Blake needed to assess her wounds, so she reluctantly focused. Her waist was covered in clean bandages, stitched and wrapped by a careful hand. Next, lifting her eyes up to the metal ceiling, ears detecting the engine hum, sure she was in a plane. As much as her body hurt, recalling Weiss's blood running down her arm overwhelmed Blake's senses. Trying to curl up on herself, then discovering some ties bound her flat to the cot. Hearing a slight cough, her heart lurched into her throat, "Perry?"

Her boyfriend was on his knees, arms coiled tightly behind him and bound to his ankles. He was littered in bruises and blood. His tail, thin and sharp and so sensitive to her loving affection. She choked on her bile, seeing his otter tail now mangled. His glasses were gone, and there was no hiding the resolve in his stare.

"Oh, how nice." Adam left the cockpit, "Just the three of us together again brings back memories."

Perry, spitting out blood, "Right wonderful memories of you trying to rape her."

Adam snapped, "Make love."

Blake, "Delus…" Her voice trailed off as her captor's hand rested on the hilt of Wilt. Then, softly as if Adam was the wounded animal, "Where are we going?"

Hand leaving his sword finding its way into her hair, "Home, my darling." gently he scratched behind her ears.

Abstaining from recoiling, "I'm sure my family is worried about me. I'm looking forward to it." immediately regretting couldn't hold the disdain from her tone.

"You're patronizing me, darling." his tender fingers left her, and he walked over to Perry, stepping on his tail.

Her boyfriend yelped.

"Now Perry, my once trusted friend." Digging his heel in, "When Blake left for Vale, you acted shocked and hurt. I assumed she betrayed us both. You've been fucking my sweeting behind my back."

The feral pain unfurled out Perry, "I tried to protect her. She didn't want your affection."

Catching the look Blake gave him. Silently she pleaded, Play along.

Perry's jaw went tight, and he shook his head. Adam's nail ran down's Perry's cheek painted an angry red line, "You didn't give her a chance to express her wants. Instead, you simply foisted yours upon her."

Perry chuckled as blood continued to pool under his tail, "I forced Blake to show up in my tent every night for months." His eyes softened looking at her, "To chat about books and strategy until she snuggled up to me and kissed me." Blake wished she could throw her arms around her beloved, hearing that he cherished those memories as much as she.

Adam ground out, "You forced yourself on her." His fist hit a button on the wall forcing the small hatch to open. Blake swallowed, hearing the air billow in, and the sharp smell of salt filled her sensitive nose. She parted her mouth then swallowed. What could she say to stop him? Tears pricked her eyes. Could she do anything that would not make this worse?

Perry sneered. A scab on his lip broke, blood now flowing down his chin, "You know why I made love to her, even though I was happy to wait. She was terrified you would be her first, and she wanted her first time to be her choice."

Perry was honest, for her sake. She never could be truthful with her mentor. Constantly swallowing her voice, dreading the truth was too much. And she was right. Adam, knuckles now white, lifted Perry by the throat as though the otter was lighter than a rag doll.

Blake allowed someone else to take the blow. Then, for her cowardice, she brought this on. The edges of her skin went fuzzy as a clone fell hard onto the metal floor next to her cot.

Perry spitting blood onto Adam's face, "Now you cannot pretend that you aren't the monster."

Roaring with rage, Adam tossed Perry out the door, sent into the open ocean. Blake squeezed her eyes shut. Perry was the best swimmer she knew, but he was bound.

Adam closed the door, leaning against it with his breath ragged. Then, his eyes wide, "Am I a monster?"

"No Adam, I am."

They both blinked confusedly. Blake didn't even open her mouth. Looking at her clone that flickered out of existence.

XXX

Oscar slow clapped, "Uh congrats on losing your virginity?" in his time, Ruby had streamers, if only to embarrass that version of Weiss and Jaune. Oscar rubbed his chest. He could not save Weiss, because of his failure, she had to be preoccupied with Blake's injury.

A knife clattered in the kitchen as Taiyang was assembling Dinner.

Roman cleared his throat, "Sorry Tai, I meant to make dinner."

Tai waved his knife holding hand dismissively, "no it's fine, you were taking care of my youngest daughter."

Neo silently snickered. Ruby covered her face with her hood, molting rose petals. Oscar tilted his head. Ruby usually dissolved if she was embarrassed.

Roman moved to set the table, and Ruby stared at how easily her father and boyfriend worked around each other. Oscar wasn't sure if he should have been surprised that Roman and Mr. Xiao Long got along so well.

Taiyang's voice was small, "I couldn't catch up to Yang."

Roman gripped the older man's shoulder, trying to find the words.

Ruby blinked, "Where is Yang?"

Everyone froze, wide-eyed and staring at Rubbles.

Taiyang gradually laying a platter on the dining table, "She went after Blake." Oscar had no idea it would take so long for a man to put something down.

Ruby staring hard at her hands, "Adam Taurus would go back to Mistral, the home base of the white fang." Her eyes went to the wall where everyone's weapons rested, "I'll check on Crescent Rose, and I'll go after them. Blake is my teammate too."

Her father choked, "No- it dangerous."

Oscar chewed on his lip. It'd keep Ruby out of the worst of the war for a while. Ozpin stifled in his mind, Miss Rose will be pursued by Salem's grunts-

Roman cut through the tension, "Red, you're a huntress-"

Taiyang interrupting roughly, "In training."

Roman rolled his eyes, "You're a hero. A leader. What is Blake's and Yang's safety, the war or a battle?" his hand rested on top of hers.

Her lip quivered, and she shook her head, "No, we have to stop Salem. And to do it in a way that doesn't extinguish the world."

Her father pressed his fist into the sturdy table, "You need to finish your education. Let the adults take care of this." Taiyang pulled his baby girl into an embrace, "Please, you are still a kid." Ruby nuzzles her face into her dad's chest.

Neo's clutched Oscar's hand, knowing whatever Ruby decided would affect Roman's decision.

The youngest of them, still hugging her father, "One of my teammates is dead. The other two I may never see again. I know the world could end in less than 10 years from now." She pulled away. Oscar recognized the trademark resolute Ruby Rose look. It made him ache now to know she had to have it too young. He looked at the rest of his team...they all were too young.

Tai's arms fell to his side, "You are choosing to not be a child anymore." numbly, "Just another person I love losing their life to Ozpin's schemes."

Oscar parted his mouth then shut it at the warning glare from Tai.

Ozpin, Tai was of the same belief as Raven. Although rather than running away, he tried to make sure Summer and Qrow always had love and support waiting for them.

Tai went back to the kitchen to bring out a tray of dessert, his previous gloom dismissed. Looking affectionately at his baby girl, "You may be choosing to be a grown-up, but remember-"

Ruby wiggles excitedly "Dinner before dessert, but Dad! It is strawberry shortcake."

Oscar, "Maybe if you want to exceed your max height of 5 feet and 3 you should lay off the dessert."

Ruby stilled, "I only have one more inch of growing?"

Roman pulled her close to his side, "I like it." kissing the top of her head, smirking at her gleeful squeak.

Neo elbowed Oscar expectantly. He raised a brow, "Even in heel's you never get above 5 feet."

Ruby mournfully pushed the strawberry treat away from her, "So the rest of you have had days to talk, what is the plan?"

Neo pointed to Roman's eye.

Roman, "Well my silvereye doesn't work. It flashes spectacularly, leaves me exhausted. All the while Grimm unaffected."

Tai's head reeled back, "When I first met Summer, anytime her eyes flashed, it'd freeze most Grimm. After Raven had Yang, those silver eyes going off killed Grimm more often than not."

Oscar whispered, "It's common for a silver eye warrior to become stronger when there is someone precious in mind to protect."

Roman frowned, "I have people to protect and yet-"

Oscar held up his hand, "A few days ago you action was the first time anyone with heterochromia unleashed the power of silver eyes. You did something, I just don't know what."

Ruby pointed to bother her eyes, "And you have me! So we can experiment with our powers together."

Oscar had to smile. Of course, Rubbles would be ready for any science experiment.

Roman, "You've never used yours, it makes you a terrible control."

Ruby stuck her tongue out.

Oscar, "Well, with Ozpin's and my memories. We can figure it out on the road." Ozpin in his skull, It has to be us, I doubt we can get a hold of Maria now.

Ruby sneaked her hand towards the cake, only to realize that Neo had eaten it all.

Taiyang, "I don't know who you are, but I'm not even surprised."