(RWBY x Various) Some Semblance of Talent

Out of Sight out of my Mind

"You of all people should know why I haven't said anything."

"-REDACTED-, you should know that I only want to help."

"Then prove it. Stop being cryptic and tell me why you're here."

"To keep you out of any more trouble."

_____

"When I was a boy..." Professor Port began another one of his tales. To his credit, the Professor's stories weren't all the same, but the beginnings and endings were and he always went off on the tangents at the same time every single class. The only thing keeping Ruby focused on the lecture was the rhythmic sound of the scout, Sharp, hitting the back of his helmeted head against the wall in the rear of the class.

"Do you think Port broke him?" she whispered to her teammates amidst their professor's blabbering.

"I heard they've been here for every class for the past few weeks," Weiss responded, the heiress herself having abandoned the impression of being studious. "I don't think they leave the classroom until lunch time and when the day is over. Something about fairly evaluating all of us."

"Sheesh," Yang grimaced. "I'd break too if I had to listen to this all day every day for two weeks." In spite of exchanging their usual equipment in favor of the school's uniforms, Ozpin's orders, the four scouts, Sharp, Linda, York, and Genji, still wore their helmets. None of them cared that the vast majority of the class was staring at them. Linda, however, appeared to wish to retain some sense of professionalism and put her hand behind Sharp's head, her glove dampening the noise and breaking the sharpshooter from his trance.

"Why are they with another team?" Ruby wondered.

"I think they're dividing and conquering by taking notes in each class and comparing at the end of the day," Blake guessed.

"Looks like we know who pulled the short stick," Yang looked back at them.

"... and my head held high, celebrated as a hero!" Port finally concluded and took a bow. The only good thing to come from his tales was the ending, which also marked the ten-minute mark until they were dismissed. The Professor hadn't even finished saying "Class dismissed" when Ruby used her semblance to dart to the back of the classroom, making the scouts flinch.

"I just wanted to say I really appreciate you being here and sacrificing your time and sanity to evaluate all of us fairly," she told Sharp in particular, whose head was propped up by his partner.

"Thanks, kid," he sighed and motioned for Linda to take her hand back. "Sorry."

"Agent York is currently resting," the small green guy, Delta, projected himself in front of them. "But I will be sure to convey your message of gratitude to him."

"Whoah," Ruby admired the A.I and the agent's ability to sleep vertically.

"Do you need anything?" Pyrrha asked behind her. "I heard about what you're going through."

"We appreciate your offer, but that will not be necessary," Linda spoke up, her voice, much like her movements, very deliberate and somewhat mechanical, but there was still some humanity behind them.

"Come on, Ruby," Weiss rushed her along. "We only have five minutes to get to Goodwitch's class. You can talk to the ones in there." Weiss quickly abandoned the attempt to push Ruby and resorted to dragging her out of the room.