Author's Note: This story uses RWBY V3C12 Redux as a base. You probably don't need to read it to enjoy this, but the part that sets this up is very short so why not?

Chapter 1

"I came for you of course." Weiss said. "You might be good at running away but you're very bad at hiding."

"But...but how?" Blake stammered.

"If you don't want anyone to find you, you should really turn off your scroll." Weiss replied. She reached into her pocket and pulled out an older model scroll. "I already got you a replacement. It matches mine." She tossed it to Blake who caught it. "I programmed in all the numbers I thought you'd want. You should check though, I might have missed a few."

Blake was still in shock but did as Weiss suggested, going through the list of contacts. Ruby, Yang, everyone she had run away from. Weiss was surely only trying to help, but having the people she had let down listed for her only made her feel worse. "Thanks." Blake said. "Hold on. How did you afford these? Even old scrolls are expensive. Your father cut you off."

"I may have grabbed some some Lien on my way out." Weiss admitted.

"You stole?" Blake said. "You? I'm not sure if I should be proud or disappointed."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures." Weiss said. "It seems you've been rather desperate yourself." Weiss looked around at the warehouse. It was hard for her to see. The only light came through painted-over windows that had cracked or were missing. "No electricity, no running water, you didn't even get yourself a mattress."

"I don't deserve any luxuries." Blake said. "Not after everything I've done."

"You're right." Weiss said. Blake was taken aback. "You made a promise and you broke it. You said if things got bad you'd come to your teammates, but you ran away." Weiss' tone was entirely serious but something about her facial expression did not fit the anger and disappointment in her voice. "I know you have a good reason."

"What if I don't?" Blake asked.

"If you don't, you're not the person I thought you were." Weiss replied. Brutal honesty was one of her strong suits. "But I don't think I'm that bad a judge of character. So, tell me. Why did you run?"

"I couldn't put my friends in danger." Blake answered. "Adam, he's in Vale. He was at Beacon. He was the one who cut off Yang's arm. He said he was going to destroy everything I love. I care about my friends too much to let that happen." Blake looked around. "That's why we can't be together. I'm sorry." She rolled backwards and twisted around, heading for the back door. She felt an excruciating pain in her gut where Adam had stabbed her. The pain was too much. She tripped and slammed down on the hard concrete.

"Blake!" Weiss yelled, rushing to her side. Blake had stitched herself up but her attempted escape had ripped the wound open. "You need to take better care of yourself."

"No, you can't stay here." Blake pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "If Adam finds us he'll kill you. The only way you'll be safe is if you leave me."

"I'm not going to leave you." Weiss said. "You shouldn't be alone, especially not now."

"Please, I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me." Blake implored. "Just go."

Weiss shook her head. "Absolutely not." She said firmly. "Alright, let's get this wound sewn up." Weiss retrieved a small first aid kit from her pocket. Blake winced as Weiss went to work. "If you want this to heal you'll need to take it easy."

"But I…" Blake started.

"No buts." Weiss cut her off. "Until this is healed I'll take care of you." Weiss struggled as she had to remove the stitches Blake had broken. "You did a very messy job. Thank goodness I'm a better seamstress." With a few more incredibly painful moves it was done. Weiss wrapped a bandage around Blake's abdomen and the wound was properly dressed at last.

"Thank you." Blake said. "Now please go."

"I already told you I'm not going." Weiss said. "Once you're better and my father gives up on looking for me, we'll join up with Ruby and Yang."

"I can't face them." Blake said. "Not after running away again."

"I'm sure they'll understand." Weiss assured her. "I understand after all. They'll forgive you."

"Even if they forgive me I won't forgive myself." Blake persisted.

"You're very stubborn, you know that?" Weiss laughed.

"Look who's talking." Blake groaned.

"At some point you'll see the light." Weiss said. "I'm going to stay with you, no matter how long it takes."

Blake had a sleepless night. She was filled with regret for having run away and fear for Weiss' safety. Blake was not a safe person to be around. She contemplated running while Weiss slept but could not bring herself to do it. Weiss may have forgiven her, but if she ran again that would be it. Blake was amazed at how well Weiss was able to sleep. For someone used to living in the lap of luxury she was quick to adapt to sleeping on the cold, hard ground.

Weiss spent the morning tidying the warehouse up. It was as if she could not help herself. Breakfast was a few health bars Blake had on hand. Weiss usually detested such cheap food but did not seem to mind this time. After eating Weiss removed Blake's bandage, cleaned the blood that had oozed from the wound, and applied a fresh wrapping. Blake was happy to have the help but felt awful. She was the one who had caused the trouble and now Weiss was waiting on her. If anything it should have been the other way around.

"Alright, I'm going out to get some supplies." Weiss said. It was a little after noon. "And when I get back I'll cook us dinner."

"You're going to cook?" Blake groaned. "I think I just lost my appetite."

"It's better than your cooking." Weiss countered. There was no arguing with that. "I think I'll look for another hideout too. This place is so bleak. I think we can do better."

"I should go." Blake said. "If your father's men find you…"

"I've been evading my father's men since I was little." Weiss said. "Sneaking off behind his back was always such a thrill. Anyway, there's no way I'm letting you go in your condition. You're going to stay here and heal up. That reminds me, I need to get more bandages."

"I appreciate what you're doing for me, I really do, but you need to stop." Blake said. "The things I've done...I don't deserve it."

"But you do." Weiss said. "You've been through things I can't imagine. I want you to be happy. You deserve to be happy."

"I'm the last person who deserves happiness." Blake sighed. "I'm a lot of things, and all of them are terrible. I'm a terrorist, a liar, a traitor and a coward. Worst, I'm a bad friend."

"I heard a lot of things you were, but not a lot you are." Weiss said. "You may have been a terrorist once, but that's a life you willingly rejected. Betraying someone who is evil hardly makes you a traitor. The things you've run away from, well, most people would have done the same thing. And you're not a bad friend. We all make mistakes."

"I notice you didn't say anything about liar." Blake pointed out.

"I have no reason to think you are." Weiss said. "The fact that you used the word to label yourself concerns me though. But I'm not that worried. We all have our secrets. We all tell our lies. The important thing is, I know that when it really mattered, you've always been honest with me. Haven't you?"

"I guess." Blake conceded.

"Good." Weiss said. "Now I'm going to go out. When I get back we're going to put all the unpleasantness behind us. Try to get some rest. I'll send you a message on your new scroll if I need you."

With a smile and a wave Weiss left. Blake was happy to have Weiss as a friend. Sure, she could be nasty, a little too honest, and she certainly had a temper, but she was a good person and a great friend. Blake wished she could be so good but she was not convinced that would ever be possible.

Weiss had only been out for a few hours but Blake was already lonely. She had tried very hard to be alone, to push everyone away, to escape from everyone she cared about. Now a few hours by herself was driving her crazy. She wondered how Weiss was going to cook when she got back. There was no kitchen and not even electricity. Perhaps Weiss was being overly ambitious or maybe she had a plan in mind.

Blake's new scroll beeped and she jumped. It was not her usual tone and she was not expecting it. She quickly slid it open. It was Weiss of course. "I think I found a new place." The message started. "Meet me here." It was followed by an address. It was not too far away. Blake gathered what little she had and headed out.

It was already dark by the time Blake arrived at her destination. The address turned out to be an abandoned hotel. The upper floors had suffered some serious damage but the rest of the building was mostly intact. Judging by the fact that there were lights on inside, it even had electricity. It was the sort of place Blake would have avoided. It was too tempting a hideout, too likely that someone else would want to use it. But if Weiss wanted to stay there Blake was willing to take the chance.

Blake pushed on the front door and it slid open. She stepped inside and the door swung back against the frame, unable to fully close due to the damage the building had suffered. It was dark inside except for a few scattered lights. "Weiss?" Blake called. No answer. She must have been deeper inside. Blake saw light under through the crack at the bottom of a door to one of the offices. That must be the place.

Blake opened the office door. A single light hung from the ceiling, casting its light into a circle on the floor. Weiss lie in the circle motionless. Blake rushed forward then stopped short. They were not alone. She could barely see a silhouette just beyond the light. The figure stepped forward. The red hair. The horns. The mask.

"Adam!" Blake gasped.

"Hello, my darling." Adam said.

Blake froze. She wanted to run but she could not leave Weiss behind. She was a Schnee. Adam would not just kill her. Torture was not a sufficient term to describe what he would do. In the end Blake did not get to make a choice. She heard something behind her and started to turn. Something hard slammed into the side of her head and her world went dark.

Blake slowly opened her eyes. Her eyelids felt heavy. Her head hurt. She knew she was in trouble. Big trouble. She tried to move but her hands and feet were bound, tied to the chair she was sitting on. She looked up. Weiss was tied to a chair just in front of her. Blood ran from her nose and mouth and the top of her dress was stained. She looked to be unconscious. At least she was breathing.

"Oh good, you're awake." Adam said. A chill shot down Blake's spine. Maybe she and Weiss were better off dead. "You have no idea how tedious it is to keep someone's aura depleted without doing undue harm."

"Adam, it's me you want." Blake said. "Let her go."

"You're right." Adam said. "It is you I want. But you know well I can't just let her go. It's not every day the White Fang gets its hands on a Schnee. That she's your teammate just makes this so...poetic." He walked around in front of Blake and lifted her chin with his hand. She pulled away. He continued around behind her. "I haven't given up on you, my love. You were scared, confused. I can see that now. I thought you might be beyond redemption, but I think I have the perfect solution." Blake heard Adam draw his sword. She waited for the strike. She felt metal slide against her hands and then they were free.

"What are you doing?" Blake demanded as she pulled her hands in front of her. They had been tied tight and her wrists were bloody. "Just kill us already."

"No, no, you misunderstand." Adam said. "I don't want to kill anyone here today. I offer you redemption. You can take your rightful place at my side and we will be happy again, together." Blake heard Adam doing something behind her back. "Here you are, the instrument of your atonement." Adam handed Blake the gun portion of Gambol Shroud.

"What do you want from me?" Blake asked.

"I want you to seize the opportunity before you!" Adam exclaimed. "You have one bullet. Strike a blow for the White Fang! Execute the Schnee bitch!"

"I would never." Blake said.

"Blake, Blake, Blake." Adam sighed. "I see you're still confused. You think she's your teammate. You think she's your friend. She probably gave a big speech about how she's not like the rest of her family. She sets herself up as an ally to the Faunus. Somewhere deep down you know it's a lie. She's just getting close to you so she can stab you in the back. Don't give her the chance. Kill her. Come back to the White Fang. Come back to me."

"Blake…" Weiss said faintly.

"Oh, good, you'll get to see it coming." Adam said. "I can't wait to see the look on your face."

"What is he...oh." Weiss said. She saw the gun in Blake's hand and understood immediately. "You kill me and he spares you?" Blake nodded. "Do it." Weiss commanded. "Save yourself." Weiss lifted her head, took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I'm ready."

"No." Blake said. "No, I won't."

Adam walked around until he was behind Weiss. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head back. Weiss grunted in pain as he bent her neck too far back. "Are you sure?" Adam asked. "You do realize what she's in for if you don't." He put away his sword and pulled out a small knife. He held it to her face. "She's got quite the scar. I think I'll start by giving her a wound to match. Mine might be a little deeper though. It would be a real shame to see one of those beautiful blue eyes mutilated."

"Leave her alone!" Blake screamed.

"You continue to disappoint me." Adam sighed. "Not only will you not kill her, you defend her. She's a Schnee! She's our enemy!"

"She's not my enemy." Blake said. "She's my friend."

Adam shook his head. "Well, you will not be leaving here alive either." He said. "You're clearly too far gone. If you kill her, I'll make your death painless. If you don't, you'll both suffer."

"Blake, just kill me." Weiss pleaded. "Please. I forgive you. Just...I don't want you to suffer."

"I...I…" Blake stammered. "We'll go together." She leaned forward and put her head on Weiss' shoulder. Pointing the gun at her own temple, she prepared to end them both. "I'm sorry."

"Me too." Weiss whispered.

"How disgusting." Adam sneered. "Just get it over with. Die like the coward you are."

There was a commotion outside the room. "Who the hell are you?!" Someone yelled. There was a thunderous crash and a White Fang soldier came flying through the door, coming to rest motionless on the floor. He was unconscious, or dead. It was hard to tell.

"What's the meaning of this?!" Adam demanded. He drew his sword. "Looks like I'll have to be the executioner." He swung his blade around toward Weiss and Blake. There was a flash of black and the clash of metal. A wide blade held Adam's back, just inches from its target.

Blake dropped the gun and grabbed Weiss by the shoulders. She rocked to the side, tipping both chairs over as the combatants clashed above them. Red, black and grey flashed back and forth. Blake pulled Weiss in close and tried to shield her, though it would matter little if the pair were hit by a stray blade. Grunts of exertion, more clashing metal, then silence.

Blake dared to open her eyes and look up. "Qrow?" She gasped.

"You two are lucky I found you when I did." Qrow said. "I shudder to think what that monster would have done to the two of you."

"But...how...how did you find us?" Blake stammered.

"You're good at running, but you're really, really bad at hiding." Qrow explained. He bent down and tore the bonds off of Blake and Weiss. Now that they were free they sat up and hugged each other. It had been a close call. "Changing scrolls was a nice touch but it wasn't hard to figure out which ones you were using. You both used your old scroll and new scroll in the same place. That's sloppy."

"Why were you looking for us?" Weiss asked. "Are you working for my father?"

"For your father?" Qrow laughed. "I'd rather gouge my own eyes out. No, I'm here for my nieces."

"Did they ask you to find us?" Blake asked.

"Of course not." Qrow replied. "Ruby's still unconscious and Yang's really pissed at you."

"Oh, I understand." Blake sighed.

"Don't worry about it." Qrow said. "Yang's more angry at herself than you. I'm sure you've got a good explanation for abandoning your team. As for you Weiss, your father's men couldn't find sand at the beach." He walked over to one corner of the room. "I think you can both help my nieces get better, so I'm taking you to Patch."

"I don't think I want to go." Blake said. "I can't face them."

"Don't give me that crap." Qrow said. "Can you both stand?" Weiss and Blake nodded. "Good, let's get going." He handed them their respective weapons.

"My father might be an idiot, but he's going to look for me on Patch." Weiss protested. "We can't go there."

"We're not, yet." Qrow said. "I've got a hideout of my own. It's a heck of a lot more comfortable than that warehouse. You can lay low there until your father gives up."

"I guess that's as good an idea as any." Weiss sighed. "I still don't like you."

"It runs in the family." Qrow said. "What about you Blake?"

"I...I guess I'll go along." Blake said. She did not sound happy about it.

"One thing before we go." Qrow said. He handed Weiss her scroll, the one that had been used to lure Blake into the trap. "Get some blood on your hand and smear it on the screen."

"Why?" Weiss asked.

"So that when your father's men find it, they'll think you're dead." Qrow said. "There's no quicker way to get him to give up."

"I couldn't do that." Weiss said. "Winter would be devastated."

Qrow rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll send a message to her with the truth." He sighed. "You'd better hope your father doesn't hear about it."

"I guess I can go along with it." Weiss agreed. She wiped some of the blood off of her face before taking hold of the scroll. In addition to the blood she left a clear fingerprint.

"Good, let's get going then." Qrow said. He took a sip from his flask. "We should leave before the cops show up."