𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 [ʀᴡʙʏ x ᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴏᴄ]

Chapter 30

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

Yang: "But he attacked me!"

Ironwood: (pacing around the room, not looking at her) "Video footage and millions of viewers say otherwise."

The room was heavy with silence, the kind that weighed down on your chest and made every breath feel labored. General Ironwood stood near the door, arms crossed, his expression carved from stone.

Klaus: "With all due respect, General," I said, stepping forward, "there's something off about that footage. Yang wouldn't just attack someone unprovoked."

Weiss: (gesturing to her teammate from the other bed) "But Yang would never do that!"

Ironwood's eyes snapped to me, his expression unreadable. 

Iroonwood: "Are you questioning my judgment, Klaus?"

Klaus: "No, sir," I replied evenly. "But I've known Yang long enough to know she doesn't lose her temper without a reason."

Ruby: "We all know her!"

Ironwood: "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. 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. You don't need special reminder of that right Klaus?"

Yang: "But I wasn't-"

Ironwood: (angrily stern) "That's ENOUGH! (when the room falls silent, he goes on) 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."

I saw the way her shoulders slumped as the weight of his words crushed her spirit. Her confidence was gone, replaced by a quiet misery. She stared at the floor, her fists clenched tightly in her lap, trembling.

Ironwood's heavy boots echoed as he turned and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

Yang: (when the door clicks shut, she turns to her friends) "You guys believe me, right?"

Ruby: "Duh!"

Weiss: (shaking her head) "You're hotheaded, but not ruthless."

Klaus: "Yang," I said softly, "we believe you. This isn't over."

Yang: (when she realizes one of their number hasn't spoken) "Blake?"

Blake turns her gaze away, earning a shocked look between Ruby and Weiss.

Blake: "I want to believe you..."

Ruby: "Huh!?"

Weiss: "What's that supposed to mean?"

Yang: (eyes widening, tears forming instantly as she says in a hurt voice) "Blake?"

Weiss: (when Blake looks up at Yang, then back down) "How can you say something like that? Yang would never lie to us!"

Klaus: "Be patient Weiss, Blake would have something to share with us."

Blake: (glances at Weiss, then takes a deep breath before starting) "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. (as Yang 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."