Silver Eyes Ch. 6 (RWBY) (Patreon)

A/N: Things continue apace... until they don't.

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From her vantage point, Blake watches with narrowed eyes as Cole and Weiss exchange some more words with one another. Unfortunately, even if she took her bow off she doubts she would have been able to hear them. Still, for a moment it definitely looks like her words have had no effect on Cole. A shame but-

Blake pauses mid-thought as Cole gives Weiss a smile and a nod before heading on his way. It was… more polite than she’d been expecting, but Weiss does look a little put out as he leaves. From the look of things, he’d definitely extricated himself from the situation sooner than the Schnee Heiress might have hoped. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all…

Of course, just as THAT thought crosses the Cat Faunus’ mind, her eyes slide away from Weiss and follow Cole. Thanks to the tree she’s hidden up in, she’s able to see him over a wall even as he turns a corner and leaves Weiss’ sight. As such, Blake watches as Cole stops… and pulls some Dust Crystals from his pocket, giving them a careful lookover for a brief moment before putting them away again just a second later. Then, glancing around himself to make sure no one is watching, he continues on his way.

… N-Now hold on a second. Where did he get that Dust? Blake can only stare blankly as her mind goes haywire for a moment. Crystals of that size and quality… they were incredibly expensive. Not the sort of thing any Beacon Student should have on them. Unless they were, for instance, an incredibly wealthy heiress attached to a certain company literally built around mining and selling dust.

Blake’s jaw slowly drops open as her eyes flickered from Cole’s retreating form over to Weiss and then back again. Had he… there was no way, right? And yet, Blake really wasn’t sure what else it could be. That… that left the Cat Faunus facing a bit of a quandary. On the one hand, it was just a Schnee. Weiss wasn’t even likely to notice the few crystals that Cole had supposedly pilfered. On the other hand, Glynda Goodwitch had tasked Blake with keeping an eye on Cole and protecting him.

She just didn’t know if this fell into things she should report back to the Headmistress or not. Nothing in Glynda’s orders had made it sound like Cole was some kleptomaniac, and yet…

-x-X-x-

It might surprise some people, but Cole really hadn’t known who Weiss Schnee was at first. Not specifically anyways. He knew who the SDC were, obviously. He even knew the SDC stood for the Schnee Dust Corporation and were run by the Schnee Family. But keeping up on things enough to know the heiress of said corporation on sight? Nah, he’d had way more important things to worry about.

However… he did know a mark when he saw one. And Weiss had ‘rich mark with loads of lien’ written all over her. Now, admittedly Cole didn’t need more money. He was already making plenty off of his deal with Goodwitch, and he stood to make plenty more going into the future as well. But old habits die hard, and the more he could get away with not spending while here at Beacon, the more he would have later or so he figured.

Besides, it wasn’t his fault that Weiss was literally carrying around suitcases full of Dust Crystals just in the open for anyone to see. Hell, he was pretty sure the trio of crystals that he’d managed to pilfer from her when she wasn’t looking wouldn’t even be missed at the end of the day.

And funnily enough, that weirdo from the Airship had given him the perfect excuse to make a hastier retreat than he’d originally intended. Initially, Cole’s plan had been to help the Schnee with a trip and then beg off, taking his stolen Dust Crystals as a ‘tip’ for services rendered. But after that raven-haired creep had dropped her little bombshell into their social interaction, Cole had been able to politely pull away with just a few more exchanged sentences.

Weiss was probably disappointed about that. He got the impression that a rich girl like her who was so far from home didn’t have any friends. And while she’d likely swear to hell and back that she didn’t need friends, he knew her type. Deep down, she wanted them.

That wasn’t Cole’s problem though. Even if they both made it through initiation, it wasn’t like he was incentivized to interact with her on the daily or anything. Especially since it seemed like her family’s reputation actually wasn’t going to do her many favors here at Beacon…

“Hey!”

Cole twitches but doesn’t react. He prefers to think that whoever that is, they’re not calling out to him. It’ll be embarrassing if he turns and they’re trying to get someone else’s attention, so best to just keep going on his way and-

“Hey you! Glasses & Beanie!”

Ah fuck. Now Cole turns, not wanting someone focused on him at his back. When he sees who it is though, he wants to groan. Blondie from the Airship, specifically the one who had introduced herself as Yang Xiao-Long, comes bouncing up to him. Literally in fact, given how buxom she is.

Grinning, Yang plants her fists on her hips and gives him a once over.

“Noticed you walking alone. Heading to the auditorium to hear the Headmistress’ Speech like everyone else?”

There was a speech? No, Cole hadn’t been going to that if he was being honest. He’d actually been about to go find Goodwitch’s office and hopefully hide out there until she showed up so he could figure out what was happening next. But now… well, it would look suspicious if he didn’t go to the speech, wouldn’t it?

“… Sure.”

Yang grins.

“Well then you’re going the wrong way, silly! C’mon, this way!”

Cole tenses as she hooks his arm in her own, spins them around, and all but begins frog marching him towards the auditorium. He’s quick to pull himself free of her unwanted embrace, but that doesn’t stop her from engaging in… ugh, small talk.

“Sooo… couldn’t help noticing you have a pretty unique weapon. Not many people around here sporting just a handle like that.”

Cole blinks behind his sunglasses, glancing down at his waist to the weapon that Goodwitch had given him. It was supposed to be temporary until Cole figured out what exactly he wanted. According to the Headmistress, it was called ‘The Long Memory’ and it had been the weapon of choice of a friend before his untimely demise.

The thing was basically just a collapsible baton, which made it a pretty good starter weapon Cole had to admit. Even better, it had the ability to store kinetic energy, and that energy could then be unleashed later on for more devastating blows. Basically, it allowed Cole to turn his opponents’ strength against them. It was definitely his kind of thing.

Of course, he doesn’t tell Yang any of this. He just grunts instead, making her pout a bit at him before lifting up her arms and showing off some golden bracelets. With a flex of her fists, the bracelets transform right before Cole’s eyes, covering her hands and forearms and acting like gauntlets.

“Well, these are Ember Celica! They’re Dual Ranged Shot Gauntlets, or DRSGs for short! With these babies, I can blast away just about anyone who doesn’t go down to just my fists!”

Cole stares as Yang continues to elaborate, showing him the inner workings of her weapons. Good lord, this lady was desperate for friendship, wasn’t she? She didn’t know him in the slightest, and yet here she was practically spilling her secrets to him like it was nothing. Also… her weapons were insane. The complete opposite of his hand-me-down, in fact.

At least The Long Memory was relatively simple and safe to wield. Yang was wearing literal shotguns on her fists, and the shotgun barrels were sitting concealed in the front of each gauntlet, right above her first two fingers. That seemed like she was just asking to get those fingers blown off.

Thankfully, they finally arrive at their destination. The auditorium is already filled to the bursting with people, and even as Yang talks about this and that at his side, Cole sweeps his gaze back and forth, trying to get a feel for the crowd along with the entrances and exits. Not that he thinks things are going to go south here of all places, but you could never be too careful.

“Welcome, everyone.”

In the end, Cole doesn’t get much done anyways before a familiar voice from up on the stage draws his attention along with everyone else’s. There, Glynda Goodwitch stands with her arms clasped behind her back, her eyes sweeping over them all from behind her glasses.

“Welcome to Beacon, Vale’s Premier Huntsman Academy. You have, all of you, sacrificed years to be here. You have trained, you have fought, you have struggled. Know that even if you do not make it past initiation, just the fact that you are standing here now is itself a triumph to be proud of.”

It takes every fiber of Cole’s being not to snort derisively at that. What a load of tripe… and on multiple levels too. After all, it wasn’t like he’d sacrificed years to be here. He himself was an example that there were exceptions to that little rule. And secondly… telling people who failed the very first test this place offered that they had still accomplished something seemed like a whole bunch of bullshit to him.

Of course, he can’t say that. Instead, he crosses his arms over his chest even as Goodwitch continues her speech.

“You have all traveled here today in search of knowledge. You have come to Beacon to learn the skills necessary to protect humankind from the Grimm that ever-prey at our borders. The Kingdoms rely on Hunters to protect them, and each and every one of you is here to become one of those Hunters. That is to be commended. Admired, even.”

Okay wait, she was laying it on pretty thick wasn’t she? This didn’t sound like the Goodwitch he’d come to know. She was never this complimentary, not really…

“However… most of you do not have what it takes.”

Cole’s eyes widen as murmuring breaks out in the packed auditorium. After a moment though, he can’t help but grin a little bit. Now that was the Goodwitch he knew.

“Look to your left. Now look to your right. It is entirely possible that neither of the people on either side of you will make it into Beacon this year. If one of them does, it is likely that you yourself will not.”

He doesn’t rise to the bait, of course. He doesn’t even move his head. But he can definitely feel Yang’s purple eyes boring into the side of his head for a moment. Cole lets out a short sigh. The funny thing is, he’s very, very confident that he’s not going anywhere. Even if he somehow fails the initiation, Goodwitch will just make up some excuse for keeping him around.

“The life of a Hunter is not an easy one. Up until now, you have all been coddled.”

That gets even more of a reaction than before, Cole notes with hidden amusement. Shit, Goodwitch really was going all out now, wasn’t she?

“No more. You will all rest here for the evening. Tomorrow morning we will hold initiation. Many of you will fail and find your path diverging from this prestigious institution. Those who succeed however… cannot rest easy. The hard work will only just be beginning.”

There’s a sense of finality in those last words. Which makes sense given they’re immediately followed up by Glynda turning and walking off of the stage, even as the auditorium is suddenly filled with voices. Some shouting questions at her, some just talking among themselves. Cole just shakes his head. That last half of the speech… yeah, that was definitely the Goodwitch he’d come to know. The disciplinarian. Even if he brought out an entirely different part of her when they had sex, it didn’t change the fact that outside of the bedroom, she was a total taskmaster of a woman.

“Well… that was certainly something, wasn’t it?”

Cole glances over at Yang as she seems to be ready to just laugh off Goodwitch’s words. Running a hand through the back of her hair, the voluptuous blonde literally forces out a bark of laughter.

“I don’t know if she was trying to be inspirational or just honest with us! What do you think?”

Before Cole can even decide if he wants to respond to her, Yang suddenly blanches and looks honestly worried.

“A-Actually… uhhh, you don’t think they’ll hold anything from before Beacon against us, r-right?”

Cole furrows his brow at that, curiosity and interest finally piqued.

“… What do you mean?”

Yang is so distracted by whatever’s going on in her head that the blonde doesn’t even take note that she’s finally gotten him to properly engage with her again.

“W-Well… like, they let us in for initiation yeah? So obviously they’ve forgiven any previous mishaps that may or may not have taken place in the weeks leading up to today. They’ll judge us solely on how we do tomorrow in the initiation itself… right?”

Did blondie have some dark hidden past that she was worried about or something? Cole almost wants to scoff. Seriously, there’s no way she’d be here if she’d done anything worse than the things he’d done. On the other hand, Goodwitch would likely have thrown him on a cell and tossed away the key if he wasn’t so ‘special’, so maybe blondie was right to be worried.

In the end, what he thinks winds up not mattering, because he doesn’t get a chance to respond.

“Hello.”

Both him and Yang whip around at the same time as a voice speaks up from literally right behind them. Neither had felt the third party approaching… and maybe that was par for the course with someone like Yang, but Cole liked to think he had pretty good senses. Which is why he nearly jumps out of his skin from being startled.

The owner of the voice turns out to be a rather plain looking woman. Brown hair, a light brown complexion, and brown eyes. She’s wearing a get-up somewhat similar to the Headmistress’, complete with a white blouse and a pencil skirt. However, her skirt is brown instead of black.

“Whoa! Who are you?! Where did you come from?!”

The woman, who Cole notes to be several years older than them, gives Yang an amused look for a moment.

“My name is Amber. I’m Headmistress Goodwitch’s Personal Assistant.”

Yang blanches at that, looking very, very pale.

“H-Hey… um, look, I know the whole debacle with the nightclub was a mess but I’m really grateful to Ms. Goodwitch for pulling my ass out of the fire. I don’t-!”

Nightclub debacle? Cole raises an eyebrow, but before Yang can say anything else, Amber cuts her off.

“I’m not here for you, Ms. Xiao-Long.”

Then, she turns her gaze towards him.

“Cole. The Headmistress wishes to see you in her office.”

Hm, interesting. This Amber woman seemed… nervous about something. She hid it well, but he got the impression that she felt out of her depth in some way. Which was kind of weird, seeing as she had the look of a fully trained huntress to her. Either way, it didn’t matter in the end. Goodwitch was his employer now and until that changed, when she told him to jump, he jumped.

“Sure. Lead the way.”

Yang looks both stricken on his behalf and relieved that it’s not her head on the chopping block after all. Still, as Amber leads him out of the auditorium, she does call after him.

“H-Hey! See you around!”

Maybe.

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A/N: YO! I now have a Discord for my Patreon! Patreon is supposed to auto-invite you to my Discord when I set things up, and it did for nearly TWO THOUSAND people so far. But given I have over 4000 patrons, it obviously didn't get everyone.

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