The Dying Light of a Borrowed Star
I do not own DTB or RWBY
~ 0 ~
"thoughts"
"Speech"
words with implied meaning
Regular text
"Disembodied voice"
"Memories"
~ Ch 4 ~
~ Threats, Bets and Debts ~
By the time they left the department store it was almost midnight. Yang kept asking him questions about the girl they met earlier like if they knew eachother and what Weiss had meant by don't be late Friday. It was amusing in a way. He didn't think she'd be so interested considering she barely knew him but curiosity was funny like that.
All in all he really didn't wanna think about it right now anyways. His head was throbbing from lack of sleep and sustenance so he answered her questions with the time old response.
While looking away to avoid Yang's suspicious gaze. "You know curiosity killed the cat right?"
She quickly moved in front of him causing them to bump into eachother. She didn't expect him to walk into her and she stumbled back with an annoyed look. "Hey!"
She paused at the passive expression he wore and tilted her head in curiosity. "Um Li?"
"Hey Yang."
She looked up at him curiously.
"This might be a stupid question, but do the city lights usually look like this?"
Yang was caught off guard by his simple question and looked around just now noticing the lights herself. She had to admit it was pretty impressive. She hadn't ever actually stayed out this late in Vale. Rubbing her head she glanced at Hei. "I don't actually know. I've never been out in the city this late. I'm usually On the last ferry home by now. But you know I…"
Hei blocked out what she was saying and rose an eyebrow at that little bit of information. "If the last ferry to her home already left then why is she still here?"
He pulled his gaze away from the city lights and looked at her curiously giving her what appeared to be his full attention as she went on about different things in her life. It looked like his plan to get her mind of Weiss worked. Now he could ignore most of what she said and let his brain rest.
He kept an eye on her out of his peripheral as they continued down the sidewalk responding at the appropriate times by waiting for her to look at him. He gauged his responses based off her accentuated hand and arm movements. Everything she said was accompanied by her hands and sound effects. Personally he found it annoying but endearing.
"At least I don't have to contribute much. Honestly I'm amazed she's being so lax around me. People don't usually open up so fast. She must have had a sheltered life or be living in a smaller town like Suou did." Hei put his hand over his eyes trying to block out Suou's face and the feeling of guilt that rose up remembering that night on the fire escape.
~ 0 ~
Yang noticed Hei cover his face getting quiet as she stepped closer to him. "Hey Li, are you feeling alright?" She asked in a worried ton, a small smile trying to come to her lips. "We can always reschedule for another time if you're that tired."
In all honesty she didn't wan to reschedule. For one she might not see him again and he was actually a pretty cool guy in her short experience with him. He'd told her he was walking through the forest nonstop the last couple of days which meant he wasn't likely to stay in any one place too long; what with his admittance of being a workaholic. She hoped she'd done the right thing in giving him the option to cancel but it was far from what she wanted.
He'd been keeping her happy by playing her games and throwing her flirtations back at her as well as paying for everything. It was the most fun she'd had with someone of the opposite sex since intermediate school before she got into Signal.
"Maybe it's the age difference? Not that he seems to much older than me, maybe early to mid twenties." In all honesty she knew she was above average in the looks department and that she was one of the more mature girls but she had seen even older men than Li give her the look, so maybe it was just his personality. "I'm pretty sure I don't love him or anything like that." She though while watching him straiten up and take a deep breath.
That's when she saw it. His eyes looked up in to the sky with his brow furrowing. It was the same look both her dad and uncle Crow had when they were thinking about something painful. "Whats he thinking about?"
Yang stopped walking and grabbed Hei's shoulders turning him to face her. She leaned up to him with a soft look in her eyes reaching out and sliding her hands across his cheeks comfortingly.
Hei looked down at Yang with a look of confusion and resigned stress when he noticed how close she was getting. He moved his hands to her waist and held her away, but she didn't try and force her way closer. "Yang what are you doing?" he whispered to her in a quiet but firm tone.
"Li, why do you have such a sad look on your face?" she asked in a soft and sincere tone. "If its really to much for you to handle right now… I understand."
He couldn't believe his ears. "Is she really worried about me?" He looked down into her eyes searching for any lies, but he couldn't find any. "How could she feel worried for me. We just met. In all honesty I've just pretended to be someone she could get along with and, I'm using her. I don't know how I feel about this."
"Yang you don't owe me anything and I promised you dinner so we're going to get dinner, besides." He poked her nose and smiled warmly using his charismatic nonchalant voice. "You're a nice young woman, I'd be happy to get to know you a little better."
She had the modesty to blush a little and smiled sheepishly averting her gaze. Looking down she let her hands fell to where only her finger tips rested on his cheeks. "Get a hold of yourself girl what's gotten in to you?" she mentally slapped herself. "But that look in his eyes… I don't want to see it for some reason, not on him." she looked up at him with a determined but gentle look in her eyes contemplating what he just said and ran her fingers up the sides of his face.
Hei's body stiffened as Yang's eyes focused on his and he saw the warm determination in them. He felt her hands getting closer to his forehead. He was staring to feel on edge wondering just why Yang was acting this way. "She should be treating me like a good acquaintance at best, not getting close to me like this." He frowned. "Yang we shouldn't be getting this close we…"
"Shhhhh, just relax. You worry to much. It's nothing serious." Yang interrupted him with a big heartwarming smile spreading across her face. "He didn't have to do any of the things he's done for me so far." her smile widened and her cheeks flushed slightly. "And yet he just keeps doing them and outclassing anybody who comes to mind. I feel like I should do at least this." She pushed against his grip leaning her body against his and resting her head against his. Her lips brushed against his cheek in the tender way a family member would to comfort someone.
Hei stayed tense for a few seconds then relaxed into her touch, letting his eyes close as a strange feeling of comfort washed over him. Memories of his sister, Amber, Suou and Yin swam around in his mind.
"Why are you thinking about them right now it has nothing to do with this and it's not fair to Yang." His eyes opened and widened slightly. "Not fair to Yang? Why should that even matter to me?" Before he could continue his train of thought Yang's fingers reached his forehead and she leaned back looking into his eyes, those lilac pools grabbing his attention.
~ 0 ~
"Okay girl don't freak out, you just want him to relax. I mean look at what he's done for You so far. Hell, he even told you he still hasn't gotten around to getting you that dinner. He's not substituting the clothes as compensation or anything." Her mind was working a mile a minute going over the last few hours when it hit her. "Oh my Oum it's only been a few hours, what the hell am I doing?"
Yang and Hei were both experiencing the same sudden realization that what they were doing was defiantly not the norm for either of them. It might not have been right on principle seeing that they just met, but neither could deny. It felt so nice to lean on each other and know that there were no serious expectations to be met. Looking into each others eyes they seemed to reach similar conclusions.
"Yang I don't want anything from you so you don't have to do anything to keep me here."
"Li I want you to relax and enjoy yourself because I think you a decent guy and hopefully I can call you a friend."
Hei smiled internally at having dodged a bullet that could have cost him a friend.
Yang's smile brightened as the truth she really didn't have to impress him or anything was spoken directly to her. The feeling of making a good friend washed over her as she pressed her fingers along his forehead smoothing out the small creases on Hei's forehead as butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She'd never done this for anyone but her dad.
"Don't worry about whatever it is. I'll be here to take the stress away and smooth the creases on your forehead when things get to be to much for you. We're friends after all. Right?"
Hei almost choked when he heard what Yang said and pulled her close to him. An old memory came to him of a tall blond woman doing something similar. "Thank you Yang." He said in his calm and pensive voice. One he hadn't used since he was fifteen before he became a mercenary.
They stepped apart from each other but Yang grabbed his arm and grinned up at him with a peace sign in the other hand. He returned hers smile with a small genuine one of his own and held up his free hand with one finger raised. "Well Yang, nice to know you think of yourself as number two because I consider myself number one."
Yang flushed opening her mouth to retort when Hei put a finger over her lips and smiled. "Now lets get going. No need to argue about an established fact." Yang just looked at him in bewilderment and then smiled lightly while shaking her head happily, small giggles passing her covered lips.
~ 0 ~
As Hei and Yang walked along the sidewalk a figure watched them from the street corner connecting to a lesser used back road. As they continued down the sidewalk in the opposite direction the figure stepped out from the shadows and followed them narrowing her eyes. She wore a short kimono in red with black accents, red shoulder and arm guards over black arm warmers, long black hair with black thigh high boots, blood red eyes and pale skin.
She clenched her fists as she watched the two go down the sidewalk. Her daughter Yang was smiling brightly while leaning heavily on the man she was with. That brought the corners of her lips up slightly forming a line instead of her ever constant frown.
She didn't know much about the man but if Lucis and She were interested in him then he had to be a force to be reckoned with. "At least she's drawn to power. It'll help keep her safe and it might even benefit me."
"So what do you think about the tall one, Raven?" A dark charming and slightly raspy voice whispered in her ear.
She didn't so much as glance in the direction of the one speaking, and it wouldn't have done her any good. No matter how much you look you can't see what isn't there.
She huffed slightly before responding. "He's just a person of interest to my Employer. But if you're interested in my thoughts about him he must be strong. That or a key component in whatever plan your scheming." Raven grit out through clenched teeth. A calm passive look quickly washed over her face as she closed her eyes and let out a quick breath trying to relax. "Anyways, what do you want Lucis?"
"Truly Raven there's no need to act so unfamiliar with me, after all I am your Familiar." Lucis said in a slightly amused tone.
"Was that supposed to be a pun?" Raven asked in an unamused tone.
"No. It was just a reminder that I know you better than anyone else. And as your closest friend."
Raven doubled over as all the air in her lungs was expelled by a hit to her solar plexus. She couldn't move and saliva dripped from the corners of her mouth as she tried to gasp for breath.
"I'll remind you. Don't try my patience. You are mine and you will do as I say… or else."
For the first time in almost eighteen years she felt fear. Fear of the dark and what hides in it.
A couple who had seen her quickly crossed the road to avoid her. She glared at them and grit her teeth just barely taking in enough air to stay conscious. "Fucking busybodies."
Her legs slowly carried her in to a shadowy ally as her breathing slowly returned to normal. She hated how that bastard, whatever he was, could get through her aura and harm her so easily. Hell she'd been punched when she had no aura before and it still didn't affect her anywhere near as bad.
When she reached the back of the alley she stood tall glaring at the shadows. "What did you want Lucis?" She said in a firm tone dripping with venom.
"Well I wanted to speak to you of course. Now lets have a quick chat. Also."A pain shot through her gut again only it felt like something internal was hurt and she coughed up a little blood. "It was rather rude of you not to laugh at my pun."
"You bastard you said it wasn't a pun. FUCK YOU!"
The disembodied voice tutted as the shadows in the alley darkened, gaining a solid quality to them.
"Well how does it feel to be put through the same treatment you put your subordinates through? I'm just teaching you a lesson. Don't push people with ridiculous expectations."
Raven clenched her fists and glared at the shadows. "Your one to talk. You forced me to abandon my life in order to protect people who I don't even know or even care about anymore."
The voice chuckled darkly. "Raven, Raven, Raven. You are funny."
"I didn't force you to do anything. I simply pushed you in a direction you were already headed down. I even let you make a decision. It was you who decided what to do with your life. You alone are responsible for abandoning your family. You made the decision that staying away from them would make your self appointed task easier. I just took advantage of you."
The shadows in the ally swallowed the entrance behind her filling in all the space and blocking out all the light. She could feel them and hear their whispers. The shadows ebbed and flowed around her making her feel uncomfortable.
"Because you were and are weak. You hold some things dear that keep you vulnerable and can't let go. Do not blame me for your actions. I helped shape you but I am not your creator. You are not beholden to me in any way other than to repay a debt."
Raven clenched her fists looking coldly into the dark abyss. "You told me that if you were going to protect Yang I had to do whatever you said!"
There were hisses and mockingly cold laughter echoing around her but the slow pensive chuckle was the one she payed attention to.
"Whats so funny?"
"Name one time I told you to abandon your previous life or to act as my pawn."
Raven sifted through her memories but couldn't find any.
The chuckle returned but with a genuine air of humor as opposed to irony. "You can't think of any can you. That's because I need you to help me. If I truly am a schemer then that makes me an architect and at best that makes you a tool. If the tool refuses to work then I am left with no option but to force it too. But a well maintained tool works excellently. Imagine my surprise and joy when you decided to throw everything away to do as I asked."
"Bastard!"
"Call me what you will. I simply let you choose."
"You manipulated me! For 17 years!"
"No. You simply didn't think to ask any questions. I took advantage of you yes, but I left you alone for weeks and months at a time to do what you wish. I did not manipulate you. I have no need to. Whether you accomplish my goals for me or I wait for time to take it's own course I will witness what I desire. I have no limit on time after all."
Raven drew her sword and slashed at the darkness. Screams and wails erupted in a maelstrom around her. "I swear if you wasted my time."
"Ah. And there it is. Time. You care more about yourself and your precious time than you do your own flesh and blood. We are far more alike than you think little Munin."
The words cut deep. Her grip tightened on her blade causing her hands to bleed. She refused to believe she was similar to this thing. "I'm nothing like you!"
"Ah. But you have only ever done the things I have asked of you. Things I did or would do myself. And without question might I add. We would have gotten along very well in another lifetime."
Suddenly she felt her body stiffen and she was forced to sheath her blade. Then she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. "Don't be scared."
A pair of dark bottomless eyes with clear molten gold irises stared back at her from the abyss. They gave off a sickly violet light that mesmerized her. It was like looking into the soul of darkness itself. It held no malicious intent but the unmitigated power and intelligence that lay deep within of its eyes was so absolute that just by looking into them she felt a pull on her very soul.
Her heart grew cold at the sight in front of her. The being had never deigned her worthy of it's full attention except a few times when she was younger. The first time being when she was a little girl about 12 discovering her semblance. Then again when she was a huntress in training back at Beacon, and the last time had been at the hospital all those years ago. But over the course of the last 17 years the visits and instructions grew increasingly more frequent and detailed. But never had The figure had eyes before.
Lucis reached out to Raven causing her to recoil.
"I still have no clue what you are but you're definitely not human!" she spat at the figure. Lucis flinched and pulled away from her.
"You would be correct. I am not nor was I ever human. But I assure you I was not always this." The shadow gestured to itself and then looked back at Raven. "The last thing I want to do is hurt you. I try to avoid unnecessary messes."
"Oh I'm sure you do." Raven said in an ice cold tone thinking back to the lesson he'd just taught her.
Lucis looked at Raven and sighed.
"You may believe what you will, but one who knows nothing can understand nothing. Oh and one last thing. It is midnight correct?"
Raven pulled out her scroll and looked at the time. "Yes w…" A stabbing pain shot through her eyes, causing her to stumble. A poisonous violet glow that grew into a darker blood red started to fill her crimson irises and blood dripped from her beautiful face.
"A parting gift dear Raven, you'll need it. After all on this most auspicious of days Odin and the true king return."
The figure shrunk and contorted to become the same shape that Ravens shadow should have been, but the eyes remained for just a bit longer. "Remember Raven, I am all that stands between your daughter and." The head of Ravens shadow turned away as if reluctant."her untimely demise."
Raven clenched her fists and ground her teeth while looking down. "I'll keep working towards your goal as long as you keep your end of the bargain."
"As I've said. So long as you do what's asked of you I will continue to draw attention away from your daughter." Her shadow looked back at her.
"Lucis I swear, if you fail to protect Yang I… will make you hurt. I don't take kindly to those who waist my time and liars even less."
"I swear to you Raven that losing her is not an option to me because, He… needs her, Raven."
Those were the last words the thing spoke before the world gradually became lighter as the presence faded.
Raven stood up and wiped the blood from her otherwise flawless face, a portal materializing next to her which she quickly stepped through.
~ 0 ~
"What could Lucis want now after all this time. Giving me orders almost daily and then nothing for two months." Until now that is she thought bitterly. "and what does any of this have to do with that man?" She wondered while thinking back to the comment Lucis made.
"So What do you think about the tall one?"
Raven thought about that. "Lucis has never shown interest in anyone before, its always general instructions or kill, name goes here."
As she stepped out of a portal she found herself in an alley. Her daughter was just now passing by, still smiling and laughing with her target.
"Lucis has never asked me what I thought about anyone before."
Her eyes narrowed as a confused look came across her face. "Just who are you Li Shengshun, and what role do you play in all of this?"
Just then his last passing words registered to her. "Who are Odin and the True King he mentioned?"
she continued watching the two as she pieced her thoughts together. A quick review of her relationship with her daughter and her daughters father Taiyang Xiao Long ebbed through her psyche.
Actually thinking about the topic for the first time in a while she realized she didn't care much for Taiyang at all anymore and over the years she'd grown distant from her own daughter due to the things Lucis had her do along with her self inmposed isolation in strengthening the tribe.
She almost didn't feel human anymore. Although that didn't mean she wanted them dead, or that she'd stand by and let it happen. Everyone got one. Sadly though it was more out of principle than emotion. She started this to save them and she'd be damned if all that time and energy went to waist.
Lucis had always made comments about what she did, like tell her she was stupid or ignorant but there had been the rare compliment in between the orders. Thinking back all those years ago when she had been in the hospital, just after giving birth to Yang. That had been the last time Laine had decided to speak to her while giving her his full attention. "Until now that is." she said under her breath
Watching Yang brought her back to that dark hospital room almost Eighteen years ago when she had to make the decision that would change everything in her life.
~ 17 years ago Vale Hope Hospital maternity ward ~
"Hmm, very peculiar indeed… that the fate of the world should rest on the shoulders of one so young."
Ravens eyes shot open and she bolted upright. "Who's there!" she demanded. Her eyes scanned around her room but found nothing. Her eyes quickly flashed to the corner of the room where her babies crib rested.
She remembered how stressful labor had been on her and how tiring arguing to keep little Yang was. It had taken a good thirty minutes trying to convince the doctor but she managed to get them to let her keep Yang in the room with her.
Her crimson eyes fell to her daughter as a warm smile full of pride came to her lips. Getting up she noticed that even with the crib being by the window it was the darkest part of the room.
A frown marred her soft features. She was wide awake now and her senses were on alert her heart started to beat faster. She couldn't hear any noise except that of her daughters breathing and… was that someone muttering?
Raven stood up tense and ready to fight tooth and nail while she walked to her baby's crib which seemed to be the source of the disembodied voice.
Ravens legs carried her towards the crib and her body relaxed. She looked down at a sleeping Yang with a head of thick blonde hair already. She smiled warmly and reached down caressing her child's soft cheek. Sighing she leaned back and took a deep breath letting her head fall back.
It was when she opened her eyes that she noticed something in the corner of the room where the walls met the ceiling. Fear gripped her heart and she froze seeing the figure from her past leaning down right over her daughter just above where her head had been.
It was slowly reaching down with one hand ghosting around Yang's head making the slumbering baby shift uncomfortable. Her body suddenly froze up and she remembered a night a long time ago when something like this had happened. Back when she was a little girl.
The figure was darker than the surrounding shadow but had a transparent quality to it that made it hard to see unless you were looking for it. Ravens mouth dried up and she felt her heart drop to her stomach. "What do you want Lucis." She said as firmly as possible.
The figure responded in an amused tone looking towards her while walking upside down across the ceiling, getting closer with every step. "I want many things."
Raven clenched her fists and scowled, not able to do much more with the figure influencing her body.
"What do you want with my daughter, and what was that you said about her." Lucis gave a short twisted and tortured laugh that rumbled like a beowolf's growl.
"To put it simply she's going to die because she draws to much attention."
Ravens eyes had a questioning glint as they gained an icy quality. She fought against the influence on her body and moved closer to the crib leaning over Yang protectively with a snarl on her face. "And how would my shadow know that?" She asked spiting out the words with as much venom as possible.
Faster than she would have been able to move without restriction, two dark and powerful hands grasped each side of her face pulling her close to what she assumed was eye level.
"I am not your Shadow Raven, I am a parasite leaching off you every second of your life." The strength of the hands on her face increased causing her to wince in pain. "I have stolen your life and semblance slowly but surely, from the day you were borne, so to keep you strong I gave you gifts such as your portals in an attempt to make you much stronger than you would be alone."
Raven knew Lucis was telling the truth because people like doctors, family and friends had all said as much but they never knew about Lucis and just how right they were.
"Now that you're daughter has been born she has started to draw the attention of that which she is a threat to. It will seek her out for the virtue of her simply existing. They are connected after all, with each being the bane of the others existence conflict is inevitable."
Ravens head was swimming with this information. Over the years Lucis had told her about events and what lead to them before they happened. Many times she had been the tool to his machinations and brought about things that ultimately saved lives, but caused so much pain. "I can't believe how naive I was for listening to you for all those years." She Ground out through clenched teeth. "I refuse to be your puppet anymore go find someone else!"
The hands around her face moved to her throat and tightened, slowly choking the life out of her. "That is where you misunderstand." Lucis pulled her close and Raven swore she could see the thoughts of this… thing. "You have no choice. I have been through too much and been able to hold on to so little that there is nothing I am not willing to do in order to reach my goal, but I made a promise long ago that I try to hold to this day."
Raven looked at Lucis with a curious gaze becoming light headed with the lack of oxygen. "What's that supposed to mean to me?" She said in a condescending tone. Lucis' grip around her throat tightened like a vise and now she couldn't breath at all. "It means I don't want to hurt you because it would mean throwing away the last thing I hold dear to me, but do not test me because… I will eat you alive and throw you into the darkest throws of chaos and pandemonium."
Raven was struggling to breath and her body was feeling weaker with every passing second as the darkness of the monster in front of her encroached on her vision, while the hands around her neck pulled her against its face. "I don't need you to protect my loved ones..Your nothing but a monster. Those words have been spoken to me many a time throughout the ages and not once has the speaker regretted them only to beg for my help later."
Raven glared with all her might at the figure. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and the path to heaven is covered in blood." Lucis said darkly. "Let me show you little raven what I am offering to save your daughter from."
Those were the last words she heard as the world around her faded to black.
~ Alley ~
*Shckt* Raven was pulled from her memories at the sound of a lighter being struck. Looking over her shoulder she saw a man in a white coat, classy brown dress shoes with black pants a cane with black gloves and a bowler hat to top it all off. "What do you want Roman?"
The man took a drag from the newly lit cigar and then tapped the ashes. "Well a little pick pocket came and told me to meet a contact here." He grinned and swung his cane in circles while walking up to stand next to Raven.
"So. that him?" Roman narrowed his eyes as he located Hei in the line to get into The Club.
"Yes that's him, Li Shengshun." Raven glanced at Roman folding her arms and leaning on her left leg. "Our Mutual friend told me to give you this." Raven pulled out a white envelope from her kimono and held it out to Roman.
After taking the envelope from Ravens outstretched hand he opened it and read the contents as a few documents fell into his open hand. "So this my newest job." he said in a drawling voice looking at Raven. "You know it doesn't mention what to do if he's got company." He said with a grin.
Suddenly a sword was pressed to Romans neck and a long thin metal spike was pointed at Her own jugular. Ravens eyes narrowed as she summoned a small portal just big enough for the metal spike to pass through.
"If you touch her I'll kill you." The spike seemed to press closer to her and suddenly recoil as a young woman with pink and brown hair with streaks of white appeared out of nowhere. She was wearing a chocolate brown corset with similarly colored pants and black gloves. A pink belt held up her pants and she wore white boots the same color as her jacket with pink accents. The girl gave her a nasty glare as she held a hand to her neck where raven could see a bit of blood passing through her fingers.
"Whoa easy there Birdie just pointing it out. Besides I don't do kids not my style, I'm a criminal mastermind and master thief extraordinaire after all, not some cold blooded murderer." He said in a nonchalant tone pushing her blade away with a gloved finger as he walked to the edge of the ally.
"Can't say the same for that bastard though." He thought to himself as his gazed moved from the blonde girl to his apparent target and then over at Neo. "Beside, its not like I get paid extra for anything." He grinned and started walking, "tata Birdie. Come on Neo we have work to do."
She looked at Raven sheathing the blade in her parasol while giving the older woman a glare that would make the dead shudder in their graves. She turned and walked off waving her hand in a cutesy way that to anyone who knew her was a promise of pain.
When she got even with roman she disappeared. He walked across the street to a door at the side of the club and walked inside.
In the alleyway all that remained was a cat, fish bone in its mouth watching as the last few strands of black hair passed though a portal in the side of the alley. The cat dropped the bones from its mouth and jumped to the ground walking to another alley meowing in a dubious tone as if to say. "Yeah that's the last time I eat bones out of the trashcans behind that restaurant, what was it called? The Dinner" Meow meow meow.
~ The Club ~
After waiting for a little over an hour Hei and Yang walked in the entrance to The Club well passed midnight. The sounds from the street could no longer be heard. Only the low electrical hum of high powered base speakers and sub woofers could be made out from just beyond the large glass doors at the end of the hall.
Yang looked up at Hei, who was looking down the hall at a clock. She wondered what he was thinking about.
"It's past midnight and I still haven't eaten yet." Hei complained silently, "We got to town at 9:22 for crying out loud!" He shouted in his head.
Yang looked away from Hei and let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. "Oh, my Oum I can't believe what I'm doing." She walked with a relaxed posture trying to appear mellow but her heart was racing and she felt light headed after everything that had happened over the last few hours. "Come on get a hold of yourself girl, nothing's happened you're just having fun with a guy who's not ogling you and your about to get info on your mom." She mentally slapped herself.
A realization hit Yang that indeed nothing had happened between her and her companion. Her steps slowed as she thought about it. "We actually haven't done anything." She looked at Hei out of her peripheral a thought crossing her mind. "Do I want something to happen? And how would I feel if anything did?"
"He seems like a nice guy, and I'm not saying anything serious would come of it but." A light flush came to her cheeks and she smiled to herself while turning her head away from Hei to hide her embarrassment.
"I get the feeling I wouldn't regret if something did… happen." Her flush turned to a full-blown blush and she could feel herself get a warm fuzzy sensation in her chest that spread down to her belly as her hormone addled imagination began whispering sweet nothings to her, "Let's wait and see what happens."
~ 0 ~
Hei noticed Yang's troubled state and mentally sighed Giving an annoyed grimace at Yang behind her back. "This is bad. I hope she doesn't start to get any kind of romantic feelings for me like Suou did." He sighed quietly. "that's something I could definitely do without. I'm not exactly equipped to be in an romantic relationship." he thought while watching her taking note of just what she was doing.
"It's not gonna be good if something complicated comes from this, I need to get her mind off me."
Looking forward Hei noticed they were in front of the large glass doors that separated the hall from The Club, were opening.
~ 0 ~
(Song: Yeah, Yeah, Yeah- heads will roll, A-Track Remix)
Yang stopped blushing and looked up at the clubs' floor. The different psychedelic colored lights making the place look like an acid trip as they walked on to the main floor.
Hei slipped from Yang's mind as her eyes landed on the person she originally came out here to see. Junior. Her eyes widened in anticipation as she looked at the open floor a determined glint appearing in her eyes. She'd done it. She'd managed to get in The Club and all it had taken was a bike ride.
~ 0 ~
Hei, now nothing more than a passing memory, watched as Yang walked off and made her way directly to a tall solidly built man tending one of the bars.
He pinched the bridge of his nose closing his eyes. "Or I could wait for the loud sounds, bright lights and big bar tender to distract her." He thought to himself in an exasperated tone. "I really do worry to much." Letting his hand drop he looked back up. "I just hope this doesn't turn in to a bar fight, I haven't even had dinner yet." Hei dropped his hand while opening his eyes and looked up.
His eyes lidded as they locked with another pair belonging to a girl leaning on the back wall of the club. Dark blue met pink and brown. The short girl noticed that she'd been caught staring and her eyes widened as she stood up straight, her body tense.
After a few seconds Hei watched the girl relax and turn her body away from him, her eyes becoming half lidded her lush lips forming a sly playful smirk. Then she walked to a door in the back with an extra sway to her hips that he knew was meant to tease. Just as she reached the door she turned waved to him with a cute innocent smile and a ditsy tilt of her head, then she just disappeared.
A groan escaped Hei's lips and he began walking towards that same door. "She's definitely dangerous." he sighed in his cold annoyed tone noting her ability to disappear. "She was definitely looking for me which is in itself bad and opens up a whole new number of possibilities, and none of them promising to be remotely nice."
He looked towards the bar Yang had walked off to and saw her easing her way out of conversations, most likely trying to avoid causing any scenes before making it to the bar.
"She should be fine. I don't want her to get involved in this." He sighed. "whatever this is. Why can't my life ever be as simple as my jobs? Go in pretend to be a waiter or something and then kill someone or find something, maybe both, then I'm out." Hei shook his head and continued his way to the door. Independence was such a drag sometimes.
On his way to the door he started putting some serious thought into the situation. Like how that girl or anyone for that matter possibly knew who he was. He couldn't think of anything except at the clothing store with all the reporters and photographers. Thinking about it his face was known but name and anything else wasn't.
The stuck up blonde kid definitely seemed the type to order a hit or something similar but that didn't explain how they would know where we were going when I didn't even know."
He put his hand on the door when it hit him. "They could just be luring me away from Yang, who's a regular in the area. In which case she's the real target… not me." He looked back over his shoulder. "Yang, what did you do?" he cursed under his breath as he quickly made his way to the bar he saw Yang head to. The entire time there was a voice in the back of his head asking him why he even cared. After all if that were the case It had nothing to do with him."
~ 0 ~
Yang had finally made it to the bar Junior was working at and sighed in relief as she took a seat. "Hey Junior come here a second." She called after catching her breath.
The man looked up and scanned the top of the bar from right to left. He saw Yang last and sighed internally while putting on a smile and walked over. Yang's hopes rose. "Wow ever since I met Li I've had some pretty good luck."
"So, what can I help you with Goldilocks."
(Song stop)
~ An hour earlier in a back room at The Club ~
The small room was lit by a single bulb that hung from a long wire in the center. Roman scrunched up his nose and looked at the dismal condition of the room if you could call it that. It reminded him so much of the utility closets he used at Beacon. The times he'd avoid teachers and student aids on patrol while sneaking in alcohol floated pleasantly through his mind. "The good old days." He whispered to himself.
An amused Neo watched as her partner in crime and older brother figure, which she would never admit to, took a much-needed stroll down memory lane. She rolled her eyes bringing up the picture in her hand of their latest target. She was surprised how normal he looked at first glance. He was well groomed had an average build from what she could tell but he looked like a regular civilian if you took him out of the clothes he wore in the photo. He seemed less pathetic than their usual marks though. "Was it the eyes?" she wondered to herself.
While looking at his profile she'd noticed that his smile never reached his eyes in any of the pictures. It wasn't the same way a depressed person smiled, or a fake smile like a liar would put on. He definitely pulled it off but it was almost like he didn't know how to feel it. She was intrigued to say the least but what got her were his eyes.
Or correction. His eye coupled with his expression in this one. she held her favorite picture of him up. The one that… did things to her. It made a tingling feeling travel up and down her back and had her toes curl in excitement. Her heart started beating faster than when she killed, the feeling was intoxicating. She pulled the picture close and a blush rose on her cheeks at the look in his eyes.
"Oh, my Oum if your body can do half of what your eyes can do…" Her thoughts trailed off, her body leaning back on the couch in the small room, shuddering as she thought about her, sorry their new target. She could feel her core heating up and something was happening to her heart.
She looked back to the photo and decided she had to have him. Those dead eyes with that angry twisted look deep in them like he wanted to completely tear something apart. That look of utter loathing and concentration that promised pain and begged for something… more, as if there was nothing left but pain and he wanted to impart some of it to you.
Oh, Neo was a bad girl and she knew it, but dangerous boys just turned her on so much. Especially when they looked like everything just hurt so good. "He's so gonna be mine." She thought to herself devilishly while kissing the photo before slipping it into the breast pocket inside her coat, "He just doesn't know it yet."
Neo stood and turned. A light flush on her cheeks as she faced Roman. He gave her a knowing stare having caught on to how she treated that photo since she got it ten minutes ago. It made his skin crawl for more than a few reasons. To which she replied with a happy smile while twirling her parasol.
She tilted her head and suddenly grabbed her parasol in a vice grip going completely still. She looked at him with annoyed half lidded eyes as if to say. You talk you die, you annoy me… you die.
Roman may have been precious to her but she wasn't past threatening him and making his life harder. He could keep his nose out of her business easily but if he wanted to stick it where it didn't belong he would know. She'd make sure of it.
~ 0 ~
Roman just stared at Neo and sighed while facepalming. "Neo I don't really care what you want to do just remember he is a mark at the moment, and all that implies." Neo smiled and went back to sitting on the worn but still fluffy leather couch while kicking her legs giving Roman a pleased smirk.
He couldn't believe what he was getting himself into for this psycho girl. He turned away fixing his collar and adjusting his hat hiding the pained look on his face as he faced away from Neo. If only she knew, and yet it would be better if she never remembered. While they continued to wait for Junior The hum of the base from the speakers outside reverberated through the walls and a low beat lulled him into a state of deep reflection.
A few minutes later the door on the left side of the room opened to reveal a tall man dressed in a bar tender's ensemble. So, Roman, what's this job you just got and what does it have to do with me?
"Wouldn't you like to know." Roman smirked at Junior who rolled his eyes. "Still the same old roman I see, glad to know the years haven't changed ya." Junior drawled while rolling his eyes.
Roman hummed and gave his compatriot a bemused look. "Considering we do business regularly it's hard to tell if that was an insult or an attempt at humor." Junior just folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. Romans face fell. "Fine, you're no fun. Here. This is what the person you'll be distracting looks like." He held out a picture to Junior.
The taller man grabbed the photo keeping eye contact with Roman until the smooth criminal blew out a puff of smoke letting go allowing Junior to see who it was. His eyes narrowed upon recognizing the girl in it as the rowdy blonde he'd seen around trying to get into the club recently.
"Is this some kind of joke Roman?" Junior asked looking up at him over the picture, his tone of voice suggesting he didn't find it funny one little bit.
"Whhhhaaaaaat? Why of course not my dear Junior I assure you she's coming and I want her separated from her rather dashing companion."
Junior raised a skeptical eyebrow giving Roman a weary look. Roman flicked his cigar letting the ashes fall to the floor while shrugging a shoulder. "The man knows how to dress and I respect that." He said gesturing to his own refined yet loud ensemble trying to distract himself from just who the man was. "Look Junior Its fine with me if you're not interested, I'll just explain to Her you weren't interested."
Junior eyed Roman as the man began accentuating his words with his hands. "Oh, whatever will I do". Roman smirked and looked towards Neo. "Hey darling do you feel up to making your desert money for the week."
Neo's eyes widened and a smile split her features as she stood up stepping towards Roman when Junior grabbed his shoulder pulling him back. "Now hold on a moment Torchwick we can talk this out like grownups surely."
Roman tapped his chin and hummed deep in thought for a second then leaned back. "No. I don't think so I can be pretty childish, and when I want something I just have to have it." Roman smirked. "Been that way since I was a kid. You should know."
Junior clenched his fists and grumbled. "That attitude made you real popular in the sandbox Torchwick."
Roman's smirk fell and an annoyed look crossed his features. "I managed."
Neo looked back and forth between the two before facepalming. "Boys." She thought in a long drawn out and exasperated tone.
She walked to the couch jumping on to It, laying across it gracefully as she pulled out a magazine she'd been wanting to read. She lost interest the second she flipped open the magazine and her eyes landed on an interesting article about new grim being sighted around coastal towns and by the oceans connected to the Grimm Lands. While she read she only picked up bits and pieces of what the two in the corner were discussing. That was until the recent object of her affections was mentioned.
"So, this Hei… I take it he's pretty dangerous if she's showing interest." Junior spoke in a hushed tone looking at the ground between himself and Roman.
Neo looked up and a flush came to her cheeks as images of what he could do to grim without so much as lifting a finger came to her mind. The way he looked when he killed. It made her want to see him in the act. She looked up at Junior and a hungry smile spread across her lips, "Oh if only you knew." She thought to herself darkly.
"Yeah you could say that." Roman said closing his eyes looking off to the side. When Neo looked away he looked Junior dead in the eye. "Don't act over friendly with this guy if you get close to him, he'll tear you apart if you get in his way. Just like…" He glanced over at Neo a far away look coming to him. "…He did to her."
Junior gulped.
"Just keep the girl busy." Roman let out a breath, smoke filling the small room floating up to the ceiling while he nodding.
"Give her whatever she wants. Nothings to much." Junior said in a half questioning tone.
Roman snapped his fingers then clapped his hands together pointing at Junior while grinning with his cigar between his teeth. "Exactly."
"Now get out of here Junior this might be your club but we both know when She wants something." He motioned between himself Junior and Neo then waved his hand around. "We do it."
Junior gulped sweat trickling down his face as the face of a tall pale woman with calm features popped into his head. Neo looked at him and rolled her eyes at how scared he was of her. In her own opinion, she didn't even pretend to think she could take her on but she could hold her own in a fight and running or escaping wasn't a problem.
Roman smiled a dangerously friendly smile and put one had on his hip the other swinging his cane. "I'm meeting a couple more of her lackeys here in a few minutes and you're not privy to the topic we'll be discussing, capisce?"
Junior nodded standing to leave the room but stopped with his hand on the door and turned his head just enough to be heard better but not make eye contact. "He the one then…" Junior asked trailing off.
Neo looked from Junior to Roman having no clue what that meant. She continued watching as her boss's posture changed and he turned to face away from Neo and looked at junior then turned his head pulling his bowler hat over his eyes. "Yeah… so, just don't do anything stupid." He sighed, "Not this late in the game."
Junior nodded and left the room, leaving a bewildered Neo and a strangely quiet Roman Torchwick.
Neo walked up to Roman and watched him while he just stood there as if nothing except the inside of his hat existed.
~ The Club bar, Yang and Junior ~
"So, what can I help you with Goldilocks?"
Yang looked at Junior in annoyance. She stood up leaning over the counter exposing just enough of her chest to make any guy wanna look. "Who told you it was okay to call me that? Huh?"
Junior half bowed. "No offense meant, is there a particular name or way you'd prefer I used to refer to you?"
Yang's eyes got wide and a smile spread across her face. "Now that's good service. Oh and you can just keep calling me Goldilocks it has a nice ring to it."
"Well now I have an excuse to not give him my real name." She thought deviously.
Junior sweat dropped and ground his teeth behind her back. "She's a total bitch." He looked up forcing a good customer service smile, standing straight ready to do what needed to be done to distract her. "so how can I help you? Drink, appetizer Or?"
"I want to know about this lady." Yang said with a smug smile making its way to her face as she interrupted him. Junior looked down at a picture being held out to him in her left hand.
A bead of sweat ran down the side of Juniors head slowly drawing out every passing second. "She literally wants million Lien information and I have to give it to her for free!" He shook his head. "This better be worth it."
~ Across the Club at one of the tables lining the dance floor, Hei ~
Hei Watched Yang over the top of a glass of the thickest darkest brew he could get his hands on. He hoped she didn't start anything He just wanted to get out of there and find somewhere to sleep. Eating wasn't an option if he would have to leave a single bite uneaten to run. He supposed he could wait till tomorrow to eat. After all what was a few more hours on top of four days? The human body could go for a month without food if absolutely necessary.
Narrowing his eyes he downed a couple mouthfuls from the cup followed by a grimace placing the cup on the table. It wasn't as strong as the stuff back home but with his lack of food it hit harder than it should have and he could feel a buzz coming on. He sighed. "I could see people living off this stuff like it were water though."
~ Off somewhere on a dusty old lonely road… ~
"Fucking Ozpin, ARGGGGHHHHHHH!" The crash of foliage could be heard. "Oh, hello there Qrow I need you to run a reconnaissance mission in the middle of butt fucking nowhere, find something that most likely isn't even there, bring back any proof whatsoever and report back all details asap." The opening of a flask could be heard with the sound of chugging following for a few seconds.
"He expects all that on a teacher's salary! And this is the guy leading us… Oum help us all if that nutcase is our best mind."
Before Qrow could put the lid back on his flask a sneeze tickled his nose causing him to stub his boot on a rock making him trip. "Oh, Fuck Me!" He yelled while falling, the sneeze finally breaking free causing him to lose his grip on the flask.
Getting up and crawling to his butt Qrow spied the now empty flask… "Fuck you Ozpin." He cursed under his breath, "this is all your fault somehow I swear it! This and the god damned rain that put out my fire!" He shouted raising a fist into the air.
~ Back room at The Club, Roman and Neo ~
Neo sat on the couch swinging her legs and watching the door expectantly. She was sure he'd seen her. She'd seen it. The way his dull eyes watched her focusing on her every move drawing her in. It was like looking into an abyss.
She'd had to look away. It'd felt like she was being pulled in face to face with a monster. A being so powerful that killing was something that mattered little to it, as if it were no more than a concept. An act as meaningless as breathing. It just happened and it wasn't something to bother worrying about.
She'd hesitated when she realized he caught her staring. She'd felt fear grip her heart and a tingle run down her spine. He was intelligent with the way he watched her. Like a predator cataloging everything about it's prey. Much like she was supposed to do to him. She could still feel his gaze scanning every inch of her gauging her, but not afraid. No… never afraid.
She looked over at Roman who was leaning against a wall. After a few more minutes he looked back over in Neo's direction giving her a questioning look. Her response was to give him a shrug.
"Neo, I thought you had this part. Didn't you get his attention?" Neo nodded and then gave a ditsy smile while offering an exaggerated shrug. "So where the hell is he?"
She gave Roman an exasperated look and rolled her eyes. In her head, she was wondering why he would have ignored her to. Thinking on it she decided, fuck Roman and his opinions, if he was gonna be an asshole and blame her she could be a stuck up bitch. She put her face in her hands pantomiming crying and pining for a faraway love.
Roman took a long drag from his cigar and then spun his cane sighing. "So, even you don't know why he ignored you in all your short psychotic glory."
Neo stopped what she was doing and turned to face roman. She watched him with a faraway look in her eyes, then smiled softly and stood up walking right next to him. He flinched bringing his hand up thinking he'd pissed her off. "Not the face Neo."
She looked at Roman reaching for his collar fixing it and patted his shoulders then smiled while walking out the door to find their target before their other guests arrived.
Romans knees felt week and he would have fallen had it not been for his dear Melodic Cudgel. "Holly shit that little psychos gonna be the death of me, I swear it."
~ 0 ~
Hei was watching people dance, or trying to in most cases. Generally they were acting like idiots. Looking down into his glass he swirled the dark brown liquid captivate in its depths. "Bottoms up." He said before downing the last of his third glass.
He looked up, a small smirk coming to his face when he saw a blond kid about the same age as Yang. He was busting out some pretty well practiced moves if the other people cheering and watching were anything to go by.
"Must have a lot of sisters or a very active party life." Something made him keep watching the boy though. It was his face. He looked nervous like he wanted to be anywhere but here. His attentiveness paid off when one of the men dressed in a black suit with a red shirt and sunglasses topped with a black fedora walked up to the kid pulling him to the door he himself had almost gone through.
H's eyes narrowed. Just then someone pulled out one of the chairs to his table and sat down. He sighed turning to look at his visitor. Dark blue once again met pink and brown.
Neo smiled at Hei raising her hand holding a menu. A passing waiter grabbed it nodding but before she walked off the girl grabbed her wrist and pointed at the menu and then over at the bar in the back before she walked off. "Well You must be a regular." Hei said in monotone.
she nodded with obviously fake enthusiasm watching him with curious eyes. A small smile formed on her face as she used her fingers to push up the corners of her mouth, her elbows resting on the table as she leaned closer to him.
His eyes narrowed and he let out a breath.
~ 0 ~
Tonight had been the most eventful night of Yang's life. She managed to get both of the outfits she wanted without spending her own money and made an amazing friend. Said friend even helped her get in The Club and She'd just gotten news from an information broker that a woman she was sure was her mom was in town, and she hadn't even had to pay for it. Score!
The only bad news all night was that she found out her mom had dealings with the white fang and some shadow organization that wasn't exactly legal. Junior had told her that she wasn't part of them just worked with them, but he didn't know why. It was a hard pill to swallow, kinda like a chalky powdery grassy tasting horse pill if she had to explain it.
She'd heard a few things about her mom like how she went to Beacon like she was going to as well as having been on the same team as her dad Qrow and Summer. It was a weird feeling to think that someone who was so closely related to her and had been a huntress would go to such a lifestyle that involved terrorists.
She'd also learned her mother left her family to work for someone that could protect something important. What? Junior didn't know but it brought more questions that he didn't know the answers to either. At least she wasn't abandoned or left for no reason. It was still bullshit in her opinion but a reason non the less. She couldn't judge to much without the full story.
~ 0 ~
Junior watched the while The blonde chick chewed on the information he'd given her and he was sweating bullets hoping that it would pay off. L1.5 million wouldn't cover the cost of information but he doubted this girl would know that or share it and besides staying on that woman's good side was essential to staying alive. He grimaced while cleaning up the dirty remains of five strawberry sunrises when his scroll started buzzing pulling him out of his thoughts.
Drying his hands, he answered it. "Ya. What is it Torch?"
On the other end Roman was waiting impatiently for the two he was supposed to meet and with his free time decided to give Junior the old heads up. "Oh don't sound like that Junior You did good, I'm just calling to tell you it might be a good idea to call security." He said in a mock concerned voice before taking a drag from his newest cigar. "Or just run."
Juniors eyes rose and he looked out to the dance floor in fear. "Why? What's going on?"
"Well little Neo decided to go for the target and I'm pretty sure it won't turn out pretty if our blonde friend found out considering who she's related to. So um uh yeah… bye."
Just then a waitress stopped by with a tray of drinks.
Junior paled as he recognized the two drinks. Strawberry sunrises.
"This is from the Young lady down there with the Young man." The girl said pointing before quickly walking off.
Junior facepalmed making a mental note to fire that girl. This wasn't the first time she'd assisted the little psychopath in her endeavors.
Yang was halfway through the first sunrise when she looked up where the waitress pointed and tensed.
Junior looked at Yang then to where she was looking and flinched. He quickly pulled out his scroll and called up security, his butt hitting the floor behind the bar with a thud as the call connected. "Melanie, Miltia Get out here now!" he strained out through clenched teeth, sweat pouring down his face.
~ 0 ~
Hei sat there watching the girl as her expression fell and she dropped her hands to the table. Hei's brain was working a mile a minute. A sudden realization coming to him, one that was far from comforting.
"No. What are the odds?" Hei whispered as he looked up at Neo a thin smile crawling across his lips. His eyes staring into the pink and brown of hers.
Neo looked right back and then blinked. She tilted her head stretching a hand out towards his face.
Hei tensed and he reacted on impulse. Neo's hand was just about to touch him when he stood knocking his chair back. Her eyes widened then went half lidded. A devious and playful smirk popping onto her face as she poked His left cheek.
A Smack could be herd and a few of the surrounding people within earshot looked up in the direction of the sound.
Neo's head was facing to the left. Her right cheek stung worse than when Roman smacked her for botching a job. It… hurt but not in a stinging and tender way. Numbness was spreading across her cheek and her jaw ached, that slap was meant to hurt and for a long time. She felt a strange tingling in the back of her head and felt a strange sensation stir in her gut.
"Don't touch me."
The cold tone made her flinch. She looked up at the man and into those cold dead unrelenting eyes. An ominous red color was glowing deep inside his pupils just starting to overflow into his irises. She couldn't move, her body was twitching slightly and she could see static jumping across her necklaces. Her eyes widened and when he reached out to her and she tried to curl in on herself shutting them tight.
Hei's hand caressed Neo's cheek. "You know."
She opened her eyes slightly and froze, her eyes widening in horror. Hei was nose to nose with her, his pupils still glowing.
"To anyone watching it looks like were kissing after a fight."
Neo tried to move but he had a firm hold on her head. She thought about using her semblance to make him think she'd disappeared but he would still be able to feel her and teleporting only worked when she could focus clearly but whatever he'd done to her still had her body tingling in that numb way when a limb falls asleep and her head felt fuzzy. Not to mention she doubted he would be fooled by it anyway.
Hei's hand moved to her ear subtly wrapping around her throat and back of her neck. She tried to turn away but his fingers bit in to her skin putting pressure on a nerve that made her feel light headed.
She tried to use her aura to push back on his grip but it barely helped. Hei watched the girl and felt her struggling in his grasp, like life to a soon to be corpse. He was getting lost in the feeling of control he had. Not over her, but over a life in general. While he watched her struggle, he felt like he was forgetting something very important. A cold alien feeling crept slowly into his mind.
He looked into her eyes, the corners of his mouth turning down in a disappointed frown while he slowly lessened his grip on her. This girl was important, very much so. If he continued to hurt her bad things would happen. His work would be ruined. But what work? Everything seemed to slow down and the music warped as he fell backwards into his own mind and everything went dark.
~ Unknown location ~
A Young Girl around 5 or 7 stood behind two people. She had pink and brown hair with white highlights. The two people standing behind her were a Young man and a young woman. Both looked to be around 18 to 20 years old.
The boy had bright ginger hair and a modified security baton. He wore a fancy white hoody with a high collar and black jeans with black business casual shoes. A cigarette in his mouth.
The girl next to him was the spitting image of Neo except for her height and hair. She was half a foot taller than the girl was at present and her hair was all pink, tied up in a lazy ponytail. Her weapon a parasol, like Neo's.
Hei could see the determined look in the eyes of the two young adults, but it didn't matter. "It never does." he sighed relaxing his body as he stood up straight.
The two teens glanced at each other sharing a grimace before nodding. The boy jumped at Hei and swung his baton.
Dodging at the last second he noticed the boy grin.
The boy leaned back using the momentum from his horizontal swing to throw his torso down and aim a jump kick at his chest.
Hei jumped back into a cork screw spin just dodging the boys kick but failing to see the pink and white blur in time.
A kick came flying for his face and he only just managed to bring an arm to cover his face as the girl's boot met his forearm. Her kick combined with his own jump knocked him off balance, sending him flying.
He hit the ground back first falling into a roll but he threw his hand out pushing off the ground springing into graceful recovery, back flipping to a ready stance. He looked across to his opponents watching as the girl gracefully flew through the air using her acrobatic semblance, which put her on par with him easily.
She landed next to the young girl after a triple backflip blowing a kiss. Her not so graceful partner stumbled to his feet after trying to copy one of the his own tricks he used earlier, and of course failing wonderfully.
Hei stood up straight sighing while shaking his head. He watched the two before him and closed his eyes behind the mask reveling in the relief that came with avoiding the eyes of the innocent. "Look you two. I only need the little girl so just hand her over." He said in a dark carefree tone.
The two teens eyed him and then the boy laughed. "What, no threat sir?"
The girl next to him slapped his arm. "Shut up Torch. We don't wanna piss him off."
"Oh calm down Ichigo. we can hold him off for another couple of minutes until Junior and that bitch Malachite get their asses here."
The girl glanced at the ginger haired boy. "Her names Clover, Torch. What did she do to piss you off?"
The boy shrugged and then they both fixed their gazes back on him.
"Anyways. I don't think it matters Torch." She let out a slow steady breath. "If we don't hold him then Neo…" She trailed off looking over her shoulder for just a second.
Torch grimaced and sighed. "Yeah yeah, stay focused I got it." He shook his shoulders and got into a ready stance as did Ichigo. They raised their weapons and charged.
Hei opened his eyes and grimaced behind the mask growling in an annoyed tone. "look I'm not going to hurt her, but I'm not above taking you out to get to her either."
He sprung in to action keeping low to the ground as he ran towards the two teens throwing a knife at the girl's head making her twist out of the way and take her eyes off him. As soon as he had the advantage he jumped into a no hand cartwheel between the two throwing his left hand out, a loop of flying wire passing around the girls head from behind.
Torch saw what the man did and swung for him but only managed to hit empty air. The attack flew by the man's head as he spun by, his weapon clashing horribly with the ground, reverberating against the concrete and throwing him off balance.
The masked man landed as the girl came to a stop after spinning. She Faced him while raising her weapon. Torch stumbled and jumped into a front flip, landing awkwardly as he spun to face his teammate who was staring down their opponent.
"Ichigo watch out!" He yelled hysterically, his eyes widening in terror. "There's wire around your throat!"
Ichigo's vision flashed to Torch in the middle of what he was saying. From her peripheral she saw the man reach for his belt and touch something. Her heart skipped a beat as the last few words left Torch's mouth and a zipping sound met her ears. "Roman!"
~ 0 ~
The Strawberry Sunrise sat forgotten by its Nemesis, the Small Sun Dragon. Said beast was looking off into the distance.
"What?…" Yang couldn't believe what she was seeing. From where she stood she had a perfect view of what appeared to be two lovers looking deep into each others eyes or kissing.
The ice in the forgotten glass melted just enough for more to fall in to the liquid causing a small tinkling noise. The odd noise brought Yang out of her shock.
She felt strange. Not bad per say. Just off. She reached out to her left and felt for what she knew wouldn't be there, because she could see him across the room with someone else… a female someone else. Her stomach twisted up. A very unpleasant empty feeling starting to spread with every passing moment making her feel cold.
She blinked a few times a sigh building up in her chest as her shoulders tensed. She held it for a few seconds then let the breath go, her stomach loosening up. She gripped the cloth of her shirt holding it tight. The feeling in her chest just wouldn't go away.
Her eyes lost some of their flair, a resigned smile creeping to her lips as she closed her eyes while shaking her head. "Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid… what the hell's going on with me?" She asked herself looking down at her feet.
That's when it hit her. Ahhh…. hello my old friend. The empty feeling was disappointment. It was Li, with how he ironically turned out to be a playboy.
When she first met him she'd commented on how he worked fast, then that Weiss girl. Now this. A petite busty girl with exotic looking hair.
She knew it was kinda unfair to judge him because in truth he never advertised what kind of person he was nor did he deny the joking statements she made earlier. Now here she was judging him. Maybe it was the feeling of rejection that came from nowhere. After all he hadn't tried anything on her despite her proximity with him for the past few hours.
Clenching her fists she huffed. "Oum damn it! I'm a young woman and I have a right to an opinion, and I call em like I see em!"
Yang opened her eyes while crossing her arms as she looked out at Li. "I thought you were different." She muttered under her breath. She looked away and huffed the fire having sparked in her eyes again.
With a huff she started walking towards the exit having accomplished what she set out to do in the first place anyways. If he was here to fuck around then he was free to do so. However with every passing step a small voice in her head asked over and over why she didn't go back and confront him. After all she wasn't some timid little. girl she was a huntress in training and she'd be at Beacon in about a week.
The closer she got to the exit the louder the voice in her head got and the more confidant she became. When she was a few yards from the giant glass doors she stopped, and looked down at her boots, the boots he'd bought…for her.
She smiled a little and looked up a warm feeling filling up the emptiness in her chest. He had bought her these boots and her entire outfit without expecting anything in return and was even willing to foot the bill for dinner. Not to mention the entire time he'd shown little interest in her physically as well which still gave her mixed feelings, even more so now with what was going on. Her smile brightened paradoxically at the thoughts she was having when her eyes finally found him.
"We did say we'd be friends right?" The confidence she'd built up started to crumble and her smile fell almost instantly back down to an unsure curve of the lips. He was still standing there with "ugh." That girl. She started walking towards them some of her confidence having left her.
She closed her eyes and took a breath trying to relax. She ran a hand through some hair that had fallen over her shoulder. She fixed it while shaking her head gracefully whipping her hair back behind her. On her way towards Li's table an idea hit her. She turned to Juniors bar and grinned excitedly. Her walk turning in to a strut as she made her way back to the bar.
What she failed to notice was that not two seconds after she turned the Pinket that was with Hei had started leading him by the hand to the door from earlier that led to the back of the club.
~ 0 ~
Hei's eyes widened as everything faded to black again before the club came back into focus. The music sped back up and he snapped out of the memory. He blinked, looking into the wide terrified eyes of the young woman in front of him. A terrifying revelation occurred to him as he processed what just happened. No. What he remembered.
~ 0 ~
Neo was Freaking out at this point. She wanted to get away from this guy. Typically she would have run him through already but she couldn't for two reasons. One because he was important and She needed him for something. The second. Well she still couldn't move but the numbness was slowly fading.
She glanced down and saw her fingers slowly tightening around her parasol. "Damn it!" she thought. She could move but she could barely feel anything. What the hell had he done to her. It was like he used a taser on her that was strong enough to paralyze her for an extended time but not make her go limp.
Her eyes widened. "Or it's affecting my nerves directly."
Hei slowly let go of the girls neck letting his arm drop to his side.
Neo's eyes widened looking into his now calm and calculating dim blues. She smiled to herself, a strange feeling tickling at the back of her mind. She used one hand to poke Hei's nose, making his lips twitch in an uncomfortable grimace. She smiled smugly grabbing her scroll after not having received a slap this time.
~ 0 ~
"This girl. She's connected to whatever past I have here. It had to of been years ago but I don't feel any older than 26 and she's grown at least 10 years." Hei puzzled while the girl typed on her device.
"Time displacement through gravity manipulation of light particles." It was the only theory he could come up with that he himself might be capable of. "The calculations for that would take a computer weeks… but for a human years didn't sound like a stretch. After all forward time travel is just creating a glorified time capsule which is possible with enough power or materials. One of which I've got in spades."
Neo poked Hei's nose again to get his attention.
His eyes widened and he mentally berated himself for losing focus. "Why am I so out of focus… Oh yeah sleep deprivation and lack of food."
He looked at the object the girl put in his face and read the text on screen.
A suggestive emoji with a sideways look followed by the sentence "Is this gonna be a regular thing with you?" An emoji of a hurt face and then two people hugging followed.
Hei looked from the scroll to Neo. He sighed rubbing his temples. "No. It won't. I make it a point to get rid of my problems." His hand slid down his face wiping away the stress from the last few days before dropping to reveal narrowed eyes. "But I think you're worth keeping around. For now."
His response drew a silent whine and a deadly but beautiful pout from the short girl.
He watched her for a second while debating. "Should I go along with her… or should I just let it go?"
The short girl stretched a little and cracked her neck before typing on her scroll again. She looked up at him and then showed him the new message. "Follow me."
She started pulling him to the back of the club towards the door he almost walked through earlier.
Hei took her response in stride and calculated the pros and cons of an internal debate he started an hour ago. Should he pick Yang and see what doors she could open for him. Or the girl who had connections to his past. A past he couldn't remember but was obviously going to be a big factor if the same girl from his forgotten past had found him.
Just as Hei was about to speak a bitter sweet voice whispered in his ear. "Try and be human, for me."
"Damn it Yin." Sighing he planted his feet firmly on the ground. The sudden stop made the short multi colored girl give a silent yelp as she almost tripped herself. The short girl gave an annoyed huff and snarled at Hei jabbing a finger at the door and glaring at him.
He looked over at the door and let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.
A memory from just a couple hours ago resurfaced.
~ Schnee Appeal W&W ~
"Impressive."
Hei looked over his shoulder his eyes widening slightly in curiosity as he turned around. "What exactly, if you don't mind me asking, was so impressive?"
The man Hei had turned around to face was smirking while looking at him over a pair of circle glasses. He had Wild mint green hair and wore something similar to what Hei himself would wear in a more casual situation, with the addition of glasses and a thermos.
"I don't mind you asking at all sir." He took a sip from his thermos and pushed his glasses up starting another sentence all in the span of two seconds. "But I do believe introductions are in order first. I am a stickler for etiquette."
The man proffered his right hand taking Hei's and shaking it rather than waiting for a response. "I am Doctor Oobleck. I didn't go to school for nothing you know so if you wish to refer to me in the formal Dr. Will suffice."
Hei's head swam with the sudden influx of information and rambling his brain just endured in the last five seconds. His lack of food and sleep was really getting to him. He squeezed the Dr.'s hand firmly trying to form a response.
"Oobleck? Like that green goo they use in elementary school to teach kids about viscosity?" Was Hei's smart reply.
Dr. Oobleck grinned and nodded. "The very same. My family have been in academia for generations. I see you paid attention during your studies as a youth."
Hei eyed the man with a bemused look before nodding. "Honor student. Would have been valedictorian if I hadn't joined…" He had to think quick. "The military to keep an eye on my sister."
Oobleck nodded letting go of Hei's hand. "Entirely understandable. Family is very important." Then the mint haired man grew silent looking off into the distance.
Hei nodded slowly wondering why this man had introduced himself. "So Dr. What exactly was so impressive?"
Oobleck stirred as if he'd been pulled from a very invested daydream or immersive memory. "Ah. Yes. Well do you know that young lady by any chance? Ms Adel."
Hei shook his head. "No. Why?"
The man chuckled. "Well you see. I do. I am a professor of hers." He took another sip from his thermos. "Tell me. What exactly was your goal when you initiated that conversation?"
Hei narrowed his eyes slightly, wondering if he should answer truthfully or not. Eventually he relaxed. "I was trying to get her to do my shopping for me. She works here and she looked like she was dying to…" He looked down at himself. "…Fix my image. I figured she'd find something well priced and functional."
Oobleck laughed. "You want a discount don't you?"
Hei closed his eyes pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yes."
Oobleck patted Hei on the shoulder smiling. "Well I'll tell you this. Young Ms. Adel loves her job. I'm afraid you won't get a discount unless you truly impress her."
Hei dropped his hand looking at the other man. "Although I've never seen nor heard of her shopping for anyone but herself and maybe a friend to improve her teams image. That alone is impressive. I'm surprised you could read her so well and take advantage of her personality."
Hei rose an eyebrow waiting for the but.
"But."
There it was.
"I must ask. Was part of your military training in manipulation and subterfuge?"
And the conversation just got uncomfortable. Hei could tell the man was well meaning and probably just looking out for his student but he was digging for information and it wasn't apparent why.
"If it was?"
Oobleck stepped back taking yet another sip from his mug before sighing and holding his thermos upside down, not a single drop falling. "Ah well. All good things must come to an end." He clipped the thermos to his belt pushing his glasses up again before placing his hands behind the small of his back standing feet shoulder width apart as he fixed Hei with an expressionless face that betrayed no intentions.
"Then I would say there has been no war that required the drafting of minors for over 20 years. Try again."
Hei narrowed his eyes looking away before letting out a breath and looking back. It always was his type that saw through everything. Hyperactive and serious to a fault. Detectives that Huang liked to call busybodies.
"I taught myself. I had to. It was do or die."
Oobleck smiled in appreciation at the honesty. "And I suppose you were never in the military?"
Hei just watched the man quietly. "Child soldier. By choice."
"To follow your sister I presume?"
"Bai was her name."
Oobleck's smile fell. "My condolences."
"No need. I killed her."
Oobleck looked down sighing. "I see. Then you did the right thing."
Hei grit his teeth. He wanted to punch this man. To make him hurt. But it wouldn't change anything. He clenched his right hand electricity sparking around it. Memories of holding his sisters throat while he told her how much she disgusted him. How he despised her for all the death she caused. Oh what a hypocrite he'd become.
"No. She did. And she left me with the burden."
Oobleck watched Hei with an interested and confused gaze before pulling out a business card and offering it. "For such a young man to be so well put together after a life like that you show a surprising amount of intelligence and mental fortitude.
Hei Laughed darkly, a somber look coming over his face as he took the card before hanging his head. "Let me let you in on a little secret."
Oobleck look at the young man in front of him frowning softly.
"Life doesn't care about streaks. It does not care if you want to win. If you need to win."
Hei clenched his fists before relaxing letting out a defeated sigh, his body loosing all its energy.
"At the end of the day… life is simply unfair."
Oobleck put a hand on Hei's shoulder. Memories of screams and a dark cave flashing through his mind as he watched the young man.
Hei narrowed his eyes as he looked at the ground. "Nothing hits as hard as life." His time as a worthless drunk. Hiding under bridges. Smoking the days away. Lashing out at people he didn't know just for being there. He looked up and Oobleck almost gasped at what he saw in the young mans eyes.
Memories of friends flashed through Hei's mind.
Suou, "What the hell's wrong with you, get a hold of yourself."
Amber, "You know. You're acting like a spoiled child again. Do you want to lay on my lap?"
Yin, "It'll be okay Hei."
Bai, "You were always so strong for me."
Misaki, "You're kinda crazy, but you never give up do you."
July, "Thank you."
Mao, "A man can only be beaten in two ways. He gives up, or he dies."
Huang, "Hei. That's a piss poor attitude."
"But let me tell you this. The only disability in life… is a bad attitude. A positive attitude is the most powerful combatant to life's misfortunes."
His last moments on earth, holding Suou. The sacrifice he made.
"A lesson without pain is meaningless. That's because no one can gain without sacrificing something. But by enduring that pain and overcoming it… You just might get something out of all of it."
Oobleck was stunned by Hei's words. They weren't words one as young as him should typically know. He closed his mouth and took a deep breath before bowing. "Give that number a call within the next two weeks and I believe you'll be surprised where that state of mind can lead you."
Hei looked down at the crumpled card in his hand. It was white, a tower was in the background with a beacon fire. On the back a phone number.
~ present ~
He Watched the door and saw the blonde boy from before exit. He had a manila envelope but the look on his face said whatever it was cost more than money. Looking back at Neo he made his decision. "Be human."
Neo looked up at Hei expectantly but was shocked when he stepped back. "Sorry but I'm not interested. There's someone I've kept waiting long enough. I'm sure she's pissed at me." And with that he turned on his heel leaving behind a dumbstruck Neo.
Hei's head was swimming with everything from no sleep for about four days and no food for just as long. The information overload from all the epiphanies and having to still find out where to go from here didn't help at all. But after turning away from that girl… He felt a lot lighter.
~ 0 ~
Neo couldn't believe it. That son of a bitch just walked away from her. Her! And for some stupid blonde bimbo. The girl was barely legal.
She tightened her grip on her parasol fingering the latch to the blade.
Oh he has no idea who he's messing with.
~ Junior ~
Juniors eyes kept moving from the blonde chick to the psycho chick. In the distance. He thought he'd shit a brick when that waitress from earlier pointed out the scene to the blonde. Junior Shuddered thankful the girl had just gotten up and decided to leave. "Hey Melanie, Milti go fire that waitress."
A pair of twins looked up, one scoffing while the other rolled her eyes. They were both wearing similar clothes, stylish combat dresses in a club style, but where one wore white and feathery clothes with long hair that reached her generous rump. The other wore red and fur, her hair cut short around her chin accentuating her much larger bust.
The twins, in mirror reflections of each other, ran their fingers through their hair tossing it back while tilting their shoulders and cocking their heads leaning forward giving Junior seductive smiles.
Junior leaned forward expectantly.
In a fraction of a second their expressions became imperious and they shouted at him unison. "We're security not your fucking lackeys!"
Junior jumped back tripping over his own feet as his back slammed into the bar behind him almost making him drop the glass he was cleaning. He put the glass down and puffed up his chest. "I'll have you know I'm the one who pays you. Your my extra muscle and you'll do what I say."
He deflated immediately at the looks they gave him while complaining through clenched teeth. "Bitches, just like your mother."
The twins looked at each other with the same disinterested bored look. "Grow up Junior." Melanie said shrugging and then sipping her gray goose martini.
"Yeah, you're just mad you're not our daddy and you still can't tell us no." Miltia shrugged while popping an olive in to her mouth savoring the bitter taste with a shiver.
Junior spluttered unable to form a coherent sentence for a full ten seconds. He finally gave up and threw his arms up before crossing them defensively in front of his chest. "Shut up." He gave them both a sideways glance. "Your moms so full of shit too, I could be your daddy I just don't like to pay bitches for shit so the pretty boy got the bill.
Miltia almost choked on her olive coughing violently into her hand while trying to maintain an attractive appearance. Melanie on the other hand threw her drink in Juniors face. "That's cause your just like the drinks you sell flat, cheap and useless."
Junior stood there a frown on his face as he wiped the remains of the martini from his mug. "Real mature Melanie, just like your mom."
Her lips drew together in a sultry smirk. "I learned from the best. I mean she did teach me how to handle your sorry ass." She leaned over the bar and wiped some of her well used drink from his vest using his own pocket handkerchief a coy smile playing across her face.
Junior sighed and let his head drop. "Fine you win. Just handle the blonde till she actually leaves." Melanie looked over her shoulder and grinned. "Should be easy enough. Here she comes now."
Junior flinched looking over Melanie's shoulder. Sweat started to visibly pour down his forehead. "Just do you job alright." Melanie patted his cheek and slowly trailed her hand down his arm as she sat down,
"You bet Mr. Pork-chop, after all whatever would I do without my piggy bank." She ended with a wink and a predatory smile aimed at the pocket where his wallet sat. Then she looked up into his face and licked her lips, smiling.
"Also, I'm one of those bitches you don't like to pay so my." She looked at her sister who was watching with no small amount of mirth. "No. Our rates." She pointed between her and her sister. "Just doubled for the night." Junior whimpered.
"Oh and one more thing." She grabbed another drink that was sitting behind the bar taking a sip. "Our drinks are free tonight." He nodded dreading tonight's security bill. Oh one could definitely say he'd fucked up.
Miltia chuckled watching the exchange between her sister and their boss. Her lips forming an amused smirk, her eyes showing clear amused satisfaction with the recent events. She gave a low slow whistle having fun showing how impressed she was with her sister as her twin sat back down.
"Melanie, Melanie, Melanie. That was impressive." Miltia purred in a sultry voice stroking her sister's ego. You make it look so easy. Melanie looked over at Miltia and gave a playful smile.
"Make what look easy?" She said in a honeyed voice.
Miltia's jaw dropped and pointed at Junior. Before she could say anything Melanie Placed a slender well manicured finger against her twins lips.
"Shhh."
Miltia shuddered making a mental note not to piss off Melanie ever again. Just then a pair of hands slammed down on the bar on the opposite side of Miltiades making the already nervous girl jump.
The three turned seeing the blonde bombshell lean over the counter and grab Junior's tie pulling him down to eye level. "Hey big boy. Happy to see me again?" Yang asked coyly with a Cheshire grin.
Junior resisted the urge to flinch and smiled the fakest smile anyone had ever seen. His nerves were frazzled enough from everything that had happened in the last few hours. He really didn't need this.
Yang's eyes had a fire in them that scared Junior, he'd seen that exact same look on a young woman about 17 years ago when he'd first started his business. He sighed. This was gonna lead to serious trouble he could feel it. He had a sneaking suspicion his club was gonna be destroyed just like back then. Back when everything started.
That night that girl and her shadow tore apart his club before the building had been remodeled after he bought it.
He chuckled darkly to himself. She had spared him the cost of a demolition crew. "So, how can I help you Goldilocks?"
"Maybe it's time for a remodel. I always did think that a line of booths would look better than tables around the dance floor."
~ 0 ~
And done. Wow that was quite a bit longer than I expected. Hmm. Well it was mostly a rewrite with more events added in so I don't think it called for a separate chapter. But let me know yall guys' thoughts. Next order of business the rewrite of "To be or not to be".
Hope to see you guys again.
P.S. … smile
