"Alright Ruby, we only have time for one more before it gets dark," Blake sighed. They were standing outside a decrepit warehouse, having only just left it. White Fang markings decorated the exterior. The inside was in complete disarray, cleared of any evidence that might have helped their cause.

The White Fang was meticulous, cautious enough to protect themselves from Hunters and the police. They moved their safehouse frequently, back and forth between a small network of abandoned buildings, factories, and warehouses. Blake and Ruby had already visited over half a dozen, and left with their hands empty every time.

"We can keep going! I'll be fine, Blake!" Ruby protested against the suggestion that they give up. She spun Crescent Rose, compacting it to clip it on to her back. Blake refused to take any chances, and had demanded that they remain on their guard on every approach, regardless of whether or not the buildings looked abandoned.

Blake returned Gambol Shroud to her back and gestured for Ruby to follow, taking a moment to orient herself with where they were in the city. There were only four safehouses left that she knew of. If she had been by herself, she would have kept going, well into the night in order to complete their mission.

"You can't see in the dark, Ruby. The sun's going down soon, and none of the streetlights work where we're going. I'm not going to drag you into a fight when you'll barely be able to see."

Ruby crossed her arms with a pout. "I don't want to make Weiss wait, though. You saw how she was when we left."

"And she'll feel even more guilty if something happened to you. We aren't arguing about this. You promised to do whatever I said. It was the one rule you had to agree to, otherwise I never would have brought you along in the first place."

Ruby's defiant attitude faltered. "Sorry… I just… I just want to help her out, you know? She's my partner, and I'm her leader. It's my responsibility to make sure everyone is taken care of…"

Blake picked her way through the street, eyes downcast. She sighed and turned her head towards Ruby, flashing the girl a look of understanding, "I know. You're a good leader, Ruby. Don't put too much pressure on yourself though, alright? It's not up to you to solve everyone's problems. You don't need to sacrifice your own safety for Weiss's sake. We'll check one more warehouse, and if the White Fang aren't there, we'll search some more tomorrow. I promise."

After a few quiet seconds, Ruby nodded her acceptance.

They continued on, steering clear of the more populated areas. Even now with the sun going down, there were still all manner of protestors occupying the streets. Blake and Ruby had seen for themselves the damage they caused. Human and faunus establishments alike, defaced in the wake of so much unrest.

'This is all the White Fang's fault…'

Years of tension between humans and faunus was being unleashed. Violence had never been the answer, merely a way of inspiring peace through fear. Now the floodgates had been let loose. Tensions were at an all time high, tempers flaring, only serving to widen the divide.

Blake was ashamed to have ever been a part of it. She never should have gone with Adam, never should have chosen him over her own parents.

It was almost half an hour later before they were nearing the final location for the night. Warehouses surrounded them on every side. Many of them were abandoned, purchased with lien the White Fang had amassed. It helped to keep away any outsiders, people that might have grown suspicious over the activities of those that frequented it.

Blake held up a hand, signalling for Ruby to slow down and hug the wall of a nearby building. If she remembered correctly, only a couple of warehouses were now between them and the safehouse. She offered up a silent prayer, hoping that they would finally find what they'd been searching for.

A distant rumble caught her ear. Blake's bow twitched, ears pivoting beneath as she tried to triangulate the foreign noise. No one should be nearby, not unless they were part of the White Fang themselves. After a few moments, the sound became more distinct. Engines, and a lot of them. Head whipping every which way, Blake grabbed Ruby by the sleeve.

"Blake?" Ruby spoke nervously, pupils having dilated in the increasingly low light. "What is it?"

"Someone's coming." Headlights appeared in the distance, the brief flash of lights turning a corner. They were headed directly for them, right past where the two had chosen to seek refuge.

Blake quickly pulled Ruby behind her, around a nearby corner and out of sight from the passing vehicles. She shrunk against the side of the building, pressing Ruby back against it as well so that their figures would remain in the shadows. The darkness itself would do little for them when it came to remaining out of sight, but with any luck, no one would think to look their way.

Ruby could now hear the trucks as well. She trembled nervously, hand reaching back to rest against her scythe for comfort. Blake's ears twitched more with each passing moment, until finally, four large trucks rumbled past them in the direction of the safehouse.

Blake held her breath.

Thankfully, it didn't appear as if they'd been spotted. No cries of warning erupted from the vehicles, nor screeching of brakes. They continued on their way, eventually pulling to a stop outside the warehouse. Blake and Ruby crept forward, peeking around the corner to get an eye on them once more.

Loud shouts reached their ears, followed by the grinding of metal as the heavy bay doors were rolled up to allow the trucks inside. The warehouse itself was massive, easily one of the largest safehouses the White Fang had to offer. Blake knew it well. It was a staging ground, meant for gathering resources before large scale missions.

A dozen White Fang members could be seen patrolling the grounds, several more within the building. Once the trucks had all been ushered inside, the bay doors grinded to life once more, lowering and cutting off their line of sight into the interior. Even with only a brief glance, Blake knew they had a problem. Large Dust crates were stacked within, bigger than any the White Fang had managed to procure before.

"Blake? What do we do?" Ruby whispered, crouched down next to the faunus so that she could also peek around the corner.

"Let me think…" Blake said in a hushed tone. She pulled Ruby back along with her, wary of being spotted by faunus eyes.

'There's no way we can do what we set out to, not with so many of them around.' The prospect of trying to capture one of them while they were split off and alone was daunting. With so many eyes and ears guarding the building, they were sure to be noticed.

"We'll have to come back another night," Blake sighed.

Ruby stared at her worriedly, "What do you think they're doing?"

"Planning something. Something big. I've never seen so much Dust in the White Fang's hands before."

Ruby's brows pinched together in doubt, fighting to speak up despite agreeing to follow Blake's lead. Her voice was quiet, hesitant with clear indecision. "Shouldn't we find out what they're doing? This is our best chance, before they leave. We could warn Beacon, and put a stop to whatever it is."

Blake bit her lip, glancing back around the corner at all of the guards on patrol. "I don't know, Ruby… There's too much risk…"

Ruby narrowed her eyes, "I'm not going to stand by and let the White Fang hurt more people. Not when there's something we can do about it. This is bigger than us, bigger than Weiss. Lives are at stake."

Blake rubbed a hand against her temple, trying to dispel her nerves. Ruby was right. Even if it wasn't what they'd been expecting, they couldn't just back out now. They couldn't leave without finding out what the White Fang was up to.

With a quiet sigh, Blake nodded her acceptance. "Don't think this changes anything," she warned hurriedly, seeing the determination on Ruby's face, "If I tell you to do something, you do it. No questions asked."

Ruby smirked, "You're the expert. Whatever you say, Blake~ I won't argue."

Blake watched Ruby carefully, measuring her resolve. After a few long seconds of staring into a pair of confident silver eyes, Blake nodded her acquiescence. "Follow me. Our safest bet is to get on the roof. If I remember correctly, there's a few skylights spread out across the building. We'll use those and see what we can see."

Ruby stood up straight and smoothed out her skirt, waiting for Blake to lead the way. The faunus gestured behind her, in the opposite direction of the main road leading to the safehouse. As long as they were careful, they could move along the outskirts of the other buildings to find the best way to access the roof.

Together, they crept through the shadows. Blake was concerned when she noticed the light beginning to fade. It was hard to tell just how much was left with her faunus eyes. Could Ruby see well enough, or was she putting on a brave face? Blake watched her closely, and was glad to see her stepping carefully around any obstacles in their path. Ruby might not have been the quietest, but she wasn't a complete novice when it came to the art of stealth.

"Here should be good," Blake whispered. They'd reach the corner of a nearby building, only one narrow street now separating them from the safehouse. Patrols walked the perimeter, some keeping a better eye out than others.

Now that they were there, the next problem became clear to Blake. The roof of the warehouse was over twenty feet high, the lip of the building's railing another foot higher still. Between her semblance and her acrobatics, Blake was confident she could reach the top.

'But what about Ruby?'

After a moment of consideration, she decided to pose the question to her leader. She turned to find Ruby nervously glancing past her, shrinking into the shadows every time a patrol drew near.

"Ruby, can you get up the side of the building without using Crescent Rose? Without making any noise?"

Ruby looked past her, raising her eyes to the height in question. She frowned, seeming to give it due consideration. "I think I can manage. I've been practicing a lot with my semblance lately. I can kind of… go up now?"

Blake frowned, "Isn't your semblance super speed? What do you mean by 'go up'?"

Ruby shrugged uncertainly, "I'm not sure how I do it… I was thinking about having you guys watch me, but with everything that's happened recently I never really got around to it."

Blake looked doubtfully between Ruby and the building. Could they really risk being discovered on a 'maybe'? On the other hand, Blake was certain that Ruby would argue about being left behind. Despite any promises she'd made, the young huntress was fiercely protective. Being separated… it wouldn't go over very well, either.

"If you're sure you can make it, then I'll trust you. Just keep in mind that we need to be quiet. If that's going to be a problem for you, tell me now."

Ruby stared past her hesitantly. After a few seconds, her resolve began to firm. She looked back to Blake and nodded, heart set on staying close to watch her teammate's back. "I can do it."

"Okay," Blake took Ruby at her word, choosing to believe in her leader. She crept forward, moving closer so that only a foot remained between herself and the edge of their makeshift cover. Her eyes caught on to a member of the patrol, and she shrank back next to Ruby while holding a finger to her lips.

Once the man had passed, Blake gestured Ruby up next to her. "Alright, it's now or never. You'll have to go first. I won't be able to signal the best time for you to go once I'm already on the roof."

Ruby nodded nervously, letting out quiet breaths to psych herself up. With one final push from Blake, Ruby used her semblance to blur across the street. She slowed for only a moment once she reached the wall, placing a foot against the brickwork to give herself upwards momentum. In a flash of red petals, she darted up far enough to reach the ledge. Ruby scrambled against it, pulling herself over the side and out of sight, hiding and waiting for Blake to join her.

Blake breathed a sigh of relief. She'd kept her own ears on alert, measuring how loud Ruby was before pressing on. The young huntress had barely made any noise at all. Nothing close to what it would have taken to alert any of the guards.

Waiting for the next patrol to pass, Blake followed in her leader's wake. She rushed across the street and pushed off from the wall as Ruby had, jumping within range for her semblance to get her the rest of the way. Blake appeared on the rooftop, leaving behind a clone that hung in the air for only a moment before being dispelled.

"Come here often?" Ruby whispered nervously. She was lying on the rooftop where she'd initially disappeared, breathing deeply to calm her nerves. Blake rolled her eyes with a grin, and helped Ruby back on to her feet.

Placing a hand to her lips, Blake gestured for silence. They tiptoed quietly across the rooftop, moving in the direction of the first skylight. Blake was careful to peek slowly at first, wary of drawing any attention. Ruby moved next to her, and followed her lead in glancing cautiously through the window.

The trucks were all parked in a line, the backs opened to allow Dust containers to be loaded within. Dozens of masked White Fang members moved about their tasks, hurriedly packing the trucks with everything they had on hand. Thankfully, the interior was lit, allowing Ruby to also see what was happening below.

A familiar voice began to shout orders, followed by a mess of bright red hair and black horns that immediately caught Blake's eye. She panicked, pushing her hand against Ruby's chest to force her away and out of sight. Blake did the same, shrinking away from the skylight while breathing heavily. Adam was here. She heard him continuing to shout loudly, demanding they move faster.

"Blake, what's wrong?" Ruby asked in a whisper. It was almost silent, even to Blake's ears. She pulled Ruby further away in order to respond.

"I saw Adam inside. We have to be careful, Ruby. Recruits we can handle, but even with our weapons I don't think we'd stand a chance against him."

Ruby rested her hand on Crescent Rose, but eventually nodded her agreement. "What's next, then?"

Blake's eyes rose to the rest of the rooftop. The nearest skylight also looked down into the same room, but the furthest connected to the building's office. It was a place Blake had spent much of her time, the planning grounds for past missions.

Blake gestured Ruby to follow, and crept across the rooftop once more. The pair moved in absolute silence, taking their time and testing their footing with every step. With the size of the building, it took a few minutes to get all the way across, especially at their stagnated pace. It was better than getting caught though, and Blake felt a brief swelling of pride that her leader was managing so well.

Coming up to the skylight, Blake once more took absolute caution in glancing inside. Only one person was within, a red headed woman that wasn't currently wearing a mask like the rest. She sat at the desk, impatiently tapping her fingers against it while a scroll sat open in front of her. From the looks of things, she was waiting for a call.

'I don't recognize her…' Blake thought worriedly, unsure of who this new woman could be. To be alone in the command room meant she was higher up in the chain. Blake stared apprehensively. She hadn't been gone from the White Fang that long. Who was this person, and how had she climbed the ranks so quickly?

Understanding surged to the forefront. Past conversations with Olivia, and something Adam himself had said the night of the attack now coming to mind. 'It was a stroke of luck that Widow joined our ranks.'

Blake backpedaled, pulling Ruby with her as quickly as she dared. Her heart pounded in her chest, nerves causing her body to tremble. There was around thirty feet between themselves and her. How far did her sixth sense reach? Further than Olivia's? Far enough to have noticed them? Blake waited with bated breath, listening for a call to arms, for the signal that would announce they'd been discovered.

Ruby looked like she wanted to speak, but Blake shook her head forcefully. She was on high alert, and refused to be distracted for the moment.

After a minute had passed, Blake felt her nerves beginning to calm. She let out a breath she'd been holding, eyes returning to the skylight. If Widow had noticed, then surely something would have happened by now. The fact that nothing had was the best news Blake could have asked for. She hadn't sensed them, and likely wouldn't as long as they were careful.

Blake put a finger to her lips once more, signalling to Ruby that they shouldn't take any chances. Her leader nodded timidly, and followed Blake as she crept up to the skylight. She didn't dare to look in, so instead only got close enough to listen. If Widow was expecting a call, then maybe she would have an opportunity to overhear their plans.

After a few minutes of waiting in absolute silence, a dull vibration sounded. Widow's chair creaked as she sat up, her fingers no longer drumming against the wooden tabletop. With an indistinct 'click', the scroll popped open to accept the call.

"Finally," Widow spoke in annoyance, "Do you know how long you kept me waiting?"

"I'm sorry. I wasn't aware you were in such a rush. But please, do go on. I'm sure you'll want to waste even more time by complaining."

Blake frowned, trying to recognize who the second voice belonged to. It sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place it. Her ears were better than most, and she prided herself in her own ability to distinguish voices. The source still eluded her, though. Whoever it belonged to, she hadn't heard them speak often enough.

Widow let out an annoyed huff in response, "Fine then. I'll get straight to the point. I need to borrow your little illusionist. Somethings come up. From the sounds of it, Sienna is planning on disavowing the Vale branch. I don't need her support, but if she does go to the public, it will be a brutal blow against morale."

"What are you going to do?"

"Work a little magic. Together, we'll be able to make a fun video. One that has our own Sienna, directly contradicting whatever she announces. One that says she's still supporting us privately. It'll go a long way in convincing new recruits that they're still fighting for the cause."

"Sounds like you'll have your work cut out for you. When do you want her?"

"Whenever you can spare her. The sooner the better, otherwise we'll be letting their doubts settle in. That woman has denied me more than enough for one lifetime. I won't let her put a stop to my efforts here, not again."

There was the sound of a knob rattling, then a loud pounding against the door. Adam's voice shouted out, muffled by the wood. "Widow! We're ready to move out!"

"Sounds like you're busy. I'll message you when she's free. Just make sure you keep your schedule open. I don't want her gone for too long, not with so many eyes on us."

"Don't worry so much. You're the one they care about," Widow chided lightly, letting out a small laugh. The scroll clicked shut and the chair wheels rolled back. Faint steps could be heard, walking across the room before opening the door.

"What's taking so long?" Adam growled out, stepping into the room.

Blake tensed, lowering herself further against the rooftop on instinct alone. She hated to admit it, but Adam scared her. He'd become so much worse than the angry young man she first met. She'd hoped to help change him, once upon a time. That plan had long since failed.

Widow tutted, "Patience, child. Everything is going according to plan. Has all of the Dust been loaded?"

Blake's eyes widened when she heard Adam sigh. "Yes. We're just waiting on you." Widow had calmed him so quickly, so effectively! It had normally taken her hours to work him down from a temper like the one he'd just displayed.

There was an elongated silence after that. Blake shifted nervously, wondering why the conversation had come to a sudden halt. She glanced back at Ruby and saw the confusion in her eyes. She'd likely only heard bits and pieces of the conversation, if that. Ruby raised her eyebrows questioningly, wondering what they were doing next.

"Change of plans, Adam," Widow spoke up finally. Blake leaned closer again, hoping to hear every bit of what they were about to discuss.

"What do you mean-"

"Quiet now," Widow interrupted him, "No arguing. I want you to go without me. Get the shipment to where it needs to be. While you're at it… leave some of the recruits. It's important that we make sure this place is cleared out completely. We wouldn't want to leave any evidence behind, would we?"

Even without seeing him, Blake knew Adam well enough to picture his frustration. Being bossed around like that by someone that should be his inferior? It was a recipe for-

"Whatever you say, Widow. Just make sure you catch up soon."

Blake's breathing stopped. 'What did… did he just…?' Clearly, she had misinterpreted their dynamic. Was Adam no longer in control? Had Widow usurped him, becoming the true leader of the Vale branch in his stead? Or was something else going on? It only served to frighten her further. Olivia had told her that Widow was dangerous, but even so, she'd thought Adam a close contender.

But now?

Both sets of footsteps faded. The door shut behind them, leaving the room entirely vacant. Blake finally peeked over the edge once again, staring down at the desk in the hopes of gathering information. A few papers were spread out across it, but nothing that looked like a map.

'Where are they taking all that Dust?' It was the most pressing question, one that hadn't been answered by all she overheard. Considering the fact that Widow planned to clear everything out, this was potentially her only chance to read them before it was too late.

Engines roared to life, followed by the sound of the large bay doors raising again. Blake heard a few shouts, and the slamming of truck doors. Wheels rumbled across the ground, backing out into the street before fading into the distance. Lastly, the bay doors shrieked, contacting the ground with a dull thud that announced they'd fully closed once more.

Blake glanced into the office. It was now or never. Any minute now, Widow might return to collect the papers she'd left behind. Blake needed to see what was on them, needed to learn what valuable insight they might offer.

"Ruby, I'm going in." Blake said, doing her best to sound calm. "I want you to wait up here. Stay out of sight until I get back."

Ruby looked past her fearfully, down into the room. "Are you sure? What if they come back?"

"They probably will, which is why I need to be quick," Blake reached down to undo the latch. She pulled on the handle, opening the skylight so that there was just enough space for her to slip through. It was a long drop to the floor, but initiation had been many times further. She could handle it easily enough, with or without any of her tricks.

Ruby finally nodded, hands twisting together nervously. "Be careful."

Blake flashed the girl one last confident smirk before pulling herself through the open skylight. She dangled off the edge for a moment, waiting for her body to still before letting go. It was a long drop, over a second worth of free fall until her feet connected with the floor. Blake rolled as she landed, displacing some of her inertia in the hopes of deafening the sound that was created.

Immediately, she rushed to the desk. Blake couldn't take the papers with her, otherwise Widow would know someone had been here. She could just as easily change her plans, making whatever Blake learned useless after the fact.

Her eyes scanned the documents, taking a moment to calm her beating heart and focus on what was written. The first paper she grabbed was a list of transactions, statements totaling the amount of lien the White Fang had at their disposal. Blake was already familiar enough with how much resources they typically had, so pushed that one to the side.

The next paper caught her eye immediately. Widow's picture was repeated across it multiple times, each set within a block of text and filigree. They were employee ID badges, ready and waiting to be cut out and laminated. Blake's eyes darted across them, trying to remember each and every one. There was a badge for city hall, the SDC, even Beacon.

'Where did she get all these!?' Blake wondered, staring in surprise.

Blake was taking care to set the paper down exactly as she'd found it when she heard a muffled shout from above. Whipping around in fear, she had only an instant to see the dagger flying towards her face before dipping her head to the side. It streaked past, slamming into the wall with enough force to bury itself to the hilt.

Widow stood at the door, casually tossing a second dagger in one hand. She grimaced, seeing the paper that Blake had just set back down. "Pity. I was so looking forward to using those." Her hand stopped, catching the dagger and staring at its edge. Widow's eyes flickered back up to Blake's, a dangerous grin spreading across her lips. "I suppose no one would ever know if you were dead…"

Blake pulled Gambol Shroud from her back and held it between them, eyeing the dagger in Widow's hands. The sound of steel on steel erupted above, and Blake took a chance to glance back up through the skylight. There was a flicker of red, Ruby in the midst of fighting off the White Fang that had found their way onto the roof.

"Ruby! Run!" Blake shouted out. Gunshots rang out, followed by the sound of bodies impacting heavily. Her leader appeared in the next moment, using the wide blade of her scythe to block bullets being shot in her direction.

Despite the predicament she was in, Ruby glanced fearfully back down into the room. "Blake! I-"

"Run! Now! That's an order, Ruby!"

Ruby's eyes returned, fear and concern for Blake as clear as day along with an unwillingness to leave her behind. "I-... I-!"

"Go!" Blake put as much force into the command as she could, glaring up at Ruby for all she was worth. Her leader's breath hitched, and she darted her head away while tears gathered in her eyes.

"I'll be back!" Ruby promised in a choked shout. There was a momentary blur as her semblance activated, and a flash of red as she burst out of sight. Many footsteps pounded across the roof after her, the White Fang giving chase to try and catch the speedy girl.

Blake let out a shaky breath, returning her focus to the woman before her. Widow hadn't moved from her spot. She only continued to smirk, staring at Blake like she was an interesting piece of meat.

"Are you ready?" Widow mocked sweetly.

Blake moved into a readied stance, eyes dilating as she focused on Widow alone. Letting out one final, deep breath… she nodded.

"Well then."

Widow stepped fully into the room, closing the door behind herself.

"Let's get started~"

"Damn it, where is she? Ruby!" Olivia called out loudly, cupping her hands together in the hopes her voice would carry further. Weiss was right there at her side, both searching the area that Ruby had said she'd be in.

"Olivia!" Ruby's distant cry echoed from further down. She rounded the corner in a rush, clothes dirtied from whatever fight she'd been in. Tear tracks stained her cheeks, and she let out an audible gasp of relief when her eyes fell on them.

"Ruby," Olivia sighed, glad to see her safe. "What-"

Olivia didn't get the chance to finish her question. The breath exploded from her lungs as Ruby blurred across the street. She crashed into the faunus, arms encircling her in a fierce hug, body trembling from head to toe and her eyes shut tight. Her tears started anew, leaking down her face to mix with the tracks already there.

Olivia hugged her back just as fiercely, trying to pour every ounce of love she could into their embrace. She knew time was limited. Blake needed to be found, needed to be saved. Even so, she couldn't pull away. Not from the younger girl shivering against her with every fiber of her being.

Olivia raised one hand and stroked it through Ruby's hair. From black roots to red tips, she hoped the action would help sooth her leader. Ruby felt it and hugged her all the tighter, worming her face into the nape of Olivia's neck. Weiss stepped forward as well and placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder, moving it back and forth to slowly massage the tension from her body.

Ever so slowly, Ruby relaxed. She let out a few shaky breaths, and turned her head to wipe her tears off on Olivia's shoulder. The faunus didn't mind. Whatever Ruby needed, Olivia would do for her.

"W-we have to save her…" Ruby whispered out, finally pulling away. Her eyes stared up into Olivia's, pleading for the faunus to tell her everything would be okay.

"What happened, Ruby?" Olivia asked. They needed information, and they needed it fast. It had already been half an hour since Ruby told them where she was, deep within the more crime infested corner of the city. Olivia and Weiss had rushed there as fast as they could, but being forced to navigate through the crowds had slowed them down immensely.

"Blake and I…" Shame appeared in Ruby's eyes. They flickered between the other girls, afraid of being judged. "We were going after the White Fang…"

"What!? Why would you do something so foolish!?" Weiss blurted out in astonishment. She was just as concerned for their teammate, but her nerves were getting the better of her.

Ruby flinched away, recoiling from Weiss and sinking further back into Olivia's arms. She averted her gaze, staring into Olivia's chest to avoid the accusing glare that Weiss was sending her way.

"Weiss…" Olivia spoke softly. Only the name was enough, forcing the heiress to relent. Now wasn't the time for accusations. Olivia nudged Ruby instead, regaining her attention. "Why were you looking for the White Fang, Ruby?"

"We… we wanted to find out why they attacked the club," Ruby glanced at the heiress, "I didn't want Weiss to think they were there for her. We were going to try and… try and capture one of them for answers."

Weiss's demeanor softened. Her previously crossed arms fell down to her sides, and she stared silently at Ruby. A myriad of emotions crossed her face, finally settling on regret for the tone she'd used.

On the other hand, Olivia couldn't stop her eyes from narrowing. "Why didn't you at least ask me to come with you?"

"We didn't think you would let us go…"

"Of course I wouldn't," Olivia scoffed. She felt Ruby beginning to shake again and reigned in her frustration with a deep sigh. "I still would have gone if you'd refused to listen. I would have done my best to keep you both safe…"

"I know… I'm sorry…" Ruby whispered.

"We don't have time for this…" Weiss tried to keep some of the tension out of her voice. She was trying to be gentle for Ruby's sake, but even so, she was right. "Where is Blake? We need to find her."

Ruby nodded agreement. "There was a White Fang safehouse in the warehouse district... We're still close. I think I can still find it from here..."

"Lead the way then, Ruby." Olivia pulled away slowly, letting the young girl find her feet again. Ruby straightened out and nodded timidly, turning on her heel to start walking back up the street.

"Any idea what we're getting ourselves into?" Olivia asked, hoping for whatever information her leader could provide. The more they knew, the better.

"There were maybe a dozen White Fang members left. They attacked me all at once while I was on the roof. Blake had already dropped in through the skylight by then. I never got to see who was in the room with her, but… there was a dagger in the wall behind her, and she had her weapon out. She must have been fighting someone."

Olivia's heart dropped at the mention of a dagger. At the same time, a tiny glimmer of hope remained. "What… what did the dagger look like? Could you describe it?"

Ruby glanced back, sending Olivia an uncertain shrug in the process. "Everything happened kind of fast. Whoever threw it must have been strong though. It was buried pretty far into the wall."

Olivia sighed, 'Sounds like her…' She wasn't sure how to feel. Olivia was nervous, and scared for Blake's safety, but… 'Would Widow go back on her word? If Ruby escaped, then she must know I'd find out who was responsible. She knows I'd never forgive her... If I ever even could to begin with.'

"I should go in alone," Olivia announced, drawing a pair of shocked faces in her direction. Weiss was the first to recover.

"You'll do no such thing!" she argued in surprise, striding closer to look worriedly into Olivia's face. "Blake is our friend... Why do you think we'd ever accept standing on the sidelines when she's in danger?"

Olivia shook her head, busy thinking up an excuse. "Ruby's too shaken up to fight. And you… do you really want to draw the White Fang's attention? A Schnee heiress, walking straight into their hideout?"

"They were already after me, Olivia."

"No, they weren't. Nobody is after you, Weiss... I told you already, it was just an unfortunate coincidence. The White Fang wouldn't have been that sloppy. They wouldn't have attacked an entire club when there's much easier ways to get to you."

Weiss crossed her arms in defiance, their entire group now stopped along the desolate sidewalk. Ruby gripped her skirt nervously, looking as if she was trying to speak up, but failing to gather the courage.

Olivia let out a deep breath. Arguing would get them nowhere. Even so, she didn't want to risk bringing Weiss or Ruby into a dangerous situation. She would be better alone, able to cut loose with her full potential instead of hiding her semblance.

Olivia scrubbed a hand across her face. She needed to think, and standing around was getting them literally nowhere. "Let's keep going for now, Ruby."

Ruby was all too ready to comply. She turned back around and continued up the street. Once they reached an intersection, her head turned each way, until she finally seemed to remember the direction. Olivia frowned in concern, seeing Ruby starting to quiver once more. Her head darted every which way, panic setting in and creating a desperate light in her eyes.

"Why do none of these lights work?" Weiss muttered harshly, glaring up at a streetlamp as they passed nearby. Only a dull flicker emanated from it, a weak stream of light washing the street in the barest hues.

Olivia groaned. Of course. With the sun beyond the horizon and the safehouse in the most rundown part of the city, very little light managed to wash across the streets. The moon was nowhere near full, only managing to reflect enough light to let the humans not trip over their own feet. Here and there, an apartment or shop window would light the street faintly. All things considered, it seemed as if it wasn't enough for Ruby to remember the path easily.

They arrived at another intersection, if it could even be called that. The traffic lights were broken, flickering yellow on all sides repeatedly and even going out completely at times. Garbage and refuse littered the streets, some of it stirred up by a light wind that began to pick up. At the center of it all, Ruby anxiously glanced each way. She looked to be truly lost now, incapable of guiding them further.

"Ruby? Where to next?" Weiss asked nervously, also picking up on their leader's indecision.

Fear filled Ruby's voice, "I… I'm not sure… It's so hard to tell now that it's so dark…"

Weiss was silent, both her and Ruby glancing around aimlessly, uncertain of what to do next.

Olivia sighed and raised her eyes to the surrounding buildings. If the White Fang in Vale used more of the same symbols she'd seen before, the same ones she'd learned during her own time with them in Mistral, then there was a chance she could lead them to the safehouse herself. As long as they were within the general vicinity, markings could be found.

Olivia spotted what she'd been hoping for. Etched into one of the streetlights were three long slashes. Each of them converged towards the bottom, not quite intersecting, but giving Olivia a clear idea of where they needed to go based on the direction they faced.

"This way," Olivia said lightly. She placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder and pointed to her right. Ruby stared closely for a few seconds before her eyes finally widened, a glimmer of recognition sparking in them.

"How did you know?" Weiss asked, the barest hint of worry in her voice. She appeared nervous to ask it, eyes staring into Olivia's while hoping for a reasonable explanation.

'She would have learned about this anyway…' Olivia was still nervous to admit the truth, but maybe it was better that they start off small. After a few moments, she pointed to the streetlight, and the three markings it held.

"The White Fang uses a system of symbols to communicate with their members. Those three slashes are directions, pointing the way to the nearest safehouse. There should be more along the way. We can follow them to figure out where we're going."

"O-oh…" Weiss stammered. Even though Olivia had turned away, she could still feel the heiress's eyes on her back.

'She's smart… If she hasn't realized already, then she will soon…'

"I promise I'll tell you everything later, Weiss. For now... we need to save Blake."

After a few seconds, Weiss nodded her head weakly. Her hand fell to rest on Myrtenaster's handle, and Olivia's shoulders tensed as she walked closer. Weiss only brushed past her, though. She continued forward in the direction Olivia had indicated, only stopping after a dozen feet to turn back to them with a determined eye.

"What are we waiting for? Lead the way, Olivia…"

Olivia took a deep breath, and nodded.

'At least now we can pick up the pace a little… Please be alright, Blake…'

Frigid water splashed roughly across Blake's face, shocking her awake. Immediately she tried to flail, to defend herself from whatever was happening. Pained flared in her wrists, restraints keeping her from moving her arms out from behind her back. After a few long seconds spent straining against her bindings, she knew it was hopeless.

Judging from her position, she was tied to a chair, arms behind and one ankle strapped to each front chair leg. Blake's eyes were blindfolded. The thick leather was tightly wound across her face, fully blocking any light from reaching her eyes.

"A pleasure for you to join us. Welcome back to the land of the living~"

Blake instantly recognized the voice. Widow, taunting her now that she'd been captured. Blake's entire body ached, the results of their fight being less than favorable. Widow hadn't been tricked by her semblance in the slightest. Just like Olivia, the elder spider faunus was capable of knowing exactly where she was going to appear.

Fear held Blake in its clutches. Fortunately, she at least wasn't gagged. She worked her jaw in small circles, easing the pain she felt. Widow's final blow had been meant to knock her out, not kill her.

"What are you going to do with me?" Blake trembled. She tried to keep her voice steady but failed.

"You mean, what am I going to do with both of you?" Widow teased. Blake heard her step closer. Heard the whisper of steel leaving her belt. It pressed against her, the sharpened blade lightly caressing her exposed flesh.

Despite Blake's fear, she hadn't missed the insinuation Widow had made. Her heart dropped in her chest, and her words came out more faint than ever. "B-Both of us?"

Widow laughed, "You didn't think your little friend was actually going to get away, did you? She's right here with us, ready to be punished if you don't tell me what I want to know."

"Y...You're lying," Blake stammered. There was no way they could have caught up with Ruby, not with her semblance.

"Am I?"

Blake heard Widow step away. It was followed by a dull thud, and the muffled, pained gasp of a young girl.

"No!" Blake cried out in dismay. The voice belonged to Ruby. She was sure of it.

'They did it… they actually caught her…' Blake felt her body begin to quake. 'Did Ruby try to come back for me? Did she try to save me, only to get caught as well?' Her breath hitched, and she turned towards the source of the noise.

"Ruby… Ruby, I'm so sorry. I'll get us out of this, okay? I…" Blake choked up, struggling to speak. "I promise…"

There were further whimpers. Ruby sounded as if she was gagged, incapable of communicating anything to Blake beyond groans.

Blake's mind desperately searched for a solution. Some way for them to get out of this. She latched on to one idea, something Olivia had told her weeks before.

"You don't want to do this, Widow. Olivia would never forgive you if you hurt us. Just… just let us be on our way. You can still salvage the situation. Nobody has to know…"

"My daughter told you about me?" Widow sounded both surprised and elated. "What did she-? No, wait. Don't tell me." She laughed harshly, "It likely wasn't anything good, considering she's in the middle of her teenage rebellion~"

'Teenage rebellion!? You betrayed everyone she knew!' Blake didn't voice her thoughts. Clearly, Widow was unhinged. Even so, if Widow knew who they were then maybe she really wouldn't risk hurting them.

"So…" Blake felt a nugget of hope growing, "You'll let us go? I… We won't say anything…"

Widow sighed. "Unfortunately, that isn't good enough. I need answers. I need to know why you were here. I need to know what you overheard. If you don't tell me…" her voice trailed off in a clear warning, punctuated by Ruby whimpering in fear.

Widow stepped back over to Blake. She felt the dagger pressing against her chest once more, sharpened point digging into her skin. It cut easily, releasing a thin bead of warm blood that trailed down between her breasts. Blake gasped at the slight pain, knowing that if Widow wished, she could kill her in an instant.

"Don't even think about lying to me," Widow warned, "I can feel every beat of your heart. Every time it quickens, every time it skips. I'll know if you're trying to deceive me, and if you do… your friend will be the one that pays for it."

"Okay, I'll tell you… Just… don't hurt Ruby... If you're going to hurt anyone, hurt me..." Blake offered herself up shakily.

Widow withdrew the blade, the cold steel leaving Blake's skin as she crossed the room to Ruby once more. Blake heard her leader gasp in shock, breath coming out in brief pants of fear.

"You heroes, always so self-sacrificing. I've dealt with enough of your kind to know how to hit you where it really hurts. You'll always go above and beyond to save those you care for. If you want this little girl to leave without any more bruises, then you'd better start talking."

Blake nodded fiercely. She didn't know what Widow was capable of, but clearly Olivia had been wrong. The older woman was more than willing to hurt them to get what she wanted.

"We… We came here because we wanted to know why you attacked the club. We were going to try and capture one of you for answers."

Widow scoffed, "Look how well that turned out. You really should know your limits, child. This isn't the same White Fang you left. Did you really think you could just stroll in and find the answers you seek?"

"We would have been fine if there hadn't been so many of you here..." Blake replied defensively. "What are you planning?"

There was a brief pause before Widow spoke, her voice coming out in a low, threatening tone. "Do you really think you're in a position to ask me anything? We really should fix that foolish notion..."

Blake's heart dropped, "No! Wait! I'm sorry!"

There was another dull thud, followed by a muffled groan. Ruby retched around the gag in her mouth, then began to quietly sob, faint cries that numbed Blake to the bone.

"I'm sorry! Please, just don't hurt her anymore!"

"Then tell me what I want to know!" Widow fired back furiously.

"Yes! Yes I will!" Blake spoke quickly, wanting more than anything to save Ruby from further torment. "I overheard you talking to someone on your scroll! Something about an illusionist, and- and faking a video of Sienna Khan to show recruits!"

"What else?" Widow asked tightly.

Blake racked her brain, thinking of all the information she could offer. "Uhh… Right! The other person mentioned being watched… That's all I heard, honestly!"

"Hmmm," Widow hummed quietly. "None of that is particularly useful to you..."

Blake began to sigh, but was cut off when Widow spoke again.

"Did you recognize the voice on the scroll?"

Blake's breath caught. "No."

Another thud, this one louder than ever. Blake heard a clatter of wood afterwards, the chair Ruby was strapped to having toppled over by the sounds of it. Blake heard her gasping for air, failing to draw breath while she choked on her gag.

"Stop! I didn't recognize her! I couldn't tell!"

"This is your own fault," Widow spat.

"I told you-" another thud.

"Not to-" another gasp.

"Lie!"

Blake heard something break. The shattering of bone beneath abused flesh. Ruby screamed through her gag, wood clattering as she thrashed in pain. Tears streamed down Blake's face, her heart reduced to a hollow pit while fear for her leader consumed her.

"Please! I'm not lying! The voice was familiar, but I couldn't tell whose it was! I don't know! I don't, please!" Blake cried, chest heaving as she strained against her bindings. They held tightly, sawing into her skin with each attempt. She stared in Ruby's direction, wishing more than anything that she could look into her friend's eyes, to reassure her that somehow, everything would be okay.

After a few minutes, Blake gave up trying to get free. Her skin was rubbed raw, body gasping for air after the fierce struggle. Her head fell, body slumping forward while all of the fight left her body. She could still hear Ruby crying in pain.

"Please…" Blake begged, "You have to believe me… I don't… I don't know… I don't know who it was…"

Widow's footsteps returned. Blake felt the woman's warm breath against her face, likely staring at her closely, considering whether or not she was telling the truth.

'Whether or not she should kill us…'

After a few, long seconds, the heat retreated. Widow pulled away, letting out a soft sigh of her own. Blake frowned in confusion, hearing Ruby's quiet cries fading as well. She turned her head in that direction, ears perked to their fullest while listening for some sign that her leader was still alive. Panic rose anew, and she was just opening her mouth to call out Ruby's name before the blindfold was stripped from her face.

Blake blinked at the sudden light. Widow was standing before her, offering up an apologetic smile. Blake whipped her eyes back to where Ruby had been, only to see that the room was empty. Only Widow and herself were present, the young leader nowhere to be seen.

"My little spider would be upset if I hurt any of you, remember? Your leader escaped. She was never here. I never touched her."

Blake continued to stare, a mixture of emotions welling up inside of her. Lingering despair over believing Ruby had been hurt, anger over being tricked. Both consumed her, and she turned back to glare at Widow, fury boiling in her eyes.

"You… you bitch!"

Widow paused for a moment, then let out a hearty laugh. "Not the first time I've been called that. Let it out if you need to. You've earned it."

Blake struggled against her bonds anew, tipping the chair either way while she fought. "You're heartless! Disgusting! Worse than a Grimm!"

"Also things I've heard before," Widow replied smugly.

Blake stared at the woman, wishing all manner of misfortune to befall her. She wanted her to suffer, to feel the same pain she'd just inflicted. One thought came to mind. The only thing that might get a reaction out of her. Blake quieted, speaking in a low, angry growl.

"Olivia will never love you."

Widow moved faster than Blake could blink. In an instant, the dagger was at her throat, cold steel pressing just hard enough to draw a thin line of blood. Widow's eyes were narrowed, a feral light staring straight into Blake's own.

"Watch what you say. You don't know my daughter. None of you do. I'm the only one that understands her, the only one that can accept her for who she is." Widow spoke darkly, "Oh, the stories I could tell you… They would make you tremble in fear, knowing someone capable of such things slept in the same room as you every night."

"I… I don't believe you," Blake breathed out, careful not to disturb the dagger pressing against her neck.

"No?" Widow glared. She pulled back, standing up straight again and sheathing the dagger at her hip. "How about a little wager then? You think you know my daughter so well… Why don't we put those beliefs to the test?"

Blake frowned worriedly, "What do you mean?"

Widow scoffed, "Your friend escaped. She promised she would come back for you. Who's the first person she would go to? The only other one connected to the White Fang?"

"Olivia…" Blake answered worriedly.

Widow grinned, "Exactly. My little Lotus is probably on her way right now. She'll be angry that you were taken. As much as I hate to admit it… you have managed to worm your way into her heart. She sees you as a friend, one that needs to be protected."

Blake's face paled. She remembered the last time Olivia had protected someone. It had ended with a murder, the faunus killing a member of the White Fang in order to save Weiss's life.

Widow smiled, seeing the fear in Blake's eyes. She leaned forward, whispering conspiratorially. "Do you think she felt bad about killing that man? If so, you've never been more wrong. I know her better than anyone. My daughter wouldn't have cared about the life of some nobody, especially not if they were trying to take something away from her." She laughed, "My little spider might have even enjoyed it! It's been awhile after all."

Blake's body shook. She stared defiantly back up into Widow's eyes, but a seed of doubt was blooming in her heart. She had always known that Olivia had a darker side. Blake had seen it for herself when she killed the Nevermore, had tried so hard to ignore it when she brutally wounded the boy in initiation. Could it be true? Was there some part of Olivia that enjoyed the things she'd done?

"You're… you're lying…" Blake argued weakly.

"We'll see," Widow smirked. She reached forward, tugging the blindfold back down around her eyes. Blake fought against it, but was surprised when Widow slipped it down even further. The moment she opened her mouth to protest, the leather was pulled between her teeth instead. Widow reached behind her head and cinched it more tightly so that it wouldn't come loose.

"We wouldn't want you to miss the show, now would we?"

Widow stepped back, watching as Blake struggled against the foreign object in her mouth. She couldn't work it free, couldn't manage to speak around it. All she could do was glare. With a nod of approval, Widow opened the door and looked out.

"You there! Come here!"

There was the shuffling of movement. A White Fang member appeared at the door, looking nervous. He was a fresh recruit, too scared to do anything aside from whatever Widow said.

The woman gestured for him to enter. Once he was inside and waiting for instructions, Widow nodded her chin towards him. "Pull out your gun."

With an air of trepidation, the man complied. He fumbled for a moment, pulling the weapon out and holding it in an inexperienced grip. He waited for further instructions, eyes darting to Blake worriedly.

"Turn off the safety…"

The man did as he was told.

"Aim it at the young lady…"

The man's eyes widened. He hesitated, raising the weapon in a trembling grasp and flinching once it was aimed at Blake.

"Good~" Widow praised. "Now, I want you to stay like that until I get back, alright? Keep an eye on her, and don't pay attention to any of the sounds she makes. She's a crafty one, and could try to escape at any moment. If she does, she definitely won't hesitate to kill you."

The man nodded profusely, eyes locked on Blake. Sweat was already beading on his forehead, reflecting the lights that shined from above. He wiped one sleeve across his face, but kept the gun trained on her otherwise.

Widow nodded her approval before stepping back to the door. Her eyes flicked to Blake, then returned to the recruit. She smiled, "Perfect. Now, you kids have fun. And don't go anywhere~!"

The door shut behind her.

Blake was left with a gun in her face.

And a dead man holding it. He just didn't know it yet.

Trying to get these out in a more reasonable time. I knew before I posted Ch65 that the Olivia x Weiss cliffhanger might ruffle some feathers. Just know that they'll be having their conversation next chapter, and I'm working hard so you don't have to wait too long.

Quick explanation because it might be asked, but Widow's semblance does cost aura. She can't use it constantly, which is what allowed Ruby and Blake to eavesdrop on her. Once Adam said they were ready to go was when Widow decided to check for herself with her semblance infused sixth sense. Doing so revealed the eavesdroppers, but she recognized them and chose to send Adam away before the confrontation. He's still a bit of a loose canon and she didn't want to risk him actually hurting them.

Hopefully you're excited for the next chapter. I'm going to try and have it up within the next few days.

Thanks for reading,

- Sybaen