70

Chapter 70: Make the Plan

Armed with the knowledge of exactly when Taurus planned to make his move, the Anti-Adam Alliance (as Ruby had dubbed it, much to her team's annoyance/amusement) made quick strides throughout the week to prepare. Ironwood put low-key surveillance on the abandoned subway station Adam had chosen for the ambush, his men confirming sparse but consistent White Fang members coming and going from the location. Information of the goings-on within the station was unfortunately low, as Ironwood did not want to risk springing the trap early and forcing Taurus into doing something drastic.

Ghira, aware that his presence in the city was already making rounds in the rumor mill, made a short announcement that he would be making a public appearance on the following Saturday. The hope was that Taurus would think he already knew the Chief's plans and whereabouts, and wouldn't be paying that much attention to him the coming Friday.

Roman and Ilia kept up their ruse of helping Taurus's efforts, splitting their time between gathering info on the White Fang and Taurus's plans. Unfortunately, progress on the latter was near impossible, as Adam had become more paranoid since discovering Ghira's presence in the city, only giving his orders in bits and pieces.

And Team RWBY… simply went back to their schoolwork, much to their chagrin. They argued against it adamantly (rather loudly in Yang and Blake's case), but Ozpin held firm. Not only did the girls need to keep up the appearance of obliviousness to Adam's plans, but they could not afford to fall behind a week's worth of classes if they planned on keeping their grades up. They were placated slightly when Goodwitch sent them a copy of the day's notes and updates as the professionals planned, but they were still more than annoyed at how they were apparently being sidelined in their own counter-murder-plot.

Aware that the girls were growing more and more frustrated as the days passed, the adults in their lives tried to keep them as up-to-date as possible, in their own little ways.

Tuesday, Vale Warehouse District

"Well," Yang said uneasily, "this certainly looks like the place."

Ruby nodded slowly as the two took in their surroundings. Raven (and no matter how many times she reminded herself, Ruby just couldn't connect the dark woman's name with 'mother' just yet), had messaged them both to meet her at a group of warehouses near the Vale helipad center. As soon as they drew close, they quickly became aware of the area's new residents.

In front of two particular warehouses was a large crowd of people, all of them moving crates that were being unloaded from a number of cargo trucks. But unlike the orderly actions of the Atlassian soldiers they'd seen, these people seemed to just be running all over the place with no rhyme or reason. They'd grab a box and then start moving in a random direction, more times than not being yelled at to go somewhere else by those seemingly in charge. 'Seemingly', because there was no real way to differentiate those giving directions from everyone else, as they all wore random outfits with no real theme outside of being made of up reds, blacks, and browns.

The only thing that confirmed that they were, in fact, a group was that somewhere on their person, mostly on armbands or across their backs, was the Branwen Clan symbol: a pair of red and black feathered wings, between which was a stylized heart that looked like it was made of flames...

...and a painfully familiar red rose.

Ruby swallowed nervously. All four of Team STRQ's symbols merged into one… and every single person around them wore it.

Their final confirmation came when they drew up next to the trucks, allowing them to see the symbol painted on their sides, along with the words BRANWEN PRIVATE DEFENSE in big bold words.

They didn't make it much farther before someone noticed them. "Hey, move it, brats!" A large man with a bald head and scars across both eyes quickly marched over to them, a lazy grip on the gun hanging from his hip. "This is no place for…" He trailed off quickly, his annoyed look morphing into numb shock as his eyes darted between Yang and Ruby. He paled slightly when Yang narrowed her eyes at him. "Uh… I mean… do you have a reason for being here?"

His suddenly polite tone did him no favors, as Yang merely crossed her arms, letting her eyes burn red for a moment. "Our mother asked us to come down here. Something about learning about the family business?"

The man's face lost all color in an instant, his hand jerking away from his weapon as if scalded. "Oh shhhh…" He cut himself off when he took a better look at Ruby, who was looking up at him with cautious curiosity. He wetted his lips nervously, before quickly pointing towards the front of the nearest warehouse. "Mr. Xiao-Long is helping unload over there. The Boss will be along shortly. Very, very sorry for the inconvenience."

Yang blinked at the man's hurried words, her eyes snapping back to lavender. "Uh..." But the man had already scurried away, grabbing a random box along the way and going as far from where he'd pointed as possible. Yang couldn't help but notice that a number of people were now looking at them, either curiously or, in the case of those nearest, with a look of stunned terror. She raised a brow as she turned towards Ruby. "I guess Raven didn't give everyone the heads up?"

Ruby shrugged back, pulling her hood up as more eyes started turning their way. "Looks like it. Let's go find Dad."

Taiyang wasn't hard to spot, carrying a pair of car-sized crates up on his shoulders with little effort, much to the awe and annoyance of those working around him. He set them down near the warehouse doors with gentle ease, dusting his hands off. He looked up with a grin when he saw his daughters drawing near. "Hey girls!"

"Hi Dad," Ruby said brightly, giving him a quick hug. She waited for Yang to do the same before saying, "I didn't know you were part of Raven's company."

Taiyang shrugged, chuckling sheepishly. "I'm not, really. Raven just needed someone here to aim her portals at. Figured I might as well make myself useful while I'm here." His head jerked up suddenly as the scent of ozone filled the air. "Ah, and as I say it…"

A little ways away, a truly massive cloud of chaotic red formed out of thin air. There was a rumbling sound, followed by another cargo truck driving out of the portal. Raven hung off the back of it, a young woman on her opposite side. As the truck ground to a halt, Raven and the woman lept off. A few more men hurried out of the portal behind them, Raven watching as they moved. "Is that everyone who was coming, Vernal?"

The woman made a quick scan of the men moving around them, looking further up the road. "Looks like. We're clear, Boss."

Raven gave a sharp nod, then waved her hand. The portal snapped shut with a loud crack, fading away into nothingness. She gave the area a cursory glance before her eyes landed on Taiyang and the girls. Her stoic look softened slightly, the corner of her lips curling upwards.

Taiyang gave a much less restrained smile as they walked over. "Raven. Everything go okay? Where's Qrow?"

Raven rolled her eyes, shooting a half-glare back towards the truck. "He and some of the boys decided to 'reminisce' last night. He's passed out in the passenger seat."

Taiyang heaved a heavy sigh, following her gaze in exasperation. "Of course." Flashing another grin at his daughters, he marched over to the truck's cab and yanked open the passenger side door. He shook his head at the sight inside, sharing a bemused look with the driver.

"Hn," Raven made a small sound of amusement as she watched them start to drag a hungover Qrow out of his seat, before turning her attention to her daughters. "Ruby, Yang. I see you found the place alright."

Ruby nodded up at her, a little timidly. "Yeah. It wasn't that hard."

"It was kind of hard to miss," Yang said with a snort, eyeing a large man covered in tattoos walk passed with a crate in one arm and a warhammer in the other.

Raven let out another light chuckle. "Yeah… most members in the clan are hardly subtle. But don't let their look fool you. They may be rough around the edges, but I don't tolerate fools. Every one of them is reliable, and knows how to do things properly." She then looked around a bit, before her eyes landed on the woman from before, off directing the new arrivals. "Speaking of which… Vernal!"

The woman looked over instantly, quickly making her way over. The sisters looked her over, taking in her cropped brown hair and light-blue eyes. She wore a fur-edged cropped jacket, the BPD logo proudly splashed across her right breast. Yang raised a brow at the intricate tattoo of some winged creature running up her left arm.

The woman gave Ruby and Yang a quick curious glance, before giving Raven her full attention. "Need something, Boss?"

Raven gave her quick smirk. "Just wanted to introduce you to some important people." Looking towards her daughters, she gestured towards the woman. "Girls, this is Vernal, my second-in-command. She joined our outfit about eight years ago and quickly proved she was smarter than everyone else in the clan combined." It was subtle, but no one missed how Vernal stood up just a little bit straighter, smirking slightly as she preened from the praise. Raven then moved to stand between Ruby and Yang, putting a hand on their shoulders. "Vernal," she said with a soft smile. "This is Yang and Ruby, my daughters."

Instantly, Vernal's smile froze on her lips. Her mouth parted slightly, her bugged-out eyes darting rapidly between the sisters.

"...holy shit, you're real."

Ruby and Yang blinked in startled surprise. In an instant, all trace of kindness on Raven's face disappeared, replaced with a flat look as she leaned over her daughters' shoulders, looming over Vernal. "Come again?"

Vernal's eyes widened even further as she looked up into Raven's burning gaze. She jolted violently out of her stupor as she tried to save face. "I-I mean, uh...I didn't mean… um… see…" Failing to form a coherent response, she finally just thrusted a hand out vaguely in Ruby's direction, plastering on a panicked smile. "It's nice to finally meet you two!"

Raven glowered down at her, unimpressed. "We're talking about this later." Vernal winced but nodded quickly. Raven narrowed her eyes for a moment, before looking back at her daughters with a smile. "I've got to go help these boneheads get situated before they get themselves in trouble." As if on cue, there was the crash of a crate being broken off in the distance, and the sounds of a beginning scuffle seconds later. Raven sighed, rolling her eyes. "I'll be back in just a little bit. Assuming she can get over her shock," she shot Vernal an annoyed look, before turning back, "Vernal can answer any questions you might have about the clan and the company. Okay?"

Ruby and Yang shared a glance, both looking quickly at Vernal. After getting a slow nod from her sister, Yang said, "Sounds good."

Raven smiled at them. "Alright. I'll see you both soon." She locked eyes with Vernal one last time, before walking towards the beginning chaos, already barking out orders.

Vernal wilted where she stood, her face pinching and discomfort. "Ugh, she's going to put me on KP duty for a month." She took a deep breath, then straightened her posture. She looked Ruby and Yang over with fresh eyes. "So, you two are really the Boss' kids?"

"Yep!" Ruby chirped, flashing a bright smile that only those closest to her knew was rather restrained. Looking towards where Raven was ordering some of her men around, she tentatively lowered her hood. "I guess she doesn't talk about us much?" she asked Vernal hesitantly. Yang tensed beside her, giving Vernal her full attention.

"Um," Vernal paused, as if unsure how to talk to them. "She does, actually, every now and then. Not a whole lot, but enough that everyone's heard of you. It's just…" She finally just released a heavy sigh in resignation, giving them a sheepish half-smile. "Look, I love the boss. Really, I do, but… she's not the most approachable person on a good day. So, that, combined with some of the… well, what I thought were exaggerated stories about her old team and what she said about you two growing up, despite the fact that none of us have actually seen you the whole time we were with the clan…"

Yang crossed her arms. "You thought she just made us up?"

Vernal very obviously did not meet her eyes. "Not… exactly. Honestly, I thought she'd lost you two to Grimm or something." She rubbed the back of her neck, giving them a very awkward smile. "Guess I lost that bet." When the sisters didn't smile back, she cleared her throat. "Suppose it's been a while since you've seen her, then."

Ruby and Yang stiffened slightly, looking to each other in silent conversation. "It's… been a really long time," Ruby eventually said. "So...we're kinda having to get to know her again."

"...oh." She looked them both over again, her features softening ever-so-slightly. Then, she gave them a kinder smile. "Well… then do you want me to show you two around? Meet some of the clan? Trust me, most of them aren't actually as rough and tough as they act." She finished her sentence with a wink.

Ruby look to Yang, as if for direction, but the blonde only offered a shrug. But despite her stoic look, Ruby could Feel her Curiosity along with a stubbornly buried sense of Longing. Ruby grinned at her, sending back her Understanding and Amusement, earning a roll of the eyes and slight blush from Yang. Turning back to Vernal with a giggle, Ruby said, "We'd appreciate that. Thank you, Vernal."

Vernal gave them both an odd look, but made no comment at their silent conversation. "No problem. C'mon, we can start with where we're setting up the barracks."

She waved them towards one of the warehouses, shooting the odd glare towards any clan member who stared at the sisters a little too long.

"So…" she said after a minute of silent walking. "Where'd you two get the ink?" She gestured vaguely to her neck.

Ruby's eyes started to sparkle, excitement changing her whole demeanor. "Oh, well, see, it's not actually a tattoo. A couple weeks back, this, uh, thing, happened with our teammate Blake, and she ended up telling us…"

"And here we go…" Yang muttered under her breath, a smirk forming as she watched Vernal's eyes steadily grow more and more comically wide as Ruby began to motormouth through their whole history.

Amused as she was watching their interaction, she missed the curious look she got from a younger girl with long orange hair and green eyes passing by, a large stew pot held in her hands.

Wednesday, Belladonna Guest Suite

"There's definitely something going on in that station. We've witnessed multiple groups of people entering the terminal at night, and the few who leave are never the same as who initially entered, with a few exceptions. All are Faunus." Winter glanced up from the table, cautiously meeting Blake's eyes. "Now, I hate to generalize, but..."

Blake stared down at the map on the table, the city of Vale laid out before her, heavily marked with whatever information they had. She heaved a heavy sigh, rubbing at her temple. "No… you're likely right, much as I hate to admit it. The people who leave either live in the area or have set up shop there, leading members to the operation. The ones who don't come out are either in there working or are using the tunnels to go back to base."

Winter nodded in agreement. "That's what we assumed as well. Now that we actually know to look for it, we had a seismologist look over recent activity in Vale. There are traveling instances of small vibrations moving through the ground, matching up with subway lines running here and here." She marked two specific lines running through the center of the city.

"This one runs near the last headquarters I know about," Blake said, pointing to one. "The other, though… Mt. Glenn? I'm not sure why they'd be going there…"

"Something for us to look into in the near future."

Ghira breathed slowly through his nose as he watched his daughter work with the eldest Schnee. On the one hand, he was glad that she was willing to offer her knowledge of the White Fang, all the locations she knew about and points of interest, possible tactics they may throw at them. He felt a sense of pride at the confidence she had, easily matching the Atlassian Specialist in her strategizing, and being treated as an equal in turn.

On the other hand, remembering what his little girl went through to get all this knowledge felt like a knife twisting in his gut.

Ghira shook his head, refusing to dwell on such thoughts. He turned away from the makeshift war room Blake and Winter had made out of the guest quarter's dining room, focusing on a much different conversation going on in the living room.

"Then there's Stonespot Lake just past the mountain range," Kali said animatedly from her seat on the plush couch, gesturing with her hands and every other word. "Oh, it's not an easy trek, of course. Such sheer cliffs, and brimming with Grimm if you go the wrong way. I only made the trip once the long way with Ghira, before Blake was born. Had a run-in with a rather foul-tempered Geist, nearly sent us tumbling back down the mountain. Only ever traveled there by air since."

Weiss listened to her with rapt attention, her eyes wide with shock and awe, leaning so far over her armchair that she seemed about to fall out of it. "Why would you take such a dangerous path if air travel is an option?"

Kali let out of light giggle. "For bragging rights, mostly. Most Faunus see it as a point of pride to have successfully made the trip across the mountains. And I must admit, seeing the lake after all that hard work?" She put a hand over her chest, letting out a contented sigh. "The largest natural hot spring in all of Menagerie, surrounded by rock formations that turn a rainbow of color as the sun shines on them. Oh, and the waterfalls! I promise you, Weiss, you'll never see a more beautiful sight in all the Kingdoms."

Weiss let out a small breath, her eyes slightly hazy as if picturing what Kali described. "I can imagine…"

Ghira shook his head in amusement, grinning. He'd known of his wife's reservations regarding Blake taking a Schnee as a Mate. But just as he'd hoped, it took all of five minutes of talking to the young heiress for Kali's worries to be completely obliterated. Since she and Blake had arrived at their room, Weiss had done nothing but try to sate her own curiosity on the Faunus people. And for every question she asked, Kali not only had an answer, but a plethora of stories to go with it.

Weiss took in every word with a sort of reverent respect. Her questions started rather hesitant, as if trying not to offend, but she grew more open and relaxed the more she and Kali spoke. The two had what seemed like permanent smiles on their faces, and it frankly warmed Ghira's heart.

It also fed a certain thought he'd been having, one he'd been planning to hold off on until all of the… unpleasantness with Adam had been dealt with. But the more he thought about it… maybe it would be better to address things now.

"I hate to interrupt," he said as he walked over, taking a seat next to his wife.

Weiss jolted in surprise, looking over to him. "Oh! Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to-"

"Relax, Weiss," Ghira stopped her with a small wave, grinning at what he was sure it was meant to be a very long-winded apology. "I can't blame you for being distracted. I'm well aware that my wife can spin a rather enthralling tale."

Kali lightly smacked him on the arm, even as she smirked. "As if you don't find them enjoyable yourself."

Ghira chuckled, and was glad to see a tentative smile on Weiss's lips. "I just want to discuss something with you, Weiss. Blake may have mentioned something, but I wanted to clarify."

Weiss's smile faded somewhat, her eyes darting towards Blake, she and Winter still engrossed in their planning. "Clarify what?"

Ghira paused, trying to think how best to approach the subject. He looked to Kali for guidance.

She seemed to know what he was thinking, given her speculative look. "Is this about…?" At Ghira's slow nod, she could only give a small sigh, smiling. "Well… I suppose it's as good as time as any." Taking the reins from him, she turned her smile towards the heiress. "Weiss… I'm sorry if this is too forward… but I understand that your relationship with your father is rather... strained."

Weiss tensed, before slumping in her seat, her shoulders drooping. "Blake told you that?"

Ghira gave a small shake of his head, leaning forward to put his elbows on his knees. "Not in any detail. But enough for me to be worried. Plus…" He gave her a wry grin. "I have met the man."

Weiss winced, drawing a sharp breath. "Oh… I am so sorry."

Ghira gave the lightest chuckle at her words, nodding in agreement. "Quite. So you see that I have a basic understanding of how he'll react to… recent events." The way Weiss's chin lowered in agreement put a fresh stab in his heart. "Words can't express how glad I am that Blake has you in her life... but I can imagine that it will make things with your father rather... tense."

"To say the absolute least." Weiss agreed, resignation clear in her voice.

"That's why I want to make sure you know that Atlas is no longer your only home."

Weiss gave him a puzzled look, her eyes darting between him and the comforting smile on Kali's lips. He could see the exact moment she grasped his words, her face going blank with shock. "Are.. are you referring to your home in Menagerie?"

Ghira nodded, and Kali rushed to expand on it. "Our home is quite spacious. Overly so, given that only three people live there. If you ever feel that you need space or… just a change of locale… our door is always open for you."

Weiss looked between the Faunus leaders in a sort of awe, as if she'd stumbled across two priceless treasures and didn't know which one to focus on first. "I… that means a lot, sir, ma'am," she said after a moment of silence. "But I doubt I'll be all that welcome in Menagerie."

Kali gave a light scoff. "Oh, nonsense. True, they might be apprehensive at first, I won't deny that. But that's only because, at the moment, you're just a name to them. Once they meet you, they'll see that you're nothing like Jacques. Any Faunus that claims different is just being a stubborn ass."

Ghira had to smother a snort of laughter at Weiss's gobsmacked face after his wife's crass words. "Not quite how I'd put it, but I share her intent. For years, Menagerie has been heralded as a safe haven for all those wishing to escape hate and bigotry. For our people to reject you would make them hypocrites, and I will say as much to any who broach the subject." His eyes then shifted to the side, his voice rising a little. "That goes for you as well, Winter."

Weiss jolted in surprise, whipping her head around. She'd been so startled by what the Belladonnas were offering, she hadn't noticed that Blake and Winter had stopped talking. They had both moved away from the table and were standing in the doorway. Blake gave her the softest smile and Winter… Winter just looked stunned.

"Sir…" Winter gave her sister a look, and if Weiss didn't know any better, she'd have thought Winter looked a little lost. "That's a very generous offer, but-"

"It's not an offer, dear," Kali stopped her, sounding both amused and miffed. "It's a fact. Through Weiss, you are now part of our family, for however long you wish to be. And as family, our home is yours."

Winter said no more, now truly at a loss. Weiss could relate, emotions surging within her so fast she couldn't even identify them. Clearly Feeling how overwhelmed she was, Blake moved wordlessly behind her chair, leaning over it to hug her from behind. Weiss reflexively reached up to take Blake's hand in her own, comforted by the weight of Blake's head on her shoulder. The sheer sense of Love and Support Blake sent her made her eyes water.

"We'll… we'll consider it," Weiss said after a few minutes of just enjoying Blake's closeness.

"Agreed," Winter said, perhaps a tad too quickly. "But only after we've dealt with the White Fang situation. Then we can… discuss this further." She then turned on her heel, marching back into the dining room to look back over her maps, the Belladonna's watching her go with understanding smiles.

If anyone noticed the way her eyes started glistening… well, there was no reason to call her on it.

Thursday, Branwen Clan Vale Base

"Hey, Ro."

Roman looked up from his scroll, having just finished a conversation with one of Raven's lieutenants (amazingly, she'd actually found a few guys with more than two brain cells to rub together. Thank the gods for small mercies). He'd had actually found a peaceful moment in the chaos he'd been lumped with, half-listening to Ruby ramble on about some aspect of her childhood to a perplexed but interested Vernal and Neo.

Yang had been irritatingly quiet, shooting a distrustful glare at him in between her own small questions for Vernal. Roman just shrugged them off, well aware that her distrust was deserved, if no less annoying. Seriously, you have one little tussle with a multi-ton death machine…

Roman leveled an annoyed glare at Qrow, who was approaching them with that insufferable half-drunk smirk. "Finally drag yourself out of the nearest dive, Bird Brain?"

Qrow just rolled his eyes, offering a quick wave of greeting to his nieces when they looked his way. "You might want to be a little nicer, Lil' Ro. Otherwise, I might not give you your present."

Roman rose a brow at him. "A present? For me? Ah, you shouldn't have!" He gave Qrow a cheeky grin.

Qrow snorted. "Don't tempt me." Without another word, he pulled a large object wrapped in cloth from behind his back, tossing it to the conman.

Roman grunted in surprise, nearly fumbling with the surprise package. "Yeesh, warn a guy before… wait…" Roman's faux-indignant tirade tapered off when he felt the object through the cloth. His eyes narrowed as he shifted it in his hands. "No way." Roman scoffed as he pocketed his scroll, though the girls could see a surprising twinkle in his eyes as he started to unwrap the object. "You kept this old thing?"

Qrow snorted, resting his hands behind his head. "After all the work you begged me into doing, you really think I'd just leave the old girl to rust?"

Ruby and Yang watched curiously as Roman pulled away from the cloth, revealing a black rectangular piece of folded metal. "Is that a weapon?" Ruby asked suddenly, drawing closer with stars in her eyes as she recognized the components of a transformed weapon.

Roman looked over at her, eyeing her excited look. With a grin, he put his hand through a small opening in the box and hit a small button on the side of it. With numerous whirls and clicks, the weapon unfolded around his hand, forming a short sword of polished black metal. The blade was gleaming silver in color, while the grip was large and bulky, enveloping his whole hand. A large circular piece of metal sat on the opposite side of the grip from where he held the sword, intricate red designs of stylized flames running in a symmetrical pattern throughout it.

Roman turned the sword over in his hand, marveling how it caught the light. "Man, this takes me back." He chuckled as he slowly swiped the blade through the air.

Yang raised a brow, holding Ruby by the back of the collar so she wouldn't rush and gush at the new weapon. "So, what exactly is it?"

Grinning, Roman shot the two a smarmy smile. "This, my little Rosebuds, is the weapon I used back in my hunting days. Now, where is… ah, here we go." He hit another button, and the weapon shifted again. The blade split horizontally down the middle, revealing a long gun barrel hidden inside. The grip shifted to form a short stock, the round part circling around to reveal itself to be a drum magazine. Roman caught the weapon with his other hand, promptly pointing the gun up in the air. "Girls, meet Black Valentine."

"Ohhh…" Ruby's eyes were sparkling as she took in he uncle's weapon of choice.

Yang was a bit more critical as she looked the weapon over. "Isn't that the gun used in those old gangster movies?"

Roman barked out a laugh, looking down the sights into the sky. "Where do you think I got the idea? I had a lot of free time while Summer was in lessons all day. Spent most of it watching old action movies in our apartment. Once I saw these babies in action, I knew I needed to have one for myself."

"And then left me to figure out how to make the damn thing," Qrow grumbled slightly, taking a quick swig from his flask.

Yang rose an eyebrow at him, curious. "You made Roman's weapon?"

Qrow nodded, crossing his arms. "Yep. One of my little claims to fame. Between him, Summer, Raven, you, and Ruby, I helped outfit the entire Rose family. Heck, even helped Tai reforge his gauntlets after the first time he broke them." He then looked at Neo, who started at the sudden attention. "Well, almost the entire family. Ever thought about upgrading, kiddo?" He couldn't help but laugh when Neo let out a small squeak, pulling her parasol to her chest and hugging it protectively, glaring daggers.

Ruby had finally broken free of Yang's grip, running right up in front of Roman to gawk at Black Valentine up close. "She's so pretty." Her hands were already reaching out towards the gun, before Ruby stiffened with a blink. She looked tentatively up at Roman, as if just remembering exactly whose weapon she was marveling at. "M-may I?" she asked hesitantly.

Roman blinked down at her, a bit startled at having been asked permission. His eyes softened just a tad as he held the weapon out.

He then jerked slightly as Black Valentine was practically ripped from his grasp. He looked perplexed at his empty hands, making sure he still had all his fingers, as Ruby started 'oohing' and 'aahing' over the gun.

"Let's see, the stock folds here, and the magazine here… the blade splits along this seam…" She clicked Valentine's transformation switch, changing it back and forth once before turning it over in her hands. "18 inch-long barrel, iron sights… no, glow sights! Oh, orange! That's different. Wow, a one-hundred round magazine. Heavy, but balanced…"

Vernal watched Ruby's examination, he brow raising in amusement. "She's really got a thing for weapon's, doesn't she?"

Yang snorted loudly, smirking at the Second. "You have no idea."

Roman started chuckling under his breath as Ruby practically dissected his weapon. "Yeah, she's a beauty. Not sure what good she'll be now, though." When Ruby looked up, startled, he shrugged. "Haven't used this thing in over a decade. Old girl's outdated."

Qrow let out an insulting scoff. "What do you take me for? I've been taking care of it over the years. Even updated the ammo drum to take the new style of dust rounds."

Roman's head snapped up briefly, his eyes widening a bit. "Really?" With a click, Ruby had already popped off the magazine, handing it to Roman so he could bring it to his eye. He turned it back and forth, looking it over. "Well, I'll be damned." He then gave Qrow a suspicious look. "Why the sudden generosity, Bird Brain?"

Qrow just shrugged. "Well, I figured now that we're actually talking again," he gave Roman a rather pointed look at that, which Roman ignored, "and that Oz's seen fit to pretend your little decade-and-a-half crime spree never happened and gave you your license back, I figured a Hunter should have a Hunter's weapon." He then glared disdainfully at the cane hanging from Roman's belt. "Besides, I'd feel a whole lot better knowing you had Valentine to rely on rather than whatever the hell that is."

"Hey!" Roman shouted indignantly. "Melodic Cudgel's done me good over the years."

Qrow just rose a brow. "'Melodic Cudgel'? Where'd you get that name from?"

"Same place I got 'Torchwick," Roman sneered back.

A roll of the eyes was Qrow's response. "Well, then you can rely on it and Valentine when this whole mess inevitably goes pear-shaped. You're welcome, by the way." With that, he turned around to go search for Raven, likely to get up to speed on the goings-on.

Roman watched him go with a smirk, which softened when he looked back to find that Yang now held Black Valentine, looking down its sights curiously with an almost impressed look.

Well, he thought to himself with a chuckle. Nice to know she at least likes some part of me.

Thursday Night, RWBY Dorm

Yang was worried. And as time went on, she started growing annoyed.

Never a good combination.

She and Ruby had just gotten back from where Raven's clan had set up shop, only to find that Weiss and Blake were already there relaxing. They had been all smiles and hugs, getting a headstart on the day's homework and offering to help her and Ruby do the same. But as the hours ticked by, they could all see it plain as day.

Blake was getting tense.

It started small. She would just zone out for a few seconds or stumble over a word. But after a while, she started getting antsy, her cat ears flicking constantly, her shoulders rolling. Had she been the type of Faunus that had a tail instead of animal ears, Yang was sure it would be alternating between thrashing wildly and curling up under her legs.

The worst part was, Yang knew exactly what was wrong. And a quick meeting with Ruby and Weiss's eyes proved that they did as well: tomorrow, they'd be fighting Adam.

Personally, Yang was looking forward to it. After all the crap she knew he'd put Blake through, and everything else she likely didn't, she was hoping for the chance to give the bull Faunus a flaming punch to the jaw. Or somewhere lower, if circumstances allowed…

But for Blake, Adam Taurus had become something of an omen. Her own personal boogeyman, lurking out of sight, making her dread every turn she took in fear of him being there. And now knowing that she'd be facing him in less than twenty-four hours, Blake's emotions were all over the place, jumping from Fear, Worry, Frustration, Self-Loathing, and then back to Fear in a never-ending loop.

Around eight o'clock, the four of them found themselves sprawled out over their massive bed, either on their scrolls or, in Blake's case, curled up with a new book. Yang was just in the middle of showing Ruby a new martial arts film she'd found when they both tensed, as did Weiss brushing her hair at the edge of the bed.

Worry, Fear, Pain… Frustration, Self-Loathing… Fear…

Yang let out a loud huff. "That's it," she hissed under her breath, tossing her scroll aside. She pushed herself up, Ruby scrambling out of her way as the blonde whipped around. "Blake."

Blake jolted in surprise, nearly fumbling with her book as her cat-ears shot straight up. Seeing how distracted her girlfriend clearly was softened Yang's face as Blake met her gaze. "Y-yes, Yang?" she asked with a forced smile.

Yang didn't buy it for a second. "We know you're not okay, Kitty Cat." The way Blake's ears instantly dropped made Yang's heart twist. "You want to talk about it?"

Blake bit her lip, setting her book aside. "Not really," she admitted, hugging herself.

"It's about tomorrow… isn't it?" Ruby asked, concern in her silver eyes.

Blake sighed, but nodded. "I… I just can't stop thinking about it. What… what if something goes wrong, or… or one of you gets hurt…"

"Blake," Weiss put a hand on the Faunus's shoulder, stopping her. She offered a reassuring smile. "The Headmasters have been planning out tomorrow all week. They've got plans on top of plans, covering everything they can. We just have to trust them."

Blake nodded, but the pained look never left her face. "I know… you're right, but…" She huffed to herself. "I just can't stop. I… I'm scared you're going to get hurt."

Yang crossed her arms with a huff. "Give us a little more credit, Kitty Cat. We can handle ourselves." She then grinned, letting her arms blur as a few yellow rose petals drifted from her skin. "Especially now with these kickass new powers!"

"On a more serious note," Weiss said as she battered the drifting petals away, shooting Yang a small glare. "We'll have Winter, Ruby and Yang's family, your family, and Raven's people backing us up. We'll be okay."

A sigh passed Blake's lips. She was clearly not yet convinced, but she wanted to be. "Yeah…"

Ruby frowned at her tone, before having an idea. "Want to do something to take your mind off things?"

Blake shrugged, giving the speedster a half-hearted smile. "I don't think there's much we can do, Ruby. It's already so late…"

"Well…" Ruby drawled, not missing a beat.

Uh oh, Yang thought. That's her planning look. What are you thinking, Sis?

"There is one thing we could do."

"What?"

Ruby didn't answer Blake right away. Instead, she looked to Weiss, meeting her eyes. Weiss stared back, clearly confused, until Ruby started Feeling… things…

Things Yang didn't think she'd ever get used to her little sister having.

Weiss's face tinted horribly as she realized what Ruby was suggesting. "R-Ruby!" she half-hissed, half-squeaked. "Y-you mean… that? Right now!?"

"Why not?" Ruby asked bluntly, and Yang had to stifle a snort. Even with this kind of subject, Ruby was still Ruby.

"Because…" For a moment, Weiss struggled for a response, causing the red on her face to deepen. Ruby's brows rose just a bit expectantly. Weiss practically squirmed under her gaze. "Is this really an appropriate time?" she finally asked.

"Um…" Now Ruby hesitated, suddenly wondering the same thing.

Then, to all of their surprise, Blake spoke up. "I… wouldn't be against it."

Weiss sat up a little straighter, her eyes widening in shock. "Really?"

Blake nodded slightly, her face flushing. "We did talk about it before. And… I wouldn't mind the distraction."

"...Oh…" Weiss said slowly, dazed. "That's…. Um…."

Yang couldn't help but smirk. "Cat got your tongue, Snowflake?"

Weiss glared at her, but the effect was kind of ruined by her rather radiant blush.

Yang chuckled, crawling closer to the heiress. "What's wrong, Weiss? It's nothing we haven't done before."

Weiss swallowed as Yang settled next to her, briefly looking away. "Yes, but… that was all rather spur of the moment. We didn't exactly plan things out last time. I'm... I'm not sure how to… how we…"

Weiss cut herself off with a squeak as Yang gently ran a hand through her white hair, removing her scrunchy to let her hair fall freely. "We go slow," Yang softly, as if it was the simplest thing. "We go too fast for you, you tell us." Very slowly, she pushed Weiss halfway down on the bed, letting her lay the rest of the way herself. The blonde smiled as she lay down next to her, propping herself up on one arm to look down at the heiress. "If there's something you want to… try…"

If Weiss's face hadn't been red before, it most certainly was now. Her mouth parted slightly as she struggled for a response. "Try… what, exactly?"

Yang's smile morphed to more of a smirk. "Well…"

...prrrrrrrrr…

Weiss and Yang looked over in surprise, their eyes shooting wide. Ruby had already fallen on top of Blake, smattering the Faunus with kisses as Blake purred up a storm. Ruby had her hands cupped around Blake's head, gently running her fingers through Blake's hair and over her cat-ears, much to Blake's delight. Somehow, Blake had already lost her shirt.

The two eventually felt their other halves' eyes on them, as well as their Disbelief and Amusement. They separated for a moment, Blake's purring dimming but never stopping. "What?" Ruby asked innocently, a little breathless.

Yang and Weiss just stared for a moment, eyes wide and cheeks tinting, before Yang let out a soft giggle. "Move fast in more ways than one, huh Sis?"

Ruby's face tinted further as she ducked her head shyly, though the grin on her face noticeably didn't fade in the slightest. "Yeah…"

"I'm not complaining…" Blake purred, looking up at Ruby through half-lidded eyes.

In answer, Ruby captured her lips in a deep, slow kiss, resuming her scratching as Blake's purrs grew.

Weiss watched them both in stunned awe, almost admiration. Yang, seeing the look on her face, took the chance to straddle Weiss's hips, causing Weiss to squeak in surprise. "No reason for them to have all the fun," she whispered as she leaned in over Weiss for a kiss.

Weiss met her halfway, before slowly pulling back. She gave Yang an appraising look, letting her head fall back on her pillow. "I've fallen for deviants," she muttered to herself, trying to hide her smile as she covered her face with her hands.

Yang giggled in response, gently pulling Weiss' hands away so she could see her crystal blue eyes. "You know you love us."

"...yes…" Weiss murmured softly, lifting her head to press her forehead against Yang's. A tender smile formed on her lips. "I really do."

There wasn't much more talking after that.

...not much sleeping, either.

Friday, Abandoned Subway

Roman gave a speculative look around as he descended down the concrete stairway. By all appearances, the entranceway looked completely abandoned, trash strewn across the ground and decades of graffiti covering the walls. The giveaway, however, was the faint signs of disturbed dust and grime, showing the heavy foot traffic that had been making its way up and down the pathway.

He shared a quick look with Neo, the girl walking beside him twirling her parasol merrily over her shoulder. Honestly, the two wouldn't look that out of place just walking down the street.

If not for the dozen or so men and women following behind them, all wearing the Torchwick crew's trademark red sunglasses and white coats.

Roman had to hold back a grin. Convincing Raven to have her clan wear his colors had been hilarious. Watching her convince the clan itself was even more so.

They had barely made it onto the main platform, a massive dual-floor complex with two subway tracks on top and four on the bottom, when over a dozen people dropped from the rafters, weapons at the ready. Even more slunk out of the shadows behind Roman's group, all wearing the familiar robes and masks of the White Fang.

"What?" he asked annoyedly, not intimidated in the slightest by the numerous machine guns pointed at his face. He did his best to ignore Raven's men behind him bristling in surprise, already fingering their weapons. "Did I forget the secret handshake?"

The White Fang didn't respond, save for the front two parting so that a new figure could approach: Adam's Lieutenant.

"Torchwick," he greeted with barely hidden disdain. "You received our message."

Roman snorted. "If by message you mean Bully Boy's demand to 'get to the meeting point within the hour or else', yeah, I got it."

"Hm," the Lieutenant scoffed. "We've received word from Ilia. She's leading Belladonna and her precious Schnee here as we speak. Adam is on his way." He held his arms out wide, letting out a dark laugh. "Tonight, we finish things with the traitor!"

A cacophony of laughs, cheers, and roars echoed throughout the once empty station, White Fang quickly filling the platform. Roman raised a brow in surprise. More than we thought there'd be. That might be a problem.

He didn't let his smarmy grin fade in the slightest. "Well then, far be it from me to hold up the festivities! Show me and my men our places, and let's get this party started."

As the Lieutenant lead them towards a centralized zone on the upper platform, Roman shot Neo a quick look. Without even a hint of answer, she tapped a small button hidden in her parasol's grip. From within his coat pocket, he felt his scroll buzz.

All right, folks, he thought with a manic grin. It's showtime.