Breaking Remnant: Shield Of Ouroboros

Rating: T/M for some themes

Series: RWBY

Summary:

After being framed for murder, Aganju is left with nothing. No family. Allies. It's all gone. However, a chance encounter will show him that things aren't always what they seem. Fueled by vengeance, he will return with something far greater than what he left behind. A purpose prophesized years before, has begun to blossom, ushering in bloody retribution. No Harem. M for some themes

Authors Note:

Salutations and welcome to the second volume of Breaking Remnant!

I'm truly excited to be working on this as its a fresh start for me as a writer. I won't bore you with details but, I did want to mention some key concepts moving forward. For starters, any monologues moving forward will be solely from Salem unless listed otherwise. It was a bit overbearing, having to figure out which person would take the role in different chapters that were relevant to the story. I'm going to keep it simple this time around for the future.

While there will be some romance, I want to stress this early on: This is not a harem story. I have already established what couples will be in the story and I don't want to repeat myself after getting a review or message about it. At most, there may be some polyamorous relationships (particularly with some background characters) but, I am not creating a harem for Aganju. Period. Alright?

*and exhale*

I would also like to note that each poem or quote that is marked in [Bold/Italic] is in Aganju's mind and heart. However, I do NOT take credit for these words. Credit for the following poems goes to (In order of appearance):

*Angela Abraham

*blb_bulldog

*wmack99

If you want to check out their works, you can find them on for more creative writing quotes. (It's really good and I highly recommend checking it out if you're someone who enjoys creative writing. They're not too long to read so you can check them out and get moving with your day... Okay... this turned into a plug but, you get the point.

Anyway, this introductory chapter takes place sometime after the events of Faith in the Sword. While the main characters will be Aganju and Pyrrha, there will be others who are instrumental to the story in certain arcs. I plan on this story being a bit longer than the first but, I won't put too much stock in locking myself into that goal.

For now, I hope you all enjoy and I'll see you in the next chapter.

Chapter 1: Into the Depths

Betrayal.

How quickly your love turned to hate as if you didn't even fight it. You let that negative emotion swallow you and pour acid into your soul. I fought for the good memories, the reasons to be kind. I fought to keep myself empathic even as every terrible thing I had predicted came true. For me, that's the betrayal, that lack of willingness to fight the negative thoughts and think the best of me, to recall my soul as it was when we laughed. And so, my heart still has only sweetness for the memories of who we were, but it is so very relieved to see the new life that waits ahead, just around the corner, I can sense it.

It is by far one of the damaging weapons in man's arsenal. Far sharper than any sword, it pierces through flesh with ease, penetrating right through the soul. It burns deep, searing the wounds inflicted upon its victims. The initial wound is easily salvageable but, we nearly always neglect to tend to the deeper scars that are left behind after such a deed.

I felt the knife before I saw it. I looked into the eyes of the wielder. It was my friend from so long ago. The eyes that were once filled with so much purpose and love were now replaced with bitterness and hate. The only thing that showed any resemblance to the old friend was the shell the bitter soul inhabited. My old friend was gone.

This was a lesson that my dear child learned the hard way. After the events in Vacuo, he would be forever haunted by a moment, a pocket in time that haunted him every day. He was a gentle soul, wanting nothing more than to be loved and accepted in a world filled with those who considered his very existence to be a pox on the world. After years of searching, he seemingly found some measure of what he sought, a family, most notably in the eyes of the faunus, Ilia. Along with other peers and the guidance of a willing mentor, he began to reshape life for himself. Protecting others can be a powerful motivator but, what happens when you allow yourself to wander too deeply in the depths?

Hate colors the soul. It spreads throughout the entire system, shutting down all other feelings, and becoming central to the life and the intent of the person. The object of the hatred may or may not be present, but the imagined words and hostile actions against the hated one can dominate at times. One turns his/her attention to other matters, and may for a time be driven in other directions, but then the wave of ill thoughts return with a vengeance. Once again the soul is colored completely, and all the negative energy that one can muster is thrown into the imagined ill will racing wildly around the mind. Hatred becomes a sickness of the mind, and of the heart. For where hatred has claimed possession, there is no room for love. Left unchecked, hate can completely poison the soul.

Aganju

[Sedluk Cross Maximum Security Prison]

Sedluk Cross, an island once bustling with life and brimming with light at this hour was but a hollow shell of its former self. Were it not for the occasional bird call, the only sounds in this place were that of the wind. Now, it was the home of one of the roughest prisons in Remnant. Black stone walls surrounded the perimeter of the building, blocking out any view of the ocean, and by extension, freedom.

It was a tactic to ensure that any convict would give up on any sentiment of escaping, and it was one that worked. The interior of the place was no better with the only areas exhibiting any form of life being the yard.

Most who were sent here were either serving life sentences or awaiting their execution. Only those considered to be the most dangerous were sent here as it was under the control of both Atlas and Mistral as part of a joint deal between the two nations. From see-through cell doors to automated guards, it was truly a place for those who'd been forsaken by the outside world, a fitting place for only the worst of the worst.

The cries of agony blended in with various sounds. The crack of whips. Unveiled threats from one prisoner to another. Lecherous guards abusing their power. Danger lurking around every corner. This was, quite possibly, the closest place to hell on earth. Nothing was off-limits here.

"Chow time! Wake up, maggots!" a voice over the intercom yelled out, breaking the symphony of discord.

One by one the cell doors began to vanish, allowing those contained inside to stretch their legs and grab whatever the kitchen was serving that day. This was normal for the 'residents' of Sedluk Cross prison. Men and women alike were ordered into single file lines as they headed to the mess hall. However, this was just the daily routine of those on the surface level i.e. the humans. Some of them weren't as fortunate as others, however.

One level below them sat the true denizens of this cruel prison. Under the watchful eyes of humans and automata alike, the faunus prisoners spent their days underground, mining within the islands' rich soil for any sign of dust, just another way for their kind to be exploited without reprimanding from the authorities. Nobody would care about faunus working under duress for the sake of filling the pockets and bank accounts of the wealthy. Even with the incredibly unsafe conditions, injuries or death simply meant that there was one less mouth to feed, at least until it was time for another to take their place. On top of the humiliation, they were outfitted with 'special collars' that locked their auras to prevent any rebellions.

With it being lunchtime though, most of the faunus were permitted very little time to enjoy the meals given to them. Among them, a fox faunus had just finished grabbing his tray before heading back to his cell. He was outfitted in a dingy grey jumpsuit that he wore from the waist down. His black hair had become ashen grey from all the dirt and grime collected during his stay. A pair of violet eyes glared at the dismal meal afforded to him; familiarity breeds contempt, right? He sat down on the dirt floor after slamming the door to his cell closed. He didn't want to be disturbed as he prepared to scarf down the lumpy grey food.

"Open up, mutt!" a voice called out from the other side. His ears twitched painfully as he glared under the dusky lights toward the door. Yet, despite this, he remained where he sat, setting his tray on a nearby cot as the metal door slowly slid open. With arms crossed, he watched as two guards stepped in, dragging a whimpering young woman by her hair. "Umbrae?"

"What?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Got some fresh meat for ya!" the greasy soldier guffawed, tossing the woman at the vulpine's feet. "You might like this one. The freak's got a nice set on her. Don't break her too badly."

As they left, the woman immediately wrapped herself in the blanket that she came in, revealing that she had nothing underneath. That only mattered at the moment when she realized that she was locked inside with the male faunus, vulnerable and unable to fight or use her semblance due to the collar inhibiting her from doing so. Slowly, she backed away, scooting back toward the door, little help it would do her though. Dark circles under dull violet eyes observed her before standing up, inciting a gasp from her as she covered up futilely.

However, while she expected the male faunus to assert his dominance and have his way with her, she was instead greeted by something else far less frightening. Cautiously, she opened her eyes to find him grunting as he removed the top of his shirt, revealing a scarred and toned torso. She couldn't help but blush at the sight of him. Meanwhile, as he folded the top before handing it over to her, he'd notice that she was covering herself even more closely than before, specifically her lower region.

"Here..." he stated gently, counting her act as nerves. "You can have this."

She eyes him for a moment before snatching the shirt out of his hand. From there, she watched as he turned around, allowing her some level of privacy as she moved to put it on. It was a rather large fit given her much slimmer figure, but it worked, all the same, covering everything just past her ass. She still held the dusty blanket close to herself from the waist down, still uncertain of the guy's kindness.

"Are you done?" she heard him ask irritably. "I'd like to look at something other than the dirt walls."

"Oh! Um... Yeah. I'm done... T-Thanks."

"No problem."

There was an awkward silence between the two. With time's passing, the fox sat down, studying his latest cellmate. She was a fair-skinned woman with medium blue hair that ran down her back and yellow-amber eyes. Though there was nothing out of the ordinary about her, the darker-skinned male still sought to spark up a conversation.

"So... Whatcha in for?"

"Excuse me?" she raised an eyebrow.

"What did you do to make them throw you down here?" he rolled his eyes.

"It was an accident!" she yelled, flinching slightly immediately afterward. "I... I got caught up in a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?" the faunus crossed his arms, clearly not convinced at all.

"It was!" she snapped back, this time careful not to erupt completely. "I... I mean, my team and I were doing a simple job, steal from the greedy and give to those who truly needed it. Supplies. Money. If the citizens of Mantle needed it, we would set out to get it... But,"

"But?"

The woman instantly went back on her guard, refusing to acknowledge the inquiry. Instead, she instinctively gazed around her cell, finding nothing truly interesting aside from the other person in the area. She noticed a cot on either side of him as well as a tray of food. Though it didn't nearly appear to be appetizing, her stomach couldn't tell the difference at this point. For a moment, she'd forgotten about the faunus, her mind solely focused on the tray only to find herself surprised when said tray was placed in front of her.

"I suggest you eat up. If you're on the schedule, you'll want your stomach full before you have to work."

Though he came off a bit harsh, the woman didn't miss the amused chuckled her gave her afterward. Without a sound, she glanced over at him as he went over to his cot, lying down with his back to her. She then heeded his advice, scarfing down the bland slop, ignoring how awful it tasted in favor of her stomach finally getting something inside of it. Once she finally finished, the woman felt bad after realizing that her cellmate was now left with nothing to eat.

"T-Thank you, again... um..."

"Aganju" he finished, looking over his shoulder.

"I'm May."

"Well, before we get to the grindstone, welcome to Sedluk Cross Prison, May. It's a fuckin' toilet, but, its... still a fuckin' toilet."

They both shared a laugh before the crowds of guards made their post-lunch sweep. There was an issue upstairs so, the facility was going on lockdown for the rest of the day while they sort things out.

This was a major relief for May as she'd just arrived and was intentionally not given any prison clothes to wear for her first day. The less time spent in such a vulnerable state, the better. In the meantime, they spent the rest of the day in silence, neither eager to start an actual conversation. Only when dinner time rolled around did they attempt to speak, the faunus offering her some of his food so that she could be full for the night. After that, the call for lights out was made, sparing the pair from another awkward round of silence.

While he tried to sleep, May would shuffle onto her cot for the night, er... day? It was difficult to tell when you're underground. Aganju lied back on his cot, staring at the hanging lanterns above while trying to calm his mind for the night. He didn't think much about the woman, nor did he desire to. She wasn't the first to enter his cell and, if things were as he expected, she wouldn't be the last. In truth, he'd rather stay to himself and avoid getting involved with anyone personally.

As his eyes began to grow heavy, the vulpine let out an audible yawn, allowing the sandman to claim him for however long he cared to. In this state, his mind took him beyond the world of mortals. In this realm, he recalled the smiles of his allies. Sun's usual antics. Blake's calming personality. Velvet's kindness. Weiss' snarkiness. Yang's (albeit terrible) puns. Coco's challenging nature. Sparring with Fox. All of these things allowed for a tranquil evening but there was one person who truly meant the world to him.

Ilia... he smiled softly, imagining her smiling face as he'd done countless times before. We'll see each other again... I promise.

[1 year and a half ago]

It's been days...

Aganju sat in the transport ship, his eyes downcast onto the cold steel floor. He refused to look at anything but his hands, encased completely in steel restraints. The fox didn't need to look around to know that he was surrounded by Atlas Knight-200 units. Each one had their guns trained on the lone faunus; standard procedure for dangerous criminals.

Only, he wasn't a criminal.

He remembered trying to reach the border of the city. The rain came crashing down when he arrived, each drop pelting him. In hindsight, he figured it was a warning from Oum himself to leave, a warning he chose not to heed. The bodies, freshly slaughtered. Cold, unmoving corpses staring in all directions. The stench of blood was something he'd like nothing more than to forget. Even the image of the notorious Valentin Nikos seared itself in his mind's eye. Even worse, he couldn't process how he was having a conversation with the man only to realize he'd been dead long before his arrival.

That was when the morbid truth began to surface but, it was too late.

A dull pain still remained in the back of his head, a confirmation of his newfound suspicion. It mattered little now. After coming to, Aganju's discovered that he was lying, not on wet sand, but cold steel.

"What happened?" he groaned, trying to rub his head.

"That's what we'd like to know..." his eyes widened upon hearing the voice of Sienna Khan. Sure enough, there she stood in front of him with her back against the only way in or out. "...Obaluaye"

Upon hearing that name again, Aganju could only figure, his fate had been sealed.

I hadn't heard that name in years...

"Transport, we're nearing our destination. You are clear to land."

The faunus didn't bother looking up as he was 'helped' to his feet. As the landing ramp opened, he could feel an ominous presence pouring out upon him, almost threatening to smother him in its smoggy cloud. There was no sunlight, only darkened clouds overhead. The air was crisp as he was escorted to the front door of the facility. As his eyes beheld the massive entrance, one thing was clear to Aganju.

If he was to survive, he needed to remove any sign of weakness.

His ears twitched violently as the opening door sounded like nails on a chalkboard. That would be the only exhibition of weakness shown as he turned his gaze forward, his mind using one image to fuel his newly adopted persona. It was one of pain and turmoil, a perfect mix for how he needed to be. Pyrrha Nikos. Aganju would recall her disowning stare; a chilling stare. His memories granted him more fuel to the flame, a statement that wound up doing more than just giving him an altered persona. It created a monster.

Whatever happened, we'll get through it together.

Oh, what a beautiful lie that was...

Said monster brandished a cold glare that greeted the faces of convicts and jailers alike. During his processing, one girl yelled out 'fresh meat', followed by a chorus of laughs and murmurs. He was the new fish in the pond, and judging by the whistles and taunts he received from his new community, he figured that they were preparing to 'break him in'. He was just a little boy in a man's world in their eyes.

Oh, how wrong they were.

Aganju was no criminal.

He had no dealings with Valentin's death.

But... For the sake of his life and survival, they didn't need to know that.

[The Next Day]

Aganju snarled, his eyes blazing a bloody crimson as he scared off a trio of faunus who'd been harassing May. Before, he'd been taking a breather, catching his breath after carefully transporting a bucket of small dust crystals. He hated the job, but, with Atlesian Knights monitoring them, complaints weren't an option. On his way back, he went to check on May only to find her backed into a corner by three faunus, a lion, tiger, and bear... (make your own jokes). None of that mattered to him though as he rushed over without hesitation to protect his cellmate.

After a brief stand-off with the lion faunus, the other two watched as their leader stomped away, following close behind him down the dark tunnel. Aganju did break his disapproving gaze until he was certain that they were gone. He turned his attention to a still shaken up May slowly rising to her feet.

"You alright?"

"Don't I look alright?" she replied sarcastically.

"You look like you were about to be raped."

May grit her teeth; he wasn't wrong. Before the foxes' arrival, she was caught off guard by the trio of faunus. By the lustful look in their eyes, it was evident that they had less than noble reasons for approaching her. Thankfully, she'd been given a prison jumpsuit to wear, otherwise, the conversation would have taken a more direct turn. When she turned the lion down, he apparently didn't take kindly to the rejection, deciding to take a more 'persuasive' approach. May was given her first true indication of Sedluk Cross. The second taste of the culture came when she looked around for any sign of help only to find none. All eyes were either on their work or intentionally avoiding the scene altogether.

The truth pained her... If Aganju hadn't come along, there's no doubt that she'd been victimized.

May hated that unfortunate reality. She despised being a damsel in distress. She reviled having to be saved by someone else, and yet... She couldn't bring herself to hate the one who stepped in on her behalf. Even when she glanced at the faunus, May saw no sign of pity in his violet eyes... wait... weren't his eyes a different color before? As she pondered, she vaguely heard him mention something about 'sticking together' before he smirked and left to return to his station.

Staring blankly, the blue-haired woman couldn't help but chuckle humorlessly before one of the robotic soldiers ordered her to get back to work. Grabbing a pick-ax, she began digging but, her mind was perplexed, in an entertained sort of way. Just who was her cellmate; what secrets did he possess? Whatever he was, May couldn't help but feel a sense of intrigue begin to build in her mind.

[Mistral, Lower District]

The Vytal Festival had come and gone, a new one fastly approaching. This year, the kingdom of Mistral and Argus were slated to host the event but, that was still about six or seven months away... or was it eight? Raven never paid much attention, to be honest. She was never one for grandiose pedantries, always preferring to remain to herself outside of a few personal acquaintances. Even now, despite the streets being mostly empty, she preferred to remain in the shadows. Garbed in her armor and mask, the leader of the refugee city did her best to maintain the element of surprise as she slipped past some of the shadier characters scattered throughout.

Her travels were not for naught, however. Something was afoot and she was summoned to the great kingdom by an unknown messenger who stated there was an urgent matter that required her presence. While suspicious, as usual, Raven accepted the invitation. She finally ceased her sneaking about as she stood in front of a seedy motel. If my contact made me come out here for a booty call, I'm going to gut them like a fish. she shook such a lewd idea out of her mind, reaching for her scroll. She then tapped a few keys, letting the contact know that she was nearby.

Ask for Roe. The front will know what to do.

"Yeah, that's not suspicious at all..." she rolled her eyes, advancing toward the dingy loft. As she entered the main building, she mentioned the name and, sure enough, the young man at the front desk directed a nearby bellhop to escort the woman to the intended room for her 'meeting'. Another male stepped forward, eyed the woman's figure far longer than he should have.

Raven ignored this, tapping her boot on the wooden floor to reclaim his attention on the task at hand. The dusty boy looked away sheepishly before turning to lead her upstairs where her connection awaited her. Stopping at a rusty looking door on the top floor, the only room around. Raven nodded her thanks to the boy before noticing him stick out his hand; the nerve of him to expect a tip after his shameless act earlier.

"I would think you staring at my tits and ass would be enough. I suggest you leave while you still have two hands to play with yourself."

Fear struck the boy instantly as he rushed past her without a word, his whimpers more than enough to evoke a sigh of frustration from her. Still, she'd hoped that this wouldn't take long as she was tired from her travels. Checking her scroll once again, she saw that the time was 12:32 am, three minutes ahead of schedule. She took a moment to compose her thoughts before lifting her fist to knock.

Surprisingly, the door opened under her light tapping. Cautiously, she placed a hand over her katana only to feel something sharp press against her back. Her body tenses under the pressure, as she slowly glanced over her shoulder. While her mask obscured part of her vision, Raven could still make out pink and brown hair on a young woman who smiled sweetly at her, slowly raising her hands in concession.

Where the hell did she come from?!

"Come in, Madame Branwen. I believe we have much to discuss and I'd hate for things to end up bloody" the sound of a dapper gentleman emerged from the room, drawing Raven's attention. "Neo? Would you be a dear and take Miss Branwen's sword?"

The woman nodded silently as she unclipped the weapon from Raven's belt before urging her inside by the point of her parasol. The older woman complied, growling lightly at how easily she was disarmed, losing what little leverage. As the lights came on, she could see the man lighting a cigar, a bowler hat resting comfortably atop orange hair that fell over his right eye.

"Hello, Raven..." he smirked while taking a long drag. "It's been a while, old friend."

"You?" she snarled from under her mask.

"In the flesh!" As if on instinct, Raven reached for her blade only to be reminded that she was unarmed courtesy of the much smaller woman who sauntered past her with the blade in hand. "See? This is why I had to confiscate your weapon. You're always quick to stab first and ask questions after."

"What do you want, Roman?" she growled as he uncrossed his legs.

"First, I want you to take that... tacky thing off. It robs you of your natural beauty, Rae..."

On the verge of grinding her teeth, Raven obliged, removing the helmet to reveal her pale skin and smoldering red eyes. Clearly things were not going to plan and yet, she found herself wishing for anyone else but the man sitting across from her. She could just turn around and leave but, that'd mean that she was willing to leave Omen behind.

"You're trying my patience Torchiwick," she calmly stated through grit teeth. "Why did you call me here?"

"I need information..." Roman asked, his humor vanishing in the blink of an eye.

"About?"

"A colleague of mine is seeking information about a very special individual. A certain person, chosen by a very particular power that would grant the wielder control of the elements." He took another drag of his cigar, savoring the flavor before exhaling the smoke. "Some have even rumored that they have counterparts who are masters of space and time. Foolish fairytales, right?"

"Crackpot theories constructed into cute stories to lull children to sleep" Raven added, crossing her arms.

"What if I told you that it was not only real but that it's going to be the foundation of an inevitable war? What if I told you that the reasons for Valentin's actions that led to his demise were all orchestrated because of a prophecy that threatened to usurp his control over Anima? What if the last great war was merely a prelude of things to come; a seed sown for a future harvest? What would you say to that, Raven?

"I'd say that you were just as crazy as whoever made up such absurdities" The woman scoffed without hesitation.

"Cherish the breeze for her kiss is like the midnight's shadow. Beware the serpent and dragon that lurks about, for their venom will burn as a midday summer. Honor the water's cleansing touch for her touch, with the dawns arising, will bring forth a new harvest. Challenge not the chill of dusk as one with an icy heart will cast inevitable suffering to those who dare not heed the dusk's warning. Through bloodshed, they shall rise. From the ashes, they will reign."

As Roman concluded, the girl known as Neo wiped a tear from her eye, almost to say that his words were true poetry. He thanked her for her kind observation then turned his attention back to an unconvinced Raven Branwen.

"That's a cute poem, but what does that have to do with me?"

Sighing, Roman Torchwich stood to his feet, approaching the woman with a look that spelled out 'I'm serious'. It was almost unnerving for Raven to see him in such a way, focused on something far beyond comprehension. Either he was telling the truth about this, or he was a really good actor; she wished it was the latter of the two. Sadly for her, he didn't appear to be kidding.

"I need you to follow up on a lead, as a favor owed to me. If you do this, your debt from all of those years ago will be paid and I'll... we'll never bother you again. You have my word. My... colleague says that one of these masters of time is a faunus... Someone who possesses great darkness within while shining with light. He may represent midnight's shadow."

"Where would I even find this 'shadow'?" Raven huffed, cursing herself for even entertaining the notions of the lunatic.

"My sources tell me that he's located somewhere in Sedluk Cross."

Raven just stared at him in disbelief.

"You. Want me..." she pointed to herself. "...to somehow not only go to one of the most, if not THE most, secure prison in all of Remnant to break someone out that may or may wield a mythical power based on some legend that may or may not be true?"

Roman thought about her words thoughtfully. Even Neo took a moment to consider the woman's summary, silently motioning to Roman just how farfetched his request was.

"I agree... When she puts it like that, it does sound rather wild, Neo."

"You're crazy, Roman... and I'm leaving."

"Wait! I swear to you that I'm telling the truth," he pleas with her, surprising Neo by his sudden outburst. Raven doesn't listen though, choosing instead to walk past the insane man toward the shorter woman. As she moved to snatch Omen back from her, Neo pulled away, ready to strike only to be stopped by a glance from Roman himself. She didn't like how this woman was treating her Roman, but, she relented under his gaze and returned the katana back to the dark-haired woman. "You don't understand, Raven. The fate of Remnant could very well be on the line."

"Why on earth would I ever consider going to that hell-on-earth?! This isn't just some average police station. You're asking me to risk not only my future but possibly my daughter's future on something that may or may not be real! Plus, you know how my semblance works; I must have a connection with the person in order to reach them, idiot!" She drew her blade, swiftly pointing at the now trembling man, her eyes burning, enraged that her time was wasted. As expected, she soon directed her sword at the defending Neo, who pointed Hush at her. "Nothing could ever make me go there and risk losing everything... and I'm certainly not risking my freedom for the likes of you. Goodbye, Roman..."

Raven then sheathed her blade, placing her helmet back on. As she turned to leave, however, an amusing simper could be heard from behind the woman just as she summoned a portal. Just walk away... she mentally chanted. Two steps and you're back home.

But she didn't take those steps. Whether through curiosity or a knowing, Raven remained where she stood, rooted by the mere chuckle of a madman. There was more to this than he was letting on, and he knew that Raven hated being one step behind. It was merely her nature and Roman was exploiting that opening.

"That's why I came to you in the first place."

"What are you talking about?"

Though she refused to face him, Roman and Neo knew that they had her attention.

"Are you sure that you wouldn't go? Not even if it meant you could redeem yourself for your past?"

What are you going on about now? What redemption?" she was being baited, Raven sensed this and yet, she couldn't stop herself.

Roman motioned to his ally who reached into her pants pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper that she handed over to the armored woman. Raven eyed the two for a moment, wondering just what could be so important that they'd assume that she'd consider 'redemption'. Her blood-red eyes widened in shock at what she was staring at. Seeing the letterhead, she knew that this was an official document from Argus' military base.

A picture of a faunus stuck out to her. Eyes barren of light and yet, not completely given in to the abyss. Grey vulpine ears. A damaged flesh surrounding the right eye. She knew exactly who she was staring at and, true to Roman's words, she felt something she hadn't felt since she received word from her brother, Qrow. Guilt. Though he hadn't been apart of her stable since leaving for Vale, he was still one of her own, a member of her tribe of misfits.

"Where did you get this?" she cut her gaze back to the pair. Neo raised her hand, her smile wide and full of enthusiasm. "What do you get out of this, Roman? We both know that you don't do things for free. You must want something out of this."

Raven watched as Roman, having regained his composure now, tapped his cigar against the ashtray before taking another hit. By now, her anger had regressed back to annoyance and yet, she wasn't against rekindling the flame of fury simmering inside of her. He finally addressed her once his drag was completely expended.

"I was simply instructed to contact you in hopes of ensuring your aid. Apparently, they need him free or whatever. After that's accomplished, they promised to let me out of my debt. I doubt they'll actually follow through but, I've been working on how to get around that. The point is, I'm sure we both can benefit from you busting him out."

Raven remained silent. She found herself staring at the mugshot of her former ward, finally knowing where he was taken. It'd been a year and nobody had been able to locate him. There weren't supposed to be any records of his incarceration and yet, she had the evidence staring her right in the face.

"You're right, Roman."

"Uh... Excuse me?" he tilted his head, not sure if he'd heard her correctly.

"I said you're right," she growled.

"So, do we have a deal?"

"Not yet. How do I know that I can trust you?"

"You're getting the Roman Guarantee?" he shrugged. Raven wasn't buying it though. "What else do you want?"

Raven removed her mask once more, revealing a wicked grin that made borderline demonic. Now it was Raven who was scheming. She was no fool and if Roman needed her assistance, then she was going to ensure that she held the advantage. Sedluk Cross was nothing to play with and Raven had much to lose if things fell through. However, she was also a firm believer of a certain truth in life: Nothing in life was free.

"Collateral."