Book Trouble

Stiofan Ua Binn

-----

For the last two months, Stiofan's been on edge.

The academy's hidden intruder was a rather cruel one. At any time she could inflict harm towards Beacon or Lady Weiss, yet her hand remains still, casting the perfect illusion of a student persona. It was vexing to say the least. Her inaction caused him nothing except grief and a burning desire to hurry along and eject her from Beacon, or at the very least, finally put an end to this farce.

Why must she be so methodical? It must be a part of her plan to test his patience—a ploy to have him make the first fatal error and guarantee his expulsion, leaving her free to finally enact her ill intent. That scenario must be avoided at all costs. How did she infiltrate the academy, anyhow? Unless Professor Ozpin decided to not thoroughly include a background check on every applicant, it was unbelievable she received entry without so much as an interrogation.

Stiofan sighed and massaged the strain on his brow.

Lastly, the greatest wonder of them all: what were the Faunus of Black's reasons for coming here? Was it revenge against the Schnee Dust Company through the heiress herself, or an espionage mission for the White Fang? If she spoke the truth, then a deserter seeking a new life. The first two were logical. The third was a ridiculous tale.

The Faunus of Black's role in the train heist and the boot mark she left on his chest proved as much. For the sake of Lady Weiss and Beacon, Stiofan must succeed this time.

A finger snap returned him to reality, and Lady Weiss sitting across the table with two fresh beverages, tea and coffee, between them.

Lady Weiss honed her tongue. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Apologies," Stiofan said and dismissed his troubles. "I was lost in thought."

"Tell me." Her elbows rested on the table, fingers laced together. "It must have been important if I could sneak up on you without trying."

"It's nothing to be concerned about." He blew his tea and gave a taste. Sweet and sour. Delicious. "Gratitude for the refreshments, Milad—Weiss."

Her ghostly eyebrows rose in an unconvinced arch.

He set down the cup. "Nothing more than a careful consideration for a certain. . . Faunus."

"It's Cooper, isn't it?" she said and scoffed. "I expected as such from a troublemaker like him."

Stiofan silently sent his teammate an apology. "Other than being lethargic during our training sessions and theft of Roderick's morning meals, he's far from troublesome."

Arms crossed, she huffed.

As long as they weren't associated with the White Fang, Stiofan didn't mind the Faunus. In fact, he actually enjoys the merry presence of Cooper's company and their discussions pertaining to Dust. On the other hand, Lady Weiss had a more or less black and white opinion on the race. The distrust was understandable considering the amount of turmoil the White Fang caused within her life.

It would be best to change the subject. Perhaps, Lady Weiss might have useful information regarding the Faunus of Black.

"I've noticed the steady improvement of relationships with your partner," he said and recalled the few instances of the pair having lovely walks together around campus. "What brought that on, I wonder?"

"After I defeated that Boarbatusk, I spoke to Professor Port." A pleasant sliver raised her a smile. "He offered advice that made me rethink some. . . opinions about myself."

For years Stiofan has been trying to change her attitude and break that stubbornness of hers, yet Professor Port did it in a single conversation. Was he actually a genius?

"That's good to hear." Another take of tea soothed the pain the Faunus of Black caused him. "And the rest of your team? They're not too troublesome either, I presume?"

"When are they not troublesome?" She sipped her coffee. "I might be better acquainted with Ruby, but she's still a total dunce. Yang makes terrible puns all the time and she's a complete slob, and Blake. . ."

He leaned slightly forward.

"Well, she's quiet, always spending time in the library. But at least she's normal, unlike those sisters."

"The library?"

Lady Weiss rolled her eyes. "In case you haven't noticed, she likes to read. I mean, have you ever seen her without a book?"

Everyone knew the Faunus of Black had a fondness for novels. However, it may have been an act of foolery to mislead Stiofan into believing her inaction was actually a disguise to further her goals in plain sight, and the library was her base of operations.

If they returned to campus now, he could put an end to it before library closing hours.

"This has been a delightful afternoon." Stiofan rose. "Why don't we return before evening arrives."

"Stop." Lady Weiss redjusted herself. "You accepted my invitation to Vale, so I decide when we are done."

"Lady Weiss, I must—"

"What did I say about calling me that?" Her eyes poked a hole into him. "We have more important things to do and whatever you have planned can wait."

"Forgive me, but I—"

She raised a hand. "Upupupup. I don't want to hear it."

Stiofan sighed and returned to his seat. "You never did tell me why we're here."

Gaze averted, Lady Weiss cleared her throat, grasped the cup in both hands as if it would spill at any moment, and pressed her lips to rim longer than usual.

She was nervous.

The Schnee family is known for their unshakable confidence—borderline arrogance. What on Remnant could cause her to fall to such a state?

"Stiofan," she said and fiddled with the cup, "I-I want to apologize for what happened the last time we were in Atlas."

Oh. That's what this was about.

"It isn't necessary." There was a pang in his chest. He dismissed it. "I am to blame."

"No, I have to." She pushed aside the cup and hung her head. "Everytime I look at you, all I can see is how my father treated you after your first mission. And I didn't have the courage to speak of it until now."

Stiofan saw his spears coated in black for a moment, but a slow breath was enough to clear his vision and press the bout of anger away. The consequences for his failure following the train heist was a dark day indeed; there was only one certain Faunus to blame.

"It is an understandable reaction." He reached across the table and placed his hand on top of hers. "There's no need to be angry at yourself."

"But that doesn't mean he had to take it out on you." A scowl contorted her grace. "If my father would just. . . If he didn't. . . Maybe if I—ugh!"

Stiofan understood what she wanted to say, and it would be best to take the frustrations off her shoulders.

"Why don't we do something to help clear your mind?"

Lady Weiss stared as if he was another person. "I don't think I've ever seen you take time off to relax."

"I'll make an exception," he escorted her towards the door, "just this once."

She turned away, cheeks flushed. "C-can it be whatever I want?"

"Of course. Whatever it is you wish."

"Let's go shopping."

The memories of Stiofan's childhood reminded him of the tragic horrors that awaited.

"I just remembered I have other matters to attend." He hurried to reach the salvation on the other side of the cafe's doors. "Maybe another—"

A vise hooked his arm and a frigid chill crawled to the base of his spine at the sight of her vicious grin.

"Too late to go back on your word now, Stiofan."

Alas, shopping never felt so cold.

-----

Roderick Hill

-----

The library hated Roderick.

All afternoon, he ran the aisles for a silver lining to find something good. Go in, get a book, and leave. That was the plan. Short, simple, and not as easy as he thought it'd be. The hundreds of shelves made that painfully clear, and the ones he rummaged through were either full of painfully dull books or something he's already read. There had to be a single book waiting to be found like a buried treasure. He refused to go another week shuffling between notes and textbooks.

Near the end of the fiction section, two things became abundantly clear: the infringing darkness and the way the titles got kinda weird.

He plucked a random book out and strained to read the big red words painted across the cover. "Ninjas of Love?"

"Boo."

Roderick swung the book in a wide arc, catching only air. A chuckle came around the corner where the warm glow of a candle revealed an amber eyed girl garbed in black and white.

"Don't scare me like that, Blake." He doubled over and touched his chest. "I could've hurt you."

"Speak for yourself." She eyed him up and down. "I didn't expect to see you out of bed after what Yang did the other day."

"Don't remind me." Roderick rubbed his ribs. "It still hurts thinking about it."

After Roderick won, Yang wouldn't stop pestering him for another go around. He accepted, only if she agreed to leave him alone once it was over.

Oddly enough, she called it off after he woke up extra early (a habit he's been getting into so Cooper would stop eating his breakfast), and surprised her. Who knew giving her her favourite bowl of porridge would make her giddy like Ruby getting a whole batch of cookies?

Yang was super nice that whole day.

"So what brings you to this part of the library?" Blake chuckled and glanced at his hand. "Found something to read, I see."

He blurred the book behind him. "Oh, yeah. You know, checking things out and stuff."

The one time he goes to the library, it had to be Blake of all people he runs into while holding something called Ninjas of Love. The title alone was enough to send the wrong ideas.

As a fellow reader, they shared their thoughts about books and recommended other titles they haven't picked up yet. If she caught him with this—oh god. He could already see the respect pooling out of her.

There had to be someone kind enough to listen to him out there. Please don't let her say the obvious question that was coming.

"What are you hiding behind your back?"

Come on, really?!

Roderick shrugged and pressed his side flush against the shelves.

"Oh, it's nothing," he said and blindly tried to shove the book into an open slot. "Just some old, worn out book that somehow hasn't crumbled away yet."

"It looked brand new to me." She extended a hand and pointed the blade in her gaze at his throat. "Give it."

He twisted and added extra torque to wedge the novel somewhere—anywhere. "Give what, Blake?"

"Don't try to hide it," she set the candle on a shelf, "I already saw it."

He glanced to the side and blew his lips. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

She deadpanned.

"Blake, you look tired. Maybe you should go to—" Something ripped the book from hand. He yelped and came face to face with a second Blake. "What on Remnant?!"

The Blake that he was talking to shimmered from existence. Roderick gaped. Did she seriously use her Semblance to make a clone and boost herself behind him after he looked away?

As if telepathically reading his mind, she smirked.

Her attention drifted back to the book, and she went stiff, looking like someone ate her last tuna sandwich.

"Blake," he gulped, "it's not what it looks like. I just so happened to pick that up, and I meant to put that back."

It was freaky how a shadow casted by her bangs hid her face. It also didn't help that she shook and squeezed the book so hard the pages screamed.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Her voice trembled. She marched towards him with a newfound conviction. "You should've said something."

She shoved him into the shelves, a fistful of his jacket balled in her hands. He prepared himself for the wrath about to rain over him and prayed it wouldn't end too badly.

"I can't believe you're a fan, too!"

The fear evaporated from him in a split second. "What?"

Even in the darkness, Blake was beaming, scratch that, glowing. "We really do have the same taste in books!"

"Uh, I just happened to find th—"

"Let's read it!"

"What—"

"Come on!"

Whatever retort Roderick wanted to spill slid back into his throat. Blake's hopeful expression, and the fact that her bow managed to perk up like a pair of ears was enough to melt his will.

Ruby and her limitless need to read was the same way back in the day.

"Sure," he surrendered his life, "why not?"

Blake grabbed the candle and dragged him deeper inside the darkness, navigating the aisles until they entered a tiny makeshift area made of pillows, blankets, and more candles. Impressive yet concerning, considering she actually found time to whip this up in the first place.

"No one ever comes here," she set aside the candle and lowered into a bed of pillows, "so I made it a spot where I can read in peace."

Since it was too late to back out now, he made himself comfortable.

Blake gave him the book. "Read."

Roderick flinched. "Right now? But—"

"You don't have any other plans either." She propped her legs up on the biggest pillow here. "Am I right?"

"Yeah, but—"

"Don't be embarrassed." Her authority put a leash on him. "Read."

He groaned and started the first chapter.

"What are you doing?"

"Reading, just like you asked."

A small, amused, maybe even a pitying laugh dripped down her chin. "Sorry, I should have been more specific. When I said read, I meant out loud."

If he had a mirror to see his own reflection, he'd bet he was as red as his jacket right now. "You're joking, right?"

"Yes, because I find it entertaining watching people stare at words."

The fact she could talk, let alone breath, with all that sarcasm jammed in her mouth was incredible.

She leaned forward the same way people do at the movie theaters when the good parts were about to happen. "I want to hear it all. Every. Single. Word."

As much as he wanted to throw the book in her face, Roderick inhaled fresh courage, spat out the opening line, and muscled through five chapters before Blake called it a day.

The story revolved around a rare setting where everything was more simple. No transforming weapons, guns and Dust didn't exist, and it was a Grimm free world. In spite of all that, a war raged on, and between opposing sides, a blossoming love brought a single man and woman together.

From there, the author melded in the perfect mix between romance and fiction, stirring in heart pounding action and gut wrenching tragedy. Backed by a well written cast of characters and an attractive plot line, Roderick no longer needed Blake's threats as a motivational trigger to keep him going.

He wouldn't say it out loud, but those alluring hooks tugged him by the skin.

The next day, after Blake invited him back to the dark reaches of the library she calls 'the usual spot,' they read plenty more, deciding to take turns this time.

After they got to the middle of the book, something happened between a couple characters in explicit detail, and Roderick couldn't find it in him to look Blake in the eye anymore.

To make matters worse, it repeated itself in shameless gluttony as if the genre changed at the drop of a hat. The book wasn't that thick, yet it never seemed to end. Did Blake develop a special technique of slipping in pages while he wasn't looking?

Roderick slapped the book shut and rubbed his feverish face. "Can we read something else that isn't, you know, smut."

Blake snapped out her seat. "It's not smut! It's art!"

"With all those crazy things they did," he banged the back of his head against the wall to crumble a few dozen scenes into oblivion, "I beg to differ."

"Once we get further ahead, you'll understand." She stood and entered the darkness of the aisles. "I just need to use the restroom. Don't go anywhere."

Wait a second. Did she not take a candle with her? Weird but whatever. Guess she's got the place memorized enough to find her way around without much light.

Roderick stretched across the floor, groaning at the satisfaction it brought to his stiff joints, and laid on the pillow Blake used to prop her legs; it was as hard as an old marshmallow. He lifted it to give it a few ruffles and pats, but he found a worn leather bound book underneath instead.

There wasn't even a title. Weird.

Roderick flipped it open to the bookmark, and his heart plummeted.

At any other time he would've shut and completely forgotten about the journal, but when his name sparkled inside. . . A peek wouldn't hurt anyone, right?

He plunged in and read the latest entry.

It was supposed to be my regular routine.

Go to the usual spot and read a book like I've been doing since the first day of school, but today turned out better than I hoped.

Roderick happened to wander nearby, and to my shock and joy, he was holding a copy of my beloved book: Ninjas of Love. I couldn't let it go. This was my chance to finally invest in a book buddy who could understand my passion for the true value of a masterpiece.

After I had my fun teasing him about it, I convinced him to read it out loud. His face actually went as red as his jacket, and I had to stop myself from laughing. He eased into it, though. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and from the small smiles, I knew he liked it, too.

To think Roderick would go as far as to step out of his way to do this something for me warmed my heart.

I wished I could feel this way everyday.

Maybe once everyone gets to know the real me, I won't have to hide my secret from them anymore. I can only pray they'll trust me enough to accept me as what I am and see me for who I am.

'Don't judge a book by it's cover,' they say.

Before any of that, I'll have to deal with Stiofan. He's been hounding me ever since he nearly gave me a heart attack during the initiation exam, and I'm sure it has to do with what happened on the train about a year ago.

I can feel the anger in the way he looks at me. It's sad, really. Adam was the same way. His hate was what changed him into the monster he is now. I saw all the signs, and I did nothing except run away when I couldn't ignore them anymore. I can't make the same mistake I did with Adam.

Stiofan still has a chance.

I need to figure out a way to prove to him he's wrong about me and stop him from crossing that line. I'm not the person I was before. I've really changed. I have to make him see that.

But, I'm afraid.

I'm always afraid. Why am I like this? If only I had the courage, then I would have already done something about him. Hopefully, I figure something out before it's too late. Maybe tomorrow, after Roderick finishes reading a few more chapters, I could ask him for some advice.

He might know something that could help.

Footsteps blared around the corner, police sirens out to get him.

Roderick shoved the notebook back under the pillow and threw himself into a corner a second before Blake walked into the candle light, blissfully unaware of the crime, and returned to her spot.

They continued to read from there as usual, but it didn't take long for his mouth to go into autopilot and have his mind drift back to the journal. He stumbled over a few sentences after his focus drifted, and the idea of staying alive was the only thing keeping him from blurting the truth.

"Roderick."

He trusted her and probably so does everyone else. They're all friends, right?

"Hey, Roderick. You can stop now."

Blake and Stiofan already knew each other, and was it all true what she wrote about him? The whole of Beacon knew those two clearly got along as well as water and oil. Was it worse than that, though? And what did she mean about accepting what she was and seeing her for who she was? Why was Stiofan so angry at Blake? Who's Adam?

Oh, man. This was one big landmine of regret Roderick shouldn't have stepped on.

The book flew from his hands. He blinked at Blake towering over him, smirking as if she won a prize.

"Told you it was amazing," she said and waved the book in his face.

"What?"

"You wouldn't stop reading."

"Oh, y-yeah," he said and played along. "I just had to know what happened next."

"We can keep going again tomorrow." She laid the book on a shelf and smooth the wrinkles out of her clothes. "Besides, I bet you're thirsty after all that."

He didn't know what she was talking about until he swallowed the desert coating his tongue.

"I'll buy you whatever you want." She flashed her wallet. "My treat."

They left the library soon after, stopping by the nearest vending machine shining like a fire at night.

Roderick cracked open a can of Dr. Piper and savoured the sweet burn.

The mystery of the journal clawed his brain, demanding to be solved. Blake said she lacked the courage to face Stiofan, and she wanted his advice as well. Maybe he could help with that.

"How are you getting along with your team?" Roderick said and played it off as naturally as he could.

Blake moved the bottled iced tea from her lips. "We're getting along fine. Why?"

"Just wanted to know." He took another sip. "How about everyone else? Team JNPR, Alexander, Cooper. . . Stiofan."

At the sound of his partner's name, the plastic creaked in her grip. "Like I said, we're all getting along fine. What about your team? Sometimes I hear Cooper complaining about something about you guys."

"Stiofan keeps pushing him during our weekly training sessions. Cooper hates it."

She tugged at her scarf, a clothing item her, Yang, and Cooper shared. "Is Stiofan treating him that way because he's a Faunus?"

The spark in her voice raised his guard. "No. He's just the laziest out of all of us."

"Are you sure?"

"They wouldn't be Dust buddy's if it was. Both of them really know their stuff."

Drink forgotten in hand, Blake remained quiet.

"Now that I think about it," Roderick said, "it seems like you and Stiofan don't really like each other."

Her eyes widened. "What makes you say that?"

"Well, for one, you guys never talk, and whenever you're in the same room as him, it sorta gets weird."

The bottle of tea shivered, and what was with the bow on her head? There was hardly any wind. How was it fluttering like that?

"I-I guess it's because we never found the opportunity to really get to know one another," said Blake. "Maybe once we find common ground, we can figure it out."

This was it. A good nudge should do the trick.

"I know what we can do. How about I help you guys out?" His offer made her flinch. "Why don't the three of us get together. We can head over to Vale and do something fun. Does the weekend sound good?"

Come on, Blake. Just accept it.

"Y-you know what." Blake stepped back. "I'm getting tired. We should head back before it gets late, so I'll go first. Goodnight!"

She marched down the path to the dormitory and whipped around the corner.

Damn.

Roderick tossed the can after finishing the last of its contents and leaned against the nearest wall. There was no denying it now. Those two had a real problem on their hands, and whatever it was, he was going to find out.