One advantage to being a Faunus Blake had always appreciated was the ability to read in the dark. The former White Fang operative was nestled up against a plain white wall on Tukson's second story with a book in hand. She was currently engrossed in a copy of 'The Thief and the Butcher'. It was a rather grim story but she'd always fund the prose a pleasure to read.
Another advantage to being a Faunus, at least of Blake's type, was very sensitive hearing. Black cat ears twitched atop her head as the few sounds of Vale's early morning streets slipped through the door and Tuksons footfalls resounded in her senses. In an instant Blake was sliding across the floorboards, Gambol Shroud in hand as she came to rest behind the dark wooden door.
She pressed herself up against the wall, ears stretching and straining as she searched for a second set of foot steps. The door handle quivered and Tukson pushed it open with a squeak and strolled into her room with nary a pause. Blake scanned the hallway through the minute crack in the door and saw no one else in her safe-house.
"I'm alone," Tukson said, his tone thick as if he was repressing a sigh.
"Can't blame me for being cautious," Blake said as the man leaned up against the wall, slipping his hands into his pockets and staring at her with sunken, tired eyes.
Leaning his head back Tukson closed his eyes and said, "No I suppose not, and before you ask, I have... news."
"Just, news?"
"Can't exactly call it good, but its not necessarily all bad either," Tukson said. Opening his eyes the trader slapped his palms together and stepped up like a soldier ready to give a field report. "We're being withdrawn, or at least the majority of our fighting force is, the recruiters and some others are sticking around to lay the groundwork for whatever comes next."
"What comes next, and why now, why like this?" Blake asked.
Tukson shrugged, "No idea, Commander Rex sounded pretty steamed though, she seems to think Adam's getting too big for his breaches. Still this order comes from up top, she's being transferred to Mistral with some of her soldiers. Originally," Tukson said, stressing the word, "It was just meant to be Rex and her lieutenants but since your failed capture kicked up so much fuss we're going to ground for awhile. From here on every things going to be handled by Adam's lieutenant and some new "ally" we've got." The Faunus glanced to the side, lips thinning, Tukson looked like he wanted to spit as her glared at the bare wall.
"And who is this new ally?" Blake asked, almost hissing. 'Could it have been that girl, or someone she worked for? Was it her idea I be outed to the public?!'
"No solid word yet but if its who I think it is I'm not surprised they'd call Rex back in favour of someone less... contentious," Tukson said. He met her gaze for a moment before shrugging and finally said, "I think its Roman Torchwick."
"The criminal!?" Blake shouted. "Why would we ever work with someone like that? He's a wanted man! He's, he's filth!" Blake spat. Torchwick's reputation and litany of crimes was just one of the things she'd studied up on since coming to Vale. That the White Fang, an army for liberation and revolution would ally with him... It should have been impossible.
"We are criminals, remember?" Tukson said, half grumbling half sarcastically.
"That's besides the point and you know it," Blake said, grunting as she threw herself back against the wall.
"Yeah well, some damn funny things have been happening since you left, and it wasn't exactly a dream before," Tukson said.
"We need to find out what's going on," Blake said.
"Excuse me? What we need, is to get out of here, sooner rather than later. The police might have clamped down but there are plenty of ways out of Vale, and we already have our path into Vacuo."
"So we're just going to let this lie?" Blake practically hissed.
"That was always the plan, our old friends sinking lower just means we should get out faster," Tukson said. Looking away he rubbed his eyes and groaned, "Just get some sleep Blake, I'll take over watch and we can talk about this is the morning."
Relenting Blake nodded, she barely registered it as Tukson left the room. Blake marched across the floor and propped herself up next to the window and peaked through the cracks, her mind a maelstrom of conflict.
'Just go ahead and run, its all you're good at,' A traitorous part of her said, Blake simply wrapped herself in a loose blanket and pulled it taught around herself as she pressed deeper into the corner, unable to retort.
When morning came Ruby found herself gently jostled awake by Yang and a cornucopia of fine scents. After rubbing her eyes and placing Zwei to the side the young girl had been treated to breakfast in bed by her grinning sister. What Yang had arranged for Ruby was easily all of her favourite things on one tray, chocolate chip cookies on one plate, fresh strawberries stacked high with chocolate syrup, hot coco and even ice cream!
Yang had apparently been out since sun rose putting the meal together. "The ship leaves kind of early and what better way to start your day than with your favourites!" Yang had claimed while wearing a massive grin. After which the blonde had dropped down at Ruby's side and they'd spent the morning watching shows together on Ruby's scroll and just enjoying one another's presence.
Sadly it wasn't long before Yang dragged Ruby off to a nearby place for a shower, standing guard the entire time, and then Ruby found herself bundled up on Bumblebee and the two were careening off to the airship docks. Ruby hiding a cheeky grin at the secret 'package' she'd snuck into her massive green camping bag.
"Woah!" Ruby gasped, neck straining as she stared up at the sight of Beacon's personal airship. 'I'd seen pictures but this is so much more amazingly awesome!' Ruby thought, squealing under her breath and practically drooling at the magnificent sight of engineering.
The ships main body resembled a giant cylinder but with the bottom and top sides flattened out for landing purposes and to allow Hunters to stand on the 'deck' and engage Grim. The head of the ship had thick black armour that curved around the head and served as a battering ram when needed. Four gigantic wings, easily several times longer and wider than a car were folded up at the ships side like a bird. Ruby knew that once the gravity Dust ignited the ship would begin to float and those wings would propel it through the air like a fishes fins in the sea. Five glowing nozzles sat at the back of the airship ready to provide for any high speed manoeuvres the ship might need should it be engaged in an escape or an assault which was when the wings would either be folded in for increased speed or used for maintain stability and control. Next to the smaller front set of silver and black wings was a set of stairs with a massive collection of colourfully outfitted Beacon students clustering around it.
"All right, off you get," Yang said cheerfully as she slipped of Bumblebee.
Distraction lost Rub nodded, suppressing a rising tension in her throat that pressed up against her Adam's apple and stung; she hopped off the bike, her heart tightening, chest feeling simultaneously like an empty chasm and like she was being crushed by her own rib cage. A small shiver ran through her body at the weight of the bags in her hands and the ship in the distance. 'We were meant to spend the week together and now I'm leaving her... I'm leaving home,' It was a cold, kind of tingly feeling, like her Aura enshrouded her frame keeping everyone away from her.
"Hey, its gonna be OK," Yang said, cutting through the wave of self imposed isolation and doubt. Her sister slipped her hands into Ruby's own and squeezed, the faint sense of her Aura blazing like the most comforting summer sun.
"You keep saying that, and I'm going but..." Ruby said, clasping Yang's hands tighter as her head drooped, hair tumbling over her face, hiding the wide world outside and reducing her vision to naught but the white cement pavement and her combat boots.
"Hey come on," Yang said gently, freeing one hand she tilted Ruby's head up to meet her eyes and said, "This was your dream Ruby, more than anything else and I'm glad I can be here to see it all come true." Ruby sucked in a breath and gulped as memories of Yang's voice took on an a lyrical tone as she spoke. "You don't need to worry about anything, I'll make sure you have everything you need, and if you ever need me I'll be at your side. So don't worry, don't cry, and just remember that no matter what I love you, and you time at Beacon will fly."
Ruby flew forward and wrapped her arms around Yang who returned her embrace and gently cradled her head.
"Thanks Yang, but I'm still gonna miss you," Ruby mumbled into her sisters shoulder. She felt Yang's frame shake, only for the older girl to chuckle, Ruby looked up into Yang's lilac eyes her head tilting in confusion.
"I'd be pretty disappointed if you didn't!" Yang said guffawed. She gestured out to the crowd of students with one arm and in a more gentle tone said, "But try to reach out, everyone there is a potential friend you just haven't spoken to yet, grab opportunities when you see-em and become the best hero you can be. Deal?"
"Deal," Ruby said, pulling back and flattening out her combat-skirt, a long held nervous tell and a bad sign, in part because she felt Zwei beginning to move and roll within her bag. 'New people could be nice but I'm sure Headmaster Ozpin won't mind if I bring Zwei... right?'
"Something wrong?" Yang asked, tilting her head to the side and blinking in confusion.
"Oh, yeah, fine, fine, just, you know, jitters," Ruby said. She was not a girl accustomed to lying so it was fortunate that what she said was true, from a certain point of view. Glancing at Yang's brown hip-pouches resting on either side of her dark biker shorts Ruby noticed her sisters scroll poking up and thanked good luck for the sudden spark of inspiration. "Yang do you have a job today?"
"Hm?!" Yang answered, eyebrows shooting up. "Why am I beeping?"
"No, no," Ruby said, smiling a little, "Just, I don't know, you look... work ready?"
"Heh, I always dress to impress so I'm a bit shocked you noticed," Yang said, arms swinging out to the side as if to show off her outfit before the blondes eyes flickered away from Ruby's own. Rubbing neck, well scarf Ruby thought, Yang said, "But... yeah I have an appointment, normally I'd cancel it but-"
"Then go," Ruby said, perhaps a little too forcefully. "I, uh mean if its important I don't want to keep you and... well I should probably mi- mu- me..."
"Mingle?" Yang guessed, ruffling Ruby's hair before resting her hands on her hips.
"Yeah that exciting, exciting word," Ruby said as cheerfully as she could, the words tapering off into a mumble. In her bag Zwei continued to rouse, pawing a little at the confines but for the moment staying silent.
"Are you sure?" Yang plied.
"Yeah," Ruby said, casting her eyes over her shoulder, "I need to get used to all this anyway," Ruby continued with a vague wave. "I'll be fine, I'll call once I get there and update you on everything. Besides," She added with a grin, "I bet some of the other students have cool weapons!"
"Haha, all right, I do need to get going, now the ship leaves in half an hour so don't stress, but remember what happens if I hear you skipped out," Yang said, never losing her cocksure grin.
Ruby went comically limp and said, "You'll carry me to Beacon over your shoulder and put me on Ozpin's doorstep."
"And that's if I'm in a good mood," Yang said, booping Ruby's nose.
"Hey!" Ruby said, trying to knock away her sisters finger like it was a fly only to find herself pulled into another, almost suffocating, hug.
"I'm so proud of you," She said softly.
"Thank you Yang, for everything," Ruby said.
Pulling apart Yang flared her brown vest and cheerfully said, "All right, enough mushy stuff! I'll be hearing from you soon and chances are you'll be sick of me by the end of this week!"
"I'll take that bet!" Ruby retorted as Yang jumped back on Bumblebee and with a salute and a wink sped off into the distance and leaving a trail of skid marks behind her.
Ruby waved her sister off and sighed with relief as Zwei popped out the back of her bag and barked straight in her ears. "Thanks for being quiet Zwei," she said rubbing her heads against the corgi's. Scratching her dogs ears Ruby spun around and sucked in a deep breath, she pushed any sense of guilt to the back of her mind were it could gather dust and instead eyed the crowd with a gathering sense of nervousness and resigned frustration. "Its not like I have to go up now you know, I mean, I'll see their weapons and stuff in sparring practice so I can wait here," She reasoned.
"Arf!" Zwei barked.
"Yeah, exactly, there's no need to rush this, or to go to Beacon really. I mean, I could have joined the regulars, or even started a delivery company and practice by running between cars, 'Ruby Express! We get your package to you even if we have to cut down Grim!'" Ruby enthused, clenching her fists as if to stop the idea from escaping into the air.
"Arf!"
Ruby's entire frame sagged and muttered, "Yeah that sounds like a lot of work and I think I'm too young to start a business anyway... Uuh!" Ruby groaned as she very slowly began to slide towards the throng of students. "OK, just friends you haven't met yet, friends you haven't met yet. Zwei, do you think they'll treat me weird because I'm younger?"
"Arf!"
"Oh that's what you say to everything," Ruby huffed, "I mean, I wanna go do cool heroic things and help people, but isn't leaving Yang behind like messing up at the starting line?" This time no answer was forthcoming, instead Zwei just licked her cheeked and "arood" uncertainly, his brown ears drooping. "Huuh, OK, just go forward Ruby, meet new people, grab any opportunity you see and become a hero," She told herself, each word giving fuel to the fire that was her determination!
"Get back here!" A rough voice sounded from the distance.
Ruby's head shot up and Ruby ran after the yells, feet pounding against the road as she blurred down the street and between two red brick office buildings.
"Leave me alone!" A girl shouted. She wore a white and blue combat skirt and jacket combo that made Ruby think of ice, the girls hair was white as bone and she had a fencers blade at her side. Just behind her were two men in heavy plated chest and chest armour in a light shade of blue with dark bodysuits underneath. Both had Gun-Blades at their sides and were chasing the girl as she ran down a nearby alleyway.
Without thinking Ruby spun Crescent Rose out from its holster and pointed it towards and empty parking space. Grinning she flicked the trigger and with a deafening bang was launched forward into the air. Boots slapping against the alleyway's brick wall she rushed towards the feuding trio, Ruby launched herself towards the men in question and began to spin.
Weiss Schnee had been having the worst day of her... well the worst day she'd had in a long while at least. It had taken months of arguing and arduous tests in order to receive her cases of Dust, an airship and to arrange her participation in the Beacon exams. Yet for all her efforts, every argument and test, every battle and and protest, for all her grand ambitions Weiss had found her efforts unravelled in an instant with the same sort of effort one might apply to unravelling's a presents bow.
'All of that just to get turned down!' She raged internally. The white haired girl wanted to scream. 'He knew, he knew the entire time I just wanted to get away from him and just to drive the point home he let me think I'd gotten one over him!' Weiss seethed at the injustice of it all as her mind ran over the last few minutes, as if she couldn't quite comprehend just how quickly all her lofty efforts had been undone.
('Where did they go?!' Weiss asked herself as she walked around the Beacon Airship with a critical eyes. The gleaming steel observation deck already being flooded with Beacon hopefuls, her servants however were nowhere to be seen. The dark suited duo had claimed to be placing her Dust containers in a storage room but they should have been back after twenty minutes and they weren't even picking up their Scrolls!
Just as Weiss was about to march out and find the pair a finger tapped her on the shoulder. Spinning around with a well practised glower on her features Weiss froze as tall man in a pilots uniform with red hair and aged features gave her a salute. "Heiress Schnee?"
"Yes? Can I help you?" She asked somewhat slowly as she thought, 'I hope they didn't get in trouble.'
He gestured sharply towards an open door in the centre of the rectangular room and said, "There's a call for you ma'am."
"Oh, I see, please lead the way then," Weiss said and in moment she found herself in the pilots cabin staring down a projection of Headmaster Ozpin and Deputy Headmistress Goodwitch. The screen was easily large enough that the duo's projection was nearly equal to Weiss in size. The two pilots quietly worked the controls in the back seemingly deaf to the ensuing conversation.
The white haired Headmaster sat behind a large desk while Goodwitch stood at his side. The man clasped his hands and said, "Miss Schnee, I wish we could be meeting in person."
'Is he buttering me up for something?' Weiss wondered suspiciously, barely resisting the urge to arch a critical eyebrow at the man. Curtsying, Weiss nodded and said, "Its an honour to be speaking with you both, I hope to do so again after I arrive at Beacon."
The two teachers did not stiffen, their eyes did not widen nor did the gasp. There was no fundamental shift in them but years of living in the Schnee family had trained Weiss to detect even the most minute shift in body language or tone even if it couldn't easily be put into words. Something was wrong.
Ozpin unclasped his hands and rested his arms on his desk as he said, "I am saddened to say that will no longer be possible."
"What?" Weiss gasped. Her eyes twitched faintly and her nails dug into her hands. "Sir, everything should be taken care of, the paperwork, my credentials, I have the support of-"
"I am aware of all this, Miss Schnee," Ozpin sighed, slowly shaking his hands as if to dismiss her words or calm her Weiss couldn't say. "However, due to a change in circumstances and at the request of-"
"My father!" Weiss roared, slamming her hand down next to the projector, rattling the metal.
"I cannot say. But I am sorry Miss Schnee I can speak with-"
Weiss didn't wait, she spun on around and shot out the door, her pointed heels click clacking on the metal as she rushed through the airship. Weiss pushed past some blonde kid and knocked him into a passing redhead as she shot down the ships steps and onto the landing platform. Her eyes widened as she hit the tarmac and saw her suited servants speaking to a man in SDC body armour as they stood next to the trolleys of white Dust crates chatting. 'The Dust, he's taken my Dust!'
A firm armoured hand came down on her shoulder and Weiss gasped, spinning and tossing off the man's hold as she turned and barely restraining a growl at the sight of him. She could barely make out his lips from between the helmets metal sides and dark visor, the surprisingly short man said, "Miss Schnee, we've been sent to escort you- Hey!" Weiss ignored him, a Black Glyph flashed to life beneath his feet and Weiss ran out of his reach and towards her Dust.
Her fathers suited guards both threw their arms wide to act as shields while the other armoured man ran forward to meet her. The high pitched cry of her Semblance rang out as Weiss spun like a dancer around the solider and in-between the two suited guard whom she cast aside with just a little too much mirth.
"Get back here!" roared the first guard, hurtling towards her like a bullet with his hands outstretched. Weiss grasped the closest Dust container as fast as she could, free hand falling to her blade she sent her Aura running through the blade like blood through veins and unleashed a burst of mist into the air before running down an alleyway, intent to get as far as she could get from her fathers thugs.)
Weiss glanced behind her and sighed in relief at the empty alleyway, 'I got away!' She cheered internally, only for her jubilation to crumble and shatter as the last five minutes replayed themselves through her minds and she truly grasped what she'd lost out on. 'Beacon, Vale, a chance to get out of his presence and the shadow cast by the SDC, all of it gone!'
'Professor Ozpin seemed apologetic as well,' She thought. On some level she couldn't even fault him, the SDC was practically a power unto itself. No matter what Ozpin could offer in age, wisdom or power he couldn't manufacture Dust out of thin air and so the SDC, her father, would always have the greater bargaining power.
'Now he'll have taken the hotel, I've lost nearly all of my Dust, my chance at Beacon and, and, aaah!' There were no words to accurately convey the sheer anger Weiss felt, her entire body shook with unspent rage but Weiss knew if she let herself stop being angry she might just cry. Her fathers message had been clear, 'No where is out of my reach. You don't make choices I only let you think you do. I am the one with all the power so obey!'
Weiss didn't want that to be the truth, she emphatically refused it and now she'd escaped from the SDC guards sent to retrieve her, the soldiers likely likely having expected a miserable little girl sobbing on the side walk. They had adapted quickly though and if they found her the two men would present a real problem for Weiss's temporary freedom, she recognised their uniforms, the bulky chest and shoulder plates, the helmets and visors, their weapons, all of it resembled the uniform of the Atlesian military and these two had some degree of Aura training. Not enough to make them a threat but enough that she couldn't just brush them aside if they caught up and what was worse she wasn't even willing to try hurting them, not seriously anyway.
'They're just doing their job,' she reminded herself. That fact didn't make her resent them or her own escorts any less for clearing out her hotel, the Dust and trying to drag her back to Atlas though.
"Miss Schnee where are you even going to go!?" One of them yelled from behind. A chill ran through Weiss's frame as her Aura flowed through her with a tingle and she ducked into another filthy alleyway before shooting out the other side.
'Where indeed?' She wondered. One case of Dust, her beloved Myrtenaster and only the money she had in her pockets, Weiss had no illusions her account hadn't already been cut. Now likely banned from every hotel and pursued the heiress had few choices. But if she couldn't be a Huntress, if he intended to take even that from her, Weiss fully intended to accomplish a different goal in Vale.
'Blake Belladonna, last sighted fleeing a Schnee freighter and into the Vale city area, evading police,' she repeated to herself. Weiss spun her way around a tall man carrying a pile of books, using a small glyph to leap into the air and over the street she put some distance between herself and her pursuers. There were many things and people Weiss took issue with in her life but ever since the White Fang members identity had been revealed a grudge Weiss had been nurturing for years had flared to life. The heiress knew her father had done terrible things, she knew he used his authority to hold sway over thousands of lives as easily as he did her own and that he abused that privilege to line his pockets.
But Blake Belladonna, the White Fang, all of them were no different, using the suffering of the poor and the disenfranchised to justify a genocidal campaign of thefts and massacres. 'If nothing else I'm not leaving this city without finding you, murderer!' Her father could be argued with and fought at home, but right here, right now, might be her one chance to bring the gir- monster to justice and Weiss refused to give up and let her slip away!
"Get back here!" The faster and shorter of the two soldiers shouted. His voice was much too close Weiss realized but by then he already had her arm!
"Leave me alone!" She snapped without thinking, wrenching her arm arm away from his grip. The other soldiers trundled up behind his fellow and both advanced on her, somewhat unsure of themselves as she reached for Myrtenaster.
Then, a powerful ringing gun shot exploded from behind the soldiers causing Weiss to jump. She saw a swirling mass of red rose petals blur into existence on the wall behind them that shot off it in a blurred spiral, the red tornado collided with the SDC backs chests, launching them into the air. The two soldiers crashed into one another in the air but managed to fall into rolls and steady themselves as they burst onto the street, rising back up on shaky feet.
The red whirlwind revealed itself to be a young wide eyed girl who grabbed Weiss's hand and cried, "Come on!" and pulled. Weiss was lost in a sea of rose petals as the girl dragged her down the street, pulling her into a pseudo-hug in order to speed them up as the world shot by in a blur.
'What just happened!?' She wondered.
Back on one of Vale's main roads two soldiers glanced at each other, confusion clear even through their helmets. They ignored the wary looks of the locals and shook off the last of the shock, the taller of the two rubbed his head and asked. "So did we just get kicked around by a flying red blur made of rose petals?"
"That sounds about right, come on!" The smaller of the two ordered.
They made it two steps before a high pitched growl hit their ears and the two SDC troopers looked down to see a Corgi glaring up at them.
"He's so small, hi doggy!" The taller one cooed.
"Move!" The shorter one said, shoving the canine aside with his foot, or that's what he tried to at least. But instead he found the dog completely unwilling to budge despite his efforts and its dark eyes were now focussed squarely on him.
"Um, nice doggy?"
"Stop! Stop, we got away!" Weiss shouted over the rushing wind, her hair was likely a mess now as well.
Thankfully the girl heeded her and they skidded to a halt on the side-walk, Weiss stumbled out of her grasp and searched for her balance with shaky legs and wobbly arms. Evidentially it was lost never to return because Weiss dropped down like a sack of bricks onto some nearby steps.
"Sorry, I forget most people aren't used to moving as fast as I do," the girl said.
Looking up Weiss saw the doubles of the girl fade back into one as she rubbed her eyes and blinked rapidly, "Yes, well, thank you for intervening, I could have handled it though," She said uncertainly.
"No problem!" the stranger answered, giving Weiss a thumbs up, "Helping people out is a heroes duty," she finished with a cheesy grin.
"A hero?" Weiss wondered aloud.
"Oh sorry, just something I was talking about earlier, I mean you were in trouble right, and not for anything bad?" She asked. "I mean those guys did look kind of important but I didn't recognise the armour."
"I did nothing wrong, some people just can't take no for an answer," Weiss huffed, slapping her last case of Dust that sat at her side for emphasis.
"That's great! I'm Ruby and, oh here's Zwei!" She cried, the new name was punctuated by a bark and Weiss found herself thoroughly entranced as an adorable corgi leapt into the girls arms and licked her cheeks, yapping playfully.
'Cute!' Weiss thought. She looked around and saw they were relatively isolated under the small alcove of what appeared to be a bank. The people walking by paid the two girls and the dog no mind, no soldiers appeared in the distance and the corgi was so cute! Without thinking Weiss leaned forward and smiled at the happy canine and began scratching his head. "Oh aren't you a cutie? Yes you are," she cooed.
She squealed when, Zwei that was his name, licked her hand and barked.
"He likes you," Ruby said and Weiss found the corgi thrust into her arms, suddenly the day didn't seem, quite, so terrible. Silver lining and all that. She was however, distracted when her 'saviours' voice cut in from somewhere near her hip of all places.
"Oooooh!" She said loudly, the girl was kneeling down at her side, her eyes wide as she took in Myrtenaster. "Is that a Multi Action Dust Rapier?" She squealed, looking for all the world like she had stars in her eyes. "And look at all that Dust, a canister for nearly every type, that is so cool!"
"I, yes, thank you, its called Myrtenaster" Weiss said warily.
"It even has a cool name!" She squeked before freezing up, hands over her mouth, "Oh sorry," Ruby said. Seemingly abashed she pulled up her red hood and said, "I just really like weapons but I don't get to see lots and hey do you want to see mine?" Without waiting for confirmation the red cloaked girl unfurled a hulking piece of red and black steel from her back which proceeded to unfold with a mighty crash of steel as a scythe easily twice Ruby's height slammed into the concrete.
Weiss's eyes widened as the girl proudly introduced 'Crescent Rose'. Weiss couldn't deny being impressed, if what little she'd heard of such weapons was true Ruby had to be extraordinary skilled to wield such an oversized thing.
Of course the weapons presence was also drawing more than a little attention, attention Weiss did not need.
"Yes, yes, its very impressive but..." she motioned to the crowd.
"Oh right, those guys, sorry," She said, and with a single flick of her wrist the weapon folded back in on itself within seconds. "So what were they after you for, maybe I can help?"
"Are you a Huntress? In training at least?" For all Weiss knew the girl was a Beacons student, or at least a soon to be student.
Ruby's expression faltered a little before her grin returned full force and she answered, "Well sort of, I mean I was meant to be on the airship but..." She trailed off, eyes shifting from side ot side briefly before she quickly said, "Hey they weren't trying to steal your Dust were they?"
"No," Weiss said with clear confusion.
"OK they don't know that other guy then, 'From Dust Till Dawn' got attacked last night and I fought off some of the robbers but their boss got away even after Professor Goodwitch showed up and well..." She said, waving her hands from side to side. "You have Dust, they were attacking, I thought their might be a connection."
"So that's what happened to the store!" Weiss said. She'd been intent on running by their to fill up one some spare canisters when she passed by that morning, having needed to replenish a half empty case only to find it closed for the day and the windows broken.
"Yeah it was kind of crazy," Ruby said as she leaned down and rubbed Zwei's chin.
"I see, well that explains that then. Regardless I have to thank you, you helped me back there and I do appreciate it. If you need a favour just- I don't have any cards on me, so maybe we'll just have to meet again," Weiss finally said. The solider might not have been fast but they would find them soon, people had an odd way of cooperating with those in uniform.
"You still worried about those guys- Ooh, If you need somewhere to go and regroup I know the perfect place! My sister told me about it and I bet she's there as well!" Ruby was looking at her with all the earnestness of a puppy and Weiss would admit, only to herself, she was running low on options.
'I don't even know Vale well enough to navigate my way around,' She thought. "What is it exactly?"
"Don't worry, its really out of the way so I bet they'll never look there, it's run by a guy named-"
"Junior!" Yang called, flinging open the steel doors with a single push of her arm. The shout was much less playful than the night before and not just because she was kind of annoyed with him. Idly the blonde brawled noticed Juniors troopers were out in force, each of his dark suited minions was armed to the teeth, the door had been sealed, the twins were at their bosses side looking irate. Even the bear mask DJ guy had a machine gun resting at his side.
As for Junior the man dropped his red rocket launched at his side and went back to looking over his scroll. He dismissed The Malachites with a wave of his hand and the girls strode by her, not even stopping for pleasantries.
'Weird, but they're always kind of moody,' She thought. Strolling up to the Information Broker Yang guessed he hadn't slept well the night before and had no problem saying as such, "Wow Junior, I didn't know you'd feel so bad about trying to scam me you'd lose sleep over it."
"Did you kill my men!?" He snapped, slamming one hand on the bar and pointing an accusing finger towards her face.
"No..." Yang said slowly, head swaying in confusion. "Is that what this is all about?"
"This doesn't concern a part timer like you Xiao-long, so if you aren't interested in running weapons or guard work I have no jobs for you," He said, waving his hands. "Come check back in a few weeks."
"What happened, did Torchwick roast your boys?" She asked, leaning on the bar.
"And then some," Junior muttered. He snorted and slammed his Scroll shut, Yang chose to ignore what she'd seen on there to instead focus on the man before her as he said, "Each one taken from their fucking cells and no one saw a god-damn thing!"
"You can't be gearing up to go to war?" Yang said, a genuine gasp escaping her lips at the thought. If that was the case she was grabbing Ruby and dragging them both to Vacuo rather than hanging around.
"Do I look like a stupid man to you? Wait, I don't want to hear your answer to that question. But no, we aren't going to war, there's no way I could increase my fire-power fast enough that some player, or worse Roman, wouldn't try to come down on me for breaking the neutrality bargain." He explained.
Suddenly Juniors interest in hiring her even before now made a lot more sense to Yang. Sure he could try to make the twins stronger or search for new muscle, but chances were he'd be caught out before he could get ready in time. But a Beacon level Huntress, if Yang said so herself, would give him all the space he needed so long as someone too big to stop didn't come down to end things personally and that was unlikely given fights like that tended to draw too much attention, Yang could attest to that personally.
Junior continued on, practically in lecture mode, "This is just a porcupine strategy; tool up and make ourselves to prickly to be worth fighting for anyone to try. Sure they can win, but not without cost or a lot of noise. I don't want Roman coming back to express his displeasure, personally, or that 'thing' of his," Junior said warily, as though the shadows themselves might reach out and snap his neck.
"OK I got that, so your stocking up on new wares and trying to hold the fort, good for you," Yang said blandly, eyes some of the new guns spread out amongst the minion patrol. 'He must have been planning on selling those, guess he can't now though,' Yang figured. "I am sorry to hear about your guys but I'll be out of your hair soon Junior," Yang said in a conciliatory voice as she could muster.
"And what do you need?" Junior said, almost seething at how she was taking him from his work.
"I need something big, something pricey, and preferably something to get me in good with the police. You got any leads?"
Junior almost chuckled as he leaned back and gestured around the bar said, "Tired of slumming it?"
"Just tell me if its possible and if so, who or what?" Yang barked.
Junior seemed to mull the question over for a moment before snapping up his Scroll and flashing through it with almost blinding speed. Unlike most Scrolls Junior had his custom made to be black with a red line to match his standard uniform. "Yeah I got something," he said roughly, passing her the little holographic projector, displayed on it was a young Faunus girl about Yang's age, golden cat eyes, a black bow on top of thick black locks and a grim set on her features. Yang's face scrunched up a little as she looked over the girl, a buzzing pressure inside her head telling the blonde she should recognise the other girl.
"And this is?" She drew her words out hoping for elaboration.
"I should be charging for this," Junior mumbled and out of courtesy Yang slammed some of the money from last night back on the table. Perhaps wary she'd change her mind the former hustler slipped it into his pocket and was just a little more urbane when he spoke. "You're ignorant, that is Blake Belladonna, wanted across every kingdom for crimes against humanity." Junior didn't let Yang voice her surprise at that as he continued, "She was a member of the White Fang, and the leader in some of their worst and most savage displays. Evidence implicating her and confession from captured White Fang have turned up all over Atlas; personally, I found some of it a bit weak but the police and Schnees do love a good villain."
"So I catch her and I get in good with the police?" Yang mused.
"I think they'd have egg on their faces but chances are they, nor anyone else, would comment on it if whatever has gotten you so bothered, disappeared," Junior said, trying to affect an almost mysterious, perhaps even spooky voice. Yang wasn't impressed, but then she'd had the guy by the balls at least once, it hard to be scary after that she felt.
"This better not be a trick," Yang warned.
The barman waved his hands in a calming gesture, "No trick, she's deadly but everything you need is right there, I don't need you coming back on me for this, Belladonna's dangerous but chances are you could handle her."
Yang hummed, rubbing her chin as she said, "I see, got any news on where I might find her, the White Fang maybe?"
"You couldn't pay me enough to try spying on those bastards but I know some people who might. Give me a minute to write down the addresses then get out," He ordered.
"And you were being so polite Junior," Yang crooned.
Their little tit for tat was interrupted when a high pitched and terribly scandalised voice cut through the air like a knife, "Ruby this is a bar, we're too young to be in here and I highly doubt these people are savoury!"
"They do look kind of familiar, but hey there's my sister, Yang!" Ruby called. Yang spun around to see Ruby waving t her, a grouchy looking girl with a blue dress and white hair standing behind her with folder arms as Zwei ambled around sniffing everything and barking.
Yang just gaped, arms dropping to her side and she sputtered, "Ruby!? You- what!? Ship! I- Beacon! Why!?"
"Arf!"
"Dammit Xiao-Long this is not a fucking kindergarten or a zoo!" Junior yelled.
Eyes widening Yang noticed the angry looks her sister was being given and reoriented herself. The thugs were all glowering at Ruby who was fingering Crescent Rose and glancing around the bar at every angle.
"Call your dogs off Junior," Yang ground out her eyes flaring red, "dealing with Roman was your fault not hers," Yang bit out as marched over to Ruby and placed her hands on the smaller girls shoulders. She sent a glare towards the gathered crooks and was pleased to see them backing off even before Junior shouted, "Leave it, we have bigger fish to fry!"
Yang smirked as the bouncers turned away and spread back out towards the doors and windows. One crisis averted Yang looked down and met Ruby's silver eyes and with a tone that sat somewhere between q quiver of annoyance and an exasperated sigh said, "Can you just... tell me... why you're not on the way to Beacon!?" She hissed.
"Uh, well, I can explain see, there was this girl and these guys and they were being really, really mean!" Ruby rambled.
Looking towards her sister's new friend Yang guessed she was heading for Beacon, she looked familiar but the blonde couldn't say from where. She bit back a sigh, patting Rub on the shoulder and stepping around her, Yang reminded herself that this was Ruby and her sister wouldn't have done somehting so irresponsible and in defiance of her request without good reason. Throwing out a gloved hand to the new girl she said, "Yang Xiao-long, nice to meet you."
Taking her hand the girl answered, "Weiss Schnee, Ruby just insisted we meet."