39

Chapter 39: Adventure's Aftermath

As the elevator ascended, Ruby gave Blake a worried look, feeling her Apprehension. "Are you sure about this, Blake?" she whispered, mindful of Professor Goodwitch standing at the front of the elevator.

Blake turned to her, looking thoughtful. She took a deep breath, letting it back out slowly. "No," she admitted honestly. She gave Ruby a small smile, trying to at least look confident. "But… I promised myself that I won't run from my problems anymore. Ozpin wants to know why we fought Torchwick… and I'm going to tell him the truth."

"Hey," Yang said, looking back at them with a grin. "Don't sweat it, Blakey. Whatever happens, we got your back.

Weiss nodded in agreement, though her thoughts were elsewhere. Winter never came back down from Ozpin's office. So she… oh, Dust, she's going to sit in on the meeting. She's going to hear everything about Blake and how we're helping her with the White Fang, us meeting up with Penny… oh, no. Weiss grimaced, biting her lip. What if they ask what I was doing at the CCT? I'll have to tell Winter I stole from the company.

It suddenly hit Weiss how her life at Beacon must look to someone completely uninformed.

I've stolen highly confidential information from the most powerful company in the world. I've participated in a life-or-death battle against a piece of experimental military technology. I'm in a polyamorous relationship with three girls, two of whom are siblings. And, due to that relationship, I'm apparently capable of using four different Semblances.

The thought of Winter learning all these things in rapid succession sent Weiss' anxiety skyrocketing. Yet, just one look at the warm, concerned faces around her, and she couldn't bring herself to regret any of it. That was her life now, and she was happy with it.

I just hope Winter understands that.

Before they knew it, the elevator doors slid open, and they stepped into Professor Ozpin's office. The morning sun streamed through its many windows, bathing the room with warm light.

In the middle of the room, Ozpin himself sat behind his desk. He stared intently at the various papers and charts littering the desk's surface, an unreadable expression on his face. To their surprise, he wasn't alone.

Weiss blinked, not expecting to see General Ironwood standing behind Ozpin, leaning over his shoulder as he pointed to one of the charts, speaking in a low tone she couldn't make out. Whatever he was saying must have been important, given the deep crease in his brow.

Beside her, Blake drew a sharp breath. Shock and Fear made each girl turn towards the Faunus. Blake was staring at Ironwood with wide eyes, her cat ears pinned back. After a few seconds of confusion, Weiss guessed at what was wrong.

Ironwood has been opposing the White Fang for years, she thought. So just last year… oh, Blake. Weiss tried to imagine what it would be like to suddenly find yourself in the same room with someone who, until recently, was not only your enemy but the leader of your enemy. The closest she could think of was being face to face with Adam Taurus… though, that potential fear was offset with an irrational desire for just that situation, if only for the chance to return just a fraction of the pain he'd inflicted on Blake.

As Blake's Fear increased steadily, Weiss quickly grabbed Blake's hand, holding it in her own. The suddenness of it startled Blake enough to break her train of thought, making her turn towards the heiress. Weiss gave her a comforting smile, squeezing her hand tightly. On Blake's other side, Yang nudged with her elbow, flashing a grin. Blake smiled back at them, thankful.

A clearing throat caught their attention, and Weiss winced at the sound. Winter was looking at the group, standing off to the side away from the desk. Given the calculating stare she was giving Weiss, she had watched the whole interaction. Weiss understood what Ruby had meant earlier in the hallway. She'd give anything to know what her sister was feeling behind her glacial facade.

Winter's cleared throat also served to gain Ozpin's attention, he and Ironwood looking up from the paperwork, Ironwood straightening up to his full height. Ozpin gave his usual small smile to the group, calmly gathering the papers on his desk into a nice, neat pile. "Ah, Team RWBY. Right on time. I assume Professor Goodwitch is bringing up the others?"

As one, the team turned back towards the elevator, finding the elevator doors closed and Goodwitch nowhere to be found. They hadn't even heard her get back on it! With a small frown, Ruby said, "Yes, sir."

Ozpin nodded. "Good. Once they arrive, the meeting will commence, and we'll try to get this all settled so you all can enjoy your Sunday."

To Team RWBY's surprise, Ironwood's eyes darted to Ozpin, almost in disapproval. He said nothing, though.

They only had to wait a few minutes for the elevator to open again, Sun, Neptune, and Penny taking their places at Ruby's side. Sun swallowed nervously when he saw both headmasters, while Neptune merely grimaced, resigning himself to just how screwed they were. Penny ducked her head when she met Ironwood's eyes, quickly looking away when he frowned at her.

Ironwood opened his mouth to say something, only for Ozpin to shoot him a stern look. The two headmasters held each other's gaze, making everyone in the room tense. After a few seconds, Ironwood relented, folding his arms with an exasperated sigh. Ozpin smiled a half-grin, turning back towards the students. "Gentlemen, Penny. Thank you for joining us." He paused for a moment as Goodwitch walked around his desk, whispering as she handed him her scroll. His brow raised a fraction as he looked at it. He nodded to Goodwitch in thanks, setting the scroll aside.

He looked over the assembled students, making a point to meet each of their eyes. Penny winced when he looked at her, only able to keep eye contact due to her constant teachings about respecting authority. To her delighted surprise, and the relief of all those around her, Ozpin's expression didn't change when he looked to her, keeping the same warm, wry smile that he'd given to the other teens. Penny smiled back, and Ruby let out a small sigh of relief, drawing curious stares from her teammates.

Satisfied with what he saw, Ozpin laced his fingers in front of him, smile still in place. "Good morning, students," he greeted, his tone no different than any other day. He motioned towards Ironwood as he said. "If you don't mind, as General Ironwood has been dealing with the aftermath of your little adventure last night, he will be sitting in on our meeting. Now," He leaned forward, propping his elbows up on the desk and threading his hands, a stern gleam in his eyes. "Ladies, gentlemen, please start from the beginning. How did this series of events come to pass?"

There was an awkward moment of silence as the teens looked to each other waiting for one of them to speak first. Blake caught Ruby's eye, a silent question in her silver gaze, and saw Yang give her an encouraging nod. Blake took a deep breath, bracing herself. She opened her eyes, stepping forward. "Sir… It was my idea to start with. I wanted to know what the White Fang were up to…"

One Hour Later

"Given that we were merely assisting Team RWBY with their mission, once we regrouped to fight the Paladin, I turned control of Neptune and myself over to Ruby…"

Ruby grimaced as she listened to Sun speak, trying her hardest to ignore her throbbing arms. In the last hour, she'd heard the same story told at least three times, once by herself, Weiss, and Penny, then from Yang and Neptune, and now from Sun and Blake. She knew why it was necessary: the headmasters wanted to know every detail about the fight from every angle. But that didn't change just how boring it all was!

Ruby had been a bundle of nerves at the start of it. When it quickly became apparent that Blake was going to try and have all the blame heaped onto herself, Ruby had leapt in to clarify that, no, the entire mess was a team effort. Of course, Ozpin asked her to explain.

Thus began the disjointed retelling of the previous day, as each group stumbled through exactly what happened, the partners-for-the-day having to fill in the blanks whenever one of them got stuck. All in all, it was pretty complete, right down to Blake explaining, in detail when prompted, why her agenda with the White Fang was so strong.

To everyone's relief, while Ironwood and Winter had been shocked by the mentions of Adam Taurus and certain White Fang related events, Ozpin, and Goodwitch for that matter, had barely batted an eye. The cryptic headmaster simply gave Blake an understanding smile, waving for her to continue. He'd met Ironwood's incredulous gaze evenly, almost challengingly, and the General soon relented, letting the matter drop for the moment.

However, one thing remained unsaid: their Semblances. Through some unsaid understanding, Team RWBY made no mention whatsoever of the bizarre change in ability. Ruby wasn't sure why, but the thought of telling the three school leaders in the room about their potential Affinity, and therefore their relationship, made her gut twist. It wasn't fear, not really. She doubted Ozpin or Goodwitch would take issue with their status, but she didn't know about Ironwood. She wasn't sure how the man would react, or what he'd do with such information.

Plus, things seemed tense enough between the headmasters. Every so often, one of the teens would say or describe something that would make Ironwood go to speak, only for Ozpin to silence him with a stern look. Other times, Ironwood would look towards Ozpin when something was said, as if to check Ozpin's reaction, then frown when Ozpin did nothing.

Ruby was pulled from her thoughts when she heard Blake's retelling come to a close. "...then we got onto the freeway, meeting up with the others."

Ozpin nodded to her. "And we already know how events went from there. Thank you, Ms. Belladonna." Grasping his cane, Beacon's Headmaster rose to his feet. "Well, it sounds like we have a fairly complete picture of what happened last night. Though, I believe the General has a few questions still?" He turned towards Ironwood expectantly.

The General met his gaze, looking slightly annoyed, but nodded nonetheless. "A few," he confirmed, his eyes skimming from Penny to Blake.

Ozpin's smile looked suspiciously like a smirk. "I'll admit, I have one or two myself. But, by all means." Ozpin gave a small wave towards the students, giving Ironwood the floor.

Ironwood nodded to him, then turned his gaze to one teen in particular. "Ms. Belladonna."

Blake shrank under the General's gaze, her cat ears pinning back. The old instinct to run, run, run flared up, her legs tensing at the temptation to bolt. She fought it down, helped in no small part by the Strength, Calm, Protectiveness washing over her from either side. Still, she couldn't help the small shudder that ran down her spine.

Ironwood raised a brow at her uncomfortableness, saying, "Young lady, I hope you appreciate the position you've put me in." He ignored the curious and concerned looks all the students were sending Blake's way, Penny included. He continued. "While I've encountered defected White Fang members in the past, none have been as high ranking as you. With the sheer amount of criminal activity you've admitted to today, I would be well within my rights to have you arrested."

As Ironwood expected, his words drew a strong reaction from the surrounding teens. What he hadn't expected was not only how strong that emotion would be, but from who it came from.

The boys looked shocked and worried, Sun just barely stopping from saying something very insulting to the General. Ruby's eyes widened, gripping her crutches so tight her knuckles turned white. After the shock of Ironwood's words faded, Yang's face darkened, her eyes blazing red in an instant. All fairly expected, given what little he knew about the teens. But the two exceptions nearly made Ironwood's mouth fall open.

The moment the word "arrested" passed Ironwood's lips, two things happened. The first was Penny's eyes widening, looking quickly between the General and Blake. She almost looked… conflicted. A far cry from the respectful understanding he'd expected.

The other was subtler but even more shocking. Weiss' eyes widened just like the others, but almost immediately, they hardened, the crystal blue orbs turning to ice. It was a look Ironwood had seen several times on Winter, though only for one reason: when she was angry. Even more concerning was the slight twitch of the younger Schnee's hand, her fingers forming a familiar gesture. Though nothing happened, the General knew that all it would take was a quick pulse of aura, and there'd be a massive glyph between him and Blake Belladonna.

She… she's ready to fight me. Having the thought didn't make it feel any less insane. A Schnee, the heiress of their entire company, was ready to defend a former White Fang member. Their former second-in-command, no less, against the leader of the entire Atlassian Military.

Ironwood shot Ozpin a look, though this time Ozpin didn't look back. He just kept smiling at the teens, only now with pride in his eyes. Ironwood glanced at Winter, but she didn't take notice. Her attention was fully on her sister, staring from her face to her hand with rarely seen shock in her eyes.

Ironwood fought the urge to groan. His train of thought derailed, Ironwood turned his attention back to Blake. "However," he said slowly, meeting Blake's fearful eyes. "Given that you are enrolled here at Beacon… and that Professor Ozpin has not reacted to this information in the slightest…" Ozpin's only reaction to his accusatory tone was a raised eyebrow. "I can only assume that he was aware of all this beforehand, and will vouch for your credibility."

"Right on both accounts, General."

Ironwood sighed in exasperation. This was payback for building Penny, he just knew it. "Still, Ms. Belladonna, I want some assurance that this is not all some elaborate ploy by the White Fang. Such things have happened before."

Blake looked at her shoes, guilt palpable.

"I need to know that we can trust you to walk around this city unsupervised. Where do your loyalties lie?"

Blake looked back at the General, her ears dipping low. Her eyes lowered in thought. After a moment, she said, "Sir… my loyalties lie with Menagerie. They lie with my family. They lie with every person, Faunus or otherwise, who wishes for a better world… for everyone, not just themselves." She met Ironwood's gaze, her eyes sad, but determined. "I… don't believe Adam's White Fang is among that number. Not anymore."

Ironwood held her stare evenly. Her answer wasn't quite what he was expecting. It hadn't been a lie, he could tell that, but it wasn't as clear-cut an answer as he'd hoped. Her friends seemed okay with it, though, given the approving smiles sent her way, along with a supportive thump on the back from Yang.

Ironwood glanced at Winter, asking for her input. All his second could offer was a miniscule shrug, her eyes still zeroed in on her younger sister. Ironwood sighed. "I suppose I can accept that," he said begrudgingly. When the teens looked to him in surprise, he added, "Bear in mind, I'll still be keeping an eye on you, just in case."

That earned a scowl from Yang, but Blake simply nodded in understanding. "I'd expect nothing less, sir."

Ironwood nodded in return, letting the matter drop. "Now, as for my second question…" His gaze focused on Penny, the android straightening under his scrutiny. To the room at large, he said, "There is the matter of you all knowing Penny's status as a synthetic being."

Several eyes turned towards said synthetic, Penny ducking her head at the attention. Seeing how uncomfortable she was, Ruby took a wobbly step forward, her crutches creaking. "Is us knowing what she is some kind of problem, sir?"

At her tone, Ironwood's brow raced to his hairline. Ruby sounded… genuine. As if she wasn't sure if there was a problem or not. "Miss Rose," he said slowly. "Penny's existence as synthetic was meant to be kept secret from everyone save myself, Specialist Winter, and a select group of scientists involved in her development. While it appears there were certain individuals I should have kept in the know…" No one missed the not-so-subtle glance Ozpin sent Ironwood's way. "...Professor Ozpin and I both agree that Penny's origin should remain a secret from the public."

Ruby frowned, which only grew when Ozpin nodded once in agreement.

"But… why?" she couldn't help but ask. "What's wrong with her-?"

"Ruby…"

Everyone once again looked towards Penny, who was focusing on Ruby. There was a small frown on her lips. "As happy as I am that you accept what I am, all of you," She looked around the room, a warm smile forming as she met each teen's eyes. Her smile faded quickly as she looked down, still addressing Ruby. "I'm afraid that most people would find my existence… unsettling."

Ruby could only shake her head, not understanding. Ozpin then spoke, drawing their attention. "Miss Rose," he said to Ruby. "For all the greatness we have achieved, the fact remains that we are a flawed people. One of those flaws is a fear of that which we don't understand. A robotic being which can pass for human in every way? That is a rather significant unknown."

Ironwood nodded in agreement. "That's why none of you are to breathe a word about Penny's origin. For the time being, she must remain a secret. Do you all understand?"

Each teen gave some form of agreement, save Ruby. She kept frowning at the ground, her brow furrowed in thought. It wasn't until Weiss elbowed her in the side that she looked up, meeting Ironwood's eyes. Her frown deepened, but she reluctantly nodded.

"Good," Ironwood said, nodding in return. He looked towards Ozpin. "That's all I have for the group."

Ozpin rose an eyebrow at him, noting how his eyes flicked towards Penny. Ignoring it for a moment, he instead faced the group, smiling wryly. "Well, as for myself, I have less of a question and more of a statement." He walked to the front of the desk, scooping up the scroll Glynda had given him in the process. As he tapped across its surface, he said, "While I am impressed by your loyalty towards each other, especially that you are all such a… diverse group," His eyes flicked around, focusing briefly on Weiss and Penny, "the fact remains that you put yourselves into a situation far beyond your abilities."

"But," Yang cried, sounding insulted. "Sir, we-"

"Are teenagers, Miss Xiao Long," Ozpin interrupted, giving Yang a hard stare that made the blonde shrink back. "Hunters and Huntresses-in-training. Now, I won't deny you are skilled, prodigies, in fact. But raw talent and fortuitous circumstances will only take you so far. You are here to learn, not only to fight and protect but to survive. Tell me: when you all set out to gather information last night, did any of you think you would end up confronting a threat such as that Paladin?"

Awkward silence and bashful looks answered him. Then Sun asked, "Sir, how the heck could we prepare for that?"

Ozpin smiled at the monkey Faunus, nodding in approval. "Precisely, Mr. Wukong. You couldn't have. However, preparation is only one half of the issue. The other is your reaction to unforeseen circumstances. In your retelling, I noticed that the first thing you all did once the Paladin came off the freeway was to immediately continue fighting it. Did any of you consider calling for help, or even consider that you might be outmatched?" The answering silence, coupled with Weiss' pinking cheeks and Yang's small scowl, earned a rueful chuckle from him. "Children… while I applaud your enthusiasm and understand your reasoning, I cannot condone you charging into a fight you are so underprepared for, especially when other options are available. Doing so can lead to loss of life…" He glanced briefly at Ironwood, smiling slyly, "...or limb."

Ironwood stared back unamused, unconsciously flexing his right hand.

"Therefore, I can see only one course of action." His eyes hardened, his lips forming a tight line as he stared down the teens. Dread filled each of them, their imaginations running away with them. Weiss thought of expulsion, having to face her father's wrath at having failed, while Blake's mind was filled with handcuffs and iron bars. Ruby and Yang looked towards their Mates with worry, wanting to reach out and drive away their Fear and Worry. As it was, they had their own thoughts on what Ozpin had in store for them, though of a much tamer sort.

"Detention."

That was it.

Yang slumped where she stood, holding herself back from hanging her head. Ruby had no such issue, her crutches the only thing keeping her shoulders level. Seeing Weiss and Blake visibly relax, feeling their Relief, was a small comfort, though.

Ironwood blinked at Ozpin, furrowing his brow. "Detention?" he asked, clearly confused. "That's it?"

To the side, Winter appeared stunned. She looked between Ozpin and the group, baffled eyes focusing on Weiss, who could only offer a miniscule shrug in response.

Ozpin gave his counterpart a significant look. "I believe it more than fitting. Foolhardy as their adventure may have been, no harm has been done on their part. They've committed no crime, caused no damage to themselves or others, save Miss Polendina and Miss Rose, both of whom are on the fast track to recovery. I'd say that a couple of weeks detention would be a fair punishment."

"Weeks?!" Yang exclaimed, looking positively appalled. She winced under the reprimanding glare Weiss sent her, made all the stronger by Winter doing the same.

Ozpin merely smiled serenely. "Yes, Miss Xiao-Long. Two weeks to be exact. After your usual class schedule, you will all, as a group, assist whichever teacher requires assistance for the day with their various tasks. I'm sure Professor Goodwitch can determine who will require assistance each day."

Glynda nodded, looking down at her scroll. "I can start making a list. I believe the maintenance workers could use help moving our latest shipments of training bots." She looked up from the screen at Weiss, fixing the heiress with a flat stare. Again, Weiss' cheeks reddened as she looked down in embarrassment.

"Um, sir?" Neptune asked, raising his hand hesitantly. "What about me and Sun?"

"You two will be serving detention with Team RWBY." Before either boy could protest, (which, given Sun's dropped jaw, he was about to), Ozpin held up his hand. "I've already spoken to Professor Lionheart, and he agreed with me on including both of you in their punishment. He mentioned you by name, Mr. Wukong. Something about learning to stay out of trouble?"

Sun's eyes widened, then he crossed his arms with a scowl, pointedly ignoring Neptune's accusing glare.

"And… me, sir?" Penny asked quietly.

Ozpin gave Penny a calculating look. "Your punishment, Miss Polendina, is not up to me. General?"

Ironwood frowned as Ozpin turned towards him. There was a look in Ozpin's eye, unmistakable in its meaning. With a sigh, Ironwood looked to Penny. "If you'll take her, Oz, it seems like a fair punishment."

Ozpin smiled wryly, nodding. "It's decided, then. Penny, you, along with Sun and Neptune, will join Team RWBY after their normal class schedule. You will be sent a message as to where and with who later."

Penny nodded dutifully, her shoulders relaxing as she fought a small smile.

"Well, that's about all I have on the matter. Though, on a somewhat related note," his dark eyes focused on the four team members, "as both your teacher and your technical guardian while you are within these walls, I feel I would be remiss if I didn't mention this. Team RWBY," he said, stepping right in front of the team. "What you do in your personal lives is no business of mine. So long as what you do does not interfere with your studies, and breaks no laws, I take no issue with what you do." He peered over his spectacles, giving each girl a knowing look, eyes darting towards their necks. "Or with whom."

The moment his meaning registered, each member of Team RWBY gained blushes of varying intensity, Weiss' being the deepest once she saw Winter's intent stare.

"That being said," Ozpin continued, tapping at his scroll once again. "Sometimes the result of my student's personal lives becomes rather hard to ignore." He turned the scroll around, holding it out to Weiss.

After a moment of surprise, Weiss took the scroll from the headmaster's hand, aware of her teammates peering over her shoulder in curiosity. On the screen, a video was playing. From the washed-out colors and the timestamp in the corner, it looked to be from a security camera. It showed a view of Beacon's airfield, a Bullhead lazily lifting off from the ground as students milled around the grounds.

The video suddenly zoomed in on a seemingly empty piece of sky over the distant cityscape. Weiss gulped when the picture sharpened, showing a small figure decked out in white, seemingly running on air high above the buildings.

Before Weiss could react, she sucked in a startled gasp, as did her team around her. One moment, the small figure was running on air. The next, it was gone. A streak of white shot off into the distance, flecks of white dancing in the breeze behind it.

"Weiss…" Ruby breathed, her jaw slack. "You…"

As one, the team looked back up at Ozpin. With merely a raised eyebrow, the headmaster gently took the scroll back. "I won't pry," he assured, his lips pulled into a kind but firm smile. "But I will ask you all to remember that this school and its faculty are at your disposal, should you require assistance regarding training or the like. You merely need to ask."

When it became apparent from her reddened face that Weiss wouldn't, or rather, couldn't reply, Ruby shakily said, "T-thank you, sir. We'll keep that in mind."

"Very good," Ozpin said, walking back to his desk. Winter eyed his scroll as he passed it back to Goodwitch, curiosity burning in her gaze. Facing the group as a whole, Ozpin said, "Now, before I dismiss you all, does anyone have anything else to say?"

"There is one thing, actually," Goodwitch said, drawing all eyes to her. "Ms. Xiao-Long?"

Yang tensed slightly, expecting the worst. "Yes?"

Goodwitch tapped at her scroll. "We received a message from the authorities sorting out the wreckage from last night's events. One of the vehicles was registered in your name. A black and yellow motorcycle?"

Yang perked up in an instant. "You found Bumblebee? Awesome! Where is it?"

"Impounded. I have the location, but… there is an issue."

Yang frowned. "What is it?"

In answer, Goodwitch flipped her scroll around, showing an image of Bumblebee.

Or rather… what was left of it.

Yang's mouth fell open at the mangled remains of her beloved motorcycle. Sun hissed, muttering, "Damn, that just hurts to look at."

Seeing Yang's distress, Goodwich asked, "I don't suppose you have insurance?"

Yang could only hang her head. "My bike…" she whimpered pitifully. Blake patted her on the back in sympathy.

Ozpin shook his head slightly at the display, before asking, "Anyone else?" After a few silent seconds ticked by, Ozpin smiled. "Then I believe we are done here. Ladies, gentlemen, you are dismissed. Expect a message detailing your detentions by tomorrow morning."

The group of teens relaxed as one, quickly making their way to the elevator, Blake having to pull Yang by the arm as the blonde continued mourning her fallen comrade. Before they could get on, however, Ozpin said, "Penny? A moment before you leave, please."

Penny paused mid-step, looking back to see Ozpin and Ironwood watching her expectantly. From the corner of her eye, she could see RWBY, along with the rest of the teens, eyeing her in concern. Penny gave them a reassuring smile, nodding to Ruby. "I'll see you all later then, friends."

Ruby frowned at first, eyes flicking towards the headmasters, but she managed to return Penny's smile. "See you soon, Penny." The others gave similar farewells, Yang giving her a small shoulder punch as she passed her. Sun even surprised Penny by grinning brightly, saying that he wanted to spar sometime.

As Penny turned to face the headmasters, the other six piled into the elevator, just barely managing to fit them all. As the doors started to slide shut, however, a pale hand held them in place.

"Weiss," Winter said, her tone icy. "I'd like to speak to you. Meet me at the airfield in a half-hour's time."

Weiss faltered under her sister's sharp blue eyes. It was only the sudden burst of Confidence from Yang that kept her standing straight, keeping the quiver from her voice. "I'll meet you there."

Winter nodded sharply, stepping back to let the elevator close. "Good. We have much to discuss."

Once they were descending, Yang couldn't help but comment, "Okay, I take it back about her being cool. She's downright frigid."

Some part of Weiss knew she should be angry, either at the insult to her sister or just to Yang's bad pun. As it was, she could only shake her head. "Actually, she's being a lot nicer than I thought she'd be."

"Really?" Yang questioned. She let out a low whistle. "Then I'd hate to see her mad."

A few seconds passed, the air filled with cheesy elevator music.

"So," Sun said, breaking the silence. "We're not arrested, and we're not expelled. What now?"

Blake let out a deep sigh, crossing her arms. "I don't know. We didn't get much from Torchwick, and now that Ironwood's 'keeping an eye' on me…"

Yang chuckled humorlessly. "No tracking down more leads. Not for a while, at least."

"We still have the information I got from the SDC," Weiss said. "We could start sifting through that, once we get new scrolls. Maybe there's something useful there."

Ruby nodded sullenly. "Sounds like a plan. Not much else I can do at the moment." She frowned down at her crutches. She could already feel a tingling in her legs, unrelated to her aura healing. She wanted to move.

"It's just for a couple days, Rubes." Yang gently tousled Ruby's hair, making the crippled speedster grumble to herself.

The elevator dinged, and Sun was already moving before the doors fully opened. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm hungry. I heard about this neat ramen stand downtown. Anyone wanna come wi-gah!"

"No," Neptune said firmly, pulling Sun to a stop by his tail. Not hard enough to cause pain, but enough to make Sun nearly fall over. When Sun turned around, looking betrayed, Neptune finished, "First, we are going to call Sage and Scarlet, and you are going to explain to them how we managed to get detention, at a completely different school, not even a day after you came back from suspension!"

Sun groaned, but a stern look from Neptune silenced him. "Fine. See you girls later, then." Sun trudged sullenly after Neptune, the two bickering with each other as they moved down the hall.

Yang and Ruby laughed as they watched the boys disappear around the corner, Blake and Weiss sporting amused smiles. Once the moment passed, Weiss' shoulders slumped. "I guess I'll get ready to meet Winter."

"Do you want one of us to come with you?" Ruby asked.

Weiss smiled at her but shook her head. "It's probably best I go alone. Talking with Winter is… difficult, if you're not used to her."

"If you're sure," Blake said, concerned. "I'm going to head to the library and see if I overlooked anything there about Mating. Hopefully, I can find something to help us with our… Affinity."

Yang grinned a little at her hesitation. "Kind of freaky, isn't it?"

Blake chuckled lowly. "To say the least."

Before she could walk away, Weiss blinked. "Oh, Blake!" Blake turned to her in question. "I just remembered! I bumped into Velvet yesterday. She said she wanted to ask you something."

Blake nodded. "Okay, I'll see if I can find her later."

After a quick hug and peck on the cheek (which Yang quickly turned into a full-on kiss, much to Weiss' embarrassment), Ruby and Yang watched their girlfriends go. Once gone, Yang smiled down at her little sister. "Guess it's just you and me then, Sis. Got any plans? 'Cause otherwise, I need to see if I can salvage Bumblebee." She scowled at the ground, crossing her arms. "Like, at all."

"Actually, there is something I want to do," Ruby said slowly. "I had an idea after seeing that security footage."

Yang perked up instantly. "You mean Weiss blasting off into the distance?"

Ruby nodded. "Yeah. I want to try something. Though, first, I want to stop by our room." She looked down at herself, still dressed in her Pj's.

Yang lifted her head as they started towards their dorm. "Okay. What exactly do you want to do?"

"Well," Ruby grunted, her crutches clanking with every step. "Remember when we were little, and you'd carry me around piggyback?"

Yang blinked. Slowly, a large grin spread across her face. "Yeah?"

"Something like that," Ruby said, an excited gleam in her eye. "But faster."

Betaed by Covert Weapon

Old A/n: Next chapter, sisterly bonding on two fronts, plus a quick meeting between a bunny and a cat… maybe. We'll see how long the chapter gets.

Geez… one-thousand reviews… I will be real honest, I did not think my crazy little crack-fic would turn out to be so popular. Thank you, all of you. The momentum ain't slowing down, I got a hell of a lot planned out, and with Volume 5 starting next month, I'm sure to have a whole bunch of new material to work with.

Though, on that note; if anyone from Rooster Teeth is reading this, by some freaky chance… please don't break my heart anymore. :/ Can we have the fun times back, please?