Neo, 11:54 P.M.

Yeah everything sucks. I don't know what I'm doing or what to do next. I'm pretty much alone, half of these people hate me, and the only one making an effort to talk to me is Sun. He's something else, and kind of an idiot for trusting me. He must have heard all kinds of shit about me by now.

Roman used a hand to brush his fringe out of his face as he looked over the text with mixed feelings. Everything did suck in Sanus, too, and he could quite easily relate to Neopolitan's feelings of isolation among of group of former enemies. Their stolen, hotwired tractor trailer rumbled along through the storm while he read, trying his best to block out the background noise. Roman was sat in the cargo container attached to the truck along with several of his newfound allies, and the pounding rain atop the steel box accompanied by Nora's sobbing from farther back near the door were the only things he could hear. Both of the noises were starting to get on his nerves, though he didn't dare say anything. The man chewed his lip as he composed a reply, hoping that Ren, Nora, Sage, and Mercury would simply leave him alone as Yatsuhashi and Velvet took care of getting them back to Beacon Academy.

He's not stupid for trusting you. Yeah, we fucked up back in the day. Things are different now. As long as you try to turn things around and bring down Cinder and Salem, Sun's the only one that's not an idiot out there. Lean on him and fuck the rest of them if they won't play nice.

Neo, 11:56 P.M.

I guess. I don't know how to do this whole hero thing. It feels weird and stupid. They're all busy hugging each other and being friendly and I hate it. I just want to focus on getting things done.

Roman couldn't help but smirk, even though he didn't really feel there was much to be amused about at the moment.

Always practical with you. The hero thing IS stupid. Risking it all, self-sacrifice, no payoff but survival, and half the people you save are ungrateful little shits about it.

Neo, 11:57 P.M.

So why are we doing this? Just for revenge? I'll fucking skin Cinder for you the first chance I get.

Roman had to stop and think for a moment. He was originally doing it out of debt to Glynda… as well as for revenge. Somehow, though, that wasn't what he wanted for Neopolitan. He knew she could be better than him… and he also knew that, as much as he hated to admit it to himself, those weren't his only reasons anymore.

Because the alternative isn't just stupid- it's killing everyone. Life is stupid, Neo. Might as well do the least stupid possible.

Neo, 12:13 A.M.

You have such a way with words. Speaking of stupid things, Sun just walked in without a shirt on. I'm gonna try to get laid. Wish me luck.

Roman rolled his remaining eye and shook his head.

Luck. Make him squirm and dig those nails in, girl.

Not wanting or needing any further detail, Roman pocketed his scroll and leaned his head back into the cold metal of the container. Silently, he looked around the trailer, taking note of everyone's positions- he was closest to the cab, while Mercury sat a few feet away from him against the opposite wall, alone. Sage was a bit farther down and keeping to himself, while Ren sat embracing Nora right near the door of the container. Other than the mourning couple, they were all alone together. It was a feeling he had had throughout his entire tenure with Cinder… and not one that he liked.

As much as he hated to admit it, Roman knew that there was only one way things were going to change.

It was unclear whether the sound of his boots against the steel flooring was noticeably louder than the pounding rain, or if Roman was just fixated upon them. The lanky man made his way to the other side of the container at a slow yet purposeful pace and sat down, his back against the wall opposite Ren and Nora. He met the young man's eyes and found them to be red and full of pain. Nora kept her head down and her face buried into Ren's shoulder, unable to contain herself. It had been hours.

"Listen… no matter what it takes, we're gonna win this," Roman said, not sure if he believed his own words. "We're not backing down, we're not compromising, and we're not letting Salem get her way in any capacity. I know the past is kinda fucked up between us, but… for what it's worth, I'm all-in. So's Neo. We're gonna work our asses off to make sure we end this as best we can for everybody involved. Ruby… didn't deserve what happened to her."

"It's people like you who pushed her to that point."

"Nora, please…" Ren said quietly as he gripped her a bit tighter.

It almost looked like he was getting ready to restrain her.

Roman took a deep breath in through his nose as he tried to remain calm. He knew he had heard Nora correctly, and he knew that the criticism was probably deserved.

"…I didn't want this," Roman tried. "I didn't want any of this. Back when this all started, I was in it for money. Influence. Stupid shit that doesn't matter at all compared to what we're dealing with now. If I'd have known what this was all leading to…"

"You knew you were dealing with grimm," Nora accused as she finally turned her tear-stained face to the man. "You knew that Cinder was planning something with literal monsters. Did you seriously think it was just going to stop at dust shop robberies and stolen military tech? That she wasn't going to use all of that to do something like this? Even if you didn't know about Salem, you had to know that you were helping her build something that would be a serious threat to Remnant."

Roman at least had the grace to hang his head as he took another breath, well aware that Nora was glaring his way.

"I guess I did, on some level. I just… didn't care, as long as I got mine. That's not true anymore. Somewhere along the line, after nearly getting killed during the siege of Beacon… I started giving a shit. I saw all the damage she… we did, and it changed things. Thinking I might've lost Neo, too… that made all the difference. I don't want anyone else to lose people to Salem and her stupid conquest."

"Don't act like you suddenly gave a shit about Ruby," Nora seethed. "I tried so hard to get through to her but she just wouldn't o-"

"So did I!" Roman yelled, looking up and matching Nora's anger. "We talked several times over the past few weeks! I saw something brewing in her that I've seen a couple times over, now, and I tried to steer her off that path! She was slowly starting to open up, and then she and her entire crew had to leave! How the hell do you think I feel about all this? I thought, maybe, I was doing some good and making up for almost getting her killed, and then she went and got herself killed. I wasn't convincing enough, or quick enough… or maybe I just didn't try hard enough. Maybe I didn't care enough."

"Maybe the two of you need to stop," Ren cut in, his own voice rather tense. "Neither of you are responsible for the decision that Ruby made. The way it was explained to me, she… went against all advice and caution to involve herself in something she was told to stay away from, and her luck finally ran out. She wanted to continue being the hero, and it cost her."

Ren was startled as Nora managed to break free of his embrace with relatively little effort. The girl stood and cracked her neck while balling a fist at her side.

"…that's a roundabout way of saying she brought it upon herself."

"Listen, Nora," Roman began, well aware that he was in danger of being attacked. "You tried. We both did… but the difference between you and me is that you never did anything to act against her or make her start having thoughts that led to this. I did. If it makes you feel better, then pin this on me. Not yourself. I fucked up her worldview back when we fought above Beacon. It's not your fault."

Nora's jaw clenched, and it was then that Roman noticed what the girl was holding in her other hand. The bent, charred remains of the blade of Crescent Rose was digging into her palm, though Nora didn't seem to notice or care. The fragment of the weapon had drawn a small stream of blood, lending the steel a bit of gore.

"…no. You're here right now, she's not, and you're… you're at least trying to help. What I need is to come to terms with the fact that she did bring it on herself, and multiple people tried to stop her. This is just a reminder that we can't save everyone. No one can."

"Nora…" Ren tried, but it fell on deaf ears.

"We're going to fight like hell. Minimize the casualties, do what we can, save who we can… and kill every single grimm that dares encroach on Beacon," Nora declared before sniffling and raising the remains of Crescent Rose. "Ruby made a mistake… but so did Salem. She has no idea who I am, or what I'm capable of. I'm going to bring the fight to her when the time comes… and I'm putting this through her fucking chest."

"Easy," Roman warned as he stood up to meet Nora. "Charging in is just…"

"When the time comes," Nora repeated. "I know. Ruby's death is a warning. I'll strike when it makes sense, and not before… but no one's taking this from me. I'm finishing what Ruby started, for her… and for myself."

"…still. Revenge is… tricky," Roman said, trying to remain neutral. "I want nothing more than to bring Cinder, and Salem, down, but… Neo already lost two fingers making an attempt. We need to play this carefully. Do it right. Pool our resources, connect with our allies around Remnant, and make a plan. I can't believe I'm saying this, but we've gotta move slow."

"We've got your back," came Sage's voice as the man made his way over. "Look, I know we barely know each other… but I've got something to fight for, too. All of us do. We've all lost people, permanently or otherwise, to this war. We need to keep each other in check."

"None of us really know each other, other than you and Ren," Roman agreed as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "We should start by fixing that once we get back to home base. We need to become a team. A real team."

"There room for one more on that team?"

All eyes turned to Mercury as he walked up behind Sage, looking uncertain. Nora was the first to speak, her words laced with venom.

"…why?"

"The fuck else am I gonna do?" Mercury answered with a shrug. "I've… seen things, being around Salem. Things I don't want to be a part of. There's no path out for me other than fighting my way through. It's the only thing I'm good at, and if we're talking about the danger behind being motivated by revenge and anger… I know a thing or two. It blinds you. Might as well at least try to open my eyes."

A subtle buzz pulsed through Roman's pocket, and he brought out his scroll to check the update.

Neo, 12:14 A.M.

…I fucked it up. I did get a hand on his dick, but that was about it.

Roman let out a sigh as he sent a message of his own.

Don't give up so easily. You're not a quitter.

"Well… this is a start. Let's lick our wounds and kick some ass."

Author's Note:

…at least he means well?

-RD