(Author note for this chapter. There is a single line of shock humor. It is meant as shock humor. Nothing more.)

Chapter Thirty Three: Old Pains, Opened or Healed?

Bip... Bip...

A monotonous tone chimes every other second, soft yet noticeable enough. Repeating on end. A small groan escapes his lips. Agonizingly slow, his eyes open, the bright Fluorescent lighting blinding and stinging his eyes. Eyes watering from the sting, he gradually lets them adjust to the light. He's in a hospital room. The cleanliness gave him that idea anyway.

Huh... No IV drip? Thought those were always in every patient. Weird. But, if he's in a hospital, that means he's not dead. Good... news? Dimly everything started to come back, the next thought on his surroundings alerting him. AZRL... Bangle... N-

"NEO!" His voice rasps out in a scream as he pushes himself up to sit. Eyes unfocused, he sees a form rush to him, gently easing a hand on him and urging him down. No armor, no weapon. Panic begins to set in as his hand reaches out and prepares to recall Heulin Noon!

"Carmine stop! Your aura hasn't recovered yet!" The voice was firm, but worried... Familiar but he couldn't place it immediately. Although, it clearly wasn't that AZRL guy, so... Carmine calms, getting eased back as his body whines in pain. His vision focuses, spotting the long coat on the man. Violet eyes look back at him.

Carmine cocks his head. "Ch-... Chief Inspector Lee?" The man looked... exhausted. Lines on his face that most definitely were not there before. He grimaces as he nods, but then manages a small smile.

"How are you feeling, Carmine?"

Maybe the exhaustion shut off his mental censoring as he speaks back. "Only slightly worse than you look." Carmine tenses, blinking as he realized he spoke out loud. "I-I mean..." The chief laughs at the jest, the boy reddening before continuing. "Sorry. W-what happened? Where's my friends?"

Lee grimaces looking unimpressed at the word 'friends', but at least loses some more of the grim look. "Due to the extent of casualties, the hospital couldn't place you all in the same rooms... We were waiting for you to wake up before the doctor could let you out on your own." He pats Carmine's leg, nodding. "I'll go get him."

The confusion remains as his watches Lee move to the door, merely poking his head out and politely waving over. In only a few seconds, the stern vision of Knox enters the room. His hair disheveled and bags under his eyes. Despite how strong and authoritative he seemed, he speaks softly. "Well... twelve hour nap, and you still look like crap." He ends with a small forced smirk.

Light ribbing, but Carmine picks out the information in his haze. "Twelve hours? Are you serious?" He groans, hand moving to his head and rubbing it. "What happened?"

"You fell out of it in the middle of a forty five man shootout between domestic terrorists and a city wide police force condensed into one hospital ground." Knox states blunt, flashing a look to Lee. "Speaking purely from the medical side, your aura went near absolute zero. I don't think I need to explain to you that that's risky, kid."

Carmine huffs, allowing the small smile, his mind still processing. "I don't remember having much choice..." He blinks in realization, looking to Lee. "The woman! I told her to go to the fourth floor of the parking garage! Did you find-"

Lee holds up a hand, smiling softly. "We found her. She's okay. Just down the hall actually." He exchanges a look with Knox. "She should make a full recovery?"

Knox jitters and shakes his head. "Oh, if she doesn't shut her yapper, I might just have to give myself a gut wound to stay away." He jokes, voice tilted higher as he cracks a smile at Carmine. "You can only hear someone brag about the savior young man so many times." He winks, earning a smirk from the boy. "But, enough of the feel good crap." He looks to the clip board on the table. "You'll recover fully given enough rest." He cuts an eye at him. "That means an actual bed. Not 'oh, I only carried some groceries' ignoring moving heavy machinery." Eyes back on the clipboard, he nods. "So, lets get a full physical under way and we can get you out and put someone else in that bed."

As the doctor starts to set about basic tasks directing the boy, Carmine's mind continues to process the situation. He performs breathing exercises with Knox listening, tests his reflexes and joint movement, hand eye coordination. Carmine speaks up. "Mr Lee?"

"Yes, Carmine?" The man speaks up.

"... You said... My team was placed in different rooms because too many were taken... You mentioned casualties? How-" He gulps as he slowly works his speech. "How many?"

Lee grimaces, a soft look on him. "Far, FAR less than had you not stopped them."

Carmine only frowns. "It only happened at all because we were here." He doesn't allow the deflection. "How many?"

Lee blinks in surprise. He didn't expect the boy to instantly cut through that. "... 242 civilian casualties, 27 officer casualties, and 58 criminal casualties."

Knox, having a stethoscope on Carmine's chest, hears the absolute stop at the numbers. He quickly adds. "Casualties doesn't mean deaths, kid. Not in the clinical sense. Those are the total number of injuries plus deaths." Waiting for the boy to calm, Knox continues the evaluation. "62 deaths, total."

62... His head hangs lower. Plus Miguel... plus Tamara in Vaterra... Plus Mom. Dad. Her. 67 deaths on his head.

He messed up. Eyes sting as he clenches the fabric of his pants. "Neo?" He looks up.

Knox stops, setting a look on him. "Eyes on me, little cub. Your team can wait." He writes down some information before handing the clip board to the boy. The action breaks his thoughts, distracting him. "Please make sure this information is all still accurate. Look it over closely."

"Little cub?" He cocks his head confused... He lets it go before checking it. It was a patient history page... It was already partially filled out? "Did Blair fill this out?"

"Nope. That's just what we had on file." Knox mutters. That only pulls the boy further back.

"Wait, what? I was on file?" He looks the page over... his allergies were there?! Wait, allergic to dust mites? THAT'S why he gets so stuffy indoors easily. "How do you..?"

"Kid, I knew who you were the moment I saw you in Yogi's apartment." Knox scoffs. "I've given thousands of babies their first physical exams, but that hair anomaly is hard to forget." Carmine's poker face freezes as he processes that. Is... is that why he agreed to help?

"Wait..." He remembers... Going to the hospital with his mom... being told she couldn't be the one treating her own family... and... and... He whips an accusatory finger at the man and recoils back. "Y-You're the evil doctor I saw!"

At the word 'evil', Knox twitches. "... I was your family care doctor, yes. Even doctors as talented as I had the lower totem pole assignments." He sighs. "I was the head Attending at the same time your mother was head of Surgery. She pestered the absolute hell out of me not to harm her... and I quote... 'perfect child'."

The statement earns an embarrassed tint to the boy, but it pales in comparison to being reminded of his mother... A smile forms as, rather than comment, he just wants to relish it for just a second. "... Alright, so am I good?"

Knox hands the boy a scroll. His scroll! The device is charged and shows his aura meter. 5%... "You are free to leave my care, yes." After receiving it, the boy watches the man quickly point to the door. "Now, off with you. The next poor soul needing my talent is waiting."

Carmine chuckles, nodding and standing. His body remains sore, balance almost out of whack. "Uh, where is-?"

"The blonde keeps self doctoring herself in room N327, the jackass was released medically hours ago, AND pint sized is in room N512."

"Thank you..." Carmine nods and looks to Lee, who nods back and leads him out of the room. The walk is difficult, even just ten yards out from the room. He looks to the officer. "Uh... where's my stuff?"

Lee blinks and nods. "Your armor and gun were removed during care and placed in a safekeeping location. With so many people about, we could not risk someone stealing weapons that didn't belong to them." He then gives a dry look to the boy. "Your... teammates were difficult to relieve of their weapons."

The boy awkwardly huffs a chuckle, though his nerves remain. "Yeah... We're a stubborn bunch... You don't seem impressed."

Lee blinks surprised. "Oh, I'm very impressed." He says as they reach the elevator. Dozens of hospital workers mill about through every room, an absolute storm of movement. Carmine frowns, catching sight of injured civilians in some rooms. Many of the workers were wearing rescue and firefighting overalls...

Carmine almost misses Lee continue. "It's one thing for a boy who should be in combat school to be leading a team. It's another on a different level to see his team having a known Vale criminal."

He freezes, mind short circuiting. The world continues to move about without his notice, the elevator dinging and opening for the two. Lee raises a brow at the frozen child, holding the door to keep it from shutting. He waits for the boy to respond, taking several seconds. "... I can explain-"

"I'm sure you can." Lee manages a small smirk at the boy's distress. "But first, we should be up to speed. I have some questions, and this time, you can't hide behind Hunter business to stay quiet." The knowing look doubles the boy's panic. This... would take a while.

He sighs, but flinches at another thought. The blonde mustached man came to mind. "... About the Lieutenant... Um, is he... around?"

The man waits for the elevator doors to close fully before answering. A weary look comes as the experienced chief sighs. "Lieutenant Bangle has resigned his position and turned himself in for aiding and abetting in over a dozen types of crimes." The statement earns a double take from the boy. Recalling how Bangle had showed up for him... so, he did tell the truth!

He continues, a tired groan coming. "He... did hold off on his resignation long enough to point out 19 of the Hospital's nursing, janitorial, and maintenance staff as being connected to this, I guess I'll say... terrorist organization AZRL." His blank eyes gaze down at the boy, who still takes the information in. "As well as the seven electrical engineers who work at the power plant and the local CCT tower."

Carmine recoils at that. "... Whoa... That many people..?"

"You're against some difficult odds." The chief admits. "We sent a patrol to the warehouse on Ahkan Boulevard." He starts, but lets the sentence hang, an expecting look on the boy.

The pit of his gut sank recalling the fight. "... Miguel is dead now... He was operated on and attacked us." Hesitantly, he adds low. "Neo was the last of us on our feet and executed him with my gun..."

The officer takes a moment to mull over the response, humming. "Yes, the patrol reported that a whole section of the warehouse looked like a battlefield... but suspiciously, there was no body." Carmine whips his head up at that. "No body, nor evidence of the experimentation you and your team alleged. Save for the photos Mr Torchwick provided, but are now in our possession."

Carmine's fists clenched. AZRL must have cleaned the place out before assaulting the hospital... Another step ahead. Just a second, he sees red, anger flooding him. "They took his body?! Just like that?! How can't you find-"

Lee holds up a hand, halting his speech. "I said we didn't find the physical evidence, not that we didn't believe you." He looks off into space as the elevator opens and he leads the boy out into the halls. "For instance, that half of the warehouse was stripped of valuable equipment that Dr Knox's paperwork says should be there. We have enough evidence that this AZRL took anything that could've been used to investigate them further, including the body."

The two stop in the hallway, Carmine grimacing the man's way. "So... we interrogate every AZRL troop captured?" But the man is already shaking his head. He seemed... in disbelief himself. "What is it?"

"Our off duty officers have volunteered to do exactly that at the police station, but every single one of the armed soldiers from last night suddenly began to drop dead." Carmine felt as if ice was flushed over him... "We still have requested the hospital check the bodies, but-"

"The implants..." Carmine mutters. The chief is taken aback for a second. The boy growls. "It's an implant in their brain. We discovered them last month. Blair had to dissect a man we captured near Mibu in Mistral territories."

A moment passes, the officer taking that in. "I... see. I'm sure the doctors will back that up themselves once they're free to check." He nods. "As for these undercover operatives they seem to have, they have remained healthy... the three we actually managed to locate and arrest. All the others have disappeared out of nowhere. The ones we have either aren't in the know or won't talk."

Carmine stops to glare at him, dumbstruck. "Shouldn't Bangle know? Ask him!"

"He... only appears to know of operatives and operations IN the city. He's been placed under heavy supervision and care right now, so we will press him when we can." The words come out awkward from the chief, like they stung for him to say.

The boy frowns at that, unsure what to think of it. Sure, the man was cooperating and responsible for him still, you know, living. However, this was a man that had been present in this city for more than a decade and a half, just going off his own age. The sheer amount of crimes he must have covered for... "I... want to speak to him."

The chief is taken aback by this, blinking blank until he scratches his cheek and sighs. "He's... already being transferred to Vale, I'm afraid. The amount he's admitting to by itself would be a life sentence or far more, but given the people he was working for..."

The words hang, leaving the implication to imagination. Carmine understood clearly. He needed to be under lock and key in Vale to have any hope of living long enough to tell them anything. By now, his father must know, even. "Okay..."

Lee shifts as the conversation lulls, humming to himself as he inspects the boy. "I'll expect written statements from you and your team before you can leave the hospital. Dana will be reading them over and giving you the go ahead if it's... enough to allow Torchwick to leave." Carmine raises a brow at him, so he elaborates. "Had this city not just seen a massive blow to its medical, law enforcement, and power needs, I wouldn't hesitate to still arrest Mr Torchwick." His tone is grim, getting a gulp out of the boy. "But... seeing he's playing on our team, and we can't afford to waste the resources to hold him... he gets a pass today." His eyes narrow on the boy once more. "One pass."

Carmine shrinks at the tone. Message received loud and clear. Tense and jerky, he gives a faux salute and forced smile. "Aye sir..." He looks away, spotting the door down the hall. The label shows room 512, in the North wing. He sucks in a breath, looking over to receive an encouraging nod from the chief.

Moving away, the boy's focus locks purely on the door as he walks, jogs, and eventually sprints around the people in the bustling hallway! Closing in, he beats the door open, snapping into the room wide eyed, breathing heightened. "NEO!"

Mismatched pink and brown blinks and looks back at him... The girl sitting on a hospital bed... Her cheeks swollen out with a spoon in her mouth. Carmine takes in her dress, spotting a simple pink hoodie and white shorts. He previous clothes were discarded. Sitting in her lap was a big bowl of ice cream. He then looks onto her head, spotting a certain bowler hat resting on her cranium. Well, more like engulfing given her too small head.

Neo blinks again, letting the bowl rest in her lap as her off hand raises and waves. Numbly, Carmine unconsciously reciprocates the motion. Head cocked confused before he gets his bearings. He storms across the room to the bed side. "Are you okay? How you feeling? Why are you wearing Roman's hat? How's your throat? But, why the hat?"

The mute girl smirks with the spoon still in her mouth. Her off hand holds up a shatter note. It reads off. 'In order: Yes. Hungry. I took it when cops were talking to him. Freaking raw. I thought it would be funny.'

Seeing her be jovial... was more than he could ask for. As if a thousand days of tension were releasing, the boy deflates by the bed. He huffs an exhausted laugh as he flicks the shatter card to break it. The girl giggles at his tired look. He shifts for a moment, unsure of what to do before lightly clapping his hand onto her shoulder. His eyes close, just setting in that she was here... she's real.

Neo's look blanks a moment, flicking her gaze a the hand before back on the boy. She huffs, but a light smirk coming. Popping the empty spoon from her mouth, she takes a scoop of the treat and holds it up.

Carmine opens his eyes, blinking surprised at the offered treat. He looks dumbly at her as she sullenly glares. After a second, she pops her mouth open in an 'ah' motion. He blinks, brow furrowed before opening up-

She shoves the spoonful into his mouth hard enough to get a surprising choking gag! She pulls back, leaving the spoon of the treat in his jaws as he lightly panics and coughs through his nose. Slowly, he settles a dull glare on her. Grumpy now, he starts to suck at the spoon in his mouth until the ice cream is gone. The girl is choking on a laugh, wincing painfully but ignoring the pain.

Yep. She's fine. A pain in his ass.

He pops the spoon from his mouth and offers it back with a narrowed dagger stare. Neo smiles pretty as she accepts the spoon back and goes back to eating her ice cream. Upon seeing her use the spoon herself, Carmine's lips purse as a light blush forms over him. Nah, he's thinking too hard on it.

The door opens as the white bear faunus enters. JD smiles at the kids. "Well, now three of you are on your feet! How are you feeling?"

Carmine looks back, seeing the bags under the man's eyes and disheveled look. "Uh... How are YOU feeling?"

Both the doctor and boy pause, equally aware that both look like absolute shit. Both exhale exhausted before letting the doctor continue. "Well, Neo. You better thank that aura healing cause you can leave within the hour." The girl perks up, chipper.

"The surgery worked?" Carmine questions, looking between them. "Like... she'll be at 100%? She can t-" He stops himself at the word 'talk'. He tenses as he sees a solemn look from the girl.

JD senses the look from her as well, bracing himself to tell the boy. "Let's start with the good news. Once her throat heals, she won't have any issues with her breathing. Her throat will heal fully. Her coughing fits and constant aura drain won't be a thing anymore. I'm told her aura levels will be off the charts having that theoretical muscle constantly flexed for years."

His metaphor, while exciting to think about, was second to the next concern. Carmine looks from Neo, who looks back to her ice cream and continues eating. "What's the bad news?"

"We... can't fix her vocal cords." JD eases in. At Carmine's surprised look, he elaborates. "Simply put, the damage that was done is too extensive for any surgeon here. Kris could have attempted to fix it, but it was more likely to leave a permanent throat injury beyond what was there before." He eyes the girl before stating politely. "No one in the Vale territories, or Mistral, or Vacuo would even attempt the operation. Only specialist we know that would even be capable of the operation beyond a 50/50 chance would be a Doctor Franklynn located in Atlas. But, he's purely business with the rich throughout Mantle. Quite expensive."

Carmine grimaces as he looks at Neo. The girl shrugs her shoulders, but he can see the light curve down of her lips... "So, the only person who can do it is across the planet and needs millions of Lien... great." He huffs. "We'll start saving job money for when we go there." Neo snaps a wide eyed pouting look his way, but looks away quickly after. "But... other than that, she's okay?"

JD nods, smiling at the girl. She seems uneasy seeing the smile as he responds. "Much better than before, I think, but her tongue is swollen from the clamps. She can only eat soft food right now." Oh, THAT'S the reason for the ice cream. JD sends a smirk the girl's way. "Speaking of, you about finished with that?"

Neo sends back an angry scowl, completely ruined by the spoon locked in her lips. Her hands gripped more possessively on the bowl.

Carmine snickers at the look, rolling his eyes. "Is there anything else we need to know?"

A mild panic sets over the doctor before awkwardly shifting towards the door. "Just that Kris is working overtime in medical and is looking after Blair... So... I should make sure she hasn't murdered him... Or that he hasn't put her under anesthetic for no reason..." His face contorts, as if the throwaway joke might actually occur. "Actually, I'll go check on that right now. Be right back with your discharge papers."

The man disappears out the door like a speedster, leaving the teens alone... for the better part of ten seconds before the door swings open once more. This time, it's the grumpy face of their favorite ginger. Roman marches in, hair swept to one side as he twirls a hospital provided silver cane. Behind him, Detective Carter and another officer both follow him.

He perks upon seeing the boy. "Oh, you lived. I owe Barbie a five."

Instantly, he's managed to bring relief and anger to the boy. "Well, hello to you too... So happy to know you care." The sarcasm drips like acid. "I almost thought you turned into a girl when I got here." He mentions, pointing to Neo still wearing the man's hat.

Roman cracks a smirk as he swipes the hat from the girl's head. "I let you get away with that as a reward for living, tricolor. One time thing." He smirks at the 'Oh, really?' look she returns. He straightens the hat as Carmine stares at the two officers. The conman notices before flashing a toothy grin. "Oh, the suits are concerned over letting me roam, it seems." His smirk then falls off completely. "Even going to the bathroom alone..." He growls in the speech, sending a look at the two cops.

Carter gives a cheeky grin behind him. "If it's that big a problem, we can take you in. But, then you'll have far more intimate bathroom company."

Roman rolls his eyes. "Far more pleasurable company than your pat downs. The ladies must be disappointed in you."

The other officer snickers. "I hear they are."

Carter double takes at his partner, scowling and swatting the man's arm. "Come on, man! You're my backup here." The guy gives an apologetic shrug as Carter sends a grumpy glare to the conman, who smirks back. Ignoring the criminal, Carter turns his smile on the teens. "Hey, kid! How you holding up?"

"Feeling like I got my crap kicked in. You?" The bowl answers bluntly and honestly.

Carter makes an unsubtle point to Roman, sticking his nose up. "Feeling ready to kick his crap in. You actually put up with him?"

Carmine smiles at the man, appreciating the jovial attitude. "Eh. You get used to it. He's not... insufferable." He cuts a glare Roman's way as the man smirks back.

"Spoken like someone learning their place, brat."

"Piss off, condescending ass." Carmine resists the irking urge to engage Roman further, so he looks back to Carter. "So... we need to fill out statements before we can leave?"

Carter nods and thumbs toward the door. "Dana is getting one from the Arizona Blonde." At the two teens cocking their heads at him, he elaborates on the name. "She's got the temperament of a hungry spider. She might actually have fangs and extra legs hidden."

The teens sweet drop as Carmine forces a laugh. "Ah, she's not... being too problematic for the doctors, is she?" The two officers tense and share a glance. The pause bothers him before he urges again, voice raising in pitch. "Right?"

"... We haven't been called specifically about her yet, so that's... good?" Carter says, unsure.

Roman barks a laugh at that. "You know? I doubt you'd get the call before she could do something. Barbie is a monst- oof! Hey!" He shouts at the boy, who'd just swatted him in the gut.

"Stop instigating." Carmine scowls at the man.

Roman narrows his eyes on the stubborn brat before eyeing the mute silently giggling beside him. He locks his gaze onto his hat atop her head, quickly swiping it off. "I let you get away with that out of pity, Neo. Won't happen again. Got it?"

The declaration that he 'let' her take his hat lights a spark in her mind. A challenge. Neo smirks devilishly back and nods. Roman smirks back and raises a brow, twirling his hat and placing it back atop his head. The five remain in the room for a few minutes until JD's return.

The man enters, hair frazzled. "Well, Kris is still alive, so let's go ahead and get you signed out okay?" He hands papers down on Neo's lap, the girl blinking confused, but he doesn't notice. "These are your discharge papers if you'll sign right here." He points to a spot on the page and places the pen with it. Before the girl even processes anything, JD hands another page to her. "Our fax machine is down from overuse, imagine why. This is your prescription for the pain killer I showed you earlier, remember?"

Neo's brow furrowed in confused worry as he rattles these things off at her. Her unfocused gaze remains on each thing he points to on the sheets. He continues. "Remember to only take the pain killer once a day and let it dissolve fully in water, not soda, water. Your aura healing should have you clear in five days, but just in case anything is wrong, you can call my extension here." He points to another spot on the page, missing how her eyes were spinning now. "Any questions?"

Carmine and the others watch as the poor mute gazes dazed at the paperwork. He chuckles and perks at a thought. "Oh! Right, this is literally the first time she's seen a doctor that wasn't a slaver or Blair, so... literally all of that went over her head."

Said girl sends an elbow into his ribs, earning a pained grunt from him. She glares his way with a light dusting blush from embarrassment.

"Easy, here, I'll help." Carmine chuckles through the short pain and assists her looking over every piece of the paper work... Sure, most coming down to him saying 'ignore that... that doesn't apply to you... because you don't have diabetes... no, it says that here- Okay, let's try again.' It takes a minute, but soon enough the girl's signatures are in order.

JD accepts the papers and leads the group from the room before he veers off to check on another patient. The three CRBN members walk with the two officers accompanying them in tense silence circumvented by Neo and Carmine silently glancing and gesturing to communicate. The girl uses Roman's hospital safe cane as she's still slightly wobbly.

She also swats Carmine in the shin after saying she was doing a 'weeble wobble' as she walked.

Soon, the group came upon the third floor, approaching Blair's room... Dana leaves the room, sighing and rubbing the side of her head. "Sup girl!" Carter greets her. "How's it?"

"The story, the bickering two in there, or me?" She looks equally tired like all the others in the hospital, but she remains astute and ready with her clip board and pen.

"Yes." Carmine answers for her. At her gaze falling on him, he shrinks lightly. "I mean... How is Blair? How are you feeling? And we need to give statements?" His voice cracks on the end, getting a snort from Roman.

Dana nods. "She feels how you look. I feel as how she looks. And I've got hers and that one's. Just need you little ones to give a statement, then I can decide if you leave or not."

Taking her joke, Carmine smiles and looks at the others. "At least she's okay!" The intense bags and pale skin, disheveled hair and wrinkled clothes most definitely did not look okay. Neo and Roman sweat drop and share a glance, Carter snickering and giving a thumbs up.

Dana hums, slightly amused. "Which of you wishes to go first?" Carmine opens his mouth, only for Neo to push him onward. She steps in front of the officer and nods. Dana nods. "Come this way and we'll settle this quick."

The females leave, Carmine grimacing. "Neo volunteering... Can't be good- Hey!" He yelps as Roman is already pushing him along.

"Leave it be. Sooner we check Barbie out of the day care, we can leave." Roman grumbles as he pushes the boy ahead. The two shove their way unceremoniously through the door and inside... The find Blair sitting patiently on the hospital bed. Her clothes were tattered, but anywhere skin showed was a bandage close by. Small slips of bandages over small cuts up her arms, her exposed shoulder shows a wrap bandage going over her chest. Even her head had a full head band of wrap. Her eyes were heavy, but she brightened slightly on Carmine.

Carmine smiles, feeling slight relief as, without thinking, he marches over and wraps an arm over her other shoulder. He sighs. "Hey." He mumbles, voice muffled by her shoulder.

She lacks the energy to resist the half hug and leans into it. "Hello. You look... unwell."

"You look worse. Shut up." He utters before releasing the hug and chuckling. She locks a gaze on him as his chuckling stops and he locks up. "I mean, you look wonderful. Holding up great."

"Hmm." She hums showing absolutely no buying of his bull shit.

Roman snickers as he takes a seat. "Howdy again, Barbie."

"I'm cursed. He came back." Blair speaks to Carmine as she lays back. The rare open joke gets a laugh from the boy.

"Where's Kris? You kill him yet?" Carmine jokes. "With a scalpel? Or with your... bear hands?" He cracks into laughter as Blair and Roman's jovial natures recoil into cringe. The cops both roll their eyes at it. "Oh! Sorry, too hard to bear?"

"Ohhh~" Blair groans. As Roman covers his eyes with his palm.

"Oh! If you had to have a faunus name, what would it be?" Carmine says, grinning wider at their pain.

"Don't you fucking dare-" Roman growls low.

"-Cause I'd go with Beary." He says, spinning the name Barry. Both his teammates groan loudly.

"Please stop!" Blair pleads, voice muffled into her hand.

"Why? I'm bearly trying." His now toothy grin shines.

"Love for your daddy or not, I will arrest you!" Carter cuts in. Carmine looks to find both officers and his teammates sending playful, yet exasperated glares his way.

"Jeez... giving me the Care Bear Glare over here-" He's cut off as Blair's hand firmly locks on his jaw line and forces his mouth shut. He looks at her as she makes a show of rolling her eyes at him. Waiting long enough to be sure he won't continue, she lets go of his jaw and lightly pats his cheek once.

She freezes as the door bursts open, Kris sliding into the room with a grin. "I heard Care Bear. Wassuuuup!" He chuckles at Blair's stormy glare going his way while Carmine beams a smile his way. "Good, I got witnesses so you can't stab me again."

"Again?" Carmine and the cops echo, sending glances at the blonde.

She grinds out with her glare. "My shoulder was dislocated... and he was pushing it the wrong way!" At the continued suspicious glares, she adds. "It was only a poke with his pen." Looking over at Kris, he sends wide eyes at her and holds up his arm, showing a wrapped bandage around the forearm. "Your bed side manner is also appalling."

"Your patient manner is appalling!" He snaps back, tossing a paper on the counter top by a corner sink. "Your aura is at 2%. You may leave with supervision and it's here."

Carmine perks at that. "Wait! What happened to you? What all is wrong?"

Kris stands straighter, sobering up as if ready to deliver the grim news. "She's has extreme ac-"

"-acute myalgia. Muscle pain." Blair cuts in as she speaks simultaneously with Kris. She opens her mouth to continue, but Kris flares up at her.

"Witch woman, I am the doctor here!" The two lock glares for a moment, Carmine shrinking to the side of them.

"..." Blair's eyes narrow ever so slightly.

"..." Kris's widen slightly more with a slight turn of the head, like 'Oh, try me.' Perhaps due to exhaustion... Blair closes her eyes and settles back, flicking her off hand for him to continue. "Thank you." He straightens back up... and freezes with his mouth open.

A moment passes as Roman speaks up mockingly. "You lost your train of thought, didn't you?"

Kris keeps a poker face before Blair mumbles low enough only Carmine hears. "Surgeon..." He didn't want to think of this as the guy who saved Neo's life, but now a retroactive panic sets in.

Kris slowly reaches and takes the clipboard off Blair's hospital bed with her summary. Doing his best to look professional, he straights and speaks. "She has extreme acute myalgia throughout her body-" Carmine notices that to the side, Blair's mouth is moving along, mouthing the exact words Kris speaks tiredly. "This is muscle pain caused by severe over use and stress. In her case, she even caused outright muscle tears around her shoulder which she dislocated. She also has light lacerations from an impact to her head."

"Won't aura healing fix... like, all of that given a few days?" Carmine asks, flicking a gaze to the blonde in worry.

She stops miming Kris's words to look softly back, appreciating the concern as she then looks down. Kris continues. "Her aura bottomed out to absolute zilch like yours did. It'll take days for her aura healing to be fully working." He then turns to her and holds up a discharge paper. "Recommendation is-"

"Two days bed rest on top of two days light stress only. Nothing above 15 pounds." Blair clinically rattles off.

Kris glares at her for the better part of a minute before turning to the boy. He marks something on the paper and grits out. "I'm making it four days of light stress to be sure. Make sure she follows the DOCTOR'S orders, alright?"

Carmine does a mock salute as Blair glares his way. "Really? Mandating more rest out of spite?"

Kris cocks his head with a toothy smile, teeth twinkling. "Wassuuuuup?" He heel turns in a spin towards the door, attempting to leave in style with her discharge papers.

Blair's glare flicks over to Roman, whose smirk starts to give way to a look of elation... Realization? Something in his eye... Her eyes widen... a reaction that gives Roman answer to an unspoken question. Oh no...

Before Roman can embarrass the blonde, the door opens as Neo walks in using the cane. Kris is forced to give way for the girl as well as Dana with her. So many people in the room, he can't make his dramatic exit... damn. While Blair looks mortified at Roman, whose smile looks giddy, the general attention of the room switches to Neo, Carmine snapping to her. "What did you take?"

Neo smirks and places a hand on her chest in mock offense.

The boy flicks a gaze to officer Dana. "Bull. I know you took something."

Dana mutters dryly boring a gaze into Neo's head from behind. "She tried to take my badge." Carmine's livid gaze bursts onto Neo, who coyly looks away. Dana looks over to Carter and begins to ask him a question unrelated as the kids focus on each other.

Carmine flicks between them suspiciously, then leaning in to Neo. "Okay, what did you really take?" He whispers low, the girl merely smiling darkly. She rolls her eyes and huffs before pulling at the neck line of her hoodie. Still reliant on the cane, she's forced to lean lightly into the boy as her other hand reaches into the inside of the hoodie and retrieves a small handful of Lien.

Despite blushing at her chosen hiding spot for the money, all color leaves him upon seeing the money... Neo stole a cop's money... a COP'S MONEY! Without thinking, he snatches the Lien from the girl, who simply rolls her eyes.

Dana pulls her attention to Carmine, the two quickly leaving the room to get his statement...

. . .

Minutes later, and Carmine enters the hospital room himself, annoyed. He'd had to ham fist a need to 'tip' Dana her Lien back without outright telling her Neo took it from her. He's not in the mood to deal with an arrest because Neo just can't not steal!

She's on her feet less than a day, and he already can't think straight about the girl...

Behind him, Dana looks at Detective Carter sharing a nod. "We're good to let them leave."

Carter and the other cop whip their heads at her, a smirking Roman allowing slight surprise to show. "Seriously? We're letting the guy go?"

Dana nods. "By all four accounts, they match up and are forthcoming about anything shady they've done. And, asides from destruction of public and private property on the streets and in that one warehouse, nothing that we should bother with. It's a literal drop in a bucket compared to this." She looks to Blair and Neo, resting a suspicious glare on the young girl and flicking a gaze to Carmine.

Okay, maybe the 'tip money' thing wasn't as subtle as he thought.

Carter is reluctant, but sends a worrying glance at Carmine. "Alright... we'll get out of your hair kid, but stay in GOOD company, alright?"

Carmine gives a tired smile, slightly embarrassed. "I try. It doesn't work."

That gets a light smirk from the man as he holds his hand out. Carmine takes it for a hand shake. "Take it easy. Come on back through anytime." The three cops turn to leave the room, Carter whipping his head back around to jab a finger out. "But no fighting terrorists next time! I'll hold you to that!" He cuts out as the door shuts, leaving team CRBN together with Kris... who Carmine notices hadn't left after the incident before.

"So, can we go now? Her papers were signed?" The boy asks tiredly. "I thought you were leaving."

Kris pouts and gestures to Roman, who is back to smirking devilishly. A low deep chuckle escapes him under his breath as he eyes the blonde who sends a wide eyed glare back. "This one won't let me leave for some reason, so now I'm hostage for his and the witch's pissing match. But, yes. Soon as they want to leave, you can."

Carmine looks to Neo, who looks more interested, but more confused than him as she blinks swapping looks between them. "So... Roman? Blair? We leaving?"

Roman can't help himself as he hums out and loosely states. "I know something bout Barbie." Almost in a sing song manner.

Immediately, she snaps back aggressively. "No, you absolutely do not!"

"Oh? Then please tell me how I'm mistaken?"

"Oh, please go commit suicide so I don't have to hear you say nonsense." She snidely mimics his mocking speech before her complaint.

"Hmm, but my nonsense is so much fun." Roman turns to Kris. "Well, how about you tell me. Is she more into bear shaped chocolates or gummy bears?"

Kris's eyes widen, snapping a gaze at Blair as he double takes between them. "I-I plead the fifth on that."

"Pardon?" Carmine sounds off, him and Neo sharing a look. "Roman, what are you talking about?"

Roman grins, teeth flashing, as he leans towards Blair. She's already leaning forward, wincing in muscle pain but growls out. "Do not DARE SAY-"

"Well, call it a hunch, but-"

"ROMAN!"

"-Barbie here is radiating vibes, and I'm just trying to figure out who is it."

"SHUT UP!" The normally calm scientist was shouting now, face burning red.

"Just answer the question... Grizzly Bear or Doughy Panda? Which took the hot intern home after hours?" Blair looked more animated than the kids had ever seen her, positively heaving breathes with wide eyes ready to kill the man. Seeing he wasn't getting an answer, Roman turns back to Kris. "I'm not leaving until I get an answer..."

Carmine and Neo both slowly turned red, realizing every slowly what Roman was alluding to as Kris sweats profusely and Blair looks ready to explode. Roman couldn't be having more fun.

. . .

"Hehe... TskahahahaHAHAHA!" Unable to contain himself, Roman cackles loudly into the bright sunny sky as he exits the building first. Velvet Valentine is back in hand, feeling perfect. And yet, it wasn't nearly as satisfying as embarrassing Barbie beyond anything he thought previously possible. "The-" He breaths into a laugh before he can finish, but tries again. He doesn't care for the world to hear since it only hurts her. "The lovely collected intern, second Beacon Academy student-" He chokes into another laugh, trying a third time. "-with the very doctor she was shadowing!"

He turns to look at the hospital entrance, spotting Blair stepping slowly with the cane from earlier. Fluorescent is back at her side. Roman snickers and speaks loudly. "Ah, look at Dominatrix Barbie, cause I know for a fact you wouldn't let that dorky buffoon take the lead in bed."

Blair remains silent, eyes down... years later, and NOW the slut walk she'd expected back then occurs? Sure, she'd only found it an annoyance, but somehow being the laughing stock among her new team bothered her much more that it would have her old team. Her face was flustered, blustering red as she tried. Oh, she tried to keep composed.

Oh, my, she was failing. Almost possible to see literal steam coming from her ears. This was stupid. It was nonsense. She was not a damned school girl. Why is she bothered by this?

As if sensing the contrast between Roman's cackling, stomach ripping laughter and Blair's crippling, agonizing depression, Carmine and Neo stiffly walk behind. Carmine's Buster Armor and Heulin Noon both back with their owner. Neo has Hush, using it as a Cane as her off hand is on the boy's shoulder. She was slightly lightheaded in the sun light, weak... right, blood loss.

Both teens were crimson red, Carmine's eyes still wide while Neo actually managed to nearly join Roman in the laughing. She was just a bit innocent enough be uncomfortable.

Seriously... Blair and JD? The hell? Just... Just... On the one hand, Carmine felt like heaving... On the other, he was just shocked. Was that why Blair trusted him enough? Were they still a thing? Okay, maybe not, but then... "So... why did you two-"

Blair snaps a glare over her shoulder at Carmine, eye twitching. "It was a stupid decision made out of granting an admiration and respect to a position of power." Carmine blinks and tilts his head.

"You... used him?"

She flinches, quick to respond. "No! Not... what I mean. I... granted him more respect than I would normally considering he was already becoming an established professional, so... I took an interest."

"And he said 'Oh, blonde intern!' HAHAHA!" Roman doubles his laughter ahead of the trio.

Heat rising in the blonde, she hunches to shrink in the public limelight. Much of the hospital had sustained visible damage on the outside. People walking about seemed tense, but police present was up. Talking about. And yet, the shrieking laughter was grabbing unwanted attention.

Blair narrows her blustered glare, mumbling almost as she states. "I actually had to be quite assertive..."

Carmine stiffens rigid, walking awkwardly as the image of Blair, prim and proper, having to be... FORWARD in romantic interests... "Oh god.." He groans, facepalming as he feels second hand embarrassment for her.

Roman snickers. "Oh, so wait. This actually means the noble loser geek is your type?" He then brightens, smiling more sinister. "Oh, is THAT why you warmed up to Silver Streak? I see it now!" Carmine and Neo twitch wide eyed at the statement as Blair snaps.

"What?! No!"

Roman puts a finger to his chin in mocking thought. "Oh no, what kinda age difference was that between you and the doctor? Like twelve years?"

Blair twitches again and furiously grinds out. "Only six and shut the hell up!" Hearing the proper woman start breaking into cursing was it. They might finally witness Blair kill the conman.

Rather than get him to stop, he only continued. After all, he was in. This was his in to get under her skin, and he was going to abuse it. He can't recall the last time he'd laughed this much. He twirls around and walks backwards. "Oh, don't tell me. Are you..?" He looks around conspiratorially and grins, knowing it's not subtle. "... Grooming-"

"Absolutely not. Kill yourself. He's only 14!" Carmine flares into a blush, feeling very uncomfortable at the moment.

Roman was completely unperturbed, shrugging like nothing bad was stated. "I was younger." At Neo and Carmine snapping disgusted looks at him, he reminded them. "Senior rewards in unconventional ways. She was 28 I think while I was... 12?" He looked to genuinely be in thought to remember... doing little for the disgust in the other three.

"That's disgusting!" Carmine and Blair both shriek in unison. Neo wished she could shriek with them, equally bug eyed.

Once again... the man is completely unbothered. He waves his hand over him simply as he blinks blankly back. "Point?" As if to scream, 'you recall where I came from, yes?' He finally turns and walks fully ahead.

Blair rolls her eyes before sharing an awkward glance with Carmine. He's equally hunched like her, offering a small sympathetic smile. "Uh... Don't worry. I don't judge you."

"... Thank you." Blair softly gives back... then narrows her gaze. "Bring it up further or even do so much as picture it in your head, and I WILL slit your throat."

The threat makes him gulp... and of course telling him not to picture it... Nope! Stop! His eyes snap straight ahead. Neo notices this, slight narrowed gaze before a mischievous smirk appears. Flexing her semblance, a paper shatter note forms in front of Blair. She catches it, narrowing her eyes at it to read...

'Don't worry about his interest. You're not a fox faunus.'

It shatters as Blair blinks. Carmine saw that she had a note, but couldn't read it. Blair questions out loud. "What's this about a fox faunus?" Carmine sucks in a breath, eyes snapping wide.

His voice echoes throughout the city.

"NOOOOOOO!"

And thus, Neo joined Roman in the horrid glee mortifying their teammates. Neo, the girl happy to be alive.

She is a bitch. Direct quote from one Carmine Uhlric's inner mind.

. . .

The four were walking a while, the heckling hounding of embarrassment over. The quiet lull pulls their minds over their situation, smiles gone. As much as the smiles helped them cope. The bright warm day did little to the lagging spirits.

The hell kind of leader was he? Here they stand, in his home town, three of them medically uncleared for combat, and Neo almost died! Then again, so did he, but that was on him. Not any of them. To top it off, is this what awaits them at every point moving forward?

By his side, Neo tiredly glances over. He has that look again. Her urges fight against one another. Should she screw with him to take his mind off whatever self loathing thing he was on now? Her off hand remains gripped around his arm for stability, so she pulls herself into a rough shoulder bump.

He flinches in a start as she nearly knocks him off balance, surprising herself. Maybe she still lacked full control due to the blood loss the night before. Still, the two recover as she plays off a smirk. While his eyes brighten lightly, the rest of his face remained passive. Her confusion must have shown as he looks forward to Roman and Blair. "Hey, uh... we need to talk about our next move."

Roman scoffs, but Blair nods. "It... would seem we are to have a forced rest period."

Neo smirks, forming a shatter note and holding it up for Carmine to read. 'We can at least get food if we're going to already be boring and work.' Carmine thinks on it, stomach feeling practically empty. True, outside the others maybe getting hospital food, he himself hadn't eaten since yesterday after noon. "Hmm. Good idea, Neo." At Blair and Roman's curious looks, Carmine voices. "Hey, let's stop at the next restaurant and eat. We can talk over food."

Roman looks forward, only to grimace. "Gross. Kid friendly fast food ahead."

Carmine glances up, spotting a cartoon looking Hyena Faunus with a clown makeup fur pattern. Mick Mackie's Patties is the name. They have chains in Vale too. Was there one in the City of Mistral?

However, on further thought, he recalled this one... His mom used to stop here whenever they went home from the hospital on his school days. He always had the same thing... Number 3, ketchup and cheese only, with a small vanilla cone. In fact...

He's already walking towards it. "Well, it's here. Deal with it."

Roman sighs. "Ah, kill me."

"Don't tempt Blair."

"I'm waiting on permission." The blonde states lowly.

Beside Carmine, Neo holds up a shatter sign. 'Cripple fight!'

Carmine raises a brow and actually takes in Roman. "Speaking of... you don't look hurt at all. What's up with that?"

"His ribs are taped after the enemy broke them in combat." Blair explains. "We know three AZRL agent semblances then. I would say that means we can know what to expect, but after yesterday..."

The boy grimaces, waiting a moment before shaking himself. "Enough about yesterday. Just... let's focus on tomorrow for once."

. . .

"-On that note, I think we need to stop using Mibu's account tracking." Roman brings up. The four sat in the brightly lit restaurant, each having a meal in front of them, save for Neo who is left to two pudding cups and a drink.

The others share glances with one another, none too happy about the suggestion. "What? Why? It's basically all we have."

"I agree with him." Blair adds in. At Carmine's baffled look, she sighs. "This entire city was a trap for us, and we walked right into it. The only reason we are alive is because of your connection to this place, Carmine." Amber eyes come to rest on him, soft yet stern. "If anything, their trap working confirmed how we've been tracking them. We may want to call Mibu and give them a heads up."

"Literally any of their tracked assets is now a potential trap, and I may do confidence in myself, but I don't do suicide." The conman chips back in.

Neo frowns, swallowing the smooth strawberry pudding before creating a note on the table. 'Then where do we go from here?' The note remains as silence comes over them, Carmine frowning.

They had a point. It was a trap. They can't trust the accounting tracing anymore, and may have gotten more people killed as a result of it. No, not they... Him. He clenches his hands into fists, trying to think as the other three are each in thought.

Roman sighs. "I can go back to the trap houses and the underground. We already spoke with... one guy that AZRL has worked with, and there has to be more with all the recent activity in Vale. We'll have to start going off the books with this, and that will start racking up favors. Usually of the smash n grab variety."

Blair scowls at that, flicking her eyes at Carmine, who seems to barely be listening at this point. "Absolutely not. We are not thieves. We're already posing as hunters, which in itself will get up recognizable before long."

"At some point, we're going to need to play dirty, Barbie. Even I didn't expect them to Potato Head a kid into a cyborg." He stops to take a bite of his food as Neo raises her hand. "Whatcha got, Neo?" Blair raises a brow at the name. Roman using an actual first name?

Neo points to Carmine, finally getting the boy's attention. She smiles before shrouding herself in her shatter illusion... replacing her is her body, except colored wrong. Her hair was silver, eyes golden brown. Hush at her side was now a cane... and she had these tiny glasses hanging off her nods. Obviously working off of memory, which she barely cared to put effort into, but they recognized the scheme. Ozpin.

"We're not bringing him into this." Blair asserts. "We do that, and our journey ends right here and now."

"Someone doesn't like the principal's office." Roman snarks, but the humor doesn't land as Blair snaps back.

"Ozpin is the leader of Vale. The most powerful man in the Kingdom. That's at face value. He also holds influence over each of the other headmasters in the other Kingdoms. Bringing him into this mean bringing in scale." She scowls. "We don't know where AZRL is located, and to remind you, half the reason we're the ones doing this is because the current state of the Kingdoms is too preoccupied with other threats to deal with this one." Her gaze drifts off as she finishes. "And if we do, both you and I will be arrested for sure. You for your crimes with Senior. Me for acting as a huntress illegally."

Neo deflates lightly, flicking a speck on the table as Roman beside her frowns. "He really that much of a stickler?"

Carmine's eyes light in curiosity, a new thought occurring. But first. "I wouldn't be surprised if he already knows about you guys. He's always been that way. What with him creating our team in the formal registry." He takes a drink of pop and sighs. "But I also don't want him involved... Beacon's records didn't have anything on AZRL or its agents before. No one knows more than us, so we deal with it."

Roman rolls his eyes. "Then, oh wise and fearless leader, what is our next move?" His sarcasm drips in the tone.

Without Mibu's records or Ozpin... that eliminated virtually all their known moves... Sure, they know Atlas is a big target, but they know nothing more on that. Sure, they could go back to Vale... maybe see if Jr could help them out.

He flashes a look at Roman on that thought. No. That's a desperation option if anything.

But... one more exists. His hand moves into his pocket, finding several folded papers deep inside.

Withdrawing the papers and slowly folding them open, Blair and Roman take light curiosity in them. Neo is confused for a moment, but catches on to them. The report printouts they'd looked over at the police station. Her eyes widen as she has the same thought as the boy.

Carmine sets the paper on the table and jabs a finger to the page. "How 'bout here?" Looking at the page, Roman slowly takes it. Carmine and Neo share a short glance, the girl giving a giddy smile. He didn't seem to share the enthusiasm, but appreciates the support from it.

"An investigation into shipping manifests." Roman parrots from the page. "You told us bout this before..." He speaks almost lost in thought before a small smirk. "Not a very smart plan, but I can't say there's much more we got."

Blair squints at the man across from her. Unable to see the page from her side, she speaks up. "Well then? Are you going to explain?" Roman, still smirking, twists the page around for her, thumb right over the report. The location of where the fraudulent shipment was going... Blair reads it... "Menag-..." She looks again. "Menagerie?"

The feeling in the air shifts... True, their enemy outplayed them and almost won. They hurt a lot of people doing so, but... the idea of using a new trail of clues brought some jolt of enthusiasm into it. A new trail means little chance of a trap. The enemy believed their first one would work, so now... it's their turn.

"Interesting." Blair allows a soft smile. "It certainly is not intelligent, no. But, it falls under unconventional."

Carmine pouts. "What? Why? Going after the shipments the police had makes perfect-"

"Menagerie isn't a unified kingdom, fool." Roman states, smirking. "In fact, we likely won't be allowed in. That's probably why they dropped the case there." He leans back, easing into his seat. "Gonna be fun getting in."

"AND figuring out how they were distributing that supplies. Chieftain Belladonna doesn't strike me as in on or allowing any of this." Blair comments.

Roman scratches his chin. "Oh, right. I forgot about King and Queen kitty cat."

Carmine, despite his annoyance at seeing the difficulty, smirks with the jokes. "You might want to tone down the cism if you're gonna head there." He nods to himself, trying to summon up confidence. "And we'll find a way in. My mom was a Faunus and known huntress... MAYBE that will work?"

Glancing over the table, the group sees Neo with two shatter cat ears. They shatter off as she tilts her head, looking for appraisal. Blair huffs a small ghost of a laugh. "Their senses of smell might sniff that out, but it is not a terrible backup."

Neo then looks to Roman, who snickers. "Oh, I'm sure I can find some ways in myself. We got a week of downtime for you three morons, so I have time."

Rather than argue over the playful insult, Carmine sighs and puts his hand out hesitantly. "So... we in?" Blair rolls her eye at the stereotypical team hands in, but does so with no further waiting.

"Gross. Really? That stereotype?" Roman flicks his hand out in a mocking manner until Neo slaps his hand and her own into it with an evil smirk herself. The jerking movement must have pulled on his torso as his face twists in irritated pain. "OW! You little monster!"

Neo continues to grin before she pressures the hands down before they throw upward. Blair smiles at Neo's enthusiasm... and Roman's pained grimace. Carmine even smiles at the team's antics...

Then all four wince in pain... Neo from laughter irritating her throat, Blair for her shoulder, Roman for his ribs, and Carmine rubbing at his head. "Okay... Team CRBN... eat now... plan later once we're back home. Go." He grumbles out as they continue their meal.

In his pocket, his scroll buzzes... Without alerting the others, Carmine looks down at his scroll for its caller. It's obscured, but he doesn't need a second glance to know who is calling. He's far too drained to have that conversation, so he hits ignore...

The old man is tiresome to deal with...

. . .

Two days later...

The bright sun shines over the City of Vale's sky line. The beautiful scenery shines over the city, up into the hills to the bright tower. The tower of Beacon Academy. All through the outdoors, students mill about, going through their daily activities. Far up above, within the highest tower, Beacon's headmaster eyes the horizon in the distance.

Ozpin sips along with a coffee, a calm visage looking over the land in his jurisdiction. The door to the elevator opens as a sound of footsteps. A female voice, rather chipper, calls out. "Hello, sir! You had a mission for me?"

Ozpin turns about, a slightly up curved polite smile. "Ah, Miss Carson. Thank you for arriving at such short notice... especially considering the circumstances."

Looking at the woman, her purple hair was swept to one side, hair buzzed short on one side and jaw length on the other. Her bright yellow eyes did little to hide her feelings. Heartache. "It's... processing, but the funeral won't be held until after next week in Mistral. I have time for a quick mission if I'm needed." She shakes herself, alert. "I'm ready, and please, sir, how long does it take to get to first name basis?" She cracks a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

She wears a loose white sleeveless vest open and flowing down past her hips. Under it, a dark black tank top. Her arms are covered from wrist to just past the elbow in dark purple leather arm warmers. Locked around her right wrist is a brace device hooked into a a circular disk, almost like a white metal shield. She had black pants and knee high leather brown boots.

Ozpin obliges her, smiling. "Of course, Rowa." He looks off. "In light of Miss Dolph's passing in Vacuo, I am quite willing to say you may refuse this assignment, as it will not be a quick mission, as it were."

Rowa frowns. "I... see. It must be important then." Given normal circumstances, he wouldn't even bother her... yes. Important.

"As of this moment, all active hunters are assigned for three weeks of missions in light of Miss Dolph's-" He pauses on the woman, then tries again. "... In light of Cella Dolph's death in Vacuo."

Rowa frowns, perking. "I thought the report was that it was a Grimm attack? She was supervising a team of huntresses in training when they were attacked... Right?"

Her almost broken tone hurts to hear, but... he presses on. "For the past year and a half, a... secondary hunter team under the name CRBN has been operating against a previously unseen threat." At her furrowed brow at the term 'secondary' he presses on to ward off the question. "This team has operated mostly in Mistral for the past year, and just three days ago faced harsh conflict within the city of Sanctuary in the Vale territories."

Rowa nods. "So... wait. You believe this threat they've been facing had something to do with Cella? Who are they? What-"

Ozpin holds a hand up to silence her. "Up to this point is information your partner already has. We should wait for- Ah! There you are, Glynda."

Glynda Goodwitch enters the chamber of an office, walking stiffly and astutely. Although, a rare softening in her eyes shows as she approaches her former teammate. "Rowa."

Rowa lets out a breath, taking the overly former teacher in a hug. "Hi, Glynda." Releasing her, the two stand at attention. "So... you were saying?"

Ozpin nods. "This enemy force appears to be an organization known as AZRL... The Chief Inspector Caien Lee of Sanctuary has confirmed this organization's full name as the Avored Zenith of Remnant's Legacy." The two huntresses. "A name that means little now, but may become quite more known soon as their primary business model is quite detestable."

He taps a button on his desk as the high tech computer folds upward and turns on a holographic display. Ethereal, above the desk. The hologram shows multiple pictures and videos, including the black and white traffic camera near the docks of Vale cracking and going static as a long haired suited man approached.

"They appear to operate solely on the basis of kidnapping minors with an unknown age range, and training them in specified purposes before selling them to unknown markets." Both Huntresses suck in a breath, eyes widening at the information. Ozpin attempts to preempt the coming outbursts. "From what we know, they have been operating slowly and methodically, and were only discovered recently due to just how vast their network is."

Glynda scowls. "Wasn't Cella's mission with Shade Academy meant to track a kidnapping?" Rowa snaps her gaze to Glynda in shock before to Ozpin. "You believe this organization is responsible for her death?" A show of anger bled through her voice, which would scare the violette under any other circumstances. Instead, she matched it.

Ozpin pauses in thought. "It is possible. Indeed probable, given that Grimm horde tracking for the past weeks raises the questions. Still. Knowing that this group exists, and several other incidents has lead me to send other Hunters on missions of a new sort. But the Grimm do not wait, nor do the usual suspects. Our current missions are meant to hopefully create a calm to allow further resources to work against this AZRL."

Rowa's fist clenches tightly. "What's our mission, sir?" Her anger bleeds out with a furious glower.

"You three shall track Team CRBN, discover what they've leaned operating for the past year, assist with their immediate concerns, and report back to me." He lays out.

The two Huntresses nod before Rowa blinks. "Wait... three?" As she speaks, a black feather lightly falls to the floor between the women. Glynda closes her eyes, processing, before the two turn to see the man at the far end leaning on the tower window. Had he been there the whole time?

Qrow Branwen stands in his mission gear, leaned on the window and weapon in the small of his back. He gives a grim look, but raises two fingers in a mock salute. "Yo."

"Mr Branwen." Glynda greets back. The women wait for the man to push from the wall and join them.

"Before you ask, I've also already engaged one of AZRL's men before." His gravely tone comes out, almost bored. He pulls his flask out and begins opening it. "He was on par with my team. They're very dangerous."

The women turn their gazes from him to Ozpin, Rowa then asking. "Alright. Whose on this team?"

Ozpin sends a glance to Qrow, who groans and face palms. "This is a bad idea, Oz." He grumbles.

However, the headmaster continues. "Up until a day ago, I only knew three members of this team." That takes the women aback. "No. Not a single member of this team is a licensed Huntsman or Huntress. They formed without official means, and I had Miss Goodwitch enter the team identification to assist them."

Glynda bristles. "You never told me any of their names."

"Something to be rectified now, as this is what we have." The holograms of reports flash away from over the desk, now replaced with a young boy with silver tinged tips. "Their current leader is one all three of you know... Carmine Uhlric."

Qrow takes a drink as Rowa's jaw drops. Glynda scowls as her former teammate can't help herself. "Why in gods name is he allowed to go against people like this?!"

"I assure you, his part in this team's creation was done outside my control." He ignores Qrow's brow raising at his phrasing. "But, I have chosen to foster this team due to their noble goal against AZRL. Carmine is the second youngest, yet from Chief Inspector Lee's report, is doing well with his environment. Something that I admit skepticism given his first teammate."

The hologram changes, showing dozens of pictures of broken property and a single picture shot of an orange haired man with a hat. Ozpin continues. "This is former member of Senior's mob, one of his highest level enforcers, known by the name Roman Torchwick."

Before the women can ask, Qrow speaks up. "Carmine was rescued from a kidnapping eight years ago when this man decided to rat out his then partners in the crime. I think the kid was the one to seek him out for this." He takes another swig.

Thankful for the drunk's addition to the explanation, Ozpin presses past the two others giving glares at the hologram before it flashes... and he sees new surprise at seeing another former teammate's former profile. "And their third member is why I've called you two specifically to join Mr Branwen. Blair Goodwitch."

Glynda's fists clenched white knuckle tight as her eyes widen in anger. Rowa sees this reaction, mere shock being all she experienced. Rowa looks between Beacon's newest teacher and its headmaster. "All this time, and you still haven't spoken to-"

"Why would I?" Glynda snaps without looking at Rowa. "This explains what she's been up to."

Rowa huffs. Now, she's alone in dealing with the sisters' quarrel... She sighs. "Okay, well... at least we have a little to expect."

"Quite." Ozpin adds, seemingly pleased with how little yelling he received over the reveal. "And finally." The hologram changes, showing Beacon security footage of Neo assisting Carmine in robbing the training room of dust supplies. "We have Neopolitan Rhodes, daughter of former crime lord Brock Rhodes and businesswoman Misty Rhodes."

While the women took this passively, Qrow sighs. He's not willing to voice the problems to come, and he'll need three more drinks before he can tolerate it. "So... where do we go?"

Ozpin nods at the three, continuing the briefing of the three Hunters...

. . .

Inside the dark rough bar, patrons shout back and forth at one another. The broken light overhead struggled to flick on a certain chameleon faunus lays splayed over the table, a half empty bear shaped glass mug in hand.

A shadow comes over the sullen man, who looks up with his buggy eyes. "Huh? Who the hell are you, lady?"

Standing over him is AZRL agent Mary Anne. She scowls down with critical eyes. "Agent of AZRL seeking your employment, Mr Gonzola."

At the name, Killa pulls himself up, a glaring scowl meeting the woman. "Oh, well look who came CRAWLING back!" He shouts drunkenly, slurring at the woman. "And just what do you want after stiffin me on the last payment, huh?!"

SLAM!

A bag hits the table and he looks at it confused.

"100,000 Lien to make up for that transgression... and a promise of ten million Lien if you accomplish this new job." Mary Anne glares him down as he opens the bag slowly.

He blinks once... twice... and smiles. "Well then... I seem to have taken an improper tone." He grins up at the woman. "So, with this kind of money... who am I killing?"

DONE WITH SANCTUARY. Took longer than I had thought it would. Thank god. City's infrastructure is kinda screwed, but... no corruption makes it okay again! Right?

Neo's fixed with no more throat issues. Still silent, so she's now, in terms of ability to speak, as she is in RWBY. Good for her! More Ozpin tense conversations. More Killa... for now... mwahaha (evil laughing noises).

Join next time in Chapter Thirty Four: The White Wolf.