Sent To Protect and Serve Humanity

Chapter 23: Writing On The Wall

3rd POV

Outside of Team RWBY's dorm, two Atlesian Knights stand guard, weapons at rest, and wait for their general to return.

"I'm sorry, but you've left us with no choice." Ironwood said.

"But he attacked me!" Yang angrily replied from where she sat.

"Yeah!" Ruby chimed in to defend her sister.

Ironwood turned to the blonde brawler that rested her head in her hands. "You all seem like good students, and the staff here at Beacon are fully aware that you would never lash out the way you did... under normal circumstances." He continues as Ruby sits back down, her entire team looking despondent. "What I believe and hope this to be is nothing more than the result of stress and adrenaline. When you're out on the battlefield, your judgment can become clouded in an instant. Sometimes, you see things that simply aren't there. Even after the fight is past..." With that last statement, he looks to the right while rolling his right shoulder.

"But I wasn't-" Yang tried to speak.

"That's ENOUGH!" Ironwood angrily shut down any protest. The room fell silent before he continued. "The sad truth is, whether it was an accident or an assault, it doesn't matter. The world saw you attack an innocent student. They've already drawn their own conclusions. And it's my job to inform you that... you are disqualified."

Yang's shock turns into miserable understanding when she looks to the ground, and Ironwood leaves the room.

"You guys believe me, right?" She asked as soon as the door clicked.

"Duh!" Ruby obviously sided with her sister.

"You're hotheaded, but not ruthless." Weiss shook her head in agreement.

Yang turned expectantly to the cat faunus. "Blake?"

Blake turned her gaze away, earning a shocked look between the heiress and red reaper. "I want to believe you..."

"Huh!?" Ruby uttered in shock.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Weiss asked with a cross of her arms, narrowing her eyes as she did so.

Yang's eyes widened, tears forming at the edges. "Blake?" She asked in a hurt tone.

"How can you say something like that? Yang would never lie to us!" Weiss angrily told the cat faunus.

Blake glances at the heiress before taking a deep breath. "I had someone very dear to me change. It wasn't in an instant it was gradual - little choices that began to pile up. He told me not to worry. At first, they were accidents, then it was self-defense. Before long, even I began to think he was right." She pauses. "This is all just... very familiar." The blonde brawler looks up, tears now falling down her face. "But you're not him. And you've never done anything like this before. So... I want to trust you. I will trust you. But first, I need you to look me in the eyes and tell me that he attacked you. I need you to promise me that you regret having to do what you did."

Yang wipes the tears from her eyes and speaks as calmly as possible. "I saw him attack me, so I attacked back."

The cat faunus closed her eyes and took a deep breath before responding. "Okay. Thank you."

"I think I'm gonna rest up." Yang muttered as she stared at the ground.

"We'll get out of your hair." Blake understood the hint as she and the other two stood up to leave.

Outside the room, where Ruby is closing the door, pausing only for a second to see Yang slump forward before shutting it completely. She joins Weiss and Blake in the middle of the hallway.