Chapter 23
9 months after the Schnee Mansion Incident...
The scroll was inundated with article after article, tales from all over Remnant with one unifying theme: the White Fang were on the attack. In Atlas, two board members from the SDC were missing, along with their wives and children. In Vacuo, two of the Winchester Shipping Company offices were bombed. Mistral saw a rash of burglaries focused on businesses that discriminated against Faunus, and every image of the perpetrators bore the snarling emblem of the White Fang. The governments around the world condemned the actions, Atlas being louder than most to no one's surprise. There were a few articles of support for the White Fang here and there, but it was largely drowned out by the indignation of their crimes. The whole thing felt avoidable, but Arthur had to remind himself that it was no longer his problem. His list of friends in the White Fang had dwindled down to two, being the Supreme Leader herself and the young Belladonna girl, so he couldn't really get bent out of shape about the whole thing. He trusted that Sienna could handle White Fang business without his interference, and that if she did need his help then she would ask.
As it stood, He was currently just south of Argus, the cooperative town between the Kingdoms of Mistral and Atlas. Apparently, the Atlesian military had an active base on the northern tip of the continent, and was largely responsible for defending the area from Grimm and raiders. Because of their support, Argus was one of the few settlements outside of the Kingdoms that had been successful. It was also colder than a witch's tit.
Arthur had been to temperate and hot climates up until this point, but he'd received notice from the bounty office that someone was specifically looking for him. The posting had been vague, simply mentioning 'added recompense for past services'. He interpreted it as a bonus for a job he'd already done, but the circumstances had him suspicious. Dutch and his mysterious comrades were still out there, and Arthur wasn't going to put a trap past his old leader. Still, the outlaw wasn't in a position to turn down Lien, so here he found himself, on the northern tip of Anima in a jacket that was just a little too thin for his tastes.
I knew I should have brought the wolf coat. Arthur chastised himself. Some time during his stay in Menagerie, Arthur had wrapped up in the coat he'd bought from the Trapper that ran the stall in Saint Denis, and he'd left the thing behind. Now, it was probably serving as an impromptu throw over Sienna's couch, doing him no good whatsoever. So instead he had to settle for the thinner buckskin jacket that was warm, but more vulnerable to the gusting winds from the coast that robbed his bones of warmth. Famine seemed to enjoy the cold, able to run longer than he did in hot weather, but the snow drifts in the road had impeded their progress. It wasn't the first time the horse had waded in snow that came up to the stirrups, but Arthur wasn't looking forward to doing it again.
The driving snow stung his eyes, and Arthur kept his head tilted forward to shield his face with the brim of his hat. The dirt road curved gently through the forest, a never ending purgatory of wood and snow that he couldn't see beyond. His cloth mask allowed him to heat his face with the warmth of his own breath, but not even that could stave off how uncomfortable the cold was. It also reminded him of Colter, and the heft of the shovel when they had buried Davy. Gritting his teeth, Arthur tapped Famine's sides with his spurs, urging the Arabian forward at a greater pace. With the strength he'd gained from having his Aura unlocked, Famine was able to cut through the drifts in smooth strides.
The minutes dragged on as they plowed through the snow, the only sign of progress being the dwindling trail they left behind. The glimpses of tree and sky that he could glean through the oncoming snow assured him that they were going the right way, because the road had long since disappeared under the powder. The clarity came so suddenly, he even picked up on the flash of black behind him.
He'd been tailed a few times in his life, but this particular shadow was a novice at best. With him being the only one on the road, especially with a horse, there was no reason to stay within sight. Arthur had been wary at first, but the moment he got a good look at the stalker, he just shrugged it off. One problem at a time.
Just when Arthur thought he had died and been sent to some kind of Appalachian afterlife the snow began to subside, allowing the gunslinger to look around without getting stabbed in the eye by floating ice crystals. The snow was still prevalent all around, but it was no longer a driving force. All around, the harsh weather eased as they went north, evidently passing out of the storm. As the storm passed, the snow drifts lessened and Famine made longer strides. The ebony mount charged ahead, and his footsteps sounded more and more solid as he found the ground beneath the snow.
In another minute, the falling snow ebbed completely, and the dirt road beneath it started showing in streaks of brown and black, likely tracks from vehicles moving back and forth from the city. The wheeled vehicles preferred by people on Remnant left similar tracks to the wagons he had grown up around, albeit a little more narrow in places. He'd even seen two wheeled vehicles, but those were rare. He doubted such a vehicle would be used around so much ice.
The clouds that had blocked the sun for so long finally parted, striking him with a beam of sunlight and making Arthur squint. Even so, the warmth on his face was welcome, and the parted clouds revealed traces of a blue sky as they crested the hill. The surrounding forests peeled back, and the path ran past a raised hill that overlooked the entire coast. He could actually see the sea from the road, though his numbed nose couldn't detect any salt. Arthur urged his steed to deviate from the path, Famine trotting up to the lone hill at a comfortable pace. When he reached it, Arthur lowered his masked and dropped from the saddle, patting the horse comfortingly on the shoulder. Down below, the ocean crashed against high cliffs in both directions, frothy foam failing to scale the stone. Below them, Argus awaited.
The city was built of brick and stone, with snow dotting the rooftops here and there. He could see the gray boxes on the tops of buildings that indicated climate control, the heaters that kept the homes and buildings livable in this northern climate. The streets were tightly knit, cobblestone if he guessed right from this distance. He could hear bells chiming in the distance, and there was even a few trolleys running up and down the sloping hills of the city. People bustled back and forth, going about their lives within the safety of the walls. At the city's perimeter, high concrete walls protected those within and were thick enough for the garrisoned troops to patrol the walls from the top. At certain points in the wall, gun emplacements pointed outward, ready for any manner of invader, Grimm or human.
To the north, a separate fort wrapped around a large rocky outcropping, the mix of natural and artificial bedrock jutting up from the ocean. It was connected to Argus by a thin concrete bridge, and there were a few airships patrolling the skies nearby. There was clearly more to it than its looks implied, but Arthur couldn't figure out the secret from his perch. Not that it was his business, either way. Instead, he simply breathed a sigh of relief and took in the beautiful sight. Remembering how he had taken a picture of Menagerie, Arthur pulled out his scroll and cycled through the applications on it. When he found the camera icon, the screen cleared and showed what his camera was picking up. He widened his fingers and held up the compass-like device, then pressed the exposed button on top of the device. With an audible click, the image was frozen and saved for later. Arthur looked up at the sight once more, then back down at his picture. This certainly was a lot faster than illustrating in his spare time. He pocketed his scroll and climbed back into the saddle. He wanted to be out of here before sundown.
The entrance to the city was guarded by a modern portcullis, though the bars came from the sides instead of above. The thick steel beams were the width of both his arms together, and clearly built with large Grimm in mind. Two small stone buildings sat outside the gate, big enough to hold a small office in each. Unlike the concrete walls above, the small offices were painted blue and bore the crests of Mistral and Atlas, side by side. Men and women in blue uniforms with plated chests and furred collars patrolled the exterior, their rifles held at ease but ready in case of trouble. Arthur was able to bring Famine into the gates, but he couldn't have him past the main street. Surely his shadow wouldn't have a problem entering the city either.
Thankfully, the bounty office he was looking for was just inside the main gate, in a brick building next to the information center for new arrivals. Arthur was tempted to step in there first to see what Argus was all about, but he had to remind himself that he was here for a reason. Tourism could come later. Leaving Famine tethered outside the bounty office to a parking meter, the outlaw stepped into the bounty office.
Most of these places were out in the wilderness, and their lobbies reflected the resources available there. Typically with little more than a few benches and a gated window, the staffed offices had basic amenities that the bounty boards did not. In this case, there were a few meeting rooms for use. Arthur stepped up to the window, holding up his scroll for credentials. An elderly man with thinning gray hair and thick spectacles sat behind the desk, his shirt and vest pressed and clean.
"Can I help you, sir?" The man's voice was raspy, but kind. Arthur nodded his head in greeting.
"Arthur Morgan. I'm expected here to meet with a client." He swept his gaze around the lobby, but they were alone. The man behind the counter nodded to himself and opened his terminal, the holographic display rapidly displaying an schedule and the rooms available.
"Ah yes, mister Morgan. If you head through the door to your right, you are expected in room two. They only just arrived, so you are quite punctual." The clerk advised. Arthur shifted on his feet, still not sure about who he was meeting.
"Does it say who they are? The request was confidential for some reason." Arthur tried. The clerk barely looked down at the screen before he shook his head, glass glinting in the light.
"I'm afraid not, sir. They did not have the appearance of fighters, however. A portly man with a mustache and a young woman. They requested the room for a secure meeting, but did not explain further." Arthur grunted in exasperation, but figured he had more to gain than lose. Just from the description it wasn't anyone he knew personally, but he could probably get out of there if things turned hairy.
"Ah well. I guess I'll find out. Thank you." Arthur nodded again, then headed for the door the clerk had indicated. It opened into a narrow hallway, the thick walls painted gray and trimmed with white at the frames. He walked down the narrow corridor until it turned right, where three doors sat on the left and one door went right. The three on the left had small, neat writing labeling them as meeting rooms, with the center one having an additional placard that read, 'reserved'. He assumed the door to the right went into the clerk's office. Arthur approached the reserved meeting room and paused, brushing his jacket down for any stray snow or dirt from the journey. Content that he was presentable, the outlaw knocked on door and turned the handle, stepping inside.
The meeting room was small, just large enough to house a circular table and the six tables that surrounded it. A single chandelier, cheaply made, hung to provide warm amber light to the room. Seated in the chair opposite the door was a young woman he had not seen in some time, but his hand drifted toward the Peacekeeper regardless. The last time he'd seen her, she'd been hurling Dust at him with the proficiency of a Huntress. Instead of the white night gown, she wore a white skirt and matching boots, with a strapless blouse that was also covered by a white jacket, her family's crest displayed proudly on the back. The interior of her jacket and the inside of her skirt were colored crimson, a nice contrast to the stark white.
"Mister Morgan. It's good to see you again." Weiss Schnee greeted cordially, her eyes falling to his creeping hand. "I can assure you, we're not here to fight." Beside her, the portly butler he had been so short with during the mansion attack nodded as well. Arthur gauged the two of them warily, then slowly relaxed his stance. He didn't take a seat, however.
"Miss Schnee. Glad to see you made it out of that fiasco. Sorry that you had to be wrapped up in it." Arthur said as apologetically as he could. Given that the incident had seen him out on his ass as well, he couldn't be too upset with her if she wanted a little payback however. Didn't mean he would oblige her though.
"Thank you. I know we did not have time or reason to talk when we last met, but I was hoping that you could clear up a few things for me. As well as accept a gift for your decency during a very violent incident." Very eloquent for a young girl, but then again Arthur had to remind himself that he was speaking with the heiress to the most powerful company on Remnant. She would obviously be cultured a few leagues above what he was used to.
"That's very kind of you, ma'am. I hope you understand if I'm a little skeptical, however." Contrary to his words, Arthur pulled a seat out and settled into it, shifting to allow for his gun belt. "Considering that the last time we spoke, there were bullets flyin' and Grimm everywhere."
"Yes, and I'm not ignoring that you had some hand in what happened to the Schnee Estate. However, based on our brief conversation and your actions during the incident, I believe that you are a reasonable man. I was hoping you could explain the change in the White Fang's methods, and perhaps shine a light on any peaceful alternatives that I could present to my father." Ah, that made sense. From what Sienna had told him after his exile, Jacques Schnee had come down hard on negotiations. As a direct result, Sienna and the White Fang been forced to double down on their operations, committing many crimes in order to brute force their way into being heard. Every peaceful avenue had been blocked by the Schnee patriarch in an attempt to demonize the White Fang. And because they couldn't afford to back down, the organization took that label head on.
"Alright, I'll talk with ya. I just hope you understand that the White Fang, uh, fazed me out not long after the mansion went down." He winced at the memory. "Not everyone made it back, and some of the angrier folks in the White Fang blamed me for it." Weiss' face shifted into a slight show of sympathy, but in the end she was still the injured party. He wasn't going to be able to convince her to drop their feud with the Fang.
"I'm sorry to hear that. For all the damage it caused, I do remember that the White Fang evacuated our house before they blew it up. That kind of care for life is...out of character, given their more recent actions. I'll be frank; things are getting violent, and I'll take any way I can to end the hostilities." There was conviction in her voice, but the butler behind her winced slightly at her words. Arthur understood why; while Weiss Schnee was willing to capitulate and make amends with the Faunus, her father would be far less accommodating. The outlaw sighed at realization, and knew that for all of her altruism, there wasn't really much that the girl in front of him could do.
"The way I see it from my time with them, the biggest opponent to change and equality is your pa." Arthur said apologetically. "I'd say the first step to real progress would be his retirement." Weiss recoiled slightly at that, not at all liking that he thought her incapable of changing the status quo. And Arthur was reminded again that despite her fighting capability, Weiss was still a child. Maybe a well bred and raised child, with all the education and support that entailed, but a child nonetheless.
"Is there really nothing else that can be done?" She asked critically. "The board members that went missing weren't my father, so why were they targeted? And the warehouses, the hostages..."
"It's because your father's untouchable, and he knows it. The night your house blew up, he was under the impression that we had taken you as well. He made all kinds of deals with S-, the leader of the White Fang," Arthur wasn't sure how much the heiress knew about the White Fang, but he wasn't about to start dropping names. "The second you were back in custody, he dropped all those deals and laughed in their faces. For everything that they did that night and everything that was lost, they had accomplished nothing. Cain had died for nothing." The mention of the Faunus that he'd first carted to a clinic in Vacuo so long ago brought a flare of dull pain in Arthur's chest, though it only lingered for a moment. Arthur had been given proper time to grieve his friend, and he knew that the responsibility for Cain's passing rested solely on the head of Adam Taurus. Something he wasn't going to forget, either.
"I...I spoke with Father about that night. He seemed..." She trailed off, then shook her head. "He wasn't happy with anyone. Myself included." She refused to elaborate, but Arthur had dealt with enough rich fathers to know what they expect from their daughters. Mary's pa had been a degenerate drunk, and never hesitated to discipline her with the back of his hand. If that man had half the power Jacques Schnee did, his rotten character would have only been made worse.
She had come to make amends, and clearly her lousy father hadn't been the one to send her. He wanted to crush the Faunus and keep them under his heel, whereas Weiss was trying to find common ground. And Arthur had done nothing but poke holes in her aspirations. No small amount of shame welled up in his gut, and he held up his hands.
"Look, I'm not trying to shoot ya down, Miss Schnee. The fact that you even wanted to have this meaning shows that you care more about the Faunus than your father does. I ain't questioning that. It's just that the situation has been going on for so long, it's gonna take more than just the three of us to fix things. Five, maybe six years ago, this right here would have solved a bunch of the issues. But now? Too many people in too high of places are dead set on getting everything they want and giving up nothing to get there." He shrugged helplessly. "I agree that something needs to be done, but there's not much that we can do from here."
Weiss looked despondent, pursing her lips and looking down for a few moments, but she was still ready to do something when she looked back up. Disappointed, but not lost hope. A strong girl, even if he hadn't fought her before.
"Why are the White Fang so angry now? What changed?" She held up a hand when he went to reply. "I'm not asking because I think we can do something, I just want to know. Why is peace no longer an option?"
Arthur sighed heavily, pulling his hat off and running his fingers through his hair in exasperation. Wasn't that the million dollar question. He knew why, but it would be like trying to tell the widow of Tacitus Cornwall why the man had been killed.
"Listen, back when the White Fang was peaceful and just did a bunch of protesting and petitions, what got done? I'm not saying who took pictures shaking hands or whatnot, but what actual progress was made? Any new laws get signed into play, any policy changes that actually did anything?" Weiss had been much younger then, and she looked over her shoulder to her butler. The man's eyebrows raised at his sudden induction into the conversation, but all he could do was shake his head sadly.
"See what I mean? So now that they have new leadership, the kind that ain't quite so peaceful, they move to doing things a little different. When that mansion blew, for a few moments all eyes were on the White Fang. They made their demands, and your pa was going to meet them, proving that this new strategy was the way forward. Then one good act takes it all away. So the way I see it, they have two options: lie down and continue to be trampled by folks like Jacques Schnee, or hit harder and meaner. Which do you think they picked?" Weiss nodded solemnly. "And now that they have lost people, they're just gonna fight harder and longer. Because giving up means spittin' on the graves of those who died."
Following his miniature speech, the meeting room fell silent, with no sound to suppress the growing tension except the gentle hum of the building's heating unit. The butler breathed in heavily through his nose, then placed a hand on Weiss' shoulder.
"I recall that we came for reasons besides deciding the White Fang's future, my lady." He reminded. Weiss blinked at his words, then sat up a little straighter as she remembered.
"Oh, right! Ahem." She cleared her throat, collecting herself as the butler reached down beside him to pick up a silver briefcase. He placed on the table next to her, and the heiress entered a code on the rotary lock underneath the handle. When it opened with a small click, Weiss turned the suitcase and presented its contents to Arthur. The outlaw couldn't help but whistle in surprise.
Seated inside the case, elastic bands keeping the stacks neat and secure, was a large amount of Lien. The cards were all organized into stacks of ten by his count, and judging by the depth of the case there were at least two stacks apiece.
"I asked my father what the reward would have been for those responsible for my rescue. Apparently, I'm worth twenty five thousand Lien to my father." Weiss' attempt at humor shut Arthur's gaping mouth, so shocked was he by the amount in front of him. After so many years in America counting coins and change to get by, that much money in one place dredged up an old hunger he thought long gone by now. Even with the exchange rate, she was presenting him with a large amount of cash.
"All that is for me?" Arthur asked cautiously, leaning over the table to get a better look at the suitcase and its contents.
"Of course. If we don't reward those that help us, we'll be proving the White Fang right a million times over." Weiss glanced to the side. "That, and I figured with what all you've gone through, you deserved something to show my appreciation for what you did that night. Even if you woke me up and blew up my house." The last bit was delivered with a smirk, showing that she wasn't blaming him personally for the outcome of the night.
Arthur stared at the money long and hard. He knew that she was giving it freely, and though he was an excellent bounty hunter, there were still a few things out of his reach. It would be nice to have a place here and there, and this money would go a long way into giving him a piece of his own in this selfish, chaotic world. His hand reached out to take it, but he stopped halfway. Whether it was the amount of money in front of him, the thought of the Schnee family or maybe even both, his thoughts went to a discussion Hosea had with them around the campfire so long ago.
In his youth, Hosea had been told that there were dragons in the West. Mythical creatures known for their terrible wrath and love of gold. Of course, they found out that there was nothing West of the Mississippi besides empty land and greedy men, but Hosea maintained that the dragons existed. Maybe not in tooth and claw like the old stories, but the wrath and greed were there. If Arthur took this money, he'd become just like all the Cornwalls and Vanderbilts and Schnees out there, hoarding their own with no thought for others. How many had died in such selfish pursuits, and how many others had they taken with them? Hell, Dutch's feud with Leviticus Cornwall had killed more people than the one he had with Colm O'Driscoll. Arthur knew that dragons were real, they just breathed lead and lies instead of fire.
So he chose not to be a dragon.
"I appreciate the offer, Miss Schnee. I really do." Arthur reached forward and pulled the case toward him. When he got his hands on it, that greed flared up one last time, but he crushed it under his will. The outlaw collected two stacks of the cards, about a thousand Lien by his estimate, then pushed the rest back across the table. Weiss' eyes widened at the act, and she stood up to protest.
"Mister Morgan, this is all for you. I didn't come all this way..." She trailed off at his raised hand, the other stuffing the money into his satchel. He'd get it deposited into his account later.
"If I were to do a protection job like what happened that night, a thousand would be my fee. According to your pa and his army of bean counters, that money's gone, right?" When she nodded, he grinned. "You came here to make a difference and try to make peace with the White Fang, right? So take the rest of it and find an orphanage or something. It doesn't have to be just Faunus that benefit, but put it somewhere that they'll be better off. Don't make a big fuss about it or they'll think you're prancing around like a peacock. But if you want the White Fang to stop, it's stuff like this that will make a difference." He shoved the case the rest of the way, and Weiss looked down on it, dumbfounded. She mechanically closed the case, running her thumb over the lock out of habit, then looked back up at him.
"You realize that you'll never see this money again? I feel like I can't even repay you properly." She fixed a strand of hair behind her ear, struggling to come to terms with just how differently this meeting had played out against her expectations. She was fifteen, maybe sixteen now? Training to be a Huntress, singing for the people, and now using Daddy's money to be more of a philanthropist than the old man could ever dream of.
"I told you, the standard fee has been paid. Now go do something good with all that cash. You're training to be a Huntress, right? I know you got the skills for it; you nearly handed me my a-, uh, my pride that night." Praise or not, it wasn't wise to cuss in front of a lady. "Keep doing what yer doing, and people will see the difference between Jacques Schnee and his daughter. You just gotta give it time." With that, Arthur stood straight, checking his scroll for any missed messages. There was only one, and it had come from his snowy stalker. He had to wrap this up soon.
Circling around the meeting table, Arthur offered a hand to Weiss. Despite her confusion, Weiss' upbringing made sure that she took his hand quickly and gave a firm shake. Behind her, the butler nodded in agreement and moved to collect the case of money.
"I know this ain't how you expected things to go, but I'm glad we got to meet like this, Miss Schnee. If you ever need any bounty work done, let me know." He shrugged sheepishly. "I'm sure you'll understand if I hold back on the White Fang contracts, though. I still have a few friends there." Weiss held up her scroll, and Arthur tapped it with his. Thanks to the little devices, they instantly exchanged contact info. In this case at least, technology was a wonderful thing. Weiss looked down at her scroll, then grudgingly allowed a smile of her own.
"I can think of a few things a bounty hunter could do. For right now though, I think we've overstayed our welcome." With a nod to her butler, Weiss signaled that the meeting was concluded. Arthur led the way out the door, holding it open for the other two. Weiss walked out first, placing a hand on Arthur's shoulder as she passed.
"It was nice meeting you again, Mister Morgan. I think today was more fruitful than I could have imagined. Good luck to you." With that, the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company walked down the hallway and out the door. Her butler followed close behind, but he turned to face Arthur before he followed her out.
"I appreciate you hearing out the young lady, Mister Morgan. I am glad to say that I was wrong about you when we first met." With another respectful nod, the portly man closed the door behind him with a muted click. Arthur stared at the door in confusion, wondering just where he had seen the butler before. He'd been so focused on Weiss and her questions that he had all but ignored the butler, something the mustached man had been more than content with. The outlaw wracked his brain, and the only thing he could come up with was maybe a thirty second encounter with a butler during the mansion incident. The guy had been pissed off about being told to evacuate, but come to think of it he had been of similar look and build.
"Huh. Well look at me, changing hearts and minds." Arthur ribbed himself, shaking his head as he followed them out. He didn't really concern himself with the butler's opinion, but it was nice not to be hated for once. He exited the bounty office with a wave to the man behind the counter, not relishing the blast of cold air that hit him in the face as he opened the door. The meeting had been a welcome reprieve from the biting cold, but now he had to get back out into it. There were a few marks to the south that needed collecting, and after that he was heading back to Vale. Summer had invited him to Ruby's birthday party, and he wasn't about to miss it. The girl had grown on him, she and her sister both, and it was a chance to invite the Marstons as well. Something good and happy in the wake of all the pain they had shared together.
He collected Famine and made his way out of Argus, waving farewell to the guards that kept watch. When Famine had climbed to the top of the hill and they entered the forest, only then did he roll his eyes and call out into the still air.
"I know you're there. You ain't as sneaky as you think." His challenge was met with silence for a moment, the gently falling snow his only response as he waited. Then, a crunch of snow to his right drew his attention.
"I guess I'm still working on that." Blake Belladonna said with a wry grin. "Of course, not everyone has special eye sight like you do." She was wearing her standard attire of black and purple stockings with a white shirt and black vest, but the cold had forced her to wear a thick buttoned coat as well. The bottom two buttons were unfastened to allow for greater movement. A dark purple scarf wrapped around the girl's face, leaving only her piercing eyes gazing back at him.
"Remember, you used to try sneaking up on me when I was fishing, too. Didn't work back then neither." Blake rolled her eyes at the reminder. "What brings you this far north? I know it ain't to be my own personal shadow." Blake strode forward from the trees, and Arthur climbed down from Famine's back. Wrapping the horse's reins around one fist, he beckoned for her to walk beside him.
"I was in the area on recon and saw you pass by. My target already settled in for the day, so I figured I would see what you were up to." She explained. Her eyes became accusatory. "You met with a Schnee." Arthur grunted in acknowledgment, digging the Lien out that he had accepted.
"The very same one that got me kicked out of the White Fang. She was so thankful that I got her back to her family that she wanted to pay me. Had some questions too." At Blake's startled look, he raised his wrapped hand. "I didn't give away any secrets if that's what you're worried about. She wanted the fighting to stop and asked me how to make it happen. I told her that her father was the main reason things were so bad. She promised to donate to some local Faunus in need, and we parted ways." Arthur stowed the money back in his satchel with a sigh. Blake's expressing became less guarded, and she shook her head.
"I knew you wouldn't do that to Sienna, but you know how things are these days. Trust is hard to come by." Coming from the girl that followed Adam Taurus around like a bad habit, that was a little too rich for Arthur to swallow. He snorted derisively, but waved her off when she sent him a questioning look.
"Speaking of, how is the illustrious Supreme Leader? I'd check in with her, but I feel like things wouldn't be too cordial." As far as he knew, no one in the White Fang was aware that Sienna was calling and messaging him periodically. It would probably bode poorly for her if the rest of them found out she was cooperating with an exile like him.
"Ever since the Schnee raid, she's been organizing more and more outside of headquarters. We've got cells in all four Kingdoms now, and we're making some progress. I haven't seen Adam much lately, though. The Khan has him as her personal training assistant for some reason." Blake, along with the rest of the White Fang, was ignorant to what had happened between Arthur, Adam, and the late Cain during their raid. Sienna believed him, and if Arthur knew her half as well as he thought then the Supreme Leader was beating Taurus within an inch of his life on the regular. That was the only way she could punish him for Cain's death and still be seen in the right. Leadership was a terrible burden.
"Well, far be it from me to save him from a little extra training." Despite the fact that Blake was innocent to Adam's schemes, he couldn't keep the heat out of his voice at the mention of her mentor and...paramour? Lover? He hoped things weren't that far along, but far be it from Adam to be decent. Still, dogging on Adam would only lead to the conversation getting awkward, so he changed topics before he scared Blake off. She was skittish like that sometimes.
"Need any help while I'm in the area? I know bounty work is my bread and butter, but I'm not above doing some charity for the White Fang." Blake pretended to consider the offer, but he could tell by the way her shoulders were set that she wasn't going to take him up on it.
"Nothing comes to mind. Right now, we're just scoping the area out and talking to some locals. If you're going to hang around, I may need you later." Arthur shook his head, taking the out for what it was. If Sienna wasn't immune to backlash for being around Arthur, then Blake couldn't risk his company either. There were too many eyes sympathetic to the White Fang that would paint her in a bad light.
"Nah, can't stick around too long. I've gotta be back in Vale before the end of the month. One of my friends is having a birthday party for her little girl. I promised I'd be there." He tipped his hat to her with his free hand. "Give Sienna my regards. Be careful out there."
"Alright. I'm sure she'll love the fact that she was the first thing you asked about." Arthur couldn't see her smile, but Blake's voice conveyed her amusement all the same. "I'll be in touch. Don't go dying out here." Blake's form shimmered, the telltale sign of her Semblance, and in the next moment the Faunus teen next to him faded away completely. Arthur raised an eyebrow at the mirage, then shook his head with a chuckle.
"Kids these days and their theatrics." Said the man that once shot the eye out of a diving dragon. Rolling his shoulders and preparing for another long trek through the snow, Arthur jumped back up into Famine's saddle and clicked his tongue, urging the steed forward to what he hoped was a warm bed at the end of all this.
Sienna Khan had to remind herself that the leader of oppressed Faunus everywhere had no right collapsing into bed like a petulant schoolgirl. It was unbecoming of someone in her stating, not to mention her age. The fact that she did so anyway was due to the lack of witnesses in her private chambers and the frustrating, exhausting week she'd had. She even kicked her feet against the mattress, taking some small comfort in the freedom of the juvenile act. She spent hours upon hours projecting nothing but assertiveness and dominance, a clear beacon of hope and authority for all the lost and discouraged Faunus. When she wasn't in the eye of the public or her constituents, it felt like it was everything she could do to just sit still. She was getting a regular workout, at least, but even that was an exercise in discipline.
Sienna was the reason Adam had a reserved bed in the medical ward. Despite the fact that she had no evidence to go on besides some circumstantial testimony and the word of Arthur Morgan, a human that had been exiled, Sienna knew that Adam was responsible for Cain's death. And he knew that she was aware. As such, Sienna had ordered Adam to be her personal training assistant until he was "fit to lead". As far as she was concerned, Cain had worked for equality and change for fifteen years. There were fifty two weeks in a year, so Adam's price would be paid one for every time his back struck the training mat. In nine months of missions and training, he had paid her by half so far.
Normally, Adam could hold his own against even the most seasoned opponents. His Semblance allowed him to reflect and magnify the damage thrown at him, so long as he caught it with his blade. In Sienna's case, however, she wielded an indirect weapon that was difficult to block, and her own Semblance empowered her with every successful blow. As far as she knew, she was the worst person that Adam could ever fight. And she showed him that time and again.
Eventually, his resentment will reach a boiling point and he will do something rash. She reasoned, staring at her closed scroll idly. Until then, I just have to keep him away from the front lines and keep driving him into the dirt. That temper of his will boil over eventually. Ghira's daughter was the only reprieve she allowed, and that was only because she knew that they would cavort in secret if she forbade them. Better that they keep their antics in sight and not in the shadows, where it was more difficult for her to monitor. Blake made it abundantly clear that she was wrapped around Adam's finger, but even the young cat was beginning to grow concerned with Adam's ideologies. She had yet to come to Sienna about it directly, though.
Her scroll chimed for what had to be the thirtieth time in an hour, indicating yet another message. Status reports, mission reports, and observation statements from all over the four Kingdoms flowed into her scroll, filtered only by the number of people that had her contact information. Each region had a commander of sorts, and it was those that routed the important work to her. They thankfully fielded a lot of the grunt work away from her, but there were still many things that required her attention.
Blearily opening the device, her ears perked up a little bit when she saw it was not a White Fang contact that had sent the message, but rather her favorite outlaw. Arthur had been very quiet these past few weeks, but he still kept her appraised of how he was doing. Sienna couldn't stomach the guilt she felt at allowing him to be exiled from the White Fang, even though she knew that the alternative would have seen them both running for the hills. No matter how many times Arthur raised that very point, she still felt bad.
Just saw Blake in Argus. Had a meeting with a Schnee. Call me when you get a minute. His message read. Sienna blinked several times, wondering just why the most powerful family on Remnant would want to meet with Arthur. As far as she could tell, he was just as reviled as the White Fang for what happened at the mansion. She didn't have any pressing matters for the next hour or so, but Sienna still cast a wary glance toward the door. The last thing she needed was someone coming in during the middle of her call. She'd have to keep it voice only, unless she took it in the bathroom like some teenager avoiding her parents.
Hmm...
The bathroom in her private chambers had a solid door, and was spacious enough that she could sit in the shower on a tiled bench. The shower head above her was styled to allow water like a driving rain, gentle enough to relax under while still helping get the sweat and grime from her body. That she sat in it fully clothed was no one else's business at the moment.
She pressed the call button and waited, watching the dot slowly dance across the screen under Arthur's picture. Sienna chose to focus on the dot, and not the absolute absurdity of the Supreme Leader of the White Fang hiding in her bathroom so that she wouldn't get caught calling a boy.
Not the way to think of that. She chastised herself. The rumors about her relationship with the Arthur had been bad enough when he was still with the White Fang; a scandal now would be disastrous. If Arthur asked, that would be the hill she would die on.
After a few more chimes, the picture turned black before resolving into an image of Arthur's face. He smiled down at her, and judging by how his body was shifting, he was in the saddle. The trees going by behind him were dotted with snow, which meant he was still close to Argus by her reckoning.
"Hey there, pretty lady. I almost forgot what you looked like!" Arthur's compliment took her by surprise, and Sienna cursed the heated that bloomed across her cheeks. Damn him.
"Sorry about that. I can't exactly be seen talking to the man that was chased out of the White Fang. Wrongfully or not." She added, not unkindly. He knew full well that she regretted the events of that night.
"Yeah well, don't beat yerself up about it too bad. Least we can still talk. Are you...on the john?" His eyes roamed around behind her, and the trepidation from earlier came back full force. But just as soon as it came, she laughed.
"Ha. Hardly. The shower is more like it. Just about the only place I have any real privacy." She twisted her scroll this way and that, giving him a brief glimpse of her bathroom before returning it to her face. "You would not believe how insistent my men have become in your absence." Arthur's countenance darkened like a thunderhead, and his amused grin lessened quite a bit.
"Nothing too forward, I hope?" She blinked at that, then realized just how she had sounded. Forced to hide in the bathroom because her bedroom had too many unwanted visitors.
"Oh, nothing like that. I just have people demanding my attention at all hours. Reports to read, authorization to sign, the standard fare." She chuckled at his assumption. "Why, is the big bad cowboy getting jealous?"
"Hardly. I'm just glad you're thumping someone else's skull for a change. Saves me the headache." Arthur laughed again, but then his face sobered. "Anyway, I had a pretty interesting meeting today. Figured you might wanna know what was said."
"Oh? And here I thought you called because you missed me." Sienna braced her chin on her free hand, leaning forward to get comfortable. "Go on, I'm listening."
Arthur gave her a short summary on the job request for compensation, then the meeting in Argus. He told her about Weiss Schnee and her attempt to make amends, as well as his opinions on her motives. When he finished up with his meeting with Blake, Sienna hummed thoughtfully.
"It is good to hear that the apple fell far from the tree. I know we didn't exactly do her any favors, but I'm glad she understands that she wasn't our true target." Though whether or not she would have been a victim of opportunity, Sienna would keep to herself. Arthur had a righteous streak in him that would earn her some words if he found out, and the opportunity was passed regardless. "I am surprised that the heiress to the company went so far to capitulate. Are you sure that her father wasn't aware?" Sienna was far more likely to believe that it was a trap instead of genuine good faith, but she hadn't been there to make the observations. Despite her misgivings with the Schnee family, she had to trust Arthur's judgment.
"The butler being there tells me that someone else had to know what she was doing, but according to her the Lien she was carting around was already written off as an expense. I didn't stick around to find out if she did as I asked, but I doubt her pa would just fling money around like that. He got where he is today by being a miser." An old term, but not inaccurate. Were it not for some of his blatantly racist statements, Sienna would have believed that Jacques Schnee's erosion of Faunus rights was entirely so that he could gather an inexpensive workforce. Still, Arthur had a point. Twenty four thousand Lien in limbo like that wasn't Schnee style. To bait a trap perhaps, but there wasn't really much bait when the White Fang wasn't even involved. If the plan had been to secure a meeting later, Weiss wouldn't have needed to bring the money at all.
"It is refreshing to see the younger generation interested in progress, but I'm afraid you told her the truth. As long as her father is in power and opposing us at every turn, we have no choice but to continue on our course. He has far too many allies in the private and government sectors of all four Kingdoms. People are going to get hurt because he won't budge an inch." A responsibility she accepted at the leader of the White Fang, though she didn't take it lightly. Part of the lesson she was quite literally bashing into Adam's head was that there was no such thing as acceptable losses. Something may be worth breaking for the cause, but every death on their hands made their job, not to mention the lives of Faunus everywhere, so much harder.
"Yeah, I had a feeling you'd say that. Still, I gave her my number just in case something comes up later. I may be able to work that angle depending on when she calls." Building a rapport with the heiress was a nice bonus, but Sienna still wasn't convinced it wasn't just an elaborate trap. The SDC had almost as much reason to grab up Arthur as they did the White Fang.
"Do what you feel is necessary, but be careful. Schnee didn't get to where he is today by playing fair." Sienna looked up at the timer and blinked in surprise; they'd been talking for nearly twenty minutes now. How time flew when she didn't have to worry about her words being misconstrued or depended upon.
"I know, I know. It ain't my first rodeo. Anyway, that's all I had for you. How are things on your end? Fought any more dragons lately?" Sienna's situation was evident by the derisive snort and her sour expression.
"Unfortunately, no sea dragons or otherwise. Besides my sparring sessions with Adam, the greatest danger I've been in has been from paper cuts. The pains we take to maintain our legitimacy are great indeed." She finished with a weary sigh, and Arthur let out a barking laugh at her expense. Of course he would find it funny; the man's idea of paperwork was searching for a bounty in log books!
"You have my sympathies, Miss Khan. If I makes you feel any better, I'm headed to a birthday party at the end of the month. Never been to one of those, to be honest. Usually we just got a present and a pat on the head, but Summer said there was gonna be cake and everything." Sienna's smile lessened at the mention of such a mundane event, attending a child's birthday. Unless it had some sort of political gain, the Supreme Leader of the White Fang had too many important things to do to attend a birthday party. There were soldiers to train, supplies to acquire, treaties to draw up that she knew would ultimately go unsigned long before she ever set pen to paper...
"Hey, everything okay? You got that far away look for some reason." Sienna's focus returned, and she shook her head, a blush crossing her features. How could she allow her emotions to show like that? She was trained better than that!
"It's nothing. I was just distracted for a moment." She deflected, her tone brooking no argument. Arthur paused, his silence telling, then he got a thoughtful look on his face.
"Ya know, we've known each other fer a long time, and I don't even know your birthday." He looked away for a moment. "Not yer age, mind you. That got thrown in my face. But there ain't no way the great Sienna Khan never had a birthday party." Sienna's first instinct was to scoff. She knew she didn't have time for such trifles. There were Faunus out in the world suffering as they spoke! But the fact that he even asked was... touching. Again, Sienna caught herself treating Arthur like she did the rest of humanity. Her friend was clearly a cut above the rest, and didn't deserve such treatment. Still, such a personal question caught her off balance.
"Well, you won't have to worry about it for a while. My birthday isn't until April." Arthur leered down at her, his expression expectant.
"April...?" He drew out the word, and she could only sigh in exasperation.
"April sixth, you buffoon. Please don't make this any more than it must be." Arthur grinned victoriously, probably giddy as hell that he manage to wheedle such pointless information from her. Really, what did he expect to do with that? Sneak into headquarters and bake her a cake? The guards would have him drawn and quartered before he reached the base. No, that's not very fair. Arthur is a competent warrior. He'd at least make it to the main hall.
"Well, I guess I'll have to see how these things go. I've got a few bounties I'm picking up in the area, so I'm gonna have to get off here. Holler at me if you wanna talk." Sienna should have been ashamed at how disappointed she was that the call was ending, but she wasn't. It was probably just because she hadn't seen the outlaw in forever.
"Yes, go clean up the countryside. I'm sure there's a fortune to be made on bandits and fugitives." Her eyes softened. "Just...be careful out there. I can count on one hand the number of times you've risked your life for us. Don't make me use two."
"Yes ma'am. Far be it from me to disappoint the Lady Khan. I'll be in touch." Arthur gave her one last nod, then the call faded to black. A moment later, the screen showed his contact picture and a timer. Thirty five minutes. Am I so socially challenged that I had to hide away in my bathroom for half an hour just to speak to a friend? Sienna shook her head incredulously and stood, massaging her legs to get the blood flowing again. No matter how ornate the shower, tile was still tile, and unyielding as ever. With her need for secrecy gone, Sienna sighed heavily and leaned against the porcelain sink, her eyes boring into themselves in the vanity mirror.
Ever since she had mantled Ghira as the Leader, her position on the social ladder hadn't climbed; it had entered its own dimension. Outside of Marcus, who was looking for a way into retirement at this point anyway, the only other people in the four Kingdoms that she could relax around were the Belladonnas and Arthur. Adam presented his own challenges, all of her other subordinates placed her on a pedestal above themselves, and the only other people she had contact with were the very businessmen and law makers that had oppressed the Faunus for years. Surrounded on all sides by enemies and lackeys alike, Sienna's list of peers was down to three. And one of them was a human.
"I need a vacation." She muttered to herself. The thoughts that had gone through her head when Arthur mentioned a birthday party had been quite unbecoming of a freedom fighter like her. Still, that they were present at all meant she might have spent a little too long with her nose to the grind. Maybe a little escape wouldn't be out of the question? Nothing too long, as she did have responsibilities, but something to do that wasn't all negotiation and carnage would do wonders for her mood. Arthur was out, just in case her followers managed to catch her, but who said she couldn't have fun on her own?
Sienna left the bathroom in a much better mood than she had gone in, striding to the door of her room with a spring in her step. She opened it quickly, startling the two guards that stood just outside. Good. They needed reminding that there could be no slouching here.
"Ma'am!" The two Faunus cried out, one hand on their blades while the other was clenched to their breasts. Their uniforms matched that of the rest of the White Fang, with one exception: a gold band of cloth around each bicep that designated them as her personal guard. Sienna still needed to get to know them all, but they were all recruits from before the inception of the Outlanders. She knew a few of them from her time in the White Fang, but her exclusion of her brother's former bandit crew showed how far she trusted them.
"Clear my schedule, please." She ordered, a smirk on her face. "I'm going to see how well the sentries have been paying attention." Both guards gave an affirmative, and she stormed down the hall eagerly, her ears twitching as she went. So determined was she to wring some actual fun out of the job, she didn't even notice the confused look that her guards shared.
In the apartment that they rented close to the Club, Abigail and John sat at the dinner table. Jack was doing his homework in the living room, using the coffee table as his work desk. Abigail had similar work sheets scattered in front of her, but they were more advanced than their son's letters. She was so close to getting a rudimentary degree, and once she had that her employment options would increase greatly. John looked them over as well, though he was a bit more learned than his wife and child. Not by choice, of course, since Hosea had beaten the knowledge into both John and Arthur when they had been younger.
"How is Sean doing?" Abigail asked, looking up from her math test. Apparently, there were some levels of math that required letters, and that was well beyond John's reckoning.
"He's doing well, I suppose. Some decent food and a little bit of exercise, and he's just about back to normal." John looked down at his hand, flexing it as he thought. "He went to go talk to the twins, and he said he might be able to unlock my Aura like he got done." Abigail stiffened at the mention of it, but she could only shake her head and focus on her test. She hated the thought of John getting further and further into trouble, be it with Junior or Sean or both, but until they could scoop up more work it was the only way John could keep food on the table. Untrained hands weren't worth as much in Vale as they had been in America, and Abby was doing everything she could to make John's risk unnecessary. He'd promised to get the same degree that she had once they were more stable, but Abigail was still uncomfortable. Vale or America, their food still came from how he used his gun.
"Just be careful. I know it's Sean and all, but I feel like this is a lot bigger than just you two." Abigail let her hand trail over to John's, her fingers curling around his warm palm. "I already almost lost you once, don't force me or Jack to go through that again." John squeezed her hand gently, offering a reassuring smile as he did.
"I promise. I know things have gotten pretty hairy in the past, but I'll be careful." He laughed, trying to play off the situation as a joke. "No sense in getting myself killed now that we've got a new life ahead of us." Together, the two parents looked out toward the living room, watching silently as Jack chewed on his pencil. The young boy's brow was furrowed as he wrestled with the problem on the page, completely ignorant of the very real problems his parents faced every day for his sake. And if it were up to them, he would never know just how bad things had gotten.
Jack had been making friends left and right at the school he was enrolled in. Not only because a lot of their parents worked with John, but because the kids were genuinely happy to have him as a friend. Jack was full of happiness and wild stories from their time in America. He'd been invited to birthday parties, play dates, and even had a few blushing girls looking at him from afar. He was oblivious to it, of course, but the fact that he had all this instead of the lone dusty trail and law men stalking their every turn was the biggest victory John ever knew. All the robberies, cons, and the biggest scores of his life paled in comparison to the simple joy of his son having a normal life. Abigail was happier here in Vale, and John spending more time with the two of them was the best thing he could have ever given her. And if that meant allowing John to stay in the underworld for a few more years, it was a price she would grudgingly pay.
John's scroll pinged, drawing them out of their musings. The outlaw pulled his hand from his wife's and grabbed the device, opening it up. When he saw that it was Arthur, John couldn't help the grin that stretched his scarred face.
"Hey, Arthur! How's it going?" John greeted, and Abigail leaned over to offer a wave of her own. On Arthur's side, they could hear muffled cursing in the background.
"Argh! Let me go, dammit!"
"They made all that shit up! We're innocent!"
"Shut up, you morons!" A pair of dull smacks came over the speaker, then Arthur fixed his hat and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry about that, guys. I got some bounties in between me and Vale."
"Glad to see that you're still out there working, old timer. I thought you'd find a rocking chair like Uncle by now." Arthur barked a laugh at that, thumbing his nose at the insult.
"There's not enough lumbago in the world to make me that useless. Nah, the reason I called was because I got an invitation, and I figured y'all would wanna come with. Summer's younger daughter is having a birthday party next week. Wanna bring Jack along?" John and Abigail shared a surprised look, but John was more than glad to accept.
"Sure thing. Her youngest is Ruby, right? I think I remember her talking about the little girl when we were in Vacuo." John nudged Abigail with his shoulder. "Come on, Abby. You know Jack would love to go."
"Well, I suppose we'll have to. At the very least, we owe it to Summer for bringing us here in the first place. What should we bring?" She was probably thinking something along the lines of food or a present. Arthur cocked his head, realizing that the only thing Summer had told him about Ruby was that the little wannabe Huntress was obsessed with firearms. Not really something they needed to go shopping for.
"Well, I hear she likes cookies a lot. Maybe whip up a batch for her if you feel like it. The only thing you HAVE to bring is yourselves, though." Arthur shrugged. "I'll be in town before the big day, so don't worry about missing it. Just make sure Jack knows about it. Ruby wanted to me him last time I was by there, anyway. They're nice folks, and her husband is a real kind feller too. I think you'll get along."
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan to me. What else is new?" John agreed. Arthur spent the next few minutes summarizing his adventures, and by the time he was done Jack had finished his homework. The young boy came running in to the dining room and propped his chin up on the table.
"Is that Uncle Arthur? Hi Arthur!" The boy waved at the scroll. Arthur chuckled on the other side and waved back.
"Hey there, boy. You doing all yer schoolwork?" Jack nodded eagerly, his grin wide and innocent.
"Yup. Me and momma have been working real hard. I bet I can out read Pa now." John protested at that, but Arthur couldn't hear him on account of his laughter.
"Well, that's pretty impressive son. You keep doing good now, ya hear? I'll see ya before the end of the week."
"That's great, Uncle Arthur! I can't wait to see you!" Jack crowed eagerly. John and Abigail nodded their agreement as well.
"Alright, I gotta get these boys to the authorities. I'll see y'all in a week. Watch yourselves." Arthur said with a wave. John and Abigail waved back, and Jack had already gone back to his homework.
"Be well, brother. We'll see you soon." The call ended, and John let the scroll rest on the table. "Well, guess we got a party to go to, I reckon." Abigail stood from the table, walking over to the pantry to see what they had available.
"I'm not sure if we've got enough for me to fix a whole batch of cookies, so we may need to run to the store. And I'm not sure what to wear to a party like this." The thought out loud, moving things around in the pantry to see if she had chocolate, flour, and other amenities. John watched her fuss over their supplies with a small smile on his face, content that the minor inconveniences they faced today were far better than the life or death journey that they had endured under the wing of Dutch Van der Linde.
Omake
Arthur stared down his nose at Adam, seated across from him as he was. Beside him on the couch, Sienna sat with her arms crossed, her amber eyes flashing between the two. Seated in another chair to his right, Tukson glanced between all the others nervously, his scroll in one hand as he considered the tale Adam had just told. Cain, across from Tukson and on Sienna's left, was angrily draining his beer. The redhead had been eliminated from the game, and therefore wasn't allowed to speak for the rest of the round.
Arthur's own scroll sat in his hands, and he was struggling to remember what he had seen. Adam had gone by him multiple times, his little character moving down the hallway just minutes before Cain's body had been found. Arthur had seen Sienna perform a few tasks, something the impostor couldn't do. But Tukson had been off on his lonesome as well. There was too little to go on, but they couldn't just let Cain's death go unpunished. Adam had told his story as convincingly as he could, but the boy's monotone delivery left a little to be desired. He came off as vague and unconcerned, but Arthur's instincts said he was lying. The outlaw sighed and exchanged a look with Sienna, who simply nodded in agreement. Adam had too much coincidence surrounding him to be innocent.
"I'm sorry Adam, but that's pretty damn sus."
A/N: Just a short little tale to take away from all the doom and gloom that comes with the White Fang. Some more character development as things progress, and we got to see Weiss again. I hope she's not too out of character here, but it's important to remember that this is Weiss before the murders and kidnappings really start to affect the household. Arthur's influence may help her spoiled brat behavior a little, but he can't stop Poppa Schnee from being the absolute ass that he is. Eye of the Tiger is alive and well, and we'll have a nice, happy birthday party for the outlaws and in-laws to attend next chapter. Something not quite plot heavy to advance our characters, methinks.