"We found the Maiden." Cinder grinned without preamble, getting their Mistress to blink in pleasant surprise as it seems Watts was the last to answer the call.
That was all that was needed for Arthur to grit his teeth and clench his fist tightly.
No, there was no way Cinder was going to surpass him-
"Ahem." Hazel's deep voice called out unamusedly, getting their Mistress to raise her eyebrow even as Cinder's grin disappeared like smoke.
"Is there something you want to say, Hazel?"
"Yes, Your Grace." Hazel nodded, pausing as he leaned down against what was now apparently a broken tree.
Arthur blinked as the Seer showing Hazel zoomed out to show what was also now apparently a battlefield behind him.
How?
Just how did Hazel do that?! Arthur didn't even know Seers could do that!
So busy with his thought he was that Arthur almost missed what Hazel was saying!
"What Cinder forgot to say is that I found the Maiden after months of investigating and fighting the Branwen Tribe. It culminated into a final battle wherein both Raven Branwen and the Maiden fled from."
A grin crept up Arthur's face at that. Stealing credit from a colleague? Oh how low had Cinder fallen?!
Arthur would have laughed loudly at Cinder's face at that but he kept his professionalism even as their Mistress' lips quirked upwards.
"Raven Branwen, you say? Now that's a name I haven't heard in some years but what was Cinder's contribution to this endeavor?"
Cinder looked panicked for just a moment before her face smoothened out even as sweat dripped down her head.
"Forgive me, I only meant to say that I took it upon myself to investigate the tribe's leader once Hazel informed me."
It was at that moment that Cinder waved a hand to the side to reveal that they were inside Leonardo's office with the Headmaster just sitting out of view.
"Y-Your Grace! M-My Lady!" Headmaster Leonardo stuttered fearfully even as Cinder smiled gleefully at him.
"Come, Leonardo. Tell them what you have told me."
Arthur clicked his tongue at that but their Mistress only hummed indulgently as Leonardo started to answer.
"R-Raven Branwen was an agent of Ozpin and brother of Qrow Branwen. She left his service however almost 17 years ago."
"And yet she was with the Maiden. Escaped with her, even." Salem noted in acknowledgement before her eyes narrowed slightly. "But that still doesn't help us with the Maiden."
The Seers shook and every single one of them fell silent as Salem expressed her displeasure.
"You told me you found the Maiden but I see no Maiden here with us, Cinder."
"N-No! There's more!" Cinder added hastily before turning to hiss at poor Leonardo. "Tell them everything, you fool!"
Leonardo yelped before nodding frantically towards them. "Y-Yes! Raven Branwen has a family in Vale!"
Salem paused at that and even Arthur perked up.
Finally, he could add something to the conversation. And considering he was already in Vale, there was only one thing he could say.
"Just say their names and I'll find them for our queen." He said pointedly.
It was the only way to make himself useful. No way was Arthur Watts going to let Cinder Fall trump him up.
Leonardo however only nodded in understanding.
"I know about the husband, Taiyang Xiao Long. They were in the same team but Qrow always talked about Raven leaving a daughter whenever he dropped by for a mission."
"A daughter? And she left her?" Salem cut in and everyone froze at the emotion in her voice.
For one brief moment, Salem sounded confused before indignation took over her features.
It was unprecedented.
Salem never expressed such emotions before on behalf of someone else and Arthur's brows could only climb up in shock before he managed to school them.
Whatever emotion took hold of Salem however flowed smoothly out of her as a frown crept up her face.
"What is her name?"
Leonardo shook and Arthur pitied the poor man as he bore the brunt of Salem's attention. Arthur however also kept himself tense and as Leonardo opened his mouth to answer, he committed the name to memory.
"Yang Xiao Long."
Yang Xiao Long blinked at the incredulous sight in front of her.
It was just yesterday when they thought her partner, Blake Belladonna, had ran away after a confrontation with Weiss Schnee only for them to find her less than an hour later.
It had just been a day since Blake and Weiss established an uneasy understanding so every single member of their team other than Blake thought that today would also be a day full of tension.
Other than pointed looks and sharp nods of the head however, Blake seemed to have left Weiss alone.
Instead, Yang's partner focused her eyes on Jaune Arc.
Considering recent events regarding their resident blonde doofus, that shouldn't have been strange but this was different.
Blake Belladonna looked at the younger Jaune Arc like a cat watching a canary.
Yang would have laughed at the play on words but it was at that moment did Jaune Arc himself approach their table in the cafeteria.
"Hey guys!" He greeted frantically, looking at every single one of them and completely missing the twitch of Blake's bow. "Did anything interesting happen yesterday?"
Every single member of Team RWBY looked at each other at that.
None of them wanted to air out what exactly happened yesterday considering they were currently in the middle of the cafeteria and they wanted to preserve Blake's privacy but this was Jaune. They just spoke to his older counterpart last night and if anyone should have any idea of what exactly happened, then it would be him.
"Why do you ask?" Ruby asked, breaking the silence as they all looked at Jaune who sighed.
"Professor Arc told me to keep an eye on Blake and Weiss last night but..." He trailed off as a blush crept up his cheeks to Yang's surprise.
"But what?" She continued, getting Jaune to jolt as he rubbed the back of his head embarrassedly.
"I got busy, I guess?"
"Busy with what?" Weiss pushed with a frown, her displeasure bleeding into her voice as she chastised Jaune. "If Professor Arc wanted you to keep an eye on us then don't you think it was important to do so?"
"Lay off of it, Weiss. What's done is done." Blake butted in, defending Jaune to the blonde's surprise.
Yang could understand the guy's confusion. If anything, he must have probably expected the one to defend him would be his bestie Ruby instead of the quiet Blake.
Blake however continued to surprise them as she suddenly smiled brightly at Jaune but before she could even say anything, another voice cut in.
"Hey, you forgot to get some breakfast." Pyrrha Nikos arrived brightly with a couple of lunch trays in both hands.
She bumped her hips with Jaune's and sat smoothly in front of Team RWBY.
"T-Thanks, Pyrrha!" Jaune blushed, sitting beside her partner as the rest of Team RWBY watched the two of them glow.
It only took Yang a moment to realize what was happening right in front of them.
The bright smiles, the blushing cheeks, the hesitant hands as both Jaune and Pyrrha struggled to stop themselves from reaching out to one another, all of it led to one conclusion.
She grinned slowly, watching as both their eyes widened as they caught sight of her. She opened her mouth and-
SLAM!
"GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY!"
People squawked, utensils clattered, and glasses broke as Nora Valkyrie screamed loudly, slamming her hand on their table before sitting beside Pyrrha with her own tower of pancakes and a grin on her face.
Grumbles dominated the cafeteria as bystanders snapped to look at them and it took Lie Ren sighing loudly to break the awkward embarrassment coming from his team as he sat beside his own partner.
"Nora, why do you do this?"
"Do what, Renny?" Nora tilted her head and smiled brightly, too brightly if one may ask.
Ren however only sighed before turning to look at them.
"So what did we miss?"
Again, Team RWBY looked at each other before their gazes unanimously landed on Blake. If they were going to be sharing things then it would be up to Blake to do so considering it was her secret and all.
Blake shrugged before turning back to look at Team JNPR.
"Tell me, Jaune. What do you think about the Faunus?"
Welp, it looks like they were doing this. Yang watched out for any listening ears and there she found Cardin perking up as he turned to look at them from another table.
Yang glared at the ginger, satisfaction blooming in her heart as the guy looked back to his food panickedly.
If Blake wanted to out herself here in public then it was her job to protect her from any racist assholes. Yang wasn't able to stand up for her partner yesterday because of the surprise but she would be damned if she wasn't going to stand up for her now.
She turned back to Team JNPR to see them tilting their heads in confusion even as Jaune's eyes widened at being singled out.
"Uhmmm...they're wonderful and beautiful people?" He answered unsurely but Blake however only grinned at that.
They had no warning whatsoever before Blake suddenly pulled the bow off of her head.
Silence dominated their surroundings for a moment before whispers rang out around them. Blake however only had eyes for Jaune.
"Then tell me, Jaune, am I wonderful and beautiful as well?" Blake asked coyly with a cheshire grin on her face.
The air between them froze and even Nora, as chaotic as she was, was caught gobsmacked as her pancakes drooped down her plate.
"What the fuck?" Yang muttered, getting Ruby to elbow her ribs in surprise.
"Language!" Ruby hissed but even her silver eyes were locked incredulously at the sight of Blake flirting with Jaune.
"I-uhhhh-what?" Jaune stuttered and Yang couldn't even blame the guy.
Nobody could have seen this happening!
Jaune however could only look at his partner beside him even as Blake's cat ears twitched in front of him.
Yang froze at that.
If she was right then Jaune and Pyrrha were together yet here Blake was, suddenly flirting with him out of nowhere.
And here she thought she would have to watch out for Blake and Weiss fighting again.
If they suddenly got into a catfight, well...Yang did not like their chances against Pyrrha.
She watched nervously as she saw Pyrrha frown incredulously before letting out a sigh of relief as Pyrrha shrugged at Jaune.
For his part, Jaune could only blink before looking hesitantly towards Blake.
"...Yes?"
Blake's grin widened even as Pyrrha tensed beside Jaune and Yang could only watch while her partner threw out another bomb.
"Did you know Professor Arc is currently dating numerous women?"
Choked gasps rang out around them as more than one set of listening ears heard Blake's words.
Jaune could only gawk even as coughs sounded out around them while Yang shook her head exasperatedly and Weiss hissed angrily.
"Blake! You cannot just spread rumors like that!"
"It's not a rumor if it's true." Blake grinned confidently, still looking at Jaune who looked positively gobsmacked.
"Bullshit!" Cardin shouted from his table but Nora was there to herd him off.
"Butt out, Cardin! Nobody asked you for your opinion!" She growled menacingly, glaring at the other students who were looking at them like they were a spectacle.
Cardin however only scoffed. "If you wanted people to butt out then maybe you shouldn't be talking in the damn cafeteria!"
Yang grunted. As much as she wanted to punch his mouth in, the guy did have a point. This conversation was rapidly turning into a private one and it was all because of Blake.
Yang elbowed her partner for that, glaring lightly even as Blake rolled her eyes.
"Blake, what are you saying?" Pyrrha asked worriedly, jolting Yang out of her thoughts as Pyrrha looked at Blake in confusion.
Yang will give her this but Blake remained unflinching as she looked back at Pyrrha.
"I'm not saying anything." Blake smiled and Yang watched as Pyrrha relaxed ever so lightly only for her to tense up when Blake's smile widened slowly. "Not yet, at least."
"Okay!" Jaune shouted, slamming his hand into the table as she glared at Blake. "What the hell is going on? Is this why Professor Arc told me to keep an eye on you and Weiss? Why are you guys being weird?"
Blake jolted at that, turning to Weiss who only narrowed her eyes at the Faunus.
"No, that's for a different reason but we've already handled it." Weiss answered flatly before looking at Jaune. "Also, for the record? I am not being weird."
Jaune only looked incredulously at that before silently waving a hand towards Blake who only blinked back.
"Care to explain yourself, Blake? What are you doing?"
"Nothing." Blake pouted while her ears twitched before flattening backwards. "I'm just...scouting out an investment."
"An investment?" Jaune tilted his head and Yang watched as a knowing glint appeared on Blake's eyes.
"An investment." She repeated knowingly, getting their table to groan and Pyrrha to look at her with narrowed eyes.
"Dibs. I saw him first."
Eyes widened all around them as everyone just heard Pyrrha Nikos stake her claim.
"Dibs?" Jaune goggled but a smirk only crept up Blake's face at that.
"I don't mind as long as we share. There's a precedent for that with Professor Arc, after all."
Jaune Arc might be dense but he was not that dense.
"Share?! Precedent?!" He squealed, a blush overtaking his face as he finally realized that this was for real. That Blake wasn't just messing with him. That Pyrrha was seriously considering this.
Yang marveled as the two girls ignored Jaune and locked eyes with one another. She jolted however when she felt Ruby squirm beside her.
"Yang? What is happening?" Ruby asked but Yang could only shake her head incredulously.
"I don't know, Ruby. I don't know."
They watched as both Blake and Pyrrha suddenly nodded at the same time, as if a conversation had just been had and a deal had been struck.
Honestly speaking however, Yang did not get the hype.
Sure, Jaune might be the Rusted Knight in the future but that was in the future. Right now, all she could see was the gangly teen who was trying his best. The potential was there but that was just it, potential. She was a lot more attracted to the tangible, meaning she liked the older version more.
This Jaune in front of her however...well...
"And here he said I should just stick to one? Should I pick one? How?" Jaune paled, muttering to himself absently as everyone had the sudden urge to ignore them eat their food.
Nobody really liked to watch someone go on the deep end and that's what it looked like what was going to happen here. Jaune was only saved from muttering more crazy stuff when Pyrrha bumped into his shoulder and nodded at his food.
"Eat, Jaune. You'll need it."
Blake butted in however, pushing her own tray forward with a smile on her face. "Here, have some fish. It's brain food."
Their table groaned at that with Weiss scowling loudly at them. Gods, it was already starting.
Yang sighed, shaking her head before deciding to ignore everything in front of her. Besides, between time traveling dudes, apocalyptic futures, and magic being real, having high school drama and scandal wasn't really that big.
Besides, what's the weirdest thing that could happen?
"Woman, go make me a sandwich."
This was the weirdest thing Vernal Branwen had ever seen.
Raven Branwen, in an apron, docilely arranging a sandwich with a sigh on her face.
She watched as her brutal and badass leader lethargically completed her task and delivered it to their...benefactor? captor?
A blonde and blue-eyed bastard who looked at Raven with a smug smirk before receiving his food.s
Sensing her eyes on him however, he immediately snapped those electrifying blue eyes on her direction.
"Hey! Those dishes aren't going to clean themselves, you know?!"
Vernal immediately turned back to her own task, rapidly cleaning the dishes from the food they ate last night.
It had been a day since their tribe got dismantled and she and Raven escaped through a portal on their own.
A portal that apparently led to Raven's ex-husband, Taiyang Xiao Long.
And it had been a day since the hierarchy in the house got established.
Vernal tried, she really really did, but when she tried to establish dominance, all she got was her leader holding her back with a sigh on her face.
She felt betrayed then that instead of fighting, Raven chose to ask, to beg, to plead. Furious, Vernal shouted, charging at the man only for her to get clotheslined so fast that she couldn't help but look at the stars last night and think that they were pretty.
After that, it was pretty clear that the man had strength to show and more. In hindsight, he must've had at least that much for Raven to choose him as a mate.
Vernal grunted and tried to attack her task harder at the thought but she just jolted as she felt the man walk beside her. She feared he would shout at her, scold her again, but instead, Taiyang Xiao Long chuckled softly and bumped her off the sink.
"Relax, kid. I was just messing with you. You don't need to try and break my dishes."
Vernal's face burned at the words.
At how obvious her thought process was but before she could say anything on how she could do at least this much, she heard Raven speak.
"Vernal, go rest for a while. Tai and I need to talk."
Vernal gritted her teeth at that, to be treated like a child grated at her but when Raven crossed her arms, she knew she meant business.
Raven might have avoided confrontation with her ex-husband last night but that did not mean that she was any weaker for it so Vernal could only do one thing.
She stomped petulantly, heading upstairs and closing the door to guest room...while she was still outside. She held her breath, kneeling near the floorboards to hear they were talking about.
Muffled voices sounded out at first but Vernal's eyes widened when she managed to hear three words clearly.
"On your knees."
"I need your help."
"That much is obvious." Tai scoffed, still looking away from Raven as a glare formed on his face. The first time they see each other in years and it was for Raven to ask for help.
No hello, no how are you's, not even how's our daughter.
"I'm serious, Tai." Raven replied but Tai could only growl at that.
"You want my help so much? Then on your knees."
He never thought he would be this angry with Raven. Sure, maybe when the wound was still fresh but he's had nigh on 17 years to have moved on. He had a second wife for Brothers' sake.
He should be forgetting Raven already but there was just something about her that Tai couldn't let go of.
Like it or not, she was his first wife. The mother of his firstborn. That had to count for something right?
He is jolted out of his thoughts however by Raven's next words.
"Someone is looking for the Spring Maiden."
He paused, his eyes widened, and he finally turned around to look at Raven.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Thoughts ran across his head as he immediately reached a conclusion
"That girl, she's the Spring Maiden, isn't she?"
"Her name is Vernal." Raven answered, looking away from him with a sigh as his mouth frowned in confusion.
"And you are taking care of her."
"She has nowhere else to go. We have nowhere else to go." Raven clarified and like it or not, a soft smile crept up his face at that.
Imagine that, Raven Branwen, taking care of somebody. He couldn't help but chuckle.
"This isn't a laughing matter, Tai. They destroyed my tribe." Raven scowled but Tai only shook his head.
"I'm sorry."
He's not. Anyone who destroys a bandit tribe deserved a pat on the back whether Raven liked it or not.
Silence dominated the space between them before Tai decided to get on with it.
"We need to tell, Ozpin-"
"NO!" Raven shouted but Tai only rolled his eyes at that.
"We have to tell someone, Raven. At least tell Qrow what's happening. He might be worried if he sees what happened to your tribe."
Raven made a complicated expression at that before her red eyes hardened as she looked at Tai.
"No, he'll only tell Ozpin what happened. Besides, if I have to tell someone, then I have already told you."
"This doesn't count, Raven. I meant tell someone else other than me." Tai groaned but a smirk crept up Raven's lips at that.
"Oh? Is my husband telling me I should run to another man?"
"Ex-husband, and that is not what I said." Tai glared, his heart skipping just a tiny little bit as he looked at Raven.
"Then what are you saying?"
The thought of Raven in another's arms-no!
He rapidly shook his head before glaring at her. There was no use thinking about things like that. He had more important things to focus on.
"Whether you like it or not, Raven, someone will know you're here."
"Not unless you tell them." She shrugged but Tai only sighed at her.
"What about the locals? I still have to work you know, not just as a teacher in Patch's Combat School, Signal, but also as a Huntsman. It isn't weird for people to run to my place for help."
Raven stayed silent at that but he could see what she was already thinking. She probably thought those people who ran to him for help were weak. Inconsequential sheep that she shouldn't be worried about but Tai had one more bullet to shoot. A bullet that Raven would not be able to dodge or ignore.
"What about Yang?" He asked.
She froze even as Tai continued.
"She's staying at Beacon with Ruby right now but what happens when she comes home? I am not going to lie to her and tell her that her mother isn't here."
Raven's expression finally cracked at that and he saw the helplessness in her face for a moment before resignation softened her bones.
"Do as you like." She sighed weakly and all Tai could do was look at her.
Raven Branwen, on the cusp of her tribe getting destroyed and having to flee to her husband for help, broke under the stress.
Tai could only sigh.
"The girl, Vernal, what do you plan to do with her? I don't suppose you want to leave her?"
"Not a chance." Raven glared and a wry smile crossed Tai's features at that. Damn, if she only held this tightly to her family, then things would have been good but noooo, she had to run away to her tribe.
Still, that was Raven's fault, not Vernal's. The girl already had a target on her back, no need for Tai to dump some baggage onto her as well.
"Fine, but she has to work for her place here. Both of you do, actually."
"Name your price." Raven gritted her teeth, looking up at him with resigned but still defiant eyes.
Tai's blood pumped at that and he couldn't help but have a grin crawl up her face.
"Raven-"
"Yes, the answer is yes, Tai. I know that smile on your face." Raven growled, interrupting him as a laugh escaped his lips. "Just don't make me say it."
There were just some things married people know about one another and despite not seeing each other for years, it seems Raven hadn't forgotten his habits and mannerisms.
How often does she think about him then if she could still remember that?
He could only grin at that thought before shaking his head and clearing his throat.
"As for Vernal-" He started but paused as he saw Raven raise an eyebrow at him for that. "What? Don't look at me like that!"
"She's 18 years old, Tai."
"Old enough." He grunted, getting Raven's eyes to widen as she blew up at him.
"TAI!"
"What? I was going to say she's old enough to help me at work. What do you think I was going to have her do?"
Raven froze at that and he couldn't help but laugh as her face flushed a deep red.
"Nothing!" Raven shook her head frantically before struggling to fight her own blush down. "W-What would you have her do?" She asked, trying to change the subject but she only saw Tai grin at that.
It would be on the Monday after the weekend when the students of Patch's Combat Academy notices a new addition.
Vernal Branwen, attending the school as Signal's new Teaching Assistant assigned to Taiyang Xiao Long.
Unbeknownst to everyone however, two pairs of eyes were looking at two sets of faces.
"That's our next targets? I thought we were only supposed to steal Dust?" Roman Torchwick asked incredulously as he looked at the faces of Taiyang Xiao Long and Yang Xiao Long.
Arthur hummed, smiling as he easily found a lead. After all, one only needed to search both names using ScrollNet to see both of their profiles and after that...well, a man of Arthur's caliber could easily investigate everything he needed about them.
"It would have to be after we get the shipment though." Arthur nodded before turning to Roman with a professional smile on his face. "I don't want to add any kind of complication as long as we can help it. We don't want the police or Beacon sniffing around because we kidnapped a student and one of their graduates so suddenly."
"Well, I like the sound of that. Why don't you say we get the shipment over with tonight then, boss?" Roman grinned but Arthur only chuckled.
"Boss? So pedestrian. At least call me Sir."
He laughed as Roman rolled his eyes before a grin appeared on his face.
First the Dust, then the Xiao Longs.
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