Legal Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY, Red vs. Blue, or any of the shows' characters. They are the rightful properties of Rooster Teeth.
Chapter Thirty-One:
"For the record," Qrow muttered into Salem's Inheritor's ear as their small group stood before the barrier, "I don't like this, lucky charm."
Clover smiled slightly at the oft-repeated phrase coming from the elder Huntsman's mouth, having heard several variations of it over the course of their trek to the barrier. Qrow had thrown his arm over Clover's shoulders without so much as a word the second the soldier's feet had stumbled in the snow, and now the brown-haired man was leaning heavily against him, trying to keep his breathing as deep and even as possible. At least having the barrier problem to focus on allowed Clover to not constantly worry about what was going on with his body and the concerning visions, giving him something else to channel his energies into.
"I know, Qrow, but what other choice do we have?" Clover managed to get out despite his inner struggles, "We'd figure a way to get here anyway, so better sooner rather than later, right?"
The black-haired shapeshifter muttered something along the lines of "stubborn military types" under his breath, shifting slightly so that he was holding onto Clover even tighter than before. "Hey." Clover said, bringing his face up closer to the other man's ear, noting how his voice's reverberations on the shell caused Qrow to flush somewhat, "At least this way I can help Oscar out."
"I suppose." The older Huntsman begrudgingly relented just as he had down in Mantle below, and Clover's smile widened.
"Thank you, Qrow. For letting us do this." The brown-haired man replied gratefully.
Qrow's face reddened further at the sincerity in Clover's words, "Don't go thanking me yet, boy scout." He mumbled under his breath.
Sarge had taken up point along with Grif and Simmons on Oscar's right, with Ruby and Penny guarding the left. The old man in red harrumphed, clutching his shotgun close, "Are we ready to get this show on the road?" He asked, clearly not eager to be so out in the open as they currently were.
Clover nodded his head at the older man's question, reluctantly pulling away from Qrow's support as he did so. The world spun for a moment, but he luckily managed to keep on his feet this time. He glanced over at a nervous-yet-determined looking Oscar with an encouraging smile on his face, "You ready?" He asked, knowing that the teenager would have to be.
Oscar gulped nervously and clenched his hands at his sides, green markings swirling to vibrant life across his face even in the darkness of the night sky, "As ready as I'll ever be." He managed to say with barely any confidence.
Clover nodded, feeling the magical energy flaring outward from the center of his being as well. From the heat lighting up his face, he could picture his own red Inheritor markings appearing too as he clasped his hand gently over Oscar's shoulder, "I've got you, Oscar. You can do this." He assured him, feeling the energy pulsating and flowing from his body outwards towards the teen.
Oscar closed his eyes and nodded then, reaching a tentative hand out towards the now glowing sky overhead. Lines of magic started weaving through the sky right above his outstretched fingers as he stretched out his powers along with Clover's own to sense the workings of the barrier.
"Whoa." Simmons muttered under his breath at the sight, though just as the freckled redhead spoke the entire snowy area seemed to fade completely from existence until Clover and Oscar found themselves standing in an expanse of nothingness, black and purple and red pulsating all around them almost to the beat of a heart.
"C—Clover?" Oscar murmured worriedly as he glanced around the terrifying new space they were floating in, "Something isn't right."
"No." The brown-haired soldier answered as he nodded his head in agreement, "Someone's tampered with the barrier. This is..." He paused as he tried to put into words how exactly the oppressive place felt. It reminded him of being nearby Salem's Relic, but on a scale much more invasive. It was far too recently familiar an environment for his liking.
The shadows close by suddenly warped, a figure melting out of them. A blackened silhouette of a woman, her features completely obscured, "I was hoping I would be able to meet you both face to face." She said at length, gliding over to the two Inheritors as though she were flying. Where her eyes might be seemed to rest on Clover, and he felt himself frozen by her regard as a familiar sick feeling entered his stomach when she placed a hand tentatively on his cheek. "My lucky charm." She breathed out, "My Inheritor."
Teal eyes widened at the words, at the confirmation of something he'd known deep down but had hoped he was wrong about, "You're—!" He tried to say before his voice seemed to be swallowed up.
"We'll meet properly soon. I'm sure of it. You'll be of great assistance to me." The woman cut him off, her gaze landing on Oscar, causing the boy to flinch, "And this is Oz's Inheritor. I wouldn't think he'd pick someone so young."
Her hand dropped from Clover's now freezing cheek as she moved towards the teen, gripping his shoulder tightly, "Not to worry, I'll keep you locked away so that he can witness everything that will come to pass. Everything he denied to me all those years ago." She spoke almost gently then, though her words were of ice, "You'll both watch as the world burns."
"Get away—!" Clover tried to speak once more, moving forward to push the woman away from Oscar, but suddenly his voice froze in his throat and he couldn't move a muscle.
Her form twisted so that she was staring over at him again, her tone nearly fond, "Charms don't speak, dear. They are trinkets, nothing more." She turned back to Oscar then, patting the terrified boy's head, "But what a pair of useful trinkets you two are."
There was the sound of something shattering all around them then, cracks beginning to form throughout the dreary and stifling plane. The woman paused, letting go of Oscar and moving back, "A pity. It seems we've reached the limit." She said, "But we'll meet again soon."
It was a threat as much as a promise, and suddenly both Inheritors were back to standing on the tundra, the barrier fluctuating but still glowing overhead. Oscar let out a gasp of the breath he'd been holding, dropping shakily to his knees to the snowy ground once more beneath their feet.
"What in tarnation just happened?" Sarge's familiar drawl demanded, but Clover was in no condition to respond. He couldn't even hear whatever Oscar answered with as he sank into the snow, his mind going blank.
Qrow had barely taken a step towards Clover and Oscar when a ball of flame suddenly hit the ground close by the group's feet. "Hostile presence located!" Penny called out at that exact same moment, rising into the air with Floating Array circling around her.
Qrow swung around along with his youngest niece, their scythes at the ready as Sarge stepped in front of Oscar and Clover brandishing his weapon of choice as well. Grif and Simmons went to check on the barely conscious teen and unconscious soldier as Cinder Fall appeared over the hill, a flame raised in one hand as several Golems marched behind her, "Enjoying your outing?" She asked in a pseudo-pleasant voice, a smirk crossing over her features.
Oscar turned around at the sound of her voice, his hand clutched over his chest as he tried to catch his breath, "It was you, wasn't it?" He asked her hoarsely, "You tampered with the barrier!"
Grif and Simmons both looked at one another then, "She can manipulate Grimm and Golems." Simmons started fearfully.
"And her showing up here is a pretty large coincidence." Grif finished for him with a frown on his face.
Her smirk only widened, "Guilty as charged." Cinder replied smugly, obviously enjoying this turn of events.
"But why?" Ruby demanded as the line of Atlesian Golems began moving towards them threateningly.
Cinder's eye narrowed, "Because I needed to move things forward." She answered as she tilted her head in the direction of the two Inheritors, "Their benefactor wanted to meet them."
"Benefactor?" The brunette asked, tilting her own head to the side curiously as she narrowed her silver eyes in thought.
"S—Salem!" Oscar managed to breathe out, "She means Salem! That's who she's working for!"
"You're fucking kidding me." Grif said, his dark eyes widening as he stood up from making sure that Clover was still at least shallowly breathing, "The literal goddess of destruction?"
"She's sort-of conscious somewhere?!" Simmons squeaked out fearfully, clearly terrified of the possibility.
"And eager to come back and finish what she started." Cinder's tone was triumphant, "Consider what Ozpin did merely a reprieve."
"And she needs the Inheritors for that for some reason, I reckon." Sarge harrumphed as he leveled his shotgun at her, "I can understand all that, but what's in it for you, little lady?"
"Y—yeah!" Simmons exclaimed, nodding his head in earnest agreement, "If she comes back to destroy everything, that would mean you too!"
"The weak get destroyed. That's the way of the world." Cinder's response was curt, a light blazing in her eye, "I refuse to be weak, and I won't let anyone stand in the way of the power I was promised!"
"Oh great, she's crazy." Grif groaned.
Cinder smirked, a wall of flame suddenly surrounding the group. She raised her arm hidden by a long sleeve up as if pointing at them, "Hand over the Inheritors." She ordered without any hint of bargaining.
"Not going to happen." Qrow said as he narrowed his light red eyes towards her in defiant challenge.
The dark-haired woman merely shrugged, "More fun for me if you don't." Cinder replied, and just like that the Golems were launching themselves into the fray.
Penny's swords sliced through a majority of them as she deftly wove through the air while Grif fired off a blast from his aptly named Grifshot weapon. The grenade made contact with the chest of one of the gigantic automatons just as Sarge fired upon its legs, causing it to stumble backwards into the snow and ice. "Uncle Qrow!" Ruby called out as she sliced Crescent Rose through the arm of another, "We need to take out Cinder."
"Open to suggestions, kiddo!" Qrow called back out to her as he transformed Harbinger into its broadsword form and slashed down a Golem who had gotten too close to the winded Inheritors.
Ruby's silver eyes lit up suddenly and she turned to Simmons, who had been feebly attempting to shoot at a nimbly dodging Cinder using his needle gun, "Your Semblance!" She shouted gleefully.
Simmons blanched at her remark, "My what?!" He asked, clearly surprised he was anyone's focus during the battle.
Ruby was already racing forward towards Cinder, "The second I give you the opening, use it!" She called over her shoulder, vaulting in the air until she was behind the dark-haired woman. Cinder snarled at her, flames dancing along her hand as she spun to attack, leaving her long-sleeved arm fully exposed.
"Oh shit!" Simmons muttered as he raced forward then, grabbing hold of the appendage with his green eyes skewed fearfully shut.
"Wha—?" Cinder asked in surprise as she turned around, but already a shimmer was covering both her and Simmons. She stumbled backwards slightly, her fire dying out momentarily as even the Golems paused in their attack.
…Just in time for Ruby's eyes to glow, and then Cinder was screaming as the Golems around her turned to stone and the arm that Simmons had been touching convulsed in pain. She fell back and grabbed at her eye covered by a patch, as if she could claw the pain out of it. Penny swooped in, grabbing both Ruby and Simmons by the scruff of their clothing as she flew through the sky just as Grif pulled Oscar to his feet and both Sarge and Qrow moved Clover between them, racing back towards the relative safety of Mantle as quickly as they could, Cinder's pained scream of anger filling their ears the entire way.
"Easy there, sunshine." Qrow's grip on Clover's side tightened somewhat as they passed through the doorway to the room that Clover had been resting in before.
"Thanks, Qrow." The brown-haired soldier murmured as Qrow positioned him so that he could easily sit down on the bed, "I think I can handle things from here."
The elder Huntsman frowned, light red eyes watching the other man in open concern as he gently removed his arm from around Clover's side, "You sure?" He asked, his tone disbelieving.
Clover smiled up at him shakily, a sheen of cold sweat already coating his forehead that the shapeshifter had to ignore the urge to wipe away, "Not particularly, no." He admitted, a thoughtful frown furrowing his brows.
They'd separated from the others on the streets of Mantle, everyone going off on their own to either report what had happened at the barrier or to try and somehow process it. Clover had murmured to the older Huntsman that now he recognized that the building they'd been using as their temporary headquarters was the former orphanage he and Robyn had grown up in, trying to put some levity into the situation without much success.
It was hard to swallow just who they all knew Cinder Fall was truly working for now. The very literal goddess of destruction herself, still hell-bent on somehow coming back and finishing what she started who knew how long ago. If it weren't for the fact that magic was so readily apparent in the everyday facets of their lives, even given what Qrow had witnessed across Remnant, he'd have had a hard time believing it.
Silence fell heavy between the pair. Qrow shifted awkwardly on his feet, not really wanting to go just yet even though he knew that Oscar and Ruby, along with the others, were no doubt already safely back at their temporary hideout, shell shocked from what happened outside of Mantle but otherwise fine. He found it near impossible to leave Clover when he couldn't be sure of the same thing with him given what had happened earlier and everything else that the brown-haired soldier was going through.
"Do you need anything?" Qrow prompted, running a hand through his graying black hair.
Clover smiled up at him, shuddering slightly, "You wouldn't happen to be able to remove horrifying memories of an existential meeting with an angry goddess, would you?" He asked, trying to go for levity once more.
Qrow sat down on the bed next to him, smiling wryly, "'Fraid not, lucky charm." He said amusedly.
"Damn." Clover looked away then, sighing, "It was worth a shot."
"I'm amazed at how much you and Oscar were able to keep it together, given that." Qrow admitted, resting his hand right beside Clover's own on the mattress. Clover looked down at their nearly touching hands then, almost shyly bringing his own to rest atop Qrow's. The elder Huntsman in turn intertwined their fingers together, relishing the warmth that flowed between them even as he momentarily thought that Clover's fingers were far too cold for the normally hot-blooded and sleeveless man.
"I think it was mostly the shock doing that." Clover's teal eyes lit up appreciatively as he added, "Though Oscar has a lot of inner strength."
"He does." Qrow said as his own eyes lit up with pride and he squeezed Clover's fingers reassuringly, "You both do."
A doubtful look crossed over Clover's features, his free hand moving to touch the bone protrusions on his chest. He turned to stare at Qrow intently, "We need to tell James about Cinder and Salem." He informed him bluntly, changing the topic just then, "Before she returns to Atlas and things get even worse."
Qrow sighed, knowing that Clover was correct but also hating the thought of even being in the same room as the General King just then. They were all currently at the mercy of Atlas, whether they liked it or not. "I'll arrange it, somehow." He assured the tense younger man, "Maybe the kids will have an idea."
Clover smiled slightly, "Thank you, Qrow." He said earnestly.
"No guarantees I won't throw him out of a window though." Qrow muttered seriously.
Clover chuckled, leaning forward to gently press his lips against Qrow's own, "Might be hard to secure help if you do that." He whispered by the Huntsman's ear.
"We'd manage somehow, soldier boy." Qrow returned the soft kiss, though he leaned forward with his free hand and touched the side of Clover's face not a moment later, bringing the two closer together to deepen the gesture. What he wouldn't do to just stay here like this for a while longer. To...
Reluctantly, he pulled away and gave Clover's captured hand a reassuring squeeze, bringing their joined hands upwards to brush his lips against them while his eyes remained locked on Clover's tired yet flushing face. "We'll see each other again soon, all right?" Qrow asked softly, his own voice maybe a bit huskier than he'd initially intended.
It had a great effect on Clover though, as his skin turned a soft shade of pink all the way past the collar, "I'll be looking forward to it." He managed to get out with a wink.
Qrow smirked before finally pulling away completely and heading out the door, though the smile on his face only lasted a few steps past the room's threshold. He had no idea how the hell they could possibly talk to Ironwood about what was going on, or even how the paranoid General King would react to the situation with Cinder and Salem, though his old friend's extreme actions recently were worrisome enough. He understood that telling James somehow would be the best bet, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off all the same. But until official word came, he supposed it was just worried speculation on his part, brought on by his usual fear of what his misfortune could cause to befall others.
He'd been around everyone for far longer than he was often comfortable with being, after all. Yet the thought of leaving, even if it was to spare everyone further pain, didn't sit well with him either. If Jimmy really did attempt something, or Cinder, then...
"Damn it!"
Qrow heard the cursing coming from just off to the side of the building when he stepped outside for some air, his red-eyed gaze spotting maroon and orange shapes further away. Grif and Simmons had been standing just under the sloping roof of the former orphanage, and apparently a chunk of loose snow had decided to come careening down on the heavyset Faunus' antlered head. Qrow couldn't help but wince at that, wondering if his misfortune was the cause given his agitated state currently.
"Hold still." Simmons sounded as if he was trying to hold back a peal of laughter as he moved to brush the offending snow from the top of Grif's dark head of hair, "You've got some of it stuck in your antlers."
The chital Faunus grimaced, yet he allowed Simmons to brush away the snow coating him all the same, "I really fucking hate this place." He muttered with surprising venom.
"It's just some snow, Grif." The redhead replied as he sighed, "We can head on in and you'll be warm and dry in no time."
"Only until the next time we have to go outside." Grif countered tersely, "And that's not even taking into account angry goddesses and wannabe dictators."
"Grif…" Simmons frowned as he trailed off, green eyes hesitant as though he didn't know what to say.
Whatever he might have come up with apparently died in his throat though, as Grif leaned forward and captured the hand that Simmons had been withdrawing from his now relatively snow-free head, gripping it tightly with his own, "I mean it, Simmons. We should just leave." He said with more emotion than Qrow usually associated with the orange-wearing young man's laidback and apathetic vibe.
There was a pause and Simmons blinked, "What?" He asked, clearly dumbfounded by his companion's actions.
"You, me, and Kai. We could be out of here before anyone even noticed." Grif hummed appreciatively at the thought, "We could head back to Menagerie. You'd like it there. It's warm and sunny. You might even get a tan for once after you stopped burning."
"But Pyrrha and the others," Simmons said as his brows furrowed behind his glasses, "You'd seriously consider leaving them?"
"We could ask around, see who wants to come with." Grif's tone became terse, "I don't want my little sister dying here in some battle we can't win."
"Th—that's—!"
"Hell, for some reason, I don't want you dying either." The tan-skinned Faunus decreed, looking away momentarily, "It's not ideal, but this whole situation is shit, you know?"
"Yeah. I get that." Simmons muttered softly, though he stared at the white-covered ground before regarding his hand still being held by Grif, "But, Grif, we can't just leave."
Grif let out a huff of air, his hand momentarily squeezing tighter around Simmons' fingers, "Yeah, I figured as much." He replied, "I'd have to forcibly drag you and Kai out of here if I really wanted to leave, and that's just too much effort, you know?"
Simmons said nothing in response, his expression unreadable as the chubby Faunus continued, "I can't exactly promise I'll give it one hundred percent, and I sure as fuck am not letting Kai do anything too stupid and dishonor the family, but I'll stick around. Just to make sure nothing too bad happens to you or the other assholes." Grif said at length.
"Grif, that's…!" Simmons sniffled as he trailed off, clearly touched.
"Dude, are you crying?" The tan-skinned young man asked, peering over at Simmons' freckled face then in mild amusement.
"Sh—shut up!" Simmons exclaimed, shoving Grif in the shoulder with his free hand though his tone oddly fond as he muttered, "Fatass." under his breath.
"Kissass." Grif was quick to reply with, a contemplative look in his brown eyes not a moment later, "I meant what I said though."
"Hmm?" Simmons asked, raising an eyebrow at Grif's statement.
"About Menagerie. It has its fair share of problems, but I think you'd really like it." Grif answered, pointedly not looking at Simmons' face as he spoke.
The other young man blinked, "Are you inviting me there?" He breathed out in shock.
"Don't make it weird, Simmons." Grif muttered, his face darkening with a telltale blush.
Simmons glanced down at their still intertwined hands then, his own face turning almost as red as his hair, "Actually, Pyrrha was thinking of heading back to Argus to see our family after all of this is over. With Jaune and everyone." He said hesitantly.
"Uh-huh." Grif mumbled as he looked at the geeky redhead blankly.
Simmons' face became a near impossible shade of red then as he glanced down at the ground and murmured, "If you and Kai wanted to come along too, that would be cool." He managed to get out, "And then maybe, maybe I'd like to see Menagerie too."
Grif said nothing to that for a long moment, staring at Simmons with wide eyes. The redhead flinched at quickly started stammering, "It's a dumb idea though, considering that it's still pretty cold in Argus and it's not like it is close to Menagerie or anything so—!"
"Simmons." Grif cut him off then, squeezing his hand reassuringly, "That doesn't sound like such a bad idea at all."
"You...you mean it?" The lanky redhead asked skeptically.
"When all of this is over, we're going to need vacations on top of vacations." The Faunus replied, smirking, "So long as we don't have to do any work, and so long as they have food there, I think stopping by Argus would be fine." Simmons stared at the Faunus in shock, his face splitting into a huge grin not a second later despite some telltale shininess in his eyes. "You're crying again. Nerd." Grif remarked, flicking his forehead fondly.
"I'm...I'm just allergic to snow." Simmons was quick to say, "S—Sometimes."
"Yeah, because that's a fucking believable excuse out here in the tundra."
Qrow turned his head away then, deciding it was best to give the pair some privacy. He quickly stepped inside once more, torn over just what they should do next. None of the options struck him as particularly good, but that was kind of his shitty luck at this point.
Author's Notes: So, some things definitely happened in this update and I managed to end it on a sweet little Grimmons moment to boot! :D
