[#] Rusted Professor serialization has come into the open.
[#] As always, Ko-fi subscribers have access to 5 chapters ahead, plans start at 1 dollar.
COMMENTS:
kentucky fan[fanfiction]: Love what you have done with this hope for more.
AVIP: It's here.
--Chapter--
[Yang]
My muscles are sore, but it's a good kind of post workout soreness. I just finished an intense workout at the gym, and now I'm sipping water while I cool down.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Pyrrha and Nora standing side by side among the equipment, both completely still, eyes locked on something ahead of them.
I wave towards or at them.
"Morning, ladies!" I say, calling out to both of them.
But I get no response.
"…Weird," I mumble, raising a brow. "Did they not hear me?"
They are both still frozen, wide-eyed, completely focused on something I can't see from here. Feeling curious I take a few steps closer.
"Hey, are you two okay?" I ask again, now standing right beside them. But still get no reaction.
Finally, I follow their line of sight and see exactly what's got them hypnotized.
"Really?" I ask with a smirk.
"Stop, Ren!" Jaune whines loudly. "You're being too rough. It hurts so much."
"Isn't this what you wanted, Jaune?" Ren replies, flexing his arms as he pushes harder. "Now take it."
"Aargh," Jaune groans, wincing.
"You have to relax," Ren explains calmly. "If you don't, it's just going to hurt more."
Despite the 'dialogue', Ren is just helping Jaune stretch, his hands firm on Jaune's back, guiding him with practiced precision. Meanwhile, Jaune looks like he's dying, his red face twisted in pain and effort.
"Ahhhhhhh," I say, realization dawning on me, a wide grin spreading across my face. "I know why you two were staring."
Pyrrha jumps like she's been electrocuted, stumbling back a step.
"Yang!" she squeaks. "Where did you come from?"
Her face is nearly as red as her hair, and her eyes are wide in panic.
"I was calling you guys from over there, but you didn't even blink." I thumb toward the still-stretching duo. "But it looks like someone was a little too distracted by a certain dorky knight who got real beefy over the last few months."
Pyrrha gulps and quickly looks away.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about, Yang."
I laugh, loud it echoes across the gym.
"Yeah, suuure you don't," I say between chuckles, slapping my knee. "Bet once Jaune gets totally shredded, you won't even be able to walk straight."
Trying to salvage what little dignity she has left, Pyrrha turns to leave. But in her flustered rush, she trips over a bench and crashes into a rack of dumbbells.
POW!
The crash rings through the whole gym. Everyone turns to stare as Pyrrha ends up sprawled on the floor under a pile of weights.
"Are you ok, cereal girl?" I call out, worried. But she's already scrambling to her feet, rubbing the back of her head.
"Sorry," she mutters, red-faced, and speed-walks out of the room.
I was about to check if she was really okay, but I noticed something weird… Nora. She's still completely frozen. Eyes glued to Jaune and Ren, who are wrapping up their stretches.
"Nora, you good?" I ask, waving a hand in front of her. "All that noise and you didn't even flinch."
Nothing, she doesn't even react.
"Nora?" I try again, but still no response.
When I reach out to wave my hand closer to her face, she snaps to life like lightning and grabs me by the wrist.
"Keep walking, Xiao Long," she says coldly, eyes never leaving her teammate. "Just keep walking."
"Oookay…" I mutter, slowly backing away from the small psycho without turning my back on her.
Ren really needs to say something about liking her or not, because this girl is way too thirsty.
[Professor Luna]
Right now, I'm sitting in a poorly lit bar. The only illumination comes from dim lights hanging from the ceiling, each bulb covered in a thick layer of dust. The walls, once white, are now a stained gray, yellowed by time and cigarette smoke.
The wooden bar I'm sitting at is worn down, covered in water rings and scratches. The once-glossy varnish is now a dull yellow, peeling in places.
The background noise is a mix of low murmurs and soft music, so distorted through the ancient speakers that I can't even tell what genre it's supposed to be. The air reeks of old liquor, mildew, and smoke.
This isn't the kind of place people come drinking to celebrate, it's the kind of place people come to drink their pain away.
I'm perched on a high stool with torn, faded leather. In front of me sits a dirty glass of water, untouched. My eyes scan the room, watching the scattered patrons slumped at their tables. All of them have the same vacant look, the same lost gaze.
Not really my kind of hangout, but Qrow asked to meet here… so here I am.
"Another round?" the bartender asks, a middle-aged man with deep eye bags and a patchy beard. His voice is hoarse and tired.
"No, thanks," I reply, pushing the dirty glass away. "I'm waiting for someone."
He shrugs, grabbing the glass and wiping down the bar with a rag that's somehow filthier than the counter itself.
"Suit yourself."
After a few minutes the bar's door creaks open, and in walks Qrow with a nostalgic grin, like he just walked into his childhood home. His messy dark hair, streaked with gray, falls over part of his red eyes. He strolls up to the counter and drops onto the stool next to me.
"You're late," I say, giving him a side glance.
"Today I got lost on the road of life," he replies with a dramatic sigh, then signals the bartender. "One shot of your cheapest whiskey my good friend."
The bartender squints, like just hearing Qrow's voice gives him a headache, but still pours the drink. Without hesitation, the veteran Huntsman downs it and winces.
"Maaan, that's awful."
"You asked for the cheapest," the bartender mutters, shrugging again.
Qrow lets out a dry, humorless chuckle.
"Fair point," he says, smiling. "Just leave the bottle." The bartender shrugs again, leaving the whiskey in front of us. "And put it on Blondie's tab."
"Seriously?" I ask, raising an annoyed eyebrow.
"Yep," he pops the 'P.' "You invited me on this date, you pay."
"Gods," I groan, rubbing my forehead. "You're such an asshole."
Qrow laughs at my reaction, pouring himself another round of the foul stuff.
"So..." he says, focusing on his drink. "What did you wanna talk about?"
I wait until he's halfway through another big gulp before answering:
"I want to talk to Yang about Raven."
Qrow spits the whiskey.
PFFFFFT!
"For real?" Qrow asks.
A loud, forced cough interrupts us. The bartender, now soaked in cheap whiskey, stares at us with a deadpan look, but his voice carries an unmistakable edge.
"I'm charging you for dry cleaning."
We both give awkward chuckles and apologies before Qrow pulls me toward a more private booth with ripped leather seats, and a table covered with a moth-eaten cloth.
As soon as we sit, he leans in, hissing in a harsh whisper.
"You outta your damn mind, Luna? What the hell's wrong with your thirty-year-old virgin brain?"
"First of all, commenting about my sex life is 100% unnecessary," I deadpan. "Second, what's the big deal with telling her the truth about her mother?"
"It's a reckless risk, you fucking himbo." Qrow snaps. "And Yang gets nothing but heartache from it."
That last part hits me hard, he really doesn't get it. Probably because Yang hides behind her cheerful, laid-back attitude.
"You know Qrow." I start in a severe tone. "I wasn't really close to Yang before... before I came back."
The time travel topic shuts Qrow up. He looks at me, red eyes gleaming with curiosity and concern.
"But I was close to Ruby from that timeline," I say, surprising the old crow. "Ruby told me how Raven abandoned them and their father."
Qrow lowers his gaze, like he just lost something in his drink.
"I also know that when Summer died, Yang's first instinct was to go looking for Raven."
He looks up, surprised.
"Whoa… she told you all that?" he asks, incredulous.
"She stopped at the part where the super cool uncle swooped in and saved them both," I reply with a smirk.
Caught off guard, Qrow freezes for a second. Then his features soften, and a nostalgic smile forms on his face.
"I love that kid," he says, almost wistfully. "I wish I was half the man she thinks I am."
"You are more than that," I reply, firmly.
He stares at me, clearly taken aback by the sincerity, and how fast I said it.
"In the other timeline, you saved our lives more than once while we crossed the continent. Fighting off Grimm and assassins sent by Salem. And in this timeline, you've stood by me in some of the toughest fights we've faced."
Qrow lets out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.
"The only thing worse than fighting that Grimm dragon was having to face my sister… sober. And you want Yang to go see her?"
My eyes widen in fear as I raise both my hands, negating the idea.
"What? No," I say, waving a hand. "I'm not saying we should immediately take Yang to visit Raven in prison."
Qrow tilts his head, confused.
"Why not go all in?" he asks. "Rip the bandage off, get it over with?"
I take a deep breath, scratching the back of my neck.
"Because if Raven gets to talk to Yang, she'll tell her everything. And not out of kindness, just to sow chaos inside Ozpin's inner circle."
Qrow makes a face, worse than when he drank the whiskey as I continue to explain.
"She'd twist whatever she knows to mess with Yang, stir up doubt and division. And that's the last thing we need right now."
Qrow scowls, thinking it over.
"Firecracker's not that easy to manipulate," he says, protective of his niece.
"I know, Qrow," I reply gently. "But she's insecure. Part of her thinks Raven left because she wasn't worth loving."
Qrow coughs his drink, surprised by my words.
"No…" he sighs, voice heavy with emotion. "Yang wouldn't, she never…"
He tries to argue, but every attempt just makes him pause and reflect. I can see the idea that I'm right settling in.
"So what's your plan?" he asks, leaning back.
I lean forward, elbows on the table, hands clasped.
"We can start by telling her the truth, Qrow. Tell her Raven ran because she was scared of responsibility. That she's a blood-stained criminal locked in maximum security prison."
Qrow recoils, his red eyes narrowing.
"So I just drop this emotional bomb on her out of nowhere?"
"What else can you do?" I say tired. "You want me there too?"
"Yeah," Qrow admits, a little embarrassed. "You get Yang better than I do. And you were there when we caught Raven."
"If you think that is necessary," I say firmly. "You can count on me."
"Damn..." Qrow mutters with a tired sigh. "You know she's gonna want to talk to Raven eventually."
"I know." I lower my head. "Maybe promise her a visit, at some point in the future."
"When?"
"Maybe after she graduates."
Qrow chuckles dryly, shaking his head.
"Four years'll fly by."
"I know," I murmur, leaning back in my seat. "But it's better than leaving her with nothing. And a restless Yang is a Yang who trashes more than bars for information."
Qrow laughs, really happy this time, a genuine sound that echoes in the bar.
"She definitely gets that from Raven."
"You sure it's not from you?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.
In response, Qrow smirks and says:
"Me? Trash a bar?"
We pause and glance around the grimy dump he clearly loves.
"Fair," I concede.
"Great," he says, slapping the table and waving down the bartender. "Now that business is done, it's time for you to drink."
"Qrow, you know I don't like alcohol," I protested.
He ignores me, yelling:
"Hey! Bring us a bottle of Old King Spiced Rum!"
The bartender nods and heads off.
"That sounds expensive," I mutter.
"Mid-shelf classic," Qrow explains, finishing off his cheap whiskey. "You'll like it."
I roll my eyes as the bartender pours for both of us.
As he sets the bottle down, I find myself staring at the label, an old black-and-white illustration of a bearded king in a crooked crown.
"What?" Qrow asks, picking up the bottle to see what caught my eye. "They say that image's based on the king who unified Vale." He hands the bottle back. "Kinda looks like you a few years from now, doesn't it?"
I stare at the label, suddenly thinking about my own lineage. I remember stories about heroes, but nobles? I don't remember any from grandpa Alexander Arc.
The image of that old king stirs something inside me, something cloudy and ancient, tied to the very soul of Vale.
"Less thinking, more drinking," Qrow snaps in a lighthearted voice.
I sigh, defeated, and lift my glass. The amber liquid catches the bar's weak light in a soft glow.
The scent hits me first, sweet and smoky, like caramel and burnt wood teaming up to ambush my senses.
"There's no turning back now," I mutter, taking a sip.
It burns good.
It shoots down my throat like a firework, catching me totally off guard. I cough quietly, trying to keep my dignity, but Qrow is already laughing, slapping his leg.
It hurt, but in a weirdly pleasant way. And after the fire fades, a smooth, buttery taste lingers with hints of vanilla and spice, like the drink's trying to apologize for roughing me up.
I hold the glass, rim still damp. I'm not sure if I like it.
"Attaboy! Congrats on popping your cherry, with booze!" Qrow cheers. "This stuff is too sweet for me, but I had a feeling you'd dig it."
"Sure is something," I say, taking another sip.
"Now if you'd just accept my offer to pop your other cherry-."
I turn my head as I spit the drink, avoiding Qrow's face.
PFFFFFT!
Unluckily, the bartender was standing right there.
"I came over to ask if you wanted anything from the kitchen before it closes," he grumbles, wiping his face. "But I guess I'll just add another dry cleaning charge."
We both chuckle awkwardly. As soon as he walks off, I sink my elbows onto the table, hiding my face in my hands.
"Goddamn it, Qrow."
"Quit whining and drink up," he says, refilling my glass.
"I've got class tomorrow morning," I warn him.
"So?" Qrow shrugs. "You've got Aura. You can't get hungover."
"Seriously?" I ask, skeptical.
"Yep," Qrow replies with that suspicious grin.
"...Ok."
[Ruby Rose]
I'm really lucky to have the best partner in all of Beacon.
Even though she doesn't want to paint nails with me, try on clothes, or talk about cute boys, Weiss is amazing.
She's great in class, in combat, with Dust, and so much more. She's even mellowed out a bit these past few months, proving that our friendship is solid, like the cannons guarding Vale's walls.
But if I had one tiny critique of my partner…
"Sit up straight and pay attention!" the heiress barks at me.
"Yes, ma'am!" I answer, firmly.
She can be a little 'strict'.
"I'm your partner, Ruby, not your drill sergeant."
"Yes, Ma-."
"Grrrgh," Weiss growls, cutting me off.
"Yes, partner," I correct myself, shrinking slightly at my desk.
Weiss sighs, tired. Her shoulders slump a bit, her stiff posture finally relaxing.
"Sorry, Ruby," she says, sounding genuinely guilty. "I don't mean to be harsh, but you did skip two grades. I'm just trying to help you catch up on everything."
"I know, Weiss. And I really appreciate it," I reply, a little apologetic. "But sometimes… you're so hard with me."
Weiss tilts her head, confused.
"Hard?" She questions in genuine confusion. "Ruby, this is the kindest treatment I ever got from a tutor."
"That's depressing," comes a sarcastic voice from across the room.
Weiss snaps her head toward Blake, icy blue eyes sparking. But before she can say anything, Yang bursts into laughter.
"That's gold," my sister cackles. "Best day ever."
She's lying along the edge of her bed,, legs kicking in the air. She laughs so hard she rolls off and hits the floor.
PLOP!
But she doesn't stop, she keeps laughing, wheezing now.
"Yang!" Weiss shouts. But Yang only laughs harder. "Nothing can be 'that' funny!"
Yang finally gets up, wiping tears from her eyes, her grin still wide.
"I wouldn't be so sure," she says, flipping her scroll around, and turning up the volume so that the rest of us can hear.
On the screen: a video of Professor Luna and uncle Qrow, arms around each other, singing a sappy, off-key love song at the top of their lungs.
{"Some people fall in love for life
Others never get it right
Love's fickle when it calls
One thing that I know for sure
Longer than our lives endure
You're my forever fall"}
My eyes go wide, but I can't help it. I burst out laughing, loud and shameless. Weiss, on the other hand, looks horrified. Her mouth hangs open, and her face is paler than usual.
"This… this can't be real," she whispers in disbelief. "How could someone so dignified like professor Luna do… 'that'?"
Yang shrugs, still smiling.
"Honestly? I think he just earned some cool points," my sister says. "Who knew Professor Luna could cut loose like that?"
{"I love you, Qrow,"} Professor Luna slurs tearfully.
{"Love you too,"} Uncle Qrow replies, leaning in for a kiss.
Professor Luna dodges, stumbling away as Qrow falls off the stage.
{"Not like that!"} the professor complains. {"I'm straight."}
{"Just say no homo after."} burps my uncle going after the blond teacher.
{"Just stop!"} Shouts the professor. {"Or I'm gonna slap you."}
{"Kinky!"}
"Hmph," Weiss grunts, arms crossed, studying the video more closely. "Well. At least one good thing came out of this embarrassment."
"What are you talking about?" I ask, curious about my bestie's reaction.
Weiss's face turns redder than my cape, and she quickly spins back to her stack of books.
"N-nothing important," she stammers. "You've still got a lot to study."
"Like Luna, you sure are a straight shooter, huh Weiss?" Yang teases, wiggling her eyebrows.
Weiss doesn't respond. For some reason… she won't meet Yang's eyes.
-----------------------------------
E ai gurizada…
[#] I hope you enjoyed this new serialization, if you are interested, my Ko-Fi[avipbr] subscriber has access up to this chapters posted there:
Chapter 10 - Sins of the parent
Chapter 11 - Fruits of your labor
Chapter 12 - Teacher's pet
Chapter 13 - What's a sub?
Chapter 14 - Ruby doesn't like cookies?
[#] You can reach me on X/twitter, @AvipBr