Huntsman's Mimicry
Guest: you will just have to wait and see if James knows about Root
Antex-The Legendary Zoroark: yes the omakes are part of the story and may give some hints
'Aren't you a cute little thing?' Naruto ran his fingers between the pink and brown hair. "But please wake up Neo, I have to go but I don't want to wake you" he groaned as Neo used him as a body pillow. Naruto poked her cheek "Aww". A ping from his scroll made his eye twitch. He picked it up a lazily read it.
"Naruto, you performed well last night. I have no 'special' jobs for you currently. You are to resume your usual mixing with other students, keep a good relationship with teams Rwby and Jnpr, Team Crdl is useless so don't waste your time. Now get your ass here, I don't need you drawing attention or getting stuck with school surveillance."
"And Naruto, open this file privately. This is for your eyes only"
Naruto clicked on the file as an image sprung out over his screen. 'Oh… I mean I have already seen her naked' he nodded his head acceptingly. 'Decent material for later, thank god her face isn't in it so I don't have to see that bitchy smile'. He put his scroll down and gently wrapped his arms around Neo's waist. 'Careful now, Naruto. Don't mess this up' Naruto slowly rolled over, shifting Neo down on the bed without waking her. 'Hopefully Neo won't mind me just leaving' he stood up, picking up his clothes and left the room. Closing the door as slowly and quietly as he could, he never noticed Neo glance at him. Naruto brought out his scroll, flicking a couple of buttons. 'Okay, next airship should be in 15 minutes so I shouldn't have… any… problem' he paused as his eye caught sight of treasure. Well, treasure to Naruto as he walked towards the table with a bottle on top. "The first drink of the day, is used to carve the way… no" he paused inches from the bottle. "I promised Neo I wouldn't drink" Naruto sighed, walking away. "But if she doesn't find out" he back stepped to the table. "No… I don't need it" Naruto froze on the spot, eyes locked to the bottle. "I don't need it, I definitely don't need it… I don't need it… I don't need it…" his hands became shaky as cold sweat ran down his face.
Behind him, the bedroom door opened. Stepping out, Neo scratched the back of her head and yawned. 'Oh? I thought he left already… damn, I was hoping to snatch the ice cream stash and binge Dustflex' she rolled her eyes. Neo glanced down at herself wearing only a tank top and a pair of panties then looked around 'not much point changing if it's only Naruto'. She tilted her body to the side to glance past him to see the bottle 'hm… what is he doing?'
"I don't need it… I definitely don't need it…" Naruto looped like a broken record player.
Neo shook her head and clapped her hands to get his attention. However, Naruto never noticed as he continued to repeat himself. 'Ninja mercenary, my ass… can't even notice a clap' her eyes widened while her mouth turned into a mischievous grin. 'If he can notice me clapping, I guess I still can sneak some ice cream' she tip toed over to the freezer. Neo stuck her tongue out at the blond, opening the freezer. Her eyes turned to sparkle 'caramel cookie dough, rare edition… nice'. Neo pulled out the family sized tub of ice cream.
"I NEED IT!" Naruto suddenly yelled as he reached for the bottle but noticed Neo out of the corner of his eye. "Neo… how are you doing?" he swiped the bottle and put it behind his back.
'Good, GOOD! Um… what are you doing over there?' she smiled hiding the ice cream behind her back.
"Oh nothing really, just… uh, getting ready to leave" Naruto twitch noticing the ice cream. "What are you doing there?"
'Oh nothing… just heard you up so I… just wanted to make sure everything was fine' Neo shuffled on the spot. 'So…'
"Yeah…" both of them looked around the room awkwardly. "Neo… quick question" Neo perked up. "Would you hate me if I couldn't keep my promise?" Naruto placed the bottle down on the table. "I love you Neo, but I can't help it" he sighed.
Neo shook her head 'don't be a dumbass, I already knew it was an empty promise'. She placed the ice cream down on the table 'I would the same to you if it would make you feel better'.
"So… you're saying I'm not the only bitch in the relationship" he winked as Neo rolled her eyes.
'That's right… but call me a bitch again and I will rip your balls off' Neo winked back dangerously. Naruto sighed as the two stood in silence for a moment 'don't you have a job to go to… because don't you think for a second that since we shared a bed together, that I am sharing my ice cream with you'.
"That's Roman's ice cream" Naruto pointed at the tub. "Anyway… don't you want to lecture me about this" he shook the bottle.
'Look Naruto… it's your life, I am not going to control it, do what you want' Neo reached into the drawers, picking out a spoon. 'If you want to drink, drink, it's an addiction… I can't just say don't do that and you will stop, if you want to stop, try your hardest and good luck'.
"Oh… I um, well I thought this was a two way street" Naruto shuffled awkwardly. "You know if we are dating, I thought… you know".
Neo put up her hand "I like, no I love you Naruto… but we aren't dating, as much as I wish we were'. She opened the ice cream 'we had sex once but that's it… sure we hung out together but we didn't go on dates together, we haven't done anything romantic worthy together'. Neo looked down sadly 'if you actually want to do things more than bedroom stuff, sure I'll go with you… now go, you have a job to do'. She glared out the corner of her eye 'I'm sure Cinder is missing you'.
"I, uh" Naruto stammered in confusion. "Right… I'll go"
Neo sighed as Naruto left. 'I have a feeling he took that wrong, I hope he got my message… either way I have to deal with Cinder first'.
…
"So glad you could join us, Mr. Uzumaki" P. Goodwitch snapped as the blond entered the classroom halfway through the lesson. "You team has been waiting for you".
"No problem, Professor" Naruto silently walked down the steps.
"Mr. Arc… Mr. Winchester… please come up to the stage" Goodwitch tapped on her scroll, bringing the two boy's faces down on a large screen.
Naruto rolled his eyes as he saw the board 'this is going to be a boring fight'. He took a seat next to Cinder, giving her a monotone gaze. 'Neo mentioned Cinder… does she know about the arrangement?' Naruto stiffened. 'How could she find out? But if she did, surely she would question me on it, Neo doesn't like me hiding stuff like that' he put a hand to his face. 'No, it would be impossible for Neo to find out, Cinder was a bitch about it but she at least liked it to be private… she needs it to be private to keep me on a leash'. Naruto clenched his teeth together 'it's Neo's fault…' He took a deep breath 'calm down Naruto… take the goddamn medicine'. Reaching into his pocket, he gritted his teeth as the pocket was empty 'okay, not terrible… I'll just drink, maybe that will calm me down'. Naruto closed his eyes to calm himself.
"Shh… you okay Naruto?" Cinder whispered smoothly. Her smile as fake as her concern, she snaked her arm around his shoulders. "You seem a bit… distracted".
"Fine…" Naruto sighed as he gazed down at Jaune getting hammered by Cardin. 'Kill… kill that bitch now… I can't, to help Neo and Roman, I need money, fast… those two will abandon me, just like everyone else…' He gulped 'they won't, right? They might'.
"Naruto, class is over" Naruto blinked in shock as a small pair hands shook him. "Naruto, are you there?" he turned his head to see Ruby's curious face.
"Yep, still here" Naruto droned out, rubbing his temple.
"Heh" Yang crossed her arms with a smirk. "Hangover again?" she nudged him, hoping to make some annoyance.
"No… but now I think I will try" Naruto dead panned. He stood up cracking his neck "so… next class?"
"Lunch" Mercury clapped behind him.
"Hm" Naruto hummed. "So, I missed most of the morning classes then?"
Weiss huffed and stepped towards him with a usual amount of attitude. "I took notes for you as well because unlike you, I care for education" she poked Naruto's chest. "If you ask nicely, I'm sure I could give them to you".
Naruto scratched the back of his head "Weiss, I… I never thought you would look out for me like this".
Yang raised her eyebrow "never thought ice queen was so smooth". Ruby looked up at her sister confused "using her status as the smartest to buy over the bad boy".
Weiss flicked her hair with a smirk "but if you really want to pay me back… h-how about we go get that drink?" She blushed slightly "just the two of us".
"Maybe later Weiss" Naruto hummed. "Today is not a good day for me" he patted her head to reassure her. 'Why am I talking to a Schnee?' he closed his eyes. "I… I just need some air" Naruto slipped by the group hastily, ignoring the concerned looks he got.
"Naruto… wait! I… um" Ruby stopped as Naruto left the classroom. She made an awkward groan, mumbling a few noises. "He doesn't look good, don't we have to talk to him?" Ruby asked, mainly directed at Yang.
Blake spoke up first "no, this seems more like a personal problem… he probably wouldn't want to talk unless it was another fa… person with similar experiences". She crossed her arms "not like I have a crush on him like some people but he seems… decent".
"May I cut in?" Cinder surprised them as she joined the group. "Naruto is going through a little harsh time, as his team mate and leader, I believe I know him well enough to have a little… chat with him" she smirked. "Don't worry, just leave Naruto to me" Cinder brushed past them. "Don't worry, I won't steal him away… after all, one of you has already spent the night with him… right?"
"Wait… he TOLD you!" Yang yelled as the group's jaws loosened. "He wasn't supposed to say anything!"
"Oh? I never knew he actually did" Cinder smiled slyly. "I just found it interesting that he never came back to the dorm on the night, you all went partying" she chuckled. "He said nothing".
"He didn't… don't trick me like that!" Yang complained all fired up. Cinder smoothly walked past the blonde with a cocky smile, followed by Emerald. Mercury followed shortly after but he wasn't in a rush as he watched the group in amusement.
"Yang, what did you mean by that?" Weiss huffed, glaring daggers at her.
"Did you and Naruto… sleep together?" Blake perked up in rare shock. "I had my suspicions when you two came back in the morning"
Yang waved her hands in front of herself "technically yes… but it wasn't what you think it was". Her cheeks turned a light red "we didn't do the thing, we just fell asleep while sharing a bed". Yang squirmed under the attention "we might have hugged, okay!"
"Um, didn't you kiss Naruto at the club Yang?" Pyrrha added only to get a harsh stare from Yang. "Uh… sorry".
Yang groaned "Ruby, I can…". A flutter of rose petals fell to the ground as Ruby darted off. "…Explain" Yang trailed off she noticed her sister's disappearance. 'I fucked up… Ruby told me about her crush, her very first ever crush… and I went and fucking slept with him' she smacked her face, annoyed at herself.
"I… I" Weiss stammered, clutching her fists. "I can't believe I nearly asked such a… wild vagabond on a date, I should never have interacted with his kind" she crossed her arms.
"His kind?" Blake spoke harshly but restrained herself from speaking further. 'A judgemental little girl, like the rest of her family… she discriminates Faunus as well, Naruto probably showed her and she begrudgingly accepted it'.
…
'Calm… calm… must stay calm, come on Naruto, you don't need that damn medication' Naruto slurped down the contents of his flask. 'Better to be a happy drunk than… a spiteful killer' finishing the contents of the flask, he took a slow breath. 'If I'm too drunk to think about stuff then I should be good' Naruto hiccupped. He took a brief glance behind him and just closed his eyes.
"Naruto" he felt a head bump into him quickly as rose petals covered his frame.
"Ruby" he sighed. "Sorry but I would like some alone time… we could talk later if you want".
"Naruto, is it true?" Ruby ignored him.
"Is what true?" Naruto tilted his head.
"Are… are you… are you in love with Yang?" she demanded cutely. Naruto's expression softened as Ruby's eyes began to water. "Well… do you?"
"What is this all about? Why ask me such a question so suddenly?" Naruto twitched.
"Because you… you…" Ruby sniffled. "You kissed Yang at the club, she even admitted it herself".
"It was just a drunk mistake, Ruby, nothing more" Naruto bent down to her height. "You do know we could have had a drunk mistake but I didn't let that happen" he pinched her cheek. "Because you clearly need supervision since you are such a bad drunk, you had to leave the club…" Naruto sighed. "Look Rubes, me and Yang have good chemistry, that I am not denying however, if you leave two drunk people with good chemistry, it was bound to happen whether you want to or not". He stood up straight "I know that isn't an excuse but that is my full reason".
Ruby stared down at the ground "so are you saying it wouldn't matter who you were with, you would have just made out with any girl there?"
"Actually, anyone could have been in my sight… I was drunk enough where the trees were looking smoking" he admitted gaining a giggle from Ruby. "Hopefully that means I'm not too deep in your bad book" Naruto nudged her arm, noticing a small smile.
"I don't have a bad book" Ruby poked her fingers together nervously. He chuckled taking out a spare flask but just stopped and stared at it. "Naruto, can I ask…" their eyes locked. "Why do you drink all the time? Even my uncle doesn't drink as much as you, you don't even seem to be happy when you drink either".
"That is a touchy subject" Naruto stared away from Ruby.
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to make you sad or-" Ruby flailed in apology.
"No, it's fine… I just never had a good childhood, drinking just helps me forget… to stop worrying about everything" Naruto shrugged. "But I don't really want to talk about that".
"That's okay, I didn't want to make you uncomfortable" Ruby scratched the back of her head, not knowing what to say next.
Naruto half chuckled "if that's the case, I'll ask you a question". He hummed "so… when did you get a crush on me?"
Ruby gagged on air as she stopped to cough. "What are you talking about! I don't have a crush on you!" she closed her eyes as her face became flustered.
"Well, whatever the case, I would have to tell you, no" Naruto shook his head. "Even if I like you, I really am not the type of guy you should go out with" he sighed. "A dumb alcoholic with a lot of problems, you would have to be a real idiot to go out with me".
"Weiss did say I was an idiot" Ruby mumbled with an awkward giggle.
"In all fairness, she isn't wrong" Naruto nodded only to get a playful shove to his side. "It is lunchtime, you should go and get some food Ruby" he took out his scroll as it beeped.
"Sure I'll go get some food when you do" Ruby smiled, holding her hands behind her back.
Naruto rolled his eyes dramatically "so you are not only an idiot but you are a stubborn idiot". He stuck his tongue out as Ruby pouted, taking a glance at the message. 'It's Neo… what the fuck does she want… dammit, I really need my medication…' Naruto grabbed his head in pain.
"Naruto, are you sure, you are okay?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah… yep, just a migraine" Naruto waved it off as he slipped the scroll into his pocket and ignored it. "Probably just the drink, ignore it" his scroll continued to beep so he just turned it off in his pocket.
Ruby sighed "okay". Naruto shook his head and bent down beside her. "Naruto? What are you doing?" she asked as he just stared at her unnervingly. Without warning, Ruby felt his lips hit her cheek for the longest second. "N-N-Naruto…" she shakily pointed at the blond, who stepped back.
"Shh… keep that a secret" Naruto put a finger to his lips. "That was just to say thanks… for genuinely caring about me… even when I don't deserve it" he rolled his eyes as Ruby was gushing over herself. "Calm down, it was just a kiss to the cheek" Naruto put his hands in his pockets. 'Ruby is so dumb… or should I say innocent' he inwardly cringed. 'She actually cares… really, why? I-I nearly broke down and told her about my problems… do the others care? Are these… is this what it's like to have friends?' Naruto clenched his teeth 'I-I… don't like this feeling…' He shook his head "Ruby… let's go get lunch".
"S-sure" Ruby spoke, still a bit red in the face.
Chapter end