Ho boy ho boy ho boy!

[spotto]

Yep. It's a chapter.
I mean, I'm currently swimming in chapter 34, so I guess it's okay to release 16.
That's how it works, right?

Yep, stuff happens.

I wager this one's a pretty important one, but whatevs.
 

16

 

Lt. Pyrrha Nikos was overwhelmed the moment she reached Pete’s Pocketwatches Ltd. There had been a bizarre call of a gunfight inside a public place like a mall, which was alarming enough, but the amount of damage she had arrived to was far more than she anticipated. Not to mention all her officers were given countless descriptions of a heroine dressed in red, as if she were red-riding-hood but fighting the wolves as opposed to running from them. Pete himself, a humble watchmaker who had repaired several clocks of Pyrrha’s before, was for all intents and purposes traumatized on top of the minor injuries from the glass. Yet he too corroborated with witness accounts. He pointed his finger at the two men dressed in white suits lying on the floor as the perpetrators. They had been wanted for various small crimes in the past, but for them to escalate to attempted murder was shocking to say the least. When they learned that they matched the modus operandi of the Schnee Syndicate, Pyrrha quickly surmised this was no random attack. Pete had been targeted. A few of her rookie officers were outside the mall, trying to keep control of the media that wanted to run them over to take obtain as much coverage of the scene possible. The news of a possible heroine in the city was met with positive reception; the people of Vale had become sick and tired with the rampant crime that much controlled the city’s government.

 

However a crime taking place in a public place was not quite a bad thing. Pyrrha had her partner Jaune Arc go through the security tapes thanks to the various cameras lining the walls of the shopping centre. When she found a chance to view the footage herself, the eyewitnesses were generally correct about what they saw. Throughout her career the Lieutenant had run into so many unreliable witnesses that told tall tales or simply couldn’t remember properly what they had seen, but for all of them to describe the same general happenstance and for the cameras too to agree with them, it was an absolute certainty that yes, someone was going around risking their lives to save others. Despite public reception, this was a bad thing.

 

Pyrrha would agree anyone who could give a hand to the understaffed, overworked police force was a positive, but vigilantism was not only frowned upon, but illegal. Not to mention whoever had intercepted these criminals had been wielding a weapon far too powerful, large, and deadly to be trusted with some random stranger of the general populace. They did not have the strict gun control like the citizens of Atlas high up north, but they still had some rules and regulations about it. A weapon that looked more like a sniper rifle reserved for the military was no place in the hands of a regular citizen. On the other hand, they had demonstrated remarkable ability with that weapon that none of her more gun-enthusiastic co-workers could quite identify. So not only was this likely untrained stranger wielding an unknown weapon, but it had been modified in some way, perhaps smuggled across the border. Those scenarios had no concrete evidence behind them and was only Pyrrha’s possible guess work, but wherever that individual had found her weapons, not a single explanation existed that would excuse them from the law.

 

Almost two hours into the investigation, the scene being taped off and the mall being closed for the foreseeable future, Captain Cardin Winchester finally arrived. Most of the officers already there dared not to question their superior’s tardiness, but Pyrrha was not afraid of her job security, the police commissioner having cited her as their top officer in the past year. She was quite possibly the only person there who could stand up to their unpopular boss.

 

“Cardin, where have you been?” Pyrrha asked.  She never adopted an accusatory tone, always keeping her words serene and gentle. Anyone else who had been miffed about his late arrival wouldn’t possess the patience to have asked him so politely.

 

At first the taller, larger man did not want to give an excuse, but he too was told by his superior to keep good terms with the prodigy officer, Pyrrha. He was not amused when he found out he had lost his sole hand with the commissioner. Before Pyrrha was promoted it was Cardin and only Cardin, who would be praised and given perks and power above the rest. Now there were two in his cards, and Cardin despised sharing.

 

Finally, he spoke, “I was at a dinner with my uncle out of town.”

 

“The Warden?” Pyrrha mentioned.

 

“Yes.” Cardin gave little details, “What do we have here? Did you all take down these Schnee scum? That would be almost adequate for the lot of you if that was the case!”

 

“Actually,” Jaune spoke up, wondering if he should clarify, but maybe the captain would be pleased by the news instead of angry, “they were stopped by a vigilante.”

 

“What!?” Cardin whipped his head around so fast it almost scared Jaune out of his pants.

 

Pyrrha nodded, “The witness accounts match the video evidence, sir.”

 

“What lunatic would dare steal our jobs?” Cardin expressed, “I look forward to interrogating him back at the station.”

 

“Uhhhhhhhhh...” One officer started before stopping himself as a long drawn-out silence overtook the entire crime scene, even the cops that weren’t a part of the conversation.

 

Pyrrha was the only one who managed to continue, “We never caught the vigilante sir.”

 

“You let him go?!” Cardin stomped his boot on the ground, the marble tile clunked beneath his feet, a small vibration felt by every  one of his employees.

 

“Well uhm,” Jaune piped up, “they were gone by the time we got here.”

 

For a moment it didn't seem like Captain Winchester had absorbed Jaune's words, still staring at him as if he had more to say. Without warning the officer pivoted on his heel, a strong stride as he approached the glass doors of the mall still swarming with journalists and camerapeople alike. The poor rookies given the job to herd the rabid information piranhas noticed their boss approaching, doing their best to push the dozens of reporters speaking over one another has they attempted as much coverage as possible. They were shuffled down the steps to make room for a modular podium to be placed onto the top of these same stairs. The captain stopped behind this podium, microphones and audio recorders alike surrounding his face instantly. This was the definition of a press conference.

 

Jaune raised an eyebrow, "Uhm, is it a good idea to be giving one without knowing everything we've found so far?"

 

"Cardin does this all the time," Pyrrha explained.

 

"Captain Winchester! Captain! What are your thoughts on a random citizen showing up the police?"

 

"Is this latest incident an indication the criminal organizations no longer fear the law enforcement?"

 

"Is it true the increased funding towards the police has done nothing for its effectiveness?"

 

"Captain, Captain—"

 

A fist came down upon the podium, its effectiveness mimicking that of a judge's glaive. Captain Winchester cleared his throat as he continued.

 

"We are still going over the evidence and what eyewitnesses are reporting of the incident," the captain began, "Let it be known that anyone thinking this incident is the start of a pattern will be shut down immediately. The safety of our people especially in such a public and what should be safe place like this is our number one priority."

 

Another wave of questions that wouldn't be answered went by before Cardin spoke again.

 

"If for one second you believe an untrained random individual could replace the police force you are beyond delusional. This is an isolated incident. Seeing as dangerous, reckless acts of vigilantism have no place in our society or the law, should we see this man again, you'll be rest assured that they will be arrested on the spot!"

 

Few things could silence a mob of media, but Cardin's words did.

 

The moment was only an instant unfortunately, as the many people in the captain's audience processed his words, "Captain! Are you confirming the gender and age of this anonymous hero!?"

 

"Eyewitnesses have told us the vigilante was in fact female, perhaps even a young girl from their build and voice!"

 

"Are you calling the witnesses liars!?"

 

"Enough!" Cardin boomed, "We all know eyewitness reports are often inaccurate. At this time we have no confirmation as to who this individual is or what they look like—"

 

"But there are cameras all over the mall! Surely by now you'd have this information!"

 

"Are you purposely concealing such info? Is there a conspiracy afoot amongst the Vale Police Force!?"

 

The door creaked open rather slowly in the unlit common room of the penthouse. The television was the only source of light illuminating the walls and curtains with its cool blue glow. Two faunus ears swivelled to their sides when footsteps could be heard entering the apartment. They also picked up quick, uneven breaths and pulses that normally would be background noise, but was now too difficult to ignore. The television droned on, a police officer bumbling over his own words to somehow rectify the gamut of questions his own maw had caused. A scene that normally would be so satisfying to watch depending on who you were, but instead might as well be static to the situation at hand. Weiss acknowledged the screen for one moment before helping Yang towards a sofa, now familiar enough with the surroundings to be able to navigate in the pitch black darkness. She did not catch the two sudden origins of light popping up from over the sofa, a gold glow temporarily catching Weiss off her feet.

 

Or it would've been very temporary had she not been balancing Yang with one-side of her body. Another noise broke out in the blackness, this time a thump, but the two were not any worse for wear aside from a small amount of dignity expended from the fall. Before Weiss or Yang could return to their feet, they were greeted with those lights once again, one that though spooked Weiss, could barely be seen in the dark despite its very presence being the opposite of darkness.

 

"Where,"

 

Weiss could make out the black within the yellow. 

 

"Have,"

 

It was barely there, a sliver within the gold.

 

"You,"

 

That gap was shaking.

 

"Been?"

 

"Oh, hey Blake!"

 

All tension blew out like a balloon deflating.

 

The lights finally flickered on.

 

Yang, despite her suspicious condition, had this uncanny ability to return to her casual roots no matter the situation, "Fancy seeing you here! Watching TV with the lights closed hurts my eyes. I'm surprised it doesn't for you."

 

Her hand was still lingering on the light switch.

 

Weiss though was fully acknowledging that Blake who had apparently returned during their absence, was probably not the happiest person in the world at the moment. If she were in Blake's place, Yang ignoring her mental state entirely would only drive her all the more down the wall further. She was actually very impressed that Blake had not said or done anything after that, still standing there as if the person in front of her was covered in blood or something. Oh wait.

 

"...we can explain later," Weiss finally said, "Yang needs some help."

 

Yang waved the two of them away, "It's fine. I'll just take a shower."

 

"Yang! I know some of that on you is yours," Weiss could have pointed at any part of Yang and would have been at least somewhat accurate, "It won't magically go away with water!"

 

The blonde shook her head, "You worry too much. They're just surface wounds!"

 

"And don't think you can get away without explanation! I want to know what on earth was happening in that alley—"

 

Weiss stopped herself, Yang no longer paying attention too. Blake stood there, without words, head down. She was shivering, no, shaking as she stood there, arms glued to her sides, both hands balled into fists. Her knees trembled, threatening to buckle, and both Weiss and Yang did not need the keen sense of a faunus' hearing to catch the subtle sniffles Blake was trying, yet failing, to keep down. They had not expected to return home to see Blake there, but this was on a whole other level. They had known Blake was sometimes unable to keep down certain emotions when she was that invested, passionate about something, but this was the very opposite. Blake looked to be on the verge of a breakdown. The last emotion that would have ever come to either of Yang or Weiss' minds was relief.

 

She's okay.

 

She's okay.

 

She's okay.

 

Adam hadn't killed her, or kidnapped her, or hid her body, or scattered her remains, her bones in various separate letters sent to the Schnee Syndicate. He hadn't discovered her alive, wasn't taunting Blake with her life by allowing her to live. He didn't have as much power as she believed he did this whole time. The ruse Blake had gambled so much on was still active; her one action to defy them all was still there, staring at her with concerned, confused eyes. Certainly their situation still wasn't at all positive, but just minutes ago Blake had lost all hope, tearing the penthouse apart trying to see if Weiss was hiding. Wondering if what she was doing the entire time was being watched and no matter what Blake did, everything was futile. If Adam was watching her at this very moment, Blake wouldn't even be here right now. Weiss' very existence would be such a shocker that they would off her in an instant, or perhaps something worse, something beyond a psychopath's comprehension.

 

Thinking this way was not healthy whatsoever. Perhaps Adam was still watching her. Maybe he still cared, and even if he had discovered this massive betrayal to the White Fang, he still did not want to kill her. If that was true, and Blake wished so much such a thought was true, he would at least not hesitate to off Weiss, right here and right now. But since that had not yet happened, that suggested perhaps Adam did not have as much leverage over her after all. Perhaps there was a chance. Perhaps there was still a reason to keep going. Blake just couldn't be sure, especially now that it seemed the White Fang would not be her only worry. Yang was here. Yang knew Weiss was alive. Yang was covered in blood! Had Weiss been discovered and Yang had valiantly defended her? Or was Yang just being Yang, doing something that Blake knew was nowhere near the legal or moral lines she claimed to stand for? That would imply Yang had taken Weiss somewhere dangerous. Where, exactly? Why did Weiss leave in the first place? As enraged as she wanted to be that Weiss had left the apartment, a decision so ruthless and senseless it should have killed her, the very fact that she did had saved her life.

 

And of course, the little story on the news that reminded her that she had left Crescent Rose with Ruby. 

 

It was just too many things at once.

 

"Blake! What's wrong?"

 

"Are you okay?"

 

Blake blinked back her tears, finally noticing the voices of her friends bewildered by her sudden state. She attempted to bring up some form of reasonable excuse for this sudden development, but nothing she thought of was at all believable. She dropped to her knees, hands shielding her face, not wishing for either Weiss or Yang to see her like this, but her uneasy trembling suddenly halted when she felt an arm drape over her shoulders and neck. When she felt her other hand being held by another, her eyes widened. Blake lifted her head, almost afraid to look back into the eyes of her two friends who had dropped everything, still watching her, somehow waiting patiently for her so long to open up. Blake wanted nothing more than to bury her head into the ground and disappear from existence entirely, whether it be for a few minutes or an entire year. She wanted to forget how her life had collapsed into an unmitigated disaster, where anything that could be worse happened no matter what. Yet as she struggled to pick herself and the pieces that had fallen off of her up, even still there were people who stood next to her, to pick them up for her.

 

She didn't deserve them.

 

And that in itself, killed her further.

 

"...Blake?" 

 

"I'm alright..." Blake finally said, words barely above mute, "I've been...stressed."

 

Yang gripped her tighter, "Wow, ya finally admit it."

 

She quickly drew her arm back when Blake reacted with a flinch, "Huh?"

 

Weiss slid Blake's collar down only slightly in response, seeing fresh gauze wrapped tightly around that shoulder, "You're hurt!"

 

"It's not serious."

 

"No, not you too. First the brute covered in blood—why haven't you cleaned yourself up yet, speaking of which—and now you. You people need to take better care of yourself and stop throwing yourself into stupid, dangerous situations that are probably nowhere near legal in the first place! How did I get associated with you trainwrecks!?" Weiss huffed, standing up, grabbing a nearby towel hanging from the washroom's doorknob and tossing it towards Yang.

 

Yang wrapped it around her neck as opposed to using it in the manner that was intended, "I dunno. You're not a spotless porcelain piece of china yourself, y'know."

 

"Be quiet. This isn't about me," Weiss gave Blake a hand as she pulled the fallen faunus back up to her feet, "You, go shower and I will mend your wounds afterwards. Blake, I order you to go to sleep."

 

"But—"

 

"No!" Weiss stopped Blake from continuing, "You don't sleep. You should sleep. So sleep! Go! I will make Yang toss you into bed against your will—no, she's too filthy and injured. I will grab you and throw you into bed against your will!"

 

Yang chuckled, "I'd like to see that."

 

A rare bit of humour entered Blake's voice, "I doubt she could."

 

"Is that a challenge!?" Weiss glared at them both at the same time. One would find it hard to describe since the two weren't standing next to each other.

 

Blake shook her head, "Even if you had the strength, you wouldn't possess the speed to—"

 

"Weiss, go long!!" The faunus suddenly found herself in the tight embrace of the tall blonde, and she was easily lifted off the ground by that same woman.

 

Weiss for her part did not seem to be as excited, "Are you going to throw her at me!?"

 

"This is the only way!"

 

Instead of running off to the end of the hall like a wide-receiver Weiss simply walked forward and grabbed hold of Blake, mimicking a track and field athlete picking up a baton as opposed to a football player.

 

Yang sagged visibly at that, "Aww, that's no fun."

 

As opposed to using her body frame and weight to keep Blake against the forces of gravity, Weiss attempted a bridal-style carry instead, as if she were the hero in a romantic thriller, rescuing their loved one through fiery explosions and car crashes. Yang could not hold in her amusement as she witnessed the ex-heiress knees shake with the overbearing weight, not to mention her, for once, poor posture and form. 

 

"Wow, good job. Now, are you able to walk a few feet to her bedroom? I believe in you, Weiss!" 

 

Weiss took very long, deep breaths whenever she tried to take a step forward or even speak, "I...can...do this. You...won't be...laughing...for...very long...Xiao Long!"

 

"Aw, you should've said for very Xiao Long instead! What a missed opportunity."

 

"Shut...up...you...overgrown...oaf!"

 

Yang shadowed Weiss, making sure she wouldn't fall and hurt not only herself but Blake further. Blake on the other hand was still flabbergasted wtih this move, not daring to actually move in fear that she'd put Weiss in an even more precarious position what with the awkward balancing. She would have been touched by such a gesture if it wasn't so bizarre and admittedly, very entertaining.

 

But eventually, Blake had to give, "Weiss. I don't want you straining yourself or anything—"

 

"You...won't...talk me...out of...this!!" Weiss tried to narrow her eyes and focus in Blake's direction, but already most of her strength was sapped carrying her, "So don't...bother...trying!"

 

In what felt like eons on top of eons on top of eons, while the many blood cells and muscle tissue within Weiss cried for mercy, finally she was able to unload Blake onto her bed. Unload would be the proper word, since Weiss no longer possessed the power to gently set her onto the mattress. Luckily it was made out of nice fluffy materials like cotton and foam and springs. Weiss exhaled for longer than necessary once Blake was in bed, her ribcage expanding and contracting a few too many times. She had done it, despite what everyone had said. You didn't need to be freakishly tall and big like Yang to do such mundane things, after all! And no one else would agree that Yang was freakishly tall or big, considering she was only above average in height and weight. Weiss just chose to think that way to make her own self feel better.

 

Yang stood casually at the doorway, "So, are you going to join Blake, Weiss? Or was this whole thing just a waste?"

 

"What is that supposed to mean!?" Weiss was stunned to the point that she physically had to step away. 

 

Yang gave the ceiling a considerable amount of attention as she twirled one of her locks in her fingers, "Blake never said she wasn't going to bed. You didn't even need to do that."

 

"So!?"

 

"So...you wanted to do that, right?"

 

"No, I—she would have refused like the stubborn moron she is anyway!"

 

Blake had to admit, she probably would have.

 

"But you never gave her a chance to actually say sooooo..." Yang drew out her last vowel.

 

Weiss began to steam, cheeks burning red as she ran out of any thought process to defend herself, "Go wash out that hair before it becomes permanently red, Blondie!"

 

Yang cackled as she ran back out to the hallway, skipping merrily into the washroom at the end of the hall. Weiss stood, still keeping her eye at the door to make sure Yang wasn't coming back, before she twirled around to make sure Blake was going to rested up properly because she never would, "As for you—"

 

"Thank you, Weiss."

 

Weiss had been surprised far too many times for one day, "...for what?"

 

"For well, this. I guess," Blake wanted to shrug, but her shoulder wasn't quite cooperating, "I don't know. I never took you for someone who could...care so much."

 

"I don't—" Weiss stopped herself. It would be a blatant lie to say she didn't care, but she wasn't able to really give much reasoning for her recent actions, "...you've saved my life already. It's the least I can do."

 

Blake looked away, "So you're only doing this to pay me back, as if you owe something?"

 

"No—I mean, well," Weiss sighed, taking a seat in a nearby chair, "I can't say I don't owe you something for basically jeopardizing your entire career and reputation just for someone like me, but...well, Blake. To put it simply, you are a catastrophe."

 

"...what?"

 

Weiss crossed her arms, "The moment I met you I knew you were already a mess. Someone needs to clean and organize that mess."

 

"..." Blake couldn't really give a response.

 

"For a long time I thought you wouldn't be worth it. We were...distant with one another for a very long time," Weiss said, "Oh who am I kidding. We despised each other."

 

"I can't argue with that."

 

The lighter-haired girl continued, "Which is why I'll never comprehend why you would go through such lengths to save me."

 

"...it's complicated," Blake could only say.

 

"I mean, I had a pet theory. You are part of the White Fang after all, who are the eternal enemies of my father and his morally questionable people. Perhaps it was your job to watch me, or even kidnap me, or maybe to even kill me," Weiss quipped, her spot-on guess causing Blake's heart to thump just a little harder, a little quicker, "but then if that was the case, why aren't I dead or withheld in some damp dark basement, or...just...the clues don't fit."

 

Blake kept her eyes to her hands instead, wondering the same thing.

 

"Whatever the case," Weiss continued, "I'm very concerned," she put her hands on Blake's once again, the gesture so unexpected Blake's ears shot up, "No matter who I talk to, it seems no one knows what it is you do."

 

Blake blinked, eyes dropping even further to her bedsheets, "...I'm a correctional—"

 

"Outside of that," Weiss said, "Even when I saw you doing that job you were half-dead by the time you started your shift. What is it you do? You're part of the White Fang, so you must be doing whatever shady nonsense those people do in their deranged attempts to 'save the faunus' or whatever senseless movement they ha—"

 

"It's not senseless!" For the first time in the conversation, Blake had something to say.

 

Weiss raised an eyebrow.

 

"...it...wasn't senseless," Her words dropped in volume and commitment.

 

Weiss closed her eyes, straightening her posture as she continued, "I don't want to start an argument, especially at this time of night, so maybe you are right. Maybe they did have a goal at some point that was honourable and noble. Seeing so many faunus inside a prison is a lot more eye-opening than just hearing about it. Some people spoke of their crimes like it was funny story that occurred at work or school. They were the unsuspecting passenger in a car caught with traces of dust. It's probable they were lying or at least exaggerating about their non-involvement with the actual crime, but I can't help but feel they had at least, an inkling of truth in their words."

 

"...Weiss?"

 

"I know what a hard dust addict looks like," Weiss began gritting her teeth, "Their eyes are sunken in, their complexion paler than my own. They look ten years older than they actually are, and they're skin-and-bones. The worst ones look like they're moments from death, or zombies that came alive to haunt us. And it's far more than just how someone appears; it's the way they act, the way they speak...the way they even think. A lot of those faunus were...normal. It's easy to think that all faunus are just criminals that deserve to be behind bars," Weiss said, "but nothing is ever absolute like that. I've learned that the hard way, anyway."

 

That last line intrigued Blake, wondering what Weiss could have meant by that in particular. It was vague, yet it felt like it had some importance to Weiss as a person. She didn't want to delve any further though, finding Weiss' little monologue interesting in itself. 

 

"Anyway, that's enough of that," Weiss pushed her chair back as she stood up, "I did say you needed to sleep."

 

Blake rested her back on the headboards, "I've never had an easy time falling asleep."

 

"Despite how desperately you need it?" Weiss rubbed her temples, "It's never straightforward with you people is it? Fine." 

 

Blake watched Weiss in confusion as she dropped back onto the seat, crossing her legs, "Fine?"

 

"My sister sang this to me when I was young," Weiss paused, pupils distracted before she decided to continue, "...and before her, my mother."

 

Before Blake could say a thing, Weiss had already launched herself into a soft, serene song that sounded melancholy in its tune, yet somehow, comforting.

 

"One life,

is not a long time

When you're waiting,

for a small sign.

 

Patience,

is hard to find.

Shadows,

Seem to fill your life

 

Don't be disappointed,

Don't let your heart break.

Don't spend another minute,

In this way.

It's okay.

 

Dry your eyes now, baby;

Broken wings won't hold you down.

You'll take flight soon, baby.

You'll be lifted up,

And you'll be there..."

 

-

 

"Drop everything! Empty your goddamn pockets, give me any device you have! Come on I don't got all day! Let's see that fat wallet!" A young teenager no older than seventeen was holding another man, an older gentleman at gunpoint. He had little experience with the firearm, his hands trembling but his eyes so deadset on the man that he was likely to shoot just from his own nerves.

 

The man quickly scattered his valuables on the floor in front of him, "Okay! Okay! Just don't shoot!"

 

The teenager scanned through the items in seconds, "What is this shit!? You have barely anything on you! This screen is scratched and cracked! It's worth nothing on the market! I need something better! Jewellery! Those shades look expensive, give 'em here!"

 

"I'm sorry I don't carry that much on me usually!" The man reasoned with him, "Please, just leave me alone. I don't have much to give you!"

 

"Shut the fuck up!" The teenager cried, "I will shoot. I swear to you I will shoot! Give everything here! There's a ring on your finger, give that 'ere too!"

 

"But this is my engagement ring! My fiancee gave it to me only two weeks ago—"

 

"You think I fucking care about your sentimental bullshit right now? Give it to me!"

 

The gentleman rushed to pull the ring off, but it was on his finger rather tightly, and his frantic pace did nothing to ease the golden valuable off, "Please. I can't take it off right now. Just take the rest and go!"

 

"I'll cut that finger off just for that ring I will!" The teenager growled, "You asked for it!"

 

He flicked the trigger, but a gunshot from much further away rang out instead. It hit its target, the teenager's wrist, his own gun dropping out of his hands and to the ground. The adolescent grabbed his wrist right away, crying in pain as the gentleman took this opportunity to run. He managed a glimpse of a small figure in a red hood before he turned the alley. The anonymous hero the people were applauding on national television instead of dismissing had arrived.

 

"You know you're better than this," she said, resting her giant rifle on her shoulder, "I'd hate to damage those tendons if you needed that wrist for some hidden talent you've yet to discover."

 

The teenager found himself backed into a wall, "No! Please! I just needed the cash fo' some dust! Really!"

 

"Dust? You don't need dust," she said.

 

"Of course I do! It's my lifeblood!" He pleaded, "I haven't had any in two days! I just need some, just need to get the energy out, just need my, need my fix—"

 

The hooded girl shook her head, "Sorry, can't do that."

 

"Fine then, I'll just have to go through you myself!" The boy jumped for his gun on the floor, but was no matter for the heroine's reflexes, who simply shot the gun further away from him. She was rather close to shooting him in the head instead, but that didn't happen so a bullet was dodged.

 

"You've gotta be kidding me!" The teenager cried out, "Please just let me get a little more. I'll come back and give myself up afterwards! I just need one more fix! Please, Crescent Rose! I beg of you!"

 

"For the last time that's my weapon's na—"

 

Sirens began echoing through the neighbourhood, the widened eyes of the teenager somehow wider than before. He tried to run the other direction, but tripped on Crescent Rose and found himself back onto the ground. He rushed to pick himself up, but the weight on his back was too much. A small but dense item was pressing onto his spine, keeping him pinned to the ground.

 

"For your sake, you best hope they give you rehab instead of prison," she mentioned, "because you really don't need prison."

 

As police cars and trucks came careening across the intersection, turning sharply into the alley, the masked heroine, also known as Ruby to her few personal friends and family, jumped onto a fire escape and quickly rushed up a building onto its roof. She stayed for a few seconds to make sure the officers had seen the culprit before rushing off the opposite direction. Ruby had seen the repeats of the press conference on television earlier, knowing she had to be far more subtle in her takedowns if she wanted to continue this risky career. She was also a bit miffed that people were calling her Crescent Rose instead of her rifle instead. She put so much effort and time into this thing, and all everyone cared about was Ruby herself. They didn't understand the intricacies and usefulness of firearms like she did. They only cared about the big picture instead of all those little important unsung details that went into everything.

 

Ruby found her boots clacking onto more roofs until a loose tile gave out under her, and gravity pulled her down into another alley. She luckily caught herself onto a flag pole installed to the side of an apartment before plummeting to her doom, taking a deep breath in relief. Perhaps thinking about so many things while running around on things not designed for running in the first place was a bad idea. It was almost like distracted driving,  rather hazardous for your health. Ruby was about to pull herself back up when she heard a dreaded click behind her.

 

"Freeze!"

 

Ruby did just that. She was unfortunately still clinging onto the pole with her one arm.

 

She did recognize that voice however.

 

"You're the vigilante, aren't you?"

 

"...maybe," Ruby responded weakly.

 

Her elbow began throbbing.

 

It was almost like torture that her pursuer was taking her time to speak, "Why are you doing this? It's very dangerous, and is a risk to people's lives, as well as your own!"

 

"That's a good question, Lieutenant," the red-hooded figure began, "But before I answer, can you please unfreeze me so I won't fall?"

 

Lt. Nikos did not let up, "If I do, I will never find you again."

 

"And if you don't you'll never find me alive again," Ruby said, "I'm really going to fall."

 

The police officer kept her barrel pointing at the vigilante, but she too could see the hero struggling to keep herself hanging. Just when the hooded girl was about to slip, Lt. Nikos dropped her hands, knowing no matter what she could not risk the life of someone just so she could arrest them. 

 

Ruby used what strength remained to pull herself up slowly and clumsily. She managed to return to the roof, barely, but lie still, prone to catch her breath before standing and turning around. She dropped onto the fire escape, now facing the officer who was shocked to see the anonymous heroine honour her words. It almost felt wrong to raise her gun a second time, but she was trained to do so no matter who the perpetrator was or how noble they might have been.

 

"Thanks," Ruby said, "Uhm. I guess I can't ask you a second favour to let me go?"

 

The lieutenant shook her head, "You are a danger to society, Crescent Rose."

 

"That's not my—oh it doesn't matter at this point, does it?" Ruby sighed, "I'm not the best with words or anything, but you're the good cop, right? The one who doesn't talk without thinking on national television?"

 

Oh, she was referring to the Cardin incident.

 

"What my superior does is his business," Pyrrha stated, "Right now you need to come down."

 

Ruby descended a few more steps, "How come you point at me with a gun and not like, I dunno, a taser or something?"

 

"This is just what we're provided, and what we must do is necessary."

 

"So if I made a sudden movement, you'd end up killing me."

 

The officer shook her head, "No, but that's a small possibility."

 

"And if I lay here dead, you'll have those guys who investigate internally all over you. Or am I wrong? Has that happened before?"

 

"Less questions, more moving."

 

Ruby was near the ground, but had one more thing to say, "I'm only asking because that's what's going to happen."

 

"What—"

 

The vigilante pivoted around suddenly, facing an open window. Lt. Nikos shot on instinct, but the heroine had turned around just in time so that her weapon strapped to her back was able to deflect the shot easily. Ruby threw herself into the window, running through the apartment's corridors before pushing open the windows at the other end of the hall and scaling back towards the roof. Lt. Pyrrha Nikos attempted to follow on her vehicle, keeping her eyes on the top of the roofs as she followed. She was about to call for backup, but just before she could say anything, slowly placed her radio down. The words the heroine had given her were enough to make her second-guess herself. The officer had almost killed the anonymous girl, who she could now tell first hand was a minor. The ramifications had she done so was massive, and from the words of the vigilante she knew full well she was risking her life by running. There had already been several stories from a few counties over with massive controversies arising because a police officer was a little too trigger-happy. If she ended up killing what the public was deeming a breath of fresh air in this crime-ridden city, pandemonium would have been an understatement.

 

Her rampant driving came to a stop when she cornered the vigilante landing in an alley with a dead end. Ruby turned around immediately, throwing her arms up this time when she noticed the headlights.

 

"Stop right there!"

 

"Wow! You're really good at this."

 

Lt. Pyrrha Nikos raised her gun again, "I won't tell you again to give yourself up. Drop your weapon too!"

 

Ruby shook her head, "It's magnetically attached to my back, so I'd have to put my arms down to unlatch it and then drop it. Which I'm gonna wager you won't trust me to do either."

 

"Of course not."

 

"So, your only other choice is to shoot me."

 

"You need to drop your weapon."

 

"I already told you I can't."

 

Pyrrha gripped her gun even tighter than before, wondering if it was possible to engrave a groove onto it at this point, "This is your last warning!"

 

"That's why I said you need a taser. It avoids this whole 'kill the prep' business."

 

Unbeknownst to Pyrrha, despite her words Ruby's heart as abuzz. She had managed to avoid and escape most of the other police officers, but the lieutenant was actually good at her job. The fact that she was familiar enough with the roads and skillful enough to drift around the corners to follow someone who wasn't even using the roads a testament to her accomplishment, but Ruby hoped dearly she would use some logic. She wasn't lying when she told her of how she kept her weapon on her, but she knew some officers would have no choice but to follow their training. At the very least, Ruby hoped the shot wouldn't be lethal.

 

Frustration mounted in Pyrrha's voice, "We aren't provided any tasers."

 

"Why not?"

 

"My Captain does not believe in using anything other than lethal force. He finds tasers beneath him."

 

"Wow, that's petty."

 

Pyrrha sighed, "I know."

 

"Listen, if you just let me go—"

 

"This isn't just about keeping the public safe!" Pyrrha tried to reason with the vigilante, "It's about you, too! You're young and have the rest of your life to look forward to. You shouldn't have risked your life like that in the other alley!"

 

Ruby stood there, this time with little to say.

 

"And it's not just that. Those men you took down in the mall earlier, they're part of the Schnee Syndicate. That's really dangerous company to involve yourself with. I urge you to stand down and give up your weapon," Pyrrha explained, "I will commend you on your ability. You are athletic and agile enough to down thieves and potential murderers, but this isn't worth it! You could apply for the police academy in the future. I'm sure you'll pass with flying colours. I could even give them a recommendation."

 

Ruby smiled, "That's really tempting, actually."

 

"I promise you, I will put in a good word for you. All you need to do is go through the process and—"

 

"But I made up my mind a long time ago."

 

Ruby began stepping closer to Pyrrha, arms still in the air. The officer really didn't want to shoot. If there was even the chance she would end up ending the life of this individual she couldn't take it. Pyrrha narrowed her eyes, her target still the heroine's chest, "You have to stop. Stop, now! Are you suicidal!?"

 

The cloaked figure kept walking.

 

"I want to save people."

 

She had no intention of stopping.

 

"Stop! Halt!"

 

She stared down the officer, like her own life didn't matter.

 

"Even at the cost of my own life."

 

At this point, the gun might as well be pressed into the shorter girl's chest.

 

"This isn't worth it! You could join the police force! That's a much better investment of your abilities! You'd be able to save so many lives!"

 

Ruby stopped.

 

"Is that really true?"

 

"Yes!" Pyrrha's index finger, barely hovering over the trigger began to shake, "It is!"

 

"Then why are you about to shoot me?"

 

Grey eyes. They are large, bigger than usual, like that of a child's. They glinted in the moonlight, giving off a silver reflection like that of the moon. Her eyes were no longer hidden beneath the shadow of her hood, an air of innocence as opposed to the hardened soldier Pyrrha had expected. She knew she couldn't shoot, especially not at this girl, but unlike most other officers she could rely on a lot more than just her gun. The lieutenant slowly lowered her weapon once again, but just as the vigilante was about to take off, she drove a knee into the hooded figure's shin. Ruby bent over in considerable pain, but before she could recover she found herself flipped over, slamming into the pavement in a sudden but effective judo throw. 

 

Without thinking, Ruby reached for her own weapon, punting her attacker in the head with it like it was some sort of crude blunt object. Pyrrha crumpled onto the ground. 

 

It was a few seconds before Ruby realized what happened.

 

"Uh oh," Ruby mumbled, bending down to check if Pyrrha was still conscious, "Are you okay? I didn't mean to do that—"

 

Her ankles were suddenly in Pyrrha's grasp, and Ruby found herself rammed back into the pavement, her spine surely going to be sore tomorrow as Pyrrha managed to pin the young girl to the ground. The officer kept her knee pressed onto Ruby's chest, her elbow in her throat, so that any movement the red-clad girl made would only make her breathing more difficult.

 

The officer reached for her handcuffs, "I'm very sorry about this, but this is just how it is."

 

Surprisingly, Pyrrha felt the young girl fall limp in her hold. She stared at the girl's eyes, which lacked their determined stare of before. It seemed like she had given up, but Lt. Nikos knew not to let up in case it was another one of her tricks. She was a slippery one, after all. She managed to get the vigilante on her front, pulling her arms behind her back, just about to shackle her when she heard a car door close directly in front of her. For one moment Pyrrha wondered if her partner had showed up in time to take her away, but when she looked up she could never have expected who she saw.

 

"Commissioner Ozpin!?"

 

The man with the cane stopped just a few steps in front of them, "No need to call me that Lieutenant, I've long retired from that position. Now, if you don't mind I'd rather you not arrest Vale's newest hero."

 

-

FUN FACT: I used to sing and listen to "Wings" all the time, but now that song makes me too sad to do either. Wait that's not fun at all...