Navy Trailer

Live in the now, with whoever you can. Never let the future disturb you… you will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which tohe day arm you against the present.

Natalia Violeta strolled towards the entrance of a familiar dance club on the shady side of town. The guards at the door swallowed and reached for their weapons. "Now, now, boys," the alluring young woman purred. "Surely, this is unnecessary. I'm not here for a fight. I just need a little info your boss owes me."

The guards looked at each other. It didn't escape them that Natalia was a very beautiful young woman; her dark brown hair fell just above her shoulders in silky waves, restrained by a deep purple bandana. Her long, slender legs were in skinny jeans of the same color and comparatively subdued red and brown thigh high boots. Her top resembled a corset, laced mouth-wateringly low with red cords holding together a slightly darker violet cloth. Around her hips opposite the Cutlass on her left was a dark red scarf, emblazoned with a deep purple bat.

The guards, having already dealt with one Huntress level fighter over the last week, had little desire to anger yet another. Begrudgingly, they removed their hands from their weapons and stood aside.

"See? Not everything has to end in violence, right?" she giggled silkily as she brushed by into the club.

The club was surprisingly quiet. Natalia witnessed many of the henchman normally guarding the club installing a new dance floor and numerous speakers. Shaking her head and wondering what kind of tornado hitad torn through thise place, she headed over to the man Iin charge. Hei Xiong, known more commonly as Junior, looked haggard and tired, like he hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in at least a few days.

Spotting Natalia, Junior groaned. "Look, sweetheart, as you can see I'm not in the mood to talk. And I already had to deal with one of you types this week."

"Yes, I was meaning to ask about that. Who let a pissed off Ursa in here?" Natalya ask, surveying the damage with fresh eyes.

Junior snorted. "An Ursa, I could handle. No, all this was done by a girl about your age. Came by looking for info and when I didn't have it, she did this."

"Hm. Well, luckily for you, I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm cashing in that favor you owe me," Natalia's voice lost the silky tone and became all business. "The Dragon's Heart. Where is it being stored? I know you know, Junior. My client is looking to… acquire it."

Junior groaned again. "Fine. But this makes us square. Next time you want info, you pay just like everybody else."

Natalia smiled wickedly.

[Linebreak]

(Start Heathens by Twenty One Pilots)

Slinking silently along the rooftops, Natalia made her way to the building opposite the opulent exterior of the Vale Museum of Natural History. Spying the recently added posters, she quickly found one reading, "COMING SOON! THE DRAGON'S HEART, THE LARGEST JEWELLERY GRADE PYRITE GARNET EVER DISCOVERED!"

Natalia shook her head as she took note the exhibit opened the following morning. Idiots, she internally chided. That's just begging any red- blooded thief to waltz in and take it. If they have the usual security, this will be easier than a two lien hooker…

Natalia's internal monologue was cut off as she spotted a familiar face patrolling the museum in a security guard uniform. A young man, whom she'd had dealings with in the past but only caught histhe alias of, Red, seemed to have found a new career. She thought it more suitable for a young father than one of Junior's bouncers. Sighing with regret, she realized she may well get the poor man fired.

Again.

Moving through the numerous blind spots in the exterior camera view, Natalia made her way to the roof. Finding a loose pane in the domed skylight, she jammed the blade of her dagger, Devil's Advocate, between the glass and the metal frame. She slipped through the opening and dropped into the rafters, muffling her landing with her semblance.

Glancing around when her feet finally found the floor, Natalia quickly found the way to the mineral section.

Could this get any more flashy? Sshe thought. The Dragon's Heart was on an ornate pedestal inat the center of the room, encased in a three-by-three-by-three foot cube of plexiglass surrounded by a velvet rope and small spotlights aimed at thesaid cube. The lights were off, but Natalia's eyes still picked up the gorgeous, blood- red shine of the jewel. About the circumference and height of the barrel of a whiskey bottle, it was vaguely shaped like a cartoon heart. This shape and deep crimson color of the jewel led to its ostentatious, though poetically fitting name.

Natalia approached the display cautiously, she noteding the pressure sensitive devices along the bottom of the case. While disabling them wouldn't be difficult, it would be time consuming, so she decided to use a time tested method.

Pulling a modified glass cutter from a pouch on her leg, she stuck the suction cup to the center of the case. Pressing the switch on the back of the cutter, a dull red light came from the blade. Slowly and carefully, she used the dust heated metal to carve a circle in the plexiglass. When the cutter returned to its original position, she pulled the cutter and newly cut section of case from the main body.

Removing the cutter from the glass and tucking it away, Natalia warmed her hands just in case there was an unseen sensor and she had to be cautious. She inched her hand in and wrapped it slowly around the widest portion she could keep a grip on.

The Heart had just cleared the hole when her own nearly stopped. Behind her, a gun safety was flicked off.

"I had a feeling you'd show up here sooner or later, Nat," said Red, a civilian issue handgun levelled at Natalia's head. A stunning baton lay in his off hand.

"Oh, come on, Red," Natalia sighed. "Do you really want us to go down this road again?"

"You got the drop on me last time," Red growled. "Not this time, darlin',"

Natalia groaned and shook her head. "As you wish," she lamented. With a quick flick of her wrist, Natalia tossed the small circle of plexiglass straight at Red. In the time it took him to duck the projectile, Natalia had drawn youher sword and was on top of him. The Cutlass, named Wicked Grace, clashed off the stun baton as Natalia forced Red's handgun to the side with the flat of Devil's Advocate.

With a twist of her curvy hips, Natalia upset the balance of the lockup and used Red's Fforward momentum against him by flipping him over her shoulder. The handgun skittered from his grip, causing Red to lash out with the baton. With alarming speed, Natalia blocked the strike and yanked him forward slightly so his backside left the ground. Natalia slipped behind him, snaking her arm around Red's neck. Jumping up and wrapping her legs around his abdomen and slipping an arm under Red's and around his head, she began applying pressure, much like a large constrictor.

Red choked as Natalia's arms and legs tightened around him. Even as his vision began to darken, he heard Natalia whisper, "I'm sorry."

As soon as Red went limp, Natalia rolled him off her., the swiftly Lleaningt down slightcarefully to check his breathing. Satisfied that it was slow but steady, she quickly strode back to the case and retrieved the jewel from the floor.

[Linebreak]

(End Heathens)

Rost Faust, Natalia's 'client', snickered as he examined the Heart. "I can scarcely believe you did it. But with the Dragon's Heart in my hands, I guess we can consider your debt paid in full, and, since I'm such a kind person, I think you have earned a bonus." Faust closed the case containing the jewel and pulled an envelope from his coat. "Consider it a thanks for the show."

Natalia nodded and took the envelope, spying a few thousand lien inside. "Very well. Then I'll consider our time together at an end."

"A shame," Faust sighed. "If you change you mind…"

"You'll be the first to know," Natalia sighed, before turning and leaving.

Faust shook his head at the young woman's foolishness and headed back to his desk. He chuckled as he grasped the clasps of the case. Flipping it open, his jaw dropped.

The Heart was gone, replaced by what was very clearly a microphone. Attached to the base was a note. "Consider this your receipt," he read. His eyes jerked towards the window of his office, seeing the all too familiar red and blue lights.

"Rost Faust, this is the VPD!" came a voice over a mega phone. "We have you surrounded! Give yourself up, or we will use force!"

Meanwhile, Natalia was strolling through a nearby alley, another case in her hand. "We're far enough away now, honey," she purred. "You can show yourself nowagain."

As sigh from seemingly nowhere met her words. Suddenly, a tall young man was standing next to her, appearing in a fiery crackle of aura. His long, bright red coat covered most of his frame. "You sure it was a good idea to screw Faust over like that? He'll get out one day."

"I'll deal with that when the time comes," Natalia assured him. "Don't be so doom and gloom, Cormac! I have your share right here!" She handed her team mate about a third of her payment. "Set your mind at ease any?"

"I am content," Cormac chuckled.

"Good. I have one more stop to make and then we better get back before Okami has our guts for garters."

[Linebreak]

David 'Red' Auburn, scratched his head as he made his way to his boss's office. He'd come to about an hour after Natalia had choked him out. Now, he was wondering how he was going to explain to his daughter he'd lost his job. Again. His ex might even get full custody after this.

Taking a deep breath, David opened the door he'd been staring at while he contemplated his future.

Damian Stone, the curator of the museum greeted David with a surprisingly warm smile. "Mr. Auburn, thank you for coming. I trust you are unharmed after last night's…. Incident?"

"Nothing hurt but my pride, sir," David said bashfully.

"I am glad to hear that," Mr. Stone nodded. "Well, I suppose it is time to fill you in on what exactly happened last night."

"Sir?" David queried.

"Yesterday evening I was approached by Headmaster Ozpin with a proposition. In exchange for some practice for one of his students, he would appraise our security. All that was necessary was to go about the evening watch as normal. Now, I'm sure you were quite nervous about the fall out from last night. Let me assure you, you did everything thing correctly in the face of an intruder. You called the police and attempted to detain the interloper. The only flaw was the intruder herself has huntress training. So, as a reward, I'm giving you the rest of the week off with double pay for the entirelty of the week. And when you return, we will have to have a long chat about your raise."

David's jaw dropped. "Pardon?"

Mr. Stone chuckled. "You heard correctly."

"But… the Heart was stolen…" David stammered.

"Yes, but our thief," Mr. Stone lifted a black metal case onto his desk. "Was kind enough to return the Dragon Heart." Opening the case, Mr. Stone turned it to reveal the enormous garnet. "She also revealed the flaws in our camera system so that when you return, the first line of defense for our precious exhibits will hopefully match the dedication of our last."

David sat down hard, his hand dragging through his hair as he was processing this new information. He wasn't being fired; in fact he'd been given five days off, paid double on top of that, and the Heart was safe. "I'm honestly speechless, sir."

"Quite understandable, son," Mr. Stone patted him on the shoulder. "You head on home and take it easy for the next few days. Oh, but before you do…" The curator reached into his blazer and removed and envelope. "You are commonly called Red, no? Our light- footed benefactor left this for you with the Heart."

David took the envelope and saw the name Red written in loopy penmanship on the front. Tucking it away, David stood, only slightly shakily. "Thank you, Mr. Stone. I'd better get home. I… think I need a nap."

Mr. Stone chuckled merrily. "Of course, Mr. Auburn. Enjoy the rest of your week. You most certainly earned it."

[Linebreak]

Outside the museum, David opened the envelope he'd stowed in his shirt pocket. Pulling the folded piece of paper from within, he braced himself for mockery. What he found surprised him.

Dear Red,

Let me start off by apologizing. I honestly did not know that you worked at the Museum. I know it seems like I'm stalking you and trying to ruin your life. I promise I'm not.

To make up for knocking you out… Again... I left you a third of the money from the, well, let's call it "sale" of the Dragon's Heart. All I can say is that you're not the only old friend I dealt with last night. Faust is heading to prison for a long time so you don't have to worry about him breathing down your neck anymore. Check inside the envelope. The money inside should help. We don't want your daughter going hungry now do we?

Take care of yourself.

Natalia Violeta

Red dug into the envelope and for the second time that day, his jaw dropped. Inside was what had to be close to a thousand lien. With this combined with his soon to come pay, he would have enough money for his daughter's school books and they didn't have to survive on just cheap TV dinners and lunch meat. And ithat was before factoring this talk of a raise.

For the first time in a long time, David Auburn felt like his luck was finally turning around.

[Linebreak]

"That was quite generous of you."

Natalia jump as her Headmaster seemed to materialize behind her. "Not really. I was just paying off a debt."

Ozpin hummed quietly. "Perhaps. But Mr. Auburn and his daughter will live a better life now because of you. Whether that was your intention or not, it is still a fact."

Natalia ducked her head.

"I do wish you would let more people see this side of you, Miss Violeta. There's nothing wrong with doing a kindness for others."

"I'd rather not disappoint the people I care about, Headmaster," Natalia mumbled.

"If your heart is in the right place, then I am certain you will not. But I suppose those withare thoughts for another time. You had best get to bed. Classes resume tomorrow after all."

Natalia nodded and headed back towards her dorm room, her thoughts swirling with musings of the future.

AN: what's this? Character development in a trailer? And one so soon after the first? Yeah, let's just say I was bit by the inspiration bug. A good portion of this was written in one shot. I hope you enjoyed it and look forward to the next trailer. Oh and by the way at the beginning of the first chapter I will be including the BIOS of all four main characters. ~Sin