Chapter: 7: The Lone Wolf returns
Present: City of Vale.
That much anticipated day finally came: The Fridulf's versus team OKRA. This was going to be a fight for the history books. They decided to meet at a local park. Katherine, Marcus, Grant, and Zarqa sat on the sidelines, enjoying a picnic Katherine had prepared for everyone.
"Hey Z, thanks for coming to our little picnic." Said Marcus
"No problem. I never really figured you guys would be ones for picnics." Zarqa said taking a sip of the wine Katherine brought with her.
"It's Kate's idea. I just can't wait for the fight." said Marcus
"Yeah. It's going to be one heck of a beat-down. I bet Grant fifty buck each that Kole is gonna kick-ass."
"No way. He's going to lose." Said Grant, as he sampled some of Katherine's cuisine.
"I wouldn't sell him so short. I've never known him to lose. Even to a group of Huntsmen." Said Zarqa looking towards the slacker with nostalgia.
"What do you mean. You guys just meet like last week." Marcus asked puzzled by Zarqa's statement.
"It's… just that…he looks like he knows what he's doing. And I couldn't imagine him losing a fight." She explained nervously.
"Nice one. I like her Marcus, she's funny. I'll have you know I kicked his ass back in Vacuo. Kole is going to be the first one down."
Zarqa didn't know whether to believe this remark. Back in the day, Kole was the invincible Lone Wolf. How could the man that gave many people nightmares, ever seem to lose a fight? She just laughed and dismissed the remark as though it was a lie.
The wide and open area provided a great arena for them all to spar. On one end of the field the Fridulfs lounged around while OKRA was having a tactical discussion. Shade stood under a shade tree while Kole lazily sat around, smoking. This was a perfect day for a sparring match.
"Oh shit!" yelled Shade as she knelt down to vomit
"You okay sis?" asked Kole, flicking a cigarette butt into the distance
"Damn morning sickness." She said spitting out a mouthful of bile
"I don't think its morning sickness. It's probably withdrawals from not drinking."
I swear to god, the minute this kid is out of me I'm locking myself in that bar of yours and I'm going to get, royally, fucked up!" she said before vomiting a second time. "You know what to do right?"
"Yeah."
"Something tells me you're just saying yeah, because you forgot our plan."
"Yeah."
"Kole!"
"Chill sis. I remember your stupid plan"
"Oh yeah? Then what is it?"
"Lets see here: its blah, blah, blah, shoot them. Blah, blah, blah show them why us Fridulf's are legendary badass motherfuckers."
"No. We stick together. You watch my ass and I'll watch yours."
"Don't be staring at my ass. That really fucked up coming from my sister" laughed the slacker
"Shut the fuck up."
When OKRA took the field they huddled in a circle to discuss their tactics. The Fridulfs on the other hand played a quick game of Rock-Paper-Scissors to see which one would go over to see if their opponents are ready. Kole threw down scissors and Shade slammed her fist down on top of his fingers indicating rock.
"Damn." Said Kole
"You're never going to beat me little brother." Declared Shade
"Little? Were the same age, dumbass."
"Whatever. Why don't you go over and see what's taking them so long?"
"Fine." Kole said flipping her off as he walked down to their opponents.
"Okay team. We're going to have our work cut out for us. We're going up against a wild card, and time bomb. Any ideas?" said Oscar
"I say we divide and conquer." Stated Cerise
"Exactly! Addy, I want you and Cerise to go against Kole. Keep him busy while me and Richard distract Shade." Said Oscar
"Got it. Watch your back big guy." Adeline said patting Richard on the back.
"Don't do anything stupid." Said Richard leaning down to kiss Adeline good luck.
"Good plan guys. But might I suggest that you forfeit before you embarrass yourself." Said Kole joining their huddle.
"What the-? Kole? What the hell are you doing?" yelled Cerise
"I got bored so I wanted to see what was taking you guys so long." He said resting his hand on Desperado. "Are you ready yet?"
"Yeah, we're ready." She said sticking her nose up at the slacker
"Cool." he said with an evil grin. The Huntsman drew out his pistol with lightning speed and fired a concussive gravity Dust round at the feet of the team. The force of the blast sent them all back, dazed by the sneak attack. One by one they returned to their feet shaking off the ringing in their ears. "And that is what I call a fucking awesome way to start a match." He said returning to Shade's side.
"Damn it Kole! I wanted to do that." Yelled Shade growling at her missed opportunity
"Sorry sis. I'll let you have the next one."
"Not cool bro!" yelled Oscar "Charge!"
The team drew out their weapons and rushed head-on at the siblings. Shade pumped a round into her shotgun and analyzed the battle at hand: a full frontal assault, with multiple firearms. A melee attack alone would be a bad idea. But there would be a good chance to show off and intimidate them enough to make them slip up. "Wolf-Pack!" yelled Shade
Kole jumped back and focused his Aura to radiate around him. Two of his spectral wolves emerged at his side. He looked down to them and gave their command. "Sick 'em boys!"
Kole and the wolves charged ahead and stood their ground in the center of the field. The slacker first engaged in a knife fight with Oscar and his revolver-daggers. He didn't worry about striking at any openings, he just parried his swipes. The wolves on the other hand would bite and snap at the girls. Richard slammed his hatchet down and buried the blade in the head of a ghost wolf. When it disappeared, Shade ran ahead swinging her axe at the Faunus.
"Oscar! This isn't working! What do we do?" yelled Cerise
"We go with the plan, Divide and Conquer."
Adeline and Cerise nodded to each other and charged at the slacker while Richard and Oscar went for the leader.
Richard transformed his weapon into its battle axe mode and started swinging at the Huntress, while Cerise opened fire at the slacker in hopes of dividing the two.
Kole ducked low as the gunfire concentrated on him. "Fuck this. I'm bailing." He said running towards the playground.
"Damn it Kole." She yelled blocking an attack from Richard's axe. Shade snarled as her Aura started to flare around her.
"That's it, Richard. We got this." Smirked Oscar seeing the slacker flee.
"Uh, dude?" whispered Richard seeing Shade erupt into a bright green inferno.
"Fuck…Retreat!"
"After that bitch." Yelled Adeline following the slacker into the playground area.
At the sight of the Huntress' weapons all of the parents grabbed their children in fear and let the Huntsman and huntresses continue their fight. The ladies looked around them at their surroundings. Tall wooden play equipment gave ideal sniping positions. The structure also gave little hiding areas for the Huntsman to wait and ambush the girls. Cerise wandered around the courtyard of the wooden play castle and looked to Adeline. She waved her to climb up and search for the Huntsman. Echoes of shotgun blasts echoed above her as she hugged her automatic rifle close to her.
The cat Faunus scanned the tops of the structures and spotted flash of something black running between two wooden pillars. She Faunus opened fire at the blur.
"What the fuck Cerise? It's me?" yelled Adeline
"Sorry, Addy. Any sign of that asshole?"
"Look behind you." Came a man's voice. The Faunus turned around and opened fire at a nearby water fountain. "Ha! Made you look."
"Is that all your good at Kole? Going in guns blazing and just hoping that your team will back you up? you're the most immature piece of shit I have ever meet." yelled the Faunus shooting all around her.
"Wow that's a low blow, Cerise." Shouted Adeline from somewhere in the structure.
"Who's side are you on Addy? At least you're not that as bad as this dumbass."
"No, she has a point. I'll admit. I do act childish from time to time. But you know what they say, lady. Growing up is a part of life. But acting your age is completely by choice."
The Huntsman crept low on his stomach in a wooden spire with his head hanging over a small ladder-way in the floor. He lined up a shot at the Faunus with her back to him. He had only one chance to knock her out of the fight before he had to relocate to another spot to take out Adeline. He placed his finger on the trigger and slowed his breathing. His concentration was broken by the feeling of two cold, steel barrels pressed under his chin.
"Think again, bitch." Whispered Adeline as the Huntsman looked down the ladder-way at the smiling woman.
"Clever girl." He replied. With the same grin.
Cerise continued to patrol the small courtyard. She jumped as a loud shotgun blast destroyed the top of a spire behind her, but was happy to see the slacker and Adeline jump from the smoke cloud onto a sandbox below them. Cerise ran up to use her gun as a club, while Adeline transformed her scattergun into sword mode and the two swung at the man. Seeing the coordinated attack, Kole kicked sand into Adeline's face as he blocked Cerise's attack with the blade of his weapon.
"Hey kitty. Since we're here. Do you have to stop and take a shit?"
The woman groaned at the man's attempt to make a racial joke about her Faunus heritage. The slacker then hopped onto a nearby merry-go-round and took cover behind the latticework of iron handlebars. The minute Cerise jumped onto the metal platform of the merry-go-round. Kole hopped off the platform as he ran and pushed to make the merry-go-round go faster and faster. The 3G's of force caused the Huntress to fly out. The Huntsman then jumped off and laughed as he struggled to keep from falling from the vertigo.
"Now this is fun." He said trying to light his cigarette with his doubled vision.
Totally." Said Adeline, chasing the Huntsman up a tall metal slide
"Hey Kole. So where's this Lone Wolf, I've always heard about. I really want to see if those rumors are true." Adeline said sword fighting with the slacker as they slid down the slide.
"Shut up! I told you I'm not the Lone Wolf anymore."
"Oh come on. Is the Lone wolf really just a huge pussy?"
"Shut up!
"Make me, bitch." she said locking swords with him and punching him in the face, giving the slacker a taste of his own medicine. Kole took a step back and placed his fingers to his lip. They were covered in a thin layer of blood. "See, Cerise. I knew this Lone Wolf thing was just a lie."
"FINE!" Kole said wiping the blood from his lip. "You want The Lone Wolf, well you've got him." Adeline could feel the air around him change dramatically. It was like something that was once chained away had just been released within the Huntsman. His laid back stature, distant wandering stare was changed to perfect posture and a focused glare. His Aura was flaring like never before. Kole Fridulf unleashed the beast, and The Lone Wolf was free once again.
The Lone Wolf began his merciless onslaught by targeting the thorn in his side. He loaded Desperado with as many fire Dust rounds as possible, flipped his pistol forward and concentrated all his efforts to silence the dark haired woman.
Across the field Richard and Oscar continued their efforts to combat an enraged Shade. Who's, Aura was still burning as bright as the sun. the sounds gunfire caught Richard's attention. He began to panic when he saw Adeline get singled out in the fight.
"Addy!" he yelled running to her side.
"Richard, get back here!" said Oscar, dodging a
"Fuck this. I gotta help Addy!" he said transforming his battle-axe to its sniper rifle form and tried to provide covering fire for his beloved.
"Richard!"
The Lone Wolf slowly stepped forward towards Adeline, not taking his eyes off of her. Richard could sense the incoming danger and as he charged, Kole waved his gun towards the Faunus and fired a Gravity Dust round at his crotch.
"Oh shit! Yelled Marcus from the sidelines. Covering his groin in reaction to seeing the shot. "Not cool dude!
"Remind me to never piss him off, ever" said Grant
"Totally."
Again The Lone Wolf flipped his gun forward, ready to shoot again. Adeline slowly stepped back as he approached her. In a last ditch attempt she fired both barrels of her shotgun and activated the saber hidden in between the barrels. Kole raised his free hand high above him and caught the blade, a thin stream of blood began to flow down his arm. He looked at the red streak and then looked into Adeline's fearful eyes. He scrunched his face as he placed his pistol right against Adeline's stomach. He squeezed the trigger and held her tight so she could absorb the full force of the Dust blast. Adeline's Aura flickered all across her body in its scarlet sheen.
He loosened his grasp on the saber blade and watched her body fall to the ground, aura depleted. The Wolf reached into his pocket and pulled out a single bullet and loaded it into Desperado. He aimed the gun down to her head.
"N-no. P-Please don't." she cried looking into his merciless eyes.
"Your pathetic." He said placing his finger on the trigger.
"Kole!" yelled Katherine as she threw a knife at the Lone Wolves hand.
The man dropped his gun and looked at Katherine, running toward him. When he saw her face, Kole realized what just happened. He looked around him and gasped at what he was going to do.
"I-I'm sorry…" He said picking up his gun and running off into the distance.
Back at The Loft, everyone was confused as to what had just transpired. Oscar and Marcus helped Adeline into their apartment and laid her out on the couch, Cerise and Katherine helped Richard into a chair, and Shade and Grant were on their scrolls trying to call Kole.
"So can somebody please tell me what the fuck was that?" asked Oscar
"Yeah, I never knew that lazy bastard had a dark side like that." Grant said placing on Richard's lap and turning his attention to Adeline.
"I don't know." Said Shade trying to dial Kole's number for an eighth time.
"He's a trained Huntsman. How can he just lose control like that?" asked Oscar
"I don't know."
"He almost killed my teammate, Shade. This is some serious shit!"
"I DON'T KNOW!" Shade yelled throwing her scroll across the room. Shattering it against the wall.
"Shade. Calm down. Guys, somebody has to go look for him. Richard you're like his drinking buddy or something."
"I can hardly walk. What makes you think I'm going to look for that psychopath?" the Faunus said adjusting the icepack against his crotch.
"Don't call him that. He's not a psychopath. He's just…troubled." Said Katherine
"I'll go." Said Marcus. "I'm his best friend."
"No. I'm going." said Katherine "I'm his girlfriend."
"Hello? Sister! I out-rank all you bitches." Said Shade
While the group argued, Zarqa silently exited The Loft and went out into the vast City of Vale. As much as she knew about him, she knew he would be drinking by now. Zarqa wandered through every bar in the city and finally found him sitting alone in The Broken Wheel. He was sitting at the bar, his back to her, several empty beer bottles lay next to him, and a half empty bottle of whiskey in front of him. While he drank, he sang to himself a melancholy tune. "My momma told me son you better watch out, all those nasty women are gonna rip you dime for dime. Well I got my pockets full of real songs and that broken guitar moan. Guitar moan. And the stories keep on a rolling…out from a sad man's tongue." He sang pausing only to finish his glass of whiskey.
Zarqa unsheathed her daggers and stepped soft-footed towards the man, unsure of what will happen when he sees her. She tightened her grip on the blades, but was stopped by his sudden greeting.
"Things used to be so simple back then, didn't it Z?"
"How'd you know I was here?" Zarqa said annoyed in how he knew she was there. She had trained for years to strike from the shadows, but a schmuck like him could hear her coming a mile away.
"Your reflection on the bottles." He said pointing towards the display of liquor bottles on the shelves in front of him. "Would you mind putting those toothpicks of yours away? I really don't want to pay for any more damages here."
Zarqa re-sheathed her blades. And took a seat at the bar next to him. Kole drew out Desperado and set it on the counter to show he wasn't going to fight. The woman nodded at the gesture and did the same with her daggers.
"Not a day goes by that I don't have to look over my shoulder for some Black Lotus asshole like you trying to kill me."
"I'm not in the Lotus anymore."
"Sure you're not. Ambrose! Bring a glass for my friend here." He shouted towards the bartender
"I'm not. When you left, things went to shit. Juliet went insane-er, the Lotus lost face, and the Datura saw that as a sign to strike us. We've been in a stalemate since.
"Wow, not my problem." He said pouring the woman a glass.
"It was your problem, jackass. You were our leader and you abandoned us, for what a chance to be a good guy?"
"Like shit. I went to become a Huntsman so I could get more training, to be stronger and crush those bitches like the Datura, the Hemlocks, and the Deathbells. All of them."
"And what changed your mind? A girl?"
"No, Not just a girl. A team. My team. SMKK."
"And what about us? Your old team! We were the greatest group of warriors. We were FLWR."
"We were thieves and killers."
"We were a family! You were like a brother to me."
"And you were a better sister than my own, Z. I'm sorry okay?"
"Sorry isn't good enough."
"Call me a puss, but when I meet my team I started to feel…regret. For what we did."
"Why?"
"We turned a simple group of street thugs into a syndicate, because we were willing to do what others couldn't."
"What's done is done. You and I left for our own reasons. I just want a new start. Like you."
"And your Fangs?" he said pointing at the daggers with his glass in his hand.
"I could say the same about your Desperado. We all hold onto the past."
"Hmm. Well here's to a new start, little sister." He said throwing his arm around the woman, hugging her.
"A new start. Is that even possible for us?"
The two former lieutenants drank the night away and when the sun began to peak far off in the East. Then came their most impossible task returning to their friends. Kole stood in front of the door and placed his Scroll to the lock. It made an audible clink indicating that the door was unlocked. He creeped the door open and staggered inside. Both members of team SMKK and OKRA were still in the living area talking. Everyone looked at him with mixed emotions of fear, confusion, hate, pity, and love.
"Hey… I'm home" he said taking his jacket and gun belt off like any other time he came home." Adeline struggled to her feet, her leg still bandaged, and limped towards the slacker. "Look Addy. There's no way in hell that I can apologize for what happened, but I -"
When Adeline was within range of the slacker she cocked back her fist and slugged him in the side of the head, dropping him to the floor like a ragdoll. She unleashed a fury of kicks into the man's stomach and chest with her good leg. Shade, Marcus and Katherine looked down in shame as the Huntress got her revenge. Right when Kole started to puke up his liquid breakfast, Adeline stood over the slacker and spit on him
"Now who's pathetic? Consider us even, bitch."
