Winter's POV

Another day another body. The woman on Weiss' table today was girl by the name of Celia Jaffe. Young. Beaten. Had taken a blowtorch to to her hands. Well, at least we'd thought this was Celia, due to the ID. The real Celia Jaffe was alive and well and married to real jackass. So, it seemed we were back to square one.

I watched as Weiss carefully looked over the body, gently moving through her hair until she found whatever she was looking for, using a lamp to give her a clear view. I tilted my head, trying to see what was there only for her to scowl, narrowing her eyes.

"Why is that you and Yang think that having me an audience makes me work faster?" she asked, sounding a bit exasperated.

"No one has reported the victim missing and it would be nice to know why," I answered.

She hummed in response before turning on the x-ray machine. "I can tell you she has a depressed skull fracture."

I nodded. Good. Getting somewhere. "What kind of weapon?"

Weiss shook her head. "Wasn't done by a weapon."

I raised a brow. "So, what, did she wake up this morning with a headache?"

There was a twitch of her lips at that. "Yang's sense of humor is rubbing off on you, I see." I groaned. Well, shit. "She has a contrecoup contusion from a massive fall. Contrecoup means-"

"I know what it means," I replied cutting her off. I may not have been a medical genius like my little sister but I wasn't a moron. "It's not my first murder investigation. It means her head bounced around inside her skull."

My sister nodded. "After striking a hard object."

"So that rules out a pillow."

Her eyes narrowed though I could see her fighting off a smile. Honestly, that's really what I'd been aiming for. Our last interaction had been... not great. "It takes longer when you make jokes."

I shrugged. "Have to lighten up the mood somehow." The door opened and Jaune came in, sheepish smile on his face before the usual, 'I'm about to lose my lunch, look' quickly replaced it. "Detective Arc. You have something for me?"

He rubbed the back of his head. "Nothing yet," he admitted with a sigh of frustration. "We've got nothing else in her wallet. Though by the looks of it, whoever did this didn't want her to be found."

I hummed curiously. He'd been in the room for a full five minutes and hadn't gone green in the face. Maybe Yang was right. Maybe he wasn't a complete lost cause. She seemed to have been working with him on some stuff to help with his affliction, and so far they seemed to be working.

"Oh. Oh, I might have something," my sister said pulling our attention toward her. She'd moved onto inspecting the victims charred hands it seemed. "Her fourth digit isn't as badly burned as the others," she added, showing it to us. "I might be able to try a rehydration technique."

"You can get a print off of that?" Jaune asked. "Urgh."

Wait. No. There it was.

"It looks like a charred Tootsie Roll," I muttered.

"I've never done it," Weiss pressed on. "I've only read about it in an article published by an Italian doctor."

She then grabbed the pincers and I looked over at the blond. Out of the corner of my eye I watched Arc pale as she took the finger and snipped it off the mangled hand.

"Doc, you're not gonna-You are." His eyes went wide and he attempted to look away. I saw him dry heave a bit. Honestly, I felt a little bad for the kid.

"You have to detach the finger in order to rehydrate the tissue," Weiss replied with a shrug, showing the digit to him seemingly oblivious to his issue. She did tend to lost sight of things when she was on a roll like this.

He didn't answer, slowly lowering himself to the floor. "Arc?" I called in confusion.

"Just tying my shoe," he answered hazily, wobbling as he got closer to the floor.

"Your shoes don't have laces," I pointed out.

Just as he bent over he fell to the ground, out cold. I sighed and Weiss blinked between us. "Detective Arc?" she called. "I think he passed out."

I shook my head. "No kidding," I replied before calling Yang. "Hey, can you come help me pick up Vomit Boy? Yep. In his defense my little sister did cut off a very charred appendage."

I shook my head, as I waited, Yang appearing at the door a few minutes after the call had ended. My brow furrowed when I saw her. She looked like absolute shit. I opened my mouth only for her to cut me off with a sneeze. Oh.

"Are you sick?" I asked as we picked up Jaune and sat him in a nearby chair.

"I'm fine," she answered, but the way she ended up putting a 'D' at the end of fine let me know that was far from the truth. She sounded like she was talking through a tube. "It'll blow over soon."

"Doctor?" I called over to Weiss, gesturing toward the blonde.

Weiss sighed but went and took Yang's temperature. She hummed and shook her head. Well that wasn't good. "You have a fever."

"I do not."

"I'm sorry, who's the doctor here?" my sister asked with one quirked brow. I smirked. "You need to go home."

"On whose order?"

"Mine if my sisters isn't enough," I answered. "I can tell Ozpin if you want to make it official."

Yang groaned in response but didn't even bother fighting it. My sister and I shared a look. She really must be feeling sick to let it slide that easily. Yang hated taking sick days. If it got bad enough she'd call in but if she could walk she was usually here at the precinct despite our protests.

"I hate you guys."

"That's nice," came my sister's distracted reply as she studied the finger she'd placed in a jar. I couldn't help but smile.


Blake's POV

I felt like screaming into my pillow. I'd been tossing and turning in my bed, unable to get a good night's sleep for the last week. A week in which I hadn't spoken to Yang since my...episode. Since I'd thrown one of her biggest flaws in her face. It's what I did best, after all. I should've postponed any get togethers with Yang after the whole debacle at the mansion.

Hearing his voice, having been thrown back by an explosion, and then seeing those roses... The roses alone might not have done anything but with his voice so fresh in my mind, with his words still ringing in my ear, I'd been susceptible to a panic attack.

How was Yang to know? I never told her. I didn't tend to tell her anything.

So stupid.

"Just apologize. Explain. Use your words." That had been Ilia's advice when I'd told her what happened.

Apologize. You should be used to it, after all.

Once glance at the clock on my nightstand showed that it was a little passed two in the morning. Yeah, Yang should be home. I could always... No. She probably didn't want to see me. Surely, she would have called. But what if she was giving me space, letting me decide how I wanted to handle this. ...Honestly, that sounded like something she'd do.

The thought actually made me smile a little.

I groaned, rubbing my face in my hands. Why did everything have to be so complicated?

A knock against my wall startled me. "Just call her already and let me sleep!" There was no bite to Ilia's voice that I could hear, just a groggy agitation. Right. Two in the morning.

I scowled but took out my phone, hesitating before summoning all my courage to dial her number.

"Mm...hello?" a muffled voice answered.

I frowned, noticing her different the other woman sounded. "Yang, are you okay?"

A sneeze was my answer, though Yang protested. "I'm fine. Just tired."

I shook my head. "You don't sound fine. I'm coming over."

"No, no, it's-" Another sneeze, and a very congested inhale. "I'm fine."

"I'm coming over," I repeated packing my bag as I hung up.

When I got there, Yang answered the door, eyes puffy, nose red, and in all honesty, looking like shit. I sighed and shook my head, leading her to the room for her to lie down. Probably smart that I didn't comment on her actually deciding to let me in.

A 103 fever was revealed when I checked. I sighed and gave her the medicine on the counter putting a cold cloth on her forehead. She tried to argue but it wasn't long before the meds pulled her under. I smiled and kissed her cheek, changing the cloth until the fever stopped.

I was worried she'd protest me being here when she woke up but she never said a word, and I managed to take care of her the whole weekend without much fuss. I ordered soup and made sure she stayed in bed, running my hand through her hair in what I hoped was a soothing manner. By weekend's end she was craving 'real' food.

By the fourth day she was almost completely herself again, though still sleepy. She wasn't the only one. Having the lifestyle that I did, I wasn't new to lack of sleep, but having been taking only naps here and there were taking a toll on me. I sighed and rubbed her back gently as I put my thoughts together. There was something I needed to do before giving into sleep.

The last couple of days, Yang's sickness had kept conversations at a minimal. But as she gathered her strength she'd become more alert and aware and the awkwardness was making itself known.

"I'm sorry," I finally said after a moment.

"Mm?"

"I'm sorry for what I said the other day. That was completely uncalled for."

"I didn't know roses upset you."

"I know. I know." I sighed. "A lot had happened during the week. A lot of things that reminded me of...him. It wasn't the roses to be honest it was just...everything before that. They were just the cherry on the top, I guess."

Yang didn't say anything at first, laying down next to me. "You don't...tell me much," she answered quietly. "I don't know what you like or what you don't like. It'd be helpful to know so that what happened last week doesn't happen again."

I didn't say anything. What could I say? Everything that happened with Adam was...pain. I couldn't even remember if I was ever happy with him. I didn't have any autonomy. I wasn't me. What could I tell her? What could I say without...without telling her how much of a coward I'd been?

It was silent for a while. Neither of us spoke. Only the gentle rhythm of our breathing was heard. Then like a sign, I heard the soft patting against the window. Maybe I could...

"I like the rain," I finally said quietly.

"Mm?"

"I like the rain," I replied. "Actually, I like sitting in the rain, helps me think. I don't like roses, as you already know." Yang sat up, looking at me curiously. "Especially red roses. Never played a video game. I read Ninjas of Love whenever I get a chance. It's my favourite book. Haven't been with anyone in five years. And... I haven't seen my parents in over ten. I have a rose tattoo, got it when I was 14...by someone named Adam." I sighed, turning towards Yang, feeling exhausted. "I'm sure there's many, many other things, but that's all I can come up with right now."

Yang was staring, no, admiring me, wonder in her eyes at my having shared even that much. She smiled, pressing a kiss to my temple. "Thank you."


Coco's POV

Yatsu and I laughed as we looked over the different tattoo ideas Fox had brought in. He already had a couple on him: flames, a fox, the moon, and a red star. He was a special kind of guy but amazingly good at spying people. After all, who would be cautious of a harmless red head. Or so they thought. My dark skinned business partner was wicked with technology, even had this thing that told him where things were at before he bumped into them, ADA.

Amazing guy.

I heard the door opened and looked over my shoulder to see my favorite cop walk in. She greeted the guys before giving me a light shove to get my attention. I smirked and bumped my hip into hers before following her to the other side of the store.

"What do you have for me?"

"Well Fox is thinking about getting another tattoo," I began. "You know, the Braille ones he can feel. He can't decide between the roses or the camellias."

Yang hummed. "Blake has a rose tattoo."

"Oh?" I asked with a wink.

The blonde rolled her eyes. "I don't know where, Coco."

I frowned. Interesting. "Huh. You two haven't...?"

She rubbed the back of neck, looking away. "Well, yes. She just, uh, likes to keep her top on."

I hummed. "Ah, I see. Had something similar with Velvet," I admitted. "It took us about a year to be intimate and even then..."

"She went running for the hills."

"Quite literally too. She went to her brother's, Roger, cabin. Wouldn't come for weeks until he practically dragged her." I placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm told you, it'll be a lot of work."

Yang nodded in response, resolute and determined. "So, roses."

"Or camellias," I answered looking at the samples.

"No I mean, the roses about the case," she clarified with a laugh.

"Ah yes. Signature of the White Fang."

"The White Fang? I thought they were only in Menagerie?"

"Well like any gang or terrorist group, they like to expand," I replied, handing her the file. "They made their way here almost eight years ago, and have gained a lot of territory. They're known for their brutality and ability to remain under the radar."

"But not under your radar?"

I sighed. "Wish I could say that. I'd need to dig a little deeper and have a lot more time."

She nodded. "Let me know if you find anything else."

"Will do. Oh, and Yang?" I called.

"Mm?"

"Don't get her roses. If she hasn't shown you the tattoo it means it doesn't come with good memories."

Yang didn't say anything for a moment, this sad smile appearing on her face. Oh. Well too late for that advice then. Apparently they'd already had that talk.

"Thank you, Coco."

"Anytime."


Raven's POV

If someone had told me five years ago that tea would be my favorite drink I would have knocked their lights out. I had a few interventions throughout the years but none of the advice given had worked as well as a nice, hot cup of tea. Random, but hey, whatever worked. Honestly, it was just nice to drink something that wouldn't give me a hangover later.

I looked down at my watch and sighed. It wasn't really surprising that Summer was late. Woman had a chronic illness or something. I just hoped it wasn't another seven hour surgery. I knew those tended to take a lot out of her. Though maybe having been an army doctor beforehand helped with endurance. Either way, no doubt Summer was doing what she did best. Saving peoples' lives.

She'd helped save me, after all.

I looked at my watch and sighed. Late as always. I just hoped it was a seven hour surgery like last time. Being a trauma surgeon, and a good one at that, meant that Summer was always busy. She'd been an army doctor before but once she was discharged, she'd decided to keep doing what she did best. Save peoples lives.

I'd gone cold turkey after seeing Yang for the first time in... well, years. Yang had looked so disappointed, and I hadn't been able to get it out of my head. That look. I'd made the decision to go straight. No more drugs. Well, if I'd done the sensible thing and asked for help. Definitely would have saved me from ending up on the floor from cardiac arrest. Lucky my annoying doctor friend had a hard time minding her own business.

As usual, it was Summer that had saved my ass.

I'd been hallucinating. Part of the withdrawal process apparently. Mostly of Yang. The sadness in her eyes. The disappointment. It all haunted me. The door to my room opened and I jolted up, fists ready.

"Hey, hey. It's just me," Summer had said, hand in a placating gesture. "Are you still getting the flashes?"

I growled, turning onto my side. "Yes, I keep having this horrible vision of a brunette, who thinks she's better than everyone barging into my room all day. Oh, wait."

"We'll find you someone to talk to. Keep the rehab stuff going." She sighed. "If you'd only let Glynda help, she could-"

"I don't want to see anyone, okay?" I snapped. "Not you, not Tai, not... anyone."

Not Yang.

"So you're just going to hide in here forever?" the silver eyed woman answered, disbelief coloring her voice "You'll have to face them sometime."

"No, I don't. Just get me out of this damn hospital. I'll be fine."

I didn't need her. I didn't need anyone.

"What, do you can go back to being a junkie?"

"I can take care of myself!" I yelled.

"I promised Yang I'd make sure you were okay, so that's exactly what I'm going to do," she replied. I scoffed in response which finally threw her over the edge. "Why are you acting like this? I saved your life!"

"I told you to leave me alone, but you just love feeling like the hero, don't you?"

I already knew she was better mother than me. Why did she have to keep rubbing it in? Why did she have to save my life?

"You'd rather I left you to die?"

"What do you care?" I snapped again, sitting back up, ready and itching for a fight if she'd give it to me. "I know you all hate me!"

"I have never hated you!"

And just like that the wind left my sails. It was quiet for a moment. The admission throwing me off. She didn't hate me? Why... she... I... "Then you're even stupider than I thought," I answered quietly, laying back down with my back toward her, glaring at the wall. "Just leave me alone."

I heard her scoff, could hear the resignation in her voice. "I'm such an idiot. I thought things would be different this time, but clearly nothing has changed." I heard her footsteps head toward the door before they stopped. "I will tell you one thing though, Raven. If you want to have a relationship with Yang, this is your last chance. You walk out on her again, you take one single step out of line, and that's it. No more chances." She let that threat hang in the air. "Think about that."

I didn't say anything, and she left. I took a deep breath before closing my eyes. I don't remember how long I was out. Just that it was cold. Or at least I was. I groaned as realization hit me. Withdrawal symptoms. They were back. I curled into myself as much as I could. I wanted this to stop. I had to get better. For her. She deserved so much better than a junkie of a mom.

"I need to come home," I mumbled. "I need to..."

"You're already home," a familiar voice answered. Summer. She was here. She was...holding me. I gripped her hand tightly as she moved the hair from my face, holding my hand just as tightly. "It'll take work. A lot of it. But we will be here. I'll be here. It's a process. It'll take time. But you'll be okay. We'll be okay."

"There you are!"

It was Summer's voice that snapped me out of my reminiscing. I scoffed. "As if," I answered, handing her a cup of coffee. "Probably cold now since you took hours, as usual, I might add."

"Thirty minutes and it's fine. Better than that hospital crap anyways."

I hummed, taking a sip. "Right."

Why this woman talked me into coming to see her during her breaks was beyond me.


Ilia's POV

I grunted as my body was thrown through some wooden crates. It was surprising that my whole body wasn't one big bruise at this point. This mission had gone really off track. It should have been simple, ambushing Emerald Sustrai while she took inventory of her warehouse. Sneaking in had gone fine, which in hindsight should have been a red flag. Once in, we'd been trapped, and with none other than Hazel Rainhart.

Hazel was typically a level headed guy, but he was also like a human bulldozer. Literally the muscle of the White Fang.

Blake and I had been split up during the scuffle. I'd gotten stuck with Hazel while Blake dealt with Emerald. If only Hazel hadn't shown up. Though, if I was being completely honest, it was about time these guys got smart. Blake and I had killed some of their best and most valuable pieces. They needed to protect what they had left.

More annoying for us, though.

"C'mon Hazel," I panted. "We both know you aren't enjoying this."

"Maybe," he replied, grabbing me by the collar and tossing me aside like a rag doll. "But it's a job."

I gritted my teeth, looking around for something to help me. I hummed and ran past him, leading him toward what would hopefully be a good enough trap. My greatest advantage with a brute like this was definitely speed. Once he was in position, I pulled the level, causing the machinery to knock down boxes onto the giant.

I let out a sigh of relief, only to run away in a panic when I saw movement. Damn, figured it wouldn't be that easy. But a girl could dream, you know? I climbed up onto the beams in order to get a better visual, spotting the other pair fighting. I made my way towards them, climbing down when a knife brushed my arm, making me lose my grip and causing me to fall.

"Ilia!"

I groaned, rubbing my head and looking over at my arm. Just a scratch. Good. I took my gun out, going around a palette of boxes and turning the corner to find Emerald holding Blake by the neck.

"Let her go," I growled.

Emerald laughed, the hold on Blake tightening slightly. "Are you kidding me?" she asked. "Do you have any idea how much trouble your friend is?"

"Let her go, Emerald."

"You know I'd never seen Adam so angry before," she continued, moving Blake so that she continued to be her shield. Damn it, they were too close.

"You're a survivor, Emerald. Let Blake go and I'll let you live another day."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Do you think I'm stupid?" She went to her pocket and I aimed the gun at her.

"Put it down!"

"Put what down? Oh you mean this?" the green haired woman asked as she took out a too familiar needle. I saw Blake struggle against her at the sight of it, but Emerald shushed her in a patronizing manner, a smug grin on her face. "I heard all about your drug of choice. Are you still using? No? Then you must be craving a taste pretty bad."

"Just shoot her!" Blake yelled in response, golden eyes so wide, so panicked.

I shook my head. It wasn't a clean shot, and I was not about to shoot Blake by accident.

"What's wrong, Ilia?" Emerald taunted, twirling the needle between her fingers nonchalantly. "Can't take the shot?"

"Put. It. Down. Last chance."

She tilted her head with a scoff. And then with no hesitation she jabbed the needle into Blake's side. I ran forward, catching her as the green haired woman pushed her forward and ran. I hesitated for a second before running after her, stopping at the hallway and taking my aim before firing a shot, watching her go down.

Better than the bitch deserved.

I went back to the ravenette, kneeling down and taking the needle as I tried to inspect her. She yelled and struggled against me, telling me about how much it burned. Damn it. If it was the hard stuff it could do a lot of damage, both physically and mentally. I helped her stand, but she could only take a couple of steps before I had to haul her over my shoulders.

Later, when we finally made it back home, I bandaged her arm and ran what tests I kept stored away from the days when Blake had first been trying to go clean. I frowned. What...

"Let me see," I said, pulling her hands away to see some blood at the entry point. I grabbed another testing kit and used the blood. Again, nothing.

What the...

"Ilia," she called, focusing my attention in her. "I don't want this. I don't want.."

I shook my head, wiping the sweat away. It didn't make sense. Why would Emerald lie? And why did Blake say it burned? Then it hit me. Of course. Emerald was known for getting into people's head. She was Cinder's right hand for a reason, practically worshipping the older woman. A master of manipulation.

"Blake," I said gripping her hand. "It's nothing. It's not heroin."

She squirmed but looked over at me. "What?"

"I don't know what it is but it isn't drugs."

"But...it... it burns."

I nodded. "I know it does but you're okay. It's not drugs."

The information seemed to sink in bit by bit as her breaths became slower, still stuttering from nerves and fear. I pulled her close, breathing out my own relief. I couldn't have even imagined the damage that would have been done had Emerald not been bluffing. Blake let out a choked sound before hugging me tightly.