"I do hope this isn't a waste of my time." Lil'Miss was... less than pleased it would seem, but Raven didn't care in the slightest. Unlike the weak slop that was her 'gang' this particular woman held a sensible amount of influence around Mistral, so when Qrow filled the dark one in on what was going on the fabled black knight asked to meet with her.

Unfortunately the task of collecting the woman was left to Raven.

"Just shut it and keep moving." Raven spouted, fed up with the condescending bullshit at this point. For such an influential figure in Mistral's underground she was very quickly showing she was no different then the usual ass-hats that littered the upper dregs of society.

"You know who I am, how vast my reach is, and yet you still carry on with this attitude... you're an interesting one." Raven wanted to laugh, but instead chose to shoot back.

"Uh huh, yeah. And I suppose those 'guards' of yours were just for show. Clearly a woman of your stature already has decent security, and those children were only pretending to be weak to catch me off guard." Raven chuckled. "Let me guess, the ambush is just a few meters from here right?"

"If I truly felt threatened I would have dealt with you myself." Lil'Miss didn't sound upset, in fact Raven could have sworn she heard some approval in her tone; it pissed her off. "Though I will admit that display you pulled off back there was quite impressive. You wouldn't happen to be for hire would you?"

Raven let out a mild scoff. "Not a chance. Anything you could offer me I am more than capable of acquiring myself."

"Pity."

The two continued on in silence, that was until they neared their destination. Lil'Miss was, quite understandably, confused with what she saw.

"If I may..."

"It'll be explained inside, now come on."

Raven lead the questioning woman along. They moved past and through the large crowd of Faunus, with a few sending looks curiosity towards them. Raven didn't need to look back at the woman to know she was confused, as the small murmurs of 'oh my' and 'pardon' as they shoved through the crowded halls of the inn was more than enough. Unfortunately for the two the waves of Faunus would only increase as they drew closer to their destination, with the door to the room being blocked off by an old man.

"Ah, miss Raven, I see you've returned with our guest."

"I take it they're waiting for us inside?" Raven questioned as Mr. Quartz nodded.

"Yes, and as I'm sure you'll appreciate, the room is much less crowded than out here. I've told the others to stick close, but we can't all fit inside."

Raven nodded. "Right." She looked to Lil'Miss. "Come on."

The old man stepped aside and gave a small yet observant smile as they walked inside. Raven allowed a breath of relief to leave her as they stepped into the spacious room, with Lil'Miss giving off a rather satisfactory gasp as they were greeted.

"Took you long enough." Qrow commented as Raven waved him off.

"Her goons were annoyingly insistent that she not come along. I had to... persuade them a little bit first."

"Right." Qrow sent a flat look. "And you didn't think to mention my name."

"I wanted to test her little posse." Raven spoke as Qrow raised a brow.

"And?"

"Disappointing."

"Of course." Qrow sighed before changing the subject back. "At least she's here. Now we can get down to business." He looked to the boy, who in Raven's humble opinion contrasted nicely against quite literally everyone in the room. "Okay kid, you're up."

"Thank you."

With that he drew all the attention.

.

.

Looking at the woman I should have expected her reaction, and yet the look of surprize and intrigue had twisted my expectations a little. I had spent so much time around people who were used to me that I'd completely forgotten that compared to everyone else I was a walking monster.

Fitting for what I was about to bring on.

"Pleasure to meet you, I am Vermillion Rose, and you are..." I reached my hand out, and that seemed to break her from the small look of shock. She reached for my hand and clasped hers with it.

"Apologies, I appear to have forgotten my manners. Lil'Miss is what they call me, I hope you don't mind the lack of proper greeting, I prefer to play it close to the chest." The woman took back her composure, which was good, but I could still see a hint of apprehension in her eyes.

"Not at all." Our link parted and my hand found itself hovering over the pommel of my sword secured at the waist. "I fully understand the caution for someone in your position."

"Oh, so you know of me." She kept a calm voice. "Pardon the curiosity, but as I am apparently the subject of this meeting might I ask just how much you know?"

"Nothing that threatens you I guarantee." I slanted a smirk at the corners of my lips; a visual signal that I had something planned. Her expression stayed the same, and yet the small twitch of her cheeks proved that the act had drawn her attention, and with that confirmation I continued on. "Rather, I've heard that you have quite the force at your disposal."

"I see..." This time her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "And am I to assume you wish to bargain on them?"

"You're quick to the point." She caught on immediately, and I felt a small amount of pride fill me as the conversation was directed exactly where I needed it to be. "Yes, I do as a matter of fact."

"Right..." Her expression broke for a second into something more guarded; I expected a similar reaction, but not with such a violent undertone. "I just have one question: what does the White Fang want with me? I'm assuming you're not linked with the ones controlling Haven, no?"

Haven... Qrow had filled me in on the school's current state, and knowing that it was under Fang control put a sense of unease in my chest. Regardless I couldn't afford to lose what I had going, and so I made a more thorough point with my next statement.

"No." It was blunt, and for that single word I allowed all my irritation to coat it; to make it absolutely clear just how serious I was. Her guarded look faltered for a moment, and I doubled down. "I am partially White Fang, but not like those ducked down in the school."

"I suppose that's good to know, but that doesn't answer my previous question." She was insistent on learning my intentions for her gang, and so I decided to spell it out directly.

"Simple: I want to return the school to Mistral." I gripped the pommel tightly and hardened my stance. "I want to see the Fang there usurped and thrown out, so that the people may once again take control."

She smirked, and as she spoke I felt uneasy. "A noble statement, practiced even. How about this instead: tell me what you really want, and I'll overlook this little white lie of yours."

You're pretty good. It had been a while since someone was able to look past an example of practiced bravado; she was proving more dangerous with every passing second. Fine, let's see how you like this.

"I want to kill Adam Taurus." I watched as her smirk grew, and I knew that I hit the nail on the head; minus the quiet gasp from Blake.

"Now that's the bold reasoning I love hearing; I knew you were hiding something." Her eyes wandered over the others around us. "Although it seems your little allies weren't quite so informed."

"They're tired of all the violence and just want to see justice. They want to put an end to the Fang's warpath, but at the same time they don't want anyone else to die."

"Foolishness." Lil'Miss didn't sound all that upset, in fact she sounded almost amused even. She proved just how amused she was with her next statement. "That's what I love about student hunters; they always want to do what they believe is just, even in the face of impossibility." Her eyes shot back to me and locked with my own. "But I have an inkling that you have something in mind that just might turn this little scheme from stupid to risky."

I wore a smirk. "Called out again; I must be slipping. I do have something in mind, but as I'm certain you've figured out I'll need your help to do it."

I watched as Lil'Miss went silent. Her face shifted bit by bit as the seconds went on. Her eyes shut, and ever so slightly the corners of her lips shifted around, as if putting on a performance of their own. Her breathing was steady, but even so I saw her cheeks pull as they drew a devious smile across her face, laughing at everything that had happened. Her eyes opened and a sigh escaped, it sounded relaxed.

It was then that I knew her coming answer.

"Alright, you've got me curious. I suppose I don't really have much to lose by lending aid. The Fang here have already caused me enough trouble, so I doubt anything you're offering can make it much worse." She crossed her arms. "So tell me, what have you in mind."

My own smirk quickly graduated from staged to real, and as the good mood rose I let my words flow.

"Well, it goes a little something like this..."

.

.

Weiss wasn't really a fan of playing therapist, but it seemed she had been delegated the roll once more.

"He want's to kill Adam..." Blake mumbled, and Weiss could only sigh.

Why me? "He only said that to get a reaction out of her."

Weiss had taken it upon herself to see both Blake and herself out while V explained the plan to Lil'Miss. Blake had been holding her composure sure, but Weiss had seen it start to crack almost instantly after V mentioned killing Taurus. With a quick nod of approval from Sun she had taken her Faunus teammate's arm and lead them out the door. They moved through the crowds and out into the street where she sat them down on a bench just outside of a small grocery store. They had drawn a few looks with their more stylized and exotic looking attire, but Weiss paid them no mind as she quickly took to counselling Blake.

In her opinion it was not going as well as she'd hoped.

"But he said it so quickly, so... easily..."

"And Lil'Miss responded just as suddenly." Weiss rubbed the girl's back. "You know as well as I do that he's always observing, always thinking of the right thing to force a reaction." Her face twisted sourly. "Even if it's the absolute worst thing to say."

Blake visibly grit her teeth for a moment before speaking. "I know that, but still... what if he meant it?" Her hands rubbed against the sides of her head, and through the scratching she dug deep in her mind as the worries tumbled out. "I know we have to stop Adam, and I know he's long beyond his chance at redemption, but to kill him... would it make us any different than him?"

Weiss sighed. "For Dust's sake get a hold of yourself." Her arms crossed as she sent a look to the jumbled mess of a woman. "We're not going to kill him, I can promise you that. Even if V tries to do that I will personally put a stop to it then and there."

Blake stilled for a moment, and soon enough a nervous giggle tumbled from her lips as she shakily spoke. "That would be something; you standing between him and a beaten Adam."

"He won't hurt us, you know that." Weiss's expression fell as she raised a hand, allowing her fingers to graze the side of her neck. "Not after last time. You remember it right?" Both their eyes met, and a small smirk rested pleasantly across Weiss's face. "According to Pyrrha he's the reason she's even alive, and we both know he was much less close with her than any of us."

"He does seem to stick around us quite a bit." Blake leaned back and allowed herself to relax. "I suppose it must mean something." Her eyes wandered over the crowded streets as the people strolled along, and she noticed some would occasionally sneak quick glances at them; something Blake found amusing, yet expected. Her rigidness eased up a little and her tone softened. "But will he really listen? He killed Fennec."

"Right after Fennec killed Sienna." Weiss's face cringed in irritation slightly as she recalled. "It was a gut reaction; a response in the moment. We'd known he was willing to murder, but you remember back at Beacon right? We talked with him, and got his perspective on things. We saw how he approached topic's like that, why he did what he did."

"Necessary evils... yeah, I remember." Blake's heart weighed heavy. "I still don't like it though, even if it makes sense in some twisted way."

Weiss slipped a soft look over herself as she spoke again. "And you remember what Ruby said?"

"A different path... something new and unexpected." For the first time since they sat down Weiss was able to see an honest smile stretch itself in place delicately on her friends face, and even though it was small she appreciated it all the same. "It's so childish and innocent."

"But not impossible." Weiss added as her friend raised her head and looked to her. "Sure it's something out of a children's story, and is most certainly a 'Ruby' idea, but even though it is I can't help but hope for it." Weiss saw the life flow back into Blake's eyes, and she pushed one last time. "How about you?"

"Yeah..." Blake stood, and Weiss followed soot as she admired the extensive chaotic energy of hope and drive that seemingly radiated from her partner and friend. "I do." Blake's eyes hardened, and yet they never lost that sparkle of rebellion. "Do you believe we can really make it happen?"

Now that was the Blake Weiss wanted to see. Back when they first met she couldn't help but scorn the girl who seemingly wanted to sulk alone. Weiss had known solitude since she was a child, and upon seeing the bookworm at the time brush off obvious attempts at companionship she couldn't help but feel the swelling springs of jealousy flood through her veins. She'd grown resentful at Blake's apparent selfishness as she discarded those who only wanted to aid her.

Weiss was upper-class, and thus she'd been conditioned to believe it was improper to mingle so casually with those she'd been told were below her, and as such she tried to form a professional relationship with the only one there who looked to be worthy of her stature; that being Pyrrha. However her time at Beacon had challenged that preconceived notion of structure, and with some help and pushing from the staff she'd come to understand that 'class' and 'prestige' meant nothing in Beacon's eyes. With that realization she'd outwardly settled on becoming the best teammate for their team leader, while inwardly thankful for Beacon's own policies of student equality giving the perfect excuse for her to accept the friendship offered by the others, who in the eyes of many back home would be seen as lesser ignorant peasants.

It was a gift in her eyes, and one which made it even more difficult to understand Blake's often dismissive nature. Yet as Weiss looked at Blake now she was reminded of that small moment of realization that slapped her so painfully back when she saw the girl fighting for her life with V, back before he had shown his true colors.

Blake had never run because she was afraid of trouble catching her, she ran because she was afraid those troubles would hurt the ones close to her.

The least expressive being the most emotional... it's something straight out of a children's book. Weiss chuckled at the thought, and yet she spoke up, having decided she'd held her answer from Blake long enough.

"I know we can. Isn't that why we became hunters in the first place?" Weiss couldn't hold back the smirk on her lips, and instead allowed it to shine for her friend. "Isn't it a hero's job to make the impossible possible?"

"You sound just like Ruby." Blake said as Weiss chuckled.

"Is that a problem."

"No." Blake's own smirk twitched with glee. "I'm just happy she's finally pulled you from your shell."

"I can say the same about you." Weiss shot back.

"I guess you can." Blake finally allowed a full real smile to ease her face. "So we're going to stop Adam?"

"Yes."

"And we're not going to let V kill him?"

"Correct."

"Alright then, I guess I'll be counting on you." Blake said with a nod, and Weiss reached out and took her hands.

"We'll be counting on each other."

.

.

"Very well then." Lil'Miss didn't appear very impressed. "Not the most lavish idea I've heard, but I suppose it'll do."

"True." V sounded just as middling as their new business partner. "If it does fall to pieces then we'll just deal with it as is, although I'm fairly certain this will pull through. The Fang while violent aren't all that certain of their actions, especially during sudden moments of stress."

"If not we'll have a whole blown battlefield to contend with."

"You're free to pull out of this." V crossed his arms. "I didn't hold this meeting to force you into anything; you're more than free to call it quits and leave this to me."

She waved the boy off, and Qrow could swear he saw a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. "Oh hush. I'm no stranger to excitement, and rarely anything excites me anymore. Besides, these pests have made a mess of things long enough. I'm willing to help with anything if it means getting them out of my city." The woman held a stern face. "Now when will we move into place?"

"I'm going to let the others know once we're done here. Consider the plan in action immediately." V stated as the woman hummed, yet she didn't oppose the news.

"Fine, I'll prepare my men and meet you outside the gates."

"Right. Thank you."

Lil'Miss gave a quick laugh. "No need for thanks, I'm simply doing this for myself; it just so happens that the benefits of this are a perfect opportunity to strengthen my influence."

With that she left, and Qrow finally took the chance to speak. "You're certain about this?" He watched as V turned back, a stiffness in his motions.

"We don't really have much of a choice. It's either this, or having no back-up for if things do go south."

Qrow flinched a little at that, but nevertheless he bit back the urge to grumble. He didn't like the idea to use civilians in the first place, but they were running out of options. As much as he hated it the others were gone for too long, and at this point the worries that they may be in trouble were all but guaranteed now.

He sighed as V opened his mouth again. "I'm going out front to let the others know it's time." He turned. "I'll meet you at the gates."

"You'll meet Qrow and the others." Raven suddenly shout out, and as Qrow looked to her he noticed a twitch in her hand. She was looking to her scroll, and he suddenly got a bad feeling in his gut as his sister pushed out the bad news. "My time is up."

"What?" V questioned, only for Raven to take a more stoic look.

"I see..." V, for all his brash decisions before, was holding himself well in Qrow's opinion - despite the stiffness of his jaw as he delivered the words. The boy turned and made his way out, slamming the door a little too hard.

Qrow felt his irritation build. "He's still got those bad memories fresh in his mind. Why don't you skip the bullshit and just leave Cinder out to dry?"

"She's got the means to track me down, and until she's opened the vault will continue to do so." Raven spoke almost emotionlessly as she placed her mask on. "If I don't deal with her now the tribe will always be in danger."

"It'll never be safe with Salem on the prowl." Qrow told as Raven grumbled.

"You still don't know, do you." She let out a breath. "You know, I want to tell you... really, I do. But if I tell you now it'll distract you." She turned as she cut open a portal. "And besides, I'd rather Ozpin be the one to let it slip; let him face the consequences for once."

"So what, you keep running?" He shook his head. "You'll only find fear along that path. If you spend your life running you all but ensure a life of regret."

Raven stilled for a moment. "Don't you remember Qrow? The saying passed down throughout the Family?"

Qrow scoffed, and yet he chuckled. "Please, I remember just as well as you. A sigh of relief left his lungs. "The chains of fate cannot bind the wrath of freedom; an oddly optimistic saying for a group of bandits really."

"Freedom lies in all directions brother; one merely needs to fight for it." She chuckled lightly. "Vermillion Rose... You know what that surname implies, right brother?"

"I'd rather wait till I can speak with Oz again." He grit his teeth as she laughed again.

"Do you really believe he'll tell you everything?"

Qrow remained silent, and yet his sister did not.

"If you don't believe so than think for yourself."

With that Raven jumped through the portal and it shut instantly behind her. Qrow could only sigh as a swell of unease combed over him. He looked to the door, his mind racing, and slowly made his way over.

I hope you know what you're doing Raven.

Author's note

...

Surprize, this chapter actually has events going into one another rather than being a series of split points of view.

Felt like spicing it up this time, mostly because I have plans for the coming chapters... well, more direct plans anyway. We're coming up to one of those major moments I mentioned way back, but it's not what you think; not this time anyway.

No spoilers though, so you'll just have to wait and see.

Catch you next time.