A/N: I do not own RWBY or Red vs. Blue, Rooster Teeth has that awesome privilege.

0oooooooooo0

Rouge's Vibe, City of Vale

Maine

Agent Maine had used an old trace from York's armor to find him, remotely activating the recovery beacon in it to determine his position, then walked all the way to the club where he now stood, just outside of where the beacon told Maine his fellow Freelancer was.

He didn't want to seem a threat, so he had come unarmed with his helmet off, hoping to buy enough time to explain he had changed. He and York had been friends, right? Before Sigma, curse his name forever, had turned him against all of them? Maybe, just maybe, York would trust him just enough to let him show that he truly wanted to be better.

He had arrived at the club when the line was fairly short, so he got in quickly, keeping his head covered with his hood, a piece of paper with a message prepped for York's eyes. He looked around, tuning out the blaring music as he searched for his old brother-in-arms.

Surprisingly, when he spotted him, he was in plain sight, out of his armor serving drinks next to a man near his own height, something Maine could respect. Maine kept his head down, walking towards the bar and waiting until York passed by before offering the note, keeping his head down until his was sure the Freelancer had read it.

0oooooooooooo0

York

Please don't freak out and let me explain. I swear I won't hurt anyone. He's gone. The note read, then York looked up, at the same time this hooded man did, revealing the face of the man who had killed Carolina, the one girl he loved, even after all this time. Fury rushed through his veins as the monster raised his hands. "Junior, you need to evacuate the club, now." He said to his fellow barman.

"Why?"

"Let's just say one of my problems is sitting at the bar, and he could turn into another Blondie situation."

Junior cursed, following the man's gaze to the bald man in front of him, a look of sadness on the man's face.

York watched as Maine signaled to him, writing in the air. The gold Freelancer pulled a notebook out and slammed it on the bar, a scowl deep on his face. Maine opened it and began to write. After a few moments, he twisted it around so York could see.

I was never really in control during and a little after Sigma, but I see I did something terrible, and I regret everything that creature did in my name. Please, try to understand. I am trying to redeem my wrongs.

"You killed Carolina!" York growled out. "I can't ever forgive you, let alone believe you're anything but a monster"

Maine took back the notebook and started again. "I know who you are, York. Let me help you, I'll prove my intentions are sincere. I understand you will never forgive me. I know you loved her. But at least let me atone for some of the blood on my hands.

York, Delta cut in mentally. I predict that if we don't at least lead him to believe we are giving him a chance, he may go on a rampage, possibly hurting innocents and causing Junior some damage charges. Besides, I can find no hint of deceit or hidden motive here, and the Meta, sorry, Maine, could be a powerful asset.

Only you could convince me not to kill this man. York mentally sighed. But we keep your existence a secret for now.

Affirmative, Agent York.

"We'll talk about this when my shift ends, meet me at this address." York sighed, defeated, and then wrote down his address. "Now get out."

Maine nodded, then stood, his hulking frame marking hi against the rest of the crowd as they parted to give him his way while he headed out the door.

Junior breathed a sigh of relief. "Whew, that was close. Old friend of yours?"

"Just somebody I used to know." York said bitterly.

0ooooooooo0

Maine

Well, that seemed to go better than expected. The hulking though after stepping into the night air, which, by the club, smelled strongly of vomit. He followed the address to a warehouse nearby, but was surprised to see a girl wearing a red cloak already there.

"Hello." She greeted, giving a small wave. "Are you here looking for Yo- I mean Mr. Grey as well?"

The Freelancer shrugged.

She looked at him. "My name is Ruby, what's yours?"

Maine held his throat, signaling his was mute, and her eyes widened. "Oh, I'm so sorry if I offended you! I didn't know."

Maine shook his head. Then there was an awkward silence as they passed glances at each other.

"Gee, Mr. Grey sure is taking a while, his shift ended a few minutes ago." Ruby said, checking the time on her scroll.

Maine growled, then folded his arms, leaning on a nearby rail.

"Alright Maine," York started as he came out of the alley way, already in full armor, "What do you-" He cut off at the sight of the girl. "Ruby? What are you doing here? You need to go, now!"

"But why?" Ruby whined.

York pointed at him. "That's Agent Maine!" He cried.

Recognition filled her eyes. "But he hasn't done anything to me. He's been pretty nice, although he was a bit impatient about you getting here." She protested. "Besides, if he were the Meta, wouldn't he have taken-"

"Ruby, shut up, shut up now before you give something away you shouldn't." He warned.

Maine took all this information in. What would the little girl know that Maine would want to take? Surely York didn't describe him as some rapist? Then it hit him. His still had his AI!

Maine pointed an accusing finger at York, then tapped his shoulder. York sighed. "Dammit. Yes, I still have mine!" Suddenly, a large double-sword was in his hand. "And you're not going to take him."

The white freelancer held up his hands, then tapped his own head and wiped it away, signaling that Sigma, who had taken control of him, was gone. No more need for AI, except for the possibilities of running his suit at full capacity.

"Agent York, may I suggest that we let the Meta-"

Maine growled. He was no longer the Meta. "Sorry, Agent Maine should be given a second chance, just as you have."

"Yeah!" Ruby exclaimed. "I'm sure he's sorry for what that AI did to his head."

Maine nodded with a sorrowful growl. Or at least he hoped that's what it sounded like.

York shook his head. "Why does everyone team up against me?" He sighed.

"Because you're wrong." Ruby teased.

"By no means," York glared at Maine, "Does this make us friends. And you follow my orders. And if I think for one second you're going to go Meta, I will… Put. You. Down."

York waited for this to sink in, then asked, "Am I understood?"

Maine nodded solemnly. York was scowling and very close to his face, the rage practically seeping off of him. The brute understood his once-friend's feelings. Sigma had made him kill the girl he loved, tearing out her AI and throwing her over a freezing cliff to die.

York flipped around and stepped over to the hooded girl. "What did you need me for, Ruby?" He asked somberly, no doubt remembering a head of dark red hair.

"I came to see if you wanted to come with me to the Beacon forges tomorrow. I can help you go and make one that'll be perfect for you." She offered, voice chipper and a hopeful look on her face. "You probably should bring Maine, too. He's going to need a ranged weapon."

"Tell you what, I'll take the first bullhead to Beacon on Monday and get there right after school lets out. You'd better be waiting for me." He smiled, the girl apparently bringing him happiness, then he looked at Maine and scowled. "I'll think about bringing him."

Maine growled softly. A new weapon sounded nice.

York shook his head. "Ruby, you head on back to school. Maine, you come with me. Might as well get you settled in. Welcome to New Freelancer."

0oooooooo0

Ruby

"So York didn't kill the Meta on the spot?" Yang gasped. "But he caused so much pain, so much loss."

Ruby shook her head. "Agent Maine claimed that his AI was controlling him. He seemed really sorry."

"We'll at least I'll finally get to meet him." Pyrrha said, as she had been unable to meet the Gargoyle.

"And may I ask who is coming to my school tomorrow?" A voice spoke behind the group. They all froze as Ruby turned to face Headmaster Ozpin.

"Headmaster, oh just a couple friends they need my expertise in weapons, and I was hoping to use the forges after school tomorrow."

Ozpin hummed thoughtfully, then took a sip of his ever-present coffee cup. "I'd like to meet these friends of yours. When will they be arriving?"

Ruby sighed and told the truth. "First bullhead after school, sir."

"And I trust you'll to be there to introduce me to them?" Ozpin said with a smile.

"Yes, sir!" She told him. He turned and walked off.

Blake lowered her book for a few seconds to say simply, "This ought to be interesting."

0oooooooo0

York

Junior called York Monday morning at 11:30, signaling to a very restless dream filled with an angelic voice with the sliver tongue of the Devil himself, and the hair to match. He woke to those dreams with only sorrow every time.

When he woke this time, he reached over and grabbed the scroll, which was playing 'Country Song' by Seether, his ringtone for Junior. He answered and wiped his eyes as he spoke wearily, "Yeah boss?"

"Hey, Cole. Get your crusty butt down here, we've got business to talk about." The gravelly baritone of Junior in the morning greeting him. "The faster you get here, the faster I get to sleep, and we all value sleep in this business."

"I'll be right there." York told him, then hung up. He slept in his jeans, so he threw on a grey tee and a black cloth jacket, then pulled on his boots and headed downstairs.

When he saw Maine, all those mixed feelings of hate and hope ran through him. The giant man slept on the floor, armor completely on. He used his trench coat as a pillow, and his helmet sat beside it.

"Maine." He called, and the brute's eyes snapped open and locked on him. "I'm heading down to the club for a while, my boss wants to talk to me, don't touch anything."

Maine growled, then closed his eyes again.

York shook his head. "Hey, how about today, we go out and get you some clothes, that way you don't get arrested for possibly being the 'Gargoyle?'"

The agent raised a lazy thumbs up, and with that, York left, making sure to keep his armor-backpack on him.

York double-timed it to the club, and was immediately let inside. In the club, Cole spotted the big man sitting at the bar talking with a young man that looked about 17 with short, black hair and Grey eyes. York guessed he was around around 5'7. Slightly tan, with a slight grin. He wore a lightweight, black, unzipped, jacket with a grey stripe running along each arm. A dark grey t-shirt rested underneath the jacket. On his legs were a pair of black trousers with a grey stripe going all the way down the sides of the legs. Black sneakers with grey highlights, matching with the rest of the outfit, were the final piece. York could see a black hilt poking out from under the jacket and could see.

"Ah, Cole, you're just in time. I want you to meet Rowan Emberstorm." Junior told him. He and the new young man, Emberstorm, stood. "I'm thinking of hiring him for a bouncer and perhaps one of the mercenaries under my list."

York stepped forward and shook the new man's hand. "Cole Grey, friends call me York."

"Call me Rowan." The young man said with a grin.

"A Mercenary, huh?" York asked, then looked to Junior. "Did the big guy scare you last night, Junior?"

"No!" He protested, though his face showed otherwise.

Rowan spoke. "I'll be working clean jobs. I know what Junior works on the other side of the coin, so I'll be doing my best to keep my nose clean."

"If you're working for Junior, all you need is a blind eye and a big tissue." York joked, pointing at his own left eye for emphasis.

Rowan laughed as Junior gave a joking growl.

"So, Cole, what do you think?" Junior said with a smile. "Should he get the job?"

"Why are you asking me? Is this the entire reason I was brought here?" York demanded.

"No, no, I just simply wanted your opinion. I'll talk with you in a sec, after Jake gets here." Junior told him, then looked at the grinning Rowan. "You'll start tonight, early shift with Cole here, by the bar exit."

"Sounds good. Thanks, 'Boss'." Rowan tried out the word with Junior, then turned and left.

"He seems like an optimist." York told him.

Junior chuckled. "Tell me about it, that grin never left his face. It was almost creepy." He told his fellow bartender. "Now, let's go find Jake."

Jake the DJ was backstage at a computer. For once, he didn't wear the giant bear head, revealing his almond skin and white smile.

"Ah, Cole, man. Listen, I got a problem."

"What do you need, dude." York asked.

Jake sighed. "Family member died. I'm flying out to Mistral for a funeral and I can't get hold of my back up. Could you do me a solid and run the DJ stand for the next couple days?"

"Hell, no. I ain't wearing that stupid bear head."

"You don't have to." Junior assured. "And you get paid his wages for those nights."

"I don't wanna steal your money man."

Jake shrugged, "Don't worry, I'm getting paid Vacation."

York nodded. "Alright then. I'm up for it."

These guys had no idea what was coming.