Atonement: Lincoln Clay

Episode 13: What's that sound

A/N: Apologies for the delay everyone, had some issues with making this chapter entertaining. Everybody please let me know if I am portraying these characters correctly, I am trying to be the best author I can be. Sorry this is all talking even after this long, I've been having writer's block big time! Also, could anybody possibly provide an idea to help me get the ball rolling on a relationship between Clay and Khan if I decide to go through with it. I am open to suggestions.


[Guest 1: Yes he's going to play a very entertaining role.]

[Wombag1786: Yes I am, my friend. Thank you.]

[Gamelover41592: You could say that.]

[Disabled-doctor: Tremendous]

[buzzsaw935: Micah's time will come.]

[Guest 2: Thank you for the idea but I don't know if I could make the Anansi one work. As for the possibility of Lincoln and Sienna having kids if I can make their relationship work, I'm leaning towards twin daughters, but that's not set in stone.]

[Guest 3: I like AC and GoT, but that's not in my wheelhouse.]

[Guest 4: Indeed.]


-MISTRAL: HAVEN ACADEMY-

Locus and Siris reached the main door the academy's central building, they had spent a short while walking in silence to reflect on what had happened to them earlier. Siris had decided to be the one to break the silence and confer with his partner.

"This whole case is evolving as we go along." Siris sighed in exasperation.

"I agree, but for now the parameters of our mission remain unchanged." Locus replied as he and Siris approached the main building of the academy.

Upon their arrival, Siris pushed open the large door that lead into the building. "Our next course of action is to speak with the headmaster." He pointed in the direction of Lionheart's office.

"Certainly, a logical choice for our next lead in this investigation, but not the correct one." Locus grumbled as they climbed up the steps to the next floor of the building.

"I know you don't trust Lionheart, but this is his city to protect and he's likely to have some information." Siris rolled his eyes at Locus's apparent issue with the headmaster.

"We didn't see a single Mistrali huntsman or huntress during our skirmish. For as long as that took, they should have responded at some point before it was over. Someone was obviously running interference." Locus countered his partner's words with his own observation and summary.

"I'll give you that, it is suspicious even for him. You don't think we were set up do you?" Siris looked at his partner.

"Lincoln wouldn't send us into a trap, it's not his style from what I've observed. Though from what I could tell he knew we would have difficulty on this assignment." Locus shook his head.

"The facts all point to it being a conspiracy. One that Lincoln and Donovan are well aware of, but don't want to get involved in, which is why they hired us." Siris put a hand to his chin in thought.

"Exactly, and my instincts tell me that Lionheart knows something more than what he'll tell us. Which is partly what our employers will want to know, how untrustworthy he is." Locus added just before they stopped at the door to Lionheart's office.

"We'll see about that." Siris knocked on the office door. Professor Lionheart opened the door, a small bead of sweat ran down the headmaster's forehead. Locus was quick to notice the small bead but kept it to himself for the moment.

"Yes, err, do come in. Ah Mister Locus and Mister Siris, what brings you here to Haven Academy?" The headmaster greeted them.

"We're performing a private investigation, and we were attacked by unknown hostile individuals." Siris told him in calm tone.

"I heard about that, and I offer my apologies for your distress. If you have grievances then that would be a matter for the police, I am dealing with a large amount work at the moment so this must be quick." Lionheart said as gestured for the both of them to enter the room. Both men walked inside the office, and Siris sat down on the chair in front of the desk while the headmaster sat down in his own chair behind it.

Locus leaned against the wall and focused his attention squarely on the headmaster. The elderly man seemed to have a nervous disposition that gave Locus a good indication that something was wrong.

"We didn't come here for discussion about you headmaster. What do you know about the murders of several local scientists that occurred recently?" Siris asked the headmaster.

"The council have been tying my hands when it comes to the intervention of local huntsmen and huntresses and the police are the ones you should be asking those questions to; it is not my concern." Lionheart told the mercenary.

"We didn't ask you for what your personnel are up to. Answer the questions we give you." Locus chimed in, and the professor seemed to shiver at the sound of his voice.

"I only have minimal knowledge of it at best, now please leave. I have more important paper work to do and an important conference call in a few minutes." Lionheart responded, and followed with an attempt to subtly dismiss the two men.

"Can you at least answer a few more questions? This won't take long." Siris asked politely.

"Very well, if you insist." Lionheart submitted. He believed that it was best to try and not rouse suspicion by submitting to further questions.

"We do." Locus said sternly, the headmaster's tactics had already begun to wear on his patience.

"Easy Locus." Siris told his partner. "Now professor, you said it is not your concern when it comes to events that occur within the city. Why is that? That was a threat the police are not equipped to deal with." The calmer of two mercenaries asked.

"I thought we had moved on from that discussion." Lionheart said defensively with hint of slight annoyance at the revisiting of a previous topic.

Locus noticed the weakness of the headmaster and moved to exploit it. "You're hiding something professor. Tell us what it is." He growled and pounded the desk in an attempt to intimidate the professor.

"Locus-!" Siris tried to scold his partner.

"I am hiding nothing!" The professor snapped. Locus internally smirked, Lionheart had given him the exact reaction he'd been hoping for.

"This is the city you have been sworn to protect, the council would have no interest in preventing local huntsmen and huntresses from acting in the event of an emergency. I would know this since I've spoken with them before. In short, you're lying." Locus slammed a fist on the headmaster's desk, which startled the cowardly teacher.

"I have no reason to deceive either of you!" Lionheart angrily replied. "The-"

"Your expressions say otherwise." Locus interrupted the headmaster.

"Locus enough!" Siris barked at his companion.

"I have had quite enough of you two! Get out of my office, or I shall have the both of you escorted from the premises!" Lionheart roared at the two men; anger written on his face with an inkling of fear underneath it.

"Headmaster Lionheart, perhaps you should reconsider that. And Locus-!" Siris attempted to mediate the situation.

"I told you to leave! Now I ask you once more, leave my academy!" Lionheart scolded the mercenaries and turned his back on them, hiding the streams of fear induced sweat trickling down his forehead. He had a feeling someone he knew would be displeased at the notion that these investigators were suspicious and had not been dealt with.

Locus read the coward's expression and body language, and much to his satisfaction, he'd gotten the exact reaction from the headmaster that he'd been looking for. "As you wish, Lionheart. Let's go Siris." Locus said as he reached into his pocket and stuck a listening device under the headmaster's desk while his back was turned.

"What the hell Locus?!" Siris berated his partner to keep up the act of misdirection.

"I said get out!" Lionheart roared again.

"We're going." Siris responded as he stood up from his seat and began walking out with his partner.

Lionheart turned back towards briefly to make sure they left the room, he stormed over to the door and slammed it shut once they had gone. The elderly headmaster started to hyperventilate in fear, he knew all too well what was coming next, and dread filled his entire being at the very thought of his master's disappointment. Regardless, he did have a chance to shift the blame onto someone else and perhaps salvage his current situation. He waited silent for minutes, contemplating what to say to Tyrian so that he would be able to draw Salem's attention to her most loyal minion. When he considered the failure of his own ability to conceal his allegiance, he believed that he was in a far better standing than Tyrian and given the man's nature it would serve Lionheart well to alert him.

After enough time had passed, the fallen headmaster stood up from his seat and made his way through the academy, passing students and staff along the way. Eventually he arrived at the door to the chamber where he could communicate with his… master. With a quick breath to steady himself, Lionheart opened the door and walked inside. Several feet away from him, near the center of the chamber, was a floating Grimm creature. The monster's head resembled a mystical orb of some sort, which allowed for two-way visual conversation between Lionheart and Salem.

"Report." Salem's voice carried over through the grimm's orb.

"Ah Salem, as you may be aware, I have been visited by the men who fought Tyrian and Mr. Bell." The professor said in a frightened tone. "The both of them had come to me seeking information. They are still near the academy if you want me to inform Tyrian and Mr. Bell."

"Hmm..." The dark queen pondered on whether not to send them and provide those two a chance to redeem themselves. But then again, the odds that they might fail again are fairly high.

"I-if I may add, I believe they may have been sent by Lincoln Clay. The reason I say that is because the Xiong crime family has ties to him and the police have confirmed that. They were investigating the murders and..." Lionheart mustered a small amount of courage and provided his superior with further information. Salem's eyes briefly narrowed in displeasure at the mention of the mobster who had escaped her once before.

"Do not do anything rash. If someone were to dispose of them now, authorities will start suspecting people. Mainly you." She hissed at the professor.

"I understand." The professor replied with a shaky nod of his head. "Other than that, I have nothing else to report."

"Hmm... Inform Tyrian and Micah that for now they are strictly to keep an eye on the mercenaries, but they may redeem themselves later by repaying mister Clay for his interference. That will be all Lionheart." Salem instructed the corrupt headmaster.

"Yes Salem." Lionheart nodded. Salem's face then shrouded and disappeared from view in the orb head of the grimm.

-MEANWHILE: WITH MICAH AND TYRIAN: MISTRAL CITY OUTSKIRTS-

The two men were calmly walking the trail as some grimm creatures flew overhead. "Remind me again, why am I stuck with YOU of all people?" Micah griped sourly about his present company. The bruises of the previous battle were still fresh on his skin, along with small spots of dried blood on his coat.

"Because our Queen ordered it." Tyrian scoffed at his associate's sarcasm.

Micah shot a look of contempt at the scorpion faunus. "You know, the way you worship Salem, proves you're about as loony as a coyote with rabies." He huffed dryly, attempting to antagonize his ally for whatever reason. "That kind of thing tends to make you nothing but incompetent."

"Incompetent am I? So says the man who allowed those two a moment to escape. That one legged man knocked you unconscious, he was a weakling with a mechanical leg." Tyrian shot back.

"Peg leg just got lucky, that's all there is to it. You believe in luck don't ya, stinger?" Micah countered with another insult.

"By all means continue your insults, I'll enjoy ending you for your attitude alone." Tyrian grinned menacingly as he looked Micah straight in the eye. "That is, when you outlive your usefulness to the Queen."

"Believe me, when that day comes partner, I'll be happy to return the 'sentiment' and put a bullet in your head. You can count on that." Micah coolly replied, his words were laced with venom and the gunslinger's hand had found its way to his pistol.

"Oh I can't wait for that day to come! After all, the deal you made with her won't last forever... Hahaha!" Tyrian cackled, shrugging his shoulders to relax at the twisted humor that only he could understand. Micah shook his head in disgust and pulled his hand away from the gun, he'd make sure the faunus got his due when the time came. The bickering between the two rogues finally ended when Tyrian's scroll began to rumble in his pocket. The psychotic faunus reached into his pocket and pulled out the device, he then answered the call and put the scroll to his ear.

"Tyrian, I hope mister Bell is with you, the duo that beat you both earlier have just visited my office and left. I've spoken with Salem about the matter, and she has told me to pass along her order that you are to keep a close EYE on them, for now. Until further notice there shall be no contact whatsoever unless there is serious risk of my being discovered." Lionheart instructed the two of them.

"We cannot eliminate those two for now, what a pain." Tyrian growled.

"For once we actually agree." Micah said lazily.

"Until they are further away from here, her direct orders for you both are to do NOTHING other than watch and follow the mercenaries to where they came from. But if Lincoln Clay is involved in this, then you may retaliate with Salem's blessing." Lionheart told the two vicious killers.

"Lionheart, did you say Lincoln Clay?" Tyrian's grin widened at the familiar name mentioned to him, and Micah stepped a foot or two away from him out of discomfort.

"Yes, I did." Lionheart replied uncomfortably.

"Oh joy, I can't wait to pay him and his little kiddies a visit!" Tyrian chuckled malevolently.

"Take it you know this Lincoln guy?" Micah raised an eyebrow.

"He escaped me once before, and his children oh so cleverly injured my legs that day." The scorpion faunus narrowed his eyes in anger at the memory of the children and their caretaker escaping his grasp.

"Well then…" Micah hummed, the gears turned in his head at how he could put this to use to prove himself to Salem and save face. "There's nothing like a good bit of old fashioned revenge to take the edge off at times like this, don't you think? I say this Clay fella ought to learn a very painful lesson to stay out of our business." He spoke in a cool tone to try appealing to Tyrian's love of sadistic violence, it was something he could find common ground with the zealot on.

"Mutual hatred, isn't it just grand?" Tyrian smiled in an unhinged manner to his partner. The gunslinger kept silent for a brief moment and pulled out a match and cigarette from his pocket.

"In this case, you and I can definitely agree, friend." Micah returned the sentiment and with a flick of the match, lit the cigarette. He took a long drag on it and flicked off the ash when it was done. "I think for now, you and I can bury the hatchet."

"For now, we'll settle our differences later." Tyrian nodded in satisfaction.

-END CHAPTER-