A/N: As ever, reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing.
Silence...silence only hurts.
I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
In other news I'm, headed to the hospital. Can't use my right arm...at all. Seriously. Can't even use my fingers.
Typing with one hand is hell, so I did text to speech. Hopefully this isn't too rough.
Chatting with reviews and readers brightens my day more than you know, and its a joy to talk with you all; discussing new stories ideas, plot points, and the like. After all, I write these stories for the people, not myself.
Now, then!
First lets answers some quick questions. A handful should do this time.
Q: Wonder how Winter feels about sharing?
A: She may not have a choice in the matter, Penny and Steel -newly reborn as Ciel!- can be quite stubborn. And innocent.
Q: So the power split between Penny and Winter, yeah? Am I reading that correctly? How can we tell?
A: Penny's right eye burns when she uses the Maiden powers, while Winter's is the left.
Speaking of Winter, she's got her Volume Eight hairstyle now. Looks much better.
Q: MOAR PENNY AND STEEL! WE DEMANDS IT!
A: Penny and Steel -Ciel!- are adorable in this chapter, don't you worry.
They're also adorably innocent in all the right ways, so be prepared to have a good laugh.
Q: Well, the Ace Ops are right boned now. Can't wait for some good 'ol fashioned comeuppance.
A: As hinted multiple times, the Ace Ops have essentially been on lockdown at Ironwood's command. He's still rather cross with them.
And why wouldn't he be? In less than a year, Naruto's done more good for Atlas then they have their ENTIRE LIVES. And do remember, they jumped the gun first. Our boy wanted nothing more than to leave in chapter one; they initiated the brawl. Not him.
Q:...Salem's forces are early? Yes? No?
A: Nay! Its been well established that Salem's forces had already infiltrated Altas long BEFORE Ruby and co. showed up, so I'm hardly breaking canon there. Arthur and Tyrian were murdering people in Mantle a good bit before that Heck, Cinder and Neo were literally waiting for the Winter Maiden to be revealed before they were spooked into making a move.
Q: Naruto's blood is pretty potent, isn't it?
A: In a limited fashion, yes. His blood does not destroy a Semblance, merely pacify it. Also goes a long way to helping James keep Mettle under control. Obviously, such an idea came from My Hero Academia first. Of course, if James ever flies off the handle, Naruto's prepared to give him a good smack.
Alright, I've kept you long enough.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes!
Now, then. Are you ready? Yes? No? Maybe so? Because! Here. We. Go.
"I trust many things. But you? Well.
Forgive me, but I'm going to err on the side of caution."
~Future.
Trust Love
"That feels niiiiiice~!"
Really, it felt better than nice! It felt...oh, what was the word? Penny knew it; blasted thing was right there on the tip of her tongue. She just couldn't say it. Well, she could, but her tongue wouldn't listen to her right now for some reason. Instead her mouth made little mewling noises, her back arching as firm fingers stroked her skin. Because she had that now. Actual skin! Not a thin polymer coat over circuits and metal, but actual supple skin. Skin was warm. It felt things; just as she felt Naruto's hands on her now.
Penny wrinkled her noise as she tried to find the word for such a feeling.
Aha! She had it! Sensational!
That was the one!
Her body tingled where he touched her, sent her pulse skipping in an odd erratic way she'd never known before. She could feel, touch, experience life in ways she'd hadn't thought possible. If this was what it meant to be human, then she wanted to experience this every day of her life. Ambrosius had done his work well; she was every bit herself as she had been in her robot body, but with flesh came limitations. She had to focus when she wanted to think now; and there so many things to think of!
"Is this what they call intercourse?"
Naruto made noise caught somewhere between a cough and a laugh.
"Penny, no." The hands gently kneading her shoulders twitched. "This is just a massage."
He brow furrowed. "Really?
"Really."
Oh. That was a strangely disappointing notion. Surely nothing could possibly feel better than this...?"
"I do not mind! Keep going!"
"I would," he muttered, "But the noises you're making...everyone's staring."
Where they?
She craned her neck to find Winter with a hand clamped over her face as she sprawled on her cot. Steel -no, Ciel now, she reminded herself!- looked on in boundless curiosity where she sat in a chair, knees twisting with anxiety. Someone with common sense might've realized just how strange this looked, the three of them sprawled about Naruto's quarters as they were. Penny disagreed. They were all of them friends, here. Surely there was nothing wrong with this.
As she looked on her, sibling dark face turned a curious shade of red. "May...I have a turn?"
Penny felt her heart perform strange flip in her chest. Curious. She lacked her sensors and scanners yet even she could see that something was amiss here. Thoughts for later, she supposed. Steel was her sibling in all but blood -and they both had that now!- so she saw no reason why not...even if her chest twisted a little.
"Certainly, sister!"
She adjusted her shirt and sat up, making way for her on the bed.
"This is not how I expected to spend my Friday." Naruto sighed, but the words were without rancor. "Alright, climb on up here."
Ciel did just that, nearly tripping over her own two feet.
Did that imply acceptance on his part?
Capricious things, these human bodies. Penny found she'd gotten the hang of her newfound flesh quickly but for someone who'd gone so long without...well. It was like watching a toddler stumble about the room. Rather cute, really. She'd been like that once, when she she was "born". How strange to see it form the outside looking in.
She looked on and frowned as Naruto placed a hand on Ciel's shoulder.
"See, its important to take care of your body, keep your muscles loose, ya know...
A faint chime caught her attention before she could explore this strange new feeling further.
Her partner quirked a brow. "Seems our vacation's over."
Winter dragged herself upright. "Duty calls...
(.0.0.0.)
James wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or cry.
Both, perhaps?
With that blasted inquest over, he found he could finally resume his duties, but in truth he didn't know where to start.
Perhaps that was a lie.
While the shadow of Jacques' death would likely haunt Atlas for years to come, he was glad to be past it. Now they could move onto more important matters. Freya's passing was to be mourned, of course. She had served Atlas with pride and distinction; as such, she would be buried with full honors. Yet with her passing, the power of the Winter Maiden fell to a new generation. Now he had two Maidens. Half-Maidens. Pietro wasn't quite certain on the term; only that the power had split evenly between two individuals.
Winter and Penny.
They stood before him now in his office, each as the inheritor to that great gift. He'd given them time to acclimate to it; now that time had passed and here they were, waiting for orders.
Waiting for him to say something.
They weren't alone.
Naruto leaned against a wall flanked by Steel -now wearing the painfully familiar guise of Ciel Soleil- and watched the proceedings with a smile. He had every reason to be happy. His plan had all but gone off without a hitch, truly it would have, were it not for Freya's untimely demise.
Due to the sheer chaos of the last few days, their meeting with Robyn had been pushed back by nearly a full month; in truth, he wished it hadn't been. Although the delay gave him time to marshal both his ideas and resources, he found himself wishing for an end to things already. Miss Hill wasn't the sort to stay silent for long, and she had proven rather...vocal about the delay. He'd asked Naruto to supply to supply her bounty of clones for the defensive wall in the hopes that it might appease her, but he'd heard nothing from her since.
Clasping both hands before him, the weary general squared his shoulders and straightened behind his desk.
"Welcome back." he said at length. "You're all looking well."
"Hello, General~!" Ciel waved. "Its good to see you!"
A smile plucked at his bearded visage; truly, it was hard to maintain discipline with faced with such singular enthusiasm. She was acclimating to her new body well. If things worked out accordingly, they might be able to exploit this new "loophole" in the Staff. They'd need to be terribly clever about it, but...no, he was getting ahead of himself. Mettle stirred in the back of his psyche and he ruthlessly stamped it down. Focus on the here and now.
"And to you, Ciel. You've all done well," he said at length, looking to each of them in turn. "Thanks to the four of you we not only managed to avoid certain disaster, but we've protected the power of the Maidens. The Staff is secure, and we've emerged from trial relatively unscathed."
His gaze slipped back to Ciel.
"You've had time to ponder it now; do you have any idea who tried to hack your systems? Any notion at all?"
"I'm sorry." Her smile dimmed somewhat. "I do not. I remember...fire. A voice. Laughter."
Naruto patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll find the bastard who hurt you."
"Indeed!" Penny claimed her other arm. "I'll exterminate him."
James couldn't help but wonder if they would. Whomever had struck at the, they'd proven adept at covering their tracks. The enemy had known of Freya; there could be no denying that. She had lived since the days of Nicholas Schnee himself. Of course Salem knew her. But no longer. She couldn't ascertain the identity of the Winter Maiden, let alone that the power was split. That gave them an unprecedented advantage.
For all Salem knew, Freya yet lived.
Knowledge was power and now that wicked witch of a woman had been deprived a crucial piece of information. That presented opportunities. Blast it. Losing focus again.
"There is no risk without reward, nor reward without risk." he favored them with a long look and found only resolve there. "I'm glad I can count on you."
And things had changed.
He couldn't help but notice how closely Winter stood to Naruto these days -and when had that happened?- nor the way in which Penny kept looking at him, to say nothing of Ciel. Each expressed a vested interest in the continued well-being of this man. They'd gone from a ragtag group of acquaintances to a tight-knit band. His mind prodded at him again, and this time he wasn't able to ignore it.
Any children they had would be nothing short of extraordinary.
Despte his best efforts, Ironwood's duty-focused mind slipped for a moment and he imagined a horde of little whiskered faces running about the room. Children laughing, squealing as they chased one another. Light and life and happiness in the cold metal shell of of his live.
A hand tugged at his sleeve.
James looked down.
"Uncle Ironwood?"
His heart skipped a beat.
Urk! Systems critical! Mission failure!
"Ahem!" he coughed into a fist to master his moment of weakness. "Which brings us to our next order of business." Focus. He could think of hypothetical nieces and nephews later. Much later! "I understand you wish to speak with the Ace ops." clasping both hands behind his back, he marshaled the tattered threads of his thoughts into a legion of steel. "I'm inclined to grant your request. Best we nip this problem in the bud now."
Naruto quirked a blond brow at him. "You sure about that? They won't be happy to see me."
James offered a wolfish grin. "I think we've kept left them stew long enough, don't you?"
"Yikes, you're scary when you get angry...
(.0.0.0.)
"Its a conspiracy!"
Marrow groaned into his arms. "Here she goes again!"
"Harriet, no. Elm glared at her from an adjacent cell, looking like she wanted nothing more than to smash her head into the floor. "Bad bunny. Don't make me come over there."
As if she could! Bah! They were blind! All of them, blind! Not a single one of them saw the truth!
"I'm serious about this!" the aggravated operative raged on and resumed her pacing within the confined space that had become her home. "This has to be a plot or something! Its the only thing that makes a lick of sense!" Fevered eyes turned upon her comrades. "Why else would the General keep us down here for this long?"
Marrow uttered a jaw-popping yawn. "Because we attacked that kid?"
"Who cares?!" Harriet absolutely hissed. "We haven't even seen him since!"
"Be that as it may," Vine interjected with a frown from his own cell, "We did initiate hostilities with him. Perhaps the General feels we overstepped our bounds." This with a pointed look at Marrow, who looked away with a flinch. "We struck at a cornered animal and like any frightened creature, he struck back."
"What're you saying?"
"That he was right to defend himself." Came the immediate rejoinder. "If we had stayed calm, cooler heads might have prevailed."
"Fat chance of that." Elm rolled onto her back. "He flattened us. Right after we woke him up. You saw what he did to those White Fang grunts." her brow furrowed as she regarded the ceiling. "He's no animal. He's a killer."
Aha! Hare preened. Someone who saw him for what he was! Finally!
"What if he leaves us down here forever?" she argued. "Why should we be punished for doing our jobs?"
"Now, now," Clover temporized at last with a raised hand, "Lets not jump to conclusions. I'm sure the general has his reasons. Its only been a few days." He persisted despite her glower. "They're treating us well and we've not been accused of anything. Patience is our best weapon here."
Clover didn't understand.
Another blind fool. None of them could see.
Harriet swore she would make them see the truth. One way or another. There would be a reckoning for the humiliation they -she!- had suffered. Oh, yes. There would be a reckoning.
Without warning, the door clicked opened.
Harriet's gaze snapped toward them, body tensing for an attack she knew she couldn't defend against...
"My apologies for the wait." a familiar voice rumbled. "These last few days have been...stressful."
...until General Ironwood himself strode through.
Despite her best attempts to hold onto her anger, Harriet felt her rage slip through her fingers. Their commander looked...content. More alive than she'd ever seen him. As if a great burden had been lifted from his back when they weren't looking, lightening his shoulders. His eyes were sharp and bright, devoid of the dark circles that had plagued him for the last few months; even his uniform looked crisp and clean, his bearded cropped close to his face to match his hair.
Then his eyes met hers.
"Sir!"
Years of discipline and training clicked into place.
Harriet's hand slammed into her forehead, making a sharp salute. Both beside and behind her she heard her fellow operatives do the same.
His brow softened. "At ease."
She did as bade, only to realize he hadn't come alone. Dimly she recognized Penny, if only because it was impossible to miss those bright green eyes and the bright cloud of her hair. Where had her boots gone? Why was she walking around barefoot? And who was that beside her? At a glance she resembled operative Ciel, but that couldn't be. Operative Ciel was currently MIA and assumed dead.
That was clearly Specialist Schnee behind them.
And there, bringing up the rear...!
"Oh, wow." a familiar voice drawled. "You've really kept them down here? In hard light cells? They must be going crazy."
Harriet recognized him a glance.
Even with his pallor restored and face cleaned, she'd never forget that face.
Naruto Uzumaki beamed back at her, fit as a fiddle and looking every bit healthier for it.
"YOU!" Hare slammed against her cell wall with a snarl.
"Hello, Ace ops. Lets talk."
Harriet scowled behind the holographic bars. "We have nothing to say to someone like you!"
"Is that so?" he actually had the nerve to grin at her, the big oaf! "Seems you're even rowdier than I remember."
"What the hell are you doing here?! And in that...?!"
"This?" Naruto looked down at himself. "These are my clothes. What's wrong with 'em?"
"You have no right to that uniform!"
"On the contrary." Ironwood's voice cut through her words with a low tenor as he stepped up bseide him, "He has every right. In less than a year, this young man was done more for Atlas than all five of you combined."
His worlds stilled her and the others before they could speak. The General wasn't the sort to mince words, let along boast. When he said something, it was undoubtedly true. And yet Harriet's anger persisted. Surely the General hadn't been taken in by this blond oaf. He was just one man! They were the elite of Atlas, the very best of the best! What did he have that they didn't?!
Elm broke first, the traitor.
"Look," a tan hand scratched at the back of her head, "I'm sorry about that mess back in the labs. No hard feelings?"
Naruto blinked once at that. Of course he'd hold it over her head, the rat bastard. He was just the sort to-
"Apology accepted."
Why!?
Marrow caved next.
"Pretty sure she speaks for all of us. Well," he cast a fretful glance at a still-growling Harriet. "Most of us."
"The situation has changed." James cut in once again before they could come to blows. "What I'm about to tell you does not leave this room. You are to tell no one of this."
"Of course, sir." Clover clasped both hands behind his back. "You can count on us. We're with you."
"Are you?" that thunderous gaze regarded them for a long moment. "Do I have your word?
The operative set his jaw in a firm line. "I swear on my badge, sir."
An awful moment passed. And then:
...Freya has passed on.
Silence fell over them like a pall.
Even Harriet found herself taken aback for a moment. Shit. The Winter Maiden was gone? Freya hadn't exactly been a spring chicken, but they'd at least assumed she would live a little longer and not just...die. Old crone always seemed to stubborn for it. She'd clung to life like a leech.
"Sir," Vine spoke into void, asking the one question they were all thinking, "Who inherited her power?"
Rather than answer, James stepped aside. "Ladies?"
Penny's right eye lit with jade flames.
Winter's left coursed with holy azure fire.
"Oh." Marrow found his voice first. "That's new."
"As you can see, this is...well, its unprecedented. We believe it has something to do with the manner of her final thoughts." Ironwood interjected. "Both Penny and Winter each hold a portion of her power; approximately half, if the readings are to be believed."
"No kidding?" Marrow's tail began to wag. "That's good, right? We've got two Maidens!"
"I'm afraid it doesn't work that way." Ciel cut in, her voice unusually cold. "The power split. They're half Maidens at best. More powerful to be sure, but we have no way of knowing whether my sister," and that word drew more than a few baffled looks, "or Winter will be able to command the full breadth of Freya's powers."
"I don't get it, why's the kid here?" Harriet's gaze snapped back to Naruto. "He shouldn't be privy to this!"
Naruto and Ciel exchanged a bemused glance.
"Actually," the former began,
"We're here for you." his partner finished.
Clover had the good grace to hide his anger, even if the rest didn't. "Are we being disbanded, sir?
"I prefer the term restructured." Ironwood remained unflappable. "We're here to put old grudges aside and take the fight to the enemy. Harriet perked up. Now this was right up her alley! Maybe they weren't so blind after all. His next words dashed her hopes. "For that, we need unity. The time has come to bury the hatchet and work together."
"Sir?"
"Familiarize yourself with those you see before you." he swept an arm out, indicating the four powerful warriors before him. "You'll be working closely together in the future."
Harriet's mouth twisted a little. Her anger refused to die. "How do we know the kid's even capable of fighting?"
Winter bridled. Naruto quirked a brow. "I seem to recall knocking you on your ass back in the lab."
"More than that," Penny spoke at last, "You are being a...I believe the term is...a bitch?"
Naruto guffawed.
Elm whistled.
Clover palmed his face.
Vine remained impassive as ever.
Marrow coughed. "Gonna need some ice dust for that one, Hare."
Damn this cell. She wanted to throttle her for that! "Why you uppity little-
"That's commander uppity to you, bunny." Ciel put in at last. "Show some respect."
Heat flooded her face. Commander?! When?! Where?! How! "Wha?!"
"Its nothing personal." Naruto shrugged. "I just outrank you now. I'm sure we can still be friends."
Their eyes met.
Sparks flew between them.
So it was decided. Rivals for life.
"So," she all but bit out the word, "We have work with them? Is that an order?"
"You misunderstand." Winter's tone would've put a blizzard to shame. "You'll be working with us. Not the other way around."
Naruto's brow shot into his hairline. "Wow, she's sassy."
"Careful," Harriet couldn't help but glower at that. "Don't let all that new power go to your head, Schnee."
"It hasn't." the younger woman regarded her with a keen eye. "But your grudge clearly ha."
"Grudge?" Damnit, she'd cottoned onto her. "What grudge?! I don't have a grudge!"
"You clearly do." Winter dared a step forward, uncaring of the light barrier between them. "Your fellow operatives have at least expressed guilt for what they've done, but you? No." Her left eye flashed with fire. "Not you. You've been furious the moment you laid eyes on him. Why? Is your pride really that fragile?"
Yes. No. Maybe. She didn't dare acknowledge it. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Is that so, operative?" James slipped between the two of them, startling her. "Then lets put your money where your mouth is."
Harriet shrank back. "Sir."
"You heard him, agent." Naruto hummed. "Step on up. Lets settle this. Right here. Right now."
"Gonna beat a defenseless prisoner?" she sniffed. "Should've known you were a coward."
"I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but I see that you are unarmed."
Her fist crashed into the hard-light shield, mere centimetres from his face. Naruto didn't flinch. He punched back just as hard and she recoiled with a start.
Ironwood pulled him back. "Naruto. Play nice."
"Alright, alright." the blond allowed himself to drawn away. "We're going to let you out. First to three clean hits wins."
Was this actually happening? They had to know about her Semblance. "And if I win?"
"Then you can mock me all you like." he shrugged. "But if I win...
"You won't!"
"Then you're mine." his snarl rooted her. "You do as I say, follow my orders, and you do your damn job. No more childish outbursts. Got it?"
A fair wager. She was afraid he'd make her do something demeaning. More than that, she could feel everyone's eyes on her. Watching. Waiting. She could've sworn she heard Winter whisper a wager to Ciel. Traitor! She'd not back down here! She'd show them! She would show them all!
Her head bobbed. "You caught me off guard last time. That won't happen twice."
"We'll see. Let her out."
Winter keyed in the code and the hard-light shield fell away. Harriet slammed down onto her haunches and took a runner's crouch.
"You're on!"
She didn't move. Didn't blur. She vanished in a streak of lightning. All the world blurred.
Naruto tracked the movement and caught her first punch. The ground splintered underfoot. He didn't even deign to grunt. Locking one leg around his outstretched arm, Harriet twisted and sent her heel crashing toward his unprotected skull. He blocked that with his other arm, exposing himself. Her head snapped back and rammed at his nose.
"Game over."
His fist blurred.
Jab. Hook. Uppercut.
Three hits in an instant, a trio of nearly simultaneous strikes. Harriet felt each like a knife. Kidneys. Ribs. Chin. She didn't even see him move. Three punches. That was all it took. Three blows to lay her out flat across the cell-block sprawled on the floor like some backdocks whore. It was humiliating. Embarrassing. Galling.
"Well, would you look at that." he hummed. "I win."
"I...you...!"
"So! Lets start over." His forehead struck hers before she could launch into another diatribe. "Hello, Harriet. Pleasure to meet you. I'm Naruto. I'll be your commanding officer from here on out."
Monster.
He was an utter monster.
He'd beaten her in less than ten seconds. Brutalized her. Dominated her. She'd never lost this badly before. To anyone. It made their last fight look like a blink by comparison. She looked up. Felt his boot pushing down on her, ready to crush if she resisted in any way, shape, or form.
Something awakened in her.
"Y-Yes, sir...!" she whispered. "I'll do whatever you say...
"Ha!" Elm threw a fist into the air with a triumphant cry. "I knew it! She's a sub! Pay up, Vine!"
...you do realize I have no lien on me at the moment...
"Bah! Its the principle of that matter!"
Ironwood absolutely choked on his own spit.
"Sub?" Penny tilted her head. "I thought a submarine was some sort of nautical vehicle?"
Naruto coughed into a fist." It is, but its also something else.
"Oh!" Ciel's eyes lit up. "I know! A sub is a-
Winter clamped a hand over her mouth.
"DO NOT!" Naruto's palm joined hers. "No, Ciel! Bad Ciel!"
And time...why, time marched ever onward again.
After all, time waits for no man or shinobi...
(.0.0.0.)
This would work.
Robyn Hill spread her hands across the table and considered the score of empty chairs that lay before her.
The room itself was a simple one; grey all around with a high table and four seats besides. It was hardly the kind of place one might expect to discuss the fate of Mantle. In time they would be filled with people. The greatest minds of Mantle and Atlas alike, all brought together in a single common cause. She would be sitting in one of those seats, provided she won the election.
Still, the General had proven every bit worth his word. Or rather, that boy of his.
This Naruto fellow...well, she didn't rightly know what to make of him, but she was beginning to understand. She'd given it some thought before. Now she was certain. He was the key to all this, the lynchpin holding their tentative talks together. Who else could have forced the great James Ironwood to come down here and rub elbows with the common folk?
"Right," she breathed, pushing herself upright. "Three weeks."
This would work. It had to. There was no other option.
Three weeks and the world would change.
She hoped it would be for the better.
Mantle couldn't get much worse.
(.0.0.0.)
Three weeks.
Cinder Fall scowled down on the city from the window of her stolen apartment.
In one hand she lazily twirled a dagger, flicking it end over end.
Three weeks. Surely she would find the Maiden by then.
A cruel smile touched her ruined face.
"Soon."
(.0.0.0.)
Three weeks?
An acceptable compromise.
Winter was pleased with the time they'd been given; if only because it allowed her to train. She found herself acclimating to her new powers in the days that came. As far as she was concerned, it made things downright simple. She liked simple. Simple was good. Learning to fly was...not so, but she was nothing if not a Schnee and she rose to the challenge.
Perhaps it had to do with the unique nature of the Split.
Even then the power of the Winter Maiden was unique among the Four, in that it focused upon only aspect of nature. No heat or fire or lightning storms here. Her power -and now Penny's!- was cold and harsh. Sleet and snow. Ice and blizzards, biting winds and subzero temperatures. These were her gifts. Fire faltered in the cold. Without heat, there could be no flame, nor embers otherwise.
The thought brought a grim smile to her face.
When the enemy came for them, they would be ready. So she swore.
And if she was beginning to feel a bit nauseous...well. Surely that was just nerves. It must be.
(.0.0.0.)
Three weeks.
Ciel swore to become stronger by then. Her and Penny both.
She swore it on her soul. They would be combat ready. Nothing else would do.
(.0.0.0.)
Three weeks didn't sound so bad.
In only a little less than a month, they'd made it from Mistral to Atlas.
Really, as far as Weiss was concerned, they'd set a new record for intercontinental travel.
After that fiasco in Argus, they were due their fair share of peace.
Get the Lamp to Atlas?
Done.
Hide their ship and slip into Mantle -relatively!- undetected by the military?
Check!
Deal with a few intrepid Grimm?
...in progress! Mostly! Ask again later!
Myrtenaster sang in her hand as she skewed another Sabyr. Then a second. Followed by a fourth. She flicked her fingers and a wall of gravity glyphs smashed another pack down. Still more came. She fought on and on and on yet still the horde showed no sign of slowing. Really, the city's defenses didn't seem to be doing much at all. It was downright disgraceful-
"LOOK OUT BELOW~!"
That distant shout had her twisting to the side, and well that she did! Even then she narrowly avoided being flattered by the body of a falling Goliath. Its massive bulk struck the street and rattled the entire block, crushing the last of the pack beneath its mighty bulk. A young man clad in blue-and-red alighted atop its crumbling corpse and subsequently rode its trunk down to the ground.
She stepped back at the sight of him, but he made no move to pursue.
Keen violet-blue eyes met hers, rippling with an odd light.
Then they narrowed in a sigh.
"Sorry," the blond newcomer folded both arms behind his head as the sirens wound down behind him, "Things are really hectic right now, so I'm, well." he scratched at a whiskered cheek. "Don't take this personally, but I'm gonna have to take you all into custody." a winning smile dimpled those whiskered cheeks. "Just for a bit."
As expected, they took the news poorly.
"What?"
"Excuse me?!"
"I beg your pardon?!"
"Look, if you just come with me, we can sort this out peacefully down at the station." he raised both arms. "Please don't make me take you down."
"Yeah, right." Yang planted a metallic fist on one hip. "You and what army? You're outnumbered!"
Somehow, Weiss had the distinct suspicion he was waiting for those words."
"Am I?" the young man cocked his head. "Am I really?"
Then he snapped his fingers.
It was the only warning they received.
A wire snare shot out of the shadows and caught Weiss center mass at the waist, binding both arms to her sides. Another caught her hands when she tried to free herself, ripping Myrtenaster from her grasp. Her beloved weapon skittered across the street. Bereft of balance, she stumbled, but managed to catch her footing.
Weiss craned her neck, only to find the rest of her friends similarly bound. By some stroke of luck, she was the only one left standing.
Exasperated, the heiress could only roll her eyes.
"You just had to say it!"
Someone planted a hand between her shoulders and pushed her forward, sending her tumbling down to join them.
"I am sorry." a strangely soft voice chimed. "Please do not resist."
A girl with dark skin, darker hair and striking blue eyes beamed back at her, utterly serene despite the actions she'd just taken. Clad in deep navy blue and Atlas white with a sky-blue beret, she looked very bit a soldier. And her hand was glowing. Something about her smile spoke volumes where words could not. Whatever that was, it felt hot against the back of her neck. She wanted no part of it.
Weiss slumped. "I yield. Just...please. Don't hurt my friends."
"Rest assured, we will not." Her captor beamed. "Thank you for your cooperation in this matter."
"Nice work, Ciel."
The young man in red walked past them.
"Oh, this looks familiar." he reached down and plucked the Lamp from where it lay on the street. "I'll be taking this."
Weiss felt her heart sink. No. Not that. Anything but that.
"Such a little thing." he gave it a good long look, then hooked it to his belt. "Maybe I'll keep this."
"Wait!" Ruby flailed where she lay. "Don't take that! We...we were just trying to help! We didn't do any harm!"
"I get that, really, I do." he patted her head. "But we heard a report of an unauthorized ship making an unauthorized landing, followed by an unauthorized use of weapons by non-licensed Huntsman." he shrugged. "You'll have to forgive us our suspicion. Who knows? We might be fast friends by the end of this. That sound about right?"
Ruby whimpered.
"Don't worry." the blond stood. "You'll be able to talk this out once they get up to Atlas. We'll get you loaded into the next transport."
In short order they did just that; their little group all but crammed into the back of a bullhead.
"Now, this?" Qrow sighed. "This is much closer to what I was expecting."
The doors slammed shut, sealing their fate.
(.0.0.0.)
Ruby tried not to panic as the guards led them up the steps.
She really, really, truly did.
But it was so hard!
She couldn't stop thinking about it! Each second served as a bitter reminder of just how soundly they'd been beaten; how outclassed they'd been in the face of a superior force. Nevermind the fact that they'd lost Jinn. Blake and the others had promised to follow her lead on the elevator ride up, and sure, that was great, but she didn't know what to do! Every thought was a tangled rosebush and try as she might, Ruby couldn't untangle herself from them...!
And then it happened.
Someone came crashing around the corner at speed; she heard them long before he saw them.
"You're here! SALUTATIONS!"
Silver eyes bulged as she beheld a familiar face. One that should be dead. One that was currently approaching at speed! Her attacker burst forward. Strong arms wrapped around her and hoisted her into the air as though she weighed no more than a child, spun her around once and held her ight.
"PENNY?!"
"Hello, friend Ruby!"
Also! Crushing the life out of her!
"Penny...!" She wheezed out! "Can't breathe...!"
"Oh!" the gleeful girl all but dropped her. "My apologies! I am still not accustomed to this human body.
Human?! Penny?! Alive?! Ruby's weary mind whirled. Does not compute! Too much information! What was going on here?!
"Welcome to Atlas!" to make matters worse, a familiar blond pushed the doors open ahead of them." Team RWBY, was it? Sorry about the fuss." his smile was actually contrite when he beheld their thunderous expressions one and all. "We've verified your identities. No hard feelings, right?"
"Mind letting us out of these, then?" Yang offered her wrists.
"Sure~!"
"I must extend my apologies as well," There was someone beside him, that girl with the beret from before. It was she who spoke next as her gaze found Weiss. "And you must be miss Schnee. I am Ciel. Allow me to remove your restraints...Here, hold still...
The Schnee in question blinked. "You know me?"
"Winter speaks highly of you." Beside him, Penny bowed. "I'm sorry about your father. You have my condolences."
She missed a step. "My...father?"
Ciel winced but a little.
...you did not know?"
Ruby barely heard her partner. Silver eyes snapped to his belt. The lamp! It was still there! He'd taken it off her down in Mantle when his squad took them down. He still had it?! No, calm down. Breathe. He didn't know how to use it. The secret was safe-
"Thank you for Relic, by the way." Naruto smile proved telling. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of it." His grin grew another inch. "I had a fascinating conversation with Jinn. I'll be sure to tell James all about it."
No. No, no, no. The blood froze in her veins. "How did you...?"
"Know her name?" he tittered softly. "Ambrosius is a chatty fellow. Loopholes are a curious thing. So long as you don't ask her a question, she's quite talkative." Those blue-violet eyes swept across each of them in turn. "I think I'll just hold onto this." he patted their cherished treasure once for goodmeasure. "Hope you don't mind."
Qrow swore softly. "Snarky little shit, aint'cha?
Naruto merely hummed at his remark and slipped past him.
"Hey, pal!" Her uncle made a grab for him, only to miss as the blond slipped free. "Where are you takin' us?!"
"To speak the General and Winter? Where else?" their captor sauntered away with a smile. "Oughta be interesting."
In the end, Ruby was left with no choice but to follow after the chatty blond.
There was something about his smile. Almost as if he...knew.
Why did she have a bad feeling about this...?
A/N: As ever, reviews are my fuel.
I can't write without them~! Not a wit or a word!
Felt good to write this. Downright freeing, really. Now the gears are spinning!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews!
And as ever:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
BEWARE~!
(Previews!)
James leaned back in his chair.
"Salem is...immortal?"
Naruto cracked his neck. "I've dealt with immortals before. Undying doesn't mean undefeated. Nobody reads the fine print.
Weiss nearly choked on her own spit.
"You...and my sister...?!"
Winter quirked a brow.
"Hello, Weiss. How are you?"
"You! Him! When?! How?!"
...I think we broke her."
"Great! Lovely! Of course! Next you'll tell me she's pregnant?!"
Watts tittered softly.
"And here." his hands rose, "We go."
"I love you."
Naruto blinked. You know, its funny. I never thought I'd hear those words...
"That's the thing about humans. We can be cruel, yes. That's undoubtedly true. But we can be kind, too. If you kill us all, you end human cruelty, yes, but you end human kindness, too. No more jokes. No more gifts. No more surprises. I find life is better with surprise. You never know what's going to happen. It adds spice. Flavor, you know?
Which brings me to the next point of interest on our little tour. If you lot ever turn on James...well! Best not do that, alright? I can be a very good friend...
...but you don't want me to be your enemy."
Weiss bridled a little, eyes gone narrow. "Is that a threat?"
"Not at all, little Schnee. I don't make threats. I make promises...
"You have to trust us!"
Naruto rounded on her with a snarl.
"Trust. Such a simple thing. I trust James. He carries the world on his shoulders. I trust Winter. She's earned that trust ten times over by now. I trust Penny. Once again, she earned every bit of that, in spades. I trust Ciel. She's proven herself to me, to everyone, time and time again. I even trust Robyn. She wants the best for her people; that keeps her pure. Focused.
But that's the thing about trust.
His head butted against hers, eyes ablaze.
Y'see, trust can't simply be given away. Trust has to be earned.
And you? Ruby, I know nothing about you, your team, or your friends. So why would I trust any of you?"
He shouldered past.
"Prove yourselves first. Then we'll see where things go."
"What you're doing is wrong!"
"Spare me the speeches, red. I've got a job to do...
R&R~!