Violet turned a questioning eye to Qrow as they approached the Beacon platform, spotting the cruiser she'd hired for Tukson still docked off to the side. Squinting, she could see the bullet holes ripped through part of the hull facing out towards Vale. Qrow replied with a tired shrug.

"Tukson was poisoned before they could take off," Blake said tightly, noticing the brief exchange between the two of them, "Sounds like Torchwick's little cronie snuck on board to try and kill him."

Violet sighed, "They must have been watching his shop earlier… Might have even taken over his cameras… Roman worked fast, if that was all the warning they had."

"At least we have a clue to what he's been up to with all that stolen dust," Qrow grumbled, hands picking at part of his cape that had been singed, "Explosives, at the very least."

"How much were you both keeping secret from us…?" Yang said quietly, eyes going back and forth between them before focusing on Violet, "Weren't we going to start fresh next week? Why even invite Siren along?"

Violet gave an uncomfortable shrug, "I was hoping we'd get it wrapped up before the weekend, but then Ozpin wanted me to prove myself with my maiden training the last few days… I asked Siren to come along because there would still be stragglers left over, even if we did take down Roman. The eight of us could have cleaned up… after all the higher ups were taken down."

"But why didn't you just trust us?" Ruby asked, eyes on Violet alone, "We would have helped!"

"And risk another incident like down at the docks?" Violet looked between all three as she said it, measuring their reactions, "You all almost died! How could I have that on my conscience? What if I led you all to your graves!?"

"We chose to be huntresses," Blake narrowed her eyes, "Every one of us knows the consequences."

'You've never experienced them firsthand… You don't really understand...'

Unfortunately, Violet couldn't be that direct. Instead, she sighed, "I know… I'm not trying to say any of you are weak, or that I don't want you by my side… but when a mission like this calls for it, you send in someone like Qrow. Not students."

"You're a student, Vi," Yang replied haughtily.

"I'm a maiden, Yang. Amber had half of her powers stolen, and is stuck in a coma at Beacon. Every second that her attacker is still out there is another second closer Amber gets to dying. It's my responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen."

The bullhead pulled on to the runway and set down, signalling the group to hop out on to the tarmac. Violet waved off Qrow when he tried to help her get down. Her wounds were only aura deep. Violet's aura still sparked in some places, areas where rubble had impacted more heavily than most, and across her chest where Mercury's foot had made contact.

Ruby followed close behind, a worried frown on her face that was replaced with annoyance as Qrow stopped them all.

Qrow pocketed his scroll, "Violet and I need to go report to Ozpin. The rest of you head back to your room."

"Excuse me?" Yang crossed her arms, glowering at her uncle, "You're still going to try and exclude us!?"

Qrow held up his hands defensively, "We're not excluding anyone, Firecracker. Violet will be back to your room soon enough. She can tell you what she needs to then."

'Jee, thanks Qrow. Leave me to face the wolves alone, why don't ya?'

Blake looked Violet over, her eyes roaming over the dirt and grime that coated her clothes. Her eyes softened slightly, and she let out a small sigh, "We'll see you back at the dorm… I expect to hear every detail about what you've been up to behind our backs."

Violet nodded, "No point holding back now, right…? I'll see you all back at the dorm."

Qrow led the way towards the CCT as the rest of team Vibrant watched them go before heading back into the dorm building. Violet peeked back over her shoulder a few times, watching their retreating forms, 'That could have been worse…' Only time would tell what words might be thrown around once Qrow wasn't around to hear it.

"You mentioned something earlier," Violet spoke up, turning back to Qrow, "Your sister saved you? How?"

Qrow didn't bother to turn around, "Raven can feel the emotions of people she's close to and create portals straight to them from wherever she is. She must have sensed my panic for Ruby and decided to pop in."

"Sooo… Yang's mom could have visited her at any time, from and to anywhere, and hasn't bothered to in seventeen years?"

"Sounds pretty terrible when you say it out loud, huh?"

"No, Qrow. It doesn't just sound terrible. It is terrible. Mom of the year material, right there."

"Trust me, kid. I wish I knew what my sister was thinking so I could beat some sense into her instead. We've never had that twin bond, though… Not like the ones you read about."

"Does Yang know any of this? I'd assume not, since she's so hell bent on finding Raven. If you told her how awful her mother really was, maybe she'd stop looking for her."

Qrow sighed, "After Summer passed… Yang became obsessed with learning about her 'real' mother. Tai and I… We couldn't take away her hope like that."

"Yang isn't a child anymore. She can take it straight."

"Easier said than done, kid."

The pair stepped into the elevator at the bottom of the CCT and the doors immediately closed, elevator shifting beneath them as it ascended to the top of the tower. After a handful of moments spent in uncomfortable silence, the doors dinged open to announce their presence to both Ozpin and Glynda, situated at the headmaster's desk.

Ozpin breathed out a sigh of relief at the sight of Violet in one piece, "I'm glad to see you're both well."

"Well' is a strong word," Violet replied, moving across the room to lean Zenith against Ozpin's desk and sit heavily in the chair offered, "I'd say more overwhelmed, than anything."

"Could you each give your accounts of the night?" Ozpin asked evenly, raising a mug to his lips, "If you'd like to start, Qrow."

Qrow sat down next to Violet and recounted the events of the past few hours, beginning with their interrogation of Tukson and the idea that Torchwick may have had access to the bookshop's cameras. Then sneaking into the three story building and thinking he'd seen Ruby, and finally being saved by Raven.

Violet started from where Qrow ended. The green-haired girl that dove from the building before it exploded, Mercury attacking her in the alleyway, the way he'd turned invisible and her guess towards the cause.

"I had to take a chance, and it paid off… for me," Violet stared at Zenith, allowing her hands to shake slightly, "I killed both of them. Once she was dead, he wasn't turning invisible anymore, and I could use my maiden powers without holding back…"

Ozpin sighed, "The secret was not worth risking your life, Miss Regalia. The next time a situation arises where you must choose between the two… please don't hesitate to make sure you survive."

Violet gave a small nod, "I'll keep that in mind."

"Did you recognize the young man as one of Amber's attackers?"

Qrow shrugged uncertainly, "There was definitely one that wore grey in the group. If I had to take a guess, I'd say it was him. Making illusions like the girl did sounds about right for what I experienced with their faces being hazy before. Might have been the same semblance both times."

"So, only the half maiden remains, along with Torchwick and the White Fang. All things considered, I would call this night a victory," Ozpin gave an approving smile, looking at Violet, "Please don't believe that you've done anything wrong, this night. You defended yourself from extreme danger. Fate saw fit to make sure you came out on top. However, if you do find yourself feeling guilty… I could schedule you a meeting with a counselor?" Ozpin quirked an eyebrow at the end, watching Violet's reaction closely.

Violet gripped her shaking hand to still it before reaching out and grabbing hold of Zenith. With a quick assertion of her semblance, she was able to pull it back towards herself, "That won't be necessary, Headmaster. Thank you for the offer, though. I'm ready to do what needs to be done… to protect my friends."

"Yes, and now the cat is out of the bag, as they say," Ozpin stroked his chin, "An unfortunate development…", his eyes shifted over to Miss Goodwitch, "Glynda, how fares team Vibrant in their team tactics training?"

"They're doing well. Each has put a lot of effort into coordinating with the others, and many of their team attacks are of a respectable level," she eyed Ozpin intently, "I wouldn't recommend sending any of them out into the field, though."

"And why is that, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Because they're only in their first year!" Glynda's hackles had raised, her desire to protect the students she was in charge of clear to all in the room. She straightened back up and readjusted her glasses, though her hand still clutched her clipboard in a white knuckle grip, "If you want someone to take on Torchwick and this half maiden, then Qrow and I should suffice."

"You know as well as I that team Vibrant's members are all extremely capable," Ozpin replied slowly, setting down his cup and steepling his fingers together, "Do you believe there are even any in their fourth year that could compete against them?"

Glynda opened her mouth to speak, but no words were forthcoming. She glared at Ozpin in frustration, finally conceding the point a few moments later, "No. I don't think they should be risking themselves so soon, either way."

"I second that," Qrow jumped in. He gave Violet's shoulder a nudge with his fist, "I accepted Violet coming along because of her powers. My nieces should be left out of this."

"Ah, but they are headstrong, are they not? Do you wish to put them in confinement from now on while you and Violet are on your mission? They won't take kindly to being left out any longer than they already have been."

"He's right, Qrow," Violet gave the huntsman an apologetic smile, "Yang would force her way out of Beacon if she had to, and the other two would be right there along with her. I don't think we have much of a choice anymore. Speaking of which…" Violet turned her sad smile to Ozpin, "I may have asked Siren to come along with us after the weekend… I thought we'd be done by the time Friday rolled around, and it would just be the dredges left over for us to comb through."

Ozpin shook his head dejectedly, "Another unfortunate development," he turned his eyes to Glynda, "Have team Siren begin working on their team tactics as well, starting tomorrow. They can switch off each day with team Vibrant."

"Ozpin," Glynda's voice was low, with a small quaver to it, "Are you sure? Your predi-"

"I am sure, Miss Goodwitch," his eyes flashed a warning not to speak any further, "This night has taught me many things… and I believe it is in our best interest to act on them. Fate has decided for us."

The way Ozpin said the word 'fate' clued Violet into what they were really speaking of, though she could only guess at the context, 'God has decided for us?' What's that supposed to mean? I haven't been manipulating much of anything lately, especially not directly…'

"You already know how I feel about it, Oz," Qrow said tightly, hands clenched into fists on his lap, "If either of my nieces get hurt…"

The pieces clicked together in Violet's mind as she finally managed to decypher out what Ozpin's reasoning must have been, 'He thinks I want to hurt my team? Why? Because it would be more dramatic? Wow, I made a bad first impression. I suppose that will help keep me under the radar, though. Who would think Violet Regalia and the 'evil self-absorbed goddess' are one and the same?'

Ozpin's eyes flashed another warning glare, this one directed at Qrow for a moment before he turned to smile at Violet, "Well, you have much to discuss with your team. I wish you the best of luck, Miss Regalia. Hopefully this does not impede you on your test tomorrow."

Violet waved a hand, "Oobleck's class is easy enough. Goodnight, professors, goodnight Qrow," she stood to leave, hefting Zenith on to her back in the process, "I'm… glad you aren't dead. You really had me worried for a minute there."

"Yeah," Qrow raised a sleeved hand up to Violet's face to rub away one of the tear tracks left on her cheeks, "Worried. Have a good one, kid. I'll let you know when our next mission is."

Violet smiled sadly and entered the elevator, giving one final nod goodbye as the doors closed and she was left alone with her thoughts. She shut her eyes and leaned forward against the wall, putting her forehead against her arm, 'How the hell am I supposed to keep them all safe now? Rogue missions by myself? I don't want to risk any of them…' Not even Qrow was a safe bet, apparently.

'They'll be watching me so much more closely from now on. I'm not going to get a chance to go out on my own, not without cheating...' Violet sighed, 'Not an option, either.'

Another part of Violet's mind whispered from within, her self-doubt rearing its head, 'Haven't I already cheated? As much as I pretend it's the truth, I'm not a maiden. What's a little more…?'

'No,' Violet chided herself as she stood straight, the doors opening to reveal the ground floor, 'That leads to boredom. I won't go that far.'

'You'd rather risk your friend's lives than be a little bored?'

Violet paused with her hand on the door out of the CCT, her mind a jumble of convoluted feelings, 'Is that really what it boils down to...? Does that mean… Am I a selfish god?...'

Violet shivered and pulled her coat tighter around herself, stepping out into the cold night air. She didn't want to think about what the true answer to that question might be.

"I can't believe her!" Yang slammed the door to the dorm shut behind them after the three members of team Vibrant had all stepped inside, "She nearly gets herself killed, and all she can think about is protecting us!? I'm not a porcelain doll!"

Blake went to stand in front of the window, her ears drooping down on top of her head while she looked out towards the CCT. Ruby sat heavily down in her desk chair and crossed her arms, huffing in annoyance.

Yang began to pace in front of the door, her fists clenching and unclenching repeatedly. She was angry enough to hit something, but unfortunately, Violet's aura was low, and she doubted Miss Goodwitch would be willing to bring out the training androids so that the young blond could vent.

"I guess 'Auntie Vi' was a sign that we should have seen this coming," Blake said quietly, still facing out the window, "You said Violet saw us all as a family. If she sees herself as older and in charge, it only makes sense she'd want to protect us."

"She's the same age!" Yang fumed.

"I know that, but I bet Violet doesn't see it that way," Blake countered, sparing a glance over her shoulder to the blond that had stopped her pacing momentarily, "How many times has she saved your life, Yang?"

Yang crossed her arms and turned her head to the side, "...Three… counting the docks..."

"I can understand why she might want to leave us out of it… I've never been a leader, but during my time in the White Fang, I saw what it could do to a person. The guilt when someone you were supposed to keep safe dies… I've seen it be the end of more than a few faunus that thought they could lead others. I wouldn't want that weight on my shoulders."

"Just because Violet's our leader, doesn't mean she can make decisions like that for us," Yang argued, glaring at the faunus's back.

"I don't like it either," Blake shot back, "I'm only pointing out why I think she did it."

Ruby had been listening to the exchange and chose then to speak up, "Do you… think she's okay? That boy from Mistral…"

Blake seemed to draw into herself, "Violet… she must have not had any other option, right? She wouldn't kill someone if she didn't have to…"

Yang's anger lessened, her face changing to one of unease, "I don't think she would, either. You saw her aura. I could have broken it with a single punch."

"Violet wouldn't kill anyone without good reason," Ruby said matter of factly, though her voice quavered.

Blake nodded, her fears seemingly eased, "I'm glad you agree. She's definitely never seemed like the type. Maybe, uh…" her eyes flickered to Yang and held there while the blond frowned back questioningly, "Maybe we should go easy on her? It can't be easy… having to take a life."

"If we let her get away with this, it'll only encourage her to try and do it again later on," Yang grumbled, "Even if she did… do what she needed to. We have to put our foot down right here and now. I'm not getting left in the dark while Violet and Qrow risk their lives."

"We're Team V-Y-B-R, not Team V-Q!" Ruby added.

"So, how do we want to do this?" Blake asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I want Violet to promise she'll use us," Yang said quietly, hand once more clenched into a fist, "I need that much, at the very least."

Blake took another glance out the window, "Well, here she comes."

Violet was visible from above, walking along the path that led from the CCT to the Beacon dorms. Her head was down, arms sagging tiredly as she kept her eyes on the cobblestone path in front of her. Violet didn't glance up towards their window as she wound out of sight, nearer the front door that would eventually lead to the dorm.

"Anything else?"

Ruby sat forward in her chair, an air of determination surrounding her, "I want to know everything… It might help make better sense of why she didn't want us involved."

Yang and Blake nodded agreement. Yang grabbed her desk chair and moved it to the carpet in front of the window, then gestured for both Blake and Ruby to stand on either side of it. When the door's lock finally clicked, and the door swung open, Yang was prepared. She grabbed Violet by the shoulders and pushed her to the chair, forcing her to sit down in it so that she was boxed in on all sides by the other members of team Vibrant.

"Explain. Now."

Violet raised a hand to rub the back of her neck, eyes sweeping across the three figures towering over her, "Starting to get flashbacks here. At least now I've got the window."

Blake pulled the drapes shut.

Violet sighed and shook her head with a small smirk, "Where do I start?"

"How long have you been going out on these little night missions with Qrow?" Yang asked, directing a no-nonsense glare at her team leader.

"Tonight was the first," Violet shrugged, "Next question?"

"Were you ever planning on tell us?" Ruby asked timidly.

Violet paused for a moment, then shook her head, "I would have let Qrow take the credit. I didn't want you all to worry."

"Well, we're worried now," Blake stated flatly, arms crossed to mimic Yang. Her composure dropped slightly, "Did you… have to kill him?"

Violet flicked herself, causing a small portion of her fading aura to ripple outward briefly, "I would have died instead, if I hadn't. He wasn't trying to take me captive, that much is for sure."

"What happened to the building?" Yang jumped back in.

Violet brought up a foot to lay it across her other knee, then idly began picking away at some of the dirt and grime stuck to the bottom. She seemed hesitant to answer, and it wasn't until Yang activated her right gauntlet before Violet spoke, "Torchwick set up a trap. He must have known we were coming and emptied out the warehouse. I didn't go inside so I can't be sure, but I doubt there was anything left in there. Qrow… went in to take out what we thought was one of the guards. They uh… blew the building up."

"And he got away?" Ruby eyes widened in panic for her uncle, and confusion, "How?"

Violet continued picking away at the bottom of her shoe. Her eyes flickered up to Yang and back down again, "I'm… not sure about that one. I thought he was dead too, til he got back anyway."

"What was that portal thing?" Yang narrowed her eyes, "Could that have been what saved him in the first place? He kind of just… walked out of it."

Violet shrugged, "Beats me. Someone's semblance, maybe? I've never seen any red portals."

"Is that the truth?" Blake asked seriously. They had all been around their leader long enough to spot that something was off in the way she had replied.

Violet raised her eyes up to Blake and nodded, her expression unreadable, "I promise I've never seen that in my life."

"Were you just going after Torchwick? I don't see why we couldn't have helped if that was all you were after," Yang added suspiciously.

"Like I said earlier, we don't know when Amber is going to die. Qrow and I were trying to find her attacker through Torchwick. She has to still be in the city somewhere, all we needed to know is where."

Blake frowned, "What makes you so sure? Couldn't that person just wait for Amber to die on her own to get the rest of the power?"

Violet shook her head, "I doubt that very much. Murderers aren't usually the 'patient' type. Tonight was further proof of that, though what she'll do now is up in the air."

"What do you mean?"

"Mercury, the guy from the diner… He matches the description of one of the people Qrow saw when he rescued Amber."

Ruby gasped, "Do you think they were after you?"

Violet laughed, "Not because I'm a maiden," her expression sombered, "Mercury was caught completely off guard when he found out I was a was one. If they'd known, then Amber's attacker would have come along to try and take my power as well."

"Do you think there were any witnesses tonight?" Blake asked quietly.

Violet's eyes dropped once more, and she shook her head, "If there were… they didn't let themselves be seen," she shrugged dejectedly, "No way to be sure, really."

Yang strode the few steps forward that separated her from their leader and planted her hands on Violet's knees, leaning in close so that her face was only inches away. Violet leaned back warily, eyes flickering off to the side to avoid Yang's intense gaze.

"When's the next mission?" the blond demanded.

"Not for a while," Violet replied carefully, seeming to choose her words, "I told Ozpin about Siren. He's making Glynda help them with team tactics as well so that they can join us next time… Qrow and I aren't going to run off on our own again."

"You'll include us in all your plans?" Yang raised an eyebrow.

Violet raised a hand to her chest and drew a symbol in the air, "Cross my heart. No more secrets. Violet Regalia is an open book from now on."

"You'd better be," Yang warned, a slight growl to her throat, "I won't hold back next time."

"Yes, ma'am," Violet smirked.

Yang retreated back to resume her position, arms crossed, and gave a satisfied nod despite the pit in her stomach. She couldn't help but feel like their leader was still withholding information from them, 'Please keep that promise, Violet…'

Violet's eyes caught on to something on Ruby's desk, causing her to glance at Blake, "You're letting Ruby borrow the book?"

Blake nodded, "She said she'd take care of it. Is that okay?"

Violet's eyes drifted off for a moment before firming, "Yeah. That's fine," she gave Ruby a smile, "I hope you enjoy it, Little Red."

"Me too!" Ruby managed to show some small elation before deflating, "I hope you aren't lying, Violet… If you ran off on your own and never came back…"

Yang could see the tears that Ruby was choking back, likely thinking about her mother, Summer. Before Yang could move over to her though, Violet had already crossed the short distance to envelope Ruby in a hug of her own.

"I will always come back, Ruby. No matter what happens, I'll keep that promise," she pulled back out of the hug to share a reassuring smile and tapped a finger playfully to Ruby's nose, "You can't get rid of me that easily."

Ruby giggled quietly and rubbed a sleeve across her eyes to wipe away the tears that had gathered there, giving a bubbling, "Good!" before Violet returned to her chair.

Blake shifted her stance, hip out to the side with her hand on it while she looked down at Violet, "What were your plans with Tukson?"

"Eh, we were going to have team Coffee escort him to Menagerie, then use your dad to get into contact with Sienna Khan. There's no way she knows about the White Fang in Vale working with someone like Torchwick. We thought it would be good insurance. Take away part of his support structure to weaken him and the others that we're after."

Blake placed her other hand to her chin, thoughtful, "You're right. It doesn't really make sense… Adam leads the Vale branch. He would never work with a human like Torchwick, and he's more than capable of holding his own against that fool."

"Maybe they're a new branch… or maybe someone else was able to convince him to go along with it? We don't know what they're ultimate goal is, after all," Violet shrugged, "Not many people know about the maidens. Whoever attacked Amber is definitely higher up in the food chain."

While Blake was left in thought, Violet raised a questioning eyebrow in a slow sweep across each of them, "If that's all you wanted to ask…?" she yawned and covered it with the back of her hand, "It's pretty late, and we do have Oobleck's test tomorrow…" Violet looked down at her combat outfit, "I'm also filthy. Can we call it a night?"

The three girls exchanged glances amongst each other.

"Is that everything?" Ruby asked finally.

A grin crossed Violet's face, as if their leader was thinking of a joke that only she knew the punchline to, "I'll be sure to let you know if I think of anything else important."

Yang sighed and pulled off her Ember Celicas to set them on her desk before beginning to change back into her sleepwear, "If I fail tomorrow then it's your fault."

Violet gave Yang a smug smile, "If that's the case, you wouldn't mind if I checked your account level on that fighting game you're always playing, right? I bet you were studying the entire time I was gone and it hasn't gone up in the slightest."

'No, because I played offline with Blake,' Yang lifted her chin, "Of course not. It hasn't gone up at all."

"Riiiight," Violet laughed, calling her bluff. Instead of bothering to power on the gaming system though, she grabbed a towel and her night clothes before stepping into the bathroom and shutting the door behind herself.

Ruby narrowed her eyes in a silent accusation against Yang before also beginning to change. Blake was looking at the bathroom door, and back to the book now sitting on Ruby's desk, ears flattened. She sighed and also began to change before hopping back up into her top bunk and sitting with her knees drawn up against her chest.

"Are you going to stay up?"

Blake spared her a glance, "I'm thinking about it…"

"It might be best to wait until tomorrow. Let everything cool off, ya know? We still need to go to the gym in the morning."

Blake pouted, "Can't we skip a day?"

Somewhere deep down, the question hurt, though Yang couldn't quite figure out why. She raised her hands, palms facing upwards, "I could make an exception. You'll have to work twice as hard next time, though." The evil grin on her face was a clear sign that she wasn't kidding.

Blake hesitated, then nodded firmly, "I'll be ready for it. Show me what you're made of, Xiao Long."

"Oh, I plan on it, kitty cat" Yang smirked, crawling into her bunk beneath the faunus, "If you thought fifty pounds on each limb was bad… Just you wait."

Blake audibly shivered, "Ruby, my will is locked in my desk drawer. I'm leaving you everything if your sister works me to death."

Ruby climbed up into her own bunk and pulled the covers tightly around herself, "I'll be sure to let your parents know."

Yang could no longer see her faunus teammate, but could hear the slight quaver in her voice, "I need to call them again. It's been a couple weeks now…"

"Don't forget we're going to see my and Ruby's old man on Sunday. We can give your parents a call before we head out to Patch!"

"I wouldn't mind introducing you two to them," Blake admitted with a sigh, "I'm sure they'd love to meet you."

"I can't wait!" Ruby piped up cheerily, "Are they both, uh…" Yang could see Ruby raise her hands up to her head, mimicking a second set of ears.

"They're both cat faunus, yes," Blake replied dryly, "But not every cat faunus has extra ears, Ruby."

"Oh," Ruby gave her a sheepish grin, "Sorry."

"... My mom does, though."

Ruby's eyes lit up, despite making her best efforts to hide her excitement. Yang had to agree, even if she wouldn't say it out loud. 'Cat ears are adorable.'

Yang stifled a yawn, "Goodnight, ladies."

"Goodnight Yang! Goodnight Blake!"

"Sleep tight. I'll make sure Violet and I keep it down, or go outside to talk."

"Thanks, kitty cat."

"Yang…"

"Yes~?"

"... Don't call me that in front of my parents, okay?"

"Awww, are you warming up to it finally~?"

Yang giggled after a few seconds when Blake refused to respond, then rolled over, feeling some of her earlier hurt at Blake's request ease, "I'll be sure to only call you Blakey when they're around."

Blake groaned, replying in a sigh of defeat, "At least that's less embarrassing."

"Feel free to call me whatever you want~"

"I think I'll stick with Yang for now."

Yang laughed, hugging her blanket tightly as she closed her eyes, "Whatever works for you, kitty cat."

'Whatever works for you…'

Violet decided to draw herself up a bath instead of a shower. She added in some of her more fragrant soaps, coalescing into a thin layer of foam and bubbles that floated across the top before she lowered herself into it slowly, feeling the heat go straight through her skin.

Violet relaxed, taking a deep breath once she was finally submerged beneath the water's surface, her neck and head the only thing left exposed above the foam.

'So… Mercury and Emerald are dead…' Violet quietly pondered how things might go from there, 'I've basically stopped Cinder's plans in their tracks. I doubt that's enough to keep her at bay indefinitely, though. She can't join Beacon with only her and Neo on a team, but she still has the White Fang at her disposal, along with Adam and Torchwick.'

There was also the entire issue of Salem's other lieutenants that might factor into the equation. If the Grimm Queen believed Cinder was out of her depth, there was no telling what reinforcements she might send along.

'Watts never seemed like the fighting type to me, but he's already done his part with the virus. I guess there isn't much reason for her to use it now… They won't be able to set up the Vytal tournament the same way, but the Breach could still happen...'

Violet had no clue what Tyrian and Hazel were up to around this time. She'd specifically avoided peeking in on any of them during her earlier years before Beacon. Doing so would only ruin what surprises there might be in the future. She was tempted now, but quickly ignored that train of thought, 'I'll take them on as they show up, whether that's at Beacon or sometime in the future doesn't matter to me.'

Violet began to wash herself clean, hearing a chorus of 'goodnights' from the other side of the door. If she had to venture a guess, she'd say Blake intended on staying up to talk about the book. Violet had been hoping to avoid it for the night and perhaps speak with her about it tomorrow, but that would just be delaying out of her own fears.

Violet's own earlier self-reflection came back, the quiet calm of the bath serving to let her mind wander. Her trepidation of what Blake might say about 'the goddess' was getting the better of her.

'Am I selfish?' Violet silently stewed, diverting her full attention to the question, 'I do everything I can for my team… for Siren…'

Violet had always held the 'main characters' of any world she created up on a pedestal, her desire to help them always getting the better of her. While she was busy doing that in Beacon though, the faunus were still being discriminated against, dying in the Schnee mines or on the Menagerie frontier.

'The grimm kill people every day, and I don't do anything about it.'

But wasn't that part of the allure of life? If the world was a utopia, then everyone would end up being as bored as Violet had been. Drama and heartache made life actually worth living, even if her creations couldn't always see that. Taking the bad with the good meant that those happy moments were even more precious in comparison.

But would Blake agree? That was the real question, and the one that was causing Violet the most anxiety currently. Blake was an activist, all things considered. Her time spent in the White Fang spoke the truth of that. Violet couldn't imagine the faunus seeing the positive in any of the faunus's hardships.

'It isn't as if I targeted them on purpose… That's just how it was in the show…' If Violet had changed that harsh truth of the world, then what guarantee would she have had to ever meet Blake at Beacon? 'She might not have even learned how to fight at all.'

Was that part of the reason she was so defensive of faunus in the first place? 'Do I feel guilty for not fixing the world and making it a better place for the faunus?' With a few silent minutes to think that question over, Violet finally came to the conclusion that it was the truth. While the humans had it bad fighting the grimm, the faunus had it worse having to deal with both.

Violet finished up with her bath and dried herself off before pulling on her night clothes. She could practically sense Blake getting ready, the sound of the bath draining a clear indication that Violet was about to head out. With a hand on the doorknob, she took one last deep breath and stepped out into the dark room.

Blake raised a hand from where she sat atop her bed, a small smile curling her lips as she whispered quietly, "Hey. Took you long enough."

"I had a building explode right next to me," Violet replied with a smirk, "Do you know how hard it can be to get rubble out of your hair?"

"I do, actually," Blake admitted with a shy laugh, "The White Fang could be pretty extreme some times."

"You're going to have to tell me about your adventures at some point," Violet sighed, "I feel like I missed out on all the good stuff."

Blake's brow furrowed, "Sleeping in a damp tent in the woods and dealing with ticks," her mouth twisted into a grimace, "The recruiters don't mention that when they're urging other faunus to join the fight."

Violet's eyes drifted over the sleeping forms of both Yang and Ruby before she nodded towards the door, "Did you want to take this outside? I could use a walk."

Blake hopped off her bed and landed lightly on the floor. They both slipped on their shoes before heading out, Violet leading the way towards the stairs and down out the front door. Part of her was still wanting to put off their conversation as long as possible, and decided on the Beacon cliff as a suitable distance to allow her nerves to calm.

Blake raised an eyebrow, but nonetheless followed Violet out through the small copse of trees that separated Beacon from the cliff edge. As they stepped out near the ledge, a chilling wind whipped from overtop the Emerald Forest, rippling their clothes.

Blake raised her hands to hold her forearms and shivered, "Maybe there's someplace better?"

Violet laughed and sat down in the grass, sitting cross-legged. She patted the ground next to her and waited for Blake to sit before setting her hand down against the grass. When Violet raised it back up, amethyst flames followed along, creating a small bonfire between the two of them that produced enough heat to warm their skin, but otherwise left the grass itself unblemished.

"Guess there's more than a few perks that come along with being a maiden," Blake admitted, leaning closer to the flames and rubbing her hands together over them.

Violet smiled, gaze drifting up to the shattered moon. It hung serenely in the sky, casting a pale white light across the entire forest. Her eyes remained fixated on the moon as she spoke, "So, what'd you think of the book?"

"I loved it!" the faunus exclaimed readily.

Violet's eyes flicked to Blake's, "Really? What did you like most?"

"I really liked it as a creation myth," Blake sighed, "The idea that there's a goddess out there is… reassuring, in a way. Even if I really can't see eye to eye with her."

"What didn't you agree with?"

"I mean, what's boring about having absolute power?" Blake tilted her head, "You could do so many things with it!"

Violet laughed, "Sure. What about after that, though?"

"After what?"

"After you did all those things. I don't think you're really taking eternity into account. What would you do with omnipotence?"

"First thing?"

"Sure."

Blake shrugged, "That's easy enough. I would save the faunus. Put an end to the grimm. Make the world a better place."

Violet nodded along, "And in the next one hundred years?"

"The next hundred…?" Blake put a finger to her chin, "Make up some new creatures. Turn Menagerie into a tropical paradise. Maybe make a new continent altogether?"

"And in the next thousand? The next million? The next billion?"

Blake made a small 'hmm' sound, "I think I see what you mean."

"It's pretty daunting, when you put it into perspective," Violet agreed with a nod, "I feel old and I'm only seventeen. Imagine being older than the literal stars…"

Blake laughed, "I would ask her what happened to the moon."

"You'd need a genie to answer that question."

"Genies grant wishes, Vi."

"Heh, right. My mistake," Violet stifled a chuckle and instead continued the conversation, "What else did you think about it?"

"She… reminded me of someone," Blake replied slowly, turning an eye to Violet, "...Did you write it?"

Violet felt a moment of panic that was washed away after hearing Blake's actual question, and raised her hands as if under arrest, "Guilty as charged, Belladonna. What gave it away?"

"She's just so like you, I guess. The name was different, but the way the goddess acted was the same. You have the same sense of humor, the same dumb jokes…" Blake's eyes warmed, looking at Violet, "The same kindness and desire to put the weight of the world on your shoulders… Why did you do it, Violet? Why lie and leave us in the dark like that? What if we hadn't gotten the chance to say goodbye?"

Violet laid back, resting on the grass and folding her hands over her stomach while she stared unblinkingly at the moon, "I… care about all of you. Thinking about any of you getting hurt is more than I can bear sometimes. I don't mind it when we're fighting grimm, or taking down the average schmuck… I know you can handle yourselves in that situation. I thought we'd be fine taking on Torchwick, but then that whole accident at the docks happened, and it opened my eyes, in a way. I came face to face with the very real possibility that you all might die…"

Blake sighed, looking down on Violet, "We care about you, too. You shouldn't try and do everything yourself, Vi. How would Vibrant go on without you? We'd just be YBR at that point, and Yang's skills as a leader are dubious at best."

Violet laughed, "She could handle it."

"Morning workouts would become mandatory," Blake's lips quirked into a slight smile, "and evening workouts."

"You'd probably get pretty good at that fighting game she's always playing."

"Hey, I can hold my own well enough already!" At a raised eyebrow from Violet, Blake's eyes darted off to the side, "Alright, maybe I haven't won a round yet… but I've gotten close. I'm surprised she's never gotten you to play it with her."

"Isn't really my thing," Violet replied honestly. Video games held no allure. They lacked any real stakes, making them boring, and that was the worst insult the goddess could use to describe something.

Blake's mood became somber once more, "Ruby would be inconsolable…"

Violet grimaced, "I know… I'm sorry about what I did, and I won't do it again. You have my promise on that one. Even so, I'll be taking a lot more precautions from here on out. Qrow and I got ahead of ourselves, trying to take them on so soon."

"He almost died, from the sounds of it," Blake turned a suspicious eye to Violet, "You know how he was saved, don't you?"

Violet lay there in silence for a few seconds, considering what to say. Without Yang there, and with Blake's affinity for keeping secrets, Violet figured it would be fine to confess that much to the faunus.

"I do. You'll have to ask Qrow if you want to know more, though. It isn't my place to say."

"Was it a semblance?"

Violet nodded, content to leave it at that.

'I'll have to give Raven a little leeway if I ever run into her. She might be the world's shittiest mom, but she did save Qrow from my mistake.'

"A lot of the worlds that the book talked about were really detailed. How'd you think of them?"

Violet chuckled, "Overactive imagination, I guess. I didn't have many friends growing up, so outside of lessons and training, I had a lot of time on my hands. All I had to keep me company were my parents, Henna, and my brother."

"You don't talk much about your brother."

Violet shrugged from her place on the ground, "What is there to say? Peri is nice enough. He takes after my dad a lot. He's studying in Atlas to take over the family business some day."

"Are you going to tell your parents about what happened tonight?"

"Of course not," Violet replied evenly, "It wouldn't matter anyway. They know I wouldn't come back to Atlas. My mom made sure for herself that being a huntress was what I really wanted. She knows my heart is set on it. All I'd be doing is making them worry."

"What about being a maiden? What if someone tries to get to you through them?"

'Then whoever was foolish enough to try would find out pretty quick what the true meaning of 'omnipotence' is.'

Violet shook her head, "They're so far out of reach for anyone here. If they tried… I'd make them envy Mercury."

Blake was silent for a time, considering the words Violet had said, "How are you holding up, by the way? That couldn't have been easy..."

Violet grimaced, "It wasn't, but what choice was there? As far as I knew, Qrow was dead, and help wasn't coming any time soon. I had to deal with him any way I could."

"I'm sorry you had to do that."

"Me too. I'm just glad that Qrow made it out alright. I… didn't know how I was going to break the news to Ruby and Yang."

Blake paled, "I didn't really think of it that way. He showed up in our room about a minute after the explosion, so the thought of him being dead never really crossed my mind."

"I hope the same goes for Ruby and Yang. I wouldn't want them worrying about him too."

"Well, now they'll be able to make sure he stays safe, right? With all of us and Siren along, there isn't much we can't handle."

"Unless Torchwick gets the better of us again. They've stolen a lot of dust. He could probably blow up a few more buildings and have plenty to spare."

Blake laid back against the grass as well, sighing in contemplation at the risks they were bound to be taking, "It'll certainly be dangerous, but I'm glad we'll be doing it together."

Violet turned her head to the side, looking into Blake's amber eyes, "...Me too." Blake returned the gaze, both growing silent for the moment. Violet could see the faunus's face flickering uncertainly, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't bring herself to.

'Now's the time... Do I let this continue? She was overall positive about me, whether Blake thinks I based the goddess off myself or not…' Violet's mind wandered back to earlier in the evening, in the few short moments after killing Mercury before Qrow had made himself known, 'I thought I'd lost him, and even that wouldn't compare to losing one of my teammates… How bad would it be if I fell for Blake, only for her to die…?'

Violet could already feel her own trepidation and self-doubt clawing its way to the surface, the worst thoughts and ideas of how it could all go wrong rushing to the forefront and demanding her attention. Violet shivered in panic, her heartbeat becoming more and more rapid now that the time to decide was finally upon her.

'I'd rather fight Mercury again instead of this…'

Violet forcefully calmed herself, breathing deeply, 'It's… a simple question. Do I like Blake?' As a teammate and friend, it didn't even need to be asked. Violet would do anything for those she was close to. Did Blake go beyond that, though? 'Or am I too afraid of disappointing her to say 'no'?'

Violet enjoyed being around anyone that could provide her with the excitement that she so desperately craved. Blake was a good contender, all things considered. She was fun to be around, and had her secrets and dark past that threatened to boil to the surface. Adam was a near constant thread of worry.

'But that's all it is… I'm protective of her, of all of them,' her feelings for Blake didn't stem from a love of Blake, only a desire to keep her teammates happy. Violet had only agreed to try because Ruby demanded it, and she would have felt bad saying 'no'...

Blake finally got her mouth working, coughing once into her hand. Violet could see her cheeks beginning to redden in the pale light, her eyes hesitating to remain on Violet's own, "Violet? I've wanted to ask you something for a while now…"

In that final moment, Violet made her decision.

"I… know what you want to ask, Blake. You and Yang haven't exactly been the most secretive in your attempts, and… Ruby told me that you like me," when Blake's ears lowered, Violet held her hand out, now holding Blake's. Her hands were soft and warm, but there was a slight tremble there. Violet's heart wrenched with guilt, but she decided to power through all the same. What sort of relationship could be built around her feelings?

"Ruby convinced me to give it a shot and see how I felt, so don't blame her for anything… I… I love you, in the same way I love Yang, and Ruby, and all of team Siren. I can't bear the thought of disappointing any of you… but... I don't feel the same way you do. I've never felt that way about… anyone, really."

'An eternity spent with a lie wouldn't have been good for either of us…'

Blake's ears drooped completely, her hand quivering in Violet's grasp, "Oh… Do you… Do you think that would ever change?" her breath hitched as she rolled closer, now partially on her side.

Violet sighed, "There's nothing I wouldn't do to make you happy, Blake… Even now… I'd be willing to try, but…"

"But you wouldn't be happy…" Blake nodded sadly, turning to stare up into the night sky, blinking back tears, "I don't want to force you into anything, Violet. That wouldn't be fair of me to ask."

Violet leaned across the intervening space, much to Blake's surprise. The faunus froze in place as she planted a gentle kiss on her cheek and pulled back, "I'm sorry it didn't work out, Blake. I really did try…"

Blake shivered and gripped Violet's hand more tightly before finally letting go, "I know you did. I wouldn't have expected anything less from you, Violet. You're… the best person I've ever met."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere. I'm still your leader, after all."

Blake shared in a small smile, sighing as well, "This isn't going to make things awkward, is it?"

Violet laughed quietly, "Not at all, 'kitty cat'. I'm glad our feelings are out in the open like this. Now you can move past it and find who you were really meant to be with."

"I suppose so…" Blake's eyes drifted off for a moment before shaking herself back into the present, "Wait, you mean Yang, don't you?"

Violet gave Blake a coy grin and shrugged, "Who knows? Just follow your instincts," she sat up, turning her head around, "For now, though, I think it's time we get some sleep. I might not have any problems with Oobleck's test tomorrow, but you need all the rest you can get, and we're a few hours past due."

Violet stood and held a hand down to Blake, who took it readily enough. Using a portion of her semblance, Violet reduced Blake's mass completely, surprising the faunus by pulling her quickly up into a hug. Blake was shocked still for a few seconds, but slowly melted into the embrace, hands gripping tightly against Violet's back and cheek pressed to hers.

"This doesn't change anything between us, Blake. I still want to help you with the White Fang, and make the world a better place for the faunus. I don't think any less of you just because we aren't together. If you ever need anything… all you have to do is ask."

"...Thank you, Violet."

The two pulled away, mutually ending the embrace, and began the walk back to their dorms. They spoke a bit more along the way, though the topics were more typical. Things that two friends and teammates would discuss, as opposed to lovers. After arriving back at their room and getting into bed, they wished each other goodnight.

Violet rolled into her blanket and closed her eyes, facing the wall on her side of the room. As exhausted as she was, there was still one thing that needed to be done tonight. With a slight sigh, the goddess let her body drift off while her spectral form rose above.

'Now then… what is dear old Cinder up to…?'

So, Violet's true feelings are revealed, and hopes are dashed. However, after getting it all out in the open, they're separating on good terms. While Blake might have had a chance at winning the heart of a seventeen year old Violet Regalia, there just wasn't much working in her favor when it came to winning over the goddess.

Violet was swept up in the allure / excitement of finally having someone to spend eternity with, and didn't stop to think about her own actual feelings. After innumerable lives, wouldn't the goddess have found someone else by now if it were possible?

Fortunately for Blake, it appears someone else may have had their first inkling about their true feelings towards the faunus, and Violet is more than ready to steer the plot back into a bit of normalcy. She wouldn't want to turn the timeline entirely on its head.

I realize this decision may have been a bit polarizing. More than a few were rooting for the Blake x Violet ship, while others thought differently. Ultimately, I went with what I thought felt right for the story. The premise is based around her friendship and interactions with all the main cast, and focusing too much on Blake would have pulled too much attention away from the rest.

As always, thanks for reading

- Sybaen