A/N

Okay I made a bit of an error a few chapters ago. Before sleepy Ruby came out, Yang said it was ok for her to date because she was 17. I completely forgot it's after the fall of Beacon and they're all canonically 18 now while Ruby is 16. My b.

Louis's POV

"Why does Evans always get the easy part?" I muttered under my bated breath while the boys ran back around the room and forth like panicked ants.

Really Ozpin? 2 entire months to convince Oscar and the first thing you make us go to you?

You're halfway around the globe for fucks sake!

Oscar's POV

Oscar stared out with a distant look in his eyes while his feet crunched on the dry grass below him as he threaded through the dense forest. There was a certain humidity in the air around them, the dark clouds rolling hastily across the skies, both indicators that there would be heavy downpour very soon.

He hastened his pace and tightened the straps around his backpack as he sprinted in a direction for what he hoped, lead to something.

Or someone.

Lightning crackled.

Thunder boomed.

The first droplets of rain fell. It felt like a barrage of bullets prickling the surface of his skin, as soon, engulfed him in a sheen of water.

His torn white shirt was now not only dirty, but drenched. His thick, orange, farming gloves felt like sacks of grain with the moisture it's absorbed, and his boots were soaked from within, but he could do nothing but move onward.

When he finally caught sight of a bus stop, only then did he dare to slow down... and trip.

...

After ridding a boot of all it's contents, he wrung out his patched up socks and rested them between the crevices of a wooden bench, along with his gloves and his ragged clothing.

How dumb must he have looked. Half naked, shivering in a bus stop and caught by heavy downpour.

If anybody spotted him like this, Oscar could only wish that lightning struck where he stood.

"Now now," Ozpin chuckled from within, resounding in his head. "Don't be so negative."

With the certain set of circumstances, Oscar couldn't help but be anything but.

'Are you sure we're headed in the right direction?'

"Positive." The sentient presence replied. "I may have lived for centuries, but my memories remain intact and sharp."

"You could have at least sounded certain." Oscar deadpanned as he tried to dry his scrawny body by patting it down with one of his wet gloves, squeezing it dry and running it across his chest. Squeeze, dry and repeat. "Even you don't sound so sure."

He still thought that this was a crazy idea, or if the voice within his head really did existed, but for now, if only to shut him up and retain his sanity, he would follow the directions of this... Ozpin.

Funny too, the fact that the voice in his head had a name that sounds like the first two letters of his first name, and the first 3 letters of his last put together. Then again, it could just be a coincidence, just like how he, out of all people, was supposed to be a host for a spirit of a dead man.

That is the last time I'm going through what dad eats...

His body suddenly tensed up as chills travel down his spine.

His breathing grew sporadic and his eyes darted left to right.

He looked to his surroundings, but found nothing there. It didn't do anything for the queasy feeling he had, like a pit of rage opened up in his stomach, swallowing him whole.

"What...?"

"My apologies Oscar I..." Ozpin dwindled off. "I suddenly feel... unexplained jealousy, as if somebody is running their hands through what's mine."

"What, like your belongings?"

"No." Ozpin stated enigmatically. "More of like... somebody is... claiming what used to be mine by purposefully grabbing it and shoving it in my face like a piece of meat." Then after a while he added. "A pale piece of meat..."

"You can sense if someone's stealing from you? Even if your items could technically be passed off as heirlooms?" Oscar snorted. "That's neat."

"This has never happened before. I will attempt to mute it, for both our sakes."

"O...kay..." Oscar stated as the feelings of jealousy regulated and died down. "So uh..." His eyes roved over to the skies, trying hard to switch the topics and not to think of the fact that they might be lost. "Your... students was it?"

"Yes." Ozpin replied. "What about them?"

"We're sort of stuck here for a while so... tell me," The short boy asked. "What are they like?"

There was nothing but silence for a moment, and Oscar had to question if the voice in his head heard him. When he tried to repeat the question again, right as he was opening his mouth, a mental image flared up into his head, showing perfect clarity of 9 young people with one even seemingly his age, with a sheer majority of them being women.

He could see the varieties of outfits each were clothed in, each with different cultures from differing kingdoms.

They looked happy to be in each other's company, and Oscar could sense an untold camaraderie existing despite it being a still image.

"There's... so many."

"Well I do own a school." Ozpin chuckled within his head. "These are just few of many that manage to stand out in my eyes. Team RWBY with an addition of an L, and Team JNPR..."

He sounded distant as he said it, lost in a moment of nostalgia.

Oscar nodded, and then continued to scan the sea of faces, but one stood out more than the others.

He had a strange open jacket with a brand Oscar hadn't seen before, 3 diagonal squares side by side that eventually formed a triangle with a word under it in a jumbled blur, but Oscar could tell that it started with a letter a followed by a d and ending with an s. Then again, it could just be the fact that Oscar had lived in rural areas for so long and that he rarely visited malls, only going to a major city to help his parents in transporting fresh fruits and vegetables for the region of Anima to eat.

The tall man had his face set in an uncertain smile, something that said he doesn't belong, while a blonde girl wrapped her arms around his shoulders and placed her other at the shorter girl with a red hood, treating her as a makeshift armrest.

He wore navy blue jeans and had 2 black hilts strapped to his belt, while his eyes were just... full of concern, like he's witnessing a friend on their deathbed.

"Who's the guy in black?" Oscar finally plucked enough courage to ask.

Ozpin was silent, and after a moment, sighed.

"Mr... Louis." Oscar could feel him age twice his age within his head. Is that a good thing? Would he also feel the same stress and rapid aging?

"Mr Louis was murdered by someone whom we thought were one of our own." Ozpin explained. "Obviously he thought the same. Those two were pretty close in their classes, or so I was told by the other lecturers. Unfortunately," An image of a scraggly man with stubble and wavy hair popped up, overshadowing the complete image in darkness. "It didn't seem to be the case and tragedy struck, leading to the Battle of Beacon."

"Beacon... " The boy muttered. "It was... destroyed about 2 months ago, right?"

"Color me surprised," Ozpin chuckled as the image of the shaggy man disappeared, and the image of both teams remained. "I thought you told me news does not travel to these parts at all."

"They do, just... not as quickly." Oscar shrugged. "So... what happened?"

"He was competing in the Vytal Tournament," When Oscar didn't say a word and raised a brow, Ozpin explained. "A tournament that happens annually, where faunus and human alike compete for their respective kingdoms. It was an event made to unite all 4 kingdoms, and it was meant to continue that way. Our enemies see it fit for it to bring an opposing message, however. When it came to the singles round, Mr Evans," He hissed out his name. "Either has a Semblance dangerous enough to have obliterated his Aura in an instant, or that he had this hidden power and it went undetected right under our noses."

"Sounds fatal."

"That, it was." Ozpin audibly growled. "Mr Louis was unable to take the brunt of the devastating blow and..."

"I'm sorry."

...

...

"What are you apologizing for?" Ozpin asked in return. "The past is the past and I'm just telling you what you wish to know."

"I'm sorry for even asking." Oscar apologized again. "It must be hard on you."

"Indeed." The sentient presence within his head agreed. "They are my students, therefore I treat them like one of my own. I'm certain every teacher under my wing does."

Awkward silence reigned fell on them once more, and Oscar took the time to scan the faces of his students properly. His eyes trailed off to the short girl from before. She was cute, with her silver eyes glaring upwards and the bottom of her jaw set in a pout.

His eyes flicked back to the blonde, whom had her chest exposed, and then back to the small girl. He could imagine it, her wearing nothing but a white two piece as silver eyes looked up at him.

He could feel his cheeks heating up, which was a welcome relief in the cold rain.

Her hands slowly reached towards her back as it fiddled with her bra, and then Oscar mentally heard a soft click.

Suddenly, a wave of pain lanced through his head, causing him to grab it with both hands.

"What..." The farm boy struggled to get out as he writhed out in pain. "Was that?!"

"That," Ozpin replied. "Was for thinking of my students in such a irresponsibly inappropriate manner. You do realize I can see what you're trying so desperately to see right?"

"Well I'm sorry that I don't get to see much good looking women in the farm!" Oscar's cheeks flared up in embarrassment.

He couldn't help it! She was really cute!

"And I'm sorry that I was put in the body of a pubescent child." The immortal soul shot back, not sounding sorry at all. "Really, people of your age should not even be exposed to such material. It's not good for the brain. To whom should I blame your overactive imagination to?"

His parent's weren't as discreet as he thought, attempting to hide magazines under their bed.

Ozpin scoffed. "Parents nowadays... do so again, and I shall see to it that you know what a real migraine feels like."

Oscar frowned, but didn't retaliate.

Could anybody blame him?

They were really beautiful!

Her especially!

Oscar saw the fading image sharpen to perfect clarity once more, and his eyes immediately shot to the black haired girl with cat ears. How he hadn't noticed before, he wasn't so sure. Her face was set in an unreadable expression, the bottom half being covered by her book, but her eyes did rove over to the tall one from before. The one with the red hair and bronze armour that stood beside her however, had her shoulders and her cleavage exposed.

Very, very exposed.

"Agh!" Oscar suddenly yelled as he crumpled on the floor. "Really?!"

"You had been given a fair warning." Ozpin said as the image began to fade out completely. "Think of my students in such a way, I shall make sure it gets worse, each and every time."

Oscar groaned.

Could a Grimm just swallow him whole so that they couldn't meet up?

Growl...

Snarl

A Beowolf broke the treeline and pounced out, sniffing the air not 10 meters away.

"Didn't I warn you to be careful of what you wish for?"

As his back touched the cold steel of the shelter, he couldn't help but elicit a small whimper. The Beowolf's head turned to him immediately, red eyes gleaming with malicious intent. Only two words popped into his mind.

Damn you Ozpin.

"Actually, that's 3." Ozpin felt the need to ammend. "Also, watch your language."

Shift

The shattered moon's light shone dimly through the windows that led to the balcony, further muted by white curtains that cascaded all the way down to the floors, touching the white marble tessellations that evenly coated the room. Illumination bounced off white satin sheets and off to the supports of the bed, where it was further reflected in a huge, oval mirror all the way at the opposite end of the room. Below it, an ornamental white table with multiple cabinets stood, while a figure has her back against it's edge as she bickered with a man with a white mustache.

On the sides of her alabaster face were sapphire drop earrings that shone and twinkled like stars. Her ponytail had grown out and cascaded down to the back of her knees. She wore a short, glittering dress with a color gradation of blue to pale blue at the hem, a sweetheart neckline, and a white, tulle petticoat. A long-sleeved blue shrug was worn over it, with the Schnee crest printed behind it, fastened at the collar with a large sapphire broach that has three pendants dangling below her throat. Right below the hem of her skirt, dark blue wedge heels clasped themselves to her delicate feet.

Weiss's POV

"You will show me respect young lady, do you hear me?!" The mustached man shouted as his tall stature loomed over the heiress, enshrouding her in his shadow.

"But I didn't-"

"No buts!" He roared, sending the heiress into silence. "I have tolerated more than enough from you. You think you could have left for Beacon without my consent? My funding?! MY PERMISSION?!"

The heiress didn't reply, and instead stared up defiantly into his eyes.

"I'll have you know that you are staying here under my roof, and under my rule. The only reason you aren't left out there to starve and die after Beacon fell is because I picked you up out of the kindness of my heart!" He roared as he jabbed a finger accusingly her way. "You will not go against me! Not like this! Do I make myself clear?!"

"It isn't even your money to spend with in the first place," Weiss countered with a scowl as she crossed her arms. "You married to inherit the family nam-"

A hand printed itself onto the heiress's pale cheek, marking it read as her neck snapped to the side.

Weiss can only stare back in shock.

"I see now that my decision to allow you to thread through foreign land was a huge mistake." Jaques said calmly, fixing his tie. "I'd have thought, that sending you to Vale would be the breakthrough you needed to spread the good will of our company, a chance for me to see if your grit to become heiress of the SDC wouldn't waver. Instead, I see now that it has had a more... negative impact on you, dear daughter."

He held out his hand with his scroll out.

"Especially after conversing with... this knave you dare call a man."

Weiss's eyes widened.

The scroll showed her and Louis in the locker room, right after the end of the doubles round.

Right before he died and everything went south.

"Cheer up Ice Queen," The short haired man chuckled, so full of life. "I was joking. Come on, your dinner's on me."

"You don't have to-" Louis held out his hand.

"Your dad canceled your credit card the other day, did he not?" I asked with a cocky smirk.

"How did you- Right..." Weiss sighed. "This is gonna need some getting used to."

"You're telling me." Louis laughed as he sealed Obsidian Nova inside the lockers.

"Actually, Louis, I-"

"Winter?"

"Mhmm..." Weiss nodded as she bit her lower lip nervously as she fiddle with the hem of her skirt.

Weiss could remember it.

Her switching back and forth between the only family member that she actually considered as one, or...

Her friends which she considered her family, despite it being a year.

...

"You could just come late," The man with the black jacket rolled up to his elbows said after a moment of silence. "Besides, it's the middle of the day. Don't worry, we'll save your seat." He waved off.

"You'd... do that?" Weiss raised her brow.

"Is there a reason why I shouldn't?" He returned a question towards her by raising his own brow.

"You've been spying on me?!" She shrieked in realization as she nearly swatted the scroll out of his hands, only for her father to retract it.

"Did you really think that being out of my reach would mean that I would turn a blind eye?" Jaques scoffed. "I've had my sights on you the day you left without even saying goodbye."

Weiss was speechless, with only disbelief and disgust visible on her face. The pain from the slap was muted by the Aura she possessed, but what drove her into silence was the realization of facts that finally kicked in.

The facts that the moment she returned here, her life as a huntress was over.

There was no going back.

She was trapped.

Trapped under her father's command until she would yield and crumble like ice, only to be sculpted and reformed in his image once more.

Trapped, knowing that she would never see the faces of her teammates ever again. To never know if Louis was still alive after all that.

Trapped, bound to a fate that she would continue to fight for.

A fate that she only partly wanted to be involved in, and while her mind says yes her heart cracked and shattered in opposition, refusing to comply. Refusing...

To give up.

"I shall give you one," He held up a finger for further emphasis. "Last chance, to redeem yourself. Should I see you worthy of claiming the family company, then you shall have it. But so far your methods have not been..." He waved his wrist in a circle. "Convincing, as of late, so I would need you to work harder in order to... persuade me."

Weiss stood up straight, one hand rested atop the other in front of her waist.

Just like a proper heiress should.

"Ah, I know." Her father suddenly perked up. "This decision was rash, but I was going to tell you about it eventually. I'll be holding a charity funding about 2 weeks from now. Would you practice your singing, daughter? It would not do for the heiress of the SDC to not make an appearance there."

"Yes..." Weiss's lips were pursed for a moment, before settling in a thin line.

If there's anything she'd learnt in her time at Beacon...

Weiss whimpered as she burried her face into Winter's chest.

The Dragon Grimm was too powerful, and it was about to end them.

"I'm sorry Ruby... I couldn't help more..."

"Close your eyes Weiss." Winter assured.

This was it.

"Lou, what are you?!-"

"Tch... I missed..."

It's that her friends wouldn't just give up on her.

"Oh, and daughter?"

So...

"This is for my mother... and... FOR BEACON!"

Why should she?

"Yes father?"

"Be sure to be on your best behavior." Jaques's voice was distant, mumbled even, as he exited the room. "It wouldn't do for a heiress to act out of line." The mustached man's smile wasn't short of saccharine as he glanced over his shoulder.

"I shall do my best..." She quickly wiped a lone tear that cascaded down the side of her face with her wrist as she stared at the closing door. "Father."

The door clicked shut.

Louis's POV

Assuming this trip would even turn out well, and we don't encounter obstacles like Raven's Tribe, the Queen Lancer Weiss fought, the White Fang, not to mention Cinder and her crew are probably already waiting at Haven Academy... I groaned at the analytical rundown I had inside my head. I just have to hope that we make it there on time without issues.

Best case scenario?

Evans somehow delays the shit out of their plan with the power of winging it or that we somehow get there first.

Worse case scenario?

Cinder is at Raven's camp right now and attempting to persuade the older Brawnwen to her side, or, already reached the chamber containing the Relic of Knowledge and have Mercury and Emerald stationed there on standby. Adam is going solo an en route to Haven using his creepy stalker skills that somehow can sense Blake even a hundred miles away and Evans is presumably dead the moment he arrived since he hasn't come back to Amber as of this morning.

...

Ugh...

Who am I kidding?

We're with the main 8.

I must be delusional to think that nothing's gonna go wrong.

Weiss will have to wait...

Hold on just a little longer snow white...

"Penny, are we ready for takeoff?" I asked over my scroll as I pinched my nose ridge.

It buzzed and crackled for a second, before a familiar jovial tone took over.

"We are flight ready! Everybody may board now Friend Louis!" Penny shouted over the intercoms that was linked to everybody's scrolls, causing me to jerk the scroll away from my face immediately.

"Good... to know that Penny." I replied as I rubbed my ear that was definitely ringing at that point. "Thank you."

"You are most welcome Friend Louis!" then after a moment, added. "This would be first time I will go in an intercontinental trip together with friends! This is sensational! My memory is on the verge of overheating with overflowing excitement! Is this what it means to have a field trip among fr-f-f?"

"Uhh... Penny...?" I asked with concern obvious in my voice. "You... doing ok there?"

A few clicks and a whirr and a loud beep sounded on the other side, and only then did she reply.

"I must have glitched my systems with syntax errors due to being unable to contain such sensational feelings. Do not worry Friend Louis! I have rebooted my systems. As I previously stated before getting interrupted, is this what it means to have a field trip amongst friends?"

"Sort of." I admitted. "Though remember that we're not here just to sight see," And after a moment I added. "And that this might get dangerous."

"Of course. It would be just like the missions at Beacon all over again!"

I shrugged. She's not wrong there.

"Friend Ruby and I have a lot to catch up on. I have yet to interact much with the others. Do you think we would have time to catch up in a slumber party?"

"I'm... pretty sure the girls would be glad to entertain that idea when we reach there." I smiled and nodded, even though the front camera wasn't on. "Louis out."

Well, if my own guys can pack up in this sudden notice, even if it is a rushed mess, Team RWBY should at least be more prep-

"Wait wait wait, where's my toothbrush?" Ruby asked as she burst into rose petals.

...pared...?

I felt something in my hands, and when I made to glance down, apparently I was holding a bright red suitcase.

I'm pretty sure that wasn't there a second ago.

A trail of rose petals led to the open doorway, disappearing over a corner that leads to presumably, the bathroom.

That trail of rose petals suddenly came back in a blur, though all my brain managed to process was a rush of air, and then I felt some weight on my hands, which for some reason, are outstretched.

Soon, I was carrying a huge pile of items that just seemed to get larger with every passing second, ranging from spare clothes, her black Volume 4 corset and a few of it's identical spares, an array of Dust cartridges of different types for Cresent Rose enough to hold off a siege, packets of cookies, more packets of cookies, weapon magazines, comic books, and the list goes on.

The pile went as high enough as to cover my eyesight.

And I'm hella sure those weren't there a minute ago!

"Rubes!"

"What?" The small reaper asked back as she continued to grab and add items on top of the already huge stack.

"Can't you just fit this all in your suitcase?!" I wobbled unstably. "Plus, you don't have to bring like... everything!" I strained to get out as my arms almost gave away under the tremendous weight.

"But... but..."

"Just the necessities..." I nearly tripped right then and there when I crouched down and attempted to set the pile down on the floor. It rose to a little over my height. "Please...?"

"But these are necessary." She pouted cutely as she stomped on the floor. When I didn't relent and instead rewarded her with a semi deadpan stare, she crossed her arms and huffed. "Fine! But I'm taking my toothbrush with me."

Toiletries are considered necessities compared to any of these... I deadpanned internally as I eyed the stack up and down, prompting me to shake my head. Leather brown boots appeared out of the corner of my eyes, causing me to glance upwards.

"Are you sure he's gonna be there?" Yang asked as she passed by me, carrying nothing but a simple yellow duffel bag with dark edges in contrast to her sister.

Yang was wearing a tan jacket with orange lining and gold edging that was zipped up halfway, revealing her bright orange crop top underneath, with it's long sleeves rolled up to her elbows to reveal her muscular forearms. She wore a thick brown collar that matched her jacket in terms of color on the outside, though a view from my height over her revealed an orange interior that wrapped around most her neck. She also wore tight jet black trousers that clung and wrapped around her legs, outlining her muscular thighs. Around her hips and over the tails of her coat is a brown belt, which has two pieces of dark brown material trimmed in gold attached to it. Thick dark leather boots clung onto to her feet, which was almost knee length, with a purple bandanna tied around her left knee.

Basically, her Volume 4 outfit, without a mechanical automaton replacing her right arm.

"I mean Team JNPR did say that he... you know..."

"Died?" I chuckled. "Yeah, I guess Qrow has some explaining to do when you guys join em on the ship."

"If this is gonna spiral off to the time he tries to woo girls in a bar due to their measly skirt length..."

"Trust me, it'll be worth it to listen to him this time." I said regardless, ignoring the curious expression of uncertainty she sent my way. "And I'm sure he's not that drunk at this time of the day to segway onto another one of his fantasies."

"You can never tell with him."

"True."

"Why can't you just explain it to us?" She crossed her arms.

"And steal his thunder for what must be the third time now?" I scoffed and waved a hand in front of me. "He'll start to think that I'm trying to convince both his nieces to sleep with me."

"As if that didn't already happen..."

"Hey. You know the truth of what happened." I deadpanned. "Still blaming me for it?"

"No," She smirked back with slightly darkened cheeks. "Just like to rub it in the face. Your reactions make it all worth it lover boy."

"To be fair, I tried my best not to look." I admitted. "Besides, most of you were pretty bunched up in my face so I can't really get a good look anyways, not unless one of you decide to get up." Which I was glad didn't happen.

"Is that a confession so that you don't get your ass kicked, or a pleading suggestion that you want to get a better look?" Yang teased, poking her tongue out while her crossed arms purposefully bounced her assets.

"A just-so-you-know statement." I stated as my cheeks darkened from the distant memory. "Please tell me you're gonna do something about it."

"You could hold him down while we beat it out of him." The blonde brawler grinned evilly.

"Sounds like a plan." I grinned, which didn't last long as I was forced to shield my face immediately against an array of laundry erupted from within the red luggage the moment I clicked it open.

...

...

"Damn... she always this messy?"

"Only when she's excited for a trip." Yang admitted, shaking her head from past memories that must've felt like yesterday. "Won't be a first. Remember Mount Glenn?"

Well, that time she was mad at me and I was concentrating on the arc itself, so no. I wanted to say, but I ended up nodding anyway.

"She packed like, half our room in. Well, that was till Weiss gave her a good reprimanding and I had to convince her not to get rid of Ruby's stuff using Fire Dust."

"Sounds just like them." I laughed, and when I made to look up, it was to see Yang's saddened expression.

It didn't take a genius to figure out why.

"Hey, we'll get her back. I promise you that." I got up and laid a hand on her shoulder. "It'll just be a while longer. Stay strong, I know she will, and she's waiting. Waiting... for us to save her. Okay?"

"Yeah..." She agreed as she kept her firm eyes on the floor. "Yeah, of course..."

...

...

"Well..."

"Well...?" She raised a brow as I bent on one knee.

"You gonna help me or what?" I questioned as I attempted to switch the topic.

The blonde brawler raised an eyebrow at my reluctance to even touch her luggage, let alone look at it, and when her eyes trailed to where my eyes were, only then did she understood why.

There was a multitude of bras and underwear of diverse colors and varieties, ranging from plain white to cream, dark with red accented patterns and even frilly pink ones with a small ribbon attached in the middle.

I may or may not have seen the few matching pairs I got her in that messy pile, while my mind automatically wandered off and conjured a mental image of it's own accord of how good Ruby might've looked like in-

Nope. I tried to shake off the thoughts as a certain part of me tensed up. Not happening. Not now.

Bad.

Bad!

I did not ask for this body to come with it's hormones!

Yang's sigh was the only thing that thankfully, snapped me out of my thoughts. Shaking her head once more as the edge of her lips tugged into a smile, she bent down and started to rid the layer of unused laundry.

"Thanks." I smiled. "Don't know what Ruby would think if she sees thi-"

"What did you do?!"

Me and my big mouth.

"You don't need this much sis." Yang scolded nevertheless, ridding half the luggage and most of the set aside pile positioned beside it in a matter of seconds, while Ruby just squawked in place. "Besides, you could always get more when we arrive. Common resources won't be that scarce in Mistral."

She shook her head and slapped both cheeks with her hands to try and snap herself back into reality. Her eyes darted to me, then to her open suitcase, and her cheeks were set aflame in an instant.

"Gaaaaaah! Louis don't look!" Her hands flailed rapidly before her rose petal form slammed into my side and blasted me off my feet, trying to shove as much undergarments as possible into the baggage and slamming it shut.

"Urrrgh..." I groaned as I rubbed my sides. "I can exp-"

"A bit too late for that sis," Yang giggled, taking this chance to rub it in the face. "He already took in your scent for what it is. You might wanna check his pockets just in case."

"YANG!" I yelled at the brawler, who was now rolling on the floor and roaring with laughter while my cheeks darkened. "I didn't do any of those things!"

Ruby couldn't meet my eyes. "Pockets." She muttered as her cheeks burned brighter. "Now."

"Seriously?!"

"Now." She commanded as her eyes narrowed for what she no doubt thought, was a dangerous glare.

How her silver eyes glimmered and how her lower jaw jutted out into a rebellious pout in reality ended up looking cute.

Nevertheless, I turned the pockets of my dark trousers inside out, with the only things dropping out are the keys to the base, my scroll, and my wallet. "Satisfied?" I asked as I picked them up, while the elder of the two sisters somehow found the capability to laugh even harder.

Ruby huffed, glaring down at her sister as she somehow regained composure through it all.

"Come on sis," Yang chuckled as the laughter finally died down, prying the young reaper's hands off the case. "We're gonna be late."

"But..."

"No buts." Yang chided as she pulled her into a headlock and rub her knuckles all over her hair.

"Yaaaaaang!" She complained. "Not in front of Louis!"

"I thought he'd be used to it by now."

I just looked away.

"Let... me... go!" Ruby squeaked as she pushed down on her arms. Yang could've held on for longer, but knowing we're on a time limit and the fact that she had enough to savor that small victory, she did as asked.

The small reaper zipped back into the room to reorganize the mess her sister had thrown atop her bunk, all while I heard the blonde brawler dust her hands off behind me.

"Well," Yang chuckled as she somehow managed to arrange what remained of the pile that was littered outside and compacted it into her sister's suitcase without making it look like it was about to explode in the time I looked away. "I guess I'll see you at the airship."

I nodded back, partly in awe. "Don't blow it up like you did Junior's."

That earned me a fist to the shoulder. "Jerk." She smirked back without any heat to it.

"Sunny little dragon." I chuckled back from behind her.

Blake was next to exit not soon after. She passed by the doorway, towing her giant luggage behind her that had a height that extended slightly above her stomach.

"Need help with that?" I offered.

"Don't worry, I got it." Blake smiled as she tucked a few loose strands of her hair behind her ear, to which I couldn't help but look away.

She was wearing a long, white tailcoat with gray linings that extended all the way to her feet over a short, a sleeveless black crop top that had diamond shaped cutouts around the neckline in a way that it revealed her defined collarbones. She wore dark trousers clung onto her skin, the skin tight material accentuating her curves more than the usual, with a white belt over her waist, along with a white pouch that held it altogether. However, it was majorly covered by the thigh-high black heeled boots she wore, each with her signature emblem on it's sides and gold-colored edging around the top. Letting go of the bow a long time ago, everybody had gotten used to having her cat ears out in the open, but it didn't make her any less appealing. Gambol Shroud hung loosely with a magnetic strap behind her, at the ready in case the Grimm were nearby.

"But... thanks for offering."

Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

The way her Amber eyes glinted, she definitely caught me looking.

"Uh, anyways, what in the world do you even pack in..." My eyes widened in realization, then immediately narrowed as it snapped to the faunus. "Blakey,"

"Hm?"

"You aren't planning to sleep in that... are you?"

"..."

She couldn't quite meet my eyes.

"For Brother's sake." I groaned into my palms. "Just how much space is actually occupied in there?"

"Less then half..." The cat faunus shuffled shyly, but her eyes looked up, silently pleading for me not to tell anyone.

"And just how much of half is necessary stuff?" I raised my brow.

"All of it..."

"Blake," I sighed. "Your books don't count."

"..." She tried to think of an excuse as she eyed the ceiling. "Then... half of that half."

"So only a quarter of it is actual change of clothes and underwear or ammo for Gambol Shroud." I shook my head in disappointment, causing her ears to flatten against her head.

"It's a good backup plan if we couldn't find a hotel..." She tried, but my gaze was unrelenting. "Or if we're limited to a few rooms or a few beds and I can perhaps..."

Eventually she clamped shut, realizing her reasoning didn't make sense. We had enough lien to last a few months at a bare minimum, not to mention have Pyrrha and Kevin with more then sufficient funds on our side.

...

"I guess old habits do die hard." I eventually broke the hardened expression into a grin as I walked past her. "Go, I'll meet you there."

"You don't think it's... weird or... immature?" She scratched the top of her palm as she twisted a foot in place and fidgeted, a habit she gets into if she gets nervous or embarrassed. Well that, and the fact that her cat ears had flattened against her head.

It made her look... vulnerable.

"Hey, you do you." I shrugged back. "Every weird habit or eccentricities you have is what makes you you, I'm not about to take that away."

I heard nothing as I turned my gaze on the doorway before I heard a light tapping of heels my way as something moist and warm brushed over cheeks, ending before it could even began. When I turned my head, it was to see the cat faunus speeding off with stiff shoulders, not even once glancing back.

Pretty sure I caught sight of her cheeks burning.

"Hm," I chuckled. "Was never good at expressing your feelings are you?"

When I turned back to the doorway, it was to find a certain red hooded leader pouting and crossing her arms.

Ruby's hair was still short, though in the month she was here, it had noticeably grown a little, though not to the point of her Volume 4 design.

Yet.

A bit of red highlights were washed out from the tips of her hair, making it mostly dark, though it didn't make her any less appealing. She dawns a pale high-neck decolletage blouse with brown studded wristbands on the arms, an overbust corset with red strip holding it in place. Her outfit retains the use of a black skirt with red frilly tulle underneath, which was no different from her original, and wrapped around her chest was an overbust corset with a red strip holding it in place.

She wore thigh high stockings a few inches away from the edge of her skirt, and red soled black boots which has 4 straps and buckles to it's sides. Her cloak was now wrapped around her neck, pinned together by the rose emblem of her insignia on her right shoulder.

"What?" I asked as the short girl gazed up defiantly into my eyes.

"Nothing!" She puffed up her cheeks and looked away.

"We're on the clock Rubes," I crossed my arms alongside her and stared her down with the best unamused expression I can muster at such a display. At that moment we might've looked like parent and child. "You good?"

"Who said I was jealous?"

"I never said you were..."

"W-well I never said I was!" She stuttered, cheeks aflame.

Even though that was obviously a blatant lie, I just rolled my eyes and held out my hand.

Yeah... definitely not deciding between those two anytime soon.

The last thing I need is Ruby trying to thwart Blake's genuine attempts by sabotaging the chair she's about to sit on or poisoning her tuna.

"I was asking if you were good to go." I continued, despite the fact that the leader looked anything but composed. "The others are waiting."

"Y-yes!" She yelped. "Of course I'm good to go!" She said, holding out her bloated duffel bag. Then after a moment, she asked as she raised her brow in the most plastic of expressions I have ever seen to date. "Are yooou ready to go?" She jabbed a finger to my chest.

Grabbing her duffel bag, I rolled my eyes and started to walk away.

My new dark vest hung open around my body, while a dark red, long sleeved, button up shirt with the sleeves itself being rolled up to my elbows, rest underneath. I popped two buttons loose, enough to reveal a little of my collarbone and half of the crucifix I wore around my neck. On my arms, black padded fingerless gloves stretched all the way to my wrists, while the circuitry patterns that ran from the along the pads glowed with crimson energy, with a red crescent shape jutting out on the back, on the opposite side of the palms. I replaced my navy blue jeans with white trousers that weren't too skin tight, strapped together with a black belt that supported a gold buckle, tucked into black combat boots that extended to the bottom of my calf. My hair was tied back into a warriors wolftail, the front of my hair slightly stiff as I tried to whip it into a sharp edge that partly covered my right eye.

Ruby soon jogged up to me, linking both hands behind her as she hummed a happy tune.

"You seem excited."

"Of course I am!" She smiled. "We're finally leaving Beacon, going on our own adventure as fully fledged huntsman and huntresses! It'll be just like the games I play or the books I read. What scary Grimm abominations await us? Will there be a castle full of evil sub bosses just waiting to be slain? Will they give rewards?! Will we be hailed as heroes" She gasped as she shook in place with barely concealed excitement, like a volcano ready to erupt. "How about a giant robot with force fields piloted by a midget capable of powerful and long ranged Dust attacks that's capable of leveling a city block?!"

Erk...

"You... uh okay?" She asked as she stopped a few steps in front of me and bent forwards with both hands still behind her back, tilting her head sideways, her face full of innocent concern.

"Yeah... I'm fine." I tried to put on my best smile on. "Just... don't jinx anything please."

"Oh come on, it'll be exciting!" She spun around and strolled in the corridors once more, the door only a hop, skip and a jump away.

"Not so much so if said midget is a pain in the ass..." I muttered.

"Psh, nah." Ruby waved off, dismissing the issue. "We always pull through if we're together. Besides, it's not like everything I say will come true."

"Cheeky and as optimistic as always." I grinned as I ruffled her hair with my free hand. "C'mon, the others are waiting."

She suddenly stopped in place.

"Ruby?" I asked.

"Others..." She breathed out while her shoulders shook.

Hm...?

What's wrong with her.

"That's right." She said suddenly. "The sooner we get this over with," She stepped outside the door with her back turned to me. "The sooner we get to see Weiss again."

"Well," I smiled , wrapping the red bandanna to cover the lower part of my face as I swung open the door that was just on the verge of closing, letting the rays of the radiant sun wash over my face for what felt like ages. "You can bet you're not the only one who feels that way."

When I made to look, most of the boys were strapped to their seats bar Kevin, who was trying his best to keep Dwiki from staring at the girls too much in their new, more revealing outfits. Nora was telling Ren something while flailing her arms wildly in the air, while the eastern gunman looked like he was somehow listening and meditating at the same time.

He let his hair down to reveal messy jagged hair that would have most people in Anima swooning. Nora had a similar white shirt compared to the old one, though now the hole over her breasts in the shape of a heart has a line etched through it. Over the shirt, she wears a zippered navy blue bomber jacket with a damaged print of her emblem visible on the back and pink stripes along the sleeves.

Pyrrha was brandishing Milo in both hands as she visibly trembled, no doubt thinking of ever facing the demi Grimm again.

On her neck, hung a black choker with a gleaming red gemstone in the middle, and on her right shoulder rests a metalic gold pauldron, held by a leather strap that crossed across her breast and extended below her waist and looped over her back. Her sash turned cape was hanging over her exposed shoulder that extended all the way to the back of her knees. On her lap, rests a custom, Atlesian made bronze spartan helmet with the words 'SPQR' boldly etched on the back in courtesy of yours truly, while her leather heels had thin plated armour that were shaped like small, metallic wings on the sides of her ankles, noting the obvious weak point from her previous encounter with Cinder.

Jaune was checking out Crocea Mors to make sure it wasn't broken, unsheathing it and swinging it in the air while it's charred shield rests on the seat beside him. Obviously, he hadn't gotten an upgrade yet since Pyrrha hadn't died, bar his breastplate and armour pads, which was made thicker for heavier tanking.

Really, the extended sword didn't do shit but add to the weight anyways.

Why the fuck would he melt the remains of Pyrrha's armour to do that?

Penny saluted me from the cockpit.

Blake's eyes went from 'I will see to it that Gambol Shroud pierces through you.' trying to cover her naval as Dwiki purposely kept ogling, craning his neck to avoid Kevin's big frame, to 'C'mere you' as amber eyes met mine.

Might've just been heat from the sun, but I was sure the air around me felt warmer.

Qrow took a swig of his canteen, muttering under his breath that he must be 'Too old for this shit' or something.

Ruby was already at the foot of the ramp, waving to me with one hand while cupping her mouth with the other.

With a sigh, I shook my head and started to walk towards the group.

Are we ready to face an immortal goddess of Grimm that's hellbent on destroying humankind with an army at her disposal?

...

Probably not.

But that's what we're summoned here to do.

And do it,

We shall.

A/N

This chapter was a bit of a challenge to write.

It took a bit back and forthing and I finally decided to put the beginning of the chapter, all the way to the end. I just feel like it flows better that way. A ton of rewrites later... Ta daaaa!

Reviewer Sessions

Kage-kitsune9001: No, they walked into the room with Salem choking the life out of Evans. Evans, having nowhere to go, tried to grasp and scratch her hand off him, but it didn't work, so he tried to reach for her face, like in any action movies, but her hands were longer due to her being Grimm. So instead he groped her breast.

paradox0.5white: Yeah... didn't think that one through did you? xD I don't blame ya.

DankAnon: 4 more seasons huh? Preeeeetty sure Vol 7 isn't the end. Oh come on, Blake isn't just for lewding, but I was pretty sure I made a Cat Ruby very early in this fic. Honestly more of a fursuit.

The Ancient Irish Viking: Pretty sure you aren't the only one xD. Salem would've probably completely obliterated Evans, but she needed him. Sort of. Being a non native who has english as a second language, that means a lot to me, so thank you!

Sacke110: You did write a lot, but that's what I like. Really glad you like the fluffy and logical bits, those were... not to say difficult but challenging to write, since I never really experienced a relationship. The IKEA thing was out of the blue for me as well xD. That talk by Evans was just a way to stop Tyrian from bullying him around, he had no intention to make him his bitch but... let's just see how it plays out.