Here's the chapter – final of 2017 as it were. I hope you all enjoy.

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Chapter 10

The intercom on Yang's desk buzzed. She took a deep breath and answered it.

"There's some scary lady here for you," Miltia said. "She's giving everyone evil glares and Mercury is hiding behind the couch. Heh, what a pussy."

It didn't take a genius to figure out who that was. Yang was impressed she'd made it so early. "Send her in," she said.

Glynda Goodwitch arrived a second later, and Yang had to force herself to address the woman who had been her teacher only a few months earlier in that way. There was an overwhelming desire to call her Miss Goodwitch or Professor, but that was no longer the case and she couldn't afford to come across as weak in front of her.

Instead, Yang remained seated at her desk and waved her hand for the older woman to take a seat. She nodded and did so, eyes scanning briefly over the paper strewn across the desk.

"Paperwork, I see. It seems you've discovered the true joy of gainful employment."

"Maybe I'll get an assistant at some point."

"Just be sure not to overwork her as much as Ozpin does me."

Was that a joke? Yang watched the woman warily but did let out a little laugh. She hadn't expected the strict teacher to have a sense of humour, but then again they weren't in class anymore, and their relationship wasn't quite that.

"Do you mind if I call you Glynda?" she asked.

"Only if I may call you Yang. Captain Xiao-Long does not roll of the tongue, especially when up until a few weeks back it was simply `Miss Xiao-Long`."

It was official – she'd entered the twilight zone. Yang nodded her assent and poured Glynda some water from the cooler behind her. She handed it over and then did one for herself, the act slightly more complicated when she only had the one hand. She was grateful the other woman didn't try to do it for her, though.

"It seems you're settling in well here," Glynda said, "though I can't say much for the company you keep. I had the misfortune of running into Roman Torchwick in your foyer."

"Is he still in one piece?"

"I restrained myself."

"I appreciate it," Yang laughed. "This is all necessity though, so don't think I like it any more than you do. Mercury was the guy who framed me, after all. I have to fight the urge to break his leg every day I'm here."

"Yes, I'm aware of your circumstances," Glynda said, "and of how they came about. I feel I should apologise also for not warning you of Ozpin's decision ahead of time. I could have intercepted you and made sure you understood the situation."

Yang swallowed. "Why didn't you?"

"I believed you already knew. I thought you were there to protest his decision. We did expect you would, of course."

Which she had been in a way, but that hadn't been the original reason. Glynda had obviously thought the same as Ozpin in assuming her team had told her, and they must have been as embarrassed as her when they all realised that wasn't the case. "There's nothing to apologise for," Yang said. "You weren't at fault and I can't exactly hold a grudge against you for not even knowing. I should have already been told."

"You should have, but if I may… such things are not as easy to tell as one might believe."

"Don't make excuses for them."

"What they did, they did out of fear, not malice. It was foolish, yes, but they were afraid to tell you. They truly love you, and-"

"I don't want to hear it," Yang growled. Her eyes flashed red but she forced the instinctive anger down. Glynda didn't deserve it aimed at her, nor did Ozpin. They might have ultimately decided she wasn't ready to rejoin Beacon, but that was their job. They had to make such choices. They weren't at fault for not telling her. "I'm sorry," Yang said, looking away. "I know it's not your fault but I don't want to talk about that, about them. That is… between the four of us."

Glynda watched her for a few long seconds, seconds during which she no doubt made up her own conclusions as to what that meant. "I see. Well then, shall we discuss the matter for which I am here? I understand you have one of our students."

"I do. She interfered with a police operation."

"And I believe it is one of your teammates…"

"It is," Yang said. She watched Glynda's eyes for any clue of what she thought of that. "That has no relevance on why she was arrested, though. She interfered with our job. Nothing more." She wasn't being vengeful, at least that was what she told herself.

"I see." Glynda gave no indication on whether she believed it or not. "Where do you want us to go from here, then? I will defer to your decision."

Yang paused. "You will…?"

"Of course."

"You're being surprisingly co-operative," she pointed out. "I thought you'd be angry."

"Oh, I am," Glynda admitted, "but that is not directed at you. If I may be frank, you have the advantage in this exchange. Miss Belladonna has broken the law and you have arrested her. It's hardly in my, or her, best interest for me to be anything but co-operative."

"Makes sense," Yang said, a little pleased that she was coming in on her side, if only by omission. She rose from her seat. "Do you want to see her?"

Glynda sighed. "I suppose I ought to."

The two made their way from the office and down the corridor toward the prison cells, where a large, steel door blocked the way. Entering the codes to open it, Yang pulled it open and allowed the teacher to enter first.

The noise from the door opening was audible, and the inhabitants certainly didn't miss it.

"Yang!?" Blake shouted. "Is that you? Let me out of here before-"

"Before what, Miss Belladonna?" Glynda appeared before the cell with arms crossed. Blake's teeth clicked as she sealed her mouth shut. "You are in enough trouble already, so I would advise you to remain silent while I and the Captain sort this unpleasantness out."

Blake did so, though she glared at Yang in a mixture of shock and betrayal, like she couldn't believe she'd been tattled on like this.

"She interfered in an active investigation," Yang repeated for Glynda's benefit. "What's more, she turned it from an investigation into what could have easily been a shoot-out. She attacked people who were, not innocent per se, but also not explicitly guilty of any crime. Suspects, at best."

"Were any harmed?"

"Quite a few, but I've convinced them not to press charges."

At quite the cost to herself, that was. Blake knew as well as she, but realised it wouldn't be wise to shout that out since it might end up with her landing in a worse mess. She pouted on her bed instead, arms crossed and eyes on the back wall.

"That's fortunate," Glynda said, "so long as you also choose not to."

"I wouldn't have asked you to come here if I was going to do that."

Blake breathed an audible sigh in her cell. Glynda, however, merely raised an eyebrow.

"No, but you could easily have let her go with a warning if you intended to. I was not born yesterday, so please feel free to tell me what it is you want from us. I'm sure Ozpin will be willing to negotiate in order to secure Miss Belladonna's return."

It sounded mercenary when she put it like that, but there wasn't any other way to say it. Yang's cheeks flushed and she had to resist the urge to laugh nervously. Her attempts to be subtle had gone as well as they always did…

"Okay yeah, you caught me."

"Isn't this blackmail?" Blake asked petulantly.

"It is a mutually beneficial relationship," Glynda countered. "Much like it had to be when I personally ensured your team was not punished for the damage you did to the docks, or the panic you caused fighting Torchwick's Paladin on a busy road." She glared both at Blake and Yang for that, and the two of them couldn't meet her eyes.

Looking back on it, it seemed painfully obvious that someone had come in on their defence. They'd endangered so many lives, even if it had been to stop Torchwick. They'd been the ones to panic him into riding the Paladin, and they'd been the ones to chase him onto a busy road where he could have killed countless people.

And each time, Beacon had to pay in some way, as they were now.

"I want Ozpin's support in front of the Council," Yang said. "I'm sorry if you had to get involved, but it was him I was trying to reach."

"You want his political backing?" Her tone made it obvious that was a tough call.

"Only his good will," Yang assured. "I don't expect him to actually vote in our favour on anything, and we don't even have anything we're trying to push through. I just want him to offer a word in defence if things ever turn against us. Just to back us up a little and remember that we helped him out. That's all."

Glynda sighed and shook her head. "You make it sound so simple. It's anything but. Very well, I shall pass the message onto him. I cannot promise any results, but I'm sure Ozpin would be able to find some other way to repay you if he cannot do this." She held out a hand. "Is that enough?"

Yang took it.

"Yeah, it's enough." Yang shook the hand, then moved to open the cell door and let Blake out. Blake refused to meet her gaze as she stalked past to stand beside Miss Goodwitch.

"Wait upstairs," the teacher instructed. "And be sure to thank the police captain for not laying charges on you."

"Thank you, Captain," Blake said, stressing the title. She was gone a second later.

It was an awkward silence that persisted between them, broken only by the sound of Yang sighing, and the quiet shake of Glynda's head.

"She is angry," Glynda said. "I'll be sure to have a word with her on how kind you are actually being. Things could be much worse for her. For you, as well."

"Don't bother. She'll make up her own mind."

"Such infighting between friends is not healthy, for you or for her."

"Didn't I ask you to leave it be, earlier?"

"You did. I think you are making a mistake, but I shall refrain from pointing it out." Glynda apparently saw no hypocrisy in that, even as Yang groaned. "Either way, I will also be talking to Miss Belladonna about her behaviour, both in a cell and in her actions against known criminals. Rest assured, I will make sure she does not get in your way again."

"Yeah, it'd be cool if you could," she said. "Blake… I know she means well but she caused us real issues. I actually thought someone was going to die for a moment."

"As did I when I learned where you had taken Torchwick's Paladin."

Yang's eyes closed at the rebuke. It hadn't stung before, but it did now. Gods, they'd been so stupid. "Was anyone hurt from that?" she asked. "Did anyone…?"

"Die?" Glynda asked. "No. Ozpin and I would have been unable to protect you all if anyone had. There were several cases of minor injuries however, along with damage to numerous vehicles and cases of whiplash among those who tried to swerve out of the way. It was nothing short of a miracle that no one suffered a fatal crash."

And a miracle that they weren't in prison for it, or expelled in disgrace.

"I'm sorry. I know I didn't say it at the time but…"

"It is fine. It's enough that you realise it now, and that you mean it." Glynda regarded her with something akin to a smile, even if it were crushed under her stern visage. "I must say, I believe this spell away from Beacon has done you well, Yang."

"Don't get used to it. I still want my spot back."

"Should you win it, I shall still consider this sojourn to have been educational. Perhaps I should push for it to be a mandatory work experience course."

Yang's smile fell. "Please don't give me students."

"Not even those who could benefit from it? I'd love to let you look after Mr Arc for a week or two."

Jaune…? She could just imagine him screaming in fear as they hurtled down the road in a cop car, or hesitating to hurt a potential criminal in a raid, or being taken hostage, getting trapped or otherwise causing problems in his usual accidental manner. She had no idea how Pyrrha put up with him but it was probably hormones. Hormones and the most rose-tinted glasses ever created.

Her face must have said it all for Glynda laughed. "Perhaps not, then. Either way, thank you for allowing us to handle this issue in such a peaceful manner. I appreciate it, and I'll make sure that Ozpin does as well. I'm sure Team RWBY will once they have a chance to calm down."

"They will or they won't," Yang said. "Not my problem."

"Considering you want to rejoin Beacon and integrate back into their team, I think it should be."

"Yeah, but then the whole thing won't matter anymore. Once I'm back in, the argument won't exist and we can forget it ever happened. Easiest way to deal with it."

"Ignoring the root problem is akin to ignoring a disease and only treating the symptoms," Glynda warned. "It will end in disaster. I'll suggest again that you and your team talk. Nothing will be fixed so long as you both cling to this red line between you."

Yang scowled. "I'm not clinging to anything."

"If that is what you believe, Yang." The teacher nodded and stepped away, signalling the matter closed for now. Before she left the cells entirely however, she turned back. "Are you not going to do something about him?"

"Who?" Yang asked, curious.

Glynda pointed.

"Oh, Mark? Meh, one day."

"You cannot keep him here indefinitely."

"Well, I can't let him go," she said. "Hey Mark, you ready to answer any questions yet?"

"NEVER!"

Yang looked back to Glynda and shrugged.

"I see… even so, I'm not sure you can keep him in custody. You at least know his name so you can-"

"And my name isn't Mark!"

Yang raised both shoulders, as if to ask what she was supposed to do. In the background, the prisoner continued to shout his defiance, both to the general situation and to any chances of finding out anything more. No name meant no paperwork. No paperwork meant no records, and that meant he'd be stuck there until Yang figured out what to do with him.

Glynda looked frazzled. "Well… I suppose I'll leave him to you, then."

"You sure you don't want to take him, as well?" Yang asked. "I'll make it a deal. Two faunus for the price of one."

"I think I'll have my hands full with the one, but thank you."

/-/

Things became a little quieter after Blake and Glynda left. Yang finished up some of her paperwork but didn't receive any messages from Vincent or the organisation he worked for. Similarly, while there were one or two calls for them to move on Fang busts, the news had gotten out across Vale and the number was dying out as people disposed of their medicine and purchased new ones. She had Junior and Mercury handle those shifts, and before long it was time for her and Roman to break off for the day entirely.

"I'll let Neo bunk at mine," he said. "There's more than enough room for it."

"That's fine," Yang said, even if it wasn't. The last thing she wanted was those two together but there wasn't much she could do about it. She wanted Neo with her even less. "Remember that she's being watched, so anything she does is going to fall on your ass." And the VSPR's. "Make sure she's on her best behaviour."

"I'll be sure she isn't caught for anything."

That wasn't what she'd meant and Roman damn well knew it, but he laughed and sauntered off before she could demand he make sure Neo didn't do anything worth being caught over at all. He was likely just being his usual self and trying to get a rise out of her. Like usual, it was working. He was such an asshole.

She took a taxi back to her apartment, or more specifically she took a taxi to a road nearby before the man, an elderly faunus, said he didn't dare go any further and had to drop her off there. She rolled her eyes, paid him the fare, and walked the rest of the way.

The streets were as rough as ever even if the sun hadn't gone down. Teenagers loitered in hoodies drawn up and several exchanged things she was fairly sure they shouldn't be. I should really do something about that, she thought. Then again, she was off duty and even if she wasn't there was precious little she could do. She didn't have a squad car to put them in and the whole area was basically a shithole. Even the locals knew it, evidenced by the way they casually threw litter and trash onto the street and left it there. Yang navigated around a smashed bottle and ignored the arrogant sneer of a guy she could break over her knee if he tried anything. She pulled out her key and let herself into her apartment.

"Wazzat?" the whale on his couch called.

"Just me," Yang replied.

"Oh, babe." She shivered at the affectionate nickname. "A guy came around looking for you earlier. I didn't think you was livin' with anyone."

Yang paused on the stairs. "I'm not. Did he say who it was?"

"Nah. I told him to piss off."

Not exactly useful, she thought, shaking her head and continuing up the stairs as her landlord laughed. The creepy part was the bastard had probably done that to try and scare the guy off out of some weird hope he had a chance with her. No way. She'd have to have more alcohol than blood in her before she considered that. She just hoped it hadn't been Vincent, since she was still waiting on him to get in touch.

Oh well, he had her scroll number if he needed it. She fished out her keys and unlocked her door, but paused as she heard a sound inside.

Her handgun came out from under her jacket, falling into her hand. She flicked off the safety and pressed her severed arm against the door, using her shoulder to ease it open. If it were Vincent he'd have answers to give, but she doubted he would dare break in to her apartment after their last meeting. The area was rough, which meant this could just as easily be something else.

Well, the bastard had chosen the wrong place to try and rob.

The door slammed open. Yang charged in, slammed her shoulder against the wall of the narrow corridor and pointed the gun at the man stood in her kitchenette.

He froze with a bottle of beer – hers – already touching his lips.

In a slow and measured motion, he downed it, ironically reminding her of another person she desperately wished she could shoot. Damn Neo. Once he was done he gasped, slammed the bottle down, and then staggered over to her.

"Willing to shoot me over a beer." He belched. "It's times like this I know we're truly related. I'm so proud of you."

"Uncle Qrow, you idiot," she hissed, flicking the safety back on and putting the gun away. "I could have shot you!"

"And I'd have been fine," the idiot laughed, reaching out to ruffle her hair before she slapped his hand away. "Aw, come on, Firecracker. I came on by to see how you're doing and you won't even give me a hug? I'm hurt."

"You broke into my apartment."

He spread his arms wide.

"You drank my beer."

He cocked an eyebrow.

"I hate you so much," Yang growled into his chest. She made sure to stomp on his toe when he laughed and hugged her back. "Seriously, you're an idiot. You can't just let yourself into my apartment and drink my beer. How did you even get in, anyway? I thought my landlord got rid of you."

"That thing downstairs? That's a person?" He grinned as she giggled. "Eh, I swept around and flew up to your window. It was locked but I managed to get it open. Weird thing is no one even batted an eye at it from the outside. Nice neighbourhood you've managed to find." He glowered at the threadbare couch and peeling walls. "Nice place, too."

"It's a fixer-upper," she said.

"That's one way of putting it… tell me again why you didn't ask to stay at my place? I've got room."

"I need to be independent," Yang said, pushing away from him and moving into the kitchen. She flicked the kettle on but sighed when it whistled, keened, and slowly died. She opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of beer instead, before she went to sit down on the couch.

Qrow wandered over to do the same, and shot her a meaningful look when the upholstery groaned and farted as he sat down. The cushion gave way and the whole thing shuddered for a moment, unused to the weight of two people.

"Independence," Yang said again, chuckling nervously. "I need it."

"That's not worth living in a place like this. Come live with me."

"I'm too young for you."

"Brat." He made to swing at her, but the motion of it – and her dodging – nearly had the couch collapsing altogether. "At least let me spot you some money to get a better place. Hell, I know you and Tai aren't talking over what happened but if he knew about this he'd crack into his savings without a moment's hesitation. You know that, right?"

"I know. It's not the money. I'm a new renter and no one trusts me yet. It'll get better once I've been in the job for a little longer. And no," she said when Qrow opened his mouth, "I won't stay at yours until that happens. I'm trying to prove I can live on my own."

He obviously didn't agree, but realised there'd be no end to the argument if they continued. He surrendered with a sigh and a glare at the walls around them. "Well this'll prove that if nothing else. If you can live here on your own, you can live anywhere. Gods, even I don't live like this and I'm me."

"I'll bet my place is still tidier than yours," she teased.

"Guilty, but you still have a fridge full of beer. Tai would flip if he found out."

"And whose influence would I blame that on?"

"Ah, deflecting the blame onto me. I've trained you well."

The two of them shared a long look before they both burst into laughter, the crappy couch farting along as they relaxed. Yang shook her head, leaning on the armrest as much as she dared. It felt like ages since she'd just been able to laugh. She even kicked up and rested her legs over her Uncle's, him rolling his eyes as he leaned his bottle on her knee.

"So, you come by to ask me something or did you run out of booze and figured I'd have some?"

"I came by to check up on my niece and make sure she's not making any terrible mistakes. I heard something interesting from Ruby, you know."

Yang sighed, her good mood slipping away. "Look, Blake broke the law. I had to do something with her. This was the best I could manage."

"I don't even know what you're on about," Qrow said. "I mean more about you sleeping with Roman Torchwick! You'd better have a good explanation for that, missy."

Yang's mouth fell open. Blood rushed to her cheeks and beer bubbled out as she spluttered on the bottle. Worse, the very term brought to mind the image of Roman's face – smirking as always – and she instantly wanted to punch Qrow for it. Since she only had one hand and it was occupied, however, he got away with it.

Still… damn it, Ruby!

"I didn't sleep with him!" she howled, mortified at the very suggestion. "Oh my God, I'm going to kill Ruby!"

Qrow looked relieved, but also – to her horror – uncertain. "You didn't?"

"NO!" She buried her face in her pillow and screamed. "We didn't sleep together, I swear. We slept at the same place, but that place was our precinct and that's a huge building. I slept in my office while he took the couch in the foyer."

"And you're sure he didn't try anything?"

"I think I would have noticed, thank you!"

Yang's cheeks, ears and neck burned. This was not the kind of conversation she'd expected tonight, or the one she'd been looking for. It was official; the moment this fight with Ruby was over, her little sister was going to pay.

"Just leave it," she said. "Roman is many things but he's not tried anything."

"Roman?" Qrow asked.

"Torchwick," she said.

"You said Roman."

"It's his name."

"Why are you on a first-name basis with someone like him?"

"Because I work with him. Qrow, please, don't pull a Dad. I don't need this from you."

"Hey, at least I'm not doubting you," he protested.

"No, you're just asking me if I'm banging Vale's most wanted criminal." She glowered at him for that. Sure, it was better than him being like everyone else and thinking she wasn't good enough, but really, Roman!? She had standards! "I've not got any time for dating anyway and I doubt anyone would with this." She waved her stump at him.

"Don't be silly, Yang. You're still beautiful."

"And still too young for you. Ew."

"This is what I get for being a supportive uncle," Qrow bemoaned, eyes towards the ceiling. "Well, whatever, as long as you're not about to give birth to a little Torchwick." He ducked the cushion that would have taken his head off. "How are things going though, seriously? I know I've not had much of a chance to catch up with you but I do feel kind of responsible for you being in this mess since I was the one to cheer you on." He paused to poke her cheek. "When I said `do something` I didn't mean free Roman Torchwick, by the way."

"I know…" Yang ducked her head and sighed. "I didn't want to either, but he's been useful. We found out about the White Fang and we probably saved a lot of lives by doing so."

"You did, and that's good." He laughed off the dark mood. "Just be careful, though. You lot are working together and that means they'll play ball, but don't lose sight of who they are. They're still criminals, and dangerous ones at that. Some more so than others, but don't trust the worst ones so easily."

"I won't, Uncle Qrow. I get what you're saying. Sheesh, you're such a worry-wart." She sighed. "How's Dad doing?"

"Worried and alarmed that his daughter won't call him. He's not to blame, you know. He knew you wouldn't be going back to Beacon this year, but he thought Ruby and the others had told you, as well."

"I know. I'm not angry at him."

"Then why haven't you called?"

Yang looked to Qrow and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh right, because he'll freak at you being with Torchwick. Heh, and here I thought you were avoiding him because you were angry."

"I am," she admitted, "but I'm also well aware of how Papa Bear he'll go on me. The last thing I need is him coming here and seeing who I work with."

"Or where you live," Qrow pointed out.

"Or that. Seriously, are you going to keep dissing my apartment all night?"

"Or if he finds out about your boyfriend," her uncle added, ignoring her question.

"I'm not sleeping with Torchwick!"

"No, I meant your other boyfriend."

"What boyfriend?" Yang sighed and pressed the cool bottle against her forehead. "You're not making any sense. I don't have a boyfriend. I'm not sleeping with anyone. I've had a hard day and I just arrested one of my friends, blew up part of a research facility and made a shady deal with some rich lady with no morals. Give me a break, please."

Qrow stared at her. "What were those last ones…?"

"Break, please!" She glared at him. "I don't have a boyfriend."

"Okay, okay, I believe you. It's just…" He winced and looked off to the side. "Well, you might have a rat problem instead."

Yang blinked. "Excuse me…?"

"In your apartment," he said. "Rats."

Yang stared at him. Qrow stared back, and as they held it his face started to look progressively more nervous, like he was trying to hide something from her. Her senses tingled and she narrowed her eyes. "Qrow…"

"Wow, you've really learned a scary expression there, Firecracker. Is that your police captain expression?"

"Don't make me handcuff you, Qrow."

He laughed. "I thought you were too young for me?"

She stared at him.

"There may have been a rat in your apartment before I arrived. A big rat," he added, seeing her incredulous expression. He cringed. "A… uh… human-sized rat. I may have tied it up and left it on your bed after giving it a few choice words."

Yang sighed and swung her legs off of him.

"In my defence, I assumed he was here for a reason! He's luck I didn't kill him since I thought the two of you were bumping uglies."

Yang ignored him and moved to the corridor, bottle in hand and uncle in close pursuit as she opened the door to her room with her shoulder. There, on the bed, a man in a black suit lay hogtied, a sock in his mouth and a piece of tape holding it in place. He didn't look very comfortable, though he made a muffled sound of happiness at seeing her.

"When were you going to tell me about this?" Yang asked, looking to Qrow.

"I kinda figured I wouldn't. Since, you know, I thought he was allowed to be here. If he's not your boyfriend then what's he doing breaking into your apartment."

"I have no idea," Yang said sarcastically. "Why don't you ask the other man who broke into my apartment. Maybe he was just here for a beer as well." She sighed and reached down to rip off the tape, elicting a muffled cry from him before the sock was spat out.

He made to speak but she beat him to it.

"Vincent, what the hell are you doing in my apartment?"

"M-My superiors instructed me to get in touch, Miss-" He saw her raised eyebrow and thought better of it, "C-Captain Xiao-Long, I mean."

"Most people would have called me."

"Calls can be traced and monitored. I needed something more direct, less able to be traced."

"And have we learned a valuable lesson today?"

The man nodded glumly, not looking quite so mysterious or collected as he had before, not hogtied to her bed as he was. He shifted to try and free himself but Qrow had secured his wrists to his ankles behind him, and judging from the bruise on his forehead had knocked him out, too.

"Can you let me sit up, Captain? This is quite uncomfortable."

"Someone you know?" Qrow asked.

"That's debatable."

"I could get rid of him."

"C-Captain…" Vincent gasped.

Yang hummed. "I'm thinking about it…"

"I have information that would be of use," he finally cried, unable to tell if she were being serious or not. "I've been instructed to co-operate with you, to provide you more material to help you trace the Fang Virus."

Yang cheered up immediately. A huge smile spread across her face as she reached down to untie him. "That's what I like to hear. Why didn't you say so straight away?"

"Because I was gagged! By a sock!"

"Touché… "

On that note, she sent a glare to Qrow, not only for gagging someone in her apartment but for raiding her drawers for it. At least it was just a sock. If he'd used her underwear, she'd make him regret it. Eventually she managed to free the man and he sat on her bed, rubbing his wrists to work the circulation back in. Even then, he didn't stop glowering at Qrow, who looked about as apologetic as he ever did. Really, for all their being on different sides, Qrow and Roman might have gotten along well.

I'd best keep that thought a secret though, otherwise they'll both flip. She laughed at the thought before she turned back to Vincent and crossed her arms.

"Okay, I played ball the first time but breaking into my apartment is a little different to breaking into my office."

"I understand that, Captain, but my superiors believe this information is too delicate to send through ordinary channels. We have reason to believe people in high places may be involved, if you catch my drift."

"I'm not an idiot, Vincent. How high? Who?"

"We don't yet know, but it could be all the way to the top. Several police departments or their Captains, at least."

"Yang," Qrow interjected. Gone was his smile. "This isn't sounding very good. You mind telling me what you've got yourself involved in this time?"

"The same as usual, I expect," she sighed. "Terrorists, criminals and mass-murderers. Heh, and you lot thought I'd be safer out of Beacon. Go me." When he didn't look impressed, nor pleased, she sighed. "It's no worse than what happened at Beacon, Qrow."

"Oh goodie. A megalomaniac who nearly killed hundreds of people, turned Atlas' toys psycho, released Grimm into the city and tried to destroy Beacon. Wow, I'm glad this isn't worse than that." His voice was full of sarcasm but he sighed regardless. "Who is this guy, anyway? Who are these superiors?"

Vincent made to answer – or not to, as it were – but Yang beat him to it.

"Mysterious organisation, no names, bla bla. You know the drill."

Qrow looked at her like she was insane. "And this doesn't bother you?"

"Honestly, I feel like it's become par for the course. At least I don't have to give this guy a fake name." That was an improvement, even if she was fairly sure his wasn't real anyway. "Vincent, info now. Please."

"In front of him…?" Vincent asked, nodding to Qrow.

Qrow crossed his arms and made it clear he was going nowhere.

"Vincent," Yang repeated, voice firmer. "Info. Now. Please."

"Okay, okay," he surrendered with a sigh. "But can we at least talk in the front room? This room smells funny, the bed is uncomfortable and I'm sure I saw insects crawling in the corner earlier."

"Front room isn't much better," Qrow grumbled.

Yang threw her hand in the air and stalked out of the room.

Everyone was a critic…

/-/

In a dark building secluded in downtown Vale a young officer of the White Fang swallowed nervously as he approached a door. Two larger faunus flanked it, both wearing masks that were subtly different from his own. Each looked far more powerful, too. Far more disciplined, well-armed and dangerous. They moved in unison to open the door, and though he didn't enter, he did crouch at the entrance, being sure to keep his head low and pointed at the ground.

"Report," a gruff, masculine voice commanded.

"S-Sir, the effects of the Fang Virus is being worked out of the populace." His mouth ran dry and he swallowed loudly before continuing. "I-It's no less effective, sir, but people have started to understand what causes it and are avoiding any contact with the pharmaceutical drugs."

"I see."

There was no intonation that suggested anger there, but none that made him confident enough to look up either. He could feel the stares of the faunus either side of him bearing down. One wrong move would mean certain death. That much was for sure.

"It is of no matter," the man finally said.

The faunus squeaked. "S-Sir?"

"Middivale was but a prelude, a test-run. Its goal was never to last."

But what of the brave and loyal men and women who had given up their freedom to make it work, he wanted to ask. What would happen to them? He did not ask, however. He knew what would happen. They would be forgotten for now, left to be martyrs even as they were locked away in various prisons across Vale.

"W-What should we do, sir? What's our next step?"

"Our next step is our own," a new voice said. It was a woman's, soft and mocking. He heard her heels echo in the room beside the man who had spoken earlier. "It is ours to know, and yours not to. After all, we would not want it making its way back to the wrong people, would we?"

"I-I understand. With your permission…?"

The man in the room scoffed. "Leave us. Wait for our instructions."

The young man nodded.

"It will be as you command, Adam."

It's the end of an arc here, sort of the introductory arc really, since the VSPR are now, essentially, a full unit with Neo's inclusion into the team. Feels like a good time to end it too, since I'll be on holiday next week and the New Year will mark its continuation. Anyway, for those who aren't aware I am off next week for some much-needed rest, which means the next chapter of this won't come out for three weeks.

Have a good Christmas everyone.

Next Chapter: 9th January

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur