I Do Not Own RWBY

A Well Timed Meeting

As Roman and Neo approached the bar, all they could feel was dread. It all felt suspiciously like a trap, but with being stuck between a rock and a hard place They had to try something to get themselves out of this. They just had to survive.

Peering through the front windows, he thought it looked empty enough. It was hard to tell though with the glare of the sun against the glass. He was lucky he had Neo by his side. With her semblance they were both disguised perfectly. If things didn't look right inside, then they could just leave. As he reached for the door, he felt a slight tug on his arm. Looking down he saw the worry in her face.

"We're going to be okay. We'll get through all of this, we can't afford to loose."

Watching the two enter, I easily picked up on their disguises. Neo's semblance truly was amazing. You had to pick up on the subtleties in order to notice. The difference in height, Roman's walk, their mannerisms. Once you've learned how to spot the differences, then you're less open for a surprise attack.

"Jack o' Lantern. Glad to see that you're punctual." I state, catching their attention. "If the environment is making you feel uncomfortable about our little get together, then I apologize. I meant to make this meeting as private as possible. If you would care to take a seat then I've saved us a booth. I donated quiet a large some to the owner of this bar to keep it closed to the public for as long as I need it to be."

Shedding their disguise, the pair eyed up the bartender as they walked towards my booth. Roman let Neo take the window seat before he sat down next to her, right across from me. I take the opportunity to order us some drinks to get this meeting under way.

"So, you called us here and you're all by yourself? I must either be crazy enough to fall for your little trap, or you're just as crazy for coming here without backup." He stated

Chuckling, I agreed with him. "I might in fact be crazy, but you mustn't be worried about this being a trap. I simply called you here to have a little chat. Now if it makes you feel any better you can survey the area for anyone waiting to capture you, but if you're satisfied I would suggest having Neopolitan use her semblance to make it look like this place is busier than it is at the moment. Make it seem less conspicuous for us."

Sneering he motioned towards the windows. Placing her hand on the glass, it reverberated with pink shards as it spread across the panes. Nothing on the inside changed, but I could imagine that from the outside of the bar the place looked lively enough to discourage drinkers from finding a resting place here.

"Good, now then let's get straight to business. You're probably wondering why I called you here, and who exactly I am."

Getting to the point, Roman slid my card onto the table. "You were with that cat chick and banana boy at the docks the other night. I'm not an idiot. And I'm guessing that while we were fighting you somehow managed to get one past me and slip this card into my pocket. I was wondering why you were holding back while we fought."

Leaning back I answer his guesses. "My apologies. I was trying not to make it too obvious. My name is Drew Azzurum, and I am a student attending Beacon along with the feline faunus that fought along side me. But aside from that, you're probably wondering why a huntsman in training would like to meet with a criminal like you in private like this." I ask.

"Yes. Thinking about it is quiet odd. If you had wanted to capture me then I'm sure you could have done so back then. Also there's the whole fact that you knew about my partner here, even when she wasn't even backing me up during that heist."

"You are right in that regard. I don't wish to capture you Roman. I want to work with you!" I exclaim excitedly. "As to how I knew about your partner, well that's rather complicated. In the future I will reveal it to you, but now is not the time. So, let's cut to my deal." A watch as the two exchange glances. I noticed a slight intrigue, so I continued.

"I know all there is to know about Cinder and her two cronies. I know about her plans for Beacon, and I know who she answers to. In regards to her plans, that is where you come in. You see during their final operation, you don't quiet make it out in one piece."

At the mention of his death, Roman's mind starts to race. Who the hell is this kid?

"All I'm asking, is that you keep me informed on how far Cinder's plan is coming along. As long as you stick to it, you'll be safe. Now when it comes to the end of your line, I will have one of my teammates step in and rescue you. I don't wish for you to die Roman. You still have much more time to spend in this world. So, after that you two and the teammate I've selected will head to Mistral where you'll learn how I know all of this will transpire."

Roman seemed shocked, dazed and puzzled all at the same time. Looking over towards Neo, he could feel the murderous intent radiating off of her. And if he could feel it, then so could Drew.

"Neo." He whispered to her. "Don't kill him just yet. We need to know more before we take action. If what he says is true, then maybe this is the path we should go down." Sighing, she nods to show that she's backed down. For now.

Getting serious, Roman wonders. "You say I die during our attack on Beacon, and you want to save me? If what you say is true, then what's stopping us from just killing you so our plan doesn't get leaked and then saving myself when the time comes?"

"Because I know more than what I'm letting on. Plus I highly doubt you'd be able to avoid your own death without my very specific knowledge on how to do so. And if you could kill me, I already have several ways to ensure that what I know won't be lost." Crossing my hands on the table, I finally get to the main point. "Now then, about the plan. I won't necessarily go against it, but I do wish to tweak a few things along the way. And while all of it starts to unfold, I would like you to join me. I also wish to try and recruit Cinder and her two followers before things turn south."

At that last statement, Roman couldn't help but cackle with laughter. "Recruit us? You, a kid, wants to recruit us? And not just us, but the one person above me that has threatened to kill us if we don't do what she says. Now that is adorable."

I tilt my head at his assumption. "I'm a lot older than I look Roman. And besides, if you join me then I can guarantee you'll live through Beacon's demise."

Looking me dead in the eyes, Roman thinks it over. If Cinder ever found out, then she would burn a hole through his chest.

"What exactly is your goal?" he asks.

I could tell this was it. The turning point. If I didn't win him over now, then they would walk out of that door and I would fail to save him.

"If Cinder's master wins, and she will if we don't stop her, then all of humanity and faunus kind will be wiped out of existence. I know of a way to stop her and put an end to this war in the shadows. After I'm finished with her, then I move onto Ozpin. That is my end goal."

Taking it all in, Neo and Roman sat there thinking. It was a lot to take in all at once.

"We'll join you, if you tell us your full plan." he states

I grin. "Of course. Once I've assembled my full deck of cards, I will explain everything to everyone all at once."

Looking over to Neo for reassurance, all he saw was trust. She would follow whatever he decided on.

"Ah to hell with it. If you know so much already and what you say about the end of the world is true then, what have we got to lose."

"Excellent!" I stammer as I shake his hand in agreement. I also politely hold my hand out for Neo to shake it, which she nervously did. Man I hope I don't get on her bad side. "Now then, I'll need your actual scroll number so I can keep in touch with you in case shit hits the fan. Also for when you have an update for me in regards to changes in the overall plan."

Sliding his scroll across the table, Roman consents. "Sure, but can I not have the code name Jack o' Lantern?" he asks, jokingly holding up the card.

Smirking, I slip the card out of his hand and place another on his side of the table. "Alright. How does Joker sound?"

"Now that I can live with. For at least the time being." he said with a sly grin.

We finished our drinks while talking about our fight at the docks. In a way, it was unusually casual. I let them leave first, not wanting to be rude and just walk out on my own. After a few minutes had past, I thank the owner and take my leave. As I begin to walk, the other three start to form up around me.

Walking up beside me, Iris asks. "All according to plan?"

I keep walking with my head down. An evil smile painted across my face. "All according to plan."

It's finally complete! Gotta say this was the fastest chapter to right.

So I've started production on Volume 2, but it definitely won't be out for a while. Maybe summer at the earliest. I do want to work on some of my own original projects so I can hopefully make a living the way I want to soon. Along with writing Volume 2 I also want to start designing some stuff for this. I've already started on the character emblems, so I'll probably upload that as this story's art sometime soon. I'll try to find a way to link the designs with the chapters once they're completed. Just a heads up though, I'm shit at drawing people so it's going to take a lot of time to get it all right.

Thank you all for reading this, and I hope you all look forward to the future of this story.

P.S. If you really liked that Watts vs Ironwood fight and the soundtrack to Metal Gear Rising Revengeance I took the song It Has to Be This Way from the final boss fight and dubbed over their fight on the gravity platforms. It's on my Youtube channel. I really wanted to use Collective Consciousness, but I just couldn't get the song to line up to the fight choreography.