RWBY: Lost and Forgotten
Chapter 50
Chrome
Coming out of the mines, I shielded my eyes from the sunlight until my eyes adjusted. Once they did, I saw Yang and her team walking away with the Ace-Ops behind them. Also, high in the sky, was Amity Arena.
The buildings around the cave had a few stairs heading up. Walking over to the building on my right, I went up a few of the steps before sitting down.
Pulling out my weapon, I looked over the new additions to it to further familiarize myself. "Whatchya doin'?" I looked up to see Yang standing at the bottom of the steps.
"Memorizing all of the new things my sword can do." I replied.
"Really?" she asked. "Because it looked a bit like you were avoiding us."
"That obvious, huh?" I shrugged. "I'm not avoiding you. Just the Ace-Ops." I replied.
"The Ace-Ops?" she said. "Why avoid them?"
"They know I'm a Schnee." I replied. "I don't know a thing about them and yet they know the one thing that can get me killed."
"Well, Winter told them, right?" Yang asked.
"Yep." I placed my weapon on my back. "She's the only person that I can trust here in Atlas at the moment."
"Because she's family?"
"If she wanted me gone, she could have easily told her father about me but instead she told Weiss." I rested my arms on my knees. "Winter cares about her family. Even if family means some Faunus she hardly even knows. Ironwood knowing is...fine...I guess. But Penny?"
"What's wrong with Penny?"
"She's Atlas tech, Yang. It's been hacked into before." I leaned forward, running a hand through my hair. "It's just...I'm supposed to blindly trust people I don't know with my secret. I'm not comfortable with that."
Yang was silent. "If I knew more about them, anything, I'd feel more comfortable. And sure, they seem like cool people, but so did Maya and Nicci."
"Your teammates?" Yang asked. "What happened to them?"
"Don't know and I can't really give a shit less." I growled. "Those two were White Fang the whole time, working under Adam."
"What?"
"Yep. And having five more people knowing who I am doesn't exactly make me the happiest guy alive." I crossed my arms. "I don't trust them, and I don't want to trust them."
"But maybe-" Yang was cut off as an airship suddenly came in for a landing. On the sides of the ship was the SDC logo.
"Schnee Dust Company..." I said softly. Getting to my feet, I walked passed Yang and over to the spot the ship had landed.
"-embargo of yours crippling my business, you've also decided you have the authority to commandeer private property?" I heard a man with white hair and a white mustache yell. He stops in front of Ironwood, who calmly stares at him, arms folded behind his back. "When the Council hears about this, you will never-"
"Actually, I've already informed them. As this is now the site of a classified military operation, it didn't even require a vote." Ironwood cut him off.
"Didn't require a vote?!"
"You might want to brush up on Council law before you lose this upcoming election, Jacques. Now. I've allowed you to land here once as a courtesy. The next time, it won't be a friendly reception." he added.
"Jacques?" I repeated as I stepped up next to Weiss.
"Lately, you seem to forget who your friends really are. I'm going to get that Council seat, James, and maybe then, you'll-" he suddenly stopped as he looked in my direction. "You..."
"Me?" I pointed at my chest.
"You roped my missing daughter into these schemes of yours, too?" Jacques growled at Ironwood.
"Daughter?!" I whispered.
"You should probably go, Chrome." Weiss whispered to me.
"How long has she been back in Atlas? Did Winter know about this?"
"It was my decision to come here. Just like it was my decision to leave. Or have you forgotten all about that?" Weiss asked, annoyed.
"If you think I'm one to forget anything, girl, then you've misjudged the man your father is." he growled back.
"Believe me, I know exactly the kind of man you are."
"How dare you speak to me that way!? I have half a mind to-"
"Half a mind to what, Jacques?" Ironwood stepped in.
Adjusting himself, he spoke in a more calm tone. "You know... your mother was devastated when you left. Didn't leave her room for days. You know how… she gets... when she's upset." he glanced at Weiss to see her reaction.
"Mom..?" I whispered softly.
"I knew one day, you would overextend your reach. I didn't come here to beg for an abandoned mine. I came here to thank you for personally handing me the noose to hang you. You'll regret this." he told Ironwood. "So these are the little friends you threw everything away for?" he turned to Weiss.
Weiss shook her head. "Not friends. Family."
"Hmm..."
As Jacques went back to his ship, he took a glance back at me. He stared for a few seconds before boarding his ship. The ship flew away, and a truck arrives on the platform. Once the truck comes to a stop, Winter opens the passenger side door and peeks out at the ship.
"Oh, now you show up, Winter. You just missed father."
Turning around, I walked away from the group, thinking about Weiss' father. First time seeing him and my opinion of him changed from 'Prick' to 'Major Asshole'.
Deep in my own thoughts, I couldn't help but wonder what he meant by mom and the way she "gets".
"Chrome?" feeling a shake on my shoulder, I looked up to see Blake standing beside me. "You coming?"
"Coming?"
Minutes later, Amity Arena
Standing in the center of the arena with my family and friends, I was still distracted by Jacques and Weiss' talk. While deep in thought, I barely heard a word anyone said. It was only when I felt my scroll buzz that I was pulled back to reality.
Pulling out my scroll, I opened it to see my student license had changed to a Huntsman license. "Huntsman?" I said.
"You are being granted your Huntsman licenses, today." Winter told us.
"I know this is coming a little ahead of schedule, but Brothers know you deserve it. I only regret that I couldn't do something a little more ceremonious for the occasion." Ironwood said.
"I- We… we're honored, General Ironwood. But you really don't have to do th-"
"Please. With the threat of Salem still out there and tensions rising in our kingdom, I certainly could use more trustworthy fighters by my side." Ironwood added. "I should be so lucky to have all of you. It's okay. It's a big moment." he began to walk away. "And what better way than to celebrate here? When this tower is ready and communications are back up and running, we'll tell the world about Salem and face down whatever comes at us after that, together." everyone fell silent. "That's… just about all the pomp I have in me. If you'll excuse me, I have to get back to running this operation. Um… Well, then. Enjoy the cake." and with that, he walked off.
Looking around at the others, I didn't know what to say, so I headed up to the bleachers and sat down, away from the others. Sure, this is a time to be happy and everything, but I just can't. Ever since I stepped foot in Atlas, I've had this feeling like any moment now I'd be dead. And with so many people knowing who I am... There's just no way I'm leaving Atlas without Jacques finding out about me. I can feel it. If he has the influence Weiss says he does, I'm as good as dead.
However, I'm beginning to become more and more worried about my mother. If my identity gets out, I won't be the only one who gets hanged. I'll drag her with me. And I can't let that happen.
"Hey, are you gonna get some cake?" Yang asked, walking up to me.
"No." I shook my head.
Yang walked over and sat down next to me. "What's wrong? You look worried."
"It's just...Weiss' father." I told her with a sigh.
"What about him?"
"He's gonna find out who I am, I know it." I replied. "There's no way he's not gonna figure it out. And when he does..."
Yang placed a hand on my shoulder. "Chrome-"
"I mean, with how many people know that I'm a Schnee, most of those people I hardly know or trust, there's just no way." I leaned back as I let out a sigh. "What am I going to do?"
"Well..." Yang said softly.
"Well, what?"
"I'm not sure..." she said.
I placed a hand over my eyes. "Being here, in Atlas, it's making me nervous. Paranoid. I hate it." I told her. "Ever since we've arrived, I've only ever been calm around you and Ruby and my sisters. But even then, I can't help but feel I'm being watched. I dunno. Maybe if I get out of Atlas..."
"Get out of Atlas?" Yang repeated. "But what about the relic...and Blake...and your mother?"
"I didn't say I was leaving." I told her. "Just...thinking out loud. Besides, I can't leave you. You're too important to me."
Yang blushed a bit as she looked away. "You're important to me, too."
The moment was disrupted as one of the Ace-Ops spoke rather loudly.
"A massive Sabyr is loose in the Mantle sewers! We need two brave warriors to flush it out!"
"Ooh, we're beginning missions!" Yang grabbed my hand. "C'mon!"
Jacques
I was currently sitting alone in my dimly lit office, drinking from a glass with a spherical ice cube in it when the door opens partway.
"Father, you, um… have a visitor."
I slammed my glass down on the arm of my chair.
"I told you I didn't want to be disturbed. Why did you let them in?"
"I didn't. He... let himself in." my son replied.
Arthur Watts grabbed the door and pulled it the rest of the way open, walking into the room as Whitley moved out of his way.
"A spitting image of you, this lad, Jacques. Creepily so, I might add."
Whitley stands in the hall, holding the door open and watching.
"He's definitely inherited your… affect." Arthur added.
"Arthur." I looked at my son. "Whitley, leave us. And shut the door."
Whitley looked suspiciously at Watts.
"I said shut the door!"
I once again slam my glass down, and Whitley closed the door. I then turn my attention back to Watts.
"I- You're supposed to be dead."
"That is what I wanted people to think. You're right. However, I've heard things about you too, Jacques. Namely, that you have an Ironwood problem." Arthur said.
"That bastard is costing me more money every day with this embargo. I'd lay off every employee in Mantle if I wasn't trying to get their damn votes for this Council seat."
Watts sat in the chair next to mine.
"What if I said you can have your cake… and eat it, too?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"Although, I'm here for one other reason." he added.
"What is it?"
"I couldn't help but notice that a Faunus has the traits of a Schnee." he said. "Fascinating, isn't it?"
"I've heard the rumors."
"Of course you have. However, this...boy is, in fact, a Schnee." Arthur continued. "And he's here, somewhere, in Atlas."
I leaned forward. "Do you know his name?"
Arthur grinned in reply.
End of chapter 50