A/N: So this is an AU and most of the differences to the show will be explained in due course but some basics are that the grimm have seemingly become extinct therefore team RWBY haven't had the chance to become huntresses (they all still have the same weapons and fighting styles though). They are also three years older than they are on the show- Ruby being 18 whilst the others are 20. Vale is full of crime and corruption which stems from the idea I thought of which was having Weiss being a sort of mob boss. The final result has varied from the original idea. The parings are two of my many Ruby ships which I think are pretty cute- Whiterose and Bumbleby/bee

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY or it's characters.

Cracking her knuckles loudly, Yang announced her presence to the man she had followed into the dimly lit alleyway they now resided in. The few remaining rays of daylight cast their silhouettes against the crumbling brick wall as he turned his head to meet her sultry gaze. With a shocked gasp he took in her appearance. The revealing shorts, the strained top that barely covered her well endowed chest, the thin jacket that surely couldn't protect her from the nightly chill that had presently set in, the surprisingly sensible scarf, the abundant mane of yellow hair and finally; that grin. Dastardly. It was the only way to describe such an expression. Though she seemed to be the epitome of an unthreatening, stereotypically dumb blonde there was something in the glint of her eyes and the number of teeth displayed that made the man take a suspicious step backwards.

He was reassured slightly when she spoke with a high, girlish and enthusiastic voice. "Hey Jamie!"

"What do you want Blondie?" He questioned her, still puzzled as to why she had followed him.

"Oh straight to the point, I like you." She replied with a flutter of her eyelashes as she drew nearer, "have you forgotten whom you owe?"

"S-she sent you?!" The bewilderment was evident in his bulging eyes and gaping mouth which Yang found rather insulting.

"So I'm not what you expected then, that's no reason to be rude."

"Rude? The most powerful person in Vale sends a girl to collect my money. Should you really be out here all alone at this time sweetheart?"

At that she sighed and muttered "I guess we're doing this the hard way." She shoved him against the solid wall by pressing her forearm to his throat and with an air of authority said, "I am not a girl I am a woman, instead of sweetheart you can call me 'sir' and I'll ask politely this first time, do you have the money?" If this was polite Jamie unquestionably didn't desire to see what 'impolite' would entail.

"N-not all of it" he choked out. "N-not yet anyway, sir" he hurriedly added as her arm pressed painfully harder against his neck, her skin was feverishly warm as if she had liquid fire running through her veins.

"That's a shame. You have two more days to pay or I'm going to have to do something I really don't want to. Oh and don't try and run away because I will find you, you understand?" At that she released her grip and watched attentively as he gasped and clutched at the raw, red burn mark scored into his flesh near his Adam's apple.

"Yes sir."

Instead of screaming in frustration Weiss decided that the eccentrically patterned antique vase, which she had never liked, was to be subject to her woes. She watched in morbid fascination as she simply let it slip from her pale, manicured fingers and to the ground below; the three story drop from her office window gave a satisfyingly lengthy pause in which she gazed at the unsuspecting decoration whilst it was spinning and falling to its doom. She almost smiled when gravity claimed it as its own. She was struck by the rogue thought that everything was fragile; that so many things could be broken, shattered, smashed into millions of pieces by simply falling or being pushed. "Miss Schnee, your ten o'clock has arrived. Should I send her in?" The intercom buzzed as her secretary, Mr Jaune Arc, announced that her moment of reverie was over.

Weiss perched on the edge of her leather, throne-like chair as she replied, "leave her to wait a few moments before fetching her in." That left time for composure and to detach her mind from the bubbling rage in her stomach and the twinge of pain in her heart. Weiss silently thanked that her secretary didn't question the raised voices and smashing of office décor that always accompanied her father's calling to 'discuss business' with her.

The door opened and with it came the familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee, her rather embarrassed looking secretary and Yang Xiao Long. "Morning, princess Schnee!" Yang bellowed in greeting as Jaune placed two mugs of coffee on the desk.

"Address me properly; if you weren't so useful I would have had you killed already."

"Nice to see you too." Yang replied whilst she beamed at Jaune as he hurriedly left the room, bumping into the doorframe slightly on the way out.

"Well then?" Weiss wasn't in the mood for frivolity and Yang raised her eyebrow at the even snippier tone than usual.

"He didn't have the money last night so I gave him two more days and a pretty good scare." She stated as she collapsed into one of the seats opposite Weiss.

"Are you confident he will be able to make the deadline?"

"I'm not sure whether he can turn his desperation into determination or not, we'll have to wait and see."

"You know I don't like to be kept waiting."

"Yes I do, I made that quite clear to him. Look at it this way; if he doesn't pay you back in time then we can use him as an example to all others who think they can get away with not paying their debts."

"Now I know why I keep you around. However I have something slightly more taxing for you, if you want to take it that is." That was the most praise Weiss had ever given Yang.

"Lay it on me Schnee." That earned her the classic disapproving glare.

"Though the White Fang are our main enemy some worrying activities, noticed by my varying sources, have lead me to the possibility of other threats."

"Threats?"

"Yes. Vale is currently under my control and though it is unofficial my position has been, up until now, unchallenged. Naturally I will do all I can to avoid change but I also do not know exactly whom I can trust. I only have the name of one man. I need more information on what is being planned and why. I know that this 'Roman Torchwick' is associating with known criminals and hiring mercenaries but I do not know what for. I have an agreement with the governors in order to have all this control but they only shut up and listen if I wave enough money in their greedy faces. They also expect me to keep track of all gang culture in the city."

"Where do I come into this?" Yang asked warily.

"I need you on the inside of Torchwick's operation."

"All you have is his name? I could be walking into anything!"

"That's why it's a job only someone with your talents can do Yang."

"Wow, I never thought I'd see you have to sink to flattery."

"You are infuriating. How much do you want? Name your price."

"Seeing as you are one of my best clients I'll check around my sources and see what I can find out about this guy for free okay? When I know more I will reconsider getting 'on the inside of his operation' for a price that accurately reflects how dangerous it will be."

"That sounds reasonable." They both took a breath seeing as the most pressing issue had been settled. Then Weiss continued, "For today I have a job which involves incapacitating some White Fang members who are staging a raid on one of my dust stores tonight, the usual prices apply for however many you get dead or alive."

"Sure thing, can I take someone with me?" At this Weiss' brow furrowed in confusion as she had presumed that Yang lived up to the lone wolf stereotype like most mercenaries did.

"That would be acceptable, do you have an apprentice?" Weiss questioned half-jokingly.

"You're not far off the mark there. It's Ruby actually; she's been desperate to join me on a mission for years and now that she's eighteen I can't really keep her locked up at home anymore."

"I had no idea she wanted to go into the same occupation as you but if she is as effective as you are I may be able to find her some work when she's ready."

"Thanks Weiss." They shared a genuine little smile, a rarity between the two whose personalities so often clashed. "So you've forgiven her for that small dust explosion then?"

"Not really but I have heard that first impressions can be utterly wrong."

"She's a real genuinely good person but she has a bit of a hero complex and a clumsy nature. Anyway I'll see you in a few days about that Torchwick guy and if that Jamie hasn't paid up in the two days call me and I'll track him down. Where do you want me to deliver the White Fang members I'll capture tonight?"

"Just tie them up in the warehouse then call me and I'll send someone over to you."