RWBY: Lost and Forgotten
Chapter 48
Chrome
Jumping and sprinting across the rooftops, I glanced back every few seconds to make sure I wasn't being followed. It felt like I'd been running for hours. Reaching the end of the roof I was on, I slid to the edge and let myself fall to the ground below.
Sticking the landing, I looked back up for a few seconds but no one followed. "Lost 'em." I said with a sigh of relief. I felt horrible for leaving my friends, but I didn't have a choice. I had to run.
Feeling something hard hit the back of my head, I winced as I rubbed the spot I was struck. Turning around, a drunk man with a flask glared at me. "Get outta here, you filthy Faunus!" his words were slurred in his drunken state.
Clenching my fists, I pulled my hood up before turning around and walking away. "Hey, I was talking to you!" the man shouted. I glanced back to see him stumble his way towards me. Turning to face him, he approached and glared at me as he took a drink from his flask. "Faunus like you are the reason-" he paused as his balance swayed. "-the world is the way it is!"
"Sure." I crossed my arms.
"If you would just go away, life would-" Turning around, I began walking away. I didn't have time for some drunk. "Hey! Don't ignore me. Good animals listen."
"Screw off."
"Hey!" I felt the man rip my hood off. Glaring as I turned around, I fought the urge to hit him. "Listen, you dumb Faunus!" he pressed his index finger into my chest. "You belong in a cage, you filthy animal!"
Having enough of this, I shoved him to the ground. Pulling my hood back up, I walked away.
Turning down an alley, I kept my head lowered to avoid eye contact. I had my hands in my pockets and kept an eye out for any of those Atlas personnel.
Turning a corner, I found myself in a dark alley. "Maybe I'll be able to lay low for a bit..."
Hearing the sound of air being cut, I looked back and quickly moved out of the way of another bolas. "You're quick." one of the Atlas personnel dropped in front of me. Behind him swayed a dog tail.
"Look," I held my hands towards him. "You can't take me to jail. If you do, they'll find out who I am."
"You a fugitive or somethin'?" he asked.
"No. But I can't let you capture me."
"It's kinda my job." he replied.
"I know."
Pulling out my weapon, I quickly loaded in a dust filled mag. Creating a black glyph under him, I turned to the building on my right and kicked open the door. "What-?" ending my semblance as he looked at his feet, he stared at them before quickly gave chase.
Running into the building, I jumped over a table that sat in the center of the room. Glancing back, I used a glyph to slam the door shut just as he reached it before rushing into the living-room. Gasps came from the woman sitting on the couch as I burst through the window and back out onto the street. Rolling to my feet, I regained my balance and began sprinting.
Dashing by people roaming around, the Atlas Faunus jumped at me from an alley. Spinning around as he got close, I felt his fingers graze my arm.
Running towards another building, I jumped through the window, landing on my feet and continuing to run. Heading for the stairs, I rushed up them and jumped back out the window at the top.
Rolling as I hit the ground, I summoned a Time Dilation glyph under my feet. Absorbing it, I began running just as the Atlas Faunus jumped through the window.
I got a bit far before I felt something slam into my back, knocking me to the ground. Feeling my arm get pulled behind my back, I tried to struggle. "Nice work, Harriet."
I looked over my shoulder to see a female human had me pinned. "No!" I tried to free my arms but couldn't as I felt cuffs wrap around my wrists.
"Gave us quite the chase, kitty cat." the woman, Harriet, said.
Pulling me to my feet, she began leading me out of the alley. "Yeah. I gotta ask: what's your semblance?" the Atlas Faunus asked.
"I-"
"Glyphs." Harriet cut me off. "I saw them from the rooftops."
"Glyphs?"
"Yeah. You know, like the ones...that..." she trailed off.
"What?"
"He's the one." Harriet said. "It's him."
I glanced back at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"It's this guy?" the Faunus asked.
"Maybe." Harriet said. "Come on. Let's get him in the transport." she gave me a soft nudge.
"Wait! Where are you taking me?" They didn't reply as they led me to the transport, gently pushing me in the back. "Hey!" the back shut and we took off.
Minutes later
Pacing back and forth in the transport, I began to get more and more nervous and scared.
Feeling the transport land, the back opened and what I saw wasn't what I was expecting. There, before me, stood the Atlas Huntsmen academy.
"What's this?" I asked as Harriet walked up to me.
She grabbed my arm and pulled me in front of her. "Come with me."
Following her, she led me inside the academy and towards an elevator. Pressing the button for the top floor, I stood still, staring at Harriet from the corner of my eye. "Where are you taking me?"
She didn't reply as the elevator stopped and the doors opened. She walked forward but stopped when she realized I wasn't following. "Well? Come on."
Stepping out of the elevator, she led me to a pair of doors before gently knocking twice. "Enter."
Opening the doors, I was surprised to see all of my friends standing in the center of the room. "Chrome!" Blake rushed over and hugged me.
"Hey, Blake." I chuckled. "I'd hug you back but my hands are tied."
"Take them off." came a voice I found, somewhat, recognizable.
Blake pulled away as Harriet freed my hands. Rubbing my wrists, I looked passed Blake to see Ironwood, Winter and Penny. "Chrome." Winter said softly.
"Yes?"
She approached and stopped in front of me. "I would like to have a word with you." she glanced at the others. "Privately."
Walking passed me, I looked to Weiss who just gestured to Winter. Nodding, I turned around and followed her.
Winter opened the door and gestured for me to go ahead. Doing so, Winter followed me. "So, what-"
"Not here." Winter cut me off. "Come with me."
She began walking away. Quickly catching up with her, we passed by the Huntsmen that caught us. "Chrome. This team is the Ace ops. You had an encounter with them."
"Right..."
"Once we're done talking, I want you to get to know them. You'll be working with them."
Glancing at them, they all greeted me. "So, was he the one?" Harriet asked.
"Yes." Winter replied before moving on. Following, we entered the elevator and began descending.
"So..."
Winter remained quiet.
The doors opened to a rather large, luxurious room. There were a few bookshelves on both sides of the room with a single desk near the back of the room. On top of the desk sat a computer. "This is my personal work space. Only General Ironwood and I have access to it." Winter walked over to the desk and sat down. "Sit." she gestured to the seat that was in front of her desk.
Doing as told, I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. "Do you know who I am?" she asked.
"Winter Schnee. Weiss' sister. Well, my sister."
"So, you know." she leaned forward. "I assume Weiss told you?"
"I overheard you two talking back at Beacon, actually. In the pavilion."
"Hm." she rested her arms on the desk. "I hope you know the risks you're taking here, Chrome. Atlas is the last place you should be."
"I know."
"You should have gone back home. Back to Menagerie." she continued.
"I did. For a while." I told her. "But the White Fang was attacking Haven, so we had to go help. And then...Blake found her team, Ruby, Yang and-"
"Weiss." Winter said for me.
"I've followed Blake my entire life, never once left her side. Then, seeing Weiss, well, how could I just head home knowing she was my sister, too?"
"I see." I saw her lip curve into a barely noticeable smile. "That's quite honorable. But reckless. Chrome, right now, you're standing in a lion's den. Atlas is not safe for you. Which is why you cannot, under any circumstances, use your semblance while here."
"I know."
"Do you also know that my father knows you?" I nearly choked as I heard those words. "Well, not you per se, but he knows about you. He heard a rumor that there is a Faunus with the Schnee semblance."
"But- I- Wha- How? I thought he didn't see the tournament?"
"He didn't. But the rest of Atlas did." Winter replied.
"So word got around..." I sighed.
"Your hair also makes you stick out." she added.
"What do you suggest?"
She opened a drawer in the desk and pulled out a bottle. "I bought this in case you ever found your way to Atlas." she handed it to me. "It won't hide your face but it'll help."
Taking the bottle, I looked it over. "No. Nuh-uh. Absolutely not!"
"You want to blend in, don't you?" she asked.
"Well, yeah, but-"
Winter stood up. "Then, come with me."
An hour later
Following Winter, she led me to the room my friends were in. The door opened and I was immediately taken back by their new looks.
Ruby's hair was a bit shorter and she also had a black collar around her neck. Weiss' hair was now in one long braid. Blake's hair was cut and it now looked a bit like our mother's. And Yang's mechanical arm had a few new additions to it.
Jaune had a new haircut and Ren had his tied in a braid. It didn't seem like Nora did anything to her hair but she was wearing a new outfit.
"I see you've all gotten changed." Winter said, getting their attention.
"Hey, who's the new guy?" Ruby asked while staring at me.
"Seriously?" Weiss stared at her leader. "It's Chrome."
"Really?" Ruby took a step towards me. "Wow. You look totally different. The black hair threw me off."
"I kind of like it." Yang said while walking over to me. "If I didn't know you, I'da thought you were Blake's twin."
"Yeah..." I rubbed the back of my head.
"It's kind of weird seeing you in dark clothes, too." Blake added. "You're usually wearing bright colors. That black jacket looks good on you though."
"Right..."
Winter stepped forward. "I had his hair dyed and clothes changed to blend in more." Winter said. "I also want him to stick by your side throughout his time here, Weiss."
"Why?"
"In case he uses his semblance, you can take the blame if someone questions it." Winter replied. "I've told him it's best not to use it while in Atlas, but he might slip up. So, he needs to be at your side at all times. Understood?"
"Ah- Yes." Weiss nodded.
"Good." Winter turned around and headed for the door. "I'll see you around, little brother."
"Yeah. You, too."
Watching as she disappeared behind the door, I turned around to the others. "Sooooo, check out our improved weapons!" Nora said while holding up her hammer.
End of chapter 48