By the time dawn broke, Reaper was breathing stale underground air.

We're really doing this thing?

Yup.

There are other ways. Why tell Ozpin this is the way to go?

There are a few things I want to take care of.

So wait, are we Reaper or Ruby?

We're Reaper the huntress.

Ohh I get it. Alright then, let's do this.

Reaper made a beeline for Roman's villa. She couldn't deny there was some smug satisfaction in taking the insufferable man down a few pegs. She strode purposefully through the halls of the house and headed straight for Torchwick's office.

"Is Roman in?" Reaper asked Ditz.

The blonde had to think for a moment before responding. "I don't think… wait, yes! Yes, he is."

Reaper shook her head and walked through the doors. The man was enjoying a cigar on his balcony. "Roman!" the scythe girl called for his attention.

"Reaper?" Roman turned quickly. "You made it out! I'm glad, Neo's going stir crazy in your house. I just can't seem to get her under control anymore…"

"I'll talk to her. You need to talk to Junior." Reaper easily lied.

"About what?"

"Someone apparently broke into his office and stole some files. He wanted to talk to you directly." Reaper continued.

"When did you learn this while running from your friends?" Roman asked, though she could tell he trusted her info as he got ready to leave.

"I was injured." She pointed at the tear in her jacket, a thin scar visible underneath. "Found it hard to shake my old friends like that, so I needed to lay low. I was by the club."

"I see. Glad to have you back, truly, but it seems I have to dash." Roman hurried out of the office and left Reaper behind.

She smiled and sat herself at his computer, popping in a memory drive. It only took a few moments to delete Neo's files and copy the entire rest of his computer onto the drive. After removing the drive, Reaper had one more thing she wanted to do. Using Roman's terminal, she accessed the various monetary accounts for the entire organization. She set up a new account, password locked it, and sent all the legitimate money that couldn't be used for evidence anyway (which was nearly all of it) into it.

Did we just steal all of everybody's money down here?

Basically. If I'm leaving this life, I'm taking a few souvenirs with me.

Yeah, just a few, nearly a couple billion. Go Reaper the Huntress!

Now there was only one thing left to do. She got up and made her way to her own home, where she knew Neo would be waiting before Torchwick told her. She entered the front door and saw the multi-colored girl's head shoot to the door. Neo practically melted with how much tension was suddenly relaxed by finally seeing Reaper just a few hours shy of the twenty four hour mark.

Reaper went to the master bedroom and opened a drawer. She pulled out a small, smooth edged knife. The same knife Neo gave her on Ironwood's flagship. Pocketing it, she returned to the kitchen. Neo was still half-lying on the island counter, overcome with bliss and relief from what she thought was Reaper's safe return. The scythe girl stood her up and looked at her with a seriousness in her silver eyes.

"You need to get out of here." She told her. Neo gave puzzled look in return. "Look, I didn't really get away. I made a decision." She held up the drive. "Everything the police and huntsmen need to take this whole operation down." Neo's face turned to one of shock. "I made sure to delete everything pertaining to you out. There's no evidence you were ever here. So forget Torchwick, forget me, and get out before they raid this place. Please."

Neo was still working through the shock of Reaper betraying them when she realized what the scythe girl had just said. Reaper may be betraying Roman, but she had just cleaned Neo from this place. Reaper was giving Neo a heads up, an out, a chance to stay free. The only question was why?

"Ozpin offered me something…" Reaper explained, answering the question she could see in Neo's eyes. "I couldn't refuse it. I'm sorry, Neo. This is all coming down. But you don't have to be here when it happens, you don't have to get caught up in it. I made sure of it."

What was she going to do? It sounded like it was too late to warn anyone else… She could always do as Reaper suggested and save her own skin. If it came down to it, she could likely free Torchwick again. Reaper didn't seem to have her scroll on her, but Neo still typed out a message and showed her the screen.

'Why warn me? Why save me from it?'

It's a good question.

"Because… You're the closest thing I've had to a friend down here. And if I'm being entirely honest with myself, maybe even something… more." Reaper looked Neo in the eye. "Roman can go to hell for all I care. But I'm through betraying friends. So please, Neo, get the hell out of here before the shit hits the fan."

Neo's options were stay and be arrested or leave and be free. It wasn't a difficult choice. With a small smile to her friend, she vanished in a flash of light. Reaper let out a sigh of relief.

Remind me, did we ever learn what Stockholm Syndrome was called for stalkers?

"Ember, just shut the hell up…"

I love you too, Reaper!

With a groan for the persistent annoyance that was the voice in her head, Reaper departed her criminal home for the last time.

Outside, Neo watched as Reaper gave Ozpin the drive and told him that Torchwick was falsely sent to Junior's club and should be picked up before he noticed something was amiss. She watched as the police forces stormed the caverns, the beginning of the end of the operation Roman so carefully constructed. Deciding it might be best to lay low for a while, Neo teleported away once more.


"How's Torchwick's trial going?" Reaper asked from behind her cell glass. She still had to stay here until her own trial was over, but her placement in Ozpin's Rehabilitative Custody was all but guaranteed by her part in taking Roman down. Ozpin, who had visited regularly since that day, was currently on the other side.

"We have more than enough evidence to convict him. Some of the money that should be in his accounts seems to be missing, but it's of little consequence. In fact, it's kept him from hiring a high class lawyer for his defense." The headmaster informed her with a knowing smile.

"How is it you always know everything?" Reaper asked, realizing he understood what happened to the money.

"It's my job, after all. I have quite a bit of experience here." Ozpin smiled.

Are we going to have to give it up?

"Am I going to have to return it?" Reaper asked.

"It was legitimate funds made in a legitimate transfer. Unfortunately, it's out of my hands." Ozpin told her.

"Unfortunately." Reaper repeated. They shared another humorous smile.

"I suppose I can't convince you to give it up on your own?" the headmaster ventured.

"Sorry, but we're not changing that much, that quickly. We saw the opportunity and we took it." Reaper shrugged.

"Do you notice you referring to yourself as a group entity from time to time? Using 'we's instead of 'I's and the like?" Ozpin asked.

You do that a lot now, you really do…

"Oh, now you tell me? And you've been doing it as long as you've existed!"

Yeah, but only you can hear me, so I'm not the one that sounds crazy. Also, you're speaking out loud again.

"Well guess what. I don't care anymore. I accept I'm crazy and everyone else knows it already as well." Reaper huffed and looked to Ozpin. "Sorry about that."

"It's fine. It's actually rather intriguing to watch." Ozpin stated

"Okay, that just sounds creepy. Like 'creepy uncle' creepy." Reaper told him.

"My apologies. There is another reason I am here today. Before you return, we need to have a serious discussion with your once and future team mates."

"Future?" Reaper saw Weiss and Blake enter the cell block.

"I wouldn't get ahead of ourselves." Weiss started in, cold as ever. "It's not a guarantee she's coming back yet. There are still some against it." It was clear to Reaper that Weiss was among those 'some'. Not that she could blame her.

We'll get her trust back too, eventually.

Hopefully.

"For what it's worth, at least one of us is glad you're finally trying to return, Ruby." Blake assured her.

Reaper sighed. "Ground rule, right now, I'm still not magically Ruby. Me coming back isn't me trying to be Ruby again. I'm still Reaper for the foreseeable future, and would much prefer to be referred to as such." Blake looked a little hurt, but nodded after a few seconds.

"I can't stop the teachers form calling you 'Ms. Rose'." Ozpin informed her.

"I can live with Ms. Rose, I guess… Reaper Rose…" the scythe girl lamented.

"Carrying on." Ozpin pushed the subject forward. "We need to talk about how you will operate within Beacon. As we all understand, even if Reaper is placed in Rehabilitative Custody, she is not a free woman. She will not be allowed to leave the school grounds without a chaperone, and she will not be allowed to reclaim her position as team leader."

"I figured as much." Reaper nodded.

"To keep your schooling smooth, I have set it so any adult with authority can be her chaperone." The headmaster continued. "That means Ms. Schnee, as team leader, can act as chaperone for missions and trips into Vale. This is mainly so you don't need a teacher to tag along for missions, since no other third years are burdened by chaperones."

"Wait, we're still going to be third years?" Weiss asked.

"As long as Reaper can study for and pass a specialized test I'm building." Ozpin explained.

Weiss locked onto Reaper with an icy gaze. She didn't want to get held back because of this arrangement. "We are going to make sure you can pass this thing, even if… if we have to study together."

"Wow… I was actually afraid you would turn me down if I asked." Reaper admitted.

"If that's what you would rather-" The heiress began quickly.

"No, no!" Blake stopped her girlfriend. "We'll get her ready, Professor Ozpin."

"If there is anything you want to discuss alone, I shall be waiting outside." Ozpin told them.

"Nothing comes to mind immediately." Weiss responded. "Let's go. Blake?"

"Actually… there is something I want to ask." Blake admitted.

Weiss sighed. She didn't want to stay in here. It was going to be something else to live with Reaper, but she didn't have to stay in here right now. "I'll be waiting outside with Ozpin."

Blake sat on the retractable visitor's chair. "Sorry about her. It's going to take her a while to adjust to this."

We did nearly kill her sister.

"I did put Winter into a coma for what, a month? Two?" Reaper admitted. "You're the one that's surprising me."

"What do you mean?" Blake asked.

"I thought you would have been a lot angrier too." The scythe girl explained. "It's probably not smart to put any amount of trust into someone who betrayed you like I did."

"Look me in the eyes and tell me, are you planning to do it again?" The cat girl asked her.

"Of course not, but-"

"Ahp ahp! That's all I needed to hear." Blake smiled.

Reaper stared at her incredulously. "I have experience in crazy, and let me tell you, you're crazy."

Blake chuckled. "Maybe so, but after everything that has happened, is it wrong to hope for a little light?"

Reaper smiled. "Thank you, Blake."

"Your welcome, Ru-…" Blake caught herself. "Reaper."

"I guess I'll see you soon?" she asked.

"Actually, there's one more thing I wanted to ask…" Blake looked unsure of herself. She hesitated, but it was something Reaper needed to think about if she was coming back. "What are you going to do about Velvet?"

"I, uhh… don't know." She admitted. "I know I have to talk to her at some point, but I'm still not entirely sure what I want as far as all that…"

"What could possibly keep you from that?" Blake asked. She was sure Reaper would want Velvet back in a heartbeat.

Reaper wasn't willing to admit it out loud, but for a second, an image of a pink haired mute flashed through her mind.

Again, Stockhol-

"Jesus, Ember, shut the fuck up!"

"Ember?" Blake asked her.

Reaper groaned. "The voice in my head, the one that fights for me. I call her Ember."

Blake raised an eyebrow. "What did she say?"

"Nothing important." The scythe girl said quickly. "I don't know what's holding me back. I just would need to talk to Velvet about that. Why hasn't she come to see me?"

"She's away on a mission. She doesn't even know we caught you yet, let alone all this." Reaper nodded at her 'once and future' team mates response.

Blake left soon after and again Reaper was alone with her thoughts and her voice. She knew what she wanted. She was determined. She would pass that test, she would regain Weiss's trust, and she would become a huntress again. A clinically insane huntress, sure, but a huntress nonetheless. And Velvet, well… she supposed she would cross that bridge when she got to it.


Whew, finally... I stress myself far too much over this stuff. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as i enjoyed writing it! Leave your feedback, and make sure you're following this story if you want to see Act 4. I think Act 4 may be the final act of Black Reaper, and hopefully it doesn't take me too long to write. Adieu for now!