I don't own RWBY

Adam opened the door to the Lions Den with the others following him. All except Jaune and Pyrrha who'd been left to guard the airship waiting just outside the city. The scent of liquor that always filled the air was gone making him slightly wary. Still, he walked into the bar. Jay was right behind him the boy happy to no longer have to wear a heavy arctic coat. Instead, he wore a turtle neck black no sleeve shirt that proudly displayed his scars. The necklace Ruby had given him was hidden underneath his shirt. Ears twitching the boy glanced around his eyes landing on the only two people he didn't know. The green eyed man who seemed to be meditating. And the girl almost hiding behind Neo.

Adam glanced at the stranger for a second before rolling his eyes. Weiss, however, was trembling with excitement. She could barely take two steps into the room. Seeing Roman she relaxed her nervousness fading. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed the man until this very moment. Seeing the heiress' slightly exited expression Blake glanced around Sun at her side as he chose to beam at the strangers wanting to get on their good side. She, however, didn't really care about being nice. She was here to find Ruby nothing more.

Feeling something tap his shoulder Adam watched Sienna lay a hand on Jay's shoulder steering him away from the others to a corner table. Still close enough to hear but not close enough to be a part of the talks. Viper stayed by his leader's side choosing to cast a wary eye over the bar.

"Roman, good to see you," Adam said ignoring the others as Weiss rushed forward to hug the criminal. Stumbling back the man threw Adam a look asking what happened in Atlas. Shaking his head Adam ignored the question choosing to sit down in the nearest chair. Watching the others pick spots across the room he asked, "any word on Ruby?"

"Yeah," Roman said once Weiss had pulled away from him. Taking a step out of range he was happy when she turned her attention to Neo instead. Looking at Adam he said, "she sent us a god."

Adam stared at him trying to decide if he was joking or not when the man didn't say so he groaned looking around at the others. The confusion on their faces would have been funny if he wasn't tempted to slam his head into the table. First, she gets captured and now she sends them a god. Great as if it wasn't bad enough she decided to adopt career criminals into their group, now they had a god too. Not that he had much room to complain seeing as he was one of those criminals.

"What kind," he asked knowing that Roman wouldn't joke about this. Loki opened his eyes wondering just who Ruby was that she inspired such loyalty that her men wouldn't even question his appearance. Watching the people gathered he noticed the confusion yet acceptance in their stances. They might not know everything but they wouldn't question it.

Roman smirked pointing over to the god saying, "the kind that will help you bring our little reaper back."

"What can he do," Adam asked his gaze meeting Loki's the mischief god smirked back amused when Adam rolled his eyes. Most on Asgard wouldn't even look him in the eye. Although when they did their gazes were filled with disgust. Since arriving here he'd been treated like a person, not a prince or an unwelcome tag along. He decided that he liked this group.

"A lot," Neo said gaining his attention. Looking at the woman he barely had time to process that she'd just spoke before Weiss was jumping at her. Neo smiled her mismatched eyes warming as she was pulled into a tight hug by her fellow general.

"You can talk," Weiss whispered into her ear. Neo patted the younger woman's back. Pulling away from her friend she tilted her head studying Neo closely asking, "So he can heal any injury?"

"And much more," Loki stated speaking for the first time. Weiss turned her eyes to him the warmth fading. He was reminded of the tundra of Jhotanheim when looking into her ice blue eyes. She was a master of hiding her emotions so the pleased playful tone of his voice did nothing to hide the pain still simmering in his eyes. Tilting her head she offered him a small smile before twitching when Russel spoke.

"Oh yeah Roman made good use of her returned voice," Russel said gaining a slap on the back of the head. With Roman's cane. Rubbing his head he glared at the older man but said nothing when he raised the cane once again. The glare on the thief's face told him that they would be having a talk later. One that he wouldn't be walking away from without a scratch.

"How did you know we're going after Ruby," Blake asked trying to get the conversation back on track. Feeling Sun lay his arm across her shoulders she relaxed slightly before wincing when Neo glared at her. She didn't like the cat faunus. Not since the girl hurt Ruby. Something Adam had announced at Haven for all the world to hear. Roman sighed motioning for his lover to stand down. Reluctantly the woman did so.

"Adam gave up his title, the only reason for him to do that would be going after Ruby," Roman said gaining a nod from the other man. He wasn't surprised that the man knew. Not with how well connected he was. What he would be surprised by would be the man suddenly giving up his bar. Doubting that would happen he leaned on his hand.

"Any idea where to start," Viper asked a soft smile on his face. Roman didn't buy the smile for a second. The man was as deadly as a snake. Given the scales on his arm, he knew the man's faunus animal represented this. Roman was racist no point in hiding that. Plus he hated snakes so the annoyed glance he gave the faunus was all too predictable.

"Neo map please," Roman ordered. The woman nodded pulling out her scroll and projecting a map of the world onto the table Adam was sitting at. Gathering around it they waited for his thoughts. Adam was the only one to notice the two children sneaking off together. Making a quick motion at Sienna and Viper he was pleased when both rushed after them. Roman pointed to the dark dragon shaped continent in the corner of the map his hand shaking somewhat as he said, "For the last few months I've been working with Raven and Qrow piling the information we have on Salem. A few years ago Raven learned that Salem lives somewhere on that continent. It's also the origin point of the grimm."

Adam winced already seeing the issue. Getting there wasn't the issue, surviving was. Ruby would kill them if they rushed to save her only to lose their lives. Sun cursed drawing their attention to him as he said, "we're screwed, even if we do get past the grimm we have no way to get past Salem."

"Mercury is at a Military base a weak away, he's scheduled to leave tomorrow, Raven should be able to get a message to him to give Ruby," Roman said noticing the way Weiss' eyes lit up at the woman's name.

Sighing Adam channeled his aura into the black raven tattoo on his ankle and waited. Seconds later the swirling portal was opened and the woman was walking through. The scowl on her face showing them that she did not appreciate being summoned. Taking a few moments Adam filled her in on the plan. Her dark look faded as she took in their ideas. Finally, she nodded her eyes meeting his.

"Alright I can teleport back to the tribe then it's a few hours flight to the base," she said softly. Turning to her student she asked, "what's the message?"

Adam smirked. Reaching into the bag he'd brought he handed her a worn red covered Journal. Raven stilled the familiar sight causing her heart to stop. Tilting his head Adam said, "she didn't leave me any orders, besides to lead the White Fang. She didn't ask me to do anything. So for every day she was gone, I wrote her a letter. All of it is in there. Including the fact that we're coming for her."

"I'll make sure Mercury gets it. Is there anything else," she asked glancing around the room. She glanced at Loki for a moment before her eyes found Weiss. The heiress stared back at her without fear yet with a touch of doubt.

"Can we borrow Dakota," Adam asked. Raven nodded knowing that Dakota could be teleported to their location when he returned to camp tomorrow. Turning to Weiss she saw the flash of indecision in the girl's eyes.

"Sure, there's something you need to know. My scouts saw a horde of grimm heading in this direction. We predict they'll reach the city either tomorrow or the day after," Raven told them wincing when Adam growled. Taking a deep breath to calm himself he thanked her for the information. Turning back to Weiss Raven asked, "Are you coming with me, Weiss?"

Weiss glanced at Adam silently asking if he needed her to stay. Shaking his head he wasn't surprised when she sent him a small smile. Turning back to Raven, the woman nodded stepping around the table to face what would eventually be her mother in law. Loki followed her with his eyes but said nothing as she vanished along with the older woman. He was more interested in what this group would do in the face of the newest incoming threat.

(Ruby)

Crossing her arms she stared out at the spawning pools. Her silver eyes shining like hardened steel as she considered her options. Today was her birthday. A time she should be spending with her family. Not locked in a tower. Leaning forward she felt the solid balcony railing beneath her. She'd thought about throwing herself off it just after one of her nightmares last week. Only to then growl about how weak she'd been and break another mirror.

She was officially seventeen now. And she was alone. Sure Cinder and Emerald were great but being here she couldn't exactly pull them into hugs every second. Hearing a screech she didn't even flinch as a griffin soared past her. Rolling her eyes she watched as it flew past the towering pillars of crystal. She knew that if Salem released all her grimm at once the world might not survive. Given the fact, none of the kingdoms would be ready she knew it would fall. But did she really care? This world hadn't done anything to help itself. People were self-destructive as a society. Sometimes she just wanted to sit back and watch the world burn itself to ashes. Then she remembered that it was her world.

Tilting her head back she considered what she should do next. Tyrian would be back within the week. Her chance to avenge Cardin came with him. She was strong and he'd mocked the death of her friend. A man who would follow her into hell if she'd asked him to. The first person to believe in her after learning the truth. He'd been hers! Tyrian had stolen from her and she wanted to take something just as important from him. But what did he value? His life, sure she could take it but he wouldn't suffer. His body, she'd already tried to dismember him only for him to come back and laugh at her. He had to have a weakness. Part of her wanted to find it and rip it apart right in front of him until he was begging for mercy. But she was supposed to be the good guy in all this.

She wished she could ask Cardin for advice. Feeling the tears sting her eyes she frowned. She didn't have time to mourn Cardin not when his killer would be within reach soon. She would have Tyrian's head even if she had to rip it off with her bare hands. Maybe then the nightmares would end. She hoped they would.