Die Hard

Disclaimer: I own nothing, not RWBY, not the characters, or any concepts and abilities written here. Please support the official release.

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James' Apartment

James is in his new apartment that Ozpin was kind enough to give him and the rest of his personnel. It was weird how everyone had already evacuated before Atlas fell, almost like they were prepared beforehand. Not that he was complaining, the less loss of life, the better his mental state.

"Hmph. It's fortunate that Oz has a good heart. At least he didn't turn into his manservant." James shudders at the thought. He hasn't head much about Leonardo since after his resignation nearly 2 years ago, only that he sleeps beneath Beacon, doing whatever the faculty orders him to do as penance for his crimes, and he knows how DAMN WEIRD the faculty here is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S6QN5hdNIc

James answers his Scroll. "Go ahead."

"General! There is a hostage situation at the Bonaparte Building! The kidnappers want 60 trillion Lien or they'll execute the hostages!" Winter yells.

"I'm on my way!" James hangs up and dashes out of the room.

Later

James stands with several police officers in front of the Bonaparte Building.

"What's the status, sergeant?" James asks.

"The kidnappers are holding 12 hostages. They want 60 trillion Lien or they'll execute a hostage every hour." The Sergeant told him.

"Yes. Specialist Schnee already-wait." James looks around. "Where is the Specialist?"

"Inside. These kidnappers aren't amateurs. We believe they may be academy dropouts."

'If they're strong enough to overwhelmed Winter, then this may be harder than I thought.' He said. "I'll go."

"Sir?"

"I'll go and stop the kidnappers." James said.

"B-But...!" The Sergeant watches James take a bullet-proof vest, a combat knife, and extra ammo clips. 

"If I don't get out in the next hour, contact Headmaster Ozpin." James jumps off the barricade and rushes inside the building.

The police force watch silently for a few minutes. "Is he gone?"

"Yup." The Sergeant confirms and the police force cheers.

"Booyah! Paycheck here we come!"

"That was easier than I thought!"

"Drinks are on me!"

Meanwhile

James enters the office block of the building. "I don't get it. I've checked the first three floors, but there's nobody here. Did they move the hostages?" Suddenly, the lights go out. "What the!?" Then the lights come back on and sees someone new.

"Hello General. Thought we'd forget what you did?"

"Roman Tochwick and Neopolitan? Wait." James said. "You staged the kidnapping?"

"It was all a ruse you pathetic little ant. The perfect bait to get you to come."

"Even the police were in on it?"

"Oh yes! The whole thing cost me 750,000 Lien and over 24 months of planning, just to lead you right here, into the palm of my hands." Roman explains.

"And Winter?" James asks and Neo gets up, turning into Winter.

"Help me, oh help me, general Ironwood! This scumbag did such naughty things to me~" Neo speaks through a collar, perfectly mimicking Winter's voice.

James narrows his eyes. "Why are you doing this?"

"You and that bimbo witch locked us in a closet for almost two years! We've had to survive on rats, and leaky water from the pipes!" Roman roars. "And now its time to pay the piper. NEO!"

Neo snaps her fingers and the entire room lights up.

"I've rigged this entire room with Dust explosives! If you so much as try to get filthy metal fingers on me, I blow half of this kingdom into the stratosphere!" Roman crackles.

"Wait." James said. "Wouldn't that also kill you too?"

Roman's cackle stops and realizes his mistake. "Oh shit."

"Yeah. Feel a bit of dumbass now, huh." James gloats.

Roman stands up. "Neo." Neo walks up to her partner. "You win this time, general. But mark my words: we will have our revenge!" Reality shatters like glass and the two vanish.

James lets out a tired sigh. "What a shit show."

Later

Roman and Neo reappear in an alley.

"Fuck! Why didn't you tell me we would've died in the explosion!?" Roman yelled.

"[I thought that was obvious. Idiot.]" Neo said.

"Now what do we do!? I've wasted nearly a million Lien on this scheme!"

"[You should have the done the deposit like I told you.]"

"Ara, ara. What do we have here?" The two freeze and turn to the voice.

"You children look lost, hungry and cold." Tiamat said. "You can come home with me, if you'd like."

Roman huffs. "Look, that's nice and all sweetheart, but we got things to-NEO!?" 

Neo has clung to the mystery woman like a fruit fly. "[Mommy~]"

"Fufu, such a lovely child." Tiamat gently pads Neo's head.

Roman facepalms. "Such misfortune."

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Author Notes

And here it is. As promised. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!