Chapter 38: Nuts and Bolts, Heart and Soul
'How long...' Nick thought.
'How long...' Kevin thought.
'How long...' Mike thought
'How long...' Torren thought.
'How long until this Hell ends?!'
Team KNTM were once again suffering from another one of Professor Port's many stories.
"I take that back. I'd rather be back in a coma than listen to Port's nonsense." Nick said. Groaning at having to hear another of his "stories".
"Nick?!" Ruby said. "You shouldn't say that!"
"Can I join you?" Mike asked. "Since I can't sleep in class anymore " Mike glared at Yang as she smiled back at him.
"Let's go wake Shogun up and ask him." Nick said.
"Guren... Chrome... need I remind you two that I have Ms. Luna's number, and I won't hesitate to call her?" Pyrrha took out her scroll with Luna's picture and number on it.
The Bell brothers faces became pale. A week ago they got chewed out by her for being in detention. And of course, since Luna and Mikan happened to like Pyrrha and Yang, they forced Nick and Mike to give them their numbers should they ever act out.
"No Pyr... sorry." Nick muttered.
As the class was coming to an end. Jaune slid up next to Weiss. Hoping to woo her once again. "So, Weiss, y'know, uh, I-I was thinking after this, maybe we could go grab a bite to eat?" She didn't respond as she was focused on the alarm on her scroll.
"And, uh um, I-I've got two tickets to that new Spruce Willis movie, if you wanna make the trip to Vale. I hear it's awesome." However, she did not respond again.
"Aaaand maybe after that, we could study together? I mean, you're smart and I'm, uh... Y'know."
The alarm finally went off. Port was unaware of the alarm, as he was posing in fear as if a towering monster was about to attack. "And then I— Oh. He soon straightened his stance as the students got up to leave. "Timed that one wrong, I guess. Well, the stunning conclusion to this story will have to wait. Until next time!"
"Oh thank god." Kevin muttered.
"To think... we have four years of this." Nick sighed.
Jaune was watching Weiss as she packed up her Scroll. "Weiss? Did you hear me?"
"No, no, no, and yes." She then rushed out to leave.
Upon hearing this, Jaune groaned and faceplanted into his desk.
"Damn Jaune. Three months in and you barely even gotten you foot out of the curved zone." Mike joked.
"Jaune. I know I said to have faith in yourself, but maybe Weiss might be a bit too much of a hurdle to climb." Nick said. "But... there's someone else who you can take to the movies... And have a bite with?"
"Like who?" He said dejectedly.
"I'll go! If you're paying for everything!" Kevin said.
"That couldn't had been me Jaune. Cause I would..." As Mike went to pat him on the back, he saw Yang glaring at him. "Give you... the moral support that you need? Haha."
"Bro, if you ever want to take a girl out to eat after a date? Let me know! I'll hook you two up." Torren said before leaving with Nick and the others.
"Thanks Torren." Jaune dragged his feet out the class.
One week ago
Teams KNTM and RWBY were in team KNTM's dorms. Seven out of the eight people were playing a board game that involved buying property.
"Dammit!" Nick yelled.
"Haha! Looks like you have to file for bankruptcy!" Kevin barked.
"Shut up! I can come back!" Nick yelled. Nick rolled the dice and got a six. Landing on a property with two hotels.
"Nice!" Yang cheered.
"Ahhhh... dammit..." Nick slammed his face into the table in annoyance.
"At least lose with dignity Nick." Weiss took the dice from his it was her turn to roll.
"Hey Blake... is everything ok?" Ruby asked her teammate. Who happens to looke extremely agitated.
"I just, I don't understand how everyone can be so calm." And she was not pleased with how everybody but her was not thinking about the events that transpire these past three months and instead, are playing games.
"You're still thinking about Torchwick?" Ruby asked her teammate.
"Torchwick, the White Fang, all of it! Something big is happening and no one is doing anything about it!"
"Well Nick did take out their "big guns." Mike pointed at Nick. "So... something was done."
"And now, we also have to worry about Akakabuto and his group of mercenaries charging in here, trying to kill him!" Blake pointed at crestfallen Ashura.
"Don't think about it too much Blake. Besides, Ozpin told us not to worry. Between the police and the Huntsmen, I'm sure they can handle it." Yang tried to reassure her partner.
"Okay, break everyone!" Weiss placed the dice down and clapped her hands to get everybody's attention. "Between blowing up nightclubs, stopping thieves, and kicking "super faunus" in their jaws to the point of making them being comatose, I'm sure we all think that we're all ready to go out and apprehend these ne'er-do-wells!" Weiss said.
"Uh, who?" Ruby asked.
"The bad guys Ruby?" Kevin said.
"But let me once again be the voice of reason. We're students Blake! We're not ready to handle this sort of situation!"
"No offense Princess, but some of us here have experience with taking out organized crime syndicates." Mike said with a smile. "Besides! We're ready for anything that comes at us! Right guys?" Nick and the others nodded in agreement
"No offense to you Michael, but we're not ready!" Weiss yelled.
"And we may never be ready!" Blake stood up. "Our enemies aren't just going to sit around and wait for graduation day! They're out there, somewhere, planning their next move, and none of us know what it is, but it's coming! Whether we're ready or not!
"Somebody's paranoid." Kevin said.
"Blake is right." Nick said. "Because we already stopped them once at the docks, we're now deeply involved in this. The longer we wait, the more we have to worry about what's to come." He nodded at Blake, who smiled back at him. "So I think it's time that we throw a wrench into their plans before they set it into motion."
"You just got out of the hospital!" Weiss yelled. "How stubborn can you be?!"
"And I'm perfectly fine." Nick said with a smile. "And now that I have my semblance, I won't be lagging behind you guys anymore."
"Okay, all in favor of becoming the youngest group of hunters to single-handedly take down a corrupt organization conspiring against the Kingdom of Vale... say aye!" Ruby raised her hand in the air in a manic expression.
"I'm down! Let's go kick this Torchwick's guy's ass!' Mike yelled with excitement.
Yang pumped her fist enthusiastically and pointed at Mike. "Yeah! I love it when you're feisty!"
"Let's go blow this walking candlestick's lights out!" Kevin yelled. Causing his teammates to cringe a bit. "What... what did I say?"
"Kev, no offense. But you should leave the puns to Yang." Torren placed a hand on his shoulder. "And I say that to save you."
"I guess there's no stopping you guys huh?" Weiss sighed before smiling. "Oh, what the heck! I guess this will be fun."
"None of you said aye!" Ruby said. Now pouting that she was ignored.
"Aye!" Nick yelled out while raising his fist.
"Wow... you got Nick to say aye. Consider that a huge step." Mike proudly smiled at Ruby.
"Alright then, we're in this together!" Blake placed her hand out as everybody put theirs on top of hers.
"Let's go hatch a plan!" Ruby yelled out.
"Yeah!" Everybody yelled excitedly as they raised their hand in the air.
Present
Team KNTM's room
"Oh man! I can't believe were going out on an Investigation!" Kevin said excitedly. His new attire was a black hoodie with a huge collar and straps on his arms, white pants with straps and black sneakers.
"Remember, the eight of us have to go to separate places in order to find out what Torchwick and the White Fang are exactly doing." Nick said. He had on a black jacket with white stripes running down the sleeve of the arms. A white v neck t shirt, black pants and black sneaker. "By the way, have Penny responded back to your messages?"
"No..." Kevin's shoulder slumped. "That's why I hope this mission will take my mind off of her."
"Luckily, we don't have a super faunus to be on the look out for." Mike said. "And this Akakabuto guy will probably be nothing either!" He was wearing a white leather coat with a red v neck shirt, black pants and red sneakers.
"Should I bring snacks? We might be out all day and I know we might get hungry?" Torren had a multitude of snacks in his arms. He had on a black and white striped short sleeved hoodie, blue pants and black boots.
"As a matter of fact... yeah bring snacks." Nick said.
After they finished preparing, they then went to team RWBY's door and knocked on it. Ruby let them in. She and the others were in their new attires also.
"Wow! You guys look so cool!" Ruby gushed. "Especially... you Nick." He face began to light up as she said that.
"I almost didn't recognize you without your workout clothes." Weiss said. "You actually clean up nicely."
"I'd say the same thing about you. Except you're still wearing a "combat skirt." Nick said with air quotes. Not pleased that he's being dissed on his clothing style.
"It is a combat skirt Nick!"
"Gotta say Mikey, I'm loving the biker look." Yang purred at seeing her boyfriend's new attire.
"What can I say? I make anything look good." Mike was fixing the sleeves of his coat. "I'm definitely a huge fan of that outfit. You should wear it more."
"Maybe I will." Yang went and hugged Mike.
"Ugh! Can you two get intimate after we're done?!" Weiss said.
"Well, since we're gonna be investigating, we should do this with style." Kevin said.
"I don't know... I think it's a bit flashy." Nick looked at his clothes.
"Nonsense, we look good! And we feel good!" Mike placed his arm around Nick's shoulder.
"This isn't a fashion show." Blake said. "It's important that we complete this investigation without any trouble."
"Says the one looking the most glamorous?" Kevin raised an eyebrow towards Blake.
"Mike did compare you to being a model of on the runway once." Nick said.
(Dr. Stone OST: I'm A Master Of Minds)
"So does everybody remember the plan?" Ruby asked.
"So, the four of us, which consist of you, me, Nick and Kevin will head to the CCT and check the Schnee records for any other Dust robberies or inconsistencies. Seeing as I'm in the family, it shouldn't be a problem."
"The White Fang has regular faction meetings to hand out orders and recruit new members. If I can get in, I can hopefully find out what they're planning.
"I'll go with you." Torren said.
"But how? You're not a faunus. You'll be caught the moment you enter." Weiss said.
"No worries, I have a plan for that." Torren smiled.
"Me and Mikey have an old friend on the shady side of town that typically knows everything going on in Vale. Getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard."
Mike suddenly remembered guys night out with that "old friend" and broke out into a nervous sweat. "Uhhh... I don't think... that they're open babe... uhhh."
"Nonsense! It's been three months!" Yang said. "And besides, you should still have your "V.I.P. privileges" right?"
"Uhhh... yeah... sure..." Mike nervously laughed. 'God! Please don't let her find out.'
"Great! We'll meet up tonight near Yang and Mike to go over what we found." Ruby pumped her fist in excitement. "Let's do this!"
"Yeah!" Everybody looked to see to a smiling Sun as he was hanging upside-down by his tail in their open window. The whole team is taken aback.
"Sun!" Blake was absolutely surprised and alarmed to see her fellow faunus hanging from a tree.
"How the hell did you get up there?" Yang asked.
"Ah, it's easy; I do it all the time."
"You do what?!" Nick and the others activated their weapons.
"And to think? I thought you was cool." Mike was ready to activate Dragon Installation.
"I-I-I mean I climb trees all the time!" Sun corrected himself. Realizing that he was about to be killed, he flipped into the dorm room. "So, are we finally getting back at that Torchwick guy?"
"We are going to investigate the situation... as a team." Blake said.
"Sorry, Sun. We don't want to get friends involved if we don't have to." Ruby added.
"Come on guys! We're bros! Remember?!" Sun waited for Nick and the guys to say something.
Nick sighed before agreeing with Sun. "Yeah... we're bros. You can join up."
"Nick, you cant just invite more people into this without consulting me!" Ruby said in annoyance.
"Come on Ruby! It's Sun!" Mike said as he place a hand over his shoulder.
"Thank goodness! Cause I brought Neptune! And uhhh. It would've been difficult for him to climb back down." He pointed out the window. As everybody looked out they saw Neptune, looking as cool as can be.
"'Sup?"
"How the hell did you even get up here?" Mike asked.
"I have my ways." He was standing on a very thin ledge circling the building under the windows. "Seriously, though, can I come in? We're like, really high up right now." Neptune jumped inside the dorm room. Breathing a sigh of relief.
"Ok... Since we added two more people to the group, here is the new plan." Ruby declared. "Me, Nick, Kevin and Weiss; Sun, you can go with Blake and Torren."
"But he's not a faunus." Sun pointed at Torren. "He'll get caught."
"I have a plan for that." Torren said with a smile.
"And Neptune, you can go with Yang and Mike. Everyone good?
"Actually, Ruby, why don't you... go with Yang and Mike?"
"But I wanna see the CCT!" Ruby exclaimed.
"Well... I guess Neptune could come with me, you and Nick. We can send Kevin with Yang and Mike." Her face began to change a lighter shade of pink.
"Hey! Why the hell don't you go with them?!" Kevin barked.
"Because I'm needed in order to access the files, you dunce!" Weiss barked back.
"Oooo, you just want some "alone time" with Neptune!" Keving began making kissing sounds. Causing Weiss to become irritated.
Ruby looked at Neptune as he put on a suave look and pointed at Weiss. "Hahaha, nah!"
"Then how about we trade Nick for Neptune?" Kevin said. "You don't mind, right?"
"I actually don't-"
"No! Nick stays!" Ruby interrupted Nick and clung into him. Glaring at Kevin for thinking about "abandoning" him. "And as team leader, I have the last say!"
"Wow, you sure make it obvious, huh?" Weiss was obviously less than amused.
"So, we all know the plan?" Everybody nodded.
"Great! Come on guys!" Ruby somehow gathered enough strength to pull Weiss and surprisingly Nick out the door.
"Good luck guys!" Kevin said before closing the door.
Mike, Yang and Neptune went down into the garage of the academy. Yang went to pull out her motorcycle, bumblebee. "Glad I can finally put my baby to use."
"I call driver!" Mike was grabbed by his collar.
"Sorry babe, but I'm the only one who gets to ride." Yang said.
"Aww come on! I have my license also. I'm certified!" Mike showed his liscense to Yang.
"No offense, I love you, but you have a history of using false identification. I'm not trusting you."
"Wait... there's only room for two." Neptune said. "Where... exactly am I going to sit?"
"You're walking." Mike said.
"Well luckily, I have a side car just for the occassion." Yang went and attached the side car to her motorcycle. "Here Neptune, you can sit here."
"Is this... safe?" Neptune nervously climbed into the side car. Yang sat on the bike with Mike behind her as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"If only the air bags was in the back." Mike joked.
"Sorry, but these air bags stay in the front." Yang joked back.
"Uhhh... guys... you sure this is SAAAAAA..." Yang revved up her bike and zoomed off. With Neptune screaming out loud.
Nick, Ruby, Kevin and Weiss were standing in front of the monumental tower that loomed over them.
"Woooow! I forget how big the Transmit tower looks up close!" Ruby was mesmerized by the height of the tower.
"This is my first time actually seeing one of these." Nick said as he also stared at the colossal tower.
"You should see the one in Atlas!" She said.
"Wait. It's even bigger than this one?!" Nick said in shock.
"That was the first one, right?" Ruby said.
"Correct."
As the four of them walked into the building, Kevin was also curious about their origins. "So when exactly did they build this?"
"Well Kevin, Atlas developed the Cross Continental Transmit System to allow the four kingdoms to communicate with one another. It was their gift to the world after the Great War."
"You would think years after the war they would do more for the people living in the inside." Nick muttered.
"Oooh, look at me! My name's Weiss! I know facts! I'm rich!" Ruby said. She began to prance around while imitating Weiss.
"Everyone is beneath me and don't meet my standards!" Kevin soon joined in. Raising his voice up an octave to imitate her voice. Nick soon broke out his serious expression and chuckled as Weiss frowned at them.
"Don't be pests!" She ordered. " Besides, the only reason we're here is because you like the tower so much!" She then pointed at Ruby. "We could have just as easily went to the library to do this."
"But that's not fun!" Ruby said.
"Yeah! Libraries are boring!" Kevin said. "We're investigating, not studying!"
"I have to agree with Kev and Ruby on that part." Nick said.
"I'd expect such childish antics from those two, but not you Nick." Weiss said. "Anyways, just be on the look out for anything."
"Got it!" Kevin began making hand gestures. Clasping his hands together first before putting up two fingers. He then gave the "ok" sign before placing his hand on his forehead.
"Uhhhh... Your underwear is showing?" Nick asked.
"Yeah!" They both gave each other high fives before going into an extremely elaborate bunch of movements with their arms. Finishing it off by placing their forearms against eachother.
"Will you two stop acting like idiots?!" Weiss yelled. The people walking around the tower began looking at her. Causing her face to become red with embarrassment. "Just... sit down! Behave like good children! And wait for me here!" She then walked off. Leaving the three to their own devices.
"I have this multiplayer game we can play on the scrolls until she comes back?" Nick took out his scroll. "You guys down?"
"Yeah!" Ruby yelled.
Ten minutes later
"Tch... dammit. Lost again" Nick muttered.
"No worries Nick, not everybody is good at snatching up planets!" Ruby said with a smile.
"Everybody accept you of course. The Nick said in a deadpanned tone.
Kevin suddenly looked up from his scroll and was caught by what he saw. It was Penny, who surprisingly just happened to be loitering around. "Penny?" He muttered. He then stood up.
"Kev, you good?" Nick asked his partner.
"Uhhhh... yeah! I uhhh... gotta use... the bathroom!" Using his semblance, he dashed off.
"That was weird." Ruby said.
"Kev's always weird." Nick said. "In the meantime, let's play some Metal Slug."
"Penny!" The orange haired girl look and began to nervously look around as she saw Kevin, who went and hugged her.
"Are you okay? You haven't been responding to my texts since the incident at the circus!"
"I'm sorry... I think you're confused." Penny softly pushed Kevin away before hicupping. "You're mistaking me for someone else."
"Wh... what are you talking about?" Kevin raised an eyebrow. "How could I ever mistake you for anybody else?"
"I uhhh... I don't know you... sir..." Penny backed away and hiccups again.
"Penny... what are you saying?" Kevin was serious now. "I-I-I-It's me Kevin! Your boyfriend!"
"You... you need to go... please." She had a look of concern on her face.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Kevin turned and saw two Atlesian soldiers. "Get away from her!"
"Are they after you?! Well don't worry, they can't catch the God of lightning!" Kevin picked up Penny. "Speed of lightning!" Using his semblance to his fullest, he zoomed past the soldiers.
"That kid's fast."
"Did I... just see lightning?"
"You idiot! If the General finds out that we lost her! It's our jobs!"
"Please let me go Kevin!" Penny said as she was being carried. "I... I don't want you to-"
"I... can't do... that!" Kevin easily maneuvered through the streets and people. "If... my girl's in trouble, I'll make sure... to get her out of it." Using his speed, he bounded up the walls to get over a cage.
Seeing that they were far away from everybody, Kevin placed Penny down to catch a breather. "Why... where they... after you?" Kevin asked. His breathing was heavy due to carrying Penny.
"I... I ran away..." Penny said.
"Ran away?!" Kevin eyes widened. "And those men?"
"They're are part of the Atlesian Army." Penny said. "As I said before, I am from Atlas. But... I'm... very important."
"Is that the reason why you're always going home early? Wait... you're not royalty... are you? Oh crap! I just kidnapped royalty! Oh shit! I'm gonna get arrested! Or worse! Executed!" Kevin began to hyperventilate at what might possibly happen to him.
"No! No! I'm... not royalty." Penny grabbed Kevin's hands to calm him down. "You see... before I arrived here, my father asked me not to venture out too far, because of the dangers of being in a new kingdom. But... You have to understand, my father loves me very much; he just worries a lot."
"But... I love and worry about you just as much as he does." Kevin hugged Penny. "I wouldn't let anything happen to you."
Penny held Kevin's hands. Looking down with a sad expression " Kevin... since that day, I was told not to talk to you. Or anybody, really.
"Wait, you told your dad about me? Was he that upset about you not making it home on time?"
"No, it wasn't my father..."
Before Penny can continue, she and Kevin heard the sound of megaphones announcing something, turning around the corner to look at the platform in the center of a plaza where the holographic image of James Ironwood is seen before six AK-130 Androids, who are in turn standing in front of two large metal storage cases.
"Greetings citizens of Vale, My name is James Ironwood."
"His... name..." Kevin began to laugh but cover his mouth. "Mike and them would laugh their asses off if they heard it."
"The AK-130 has been a standard security model of Remnant for several years, and they have done a fine job. Wouldn't you agree?" The clapping of the gathered audience caused the drones to take a jerky bow.
"Are those... robots?" Kevin was surprised to see the droids.
"But... the kingdom of Atlas is a kingdom of innovation, and 'fine'. Well, that's just not good enough, is it?" The doors to the cases rolled up, and six new, bulkier, shinier automatons stand at attention before knocking their obsolete predecessors down to the applause of the watchers.
"We are proud to Present. The Atlesian Knight-200! Smarter, sleeker, and admittedly, a little less scary." The robots began to flex and pose as a demonstration.
"These models will become active later this year, but they won't be alone! Now, the Atlesian Military has always supported the idea of removing men from the dangers of the battlefield. However, there are still many situations that will undoubtedly require... a human touch."
"Oh wow, he's from Atlas just like you." Kevin muttered. Penny nervously looked at Kevin.
"So, our kingdom's greatest minds, in cooperation with the Schnee Dust Company, are proud to introduce... the Atlesian Paladin!"
Ironwood's image was replaced with the hologram of a robotic white behemoth, featuring hinged piston legs, large guns for hands, and a rectangular head, standing at least twice as tall as the Knights below it.
"Now, we couldn't have him here for you today, but these mechanized battle suits will be seen defending the borders of our kingdom within the year!"
The audience began clapping as the hologram faded away.
"Kevin... I think we should leave..." Penny nervously began to back away.
"We're pretty far away from those people. We have nothing to worry about." Kevin said reassuringly.
(Dr. Stone OST Vol.2: Storm's Brewing)
"There she is!" Kevin and Penny was alerted by a voice. The two soldiers from before spotted them.
"Damn kid's as fast as lightning!"
"Hey! Stop right there!"
"Oh, you have gotta be shitting me! How did they find us?!" Kevin picked up Penny again.
"Kevin, you did enough. Just let me go!" Penny pleaded. "I don't want you to get hurt because of me!"
"I cant do that!" Kevin gritted his teeth. "What kind of boyfriend would I be if I left you by yourself?" Kevin gave her a smile. "I won't let them have you. I promise!"
Penny smiled before hugging Kevin tightly. He then put on a serious expression. "Speed of Lightning!" A bolt of lightning charged out of the alleyway.
The crowd averted their gaze from the paladin as they saw a streak of lightning moving around.
"Did you see that?!"
"Yeah! Was that lightning?!"
Back at the CCT
"Where did he go?!" Weiss was not pleased that Kevin left.
"He said he was going to use the bathroom." Ruby said as she was munching on strawberry filled cookies.
"For nearly forty five minutes?!" Weiss's face became red in anger. She deliberately told all of them to stay put and then Kevin runs off. "Nick! He's your teammate, contact him and tell him to come on!"
"Alright! There's no need to yell!" Nick made an attempt to contact Kevin, but it went straight to voicemail. "Shit... he's not picking up. I'm gonna check the bathroom. Hopefully he didn't fall asleep."
"Ewww." Ruby had a look of disgust at the thought.
"This is great! He goes and run off just as I got what we needed." Weiss huffed in annoyance.
Streets of Vale
Kevin ran through the streets with Penny clinging out tightly. He jumped every seven cars. Shutting them down as he landed due to his semblance being active.
'How the hell did they find us so soon?! I made sure to get as far away as possible from them!'
Kevin continued to dash away as fast as he can. But the strain of carrying her was too great for him. 'Dammit... I'm getting... tired. Damn my lack of strength!' They then crashed to the ground, with the both of them tumbling into the street.
"Ahhh... Dammit!" Kevin struggled to get up. He was dazed due to the tumble. "Really should start doing those pushups like Nick told me." He didn't notice a large truck coming up from behind him until the honking is too late of a warning.
"Kevin!"
"Shit!" As he was about to be hit, Penny stood in front of Kevin and held her palm out.
In the split second where the two made contact, the ground beneath Penny cracked and crumbled into pieces, and the From Dust Till Dawn truck was lifted into the air by the girl's sheer strength.
"Holy... shit." Kevin's jaw dropped as he witnessed his girlfriend stopped a charging car with one hand and place it back down. 'I don't even think... Nick and Mike could do that!' He then looked at Penny, who back away due to his shocked expression.
Numerous bystanders watched in shocked at what his girlfriend did. Kevin soon calmed himself down before grabbing Penny her hand. "Come on!"
"Speed of Lightning!" He ran as fast as he can until they were in an alleyway. "I... think we... lost them." Kevin was catching his breath.
"Kevin... there's something I have to tell-"
"Holy shit! You stopped a car with one hand! One hand! That was incredible!" Kevin grabbed his girlfriend's hands. "Telekinesis and super strength!" He kept gushing about how cool she was. "Your father shouldn't have a reason to worry about you if you could-"
"Kevin..."
"I mean I should've figured that out since we saw you knocking Shogun across the-"
"Kevin!" Penny yelled. Interrupting her boyfriend. She went up to his face. Her expression was that of desperation. "There's... something I have to tell you... no... show you."
"What... is it?" Kevin stopped in his tracks.
"But... If I told you something... important about me? Would... you still love me?"
"Penny, I would love you no matter what." Kevin said with a smile. "Unless you're a man, or you're cheating on me. Then... I don't know about that." He joked.
"I'm serious Kevin!" Penny yelled. This startled the God of lightning. Penny has never been one to be so serious.
"Of course I would. No matter what." He said with a smile. Penny showed him her hands. His normally happy smile was that of shock. His eyes widened at what he saw.
(Dr. Stone OST Vol. 2: Suika's So Sorry)
"Your... your.."
"The truth is..." What should be peeled flesh on her hands, was instead metal. "I am... not a real girl."
"Penny, I-I don't understand..." Kevin was lost for words. His girlfriend. Was a robot. "You're... not real?" He soon hung his head down. It was basically in his face that she was a robot. From the fact that she was sheltered, to not knowing about all of these wonderful places and foods he showed her. The people chasing after her. 'It... all made sense now.'
"You see... most girls are born, but I was made." Penny tried to look Kevin in the eyes, but he had his head down. "Many years ago... my father... had adopted a little girl who had the same name and features as I did. He loved her liked she was his own." Penny's expression soon became crestfallen.
"However, she was sick. Because of her heart being weak... she did not live long. Years later... he made me...the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an Aura. And in return, I became his daughter. Even though... I'm not real."
Penny lifted Kevin's face. His eyes filled with tears. "Kevin... please... say something?" She was worried about his expression. "Do... you hate me? For not telling you sooner? For not revealing who... or what I really was?"
Kevin was still in shock. His girlfriend was not real. He then thought about what the others might say should they find out. He didn't know whether to yell or cry.
"My name is Penny! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Kevi... Kevi... Kevin Silver. Likewise."
"Am I really your friend?"
"Oh course you're our friend! Although... I would like to be more than that."
"Sen-sational! I always wanted a boyfriend! Can we paint our nails and talk about cute boys?!"
"Wait what?"
"You ever been to an arcade?"
"I... are... are you sure that was your first time... playing?"
"I'm sorry... Are... are you mad at me?"
"What?! Of course not! That was awesome! You might have a chance.. No! You'll definitely kick Nick's ass!"
"You really think so?!"
"Of course I do!"
"Sen-sational! I can't wait to kick Nick's ass!"
"Hey ummm... Penny?"
"Yes Kevin?"
"Do you... have a boyfriend... by chance?"
"Of course I do! It's you."
"Well it's a bit different fron what you might think. You see... a boyfriend... is someone that is...very special... to a girl."
"But Kevin... you are special to me."
Penny stood on her toes and pressed her lips against Kev's. As she did, fireworks went off. She then backed away.
"I have a question Kevin? That guy... he called me your... girlfriend? I am a girl who is also your friend... right?"
"Well... a girlfriend is the same thing as a boyfriend... accept... it's the opposite."
"So am I special to you?"
"Yes! I do consider you special to me!" Kevin grasped the naive girl's hands. "That's why... I want you to be... my girlfriend!"
"Of course! I would be your girlfriend!"
"You guys get the people out of the tent." Kevin said to his teammates.
"Are you crazy?! You'll be by yourself?!" Torren yelled.
"No... he won't." Penny stood by Kevin.
"Kevin! Are you ok?!" Penny saw that his left shoulder was injured.
"I'm... I'm fine." He said with a smile. "How about you?"
"I have a plan. Just follow my instructions. Ok?"
"We did it Kevin!" Penny hugged Kevin tightly who struggled to breathe.
"Penny... you're... hugging me too... tight."
"I... I understand..." Penny sadly began to walk away. That was until he grabbed her arm.
Kevin then thought back to the good times they had. Enjoying the day in Vale, his first kiss. Stopping a possibly huge incident together. He soon come to realize that he didn't care.
"I don't care... if you're a robot." Kevin put his hand on her face. "You think, and act, and feel just like me and everybody here on this planet. That's... what makes you human." He then place a hand on her chest. "Beyond those nuts and bolts of a robot, lies the heart and soul of a human. And I'll... I'll love you no matter what."
Penny wiped Kevin's tears before hugging him. "Kevin! I'll love you no matter what!"
Kevin struggled to breathe. "Penny... can't... breathe!"
"Oh no! I'm sorry!" Penny then released her boyfriend. He began to gasp for air.
"So... what type of person is your father?" Kevin said as he stretched out his back.
"Oh, he's very sweet! My father's the one that built me! I'm sure you would love him!"
"He really built you all by himself?" Kevin said.
"Well, almost! He had some help from Mr. Ironwood."
"Ironwood? The guy that was showing off those robots?"
"He's also the General of the Atlesian Fleet."
"Wait... Is that why those soldiers were after you?"
"They like to protect me, too!"
"Apparently they didn't see you destroy multiple bullheads and sent a super faunus flying with one punch." Kevin said in a deadpanned expression.
"They're not sure if I'm ready yet..." Penny looked up towards the sky. "But one day, it will be my job to save the world."
'Save... the world?' Kevin couldn't believe what his girlfriend was saying.
"That's right! But... I still have a lot left to learn. It's part of why I'm here for the Vytal Festival. But... then I met you... you taught me there there's more to the world then just being a robot! You taught me how to live like a human. And how to love like a human."
Kevin had a smile on his face as he went to embrace her. "So what's this about saving the world when we're in a time of peace! I doubt something crazy is going to happen!"
"That's not what Mr. Ironwood said..." Penny had a confuse expression on her face.
"Well what would he know?"
"Check down here!"
Penny and Kevin were alerted by the voices from outside the alley. "Shit... they're here!" Kevin said. "Come on, I'll get us out of here."
"It's alright Kevin. I'll be fine."
"Please... I can help..." Penny gently released herself from Kevin's grasp. "It's my responsibility as your boyfriend to protect you!"
"And making sure that you're safe... is also my responsibility as your girlfriend." She went and kissed Kevin on the lips before knocking him out.
"Penn...y." Kevin was soon knocked unconscious. She placed him on the side of the dumpster so that he won't be noticed.
"There she is!" Two soldiers ran up to Penny.
"Sal-u-tations, officers!" Penny greeted the officers with a bow.
"Why were you running? And what happened to that... lightning guy?"
"Lightning guy? I've been by myself all day! She then hiccuped loudly before smiling.
"He must've figure out what she was and ran off." The first soldier muttered.
"You shouldn't cause such a scene." The second soldier said. "Are you okay?"
Penny showed off her "injured" palms. "Just a scratch."
"Penny, your father isn't going to be happy about this."
"Please, just come with us."
"Yes, sir!"
As Penny walked off with the soldiers, she sadly looked behind her at the dumpster, where an unconscious Kevin was behind of. 'Please be safe Kevin... and I'm sorry for what I did. Please know that... I love you... for loving me for who I am.'
In the outskirts of Vale was a cloaked being walking erratically through the streets.
"Hey buddy... are you okay?" A man said as he went up to the being. "You... dont look too well." Once he got a good look under the hood he saw a pure white mask with a red eye glowing from it.
"Oh Shit!" The man ran off. Terrified of what he saw.
I can understand Kevin's fear of Penny's origins being exposed. Mike would definitely be an asshole and rib on him for liking a robot. Nick and Torren wouldn't care much because unlike Mike, they don't have significant others. So in terms of their new clothes. Nick's is based off of Rock Howard from Garou: Mark of Wolves. Mike's is Kyo Kusanagi from KOF XIV. Kevin and Torren's Akito/Agito Wanjima and Issa Mihotoke/Buccha from Air Gear. Anyways be on the lookout for the next chapter.