A/N: Yes, unfortunately, you read the chapter title correctly. We're reaching the end of the first part of this story - fear not, though, I will be working on a sequel, which I'm tentatively calling Worse for Business, and will form part two of what I'm hopeful will be a longer series. As things stand, though, I want to spend a bit more time putting together more of a plot, and perhaps most importantly, coming up with more fight match-ups.
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY. It belongs to Rooster Teeth.
Beacon's main hall had often served a double-function, not just as a meeting place for students and staff, but also as the main area where announcements to the media would be held. With the large amount of open space available for camera crews and a raised stage and podium for the speaker, it was well-suited for the task.
Which was why several of Vale's news outlets, and even some from further afield, such as Haven and Vacuo, were currently gathered in the hall, having been called there to hear an announcement regarding the 'Battle of the Docks', and the girls who fought in it.
When Professor Ozpin took to the stage, the curious muttering among the attending guests quickly died down.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "Thank you for coming. I'm sure you are wondering why I called you here today."
He paused, letting the sudden surge of whispers stop. "As you are all no doubt well aware, there was a large altercation a few days ago at the Vale Docks, involving local criminal elements and the terrorist organisation known as the White Fang, as an attempted dust robbery turned fatally violent, causing significant damage as well as the loss of several lives. The robbery, and further damage, was only stopped by the intervention of several of our own first-year students here at Beacon Academy.
"We are, of course, immensely proud that our students chose to fight for what is right, even at the risk of their own safety. They all showed immense strength of character, and, while we would certainly rather our students waiting until they at least had a huntsman or huntress on hand before they got into so much trouble," he waited for the obligatory chuckles to die down, "We are honoured to count Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long among our students.
"Now, as you all may also be aware, Miss Belladonna was the first of the four to discover the disturbance, and fought the criminals on her own, at great cost to her own health. We are extraordinarily pleased to announce that not only will she will make a full recovery," he was forced to pause as a round of applause made it's way around the room, "But she also wishes to say a few very important words to all of you, here. Now, I would ask that you be patient," Ozpin's tone became stern, "Miss Belladonna is not used to public speaking, and this subject is a difficult one, so I request that you restrain yourselves from asking questions until she is done. Now, please, come in, Miss Belladonna."
Cameras flashed and scrolls typed furiously as team RWBY made their way onto the stage. Ruby and Weiss walked protectively on either side of the remarkably pale and wheelchair-bound Blake, who was being pushed carefully by Yang.
Yang set Blake up in front of a microphone stand, which Ruby promptly lowered for her until it was level with her face. She took a deep breath, and, with reassuring nods from her team-mates, began to speak.
"Hello, everyone," Blake began, "My name is Blake Belladonna. And the reason I am here today is to correct a misconception."
"The reaction to my part in the events of a few days ago has been... astounding. I could not believe it when I woke up and saw that so many people, whom I have never even met, wished me well and hoped for my recovery. Your kind thoughts helped me greatly. But as I said – I am here to correct a misconception. That misconception is that what I did that day was an act of heroism. I am here today to tell you it was not – what it truly was, was an act of seeking redemption."
With one motion, Blake's shaking hand raised to her head, and undid the small, black bow that hid her heritage from the world.
"I was once a member of the very organisation I fought a few days ago. I was once a part of the White Fang."
Absolute silence filled the hall.
Many of the other students had been having their lunch in Beacon's dining room when the press conference starting showing on the large screen – and as such, all were now watching intently.
"Oh, my," Velvet's eyes were wide, "I didn't expect her to do this."
"That doesn't seem like a smart move," Fox frowned, listening in.
"...No," Yatsuhashi spoke after a moment, "I think I understand the purpose."
Coco watched the screen, face unreadable. "This is a ballsy move," she finally weighed in, "You've got to introduce us to this friend of yours, Velvet."
"I was very young when they first recruited me. Young, impressionable, saddened by an unfair world, that seemed to hate me for simply being what I was. They fed me, they gave me a place to sleep, they raised me, all while promising that we would put an and to the discrimination though peaceful methods, through protest and demonstration. And for a while, that is what we did. We held rallies, we marched, we chanted and we sang – and I really felt like I was a part of something great, something that would change things for the better. Things did change. But not the way I wanted them to."
"Really," Cardin Winchester shook his head from his own position, standing by a table as he spoke loud enough for anyone to hear, "I can't believe I ever thought Belladonna was hot. Who would have guessed she was just another stupid animal? It was bad enough when it was just Scarlatina stinking up the place."
Back on their table, Coco, Fox and Yatsuhashi shared a look.
"New leadership came, and with it, came change. I soon found out that not all change is good – and that was certainly the case here. The peaceful protests were gone. The demonstrations stopped. Instead of preaching unity, our speakers preached hatred, and violence. Even though I hoped that things would fix themselves, that we would go back to the way we used to be... I was to be disappointed."
Roman chuckled in amusement. "Well, well. The kitty has claws. This will get the White Fang's hackles up like nothing else."
"..." Neo poked her head in the door.
"Awake, are they? Good," Roman nodded, "Let me finish watching this and I'll be right along."
Neo blinked as she took in the situation on the screen, shooting Roman a questioning look.
"It's our friend from the Docks," Roman smirked, "The young, tragic heroine of the city. She's revealing that she was a former member of the White Fang."
Neo's eyes went wide. "..."
"Very gutsy," Roman agreed, eyes locked on the screen.
"Things didn't change. They only got worse. Talking about violence turned to committing it, hate-speech sparked the flame of assaults, vandalism, theft... and even murder, as I could only watch on in horror. Finally, the day came when I could no longer hide behind my age, and they wanted me to take part. That was the final straw. I would not be a part of it. As soon as I had the opportunity... I left. I ended up on the run, fleeing for my life – until Beacon accepted me."
The light from the screen lit the darkened office entirely, as three people observed the proceedings.
"Clever," Cinder admitted, "Very clever."
"I'm not sure I get it," Emerald admitted, "How is it clever?"
Cinder spared her a glance. "They are trying to win over public opinion for the Faunus, all while spreading doubt amongst the membership of the White Fang."
"Two Nevermore with one round," Mercury mused, "Do you think it will work?"
"Possibly," Cinder admitted, her frustration leaking into her voice slightly, "Recent... failures, have not helped matters."
"To my fellow Faunus in the White Fang, I want to say: Please, stop! Look where violence and hatred has gotten you! Things are not fair, they are not right, but what you are doing, what we were doing, it isn't the way to fix it! I got out – so can you. I was given a second chance, a chance to do something with my life, so can you! Together, we can prove to them all that we are their equals, we are people just like them, we aren't monsters!"
"Look at that," growled the man next to him, "She sits up there, pretending that she understands us, but look who's standing next to her?"
"The Schnee brat," another hissed, "Of course this would be one of their schemes."
Tukson stayed silent, thoughts racing. Unlike his fellows beside him, he wasn't quite so dismissive – or quite so enamoured with the cause, any more. His original plan had been to leave for Vacuo – but it was a difficult and risky move, and if there was actually an opportunity for him to still make a life for himself by turning himself in...
"To all of you who have gathered here today, I want to say: If you take anything, at all, from my words here, please, let it be this. We aren't all like them. Most of us... we just want to live free from hatred, like so many of you do," Blake looked down, "That is all I have to say. Thank you for listening to me."
She waited with baited breath as the silence held for a few moments. Then, one man, standing near the front, began to clap. The woman next to him joined in. Then, as though a dam had burst, the entire hall was breaking out in applause.
Blake took it all in, stunned, as a reassuring hand fell on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw the smiling face of Weiss.
"I told you so," she mouthed.
Professor Ozpin stepped back to his microphone. "Thank you, Miss Belladonna, for that moving speech. Now, I'm sure many of you have questions. Please be aware that Miss Belladonna and her team-mates have the right not to answer any questions they deem fit," he then pointed to the first man who clapped, "If you could begin."
"Bayard Barnfield, Vale News Network," the large, brown-shirted man nodded, "That was a very moving speech, Miss Belladonna, but if I may ask, how do your team-mates feel about your past with the White Fang?"
Blake looked up at the others.
Ruby grabbed the mic first. "I'm Ruby. I'm Blake's team leader. I don't care about what Blake did when she was younger, she's my team-mate and I'm with her all the way."
"What she said," Yang agreed brightly as the mic was passed to her, "Except for the part about being Ruby or a team leader," a few chuckles rose from the crowd, "But seriously, Blake is my partner as a huntress and I trust her with my life. I've got her back." She then handed the microphone to the remaining member of the team.
"I do not care about Blake's past," Weiss said primly, "I care about her present and her future. I also stand with my team-mate, all the way."
"Thank you," Bayard nodded appreciatively, scribbling down the notes.
"If you could continue," Ozpin pointed out another woman further back in a black dress.
"Ciara Callaghan, The Vale Express," she said, "Miss Schnee, how does your father feel about your sharing a team with a former member of the White Fang?"
Weiss took the microphone again. "I believe you would need to ask him," she said innocently, "After all... I am not my father."
"I see," Ciara's eyes widened as she took in the double-meaning of that statement, "Thank you."
Ozpin pointed out another.
"Aurelius Adams, the Vacuo News. Will there be any punishment for Miss Belladonna due to her former membership in a criminal organisation?"
"I have worked out a suitable parole agreement with Miss Belladonna and the Vale Police department," Ozpin informed him, "We have struck the best compromise between allowing Miss Belladonna to continue her fine work as a huntress-in-training and ensuring she is aware that there are consequences to her actions."
"I am happy to abide by this agreement," Blake added after a prompt from Weiss, "I appreciate that despite my good intentions, I have committed wrongs and need to make up for them."
"We do, however, feel that Miss Belladonna has acquitted herself quite adequately with her heroic intervention at the Docks," Ozpin finished, "And the agreement was made with this in mind. I will also make clear that if any more current members of the White Fang wish to come forward and atone for their actions, we will do our best to come to an arrangement that allows you to atone for any wrongs you may have committed, while becoming a productive member of society. We will, of course, look more favourably on those who can do some part to help us stop the White Fang's campaign of terror."
The meat of the conference apparently over, most of the students began excitedly discussing it. One particular team were the exception.
"...So, Velvet," Coco began slowly, resting her elbows on the dining table, "I can't help but notice that some idiot first-year over there just spouted crap about you, and yet, he's still on his feet. Explain that to me, please."
"Please, leave it," Velvet sighed, "It's nothing."
"No," Yatsuhashi frowned, "It most certainly is not 'nothing'. You do not seem surprised."
"Has this been going on a long time?" Fox asked.
"Guys, please, leave it," Velvet pleaded.
"No," Coco denied her, "I know you can easily take on some firstie. Why are you letting him mouth off like that? You had no problems smacking down those White Fang idiots."
"I..." Velvet looked embarrassed, "Look, I know I could make him stop. I just... I get so angry about it, that I don't trust myself to stop with just doing that."
There was a moment of silence.
Then Coco slapped her around the back of the head.
"Ow..." Velvet rubbed the back of her head pitifully.
"You know, sometimes you say some really clever, wise stuff. But other times? You can be a total dumbass," Coco said in disbelief, "Can you believe this, guys?"
"I can't," Fox agreed.
"Nor me."
"I – wha?" Velvet stammered in confusion.
"After all," her leader cut her off, "You had to have known that there's no way the rest of your team would let you do something as stupid as going too far when teaching some moron who was giving you trouble a lesson."
The team's male contingent both nodded in agreement.
"Definitely."
"We would step in long before things got that out of hand."
"But I didn't want to have to rely on you guys for – ow!" Velvet clutched her head again as a hand clipped the back of it, "Stop doing that..."
"Then stop being a dumbass," Coco retorted, "And saying stupid things like 'I don't want to rely on my team'. Think back for a minute. Major mission we had recently. There was a big guy, had a chainsaw, was kind of a badass, you might recall that we beat him senseless."
"Yes," Velvet nodded.
"How did we do it? Did the rest of us stand back and let Yatsuhashi deal with it on his own?"
"...No," Velvet admitted.
"Exactly," Coco nodded, "We didn't. Because we're a team. We've got each others' backs. It would be the same if Fox had a problem, or if Yatsuhashi had a problem, except for Professor Goodwitch's door because that's just too funny to do anything about."
Yatsuhashi mumbled mutinously.
"And if you had a problem too, of course," Fox cut in amusedly.
"I don't have problems," Coco responded idly, "Circumstances occasionally make the stupid mistake of getting in my way. But yeah, in the unlikely event that did happen, I'd drag you guys along to help me out, too."
"But... I don't want to get in trouble," Velvet bit her lip.
"You've got an entire canteen full of witnesses who'll say he deserved it," Fox cut in.
"And if the teaching staff wish to make a problem of it, they will have a problem," Yatsuhashi added with unusual harshness, "Namely, a problem about why they seemingly allow racism to go unchallenged in their school."
"...Okay, fine," Velvet sighed, smiling slightly as she stood up, "I get it. I'm sorry for being so silly. Can you watch my things?"
"Of course," Yatsuhashi nodded, "Do you want us to join in? I would not be adverse to assisting you."
"No," Velvet shook her head, "Like you said... I can take him. If his team-mates jump in, can you back me up if it looks like I'm losing?"
"Go and do bad things to stupid people," Coco gave her a thumbs up, "We're here if you need us, we'll keep an eye on your stuff, and the fight. Well, Fox won't, but you know what I mean."
"Your empathy for my condition is as heart-warming as ever," Fox said dryly, "Go ahead, Velvet. I'll keep my ears on you as well."
Velvet shook her head and took a deep breath as she approached the laughing Cardin Winchester. As she did so, her mind couldn't help but turn back to the many times he had pulled on her ears, or spilled her food and drink, or the times he called her names, or the times he told loud, off-colour jokes about Faunus when she was in ear-shot, or the times when...
Needless to say, by the time she actually reached him, she was in a markedly different mindset from the one she had been when she left her table.
Cardin was basking in the laughter of his team-mates as they reacted to yet another joke when he was tapped on the shoulder. He turned around, and blinked in surprise. That surprise quickly turned to amusement as he saw one of the usual targets of his scorn, Velvet Scarlatina, glaring angrily at him.
"Well, well," he smirked, "Looks like we can stop paying attention to the animal on the screen, guys, we've got another one right here, in its natural habitat! What do you want?"
"I want you not to be able to have children," Velvet told him, "But I'd settle for you shutting up."
Before he could ask what she meant by that, his world exploded in the unfathomable pain that could only be experienced by a man who was lifted clean off his feet by a hard kick to the crotch.
"Of course," Velvet continued, "I could just try for both at once."
As he landed, crumpling to the ground, the last thing Cardin heard before everything became agony was someone in the background shouting "That's my girl!"
Roman shook his head as he turned away from the television. "Kids these days," he remarked idly, "Getting into big battles, political grandstanding, what happened to just stealing candy from the store and selling it to the other kids?"
"...?" Neo looked at him in mock astonishment.
"Oh, ha ha," Roman said sarcastically, "Yes, at some point in my life, I really did take someone's money and actually give them something back for it. I wasn't born this good a criminal, you know, it took hard work to get here. And speaking of criminal enterprise," he left the small office space of their new warehouse building and began heading down towards the basement, "Lets expand ours a little more."
They entered the corridor, where a pair of cells had been installed – both with small openings at the top to let sound through, but no bars to allow for line-of-sight. That had been Neo's idea, after explaining the twins' new semblances to Roman as well as their line of sight limitation.
"Hello, girls!" Roman said cheerfully, "I hear you're awake! Let's talk about your new employment, shall we?"
"New employment?" Miltia asked, "Where are we? What happened to Junior?" She certainly did not sound one hundred percent - clearly, they hadn't fully recovered from the beating Neo had given them, which was good for him.
"You're in our new building, of course. As for Junior, he came down with a rather serious case of being dead," Roman replied idly, "You might want to be careful, though. I hear it can get contagious when people who tried and failed to plan my death ask stupid questions."
He began pacing up and down alongside the two makeshift cells. "Now, you made a stupid mistake. Of course you did! It's an important part of being a teenager, after all. The important thing, though, is that we learn from our stupid mistakes, and grow, as people, because of it. Don't you agree?"
Another moment of silence. "...Yeah," Melanie spoke up cautiously.
"Of course you do!" Roman agreed cheerfully, "Now, I may have room in my business plan for two individuals with your particular... talents, especially since you figured out that little switching trick of yours, and I've got to admit, I'm almost impressed you kept that from both of us as long as you did. Of course, for you, there's the opportunity to put your stupid mistake firmly in the past where it belongs, and earn some real cash."
"That all sounds good," Miltia spoke up, "But what if we don't want to work for you?"
"Well, like I said," Roman responded flatly, "Contagious."
"...We'll do it," Melanie and Miltia said at once.
"I thought you might say that," Roman agreed, "Now then, Neo, open the doors. I want these two with us for the next part."
"What's the next part?" Melanie asked.
"We're informing the remains of Junior's organisation that they've come under new management," Roman responded, "After that, I reach out to his network, and then? We start recruiting."
He paused. "Also, we need to do some work on this place," he eyed the walls, "I'd quite like to work out of something a bit classier than an old warehouse, after all. It's a good job Junior saved a load of his old equipment, isn't it..."