Blake III – Interrogation

As Torchwick entered the bathroom, Blake turned to see her white-haired companion prodding at the prosthetic on the table. Blake looked over Neo's shoulder as she ran diagnostics. The paint job was bright but seemed to fit Torchwick's flamboyant personality. It was very well made, doubtful Torchwick made it himself. How did he get his hands on this? If he has the pull in Atlas to get this, why is he here in Vale?

Neo nudged her. You really want to know why we left Atlas?

Blake blinked at the shorter girl. Had she said that last bit out loud? Blake thought she had an idea but decided to nod anyway.

Neo reached for the picture frame and cycled the pictures a few times before handing it to Blake. See anyone familiar?

Blake looked down and saw an obvious huntsman team in Atlas Military jumpsuits. The tall bear-faunus was vaguely familiar, but Blake's eyes immediately focused on Ether. "Ether was on your team? Wait, you went to Atlas Academy?"

Neo gave her a Torchwick-esque smirk. Worse, she was my partner. Blake's reaction was funny enough for Neo to shake in silent laughter. How were teams assigned at Beacon?

Blake gave her the quick version. First person you see is your partner. Partners were then paired to make teams of four.

Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Blake had heard some horror stories from Team CFVY about partnerships and team dynamics that were toxic to the point of disaster, though those stories were at best secondhand. "I can imagine so, but our year seemed to be a lucky one."

Neo smiled and hopped up a bit so she could sit on the desk. Atlas has individual aptitude tests. You are assigned a partner and team based on your aptitude as decided by a council of human military officers. There were eight faunus and thirty-two humans in my year. Surprisingly, all the faunus were put on two teams. Neo rolled her eyes exasperatedly before smiling at Blake as if that was all she needed to say.

Good to know military organization stalls in the face of racism. Blake returned the small smile. "Well I know Team FNKI had a human and faunus on a team so maybe things have changed."

Neo gave her a sad smile. Hold onto that optimism, Kitty.

Blake stared at her. There was something in her eyes that Blake couldn't place. What is your story, Neo? Before Blake could ask another question, Torchwick started coughing violently from the bathroom. Neo's eyes were immediately filled with concern as she jumped down and pushed past Blake to reach the door. Blake didn't move to follow, looking back down at the picture and thinking back to the information Adam revealed during his conflict with Ether. Roman, Neo, and Neo's sister were attacked and killed by faunus. Did Neo's entire team turn on her? But why would they do that? When she looked up, Neo tossed a pair of pants into the bathroom and shut the door. Blake cocked her head to the side, not wanting to actually ask if Torchwick was okay.

Neo huffed, irritation clear on her face. I told him taking up smoking was a bad idea, but did he listen to me? Nope!

Blake couldn't hold back her laugh as the shorter girl huffed again and all but stomped over to the computer. How old is she? "Did your team finish the Academy?"

Neo gave her a rueful smile before taking her fingers off the console to sign. Didn't even finish the first year. I was able to participate in a Vytal Festival before everything disintegrated.

Blake watched her carefully, unsure if it was safe to push for more information. She tried to quickly go through the Vytal Festivals she had watched during her time with the White Fang but couldn't remember the fox-faunus. Neo watched her think before smiling and holding up two fingers on one hand and then three on the other. "You're 23?" So, she's two years older than Adam. Thinking of Adam brought the events of the previous day back to the forefront. Before Blake could go far down that rabbit hole, she felt a hand on her wrist.

Neo looked at her with what looked like genuine concern. You okay?

Blake gave her a fake smile and nod, but it was obvious the white-haired woman wasn't buying it. Before she could formulate a more believable lie, the bathroom door opened and Torchwick stepped out. Seeing an opportunity to try and pry information out of an easier to read target, Blake turned but wasn't able to form words at the sight of him.

Torchwick's usual outfit covered almost his entire body but Blake would never have guessed what was hidden under that jacket. His upper body was well toned, like any proper huntsman, but what caught her eye was the massive scar across his chest. How did he survive that? Aura could do a lot, but a wound that large wouldn't be closed fast enough with Aura alone before the person bled out. Maybe an Aura boosting or healing semblance?

"Do you like what you see, Kitty Cat?" His smirk somehow even smugger than usual.

Blake forced her face into the most uninterested one she could, rolled her eyes, and sighed. She almost broke out into laughter when she heard Neo sigh in unison with her. "I would like it better if you stopped peacocking and actually give me the information I am looking for."

"I can do both." The criminal didn't look dazed by his companions' indifference and moved to the console. "Shall we start with why the VPD are after you?"

Neo vacated the chair so that Roman could sit down. I showed her the picture of my old team.

Torchwick laughed tapping away at the console. "Some more questions I have to answer, I suppose." He kept his back straight as Neo dragged the box over and started pulling at the broken pieces still hanging from the shoulder socket. "See anyone you recognize on her team?"

Blake blinked, looking down at the picture frame again. She still couldn't figure out what the criminal pair were talking about. Ether and Neo's true form were obvious. Of the other two, the giant faunus male seemed to have a familiar build, but she couldn't place where she remembered it from. "Nothing outside the obvious."

Torchwick deflated a little, earning a silent chuckle from Neo. "Oh, I thought Cyan's brother would get more of a reaction than that. Poor Teal."

He gave a little laugh, which gained strength when Blake's eyes widened and looked down at the picture again. Cyan was one of Adam's biggest supporters and wore his mask as often as Adam did. The chainsaw wielding faunus never spoke about his family. She had thought he was just being careful or emulating Adam in being a symbol and not a person, but there were always rumors to the contrary. 'Cyan has a brother working for the other side' was one of the more incendiary ones. The younger members of the Fang would certainly classify the Atlesian Military as an enemy. "So Cyan did have family in the military."

Torchwick nodded, wincing slightly when Neo ripped out a damaged wire. "Yeah. Granted I made sure not to mention it when I talked to him. Teal wasn't on good terms with his brother and I don't think that has changed since the last time I saw him. Hm?" Neo tapped Torchwick on the cheek holding the cybernetic toward the socket. "Cleaned and ready for attachment?" At her nod, he took a deep breath, held it a moment, and exhaled. "All right, wh-Argh!" As soon her partner started to agree, Neo shoved the limb into the socket and twisted a nut into place. Every muscle in the human's body tensed for a few moments. Torchwick's eyes closed as he took a shaky breath and relaxed before turning back to his partner. "Ow."

Neo gave him a winning smile. How does it feel?

Torchwick pulled a coin from the pocket of his pants and starts to run it over his new hand. "There's almost no delay." Neo grinned at him in reply.

Blake found herself staring at the shining coin as it clicked against Torchwick's painted metal fingers before she turned to the back of the screen. "Have you found the information yet or you just wasting time for the hell of it?"

Torchwick looked up from the console with a smile, still playing with the coin as he tapped away at the console with his free hand. "Never a waste of time if you're having fun"

"Another Atlesian proverb?" She let the small smile form on her face at her joke.

Torchwick laughed. "Do you seriously think Atlas has-" He caught her smile and laughed harder. "Nice one, Kitty Cat! But if you must know, my mother gave me that piece of advice. She was always the optim-" His eyebrows creased in concern and the coin fell from his hand. "What the fuck?" He suddenly put all his focus on the console, both hands now tapping on the keyboard.

"What's wrong?"

Torchwick's face looked entirely too serious for whatever information he found to be good. He responded by covering his mouth, closing his eyes, and letting out a sigh before looking back at her. "Looks like the VPD got access to Ozpin's files."

"What do you mean?"

He cleared his throat. "Blake Belladonna, 17 years old. Member of the White Fang." Torchwick locked eyes with her. "Wanted for Vandalism, Misuse of Hunstman Weaponry, Assaulting a Police Officer, Grand Theft, Grimm Baiting, Conspiracy against the Kingdom of Vale and its citizens, and Espionage."

Blake stumbled back onto the couch, her blood running cold. I can never go back. The police are going to question my team. Will it affect their ability to become huntresses? She felt tears running down her face. A tiny part of her wanted to not show weakness in front of her enemies but was overshadowed by the guilt piling onto her soul. She was alone again, chased by the White Fang and Vale in the center of the kingdom itself. She felt like when she left Adam on that train, but this time she had no destination. She knew she didn't have time to wallow. She had to figure out her next move. Her body tensed as she desperately tried to come up with a plan.

Neo moved slowly around the chair and sat beside Blake. When she tensed, Neo wrapped her arms around her and pulled her into a hug. Blake brought her hands up to push the smaller girl away, but Neo didn't let go. The white-haired woman held her tight, using one hand to rub behind her ears in small, even circles. Blake's shaking increased for a moment before she wrapped her arms around the shorter girl and started weeping.

The fact that the two people in the room had been her enemies swirled in Blake's mind, but Neo's warm embrace and caress were quieting that particular voice. Scenarios started playing behind her eyelids as tears streamed down her face. Weiss being unable to return to Vale due to her connection to a known fugitive. Yang being interrogated in her hospital bed, missing arm prominent as the officers try to leverage her injury for information. Ruby waking up to find her team scattered and her dream of a huntress dead due to misinformation. She poured her emotions into Neo's shoulders, holding the other woman tight.

After a few minutes, Blake was able to take a few calming breaths before lightly pushing Neo away with a whispered "Thank you."

Neo laid her forehead against Blake's and gave her a reassuring smile. The blankness of her eyes cut into the warmth of the smile. Neo nodded her head before standing up, moving over to the reading chair and sitting down.

Torchwick was watching her with a soft, concerned look. With his hair slicked back and his eyes free of makeup, he looked like a completely different man. "Ms. Belladonna, if you need to get out of the city, I can help."

Blake was still trying to pull herself together, hating how weak her voice sounded. "Why?"

He let out a little laugh. "Because I want to? Because I am feeling a little guilty about my part in all this? Because I want to prove to myself that I can still be useful to someone? Pick whichever you like Kitty Cat."

"You really think you can get me out of town without getting us killed by Grimm or captured by the VPD?"

He looked closer to the Torchwick she remembered when he smirked. "I'll do you one better. Tell me where you want to go, and I will get you there. Getting to Patch should be easy."

Blake blinked. Patch? Then it clicked in her mind. "No! I can't go to them! I'm wanted and the last thing my team needs is me being there while they recover."

Torchwick's eyes were unfocused for a moment before he set his mouth in a firm line. "Take it from me, don't just run."

Blake felt her anger growing. "I'm not running, I'm protecting them! How can I show up now and force them to hide me at the risk of their own dreams!"

Torchwick closed his eyes for a moment and breathed out slowly. "So, where am I taking you?"

Blake blinked at him. "What do you mean? Even if I wanted to take a trip with you, why would I trust you?"

"Do you have another choice?" His face was devoid of any hint of a smile.

"I could run." The words escaped without thinking and she immediately tensed in preparation for a fight. Neo simply turned a page in her book and Torchwick cocked his head at Blake, pondering something. For several minutes, there was no movement or sound save for Neo reading her book, seemingly unaware of the awkward silence. "W-what are you thinking about?" She winced at her own stutter.

Torchwick finally blinked and mumbled something to himself before giving the black-haired faunus his full attention. "I'll tell you what, Kitty Cat. In the interest of alleviating your concerns, I will make you a promise."

Blake was about to respond when Neo shut the book she was reading with an audible 'clap'. As Torchwick and Blake turned to regard the short woman, she locked eyes with her partner with a warning look on her face. Blake looked back at the crime boss. "A promise? If I don't trust you now, how can I trust any promise you make?"

Torchwick gave her a genuine smile. "Blake." No nickname or smugness. He was trying to be serious. "My word is my bond. I don't make promises I don't keep. So, if you don't trust me now then ask me whatever you want. I promise I won't lie to yo-GAH!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a book hit him in the side of the head with force. Blake noted it was a copy of "Black and White, Blade and Bow", a romance novel about the love between two very different huntresses. Torchwick turned to regard his partner who was standing up and fuming at him. Take. It. Back.

"No"

Don't be a fool. If you do that you have no place in Vale anymore!

Torchwick smiled at his partner tossing the book back at her. "Remember what I promised you Vanille. I don't plan on staying here."

Neo glared at Torchwick for a full minute before sitting back down, crossing her legs, and placing the book open on her lap in one fluid, angry motion. Blake could practically feel the frustration radiate from the fox-faunus. This promise thing is serious? Blake felt like an idiot as she turned to the man behind the console and asked. "What's your name?" May as well start with one I kn-

"Jack Calico"

Blake blinked at him, to which he smirked. So Roman wasn't his real name or is this some hidden joke? Well, in for a penny. "Who is responsible for the attack on Beacon?"

Torchwick turned the console off to give her his full attention before answering. "I was brought in by Cinder, who even then had her two hangers-on, Emerald and Mercury."

So that was Cinder's voice on the announcement after all. "Why did you help them?"

Torchwick shrugged. "At first, it was a job. Go steal some dust from a few shops. I thought it was a matter of corporate espionage. By the time I figured it out, Cinder made it very clear that she had the ability to get at the people I care about."

She could understand the impulse, the image of her team or parents being held hostage coming to mind, but she wanted to press him. "You are supposedly smart. I am sure you could have come up with something."

"Had I known my semblance was fire manipulation, I would have tried to kill her and her little minions. That would be a calculated risk though, Cinder is the kind that will go after your family even if your dead." His voice was frustrated, which he seemed to notice because he took a calming breath before continuing. "The problem is whoever was backing Cinder."

Blake's began thinking about all the information she had on Cinder's team, knowing most of it was likely fake. "Who would back taking down an Academy?"

Torchwick places his hands on the desk, stretching his fingers. "There are some mad people out there. I don't have any real information on who was backing her, but they have some high ranking Atlesian scientist in their employ to hack the Knights."

"I thought you hacked the Knights." He certainly seemed to know his way around Atlas technology in her teams fight with him.

Torchwick seemed amused by that. "Because of the Paladin? While I am flattered you have such faith in my intelligence, I can't hack Atlas military code."

Blake looked away to think. She wondered how far she could push this so-called honesty of his. "How do you know Adam?"

Torchwick raises an eyebrow. "According to Adam, you two were pretty close. I assumed if anyone got through that mask of his, it was you."

Blake pushed the image of Adam's mask-less face to the back of her mind. "You're avoiding the question."

He scratched the back of his head with his mechanical arm. "Checking my creditability, eh? Well, I ran into him being cornered in an Atlas warehouse by a hired assassin." Hired assassin? I thought it was just some rogue huntress. "Following that fight, I pulled him back with me to my home where Sherry and Vanille were. Eventually, I started training him. Some years later he left to join up with the White Fang."

That lines up with what Adam said. Blake allows herself to relax. She would get him relaxed too before she threw the hard questions at him. 'His word is his bond'. She still doubted it was true. "So, you grew up in Atlas"

"Yep, the City of Splendors. Where the air is clear and the Grimm little more than a story to scare children."

"Sounds like a wonderland." She didn't try hiding her skepticism

"It's a gilded cage at best. You have to carry your ID everywhere so that the police can make sure there aren't any unapproved people up on their sacred city."

Blake sneered. I'm sure what faunus live there are checked far more often than the humans. "Did your parents hate it as much as you?"

Torchwick leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling and smiled slightly. "My dad was an old military man who always gave off this air that Atlas was the greatest country to ever exist on the surface of Remnant. In reality, he was a broken man who was trapped in his own ideals. Mom was a firebrand from Mantle who paradoxically fell for a military man while also raging against the mistreatment of the lower classes. I would classify them as interesting if not good people."

Well the orphan part of his Vale dossier was correct. "I noticed the past tense. Any living family in Atlas?"

"In the city? No but I do have a cousin in Mantle. Haven't seen her since I left."

You mean before your wife died. Adam's explanation for Ether's murder rang in her head again. "What happened to your wife?"

Torchwick's face shut down, his eyes taking on the dull emotionless look she had only connected to Neo at that point. Neo was staring down at her book, stuck halfway through turning a page. Torchwick sighed heavily as he reached toward the picture frame. "Vanille, if you need to leave, please do so." Blake watched Neo look over to her partner, her face grateful as she left out the door. I guess she does have a heart. The thought immediately filled her with guilt. She had seen Neo cry into her partners chest twice at this point. It was obvious the shorter woman had a deep emotional connection the crime lord. "Are you sure you want to know?" His deathly calm voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

I can't back out now. "Yes. Adam travelled alone across two continents to track her down and I want to know why."

Torchwick turned the picture around, showing Neo's old Atlas team. "Ether was Vanille's partner, so she spent some of her time at my house. Somehow, she found the time between throwing hate in my direction to seduce Vanille's twin brother."

"Wait, I thought she just had a sister." There wasn't an extra person in the picture with Adam. Torchwick smirked and she shivered. It wasn't his usual smug smirk. This smirk combined with his dull eyes crafted a much more menacing expression. He cycled the picture a few times to show a group of five people. The picture looked just as joyful as the other group photo Blake had seen, but with a new boy joining the group. He looked just like Neo but was a little taller and had black hair and light brown eyes. "So, Ether seduced him?"

He chuckles, the dark cloud over him lifting for a moment. "Oh yes, she was about as subtle as a club to the head too. Didn't take him to long to fall for her, despite her abrasive personality."

"Does this have anything to do with my question?"

Torchwick smiled at her, his voice condescending. "Patience please, do you always skip to the end of the story." He chuckled at her rolling eyes, but his tone returned to normal. "Following a confrontation with Sherry, I forbit Ether from coming around anymore. Neither Cholat nor his team returned after I threw her out, until the day I got this." He lifted his mechanical limb.

Blake felt her eyes widen. She had expected Ether to convince Neo's team to turn against her for some reason. What would make her twin turn on her? Torchwick was watching her with a sad smile on his face. He knew what she wanted to ask, raising an eyebrow as if to prompt her. "Why did they attack you?"

"Hate. Though to be more specific it was because Sherry and I were married and were… 'creating an abomination' I believe is the phrase they used." Blake's eyes widened. She had heard talk like that in the White Fang by the extreme radicals. Now she knew why Adam was so brutally efficient in setting people straight when they said things like that. Her eyes itched as she felt genuine empathy for the man sitting in front of her for the first time. "Ether and team CIAN decided to attack us one day. Took my arm and Vanille's voice, but Sherry was the one that suffered. She didn't go down without a fight though."

So that's where Ether's scarred face came from. Blake believed he was telling the truth now. She felt herself relax without forcing herself to. She decided to take advantage of the situation to ask some questions that had been stirring in her head for a while. "What is Adam to you?"

Torchwick seemed happy at the change of subject and made a show of thinking on it. "Some weird mix of 'brother' and 'son'. I'm not that much older than him, but looking back, I was the closest thing he had to a father figure."

Blake caught herself smiling and didn't immediately force it down. "Thank you for helping him when he was a boy." Torchwick waved it off and gestured for her to keep going. "How old are you?"

"28, 29 in a couple more months"

Blake was surprised. She had expected him to be in his mid-thirties based on how successful of a criminal he was. "One last question for now. I understand where Neo Politan came from, but where did 'Roman Torchwick' come from."

Torchwick got up and moved to the door to retrieve Neo. "Oh, Torchwick came from brainstorming. I have a theme in using objects that produce light in my aliases."

Neo walked back in, looking up at her partner as if evaluating him for injuries as Blake asked. "and Roman?"

Torchwick turned and gave her a sad smile. "Oh, if I had a son, his name would have been Roman."

Blake looked down. "Sorry"

Torchwick sat back down behind his desk. "Don't worry about it, Kitty Kat. Now, we need to worry about getting you to Menagerie."

Blake's head shot up and stared at him. All she got in response was a smirk and a wink.