Trace could hardly believe what had transpired in the hallway a few hours ago. Somehow, Nighthawk had been able to protect himself from his multi-dust crystal. He didn't feel sorry for Winchester, In his mind the dick got exactly what he deserved.

But that meant he'd lost a valuable commodity and those kind of crystals were particularly difficult to make due to the unstable elements packed into its body. I'll have to start over from scratch. Lovely. Those materials don't come cheap and it doesn't help those things are 1. time consuming and 2. have an extremely delicate construction process. He shrugged. Oh well. Life happens.

He walked in the direction of his forge which happened to be a gigantic cave blasted from the base of the cliff overlooking the Emerald Forest where initiations were held. Since Elise was already there he quickened his pace, the cool evening wind ruffling his platinum blond hair.

Nighthawk was paying a visit with a few of the girls and he wanted everything to be in order.

...

Weiss smoothed her hands over her combat skirt making sure no wrinkles were present. Leaves swirled through the clear evening sky, rosy pinks giving way to cool violets and navy blues. But all of this was lost to the tall man walking slightly ahead of her. The other three girls deliberately hung back bringing up the rear. Ruby couldn't quite put her finger on it but her friend seemed to grow even more distant as the days went on.

To the impressionable teen-whose identity at the moment was entirely wrapped up in proving herself a strong, dependable leader-it seemed the older girl didn't care as much for the team anymore, and thereby team activities. She was more interested spending time with CBLT's handsome team leader than with her own friends. Never mind the fact the Summer Dance was right around the corner, it would be a complete disaster if she didn't have Weiss' input. She was ridiculously dependent on the heiress when it came to the latest styles and fashions.

She lifted her ivory face to the heavens silver eyes searching the darkening skies for answers. What am I doing wrong that Weiss keeps ignoring us? The dance won't be fun if she doesn't attend. She loves social stuff like this but I haven't been able to get her excited about it.

"So we're meeting this Trace person why again?" Weiss quickened her pace to match Crest's longer strides. Completely oblivious to the mental torment she was putting her team leader through.

"I already told ya." Crest drawled letting amusement seep his words at the girl's shrill question. "I wanna see what kind of toys he's playin' with."

She slapped him on the shoulder. "Have you lost your mind?! Those aren't toys. They're an explosive accident waiting to happen. Cardin almost blew your head off earlier and you think these things are TOYS?!" The terrifying sight of the tall man nearly getting killed was still fresh in her mind so she resorted to anger to cover the bone-deep fear that clung to her like a smothering robe.

Yang bit her lip not bothering hide her smile. Only Crest had the power to draw strong reactions from their Ice Queen and she was enjoying every second. It shows she's human. And honestly I'm happy for her.

He snorted, readjusting Bjornserkr's position on his back. Not that he needed to, it just gave him an excuse to keep his hands busy and not all over the gorgeous young woman fussing over his health. Ever since their heated makeout session in the library something in their relationship had shifted. The possibility of returning to the friendzone once certain lines were crossed was out of the question. And if he was being honest, the thought of anyone but him touching her, tasting her, made his blood boil. But now wasn't the time for entertaining petty thoughts. And anyway, what's the big deal? I've dealt with worse. Almost none of them know what death looks like. Sure, they've got an idea but it's limited to weak Grimm and the odd criminal like Candlestick. I doubt most of them have actually killed and I don't mean the obvious monsters. This ain't a romantic job. It's adapt or die. That simple.

"Well, it's a good thing he missed."

Blake raised an eyebrow at the tall human's sarcastic comment. No he didn't. She'd caught a glimpse of the large man raising his right arm and a bright crimson glow formed around it. Like he used his own aura as a shield. But how? Only the most skilled hunters can employ an advanced technique like that.

All too soon the group stood at the edge of Beacon Cliffs bathed in brilliant moonlight. Inches from the teens feet the Emerald Forest stretched before them like a murky sea. And from their vantage point a welcoming glow emanated from what was clearly a massive hole bored straight into the rock's side.

Crest grunted then turned his head drawing Bjornserkr and pointing it forward. The moon glinted off his earrings. Weiss met his intense stare a small smile on her lips. She drew Myrtenaster and spun the chamber.

"Guys wait let's just walk down the-"

Ruby's attempt at reason was cut off.

Crest leaped over the edge the aura channels running the length of Bjornserkr's blade burning a bright red. Weiss summoned a white glyph and without hesitation jumped into space.

Blake stared then shook her head.

"They're both crazy."

She shot Ruby a hard glare.

"We," she emphasized pinning the younger girl with a warning stare, "are taking the long way down. I don't feel like breaking my neck."

...

Elise stood by the cave entrance when she heard the rushing air of two bodies hurtling toward the ground. Flashes of crimson and white announced the arrival of two out of the five expected guests. Shaking her head she slipped away to make her report. The other three had some grain of rational sense and were taking the path, even thought it was the longer route.

She found her friend at his forge coating a length of treated wire with lighting dust, his movements smooth and easy.

"Weiss and Crest dropped out of the sky."

Trace chuckled at his partner not taking his eyes off his task.

"And that surprises you?"

She remembered listening in to Crest's battle with Winchester via sonar focusing on the very end where he'd transformed his monster blade into a rifle. It wasn't a simple point and click. It was as if a whole series of gears and safeties had been released before the muzzle started charging. The design was an engineering marvel the likes she'd never run across before.

"Not really."

The raspy baritone of the man in question cut through the tunnel.

"Trace?"

The forger gently set the lightning wire into a negatively charged container and wiped his hands on his apron.

"Back here man. Come on in. Make sure all of you keep your auras under control at all times."

"Oi. Y'all heard him."

"But...Crest?" That was Ruby. "Are you sure its safe?"

Footsteps echoed off the stone walls. "Only as safe as ya make it."

Trace nodded at the hunter's perception. Exactly. Just ask Cardin. What's left of him anyway.

Meanwhile team RWBY was in awe as they followed Crest to the rear of the forge. Weapons of all shapes, sizes and descriptions lined the walls. They looked safe but Crest let his aura flare for a second.

A loud click sounded over his left shoulder confirming his theory. I thought so. These bad boys react to our aura. Not to mention fluctuation and pressure changes. This is some dangerous stuff if it ain't handled right. He relaxed his aura and sure enough the giant bladed sword he aimed at went still decocking as it went.

Weiss found herself drawing closer to Crest one hand lightly grasping the back of his shirt, staring at the daunting array of firepower with a slight tinge of unease. Ruby tried to mimic her action but she slapped her hand away.

"Don't even."

The small girl pouted but wisely chose to keep her mouth shut for a change.

Another curve revealed their desination. All eyes trained on the stocky platinum blond youth wearing a studded forger's apron. Tools, measuring beakers and scrolls containing detailed plans in various stages lay scattered across every available flat surface. Near the far rear left of the cave glowing embers in another hole hewn into the rock emitted heat waves. Next to the controlled flame lay a pair of well-used hammer and tongs.

"Ya got a pretty sweet gig going on in here, Trace." Yang felt like a kid in a candy store as her eyes darted from weapon to weapon mindful of his warning to keep her aura under control. The sound of a saftey clicking off followed with a hammer cocking in the hall a few moments ago was all the warning she needed. Rubes, whatever ya do, please do NOT spaz out.

He smiled at her then turned to Crest. The massive destroyer strapped to his back begged to be examined. He held out a hand.

"May I?"

The slope of the bigger man's shoulders tightened. It was clear he didn't like other people touching Bjornserkr-even though this was a fellow hunter and weapons smith. Realizing he might've crossed and invisible line Trace began to withdraw his hand but then Crest surprised him by reaching over-ever so slowly-drawing the weapon and cautiously handing over for him to inspect.

"M-hmm. Yep. Very nice. This is-"

"What?"

In a span of a second Trace went from focus to panicked. He frantically flung the weapon away like it was a hot potato.

"THIS IS DANGEROUS!"

Crest's arm snapped out faster than the eye could follow catching it by the hilt before it smacked a startled Weiss in the face, speaking to the forger like he was some dimwitted child.

"Then don't throw it. Dumbass."

He blinked. Huh? Where'd he go?

Two hands tentatively curled over Elise's arm. Then a crown of platinum blond hair peeped around its temporary hiding place and he machine gunned his next words.

"Where-and-how-did-you-get-that-weapon?!"

Crest raised an eyebrow. When the hell did Oobleck get in here?

"I built it." Are you twelve Rounds, or ya just that terrified?

Elise turned and, placing a deceptively strong hand to the side of her partner's head, pushed him away. Uh...personal space, please.

Trace swallowed several times against a suddenly dry throat. He shuffled toward a metal file cabinet stuffed to the brim with designs. Opening the second drawer from the top he finger-walked about ten slots back then pulled a lengthy piece of hefty sketch paper tightly rolled and tied with a piece of red ribbon.

Crest moved closer as Trace removed the tie and unfurled the scroll length paper.

"Shut up man, don't tell me that's-"

"Yeah. I was planning to begin construction on this bad boy over summer break but as you can see," he nodded toward the complex design. "It's not as detailed as I'd like. Your model looks more...complete than what' I've got here."

That don't surprise me. Still. Not bad considering. "You've got a shadow copy." Everyone's mouths hung open completely stunned at this new revelation. "Don't ask me how I know that. Long story I don't have time for. All I'm gonna say is this design called to me."

Trace gawked at his larger peer. It...called to him? Oh crap. That means he's a...BUT THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE! And it also shot the danger factor off the scales. Then he became aware of Crest's strange purple eyes boring into him with an intensity that made his insides shake, but he couldn't cave. Not here.

"You want me to dust that monstrosity."

"Ya catch on quick pal."

Ruby raised a tentative hand. "Um excuse me. What does any of this hafta do with Cardin exploding?"

Trace held both palms up in a calming gesture, willing them not to shake.

"First," he said internally grateful there was no tremor in his voice. "The mechanics of the dusted wire, or in Cardin's case, crystal cannot be installed in a prebuilt model. It's gotta be worked into the design itself. And trust me man." He eyed the war machine strapped to his new friend's back. "That thing doesn't need any more help." And neither do you Crazy.

Blake had remained silent throughout the entire exchange but now she plucked up the nerve to ask a question that had been bothering her since the group entered the forge.

"So. Let me see if I've got this. What's so scary about um...Crest?" The big man flicked his imperial gaze over to meet hers, reflecting the light of the glowing coals throwing weird patterns over the rock ceiling and walls. She found maintaining his stare was extremely difficult and it pissed her off a little. "What do you call that tree chopper?"

Weiss folded her arms. "Yeah. This monstrosity have a name?"

Crest smirked causing her heart to stutter.

"Bjornserkr*"

Standing by the file cabinet Elise leaned against its cool metallic surface. She and Trace exchanged silent looks. Well, THAT explains a lot. She thought trying to figure out what this was going to mean. Were more of these uncanny men out there somewhere? Would they flock to Beacon now that one of their own was being allowed to attend?

"See this is what I mean by overkill," Trace said not quite able to keep the nervousness (not fear okay, there was a family name and a business to uphold for cripes sake!) out of his tenor voice. "That thing is designed to take out armies."

Yang cocked her head to one side. "Huh. That's not so bad-"

"It wouldn't be," Trace interjected. "If it didn't take out armies, on both sides." He whipped both pointer fingers from one side to the other.

Blake's mouth formed a tiny 'o' of unease. Her stomach suddenly felt queasy. Back during her White Fang days there'd been whispers among the ranks of a terrifying demon warrior known only as the Crimson King. But she'd been more occupied with bigger things, namely getting even with the Schnee family and she'd thrown her entire being into this task alongside her old partner Adam Taurus. Now standing in this rocky cave she wished she'd paid more attention and not dismissed the stories as office gossip.

"That's..." She paused, groping for the right word. "Bad."

"Hah! Understatement of the century there, sister. Not just your opponents' army, but your army, the base camps and everything within a mile radius." I seriously don't know this cleaver's range and quite frankly I don't wanna find out.

Ruby meanwhile was torn between wanting to a) build a secret shrine to this awesome monster slayer then bow down to it and b) run like hell. I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy Master! Her body ached from holding herself in place but her aura spiked with her suppressed excitement.

Instantly the prototypes mounted on the walls came alive.

Every safety clicked off.

Trace sensed the fluctuation as did Elise who hissed at Yang.

"Get her out of here! Now."

She obeyed at once dragging her protesting little sister out of the cave.

The moment the younger girl cleared the entrance everything relaxed.

Weiss released a shaky breath and instinctively drew close to Crest glaring daggers at the stocky young man in front of her.

"You're crazy, forger."

He turned back to replace the scroll back in the filing drawer executing a mock bow facing away from her.

"Never said I was sane, Your Highness."

A/N: WHEW! Thx for being patient with me guys, you're the best! More is coming soon so hang tight!

*Bjornserkr - translates to 'berserk' pronounced 'Born-sirk-er'

Love to hear from ya!