Project: RWBY

Ch 36) Excuses Excuses

Underneath the setting sun and against the wishes of one of the figments of my imagination, I trail behind an anxious Pyrrha who walks toward a giant clock tower. As I walk I feel a yawn trying to force its way out of my mouth, leaving me curious about how long it's been since I last slept.

If it's this difficult to suppress a yawn then the answer is at least a week, which doesn't feel right. Surely I slept at some point...

But I should ignore my problems. For now at least, Pyrrha is the priority.

With silent footsteps, I follow Pyrhha's walk into the eerily empty building and head toward an elevator. My first hurdle.

She stands before the metal doors, looks at the buttons, then at the lights above it that tell what floor the elevator is currently on, seemingly deep in thought. She must have a bad feeling about whatever she's here for, and I find myself mirroring her worry.

After some time she hits the arrow button pointing up, the only button on display, and the doors immediately slide open. After a deep breath, she steps into it.

Suddenly she spins around and reaches her hand toward me.

I hold my breath and swiftly tilt my body, narrowly avoiding her touch as she hits a button on the panel. The button lights up and I breathe an internal sigh of relief as the doors close.

That was way too close.

The elevator isn't the largest but there's far more than enough room for me to stand and avoid brushing against Pyrrha. She fidgets with her hands and shuffles in place staring distantly into a wall.

On occasion, her shoulders relax and a small smile appears on her lips like she's momentarily entering a happy place or looking back on a pleasant memory. I have an idea about what, or I should say who she's thinking of.

"I hope I can run into him again soon..."

My lips twist with displeasure at the words she murmurs and I find myself pointedly turning away from her. But with not much else to do, I can do nothing else but observe her features and subtle actions as we rise up the floors.

Alt's in here too, silently observing me despite my invisibility. He's as still as a rock and exhibits as much expression as one too while he stares right at me. It makes me slightly uncomfortable but I can sense the good intention behind his unapproving gaze.

Which only makes things feel weirder.

One unnecessarily long and tense elevator ride later I hear a ding and Pyrrha takes a deep breath as the door slides open.

And my hand shifts to my pocket, preparing to draw a weapon in case this is an ambush.

But rather than an attack, a familiar voice rings out from within.

"Good evenning Pyrrha."

Professor Ozpin? Why did he call her here?

As the two of us walk in I spot Ruby and Yang's uncle, Qrow. He did make it sound like he and Ozpin knew each other, but why is he here now?

"Please, take a seat." Ozpin gestures to the seat in front of his desk.

While Pyrrha walks forward to her seat I shift to the side to scan the room. The atmosphere feels tense and seeing Qrow without his jovial appearance from before only serves to emphasize the tension.