A/N: I normally don't like to put these, because I prefer to just put the story up directly after writing a chapter, but I thought I should explain something so this chapter isn't confusing.

I'm going to be painting Mercury in a particularly cruel way. It's not bashing, because I'm making Mercury Dominics antagonist, in a sense, in order to show Dominics 'dark side.'

I understand that Dominic at first seems to be a relatively normal, hormone driven teenager. But he's not. He was raised by criminals, trained by criminals, and works with criminals. He fights dirty, and he schemes against his enemies. He's trying to change that, but it'll take a while.

There's a lot of flashbacks, too. Just forewarning y'all.

I hope this clears some things up. Enjoy the chapter.

Oh, and Dominic is just barely taller than Ruby, since I never really put in a height reference.

...

The bullhead landed, opening its door for a blond teen to sprint out, making his way to the closest garbage can. Seconds later, the other students filed out, followed by Yang, Ruby, and Dominic. Dominic almost thought that they'd be traveling around Beacon 'together,' but Yang had other ideas.

"Oh, look! My friends!" Yang was already gone, taking her warmth with her. "I'll see you guys laaaterrr!"

"Are you kidding me?" Ruby stomps her foot in annoyance.

'Awww. Little Red's mad.'

"How could she just ditch us?" The girl looks to Dominic for an answer.

"Like that, I guess." Responds the Faunus.

"Meh." She folds her arms in stubborn annoyance, before remembering something. Ruby snaps her fingers. "Oh, yeah!" She points at him with an almost accusing look. "How do you know Torchwick?"

"Uhhh..." Dominic racks his brain, looking for an answer that would never come.

'This is not good. I can't tell her he's my former boss. Sure, she knows about me being an ex-criminal, but she doesn't know how deep it goes, and I don't think I want to tell her.'

'Sure. Lie to one of your first actual friends. The sister of the girl you're madly smitten with, no less. Good luck with that.'

He mentally sparred with himself. Decisions like this were never his strong suit. That's probably the reason he didn't have many friends. Real friends, anyway. He briefly considered the Malachite sisters. They had said they were his friends, but Dominic didn't want to test the waters on that subject. Junior was definitely important to Dominic, but it was more in the surrogate younger brother way.

"He's at the Club. A lot." It was a half truth. Torchwick did frequently visit the Club, but Dominic could tell that Ruby immediately caught the veiled none-answer. She didn't pursue it, however.

"Okay." She raised a single eyebrow, barely needing to look up at Dominic to meet his eyes. "So, I was thinking we should try and find Yang." Says the crimson clad reaper.

"Yeah. Where'd she-" Dominic froze as two, very familiar voices filled his ears.

"Damn it, Mercury. Keep up."

"Yes, your highness."

'No. Not them.'

Dominics eyes follow the voices, landing on two teenagers. One was a young man with silver hair and a bored expression on his face. He carried himself like someone that couldn't care less. About anything. The girl, however, carried herself confidently. She gave an exotic presence, with her dark skin and mint green hair. That didn't lessen the daggers that Dominic was mentally throwing at the two.

'Emerald Sustri and Mercury Black.' Even in his mind, the names sounded like insults. 'Why are they here? Did Roman send them?'

'No. Roman has no power over them. Use your head.'

'Romans girlfriend...'

'Bingo.'

Every fiber in his being was screaming at Dominic to run. Just throw Ruby over his shoulder and bolt. But he couldn't. Not without explaining to her exactly WHY they had to leave so quickly. That's one conversation he definitely never wants to have.

'Especially if the story gets back to Yang.'

Ruby, noticing his sudden silence, followed Dominics gaze. She immediately followed his gaze, and completely misread the situation. Bless her young, naive heart.

"Who're they?" Asks Ruby, pointing to the two. Dominic felt the sweat grow on his brow when Emerald turned her head their way. He spun on his heel, attempting to lead the girl away.

"No one important." Was Dominics only reply.

'Hopefully she didn't-'

"Dominic?"

'Son of a Grimm.'

He goes rigid as Emerald and Mercury approach them. Turning to face the two, the young Faunus takes a reflexive stance in front of Ruby, whom gives him a curious glance. He couldn't help it. Memories suddenly surface. Memories he tried explicitly to forget.

...
(Flashback)
Sixteen Months Ago
...

Dominic was... a little nervous. He just started working at the Club a few months ago. Sure, Junior said he was doing a good job. But if the big boss wanted to see him? The Faunus wasn't sure if that was good, or bad.

He stood outside of the dark colored oak door, contemplating what could happen if he walked in. He could be getting a promotion. Or he could be getting fired. In the way gangsters get fired. The situation could go either way, and he was worried about his coin landing on tails. Dominic briefly considered just leaving, but the option was taken from him when the door opened.

"Oh? Dominic, isn't it?" The woman was beautiful, that much was true. But Dominic felt that the old saying about beauty only going skin deep was in play here.

"That's me." He replied confidently, fixing his tie.

'Is it getting hot in here?'

"Junior speaks highly of you." The woman continues, brushing a lock of hair out of her golden eyes.

"He does?" Dominic was honestly surprised by that. He hasn't even been working at the club for half a year, yet.

"He does." She nods, the slightest smirk tugging at the edge of her mouth. "That's actually why I'm here. Or, more why your new... friends are here."

"Friends?" Junior told him that criminals didn't have friends. Only colleagues and enemies.

"They're waiting for you inside." The woman smiles dangerously. "Shouldn't keep them long."

"R-right. I should head inside, then." The woman nods, stepping past him. She pauses, turning her head ever so slightly.

"I do hope you have fun. It's not every day that I loan out my best." And with that, she's gone. Dominic watches her leave, a single thought bouncing around in his head.

'There's nothing special about me.'

The Faunus enters the room with trepidation, scanning over the rims of his red tinted shades. It was a fairly large office, with a few chairs and a fancy desk in the center. Torchwick sat across the table, sitting comfortably in the obviously expensive chair there. On either side of him were a boy and a girl. A cute girl, at that.

"Ah, Dominic." Torchwick smirked. "So good of you to join us."

"Uh, yes, sir." The boy stands tall, back straight. Torchwick laughs.

"Cut the crap, kid. This isn't Atlas. Have a seat." Torchwick leans back, puffing on his cigar. "Besides. You don't look the military type."

"More like the type to serve tables." Chuckled the boy to Torchwicks left. The girl shot him a glare.

"Now, now, Mercury." Torchwick glanced at the silver haired boy with a disapproving look. Mercury didn't seem to care much. "Anyway, you've been working as a doorman at the Club, yes?"

"Yes. I just got promoted from cleaning dishes." Dominic sits in the chair across the desk from Torchwick.

"After dislocating a drunken customers arm."

'Oh, Grimm. He is firing me. Wait, Junior said that we don't get fired. We get dead. Is that why these two are here? Why the hell did I pick this career again?'

Dominic reached into the right hand pocket of his suit pants, gripping the easily concealed steel knuckle rings he had hidden there. He had more in his other pocket, but didn't dare make a move for them. Dominic could feel his body tense for what he thought would be a fight to the death.

"You have a bad habit of jumping to conclusions, don't you?" It was the girl who spoke, making Dominic jump slightly. Torchwick laughs again.

"I'm not going to have you killed, if that's what has you so up tight." The ginger thief gave a half smile. "And I'm not going to fire you. You see, you managed to defuse a dangerous situation, without killing the guy. And for one of Juniors guys, that's impressive. So, i called in a favor."

"More like begged." Was Mercurys input.

"Mercury, shut up." Said the girl, glaring at her silver haired counterpart. "Nobody is as excited to hear your own voice as you are."

"Oh, Emerald." Mercury shakes his head. "Why don't you come down from your pedestal, so we can all see just how far that stick is jammed up your-"

"Will you two be quiet?" Torchwick rubs his temples in annoyance. "I'm trying to have a conversation, here." He puts out his cigar in the ashtray on the desk, before looking at Dominic. "Good help really is hard to find these days. Which is why I wanted to speak with you."

"Will you just tell him, already?" Mercury complained. "Seriously, we don't have all day."

"Anyway." Torchwick lights another cigar. "I've asked a dear friend of mine to send these two to teach you how to fight."

"Neo's teaching me." Dominic replied without thinking.

"Is she?" Torchwick raises an eyebrow. "Now, that is a surprise."

"It was her idea." The Faunus shrugs. "She hasn't taught me how to kill an Ursa with my bare hands, or anything. But she did help me unlock my Aura."

"By throwing you into a highly dangerous and ridiculous situation, I'd expect." Replies Torchwick.

"No." Said Dominic. "She tricked me into "rescuing" her. Then, she just waited until my Aura activated from the beating I got."

"That does sound like her." Chuckled Torchwick. "Keep this in mind, what do you think she'd have done if she DIDN'T like you?"

'That's a scary thought.'

"And I assume that she never actually taught you how to fight, either." Torchwick shook his head.

"She doesn't think I'm ready for a sparring match yet." Dominic tries to defend Neo, but it sounds weak, even to him.

"And if you keep going at this rate, you never will be." Emerald spoke up. "Mercury and I are here to help with that."

"You see, we're not afraid to bruise that pretty little face of yours." Mercury stepped in.

"Uh, neither is Neo." The teenager wasn't sure himself if Neo actually planned on helping him get better, or if the little training regimen she gave was just to pacify him. But he didn't care, because she was doing it for him, without asking for anything in return. Except a bowl of ice cream every so often.

"Despite that, Emerald and Mercury are here to train you." Torchwick blows a cloud of smoke from his mouth. "And as one of my employees, I expect you to take advantage of this unique opportunity I've presented to you."

'I get the feeling that I don't actually have a choice in the matter.'

"Alright." Nodded Dominic. "Any training's good training, I guess."

"Optimism is a good thing." Responded Mercury, a cruel grin on his face. "I'm going to have fun breaking you of it."

'Grimm damn it.'

...
Flashback End.
...

"It's been too long." Smiled Emerald. Mercury smirked dangerously at Dominic from beside Emerald. Ruby looked between Dominic and the two newcomers, sensing the tension.

"Not long enough." Was Dominics instant response.

"Wow." Emerald actually looked put out by the comment. "While I expected a response like that, it hurt a lot more than I thought it would. I thought we were friends, Dom."

"That's what you get for thinking."

"Hah! Good one." Mercury laughed. "Glad to see you haven't lost that sense of humor. Tell me. Are you still an optimist?"

'I'm going to kill you, Mercury Black.' Dominic reaches for his sword, causing Ruby to reach for Crescent Rose.

"We're not here to fight." Emerald puts her hands up. "We actually just wanted to talk."

"Not to me, I hope." Taking a more lax position, Dominics glare still doesn't waver.

"Yes, to you, jackass." Mercury grew sick of waiting. "We were sent by Cinder, so-"

"Who's Cinder?" The Faunus chuckled at the disbelief on Emerald and Mercury's faces.

"You're... joking, right?" Asked Emerald, receiving only a smirk in answer. "Doesn't matter. We need to talk. Privately."

'I really hate the criminal underworld.'

"Fine." Dominic looks to Ruby. "I'll catch up with you in a bit."

"Wait, I thought we were going to find Yang." Ruby pouted at him. He couldn't fight the urge to ruffle her hair this time, making the younger girl glare at him.

"I'm sure she'll turn up. Eventually." Maybe a bit harsh, but he simply walks away from the red clad girl. "Let's get this over with. I have things to do today." He passes the two, making them look at each other.

"He's trying to protect the girl." Mercury mumbles.

"It's not like him to get attached. Or protective." Emerald whispered back as the two followed.

"He's getting soft again." Mercury replied quietly. "We'll have to fix that if the plan's going to work."

Farther ahead, Dominics ears twitched under his hat. Sometimes, being a Faunus had its perks. Super hearing, though considered a relatively useless battle skill, was a talent he was glad to have. It took them moments to find a suitably hidden area, closed off from prying eyes by a small clustering of trees.

"Speak." Dominic leans against a tree trunk, glaring at Emerald and Mercury.

"Cut the tough guy act." Mercury folds his arms. "We wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you running off like an idiot."

"Why'd you leave, Dom?" Emerald cut in. She almost flinched when she felt his eyes through the lenses of his shades.

"So. That's why you're here." Dominic pushes away from the tree, sighing. "I have my reasons. And I'm not going back. So, if you're here to kill me, bring it." Emerald merely laughed, making Dominic knit his brow in confusion.

"Still bad about jumping to conclusions, I see." The girl fixes him with a glance. "Believe it or not, but you being here gave our mutual friend an idea."

"You see," Mercury took over, "we were intended to gain entrance into Beacon right before the Vityl Festival. But you getting in gave the two of us and one other the perfect in."

"Who's the other?" Asked Dominic, folding his arms.

"It'll be much more fun for you to see for yourself." Replied Mercury, crouching to sit down.

"Ah. How do I fit in to the plan?" Dominic places his hands in his pockets.

"With your entry, there's enough leeway for us to sneak in." Replies Emerald. "Were hoping to convince you to go along with it."

"And if I don't?" The Faunus took a discreetly defensive stance. He wasn't prepared for what Mercury answered with.

"We'll kill your blond girlfriend from the club."

'Kill Yang? No, he can't!'

'Not if I rip his throat out, first.'

Dominics body acted on its own, descending on Mercury in seconds. The silver haired fighter was caught off guard as both of Dominics hands wrapped tightly around his neck. He was even more surprised when the markedly shorter teen lifted Mercurys feet off the ground. That didn't mean he was worried.

Mercury kicked Dominic in the side of the head, making him drop him. The silver haired teen hacked and coughed, when Dominics knee clashed against the side of his head. Mercury stumbled, before kicking Dominic back. Dominic regains his footing, pulling his sword from his back.

"Still trying to hide your real skills, eh?" Mercury smirks. Dominic merely growls.

"Guys, enough." Emerald steps between the two, before they killed each other and completely ruined the mission. "Look. I don't want to be here any more than you want us here. But a job's a job. Just play along, and everything will turn out fine."

"For you." Dominic sighs. "Fine. I'll keep my mouth shut. Just stay the Grimm away from me."

"That's a deal I can get behind." Comments Mercury, rubbing his sore neck.

"We could use your help, Dom." Emerald blocked his attempted exit. "It looks like you got better since we saw you last."

'Yeah. Had to have a couple major operations to save my arms after Mercury was finished with me. I hate that bastard.'

"Not interested." Dominic pushed her aside, returning his sword to his back. He didn't hate Emerald. She didn't take pleasure in dishing out pain like Mercury did. That didn't take her off of his "Do Not Trust" list. "Unless you have something else to say, I have much better people to spend my time with." He leaves the criminals to themselves.

"He really is going soft." Mumbled Mercury.

"I don't see how nearly crushing your windpipe counts as going soft." Replies Emerald. "I've never seen him lose control like that."

"It's because he cares about that blond girl." Mercury shrugs. "She's probably got him wrapped around her little finger. Makes people do stupid things. Like being brave and growing a moral compass."

"Dominic's always had morals." Argued Emerald.

"Yeah, maybe. But, before meeting her, he'd have broken my neck without a thought."

"Because he hates you."

"Good point."

...

"I hate this." Dominic mumbles to himself. "I don't want to deal with this crap. I'm not a criminal any more. I'm a Huntsman in training. I should just turn them in." He sighs, scanning the courtyard for Ruby. He saw her walking with Vomit Boy, and smiled.

'He doesn't seem too bad. I'm glad Little Red's making friends.'

Despite recent circumstances, Dominic found himself in a better mood when he saw Ruby's smile. Any chance to show off Crimson Rose made the girl jump with glee. The Faunus had to feel bad for the guy, though. When a girl half your size can swing around a scythe twice your size, it can be emasculating.

Dominic was drawn out of his thoughts as he felt someone was watching him. It didn't feel hostile, which was good. Great, even. A change of pace is what he was hoping for. Looking around the courtyard for whomever felt the need to watch him, Dominic narrowed in on a girl across the way from him.

'I don't know her.'

She was cute, sure. But it seemed like every female in Beacon was attractive in one way or another. Probably had something to do with them all being kick ass Huntresses. But this girl gave him a familiar, almost unsettling vibe. Like she knew him better than he knew himself.

She smiled at him when she realized she'd been caught, brushing a bit of stray black hair from her green eyes. She pointed at him, holding her hands up in a heart shape. Dominic watched in confusion. She mimed breaking the heart in half, meeting his eyes again. Dominic felt the wind leave his lungs as his veins turn to ice. Her smile was gone, replaced by a cruel smirk.

And her now pink eyes stared him down with disdain.