Prologue

“And with that, class is dismissed!” 

The ring of the bell sent a collective sigh of relief through the student body as another one of Port’s lectures had wrapped up, more than twenty minutes after it was supposed to. One might suppose it was the style of the time. Xavier stood and stretched as he felt sleep threatening to take hold more than once throughout that endurance test, though it seemed he wasn't getting away quite so easily. “Mathis! Come, join me for a moment would you?” Xavier hesitated as he watched Blake leave alongside her team, his gaze didn't manage to attract hers, though he saw a quick wink from Yang, which gave him a small smile. Bereft of excuses, he would take a seat across from his colleague's desk, and desperately needed a smoke… “I understand that following this week, you will be taking the reins of your own class! I knew that our current arrangement would not last indefinitely, though I admit this is somewhat… peculiar.”

Professor Port ran his fingers through his mustache as a gentleman might whilst embroiled in thought, his brow similarly furled to emphasize the curiosity that stemmed from his question. To which Xavier could really only shrug. “i’m afraid i don't know why oz planned it like this, be it spur of the moment or a plan since my arrival,”

Port chuckled. It was a deep, hearty chuckle befitting his general tone and annunciation. “Knowing the Headmaster, the answer is most likely somewhere in between. But let me ask, my boy, are you prepared for the responsibility that this position will give you? These children will depend on your guidance to help shape their futures after all.”

Xavier’s expression visibly fell upon being asked that question. “i... don't think i am, no, ...but then again, give me a hundred years to prepare and my answer most likely wouldn't change,”  Port seemed amused at what he supposed was hyperbole, and Xavier couldn't blame him for thinking such. The more wizened man would stand and make his way over to Xavier, placing a hand on his shoulder. 

“I believed much the same when I was younger and inexperienced. Why, when I was your age-” Port would fortunately catch himself upon seeing Xavier's expression at the start of another long-winded lecture. He cleared his throat. “Well, I suppose the most advice I can offer in a short sitting is this: Respect is very important between teacher and student. If you aren't respected among your pupils, nothing you say will register with them.”

Xavier nodded as he stood up. “we'll see if that becomes a problem… for right now, i could use a smoke,” The central courtyard was a sight that Xavier never seemed to tire of. The sunset was beautiful from this view, showing over the treetops and reflecting in the otherwise crystal clear fountain that stood as the central decoration of the entire space. Here is where he would come to clear his mind, to enjoy a cigarette in peace, at least until someone came around to disturb him. Fortunately, this disturbance was one that he anticipated. Ruby would approach, attempting no doubt to be sneaky. It may have even worked, if Xavier hadn't been developing a new trick. Taking a deep breath between drags, eyes closed, he could feel the presence of her aura as she approached. The trick was being able to tell it apart from the others, but Ruby's in particular stood out. “something you need, kid?”

She froze almost immediately, giving a nervous laugh before clearing her throat. Ruby Rose was no stranger to awkward situations but this was… Something else. “Blake, um, asked me to pass on a message since I probably would run into you first.”

Xavier gave a slow nod. It had been close to two weeks since he had really gotten a chance to speak to Blake. Since their conversation on the truth of his existence, as one-sided as it really was, he was surprised to hear anything at all. With no small amount of trepidation, be would finish his drag and speak. “...alright, lay it on me” Ruby could tell from the quiver in his voice that he was particularly nervous about something. Though as much as she wanted to pry for the sake of her teammate, her friend, and her sister as well, she held her tongue. 

“She says that she's thought alot about it, and wants to meet you in town.”

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The question immediately came to mind and nearly left his lips instantly. Though, in this case, a bit of restraint could work wonders. “...did she say where?”

Ruby shook her head a bit. “No, but knowing Blake, she's probably going to find you first.”

Xavier slowly nodded. Even if he could get a lock on her aura from a distance, which didn't seem possible right now, there was every chance that he wouldn't find her if she didn't want to be found. “guess i’m headed into town then, i'll see you later kid,”

“Hey wait.” She said softly, grabbing the sleeve of his jacket almost like a child tugging at her father's sleeve. “How... Did you know I was coming? I was all stealthy and everything!”

Xavier chuckled slightly before answering. More amused than anything. “my semblance is... complex, i’ve got a few tricks i can pull with it,” Ruby didn’t seem to buy it at first, but decided to drop it for the moment, letting him go out on the Bulkhead. Along the way he would hear the talk of students planning trips to various places throughout Vale and beyond. Tomorrow marked the start of a vacation of sorts, a break between semesters. The odds were that he wouldn’t see many of his students for the next couple of weeks.

Xavier didn’t exactly have anywhere else to go, so he wasn’t especially looking forward to this. The mask of his smile dropped once he was on the airship itself, giving a deep sigh and fidgeting with a cigarette, knowing full well he couldn’t actually light it yet. He hated flying, or at least flying with machines. Even under his own power, it was an uncomfortable experience. Regardless, however, he managed to keep his mind occupied until the ship reached the landing. A thousand thoughts raced through his head at once, about the next few weeks, about how he would prepare, about… her. 

As soon as the ship landed and he was free to do so, he would leave and light up, getting a few looks from passersby about the unclothe timing of that choice, but at this point, he was willing to take the risk. Figuring that the cryptic nature of Ruby's message would rely on a place both of them would know where to get to, it quickly became apparent. The restaurant. Once Xavier had located the place, a hole-in-the-wall burger joint with décor that resembled a diner from the 1950’s on Earth, he saw that his guess was a good one as, sitting at the corner booth by herself, was Blake. This wasn't the type of place that she would frequent, but perhaps that was the point. Xavier would take one last drag before crushing out his smoke and making his way to the table, sitting across from the Faunus girl. His heart was pounding in his ears, enough that he almost didn't catch her casual greeting, but he smiled and gave a subtle nod before grabbing hold of a menu. “...i got the message,” He said with a hint of amusement once he found himself able to speak once more. 

Blake would look up, and for the first time in weeks, it was just them, her face turned red and she couldn't keep her eyes on him for very long. “You're early.” She managed to say, likewise just as, if not more nervous. 

Ironically, knowing that they were both nervous about this whole affair put him a bit more at ease, even giving him a bit of a reason to smile. “what’s this really about?” He asked, not incredulously, but more out of understandable curiosity.

She took a moment before answering his question, hesitant to do so. “You... Don’t do drugs do you?”

“nope” He said without missing a beat. “but i get the reaction,”

She slowly nodded. “So... You’re saying that everything you told me then is true. All of it.”

And a return of her nod with his own. “every last bit, right down to the promotion effective… after break i suppose,”

Blake let out a long sigh, not relieved by any means it seemed. “Okay... I... I’ve thought about it. Actually it’s practically been the only thing on my mind since we talked.” She admitted sheepishly, one hand grabbing onto her upper arm as she only barely looked up. “Xavier, I-” 

And with that, the alarm from his glasses would rouse Xavier from his slumber, the memory of that day still firmly at the forefront of his consciousness. Xavier sighed and grumbled as he took the spectacles from his nightstand and placed them on before deactivating the alarm. It was Saturday, the last weekend before the new semester would begin. In two days, he would teach his first class, but as for today, the first thing on his mind would be food...