Pillow Talk
Yang stood victorious over the smouldering remains of the slain Deathstalker, while the rest of Team Ruby killed the momentum of a herd of Grimm that under normal circumstances would have overrun the city within the hour. They should've been spread across the floor, either dead or unable to fight, yet all across the main square Cinder saw nothing but the success of the defending… students. That's all they were. This was their victory, you could see it spread like wildfire and still not see the crimson haired warrior in bronze. Pyrrha wasn't with them.
Emerald and Mercury glanced at her for a second, almost letting their facade slip. They didn't know she'd surrendered already, and that was for the best. All of the fighting, throwing their bodies in the way of living nightmares for people they'd never have a chance to meet, they too experienced a fraction of what these students went through, and like them they triumphed. At least Adam was nowhere to be seen. Now only cleaning up the remaining Grimm was left, and the Atlesian ships making their way in the distance seemed to mark the start of that.
Ren and Nora finally caught up with her, "Oh come on!" Nora said, indignant as she saw Yang atop the dead, still disintegrating Deathstalker, "Really?"
Blake suddenly revealed herself behind them, in time to dispatch a silent Beowulf that attempted to surprise them, "Really. That's one for us, what's the score now, two to one?" Although she spoke in such a neutral tone, almost the same as a battle report being made after a ten hour narrating session, Cinder could feel a smirk lurking somewhere.
Nora protested, but Ren cut her off almost immediately, "Later! We need to evac Pyrrha, her Aura is too low."
"Down the hole," Blake pointed with her thumb at the crater at the center of the main square. "I'd try to get her out but we've got our hands full," another runaway Grimm called Blake's attention, prompting her to chase it down.
Chills ran up Cinder's spine, something was trying to crawl out of the crater. Dark claws gripped concrete and inched their way forward ever so slightly, an Alpha Beowulf clawed out of the hole where Pyrrha was. Before the impulses were fired and Cinder could remind herself to run, unsheath her swords and slice down the Grimm, it was dragged back down, leaving claw marks as it struggled.
A moment after it was out of sight, a gunshot was followed by the dark miasma Grimm left behind after death.
Ren was the first to snap out of the group daze, "We can't stop everything just to get Pyrrha out of there, killing Grimm takes priority. Cinder-"
The duo behind her tried to say something, but she didn't listen. What was it they were talking about, Grimm herding formations, tactics? Cinder forced herself to run to the pit and leap down. Picking Pyrrha up and leaving was easy enough she didn't need to think it through, she could do it and to hell with whatever plan of extraction Renand Nora tried to cook up.
On the way down Cinder almost hit the edges of what was left of the main subway car. She had more than enough time to react, kicking herself out of the way and into the side of the dark tunnel. The cloud that kept her thoughts out of focus faded slowly, as soon as she saw what-or rather who- she was there for. Standing tall and breathing heavily at the center of the ruined subway car was Pyrrha, her crimson hair and bronze armor illuminated by what little of the setting sun entered through the aperture above.
Cinder Smiled, but as she stepped forward Pyrrha quickly turned, snapping to her direction and pointing her weapon. With machine-like precision she kept her gun perfectly trailed on Cinder, her shooting stance flawless. Every muscle in her body was tense, immobile, almost like a statue.
"It's me," Cinder tried, "I'm here."
Pyrrha's expression didn't change, not helped by the shadows that obscured what wasn't covered by her rifle. A dark patch of dust around her became obvious, the black dust that tainted most surfaces it touched only confirmed Cinder's suspicion that whatever Grimm approached, she likely dealt with them swiftly.
"I have my hands up. I'll walk slowly, so you can see me better."
Cinder took a careful step forward, not helped by the barrel that pointed her way as she revealed herself, stepping into the dim light, "I was worried, but I guess you have it handled."
Both of Pyrrha's eyebrows raised at the same time, her shoulders relaxed and she smiled at her, "I'm sorry! I couldn't tell it was you," she said in a playful tone.
When Pyrrha rested a hand on her hip as the other lowered the weapon, the light 'ouch' she let off along the tiniest of winces revealed the cut on her stomach. It was big enough that it was as if she'd been stabbed by Ruby's scythe, strong enough that it had punched right through her armor, and deep enough it would've killed a normal person within a minute. She should've been soaked in blood, but it was a part of having one's Aura unlocked that it coagulated faster, and after so little time passed it became more of a dark soot that vanished when exposed to the lightest touch.
Still, resilient as they both were, it didn't stop a wave of shame from passing through Cinder, "You're hurt," Her words mirrored the one simple thought she could come up with at that moment.
The response came too quickly, almost defensive, "I can still fight."
"I know. Can I come closer?"
"Yes of course! Sorry, my vision's getting kinda blurry, so I was shooting anything that moved."
Taking a few moments as she walked closer, Cinder examined the tunnel they were in, to the best of her ability. Darkness all around them, but not a hint of Grimm, not even a broken piece of their armor. She, along with Team Ruby either killed enough of them that the source ran dry, or the herd retreated. Either was a good sign.
"New weapon?"
"Made it with Ms. Goodwitch. It's got dagger arrows, grappling hooks and a bunch more. Quite the arsenal,"
"Handy and stylish, I like it."
She had to stop herself from jumping into Pyrrha's arms, if only because it seemed like it'd be severely painful, "Thanks. So, you're ready to get out of here?"
"I don't know, I think I can kill a couple dozen Grimm until I heal back up," she joked, smiled and brightened up even the tunnel they were in just with her presence alone. Pyrrha was still herself even in the middle of this disaster.
"Ren and Nora are already up there. It'll be over soon, so you can evac now."
For a moment, the mention of Nora almost made Pyrrha's smile vanish. Almost. "Are you trying to sideline me too? I swear that sounds just like her."
Cinder shifted her weight to a leg, "Knowing you?" she pointed and grinned, "I don't think I can. Now come on, it's time to go," she reached for Pyrrha's hand. Just as she did so, she stopped cold in her tracks, her line of thought snapped like a twig as reality made itself painfully clear; It was likely the last time she'd ever see Pyrrha again.
It was one simple, intrusive thought yet it weighed down on her, so much so that for a second she almost took her hand and begged Pyrrha to run away with her, to hell with Beacon, Atlas, Salem and the rest of them, she could explain later. After taking her back, what would happen next?
Would she consider it if she knew the truth beforehand? All the chaos, hurt and possible deaths around them were all Cinder's fault. Her schemes, secrets and conspiracies would come out either way, be it when Glynda reported it to Ozpin, or when the authorities come to find her. The only reason Pyrrha was even standing there bloodied, at the bottom of a hole and in the middle of a dark tunnel was because Cinder chose to follow through with her plan.
"Everything okay?" Pyrrha looked at her, the look of someone who was just told they'd be leaving only for Cinder to then stop in front of her and remain there, dead silent. Complete confusion.
How would she take it? It had been months, they were together for a considerable time now. Nowhere during that time did Cinder have the courage to tell Pyrrha the full scope of what she meant to do. If only she could show just how much she still liked Pyrrha, maybe it wouldn't be so bad, yet she knew holding her hands, hugging her or maybe even stealing a kiss just before revealing such awful truth would be the worst possible thing. If anything Cinder deserved no love at this junction.
The words came out of her, words that should've been said a long time ago, "Before we go, I need to tell you something."
Pyrrha reached out for her hand, then stopped as Cinder instinctively flinched away.
She eyed her carefully that time, no longer confused, "Umm... sure. What is it?"
A hollow feeling built deep within her gut, it made it hard to spit it out, "I'm not who you think I am."
"Ookay…"
"I'm not a student from Haven, I'm not even a student."
"I'm sorry, I don't-"
"I didn't end here on my own because of a clerical error, it was my choice. I'm a spy, an enemy of yours."
Pyrrha giggled and fixed a loose strand of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes, green eyes, before she looked at Cinder.
"I know."
Cinder's jaw dropping in stunned silence made her quite incapable of inquiring more. Thankfully, Pyrrha continued, "I'm sorry, there's one thing I never told you."
Cinder tilted her head, but otherwise couldn't find the words to express herself.
"Every time you'd come close I kept getting these warnings from my aura. It could only really make sense if you were either Grimm or an enemy, and you don't look like a Grimm"
Yeah… About that...
She'd failed to consider that it could happen. In theory anyone would need tremendously sharp senses to detect something so small, at most those particularly tuned might feel some slight unease near her. Outright detecting the parasite was basically impossible, a statistical anomaly.
"I've had some time to think while I was out on patrol, putting two and two together. I don't mind it," Pyrrha shrugged.
"I understa-" Cinder stopped, she was running on automatic, expecting ire, 'You don't?"
"No, I don't think so at least," Pyrrha answered with the simplicity of Nora explaining her one favorite food.
"But, why not? I- You know I'm responsible for all of this," she waved her arm, gesturing around her, "Right?"
"I hadn't thought about that…" she put a hand to her chin, thinking, "But I don't think anyone died, especially civilians."
"What. How?"
"It's what we do, we call attention to ourselves and kill the Grimm before they kill people."
"That's impossible."
Pyrrha put her hands on her hips and smirked, "Is that a challenge?"
"You were outnumbered by who knows how many!"
Despite what should've been a serious realization, her smile remained, "We're always outnumbered, never outmatched."
The earth shook beneath them, and they were briefly interrupted by the sound of potent machine gun fire, surprising, given how the tunnel seemed to muffle some of the already dwindling fight above.
"See?" Pyrrha pointed up, smirking, "I'm guessing that's Team Coffee, Coco hasn't upgraded for at least the past ten months."
There was still something Cinder couldn't shake off, "But you're hurt! I did this to you."
"I mean I'm a little hurt," she pointed to her abdomen, "But this will heal in no time."
"A little?" Cinder said, incredulous, "You're taking this terribly well."
"I'm sorry, I'm kind of used to it by now. Jaune cheated his way into Beacon, Blake is ex-White Fang so she's done stuff too. I've kept my Semblance a secret for years now and..." Pyrrha freezed on the spot, but the way she immediately covered her mouth and straightened herself gave it away, she'd said too much.
"...And?" Cinder asked.
Pyrrha sighed, her shoulders dropping as she buried her face in her hands, "And I've been keeping some secrets from you too."
"Like?"
She revealed her face, a bright red flush had taken the place of her usual fair complexion, "Like when I kind of followed you after you left the party. I sorta, maybe, possibly overheard you talking to your mom too, sorry."
Cinder's brows furrowed as she took in the statement, "Those things aren't on the same level!"
"I still kept it a secret, and I shouldn't have done that."
"That's not even a bad thing, I mean it's what happens when anyone dates anybody. You kiss, you party together, someone stalks somebody. It's normal, right?"
"That's what I told Nora! But she kept telling me I was getting 'jealous' and 'going too far'" Pyrrha stressed the words with air quotes.
It shocked Cinder, not because of what she'd done, but because Pyrrha never seemed the kind to feel jealous. Such small things should've been too frivolous for someone like her, or even for Huntresses in general.
After a pause, they both laughed. As always Pyrrha was the first to take the reins of the conversation. She let out a deep sigh of relief, "Whew, I didn't know that was bugging this much, I guess we both have skeletons in the closet huh?"
Cinder forced out a single laugh, "Some more than others. But I still worry."
"About what?"
"After all this, how can I come back to Beacon?"
Pyyrha scratched her head for a moment, "I think we can catch a boat ride back, even though it's getting a little late."
"That's not what I mean."
Pyrrha held herself, looking away for a moment, "Oh."
"Yeah. I don't know if the others will understand," Cinder said.
"You mean Ren, Nora and Jaune?" Pyrrha asked.
"Pretty much," Cinder answered.
"I think they will. I trust them a lot, andI'll be there."
She'd have to take that leap then. It wasn't reassuring, but it was better than nothing. This time she was comfortable taking Pyrrha's hands, they could leve that tunnel any time and she wouldn't regret it.
Pyrrha looked her in the eyes, "There's only one thing I'd like to ask though, if that's okay."
"What is it?" Cinder said,
"Why did you do this?" Pyrrha asked.
Cinder considered the possibilities. She hadn't mentioned it, mostly because her reasons didn't matter, not nearly as much as the fact she'd done it, "...Do you want the short story or the long one?"
"Your choice, really."
Cinder bit her lip, frustrated. She knew she could tell her, but it was still hard, knowing it was hard didn't help making it less so. She brought her hands up to the back of her neck, unbuckling the choker and revealing the scars that hid underneath, jagged pink lines that surrounded her neck from a diamond shape at the center. Pyrrha's eyes went wide, immediately understanding the meaning of it; they were the result of a shock collar, the type used for slaves.
Cinder was the one to hold herself that time. The scars were faded, but still noticeable, "I could go over the smaller details, but I think this covers a lot."
"I'm sorry it happened," Pyrrha said, unaware of the fact Cinder would never have demanded an apology from her.
"Thank you." Cinder put on the choker again, "You're not the first one to see it,"
She took some to breathe, collecting herself, "I wanted revenge. It was a two-stage plan with the White Fang, it seems like they couldn't follow through with their part either."
Looking over the tunnel with renewed insight, Pyrrha continued the train of thought, "I think I get it. Blowing open the Glenn Tomb, exposing that ugly past, it'll certainly get people thinking."
Cinder nodded, "We'd come in, fight the Atlesian androids and guards, then I'd leave and return to Beacon as soon as any Huntsman made it to the scene."
Pyrrha cut in, "But Beacon had a last-minute change of plans and this time there were already students here, and all the guards were there."
"That about sums it up. If I could go back and do it differently, I would. It took me too long to see I was fighting allies," Cinder said. "Ow!" she let out as soon as she finished her sentence. her left arm hurt for a moment, like someone held a blowtorch to her bones and the parasite had clamped down at the same time.
"What happened?" Pyrrha asked, with sudden concern over events Cinder hadn't had the time to properly explain yet. As if it had been waiting for it, a dome made of a thick black fog surrounded them, raising itself and covering them. Pitch black darkness, she couldn't even see a palm in front of her.
Thankfully, Cinder had an arrow for this occasion, a conductive arrow in case she had to cooperate with someone who made heavy use of dust. She let her semblance run through it without destroying it, just enough to make it incandescent. It didn't do much good illuminating the tunnel, but at least they could see each other.
"What's happening?" Pyrrha asked, suddenly put on edge. She was holding her rifle, pointing it in front of them.
"It's my stepmother," Cinder answered, just in time for a seer to show itself, quickly spilling the mist that would transform itself to the image of Salem
Her stepmother?
Pyrrha hadn't felt paralyzing fear... ever, really. Oh she had been afraid alright, multiple times, but she could be proud of her ability to act even if fear filled her to the bone. From the way the woman in front of her carried herself alone, she could tell the difference in power. The woman dressed like royalty in black, she had her chin up, a look of satisfaction on her face, and the pale bleached skin marred by darkened veins was something impossible, because she looked like a human Grimm.
Pyrrha heard of humanoid Grimm, but they were imitations of the human form. Two arms, two legs, upright and one head above the torso, those Grimm were never, ever human to begin with. People had souls and Grimm rejected souls by nature, to mix both would be like mixing water and oil, and yet before her was proof of it.
The tall, pale woman-who was apparently Cinder's stepmother, something they'd have to talk about later- approached them, and as much as Pyrrha wanted to squeeze the trigger and fire, she couldn't, strength failed her.
The woman stopped a couple of steps in front of them, Or rather, the Grimm that projected her did. She was looking directly at Pyrrha, a terrible act in it's own when black covered her sclera. It was as if an abyss set its sights on her.
"Cinder dear, do properly introduce us," the woman said.
It was spoken as if they were meeting in a simple diner, yet it felt like a command, one that shouldn't, and couldn't be disobeyed. Power incarnate.
It took everything Pyrrha had just to look to her side, and even then it felt as if doing so would get her killed. She could see Cinder struggled, although less so.
Without missing a beat Cinder obeyed, "Pyrrha, This is my stepmother Salem. Mom, this is my girlfriend Pyrrha."
Salem never took her eyes off Pyrrha, but a smile spread over her face. It was probably meant to be reassuring, but it only looked creepy, "Splendid. So you're the Pyrrha I keep hearing about? Cinder said a lot about you."
Pyrrha couldn't speak, she was still trying to find the strength to fire a single shot. Salem only seemed amused, "Come now, don't be shy, young lady!"
Come on, one word at a time, she thought.
"Only good things, I hope," She said. Maybe some humour would buy her some time to think! It was difficult, when all she could think about was the need to either get the hell out of there right that instant, or try her hand at fighting when her aura was that low, and working overtime to heal her.
"She speaks! Yes, my dear Cinder only had compliments to give, she is such a good girl."
"I can explain," Cinder tried, before Salem cut her off with a slight wave of her hand.
"Hush now, dear. Don't you know a meeting with one's future daughter-in-law is of utmost importance?"
It was Cinder's time to bury her face in her hand, and even through the red light of the incandescent arrow, Pyrrha could see a hint of a blush.
Salem turned her attention back to Pyrrha, immediately freezing her again, "So, I can see you are quite the warrior aren't you?"
It seemed as if Pyrrha could buy some time then, "I like to think I work hard, and smart," she tried. Maybe it would distract Salem enough for them to run as far away from that place as possible.
"Indeed, just in this… Yud'dyh? Or is it Siege?" She asked Cinder. Yud'dyh, what even was that? Pyrrha couldn't remember a language that sounded like it.
"The proper word for it in Vale is Siege," Cinder answered, looking away.
Salem thanked her in the kindest tone, "In this Siege, you've killed so many Grimm, I'm quite impressed."
Salem walked around Pyrrha, something she'd hoped the woman wouldn't do because it would both cut off their escape and because Pyrrha didn't know if she could even move her legs. Mustering what strength she could, she turned in tandem, to keep her weapon aimed at her.
Salem didn't seem to mind.
"Vigilant, courageous, strong. I can see why you'd choose her, Cinder. You always had something for redheads."
"Mom!" Cinder said. Was she embarrassed?
Stopping in front of them again, Salem looked down on them, "Yes, yes. Pardon me for bringing up old memories, you kids just grow up so quickly."
What was her point anyways? What did she want?
Salem looked at Pyrrha as the thought crossed her mind, "Ah yes, I can feel it, you're confused, aren't you? There is something Cinder was about to tell you, it seems I've interrupted her. Care to tell our sweet Pyrrha what was the last part of the plan, dear?"
Cinder looked back to Pyrrha again, "I was going to return to Beacon as it would be undefended."
Salem clasped both hands, again with the same satisfied look, "And then?"
"And I'd find and kill the maiden, to take her powers," Cinder answered robotically.
Maiden? Pyrrha couldn't remember anything about someone with the title of Maiden in Beacon, that wasn't a thing.
"And that is what you will do. That is what you'll both do," Salem announced. It had the finality of a full stop, or a dead end in a dirt road.
Cinder looked at her, defiant. Salem, for part was completely unmoved, "Do not give me that look. You will find the maiden, and you will return to me, return home."
Salem then extended her hand towards Pyrrha, the illusion passing through the rifle and touching her chin with the tip of her index finger.
As if it wasn't enough, Cinder's arm flared with pain again, this time for long enough that she fell to the floor, writhing and grunting.
"Or you will force me to teach you a lesson."
A/N: Whew. this took a long time to write. I've been busy, a bit too busy the past year, but now this story is coming close to an end. I'll be adding more notes on the chapter from now on, not only talking about my experience writing and how I've loved improing, but also, I'll be announcing a sequel soon! I don't plan on taking this long to write, but I can't promise anything