A/N: EDIT: More flames than reviews. Again. Dunno why, some people just seem to hate this story...and me...T_T
Hey, all! Sorry for the delay! Volume Eight dealt my writing a heavy blow, but I'm still here, and still updating daily.
As ever, reviews keep this old man writing. Without them, I cannot write. At all. No joke, there. Every bit of feedback, no matter how small, or large, boosts my spirits. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters!
Now then, lets answer your burning questions, comments, and concerns!
Q: James, why?! What has Mettle made him do this time?!
A: Initially, he was hunting Naruto, not Sienna. In terms of a fleet, only brought a single battleship, with accompanying squadrons and mechs. That he blundered into the White Fang...well, that's an unhappy coincidence for our heroes, but not him. Frankly, Ironwood is being, well, Ironwood. He thinks he's doing the right thing. Technically... he is. To him, Sienna Kahn is a wanted terrorist in the White Fang, responsible for violent acts against Remnant. He doesn't care about her reasons, her motivations, any of it. Likewise for Naruto and company.
He'll hunt them.
Q: Is Naruto going to become an enemy of Atlas?
A: Ask yourself this. Our boy's meeting peacefully with an organization that has done him no wrong; a group that has offered him resources and men with no strings whatsoever. A group protecting a good number of civilians who joined them peacefully. A group currently under ATTACK by Atlas and Grimm.
...how would YOU react?
Q: Wait a hot minute! Is...is Naruto gonna take young Adam under his wing? Will he get actual character development rather than become the one-sided edgelord made him?! Oh let it be so!
A: Well, this is a young Adam mind you, and he's only recently joined the White Fang in Vale. Can't speak to that without spoilers, but I will say this. This story ain't about black and white. Its about grey. Life is grey.
So are Naruto and his allies at this point. Not evil, but not wholly good either.
Q: Roman won't betray Naruto...will he?
A: Um, why would he? Naruto's given him no reason. At this point, Roman and Neo are firmly on Naruto's side. Why wouldn't they be? They have no reason to betray him; if anything, they're safer with him than without. High public opinion, the anger of Atlas -because really, screw Atlas!- a base well on its way to being repaired, and now an alliance with the White Fang.
We all know what'll happen to either of them if they leave. Cinder will get her hands on them.
Can't have that now, can we?
Alright then, I've kept you long enough.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes.
Now then, lets
"Sweetheart, we ain't in this for the money or the fame.
Don't get me wrong, accolades are nice and all; I certainly won't say no 'em, but that's not what this is about.
Y'see this? This! AND THIS?! This is about sending a message to the top brass. Do not. Mess. With us. Pay attention, kid. You might learn something."
~Roman.
Partners in Providence
James Ironwood watched the impending slaughter from his flagship.
Shoulders squared, hands clasped behind his back, his steely gaze never left the chaos raging below. Not once. He had started this disaster; thus, it was his duty to see it through to its bloody conclusion. He took no joy in this; no delight in the death he dealt to others. It was for the greater good of the world. Oz would understand.
No matter what came of it.
In hindsight, this almost seemed like divine providence. He hadn't come here for Sienna Kahn or the White Fang. On the contrary, he sought a far greater prize; that murdering madman rampaging across Vale. The people were calling him the Flame. Such a ridiculous name. The flame of what? Knowledge? Chaos? Justice? How absurd. Vale needed no vigilante. They needed order. Regardless of the man's name or affiliation, Ozpin was either unable or unwilling to contain him. So, like the good friend he was, James had come would lend a hand.
His scouts blundered into Sienna's people by chance.
Now those under her command were caught between a rock and a hard place, trapped by the Grimm of the Emerald Forest and his own, steadily advancing soldiers. The former were something of a happy accident on their part, roused to action by the camp's own negativity and fear for the forces of Atlas. And they should be afraid.
Atlas was here, and villainy would not abide under their watch.
The White Fang, or rather this splinter cell of them, were clearly becoming dangerous; a feral beast that could not be spared let alone reasoned with. Their once peaceful organization had begun to change long ago, caught in the very throes of spite and violence it had worked so hard to prevent.
Sienna was at the forefront of this radical change; if she allied herself with that fool in Mountain Glenn...well, she would become even more a threat to the people of Remnant. Such a thing couldn't stand. Her death, while unfortunate, would put an end to this nonsense and for all. Ghira Belladona might make a fuss, but he too would understand.
Once this this threat dealt with, he would then turn his sights on the ruins Mountain Glenn and raze it to the ground. Men went to prison Dogs got put down. You had to tear evil out by the root. In that aspect, the Flame spoke truly. How ironic then, that this world would be a better place with his death. Remnant would be a better place without this interloper.
"General?" one of his lieutenants inquired. "Aren't we going to attack? We await your orders."
It was tempting to do so; to simply bombard the camp, glass the ground and be done with this farce. But even he wasn't so tactless as to attempt that. Now, if the Grimm came in first, did their damage and were slain by the survivors...well. Plausible deniability. Less lives lost on his end, more chance of them surrendering on theirs. The Flame would never meet the Fang and the people of Remnant would sleep soundly at night. By any and all reports, the Flame was nowhere near this encampment, so they had naught to fear.
Regardless, it would be a complete victory.
"No." In the end, James shook his head. "Let the Grimm thin out their ranks first." a pinprick of guilt stung his heart. His semblance clamped down, stifling it. "Then we will-
All at once, the entire battleship rattled from bow to stern.
There was no word or warning for what happened next; one minute they were safe and secure in the sky. Utterly untouchable. In the next, the entire world lurched. James grunted as the back of his skull slammed into an unyielding bulkhead. Aura flared. Stars crackled before his vision. Alarms blared and klaxons flared, bathing the command center in ethereal crimson light.
...report!"
"We've been hit! There's something on radar!" a technician cried, flailing at the controls. "One bogey!"
Another blast rocked the warship. "Impossible! There's nothing out there! Is it a vessel?!"
"No, sir! Its...a person?"
Ironwood growled. "Magnify."
The terrified technician did just that.
A grinning, whiskered face stared up at them from the screen.
"Hey! Irondick!" Naruto Uzumaki waved cheerily without a care in the word. "Down here!"
...belatedly, it occurred to the General that he might be operating on outdated intelligence from his spies.
(.0.0.0.)
The shadow clone blew a sharp whistle and grinned.
"Hey, Irondick! Down here! Look at me!"
A middle finger rose in salute.
"Come and get me!"
Then he ran.
The flagship gave chase.
(.0.0.0.)
Adam wasn't strong.
Why would he be? He was just a child after all. Strength was not expected from one so small, nor so young, let alone wounded as he was. Fighting was best left to the adults. Their place was on the battlefield. Not his. Not yet. The notion bothered him, galled him, infuriated him, itching like the hated brand burned into his face. His fingers twitched toward his scar, longing to scratch it as he ran. He wanted to fight. He wanted to prove himself. He wanted to be someone.
More than anything, he wanted to repay the White Fang for saving him; for teaching him to fight.
He was learning. One day he would be strong. One day he would lead raids of his own and prove himself worthy.
But that day was not this day; today the Fang were dying.
All around him the world was a whirl of black and white bodies. Swords fell. Rifles barked. Good men and women raged against waves of Grimm as best they could; selling their lives dearly to buy time for many retreating civilians. Many died hard, surrounded by rings of the beast. But the Grimm were relentless. For every creature that fell, three more seemed to take their place. It was too much. They were too much. The beasts fed on their fear and grew stronger for it.
Adam ran from it all, desperately trying to seek shelter, to no avail.
One saw him and pounced.
He flung up his arms in a desperate attempt to protect himself. He had no sword. No weapon. The wolf would bite right through him...!
"HOLD THE LINE!"
Someone or something cashed down on the Alpha's back from on high, shattering its spine and driving it gaping maw into the ground. The wolf yelped in surprise. Nothing more. A sword of bright red light swept down in a vengeful arc of wicked plasma, lopping off its head in a single stroke. His savior rode the crumbling corpse to the floor and tumbled to safety, alighting in a pointed crouch only an arms length away.
Young Adam toppled backward and landed on his rear, heart hammering in his chest. Only then did his savior stand and deign to face him.
Mismatching eyes met his, a whiskered face limned in the cruel crimson glow of his weapon.
Was he a Faunus? He certainly looked like one. He saw his scar. Frowned.
"Adam, right?" a small smile creased that whiskered visage. "Sienna told me about you. Don't worry." a scarred hand descended on his head, mussing the hair between his horns. "Everything's going to be alright now."
A lone word struggled out of the wounded boy. "Why...?"
"Why?" The stranger stood with a grim grin of his own. "I'll tell you why."
An Ursa dove at him out of the dark as he spoke. Adam cried a warning, but the blond only turned his head. He set it aflame with a glance, sheathing it a shroud of dark fire. It crumpled to the ground with a yowl, clawing at itself. He pinned another with a glower and it turned upon its fellows in a frothing frenzy. A snarling sphere of something ignited in his hand and he launched it at another cluster like some snarling shuriken, annihilating them with ease born of long practice. Wind shrieked through the clearing, but it did nothing to silence him.
Whiskered cheeks dimpled anew. "Because I am here.
Thus speaking, the blond pivoted on one heel and raised his blade.
"Brothers and sisters of the White Fang!" His voice boomed out over the battlefield, commanding their attention. "Fall back!" He stabbed that red blade into a Beringel, parting shadowy flesh like butter. "Back!" He barked the word like a curse as his saber swept through another Grimm. "Take your wounded and retreat! I'll deal with this!"
If this was an act, Adamn thought it was a damn good one.
But one man couldn't deal with that many Grimm alone. No matter how skilled he was, there dozens of the creature, and as the Fang fell back he was left alone
Until, quite suddenly, he wasn't.
"Showtime."
Before his very eyes, the whiskered warrior stowed his blade and crossed his fingers. His mismatching eye pulsed, glowing with a wild inner light as he hissed out an eldritch phrase. Adam didn't recognize it, but he felt its power all the same. Smoke sprang to life between them; when it cleared, a hundred men stood tall and strong, each wearing his face and wielding that same saber of light. One hundred arms snapped back, each cradling that same keening sphere from before.
Naruto swept an arm forward, one finger stabbing toward the onrushing horde. "FIRE!"
In a single breath, his men let the spheres fly.
As they did, Naruto wheeled around and snatched Adam up under one arm. A quick twist of the arm flung the startled boy over his shoulder like a bag of wheat. Then he bolted. Didn't take much to see why. Behind them, the world burned bright. His clones vanished into the blaze, but the Grimm went with them, howling as they were torn apart, rent limb from limb at the cellular level. There were no survivors.
Adam Taurus saw it all over his shoulder and grinned like the boy he was. This was strength.
This...this was power. Not simply to lead, but inspire; might to destroy one's enemies.
He wanted to be just like this man when he grew up.
(.0.0.0.)
"What the actual hell."
Sienna's jaw popped open with an audible click.
Because, you see, there was a hole in the Emerald Forest.
Not a divot, not a dent, but an honest-to-goodness smoking crater where a good fourth of the forest had been. It wasn't there a moment ago. Her troops had fled back this way only a few moments before, babbling about being saved, and frankly she'd expected as much once Naruto went that way, but not this. This...this...
...I think I'm in love."
Naruto sauntered out of that ruin at a lackadaisical pace, carrying a youngster on his shoulders. The two were chatting happily. Sienna recognized the boy easily enough; his distinctive red hair and dark horns gave him away before she saw the scar. Adam, the little scamp. Somehow she wasn't surprise. Of course he'd snuck out there. No doubt he'd been begging for some training from one of the blade-masters before everything went mad. Naruto seemed quite taken with the little lad. Well, that solved one of her problems.
But nevermind that! Emerald Forest! Crater! How?!
Some of her shock must've shown through; because the blond set Taurus down with a quick word and went her way.
"Sorry about that," his smile was pure as the moonlight. "I'm still a bit rusty. That's the Grimm dealt with. What about the soldiers?"
Her eyes bulged. Rusty?! Him?!
Sienna swallowed. Most of said soldiers had kept back, no doubt waiting for the Grimm to thin them out, but she dare not say that aloud for fear of losing his support. A few scouts had engaged the camp in an attempt to keep them hemmed in sure, but that lot was even now being dealt with in a summary fashion. No, her mind was focused on something else altogether, a far more poignant question.
"What are you?"
"Me?" Naruto blinked at that remark, somewhat nonplussed by her inquiry. "I'm just a kid from Konoha. No one special."
No one special?! Bullshit! Anyone who could set people on fire with a glance, make clones of himself and nuke a freaking forest was entirely beyond the pale! Something told her she hadn't even seen half of his skill-set yet and the realization elated her. What on god's green earth was a "Konoha" and where could she get one?! Forget marrying this bastard! She was never letting him go!
"Right, then. I've decided." she clapped her hand sharply and stepped forward. "To hell with the formalities."
Naruto eyed her like a poisonous asp. "Decided what? Do I want to know?"
...better if I just show you."
Actions spoke louder than words. Sienna's hands moved of their own accord, grabbed Naruto by the face and drew him in for a scorching kiss.
Behind her, Adam gagged and made a face. "Ewwwww."
"Quiet, boy!" Sienna let go of her prize and snapped at him. "I've had an awful night! Let me have this!"
She reeled Naruto back in like a fish before could get away. Her teeth nipped at his lower lip, questing for entry and sure enough, he felt him stiffen against her for all of a moment before his hands settled on her hips. A growl pushed itself between her lips and he bit back, drawing a pleased noise from her. His hands tightened around her flank and she felt a threat of warmth pool in her belly. Noble bastard didn't do anything more than that, though. Not with so many eyes watching. He just leaned into her, angling his head to deepen the kiss as he held her and she him.
One of her men saw their sappy scene and cried out. "The Flame and the Fang!"
A survivor heard them and took up the cry. "The Flame and the Fang!"
Another punched a fist into the sky. "For the Flame and the Fang!"
Naruto sighed. Sienna felt her ears droop against her head. Huh. Oddly catchy phrase, that. Didn't make it any less embarrassing! When they parted for breath she clung to his jacket to hold him fast. His palms pressed in against her waist, locking her against him.
"Look what you did, you bastard." she thumped a fist against his chest. "Take responsibility."
His forehead kissed hers. "I...rather like the sound of that."
Sienna scoffed and gave him a half-hearted shove.
Naruto took the chance to reel back, eyes looking glazed. His eyes never left hers. For a moment Sienna wondered if he would finish what they'd started back in the tent; if he might simply grab her, push her up against a tree and have his way with her here and now. Her golden eyes went slitted at such a thought. Yes, she rather liked that. She took a step forward, perfectly intent to grab him again-
A distant explosion tore through the air.
Sienna flung up her hands with a snarl. "Again?! Why is everyone interfering with my love life tonight?!"
Withe a supreme effort, her partner shook his head and walked past her instead. "Guess there's still Atlas to deal with. Neo? You can come out now."
A girl -or was she a child?- with pink-and-brown hair materialized beside him, glaring daggers in her direction. Sienna jolted a little at the sight of the...what was she, a criminal? A huntress? With a semblance like that, it was far too easy to see her as an assassin than anything else. For reasons she didn't understand, the little minx didn't look much pleased.
"Where did she...no, nevermind." Sienna pinched the bridge of her nose to stifle an oncoming migraine. "I'm not going to turn away another pair of hands at his point, human or not."
"Neither am I." Naruto quipped. "Where's Roman?"
They soon had their answer.
"FORE!"
An unlucky soldier sailed past them.
"Ah." Naruto smiled. "Right on time, it seems."
Torchwick belted out a laugh as he dueled with two Atlas scouts. The very last of them, it seemed. His laughter was a short sharp bark of sound, one that echoed into the night and unnerved his prey all the more. Melodic Cudgel danced in his hands like a fine instrument of death and devastation, sweeping through their guards to finish what he'd started. One toppled back as he cracking them across the skull. The second suffered an even more unpleasant fate as his cane cracked between his legs.
The last, poor bastard fell with a high-pitched gurgle.
Roman walked right over their prone form, grinning like a shark.
"Hey, boss." He snapped off a snarky salute at them. "What's the plan?"
(.0.0.0.)
What, indeed.
Naruto craned his neck toward the moon.
There on the skyline, barely visible against the light of the shattered moon, he saw them. Ships. A full squadron of them. And above them, looming further in the distance...something larger still. Even from this distance it dwarfed the smaller vessels. Oh, dear. He'd sent a clone out into that mess? Poor bastard probably got himself blown to kingdom come.
"Of course." Sienna sighed. "Seems they want their toy back...or your head."
His eyes flashed. "Let them come. I need a weapon."
Her gaze strayed to his belt. "You have one."
"Not this one." he smiled. "I'd rather not lose it. Give me something you wouldn't mind throwing away."
Sienna clicked her fingers and one of her lieutenants -he vaguely heard the name Reiner- stepped up to relinquish their weapon. In short order, Naruto found himself presented with a worn sword. Passable. It wouldn't cut very deep, but for his purposes, it wasn't meant to cut at all. It would suit his needs.
Sienna watched him intently. "What do you intend to do?"
Naruto didn't answer. Instead he hefted the borrowed tool and unbound Sasuke's eye. From there he raised the blade and stared at it. Sienna made a noise of surprise, but he barely heard her as his focus tightened. Black flames raced across its naked edge, coating the blade just above the hilt. He raised his gaze, mind already whirring to life, his stolen orb now following the bullheads. He gauged the distance and planted his right foot deep into the ground, bracing himself as the air began to shimmer around him.
He remembered this jutsu. He'd once seen Sasuke use it on his clones. If he was careful, there wouldn't be an casualties.
One eye would have to be enough. The sword rose.
"You're lacking, Naruto."
He paused. "What...?"
"You're going about this all wrong." Sasuke appeared beside him, lone eye ablaze. "You don't want to hurt these men, in fact, you're unwilling to. For that, you're lacking."
"Are we really doing this now?" His own rolled in mild derision. "Alright. I'll bite. What do you think I lack?"
All around them, time ground to a halt. The colors of the world faded to black and grey.
"Instinct." Sasuke's specter declared with a black look. "Killer instinct. And that instinct is mostly forged in battle." a finger tapped against his skull. "To hone it, you must develop an insatiable hunger to engage in battle. You must live to mercilessly crush shred and slice your enemies." he raised a spectral hand and ground it into a fist before his face. "This thirst for power is not an unnatural desire, Naruto." Not a heartbeat later that same fist flung itself open, revealing crackling sparks within. "In fact, it forms the very essence of our being. Deep within our body lies the honed instinct to dominate and slaughter our enemies."
"And...?"
"My friend, you don't have that!" In a whirl of cloth, the specter of his friend whirled away and raised his arms to the shattered moon high above. "You use your heart to try and win a fight." Just as quickly, he rounded on him, snarling in his passion. "You attempt to defeat your enemies with reason and logic." a finger dug into his chest, smoldering with flame. "You don't tap into those pure base instincts that exist within your core, waiting to be unleashed!"
"And you're saying I should." his good eye narrowed, turning toward the ships in the distance. Realization dawned. "You want me to kill these men."
"NO!" the specter flung up his arms with an furious shout. "Death is final! Death is the end! You don't learn from death. And these are soldiers. Atlas soldiers." he flung a hand toward the bullheads still frozen in the sky. "They won't shed a single tear for you. They won't treat you with the same kid gloves you've given them. They'll happily kill you and get a medal for it! So fight! Take them down!" his forehead slammed against his for a moment, startling him. "Beat them so badly that the won't DARE raise a finger against you again! Set an example!"
He vanished and time lurched back with a start. Naruto blew out a sigh.
Something stabbed through his skull, fresh knowledge and power that hadn't been there before. Power that shouldn't have been possible as he was now. Sasuke's eye ached in his skull, throbbing like it was fit to burst. He grit his teeth against it and shook his head, only for the agony to abate a moment later. He was still himself. He wasn't controlled in any way, shape or form. It just felt...different. As if he'd turned a page and uncovered a great secret, one that had been there all along.
He frowned at his hands. They shimmered with violet flames. "What did you do..?"
"All my strength. All my power." Sasuke's voice hissed in his ear. "Everything that I am. Use it. Show them who they're messing with. Show these fools the wrath of a shinobi, and bring justice to this rotten world."
"You, ah, alright there?" Roman's voice broke through the fog. "You're kinda on fire...everywhere."
"I'm fine." Heart steeled, Naruto pivoted. "Roman. I need you to do something for me."
"Yeah, boss?"
He grinned. "Send up a flare."
The master thief frowned. "Come again?
"Just do it." His smile would've put Cinder herself to shame. "I want them to know exactly where we are."
Neo made a face. Sienna seconded it. "You do realize they'll light us up like a Christmas tree. We won't stand a chance."
A blond brow quirked. "Neo? Start recording please."
The petite girl saluted and whipped out her Scroll with a flourish.
"Alright," Torchwick tugged his bowler hat down, hiding his eyes. "Have it your own way. But if this blows up in our faces, I'm blaming you."
"It won't." he turned his gaze toward the approaching craft. "Trust me."
Roman didn't answer with words. His weapon spoke for him.
Melodic Cudgel snapped up, her barrel jutting toward the heavens in silent defiance. It barked once, producing a keening whine. A single scarlet round rocketed into the air, bathing the night in light as it went. Propelled by fire and dust it kept going, arcing high into the clouds. Naruto followed it with his own eyes, waiting until the precise moment the ships were illuminated.
He counted. One. Two. Three.
His gaze took in each and every ship.
Then he began to count down. Ten...nine...eight...
A wall of violet light and white bone boiled into existence around him.
(.0.0.0.)
Good soldiers followed orders.
Lieutenant Rex knew this more than moist. He had served Atlas with pride and distinction throughout a storied career. He believed in what he did. Atlas was fair and just, a beacon of civilization and honor for all Remnant, indeed, all of mankind. This was to be his final mission, his last task before retirement, and he was determined to do his superiors proud.
When he saw the flare, however, he couldn't help but feel...anxious.
What kind of enemy willingly revealed their position? One would say a fool might, but after the wild goose chase they'd been led on, he found himself somewhat...wary. Men didn't turn to smoke when they died. Men did not laugh in the the face of overwhelming odds. Men knew their limits. This one...
"This is Bravo Leader. Bravo squadron check in." Seven craft ticked off their status, one by one. "We've fired warning shots, but they've refused to disperse. Orders?"
Ironwood's voice answered at once. "Arm the missiles."
Rex flinched. "But sir! There might be-
"They're camped near Mountain Glenn." his voice came through clear and sharp. "We know it to be the haven of a criminal. Unlike Ghira and Kali Belladona, Sienna Kahn is a wanted terrorist; a woman suspected of theft, murder, and a host of other crimes. Her troops have struck at dust convoys all over Remnant. Do you suggest we simply allow them to leave? And let them harm more innocents?"
...no, sir."
"This is war, soldier." the general's words were much as his namesake, stern and unyielding. "We do what we must. We make the sacrifices others cannot."
Truer words had never been spoken, but that didn't mean he had to like them...and he didn't much like these.
Another explosion came through the comms. Deal with the Fang. Leave the Flame to us."
How one man was running circle around a warship, he had no idea.
Rex heaved a sigh. "Yes, sir."
His hands were clammy on the controls, knees weak, arms steady. He'd never made a decision he didn't like. Atlas Command had always given good, sensible orders before. But this...? Good soldiers followed orders. He didn't want to question them. Still, this felt wrong. Caught between the Grimm and Atlas, the faunus below would be slaughtered. There would be no survivors. No one to tell the tale of what happened today. All without a single Atlas casualty.
...Bravo squadron." he whispered the words. Weapons free."
Flames lit up the night.
They never landed.
...what in the world...?
Rex's finger twitched over the trigger, still hesitant. He saw the huddled shapes running too and fro. With but a word, he magnified the image on his screen. His heart dropped into his stomach. That was undoubtedly one Sienna Kahn down there, but behind here...those weren't soldiers. Those were...
"Cease fire, cease fire!" he roared into the comms. "There are civilians down there!"
"You were given an order!"
"Belay that!" Rex wrenched the yoke aside instead, wrenching his craft up. "I'm not gunning down women and children! I refuse! We'll go in on foot and-
Something hit them.
Bravo Two erupted into flame, shedding shrapnel as a snake would its skin. Its shattered skeleton wheeled to the ground, belching black fire. They never landed.
Something shifted, a wall of violet and bone andwhatonearthwasthat-
"Evasive maneuvers!"
One by one his found themselves swatted out of the sky. A particularly clever pilot attempted to land his craft and disgorge the troops within. Another tried to flee. Bravo Five and Six vanished as what could only be called a giant hand swatted them from the sky. Too fast! He couldn't see what it was!
Rex released the yoke and leaned back in his chair, giving his craft free reign.
It saved his life.
The unseen force came for him next, ripping his craft out of the sky. Metal crimped and crumpled as the bullhead jerked to a stop, but he did not die. The ground rushed up to meet him and he closed his eyes against it. He did not die. A wretched impact jarred him against his harness, but still he did not die.
His world went black, but only for a moment. When he came to, it was over.
Eyes reeling, head spinning, he struggled upright in his harness, hands thrashing at the crisscrossing belts.
He never made it; because a giant purple hand punctured the cockpit and wrenched it open with an awful crack. Rex winced at the sound and covered his face. A pair of bright, mismatching eyes regarded him, framed by whiskered cheeks and striking blond hair. Rex felt his heart stutter to a stop. There he was. His worse nightmare. was him.
Naruto Uzumaki grinned down at him, chipper as can be in the moonlight.
"Hello, friend~!" he crooned. "Lets have a little chat!"
Rex raised his hands. "I surrender!"
Naruto hummed.
"Good boy."
(.0.0.0.)
Summer Rose saw the news the next morning and grit her teeth.
"Nope." she hissed. "Nope, nope...ignore it...!"
Yang yawned in her lap.
(.0.0.0.)
Afternoon came all too swiftly for Glynda Goodwitch.
She knew what today was -rather, who would be coming- and had made every necessary preparation in advance for his arrival...no, that made it sound like a transaction; some sordid exchange between two strangers in shadowy corners. This wasn't business. It was anything but business. She was here to make a good impression. Not to woo him, she told herself. Merely to convince him of the error of his ways. Right. Good impressions, absolutely nothing else.
And good impressions meant...changes...loathe as she might be to accept such change.
Rather than her prim and proper self, she had discarded her teacher attire altogether in favor of something infinitely more casual. Clad in a striking black blouse with white pants and a matching purse, she was confident few would recognize her. She'd even gone so far as rid herself of her spectacles and let her hair down, leaving the golden tresses to cascade across her shoulders.
If anyone laughed at her she would murder them. Consequences be damned.
The doors parted and he slipped through like a ghost.
Physically speaking, Naruto Uzumaki looked much as she remembered him. His attire...not so much. One eye lay hidden behind a crude curtain of black cloth, no doubt meant to act as a temporary eyepatch of sorts. He'd eschewed his traditional outfit for a simple pair of faded blue jeans and a blood orange shirt, over which he'd thrown a worn navy jacket. At his belt, she glimpsed a ring of knives alongside some strange silver-black hilt danging from his waist. Not unarmed then. Fair enough. She'd brought her own weapon as well.
Hmm. This one cleaned up rather nicely, all things considered.
"You came." her own words surprised her. She'd feared he wouldn't. "Thank you."
He'd made no effort to disguise himself either. Bold of him. Then again, this could very well be a doppelganger he'd sent in his place; one of his shadow clones to take the fall if it came to that. She wouldn't put it past him. One didn't become a wanted criminal by being anything less than cagey.
"I'm a man of my word." and he was alone at that. "Did you think I wouldn't be after last night?"
"Last night...?"
He looked away. "Nope. Nothing. Forget I said anything."
Glynda felt a frown touch her full lips. Last night? Suddenly, she regretted not checking the news before she'd rushed out. Her fingers twitched toward her purse and the Scroll within, but she thought better of it at the last second. Naruto looked twitchy enough already; if she went for her phone he might make all sorts of unpleasant assumptions. Best not. She could always check later.
Instead she stood slowly, keeping her hands in full view of him.
"Still, I'm glad you came." she favored him with a winning smile "I've booked a reservation for us, if you don't mind...?"
His brow quirked. "You're taking me to a restaurant?"
She granted him a small smile of her own. "Something like that...
His visible eye flashed. "This better not be a trick or a trap. I'm in no mood."
He really wasn't; Glynda read him at a glance his stiff shoulders, the stubborn set of his jaw, the way his eyes kept flitting about the pub, expecting an ambush at any moment. Of course. He had no real reason to trust her after all. They barely knew one another She'd sworn to show him the better parts of Vale; to prove that the world wasn't out to get him as he feared it was. This young man needed hope. The same hope she'd been shown at his age...and perhaps something more.
Glynda offered him her arm. "Shall we?"
Naruto exhaled in a long-suffering sigh but nevertheless looped his limb in hers.
Preening at her success, Glynda led him outside. It would prove to be a rather...interesting outing.
A/N: And we there have it.
As ever, I cannot write without feedback. No reviews, no inspiration, no story. Looking forward to chatting with you all!
And no, I haven't forgotten Velvet or her mother. Recall that Satin was watching the kiddos. Congratulations, Naruto! You've got yourself a girl...and a student. Lets see if you can make each a more decent person. Hopefully...
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
Here, have preview!
Or several.
Been watching Invincible as of late. Its given me...ideas...
(Previews)
"He stole Atlas technology!"
Ozpin showed him no mercy.
"I believe it was Roman Torchwick who appropriated this "lightsaber" of yours...and you opened fire on civilians."
"They were White Fang!" James swept a hand across the desk, scattering papers to the floor. "There are no innocents! If they side with that murderer then they are evil!"
A voice flared to life in the speakers overhead. "Evil, am I?"
"How did he get a device in here?!"
"I have eyes and ears everywhere, gentlemen. And I believe I have your men."
"Give them back at once!"
Naruto merely smiled. "Be careful not to choke on your aspirations, General."
Rex frowned. "This isn't just...what's been done to these people...they're suffering."
Roman clapped a hand on his shoulder. "That's life, kid. Welcome to the revolution. Gonna be one hell of a ride."
"Once you've been hurt you learn to hate." Naruto picked up another stone and flung it into the pool. "And yet, if you hurt another you become hated and you shoulder a sense of guilt." he turned a smile on her. "But it is because one understand such pain, that generosity towards others becomes second nature. That's what makes us human."
Glynda looked away.
He hardly felt the knife slide into his back. Which is to say it barely hurt. At all.
"Really? Why did you think this would work? How stupid are you?
"You're under arrest!"
"I think not."
His arm cracked backward.
"Alright, up at 'em. Training begins now."
Adam staggered to his feet. Velvet and Emerald were only a heartbeat behind.
The redhead frowned at Neo. "Why is SHE here?"
Neo cocked her head and blinked at him.
Naruto sighed. "Now you've done it...
"Ghira and Kali want to meet with you."
"I thought you had that handled."
"I did...until the news got out."
"Well, they can well come here. I'm not going to Menagerie."
"And you must be Blake!"
The little girl stared up at him gravely.
"Why does Atlas want you dead?" Roman tapped a single finger to his forehead. "Because you're too powerful now. You've changed things. You get shit done. You take hits like a champ, grit your teeth, and come back for more. Sometimes you let people live when then they need to die, but you make an impact."
Naruto looked away. "I never wanted to in the beginning."
His gaze flicked to Neo. She winked and offered him a soundless shrug.
"What're you gonna do? Retire?" Sienna laid her head against his shoulder. "Live a idyllic life in a log cabin somewhere?" she laughed and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "That ship has sailed. This?" she flicked a hand at the ceiling, at the throne, and those around them. This your life now. This is what you do. You're a walking nuke. Your enemies are either your best friends, or dead. Own it already."
...fine." he stood.
"And where are you going?"
A lone eye flashed with his shoulder. "To make some friends."
R&R~!