I am sorry for the wait, but my computer crashed because it is a hateful piece of human-loathing technology and my documents for this chapter went down with it. And as you might be able to tell, this wasn't necessarily a short and easy chapter to write. But things are fixed now and here's the new chapter of Bloodbound! Enjoy!

In summary, Crimson Shard and Skyler Snow had just come back from beating Team CRDL up (For the second time.), only to find Blake Belladonna and Neopolitan Sorbet (Yes, the last name is fake and yes, Neo had to stab Crimson to get him to stop calling her 'Queen Ice-Cream Person' every time he addressed her.) at each other's throats (Literally, they had knives)

Why were the two threatening each other? Well, that's what you are here to find out, right?

Teams RSNC, EWBY, and JNPR's lunch table, just after Skyler left to go save Velvet from being bullied….

"Ruby?" Yang watched as Skyler stalked towards where Team CRDL where they were piling their trade of intimidation and cruelty, his ignited rage sending adrenaline into her veins. "Is he about to go do what I think he's about to go do."

"If you think he is about to go and beat CRDL into the ground," Ruby took a sip of her drink. "Then you would be correct."

"Ooh," Nora bounced in her seat. "Is Snowball going to break their legs?"

"That-" The sounds of metal hitting skin and combat breaking out interrupted Ruby and she had to raise her voice to be heard over the sounds of her teammate breaking Cardin's jaw. "Is a very distinct possibility."

"Really? Well then, I don't know about you lot, but I'm going to go rescue that fair damsel and, also, the Faunus. I'll be back." Crimson leaped to his feet and charged towards the group, Ruby looked remarkable unconcerned as the sound of bodies hitting stone filled the dining hall. Some students were cheering now.

"I'm sure this is breaking the school's rules…" Pyrrha looked conflicted. On one hand, the bullied student was now safe while on the other, she did not necessarily mean for Team CRDL to get trampled so thoroughly. In the sparring ring, sure, Pyrrha herself would have happily beaten them into the dust, but during the middle of lunch, it just seemed a bit delinquent.

As if sensing her thoughts, Ruby turned to the taller girl. "The sooner you accept that those two couldn't care less about Beacon and its rules, the fewer headaches you'll get."

"Why are they here then?" Weiss frowned at the sight of Crimson standing on top of a pile of squirming bodies. "If they do not care about Beacon, why are they training to be Hunters here?"

They're actually not. One is a thief in the employment of a criminal mafia while the other is an assassin that kills for the highest bidder. Ruby thought that probably wasn't the right thing to say in the situation, so instead, she went with the next best thing. The truth sans the illegal bits.

"I have no idea, we met on the air ferry here and kicked it off pretty well. They both grew up in Solitas and I think they both had vast amounts of reasons not to go to Atlas, they don't about their past a lot, but I do know Crimson grew up in Mantle."

Weiss snorted at that. "Well, that explains a lot. Nothing good has come out of Mantle in a long time. They're nothing but criminals and scum."

Neo snorted. "Yeah, Crimson is a bit rough around the edges." She peered over at where her partner was fighting (Read: winning) and frowned. "Though I am kinda surprised that Crimson is helping a Faunus."

The sound of a heavy object hitting the tabletop brought the student's attention to where Blake Belladonna had been sitting quietly. Her book had been discarded on the wooden surface and, while her face remained impassive, her eyes held a kind of faint fire.

"What do you mean?" Her voice, like her face, was curiously emotionless. Neo shrugged.

"Just from what I've learned, Crimson over there has a bad history with them." Neo paused, considering what she just said. "Well, that's not true. He mostly just has a bone to pick with the White Fa-OW! Ruby!"

Neo rubbed the spot on her side where Ruby had jabbed her with her elbow. Ruby gave her teammate a hard look, a look that said 'No talking about things that could get us found out and imprisoned'. However, Neo had said enough.

"Of course it would be the White Fang." Weiss shook her head in disgust, her lip curled up to show her teeth. "It seems like every bad thing happening in this age can be traced back to those brutes."

Neo found it almost comical how much anger Blake struggled to hide at the heiress's words, how her fists became all bloodless skin and bulging knuckles as she tried to restrain the torrent of harsh words Neo knew the ex-Fanger wanted to spew at the Schnee. When she finally spoke, Blake's voice still held the hints of the fury in her heart.

"That's ridiculous, they are not some evil plague destroying the world, they are just trying to make their lives and the lives of their families better." Blake's words caused Weiss to scoff and she was about to reply when a coarse sound like rusty metal caused her to look over in surprise

Neo was laughing, bent double as her body shook with merriment. Ruby was beside her, head in her hands, mumbling something about 'Shouldn't have said that."

Neo looked back up at the disguised – and slightly rageful- Faunus with amused, pink eyes. "Oh, yeah, sure. The Fangers want to make their lives better, they just also want Humanity to lay down at their feet and beg for death, but that's no biggie, right?"

"That's not true!" Blake's eyes flashed with thunder and she no longer held back her true emotions, anger turning her features sharp and predatory. "They are not murderers, they're not…they are not fanatics!"

Neo rolled her eye, her amusement fading as Blake's defense grew. "They're EXACTLY that. Maybe not all of them, sure, but enough of them. Their leaders especially, all psychotic warmongers in my opinion."

Blake stood up so fast that she knocked her plate to the floor, the loud crash being drowned out as Goodwitch burst into the cafeteria, entirely too focused on one fight to notice the other, more personal, hatred brewing. Instincts honed by the streets, Neo leaped up so that both girls were each trying to beat the other down with the force of their glares alone. Their teammates tried to defuse the tense situation.

"Blake, filthy rich coming from me, I know, but you need to calm down." Yang glanced warily between the two girls, ready to leap in-between them if need be. Ruby tugged on Neo's hand and murmured in a soft voice.

"Let's just go somewhere else, Neo. We don't need to get in another fight."

She looked down at Ruby, hands trembling with the force of adrenaline, before taking a deep breath and-

"It's people like you, people like Cardin, that make the White Fang take such drastic steps." Blake's seething voice broke Neo's calmness. "It's because of your bigotries and discrimination that they have no other choice. They are not murderers; they are just misunderstood!"

Neo curled her lip at her words, knowing what she was about to say next would cause a storm of unprecedented destruction. "Misunderstood? Really? Get it through your head, Belladonna, the White Fang is violent towards everyone not aligned with their cause, Human or Faunus, it doesn't matter. Your father's little peaceful protesters are either dead or decided that violence is, indeed, the answer."

There was a moment where the two girls just stared at each other. Blake's eyes were wide and shocked at the mention of her father and the effect he had on the White Fang, an effect that had since been drowned in the wake of new, furious leadership. Her mouth was parted with the shock, and the worry, and the fear that now coursed through her. Thoughts like lightning flashing through her head.

How does she know? How did she found out?! How- Blake stilled, her face fading back into an expressionless mask. The assassin. They disappeared too fast, they gave up too easily. Blake's eyes narrowed in on the shorter girl across from her. But that's just because they knew they would have plenty more opportunities to try again.

Faster than the eye could blink, Blake lunged forward, snatching a knife off the table as she grasped the front of Neo's school uniform and yanked her closer so that she could press the blade of the knife against the soft flesh of Neo's throat. Blake did not even blink when the sharp, cold metal of a blade threatened her own skin, the pressure behind it causing aura to crackle.

Ruby was barely aware of Crimson and Skyler coming back to the table as she jumped out of her seat, followed closely by the rest of Team EWBY and JNPR. In their eyes, this was an argument that had escalated far out of what was proper. To Ruby, this was several hard-worked plans in danger of falling down around her ears.

"Blake! What are you doing?!" Yang grasped her partner's arm that held the knife and tried to pry it away from Neo. Ruby already had her hand around Neo's knife hand, ready to pull it back in case her friend went in for the kill, but neither girl was persuaded by their teammates' efforts.

"Let me go, Belladonna." Neo snarled, glaring into her captor's eyes in an attempt to kill Blake with the force of her rage alone. "BEFORE I remove your more important arteries."

"Tell who you are and I'll consider it." Blake stared back, unfazed. Her words made Yang pause in her insistent tugging and look upon her partner with confusion.

"Blake, what are you talking about?"

"Does it matter?" Weiss looked up, her eyes blazing. "Blake Belladonna. I must admit, I'm a bit disappointed in myself, I should have at the very least put together that you share the same last name as the chieftain of Menagerie!" The heiress pointed an accusing finger at her teammate. "You're a Faunus, more than that, your father led the White Fang!"

Blake closed her eyes, letting Neo slip out of her grasp. She couldn't run, not in the dining hall in the middle of lunch, too many people, too many witnesses. And fighting…no, her friends did not deserve that, not even Weiss. Not to mention the fact that she was heavily outnumbered if she chose to go down the path of extreme conflict.

There was nothing she could do, except wait for every single hammer caused by her past to fall.

"Okay, I think we all need to calm down and talk out our issues." Ruby's voice broke through the darkness in Blake's mind. "Before Weiss stabs Blake in a fit of racist rage and we start a brawl in the cafeteria…again."

She opened her eyes and stared at the leader of Team RSNC with surprised eyes, the rest of the group (Even Weiss) joining her. Ruby just gestured for everyone to sit down.

"Come on, we're all people here, let's put aside everything else and just talk. Weiss, please, just hear your teammate out. Crimson and Neo, keep your thoughts to yourselves for at least five minutes, okay?"

"Hey, Red Leader, I'm cool with this." Crimson plopped back down in his seat and leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Faunus are cool, most Schnees are cool, White Fang can go jump in a lake, but that's just me." Crimson did not miss the way Weiss narrowed her eyes at him when he said 'most Schnees', but her only offered a small smile in return.

"Not keeping your thoughts to yourself, but whatever." Ruby rolled her eyes and nudged Neo. "Come on, play nice for me?"

The shorter girl huffed, but nodded and sat down in her spot beside Ruby. Skyler merely nodded to his leader as he took his place at the table. Satisfied with her team, she turned to the rest of the students, all of whom (Except Ren, who looked on with a thoughtful interest) were wearing mixed looks of shock, confusion, anger, and fear.

Right, primary objective, not letting Blake out us or pull any more knives on Neo. Ruby took a deep breath and dived into this tripwire situation. Either she would succeed in defusing it or this would end in pain and despair the likes of which few have the ill fortune of experiencing. Fifty-fifty, right? Is that how math works?

"Okay," Ruby set down, her seating causing the rest of the group to follow her lead. "First of all, let's all be truthful, yeah? There is no need for any of us to be lying anymore." Except for us, Team RSNC is the sole exception to that rule.

"I…" Blake looked down at her hands crossed on the table's smooth surface. "I don't want to talk about it here. Not with so many people around."

"Too bad, Belladonna." Weiss's voice was colder and sharper than broken shards of ice. "I didn't want my own teammate to lie to me, but it is obvious you do not care about what we want."

"Hey, lay off of her." Yang fixed the girl with a hard look. "Blake is still your friend."

"Is she?" The words cut Blake to the heart, but she couldn't say she was surprised. Yang stood up with a growl, but before the brawler could start swinging, Ruby spoke up.

"Guys, seriously, hitting each other is not going to solve anything." Ruby leveled her gaze at the group. "Now, let's just talk."

There was silence for a moment, a silence filled with the expectation of the truth, a silence brimming with the tipping point of decision, of what might happen if the silence was kept, of the life that might be lost and the friends left behind, of what might happen, just might, if the truth was revealed. A future that might bloom If Blake Belladonna did not run away. A moment of hesitation, then she spoke and told the humans around her the story of a young Faunus girl who wanted more for her people then hate and persecution.

And they listened.

xXx

"And I left him there," Blake knew that they all should be in class, but no one could seem to mention that fact. "He just…watched me leave. After that, I knew I had a lot to atone for and the only way I could do that was by saving lives instead of endangering them. So, I came to Beacon, Headmaster Ozpin accepted me despite my past."

"So, the headmaster…knows? About everything?" Weiss had calmed down during the course of Blake's story and the hot rage that had burned in her heart at the revelation of Blake's lies had died off to cinders, still hot, but fading fast. The revealed Faunus nodded.

"Yes, he does. I don't think you can hide anything from that man." Blake sighed. "So, that's it. That's my story, nothing left out."

Yang nodded. "Well, this Adam guy is an asshole, but honestly, I still don't see why you hid your past." She smiled at her partner. "Seriously, Blake, we just had a front-row seat to what happens to bullies here, and If you don't kick their butts, we have at least two people who will."

"I try not to get into fights, but yes, I will if need be."

"I will literally fight anyone who remotely displeases me…or if I think it will be funny."

"See!" Yang swung her arm dramatically, a toothy smile on her face. "No need to worry about bigoted pricks at all!"

Blake smiled, her heart warmed by those words. "Thank you, Yang, but being bullied isn't the reason I hid the truth. I did it because I did not want anyone judging me by what I am, or who I was. I want them to see who I am now. That is why I lied to you all and…and I'm sorry for that. I hope you can forgive me." She lifted amber eyes and awaited her fate.

"You're still the moody partner that I know and love." Yang nudged her. "Dark past or no."

Ebon smiled at Blake. "Thank you, for telling us, I'm happy to know you trust us and I'm happy I have you as a teammate."

Weiss shifted in her seat, drawing everyone's eyes to the uncomfortable-looking heiress. She spoke slowly as if testing the words coming out of her mouth.

"I need to…think about this more, but Blake?" Weiss looked up. "I will have your back, in battle and here at Beacon."

Blake nodded her thanks, a bit surprised, she had thought that Weiss Schnee would have been much more hostile, but perhaps she had judged the girl on her family like so many had judged her based on the ears kept hidden by a flimsy piece of silk. Team JNPR's reactions were predictable but still heart-warming.

Jaune had stated it didn't matter who Blake was, she was his friend, even if they didn't talk to each other much. Pyrrha had said much the same, her smile warm and friendly. Nora, in a voice that was surprisingly serious, had simply said that 'You're my friend, and friends don't care about the unimportant things.'. Ren had smiled and nodded in his manner and, somehow, Blake knew that Lie Ren had figured her secret out long ago.

"See, that was much better than just fighting!" Ruby was beaming, happy both because a huge secret full of pain had just been aired, its heavy weight lifted from Blake's shoulders…and she had successfully diverted the Faunus from getting answers to her suspicions about Team RSNC.

Overall, not bad for a lunch hour. Speaking of which…

"I hate to break the moment," Skyler tapped the watch face of Timelash. "But lunch was over twenty minutes ago and Oobleck is probably foaming at the mouth."

"Nah, Oobleck is cool." Crimson stretched, his arms going far above the heads of his classmates. "He'll let us off easy."

"Yeah, Green Man will probably just make us scrub the towers of Beacon with toothbrushes instead of, you know, killing us." Neo stood up, brushing Ruby on the shoulder as she did so. "Come on, team peoples. Let's go learn stuff."

As Team RSNC stood up and made their way towards the history class, they shared a glance that spoke volumes. A glance that said that the next time their lethal secrets became dangerously close to the surface, they would not be able to deflect the questions with revealing other's secrets or preaching the importance of class, the next time someone pulled a knife on an undercover agent working for a homicidal anarchist, their only options would be to run…or to kill.

"Remember, students, next time, don't be late!" Oobleck swept his gaze across the collection of eight students who had thought they could sneak in despite class already being in process. "And, also, don't forget your reports on the Faunus Revolution are due tomorrow. We will be studying the Second Mountain Uprising, so be prepared and do the assigned readings, I am looking at you, Misters Winchester and Arc!"

Jaune wilted as the doctor's gaze swept the class before nodding his head in a quick jerk. Cardin just scoffed, the bandage around his jaw not doing him any points in the attractiveness department. Instead of a large bully, he just looked like a large, bruised, bully; the rest of his team were in a similar state, but not one of them dared even a look in Team RSNC's direction.

Oobleck, however, spared the more…questionable team a sideways glance. "Professor Goodwitch has asked me if you feel the need to add anything on to Ms. Scarlatina's story. Something she may have missed?"

"They slipped."

"Velvet's kinda clumsy."

"It was horrible."

"I cried."

"Right," Oobleck turned away from the four students so that they couldn't see his eyes roll in an impressive arc. This batch of students is much more criminal than the last, I blame Port, he never should have told that pirate story!

The students were unaware of their teacher's mental rantings and were much more focused on getting out of class as much as fast as possible. It had been a typical Beacon class, boring and weird, with the only interesting point being when Blake had kept her arm firmly down when Oobleck had asked if any of the Faunus students if they had experienced any discrimination because of their heritage (Of course, only a select few students acutely noticed it.).

I guess Belladonna still doesn't want to go advertising the fact that she's a Faunus. Ruby thought idly as she waited for Crimson and Skyler to stop fighting over the thief's pencil. Eh, each to their own, I guess.

Turning her attention back to her teammates, Ruby watched as Skyler yanked his pencil from Crimson's grasp and proceeded to stab at his eccentric teammate's eyes with it. Snarling something about 'Don't take my stuff!'. Neo was just finishing up drawing a doodle of her triumphantly standing on a pile of beaten and bruised Beacon students.

Ruby nodded in satisfaction, bizarreness and incredible hypocrisy were all signs of a healthy Team RSNC, those and a full collection of limbs and other useful bodily extremities, of course.

Feeling the need to get her team out of here before a mental institute found them, Ruby clapped her hands together and signaled her three lackeys (Despite their protests, that was what Ruby was going to refer to them from now on) to get back to their dorm room. However, just as she left, Ruby noticed a dejected-looking Jaune trudging up to Oobleck's desk, a swaggering Cardin Winchester beside him.

Looking back, noticing how worn and miserable Jaune looked that day, how desperate, was one of the worst mistakes Ruby ever made.

"Dorm room, sweet dorm room!" Crimson collapsed on his bed, his uniform as anarchic as ever. Skyler rolled his eyes as he began unbuttoning his blazer.

"Are you going to do that every time classes end?"

"Yep!" Came Crimson's muffled reply, not even lifting his face off the pillow. "Today is especially sweet because I'm not in danger of being barbecued by a certain someone who I have officially decided is not a very nice person."

At the mention of the one and only Cinder Fall, Ruby and her two other teammates shared uneasy glances. It was not a secret that the so-called meeting they were forced to go to had left a mark on them all. In the case of the three Syndicate members, it was the overwhelming desire to not let what happened to Crimson happen to them. It was selfish, yes, but they were criminals.

Being selfish was kinda of what they did.

However, as Ruby watched the assassin on the bed, she felt that gnawing feeling. The little voice of instinct, honed by street warfare and death, telling her that something was not right with her teammate; in fact, something was very wrong. And she tried being nice, she tried trying to get him to open up and maybe get over it, but now?

Now was time for the niceties to end.

"Hey, Crimson?" Ruby jerked her head to the door as he looked up at her. "I need to talk to you for a moment."

He slowly lifted his head off his pillow with suspicious eyes.

"If this is about what I think this is about…"

"Just get out of bed and follow me." Ruby left the dorm room, hearing grumblings and bed springs as Crimson rolled out of bed and shortened his pace so that he could walk beside her. The two walked in silence, up stairwells and down long hallways until Crimson began to wonder if his leader was leading him into an ambush.

Betrayed by my team and left for dead. Crimson entertained the idea in his head. I KNEW I should have double-crossed them first!

But Ruby was not tricking him into an untimely demise, and soon, the two of them were standing in a shadowy corner of one of Beacon's many balconies. Ruby looked at Crimson for a long moment before speaking.

"Right, let's cut to the point here, I tried being nice in finding out what was eating at you and all I got were lies in return. So, let me tell you what happens now." She stepped closer to him and just like that, their façade as teammates and friends fell away and the true nature of their relationship was revealed. They did not trust each other; Ruby was not sure they even particularly liked each other. They were wary of each other, both of them were predators in a dark underworld and neither knew which one was stronger. However, those facts were only a faint murmur in the back of Ruby's mind as she told the assassin what was going to take place.

"First, you don't have to tell me what's caused you to sob in the bathroom. I can tell that it's messing with your head, but honestly? I don't care all that much about it. What I do care about, is that it doesn't affect the operation here. We have enough problems without your personal ones adding to the mix and I am not risking the lives of my team because a single member is having more mental issues then usually."

"So caring," Crimson said with a roll of his eyes, not even flinching at the comment about him crying the night before. "But if it means you'll stop bugging me, then sure, whatever you say, my Glorious Leader." And with a mocking bow, he whirled on his heels and strode off the roof, leaving Ruby alone with only her thoughts and the encroaching night as company.

Well, that could have gone better. She ran a hand through her short hair. At least neither of us got thrown off the roof.

Her thoughts were cut off as the balcony doors opened and Jaune Arc stumbled out, pulled by a determined-looking Pyrrha Nikos. From her place in the shadows (Thank Neo for her training!), Ruby could see that Jaune looked worn and drawn as his partner turned to him, a frown marring her face. Jaune just looked around and quirked an eyebrow.

"Pyrrha, I know I'm going through a hard time right now, but I'm not that depressed." He spared a glance at the edge. "I mean; I can always be a farmer or a café owner or something."

Pyrrha looked confused for a moment before the meaning of Jaune's words hit her like a brick. She quickly dragged Jaune away into the center of the balcony.

"N-n-no! That's not why I brought you up here!" Once sure that her partner was safe and away from the edge, she sighed and spoke in a much calmer tone. "Jaune, I know you're having a difficult time in class and that you're still not the strongest of fighters, so... I want to help you."

Jaune stiffened in surprise. "Wh-what?"

From her position in the dark, Ruby could see Pyrrha smile softly. "We can train up here after class where no one can bother us!"

"You think I need help?" His voice was low and accusing as if his partner had just cast him down as a weakling. Pyrrha's eyes widened and she cut her arms through the air as if trying to slice in half the allegation.

"N-no! No, that's not what I meant."

"But you just said it." The words held the barest bite of anger.

"Jaune…" Pyrrha seemed to mull over her words as if making sure they were perfect before she spoke them aloud. "Everybody needs a little push from time to time. It doesn't make you any different from anybody else here." Her eyes brightened. "And you made it to Beacon! That speaks volumes of what you're capable of!"

Jaune scoffed, turning away to stare back over the dark beyond the edges of the balcony. "You're wrong, Pyrrha. I don't belong here, I never did."

She reared back as if his words were a slap. "That's a terrible thing to say! Of course, you do! Why on Remnant would you think that?!"

Jaune chuckled, a sound devoid of any form of humor, a sound filled with hopelessness. "Maybe because I wasn't really accepted into Beacon? Maybe because I lied about going to combat schools and passing tests? Maybe because I got my hands on some fake transcripts and lied my way into Beacon Academy? Maybe that's why!"

Ruby felt her eyebrows disappear into her hairline as she heard the revelation of Jaune Arc. That explains why he sucks so much. Still, pretty good on his end for forging his way into Beacon, I wonder if Junior helped him?

Her thoughts were cut off as Pyrrha took a single step closer to her depressed partner and spoke in a bewildered tone. "Jaune, what? But…why?"

Jaune whirled on Pyrrha, his eyes blazing. "Because this is always what I've wanted to be! A Hunter, a hero! My father, my grandfather, and his father before him were all warriors! They were all heroes! I wanted to be one, too. I was just never good enough, I was never able to live up to anyone's standards!"

"Then let me help you!" Pyrrha laid a hand on his shoulder. "Please, Jaune, let me help."

"I don't want help!" Jaune abandoned hiding his anger and now let it burn. "I don't want to be the damsel in distress! I want to be the hero!"

"Jaune, I-"

But the student-albeit fake one- was on a role and he carried on like Pyrrha hadn't spoken at all. His voice filled with ire and frustration.

"I'm sick of being the lovable idiot, stuck in the tree while his friends fight for their lives!" He waved his arms wildly. "Don't you understand?! If I can't do this on my own...then what good am I?!"

"Jaune…" Pyrrha reached out as if to comfort him, but the would-be hero just leaned out of her reach, his face turned away from her.

"Just... leave me alone. Okay?"

"If that's what you think is best..." Ruby watched as the champion of champions walked dejectedly towards the door, before she was gone, though, Pyrrha turned back and spoke in a low voice.

"I won't betray your secret, Jaune, that I can promise you." Then she was gone, leaving Jaune and the still unseen Ruby, alone on the roof. All was quiet…for approximately five seconds.

"Oh, Jaune~" The voice broke the silence as a grinning Cardin Winchester heaved himself over the edge of the roof and smirked at his shocked, and now very afraid, victim. Jaune stumbled away from his bully.

"Cardin! W-what are you doing here?!"

Cardin waved a hand as if discussing the finer things in life. "I just wanted to have a little chat with you! I couldn't help but overhear you two discussing your little secret from my dorm room. I must admit, Jauney, I'm impressed. Sneaking into Beacon like that? Maybe you aren't as dumb as I first thought!" The huntsman-in-training chuckled a bit at that. "Ah, who am I kidding? You're much dumber than I first thought."

"Please, Cardin, please." Jaune looked ready to fall on his knees. "You can't tell anyone!"

"Oh, don't worry, Jaune." Someone (Who neither Jaune nor Cardin nor even Pyrrha realized was there) spoke up. "He won't."

Both boys turned to see Ruby Rose emerge from the shadows of the balcony. Her eyes hard as she looked at the now-furious Cardin Winchester. The larger boy took a halting step forward, fists clenched in rage.

"What are you doing here?!"

"Oh, you know, just enjoying the night air and eavesdropping on all sorts of interesting conversation." Ruby looked at Jaune thoughtfully. "Really, it's a wonder I don't do this more often. But that's not the point." Clapping her hands, she pointed to Cardin.

"You go away and keep your lips zipped." She held up her hand as Cardin began to spit furiously, cutting off his words. "And if you even think about talking, just know that I have three teammates who will happily put you in the hospital just for laughs, imagine where you'll end up if I order them to take care of you."

Displaying a surprising show of restraint –and intelligence-, Cardin did not attack her then and there, and instead backed off, glaring at the team leader with hateful eyes.

"This isn't over." He warned as he crept back towards the edge of the roof, going back to his dorm room below. "Not by a long shot."

"Go jump in a lake, preferably one with lots of Grimm." Ruby dismissed as she turned back to the still shocked Jaune, ignoring the growl that came from where Cardin was climbing down the wall. The blond student (Or would it be faker now?) looked at her with eyes filled with fear, confusion, and hope.

"Ruby…" He said softly. "I guess you heard everything then?"

"Yep." She nodded. "I was out here when you and Pyrrha came out and I heard that entire debacle of an argument." Ruby caught Jaune's flinch at her words but decided not to mention it, that wasn't why she was talking to him after all. "I was going to leave, but then that jerk Cardin showed up and I decided to step in."

"S-so, you're not going to say anything?" Jaune said, the hope in his voice becoming stronger. Will he still have a chance to become a hero? Sure, people were still bailing him out, but with this chance, he could save them one day. After all, that's what heroes did.

Ruby shook her head. "Nope!" Then she tilted her head and looked thoughtful. "Of course, I don't do things –or not do things, in this case- for free."

"How much do you want? Whatever it is, I'll pay it!" Jaune said without hesitation, Ruby had to choke back her smile. Instead, she simply held out her hands in front of her.

"Whoa, there. I don't want money." She shook her head, the brief image of Jaune's face in history class flashing in her head, the face of a man who would do anything. "No, I just want a favor."

Jaune tilted his head to the side. "A favor?"

"You know, sometime in the future, you'll do something for me. A favor." Ruby tapped her chin. "Of course, a secret this big will probably result in a pretty big favor, I hope you will be up to it."

"Of course!" Jaune couldn't believe his luck, His secret was safe! Of course, Cardin knew, but even Jaune could see that the leader of Team CRDL was wary (Bordering on terrified) of Team RSNC and its violent, misfit members. But the brightest point in all of this was that all Ruby wanted in return for keeping his secret was a favor sometime in the future. A favor Jaune will happily do. "Thank you so much, Ruby! I don't know how to repay you, well, I guess that's what the favor is for and I promise I'll do whatever you ask!"

"I trust you." Ruby smiled up at him, her eyes locked onto his. "And Jaune? Take Pyrrha's offer, she is a world-renewed fighter and she is offering you free training, you may not want it, but if you want to protect people, it's time to swallow your pride." Sure, I am taking advantage of him, but that doesn't mean I can't be nice!

Jaune looked at her for a minute before nodding. "I…I'll think about it."

Ah, the ancient code for "I'll never spar it a second thought'. Fantastic. Still…Ruby's smile grew more into a satisfied smirk as she watched Jaune leave the balcony, given her one last wave. Jaune's desperate to keep his secret, and a desperate man is capable of all sorts of fun stuff.

Did Ruby have any sort of idea of what she wanted to call in Jaune's favor on? No, none at all. Was she still going to exploit it to the fullest benefit to her and her team whenever the opportunity presented itself?

Oh, yes.

Back in the dorm room of Team RSNC, Crimson lay on his bed, deep in thought. When he had come in alone, the two Syndicate members left behind by Ruby had glanced at him suspiciously (Did they really think that if he murdered Ruby, he would actually come back?), but relaxed again when he told them that Ruby was still on the roof…well, Skyler relaxed, Neo just got antsy.

But he ignored Neo's worrying and just went to collapse on his bed and think about the past few days.

His conclusion: They sucked. But, then again, lots of days sucked! It was his job to get through them with laughter in his heart and his middle finger high…but then again, those days never involved nearly having his epidermal layer burnt off by an insane sadist.

Well, there was that one time with the Faunus dude…that was one crazy scorpion. Crimson actually left that battle impressed and missing both of his eyebrows. Good times.

However, this time was less impressive and more nightmarish and he did not think the wound it inflicted upon his mental state would heal anytime soon. There were too many foul memories being brought forth, memories that Crimson had locked away in the deep recesses of his mind.

*THEREWASPAINandthentherewasbloodTHEREWASPAINandthentherewasbloodTHEREWASPAI-*

Snapping out of the sudden intrusion, Crimson let out an audible gasp, the sound causing his teammates to glance at him in surprise. Ignoring the two pairs of eyes on him, Crimson fumbled his Scroll out of his pocket and flipped to contacts, seeking one out in particular. It was a simple picture of an intricate snowflake, like a master seamstress had sewn frost together, and had a simple name next to it, Crimson felt a small smile cross his face. Ah, Widget, your constant grumpiness never fells to brighten my day!

Quickly, he tapped out a message. Good whatever-time-it-is-up-there-I-don't-know-time-zones-are-weird, how is my favorite Schnee doing? FYI, Beacon is filled to the brim with drama queens, count your lucky stars you aren't suffering here next to me.

He hit send and barely a minute had passed before the device chimed. Reading the message, Crimson felt the painful pressure in his head fade away.

If you don't like the drama, then you shouldn't have decided to become a Hunter (I still firmly believe it is a barbaric profession, doubly so now that you're among their ranks.). As for me, everything is the same, no, I rather not talk about it.

Crimson sighed, shaking his head, in the two-and-a-half years he had known Widget, he and Crimson had never really gone and discussed in-depth about their home life, but both of them could easily guess what the other's was like, it was not very hard when they were both the same. Fingers flying, he sent another text.

It's your life, Whitley, yours to tell as you deem fit. Crimson looked at the text he had just sent, scoffing a bit at it. Well, aren't I in the eloquent mood? Whitley Schnee, or Widget as Crimson dubbed him when they first met, picked up on it.

Are you feeling alright, Crimson? The last time you said something with this much feeling, I did not hear from you for nearly three months. Is everything okay?

Crimson looked at the screen for a moment, just the briefest of moments, before sending his reply.

Of course, dude! I'm fine!

Skyler was sure what Crimson was doing as he messed with his Scroll, but the thief was sure he probably didn't want to know. The assassin just had that kind of effect on people.

Probably due to poor social interaction and one too many bludgeons to the head. Either way, Skyler had better things to occupy his time with. Mostly trying to convince Neo to just go take a shower because that Ruby was, indeed, fine and charging to the roof, weapons blazing, was a very bad idea.

Oh, who am I kidding.? EVERY idea this team has is a very bad idea! The entire reason why we are here is a VERY bad idea! This is like the realm of extremely poor decisions! Skylar sighed, feeling more exasperated then he had ever been in his life. When exactly had it gotten so complicated?

Oh, yeah, he just got done reading about it.

Turning his attention back to the textbook in front of him, the pages flipped to the chapter which Oobleck assigned, he scanned the words one last time.

"…the Amarok Tribe was a part of the Amaguq People, a collection of tribes that had dwelled in the Hlinterland Mountains since before the time of the Kingdom of Mantle (see page 234). Like the First Mountain Uprising in which the Amaguq People and the now extinct Nanurluk Tribes fought Mantleite forces for control over the Hlinterlands, the Second Mountain Uprising was led by the Amarok Tribe and was fought against the Atlas Military. Unlike the First Mountain Uprising, however, the Second Uprising ended in the destruction of the Amarok Tribe and the relocation of the Amaguq People to the Boreas Tundra (See page 455).

Skyler looked at the book for a long moment and for just a single second, he could almost hear the screams of humanity, the pounding hail of bullets, and the roars of hungry Grimm.

When Ruby reentered her dorm room, she was surprised about how calm and peaceful it was. Crimson was on his Scroll while sprawled across his bed, fingers busily typing away. Skyler was seated at his desk, reading from a large history book. And, if the light and steam wavering from under the bathroom door was anything to go by, Neo was taking a hot shower.

We are almost like normal people now! Ruby couldn't help but grin at the thought. That is so weird!

Briefly, she wondered how long it would last until everything devolved back into chaos. These sorts of things just did not last, especially in light of the recent occurrences like Neo nearly being stabbed in the face. Ruby still wondered how that would affect their relationship with Team EWBY.

Eh, things to worry about tomorrow. Ruby meandered over to the nearest bed, intent on just relaxing after pulling Jaune into her list of 'People Who Owe Me Stuff'. Idly, she wondered what his Pyrrha's reaction would be if she knew what her partner had gotten himself in too. Ruby wasn't worried about Cardin, he was dumb, but he wasn't dumb enough to ignore a warning from her.

Actually, wait a minute, he might be that dumb. Ah, well, I'll dismember that problem when I come to it!

"Why are you grinning manically? Wait, scratch that, why are you grinning manically on my bed? Are you planning something? Should I be worried or excited? Answer the last one first."

Neo's voice caused Ruby to snap out of her thoughts and jerk to a sitting position on what she now realized was, indeed, the shorter girl's bed. Looking over at her, Ruby tried to tamper down the smile that had spread across her lips.

"Just thinking about the future, my dear Neo, all sorts of wonderful things labile to happen soon."

Neo looked at her warily. "You are aware I nearly got my throat silt by an ex-terrorist at lunch, right? Not even mentioning the Crimson fiasco, wonderful is not a word I would use to describe our future. Maybe terrifying?"

"How about desperate?" Crimson, who had been listening on the conversation, chimed in.

"Bleak?" Skyler suggested, causing Ruby to wonder if she had any privacy in this room at all. "Bleak is always a good choice for describing the future."

"Actually, I think depressing nightmare might be better." Neo looked thoughtful which prompted her team leader to shut down this conversation before it got any darker than it already was.

"Okay, you three need to lighten up." Ruby hopped off the bed and turned to face her team, crossing her arms across her chest. "Yes, our circumstances are dangerous, but there's no need to get grim about it. In fact," She started pacing in front of them like a general in front of her troops. "I think we need to do something fun! I mean, this past couple of days have been harsh and we could all use a break."

Neo tilted her head to the side, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "What do you have in mind?"

Ruby smiled widely. "Game night! Tomorrow, we can head down to Vale, pick up some games, and just have some fun!"

There was silence for a moment before Crimson started cackling, the gleam of insanity making his eyes glow.

"Um…" Ruby backed away from the madman's bed. "Glad to see you're on board?"

"Ignore him." Skyler cast a disparaging look at his laughing teammate. "But yes, a game night sounds good to me. It will be nice not to have an attempted murder every day."

Neo just shrugged. "Sounds good to me, it will be nice just to be back in the proper Kingdom."

"Yeah! Tomorrow, Team RSNC's Ultimate Game Night will be a go!"

"Huzzah, I guess."

"Did you just say 'Huzzah'? What is wrong with you?"

"Oh, did I just offend your lower class sensibilities?"

"Lower class? Ha! You're a peasant compared to me, Snowball!"

Crimson just giggled on his bed, the gleam in his eyes still shining like fire. Oh, he had some lovely ideas for tomorrow night, ideas he couldn't wait to see realized.

As you may have been able to tell, I wanted the timeline to be a little different than usual. Again, sorry for the wait, my computer and I have a relationship of mutual loathing now. Anyways, hope you enjoyed this and I'll see you in the next chapter!

Next Update: 3/10/2019