"You ever wonder what the fucking point of all this is?"

Detective Cotton was looking at his open case. A bookstore owner shot point blank in the head in the middle of the day in his own shop. The store was on a busy street with plenty of foot traffic, so of course no one saw or heard anything. Detective Salt wasn't faring much better. He was trying to figure out how a young girl managed to blow a man's brains all over the sidewalk in broad daylight and get away without anyone getting a good look at her. On top of that they still weren't any closer to solving the multiple murder at the office. This year wasn't doing the department's clearance rate any favors.

"You mean life?" Salt responded.

"I mean being a cop. Think about it; you know who slaughtered all those people in that abandoned house, but he's a Hunter, which means he's off limits."

The relationship between the police and the Academies was strained at best. Due to the services Hunters provided for the kingdoms they were more or less above the law. As long as they kept their inclinations to acceptable levels the police were told to look the other way. As far as the department was concerned the ten men who died in that house didn't exist. Of course, even if they wanted to bring in their suspect neither of them were fighters. Cotton didn't even have his aura unlocked. They had no chance against a man that could kill ten people with his bare hands.

"I'm not too torn up about that, you saw what they did to that girl. Who knows how many others they hurt? How did they even get here without anyone knowing? Besides I wasn't able to get a solid lead out of the house."

One problem with Salt's semblance was that each scene was unique. Sometimes they wouldn't be completely forthcoming with information about what had happened. All the abandoned house would say was that the killer was young and incredibly powerful. It wasn't at all fond of the men that were killed and felt that informing on the one who got rid of them would be doing him a disservice. "Young and powerful" more than likely meant a Beacon student, but there was no way Ozpin would let them question a student without any hard evidence.

"That's not the point. Why are there even police if there's Hunters? Why bother working a case if the only suspect is a guy who can blow you in half by looking at you, or run from one side of the continent to the other in a second? Why even fucking do this if we're always gonna play second fiddle to those Academy pricks?"

The phone rang. Someone had found a body floating off the docks. Perfect. "Why are people so bent on killing each other if there're Grimm around? When did you become such a little bitch?" Salt got up and put on his jacket. "We all have to play the roles we're given. If you feel different you can quit."

OoOoOoO

"So you accidentally tell this girl you're in love with her, and then instead of trying to elaborate on it you jump out a window. You really go above and beyond."

Friday at lunchtime the rest of Team NGRO were consoling Reid after his rendezvous with Maggie crashed and burned. Well, Noah was at least. George and Oriana thought it was the funniest thing ever.

"Shit bro at least wait for her to turn you down before you run" George said through his own roaring laughter.

Reid laid his head down on the table. "Don't rub it in. I feel like such an asshole."

Oriana placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "At least you disappointed her early on so it would not be a surprise."

Reid groaned. He was too dejected to say anything. How could he have messed up so badly? His mind was a mess. At least Maggie was out of the infirmary, though she hasn't spoken to him all week. He didn't know how this situation could get any worse.

"Heads up" Noah said. Reid looked up and saw Maggie standing by their table. She was looking at her feet and running her hand through her hair.

"Hey" she said with a nervous smile.

Reid took one look at her and all of his anxiety vanished. "Hi" he said. The two of them locked eyes not saying a word. Then suddenly they both started laughing. It was like the past week never happened.

"It is a good thing you are both idiots" Oriana said.

"I love happy endings" Noah said.

George looked like he'd just remembered something. "Speaking of, I need something from you two." He pointed towards Reid and Maggie.

Reid raised an eyebrow. "The both of us? What could you need from the both of us?"

"Nothing major, just come with me on a double date."

Silence hung in the air.

"Why?" Maggie asked.

George grinned. "I met this girl and I'm trying to rip her panties off. She's super cute and thick as fuck. Problem is she's kind of shy, only hangs around the school. I figure if I can get her out of her shell I can get her out of her clothes too."

Maggie's face curled with disgust. "You're a pig. I'm not helping you get laid."

"Come on, she's a nice girl. And she's a Faunus, so you two should get along great. Do me this one favor and I'll never ask you for anything again."

"What's in it for us?" Reid asked.

"My undying love and affection" George said, deadpan.

"Fuck off"

"Don't be like that, I even found this nice restaurant we can eat at."

"Fine, whatever."

"Good, we can go out tomorrow."

Reid got a message on his scroll. "Shit, I gotta go." He got up and left the table.

As soon as she was sure he was gone Maggie turned to George and Noah. "I want to ask you guys something. Is Reid…okay?"

"What do you mean?" Noah asked.

"He talks in his sleep. Sometimes he even starts crying. I want to ask him about it but…"

George shrugged. "He's been through some shit. What kind of shit I don't know."

Noah looked curious. "What does he say when he's asleep?"

Maggie frowned. "He just says 'I'm sorry' over and over again."

"I'd keep that close for now. He'll tell you about it when he's ready."

George grinned. "More importantly, what's with you and Reid? You guys together or what?"

Maggie grimaced. That was something she thought about herself, but hearing it from George made her feel sick. "I don't know"

"Do you like him?" Noah asked.

Maggie tried to look calm, but her ears perking up betrayed her feelings. "Yeah, but after what happened I don't know what to say to him"

George shook his head. "Are you retarded or something? Just tell him how you feel."

Noah nodded in agreement. "George is right, for once. Reid isn't exactly a complicated guy. Being direct is the best option you have."

Maggie thought for a moment. "You're right. I need to handle this." she turned and walked away from the table.

As soon as she was gone the rest of Team NGRO started laughing. They didn't stop until their lunch break was over.

OoOoOoO

Reid was helping Professor Peach straighten up her classroom since she was done for the day. He figured this would be a good way to kill time, plus he liked to help out. He looked at Peach grading a stack of papers. Her desk was a mess. There were loose papers and empty dust bottles everywhere. It reminded him of his father's room. As he thought about his father he remembered that there was something he'd been meaning to ask the professor.

"How did you and Maggie meet anyway?"

"I found her on the street. She was living out of a box and I thought she was so cute I had to take her home with me." Peach replied casually.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I think it's been five years now. Of course she's staying in the dorms now so I'm all alone again." she gave an overly dramatic sigh.

"No one else in your life?"

She started laughing. "Why? You interested?"

"Not really, I prefer people my own age"

"Your loss. I still get to see her every day so it's not too bad. I can't believe how big she's gotten." She talked like she was fawning over her child.

"You two must be really close"

"I guess you could say that. That's enough about me. Mind if I ask you something?"

"What?"

Peach took on a more serious tone. "What do you plan on doing after you graduate?"

Reid didn't hesitate to answer. He'd had the same goal since he was ten. "I'm going to kill every single White Fang on Remnant."

Peach looked at Reid. "Is that really what you want to do?"

"Yes it is. What they did to my parents, what they're doing now, I can't let that stand."

"You shouldn't let what happened control your life. You're young, you can do so much more than throw your life away on some revenge mission."

Reid sighed. "I know, but there's no other way for me. I don't have anything else."

Peach looked at Reid like he was an injured animal. A look of concern, mixed with pity. "Alright, I won't try to persuade you anymore. One last question though, did you really jump out a window?"

The bell rang before Reid could answer that question. "I'd love to answer that but we're out of time. I'll see you on Monday." He ran out the room to get to his next class.

OoOoOoO

The last class of the day was sparring. Reid wasn't able to focus on the fights. Maggie was still on his mind. There were so many things he wanted to say to her, but he didn't know how. After the last match ended Professor Goodwitch asked for another volunteer.

Reid raised his hand. "I want to fight her." He pointed at Maggie.

"Very well. The next match will be Reid Wenland versus Maggie Grimes" Goodwitch replied.

The two of them stood on the stage. They had trained together, but this was the first time they had a serious fight since the day they met. Reid was bristling with excitement. By the look on her face she felt the same way. He should have done this from the start. There was no need for words, he could tell her how he felt this way.

Maggie was stunning in her combat outfit. She was wearing a cropped grey tank top to show off her abs, and a pair of baggy silver colored pants. She had on a pair of black gloves with yellow lines running through them, and a pair of boots with steel plates on the heel and toe. She didn't believe in half measures.

"I've been looking forward to this" she said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Me too. I hope I don't disappoint you"

The buzzer sounded and the fight began. Reid knew from watching videos of her fights that the quickest way to win was to deny her the chance to mount an offensive. He charged in and swung horizontally at her stomach. He felt his shovel catch on something. Maggie caught the blade between her elbow and her knee. She was smiling at him. Her other fist was cocked back. Reid let go of his shovel and jumped back to avoid her punch.

Maggie laughed and tossed his shovel to him. "Come on man, I saw that move already. Show me something interesting"

Reid grinned and buried his shovel into the floor. He dug one of the large stone tiles out of the floor and flung it at her. She let out a low whistle and destroyed it with a punch, losing sight of Reid in the dust and debris. She heard something swing through the air. She stepped back as Reid's shovel struck the ground at her feet. She prepared to counter but failed to notice that Reid was still moving. He pivoted over the shovel and drove his heel into the top of her head. She was sent to the floor.

"How was that?" Reid asked.

Maggie jumped up and slapped her face. A line of blood ran down her nose. "Man, I forgot how hard you can hit. Alright, I guess I can take this seriously."

She clenched her fists and they glowed bright yellow. Reid had seen this before. There was dust woven into her gloves. She wasn't nearly skilled enough to manage multiple types, but the electric type served her well enough. Her fists crackled with electricity. She threw another punch at him, faster than before. He dodged it by a hair, he felt part of his face go numb. She was relentless in her assault. Each punch was faster than the one before. Reid didn't have time to counter, it took everything just to block. The monitor showed his aura slowly being whittled down. He needed to go on the offensive. Maggie threw another punch. He pushed a button on his weapon and fired a shot directly into her stomach at the same time her fist crashed into his face. Both of them were sent flying backwards. They both stumbled to their feet smiling.

Maggie shot forward like a rocket and sent a punch at Reid's jaw. He dodged but felt something strike the back of his head. Maggie seized that opening and kneed him in the stomach. He doubled over in pain, Maggie grabbed his head and drove her knee into his face. He was so disoriented he didn't see the kick to the side of his head coming. Her foot collided with him and sent him flying across the stage.

Maggie wasn't the strongest, or the fastest, or the most skilled. Even so she had two things that made her dangerous. The first was her kicks. She had spent her entire life perfecting them until her legs became lethal weapons. Reid experienced those first hand. The day they met she sent him flying into the ceiling, causing it to collapse. The second thing was her semblance. It allowed her to attack twice in one move. What looked like a single punch was actually two. A kick from the left also came from the right. It was something she had developed during her time living on the streets in order to deal with fighting multiple opponents. Even if a person knew about it dodging her simultaneous strikes was near impossible. That was just another thing Reid loved about her.

He staggered to his feet. He was on the verge of losing. He needed to end this with his next move. He drove his shovel into the ground. He leaned to the side and grabbed the handle with both hands. He was rooted to the spot, if Maggie wanted to win she would have to come to him. She was more than happy to oblige.

She charged at him. He groaned with effort and dragged his shovel through the ground to swing it at her. It was too fast for her to avoid it knocking her into the air. Reid jumped up after her. Their eyes met as he was above her. Something strange happened. It was like time had slowed down. He'd heard that this sometimes happened on the battlefield, a moment that lasted less than a second would feel like several minutes. Some say it's what it happens right before you die, your brain tries to stretch out its last remaining moments for as long as possible. Reid figured he would never get another chance as good as this.

"I've loved you since the day I met you. I love the way you smile, the way you fight, the way you bleed. Just being around you makes me happy. I never thought I would feel this way about another person. I don't know why it's taken me so long to tell you this."

He wasn't even sure if she could hear him, but it felt great to get that out in the open. He gripped his shovel, sending his remaining aura into his arm. He threw it at her like a spear, striking her and sending her crashing into the ground. She destroyed the part of the floor where she landed and didn't move. The buzzer sounded signaling the end of the match.

"The winner is Reid Wenland" Ms. Goodwitch announced. The theater was filled with the sounds of applause and whistles. Reid walked up to Maggie and grabbed his shovel. He helped her to her feet and raised her hand for the crowd.

As he turned to walk away he felt her grab his arm.

"I love you too." She walked up to him and kissed him. He felt her soft lips on his. He could smell the blood on her.

The theater erupted into even louder applause. Reid didn't hear any of it. Maggie's words echoed in his brain. He mind went blank. He tried to take a step but fell to the ground.