I am so sorry for disappearing! Life has been crazy, as I'm sure it is for most of us right now. I found out I was pregnant in November and haven't really had the head space or the time to write until recently. I guess there are some benefits to social isolation, now if only I could get paid to do this! But I really do hope to write some more this week as well. This story and my RWBY fics in general have kinda gotten lost in my head and I'm trying to re-figure where I was going with them. So if anything you will definetly see more fics from me this week, maybe not for this one in particular but definetly some RWBY stuff and some Star Trek stuff. If you're into that, awesome! If not...sorry? Anyway, hope you enjoy, likes and comments bring all the joy! Stay safe out there my friends!

"What do you want?! I was having fun until you interrupted!"

"What? Did I interrupt your makeout session with Torchwick?"

"Don't make me kill you!"

"Like you could kill your best friend. Anyway, I called you here because I have a meeting with Cinder tomorrow night."

"So?"

"So, do you want to get in on it or not? I think I have a plan… if you're willing to play along that is."

"... I'm going to regret this aren't I? What's the plan?"

"So tell me Roman, what made you decide to rob the Upper Class District yesterday? I thought you said it was too inefficient for you to do alone." Cinder asked as she glared at Roman from across the table they were sitting at, her two favorite henchmen were sitting on either side of her, smug smiles plastered on their faces.

"I did, because it is! But… I had some help this time."

"Oh really, and who exactly did you hire?"

"His new girlfriend." Adam declared with a laugh as he barged into the room, late as always, and took the seat closest to Roman just so he could jab him in the arm.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Roman whined as he rubbed his arm glaring daggers at the faunus.

"Whatever, your new 'female friend'. She wouldn't shut up about it last night." Adam rolled his eyes at the surprised look on Roman's face.

"You two creepers are sharing this girl?!" Emerald made a disgusted face as she looked at the two men in disdain.

Roman paled as Adam gagged, "First off, that's disgusting! Why would I lower myself to the likes of a human? Secondly, I don't share. And third, she's my informant."

Roman was just about to blurt out 'she is?' but remembered what Junior had said about Ruby being one of his best. He almost bashed his head into the desk when he realized that meant she was probably his informant too. He used Junior and Junior used Red… gods he needed to pay more attention.

"Your informant is a human?" Cinder's icy voice broke in, she looked suspicious.

Adam nodded, "She's one of the best in Vale."

"You said you don't trust humans."

"No, I said I can count on one hand the number of humans I do trust, she's one of them."

"I see, would she be interested in joining us on a more permanent basis then?"

Roman snorted, "Doubtful."

"Torchwick's right, there's nothing you could offer her-"

"What would she want?"

Adam shrugged, "I can't name anything."

Roman could tell Adam was being purposefully obtuse with Cinder even though he wasn't lying. There was nothing Cinder could offer that Ruby would want, so why is he playing this game with her?

Cinder seemed to be thinking as she glanced towards her two henchmen, "Let me speak with her, maybe I could convince her."

Adam looked down to grab his scroll, Roman was the only one to notice the smirk on his lips.

He dialed her number and it simply rang twice before the call was disconnected.

"She hung up on you." Mercury pointed out smugly.

Adam held up a finger telling Mercury to shut up. The room remained silent for a few seconds before Adam's scroll started to ring.

Go little bad girl. Go little bad girl. Go little bad girl.

Adam quickly grabbed his scroll from the table, mumbling something about how she always changes his ringtones, making Roman laugh.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?!" A very angry voice said through the scroll.

"You changed my ringtones again."

"So? Is that why you're calling me at 1:15 in the morning?!"

"No. My boss wants to speak with you." there was a sleepy, almost bored yawn as Adam's scroll buzzed against his ear.

"Sienna? Or Cinder? Either way, you can tell them both to wait until the sun has at least risen!"

There were three identical looks of shock staring at Adam from across the table, until Cinder suddenly got upset.

"Put her on speaker Adam." Adam did as he was told, everyone at the table besides Adam looked towards the scroll to see the caller ID 'The Rose'.

"The Rose? She's your informant? There's no way! She's practically a myth!" Mercury yelled, standing up and leaning against the table.

"Glad to see my reputation precedes me, Mercury Black." the Rose's voice took on a very teasing tone.

"You know who I am? You can't even see me!"

"Your name? You think that's all I know? An informant is only as good as the information they wield."

Cinder looked impressed as she smirked at the scroll, "Mercury may have heard of you, but I am afraid I have not. Tell me, how do you know my name?"

"Tsk, sorry if I told you all of my secrets I'd have to kill you." Cinder didn't see Roman bite his cheek as he tried not to laugh.

"I see, does that mean you work as an assassin as well?"

"Why? Already trying to trade Mercury in for a prettier, more efficient model?"

"Excuse me!? More efficient!? Just who do you think you are? I was raised to be an assassin! I-"

"No, you were an innocent child who was abused and torchered into not knowing any better."

The room was deathly silent for several seconds, Roman noticed how Mercury stared at the scroll in shock and slight horror.

After several minutes of silence Ruby spoke up, "So is there a reason I was woken up so early in the morning or are we just playing a game of 'getting to know you'?"

Cinder frowned but answered anyway, "Adam tells me that you are the best informant in Vale. I was wondering if you would be willing to work with us on a more permanent basis?"

"There's nothing you can offer me that I don't already have."

Cinder glared at the scroll, quickly turning to her companions. Emerald had yet to say anything, which was surprising and Mercury just seemed to be coming out of his shock. He reached over and pushed the mute button on Adam's scroll.

Both Adam and Roman gave him a questioning look but he ignored them.

"I say we bring her over and if she doesn't want to work with us we end her." Mercury stomped his foot as if to prove just how he wanted to end her.

"I'd like to see you try." Ruby's voice echoed through the scroll and the room making everyone present jump.

Mercury whirled around to find a pistol pressed against his forehead.

He stared at the figure in black in shock, her cloak concealing everything about her. He was terrified that she had managed to get so close and angry with himself for letting her.

"Cinder, meet Rose." Adam said nonchalantly as he pocketed his scroll. Ruby continued to stand there with Thorn gently pressed between Mercury's eyes.

Roman and Emerald couldn't hide their shock while Cinder only looked furious.

"Pleasure. Now could you please lower your weapon?"

Ruby's hand didn't move but she looked towards Cinder, "That depends, still want to end me?" Ruby asked Mercury, daring him to let her pull the trigger.

"No." He grumbled and suddenly the gun and the woman disappeared.

They all frantically glanced around only to find her sitting half in Adam's lap, her posture, being the only thing they could see of her, implied that she was rather bored to be there.

Adam looked a little put out but made no effort to move her.

Mercury cautiously made his way back to his seat, his eyes glaring holes into Ruby's cloak.

"I thought you said she was Torchwick's girlfriend and that humans were beneath you, you two look pretty cozy to me."

Ruby's eyes went wide, thankfully no one could see it. She leaned back to whisper in Adam's ear, confident that he would be the only one to hear.

"What? This wasn't the plan!" Adam turned slightly to whisper in her ear.

"Just roll with it. Channel your inner Neo. If you don't know what to do stay silent."

"Care to share with the class Adam?" Cinder asked very loudly, tone signaling that it wasn't a suggestion.

"She just wants to know if Emerald is mute like Neo."

"I'm not mute!" Emerald finally spoke up, "I- am just surprised that Torchwick and Taurus have such a powerful informant. How did you get in? None of us heard you."

"Semblance."

"Your semblance is silence? That's pretty lame!" Mercury said scornfully as he threw himself into his seat.

"Obviously works though doesn't it?" Ruby dismissed him as she turned towards Cinder. "So, you wanted to speak with me?" She asked as she leaned forward on her elbows, trying to appear curious but really just trying to sit as little on Adam as possible. She already knew she was gonna have nightmares about this for weeks!

Cinder gave the cloaked mystery woman a hard look as if it would somehow make the stranger feel less confident, "Yes, as I understand it, you are a thief… as well as an assassin. Roman also mentioned that you helped him rob the Upper Class district. How would you like to work for him full time?"

Ruby turned her head giving Roman an amused look even though no one could see, "And just what would he need me for?"

"Why, protection of course."

"Excuse me?!" Ruby and Roman exclaimed together, one more offended than the other.

"The way I see it-," Cinder started, she waved her hand in the air lifting Ruby from her perch in Adam's lap. Ruby's heart was thundering in her chest, she was sure the entire room could hear it. Even Adam seemed to be having a hard time masking his fear as he watched Ruby try not to squirm as she was levitated across the room, "-with Neo still in Atlas and Roman behind schedule, he obviously needs some help. With those pesky Beacon students interrupting every other raid, we need more security." Cinder dropped Ruby into Roman's lap. Both of them flinched but didn't dare look at each other. Ruby was sure she had been found out, she had no idea how but she was sure-

"And you my dear can be that extra security. Keep the brats off Roman's back by any means necessary and I'll pay you what I'm paying Roman. Do we have a deal?" Cinder asked as her eyes finally stopped glowing, smirking like she had just one the battle.

Ruby was surprised that Cinder wanted her help so badly, it was suspicious but she was suddenly out of options.

"Deal. When do I start?"

"Immediately." Cinder glanced at her two companions as she stood, "Emerald, Mercury, let's go." The two of them wordlessly followed as she led them out of the building and disappeared into the night.

The world seemed to count to ten before suddenly exploding as Ruby practically flew out of Roman's lap and started screaming at Adam.

"That wasn't the plan Adam! What the heck just happened!? How am I supposed to work for Torchwick and do everything else!?"

"I honestly have no idea what just happened… she took the bait so easily… I thought she'd put up more of a fight." Adam sounded just as surprised as she felt. "But it doesn't matter, we'll work it out, this actually makes things easier, and hey you get to spend more time with your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend!"

"I'm not her boyfriend!"

Adam scoffed as he stood and adjusted his suit, "Sure, whatever. I gotta go, let me know when you two work out a plan, ok? Think about it Rose, maybe it's time you let the rest of your team in on this."

Ruby practically growled as she crossed her arms and glared at her friend through the darkness of her hood, "I'll think about it Taurus." Ruby wished her eyes could burn holes in the back of Adam's jacket as he walked away. Once he was out of sight she turned to face Roman.

"We-" Roman threw his hand up to stop her.

"Talk later, first, I need a drink." Ruby grinned as she grabbed his arm and dragged him off into the night.

Finally finished this chapter! Hope it doesn't suck and that I can write some more this week, it's not like I have anything else to do... Stay safe! Wash your hands! Stay inside and read fanfiction all day!