Shadows of Destiny
Rating: T
Series: RWBY
Main Pairing: Atsura/Pyrrha/Blake (Dusk to Dawn)
Volume 3: Winter
Volume Theme: "Smile"
Chpt. Theme: "Forever Fall" (Second Verse)
Summary: He was an orphaned Faunus. She was considered the strongest of her class. He barely survived the slums of Mistral while she was placed on a pedestal on her way to Beacon. Neither of them expected to be compatible and yet, fate had other plans for them. With secrets and agendas awaiting them, the world of Remnant will have a force to reckon with.
The alternate timeline takes place just before the start of RWBY volume 1.
OCs for Team AZRE are as follows:
Atsura Khan [formerly Otoume] (xXCrownofChaosXx)
Roxanne Rouge Octane (ArnoldStroong)
Zaffre Grey (DarkDarsi)
Earna K. Athena (zetsunaflames)
I do not own the rights to RWBY... that honor belongs to Rooster Teeth. I do own the rights to my OCs.
Chapter 23: Constrained Nexus
The next day arrived, and with it came a host of new routines. For starters, the wake-up call was at four am sharp, courtesy of Penny Polendina. It was a safe bet to say that, aside from Ruby Rose, the others were none too thrilled to be woken after having so little time to rest. Even Qrow was grumpier than usual, made even more impactful considering he had given up drinking cold turkey.
Of the multitude, two Faunus teenagers were even more irritable than even the typically pessimistic male. That's right, Blake Belladonna and Atsura Khan trudged through the soon to be everyday routine, grumbling the entire time. It took Yang and Roxanne to force their respective teammates out of the stiff beds. From there they'd hit the showers and eat a hearty breakfast before going on to collect their newly upgraded weapons and clothing. On top of that, some of them were granted access to a specialized salon to update their hairdos, something the pair didn't waste time in visiting.
It didn't take long for the teams to accomplish their main objective, clearing out the abandon Dust mine of Grimm. However, it was what happened afterward their success that truly began their new direction in Atlas.
Clover Ebi, the leader of the Ace-Ops called for Jaune, Qrow, Ruby, and Atsura while the others hung back. Among them, Blake approached Pyrrha who stood away from the others. Despite what she witnessed the night prior, the feline kept her knowledge hidden, for the time being, placing a hand on the taller girl's shoulder. The spartan would eventually spare a glance to her partner, forcing a faint simper.
"Looks good doesn't he?"
"Excuse me?" Pyrrha asked, silently cursing her defensive tone.
Blake didn't react to it though, pointing at the astute demeanor of the young vulpine they both cared for.
"Atsura; He sure cleaned up nicely didn't he?"
"I'll say!" Both girls nearly jumped out of their skin when Elm slapped both of their shoulders callously. "Didn't know you had such fine warriors in your ranks."
Though it was just a simple compliment, neither girl was naive to the veiled purr lacing the strongwoman's words. Still, neither would oppose her claims as he did his best to be professional amongst his peers. It was enough to make both girls blush slightly as their eyes slowly analyzed his form. Even from afar, he wore a long dark grey, short-sleeved, hooded gunner coat that showed off his toned arms. It was fitted to his body so there was no doubt that the slight bulk in his appearance was visible. Underneath, he wore matching baggy pants tucked into black assassin boots.
His hair, while still long, had been trimmed and pulled up into a high-end ponytail that fell just above his midback. He continued to wear Pyrrha's red sash, only now, it would actually be what held his hair up, perfectly complimenting the black spiky locks. Finally, long black fingerless ninja gloves ran up his arm, stopping just under his bicep, completing his new look.
"He sure is." Pyrrha lazily replied, secretly stripping the boy with her orbs.
"I wouldn't mind having him on our team!"
"W-What?"
"He's strong, intelligent, and handsome to boot!" the Amazonian chuckled as she walked past the pair. "We'd gladly trade Marrow for Atsura if he wasn't such a capable fighter in his own right."
As Elm went back over to her team to compare notes, Blake spared a glance over at Pyrrha, noticing the subtle shift in her stature. The normally sweet girl, strong and confident, now looked visibly rattled, something not even the vilest of Grimm could ever accomplish. From what she knew, not even her near-death experience with Cinder Fall was enough to break her yet, now, she shivered like a leave in the wind.
"Pyrrha, are you alright?"
"Huh? Oh, y-yes. Why do you ask?"
"Because you're shaking..." the Faunas deadpanned.
Pyrrha finally noticed her trembling hands, quickly rubbing them together. "It's just colder than I anticipated."
"But... You're wearing gloves-"
"What was that Nora? Something about a new team name?" Pyrrha rushed off, leaving Blake to raise a brow while Nora Valkyrie yelled out something about 'Thunder Thighs'. Eventually, the meeting concluded as evident when she watched the small group disperse just as a rather large and luxurious airship began to descend. It was only after noticing the initials SDC stamped on the side that she'd leave her investigation of Pyrrha alone for a more pressing matter:
Her teammate, Weiss.
If who she figured was on that ship, then the former Schnee Dust Heiress would need as much support as she could get. Thankfully, Ironwood intercepted the pompous man, providing her enough time to grab Yang. While this went on, Pyrrha sought to distract herself by taking a good look over her new attire. While she didn't have a complete overhaul in her clothing, she did find her current garbs to be an improvement over the old clothes she'd been wearing for months.
While she still wore a brown underbust corset, there was also a darker brown thermal shirt underneath. The armor, whilst still modest, was extended to defend key areas of her body such as her shoulders. She replaced the brown gloves with a more armored variant, her skirt embellished with belts over a golden sash. Her bronze greaves covered brown leggings, cupping her figure quite nicely. The greaves were fastened to black/gold platform styled boots. Lastly, while Pyrrha still had her circlet and gorget, the most conspicuous change came with her hair; Long scarlet locks hung freely, no longer bound in its previous style.
Even with all of that, Pyrrha did exude the confidence that her new look gave off.
The reason was obvious.
"Hey, Pyrrha," she involuntarily flinched hearing her name being called. She turned to see a beaming Atsura jogging toward her. Unfortunately, that brightness began to dim when he suddenly noticed her damper posture. "Hey, are you alright?"
Not trusting her voice, Pyrrha nodded with a forced smile suddenly appearing on her face.
"Are you sure? If not, I can tell Ironwood and we can rest back at the school."
"N-No...! I'm fine!" she managed to push out, following up her lie with a surprisingly convincing laugh. "I was just a little tired from the mission. Perhaps I'm still a bit tired from our previous adventure?"
Confusion, skepticism, apprehension. Those three prominent feelings swam around the foxes' mind as he tilted his head.
"Well, I came over to tell you that I won't be heading back right away. Ruby, Jaune, and I have to help out with separate supply runs."
Relief disguised itself as a mild case of disappointment on the warrior's face.
"It's alright. I'll probably get a bite to eat and rest."
A mix of emotions flowed within him; too complex to decipher within the Faunus
"Alright. Ruby and I've already told Blake about the mission but, I wanted to make sure you knew about it too."
Envy flashed but for a moment, instantly masked by a smile. It was such a foreign emotion for Pyrrha, one that she didn't understand; she decided to allow Blake access to Atsura in the first place. So, why now?
Her mind went back to the night before, recalling every detail of her conversation with Marrow, specifically that moment.
"Well... I guess I'll be going, it'll be nighttime pretty soon so we'd better get a move on."
"Oh, right... Be careful."
Pyrrha watched as her boyfriend waved goodbye before setting off to join the others chosen for the team. She felt bad as he walked off, noticing the quick hug Blake managed to give him before he departed. Even Yang snuck in a quick kiss to Roxanne, the latter hopping in the rear of the same truck as her teammates. She felt bad just leaving him without even the smallest sign of affection but, something inside her just wouldn't let her, not when she was plagued by the act.
As the trucks pulled off, Pyrrha rejoined her team, feeling that gnawing in her soul once again.
As the sun began to set, four vehicles crossed the frigid tundra. Thankfully, there was only a single trail for them to follow, making the terrain easy enough to traverse. After hours spent on loading up the vehicles with absurd amounts of gravity Dust, they were near Amity Coliseum. In the first truck, Ruby and Penny sat in the front while Qrow and Clover hid in the back playing cards. In the last car, Zaffre and Roxanne were discussing something little consequence while he was lost in his thoughts.
"Zaf, you're clearly blowing this out of proportion..."
"All I'm saying is that with too many rules and regulations, you're practically creating more criminals than stopping them."
"Even still, you can't just suggest a complete revamp of an entire kingdom's way of life."
"Why not? You said it yourself, Roxie," the kangaroo Faunus pointed accusingly. "Too many rules take the 'fun' out of things."
"You're hopeless..." she shrugged.
"Atsura, back me up on this! "
When he said nothing, the two finally noticed that their leader wasn't at all with them. His eyes were closed and his body remained still, signs of unconsciousness evident in his features. Amusement crossed the face of Roxanne as she remembered how exhausted her school partner had been upon their arrival only for that expression to morph into irritation as Zaffre stealthy crawled over to the slumbering canine.
Inch by inch he neared his unsuspecting leader, keen on messing with the sleeping fox. What he got though was a hellacious stare from two sanguine and black eyes. He scurried backward after a yelp, making the girl chuckle at his misfortune.
"I take it back... you're an idiot. A loveable idiot, but one nonetheless."
"Shut it, Roxie..."
As the two started up their verbal feud again, Atsura finally took in his surroundings remembering that they were still on assignment. Ever since the mission began, he'd been thinking about Pyrrha's mood after they cleared out the mine earlier. Combine that with no response to any messages he sent to her or Blake and one would be forgiven for being occupied.
Atsura felt his mind going back to the two girls when the truck halted abruptly.
"What's going on?" he pulled himself up to the front window.
"There's a roadblock in front of us. Special Operative Clover Ebi's group is investigating now," the driver answered.
Immediately, he contacted the Ace-Op head, hoping that things were going well.
"Clover? Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine for now, but stay sharp. I have a feeling that we're not alone..."
"Roger."
Everyone grew quiet, carefully listening out for the conversation, at least Roxanne and Zaffre were. Atsura chose to focus on something else, his sensitive ears picking up the faintest hint of snow crunching. It was slow and methodical, but there was no doubt that he was hearing steady footsteps approaching.
Behind them, two unseen figures snuck up to the vehicle, while Clover, Qrow, and Ruby were talking to whoever was the cause of their stagnation. They reached for the door, silently swinging it open only to find their prize so close yet so far as a pair of boots connected with one of the thieves' faces. Though they were still shrouded from the eye, the damage had been done as a feminine voice called out from the 'checkpoint'.
"Robin Hill, I would politely ask that you call off the huntresses at the rear of the truck!"
After landing/crouching onto the top of the truck, Atsura glanced over his shoulder to see Penny hovering over the lead vehicle, her swords at the ready. When he turned back to the unseen enemy, his eyes were met with a sight he hadn't considered, one that brought both surprise and caution.
"Come on out, girls!" Robin shouted out. "The jig is up."
Soon, the empty tundra gave way to the appearance of three women. The most noticeable of the trio was a rather tall, tan woman with short dark green hair who was rubbing her face from the kick. The only other notable aspect being her rather masculine features, though it mattered less to the rear group of Faunus. To her right was a fair-skinned woman with medium blue hair and yellow eyes; nothing really special about her appearance, well at least not to Atsura or Roxanne. Zaffre, however, made sure to keep his gaze on her as much as possible.
No. What really caught the three hunter's attention was another young woman, wide-eyed and shocked at the presence of the three.
"Fang? Roxie? Zaf?"
"No way..." The ram muttered.
"It can't be," Atsura's jaw nearly dropped.
"K-Kenny? Is that really you?" Zaffre took a few steps forward, stopping short when the blue-haired woman stepped in between them. Though he'd never admit it, he was deeply affected by his partner's acceptance to go back to Atlas. Now, some tom-boy wanted to get in between their reunion. "Step aside, dude..."
His tone was dark, uncharacteristic for the kangaroo Faunus. This did little to rattle the slightly older woman, though it seemed that she flinched slightly when the improper mention of her gender came up.
"What did you say to me, rat?" she growled, only his ears picking up her threatening tone.
"You heard me. I called you 'dude'; trust me, I can tell..."
"I'm a woman, dammit..."
Zaffre knew the truth, but he wasn't in the mood. This wasn't the carefree boy who'd playfully misread a person just to get a cheap laugh or two. This was a serious Zaffre who was on a mission at the moment, a mission that this person was getting in the way of. Like him, she was someone who was a part of the LGBT community, typically viewed as an ally, but, that had no bearing on his attitude at the moment.
"Honestly? I really don't care. Let me past." he leaned in, his worn slouch hat darkening his gaze. "Or did you want to try and prove me wrong?"
"Big talk coming from a guy with pink eyes."
That struck a nerve with Zaffre.
"Probably not as big as what you're trying to hide in your pants."
"What?"
"I know a bad tuck when I see it, amateur."
"I'll kill you!" she drew her weapon, ready to strike.
"May!" The voice of the white-haired woman drew everyone's attention, her eyes as stern as her scowl. "That's enough. We're leaving now."
The two finally ceased their spat, for the time being, flashing one last glare before May took her departure, the taller woman trying her best to calm her. In the meantime, Zaffre took a deep breath after while his comrades approached him cautiously.
"She's really sensitive about that, Z..."
Zaffre lifted his eyes, seeing the visibly uncomfortable Earna Athena looking back at him. Seeing that look on her
"I'm sure she is. She shouldn't have gotten in my way..." he crossed his arms, huffing like a spoiled child.
"You should apologize. You know what it's like to be discriminated and so does she."
"What?! Why should I?"
"You started it...?" Earna tapped her boot against the snowy road. "I'd think that's enough evidence."
"She called my eyes pink," he countered only to feel a sharp pain along the side of his head. "YEEOW!"
Earna, grabbed hold of his ear, tugging just enough to express her point. This drained her old partner of any measure of anger, instead, replacing it with sharp discomfort as he pleaded with her like a toddler begging to be let out of time-out. It was rather comical to Atsura and Roxanne, their faces screwed into amused grins as the shorter girl reprimanded her closest friend like a mother would her child.
"Some things never change..." the ram shook her head.
"Well, not everything has to change," Atsura noted. "It's good to see them getting along like before."
The two shared a laugh before shutting the doors to the truck and joining the opposing groups. From there, they were given a proper introduction, most notably Zaffre and May who were instructed to apologize for their behavior, though there was still little tension directed at the former. It was a relatively short reunion, but Earna made sure to leave her contact info for the three to keep in touch before they parted ways.
All that was left was to deliver the shipment.
With everyone heading back to their posts, Clover stopped short to acknowledge the woman he'd been bantering with.
"Robin, good luck with the election."
Back at Atlas Academy, Pyrrha chose to spend her evening inside of her team's room. After fighting Grimm and securing the abandoned mine, the 'Invincible Girl' felt truly vulnerable. Once they made it back, she politely declined an offer to train, citing a minor headache. In truth, the only thing plaguing her mind was the memory of her and Marrow's meeting the previous evening.
It was supposed to be closure, nothing more than one heart moving on from another and yet, she found herself in a dilemma. She lied down on her bed, her hair splayed against the grey pillow as she groaned softly. It was a simple 'goodbye' kiss from a former lover and yet, Pyrrha just couldn't understand why she refused to tell Atsura about what happened. In the end, she'd be content with just the silence surrounding her as she let out a frustrated sigh.
"Can't sleep, huh?" Her gaze darted to the entrance, finding the visage of Blake Belladonna leaning against the door frame. Green eyes traced the subtle aspects of the half-cat Faunus. Her skin shined with small amounts of sweat and her chest rose and fell gradually; Clearly, she'd just finished with a training room session. "Mind if I come in?"
"Be my guest."
Blake entered and took a spot next to the spartan. Amidst the awkward silence, she stretched in hopes of relieving the tension in her muscles; if only she could do the same for the tension in the air. Still, she remained patient as Pyrrha poorly hid the edge in her posture.
"So... I haven't seen you around since we got back."
"I've been pretty tired. Still, getting used to being a full-fledge huntress, that's all."
"Same," Blake turned her head, finally seeing the conflicted profile of her partner. "Something's bothering you, isn't it?" That was the million Lien question that haunted the scarlet-haired girl. She inwardly mulled over how such a small moment could carry such a large effect? Blake placed a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder, directing the girl's attention to her sympathetic grin. "You should tell Atsura."
"I'm sorry?!" Pyrrha chocked, her eyes growing to the size of dinner plates. "I-I don't... know what you're-"
"I saw the kiss..."
"It meant nothing! I promise!" she protested, panic seeping over her words. "I.. didn't mean for things... to go that way."
Watching the emergence of tears brimming Pyrrha's eyelids, a soft hand rested on top of the girls. Looking up, she was greeted by bright amber orbs that managed to calm her erratic soul, if only a little. Blake responded by inching closer toward Pyrrha as the girl began to cry a little bit. She then placed a hand on Pyrrha's cheek, wiping the stray tears with her thumb.
"What Marrow did meant nothing?" Pyrrha nodded silently, not even bothering to explain herself as the dam continued to flow. "Then prove it."
"How?"
Blake didn't say a word. There was no need for her to verbally answer, not when there were better options. She leaned closer, brushing a few locks aside. Pyrrha didn't move as Blake's face drew nearer to her own. The chaos in her head soon subsided once she felt soft lips brush against her own. It was surprising but, it didn't bother Pyrrha one bit as she gave in to the comforting sensations passed through her body.
What was even more shocking was how easily Pyrrha took control of the moment, imposing her will by wrapping her arms around the feline's neck. This allowed her to pull Blake closer, deepening the kiss. This was the second form of intimacy since joining the couple, the first time with Pyrrha herself. Just like with Atsura the previous night, Blake couldn't resist the urge to moan, softly cooing as her heart swelled.
Eventually, the two pulled away, both with satisfied grins on their features as they just stared at one another. Of the two, Pyrrha couldn't hear much over the sound of her heart pounding against her ribs as a flustered Blake looked away. She wasn't completely sure as to why the feline committed such a bold act, but she wasn't lamenting.
"W-Why did...?"
"I believe you now," Pyrrha didn't understand... It wasn't something that she couldn't wrap her head around what Blake meant at first. She hesitated to ask as she gently touched her lips. "Tell me, how did that feel?"
In truth, Pyrrha felt sheer passion still bubbling in her core. The way her lips tugged in ecstasy, there was no denying that she enjoyed the moment. In fact, a part of her was screaming for an encore. Still, there were more important matters to handle at the moment.
"It... It felt wonderful," she sighed pleasantly, her cheeks flushed. "I never thought I'd feel something so powerful yet so gentle since Atsu."
Blake felt her ears twitch happily at such a compliment, but, there was time for that later.
"And how about Marrow?"
Pyrrha shook her head without hesitation, a small smile settling on her features.
"No. Nothing about that night comes close to this. I felt nothing when he did it."
"Good. Then you should tell Atsura before this thing that meant nothing turns into something big."
"But..."
"No 'buts', Pyrrha," Blake cut her off with a tight hug. "You know him better than I do. Atsura will understand; I can't guarantee that he'll be happy, but at least he'll be able to trust you. Isn't that what makes a strong relationship?"
"I guess you're right... Thank you, Blake."
They exchanged another embrace, a transferal of strength unknown to anyone passing by. When they pulled apart, green eyes peered over Blake's shoulder to find a confused but grinning Atsura standing in the doorway. Soon, she too turned around, noticing the tired boy as well.
"Hey," he waved awkwardly. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
The two girls exchanged glances before ushering Atsura inside. He was still unsure of what was going on, but he didn't decline the invitation, but, what came next would make him consider doing so. He observed the look of concern on Blake's face while Pyrrha's features were once more screwed into a near breaking point once again.
"I... need to... tell you something." her voice cracked, utter fear gripping her heart.
Your trust, honesty
Helped me believe
A ray of hope shined through
You set me free
Saw what the world couldn't see
I found my joy in you
Pyrrha started off her confession with a reflection of their relationship; all of the ups and downs brought up while her lover and friend sat on the floor inquisitively. It was merely prolonging things, but it did its job in keeping her composed. She stressed how much he meant to her and how much she truly appreciated having him in her life.
Every life is filled with passing moments
Like the seasons' change, they come and go
But this is infinite
Nothing, even death, could separate our souls
'Cause you're my final goal
Noticing his ears drooping slightly, she could tell that her words were sowing more woes in Atsura's heart than ease. Whatever her plan was, it was only causing more harm than good. Sighing heavily, Pyrrha spared a glance at her feline companion before finally committing to the unfavorable task. She told Atsura everything, from the previous night's event to her past in Argus with Marrow.
While it wasn't complicated in the slightest, it was rather unsettling for the girl to explain; No doubt, this would leave a huge wrench on the boy's perception of her. She worried that he'd misconstrue her account for something even more harmful, but, she proceeded until nothing was left to hide. By the time she ended her tale, Pyrrha felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
That is until her green orbs settled on the indecipherable look on Atsura's face.
Some people fall in love, for life
Others never get it right
Love's fickle when it calls
One thing that I know for sure
Longer than our lives endure
You're my forever fall
"So... You and Marrow were a thing?" he raised an eyebrow. His mind was trying to wrap around the details but that was the only thing that came to the forefront.
Pyrrha frowned softly while nodding.
"It was really a childhood friendship that escalated into a short-lived connection. After he left Sanctum a year before we graduated, that was it."
"Do you still have feelings for him?"
"No... I told him that before we..." she didn't finish that last part, the mere thought leaving a bad taste in her mouth. "It meant nothing, by the way."
The vulpine rubbed his chin, eyes closed in deep contemplation. This was a new outcome for the two girls as they watched silently as he mulled over everything. It was rather frightful for them to see him so calm after hearing that another guy kissed his girlfriend. Once his eyes opened, they were surprised to find that, instead of a dark or fierce glare, his gaze was soft, filled with... empathy?
"Well, I guess it can't be helped...!" he burst out into a fit of laughter.
This startled the pair, Blake & Pyrrha holding each other in terror of their boyfriend's antics. Out of everything he'd been told about, laughing was probably the farthest thing on the list of reactions.
"Um... Should we start running?" the raven-haired girl trembled.
Atsura wiped a few tears from his eyes as his tail swayed steadily.
"Sorry. I just didn't know how to break this depressing energy." He took a few deep breaths then fixed his face to fit the situation. "Look, I won't lie... I'm none too pleased with what happened," he noticed, Pyrrha's shoulders slump slightly. "That being said, I can't blame you for trying to tie up loose ends in your life. Besides, I was in a similar situation, albeit nowhere near to the degree of your incident."
"What do you mean?" Pyrrha sniffed.
"Remember the Vytal Festival, when you and Penny fought?" The two nodded. "I ran into Emerald, one of Cinder's allies."
"So?"
"Well... She and I were really close before I came to Sanctum. In fact, it was her abandoning me that led to me getting the chance to attend the school in the first place."
Blake eyed the fox suspiciously. "Are you saying that you and Emerald were a couple?"
Atsura shook his head.
"No way! We were basically partners-in-crime but, I would be a liar if I didn't have a little crush on her when we were kids. She let me get captured by the police and until we met again at the coliseum, I hadn't seen her since. Before all of that, we both promised to be together, thick as thieves, no matter what." he chuckled softly at the reflection. "How is that any different from you and Marrow?"
He had a point.
"So, what now?" Blake crossed her arms, legitimately curious.
However, before anyone could answer, their scrolls beeped repeatedly. When they checked the devices, a voice called from the other end.
"Attention, Mantle is currently experiencing several small gatherings of citizens with ill intentions. Requesting back-up if at all available."
The trio looked to one another before pulling themselves from their positions. Prepared to go, the three narrowly avoided running into General Ironwood just as the door slid open.
"Oh! I'm glad that I caught you all." he blinked. "I trust you heard the report?"
"Yes, sir. We were on our way to meet you for a briefing." Pyrrha answered only to find the man raise a hand.
"There's no need. I've already deployed the Ace-Ops to assist the military in the area. You three can relax and enjoy the rest of your evening. You'll need it for the coming days."
Sensing a protest coming, James Ironwood put on a soft smile before departing to his next destination. Atsura, Blake, and Pyrrha didn't like the idea of missing out on a chance to help the people, but they had their orders. Plus, with their mission clear, there was nothing else to do but comply. Atsura let out a huff before starting for the hallway.
"Atsu?" he halted his exit, peering over his shoulder at the red-head. "I'm sorry... I wish I'd told you-"
"Do you believe in destiny?"
"What?" eyes flickered uncertainly.
"Well? Do you?"
Pyrrha, knowing what that meant, smiled as more tears rolled down her cheek. Atsura simply returned to her, pulling her into a warm embrace, kissing her forehead. Of course, he couldn't forget his favorite cat-girl. He welcomed her into the hug session, enjoying her presence as well.
"Thank you, Atsu..." Pyrrha whispered, burying her face in his jacket.
"For what, princess?"
"Forgiving me?"
A small delay of silence caused Pyrrha to pull away, discerning her beloved's questioning gaze. Before she could apologize though, Pyrrha felt his soft lips against her own, reigniting that burning flame in her stomach. While she melted in his arms, he soon broke the embrace, his solemn expression now superseded by a soft smile.
"Now, you're forgiven," he stuck out his tongue, only to have a certain feline, lick it.
Both girls playfully teased his flustered state. It was nice to feel the atmosphere of stress fade away. Soon, Atsura & Blake were casually debating the other's sneaky tactics, giving Pyrrha a chance to really take in the intriguing aspects of her lover's approach to comfort. Given her recent encounters, Pyrrha could decipher the difference between her partner's gestures. Atsura lit a fire, hot like the sun while Blake's flow like a calm stream under the moonlight; a perfect contrast of day and night.
In the end, she was grateful to have not one, but two understanding people in her life. She wouldn't always see eye to eye with them, but, that was a part of life. Even now, she'd rather be relaxing with the pair, even as they continued to oppose the others like 'cats and dogs'. Still, she wouldn't complain, motioning over to the duo and giving them both a kiss on the cheek that ceased their arguing.
They had the rest of the night, and she wasn't going to waste it on bickering.
She wanted to enjoy this lovely moment for as long as she could.
Author's Note:
Salutations, readers!
I'm back with another chapter and this one was... peculiar. I wanted to bring back Earna (success) but, I actually forgot about the moment in which Ruby and the gang were given their hunter's licenses. On top of that, I couldn't figure out a way to add the scene without it turning the chapter longer than it needed to be.
So, basically there's no official scene, but the students are huntsmen/huntresses from this point onward. On top of that, Earna was originally going to be with the Ace-Ops but, I couldn't figure out a way to incorporate her without it messing up the dynamic already set. So, Earna is a member of 'Robin's Happy Huntresses'.
That's the minor stuff; The REAL reason for this section of A/N is because things are about to take a dark turn involving Atsura. I may mark the ratings in-story as M depending on how dark things get, just to be safe.
Of course, if you all have caught up with the series, Cinder, Neo, Watts, and Tyrian are also in Atlas. Let's just say that they're going to play a major role in the very near future, or at least, half of them will.
Atsura is going to encounter two of these individuals but, I haven't decided on who. Tyrian and Watts? Neo and Cinder? Maybe Neo and Tyrian? Hmmm... With the next chapter starting after the riots, we'll see how things progress moving forward.
As always, thank you for your love and support of this story! I'll be updating as soon as I get the duo interaction worked out. Who do you all think will encounter our hero(es)? To what capacity?
Keep moving forward and have a great day/night!
