Weiss's appearance heated the situation to the boiling point. It seemed Blake was ready to run away again at any second, given the slightest excuse. But Ruby kept hanging onto her, squeezing her tight in a hug. Even though she understood perfectly well that if Blake wanted to run, no shackles could hold back her Semblance.
"We were worried," she whispered, almost crying. "You ran away, slept on the street, probably didn't even eat this whole time. Please don't ever do that again."
"I'm fine." The runaway returned the hug but didn't take her eyes off Weiss. She watched her every move intently, as if preparing for a fight.
And Weiss responded in kind. Every second they spent near each other only made things worse.
Meanwhile, Teams Majesty and JNPR, who had arrived on the Bullhead, were just hanging around on the sidelines, waiting for this scene to end. Most of them didn't understand the full subtlety of the problem and were simply trying not to pry into another team's personal affairs. Magenta winked at Egrer, clearly giving him a signal to act.
Oh hell no, I'd rather stand in front of a pack of Death Stalkers than between these two. This wonderful thought became the progenitor of another wonderful thought. I'm kind of the odd one out here anyway. I've already done everything in my power to help Ruby, they have to make up on their own from here on out.
Egrer tried to leave, but Yang caught him. In her other hand she was holding Sun, who was also perfectly sensing the dangerous atmosphere.
"You guys are still going to be useful here."
"I am not breaking up their fight," Egrer immediately assured her. Sun nodded in agreement, and Yang just shushed them.
"I am waiting for explanations," Weiss finally said. "That emotional outburst yesterday wasn't very informative, and I had to figure a lot out on my own to keep from losing my mind. And I already jump to conclusions often enough. So now you have a chance to lay it all out for me, before I do it myself."
Blake stared right back at her with that same unblinking gaze.
"Please, let's not fight again," Ruby pleaded. A little more and she would burst into tears. "I just don't have the strength for this anymore. Just believe in us, we're all one team. Please."
"For starters—what the hell are you doing here, Weiss?"
"Are you asking why I rushed out right before bedtime in the company of ten other teenagers? Or why we beat up a Bullhead pilot who refused to drop us off at the port after hours? Or maybe why we forced him to do it anyway with threats?"
"Exactly."
"Because you were wandering around who knows where for a whole twenty-four hours, and then it suddenly turns out you were surrounded by terrorists! You shouldn't be the one asking me what I'm doing here, I should be asking you."
"Are you saying you suddenly started worrying about me? How cute," Blake said snarkily. Weiss didn't reply to that. Instead, she just closed her eyes and started doing breathing exercises.
"But she's here," Ruby noted, filling the uncomfortable silence. "She came to help you. That's the only thing that matters."
"Don't, Ruby," Weiss requested, taking a step forward. "I have selfish motives too. I want to put together the full picture of what happened, and for starters, it would be nice to know what went down here and what you three were doing."
Yang let go of Sun and Egrer and shoved them in her direction. Egrer started speaking first, since the majority of the stares converged exactly on him. A stupid smile spread across his face.
"Can we skip the interrogations?" he asked without much hope. His nose started tickling; Blake was standing too close. Trying to take a step back, Egrer received a smack on the back of the head from Yang, who put him right back in his place. "We-e-ell... I had reasons to come here, let's just say that."
"Are you somehow connected to the White Fang too?" Weiss narrowed her eyes menacingly.
"Twin Gods, of course not! I had reasons, I'm telling you, weighty ones at that. But I can't tell you what they are, sorry."
"You're forcing me to fill in the blanks, and you know better than anyone what that can lead to... Three Faunus clashed with the White Fang, which was led by a human, Roman Torchwick. To me personally, that sounds like complete nonsense, and there is so much room for all sorts of theories here that I'm barely holding back."
O-o-oh, Egrer knew perfectly well that if she did manage to come up with something more or less logical, it would be impossible to explain to her what really happened later.
But he couldn't just tell them that his adoptive father was a world-renowned criminal! However, leaving Weiss without an answer wasn't a good idea either. She still hadn't made a final decision on whether Faunus were trustworthy, and hiding something right now meant confirming her fears once and for all. That couldn't be allowed under any circumstances. She had already made a massive effort, forcing herself to reconsider this issue.
But by telling the truth, he'd put himself in a very awkward and dangerous position. The fewer people who knew about his past, the better, because as the ancient wisdom goes—two can keep a secret only if one of them is dead. And a lot of people already knew his secret. A little more and it wouldn't be a secret at all.
Egrer was afraid of getting kicked out of Beacon and ending up in jail. That was why he had been so reluctant to tell Yort about his adoptive parents, and even then, only because of the threat that Yort might leave them. But back then, at least he had the certainty that Yort wouldn't blab too much. It wasn't in his nature to gossip and underhandedly frame someone.
He couldn't say the same for sure about Sun, Yang, Ruby, and Blake. Egrer knew them too poorly to entrust such a dangerous secret into their hands.
But he knew Weiss. She wouldn't blab. A compromise naturally came to mind.
"I'll tell you everything privately later, okay? The fewer people know about this, the better."
"Fine," she agreed surprisingly easily. "Now you, the one with the tail. Who even are you?"
"Don't address him like that!" Blake objected indignantly. "His name is Sun. We met when we were walking around the city without you."
"Well, 'met' is a strong word..." Yang scratched the back of her head. "He was running from the cops and winked at us in passing."
"So we have two Faunus here who are absolutely certainly connected to criminals!" Weiss exclaimed. "And I was just starting to think that not all Faunus are criminals! Egrer, you are a law-abiding citizen, I hope?"
Egrer didn't answer. If he lied, everyone would know it.
"Egrer?"
"I can neither confirm nor deny your hypothesis."
"Dammit..." Of course, Weiss understood everything. Only an idiot wouldn't.
"Anyway! Don't be asking me your provocative questions here. I'm telling you, I'll tell you everything in private." He folded his arms across his chest. "I can only solemnly swear that I am in no way connected to the White Fang. Just remember that conversation of ours."
"Fine. So, Sun. Speak, what were you doing here." The demanding, militant tone made the blond nervous.
"I wasn't doing anything here. Found Blake, saw she was sad. So I figured I needed to cheer her up. Then things just kind of spiraled on their own, and I'm happy to back up any crazy shit. So here I am."
"What's with all these interrogations?" the runaway asked, gently pushing Ruby aside. But she still kept holding her hand. "What are you hoping to sniff out with this?"
"I already said I just want to put the puzzle pieces into a single picture. I have such a mess in my head right now that I don't even know why I haven't yelled at you yet. Maybe it's time to fix that misunderstanding."
Yang swore under her breath and fearlessly stepped between them.
"If you two idiots can't make up normally yourselves, then I'll do it for you." She turned to Weiss and looked her in the eyes. "Just admit that the Faunus have a serious reason to hate the SDC. Besides, you shouldn't assume every Faunus you meet is a terrorist."
Weiss rolled her eyes, but didn't argue anyway.
"I know. Especially since Egrer and I already talked about it, and I found his arguments digestible. I had plenty of time to think it over."
"Wow, and here I thought you'd screwed it up," Yang admitted, nodding approvingly at Egrer. He scratched his head in bewilderment; he had thought so too. "And now you, Blakey. Admit that Weiss doesn't deserve all this hatred from you; she can't even influence the SDC's policies at all. She shouldn't have to suffer for the sins of her father, that's just some Middle Ages bullshit."
Blake lowered her gaze.
"I understand..." she whispered. "And I agree with that. But Weiss has plenty of other flaws too, you have to admit."
"Look who's talking!" Weiss suddenly fumed.
"That's no reason to hate her guts, bicker at every opportunity, and constantly pick on her over little things. You were just taking your anger out on her," Yang replied, and here Blake couldn't find an answer. "Which is exactly why you two idiots are going to shake hands right now and close this topic forever!"
"First, I want to understand why Blake came here. Her desire to take a stroll in the port coincided a bit too perfectly with the White Fang raid."
"I..." Blake looked down. Ruby was looking up at her with pleading eyes.
"Please..."
"I wanted to make sure the White Fang wasn't as horrible as you said... But you were right. You were completely right." She quieted down, expecting an "I told you so!" from Weiss, but Weiss patiently waited for her to continue. "They are monsters, scum, and bastards. I... I don't know why I wanted to disbelieve it so badly. Probably because they used to be different before."
"I'm glad you realized that. You did leave them, right?"
"So you figured it out..."
"Considering your attitude toward the White Fang, knowing that you're a Faunus, and other factors, only a complete idiot wouldn't have guessed." Egrer didn't quite understand what they were talking about right now, but he felt like exactly that kind of idiot.
"They are no longer fighting for justice, if they ever even did. So, yes. I want to start my life with a clean slate."
"Oh... well damn..." Egrer trailed off, realizing he had just heard something that definitely wasn't meant for him. "I still haven't recovered from the revelation that she's a cat Faunus, and now this. I'm definitely the third wheel here, these conversations aren't for my ears."
He finally tried to leave, but Yang grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. Sun, meanwhile, had already managed to back away to a safe distance and blend into the collective of awaiting Teams Majesty and JNPR. Nimble bastard.
"Are you telling me you don't know?" Yang smirked. "Madge would have definitely told you everything, you two weren't whispering in the library for nothing. And it's not hard to guess it yourself."
"She didn't tell me anything like that. And anyway, you guys are the sleuthing geniuses and masters of deduction here, and I'm a bit slow. Besides, I don't know the first thing about your intra-team drama. Let go, I'm telling you."
"I said stay, so you're going to stay." She put Egrer in a chokehold, and now he had zero chance of breaking free from her grip.
This squabble fell on deaf ears for Weiss and Blake, who were completely engrossed in hashing things out between themselves. But this time they were talking much more calmly. The tension between them hadn't evaporated yet; they were simply explaining their actions and many misunderstandings to each other.
"I don't hate you at all because of your last name," the runaway said. "You really do have plenty of other flaws. And the last name is just... I got used to blaming your family for all our troubles. Almost every time something bad happens to Faunus, the SDC is connected to it. It's just a habit."
"Thank you for your honesty," Weiss rolled her eyes. "I want to clarify something for you too. Actually no, for all of you."
She cast her gaze over every member of her team, as if asking for their utmost attention.
"Yes, I am slightly distrustful of Faunus. But please note that my reasons are more than valid, and for the most part, the feeling is mutual," she raised a finger, "but I do not hate them because of that at all. It's just hard for me to trust them. In the end, it turned out that my best friend is a Faunus, and as you can see, I'm not chasing him away."
"Me? Best friend?" Egrer incredulously poked a finger at his own chest. It was a little uncomfortable to talk with Yang's arm around his neck. "For real?"
"We've been talking since day one at Beacon, we have several joint projects, and common plans. Unless I'm mistaken, that is exactly what a 'best friend' is called." Unexpected. Embarrassing. Sweet. He didn't know what to reply. "Anyway... I'll probably never be able to trust literally all Faunus, but the two of you definitely don't want to hurt me, so... so... well, you get it."
She couldn't find the courage to finish. Weiss simply lacked the necessary experience and didn't know how to say a cliché "let's be friends." But Blake and Egrer really understood her.
"And also, forgive me for those words, Egrer. I said so many things about Faunus in the heat of the moment, and you just took it and listened."
"It's actually better this way. If you had known I was a Faunus, you would have held back and lied constantly. Then that heart-to-heart wouldn't have been a heart-to-heart, if it even happened at all. So no hard feelings."
"Awesome!" Yang exclaimed. "Do I understand correctly that we've all made up again and can forget the last few days like a bad dream? Team hug?"
Weiss looked at Blake and raised an eyebrow. The latter snorted, realizing that if they didn't do as told, Yang would simply beat them up and tie them together by force. They both took an awkward step toward each other and hugged just as awkwardly.
Their mutual animosity hadn't disappeared yet, but the first step toward reconciliation had been taken. Sooner or later, they would get rid of all the labels they had enthusiastically pinned on each other all this time. Blake would stop being a former terrorist to Weiss who wished death upon her and her family, and Weiss would lose the stigma of an arrogant, racist rich girl who would gladly continue her father's work of oppressing an entire race.
Ruby squealed happily and rushed toward them to join the hug, after which a widely smiling Yang scooped them all up into a pile and lifted them into the air.
All of this truly would be forgotten like a bad dream.
"How sweet," Egrer said, wiping away a stingy manly tear. "It's finally all over."
No longer held back by Yang or the self-imposed obligation to explain to Weiss that not all Faunus are bad, he simply walked away. Here, Egrer was definitely the odd one out and couldn't help anyway. Besides, they didn't need outside help anymore; the hardest stage had been overcome.
The decisive role in this drama was played by the culprits themselves. Weiss pushed past her own pride and reconsidered an issue she had long since decided for herself, while Blake found the strength to admit Schnee was right. They are both very stubborn, and making concessions isn't in their nature, but it was precisely because of this effort over themselves that everything ended well.
No matter how much they played the part of irreconcilable rivals, no matter how loudly they fought and yelled at each other, somewhere deep down they wanted to drop all grievances and just live normally. But that very stubbornness and pride got in the way. Neither wanted to back down. Until this moment.
As soon as Egrer distanced himself enough from this touching scene, Magenta and Nora immediately surrounded him. Both were part of the plan to socialize Weiss, and both felt guilty that everything had gone awry. But of course, they weren't to blame for anything. Calming them down was easy, because the sight of Team RWBY hugging perfectly illustrated a complete and unconditional success.
Magenta, by the way, remembered what she wanted to tell him earlier. She confidentially whispered in Egrer's ear that Blake had probably been in the White Fang at some point, to which he thanked her for the very timely information. Magenta completely missed the sarcasm in his voice and smiled happily.
Yort, meanwhile, was inspecting the Dust containers, as if White Fang goons could be hiding somewhere behind them. Fired up for an expected fight, he wandered disappointedly around the port with Illmond, who simply wanted to get away from the crowd of people but was afraid to walk alone in an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous place.
The rest listened to Sun, who enthusiastically recounted how he took down three guys at once with a single strike and how Torchwick got a piece of the action too.
"And then I was like!~"
"And then you were like getting hit in the balls with a cane!" Egrer finished for him. "And after that, you rolled around on the ground for five minutes groaning in falsetto."
"And you!..." Sun clearly paused to think of a witty comeback. "And you were hiding like a coward!"
Egrer confidently folded his arms across his chest.
"I was waiting for the right moment for a badass entrance and a subsequent diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Which I successfully achieved."
"Yeah, the three of us would've kicked his ass..."
"What did you tell him, exactly?" Jaune asked.
"The truth. That I had already called Beacon and if he didn't get the hell out of dodge right now, Huntsmen would fly here. The only thing I didn't clarify was that the Huntsmen were still students, so he chose to retreat."
"O-o-oh, sneaky."
Team RWBY finished their hugs and hashing things out. Soon, their whole crowd piled into the Bullhead and headed back to Beacon.
"Don't think this kind of tyranny will go unpunished!" the bearded pilot threatened. He sported a black eye and a red scrape on his lip. "I already reported this to the right people. Pray to the Brother Gods!"
His threats didn't scare anyone, because their cause was just. They had prevented a robbery the likes of which this city had never seen!
"By the way, Egrer," Weiss said, slightly embarrassed. "If it's polite to ask Faunus about this, will you answer? What is your trait?"
Egrer smirked, then tilted his head back and howled with all his might. The howl echoed off the steel walls of the Bullhead, transforming into the prolonged cry of a true forest predator. It even made his throat hurt.
"Wolf vocal cords," he explained a second later. "Thanks to them I can growl, howl, and I'm raspy all the time. So don't go thinking I'm a smoker."
"So that's what it is... And here I was wondering why you never smell like cigarettes."
"Family reunion!" Yang exclaimed joyfully, putting her hands on their shoulders. "Despite racial prejudices and different social statuses, you're back together. How sweet!"
Weiss and Egrer didn't even bother giving an answer. They understood perfectly well that if they just ignored her, she would go away. But Yang, clearly displeased that they were so calmly ignoring her jokes about their supposed relationship, decided to bring out the heavy artillery.
Her victims didn't stand a chance of getting out of this situation without getting embarrassed.
"I wonder how soon you guys will sneak off to that spot again..." Egrer choked on air, and Weiss squeaked.
"How did you know?!"
"So I was right!" Yang cheered. "I wasn't completely sure, but you just confirmed my suspicions! Have you two already gone thaaaat far?"
"We haven't gone anywhere!" Realizing she'd been caught by such a cheap trick, Weiss began defending her innocence with the zeal of a bull. "Your idiotic jokes have already gone too far. Stop it right now!"
"Oh come on, don't be shy." Yang hugged her chummily. "You and Eg have been constantly whispering about something and sneaking off together since the very first day at Beacon. Or do you think we didn't notice anything? Is it really possible to melt the icy heart of Weisscream, hmm?"
"This is a misunderstanding! We were just... just..."
Discussing devious plans for a coup in our teams, Egrer realized. Except you can't exactly say that out loud... embarrassment was way better than blowing their cover like that. And even the counterargument that Nora also disappeared with them wouldn't work. Yang would just go completely off the rails then.
"Just what?" Yang asked with a satisfied squint. "Just making out in the corners when no one's looking, yeah?"
"No! Drop your seditious little jokes right now, Xiao Long!"
"Don't be shy, Weiss," Ruby smiled approvingly. "No need to blush so much, we're just happy you have someone."
"Hold on, hold on..." Egrer drew out incredulously. There was something in her voice he didn't like. "Ruby, do you seriously think we're... dating? Like... it's just a bad joke of Yang's that she's been trying to make for Gods knows how long. Don't take it for reality."
"You shouldn't be shy either," she gave another genuine smile.
"Even though you're my friend," Jaune started seriously, "I'm still not giving up on the call of my heart, just so you know."
"You're such a liar," Sun grumbled in offense.
"I'm so happy for you, Eg!" Magenta exclaimed.
They really don't think Yang's joke is a joke...
Egrer and Weiss exchanged glances and jumped away from each other. Despair, fear, shame, and embarrassment splashed in their eyes, and a whole horde of Grimm could have come running to those emotions. Their reaction only amused the onlookers, who genuinely believed they were just being shy. Yang triumphed; in the end, she had emerged victorious.
"Disaster..." Weiss whispered. "If my father finds out, he'll kill me."
And mine would've praised me for such a lucrative match, Egrer thought detachedly.
To him, Weiss ranked fifth on the list of girls he would never build a relationship with. In first place was Blake, he purely physiologically couldn't live in the same space as her; next was Magenta for reasons obvious to everyone; and third and fourth places were occupied by the Malachite sisters. And even though Weiss is only in fifth place, the main thing is that she's on that list at all!
Fortunately, Yang's teasing didn't last long, because very soon they landed at Beacon.
Fill Chuckler was waiting for them at the landing pad. He was rubbing his hands in anticipation, imagining the slop he would pour over the negligent students and the verbal torture he would subject them to. Like any self-respecting movie villain, he wore a vile smile and waited patiently for them all to step out of the Bullhead so he could begin his evil monologue.
"Incompetents, ignoramuses, slackers, and parasites. It was people exactly like you who destroyed age-old values a hundred years ago. You're the ones who planted your democracy, pederasty, and gave women the right to vote to the good people of Vale. But now you'll answer to me for everything. Assaulting an academy employee—check. Hijacking a Bullhead—check, for the second time, by the way! Along with a blatant disrespect for academy rules..." He pointed a finger at the sky, toward the shattered moon. "You are supposed to sleep after curfew! Not to mention you were probably running through the halls and making noise, keeping others from sleeping!"
"But we stopped the robbery of the century!" Ruby protested indignantly.
"O-o-oh, heroes! Let me tell you something, little girl—you should just go home. Huntsman work ain't for broads; for the entirety of human existence, the man has been the provider."
I wonder if anyone's ever told him that out of the top ten strongest first-year students, there's only one guy? Egrer thought, glancing at Illmond as the proud holder of third place, right after Yang and Pyrrha.
"You will do real work," Chuckler assured them, pacing back and forth, "useful for our degrading society. Cleaning, mowing the lawn and trimming the bushes, helping in the kitchen. Maybe if the youth understands the value of hard manual labor, the bright traditions of the monarchy will return..."
Fortunately, the janitor's sadistic dreams were not destined to come true. Ozpin was walking briskly toward them with his constant companions—a mug of hot coffee, his cane, and Glynda Goodwitch.
"Oh, Headmaster Ozpin!" the old man beamed. "I was just congratulating the youth on returning safe and sound. The kids say they stopped the robbery of the century! What good boys and girls!"
"Holy shit, talk about changing your tune," Yort grumbled. "It's like he's a different person."
He wasn't the only one surprised by such a turn. An indignant Weiss outright declared for all to hear that literally seconds ago, Chuckler had been openly mocking them, bullying them, and clearly reveling in his official authority. Egrer and his pack co-signed her every word, because they knew the janitor's true nature better than anyone else, having ended up in detention with him once.
"What are you talking about?" Ozpin replied incredulously. "Fill has been working at Beacon since the day it opened, and he has yet to give a single reason to doubt his competence."
"Exactly," the old man swore earnestly. "But don't be mad at them, Headmaster, the kids probably just got a bad scare, so they're talking all sorts of nonsense. Maybe they're still seeing enemies all around them. But for stealing the Bullhead, oh, they need to be punished! Especially these ones!" Chuckler poked a finger at Egrer's pack.
"You must have had a truly compelling reason to do this, children," Miss Goodwitch nodded, flicking her riding crop. "What robbery?"
The crowd of students shot sideways glances at the direct participants of those events.
"We-e-ell..." Egrer began. "Torchwick and the White Fang wanted to rob the port. We got in the way. Tell them."
"Yeah, yeah, that's exactly what happened," Sun nodded vigorously.
"I have nothing to add," Blake said matter-of-factly.
"And how did you find out about the planned crime?" Ozpin asked. "And why did you decide to deal with it yourselves instead of telling us or the police?"
They didn't say anything; their reasons for coming to the port were deeply personal, and just coming out and telling them about it like this... Only Sun confessed that he was just following Blake. The others remained silent.
"I'm listening carefully." Silence. After a whole long minute, the Headmaster sighed heavily. "I see. I suppose in that case, it would be better to have a private, one-on-one conversation. You three, follow me; the rest of you, return to your beds. Afterwards, I will decide what punishment to give you, and if you even deserve to be punished at all."
What else was left for them but to obediently do as told?
As if giving his negligent students a chance to gather their thoughts, the Headmaster walked unhurriedly, which annoyed Goodwitch, who was almost breaking into a run. His cane tapped against the cobblestones with the precision of a perfectly tuned clockwork mechanism, measuring out their remaining time before a very real interrogation.
The oppressive silence was broken only by the sounds of nose-blowing, sniffling, and the occasional sneeze. Egrer tried with all his might to hold it all in, but Blake's toxic presence was driving his body crazy. He had been in contact with her for several hours now, and his allergy symptoms were only getting worse. On top of everything else, he now had a headache and an itch in his right palm, the exact same palm he had used to shake Blake's hand. Perhaps Egrer would soon need a doctor's help.
"It has been an eventful evening," Ozpin started speaking when they entered a carved archway. Everyone knew this path—two turns and a bridge over a small canal later, there would be the cafeteria, and further on, next to the cherry tree, the Headmaster's tower and the first-year dorms. "I already know what happened in broad strokes. You were lucky to get out of this story unharmed, but luck will not accompany you forever. You acted recklessly and unreasonably. Would it have been so hard to inform Glynda and me about the impending crime?"
No one answered, although the question wasn't rhetorical. Ozpin genuinely wanted to know.
Egrer stared at the floor and tried with all his might to focus on the upcoming conversation, cooking up answers to potential questions, mentally preparing himself, and rehearsing all sorts of different scenarios in his head... Sun was walking next to Blake with a tired look on his face. He had followed her into the fray simply because he could, and didn't know what to answer to that question. As for Blake herself, she just stayed quiet, intentionally not wanting to tell him anything.
"Miss Belladonna," the Headmaster said, turning around slightly. "I am not asking you about the reasons for your distrust of the law and its representatives, but why did you decide to take this difficult matter into your own hands?"
"There's no one else," she cut him off. No one else said a word.
Suddenly, the measured, lazy taps of the cane against the ground stopped. Deep in his own thoughts, Egrer didn't even notice and bumped into the Headmaster's back. Apologizing, he looked up.
The smooth surface of the steel doors reflected their procession as if from beneath a thick layer of murky water. The elongated, colored blobs moved a little closer before the elevator opened.
"Miss Belladonna?" Blake obediently followed Ozpin inside.
Sun and Egrer were left alone with Goodwitch. Maybe she was here to keep them from colluding and coming up with a coherent lie, or maybe just to make sure they didn't run away. In any case, her presence weighed on their psyche, preventing them from relaxing or focusing. Especially when she kept tapping her riding crop.
Under the gloomy gaze of the Iron Lady, even a conversation with Sun wouldn't flow. And he really wanted to ask how he and Blake even found out there was going to be a robbery at the docks in the first place. Plus, he was just itching to share his impressions from this whole adventure. The adrenaline still hadn't left his body, overflowing past the brim.
"You alright?" Sun, on the other hand, felt almost no discomfort. "You're super pale."
"While Blake is far away, you don't need to worry about me." Egrer blew his nose into his soaked-through handkerchief. With every passing second, his body was feeling better, but his mind wasn't. He was starting to realize what he had gotten himself into.
A couple of minutes later, the elevator doors opened, and a gloomy and tired Blake walked out.
"How are you?" Sun asked.
It was as if she didn't even notice him, shuffling past. Goodwitch watched her go with an indifferent gaze.
"Mr. Peleni, your turn," the Headmaster's voice came from the speakers.
Egrer broke into a cold sweat. With unbending legs, he stepped into the elevator and cast a glance over the hallway like it was his last time. Who knew, maybe he really was seeing all this for the last time? While he still had the chance, he needed to savor the final moments of his life.
And when he reached the top, he was ready for literally anything.
"You know, Mr. Peleni, you are a very frequent guest in my office," Ozpin began, looking out the window. His reflection watched him closely. "In my memory, only one student has you beat so far."
Egrer stood next to the visitor's chair. He didn't dare to sit down while the Headmaster was standing.
"I am truly glad that you have the courage to challenge terrorists and criminals. Bravery is one of the most important qualities of a worthy Huntsman. However, it often borders on recklessness and foolishness."
Ozpin turned around and cast a scrutinizing gaze over his guest. Egrer didn't fully understand what lay behind those brown eyes, but he could feel something bad approaching.
"I can understand why you didn't inform me of the impending robbery. You either simply didn't think of such a possibility, or genuinely believed you could handle any adversity on your own." Ozpin's gaze grew more piercing. "Only a miracle saved the three of you this evening."
These words were spoken with steely confidence, and Egrer easily believed that this was exactly how it was.
"Or... a miracle had nothing to do with it at all." The Headmaster smiled. "What exactly did you say to Torchwick that made him call off his robbery?"
"I thought Blake told you everything."
"Miss Belladonna and I had a slightly different conversation," Ozpin answered somewhat sadly.
"I told Roman that Huntsmen would be flying to the port soon and that he'd better leave. He had no other choice."
"Perhaps that is how it seems to you. But Torchwick wouldn't have hesitated to take you hostage, beaten and wounded. I doubt he lacked such an opportunity. The question is—why didn't he do it?" he asked, either himself or his coffee mug.
The answer was obvious, and Egrer figured this was just some weird test. This was Ozpin, who knows what popped into his head. In any case, since he was waiting for an answer, he had to give one.
"Because then you would have declared open season on him. I doubt you'd let someone who threatened your students' lives walk away unpunished." At these words, the Headmaster smiled.
"It is gratifying to know you were ready to rely on me. But I am not omnipotent. Otherwise, neither Torchwick, nor the White Fang, nor even the Grimm would be able to plunge this world into further ruin. I have my limits..." he concluded quietly. "So, according to your words, Torchwick simply got scared?"
"Yes."
"That is entirely possible. But, Mr. Peleni, how did you find out a robbery was planned at the docks this evening?"
"I didn't know, just got lucky to be in the right place."
"That does happen," Ozpin nodded, as if completely ignoring his stupid smile. "But it is strange that Miss Belladonna told me the exact same thing. Two students independently ending up in the exact same place, at the exact same time, both out of pure luck. That is far too many coincidences."
Egrer couldn't find an answer. He was used to thinking the Headmaster was some madman who somehow bumbled his way into his position, but now he was starting to doubt his conclusions. Ozpin saw right through him, knew everything, and was already aware of all the events.
Perhaps his fooling around was only necessary to lower the guard of those around him. A genius pretending to be a fool... One shouldn't forget that he was the one who effortlessly destroyed any chance for the Union to recruit new members, and Egrer himself would have never figured it out without Weiss's hint.
"I want you to understand," the Headmaster suddenly dropped the formalities, "I may be the Headmaster of Beacon, but first and foremost, I am a Huntsman. My duty is to protect the world from forces seeking to harm it, even if they are humans or Faunus. And I promise you—nothing you tell me right now will affect your life. Right now you are my student, and what happened in the past stays in the past."
"I wouldn't want to name the people who told me about the robbery."
"Your friends?" Egrer nodded uncertainly; the Malachite sisters could indeed be considered friends, and he didn't want Ozpin to view them as a potential threat or something worse. "Well then, I will reluctantly concede and not push the issue. Tell me then, what was your reason for deciding to stop the robbery? I know all my students, and you have always been very cautious and, excuse my bluntness, cowardly."
"I didn't want to get involved at all, it's just Blake... she wanted to. And well, I couldn't just sit on the sidelines. Initially, I just wanted to find out if Torchwick and the White Fang were working together." And that was the absolute truth. "Curiosity and a desire to get to the bottom of the truth. Because, you know, the news loves to make up details and over-dramatize things."
"Except that's not all." Ozpin smiled. "You remind me of him. When I saw you for the first time, I even thought for a second that I had actually fallen asleep at my desk. You have a similar way of speaking, dressing... and also that gesture."
He slowly raised his hand to his head and tipped an invisible hat. And then Egrer understood everything. Ozpin had known everything from the very beginning. He knew and did nothing.
"Why?"
"Why did I let you study at my academy? Because as strong as your similarities are, so too are the differences. Roman demanded attention and adoration from everyone around him; he always strove to be the center of all events. Not to mention that he never respected the opinions of other students, or even professors. He was interested in nothing but fame."
"He never said he studied at Beacon..." Egrer whispered, astonished. "He hates Huntsmen. He always said this profession is just a sinkhole for the kingdoms' finances, where the councilors dump money for the illusory feeling of contributing to the defense of humanity... Just a sham to brainwash people. A pretty picture so no one sees the real problems."
"So that's how he grew up—cynical and perceptive. Perhaps those were the exact qualities he lacked back then."
"And what was he like?"
"The truth might seem unappealing to you, but I will answer honestly. Roman was an envious, selfish, and cantankerous teenager. The son of a small-time businessman with shady partners, he always tried to emulate some ideal built up in his head—the image of a 'cool' guy. Artistic and narcissistic, he expected love from others simply for the fact of his existence. But when he didn't get what he wanted, he grew bitter at the world."
"Professor, I think we're talking about completely different people," Egrer grew bolder and raised his head. "The Roman I know respects the people close to him. Granted, with his nasty personality there are very few of them, but they exist. Furthermore, he always preferred practicality over fame. He still loves to flash his face in the news, but if extra publicity might get in his way, he turns it down without a second thought."
"It seems life taught him a lesson that I could not," Ozpin noted sadly. "You value friendship above all else. To you, there is no greater reward than the smile of those you trust. But at the same time, I see in you the very thing that once pushed Roman over the edge."
Ozpin fell silent, gathering his thoughts. He stepped away from the window and placed his coffee mug further away on the desk.
"I have made many mistakes. More than any human who has ever lived on Remnant. But I learn from them, and right now I want to give you a piece of advice—do not live in the past and always hold onto what is dear to you. No one helped Roman in his difficult hour, and he made the wrong choice. He chose to use his acquired skills where he felt comfortable, instead of looking to the future. A fire burns in you, the kind that once burned in him. Do not let that flame consume you. Always remember that no matter how low you fall, if there is a hand that can help you up, then things are not so bad after all..."
These words were deeply imprinted in Egrer's memory. He would never forget them.
"I have plenty of hands like that, don't worry."
"It is not enough to have them available; you must one day trust them enough to accept their help without hesitation."
"And I will trust them. Believe me, the last thing in the world I want is to return to a life of crime. Nothing good is waiting for me there, no matter how comfortable I might be."
"I am glad to hear it. And thank you for your trust, Mr. Peleni. You may go, unless you have any more questions."
"Actually, there is one." Egrer raised a finger. "Are we going to be punished? Please, if we are, no detention..."
Ozpin chuckled quietly.
"Sometimes I completely forget that I am dealing with children. No, there will be no punishment, even though you acted recklessly and without any kind of plan." Egrer groaned quietly, since he had spent almost a week crafting his plan. "However, I would ask you not to take such risks again, Mr. Peleni."
Egrer caught the subtext. The Headmaster was asking him to drop this whole endeavor, to drop his search for answers. But that was a sacrifice he couldn't make.
"I... will act carefully." Ozpin sighed, drumming his fingers on the desk.
"I suppose there is no point in asking you for more. You may go."
In parting, when Egrer was already in the elevator, the Headmaster said:
"You know, Roman is the exact same student who constantly ended up in my office. During his first school year, he visited here about forty times. You might just manage to overtake him if you keep up your current pace."
He winked, and the doors closed.