65

Chapter 65: Meeting the Family, part 2

Moments before…

Blake squeezed Ilia tightly, an unrestrained purr at the back of her throat. Then she pulled back, confusion bleeding through her ecstatic smile. "Why… How…?"

Ilia chuckled at her stuttering, looking briefly off to the side. "I bumped into your parents on their way here. It's, uh… a long story." She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. She then gave Blake a small smile. "But… I'm here to help."

At that, Blake tilted her head to the side. "Help? With what?" Her eyes drifted down to Ilia's waist, hesitating when she saw the porcelain mask hanging limply in the girl's grasp. "Aren't… aren't you still in the White Fang?"

Blake could see the clear conflict on Ilia's face, the hesitancy in her eyes. Before Ilia could try to answer, Kali's voice surprised them both.

"It's rather complicated, Blake," she said, coming to their side. Kali then flashed Ilia a smile before turning back to Blake. "For now, just know… she's on our side."

Blake gave her mother a perplexed look… but a grin quickly grew on her face. "Okay… as long as I get an explanation soon."

Kali chuckled. "Very soon. Just as soon as your Mates are finished up with their Uncle." She bobbed her head towards the closed door behind them.

Ilia blinked. Twice.

"Uncle…?" she asked faintly. Her head snapped towards the closed door behind her. She pointed to it, sending an incredulous look back over her shoulder. "That… that Torchwick guy is your Mates' uncle?!"

Blake heaved a heavy sigh, giving her a helpless smile. "Apparently."

"But…" Her eyes bounce between Blake and the door rapidly. "But he's a…"

"Criminal?" Ilia's wide eyes snapped to Weiss's face, meeting the heiress's blank expression. "An insufferable, condescending conman?"

Ilia's mouth worked soundlessly, before she managed to stutter, "Y-yeah…?"

Weiss huffed, her shoulders slumping as she gave Ilia a humorous smile, as if she'd found a kindred spirit. "The revelation took us by surprise as well… though, remarkably, it's not the strangest thing we've discovered today." She gave Ilia a respectful nod, keeping eye contact with her the whole time. "It's a pleasure to meet you… Ilia, was it?"

Ilia stiffened, both in confusion and shock. The Schnee was being… respectful? To her? Her eyes unconsciously darted down to her right hand, assuring her that, yes, she was still holding her White Fang mask. "Y-yes…" she managed, instinctively returning the nod before her mind caught up with her actions. "Ilia Amitola. And you're… Weiss Schnee."

She didn't mean for her tone to dip, her eyes to narrow slightly. It just happened, as reflexive as breathing.

Weiss stiffened a little, her eyes widening a touch at Ilia's tone. But to the chameleon Faunus's bafflement, the heiress only gave her a small, resigned smile. "I suppose my father's reputation precedes me, then?" Her voice was soft, resigned, but tinged with just a hint of true humor.

It was Ilia's turn to be surprised, her head jerking back slightly. That... was not quite the reaction she was expecting. "A bit…" she replied, her tone making clear how understated her words were.

Weiss took a slow, deep breath. There was a hard glint in her eyes when she next spoke, almost… determined. "Well… hopefully, I can prove to you that I am not him."

Again… not what Ilia was expecting. Where was the smug superiority? The condescension?

The complete lack of … Schneeness from Weiss Schnee threw her off her already unsteady feet.

"S-sure…" she slowly responded, at a loss for any real answer. She glanced towards Blake for guidance, only to be confused by her hopeful smile, her cat ears twitching as her eyes flitted between the two of them.

The reason why hit her like a punch to the gut: from Blake's point of view, it probably looked like her old friend was attempting to get along with her… Mate. Weiss Schnee.

Weiss Schnee was Blake's Mate.

Gods, please let this day end.

The chime of the arriving elevator was an unexpected but dearly appreciated distraction for her twisting heart, drawing the attention of all in the room.

Her appreciation was snuffed out the instant she saw the first person to exit the elevator: a slightly older woman with the same fair skin, blue eyes, and white hair as the girl across from her.

Winter Schnee.

Two of them. Now I have to deal with two Schnees.

Ilia felt as if some cosmic deity was laughing at her, punishing her for crimes committed in another life.

She only dimly acknowledged the other people filing out of the elevator: a cute girl with bright green eyes and orange hair tied with a large bow, a dark-skinned girl in a blue uniform, with what looked like a star in the middle of her forehead, and the tall, intimidating form of General Ironwood.

…

Ilia's heart lurched, her stomach almost following it.

Her mouth fell open as she took in the… impossibility of General Ironwood's appearance. The man who, while not as hated by the White Fang as the Schnee family, was much more feared. The Headmaster of Atlas Academy. The leader of the most powerful military in the world. The Iron Fist of Atlas.

In an almost childish display of fear, Ilia hid her White Fang Mask behind her back, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the unforgiving porcelain.

With her attention now firmly off of Blake, Ilia was at last able to fully take in the room around her, truly acknowledge the people she was with. And she came to a startling realization.

General Ironwood and Chief Ghira were in the same room.

In fact… they were now talking to each other. Shaking each other's hand. Smiling like… old friends.

What… what did that even mean?

"James," Ozpin greeted the approaching General cordially as he rose to his feet. "Thank you for arriving so soon at such short notice."

Ironwood gave Ozpin a wounded look that was only somewhat in jest. "You said you had urgent information about the White Fang situation. I wasn't exactly going to drag my feet." He nodded to the familiar Huntsman leaning against Ozpin's desk. "Huntsman Branwen."

Qrow gave him a lazy grin, matched with an even lazier salute. "General," he drawled in greeting.

Ironwood stifled a sigh, knowing that was the closest the man would ever get to respectful outside of a battlefield. He instead turned his attention to the towering Faunus Ozpin had been speaking with upon his arrival. He smiled. "Chief Ghira. I was surprised when Oz said you were here. It's been quite a while."

Ghira chuckled to himself as the two shook hands. "About seven years, I think. You've been doing good work, General."

Ironwood smiled just a little wider, letting a small breath through his nose. "At least someone thinks so." His eyes drifted towards his second-in-command joining her sister's group, noting Blake Belladonna standing alongside who could only be her mother. Meeting Ghira's eyes, the general said, "Then my assumptions on Blake's parentage were correct?"

Ghira blinked in confusion, the slumped his shoulders. "I suppose it makes sense she hid who her parents were."

"Then you're aware of her actions in the last few years?" Ironwood stated, not seeing a reason to beat around the bush.

Ghira grimaced but gave a firm nod. "We are." His golden eyes filled with worry. "Is she… going to face legal trouble?"

Ironwood paused, momentarily taken aback by the genuine fear the Chief was showing on his daughter's behalf. He shared a quick look with Ozpin, before letting out a sigh. "We've… come to an agreement with her. Technically, she does not exist as a member of the White Fang. The only evidence we have of her membership is what she's given us herself. So long as she does not help in their efforts and answers whatever questions we have, she'll find no trouble from me and mine."

Ghira closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath as his body relaxed. "Thank you, General. That means more to me than you could ever know."

Knowing nothing else could really be said, Ironwood gave the Chief a nod of acknowledgment, before facing Ozpin. "Well, Oz, shall we get underway? You were rather vague in your call and you successfully piqued my curiosity."

"In just a few minutes, James," Ozpin said as Goodwitch handed him her tablet, his eyes darting across its surface before giving it back. "We're waiting for the last few members of our little coalition here to join us."

Ironwood raised a brow, taking stock of everyone who was already in the room. "Did you find us a new ally?"

At that, Ozpin smirked slightly. "Of a sort. It would be more accurate to say he found us." He shared a look with Goodwitch, which the combat professor answered with an indignant huff. Before Ironwood could question this oddity, Ozpin met his eyes. "Though, I feel I should warn you, General. Our new ally, the man who put this gathering together… he's a bit more unconventional than our usual fare of supporters."

Weiss's head perked up in surprise as she saw her sister coming near. "Winter? What are you doing here?"

The elder Schnee was giving her sister the same surprised look, which quickly morphed into exasperation. She spared a quick, questioning look towards Kali and Ilia, before focusing on Weiss. "I believe I should be the one asking that, Weiss. Please, tell me how, exactly, you managed to get involved with the White Fang twice in as many weeks?"

Weiss threw her hands up defensively at her sister's reprimanding tone. "I didn't! We haven't!"

"Winter," Blake said if she came to her Mate's defense. "We're a little lost here. Weiss, Ruby, Yang, and I were just brought here by Professor Ozpin. Though…" she looked up at her mother, both sheepish and worried. "I guess it makes sense that it's about the White Fang?"

Kali only nodded with a joyless grin. Winter let out a small sigh, turning towards her. "My apologies for not greeting you, Mrs. Belladonna." She gave the Faunus matriarch a polite nod.

Kali returned it with a bright smile. "You're worried about your sister. Believe me, Miss Schnee. I understand."

Winter allowed herself to smile in return, then turned her attention to the wide-eyed girl at his side, holding her hands firmly behind her back. "And you are?"

Ilia swallowed thickly, then gave a rather stiff nod. "Ilia Amitola. I'm… a friend of Blake's."

Winter quirked a brow at the hesitancy in her voice. She glanced briefly at Weiss and Blake, a silent question in her eyes. Weiss could only offer a small shrug, but Blake replied with a bright smile and a sharp nod.

"Ilia has volunteered to assist my husband and myself in repairing the damage Adam's White Fang has caused," Kali explained, proudly putting her hands over Ilia's shoulders, much to the chameleon girl's surprise. "She's been giving us information on their inner workings, and is currently acting as our eyes on the inside."

"Indeed?" Winter question, raising an impressed brow. She noted Blake giving Ilia a startled look, which made the chameleon Faunus look away, her cheeks reddening. Winter focused back on Ilia. "That's rather dangerous… and rather brave."

Ilia blinked, her shoulders relaxing if only do to her mounting confusion. "Thank...you…?" she said slowly, her words sounding more like a question.

Winter tilted her head just slightly to the side, before pushing on. "Well… as I have been trying to adjust to the change in my sister's marital state…" Her lips pulled up in the faintest of smirks when she heard Weiss let out a tiny squeak, her face pinking horribly. "I would be remiss not to acknowledge those important to her Mates. It is a pleasure to meet you, Ilia. I would hope that any friend of Blake's would be a friend of mine."

Ilia stared at Winter as if she'd grown a second head. "I-I'll keep that in mind," she shakily replied.

Winter nodded respectfully, accepting that Ilia's response was the best she would likely receive.

As Ilia and Winter spoke, Weiss was suddenly blindsided by a pair of unnaturally strong arms wrapping around her middle.

"Friend Weiss!"

Weiss bit back of groan… not that she had enough air left in her lungs to give one. Still, she managed a rather impressive smile, given how her ribs were creaking. "Hi-urk!-, Penny… it's good to see you."

After another bone-crushing squeeze, Penny pulled back. She frowned lightly. "Did I hug too hard again? I apologize. I've been trying to keep my strength in check when handling people."

Weiss rubbed her side as she got back her breath. She flashed the android a warm smile. "Don't worry, I can tell. That was just a little stronger than Yang's hugs."

Penny beamed in response, then turned towards Blake. She seemed ready to move forward but then hesitated, looking unsure. Blake, in response, rolled her eyes. She held her arms up slightly, invitingly.

Penny wasted no time, giving Blake the same, if not slightly more restrained hug. "Friend Blake."

Blake tried her best not to sound strained as she spoke through the embrace. "Penny. I wasn't expecting you to show up."

"General Ironwood felt it was prudent for me to attend this meeting," Penny explained as she released Blake.

Blake returned her smile, then looked over to Ilia standing silently beside her. "Well then, I'd like you to meet Ilia. She's an old friend of mine."

Ilia started, not expecting to be drawn into the conversation. "Um…" She glanced awkwardly between Blake and her apparent friend, if the green-eyed girl's greeting was anything to go by. She didn't speak until Blake gave her an encouraging nod, trying her best to give the girl a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you, Penny."

Penny positively beamed, giving the chameleon-girl an exaggerated salute. "Salutations, Ilia! It is always a pleasure to meet a friend of my friends!"

Ilia, a little overwhelmed by Penny's exuberance, could only offer a small nod, though her smile did become more natural, if only slightly.

Penny bounced a little in place, her obvious joy coaxing a small giggle from Kali and an exasperated sigh from Winter. Then she looked behind her, her excitement fading slightly as she drew their attention to the dark-skinned girl behind her, who had been watching them quizzically.

Penny took a deep breath (which intrigued Blake and Weiss, given that they were fairly sure she didn't have to breathe), then regained her bright smile. "Blake, Weiss. This is my partner for the Vytal Festival, Ciel Soleil."

Blake and Weiss both blinked, shooting each other a glance. "Yang said something about you getting a partner," Blake said slowly.

She left out Yang's mini-rant about how Penny was stuck in the middle of, as she had put it, "two old dudes' pissing match." It had been brief, quickly lost among their planning for Yang's talk with Raven (oh, and how woefully unprepared they'd been for that), but it had been obvious to Blake and Weiss that the whole situation had struck a nerve with Yang. A nerve they'd only seen previously in relation to Ruby.

Well, that'll be an issue we'll have to tackle later. Weiss thought to herself. In the meantime… "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ciel," Weiss greeted with a polite smile.

To the heiress's surprise, and soon dismay, Ciel gave her a deep nod and an almost too wide smile. The same one she always got back in Atlas, from people who only knew of her… and of her family. "Oh no, the pleasure is all mine, Miss Schnee. And…" She paused as she looked over Blake, her expression awkward and unsure. "Please forgive me, Miss Belladonna, but is there a title you want me to refer to you as?"

Blake's head pulled back a little, her head tilting. "Title?" she asked in confusion.

Ciel's lips twisted a little, as of mulling over her words. "I am unaware of how Menagerie's hierarchy works, but since your parents are the King and Queen, should I refer to you buy a similar title? Princess, perhaps?"

Blake's face went red in an instant, her ears pulling back in embarrassment. "Wha-No! No, no, no, Menagerie doesn't work like that!" she was quick to correct, though her mother's tittering behind her was not helping.

Ciel looked between the two Faunus, baffled by their reactions. "But… General Ironwood informed me that your parents are the rulers of Menagerie…"

"And we are, dear," Kali assured her, giving her a warm smile. "But for my husband to be a king, Menagerie must be considered a kingdom. Should the rest of the world decide to acknowledge us as one, we one day may take those titles. But for the moment, my husband is content to be our people's Chieftain, while my daughter and I remain titleless."

"Yes!" Blake affirmed, giving her mother a thankful look. "So, please, just call me by my name. Blake Belladonna, it's a pleasure to meet you." She held out her hand for Ciel to take.

Ciel blinked at the offered hand for a moment, then awkwardly shook it. "All...right…"

"And that goes for me as well, Ciel," Weiss joined in moments later, her tone kind but firm. Please, let me nip this in the bud now.

To the Belladonnas' confusion, Ciel looked positively aghast. "But… Ma'am, I couldn't! Your station-"

Drat. "Has no bearing here in Vale, to my increasing relief." Weiss cut her off firmly "Please, just refer to me as Weiss, as all my friends do."

Ciel kept staring at Weiss, as if the heiress had spoken a foreign language. Her mouth parted slightly, but she said nothing, finally just giving a small, unsure nod.

Penny gave a small smile, though the way her eyes kept darting to Ciel was starting to make Weiss nervous. "If you don't mind me asking, where are Ruby and Yang? I was under the impression we were meeting them here as well."

Weiss let out a heavy sigh. "They're just through that door," she said, glancing towards Ozpin's living quarters. She flashed an odd smile, one more of bemusement than happiness. Her voice had a sarcastic edge as she said, "Their mother is properly introducing them to their uncle."

Penny tilted her head to the side, looking perplexed. "Mother?"

"Uncle?" Winter echoed Penny's curious tone. She looked to the side, narrowing her eyes at Qrow speaking with Ozpin and Ironwood.

"It's…" Weiss sighed heavily, slumping her shoulders in tired resignation. "...been a long day."

"And getting longer…" Blake muttered under her breath, wincing as she received a mild reprimanding look from her mother.

Winter went to turn back to her sister, but then caught sight of something out the corner of her eye. She did a double-take, blinking in surprise.

Off to the side of the room, away from everyone else, was a muscled man with blonde hair and violet eyes, who she assumed was Yang's father. He had a gentle smile on his lips, exuding an air of calm. Her attention, however, was solely on the visibly nervous teenager he was talking to in low tones, fidgeting as she wrung her parasol between her hands. Winter's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Two-tone pink and brown hair, heterochromia eyes of the same colors, parasol… The girl before her matched the description of a known thief, one who had made a name for herself stealing high-end equipment and weaponry, military-grade Dust stores, and from some of the highest secured jewelers. Not to mention… from the report Ozpin had given General Ironwood, she had stolen sensitive information from this very school.

She was also a known accomplice of the most notorious criminal mastermind to ever plague the Four Kingdoms, someone who had landed a dozen people in the hospital just the previous week. Someone who had broken Ruby's leg and tried to kill her little sister…

Her thoughts were broken by the door behind her opening, a man's joking tone sounding from within. She turned to face it out of surprise… and her eyes blew wide.

She didn't see Ruby and Yang, both looking tired, curious, and rather out of it. She didn't see the amused smile on the tall, dark woman behind them, her features almost disturbingly similar to Yang's.

In that split second, all she saw was Roman Torchwick, Vale's most wanted criminal, standing five feet away from her.

Five feet away from Weiss.

Winter's blade was in her hand within a second, well-trained instinct driving her words.

Ironwood gave Ozpin an odd, almost wary look as he absorbed his old friend's words. "What exactly does unconventional-?"

"Roman Torchwick! You're under arrest for grand theft and attempted murder!"

The sudden shout drew the attention of everyone in the room, most instinctively reaching for their weapons.

There was a full second where Ironwood was stunned into inaction as he witnessed Winter pull her blade on Roman Torchwick, who, given his smirk, was merely amused at the blade being pushed under his chin.

A light smacking sound broke through his stunned surprise, making him turn his head. Qrow was holding his head in his palm, muttering under his breath. "Of course, of course, this is happening…"

From seeing that and the lack of surprise on Goodwitch's face, Ironwood felt the unwanted picture come together. He slowly faced Ozpin, his face set in stoic disbelief. "Unconventional?"

While Ozpin's face remained flat, the amused sparkle in his eyes was all the answer he needed.

Ironwood let out a sigh that was almost a groan. "There better be a good explanation for this, Oz," he muttered as he turned back to the utter trainwreck of a conversation happening before him."

Once the general's eyes had left him, Ozpin smirked faintly. "I have one, James. No need to be agitated."

Ironwood was agitated.

Winter narrowed her eyes at Torchwick's odd words ("'This fits'? What fits?"), preparing herself for whatever underhanded tactic he would try to escape.

What she could not prepare for was Ruby Rose jumping between her and the known criminal, the little leader's shoulder nudging her rapier aside as she threw her arms up in a panic.

"Waaait!" Ruby let out a distressed wail, flailing her arms in front of her. "Winter, I know he's a bad man and he's broken a lot of laws and he's probably going to break a lot more but right now he's here just to talk and maybe help andheknowsstuffaboutourmomthatwereallywanttoknowbutifyouarresthimwecan't…"

Winter's blade slowly started to lower, if only due to her utter bafflement at the endless stream of babbling Ruby was throwing at her. With a look of helpless confusion, she turned to Yang for an explanation. The blonde could only shrug back, scratching the side of her head as she watched Ruby motormouth with a mildly embarrassed look on her face.

Adding to the confusion was Torchwick himself looking to the ceiling and muttering to himself. "Great, she inherited Summer's gibberush."

Winter blinked away her confusion when Ruby finally took a breath. "Ruby, I barely followed that." Ignoring how Ruby wilted with a whimper, she instead glared at Torchwick, who was watching her with an infuriatingly amused look. "But this is Roman Torchwick, the man who broke your leg and nearly killed you all. He's a criminal, a thief! He's-"

"Our Uncle."

Winter's entire thought process came to a screeching halt. There was a half-minute of dead silence as those two words echoed throughout the room. Winter stared down at Ruby with a blank look, devoid of any higher thought as she blinked, the tip of her rapier now scraping the floor. "...pardon?"

Ruby's head seemed to shrink back into her shoulders, grimacing as if she'd tasted something foul, but she held her ground. "Roman. He's, um… me and Yang's uncle."

"Really?" Blake had to ask, she and Weiss looking the conman up and down in distaste.

Ruby let out another small whimper, giving her and Weiss a sad puppy look. "Yes…"

"Thanks a lot, Red," Roman muttered with a grin. Ruby pouted up at him, which Roman mirrored back in his own exaggerated mocking manner.

"...oh, gods, I can see it." Weiss gave Blake a horrified look as she whisper-shouted. "Blake, how do I unsee it?"

"When I figure it out, I'll let you know," Blake muttered back, looking equally ill.

Roman rolled his eyes at their not-so-silent conversation. "Sorry to disappoint, munchkins." He was thoroughly unimpressed by their glares.

Winter's mouth worked soundlessly, her eyes darting between Roman, Ruby, and Yang as if waiting for the punchline. When none came, she floundered as she attempted a response. "B-but… how could…?"

With a frustrated groan, Roman drew the attention of all in the room as he kept eye contact with Winter. "Okay, I'll just nip this in the bud for everyone now." In an even, bored tone, Roman said, "Once Upon a Time, a little girl and her littler brother watched their folks become Grimm chow. The brother and sister grew up on the streets, the sister became a Huntress, got a scary girlfriend, had a couple cute brats, then disa-freaking-peared to who knows where. Little brother tried to follow. He broke a bunch of laws doing so. Couldn't find her. He broke all the laws. Still couldn't find her. Etc., etc., flash-forward to now, and…" He mockingly held his arms out wide in a 'ta-da!' gesture. "Here stands little brother, there stands the scary girlfriend..." He pointed the business end of his cane right in Raven's face, her only reaction nonchalantly pushing it aside with a finger. "...and you've already met the cute brats." He waved vaguely towards Ruby and Yang, who gave him the evil eye. "Now, any more questions, Ice Queen, or can we get a move on?"

Winter blinked at him, unable, or perhaps unwilling, to break free of her stupor. Her gaze slowly panned to Yang, as if seeking solace from the only other elder sibling in the room.

To her dismay, Yang could only shrug with a sheepish smile. "Uh… what he said. More or less."

Winter's mouth hung open for a moment, before snapping shut as she scowled. "Be that as it may… familial relation or not, Roman Torchwick, you are responsible for, at the very least, multi-million Lien grand theft, assault, attempted manslaughter, and attempted murder charges on a massive scale."

Roman, for his part, just gave a smug smirk. "That's all you have on me?"

Winter's expression darkened. "That's all from just the previous week."

Roman let out an exaggerated sound of understanding. "Ah, okay… can I just ask one thing though, Queeny?" He grinned at her disgruntled expression. "How's about you drop the rules and regulations for two seconds and question why I'm standing here, in front of you, in this office, if I have so much to lose?"

He took immense satisfaction in how her shoulders tensed, the way her face briefly slackened as she no doubt realized that, yeah, it didn't make much sense for the wanted supercriminal to just be strolling through Ozpin's office. Before he could capitalize on her bemusement, however, he was unfortunately interrupted.

"That would be my doing, Miss Schnee."

Winter's head snapped slightly to the side, just enough to look behind herself while also keeping Roman in view. "Professor?" she questioned Ozpin, not even attempting to mask her confusion.

Ozpin just gave her his usual serene smile as he approached, Ironwood and Goodwitch flanking him. Winter dimly noticed Qrow moving to stand beside Taiyang, while Ghira took his place behind his wife and daughter. Ironwood had his steely gaze locked onto Torchwick, but he glanced Winter a quick, silent order. No less confused, but unwilling to disobey, Winter lowered her rapier to her side.

Ozpin's grin widened just a tad as her arm lowered. "I apologize for not informing you ahead of time, Specialist, but Roman is here at my behest. In fact, it is due to his help that this meeting is happening at all."

Judging from her affronted expression, Winter was far from appeased. "I… forgive me, Professor, but I find that extremely hard to believe. This man is… he's the worst known criminal throughout all the four kingdoms."

"Aw, flatterer," Roman smirked, which only grew wider when Winter glared. She only grew more agitated when she heard Qrow's amused snort behind her.

Ozpin, however, merely gave a light chuckle. "Yes… I suppose he has played his role rather convincingly, hasn't he?"

…

"...wait, what?"

When Ozpin started addressing Roman, Team RWBY and the other girls were only half listening, falling back as Weiss and Blake quickly asked what had gone on between Yang, Ruby, and their new apparent uncle while in Ozpin's study. The sisters tried to explain everything to their Mates, Penny listening with rapt attention while Ciel, Ilia, and, unbeknownst to them all, Neo, tried and failed to follow the convoluted tale Ruby rapidly spewed.

But Ozpin's sudden comment, and Roman's resulting question, instantly drew their attention back.

There was a long, deafening beat of silence as everyone in the room slowly turned to look at Ozpin with varying degrees of bewilderment. The only exception was Goodwitch, who merely closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as if preparing for an incoming headache.

"Role?" Winter muttered, breaking the silence.

"What 'role'?" Raven asked sharply, giving Roman a hard look, mirrored by Taiyang and Qrow.

Roman could only shrug at them, his bafflement clear. "Hey, don't look at me."

"Oz…?" Ironwood drawled, his low tone sounding equally like a warning and a question.

Ozpin, for his part, seemed utterly unperturbed. He faced Ironwood, speaking cordially as if the two were having a regular discussion. "I apologize for the confusion, General. You see, Roman here has, in actuality, been faithfully serving his Huntsman duties ever since the beginning of his so-called criminal career.'"

That got a reaction out of everyone. Ruby and Yang shared a baffled look, while Blake and Weiss looked positively affronted. Winter spluttered in startled disbelief, with Taiyang echoing her. Only Raven and Qrow remained relatively passive, shooting each other wide-eyed looks, which quickly resulted in Raven holding her face in her palm as Qrow stifled a snorting laugh.

The only ones who had no reaction were the Belladonnas, Ciel, Ilia, and Penny, the former four having little context for everyone's reaction. Penny merely tilted her head to the side, watching on curiously.

And Neo… Neo just leaned forward, mouth open, eyes flickering, as she watched Roman blink in stunned silence.

"...you can't be serious." Ironwood's tone reflected his expression perfectly: hard, disbelieving, and completely unamused.

Ozpin just grinned. "Oh, I assure you, James. Roman has been one of my most valuable assets."

"He has?" Ironwood asked.

"I have?" Roman echoed, completely lost.

He was silenced when Ozpin glanced back at him, with a look in his eyes that made every student, current and former, stiffen and clam up. It was a teacher's stare, one filled with disapproval and silent reprimand.

"Yes, Roman. You have." Ozpin said, in a tone that they could all translate as be quiet and let me do the talking.

For once, Roman seemed just fine staying silent, if his confused look was anything to go by.

Having gained Roman's compliance, Ozpin turned back to Ironwood with what could have been believed to be a proud smile. "Roman has been acting under my orders for the past decade, going deep undercover to gain inside information on the various criminal forces throughout the kingdoms. The White Fang were merely his most recent target." He glanced behind him. "Isn't that right, Roman?"

Roman started, barely breaking out of his daze to straighten his back, plastering on an oh-so-forced smile. "Uh… Yes! Undercover! Yeah, very… deep undercover. Yes, sir."

Taiyang let out a snort of laughter. "Smooth…" Qrow grinned.

Roman shot them both a glare.

"Roman." Ozpin's expectant voice drew his attention. "Could you introduce yourself? Officially, I mean."

"Uh…" Roman looked about helplessly, but was meant only with dumbfounded looks or, in the case of Team STRQ, poorly contained amusement. After sending the latter another glare, he went to turn back to Ozpin, when he met a pair of familiar mismatched eyes. Standing away from everyone else, trying to stay out of sight and out of mind, Neo gave him a baffled, lost look, a thousand questions dancing behind her pink and brown eyes.

Roman held her stare, conflict clear on his face. Then, his whole body seemed to slump in defeat. He looked up to the ceiling, muttering, "Of all the stupid, ridiculous…" He cut himself off with a deep breath, closing his eyes.

Cane still in his left hand, Roman reached up and pulled off his bowler hat. Then, to the shock of most, he stood up straighter and brought his right hand to his forehead in a rusty salute, a smile plastered on his face that screamed 'what the hell am I doing?'. With his voice tight, as if disbelieving his own words, Roman said, "Huntsman Roman Rose reporting, sir. Mission… accomplished, I guess."

The following silence was deafening.

"...oh, dear gods…" Winter uttered, horrified. "This is real."

"Rose?" Ruby repeated quietly, looking up at Roman in soft confusion.

Roman twisted around, raising a brow at her. "What? You think I was going to risk someone tracing my name back to you, Red? C'mon, use that big brain your mamas gave you." Then he faced forward, his smarmy grin returning as he replaced his hat. "Though, I think I'll stick with Torchwick for the foreseeable future. Habit and all."

Ozpin gave him a sharp nod, the stoic look on his face conflicting with the amusement in his eyes. "Of course." He then faced the general again, as if Roman's words had just settled everything.

Ironwood was less than impressed. "Oz, do you really expect me to believe this?"

For just a moment, Ozpin's grin lessened, and his eyes sharpened. "As much as I believed that when we decide against a course of action, my friends would not continue working behind my back."

Ironwood's eyes shot wide in disbelief, before narrowing dangerously. Ozpin met his gaze evenly, his head held high in subtle defiance.

Everyone in the room, Hunter, civilian, and student alike, tensed as the staredown continued, unsure how to respond to the oppressive atmosphere swirling around two of the world's most powerful individuals.

"...we're even after this." Ironwood's words were slow and frighteningly devoid of emotion.

Ozpin gave a sharp nod, never breaking eye contact with the general. "Agreed." He held out his hand.

Ironwood shook it firmly, the tension in the room slowly trickling away.

"...did… did I just get pardoned?" Roman whispered to Raven, his wide green eyes darting between the general and the Headmaster.

"Roman, shut up," she hissed back, caught between amusement and complete disbelief.

Ironwood let out a sharp breath, before his hard gaze met Roman's. "Okay then, 'Huntsman'." He rolled his eyes, shaking his head at the injustice of the universe. He quickly masked his frustration, his face morphing to the cool neutrality his station required. "By all means… begin your debrief."

Roman blinked, then gave a pale imitation of his usual grin. "Sure. Uh… where do you want me to start?"

Ironwood let out another deep breath, this one laced with exasperation. "Perhaps on what events led us to this particular meeting, Huntsman?" Ozpin was quick to offer before anything else was said.

Roman nodded slowly. "Okay… after I… posed at a White Fang recruitment rally and, uh… had an altercation with Team RWBY…"

"That's putting it freaking mildly…" Yang grumbled between clenched teeth, her sentiments mirrored on the faces of her teammates.

"I was contacted by Adam Taurus."

Whatever levity and confusion remained in the room fled the moment Roman uttered Adam's name. The members of Team RWBY tensed, Blake's cat ears pinning down against her skull. Her parents had a different reaction. Kali's ears lowered, not from fear, but anger as her golden eyes narrowed, while Ghira's fists clenched at his side.

Feeling the now-serious air in the room, Roman gained a bit more of his usual confidence. "My… sudden departure from the rally and the resulting attention from the cops made the whole thing a complete flop. Bully Boy wanted to know what went wrong. Who was responsible."

"What did you tell him?" Ozpin asked, his expression cool and serious.

"I… 'played my role'. He wanted the pictures I'd pulled from the Paladin's hard drive, so I sent them." Roman grimaced slightly. "I wasn't expecting his reaction."

"Wait." Blake's sudden voice drew their attention. Her eyes had blown wide, her ears somehow pinning back even further. "Pictures? Do you mean… of us?" Her eyes trailed over her Mates, their worry for her echoing back. "And our…?" She brought a hand to her neck, fingertips brushing over her Mark.

Roman clicked his tongue. "Sorry, Kitty Cat, but… yeah. And, judging from the yelling and the smashing I heard, he didn't take you moving on all that well."

"Adam knows." Blake's words were barely a breath, her body tense. She swallowed thickly as she started trembling. "He…" She took a shuddering breath as she felt Yang's hand on her shoulder, holding her steady as the blonde tried to calm her down. On her other side, Ilia grasped her mask tighter as she witnessed Blake's clear distress.

"You just handed him photos of my daughter and her Mates?" Ghira asked sharply, a deep rumble hidden behind his calm tone.

Roman tensed, ready to defend himself… but a glance around told him that there wouldn't be many leaping to his defense. Taking a deep breath, he instead said, reluctantly, "Yeah. Sorry. I'll own that one. But it did create an opportunity I think you- we-can capitalize on."

Luckily for him, it was enough to distract everyone from his self-admitted screw-up. "And what's that?" Ironwood asked.

"Taurus has officially lost it." His blunt statement took everyone by surprise, the Belladonnas most of all. "He's ignoring our employer, taking every resource he has, and is putting them towards taking the four of you down." He looked towards Team RWBY, lingering on the wide, disbelieving eyes of his nieces. "Everything he and his band of wayward misfits have been working towards all these years? He's about this close to chucking it all away just for the chance to put you four in the ground."

"He's really that far gone?" Kali muttered, a weak forlorn tone in her voice.

Roman raised a quick brow at her apparent sadness but brushed It off. "Yep. Even for him, he's acting insane. Suicidally so, given how our employer is going to react regardless of whether his whole revenge plot succeeds or not. Last I checked, he's even been pulling people away from Mt. Glenn, and Matchstick is gonna freak when-"

"Mt. Glenn?" Qrow interrupted, his body stiffening in an instant, Tai doing the same. And Roman could just feel the burning red eyes boring into the back of his head. "What about Mt. Glenn?"

Roman hesitated for just a moment (this was his biggest, most illegal score ever he was about to admit to in front of General freaking Ironwood), but continued with little more than a sigh. "It's where we've been storing all the supplies the White Fang have been stealing. I know there's something bigger going on down there, but I was never made privy to that bit of info."

"That's where everything has been going?" Winter interrupted, suddenly looking much more intense, enough so to ignore her frustration over Roman's presence.

Roman gave her an odd look. "Uh… yeah. Can't be that big a surprise, can it?"

Winter's eyes narrowed. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Roman gave her an odd smirk. "Well...We haven't exactly been quiet. Machinery, trains, Dust… Hell, where do you think those Paladins you're missing wandered off to?"

Ironwood and Winter locked eyes, both stunned. "It… would seem we've missed a few things

Roman's grin faded somewhat, a small chuckle escaping his lips. "Wait… you really don't know what's going on? We've been running entire freight trains down the old subway tunnels. How the hell do you miss that?"

His laughter trailed off when no one said anything. He looked around, his face falling to disbelief when he was met only with confused, stunned looks. Even from...

"Wait... none of you know what's going on at Mountain Glenn? Not a thing?" He turned his full attention to Ozpin, something like skepticism and hope on his face. "Even you, old man?"

Ozpin's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Roman, why would you assume I know anything about your operation?"

Roman's eyes widened, giving him and Ironwood a disbelieving look. "Because... you're Ozpin," He stated, as if that answered everything. "You've made it your job to know anything and everything going on in the Kingdoms."

There was a long beat of silence as Ozpin gave Roman a hard look. He then closed his eyes, taking a calming breath. When he opened his eyes, he crossed his hands over the end of his cane and gave Roman a piercing look. "Mr. Rose…" He started, Roman actually flinching at the restrained tone the Headmaster's voice held. "I believe you have sorely overestimated our reach. Despite what you may believe, I am not clairvoyant. I do not, in fact, know everything."

Roman blinked. Twice. "...oh." He swallowed thickly. "That's… huh…."

He paused looking about the room as if for assistance. All he found was confusion from the strangers, baffled looks from his loved ones, and the increasingly questioning gaze on Neo's sheet-white face watching his every move.

Roman looked down briefly, contemplating.

"So…" he drawled slowly, looking back up. "Does that mean you don't know my boss is here, posing as a student?"

Now it was Ozpin's turn to blink in surprise. "Pardon…?"

Roman swallowed, now visibly nervous. His face paled a little. "My boss… Cinder Fall. She's posing as a student from Haven Academy...for the festival."

Ozpin's eyes widened, and for the first time, he appeared visibly rattled. He leaned heavily on his cane. "Roman," he said, his voice so low and urgent it set everyone on edge. "Start from the beginning. How did you meet this woman?"

Roman stared at the Headmaster, dumbfounded. Then, with a shaky breath, he straightened his back. "Okay, " Roman said, managing to look both serious and freaked out. "Let's start from the top…

And so Roman did. With Ozpin, Ironwood, the Belladonna's, and Teams RWBY and STRQ listening, he told them everything he knew.

Everything.

Cinder's Dorm

Several stories below, Emerald was fully engrossed in the movie streaming from her scroll, trying to block out the click, click, click of Cinder's heels as she paced about the room. The older woman growled under her breath as she yanked her scroll away from her ear, angrily typing on its surface.

"Something wrong, Cinder?" Mercury asked from his bed as he fiddled with something on his boots. Emerald raised a brow at him, questioning his sanity for bothering Cinder while she was clearly agitated.

Cinder sent him a burning glare as she put the scroll back to her ear. Emerald thought she was going to yell at him, before she turned away in disgust. "Taurus isn't answering his scroll," she hissed, resuming her pacing. "And Torchwick has his off."

Emerald and Mercury shared a glance. "Were we supposed to meet with them?" Emerald questioned hesitantly as, last she knew, they had nothing planned.

"No," Cinder groused as she retyped the number again. "I just… have a feeling. They've both been quiet too long. I need to speak with them about our plans… before something goes wrong. We're so close, and this cannot fail. We cannot fail." She glanced out the window at the cityscape, and for just a moment, Emerald thought she saw a flash of nervousness and… something else in her golden eyes as she muttered softly to herself:

"She does not like failure."

Betaed by Covert Weapon

Old A/n: Oh, Cindy, sweety… you have no idea what you're in for.

For anyone wondering why this chapter took so long to come out… this chapter can go burn in a dumpster fire for how hard it was to write. Seriously, how many characters were stuck in this one room? And this is technically only half of what the chapter was supposed to be. I just didn't want to leave you all hanging with no content for over a month.

Gah, screw it, it's done. Now, onwards!

I think it's safe to say that Roman is my favorite character to write, especially when I can have him bounce off the more serious, straight-laced members of RWBY. The guy just gives no f-ks, and I absolutely love it.

Next Chapter: The group cobbles together a plan, the girls finally get some godsdamned sleep after this long-ass day, and… Raven and Ozpin talk.