A/N: That took way too long. Sorry!

Thanks for everyone who helped with this chapter in proofreading and editing, and thanks to everyone who waited patiently for this to come out.

Just to take a journey into the frivolous, suggested intro song: My Delirium by Ladyhawke; suggested outro song: Secrets by Mary Lambert.

"Venus and India," said Weiss, before breathing deep and heaving a sigh. "Still with that sense of timing I love so very much." She gave the interlopers a searching look. "Well, what is it? Try not to bore me."

Pyrrha cocked her head and looked between Weiss and the two newcomers. One of the arrivals was a girl with long dark brown hair. She was sheathed in a short, navy blue dress that hugged every inch of her from neck to the waist. It finally flared out in a loose-fit skirt that went halfway down her thigh, edged by a fringe of frills, except for a scandalous wedge that was cut out on the left hip. Pyrrha was pretty sure the girl was a little younger than herself, which made her wonder how the girl had gotten out of the house in that dress. Complex tonfas with barrels like gaping maws sat snugly in a silver-encrusted frame at the small of her back.

The other newcomer was a blonde-haired boy, who was a bit slimmer than her partner Jaune. His smile sparkled as he walked, but Pyrrha was sure she could pick out a little anxiety. The cruciform hilt of what Pyrrha suspected was a fire sword sat high on the hip, brilliant crimson and abyssal black. His dress sense was fantastic, bold lines mixed with grace. Just looking at the exquisitely tailored suit made her want to get the boys in her team to hit the tailors when she got back to Beacon. Surely Jaune wouldn't mind scrubbing up a little?

But as much as Pyrrha was usually happy to meet new people, at that moment she desperately wanted them to leave. There were questions that needed to be asked of Weiss. Pyrrha was kicking herself for not thinking of it sooner. The Special that Melanie had accused Weiss of was the same as what she knew from her time around Mistral as Bubbles; cocaine with a champagne chaser. The girls in Mistral had been lousy with it, a terrible disease, in her opinion, that had been rampant on the scene. She had already seen Weiss drain champagne like it was water. Yet Pyrrha couldn't breathe a word of it with these two strangers present.

The new girl walked next to the loveseat, hands on hips and back straight. Pyrrha caught a whiff of expensive perfume and just the hint of something else underneath. Something that smelled an awful lot like blood.

"Ooh, sharp," said Venus. "Time is Lien, it's so like a Schnee, you must be the apple of your father's eye."

Alice and Melanie both straightened upright.

"Naturally," said Weiss, betraying nothing beyond the whitening of her knuckles on the arms of her chair. "Some of us have inheritances to prepare for."

"Well, so do I," said Venus. "I'll inherit the family residential brokerages."

"Of course, and I'm sure you'll do a great job with it, staying out of your family's hair admirably," said Weiss. The other girl crossed her arms and seemed ready to spit back a reply when another voice chimed in.

"Wherever did you get that dress, Venus?" asked Melanie.

"Oh, hello, Melanie," said Venus. She turned her back on Weiss and gathered up a new smile without missing a beat, much to Pyrrha's surprise. "Do you like it? It's a Silvagni original." She cocked her hip where the wedge was cut out, the obscenely expensive dress rippling to effect. Alice shifted a little in her seat.

The name didn't ring a bell for herself, but Pyrrha saw Melanie's eyes widen a little. "I do," said Melanie. "Very daring."

"I'd have said 'brave'," said Weiss with a snicker. "Almost as brave as you showing up at all today."

"Bravery?" repeated the new arrival. "Come on, Weiss, I'm just attending a party. We're all friends here. And it isn't fair to suggest those of us who can pull off brave, shouldn't. You shouldn't take it personally."

"Those who can pull off a daring look are welcome to it," said a smiling Weiss. "Something for you to look forward to when you grow up."

Pyrrha leaned over to Alice, who was sitting transfixed by the conversation. "What's going on here?" she whispered.

Alice didn't turn away, but her eyes flicked Pyrrha's way. "Step lightly, Miss Nikos," she whispered, then nodded her head away from their circle. Pyrrha looked over her shoulder and went cold as she realised that all around the room, heads were turned their way, onlookers watching their group with fascination.

"Weiss Schnee, why can't you be nice for just once in your life?" asked the new girl, fists balled on her waist.

"Oh dear, you're quite right," said Alice, looking up from Pyrrha. "We're treating you like a leper. Why, you'd almost think you were some kind of bet welcher."

"But I only came here to be friendly and share some good news," said the other girl, spreading her hands wide.

"Of course you did, Venus," drawled Weiss. "And Grimm only ever come for children who haven't eaten their vegetables, the White Fang are really just misunderstood pacifists and India's eyes are pointed straight at Pyrrha's decolletage because he really admires the stitching, not because he's a pervert."

Pyrrha startled at the words, self-consciousness burning a pattern on her cheeks and driving her to slide a hand over her neckline. She glanced over to the young man, giving him a measured, unimpressed look. Admittedly, she hadn't seen him do it, but Weiss seemed pretty adamant. It did drive home to her that she had seen very few dresses here that didn't go to the collar, however outrageously daring their skirts were. But should that matter? Really, boys should have more self-restraint, especially rich ones playing at being gentlemen.

"I was not!" blurted India, rearing back. "What a thing to say!"

Venus leaned in towards Weiss, brows knitted. "I'd like to be able to give my news," she said loudly.

Pyrrha hitched forward in her seat, wary of how the conversation was going. She was getting drawn into this mess, yet she had not the faintest clue as to what 'this mess' was. "Sorry, Weiss!" she said, trying to sound as cheerful as she could. "Do you mind introducing us? I'm afraid I've never met your friends here."

Venus threw up her hands, getting a quick apology out of Pyrrha.

Weiss sighed from across the table and tossed up a hand towards the newcomers. "Of course, I've completely forgotten my manners. It must be the company. Pyrrha, this is Venus and India, wonderful people, if a little honesty-challenged. You two, this is Pyrrha Nikos, multiple Mistral Regionals champion."

"Hello!" greeted Pyrrha after the introduction with all the cheer she could summon.

"Excuse you!" said Venus in what was barely short of a screech.

"I recognised you straight away, Pyrrha," said India with a broad smile. "I hope I can call you Pyrrha?"

"Sorry, of course," said Pyrrha.

"Thank you," he replied. "That's why I was looking at you. I certainly wasn't being indecent."

"A fan of the cereal?" asked Alice brightly.

"You know I'm a huge fan of tournament fighting," said India, folding his arms. "That second title fight with Marmalade Jones was one of the greatest final bouts in the modern era. All of her title fights are in my Top Twenty playlist at home!"

It was probably foolish to believe him, but Pyrrha did feel a little warmth creep into her cheeks at the praise. "That's very kind of you, India."

To her great surprise she felt Alice's hand slide onto her arm and squeeze. She glanced across to see Alice shake her head, face a touch drawn. It frustrated Pyrrha, though. Until she saw India do something disagreeable, why wouldn't she extend the benefit of the doubt?

"Oh god, wait," said Venus, her face going slack. "You're the girl on the big poster in his room. Well, posters, there's what, a dozen of them?"

"Four, Venus, there's four, not a dozen," said India as he dropped his head into the palm of his hand. "And would you please just shut up?"

It had taken her a long time to come to terms with the idea of being on posters on people's walls, but she had gotten there eventually. Now the only part that felt strange to Pyrrha was the thought of such a rich young man even having posters on his bedroom wall. Surely it lost impact when the wall was ten feet away?

"The Invincible Girl, that's quite the title," said Venus as she folded her arms.

"That's the media for you," replied Pyrrha as she rubbed at the back of her head. "They, uh, like to sensationalise things."

"You may as well be," said Melanie. "I can't get anywhere near you in sparring class at Beacon."

India and Venus turned to stare at Melanie with jaws open. "You're at Beacon? In the same class?" said India. "Yikes, that Ruby loonie and the Invincible Girl in the same class," he said breathily.

"I'd be more worried about Weiss, Melanie, and Alice in the same class," said Venus with a visible shudder. "Meow."

"It really isn't like that at all," said Pyrrha in a rush, looking to head the others off. "I won't say everyone always gets along, but it's not like that." When she turned her full attention on Venus she could see that her eyes were bloodshot and her breathing unusually rapid. More 'special'?

"You think we'd be catty?" asked Weiss. "Venus, I know you're the sort of girl who'd even flee from a pair of lips, but surely you've seen camaraderie in a movie at least?"

Pyrrha glanced over at Melanie, who had to reach up to close her own jaw. She had to say she felt pretty sympathetic to the gesture.

"Oh, whatever," hissed Venus. "Anyway, I am not honesty-challenged, I've paid up my debt!"

"So tell me again why you told the taxi to drop us off a block and a half away from our motel?"

Ruby glared side-eyed at her partner-in-crime. She set her hands on her hips and began to speak. "Faunus taxi-driver, picked up in a suburb with a big, big militant turf-war between two sets of guys we cheesed off, and you want to tell this taxi driver exactly where we're staying?" Ruby shook her head at the older girl. "Miltiades Malachite, you have terrible fieldcraft."

"Whatever," muttered Miltia as she fished the room key out of her bag. "We're back, anyway."

Crescent Rose came off its harness smooth and expanded into rifle form with a quick noise. When Miltia gave her a startled glance, Ruby smiled. "Just a precaution, open the door and then step back."

"Paranoid girl," said Miltia with a sigh, but she slotted the keycard and pushed open the door.

When the older girl stepped aside, Ruby swept in, levelling her rifle at the room andclearing it of threats. "All good," she said cheerily. "Come on in." Ruby coloured slightly when Miltia shot her a look as she walked through the door.

"Dramatic much?" said Miltia, voice bone dry. Behind her the door closed with a sharp snick.

Ruby shot her a look as she set Crescent Rose down on the desk. She settled back onto the bed and unlaced her shoes. She could feel the other girl watching her from the doorway. "To borrow from my board games, you have to pre-purchase your saving throws."

"You're into board games?" asked Miltia. Ruby opened her mouth to reply, but Miltia held up a hand. "Actually, I can see it." She walked over to the desk opposite her and leaned back against it, legs sliding smooth across each other as Ruby watched. "What sort of fieldcraft do you know? Who taught you to be a paranoid little munchkin, ready to put a rifle round in any maid you see?"

"Just so you know, Millie," said Ruby. Her brows drew down as she gave the girl a glare. "If you come back at nine PM and there's a maid or something in your room, you have a problem."

"Or someone is playing with costumes for you," said Miltia. "Speaking of which, you need to get changed."

Ruby bit the inside of her cheek at the altogether carnal smile the older girl gave her. She stood and tossed her boots up against the desk. "Sure," she said, wincing at an imagined squeak in her voice. She crossed the room to fish out the bag holding her purchases from the fashion outlet Miltiades had taken her to.

Behind her she could hear sheets shifting, and when she turned back Miltia was sitting on the near edge of the bed, watching her. Ruby drew out the gold skater skirt and held it up from the bag. "Bright side of this weekend, Yang can't nag me about not making progress on getting clothes that fit." Her eyes narrowed as she glanced at the top and the heels. "Although it's maybe not the sort of clothes she hoped for."

"You think she's hoping for, like, frilly, adorable little angel numbers?" asked Miltia.

Ruby laughed for a moment, before giving a little shrug. "I dunno, I think I'm being unfair. We had a talk, before you came to hook me into all this. I think Yang understands me a bit more now." She placed the skirt back in the bag and tossed it through the door onto the bathroom counter, before turning back to Miltia.

"That's cool," said Miltia. "I'm glad you sorted things out with your sister."

Ruby eyebrows shot up in bemusement.

"I mean it," said Miltia. "By the way, whaddya mean to do with that little fox-girl's number?" asked Miltia. Ruby did not like her smile one little bit.

The thought caught Ruby by surprise and she winced at the other girl. "Oh, crap," she muttered. "I don't really know, it was pretty spur of the moment."

"I promise you that Velvet is going to get in your face about it on Monday, so you better figure out an answer," said Miltia as she crossed her legs. "She's protective of her. Trust me, first-hand experience speaking."

"It's a bit tricky. Sara seems fun and straightforward, but I don't know if I'm really interested, or whether I'm … well, looking for help coping."

Miltia shrugged. "I see where you're coming from, but be careful. I don't think Velvet will appreciate you using her waitress as some kinda stress ball."

Ruby walked off towards the bathroom, and began to gather up the fabric of her sweater as she went. "Well, given someone still doesn't know whether to 'kiss me or deck me'...," she said aloud as she pulled the garment halfway along her torso. Her foot moved to slide the bathroom door shut, just as what she said clicked in her head.

'Wait, what? Oh god, wait, no, don't go there,' she belatedly implored herself. She looked back over her shoulder, but knew there was no chance her slip of the tongue had gone unnoticed.

Miltia laughed, a wicked little sound. When she saw Ruby look back at her, she grinned. "This after you tackled me, with no kiss, outside the door this morning?" she said with a snicker. "You great big kid."

Ruby fought back against her embarrassment and plotted. After a moment's pause, she continued to slide the sweater up over her head. Rather than drop the sweater, she held it over her head with her arms still inside, leaving it hanging in place like she was caught in a moment of accidental intimacy. Miltia's eyes went satisfyingly wide and her breath caught.

Ruby tossed the sweater over onto the bed and strode back to where Miltia was seated. She stood in front of her with hands on hips and hitched forward sharply from the waist, coming nearly nose-to-nose.

"And just why was that funny, Miltia?" she asked.

A flush spread across Miltia's skin that reached down her neck. After a moment, Ruby noticed the girl's breath was still caught. She just stared up at her with wide eyes, lips ever so slightly parted and head tilted. Seconds passed silently.

'Wow, I've actually...!' thought Ruby, as she could see Miltia abruptly panic. All that remained was to escape before it all blew up in her face.

Ruby narrowed her eyes at Miltia, lips pressed to one side as she considered her. "Hehe, I guess I know which you'd rather now," she said, before reaching out and giving Miltia a little push that toppled her backwards. With that, Ruby turned triumphantly and stepped towards the bathroom.

Before she finished her step Miltia's vice-like grip snapped shut across her wrist. Ruby glanced down at the hand just in time to see a flash of green crystals. The room went by in a blur as she felt herself being slung back onto the bed. When the blur finished she was facing the ceiling. Miltiades loomed into view, hair hanging in a bubblegum pink curtain as her green eyes flashed. Ruby didn't think the older girl had ever looked so dangerous as in that moment, and when Miltia placed her hand on Ruby's chest, just below the collar, her whole mind misfired.

"You know, minx, your dating secrets were never going to last at Beacon," said Miltia. "No matter what you pretend, you're far too aware of how to use your body for that. I saw it first, but the others would have soon figured out that you are seriously the least innocent ingenue ever."

White static moved through Ruby's thoughts as she glanced between Miltia's eyes and the hand pressing down on her. The base of Miltia's hand was nestled against the tops of her breasts, above the fabric of her bra. A million conflicting signals were going through her head.

"Honestly, after that I think I want to kiss you and deck you," muttered Miltiades.

"Then do it," Ruby heard herself say.

"Hmph!" Miltia glided her other hand across Ruby's cheek, around to the back of her head to lace through the blue-dyed hair. She pulled the younger girl up into a sitting position and then tightened her grip on Ruby's hair.

Ruby gasped at the little burst of pain, watching the older girl in her gorgeous dress lean in. Her head tilted back and then, just white noise and bliss. She melted forward into the embrace as Miltia parted her lips.

'Oh god, oh god,' she thought to herself. 'It's happening, and holy crap she is good.' Her arms wrapped around the older girl and she kissed back like a shipwrecked sailor clutching to the last flotsam in the ocean.

How long passed before Miltiades broke off for air she didn't know and didn't care, but they were both gasping for air. Her lips tingled, the hair on the back of her neck stood up, her whole body felt flushed. Alice knew how to kiss, but Miltia's touch was pure ecstasy.

To her surprise, Miltiades was no more composed as she sat back on the bed. Miltia's fingertips were at her own lips and her expression was ever so dazed.

"Shit, now I'm really going to have to tell Alice," was the first thing Miltia said. She blinked right after she said it, as if startled by her own impulse. "That's our arrangement."

"You were going to have to tell her something the moment Venus and India saw us together," said Ruby as she sat up. She got up off the bed, but hesitated before heading to the bathroom. "I don't want to break the two of you up. I just want..." She shrugged and gave Miltia a bashful grin.

Miltia smiled up at her. "You won't. Though ... watch out. You kinda worry Alice. Like, just you. She may get annoying."

Ruby gripped the handle tightly, pausing at the threshold. "You're wrong, though. No one else would have seen through me. I've never shown that side to anyone else at Beacon." She wasted no time, going into the bathroom and closing the door behind her. She pressed back against the door and put a hand to her mouth, eyes wide now that she was away from Miltia's side.

"Well... oh, rats."

Pyrrha noticed a moment of confusion sweep over her schoolmates, before something seemed to dawn on them all at once. Weiss and Alice froze stiff, while Melanie reclined further into her lounge and chuckled. Inwardly she sighed as the job of getting Weiss in the right mood to open up later got ever harder.

"How so?" asked Weiss in icy, clipped tones.

"What debt would that be?" asked Pyrrha, hating the feeling of being the odd one out in this unfamiliar space.

"Oh crap, did no one show your team that clip?" asked Melanie, her eyes alight.

"Show her…?" began India. "Wait, are you telling me that my fight with Ruby got passed around Beacon?" He grimaced and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Don't be silly," said Melanie with a reassuring wave. "Only around half of our class."

"Plus all of my class," added Alice. "My teammates loved it. Your expression right at the end as you lost track of Miss Ruby's semblance was enchanting. In truth, the screengrab from the moment the young lady knocks you out is the background for Team Aqua's social page. Why, Mister Tullamarine, you're our posterboy!"

"I'm flattered, Alice," said India.

Alice produced her scroll and passed it over to Pyrrha. The scroll's browser was open to a popular Vale social media site. The open page had a banner marked "Team AKWA", but whereas Alice had introduced them as Aqua, on this page that name was crossed out and the banner defaced underneath as Team Awkward. Just as advertised, India's horrifically panicked and blurry face was plastered across the background. Alice tapped a link on the page and a video of Ruby's fight began to play.

"Y-You really don't need to watch that," said India, taking two steps around the table. His hand fell away limply when he heard the sound play. "It wasn't a very good fight..."

"It was an amazing fight, India, don't sell yourself short," said Weiss. "It was an honour for you to be a part of that. Be proud."

"You need to watch your footwork; you aren't getting a stable enough platform off the backfoot," said Pyrrha as she watched. "Your lateral defence could do with some work. Ruby was feinting you into weak stances too easily." She cocked her head at the screen. "What is Ruby doing? Why is she just running through defensive drills?"

"It's, like, kinda embarrassing, but only my sister spotted that when my team first watched," said Melanie.

That surprised Pyrrha, because even though Ruby's individual moves were blisteringly hard to follow, the overall pattern was clear as day. She knew it was her tournament nous speaking, the wide web of things that worked with her semblance to set her apart as the Invincible Girl. It broke down the fight for her, ruthlessly assessing India's faults and Ruby's defence. She could see where Ruby got lazy, costing her a hit from the society boy. Despite that hit, the fact that India wasn't anywhere close to Ruby's league was plain as day to Pyrrha. It wasn't a slight against India in her mind; she was dispassionate as she made her judgements. It was the same dispassion that guided her in battle. Her judgement told her it was simply a matter of fact that Ruby Rose was powerful, even by her own lofty standards.

"I really need to challenge Ruby in the next sparring class," muttered Pyrrha.

"You could charge admittance for such a bout and still fill the sparring arena," said Alice.

Only the experience at the forest watching Ruby abandon all restraint before the great elder Grimm prepared Pyrrha for the finale. Poor India, she realised, probably didn't even understand the extent to which he had been at Ruby's mercy at the end. But she could see it, clear as day. If Ruby had willed it, India wouldn't be here now.

She glanced back up at India. "Also, next time something like that happens, try back-pedalling." It was all she could think of to say.

"I didn't think it was th-that bad," said India, putting up his hands. "And I mean, I wasn't being feinted into stances, you know, I was just … trying to make her open up a little..."

"Yes, yes, India is a crap duellist and I never should have entrusted my delicate lips to him," said Venus, gesturing wildly. "Can I give you my news yet?!"

"I have seen terriers pursue bones less relentlessly than you," said Weiss, watching Venus through narrowed eyes. She fluttered a hand idly. "Speak already."

Venus clasped her hands behind her back, puffing up her chest as she beamed at them all. "Maybe it took a little longer than it ought, but I've paid up," she declared. "So, like, call off the hounds."

Pyrrha looked over in confusion as she heard an angry mutter from Alice, but the girl was purely focused on Weiss … who, she soon noticed, had a smile of all teeth. A smile completely out of sync with her cold eyes.

'Secret shark-Faunus?' thought Pyrrha, before giving herself a quick smack to the back of the hand.

"A step out of moral penury, I'm so happy for you," said Weiss. Her knuckles were white as they bore into the arms of her chair. "How did you meet?"

"Just this evening, I ran into her while India and I were out dancing in Peppermint Grove," said Venus. Both Weiss and Alice sat bolt upright, while Melanie clucked softly. "And we were in quite a pickle when who should show up but... Hey, hurry up with the video," she said to India, who produced a scroll.

"Wait, you met Ruby at the epicentre of a Faunus turf war?" asked Weiss, eyes wide. When Venus nodded, she sighed. "Ugh, that dolt has all the self-preservation instincts of a lemming tightrope walker!"

"Give her credit," said Melanie, "I doubt there's anything out there that would slow her down."

"I don't know how Ruby performs toe-to-toe with agents, Melanie," said Weiss. "Look, I was so close to that first agent she hit that…," she began before stopping and shuddering. "I know how hard she can hit with a wind-up. But it's a different game when they're ambushing you. I'm wo… look, it isn't safe!"

"Whatever. I'd still sooner bet on the little vixen than against her," said Melanie.

Venus laughed. "Don't stress, girls. You're worrying about nothing. You'll see."

"Venus Carlton trying to be cryptic," said Weiss with a snicker. "Now I've seen everything." The other girl just rolled her eyes.

India placed his scroll upon the table and handed the champagne bottle to Venus to make space. The vivacious girl took the champagne bottle and dropped back onto the arm of the lounge next to Melanie.

Luscious legs crossed over in one smooth sweep as she took a brassy swig straight from the bottle. Pyrrha wasn't sure just what she was about to be shown, but it had surely been a long time since any cat had gotten so much cream as to produce the expression Venus now wore.

The holographic projector in India's scroll began to display an image above the phone, showing a scene in a large, dingy enclosed space. A girl was talking with someone off-camera.

"Wow, I hardly recognised Ruby like that," said Pyrrha as a familiar girl moved into focus.

"I'd love to get that sweater," said Melanie. "Very society casual."

"Ruby is starting to pick up good taste," said Weiss absently as she watched. "I'm rubbing off on her. Except the hair dye. I have no idea whose fault that is."

"I wonder why she was out there, risky to go there on your-oh my!" said Pyrrha, startling as Venus appeared on the little projection and swept Ruby up in a kiss. "Well then!" She blinked as she noticed how comfortable her classmate was with the sudden embrace.

"Such was the wager," said Alice quietly at her side. "If Miss Ruby won, she got to kiss Venus. If India won, he got to kiss Weiss. Ruby won, except Venus reneged. Rather silly of her, I must say. Quite apart from letting us make a pariah of her, the young lady only cheated herself. After all, Miss Ruby certainly curled my toes when we had our little 'petting session' as she called it."

"W-Wait?" said Pyrrha. "Do you mean that you and Ruby...?

A playful little laugh escaped from behind Alice's hand. "Just who do you think gave her the love bites she sported during your class expedition?" she asked.

"I didn't know there were any," replied Pyrrha. She frowned at the other girl. "Our team always seems to be the last to find out about these things."

"Well...," began Alice when all three of the society experienced girls had a sharp intake of breath. Pyrrha turned back to the screen and saw a new figure enter the frame. "And there it is," muttered Alice, a burr in her voice.

Melanie snorted as she waved a hand at the display. "I give up. There's no point in helping her. She's just going to do what she wants, anyway."

Venus took another swig from the bottle. "Oh, right. Ruby had a friend there. Someone I believe you and Melanie here know quite well! Alice, you really are a scandal, aren't you?"

An angry, exasperated noise escaped Weiss. "Well," she said, "Now I know why Ruby was so cagey this morning. What's going on?"

Alice sighed and shook her head, while Melanie shrugged. "I don't know what either of them are up to," said Melanie.

"Really?" asked Venus. "Oh... I really wish I had asked Ruby why she was out with your girlfriend, Alice. But," she said, voice rising into a trilling sound, "I have a few ideas! By the way, a party girl? This weakness for pretty faces gets you in so much trouble!"

"Nothing to do with weakness; my Miltiades-" began Alice.

"Your Miltiades?" echoed Melanie, brows knitted.

"My Miltiades is strong, stalwart, direct, and skillful," said Alice with a glare for Melanie. "Even if she wasn't gorgeous I would want to be around someone like that. And would you just look at my Millie in that dress?"

"I just love your earnestness!" said Venus. Her wicked heels flicked to and fro as she tapped her feet. "It makes me really hope she's not Ruby's Miltia now."

Alice's shoulders lifted in an elegant gesture. "She won't be, but I don't blame her. I had a wager with Ruby to stay away from Miltia, but I lost the fight, so I've been expecting it."

A surprised silence caught the group as everyone bar Weiss looked at Alice.

"I don't get it," said Venus after a moment. "She's out late at night with a girl and they're both into each other… you're not worried?"

Alice cocked an eyebrow. "Never been in an open relationship, have you?" she asked.

"What?" blurted Venus. "No … wait, oh my god, you're not worried, you expect them to cheat on you." The girl's eyes went wide as saucers.

"It's not cheating if it's part of the relationship," replied Alice with a smile.

Venus marvelled at her, needing a moment to reply. "You really are a walking scandal," she retorted at last. "If I'm going to the trouble of getting a boyfriend, then he better know he's mine only. But maybe things are different in Atlas?"

"Really, Miss Venus, what strong family values you have!" said Alice, eyes sparkling. "Have you picked out a suburb for your brood yet? You'll be the perfect trophy wife."

Venus came to her feet and her hand began to slide back for the shotgun-tonfas elegantly framed at the small of her back. Pyrrha's blood quickened at the sight and she hitched forward, hand instinctively coming to rest on a weapon hilt, as it did for her fellow students. Before anything could erupt, India stepped on Venus' foot, causing her to stumble and yelp.

"Hey, Alice," said India as he caught his partner. "Going back a bit, you said you had your own fight with Ruby?"

"Yes," replied Alice, voice pregnant with mirth. "Didn't win, but I took a chunk of her Aura."

"I don't suppose the video for that fight also got passed around half of Beacon?"

Melanie stirred in her seat and went for her scroll. "No, but I can totally hook you up," she said with a toothy grin.

Relentless bass pounded the air with an almost irresponsible fervour. Each thump of the bass formed the heartbeat of the mass of humanity on the dance floor. They writhed and ground away to the music, hips swaying, hair flying, bodies sweating. Bright colours and risqué cuts marked the style for girls and boys alike. They loved and lived to the music, at once on their own and part of a whole.

Miltiades Malachite led Ruby Rose through the outskirts of the dance floor from the side entrance she had snuck through. Her hips moved to the music as she went; she couldn't even help it. Like a marionette, the music pulled her strings. She was in the club, she wasn't in her work uniform, and, best of all, she had a pretty girl in tow. The music was there to be embraced, and embrace it she did.

"Uh, Miltia, what are you doing?" she heard dimly.

A very slight sigh escaped Miltia's lips as she turned around to look at Ruby. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed Ruby's stiffness. The younger girl's gaze was switching left and right, almost blatantly scanning for threats and seeking out Junior's defences. That wouldn't do at all, Miltia knew. Unless her plan was to catch the attention of every bouncer in the club to make counting them easier. Did Ruby really have this much trouble taking a moment to let loose and dive into the music?

"What?" she shouted back, yelling to be heard over the music. "Dancing, of course!"

"Why!?"

"It's a dance club," said Miltia as she leaned in. Her hands caught the younger girl by her waist, pressing tight on warm skin. "So, dance."

The squeak Ruby made when she pulled the girl in close and danced up against her was very rewarding.

"Miltia!" the girl protested. "You're not supposed to be distracting me! And this shouldn't shock you but I can't dance!"

The pink-dyed girl grinned as her hand slid along the back of Ruby's bare midriff. "Silly minx!" she said. "If you try and play 'fieldcraft' here, you'll stand out to every bouncer in the club!" She twisted around and pressed back into Ruby, grinding to the music and laughing inwardly at her reaction. Ruby's hands instinctively moved to Miltia's waist, just as she had hoped. "Just move with me," she added, taking the younger girl's hands.

Ruby gave her a flat look for a moment, then rolled her eyes. "When in Vacuo," she muttered, which Miltiades more lip-read than heard. For all that Ruby had protested, she moved well under guidance, which didn't surprise Miltia. It was hardly the foxtrot, after all, and as with the heels, most of the problem lay in getting over the idea that you couldn't.

Miltia leaned back to whisper, or at least to do what passed for it in the tumult of the dance floor, in Ruby's ear. "You had the bouncer over your right shoulder by the corner staring at you, one of the goons by the DJ looking over, and if you'd kept at it for a few seconds longer, people would have started radioing in."

Ruby winced and started to twist around to look before she caught herself.

"Hair colour and a new dress are plenty enough disguise for inside a dimly lit club at a distance," said Miltia, "But, like, it won't do us any good if Junior's henchmen come to say hi."

"Okay, I get it," hissed Ruby.

Miltia knew that pushing the point was irritating, but much better to have an awkward talk with Ruby than with Junior. "Besides," said Miltia.

"Besides what?" asked Ruby when she straightened.

"Besides this," said Miltia with a wicked grin, sliding down along Ruby's frame, slow and deliberate. As she descended, her hands ran along the backs of Ruby's thighs, to the tender skin at the back of her knee, and she was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath from the girl. She ascended, hands rising to either side of Ruby's hips, and she looked over her shoulder at her conspirator.

"Haa...," was all Ruby could come out with. "Miltia..."

"Whatever. Like you could scout here without working to blend in," said Miltia, turning around and nestling close as they stood on the fringes of the dance floor. "Did you think we were going to get in and then you skulk like a superspy in the shadows? Come on, do you think I'm like an idiot? I ran herd on these henchmen, and that is exactly what me and sis trained them to look out for."

"Then what are we supposed to do?" blurted Ruby, eyes narrowed.

"For now? Dance with me!" said Miltia. "Then, there's cushions and couches along the side we can, ah, retire to. But it's barely ten, Ruby! The guards are still wide awake! Even you would still be training at this time!"

"You should have warned me," said Ruby.

"How was I supposed to know? You planned everything else to the point of getting the blueprints of this place," said Miltia. "What did you think was going to happen?"

"I don't know. I always got to be a wallflower before," said Ruby. "I've never been to a place like this!"

"Fuck," muttered Miltia under her breath. 'I guess I should have seen that coming.'

An altogether irritating smile passed over Ruby's lips. "I mean, all the super spies do ballroom dancing," she said. "Sheesh, just a joke, don't gimme that look!"

Miltia shook her head and turned the slighter girl around, pressing tight to Ruby's back. Her hand slipped around and pressed firmly against Ruby's abdomen, just below her bust. One of Ruby's hands came up and laced into Miltia's hair, as Miltia's fingers dug in ever so slightly. The older girl scanned the crowd, looking for an example to give Ruby.

"There's two girls in front of us now," said Miltia, lips adjacent to Ruby's ear. "See them? Watch how they move. Follow that."

"I don't think I can move like that," said Ruby through her laughter.

"With how you work out?" asked Miltia. "Like, of course you can."

"That's totally different," said Ruby quickly. "I train my body to whack super-big ugly things with a giant scythe, not to wobble around like that!"

It was Miltia's turn to laugh after that. "It's the same thing," she said even as her hand moved down Ruby's side. "Fighting and dancing are totally the same."

"If that's true, then what's my-," began Ruby before taking a sharp breath when Miltia's fingers teased over her skin. "Then what's my weapon?"

"That would be me," said Miltia.

"Oh god, oh god, you have no idea how out of my comfort zone I am right now," said Ruby.

"More than when you were with the society shrews?" asked Miltia.

"Aheh, it's a close thing," said Ruby. "I don't know why everyone wants to try and pull me in all these crazy directions."

"Welcome to growing up."

"Hey!"

Miltia moved around to be in front of Ruby, and looked her in the eye. "Don't overthink it," she said. "I know this isn't your usual thing, but right now it's just you, me, and music."

"Yes, but what do I do?" asked Ruby.

Miltia's eyes gleamed as she smiled wickedly and said, "Me." Ruby blinked and Miltia laughed, a touch of huskiness in the sound. "Dance with me like we're making out to music, got it? I think you can do that much."

A dawning realisation broke plainly across Ruby's face for a heartbeat, before a peal of laughter came forth. "Yeah, sure," said Ruby. "I think I can work with that."

A loud mechanical clank from the garage door interrupted Yang and Blake's silence. Very little had been said in the aftermath of Neo's unexpected call, and Blake had been content to let a gentle arm across Yang's shoulders say everything she had in mind.

Yang glanced up at a digital clock on the wall. "Guess dad still drives like a senior citizen," she quietly said.

"Are you going to tell him about the phone call?" asked Blake.

"Yeah, I will," said Yang. "He'll want to talk. And … I want to talk to him. He's still my dad, and in the end he did a lot to get me out of the mess I was in."

Blake hesitated and put a hand on Yang's own as they heard car doors opening. "What are you going to tell him about us?"

Yang turned and gave her a careful look. "Hey, if you wanna go public, we can do that," she said. "I can't help you if he decides to give you the third-degree when I tell him though," she added with a small smile.

"Is it … is it too soon?" asked Blake. "I don't want to freak you out. But I don't want to be a fling."

"Hey, relax," said Yang, giving Blake's hand a squeeze. The lock on the door to the garage jiggled as Yang stood up from the table and glanced back at Blake. "You matter to me." The door opened and Taiyang piled in with his four passengers following. "Hey, slow-pokes!" she called, forcing cheer into her voice.

"Hey, honey, we're home," said her father with a smile. He looked her over carefully, worry on his face, before nodding. "Any problems on the way home?" Yang shook her head. "Good, good. Hopefully we've already had all the trouble we're due for today."

"More than enough trouble as it is!" said Jaune as he walked past.

"You say trouble, I hear fun," Nora half-spoke, half-sang.

"Are you guys hungry?" asked Taiyang. "Wait, what am I saying, with all that aura loss, of course you're hungry."

"Uh, well, we did have hamburgers already," said Jaune. "We probably sh-"

Nora clapped a hand over Jaune's mouth in a flash. "Not just hungry, but 'eat a horse, chase the rider' hungry!" she exclaimed.

"Healthy appetite, good to see," said Taiyang. He turned to Blake and held out a hand. "And, Miss…?"

"My name's Blake," she replied.

"Great to meet you, Blake," said Taiyang. "Have you guys eaten?"

"Only small things, we were going to eat after the tournament exhibition," said Blake.

"Oh, yeah! Sorry we pulled you guys away from that," said Jaune.

"Don't sweat it," said Yang, waving a hand.

"You did the right thing to call for backup," said Taiyang. "Both Yang and the Hunter backup. I just wish I had more backup to bring. Poor Cherry got an earful from me before she told me I was the only Hunter close enough to the fight."

"How come you were out there?" asked Yang.

"Dive bar on Twelfth Avenue North," said Taiyang. He laughed and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Continuing the mission of trying to find a future ex 'Mrs Xiao-Long'."

"Oh, gross," said Yang.

"Aww, give me a break, Yang. Anyway, the key thing for you kids to remember after a rumble like that," said Taiyang. "Is that any scrap you can walk away from is a win."

"You did kinda carry us out," said Aurea with a weak grin.

"You're walking now, aren't you?" asked Taiyang. "No one expects you to beat the White Fang head to head. And they had … a really strange number of heavy hitters there." He paused and scratched his head before continuing. "First year students, yet you were surrounded by knocked out bad-guys. So don't stress, guys. Better question: who's up for pizza?"

Yang sat back down at the table as her father took a series of pizza orders, noting them down on his scroll. Orders taken, he ushered her classmates through to the living room, leaving behind Blake and Yang. The Faunus girl was last to leave. As she went she put a hand on Yang's shoulder, and gave it a quick squeeze, earning a thin smile in return. And then she was in the next room, leaving father and daughter in the kitchen.

"How're you holding up, honey?" asked Taiyang as he went and took a seat next to hers. "Seeing Roman looks like it sent you for a loop."

Yang looked over and opened her mouth for a moment, before she shut it and reached over to throw her arms around his shoulders.

"Don't worry, honey," murmured Taiyang as he put his arms around her in turn.

"I got a phone call, right after I got home with Blake," she said. "From Roman's little right-hand death midget."

"That … doesn't sound good," said Taiyang.

"Yeah," said Yang. "It … heh, well... Can we talk?"

"Sure thing, honey," said Taiyang. "Why don't you wait in your room? I'll get these pizzas ordered and then join you."

Yang nodded, got up from the table, and walked through the house. A hallway led past the living-room where her classmates waited. She looked within and saw them piling onto the couch and the seats around, and Nora had managed to sprawl herself across Ren's and Jaune's laps. Aurea fiddled with the holovision display while down the side of the room, Blake cradled Gambol Shroud and looked over childhood photos that hung on the wall. Yang paused at the door and after a moment she saw Blake perk up. Her bow twitched.

'How the hell did I never notice she had ears,' thought Yang to herself with a smile. 'Half the time that bow used to twitch, there was no wind. Some observant Huntress I am.'

Blake looked back over her shoulder and spotted Yang. One of her proof-patented pregnant smiles appeared, and Yang's shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. She walked past after a moment.

Yang's room had golden walls, with one bright red feature wall at one end. Posters were plastered all around, showing off high-octane motorcycles, cars, and military jets, as well as Hunters, tournament fighters, actors, and musicians. Toy motorcycles sat on her dresser, while on her desk was a stack of cases for action movies. Her bed was neatly made with rust red sheets and pillows of pale gold with big white hearts on them. More neatly made than she had left it last week, she noted. Taiyang must have straightened up after the weekend.

She walked to her bookcase and ran her fingertips over the crime novels, the thrillers, the tales of Hunters going outside the system. The stacks of glossy magazines with their pretty boys and girls. Row after row of motoring magazines, including the much dog-eared issue that featured Bumblebee, her beloved ride. Nostalgia lent a haze to her sight, a memory for everything in the room.

But not all the memories were good. Terrible rows, with screaming and curses and thrown mugs. Living outside the rules had been seductive. It had drawn her in and taken her right down. It had taken all too long to realise the truth. To err is human, she knew, but to admit to yourself you fucked up is surely the province of the divine.

Nine months ago she'd turned Ember Celica on her father in this very room. He had confronted her with proof of what she'd been up to, proof that she was on an express run to a wasted life. Proof that her "friends" were full of shit, that the cause she was working towards was tainted. Proof that if she carried on she was going to run right into the crosshairs of the detectives in the VPD's Major Larceny division. Was that how she wanted her life to unfold, he had asked her. Was that the lurch she wanted to leave Ruby in?

She had thrown everything into that haymaker, and Taiyang hadn't even tried to dodge. He just ate the shotgun blast, getting rock 'n' rolled back into the door. Yang had broken down when she realised what she'd done, but her father had never said so much as a word of recrimination. It had been the very first step down what had been an excruciating road. She still remembered Ruby bursting through the door, Crescent Rose extending in her hands, ready to do violence to whomever had struck her father. She also remembered the bewilderment and horror on her little sister's face when she realised it had been Yang. Ruby didn't speak to her big sister for a week afterwards.

The door opened and Taiyang stepped into the room. "Hey, little dragon," he said, giving her an encouraging smile. Yang took a seat on the edge of the bed as her father grabbed the chair from her desk and pulled it over. "So, you got a phone call. I take it it wasn't a great chat?"

"It was shit," blurted Yang.

Taiyang nodded and leaned forward in his seat, propping up on his knees. "So, 'right hand death midget', was it?" asked Taiyang.

"Neopolitan," said Yang, "The one with the pink and brown hair and eyes. When I ran with them, she was Roman's right hand."

"She sounds dangerous," said her father.

Yang heaved a sigh and massaged her temples as she tried to order her thoughts. "Neo is … she's a real piece of work," she said. "Ruthless with a mean streak … look, she's a troll. A lethal little troll."

"Okay, so we don't like the Neo," said Taiyang. "What did she have to say?"

"We had a deal, when I left," said Yang. "If I didn't stick my nose in their business again, they wouldn't mess with me. Neo told me I'd broken the deal." A shudder went through her. "She also said I'd have left as a prisoner if she'd been there." Yang swallowed uncomfortably. "I hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it, but I probably would have."

"So, you're in conflict with them again?" asked Taiyang.

"I … don't think so," said Yang. "Roman is apparently working for someone else. He was bossing around part of the White Fang, it's really fucking weird. But Neo… That was Neo declaring war."

"Why would she want that?" asked Taiyang.

"Because she hates me," she replied. "We were rivals, and I was the only one who wouldn't kowtow to the little troll, who tried to be Roman's right-hand instead." Yang dropped her head into her hands and groaned. "And she just hated me. And I hated her. I don't understand how this blew up on me, I left for a great night out with my partner and now it's … she's back. Neo knows everything. Everything! And she fucking hates me."

"There's something else, isn't there?" asked Taiyang, putting a hand on his daughter's shoulder.

"She knows about Ruby," said Yang quietly. "I made sure, absolutely sure, that no one in that auxiliary knew about my family members. But now she knows about Ruby. But I don't know what she's going to do, or how she's going to go about it. I'm out in the open here. She talked about Beacon, too. She knows where I go to school. Beacon is well-protected, but if she knows where I am, and I don't know where she is, it's just a matter of time before I get nailed, isn't it?"

"Yang, no outsider is going to hurt you at school," said Taiyang. "Have faith in Beacon on that front."

"She … she talked about my Monday classes,' said Yang. "How does she know what class I have on Monday morning? Why was she asking about my Professors? She said Ruby was 'so pretty' and I don't know if she's just throwing crap at the dartboard to see if something sticks or what."

"Don't let-"

"Dad, she knows everything," said Yang, looking up at him. "Anonymous note to Headmaster Ozpin and … I don't even know. I know, it's not a normal school, I know they don't care so much about people's pasts, only about whether you can do the job against the Grimm, but…"

"But?"

Yang dipped her head and hunched in on herself. "But what do they think about killers?"

Taiyang was silent for a long while, but Yang couldn't bring herself to raise her head. What felt like half a minute passed before her father sighed loudly. "Honey, for the love of Dust," he muttered. "Did you ever kill anyone who wasn't firmly in the Underworld life?"

"No," said Yang, sitting up straight and shaking her head vigorously. "I swear I didn't. Neo tried to get me to do that once and I flat-out refused."

"Yang, if it gets out, I won't lie, you'll be something of a social outcast," said Taiyang. "People won't look at you kindly. But the other thing is that if you ever leave the Hunter program without a decade long body of reliable work and good behaviour behind you, you'll … well, put bluntly, you'd be dead within the week. Hunters clean up their messes and you'd be a big risk to let free."

"You … aren't freaking out as much as I expected," said Yang slowly.

"I had a very heated discussion with a VPD detective a couple months back," said Taiyang. "Very nasty-tempered man. But when I asked why the hell they were so dogged about getting a piece of someone who had already entered Beacon, he told me some things they thought your group had done and that they thought, but couldn't prove, that you did."

Yang ran her fingers through her mane and closed her eyes. "I just … I was rebelling, I know, but I thought I had the chance to do something good," she whispered. "That's all. It went so wrong, but I didn't mean for any of it to happen. I was looking for something different, something meaningful. I'd help the oppressed Faunus like only an Aura user could. I'd get some excitement and danger and a cool secret I could hold over my classmates. Now it's … all this."

When she looked up she could feel moisture on her cheeks, and she hated it. "Do you know how hard it is to say no once you're already in up to your neck and a smooth-talking adult tells you to go do something? I swear, you hit this … this stupid, fucked up point where you actually do the sweet-talking to yourself, because you refuse to believe you're actually the bad guy. You can't stop because that would mean accepting that you're wrong, that what you're doing is wrong. No one wants to think they're a bad person."

"In the end, you turned your back on it," said Taiyang. "Yang, you're the hero of your own story again, not the villain."

"Sometimes I think about what would have happened if you hadn't noticed when you did," said Yang. "I'd never have stopped if you hadn't given me that big wake-up call. Don't wanna say anything dramatic like, 'you saved my life', but if I hadn't stopped then, would I still be me? So … thanks again, Dad."

"Honey, to my dying day," said Taiyang, "My biggest regret will always be that I didn't figure out what was happening under my own nose until so late. If I'd been the father I should have been, you would have never gone down this path, and you wouldn't have this weight hanging over you."

"Still love me?" asked Yang, grinning weakly.

"Little dragon, of course I do," said her father. "Nothing could ever stop that."

"You say nothing, but…"

Taiyang was silent for a moment. "Yang, after your mother, after Summer, you and Ruby are so precious to me that there is nothing I would not try and save you from, nothing that would make me stop loving the two of you."

The footage from the sparring arena ended with a flash of light and a little beep, and Melanie tucked her scroll away. Though she had been there in person, Pyrrha had watched it closely, matching it up in her head with Ruby and India's duel she had seen just before. Venus, meanwhile, was giggling almost maniacally.

"Aw, that looked so sweet at the end, like she was cradling you and the scythe in one great big open relationship," said Venus. Melanie snickered, while Weiss hitched forward in her seat.

"Why, Crescent Rose, so debonair," gasped Alice. "Such a shame you didn't think to ask it for dating advice."

"Ruby's footwork is just … phenomenal," said Pyrrha, partly because it was true, but also because the bickering was getting on her nerves. "People focus on her semblance and the big scythe, but it's her absolutely perfect fundamentals that make her dangerous."

"Do you have any advice if I got a chance to duel her again?" asked India.

Pyrrha paused and thought about it for a moment, then gave him a grin. "Apologise?" India grimaced and sighed. "Sorry, oh, that was harsh, I didn't mean for it to be."

"Wonderful advice," said Weiss, through a cold smile. "After all, Alice is such a talented duellist but even her aura broke. If Ruby hadn't been so careful in your duel, India, our humble society might have lost you."

"I don't think we need to be that dramatic," said India. "My life was never in danger."

"Well, actually, India, it was," said Pyrrha. "All heavy scythes are dangerous. But a four-factor, High-Calibre Sniper Scythe, with a beak that reinforced, plus a rate of fire and recoil that high?"

"Quite impressive work for a homebrew, isn't it?" said Alice with a carefully crafted idleness.

"I'm excited by the idea of fighting it, but," said Pyrrha, "I'll admit, also a little nervous."

India's jaw dropped. "You know," he muttered. "Suddenly she doesn't seem nearly so adorable."

"You've got yourself quite the talented society debutante," drawled Venus. She flicked her gaze over towards Melanie, then back to Weiss. "Just as long as you can curb this taste for-"

"Be very sure that you mean what you're about to say," said Weiss, cutting her off with a voice that could have come from the heart of a blizzard. Pyrrha saw Weiss' fury as she looked at India. "Actually, you know what? We're done here. Stand up," she said, getting to her feet herself.

Venus got up off the couch and made a half-hearted curtsy, giving Weiss a smile that was pure sugar and grace. "Yes, Weiss?"

Weiss walked over, sliding Myrtenaster through its loop to free up her hands. "Alright, so you've paid your debt with Ruby."

"You saw the video," said Venus, before making a 'smooch-smooch' gesture with her lips.

A curdled expression creased Weiss' face. She put a hand on each of Venus' shoulders and then gave a brief greeting-style kiss to either cheek. The gesture was very business-like, and Pyrrha was positive no actual contact was made. Weiss stepped back and gave her a look that would freeze lava. "Now go away and don't ever talk to me again."

Venus rolled her eyes. With a quick smile at India, she began to walk away from the group with a saunter. India stood up and sighed, before turning towards Pyrrha. "You're competing in the Vytal Tournament?"

"Of course," said Pyrrha. "It should be a very challenging event. I'm looking forward to it."

"Rapt to hear it; you're going to turn this tournament upside down," said India. He opened his mouth to say something further.

"It was nice seeing you again," said Weiss tonelessly. "We should meet up again sometime. Some other time."

India snorted but turned to follow Venus. "Ladies," he said as he left.

When Pyrrha was sure he was out of earshot, she sat forward and turned to Weiss. "Just before Venus showed up, you said that you, well..."

Weiss held up a hand. "Not here," she asked. A grimace stole across her face. "Too much attention after that."

"This is twice; you can't dodge me on this forever," said Pyrrha.

Weiss shot her a look that could have scalded the gilding from the coffee table. Pyrrha forced herself not to flinch, bearing up under the pressure until Weiss turned away towards Melanie. "Now for you," said Weiss.

"So, I'm finally getting vetted?" asked Melanie with a lopsided grin.

"Whether you want anything to do with the scene again or not," said Weiss, "I can make it safe if you chose to." She shrugged. "At the least, you won't get harassed whenever random society girls see you."

Melanie was silent for a little while, before she stood up and stood before Weiss. "Whatever," she said, though the blush on her cheek gave the lie to her blase approach. "I guess if it will keep me and Miltia safe, sure."

Weiss rolled her eyes before repeating the gesture she had performed with Venus, this time with rather more friendliness. Much to Pyrrha's surprise, a buzz immediately went across the room and she noticed quite a few scrolls openly taking pictures.

"What, so that's it?" asked Melanie. She cocked an eyebrow at the shorter girl. "No hazing, no scary ceremonies at midnight?"

"No," said Weiss, allowing herself a little smile as she stepped back. "That'd be too much like work."

Alice very daintily cleared her throat. "Maybe we should move on. I think poor Pyrrha is fit to explode if we don't let her talk."

Pyrrha laughed nervously and shrugged. "Sorry, but this really is important."

"Let's go up to the balconies overlooking the courtyard," said Melanie. "I've been here before. They give a nice view and you should be able to talk just fine."

"Oh?" said Pyrrha. "When were you here?"

"I was protecting one of the Glenelg boys," said Melanie. She grimaced and shook her head. "He thought a romantic moment on the balcony was called for. I enjoy getting frisky as much as the next girl, but seriously. Like, who the hell tries to distract their own bodyguard?" She looked like she had bitten into a lemon. "Society boys are stupid. I wish they weren't so pretty."

Yang found herself alone on a couch after Blake had finished a first serve of pizza and gone off to send warning text messages to the rest of the class and shower.

"Hey," said Aurea, making Yang jump as she settled into the couch next to the brawler.

"What?" blurted Yang, though it came out a mess through the mouthful of pizza.

"Eww, Yang," said Aurea, making a face.

Yang rolled her eyes and scarfed down the mouthful of pizza. "Aurea, look, before you say anything, I…," she said before stopping to look around. The others were still in the kitchen raiding the pizza boxes for round three, so she leaned close to Aurea to whisper. "I didn't know Roman would be there. Honestly, totally honestly, I broke off everything with those people. Things are different."

Aurea sighed and looked down at her pizza. "I … was actually going to ask you about something else," she said. "But I believe you."

"Huh?"

"I was talking to your dad while we drove here and though he couldn't say a hell of a lot," said Aurea as she picked off a few unloved toppings. "He said he knew what had been going on, and that it was over. And you sure didn't know Roman would be there. And … look, you're not being a little shit all the time."

Yang straightened up in her seat. "Hey! Not cool!"

"Oh, wouldya just listen?" said Aurea with a snort. "We haven't been a class together for that long but you're different. So … let's be different." She held out a hand for Yang.

Yang looked down at the hand for a long time. Eventually, though, she grinned and shook on it. "Okay, sure," she said. "What was the other thing you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Do you remember a classmate from Signal named Jarrah…?"

Taking the elevator to the top of the family estate wasn't strictly necessary, of course. They had stairs that Pyrrha was more than happy to use instead. But it seemed that was hardly the point. It was ostentatious, and Weiss and Alice both insisted. On the other hand, it was also private, and the moment the doors closed Pyrrha whirled about to face the other girls.

"Weiss!" she said, before she paused hesitantly.

Weiss had sagged and rested her hands against her thighs. A moment later she glanced back at the others and allowed a sardonic little smile. "That," she said, arching her brows, "Went pretty well, I thought."

"Quite," said Alice.

"What? That was horrible," blurted Pyrrha.

"You sound like Ruby," said Weiss, grinning back at her.

Melanie snickered. "Well, let's see," she said. "No blood, no tears, and nothing set on fire. Good fight, for mine."

"Any imbroglio you can walk away from is a good result," said Alice.

"It wasn't so bad," said Weiss. "Venus didn't have the guts to really press what she had." She sighed and muttered, "But then, I don't think she truly knew what she had."

Pyrrha gave Weiss and the others a sharp look, then reached out and hit the emergency stop on the elevator, causing them all to stagger as inertia kicked in. "Sorry!" she said, looking squarely at Weiss.

Silence settled on the elevator car as none of the girls twitched. Slowly Weiss straightened up and returned Pyrrha's look, setting her hands on her hips. Pyrrha breathed in deeply, hand still fixed on the halt button.

Weiss glared and thrust a hand out towards the elevator buttons. "You know, I wasn't trying to dodge you," she snapped. "You didn't have to go the dramatic route."

"Well, sometimes you have to let things fall where they may, but other times you have to grab a situation by the ear," said Pyrrha.

Weiss glanced up at the ceiling and sighed. "What do you want to ask?"

Pyrrha took a step forward and put her hands on Weiss' shoulders. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"Of course I'm okay," blurted Weiss. She tried to stave off a burst of embarrassed heat at the question.

"It isn't an 'of course'," said Pyrrha. "Cocaine is dangerous, Weiss. It makes me worried to hear it, and I wouldn't be the only one in our class, to say nothing of the faculty."

Weiss closed her eyes and heard a memory of grinding metal and screaming. "Believe me, Pyrrha, I know what can happen," she said, soft and wispy. She opened her eyes and looked up at the much taller girl. "I'm not a danger to the class. I promise, I've hardly touched it at all since I came to Beacon. I had to promise my father, in fact, to clean myself up before he would let me come to Beacon."

"Hardly touched it?" asked Melanie. She frowned and fixed Weiss with a look.

"A pinch, just a pinch," said Weiss. Her fingers laced together and she looked down at her toes. "Here and there… When the cravings were particularly bad and I had enough alone time to let it filter out of my system."

Melanie blinked. "Uh, cravings?" she asked. "With an Aura as strong as yours, shouldn't that be killing off the addiction?"

Weiss shrugged awkwardly. "It wipes out the physical addiction," she said. "I mean, that's the whole reason why your Aura dips when you take it. So I never got withdrawal symptoms, which made cutting it out so much easier. But part of it is mental, which can't really be helped."

"This place … why do you girls even come here? It seems horrible," said Pyrrha, glancing at the other two.

"This was everything I knew growing up," said Weiss, shrugging again because she simply couldn't think of anything else to do. It was hard to explain to the combat school kids that she wasn't talking about choices or decisions. For Weiss and Alice it had simply been an inevitability, their lives a set of railroad tracks they were only now getting control of.

"You mustn't misunderstand, Miss Pyrrha," said Alice with a smile. "The society can be an amazing place to be. The glamour, the luxury. In here you feel like the world is at your fingertips, and to be truthful, it really is. No place can match the halls of the powerful for decadence. But there is a price."

Weiss nodded, glancing between the others. "Of course," she said. "A price that will swallow you whole if you aren't careful."

After an hour of dancing, Ruby let herself be pulled away from the dance floor by Miltia, laughing and red-cheeked as she went. Behind them an older woman was glaring daggers at Miltia's back as they made their escape from the dance floor and an unwelcome approach.

"Oh, god, her face, she went purple," gasped Ruby as they made it into a lounge with couches and cushions, sunken along the walls.

Miltia looked back over her shoulder. "Like I was going to let her swoop in right in front of me," she snorted. "Fuck that."

"I'm sure Alice would just love to see this jealous streak in action," said Ruby, making her brows dance.

"Whatever," snapped Miltia. She rolled her eyes at the younger girl. "I mean, anyway, that woman was like, ten years older than you and you went all wallflower again. Someone had to save you."

"Well, I appreciated it," said Ruby. "Just had to giggle that you were suddenly Miss Monogamy."

They came by an unclaimed couch and Ruby sat as Miltia pushed her down onto the cushion. Before Ruby could ask what Miltiades was doing, her face loomed in close. A smile crossed Ruby's lips just before the kiss found her. She let herself melt up into Miltia in their shadowed little corner, her hands sliding firmly along the older girl's body, even as Miltia's grip tightened around her biceps. Ruby murmured against the kiss as she felt Miltia rest her leg up on the couch between her own, the long straps of the other girl's high heels creasing her thighs.

After an hour of exertion the heat was pouring off of the girl above her. The hands that moved along her arms radiated with warmth that held such promise. Controlling the urge to be wildly inappropriate, even by the standards of a dark corner in a club, was very difficult. Miltia's waist was so trim, it just drew her hands in, fingers splaying over the sides of her hips. Miltia broke off the kiss and Ruby inched up to renew it. On they went, breaking and reforging the embrace until finally, Miltia dropped breathlessly beside her.

Ruby grinned with a lazy, hooded bliss as Miltia rested her head onto her shoulder and heaved a sigh.

"You are the most frustrating brat in history," said Miltia, as she still tried to catch her breath. "And the fact I think I could waste an entire day kissing you and love doing it drives me up the wall."

Ruby's gaze slid sideways at Miltia's words. "Maybe I should spend more time with Alice and see what I can teach her?" she said, keeping her voice ever so sweet.

Miltia tilted her head and shot Ruby a look. The smugness of the smile that crossed her lips was exasperating, made all the worse because she still wanted to drown herself in them.

A tension had been released off her shoulders, though. This was no longer stress or business; it was fun, and she could enjoy herself. Dancing with Miltia, as well as making out on the couch, had been just what the doctor ordered. Ruby knew there was a brightness to her expression, a laugh to her smile. But still, there were things to do.

"So," said Ruby, "Now that we're sitting down..."

"Yeah, sure," said Miltia. Ruby gasped as Miltia lifted her head up, brushing by her lips as if she was kissing her neck. But instead of kisses, she heard a whisper. "Okay, look over at the entrance. See the bouncer?"

"Yeah," said Ruby, shifting in her seat and biting her lip, watching the bouncer on an angle.

"Junior only uses henchmen for his bouncers," said Miltia. Her fingers began to play with the hem of Ruby's skirt. "Almost all the henchmen take turns doing bouncer work, too. They all have auras, if a little shaky sometimes, and carry axes or swords as standard issue."

"I've seen the swords," said Ruby. "I know that one goon in a suit looks kinda like any other goon in a suit, but I swear these are the same guys that were backing Roman Torchwick when I fought him."

"Wait ... Uh, what?" blurted Miltia, turning to stare. "When did you fight Roman?"

"That was how I got into Beacon," said Ruby. "Didn't I tell you that?"

"Uh, no," said Miltia. "What the fuck, when did Junior okay that? Well, uh, then you probably know they also carry a pistol. We didn't train them to fight with both at the same time though."

"Yeah, I noticed that," said Ruby. "They weren't very good, I'm kinda surprised I didn't injure any of them. Or maybe I did, I dunno. I went chasing after Roman after dropping them all and … I never really asked anyone what happened to them. Really, they were just kinda ... silly."

"Huh," said Miltia, staring at Ruby for a moment. "Well, that's the bulk of Junior's muscle. He also used to have us, of course. We were his enforcers. We kept the henchmen in line, fought the tougher baddies that came up. Also took care of some of his detective type work."

"That sounds fun," said Ruby with a nod.

For the next several minutes, Miltia ran her through exhaustive details of the local bouncers, having Ruby watch their patterns as they slipped between hidden corridors, catwalks, marked out whose offices were behind the different tinted windows overlooking the floor, interrupted only by a brief interlude of liplock.

When, as they watched, a very petite blonde girl was admitted through the doors into the back-office areas, Miltia had stumbled over her words for a moment, blinking and looking twice at the door with a perplexed expression, as if she hadn't been sure of what she had seen. But the girl hadn't rung any bells with Ruby, so she shrugged it off.

Yet all the while, every time Miltia paused to think of something new to explain, Ruby's gaze searched across the club for hidden dangers. Something caught her attention and her eyes went wide.

"But at heart, they're thugs and thieves, not assassins...," said Miltia. "What is it?"

"Just saw a guy at the bar talking into their wrist," said Ruby. "Not a bouncer."

"What, where?" asked Miltia, and she swore when Ruby pointed him out.

"The henchmen have noticed him, too," said Ruby, as she saw a number of the bowler hatted bouncers detach from their posts to converge on the man. The sight of all the openings they were leaving behind while they dealt with one suspicious man made her frown in concern.

Beside her, Miltia sighed aloud. "Great, my old dumb goofs are still dumb and goofy," she deduced, rolling her eyes. "They abandoned the entrances. We fought for, like, forever to teach them not to do that, and we just about had it. I guess whoever took over from us has a bit to learn."

Ruby took a look around. "You think they're-"

A blast of gunfire hit the ceiling. Screams broke out around the club as the music scratched to a halt. All the bouncers turned to face the entrance, and the man by the bar reached for his belt. Ruby blinked in surprise then gave a squeal of delight as the broad belt turned out to be a segmented whip-sword. Battle around the bar commenced as the man whipped out and struck the nearest bouncer.

"Oh my god, those are so rare," said Ruby. "Look, look, it has lightning effects, too! If only I had my sweetheart, I would be all over this!"

"Just as well you don't have that oversized ice pick," said Miltia. "This would be a dumb time to blow your cover and oh shit, down."

Terrified dancers and patrons raced for the corners of the room as a half-dozen armed Faunus rushed the floor through the abandoned main entrance. Ruby spared a snort as she slipped off the couch and knelt by the stairs leading down into the lounge. 'Bouncers, good for ejecting drunks and shaking down old shopkeeps, but maybe not who you want to call for serious fun,' she thought to herself. Miltiades crouched down beside Ruby, jogging an elbow to let her know she was there.

"Everyone freeze! This is an intervention by the Vale Faunus Liberation Movement!" bellowed a dog-woman in the midst of the group of intruders with some almighty single-edged longsword. Ruby recognised the dull edge as containing, under some protective cowling, a powerful energy rifle. Handles were wrapped around the rifle assembly, with cut-outs marked in the blade's flat.

"Ooh, first Flex-Segmented Dust-Active Blades, now High-Energy Rail-Swords, this is a-mazing!" hissed Ruby, brushing up against Miltia's shoulder.

"What is with the fucking Faunus lately!?" blurted Miltia. "This is absurd!"

"Hehe, well if they keep trotting out eyecandy like that, they can openly rebel," said Ruby, getting a dark look for her trouble.

The bouncers piled in with gusto, more than Ruby would have given them credit for after her fight with Torchwick. She guessed that anyone was sterner when defending home turf. Still, it gave her a better appreciation for Yang's exploits here, watching axe and sword collide across the dance floor. Goons in bowler hats took to Faunus raiders with a will, a will that was matched by the extremists.

"This must be some intra-Faunus thing," hissed Miltiades.

"How come?" asked Ruby. "I don't think simply not-segregating keeps you off Faunus 'grr' lists."

"Because…," began Miltia before glancing around. Wasted effort, in Ruby's books. The clamour of Dust cartridges was deafening anyhow. "Because Junior does intel odd-jobs for the White Fang! Someone must be pissed about it." Ruby's jaw slipped ajar and her brows rocked up. The pink-haired girl shrugged awkwardly. "Ask me later, alright!?"

Up above the woman with the rail-sword was proving to be the difference, swatting down goons with one swing, blasting them with charged particles in the next. It looked like she would nearly single-handedly win the day when, unnoticed, one of the windows above slid open, and a booming voice cut through the din of battle.

"Who turned my beats off!?"

Everyone paused and looked up, to a very tall young woman with hair of burnt umber. She wore loose shades and a battle dress in a very similar pattern to the one the Malachite sisters used, though dyed in tans and creams. Despite the frills, Ruby's instincts were yelling loud and clear that this person was strong.

"Mother of Grimm, he fucking replaced us like goldfish," whispered Miltia in the sudden silence. "Goldfish!"

On the dance floor, the Faunus leader pointed a finger up at the window. "Coco Adel! Where's Junior? Did you not think your actions would have consequences!?"

"Like your action messing with my musical edification?" asked Coco, tilting down her shades. "I don't want to hear it. Get out of my club." With that she took up the bag at her side and with a surge of motors and shifting plates, an oversized bag that must have secretly been a solid ingot erupted into a multi-barrel chaingun.

A noise like a strangled whimper escaped Ruby's throat, getting her a strange look from the girl beside her.

Harsh blasts of blue light leapt up from the dance floor as the dog Faunus fired from the hip, blasting pockmarks in the wall as she missed. Junior's new enforcer smiled as her barrels span up and then golden tracers filled the air.

Weiss rested her hands over the countertop of the bathroom, glaring into the mirror. "God, I hate Venus and her smarmy playboy," she muttered.

"Quite understandable," said Alice, who was busily fixing subtle signs of wear in her presentation. "But I think you handled the silly young Miss perfectly."

Weiss turned and cocked an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Considering the weapons she blindsided you with," said Alice, turning and clasping her arm behind her coquettishly. "Had she learned just a little more before she came to us, well..."

"God, what are our two girls doing out there?" muttered Weiss. "Ruby has a target on her gun-crazy brain, I shouldn't have to spell out to her why she shouldn't be hanging out in furry neighbourhoods."

In the mirror, she saw Alice hesitate, but then step near. Alice's arm settled around Weiss' back comfortingly. "Having fought her myself, I've no doubt Ruby will be fine."

"Heh, thanks." Weiss reached up and put a hand over Alice's. The Sgathan heiress paused for a moment, and then stepped back. "I ... hope you don't get too much gossip about Miltiades."

Alice shrugged artfully and smiled. "I'd rather focus on the fact she must have referred to herself as my girlfriend for Venus to act as she did. Progress, you see."

Weiss gave her a surprised look. "Fair point," she said. "Grimm and Dust, the look on her face. 'A suburb for your brood'. Stupid brat was reaching for her tonfas."

"Ahh, I wish that she had," said Alice. "There would have been such a lesson learned." She shrugged and took off her rabbit pendant. "If Pyrrha hadn't been there, I'd have asked her to dance, then loosed the claret."

"It would have been great viewing. Sure that's a good idea?" asked Weiss slowly as her eyes followed the pendant.

"Fret not, dear. I'm heading off to join my class now. The other two won't have a chance to notice," said Alice as she cleared a place on a silver platter and tapped out a line of cocaine from the neck of the pendant.

"I guess," said Weiss, and she bit her lip as she looked down at the line of the other white dust. Deep within her, a need that had been gently smouldering away abruptly erupted into life. All the frustration of her battle with Venus poured into that need. "I wish you wouldn't do that in front of me."

"How times change," said Alice jauntily as she produced a slender cocktail straw. "Once upon a time you'd have certainly beaten me to the punch."

"I know that," sighed Weiss. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the drug on the platter, and the old addiction bubbled and boiled just below the skin. The war of words with Venus, the aggravation of discovering Ruby was on the town with Miltiades, the little line upon the silver platter would do so much to help rescue her mood.

Alice shrugged and leaned over the counter, and ran her straw swiftly along the drug. Just before she completed the line, Weiss' hand snapped out and seized her by the wrist. Alice glanced up in surprise. "Weiss?"

"Would you share?" asked Weiss, not looking Alice in the eye.

Alice blinked, lips parted in surprise. Weiss tried to read the conflicted expression on her face, but the seconds ticked by without success. "No," breathed Alice finally.

"I thought you wanted me to get back on the Special," said Weiss. "Champagne, tick. One thing left."

"If you use my supply, you'll let yourself blame me for it," said Alice. Her knuckles went white as they gripped the straw. Her voice dropped to a tremulous whisper. "I don't want you to push me away again." Weiss gawped and loosened her grip on Alice's wrist. Before she could reply, her scroll chimed an angry klaxon-like sound. "You should get that," said Alice in a rush, and when Weiss glanced down at her scroll, Alice used the side of her hand to shove a good hundred Lien of remaining cocaine into the sink basin.

"That's the chime I gave house security," muttered Weiss distractedly. She pulled out the device and when she read the message, a purple flush settled over her cheeks. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me!"

Ruby and Miltia rested back against a brick wall in the alleyway beside the club. Both girls were breathing heavily, but while Miltia had a freaked-out expression, Ruby was all but giggling. The exchange of firepower had been amazing, well worth hanging around to watch. However, with the paucity of patrons remaining after the raid, their cover had evaporated, so they had been forced to escape in the confusion through the side-passages, keeping their heads down to prevent the cameras Miltiades knew about getting a shot of their faces.

Ruby looked up as Miltia turned to face her. "Like goldfish," the older girl muttered. "Oh, lost the red goldfish and the white goldfish, better buy the crap-coloured one! I can't believe he did this."

"Did the enforcers before you guys took the job have that uniform?" asked Ruby.

Miltiades shook her head. "This is like … one last insult after blackballing us," she said. "Bastard. Bastard, bastard, bastard, Hei Xiong you fucking bastard. Ugh, I feel like a replaceable cog."

Fury gripped Miltia's features until Ruby reached across and placed a gentle hand upon her cheek. "Nope."

"Nope?"

"Nope. No one is replaceable, Miltiades," she said. "She may dress like you, act like you, but she'll never be you. I would always know the difference." Ruby then added under her breath, "Can't replace your lips, certainly."

Miltia gave her a flat look for several seconds, until finally the tension slipped out of her. "Silly little minx." She shook her head. "Seen enough tonight?"

"Yeah," replied Ruby. "Scouting done. Time to get back to base, partner," she added, giving a friendly elbow to Miltia's side. A nervous flutter went through her when Miltia straightened up and cocked a perfectly trimmed brow at her. But Miltia said nothing as she led the way to the street.

The front of the club was a slice of chaos, with a pair of police vehicles, a few ambulances treating goons, a crowd of onlookers and many surly clubbers whose evening had been ruined. But it wasn't so bad. Ruby could tell the cops would rather be somewhere else. No one had died during the battle that she could tell, despite a few wounded here and there, and the VPD cared very little about 'baddie-on-baddie' crime. She could see the detective scribbling unenthusiastically while Junior and that girl in the brown dress talked to him, also unenthusiastically.

In a way, Ruby found it absurd. But at least it made her life easier sometimes.

"Ooh, there she is," hissed Miltia, anger flashing across her eyes. "Stupid brown goldfish. And that blonde woman. I wish I could get a better look at her, she is like so familiar…"

"Still, we should go," said Ruby, as she looked over. At first she didn't see the diminutive blonde, until she looked past Junior and saw her relaxing next to a couple of the remaining conscious henchmen.

"Actually," said Miltia slowly. "Hang on, Ruby. I see someone across the road I think I can hit up for details on my replacement goldfish. Could you chill out here while I talk to them?"

Ruby grimaced, looking around apprehensively. "Well, alright," she said. "But hurry. Actually, wait, I'll just go up the road to that cafe and wait for you, okay?"

"Sure, that works," said Miltia as she disappeared, moving with a speed and grace on those killer heels that even this late into the evening staggered Ruby.

The young student shook her head and walked off, circling around the crowd and making her way towards the crowd, another anonymous clubber. Yet her departure did not go unnoticed.

When news began to filter through from the various security teams and organisations that a major White Fang attack had occurred in the city, the gala had taken on a very anxious, strained air. Pyrrha had certainly noticed the mood take a nose-dive as more people became aware.

The very first scroll to chime with the news was Weiss', who had a message from her family's head of security, followed soon after by Pyrrha's, who had a message from Jaune.

"Let me get this straight," said Weiss. She paused a moment to massage her temples. "Your teammates, with Aurea, Yang, and Blake, went out deliberately looking to start random fights simply to practice?! Look, I take my own share of risks, but even I think that's just ludicrous…"

"You don't get better at fighting under pressure without actually fighting under pressure," said Pyrrha, flipping a hand over casually. "I prefer tournament fighting myself, of course."

"Sure, okay. So how do they manage to go from that to being stuck in the middle of a massive White Fang heist?" exclaimed Weiss, turning her scroll around for Pyrrha. On the screen she saw an image of a shattered battle scene, with wrecked cars and a couple of the compression-wave fractures in the pavement that Pyrrha associated with her fellow female teammate. Weiss threw a hand up in the air. "Look at that mess! They're all mad!"

Weiss turned a glare on Melanie when she heard some snickering. The dark-haired girl grinned back. "Aurea must have been happy," she said. "Bet most of that was, like, Nora, though."

"It probably was," said Pyrrha cheerfully. "A little too grenade happy, perhaps."

Weiss' scroll chimed again and she glanced at it. She blanched. "Mother of Grimm, Blake is saying there were almost two teams of White Fang killers in that heist. That's ... that's huge." She started tapping away on her scroll, talking to who knew what.

"Will it be safe to go back to Beacon?" asked Pyrrha. "I remember that last weekend we were warned not to go to the airship terminal."

"No, it won't," said Weiss. "God, I don't even want to go back to the Academy. Just, no, not tonight. Alice, are you still leaving to meet your classmates?"

"Of course," she said. "I'll be safe enough, my dear. Our destination for tonight is well-patronised by Hunters. Sgathans make poor prey, besides."

"If you're sure," said Weiss. Pyrrha tilted her head in curiosity when Weiss turned to give her and Melanie a look. "I have a room permanently held over at the Empire Hotel that I'm supposed to head to if things are dangerous in the city. Did, well, perhaps the two of you would want to join me? I mean, it saves you a long taxi ride out to the surburbs to find Jaune and the others."

'This might be just the thing,' thought Pyrrha, eyes lighting up. 'A sleepover for the two of them, while I help mediate.'

"We, uh, spent our bounty on these dresses," said Melanie. "A room at the Empire is a bit rich for my bank account, sorry."

"So's a long taxi fare," said Pyrrha with a glance for Melanie.

"I meant you could stay with me," said Weiss, a little more sharply than she meant. "I wouldn't ... be totally against company. And the Tybalt does good breakfast."

"It rather does at that," said Alice with a deep sigh.

Pyrrha turned towards Melanie, catching her eye. A tremble ran through the proud girl for just a moment. All she could do was offer her an encouraging smile. It seemed to do the trick, though, as Melanie took a break and looked back at Weiss. "Okay, Weiss, that sounds great."

Weiss nodded. "Alright, well, I've already got a ride coming, so I guess we'll just go meet it. This way," she said, gesturing down the hallway.

"Weiss, isn't the way to the front door the other direction?" asked Pyrrha.

The Schnee heiress was caught off guard. "Oh, yes it is, but the estate's landing pad is this way. Safer to go by air than risk the roads if the White Fang have that many heavy hitters loose."

Pyrrha and Melanie exchanged bewildered looks. "You arranged for a freaking Bullhead?" blurted Melanie.

"Hot chocolate, two sugars, and a cookie, takeaway, thanks," ordered Ruby at the cafe counter, producing a Lien card from a cleverly concealed slip on her skirt's waistline.

"Okay, ma'am, that comes to seventy-five Lien. Just swipe your card," replied the young man on the cashier. He was giving her his most winning smile, looking for any sign of flirting, and it was all Ruby could do not to sigh as she ran her card through the machine. Instead she turned her attention to the thought of how many hot chocolates she could buy with the great elder Grimm's bounty coming into her bank account. "They'll call your order out down the counter when it's ready," the cashier said, deflating a little.

Ruby turned and looked around the half-empty cafe, and picked an open booth to wait in. She took her scroll out and finally looked it over for the first time since she'd entered the club. To her surprise, there were a number of messages and missed calls from her classmates waiting for her.

'Huh, must have missed the chimes over the music,' she thought to herself before checking them over.

[Yang Xiao-Long] : 'hey rubes - know u might not be chcking scroll, but txt b when u get this k? big White Fang scrap in city, so stay safe'

[Blake Belladonna] : '! big big WF heist in city. lik 2 tms of WF agts, Jn/Rn/Nr/Ar hit them, every1 safe tho! stay lo 2nite'

It took a moment to decipher Blake's message, leaving Ruby pondering how a girl who liked to read so much could be such a mess while writing. "I can't believe I missed something like that," groaned Ruby aloud as she quickly tapped back a short, "i'm ok", message to Yang.

"Were you meant to be somewhere?" asked an unfamiliar voice.

Ruby looked up in shock as that very short blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman she had seen earlier sat down in the booth across from her. Her blonde hair was cut short, curling around her cheeks. For all that the woman had passed through a nightclub without comment, her tight jeans and black top didn't look nearly as out of place as Ruby felt her outfit did. Moreover, it felt like an outfit someone could fight in, and she carried herself with the air of a woman who had a weapon to hand.

"Guh," was all Ruby could say as the woman looked at her. If she had to guess she was about twenty. Early twenties at most. 'She's so short though,' thought Ruby. '...Weiss would love her.'

"Cat got your tongue?" the woman asked, expression twisting with a smile.

"Uh, hey there," said Ruby. "Sorry, I was already waiting for a friend, so…"

"But she isn't here yet," said the other woman. She paused a beat. "So breathe easy, sister."

Ruby froze like she were carved from marble, vision fixed on the woman across the counter. "Uhh ... what was ... oh yeah," she muttered. "Free air is easy to breathe, sister."

The woman's cheshire smile seemed altogether predatory. "So, I was right," she said. "Hello, Ruby. I definitely preferred you as a crimsonette, by the way. Blue doesn't really suit you."

"As a...? Whaaa...? Who are you?" whispered Ruby, frame held rigid as iron. "I don't recognise you at all!"

Those words earned her a laugh that played on Ruby's nerves like tortured piano wire. "Do you expect to recognise everyone in the Service?" asked the interloper as she tilted her head. The young woman leaned forward and placed her hands, plus the black parasol she held, upon the table. "Neo is what people in our trade know me by."

"What do you want with me, Neo?" asked Ruby. Her palms itched for Crescent Rose's absence. Her gaze glanced down at the parasol.

An instant's glance told her this was the weapon behind the woman's swagger. No simple sun screen required finger-thick steel reinforcing rails, and the lace patterns overlaid on the fabric were quite fake. The fabric itself seemed something thick and tough. Under the lace, sewn channels of Dust could be discerned if you knew what to look for.

"I wanted to introduce myself," said Neo. "I'll be sharing classes with you soon." When Ruby blinked and gave her a quizzical look, she laughed. "Courtesy of friends from Haven Academy, I'll be part of the student exchange for the festival. The uniform is amazing, I have to say. The men's uniform especially is just hot. Not that you care about that, right?"

"What?" blurted Ruby. "You're faking being a student? Why?"

"Surely you know not to ask that, same as I'm not about to ask why you're out on the town consorting with a barely reconstructed criminal," said Neo, and she seemed to find her own words very funny at that.

Ruby's eyes narrowed. "I'm out having fun, Neo, that's what I'm up to. And don't be a jerk to Miltia, she's nice," said Ruby, before muttering, "When she wants to be."

"Ah, so it's that one!" said Neo, mirth dancing in her eyes. "I figured it was Miltiades, not Melanie. Both of you being skirt-chasers and all. You should be careful about sleeping with criminals; what a bad look."

'God, she smiles like a Beowolf,' thought Ruby. She resisted the urge to swallow. "For a Huntress?" she asked.

"For someone with a...," whispered Neo, and that cheshire smile was back full-bore, wide and wicked. She reached out for Ruby's hand and silently drew the letters 'L', 'O', and 'M' onto the back of her hand.

Ruby instantly looked around her, hairs on the back of her neck raising. But there was no one else around and the tension slipped out of her shoulders. She glowered at the other girl.

"She's a Beacon student now," said Ruby. "Not a criminal, you jerk."

"Cheap, backstabbing, criminal trash," laughed Neo, and she laughed again when Ruby looked ready to leap across the table. "Faithful as an alleycat. I don't even mean in a relationship sense."

"As if I'm going to listen to you over my friends," snapped Ruby. "Just because you know a couple phrases doesn't mean I trust you. I … ugh, why are people insulting Miltia so much tonight? I'm getting really fed up."

"You'll have to ask Miltiades that," said Neo. "Well, since you seem willing to share; just out on the town? Nothing interesting, let's say?"

"We're just out … dancing," answered Ruby with a shrug. "Look, I haven't been active since I was moved ahead to Beacon."

"I'm almost disappointed," said Neo. "You're wasted on petty dancing or classwork. I have seen some of your real handiwork. Proficient, to say the least. I particularly admired … well, this is hardly the place to say, is it?"

"Well, you know, Beacon doesn't leave much time for fooling about," said Ruby. "Gotta focus on your studies."

"But you haven't even been practicing, apart from those poor trigger agents," said Neo. "The sniper on the rooftop died of wounds, in case you were curious. Whole chest cavity, crunch, ribs turned to shrapnel. Ouch." She winced theatrically. "Really nice hit."

A sigh escaped Ruby. "I don't need that kind of practice anymore, and I can pay my own way with Grimm bounties now," she said. "A little birdie told me the White Fang was reporting four deaths."

"One of the cannon fodder is also on your hands," said Neo. "Near as we can tell, he lost most of his aura to the shockwave of your landing. Four men hit, four men slaughtered." Her wicked smile returned. "You don't even care, do you? I suppose after the first dozen the conscience gets limber. It did for me, anyway."

Several seconds of silence settled over the table as Neo and Ruby held each other's gaze.

"Look, Neo, what did you want?"

"I want to get back on schedule," replied Neo. "I should already be on my airship to Beacon. But it seems your friends decided to unleash mayhem across the city. What a violent thug that Yang is."

Something akin to an electric shock sat Ruby bolt upright. "How do you know my sister?"

Neo smiled so smugly and arrogantly she could have given Weiss lessons. "I require something from you," said Neo. She leaned closer over the table. "Keep out of my way at Beacon. And keep out of what happens between me and Yang. I have business with your sister. Official business."

"I'll keep out of your way if I can," said Ruby evenly. She looked Neo squarely in her blue eyes. "I'll kill you if you hurt Yang."

Neo blinked and leaned back, and Ruby felt a shimmering of Aura as the woman drew down instinctively. But before Neo could reply, a shadow fell over the table.

"Hey, who the hell are you?" asked Miltiades. "And why are you pestering my girlfriend?" Both girls at the table looked up at her, both shocked to be taken unawares in that moment. Miltia suddenly turned ghostly pale. "Neopolitan, oh god," she whispered, a strangled, dreadful sound.

Neo snickered and stood up, resting her parasol over her shoulder. "Well, hello, Miltiades," she said. "Keeping young Ruby's bed warm for her? I thought you had more aristocratic tastes lately. Anyway, I have a flight to catch. See you in class, ladies."

With that she left and Miltia sat down at the table in her stead. "Holy shit, Ruby," she blurted. "Are you okay?"

Ruby breathed in deeply, held it, and let out a shuddering, long sigh. "Yeah," she said. "We just talked, that's all."

"That's all?" said Miltia. She glanced around, then leaned in to whisper, "That was one of the most dangerous criminals in all Vale!"

"Heh, she's rather more than that," muttered Ruby as she washed her fingers through her blue-dyed hair.

"You threatened to kill her," whispered Miltiades. "Ruby, like, there's brave and then there's stupid. Don't pick stupid!"

'What have you got yourself into, Yang?' she thought to herself miserably.

"Huh?"

"Nothing," said Ruby. "She didn't say anything about our mission, so don't let her freak you out, okay?"

"Sure...," said Miltia uncertainly. "Time to go?"

"Uh no, I ordered my hot chocolate, I get my hot chocolate," said Ruby, offering a smile.

"...Wait, what was that she said about seeing us in class?"

A/N:

As always, all feedback is welcome, and hope you enjoyed!

Next time around, the fate of Junior.