Author note: Hmm I felt the desire, so this chapter came to be so back to flower power I hope you all enjoy!
It was a nice feeling riding around with Ren on his bike while we set up our new life in Vale we need a place to stay when classes weren't in session and with the gold and valuables we stole, and the money Ren's parents left to him in saving accounts. After going through a lot of hassle just to confirm Lie's identity which took a lot of lying about his whereabouts. He could tell them he had been kidnapped and raised by a bandit camp in North Anima. Mistral wasn't known for its compassion for the situations out the capital or understand that most of the villages outside have to deal with the nonsense of bandits creating problems and destroying villages regardless of how well defended. There's a lot of work that went into those villages, but the king of Mistral and the council could care less about its citizens. Were able to secure housing in Vale though it took a while since were just seventeen they don't like to Rent much allowing homeowners that young luckily Vale was more understanding to our orphan status and the fact that we had enough money to fend for ourselves and buy a home. It was awkward when we had to explain we weren't a couple, that we were just good friends. That we were all each other has had for a long time so it was a priority.
But Ren and I had been having a swell time in the city and the tension and nerves had slowly dropped off my shoulder. Which has made even Ren took notice when I started acting like myself demanding we buy a store of clothes and make sure have some provisions for the next week. We even look at a neighboring peaceful Village of Patch but found it lacking for all the things we need. Vale was becoming more and more like the more we explore it and get used to the people and the customs. It's nice to be in a kingdom city that didn't feel like the nobility and the lower class are impossible to meet one another much have a conversation.
Ren was the one who told me we need to get a move on today because there some things I forgot to get done. Thank god Ren plans ahead he was always the brains of our friendship and I'm incredibly thankful for that now. We now have to register for student housing and we need some much needed upgrades to our weapons and get some dust bullets while we're at it. That's not forgetting the school uniform that we need to look into a buy for ourselves. It's a lot of work and I'm kind of grateful I got Ren here I doubt I would've left the bandit camp on my own much less made this far now we have something stable that's ours and we can just start our new lives with no regrets and no fears of them coming for us. We are in the capital city unless they want to be decimated by Vale's army we are untouchable here we can be someone finally help other people. Maybe we can even go back to Anima and get rid of the bandit problem once and for all. Who knows what the road hold for us?
Coming to Beacon is for a fresh start and to wash ourselves of our sins. While we were able to save some new recruit, it hurts that we ever aided them at all survival or not it makes it harder to sleep knowing what I have committed what we both have committed. Even though we cried for every person we killed, and for every person who lived long enough to be forcibly placed among the bandits or killed when they refused, we never became hardened like the others never allowed their bloodlust to become what we were. Ren became more stoic or tried to be especially now I can still get a laugh out of Ren from time to time especially now that there is a way to just kick back a relax. Remind herself of her new room that she had redecorated filled with outfits and stuffed animals and posters one I stole before we left that life behind, but I couldn't part with because it made me laugh join the Atlesian military we are Remnant's premier army, only the best of the best. Our very best can join our intergalactic division. It always made giggle at how cocky and conceited atlas is and the fact that they think their space program is the best they can hardly get a satellite without wasting billions of lein do they honestly think they are going to make colonies all over the galaxy? They can barely keep a handle on the cities they are supposed to take care of.
I felt my energy spike especially after getting everything done like a weight lifted off both of our shoulders. Coming back to the house noticing we need to get home insurance just in case. Lie immediately upon getting back sat in the middle of the floor started meditating He's so serene. If I hadn't grown up with him? I would assume he was a monk of some order on the other side remnant. A monk of some distant land on the other side of the planet untouched by the wars and everything else.
I knew what I could do to burn off the excess energy. Putting on my sweatbands and my new jogging suit lacing my sneakers.
"Hey, Ren! I'm going running around the neighborhood I should be back later okay?"
He didn't look up from his meditative stance, but I didn't expect him too. It's how he trains his semblance and extends it beyond his normal limits. He thankfully was able to keep it a secret between us, and the bandits were never aware of his semblance. Mine on the other happened in the middle of a raid, I couldn't stop them from seeing it. As I started to stretch I started feeling all my worries melt away. And I start a slow walk then take a brisk walk. The people I passed as walked children, men, women and Faunus alike were either wave or keeping to themselves. It was just another in the city of Vale. The people still strived and lived for the next day as I noticed the men in a suit on their lunch breaks. Passing a very snooty looking platinum blonde with luggage heading into a hotel and boy who was wearing a nice looking hat. I saw that I had come across a park going into a full sprint stopping. When I notice a billboard covered in advertisements and announcements. From babysitting gigs to courier jobs, to advertising parties and clubs around the city it seemed like everything was there on the board. Hmmm going to a club might not be a bad idea, I can Ren and I clubbing outfits and we can dance the night away not like we are going to get a lot of dances or free time when classes start. I took a flyer that had the club name and the addressing knowing if she didn't she would forget, and they would wander downtown Vale all night instead of getting to the right club. Placing the flyer in my pocket grateful she took her wallet with her to go jogging. Noticing she was in the central Vale it was a short walk to a clothing district I had some shopping to do. Nora for her part started skipping hoping she finds what she was looking for. The people going down the street weren't phased strangeness and quirkiness is something Vale was well known for having amongst its citizen they shrugged their shoulders.
I was done with my mediation finally internalizing that Nora had taken off for a run. That gave me the time to set up the exercise room which has yet to be unpacked. the benching machine had been taunting me in its box, but it could be helped I need to relax after arguing with it would barely take any time since I barely spent twenty minutes in this since we bought it the bed and clothes were in their respective rooms. The rooms are barely decorated the walls are unpainted things like comforters and blanket are sitting in boxes that I had to unpack which I'm occupying my time with while Nora went on her jog. There were rugs and painting that we took from those hidden homes that got delivered and I was wondering where I was going to put them. The place we bought was along the lines of something nice. We knew that we would take a lot of missions abroad and that there may come a time where one or both of us has to retire. In an affluent neighborhood filled with families and young couples. Most of our neighbors were business executives, top hunters, and doctors. Nobody snubbed their noses, but they raised their eyebrow at the ability to buy the house in the first place. They shrugged their shoulders assuming one of them was heir with a lot of money. So, decorating was something I took very seriously since this would be our home for I hope a long time to come. The realtor tried to steer us to apartment saying we might not want to live with each other that long and that homes are more for family and growing couples. We raised an eyebrow letting them know we didn't care what was typical we rather stick together we all each other has, which shut them up. Wiping my brow looking at the nicely decorated living room and kitchen but I noticed the barren fridge. Knowing a trip to the supermarket might be in order locking up the house. Nora took her own set of keys to the house. And I had to go shopping for a lot of the essential Nora eats a lot when she can. Right now, we are under no one's control or restrictions I wouldn't be surprised if she comes back with junk food. Remember what the realtor said about supermarket being only three blocks away and I might need help get the provisions for a week. With no other thoughts on the matter, he got to his task keeping mind that I can let either of us live on junk food for the next week regardless.
So, it was a shock to come back to the house to find Nora sitting on the couch with some bags that are obviously from shopping behind me. I could hear the delivery guy who helps to start unpacking the bags he's being paid extra for that part. Putting all of it in the kitchen and setting the perishable in the fridge someone is looking for a tip.
"Well Lie we got plans tonight saddle up buddy because you and me are going clubbing tonight." Nora pulled out a flyer for a club that seems to be the most popular in Vale since I had seen adverts for it in the airship port. While it wasn't my scene, I knew Nora would love this instead.
"Sure, let's go, Nora."
"Yes! Here's your outfit! We'll leave after dark ok!" Nora excitement was palpable and contagious as I tried to keep the smile out of my face even though I was worried about what outfit she got for me in particular for the club. I just hope for my sake that I won't be awkward, I don't have to be worried about Nora she always knows how to be the center of attention.
Final note: I am going on hiatus for most of November. Since I will be in the middle of midterms and half of December since I will be doing finals. I'm realistic I'm not trying to give a half-hearted chapter update which is why I'm writing this chapter before that happens. At the moment I'm not stressed out. I feel energized almost like Nora.