Professor Arc

Chapter 15

Jaune flinched as the words washed over him, pushing him back as he tried to regain control of the situation. Dark glasses fixed on him, a flash of light sketching across their surface as the brown-haired figure remained motionless. No fear, no hesitation – her beret held still as she maintained her pose.

...

"I have no idea who you are," Jaune admitted, wondering if he had just ruined her introduction with that comment. The girl did sigh, though less in disappointment and more in the way one might when you had to deal with a particularly small and irritating child. One gloved hand came up to lower her glasses, before she gave him a short look.

"Coco," the girl said, "Coco Adel."

He waited for her to continue, she seemed willing to do the same, as the two matched stares across the dim room. What was he supposed to do in this kind of situation? He really felt he should be more prepared since random girls breaking into his rooms appeared to be a common occurrence nowadays.

His mother would be so proud.

"Well Miss Adel, if you're looking for counselling then I might be able to arrange-"

"I'm not here for that," she said quickly, cutting him off mid-sentence. "But it's glad to see I've found the right man. You are Professor Jaune Arc right, new teacher and student counsellor?"

"Well considering you broke into Professor Arc's office I should hope so." He snarked as he wandered over to the kitchenette, placing the bottle of red wine down on the side. He looked at it for a moment, before hiding it in a cupboard. Damn it, but he intended to enjoy that himself – not watch Neo steal it.

Or get drunk again.

"You'd really think so," the girl sighed as she drew her feet up, resting her heavy boots on his desk with a loud click of heels on wood. "But since I let myself in there's been at least three other people break in – mostly women I should add."

Neo, Blake and...

"Was the last one blonde?" She nodded and he rubbed his head in frustration. Damn it Yang... He'd need to set up some traps or something. Nothing too dangerous of course... nah, she was a huntress - she'd be able to handle it. "Well if you're not here for counselling...?"

"Just for a chat," the girl chuckled – apparently completely calm despite breaking into a teacher's room and commandeering his desk. Not that he ever actually sat at it, in fact that was pretty much Blake's seat by this point. "A friendly discussion if you will."

"Can't it wait until the morning?"

"It can," he sighed in relief, "but I won't." Ugh... never mind then. Out of all the things his colleagues had taught him he wondered why it had never been Glynda's uncanny ability to cow people into doing what she wanted. That would be a nice skill to have... With a deep sigh he settled down into one of his plush couches, ignoring the smile that stole across her features. If she thought it a sign of victory that she got the rigid desk chair then she was in for a rude awakening.

It was uncomfortable as hell.

"I'm actually here to talk about a mutual acquaintance we have," he stiffened at her words, wondering if she was the vaunted contact within Beacon that Cinder had spoken of. Or worse, what if this was someone who knew his involvement with Roman and wanted to blackmail him? "My old pal Velvet."

Or... it could be the harmless rabbit faunus who was getting bullied. That worked too.

"Miss Scarlatina?"

"Yup, I'm her team leader actually."

"Isn't that Ren?" He said without thinking, before something clicked in his brain. Velvet had come from another team initially and... oh right... He winced lightly as her heeled boots slammed down on the table, first one – and then the other. He could already imagine how badly the surface was damaged.