A/N: WARNING! PLEASE READ THIS NOTE WOULD YOU KINDLY?
EDIT: Ha! Is that all the flames/trolls in the comments can muster! I've seen puppies with more bite than their death threats! Bah! Deleted!
TIMESKIP AHOY! Well, not much of one, but still! The big timeskips are coming, and sooner than you think. Funny thing about Glynda; we don't know her past, and likely never will given the current direction. Meaning the gang and I have free reign to give her quite the intriguing backstory.
Such a shame we haven't seen Glynda since Volume Three...
This chapter's glorious because all of Remnant, and I do mean EVERYONE -bar Neo and Roman!- are suddenly aware of Naruto thanks to Roman's recording. Naturally, everyone begins to draws their own comparisons as a result and things spiral out of control from here on out. Ah, the glorious misunderstandings.
Furthermore, if it wasn't obvious by now, Neo cleary didn't stop recording when Naruto and Roman told her too. Bad Neo! Bad!
NOTE: The site glitches threw off our update schedule MASSIVELY. Not only that, it put us behind by a week! Now me and my team have to work twice as hard to meet our deadlines, nevermind the fact that SEASON EIGHT OF RWBY was apparently released so we've got that to research and analyze too!
"Well, you've stepped in it now. Everyone knows your face, if not your name. Any regrets?"
"No. That man was a monster. Arresting him wouldn't change anything."
"Glad we're on the same page. I've got a proposition for you."
~Roman and Naruto.
Partners in Justice (Prelude To A New Future)
The news spread like wildfire.
Within hours the video was the talk of Vale. By the end of next day? All of Remnant knew of the "tragedy" that had befallen the Winchester family. Some smiled. Others shouted condemnations, calling for the head of this oh-so-cruel murderer. And some watched. The actions of that day reverberated across the world. From the lowliest of soldiers to the greatest of general. Everyone saw. Everyone knew. How could they not? The CCT was a powerful tool spanning kingdoms, and Roman made good use of it while he could.
It took the authorities nearly twenty-four hours to remove the video from circulation. By then the damage was done; taking it down only fanned the flames.
Calls with the actions of a certain "misguided huntress", the calls for change began. If huntsmen could not be controlled, what good were they? If one of the academy's was supported by a known bigot and murderer, then was it not corrupt? Investigations were launched across Vale. Faith in Ozpin's hunters and those who supported them plummeted worldwide.
Slowly but surely, events began to unravel.
And from within, several key figures took notice of the chaos.
For if knowledge is power dear reader...why, then information is King.
(.0.0.0.)
"Magnify."
With a single command, the screen shifted. The image didn't change; if anything it only confirmed Ironwood's darkest suspicions. He watched the video play out behind his desk him and leaned back in his chair, steepling both hands beneath his chin. Black flames. An unnatural fire that could be extinguished, yet refused to spread from its target. A controlled blaze that didn't harm anyone but its intended victim. Those attempted to touch it were left unharmed, even as it rebuffed all attempts to be smothered.
A small, morbid part of him found it fascinating.
This wasn't a Semblance; if it was, it was clearly one that could act independent of its wielder without a secondary source of power. By all accounts, Winchester was the only victim.
Even now the inferno was burning deep into the bedrock, eradicating the very foundations of the Winchester home. No love lost there. The man had been a pig even in his younger years. But to think he was this depraved, this twisted...his artificial arm clenched at the images, metal fingers grinding ominously." Ozpin. How could you be so blind...?"
Something had to be done. His old friend clearly didn't have the situation under control.
A huntress running rampant in the streets, and now this?
Perhaps a visit to Vale was in order...
(.0.0.0.)
"Delicious."
Salem couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed this hard. How long had it been? Decades? Centuries, at the very least.
She wiped a mirthful tear from the corner of her eye as the newsfeed played out before her once more.
An entire manor burned to the ground, the shame of a council member brought to light, then executed in summary fashion. She couldn't have planned it better herself. At first, she thought it might be Ozma's work...but no. he was too soft. Never able to make the hard choices. Never willing to sacrifice. He wanted to protect everything and everyone. More than that, he'd never risk the funding for his precious academy. He wouldn't dare. Not after he'd worked so, so very hard to build them. After all, what was one monster to another?
Still, had known Winchester was that corrupt, she would've used this ages ago. "Arthur."
The doctor stepped up beside her, ready and waiting as always. "My queen?"
Baleful red eyes narrowed. "You have the footage, correct?"
He nodded.
"I want this all over the kingdoms." she grinned. "Make it so. I want to see Ozma squirm."
In ages to come, when this era was naught but dust and their battle raged on, she would remind him of this moment.
"I won't be able to keep it up indefinitely." her minion grimaced, mustache twitching in the face of her glee. "Sooner or later, they'll take it down again."
Of course they would. But it didn't matter now. No matter what the authorities did, what they said, or how they denied it, the damage was done. No one would look at Vale the same way after this; something told her this "Naruto" character wasn't done. Oh, no. His reign of terror had only begun. He'd begun by painting the hunters of Vale as inept, and now he unearthed corruption and slew him for all to see. Vengeance as its finest, albeit not the sort Ozpin would espouse, but justice nevertheless. How quaint. Cinder could stand to take notes from him.
"As long as you can, then." she declared, settling into her throne.
She watched the scene play out again as he departed.
A new player had entered their little shadow war. How refreshing. What had once been a stagnant game now brimmed with fresh promise. This would bear watching. Perhaps an overture could be made? No. A more subtle touch was required here. She had no way of knowing where he'd retreated to, and he would likely keep his head down for a few weeks after this incident. Yes, a subtle touch was needed. A bit of a nudge here and there, a way to help him undermine Ozma yet further. Poor, poor Ozma. He would have egg on his face for years to come.
Salem found herself laughing again at the thought of his expression.
Cinder was not yet ready, but she would be. Soon.
What might she make of this young man?
(.0.0.0.)
Glynda Goodwitch considered herself good person.
After all, it was a part of her name.
She did her taxes, gave generously to the poor, and fought against injustice wherever she found it. She taught students to be more than what they were. Some student's might call her harsh, others may think her a disciplinarian or even a frigid bitch, but nothing was further from the truth. Glynda was strict because she cared. She was stern because if she wasn't, then her charges would never learn the lessons that they needed to survive. At the end of the day she genuinely believed in the innate goodness of mankind, that there was good in everyone.
The footage before her told a different story.
"Smile for the camera, mister former council member." Naruto hummed. "And tell the truth. The whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
This was no good. This was not kind.
Winchester looked at him, prepared to spout some more drive, only for fear to flash across his face.
This was evil. This was villainy at its finest. Or worst, in this case.
"Why...yes. Yes, of course." Winchester's words turned distant, his expression deceptively blank as he spoke. "It was me. I did it. She didn't know her place. I had to remind her of it. Teach her a lesson." without warning, that blank look vanished, replaced now by the smuggest of smiles. "Its the law of the jungle, you see." heedless of his imminent peril, and impending damnation, he continued to speak. "Every Faunus is beneath us." he actually dared to preen a little in the face of the camera. "Beneath me. You understand, don't you? As a council member of Vale, this was my right."
No. He wouldn't. He couldn't. He...he was going to, wasn't he?
Satin whimpered, and Naruto trembled with restraint. "Where's her sister?"
"Dead." came the immediate and uncaring response. "She wasn't sturdy. I fed her to my dogs."
Roman gagged at the last word. Neo shivered. Satin all but sobbed into Naruto's shoulder and went limp in his arms.
She watched things escalate from there until finally, blessedly, Winchester perished and the video cut out among the flames. She wanted to believe that was the end of things. It was not to be. The feed switched back to the newscaster and she found herself forced to relive an even more horrifying
"And by all accounts, the fires continue to burn without any sign of stopping." A very young woman with fine features, bright eyes and striking pale violet hair spoke into her microphone. "As you can see behind me, any and all attempts to stifle the blaze have failed." She looked as flustered as they all felt; or perhaps she was simply excited by the prospect of a good scoop. This was Lisa Lavender, after all. Rookie she may be, but she was terribly good at what she did. "Though many managed to escape the blaze, there has been a casualty. I repeat, there has been a confirmed casualty."
The camera panned back to burning ruin once more, focusing on the ruined shape that might have been a body.
"Blast it, Mark!" the reporter snapped. "Hold still!"
"Sorry!"
Lisa coughed and waved a hand
"The deceased is none other than Lord Winchester, scion of the Winchester family, former council member and generous patron to Beacon Academy," Oh, that absolute bitch! She knew exactly what she was doing! "He is survived by his wife and son. Eyewitness reports suggest he had been abducting women for quite some time, but attempts to bring him to justice were stymied by-
"Ozpin," Glynda all but groaned his name, "Turn it off. I've seen enough."
Remarkably, her old friend listened to her for once. With the television silenced a pall of awful silence fell over the tower.
But only for a moment.
"I knew it!" Summer crowed in naked triumph. "He's a criminal! We need to arrest him!"
Glynda rounded on the girl and with a soundless snarl. Right. She was here. Of course she was. She'd come running the moment she learned of the news. What some saw as justice she no doubt saw as vindication; the proof that she'd been right to chase after that harried young man all along. Fool of a girl! Did she not see the ramifications of this?
No, of course she didn't.
In many ways Summer's semblance reflected who she was; a tracker, a hunter, dogged and tireless. Once she had her prey set in her sights she'd not give up the chase. she was so dead-set on bringing him in that she was blind to all else! Under normal circumstances, such drive might be respected, rewarded even. Now was not that time. Cooler heads needed to prevail here. If tempers were allowed free reign, this had the potential to get very bad, very fast.
"Hardly." Perhaps she took a little too much pleasure in shutting the overeager girl down before she could gain traction. "By all accounts Winchester was corrupt."
Summer flailed her arms. "Then he should have been arrested, not killed! We all saw it! That...that was murder! No two ways about it!"
"Winchester likely killed many more women in his tenure." Glynda stood firm, refusing to falter in the face of such foolish passion. "Are you defending him?"
The cloaked huntress turned an alarming shade of red. "What?! No! Of course not! What he did was monstrous!"
Glynda saw her weakness and moved in. "Then what's wrong with putting down a mad dog?"
Ozpin palmed his face. "Glynda...don't speak ill of the dead."
"I'll say what I will, sir. The man was demon."
"You...you...!" Summer's pale visage flushed down to the very roots of her hair as she sputtered for breath. Poor thing. If one looked closely enough, they could hear her ideals clashing against the evidence in front her; all but see her pride crumbling as she was forced toe face the ugly truth. Hadn't she learned her lesson by now?
"I?" Glynda feigned an innocent blink.
Silver eyes narrowed and in her anger, the girl's tongue slipped. "You're only saying that because you're sweet on him!"
The headmaster unbent enough to sigh. "Oh, dear...
Glynda blinked, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected accusation. Once. Twice. Thrice. Did Summer just...? Had she honestly...? Why Yes. Yes, she had. She sucked in a breath through her teeth, straightened, and adjusted her glasses. Calm. This mustn't register on emotional level. Summer Rose was known for speaking out of turn. She was a girl ruled by her emotions, and while this was ordinarily a good thing, her tongue had the tendency to get away from her sometimes. Again, this shouldn't bother her. Nay, such baseless accusation did not bother her.
Her crop slammed into an open palm with a vicious whack of sound.
It bothered her a lot.
"Miss Rose."
"Y-Y-Yes?" Summer gulped.
The teacher drew in a slow, shuddering breath and for the first time years, her calm countenance cracked. Just a fraction. Just a hair. Green eyes narrowed upon Summer Rose. It was enough to turn the young woman all but skitter back like a frightened rabbit. There was a reason Glynda never allowed herself to lose her temper these days; if only because it meant a perpetual backslide into the wildness of her youth. Back when she'd been so very fierce, before Ozpin brought light into her life, before she'd changed her name, before Beacon, before everything. She hadn't always been a good person.
"Count yourself grateful that you are no longer one of my students." a faint smile plucked at the corner of her mouth. "If you were...
Summer caught a glimpse of that woman now, and it was enough to turn her positively pallid.
...Glynda let the threat go unfinished.
Summer realized her gaffe a second later, but it was too late to take it back. Moreover, her pride wouldn't allow it.
"Y-You're soft!" she accused, stabbing a finger at her. "Afraid to do the right thing! That's why you haven't found him yet! You're not even looking!"
Soft? Oh, sweet Summer, child. She had no idea. In her younger years Glynda would've broken this girl's kneecaps for such disrespect. Summer would have been thrown over the walls, and assuming she survived the fall, left for the Grimm. She would have been an example to the other families, a reason to toe the line. Something ugly reared its head in Glynda's heart, a reminder of a past she'd rather forget. Perhaps she needed some of that discipline now...?
"Enough, the both of you!" Ozpin saw the look on her face and raised his voice before they could come to blows. "We have enough enemies without the two of you tearing one another apart!
Glynda blinked and reality snapped back, leaving her to seethe in the silence.
Winchester had been proven to be a monster, that much was certain. Everyone knew that now. But he was a monster who'd donated to Beacon. Generously so, in fact. A former council member now outed as a bigot, murderer, and a sycophant. They would come under scrutiny for this. Coupled with Summer's earlier "incident" this would cast a shadow on their every action for years to come, if not decades. Nevermind outliers like the White Fang. This had been broadcast across every kingdom thanks to the CCT. Everyone had seen it; or rather, someone seemed to have a vested interest in making them see it. Taking it down only made it worse.
Was that Naruto's aim? Did he intend to destabilize the entire region? Logic said yes. Her heart said otherwise.
When they'd met he'd all but bowled her over, then raced back to check on her. She remembered the fear in his eyes when Summer gave chase, and she'd seen the righteous fury in his gaze when he scorched Winchester to cinders like the wretched little pig he was. You couldn't falsify that kind of fury. You couldn't fake the wounds on that poor faunus girl. She might not survive. How long had Winchester been doing this? Weeks? Months? Or perhaps even...no. The thought made her sick and she shoved it down.
Glynda would never, ever countenance such behavior.
In that aspect, she agreed with Naruto. Men get arrested. Dogs get put down.
Still, they needed unity here to face the coming storm. United we stand, divided we fall, or so the saying went.
"And speaking of disobedience," Ozpin continued, his gaze swinging to Summer. "What's this I hear about you poking around downtown?"
"Oh?" She'd not heard of this. Glynda folded both arms beneath her bosom and arched a slender brow at her former student. "Yes, by all means. Do tell."
"Urk." The huntress flinched like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. "How did you...?"
"Summer," Ozpin continued with a long suffering sigh, "Your cloak is red on the inside. Did you really think turning it inside out, wearing a dress, and applying a bit of makeup would change anything?"
...I kept my hood up?" the poor girl offered a pitiful squeak. When both teachers glowered at her said squeak turned to a groan. "But I did what you said!" she flailed her arms with a whine. "I didn't go after Naruto! I was looking into Torchwick!"
Glynda slammed a hand down. "A known associate of his!"
Summer stomped a boot. "I didn't know that beforehand! I wouldn't have gone anywhere near him otherwise!"
Ozpin blew out an angry breath. "I am willing to let the matter go this time, since nothing came of it. Do be more careful next time."
"Hmm!" her eyes lit up. "Then can I-
"You will not, miss Rose. His gaze snapped to Summer before she could get another word. "I doubt I need to tell you how poorly your actions reflect upon us. This is the second incident. We cannot afford a third. Do you understand? Go home. Spend time with your family."
She lifted her chin in defiance. "Is that an order?"
Oz frowned. "Must I make it one?"
She shook her head fitfully.
"Good girl." he waved a hand. "Enjoy your vacation."
Summer didn't need another warning; she all but slunk her way back to the elevator, muttering under her breath for every step. Glynda watched her go with a wary look. No doubt she thought this vindicated her. It didn't. In the future, she would be watched to prevent another incident like this. Perhaps Oobleck or Port would be willing...not. Not Port. That man didn't know the meaning of stealth. Oobleck it was, then. The students would thank her for the lack of homework, at least...
Mastering herself, she flicked a nervous look toward Ozpin.
"Sir, what do we do?"
The headmaster's shoulders sagged and for a moment she glimpsed the crushing weight of his years. Not merely his body, but his soul. "You still intend to find him, I trust?"
She dared a nod.
"Good. Seek him out. Talk to him. Make him see sense. We're running out of time.
Glynda departed at a brisk walk. Ozpin turned back to his window as she left him alone.
A stormy sky awaited him without, overcast and grey. It felt like a portend of things to come.
Once was an accident. Twice was a coincidence. Would there be a third incident? He feared it would be so. Had they driven this young man into the arms of evil? Was he a pawn of Salem? The suspicion was there, but he found himself hesitant to act on it. Doing so might well condemn an innocent man to death. And yet the fear persisted. If he was one of hers, if he was indeed trying to bring Beacon down from without and within...well, a call to James might be in order. Forewarned is forearmed, after all.
Who knew what dastardly deed he was getting up to even now?
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto exhaled in a long-suffering sigh.
"Can I have my arm back now? Please? Pretty please?"
Silence reigned supreme. His right eye began to twitch angrily. "Its been hours now. Come on!"
Even if Satin Scarlatina heard his pleas, she didn't seem inclined to answer. Certainly not in her current state. Instead she slept soundly at his side; indeed, the steady rise and fall of her chest served as her sole response in the matter. Open and shut. She couldn't possibly be faking...right? He reared back and prodded her cheek. She didn't budge. When he dug his finger in further she offered a noise of protest; it sounded so pitiful that he couldn't help but pull away.
"Alright, alright." he groused, flopping back against the pillows. "Guess I'm not going anywhere for the time being."
Against all odds and the doctor's grim diagnosis, the poor bunny had made it through the night.
Her survival should have been enough to soothe Naruto's ragged nerves. It wasn't.
For someone so small and frail Satin had a grip like iron; she'd not relinquished his arm since he took up his vigil. Which left him all but trapped at her side. His right arm was well past the point of pins and needless; now it was simply numb, a dead weight that prevented him from using any seals to escape. He'd have an awful cramp when he finally escaped. If he escaped. He'd tried pulling his arm free earlier, but that only made her cry in her sleep.
Damn his bleeding heart.
Theoretically, it made a twisted sort of sense; He hadn't left her side since this mess began, and it stood to reason that she'd latch onto someone after the hell she'd endured. Roman found it all too amusing. Neo wanted nothing to do with her. If he didn't know better, he might think the little hellion was sulking. As such, he'd been the only one within reach and all but bound down to her cot as a result. Still, Satin was healing, make no mistake, but slowly. Roman had floated the idea of unlocking her Aura if she didn't wake by the end of the day.
Speaking of Roman...where the devil was he?
Naruto craned his neck, searching for any sight of the master thief. Not a sound. The bedroom was silent as the grave.
He'd come back from the bar reeking of whiskey and gin, grinning from ear to ear, only to snatch Neo and take off again. Bugger was up to something. He just knew it. Thankfully, whatever it was, it didn't seem to involve stabbing him in the back. He would've sensed such betrayal the moment that negative notion entered the man's mind. Resigning himself to his fate for the time being, he shifted his weight against the pillows and blew out another sigh as he watched the ceiling fan spin lazily overhead. With no one to talk to -any attempts to reach Kurama still failed miserably- he found himself alone with his thoughts.
So. This was his life now. A man was dead at his hands.
He'd crossed a line he thought he never would, and he had no one to blame for it but himself. He couldn't claim amnesia for his crime; because he'd remembered every second of Winchester's death. He remembered Satin, remembered that awful red veil falling over his vision as he saw her wounds, as she begged him to free her, as she told him who had done this to her. He slew Winchester in coldest of blood, burned him alive and left him to die a slow death.
It felt good. That frightened him.
Was it wrong to kill a bad person? No. Surely not. Sometimes...sometimes bad people needed to die. He was beginning to understand that now. Sasuke had to die because he wanted to destroy the world. Conversely, the Winchester bastard needed to perish because he wasn't going to stop. He'd seen the look in his eyes, felt the negative emotions roiling off him. So certain. So sure. So smug. If they'd given him to the authorities, he would have done this to someone else. Said someone wouldn't be so lucky.
Men get arrested. Dogs get put down.
A sick feeling stirred in the pit of his stomach and he grimaced, touching a hand to his face. Was he being influenced by Sasuke's eye? Was that even possible? Unlikely, He felt normal for the most part. Guilty and sick to his stomach, but still himself. For better or for worse, he'd thrown his lot in with Roman and Neo for now. Time would tell if their interests aligned. They didn't seem all that bad. They weren't murderers at the very least. Not like him.
Without warning, Satin whimpered in her sleep. "No...
"No?" Naruto's head whipped toward her. "Hey, you alright?"
"No," she whined again, mangled ears drooping with distress, closed eyes squeezing tightly in fear. "I'm sorry, Master...I won't do it again...please don't use the whip...
Anger choked his words as she continued to mutter helplessly under her breath. She turned ever so slightly, gripping his arm like a lifeline. Her head buried itself against his chest, but it did nothing to muffle her cries. She was having a nightmare he realized; but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to move. And so Satin whimpered again.
"Please, no more...I can't...it hurts...
Just like that, the shackles of guilt fell away from Naruto.
Without thinking, the blond shifted his body against hers to find a better angle. Sitting up, he pulled Satin with him and wrapped his free arm around her. Mistakes were made. Sensing movement, the faunus tried to grab onto that one too, but he didn't allow it. That made it worse. Still caught in the throes of a dream, Sain squeezed the arm she did have all the tighter. Fingernails bit down against the exposed skin of his limb to draw angry red lines against his flesh, pulling a pained hiss from his mouth.
"You're alright." he whispered, stroking the small of her back.
"Hurts...
"I know it does." he rolled his shoulders and pulled her closer, ignoring the wounds she gave him. "But you're safe now. No one's ever going to hurt you again."
She whimpered anew and squirmed closer. Long ears brushed the underside of his chin. His eyes began to sting. Furious, he blinked the bitter tears away with a shake of the head. This wasn't right. It took a special kind of twisted to do this to a person. Almost made him want to bring Winchester back so he could kill him again. Bastard deserved to die over and over for what he'd done.
"We're gonna find your kid." instead he tucked Satin and against him and began to hum softly. "I promise. Just rest easy. You did good. Just rest now."
Satin made a strange wordless noise. He understood the intent behind it.
"Yeah." he muttered softly against her shoulder. "We'll save her. I promise."
Something lurched in his chest as he said the word. Promises. He'd made so many of those in his world. He couldn't keep any of them. But this? He'd find that girl or die trying. Satin made a soft noise and stilled against his chest, her fingers falling slack as her struggles ceased. Only then did he allow himself to relax. When he leaned back, she went with him, adding the warmth of her body to his.
Blue eyes blinked blearily as exhaustion finally caught up with him.
Sasuke's eye was murder on his reserves; his hadn't fully recovered to begin with. Now that the adrenaline had finally wore off, he found himself slipping. The bed was soft, and Satin was snug against him. His eyes tried to stay open, but fluttered in a weary blink. He fought it off with a scowl and a growl. No! Resist! He didn't have time to...time to...
Naruto only closed his eyes for a minute, he swore.
Just a moment. A sliver of a second. He didn't nod off. He didn't lower his guard. He certainly didn't fall asleep with an adorable bunny girl in his arms. Nope. Not a chance. He was above such base temptation. He felt no such flimsy feelings as this. Anyone who said otherwise was a dirty lying traitor.
When he opened them again, he found Roman and Neo standing over him in silent judgement.
"Huh?" he slurred the word, not quite awake. "When did you two get back?"
"Hours ago." the former wore a Cheshire grin. "Comfortable, are we?"
Neo...wasn't smiling. It didn't take long to see why.
Naruto looked down and swore softly.
"I can explain."
Satin had wriggled her way into a rather...interesting position while he'd been asleep -no use denying it now!- leaving herself all but spooned against his chest. No longer was she gripping his arm, but him instead, for her arms were linked around his chest, and her head pressed into the crook of his neck. One leg twined loosely with his. A small, pleased hum fled from her lips.
Roman's grin grew. "Geez, I leave you two alone for a bit and this is what you get up to?"
"Not another word out of you." Naruto faux-hissed. "Not a one. I may be pinned right now, but I can still make you suffer."
"Hey, not my fault you two went at it like rabbits." Alas, his partner wasn't done with him. Roman's grin grew to shit-eating proportions as he leaned against the bed's headboard. "I mean, I'd make a veggie joke here, but no one would carrot all."
"I'm warning you...
"What, got something to say?" the thief cackled. I'm all ears!"
Naruto's gaze flicked to the right. "Ohhh, Neo~!"
The girl perked up like an eager puppy.
"If he makes one more joke, aim for the groin." he stabbed a finger in Roman's direction, reveling the way the thief paled. "Show no mercy."
"Alright, alright!" Torchwick flailed his arms before the diminutive girl could make good on that threat. "Just havin' a bit of fun." when Neo backed down, the young man leaned against his cane, smile back in full force. "If it makes you feel any better, I decided to unlock the girl's Aura while you lovebirds were sleeping. That was...what...three hours ago? Its already made a world of difference. See for yourself."
Naruto risked a wary glance at her.
It had, at that. Satin already looked less pale than he remembered, and her black eye had ceased to exist, and her left ear wasn't drooping anymore. Well. Aura truly was a terrifying thing. This wouldn't just accelerate her recovery; it all but guaranteed it. She might suffer some scarring in the future, but it would leave her a sight better than she'd been. Now if she'd only get off him so he could move...!
"Which brings us to our next matter of business." Roman's retort tugged him back to reality. "What do you wanna do with the girl?"
That...was something he didn't really have an answer to at the moment. Satin claimed to have a sister, but by Winchester's own admission, she was gone. She had a daughter as well, but without her mother there to look after her, they had no way of knowing her fate. might have happened to her was still recovering for the time being, but once she was...then what?
He tried to rise, but Satin wouldn't let him. Blast it. He didn't want to upset her again.
"She said she has a kid...shouldn't be too hard to find her." When neither Neo nor Roman questioned him, he had to force himself to continue. He wasn't used to being in charge of anything, much less giving orders to a pair of wanted criminals. "I sent a disguised clone out to search for her hours ago, but I haven't heard back yet. Maybe one of you ought to go help...?"
Roman paused, fumbled for a cigar, then thought better of it when the blond glowered at him.
"Kid, she's a rabbit faunus. Do you have any idea how rare those are?"
Naruto tiled his head. "No...?"
As if to challenge that very statement, the door crashed open.
"Knock, knock!" a familiar voice chimed. "Somebody order a kid? Pretty sure this is her."
All eyes turned toward the returning clone and the bundle gripped tight in his arms. No, not a bundle, a person. She was a tiny little thing; probably around five years old, give or take. He'd never been good with guessing ages, and those tattered rags of hers didn't help. Still, there could be no denying there was at least some familial resemblance there. A pair of large brown ears drooped low over chestnut hair; only to perk up as she laid eyes on Satin draped over him. Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. Her entire body shook. A small hand was quick to stretch out.
"MOMMY!"
She thrashed her way free of the clone's grasp and all but launched herself across the room.
"Well, hello there." Naruto gave her a bemused look. "You must be Velvet aaaand she's ignoring me. The girl didn't' even look at him; she only had eyes for her slumbering mother as she fussed over her. Reluctantly, he gaze switched to find his shadow clone, still awaiting orders.
"How did you find her?"
"Bit of a lucky break, that." the dopelganger snapped of a lazy salute with its right arm. "Found her on the streets, digging through trash."
Neo hissed soundlessly.
"Well," Naruto sighed, "Good work. I'll just-
The clone coughed, interrupting him. "If its all the same to you...could you not dispel me just yet?"
Everyone blinked. "Eh?"
"Well, its just," an almost sheepish look flashed over the fake's face, "I saw someone else out there, too. Little girl, about this tall." he mimed her height with his hand. "Green hair, red eyes and with dark skin, whip thin, looked like she hadn't had a good meal in days. She went one way and Velvet went the other." a helpless shrug followed. "I wanted to help her out, but ya told me to come back as soon as I found the kiddo. Still," his expression turned anguished as he ground his hands into fists at his side. "It just don't feel right, leaving her out there like that and-
"Wait, wait, wait." Realization broke with the dawn as he raised a hand to forestall him. 'You want to bring her in? Bring her here?"
The clone perked up. "Can I, boss? I'm pretty sure I can track her down. Just gimme a day."
"Oi!" Roman squawked. "I ain't running a daycare here!"
Mismatching eyes flashed. "No, you're not."
Neo stabbed an elbow into his ribs.
"What?! Do I not get a say in this?"
Naruto and Neo exchanged a bleak look. Roman saw it, recognized it, and raised his hands in defeat. He should've known better than to argue. Before he could think to offer a witty retort, or even hope to get the last word in, the clone saluted and tore out the way it had entered. Creepy things. He'd never get used to them.
Roman flicked it a wary look. "Sooo...they always like that?"
"No," Naruto smacked his lips, "That was...new. Pretty sure nothing will come of it."
A fresh tug on his sleeve brought Naruto back to the matter of little Velvet once more; because when he turned his head he suddenly he found himself staring into her bright, guileless eyes. She'd finally deigned to notice his presence He wasn't sure that was a good thing, given her mother was all but using him as a human body pillow. That...wasn't the sort of image one wanted to show a child. Not that he had much say in the matter at the moment, mind you.
"You saved mommy?"
"Yup." Naruto hummed. "She's gonna be alright now, don't you worry. We'll keep her safe."
Velvet's ears twitched. Cute little thing. "Safe...?"
Neo facepalmed and Roman saw the precise moment the gears clicked in the girl's mind. He knew that look. He'd seen it on Neo's face when he first took her in ages ago. The boss had no idea what he'd just done. Good. Bastard deserved to be a little uncomfortable after all the hell he'd put him through. He'd let him squirm before he sprung his plan. But when wee little Velvet raised her arms? There was no hiding it, then. Naruto knew. The utterly horrified expression that followed? Well. That was just the icing on the cake.
"Hold on a minute." Naruto muttered. "The hell're you doing?"
Velvet raised her arms higher. "Daddy!" she hopped in place twice. "Up!"
"Da-?!" the blond grunted. "No, nevermind that. I can't pick you up. Kinda pinned here...
Little Velvet considered the words for a moment. She wrinkled her nose and came to a decision. Much to his chagrin she hopped into bed with them and all but nestling herself against her mother. Naruto squawked, to no avail, she ignored his protests wholeheartedly. Satin stirred slightly, enough to wrap her arms around her child. In a moment, she was sound asleep, dead to the world, just like her mother. Any and all attempts to rouse either of them failed utterly. Was that a Semblance or something? Had to be one. If it wasn't, he'd eat his boot!
Naruto smacked his head into a pillow. "Oh gods, she's adorable...
Roman saw the moment of weakness for what it was and pounced like a starving Nevermore. Wait, could those things starve? Eh, semantics!
"Well, you've stepped in it now." he drawled, offering a winning smile. "Everyone knows your face, if not your name. Any regrets?"
"No." his ally shot back. "Winchester was a monster. Arresting him wouldn't change anything."
Well, that confirmed his suspicions. He'd been worried about the broody bastard. Wouldn't do for him to have second thoughts now, would it? That shit got you killed in the underworld. But no, the eyes regarding him now were set in stone, narrow and intent. Sure, it contrasted horribly with the mother and daughter bundled up against him, but beggars couldn't be choosers. If he had a soft spot for the damn bunnies, then who was he to say anything about it? Having heart meant he wasn't a psycho at least. Another point in his favor. Roman wasn't the sort to follow a fanatic.
"Glad we're on the same page, boss." All that and more! "Because I've got a proposition for you."
Naruto regarded him with keen wariness. "And that is...?"
His grin grew. "You ever heard of Mountain Glenn?"
Mountain-what? Another blink followed. "No?"
"Lemme tell you a story...
A/N: Well. That happened.
Summer's still a dog with a bone, Naruto's warming up to the idea of being a hero -albeit a darker one- and now he's got the eyes of the world on him.
Well, at least until he slaps on a transformation jutsu.
Sadly, its heavily implied that Velvet's real father was killed by Winchester in this story. I didn't want to come out and say it, but I feel its best to do so if only to prevent anymore confusion. Still no sign of Cinder yet. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe it isn't. Who can say? I can't say when or where we'll see her, only that we will.
As ever, reviews are a mighty wind beneath my wings.
Without them...well. I just can't seem to fly.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
And one last thing:
SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
Read if you dare!
(Previews!)
"They're calling us the Flame."
"Ugh, no! That's a tacky name! I don't like it!"
"Found her, boss!"
Roman twitched. "Like I said. This. Ain't. An. ORPHANAGE!"
Little Emerald stuck out her tongue.
"Don't zap me, damnit!"
"You're mean!" his foe cried back. "Meanie!"
Glowing eyes regarded him, pulsing with frantic flames and fear.
"Well, shit." Naruto swore softly. "I didn't mean to knock you down, kiddo. What's your name?"
The little girl regarded him warily, but she didn't attack again. Aha! Progress!
...Amber."
"Something tells me you're no supposed to be here.
"I snuck out."
"I've got a scoop for you."
Lisa Lavender was still very much a rookie.
She'd do anything for a good story. And this?! This was news!
"Ah. You want the bounty on me, no?"
"Give up!" a rifle rose. "You're surrounded!"
Slowly, painstakingly, Naruto began to unbind his eye.
"All I am surrounded by is fear. And dead men." He shook his head, sending the bandages flying free over his shoulder, to flutter away in the breeze. Only then did he turn to face the bounty hunters. Hmph. Grunts, more like. "You misunderstand. Mountain Glenn is not yours. It never belonged to you to begin with. Your plans here? Irrelevant. Your schemes? Pointless." they shrank back as Sasuke's eye burned in his skull. "You didn't come here to negotiate with us; you came here to make us your scapegoats, to kill us, salt the earth, and leave nothing behind. For that?"
A wall of black fire erupted just short of them, cutting off their retreat.
He drew his newly forged weapon.
"You will die."
Roman leaned back on the wall and whistled. "Well, you weren't kidding. Kid can be a good actor when he wants to be. You recording this?"
Satin's head bobbed as she held up her scroll. She didn't look away from her massacre. "Yup."
The thief shook his head. "Vicious little thing. You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Yuuup."
Roman looked back and winced as another ruined corpse sailed through the air. "And he said he didn't know how to use a weapon...ha! Liar."
R&R~!