It is only after a week has passed without any incidents that you and Weiss finally breathe in relief.

That same week also has seen you assigned to Blake duty somewhat permanently due to Weiss taking personal control of the expedition. Thus, you spend most of your days with the catgirl, passing her back to Weiss whenever the expedition sets up camp.

When you are not babysitting Blake or spending time with Weiss, you either train with Morena or hang out with Nines and Ezra. In the case of the two mercs, three of you either make a competition of shooting small desert critters or, usually, play cards which Nines, being a cheating little bastard, often manages to win.

Then there is Valentine.

Your trysts with the blue-haired ninja have been put on hold since the World's End and instead you two have begun a game of subtle flirting. Sneaky touches here and there, words spoken with hidden, lustful implications and few moments of genuine conversation where you manage to learn a bit more about Val herself.

"I have an albino pet snake."

It is rare that Valentine tells you personal things about herself. Usually, it requires great effort on your part and a sufficient bribe in form of chocolate and/or alcohol. You went with the latter this time since chocolate is very expensive and impossible to find in the middle of the desert.

"It the cutest little thing with pristine white scales and blood red eyes."

It is also surprising to hear such an affectionate tone from Valentine. For as long as you have known her, Valentine has either been cold and professional or lustful and passionate. Honest and simple affection is not something you are used to seeing in her.

"Didn't really take you for a pet owner," you admit before taking a swig from your bottle.

She shrugs. "I like animals. They are a lot easier to deal with than people."

You find that you can't really argue with that statement. It is also not surprising considering the disdain Valentine holds towards most people. That said, you don't want the conversation to die yet, so you make an attempt to keep it going with another question.

"What are your favorite animals, aside from snakes?"

"Wolves."

You watch as Weiss combs Blake's hair. The two girls are on top of Weiss's bed, Blake's head placed on her friend's lap. The catgirl purrs contentedly as the wooden teeth are gently dragged through her hair over and over.

"-and then Yang, being Yang, kicked him in between legs."

Weiss has been telling stories about her team of friends to both you and Blake, a semi-regular affair that has started after the expedition's departure from the world's end. With Blake, she hopes to jog the catgirl's memory. You, on the other hand, simply enjoy spending time with her.

"We all got weeklong detentions for that one which ended up being a huge waste of time what with Yang refusing to learn that 'Violence is not appropriate social behavior for a huntress' and 'That asshole totally deserved it' is not an acceptable excuse."

"To be honest, 'That asshole totally deserved it' is an acceptable excuse," you comment.

Weiss smiles fondly. "Trust me, it is not when coming from Yang."

"I will take your word for it."

Weiss continues talking about team RWBY until Blake falls asleep in her lap. As you silently leave Weiss's tent after a whispered goodnight, you can't help but wonder just how many stories of Team RWBY Weiss has.

And how the world in her stories sounds so much different than the one you know.

Days pass by as the barren dirt of the northern wastes slowly give way to the dry sands of the Great Desert.

Fortune seems to has finally decided to smile upon the expedition as there have been no further attacks, allowing for an excellent pace. The spirits are high and everyone is eager to return back to civilization where there are warm beds, alcohol, and no bandits or raiders. You hear many of the mercs already making plans on how to spend their pays on whores, food, and new gear.

"If we keep this pace, we should arrive at Sho-Battai under two weeks."

You too, feel eager though you can't really understand why. While Sho-Battai is a familiar place, it is not somewhere you consider home or possess any emotional attachment and unlike everyone else, you don't care about the upcoming payday.

Still, you feel excited, hopeful even.

So unlike the you from six months ago, before you met Weiss.

"Wolf, is something wrong?"

You turn to face Weiss, brought out from your introspection by her call. "Got lost in thought, sorry."

"It's alright," she tells you, her tone understanding. "This journey has been long and tiring."

You don't feel tired, but you don't bother correcting her. Taking your silence as agreement, Weiss continues. "We should reach the traveler station twelve before sunset. Beds and actual food should give everyone the energy needed to keep this pace up all the way to Sho-Battai."

You nod then turn your gaze back to the scene in front of you. Before you stretch the last steps of solid dirt, disappearing under the desert sand as you move your gaze towards the horizon. You can see far from atop the steep hill which you and Weiss are currently standing on, the hill which Weiss had climbed to get her bearings and confirm the current route.

Which she had finished with minutes ago.

"Hey, Wolf."

"Hmmm."

"After we reach Sho-Battai... Would you like to..."

You patiently wait for Weiss to finish her question. When she doesn't, you once again turn to face her and see the hesitant look on her face. Your eyes meet and she opens her mouth to say something before suddenly changing her mind.

"Weiss?"

"Nevermind... Just forget about it."

With that, she turns around and begins the march down the hill.

True to Weiss's prediction, the expedition manages to reach the traveler station twelve sometime around late afternoon.

It takes around half an hour for pack animals to be stabled and everyone else to get settled in. The following two hours you spend with Weiss, training your nascent aura. You have gotten better at grasping the small reserve of this mysterious power though you still can't use it consciously.

But Weiss is content with your progress which you take as a sign that your pace is acceptable.

Once you are done with the aura training, you set off in search of food. Station's kitchen mostly has food cubes and sake which is barely any better than traveling rations. Fortunately, being the personal bodyguard of a noble, you get the privilege of eating actual food in form of a bowl of Gohan alongside strips of cooked meat.

You also manage to snag a bottle of wine though you had to pay couple hundred cats for it. But Valentine's appreciation when you show up at her door later that night with the said bottle in hand makes the cost well worth it in your opinion.

Suffice to say, the bottle you bring doesn't last long between you and Valentine.

Sex does.

Except for this time, something is different. There is no struggle for dominance, no attempts at controlling the pace which were present in your earlier trysts with this woman. Things are much for straightforward but no less passionate or slow. You don't have to fight to stay on top and thus you are able to pay full attention to Valentine and her beautiful body.

It is an interesting change of pace, one you very much enjoy.

So you make the most of it.

Time is well past midnight when you empty yourself into Valentine one final time. You use the last reserve of your strength to pull yourself out of your exhausted partner before collapsing onto the mattress right beside her.

For what feels like hours but in reality is only minutes, two of you lie side by side in the darkness of Valentine's room, bodies slick with sweat and numb.

At some point, you doze off only to woken up by clatter. Turning your head to the side, you spot Valentine at the end of the room, her still naked body outlined by the moonlight filtering in through the window. She is on her knees with her back to you, busy rummaging around inside a metal container.

"What are you looking for?"

"This." She pulls out a large glass bottle, similar to the one you brought, out of the container before raising it up for you to see.

You prop yourself up into a sitting position as Valentine returns to your side. She swiftly removes the cap and takes a swig before passing the bottle to you. Not knowing what type of alcohol is inside, you take a swig yourself.

And wince as the strongest rum you have ever tasted makes its way down your throat. You have to hold yourself back from coughing it out on instinct and the burning sensation left behind makes your eyes water.

"What was that?" you ask when you manage to get your tongue working again.

"The good stuff."

"What's the occasion?" you ask as you return the bottle.

Valentine takes another swig before answering. "There isn't any. Just felt like drinking."

You accept the bottle back from her and take your own swig. The alcohol is a bit easier to swallow this time as your tongue and throat slowly adjust to the burn it leaves behind.

"What do you plan to do once your contract ends?"

"Help Weiss find the rest of her friends." You answer as the bottle changes hands once more. "What about you?"

"I will return to the outpost seven," she informs you, before bringing the bottle up to her lips.

Immediately your mind goes to the outpost at the World's End with its metal walls and alien machinery. It is not really a place you could call home or ever be comfortable in.

"Is that one of your super-secret hideouts?" you ask her on idle curiosity.

She nods. "The one where my team is based."

You had assumed Valentine to be a lone operative with the way she acts independently. It is surprising to learn that she is part of a team.

"You have a team?"

"I do."

"I am not sure whether they are lucky to have you as their commanding officer or cursed," you tell her with a teasing smirk.

She gives you a cold look in return. "I am the second-in-command."

And the surprises keep coming.

"Huh."

"What?"

You didn't expect there to be someone capable of ordering around but you don't voice that thought aloud.

"Who is the poor sod that is your superior?" you ask instead.

Valentine turns away from you and towards the large window showing the night sky.

"Her name is Christmas," she answers with a hint of emotion in her voice.

You raise an eyebrow at the odd name. "Christmas?"

"It is a code name."

"Does it mean anything?"

"Nothing as far as I know."

You nod, accepting her answer. As you turn to face the windows yourself, a thought suddenly strikes you.

"Wait... Does that mean Valentine is not your real name?"

"No."

For a moment you are tempted to ask her real name, but then hold yourself back. You feel that if she wanted you to know, she would have told you. Instead, you decide to continue to question her about her team, a topic that she seems content talking about.

"So your team... How many members does it have?"

"Five."

She takes a drink from the bottle in her hand and for a moment you think that is all the answer. But to your surprise, she continues after putting the bottle down, the glass container now empty.

"Christmas is the outpost commander. Easter is the quartermaster. Hallow is a chemical specialist." There is a brief stop as Valentine seems to consider something. Then, with a hint of annoyance in her tone, she tells you, "And Patty is a nuisance."

"Sounds like quite the bunch," you offer.

Something similar to a fond smile appears on Valentine's lips.

"They grow on you... like mold."