Hey, all, sorry that it's been such a long time. Life always seems to catch up with you in the end, huh?
The only thing I really have to say is take care of your own mental health. It'll help you in the longrun. With all that said, please enjoy and tell me what you think.
What was there not to love about the sea? The amazing view, gentle waves, the constant lack of balance, it was the perfect balance of hell on earth and downright paradise for the introvert that was Leif. The thought of being out at sea in a giant floating metal coffin didn't help. At least it gave him time to think. Leaning over the railings on the side of the ship, watching the waves drift to and fro, it was quiet for once, as quiet as things can be at sea. Too quiet. Too slow.
His fingers drummed against the railing, trying in vain to make some sort of noise that wasn't rippling water. The silence was always a sure sign the worst sort of thoughts would come- the storm meticulously and connivingly resting within the calm. The quietness, the stillness, enough to hear his shaken, raspy breath pacen, thoughts of when he lived in that metropolitical paradise in that bright little kingdom that decided they'd rather not have a monster running around in their streets.
His thoughts were a dangerous place to be, and just thinking about Vale turned his stomach. It hadn't even been a month spent on Patch, or a collective few since he last graced the city with his devilish presence, but it felt like a lifetime ago. Every little look of disgust, every time the people turned their nose up at him, every place he'd been expelled from simply for existing, it made his teeth grit- made him angry beyond belief. Made him for once wish that his heart could pound furiously to show it, so he could feel human at least for a little bit before reality set in.
It was time for the world's biggest reality check.
Leif's hoodie sleeves peeled up, his bandaged wrists threatening to tear. It'd been a while since he'd last changed them- at this point, they were mottled enough to make for great foliage camouflage. His fingers trembled as he gripped the hem of the bandage and began to peel.
"Hey!" A hand slapped his back, nearly making him double over the side with a cry of surprise, hands darting away from the bandages. "What's up? You getting seasick?" He turned to see Ruby, that bright little ray of sunshine still smiling it up like nothing was wrong. It was a little nauseating, but a little welcome at least. Anything to get something other than his thoughts to concentrate on. "It's a pretty bad idea to start scratching injuries, y'know."
Leif managed a little 'huh' in response.
"The bandages. You were scratching them." She said, leaning against the railing.
"Was I?" He muttered, looking down at his bandaged wrists. Marks from his nails were showing in the dirty gauze, along with indentations, but wasn't he trying to take it off instead? His brows furrowed. Since when was he trying to scratch them?
"Wait, why are you bandaged up at all? I thought you healed pretty fast on your own." She pointed out curiously, peeking her head over his shoulder. Quickly, he shoved his sleeves back down, much to Ruby's chagrin.
"Eh, some things aren't exactly worth healing. Small stuff like that isn't worth the time or effort." He clarified with a shrug. "Healing like that isn't exactly a luxury, or any kind of magic. Can't really just wave my magic chicken bone arms and make my dignity appear."
Self-deprecating as he acted, it was definitely worth hearing that cute little giggle again. It was strange and memorable. A mix between an excited fox and shameless snorting. Say what you will, it was hers, and it made him feel a little warmer inside, far dislodged from that prison that was his own head. He leaned against the railings, far less tense than he used to be, and watching the waves drift by.
"You can't beat this view." Ruby mused, eyes closed and letting the sea breeze waft through her short hair.
Leif shrugged. "It sure beats the hell out of a cargo bay."
"Oh yeah, that reminds me, why did you go to Patch to begin with?" She questioned.
His canine tooth instinctively gnawed briefly at his lip. "Vacation."
She raised a brow. "A vacation? In Patch of all places?"
Again, Leif shrugged. "It's cute, quaint and out of the way. Everything a vacation needs." He sighed, fingers curling just a little tighter on the thin railing. "It just helps getting out of the way sometimes. Not too many people to stare at you in the middle of nowhere."
"So you're from Vale, right?" She asked.
"Not exactly." He answered quietly. "I just kind of go wherever. Vale just happens to be the place I spent the most time. But it doesn't matter now." A quick change of subject was in order. "Should I be singing pirate shanties right now?"
"Oh gods no, if you start acting like Yang, I'm throwing you overboard." Ruby chortled.
"Oh, but didn't you hear? A life at sea is life for me."
"Oh my God." Ruby sighed in her hand, stifling a giggle.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm a living tumor in that cute little head of yours. Don't question it, just accept it." He patted her shoulder before pushing away, and skulking off, fighting against the waves to stay balanced, but that was a battle in itself. The ship was determined to turn even the simple act of walking into frontline warfare in the middle of an earthquake.
The cabin bay door closed behind him with a resounding click, and like magic, it was stark silent again. Maybe even worse so. A pin could double for a thunder crack at this rate. The stone cube that was the cabin was lit by a single candle, and adorned with a few scattered and tipped chairs, and a wooden, splintery table.
For a moment, he stared at the little quiet flame. That little piece of fire was warm and tender. Leif had always loved the look and feel of fire, right back to when he was just a wayward little squirt in some far-flung orphanage on the side of Vale. He flinched, remembering that place. Damn that place. Damn all those people that just refused to so much as look at him as they adopted the others. Damn it all.
He stopped himself, and sighed, fighting off the urge to sock himself in the cheek. That was a long time ago, but what else could he think of with so little distraction?
With the silence came the anxiety again. Was it a mistake to leave that sweet rosebud outside to her lonesome? Any kind of conversation would've been a welcome reprieve from that sterile hum in the back of his head. There was no other way to say it. Leif didn't want to go back. Vale was its own slice of hell that was exclusively served to him on a plate of rusty barbs and wires. Bring in that sweet inevitable tetanus, because it would've been much easier to deal with.
Leif sat down in the lonely cabin chair, head drifting back against the metal wall, just imagining those stone-cold looks, laced with fear, from the many random people that were there. He closes his eyes, rubbing his temple. Breathe. Breathe and move on. Just breathe-
The ship did a sudden lurch, along with the sound of metal ringing like a bell. Leif's chair toppled over almost immediately, sending him onto his rear. Something had rammed into the side of the ship. He almost grinned. Sweet, sweet distraction, cometh soon.
The door swung open, Ruby stumbling in, hugging the door to stay standing. "We've got company." Her face was grim.
A dry smile cracked on Leif's face. "Is the captain drunk, or have birds just gotten bigger when I wasn't looking?"
She shook her head. "Nevermore. A big one, too."
"Sounds like lunchtime. Let's go."
The pair stumbled their way out of the cabin and onto the deck, gripping the handrails in a vice lock from the ship's continually hard rocking. There it was- a silhouette of a massive bird in the skies, followed by smaller, four-legged, lion-headed Grimm following close behind. Chimera, if he wasn't mistaken.
Despite herself, a sly grin stretched across Ruby's lips. "Finally, I could use some good exercise."
Leif snorted. "Exercise? Planning to do some squats on that thing's back?"
"No more lip from the peanut gallery, thank you." With a loud crack of her Crescent Rose, she soared into the air, twirling in midair like a powerful buzzsaw, cleaving three of those Chimera out of the sky, bisected thoroughly. Landing on another deftly, she fired at it point-blank, backflipping off the dusty scattered remains and vanishing in a swirl of flying rose petals, spiraling the sky like a wingless swallow. The Grimm were dropping like flies. It was truly a spectacle watching the small master at work.
"Damn, Rosy Cheeks, you're amazing." He mumbled in awe, nodding his head in approval. This was certainly out of his skill range. A flickering of a shadow flitted across the boat. He turned his head, watching the massive behemoth of a bird Grimm swooping towards the boat. He sighed. "Not exactly observant though."
Its wings curled in, body straightening like an arrow, the air whistling loudly as it descended. A pure and instinctual dive bomb, right towards the nerdy noodle. Leif cracked a grin. "Ring, ring, ring, there's the dinner bell. Come to daddy." He opened his arms, arching his legs, and focused. Red veins sprouted just below his eyes as the whites turned to solid black, and his eye color dipped from gold to blood red. There would be no belt needed for this kill. Just tough grit and a neanderthal-level brain.
Within seconds, the Nevermore smashed headfirst into Leif's chest. He cried out in pain as a few ribs snapped and crackled, but he stood his ground, bracing the behemoth's head between his arms. With a roar, he dipped back, flipping the monstrous bird over, and slamming it to the ground with a mighty crash that rocked the boat. Stunned, the beast laid there for a moment, back first, and Leif took the advantage, bracing a foot on its wing and twisting the weight of his entire body. With one loud snap, the Nevermore stopped moving, its neckbone jutting out through the back of its neck.
"Woo, she was right. This is one hell of an exercise." He remarked, panting, letting his Grimm regeneration work its magic, reshaping and molding his ribs back into place. Within a minute or so, the injury was reduced to a massive dark bruise, which began to fade.
He stared at it ponderously. How long had it been since he even cared that he got hurt? Too long. It'd been too long. In fact, he could barely recall when he last cared at all.
That's a little far from healthy, Leify. He thought.
Not now. No more self-pity. He leaned against the fading corpse of the Nevermore and watched the fireworks. The magic show of the Rosy Reaper, starring Ruby Rose and her weapon of mass destruction. He turned his attention to the Nevermore, and plunged his hand deep into its flesh, ripping out a chunk.
"Might as well get the popcorn out." He mused, taking a large bite out of it. Once again, the black oozing essence swirled ceaselessly in his hands as he dined, body glowing a purple hue. He pulled an empty vial out of his pocket and focused the stream inside. The vial slowly turned a shade of purple, the plastic top morphing to the shape of a Nevermore's head with a gaping mouth. "Welcome to the club, Tweety."
Ruby landed next to him, the Grimm sweeping well and done. She brushed dust and water vapor off her sleeves, a proud grin on her face. "Clouds are really cold, y'know?"
Leif shrugged. "I wouldn't know. Heights aren't my thing. Down catch me that high unless you want it raining vomit." He sighed, taking another bite. Might as well get as much as he could while he had the chance. Finding Grimm in Vale city would be next to impossible.
Ruby sat next to him, stretching out. "You must've been hungry, huh? You haven't eaten anything in a few days. At least, I haven't seen you eat."
He froze mid-bite, sighing, lowering his morsel to his lap. "To be honest, I don't like people watching me eat. It's a little bit… humiliating? Is that the right word?" Ruby flinched a bit at that, probably readying a load of apologies into that motor mouth. "Okay, nope, not the right word. I guess the better one is embarrassing. It's not like anyone else really eats what I eat."
"I guess that makes sense, but can't you just eat normal food too?" Ruby asked curiously.
"Mm, not exactly." He answered, prodding the Grimm meat with his finger. "Think of it like putting the wrong kind of fuel in a car. It really messes my stomach up. It wouldn't really matter either- I can't taste anything anymore. Not even this meat. Oh, but check this out." He dipped down and crawled towards the edge of the boat, leaning his hand down far and scooping up a handful of seawater. With a grin, he poured the lot of it down his gullet and swallowed.
Ruby's jaw dropped. "Okay, how aren't you going all wrinkly and pruned now?"
Leif burst out laughing. "As weird as I am, I'm not a cartoon. I can drink water just fine. Also, coffee and chocolate too, surprisingly. I just don't because well, still can't taste it." He bounced his new vial in his hand, pocketing it. Ruby beamed at it, notably bouncing a little bit in place.
"A new toy?"
"A new pain in my ass." He corrected. "I ended up with that Nevermore's essence so, lucky me, I guess."
"So that's more powerful than your normal forms, right?"
He pushed up his glasses and spoke in a real nasally voice. "I believe the term you're thinking of is 'base' form." Ruby rolled her eyes, getting a little chuckle out of Leif. "The answer you're looking for is yes. The bigger the Grimm, oftentimes, the more power there is to it. It's not always about power though, hence why I keep my other stuff around. Bigger forms take a lot out of my stomach. The fuller my stomach, the more power I have, and the more forms I can use. Got it?"
Ruby giggled. "Is this on the test?"
It was Leif's turn to roll his eyes. "The Beowolf form is really special though." He raised his go-to vial in his hand and bounced it. "I could keep up that Beringal form up for maybe a couple of hours, and considering how massive this Nevermore power is, I could probably manage this for a few minutes, maybe more. But this baby? Over a full day. Tried and tested."
"I feel safer already." Ruby sarcastically mused. Her grin dropped though, and already, Leif could tell where this was going. "I guess asking how this happened is not on the table?"
Leif went stone-faced and shook his head.
"You can trust me, y'know. I don't know much about you other than you're a wanted criminal, and part monster." Leif snorted. 'Part' monster, she says. Her eyes suddenly widened, like a lightbulb went off in her head. "How about something basic. My name's Ruby Riley Rose, I'm sixteen, turning seventeen in a couple of months, and I'm from Patch. Oh! And my favorite color is black, if that helps."
Leif burst out laughing, resting a hand on his gut. Favorite color? How benign, how pointless, such a huge waste of a word, but so totally Ruby Rose. Well, two can play at that game.
"My names Leif Ezikial Garrison, I'm twenty-two years old, and you're about to see where I come from if you can be patient for a few minutes." He said, watching the waves, just enjoying the friendly company for once in his life. "Oh, and my favorite color's red. Rosy red."
It took a few seconds for Ruby to grasp at that straw, but when she did, her cheeks went bright pink, and she suddenly grew a lot of interest in her boots.
He grinned. Score one for the pasta head.
/
What could have been a peaceful Sunday in the Vale Magnolia High Rise was interrupted by the random assortment of things smashing and crashing against the walls. The frustrated grunts added to the messy display. With an angry growl, Sora heaved a vase against a wall. It bounced off of the arm of a chair, doing quite an impressive amount of flips before shattering to pieces. His teeth grit in frustration, face sweltering hot and red. If his brows were any further knit, it would've fashioned a sweater by now. Needless to say, the savior of humanity was livid.
How dare that hunk of rusted iron interrupt his crusade? What nerve did that subhuman freak have to undermine him, question him, dare to resist knowing what he did? Disgusting. Utterly repulsive, the idea that freak could go on so casually despite the crimes against his own humanity he wrought. And that knight had the nerve gall- the absolute nerve, to stop him from bringing justice was asinine. A shattered window here, a cracked wall there, the entire apartment soon knew the wrath of the savior.
Much to his chagrin, the bedside scroll rang. Sora clicked his tongue. Another call from the dogs thinking they had latched a collar on him. He stormed over and yanked the scroll from its hook, outright mashing the green answer key two or three times before tapping it for a fourth time, gently this time.
"What?" He barked.
"All these years together, and you still cannot grasp simple orders." A garbled feminine voice shot back, tone dripping with venom.
He growled under his breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. Of all the scum and human fecal matter that could've spewed out before him, it had to be her. Why her? Why now? After a little moment of quiet reprieve on both ends, Sora broke the silence with a sigh. "Is there something you need from me?" He asked, quieting his tone. As much as it enraged him, cordiality would end this faster.
"Yes, as a matter of fact." The impatience in her voice was clear. "What were you doing in Patch? You were explicitly ordered to remain in Vale. Do you know how many setbacks occurred because of your little stunt?"
"I was following my duty as a savior, something you cannot possibly understand." Sora shot back.
She sighed. "Still riding that high horse all the way to heaven, huh?" Her voice lowered. "Don't forget who gave you that 'holy weapon' you love so much. Don't forget who built up that ego with false stories and events. If you want to keep up your image as a holy savior, presiding over a just cause, you will do exactly as I say. Do you understand, Aura?"
Sora bit his lip. "Yes." It was begrudging, nearly hostile even, but it was said. "What are your orders?"
"Since our plans for Patch are down the drain, we'll have to continue testing on Vale soil instead. It's a bit inconvenient due to the number of people and publicity, but we're running out of testing rounds. I need you to find another person to inject." She demanded.
Sora clicked his tongue. "This isn't a game, Nova, playing with human lives in such a way. How many people have already died during your little experiments?"
"Clearly not enough since we still aren't getting anywhere. Do your job, I'll do mine. Make sure to collect samples when all is said and done." With that, she hung up.
Sora all but fought himself to resist the urge to fling that scroll across the room. He sighed, slicking his hair back with his free hand. If it was a job that must be done, then so be it. This empire of his had to be kept alive somehow. He reached into a drawer and pulled out the Vector syringe. For a moment, he felt a twinge of regret, but it was quickly stamped out with a shake of his head. Now was not the time.
With a loud swear, he stormed out of the room, through the apartment complex, and into the city streets. The people of the city idled by, going about their business like they weren't in the presence of a living legend. Sora cringed. How dare they. This was their savior in front of them, and those mongrels couldn't even so much as give him the time of day? Perhaps the showmanship of Aura would turn a few heads. At least that would turn a few heads in his direction.
There were too many people to pick from. A homeless man sleeping in a gutter? A random business drone marching steadily to the hive known as the office? Maybe a child this time, to spice up the experimentation? It didn't matter. His greatness and valor would save the child eventually, once the experimentation was through. But who to pick?
"No! Let go of my hand, I want to see dad!" A loud child screamed.
Sora grit his teeth, turning to see a young doe-eyed, brown-haired little boy tugging at his mother's grip, who looked pale-faced and frustrated. The poor thing looked at her wits end.
"The answer is no, Darrel!" The mother shouted, clearly having gone through this before. "We don't speak of that man, you know this!"
"I don't care what he did! I wanna meet'em! Let me meet'em!" The child squealed, biting at her hand. She cried out in pain, yanking her hand back and glaring at the child. As expected, the child ran off afterward, rushing down the street.
She took off after the child, turning into an alleyway, right into Sora's path. Her eyes widened for a split second, grinding to a halt before Sora stabbed the needle in her leg without warning. No need for introductions, or for her to even memorize his face. Just get it done quickly- concisely.
Cracking, fusing, the sight and smell of flesh morphing and bubbling, a Vector was going to be born soon. He moved aside, hiding in the shadows of the alleyway. Just out of sight for the hero to spring into action in the midst of the chaos.
Let the carnage begin.
/
The boat arrived at the port without a hitch. Leif cringed. That ripe smell of the city was back, all too soon. It was like he never left. He stepped across the bridge, marching across the shipyard, stopping short of the city itself. Stone-faced and solemn, Leif stared at the highrises, office buildings, fast food joints, the meat that made the metropolitan city of Vale, and balled his hands into fists. The syringe in his back suddenly weights a lot more than it used to.
"This had better be worth it," Leif grunted. Ruby shot a concerned look at Leif but said nothing.
The ship had turned their legs to jelly. Naturally, the best place to rest was a local coffee shop not too far off from the port. That smell of fish still powered through the warm scent of coffee, but it was at least a good place to sit down. He stretched out his legs, yawning, nonchalantly netting his fingers behind his head. Ruby followed suit, head all but landing on the table.
From the looks of things, the city hadn't changed much. The rampant droning of cars, harking of pedestrians, the occasional random asshole who slept on his car horn, the works. The buildings, from stunning gleaming tops, to graffiti-stained bottoms, blocked out the sun fr more than Leif thought it would. More than he would typically notice, anyway. He chuckled, shaking his head. The island life changed him more than he thought.a
"It stinks over here." Ruby bemoaned.
"That's the stink of freedom, right there." Leif mused, grinning. "Breathe in it, Rosy Cheeks."
Ruby's nose crinkled. "I'd take taco-night bathroom smells over the 'smell of freedom' any day." She waved her hand, trying to waft the smell away. "You travel on boats a lot, right?"
Leif raised a brow. "How'd you guess?"
"Just a hunch. I mean, the smell doesn't bother you much, right?" She gigged.
"Well, yeah. I do travel a lot for a lot of reasons. Some are better than others."
She nodded with a smile, jotting down that little piece of information in her head. Even little crumbs like that were a lot better than nothing. A shadow flickered past his point of view, barely catching Leif's attention. The flicker was inconsequential- the quiet clicking and cracking were what got all of his interest. The sound of glass chipping away. He chanced a glance up as Ruby was rambling on, and his eyes shot wide open.
He dove over the table, crashing into Ruby, and rolled in a crumpled bodily pile. At that moment, the plastic table flattened and shattered, the concrete sidewalk cracking from an incredible weight crashing down upon it. He scrambled to his feet, clumsily rolling over the cafe's barriers, and landing on his butt. Ruby vaulted deftly over, recovering faster as per expected.
Whatever that creature was stood on all fours, its hind legs bending upwards at the middle like the legs of a cricket, and just as hairy. Its flesh was mottled grey, with bones sticking out of random parts of the body, almost needle-fine, like hairs. Its body was disturbingly humanoid, with flat, translucent wings, lined with black and red veins. The head was violently turned upwards, nearly fully covered behind a mop of black hair.
"And I thought I looked ugly on a Sunday morning." That little quip earned a piercing shriek. It almost sounded like a needle scraping against glass. A sly grin stretched across his face. "Hey, Rosy Cheeks. Mind if I took this one?"
Ruby turned back at him with a matching grin. "It's all yours. Go get'em, superhero."
"Aww, you're gonna make me blush." He mused, taking his Beowolf vial out of his pocket and plunging it into the Grimm Driver around his waist.
Beowolf!
The metal tune bursting from the Driver drew that grin from ear to ear. You could just taste the excitement. The raw pressure. It's showtime.
"Henshin!"
In a burst of white flames that cratered the ground around him, the White Kamen Rider Grimm appeared, cracking his knuckles. "Even with this curse, I will make you smile."
As expected, all the pedestrians had run off. Good. There was no need to hold back in case of collateral.
The beast streaked and smashed its hairy hind legs into the concrete sidewalk, sticking it's claws deep within. The bone-like hairs shed off, burrowing deep into the ground, and spread out underground, like small moles. They trailed along the earth, scattering in random directions, shredding the concrete and asphalt as they went. The monster stood on its hind legs, howled loudly, and crashed them back down. All at once, the spikes began to glow white, and Leif's eyes shot open.
"Shit, shit, down!" Leif shouted, vanishing in a burst of speed. In a blinding flash, the spines exploded one by one, erupting in a roaring ball of violet and white fire. The impact shook the park, shattering windows, and took Leif right off his feet, midrun. He sailed sideways into the side of a car, crumbling nearly in half like an aluminum can. Breathless, he tried to push himself out, shaking the dizziness out of his head, but the monster had other plans. WIth one good hop, it crashed on top of him, all but flattening what was left of the car.
Pain shot through his body as he let out a raspy grunt, but it wasn't over yet. The monster hopped back up and down, bouncing on the fool like he was the world's funniest trampoline. Each bounce crushed him deeper and deeper into the ground until he was lying in a crater nearly twice his size.
"Crap, crap, crap," Leif mumbled, coughing, body throbbing from the abuse. The beast bounced up again, but he was ready this time. He rolled back and kicked upwards as hard as he could, striking the monster's abdomen, his immense strength sending it flying high into the side of a small building. With a groan, he stood up, shaking bits of asphalt off him. "I'm not a bouncy castle, Prickly!" He shouted, stretching his bones back into shape.
The beast shrieked again, the small spines on its legs suddenly extending. Leif let out a little "Uh oh," before the spines launched, fast as a bullet. He weaved and flipped, barely managing to dodge the spray of needles, extending his arm out. The GrimmSabre flew into his hand mid-flip, slicing a few spines out of the air as it did. Weapon fresh in hand, Leif parried the remaining few with a few quick slices, but a few kept breaching. One struck his leg, two caught his shoulder, one even sparking against his chest piece before he was overwhelmed, and fell to the ground.
"Gimme a freaking break." He mumbled, frustrated beyond belief.
Diving behind an empty car for cover, he took his Beowolf vial out and inserted it into the mouthpiece of the sword, clamping it down. The sword vibrated hard, the blade bursting with black flame-like aura.
Preparing for the Hunt…
"Alright, lets see how you like it."
Crescent Wrath!
With a spin of his heel, he launched a black blast wave through the car, sending it all hurtling towards the monster. It came far too fast and heavy for the monster to even react, and in a moment, there was a glorious burst of black and violet flames, nearly blasted the entire roof off of that building.
Leif's blood ran cold, eyes wide. Oh dear god, was there anyone in there?
The monster's loud shrieks roused him out of his thoughts. It jumped out of the cloud of smoke, landing heavily on the sidewalk, it's spines and hair singed, clearly battered but still alive. He clicked his tongue, picking his newest vial out- the Nevermore.
"If there was ever a good time to test a new toy, I guess it's now."
"Stop!"
Leif's head swiveled side to side in confusion. A child then rushed past him, standing with his arms extended like a tiny barricade. Leif blinked, mouth hanging open, the fool reduced to nothing but aimlessly limply waving his hand. "What- What are you doing, kid? Move it! Do you wanna die?"
The boy flinched, but stood there. "Just stop, you monster! That's my mom! You're hurting my mom!"
Leif's arms dropped to his sides, looking up at the shrieking monster. There is no way to guarantee survival when turned into that thing. He shivered, head hanging, hands futilely curling into fists.
Don't make me do this. Do not make me kill this mother right in front of him. Don't make me do this…
/
When Weiss had imagined escaping that demented household, she didn't think it would involve being shanghaied by a mutant faunus and possibly the wildest boy she had ever seen. Marching through Mantle would normally be a novel affair- it was practically a second home. A smaller, denser, more comfortable city than the grand collection of skyscrapers and office buildings that stood like castles Atlas was dotted with. No, what would normally be a normal affair was turned into an exercise in patience on a whole other level.
It was clear from the get-go how little the pair had seen of city life. Everything was to be touched. Every light was to be gawked at. It was like guiding two children through a museum. Some kidnappers they were. With attention spans like that, escape would've been as simple as clipping her nails. Still, they were needed. Or at least one of them was. If more of those practically indestructible monster Grimm were out there, it would be best to have some sort of muscle with a moral complex on her side.
Twice, three times, four times, Weiss had to drag Ryan by his ear to get him away from food stalls. The boy was practically drooling over everything, it was a wonder he didn't flood all of Mantle yet. It didn't take much to alert her of his intentions. Just a short whiff of something delicious, and then the sudden crackle of snow underfoot. Without so much as a glance, Weiss' hand shot out and snatched Ryan by the ear again, dragging him back down the beaten path.
"C'mon, y'gotta let us stop somewhere!" Ryan moaned. "We might not come back here again! Let's get some chow while we got the chance, yeah?"
Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose. "Priorities, Ryan. Honestly, where is your head? You said we needed to arrive in Vale posthaste, correct?"
"I didn't say nothin' about no post paste, but sure thing." He quickly replied.
Weiss' eyes widened. "Dear God, you're a walking muscle balloon, aren't you? So much so, your brain's already popped."
"Ryan is smart," Kale said simply, not turning his head to face them. "More articulate words simply escape him. Also, his stomach drives a lot of what he does. Be mindful of it."
"How you even breached Atlas defenses and arrived in my home is beyond me," She sighed. "Perhaps father should hire some better security if any little urchin can march in through a window willy-nilly."
"Sorry 'bout the window, by the way," Ryan quickly sputtered, turning around and immediately bowing his head. The movement was so quick and snappy, it flew Weiss for a loop, abruptly stopping her in her tracks. "Don't worry, I'll pay ya back somehow. Maybe I can cook for ya?"
"I would not recommend commissioning his cooking services. Our last furnace did not survive. I could have bludgeoned a man to death with what remained of that chicken he attempted to cook." Kale pragmatically said. Weiss shivered. There was just something unsettling about the simple, quiet, abrupt way he spoke. She couldn't tell if he was joking or not, or even if Kale could joke. He sounded soulless and solemn.
Ryan only shrugged. "Y'could've ate it."
"I wanted to keep my teeth."
"Oh! I could build somethin' for ya!"
"I do not think women like weapons as gifts."
Weiss snorted at that remark.
"I can build stuff other than weapons y'know." Ryan argued. "How about-"
"Ryan, it's fine. If you get me to Vale safely and without hassle, that will be enough," Weiss interrupted. Ryan still looked dejected, even a little guilty. It loosened some strings on Weiss' heart right there. It was nice to know he was at least being sincere about it, even if it was a small thing all things considered. "No ifs, ands, or buts. Get me there safely, and all will be forgiven."
Ryan gazed at her for a moment before giving her a little salute. "Sure thing. I'll do my best."
They approached the edge of Mantle, arriving close to a secluded airport. There, a lone airship was housed, sporting random bits of childish graffiti and an emblem on its side the shape of a large hound chasing the moon. Leaning against the ship was a tall, somewhat burly young man with messy black hair that sprouted in short spikes, and gleaming grey eyes, or seemingly grey from the distance. He wore a black leather jacket, a thin tight black shirt underneath and blue jeans- stark simple, possibly a minimalist? A cigarette in mouth and resting scowl on his face, the intimidating aura the man brought on was tremendous.
And of course, the pair of rowdy boys marched up to the young man carelessly. "Hey boss, we got're!" Ryan cheered. "Not even tryin' t'escape, either."
"There is no need for restraint. This is purely consensual." Kale robotically said.
The young man uttered a 'hmph', pushing off against the wall and towered over Weiss. Unwavering, she looked him dead in the eye, despite the top of her head not even reaching his chin. "Listen and listen good, Princess. This ain't a goddamn joyride- you do what I say, when I say, how I say. That's the deal. If you don't like it, I'm tossing your candy-ass overboard-"
The young man's words trailed off just as Weiss brushed past him, not even sparing him a second glance. By the time he could process this, she was already two steps into the airship, impatiently gazing back at them. "Well? Aren't we heading out? Come now, chop chop, no dilly-dallying. I have a place to be and I expect to get there immediately."
Ryan's jaw nearly hit the ground. Kale tugged on the young man's sleeve. "I believe this is the notion of 'asserting dominance', sir."
"Don't call me sir. Already friggin' told you, Kale. It's Kuro. Just Kuro. Got it?" The man apparently named Kuro demanded.
"Well, 'Just Kuro', I haven't got all day. Or am I expected to drive myself?" Weiss mused smugly. She thought she saw a vein poking up in his head. Oh, this was going to be fun.