A/N: EDIT: Bah, look at the flames. That didn't take long...
As ever, we're going by the now infamous Embers rule.
This WILL be deleted quickly if folks don't like it. So speak up! Make yourselves heard! Every bit of feedback counts!
Managed to pry myself away from Doctor Who for a bit to write this. Its addicting~!
Now lets answer your questions:
Q: Couldn't help but notice that you included Lisa Lavender (The News Girl) and Elm (Atlas Specialist) in this story. May I ask why?
A: Because like to shake things up every now and again. I try to make each pairing different per story. Even on the rare occasion when the same characters are used, they're entirely different people in every tale. Case in point, one could say the Raven in "Cookies" is far different from the one we see in "Crazy Equals Genius"
No two characters, or pairings are exactly the same. That's the Neonzangetsu guarantee~!
Heh. Feels a little silly saying that. Bloody vaccine's still messing with me...
Q: Can we get more info on Summer's Grimmified appearance?
A: This chapter delves more into that, so no worries.
Also, you'd best expect the unexpected.
Wait, is it unexpected then?
Q: Just how far does Naruto's gift go?
A: Its not perfect. Even when he pulls a person from a Grimm, they emerged...changed. Converting Grimm is another matter entirely. For instance, he'd need to level up his semblance more should he ever take it into his head to try and free the dragon in that mountain, much less control it.
Q: When will Untraveled Road be updated? We neeeeeeeeeeds it.
A: This week, hopefully. The chapters for that story are always massive, so they take more time than most. Daily updates keep me busy too, and I don't want to break my streak.
Although it does wear on me a little...
Alright, I think I've kept you waiting long enough now.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in the world. We've also go a minor bit of verbatim her from Chapter Two of my Fragments story.
Suppose you could say THIS is that Summer moment, that scene, actualized.
With a bit of Grimm consequences thrown in for good measure.
Now, I do hope you're prepared for this...
"Insane? Me? I don't think I am. You see, gentlemen. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting things to change.
That's right. Over. And. Over. This is not that. I learn from my mistakes. I changed. Unlike you.
Maybe you're the crazy ones here."
~the future.
Beautiful Monster
Lisa Lavender knew a story when she saw one.
As an up-and-coming journalist, she could sniff out news like no other. Some said it ran in her family's blood; a byproduct of a bygone age. Something about psychics or somesuch. Others called her Semblance. Still more wondered if it was just bloody bad luck; whenever there was a story to be told, she was never far.
The truth...was decidedly less impressive than most people thought.
It wasn't a gift, a curse, or even a semblance. She simply had a nose for these sort of things. She lived for news. No price was too high, no risk too great. For the thrill of breaking a story; exposing scandal, corruption, greed, she would risk anything. Cracking cases wide open, solving mysteries, hard biting tales that got your blood pumping. That sort of thing. Did that make her a bad person? She didn't think so. She broke the news equally, much to the chagrin or ally and enemie alike. Good or bad? Didn't mater. If there was a story to be told, she would tell it. She wasn't biased. She was fair.
As far as Lisa Lavander was concerned, her Semblance was a pain-in-the-ass; downright useless, really.
She didn't even want to think about it. Honestly! The Brothers were probably laughing at her.
But this? This was news!
A man crash lands a Nevermore in Patch? Decent story. Not worth it. Huntsmen pulled that shtick all the time all over the world.
Yet when said man talks to said Grimm? Better news. The people loved reading about madmen. Better payday, too.
When said Grimm responds to his commands?! Now that was a bloody headline right there!
At a glance it seemed like some old fish wife's tale, and she'd thought as much...before she'd spoken to her witness. He was reliable. Even if he wasn't, his footage spoke for itself. A fisherman had seen two people come crashing down onto Patch. A man and a woman both, one of whom didn't look quite human. People didn't ride Grimm. The scroll footage was shaky at best, grainy at worse when set to maximum zoom, but the sight of it stirred warmed her blood in a way few things did.
Because from that footage? She could see a face.
Fishing a scroll out of her purse, Lisa dialed an old number and set it to her ear.
"Hey, Tom. Its me. I need a favor." she grimaced as an annoyed voice squawked through. "Yeah, I know it'll cost me. You got an eyes on Patch?" Another rumble came through. "You do? Great. I'll pay you the usual rate. There's somebody I gotta find. Tall chap. Blond hair and blue eyes. Whiskered cheeks. Can't miss 'em." the reply had her pale face flushing. "No, this isn't another wild goose chase! Find him by the end of the day, lemme know where he is, and I'll pay double."
Information and lien were exchanged, and the Scroll went silent against her ear. There. The deed was done.
Just as quickly, Lisa called the photo back up again. Keen azure orbs glared back at her. Wild. Angry. Like he was looking right at the camera; staring into her very soul. She shivered a little. Dangerous men always had the best stories to tell. Interviews with them were always the best.
"Who are you?" she wondered aloud. "What are your secrets?"
The photo held no answers for her. It only whetted her appetite.
Someone who could control the Grimm. There had to be some trick to it; even if there wasn't, this was more than a story. This was news. And she wouldn't rest until she got to the bottom of it. Secrets were like a vault really; sometimes you just needed the right combination. Or you could crack it open with high-explosives. Whatever worked. Regardless, she wanted a word with this young man.
In hindsight, Lisa Lavender had no idea what her actions would unleash.
How could she? She was just a journalist. But she would learn.
She. Would. Learn.
(.0.0.0.)
Summer was antsy, as expected.
Of course she was antsy, the poor thing.
After what she'd been through...well. It was a miracle she was still sane.
Or was she? Naruto winced when she nearly bumped into someone for what felt like the umpteenth time. She didn't even stagger, lost in her own world as she was. It was a testament to her new strength as a hybrid that she didn't break her stride.. Not so the burly male she'd collided with; poor bastard all but crashed into a wall and spilled his ale everywhere.
"Hey!" The faunus raised a tan fist after her. "Watch we're your going! I have half a mind to-
"Here." Naruto darted ahead and pressed a bit of lien into his hand. "For your troubles. She's in mourning."
It wasn't the truth by any means, but it confused the poor fellow to back down long enough for them to make their escape.
Even with her hood up, Summer all but power-walked her way through the market, forging a brisk pace Naruto found himself forced to match let he be left behind. Her rudeness wasn't even intentional on her part; she was that wrapped up in her own thoughts. More than once she all but knocked someone off her feet; forcing him to intervene time again. Although she was ever careful to keep her head down lest anyone recognize her, more than a few shot her nasty looks. Thankfully no one challenged her outright. Thank the sage for small mercies. She didn't stop to engage with anyone.
Neither did he, though he almost wished she would if only so
"Calm down." he hissed when he reached her side. "You're making a scene."
"I am calm." she forced the words through a smile so tight her face clenched. "See how calm I am? I'm smiling."
"Summer...
Her gaze tore away from hiss. "Just...Just leave it Naruto."
He yanked her back before she could bolt. "Not a chance. Talk to me."
"I can feel her inside me. Whispering." she shivered a little and clutched at her left arm. The bandaged one. "Its like an echo. An afterthought." Her lips pursed. "I don't know. I can't tell if she's really there or not." Fretful eyes turned up to him and he was startled to find that one, her left, had become a startling red-black. "I'm scared." as she spoke that eerie iris began to bleed, weeping dark tears like ink. "I won't want to turn back into that thing...
"You won't."
"But what if I do?" she warbled.
Blue eyes narrowed. "You won't. You're something different now."
She grabbed at his sleeve. "What am I, then?! You're supposed to be the expert on this!"
Naruto blanched. He really wasn't. Summer was an anomaly; someone he'd not expected to find. And yet he had. Just how many people had Salem put inside Grimm? A handful? Dozens? Hundreds? More? Did it only apply to Silver-Eyed Warriors? Or was there something darker at work? He didn't know. And it terrified him.
In the end, he settled for a shrug and the truth. "You're something new."
...is that why my arm changed all of a sudden?" She gripped at the black lesions that had grown across her left limb. In the time it had taken them to find civilization, her fingers had sprouted claws, while the flesh of her skin there had turned a pitch black. It still looked human, but his senses said otherwise.
He wanted to lie to her; yet he couldn't. "I don't know. I wish I did, but-
"Wishing doesn't help!"
She tore free and bulled ahead of him Naruto at a more sedate pace, let her lead him on, allowed her to guide him. First through the town square, down a dirt road, then off the beaten path entirely. Through bramble and thicket she walked, unwilling to so much as speak a word to him. Perhaps that was his fault. This was a lot to take in...even without the revelations he'd given her. Was she trapped like this? Was there some way to tear off her Grimm parts safely? He didn't think so. Not without killing her.
Sensing his stress, something stirred.
A small Golden Geist -the one he'd converted on the Beach- popped out of from one of the many pouches he kept on his vest. Its lone eye craned toward Summer's retreating form, then back to him. Now back to Summer again. Tiny shoulders shrugged helplessly as it made a hissing sound.
"I hear ya, little buddy." Naruto patted its mask with a finger. "Girls are a mystery. Don't think I'll ever understand them."
"Stop talking to that thing and keep up!" Summer shouted back at him. "We're nearly there!"
Naruto ducked through a thornbrush, grumbling only a little as it caught at his coat.
"You heard her. Back in you go. Can't have anyone else seeing you."
The Geist saluted and dove back into its pouch.
Really, it was a mercy when they finally arrived at their destination. It was a nice little house. More a cottage all things considered. Downright homey. Seeing it made his heart ache with envy, if only because it reminded him of what he could never have. Something ugly reared its head in his heart. This wasn't fair. With a snarl he stomped it down until it stopped moving. Everyone had a place in this world. What right did he have to envy a happy little family?
He found Summer only a few paces ahead, knees twisting anxiously as she gazed upon her home.
She stole a glance back at him, eyes wide.
"I...changed my mind. I can't do this!"
Naruto saw her legs and knew she was about to flee.
Fortunately for her, he'd prepared for just such an eventuality.
No, you don't! He reached around and caught her by the hem of her cloak, stopping her charge short. A quick tug yanked her back into his arms. She went absolutely berserk; thrashing and hissing and spitting like a cat thrust into cold water.
"Noooo!" Her voice warbled as she thrashed in his grasp. "Let me go! I'm a monster! They won't even recognize me!"
He grit his teeth as her head crashed into his chin. "You're not a monster!"
"Yes, I am!" She wailed. "I'm not even human anymore!"
"You're human to me!"
Summer stilled in his arms and looked up at him with silver eyes. Both of them. Whatever had affected her left eye appeared to have faded. Was it a result of stress, then? Did her Grimm features react to anxiety? Merlot would have found it all fascinating; he would've had answers, at least. Without his mentor, he was left to fumble in the dark. He didn't know what to say. What to do. He could only go with his gut.
"You wanted this." he hummed in her ear. "This is your moment. Not mine. Get out there and claim your happiness. You deserve it!"
Yanking her hood back, he frog-marched her up the porch steps, heart hammering in his chest.
It was here that Summer's resolve faltered again and her nerves got the better of her. For an awful moment she looked like a frightened girl, not knowing what to say or do.
"What if they don't recognize me...?"
Oh, for the love of...!
Naruto stepped up and slammed his a clenched fist against the door. Nine times in rapid succession, one after the other. With each blow the frame jumped on its hinges to rattle the very house. It was impossible to ignore and he knew it. Summer rounded on him with a loud yelp.
"Why?!" she cried!
He shrugged. "Why not?"
It was the proverbial pebble that started an avalanche. A cry of alarm went up inside the house, soon echoed by another. And another. Another still. Summer wasn't rightly sure who was in there, but it sounded like a stampede. Naruto hopped off the porch and left her to the mercy of the horde. Summer's nerves, already wound tighter than a tightly coiled spring, finally snapped. She spun, eyes alight.
"Why you little-
Naruto stepped back.
And all bloody hell broke loose.
The front door slammed open, smacking Summer in the spine. She whirled with a hiss and looked down, terribly startled. A pair of startled silver orbs gazed back. Looking at those eyes hurt, but in a good way. She couldn't explain why. It felt like her Grimm instincts were being tamped down just by being in her presence. Then her brain caught up with her eyes.
Oh.
Oh, wow.
Ruby had grown up.
Gone was the little lass she remembered; she looked to be closer to twelve now. Maybe thirteen at a stretch. Her eyes watered at the sight and something in her chest wavered.
"Hello, sweetie." Summer said the first thing that came to her mind. "How've you been?"
Oh gods, no, no, no! Take it back! That was so corny!
Ruby blinked once. "...who're you?"
Summer flinched.
Her daughter didn't recognize her. She didn't begrudge the girl for that. Longer hair and the mask ghastly fragments etched against her skin worked against her here. To say nothing of her left arm. She'd been so careful to hide it, to wrap it up in bandages, but there could be nothing done about the white thorns jutting from her shoulder. Her voice was a little rougher, gone hoarse from spending a decade trapped inside that Abomination. She wasn't the same person anymore. She was a monster. No matter what Naruto said.
This was a mistake. She shouldn't have come here.
"Sorry about all the ruckus." Naruto saved the day by dropping down to his haunches. "But you're Ruby Rose, right?"
The girl blinked. "Yes...?"
"Pretty sure this your mother." he planted a palm in Summer's shoulders and sent her stumbling forward. "I brought her back. Say hello, Summer."
Her numb mind latched onto the words. "Hello, Summer?"
With those words, something clicked. Ruby's eyes went terribly wide. She blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice. Took one step back. Then another. Another still. A tremulous cry fled from the little girl's lips. Her pale complexion became ghost white. And yet despite that, she still stretched a hand forward.
"M-M-Mom...? Is that really you? How are you here...?!"
It was like flicking a switch; all of Summer's fear, all her anxiety, all her terror evaporated in an instant. She moved. Her legs carried her forward three steps forward and her arms, both human and Grimm alike, swept down. Ruby never stood a chance. She barely managed a startled "eep" before she found herself swept up into a mother embrace.
"My baby! You've gotten so big!"
Ruby inhaled deeply against her. Summer winced despite herself. Ruby was seldom one to shout -that was Yang's territory!- but by the gods, when she did...!
"Dad!" sure enough, the girl threw her head back and screamed at the top of her lungs. "Yang! Mom's back!"
Everyone went mad.
In the chaos that followed, Summer never heard Yang coming until she quite suddenly materialized in the doorway; her foster daughter was simply there, leapfrogging Ruby to slam into her chest. Not one to be left out, Ruby hit her legs, nearly knocking the wounded warrior over altogether. Their voices blended together in delighted cries until she couldn't hear a thing; indeed, Summer barely managed to catch herself on the porch railing and steady herself before the next wave came.
And oh, come it did!
Taiyang barreled out the door at speed -Aha! That was Qrow behind him!- and swept her up into his arms. He barely had time to kiss her, and she him, before Qrow lost his foot, slammed into his back and sent the lot of them tumbling It was too much. Summer finally lost her balance and pitched backward. They all went down in a tangle of arms and limbs.
Naruto stepped back as they fussed over her. There.
He'd done his part; brought Summer back to her family, safe and sound.
Something scraped against the back of his mind, like claws on a couch cushion. He closed his eyes against it with a sigh. The Grimm were coming even now, drawn to him like a beacon. Patch was a small island, so it likely had little in the way of any true giants like the Leviathan or a roaming Goliath, but he didn't want to take his chances. More might very well spawn if he lingered her too long.
It was time to leave.
Sparing one last glance for Summer and her merry brood, he pivoted and walked away.
'Well, it was nice while it lasted.'
"Wait! A hand snagged his sleeve and dragged him back.
It didn't belong Summer.
Naruto knew it at once by the rough timbre in their voice, as much as the strength in their hand. The sheer strength behind it startled him for a moment, but only a moment. Then he planted his feet and quite suddenly, Qrow Branwen found himself in a tug of war with the human equivalent of a mountain.
Blue eyes flashed red. "Let. Me. Go."
"Not a chance!" Branwen butted heads with him. "You're not going anywhere until you've answered some questions, pal!"
"Qrow, its fine!" Summer struggled upright and made it to one knee. "Let him go!"
"No, its not!" he snapped at her. "I'm glad your back an' all, Sum, but who the heck is he?! Where have you been all this time?!"
Naruto's jaw clicked shut. To say anything now was to damn Summer. If he just kept quiet, then maybe, just maybe he'd be able to prevent this. He'd be damned if he'd dragged her across Remnant only for this to end in disaster.
Silver eyes met blue.
Summer raised her left arm arm, hesitated, then peeled back the bandages concealing her left limb. In the same moment, he left eye bled black-and-red. Ruby gasped. Yang toppled backward.
Taiyang winced. "Summer, what is...?!
And Qrow? Qrow absolutely exploded. "What the hell...?!"
"He pulled me out of a Grimm." she met the man's stare equally. Lethally. "That's why I look like this. He saved my life."
"More like you put her there!"
"Oh sure, blame me if it makes you feel better." Naruto rolled his eyes. "Not like I did this to be kind or anything. Nooo. Not at all."
"He did!" Summer glowered bloody red daggers at him. "He can control the Grimm! I saw him! He's a good man!
"Do you even hear yourself?!" Qrow drew his blade. "He's a madman! Lunatic! Abomination!"
"Qrow, don't!"
Harbinger slammed down.
It crunched against an open palm.
"You keep throwing those words around like they mean something." For the first time in a long time, Naruto felt a new emotion. "What have I done wrong?" It felt like...anger. "Have I killed anyone? No. Have my allies killed anyone? No." his eyes began to itch and as he bared his teeth in snarl. "Yet you demean and denigrate me at every turn." firm fingers tightened around the blade, bending the steel beneath. "You hiss and spit and twist the truth like I'm some kind of raving imbecile. This is your last chance to end this peacefully. Let me through, and I'll be on my way. But try and keep me here...
Summer struggled uprigh. "No! You can't go!
Fear and pain blinded Qrow still. "How do we even know its really you, Summer?!"
"Paranoid bird!" Silver eyes narrowed. "You wore a skirt in Beacon. There?! Is that good enough for you?!" she absolutely hissed. "Or should I tell everyone about that time we caught you and Meg in the bathroom? Maybe even that day you went on a panty raid with-
"Ack!" Qrow's face turned an alarming shade of puce. "Not that! Anything but that!"
Taiyang chortled into his wife's shoulder. "Yup. Definitely her.
Just like that, the tension...well, it didn't exactly evaporate per se not with Qrow still glowering at him, but it did begin to abate.
Naruto's gaze swung back to Taiyang, the one person who had yet to denounce him. Indeed, he'd barely said a word now. Yet those sky-blue eyes had never left him. Not a once. Two blonds regarded one another intently. Neither moved. Neither blinked. Finally, one of them yielded.
"You're...awfully accepting of all this."
"I'm actually freaking out right now." Taiyang leaned back with a sigh. "But you brought my wife back. That makes you family in my book."
Family.
The word hit him like a punch in the grunt; if only because he'd never thought to hear them in his lifetime.
Nor was he the only one.
"Family?! To hell with this." Qrow all but spat the words. "You're all rolling over for him. I'll get Ozpin. I'm entirely too sober for this shit.
Summer raised a hand. "Qrow, wait! That's not a good idea-
Branwen most assuredly did not wait for her. With a snarl, he vanished in an explosion of feathers and took wing as a scruffy-looking crow. Huh. Name made sense now. Naruto blinked after him, somewhat awed by the display. Nifty trick. He could've used that more than once in the past...
"Dad, I don't get it." Ruby finally found her voice at last and turned to regard him. "Who is that? Is he a bad guy?"
"Yeah!" Yang chimed in. "What gives? Are gonna kick his but or what?!"
A blond brow rose. "I'd like to see you try, shortstack."
"HEY!"
Summer managed a laugh where she lay. "That's the man who saved me, girls. Why don't you say hello?"
Yang regarded him with red yes. "Wait, you mean he really did that?"
Ruby squinted. "He wasn't lying?"
Naruto absolutely froze.
Summer could see the gears grinding in her their minds. Silver and lilac eyes flitted from her, then to Naruto. Back to her. Toward poor Naruto again. She saw the proverbial light-bulb ignite above Ruby's head. Yang was only a heartbeat behind, bless her soul. Naruto must've saw it too, because he balked and raised his arms to defend himself. Too little, too late. He took a step backward.
"Now wait just a second-
Ruby Rose vanished in a cloud of petals.
Yang Xiao-Long struck him like a falling star.
Summer preened proudly as her girls began to babble.
"You saved mom?! Really?! You did?! Thankyouthankyouthaaaaaankyouuuuuu!"
A/N: Didn't see that coming now, did you?
As ever, we're going by the Embers rule. This'll be deleted quickly if folks don't like it.
So speak up! Make yourselves heard! Every bit of feedback counts! Seriously!
Had to cut some things for the next chapter, really not feeling well...
Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write.
So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly?
Have some new previews!
As ever, a disclaimer:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
THAR BE SPOILERS AHEAD!
BEWARE!
(Previews!)
"You're with Salem, aren't you?!" Qrow accused. "You're on her side!"
"Side?! What side?!" Naruto grit his teeth at the man before him. "I'm on humanity's side!"
"This from the man who leads Grimm? Your deeds say otherwise."
"You're not listening!"
"You must be Naruto."
...and you are?"
"Call me Lisa!" The young woman smiled. "Lisa Lavender. I'm your friend, Naruto. I want to tell the world your story."
Well. And here he thought he'd seen everything.
...are you mad?"
"Maybe a little." she planted a fist on her hip. "All the best reporters are. So? What do you say to an interview?"
"You don't have a camera."
Her grin reminded him of a shark.
"Give me five minutes and I'll have a full crew here."
"I'm sending you and the rest of the Ace Ops. Under NO circumstances are you to attack him.
Clover coughed. "With all due respect sir, he won't take kindly to an armed squad. Might be best to send one rather than many...
"Who did you have in mind? Whomever they were, they'd need to stand on their own, nevermind defending themselves.
Clover smiled.
"Elm."
Ozpin pinched the brow of his nose.
This changed things. And yet things must not change.
To think of Grimm as people...it threatened to unbalance the world itself.
Yet to sacrifice a single man to preserve the balance of this world...it didn't feel right.
"Stop putting people in Grimm, damnit! The hell am I supposed to do with all these followers?!"
...excuse me?"
"Screw it." He reached down and helped them to their feet.
...it has been so long, and my path so dark...I no longer remember my first name."
"Well, that's going to be a problem." Very much so, in more ways than one. "What do I call you?"
"I led a pack." the young, dusky-skinned woman rose, silver eyes flashing as gazed upon him. "Alpha. My name is Alpha."
Unfortunately in standing, she lost the cloak he'd flung over her body. Naruto pinched his brow. "Clothes, now. Please. Wear them."
She frowned. "Why?"
"Because you're human now!"
...and?"
R&R~!