"Yo! Over here bro!" A guy called as Ren stepped off the plane carrying his backpack. "Dude, lookin tight!"
"Hi." Ren nodded and reached for the handle of the door on the closer side of the ancient car.
"Just gotta set down a couple rules before we ride!" He said, refusing to unlock the door. When Ren simply waited, he started. "First and most importantly, no touching the audio system. Second, if you're gonna barf do it outside. Third, you don't like the way I drive… tough!"
"Something tells me number two is from past experience." Ren guessed by the man's tone.
"Don't even get me started on that mother fucker!" He swore under his breath and hit the unlock button on his keys before slipping back into the car through the window he'd been sitting out of.
Ren quickly got into the rotten smelling vehicle, keeping his bag on his lap while he waited for the car to start. The transmission turned over several times before the ancient combustion engine finally coughed to life, making loud chugging sounds that each sounded like a gunshot but soon melded together as the man revved the machine faster and faster.
He pulled a lever back and the car rocketed forward as he reached over to a device in the center of the dashboard and pushed a button.
To say Ren felt himself go instantly deaf would be accurate. He could feel violent vibrations blast through his spine that had nothing to do with the car's bumpy ride. Thankfully, barely two minutes into the infuriatingly loud sound the car stopped and the guy hit the same button he'd used to turn the device on.
"Your stop bro!" He yelled over the ringing in Ren's ears who nodded as he stepped out of the car to an apartment building. The sound exploded out of the vehicle again before the rear tires spun loudly as it shot off into the distance.
Ren entered the lobby and found a man in a flowery shirt behind a desk smoking.
"Excuse me." Ren said, noticing the guy was watching a TV show on his scroll.
"You Lie?" He asked without looking away from his scroll.
"Yes, I am." Ren answered, wondering why he knew his name.
"Good now I can go back to my wide-screen." He said, snapping the scroll closed. "Here's your key. Got any questions, wait for tomorrow."
He walked away without another word or glance in Ren's direction. Ren looked down at the key to find a number eleven etched into it's surface. He walked past the desk to the stairs and slowly started climbing them. Once he got to the sixth landing, he found room eleven and gave the key a try.
The room was dark save for a lone, unadorned light bulb hanging from the center of the ceiling. A simple mattress was in one corner and a couch on the opposite wall. Two doorways led off of the main room, one of which led to the washroom and the other to a kitchen. It was slightly smaller than his dorm, but seeing as he was alone it wouldn't matter.
He decided to go straight to sleep else he'd be far too tired come the morning. He felt the mattress's springs poke into his back and ignored it, thinking of Nora for the first time since he'd told Blake to let her know he was leaving.
He felt bad that he had left without telling her, but if he had she would definitely have tried to convince him not to. Even he knew this seemed likely to be a trap, but in the end it didn't matter. As long as he completed his mission. Nora had helped him train relentlessly over the years and had been rewarded with a very close loss against Pyrrha, the most skilled fighter in the Vale and Mystral regions.
He pulled out the scroll and typed out a message to Nora, hoping to explain a little bit of his reasoning so that she might get to sleep, though that wasn't likely since she'd used him as a pillow for the past few months.
Hi Nora. I wanted to tell you that I just went to visit a long lost relative. I should be back two days from now. I hope you don't worry too much and I'll promise to bring you something special back.
He clicked send and was not surprised that almost immediately his scroll buzzed with a new message.
How could you just leave like that? I thought we told each other everything! Maybe I was wrong! You know I would've understood if you told me that in person! But I guess I'm not really mad, just a bit tired cause I cant sleep when you're not here. Anyways, good luck with meeting your family, but if your evil brother shows up be careful! I can't think of what I'd do if something happened. But it won't cause I told you to be careful, so listen to me! Also, Port assigned a massive assignment and I don't want to do it by myself so hurry back, okay?
Ren found himself laughing at Nora's run on message. Even texting, she could talk a mile a minute. It was just one small thing that made her who she was, but it felt comforting to know she wasn't completely angry at him. It was just her frustration that was talking in the message. After all, she had been following him since he'd showed up at their door an orphan.
He closed his scroll and closed his eyes, picturing Nora's smile as he drifted to sleep. Don't worry Nora. I'll be home before you know it.
The day dawned bright and early. The cold weather that was usual around the Vale area was not present as the green grass was warmed slowly, it's dew burning off.
In the light, Ren was able to finally appraise the building he'd slept in. There was little to say about it other than it was average. The walls were all painted something that might once have been white, but the color had faded over the years to a dingy yellowish tone. The halls stunk of smoke, meaning this was one of the few places that allowed smoking indoors. The floor was hardwood, and the doors were thick metal. The security of the room seemed lacking though since there was only the standard deadbolt on the door.
The single wide window in the main room looked out over an empty field that was mostly wild grasses. The window itself had bars over it as if to catch someone who might try to jump out.
He walked through the door to the kitchen to find the place almost gutted. There was only one small section of counter with a microwave sitting on it. Beside that was an ancient looking fridge that thrummed loudly as it kept it's contents cold. Ren cautiously opened the device to find a single box with a frozen dinner inside. After inspecting it, Ren decided he'd be careful and avoid the meat.
It was far worse than the worst breakfast he'd ever made himself, but food was food. The potatoes were fine once he took off the top layer that looked suspiciously fuzzy and the vegetables were edible, despite being limp and waterlogged.
After breakfast, he walked to the washroom to find it actually looked much nicer than he'd been expecting. Sure there was one spot of black mold on the corner by the toilet, but otherwise the room almost sparkled with it's dingy yellow tile clear from any residue from previous residents.
He quickly stepped into the shower and brushed his teeth, leaving his brush and soap back inside his backpack. He walked over to his rooms door to find a small box sitting outside it. On the top was a small white note.
Went to town. Call the number on the phone and leave the key at the front desk. The note said and Ren opened the box to find a small disposable phone inside it. When he turned it on, he found one number programmed into it and a counter for a hundred minutes in the top corner.
Well, time to go I suppose. Ren dropped the note and key into the box and pocketed the phone. He left the box on top of the front desk as he'd been instructed and walked out into the fresh air, thankful to be rid of the smoky smelling interior of the building.
He spotted a small cafe a few buildings down and decided to get a cup of tea before he called the number. There was obviously no rush to do so after all.
As cafe's went, it was pretty nice. A boy about his age walked by while cleaning the already clean floor and waitresses walked back and forth taking orders and delivering food and drinks. Ren was guided to an empty seat that had a single empty chair on the opposite side.
Not long after he'd been seated, he started taking in the other patrons. There were three families sitting in the booths along the back wall, talking joyfully and laughing as the children goofed off. A teenage couple sat staring into each others eyes two tables down from him on one side and four middle aged men sat with their wives at a large round table where they were talking about their lives since they'd last met. There was also a line of ten people waiting at the counter to get a quick drink or pastry before going wherever they needed to be.
Ren pulled out the phone, selecting the programmed number and taking a deep breath while he hesitated. He'd always dreamed of completing this mission, but at the same time he felt woefully unprepared.
"Hello?" A voice answered, making Ren jump since he hadn't realized he'd pressed the call button. "Hello?"
"Hi." Ren responded, hoping to come across as neutral sounding as possible.
"Ren! I knew you'd call!" The voice responded joyfully. "It's been so long! How are you?"
"As well as you'd expect, all things considered." Ren responded. Step one: gain his trust.
"I heard you got into Beacon, so I thought it was time to say hi again." His brother explained. "Anyway, we only have so many minutes on these things. Where are you?"
"A cafe two buildings west of the place I stayed last night." Ren answered.
"Good. I'll be there in twenty." A click sound ended the call.
Ren sighed heavily, rubbing his eyes with his wrists and blocking out his sight.
"Looks like you really need this." The waitress said as she placed his cup down in front of him. Ren opened his eyes to find himself looking at a rather cute looking faunus. Her blond hair framing her yellow cat ears beautifully.
"Thanks." Ren said with a forced smile before taking the cup to his lips and sipping the cooler liquid at the top.
"Wanna talk? I'm on my break now and I haven't seen you around before." She asked. Ren offered her the empty chair. "New here?"
"Somewhat." Ren answered, sipping his tea more and wondering what that strange look on her face was. "I used to live here years ago."
"Oh, that makes sense. Moved away because of the you know who's, right?" She asked in a whisper, glancing around quickly before turning back to my look of confusion. "Anyway, why'd you come back. Not much here after all."
"I'm… meeting my brother." Ren answered, coming up with no better way to explain the situation.
"Your strudels, Lilly." Another waitress announced as she placed two strudels on the table in between us.
"Thanks Sara. I haven't eaten since yesterday and I was kind of losing it there for a while." Lilly laughed, paying her coworker and turning back to me. "Pick one. They're the best this place has, so they're both amazing."
Ren took one at random and took a small bite. It was indeed a much tastier meal than he'd had back at the apartment complex. He quickly ate the whole thing and ordered another along with a cup of tea from a passing waitress as he sat quietly, watching the pretty girl slowly eat the strudel.
The clinking of the door sounded again, but Ren paid it no attention as he sipped his new cup of tea. He was pulled out of his thoughts when a man pulled the strudel out of Lilly's hand and threw it full force at the floor where it splattered.
"Filthy animal!" He grumbled, pulling her from his seat as Ren jumped up, ready to intervene.
"Stop this!" Ren said loudly, drawing the attention of all the patrons of the cafe that seemed to have been ignoring the commotion. "Release her, now."
The man looked over, his eyes disbelieving for a second. "Ren?" He dropped the girl who fell to her knees but seemed too terrified to move.
"It's me, your brother." He answered with a smile. "But don't be rude. I was training this animal to act properly.
He knelt and groped the girls chest forcefully, making her whimper before he pushed her face to the ground.
Ren was frozen in astonishment as he heard his brother whisper the single word "eat" to the girl who started nibbling the crust on the top of the mess that hadn't yet touched the floor.
"Oh and if you still remember my name, I don't use that one anymore. I go by Sil now." His brother spoke. As he did, the eyes of everyone in the cafe returned to what they were doing before his entrance. Even the staff continued their work, ignoring Lilly who was crouched, slowly forced to lick the sauce from the floor. "That's right, I want to see that floor clean."
"Why did you call me after all these years?" Ren asked, hoping for an opening to help the situation.
"There's a lot that has changed. I wanted to show you the empire and expand to a new area. For that, I need you." He explained, smiling down at Lilly who was now shedding silent tears at the humiliating display.
"If we're going to talk business, then let's go. I'm done with my breakfast." Ren said, standing up.
His brother followed suit and stepped on Lilly's back as a stepping stool as he walked over her. The unexpected weight sent her face straight into the mess of the floor resulting in Sil's laughter.
"Little kitty got food on it's face. How sickening!" He laughed louder as he reached the door. "I'll bring the car around."
He left and Ren knelt beside Lilly who seemed terrified by Ren now that she knew who he was associated with. Sara, the waitress from earlier, came up with the new strudel and a look of confined rage on her face, but kept her mouth shut as Ren took the bag and gave her the lien she asked for.
She stayed where she was as Ren carefully pulled Lilly up so she was sitting on her heels again. She was crying profusely and looking anywhere except at Ren as he took a napkin from the table and wiped some of the mess from her nose and cheeks.
"I cannot apologize for my brother. No combination of words will make what he did right." Ren earned himself an interested look from Sara who was still hovering close.
He got up and started for the door, leaving the pastry on the table along with a generous tip. He had almost grabbed the handle when Sara shouted.
"Sir! You seem to have left too much lien here along with your strudel!"
Ren shook his head as she started to carry the money and food to him. "That is my apology for being unable to do more about the situation and a thank you for a nice conversation."
He left as Lilly looked up to him one last time, her eyes full of shock and the lingering emotions she'd been going through.
This is why I'm here. To end this madness.