Reaper noted that Velvet and Coco were not sitting with the rest of the usual lunch group as she collected her and Neo's meal. Weiss wondered why the scythe girl retained her routine of not sitting with everyone else for lunch as she saw her slip out the door, but shook it from her mind. Reaper was impossible to read when she didn't want to be read, and Weiss didn't feel like chasing her down to ask.

After an entire week, Reaper had finally pinned down all of Neo's favorite foods from what was regularly available in the cafeteria. She saw her friends mismatched eyes light with excitement as she got to dig in to a hodgepodge of the best consumables. "So I was curious as to whether you had been working or not lately?" Reaper asked, making conversation. She waited a while so Neo could write before looking up from her food. Strangely, Neo hadn't written a response.

Is it just me, or does she seem on edge?

She does seem jittery…

"Neo!" Reaper grabbed the multi-colored girl's attention. "Did you hear what I asked?" Apology passed behind Neo's eyes as she shook her head no. "I was wondering if you were finding jobs?"

The multi-colored girl took out her notebook and wrote, 'No, I haven't, actually. It's hard to ask for work without a voice… I told you I don't do well on my own…' Reaper frowned. She didn't like hearing her friend had fallen on hard times because of her decision. She didn't know at the time she took Torchwick down that Neo would have difficulty being on her own. Neo furiously jotted another response after seeing her friend's reaction. The writing was messy as it was written quickly.

'It's not your fault.'

"That's nice of you to say, Neo," Reaper replied, "but it is my fault. I took Torchwick down so I could be a huntress again. I told myself I wouldn't betray friends, but then I left you on your own. I didn't think I would ever see you again."

Neo didn't know how to respond. She wished there was some catch all message that would suddenly make everything alright. Why does this stuff have to be so hard? As she pondered on what to do next, Neo heard a rustling in the bushes. Her attention turned immediately to the tree line, and she saw… a squirrel. Just a squirrel, picking berries off the thin branches.

Reaper turned her head and saw the squirrel as well.

I swear Neo jumped twice her height when she heard it.

"Not that that's a hard feat, but I get your point. Neo, is something wrong?" Reaper asked.

Neo turned back to Reaper and quickly shook her head no. She didn't want to worry the scythe wielder. For one, she could have misheard the raspy goliath in the alley and for two, she was worrying enough for both of them already. She worried enough for three people even, but then she supposed could always count Ember.

The bell rang soon after. Despite not being entirely convinced, Reaper couldn't press the issue. She took a couple hundred Lien out of her pocket and handed the money to Neo. The multi-colored girl shot a questioning gaze. "Oh crap, I forgot to tell you… Tomorrow is the weekend, and Blake organized it so a bunch of people are going into Vale, Weiss included so I can tag along. Then on Monday, we're leaving early for a mission, my first one since I got back. I won't be able to attend lunch until after we return from it."

So the money's so I won't miss meals while Reaper's away, Neo understood. With the last moments they had left, Neo wrote one more question. 'Where will your mission be?'

"Mountain Glenn. Standard Search and Destroy stuff, mainly to ease me back into the swing of things. I'll be safe Neo, don't worry. Just make sure you are too. Gottagocan'tbetardyseeyousoon!" Reaper shouted the last bit quickly as she trotted in the opposite direction.

Mountain Glenn… Neo came to a decision as she shimmered out of sight.


Reaper had spent weeks without leaving Beacon grounds before, but being confined there made it feel different. Now, it was almost as if she was breathing different air when she got a chance to walk Vale. Sure, she was surrounded by people who would willingly beat her down if she left their sights, but the only person who even half-expected her to run was Weiss.

I suppose that's one of the reasons why Ozzy picked her.

"Ozzy?" Reaper asked.

"Great. Now it seems Ember's given Ozpin a 'fun' nick name." Weiss vented. Blake had twisted her arm to get her to agree to this. 'I'll go, but I won't enjoy myself' were her exact words.

"I like it!" Nora yelled.

"Of course you do…" Jaune shook his head.

The people in attendance ('Our Personal Guard' Ember called them) were Weiss, Blake and team JNPR. Despite technically still being friends, teams CFVY and SSSN weren't with them for obvious reasons. After knowing who would go with them, there was a question of what to do. Weiss suggested school shopping, and was quickly shot down. Laser Tag was a fast second, but vetoed by the heiress because she could easily lose sight of Reaper.

Then Blake told them the fair at the pier opened early since the Vytal Festival would have coincided with its originally planned time. A hop, skip and a jump later and the group joined the masses on the wooden planks overlooking the water. There was plenty to do here, and between the Schnee Heiress and the ex-criminal who made off like a bandit monetary issues were no issue at all.

"I should have anticipated the crowd." Weiss thought aloud.

"Well I'm sure glad we didn't pick the beach. I'm not changing into a swimsuit in front of someone else's girlfriend." Reaper said, bringing images of Weiss invading her changing room to 'keep an eye on her' to everyone's mind.

"At least that we can agree on…" Weiss responded, slightly flustered.

They spent the next few hours playing various games and going on a few rides. Jaune nearly vomited after the rollercoaster proved a little more intense than he first thought. Pyrrha won spectacularly at the ring toss game, amazing even the man who ran it. Reaper tried next, and although she failed, she did notice the rings were metal. She gave Pyrrha a wink that said, 'your secret is safe with me'. Nora wanted to use Magnhild on the 'test your strength' hammer game but the carny quickly talked her off of it. Using the normal hammer didn't stop her from breaking the machine, however, and the group watched as the bell arced through the air and into the ocean.

All this and then some equaled a fun, out-of-the-norm day for Reaper. The gang had split into various small groups near the end of the day, and Weiss and Blake were the only ones with Reaper when the scythe girl heard a voice she cursed herself for not expecting eventually.

"Guess you never know who you'll run into at the Vytal Festival."

Gruff, tipsy, and I can smell his flask from here.

How on earth did we forget all about him? Of course Ozpin would let him know we're back…

The party turned to see Qrow standing behind them in his signature scruff. "Last one had Atlas military, this year their letting a criminal walk freely."

"Not exactly freely." Reaper replied. "We got ourselves a warden." She gestured to Weiss.

"So I've heard."

Reaper was unsure how Qrow was feeling towards her. His words were angry, but if he wanted to fight he would have attacked by now. Then again, maybe he saw she was unarmed, as Weiss had forced her to leave Brutal Thorn behind. Qrow walked up to the scythe master slowly. When he got close his face changed into a smile and his hand came down on Reaper's hair and ruffled it.

"Hey Weiss, you and Blake should take a ride on the Ferris wheel." Qrow told her. "I hear it's all the romantic craze. I can keep an eye on your convict." Weiss and Blake traded glances and walked off toward the Ferris wheel. Qrow led Reaper to the end of the pier and sat on an unoccupied bench. Reaper sat down next to him.

"So," he started, "what are you calling yourself these days?"

"Reaper." The scythe girl answered.

"What about Ember?"

"She's being quiet. Neither of us are sure what to think about this… encounter."

"Me and Tai heard you were back for good this time, I had to check it out." Qrow chuckled. "Your dad's dug himself a hole. He got lost in his work when you vanished, and now your back and he can't get away from any of it long enough to drop by."

Is he still my dad, though? Reaper thought to herself.

"You can see Patch from here." Qrow pointed out. Indeed, the vast blue sea gave way at one spot for green, just before the horizon.

"I don't get it." Reaper vented. "How can everyone be so calm? So trusting? After what I did, what makes you think I won't do it again?"

"Will you do it again?" Qrow asked.

"No, but-"

"Then there you have it."

Reaper stared at the scruffy drunk incredulously. "I'm starting to think I'm the only sane person here, because at least I recognize my crazy. Everyone else? You are all just crazy…"

Qrow laughed. A lot. "Maybe so," he finally said, "But it's not as though your friends are all armed to defend you. It's a fine line to try and walk in this situation. We have to be ready for you to flip at the drop of a hat, while at the same time showing you that we're trusting you not to. You're not in chains right now, are you? It could be worse. You have every opportunity to start trouble, and you don't. All that, plus pulling in Torckwick? You've earned a lot more trust than I think you realize."

The weight of Qrow's words settled on her mind. Had she already earned so much trust, simply by not running away? It was true that she wasn't in cuffs. With so much open space, she could use her speed semblance right now and no one could catch her. But she wasn't going to. She wanted to serve her time, be a huntress. She was here to stay.

"See what I mean?" Qrow told her, seeing the gears turn in her mind.

"Thank you." Reaper smiled. After a few moments of silence the young girl found herself thinking of Patch as she gazed upon it on the horizon. "How… how is Taiyang doing?"

"Reaper." Qrow looked her in the eyes. "No matter your name or life, he is still your father. And he'll be a hell of a lot harder to talk down than your faunus girlfriend. You wanna know how he is? Give him a call and ask him."

Reaper pulled out her scroll and cycled through her contacts. Despite being a newer scroll, someone had arranged for his number to be on here. "Another time." Reaper said, putting it back away. "That's a call I should make alone."

"I won't rush you." Qrow promised. "Just don't put it off forever." He made Reaper promise. Reaper nodded.

Just when we thought all the awkward reunions were over…

But it's not so bad, becoming a huntress again. It's worth it.


Reaper wasn't going to put the call off forever. But that didn't stop her from putting it off long enough to have to do her mission first. Team RWBY walked to the airship to Mountain Glenn, and was met by Ozpin at the landing pad.

"Hello girls." He greeted them.

"Professor Ozpin." Weiss greeted formally.

"Reaper." Ozpin turned to the ex-criminal. "This is a momentous step. You will be armed and alone with your team mates for anywhere from a few days to a week. If you were anyone else, I likely wouldn't have cleared you for missions. I hope you understand how much trust I'm putting in your turnabout, trust some might say is as yet undeserved. Please, do not break it now."

"I don't plan to." Reaper promised.

Maybe the ice queen will finally start treating us like an equal after this.

One could hope, but I won't hold my breath.

The huntress trio boarded their flight and were on their way. As the airship flew over Vale, a tall figure looked up at it from the alleys.

"Reeapeerrr…" his voice was still hoarse, but words were starting to come easier. He followed the airship with his eye and began stalking off after it. The time has come, and not a moment too soon. I can wait no longer.

The airship passed over the walls and Creature kept tracking its direction. It seemed to be heading the way of that large mountain. Mountain Glenn… the name faded into his mind from a far memory. A failed settlement of some kind. Reaper was at the forefront of his mind, and pushed the rest of the information into oblivion before he could recall it. He only needed to know where she was after all. Nothing else mattered.

For the huntresses, their mission area came into view. Reaper didn't miss Weiss keeping one hand on her weapon at all times, but at this point it was expected. She and Ember were aware that they were making slow progress, but it was just that. Slow. Reaper decided there was something that needed to be said. "Weiss, I want to make sure you know something."

"What?" She replied, as cold as ever.

"I get that you like to take 'keeping an eye on me' rather literally, but if you're constantly watching me in the field, then only half your attention at best is on the battle. So focus on fighting or focus on me, but don't try and do both. You'll only get hurt." Reaper told her. The scythe girl expected her leader to begin scolding her, but to her surprise the heiress simply nodded.

Slow progress is still progress.

The thought made Reaper smile.