Ruby couldn't help but smile at the bashful look on Blake's face as they sat together in class the next day. It had been a very long night but Ruby already knew it was worth it.
"Thanks again for accepting me Ruby." Blake mumbled quietly, not wanting Port to catch them talking. Yang smiled from Blake's other side.
"Of course." Ruby glanced up, happy to see that the bow was gone. "I'm glad you can finally be yourself around us. I wanted to say something sooner-"
"I get it. Yang told me everything last night. You are amazing…. And thank you for helping protect my people as well… And Adam. He definitely-"
"He needs all the help he can get. Believe me I know." Ruby laughed. Her, Adam and Roman had actually had a pretty decent night once they got going.
Port made his usual coughing, grumbling sound and they both turned, apologies on the tips of their tongues but they stopped when they saw that he wasn't looking at them but instead the door.
"You're late Miss Schnee." Everyone, especially team RBY turned to stare at the heiress as she mumbled out an apology and made her way to a seat on the opposite end of the room. This unfortunately only increased everyone's stares.
Weiss looked like she'd been put through the ringer. Her clothes were crumpled, her hair wasn't brushed, there were dark circles under her eyes and her face was puffy from crying.
Ruby only felt a twinge of guilt at the sight of her teammate. Blake obviously shared her sentiments as she winced a little but quickly went back to her book. Yang didn't look bothered in the slightest. Ruby sighed, there would have to be a lot of conversations, on all of their parts, if they hoped to restore their team. She wasn't sure if their weak friendship could recover, but she would at least try. They had the next four years together after all.
Classes were, interesting that morning to say the least. The whole school was gossiping about the Schnee separating herself from her team. By the time lunch rolled around RBY had heard every theory from Schnee superiority to black mail and even jealous lovers. Ruby cringed at almost all of them while Yang thought they were all hilarious. Blake thankfully took it all with a grain of salt, which was good when team JNPR found them at lunch. Weiss was nowhere in sight.
"Alright spill ladies, what happened with the ice princess?" Nora demanded, straight forward as always.
"Nora!" JPR reprimanded but nobody bothered to actually try and stop her.
Yang and Ruby shared a look, silently asking each other how much they actually wanted to say but Blake beat them to it, she had apparently been prepared for this.
"I uh-" Blake cautiously removed her bow, wary of how the rest of her class would respond but more than willing to share her secret amongst the other four humans she had begun to trust. She trusted Ruby and Yang to protect her as well if it came to it. "I told them I was a faunus. It- Weiss didn't take it well."
Yang put her arm protectively around Blake, not that she needed to.
"Oh- uh…" Jaune stuttered as he stared at Blake's ears. The rest of his team did not seem surprised though.
"Pay up Ren." Nora put her hand out in front of Ren who just rolled his eyes.
"One week of pancakes for breakfast, coming up. Like I don't already do that." Ren mumbled the last part as he clapped her hand and Blake blinked at them in shock.
"You bet on me being a faunus?"
"Uh well…" Pyrrah stumbled over her words nervously. "Your bow kind of-"
"It totally twitches when you get angry!" Nora shouted.
"Or nervous!" Pyrrah added shyly. "I didn't bet on you but I had my guesses."
"I agreed with Nora but she somehow turned it into a game anyway." Ren gave her a nod signaling that he didn't care one way or the other.
"I had no idea!" Jaune blinked between his team and RBY, "But it's cool. Totally cool. I mean- Yay? Is there like a coming out of the faunus closet party we should have? Or-"
The entire table burst into hysterical laughter as Jaune blushed.
"I appreciate the thought, Jaune." Blake snickered, trying to cover her smile with her hands. "But you accepting me is all I need."
"Right- ya of course…." Jaune was never going to live this down.
"Alright, now that I don't have to keep you or the princess busy-"
"That actually explains so much." Blake interrupted as she and Yang got ready to go out for the night.
Ruby was at a heist with Roman but now that Blake was in the loop, Yang could pick up some side projects as well, like screwing with Cinder's plans so Ruby didn't have to.
"Ya well, Ruby and I weren't exactly sure how to tell you the truth or if we even should. It's dangerous to know what really goes down in the city, let alone get involved in it. If Ruby hadn't become part of the Xiong family I doubt we'd be as lucky as we are now. She definitely wouldn't be friends with two of the fastest rising kingpins in Vale."
Both ladies laughed as they headed out of their room, Blake was still having a hard time wrapping her head around the fact that sweet little innocent Ruby was friends with Roman Torchwick and Adam Taurus.
"What about you? Aren't you technically part of the Xiong family too?"
"Eh, kinda." Yang shook her hand trying to explain her so-so relationship with the mob family. "I'm more like the odd cousin once removed but still visits every weekend. Ruby is Junior's daughter in all but blood, so are the twins and Neo. Adam and Roman are definitely like sons to Junior, but they've been in a- I don't know, a weird teenage rebellion phase for a while. Kudos to Junior for sticking by them all even if they do things he doesn't approve of. Which is good, Ruby needed someone who was strong and also present. Our dad… He tried his best, he really did but he's been drowning in grief for too long and is little more than a hermit. Qrow, he was a great influence for both of us, a bit of a drunk but he taught us how to fight with more than just our weapons. Unfortunately he's sort of married to his missions. He disappears for months then shows up out of the blue, stays for a bit and then vanishes again. Ruby adores Qrow but Junior was really the rock in her life. I think he needed her just as much as she needed him. I also don't qualify to be a 'Xiong child'."
"Why not?" Blake asked, curious as to why Yang's face took on a more aggressive look.
"My mother is the leader of the Branwen Tribe. It's basically a mafia family all its own. Not that my mother has ever done anything to actually claim me as her daughter, but as far as I'm aware I wasn't actually disowned either." She scoffed, which really only left Blake with more questions than answers. "Families don't mix unless someone is disowned or married… Although, I guess if Neo and I got married it would technically be a joining of families?" Yang blushed just thinking about marrying Neo. They were a little young still but-
"Proposing already sweetheart?" A sweet childish voice purred from behind them, startling them both.
"Neo!" Yang squeaked as she spun around, her face burning red, but surprisingly not her eyes.
Blake had her weapons out as she spun but quickly lowered them as the tiny ice cream thief threw herself into Yang's arms. Neo mumbled something into Yang's neck before separating and bouncing in front of Blake.
"So you're my sweetheart's little kitty cat, nice to finally meet you." Neo grinned something sweet yet somehow vicious at the same time. Blake saw a strength in her she'd only ever glimpsed in Adam, powerful but feral when pushed too far.
"Uh, Blake." The two shook hands. "So uh, is there a plan?" Blake asked as the three ladies stood around in the dark forest just outside of Beacon.
"Yes. I've got something Cinder wants." Neo held up a computer chip. "I need to give this to her before sunrise. You two need to make sure it won't be of any help to her when the time comes."
"But how-" Before Blake could ask the image of Neo shattered like glass. Blake just barely held back a scream as she looked frantically towards Yang.
"Her semblance is a mirage." Yang held up the chip. "Come on, we don't have a lot of time. We need to find out what's on here and make sure it's absolutely useless to Cinder. Neo will come to us when she needs it back."
Blake nodded shakily as they headed back to their dorm, completely unaware of the tiny pair of red eyes watching them from the trees.
Elsewhere, several hours later in a seedy tavern far from Vale, a bandit Queen and a prideful half maiden met once again.
"I tire of your hesitation Branwen. Join us or be wiped from history! I will not let you waste any more of my time!"
The bandit Queen laughed, a cruel sound. "You could certainly try, but you will not succeed."
The younger of the two burned with furry, one eye glowing with a power she had yet to master.
"How dare you-"
The bandit Queen remained calm, her mask firmly in place, "Oh I dare. You do not hold all of the pieces you think you do. As much as I would love to see Ozpin suffer in his impossible war against Salem, family does not betray family." She said with a cunning smirk.
"Family?!" the other hissed. "Family? This from the woman who abandoned her own daughter."
A coldness suddenly swept into the tavern that had the half maiden and her two lackeys shivering.
"Abandoned? No, I left her to find her own way, and so she has. I do not hold the hand of those I require strength from, they will only learn to follow. I don't need followers, I want leaders. Her path and struggle has brought her strength, a strength I will happily welcome." The young trio looked confused, much to the bandit's amusement. "Your deal promised me the Xiong family and all of its resources. You do not have the Xiong family."
"Torchwick is Vale's strongest underground-"
"Torchwick is not the only heir to Xiong, nor is he the sole kingpin of Vale. Because of you his position in Vale has changed. Hei is smarter than you give him credit for."
"Was it not you who said Hei Xiong was a useless soldier?"
"And I stand by what I said. He is no warrior, but wars require good tacticians as well. The man saw through your fanatical plans and has planned accordingly. I must do the same."
The half maiden's chair screeched back across the wooden floor boards. She practically growled as she stomped away, her two followers close behind her.
"Raven? Are you sure-"
Raven smiled as she turned to face her own companion.
"Don't worry Vernal. She won't be bothering us again."
"But the powers of Fall-"
"You saw the fire in her eyes, she only has half of Fall's powers. As long as she does not receive the other half, she will not be a problem any more."
"And what you said about your daughter, Yang?"
"She might yet be more useful to me than I originally thought. Not only is her little sister a Xiong but she is apparently dating one as well. With the combined strength of the two families…" She looked out the window seeing something only she could imagine. "Well, Summer never did believe that we could defeat Salem, but we might just be able to hold out long enough to get rid of her."
"Can I help you Miss Schnee?" Junior asked as he stared down the heiress who had entered his bar mere seconds after opening. She whipped her head around, seeming surprised that he had acknowledged her. He watched as she glanced around the empty bar nervously before slowly approaching him at the counter.
"Um… I heard I could find Adam Taurus here?"
Junior's eyebrows shot into his hairline. Never in a million years did he think the heiress would come to him for information. Junior knew damn well that Adam had spent more time in his old room upstairs in the last week than he had in the last year. Mostly due to his and Roman's little dust up with reality but he knew something more had happened when Ruby stayed the night.
Waking up in the middle of the night to hear one of his boys screaming their lungs out was a sound he hadn't heard in years. And it wasn't one he wanted to hear again any time soon.
Thankfully the Rose had been there.
If anyone had told him a decade ago that he would take in the boy who made his Rose cry, well they would've been thrown out on their ass for having one too many. Now though, he eyed the heiress warily. Rose and the Phoenix had brought in their kitty cat friend a few nights ago to cool off after classes. Yang wouldn't shut her trap about hacking Atlas tech while Ruby worried about their absent teammate. He had heard them whispering about the heiress staying in a hotel instead of their dorm and disappearing the second classes were over.
He wondered what she'd been up to, "And what would an heiress want with one of my boys?"
Weiss blinked at him dumbly. "Your boys?" She looked everywhere but his eyes and Junior couldn't help but wonder if she thought he was a faunus too. He knew what kind of family she had grown up with, one that only recognized blood and not the bonds shared.
Junior didn't want to talk to this heiress, Ruby should do the honors, but somehow he knew this girl needed her reality check to come from someone she didn't already have a biased opinion of.
"This is the Underground sweetheart, the Black Hand, the big Cosa Nostra. Who I take into my family is nobody's business but my own."
"But the White Fang-"
"Who Adam associates with is none of my concern. He wants to fight for equal rights, who am I to stop him?"
"They are thieves! They kill people-"
"Yes." Junior's voice took on a darker tone. "'Cause when humans start branding faunus children, they are supposed to what? Sit back and watch?!" He slammed his hands down on the bar, making the glasses jingle in the deathly silent room. Junior silently enjoyed watching Weiss flinch. "Violence isn't always the answer, but sometimes it's the only answer that gets results. I taught my children when to fight and when to stand aside. What did your father teach you?"
The girl turned a little green and Junior could only imagine what she had learned from that man. "Your father should consider himself lucky Adam was not under my care when he was burned. An attack like that on a don's son is considered a call to arms." Junior stood a little straighter, his neck cracking as he towered over her in a scare tactic he never used on children. "Attack's like that call for justice to be repaid in kind."
Weiss's hand flew to her face. She didn't need him to clarify, she already knew her tiny scar was not equal to the mark that her father had left Adam with. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that this man would gladly take out anyone who dared harm one of his own.
Junior watched the fear and horror flicker through her eyes as she stared into space imagining what could have been. He let out a deep breath through his nose, not letting her see him sigh.
"You want to talk to Adam? He'll find you." Weiss opened her mouth, no doubt to argue. "When he's good and ready!" She deflated and quickly turned to leave.
As much as he didn't want to, Junior felt sorry for the girl. As pampered as he knew her life to be, she was abused too and knew nothing of their world's harsh realities. Just another orphan, a damaged kid in a shattered world.
"If you are looking for forgiveness," Junior started just as she got to the door, Weiss paused. "Or answers, or hell, even closure; you need to figure out who you are before you go around claiming to know who he is." Weiss stared at his reflection in the door. "You won't learn anything if you keep running away."
The heiress disappeared down the street and Junior sighed, glancing down towards the other end of the bar. He walked over quietly, glad that no one else had walked in just yet.
"You didn't have to do that." Adam's voice was just above a whisper. The boy was hiding behind the bar, tucked into the nook where Junior had long ago learned to stop storing glasses and mixers. It was the only spot that all of his kids still managed to fit when they needed somewhere to hide but still be near him.
"Yes, I did." Junior carefully put a hand on Adam's shoulder, hoping it was more comforting than it looked. "You don't have to forgive her, Adam. You don't even have to talk to her again if you don't-"
"I want to."
Junior wasn't sure if he believed that or not. The conviction Adam always carried in his voice was missing. "Do you?" Junior would've missed his shrug if he hadn't still had a hand on his shoulder. Hei was never one to know what to say, especially with his kids. If he couldn't beat their problems into the ground his normal solution was for them to spend time together.
He might not know what to say, but the kids could usually figure something out together. They were always better together than apart. "How about this, you're still here in Vale on Friday right?"
Adam looked up confused, Junior could see a million emotions and unshed tears in his eyes which only strengthened his idea.
"Uh, yes?" He had no idea where Junior was going with that question.
"Well it's been a while since all of you kids have been here, how about we turn Game Night into a family night this week and-"
Adam let out a startled and somewhat embarrassed laugh.
"You don't need to get all sappy on us old man-"
"I might be getting old but I can still kick your butt smart ass." Junior lightly whacked him over the head. "And I aint no sap." Junior stood, holding out a hand to help Adam up as well. "I just think it'd be good for you- for all of you, to have a night together where there are no secrets or schemes or plans. Just fun."
Adam pretended to think about it, already liking the idea but not willing to admit to it just yet. They all could use a break.
"Can we have booze?"
"No." Adam pouted. "But I'll buy you freeloaders pizza."
Adam grinned. "Deal! I'll let everyone know!" Adam jumped over the bar and disappeared up the stairs, already typing away on his scroll.
Hei sighed, he was getting too old for this.