A/N: Two updates in a couple of days, I'm starting to get my grove back. Though updates for other stories are still taking a while, they are on the list I'm hoping to catch up on soon. For now, I still have quite a few readers out there expecting this particular story to get back on the rails. And I intend on getting this train rolling again.

(I don't own RWBY or FEAR)

The night was going great. Everyone at the dance was having a good time and really enjoying themselves.

Ruby got off the dance floor and took a break at one of the tables set up along the outside while Adrian went off to get them something to drink. She was happy to see everything going so well, this feeling got even better when she saw Blake come in on Sun's arm and was smiling and laughing.

The biggest surprise of the night had been when she saw her sister and her partner together. It had been the last thing she had been expecting was for Yang and Weiss to come as a couple. The heiress had explained that despite their differences something just seemed to click between them and they had been having small 'dates' in secret to see how things went.

Yang had said things went better than well and here they were showing off in public.

Ruby was happy for them, if she were honest she had once wondered if the two of them getting closer had been more than friendship as of late.

"Enjoying yourself, Miss. Rose?" the young leader looked up and saw Professor Ozpin standing there leaning on his cane.

"Oh, everything's been great!" Ruby responded, "Not much of a dansey, pansey kind of girl, but still having a great time."

The headmaster nodded, "That's good to hear. One can't spend their entire life on the battlefield. Even if you may want to. If you really think about it, fighting and dancing aren't so different. Two partners interlocked. Heh, but one wrong move on the ballroom merely leads to a swollen foot."

"Or a twisted ankle." Ruby added, sending a glare at her heeled shoes and had been glad Adrian took her out of them earlier.

"It's not everyday that friends can come together like this." said Ozpin. "Time has a way of testing our bonds. But it's nights like these that can help keep them stronger than ever. Nights like these are ones that we'll never forget."

The young leader looked over and saw Adrian having a conversation with Sun and Ren. The soldier signing every now and again before picking up two cups and heading toward his date. When she turned back to the headmaster she saw him already heading in another direction.

[Everything okay?] Adrian signed when he set their drinks down and got her attention.

Ruby smiled at him and accepted her punch, "Everything's perfect."

The former FEAR operative smiled back at her before something out of the corner of his eye got his attention. Narrowing his eyes when he saw Mercury and his team mate Emerald enter the ballroom. Their match the previous day still weighing on his mind along with what his brother had told him before.

"Be cautious, brother. I can almost smell the deceit around this one."

Something about the whole team from Haven rubbed Adrian the wrong way...and if there was one thing he knew for a fact, it was that his instincts were rarely wrong.

X

As the night went on all in attendance continued to have a great time. At one point, team JNPR did a very well choreographed dance together with Jaune, for one reason or another, wearing a dress.

While the other couples continued to dance and laugh, Ruby pulled Adrian outside on one of the balcony's to get some fresh air.

"Hah, peace and quiet." the young leader said looking up at her date, "Sorry, but I just needed a moment from all the people in there."

[I understand, could use a little air myself.] Adrian replied as they leaned on the railing and looked out over Vale.

"So...how did you learn to dance like that?" Ruby asked, "I mean, you said not too long ago that you've never danced before."

[I asked Weiss for help.] the soldier signed, [She was surprised I even did. Can't fault her given how at odds we were in the beginning.]

Ruby nodded, furrowing her brow. "I never had a chance to ask back then, but why did you have it out for Weiss? Even after we became a team you kept your distance."

Adrian sighed, [Because the Schnee Dust Corporation was the primary benefactor of Armacham.] he signed, making his girlfriend gasp in surprise. [Even though there's no proof of their involvement in what the ATC was up to, they still paid the bills for them. When I first saw Weiss, and how she acted...] he trailed off.

"But then you got to know her." the brunette pressed.

[I did. Even though she has her faults, she's nothing like her family. And I couldn't despise her for anything she had no knowledge of to begin with.] the former FEAR agent answered.

Ruby smiled, "I'm just glad we're all getting along, and are friends. I only wish the same could be said about your brother." Adrian gave her a bewildered look, "I know, I know. But he's still your family. Good or bad. Everyone deserves a chance to turn over a new leaf, you have to admit he's not at deadly as he was from the stories you've told us."

[He's a sociopath, Ruby.] Adrian signed with a serious expression. [I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now, but I KNOW how manipulative he can be. Especially if it could further his own goals.]

"I'm not that naive, Adrian." Ruby deadpanned, "All I'm saying is that he deserves a chance. And if he breaks it, well, you won't be the only one wanting to make him completely dead."

The couple smiled before turning their attention back out over the city. The air was cool, but not too much, and the moon cast a brilliant glow over the land. It was a very nice night.

Adrian glanced over at Ruby and scratched his cheek. He had planned something special for a moment like this, but he wasn't sure how well it would go since he really couldn't practice it. Though, such things never stopped him from pressing on before.

Taking a deep breath, he turned to his soul mate and touched her arm. Ruby turned, meeting his gaze questioningly as he brought his hands up. [I want to try something.]

"Okay..." the young leader said, curious as to what he had in mind. She watched him swallow thickly before, to her amazement, he opened his mouth.

"...I..." a grating, croaked sound came out, followed by Adrian wincing in discomfort. "L...L...ov...e...", another word, butchered horribly because of the damaged vocal cords trying to say them. "...Yo...u...u..." Adrian's eyes started to water, the pain in his throat worse than any bullet wound he'd ever gotten. But the shock and awe look in Ruby's eyes, that were also brimming with tears, made him push through the pain.

"...R...ub...y..."

The ex-FEAR operative immediately turned left and started coughing violently over the railing. The inside of his throat feeling like someone took an angle-grinder to it as drops of saliva and blood were spat out a few times.

He felt a soft hand rubbing his back, Ruby coming up beside him with worry etched on her face. "Why? Why put yourself through that much pain?" she asked with a shaking voice.

Spitting one last time, Adrian gave her his full attention. [Because you deserved to hear it from me. At least once.] he signed with nothing but honesty.

Tears finally spilling out from her silver eyes, Ruby hugged Adrian. Her face buried in his chest as she cried in awe and happiness.

Even though she never wanted him to hurt himself like that again, the fact that the small gesture was priceless wasn't lost on her. The first words the former prototype commando had said in years, was that he loved her.

Not even her prized weapon could amount to something like that...and that was saying something.

"I love you, too." Ruby said when she pulled away from the embrace. Leaning up on her toes and kissing Adrian softly. The soldier wrapping his arms around her and holding her close as they shared the tender moment for a little while before separating. "Don't EVER, hurt yourself like that again. Even if it is for me, understand?" she ordered in her usual leader tone.

[Yes, ma'am.] Adrian signed, but smiled widely while doing so which had Ruby giggling. Both of them lapsing into silence as they continued to hold one another.

Opening her eyes, Ruby blinked when she saw something out in the distance. A shadow moving across the rooftops.

Feeling his other half tense, Adrian followed her line of sight and saw the same figure. Narrowing his gaze when they slipped out of sight. Looking to one another, the couple nodded before slipping back into the ballroom and out the door right afterward.

Making their way in the direction the figure had been going, they found themselves at the base of the CCT tower. Ruby gasping when she saw the guard stationed outside laying in the bushes. Adrian moved the the man's side, checking his pulse and nodded to her that he was still alive.

The couple took their scrolls out and hit the proper commands, moments later their lockers flying from the campus and landing a few feet away, opening to reveal their weapons and gear.

Taking out Shade and slapping a fresh clip into the rifle/sword, Adrian slipped his rig harness with his Strader pistols and spare clips on as well while Ruby pulled out Crescent Rose and clipped her ammo belt around her waist.

Glaring down at her feet, the young leader kicked off her heeled shoes before nodding to her boyfriend. The two of them entering the lobby of the CCT tower and finding bodies of more guards scattered about.

Adrian swung his rifle around when the elevator dinged, the top of the door showing that the lift had stopped at the top floor.

[Stairs.] he signed, he and Ruby began running through the door on the other end of the room. His reflexes activating along with her speed as they hit the steps, grey and red blurs moving swiftly past the floors until they reached the top. The former FEAR operative's foot kicking the door at the top open as they stormed the room.

The couple was greeted to the sight of a woman with raven colored hair dressed in a black cat-suit and a domino mask seated behind the main terminal. Glowing ember eyes blinking in surprise at their sudden arrival.

She quickly recovered and stood, grabbing a canister from her waist and swiping it in front of her. Dust spread through the air and quickly formed into razor-sharp glass shards that she launched at the duo.

Adrian raised his weapon and opened fire, his shots hitting each projectile with quick precision while Ruby fired her sniper-scythe at their enemy.

The woman held out her hand, stopping each round from hitting her with her palm before spinning around, forming a glass sword in each hand and charging the duo with a series of slashes.

Switching his weapon to its sword form, Adrian blocked a few of the strikes and swung back with several of his own. The woman jumped back, throwing one of her swords at the ex-FEAR operative forcing him to duck under it.

Ruby fired her weapon into the floor, launching herself into the air where she came down hard on the woman. But their opponent was quicker, flipping out of the way just in time while forming a bow with three arrows notched before she let them fly.

The arrows struck the ground between the couple and glowed brightly, both of them leaping away and rolling as the floor exploded where they struck. Adrian came up, Shade back in its rifle form as he fired another barrage at their attacker. The woman ran around the room, avoiding the bullets as they hit the terminals and desks where she had been.

Gritting his teeth, he activated his reflexes and took more careful aim. Following her movements before pulling the trigger again.

A soft grunt was heard, the woman stopping cold and gripping her arm where blood seeped out between her fingers. Her burning eyes glowed brighter with anger as she glared at the soldier, snapping her hand out as her aura flared.

Adrian and Ruby both had a moment to register a possible threat just as a jet of flame launched from the woman's palm. The couple dove for cover behind one of the terminals, Adrian on top of Ruby, shielding her as the flames burned the top part of the desk as it was reduced to smoldering salvage.

When the attack ended, the couple stood, weapons ready only to find their opponent missing.

"Where did she-" Ruby was cut off when the elevator dinged. Both of them turning to see the doors opening and General Ironwood enter. The man pausing mid-step when he saw the state of the room.

"What happened here?!" he demanded.

X

Once she was safely away from the CCT tower on a rooftop, Cinder ripped off her mask and used her powers to burn off the cat-suit to reveal the now blood soaked black dress she had underneath. Teeth gritting as she applied pressure to the wound.

The mission wasn't supposed to go that far south. It had been simple. She'd slip out to the communications hub of Vale and implant the virus she had on her scroll while Emerald and Mercury kept an eye on the party-goers at the dance.

The guards were easy enough, and with most of the attention focused elsewhere she had perfect opportunity...But why the hell were those two students there?!

Cinder recognized them both immediately. Ruby Rose and Adrian Wade, the leader of team RWBY and the prototype commando their her new friends in Armacham were hunting for. She hadn't expected their interference, and even worse, they interrupted the download of the virus.

Checking her scroll, she saw that only 76% of the virus had been uploaded. Even though it would offer a decent advantage to their side, the goal was to have it fully ready to be triggered. Cinder wasn't happy at all with the outcome.

Her scroll rang and she answered it with a sharp hiss, "What?!"

"Ma'am? Are you okay? What happened?" Emerald's worried voice came over the speaker.

"There was a...complication." Cinder replied, doing her best to keep her anger in check while removing one of her gloves and tying it around her arm to stop the bleeding.

"Do you need us to meet up with you?" her subordinate asked.

"Negative. You and Mercury remain at the dance, we can't draw any suspicion. You two remain there and I'll see you back at the dorm room." the raven-haired woman said before ending the call. She didn't want to deal with Emerald's worrying or Mercury's sarcasm.

Removing her mask and throwing it away, Cinder took a calming breath before making her way back toward Beacon.

Out of the corner of her eye she caught something, a flash of red. When her eyes swept across the roof, she saw, to her shock, a little girl with long black hair and a red dress watching her from a shadow a few feet away.

She blinked once and the child was gone.

Shaking her head, blaming it on a trick of the light, Cinder jumped down from the roof and made her way back to the academy.

When she was out of sight, Alma stepped back out of the shadow she had hidden in. Many emotions passing through her and causing her powers to form a black haze around her.

Cinder Fall had attacked her eldest son, she had attacked her son's other half. Alma had wanted nothing more than to splatter the vile female all over the walls with burning retribution, but she stalled her hand.

She knew her eldest and his little rose could protect themselves, and if she had any hope of completing her family again her future vessel needed to be alive...for now.

Alma had gotten close enough to her intended target to comb through her mind, despite the impressive barriers in place Cinder's mind became an open book.

A child hunting for power that was not her own, a loyal dog for a dark master with bad intentions for the people of Remnant. The vengeful mother frowned, she may have wanted to make mortals pay for the suffering of herself and her sons, but this girl's master was even more sinister and devious.

Her cohorts were no better...but there was something about the grey haired male in her team. Alma could feel something coming from him, a connection? She would have to look into that matter as well in the near future.

She also saw Cinder's plans for Vale, what she intended to do as well as her new partnership with Armacham's CEO. Rage burned in Alma's soul. If she didn't need a body...

Her aura faded slowly, her emotions being sealed away for the time being as she started making plans of her own. A blade-like smile similar to one her youngest child would make appeared on her face.

Cinder and her followers wanted power and conquest, but in the end they would only know pain and fear.

Alma faded away in a plume of ashes, vanishing into the night.

X

The following day, tensions were high in Ozpin's office as he, Glynda and Ironwood had a meeting in regards to what had happened the night before at the CCT hub.

"They were here, Ozpin!" The General bellowed, "They were here!"

"We're very much aware that, thank you James." Glynda admonished the man and the fact his attitude wasn't helping in the slightest.

Ironwood scoffed, "Fantastic, you are aware. Now are we going to do something about it or should we just 'stay the course' and ignore what's right in front of us?"

A soft beeping from the headmaster's desk interrupted the argument, "Come in." Ozpin said into the intercom before the door opened and their young guests came in.

"Ah! Sorry it took so long." said Ruby as she and Adrian approached the professors. "Someone accidentally hit all the buttons on the elevator on the way up here...it wasn't me."

The soldier looked at his girlfriend with a raised eyebrow, knowing differently given how nervous she was about this meeting.

"Thank you both for coming, how are you feeling?" asked Ozpin.

[I've had worse.] Adrian signed while Ruby said that she was okay, but disappointed they they couldn't catch their enemy last night.

The General approached the couple, "Ruby, I feel it's appropriate to let you know that I think what you both did last night is exactly what being a huntress and huntsman is all about. You recognized a threat, you took action, and you did the very best you could. And Adrian, it's good to know that your skills are as sharp as ever."

"Thank you, sir." said Ruby with pride from the praise they were receiving from the Atlas headmaster. Adrian nodding to his former General in thanks as well.

"Now, the General has already informed us of the events that transpired last night." said Ozpin. "But now that you both are rested, we were wondering if you had anything to add."

"Was anyone else with her?" questioned Professor Goodwitch. "Did she look familiar at all?"

[It was the same woman the three of us encountered the night Ruby and I stopped the dust shop robbery.] Adrian signed, [Same build, same glowing eyes, and the same ability over fire.]

"She wore a mask, didn't say anything, and fought with glass. I don't think it was her semblance though." added Ruby. "Do you think this girl is connected to Torchwick and the White Fang?"

The three veteran huntsman looked at one another, "It's possible." said Ozpin. "But we still lack the required evidence to link the two."

[I managed to hit her.] Adrian signed, [She was fast, but I winged her and drew blood.]

"We collected samples at the scene." said Ironwood, "Doctors are running an analysis while I'm having the infirmary and local hospitals checked for any resent gunshot wounds in the last 24 hours. If there was only something else to tie all of this together."

"Actually," Ruby said, getting everyone's attention again. "I...I think I remember her saying something about a hideout or something...in the Southeast. Just outside the kingdom."

Adrian looked at her, masking his shock at her going back on her statement so blatantly while at the same time revealing one of the facts their team had learned so openly. "Interesting." said their headmaster with a knowing half-smile.

"I thought you said the intruder didn't-" Glynda began only for Ozpin to cut her off.

"Thank you both for your cooperation. Why don't you go and spend some time with your team? You all have a big day ahead of you."

"Anytime." Ruby said happily as she and her soul mate made their way back to the elevator.

"Miss. Rose, Mr. Wade." Ozpin called them back, "Please try and be, discreet about this matter."

[Yes, sir.] The former FEAR operative signed as they stepped onto the lift and the doors losed behind them. [That was very risky, you know.] he signed to his other half.

Ruby sighed, "I know. But they had to know somehow. And our little outing last week is still supposed to be a secret...I just can't believe that woman slipped through our fingers again."

Adrian reached down and took her hand into his, [I'm put off about her escape as well. We were ill-prepared and managed to get out of there unscathed. That accounts for something. But I'd bet just about anything that she's involved in what's going on in the kingdom.]

They reached the ground floor and made their way toward the dorms, approaching their team's room and finding Paxton casually leaning against the door.

"You two have been busy, I see." the wraith said while looking between them.

"What are you doing here, Paxton?" asked Ruby.

"Family matter, I'm afraid. So I must borrow my brother for a time." Paxton replied as he leaned off the door and headed away from the dorms.

Adrian turned to Ruby, [I'll be back in a bit.] he signed, giving her a kiss before following after his brother to see what was so important.

Watching them go, the young leader opened the door to their room only to have Yang, Weiss and Blake suddenly appear in front of her, "So, what happened?!" her sister demanded.

Ruby chuckled nervously as the other girls pulled her into the room and closed the door.

X

The two sons of Alma stepped out onto the roof of the dorms. "It would seem that there is a lot more to what is going on in this kingdom than meets the eye, brother." Paxton said cryptically.

Adrian crossed his arms and waited for the psionic to continue. "The woman you and your little rose fought, Torchwick, the White Fang...Armacham. They are all connected." Sharp-blue eyes met grey with an aura of grim seriousness.

"War is coming, brother. As I have said before. And you and your friends are right at the heart of it."

A/N: The plot thickens ever more, and RWBY-A's mission just may end up being more treacherous than they might think.

Keep the reviews coming guys, and I'll keep the updates coming as quickly as I can.