Breaking Remnant: Bound by Shadows

Rating: T/M

Series: RWBY

Pairing(s):

Volume 4: Winter

Summary: Aganju came to Beacon wanting to be treated as equal. Pyrrha wanted to be viewed as a normal girl. Neither of them expected to be that fate would have them meet. Now, they navigate the academy grounds and beyond, with secrets and danger awaiting them at every corner. The alternate timeline takes place just before the start of RWBY volume 1 and AU in the Breaking Remnant series.

(Rewrite of RWBY: Shadows of Destiny)

Author's Note:

So, this is where things are pretty much caught up with the canon, at least to Volume 7. Given how the second half of Volume 8 is about to come, I'm going to shifting events to parallel the time frame of Volume 8. Translation: I'm not going to be recounting the Volume outside of some key points or characters such as Salem or Ozma.

I did want to keep things close to the canon timeline so I had to change up certain parts of this chapter. I may go into more details in the next chapter as it appears that Vacuo is being targeted simultaneously while events are still going on with Atlas and Mantle. I'm excited to see what's going to happen next with the second half of Volume 8.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to RWBY... that honor belongs to Rooster Teeth. I do own the rights to my OCs.

Chapter 27

The kingdom of Atlas remained firm amid the evacuation attempts. Endless attempts at gathering the Mantle citizens served to be much easier now that Atlas was assisting the efforts. However, amidst the success thus far, Ruby and the others were called back to Atlas by the general. With no explanation or reason for the sudden recall, the three groups separated.

Team JNPR left to retrieve Oscar while Team RWBY waited with four of the Ace-Ops in Ironwood's office. It was a briefing; Truly it was a berating from the acclaimed war veteran. The meeting of the minds was quickly shot down on all fronts as the general had more than his share of advice. From the day he was having, there was no longer any room for what he deemed as weakness, despite the outcry of the girls. From dealing with Watts, the glass chess piece left behind on his desk, and the official introduction of Salem, he was far past done with trusting others.

"There is only one thing we can do at this point..." he replied harshly.

"I'm sure there's another way," Blake offered.

"If we waste any more time, Salem will be at our doorstep! I won't let Atlas become another Beacon!"

"But sir... What about the people? You can't just abandon them..."

"She's right," Ruby added. "What would the council say?!"

Ironwood contemplated that inquest for a moment, his eyes a reflection of his resolve.

"Nothing... They won't have anything to say after I declare Marshall Law."

Horror crossed the face of the four. They all knew what this would entail if he went through with the order. He'd be leaving the city and those still in Mantle to perish at the hands of the monstrous Grimm that'd already infested the former kingdom. He'd be abandoning the people who were also under his protection. He knew this, but, he was unrelenting in his plans.

"We are saving as many as we can... and you're standing in our way."

Any likeness of the caring man they once knew was now gone. Only a cold and calculative soldier stared back at them, no compromise to be found in his posture. Chilly blue eyes glared back, the final warning before drastic measures were to be taken against them.

"Guys! We've got a huge problem!" Jaune's voice broke the thick tension that permeated Ironwood's office.

The silver-eyed warrior flashed glances from the device to the general who's chilling stare only darkened. He silently challenged the girl, a true establishment of his position and the line he drew in the sand. Her next move would tell him whether she'd cross that line.

Mantle was in a state of panic.

Many of her citizens were being escorted to designated shelters if they were unable to make it to their homes. This precaution did nothing for two individuals who snuck along with the shadows of the city in the sky. Their intentions, seemingly different, revolved around the same place. A human and a faunus rested their backs against a wall as Atlesian soldiers rushed down the streets in droves.

For Aganju, he was forced to grit his teeth as the freezing wind slapped his wounds. It wasn't the most intelligent decision, but he figured anything was better than remaining in Cinder's temporary domain. He was still stinging from the wound left by Tyrian which made his attempts to keep up with his benefactor that much more difficult. Speaking of that, he spared a glance at the man who happened to stumble upon his predicament, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"We should be in the clear soon," the male announced, peeking around the corner for signs of any more soldiers. This was what he wanted as he monitors the last few officers disappearing. Once the coast was clear, the two willed themselves onward. "Are you sure that Neo's going to be here?"

The vulpine nodded, still not trusting his voice.

The older man sighed in understanding at the young foxes' plight. He heard rumors of how vicious Cinder Fall could be, but this was the first time, he'd seen the damage that she was capable of doling out. There was no doubt that the younger male deserved to rest and yet, the teen was adamant about reaching their destination.

Atlas Academy.

The massive building only grew in size as they got closer to the school. They narrowly avoided several security drones along the way, but otherwise, they were free to travel without issues.

"So, what'd you do to get on Cinder's bad side?"

"..."

"Not much of a talker, are you?" his suave, gentleman-like tone earned him a grunt. "You remind me of my Neo. Being a mute, she couldn't communicate like us. That made her life difficult; Imagine trying to tell people you're in danger or that something's wrong, but your inability to speak prevents you."

Despite the pulsing pain coursing through him, Aganju did find the man's abrupt sharing to be interesting.

"I can imagine..." his throat was scratchy but still comprehensive enough.

"I'm sure you could," The man chuckled bitterly. "When I set out to forge my path in life, I made sure to take her with me as I managed to understand her without her ever needing to speak. After the attack on Vale and Beacon, I thought she was lost to me forever. I searched all over remnant for her but, to no avail. That's why I'm hoping you're right."

"I know I am..." Aganju cleared his throat. "El... I mean, Cinder told her to look for a friend of mine and I'm sure he's at the school."

While neither admitted it, they both were keeping crucial details hidden from the other.

The faunus made no mistake by avoiding mention of the relics. The human, however, left out his criminal past; He was one of the kingpins of Vale and even instrumental in the fall of the academy almost a year prior. Even more critical, was his interaction with a certain bandit earlier.

[Some Time Earlier]

"Oum... I hope I don't wind up regretting this."

"You will if you don't back away from him."

When Roman turned to face the voice, he found himself staring into the bloody eyes of a demon. Instinctively, he raised his cane only to have it knocked away by the expert sword-wielder, leaving the former criminal overlord defenseless.

"Look... sir or lady..." he chuckled nervously as their blade rested against his neck. "I don't know what's going on, but, I have no intention of hurting him. I was just going to free him before Cinder came back and-"

"CINDER'S ALIVE?!" Crimson eyes began to glow while pressing the point harder against Roman's neck, drawing a tiny amount of blood. "Where is she?! I know you worked with her, Torchwick."

"I-I don't know! I swear!" he raised his hands in submission. "I haven't seen that bitch since the attack on Beacon! I'm only here to find my Neo and leave this forsaken kingdom!"

The air around them remained tense until the sounds of pained groans entered the pair's ears, reminding them of the wounded faunus. The warrior sheathed their sword, much to the man's relief. However, that ease would soon shift into awareness and then confusion when the face of Raven Branwen emerged from the shadows, no longer filled with fury but concern for the faunus. With no idea what connection the two might have, he didn't press the matter while she checked on the horribly mangled fox, carefully releasing him from the glass restraints.

"Get him to Atlas..."

"What?!" his green eyes widened in horror.

"Your little friend is probably there with... her. It's the best chance you'll have of finding her."

"What about the kid?" Roman crossed his arms with a knowing scowl.

Raven thought for a moment. While she would readily take Aganju back to Patch, he needed medical attention asap. With things the way they were, she forsook her personal desire to attend to her child, for the time being, all with a sad smile on her lips. She even noticed how he now had the signature cowlick that hung lazily at the top of his head. It would've been endearing enough to Raven if the circumstances were different.

"Once he's spotted, they'll most likely take him to the infirmity and treat his wounds," she stood reaching for Omen once more. "I trust that you have no objections?"

Roman shook his head with that signature grin plastered on his lips.

"Not at all! But, I'm curious as to why you're so focused on... him."

"That doesn't concern you!" Raven snarled before using the sword to open a portal. "I suggest that you hurry before things grow worse here in Atlas... and Roman?" the man nodded at the pale, not budging even an inch. "Don't mention this conversation."

Back on Atlas, they managed to reach the back entrance of the school. After recalling the blade of Raven firsthand, Roman's body twisted, swiftly pointing his cane at the chest of the boy.

"By the way, kid, I never got your name."

"What?"

"You have one, right? What's your name?"

Despite the sudden shift in tone, the fox didn't show any sign of trepidation, even with his weakened state. After what he'd endured at the hands of the sadistic Fall Maiden, death didn't scare him.

"Give me your name and I'll give you mine."

The man eyed him intensely, noticing his bloodied lip curling upward. Even the cold didn't cause him to shiver despite the obviously intense damage gnawing at him. It was admirable to see such bravery in the eyes of the faunus. So, impressed at the courage displayed, the elder male lowered his weapon, scoffing with a grin.

I'm starting to see a resemblance...

"The name's Roman, kid..."

"Aganju..."

"Well, now that we've concluded the preliminaries, it appears that we have a little dilemma."

"What would that be?"

"Getting inside this gaudy fortress..."

Just as the older man mention that, a soft beep caught their attention. Reaching into his jacket pocket, Roman removed his scroll seeing a series of faces popping up on the screen, a few he recognized, forcing his gaze to harden for a moment, but what came as a surprise was the presence of the fox alongside him.

"Something wrong?"

"I think we may have two dilemmas." Roman exhaled, exposing the cause for his distress on his scroll. Aganju couldn't help but stare in disbelief as he saw the photos of his friends all lined up with the word 'Wanted' listed above them. His mind was a jumbled mess as he tried to make sense of the situation. "What do you want to do, kid?"

Aganju did his best to ignored the ugly name as he contemplated what to do with this newest development. What happened? What did Ruby and the others do to be listed as wanted criminals? Why wasn't he on this list? So many questions and Aganju was in desperate need of answers. One minute he was trying to bring in a crazy criminal and now his allies were branded as such. He was in no shape to fight just yet, but thankfully, he could feel something welling up inside of him that he hadn't felt before.

A trembling smirk formed on his bloodied lip, despite the odds being stacked against him, that sensation only grew stronger with every passing second. A surge of resolution began to burn from his soul, scorching away the weakness that once weighed him down. He soon broke out into a sprint, ignoring his body's screams of torturous agony, Roman trying his best to keep up; he didn't care though. All that mattered to him was that he find his friends and try to help.

"Hey, kid! Wait up!"

Gritting his teeth, Aganju's uninjured eye watched as the building grew bigger with every step.

I'm coming, guys...

[Atlas Academy- Medical Wing]

Cinder's lips twitched up as her heels echoed through the lone corridor. It was nearly black through the hall, the only source of light being poorly lit red lamps, signaling that an intruder had broken into the facility; a foretelling of her arrival. Any unfortunate soul caught in her path was quickly dealt with. Swift was her action whenever she cut down one of the Atlesian staff members.

Their cries for mercy fell on deaf ears before one by one, they were slaughtered by the amber-eyed maiden.

"Now, where could that winter maiden be?" she asked rhetorically.

She figured that following the trail of the special operative would lead her to the prize she so eagerly sought. Delight danced behind those burning orbs when she was proven right. All she had to do was claim the powers. A few more operatives attempted to stop her, but their shrieks of panic and pain only fueled her forward. One by one, they fell to the Grimm's hand, their inner prayers to Oum going unanswered as they collapsed on the formerly stainless floor.

"Pathetic..." she spat.

This would deter her mood as she looked up to see a sight so familiar appear in front of her. Snow white hair tied in a bun and slate blue eyes revealed her identity as a top Specialist and Ironwood's right hand. Cinder remembered her for another reason, however. She recalled her first and only time being in the Schnee Manor with her mother. The illegitimate daughter of a once proud and corrupt businessman flared her nostrils at the worried firstborn before lighting her hand with a steadily growing flame.

Inch by inch, she grinned sadistically and launched the burning ball at the woman. Despite the size of the burning sphere, Winter was able to avoid it by rushing back into the room she previously left. It didn't matter to Cinder much though; She considered the attack as more of an announcement of her presence than an actual attack to harm. Still, it had enough power to blow the entire door down along with most of the wall.

She turned the corner, seeing that her 'sibling' was not alone.

"We meet again, Winter..." She chuckled softly. "It's been a while since we last met, hasn't it?"

Winter looked on as the raven-haired woman flexed her grotesque arm. She chose to respond directly, instead, choosing to size her enemy for fear prevented her from forming any coherent retort. She tried everything to push aside the emotion but, after experiencing the sheer force of what she could only conclude to be a 'warning shot', Winter could only hope that her harsh gaze would be enough to hide her anxiety.

Masking one's expression was one thing, but it was pointless in the end. Cinder found her left arm tremble hungrily as the very essence of fear was picked up by the monstrous appendage. By extension, she could practically taste the trepidation oozing from the Atlesian soldier. She licked her lips hungrily before finally noticing the elderly woman, languishing in a pod.

This is the winter maiden? She pondered at the state of the helpless victim before turning back to the two. "So, will you give her up willingly?"

"I think you know the answer to that..." the android announced, defiance flashing at the woman.

Cinder recognized the 'girl', finally acknowledging her presence directly. She remembered Penny Polendina quite well given her part in her demise. To see that she had been repaired left a sour taste in her mouth.

"I expected you of all people to know better than to take me on, girl. Given what happened last time, I wouldn't expect you to be so eager to get destroyed again."

"I'm not running away..."

Cinder sighed in disappointment. "Then, all that's left is to figure out which one of Ironwood's puppets gets to die first? The girl who got everything or a robot with no heart? Either way, there won't be much left of either of you."

Atlas academy held little sign of comfort as Aganju and Roman stepped within the main hall. Uneasiness bathed them both in her tumultuous embrace. The eerie silence didn't sit well with the pair but neither would have to feel her influence for much longer as they approached a fork in the road. Being a faunus, he could pick up the faintest trace of noise to the right.

There was a clash going on, possibly his friends.

Without a word, he rushed down the hall, leaving the man who saved him to watch silently. This didn't rattle him though. In truth, he was only there to reunite with his beloved Neo, anything else was of no consequence to Roman Torchwick. Even with the task given to him, there was nothing he could do to stop the fox from doing his own thing.

Don't die, kid. He let out a light-hearted scoff before taking the opposite path.

The path was longer than expected, forcing Aganju to exert so much energy just from the travel.

I still can't access my aura? He inwardly growled, stopping to lean against the wall.

The pain from his torture soon caught up to him. His body started shivering, slight convulsions begged him to cease his venture to rest. He grits his teeth as he tried to swallow down the anguish coursing through his form. It did little good as his body grew heavy, exhaustion laying claim to his senses once more. He needed to rest, but...

"Not now..." he growled softly. "I need to..." Before Aganju could finish his thought, his ears rang with the sound of a familiar scream. Pushing past the pain, he tore his ravaged body from the wall and started running once more, against his mind's protests. Every step he took was a task in and of itself but he was determined to ignore it, even as his head began to swim.

Despite this, he continued to traverse the empty corridors until he could hear the sounds far more clearly. Turning the corner, he found himself observing Ruby taking on Harriet Bree. From the looks of things, the Ace-Ops member was restrained yet still holding her own against the scythe wielder. Their test of speed was a formidable challenge to behold with the Ruby having a slight advantage despite possessing less experience than her Atlesian opponent.

What the hell is happening?

His groan caught the attention of the red-hooded huntress. Silver eyes widened in both shock and horror at the display in front of her. On the other hand, an unaware Harriet took the opportunity to capitalize on the free opportunity, upping her semblance's speed to catch the girl off guard.

Before Ruby could react, she found herself tasting the bottom of the speedster's boots, sailing into a wall with a devastating crunch.

"Ruby!" his eyes shot wide at such a dirty move. His gaze then turned to a squirming Harriet, anger overshadowing any other emotion he may have felt previously. "You...!"

Before she could react, Harriet found herself getting the same treatment only it was a sharp elbow that landed square on her jaw. Normally, her speed would've bailed her out but, after chasing Ruby Rose around the area, she'd expended more energy than even she anticipated. Due to all the exertion, her aura shattered as she slid across the floor, unconsciousness finally taking over.

That was good enough for Aganju before he heard grunts and roars from further down the stairs.

Fearing the worst, the vulpine was shocked to find Blake & Yang simultaneously defeating Elm Ederne. As her body crashed into the floor, any air of wrath would be replaced with relief as the two cheered the other for a perfectly synced attack. It was a cute scene, the scene of his sister and girlfriend not yet noticing his presence. Soon, his eyes would fall upon the image of Weiss Schnee dragging the restrained Marrow.

"I've got mine! How about... you guys?"

Yang and Blake smiled brightly at their friend. What was surprising, however, was that her own smirk had fallen. Her eyes were the size of dinner plates and her jaw threatened to hit the floor, prompting the pair to put their guards up once again. Of course, no amount of physical defense could prepare them for the sight they'd find.

A crooked grin; Pain straining his lips.

Eyes dimmed from only Oum knew what.

A body dirtied with grotesque wounds and hemoglobin.

Drooping ears and gently swinging tail.

A semi-conscious Ruby Rose riding on his back.

"A-Aganju?"

"Hey..." he coughed weakly.

As expected, the scene morphed into one filled with relieved smiles and tearful eyes as Ruby began to stir.

"What happened?" she groaned, clutching her head. As her vision began to clear, she noticed the misty eyes of her sister and friends. "Why is everyone crying?"

"Look at who's carrying you, dolt," Weiss giggled playfully.

Confused, Ruby turned her gaze to find herself propped up on the frame of her brother. A tiny gasp escaped her lips as she too was greeted with a strained smile. Of course, she wouldn't be Ruby if her emotions didn't get the better of her. She excitedly squealed in his ear, causing the faunus to stumble into the wall after losing what little footing he previously had, leaving him with stars dancing around his head.

"Oops..."

"Way to go, Ruby..." Weiss flicked the girl's shoulder while Blake and Yang rushed over to his side.

Upon further inspection, the blonde began to notice an even larger issue as the canine slowly began to come to.

"Why haven't you activated your aura?" she murmured.

Aganju didn't reply, or rather, he didn't have the energy for a full explanation. Instead, he merely shook his head, taking deep inhales as he felt his body beginning to give in to the injuries he sustained previously. Yang did her best to try and interpret the vulpine but it was a task given his condition. From what she could gather, whatever was happening with his body, the red-purple chunk flesh appeared to be the culprit.

"Did Tyrian do this to you?"

Aganju slowly nodded but parted his lips to speak.

"...C...Cinder."

"Cinder's here?!" Ruby clenched her fists, her body starting to shake.

"If that's the case, then there's no doubt that she's here for-" Weiss stopped mid-sentence when a terrible realization hit her. "Winter!"

"You three go! I'll try and help Aganju get out of here."

Blake, Weiss, and Ruby didn't like the idea proposed but a crimson glare ended any retort. Their leader assessed the situation, yielding to the desire of her older sibling, she and the others prepared to leave only for a massive explosion to erupt on the far end of the academy.

"Get his out of here, see if you can find a ship for us to escape in."

Yang bowed her head, smiling softly in an attempt to give off some confidence before they split up. When the others left, her true feelings began to surface as did Aganju's as the truth of their predicament forced them to sigh dejectedly.

"How bad is it?"

"Real bad..." he panted softly.

"Can you walk?" she asked, carefully tracing each cut and burn with her now-lilac eyes.

"I'm just exhausted. She did do a number on me though."

Yang knew that he was hiding the details, but she wouldn't pry for now. She used as much of her strength to help him to his feet and headed in the opposite direction from their allies. Each lane they entered proved to be fear-inducing as they both knew that neither would be able to properly defend themselves. They'd slink down several corridors, carefully scouting until they reached the main hangar.

They'd make it in time as the sounds of multiple footsteps could be heard from the hallway. Yang made sure to keep them close to the shadows just as one of the soldiers peeked into the room only to quickly follow up with his group; they were officially safe for the time being.

With a place to hide, they took shelter behind some airships that required repair. Once they got settled, the signs of Aganju's true state began to come out. His breathing was quick and haggard. His body would convulse slightly sporadically. His lips were dry. His eyes were now glazed over. In fact, the spot around his right eye had been burned severely, no doubt as revenge from the fire-wielding bitch. There was no doubt that, along with the injuries, he was suffering from some sort of poisoning as well as dehydration.

"Stay still..." she cooed in his ear, lying his head gently against her lap. "Don't overexert yourself."

"B-But..."

"No buts. You're in no condition to argue. Don't make me use my semblance..."

Despite the pain wracking through him, Aganju couldn't help but smile at the crack. It was refreshing even with his wounds, to hear his sister berating him as if he were a child. He fought back the urge to laugh for fear of irritating his injuries but, he was grateful to even have a moment like this.

"A-Alright, Dr. X-Xiao-Long..." he rolled his eyes, earning a huff from the blond.

How on earth could someone dealing with so much still manage to try and make sure she was alright? She couldn't fathom possessing such strength and resolve had she endured whatever he'd gone through. Her mind began to wander into cryptic intensities.

How long would they be able to hide out before they were spotted? Would she have to surrender in order to get him medical attention? Why was she always being reckless?

Whoa... Where'd that come from? she blinked at the sleeping form of the (slightly) older faunus. "Maybe, I should just admit that I have no idea what I'm doing. I've always been headstrong, and bull-headed... Even when I had a chance to reconcile with... Raven I-"

Yang leaned her head back in frustration. Clearly, this wasn't the time to be wondering about such personal issues and yet, it seemed to be the only thing at the moment that the bruiser could think about.

The introspective was interrupted by the sound of the hangar door suddenly opening, followed by a pair of footsteps. Yang did her best to keep silent as the boots were loud enough to confirm that there was only one person inside with them. Was it Ironwood himself coming to finish the job? It couldn't have been Ruby and the others.

I need you to trust me. That was all Yang recalled before the figure revealed themselves to be the last person she expected to see show up.

The single quality that is common across every living creature on this planet, is fear; it's funny then that as common as fear is, we so easily underestimate its power.

With everything that going on throughout the kingdom, Ruby and the others managed to escape from the city in the sky. Sadly, their exodus came at a hefty cost. For starters, they'd lost the relic of knowledge, Qrow, and Oscar during their break. Of all the members of Team JNPR, Ren was the most torn up over everything that'd occurred on their end of things.

Nora and Jaune did their best to comfort the boy, but it did little to help.

Unbeknownst to them, Qrow had found himself arrested after witnessing the death of his friend, Clover.

Whether one would attribute bad timing or just a beating of the minds gone wrong, the self-proclaimed "bad luck charm" felt his heartbreak as he just stared at the charm in his hand. He hid things well, but there was no denying that despite their battle and difference of perspective, it all started with Ironwood's order to have them all arrested.

Lastly, with communications locked down, there was no way for anyone to communicate technologically. This proved to be a major issue when trying to find Aganju. After splitting up, it appeared that he'd seemingly disappeared off of the map, or at least, that's the story Yang told everyone when they arrived to pick them up. In truth, she knew exactly where her brother was; a tiny speck of relief surrounded by an ocean of uncertainty. Ruby and the others had shared that the faunus was, in fact, alive but, that his condition was severe. While everyone was none too pleased, Pyrrha was hit the hardest by this news.

In truth, she still carried a wave of guilt for not atoning for her role in their argument. Along with Penny and Pietro, she was happy to at least be with her friends again, having their comforting energy to aid her.

Fear of growing close to someone, the subsequent fear of loss, fear of failure; and as more people depend on you, those fears can take on greater power.

Cinder let out a furious roar before returning to her hideout within the kingdom of Atlas. However, she found nothing aside from a broken door and the lingering stench of burning flesh and blood. No hostage. No relic. No power of the winter maiden.

Her Grimm's arm twitched as flames poured from her lips with every exhale.

Once again, Cinder had nothing. She'd lost the chance to claim another maiden power, this time to that damned android. She failed to kill Winter Schnee as vengeance for a past that wrought her current form. Cinder knew she'd lost favor from her mistress, Salem after her failure at Haven. What more could she do?

Somehow, fate would afford the woman a break in the form of Neopolitan's presence. A single amber gem widened in shock as she witnessed the dapper young woman kneel regally, presenting the Lamp of Knowledge. This was it! Something substantial enough to keep her from hitting rock bottom. The dread, rage, and fear soon gave way to an increasingly arrogant mood as she snatched the object without so much as a 'thank you' to the woman.

Needless to say, this did not sit well with Neo, though, she wasn't too broken up about it either. In truth, her mind began to construct more pleasant thoughts given what she had experienced before returning to the hotel.

[Flashback]

Neo herself walked precariously through the halls of Atlas, disguised as a commanding officer. On her hip rested the last of knowledge as she carefully made her way to the main hall. However, as she exited the building, the skilled assassin realized that there was no airship for her to depart on.

"It looks like you could use a ride..."

Her eyes immediately shot open in surprise upon hearing the voice, one that was all too familiar; One that was thought to be long gone.

It can't be...

"You may be able to food Ironwood and his lackeys, but you can't fool me."

The girl turned around, her illusion still holding up. Only her eyes, brimming with hot drops of hope and pain, gave her away as she saw the image of the last person she'd ever expect to meet. Slanted dark-green eyes behind orange hair peered back at the 'officer' with a softness that only she'd seen before.

Roman? she blinked back the tears as best she could.

"Heya, kiddo..." he smiled warmly.

Dum-Dum!

Neo lept into his arms, silently sobbing out of joy from seeing her closest friend and partner. No. It was the reality that she could touch him; He was here. Not a mirage or an illusion, but the real deal was in her grasp. Roman Torchwick returned the embrace, holding the girl for dear life as if she too would disappear if he hadn't.

"I've missed you too, Neo," his tone was gentle as she pulled away to get a good look at him. By now, she'd broken the visual facade revealing the memento that rested on her head. Roman was shocked to see that she'd kept the bowler hat that had been synonymous with him after all this time. However, when she sought to return it to him, he declined. "You keep it. I'm more interested in that item you have there."

She rolled her eyes playfully and 'explained everything that'd happened since his 'death'. While he was none too pleased to hear that Cinder had been using Neo like one of her flunkies, he also saw possibilities after she told him how important the relic was to Cinder and her master.

"Looks like we have a lot of work to do..."

Fear itself isn't worthy of concern, it is who we become while in its clutches. Will you be proud of that person? Will you forgive them? Will you understand why they felt the need to do the things they did? Will you even recognize them? Or will the person staring back at you be the very thing you should have feared from the start?

I suppose we all find out sooner or later.