In the Clocktower of Beacon, is the Headmaster's office. Glynda, Ozpin and Ash watch as several rge airships nd at Beacon's airpad.

  "Ironwood certainly loves bringing his work wherever he travels." Glyndacompins.

  "Tell me about it." Ash grumbles as he gres at the rge airships.

  Ozpin then speaks up. "Well, running an academy and military makes him a busy man. But yes, those are a bit of an eyesore." He looks back to his desk as a beeping sound repeatedly. He sees a hollow-message 'Access Requested' on his desk. "Come in."

  The elevator doors open and General James Ironwood walks into the office.

  Ash and Glynda continue to stare out the window. Ozpin turns around and approaches Ironwood to greet him.

  "Ozpin." Ironwood cordially greets.

  Ozpin stands at attention. "Hello, General."

  Ironwood holds up a hand. "Please drop the formalities." He and Ozpin shake hands as Glynda approaches them. "It's been too long. And Glynda! It has certainly been too long since we st met."

  "Oh, James!" Glynda gives a personable wave and then drops all pleasantries. "I'll be outside." She walks away.

  Ironwood looks towards Ash. "Lieutenant General Ash, nice to see you again."

  Ash just looks at Ironwood's reflection in the gnce. "James..."

  Ironwood slightly frowns. "Lieutenant-"

  "It's just Ash here, Ironwood." Ash slightly looks back at him. "And you will abide by that. I am not your Blood Hound anymore, and I'm pretty sure I made that clear the st time we spoke."

  "Now now." Ozpin holds up a hand. "Let's not cause a mess." He clears his throat and walks towards his desk. "So, what in the world has brought you all the way down from Ats?" He picks up a mug and kettle, pouring as he speaks. "Headmasters don't typically travel with their students, for the Vytal Festival."

  Ozpin offers the cup to Ironwood and he takes it, the two clinking cups together.

  "Well, you know how much I love Vale this time of year." Ironwood produces a canteen from inside his coat pocket, and pours its contents into his mug. "Besides, with you hosting, I thought that this might be a good opportunity for us to catch up."

  Ash gres at Ironwood's reflection in the window.

  Ozpin sits and pours himself some coffee. "I can certainly appreciate the quality time between friends, however, a small fleet outside my window has me concerned."

  "Well, concern is what brought them here." Ironwood states.

  "I understand that travel between kingdoms has become increasingly difficult."

  "Oz, you and I both know why I brought those men."

  Ash turns to Ironwood. "Then you should know, that showing this kind of power will let our enemies know, that we know they're here. It'll be harder to find them if they know we're looking for them!"

  Ironwood stares at Ash's good eye. "But if what Qrow said is true..."

  Ozpin knocks a fist on his desk, getting their attention. "If what Qrow said is true, then we will handle it tactfully." Ozpin emphasizes this as he holds up an index finger. "It's the Vytal Festival. A time to celebrate unity and peace. So I suggest that you do not scare people by transporting hundreds of soldiers halfway across the continent."

  Ash huffs and sits on the edge of Ozpin's desk, his back turned to Ironwood.

  "I'm just being cautious." Ironwood cims.

  "As am I." Ozpin states. "Which is why we will continue to train the best Huntsmen and Huntresses we can."

  "Believe me, I am." Ironwood turns and walks away. he stops near the door and looks back at Ozpin. "But ask yourself this: Do you honestly believe your children can win a war?" He continues on his way to the exit.

  "I hope they never have to."

  Ironwood takes the elevator down, leaving Ash and Ozpin in silence.

  "Have you gotten any closer to the suspect of our little breach?" Ozpin gnces at Ash.

  Ash sighs. "Barley, I've been able to deduce that it wasn't any of the staff."

  "Which means it was a student then."

  Ash nods after a few seconds. "Sadly, but I don't have any clues on who, though." He stands up and walks over to the window. "I fear by the time we figure it out, it'll be to te."

  He looks down to the courtyard and sees Team AMBR running in workout gear.

  Byzan takes up the rear as Ambré, Maize and Rose run in front of him.

  "Come on, Byzan, keep up!" Ambré shouts.

  "I think I'm right where I want to be..." Byzan states as he's staring at his three teammates asses in yoga pants.

  Ambré notices his stares and grows angry. "You bastard!"

  Byzan looks up as a shadow covers him. "Huh?"

  Ambré brings her foot down on top of Byzan's head, sending him to the ground. Rose yelps in shock while Maize blinks a few times.

  Several minutes ter Byzan's sitting on a chair in the dorm lounge as Ambré stands over him with an angry look. Byzan's byzantine aura covers him as he holds his head in pain. Rose and Maize stand nearby.

  Ambré puts her hands on her hips. "How many times have I told you to not stare at my ass?"

  Byzan shrugs. "I don't really remember. But yours may be small, but its so finely shaped! While Rose over there is a rge and round ass, and Maize looks soft, but firm at the same time!"

  Rose blushes up a storm as steam flows from her ears, while a hint of red appears on Maize's face. But Ambré gets even angrier, and punches Byzan on the top of the head again, causing the chair under him to crack.

  "Fuck!" Byzan shouts. "Whahahahy!"

  A few students gnce over and grimace as they watch the scene.

  "Now, let's go get changed and get some lunch." Ambré orders.

  Byzan waves her off. "I think I'll stay here and... calm my aching head."

  Ambré rolls her eyes and starts to walk away as she motions to Maize and Rose. "Come on, girls, lets go." She walks off.

  "Um... at least tell me if you stare at my ass!" Rose shouts and runs off.

  Maize looks between Rose and Byzan. "...I don't mind..." She whispers and quickly walks off.

  Byzan smirks as he rubs his head. He lets out a sigh and leans back on his chair. He closes his eyes as memories of a few days ago appear in his head.

  ---

  Byzan looks

  around the interrogation room he's in. His eyes then gnces towards the door as it opens up and Ozpin enters.

  "You certainly have had an eventful evening, haven't you, Mr. Beldonna." Ozpin sits down across from the cat faunus.

  Byzan shrugs his shoulders. "Could have been worse, Headmaster."

  "OH, and how?"

  "I could have died or Bke. Or Calico could've been there, or any of the Ace-ops. Many things could have gone wrong."

  Ozpin nods at Byzan's statement. "You got off a lot better than what could have happened. But not for everyone, at least one body was found at the scene. And the only one who could have done it would be you, Mr. Beldonna."

  Bzyan leans back in his chair and smiles. "Oh, and why is that, Headmaster?"

  Ozpin sips on his mug, before setting it down. "You have made a name for yourself in Ats as, Nightshade."

  Byzan just keeps his smile. "What are you getting at, Headmaster?"

  Ozpin leans forward. "I want to know why did you cause all that chaos in Ats and Mantle.

  Byzan leans forward with a smirk. "People needed to learn that those at the top aren't invincible... That someone can always touch them. And those think they can just hide behind metal walls and hundreds of guns... nothing a little poison can't do." Byzan grows a rge smirk.

  Ozpin just stares at Byzan, showing no emotion. "You could be put away for a long time, Mr. Beldonna. But do you know why you aren't?"

  Byzan lets out a chuckle as he leans back confidently on his chair. "And why is that, Headmaster?"

  "Because I know that you have potential. Potential to be a great Huntsmen, that's why you joined this academy."

  Byzan lets out a loud ugh. "You think I joined to become a Huntsmen, Headmaster? You're so wrong, I could give two shits about Huntsmen and Huntresses. I joined because I needed to hide."

  "Hide from what, Mr. Beldonna?" Ozpin asks, intrigued.

  "From the one that hides in the shadows." Byzan states and leans forward. "I know about that, Headmaster, and I know of your games. I won't be pying them, I don't care about you or anyone else here. I'm only here to keep my home and sister safe, that's all."

  Byzan turns away from Ozpin. "I have nothing more to say to you."

  "...Very well, Mr. Beldonna." Ozpin stands up. "But I know there's a chance for you, Byzantine. Everyone has a little good in them."

  "It's Byzan." He mutters as Ozpin leaves the room.

  ---

  Byzan grunts as he opens his eyes and stands up. He puts his hands on his back and leans backwards. A few loud pops are heard from his back and he sighs in relief.

  "There we go." Byzan then starts walking towards his dorm and as he rounds a corner, a new voice speaks up.

  Baxterbro

  "Well, well, well." Cinder's voice is heard, causing Byzan to tense up and his pupils to shrink. "If it isn't our favorite cat."

  Byzan shakily looks back as his ears fold down. He sees Cinder with Emerald and Mercury behind her. "Cinder..." He takes a step back.

  Cinder smirks as she approaches as Byzan tries to back away from her, but he backs up into a wall. Emerald and Mercury just smirk as they watch the terrified cat stare at Cinder.

  "Wh- What are you doing h-here?" Byzan stutters.

  "Well, a certain cat went missing and we had to follow you." Cinder smirks as she looks down on him. "And once we got here, we decided to set up operations here."

  "B-But, what about Ats?"

  "Ats can wait." Cinder puts a hand on Byzan's cheek and he flinches away as he stares at Cinder in fear. "Do you really think you can run from us, Byzan?"

  "H-How did you kn-know I was here?" Byzan tries to move, but Cinder grabs his shoulder.

  "Oh, we know you wanted to leave months before you ran away. So we prepared everything in advance." Emerald calls out.

  "You're not as slick as you think you are, Byzz." Mercury calls out.

  Cinder smiles as she lightly grabs Byzan's chin and forces him to look into her eyes. "So, do you know where she is?"

  Byzan tries to look away, but Cinder tightens her grip on his chin as fmes pour from the corner of her right eye.

  "Tell me, where she is!" Cinder orders in a low tone.

  "She... She's here alright..." Byzan mutters as he stares at Cinder, his pupils shaking. "I-I did some digging as the Fall Maiden is here, at Beacon."

  Cinder smiles happily. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it? Now, where exactly is she, I must cim what I'm owed."

  "I don't know..." Cinder holds up her other hand as a ball of fire appears, slightly burning Byzan's cheek. "Ozpin has her location under wraps!" He quickly expins. "I've tried very hard to find her, and nearly got caught okay! All I know is that she's in a comatose state and won't be leaving here anytime soon!"

  Cinder lets go of Byzan and he slides down the wall. He stares at the ground in fear as Cinder smirks at him.

  "Good, kitty. Now-" Cinder crouches down to him. "If you go tell anyone about us, we'll have to go back on our deal." Byzan's eyes widen as he looks at Cinder. "You wouldn't want anything to happen to your dear home right? To your dear sister?"

  Byzan slowly shakes his head.

  "Good, boy. Now you keep holding up your end of the deal and she will keep hers." Cinder stands up and begins to walk away. "We'll be in touch, Kitty."

  Cinder ughs as she, Emerald and Mercury disappear around a corner. Byzan stares at the ground as his breath slowly starts to quicken.

  He swiftly stands up as his breath grows rapid and he runs down the hall. He comes to his dorm and quickly opens it and runs inside, smming the door shut, and leaning on it.

  "Byzan?" Rose questions as she looks over as she sits on her bed.

  "Byzan, you're pale." Maize looks over in concern from her desk.

  Ambré stands up from her bed and walks over. "Byzz, you good?"

  Byzan continues to hyperventite, until he brings a hand up to his mouth and runs past everyone and into the bathroom, where he pukes into the toilet.

  The girls all walk over to the bathroom and crouch next to Bzyan as he coughs and pukes a few more times. After a minute, Byzan takes a few calming breaths as he flushes the toilet and leans againt.

  "Byzz, what was all that about?" Rose asks in worry.

  "I..." Byzan states a couple breaths.

  "You can tell us, Byzz." Ambré puts a hand on Byzan's shoulder.

  "I... I'm fine." Byzan states.

  "That doesn't seem fine." Maize points to Byzan's ragged form.

  "It's... something I can't tell you, okay."

  "Byzan-" Ambré starts.

  "No!" Byzan nearly shouts, slightly starling everyone. He takes a deep breath. "I-I... I have to deal with this on my own, okay? It's... very personal..." He stares down at the ground.

  Ambré sighs and lets go of Byzan. "Okay, but if you need to talk to anyone, we're here, okay?"

  Byzan starts into Ambré's heterochromia eyes. "...OKay."

  Ambré smiles. "Okay."

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  06-05-2024

  2223 words