A/N: PLEASE read this note, would you kindly? FYI, I'm working on the "Big" stories, but they need more time in the oven.
Sorry if this seems short. Yesterday's appointment...well, lets just say it wasn't pleasant and I'm still in pain. Owwwwww~! This is why I hate dentists T_T
As ever, feedback keeps my gears spinning. Without it I simply cannot write. Every review, large or small, means the world to me.
So by all means, speak up!
Make yourselves heard!
Your voice matters!
In other news, Volume 8 is finally over and HOO BOY a lot of people are angry with Canon!Cinder right now. What she did; well, I don't even have words for it. It startled me, so much so that I had to physically take a few steps back from my Cinder stories for awhile. Even now I'm still a bit...hesitant to update them for fear of angry fans coming out of the woodwork.
So now, onto your questions:
Q: Please don't let Cinder be an abusive mother! If she's even a little like the Madame...I don't think my heart can bear it.
A: Rest assured, Naruto won't be abused.
Cinder may be...awkward as a mother, but she's hardly alone in this.
Furthermore what others call evil, Naruto may well see as good. Case in point! Tyrian is a psychopathic mass murderer with a goddess complex. To Naruto, he's just Silly Uncle Tyrian, who brings him strange gifts an' the odd weapon from time to time. The same can be said of Hazel and Watts. To say nothing of Salem and the rest.
Did I say the rest? Why, I believe I did~!
To our boy, Roman would very much be the Cool Uncle and Neo the Crazy Aunt.
Q: Well. That does it. The good guys are boned. If Naruto ever loses his temper, goodbye Remnant. I don't think anyone can stop him.
A: A berserk Naruto would be a dangerous thing indeed. Pray he's never pushed that far.
And if he masters his power? Oh boy...
Q: Naruto...please be forgiving my english, but will he still have talk no jutsu? I mean silver tongue? Convincing his enemies into allies?
A: Alright, I think I understand that. If you're wondering, Naruto's infamous Talk no jutsu is still very much a thing, even in this iteration. If anything its even more dangerous. Naruto's ready and willing to break some bones if his loved ones are threatened. Something along the lines of "Oh, you wanna be my enemy? Alright. You just lost your leg privileges." Conversely, if you're on his side, there's no truer friend than him.
BEWARE!
Alright, then. I've kept you long enough. As ever I own no references themes or memes. Not a wit or a one!
Prepare yourself. That's all I'll say here. Now cometh the quote:
"He killed them...?"
"Of course he did. He didn't hesitate. Such a wonderful son you have, Cinder...
"..."
"You are angry with me. Understandable. That is your right as a mother. Really, you should be grateful. I orchestrated this for you, dear girl. How do you think that poor boy would feel if his mother-the woman who raised him!-forced him to kill in cold blood? Better for him to be blooded this way. Better for him to realize the truth of this world while he's young. Go to him. Comfort him. He needs you now more than ever."
"Yes, my queen...
~An Understanding.
Take Your Heart
Naruto made his first kill when he was nine years old.
It wasn't something Cinder planned for; she'd not intended to blood the boy until he was a teenager, and even then, under controlled circumstances. Naruto was a gentle sort. He didn't like to hurt if he could help himself. and it was a habit that had stuck even through his training. Make no mistake, he wasn't afraid to fight if it came to that -and by the brothers he was learning quickly!- but she'd knew in her heart of hearts he would never kill unless pushed. When the chips were down, he would fight for his life, but to end a life...?
Unfortunately for her, destiny -and Salem!- had other plans.
She'd just come from a damning discussion with her mistress on that very matter. Blast it all. She'd left for one day and this happened!
Looking back, Cinder was almost grateful to her mistress for forcing his hand; if only because it meant she didn't have to make him do it herself. It would hurt her as much as him and she had no one to blame but herself for it. At some point he'd come undone. The realization galled her. Any chance of seeing him as a pawn or a minion was long gone. He was an ally of course, but before that he was her son. The old her would have scoffed at such weakness; ripped it out and stomped it to pieces. The new her couldn't.
In no time at all, Cinder reached the door.
Her arm stretched toward its, fingers pressing against the cool surface. An ear followed a moment later as she listened against the silent stone. Beyond lay the training room; she knew what -who!- was within. She could hear him mumbling to myself. And she braced herself, grit her teeth, then slammed it open with both hands.
A massacred awaited her within; a red ruin that would've made Tyrian green with envy.
Her gorge rose at the sight
Naruto awaited her within on his knees, spattered in blood. It wasn't his own.
"Not my fault." he muttered to himself, scrubbing at his cheek with a ruined. "They tried to kill me. Had to do it." even as she looked on, his injuries began to mend, clawed fingers becoming human once more. "Yeah, I know that now," still he rambled, "But they wouldn't let me talk 'em down." his nose wrinkled in response to a voice she couldn't hear. "You helped didn't ya? Mmm." he nodded. "You too. Maybe you're not such a bad fox after all.."
Cinder's left foot shifted ever so slightly against the gravel. The sound echoed in the chamber. Naruto's head snapped up.
"Mom!" his face lit up and he climbed back to his feet as he saw her. "You're back!"
Say what you would about her boy, but he was fast. He blurred, nearly leaving an afterimage in his wake. He slammed into her torso, driving her back a pace and nearly knocking the wind out of her. For a moment all her worries softened and she instinctively returned to the embrace. A scarred arm came down to ruffle his messy hair.
Then she saw the blood in said hair and remembered the bodies. The aspiring Maiden fought down a flinch.
...what have you done?" Cinder spoke the words aloud, knowing what his response would be, but wanting to hear it from his own lips.
"Salem said these were bad guys, you know." He looked up at her, a glimmer of red light fading from his eyes as he hugged her legs. "She said these people wanted to hurt you. Kill you." his jaw clenched in anger. "So I hurt them back."
"Did you attack first?" the words sounded hoarse, even to her own ears.
"Nah. I tried to talk 'em down. Only one listened to me." he turned and pointed at a man's body, more intact than the others, only missing an eye and an ear. "That one's Bruno." her boy beamed at their fallen form. "He had some kinda weird regeneration semblance. I had to try reeeaaally hard to kill him."
Her voice hitched. "Why?"
"Why? I think I scared him to death. He just fell over."
Cinder squinted at the man. Sure enough, his face was frozen with fear.
She frowned at the other corpses. Three men and a woman. None of Ozpin's known agents were among them. Pity. She didn't even recognize these poor fools. Judging by their weapons and garb they were huntsmen out of Mistral. No doubt Lionheart had provided them under some false pretense. In all likelihood, they'd probably been drugged. Which meant her son...had killed four huntsmen with his bare hands...without breaking a sweat. Even if the fourth had died to the weapons of his fellows, that was still a frightful thing.
By the brothers, her son wasn't even ten.
Stranger still, he looked utterly at peace. There wasn't an iota of guilt to be seen in those baby blue orbs.
"Did I make you proud, mom?" he tugged her sleeve, grinning up at her without a care in the world. "Are you proud of me? Do you love me?"
Golden eyes fixed on him intently. Saw the blood on his face. In that moment, Cinder knew. He'd be stronger than all of them someday. Perhaps even stronger than Salem herself. He wasn't even in his prime. The thought frightened Cinder, not for herself, but for how the boy might yet be treated. If Salem saw him as a threat, if others banded against him because of this strange power...he would die. Quality was all well and good, but numbers had a strength of their own.
He needed her
"Of course, dear." Cinder knelt down and kissed his forehead, then drew him into a quivering embrace. "You were marvelous."
She felt him grin against her. "I'll get even stronger. Just you wait! Next time, you can take me with you!"
"Yes," she swallowed. "That sounds grand."
Maybe it was time to get him out of the tower for a bit. Or better yet, take him with her when she left on business. If he grew up here alone, with so little guidance, he was going to become just as twisted as her. It had already begun. She had to. Before it was too late. She wouldn't let him become like her. If he became even a fourth of what she was...no. Absolutely not! She refused!
...which meant she had to swallow her pride and do something truly distasteful.
(.0.0.0.)
Roman whistled.
"You've got a kid? Never woulda thought it...
Cinder willed herself to breathe. In Out. Innn. Ouuut. "Not one more word, Roman. Not a one. I will BURN you."
"Nah," he shook his head and tugged at his hat with a cheshire grin. "You won't. You need us. Otherwise you wouldn't be here."
Those words echoed through his safehouse, sealing Cinder's fate. For what felt like the umpteenth time, she resisted the urge to simply eradicate Torchwick outright. It would be so simple. A quick snap of her fingers and he'd find himself skewered with molten glass. By the brothers, it was tempting. He was grinning from ear to ear now, the cheeky bastard, leaning upon his cane as though he'd just handed all the world to her on a silver platter. Because she had, and they -the three of them!- knew it all too well.
In revealing Naruto to them, she revealed her weakness. Cinder loathed weakness.
They could take him. Use him against her. They...! No. Her hands grounded into firsts at her sides. Breathe.
In the end, Naruto broke the stalemate; indeed, Cinder's son leaned around her legs and dared a wave in their direction.
"Hello~!" he turned a disarming smile upon the two thieves, wholly ignorant of who they truly where. "Do you work with my mom? Are you her friends?"
Cinder resisted the urge to snort. Friends? These two? They were deathly afraid of her. Roman quirked a brow at her son, yet Neo nevertheless returned the boy's wave with a bemused smile. In the end it fell to Torchwick to speak. Neo certainly wouldn't.
"Eh," he scratched the back of his head. "More like assets, blondie."
"Aw, really?" Naruto pouted and scuffed one boot against the ground, looking like a kicked puppy. "And here I was gonna call you Uncle Roman...
"Nevermind!" She never seen Roman pivot so fast. "We're friends! The best of friends!"
Her child clapped happily. "Yay~!"
Cinder caught the gleam in his eye, a faint curl of his lips that she knew all too well, and resisted the urge to smile herself. Clever boy. He'd taken her lessons to heart. Why have enemies when you could persuade them to work for you? Truly, her son possessed a silver tongue unlike any other. If she didn't know better she'd think it a semblance. But it wasn't. He was just that good.
Too pure. Her motherly instincts flared back to life with a vengeance and she grappled with the urge to sweep him away. Must protect. No one will touch him.
Neo pointed a finger at herself and cocked her head to one side.
Naruto beamed. "Sure! You can be Auntie Neo!"
His words left the mute preening like a proud peacock, all but cooing over him as many had before. Cinder couldn't help but marvel at it all. Not even five minutes and Naruto already had them eating out of his hand. Such a terrifying little creature she'd raised. Was this what pride felt like? Pride in someone else? Unfortunately it was overshadowed by unyielding concern.
Would he be safe here? He had to be. He must.
"You are to watch him while I'm away." she delivered her instructions with cold fire, eyes narrow and intent. "One of you will remain with him at all times. If someone harms so much as a hair on his head, not even Salem herself will save you from me."
"R-Right." Roman recoiled a little, perhaps recalling her backer. "Sure thing. We'll take care of him. No need to get her involved."
Salem wouldn't be, if she could help it.
Naruto couldn't stay here forever -not with Salem demanding regular visits- but it was a far sight better than spending his every waking moment in the bleak halls of her tower. If left alone there, he'd lose his mind. It was a dark day when she considered these two the sane option. Roman and Neo couldn't hold a candle to Tyrian and the rest, but at least they didn't run about killing anyone who opposed them. Well. Roman didn't. She wasn't sure about Neo. One simply never knew with Neo
Neo stretched out her arms and hopped in place.
Cinder scowled. "No. You can't babysit him."
The little hellion stomped a boot.
...fine. But only on weekends!"
And so a truce was struck.
(.0.0.0.)
They say time waits for no one.
Neither did Naruto.
Even for her.
(.0.0.0.)
"Why are you running?!"
Why?! Because she was terrified!
You see, Emerald had pickpocketed the wrong person.
She flung herself down a vacant alley, leaped over a trash bin and kicked it aside behind her. Laughter reached her ears as her pursuer bounded over it. Persistent! She skittered away into a thoroughfare, kicked off a wall to gain some distance, and grabbed at the first thing within reach. Tan hands hooked in an awning overhead and yanked it down behind her in a desperate attempt to throw off her pursuer. A startled yelp greeted her ears for but a moment and in her hubris, she slowed.
Mistakes were made. He tore through the fabric and pelted after her, grinning like an absolute loon.
"Crazy bastard!" she ran at once, hollering over her shoulder. "Just give up! Leave me alone!"
"Nope! Never!" he hollered back, still grinning as he ran. "I wanna talk to you!"
Emerald snarled and clamored up a stet of stairs, running for the rooftops. He pelted after her, giving chase yet again.
In hindsight it all seemed so obvious; he'd been too easy a mark. More fool she for stealing his wallet. Really, what self-respecting kid wandered the markets of Vale looking like that? He was asking for it! Anyone would've done the same! It wasn't her fault! She hadn't eaten in days and she was so hungry, and he looked loaded...
So she'd flung her semblance at him, wrapped him in an illusion, and robbed him blind.
Easy as can be, no? Not so.
He'd seen through it and caught her wrist.
"If you need money that badly, you can mine." he'd said, pulling out a few bills. "But this wallet was a gift. I'm afraid I can't let you take that, ya know."
Thirteen and terrified out of her wits, Emerald Sustrai naturally did what any child with half a brain would do. She booked it. That had been...what, five minutes ago? Ten? She'd long since lost track. Her body hadn't. Little lungs screamed and her lungs burned with each leap-every fiber of her being begged for rest that wouldn't come. How was she to know this crazy-looking boy would chase her down?! Worse, he was laughing; treating this all like some bloody gameandohgodsherecameanotherjump...!
Her knees buckled briefly as another leap nearly ended in disaster, forcing her to tumble or risk breaking a bone.
Emerald forced herself back to her feet and pressed on with a gasp, grimacing but a little as she heard her pursuer land behind her. All too soon, she found herself faced with an even more daunting gap. Too large for her to make. Her heels dug in of their own accord, bringing her up short. She cast a quick glance back, then considered the leap anew.
If she could just trick him somehow, make him misjudge a jump...? No dice.
Her hesitation cost her dearly; something heavy collided with her back and bore her down to the ground. Aura crackled sullenly. No! They'll never take me alive! Panic bleated through her mind in a heady storm, turning all her thoughts to jelly. She kicked out with a yelp and was rewarded with a cry of pain. Someone grabbed her heel and flipped her over. Emerald went mad.
"Give up already!" she clawed at them, digging her nails into their face.
He laughed. "Not a chance! Give up...on me giving up!"
Strong arms slammed down on her shoulders, wrestling her down to the ground. They grappled wildly with one another, and by some miracle, she got atop him. Her hands clamped down on his throat, determined to keep him from doing the same to her. But he didn't. His hands fell from her shoulders.
Red eyes met blue.
Sapphire really, framed by blond hair and dirty whiskered cheeks. As she looked on, the scratches she'd inflicted upon his tan visage began to heal. She shrank back, frightened all the more. Was that a semblance? Aura or something? She wasn't sure. The uncertainty hounded her like a starving dog.
"I'm not gonna hurt you." his smile swept all that away, sunshine itself. "What's your name?"
...Emerald." she warbled but didn't let go of his throat, tensing in preparation of an attack.
"Why'd you try and mug me?" he frowned up at her as she sat atop him, speaking quickly. "Don't think your parents would like that."
She glanced away, irritated by his sunny disposition. "I don't have anyone."
"No one?" her words seemed to baffle him. "No one at all?
The little thief grit her teeth. "What's it matter to you?!"
That strange boy wrinkled his nose at her.
"It does matter."
Quick as a flash, he did something with his hands and she found herself sitting atop a battered log.
"What the...?!"
"Right, that settles it, then. We're family." a scarred hand descended on her head from behind, mussing her dirty hair. "I'll be your brother. You'll never go hungry again."
He could've stabbed her in the back. But he didn't.
Emerald's heart skipped a beat. A host of foreign emotions sprang to life in her chest and she grappled with them, to no avail. This...this was a trick, right? Wasn't it? Had to be. This didn't happen. This wasn't a fairy tale. People like her didn't get happy endings. Urchins died in the streets all the time. No one cared about them. No one spared them so much as a second thought. So why here? Why now...?
She hadn't felt like a child in quite some time. To be given hope like this...his words undid her.
...really?"
"Yup. I don' go back on my word." the blond hooked both hands behind his head and grinned down at her. "Mom says when you make a promise or a threat, you should keep it."
Emerald had never expected to have a sibling, let alone a big brother. It was an...oddly pleasant feeling. Warm, but not painful. She wasn't sure to make of it. He was a kid after all, just like her. Really fast and strong, but a kid nonetheless. He looked...well, rich. Loaded. One of those posh types with more money than sense. Was he a noble? Probably not. Their kind wouldn't chase a thief down in broad daylight without calling for the guard, guards which even now had yet to materialize.
She looked up and dithered. He saw it, but didn't interrupt. Even when she did. "Who are you...?"
"Naruto." that winning smile flashed out again.
"Just take my hand, Emerald." when she flinched away, he reached for her. "Everything's gonna be alright. I promise."
When he offered her his hand again, she took it. Tiny tan fingers threaded with his. He tugged her along and trailed after him. Later when he began to train, so did she. Later still, she met the woman Naruto called Mother. Even later, she found herself adopted into the Fall family. And the world changed a little more.
But for better or worse...who could say?
A/N: Oh dear, Naruto's starting to get warped...
As ever, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule. That's not a threat, but the truth. Three stories have already gone to the void because of it.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly? It means the world to this ailing old man.
I've got a ton written but I'm not keen on/revealing overmuch unless folks truly enjoy this tale. If they don't, the previews below will never see the light of day.
(Previews)
"Its not about overpowering the enemy. Its about taking away what power they have. And we will.
"Remember. You are a Fall. You carry my Name. My Heart. My Pride. These people are beneath you. If someone strikes you, strike them back. If someone insults you...
...break their face?" Naruto frowned. "Was that it? No! Wait! I remember now! Break their legs!"
"That's my boy. Remember, neither of you need friends. Only assets."
Emerald frowned, her lips pursing just so. "Are we assets, then?"
Nononono! Not having that. She hugged them close.
"Of course not, my dears. You're the exception...
Carmine knelt. "Screw that! I'll serve!"
"Neo."
The mute beamed.
"Why...is half the city on fire?"
She held up a sign. "Roman did it."
"LIES!"
Mercury wiped a line of crimson from the corner of his mouth. "Thanks for the help back there...though you stole my kill."
"Sorry, not sorry." his savior beamed, heedless of the blood on his face. "Never got your name."
"Mercury." the young man smiled clasped his hand. "And you are...?"
He got one right back. "Naruto. Wanna be friends?"
"Happy Birthday!"
Emerald hugged him tight. "Best brother ever."
Cinder hummed innocently and took a quick picture of them.
...you look familiar. Have we met?"
"Maybe in another life." The boy smiled at her, his whiskered face limned in the firelight. "I'm sorry about this, miss. I had a wonderful time chatting with you."
"Oh." Amber felt the beginnings of a frown pluck at her lips, her spirits falling just a little. "Are you leaving already-
His hand latched onto her face. Something seized her soul and pulled. Pulled hard.
"I am so...so sorry...
R&R~! =D