Ruby stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes wide as she took in the unexpected sight of Ozpin standing on her porch. Dressed down in a simple overcoat, he looked different from the austere headmaster she remembered. There was a warmth in his smile, but his eyes held the same quiet intensity she knew all too well.

"Hello, Ruby," he greeted, his voice calm but edged with purpose. "May I come in?"

Ruby hesitated, casting a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure Yang and Neo were out of sight. Taking a deep breath, she nodded and stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. Ozpin moved into the house, his gaze wandering over the familiar surroundings as he took in the cozy atmosphere of Taiyang's living room. For a brief moment, a softness flickered across his expression.

"Would you like something to drink?" Ruby asked, more to fill the silence than out of courtesy.

Ozpin gave a polite shake of his head as he sank into the armchair opposite her. "Thank you, but no," he replied, the pleasant tone quickly dissipating. His expression hardened, and there was an unmistakable gravity in his voice as he continued, "I'm here for Neo. I must insist she be brought back to me immediately."

The air grew tense as Ruby's heart raced. Blake and Weiss, who had been standing nearby, exchanged startled glances before focusing their attention on Ozpin.

Ruby gathered her composure. "Neo?" she asked, playing innocent.

Ozpin's sharp gaze lingered on her. "Yes, Neo. And I know she's here." He leaned forward, his tone turning cool and precise. "Her mask has a tracking device embedded within it, allowing me to monitor her location. For the past few days, however, her signal went dark. Suspicious, I assumed she would attempt to return to Vale or even come here. Yesterday, her tracker reactivated right here in Patch."

A chill ran through the room as Ozpin's words sank in. He had known about Neo's whereabouts all along; it was only a matter of time before he came for her.

"Yang," Ruby called, her voice carrying an edge of reluctant command.

A few moments later, Yang appeared at the top of the stairs, her expression unreadable as she guided Neo down carefully. Neo, blindfolded and bound, kept her head down, her face a mixture of frustration and resignation. Yang's grip on her was firm but careful, her silent presence adding to the tension in the room.

Ozpin rose from his seat, approaching Neo with measured steps. Without a word, he reached out and removed the mask from her face. Neo squinted, blinking in the dim light, her expression shifting from defiance to a wary unease.

"You won't need this anymore," Ozpin said coldly, holding the mask in his hand. "We had an agreement, Neo. And you have broken it."

Blake, curiosity piqued, finally spoke up. "What kind of agreement?"

Ozpin let out a sigh and settled back into his seat, still holding Neo's mask. "After Neo's actions against your team, I personally oversaw her exile. She was taken to a remote location in Mistral, isolated from society. It was a place chosen so she could be kept away, kept out of trouble."

The team listened in silence, every detail painting a clearer picture of the hidden machinations behind Neo's supposed exile.

Ozpin paused, his gaze shifting to Ruby. "Several months ago, I began receiving updates from Taiyang. He kept me informed about how each of you was coping with... everything that happened." Ruby's brow furrowed, a mixture of surprise and hurt flashing across her face as she tried to process this revelation. Taiyang had been talking to Ozpin all along?

"I asked him to check in regularly," Ozpin continued, undeterred by Ruby's reaction. "His updates allowed me to understand how difficult things were for all of you. When he mentioned your planned road trip, I thought I could offer assistance in helping you move forward. I wanted to help you all heal."

"By using Neo?" Weiss's voice was sharp, her eyes flashing with a rare anger. "You thought that bringing her into the mix was a good idea?"

Ozpin nodded solemnly. "I made a deal with her: if she could bring you to a specific location near Mistral, a temple, I would use that space to help you confront and perhaps ease the burdens you've been carrying. But I underestimated Neo's feelings about your team—and the anger she harbored."

Blake crossed her arms, a look of frustration crossing her face. "So you sent Neo, with all her grudges against us, on some kind of misguided mission to help us?"

Ozpin closed his eyes briefly, regret softening his features. "Yes. It was reckless of me. I believed I could control the situation, that her resentment could be managed. But I was wrong." He let out a weary sigh. "That's why I'm here now, to rectify my mistake and take her back to her place of exile."

Ruby's jaw tightened as she glanced at Neo, recalling every painful moment of their last encounters. She could still feel the sting of betrayal, the bitterness of the battles fought because of Neo's involvement. And now, here was Ozpin, offering them a chance at closure, a chance at healing, but with an admission that his actions had caused further harm.

"Fine," Ruby said finally, the word almost a whisper. "But you owe us an explanation. And you owe us a way forward."

Ozpin straightened, a glint of resolve in his eyes. "I'll say this once: I still wish to help you, if you'll allow it. Tomorrow, I'll be at the Patch ferry. If you decide to accept my offer, meet me there."

With that, he gestured for Neo to follow him. The thief cast a defiant glance at Ruby, but her posture showed the faintest trace of submission, as if she understood her defeat.

At the door, Ozpin paused, his gaze returning to Ruby. "One last thing," he said gently, though his voice carried a warning. "Do not let anger rule your heart. I heard everything you said to her before I knocked."

Ruby's face flushed as she lowered her gaze. Without another word, Ozpin stepped out, Neo in tow, and shut the door behind him. The silence that followed was as heavy as it was raw, the weight of Ozpin's visit settling into every corner of the room.

Ruby's thoughts swirled, fragments of anger and doubt gnawing at her as she tried to make sense of everything that had just happened.

"He was wrong," Weiss muttered, breaking the silence. "This entire idea... trusting Neo to help us? It was foolish."

"But he also offered us something," Blake countered, her voice pensive. "He offered to help us, to give us closure. That's something we all need."

Yang, who had remained silent the entire time, leaned against the wall, arms folded. She looked between her teammates, listening as they weighed the decision ahead of them.

Ruby sank into a chair, her face drawn with exhaustion. "It just feels… manipulative. Ozpin trying to control things again. And yet… what if he really can help us?" Her voice was low, as if she feared voicing her hopes might shatter them.

Weiss crossed her arms. "He's had plans in the past that didn't end well. Look at where his 'guidance' got us before. What's to say this time will be any different?"

Blake nodded, thoughtful. "True. But what if we don't go? If there's even a chance he could help us, maybe it's worth the risk."

They fell silent again, each of them absorbed in their own thoughts, the tension lingering in the air. Ruby stared out the window, watching the evening light fade outside, casting shadows over the familiar landscape of Patch. The memories of all they had endured together, and the hope of something better, lingered at the edge of her mind, teasing her with possibilities.

Finally, she took a breath, her voice steady. "We'll take tonight to think about it. Tomorrow, we'll decide if we're going."

Each of them nodded, acknowledging the unspoken bond that held them together. The decision ahead was uncertain, and the stakes were high. But whatever they chose, they would face it as a team.

As they sat there, the silence stretched, each of them lost in thought, their minds filled with questions—and the faintest glimmer of hope.