Tannum "Cooper" Oakwood
-----
Swinging his feet while gobbling biscuits, Cooper sat at the rim of a water tower on a high-rise building and admired the city's noggin like fine art at a luxurious museum.
Mistral Above was in an entirely different league of its own compared to Mistral Below and Between. Hard to believe it was still a part of the same city.
Buildings of glass, steel, and concrete, just like the ones found in the city of Vale, were sprinkled across the mountain range, but instead of being boring blocks, they came in a variety of pagodas, colonnades, archs, and pyramid shaped roofs that turned upwards at the edges to give them that Mistral touch.
Heck, there was barely a chill despite them being so high in the sky, all thanks to the artificial atmosphere just like they had up in Atlas.
Bridges connected the summits, stretching over the gaping valleys below, to spin a web of steel and concrete, no different than the network of streets found on the ground.
The Fly Lanes as everyone liked to call it, one of the six ingenious and revolutionary marvels constructed after The Great War.
The CCT towers, the floating city of Atlas itself, the Lionguard Den of Vacuo. . . Amity Colosseum, and Beacon Tower in Vale.
Cooper frowned at the lack of stars in the night sky.
With the amount of lights painting the town brighter than a sunny day, it's no wonder why the stars were washed out.
Were the lads seeing the same sky as he was right now?
News reports say that part of Vale was badly damaged and Beacon was overrun by Grimm. Many people got hurt or worse during the invasion. . . The rest of his team had to be alright, right?
That goes double for Ruby and the gals.
Cooper flicked open his scroll and pulled up a photograph of Team RTLS, the nostalgic strings in his heart tugged every which way.
The photograph cut out, replaced by Roman's police mugshot, and a ring rattled from the hands-free device hooked to his ear.
Groaning, he tapped the ear piece.
"Hiya." He tossed his box of biscuits in his rucksack. "You in position yet?"
"Where are you, Stripes?" Roman growled into the speaker. "We've been waiting here forever. You went silent, and I don't see you anywhere. I swear if you ditched us—"
"Keep your hat on." Cooper pulled out a pair of binoculars and did a full one-eighty. "I see ya."
Down below on a wide field at the top of a hill, the van Roman and Neo were tucked inside of was parked behind a bundle of trees and thick bushes, and in front of them was the nightclub with an owl shaped neon sign.
The Owl Parade, a nightclub owned and operated by Strix himself.
It was basically a miniature mansion jammed packed with partygoers and many more impatiently lining up for a chance to get in. Jeez. With a line too big for its own good, that place better be worth the wait.
The faint thumping of bass and cheer coming out the skylight on the empty rooftop was a priceless sight that had him grinning from ear to ear.
This was going to be a walk in the park.
A chime notified him of a message from Neo, showing a string of icons that consisted of a rather upset face, a knife, a raccoon tail, and a skull and crossbones.
Cooper gave his tail a rub.
Setting the draw weight of his bow to the max, he picked up the arrow he tied to the water tower beforehand with some rope.
Cooper mustered all his strength, fired the arrow at the roof of the nightclub, and after a few test tugs, he went invisible and used his staff to zipline all the way down, tucking and rolling for the fun of it.
Turning off his Semblance and reappearing in the night, he pulled his scarf up to his nose.
The music jarred him to the bone, and the jubilation of whatever song spun drowned his own thoughts.
"I'm on the roof," he said in the earpiece.
The frustration coming through the speaker was oh so sweet. "Took you long enough, Stripes."
"So, how do you know this place?" Cooper examined the locks on the skylight ripe for the picking. "Thought you were more of a high end kind of guy. Refined tastes and all that."
"True, it's a little out of my range, but they have great drinks. No, really. They're stellar." Something sinister rumbled under his breath. "The best part is that plenty of pockets will graciously pay for me, and I don't even need to ask."
Of course.
"Remember to keep your eyes peeled for anything that looks like it can fetch a price. Neo and I will keep watch out here while you do your thing in there. And try not to let those rusty fingers of yours screw this up."
"I got it handled." Cooper fiddled open the lock. "Just make sure to stay all nice and cozy."
"Whatever." Roman grumbled. "Hurry it up before I have to get my suit dirty. I just got it cleaned."
Cooper prepared another rope to lower himself to the rafters and onto the wide, metal beams, which hoisted dozens of booming loudspeakers, extravagant lights of every colour, and props fixed to cables and wires that went on forever.
The amount of noise alone exploding below beat his brains to mush, yet despite that, Cooper couldn't find it in him to hate such a catchy tune. Kinda made him want to join the party and quench his thirst at the plethora of bars across the dance floor.
A wall of drapes covering the windows to a secluded room caught Cooper's attention, especially the vent big enough for a person to squeeze into right next to it.
"Roman." Cooper tapped his ear piece. "I think I found the target."
Whatever response Roman had was smothered by the music.
"What was that?" He plugged his other ear and raised his voice. "Speak up!"
Nothing except garbled rubbish. Ugh. Forget it.
What kind of dandy surprise could be waiting for him over there?
Thanks to the gentleman's push with his foot, the cheap, rusty screws popped off the grate, and Cooper crawled out onto a ledge coated in years worth of dust and muck.
Gross.
Cooper silently whistled at the luxurious chandelier illuminating an elaborate office about half the size of the mess hall in Beacon. Expensive paintings lined the warm oak walls, and model ships stuffed inside glass bottles filled a bookshelf next to the window door leading to a balcony.
The best part was the bulky safe tucked in the corner of the room behind the fancy desk.
Bingo.
A single camera on the ledge Cooper was on proved to be the only piece of security in here, but a simple nudge was enough to convince it to look the other way.
With a jump, he landed without so much of a thump, the noise outside was hampered to dull whumps and bumps. Now, he better get to work before they catch his rump.
"Roman," Cooper said in a low voice, "you still there?"
"Yeah." Roman yawned. "Got anything?"
"I'm in an office." He checked the bookshelves and drawers full of paperwork. "Found a safe. Trying to see if the code's written anywhere here."
Roman hummed. "What kind of lock does it have?"
"Keypad."
"Darn it. If it were a dial, you could probably crack it. What else is in the room?"
Cooper gave the room another once over. "There's some paintings and model ships in bottles."
The most evil and diabolical laugh drummed the side of his noggin.
"It might be old school, but check the paintings," Roman said. "I have a funny feeling that might be our best bet cracking into that safe."
"That is old school." He tapped his doubts into the desk. "I mean, that kind of thing went out of style a while ago because of how obvious it was. It couldn't be that easy, right?"
"Just humour me."
Playing along, Cooper did as he asked and examined the well made paintings of all sorts of sceneries, landmarks, and people. . . wait a minute.
There was a painting of an old ship with yellow sails and the jolly roger of bird wings made from gears.
The symbol of Clockwork.
"What do you know?" He checked the model ships. "I think you may be onto something."
Roman's already overinflated ego audibly expanded into Cooper's ear.
Cooper's guess was proven right when the same exact ship from the painting was bottled on the bookshelf, which he nabbed.
On the underside of the ship, there were four numbers.
"I got it." Cooper slipped the bottle in his rucksack as a lovely souvenir. "Nice work, Roman."
"What can I say?" Roman nonchalantly huffed. "I'm a professional."
"Kind of reminds me of the time we hit that jewellery store. Remember?" He inputted the code. "The one we staked out for days and then we ended up almost pulling out because you got food poisoning."
He grumbled. "That's because you gave me expired buns."
"You were stuck to the loo for hours." He didn't bother turning down the volume on his amusement. "And I had to crack the vault in the backroom all by myself. Those were some of the prettiest jewels I've ever seen."
"Shut up and pop the safe already. Neo, pretend you didn't hear that."
Cooper did as told and got his grubby hands on the jackpot in the form of a stack of lien and rolls upon rolls of gold coins.
Of course, to the average citizen, coins were useless; they've gone defunct long ago. However, to a thief like him and anyone else who dealt in the criminal underground or the black market, well, a coin like this was priceless.
Since Strix was already number one on their hit list, why not ask for a tid bit extra from the generous bloke while they were at it?
"Bring the van around." Cooper stuffed his rucksack full. "We got what we need here."
"Seriously?" Roman's giddiness popped like a firecracker. "How much did you get?"
"Plenty." He opened the window and sauntered onto the balcony. "This calls for a celebration."
"I know just the place."
Hearing what Roman had in mind, Cooper's heart pounded decibels higher than all the club's subwoofers combined.
As much as he hated to admit it, that chap really did know how to have fun.
-----
Leon Alexander Gates
-----
Team RRYL had some explaining to do.
Waking to the mallet of the lamplight drumming his skull, Alexander sat up on the couch and did his best to fight through the pain as he staggered to his feet.
Alexander wasn't dumb enough to believe what he saw was real, yet the thought of it sent a shiver of doubt across his skin.
What did Yonah do to him?
Alexander checked his scroll and sighed.
Midnight.
"Morning, Al."
Alexander flinched and came face to face with Roxy, laying her head on her arms folded over the back of the couch.
Roxy grinned and nestled a finger over her lips.
Of all the people to be awake right now. . .
"Heard what happened." Her sunny eyes brightened. "How you holding up?"
Alexander grunted. "Peachy."
"Looks like Yonah got you good." She pulled a deck of cards out from inside her robe. "But forget about it. Wanna play? It's not often I get company."
Anything to get his mind off that crap.
He nodded.
Beaming, she skipped over to the other couch across from him and shuffled the deck on the coffee table, where Teddy slept under, and set up a game of Go Fish.
"So, tell me about yourself." She sank back and checked the cards in her hands. "Do you have a nine?"
Alexander checked. "Go Fish. Do you have a four?"
"Go Fish." A curious twinkle came from her eye. "Like what do you enjoy doing for fun or what's your favourite kind of food? Any sevens?"
"Go Fish."
"You really aren't much of a talker, huh." Roxy pouted and reluctantly reeled in another card. "Could you at least tell me what the sun's like these days?"
Alexander peeked over his fan of cards.
That didn't sound like a joke.
"Did no one tell you about me?" She rolled her eyes and groaned. "Of course they didn't. How am I supposed to say this?"
Alexander cranked open his ears.
"It's my Semblance." Roxy hopped from foot to foot around the table. "Guns don't work on me, or arrows, or anything that flies in my direction, really. As good as that sounds, there is a slight problem with it."
It took a few seconds to sink in.
"Let me guess," he said. "It puts your ass to sleep."
"Only when the sun's out." She playfully knocked the ivory mask hanging on her head. "Give me a king."
Alexander glared at the card she wanted in his hand and passed it over.
"Yes!" Roxy fist pumped and set aside the pair of kings. "What about a ten?"
"Go Fish."
"Aw."
Roxy sleeps all day and enjoys her waking hours by herself at night.
That meant. . .
"It gets lonely," he said. "Doesn't it?"
As if sensing to put the game on hold, Roxy blew raspberries and put her cards down.
"It did at first." She shrugged. "But it's not so bad once you get used to it. Then again, I wouldn't say no to a buddy every night."
Roxy gasped and nearly launched herself at Alexander.
"I know!" She banged her hands on the table so hard the cards jumped. "Why don't you be my buddy, Al?!"
Alexander stared.
"Come on!" Roxy lurched closer. "I promise it'll be fun!"
How'd it come to this?
The notion of becoming a night owl sucked ass, but popping a little girl's balloon dead in her face was even worse.
"Why don't you try and be Yonah's friend, too?" Roxy gave Yonah's room a sneaky glance. "I'm sure she'd like that a lot."
Alexander snorted. "I don't."
"Don't be like that." She frowned and lowered her voice to a whisper. "It's kinda hard for Yonah to make friends outside of us. She's quite sensitive about it, actually."
Tough luck.
"That's why she's always covered up in that cloak, cause, you know." The light in her eyes dimmed. "The whole touching thing and seeing bad stuff is a deal breaker to pretty much everyone. It may seem cool, but like me, her Semblance has a catch." Her shoulders slumped. "It's always on."
His curiosity piqued.
"Would you two shut up!"
They snapped towards the bedroom holding Sienna.
Guess those tigers ears aren't for show.
"Looks like someone's still awake." Roxy smirked and tugged Alexander's sleeve. "Think she's bored? Maybe she wants to play, too."
And get their faces clawed off? No way.
"Don't give me that dumb look." She made a stupid face. "Besides, Rey-Rey's still trying to make Sienna a team player without Yonah's help, so we might as well try. Besides, I'm sure if we put our heads together, we can also make her our buddy!"
"You can forget it!" Sienna's rabid howls gnawed through the door frame. "Don't even bother!"
Alexander faced Yonah's room. "What's wrong with Folkvang?"
"Oh, Yonah's just being moody after what happened." Roxy's gaze pleaded with Alexander. "She already feels really bad about what she did to you, so try to understand. Because I don't know what would happen if you end up hating her for it."
'Let's be friends.'
That's what she asked of him, wasn't it?
Roxy dragged Alexander to Sienna's bedroom and whipped the door wide open. "Hello!"
A pillow flung out, but right before it hit Roxy, it rebounded off nothing and thudded at her feet.
That's what she meant. Must be nice.
Sienna wiped off the puzzled face and shot daggers at them. "I'm guessing you're Roxy Nihon, The Midnight Sun."
"Bingo!" Roxy saluted. "How'd you guess?"
"That big Ratel Faunus is clearly Laurence Bouvos, The Laughing Mountain." She groaned. "Then that must mean the other woman is Yonah Folkvang, The Beautiful Nightmare."
Alexander furrowed his brow.
"So, whoever you are, kid, get away from them while you still can." Sienna ran that hostile gaze up and down him from head to toe. "They're all monsters."
Monsters?
Roxy clapped her hands in a way that ended the conversation.
"Welp, since we all know each other, we can skip the introductions and go straight to a game of cards!"
Somehow, Roxy managed to squeeze a game of Go Fish right on the bed, and she refused to have it any other way no matter how much Sienna wanted to rip them apart.
No wonder Reynold couldn't get Sienna to cooperate.
'Monsters' was the word she used to describe Team RRYL. Sienna would be proven right if Alexander allowed whatever plan they had for her to go through, and pissing her off even more was the last thing they needed.
Yawning and stretching her arms, Roxy checked the time.
"Aw. It was just getting fun, too. Oh, well." She gathered the cards and left. "Let's play again later. Have a good night, guys."
As soon as Roxy was gone, Sienna basked in the sweet relief, absolutely exhausted, until her surgical scrutiny twisted a scalpel into him with enough contempt to make anyone run for their lives.
Alexander stayed put in his chair.
Sienna's fangs peeked out of her scowl. "Get out."
No. He was going nowhere—not unless she finally agreed to help them. This was his shot. Reynold had his chance; it's Alexander's turn now.
When he didn't move, genuine confusion creased her brow before scrunching into annoyance.
"Will you help us?" he said.
"This again, really?" Her curt laugh was drier than Vacuo. "Don't bother."
"Why won't you help us?"
"I'm Sienna Khan, the true High Leader of the White Fang." Her voice boomed, and she sat tall. "If you understand, then you know I will never side with the enemy."
"The White Fang is your enemy now."
Sienna's tiger ears fell flat, eyes full of shock.
Alexander smothered the growing sympathy and pity inside his heart. Nothing good would come out of disrespecting her with it.
"You won't help." He leaned on his knees and entered her striking range. "Then tell me what I must do for you to trust me."
She stared in genuine awe until those tiger ears flicked back up.
"You're serious?" she said.
"Yes."
Sienna went quiet for a second, probably caught off guard by how quickly he responded, then she hummed as she sifted through what must've been an endless collection of ideas.
"As much as I loathe the thought of working with humans, I despise Adam more for usurping my throne and turning the White Fang against me." The hammering of red hot steel between her teeth cried for war. "I will consider offering my support only on two conditions."
Sienna raked her claws on the bed sheets.
"One." She curled up a single finger. "There's a certain place we need to go. It's a month's sail by sea from Anima. You must take me there."
Alexander's stomach rumbled in protest.
Not the sea.
"Two." A second finger unfurled. "You have to suffer like I suffered at the hands of humans, so everyday for the entire voyage, you have to shake hands with Yonah."
The flashes of what happened the last time he touched her raised his pulse.
The satisfaction of victory tugged on Sienna's lips.
"I saw what happened when you touched her, and I heard everything Roxy said." She showed him her hand. "If you have the guts to go through that over and over again, then we have a deal."
Those terms were meant to cause doubt and test Alexander's word of worth, and Sienna knew full well that it was meant to scare him into backing off.
Did she actually believe it was that easy?
Insulting.
Clasping her forearm, Alexander reeled in Sienna, forcing out a gasp.
"So," he said, "where are we going?"
A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her slack jawed face, and she stared, bugged-eyed, until her senses snapped back.
"I have a contact who I trust with my life." Her attention diverted to the curtain covering the window as if she could already see the destination in the distance. "That's why we must go to the home of the Faunus."
The declaration dropped a grenade in the middle of the room.
"Hope you like the smell of the salty sea and the feel of hot sand in your boots. Because we're heading to Menagerie."