A/N: Whyyyy did someone show me Ishura?!

Penning this idea down here before it becomes a full-fledged story.

Do let me know what you think of it, feedback means the world to me, truly, it does.

As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes or memes. Not a wit or one. They're tributes, one and all.

I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.

Time and feedback will determine if this should become a story. Simple as that.

In other words...everything is up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!

This chapter's about to blow your socks off...

"Yes, yes, nice weapon, very impressive. But you asked who I was. Isn't it painfully obvious who I am? You're out here hunting criminals and outlaws. Is it really that surprising that you stumble upon one?

You think you're the hero of this story. That's cute. Downright adorable, really...but you're not. I've fought heroes. I've been one.

You're no Huntress. You're no Hero. You're just a reckless kid outta your depth. And as for you...

You forget yourself. You're just an extra. Barely even a side character.

In other words...fodder."

~Just an Outlaw.

Just an Outlaw

Roman ran.

Ruby gave chase!

Maybe she should explain?

It was a simple robbery. A chance encounter, really. A one in a million chance. It wasn't her fault! She wasn't the one to start it! She had her headphones on when those black-and-red goons tried to rob the dust shop she was reading in so - natural reaction, kick their butts, chase down their leader and take him to jail, right?

She was a Student of Signal. She had her own personal weapon. She drank milk, for crying out loud!

Down went the goons, falling like a house of cards as she kicked their butts, one by one.

It was easier still to chase after Torchiwck and corner him up on a rooftop.

Almost too easy, really.

"Nowhere to run!"

"You've gotta be kidding me." Even staring down the barrel of Crescent Rose, the master thief didn't flinch. Instead, he pivoted away from her, pinched the bridge of his nose, glared up at the broken moon and exhaled in a long-suffering sigh. "Cornered by a kid. The one time I do him a favor, and everything goes to hell in a handbasket. He'll never let me live this down. Hell, I'll never live this down."

"Drop the dust!"

He didn't instead, he hefted his ill-gotten gains and kept rambling.

"I'm tried of pretending, anyway. Its no fun when nobody knows you exist, ya know?" Casting his cap aside, he ran a hand through his red hair. "Do you even know what its like? Living your life wearing a different face? I don't suppose you do, now, do you? You're just a kid. You've no idea...

The wind began to pick up, howling through her hair, forcing her to squint against it.

What was he blabbering on about?

"Give it up, Torchwick!"

"Give up?" He laughed at her. "M'afraid I can't do that, kiddo...but I'll tell ya what." he dropped the case and held up a hand, crooking his hand forward to beckon her. "I'm going to let you in on a little secret.."

Roman snapped his fingers. A plume of smoke.

...I'm not Roman."

In his place stood a blue-eyed blond, his shaggy hair a bedraggled mess, whiskered cheeks pinched in a scowl, the rightmost of which bore a deep, jagged scar. Like someone had taken a dagger to his face, tried to gouge out his eye, and failed. Also, his outfit was very blue. And black. Orange, too...

That was all she saw before his hand filled her vision.

And then, quite suddenly, there was pain.

"...!"

Up became down as the back of her skull slammed into the ground. Once, twice, thrice. On the third, she somehow got Crescent Rose up to defend herself. He smacked it away, smashed her down again, and she felt her aura fizzle out. With one hand he batted her scythe down, grabbed it, and hurled it into over the edge. It tumbled off roof the, leaving her unarmed.

"Its over, little red riding hood."

Gasping in pain, she glared up at him. "Who are you...?"

He scoffed, the very sound dripping with derision. "Isn't it painfully obvious who I am? You're out here hunting outlaws. Is it really that surprising you'd stumble upon one?"

"Y-You're under arrest!"

"Am I?" he tilted his head, looked left, then right, and laughed. "Doesn't feel like it."

She drove a fist into his face.

He laughed.

"Who taught you how to throw a punch? No, don't answer that. THIS is a punch."

He decked her. She saw stars.

Owww!

"You think you're the hero of this story." his words swam in her head as she reeled, words spinning. "That's cute. Downright adorable, really...its almost impressive just how brave you are. Very impressive."

She tried to dive past him and retrieve her scythe. He caught her by her cloak, reeled her in, and slammed her into the ground. Breath burst from her lungs, taking a bit of blood besides.

This was bad...

"I've fought heroes, Red." he spat the last word with derision. "I've been one. And you? You're no Huntress. You're no Hero. You're just a reckless kid outta your depth."

"You're no hero, either...

He looked like he might argue that, for a moment. Instead, he shrugged. "You're right. I'm no Hero. And you? You're done-

Something slammed into his back, drawing an annoyed grunt from him.

"Uzumaki! Drop the girl and step away!"

Ruby tried to crane her head back and belatedly glimpsed her savior.

Oh gods, was that Glynda Goodwitch? What was someone like her doing out here?!

Her tormentor made an amused noise caught somewhere between a laugh and a snarl. "Well, well, well! If it isn't miss Goodbitch."

His fellow blond glowered at him and adjusted her glasses, the frames within gleaming an ominous white. "Its Goodwitch and you well know it."

He shrugged. "I know what I said. As for your offer, no can do, I'm busy teaching this runt a lesson...

"I cannot allow that."

"To be honest, your compliance isn't a factor here.

"Please, stay your hand. Your quarrel is with Beacon, not her. She is an innocent.

His gaze hardened. "There are no innocents. Not anymore. Not where Ozpin's involved. Or should I say Ozma?"

Scowling, the huntress flicked her crop at him-

He caught her wrist and bent it backward.

Ruby hadn't even seen him move.

In the span of an instant, he'd crossed the distance between them, far faster than she could move with her semblance, and gotten right into her guard. She struggled against him, aura crackling, to no avail. A booted foot stomped down on Goodwitch's heel to prevent her from trying to backpedal, even as his hand held her fast.

Green eyes bulged behind her glasses. "How...?!"

"You forget yourself." The now-named Uzumaki scowled down at her. "You're just an extra in this story. Barely even a side character. In other words...fodder."

Her wrist buckled under his grip, tearing a pained cry from her as he ground the bones there to a fine powder.

Glynda glanced her way, panicking. "Miss Rose! RUN!"

A single backhand ripped the huntress from the roof while she was still speaking and launched her down into the street at mach one. She struck the ground with an awful crack. The ground erupted like a volcano, birthing a towering plume of dust and dirt.

Ruby peered over the edge and blanched as she beheld her broken body in the crater below. What remained of her aura faded away, vanishing into motes of purple dust.

Goodwitch did not rise again.

Ruby trembled, shoulders shaking.

He'd taken out a Huntress of Beacon in a single hit.

She didn't know anyone who could do that. Not Mom, not Dad, not even Uncle Qrow.

Uzumaki's gaze swung back to her, blue eyes eerily blank. "Now, then. Where were we? Ah, yes. The lesson...

Ruby had never experienced Fear before. Joy, sadness, anger and a host of other emotions, sure. But fear? No, never. Not once in her life...

.

..

...until now.

This was raw terror.

She whimpered a little as those ice blue eyes blazed into her silver.

What was he? What the heck was he?! She needed to leave, she needed to go, now...!

His right foot shifted forward, ever so slightly, to which she found herself scrambling backwards. She couldn't outrun him. He was faster than her. Bigger than her. Stronger than her. Probably smarter, too. She didn't have her weapon on her; Crescent Rose was lodged in the street down there and she knew she wouldn't make it to her weapon in time.

Was he going to chase her?

Hunt her down?

Kill her...?

Death. She'd never really thought about it before, you know? It had always seemed such a distant concept to her. Now here it was, staring her in the eye. And she didn't know what to do. She'd no chance of fighting back, escaping him, or outsmarting him. She was outmatched in every way.

Tears burned in her eyes.

'No. Not like this. I don't wanna die here!'

Uzumaki's saw he tears and mile died an ugly death.

...ugh. Its no fun when they start crying." At length, he sighed. "Run along now, little red riding hood." the criminal mastermind crouched down, retrieved his briefcase full of dust, and sent a shooing motion her way. "I'm busy and I've got a fire bitch to punish. Come back and try again in another ten years. Maybe then you'll actually be a challenge."

Desperate, she tried to rally one last time, hands wringing together. "But you're a bad guy! I have to stop you! I'm supposed to-

It was the straw that broke the Berringel's back; he growled and those cold blue eyes smoldered a sinister shade of scarlet.

"I will rip your head from your shoulders and drink your blood like a smoothie. SCOOT!"

He snapped his teeth at her for emphasis.

No need to tell her twice!

Ruby ran.

(.0.0.0.)

"You asked a favor from whom?!"

Roman shrugged. "Uzumaki. He's just a guy I know, and he owed me a favor. Why the ask? You're awfully skittish all of a sudden...

Cinder ignored him; she was already gathering her belongings in a briefcase, racing about in a mad panic like a naughty child with her hand caught in the cookie jar. "Emerald! Mercury! Pack your things! We're leaving! We need to go, now!"

Her minions sputtered, mister metal legs most of all. "The hell? We're just gonna cut and run?

"Ma'am? I don't understand! What you're talking about-

A hand burst through the wall behind Cinder, followed by an arm, the latter of which locked around around Fall's neck and yanked her her backward into the cement. Someone smashed the rest of the way through; a blond man with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Reaching around, he took the megalomaniac by the chin and squeezed her cheek, all but pressing her body against his.

"Hello, Cinder!" his voice was a low, menacing growl straight out the darkest nightmare. "Long time no see; there a reason you've been avoiding me lately? You look nervous."

Wide golden eyes flitted left, then right, finding no hope of escape in sight. "I can explain!"

"I'm sure you can." his grip on her neck tightened tenfold. "Start talking."

Cinder Fall whimpered.

Roman whistled.

"Daaaaang...

A/N: There we go, another plot bunny contained...for now. Unless you'd like to see it become a story.

Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write.

Sooooooooo...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review...Would You Kindly?

Hope you enjoy this new year, and may it be filled with lots of luck!

EDIT: And there we go. Hope this piqued your interest.

See you all tomorrow, one way or another.

Warm regards,

~Nz.