Clandestine Meetings In Shady Places

A/N: Time for some serious chapters. I know... plot. My bane, my scourge, my barrier to jacking it. But if we want the harem to grow, then needs must.

---

The girls had left, and Gray was now alone. Alone with his thoughts.

He sat on one of the hard plastic chairs in the skyport terminal, elbows on his knees, staring out through the wide glass wall at the airfield. Airships taxied in slow lines across the tarmac, engines whining in the distance. The late-afternoon light slanted golden through the windows, catching on metal wings and throwing long shadows across the concrete. He watched a cargo hauler lift off then disappear into the haze above Vale.

His mind drifted at first to the girls.

The things they had done throughout the day. The sexy times as well as the small moments of calm. The flirting, the banter. Listening to them talk as they wandered from store to store or ate in the food court. He had quite a bit of sex today. He came three times, which is some good practice. He hoped to be able to keep going for longer in the future. With four girlfriends and counting, he was going to need all the practice he could get.

He was also planning to make things official with Weiss soon. Maybe next week. Maybe after he came back from whatever happened with Adam tonight. Once she said yes, he could start moving closer to Pyrrha. The rest of JNPR would follow naturally after that. Jeanne was already his, though.

He also needed to give Professor Goodwitch another visit soon.

His scroll sat dark in his palm. No message from Adam’s driver yet.

He let his thoughts slide to the meeting ahead.

Adam Taurus. The bull-horned extremist who had been terrorizing Vale for a little while now. Gray had already layered commands into him to make him loyal and obedient. Enough that the man would kneel if Gray asked. Tonight’s video call with the White Fang leadership would seal the rest. Once he was able to speak with them face to face then he’d truly have them in the palm of his hand. He’d know their safehouses, their supply lines, their plans, their secrets. He could steer them away from random terrorism, redirect their anger into something useful.

Like his Mountain Glenn project.

The call yesterday with the Schnees had gone well. Willow had been compliant; Jacques had been shrewd but obedient. The businessman had agreed to run the project by his board and his wife, and Gray had made sure they would say yes. In exchange, the Schnee Dust Company would get first rights to any Moonfall fragment that landed in the south or southwest. If the plan held, Willow would relocate to Vale to oversee the project personally. Close to Weiss. Close to Gray.

Then there were the criminals already under his thumb.

The Xiong family. Junior’s club network. Torchwick’s contacts. He could move them all to Mountain Glenn as construction crews, security, and logistics. Crime in Vale would drop overnight. The worst elements would be put to work instead of running loose. They would be productive instead of a nuisance. And the White Fang could go along with them.

But Cinder’s faction was the loose thread that kept tugging at him.

She was still waiting; her original plan stalled. Her plan for Mountain Glenn and the school infiltration wasn’t supposed to kick off for another year. Now Gray had the reins, but what did he do with her in the meantime? She was dangerous, ambitious, and loyal, but she still had to answer to Salem at some point. Gray also still didn’t know if Salem was affected by his Semblance, so he needed to tread carefully.

Then there were Salem’s other potential agents lurking around the world. He didn’t know who they were or what their individual missions were, but he couldn’t just leave them be or ignore them.

He could use Cinder to sniff them out. That was an idea. She has a year of nothing to do, so it made sense to get her to find Salem’s agents in Vale and... what? Kill them? Or maybe Gray could take control of them like he did for Cinder? He could convert Salem’s agents into being his own.

And what should he do about the ones hunting the Seol Argentus, the Silver-eyed descendants Ozpin had talked about. Salem’s hunters were already moving on them, and by the sounds of it, nearly wiped them out by now. If Gray turned Cinder’s team into a counter-hunter cell, then he could protect Ruby and others like her.

He rubbed a thumb across the edge of his scroll.

There were other loose ends beside them.

The Maidens. The Autumn Maiden, Amber, was safe for now, if a little... ill. He needed to find out how to cure her of this Grimm siphon affliction soon.

But the other three, Spring, Summer, and Winter, were still out there. He needed to know their locations and keep them away from the vaults on the other continents. Keep Salem from collecting them.

He sighed, long and slow, watching another airship bank toward the runway lights.

There was a lot to keep track of.

His scroll buzzed against his thigh.

Unknown No#: Driver en route. ETA 8 minutes. Black sedan, plate ending 774.

Gray exhaled through his nose, stood, and slipped the device into his pocket.

Time to move.

He pulled his hood up, Aura-induced shadows deepening around his face, and walked toward the arrivals exit.

Time for the next phase to begin.

---

Gray stepped out of the skyport terminal into the cooling evening air. The sky was darker on one side now, with the clouds burning orange with some purple, and then grey the closer to the dark side. The sun’s low angle painted the tarmac in long orange streaks while the first floodlights flickered on around the perimeter.

He kept his hood pulled low as he found a spot near the curb. With his back against a concrete pillar, arms folded; his eyes scanned the steady flow of vehicles. Black sedans weren’t rare here, but he was looking for one specific plate.

Minutes ticked by. A few taxis idled, engines rumbling. A family dragged luggage toward the departures curb. Then... there.

A sleek black sedan eased into the pickup lane, slowing as it approached. Gray’s eyes flicked to the license plate. It ended in 774.

His scroll buzzed once in his pocket. A short vibration. There was no need to check the message. He pushed off the pillar and walked over, calm and unhurried.

He opened the door and slid into the back seat, pulling the door closed with a soft click. As the interior light dimmed, he let his Semblance deactivate, though he kept the Aura-shadows thick under the hood. His face stayed mostly hidden, just the lower half of his mouth visible in the gloom.

The driver, a nondescript man in a dark jacket, glanced back through the rearview mirror. Small antlers curved from his temples. His eyes narrowed slightly when they met only shifting shadows where a face should be.

Gray spoke before the man could ask.

“I am Cypher. If you could take me to the meeting...”

The driver’s shoulders eased a fraction. He gave a single nod, turned forward again, and pulled away from the curb without another word.

The sedan merged smoothly into traffic, leaving the skyport lights behind. Gray settled against the leather seat, arms resting loose across his lap, and prepared himself for the meeting ahead.

There was the talk he would have with the leaders, of course, but there was the side task he gave Adam, too.

He’d told Adam to prepare a list of candidates, female Faunus only, young enough and skilled enough to pass as Huntsmen academy students. Cinder’s infiltration team needed a fourth. Herself, Emerald and Neo, and one of Adam’s picks. Mercury would get reassigned to something quieter, less visible. Gray hadn’t decided on the details yet.

The sedan accelerated onto the main road; city lights beginning to streak past the tinted windows.

Gray stared out at them, hood still low, shadows clinging to his face like smoke. He was pretty tired after the day he had with the girls, but this needed his full attention. So, he fought off the lulling effects of riding in the back of a car after a long day of walking.

He needed to keep his wits about him. Even if he had a broken Semblance that gave his insane power.

He was dealing with forces he didn’t understand.

Forces that would likely kill him if he made a mistake.

---

The sun was much lower now, casting long shadows across the city as Gray arrived at an unassuming parking lot. The garage stood quiet and still beside a couple other buildings that looked like they hadn’t seen much business recently. This was far from the bustling city center, with a sense of isolation hanging in the air. The driver pulled into a dark corner of the lot, the engine falling silent as they came to a stop.

Gray stepped out of the car, his eyes adjusting to the gloom as he followed the driver to a back entrance. The area was devoid of light; the shadows deepening as the sun ducked behind the jagged strip of the city’s skyline. He used his Aura around his eyes, filtering more light to his retinas so he could see in the gloom.

The driver knocked on the door, two short taps echoing through the silence. A pause followed, then three more taps. From inside, a response came, five taps in a three-two rhythm. The driver replied with six taps, the final exchange in their coded knocks.

The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit interior. The shadows danced across the walls as they were ushered inside. The atmosphere was quiet and the shadows cast a gloomy pallor over the space.

His Aura may have shrouded him in darkness, a subtle cloak that added an air of mystery and authority to his presence, but with his Semblance deactivated, he relied on the shadows and his previous commands to keep him safe in this den of extremists.

The driver led him past the sentry at the door and down a dark hallway. The echo of their footsteps was the only sound in the stillness. As they entered the garage proper, Gray's eyes swept over the assembled figures. There was Adam, standing with a few other Faunus, their uniforms standing out in the darkness because of the white portions and the masks concealing their identities. Adam was both easier and harder to make out in the shadows, his attire a blend of black and red. It was his white mask and the clear posture of authority that stood out.

Gray needed to actively try to match him with his own authoritative posture and speech. Once he entered the room, they all turned to him and his escort and saluted.

The Faunus stood straight, their salutes looking authentic as he approached. He felt some relief wash over him. The persistent feeling of nervousness that had gripped him at the thought of being in a room with Adam Taurus dissipated as he saw the evidence of his commands holding strong.

"Evening, gentlemen." Gray greeted, hoping his voice carried the gravitas he had hoped for.

"Sir, welcome. It's good to see you." Adam replied. His voice was respectful.

Gray nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze meeting Adam's. Though he doubted Adam could even see his eyes through the shifting shadows of his hood. Nor could Gray see Adam’s eyes through that mask of his.

"And you. Now, if we have time, shall we sit and discuss what you have for me before the proceedings?” Gray asked.

“Sir.” Adam nodded in agreement, gesturing and leading him over to a desk in the corner of the garage.

Gray and Adam sat across from each other at the desk. A small light bulb on the wall was lit, the dim light casting shadows across their bodies. Adam reached out, and one of his subordinates handed him a tablet scroll. With a few taps he placed the tablet on the desk between them and a holographic image flickered to life above the desk, displaying the face of a woman with distinct Faunus features. Canine ears on the sides of her head, replacing human ones.

"This is the list I have compiled." Adam began, his voice confident. "There are fifty-seven women who are close to the right age or appearance for your purposes." He waved his hand, and the image shifted, cycling through various faces, each one a potential candidate for Cinder’s operation.

Gray watched the images change, his mind turning over each face he saw. Going through all fifty-seven would take too much time though. Instead, he opted to keep this short.

"Let's start with the ones you strongly recommend." Gray said. "I trust your judgment on this."

Adam nodded proudly, apparently appreciating the trust. He tapped the screen, and the holographic list morphed into a new interface, displaying a single face and accompanying details.

Adam began to explain his reasons for each recommendation. His voice was filled with conviction as he outlined the strengths and potential of each candidate.

Gray listened closely. Each candidate seemed interesting; however, it wasn't until a particular face appeared that Gray showed any notable interest. The image displayed a young woman with brown hair tied back in a ponytail, her tan skin marked with patches that resembled large freckles. She otherwise didn’t seem to display any Faunus traits.

"This one, Ilia Amitola, is on my list of recommendations because she is the exact age needed to attend Beacon, since she is nineteen." Adam explained. "Her Faunus trait is that of a chameleon, with no other discernible traits, making her perfect for infiltration among humans. But... I hesitate to fully recommend her.”

Adam’s voice took on a small sign of uncertainty for the first time tonight. This raised Gray’s eyebrow. What was wrong with this candidate?

“Why is that?” He asked the bull Faunus.

“She is a talented operative, Sir. However, her scales can also give away her emotional state, and she has yet to fully control her emotions. And there... is another reason why I have trouble recommending her fully."

Adam hesitated again.

"Tell me." Gray commanded. His curiosity was now piqued.

"She... is, or was, friends with a student now attending Beacon." He said, his voice tinged with a hint of disdain.

Gray's mind immediately raced. Was Adam referring to Blake? Did the White Fang know of her presence at Beacon?

"Who is this friend?" Gray asked, keeping his voice steady.

Adam's response was direct and filled with scorn.

"Blake Belladonna, daughter to the first leader of the White Fang, and a traitor." He said, his voice filled with a mix of anger and resentment.

Now, how would Gray work around this?

---

The single light bulb above their heads flickered as a moth circled around it. The sounds of a distant car roaring down an empty street briefly filled the silence. The face of this Ilia girl floated there in the air, looking quite pretty. Those markings on her face, the ones that looked like large freckles actually looked cute on her.

"I don't know what you plan to do, Sir, but picking her might be a risk due to this connection." Adam says. “If Blake and Ilia meet it could compromise whatever mission you have in mind.”

Gray remained silent for a short moment, thinking it through. Was there a way he could use this to his advantage? His Semblance could smooth out any meeting between the two, so he wasn’t too worried.

"Where is she now?" Gray asks.

"Menagerie, Sir. Still undergoing training."

Gray studied the holographic image of Ilia Amitola. The patches on her skin, the freckles reminiscent of scales, were the only sign to her unique trait. Subtle enough that she could pass as a human, but glowed when feeling a strong emotion. That could be an odd weakness in the plan, or it could be a non-issue with his Semblance.

And then there was the connection to Blake Belladonna. It would have been an issue, but he could simply speak with each of them before they ever meet, using his Semblance, and tell them not to make a big deal out of it. With Blake, he might even tell her about his control over the White Fang and get her to trust him as the secret boss of the whole faction. With this Ilia person, he would just get her loyalty and obedience like he had Adam’s. Then he could order her not to attack Blake.

Or...

He had an idea.

"This Blake." Gray began, his voice sounding contemplative. "Were you close?"

Adam's expression tensed, or at least, what Gray could see of his mouth tensed.

"Sir, she was assigned to train under me. We worked together for almost five years. Then, on one mission, she decided to run away.” He explained, his voice tinged with a mix of resentment and betrayal.

Gray nodded, his mind racing with thoughts of how to spin this to his advantage. The man’s resentment was almost palpable. He wondered if he should use this emotion and turn it into a tool that could serve his purposes. Or snuff it out here and now.

"How quickly can she be moved here?" Gray asked, after thinking it over and making his decision.

Adam stiffened, realizing that Gray had already made his choice.

"Sir, if we inform Sienna Khan during the meeting, she can give the order to Ilia within minutes. Then it would only be a matter of days to a week." He replied, obedient despite the tension in his posture.

Gray nodded, satisfied with the timeline.

Now, Gray knew that words alone would probably not placate this man, despite the commands of loyalty and obedience. There could be any number of ways that his anger might manifest if Gray wasn’t careful with his words or commands.

So, he activated his Semblance.

"You will not worry about Blake Belladonna. I tell you that she is a double agent working for me. You will no longer feel anger or any emotion towards her. You will simply know her to be one of my people."

Adam simply nodded. All his resentment evaporated in a near instant.

"Yes, Sir." He replied calmly. Or as calm as this dangerous man could be.

Gray deactivated his Semblance.

"Good." He said with a tone of finality. "We'll go with this Ilia girl and inform your superiors.” Gray had already forgotten what name Adam had used when he mentioned telling someone on Menagerie about this girl. “But also keep this list for future missions. It may come in handy."

Adam saluted from his chair.

"Sir." He acknowledged.

Gray looked one last time at this Ilia girl, studying her face and committing her to memory before he stood from his seat. Adam followed suit. Gray paused, getting one more idea. He activated his Semblance briefly to say, “Send me this data of all these candidates.”

He might make use of these others in the future. Or perhaps soon.

“Yes, Sir.” Came the easy reply.

---

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