Last Huntress - Chapter 20

-I Wanna Sing A Song, That'd Be Just Ours-

Quietly resting at a point somewhere between being asleep and awake, Ruby didn't notice that the car had stopped until the door on the other side from her opened, and she slowly raised her head up to look over at Blake. The older Faunus shot her a small smile, before reaching in and gently extracting the sleeping Auburn from her side, pulling the fox-girl from the backseat with an obvious level of care. Blinking to clear her eyes and focus her thoughts, Ruby moved from where she sat, wincing as the way she had to bend to get out of the car made the new bruising on her stomach and ribs flare up. It felt like her whole torso was burning from the abuse she had taken at the end of a boot, but still she forced herself to step out into the brisk evening air of Vale.

She recognized their surroundings the second she straightened, glancing around to see that they were just a few streets away from her own apartment. It caused her to direct a curious expression towards Blake, who cradled the injured Faunus girl they had just rescued in her arms. "Better here than Yang's, and I wanted to change vehicles before we head back to the penthouse."

It made sense, especially with a captive that they had just stolen out from under Torchwick. Not that they could be on any worse terms with him, but no need to make it easy to find them. Ruby tugged the red hood of her vest up and over her ears, zipping it up a bit and stuffing her hands into her pockets before she began to move around the car and in the direction of their temporary safe house.

Blake followed her up the old rusted walkway to her door, where the keypad lock rejected her correct input of the code twice before accepting it on the third try, as it always did. She had already opened the door and was about to take a step in when it occurred to her that this was the first time that Blake would see how she had lived, and there was a large difference between what she was comfortable introducing to a one night stand and to.. Whatever she and Blake were. "Er.. Sorry about the mess, by the way."

One slim eyebrow rose, and those molten amber orbs flicked between her and the door a few times before the other Faunus gave a nod. Pushing the door inward, the first reaction Ruby had was that someone must have broken in. Nothing was in the place she had left it, but a second look told her that nothing was shattered or strewn about the floor. Even the empty take out containers she had left sitting wherever she had stopped eating were gone. Aside from the stains in the carpet caused by careless eating and drinking, her apartment was practically spotless.

She drew the black blade from her back as she took another step in, glancing back at Blake in time to catch the older Faunus' expression slipping from amused to worried at her reaction. As she stepped in and quickly moved to check the bedroom, the bathroom, and the kitchen, she found that someone had cleaned up almost everything. Her clothes were neatly folded in a stack and left on the edge of her bed, her used drinking glasses were in the sink without a drop of alcohol left in them.

But the apartment was also empty, leaving her even more confused as she slowly sheathed her sword and stared at Blake. Even as she opened her mouth to comment on the strangeness of the situation, her eyes were drawn to a small device sitting on the coffee table in front of her couch. Approaching it carefully, she motioned Blake inside the apartment once she saw it was a recording device.

A smooth black box with a ring of glowing green light in the center, traditionally used by Hunters to deliver their last words if they found themselves mortally wounded and alone out in the wilderness of Remnant. An odd thing to find years after the Academies were shut down, yet here it sat in her tiny living room. She only realized she was staring apprehensively at it when a hand softly touched upon her shoulder, and Blake slid over the back of the couch into a sitting position next to her, having left the sleeping Auburn on her bed. "Who left it?"

"I.. Couldn't guess." Ruby tentatively reached out, her fingers suddenly feeling heavy as she pressed them to the side of the box, and watched the fingerprint scanners slowly confirm her identity. The device whirred, before a mechanical voice rang out through the room.

"Rose, Ruby. Beacon. Huntress status recognized." She squinted at the title, knowing full well that even if she and every other Hunter at Beacon hadn't been officially decommissioned, her rank on file should have still shown that she was still a student. There was no time to ponder such things, as the green light began to project a screen up, and into view appeared a face she hadn't seen in four years, but would never have forgot. Tousled silver hair, calculating brown eyes, a signature pair of spectacles on the bridge of his nose. "Beginning recorded message."

"Ms. Rose.. Ruby." Ozpin's voice possessed that same level of stoicism it always had, sounding exactly as she remembered. "I know we parted on less than friendly terms, but is is my deepest wish that you know I hold nothing but the utmost respect for you and your abilities. Like your mother before you, your-" She tensed at the mention of her mother, her hands balling into fists until a soft touch on her back reminded her of Blake's proximity. "-soul burns with a light that cannot be extinguished.. But just like Summer, there are those who will try."

"If you are watching this, then I have failed to fulfill my mission. I am dead." He spoke with such certainty, with such acceptance of that fact that it stunned Ruby, hit her harder than the news itself. She wondered for a second if this is what she had sounded like to Yang, all the years of remarking that death might be preferable to her life as it had been. "With you, I leave our shared legacy. When the Academy was shut down, and all files on Hunters across the world were slated for decommission, I disobeyed the Council and kept one."

"Certain people would have us all believe that robotic drones will defend us, but there must always be a beating heart in the fight against the darkness that threatens our world. It is not just the Grimm that threaten the lives of the innocent, and in this endless war it has always been the very essence of the a soul that has held back that darkness, something that will be no less true in the days to come. And never has a soul shone as bright as yours."

"I kept one single file, and delayed its upload while the rest were purged from the global network." Ruby didn't realize she had been holding her breath until she was forced to exhale, shuddering as she knew what was coming. "..Your's, Ms. Rose. When this message is finished, it will be uploaded into that same network."

"You are the last Huntress my school will ever train, and one of the finest young women I have ever had the pleasure to have known. I know that you have suffered these last few years, I know the guilt that haunts you, and I am sorry I did not defend you when I was given the chance." She was acutely aware of golden irises set intently on her, and it took no small measure of focus to remain watching the recording. "It is my deepest regret that I lack the knowledge necessary to tell you who threatens the continued safety of our world, I can only warn you that they are more dangerous than even I suspected."

"Inside the black box you will find my scroll. A parting gift, Ms. Rose, the first of three. Take it to my desk at Beacon, and with it you will find a storage drive containing all the information I have been able to gather about this group that now threatens us. Take it to Ms. Schnee. She will know how to access its contents, and how to use them. The last gift you will find there as well, I hope you will forgive the liberties I took."

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she saw Ozpin don a small, knowing grin, as she wiped at the tear and committed the instructions to memory. "I am sorry that I will not live to fight alongside you. I am sorry for so very many things, Ms. Rose. You now carry the hope of Vale- of all Remnant. It is a burden I die knowing I have entrusted to the right person. The world still needs us, even if it turns its back on us. Especially if it turns its back on us.."

The Professor wore a pensive expression for a moment before continuing. "Good luck, Ruby Rose. And goodbye, your mother would be proud of you."

The screen faded away, and the black box whirred before opening, and a rising platform revealed the scroll that the message had mentioned. Ruby didn't reach for it. She wasn't sure if her limbs would respond even if she tried to, as she was left staring at the space where the hologram had just been. Blake was less affected, as she reached forward and retrieved the device, bouncing it in her palm before looking back at Ruby.

Velvet watched her girlfriend pace back and forth in the middle of their room, the TV in the background spewing out a repeat of the same story that had been playing for the last few hours, the reporter droning on about the explosion that had torn apart a dedication ceremony for a memorial. Yang's thoughts had immediately turned to worry that Ruby was somehow involved, and despite her efforts to calm the younger woman, still the blonde continued to pace.

It didn't help that Blake hadn't answered her scroll.

So when Yang's scroll rang, the pickup was almost instant, and Velvet watched as her girlfriend hurriedly spoke into the device. "Are you okay?!"

Even from the foot of their bed, her rabbit ears could pick up the subdued reply. "We're fine, Yang. I'm okay. So is Auburn." Her gaze locked with lilac colored eyes at the mention of the girl who had called Yang earlier, and she flashed a happy smile, glad to hear Ruby had been successful.

She watched her girlfriend let out a long, relieved sigh, and finally Yang walked over and sat down beside her on the bed. Locks of golden blonde cascaded down her chest as the other woman rested against her shoulder. Velvet could almost feel the weight that had lifted off of her partner, and she quickly laced her fingers together with those of the hand that flopped into her lap.

"But, Yang, listen.." There was a sharp inhale on the other end of the line, and a quiet inflection in Ruby's voice that made them both pay close attention. "Something has come up, something I think I need to take care of sooner rather than later. We'll need to lay low at Ember Heights for a few hours."

"Hm, okay." Yang's ready agreement surprised Velvet, but she felt a grin warm her face at the eagerness with which her girlfriend was willing to help her younger sister. It was progress, slow but steady in repairing the sibling relationship. "What's going on, Ruby?"

"I.. I'll have to tell you in person." There was a strange neutral tone to the wolf-girl's voice, a steadiness that didn't sound as if it were a conscious choice. "It's a lot to unpack, I honestly don't know where to start."

"Oh.." There was a few seconds of lingering awkwardness, the rift between the two sisters showing clear in this moment to Velvet, in the uncertain way that Yang faltered over accepting a non-answer. "Okay, we'll see you soon?"

"Once we can get Auburn moving, we'll be over."

There were no goodbyes exchanged, just Ruby's voice sounding out farther away from the scroll before a beep signaled the end of the call. Yang turned into her shoulder a bit more, emitting a grunting noise that made her chuckle. "She's a handful, isn't she?"

Her girlfriend didn't answer right away, instead making a noise of contentment as she quickly snuck a kiss against her collarbone, causing an involuntary gasp to slip from her as she giggled. "Ruby is always a handful these days.. But I have to do what I can to help. After.."

Still riding the shock of excitement left over from the impression of Yang's warm lips on her skin, it took her a few seconds to coordinate her thoughts for a response. "Because of when she was caught by Torchwick?"

"She was going to die, and I didn't go after her.." Velvet raised a hand to tangle into the thick blonde locks, holding the other woman close as she smiled sadly. "What kind of sister does that?"

"A normal one." There was a stillness to the warm body pressed against her that let her know she had Yang's full attention. "We aren't what we used to be, we certainly aren't Hunters. Think of how powerful we all were before the Academies closed, it's only been a few years but we've both lost that edge. We haven't fought, really fought, since then. I wanted to run after Ruby as well, but in all likelihood we'd both be dead." She pulled away, using a gentle hand on a strong chin to pull lilac eyes up to meet her gaze, her voice dropping to an almost desperate whisper. "You're all I have, Yang, I don't know what I'd do without you."

In the face of her fear, her girlfriend slowly donned a wide smile. "I love you, Velvet." The words were accompanied by the soft scratch of nails at the base of one of her rabbit ears, causing her mouth to open and let slip a quiet purr. Another pair of lips took advantage, crashing into hers for a fiery kiss, and the slip of a tongue to electrify her nerves. She was so easily conquered that when those lips pulled away, they were followed by a unbidden whine.

Lilac eyes were locked upon her as she looked upon her girlfriend, a lazy smile reaching her lips as she shifted on the bed and slid into the blonde's lap, draping both arms around muscled shoulders as she nestled her head in the crook of Yang's neck. "Love you too."

"Yang!"

Ruby's voice echoed through the empty bar as she threw back her hood, leading the way into Ember Heights with Blake in tow. Cradled in the older Faunus' arms was the unconscious form of Auburn, the fox-girl having succumbed to exhaustion before they had left her apartment. Long furred ears, one of which was matted with dried blood, were folded down against hair as the girl stirred fitfully in Blake's grasp.

The lights were dim in her sister's establishment, the wooden tables stacked with chairs and an unusual quiet atmosphere hung over the main room. Ruby had rarely seen the bar closed, but she could only imagine how her actions and the events she had become tangled up in had affected the people of the city and their usual habits. The sounds of two sets of feet traveling down the staircase sounded out, and after a moment two figures appeared behind the bar.

"Ruby!"

She barely had the time to brace herself as muscled arms wrapped around her and pulled her against the warm chest of her older sister, returning the embrace with a fraction of the desperation she felt in the tight hug. "Hi.. Yang?"

There was a pause as the blonde seemed to collect herself, pulling back to study Ruby with a guarded expression. As those lilac orbs trailed down to the gap between the bottom of her training shirt and the hem of her pants, where a particularly nasty looking scar marred her stomach, the stoicism in Yang's features slipped away piece by piece. Eventually fingers tenderly touched upon the three thin red lines that had been clawed into her left cheek, and she froze at the sound of a soft sigh. "Your eyes.. They match again."

There was a tug inside her, deep in the pit of her chest where a familiar ache resided, and she felt the beginning of tears start to burn in her eyes as she played it off. "Courtesy of Blake, they do. She went all out on the replacement parts." She gestured towards the other woman, who was looking at them both, the fox-girl they had rescued still dozing off into her shoulder.

"Happy to." The reply wasn't exactly icey, but there was a change to the air as Blake and Yang's gazes met, a touch of disapproval in the flick of cat ears. But then amber eyes slid over to another woman with animal ears. "Hello, Velvet."

"Hi Blake, want me to take her off your hands?" The rabbit-eared Faunus moved forward, giving a sad smile at the state of Auburn as she took the small frame of the younger girl in her arms with a surprising ease. "I'll get her situated in our spare room, see if there's anything I can do about these cuts."

As Velvet moved back towards the stairs, Ruby cleared her throat to bring the attention of the remaining two women back to her, nodding her head towards a table that didn't have chairs atop it. "We need to talk, Yang. It's.. Something important." She didn't wait for the other two women, moving to sit in one of the available chairs and sliding down with a groan as it aggravated the new bruising spreading over her scarred stomach. Reaching down to dig the scroll that had been delivered to her apartment, she deposited it on the table with and grim look towards Blake.

The feline Faunus was watching her with a guarded expression, the golden irises practically glowing in the low light as they scanned her form, the concern more obvious in their depths that the other woman would ever let show on her face. But soon Ruby was drawn back to her sister, as Yang sat down and looked at the scroll with a raised eyebrow. "So what is it? What've you gotten yourself into this time?"

"For once.." She bit at the inside of her lower lip as she leaned forward, her mind replaying the message for what had to be the thousandth time in the last hour. "Trouble found me. This is Professor Ozpin's scroll. He left it for me, apparently in the event of his death."

Her sister's gaze snapped between the device and her a few times before lilac eyes settled upon her. "Why would he leave it for you? How did you find it?"

"It was in a black box, left in my apartment. Which, judging by the fact every mess I had ever made in there was cleaned up, was dropped off by Goodwitch." She wanted to chuckle at the thought of her old teacher groaning at the state of her living space, but humor was fleeting in this conversation, and she affixed a serious expression. "He.. Gave me a mission, to hunt down the same people he was tracking when he died. He obviously thought they were the ones who were responsible for his death, and if he's right about their goals.. It's bad Yang."

The way she trailed off seemed to click with Yang, as the other woman let out a long, slow breath. "I guess we know where he's been all these years.. Hard to believe he's gone, though."

"I know, but Yang, he left the message for me, specifically." Ruby leaned forward, straining to find the words to get what she needed to say across. "Along with instructions to find all of his work on the group that he was investigating."

Her sister had leaned in as well, picking up the scroll before tossing it back onto the table with a touch of anger. "He hasn't spoken to you in four years, and now this? Why come to you and not send it to the actual authorities?" The blonde woman narrowed her eyes. "How did he get you to agree to that?"

Ruby opened her mouth, her mind drawing a blank as she faltered. She knew exactly why it had to be her, knew that Ozpin had done the one thing that would have motivated her to action even on her worst day. "I.. He left it for me, and someone has to do something."

"But why you?" The emphasis hanging on the last word was coated in frustration, but tinged with pain as her sister reached across the wooden surface and took her hand. "Ruby, they killed Ozpin. You don't have to do this."

Ruby looked down, gripping tight to the calloused fingers clasped in her own, and took some solace in the fact that Yang was still willing to pull her back from danger. She had feared for some months now that she had reached the end of her sister's rope, had run out the meter on what had been infinite patience when they were just girls. It choked her up, burying whatever she had planned to say on the ride over from her apartment.

It was an unexpected hand on her shoulder that steadied her, a gentle warmth from the other Faunus that had stood behind her when she sat down to speak to her sister. Looking up at Blake, who only nodded, Ruby swallowed her fear and turned back to Yang. "He kept my Beacon file, Yang.. He uploaded it to the network and marked me off as graduated after all the others had been deleted. I'm a Huntress, and I have to do this."

Her hand was released in shock, as the brawler recoiled at the news, leaning back in the chair and looking her over with a quizzical light. "R-Ruby, just because.." There was a sigh of frustration, and a shake of a blonde mane, before her sister seemed to deflate. Lilac eyes traced over the table. They moved to the scroll, and just as a scowl was forming, snapped to her and a resigned expression took over Yang's features. "I know you used to want this, but it isn't what I wanted for you.. Not ever."

Ruby gave a slow nod, reaching out with both hands to retake her sister's. "I know. I know you want me to settle down and have a quiet life where I'm safe and you don't have to worry." She blinked, the tears from her left eye spilling down her cheek, and continued. "But that isn't me, Yang. I wanted to help people, even when I was little.. And in Remnant that means danger."

Her sister sniffled before returning the embrace of their hands, frowning still. "Dammit.." With her free hand, Yang wiped at the tears in her eyes, refocusing upon Ruby with a more stoic expression. "Fine. But if you have to do this, then I have to help." Her beginning protests were silenced with a glare, and the blonde woman continued. "You're my baby sister, and I'm not making the same mistake I made when Torchwick took you."

Ruby watched as her sister locked gazes with Blake, and glanced between the two as a nod of understanding came from the older Faunus, and she let out a sigh. "Fine. But we," She gestured to the cat-girl and herself with a nod. "-Are going to Beacon, just the two of us. Ozpin's next step was there. And I will be safe there, so you don't need to worry."

Yang looked like she was going to argue the point, but then sighed and leaned back, releasing Ruby's hands and folding her arms. "Will you at least wait until nightfall, then? You both look like you could use some sleep."

Ruby slowly stood up from the table, her hoodie hanging off both sides as she glanced to Blake. The smile that grew over her face was almost unconscious, but the furred ears that turned towards her as if at attention definitely turned her expression into a grin. "I won't say no to a shower.. But I'm going to check on Auburn first."

Blake let the slightest of smiles touch her lips as she spoke. "Go ahead, I'd like to talk to Yang first." The wolf-eared girl gave a nod before turning to head towards the door that would lead upstairs, and she was left alone with the blonde Human. All traces of a grin were lost when she looked to her former partner. "You don't have to follow us into this."

The woman looked taken aback, but before a reply could be formed, Blake cut her off. "You weren't willing to before, for the right reasons. You have a life here with Velvet, a good one." She pressed even further, bearing down on Yang. "Throwing in with us will only make you a target. So if you say you're going to help her with this, you have to be willing to give all this up."

Yang had rose from her seat at this point, glaring at her with none of the concealment they both had used in Ruby's presence. "If what she thinks is at stake is, then what choice do we have but to help? I know I failed her. I know you didn't, not when it really mattered."

Blake let her expression soften at that, seeing now that the hostility that had been shown her way was borne more of guilt than true anger. "I asked you to stay put, remember? You didn't fail her." Her voice was quiet, and for a moment she could have believed they were back in their dorm at Beacon, talking of fears and dreams of a life ahead of them. There was a pang of want, of need, to go back to those nights. When lives didn't rest on them and vicious souls weren't hunting for them. "You didn't fail me."

A laugh, low and saddened, came from the woman across the table from her, and Yang looked away. "You did bring her back. I was petrified by fear, afraid that my last words to my little sister would have been reckless and cruel.. So, thank you for that." Lilac eyes slid up to meet her gaze, and a small smile spread over the Human's lips. "But I'm not afraid now, I know what I should fight for. And.. I'm glad you came back."

They were quiet for a time after she made a noise of acknowledgement, and Blake passed the time by studying the grooves and dents in the table. She was acutely aware of the way she was being watched, running the pads of her fingers over the wooden surface. "You could have this too, you know?" That drew her attention back to the other woman, with an eyebrow raised in question at the impish grin waiting for her. "She looks at you in a way I haven't seen her look at someone in a very long time, certainly hasn't smiled at someone like that even longer."

"I don't think.." Blake bit her tongue at the start of the lie, her first instinct rearing its head to deny that there was anything between her and Ruby. It seemed so subtle between them, but of course it was obvious to Yang. She had always had a sense of these things, even back at Beacon. Tilting her head and glancing away, she grimaced and spoke slowly. "I'm.. Damaged. She deserves far better than anything I could give her, and it would fall far from the life you and Velvet have built."

"Blake-"

Standing up suddenly from the table, she shook her head and let out a nervous laugh. "I think I should.. Go talk with her. See if I can get her rethink this whole Ozpin business while we've got Torchwick and the Fang looking for us." Turning sharply, she only got a couple of steps towards the stairs before Yang's quietly uttered words followed her.

"I think you should let her decide.." Blake turned at that, just enough to peer at the sitting woman with narrowed eyes. The blonde wasn't looking at her, instead staring at her own hands as they fiddled with the edge of the table. It took a long moment before lilac eyes slid over to regard her. "What she deserves, I mean. You're.. Good for her, more than the rest of us have been. She's better now than she has been in years."

Turning away to hide the flash of interest that she felt pass her features, Blake tried unsuccessfully to quiet the newly born rush of thoughts that ran through her mind, and the hopes they carried with them. "Take my advice, and just talk to her before you decide what's right for her." There was a laugh, the most genuine of the entire conversation as a chair creaking let her know that Yang had leaned back. "She hates it when people do that, trust me."

With one glance back at the woman who had once been her closest friend, Blake continued towards the stairs with a mind suddenly burdened under the weight of what-if's and could-be's.

Ruby softly rapped her knuckles against the door frame, bringing Velvet's attention to her as she peered into the storeroom that her sister had long used as a spare bedroom for employees. The rabbit-girl was kneeling near a cot, where the younger Faunus girl lay, eyes open and looking her way. "Hey Velv.. Mind if I have a moment to talk with Auburn?"

"Of course, I think I've taken care of the worst of it, anyway." A comforting hand was laid on Auburn's shoulder as Velvet leaned in. "Let me know if you need anything, okay? You're safe here."

The girl nodded, and Ruby gave the older Faunus an appreciative smile as Velvet left the room, giving her room to step in and take a seat at the foot of the cot. She hesitated a moment before reaching out and taking the fox-girl's hand in her own, letting out a sigh that she could have sworn relieved at least one of the knots in the muscles between her shoulderblades. "I'm glad you're okay."

"My savior." Auburn's voice was hoarse and cracked, but the fox-girl managed a smile as she looked up at Ruby. Velvet had helped her out of the bloodied leotard, and it was strange to see the beautiful girl in a oversized t-shirt that must have been one of Yang's, judging by the garish graphic displayed proudly upon it. "Y'know if I hadn't been terrified, watching you rush in and save me from the bad guys would've been pretty hot."

They shared a quiet chuckle at that, but Ruby's mirth quickly fell away as she looked down at the hand held in her own. Numerous scrapes and cuts could be seen on the younger Faunus' skin. Some looked to be the result of the girl's escape, but even more seemed intentional. "Well, I'm personally just sorry that you had to be saved. Blake told me how you helped her.. I thought I told you never to try anything like that again?"

"I'm a poor listener.." Vulpine ears twitched strangely as Auburn looked up at her, and a look of dawning realization crossed the younger woman's face. "That's actually.. Not true. When Torchwick had me, between the b-beatings. I heard something." Ruby leaned in, gripping the fox-girl's hand tight as she narrowed her eyes, listening intently as Auburn took a deep, pained breath. "He took a phone call when he thought I was unconscious, it was about you."

She reached up and moved unruly bangs out of the way of the younger Faunus' vision, revealing the dark purple bruise that surrounded one of Auburn's eyes. "He was speaking to someone.. They were mad at him for trying to kill you, and he said he never intended to let them recruit you." The grip on her hand tightened. "He said Russel was expendable if it meant he'd get to you."

"They talked for a long time about rolling out new Dust drugs from their shipments before he noticed I was awake and listening.. I-I thought he was going to kill me!"

There was no small amount of panic in Auburn's eyes as Ruby quietly shushed her, stroking back her hair to calm the injured girl. "That's enough, it's okay." Like a whirlwind of thoughts, her mind began racing over the idea that Torchwick was ever supposed to recruit her into something, and a ripple of Ozpin's message caused her to connect the two together. If her old Professor was right, there could be any number of people working to jeopardize the safety of Vale. "You're okay, you're safe." Her calming efforts seemed to have an effect, as Auburn closed her eyes and the fox-girl's breathing slowed. Eventually she pulled away, finding that the younger Faunus had slipped into sleep while her thoughts had been preoccupied.

She had hoped to find some answers, but the short conversation had instead left her with even more questions to add to the pile the day had brought her.

Weiss' fingers drummed on the glass surface of her desk as she glared at the holoscreens that rolled by with names and information of all those who attended the memorial ceremony, separated into lists of those who had survived but were present during the explosion, and those who had been there but left before it happened. Her long hair was once again gathered into a ribbon, courtesy of Penny, who had been loath to leave her side since she had began her deception. But the hours had dragged on in silence, a frustrating lack of progress, and a growing irritation that she had missed something. A vital clue, buried somewhere in the data or her memories, something that would point her to the culprit who had killed so many.

"Ms. Schnee." The words were whispered but cut through the air like a whisper, and a glance told her that the other woman had been bottling up what she was about to say for some time. "I'm sorry to bother you, but a report just pinged my tablet. You said last month to alert you immediately of any updates on the Barrier Project?"

Her stare was cold as she forced herself not to glare at her assistant. It seemed so far away, the weight of the world she had carried just that morning, the safety of the kingdoms firmly in her hands. The Barrier Project was supposed to be the next improvement, a massive shield that would be generated over entire cities. A lasting defense against Grimm entry, allowing her to concentrate Barricade forces on clearing the surrounding wilds. One more step to the endgame. She took a steadying breath, putting aside the aching migraine of a task she had taken on and trying to concentrate on the redhead. "What is the update?"

"Construction has been completed of the Vale Arch, stretching over the city. They're now just awaiting the Shield Matrix installations from our Research Labs, which are slated to be rolled out in exactly seven days." The other woman spoke matter-of-factly, and with a speed that was not usually present in her announcements. "I sent back a reply that work should continue as scheduled, and that all updates should continue to be routed to me until you have recovered. Was that adequate?"

"Yes, Penny." She sighed and forced a small smile towards her assistant and trusted confidant. "Thank you."

There was a lingering silence as she returned her gaze to the holoscreens, gesturing with her remaining hand to unpause the scrolling. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the redhead still staring at her however, and a few seconds after resuming her search, she paused it again. Glancing over wearily. "Anything else, Ms. Polendina?"

"There is another report, from my monitoring of the local networks for any news regarding the explosion, but.." The nervousness in the expression of the other woman made her pay more attention, and the lack of any forthcoming answer made her want to scream as she gestured to ensure her assistant knew that she had Weiss' full attention. "There was a segment I think you'll want to see, given the events a few weeks ago involving Mr. Torchwick."

With a few taps on the tablet, Weiss' lists of names were replaced with a news report on the holoscreens. A reporter with dark purple hair was standing outside of some sort of club, where a crowd of people could be seen tip toeing against a line of projected police tape. "-earlier today. Sources from inside the club at the time of the fighting tell us that the bodies we can now see being pulled from the building are in fact members of the gang known as 'The Gentlemen'. Authorities have refused to comment on any leads they may have, and as of right now they have released no information regarding suspects in the case."

The woman on the screen paused for a second, holding her earpiece. "However I'm being told that we have obtained some footage from an anonymous scroll, let's cut to that now." The scene changed abruptly to a different point of view, from a different time of day, but at the same club. Gunshots were ringing out as the person capturing the video cowered behind a car on the curb, the scroll pointed at the entrance of the building.

The door flung open, and a small form dashed through before quickly weaving off to the side and disappearing into an alley. It was almost too fast for Weiss to catch, but she would recognize that outfit anywhere, and it made her lips curl into a snarl as the person recording immediately switched back to the door. A few moments passed before a few other people burst through the opening, each of them soaked through and sporting bestial ears above their hair, except for one in a black suit.

One of them was carrying another Faunus, but Weiss' attention was drawn to the one who hauled a suited man up by the collar of his jacket. The recording was too far away to catch the words, but the terrified expression of the man was enough to convey was was being said before he was thrown away, and scrambled to run in the same direction Neo had disappeared to.

"Is that.. Ruby Rose?"

The words struck her just as the woman who had thrown the man turned to face the person recording the scene. Black hair, the tips of several strands dyed a deep red color, and wild silver eyes that seemed to stare through the device right at her. It almost made her recoil, but she was latched on with observing as much detail as she could. Numerous scars littered a face that she could remember holding in her hands, cutting over cheeks she had once pressed her lips to. An eye that she had personally witnessed being clawed from a face was somehow still there.

It was like a hammer to the heart, to see such familiarity there, and so much different. But then the bile rose in the back of her throat, and the bystanders had driven Ruby from the scene as the holoscreen switched back to the reporter. The woman looked as stunned as Weiss felt, holding her earpiece with a hesitant expression. "A-as you have just seen, Ruby Rose is confirmed to have been at the scene, and we have just received word that a warrant has been issued for her arrest. This is Lisa Lavender with VNN, bringing you the latest in downtown Vale. Back to yo-"

The holoscreen winked out, returning to the lists she had paused. Weiss' hand shuddered as she stared at the empty space left from the recording, and there was a renewed ache in the stump of her right arm. Between the explosion at the memorial, and the shooting at the club she had just seen, it seemed Vale had had a busy day. But more than that, there was a twisted feeling in her gut that all of this was somehow connected, and that right smack in the middle of this tangled web of those that wanted her dead was a thread connecting right back to the worst moment of her life.

"..Ruby."

Entering Yang's room for the first time in weeks left Ruby with a touch of regret, lost in thought of the last time she had been here. Cleaning up from her tangle with Russel, arguing with her sister about the fact her life had been circling the proverbial drain, feeling trapped between the White Fang and her past with Torchwick. Even now, with Ozpin's message and a wider conspiracy weighing on her, she knew it had been worse then. She had been worse then.

As she turned Ozpin's scroll over in her hands, her eyes scanned the room but looked past everything. A quiet thought dwelled in her mind of how, out of all the things she had done in the past four years, it was nearly dying in the mud of the Pit that had tipped her back from the brink. She smirked at her own reasoning, mentally correcting herself to the idea that it was meeting Blake again that had finally began a bit of an up to years of down.

Ruby let her smirk fall away with a soft sigh, tossing the scroll onto her sister's bed as she stepped on the back of one shoe to pull her foot free, before kicking off the second. It was when she tried to pull off the sleeveless hoodie that her fresh injuries reared their head and she found herself leaning on the bed, breathing through clenched teeth.

"Hey." The soft voice behind her made her flinch, so caught up in the pounding in her own head she didn't hear Blake approaching until hands laid down on her hoodie. "It's okay, let me." She felt the cloth being pulled down her arms, kept close as to not agitate her wounds. There was moment before two leather gloves were thrown over her shoulder to the bed, and now bare hands moved to collect the training shirt.

There was a quiet shushing as she winced when her arms had to move to get her hands through the sleeves, and that bitter fire of bruising skin was washed away by the press of warm lips to the back of her neck, a touch that made her shiver. She couldn't help the small smile that grew over her lips as she stood, bare from the waist up, feeling the closeness of the other Faunus to her as she slowly turned around.

"So.. About that kiss." Ruby coyly raised her gaze up to meet Blake's which was amusingly stealing a glance at her now uncovered breasts, and she felt her cheeks warm at the thought of that passionate kiss they had shared against the wall of the Denhouse alley. She was unafraid of baring herself to the older woman, felt no trace of nervousness as she stared into amber eyes. "Did you mean it?"

"I meant what I said.. And the kiss. Ruby, I.." There was a hard swallow as Blake's hands slowly and tentatively settled just above her hips, thumbs slowly tracing over the edges of the wicked scar that covered much of her stomach. Her heart fluttered as her mind whispered thoughts of what the other Faunus had meant to say before pausing, and she could not stop the grin that spread over her lips. "..You make me feel like the last few years never happened, like we're still teenagers sitting on the grass of Beacon's courtyard and laughing."

The features of the feline Faunus had softened, and to Ruby it looked as if the years themselves truly had rolled back, leaving behind the vulnerable girl she saw before her now. She didn't lament the small blemishes that had formed since then, or the more wild styling to dark hair than Blake had worn in their younger days. "Thank you for saving me." There were two meanings to those words, and the slow nod confirmed that Blake knew it, too. She let the pressure in her chest build, and her breath catch as she reached up and pulled the taller woman down until she could press their lips together.

Ruby couldn't be sure that the only sound in the room wasn't just the pounding of her heart, but when she pulled away from the kiss, she had to remind herself to breathe. "Blake.." The word came out with a needy whine, and there was an instant reaction. Their hands were suddenly on one another, stripping away the White Fang jacket that the older woman was wearing, followed quickly by the sweat-stained shirt beneath it. Pants were haphazardly discarded with boots, and underwear were quick to follow in the maelstrom of their sudden onslaught of emotion and desire.

Their lips met again, only briefly before a calloused palm pressed to the scarred flesh of her stomach, and slowly made its way down between her legs. She locked eyes with Blake as fingers slipped into her and curled against the same sensitive spot the other Faunus had found the last time they had spent the night together, drawing a heavy moan from her as she was backed up to the edge of the bed and gently lowered down. Her fingers clung desperately to one another, laced together behind Blake's neck as the feline's furred ears stood straight up, and her girlfriend shot a delightfully playful grin down at her.

She lifted her legs up to wrap about the strong waist of the woman above her, just in time for the push of those fingers that were utterly soaked with her own need. As she arched her back and grit her teeth to try and fight the groan of pleasure that was drawn to her lips, Blake dipped down and gently bit at the base of her throat, causing an unbidden gasp that only fueled a deep, husky growl from the other Faunus.

Each little noise drove Blake onward, driving the zeal with which the feline had taken to her body. Her rear was lifted from the bed as the muscles flexed in Blake's arms, and her back pushed against the bedsheets as she was suddenly filled with the full length of those fingers. Ruby's breaths came in short, heated exhales as she had to bite down on her bottom lip to keep herself from crying out and alerting the whole neighborhood to what they had gotten up to.

Blake stared down at the beautiful bare body beneath her, eyes tracing the scars, the curves, the wonderfully intricate tattoo of roses connected by twisted and thorned branches that covered the entirety of Ruby's left side. The rhythm of the younger woman's hips met the pumping of her fingers in a natural way, and she watched with hungry fascination as beads of sweat formed and began to run down the limbs of the Faunus she was pleasuring.

The heat and wetness that embraced her fingers only drove her own arousal, and she pressed a knee to the back of her hand in time with the thrust, causing those startling silver eyes to slam open as Ruby's attempts at silence failed. Blake moved down to kiss her partner, cutting off the heavy moan as the younger Faunus froze and she felt the nails digging in at the back of her neck.

It took several long moments before Ruby relaxed, her form slowly lowering to rest on the bed as she sheepishly released Blake and rubbed the back of a hand against the sweat slicked bangs now stuck to her forehead. Panting for breath that did not seem to come, she focused on the slight tan of the skin above her until she could work up the nerve to once again shift her gaze to those golden irises.

Blake wore a bright smile, and let slip a soft giggle as both fingers withdrew from her. Ruby couldn't do much more than watch in amazement as the normally hard features of the other Faunus lit up, and brought a grin to her own lips. Her palms began to slide down the curves of the woman on top of her, and she slyly made sure to rest them on the back of Blake's rear, taking in a deep breath in order to speak. "..My turn, and then we hit the shower."

Author's Note: This story has almost reached 600 followers, which might not seem huge compared to the giants that are out there, but its by far the most any of my stories have ever had. I just wanted to say thank you to you all, I really do appreciate that! Thank you for the reviews, and please drop a review about this chapter to let me know what you think! I really hope you guys are enjoying the story, even with awful updating on my part. I'm doing a lot better now, and I hope the rest of you are doing the same. You all have a great week or months or however long it is until I can drop another chapter in this. Anyway, as always, thank you for reading! -Fox