Broken Apart Ch. 10: Discussions

Thank you to everyone for getting me to 40 favorites! Otherwise, nothing else to address, no one has any ideas of what Distrio is based off of. Let's begin.

Blake was the first to awake. Her sleeping patterns always involved going to sleep early and waking up early, despite how often Yang had insisted that Blake stay up and drink with her. Blake had waited for her watch, but it seemed as though it wouldn't come. When Blake awoke, she saw that Ruby was still up. Her eyes were thrashed from a night of staying awake, leaving Blake to ponder why.

"Ruby?" Blake asked quietly. Ruby snapped her head over to the couch, and focused in her look at Blake.

"Hey Blake," Ruby said, exhaustion filling her voice.

"Why didn't you get us up?" Blake questioned.

"You looked so peaceful," Ruby replied. "And I didn't. So I thought it'd be a fair trade." Blake shook her head at Ruby's logic, and smiled. Even after six years, the innocence that Ruby possessed was remarkable. Something that sweet would only be said by a child, and crossing over the age of 18 hadn't changed what Ruby had said.

"Get some sleep," Blake said. "It's Weiss, so you have another five hours for sleep that you can get. Might as well rest while you can." Ruby nodded, and fell asleep on the bed. Blake looked over at Weiss, and then out the window. While it wasn't night and she didn't have the best advantage, Blake still had an enhanced sight.

She saw nothing. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary, and that didn't concern Blake. A trained sniper, especially one of Distrio's prowess, would not attempt a second shot so soon after the first one failed. So Blake just looked out patiently, fully aware that she had some time to herself before Weiss awoke.

Hidden Complex

Distrio slowly opened the door, and walked into his room. He casually tossed his sniper aside, and pulled out one of his daggers. He carefully inspected the blade, and then noticed some grime. Distrio rarely had to use his daggers, as it was seldom that his targets ever got that close. But if they did, they would have something melee and he really didn't want to sacrifice any mechanic to his rifle. So he purchased two daggers made from the finest steel, and he knew how to use them.

A faint knock was heard at his door, and Distrio looked up.

"Come in," he offered. The door opened, and he saw one of the people who were broken out of the prison there. "What is it?"

"Torchwick and Cinder sent me in to give you a message," the prisoner replied gruffly. He was a large man. He stood a good six feet and weighed at least 250 pounds. He was covered head to toe in plate armor, which probably brought his weight up even higher then what most would consider possible for a single man. He had a club of some kind strapped to his waist, which only furthered Distrio's guess that he was pure strength.

"Well then," Distrio said, calmly tossing his dagger into the air. "I believe it would be in my best interest to hear this."

"Your pay cut has been reduced by 1/3," the man started. "Kill the other two targets with as much efficiency as the first, and you'll be rewarded with the rest of your pay being restored."

"Thank you," Distrio said calmly. The man nodded, and started to leave the room. "Wait!" Distrio called out. "What is your name?"

"I don't understand how this matters," the man replied impatiently.

"Well there may come a day when I have to shoot to save you or shoot to kill you. I have never saved a man I didn't know the name of, nor have I ever killed a man that I didn't know the name of. I'd prefer to avoid doing both."

"You saved me," the man argued.

"I saved those that Torchwick hired from being killed," Distrio continued. "They could have been freeing you, raping you, or just visiting you for all I could have cared. I didn't save you. Now tell me, your name?" The man hesitated, slightly worried about giving out his name, in case Distrio planed to kill him. "If you think that this'd save you if I were to be ordered to kill you, you're sorely mistaken. I don't kill a man I don't know the name of for pleasure. But if I have a contract and it gives your physical description... Well, money trumps honor."

"Just call me BB," the man replied.

"Ah, I thought you looked familiar," Distrio said. "You're the Barothins Bludgeoner. That mace should have been a dead giveaway."

"Aye," the man replied. "Took half the Barothins police to do so, but I was taken down and thrown into a max security cell. Torchwick bailed me out, and now I get to kill."

"It is good to see a man with his priorities straight," Distrio said. He waved his hand dismissively. "You're free to go." BB nodded, and left the room. Distrio just cleaned off his dagger and tucked it away.

He took the three pieces of paper that were laid out on the table next to him, and looked at the first one. Smiling to himself, Distrio took a lit match to it and watched as the parchment went up in flames. He looked at the other two, and traced his fingers over them. He left it over one, and picked up his sniper. Time to play would come later, after he collected his check.

Schnee Manor: Later

Weiss felt herself stir slowly. Her eyes fluttered open, and she noticed that Blake was seated near the window. Yang was snoring loudly, something that Weiss had learned to ignore over time. Ruby was also asleep, so that meant that it was just the two of them.

"Morning," Weiss yawned.

"It's noon," Blake replied. Weiss just sighed.

"Ever so formal," Weiss chided.

"You're the one that just said, 'ever so formal,'" Blake countered. Weiss pondered it for a moment, and the nodded.

"What are you looking for?" Weiss asked.

"Someone, something, anything out of the ordinary," Blake said. "You only have 14 gardeners on staff that work from 8:30-11:30, correct?" Weiss nodded. "Damn. Well there's no assassin in your gardening team."

"Good work," Weiss replied. Blake nodded, but noticed how cold and stiff that Weiss had been. It raised questions for her, but Blake played it off as being Weiss' nature. "Mind if I join you?" Weiss suddenly ask. Blake just shrugged, and pointed to the couch. Weiss took a seat, and looked over at Ruby and Yang.

"I'm not surprised that you're awake," Weiss said. "But I am surprised that both Ruby and Yang are still slumbering."

"Ruby didn't relieve either of us for watch," Blake said. "And so when I woke up, I sent her to bed. Yang just hasn't woken up." Weiss nodded, and continued to stare at Blake.

"Blake, I want you to tell me the truth here," Weiss said. "And if you lie, I'll know."

"You're not as intimidating as you think," Blake replied easily.

"Do you hate your job?" Weiss suddenly asked. Blake paused, and fell silent. She was not expecting that question.

"No," Blake replied cooly. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I know you're lying," Weiss replied. "Those stories you told were all false. Ruby and Yang wanted to believe that it was true, but I'm not so foolish. I would have heard about 40% of those things as they directly related to this companies resources. The other 60% may have been enough to make the news, and I spend a lot of time on the news. So tell me Blake, do you hate your job?" Blake went quiet. Weiss had asked for a reason, and any defense that Blake had was torn down prior to her even saying a word.

"Yes," Blake finally said. "I deal with common thieves and racists every day. I break a few noses and fingers, and then they are willing to accept that they're lying. Occasionally they'll be telling the truth, but 'Faunus piece of shit' isn't exactly a great way to plead your innocence." Weiss nodded, and sat as dignified as possible.

"I only ask because it seems as though only Ruby and Yang are having any fun," Weiss said. Blake took a moment to recognize what Weiss had just said, and Weiss noticed this. "I spend my days learning things I already know, and my nights crying myself to sleep as I know my parents won't return. I used to think, 'I could get shot, and my father would still be off trying to buy and destroy another person's company.' Yesterday only proved that." Weiss stopped, and took a deep breath in. After losing it in front of Ruby, Weiss had found it easier to keep her composure.

"We are living empty lives," Weiss said sadly. "And it took a murder attempt to get me to realize just how true that was."

"But we can do something good still," Blake argued. "You can run this company for the better, and the New Faunus Rights group can change things for-."

"We changed more in one year then the New Faunus Rights group has in it's lifetime," Weiss countered simply. "Hell, the group in general was your idea. So tell me Blake, how do you think that this'll play out?" Blake went silent, knowing full and well that Weiss had spoken nothing but the truth, and she knew it.

"What do we do?" Blake asked. Weiss took a deep breath in, and was about to speak.

The door opened up just as her mouth did, and Lyria entered the room.

"Blake, Weiss," Lyria greeted. "I have news for you. But I'd prefer if I was able to deliver it in one go. Would you mind waking up the Slumber Sisters?"

"RUBY! YANG!" Blake yelled out. "WAKE UP!" Blake's bellows would have been enough to wake up anyone within a five mile radius, yet Ruby and Yang still slumbered. "Weiss, cool 'em." Weiss held up her hands, and slowly let her aura slowly seep out of her body. Her body temperature cooled down, and she slowly placed a hand on Yang's shoulder. Yang instantly shot to her feet, and glared at Weiss.

"ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE?!" Yang yelled out.

"Are you still sleeping?" Weiss asked calmly. Yang paused, and shook her head. "Good. Now, let me get Ruby out of bed and Lyra will deliver news."

"News?" Yang asked, suddenly interested. "Let me get my sister up then. I so rarely get this pleasure." Yang strolled over to Ruby's bed, and instantly just shoved Ruby off. Ruby hit the ground, and instantly sprung to her feet.

"I hate you sometimes," Ruby said instantly.

"Wow," Blake said. "No hesitation, just instantly up."

"We've done this before," Ruby replied easily. "So what's up? We going on a walk? Can we go on a walk?"

"Only if you don't take shits on the lawn," Yang replied swiftly. Ruby realized how she had sounded, and blushed slightly. She instantly bounced back, and looked quizzically at Weiss.

"So what are we doing?" Ruby asked.

"News," Lyria said from the front door. Ruby swung her gaze over to the Faunus, and waited patiently. "There was an assassination last night. A bullet went into a window and struck down hunter, Zane Fullblood. The M.O was the same as the shooting over here, so-."

"The similarities run a little deeper then that," Ruby said instantly. "Do you guys remember Zane?"

"We met this guy?" Yang asked.

"I guess," Blake added in.

"When?" Weiss asked simply.

"When Weiss killed Markus, he was the hunter that aided us," Ruby said. "He disarmed Markus before being pushed away just as Weiss reached him. The M.O runs to the point where he was involved in killing off Torchwick and Cinder's group, and putting her away ultimately."

"That's right," Blake said. "Damn, it's been so long."

"Indeed it has," Weiss said. "But that means this is a task for revenge." Weiss turned to Lyria, and took in a deep breath. "Inform every key piece involved in the arrest and killings of Markus, Cleo, and Cinder that they are in danger." Lyra nodded, and pulled out her scroll.

"Looks like we're a bit late," she said instantly. "Sarah Flak is also dead."

"What?" Yang asked, instantly recognizing that name.

"Reported dead four minutes ago," Yang said. "Looks like Distrio is moving quickly."

"As is his M.O," Yang said, now understanding things a bit more. "We have 12 hours to notify the others. If we don't hit that window, someone will certainly be dead. That's not to say that someone else won't turn up dead before that, but it won't take any longer then 12 hours."

"How do you know all of this?" Lyria asked.

"Listen, you date the right psychopaths for a few days and you'll get to know things," Yang joked. "But seriously, I have a lot of contacts within the criminal underground. I walk over, flirt a little, kick the shit out of some people, and they come to know me."

"Interesting..." Lyria said slowly. "Remind me to never hang out with you."

"I'm a good time," Yang replied slyly.

"And we both are sworn to uphold the law," Lyria replied. "And I think that I'd rather avoid getting drunk enough to do something dumb."

"Sour puss," Yang called out.

"If you two are quite done!" Weiss said angrily. "Lyria, round up Tauran and Sun." Weiss turned to the rest of her former team. "You three are dismissed for the day. You may do as you please until night time, then I shall call for you again."

"Anything?" Ruby asked sweetly.

"So long as you do not deface a contract or break any priceless objects," Weiss replied. "Why?" Ruby jumped back into her bed, and closed her eyes. Within a few moments, the girl was asleep. "That's why." Weiss mumbled.

"Well then," Yang said. "I guess it's just you and me Blakey." Blake sighed, and left the room. Yang followed along shortly, and Weiss just looked over at Lyria.

"Ahem," she said impatiently.

"Oh, right," Lyria said. She ran off to grab the other Faunus', leaving Weiss alone with her thoughts. Though it was not an unfamiliar spot for the heiress to be in. She was often alone with her thoughts, but this was the first time she would do so with the prospect of friends.

End: Questions, comments, follows, favorites, and feedback is always appreciated.