A/N: EDIT: Begone, death threats! The POWER OF PRINT COMPELS YOU!
A Most Unlikely Berserker is taking longer than expected so here, have this in the meantime.
Also, I may have... broke my computer. Because reasons. So I apologize for any spelling errors found here.
I'm going bloody maaaaaaaaaaad being cooped up in my house over here, and I expect it'll be like this for months yet.
However! Its given me a chance to update a far more rapid pace, and I'm grateful for that. If I can provide a little joy for others in these dark times, then that makes me happy. So enough about me. At last we come to Naruto's perspective; something I've been holding myself back from, because we needed to see how Cinder functioned. This chapter is told from her viewpoint as well as theirs; a fact I'm sure many of you will notice. We also get to check in on Team RWBY...and others.
Someone asked if Cinder has a theme...and if I had to pick? I'd say Devil Within by Digital Daggers.
We're picking up right were we left of here, folks. As ever, I own no quotes or references! Now we can get to the good bits...and all the madness they entail. Once again, bits of verbatim here and there, Angry!Cinder is best Cinder, yadda yadda yadda... Also, full credit to Pirikko on Tumblr, for the comic that inspired a scene here. I believe the comic's name was "At night you close your eyes and you see him." Not sure, but I wanted to give credit where its due. Omadhon on youtube did a fine dubbing of said comic.
Naruto has a weapon of his own here; something I'm sure folks from Bloodborne will appreciate.
Naruto's not nearly as broken as the "Killing Monsters" incarnation, but in a way, he's worse off. He doesn't deem his life to have value.
Furthermore, I've taken liberties with Mercury's Semblance, given that we never see it.
After all, he gets it back in this chapter...oops, did I just say that?
Why, I believe I did. How silly of me.
Now then...off we go!
"Enough! What is wrong with you? How can you be so broken inside?!"
"If my sacrifice saves others, then I'd say that's a fair trade, wouldn't you...why did you just slap me?"
"You save so many lives, then say that your own is worth nothing! All with that damn smile on your face! You exist! You have meaning! Worth! Yet you cry for those you've slain?!"
"NO. I won't shed any tears for the Grimm. Its just...sometimes I...forget what I used to be. Who I used to be. Its funny, you know? I try to bury myself in my work. Help people. Heal them. But then I remember, and knowing once I was not...not this. This fucking thing. This monster...
"What did you just say?"
...nevermind. It was a slip. Don't worry. It won't happen again...
~Cinder and Sage.
The Devil Within
"Are you ready?"
Ruby Rose inhaled deeply.
Then she exhaled thrice as hard.
Trembling fingers raised Crescent Rose.
Silver eyes squinted against hazy moonlight.
Alright. She could do this. Crazy Maiden Powers. How bad could it be? She'd been training for days now, careful to keep her new "tricks" under wraps. Ozpin had been adamant on that; it wouldn't do for Salem to discover that she'd lost so useful a pawn, or so he claimed. For once Ruby was...less then pleased with his advice. She didn't like being cooped up like this, treated like glass. Staying in Haven would give her some much needed time to master her new abilities before they set out. And maybe not zap Weiss. No matter how funny that might've been the first time.
Alright. Breathe. Concentrate...
"Oh gods, her eyes are glowing again!" Yang cried in faux despair. "Duck and cover!"
Ruby made a keening noise.
"Stoppit~!"
That distraction cost her dearly as Ozpin's cane swooped at her face.
She yelped and parried out of instinct if nothing else, only to find her scythe's edge coated itself in red flame. Oops? When she tried to parry again her body betrayed her and lightning leaped from her fingers to strike her opponent in the chest. Ruby didn't cackle. Villains cackled. But she DID giggle as Oscar's body tumbled backwards. It felt good to finally hit him for once. Even if have been an accident. This power was...well. Try as she might, she didn't have a word for it, save that it felt alive. Alive, and eager for action. But still! Victory!
"Ha!" she crowed, pumping a fist. "Got it this time!"
"Well done, miss Rose." she preened beneath Ozpin -he stood too straight to be Oscar- and his gentle praise. "Now, I believe you were interested in the practical applications of flight?"
Ruby squealed. "Yes, please!"
Qrow tipped his flask to his lips and bit back a sigh. "As if she wasn't dangerous enough...
He knew that Maiden Powers were a good thing; he just wished his niece wasn't the vessel for them. Damnit. Why did it have to be Ruby? If she wasn't a target before, she'd be one now. Salem would come howling for her head once she understood just how thoroughly she'd been played. Did Ruby realize that? Probably. Should he rain on her parade and wipe that smile from her face? Absolutely not. Qrow was many things, but cruel wasn't one of them. She had her team. She had JNPR. She had him and Ozpin. She'd be safe. He'd make certain of it.
He wouldn't -couldn't!- break his promise to Summer; even it cost him his life. Gods, he missed her.
Somewhere in the distance, he thought he heard a Beowolf howl.
Wait...was that a Beowolf? Grimm didn't laugh.
Meh. Someone was having a good time.
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto howled out a laugh as he ripped through another Grimm.
Gods this felt good.
Wind in his face, pulse pounding in his ears, all the world a vivid whorl of color as the broken bodies of countless Grimm writhed and twisted around him. It made Naruto feel young again. Here and now, in the thrill of the moment, all his sins were forgotten; all his misdeeds and mistakes pushed to the wayside. He didn't have to think, didn't need to restrain himself. Grimm were mindless beasts, wholly devoid of logic or reason. There could be no bargaining with them, no talking them down from a fright, no sparing them.
So he didn't.
Instead, laughter leaped from his lips -laughter that didn't belong to him- as he pounced upon a Greater Ursa and viciously divested the beast of its head before turning to hurl its dissolving body into a pack of immature Deathstalkers some yards away. Caught unprepared by the unorthodox missile, most of the gangly creatures were flattened beneath its bulk. Just as well; he flicked a pair of clones toward the stragglers and didn't spare the rest so much as a passing glance as he turned back to the fray.
It was a fine night for a hunt.
Strength surged back into his weary body as he fought on through the horde and rallied the people to him; never in front of him, but behind him. Always behind him and out of harms way, forcing the Grimm to focus on him and him alone. This village was no stranger to their kind; they'd fought them before and knew they would fight them again. He'd taught them well in his time among them. He wouldn't teach them about chakra, no, never chakra, but nearly every man, woman and child had their Aura unlocked. Of that group, every adult knew how to fight. They had to, this far from Haven. Beset by bandits and Grimm alike, they'd learned to survive long ago.
"Somebody get me my bloody weapon!"
He barked the words into the chaos and sure enough, an ax sailed through the air to meet his waiting palm.
A strange hybridization of a cleaver and saw alike, it was a weapon meant for one purpose and one alone, with a long handle and a curved blade that bent around said handle to make better use of centrifugal force. The staple of those who weren't quite huntsmen, but weren't civilians either. This was a crude and ugly tool, meant for one purpose. Rip and tear. The name he'd said instrument was...apt, to say the least.
Devil's Rot.
That tainted saw, coated in corrosive chakra, swung down neatly to bisect a Beowulf and slash through a larger Boarbatusk's skull when it rolled at him. Naruto grunted in satisfaction and chambered the switch at the base of the handle, causing the long edge to snap outward as he wielded it like a club. Grimm died in droves to its pointed teeth, felled by low cuts and hard blows.
Those that didn't fell to his fists or his clones.
Still, for every ten he slew, more spilled from the trees and the sky to take their place; he tried to hold back, to avoid using chakra overmuch, lest it agitate his body...and his tenant within. Once upon a time, Naruto might have wondered what could've stirred so many Grimm up in such numbers, but he'd long since shed that foolish brick-headed ignorance. Now he knew the answer, just as his body knew the threat before him and responded accordingly. Instinctively. Call it the legacy of a misspent youth.
Now?
He tore another Beowulf in half and found an ashen-faced Mercury waiting for him on the other side. Well. Good to know the little punk was still alive. They must've been drawn back by the fighting. Hazel likely wasn't far behind, judging by the furious roar somewhere behind him. But still, the silver-haired teen continued to gape at him.
"What the hell are you?" he rasped.
Naruto blew out a breath. Complicated, he thought.
Instead, he laid a hand on Mercury's shoulder. "Are you alright?"
An angry Beowolf lunged at them and he eviscerated its jaw with his free hand.
"I'm fine. Stop that. You're not my old man." the teen growled and shook his other arm off. "I don't need anything from you."
The ancient shinobi bit back the urge to roll his eyes. Good lord, the Grimm were attacking and the boy was trying to be edgy. Sasuke would've laughed at him. Still, he could see the problem readily enough; his altered eye told him all he needed to know about the boy. Aura was the soul, and this boy had his all but ripped away when his Semblance was sealed. Not stolen. Sealed. It was still there. He could sense, see that tiny ember beating in the boy's chest. It had always been there. Really, the remedy was obvious. He just had to wake it up again. He'd done it once before; it would be the work of moments...and perhaps a way to push the boy back onto the right path.
"Oh?" so he let a slow, sleepy smile dawn on his whiskered cheeks. "Then I take it you wouldn't want your Semblance back?"
Mercury's jaw clicked shut in childish defiance. "Bullshit. You can't do that. No one can."
Was that a challenge? Naruto seized him before he could protest.
"For it is in time that we find our meaning." One hand alighted on the boy's forehead and the other touched his chest as a faint silver glow suffused his form. "Through healing that we preserve others. Through words we save the world." he intoned the words rapidly as the world burned around them. "Through kindness we preserve the bonds we hold dear. Mercury Black." for a fleeting instant, his eyes burned white. "I awaken your soul once more and by my words unshackle thee."
He released him and the assassin jerked back as if he'd been slapped, gaping at his hands as though he'd grown extra fingers. "I...you...how?! What did you just do?!"
"I gave you back your Semblance." Naruto prodded his chest with a finger. "You never lost it. It was just asleep. I woke it up again."
...I know." The boy balked at him, eyes flitting to his palms. "I can feel it. Its there. My old man never stole it?"
Naruto shrugged awkwardly. "Doesn't seem like it?"
For a fleeting instant, the boy looked lost. "What do I do now?"
Oh for the love of...?! He was asking that question?! Here!? Now?! He pushed him forward. "Fight."
"You know what?" A small, sly grin tugged at the corner of Mercury's mouth. "I take it back. Best dad ever."
Naruto clutched his black heart and nearly keeled backward. Sticks and stones could break a man's bones, but those words? Critical damage. Dad?! Urk. He'd never been called that before. For all his poking and prodding of Salem's minions, he hadn't expected one of them to crumble this fast, least of all to call him that. And didn't that just make him feel old as dirt? Even if he didn't look it. Still, it was...not an unpleasant feeling.
So he slapped his shoulder and sent him on his way. "Go get 'em, kid."
To his credit the assassin recovered quickly from his brief lapse and spun back into the melee with a smirk. Naruto almost pitied the Beowolf he fell upon. Mercury's semblance was a powerful piece of work; the more hits he landed on an opponent, the more damage he did. Fitting for one who knew his trade. Naruto let him fight, content in the knowledge that he could look after himself. Good kid. Bit fucked up in the head and all, nothing he couldn't fix given time. But now was the time for fighting, not fixing. Still, an amusing thought niggled at him.
...did I just adopt a criminal?' he wondered. 'Huh. Feels kinda nice.'
He punted a Boarbatusk that tried to barrel into him and waded in where the Grimm were the thickest.
Yet no matter how many he hacked and slashed, more kept coming, drawn to him like a beacon. It was always like this.
Grimm would inevitably focus on him to the exclusion of all else. His...passenger guaranteed that. Even sealed, Kaguya was a blight upon him. Her very presence radiated negativity, moreso when he fought. Still, it was a bit unusual for so large a swarm to strike in the dead of-oops. Something slapped against his back and he plucked a Nevermore from his shoulder. Sloppy work.
"Really?" he asked of the squawking bird as it flailed in his grasp, "What did you think this would accomplish?"
It shot a nasty caw at him and he broke the creature's neck without a second thought. A shadow fell over him a heartbeat later, blotting out the moonlight.
Mismatching eyes of sapphire and violet rose to meet mindless red ones. Despite himself, despite knowing it was futile, Naruto still smiled. "I don't suppose we could talk about this?"
Twin fists descended on his skull, only to stop short against the biting edge of Devil's Rot. Beringel were not quiet creatures; he'd heard the ape coming ages ago, nor was Grimm flesh a match for the chakra of a tainted god. Tan fingers flicked out before the beast could try pound him to paste between its meaty fists again. Devil's Rot slipped between its legs and the Grimm's legs buckled, leaving it to crumple with a whimper. His weapon took it high and hard in the throat, cutting its yelp into a pitiful hiss.
"See, that's not very nice." Naruto hummed over its tortured shrieks. "You're gonna make me angry at this rate." His gaze narrowed. "You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
Yet another Ursa lunged at him while he dispatched it; one of his clones must've missed it among the others. He snagged its paw in passing with his free hand and tore it free. In that same movement he took that great burly limb and ruthlessly rammed it through the belly of the beast. It didn't even have a chance to feel the pain; his right hand slammed forward and smashed a Rasengan through its skull. It was still dissolving when a large Beowolf bounded through its remains to tackle him in a shadowy blur. On a whim, he decided to pit his strength against the beast.
Less so the rest of the pack that dog-piled onto him. Persistent bastards.
In another life, he would've been crushed under their weight. Now? he merely snorted and raised a hand.
"Almighty Push."
A rolling wave of concussive force exploded from Naruto's palm to dash the Grimm against one another, grinding them to sullen dust. Somehow, one of the larger ones managed to survive. Annoyed, he climbed to his feet and reached out again, yanking it towards him with a Divine Pull.
To its credit, the beast actually managed to bite him before he grabbed it; slavering jaws crunched down on his chest, tearing through flesh and bone. A human would've died. Naruto had no heart left to pierce, no lungs to sunder, and so only clicked his tongue in mild admonishment of himself as much as the beast as he snatched it up by the throat, prying it jaws free from his chest. Uncaring of the holes left behind. Its confused gurgle was sweet, sweet music to his ears. Their confusion never got old. Something dark in him fed on their fear.
He thought he heard Emerald gasp somewhere behind him, but he paid her no mind.
Unused to being overpowered, the Beowolf went wild in his grasp, limbs flailing to tear great bloody furrows in his face and throat. Blood stained white claws red, but he barely felt the wounds; pain was an old friend these days. They'd already closed by the time the beast reared for a second strike. He never gave it a chance to finish what it started.
"Bad dog." Naruto admonished, tightening his grip on the Grimm's jugular. "You should know better."
It slashed weakly at him again.
That mighty roar withered to a whine then a whimper as he crushed its windpipe. Red eyes bulged in abject horror as he tossed it into the air and caught it by the leg, hefting all seven feet of it like a crude flail. This time, Naruto wasn't able to keep the smile from his face. He was losing control, sliding down a slippery slope from which there might be no coming back. He knew it, but in that moment he couldn't bring himself to care. His blood was up. So much anger. So much fear.
"Come on, then!" the words tore out of him in a roar. "Who wants some?!"
A pack of Beringel accepted his challenge and barreled towards him.
For all its intelligence, his captive Beowolf couldn't do anything more than squeak when he bashed it against them. Naruto cackled again and smashed it against another Grimm, flattening an unlucky Ursa beneath its bulk as if it were no more than a cub. Beating one bastard with another bastard. Huh. He was sure there was a pun to be had there somewhere, but he couldn't think of one. He was too busy laughing; didn't even realize that his impromptu weapon had expired until he realized he was fighting with his hands again.
Casting its crumbing corpse aside, he snatched up his weapon and bounded back into the fray.
Violence was so...uncivilized, but he recognized it as a necessary evil. After all, you couldn't barter with the Grimm.
But as much as he might loathe it, someone savored the bloodshed. Even now he could hear Kaguya singing in the back of his head, cackling at the carnage as he crushed every Grimm before him. One manged to swat his weapon out of his hand, leaving him to fight on with his fists. All the while, the rabbit goddess laughed at him. At herself. At everyone. She wasn't even sane anymore; just a writhing mass of power, of hateful envy, sloth, greed, and lust every sin made manifest. Of course she enjoyed this. Her presence made him nearly indestructible and she fed off every life he took-
Naruto missed a step as a spike of red hot agony shoved itself through his temple. Damnit. Not now.
"Yes, now!" her silken voice cried in the back of his head. "Hack and slash! Rip and tear! Kill them! Kill them all! KILL!"
Her childish enthusiasm for the slaughter sickened him and his thoughts turned inward as he fought on; even as a brutish Beringel burst when he flung a Rasenshuriken at it. Not enough. He wanted to tear them apart-no. Calm thoughts. He couldn't afford to rile her up overmuch, lest he lose control of himself. Even now he was nearly drunk on her chakra. It burned through his veins, hot and heady, demanding a release...so he did the next best thing. If she wanted a chance to vent, he'd give her one...just not in the way she intended.
A simple crossing of his hands flooded the village with more shadow clones.
They appeared everywhere; some alighted atop buildings, others in the trees, still more crouched with weapons in hand. For a fleeting instant everything froze, even the Grimm themselves, startled by the sudden influx of bodies. Hundreds of them. Naruto felt his smile twist into something monstrous as everyone gaped at him, human and monster alike. Even his allies. Ants. They were all ants to be crushed and-no. He stubbornly tamped it down and blew out an angry breath. He wouldn't lose control. He refused.
"Time wrap things up, boys!" his voice boomed at the lot of them. "Go! Protect the people!"
With that simple act, the battle was all but won.
He fought on, tracking any strays that tried to break away from the flood of death he'd just unleashed. It was all he could do. He'd come to this world to hide, not to hurt. To seal himself away, and when that had failed, eke out a humble existence on his own. Even healing came as a whim; he'd used his talents to help someone on death's door, just once, and word spread. People found him. Soon enough, this village sprang up around him over time as supplicants came to him; one he found himself tasked with protecting. It was and always would be a far cry from Hokage, but living here made him happy.
And now he rained death on those that would harm his precious piece of paradise.
Mercury and Hazel gaped at him as a rampaging herd of Goliath went down with an anguished wail; mighty trunks flailing as their bodies were swarmed by a raging river of doppelgangers. Emerald poked her head out just in time to see flocks of Manticores die in droves as a hail fireballs sent them tumbling from the sky. Cinder was given the express pleasure of watching the forest come to life around her; of seeing giant Griffins crash to the ground as the very earth betrayed them; roots leaping up to snag the beasts from the sky and drag them screaming into the mud, never to be seen again.
And just like that, the world went silent.
It took Naruto a handful of seconds to realize that the Grimm incursion had been stymied; that the battle was done and people were looking to him for guidance. Guidance. Ha! Bitterness bubbled up inside of him as he felt his fingers twitch traitorously at his sides. One hand descended on his scalp, pushing down the horns he'd felt growing for the better part of five minutes now. Kaguya's horns. Those ghastly red things resisted him despite his best attempts, so he snapped them off in a fit of pique.
"More!" Kaguya cried in his head.
No. it was time to stop. Anymore than this and he really would lose control. Blowing out a breath, he bled his tension away and forced himself to face his people. There were bodies, of course. There were always bodies. It didn't matter. He wouldn't let them die of anything less than natural causes, and if someone did, he'd correct that mistake. They knew that. They trusted him. Death held no meaning to any of these people. Why should it? people...because they didn't comprehend the cost. With every soul he snatched back from death, he felt a little more of himself slip away . Didn't matter. Their lives mattered more than his. He was content to fade away if it meant dragging Kaguya to the void alongside him.
"You all fought well." he congratulated each of them. "Bring the wounded to me, and I'll-
"You're hurt."
Emerald's words and her hands on his arm -when had she gotten that close?!- brought him up short.
"Shit." Mercury hissed, and just like that, the blond found himself cornered. "That doesn't look good. Trust me, I'd know."
Frowning at their pointed concern as much as his own irritation, the ancient shinobi glanced past those concerned eyes and stole a glance at his ruined coat. Saw the still mending wounds in his torso. Oh. No wonder they were concerned. That looked grisly. Even now he could hints of white bone of his ribs peeking through the muscle. Hmm. Must've expended more energy than he thought if he hadn't recovered yet. The thought brought with it an feeling, an almost childish pang of concern. Nonsense. He would recover. He always healed. He always did. It was his curse.
"It doesn't matter." and it didn't, not in the grand scheme of things. He turned away from her. "As I said, bring the wounded."
Emerald recoiled, incredulously. "You're the one who's wounded! How are you still standing?!"
"Because I must." Naruto frowned at her. If not him, who would?
He expected them to simply back down, that this would be the end of their argument. It wasn't. Sure enough the two teenagers pursed their lips and stepped away, but even as they did so, Naruto heard an all-too-familiar snarl sunder the air behind him. A lifetime ago, he would've given a groan and palmed his face. Now? He merely rolled his eyes when an arm of darkest shadows closed around his left wrist to reel him in. He could've removed said arm in any number of ways, could've killed its owner in an instant. He chose not to, and weathered the tirade that followed with stoic patience.
"You absolute buffoon!"
"Cinder." he sighed, turning to stare into angry amber eyes. "You shouldn't be out of bed."
She really shouldn't be; but when had common sense prevailed her before? Still, she stood before him. Even then she looked as though she might topple over at the slightest breeze. Her lovely visage was pale and slicked with sweat and though she'd managed to find her red dress and climb back into it, it couldn't disguise the way she held herself. Her gait was clearly off, body poised awkwardly on her good leg, and she all but clung to him for balance, yet her gaze blazed in singular fury.
"Enough! What is wrong with you? How can you be so broken inside?!"
"Broken?" The words stabbed at him, drawing a scowl to whiskered cheeks. "If my sacrifice saves others, then I'm more than willing to take a few wounds-
Her human hand cracked across Naruto's face in a devastating slap, jerking his head to the side. Anger blazed, anger he tried to stifle as he raised a tan palm to his throbbing cheek. The blow didn't hurt. Didn't even sting really, but the gesture behind it all but smacked of contempt. It surprised him, but also made him proud. Such a strange emotion. Pride in someone else. Unfortunately it was overshadowed by Kaguya's unyielding rage. It took all he had to restrain himself.
...why did you just slap me?"
"You idiot." the words were a hiss. "Are you trying to die?"
"I cannot die." he'd meant to state it as a fact, but her expression turned thunderous. "There's no need to concern yourself with my safety."
She tried to slap him again; this time he caught her wrist. "Stop that." he warned, the words pitching into a growl. "I'm not just going to stand there and take it."
"You save so many lives, then say that your own is worth nothing!" her Grimm hand stabbed into his chest, pushing him back half a pace. "All with that damn smile on your face!"
Had he upset her somehow? Gods, women baffled him. "What's wrong with smiling?"
"Everything!"
It was the worst thing he could've said; because Cinder reared back with a hiss. He let her go, releasing her wrist. She stumbled, nearly fell before she caught herself. His hand nearly reached out for hers, but she stood on her own two legs, ignoring the pain even now lancing through her leg. She was strong. Even here at her weakest, he suspected she'd sooner spit than accept his help. Why was she so riled up? In his mind, he hadn't done anything wrong. Cinder clearly believed he had.
"You exist!" she jabbed him again, drawing a scowl a blink when her finger thrust itself against his nose. "You have meaning! Worth! Look at you! Now you're cry for those you've slain?!"
Crying?
Naruto squinted and touched a hand to his face again, realizing his eyes were in fact damp. He wasn't crying. That was all Kaguya, the spiteful bitch. Damn her. Damn them. Something ugly reared inside his heart once more, slipping through his grasp before he could control it. Who was she to judge him? He'd taken her and her cohorts in without a second thought. Tended their wounds and nursed them back to health. And she dared to question his methods? To berate him in her fallacy? Did she think he'd wanted this? Kaguya?! Any of this?!
"NO."
Cinder felt the pressure a heartbeat before it hit; in that she managed to steady herself in time. It didn't help.
She knew she'd made a mistake, but she was too angry to care.
"You little fool," Naruto swore softly, shaking his head fro side to side, hair swaying in the wind. Something in his voice made her flinch. It sounded different. Colder. Older. "I won't shed any tears for the Grimm. Not them. Never them. They're not worth it. Its just...sometimes I...forget what I used to be." a small, bitter chuckle tumbled out of his lips. "Who I used to be. Its funny, you know?" as she looked on, he palmed his face. "I try to bury myself in my work. Help people. Heal them. But sometimes I remember, and knowing once I was not...not this."
"Not what?" she challenged, anger still seething in her veins. "A fool?"
White eyes regarded her and she recoiled.
"This fucking thing!" suddenly he was in her face, snarling at her, veins throbbing in his eyes. "This monster. Look at me. I SAID LOOK AT ME!" he grabbed her chin when she turned away from him, forcing her to do meet his gaze. "I used to be a man, Cinder. I used to be ALIVE. Who are you to question me and my methods?! Where would you be without me?! Well?!" she opened her mouth to snap at him and his fury ignited tenfold. "Cold! Dead! Forgotten! I shaved away a piece of my SOUL to bring you back, not have you act like-
He expected anger. Defiance at the least. Not the gasp.
...you did what?"
Damnitall. He hadn't meant to say that. Her reaction drained the anger right out of him as surely as a broken sieve; he stepped backward, ashamed of his outburst. She tried to follow him, but her leg finally buckled and in a moment of weakness Naruto found himself moving in to catch her. She fought him like a hellcat, writhing and thrashing in his grasp the moment his hands touched hers.
"Let go of me, blast you!"
"Sorry." he grumbled, tearing his gaze from hers. "It was a slip. Don't worry. It won't happen again...
"Bumbling oaf!" Cinder was spitting sparks when he finally released his hold on her. "I...you...aargh! What am I do to with you?!"
"Kiss me~?" he teased, falling back on their old routine. Deny, deny, deny. Don't speak of anything else. It was the one thing he knew she'd never do.
Her human hand snapped up to seize a fistful of his hair and he realized what Cinder was about to do. She was well and truly furious with him now, her blood still up from the attack. She wasn't thinking rationally. Neither was he. Perhaps, had Naruto been in his right mind, he would've anticipated her ambush and reacted accordingly.
He'd underestimated her.
With a low hiss that sounded entirely too much like a snake, Cinder pushed herself up on her good leg and rammed her mouth against his even as she dragged his face down to hers. It was quick. Rough. Forceful. She bit his lower lip with enough force to draw blood, her tongue ruthlessly plundering his mouth like a sunken galleon before jerking away thrice as fast. Before he could even think to speak she released him. Eyes of molten gold glowered defiantly up at him. Then her hands came up on his chest and cannoned out with impressive force.
"Oomph?!"
It was a very good push all things considered; it struck him dead in the ribs and knocked him right on his arse with a startled squawk. He allowed it, too stunned to do anything else. Emerald squeaked. Mercury made an irritated noise that sounded vaguely ill...until a shit-eating grin spread across his face. Naruto knew it all too well; if only because he'd worn the same smile in his youth during his pranks. No. Surely he wouldn't. Oh, who was he kidding. Of course he would. He had an inkling of what the young assassin was about to say and made no effort to stop him. Yup. That settled it. Favorite kid.
"Aw, Mommy and Daddy finally made up."
Emerald went red.
Cinder choked. "What?!"
Hazel...actually chuckled.
Naruto wasn't far behind him; though his laughter proved louder and more raucous by far. Women. He'd never understand them. Though she didn't answer, her silence lifted a weight from him. Her sullen squawking and sputtering were all the response he needed. It lifted his spirits in a way he hadn't thought possible. Oh gods, he'd needed this. Never had he needed something so badly and never known until he received it. Try as he might, he couldn't hold himself back, nor did he make any effort to rise.
It left him shaking and cackling in the dirt, all his anger forgotten.
"Fuck off and die, the lot of you!" Cinder spat at them. "See if I care! Hmmph!"
Without another word, she marched back to her hut. Bastards and brats, all of them! Damn them all!
(.0.0.0.)
Salem was many things.
Calculating. Charismatic. Cold.
But she was also patient. Terribly patient.
When the deck was stacked against her, when she found herself in an unfavorable situation she, she often chose to wait. Outlast her enemies. Time was her ally in all things. When you were immortal, eternal, everlasting, years ceased to have any meaning for one such as her. A day was but the blink of an eye. A year? Mild inconvenience. She'd once waited decades before making her move.
She'd had countless minions over the years, but her Grimm? There were always more to be had.
She could see through every creature she created; it was both a blessing and a curse; albeit one she rarely used. fI she but willed it she could have eyes in any one of the four kingdoms, but only in one hemisphere at any given time. For instance, she couldn't see through an Ursa in Vacuo while gazing through the eyes of a Nevermore somewhere in Mistral. Her powers were many, her skills great, but her focus could not be in two places at once, no matter how much she might wish it otherwise.
And speaking of wishes...?
She'd just happened to glance a most familiar figure just now.
Now whatever was her sweet little Cinder doing in a rundown village like that?
A/N: Papa Naruto is best Naruto.
And did you think Salem would stay silent forever? Not a chance.
Ohoho, careful Cinder, your feelings are starting to show. This chapter was a blast to write.
Naruto really doesn't consider his life to have any meaning; he'll happily help others and do his best to fix them, but he doesn't care for his own life. Naturally, our girl didn't take too kindly to that, if it ain't obvious. Raven and Jaune bits will appear next chapter, would've felt forced to include that much here.
Unfortunately, Salem doesn't realize just what Naruto is. Things are going to get explosive soon. Remember, there's a reason our boy doesn't fight unless someone pushes him to. The more he exerts himself the more influence that Kaguya gets, and the more she gets...well. We don't want to unleash a mad goddess on the world now, do we? Doesn't help that Kaguya's mind is all but cracked by t
Due to Ruby's newfound power, the gang's ended up lingering in Mistral for a bit longer, which doesn't bode well either.
As ever, reviews keep this old man alive during this dark and crazy time. I ain't joking.
Seriously, we're all locked away anyways these days, its all that sustains me.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas... Review...Would You Kindly?
And enjoy these previews! Remember those hints?
Yes? No? Hope you paid attention. Because!
Who knows? We might see Roman again.
Here. We. Go~!
(Preview)
"You're going into town with...Emerald?"
"Need some supplies," Naruto hummed. "You're welcome to join us."
Cinder saw Emerald squirm slightly, saw the pleased flush on the girl's face.
Oh? He wanted to play that way, did he?! Very well! She'd show him. No one bested Cinder Fall!
"Stop!" Cinder retreated, rubbing at her throat. Too close. "I didn't kill your boss, girl!"
She may as well have spoken to the wind. Neo's stern visage descended on her with a soundless hiss.
No. She fought back, but her leg betrayed her, hampered her. Not like this. She refused to die here. She refused!
R&R~!