Volume CRBN!

by Dancesnapple

Four individuals. Four different people of different walks of life resulting in an adventure. Hopefully, a bond that can last. Team CRBN (carbon). Features: OC Main character, main team has two OCs alongside a lovable crime duo, and some family drama on all sides. Features a 'soundtrack' element for the fic. ENJOY! Story begins on third listed chapter. Very slow start.

42. 40 Dysfunctional Family

Chapter Forty: Dysfunctional Family

"Ow! Hey-Yeee- Ffff.. sssss-"

"Quit whining!" Blair snaps, pouring a salve on a bleeding gash behind the boy's shoulder. "You lost the right to complain about wound treatment the moment you joy rode upon an enemy mech!" The blonde keeps the shirtless boy still as she applies a bandage. Aura completely sapped for the second time in a month.

"Hmm hmm!" The humming laugh comes from Neo, who sits on the wreckage nearby covered in patches.

Carmine scowls angrily at her. "She's out of aura too... I don't hear you giving her an earful..."

"Mistake." Rowa chimes in from a distance off. She stands before a collection of ratty looking people of varying ages. The slave- FORMER slaves, the boy emphasizes, are gathered in loose circles by the violet haired woman. The boy he, Roman, and Qrow originally saved seemed to be speaking a lot with the others.

Gesturing and generally getting the younger ones more upbeat, too. The older humans were put off, but seemed to be opening up. Rowa was getting a collection of stories between them. The number total putting near fifty...

As opposed to the twenty White Fang members, each with bound wrists, sitting in rows before Glynda. Best person for that job. A good number of the faunus had scrambled from the outpost. Surely, back to Bomba. Maybe they were rounding up allies? But, Qrow said he had surveillance covered for any reinforcements... Carmine was curious how, but didn't ask.

"AH!" His train of thought is broken as Blair flicks his forehead. He flinches back, wiping furiously at his forehead. He pouts up at the woman as she stands over him. He doesn't miss the surprised looks from Glynda and Rowa, but any comment dies as it forms under Blair's glare.

"I'll be less hard on you the moment you don't put yourself needlessly in harm's way. Also, Neo has been extraordinarily compliant on this trip. She's only tried to steal three times since yesterday."

"THREE?!" "ONLY?!" Rowa and Glynda snap their gazes to the child.

Blair has to remind herself not to roll her eyes at the two. Sure, they weren't privy to Neo's behavior... and she can't recall giving such reactions to them at Beacon. "Do not worry. The last one was attempting to pickpocket Rowa, but she thought better."

Rowa stiffens, looking at the girl who merely smiles and gives a shaky wave. The violet haired woman narrows her own glare, gesturing her sight towards the girl. "I THOUGHT that's what she was preparing to do..."

"And I THINK that's bull crap. She's had to have done more. Strip search her." Carmine cuts in, pointing at the girl with a pout.

CRACK!

"Quit shifting attention." Blair lectures, Carmine hunched on the ground clutching his head in pain. Her attention pulls to the newcomers. Roman twirls his cane in a flourish, cocky grin to those following him from around the next building. "We can do without the theatrics."

Roman huffs. "Someone has to enjoy their job." From his direction, five more White Fang members march, arms bound behind their backs, looking beat up. After them, Qrow marches around the corner, relaxed. Behind him are another fourteen humans. "I BELIEVE this brings today's operation to an end."

At his proclamation, Glynda and Rowa look instead to Qrow. The huntsman nods. "These are the last human stragglers. It's pointless to try and round up anymore of the faunus."

The new Fang members bristle angrily at the comment. A few attempt to rise until an aura pressures upon them, keeping them down. All from a single flick of Glynda's hand. She glances over her shoulder, quelling their anger with fear. "Agreed."

Carmine notices Neo's previously sly demeanor cool to a chill as she side glances the man. Choosing to push past it, he asks. "So... what do we do with..?" He waves to all the people and prisoners they now have.

"What were you planning to do with saved kids when you were showing up?" Rowa asks, curiously.

The CRBN members share a look, lips pursed. Carmine gives a nervous grin. "Well... we were tracking the drugs. We didn't think there'd be any slaves to free."

Glynda deflates, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "Mr Branwen, speak with your contact to see about smuggling these people to Mistral territories, then." Qrow nods, marching off... the Mistrali hunters were only interested in a round trip. Not a ferry operation... Still. "We have a contact that can round local fisherman for transport in the nearest Mistral town. We'll head to the shore due Northeast."

Rowa's not-so enthusiastic smile still brightens the people around. She claps her hands. "Alright, everyone! If you would follow me, please? Blair, would you hold the rear, so no one gets crept on by anything?"

Blair huffs, then looks to Carmine and Neo. Getting their attention, she flicks her gaze towards Glynda. They nod, the children moving to Glynda to help keep the faunus in line. Glynda and Blair exchange a small glance, the teacher huffing. She turns to Neo. "No sticky fingers." Then to Carmine. "... No back talk." Her gaze narrows dangerously.

The boy cringes away. However, Neo glares livid at the commanding rudeness. Carmine notices, double taking before wrenching her away. "Stop that!"

As the massive groups organize, Carmine looks to Qrow and Roman. "You two?"

"I'll be running recon to keep any Grimm clear in a mile radius."

"I'm hanging back to ransack the place." Roman answers without shame. At the combination of glares, he shrugs it off. "Off you go. I'll catch up." He marches off for the entrance to the underground, easily strutting over the wasteland. The Beacon hunters appear doubtful until the CRBN members move on... Is this typical?

Well, what better time to ask?

. . .

The escort was... longer than the boy would expect. An hour of walking, yet the large number of people needing kept in line slowed the process considerably. Carmine and Neo, despite their exhausted auras, were kept on high alert, with Carmine leading the Fang members, Neo making sure none ran off, and Glynda walking behind constantly scrutinizing them.

During the march, the girl finishes another check around, totaling the number of faunus. Strolling up to Carmine, the boy hums. "Yo..." Ahead of them is Blair, trailing the number of freed slaves following Rowa over the rocky hill.

Neo glances around, then flashes a sign saying 'Lucky they got a ride?' Carmine snorts. Yeah, they wouldn't have been able to sneak some sixty humans out of Menagerie themselves. Still, she notices a tenseness to him. She pokes him, getting a grunt. A simple raised eye brow gets a sigh out of him.

"Getting the idea... that this is ending with a stern talking to from my father..." Carmine pouts, though he shifts uncomfortable. "Granted, first time for everything..." He catches Neo sending an off look his way, so he groans. "He's... I just... It's weird talking to him. Always has been. Guy does everything not to focus on me, so him suddenly being all in on our cause... Like, this is OUR mission. I don't need him butting in now."

The girl thinks on that, grimacing as her thoughts trail to her own father... Loving as he was, she does recall how restrictive he could be. Keeping her home unless her mother would go somewhere herself. Keeping her mostly out of the criminal life until it came to literally snatch her away. Maybe she's misremembering, but her mother rarely bothered with her unless she had to.

Maybe that's closer to how his father is? She vaguely recalls seeing the kindly yet strange man by that fountain. His white hair was funny. And his silly glasses. Then there was the other man...

Qrow. Qrow Branwen. She burns that name in her mind.

The boy can almost feel the chill from her. "Hey... you alright?" Neo meets his gaze, holding a moment. Slowly, she finally shakes her head. He frowns back. "It has something to do with Qrow." He guesses perfectly. She must have been that obvious earlier. "Why?"

She mulls over how to go about it. A flick of the hand creates another sign. This one depicts a chibi man in Qrow's outfit, but a black executioner mask and a headsman's ax. On a chopping block are the letters 'D' and 'A', with a second 'D' rolling away from the block.

He sucks in a breath, taking a quick look around. Can't find him... of course. The boy gulps before starting slow. "I... Sorry-" The girl turns and moves to make another walk through of the faunus. Left alone, Carmine sighs. "Shit..."

. . .

The groups finally arrived at the shore on hour five of the march. The people are all scrambling to find places to sit. Carmine looks to find Qrow standing at the rocky beach, several boats a short distance into the water. The huntsman gives a nod to the boy, which is almost returned until Neo comes to mind...

Before he can dwell, Qrow seems to give Rowa some information, the woman turning quickly. "Alright, everyone! Listen up! We have some boats ready to take you to a port town called Shiba. Local authorities of Mistral and local Huntsmen will be taking you in for help, but these are all the boats they can spare for transport."

Qrow cuts in. "It's an hour round trip, so these boats will ferry you all twenty at a time. Each trip back, they'll be bringing some food and safe drinking water, so sit tight." He looks to Glynda and the kids. "For camp safety, prisoners are going first." At Rowa's questioning gaze, he adds in a whisper. "The kids are nearly collapsing. Quicker we dump the Fang members, the better for us."

The large gathering of people settle into their two main camps. The faunus are fairly resistant, but are loaded into the boats, four to five per transport. Carmine notices Qrow speaking amicably with them. The boat drivers. Some had weapons- Oh! "Hunters..." He gasps.

His eyes land on a man with a large beer gut and his weapon. It was a fishing pole... the reel had a dust casing. Its rod itself could collapse into a hook sword of all things-

Blair's hand gently pushes the boy's jaw up, clicking his teeth and closing his mouth. "It's rude to stare."

Red in embarrassment, Carmine pouts and almost wriggles. "But the weapons are so cool, though! Look, that one's a Banjo rocket harpoon! Banjo Kablooey- Ah fack!" He twangs the curse word as Blair lightly tugs his ear aside.

"Focus. Let them inspire thoughts in your head later." She narrows a glare at him, lightly gripping his shoulder. "And language."

He twitches under the threatening tone. "Right. Hehe..." A thought occurs as blinks at her. "I... would like your help with something now that I think about it."

"It can wait. Once we're finished, we will have plenty of time, okay?" Her gaze flicks to Neo a distance away, then to meet Glynda's gaze. Her sister didn't huff and puff this time. Not the usual sour mood. "We have some more pressing matters..." Looking at the boy, she grimaces. "News that I know you won't like."

He gulps, sobering and straightening his stance. "Okay..." His gaze trails to Neo as well, then Qrow. "I'm not excited for the small talk, though."

Blair forces a small smile. "Of course not. You're socially inept and awkward."

"Hey..." He whines as she pats him aside. Blair strides back through the freed slaves, seeing them mostly speaking among themselves. She closes the distance with Rowa, who beams at her.

"Aw, mama bird-"

"Utter one more word, and I'll cut you." Blair crosses her arms and turns to face the crowd. "The worst thing about down time is your sentimental talk."

Rowa chuckles. "Which you totally miss." She angles her look to smile at the blonde. Blair turns further away, earning a giggle. The violet haired woman sighs, losing the smile. "... About those mercs..."

Right... Killian Gonzola. Hired by AZRL specifically to hunt them down and kill them. Roman hit the nail on the head predicting this back in Sanctuary. Last time Killian's face even came up to the boy, it brought him damn near to a break down...

"... I'll inform him when we've thinned the heard a bit..."

The response wasn't what she wanted to hear. Rowa grimaces, looking away. "Right... Well, that makes two of us." Getting an off look, Rowa sighs. "We'll wait til Glynda can join for that talk." She regretted the words immediately seeing Blair's face harden to steel.

This was going to be rough...

. . .

Qrow watches as the boats take the next round away. The last of the faunus are ferried into the distance by his contacts. The Huntsman sighs as two boats take some of the first humans to go. The Fang members gone, he turns to see Carmine and Neo in the distance, both collapsed against a rock seat. They each looked dead to the world. It almost makes him laugh.

Almost.

He marches over to the two. Neo instantly hardens. Carmine looks between them. "Yeah?"

Qrow silently scrutinizes the two, his red eyes hollow. After a minute, he seems to come to a decision, nodding. "Something Ozpin wanted checked on is your education. Carmine, why don't you go check up with Glynda?"

The boy cocks his head, a skewed look. He sees through the lie easily enough... but plays along. "Uh... Does it have to be Glynda?" Qrow's unimpressed look meets him. "She's kinda, sorta, a little bit, or very terrifying."

Qrow's smirk lights for a second before fading. "Let's hope she's the worst thing for you, today. Go on."

Carmine pauses, sparing a glance between the man and girl behind him. Standing up, he whispers for her. "Sorry. He's not a bad guy." The boy marches off, leaving the two.

If she heard him, she didn't show it. The girl maintains a blank glare as Carmine leaves. The silent unlikely duo remain. Qrow's dour look remains as he seems to notice something. He bobs his head to the side. "I'd like to ask some questions of you. We can do this here in earshot of the others, or take a walk."

Neo's face doesn't change at all. The girl's eerie glare remains until she stiffly stands. Taking this as a good sign, Qrow turns and leads her a short distance into the woods. The entire walk, Qrow makes sure to keep aware.

In training, young, or exhausted, he could almost physically feel a killing intent coming off the girl. So young to have that, too. His mind tries to picture two other young faces. Would they be capable of the same themselves?

His gut sinks trying to picture it.

Satisfied with the distance, he stops, turning to face-

The girl lunges a thrust with Hush at his back. In a twirl, he bats the parasol with his hand and catches the hard fabric. He maintains a solid look on her cold glare before her image breaks. SHATTER!

Her parasol remains, but the hilt and blade shatter with the rest of her image. The man is left holding the parasol. However, he knew this was coming. He moves to the side, Neo slashing her full sword down and missing. The girl moves after him, slashing wild and wide.

Qrow keeps hold of the parasol fabric and steps back in light steps. He deftly ducks and dodges the blade with each attempted strike. He can tell she's exhausted from the past 24 hours. Her strikes use wide momentum to make up for the lack of energy.

He side steps her, the girl stumbling forward. She jabs the blade into the ground, holding herself up. Growling, she pushes back, ripping the blade up and slashing around at him. Dirt trails the blade, but Qrow easily backs away.

The girl advances with one more slash, but Qrow simply catches the blade. His aura solidly braces his hand, the well made blade unable to bite into his palm. The girl feebly pulls at her sword, failing to free it from the man's grip.

Neo jerks back, her grip failing as she slips from her weapon, falling onto her bottom. The girl seethes, tensing on the ground downcast. With her parasol in one hand and the blade in the other, Qrow sheathes her weapon into the fabric after an appraisal look.

"Excellent craftsmanship." He eyes the downcast girl. "Did you make it?" No response, the girl merely gritting her teeth with her eyes down. Qrow pauses a moment before kneeling before the girl. He deftly rotates her weapon and offers it back, hilt forward.

She eyes it, fury evident on her face as her neutral expression has fully caved away. If anything, his calm manner meeting her only egged her on more. Slowly, she accepts a grip on the weapon...

And she presses forward, the blade jabbing out the end of the parasol and thrusting into Qrow's chest!

Her fury gives way to cold shock, the point of her blade failing to pierce. The blade merely pokes the man's sternum as he maintains a calm stare. "It's a good weapon... but you should use it when actually able to." He pats the weapon down as Neo's shocked look follows the man's hand.

"It seems I'll have to do this the Branwen way." He says, Neo snapping a look at him. An ounce of fear shows, clearly expecting something dark from the man. He scoffs a laugh, giving a sad smirk. "Blunt and to the point. Not what you're thinking."

He waits a second for her fear to shift to confusion. Still, she shakes her head, shifting back to anger. She twists the parasol around and strikes for his face with the butt of the weapon. Qrow stands up out of reach, the girl swinging with the momentum off balance and falling flat on the ground.

The girl flounders a moment, looking up from the ground to see Qrow offering her a helpful hand. Gritting her teeth, she swats the hand away, getting up and getting back for distance.

At this point, Qrow sighs, running a hand into his hair. "I just want some answers to questions." He holds up a hand passively, but Neo brandishes Hush. "Questions to help you."

She stops before attacking him. Her eyes widen curiously. Then narrow suspiciously.

Qrow nods. "Just... hear me out, Neopolitan Rhodes." Neo's grip tightens on her weapon, her body tensing as she glares. "Your mother, Misty Rhodes." He pauses to gauge her reaction. Her face blanks, but not... Her anger shifts from the burning blaze from before to cold, murderous eyes. "I want to know how you went from living with her to this."

How? You murdered my father and caused me to be cashed in!

Her thoughts screamed in response as she sucks in a sharp breath.

Qrow grimaces. "Your mother was left alone from charges all those years ago due to your existence. It wouldn't have done well to leave you an orphan, we thought, so we were lenient with Misty."

What?

"I want to know Misty's hand in this. What happened to you? It's pretty clear she fantastically failed you. Any information you give could bring charges against her." He rushes out, eyes narrowing as she fails to respond to him.

"..." Neo remains paused in place, the storm inside held perfectly behind the mask.

"We can't exactly go busting on her door if she falls back on, 'she was kidnapped.' I want to know something, anything that can do justice for how you got here." Give him credit... his face softened ever so slightly by the end. Like he really wanted to help.

Yet her thoughts suddenly scream.

How I got here?! I got here because you murdered my father! I got here because you blew down our front door! Because my weak mother couldn't do a god damn thing! Her grip on Hush tightens white, teeth nearly cracking clenched. Fuck you and my whore mother!

She lunges one last time, thrusting Hush at the man. In the blink of an eye, Qrow is now behind her! The girl remains in the lunge, anger at least partially rebounding on herself. She's weak.

Qrow's own sour look turns downcast. He says, resolute and confident. "I'm not sorry for what I did." The girl jolts at the statement. "I'm only sorry you had to see it."

Neo whips around... finding only a black feather drifting down. The flapping of wings overhead catches her attention. She follows the sound, but whatever it is, it's already gone through the woods. The girl remains for a silent ten minutes... unaware of the black bird watching from the trees until she gets back to the others.

. . .

A while later, Carmine glances up, finding Neo stepping from the woods to the rocky beach. No energy. She's almost dead to the world. He stands up to greet her. "H-hey, Neo... are... you..?" She walks past him, not looking at anything in particular. The girl silently sits.

His brows knit together in worry, slowly looking back to see Qrow in the distance. The man glances back before walking to Glynda far off. He double takes between them. Partly wanting to ask what the hell the man and her talked about. Tapping his pants and teetering awkward, he shifts his gaze away, sitting next to Neo.

He maintains an awkward six inches of space between them as she's turned away. His mouth works over a solid ten seconds, opening, pausing, snapping shut. His face scrunches in frustration. He weakly lifts his hand, hesitating before resting in on her back.

It takes a moment before she sends a hollow look over her shoulder at him. His lips purse as he suddenly finds anything else to look at. His off hand reaches up to scratch his neck awkwardly. Chancing another look-

He twitches to a freeze as she hasn't moved her unfeeling stare from him. "Um..." Why is he so bad at this?! "Uh..." He holds up his off hand, angling the fingers in strange ways. "You... wanna sign about it?"

"..."

"..." He gulps.

The girl shifts, startling him. She turns to face him with her legs cross legged. Blinking wary, he follows her example. Slowly, the girl holds her hand up, all his focus looking at the hand. He may not know the signs well, but he should be here for her. And...

CRACK!

The little girl's fist jabs and bashes into the boy's crotch! Eyes bulging, he chokes out. "ERGH! HRM!" He clutches his nether regions, leaning forward at the sharp pain!

… Maybe casually referencing her inability to TALK about her problems wasn't the right thing to say... Then again, he genuinely wanted to be accurate in his wording... A wheezing whine escapes him. He vaguely hears her shift from in front of him to his side.

He feels a pressure against him. Peeking up from his pain, he notices the girl leaning against him now. Her hollow gaze blinks tired. Despite the searing pain of a thousand suns between his legs. He focuses on the weight pressed on his side.

Probably not ready to talk, er, discuss this. Still, he spares a look at her, the girl still staring at nothing. So, he sits. Maybe she'll talk later?

… So long as it doesn't involve nut checks, he's fine... that bitch.

. . .

The next round trip of the boats leaves the hunters with only a group of eight freed slaves. During the bustle, a bowler hat shows itself as Roman approaches the temporary camp. A literal bank thief knapsack is held over his shoulder. Carmine and Neo glance up from the rock they sit on. The man grins and gives a snap wave with Velvet Valentine.

"Good haul?" Carmine asks. Though, given the bag, probably a stupid question. "Anything with caffeine?"

Roman snorts, stopping to give a condescending look. "Oh, the majority of this will get... ten? Maybe fifteen thousand Lien if I find the right seller." At the two teens' light double take, he hums a laugh darkly. "And all mine, remember? Deals and all."

Neo's eyes lock to his pockets while Carmine rolls his own. "Yeah, yeah."

Roman's smirk wipes. Sure, Neo's pointed look is heartening, but her eyes seem void of life. He spares a look over his shoulder to see Blair and Rowa a distance away, Glynda approaching them. "Well, as far as our actual purpose here, I found a few things." Catching the two's attention again, he huffs. "If I explain to you brats now, you'll forget it in five minutes. You both look aghast."

Carmine huffs. "We can't all just roll with the punches like you. Some of us have actual emotions." He sarcastically snaps.

The conman is already waving him off. "Weaknesses, you mean. Yeah, you guys are so held down." He shakes his head, smirking picturing the boy's annoyed glare he's sure the kid is making behind.

Waltzing around the depressingly upbeat and tepid looks of the prisoners, Roman approaches the huntress women. "Barbie, how do you do?" He catches the attention and disgusted looks of the official huntresses. He rolls off the first things off the top of his head. "Secretary. Twilight Sparkle." He adds, sending looks to Glynda and Rowa with each name.

Glynda's eyes narrow dangerously. "Excuse me?"

Rowa scrunches her face, a hand lightly reaching for her combed over violet hair. She shakes herself. "Yeah, we're not doing that. Call us by our names."

"Roman. Did you find anything you're willing to give up?" Blair answers the man.

A grin flashes, Roman allowing his bag to sit as he removes a paper from his pocket. "Just a formula list for each of the drugs ole Master Stinger was having made. Including the aura stimulant Silver Streak field tested."

Barbie flinches at that. "You failed to mention that before! Explain!" Her voice rose in anger. Her gaze snaps to the boy in the distance.

Roman huffs, disregarding the anger heading his way. He glances at the sheet, reading it quickly to double check. "Uh, apparently side effects include short term mood swings and increased hormones. So no change."

"Be serious. PLEASE!" Barbie glares, getting in the man's face.

He rolls his eyes. "Increased blood pressure, hormones urging anger, hyper awareness with senses, possible liver and kidney damage, stereotypical stuff from there. ANYWAY! I got the formula for it and some of the hidden secrets of the oh so great faunus uprising." He flippantly rattles off, hand waving the paper around.

Glynda steps forward. "We'll take that." She reaches for the paper, only for Roman to hold it up away from her. Annoyed anger shows in her face.

He holds it out for Blair, smirking dead at Glynda. "You want this from us, you pay me." As Blair reaches for it, he flinches it from her hand, sending a look. "Old man superior will pay for this, won't he?"

The two Beacon huntresses flinch, offended. The blonde sighs, sending a look to Rowa. "He's like this. Just pay him."

Rowa double takes, backing off and clutching her pocket. "What?! No! Why can't he just help people?" All three woman pause, sending looks at the smirking conman. Meeting gazes again, Rowa whines. "Oh, come on..."

"This is extortion!" Glynda exclaims.

"You know it!" Roman gloats with a smirk.

A pause as Blair just looks to Rowa. "Why are you looking at me?!" The violet haired woman almost shrieks. Blair merely sends a quick look to Glynda, glares furiously meeting. One could almost feel the sparking between their eyes...

Blair glances back. "I feel the other way is a dead end."

"I cannot believe you're abiding this!" Glynda haughtily grinds out.

Rowa double takes between the smirking conman and her grimacing former partner! She goes slack before whining out in a wriggle. "FINE!" She removes her wallet from her and grumbles. "Setting such a bad example for the kids."

She hands all the cash from her wallet over to the smirking conman. "Then it's a good day for me." He glances over the amount, grimacing. "This all you have? You huntresses that poor?"

"Bite me, asshole."

Money in hand, Roman hums in thought. His gaze flicks to Blair, who narrows her own glare at him. "Such a selfish child." She groans in exasperation. "I will include informing you that you were right."

That gets a wide look before his smarmy grin grows tenfold. "What was that?" He leans slightly, tilting his head. "Do my gentleman's ears deceive me? Say it once more."

Blair growls out. "You were right about something! Now, calm your ego down!"

Roman flashes his sleazy look to Rowa, holding up her cash. "That's worth more than your money."

Rowa raises a brow, annoyed. "Not that I disagree, but does that mean I get my money b-"

"No." He soundly states while pocketing the Lien. Looking back to Blair, he continues. "And what, may I humbly ask, was I so accurately, positively, correct about?"

"Misuse 'humbly' again, and I will poison your next meal." The blonde dryly retorts. "Hold that thought until later. I would prefer all four of us together for the discussion." As if sensing something about her, Roman's slimy attitude melts a bit. He waves her off before handing her the notated details on the drug.

Blair scrutinizes the note. After a few seconds, she huffs. It uses the Saya extract... the same product she'd swiped from the medical vault. The other products listed shouldn't be hard to acquire or synthesize...

She removes her scroll, taking a quick picture of the paper. Finished, she initially holds the page out for Glynda. After three seconds of glaring, Glynda's hand reaches up, only for Blair huff and hand it to Rowa. The violet haired woman snatches it in a pout. "Would you two be mature?"

"Barbie can be a touch spiteful." Roman adds.

"Silence!" "Shut up!" "Stop!" All three women snap at him to no avail. He merely huffs, hoisting his knapsack. Glynda's voice, almost laced in venom, comes out eerily calm. "Mr Torchwick... would you please allow the three of us a private discussion?" It was very much not a question. The conman smirks.

"Of course! All you ever needed to do was ask, miss Secretary." He states, hand to his chest in mock humility. With a theatrical bow, he walks off.

The three women watch trail their gazes after him before Rowa breaks the silence. "How? Just- How have you guys been a team? I'd have killed him by now, and I've barely spoken to him at all!"

"Believe it or not, but you grow immune to it." Blair monotones out. "And he's unfortunately quite useful."

"He'd be at least tolerable if he used our names." The violette pouts.

"To be fair, the only person I've heard him refer to by name recently is Neo." The blonde grimaces. "If I had to guess, he names people himself until he deems them important enough to remember."

"So he doesn't know your name either?"

"I believe myself and Carmine are cases of him... ugh, getting off on NOT using our names." Disgust comes to her as she physically cringes. Blair looks at the other two. "There's something you wish to speak to me about." Glynda glances away. Blair's eyes harden at the act... a topic that makes her sister tense? "Is this related to myself or something new?"

"The world doesn't revolve around you." Glynda bites out, still looking away.

"Excuse me?!" Blair's voice raises as Rowa grabs both the blondes by the shoulders. They each glance at the woman.

Rowa pauses before allowing a sad smile. "Let's... move a touch away from the camp, eh?" Blair scrutinizes her, seeing the same tension in the woman as in her sister. Steeling herself, she nods. The three women move way from the beach.

. . .

As the women step away, Roman frowns. The posture in the other blonde was more than his poking fun bothering her. Still, not his business. Not his problem. He notices some wary looks from the newly free sad lads. His green eyes trail their gazes to his sack. Begging him of all people? As if.

The conman turns away and marches to the two exhausted looking brats. He'd noticed the tricolor girl seemed out of it. So, approaching the two, he plasters a smarmy grin on. "So, Hansel and Gretel. Surviving the witches?"

Carmine grimaces. "I'm glad to see Glynda and Rowa again, but... I could do without the stereo of fear."

Roman chuckles seeing the soulless haze on Neo reset to a bit of a scowl. So, the girl doesn't like the Secretary, eh? "Well, far be it for me to be less impressive than the tag-alongs." He sets the bag down, reaching in and retrieving a boon. His grin grows as he tosses Neo a deep glorious red stone to the girl.

Neo's eyes seem to gain life as curiosity turns to light gazing at the gem. An iridescent clean ruby gemstone! The girl's mismatched eyes chance a glance up to Roman as she snatches it.

He shrugs. "Seems the good Master of the plantation had discovered a good deal of gems underground while making his underground lair. A whole heap of these stones were hoarded in a locked safe about a quarter way down from the surface." He hums a laugh. "Only took fifteen minutes to crack. You keep that one. Rubies aren't important to me."

Carmine lurches forward. Roman's lip quirks noticing the boy's legs twitch irregularly. Must have said the wrong thing to Neo again. "WhatdoIget? WhatdoIget? WhatdoIget?!" He rapidly blurts out.

Snorting, Roman retorts, high and mighty. "You~ will get nothing!"

He'd laugh if it wouldn't ruin his image. The boy's clearly offended face offset by Neo's forming smirk. Carmine flares his nostrils. "Asshole." He turns to Neo. "Steal some of his stuff for me, please?"

"Mm mm." Neo hums the refusal, smirk growing to a smile. Maybe Carmine picked up on what the man was intending with that... smooth, actually. He's getting smarter.

"Name your price." The boy demands of the girl. Her eyes blink, colors swapping. Neo glances up in thought.

Not giving time, Roman hauls his bag back. "As if I'll let any of your investments there be fruitful, Silver Streak." He glances up from the kids, spotting Qrow a distance away looking over the camp. Meeting the huntsman's red eyes with his green, Roman smirks.

Qrow rolls his eyes, briefly glancing to Neo before returning his attention to the camp. That catches the conman's attention... So, related? Maybe. Roman glances back to Carmine. "Also, good bill of health. Your illegal drug use won't compromise your health, there."

Neo, finally lively, double takes a look to Carmine, who freezes. His face scrunches to remember... It hits. "Hey! You make it sound like... crack or something." He sputters. He looks to Neo, the girl shifting away wide eyes. He whips his head back and forth between the girl and man. "Whoa- wait! I took NOTHING wrong! It was Siegf-"

"For shame, kid. There's a million ways to say no to drugs, you know." Roman taunts. Neo further recoils from the two, a judgmental, accusing stare at the boy.

Carmine's arms flail up. "No. No! NO!" He stands up, jabbing a finger at the conman. "Quit misrepresenting me!" Looking to Neo, he sputters at her narrow gaze. "Look now, I-... He's talking about the Nomau-"

"No more drugs. That's the attitude kid. Just say no when asked." Roman, grinning mad, slaps a hand on Carmine's shoulder. "We'll get you through this." Carmine's face goes from worried to furious.

"SHUT UP AND LET ME SPEAK!" He shrieks.

Qrow smirks at the sight. He could tell Neo saw through and was playing along with the ploy. A big plus was seeing Carmine... be a kid. Sputtering, getting worked up, and quipping back. Sure, it was at the mercy of a potentially psychotic conman, but... it was good.

Summer would be happy with this...

Here's hoping the team can handle its new developments and news.

. . .

"W-... What do you-... You cannot be serious." Blair sputters... stepping back from Rowa. Her wide amber eyes glance, for once in her life, for answers from her sister. She sees how Glynda's tight jaw shakes... a thin veil of control barely in place. Blair looks back to Rowa. "No... You're lying."

Rowa flinches at the accusation. Her gut sinks at the topic as she forces herself to answer. "I wish I was." Her contains a choke. "We know that it happened not two weeks ago..." She takes a bracing breath. "Less than a day removed from your battle in Sanctuary."

It's Blair's turn to flinch. She looks to Glynda, voice raising. "Tell me she's incorrect. There's no way Cella of all of us could be foolish enough to die!"

Glynda tenses, scowling. "Then you explain why Ozpin suddenly found this AZRL to be such a threat."

That puts a stop to the blonde. Blinking rapidly, she glances about. Her gut sinks, heart threatening to rip itself. "What?! What does that..?" She looks to Rowa.

"Cella accepted a job to oversee a mission undertaken by Shade Academy students." Rowa starts slowly. Making sure to speak each word clearly. "As I'm told... she and a full team of second years were to investigate possible Grimm attacks inland in Vacuo near several village's school districts.." Her voice lifts, as if to continue.

After a second, Glynda takes it. Her voice strains as she captures her sister's eyes. "The attacks were suspected due to an influx of missing children..."

At that, Blair could think time itself had stopped. As if the gods themselves deemed the cruel joke had gone too far. She herself wasn't sure how long her breath held. Briefly, Rowa could see a trickle of red from the woman's palm. Her hand clenching too tight.

Glynda herself is shocked, seeing the droplets forming at the corners of Blair's eyes. "We-" She pauses, suppressing a choke. "We do not know for sure, but the circumstances suggested to Ozpin that it was your enemy. Or-... Or rather, someone connected to them."

A choked sob escapes Blair's throat, the woman keeping eye contact with her sister. Her head snaps to the side, feeling a pressure around her right wrist. Rowa gently eases the blonde's hand up... So furious, she doesn't register the blood dripping from her hand until brought before her eyes.

She forces a breath in, her vision blurring. Blair gazes down to hide it from her two former teammates. "How?"

Glynda gulps a lump in her throat down. "All wounds found on her are in line with Beowolves and Ursai." Blair snaps a heated, offended look at that.

"That's what set alarm bells off." Rowa speaks, quiet. "No way that's all it took." She looks back to Glynda herself. "I haven't heard any other details from the autopsy."

Blair growls out. "Tch! Neither of you know what to look for." She glares furiously at her sister. "Any irregularities? Any details out of place?"

Glynda nods. "You were our doctor on field missions. Did she always have an iron deficiency?"

The question shocks her. Numbing the anger. Blair blinks twice, shaking head. "What? No. Of course not. What absurd stupid question is that?"

"She and all four of the students were found-." Glynda pauses, eyes closing before refocusing the details. "All five were discovered to have almost a lethal absence of iron from their blood. Uneven distribution. Some parts of their bodies were void of it entirely."

"That's... Not right." Rowa states, to herself more than anyone.

"How could-" Blair's voice chokes. Eyes snapping wide.

Iron.

Metal.

"There's that lovely face. Oh, you've worried me so much."

That voice plays in her head. That sickening grin. Those delighted eyes...

"You know something." Glynda states. Rowa glances down, startled as Blair's arms quake. The blonde's aura sparks in a flash. Her teeth nearly crack clenching. Sensing the woman's breakdown, Glynda's own aura flashes a matching violet as a haze washes over Blair's torso.

Blair's eyes widen, realizing her sister has her gripped under her semblance. Not restrained, but... a gentle hold. Almost eased on. It takes a moment for her to calm, held by her sister's power and Rowa's own arms.

Blair allows herself to go slack, a choked sob escaping once before she quietly answers. "... Spyyra Barnall. Caucasian male." Her hoarse voice comes quiet and robotic. Her gaze drifts down. "Green shoulder length hair... Orange eyes. Long features. Six foot six inches in height. Athletic build... Wears a black suit composed of metallic dust particles. His semblance controls metals and metal alloys at the molecular level."

Glynda and Rowa exchange a wary look. Rowa starts softly. "You know him? You're sure he..."

"There isn't a doubt in my mind." Blair states, firm but quietly. "He's AZRL's top operative... and the one who authorized the operation that took away Neo's ability to speak." Glynda and Rowa both tense at that."I swear I'll-"

Rowa wraps her arms around the woman, cutting her off and remaining still. "I know... We'll get him." From the side, Glynda stands off. Yet, she continues to gently hold her sister in her semblance. To some, it may seem like a restricting technique, but to them... it's the closest the two have ever come to hugging one another.

A sob escapes once more, Blair connects her own aura with her sister's, Glynda's semblance almost tailor made to allow Blair's to inject itself within. Connecting one another, they each feel the breath, the heat in the other's body as if it were their own. Glynda's eyes tighten, tears building up as they each feel within their core the other's feelings to the subject.

Rowa, noticing thing, reaches out, gently tugging the Academy teacher in as the three remain. Remaining in comfort... and in mourning."

. . .

A short time later, the three women found themselves head back to the camp. All three felt extraordinarily drained, as if a gust of wind could blow them over. Still, Blair couldn't say the last time she and her sister weren't on hateful terms.

Arriving, they spot Qrow. Thankfully, he's organizing the last of the freed prisoners to two of the boats. Thank the gods. It was almost sunset! The sky already tinging from blue to orange. Blair looks to Glynda and Rowa, giving a curt nod.

She breaks from the two, approaching her team. Carmine is ranting at Roman who barely cares. Neo seems quite pleased with the interaction, but her smile wipes away upon seeing Blair. She stands, catching Carmine's attention. He trails his gaze after hers... and his posture slackens upon seeing the distraught woman approach. Even Roman drops his attitude, looking perplexed as she approaches.

It doesn't surprise her that Carmine is instantly approaching. It's not like she could do much to not look like she'd cried her eyes out. Red blemish burned around the sockets. Clear distress showed in her. "Blair, what's wrong?! Are you okay?"

Neo hesitantly approaches beside him, herself looking confused. Blair could almost smile at it. Surely, they don't expect her to be emotional of all people.

The sight of the young ones painted a neat picture for her. For a moment, she didn't see them as they were, per se. Rather, she saw them as lives. Lives she's responsible for, regardless of leadership status. And that held a whole new level of importance now... To never feel as she does right now.

Without thinking or deliberating, Blair leans down to the teens. Slowly, she hooks one arm around Carmine's head, the other around Neo's, and brings in. Her eyes cast down as she sighs. Each of the teens tense, shocked, before slowly allowing their arms to drape around the blonde. Utterly confused.

"No. I'm not okay." Blair states. Her voice raspy, spent. "But we can discuss that later." She pulls away from the two, who send worried glances to each other and back to her. "We still have business to finish."

Roman, unable to help himself, chimes in. "Making us think the world is ending to see you get all cuddly and lovey." He smirks. Granted, even Blair can tell he's slightly shifted seeing her like this.

Blair holds a stare with him...

And with one hand, palm up, swats his hat off his head.

"Wha- HEY!" The calm, controlled criminal image dissipates instantly as his hat blows onto the rocky sand. The man snatches his hat quickly, actually put off and flustered. "The hell?"

"I don't have the extra energy for you." Blair retorts.

Qrow approaches the group. "Yo." His greeting is met with exhausted glances from all involved. "Last of the refugees are sent away. We got a boat ready to transport us all."

Carmine sighs. "Thank god... So, we're done with this day of hard conversations?" He jokes with a smirk. However, he notices that Qrow only steels his gaze further.

"No, kid. Now that you four are together, you should be on the same page bout somethin." A hard look goes to Blair, who nods.

Carmine notices this, confused. "What are you..?"

"Carmine." Blair starts. "AZRL has hired a team of mercenaries specifically to hunt us down. They fought us through the night until Qrow arrived at the last minute to help drive them off."

The boy double takes. That... makes sense. The girls looked rather torn up before they arrived to face Master Ilan. He looks to Qrow, seeing how serious he was. "I... see."

"No... No, you don't." Qrow retorts.

Before the confused boy can respond, Roman cuts in. "Oh, is THIS the thing I was correct about?" He smirks, setting his hat back atop his head. "Surprised it hasn't happened sooner. So, what kind of scum of the underworld has AZRL's money bags bought?"

"Killian Gonzola."

The name from the blonde freezes the group. Roman's hands pause straightening his hat, eyes wide. As if catching up to his mind, the green eyes glance to Carmine... the boy's own body going stone rigid. The man behind him groans in a grimace. "Great..."

Blair's own grimace holds a stare at the boy. Carmine takes a few seconds to finally start breathing again. His pace quickening... his choppy breath shaking out. "W-what..?"

"Killa... He's been hired by AZRL. He's our enemy." Blair states clearly. She can easily tell the boy's shock is giving way to a panic. Yet, they need to go through it... the band-aid needs ripped off. "He's leading a team of faunus mercs. I fought him myself."

Carmine snaps his gaze to Neo. Fear. Plain as day. The tricolor girl frowns, but nods. At that, the boy glances down. Each scrape, each bruise marring her body... very few of those the result from the robot fight... all had to have come from these mercenaries.

He then looks at Blair... The tattered look to her as well.

"You'll need to be ready... He's after us now."

Us... The bone chilling fear wars itself with a bubbling, burning, white hot rage. His fists clench, eyes wide, almost unhinged. It wasn't just him... That man is back... again, to take more from him.

"I used this hand." A blonde dog faunus comes to mind... splayed on a street with her gut blown out...

"I used this hand." A man in dark red leather. His torso is lined diagonal in puncture wounds...

A touch to his side gets a flinch. His breath, hyperventilating, wheezes as he looks over to Neo. The girl's hand on his arm firmly grasps.

Killa wants to find them.

Killa wants to kill them.

Roman. Blair.

Neo.

"NO!" The boy shouts out, spooking the girl beside him. He viciously shakes his head. This useless fear! He will not let it control him. Not now! The boy casts himself firmly into the burning storm of fury. He glares back at Blair. "Not again!" He makes sure to send a look to Qrow as well. "If he comes after us, I don't give a damn!" His anger fumes. "I'm not a useless child anymore... if he's after us, then..."

'Then I'll kill him' he almost says... The image of Siegfried comes to mind. He gulps down the thought, the fear of the subject eating away at the anger. No. Anger is the only way. He can't allow fear.

He blinks away the image of a white cloak...

"Then he's just an obstacle. No different from Spyyra or Mary Anne." He misses the flinching clench in Blair's hands.

The furious declaration is followed by silence from all present. Roman blinks in surprise, Neo as well. Glynda and Rowa each exchange a worried glance. However, Qrow frowns as the declaration. But nothing was close to Blair's response.

"Good." The blonde responds. Mirroring flame burning within her, she nods. "Then we shall do everything we can to be ready for him." She turns on Qrow, a look almost challenging him to disapprove. A short stare down ends with the man sighing and letting it go.

"Right... Now that that's over with... Let's get out of here." Roman claps as if to end the atmosphere. "I'm ready to get the hell out of here."

The Beacon hunters share glances, cursory glances at the boy. While Roman and Blair seemed supportive of this direction, Qrow raises a brow at the unexpected worry from Neo. Unfortunate that the voice of caution was one who wouldn't voice it, Neo masking the emotion. The CRBN's make their way towards the boats.

Neo's worry for the boy wash away, catching Qrow's glance in her own. Ice cold. Well... there goes a possible voice of reason.

. . .

The dead of night. The boat travels at high speeds over the Mistral controlled waters. Settled in, Qrow was surprised to find that none of the CRBN's were sleeping yet. Well... Neo seemed perpetually between consciousness and none. The girl would stir, blinking, then slumping back against either Blair, Carmine, or even Roman.

The different responses brought a smirk to the huntsman. Roman would momentarily grimace before allowing it. Blair would brighten, but would hide it to the glee of Rowa nearby. Carmine, teen boy he is, would tense and go red the entire time.

As for the boy, severe bags showed under his eyes. Any attempt to convince him to sleep would only be answered with 'I'm used to it. Stop.'

So, it wasn't surprising to find the boy stubbornly watching the dark waters whip by. Rowa smiles warmly, shifting to sit by him. "Hey there."

The boy blinks focus back as he yawns. Stifling it with his arms, he forces a smile back. "U-um, hi. What's up?"

Rowa mulls her response before smirking. "Been years, and oh my god, you've gotten so big and handsome!"

The shift flinches the boy, a blush coming as he hunches down. "Oh, it's that kind of conversation..."

The woman giggles, reaching over and ruffling his hair. The touch instant flusters the boy. He jerks away, quickly hand brushing his hair back in place in a pout. "Oh, come on. How could I pass up the opportunity?"

Heated, the boy sits straighter with authority. "With respect? I'm a team leader now. Bad guy beater. Got that, Miss Carson?"

For only a second, Rowa straightens on instinct. That pitch was... staggeringly familiar. She shakes it off. "Whoa now. In that tone, you'll start scolding me for homework." She holds her hands up in mock surrender. The comment seems to sober the boy a moment, though he forces a nervous grin soon afterward.

She continues. "Besides, how else am I supposed to coax out what my girl's been up to these days?" She winks, not so subtly thumbing towards Blair across the back of the boat. Her joking grin turns more genuine. "How is she? I know she won't tell me honestly."

He blinks in thought, shrugging. "She's... She's helped me out a lot. I think me and Neo give her plenty to work with and do." He halts to chuckle. "Keeps her from murdering Roman."

Rowa smiles at that. "Good. That's more than I can ask for." A slight pause allows her warmth to fade. "You'll keep her safe for me?" Her serious tone catches him off guard.

Carmine nods, serious yet confused at the sudden question. "Of course. I won't let anything happen to them. Blair, Neo, or Roman."

Her eye flicks to the conman, smile dropping. "Yeah? How is... THAT company?"

The boy snorts. "He's not... THAT bad. I mean, sure. He used me as bait for an explosive trap without me knowing, but..." He stops, seeing the clearly annoyed deadpan from the preppy woman. A sweat drop as he shrinks under the lidded stare. "Aha... to be fair, he's half the reason we're all still alive."

"Forgive me if I don't see it." The woman huffs. Just in ear shot, Qrow listens on. A light smirk comes to him, catching what he could over the noise of the rippling waters behind the boat. He watches as Rowa pulls out her scroll. "But, just in case things don't go well in the future, here. I want you to have my scroll number. Let me know of you guys are in bad, okay?"

Carmine blinks at that, pulling his own scroll out. "Oh... uh, okay."

Seeing this, Qrow has a good feeling about the kid, despite everything.

. . .

In the dead of night, the boat comes to a halt to tie off on a dock. The party had finally, FINALLY arrived at their destination. The border port town, Bellhaven. Only a few miles from CRBN's home. The CRBN's march into the town, Roman really the only one not stumbling in their footing.

Qrow thanks the boat driver, sending him on his way back to Mistral proper. He turns, leading Glynda and Rowa after the team. Carmine stops, sending a tired glance up to Roman. "Aye... Isn't your contact that took us to Menagerie still waiting for us to contact him?"

Roman snorts. "Odds are, he thought we died and made off with the money I already passed him." He waves the concern off. "Quit being superman for one gods damned night and sleep like the child you are, okay?"

Carmine heats up. "So glad you're not an online influencer or something. All you'd do is create hashtags leading people to hurt others."

"Hashtag Screw Em'." The man quips off, approaching an empty parking lot. Empty save for the beat up van on the other end.

Neo, groggy, conjures a sign for everyone to see. '#ScrewEm'

"See? She gets it." Roman smirks, approaching the driver side of the vehicle.

Seeing the machine brings a grimace to the hunters. Rowa scrunches her nose. "THAT'S your all's transportation? Should I warn the public schools?"

"Laugh it up, Twilight, but the joke doesn't work with windows and not being white." Roman snidely retorts.

"As if gray is that different..." Rowa mutters, then tenses, eyes wide. "And stop calling me that! My name is Rowa! Rowa Carson."

"And where is your base of operations?" Glynda asks, clinically. She eyes the distance mountains, barely distinguishable under the stars.

"Nearby. That's all you need to know." Blair cuts in. The sisters exchange a cold glare, but neither had the heat to put much more into it. Blair turns to formally address the hunters. "This is where we separate."

As if punctuating this, Neo slouches around Blair and waves her downward hand. As if to say, 'off with you.'

Qrow shakes his head. "Almost. We have one more thing to discuss." He looks more pointedly to Carmine. "The 'we' being the two of us." Carmine's brow furrows a moment, then his face falls in realization.

"... Rain check?"

The weak excuse earns an amused look from the man. "Sorry kid. Under orders."

The worst thing to hear right now... He slumps, kicking a rock on the ground. "... Shit."

"Language!" He flinches hearing the simultaneous chide from every adult, save for Roman. Qrow is already turning to walk away. Carmine, still slumped, follows after. As the two turn the corner, Roman can only think of one way to pass the time. An argument. "So, Twilight, do you dye your hair, or does the carpet actually match the drapes?"

. . .

Carmine jolts, hearing Rowa shriek at Roman. A substantial distance off, Qrow removes his scroll, placing it propped on the back of a town bench. "This should be far enough."

"Hmm..." Carmine grumbles. Qrow grimaces at the kid's reluctance. Sighing, he taps to call. The screen of the scroll lights, almost blinding the boy's tired eyes. Grumbling, he wipes at his eyes as they adjust.

Then the voice he really didn't want to hear spoke.

"Hello, Carmine. You are looking well." That polite, kind yet authoritative tone.

Carmine frowns, opening his eyes fully to look at his father, Professor Ozpin, on the screen. He sees breaks of daylight in his office, a steaming cup in front of the man. The boy scoffs. "Yeah, don't pretend I don't look like I've been through a blender."

His father's light smile grows. "I meant that as more than a physical state. Although, you have grown a bit."

The boy's lip twitches down at that. It's... wrong. To hear this voice speaking in this way. He can't help his response. "All alone, then? Surprised you're not in a meeting." The jab may not have been warranted, but the boy still notices it each time. Ozpin only speaks this familiar when it's only them.

And Qrow, it seems.

Yet, Ozpin let the jab slide, linking his hands in front at his desk. Carmine huffs again. "Beginning to think my lack of sleep is genetic. What time IS it there, anyway?"

"05:48. My next staff meeting is in one hour." He responds in his measured tone. Almost a slight change in the eye. "It would be wise to get your rest where you can."

"Look, after the last 40 hours, I'm not exactly gonna carry a conversation." Carmine cuts in. The words are rude, but his tone is only tired. Seeing the look from the old man, maybe he'll get off easy. "What do you want so I can sleep?"

Ozpin eyes him a moment, measuring him through the screen. "Very well... this call will be carried out as a debrief of Team CRBN's leader. A post mission report. To the point. How does that sound?"

"That would be lovely." Carmine tiredly gets out. Not even picking up on his own wording altering like his father's.

"Very well. Mr Branwen, I'd like your input and report as well. First and foremost, I understand the Menagerie venture yielded the freedom of 63 human slaves by the White Fang member, Ilan. What has come of him?"

Carmine blinks, surprised his father knows this. Then again, Qrow spent considerable time away from the others throughout the day... Speaking of, Qrow speaks beside the boy. "Ilan's been handed to Haven hunters and has been transported to Mistral. Lionheart should have him within 24 hours."

"Very good. Carmine, what was the express purpose of your team's venture into Menagerie in the first place?"

Carmine purses his lips before collecting his response. "We were tracking medicine... The hospital in Sanctuary had been sending medical shipments to multiple places, including mislabeled shipments of Nomaura to Menagerie. Seeing as the shipments were carried out by AZRL, we followed the trail to Ilan to determine what the drugs were for..."

. . .

"So, taking advantage of Qrow's team, we escorted the prisoners and freed slaves to shore for evacuation." Carmine finishes his grueling detailed report. Several points, he almost paused to remember his details. Unsurprisingly, he brushed over Siegfried, and kept more to his side of the story.

And of course, that infuriating expression never changed. Ozpin's poker face didn't change at any point. Describing the prisoners? Nothing. Describing the giant mech robot? Nothing. Describing an aura stimulant? A raised eyebrow.

A raised eyebrow- What does it take?!

"I see...Mr Branwen, are there any holes in that narrative you wish to fill in?"

Carmine tenses, ready for it. He's going to bring him up... Killian...

"During combat, Carmine neutralized an enemy combatant. A trained mercenary who could take the form of Grimm with his semblance. This enemy refused to back down until Carmine was forced to deliver a lethal blow."

The boy's gut sank... That as well.

"I believe it's in his best interest to lay low, to evaluate himself, and recuperate. He did the right thing, but that does not mean it won't affect him negatively." Qrow speaks to the point, his words sounding like an accusation.

Carmine's fists clench. "What?!" He cuts in, glaring at the man. "Oh, yeah. I'll just take time off. Go on holiday. Go to the beach-"

"Carmine." He snaps his gaze back to the scroll. Ozpin is sending a hard stare his way. His lips were curled down in disapproval... or pity? "Do you disagree with Mr Branwen's assessment?"

A heat builds within him. "It doesn't matter."

"Your input most certainly matters."

He shakes his head, angered. "It doesn't matter because there can't BE time off! Taking the time just to rest means more kids are getting ripped away, beaten, and killed. It doesn't matter what my response is because no matter what, we're moving forward against AZRL! That's it! They need to go down."

Ozpin's face chills his anger, a dangerous glint in his eye. "Carmine." His tone leaves no room for argument. "... I admire your drive to help people. It is an aspect I couldn't be happier to see." When does praise sound... threatening? "However." Carmine flinches back at the tone. "Understand... Understand ALWAYS that stopping evil from occurring entirely is an impossible endeavor. Evil WILL happen. No matter what. Evil has occurred during the beginning of this conversation, and is happening at this very moment. Acting as if you MUST put a stop to it is nothing less than a fool's errand. An illusion you must break before you get yourself and those around you harmed."

Each word hit more forceful than the last... This was a headmaster chiding a student. This was a disciplinary lashing to a child. The boy's eyes were forced down. He weakly defends. "Then what the hell are we doing? What's the point?"

Ozpin's visage softens at the boy's shift. He measures himself, calculating his words. "We play the game, Carmine. When bad things happen, we respond, which we are doing right now. We fix the problems as they occur. Through our actions, we inspire others to do the same and foster a culture that will lessen evil more and more, over time. We facilitate progress, and we get as close as we can."

He waits for the boy to look back up before finishing. "It may feel at times we've accomplished nothing at all. But, that's the importance of remembering where we came from. Do you understand?" The boy is silent for a minute, taking the tongue lashing in. Instead, Ozpin directs towards Qrow. "Mr Branwen can answer most of my remaining questions. Give you a second to contemplate this."

"Sir?"

"Do you feel Team CRBN is capable of handling the threat presented by Mr Gonzola."

Carmine's eyes widen, sucking in a breath. However, he keeps cool enough to listen to Qrow's response. "Based on what I saw and what Glynda and Rowa told me... maybe. The adults of the team are perfectly capable of handling themselves. As I understand, Blair Goodwitch nearly landed a killing blow on the guy on her own." The huntsman answers honestly. "The kids are kids. Under trained by comparison, but insanely talented for their age. If they have time... they should be fine."

Carmine blinks at the response, confused by it. That's... much better than he'd expect.

"What is your evaluation of the team in detail? How do they function? What are their weaknesses? What are their roles and strengths?"

Qrow and Carmine catch gazes before the man nods and responds. "They're as dysfunctional as they come. Entirely unconventional. At first glance, they appear to be antagonistic to one another." Carmine recoils at that, offended. "But... they are oddly in tune with one another. Their interactions seem intended to help one another, and do. They have each others' best interests at heart, even if they aren't exactly capable of expressing that."

The boy's face blanks, listening on. "Roman Torchwick and Neopolitan Rhodes are heavily independent and morally screwed, but their self serving natures include the others well being. Blair is ruthless to anything in their way, but that's an asset to their survival. She's heavily protective of the kids. The kids themselves are also uniquely attuned to one another."

"The fuck..?" Carmine mutters quietly. He flinches realizing both men have shifted focus to him. "I-I mean, what's that even mean, 'attuned' and... yeah."

"... Mr Branwen-"

"His language has been affected by his environment, yes."

"Quite bothersome."

"Hey..." The boy pouts, glowing red embarrassed.

"Right. Final question for you, Mr Branwen. How has Carmine acted as a leader?" The boy's heart halts hearing the question.

A short moment of contemplation comes over the man as he answers, maintaining eye contact with the boy. "He's like Summer." The boy sucks in a breath. "Obsessed with the others and not caring enough about himself. Almost self destructive in that way. He's got a tactical mind when not angry and rises to the moment. As a bonus, his team actually listens to him... mostly. He gets a pass."

That... huh. The boy lifts his head, spotting his father appraising him once more. He blinks confused, before scowling and meeting the man's critical gaze with heat. He almost expects more scolding before the man hums through the call. "Very well. Back to you then, Carmine... You should know that the purpose for sending our Hunters has been for a certain... lack of communication."

Carmine's scowl morphs to a pout. "Oh no. Who knew ignoring you was all it took to get your resources to help?" He sarcastically drawls. Qrow sends a narrow gaze, but the boy ignores it in favor of mouthing off to his father.

It fails to affect the man, whose small smile never leaves. "We wish to obtain the very same resources you've been using to track AZRL. I will begin coordinating my hunters along with Shade and Haven academies to act against this threat."

"You want to sideline us?!" Carmine accuses, stance shifting aggressive.

"No such thing has been insinuated. We wish to assist and deal with this threat. HOW we do so is dependent on what you're willing to communicate to us."

The boy calms for a moment, nodding. "Yeah... Yeah, fine." Hands to his hips, he sighs. "Up until Menagerie, we've been tracing money transfers from banking accounts associated with AZRL. We'd originally started with the original bank. But... Sanctuary proved they're not just onto us, they're laying traps. We can't follow those leads, but I'm sure you have different ways to go at those."

He nods to himself. "I'll have Blair send everything we got to Rowa and Glynda for you." He pales lightly. "If she doesn't kill me for including Glynda in that..." He mutters to finish.

Ozpin smiles at this. "Very well. We shall face the dead ends while you find the new ventures."

Carmine glances up, bristling in anger. "Are we done then?"

"On two conditions." Ozpin's visage is one of business, his calm stare somehow unnerving. "Firstly, as a listed team under Vale's Hunter registry, you and your team are required to periodically check and update on your endeavors."

Subtext. Call me or pay. Carmine crosses his arms, clenching his arms with his hands. However, he sends a dry look. "Quite the roundabout way of saying 'Boy, call me more often.' Eh?" His father and the huntsman both looked unimpressed with the boy. Carmine shrinks under both stares. "Fine. I'll update you more often! What's the second condition?"

"I'd like to know where your team's base of operations is. Should contact be lost, I'd love to refrain from sending my hunters after you in such a crude way-"

"No." Carmine states forcefully, glaring. "Absolutely not."

"Kid, don't be immature about this." Qrow warns in a low tone

The boy huffs. "This has nothing to do with me. Far as your system is concerned, I'm a huntsman in training, but none of my team has any part in it. Even Blair." He makes sure to glare at his father on the screen as he says her name. "You wanna shout at me, do it, but giving that information compromises all three of them when you have no right to that information."

At that, the conversation hits an impasse. Qrow looks to the screen, waiting for the headmaster to respond, yet finds only a calculated stare back. "You truly care for these three." Is his smile growing? "As you wish. I will not pry to your dwellings... so long as I don't have to."

Frick. He's still adding qualifiers. His tone grows impatient. "Good. So, can I go now?"

Ozpin nods, taking another sip of his coffee. "You may. Stay well rested and look after yourself." His smile shifts, mischievous. "I'll hear from you soon."

Double Frick. Carmine groans as the call cuts out. Qrow collects his scroll, escorting the boy back to the others. Upon arrival, he catches Roman snickering amused at the expense of a red embarrassed Rowa... what were they talking about?

Ugh, he's too tired to care. "Yo. We're done here. I want to sleep." Seeing the sentiment shared by Neo, he chuckles.

"Kid?" The huntsman behind him gently reminds.

The boy blinks before groaning. "Right... Blair, can you digitally send all of Dory's notes and data to Glynda."

Blair bristles at the mention of the other blonde, but nods. "I suppose. Each and every one of those leads could be another-"

"We know." Qrow cuts in rudely. "But Oz has more strings to pull than just walking into traps."

As Blair glares at the man, Carmine nods. "We're letting Beacon, Shade, and Haven deal with those leads while we use new ones. Just send them, please." Blair cuts a glare at Qrow before nodding silently. Carmine turns to the hunters. "Then... I guess we're leaving now."

Glynda nods, taking a moment to meet gazes with Blair, then back to Carmine. "Be wary of your enemies. The idea that you're allowed to operate is dubious enough. Having some common sense is the least you can do."

All four CRBN members bristle at the comment. Neo signs out. 'Well, screw you too.' Neo then blinks wide as Rowa walks up to the girl, holding her hand out for a fist bump.

"You'll take care of Blair for me, right?" She glances at Carmine a second before adding quietly. "And I don't need to mention helping him, do I?"

Neo purses her lips, a wide look at that. What's... she insinuating? Neo simply gives a nod and shrug. Rowa giggles, giving Blair herself a hug and ruffling Carmine's hair, much to his chagrin. Neo's eyes trail up to Qrow, the man's own gaze giving nothing away. The two hollow stares remain until he gives a mock salute to the team, turns, and walks back to the docks.

Roman calls out. "Have fun walking into traps, Birdbrain." He grins for the hunters' irritation. "Have a lovely time, Miss Secretary and Twilight Sparkle."

"IT'S ROW- Oh, forget it!" Rowa groans, walking away. Glynda marches with her. The preppy girl gives a wave, Carmine the only one to reciprocate it.

The boy finally smiles. "Alright, finally... let's go home."

. . .

The Next Day

Daylight breaks into the room. The illuminating streaks through the curtains paint the bed. The sun's painful way of saying, 'hey, jerk. Get up. It's my time.'

Joke's on the sun... the boy was already up. His limp body lying still under the covers. His drooped eyes stared at the ceiling, lightly flicking between nicked marks in the wood above. He'd tried sleeping. Even succeeded for a good five hours... accumulative.

Each time he may have gone deep, his mind just conjured red. Red dripping, wet, pouring from holes.

Sometimes the body was male. Sometimes female. Sometimes it was presented to the boy, standing right by it. Other times, it was out of body, watching scenes he's watched a thousand times occur yet again.

And sometimes, in his place was a smiling man with a tail, a pompous Mohawk on his head.

Carmine turns over, gaze finding the side table. Heulin Noon sits on the stand, within reach. The red wolf sigil. A few scrapes along the weapon's side had ripped some of the red off, a white underneath. The thought passes that he should reapply the finish, restore the wolf's red. Still, the chippings of white seemed... appropriate.

He reaches his hand out, brushing against the symbol... He huffs. This is useless. He gets out of bed, wearing only a blue t shirt and gray sweat pants. His feet pat along the floors, going down the stairs to find the living room empty. Sighing, he sits on the couch, silent until he takes the remote and turns on the television.

The first channel shows local Mistral news. Flick away from that. Animals of Remnant? Gross, no. Phobia Phactor? His fingers freeze on the remote a second... Eh, no. He flicks to the next channel. This continues until he finds a cartoon channel. Two feuding faunus families cartoonishly trying to kill each other. One side, mongooses, the other snakes. Hatgooses and McCobras?

The poor attempt at naming gets an eye roll, but he keeps the channel on. The senseless violence on screen is at least a distraction. Still, he wonders when the others will wake up... Blair usually makes breakfast.

His mind briefly wanders to the blonde hugging him and Neo... something's wrong there.

He groans, facepalming. Probably should cook for her. He stands from couch, moving through the arch doorway into the dining/kitchen room. He checks the pantry... a stack of bags and brands listing ingredients he didn't know about. "Uh..."

Maybe he should know how to make more than instant ramen and hot dogs.

Toast should be easy... and eggs?

Grabbing a pan, he judges its size. That'll work. He turns and- "DAHHH!" His voice, an octave too high, shrills as he falls back. Neo stands in front of him, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Clad in only shorts and a tank top, she blinks at him on the floor.

Heart getting under control, the boy groans. "Really need a bell on you. Help me up please?" She blinks awake, simply staring at him. He scoffs, getting up himself. "Whatever." On his feet, he sighs. "... Can you help me cook something for the team? Give Blair a break?"

Neo purses her lips in thought, glancing up dramatically.

"WITHOUT terrorizing me throughout?" That makes the girl pout. He smiles at that. Much more like her usual self. She rolls her eyes before nodding. He smiles back. "Thanks. Now, for eggs and toast.."

. . .

Blair pats her way down from upstairs. Wearing a lavender night gown. She stops, mind alert, at the smell. Burning. Quickening her pace, she across the living room, finding the kitchen in disarray.

A stack of pans with burnt scorch marks and grime caked on sits in the seat, the source of the smell. The stove still hot despite being off. And... Carmine and Neo sitting at the table looking pensive. Looming over them is Roman, grumbling to himself as he scrapes at a pan's surface. He's only wearing dark pants and a red shirt.

"What... is this?"

Roman perks, turning irritated. "Ask the wonder twins. Their powers created a catastrophe."

Blair turns to the table, seeing... okay looking scrambled eggs and and brown blocks she supposes should be toast. Carmine, bright red, huffs. "I thought Neo could handle the toaster... and she couldn't... So, then I thought she could watch the eggs, and well..." He gestures to the pans.

Blair blinks in confusion, then glances at Neo... the girl redder than a tomato. "How... do you fail to control a toaster?" The girl, flustered, gestures a twisting motion with her hands, for knobs, and throws her hands up in frustration. She hunkers down, arms crossed.

"We wanted to cook for ya... Probably should've stuck with the instant ramen." Carmine pouts.

"Know your limits, Silver Streak." Roman chides, abandoning the cleaning and sitting at the table. "I'm taking an extra 50 Lien off your next pay for putting out your fire."

Carmine groans, pausing as Blair puts a hand on his shoulder. Doing the same for Neo, the girl jumps. "Your efforts are... appreciated. Thank you." Blair moves to sit down as Roman sits across from her. The group begins eating together.

"Mm... too much salt." Roman comments.

"Hmph. It's fine." Blair states. For just a second, the four seem... content. Chowing down and exchanging light quips and barbs. However, the quaint atmosphere would of course end.

"So, our next move." Carmine eases in. The mood shifts as Roman takes the dishes. The boy looks to Neo and Blair. "What did we get from the facility?"

Blair and Neo exchange a glance, the blonde humming. "We have a list of contacts throughout Vale and Mistral. All were listed with supplies that they either provided or requested." She looks to Roman. "I gave you the list before bed. Did you recognize any names."

"Oh, did I?" Roman smirks. "Nearly ALL of them are prominent contacts Senior used to use. No way all of then are AZRL... but I can guarantee they've done business of some kind with them, either intentionally or not." He grins, devilishly lacing his fingers in front of his smirk.

"So we've lost the trail on AZRL themselves?" Carmine growls in his voice.

Neo frowns, but snaps for attention. She signs out. 'Other buyers. Inner circle?'

"They can't do business if they can't have buyers..." Blair starts.

"They can't have buyers if they don't react to us..." Roman adds.

"And when they react, we find our new trail." Carmine finishes. He hums a moment before actually smirking. "So, we kick ass and take names, gangbusters style."

Roman shifts attention fully on the boy. "Yeah right. You're not up for that." He condescends as he takes a drink.

"No. really. Do it." Carmine says, dead serious to the man. Roman flinches, gazing back as if expecting the boy to say he's joking. Instead, Carmine's stare is dead serious. "It's clear that our enemies... they're monsters. We're searching for criminals, so we're hitting them the way they're used to."

A bubble of anger rises as his mind flashes to faces. A schoolgirl followed by an explosion. A boy followed by a mauling of Grimm. A woman with a bullet wound in her car. A teen replaced with robotics. A dog refusing to surrender til death...

Neo, age five, chirping at him happily followed by her now, signing her voice.

"Roman... we're going to play the part. With you, we can worm our way in, and hit them hard. One at a time." His fists clench. "Any of them outside of a city? Bombs, fires, sabotage. Everything is fair game." Seeing worried glances from Blair, he scowls. "Every tine we've held back, one of us has almost died. No more." He forcefully adds, gaze trailing down. "Especially now that he's after us."

Roman takes that in, nodding in approval before grinning just a little too wild. "Be careful what you ask for..."

"And be sure to show me and Neo how you make all of those. It'll help of we know." Carmine states, sending a smolder to the girl. Neo's blank face slowly morphs to a challenged grin. He can tell her thoughts... she thinks it'll be fun.

It might be.

"Then you need to be ready. Both of you." The teens glance at her. Blair huffs, a cold glare meeting them. "Don't worry." She reaches out and takes a glass of water, taking a long drink. She places the empty glass down. "I'll whip you into shape... starting in ten minutes. Grab your gear and get outside."

Carmine and Neo exchange looks, nodding. Carmine spares a look to Roman. "Pick and name and make a contact plan."

The three leave the table, leaving the smirking Roman... Then, he sniffs. He glances over to the sink... dirty dishes still there. He groans. "Filthy brats."

. . .

Outside, Carmine and Neo come to a stop in their mission gear. Both move into the open dirt field connected to the dirt road leading out of Haddon. Across from them, Blair steps out in her own gear. She holds out one hand. "Neo, come here."

A flash of realization comes over the girl, grimacing. She marches over, pouting as she raises an arm. Blair jabs her sheathed weapon at the limp, the prongs on Fluorescent piercing and obtaining Neo's blood. Pulling away, Neo rubs her arm annoyed, marching back to Carmine.

Blair nods to the two. "Today, we will spar. Both of you come at me with the intent to kill." The final word elicits a tense reaction from the two. "Trust me. You can't kill me if you try. But if you're to be expected to face a monster like Killian Gonzola, you will need to try."

Neo flashes a look to Carmine, seeing the boy sweat lightly. His jaw clenches at the name, but he nods. She bumps the boy, flinching him and getting his attention. The girl waits a moment before brandishing Hush and smirking. Carmine visibly calms, nodding back. Glaring forward at Blair, he raises Heulin Noon. "Ready."

Blair calmly draws Fluorescent... bathed red in Neo's absorbed blood. "We will see." She slashes the blade, casting Neo's semblance over herself...

Replaced with a man... with a tail... a duster jacket... a Mohawk... and a toothy grin.

Carmine's breath stops. Blair chose on purpose to appear as him. For a second, he's aware of nothing else but that man's image... His body screams as he barely keeps from flinching back. His now choppy breath sounds as Neo readies herself beside him.

The only thing he can understand is the need to flea. The need to get away. The need to live. The need to survive. The need to never see that face again. But then he remembers.

No. Not fear. Do not feel fear.

Only anger.

This is a test. If he can't do it, everyone will die. More people that he doesn't even know will die.

Anger...

The man who killed his mother, his father, willfully laughed off his own men's deaths, laughed at HIS pain. No, anger isn't enough. He needs more.

He needs UNYIELDING RAGE!

Blair watches the emotions flash across the boy. It takes him almost a full minute before controlling the grip of his gun and aiming directly at her. Neo, seeing this, nods. Good... What's an expression Killa would make? The image around Blair, controlled through Neo's shatter semblance, cocks its head, flashing a sickly grin at the boy.

Carmine sucks in a breath. Right... We're doing this. Seething in anger, he barks his cry. "BRING IT ON!" He pulls the trigger.

BOOM! The two children charge after the shot at the woman.

And FINALLY, we arrive at our second time skip since CRBN's formation. Some character interactions for a chapter. Some angst, but this is a story where Carmine's the main character. You should expect angst by now.

Ages now:

Carmine – 14

Neo – 13

Roman – 24

Blair – 22

And just to outline for anyone curious, the first two chapters of this story on Fanfiction are 'trailer' chapters, and it should be noted that this coming time skip will push the characters past Trailer CRBN (second chapter on FF). These trailer chapters were omitted from my reposting on AO3.

Join next time, we shift some focus back Roman's way... in chapter forty one: Wilted Pains.