Hall of Roses

I waved back as the rest of the team filtered out of the red hall, leaving me to my portion of the mission. I looked all along the giant hall. Several red and yellow striped banners hung against the wall. I walked amongst the crowd, shifting between each person. They were all focused on their own thing, not even looking at me.

"There has to be at least one person to talk to here," I whispered to myself. As I looked through the crowd, I saw the girl who brought us into the Basilica. Her scrawny body stuck out from the crowd of large men and tall women. I charged through the crowd to see her.

"The fuck mate? What's wrong with you? Bitch," I heard as the bodies darted out of the way. She turned her head as I sped toward her. Her face went from confused to absolute fear. She screamed and pushed her arms forward, and I stopped in my tracks. It was very sudden, I couldn't move, but I didn't feel rooted or bound at all. My arms were outstretched above me, stuck in an awkward diving position. She opened her eyes, and slowly lowered her arms. I slowly regained movement of my limbs, my arms falling to my sides. I locked my eyes with hers.

"Oh my God!" I exclaimed. "That was so cool! Is that your semblance? What is it called?" she stood in silence, her eyes quivering and refusing to look at me. She looked down and mumbled something. "What was that?" I asked her. She stepped back and ran. "Hey wait!" I called out chasing her. She could run fast, but my semblance let me catch up, intercepting her. She jumped back and quickly changed direction. I caught up again, pinning her between the wall and myself. She stood shaking, her eyes twitching around the room. I wondered why she was so afraid. I thought is should break the ice.

"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself," I said. "My name is Ruby, what's yours?" I asked holding out my hand. She looked down and mumbled.

"T…To…Tomoko," she said. Her eyes, hidden behind a curtain of hair, darted toward and away from me.

"Oh yeah, Mikal mentioned that didn't he?" I said rubbing the back of my head. "Sorry, I guess I was a little more focused on the conversation with him." I waited for a response, but she just stood there, jittery. "What can you tell me about the Paladins?" I asked her. She didn't respond. "Is something wrong?" I asked her.

"Could, could you just leave, please?" she squeaked out. "I don't feel comfortable." She walked away, and I briskly followed her.

"What did I say?" I asked her. She picked up her pace but I kept up. She stopped by a small table with several bottles and small loafs of bread set on it.

"I just don't feel comfortable," she squeaked out. I looked at the table, and saw two empty glasses next to a bottle. An idea hatched in my head and I grabbed the two glasses.

"What if we had a drink?" I asked her, handing her a glass. She plucked it from my hand and grabbed a bottle, pouring it into my glass. I smiled and tipped my glass back, the sweet liquid concealing a sour aftertaste. Through the clear glass, I saw the bottle inverted. I set the glass down and saw Tomoko chugging the sweet liquid down her throat. She gasped and slammed the bottle down.

"That's better," she belched out. Her body loosened up and her skin began to warm in color. "Social lubricant," she laughed.

"Seems you can't hold your liquor," I said.

"Yeah," she said. "You asked about the, hic, the Paladins right?"

"Why is Mikal so mean?" I asked her.

"Mikal," she said, her face shifting back to her cold demeanor. "Mikal's said that people hurt the ones they love the most."

"He threatened to kill me," I said.

"Are you gay?" she asked.

"Why do you guys keep asking that?" I asked her.

"Mikal, tends to not like gay people," Tomoko said. "I mean he hates other groups more, but he still doesn't like them either."

"Why?" I asked.

"Paladins are kind of different from others," she said. "If you talk to the Priests, they are a lot calmer than Paladins. Paladins have to be more willing to kill in order to keep the law working."

"Are you willing to hurt people?" I asked her.

"I'm a Holy Paladin," she said. "We're healers. But Mikal is Retribution; damage dealers. Nobody wants to hurt people, so they have to stop being people." My eyes widened.

"It's like the war from 80 years ago," I said.

"He is, unsympathetic to those people," he said."

"What do you mean?" I asked her

"If he doesn't know you, he couldn't care less," she said. "But if he does, he would lie down on a sword for you."

"Then why try to befriend me? A member of a group he hates?" I asked her.

"He wants your help," she said. "He wants you to more likely to trust him then anyone else."

"He wants us to fight for him," I said.

"Well," she said. "When I joined he told me that I would have to behave like a Paladin. He made me read from the Bible, and made me train and study with the other Paladins. Eventually, I got used to it and now I can talk to them at least. I even have a few friends here. I guess he wants the same.

"We can already fight," I said. "Why would we have to join the Paladins?"

"It's the only way he'll trust you," she said. "Like I said, he doesn't like your kind. If you joined us, he would be sure you wouldn't try to fight for the enemy."

"That's insane!" I retorted. "Why would he think that?"

"He has trust issues," she said. "so do I. He did say he relates to me. He needs to be sure, he hates betrayal." She slunk her head, deep in thought.

"So that's why people hate the Paladins," I said.

"We're also traditionalists," she said. "Mikal is very, persistent on that."

"So you don't care that I'm gay, or whatever?" I asked her.

"I'd be upset that you have somebody and I don't," she said. "I mean, if I didn't have Bhelen. It's nice to have a boyfriend." She smiled.

"Well that's nice," I said. "At least you got a boyfriend out of the deal."

Suddenly a burst of light erupted from the center of the Basilica, blinding me, and staggering Tomoko. She fell into the table.

"Hey are you okay?" I said kneeling by her. She pulled herself up on my shoulder, leaning on my side. Several men ran past us, B-lining for the Dome, but behind them walked Mikal. Mikal's face was different; instead of cocky aggression, it was unsure and pensive.

"Ruby," he said flatly. I glared at him.

"Let me level with you, it is very difficult for me to be empathetic. I'm not very trusting of new groups, and I am fearful that you would be used as a symbol to pull people away from God." He shuffled about, trying to keep a proud posture.

"Ruby; I don't like the fact you've chosen that as your identity, I hate it. But I don't want that to translate into a hatred of you. I can oppose this lifestyle and still consider you a human being, I want that. It's just that those people think opposing that means I don't think you're human, and that's not the case," he said growing angry. "I don't want to kill you Ruby," he said shifting back to calm. "I want your friendship, I'm just afraid that you will be used against me by those that hate me, and by extension, God."

"Do you mean that?" I asked.

"I truly do," he said. "I desperately try to look past that quality of you and several others. There is no way I cannot see that as a negative, so I choose not to see it. It is just that whenever I have expressed that opinion, I've been met with extreme hatred and opposition. I would rather unite on what qualities we share, rather than divide on differing ideologies. Hypocrisy is quite a bitch. And then when I try to stay in one area, they either call me an isolationist or try to horn in on my territory. It's very hard to live such a life as this." His face was genuine, filled with fear and concern; stark from the face I had seen not minutes before.

"I still haven't heard an apology," I said. He took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry Ruby," he said. "I'm sorry if I offended you. I cannot promise that I will change my perspective, in fact I promise the opposite. But you cannot discount all of my argument just because you dislike a few parts. I used to think like that, but I now try to look for the good in things and people. Like you." he held out his hand. "Do you accept my apology?" I paused for a second and thought. He sounded genuine, and he wasn't wrong. While he did have a bit of a mean perspective, it was very effective. He held his men and women to a high standard, so they have to be good people; even if they may have closed minds. I stretched out my left hand.

"Of course," I said answering with his left. "I guess I could try and see from your perspective. I mean, you're already trying to see from mine." He smiled and gave out a small chuckle. Mikal's men returned, dragging another man in a green robe with them. He was staggering to his feet, but looked disoriented.

"Whoo!" Tomoko yelled, flailing an arm.

"Tomoko, I told you alcohol is a crutch for social interaction," he said.

"No, a crutch helps me walk," she said.

"Funny joke but poor execution," he said. "You should go lie down before you make a fool of yourself." Her face fell a bit. Mikal sighed. "What do you want to do Tomoko?"

"I want to talk to Ruby more," she said.

"You're drunk," he said. "You might reveal more than you should." She pouted. "Tell you what Tomoko, meet up with Ruby outside the Basilica, you can talk to the group." She jumped up and sprinted down and out of the hall. The two of us stared as she ran.

"Back to the previous point," he said. "Empathy is a difficult path Ruby, especially for those tasked with keeping people accountable. I won't be perfect at this; I still have a hard time with it."

"I trust you," I said. "You really aren't a bad guy. Underneath all that armor and sour candy, you're just a sweet gumball."

"Not the analogy I would use, but it works," he said walking away. "Two weeks Ruby; your sister still needs convincing." I smiled and walked down the hall. That man is like me; trying to make the world better. It's going to take everybody to make the world a better place, and he seems willing to work with us for it. I smiled and walked around looking for the rest of my team, happy to have made a new friend.

White as Snow

I passed underneath the giant dome overhead, light filtering in; red and gold. The looming hall of blue and white flanked me on either side. Several men and women walked about, holding books and writing on clipboards. Their dress was fairly different from the Paladins. For one, they wore robes rather than plate armor. The Priests draped a pair of jeweled cloth underneath a leather mantle. This was contrasted by the Paladin's shoulder plates decorated with a golden book and knife. The robes were with, patterned with concentric trimming, alternating light blue and yellow. Several of them were at a large bookshelf pulling books from it. A light sound of a chorale hummed in the background, creating a mystical ambience to the locale. I could make out two words: Lux Aurumque.

"Weiß Schnee?" I heard called out. I looked around, the placement of the voice difficult to determine. I looked back to the entrance of the hall, but felt a tapping on my back. I shot my head back to see a fairly tall man in those blue and white robes standing behind me. He stood at least two feet above me. His face was soft, a stark foil to Mikal's sharp aggressive face. He was also quite a bit thinner than him. His hair fell in front of his face, his bangs concealing his right eye.

"Yeah," I said. He smiled and offered his hand.

"My name is Levi," he said, blue eyes flashing in the light. His voice was soft and comforting. "Mikal told me you would be coming to talk." I nodded. "Let's speak in private." He motioned towards the wall opposite the bookshelves. Several alcoves were stationed against the wall. We walked over to the small rooms, slipping into the small space, the door lightly shutting behind us. There was a small table with two chairs, on which rested an electric lamp. There was a window with its blinds drawn. He slid out one of the chairs and motioned me to sit. I obliged and he sat opposite me. The Lamp grew brighter as he touched the base of it.

"Now, what is it you wished to speak about?" he asked.

"I'm not really sure," I said. "I just feel uncomfortable."

"The unfamiliar territory?" he joked. "The constant threat of death, being in the company of those who root out evil and corruption?"

"Excuse me?" I asked him confused.

"Whenever guests come here and Mikal lacks trust towards them," he said. "He tends to, threaten them. Especially, your kind."

"My kind?" I asked him aghast. "That language sounds familiar."

"Like whom?" Levi asked back seriously.

"My father," I sighed. "Mikal talks just like him." My eyes shot over to the blinded window. "Judgmental and quick to condemn. Especially with the White Fang."

"The White Fang?" he asked.

"They are a group of Faunus terrorists," I said. I wondered if he knew. "Do you know what a Faunus is?"

"We call them Beast-men here," he said. "But yes, we have tried to do some research on them. They favor attacking supply routes. They take a page out of the Confederation book."

"I don't really like to talk about my family," I said. "But something has really been upsetting me." He raised an eyebrow. "I'm afraid of what my father will say when I tell him about Ruby and me."

"He wouldn't be very supportive would he?" Levi asked.

"He really doesn't like Faunus," I said. "I have a hard time trusting them too."

"Are we still on the subject of Ruby?" he asked.

"I thought Priests were supposed to be encouraging?" I asked him.

"I apologize, Weiß," he said, likewise pronouncing my name wrong. "It's just from our interpretation of the Bible; we tend to oppose such forms of sexuality."

"Interracial?" I asked shocked.

"Homosexual Weiß," he said. "and bisexual, and trans, pretty much anything not straight." I rolled my eyes at him. He chuckled. From what is seemed he was a significant opposite to Mikal. Mikal was horribly aggressive and threatening. Levi, however, was kinder, softer. He may share the same opinions, but he's wasn't an asshole. His words hurt, but he didn't try to hide behind honeyed words.

"I don't hate my father," I said. "But now I have my freedom. I don't need him to guide me. But, I'm afraid. I'm afraid he'll hate me and Ruby. That he'll discover Blake. I don't want to hurt my team."

"Weiß," Levi said, walking to my side. "If your father truly loves you, as a father should, he will do no such thing. Even if he does not approve of such behavior, he would still love you." I looked into his eyes, locked with mine. "After you gain exposure to a group of people, you tend to be more sympathetic to them. You don't have to support their behavior, but you still need to love them. That's what your father should be doing. There is no way your father would stop loving you."

"I'm scared," I said. "I don't want to hear what he has to say. I just want things to be normal." Tears welled in my eyes, and I threw myself into his arms, bawling into his shoulder.

"If he knows the truth, he can mull it over," Levi said. "He will be able to cope with it sooner, rather than later. He will still love you," he said. "If he is a true father, he will love you unconditionally."

"Am I a racist?" I asked pleadingly, jumping from my seat. "Every time I look at Blake now, I feel upset. I can't be calm around her. My heart beats fast, my vision blurs. I'm so scared."

"Have you considered that," Levi questioned. "You might like Blake the same way you like Ruby?" I pulled away slightly and considered his words.

"I never really thought about it," I said. "She is cute. I mean I'm not against it. She's strong, capable. Maybe, maybe I..." I said to myself even more confused. He placed his hand on my right shoulder.

"You're young Weiß," he said. "It's perfectly fine to be confused. The goal is to not let confusion become our identity." I looked away.

"Maybe I felt aggression toward Blake," I said. "because I couldn't accept the fact that I like her."

"So you mean to tell me that your being upset is over the fact that you have feelings for Blake and Ruby?" he asked. I felt a weight ascend from my shoulders and my stomach unclenched.

"Oh my God, you're right," I said. I saw Levi roll his eyes.

"Well, at least we found the source of you trouble," he said. "Albeit the result not being ideal." I shot him a sour look. "Regardless, I think it would be best to tell your team your feelings about them. It's the mature thing to do."

"Yeah, you're right," I said. "Thank you." he smiled at me and I slipped out of the room and started towards the central area.

"Weiß," I heard him call. I looked back through the doorway as he stepped out of the room.

"I hope that my reactions in our conversation haven't left a poor taste in your mouth," Levi said. "I still have concern for you Weiß, even if we disagree on some points." His voice was sincere. "Remember, you're always welcome at the Basilica," He smiled at me. I smiled and nodded and swiftly ran down the hall to meet up with my team. I stopped underneath the dome and looked up. I thought, Levi was incredibly different from Mikal. Where Mikal desired to fight, Levi wanted to talk, to become close. I dropped my head slightly. Does Levi like me? Do I like Levi? I shook the thought away and walked down the main hall. I guess I can come back and ask a few more questions. Yeah, I'd like that.

Cat and Mouse

I waved away at Weiss and Ruby as Yang charged forward.

"Yang, wait!" I yelled after her. She turned around as I grabbed her hand, interlacing my fingers with hers. She pulled me close, resting her forehead against mine. She lifted my chin and placed her lips against mine. Her lips were sweet, contrasting her fiery personality. We pulled apart, resting in the afterglow, until Yang's face became confused.

"Yang, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Your bow's gone," she said. I quickly grabbed at my ears, hoping she would be wrong, but she was right. Where I expected the smooth silk of my bow, I instead felt the soft fur on my ears. I looked around in a panic, desperate for that shield of my Faunus identity.

"You do realize that bow did a poor job of hiding your ears," a voice said from my right. My head shot over to the shadowy wall, the glimmer of the ribbon floating in the air. Slowly, a large figure stepped forward. He wore the same green robes as the others; trimmed with leather and with fur-lined shoulder plates. He tossed the ribbon in his hand, passing it between sharp clawed fingers. He wore a shitfaced sneer, and the face of a wolf. His wore a scraggly beard that connected to untrimmed sideburns. But his eyes, his eyes were the fiercest part of him. They were slanted thin and colored silver. But where Ruby's eyes were peaceful, there was an unsettling fierceness resting in them. "I can smell you cat," he said striding up to us. He leaned in close, his foul breath hanging in my face. "Not to mention that little PDA you just had, poor decisions abound," he threatened. A blast of light enveloped him, pushing him back.

"Thomas, stop!" A female voice yelled. I looked over to the source and a small woman speaking. She wore the same green robe with its hood up, two bumps protruding under the cloth. She thrust her hand forward and blasted him with another light ball. He recoiled and leapt further away. She rushed forward, drawing a gnarled and knotted staff from thin air and took a swipe at him. He leapt backwards, eyes fixed on her. "Leave them alone," she said in a strong and confident voice.

"You are well aware that Mikal does not like them," he sneered.

"Regardless of his opinions, it does not justify attacking them," She said. They stared off and she thrust the staff forward. He let loose a fierce growl and walked away into the Basilica. The woman relaxed and walked over, ready to speak. She shot a look back to Thomas, and quickly lifted a hand. A purple pillar of light blasted through the dome, throwing him to the ground.

"Asshole," she smirked. "My name is Eva."

"My name is Blake," I said. "This is Yang."

"Who the hell was that?" Yang asked.

"That's my boyfriend," she said. "At least, he was."

"Well, I guess I'm just gonna slip out now," Yang said walking forward. "See ya Blake." She ran off leaving me with the woman.

"She's rather charming," Eva giggled. "You two make a good couple."

"You're okay with that?" I said confused. She smiled.

"I know, Paladin whose okay with Gay people," she laughed. "Mikal doesn't reflect everybody's opinion. I guess that's why I'm in the Creation Paladins."

"You're the Faunus I saw earlier," I said. She looked confused.

"Faunus?" she asked confused. Her face quickly turned into to a smile. "Oh, I'm sorry; we have a different name for them. We call them beast-men." My ears twitched, reminding me of my missing ribbon. I looked behind me; sure that Thomas still had it. I looked back, and saw the ribbon hanging from Eva's hand.

"Thanks," I said grabbing it. I began to wrap it around my ears, but Eva spoke up.

"Don't worry, you're safe here," she said, pulling down her hood. She revealed a pair of cat ears, not unlike mine, covered in beautiful chestnut hair. I dropped my arms, my ribbon hanging down. Her lower robes jostled and a large tail swung free. She was more animal then I thought.

"So what's a Creation Paladin?" I asked her. "You look a lot different from the others." She smiled.

"A Creation Paladin is essentially a Druid," she said. "Mikal wanted to command the powers of nature without resorting to a Pagan path. So he justified commanding nature as commanding God's Creation, ergo, Creation Paladin."

"So the Creation Paladins are all Faunus?" I asked.

"Not really," she said. "You see, when we began to use the Nature magic, we began to exhibit, animalistic traits. It's called the Kekomimi curse. In fact, Tom is the only one who is legitimately a beast-man."

"So what is he then?" I asked.

"He's a worgen," she said. I gave her a perplexed look. "You know, werewolf." She looked down and let out a sigh. "He was such a charming guy too."

"What happened?" I asked. She stood silent, looking away. "Oh, I'm sorry, personal question."

"No, its fine," she said. "I'm just thinking. He was sweet at the beginning. But he got very aggressive. Like what just happened with you. I used to love him, but he was just horribly aggressive. I broke up with him."

"Didn't take it too well I assume?" I asked.

"I expected retaliation," she said. "But he refused to lay a hand on me; even after I gave him permission to attack. He just couldn't do it. And that's the worst part; he still loves me, even though I don't love him. I even attack him, and he doesn't respond, just takes it."

"That sounds horrible," I said.

"It tears my heart up," she said looking back over. A smile slowly crept on her face. "But I guess the two of you are a lot better."

"Well, yeah," I said blushing. "I mean she's a little energetic."

"I would love to get to know her too," she said. "She seems like a sweet girl."

"After Mikal's little speech I didn't think anybody here would be this open minded," I said.

"Well, that's why I'm in the Creation Paladins," she said.

"The Creation Paladins are for outcasts?" I asked her.

"It wasn't always like that," she said. "at the beginning several people wanted to try it out. And then came the Kekomimi curse. Still, we worked together. Then, a few Paladins began to disagree with Mikal. Naturally he didn't want his own army to have dissenters, so he forced them away from the immediate army. So went the status, the pay, but worst of all, the respect."

"So the Creation Paladins are second class," I said.

"Well not really," she said. "It's weird, we get about the same money, many of us prefer the less glamorous life, but the big thing is how quick Mikal was to get rid of us. There are a few Creation Paladins that are devoutly loyal to him, mostly to keep us in check I'm sure."

"So we aren't that different," I said. She laughed loudly.

"I guess you're right," she said. "I feel betrayed, I don't hate being a Druid, in all honesty that's what I am, not some fancy Paladin variant, just a Druid, just a girl that challenged the standard." She stared into the Basilica, and I looked back as well. Tom was being pulled up by several Paladins, pulling him over to Paladin hall.

"Does Mikal trust him?" I asked.

"It's more like the Paladins keep him in check," she said. I thought about the spell that had incapacitated him.

"So what exactly can Druids do?" I asked. She smiled.

"I am a Balance Druid," she said. "Which means I focus on spell casting. What you saw was a demonstration of the two powers I use. Solar and Lunar based spells, ergo Balance."

"And what about Thomas?" I asked.

"He is a Feral Druid," she said. "Very appropriate considering his nature. Feral Druids take the form of a fierce feline and inflict damage with their claws. They are even capable of using stealth."

"So that explains how he stole my ribbon," I said.

"And more than that, Druids can shapeshift based on their specialization," she continued. "Feral uses Cats, Balance uses Moonkin or Owlkin."

"What's an Owlkin?" I asked.

"Sorry, essentially they're like a Humanoid Owl," she explained. "Restoration Druids take the form of a healing Tree, and Guardians, Guardians take the form of a Bear."

"What makes that special?" I asked.

"There are very few Guardians out there," she said. "In fact, we only have one ourselves. He's a giant man too."

"There are a lot of us here then," I said. She looked at me.

"Beast-men?" she asked. I nodded. "Of course, Mikal made an effort to represent us quite a bit. It really helped that people were kind of into that sort of thing."

"What do you mean into that?" I asked.

"You know what I mean," she said slyly. "Well, more like you or me," she said. "Mikal is rather, ambivalent; hell he's actually extremely critical of the other half."

"Other half?" I asked.

"Where Mikal comes from, there are no Faunus or Beast-men, just humans," she explained. "Some people there however, have an attraction to animalistic traits applied to Humans. However there are two styles to it. There is our appearance, Human with minor animal traits, then there are anthropomorphic animals. Dear God."

"Why does he hate them?" I asked.

"Rather open, to less than, normal, sexual activity," she said. "I'd rather not talk about it, it's a silly topic."

"Okay," I said. Suddenly, somebody ran between us, nearly throwing us to the ground. "What was that?" I asked.

"Tomoko's drunk again," she said. "I should take care of this. It was good talking to you."

"Yeah, I enjoyed it," I said. "Maybe, we can talk again later?"

"I'm always here," she said walking over to the entrance.

"Blake!" I heard screamed from behind me. I looked back to see Weiss running toward me. "You're by yourself, good."

"And why is that important?" I asked.

"There is something," she huffed, out of breath. "Something important I have to tell you."

"What is it?" I asked. She stood up, and brushed her dress up. She took a deep breath and spoke.

"Blake, I think I might, like you," she said. I paused.

"Like, you like Neptune?" I asked simply.

"That's it?" she asked confused. "You're not going to freak out or be shocked or anything?"

"Well, I am a little surprised, but there is the fact that Yang and I are together," I said. "And to be honest Weiss, I think that you're not that secure in many of your intimate relationships."

"What!" she asked exasperated.

"No offense Weiss, but first you like Neptune, and then you switch to Ruby, and now you say you like me?" I asked her. "Are you serious about any of these or do you just want a fling? Cause I'm not going to do that!" I said defiantly. I expected Weiss to shout back, but she did something rather out of character for her. She began to cry. She hung her head down and began to weep.

"Damn it," she cried. "God fucking damnit why does this always happen?"

"Weiss, are you okay?" I asked.

"Of course I'm fucking not," she said. "I have absolutely no idea what to think. I thought I liked Neptune, and you know what, I think I still do. Then Ruby and I have drunk sex and we're together, and then I can't get you out of my head at all," she wept. "Why can't I think straight?!" she cried. "What's wrong with me?" she fell to her knees, trapped by tears. I walked over to her and picked her up, pulling her into a close hug.

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with you Weiss," I said sincerely. "Look, I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean to be so hostile." She looked up at me, eyes bloodshot. "It's okay to be confused. It's normal, but you are with Ruby right now, and you should focus on that relationship, be a better girlfriend for her." She pulled away from me, wiping away her tears.

"Then how do you feel about me then?" she asked.

"Not that way Weiss," I said. "But do you really think that what you feel for me is real?"

"I'm not sure," she said. I sighed and stepped forward. I rested my hand on her chin, raising her head.

"This is the only way I know how," I said locking my lips with hers. It was a strange feeling. With Yang it felt incredible, a spark of energy surging through me, as if we were embraced in bed. But there was nothing with Weiss, just to mounds of flesh writhing over each other. I broke the kiss and stepped back. "Well?"

"Nothing," she said, disappointed.

"Then there's you answer," I said.

"Then why did it feel like I liked you?" she asked.

"Maybe you projected your feelings for Ruby onto me," I said. "Or for Neptune onto her. I know I trust my feelings in Yang."

"I think I do like Neptune still," she said, a smile coming to her face. "But at least I know how I feel about you."

"At least there's that," I said. She lunged forward, grasping me by the waist.

"Thank you Blake," she said.

"Weiss!" I heard called. Suddenly, a flash of red rose petals fluttered by, ending with Ruby latching herself onto Weiss. Weiss looked deeply at Ruby's smiling face and swiftly placed her lips on hers. I smiled, seeing the amount of joy that Weiss could feel with Ruby. They broke the kiss, and I saw Weiss smile contently as she laid her head on Ruby's shoulder. "Well, you're looking better," Ruby said. Weiss gave a light laugh and stepped back from Ruby, grasping her hand. "So where's Yang?" Ruby asked me.

"She went off ahead," I said. "She's outside somewhere."

"She would go after her?" Weiss asked. Ruby smiled and ran off to the gate, Weiss straggling behind. I sighed and followed after them, ready to meet back up with my girlfriend.

Gold Lock

I swiftly walked over to the gate of the Basilica, the bright white light blinding me. The snowfall had picked up, creating a white screen. I reached into my inner coat pocket, pulling out my shades. I slipped them on, and the white screen was dulled. I stepped out into the last warmth of the Basilica, the sand circle. The sand was untouched by the snow, which piled up against an invisible barrier. I stepped out of the warmth and into the storm. The wind beat horribly against me, the coat flailing about. Normally the wind would cut against my skin, but a warmth hung about me. I was sure my semblance was keeping me warm, but I looked down, the snow around my legs melting slowly around me. I ignored it and trudged through the bitter melting snow, until I saw a red flag, beating in the wind. I looked ahead, and saw a line of red flags leading up to a pale blue silhouette. I charged forward through the snow, leaping from flag to flag. Each bound linked to the next, my heart racing towards my goal. The wind rushed past me, my hair flowing with it. As I leapt, my heat escaped me, and I began to tense up. The darkness began to creep out as I leapt about. I had no idea what time it was but I didn't care. I breathed deep and pushed on forward making the final leap. The last flag stuck in the ground resting before a medium sized building. A sign hung on it, the words BeastMaster's Pub carved into it in pristine calligraphy. I stepped up to the door and entered the building, escaping the biting wind. I removed my glasses, hanging them from my collar. The doorway opened up into a small hallway. I continued down the simple corridor into a large common area, filled with chairs and tables, but more importantly, a roaring fireplace. I walked over to the hearth and warmed my hands.

"You came through the storm?" I heard. I looked over to my right. Against the wall was a well-stocked bar at which stood a large man wiping down the counter. "You're very tough, even for a Paladin." He thought I was a Paladin? I looked down at my outfit. I did look like a Paladin in this getup. It was incredibly gaudy, but to someone who had no idea who I was, I might as well be a Paladin. "I bet you're pretty thirsty," he said. "How 'bout a drink? On the house." I walked over to bar, accepting his invitation. Paladins get free drinks; now that is a perk.

"You have anything that can warm me up?" I asked. He smiled and pulled a bottle from the shelves and set it on the bar. He reached underneath and pulled out a small shot glass. The bottle contained a yellow liquid and the image of a fire breathing dragon dominated the label. He popped open the bottle and filled the small glass with the golden liquid. I grasped the small glass, staring at the yellow liquid. I slammed the liquid back, and the taste of burning cinnamon filled my mouth. No doubt it warmed me up, but I suffered for it.

"Now that is some literal firewater," he said. I leaned on the bar, the heat getting the better of me.

"That," I heaved out. "That is too hot."

"Something sweet instead then?" he said. I glared at him. He shrugged it off and pulled up a stacked pair of shiny metal glasses.

"Excuse me," I heard behind me. I looked over my shoulder. I saw a tall lank man in a green hood, with a scraggly beard, and the string of a bow drawn across his torso.

"You," I said. "You're the man from before."

"Of course," he said. "Come sit with me. He'll be finished with your drink." He walked over to a table in the corner close to the fireplace. I followed him over and took a seat with him. He pulled out an old pipe from under his cloak and lit its contents with a small match. As he smoked, I heard footsteps coming from behind me. In my peripheral's I saw the bartender carrying a tall glass of red liquid and setting it on the table. He nodded and returned to the bar. I took a quick sip of the liquid, and sighed relief as the sweet fruit soothed my burnt palate.

"That's better," I said. "Tastes a little weak though." I looked at the glass, it was filled half way with ice.

"You would need to specify no ice," the hooded man said. "If it's served in a highball, they put ice in it."

"Who are you?" I asked him. He took a long pull on his pipe, smoke billowing out of his nostrils.

"My name is Sylvanus," he said. "I am a Ranger." I looked closely at him. Through his cloak I could see a small opening where a few feathers stuck out, and slung against his body was the string from a bow.

"You're an archer then?" I asked.

"Not quite," he said. "I tend to be an outdoorsman, a scout if you will, trained in investigating the clues found in nature."

"Why did you want to talk to me?"

"There is something happening Yang," he said.

"How did you know my name?" I replied.

"Do you think it matters at this point?" he said. "The Paladin's advance into your world has consequences far beyond what their leader expects."

"How do you know?" I asked him.

"Mikal was not the only one to enter Remnant," he said. "I followed behind, tailing him and his Paladins. Something felt wrong, wherever he went, an uneasiness precluded, as if something was going to happen. Something, dark, foul," He pulled a deep breath off of his pipe. "Grim." Smoke billowed out of his mouth, a grey cloud hanging about.

"Are you saying the Paladins are involved with the Grimm?" I asked.

"I am told, negative emotions draw them," he said. "The Paladins are a, good source, for bad mindsets."

"They've already set a base at Beacon," I said. "What's going to happen?"

"The city is walled off," he said. "It seems unlikely that Grimm will get in, especially with what Mikal promises."

"Grimm hunting," I said.

"Yes," he said. "The Paladin presence will do little to reduce Grimm attacks, in fact, they will be only exacerbated, and even if the Paladins fight them, they will only break even."

"Then they have to leave," I said.

"That isn't possible," he said. "Mikal is proud, and he will not give up his pursuits in Remnant. He has weighed the pros and cons, and finds the cost to be worth it."

"What are we supposed to do then?" I asked him.

"Bide your time," he said. "Bolster your defenses, gain their trust. It is the only way to survive them."

"The Grimm?" I asked.

"Mikal," he said. "I have spent much time studying him, discovering motivation. He will be willing to work with people if they share a common goal."

"Not even in two weeks would we share a common goal," I said. His lips moved slightly, but I could not read them. I looked back to the fire, the crackling music of the burning wood echoing in the room. "I feel on edge around him. He threatened Ruby, I just can't trust him."

"Let me assure you," the ranger said. "The people he cares for, he cares for deeply. He would fall on his own sword for his men; for the people he loves."

"Why do I feel then that I'm on the opposite side of that sword?" I asked him. Suddenly, a clatter of noise erupted from the doorway. My eyes shot over to the entrance, and the rest of the team burst through.

"Yang!" Ruby yelled jumping on my shoulders. I looked back at the hooded man, only to find smoke hanging in his place.

"Where'd he go?" I whispered under my breath.

"I can't believe you braved the storm Yang," Blake said as Ruby stood back up.

"I can't believe you made it through the storm," the barkeep shouted from behind. "You Paladin bitches are tough."

"But we're not…" Ruby began to say before I quickly covered her mouth.

"Yeah, I got a little too excited about that," I said with a shitfaced grin. "I'm glad my teammates came all this way to find me though." The bartender raised an eyebrow.

"Well, no matter," he said. "There is no way you're going out in the storm." I looked out the window. By this point it was solid dark with a constant flow and flurry of white. How could I have lost track of time?

"Feel free to take a room upstairs, no charge," the bartender said. Ruby and Weiss walked over to the stairway. "Although, there are only two beds." Ruby smiled.

"That won't be a problem," she said enthusiastically. They strode up the steps hurriedly.

"I'll see you upstairs Yang," Blake said ascending the stairs. She gave me a wink and disappeared up the steps. That left me and the bartender.

"Where did he go?" I asked him.

"Well thank you," I said walking over to the steps.

"You can leave to dusters in the closet," he said coldly. "There won't be any snow tomorrow. I'm sure your brothers will take care of them."

"Thank you," I said ascending the stairs. His voice was cold, hostile; eerily similar. I brushed it off and walked into the room. Ruby and Weiss were already in bed, their coats on the ground and Ruby nuzzling into Weiss. Blake sat on the other bed, legs crossed and reading one of her smut books. I slipped off my coat, letting it heap into the ground. I kicked off my boots, joining Blake on the bed.

"Watcha Reading?" I asked her. She smiled.

"Nothing special really," she said setting the book down. "Unlike you." she nuzzled into my neck, her ears lightly brushing against my skin.

"Where's the ribbon?" I asked her.

"I don't need it," she said. "Not here at least. Plenty of people on my side. It feels great to not have to hide." I smiled and began to rub her ears.

"Well, they are cute," I said. She quietly exhaled and moaned, almost purring. I lay back on the bed, Blake curling up on my side, her arm wrapped around my stomach. I rested my hand on her hip, cuddling her close. Soon she fell asleep, her breath steady and quiet. That's normally what happened with us: I would find Blake in bed reading, waiting for me to come in. I would lie down and she would curl up with me, just like a cat. A lot of the time we would start having sex, but that was rare, considering we never got to be in a bed by ourselves. So I just relaxed to Blake's breath.

"Yang?' Blake asked quietly.

"Yeah?" I responded.

"I love you," she said softly.

"I love you too," I said back, placing a kiss on her head.

"I'm so glad everybody's happy," she said. "also, could you move your hand?"

"Why?" I asked.

"Cause it's not on my butt," she said smiling.

"Dirty girl," I responded. Blake dozed off, her breath slowing down. I looked at the other bed, Ruby and Weiss sound asleep. I took a deep breath, letting my mind drift off. I nuzzled my chin into Blake's, as I had done so many times before, and for the first time today, I felt calm and at peace, and I was able to finally join Blake in a comforting embrace. And slowly, my mind drifted off and away.