Foresworn

HP/VS

XXI: I'm good at what I do

The return to camp was heralded with applause. "Mr. Potter, I stand corrected, you really are an asset to our cause."

Harry smirked "Only as much an asset that it'll allow me to slide the knife into your spine." "Honoured to serve."

"Your majesty…I overstep truly, but can you truly trust him? When he first arrived, we were accompanied…" Began Carmine Escados.

"My relationships with those Huntsmen is none of your concern; should our paths cross a much different conversation and interactions will be taking place." Harry replied nonchalantly, holding his hand out.

One of the bodyguards went into a sideroom and returned with a bag of lien. "For services deemed complete." Gillian started with a smile. "I have my suspicions about you Potter…You seem far too eager to be of assistance to my brother and I."

Harry had to resist the urge to gulp, he had a feeling that Gillian was onto him. However, it was apparent that Jax was the one that needed to be convinced. The so-called Prince of Vacuo looked at Harry over "Is there anything true about Carmine's accusations against you?"

"What? That I'm an undercover Huntsman? Or that I'm sleeping with a Huntsman? The first is outrageous, I go where the money is. As for the latter past tense. Whether Carmine trusts my motives or not I don't care. I'm more concerned about you and what you think."

Jax paused "I believe I can trust you. I want you to do one final test before I can be certain. I need you to infiltrate Shade Academy and make contact with our Member Xanthe Rumpole…she will assist you in assassinating the Headmaster."

Harry's eyes widened "That…isn't a small request. But it'll be done."

Jax and Gillian nodded in unison "We shall assemble our forces and we'll reinforce you upon completing your task."

Harry nodded "Go to Shade, get into Shade, Assassinate the Headmaster…Let it not be said that I'm good at what I do." With that Harry bowed, spun on his heel to find Carmine blocking his way.

"Out of the way…"

Carmine fixed Harry with a look, that if Harry hadn't been on the receiving end was like 'the cat's stalking the canary'. Harry looked at the busty redhead with disinterest; however Harry's disinterested face resembled that of an Alpha Sabyr, a particularly brutal and sadistic Grimm. "You were stupid, got caught and now you dislike me for saving you…Grow up." Filling his body with Earth Dust he moved past the woman effortlessly moving her to one side and subsequently sending her to the floor.

Harry extended his senses, he was on his own. He smiled then spinning on his heel, he found himself being compressed into a tube of toothpaste. The Asturias siblings heard the faint sound of a popping.

(Huntsmen)

Harry reappeared to find Velvet and Sun sparring "Mechanical troubles?" He smoothly ducked a staff strike to find himself staring down the barrel of a gatling gun.

Coco looked at him and pulled the bolt back "You'd better have a good reason for trashing our ride, abducting two criminals."

"First off, I didn't know those two were criminals. Second, they started it by kidnapping me first. Thirdly I have a job that unfortunately requires short and dumpy. Fourth, hello and please can you get that over-compensator out of my face."

Coco did but followed up with a toe-punt between the legs. Velvet had her scroll out in time to watch her boyfriend go from being pale to grey before folding over. "Did you really have to do that? Wait…He'd say something along the lines of 'I might have deserved that one'."

The girls discussion was disrupted as Rumpole appeared "What is he doing here?"

"Shortstack...you're Rumpole correct?" Harry wheezed as he got himself to his feet. Concentrating on not consoling his testecles, oh god that seriously hurt.

"Should you even be moving after that?"

"Coco, I've been eaten by King Taijitu and that Sand Crawler…getting up after being kicked in the bollocks...painful but still movable." Harry retorted, Rumpole looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm not sure whether to believe you or dismiss you out of hand for being a lier."

"I couldn't give short curlies on what you think. Speaking of, I need your assistance, Rumpole. The Crown sends its congratulations."

Rumpole stilled "I should cut…"

"Try and I'll kill you before you move…" Harry replied.

Velvet paled, she knew Harry's solo mission had left a sour taste in his mouth; this wasn't her boyfriend. Yes she knew he was rough around the edges and could be a little gung-ho but this...this unsettled her. "Enough. Harry Branwen, sit down and shut it, Rumpole take a walk."

Rumpole looked like she wanted to object, but considering the positively volcanic mood Harry Branwen was in, she reconsidered. She nodded and headed back to Sage and Yatsuhashi in repairing the skiff.

Velvet turned around to face her boyfriend. She took the moment to take him in; he looked positively horrendous, thinner than normal, positively scarecrow-esque. Considering Velvet had met Qrow, she preferred more meat on her boyfriend; his body had more scars some of which were only just beginning to heal. She also saw the silver-sword on his hip, that was new.

She locked eyes with him and opened her arms. Taut muscles with agonising slowness slackened, the killing blade of Absolution clattered loudly to the deck and Velvet pressed her face into his chest "You DO NOT murder members of staff."

"Technically it's manslaughter in self-defence. She wanted to kill me first, I only said I'd kill her first. By the brothers I've fucking missed you." Following this statement, Velvet blushed as she felt his lips on her forehead.

"The Brothers?"

Harry sighed "I'm part of a secret sect that works for Ozpin."

Honey brown eyes hardened "You had better not be lying to me. It has been bad enough transferring here after surviving the Siege."

"V, I'd never lie to you. I've kept things hidden because I thought it would protect you. I've quickly come to realise the flaw of that idea: you're a huntress and involved with me."

Velvet nodded "Go on. You mentioned two brothers."

"Now most of this I've guessed but Ozpin confirmed my guesses in his own Ozpin way. Two brothers, one of Light and Darkness, one would create and the other destroy, one of them created Grimm, then they created humanity and gave them the ability to choose. In Humanities creation, the brothers left behind the ability better known as magic. Somewhere in this troubled time Ozpin and his lover Salem appeared."

"Salem…I've heard that name in conjecture to the Que…"

"Same woman. Same entity.".

"Then Ozpins…"

"He is and he isn't. He's immortal in the terms of his spirit and abilities still walk amongst us, Ozpin is his most recent incarnation. However he bodyjacks someone who represents Ozpin's ideals etc. Immortal spirit, mortal frame. The Siege of Beacon, that was for something known as a Relic buried beneath the school in a room only accessible by a Maiden."

"A Maiden as in the Maidens and the Wizard fable…of course, my homicidal, unpredictable, disaster causing boyfriend is working for a reincarnation of our Headmaster. Of course the fable is real...is that why Pyrrha…"

"Yep. That's why Pyrrha was murdered. She possessed half a maidens power and the slag that murdered her possessed the other half. If Ozpin hadn't been there I wouldn't have done so hot, I like my odds against any two bit bitch looking for a power boost but a primal power like the Seasonal Maidens, I've more chance hopefully becoming a father."

Velvet raised an eyebrow "You'd take your chances of being a dad more than take on a homicidal bitch with a powerboost."

"Velvet, you were the one person I kept in my mind whilst I did my contract. If I could I'd tell Ozpin to go fuck himself and whisk you away to wherever you wanted if it meant we'd be safe and together. Despite the murderous impulses and whimsical nature all I want is a family."

Velvet felt her blush begin to darken "With me?"

Harry fixed her with a look with a raised eyebrow, that indicated 'who else' "Yup. Now…Velvet, I need your help. I need to get into Shade and stage an Assassination."

Velvet's eyes widened "Pardon."

"I need to stage killing someone. Not exactly hard, but, I need your help."

(Rumpole)

The Crown sent its congratulations, a phrase that Rumpole had thought she'd never hear again. Then memories came flooding back to her! The Asturias Siblings; formidable but most certainly that dangerous of Huntsmen, Escardos and Bertilnak…now those two were a powerful duo. Rumpole shuddered, however her movements were not in accordance to how she was expecting to move.

She headed back to Harry and Velvet "How can I assist the Crowns Ventures."