Resolute Giant

Roughly 10 years ago

Ghira Belladonna glowered down at the Human next to the docks. "We are not leaving until all of my people are aboard."

The Atlesian Harbormaster tried to sneer, but the fact that he was a full foot shorter clearly left him feeling rather uncomfortable. Not that it blunted his blatant racism any. "You animals will leave when ordered to leave, and I'm ordering you to-"

"We will leave when all of my people are aboard." He repeated, lowering his face until it was right in the other man's personal space. "You want us back on Menagerie? Stop your whining and do your job."

"You can't talk to me like that! I'm-"

Another man interrupted, his voice hard. "Useless, unprofessional, and causing chaos in the harbor since this ship was supposed to have left two hours ago."

Colonel Ironwood strode forward, his specialist's combat coat billowing rather dramatically around him as he did. He too stared down at the civilian, tones growing even harsher. "Your people are spending more time throwing insults than they are in processing Belladonna's entourage. Get them moving or I will."

The harbormaster flinched, muttered something about a report, and then fled with whatever scraps of dignity he could recover.

They both watched him go before Ghira rumbled, "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Ironwood replied quietly. "I'm sorry for what's happening. If I had the authority..."

It was a nice sentiment, and he knew that the soldier meant it. But... "This is only going to make matters worse for everyone, Colonel. You've all but confirmed that there is no such thing as freedom of speech in Atlas if you're a faunus. Or the right to assemble for that matter."

His words drew metaphorical blood. "I know."

Ghira lowered his voice further. "I can't hold back the radicals forever."

"You're making good progress in Vale."

"At the moment." He agreed, "But for how long? Your corporations are already trying to buy out their Valean competitors. How long will Vale-Dust hold out until the SDC takes over? How long until Schnee is buying Councilors to drive labor wages down in two Kingdoms instead of one?"

From his expression Ironwood didn't think it would be nearly long enough before both things happened.

"I'll be up for promotion in a few years, and then there's a chance I'll hold two seats instead of one on the Council." Ironwood said. "Just hold the line until then and I'll see what can be done."

A nice sentiment, but Ghira wouldn't hold his breath. He hadn't come to Atlas with much hope, and what he'd seen both in the floating city as well as in Mantle had destroyed it. Maybe Ironwood could hold off more extreme laws in the future... but by then it might be too late.

Commotion from the nearby building drew his attention, the rest of his speaking party finally being released from inspection.

"I'll board now." Ghira rumbled. "Hopefully the speaking tour in Mistral will go better."

It would be hard for it not to, given that they hadn't even allowed them to hold their first demonstration. Never-mind the several that had been planned to follow, his scheduled meetings with the media, or his speech at the university. He'd even had to cancel his appearance at the huntsman academy since the Council had scheduled his appeal at the same time he'd been supposed to be there.

And then they'd canceled it after making him wait for three hours citing 'more pressing business'.

"I hope so as well." Ironwood surprised him by holding out his flesh and blood hand. He took it after a startled moment, shaking it once before they broke apart.

Walking up the gangplank brought him face to face with another problem; Sienna Khan was standing with her hands on her hips, her thick coat tightly wrapped around her.

"He make more promises he won't be able to keep?" She demanded once he was aboard.

"He's a good man." He replied, before honesty compelled him to go on. "He doesn't understand the depths of the problem. He'll be an ally, but a more limited one than he believes."

The tiger faunus huffed out breath, "We can't rely on Humans, old man. You know that."

He growled. "Don't call me old, girl. Help everyone else get settled, we leave for Argus as soon as they're aboard. Where's my wife?"

She was opening her mouth to reply when one of their new recruits came running out onto the deck. The young girl's skin was rapidly changing colors, and her face was drawn with worry. "Chieftain! Chieftain!"

"Easy girl!" He grabbed her shoulders before she could run into either of them. "Don't run on the deck. What is it?"

"Miss Kali needs you! There's..." Her skin abruptly went green while her spots flared to white. "...there's a problem."

Sienna abruptly hissed. "Blood on her shoes."

A quick glance down let him spot the red droplets. Kali was on board. So was little Blake. Heart tightening in worry, he quickly moved past little Amitola. The girl followed, as did Sienna, the three of them rushing back inside.

It didn't take him long to find the problem; Kali was shouting for more towels from their cabin, and Blake was sitting outside. His girl was shaking, pale, and had tears running down her cheeks.

Her hands were covered in blood.

"What's happened?" Ghira's bellow cut through everything else, and made Blake jump to her feet. She struck him like a missile about the legs, and he wasted no time in hauling her up against his chest. "Are you hurt?"

"No!" His daughter sobbed into his coat. "Girl! She's hurt!"

A girl?

Holding her tightly, he stepped forwards, looking into the cabin.

Kali was seated on their bed, her legs crossed as she carefully washed a slim form who'd been carefully laid out on the sheets. Both of his speechwriters were carefully moving buckets of water nearby, while Kali's own secretary was pulling out medicine from a first aide kit.

Sucking in a slow breath, he turned and nodded slightly to Sienna. "Take her, please."

Sienna nodded without talking back for once. It was a bit of a struggle to get Blake loose, the seven year old protesting as only a scared child could. A few quiet murmurs of encouragement got her on her feet, her little hand held in Sienna's as she was led outside. "Come on Blake. You too Ilia, let's go out on deck. The air's clean."

The two children followed obediently, though not without worried looks back.

That left him free to close the door, and walk over to his wife's side. "Is she one of ours?"

"Human." Kali replied without looking up from her work. "Blake and Ilia were playing in the cargo hold and found her down there. Fennec is trying to figure out how she got on board."

He looked closer at the wounded child and almost wished that he hadn't. What remained of her left eye was... not something that could be saved, and not something a child should have had to see. From the cut around it it had been taken by a sword or dagger. More wounds were on her chest, arms, and across her palms. Defensive wounds. Whoever she was, she'd been fighting her attackers.

His wife spoke again. "She has aura, it's doing what it can, though I dread to think how it was unlocked considering her age. I don't think she'll die, but she's very weak. We should get her off the ship and into a hospital."

"I don't think they're going to let us off now that we're aboard." He shook his head. "I'll try, but if Colonel Ironwood has already left-"

The sharp blare of the ship's horn cut him off, a dull rumble coming from the aft end telling them all that the engines were coming to life.

"...We'll have to take her with us." He finished tiredly. "Hopefully we won't be accused of kidnapping when we reach Anima."

Kali grimaced. "I don't think we'll have to worry about that. Or fear that she will be unthankful when she wakes up."

"Why?"

In response she gently shifted a hand down, pulling some of the girl's black hair away from her neck. He looked and felt a snarl bubble out at the sight of a perfectly even scar wrapping around her throat. A kind he'd seen all too often on Faunus; the mark of a shock collar whose controller had been eager to use it.

"Clean her up." Reaching down, he just as gently pulled the hair back over the mark of a slave. "Make sure she's comfortable. We'll ask her what happened when she wakes."

"We'll have to remove her eye." Kali looked up to him, "Go. Keep Blake distracted, happy. Play with her. I'll call you when we're done."

Ghira nodded, kissed her forehead, and gave their stowaway a final look before walking away.

Cinder Fall

Present Day

It was amusing how simple it was to fool people. Some spiked gel for my hair, dark makeup over my scars, a pair of sunglasses, and a tailored suit with trousers was all it took to transform a huntress into a valet.

Not that I particularly enjoyed such things. Disguises had their place, I was not so foolish as to deny that. But I did vastly prefer handling my own affairs myself. Relying on anyone else, as I had to do tonight, left me even more irritable than usual.

"I have no choice." I murmured to myself, adjusting the seat of the dark-windowed sedan I was seated within. "I am a respectable burglar, but tonight requires a master's touch."

A rather smug voice sounded at once in my earpiece, "Aww, love you too girl."

I tapped a finger on the wheel. I'd have much rather been inside all the same, but logic dictated that our most powerful asset remain at a distance. The better to chastise any external opposition that emerged. "Less chatter and more burglary, Roman. The convention will not last all night, and I would rather not engage a Councilor's bodyguards in the open."

"Relax, I've been doing this for fifteen years." He drawled. "We're already in, and security is down. Bring the car around back."

Pressing my thumb onto the ignition warmed up the engine, though I refrained from pulling out into the street just yet. "Opposition?"

"Three guards, all napping. Your little minion does good work."

Emerald growled back at once. "I'm her disciple, not her minion."

The thief snorted. "Same thing. Go on, office is east side, second floor. Neo and I will case the rest. Good job on the silent alarm Rufus. Get the boys clear for the night, we'll meet you later."

"On it." Roman's premier lieutenant answered. A soft click came as he left the channel, no doubt herding the men responsible for isolating the estate out of the area now that their job was done. They'd be paid later, once the loot was appropriately split.

Roman may have been a vastly irritating man, but he knew how to instill loyalty into his people just as I did. His men and women were well paid, well trained, and very good at their jobs.

It was why I'd selected him as my principle agent in Vale's underworld. It certainly hadn't been for his personality.

A break in traffic allowed me to pull out onto the through-way. Keeping both hands on the wheel, I made a point of driving exactly as I normally would have. Despite the fact that it was more than an hour after sunset the traffic remained rather thick. Vale's overcrowded nature hard at work no matter the time.

Two red lights delayed me, leaving to my drum my fingers across the wheel once more, left with nothing to do besides listen to my conspirators.

"Look, Neo, I love that painting too but it's too damned big. Just grab the jewelry and watches while I crack this safe. Minion, you got the lapscrolls yet?"

"He's got at least three. Why does he need three?"

"Who knows, just grab them already."

"I'm trying to find a bag to fit them and the paperwork!"

I sighed and gave her instructions, "He won't keep anything incriminating in paper format, not in his personal office. Leave it."

"Yes ma'am." At least she'd remember to not use my name. That had been an issue the first few times I'd brought her on my operations. "All right, found a bag. Ready to go."

Roman cut in, "Trash the place a bit, make it look like you were after anything you could find instead of just going for his computers."

Emerald snorted. "I know what I'm doing, I tipped over all three of his filing cabinets like I was hoping he had safes behind them. And because I want them to suffer having to organize it all."

My lips twitched slightly as the light finally turned, letting me turn left, approaching the estate. It was a petty cruelty, but an amusing one. She really was beginning to pick up my habits.

"I ripped down all of the paintings in her too, and scored my knife across them. Figure that's a few hundred thousand of damages right there."

Was this what parental pride felt like? Interesting.

Vale's master thief laughed. "And so the street urchin strikes a blow against the wealthy, or some such crap. We've still got time. Daughter's room should have more jewels, grab 'em if you want some extra cash."

Another flick of my blinker had me turning into a gated estate that really shouldn't have had its entrance open. Nor should its security booth have been empty. I idly wondered where they had left the disabled guard as I rolled past, following the short drive around to the building's back.

Like most Valean mansions height dominated over width. The building was five full floors, though it didn't occupy much more space than a standard home. The wrap around drive similarly cut into the limited yard, leaving only a thin garden between the concrete and the security wall.

Reaching the back entrance, I put the vehicle into park and climbed out, leaving the door open. My boots had hardly struck the pavement before Emerald came striding out. She wore the tasteful men's suit that everyone in Roman's employ seemed to share, though she'd tucked her hair up beneath a fedora while a full-face mask hid her features. She had lapscroll cases slung over both shoulders, a third and a small bag held in either hand.

We quickly loaded them all into the trunk, tucking them to the side to ensure there'd be room for more. Her job complete, Emerald slid into the backseat while I waited for our conspirators.

It didn't take them long. Roman and his colorful partner hauling a sports bag each out. Both were fuller than I'd have anticipated, until I heard the clinking of bottles when the thieves carefully loaded them into the car.

I said nothing. Roman's expertise or not, there was every chance of a listening device, and it would not do to carelessly reveal myself.

Nothing interrupted our loading. Nor did anyone arrive when we got back into the sedan, Roman seated beside me while his own disciple settled in back with Emerald. Within three minutes of my arrival we were in motion once again, pulling out onto the street.

Roman looked around casually as I drove south. "No flashing lights, no meddling huntsman, and no wannabe secret agents. Finally a job that went according to plan."

"Of course it did. I picked the target, not you." I leaned back in my seat, breaking gently as we hit a red light. "You would have hit the convention itself simply to expand your reputation."

The thief smirked at me, "Please, Cindy, lecture me some more about being an egotistical bitch."

A muscle in my cheek twitched. "Do remember that I can set you on fire with my mind."

"Oh I do. That's why I grabbed five bottles of Vacuan Red from his cellar, one for each time I've called you Cindy this week."

"What year?" I asked.

"Two."

Damn. The irritating man truly did know the value of a good bribe. "Do you believe that Xiong's information was correct?"

Roman's expression turned serious, hands pulling a cigar out of his coat. He turned it over in his hands without lighting it. "Can't say. I'd all but given up on finding out anything on those maniacs until you showed up. That said, they've got to have one agent on the Council protecting them, and Coppersmith is as corrupt as they come."

I hummed as traffic began moving, calmly accelerating once more. "Odds that they will recognize this was targeting them?"

"They're power hungry maniacs who are convinced they're the only ones fit to rule Vale." He snorted. "They assume everyone and everything is an attack on them."

"You do realize that you seem to know exactly what they are like, while also claiming to know nothing about them." I flicked my eye in his direction before returning it to the road. "A less secure woman would find that curious."

A shift of his hand rolled his window down an inch or two before he pulled out a lighter. "And like I've told you. I went up against these pricks twice before. Once after Mountain Glenn, once a couple of years later. Didn't learn crap as far as hard details go, but I know what they react to and what they ignore."

I pursed my lips, considering the matter. "And why do they ignore you, dear Roman? Because they know you cannot touch them?"

The comment made him fumble his first attempt to light his cigar, and drew a scowl to his face. "More or less. They still make a token attempt once and a while, but nothing that would let me catch and interrogate one of their little minions."

Which tracked with my own experience since I had arrived in Vale two years ago. I'd expected, not unreasonably, to be attacked, assaulted, and harassed within days of my arrival. Instead there had been... nothing.

It had taken me a few frustrated weeks to realize that such silence was the enemy's own counter strategy to my arrival.

So long as they made no move against me, I was left fumbling for evidence and targets. I didn't doubt that they had me under a distant surveillance, they'd be fools to ignore an enemy, but as of yet they had no particular reason to risk direct action. I had nothing to prove that they even existed. I had no proof that they'd been behind my wounds, behind what had passed as my 'upbringing'.

So long as they stayed hidden I could do nothing.

Perhaps they would conduct an attack of opportunity if I left myself easily exposed, but I was not yet that desperate. Desperate enough to track down Roman Torchwick, to work with him? Yes. Desperate enough to gamble with my own life? No.

"And tonight?" I asked.

He lit up his cigar, tilting his head back to expel the smoke outside. "Probably won't think too much of it if I take the credit. Wouldn't be the first rich idiot's house that I've hit in the last year, but taking the lapscrolls might raise an alarm if this is actually the Councilor they're working with."

"Assuming they are working with one at all."

"Assuming that." Roman said.

Meaning that either tonight would lead to nothing, or perhaps it would finally lead to something. Either way I would need to be prepared for the next stage. Fortunately Emerald would be far more available now that her summer break approached, and my other assets would similarly soon be free to act once their current operations wrapped up. That would release me from having to rely on Roman, even if I would need to keep tabs on a man nearly as dedicated as I was.

But whether our loose alliance would be doing more fruitless burglaries and research, or finally coming to blows was a question I would not know until we'd cracked Councilor Coppersmith's hard-drives.

"That's a mighty deep expression on your face. What's your worry?"

"My worries and thoughts are none of your concern, Roman." I retorted at once. "We are partners of convenience, nothing more."

The man shrugged, not looking bothered. "Fair enough. Next right, Rufus'll be waiting in Riverside Garage."

I lowered my chin in a slight nod, smoothly pulling into the turning lane when it came time. Roman said nothing more as we drove on, and his partner was too busy trying to figure out if any of her new rings fit her. Not that she'd have said anything regardless, but at least it stopped her from needling Emerald. For her part my disciple knew when it was time to speak and when it was time to stay silent..

Our rendezvous with Roman's subordinate went just as smoothly when we arrived. Five bottles were removed from his loot bag and handed over, followed by a quick inspection of everything we'd taken for any potential tracking devices.

"Well, can't say it was fun, can't say it wasn't." Roman said once we'd finished. "You sure you don't want a job? You'd be a terrific thug in my line of work, and a pretty enough distraction even with your little vision problem."

The perils of power. Everyone wanted you on their side, and everyone wanted to control you.

"A tempting offer." I purred, swaying my hips a bit as I stepped closer to him, lifting a hand towards his face. "Perhaps we could discuss it in private."

Roman quickly backpedaled before I could touch him, puffing a bit harder on his cigar. Neopolitan shifted slightly, ready to protect her master if I pursued, but did nothing further when I simply stayed where I was, hand still in the air.

I let it fall slowly, smiling as I did.

I'd made my point and everyone present knew it.

"No thanks." Roman growled around his cigar. Likely furious at himself for backing down, and furious at me for causing him to do so. "I'm not as brave as your little minion, I'm not about to stick anything cookable between your legs."

"If you wish for that state of affairs to continue, do not make such pathetic offers, or worse jests, in the future." I advised.

He glowered at me from beneath his orange bangs, then retreated by way of barking orders for Rufus to get their car started. The three thieves were already exiting the building by the time I got my own vehicle started, Emerald having shifted up to the passenger's seat.

She waited until I'd pulled out onto the street before asking, "What now?"

"Now we return this car to an appropriate location, change into suitable attire, and then I will return you to Beacon." I replied. "How many days until you need to clear out of your dorm?"

"End of the week." She replied at once. "I think Coco wants to do some kind of team night out beforehand though."

I waved my right hand permissively, "Go along with whatever she wants, simply inform me in advance so that I know not to include you in any of my plans that evening."

Emerald lifted a hand to her mouth, coughing once. "Um... I think she wants you to come with us."

"To threaten me if I break your heart, or to try and get me to 'loosen up'?"

My disciple shifted uncomfortably as she worked at her mask, pulling it off to buy herself time to control her expression. Likely because, despite a few awkward attempts on her part, I hadn't yet allowed her to share my bed. Not that I didn't find her attractive. She was striking, loyal, and competent.

Cold logic told me that I should drag her beneath the sheets. That it would cement her loyalty to me in a way not easily broken.

Emotion told me that I didn't like being touched at the best of times, and the notion of sex was not one that I wished to entertain.

"Um, a bit of both." She said.

I hummed as I turned us east, heading in the direction of Beacon. "It will depend on what progress is made on today's acquisitions. If I am free I will accompany you, and indulge Adel's protective instincts. Tell her that tomorrow is best for my schedule."

She tried, and failed miserably, to hide how much that pleased her. "I'll tell her. Is there anything else you need me to do?"

"I will inform you if there is." I tipped my head slightly. "Music."

The radio quickly came on, some mindless commentator raving about Nikos' latest win in the Mistral Junior League. Emerald quickly adjusted the signal, flicking through several before finding the classical station.

I enjoyed the orchestral chorus as we began to crawl through Vale's downtown, lights and traffic slowing us in equal measure. It was a good half hour before we crossed the river into the more residential neighborhoods. One of the poorer neighborhoods had an underground garage that was ideal for the storage of a less than legal vehicle, and I pulled it beneath a camera I'd long ago subverted.

Sadly the state of the building made changing into more casual attire a less than pleasant experience. The public restroom was disgusting enough to tempt me into burning a good inch off of every surface, and Emerald and I were both careful to touch nothing even as she helped me remove the makeup and gel, leaving my hair wet and loose.

Once that was done it was time to load everything onto my own vehicle.

The motorcycle was not a modern, new model. It was not sleek and fancy. What it did have was a monstrous engine, more power than it needed, and a durability that had seen it laugh off treatment that would have shattered more pathetic vehicles.

It was the first true purchase that I had made with my own money, and I was very fond of it.

Getting all three lapscrolls, the stolen jewels, wine, and our spare clothes into the saddlebags took a bit of creative packing.

Then it was a short drive with Emerald holding tightly to my waist until we arrived at the Bullhead station that would carry her to Beacon. I was more than ready to simply drop her off and go on, but the presence of an old man waiting for the next aircraft had me pausing. He watched us approach, leaning on his iconic cane, then casually strolled over when we rolled to a stop.

Behind him I could see the reason for his presence; two students from Emerald's year supporting a third, who'd clearly started the night early.

Headmaster Ozpin regarded me politely as Emerald got off of the bike, calling over the sound of its engine. "Miss Sustrai. I do believe I've talked to you about wearing a helmet while on such a vehicle in the past."

Emerald put her hands on her hips. "I have aura, Professor."

"True, but is rather lazy to rely on it when a simple helmet could do the same. Would you not agree, Miss Fall?"

I was sorely tempted to drive off without replying, but Ozpin was not a student I could casually dismiss. Killing the bike's engine, I settled back in the seat without dismounting. "Perhaps, but you could also ask why all Huntsman do not wear armor when hunting Grimm."

Ozpin chuckled. "A fair point. Miss Sustrai, would you mind assisting team WRPL? I'd like to speak with your guardian."

No. While I doubted he had anything to do with my own affairs, that did not mean I needed him interfering. I'd drawn enough of his attention thanks to Emerald's... early difficulties and the numerous times I'd had to field calls about her behavior.

Further, while I believed him uninvolved, at best that left him ignorant of a hostile and lethal organization in the very city he claimed to protect. The middle case was that he was aware of them, but was so incompetent as to not realize what they were doing. And in the worst case, my instincts were wrong and he knew exactly what was going on.

Until I knew for certain I had no intentions of being alone with him, just as I'd instructed Emerald to never accept being called to his office without her team.

"I'm afraid I've had a very long day, perhaps another time?"

He surprised me by nodding at once, "That is more than acceptable. How about tomorrow, perhaps at my office around one? Glynda and I usually take a working lunch around that time, and we can provide you with the same."

I fought the urge to scowl. There was little I could do but accept or risk offending one of the most powerful men in Vale. And at least his deputy would be present, though I was cautious of her as well. "That is... acceptable."

"Thank you. I look forwards to seeing you."

I could not say the same.

Please read and review, criticism is welcome, flames not so much, as usual. Reviews are my lifeblood as a writer.. every-time my email goes off with a review it makes me want to write more, so please take the time to leave one. Guests can leave them as well, and it only takes a minute, so please. Even if it's as simple as "I enjoyed it, please continue."

Thanks, Kat