Oscar cracked open his eyes, feeling Neo's soft waves all over his face. Brushing pink hair aside to reveal she was already awake. His thumb ghosted under her brown eye.

"You want this and not the version of me that belongs in this timeline?"

Rolling her eyes, sitting up to open his nightstand. Tossing out his cigarette into a small trash bin.

"You want me to quit smoking?" He looked away nervously. "It's the only thing that kept me from drinking."

Looking up at his likely, probably, water damaged ceiling. Then Neo granted him a sideways glance before pressing her palms to his chest to kiss him. Oscar smirked while her hands casually moved lower until he laced his fingers through hers.

"Neo, I don't have condoms." He blushed a little at her pupils dilating. She always hated the feel of rubber. "And um, the first time we fucked, you gave me syphilis." Immediately she covered her face with her hair, he laughed. It was something Ruby would do with her cloak. Delighting that Neo and his best friend got along this well, kissing her nose through her pink hair, "We'll get tests. You probably don't even have it yet."

Fists on her hips, she mouthed 'we'.

Rubbing the back of his neck, "In my defense, my wife died. So before the rest of the world fell apart. I went on quite a binge for a month."

Her mouth parted in a soft 'o', fingers brushing the stubbled on his cheek. She saw and ached for his pain. He finally, in what must have been over a year to him, took an easy breath. He was no longer alone.

After a knock on his dingy apartment door, "Oscar? I know it's a bit early."

Neo, recognizing headmaster Ozpin's voice, punched Oscar in the arm. Then, hissing, We magical because of Oz, we are a team…."

Her finger jabbed into his sore arm. He pleaded, "I promise I'll explain Ozpin later-" She blipped from his sight. Forehead wrinkled, Oscar unlocked his door. His eyes glanced back to the cot, and he noted a pamphlet, 'Vale's Addiction Meetings.' How did she get and leave that behind so fast? "I should get a nicer apartment."

The old man's voice dry, "I certainly would appreciate it."

Remembering what Ozpin had to walk past to get here, Oscar covered his face with his hand. Immediately went to brew hot cocoa. Fortunately, Neo had stored some milk in his fridge. "So I assume you are here because-"

"This early morning, Miss Rose beat down my door demanding my help to protect Vale because of time traveling farmer Oz."

Oscar leaned his head back to freely laugh, "She is very excited about being a huntress."

Cleaning his glasses, "Well, now I must speak with the Torchwicks. I did my best to impress upon Miss Rose the importance of not sharing this with her team."

Oscar narrowed his eyes, "Look, Ozzie, I know better than anyone what kind of trust issues you have. I am not going to have Ruby isolate herself from her friends like that."

Ozpin pulling out a flask of...maple syrup? adding it to the slowly heating milk, "Doesn't she have you and her new boyfriend to rely upon?"

Scratching his arm, "Roman and Ruby being together is a horrifying-"

Ozpin raised his hand, "It's not a bad development." he paused at Oscar's blanch, "The Xiong now Torchwick family has ruled Vale from the bottom up since before the Great War. The past couple of generations have been... unscrupulous. The siblings have followed the footsteps of their mother in that regard."

"You're gambling, that Ruby will be a good influence."

"Provided she doesn't push Mr. Torchwick too hard to be 'good'. Organized crime can do wonders for a community, and a working relationship with them would be beneficial."

Oscar gritted his teeth. He knew for a fact that Ozpin did not care about Ruby's wellbeing. Oz didn't care for any of them. All were chess pieces in the game of world peace. In this, he would even be willing to sacrifice the king if it meant hindering Salem.

So Oscar tried a different tact, "Wouldn't Roman's heterochromia hinder Ruby's silver eyes from being passed down." The boy stirred the pot of cocoa before pouring it.

Ozpin smiled, "Possibly, we have about a decade before we need to worry about progeny. It would be best to argue with Miss Rose after she experienced how powerful her ability is. Now who could we find to train her."

Ozpin could do it. Oscar knew that, but it had done Ruby some good to have an older woman to rely on. "Maria Calavera. Her eyes are damaged, but she lives in the City of Mistral. I don't know if you can convince her to help us."

Ozpin, "Salem paid people to kill the Grimm Reaper."

Oscar gawked.

"I see you don't have all my knowledge."

"We weren't fully joined. So I don't have everything."

Ozpin nodded, "Qrow barely just arrived, but he can go to Mistral...once Mrs. Calavera is on her way. Then perhaps straighten Leonardo out."

Oscar's memory flashed. Before becoming the Headmaster of Vale, he trained in Haven and had a close relationship with Leo. It was natural for Ozpin to give Leo as many chances as possible.

Oscar looked aside, "Just let Qrow act according to his discretion. You're... we're biased with Leo."

Ozpin nodded and took a small sip of his chocolatey beverage. "I see...this isn't why I came here. I wished to ask if you know anything about the White Fang. They are the lingering threat here."

"People have been coming into town a lot more faunus than expected... according to the hookers."

"Ah well, now I understand why you chose to stay here."

Oscar, embarrassed, scratched his cheek, "Do you know where Mercury is?"

Ozpin suddenly, looking his multitude of years, "You believe that those children might retaliate for Cinder?"

"Emerald is working with Adam, just don't know-how. I am confident she will make moves to the CCT. "

"They had not been in class since before the dance. I will keep an eye out."

Oscar gripping his cane, "Are y.' still going to detain Torchwick?"

There was a long silence as Ozpin appraised the shorter man, "given that he knows about time travel and this development with 'Red'. It might be wiser to keep him close and operating. Especially since we are starting the singles rounds in the Vital festival today."

Oscar swallowed, "It seems faster than last time."

"Cinder and her team never competed, shortening the festival." Whatever Adam or Emerald planned would happen tonight.

Oscar, "Vale will fall."

Ozpin nodded, "And so it must. But, please, my boy, do not let this deter you."

XXX

Pyrrha's limbs trembled in exhaustion. A grin cut through her sweat-drenched face. She upheld the honor of her team...or more importantly, her winning streak. That was what mattered. Penny, on the ground, twitching with her Aura depleted. Methodical clapping reached their ears, and Pyrrha looked up. Penny reluctantly rose to her feet beside the invincible girl.

The robot, "Sir, please return to the stands. You are in violation of tournament rules."

Pyrrha held up her shield, squaring her stance. The bull Faunus wore a blindfold, yet she knew he could see perfectly. His hand fitted a Grimm mask over his face, then pressed a button near his ear.

"What a spectacular view," Stiffly, his hand gestured to the combatants, "A truly inspiring sight of a pretty girl who fought a robot."

Pyrrha flinched at his voice resonating over the speakers. The Grimm image cutting across every screen in the arena. "Please return to your seat." She elongated her weapon to a spear.

"I wonder why humans need to doll up a combat Android as a cute little girl."

Pyrrha looked to the stands. The announcement booth was suspiciously empty with red splattered on the glass...where was the rest of JNPR? A flash of red light came, blinding her. Pyrrha heard the whining of gears and the crowd shrieking. Squinting, forcing her eyes to readjust, her mouth parted.

Penny's upper body slid off her waist in slow motion, the circuits sparked. The invincible girl's nose crinkled at the acrid smell. Finally, she felt the gaze of the man in bull horns watching her fall to her human knees. Pyrrha desperately tried to pull her opponent together. Her mouth parted again, and still, she could utter no sound. But she could hear all too well.

"Humans, even your finest technology highlights your weakness. A single strike from a Faunus ends your protection." Then, directing his face to speak directly into a camera, "Brothers and Sisters see how much more we are. We do not have to be oppressed. We can easily deliver justice." Swinging his sword and a broken blade stopped him mid-swing.

Ruby shielded the supposed invincible girl. The small girl snapped, "How weak are you to have to wait to kill an already beaten girl." Too bad she wasn't connected to the mic, and no one but Pyrrha heard her.

Lockers flew down around them. Pyrrha could hear the needy scream of the nevermore trying to break the arena barrier.

Blake charged at the bull with Gambol Shroud, and Ruby jumped backward, dragging Pyhrra with her. Adam lazily knocked his new assailant's weapon aside. His fingers crushed the bow on her head he forced her into a kiss. Blake gagged, and he knocked her out, throwing her over his shoulder. The ribbon fluttered to the ground, and Pyrrha nevertheless felt as though she numbly watching from above.

He threw down a grenade, and Pyrrha coughed heavily from the smoke. The fumes brought clarity back into her mind. Pyrrha squared her shoulders, "I have to join my team, Ruby will you help us get people out of here?"

Ruby gave a feral look, "That was Adam Taurus, and he took my friend." Yang and Weiss ran up to Ruby. "We're going after Blake."