Author's Notes:

The clock ticks and team RWBY is running low on time to solve the case. Who thinks they'll resolve it successfully?

Enjoy!

"Text/Messages"

"Speech"

Disclaimer: I do not own Fallout, RWBY, or any associated characters

Remnants of a Courier

Arc 4: Chaos Theory

Chapter 66: Slow and Unsteady

Wood splintered, shattered, and fell to the ground as Yang huffed. She had tried to restrain herself, yet she still almost punched the tree down. What were they even doing anymore? The woods surrounding Rhyt felt way too massive for one team to search the entire thing for a single Huntsman.

The frustrated Huntress let out a sigh as she patted the tree. She inwardly apologized to the victim of her frustrations as she leaned her back against the plant that had a small chunk taken out of it.

"What are we doing?" Yang asked aloud this time, causing her partner to glance over at her.

Blake looked even more frustrated than her. The Faunus had her brows furrowed and was straining her eyes to scan their surroundings.

"Looking for anything to show the Mimic was here," Blake replied, almost absently, as she continued to scan the forest for any signs.

They had been at this for two days now. Well, a day and a half. When they heard that there might be evidence to the East of town, they spent the entire next day searching. Now it was getting later on day five and they had nothing to show for it. Yang was almost certain at this point that the guard had been screwing with them.

Or maybe they hadn't gone far enough East? What kind of directions was "East of town" anyway?

"Yeah… But…" Yang waved her arm around. "Out here? There's nothing out here!"

Blake's gaze shifted towards her again. "We have to follow any lead we get and this is all we have."

The blonde let out a huff as she crossed her arms. She couldn't help the indignant tone that slipped into her voice as she replied, "Yeah, but this isn't going anywhere. Maybe if we go find Carmine?"

That gaze turned into a glare as the Faunus frowned at her. "No, if they want to be left alone, we should let them be." Blake's response only further frustrated Yang.

"But if they have answers, this could help people!" The blonde replied, knowing full well that the Mimic would likely kill more people before he was brought in. "I'm not saying we need to break down their door, but being a little bit of a pest should be fine."

Her partner's frown turned into a scowl at Yang's words and she realized that maybe she screwed up. But her partner closed her eyes and softened her expression.

When she was calm, Blake opened her eyes and replied, "There have been a lot of people in the past that think they know what is right for others. That they know what's right for everyone else." The Faunus glanced to her side, thinking about something, or maybe it was someone? Yang wasn't sure. "It's for the greater good, so we'll step on people to get what we need."

Turning back to Yang with pleading eyes, she finished, "We can't be like those people. I won't allow it."

This was personal to her partner and it was easy for Yang to see that. And in the name of cooperation, Yang wouldn't push it.

"Okay," Yang conceded while holding up her hands in surrender. "I get it. Just promise me that if we happen to run into Carmine, we can ask a few questions?" At the indignant look Blake shot her, Yang corrected herself. "Nothing invasive. Just a few easy questions and we leave her alone."

The Faunus' ears twitched as she stared at her partner. A nervous habit that Blake often did when thinking about something.

"Fine," Blake agreed before turning her head. "Weiss and Ruby are coming."

And, like every other time Blake announced something, it happened. Weiss and her sister came tumbling out of a bush nearby, falling face-first into the ground and groaning.

"I hate it here…" Weiss moaned from her prone position before slowly rising to her feet.

"Please tell me you found something?" Ruby begged as she brushed leaves and shrubbery off. "Because we haven't found a single thing."

"Sorry Rubes, not a thing," Yang confirmed before pointing a thumb over her shoulder and back at the town. "It's already getting pretty late. Want to head back before it gets dark?"

Their leader sighed before nodding her head dejectedly, bringing a frown to Yang's face. It was hard to see her dearest sister down in the dumps like this. What could she do to improve her mood?

As they walked back, the blonde sifted through her brain trying to find anything that could improve Ruby's mood. Maybe getting to look at some weapons? Well, who had cool weapons around here? Probably not a whole lot of people…

If they found a lead on the Mimic or that Huntsman, she'd feel better. But that probably wasn't something Yang could solve at the moment.

What about food? Ruby loved cookies and sweets.

As they entered town–the large wooden doors slamming shut behind them as the guards glared down at them–Yang turned her head towards the market. Maybe they had something for her sister?

As they walked towards the inn they were staying at, Yang took a moment to scan the shops to see if there were any that sold something sweet for her sister.

A general goods store that would maybe have some candy. Next to that was a run-down grocery that was probably supplied by that hunter–Alba–another possible candy or sugar location. Or maybe the pastry place right next to it. A "Fluffy Delights" sign that was a bright brown color. Behind it rested a tanned building of modest size.

"Hey, I'll meet you back at home base," Yang informed her teammates as she darted off toward the shop.

Yang vaguely heard someone call out behind her as she jogged over. "Don't get into any trouble!" Her sister called after her. Awe, what a sweet little sister Ruby was.

Holding a thumbs up towards her sister, Yang jogged over to the store as she thought about what to get Ruby. She really loved cookies and chocolate chip cookies were her favorite. Personally, Yang preferred macadamia cookies. Maybe she should get cookies for everyone? The windows for the store showed a variety of baked goods sitting on glass displays, including several flavors of cookies.

Weiss would probably like something prissy. What kinds of cookies were even prissy? A thought that plagued the blonde as she opened the door to the bakery.

Stepping inside, the interior of the shop was small but… What was the word? Yang racked her brain for a small but comfortable-looking place. Quaint. Yeah!

"This place is quaint," Yang muttered to herself while looking around. The wooden walls were a soft golden oak color with burgundy desks and counters. The smells of chocolate and raspberries filled the air along with cooked pastries. All around, dozens of baked goods sat out, ready for consumption.

A soft chuckle came from behind a counter towards the back. As Yang turned, she spotted a middle-aged woman with blonde hair like herself. She was a tad on the short side and the wrinkles were starting to set it, but she was a rather nice-looking lady, much like Yang herself!

"I'm glad you think so," the woman replied with a soft smile. "Feel free to look around and let me know if you need any help." Another nice person, maybe one with information if Yang played her cards right.

"Thanks, I'll let ya know!" Yang beamed back with a smile and thumbs up. Then her eyes went to the other two occupants of the room.

The first was a man in his twenties. Older than her but probably not by too much. Jeans and a purple jacket were in pristine condition but were oddly offset by black leather gloves. His purple eyes matched the jacket but were also offset by ear-length silver hair. An odd fellow.

But more important than that was the other occupant of the room. Long red hair flowed down her back as she leaned over and grasped a muffin in her hand. The green hoodie and faded jeans she was wearing rustled as she did so.

"Hey, no touching unless you're buying!" The baker at the back shouted as she saw the girl grab it, causing the redhead to drop it before turning to her.

And when she did, Yang saw a medical patch over one eye and the soft smile of a young girl that she recognized. The blonde's eyes widened in surprise as she recognized Carmine, the young girl House had brought to Beacon.

A green eye turned and caught sight of Yang too, opening wider in surprise. That surprise turned to admiration as she smiled and greeted, "Yang!"

The blonde felt her heart almost give out from the sudden wave of cuteness! Her soft smile, cute face, and pleading eye, and the girl even remembered her! It was almost too much!

"You remember me," Yang commented with her own smile while walking over to the girl. How old was Carmine again? Did House ever say?

The girl seemed to catch herself, her initial enthusiasm giving way to her shy side as she stepped back from her. The young girl put her hands together in front of herself and Yang knew she had to approach this carefully. But having a younger sister for her entire life gave Yang lots of experience in that department.

"You also came here to get some snacks?" Yang asked an unassuming question as she knelt down to be on Carmine's level, making sure not to get too close as she did so.

Ruby had been rather shy during… Well, during events best left unsaid. And during that time Yang had learned a few things.

The first was you wanted to be gentle with how you phrased things and your voice. Another good idea was to not get too close too fast and appear non-threatening. And finally, distract them from being nervous with questions and funny facts.

The girl nodded her head and confirmed what Yang assumed.

Smiling, the Huntress put a cupped hand next to her mouth and whispered, "Don't tell anyone this, but my sis Ruby has a serious sweet tooth. She loves cookies and I came here to get some. Got any recommendations?"

Giving a soft nod, Carmine turned and walked over to another display sitting on a desk. Behind the glass sat a plate of soft and fluffy cookies. They were a light brown color with dots of chocolate sticking out of it. They were perfect for Ruby.

"This is perfect," Yang commented as she leaned over the display. Her lilac eyes turned and glanced down at the redhead next to her. "I'm sure she'll love them. And I'll tell her exactly who recommended them to her."

The child glanced away and her cheeks turned a bright red in response, inciting a chuckle from the blonde.

"Don't worry, I'm sure she'll love them," Yang said while glancing around for the other cookies she should get. Macadamia cookies were easily spotted but she couldn't think of anything fancy for Weiss or what Blake would like.

"Hey," Yang called out to the store owner. "Got anything anything an uppity girl would like?"

The older lady turned and thought about it for a moment. The baker was nice enough but from the way she had her arms resting on the counter at the ready, she guessed that outsiders still made her tense.

"How about a macaron? I have a small tasting box of maybe ten or so." The owner punctuated her response by pointing to another display.

Turning, the blonde spotted an assortment of multicolored little sandwich-like pastries. If she didn't know any better, Yang would have said they looked like two bright burger buns that smashed together a thin layer of icing. But she knew it was more of a crispy shell and chewy interior that made for a sweet yet nutty taste.

Yeah, Weiss would like that.

"Could I get five of those, any flavor, two macadamia cookies, three chocolate chip cookies, and…" Yang trailed off as she glanced around the store one more time and saw what Blake would like. "Two carrot cookies."

While the baker nodded her head and set out to gather the confectionaries, Carmine glanced up at her with a slight grimace but tried to hide it. She probably didn't like carrots… Yang wasn't much of a fan either.

"You remember Blake?" Yang asked, earning a nod from the girl. "She really likes carrots." This got a knowing look out of the girl who nodded her head. Yang didn't have the heart to tell her it was another weird cat-like quirk of Blake's.

When the baker excused herself to the back of the store to get the desired items, Yang took it as her chance to ask a few questions. As much as she liked Carmine, there was something important she had to learn.

"Have you heard from House recently?" Yang asked while leaning an elbow against the counter and getting comfortable.

The girl turned and stared at her for a moment, her brows furrowed in confusion before realization dawned on her face. Well, that was an interesting reaction.

Carmine shook her head no as she placed two muffins on the counter too. A mushfruit and a coconut muffin respectively.

The blonde shrugged at her answer as she replied, "That sucks. Gotta stick close to the people ya know."

This earned another nod from the girl and Yang felt a little bad about tricking her. While thinking about how to best ask about House and the Mimic, the blonde placed a hand on the counter and began tapping it with a finger.

"Yeah, my team and I are a little bit curious about him too. I mean, who isn't? I heard he lived here at one point, is that true?" Yang's question made the girl's hands tighten together harder but she nodded.

"Did he ever happen to wear something other than that vest? Maybe some kind of armor, black in design?"

For just a moment, the child's eyes widened before narrowing again. Oh, that was a definite yes. But now the kid was shifting from one foot to the other nervously, she didn't like talking about him. Just one more question then.

"Oh, I also heard," Yang began as she raised her hand and tapped her head, pretending to just remember what she said next. "That a Huntsman came through here and met him, is that true too?"

A single bead of sweat rolled down her forehead but the girl nodded her head again. She was almost shaking now so it was probably a good idea to stop here-

"Oh hey, you both talking about the Mimic? Cause, black spooky armor sounds a lot like the Mimic." A new voice cut into the conversation, making both her and Carmine jump.

Turning, Yang spotted the purple hoodie guy from earlier standing next to her. He was a little too close. A fact she punctuated by shifting away.

Yang's previous line of questioning and this new stranger seemed to be a little too much for the young girl who placed Lien on the counter, grabbed her treats, and darted off.

It left a real sour taste in Yang's mouth to see that but the girl was out the door quick and Yang wasn't willing to chase her down the streets of Rhyt.

"Did I cause that? My bad," the man apologized as he took a step back. "I just love local gossip ya know? Speaking of, everyone in town has been talking about you and your team."

The blonde narrowed her eyes at the man, he had just scared Carmine off. "Have they now?" Yang questioned with a snide tone.

Sensing her aggravation, the man held up his hands in placation as he replied, "Hey, I get it. I was just trying to make friendly conversation with an attractive woman." Taking a step back and lowering his arms, he continued, "The name's Otto, I'll be in town for just a few days until my cousin gets here. Then we'll be off to see the world. We're travelers ya see."

"Ahuh," Yang replied, not at all amused by Otto.

The man's cheery attitude took a dip as he sighed. "I see I've got on your bad side and I can see when I'm not wanted." He turned, taking a few steps and heading for the door. "If ya need me, I'll be over at the only inn in town!"

As the man left, throwing open the door before letting it slam close, Yang couldn't help but notice he forgot to actually buy anything. With a sigh, Yang turned and saw the desserts she asked for being placed on the counter.

"This should be everything," the clerk said while pocketing the Lien Carmine left behind.

Raising a brow, Yang commented, "You sure are trusting to just let someone leave the correct amount of Lien on your counter and leave."

"It's Carmine, I doubt she'd steal from me." The baker's immediate response piqued Yang's interest.

"And why's that?" The blonde questioned, earning a frown from the baker. However, that frown turned into a small smile when Yang placed her Lien on the table.

Pocketing the money, the baker turned her gaze out the window as she answered. "That girl has been forced to grow up too fast is why. First, her mother was killed by Grimm, and now the town treats her as an outcast for being an upset child when it happened. It's a shame."

Yang felt her fist clench at the mention of Carmine's mother being dead. Memories of Ruby crying and holding onto her for dear life plagued her thoughts. To imagine Ruby going through that without her? To imagine the asshole town she was in bullying her? It made the Huntress shudder.

The feeling made her regret asking that question as she grabbed her desserts from the counter.

"Do come again," the baker called as Yang turned away, and she could only nod in response. The Huntress felt a whole lot worse now despite gaining new information on the case. Was this what Blake had talked about before?

Stepping outside the shop, Yang took a deep breath in and calmed herself. Now wasn't the time to mope, she needed to get back to her team and give them the news.

Author's Notes:

First, Carmine's age. For astute readers that remember five years ago, you might remember the Courier thinking that Carmine is eleven to twelve. It is revealed in later chapters that she was actually nine when they met, making her ten in this chapter. A shared commonality between Six/Joshua and Carmine is that people often think they're older than they are.

Let's talk about the great cookie debate. Is a cookie a pastry or simply a baked good? This was a question I had to answer for this chapter. After roughly twenty or so minutes of research, I have come to the astounding conclusion that no one can make up their damn mind. For every source I found saying a cookie was not a pastry and was just a baked good, I found another that said the opposite.

After many astute observations and because I'm lazy, I decided to say "I don't care" and just decide for myself. For the purposes of this story. A cookie is not a pastry but just a baked good.