A/N: PLEASE READ THIS NOTE, WOULD YOU KINDLY?

DOUBLE UPDATE DAY! WHOO! Surgery hurts, so I'm limping along for now. Still! I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Finally! I can move my arms properly again! Text-to-speech is a pain in the ass and I've lost my voice because of it, but still! Arms! Are! Back! My eye's getting better too. Now comes the long-awaited time skip; which means I can break out the big guns I've been holding in reserve. Naruto's presence has clearly changed the timeline at this point; altered it in ways you can't possibly imagine.

Time for the good 'ol Q&A! Here we go!

Q: Wait a minute. If Naruto and Em are from Vacuo here...do they know about Jax and the Crown!?

A: Emerald elaborates on that.

Q: What's the pairing?

A: Keep reading to find out~!

Q: Yikes, that's a scary Semblance Naruto has. Reminds me of Null.

A: Less than you'd expect, more than you think. Its gated by his morals and emotions. He doesn't like killing people and taking their semblances, but he will if he must. At this point, he only has his original and one he stole by accident. But I never said he couldn't give a Semblance to someone else now, did I? Right now, he wants to try and live a somewhat normal existence with Emerald. Should something happen to her, should he ever go off the rails...Remnants in for a bad time.

Ask yourself this. What would happen if he killed a Maiden? Would the power flee? Would it go to him? Or would it just...die?

Nations would KILL for his semblance if they knew what he could do.

Q: Nice family theme you've got going here.

A: Had a one reviewer winging about the family bit with Naruto and Emerald. Really? Can't we all just enjoy a good story?

Q: Naruto and Cinder fight when?!

A: NOW!

Q: Is Salem aware of Naruto?

A: Unfortunately? Yes.

As ever, I own no references, themes or memes.

Title is from a song. Huh. I seem to be doing a lot of those lately:

"What happens when you place two criminals in the same room? Consider the matter for a moment, dear Tyrian. In one corner, we have a young woman who craves power or rather, the recognition brought on by power. Someone who was used and abused all her life, someone who never wants to be weak again. In the other, e have a reformed thief, a man who can steal nearly anything. Strength, life, magic, even the very Semblances these petty mortals hold dear. Will their goals align? Will they kill one another? Or perhaps...?

The answer might surprise you. I'm rather curious to see what will happen.

Let them be for now. We shall see what happens.

After all, everyone has a weakness...

~Salem.

Gimme That Fire

Team Nebula had a rather interesting first morning, all things considered.

Emerald woke and claimed fist shower by right of conquest; namely by being quick to rise and quicker still to slam the bathroom door in everyone's face. Warm water washed away every ache and pain brought on by the mess known was initiation, leaving her feeling pleasantly relaxed by the end of it. Bit of a pity, though. She would've liked Naruto to join her, but such was impossible with Blake and Pyrrha literally pounding on the door for their turn. Girls liked their showers.

The things one gave up for family.

From there it was a mad scramble down to the cafeteria to get some grub; if only because ever other student had the same idea. Hordes of hungry, near-zombified teenagers descended upon the mess hall, pale and grasping for brains-erm, food. Yes. Definitely food. Honestly, it nearly became a food fight. Thankfully, the other teams seemed too preoccupied with their first meal to give them any trouble. Which meant Coco didn't come poking around...yet.

Thank heaven for small mercies.

"So, first lessons?" Blake asked over breakfast.

"Dunno." Naruto tore into another pancake. "What's on the agenda?"

Emerald utter a jaw popping yawn as she slumped against the table. It was as good a way to start the day as any. "Pyrrha?"

"Lets see, first comes Grimm studies with professor Port." their resident redhead thumbed through the lesson plan given them, "Then combat classes with Miss Goodwitch. After that, we're free for the rest of the day." She looked up, a faint smile at her lips. "Well! It would appear that they're being generous with us, given its our first day. That's grand. Perhaps we can go into town after?

"Sure, why not-

Naruto perked up, blue eyes flashing with delight. "Combat class, you say?"

Emerald swatted him with a newspaper. "No! Bad Naruto! Sit! Stay!"

"I'm a fox, not a dog you know...

It was too much to hope he would stay out of trouble.

Then again, that was why she loved him. Know it or not, he had her heart. Until death did them part. Naruto would never abandon her. Never betray her. He could not be bent. He would not be broken. Many had tried. All had failed. The last group to make such an attempt fared...poorly. Her beloved shattered every bone in their leader's body and left them for the Grimm. The rest he destroyed...all save one.

Really? The Crown? What were they thinking? Did Jax think them unprepared? Idiots.

She glared down at her fist, stifling a smile as Aura flowed across her palm.

That said, his sister Gillian had a fascinating Semblance, the ability to siphon Aura from one individual to the next. Emerald knew it well. It now ran through her veins. Naruto's gift to her. It made her strong. Versatile in a world were adaptation was king. She would treasure it always, and only ever use it for his sake. So she swore. But Jax?. His semblance died with him in the desert. A power like that was too great a temptation for anyone to hold. Emerald had begged him to let it go, and to her relief he relented. Better to let a wretched ability like that vanish into the void, where no one would be able to use it. Just as it should be...

"Em?"

The master thief blinked. "Huh? What is it?"

Naruto regarded her with keen blue eyes. "You...looked like you were spacing out for a bit, there."

"No, I'm fine." she sidled up against him before he could dwell on it. "Nothing to worry about, here. I'm where I belong."

Munching happily on a fresh slice of toast, Emerald looped an arm around his waist. Naruto laughed and laid his head on her shoulder. She allowed it, content to sit and bask once more in the warm glow of her new family. Her new life had finally begun. Everything was coming up roses now.

Nothing could ruin this. Absolutely nothing at all.

(.0.0.0.)

"Monsters, creatures of the night, Grimm!" Professor Port boomed. "But I call them prey! Why, when I was but a boy...!"

Emerald's head struck the desk with a resounding smack.

Naruto joined hers a heartbeat later. "NOPE!"

Blake lasted only a second longer.

Pyrrha tried to endure.

More fool she!

(.0.0.0.)

Pyrrha Nikos was beginning to think her team was...broken.

Not in a bad way, mind you! Naruto and Emerald were delightfully crass and they didn't give a flying fig about her fame. Blake was quiet, but not so much an introvert as one might initially suspect. When she wanted to ask you something, she darn well would. Always full of questions that one. The Nikos name meant nothing to her, either. It didn't mean anything to any of them. They accepted her for her she was, not what she'd done, not who she'd become. She was just plain 'ol Pyrrha to them. She loved them for that.

Even if she couldn't remember their first class together.

Port's class proved mercifully brief. At least she felt it had. Most of the class dozed off within the first five minutes and she'd eventually succumbed to it as well. Dear gods, but that man could ramble on! His very voice was a weapon! Was it a semblance? It had to be a semblance. Nothing else could put trained men and women to sleep so easily.

By contrast she found herself looking forward to combat class and all it entailed.

Miss Goodwitch certainly looked capable enough...and rather frightening at that. She looked stern. Dangerous, even. This was a huntress; a weapon of deadly will and power given human form. This was what she would be one day...assuming she managed to survive the next four years. Somehow, she didn't think her tournament training would stack up well against the hell she was about to see.

"Welcome, students." their instructor spoke clearly, her voice ringing out to be head by all in the room. Pyrrha tried her best not to shrink beneath her gaze. "As this is our first class together, I thought it best to go over the basics. First!" Her crop smacked into an open palm. "As huntsmen and huntresses, you are expected to uphold the peace. That includes...

Blake flicked an ear lazily as she droned on. Pyrrha found her eyes drawn to it, mind listening even as she did her best to pay attention. She truly did. But she found her attention waning and her thoughts wandering all the same. Perhaps she was still numb from listening to Port's lecture. Could it even be called that? He'd most told them stories of his youth. If there had been a lesson in there

Coco nudged her with an elbow. When had she gotten so close? "So, any bets on the first match?"

"Match?"

Sure enough, Miss Goodwitch was looking at their group with a keen eye.

"Lets see," she began slowly, "Would Naruto and...

Pyrrha looked away. Not me, not me, not me!

...Cinder, please enter the ring?"

Pyrrha perked up, realizing she'd been spared. She turned to find her team leader striding forward, shields strapped to either wrist. There was a high, wild light in his eyes, one she recognized from the Emerald Forest. His blood was up again. As he turned to face his opponent, she beheld the very woman who had emasculated Cardin just the other night. Cardin. Who wouldn't be attending Beacon due to his ruined mental state. No, best not to think about that. She forced her thoughts elsewhere.

Cinder. So that was her name.

Coco whistled. "This'll be good. No one's seen her fight."

Velvet nudged her. "Don't be so bloodthirsty. Its just a bit of sparring."

"Girl, tell that to him! He looks like he wants to eat Cinder up! Same goes for her!"

Pyrrha's gaze swung back to the combatants. If Naruto's grin reminded her of a tricky fox, then this woman was a viper, coiled and ready to strike. She wore a smile but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Hips swaying, she didn't so much much walk as she did strut into the ring. Not a single movement was wasted. Confidence personified, this woman.

"We meet again." Cinder laughed and something in her voice sent a shiver racing down Pyrrha's spine. "I'm curious to see what you're capable of."

"You as well." Naruto didn't rise to the bait, but slipped into a stance of his own. "I've been wanting to fight you."

"Don't!" a tiny voice shrieked in the back of Pyrrha's head. She wasn't sure why.

What was this trepidation she felt? Try as she might, she couldn't put her finger on it. A strange, nebulous dread wriggled its way into the pit of her stomach and took root there. She wanted to tell herself that it would be alright; Naruto was strong after all. He might enjoy a good fight from time to time, but surely there wasn't any danger here. Glynda would step in before either took things to far. Would she not?

"You will fight until one ring out, one of you surrenders," Miss Goodwitch declared, "Or your aura drops into the red. Prepare yourselves."

Cinder raised her arms and a pair of wickedly curved swords manifested in her palms, one to each hand. They looked sharp and jagged, as though formed from glass itself. She brandished them with deceptive grace, eyes alight. For a moment they almost seemed to glow. Pyrrha blinked and it was gone. Surely that must've been her imagination.

"Interesting semblance." Naruto hummed.

Cinder tilted her head, ebony hair falling over one golden eye. "Aren't you going to use yours?"

"Nah." He waved a hand flippantly and began to circle her. "We're all friends here, right? I'll take it easy."

"How kind of you." Cinder mirrored his motions perfectly, closing the gap. "But do be careful. Pride comes before the fall."

His grin grew. "Know a thing or two about that, do you?"

Her gaze narrowed and Glynda's crop slashed through the air. "Begin!"

The circle closed.

Cinder lunged and Naruto moved to meet her, flicking his right arm toward her face in a savage shield bash. She caught it on her leftmost blade and swiped at his face with the other. He turned it aside with a slap of his palm and rammed a heel palm into her chin. She raked a blade across his ribs for it. The world blurred away as they fell upon each other in a flurry of blows. This wasn't a battle, Pyrrha realized. To call it such would be a disgrace. This was a waltz. Cinder was an unstoppable force. Naruto was an immovable object.

Someone had to give, and it wasn't him.

Naruto weathered Cinder's assault with ease, blocking what he could and tanking what he couldn't, ensuring she never got the upper hand. For her part Cinder proved just as relentless; ever on the offensive, striking out at his exposed legs, flowing around him seeking the holes in his defenses as she did her very best to drive her blades home. Their dance deepened, becoming something darker. More primal. She snarled when she missed a strike and Naruto laughed as he brought a hammer fist crashing down on the back of her head.

Coco pumped a fist and out a whoop. "Now that's how you fight! Kick her ass, whiskers!"

Pyrrha wanted to be up there. She wanted to fight with them.

"He's playing with his food again."

"I'm sorry?" the redhead stole a quick glance at her teammate. "What do you mean?"

"Look at him." Emerald tucked a stray strand of mint-colored hair behind one ear. "He's too busy having fun up there. He isn't taking this seriously. See for yourself." she spat on the floor, momentarily alarming her. "Its going to be the death of him someday."

Cinder took another blow and brought her blades crashing down on Naruto's shield. He took the attack on his arm then rammed his forehead into hers, sending her stumbling back. When she retreated, he chased her, forcing her on the back foot with quick measured strikes. All the while, he was grinning from ear to ear. A laugh tore from him as she hacked off a huge chunk of his aura, but he kept attacking, forcing her to the very brink of the ring.

Blake inhaled sharply. "He's got her!"

It certainly seemed so. Naruto had Cinder on the back foot. He just needed to press the attack...until quite suddenly, he didn't. He must have seen somethign they hadn't; because he flung himself backwards. Pyrrha soon saw why. A series of jagged glass-like spikes burst from the space he'd been standing a moment before. One caught him in his ribs, sending him tumbling to the floor.

Finally, Cinder ceased her retreat. Once more, her eyes almost seemed to glow for a moment before they dimed.

"Are you just going to cower behind those shields of yours?" A dark brow rose in challenge. "I thought you were braver than that."

Naruto merely hummed. "Best offense is a good defense. But if you insist...

He blurred.

Cinder spun, but it was too late. His right hand brushed her bare shoulder and she hissed as a black mark bloomed there, branded against her flesh. She cut out of him but he was already gone, slamming his palm into the floor. Another struck the arena, carving a third mark. Fourth. Fifth. A sixth and a seventh now, as he trailed his hand across the ground. Eight. Too late, she realized his intentions. Nine. A wave of molten glass crackled at his feet but he was already gone, already moving, already on her.

And for the first time since she'd seen her, Cinder cried out in pain. A littany of cuts blossomed across her arms, leaving her reeling.

In a heartbeat her aura plummeted, hanging just above the red.

"You said you wouldn't use your semblance."

"I lied." he shrugged carelessly. "Words are a weapon too, Cinder. Everything is-

-a weapon." she finished for him, licking a beat of blood from when she'd bit her lip. "I am familiar with the saying. A man after my own heart. I like that."

Emerald absolutely hissed. "She's flirting with him. I'll kill her."

The words were so soft that Pyrrha thought she'd imagined them at first. But no, they were painfully real.

"Sorry." Naruto arched an eyebrow, "I'm afraid I'm spoken for."

"Such a shame."

Pyrrha felt Emerald preen against her.

"Not as much as you'd think." he laughed. "She's a keeper."

Cinder swept into a different stance, bending low to the ground. "Lets see if I can change your mind."

Emerald started forward. Pyrrha clamped onto her right arm. Blake grabbed the left. Coco latched onto her waist.

"Stop flirting and get on with it already!" Adam shouted from the sidelines. "We don't have all day!"

Pyrrha agreed wholeheartedly.

Abruptly the duel came to an end.

Naruto flashed away from Cinder's blades and the razor edge of his rightmost shield came up under her chin. Her swords alighted on his throat a moment later, crossed and ready to draw blood. Aura buckled, then broke beneath the force of their simultaneous strike. They looked like two animals, ready to ravish one another. Chests heaving, eyes glazed. Pyrrha's gaze snapped up to the board, alarmed to find their aura well past the red, scarcely a silver of it remained.

"Enough!" Miss Goodwitch snapped. "Both of you! The match is over! Miss Fall! To the infirmary with you!"

Naruto drew back first, drawing a small shiver from his opponent. Pyrrha frowned at it. That wasn't fear in Cinder's eyes, but something else. An unquantifiable emotion, one she wasn't at all familiar with. She looked like she wanted to make a snack of him. Emerald noticed it too; because she hastened to his side as he stepped out of the ring.

"You good?"

"Yeah," he grinned. "I'm fine."

He was fine. Cinder hadn't hurt him at all.

So why did Pyrrha have a bad feeling about this?

(.0.0.0.)

"So? Whaddya think of him?"

"He is...adequate."

Cinder hummed and spared an indulgent glance over her shoulder as she finished wrapping the her right arm in gauze. Ah, dear Mercury. Always full of questions. Always eager to rise above his station. Always wanting to know more. She could respect such ambition. He wasn't an ideal minion, not by any stretch of the imagination, but he suited her purposes well enough. He was all she had. Thankfully he was easily placated and easily led by her whims. So long as she had the measure of him, he would never betray her.

His gaze slipped to the cuts on her arms and the mark still burned into her left shoulder. "Looks more than adequate to me."

Of course he wasn't adequate. She'd lied. He was so much more than that. He was...exemplary.

And he would be hers.

Mercury's days were numbered. She'd found his replacement. He simply failed to realize it.

Such a foolish child. Did he not realize Naruto had held back the lion's share of his strength? He could have broken her if he wanted to. If he'd but willed it, he would've humiliated her. Instead he'd deceived everyone into thinking it an even fight. Yes, Naruto had certainly restrained himself...or so she would have believed, were it not for the mark still-burned into her shoulder. He'd left it there. An accident, perhaps? Or was it a warning? One could never be too sure.

Why else would two criminals infiltrate Beacon? He and that little minx of his were up to something. They must be.

By comparison, her injuries were light. They'd not even scar. She'd felt the strength in his attacks, felt him reel it back in time and again despite acting like a madman. He'd not wanted to make a scene. That implied a weakness on his part, one she was determined to exploit. So long as their goals didn't conflict with her own, of course.

"So that's your plan, boss? Get into their good graces and destroy them from the inside out?" Mercury sounded skeptical and his expression told her as much. "Doesn't seem to be working."

Silly boy. Was that what he thought? Cinder knew better. She had already sown the seeds.

"Patience, dear Mercury." she soothed. "In time, they'll play right into our hands."

Naruto would be hers. Rather, he already was. He just didn't realize it yet.

No doubt he was advancing his own nefarious schemes even now...

(.0.0.0.)

Sometimes, Naruto wondered if his Semblance was cursed.

That shouldn't be possible of course; he hadn't stolen another Semblance in a long time, and certainly not one based on bad luck.

But this? This felt like it.

It was meant to be a simple trip into Vale, a nice way to celebrate their first day. Coco's little bash wouldn't be until next week -he had the distinct feeling alcohol would be involved- but he'd been all too happy to honor Pyrrha's request and take his team into the city. After all, Vale was their home now. Best to learn the ins and outs of the city whole he could. Just in case something went wrong. Forewarned meant forearmed after all. And he was nothing if not the sensible sort.

Soy, yes, it should have been a nice day out.

Unfortunately, fate is seldom so kind and destiny delights in disaster. And so he found himself roped into another disaster of his own making. A simple excursion? Yeah, not so simple anymore. To think, it all stemmed from asking a single question. The simple desire to help someone. His luck really was the pits these days...

Blake groaned. "Why are we doing this again?"

"Because Naruto's a softie." Emerald prodded her on. "Keep looking."

Prryha offered a nervous laugh. "Surely it can't be that hard to find, right miss...?"

"I know I had it somewhere around here!"

"You're a bit of an odd duck, aint'cha?" Naruto blew out a sigh as he trailed after the speaker. "How the hell did you manage to lose a staff in the middle of the city?!"

"I'm not a duck!" the girl in question wrinkled her nose at him. "My name's Amber! I already told you that!"

A blond brow rose. "Question still stands, missy."

"I'm a bit clumsy, alright?!"

He kept walking.

"Noisy girl...

A/N: READ THIS LEST YE BE CONFUSED!

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Nice job, Naruto.

This chapter was a right blast to write, but I'm not quite satisfied with it; work's been pushing me hard as of late, and I'm trying to update everything on a monthly basis. So. Busy! Two jobs make things hard, and I'm honestly considering taking a vacation at this point, if only to prevent myself from collapsing...

As ever, lack of reviews murder my inspiration. If folks don't review, I tend to think they don't like a story, you know?

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas... ...Revieeew... Would You Kindly?

They keeps an old man alive. And enjoy the (potential) previews!

References are references and I own nothing.

Next chapter: Last of the Real Ones.

Which do you like?

SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!

READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

PLOT DETAILS AHOY!

(POTENTIAL Previews)

"Can his power break the Relics, I wonder? Could it slay maidens? Could it destroy the gods themselves?"

Emerald pushed him back and climbed atop him.

"I wish I'd never unlocked this stupid Semblance."

"Atlas would kill for your it. So would Mistral. As would Vacuo. Even Menagerie would want your gift.

"I'm nobody's lab rat."

Ozpin granted him a fatherly smile. "Well said. You are so much more than that."

Naruto clicked his tongue. "I'm not your weapon, either."

"But if you could make this world safe for those you love, wouldn't you?"

"I serve a power greater than you can possibly imagine."

"Good. You're up." Naruto's voice growled just out of sight. "Now we can start your history lesson. Long before there were scheming little twits like you, there was the gentlemen villain...

R&R~!