12
Winter and Carmine stood at the bottom of the elevator to Ozpin's office, having been asked by the Headmaster to stay back so he could fill Ironwood in himself. Perhaps he sensed her animosity or perhaps it was something else. Old Oz was always playing those kinds of games and he rarely did something without reason. Most likely he felt her presence either unnecessary or detrimental to convincing the General so instead she was relaxing near Winter who stood straight with her arms clasped behind her back. It was probably as relaxed as the woman could get. Idly she wondered what kind of faces she made in bed before quickly dismissing them.
All in all she didn't mind Winter. Even if the woman could afford to get the stick out of her rear end, though she knew that when the chips were down that Winter would do the right thing. Riling her up was a way to pass time and a way to break the ice surrounding the Ice Queen. Thinking of the General she felt her hackles rise, a brief memory of murder and a bomb flashed through her mind. Carmine shook it off. This wasn't her time. He wasn't that General Ironwood. Not yet and maybe not ever, she had to keep telling herself that.
"Professor." Winter's clipped and sanitized way of speaking brought her back, "I have observed that you seem to know quite a bit about the Schnee family semblance."
"You have?" Carmine asked, knowing the effect it would have.
"Yes. Not many are privy to such information. May I ask how you obtained it?" She could practically hear the increase in blood pressure. Winter was a person not used to getting the runaround. It was one of the things that made her detest Uncle Qrow so much and now she could see the appeal of it. Winter was a wonder to tease.
"You may." Was all the reply she gave and she had to repress a grin as she turned to see the frustrated glare of Winter.
"Then how did you find out so much?" She asked through grit teeth. It sounded like it hurt.
"Sorry, but that's need to know information." Carmine couldn't resist turning her head fully to catch the reaction as Winter's eyes bugged out and she opened her mouth only to catch herself and instead turned away with a huff, glacial eyes promising that it wasn't over. With a snigger Carmine leaned in, unable to help it, "It really is a secret but depending on how the meeting goes, you may end up knowing very soon."
Suspicion took over the Schnee's features, "What does our family's semblance have to do with this meeting?"
"Less than you think, more than you know."
"If I find out that you've involved Weiss in-"
"Let me stop you right there." Carmine interrupted, holding up a finger close to Winter's mouth but just out of reach. She wouldn't put it past the woman to bite it, though that sounded kind of hot in its own way, "I didn't get her involved in anything she didn't involve herself in. In fact I'd be thankful if she kept her nose far away from this."
Winter eyed her for a moment, perhaps probing to see if she could find the hint of a lie. There was none. Whatever she found, the specialist nodded and contented herself to silence, knowing that further prying would be met with aggravation and little else. Carmine's scroll pinged and she drew it out to see a message from Ozpin requesting them both to come in. It looked like negotiations had gone well.
"Alright, c'mon Ice Queen, they want us upstairs." Carmine pulled Winter into the elevator.
The ride was short, which was a good thing because she could feel the temperature dropping by the second. Carmine had really gotten under Winter's skin and the woman's pale blue eyes were staring a hole in the side of her head. Uncle Qrow would be proud. When the doors opened and Carmine strode in with Winter smartly on her heels she could see Ironwood standing with his hands placed on Ozpin's desk. He turned when they entered and his gaze began boring into her. When Carmine stopped with a hand on her hip, eyebrow raised and daring him to say something he turned to regard Winter with a nod who was back in parade rest or whatever it was called.
"I'm sure you have many questions, Winter. You've been my right hand for some time now and I…" He glanced at Ozpin, "... we believe you should be brought in on something that concerns the safety of everyone on Remnant."
Winter tensed slightly, it was hard to see, "Sir, does this have something to do with Professor Rose?"
Ironwood grimaced, "Yes, somewhat. Specialist I want you to know that what's about to be said does not go further than those in this room."
"Of course, Sir. You have my secrecy." Winter glanced quickly around the room.
"Good. I assure you that every word I am about to speak is absolutely true, no matter how fantastical it may sound."
"Sir?" Winter looked a little confused. Understandable, how long could the woman remain stoic? Carmine settled in for the show.
"Winter," Ironwood took a deep breath, "The Grimm have a leader, named Salem, who is literally immortal and has been working behind the scenes for several thousand years to destroy humanity. A small few of us also work behind the scenes to prevent her from reaching her goals. Professor Rose, apparently, is important because she… has come from the future. She claims to be Ruby Rose, from eleven years hence, and has knowledge of Salem's future plans."
In the silence that followed the only sounds that could be heard was the breathing of the room's occupants and the sounds of gears shifting.
This also let her hear the adorable sound that came out of the confused specialist, "Eh?" Winter's eyes were wide and it was quite clear that she didn't know how to process what she'd been told. Carmine sympathized, it was a lot to have come at you at once. Not only knowledge of Salem but time travel as well. She hoped they'd slow down and break the relics to her later. Winter shook her head, "Sir. Putting aside what you've just told me, why me?"
"Ozpin has proven to me that the Professor's story is true." Ironwood mulled over his words for a moment. It was clear even he was having a tough time with the idea, "And so with certain knowledge she has provided as to threats that will be posed in a the future as well as intel on who can be relied upon I have seen fit to brief you on these threats so that you can aid in our counter operations."
"If I may, Sir, what kind of intel are you talking about?" Winter asked, and it was Carmine who spoke up.
"Not too much of my past is usable as something that can be dealt with right now. After all, the enemy will probably change their plans when we adapt. But as for the immediate problems: There's someone targeting the Vytal Festival and we plan on trapping them." Carmine stepped over and slung one of her arms over Winter's shoulders, "Which means you and I are going to be working very closely."
The Specialist eyed the hand with disdain as she extricated herself from the embrace, "Are these your orders, Sir?"
"Yes, Specialist. Though I hope you understand that this will be off the books and relegated to your Huntress duties rather than a military operation, though I'm not happy with having to sit back and let a known criminal run free." The last part was addressed to Ozpin.
"We've already been over this, James." Ozpin shrugged, "Cinder Fall likely has several contingencies and escape routes. We need to get her to commit to her plan before trapping her within it."
"I understand that but once my forces arrive we could cut off any and all avenues of escape for her." The General placed his hands on the desk and leaned
"With the power of the Maiden in her possession she could pose a threat to the populace were she to run. It is a risk I cannot accept. The devastation she-"
"But we could contain her!" Ironwood interrupted, his fist slamming on the desk. Glynda drew herself up.
It was Carmine who spoke up first, "Shut the hell up!" At this every pair of eyes turned her way and she took a brief moment while she could to forge ahead. She'd had enough of hearing him talk, it was too similar. "Shut up. The ends do not justify the means! Next thing you know you'll think it's a good idea to bomb civilians!"
James visibly recoiled, clearly horrified and it came back with fury as his face turned thunderous, "How dare you suggest-!"
"How dare I?" She cut him off, a furious silver eye meeting his. She drew up to him and though she couldn't match his height, her gaze mirrored his, "I think you forget who I am? Do you have any idea what I've seen?!" She stabbed a finger at his chest, "It was you who ordered Mantle abandoned, you who murdered council members for disagreeing with you, you who ordered Mantle to be bombed so that Atlas could fly away to safety! That isn't conjecture, it isn't fantasy or some messed up hallucination! It's my past!"
She stood shoulders heaving as she glared at the dumbstruck face of James Ironwood. No one made to stop her as she angrily turned around and stalked back to the elevator. Ozpin looked at her with understanding and a little bit of pain as the doors closed. Carmine was left to calm her own breathing, leaning against the wall and closing her eye. She knew she'd made a mistake. This wasn't her James Ironwood but it could be. It was a flimsy excuse. She hadn't wanted to warn him, she'd been angry. All the things she'd wished she could say to the Ironwood from her past had started tumbling out. He'd been an ally. One of the few authority figures she thought she could rely on who had turned around and betrayed her.
Not that it was all his fault. Oh she'd believed it for a long time but after a while she'd recognized her own fault in it. Running a hand over her face she whispered a curse. Instead of going back up, however, she swept out of the elevator as it opened. For a while she wandered the corridors. Beacon felt both nostalgic and not at the same time, it seemed like a lifetime ago since she'd been a student. She'd spent less than a year in these halls and yet they felt like home. Ten years of fighting for her life couldn't erase that feeling.
Frustration. That was what she felt. The anger that welled up wouldn't go away and she thought about going back and training RWBY but she wasn't in the right mind to deal with them. Carmine knew she'd end up taking her mood out on one of the girls.
Instead, she shot a quick message to her younger self, telling them that she wouldn't be back and to keep sparring for a few hours, leaving them the rest of the afternoon. This left the rest of the day to her as well. Another message pinged on her scroll, this one from Glynda. It seemed she was concerned and was asking if she was alright. Carmine smiled at the sweet gesture. The stern woman was really a lot more warm than she had ever remembered. She sent a text back saying she just needed some fresh air and would be back in the evening.
It wasn't long before Carmine found herself on a bullhead ferrying her down to one of Vales many public landing areas. She spent a few hours just enjoying stretching her legs as she made her way towards her destination. It was a sunny day but the air was still a little crisp and the streets were bustling. She stared up at the minimalist neon sign of her destination: The Club.
She'd heard the stories from her sister long ago. Still remembered the embarrassment of finding out Yang had trashed the place. The doors weren't open and wouldn't be for quite some time yet but even still she knocked on the glass doors to get someone's attention. A suited man with a red tie and, of all things, red glasses answered the door. He looked her up and down, appearing annoyed but not openly coming out as such. Surprisingly professional.
"Can I help you ma'am?" He was clearly expecting some entitled idiot or a complaint.
"Yeah I'm here to speak to Junior." She'd never met the man in person, never even been inside The Club, but she knew of his other business thanks to Yang.
"Junior is occupied Ma'am. If you need to speak with him then please come back during operating hours."
Carmine smiled and flashed something out of her pocket, a stack of five hundred lien that only the man at the door could see, "I'm afraid it's somewhat urgent and I don't like crowds."
She could see the man's eyes zero in on the money and as he let her in she slipped it into his jacket pocket with a wink and a whisper of thanks.
Sauntering into the club, Carmine felt a smile play across her face.
-SY-
Jaune rolled over on his cot, turning his back on the sunlight that slipped through the crack in his tent's flap. His head swam as the visions he had been shown played on repeat in his mind. It made him feel sick and he barely remembered getting back to the Branwen camp. In fact he barely remembered the last few days. Instead he'd been reliving his life. Every pain as fresh as the day it happened. The loss of his partner, his team, his family, all the people he knew and loved gone one by one until it was only him, Ruby, and Ozpin left. His heart ached and he would have wept if his tears hadn't already dried up.
Instead he felt hollow and adrift. Alone. Now even Ruby was gone and he was stranded in time with no way back even if he wanted to. Jaune didn't know what to do next. He'd never ended up the best of leader, stumbling from one failure to the next trying to hold everything together just to watch it slip through his fingers. Jinn had shown him enough of his life, he almost wish he hadn't asked.
Fabric rustled as his tent was opened and he could hear the crunch of boots at the entrance. There were only two people who would approach him and he very much doubted Vernal would have entered silently. When he half turned over to look he was proved right as the figure of Raven Branwen stood there, the sunlight making it hard to see the expression on her face but he could guess it wasn't a happy one. She'd seen his past too. All of his failures. Raven had left him alone, hardly even tried to talk to him since their trip to Haven.
It wasn't really a surprise either, she'd probably seen how weak he truly was and wanted nothing to do with him anymore. Which made it even more confusing as to why she'd sought him out. Had she finally come to tell him to get lost?
Instead of saying anything he just stared at her, waiting for her to say her piece, to ask him to leave or whatever she wanted.
Raven stared down at him with a look of slight disgust for a minute before she sneered, "Get the hell up, Arc. I gave you enough time to mope about."
With a sigh Jaune swung his legs off the cot, "Yeah. Thanks for letting me stay this long Raven, I didn't expect it."
"The hell are you talking about?" He looked up at her suddenly in confusion, "It's about time you got back on your feet, we've got a job to do."
"What?" Jaune could barely wrap his head around what she was saying and she rolled her eyes.
"Quit being stupid. Or do you not remember my question?" He did, vaguely.
She'd asked Jinn if the plan Jaune and Ruby had come up with might have worked against Salem. Jinn had said that yes it could have but Jaune had been too out of it to really think about it. But now he was having trouble parsing through what Raven was saying.
"Are you suggesting we…. Fight?" Jaune barely got out.
"No, I'm suggesting we challenge Salem to a dance off." Her voice dripped with sarcasm, "Yes I'm suggesting we fight."
"But… you want to fight?"
"What part of that idea isn't sinking into your thick skull?" Raven retorted.
"I…" Jaune closed his eyes, "I think I'd just get in the way, Raven. You don't need someone like me."
He didn't see her close the distance but he did feel her fingers close around the collar of his clothes. It wasn't until his third skip across the ground that he realized she had thrown him bodily out of the tent and he came skidding to a halt fifteen feet outside, in the middle of the encampment. It was the middle of the day and the bandits were lounging around. Some were sparring off to the side while others made bets but all motion came to a stop when he did. Crocea Mors thudded right in front of his face.
"Pick it up." Raven ordered him whilst pulling Omen from it's sheath, the red blade telescoping out to it's full length. She didn't give him much choice and he had to scramble for his weapon as she brought hers down on him. His sheath blocked her blade as he crouched down, his knee forced into the dirt under the might of her strike. His blade slid free and Raven back stepped quickly as it slashed at her ankles.
The normally smug grin she wore, the one that so reminded him of Yang now that he remembered, was absent and instead she looked furious, scarlet flames burning out of the edges of her eyes as her emotions brought out the flames of the Maiden. It was instincts alone that prevented her from skewering him with her blade, its edge skittering off of his aura and off the side of his head. She had been aiming for his eye. Her body sailed past his and she twisted, delivering a vicious knee to his sternum.
Even with his aura blunting the blow, the wind was knocked out of him and he was sent hacking across the clearing again.
"Do you have any idea what position you're in!" Her voice thundered, as she stalked after him. She came flying in, eyes blazing, into a wide lateral swing that he had to block with his shield. Even still he felt his guard almost hammered open from the force. Raven wasn't playing around, this wasn't a spar.
She was trying to kill him.
"Raven what-?!" He couldn't even finish his sentence as a blade made of ice nearly hamstrung him. She'd finished her swing and came back with a blade in her offhand made from the Maiden's powers.
"You're squandering it!" She yelled at him as the ice sword shattered and she threw the broken hilt at him and he batted it away with his shield. Crocea Mors intercepted Omen and Raven leaned in to hiss at him, "Do you have any idea how many people would kill to be given a second chance like you?!"
This sparked anger within Jaune. How dare she act like it was as easy as she said it was, "Second chance?!" He roared back, the frustration and grief transforming into rage, "At least I didn't squander my first chance. At least I didn't turn my back on those that loved me!"
The wrong thing to say, apparently, as she snarled and he felt a gust of wind slam into his side and bowl him over. She was upon him in a moment, Omen digging into his aura as she tried to impale him. Jaune dropped Crocea Mors to grab the blade, feeling it bite into his aura even more but he channeled his semblance. White light flared from his hands as his amped aura stopped the blade but didn't stop her replay.
"It doesn't matter what you think you know, Arc." Her blazing eyes bored into his, "But you've been given a chance no one else has. I've seen your loss. I've seen your mistakes. Now that you have the chance to undo it all you mope about in self pity?!
"What do you care about what I do with my chances?" He spit back.
Omen was reversed suddenly and torn from his grasp as she settled atop him, straddling him. Their blades lay forgotten as Raven's fist lashed out and found his cheek, snapping his head to the side, "Because I don't get one!" She screamed.
"I have to sit here and watch you wallow while thinking of what it would be like if I had the same chance." Her left fist cracked against his eye, slamming his head into the ground, "All I've lived with is my regrets!" Shaking hands grasped his collar and brought him up to her face, their noses almost touching, "If I could go back and save her I would. Without hesitation! So what the fuck are you hesitating for?!"
Summer. It dawned on him at that moment what she meant. They'd seen in through the lens of his life. The effect of Raven leaving her daughter and Summer's death. What it had done to that pair of sisters. Salem had once mentioned Summer in their many encounters but Ruby had never gotten closer, never found out what had happened.
They'd never once considered how Raven felt about Summer's death. She'd always been aloof and uncaring. They'd all just written her off. But the frustrated tears in the crimson eyes were real and it stunned Jaune. Suddenly she let go of him and stood up, it only took a moment for her to place her helmet in place once again. Raven grabbed Omen and stuck it back in it's sheath before turning back to him.
"Get the fuck up. I've got something for you." Without another word she walked off back to her tent leaving Jaune to slowly get up and dust himself off. Out of curiosity he checked his aura. It was far lower than he'd have liked, that last exchange draining a massive amount of it. There was no doubting that Raven was a powerhouse and with the Maiden powers he really wasn't convinced he could beat her if they fought for real.
For the moment he was simply thankful she'd only wanted to push his face in and not put him in the ground.
As he drew back the flaps of her tent he caught the object sent flying at him. For a moment she was confused as to why she would throw her helmet at him until he noticed the differences. It was like hers, the same colors, but had a rounded shape. It wasn't avian in design, he realized, it was lagomorphic. There were even two antenna looking protrusions that could, if one were being generous, look like rabbit ears.
When he looked at Raven in confusion she simply gestured for him to try it on.
It was more comfortable than he'd thought and fit him snugly. He'd always wondered how hers worked and it turned out it had a hidden switch he could press. When it was settled on his head she nodded in approval.
"Now you finally look like a bandit. C'mon, we have someone to see." She swung her sword and the now familiar red portal sprung into life.
A/N: Surprise!