"He hits the door"

Here...
*Hillock puts a cup of coffee on the table, trying to find a free space on it, filled with oaoers and photographies*
You should rest a bit, don't you think?

Papers*

*Raven slowly turned to Hillock, a look of disbelief on her face as she stared at the case files*
....Hill...
...I....

Uh?
*Hillock looked at Raven with concern*
Did you find something? Is there something wrong?
*He aproached Raven, trying to see what was the matter*

*Raven contemplated something before looking over to the files*
...Robin......He's.....not the same anymore....
....He's...not....
*Raven trailed off, her eyes shadowed by her hair*

Hey, hey!
*He reached Raven, his hand stopped on one of her shoulders*
Robin is not the same? What do you...
*He looks at the files*

*Her composure cracked as Raven's face broke into a morbid mix of fear..and anguish*
...R-Robin...would never shoot me....
H-He...wouldn't attack without reason.....
...He...
*Raven turned away, hand still clutching the her blue crystal necklace*
...He wouldn't have...killed all those people....

Raven!
*She looked like she was having an nerve attack! What could I...*
Easy, easy... is ok, s-sit here...
*He tries to sit Raven first, taking away the files and bringing a glass of water before doing anything else. She needed to relax before trying to talk to her*

*Raven let herself get directed by Hill, sitting down as she blankly gazed at the folders*
....T-That...is..it...still...Robin...?

*He sits at her side, looking again at her*
*sigh* So you noticed now, uh...
*He gives Raven the glass of water, going back again, staring at the files while thinking*
Hm... no: I don't think that's Robin, Rav. For what I got to find and see, I doubt Robin is the one doing all of this...

..B-But...everything add up...
There was twenty murder cases...with a musket ammunition...
...and if the first clue location....
...I just...
*Raven held her blue crystal tightly*
....Robin...isn't...a good person...anymore....

*He shakes his head*
No, you got what I said wrong:
I mean, he is not murdering people because he wants to. Someone else is making him kill them.
Think for a moment, that would explain a lot of things...

..What proof do you have of such ideas..?
I..I hate the idea more than anyone...but if...if Robin has truly changed...
...then...then I..I have to be the one to put him down....
*A dark looks crossed Raven's face*

*sigh* I understand. While I lack definitive evidence, there is something clear: he is not a cold murderer.
I'm sure you remember that time we encountered him. He had the advantaje, he was more powerful than us, and he could have killed us on the place.
But he didn't. He just told us to stop following him, to forget about the case.
Why would a cold blooded murderer let us live when he has the power to end us?

True, he shooted you on the waist and he tried to shoot you on the leg.
If he was a bad person, why didn't he shooted you on the face? He had the chance and the power to do so...
*Shakes his head again*
No. He wanted to hurt you, so you would fear him and stop looking for him.

He is trying to make us stop searching for him. Instead of killing us, he just tried to scare us.
That's why I think he is not a bad person. And if he is not a bad person, he couldn't murder so many people... unles someone is making him do so.

*Raven looked down, thinking about it before she leaned her head against Hill's shoulder*
.....I hope...I really hope so.....
...I...I don't want to loose Robin...but....if he's.......not a good person anymore...
...I...I won't have a choice.....

Raven...
*He leaned on her too, he could understand why she was thinking that. But... something told him that was not what happened... like a memory... a dream...
Or maybe just gut feeling*
I... know he is not a bad person. He is been trying to protect you. Even if he tries to look scary, you can... feel he is concerned about you.
Even when we fought... he wasn't trying to kill us... he was restraining himself. That's something a bad person wouldn't do.
*Backing a bit, he looked at Raven on her eyes*
That's why we have to find him quickly. If he is being used by someone else, that means someone has power over him. They could be threatenig him with something, or even someone. Even his life could be in danger!
*Stopping some time before returning to his previous position, he looks down for some time, his face now with a serious expresion*
...
But... even if... I am wrong and... he is a bad person in the end... I... I want you to know that...
...
Whatever you think you have to do... you aren't alone here... you have all the FIS team, and... y-you... you have me too...
S-So... before doing anything reckless... please... trust us... ok?

*Raven dug her head against the crook of his shoulder, the tingling feeling in her chest blossoming further*
...Hill....
....Thank you....
...A-As long as your here....I'll...I'll be okay....

... great... I'm happy to hear that...
...
But please, stay safe... I... I wouldn't want you to... put yourself in danger...

*Gray walked in, a scowl visible on his face. It's unknown how much of the conversation he overheard.*

"Hill's got a point, Rav-"

*Gray seemed to notice how Raven and Hill were leaning on each other, perhaps even cuddling.*

"...I... I can go if this is a bad time..."

*Raven shook her head at Gray's question*
No..It's fine...
...It's..It's best that we as team know of each other's troubles...and help each other...
..We aren't just individuals anymore..we're a collective group...
...We look after our own...
*Subtly slipping her hand onto Hill, Raven smiled at Gray and Hill*
..because we're a team..

*!!!*

Oh! Gray!
H-How much time did you...
*He is blushing a little... he also grabs Raven's hand, feeling her warmth*

*Gray pulled out a book and opened it, clearly intending to make a note or two. However, what Gray pulled out wasn't his journal - a fact made evident by the sudden windstorm surrounding Gray.*

"Oh, son of a..."

*Gray quickly closed the tome and seemed to chant something in a completely different language. The windstorm dissolved, thankfully not doing too much in the way of damage. Gray seemed to curse in the same language before switching back to something everyone could understand.*

"...six bloody years and I still make that mistake..."

Wops, wrong tome?
Hm... that...
...
Hey, you willing to teach magic?

*Raven sat at attention immediately, eyes noticeably locked onto the tome on Gray's hands*
..Is...Is that.....?

*Gray seemed to perk up at the request.*

"I'm not exactly the best teacher, but... I'd be up to try. Though... don't you guys have things that basically cast magic for you? "Personas" or something like that?"

*Raven shook her head, keenly interested in learning magical arts*
...No..I'm don't have one....
..Hey..do you think it'd be a bit much but..could you teach me..?

Yeah... is not for me, is for Hyllock, my... other me?
*Shakes his head*
Whatever, she has potential for magic, but not for tech, so she is interested in learning other sources of magic in order to gain estrategic advantaje.
I should introduce her to you!

*Gray turned to Raven, a warm smile clearly visible.*

"Like I said - I can try. I'm still trying to get used to how my magic works here myself, so it'll be a learning experience for both of us."

Hm... Raven learning magic could be useful... ahe could protect herself...
*He nods*
Gray, if you need, I will help you with Raven's lessons!

*Raven smiled before she knelt down and hugged Gray*
Thank you...
..with this...I might be of use to the team...

*Upon hearing Hill's request, Gray shook his head.*

"I don't think that would be a good idea, but something tells me I wouldn't be able to stop you even if I tried."

No, it's ok!
If you say you don't need, then I will step back!
You are the teacher after all!
*Hillock smiles, seeing how the room is now more cheerful than before*

*Gray blushed a bit when Raven hugged him.*

*The sudden embrace seemed to trigger something, as Gray felt the world fade around him - the telltale sign of Hydaelyn's blessing, the Echo. Clearly there was something that the gods themselves had deemed important enough to show him. Gray had expected to see the past... but what he saw instead seemed to be a possible future - the two locked in an embrace, Raven saying that her and Alice (a name that in of itself dug up bad memories...) would be safe as long as he was there to protect them, and Gray confirming that he would always be there, making it a promise - and given the kind of man Gray is, that promise would be kept, come hell, high water, or whatever manner of trouble came his way.*

*The world came back around him as Gray placed a hand on his forehead, as if trying to soothe a headache.*

*!*
Gray, you ok?

*Migrant, tired, beat up, and generally at rope's end trudges past a seemingly normal apartment. Hearing voices from the other side talk about learning magic. So she stops for a moment and listens...*

"...I'm... I'm fine, that just... tends to happen from time to time..."

*Gray thought for a moment, trying to comprehend exactly why he had been shown that. Perhaps he and Raven...*

Hm...
*He notices something weird on Gray*
*Hillock will remember that*

*Pulling away from Gray, Raven eyed the shadow visible underneath the small crack of the bottom of the apartment door. Standing up, Raven strolled over and promptly opened the door, curious*

*A bolt of lightning strikes down outside of the HQ, and from it a pillar of fire arises from the ground. The flames give way to reveal a crystal of ice that shatters soon after, revealing Mammon in Delta's body. He glances at Raven warily, ignoring Migrant. Taking a deep breath and sighing, he speaks to her as his face regains Delta's usual stoic look.*

Hey, it's been awhile hasn't it?

*Meanwhile Mig is caught by the open door, couched down and listening.... She, for her part, ignres Mammon and looks at Raven worridly.*

It's... not what it looks like?

Hm, this is getting animated for moments...
Sorry, but I have to leave now...
*He goes to the door*
Remember, if you need something, use my codec frequency. Bye!
...


Also hello Mig.

*Unsure of what to make of Mig, Raven turns her attention to Delta, pulling Mig in and shutting the door behind her*
..Ah..yes..it has been awhile Delta-sempai..
*Raven strolled over to Delta, offering a handshake*
..last time I saw you was at...a snowball fight...?

*Gray remained cautious of Delta - or, rather, Mammon. The young Lalafell had his weapon of choice - the Dreadwyrm Grimiore - at his side.*

"...I have a bad feeling about all of this..."

*Gets pulled inside without so much as a second thought. Mig is trapped now. Send help, and sweets. Actually ignore the help.*

*He accepts the handshake, his eyes on Raven's before letting go.*

Yeah that was... it was quite the day.

*He gives a sideways glance at the sky before continuing.*

How's the search going for your brother? I saw him before and hear he's been... getting around. Lots of people have seen him since.

*Gray turns to Raven.*

"On the matter of teaching you magic, I suppose I'll get to it when we next meet. And on that note..."

*Gray walks over to the door and opens it.*

"I suppose this is where I take my leave."

*Gray walked out, closing the door behind him.*

*Raven gave a nod to Gray*
Okay, I'll wait until it's the right time for both of us
*Raven shook her head at Delta*
We've met him once but...he wasn't...he didn't want us to track him....
...Wint the way he was in that meeting, I'm more curious to discover why he left in the first place...

Sounds like things have been pretty rough on you. Listen-

*He place a hand on her shoulder and gives her a small smile.*

Whatever happens, I know you'll find the courage and strength to see it through. Not just anyone can become a Snow Ranger you know?

*He chuckles softly at that.*

I know I haven't been able to help as much as I'd have liked, but... I'll do my best to get your brother to listen to reason next time I see him. Give me a call next time you're going out. We should spend more time to catch up. My time here seems to be up already.

*Raven grinned at his offer before nodding*
Got it..
Thank you Delta-sempai..
I appreciate any help we can get..

Alright Raven. I'll see you around.

*Giving Raven a small smile with a tinge of sadness, he steps back before becoming engulfed in a pillar of resplendent flames. When the fire disperses, he's gone without a trace.*

*Reassured by both Hill and Delta, Raven smiled widely before turning back to the folders of cases*
....I'll believe in you....Nii-San...