A/N: Here we go! Nice looooong chapter for you, and its got a bit of everything!
Blast it, my wrists are aching something fierce.
Please excuse any grammatical errors, scarce though they may be.
That said, this chapter's a long one, and brimming with multiple perspectives.
Its also my craziest one yet; meant to make you laugh and smile in these crazy times. Hopefully I succeeded in that.
Because as ever, the Embers rule persists.If folks don't enjoy this...well, I won't continue it. Reviews are the fire that keeps me writing. Without them, I cannot put pen to paper. Simple as that. I work two jobs these days, which means I'm lucky to have four hours to even write. Every bit of feedback matters, large or small~! Your voice matters! Speak up! I repeat, every bit of feedback matters...even if people think it doesn't.
Now then, onto your questions! A little long this time around.
Q: What are you updating next?
A: Everybody Wants to Be My Enemy and Strike a Match, provided my health holds.
Q: Will there be pairings for other characters? Like Blake and the rest?
A: Ayup.
Q: Just how long has Naruto been kicking around the RWBY verse in this story?
A: In a word? Yes.
Q: Do you have any pure RWBY stories? If so, what got you into it?
A: Magic Unbound is what you're after. My first and only pure RWBY story for it. Lost my co-writer for that -they up and vanished- so I'm still a bit at a loss at the moment. In that same vein, I don't want to compete with Coeur in the pure RWBY realm -that is firmly his territory, though he's bee- I just like to play in the world of it because there's so much potential!
Couer is the reason I got into RWBY in the first place. I'd love to collaborate with him someday, but he has his life, and I have mine.
I particularly enjoy the way he writes Jaune in that regard. So many variations! Like Naruto, he came from nothing, and had to work his way up from the bottom. Unfortunately, Couer's mom isn't doing well at the moment. Poor guy. Sending him all my prayers and warm wishes.
Q: How many stories of yours are ending soon?
A: At this point? Nearly fifty are in their final arcs/chapters, including Remnants of Shinobi. Don't have the room or time to say it again here.
Already gave the names that in another story. You'll see.
Q: Why do you enjoy writing Papa!Naruto so much?
A: Because its fun making him be the ACTUAL father he wasn't in Boruto. Honestly, he has shadow clones for days! No excuses, Naruto!
That said, I'm a bit of a father myself. Not to mention I have a horde of nieces and nephews. Almost ten altogether now!
Q: Why are some of your stories moving so slowly?!
A: I'm trying to take it one arc at a time, building a world, as it were. I don't want this to go the way of "Wolf in Sheeps Clothing" or "Killing Monsters" They were terribly rushed when I was new to RWBY and look where they wound up.
*hangs head in shame*
Q: How do you deal with anonymous reviews?
A: Some are better than others. I get dozens of them or more, depending on the day and I don't have the hours of time it would take to moderate them all -that's all an author can do- so I tend to just mass approve them all in one fell swoop and read them after.
But for every troll, there's an anonymous critique or review that actually makes me think, and in doing so, improve.
I've been here for nearly fifteen years now, and I hope, my health notwithstanding, to be here for awhile yet.
After all, I actually feel alive when I write...
Q: Kali when!
A: Kali now! Well, sort of.
Alright, I've kept you long enough.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one.
Speaking of which, there's a tribute to Coeur's Arc Family in this one. Lets see if you can find it.
I repeat, a tribute, nothing more. That said, I Really had a blast writing this chapter. Ready? Set! Go!
"You're mad!"
"No, I'm Naruto. There's a difference.
...that is an awful dad joke. Apologize! Apologize right now!"
~?
Good Things Come in Threes
Kali's scroll was ringing.
Even half asleep she recognized it at once; a jaunty jingle she'd chosen long ago in happier times and hadn't been able to bring herself to change since.
And right now? It was loud.
Terribly. Horribly.
LOUD.
"Noooo..." she clutched her pillow over her head with a low whine and rolled over, determined to ignore it. "Its early! Lemme sleep!"
It kept ringing on and on for a good thirty seconds. A full minute, now. Still she refused to rise. Her bed was warm, the blankets soft, and she'd been having such a lovely dream. Happier times. Simpler times; days when he had been in her life, fleeting moments of laughter and teasing, hopes for a future that had since become so much ash.
Finally, the ringing ceased.
"Heh." she purred into her pillow. "Mama wins."
Content with her victory she snuggled down and drifted back into dreamland.
A worry gnawed angrily at the back of her mind, but in her sleepy stupor she couldn't quite place it. Who was that anyway? It wasn't like someone to call in the early hours of the morning unless there was an emergency. Menagerie wasn't on fire, so it couldn't be that. She would've smelled smoke by now.
.
..
...meh, probably nothing.
Her scroll began to ring again. Kali's brow furrowed as she struggled to keep her eyes shut.
"...!"
A tiny ember of remembrance sparked to life in her sleep-addled mind. She knew that ringtone. Only one soul on Remnant had it. She'd given it to an old friend, near and dear to her heart. Unbidden, she recalled just who it belonged to.
Wait.
Wait, wait.
Wait, wait, wait!
Golden orbs sprang open in the low light, even as feline ears drooped atop her head.
With a long-suffering sigh the Belladona matriarch rolled over and forsook her warmth for the waking world. An arm stabbed out of her cover cocoon, flailing in vain for her nightstand. She missed her fist attempt. Stubbed a thumb on the second. Finally succeeded at the third, narrowly catching before it could plunge off the dresser and shatter upon the wooden floor.
Snatching it up, she yanked it under the blanket only to realize it had gone still and silent in her hands.
Trembling fingers flailed for her voicemail.
"Hello, Kali." a low, drawling snarl crooned in her ear; its deep timbre made her tremble, and not necessarily in a bad way. "I've found your daughter. Our should I say our daughter?" Wait, our? He knew. Or he'd figured it out, the clever devil. "Naughty little kitten's run away to Vale...and Beacon. Did you know she was a terrorist? I didn't." Yup, he definitely knew. "Be a dear and visit her, won't you?"
That was it. A single message among thirty missed calls.
She released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Just like that, she knew where Blake was. After all these years. Not a singe call or text from her one and only child, not knowing if she was dead or alive. The sudden knowledge that she was...it relieved her more than words could possible convey. It also implied that Naruto was in Vale; how else could he have discovered her little kitten. Well. The cat, as they say, was out of the bag. Was it too early to catch a boat to Mistral? She could always charter a fight to Vale from there.
She had a daughter to discipline.
(.0.0.0.)
Sparks and 'Splosions had been quiet for the last three days.
Honestly, Naruto found it more than a little dull. As both a purveyor and purchaser of Dust he lived for explosions; the chaos of life itself. Controlled chaos, of course. Life was an explosion after all. He didn't fancy the idea of someone coming around to bust up his shop again -not after he'd finally fixed the sign!- but he wouldn't say no to a little amusement.
With Summer away on a mission and Willow off negotiating a Dust deal, he almost found himself...dare he say, lonely! Him! Of all people!
Madness!
"Who would've thought?" Kurama yawned, sprawling atop the counter. "We've gotten used to the company."
The shop door swung open with a merry chime.
Naruto looked up and quirked a brow when he found Cinder stood there, hands planted on her hips. She didn't look much pleased with him. Still, she hesitated, unwilling to cross the threshold. He knew the reason. Even now she half-expected a trap. Not from him of course, but others.
Reminded him of when she was a small gangly thing, shrinking away from her own shadow.
They grow up so fast!
"Summer's out on a mission. She won't be back until this evening. Willow's busy, too." When her scowl redoubled, he sighed. "Something wrong?" she didn't answer. "I don't see Emerald or Mercury with you...
The words reactivated Cinder.
"No." his adopted daughter stalked forward, leaned across the counter, and stabbed a finger against his nose. "No, no."
Naruto nearly went cross-eyed trying to keep track of the questing digit. "No?"
"No, no, no!" that. manicured nail drilled in, seeking brain matter. "NO!"
...I'm afraid I don't follow.
"N.O."
It was too good an opportunity to pass up.
"Cinder, sweetie, I know words are hard, but I'm gonna need more than "No" from you here." He stepped his fingers and leaned forward. "Use big words."
Her face flushed a petty pink.
"Tyrian! Uncle!" golden eyes blazed mere inches from his. "No!"
Ohhhh.
"Yeah, there's not much I can do about that-ow." he grinned as she tugged at his face. "Please let go of my cheeks. I need those."
"NO! Cinder flung up her arms. "You must be joking! That fool is not my uncle! I refuse to accept it!
"He technically is." still smiling, he leaned back before she could grab him him again. "We made a bit of a bargain. How did you even find him?"
"He's been stalking around Vale for the last three days, making odd purchases." her lips pursed into a thin line. "I had Mercury and Emerald trailing him. When he saw me he called me his...niece!" She recoiled, looking vaguely ill. "Explain this! Now!"
...yup. Tyrian would do that in a heartbeat. He lived life by the seat of his pants, and to hell with the rest.
"Are the two of you related?"
"Nope." he smacked his lips audibly.
Cinder made angry Cinder noises. "Then that lunatic isn't my uncle!"
Naruto thumbed his chin. "Well we did swear a blood oath and exchange drinks back in our heyday ago...
Her face went ashen. "No! No, no, no!"
"Sorry." he shrugged. "Tyrian's here to stay."
"I hate you," she huffed, folding her arms and huffing like the girl she no longer was. "I really do."
Naruto spread his arms wide. "Aw, does daddy's little girl need a hug?"
"N-No!"
He gave her one anyway. She thrashed like an angry panther in his arms, hissing and spitting, limbs flailing. Adorable. She'd always been feisty, even as a child. Her shin cracked off his aura hard enough to make it flare a bright cobalt blue, but still he didn't release her. Soon enough she tired, just as she always did.
"Bloody fool!" she snarled, slumping into his shoulder. "Why do you do this to me?!"
"Hey!" he swatted her head. "I didn't raise you with a tongue like that."
She mumbled angrily into his shoulder.
"Now, now, use your words-ow! Did you just bite me?!" He reared back.
"Where is he, anyway? Tyrian, I mean."
...I thought he was with you."
Realization broke like the dawn. "Well, he said something about going to school...
Cinder's glare was fire incarnate. "He went after those girls, didn't he?"
"Meh. It was bound to happen sooner or later."
...better them than me."
(.0.0.0.)
Someone was poking Weiss Schnee.
Said someone was going to be a dead someone if they didn't stop in the next ten seconds.
"Ruby, no..." she flailed an arm at them, bundling deeper into her blankets. "Not this time. I don't care what you're up to; its a weekend. I need my beauty sleep...
The poking paused and she sighed her thanks. Who would've thought? Apparently her partner could be sensible after all.
Abruptly it intensified tenfold.
"Stop this instant or I'll revoke your cookie privileges!"
Her tormentor did not cease; not even for the merest of moments.
Huh. Her bleary mind supplied. Not Ruby, then. That threat usually worked wonders. Blake wasn't prone to such pointless pranks. Which meant...? Well, alright then. Yang would have to die. Nothing personal...actually scratch that. It was very personal. Ruby would understand. She needed her sleep. How else was she supposed to grow up big and strong like Winter? By drinking milk? Bah! Not bloody likely!
The poking was actually starting to hurt a little, now. An angry blue eye creaked open. "What do you want?!"
A man's face stared back eyes glowing gold in the dark. "Good morning, niece of mine!"
Not Yang. Not Yang at all.
Weiss screamed.
(.0.0.0.)
"Hmm?"
Ozpin looked up from his coffee.
Had he heard a shriek just now? Nonsense. Probably the wind...
(.0.0.0.)
Weiss kept screaming.
That scream woke Ruby, who took one look at the slender stranger looming over her partner and shrieked to high heaven. Naturally that woke Yang, who promptly fell out her bunk in a mad tangle of arms and legs. Blake never stood a chance-she was only just sitting up when the blond collided headlong with her. Both crashed to the floor, wrapped up in their own sheets.
Lights snapped on in the chaos; what should have helped only made things worse. Much worse.
"Aaargh!"
"It burns!"
"Why meeee?!"
"Turn out the lights!"
Squinting against the sudden illumination, Weiss, found herself face to face with one Tyrian Callows.
She also noticed the heavy burlap sack in his right hand.
"He's here to kidnap us!"
"Dear nieces!" the stranger bowed, low and deep at the waist like some gentleman caller. "I would never! In fact!" his tail flicked, curling around the sack, which she now noticed, wasn't empty at all. "I come bearing gifts!"
Team RWBY screamed again..well most of them.
"Wait, nieces?" Ruby paused and looked up, legs still crossed beneath her, mood cooling. "Gifts? As in you're our uncle? Another uncle? Neat."
"Ruby, no! An Uncle?!" Weiss nearly went incandescent with rage. "Him?! To us?! Not a chance! We don't look a thing alike!"
"Eh, I can believe it if he's involved." Yang wriggled out of bed with a yawn. "More uncles the merrier, right?
Blake moaned incoherently, still stunned ont he floor.
Weiss twitched. Madness. Absolute madness. She would have words with Mother about this.
"Oh, dear." Tyrian touched a finger to his lips. "Am I not your favorite uncle?"
"Pretty sure Uncle Qrow's got that on lock."
The faunus reached into his sack.
"I brought high caliber explosive rounds for your weapon!
Ruby practiripped them out his hands. "Aaaaand just like that I have a new favorite!"
(.0.0.0.)
"Achoo!"
Somewhere miles away in a distant settlement, Qrow Branwen sneezed.
"I sense a disturbance in the force." he gripped Harbinger's hilt behind his back and glared into the wilderness. "There can only be one!"
(.0.0.0.)
Jaune felt inadequate.
There it was, the ugly truth he would never admit to anyone else. A hunter? Him?! Jaune Arc was a fake, a fraud, and a bad one naturally. The boy who'd cheated his way into Beacon, the runt of the litter. Weakest in the class, scarcely able to hold his own even against jerks like Cardin. Cardin, for crying out loud. Pyrrha wanted to train him, wanted to make him better, but she didn't understand. This was something he had to himself, if he didn't at least try, he'd never be able to look himself in the eye.
And so he'd hit upon an idea; an upgrade was in order.
Dust could do wonderful things, and Ruby had been singing the praises of this place for days now. Crocea Mors was a fine blade, make no mistake; indeed, Jaune wouldn't trade her for the world. The ancestral sword and shield of the Arc family had served him well thus far. He wouldn't have survived initiation without her.
But it just. Wasn't. Enough.
As much as it galled him to admit it, didn't have the martial skills needed to hold his own; he needed something to level the playing field.
And so he'd come here.
Weary blue eyes glanced up at the gold and crimson lacquer of the sign. It looked new, now doubt repaired after the recent fiasco.
Sparks and 'Splosions. It read. For all your Dust needs~!
He'd never used Dust in his fighting style before. Surely it couldn't be that hard...could it? Weiss and Blake use it all the time. Hell, nearly everyone in Beacon did! He didn't need much, just enough to gain an edge, to try and carve out a niche for himself in this wild school.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Do or die.
Jaune grit his teeth, planted his feet, steeled his heart, and flung the door open with all his might.
Imagine his surprise when the door swung the other way and smacked him in the face.
Great, his ego wailed, nose smarting. Way to make an impression.
"My apologies." the dulcet contralto of a young woman rose in his ears. "I didn't see you there."
Jaune raised his gaze.
A woman wearing a red dress stitched from pure sin awaited him in the lobby, one hand half extended for the handle. Golden eyes met his, framed by a curtain of ebony hair. As he looked on she pulled a bit of it aside, revealing a small, bemused smile. When she did his throat went completely dry; drier than the deserts of Vacuo.
"No, no," he muttered, "Its my fault. I didn't see you, miss...?
"Fall." she purred, taking his offered hand. "Cinder Fall."
Was it hot in here, or was it just him?
"Well the name's Jaune Arc." he faltered, a little running his free hand hand through his hair. "Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue, ladies love it." Stupid! Why tell her that?! "I'm a student at Beacon...
"Beacon, hmm?" Her eyes burned. "I'll be attending there myself in a few months."
His brain rebooted. ."Eh?"
"For the festival, of course."
Right, right, not suspicious at all...
He'd never have a chance with someone like her. No point in trying.
A door in the back swung open with a hearty clang distracting him. door opened again.
"Cinder, stop tormenting the boy and let him in." a rough voice crowed near the counter. "I've got work to do."
"My apologies." she released his hand with a wink and sashayed away. "Its been a pleasure, Jaune."
Jaune nearly did a double take, barely noticing at all when she slid aside.
His attention was already elsewhere.
Was he looking at a ghost? It felt like it. At a glance, this man resembled his father. Almost frightfully so. A bit taller than Nicholas Arc perhaps, broader in the chest and with no beard to speak of, but the resemblance was there. Downright uncanny. If it weren't for the hair and those strange whiskers, they might've been brothers.
"Naruto Uzumaki" the man introduced himself, plonking down behind the counter. "That's my daughter, Cinder Fall." he introduced the woman with a wave. "Don't mind her. She likes to tease."
"Charmed." the woman batted her lashes at him.
Jaune's brain failed again. Pretty girl-Nope! Don't flirt with the shopkeep's daughter! That way lay ruin!
"So." the whiskered man clapped his hands. "What brings you to my humble abode?"
Jaune told him what he wanted in no uncertain terms.
"Looking to upgrade your weapon with dust, eh?" the older blond leaned back, thumbing his chin. "Doable, that. I'm no weapons smith, but I can suggest a few modifications." those keen blue eyes strayed to his sheathed weapon. "I'm guessin' that's your sword? May I see her?"
He held out both hands expectantly; beneath such a stern gaze Jaune couldn't help but do as he'd been bade. Unbuckling his sword, he handed it off to him. As he did so, he couldn't help but notice the calluses on those scarred palms. Not mere shopkeep, this. This man was a warrior, or had been. When those hands curled around the hilt of his sword, he felt a strange tightening in his chest. Blue eyes met his.
"She got a name?"
...Crocea Mors." he replied.
"Hmm. Sounds familiar. Sword and shield combo...?" Naruto muttered softly to himself, turning Crocea Mors end over end as one might a fine jewel. "Yup. Thought so. Been around awhile, too. Step back a bit, please. There's something I want to test.
Even as Jaune did so, Naruto ripped Mors from her sheathe and performed a quick slash, the like of which blasted his hair back. A crescent wave of light erupted from the weapon's tip and eviscerated the floor. From there he deployed the shield, tested its weight, then flung it outward at a wall as one might a demented Frisbee. It struck the surface of an empty shelf with a hollow clang, rebounded off a pillar, then boomeranged back into his waiting hand. His fellow blond caught it with a pleased grunt, did a little spin, and slammed it down.
Jaune's ego wilted. It just wasn't fair. How could a total stranger wield his own weapon better than him...?
"Nothing quite like the classics. I can work with this." his appraisal complete, Naruto collapsed the shield and slid Crocea Mors gently into her sheathe with reverent care. Only then did he return it to him. "How attached are you to your sword?"
Jaune squared his shoulders, fighting down a surge of sudden anxiety as he reclaimed what was his. "I wouldn't be here without it."
"Thought so." Keen eyes drilled into his over his still-deployed shield. "Do you have any idea how old this weapon is?"
"No, sir...?" it was an honest answer. "She's been in the family for generations. Dad had her, and his Father before him, then Great-Grandad before that...
"Of course they did." the blond was staring at him openly now, a hint of nostalgia gleaming in his gaze. "I made this blade three hundred years ago for a friend. So this is where she ended up...?"
What was that noise? It sounded like his world shattering.
Jaune croaked. "You...made Crocea Mors?"
How old was this guy?!
"She's a prototype, only one of her kind. Tried smithing once." the blond before him shrugged halfheartedly. "Had the bright idea of making souls, living weapons, using the aura of the weapon's owner mingled within my own chakra, then putting them in weapons." He planted his shin on one palm as faint smile plucked at his whiskered cheeks. "It would've been grand; weapons that changed and evolved with their wielder...
"Sadly," the fox on the counter yawned, startling him terribly, "We couldn't do it without another human partner. Maybe in another life. Another story...
Jaune recoiled. "Did that fox just talk?!"
The little vulpine didn't look at all contrite. "And if I did?"
Had some of the dust gotten into his eyes? Was he high? "Foxes don't talk!"
"Sure, they don't." It grinned at him. "And the Grimm don't have a queen in dire need of snu-snu."
Naruto swore under his breath batted the little creature on its head, earning a growl. "You're never going to let that go, are you?"
"Nope."
Naruto quirked a brow at Jaune. "Price range?"
"Are we just going to ignore the talking fox? That isn't normal!"
Naruto continued to smile at him. "Price range?"
"I'm serious! What is he?! Who are you?!
"Price. Range."
The sudden vehemence in his tone took Jaune aback, but he rallied. "...I've got a bit of lien saved up."
"There's a good lad. We can discuss that later." Naruto leaned forward. "Now tell me why you want to modify the blade I worked so hard on?
Oh. Oh, dear. He'd blundered. "Because I'm not strong enough...?"
"Oh?" Oddly enough, that made the man smile. "Are you frustrated to the fact that you are the weakest one? Good!"
Jaune sputtered. "Good?!"
"Hold on to that feeling." Naruto jabbed him in the chest. "That's proof that you haven't given up yet, on yourself. Listen, don't give up saying that you're living within your boundaries. Don't be a boring person like that. If you have the guts to not give up, you can become anything you want to be. We're living creatures that don't have wings, sure, but I've seen humans do some incredible things...
Jaune tilted his head. "So what you're saying is?"
"So dense! If I didn't know better, I'd think you were one of mine."
He frowned and leaned forward suddenly, snatching his hand. A thin tether of blue light shot down and lanced into his palm. Jaune flinched as it rebounded off his aura. Nothing happened. Not a thing. There was no reaction whatsoever.
...why did that worry him?
"Huh." he heard the man mutter. "Not related, then...I don't know whether I should be proud or disappointed."
"You alright...?"
"Yup. just checking." a hand clasped his shoulder. "Let me tell you a secret, Jaune. In order for a mediocre man to defeat a genius, he must become a demon through sheer hard work. That's what I did. My son, too."
A blink. "You have a son, too?"
"Yup." Naruto hummed, touching a finger to his chin. "Kyojuro's a fine fighter. around is he? Think he goes by Rengoku these days. He worked himself to the bone to become the man he is now. Here, I'll scribble down his Scroll number." he fetched a pen and a notepad from the desk. "Might be able to teach you a ting or two. I think the two of you would get along swimmingly."
"Or you could let me train him."
Jaune's head whipped around with an audible crack. "Pretty girl say what?"
Cinder smiled sinfully back at him, temptation incarnate. "Are you free this weekend?"
(.0.0.0.)
"Interested in him, are you?"
"Perhaps." Cinder shrugged as she watched a dazed Jaune depart. "We'll see if the seed sprouts."
There she went with her words and half truths again. Baffling girl. "Pardon?"
"I'm merely interested in his growth."
He could understand. She'd grown used to drawing the eye of others; basking in their attention, knowing she was beyond them. To simply be brushed aside like that...well, he was sure it must have surprised her. Cinder disliked being ignored, but she loathed watching others wallow in their weakness even more. Probably brought back unpleasant memories for her.
"I've never had an interest in that sort of thing..." Until now, it went unsaid. "...still, he has potential."
The door crashed open with a harsh crack before he could finish
"You!" Blake stormed in, eyes alight, pale face drawn in a rictus of anger.
"Me?" Naruto tilted his head, somewhat baffled by her anger. "What did I do?"
"You know what you did!" her forehead slammed against his. "You sicced that madman on us!"
"Oh, right. How has Tyrian been these last three days?"
"ABSOLUTELY INFURIATING!"
Cinder settled in to watch the fireworks that followed with a pleased smirk. She'd likely enjoy see him squirm for once.
Traitors, the lot of them. Was this how she repaid his kindness?!
(.0.0.0.)
"Really, now?" Naruto laid his chin against one fist, smiling softly as she finished her rant. "Tyrian means well. Surely he wasn't that bad.
"He absolutely was!" Blake hissed like the scalded cats she wasn't. "Don't get me started on the gifts! Call him off!"
"Wait, wait, wait." He held up a hand, forestalling her. "What exactly did he give you girls anyway?
"Explosive rounds for Ruby," she rattled off one finger after the other, "Armor upgrades for Yang's gauntlets, and a book on Glyphs for Weiss." Really, they were considerate gifts...if one ignored the fact that he'd given still more in the last three days. Each gift had grown more outlandish than the last. Was he trying to turn them into killing machines?!
"And you?"
She looked away, ears twitching. "Tuna...and books."
"What kind of books?"
Blake bit her lip.
"Ohhhh. Those kind." His laughter was gentle, like so much falling snow. "But you like those, don't you? Then why do you want to call him off?"
"Just do it!" she flushed to the very roots of her hair. "He's embarrassing me-I mean us! All of us!"
...one does not simply command Tyrian Callows, you know."
"Aaaargh!"
Blake wanted to throttle Naruto. She longed to lunge across the counter, grab the man who may-or-may-not be her Father by the throat, and give him a good hard squeeze for good measure. Surely that wasn't murderous of her. Nope. Nay, definitely not. Surely Ruby and Yang would forgive her for it. Weiss might even thank her for suc a kind deed.
She went for Gambol Shroud instead. "I will shoot you. Right in the head."
"Hmm." he smiled, little more than a twitch of the lips. "I'd survive it, sad to say."
"You probably would." She glared golden daggers at him. "But it would hurt, wouldn't it?"
"Like hell." Naruto granted her a nod. "Here." a fresh bandoleer of dust rounds slid across the counter. "For your troubles. Its on the house."
Her eyes widened. That was high quality dust-no! Focus, Blake! Hold onto your anger!
But...But dust! She could make so many elemental clones with that! In the end, avarice won out. She snatched it up and slung it over her shoulder.
"Not even a thank you." Naruto shook his head with a soft tut. "Such a rude daughter I have...
"I am not your daughter!"
"Keep telling yourself that." there it was, that smug smile again. "Your chakra confirmed it, or would you rather I get a DNA test?"
Her will wilted. "Why are you like this? Do you enjoy making me suffer?"
"Not at all." his smile thinned, and she glimpsed a core of steel in him a last. "If anything I want you to thrive. I used to tease your mother in the same way; she'd give as good as she got...before, well." he coughed and clamped down on whatever he'd been about to say. "Which brings me to the next item on the agenda...
Every muscle in her body tensed. 'Here it comes.'
...why were you with the White Fang?"
Blake bit her lip. "You dug into my past." It wasn't a question.
"Bits and pieces. I have connections." Naruto didn't deny it. "I wanted to see the measure of you."
"And...?"
...what I found was lacking. The White Fang? Really? They need to be stopped," Naruto prattled on bullishly, igniting a tiny ember of hope in her heart, "Which begs the question; what kind of nonsense is Sienna feeding that Ghira that's kept him from doing it, and why did you stick with them?" The note of scorn that followed drowned said hope in the cold waters of reality. "I'm sure there's a story there...
Indignation burned in her heart, hot and heavy. "We wanted to change the world!"
"You changed it alright." he bit back startling her terribly. "And not for the better. Most of Remnant fears the Faunus now, and the rest would rather see them quarantined in Menagerie. Mindless violence, lashing out at all and anyone you think might have wronged you, is never the answer." he shook his head further condemning her. "Not in the long term."
She knew that. Gods, she hated it, but his words stung the darkest part of her. "That's why I left! And you're one to talk! Ruby told me what you did!"
"What I practice is targeted aggression." Naruto's calm remained impenetrable, even in the face of her fury. "There's a difference. I punish those responsible for wrongdoings. No more, no less. I do not target civilians and innocents just because I think they might have wronged me." Leaning forward he panted his elbows on the counter and pushed his forehead against hers. "I'd say Kali raised you wrong, but we both know you ran away, so she's not even to blame for that, is she?"
How dare he. How DARE...!
"You always run away when things get tough, don't you?" still he pressed her, not with anger, but sadness. "When are you going to stand and fight for what you believe in, Blake?"
She cringed. "Stop."
He did not. "You can't run forever."
Her fists balled at her sides. "I said stop it...!"
"Sooner or later, you'll run out of places to run, and then-
"I TOLD YOU TO STOP!"
Rage ripped sense away. Her hand cracked out, clenched knuckles striking him across the face. Naruto didn't budge, even as his face creased little from the sudden strike. Blake recoiled. It was like striking a concrete wall without aura; punching an Ursa dead in the face.
Try as she might to hold it in, Blake couldn't keep herself from crying out.
"Alright. Maybe I went too far, there." he plucked her hand before she could retreat. "Here, let me heal the fracture before you break it...
She tried to tug away but she couldn't; his grip was ironclad. It made her seethe all the more. "Why you...?!"
"Now, now," a new voice crooned from upstairs, "We're all family, here. No need for violence."
Blake pivoted furiously to find a young woman gilding down the main stairwell. She took in long dark and stark golden eyes, pale skin concealing a figure even a huntress would die for. Hell, she could have been her sister, if it weren't for her distinct lack of Faunus features. What black hell was this?
"Cinder, meet Blake." Naruto waved a hand. "Also my daughter."
"Adopted, thankfully." the older woman sniffed once, considering her. "You're one of his then?"
Blake huffed and looked away. "No!"
"She's still in the denial phase." Naruto waved a hand. "Speaking of denial, your mother should be here in a few days." his voice piqued a little in warning...or was it disappointment? She couldn't be sure. "Maybe less. You might want to make peace with yourself now."
Blake felt her ears droop; never had she wished more for her bow. "You called her?!"
"Of course I did. She's your mother. She deserved to know where you'd been."
Dismay burst out of her, taking two words. "Daddy, no!"
"Daddy yes! She's probably worried sick!"
The bell above the door chimed.
"Am I interrupting?"
Blake froze.
She knew that voice. It was the same voice that had cooed to her as a child when she bandaged a scraped knee, or fallen down, or hurt herself during training. A warm tone, gentle encouragement that she'd always held close to herself, even in her dreams. Now? It filled her with dread.
No. Not possible. It just couldn't be!
There was no way Mom could have made it here so swiftly, not in three days. She'd have to charter a ship all the way from Menagerie, to Mistral then catch a flight there to Vale. Even then she'd probably go straight to the school campus first in search of her.
So why?! Why was she here?!
The bell chimed again as the door closed behind her, heralding her doom. Ask not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. Blake wanted to die. She wanted to shrink away into a shadow and never be found. Cinder patted her shoulder, told her to give them a chance, nodded once to Kali -who balked back at her in turn- then eased her way out the door. It locked behind her, trapping the three of them within.
Naruto leaned past Blake, cutting off her escape route.
"You always did have a talent for showing up when I least expected it." he quipped with a small smile. "If I didn't know better, I'd say it was a semblance."
Full lips quirked down in a frown. "Was that a jab at me?
Against her better judgement, Blake turned to face the music. Sure enough, Kali Belladona -Mom!- gazed back at her, eyes wide, ears perked up, flitting between disbelief and raw, motherly joy. Then she noticed Naruto again and every bit of that glee drained away, replaced by trepidation. She did not fidget. But she looked anxious all the same.
"I'm awful at this, Kali." Naruto -not dad, never Dad!- gave a sigh and recovered. "You're a day early."
"Oh, you know me~!" her laughter was brittle, even to her ears. "I like to take my time."
She could see the look in her mother's eye; a faint note of longing left unresolved. Naruto must've seen it too; because he made no move to approach, let alone evade her. Instead he rose from behind the counter and let her come to him.
Mom did, but slowly; a woman walking to her execution.
Mom had always been the bubbly one in the family, always so happy and chipper; ever eager to speak her mind. Yet in this moment she was positively subdued. Rather than leap forward, she paused a stone's throw away just out of arms reach and dithered, unwilling to cross the line. Who was this woman and what she done with her mother? It didn't make a lick of sense!
...its been awhile, Naruto."
"Kali." he granted her a nod. "I see you got my message. Nice of you to come all this way."
"Yes, well!" Golden eyes flicked to Blake, drawing a wince from her. "Thank you so much for that. Its nice to finally know that my daughter is safe and sound...
Blake wilted anew, feeling every bit the little girl caught with her hand in the proverbial cookie jar.
"I'm sorry...
"Our daughter." A low frisson of tension coursed through the room as Naruto spoke. Kali made a noise trapped somewhere between a sigh and a wine when he drove the point home. "She has chakra."
Blake flashed back to her hand, pulsing with shadows. He'd called it a bloodline. But that meant...! She looked down half-expecting her hands to be covered in darkness once more. They only shimmered a little. The block he'd put in still held fast, like an iron spike in her mind. A wild thought burrowed into her brain as she considered it.
What if he removed it? What if she mastered it? How strong would she be...?
'Would I be strong enough to stop Adam...?'
"Ah." Mom hung her head, snapping her back to reality. "So that's how you figured it out. I should have known...
They paused, looking longingly into one another's eyes. Blake nearly gagged. What was this, one of her romance novels? But no, they weren't flinging themselves at one another; strange as it might sound, they were simply...waiting? Mom did not fling herself at Dad like some silly hussy or a lovestruck lass. She simply laid a hand on his shoulder...as if she were afraid to touch him after all this time.
"I'm sorry."
"No need." Blake looked on aghast as the baffling blond reached up and laid a hand on hers, fingers tracing her scarred knuckles. "There's nothing to forgive. You probably had your reasons for keeping her secret." her head whipped toward him, but he didn't falter. "I have my share of enemies. I can see why you did it."
Kali hiccuped, caught flatfooted. "Just like that?!"
"Yup." his reply proved immediate. "Did you really think I'd hold a grudge over something like this?"
"No, but...!" her words warbled as her expression wavered, and in a moment of blinding clarity, Blake understood. "I kept her from you for seventeen years!"
"And now I've got seventeen years of teasing to make up for." he didn't waver. "All's well that ends well."
This was real. Not a trick or some elaborate ruse meant to deceiver her. Mom had never acted like this toward anyone else. Her throat closed, as if she'd been holding a breath this entire time and not realized it. This man, this oaf, this affable fool with a smile of steel...could he really be...?
Mom rounded on her before she could sneak away. "And as for you, young lady! Don't move a muscle!"
Her legs locked up even as her ears flattened atop her head. Crap. She'd forgotten all about the other Goliath in the room. Her. Sure, great, she had a dad now. But now her Mother was here. Mom, who she'd not seen for years. Mom, who must have been worried sick. Mom, who she hadn't called or even communicated with all this time. Furtive eyes flicked to Naruto, only to find him holding both palms before his chest.
Well, drat. No escape, then. "I had a good reason for running away?"
"Hmm." Kali's voice promised punishment. "A good reason she says. Did you at least break up with that Taurus boy?"
Naruto perked up. "She had a boyfriend? Wait. Adam Taurus?" Why were his eyes glowing?! "No, no, no. My little girl is not dating that maniac!"
Maniac. That was exactly what he'd become. What she had to stop. "He's not my boyfriend anymore!"
Mistakes were made. Speaking reminded Naruto and Kail that she was still here.
Her parents descended upon her.
Blake stiffened, ready to bolt with a clone at the slightest provocation. Something blocked her semblance. Naruto -Dad?- caught her left side, and Kali -Mom!- took her right. Sandwiched between them, there was nowhere to run. Warm arms enfolded her in a kind yet-firm embrace and held tight. Unable to move, arms pinned to her sides, she fidgeted restlessly. Here it comes. Any moment now they'd give her the telling-off of the century, say how angry they were with her, how disappointed...
"We were so worried about you."
Her breath caught, strangling sense. "What?"
"She said she was worried." Naruto prodded. "You gone deaf?"
Why weren't they angry?! They had to be angry! If they weren't...!
What then? She'd run away to White Fang hoping to change things. But she'd only made it worse. So she'd fled from the Fang to Beacon. Once she'd found her Father she tried to run from that, too. Maybe...maybe Naruto was right. All she did was run. From her past, from her mistakes, even from her friends. She might talk a big game, but at the end of the day she was a coward. Willing to fight, but unable to stay when things got though. That she was considering running even now only showed her colors. And yet for all that, her parents still held her like the little girl she wasn't.
Her eyes burned with fresh tears. "I'm sorry...
They didn't answer; just held her close, as if everything were okay.
No, no, it wasn't. She could feel herself breaking.
Something came loose in her chest.
Blake bawled.
A/N: Poor Blake.
And with Kali's arrival, the trinity is complete! Or is it...?
...also, Jaune, no. No, no, no. You do NOT want Cinder's attention...
Hope you enjoyed~!
As ever, the "Embers" rule remains in effect for now.
If folks don't like this...well, I won't continue it. It pains me to say that, but I work two jobs, and days off are a thing of the past for me as of late. Reviews are the fire that keeps me writing. Without them, I cannot put pen to paper. Simple as that. Every bit of feedback matters, large or small~! Your voice matters! Speak up! I repeat, every bit of feedback matters...even if people think it doesn't. And there we have it.
So in the immortal words of Atlas... ...Review, Would you Kindly?
Here, have a preview! Hope they make ya laugh.
(Preview)
"You're going to help me hunt the White Fang?!"
"Of course I am." his smile was nothing short of serene. "What's family for? C'mere, stop crying. Why did you leave your team...?"
"Hey, your old man's pretty cool!"
Naruto's gaze snapped to Sun.
There was a silence.
And then.
"Why is it always blonds? First Cinder, now him...?"
"Alright, Blake. Watch closely now. Your old man's got a few tricks of his own.
Her team was waiting for her. Yang was tapping her foot.
Blake winced. "I'm sorry for running away?"
"That's Pyrrha's line. Ain't gonna slide here, kitty-kat."
Ack. "I'm...really sorry, then?"
"Its decided."
Kali laid her drink down with a scowl.
Summer mirrored the motion, not looking best pleased.
"We have an accord then." Willow smiled softly. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend?"
"Awwwww, look at you! I'm so proud!"
"Off to Mountain Glenn are we?
"If that's where the bastard's hiding, then yes."
"You do realize this is probably a trap. He knows you're coming...
"Good. Let him squirm.
EDIT: Well, you made it! Hope you enjoyed the previews! By all means, tell me what you think! Looking forward to chatting with you~!
R&R~!