Waking up between two warm bodies was something Tanith had experienced more then once or twice. She'd been promiscuous, of that there was no denying, and so a third partner coming along had happened every now and again. (Sometimes being bisexual meant she was the third partner coming along).

Tanith opened her eyes, looking around the dark motel room with the light of the morning leaking in through the cracks in the blinds. A bird she recognised doing its morning call as a car occasionally drove by.

She took in her position between the two warm bodies. She was currently curled into one of the Elster's, her hand was pressed against the Elster's abdomen and feeling muscles underneath dark skin, her other arm was between them. Her head was shoved into the crook of Elster's neck and she was able to breath in that familiar scent.

Her back was being glomped by the second Elster, Tanith feeling the body's skin hot against her own and Elster's face pressed to the back of her neck. With both their lack of clothes- for maximum comfort without a set of rock solid night clothes- it was impossible to tell which was the clone and which was not. Their legs were all tangled beneath the sheets, warm and gliding against each other.

It probably attested to Elster's nature with how they were both cuddled close to her. Tanith never thought of herself as touch starved, she had experienced plenty of physical affection in her life. It wasn't the first time she'd woken up in someone's arms (wasn't the first that it was multiple someone's), but this was different. This was affection from someone who cared, she contemplated whether she was touch starved in that regard. Starved of touch meant with genuine care and affection for herself that was more intimate then anything offered by her family.

Then she smiled to herself with a roll of her eyes, she was beginning to sound like a mushy broken record. But she still found hard to believe sometimes, the care that Elster had for her despite her many shortcomings and faults and problems and-

She cut that thought train off, knowing it would only sour what was currently easily one of the best morning's ever, easily making top ten.

There was a light throb in her head, but she ignored it. She'd take her pills when Elster had woken up, not like she had any other symptoms. She contemplated her hand on top of Elster's abdomen, looking at how her pale skin contrasted against Elster's darker skin as she flexed her fingers slightly. Then Elster shifted with a grunt, the faunus's hand coming up to rest on top of her own.

Both Elster's breathing lightened, the Elster behind her curled herself further around her, the huntress's strong legs circling her waist and almost sort of piggy backing her. The one she was cuddling wormed her stump under Tanith's shoulders and pulled her closer. The other Elster grumbled but adjusted, returning to her position with her head pressing against the back of her neck, though this time there were light kisses, barely pecks to the skin.

"Morning love" she cooed quietly, angling her head so she could kiss the faunus's dark skin.

"Mmm"

"Or loves' I suppose"

"Mmm"

"Your talkative"

"Mmm"

Tanith laughed through her nose, leaning in and letting her head nuzzle into the crook of Elster's neck again "I like you a lot" she murmured with a grin.

"Mhmm?" Elster's head turned, her chin resting in her hair.

"Yeah, like a lot a lot"

"Like… 'like' like?" Asked the Elster on her back quietly, Tanith feeling the smile in her voice and the hot breath that washed over her skin at the words.

"Yeah, 'like' like"

"I'm glad, it would be a blow if you didn't"

"Your awake properly now huh?"

"Not really, I'm just less asleep then I was"

"That's good enough"

They fell into a comfortable silence, Tanith listening to Elster breath and her pulse in her neck. Was that a real pulse? Did it even matter? Now that she thought though, had Elster ever said her clones acted like they performed normal bodily functions? Surly if clothes and accessories froze then so would internal process. She smiled at the irony at a realisation. Elster's process of cloning was like she was taking a snapshot of herself. Frozen to her condition when the image was taken and immortalised until destroyed or deleted.

She cracked her eyes open and sighed upon releasing that the nagging bother wasn't going to go away "so, just asking out of curiosity. Which one is the clone?"

That made both Elster's open their eyes, looking at each other in confusion before finally one of them chuckled, the other rubbing her forehead.

"God that's an existential crisis, I have no idea"

Tanith hummed and closed her eyes again, listening to the pulse "I don't particularly care which, as long as one of you is real and your both cuddling me" then she leaned in again and sucked exactly where the pulse was, cracking her eyes open to grin at the gasp she drew from Elster above and the hickey she had left in place "though I think you're the real one".

Elster nuzzled her head into her hair and took a deep breath "Well, I'm glad someone can tell"

Then a scroll buzzed and they both groaned in annoyance, they let it buzz for a moment or two before Tanith sighed and sat up, pulling herself away from the grumbling and clingy Elsters to grab the buzzing scroll.

She answered and put it to her ear "who's calling at this hour?"

"Oh, Hey Tanith, I was expecting Elster" answered Ruby's voice, equally as tired.

"Hey Ruby, do ya need something?" She asked, trying to ignore how the bed was shifting behind her with both Elsters inevitably sneaking up on her.

"Just wanted to tell you we're going to be having breakfast soon and then heading out to the base at ten"

"Okay, we'll-" she sucked in a breath as one of the Elsters wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her backwards slightly, two lips descending on her neck "we'll meet you at the base" she said, trying to keep her voice calm.

"Are you sure, we're doing a big breakfast here and-"

Tanith raised her hand up and blindly flicked an Elster, both of them huffing through their noses but backing off, allowing Tanith to actually focus on the conversation

"-So you can come by and it'll be okay"

"Thank you for the offer, but I'd rather prepare myself to see one of my former tormentors with Elster and some quiet"

"Okay" said Ruby in quiet disappointment before then asking in concern "is she really that bad?"

Tanith frowned "maybe she's nicer now, but I don't think so. But I'm sure you'll get through to her" Tanith didn't actually think that, Cordovin was more likely to kick a child rather then listen to them.

"Hopefully" sighed Ruby "if you ever want to talk we're all right here"

Tanith smiled "I know, and thanks. Meet you at Argus base"

"See ya there!"

The call dropped and immediately both Elsters went back to kissing her neck.

"You know your like, a massive brat right?"

"Why's that?"

"I'm trying to talk to Ruby, your trying to bite my neck and get my attention"

"I wasn't trying to bite your neck, there's no 'trying' when I want to bite your neck"

Tanith smiled and turned her head slightly with a raised eyebrow "Alright miss confident, doesn't change the fact your trying to… seduce me while I'm on the phone"

The arms on her waist pulled and Tanith giggled as she found herself flopped back into the bed, both Elsters curled around her and kissing her neck.

"It's not my fault you left the bed"

"But I had to"

"Coulda just stayed cuddled with me forever" an Elster mumbled, Tanith not sure which but hearing the pout in her voice. Then Tanith felt one shift and a hand brush back her hair, she looked over to see the Elster behind her frowning at something, Elster's fingers following her outermost scar. Judging by the red glow in the Elster's eyes she could guess what had drawn the woman's attention.

Elster leaned down and pecked her cheek, right on the middle of her outermost scar "when was the last time you took your pills?"

Tanith frowned in thought as the Elster pulled away, standing and walking toward their bags. The one at her front continuing to nuzzle her neck.

"I…" She faltered in realisation that it had been close to a day since she had last taken her pills. Then her frown deepened, a day with no pills would normally be causing her to experience hallucinations and pain but she felt… relatively okay.

"Yesterday morning, at the farm" said Tanith slowly.

Elster blanched and searched the bags faster "shit, gods no wonder you were complaining of voices and-"

"That wasn't it" Said Tanith shaking her head "There was… the Manticores. That Manticore I killed. I was so absorbed in living that I didn't take time to think about it… it talked to me"

Both Elsters were frowning in confusion. Tanith shuffled slightly, flushing under the attention "it's not like we had a conversation or anything, it just… it definitely said a word I understood… then at the farm with the apathy, I could feel them there, I heard distant voices and it creeped me the fuck out"

"Then Ruby pulls that silver eyes bullshit and knocks me out for a few minutes… I saw it"

The Elster at the bag stood, pill in hand as the other also climbed out of the bed, walking toward the miniature bathroom.

"You saw it?" Asked Elster with the pills as she crawled into the bed, placing the pills in her hand before then clasping the hand.

"Yeah, we… y'know in movies when the character is like, stuck in their head or like, in their memories or some shit?" At a confused nod Tanith continued "well we were in my mind, and she was-"

"-it" corrected the Elster coming out of the bathroom

"It was… weak, it was on the floor and shaking and… it looked like shit. It told me I was an idiot and that the silver flash… nearly killed me"

Tanith frowned in confusion, accepting the cup as the other Elster climbed back into bed and pressed into her side. She leaned into the clone as she placed the pills in her mouth, swallowing them with a mouthful of water. "It said to not grow accustomed to the state I would wake up in… and yesterday, I couldn't feel anyone's negative emotions… like at all"

"Well that's an up at least… maybe its permanent" an Elster spoke.

"As much as I'm loving the optimism… I don't think its permanent" she huffed "Let's try and understand this" said Tanith, standing and beginning to pace as both Elsters watched, one resting against the headboard the other resting on her knees "Corruption is a parasite, specifically the only known microscopic Grimm. Lin told me how it's theorised Grimm feed off fear through receptors all over their bodies"

Elsters nodded, having heard the theory before "yes, but it's not been proven"

"It hasn't, but something about calciriva hydrovax from what researchers can tell simply just causes the parasite to stop receiving fear, Lin said how it could be due to the receptors being blocked. The parasite then enters a sort of dormant state until strong negative emotions happen"

"Riiiiight" said kneeling Elster "this explains stuff… how?"

"Well this constant dormancy induced by the medicine stops it from being able to spread, the most replication the parasite does is in the period where it's not detected, when it gets to a certain population size the symptoms start appearing"

Tanith stopped and looked at them "Ozpin said that Salem created it this way to kill silver eyed people, to cause them to generate large amounts of fear. But silver eyed people have laser eyes that kill Grimm!"

Both Elsters looked at her victorious expression blankly before shrugging their shoulders "and…?"

"Kill Grimm! Grimm parasite. Silver eyes are just another form of medicine"

"But Ozpin said how silver eyed people have been killed by it" pointed out sitting Elster "why didn't they just shoot it away?"

Tanith faltered and brought her hand to her hair, she breathed through clenched teeth before grunting amusedly "that's really shot that theory… down" her eyes widened and then she snapped her fingers "it's like a gun"

Both Elsters raised an eyebrow.

"When you fire a gun, you're protected from the bullet because your pointing away from yourself! Other silver eyed people could help silver eyed people!"

"Why can't they just shoot themselves?" Asked kneeling Elster.

"It's not a perfect metaphor but you see my point" said Tanith walking back towards the bed.

"I do" acknowledged Elster.

"Good" nodded Tanith before rubbing her chin "maybe we could do some investigation in Atlas…" she trailed off uncertainly at that.

"Hey, we'll get there… Somehow" Elster spoke, some doubt in her own voice.

Before they could both get too bogged down Tanith climbed back onto the bed, swinging her leg over sitting Elster so she was straddling her. Sitting Elster smiled, her hand and stump coming to rest on Tanith's thighs before trailing up to her hips, the shirt riding up to reveal more skin and her eyes looked Tanith up and down appreciatively, not caring that the large shirt covered her body.

Tanith craned her neck and let out a breath as kneeling Elster shuffled behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist, squeezing her and nipping her neck.

"I love it when you wear my clothes" an Elster murmured.

Tanith smirked "I know"

"It's really hot"

The smirk grew and her eyebrows rose, the pilot's hands trailing up sitting Elster's abdomen, taking extra time to travel over defined muscle "I know, that's why I wear them, to get you to stare at me"

"You don't need to wear my clothes to get me to stare at you" sitting Elster smirked

"I don't, but I like doing so anyway" she smirked back "I know that you stare a lot more when I take them off"

"Now I like where this is going" purred Elster.

"You have such an incredibly high libido"

"Is this a formal complaint?"

Tanith turned her head until her lips were almost touching the Elster behind her "Who said I was complaining?" She whispered. Kneeling Elster opened her mouth to retort but was quickly silenced by Tanith's lips smothering her own. She began to let her hands and stumps wander from Tanith's hips and waist, one pair going up toward her chest-

Tanith pulled away and shook her head "wait wait wait, getting sidetracked by your sexy face"

Sitting Elster rose an eyebrow and let her hands fall back to Tanith's thighs, the Elster behind Tanith pouting and resting her head on her shoulder "I've been meaning to ask and now that your no longer under the Apathy's influence" she tilted her head "how're you holding up?"

Elster blinked before shrugging "I'm fine, ready for action and-"

"I mean with… all that info Jinn dumped on us. Ozpin, Salem, all that shit"

"Oh" sitting Elster looked to the side, out the window "I guess I… I'm holding out hope that a solution will present itself… maybe we can talk to her… no matter how much I want to…" she trailed off again with a frown, her fists tightening for a moment "Ozpin lying… is annoying and hurtful but underneath all of that I… can understand it. I isolated myself when my team died so I could try and be spared the pain again, so I can understand Ozpin not telling us everything to spare himself the pain of betrayal… and a lot of what we learned was very personal and honestly we didn't have a right to know the personal aspects…"

"So your still… hopeful we can win?" asked Tanith

"Call it me being stupid, but I like to look on the bright side of things. It's a blow to know she's immortal but… gotta hold out hope. Y'know?"

Tanith shook her head "I don't really, to be honest, I'm just coming along to make sure you stay alive" she poked Elster in the centre of her chest.

Sitting Elster smiled "and as much as I disagree with you coming along… I'm glad you're here"

They stared at each other for a moment before kneeling Elster uttered "So Terra and Saphron huh?"

Tanith blushed and groaned, letting her head flop down for a moment "Yeah… I don't regret it… but I can understand if it makes you uncomfortable or-"

Elster silenced her with a finger "I… I was going to say 'I knew going into this relationship' but I honestly didn't, but I did know a few months in and have long made peace with it. I don't much care who you slept with in the past Tanith, because call it selfish or tooting my trumpet but I'm the one your currently in a relationship with" then she smirked "but both of them?"

Tanith nodded, her blush still present.

"At the same time?"

Another nod.

Elster snorted "well, interesting to hear someone else call you a good girl"

Tanith's blush went full tomato and Elster laughed, earning a light-hearted slap to her shoulder for her troubles.

It was few minutes later when a thought occurred to Tanith as she finished tying her boot onto her foot, looking over to Elster who was pulling on a shirt. "Ya know, Salem's plan to get the four relics" Said Tanith "I've been thinking about it and… remember what the god of light said, they'd wipe out everyone if we weren't worthy?"

Elster nodded.

"And remember What Jinn said after Salem jumped in the pool" At Elster's confused head tilt Tanith imitated (to the best of her ability) Jinn's voice 'Instead, it created a being of infinite life with a desire for pure destruction'"

"Okay" said Elster, wondering where this next idea of her loved one was going.

"What if… that's Salem's plan?" Asked Tanith "What if she's so tired of living that she just wants to destroy everything?"

"But her goal was to unite humanity under her rule… wasn't it?" Asked Elster now unsure of herself.

"Well let's be real here, that ain't ever gonna happen" Said Tanith.

"eh, glass half full kinda gal" shrugged Elster as she slotted her axes into her sleeves.

"Of course… you really believe its possible?" asked Tanith tilting her head.

Elster nodded "Yeah, think a lot of people need a kick up the ass to realise that 'the Grimm is right there guys, literally right there!' so that we could all unite to fight the Grimm, I think Salem could even be the uniting force needed"

Tanith shook her head and began putting on her other boot "Hope some of that optimism will rub off on me someday"

"I don't" Tanith rose an eyebrow at Elster who smiled "I get to be the endless optimist to your pessimist, no matter what"

"I thought you were the realist?"

"I'm a realist optimist, more toward realistic but this one time I'm going to indulge my optimism"

Tanith sighed "Well, keep it up. We have an Argus base commander to meet"

"It'll go fine"

~§~

The long road toward the base was over the top in Tanith's opinion. She saw their friends gathered by the closed gate conversing with two very familiar people.

"Welp, seems they've met Nubuck one and two"

"Are they nice?"

Tanith shrugged "Well-"

"Have a good day!" shouted a voice

"Depends when you catch 'em"

"A good day!" they shouted in unison.

"Hey Nubuck's! Long time no see!" called Tanith, her group of friends turning and parting to let her walk to the gate.

"Flight Officer Mort!" Shouted Nubuck one

"It is very nice yet unexcepted to see you!" shouted Nubuck two

Tanith resisted rolling her eyes, instead scheming. The Nubuck twins had been the only people to refer to everyone by rank, and if they were referring to her old rank then that meant they had no clue she wasn't in the Atlas military anymore, which meant she could use that.

"What appears to be the problem here?" she asked then quickly reminded herself of military etiquette "Sirs"

"These civilians are asking to speak with the commander" spoke one.

"But she is currently very busy with the current dust embargo!" spoke two.

"Of course, but the commander should be made aware that the current missing heiress Weiss Schnee is at her gates and wants safe travel back to Atlas"

She felt a bit of guilt as Weiss looked down at that, but it was needed as the twins inspected her for a moment before shouting "Very well!" in unison.

"You may speak with our commanding officer!" spoke Nubuck two.

"We will fetch her at once!" finished Nubuck one. They turned on their heel and marched away,

"They were... kind of" Blake trailed off and Ruby finished for her.

"Super weird? Uh, yeah" said Ruby before looking at Tanith "but that was genius Tanith! We were getting no where with them!"

"They're alright, weird guys but… nice in their own way" she shrugged before seeing Maria looking concerned.

Oscar noticed too as he looked toward her "What's wrong?"

"Well, I didn't want to say anything and steal from your backstory" Maria said looking at Tanith who felt an amused smiled grow on her face "But I also know this… commanding officer"

"That's good, isn't it?" Ruby said with a hopeful expression "If she's your friend, then maybe she'd be more willing to help us"

"I wouldn't exactly call us... 'friends'"

"Acquaintances?" tried Weiss

Maria shook her head "Not quite"

"Colleagues?" guessed Blake

"Warmer"

"Enemies?" asked Yang with a flat expression

Maria snapped her fingers and pointed at Yang "That's the one!"

"Wooh, high five!" cheered Tanith, stooping down as Maria smacked her hand with a grin.

"Wait, what?" Asked Oscar looking between them.

"Will you knock it off Tanith" grumbled Qrow.

"I come through here about once every ten years to get my eyes checked up in Atlas. You bring outside cashews on one flight, and suddenly you're placed on the additional screening list for life!" exclaimed Maria.

"You've gotta be kidding me..." said Qrow in defeat, the rest of the group seemingly sharing the sentiment with expression of concern and defeat.

"Now, now, let's not give up hope yet" she grinned "Maybe she's dead!"

"One can only hope" sighed Tanith wistfully.

The gate suddenly slammed open and the Nubuck twins stood proudly.

"Introducing!" called Nubuck one.

"Special operative!" called Nubuck two.

"Caroline Cordovin!" they called in sync and parted.

Tanith and Maria were the two to see her first, both knowing of her smaller height and looking down while the rest of the group looked around confusedly before finally seeing the woman as she approached.

Cordovin stood to her full unimpressive height "well, two faces I hoped I'd never have the misfortune of seeing again" she said, her eyes going form Maria and landing on Tanith who raised an eyebrow.

"Nice to see you to" Said Tanith dryly, not trusting herself to say anything nice to the woman who in her opinion had treated her unfairly her entire time stationed at Argus.

Cordovin took another step so she was looking directly at Maria.

"Witch"

"She-devil" replied Maria

"Hm. I've see you've chosen larger contraband to smuggle this time"

"Oh, Cordo. You know they say time changes people, but I see you've still got that stick right up your-"

Ruby quickly out a hand over her mouth and awkwardly waved "H-hello! Miss, uh, Cordovin. My name is Ruby Rose, and I was wondering if you would hear us out about-"

"I've already heard what your other little friends had to say, Miss Rose" Cordovin cut off Ruby before then looking behind her and shaking her fist "What are you doing back here?! I thought I told you to leave!"

"And I told you we wouldn't rest until you let us through!" called Nora being physically restrained by Ren and Jaune.

Ren gave a small smile and wave back "Nice to see you again as well!"

Cordovin turned to look at Tanith "And you, Flight officer Mort" she sneered "I thought I reassigned you to stay as far away as possible from me"

"Trust me, I never wanted to see you again either" said Tanith crossing her arms.

"Oh, such lip to a superior officer, I see you haven't changed at all" she smiled mockingly "And perhaps you would like to spend a night in the cells? Wouldn't be the first time" Said Cordovin with a sneer.

Elster and the group glanced at her, Ruby cautiously asking "she put you in a cell?"

Cordovin held her head high, trying to look down her nose at Tanith but failing spectacularly "I did for unacceptable behaviour"

Tanith rose an eyebrow "getting laid is 'unacceptable behaviour'?"

"It is when you're… mingling with them" at that Cordovin shot a glance at Blake and Elster.

Tanith cracked a smile "oh yeah, I believe he was a horse Faunus. That's what it felt like anyway" at Cordovin flush she grinned and leaned down "not that you'd ever know you-"

Ruby rushed over and just like she'd done for Maria slapped her hand over Tanith's mouth, cracking a nervous smile "ha ha, well Tanith is obviously very sorry for the incident"

Tanith felt Elster come to stand beside her as Ruby awkwardly cobbled together an apology that was again cut off by Cordovin.

"You civilians are clearly incapable of comprehending the importance of our mission here in Argus. So allow me to say this slowly, with smaller words: This base, that relay tower, the very safety of Argus are all gifts from the glorious Kingdom of Atlas!" she held her hands up grandly "And it is my duty to uphold them, as only I have the wit and tenacity for such a task"

"Such wit!"

"Such tenacity!" Called the Nubuck guards

Maria beat Tanith to it "Or maybe Atlas just wanted to get you as far from the kingdom as possible"

Cordovin growled "You're just like the rest of these Argus ingrates! This city wouldn't even be here if it weren't for our Atlesian ancestors, and what do we get in return? The entire world is ready to put a knife to our throats!"

"Please, we know your kingdom had nothing to do with the Fall of Beacon. We were there" said Ruby.

"No one's happy about the Atlas borders or embargo, but I know General Ironwood is just worried. It's why we need to talk to-"

Cordovin scowled "The General is no coward! Atlas is strong. If all the kingdoms plan to make us their enemy, then so be it! Atlas will prevail!"

"Atlas will prevail!" echoed the twins

Yang looked unimpressed "Do you guys seriously have to do that?"

"You have no idea" muttered Tanith

"If Miss Schnee has truly come to her senses and wishes to return to her family, then, of course, the Atlas military will escort her home. But the kingdom will not be responsible for her "friends" of... questionable character" she looked from Blake to Elster.

Weiss scowled "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means we're done here" Cordovin snapped her fingers "Nubuck's, take flight officer Mort here and place her in the brig for the time being, I'll try and find where she's supposed to be stationed, no doubt she lost her relocation orders after another night of… debauchery"

"Yes ma'am"

The two began to march toward her only for Elster to step in front of her, Tanith not even having seen her move.

"You will not touch her" Elster said firmly.

"Oh, are you the latest fling? No matter, guards, take both Mort and this degenerate to the brig. It seems Miss Mort wishes to be sentenced for having an… indecent relationship" said Cordovin

"And under code three five four, sub section under the detainment of civilians you cannot imprison me within the brig without due reason and you can't subject a citizen of an allied Kingdom to the same laws of Atlas" said Tanith suddenly with a wide smirk "and under section three five four, sub section under detaining Hunters, you cannot detain a kingdom asset without due reason"

Cordovin frowned "So, finally been kicked out?"

"No actually, I was offered a better gig"

"Ah, so you're a traitor then? As expected from a Mistralien citizen after so graciously having been offered a spot in the Atlas military" sneered Cordovin "And of course lesser kingdoms would have allowed such a degenerate to become a huntress. No matter, civilian, we are done here"

And with that Cordovin and the Nubuck twins marched back into the base, the gate slamming shut.

Tanith relaxed, feeling Elster's hand grab hers as Nora shouted an insult.

"Way to show her, Nora..." murmured Jaune.

RWBY were talking amongst themselves, apparently consoling Weiss

Tanith however narrowed her eyes at Qrow walking away "Oi, Qrow, where the hell are you going?"

"To get a drink!" he shot back

"But Uncle Qrow, we have to form a… plan" Ruby trailed off as he just continued walking.

"What's his problem? It's not your fault we can't go on" said Jaune in confusion.

"If he's gonna be a jerk then we'll just come up with something without him. I mean, we've got Ozpin with us! He usually knows what to do"

Tanith grimaced and rubbed her forehead as JNR looked at them in confusion "fuck I could use a drink as well" she muttered.

"C'mon, its just one set back"

"It's not just one set back though is it? It's Cordovin, it's the subtle racism, it's the zero accountability for her actions! It's the fucking everything that makes Atlas the shittest kingdom to exist!" she snapped, glaring at Elster "How are you not more pissed off? They basically say we can't be together just cause you're a Faunus and I just…" Tanith let out a withering sigh and began walking, the rest of the group with an apparent lack of anything else to do following along.

"So… having… relations with Faunus is unacceptable behaviour?" Asked Yang after a long moment of silent.

"Yeah, it's Atlas" shrugged Tanith.

"That's not right!" Said Jaune angrily.

"Yeah! She should be reported!"

"To who? Unless you haven't noticed, that's just status quo in Atlas" said Tanith holding up fingers "can't legally marry a Faunus, frowned upon to socially have relations with Faunus. Ironwood's too busy with his own ideas and-" Tanith shot Qrow's back with a look "-this whole inner circle bullshit to care"

"Ironwood does care" protested Weiss.

Tanith scoffed "sure, that's why I was thrown in a cell and why I was punished all the time for unacceptable behaviour"

"Well" spoke Elster suddenly, wrapped an arm around her waist "here's someone who doesn't care about Atlas law"

Tanith snorted but let herself be pulled in and walk with Elster. Another silence settled over the voice when with no one providing an answer, instead Jaune asked "Is anyone gonna tell us what's going on with Ozpin? Why didn't he help when we were talking to Cordovin?"

"Let's go back to the house so we can… fill you in… there's some things you really need to know" Ruby said.

"Yay, party" Tanith sarcastically muttered.

~§~

Tanith squinted "Dude what the fuck?" She exclaimed as Jaune punched a crack into his sister's wall.

"Everything we did was for nothing!" He exclaimed angrily as he paced with clenched fists.

"That's not true" Said Blake

"Really?" Snapped Nora "cause it sure does sound like it"

Blake failed to argue the point as Ren piped up "If Salem can't be killed, then how are we supposed to win this?"

Tanith grimaced, it was a question she'd been pondering but had come up empty on an answer for a while.

Jaune threw his hands up in frustration "Wow... Great plan everyone!"

"Look, none of this is great, we know. But we're not the bad guys here" piped up Oscar and suddenly Jaune focused on him.

"Are we sure about that?" He asked with hostility, marching toward the boy

"What?"

"He's in your head, isn't he? Did you already know about this?"

Elster narrowed her eyes, she would extend trust to Jaune in her hopes he wasn't about to do something stupid.

"He didn't know any of it!" Shouted Weiss

Jaune grabbed Oscar and shoved him into the wall "How much longer can we even trust him?!"

Elster growled and marched forward, a moment later grabbing Jaune's shoulder and yanking. He stumbled back in surprise as Elster glared at him. Everyone fell silent, in states of surprise or anger.

"Absolutely not" she said "do not touch him"

Jaune threw and arm out "How do you even know it's really him?! What if we have been talking to that liar this whole time?!"

"This is a kid, look at him Jaune" Elster softened slightly "I know your hurting, I get what it's like to lose someone Jaune. But this is not the way to-"

"You don't get it! Don't say that you get what it's like! You don't!" Jaune shouted back.

A tense silence descended upon the room again. Elster looking like she'd been slapped in the face (and Tanith honestly thinking she just had been), everyone else just watching from the side lines anxiously.

"How fucking dare you" Tanith seethed, walking up to them. She grabbed Oscar's shoulder and the still stunned Elster's hand and tugged "we'll be back. Maybe" and she lead them out of the house. Everyone needed to calm down, especially herself before she punched Jaune in the balls.

It was a street down when Tanith finally stopped, turning to look at them both. Elster was looking down now, Tanith frowning at the fact that she still wasn't able to feel anyone's emotions while Oscar was rubbing his arm.

She sighed and pulled Elster into a hug, Elster returning it forcefully a moment later. Tanith glanced over at Oscar and gave him an encouraging smile "what do ya wanna do dude?"

Oscar looked at her in surprise before rubbing his arm again, looking at the ground "I kinda… want to be alone"

Tanith sighed again but nodded. She pulled away from Elster despite the Faunus's protests and fished into her pocket, grabbing her wallet and handing Oscar some Lien "you have my scroll number right? Call if you get lost"

Oscar took the money, more surprise on his face before he gave her a small smile and a nod, then walked away, head still down.

She turned to focused on Elster "how are you?"

Elster looked at her and then away, hurt written all over her expression "shit"

"Listen, don't let what he said get to you"

"But he's right, he lost so much more then me-"

"Stop that sentence right there Castle" snapped Tanith, holding a finger up and making Elster jump "what happened to both of you was awful and we shouldn't be having this weird dick measuring contest about who suffered worse. But if we did you would win"

Tanith moved in and hugged her again, mumbling against her clothes "you lost your team Elster, we worked so hard on getting you where you are, don't let him drag you back. Please"

Elster took a long slow breath and nodded against her head "your right, your right" she murmured quietly.

"Course I am, I'm very smart"

Elster snorted "sure, keep telling yourself that"

"I will" Tanith pulled away from her and Elster huffed, shaking her shoulders and running hands through her hair restlessly for a moment. When she was finished her hair was more messed up then normal. Tanith snorted and reached up, tucking a stray strand from Elster's face "what do you want to do now? Your choice, something to cheer you up"

Elster scrunched her mouth to the side in though for a moment before shrugging "I dunno, I'd like something to drink and something to eat that I don't have to cook"

"Hmm, we can arrange that"

~§~

Elster had been staring at her coffee for a while now, the food on her plate consumed robotically as she seemingly contemplated something. Tanith kept an eye on her, just to see if she could gleam the inner workings of the faunus's mind by staring at her long enough.

"I ever tell you about how I had to help my friends with a Grimm studies homework once?"

Tanith tilted her head. Elster was apparently going through a bout of nostalgia and wanted to talk about her past, and Tanith couldn't never deny such an opportunity.

"No, I don't think so"

Elster smiled, her eyes glassy and distant as she finally looked up at her "well-"

~§~

Elster slammed several books onto the tables surface and her friends chatter stopped as they looked to her.

"Okay, So the essay just has to be about a topic relating to Grimm, choose your own topic so to say. I'm currently doing mine on the effectiveness of amputation when fighting a Grimm combatant" she looked at their blank faces "please tell me you guys have an inkling of what you want to do for this?"

Lelouch grunted as he typed on a laptop "already half way done with mine"

"Thank fuck for that" Elster muttered before looking round again.

"I have mine outlined, I intend to get it completed today" Khara said.

Elster didn't understand how the technology Khara was using worked or allowed her friend to dictate without words, but she was glad that her friend was able to complete tasks easier for it.

"Okay, so including me that's three out of eight…" she looked around and was met with awkward and slightly bashful stares "and the rest of you haven't started"

"Well… I opened a blank document a few days ago" offered Ulrich.

"Good job, maybe next time you could try writing words!" Elster patronised with a mocking grin "I know that's an area of struggle for you"

"Okay first of all ouch, second of all… ouch" Ulrich held a hand to his chest, pretending to be wounded.

"What about you Brian? Surely you as team leader have tried to set a good example for the rest of your team? Or you Hayden?"

Brian pulled at his collar and sucked in a breath through his teeth "Yeah… leader training is being a bit of a bitch right now"

"Yeah, we have so much extra work to be doing!" Hayden said, quickly jumping onto the train.

Elster looked between them with that grin "Oh I'm sorry to hear that, if only those extra classes were actually doing anything"

Brian chocked, Lelouch sporting a small smirk next to him. While Hayden looked like he'd been slapped, next to him Khara snickering.

"Wow, you guys just got fucking-"

"Frey"

"Fuck"

"What progress have you made?"

"Well… I've been busy y'see with…" she blushed "personal stuff".

Elster did not miss the blush or the small smile on Ulrich's face at that.

She wasn't the only one however as David snorted "Yeah, real personal stuff-"

Whatever Frey was hiding was her business and Elster respected that much at least "David!" She snapped "report in"

"I have… not a lot"

Elster sighed as people around the table at least had the gall to look guilty "so you all asked me to help you out with this project… a few days before it needs to be turned in, and most of you have… nothing?"

"I'm afraid so" Said Hayden eventually.

Brian grinned "welcome to the world of being a leader Elster, it sucks"

"Brian, I don't remember the point where you were winning in this situation?" At Brian's sheepish look Elster nodded "that's what I thought, now…" she hummed as she looked through the books she'd picked up "the project doesn't quite require much outside research because it's supposed to be based off of your own observations while fighting Grimm. That why I'm doing a project on Grimm amputation techniques, 'cause that's what my weapons and technique excel at"

She picked out a book and handed it to Brian "Brian, you're the most ranged person here, I feel covering the dangers of fighting Grimm up close would be good for you, this book is mostly dedicated toward the topic" she turned to Lelouch "What are you covering Lelouch?"

"Ambush and surprise attack's on Grimm and their effectiveness" he said "currently going through how certain Grimm species are harder than others"

Elster nodded then looked at Ulrich before cycling through books again "Ulrich, I think a report on how strength displays affect Grimm behaviour could work for you, this book has a few sections about it" She said sliding it across the table, Ulrich picking it up and beginning to flick through it.

She then turned to HLTP "Okay, Hayden, how about how Grimm respond to semblanceless threats? This book has some chapters on that" she slid the book to him then looked at Khara "Khara, what is your report on?"

"How Grimm are adapted to their environment, mainly focusing on nocturnal and cave dwelling Grimm"

"Okay, Frey, Grimm sleeping patterns and how to get the drop on them"

"Why that?" She asked curious as Elster slid a book to her.

"Because your semblance allows you to only need three hours of sleep. Now, that book is mostly dedicated to Grimm sleeping patterns and tracking" she looked to David "David, how making Grimm underestimate you can be excellent in battle"

"Why would they underestimate me?"

"Because you only have a shield and your usual tactic is to throw it over their head's then get in close, making yourself an easier target"

"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment" he mumbled as he opened the book.

"I think you should take what you can get" muttered Frey as her eyes under furrowed brows looked over the information in the book.

"How much have you done Elster?" asked Ulrich with a defeated expression.

Elster pulled out her own beacon issued laptop and loaded up her essay "Well the minimum word count is six thousand and the max is double that not including references so overall I actually had to cut some parts out"

"God, why are you secretly so smart" groaned Ulrich "your supposed to be from like, a third world country"

Elster let out an amused noise "and you're from the richest country in the world and the richest city in the world, I think this reflects perfectly the realities of life"

"Yeah Ulrich, your letting the side down" muttered Lelouch as he typed.

"It's even more embarrassing considering your all abled bodied people" pointed out Khara.

"Oh Khara give it a rest" moaned Hayden as he rubbed his eyes, continuing to stare at the book.

The quietly muttered "Make me" was missed by all but Frey who smirked but didn't say anything.

"So I'm guessing we're gonna be here a while huh?" Elster asked in resignation.

"Yup, don't you love us?" asked Ulrich with a mocking grin.

"Some days Ulrich, some days…"

~§~

"Did they get their projects done in time?"

Elster snorted "just about, a sleepless night in the library for them though"

Tanith smiled "reminds me of my Uni days"

"They were some great times, my Beacon years" Elster sighed before wiping her eyes "sorry, just… eh"

"It's okay, if there is something we've established in this relationship, its that we sometimes feel 'eh'" Tanith replied, a smile curling her lips as she sipped her tea.

"Tell me about it"

"Was University fun for you?" Elster asked with a head tilt.

Tanith nodded "yeah, lots of fun" she smirked and Elster snorted.

"Now I'm getting jealous" she purred.

Tanith snorted and went to reply when something caught her eye, she let her eyes focus on it and couldn't help the frown that crossed her face. JNR had just rounded the corner, and Ren had just spotted them. He tugged Jaune's sleeve and nodded his head, Jaune looking over as well and sucking in a breath before approaching.

Tanith glared at their approach, to his credit though Jaune didn't falter. Elster looked up to see what she was glaring at and spotted Jaune just as he stood beside their table, looking apologetic with Nora and Ren behind him.

"What do you want?" Tanith ground out.

Jaune flinched, Nora and Ren both grimacing behind him.

Elster then held up a hand, looking at Tanith with pleading eyes "Tanith, please"

Tanith looked at her and then sent one final glance JNR's way before huffing, slouching in her chair and cradling her tea "whatever".

Elster sighed but turned to face them, looking over Jaune and seeing how guilty he was "do you need something?"

Jaune rubbed the back of his head but at least kept eye contact "I just wanted to apologies, for my outburst earlier… It wasn't fair or right of me to say that"

Elster sighed and swirled her coffee "I'm not the one you really owe an apology too"

"Yeah, we've been looking for you guys for a couple hours now" admitted Nora

"Well dunno where Oscar is" lied Tanith, Elster shooting her a quick questioning look that turned to a smirk that she quickly covered.

"Yeah, he slipped away from us as well but… he's intelligent, he'll come back"

Jaune nodded and an awkward silence developed.

Tanith stood with a sigh, drawing all eyes to her "Okay jeez, this is awkward. You three, sit down and just talk to Elster, she has experience in this department, I'll go look for Oscar for you"

Uh"

"No 'uh's, only sitting" commanded Tanith as she walked away.

Elster snorted, staring affectionately after Tanith's retreating form "that's Tanith" she patted the table "come on, let's have a talk"

JNR sat awkwardly, Elster taking another sip of her coffee before sighing "Have I told you guys how I lost my teammates?"

Ren shakes his head and Elster gently drummed her fingers on the table "Well, it was traumatic. To spare you the details… I think the worst part about their deaths is how I was… I'm never going to see them again, that there are things left unsaid and little details about them that I hold dear to myself… For a long time I ignored what was inside me, covered the feelings with a heavy workload. It didn't change the fact that they're gone" Elster took a deep breath and uncurled her fist "I don't know if you guys have worked through your grief or you're doing what I'm doing or what I did do. Whether you've accepted her death"

Ren bowed his head.

"Whether your trying to avenge or get revenge for her"

Jaune curled his fists and looked away.

"Or whether your working and putting on a façade to get through the pain"

Nora swallowed.

"Fact of the matter is, you need to remember Pyrrha. The hardest part about remembering though… is that whatever your remembering typically begins to warp over time, until your not even sure what it was anymore. So you need to do what Pyrrha would've wanted from you, and you need to remember the good times"

Elster smiled and leaned forward "I never knew Pyrrha well… tell me some stories, I find that usually helps me"

~§~

Tanith stood on a little overlook, looking out over the bay, the waves crashing against rock and the contrasting white of the Atlas base with the black sea stack it was built on.

"Tanith?" Said a voice and Tanith turned to its source.

Liam stood there looking at her in surprise. She blinked before smiling "Liam!" she ran up and hugged him, letting him go to look him up and down "didn't expect to see you here"

"I could say the same to you" he said walking with her to lean on a wall "but since you said it first, I was assigned here because Atlas is getting very upset that their CCTS is on disarray and want the one at Argus to be able to help them detect incoming threats better. Mistral is desperate to keep the peace so" he gave a gesture "here am I, here to save the country"

"Wow, that's a lot of responsibility" said Tanith with raised eyebrows.

"Who was the one who told you not to climb the fence to go into the abandoned factory with Cameron and Lucia?" Asked Liam with crossed arms and a raised eyebrow.

Tanith kicked her foot and looked down "you" she said quietly.

"Who ended up having to run from police cause they did it anyway?"

Tanith looked up "I know you want me to say 'me', but we were all running so…"

"I know, point still stand though, I only ran because I was guilty by association. So, what brings you to Argus?"

Tanith opened her mouth then closed it, then opened it again. The silence and her expression were apparently telling enough as Liam sighed.

"I… I had some contact with your dad… he was… he's worried about you Tanith…"

Tanith looked away, back toward the bay as she crossed her arms "I know… I know a lot of people seem to fucking worry about my health and-"

"Tanith, we worry about you for you" Liam interrupted and Tanith bit her tongue because she knew he was right.

"I'm doing something dangerous" Tanith finally got out "its dangerous and stupid and honestly I'm beginning to think what we're doing is pointless but… its personal… for me" 'because if this motherfucker thinks she can just create a disease to try and kill me and not expect to go down kicking and screaming? She's got another thing fucking coming' "So I'm not going to stop, I am… sorry though… for leaving everyone in the dark" She turned back to look at Liam in his wide eyes "and when it's done, I will come back, and I'll come clean… about everything. But now is not that time"

Liam looked at her before scratching his head "So I don't know if you wanted me to be writing any of that down or-"

Tanith cut him off with a light punch on the shoulder and an eyeroll as he chuckled "look, I'm going to call my mom later… it's something that's been eating me for a while. Changing topics, your working on that tower right" Tanith thumbed the tower over her shoulder.

"Yeah, it's all kind of messed up in the code right now"

Tanith snorted "Yeah, I've heard. You work with Terra Cotta-Arc?"

"Yeah, how do you know her… wait… Tanith have you-"

"It was over a year ago before Elster!" She interrupted "and her wife was also there so…" she trailed off at the admission she'd just said and then groaned into her hands as Liam snorted.

"Huh, neat, well-" his scroll buzzed and he sighed as he opened it, reading a message and grimacing "I gotta go, but it was great seeing you!"

"Of course, now scram, Argus ain't gonna fix itself"

"I wish it would!" he called back

Tanith snorted and turned back around leaning once again on the outlook that oversaw the bay. She opened her scroll and went to contacts, scrolling down to her mothers contact. She stared at it for a long while and sighed.

She nearly touched it, but then a text message from Yang told her they were meeting back up at the house. She texted back and then pushed away from the wall, turning to go back to the house.

~§~

"You have got to be fucking with me" she deadpanned as Jaune finished his plan.

"Have you got a better plan?" asked Ruby frowning.

Tanith opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again "god fuck off Ruby, fine fuck it whatever" she cheered sarcastically "yay! Maximum security prisons!"

"Tanith" Elster tried

"So we get caught, then we hopefully get sent to an Atlas prison! Genius Jaune!"

"Tanith"

"Hey, maybe they'll even throw us in a mine! And then I can die knowing that's all fair because when I pointed out the plan was stupid I was over ruled by a sixteen year old"

"Tanith!"

"Fine! Fuck it! I'll fly you! God my hate for this plan is no where near my hate for Atlas"

There was a collective sigh of relief from the gathered teens.

"However, I have some conditions"

"What?" asked Ruby

"First I just want to say. This plan is the stupidest thing I've ever seen. Two, Fuck you" she flipped Jaune the bird "Three, no really. Fuck. You. Four, no back seat flying from anyone or I will nose dive us into the ocean"

"You done?" asked Yang.

"Think so, I'll bill you later when we're in prison"

"If you guys don't want to deal with her, I could always fly you" piped up Maria.

"Maria, fuck off as well. No offence but there's a reason they don't let people with seeing difficulties fly"

"That's a bit insensitive" pointed out Nora

"Oh, so you want the blind lady to pilot you?"

A choruses of "No!" rang around the room ad Tanith nodded "that's what I thought"

Saphron emerged from the kitchen then froze, staring at the crack in her wall "Jaune whAT THE FU-"

~§~

Tanith had calmed down now, sat in the motel room with Elster beside her looking at her comfortingly.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Just… be there for the moment, okay?"

"Okay"

Tanith looked down at the scroll in her shaking hand and after a moment clicked the call button, bringing it to her ear.

It only had to ring once before the call picked up.

"Tanith!" Her mother's voice spoke desperately "Tanith sweetie is that you?"

Tanith managed to swallow the feelings that made her feel like she was about to sob down her throat for the moment as she shakily answered, "who e-else would it be?"

Her mother sucked in a breath, her own voice going shaky "oh sweetie, are you okay, are you hurt or-" her mother cut herself off with a deep breath "please tell me you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine at the moment" tears were building in her eyes and Elster had nervously bit her lip, not enjoying being unable to help but respecting Tanith's wishes "I just wanted to… talk and… stuff" that sounded lame.

"I'm glad you're okay" said her mother "we were worried and… we still felt… feel like your… we worry about you, because of… because you're our daughter"

Tanith felt her lip tremble "I-I'm sorry I'm such a terrible person… to y-you and dad… to L-Lucia. All of you" she had broken down now, crying over the phone as Elster squirmed, clearly wanting to launch in but holding herself back.

"Oh honey, don't say that, please don't cry. You'll make me cry" cooed her mother, a slight shake to her own voice "you're not a terrible person, you're the best daughter we could've asked for-"

"But I'm not, I lie to you, I keep things from you, I don't talk to you much when I'm gone. I'm awful to you-"

"And we still love you. Being a parent isn't a job, it's a responsibility we took despite knowing that it wouldn't all be perfect" her mother chuckled "Do you know how boring it would be if you were perfect in every way?"

"But-"

"Sure, probably be easier on my heart, but I wouldn't change you for anything, neither would your father" her mother chuckled "you know the story of how he wanted a boy?"

Tanith snorted and wiped her eyes "Yes, I'm familiar"

"He so wanted a boy, just so he could teach the boy how to work machines and be an engineer. Then we had you and he slowly changed his view, always looking forward to and rehearsing speeches to give to boys… then you asked him about-"

"How the CCT works" smiled Tanith.

"Oh, he wouldn't shut up for days after that, and when your interest only grew he was so happy and proud"

Tanith ended up talking with her mother for an hour, Elster eventually opening her own scroll but still keenly waiting for any signals from Tanith. They talked of mundane things from Lucia's baby troubles to her dad's techno babble that Tanith attempted to translate for her mother. Eventually though her mother had to leave to begin getting food ready.

"It was lovely to hear from you"

"Same" Tanith knew silent tears were streaming down her face "when I get back… I'll talk about everything… I swear. I'll come clean"

"Okay. That… that would be a relief to us… when you come back" her mother took a shaky breath "Oh! I'm guessing Elster's been sitting beside you or is at least nearby, likely very unhappy at watching you break down over the phone. Could you tell her that I'm sorry… we both are, for the things we said"

Tanith shot Elster a shaky smile "I'll let her know"

"Good, now. You be safe misses, or there'll be hell to pay" her mother threatened playfully.

Tanith had to hold back another sob as she nodded, knowing her mother couldn't see it "I'll do my best… I love you"

"We love you too, we'll be waiting"

"I know"

"Bye!"

Tanith slowly pulled the scroll from her ear and the call disconnected. She closed her eyes and took a deep shuddering breath, when she opened them she saw Elster had inched closer and was biting her lip again, eyebrows raised in anticipation.

Tanith gave her a nod and an instant later she was set upon, arms wrapping around her and a warm body pressing against her. A hand came up and wiped away her tears as Elster murmured sweet nothings into her ear.