Heart to Heart

Chapter 42: Friends old and New

-Atlas Military Meeting Room-

James tried not to sigh from how long the meeting had been going. The meeting room was a large office room with a long table. He sat at the head of it of course but there were several higher members of the military here. The window behind him showed off a view of the Atlas military base that held a lot of the fleet when grounded. James suspected whoever made the design of the room had this in mind, he approved of it as it helped to remind them of the might of Atlas.

The meeting was the weekly update brief on how things were going in every section. As the general in charge of the armed forces for the kingdom he had to be up to date on everything. He looked around the table at the senior members as they briefed him on the status of each section. It wasn't much, in fact not much had changed from last weeks but it was important to have these meetings none the less.

Currently it was Commodore Harita Nemo who was in charge of the Atlas Battle Fleet. Her flag ship the Nautilus stood proudly in the battlefleet that was protecting the airspace around them. She had dark tanned skin with her brown hair in a single braided ponytail that she wore slung over her shoulder. The greying hairs only added a sense of dignity with her age as her hard features usually had people refer to her as the Iron Maiden of the fleet.

Well Iron Maiden when they were nice about it as she generally drew a line and would defend that line no matter the cost.

She was currently updating them on the fleet status, nothing too much. They had reserve stockpiles of dust to keep the fleet flying for a year given they weren't flying them but just keeping them in a holding pattern. A few ships were being worked on for minor issues, some maintenance work nothing too worrying.

James cast a look at the other members seated. The youngest was a Colonel Robert Wood, the man was just older than Winter and yet had climbed to this spot was impressive. The man had blonde hair and a goatee that he always kept nice and neat. He was the type of soldier you used for recruitment posters. The man also like to throw himself into problems, something James could respect and had integrity to match as he came up through the ranks on merit alone. James might have brought him into his plans but there was a problem with Wood.

He seemed to err on the side of caution a bit too much and also was a little too much of a free thinker. Not that there was anything wrong with that but the man nearly got court martialed once for insubordination for refusing a commanding officer. Of course, those had been illegal orders but the stigma lasted for years after that. The man also didn't like to use heavy handed measures and didn't know much about how politics ran in the kingdom.

Wood was in charge of the security of Mantel and every report he asked for more personnel, material or at least to loosen patrols to allow him to send troops to the walls. James couldn't give them that because they were needed where they were.

Across from him was Wood's opposite in every way. There was Colonel Bigby Wolfe, the man had been in as long as James had and he would have gotten the job of General if James hadn't beaten him to it. Now Wolfe did know how politics worked and he was one to use force when necessary, the problem was that he liked to use too much force than what was needed. That had been the reason why he hadn't been promoted to General, actions he had taken to quell dissidence had gotten on the news and the council felt his actions put the military in a bad light with the people.

That was also the reason why he wasn't in charge of security Mantel even thought he had been on the list of those up for the job. James knew that things were tight down there but under Wolfe it would be much worse if he had his hands untied. His ruthless aggression in military matters gave him the nickname of the Northern Wind which in Atlas was generally thought of as the coldest wind that froze you to your bones.

Also, James suspected the man always resented him for getting the position of General instead of himself. Currently Wolfe was in charge of cyber security something the Colonel clearly thought was beneath him but did his duty to the cause.

There were a few other officers here, a couple of majors and two captains for their sections. James listened to it all, the logistic branch was having a hard time trying to come up with all the materials needed for the project. No one in the room even knew what the project was about, only the code name and that it was in a secure area somewhere on the continent. James didn't think anyone in the room was a traitor but after Lionheart he couldn't be sure, besides just because they weren't didn't mean that someone in their organizations wasn't.

The was the problem with traitors and spies, rooting them out before they did any damage.

He was also a bit tired from the meeting earlier from the project of putting Amity Colosseum into space. The lead scientist felt that the booster rockets they were designing might work but the materials needed for it was going to be a bit of a problem. Well that was just one more problem on his plate after all. There was no shortage of problems to deal with after all.

The rest of the meeting went as usual, he made some notes on some of the things that were brought up and gave out orders to be passed down to their respective branches.

Ironwood left the meeting as he headed to his office, it was a long day but then again it always seemed like a long day lately. There was just so much going on that he felt like he was being stretched thin. Normally he could have delegated more of the work but given that he didn't know who he could trust, it left him little options. Going through the paperwork for the next batch of materials for the project. He knew that these materials were needed elsewhere but this was too important.

"Yo, Jimmy you look a bit rough."

James looked up seeing Qrow, he hadn't even noticed the man walk into his office. "Qrow, what do I owe the visit?"

"Just seeing how things are going," Qrow answered the truth of the matter was that James had been looking pretty worn lately and he was generally concerned for the man's physical and even mental health. James always was one to take all the load on his shoulders and never ask for help thinking he could handle anything.

That was one of the things Qrow never liked about him, someone that took on all that work with not asking for help eventually broke and looking at the man, he was nearing a breaking point that he was worried about. James was their biggest ally here and he was the man that was most likely holding the military together by this point.

"You've looked better." Qrow told him.

James leaned back and sighed. "I've like to see you run both a school, military and our secret project as well as security for two cities and see how well you look."

"No thanks, I still got my looks to keep." The Huntsman joked sitting down in front of him. "I'd say take a vacation but I doubt you ever took on."

"I've taken them," He stood up to go to the side of the room to pull out a bottle and glasses of some of the better liquor he kept in his office. He didn't drink often but he kept them on hand just in case, it was the end of the day anyway and he had no more meetings.

"Oh? When was that?" Qrow asked.

Ironwood paused thinking about it and trying to remember. "It's…been awhile."

"Same old Jimmy, all work and no play," He shook his head.

James set everything down and he started pouring himself a little, Qrow looked at the liquid and felt the urge to down it. It clawed at him as he felt his hand flex, it took some personal strength to put his hand up and push the glass away from him.

"Sorry but I can't."

James paused at the sight. "You really did quit drinking."

Qrow nodded his head.

"How is that going?" James asked taking a drink.

"Some days are harder than others." Qrow admitted. "But I'm managing."

James nodded his head glad to hear it, he and Qrow may not always see eye to eye but he did respect the work that man did do. Qrow was also someone that he could trust, one of the few actually. "I hear you've been working with Clover a lot."

"As an Atlas soldier goes, he's not bad," Qrow shrugged although he also worked with the man because he was a professional and his good luck semblance countered Qrow's own bad luck semblance. He was one of the few people that Qrow didn't have to worry about his semblance working against him.

"High praise indeed," James smirked.

"Yeah well you work with what you got," Qrow studied James for a moment. "You really are running yourself ragged you know, it shows."

"I have a lot of responsibilities."

"I know you want secrecy for what we're doing up North," Qrow stated hinting at the project. "But you should spread it around some James, you're going to run yourself into an early grave."

James stood up and walked to the window at the back of his office. "Qrow, I have no idea who I can trust. I have no idea how many spies or operatives Salem placed in Atlas before Beacon fell. What you told me about Lionheart only showed just how deep she can get."

"You still want to expose her to the world?"

"Fighting in the shadows has done nothing for us Qrow," James said with conviction. "This proxy war has been going on longer than most likely the Kingdoms, before the Great War and nothing has changed. She's the one that for some reason decided to take this war up a level when she struck out at Beacon. I will not let Atlas fall to her Qrow, no matter what it takes. We have to drag her into the light and with the combined strength of the world we can finally end her."

Qrow knew otherwise he wanted to tell him that this was a war he couldn't 'win' like any other war. This was a war against someone that had lived before recorded history, who apparently not only controlled Grimm but had magic on he side. The only one that had magic on their side had been Ozpin and even then, he wasn't what he used to be. Years or giving up small portions of his magic to people like the original Maidens, to him and his sister, to who knows how many others?

Ozpin's magic wasn't at the levels of Salem anymore, then you had that Oscar didn't have access to that magic either and it got even worst to try and match magic with magic.

Looking at the man, he could see that all of James' hopes were on this plan. That he was going all in with the hand he had been dealt. Too bad he didn't know that the game was rigged from the start and Salem held all the cards she needed.

There was another thing that worried him about James. "So are you saying the ends justify the means?"

"I'll let history decide that," James nodded his head still looking out the window. "But I feel I am right."

"Tell that to the people of Mantel."

James turned around quickly shooting Qrow a heated look. "I'm doing what's best for them in the long run!"

"They don't see the big picture James, they only see the boot heel of Atlas crushing their throats, like usual." Qrow fired back.

"Mantel is an important part of the kingdom."

"But not an equal part," Qrow told him. "They don't get to live in a fancy city safe in the sky that's all clean and shiny. They have to stay on the cold ground mining all the dust that feeds this city and all of the kingdom. They don't get an equal share of how hard they work."

"That's SDCs fault there," James told him.

"Mostly, yeah," Qrow nodded his head. "But what has this city done to curb him or set him straight?"

James didn't have a come back for that one, Jacques had a lot of influence to keep things quiet. In fact, the empty seat on the council had been firmly in Jacques' pocket.

"And what would have me do Qrow?" James demanded from him. "We need to tighten security you were there at Beacon and what you told me about Haven means her reach is a lot longer than we thought."

"I'm not against you on the need for security Jimmy," Qrow sighed running a hand through his hair. "But there's security and then there's this, people are scared Jimmy and they have no idea why any of this is going on. All that fear and anger is just calling to the Grimm."

James did know that Grimm attacks were up sixty percent, it was one of the reasons he made Ruby and her group fully licensed Huntsmen and Huntresses, he needed every able body he could get his hands on and he trusted them then some of the people that worked for him.

"All I need is time Qrow," James told him with a sigh. "I just need a little more time to get the project up and running and then the world can finally start coming together again."

Qrow stood there thinking about it. "I'm not sure how much time we have before all the pressure blows up in our faces…but I can help give you that time."

James relaxed a bit as he sat back into his chair. "I know you will, you may not be the most disciplined man but you do get results."

"Well with me Jimmy you may not get a soldier but with me at least you'll always know where you stand and what I think of things. I'm not going to be someone that will just sit back and not say anything, if I think you're doing a good job I'll say it but if I think you got your head up your ass I'll say that too."

James grunted a laugh. "You always seemed to like the latter one more."

Qrow grinned at him, "Maybe you just did more of the latter when I'm around to see it."

Qrow sighed as he sat back looking at how tired the man was across from him. "I'm just worried about you Jimmy I'm worried you might go down a path that doesn't have a way back and it's not going to end well for you."

James looked at him and saw the bit of worry in his eyes. "Everything I do I'm just trying to do the right thing. If I have to walk through hell to save the world, I'll do it."

"The path is laid with good intensions," Qrow muttered as he thought again of his sister and her fall back into banditry and later joining Cinder at Haven. He was sure that partnership was over but still, he couldn't stop his sister falling into that dark path and now here he was and he was worried he was seeing it again with someone he knew.

Qrow got up. "Well I'll get out of your hair then, I bet you got a lot of work ahead of ya."

"Qrow I may not like what you say…but I do appreciate your honesty with me."

Qrow felt a jab knowing that he wasn't being completely honest with James, he knew that when the truth comes out it wouldn't be pretty. He knew first hand how it felt to have the truth kept from you only for that truth to put everything into question. He had nearly drunk himself into oblivion because of it. If he hadn't pulled himself out, he was afraid he was going to crawl right back into a bottle and he wouldn't crawl out of it.

-Team RWBY Dorm-

Weiss adjusted her pose as she put on her lipstick, nothing bold just something to help her look better for tonight. She had spent the time after dinner to get cleaned and ready for her outing. She was actually looking forward to it. A little get away from all the work, her father, and well everything. She felt like this was the perfect time to relax a little, something she hadn't done in a very long time.

"Looking sharp," Yang said from her bed as the others had been watching her get ready.

"I like to look nice," Weiss stated making sure her makeup wasn't too much and not smudged anywhere.

"You also look a bit happy," Blake commented with a small smile.

"I am looking forward to seeing this music club, I think after all the work and training with little to no breaks, I want to relax." She told her.

"Yeah," Yang grinned. "Never thought you would go on a date though."

Weiss rolled her eyes, "It's not a date, it's an outing with a new friend who showed me a new type of music that I am enjoying."

"See!" Ruby shouted at Yang pointing at her. "A boy and a girl can hang out without making it a date!"

Yang rolled her eyes as Ruby still was having issues dealing with her own emotions on the subject. "So, you dress up like that for just any occasion?"

"There's nothing wrong with how I am dressed." Weiss stood up in her new outfit. It was similar to one she wore when she had left Atlas only the style was a bit different. For one thing the blue and whites were switched around, had a slightly different design to it and a slit on the side for easier motion. Flynt said that dancing happened at clubs like these and she wanted to be prepared.

"Not saying there is, just that you look like your going out for a date." Blake stated.

"Look I just wanted a nice evening out," Weiss sighed.

"So go for it," Yang shrugged. "Just saying, Flynt seems like a nice guy."

"Handsome, into music, knows dust," Blake counted off her fingers given that Weiss had talked about some of the time she had spent with Flynt so they knew a little bit about him through her. "You two seem to have a good time together."

Weiss paused as she thought about it, Flynt was handsome and a gentleman who didn't flirt with every woman he saw. If Neptune could have kept the flirting down, she might have been with him by this point and she wouldn't even entertain the thought. Was she entertaining the thought? Flynt was very nice and honestly everyone seemed to have someone by this point and it was starting to make her feel a little self-conscious.

She pushed those thoughts aside. "Look we're just hanging out listening to music, nothing more."

"Well how do you know he didn't ask you out as a date?" Yang asked her.

Weiss paused at that she didn't think he asked her out on a real date…did he? Great now she wasn't sure if this was a real date or not at the moment as she shot Yang a hated look as the blonde just grinned back at her.

Weiss noticed the time grabbing her purse. "Great now I'm starting to run late."

"Well have a good time." Ruby told her as her partner started to leave the room.

"Not too good a time," Blake smirked.

"But if you do have more than a good time hope you got some protection," Yang joked.

"Yang!" A blushing Weiss and Ruby shot at her who only laughed.

Weiss muttered something about troublesome blondes and left before Yang could get anymore jokes in. She managed to calm down a bit by the time she found herself in the large central lobby. Given that Flynt was still a student he couldn't get access to their section of the building with only a student ID so she would meet him here.

"Wow, you do dress to impress." Flynt said looking at her.

"I told you that I do, I have a certain set of standards," Weiss said looking him over. Flynt always did dress sharply but this suit of his was a bit better than normal. The dark clothing was of a finer material that she could tell and he was actually wearing a silk shirt. "You are not so bad yourself."

"Well when escorting such a lady around I can't look like I came out of the gutters," Flynt offered his arm as she took it. They were near the entrance when a voice called out to her.

"Weiss!" Winter's commanding tone made the two of them come to a complete stop as both saw Winter walking towards them. Winter had seen her little sister dressed up and with a boy on her arm, that alone made her want to see what was going on. On closer inspection she noticed it was one of the students at Atlas. She remembered him as he had been one of the students that qualified for the Vytal Festival. She had made mental notes on all Atlas teams that had made it for that event.

"Sister," Weiss stated surprised to see her here.

"What is going on here?" She eyed them her eyes narrowed slightly at Flynt. The boy while he didn't flinch at her presence as many did, he was at least looking slightly uncomfortable. Good, this was her little sister after all with a man on her arm.

"Flynt here is taking me out to a jazz club." Weiss simply explained to her.

"Jazz? Since when have you liked that music?" Winter was aware of the music but never really gotten into it. She had never been into music like Weiss had growing up, being more focused on fencing and her glyphs.

"I've recently gotten into it," Weiss explained to her.

"I see," Winter looked back to Flynt with. "I take it that this is a reputable club student."

"Yes ma'am," Flynt quickly answered.

Weiss rolled her eyes, "Of course it is, now if you'll excuse us, we were heading out."

Winter paused unsure of what to do or say, ever since Weiss had come back, she had come back different. Normally Weiss would have agreed to anything that she said to her and tried to impress her in any way. But now her little sister was a lot more independent and while she was glad for Weiss' growth, it was still a sudden change she wasn't sure how to handle.

"Very well but be mindful that there is a curfew for students," She looked back at Flynt giving him her best commanding look. "I suggest you keep that in mind."

"I-I will ma'am." Flynt felt some sweat forming. He knew that Weiss's older sister was part of the Specialist program, they were some of the most elite soldiers that Atlas had. So basically, not someone he wanted to pissed off.

Weiss pulled him along as both of them left through the main entrance. When they were clear Weiss sighed. "I'm sorry about that, I didn't mean for her to give you a hard time she's just protective."

"No worries," Flynt told her. "Although I will admit your sister can be one scary woman."

"Oh, you have no idea," Weiss shook her head. "Still she means well, she's not very good at expressing herself."

Flynt smiled at her. "Is that a family trait?"

She slapped his arm lightly at the joke at her expense. She knew she had issues too but she had grown since then.

The trip was uneventful as they just made small talk as they took a taxi to the club. When they got there Weiss could see a very stylized building and she could hear music coming from inside. Flynt led her in as they were seated to a table. Looking around the place it was a decent size, a bar in the back with round tables over looking a dance area. The stage was elevated with a few levels where a band was playing and a woman was singing.

It held a warm atmosphere as Flynt held out a chair for her like a gentleman. She took it as he gently pushed her forward. In her book it paid to be a gentleman on a date.

Wait! No, it's just an outing not a date. She mentally cursed her friends for putting that idea in her head. She just wanted to have some fun and relax, she didn't need a relationship, even though everyone around her was starting one.

Okay that thought was a bit depressing but she didn't need romance in her life just yet, sure it would be nice to have an actual relationship. The thing with Neptune would have been nice if they had actually tried for one. Maybe she should have been more upfront with what she wanted with him? Then again maybe he wasn't ready for a relationship and that's why he never stopped flirting.

Was that the reason they never got together? Because Neptune wasn't looking for a full-time relationship?

"You okay?" Flynt asked her. "You look miles away."

Weiss shook her head. "Sorry just a thought I had but I'm back now."

She could look into that train of thought later now she just wanted to enjoy her time with Flynt. The music started up as he softly explained who the singer was and any interesting background on them. Weiss started to sway slightly to the upbeat music as she enjoyed her time.

She noticed how the dance floor always had people on it, the dancing was different than what she was used to. It was faster pace and with more exaggerated movements.

Flynt noticed this as he got a smile on his face. He stood up and offered her his hand. "Care for a dance Miss Schnee?"

She blinked before smiling taking it. "I would be glad to Mr. Coal."

The two ended up on the dance floor as the music picked up for the next song. Weiss struggled at first, she was used to more slow dancing as she tried to pick up the pace, it also wasn't like ballroom dancing.

"Should we wait for a different song?" Flynt could see her having some issues.

Weiss felt her pride rising up. "I can handle it, just needed to warm up."

With that Weiss threw herself into the dancing. She tried not to think too much about the dancing and just went with it. She started to feel a bit more comfortable as she got used to the pacing, Flynt was a good partner as he slowly adjusted to her and was patient for to get used to this type of dancing. Once she was she started to match him as the two of them starting to dance up a storm.

Weiss felt a freedom in this dancing she didn't really feel before. There weren't any rules or someone had to lead like in ballroom dancing she was trained in. She found herself enjoying the dancing as Flynt would spin her around and allowed her to freely explore herself as they danced.

By the third song they were getting noticed as others would turn to look at the couple. By the end of the current song Flynt dipped her for the finale as both young adults looked at each other, both breathing hard from the exertion as both of them were locked in each other's eyes. Weiss had to admit, the moment was a very nice moment.

Flynt slowly pulled her up as she found her hand resting slightly on his chest. She noticed it as she blushed and pulled back a bit adjusting her dress.

"That was very entertaining, thank you." Weiss adjusted her hair next trying to focus on something else.

"Well I'm only as good as my partner," Flynt smiled at her. "Why don't we take a break for some drinks?"

"I could use a refreshment," Weiss nodded.

They spent the next few hours there at the club as both of them had a good time. Unfortunately both of them realized the time and that they would need to travel back to the Academy.

As they returned back to Atlas Academy, she had to admit this had been a great night. He had been nothing short of a true gentleman and as they walked arm in arm she had to admit, she didn't want it to end just yet. It was too bad he was still a student but she also knew she had to get up for work tomorrow. Most likely more missions, maybe she could take the escort mission tomorrow and just listen to some music on the way.

Still, she looked at Flynt and she had to admit he was a handsome man. He knew lots about music, they had a nice time together, both knew about dust and business and he was nothing short of what she would look for in a boyfriend. Her face heated up thinking about it as she felt a bit nervous now. Was she really thinking this? That stupid thought her friends had put into her head was gnawing at her now.

What if Yang was right and he did consider this a date?

"Flynt," she asked him as they got inside the main building at this time of night no one was around so the vast chamber seemed more larger than normal.

"Yeah?"

"Was…was this a date?" Weiss mentally smacked herself, could that have come out anymore awkward?

Flynt paused at this as he looked a bit nervous now. "Well I hadn't really indented that…but I wouldn't say no to a date with you."

"Really?" She looked at him surprised.

He stopped to look at her. "Honestly? Yeah, you are a very beautiful woman Weiss, not to mention classy, strong, a great teammate from what I saw and you've gotten a lot stronger since we first met. You have this drive about you I like. You have an amazing voice and I got to admit, that I do love looking into your eyes."

Weiss' cheeks heated up as she felt the blush forming as she looked away slightly but with a slight smile on her face.

"Thank you, I find you a very handsome gentleman Flynt, in fact tonight had been one the best nights I've had in a long time."

He smiled down at her. "So then, maybe I should ask you out for real then?"

She smiled back, "Then maybe I would say yes."

She stood up on her toes as she kissed his cheek, "Thank you for the evening, I do hope we do this again."

"Oh you can count on it."

TBC…