Chapter 15: Rally

"Roman. I'm coming with you to the rally." Ruby stated.

A sigh was heard over her Scroll. "Ruby, we've been over this. You aren't exactly a real "business partner" with the White Fang like myself." Roman replied.

"But I—" Ruby was cut off

"You've stepped out of line a time too many, Kiddo. Just... stay at home and watch the new Spruce Willis film or some shit. You don't even like the White Fang anyways." Roman told her. The girl was too aware of the razor edge Roman's words held.

Ruby remained silent, contemplating her choices.

"Well?" Roman prompted after a few seconds. "It shouldn't take you that long to say "Yes Roman" now should it?" He asked.

Now it was the silver-eyed girl's turn to sigh. Roman had flipped his shit last time, so it would be better to just put her head down and obey.

"Yes, Roman." She said at last, silver eyes staring downward despite her mentor not being able to see.

"Good. Please just don't pull anything and show up." Roman's voice was full of evident relief. "You're not missing anything, I promise you that." He reassured.

"I know." Ruby mumbled, not even bothering to hide her dejection.

"Cheer up. Neo and I will get you some cookies afterwards, I promise." Roman said.

"Thanks." Ruby still felt cast aside, but knew it was for her own good.

"Love ya, kiddo." Roman said.

"Love you too, Roman. Bye." With that, Ruby clicked her Scroll out of the audio call.

She sighed.

Once again, laying low sucked.

Yang rode Bumblebee down the road, heading to Junior's club once more.

If I found her here once, then perhaps she'd come back. She thought as she dismounted and took her helmet off.

"Alright Ruby, maybe you're here." She said to herself and entered. Music pulsated through the air, the bass made the floor vibrate. "Guess who's back~!" She yelled.

To her amusement, the music cut out and a room full of guns were pointed her way.

"Wait, wait. Don't shoot!" Junior yelled.

"Ah, there you are. You owe me a drink I believe?" Yang smiled. Junior sighed.

"Yes, yes. Of course." He agreed. "But I assume that's not all your here for is it?" He asked, making Yang laugh.

"Was it too obvious?" She asked playfully.

"No," The man shook his head "I just think its convenient you come here so soon after the television announcements linking your "lost sister" to Red." Junior said.

"Well I guess I came here with a pretty good bribe." Yang smiled and withdrew the sack of lien cards Weiss lent her for that purpose. "No need to rough up the club again" Her partner had said.

Junior's eyes Immediately widened at the sight of the Schnee snowflake on the outside of the pouch. "Half of it now, I'll give the rest to you when I'm satisfied with your answer." Yang kept her hand firmly on the bag before opening it and withdrawing a few of the cards for Junior to inspect.

"Alright. What do you need from me?" He asked, eyeing the bag Yang held between her hands like a vulture watched a carcass of roadkill.

"Tell me everything you know about Red, Torchwick and Neo." Yang demanded, closing up the bag.

"Alright. Just come with me to one of my back rooms. I don't want the wrong ears hearing the stuff I'm gonna say. Roman will feed me to Drei after Neo and Red cut me up." Junior said. Yang nodded and allowed him to lead the way to one of the several doors that were on top of the balcony area.

"Nice place this is." Yang noted as they entered. Leather couches were around a large glass coffee table.

Junior sat down and Yang sat opposite to him. "Roman and Neo are old clients. The three of us go way back. Then about six years ago Roman mentioned Neo and he had taken on an apprentice who was the daughter of a deceased Huntress. Said her name is Ruby. A few weeks go by and they bring her around. Sweet little girl who was scared in public, Neo seemed pretty protective of her while Roman and I talked. They stop by once every few months to talk or get info. Sometimes just for drinks." Junior smiled "Ruby has the same taste in drinks as you. Strawberry Sunrise, except she likes hers with ice." He told her and leaned back.

Yang blinked in shock. Her sister drank?

Noticing it, Junior chuckled. "Its virgin, only Roman actually drinks. Neo sometimes has a few sips of whatever he has, but Ruby's forbidden from alcohol. Anyways, Roman and Neo reveal Ruby has started her career after a few years of training. I helped hook her up with the man who made her weapons, that she calls Dark Glory." Junior chuckled. "Then as fate would have it one day the three of them come to meet a woman who I would hear from Roman to be nicknamed "Psycho Pyro Bitch" and as Ruby and Neo called "her two shitty rats". You came, and the rest is history." Junior leaned forward.

"Do you know when they usually come around?" Yang asked.

"I wouldn't be coming to find them, Blondie. Last time Ruby was here she complained about you. You're a pain in all three of their asses." Junior warned.

"Noted," Yang rolled her eyes "Just tell me and you get the money, and I get out of here." She said.

Junior looked to the heavens, "I swear if you find her, no breaking my club again." He told her at last. "She's been laying low, but she came around once or twice this week behind Roman's back. Drei came with her the second time, apparently she said he wouldn't leave her alone until she clipped his leash on to take him with her. Said she'd come again on Thursday." Junior told her.

Yang perked up "One more thing and I swear the money's yours." She said "Who exactly is Drei? I get it that he's Ruby's dog. But is there anything I should know about him in case she brings him?" She asked.

Junior sighed "Alright. Drei is a doberman. About four years old. They trained him to be a watch dog, tracker, attack dog and a distraction for petty theft all at the same time. Ruby likes to walk him and they have an act where people pet him and Ruby pickpockets them. He has an Aura, semblance too. It makes him as smart as a human, maybe even more, and he's treated like one most of the time — even if we can't understand his exact words. Fiercely protective of the three of them. Don't get on his bad side or you'll be in for a rough time." Junior said.

Yang slid the pouch his way and stood up. "All yours. Thanks and I'll be back Thursday." She winked and let herself out of the room before exiting the club.

Got what I needed. Thx Weiss 4 the money 2 bribe him. She typed out to the BSIL group chat

Roman smiled to Neo. "Nice and easy job, Neo." He told her. Obviously, dipshit. Neo's body language basically said. "What?" He asked. Neo sighed.

'Drei's pretty damn upset. I can't think as to why.' Neo signed, turning to the doberman who sat next to her with alert ears.

Roman regarded the dog, and let out a low groan. "Care for me to guess, Drei?" He asked. Drei turned his attention to him. "Its about Red, isn't it?" He guessed. Drei barked "Dear God almighty Drei." He exclaimed. "You know as well as we do that she can't go out!" Drei's ears lowered and a rumble emanated from his chest.

'Haven't we been a bit harsh on her? She's resorted to sneaking out behind our backs to Junior's.' Neo signed.

"Its for her — wait what? Neo!" Roman exclaimed "Why did you not tell me about this? Ugh." He sighed and rubbed at an eye.

'I didn't tell you because Drei was with her. Not to mention Junior's is relatively safe. I'm saying she's a teenager — this is her being rebellious probably. Wouldn't you hate it if I ordered you to stay inside 24/7?' Neo told him.

Roman sighed but before he could say anything, his cue came. Drei licked at his glove as he passed, and he let himself smile for a second before coming into view of all the faunus. The vast majority of them were already White Fang members, but they had gathered a good number of new recruits.

"Thank you, thank you. Hold your applause!" He smiled again as Neo walked behind him and headed to the side while Drei followed right at her heel. Jeers met his entrance, much to his amusement.

"What's a human doing here?" A deer faunus yelled.

"I'm glad you asked, deerie! Now I'll be the first to admit, humans are the worst. Case and point!" He saluted and continued on "So I understand your anger at us. You want us locked away, or better yet, killed! But before the claws come out, I'd like to mention we all have a common enemy: the people in charge. Those filthy, nasty humans who pull the strings and run our kingdoms! Government, military, even schools! They're all to blame for your lot in life! And they're all pests who need to be dealt with. Fortunately, I'm one of the best exterminators around, no offense to any rodents in the room."

With a snap of his fingers, the curtain lowered to reveal a toy that Ruby would have died to play with. An Altesian Paladin.

"As some of you may have heard, this right here is Atlas' newest defense against all the big and scary things in the world. And thanks to my employer, we've managed to snag a few before they've "hit the shelves". Now many of your brothers have moved down to our new operation in the southeast. If you'd rather stay within the city that's fine. But if you're truly ready to fight for what you believe in, this is the arsenal I can provide. Any questions?" His work done, he stepped back to where Neo met him.

'Kitty cat, 11 o' clock.' She signed.

"God. Fucking. Dammit." Roman hissed, spotting a familiar face as the Lieutenant called forward the new recruits. "Drei, Neo. Go get the ship ready. I'll deal with her." He sighed.

In a split second, Blake's weapon rose up and the warehouse went black moments before Roman scrambled into the giant paladin.

A/N: I know some of you aren't pleased with me once again drawing directly from the show, but I tried to throw in changes to the content. I'm sorry for that, but its what I needed to do in order to set up for what's to come next chapter and the near future.