Welcome to another chapter!
So, I mean honestly this chapter will probably be just an info dump chapter. Maybe not? I don't know. Honestly will think of something when I right it.
TheFrostZone: I mean, I guess one day is quick? I could make it quicker. But yeah I noticed those too after you mentioned it. Will have to go and fix those at some point. And honestly I have no idea where I am going either. Kinda making it up as I go.
You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!" ~ Rocky(1976)
So here I am, lying in my bed right. Like every other workday, Adam yells from downstairs that the coffee is ready. I get up, I take a shower and I enjoy my coffee as we cut down trees. Now that's what supposed to happen! I'm not supposed to wake up with one of the main villains of RWBY lying on my chest. I'm honestly confused on how to handle this situation. How did I even get here in the first place? Oh right she was running from a seer, I shot it and she got hurt and I'm taking care of her.
"COAL, I'M BACK FROM MY TRIP! COFFEE IS READY, WE GOT TO MAKE UP FOR THE WORK I KNOW YOU DIDN'T DO!" Adam calls from down stairs. I sigh as I look back down at Cinder who looks really cute when sleeping.
I gently poke her side. "Cinder I have to get up I got work."
"Mmmm, five more minutes..." She drawled. I sigh as I slowly lift her up, which by the way is extremely hard when you can only use one arm. I gently place her back down and walk towards the bathroom.
"Man aren't you a sorry sight." I mutter to myself as I scratch beard. The beard that comes off my face by less than an inch. I walk over to the shower turning it on and letting it heat up, before brushing my teeth. I walk into the shower lathering up in soap and putting shampoo and conditioner in my hair.
Are you one of those people who sing in the shower, because boy am I! It was one of the things my sister would tease me about. But jokes on her! I'm a great singer! Well...decent is good enough.
Fly me too the moon, let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like oonnn, Jupiter and Mars." Ahh, Frank Sinatra one of the best singers ever. Fly Me Too The Moon was my mother's favorite song. You know thinking back on it my mom had like 12 favorite songs...weird.
I walk out of the shower stretching my warmed muscles and heading back to the mirror and looking at myself. My hair is still longer than I like, so I guess today is another hat day until I get it cut. I walk out of the shower with the towel around my waist. Though I can't help but feel like I forgot about something.
I look around the room, trying to find what was making me feel uncomfortable. My eyes land on Cinder whose awake, with wide eyes. "Well, shit."
"I-I-I-I-I-I-I." She stammers seeing me walk out.
I sigh before I respond. "Hey the shower is open, water should be hot. After your done just raid my closet I guess? We will have to get you clothes at some point."
"I-I-I-I-I-I-I." She still seems broken. Now I feel awkward...now her face is turning red. Great.
"I'm just going to grab some clothes, to get dressed while you take a shower." She nodded before bolting into the bathroom slamming the door shut...weird.
I grab my green button up plaid, jeans and underwear before getting dressed as quick as I can. As I leave I grab my hat, that was hanging on the end of my bed.
"Hey Coal, thought you were still in the shower since it was running." Adam calls as he sees me walk downstairs and head towards the kitchen.
"Oh, yeah we need to talk about that. I'll make the coffee." I walk over to the already brewed coffee and poured it into the two cups already there. Adding two sugars and a spoonful of creamer into both, before heading to the table where Adam was sitting.
"So what do we need to talk about? Is it how you broke the shower because it's still running."
"No-no. Yesterday someone was in the forest running from Grimm so I helped them out. Took her to docs and she was injured." Adam nodded as I sipped my coffee. Slowing my train of thought down. "She needed a place to stay, no immediate family to go to. And doc elected me to house her."
"Do I get a say in this?" He asked, in that tone where their joking but being serious at the same time. "Because this is technically my house."
I gave him a look that made him start laughing. "No. You don't." I take another sip of my coffee before we heard the shower upstairs turning off.
"So, is she cute." I do a spit take and I began to cough.
"Holy shit you-you really know how to be fucking random." I finally was able to stop coughing and I took a big gulp from my coffee. "Like God damn, you are really good at just saying shit randomly."
"It's what in good at. I'm just the King Of Random."
"Your not Grant Thompson."
"Who?" Shitshitshitshitshitshit oh look distraction. We hear someone walk downstairs so I lean my head out of the kitchen to see Cinder wearing jeans...and my lucky hoodie.
"Oh, Cinder would you like some coffee?" The moment she noticed me she blushed and gave a hush yes. She sat down next where my cup was and Adam started to talk to here as I grabbed a third cup.
"So, you must be the person who got hurt yesterday." He sticks his hand out for a handshake. "I'm Adam Opal, owner of Opal Carpentering and owner of this house."
She reached out to grab his hand and began to shake it. "Cinder Fall. Person who got hurt and is staying in your house."
"Cinder how much sugar and creamer do you want?" I began reaching for the creamer in the fridge.
"Oh! Uh 2 sugars and three spoonfuls of creamer please!"
"Alright, 2 sugars, 3 creams coming right up." I put that into the coffee I poured and walked back to the table. "Here you go."
"Thank you." She grabbed the cup and took a sip before giving me a nod.
"Alright so me and Adam are going to head out into the forest to chop some trees down so we have heat this winter. If you need food it's in the fridge. And if you need anything else, don't be afraid to ask anyone in the village. Just say Coal sent you." She gave me a nod as me and Adam finish our coffee.
"Hey Coal, bring Frontier Justice with you. Grimm week begins soon, and I want a little more heat to protect ourselves." I walk over to a closet near the doorway, reaching in and grabbing the shotgun.
"Gotcha, alright Cinder we'll probably be gone for like 3-6 hours depending on Grimm activity." She gave another nod as she continued to drink her coffee.
"Have a safe trip!" She calls as we leave the house."
BANGBANG
"You know Adam, for it being close to Grimm month, there are very little Grimm out." I say as I reload Frontier Justice...you know what? WE'RE just going to say FJ from now on. Ease of use you know?
"That's because they build up numbers, so that when Grimm month begins they can wreck more havoc." I nod as we continue walking through the forest
"And how do you know that?"
"Because I lived in this village for 10 years." I actually don't know how old Adam is. Does that make me a bad roommate? Probably.
"Fair enough. Hey Adam, I never actually asked how old you are, always assumed you were in your early thirties."
"That's because I am. I'm 35." That's not early thirties...but I'll let it pass.
"Hmm a 20 year old and a 35 year old living together in the same house. Who would've thunk it." We come towards where we stopped cutting a few days before. The truck is parked a bit away, as to not attract Grimm to us. 'Standard procedure' Adam said.
"Alright let's continue working. If you need a break take it, we can't risk getting too tired if Grimm show up." He walked over to a tree with an axe. "You stand guard got the first 30 minutes, then we will switch."
I nod as I walk over to a tree and l lay back into it. "I guess when it's my turn to chop I'll hand you FJ." He nodded as he started chopping.
Honestly not doing anything is pretty boring. When I used to play football for my highschool,my senior year, you would always be moving, or doing something at least. And combine that with everything else I was doing in and after school, I've always had a busy life. I only started really relaxing my recent years in college.
I look over as the tree Adam was chopping fell down. He looked back at me as he picked up the chainsaw. Time to really start paying attention. The chainsaw will make noise...noise Grimm are attracted too.
I begin to whistle as I run a hand through my hair. Better to sing something happy...keep my nerves straight. Don't want any accidents, non happy accidents. I let the sound of a man hacking a logs with an axe relax me.
"Rise up this mornin', Smiled with the risin' sun, Three little birds, Pitch by my doorstep! Singing sweet songs, of melodies pure and tru-"
SNAP
I immediately snap around FJ pointed where I heard the noise. Adam's still chopping wood, good. I walk towards where I heard the sound, it must have came from behind the bush. I slowly get close moving as quiet as I can, before pushing the bush aside and aiming FJ at a...cute bunny. D'awww it's cute no need to point a gun at it.
SNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAP
I quickly jump around, twigs snapping all around me. Okay maybe I'm not so good. Some weird looking dog comes from out of the thick forest I squint as I look closer...it looks almost...like...a Grimm.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." I say as more Grimm begin appearing out of the forest. Now their running at me, so out of complete sense I run the other way.
"ADAM, DON'T TRUST THE DOGGOS THEIR EVIL I SAY EVIL!" I yell as I enter the clearing where Adam was.
"WHAT?" He yells back before seeing the 15 GrimmHounds behind me. "OH SHIT, HOLD THEM OFF IM GETTING THE TRUCK!" He says before taking off towards the truck
BANGBANGBANG
"EAT LEAD YOU EVIL MOTHERFUCKERS!" I yell as I turn around firing FJ into them...I just killed three...
BANGBANGBANG
Three...more? Man these fucking things are weak as shit. I pull out Sequoia and shoot.
BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG
6 more, three left...no more time to reload. I begin running to where the truck is. Trying to reload with no hands is hard for your information. I see head lights coming towards me, I keep running until Adam was right on me before I dived out of the way, allowing him to kill the last three before hopping into the bed of the truck before reloading both my guns.
"We good?" I turn to look at Adam who stuck his head out of the driver side of the truck.
"Yeah we are...let's just head home. I don't want to be here anymore, we can always work double another time." He nodded before turning around and heading back to the village. As we drive I see a nevermore flying in the air. So logically I flipped it off hoping that Salem was watching.
"FUCK YOU, YOU EVIL FUCKING BITCH!"
(Salem POV)
My eyes twitching at the sheer audacity of this...this MORTAL. He thinks he can mess with me does he? Well worm you're going to regret ever crossing me.
"Hazel." I turn may gaze to one of my worshippers
"Yes my lordship?"
"Your dogs failed. And I don't like failure."
"We-Well my lady it was still in alpha stage undergoing development...w-we could use this failure to make them better?"
"Fine...make them better."
(My POV)
I mean what's the worst that can happen? She decide to destroy the village like My Turn? Wait...oh shit what did I do. I climb onto the roof of the car hitting the sun roof lightly as to tell him to open it, which he does. I hop in sitting in the passenger seat as he closed the roof up.
"So, what the hell happened?" Adam asked as we follow the path we made riding back in forth in the truck.
"Some weird ass small wolf Grimm started chasing me when I went looking for where a noise were originating from." I began inspect my guns making sure that nothing got damaged.
"They look familiar to you at all?"
"Nope. They looked just like normal dogs but Grimm." I explain as I look around. I think we forgot stuff...
"Hmm weird. You know Coal sometimes I regret hiring you."
"I would regret hiring me too."
"You just have this air around you."
"Oh like how?"
"Like you have this air around you where you just know what's going on, but never say anything, or act on it." That...is very insightful, weird because it's true too.
"Weird. Never noticed, though I do know how somethings are going to happen, because I'm just used to reading people." I look closer at him noticing that his finger is tapping with a green outline.
"Well in any case, I'm also glad you're working with me...life never seems boring around you."
"Hey Adam?" He looks over at me curiously. "Do you have any nervous ticks?"
"Yeah when I happy, excited, or just nervous I tap my fingers. Why?" He stopped tapping his finger being aware of it now.
"Because your finger was highlighted in a neon green." He looked at me like I was crazy.
"Are you insane?"
"Probably, but we can talk about that later. Your finger is still highlighted with neon green!" I say a little louder pointing at his finger which was tapping again.
"No it's not." The tapping stopped as the green glow disappeared.
"Huh weird it just went away." I look back at him shrugging. "I have no idea why it would be highlighted though."
"Maybe your semblance?"
"Why would it be my semblance?" I mean how long have I had aura for? Like 4ish months? "I haven't had aura for too long."
"Just a suggestion. You could never know though, you're good at poker. Could just be how your soul represents yourself." He turned left and we could see the gates to the village.
"I don't know, guess I just wanted to discover my semblance later." I look and nod to one of the guards manning the gate. "Don't want the readers thinking I'm some powerful Gary Stu."
"Readers? What readers? Who's Gary?"
"I'm a poker player."
"Oum dammit Coal." We slow down as we enter the gates and come to a stop outside docs. "You hurt at all Coal?"
"Nah I'm good. They didn't even come close to me in that exchange." He nods and continued toward the house parking in the shed that's close but not near the house.
We exit the vehicle and walk towards the house. I finally holster Sequoia, and sling FJ over my shoulder because it has a lanyard. I go through the door and immediately head towards the couch, I noticed Cinder going upstairs looking at me in shock. I jump into the couch face first before screaming into a pillow.
I hear some walking behind me, so I turn and see Adam and Cinder looking at me in concern. "What? Can't a man yell?"
"Coal? Are you alright?" Cinder asks softly. She's wearing her glasses...guess she was reading?
"Kinda? I don't know? I mean just having reality hit me finally." I mean, you ever have those moment where you're doing something like flying and all of the sudden reality sets in that you're flying 40,000 feet in the air in a metal tube? Yeah that's what I'm going through.
Adam leans closer to Cinder and whispered , "You should take Coal to Joe's and have a nice night help him in wind. He did just kill Grimm that he's never seen before, that'll always get you wound up"
"That sounds nice...for him I mean." She whispered back. I didn't have the heart to tell them I heard.
I sit up take my hat off and run my hand through my hair. I began moving towards the door as I put my hat back on. I look back at Cinder who was confused at my actions.
"So are we going to Joe's?" She nods and puts shoes on and follows me outside as we begin our walk.
"You heard us whispering?" She asked from the right of me. She's not wearing heels so she might be around 5'7? Yeah that seems about right. If fandoms correct she's 5'11 in heels.
"Yeah, don't know why I didn't say anything." We continue walking, talking to people as we pass by. "So I never really asked Cinder, what do you like to do in your past time?"
"Umm, I read. I'm pretty nerdy so I watched Star Wars a lot. I played some video games, but never got too into it." I nod as we pass by Billy's.
"Hey Cinder, you comfortable with weapons?" I say as I stop in front of the store.
"No not really. My family never really thought we needed one." Well then time to change that.
"Well as your impromptu family, I have made the decision to arm you with a weapon of your choice." She looked at me like I was crazy...I probably am.
"And why would I need to arm myself?"
"Because you are currently living out on the frontier with me and you need something because, well Grimm." I say as I enter Billy's Gun Smithy Cinder right behind me. I look back at her, "Billy here does special requests if you want, otherwise walk around the store and pick out something you like."
"What about money I-I can't afford it?"
"Don't worry I have it, and Billy owes me a few favors for things I helped fix for him." She seemed to want to say more before I shushed her off.
"Ah, Coal my dude it's been a bit how can I help you my man." I turn around to see Billy walking out of the back room oil all over him.
"Ah well I just would like to stock up on some ammo, and a friend of mine is here to pick up a weapon. Because she need to protect herself." He nodded before adding the restock of ammo on my bill.
"So...is it the raven haired chick?" I look around the store seeing if Cinder would over hear us.
"Yeah She is." He begins laughing hard.
"Coal, my dude. How do you manage these things?"
"What do you mean." He puts the boxes of ammo in a bag. While we continue waiting on Cinder.
"You somehow, anytime I see you, have a hot women near you." He pulled out some gun oil from under the counter. I give him a nod and he rings me up for it too. "Like seriously, maybe Darien was right when he said it was all in you cologne."
"What the hell is wrong with you people? I literally don't do anything." He hands me the bag of supplies and leans against the wall.
"Well you're obviously doing something. I mean how else does this happen?"
"Luck."
"That actually makes more sense. At least compared to Darien's theories."
"Yeah well, I swear Darien's always high in some really hard shit. So I wouldn't trust his word from the beginning." I began to laugh. "You can't tell if the dragon Grimm that speaks another language is real or not."
"Um, ah Coal?" I turn around to see Cinder behind me. "Would this be okay?"
I see the weapon she picked up. Remember that PMM I was looking over? Yeah that's what she picked, it actually would be the most useful gun here for her. We can always get her a concealed holster...yeah that should work. I look back at Billy who seemed to have the same idea as me.
"Yeah that will work perfectly. We can work on your aim with it when we have free time." I reach my hand, as if I was asking her to put the gun in my hands she does as I inspect it fully. "Yeah that'll work perfectly."
I place the gun in the counter, Billy already ringing us up. "Alright my dude the total is 2500 lien." I nod as I prepare to get some money, I look over at Cinder...holy shit she just looked like aha had a heart attack.
"Alright here you go." I hand him over the money which he puts in his pocket. He reaches under the counter again and grabs a concealed holster. I grab it and put it in the bag. "Hey Billy I never asked, you wouldn't happen to have a shooting range?"
"Nope, Sorry my dude. Don't have a license to work one." I nod giving him a it's okay symbol, I pick up the bag holding all of our items and tap Cinder on the shoulder.
"Hey, we're good to go. Are we still going to Joe's? Or do you want o head home?" I say as I leave the store Cinder following behind me.
"Um, I mean I guess we can still head to Joe's." She said as she begins to walk beside me. "I mean that's why we came out here right?"
"Yep. Just wanted to make sure you still wanted to go." She nodded. "Oh before I forget because I know I will, here's your holster. Instead of the outside of your jeans it goes on the inside, so you gun will be hidden from anyone looking."
She begins to put the holster on, I hand her the gun to put it in, which she does. Once she adjusts it where she is comfortable. She smiles as she nods in satisfaction.
"See there you go." I spread my arms in a dramatic manner, "No need to frown Coals in town!"
"But I wasn't frowning? At all." She looked at me curiously.
"Schematics." We walk up to Joe's as I open the door for her. "After you m'lady"
"Thank you my kind sire" she said with a giggle. We both walk inside heading towards the bar and sit down. As we wait for Joe we smile at each other. You know I really like Cinder apparently...like I like Athena and Amber. But I really like Cinder.
"What can I get you two love birds?" I release a sigh at the sound of Joe's voice.
"What's the special today?" I ask because Joe makes soup, and I really love soup. Like I really love soup.
"Tomato Basil." I nod, one of my favorites.
"I'll take that, and if you have any bread I'll take that as well." He wrote that down then looked over at Cinder.
"What can I get you miss?"
"Ahhh, I'll just have what he's having." Joe wrote that down before walking towards the kitchen in the back.
"So Cinder. Have you seen the new Star Wars trailer?" She looked surprised at my comment.
"They're coming out with a new one? I though they were going to wait longer because of The Last Jedi." A green glow surrounds her leg as she crosses then.
"Yeah, Episode 9. Though I didn't really like The Last Jedi. It felt to rushed for me." Joe comes by with our food and sets it down in front of us before walking away. I look down self my watch I never said I owned, 5:09 pm holy shit time flies.
"I thought the pacing was good. Though that casino scene was just stupid."
"Agreed." We begin to eat our food in silence, soothing my throat from when I was yelling earlier.
"So Cinder are we staying here after we finish, or are we going right home after food?"
"Umm I think we should head home when we finish." I nod as we continue to eat our soup.
I stumble into my room with Cinder hanging off me. Remember when we said we wanted to head home right after? Yeah we lied we drank a little...maybe a little too much. I fall into the bed head first Cinder landing next to me on my left.
"Mmm, maybes we should-hic-n't have drinkin so much." My voice slurred from the alcohol.
"I-hic-thought we would be good" she replied. I turn my body to face then hug her. "You know Coal you-hic-maaakee me feel sooo safe."
"Do-hic-I know?"
"Yeap, you protected me when I-hic-couldn't protect myself." D'aww she's making me feel all good inside.
"You-hic-know Cinder you-hic-your pretty cute."
"A-hic-am I?"
"Mmmhm." She leans into my hug more and we enjoy each other's presence. "G'night Cinder."
"G'night-hic-Coal."
Enjoy the chapter?
I honestly did because I believe this is the longest one I wrote, and I feel like I made this chapter very descriptive? I don't know...but I sure did enjoy writing this one
As always Review your criticism, and get harsh I'm a big boy! I can take it. And if you enjoyed Follow and Favorite, let's me know I'm doing something right.
See you next chapter!