Winter and Kurama sat in the living room, with the faunus dressed head to toe in a white gi and white sweatpants. To say they couldn't be any different is an understatement. Drinking tea from a cup provided by the mayor, she placed it down on the table and took a deep breath to collect her thoughts.

"Start from the beginning. What exactly happened to you" Winter asked as Kurama sipped himself the same tea. He gingerly took his time to form words but didn't waste another second in responding. "Bandits are notorious in this area. I'm not a savior or a huntsman looking for hire. These citizens need help and no on else would answer in time. I offered my assistance but I didn't expect one of them to be quite skilled compared to the rest." He paused to watch her reaction, and she seemed to not believe him, thinking there's more underneath. He resumed shortly after. "You are aware as I that Grimm likes negative energy. While I managed to get them away, a few Grimm took their place. I wasn't in my best health since I had no interest in killing anyone, but they did. Right now, I need as much rest as possible. If I fight, I'm only going to make it worse for myself." She frowned when he finished and sighed to herself.

"That's always been you, getting yourself hurt so others don't. Even back then, you'd just get in the way. You ever take a moment to think of your own health? Or how others might feel if you get seriously injured?" What should be a honest, concerned talk sounded much more a stern punishment, but Kurama knew her too well, resulting in a soft smile.

"I know Winter, I always worried you, but you should know by now my ability to tolerate pain and finding openings through those avenues." Yet, Kurama wasn't done and needed to disclose something he felt lingered in Winter's mind.

"There's something else, the reason why you are here in this little village." Knowing he had keen senses, she obliged his inquiry.

"And what exactly is that?"

"Atlas rarely do things without having some gain from their actions."

"I can't say you are wrong, but for what gain they can have from a place like this is beyond me. I don't question Ironwood's orders, so I never asked why I got transferred here." A small silence hanged in the air, showing Kurama's disappointment but also understanding that not everyone can just try to question the higher ups to see the meaning behind their actions. Kurama stayed silent with a gentle smile for her connecting the dots.

"I expected Ironwood to decline, but knowing this village has caverns brimming with unrefined dust sounded like a decision he couldn't refuse. Not for him, but for your father." Sharp blue eys peirced his in retaliation, her distaste for the Schnee company and the owner burning underneath while Kurama's golden eyes didn't waver. "Getting the picture?"

"You never fail to find a way to get under my skin and get things to work to your advantage." After exhaling her tensions away, Winter figured to see if he'd obliged his reason for never joining. "It's a shame you didn't stick around after graduation."

"I don't think I can stomach living the life you do now. Doing what's best for the country and not for the unfortunate living in Mantle."

"You can't save everyone Kurama."

"I'll die trying. Even back then, I was a kid blessed to be in Atlas Academy from Mantle. I didn't belong with the others who were so "ahead" of me. If I have to earn a huntsman license by giving away my freedom, I rather just be labeled a bandit." His wolf ears twitch after his comments and reminisce of their previous conversation. "How's Weiss doing, since she never seemed to want to talk to me when I met her a few times?"

"She just enrolled into Beacon University in her first year. I can only wish for her success and to find her identity for herself, not her identity as a Schnee, just like I have."

"From the start you were not someone I can pen to be the daughter of a Schnee. The views you share couldn't be any different and I can't imagine how much you've grown since we last met after graduation."

"Likewise. You had red hair for the first year, just to not draw attention to the fact you were a faunus and always wore a hat. Just as I had to shed the perceptions of being an entitled brat thanks to my father, you had to shed the concept of Faunus' not being able to stand with the elite. Not a lot of students liked you afterwards, but when we had sparring matches, you took it an extra step than what's required. I enjoyed that trait about you, your tenacity to an objective. "

"Cold, calculating, but finding a moment to share your own warmth and kindness at the right moment. No one really gets to see past that exterior but if they stick around, they'd find something beautiful." The two shared a glance, letting the room grow quiet as they reminisce on their own experiences as a team and time spent together.

"Are you coming onto me?" Her question was straightforward and blunt, something he's not used to but this only resulted in the two bursting out in laughter at the absurdity of what she suggested. The hidden tension in the room from his departure bursted but never really left, choosing to tackle the subject another time. The entrance to the home they were in slammed open, causing them to focus on the mayor worrying from head to toe.

"They're back! The bandits are back!" Kurama stood up quickly and groaned as he clutched his sides, reeling back into his chair as he forgot about his health.

"You'll be sitting this one." She said to him, grasping her rapier at the hilt. Kurama was in no shape to say otherwise so he only nodded..

"Be careful, I doubt they'd come again without some reinforcements or someone more dangerous than who I've faced."

"Understood." She paced herself out of the room, wanting to see the group of bandits causing trouble and give some well deserved payback for Kurama. As Winter left the room and leaving Kurama and the mayor alone, Kurama sighed to himself. He looked out the open window, watching a leaf float over to him. He let his palm rest out and watch the leaf fall in his hand, bringing a smirk to his lips.

"Seems my suspicions were right then."