Here we are again, let's keep the streak going. Just a few more chapters to go after this point.

Beta: CrowSkull

Destiny Fated Black

Chapter 32

Cinder paced back and forth with a tense expression on her face as Adam stood before her bowing his head with shame and disappointment. Beside him was Tenne, who was just as shocked as she was when she heard the news. The ambush on Neo and Marcus had failed, and Tyrian was missing. The last time that Adam saw him was when Neo took him and Marcus and transported them somewhere to some other part of the city. After hearing that, one of two scenarios immediately popped up within Cinder's mind. The more ideal one where Tyrian managed to take out an exhausted and injured Neo and Marcus, or the nightmare scenario when he was ultimately defeated and killed off. The longer that she waited and paced back and forth, the more her heartbeat in her chest at an increased pace. Not even Adam, who would usually be rebellious at every turn with her was acting his usual self.

"I knew he was good, but not that good." He'd said to her prior. "He was beyond anything I expected, and then the Ace Ops came…"

Drat, Cinder cursed Ozpin and James for going to such measures for just a single man. If they hadn't appeared and ruined everything she was confident that Tyrian and Adam would have been the easy victors. No matter how good Marcus was, Tyrian was at the very least his equal and Neo although good enough to be somewhat beyond the level of a huntsman she was still recovering from a gunshot wound to the leg. The only good news that she has gotten so far is that the Ace Ops despite being quite the nuisance are almost all in critical condition. If Ozpin hadn't shown up at the time he did… UGH! Cinder wanted to unleash her power and destroy every inanimate object in her immediate vicinity. Everything, EVERYTHING was beginning to fall apart!

"Ma'am," Tenne called out to her as she looked through her scroll as she was told ordered to with the goal of finding any news articles or channels that were live at the moment. It was still early in the morning, but usually, there was always a channel live and active at every hour. "I may have found something, pull out your scroll and look up this 'Lavender Live at Channel Eight'."

"Hm," Was the only verbal thanks that Tenne was going to get as Cinder pulled out her scroll and did what was suggested to her. From the corner of her eye, Adam could be seen doing the same thing. Cinder activated her scroll and flicked through other useless and inactive channels and went on to Lisa Lavender's show. She had done business with the woman once to advertise what she and the White Fang have been doing. The most obvious plans of course and nothing that could actually threaten her and thine. But seeing her on the screen of her scroll right then and there sent uncomfortable chills up and down her spine. The news titled was listed as such:

Breaking News: Man found mutilated and deceased on top of the rooftop of an Adult Dance Club, signs of a battle found. Investigation is ongoing.

Then Cinder began to listen to what Lisa Lavender was actually reporting. Her brows raised and her eyes widened the more she listened.

"Lisa Lavender with a report on this tragic event. An unheard of encounter with what we thought were villains in the form of confirmed hitman Marcus Black and his accomplice Neo were confirmed seen in the battle against the infamous leader of the White Fang's Vale and Atlesian division Adam Taurus and Serial Killer Tyrian Callows. The latter of the two previously thought dead after his prison transport ship was brought down by a swarm of Grimm."

Cinder gripped her scroll so tightly that the screen began to crack and fold. She had to force herself not to rip it in half.

"Thankfully, Atlesian General Ironwoods elite squad of huntsmen and huntresses known as the Ace Ops sprung into action immediately. I was not able to receive a comment from the only majorly uninjured member and leader of the Ace Ops Clover Ebi. Neither from the headmaster of Beacon, who made a surprise appearance and seemingly scared off the opposition from continuing their battle. However, they were unable to capture any of the known criminals, and they were thought to have dispersed to fight another day."

"But due to constant searching and surveillance over this entire Southeast quadrant of the city, we have found evidence of a battle. Just a few miles away from the scene where I am at now. My editor will now pull up the scene that we have found. I warn you, this is graphic. If you are squeamish at the sight of blood, I urge you to look away."

Cinder looked away and shut off her scroll the moment she saw Tyrian's mangled body on the screen. She only stared at it for a few seconds, but it was very clear that the man who Salem personally went out of her way to save and recruit was dead. The dozens of stab wounds in his chest and gunshot wound to the brain were raw evidence of that.

For the first time in a very long time, Cinder's leg felt like they were made of jelly and she had to sit down on the nearest table. Her eyes shook and as she looked down at her hands her scroll fell to the ground when she saw that they were shaking as well. This sensation was… vastly uncomfortable. It was almost unrecognizable. Ever since she got part of the Fall Maidens power she never thought she could feel such emotion again.

Fear. Indecisiveness. Concern. Only the most latter of the three was something she'd even begun to feel in the past few years. Concern over her ability to become the perfect catalyst that Salem needed to become the Fall Maiden, concern over her strength to become strong enough to demand respect from her underlings in Emerald and Roman and the gangs that they'd recruit for her. Concern over her own plan to recruit the one man that even Ozpin had given up hunting. The last time she felt any kind of real concern was over her own life when Amber was about to kill her. Only for her to be saved by the one man that she now understood why the headmaster of Beacon was so cautious of.

Marcus Black was a master assassin for a reason. And with Adam demoralized, Tyrian slain, she knew who his next target was. And that scared her. It angered her to no end that she was failed once again, and even though she knew that she could beat him with the maiden powers. She was still afraid. She had to admit in her mind that finally, she was afraid of someone. Salem was once that person ever since she told her about her past and her vast powers and abilities. But even she had faded into the background as a close ally and occasional confidante.

"Cinder?" Tenne called out to her, shutting off her scroll so that Lisa Lavender's voice could no longer be heard. "What will you have us do?"

"Nothing," Cinder waved her hand across her body swiftly, a trail of fire and smoke following it as she accidentally unleashed some of her power. Tenne and Adam winced and didn't dare speak against her. "You stay away from that man. Clearly, hunting him down is not something that should be considered a smart idea."

"I agree," Adam said as he ran a hand over the many bruises and recalled all the damage he'd taken from his battle with Marcus and the Ace Ops. "Fighting two members of the Ace Ops at the same time was easier than battling that man. Even with the help of Tyrian."

"Do we continue on with the plan then?" Tenne asked in a hiss, her snake faunus side rearing its ugly end once again. "I still have my best hackers at work with the help of that man that created the virus still implanted in Beacon's and Atlas' systems, but I can move them according to what you need from us."

"No," Cinder said as she regained her composure quickly. "Beacon and the Vytal Festival will still set the stage for what is to come. Nothing changes. All else that I can demand from you is to stay cautious and stay hidden. We don't need any more deaths, there's been enough of that and betrayal as of late."

"You can trust in the White Fang to do their part." Adam scowled as Cinder glared at him next. "This attack will bring recognition and respect to the Fang as a whole. There is no reason to go back now after coming this far."

"We are still with you, Ma'am," Tenne added. "My earlier proclamation still stands."

"Hm," Cinder nodded her head and accepted it. "Very well, I will hold that to you. Both of you. Adam, I don't see why you are still here." She said, looking to the scarred man. "If you weren't required I would have punished you severely for your failure and cowardice. After the Festival is done, I never want to see you again."

"Trust me, the feeling is mutual," Adam said with a sneer as he returned his new mask up to his face and covered his scar and eyes. "I'll make sure to tell Sienna about what has occurred here and explain to her how exactly I made the White Fang more renown than it has ever been before. In the future, if our paths ever cross again, it just may well be with me in a position of high power."

"If you know what is good for you, you'd know that it is unwise to make threats of enemies you cannot hope to defeat." Cinder shot back.

"I know," Adam said, still standing up to her. "I know what I said. Goodbye, contact me when it is time to make the announcement. I'll give you the best and only opening you're ever going to get."

"One is all I need." Cinder said, flashing one of her eyes with orange fire. "Now leave."

Adam nodded and turned away, leaving the room within seconds before Cinder could change her mind and slay the man where he stood. Two years ago Cinder wouldn't have dared to try and lord her power over him, but now things were different, and Adam was the one who always had to put on a strong face to stand up against her for his own kind. Anger and spite were all that drove him and he was destined to fall someday. When that day came, it may well be because of her own blade. Either that or… from a certain assassin.

"I'll tell Watts to work faster," Cinder told Tenne as she sat back down in an actual chair. "Tell your men to prepare themselves, and gather all the men that we have and set them in the key points across the city as we planned previously. The Vytal Festival is going to end faster than you think. Even though Tyrian was defeated, I refuse to believe that he went down without taking something away from him. We have time, plenty of time."

"As you say," Tenne agreed and went off to do as she was told.

Now alone, Cinder toyed the ideas in her mind. Old ideas, new ideas, and then mixed them together. She considered asking for more help, but that'd make her look bad to Salem and she couldn't have that.

"One thing at a time…" She told herself. "You are at the bottom of the list for right now darling… but in time, I will make sure to deal with you personally."

Marcus shifted uncomfortably in his uncomfortable metal chair with his uncomfortable metal cuffs that uncomfortably bound his hands to the top of a table and the straps around his legs and feet were uncomfortably tight. Needless to say, this seat that Ozpin and Ironwood were all too happy to give him didn't provide him with all that much comfort. He especially didn't like the fact that there were two armed guards behind him constantly aiming their weapons at him. It was annoying, if they wanted him dead he'd be dead already. Intimidation was not something that came easy to Marcus from other people, especially when it is completely unwarranted.

Well, he thinks that but he knew how other people were. All so mushy when it comes to their friends or allies being injured or killed. He understood that now to a certain extent after doing what he did to Tyrian after he killed Summer and Neo. But it didn't make it any less annoying.

"How long are you going to make me wait?" He asked out loud, not to the guards but to the sets of eyes that he knew was staring at his every movement from behind the one-way mirror. "Still shocked that I surrendered? Come on now, you know me. You should be used to it already, I am full of surprises after all!"

From behind the glass red eyes narrowed at him, as did a set of blue, a pair of dark blue, light brown and many others. All looking at the white-haired man still with literal dirt on his hands as he looked back at them through the mirror with that same cocky smirk on his face that Qrow utterly began to despise the longer he sat in that chair. It took all the restraint in the world for him to not go in there and wipe that smirk off his face with Harbinger, and clearly it was the same for Taiyang, who had even more reason to do so than he did. Honestly, if it weren't for him being there and restraining himself like he was now, he might have run in there and attacked him already.

"He is right, I suppose," Ozpin said without looking at any of his allies. "We've kept him locked in there for over twenty-four hours already. The second round of the tournament has already passed and we have hardly spent any amount of time outside of this room."

"What can we ask him what we don't already know?" Clover asked. "We know about Cinder and he already outed his organization. What use do we have for him?"

"Clover," Ironwood said in a warning tone. "I understand your frustration but if you let your personal feelings get in the way of potentially saving thousands of lives I will send you away like I did Winter."

Clover scowled but calmed down quickly. Winter surprised him with just how emotional she can get when it came to her sister potentially being in danger. After a hit was placed on Weiss' head, even when it was proven to be fake or taken down, she wanted to be the one to question him in a little one on one time. After trying to force her way past her own guards, she was sent back to her room with a squad of soldiers to make sure that she stays in her room until Ironwood came to go see her.

"Does Ruby and Yang know that we have him yet?" Taiyang asked out loud. He was almost afraid to bring up the question after what happened to their fourth teammate.

"I had Glynda inform them," Ozpin answered honestly. "They deserved to know and it wasn't like we would have been able to hide it from them anyway. Marcus created quite a ruckus when he came here with his accomplice and surrendered. The fourth-year students that came with us are unfortunately prone to gossip. Not to mention Peter…"

"Damn it," Qrow scoffed. "Knowing Ruby she'd want to try and talk to him again to ask some questions. Yang would want to punch his face in, and that Schnee girl would probably want to know how exactly they're distantly related." He sighed. "I told Winter it would be a bad idea to tell her that…"

"I hope they are intelligent enough to know that they will not be permitted to enter the room alone with this man anytime soon," Ozpin said as he stood up. "Well, let us not waste any more time. James, do you have the device?"

"I do," Ironwood replied as he moved his coat to the side so that Ozpin could see it.

"Good," Ozpin said as he took it from the generals offered hand. It wasn't anything dangerous but it would help them in the interrogation of the man they had in their custody. Ozpin walked out the first room and Ironwood followed, along with Qrow and Taiyang. He wouldn't try and stop them after the history that they shared with the man, it would be foolish to test their tempers after what happened. Clover was the last in as they all filed into Marcus' room. The moment they entered Marcus locked eyes with the headmaster, then did so with each of the other men that filed in after. His smile was still a constant, even as Qrow and Taiyang came in and glared at him with promised murder. But the headmaster caught his attention as he walked around to his side of the table and placed down the device he took from Ironwood earlier.

"Is this the part where I am secretly executed?" Marcus asked without a hint of fear in his voice.

"No," Ozpin said as he attached a series of polygraphs to Marcus' arms, then went under his shirt to stick a few more to his chest. "Not yet, at least. It all depends on how you answer these questions."

"Ah," Marcus realized what was going on as the man polygraph itself whirled to life. "A lie detector eh? And here I was preparing myself mentally for some of Ironwood's trademark 'Advanced Interrogation Tactics'."

"Believe me, Black, that was our first choice," Ironwood remarked as he sat down in a seat beside him. It appeared that he was going to be the one keeping track of what Marcus was saying and feeling to tell whether or not he was lying. "I need to test this." He growled out. "What is your name?"

"Samantha White," Marcus answered with an amused look on his face.

Ironwood shrugged his shoulders as the polygraph obviously told him that was a lie. "It works," He reported for the sake of everyone else.

Wordlessly Ozpin took the seat across from Marcus. To his right Qrow stood, glaring at him, and to his left Taiyang stood, also glaring at him. Clover, which Marcus recognized as the leader of the Ace Ops, stood off in the back, and you guessed it, also glaring at him. Marcus felt like a man who had done evil things when in reality he just did bad things for the sake of money. No one understood that though, so as far as they knew, he was the worst man they've ever met.

"I am going to ask you a series of questions," Ozpin said as he drew out a piece of paper and a pen. Marcus tried to read what it said but it was upside down and he was never a prodigy when it came to reading such text. "The lie detector will do what its name suggests. Please do not make this difficult Marcus. I am holding up hope that you surrendered because you have returned to your senses and out of respect for our past allegiance."

"You're not my teacher anymore Ozpin," Marcus said. The lie detector declared that he was telling the truth as he believed it. "You would be smart to not treat me like I'm still twenty years old and eager to learn."

"Hm," Ozpin nodded his head in agreement. "Very well. I shall speak to you on equal terms Marcus. Firstly, tell me, why did you return to Vale? That question is on everyone's mind and I just want to get it out of the way first."

"I wouldn't have returned if I had the choice," Marcus began. "I was totally content with staying in the forest and living with my wife and son. But, as you know the organization that we just helped each other destroy had other plans." No lies yet. Ironwood held up a thumb. "Cinder caught me at a vulnerable moment when I had nowhere else to go and nothing else to do. And I wasn't in a state to refuse her. Also," He tried to move in his seat but couldn't get his arm up. Immediately, the armed guards behind him barked at him to sit still and moved closer to apprehend him only stopping when Ozpin raised a hand. Marcus eventually gave up and shook his head. "She put something in me, some kind of parasite that she can use to hurt me at any time. I can only imagine that there is a range distance, and that's why I haven't been killed yet for betraying her."

Ironwood held a thumbs up, nothing Marcus said was a lie.

"Thank you for your honesty," Ozpin said tensely as he wrote down what Marcus said to him. "If one of you has a question about recent events, ask it now."

"Why did Tyrian and Adam attack you?" Clover asked, still standing off in the background.

"What do you think?" Marcus scoffed. "I betrayed Cinder and she's probably terrified that I'll go after her. She had no one else that could ever hope to hunt me down and actually succeed in killing me. Of course, it didn't go so well for them since you're Ace Ops came in and spoiled the party. And Ozpin as well," He winked. "Can't forget about him."

"What happened to Tyrian then?" Ozpin asked, intertwining his hands together and leaning forward on the table with interest. "I saw your accomplice take you and Tyrian away right as I arrived. What happened after that? Surely you must have been victorious since you are sitting here right now."

"Tyrian's dead," Marcus said with a growl. The fact that Ironwood confirmed this to be the truth honestly shocked them all. Even Qrow and Taiyang didn't know what to say. One of their greatest enemies that worked directly under Salem was now dead. Just like that. And the deed was done by a man they never thought they'd ever see just a few months ago. "I killed him but it came at a price. That 'accomplice' you keep referring to is-... was Neo. She was my friend, and she died saving my life and gave me the chance to finish Tyrian off. So I did."

"That explains your sudden appearance in the Beacon graveyard…" Ozpin said as he shut his eyes. Offering a moment of respectful silence for that mysterious girl he was never really able to get a bead on. "I am sorry for your loss."

"Tch," Marcus looked like he wanted to snap back, but he bit his tongue and remained silent. Ozpin noticed that and made sure to write it down. Unknown to Marcus, he had his old records pulled out from his time in Beacon. Looking over his old behavioral issues and notes that an old student counselor had written down. The woman had long since retired, but she was the best at her job and did her job well. Even when it came to the mess that was Marcus' mind.

"What is Cinder's ultimate desire that she wants from this aforementioned plan of hers?" Ironwood asked next.

"That's a stupid question, you should already know the answer to that one."

"The maiden?" Ironwood guessed.

"Bingo." Marcus glanced at Qrow. "He should be able to confirm that. I was the one who helped Cinder take her down after all."

All eyes turned to Qrow, in which the old huntsman begrudgingly nodded his head. "He speaks the truth." He said.

"You are being surprisingly honest," Ozpin commented. "Why is that?"

"Well, as I said in that little Livestream I set up to get Emerald to confess to her crimes, I am going to stop Cinder one way or another." Marcus shrugged his shoulders the best that he could. "Taking this route with you lot happens to be the easiest way to get to that goal."

"You are having a change of heart?" Taiyang scoffed loudly, stepping forward and slamming his hands on the table between him and Marcus. "Now you decide that you want to come back all of a sudden? Now you want to do some good in the world? Where the fuck did this come from Marcus? Why now!?"

"Taiyang," Ozpin warned. "You know well that intimidation or guilt-tripping will not work on him."

"Well, I need my answers!" Taiyang screamed, his temper rising even more. Truly, he was Yang's father. His eyes burned red as his anger soared into the sky at increased levels. Ozpin couldn't blame him, not after everything that Marcus had done that impacted his life one way or another.

"Why did you do it, Marcus?" Taiyang asked, barely calming himself down enough so that he didn't lunge for the white-haired man and beat him to death. "She was your friend… she cared for you, and she was my wife and she had two daughters… Why did you take her away from me? Why did you kill Summer Rose?"

Marcus' answer was short and simple. He didn't even hesitate in his response.

"I didn't."

"What?" Taiyang narrowed his eyes at him, before looking to Ironwood.

Ironwood looked just as shocked as he was, he showed the graph to Taiyang and showed that Marcus was still telling the truth. It wasn't moving beyond the point at which the human body would react when it was telling a lie.

"What do you…" His confusion overpowered his anger and his eyes turned blue again. Qrow was taken aback as well. The same question seemingly haunted him as well for the past decade ever since Summer's death. They didn't know what to say, but eventually, Qrow was the one who recovered quickly enough to ask another follow-up question.

"If you didn't, then who?" Qrow asked quietly.

"A certain scorpion faunus we all know and love," Marcus answered just calmly. "Tyrian Callows. He snuck up on us while we were talking about the past, getting to know each other again. Summer was actually trying to convince me to come back." He chuckled bitterly as the memory flushed it's way back into his mind. "And it was working, she always had a way with words and she was more stubborn than a rock. She never backed down. I was distracted so I couldn't see him coming," He balled his hands into fists visibly as they were strapped to the table. "He injected his venom into her back before she was even able to get her aura up in time, and he ran off before I could attack him. I didn't chase him, and I was there with her in her final moments. Heh…" He shut his eyes, finally accepting what had happened and refusing to hide it within the conflict of his mind any longer. "She made me promise…"

"Stop," Taiyang uttered, Marcus didn't care to stop.

"To one day become good again. Just before she died, she willingly offered to give me her semblance. Hoping that it would help me down the line-"

"Stop!" Qrow shouted.

"Little did I know that it would work even better than I thought it would. I didn't just accept her aura, but a part of her soul." Marcus flashed his white aura, which shined even brighter than usual. Another thing that they had in common, he and Summer both had a white-colored aura. Only hers was much brighter than his ever was. "A part of her still lives within me."

"Marcus," Ozpin warned. "That's enough."

"Fine," Marcus rolled his eyes. "I thought you'd all be the first to want to know what happened the day she died. But you know the rest of the story and can figure out what else happened yourself."

"All this time… I thought you were the one who killed Summer." Taiyang said as he covered half of his face with his hand. "And now I find out that not only were you not the one who took her from me, but you were also the one who avenged her?" He looked to Ironwood, who nodded his head to his unasked question. Marcus did not speak a single lie the entire time.

"Surprise?" Marcus weakly cheered.

"It still doesn't change what you did to Ruby, Yang, and her team." Qrow pointed out. "As much as it pains me to say it, and I'm sure I can speak for Tai too. Thank you for avenging Summer. but you stole Ruby's semblance, incapacitated Yang and Weiss, and killed their last teammate. Not to mention everything else you've done ever since you've come back to Vale. That one good deed doesn't wash away everything else you've done."

"I know," Marcus replied. "And I never intended for that to be the case. The only reason I am here right now is that our goals align. Not because I want to turn good or whatever. Once Cinder is dealt with, you'll never see me again. I can promise that."

"Can you return the semblances you steal?" Clover asked as Qrow and Taiyang pulled back to speak amongst themselves. "I stopped you from stealing Harriets and to my knowledge you didn't steal anyone else's semblances recently. But that Ruby girl, can you give back to her what you stole?"

"I don't know," Marcus sighed heavily and leaned back. "I never tried. I was going to try with my son one day, but as you already know I never got the chance."

Ozpin sighed and shook his head. There went that idea. He wasn't about to go and send his only remaining silver-eyed warrior to have her semblance returned to her at the potential cost of her life. The matter of the soul is and forever will be a delicate matter. Marcus' semblance wasn't at all gentle when it came to stealing semblances and fragments of aura. It could very well bring drastic drawbacks that would outweigh the benefits of Ruby regaining her speed.

"That is enough for one session," Ozpin declared and stood up. Ironwood took that as his signal and started detaching the device from the man's body. The headmaster looked to Clover and the others and silently asked if they had any more questions, but none came forth with any even if they had. Too bad then, they'd have to wait until later. "Thank you for your compliance Marcus," He waved to the two guards, and they saluted the General and filed out of the room. "As a reward of sorts, I will at least grant you some immediate privacy."

"You'll forgive me if I claim that you're full of shit."

"I suppose I'll have too." Ozpin sighed through his nose and the other men started to leave the room. Only when it was just him and Marcus alone did he speak again. "What are your true goals, old friend?" Ozpin had to ask. "This is all very confusing. Just yesterday you were our worst enemy, and now here you are practically offering to become an ally albeit temporarily. What do you gain from this?"

Marcus shut his eyes and sighed through his nose. When he opened them again, he suddenly looked much older, Ozpin couldn't help but pity the man, despite everything he's done, he was once his student.

"I made a promise to Summer," Marcus replied simply. "That's all there is to it."

"Hm," Ozpin smirked and nodded his head, accepting the answer for what it was and shutting the door behind him.

Ruby watched as the headmaster left the room, leaving the man that had caused her and her team so much harm and sleepless nights. Not to mention the nightmares and unpleasing thoughts that constantly filled her mind any time she saw any sharp blades. Her sister, her partner, and her teammate Blake, all were affected by this man. And after listening in to everything just now it went even further back. Now he was trying to help them? She didn't know why the adults weren't trying to delve deeper into that, she didn't trust it, but apparently he was telling the truth the entire time?

"No," She whispered to herself quietly and waited for the right moment to sneak into his room. "It can't be, not after everything… I need to see him… I need to know for myself… the real truth."

Yang and Weiss would say it was a terrible idea or demand to go with her at the very least. But right now, Ruby didn't care. Marcus Black was in that room alone and unsupervised. He was strapped down and could barely move. He would be completely at her mercy.

She couldn't miss this chance or else it would haunt her forever.

As the headmaster turned his back to where she was hiding and she watched him, her uncle, her father, and those Atlesian men walk away, she waited for about half an hour just to be safe, and then she stepped out of her hiding spot and made her way toward the door.

She was trembling, seeing him again after all this time sent shivers up and down her spine. But it also was an empowering feeling. He couldn't hurt her anymore, neither could he to her friends.

And if he could, she'd make sure he never could again.

"Well," Marcus greeted her with wide eyes and a smug smirk. "It's been a while. Little Rose. What can I do for you?"

Ruby stood across from him with a blank glare in her silver eyes.

"Who are you?" She asked. "Who are you, and why shouldn't I kill you while you can't defend yourself?"

Marcus scoffed at her threat. It could use some work, she'd admit. But she wasn't lying. And he knew it. Not that it scared him, it annoyed her that he didn't even look intimidated by her threat.

"That's… going to be a long story, little Rose." Marcus said as he leaned forward in his shackled seat. "Sit down and I'll tell it, if you heard everything like I guess you did, I'll even tell you about the little cat girl that was with you at the docks."

Ruby froze and her sorrowful anger spiked. She bit it down with a forced growl that sounded more like a whimper and sat down in her seat. Not without placing Crescent Rose on the table and aiming its barrel at him, however.

Marcus smirked at the display. She reminded him of his mother already.

"Smart cookie."

Incoming little Ruby becoming a badass moment. Gonna take a break the rest of this week, my head is pounding and I am going to be working a lot. Wish me luck!

Please review and let me know what you think!

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