Qrow let out a sigh of content as he gently swirled the frying pan back and forth over the flame while standing alone in the kitchen. A collection of seafood and noodles shifted back and forth within the metal implement, emitting a pleasant aroma throughout the otherwise empty kitchen.

"Hey, how hot do you want this?" Qrow called while turning his head slightly toward the cracked door on the other side of the dormitory. A soft light shone from within, accompanied by the harsh sound of water hitting skin and tile.

"Huh?" came Summer's voice, muffled through din of the shower. "What did you say?"

"How hot? Like, spicy?" Qrow replied, raising his voice a bit.

"Oh! Uh… like a four?" Summer called back, only for Qrow to roll his eyes toward the ceiling.

"Out of what? Five, or ten?" the boy asked while poking at the sizzling noodles with a wooden spoon, eliciting crackles and pops from the grease in the pan.

"Seven!" Summer replied, her amusement clear in her voice.

"…last time I ever cook for you," Qrow muttered to himself as he turned his attention back to the pan and raised his volume once again. "Your ass is eating macaroni and cheese and pop tarts until the end of time, from here on out!"

Qrow jumped slightly as his scroll buzzed against the linoleum of the countertop next to the stove. He quickly swiped the device off the surface and flicked the notification aside, only to find a new message from Willow.

Leaving Atlas now. We'll be home late tonight, instead of tomorrow.

Qrow quirked a brow and let his spoon fall gently to rest on the side of the pan as he sent a text back while the hairs on his arms stood on end.

Did something happen? Is everyone alright?

Qrow idly picked up the pan in his spare hand and began to swirl it gently above the heat again as he waited for a reply. Seconds passed that felt like minutes before one came through, and its contents made his heart sink.

Kali isn't. Too complicated to get into through text. I'm sorry.

"Shit," Qrow cursed. "I knew I should have gone with them…"

Take care of her. We'll be here for both of you when you get back to Beacon.

No reply came, and Qrow fidgeted idly while staring down at the half-cooked food. His mind swam with possibilities, each more horrific than the last. All he could do was set his scroll back onto the counter and focus again upon the task at hand.

At least, for as long as he could see the pan.

Without warning, an icy blast of frigid water impacted the back of his t-shirt and rushed through his hair from above. The sudden, all-encompassing noise of the showerhead within the confined space of the bathroom caught him off guard as much as the freezing sensation from the water, and Qrow couldn't stop himself from crying out in shock. All air seemed to leave his lungs shortly after, leaving him clinging to the metal railing on the shower door as he desperately scrabbled his hand around the dial to shut off the water. The sudden silence was replaced immediately by a fit of giggles from the kitchen, and Qrow inhaled sharply through his nose as he began to see red.

"Summer! That wasn't funny!"

"It's pretty hilarious on my end!" the girl shot back before bursting into a peal of true, echoing laughter.

Qrow let out a string of curses as he stumbled out of the shower, his clothing soaked and trailing water behind him. He stomped his way into the kitchen where Summer stood before the stove, wrapped in a white towel and acting as though nothing was amiss while water pooled beneath her feet.

"You're cleaning all of this up. Not me," Qrow warned as he moved to stand before the frying pan once again.

"Hey- you're the one who told me to practice my second semblance," Summer pointed out as she raised her arms in a shrug while grinning mischievously. "Consider that practice."

"I consider it a declaration of war," Qrow countered as he used a hand to slick back his soggy hair. "Now dry off, get dressed, and get cleaning. The whole floor's a mess, because of you."

"You'd make me clean while my aura is down and I have a headache?" Summer asked as she raised her hand to her head and swooned dramatically.

"You don't need aura to dry a floor, and that headache is your fault. You could've waited until after dinner," Qrow pointed out. The boy eyed his scroll before looking back up at Summer, only for the girl to tilt her head and raise a brow.

"Is something wrong…?"

Qrow grunted in response, and debated whether or not to fill Summer in. Ultimately, guilt won out, and he gave her an ominous grimace.

"…something happened up in Atlas. They're coming home tonight, and Kali's not doing well. No details beyond that."

"Kali…" Summer said, before her voice trailed off. Suddenly, her eyes flashed a blinding white, and she clutched at the sides of her head before stumbling backward and crashing her lower back into the edge of the countertop.

"Summer!" Qrow yelled, abandoning his stir fry to rush over and kneel near to the girl as he put his hands on her shoulders. "Summer, what are you seeing!?"

Summer looked up at her friend, her eyes still aglow for a moment before they seemed to fizzle out. She shut them tight and turned away while moving her hands in front of them as she gasped for air.

"Nothing! I… I-I didn't see… it wasn't a vision. I saw nothing!" the girl insisted.

"Summer," Qrow said cautiously as he took his hands off the girl's bare shoulders. "Please, don't lie. Even if it's something unpl-"

"I didn't see anything!" Summer yelled in a raspy, almost pained voice as she moved her hands aside. "Don't accuse me of lying!"

Qrow backed off along the floor as he noticed trails of tears running down Summer's cheeks. He opened his mouth to say something, but Summer stood up from her position on the floor and beat him to it as she stomped toward the bathroom.

"I'm going to dry off and start cleaning. M-make sure the food doesn't burn."

Qrow slowly got to his feet and stared at the bathroom door for a long time before returning to his watch over the frying pan, at a total loss for what to say.


"Where'd he go?" Roman seethed as he twisted sideways to slip through two attendants having a conversation. One of the women scoffed and put a hand to her chest as Roman scowled back at her. Willow and Jay followed close behind, the former looking sick and the latter seemingly angry.

"I don't know," Jay insisted. "He pulled off at just the right time to slip into the crowd, before I could get a hand on him."

"Yeah, that's convenient," Roman muttered. "Not like you're trying to protect your brother, or anything. Atlesian elites, you're all fucking garbage."

"You're an Atlesian elite!" Jay said incredulously, his volume enough to draw attention as the trio moved through the crowd. "So is Willow! Don't lump me in with him!"

Roman growled as he encountered a wall of smartly dressed and unfamiliar adults holding a conversation out in the middle of the floor. He tried to squeeze past, only to find himself blocked by a faunus attendant carrying drinks. The rabbit-eared girl had a look of clear misery upon her face as she let her sad eyes fall to Roman's face, and the sight was enough to get him to whirl on Jay in frustration.

"Then why aren't you doing something!?" Roman hissed, before shoving hard into Jay's chest. "Call him!"

Jay held his ground as the far less muscular teen pushed him, though he clenched his jaw in annoyance all the same.

"Roman!" Willow cried as she grabbed for his arm. "Don't… you're only going to make this worse!"

Jay calmly withdrew his scroll from his pocket as members of the crowd looked on, several choosing to back away from the confrontation.

"He isn't going to pick up. You're not doing anything other than making yourself look bad, right now," Jay warned as he put the scroll up to his ear. "You're lucky we're not on campus. I'll try to find him. You two get to Kali."

Roman cracked his neck and balled his fists before turning on his heel and beginning to walk off again.

"Move," he insisted as he once again reached the impassable crowd. They parted for him, and Willow slipped into the gap just behind her friend.

"Roman, you need to calm down," Willow hissed as she picked up her pace. "This isn't helping anything. We're at a serious disadvantage, here. We need to play this carefully, o-"

"Or what? You'll get kicked out of your own house? Sounds unlikely to me," Roman interrupted. "Your dad's not my dad. If Robin wants to make a scene, we'll make a scene instead, our way."

Roman jerked backward slightly as Willow gripped his arm once again, though with much more force. The boy stumbled a few steps and blinked in surprise, caught off guard by her sudden strength. As he turned to look at Willow, he found her usually beautiful and thoughtful blue eyes to instead be fierce, calculating pools of threatening azure.

"You don't get to make that decision for Kali, when she's at the center of this. Not just because she's the target, and not just because this is an issue that we, as humans, can't fully relate to, but because you have feelings for her. You're throwing a tantrum, endangering all of us even more, and if this is how you react to a crisis situation, then you don't deserve her," Willow finished as she let her hand drop.

Roman's eyes widened as he regarded Willow with shock. Mere seconds later, he dropped his gaze to the floor and began to chew at his lip. Willow took a step toward him, her expression softening and full of worry.

"…Roman, I'm sorry, that was too f-"

"No. No, it was just far enough. You're right," Roman admitted while holding up a hand. He took a deep breath and turned once again to lead her through the crowds at a brisk pace. "Should we call her, too?"

"Hold that thought," Willow suggested as she began to walk at Roman's side. "I know the general direction she headed off to, and we're on the right track. Knowing Kali, she's near the food…"

Roman snorted in amusement despite the situation and shook his head.

"Good call. We can save this, somehow. I hope."

"I… don't know," Willow admitted. "My plan is honestly to warn her, and then secure a transport. I think we need to leave."

"Maybe you can, but I can't," Roman reminded. "Still, I'll help you three get out of here, if that's what you think is best. This whole situation blows."

"I've never understood that expression, but yes, it does," Willow confirmed. "There," she added while nodding toward the long buffet table where Kali, Jacques, and James stood in conversation.

"Jackpot," Roman said confidently as he began to take long strides toward his faunus friend. "And it's a sex reference. We'll explain it to you later."

"…of course it's sex-related," Willow mumbled while rolling her eyes.

"Kal!" Roman called as they approached. The girl's bow shifted slightly as her feline ears perked beneath it, and she blinked while snapping her attention to her friend.

"Roman? I thought you couldn't…" she trailed off, before allowing herself a small smile. "…resist, huh? Come to keep me company? You should meet James. He's pretty cool."

Roman opened his mouth to protest, but quickly thought better of it and offered a hand to the other male.

"…Roman. Roman Torchwick. Nice to meet you," he said halfheartedly as James took his hand in a firm grip and shook.

"James Ironwood. So, you're Nero's son, then?" James asked.

"By blood only," Roman said icily before turning his attention back to Kali. "Sorry man, but Kal and I need to talk. Now."

Kali's expression turned deadly serious, and she set her half-empty glass upon an open spot on the table beside her as Willow began speaking to Jacques in a hushed whisper.

"James, I'll… we'll be right back. Sorry."

"No, no worries," James insisted as he waved his free hand, looking rather confused. "Pistol maintenance talk can wait. This seems important."

"You have no idea, man," Roman replied before walking toward a nearby hallway, where no one else stood. "C'mon, we've gotta get away from everyone."

"Yes, that's certainly the impression I'm getting," Kali said nervously as she followed along, her bangles jingling softly as she walked. "Roman, what's happening?"

Roman checked around them once again as they ducked into the hallway and walked a few feet to make sure they were out of earshot. Satisfied that they were alone, he turned his attention down to his faunus friend.

"…it's Robin. He's being an asshole and threatening to expose you as a faunus. He's probably already doing it, honestly."

Kali paled and put a hand up to rub at her chin as she avoided Roman's eyes.

"We… I need to leave. Immediately. I've heard stories about how people act toward my kind up here, and just from overhearing bits and pieces of conversation, I don't think it's a good idea for me to stay. I don't think Willow's family would do anything drastic, but it's everyone else I'm worried about," Kali replied.

"You don't have to explain it to me," Roman reassured. "I think Willow's working on a way to get you three out of here, but I honestly have no idea what she could be planning. Maybe we should just go deeper into the mansion, and hide out until we get word?"

"…and risk your dad causing a scene looking for you?" Kali questioned. "And gods forbid he finds us together. No. I'm not trading another potential night of abuse from him for protecting my dignity and saving myself some dirty looks. If the secret gets out, it gets out, and I'll just take whatever comes my way. At this point, I just hope it doesn't result in something terrible for Willow. She brought me here."

"So you're worried about Willow and I, I'm worried about you, and Willow's worried about both of us," Roman stated while rubbing his temples. "And none of us know how to handle this situation. This is going great."

"Step one is getting back out into the lobby," Kali pointed out. "You can't just wander off with that asshole watching you like a hawk. The fact that Willow's chatting up Jacques and James instead of you right now probably looks bad."

"You're that worried about me, huh?" Roman mused as he allowed himself a small smirk.

"When it comes to one of my best friends getting the shit beaten out of him without being able to fight back? Yeah, I am," Kali insisted. "You're hissing slightly when you walk. You're in pain, and that matters more to me than this bullshit. Let's get you back in the public eye."

Roman paused to watch Kali walk for a few seconds, before hurrying forward to join her side.

"…I'm trying to be subtle about it…"

"Four ears, remember?" Kali said flatly. "We should split up again. I'll… reconnect with Wil, and figure out where to go. It'll be fine. It's…"

Kali paused her words and her stride as Willow, Arcturus, and Nero all entered the hallway. Willow avoided her eyes, while Nero glared daggers at his son. Arcturus' jaw was set firmly, and he merely drew in a deep breath as the other, redheaded man turned his attention to the faunus girl and cracked his neck.

"Hello, Kali. Roman's told me so much about you, and now one of the Winchesters has told me even more," he said in a tone of mock surprise. "Imagine how shocked I was to find out that you're the very same faunus I've been telling my boy to avoid."

"And imagine my lack of surprise when you turned out to be just the sort of asshole I figured you would be," Kali countered. "You, and the Winchesters."

Without a second thought, Kali ripped her ribbon down from atop her head and let her ears stand tall as she narrowed her eyes. Nero visibly shrank back and made a face of disgust at the sight while raising one hand slightly in anticipation of some sort of attack.

"Coward," Kali seethed as she stared defiantly up at Arcturus.

To her surprise, the man showed no reaction at all. He seemed to be trying to think of something to say, before Willow slowly reached her hand up and took his in a gentle hold. The motion drew his attention from the faunus for a moment, and he made contemplative noise.

"…I'd like to speak to all three of you, privately," the man finally said as he used his free hand to straighten his tie.

"I think Roman should stay with me," Nero protested as he returned his eyes to his son. The man's face was red with anger, and the very sight caused Roman to shrink back slightly.

"And I think I want to speak to him before returning him to you," Arcturus countered as he let his hand slip from Willow's and began to walk past Kali and Roman. "After all, he and my daughter seem to be quite close friends, after this evening. It would be best if we're all on the same page regarding this intruder. Come, all of you."

Nero seemed to perk up as Kali's ears fell in shame.

"…well, in that case- take him, but don't spare him if he had any part in bringing her up here. Useless little tinder, floating up where she doesn't belong," Nero sneered.

Kali said nothing in return as she moved to follow Roman and Arcturus. Willow hesitated and remained next to Nero for a moment until her friends were out of earshot.

"…disgusting. All of them," Willow commented, doing her best to put on an expression that matched her words.

Nero raised a brow as he turned to regard the girl.

"…I thought that Winchester kid said she went to school with you down in Vale, and you brought her here?" Nero questioned.

"She's been wearing that bow since we met," Willow lied before beginning to walk after the trio that had nearly made it to the end of the hall. "And I'll make sure she gets what she deserves for lying to me."


Kali kept her mouth shut and eyes narrowed as she followed Arcturus through a large blue door on the third floor of the estate. The Schnee snowflake was etched into the wood and painted white, and the very sight made her stomach turn. She spared a quick glance back at Willow, who avoided her eyes as they entered the room together. The office was a long, dimly lit little chamber with a desk at the far end and a family photo of Arcturus sitting in a large and ostentatious looking purple-cushioned chair with his wife and daughter standing on either side of it. Rows of books lined the walls, and the entire room smelled distinctly of wood polish.

Arcturus said nothing as he approached a small couch setup in the center of the room, where a loveseat, recliner, and full couch were stationed. The patriarch took his place in the recliner and swept a hand outward toward the other seats. Willow and Roman were quick to sit on the couch, while Kali simply lingered behind it, her arms folded atop the back of the seat cushions. No one said a word for a long while as Arcturus leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and fingers steepled together in front of his mouth as he stared at the anxious teens. Finally, he rolled his fingers down to interlace them, and furrowed his brows as he rested his chin atop his hands and began to speak.

"…first and foremost, before anything else we discuss tonight- I want all of you, but especially you, Willow, to know that I am not angry about this deception, by any means," Arcturus began as he locked eyes with his daughter. "Though this was a foolish and unproductive risk to take, I can understand why you did it- your heart has always been full of compassion and empathy, in any given situation. It's part of what makes you special, and part of what regularly makes me proud of you."

Willow offered her father an unsure look, before quickly turning her eyes away. Something about the situation denied her the smile that such words normally would have brought, and instead, she felt a chill creeping through her spine as Kali began to speak in a cold, unfamiliar voice.

"…why do you think Willow offered to bring me here?" the faunus questioned. "Why do you think I wanted to come to this party, if you understand me?"

Arcturus blinked in surprise and sat up a bit straighter as he folded his hands in his lap.

"Well, it seems obvious to me that being in such a disadvantaged position, it's only natural that you would want to come and experience the 'high life', as it were, for a few nights. See what there is to see, live in excess for a time, and get your mind off the troubles of your people," Arcturus stated calmly. "Were I in your position, I'd likely do the same."

Kali clenched her jaw and balled a fast as she let her hand disappear from view behind the couch.

"Roman," she seethed. "I might need you to hold me back. Literally."

The boy shifted his position upon the couch and looked back at Kali. Upon seeing the mix of offense and anguish in her features, he turned back to Arcturus and narrowed his eyes.

"…seriously? You think this is about getting a little taste of Atlas? Like all of this is something to look up to and dream about?" Roman questioned before shaking his head. "If you think we're all living in luxury, then you're blind, and I don't care if you're offended by that or not. We're not as shallow as the clients you threw this party to coerce."

"Everyone, please," Willow started as she put her hands up. "Please, keep this civil. We need to defuse this situation as quickly as possible, for everyone's sakes. Daddy, that isn't what any of this is about, at all."

Arcturus tore his irritated gaze from Roman and brought it back to his daughter. His eyes softened as he made a point to ignore Kali, who was still glaring daggers at him from the behind the couch.

"Worry not, Willow," he reassured. "All I'm asking for is an explanation, right now. I have no intention to make this into a conflict."

"I had no plans of telling anyone here that I'm a faunus tonight," Kali replied as all attention turned to her. "Or the next time, or the time after that. I came here to get my face out there with you and your wife. I came here to establish some kind of trust and familiarity, so that one day, later this year, or the next, I could sit down with you in a room just like this and tell you the truth about who I am. I wanted this to be a stepping stone toward making you talk to me face-to-face about what you're doing to my people. I wanted this to be day one on a new path that might actually make some kind of change, and Willow and Roman were willing to help me do it. But now…"

Kali trailed off as Arcturus raised a gentle hand.

"…and I see no reason to deviate from that plan. If an explanation of my actions in running the company is what you want, then you'll have it. I have nothing against the faunus people, or you, personally. In fact, I've come to quite like you in what little time we've spent together. Telling off Nero earned major points in your favor. I can't stand that man," Arcturus mused with a small smirk.

"Neither can I," Roman agreed. "Whatever deal he's trying to cut with you, don't give him a damned thing. He deserves to go under."

"This really isn't the time," Willow insisted. "And that's a discussion I want to have with you privately, later," she added while locking eyes with her father. The man merely nodded and brought his attention back up to Kali.

"What, specifically, do you wish to know, Miss Moonglove?"

Kali paused, and blinked once.

"…what do I want to know? What do you mean what do I want to know? Why are you still using almost exclusively faunus labor in dangerous conditions? Why don't you do anything to fight the stereotypes against us? Why are you still proudly putting your seal on shipments of dust that we risk our lives for, overcharging for your product despite being on top, and acting like this is all you? Your face is on every package on your shelves, and your silence speaks volumes about what you think of us. You won't even let faunus work in your storefronts," Kali spat. "You could do so much for us, but you just… don't. It's disgraceful."

Arcturus drew in a calming breath, and merely nodded as his face and tone remained entirely neutral. The moment he began to speak, Willow's face fell and she closed her eyes.

"In truth, the points you raise are valid, though the reasoning behind the S.D.C. running the way it does is incredibly nuanced and difficult to explain. I don't expect you to fully understand the intricacies of managing a corporation like this one, especially at such a young age, but I think you may be able to at least appreciate h-"

"How can you even look at her right now?" Roman interrupted, his expression just as furious as Kali's. "Are you seriously going to just sit there and rattle off something that's clearly been rehearsed? She's a person, and she's hurting. She's one of your daughter's best friends!"

"…one of my only friends," Willow added as she wiped an eye with the back of her hand. "This sounds almost exactly like what you've told me, when I've asked similar questions. What is this? Why can't you just speak from the heart, and help? It isn't like we don't have the money to make a change."

Arcturus' expression changed to one of conflict for a moment as his mouth formed a thin line. His hands came back up to press his steepled fingers against his lips for a few seconds, before he dropped them again and nodded softly.

"You see… change takes time, Willow. More time than you might expect."

"Twenty years?" Kali asked as her feline ears flattened down into her hair. "You may be able to explain this away to your business partners, but not to me. I have extended family that went to work in your mines and ended up with all sorts of complications. I know people in Kuo Kuana whose family members have died working for you. You have no intention of changing anything, do you?"

"I never said that," Arcturus reassured. "But you seem to lack the patience even to let me speak, let alone for me to begin enacting meaningful change."

"Don't patronize us," Roman warned as he began to bounce a knee in a fit of nervous energy. "Why are you just so… so… fucking clinical and detached about all of this!?"

"Roman, please d-" Willow began, only to be cut off.

"No, I'm done playing by the rules tonight," Roman denied. "And I don't care if I'm never invited back here- I didn't want to come to this bullshit party in the first place. Answer Kali, and do it honestly! Don't you feel anything at all?"

"I do," Arcturus replied quickly. "But there are things to take into account beyond just 'heart', young man, especially when running a business. There's the possibility that one of you is recording my every word right now, with intent to release them to the public. There's also the fact that this meeting was something I wasn't prepared for, so I don't have facts and figures prepared for you, at the moment."

"Facts and figures?" Kali repeated. "I… I don't care about… the only figures I care about are the number of faunus getting sick or dying down in the mines, while your policies remain unchanged. And I guess I want to know why there are zero humans suffering the same way, if you want to talk numbers."

"The number of humans in the mines is not zero, Miss Moonglove," Arcturus said softly. All three teens looked at him in surprise, and he nodded to confirm the fact. "Without having the data in front of me, I can estimate that there is a human working in the mines for every seven faunus, give or take. Not everything is as it seems, here. In fact, several mine shafts are currently closed and the faunus who worked there are being given temporary shelters, full pay, and meals while we're conducting an investigation vital to the safety of our workers."

Kali tilted her head and quirked a brow.

"An… investigation?"

"Indeed," Arcturus confirmed. "That very same ongoing investigation is why Willow made it to Beacon Academy and met you at all, actually- there was a series of killings down in one of the mines. We're in the process of tracking down the person responsible."

Kali's face drained of color as she spared Willow a quick glance. The heiress drew her eyes away immediately and let them fall to the carpet as all three of the teens suddenly fell silent.


Author's Note:

Had to split this confrontation into two parts, unfortunately. Next chapter will deal with the rest of this encounter and the fallout that results from it, before we head into the final arc of Volume 1. I'll also be going back and putting a concrete date at the start of Chapter 1, to coincide with the timing of Journal of a Vacuan Vagabond, and an upcoming side story that I'll be writing while this is on hiatus for a few weeks after Volume 1 concludes.

-RD