0000000

City of Vale

"Once again, another sighting of the Gargoyle has been reported by a Faunus who told us he was saved by the vigilante during a vicious attack by a group of anti-Faunus idealists."

Maine looked around him to look at a TV screen, where a man with fox ears atop his head spoke. "I knew it was the Gargoyle as soon as he appeared. He just came out of nowhere and started beating up the five guys who were mugging me. He was in full gold armor with silver trim, and he…"

Agent Maine, whose armor was concealed for the most part by a hooded cloak, smiled underneath the hood, for the first time in a long while not wearing his helmet. Gold armor with silver trim? Wonder who that could be? He thought sarcastically.

0ooooo0

Rouge's Vibe

Maine

Agent Maine had used an old tracing signal from York's armor to find him, remotely activating the recovery beacon in it to determine his position, then walked all the way to the club where he now stood, just outside of where the beacon told Maine his fellow Freelancer was.

He didn't want to seem a threat, so he had come unarmed with his helmet off, hoping to buy enough time to explain he had changed. He and York had been friends, right? Before Sigma, curse his name forever, had turned him against all of them? Maybe, just maybe, York would trust him just enough to let him show that he truly wanted to be better.

He had arrived at the club when the line was short, so he got in quickly, keeping his head covered with his hood, a piece of paper with a message prepped for York's eyes. He looked around, tuning out the blaring music as he searched for his old brother-in-arms.

Surprisingly, when he spotted him, he was in plain sight, out of his armor serving drinks next to a man near Maine's own height, something Maine could respect. Maine kept his head down, walking towards the bar and waiting until York passed by before offering the note, keeping his head down until his was sure the Freelancer had read it.

0ooooo0

York

Seeing a note on the side from the hooded figure, York moved to take it, guessing it was likely for Junior's info broking business. To be sure, he opened it, seeing it addressed to him of all people.

Please don't freak out and let me explain. I swear I won't hurt anyone. He's gone. The note read, then York looked up, at the same time this hooded man did, revealing the face of the man who had killed Carolina, the one girl he loved, even after all this time. Fury rushed through his veins as the monster raised his hands. "Junior, you need to evacuate the club, now." He said to his fellow barman.

"Why?"

"Let's just say one of my problems is sitting at the bar, and he could turn into another Blondie situation."

Junior cursed, following the man's gaze to the bald man in front of him, a look of sadness on the man's face. As a precaution, he deployed the hidden weapons, setting a hand on one of the SMGs.

York watched as Maine signaled to him, writing in the air. The gold Freelancer pulled a notebook out and slammed it on the bar, a scowl deep on his face. Maine opened it and began to write. After a few moments, he twisted it around so York could see.

I was never really in control during and a little after Sigma, but I see I did something terrible, and I regret everything that creature did in my name. Please, try to understand. I am trying to redeem my wrongs.

"You killed Carolina!" York growled out. "I can't ever forgive you, let alone believe you're anything but a monster."

Maine took back the notebook and started again. "I know what you are doing here, York. Let me help you, I'll prove my intentions are sincere. I understand you will never forgive me. I know you loved her. But at least let me atone for some of the blood on my hands."

York, Delta cut in mentally. I predict that if we don't at least lead him to believe we are giving him a chance, he may go on a rampage, possibly hurting innocents and causing Junior some damage charges. Besides, I can find no hint of deceit or hidden motive here, and the Meta, sorry, Maine, could be a powerful asset.

Only you could convince me not to kill this man on sight. York mentally sighed. But we keep your existence a secret for now.

Affirmative, Agent York.

"We'll talk about this when my shift ends, meet me at this address." York sighed, defeated, and then wrote down his address. "Now get out."

Maine nodded, then stood, his hulking frame marking hi against the rest of the crowd as they parted to give him his way while he headed out the door.

Junior breathed a sigh of relief. "Whew, that was close. Old friend of yours?"

"Just somebody I used to know." York said bitterly.

0ooooooooo0

Maine

Well, that seemed to go better than expected. The hulking though after stepping into the night air, which, by the club, smelled strongly of vomit. He followed the address to a warehouse nearby but was surprised to see a girl wearing a red cloak already there.

"Hello." She greeted, giving a small wave. "Are you here looking for Yo- I mean Mr. Vance as well?"

The Freelancer shrugged.

She looked at him. "My name is Ruby, what's yours?"

Maine held his throat, signaling his was mute, and her eyes widened. "Oh, I'm so sorry if I offended you! I didn't know."

Maine shook his head. Then there was an awkward silence as they passed glances at each other.

"Gee, Mr. Vance sure is taking a while, his shift ended a few minutes ago." Ruby said, checking the time on her scroll.

Maine growled, then folded his arms, leaning on a nearby rail.

"Alright Maine," York started as he came out of the alley way, already in full armor, "What do you-" He cut off at the sight of the girl. "Ruby? What are you doing here? You need to go, now!"

"But why?" Ruby whined.

York pointed at him. "That's Agent Maine!" He cried.

Recognition filled her eyes. "But he hasn't done anything to me. He's been pretty nice, although he was a bit impatient about you getting here." She protested. "Besides, if he were the Meta, wouldn't he have taken-"

"Ruby, shut up, shut up now before you give something away you shouldn't." He warned.

Maine took all this information in. What would the little girl know that Maine would want to take? Surely York didn't describe him as some rapist? Then it hit him. His still had his AI!

Maine pointed an accusing finger at York, then tapped his shoulder. York sighed. "Dammit. Yes, I still have mine!" Suddenly, a large double-sword was in his hand. "And you're not going to take him."

The white freelancer held up his hands, then tapped his own head and wiped it away, signaling that Sigma, who had taken control of him, was gone. No more need for AI, except for the possibilities of running his suit at full capacity.

"Agent York, may I suggest that we let the Meta-" Delta began

Maine growled. He was no longer the Meta. "Sorry, Agent Maine should be given a second chance, just as you have."

"Yeah!" Ruby exclaimed. "I'm sure he's sorry for what that AI did to his head."

Maine nodded but kept his head low.

York shook his head. "Why does everyone team up against me?" He sighed.

"Because you're wrong." Ruby teased.

York was quiet for a minute, his hands white from gripping the weapon tightly.

"By no means," York glared at Maine, "Does this make us friends. And you follow my orders. And if I think for one second that you're going to go Meta, I will… Put. You. Down."

York waited for this to sink in, then asked, "Am I understood?"

Maine nodded solemnly. York was scowling and very close to his face, the rage practically seeping off him. The brute understood his once-friend's feelings. Sigma had made him kill the girl he loved, tearing out her AI and throwing her over a freezing cliff to die.

York flipped around and stepped over to the hooded girl. "What did you need me for, Ruby?" He asked somberly, no doubt remembering a head of dark red hair.

"I came to see if you wanted to come with me to the Beacon forges tomorrow. I can help you go and make one that'll be perfect for you." She offered, voice chipper and a hopeful look on her face as she tried to lighten the mood. "You probably should bring Maine, too. He's going to need a ranged weapon."

"Tell you what, I'll take the first bullhead to Beacon on Monday and get there right after school lets out. You'd better be waiting for me." He smiled, the girl apparently bringing him happiness, then he looked at Maine and scowled. "I'll think about bringing him."

Maine growled softly. A new weapon sounded nice.

York shook his head. "Ruby, you head on back to school. Maine, you come with me. Might as well get you settled in. Welcome to New Freelancer."

0oooooooo0

Ruby

"So York didn't kill the Meta on the spot?" Yang gasped. "But he caused so much, most of the freelancers are dead because of him."

Ruby shook her head. "Agent Maine claimed that his AI was controlling him. He seemed really sorry."

"Well at least I'll finally get to meet them." Pyrrha said, as she had been unable to meet the Gargoyle. "And now a friend that can corroborate this crazy history."

"I'm telling you, it's all real!" Ruby told her. "They even have the specs for their magnet gun."

"I am interested in seeing that." Pyrrha admitted.

"And may I ask who is coming to my school tomorrow?" A voice spoke behind the group. They all froze as Ruby turned to face Headmaster Ozpin.

"Professor! Oh, just a couple friends they need my expertise in weapons, and I was hoping to use the forges after school tomorrow." Ruby went red and tugged at her cloak's hood.

Ozpin hummed thoughtfully, then took a sip of his ever-present coffee cup. "They aren't students? They'll need to check in with the office, and any materials you use in the forge will need to be from your own resources, otherwise, I'd like to meet these friends of yours. When will they be arriving?"

Ruby sighed, relaxing her shoulders. "First bullhead after school, sir."

"And I trust you'll be there in the office to introduce me to them?" Ozpin said with a smile.

"Yes, sir!" She told him.

Ozpin chuckled as he turned and stepped away, back towards the tower in which his office resided.

Blake lowered her book for a few seconds to say simply, "This ought to be interesting."

0oooooooo0

York

Junior called York Monday morning at 11:30, signaling the end to a very restless dream filled with an angelic voice with the sliver tongue of the Devil himself, and the red hair to match. He woke to those dreams with only sorrow every time.

He woke to his alarm, sitting up and rolling his shoulder. He pulled on his boots and pulled on a shirt before rising to his feet. He started downstairs, then paused as he reached the floor.

When he saw Maine, a mixture of hate and hope ran through him. The giant man slept on the floor, clad in his armor sans his helmet, which sat on the floor next to him. He used his cloak as a pillow. With his size, one could almost mistake him for a polar bear deep in hibernation.

Polar bears do not hibernate, Agent York

"Maine." He called, and the brute's eyes snapped open and locked on him. "You, uh… you hungry?"

Maine growled tiredly, sitting up and donning his cloak. His helmet he tucked under his arm, stepping forward towards York. A slight panic ran through York before he took a breath. "There's a good food truck nearby that's got good breakfast burritos."

Maine grunted, giving a small shrug, and pulled the hood of his cloak over his head, concealing his head and most of his armor.

York shook his head. "Hey, how about today, we go out and get you some clothes, that way you don't get arrested for possibly being the 'Gargoyle?'"

The agent raised a lazy thumbs up, and York opened the door for them to exit.

York sighed, breathing in the late morning air. He continued down the street, leading Maine as they travelled down. As usual, the food truck that York frequented was open on the corner of a popular street, and York glanced at Maine. One wrong move and a call could be made to the police about Maines's armor. However, the giant Freelancer had the front part of the cloak closed tightly, obscuring his hand. The only visible parts of his armor were the legs, and plenty of huntsmen had cloaks and coats as part of their persona.

After grabbing breakfast, they returned to the warehouse, and York sighed. "It won't be long until Someone notices that the power and water are on and being used at this place… we should look into getting something more permanent. And legal…"

Maine wrote something down and pushed the pad to him Why are you telling me this like I have a say?

"Well I mean… if you're giving this second chance thing your best shot like me, we'd… better try and stick together." York noted, trying to give Maine the same courtesy.

Noting the gesture, the mute nodded, then took another bite from his burrito. They wrapped up shortly and York had Delta do a search for nearby clothing stores to get Maine some clothes.

"York, I'd like to remind you that you intended to repay that business you stole from upon your arrival." Delta intoned, marking it on his scroll.

The golden Freelancer sighed. "Yeah, I did say that. You're like my conscience sometimes, Geez."

0ooooo0