Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of A Lingering Ember. Enjoy the 1000-word chapter. I don't own RWBY, Monty Oum, and Rooster Teeth do.

(Mistral.)

Desmond smacked the spider in the head, knocking his head to the side.

"You know if I was in a better mode? I'd have some stupid joke ready or something." Cye said before lifting their head with the end of Melodic Cudgel. "But I'm not in the damn mood… Now we can either answer this without me hurting you… Or I can show you how badly you screwed up." Desmond stated and narrowed his eyes.

"The boss told me about you." The spider said as Desmond brushed the dust off his jacket.

"Then I'm sure she also told you how badly I want to kill you," Desmond said before smashing his cane into the ground. "Because you stole my partner, you know where she is. So, I'm going to give you a chance to end this without violence. Tell me where Neo is, your boss isn't coming to save you. I'm NOT in the mood for these games." Desmond said while looking over his shoulder at his men.

He was greeted with spit which he brushed off. He sighed and bounced Melodic Cudgel up and into his hand.

"Well, good cop time is over," Desmond said before punching the man in the chest. "Tell me where the hell she is. This doesn't end with you on top. Trust me, the only reason I didn't blast you back on the plains." Desmond said while cracking his knuckles.

The man didn't understand that Desmond was slowly going to lose his patience. The longer this garbage continued? The more he was going to get annoyed.

(With Neo)

Neo pulled on the chains. She almost wished she could use her semblance, but that wouldn't work. 'Madame Malachite' as she knew the woman? She knew Neo's tricks.

Neo wished she was facing the blonde girl from Beacon. She was brutish and hotheaded, and easy. Neo easily defeated her.

Now? She wanted nothing more than to do the same to Cinder. She had forced the duo to work for her, Cinder had taken them from their jobs as criminals to be henchmen for her.

And then it had stolen Roman from her. The man wasn't much, but he was family in her eyes. Cinder didn't care, she probably had gotten everything she could have wanted from them. Roman and she were probably just collateral damage or something in Cinder's eyes.

And then there was Desmond. He had stolen Roman's cane. Well, taken it. She couldn't imagine something being stolen if its owner was dead.

He looked at her with sadness. Even if it was just a moment? Neo could see Desmond's face twisting in deep thought when he left. He didn't want to abandon her. The decision was made out of a lack of options, either he fired or risked hurting her… Or he left.

Neo didn't know Desmond. She couldn't pretend she understood him in the slightest, but she did understand that he wouldn't do anything without a plan in mind at the end of the day.

Yes, a plan that would free her. Neo wasn't perfect, but she could read glances, faces. It was part of her talent as a thief.

Neo could only wonder what Desmond was planning on doing. If he did return? He'd have to return with force to win. Neo almost wondered if Desmond dared to do so. Neo was the ruthless one between the duo, she was the muscle between them. Neo was no leader; she was simply someone who handled her missions with cold respect that couldn't be matched.

Desmond would come, but it wouldn't be for a while. He trusted her; she had seen the look in his eyes.

(With Desmond)

Desmond pushed the man backward before leaning on his cane. He hissed in pain before looking up at Desmond who had hit him in the ribs before pushing him over.

"Care to talk now?" Desmond asked while humming and sighed. "Because I can tell you this. I'm not going to kill you; I still need to break Neo free." Desmond stated as he rested his weapon on his shoulder.

He knew for a fact that he could also trade the airship that he had stolen from the Grey Ursa. Whoever the spider leader was? They could barter with them to try and deal with them.

"I can't, she'll kill me." Desmond heard and paced back and forth.

"Oh, so it's a lady," Desmond said while twirling his cane in his hand. "Good, now we're getting somewhere. Knowing the spiders? They'd have to have some pretty big fancy place. I'm sure you know where that is?" Desmond said as he lowered his cane and then leaned on it.

He knew very well that the spiders HAD to be using some fancy base when it came down to it. Desmond could narrow it down to some high-brow places. It also helped that the spiders were such a big group. Desmond hummed and turned to look to the side.

"Well, I know a bit about what to do now," Desmond said as he turned and walked away.

Desmond turned and left the room and left his men to guard the man. Desmond rubbed at his chin in interest and left to find someplace fancy.

"Someone keeps an eye on him for me," Desmond ordered as he slipped his cane under his arm. "I want 2 of you to come with me." Desmond stated and sighed.

Author Note

Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be 900-1500 words or such. The next chapter will be 9-12 weeks or such. The next chapter will show Desmond looking for Neo and such. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

P.S: Neo will be 900-2000 words Wednesday or such. Cinder 900-1500 Friday. Penny 1200 Tuesday. Emerald maybe soon, Ruby 1200 words Monday. Yang 1500 words Sunday. Raven 1200 words Sunday.