn't need to think about why this was happening now, she just had to help with it. So she brought the girl into a hug, Ruby's head resting against her shoulder as Akiza spoke. "I haven't spent much time with Ms. Nikos, only the minute or so of conversation we had after Alexandrite Dragon won their bout, but I can tell she's a kind girl." The emotions she felt from the girl then and now also spoke of someone that had been put on a pedestal and was oh so tired of it, so that was a good sign of her character. "Just like you are my Little Rose." The way Ruby's emotions roiled at that, joy and sadness in equal measure, made Akiza take notice of it. She wouldn't address it yet, they weren't as close as they should be for that conversation, but she still took notice. "I have no doubt you two will become the best of friends if you only asked." Which was all true.

Though Ruby didn't seem to believe it all, choosing to burrow into her embrace and drop her head in a show of vulnerability that Akiza was more then surprised to witness so early into their relationship. "But what if you're wrong? What if I mess up? What if they leave me behind." Akiza hadn't been expecting that last one, and almost was too taken aback at its sudden appearance that she didn't respond, yet in that moment huddled in Akiza's embrace she seemed oh so small.

Oh so young.

And Akiza was once again reminded that Ruby was 15 years old and in an environment that she wasn't prepared for just yet. So she brought a hand up to her Little Rose's head, brushing more hairs out of her face and humming a bit as she did. "A friend of mine, one who is far too proud to admit that he actually has friends out loud, said something I'll tell you now." She cleared her throat, deciding to imitate Jack's voice in an attempt to lighten the mood. "'What if this, what if that. Who cares about what may have or could have been when what truly matters is what CAN and WILL be! We mold the future with our actions in the present!'" She let Ruby take that in, the younger girl looking up at her with her adorable Silver Eyes as she did. Akiza wanted to melt and coo at her, but she held it in so she could go through with the punch line she'd had planned. "'So forget about your worries and fears and Marry me Carly!'"

Akiza heard the three girls listening into her conversation choke, all of them feeling similar yet different emotions, while Ruby had to take a moment to process what she just said before outright goggling at her. "W-What?!" Akiza laughed at Ruby's reaction, the girl pouting at her and lightly pounding her fists against her shoulder. "You can't just drop that and not elaborate! Stop laughing Akiza! AKIZAAA!" She didn't stop laughing, instead just laughing louder as Ruby shouted at her to elaborate.

She'd probably show her the video later, Crow had captured the whole thing after stalking Jack and Carly for some reason or another and ended up striking gold. Jack had threatened to rip his piercings out had he not deleted it but they all knew it was an empty threat.

Jack was soft for them like that after all.

But while Ruby tried to get her to elaborate, and even while she laughed at her efforts, Akiza's mind noticed the overwhelming and unhealthy amount of guilt coming from who she was sure was Blake. A quick look into the girls surface thoughts gave Akiza enough to figure out what was going on, so as a good Mother she gave the girl a small push and let the cards fall where they may. Ruby would most likely never know, but that was fine. If she could get her Team to work with her then it was worth her involvement never being known.

And if it helped Blake figure some things out then that was a nice bonus.

-Blake's POV-

Blake still didn't know what to think about Ms. Rhodonite. Initially she hadn't really paid much mind to the redhead, just thinking of her as a relative of Ruby that helped her get into Beacon early. She didn't really mind that, Ruby was skilled and that was a truth she easily admitted too after seeing her fight during Initiation, and she'd known some young members of the White Fang that joined to fight for the cause. She did feel a bit miffed that she was the leader of their team, but between the Schnee and her Partner, she accepted that maybe she was the best option.

Then her opinion changed when she heard Yang complaining about the woman in the shower, and just thought she was a friend or maybe a mentor instead. That thought had been strengthened when she'd seen the woman take the Schnee aside and talked to her about something, which she suspected was the incident of her waving Dust in front of Ruby and it exploding.

Then it changed again when they had Combat Class earlier today. Blake had never in her life expected to see a honest to Brothers Dragon, nor see someone put up a fight against one like Pyrrha had, but today had been a day full of surprises. Surprises that piled up when the woman had summoned a creature that nearly had Blake's hackles fully raised. The fight, as well as the opponent she had, led her to suspect that the woman knew she was a Faunus, making her slightly weary of the woman. But the talk they'd had with Pyrrha in the cafeteria made her realize that her opponent really did suit her, and not just because it was a beast of some kind. It pushed her to fight head on, not giving her enough time to escape and regroup, a weakness she hadn't really known she had. She didn't want to think why that weakness existed in the first place.

And then the woman had come to their dorm, spooking her for a moment as she wondered if she was wrong and the woman did know... But then she saw how she looked at Ruby, a familiar look on her face and in her eyes that made her heart ache. She tried to ignore it but then the two started to talk and interact with each other that just made her heart ache more. It got to the point that she had to get up and run away again to get some air. She didn't go far, just outside the room, just in case her team leader needed her or something. Though she knew that wasn't the real reason she stayed.

She also didn't notice the tears building in her eyes.

So she stayed and listened, her heart twisting as her mind called back to similar moments she shared with her family, with her Mom, and realized that this was who Ruby was to the woman and who the woman was to Ruby, even if the girl herself didn't seem to realize it yet. The conversation they had cemented that fact in Blake's mind, her emotions getting the best of her as she listened and thought about her own Mother and Father. Even when Yang and Pyrrha came back from the gym all she did was motion for them to be quiet, too invested in listening to something that should be private.

And even though they both looked curious about why they still did it, joining her in listening to Ruby and Ms. Rhodonite talk. Pyrrha was visibly surprised, yet the way her entire demeanor softened as she heard the younger girl gush about her was cute. Though the surprise she showed when Ruby questioned if they could be friends really was a sight to see. The Mistral Champion looked so touched and embarrassed that Blake was sure she was blushing behind her hands.

Blake was almost too absorbed in the conversation and watching Pyrrha's reactions to see Yang's own reactions, but since she was standing right next to her she saw it. Saw the way Yang's hand clenched into fists, her lips turning down in a frown as she listened to her Sister and their teacher talk. That changed when Ruby had asked the question that surprised the three of them, her eyes softening and hands unclenching, yet it still made Blake wonder why she reacted that way.

And then Ms. Rhodonite started quoting someone, talking in a way that just made her picture someone proud of who they were like her Father like some of the people she'd known in the White Fang like Adam. And it sounded like sound advice, like something her Parents would tell her, which sounded like what Ruby needed to hear...

Until the final bit that made the three of them choke on their surprise when it turned on she was quoting someone's proposal! None of them were expecting it to turn out like that, yet it made her heart ache even more as she remembered her Mom pulling similar moments on her, and just made her truly cement in her mind that Ms. Rhodonite saw Ruby as her Daughter.

And made her miss her Mom and Dad all the more. By that point Blake realized this was a mistake, she should've left and gone to the library or something, not stay and listen to this. But she had, she'd stayed and now it felt like she was drowning as memories of her Mom and Dad being there for her when she needed them flashed through her mind, and she felt like she really needed them right about now. (I...- I...- I should call them.) She wanted to push the thought away, rationalize it that they wouldn't want to see her after she ran away left them without a word... But... But..! (I...- I want to talk to my Mom! I want to see my Dad!) Blake tried, she really tried, but her resolve inevitably crumpled and she couldn't handle it anymore.

She left the dorm, unsteady feet taking her out and up towards the roof as her hands fumbled around for her Scroll. She managed to get it out and without thinking she called her Mother, even though she had been ignoring her for months, almost a year.

And yet as if it didn't matter she picked up immediately, her face appearing on her Scroll and eyes locking onto hers. "Blake! Are you okay, where are you, do you need help?! St...-"

The sudden crash in the background made her Mom look back but Blake didn't need to wonder what it was. In moments the familiar figure of her Dad appeared, looking over her Mom's shoulder and showing just as much concern as she was. "Blake! I'm here, what's wrong? Who do I need to have a conversation with?! Where a...-"

Hearing both of her Parent's concerns for her did it, and she broke. "H-Hi Mom. Hi D-Dad." Her tears flowed down her cheeks but she didn't stop them. It was all finally hitting her, and she couldn't take it. She collapsed on the roof, crying to her Parents like she was a child all over again. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry!"

Yes... That happened. This was supposed to be a wholesome feel good chapter with some Akiza and Ruby fluff, and Glynda throwing down the gauntlet, and I somehow ended up crying at the end.

What the fuck man.

Hopefully you fuckers suffer with me. That'll make me feel better.