A/N: Again, sorry for the delays between updates. College is keeping me busy and between a small case of writer's block and actually finding time to write, this story is a  little slow. I sincerely apologize for the delays, but please know I am working my hardest to keep this story updating at a reasonable pace.

"So," Blake says, breaking the silence in the elevator, "what now?"

"It would appear that your headmaster has the situation under control." You observe. "Still, I would tread with caution from this point onwards, especially when concerning the transfer students from Haven that Professor Goodwitch mentioned."

"That's not what I meant." Blake sighs.

"Then please, enlighten me."

"I was asking, what will you do? Adam thinks you're dead, so you can't return to the White Fang. You're still seriously injured and malnourished, not to mention you've lost your eyesight. What will you do now?"

You consider her words for a moment. To be completely honest you don't have an answer to her question. You've always had a sense of purpose in life, whether that be fighting for the Faunus or trying to guide your brother away from the darkness. But now, for the first time in forever, you don't have quite know what you're supposed to do.

"I... I don't know." You tell her truthfully. "What am I supposed to do? I cannot return to the White Fang. I have no family left to whom I can turn. There is no place left in the world for me."

"Yes, there is." Blake reassures you. "You can be a defender, a protector of the people."

"A defender?" You scoff. "You would ask me to protect the people whose bigotry and hatred were responsible for the death of my parents?"

"I don't understand you." Blake says. You can hear the exasperation in her voice. "You've always advocated for peaceful resolutions. You've never killed unless absolutely necessary. Even now you just warned Ozpin of a plan to destroy Beacon. You talk about humans with such contempt, but you continue to protect them."

"You're wrong." You argue. "I have never intentionally gone out of my way to protect a human. Everything I've done I've done for the Faunus. I prefer peaceful solutions only because senseless violence paints our species in a negative light. I don't try to protect the humans, only to show them that we're not the filthy animals they think we are."

The elevator stops, and she leads you off.

"And what about Ozpin?" She asks, pulling you into an empty classroom. "If that's how you feel, then why warn Ozpin about the White Fang and the threat against Beacon?"

"Simple." You answer. "Because you are here."

"What?" She asks, the tone of her voice a mixture of shock and confusion.

"Think about it." You tell her. "If not for you, I would have been devoured by two hungry Beowolves and would never have been able to warn your headmaster."

"What, did you see me saving your life as some favor that needed to be returned?" Her voice angry. "And warning Ozpin was just some way of repaying that debt?"

"Not at all. I told you, I don't go out of my way to protect humans. But the knowledge that you are hear did influence my decision."

"Then why did you tell him?"

"To protect you, of course."

"M-me?" She stutters.

"Yes, you. Since the death of my parents, I have only cared about two people in my life. My brother, Adam, and you."

"And if I didn't attend Beacon?" She asks tentatively.

"Then I would not be alive to discuss this with you."

"That's not the point." She sighs in frustration. "If I didn't attend Beacon, would you still have warned Professor Ozpin?"

"I don't understand why it matters. If you didn't attend Beacon Academy, I would not be alive, and thus it would have been impossible for me to pass the information on to the headmaster."

"(F/N)." Blake says in a threatening tone.

"There are innocent Faunus who attend this establishment as well, so yes, I would probably have done my best to warn him. But the primary reason I did it was for your safety."

"And the humans?" She asks.

"Are of no concern to me." You respond.

Your answer is greeted with only silence, to the point that you would think that Blake wasn't present but for the fact that you had not heard her retreating footsteps. "I can't believe you." She finally says, her voice full of disdain. "What happened to you?"

"Nothing happened to me Blake."

"Yes, something did. You're different. You've changed."

"No, Blake. You have." You tell her. "There was a time when you would have agreed with everything I just said."

"That's not true!" She cries back, a hint of pleading in her voice.

"Yes, it is. You may tell yourself you were different just to help you sleep at night, but the truth is you were just so blindly in love with my brother than you couldn't see you were just as screwed up as the rest of..."

You're cut off abruptly by the stinging feeling of a hand slapping you across the face. As you recover from the blow you hear Blake storming off, the sound of ragged breathing and sniffling growing fainter with each step she takes.

"Blake wait!" You say, chasing her out into the hall. "I didn't mean..." You run into a decorative potted plant sending both you and it tumbling to the ground. Climbing your hands up the wall you get back to your feet, straining your ears for any sign of Blake, but there are none. "Damnit!" You shout, punching the wall in frustration. Your hand goes straight through the wall, bricks crumbling to pieces, your semblance preventing you from injuring your hand. You hear shrieks of surprise coming from the classroom on the other side. The sound of approaching footsteps reaches your ears before the door is thrown open.

"What in blazes is going on out here?" A quick speaking man asks. "You sir, who are you? Where did you come from? Answer me or I'll be forced to summon the headmaster."

You groan and hit the wall with your forehead.

Ten minutes later and you hear the familiar sound of a cane tapping against the floor.

"Mr. Taurus." Ozpin says. "Care to explain what happened here?"

"What's it look like?"

"It would appear you've punched a hole in one of my walls." He says in an almost amused tone.

"That about sums it up." You chuckle.

"Please, come with me." He says, grabbing your elbow. "Professor Goodwitch, if you could just deal with this."

You hear Goodwitch sigh in frustration as Ozpin guides you back into the empty classroom you and Blake occupied just moments ago. Closing the door, Professor Ozpin releases his grip on your elbow and, judging by the number of times his cane taps the floor, stands about five feet away.

"Tell me what's on your mind Mr. Taurus." He says, taking a sip of a drink.

"I have nothing more to say to you." You tell him. "I have delivered my warning, what you do with that information is up to you. I have no further business here."

"Hmm, yes." He agrees. "But please, humor an old man for just a minute longer. Why exactly did you hand me this information?"

You simply shrug in response.

"Don't try to fool me Mr. Taurus. You are a very educated and bright young man. There was a reason you came to me."

You continue to keep your silence.

"Was it because of Miss Belladonna?"

You involuntarily look up in surprise.

"Hmm, yes. I thought so." He takes another sip from his mug. "It's obvious to me that you care about her. Love, even."

"Why does it matter?"

"It matters because you want to protect her. To keep her safe." You hear him take a few steps closer to you. "As I've already said, the necessary precautions will be taken to ensure the protection of my students, but that does not guarantee their safety. If you truly wish to protect Blake, you'll stay and watch over her."

"And how am I supposed to do that?" You ask bitterly, indicating the scar running across your eyes.

"There are more ways to see than simply with your eyes." He says. "I can show you. Teach you how to expand your senses so you can see the world more clearly than ever before."

"You would do that, just to help me watch over Blake?" You ask skeptically.

"I won't pretend that I don't have hopes that your presence might provide additional defenses for this school. But I will also say that your presence will most assuredly help to ensure the safety of Miss Belladonna."

"So what, I enroll in your academy? Become a Huntsman?"

"Not exactly." He chuckles. "Your skills are far more advanced than that of any student, and many Huntsmen as well. No, you and I would work together privately. I would of course be willing to provide you with a place to stay. Near Miss Belladonna if you wish."

"What's your game Ozpin?" You ask, still skeptical.

"No games Mr. Taurus, simply a barter. I help you adjust to your lack of sight and provide you with the means necessary to see the world in a different manner, the means necessary to protect Miss Belladonna. And in exchange you become my ace in the hole and agree to assist in the defense of Beacon."

You stand in silence, mulling it over in your head.

"Decide quickly Mr. Taurus. From what you told me, we haven't much time to prepare."

You come to a decision.

"Okay."