AN: So I came back from my holiday feeling inspired af so I got this chapter out no problem! Oh happy day!
"We need to improve our output," Grumman explained to Havoc. "If we can do that we will get more – Ah, Riza! You're –" The older man froze as his eyes fell upon their new visitor. Roy watched as a myriad of emotions flickered across his face. Shock, happiness, anger, before settling on gratitude, however that was directed at his granddaughter, not his guest. "Thank you. Havoc, we will continue this discussion later." Taking the hint, Havoc looked between the men who were eyeing each other up and could not look happier to be out of there. Roy got the distinct feeling that something big was about to go down. They had done as Grumman had asked and brought Berthold here but Roy wanted nothing more to do with it now.
The sight of the blonde man before them made him angry. All those years of pain and sorrow he put Riza through… But he was also disappointed in himself. He had spent more than enough time with her as a child but hadn't noticed anything was amiss. Another part of him kept reminding Roy that he was a child himself, how could he have known?
Berthold was whisked away with Grumman and Riza, the trio barely sparing the rest of them a glance.
"I kind of want to know what is going on," Rebecca began, moving to stand by his side. "But at the same time, it looks like it is going to be the biggest shit storm of all time."
Roy nodded in agreement, his mouth set in a thin line. "Let's just hope he has what we need." As they disappeared into Grumman's house, Roy turned and head for his own cabin, his thoughts going over all that had transpired the past few days travelling.
Rebecca and Roy had both heard the gunshots throughout the neighbourhood as they ran to the park. Fear had gripped him as he smelt that infernal incense, but Rebecca had kept him on track. Riza knew they were to meet at the park. They would head there first and wait. If there was no sign, mentally or physically, they would investigate. As they prepared for the longest five minutes of their lives, Riza called them from the trees.
Travelling back to the settlement had been a quiet affair. Berthold had rode on Riza's back. The three wolves had spoken little, aside from discussing the incident at Berthold's house. It made Roy's hackles rise, thinking of them targeting them once more.
"Where are you going?" Rebecca called after him.
"For a run." He was in his wolf form before he even passed his cabin.
"Will he be okay?" Havoc asked quietly.
Rebecca stared after Roy. She really wasn't sure. He wasn't happy about something that much was clear. Something had changed between the three of them since returning to Riza's childhood home. She didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Something was off though. It was clear in the way that Riza had been mostly silent since returning to her home. The blonde had only spoken when she had been spoken to, rather than join in with their banter. She was distracted and Roy knew it was because of the man on her back. The brunette didn't know if it was fear or something else entirely that kept her quiet. But she wanted to find out. "I don't know. I hope so." That was all he could offer Havoc for now.
About one hundred feet away, Grumman had begun to interrogate Berthold about "the incident". "They were observing you?" Grumman repeated, his hand on his chin as he digested her father's information. A frown had taken over his features as Riza watched.
Her father on the other hand casually lounged against the wall, one knee bent with the foot propped against the wood. Berthold looked like a completely different man. He looked mildly bored as her grandfather questioned him about his life in recent months.
"Yes. I don't know what they wished to learn. Probably in case Riza ever came home." The bored tone was gone from his voice as he turned to face her. "You said they got to you?" His voice was sharp and his hands balled into fists.
Riza nodded, the memories still feeling fresh in her mind. "I was shot and taken into their custody. A vampire was working with them. She poisoned me with wolfs bane to learn its effects, but administered an antidote to keep me alive."
"Have you done anything about this?" Berthold demanded from Grumman.
"Watch your tone Berthold," the older man warned, his face hardening for the first time since they had begun to speak. Riza knew her grandfather still wasn't pleased with her father taking her away, but there had been no anger present in his body language or tone. Not like there had been with Pinako. "You know as well as I do what would have happened if we blindly went after them for revenge." The pair stared each other down, their expressions mildly hostile.
Something clicked in Riza's mind. "That's what Mom did," she muttered mostly to herself. "Isn't it? That's why she died." Her gaze swapped between the two men. She could tell by their reaction she had hit the nail on the head. After a moment, Berthold relaxed and his glare faded from his face. So did Grumman.
"Yes," her father replied. His voice was barely above a whisper. "They had taken one of the children from the camp. Returned her in a body bag." The thought made Riza's stomach turn. "Amelia went after them by herself, furious, but she suffered the same fate."
Silence fell on the room. Riza felt slightly nauseous. If they wouldn't say no to kidnapping children, then where would they stop? This whole situation got a lot more unpleasant.
"So what's our next move?"
"We continue as we planned," Grumman answered her question with a determined look on his face. "I have waited a long time for this day. We finally have the numbers and back up we need to focus a serious assault on this group. They will pay for everything they have done to our people, I will make sure of it. Will you be joining us?" he asked her father.
Berthold nodded without hesitation. "Tell me when and where."
Riza was a bundle of nerves as she walked from the cabin to their training ground for the afternoon. It was only a few days before they set out west once more to flush out the Hunters. Their group had been training diligently and worked well together, which Riza was glad about. They didn't need any friction while they were out there.
Roy walked beside her, his head on the ground as he was lost in thought. A frown had over taken his face and she doubted he was even aware of it.
"You okay?" she asked quietly. They were alone in the forest, but she didn't want to startle him. In fact, he had become more reserved since they had returned with her father. Riza often found him lost in thought or going out on runs by himself. However she had been so caught up in her family drama that she barely noticed. Guilt pooled in her stomach as the thought finally occurred to her.
"Huh?" he asked. "Oh, yeah. Fine." The way he spoke… Something was definitely not fine.
"What's up?" she asked, slowing her walk to a stop.
"What do you mean?" His expression was schooled into one of nonchalance, but Riza watched as his eyes didn't quite meet hers, opting to rest past her, rather than on her face. She sighed.
"Roy, come on. What is up with you? You have been unusually quiet for the last couple of days."
He shrugged. "Maybe I just didn't feel like talking."
"Or maybe there is something going on with you."
"Oh, so now you notice?" Riza could tell that as soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it. Dread rushed over her body, making her skin tingle. "Sorry, that was unfair of me."
"No it's…" Riza trailed off. What exactly was "it"? "You're right." She sat on a boulder nearby. It was big enough for the two of them so Roy joined her. "I haven't really been present lately, have I?"
"Look, I get you have family stuff to deal with, I really do. I just…" he chuckled to himself. "Well, I was just being selfish."
"It's not selfish for you to want me to be there. Believe me, this whole thing with my dad and Grumman is like dealing with two children. I'd really rather not be dealing with it." Things had been civil between the pair at first, however it was only a matter of time before they both exploded. Grumman still wasn't happy about Berthold leaving with Riza and Berthold wasn't happy with how Grumman handled the situation with his daughter. He said Grumman should have sent people after her to bring her home, or as back up, but Grumman had refused. Riza had been playing the messenger and also what felt like the parent, trying to get the two to talk to each other. Both refused of course. Words had been said that couldn't be taken back so now they had to deal with the fallout. "But they are family. They are the only family I have left." Riza caught Roy's slightly pained look. "Aside from you and Rebecca of course," she reassured him, gently nudging his shoulder with hers. "They are the only blood I have left," she corrected. "As much as I'd like to, I can't just leave them to sort it out. I need to try and mend these fences."
"Okay," Roy replied. His lips quirked upwards into an amused grin. "If you need help handling them, let me know."
"Always." He leaned towards her, pecking her on the cheek. Riza grinned herself. "So, what's up with you?"
Roy shrugged, but the movement was forced. "Just the usual. Worrying about our welfare from these maniacs." Roy paused, his face turning serious. "I still haven't heard from her."
Riza let out all the air in her lungs in quick succession. "I'm sure she's fine," she tried to reassure Roy. He had tried to contact his Aunt last night but the receptionist at the hotel had told her she had retired for the night, which was strange. It had only been eight o'clock. Roy explained she normally always stayed until closing. So, Roy had tried the house phone multiple times but there was still no answer. The pair had both tried to reassure each other, telling themselves she was fine.
"She sometimes goes into Boulder on a Friday night," Roy explained, but there was a desperation in his voice. "That's probably it." It was more for his benefit than anyone else's.
"If you don't get an answer after training then we will go, okay?" Roy nodded. She stood and pulled him into a hug, knowing he would need it. The man had already been through something similar with her. He didn't need to go through it again with his aunt. So Riza had asked Grumman to send someone out to the house that morning, just to check, and also give Ross and Brosh a phone to find out what was going on. His arms snaked around to her back, locking against her body firmly. "You give the best hugs," Riza commented, pressing her cheek to the top of his head. She felt him chuckle.
"At least that is one thing I am good at," he replied, the worry gone from his tone.
"There are plenty things you are good at," Riza replied, rolling her eyes.
"Oh?" he replied. "Like what?"
Riza smiled at the curiosity in his tone. He obviously just wanted to see what she would say. A mischievous grin slid into place. "Oh you know, being a good friend, being there for me…" he hummed in agreement. Riza pulled away from him. "And being a pain in the ass." Roy's jaw slackened in surprise. Riza cackled at the sight.
"Come here you." he grinned, lunging for her. Riza leapt out of his way with ease still laughing.
"You'll have to catch me first," she replied, batting her eyelashes. With another cackle she ran into the trees. She heard Roy change into a wolf as he began his pursuit. With a wicked smile, she thought she would have some fun of her own if he wasn't going to play fair.
She sensed his approach through the vibrations in the ground. His paws thundered against the ground as he ran, gaining on her fast. Just as he began to reach forward to catch her with either a paw or his jaws, she leapt into the air, grabbing onto one of the branches of the nearest pine tree. She was about half way up the tree however Roy would still be able to reach her if he jumped up. Riza made a move to haul herself up, but lost her balance as the tree rattled. Looking down, she watched as Roy backed away from her tree, shaking his muzzle and whining.
"Did you just…?" Riza chuckled as he backed up, muzzle rising to watch her. He continued to shake his muzzle, trying to shift the pain. He had ran right into the tree. Riza began to laugh as she finally moved into a sitting position. Doubled over, she continued as Roy growled in irritation beneath her. "That's what you get for being cocky, my friend," she grinned.
Roy shifted back, his hands instantly moving to his nose. "Fuck me!" he cursed. "That was sore!" He glared up at her as she cackled once more. "You have been spending too much time with Becca," he muttered.
"No, that was just funny," she grinned. She hopped to her feet and disappeared into the high branches and out of sight as Roy made a move to follow her up the tree. From her current vantage point she could still see him, but Riza was hidden well enough from view. Roy wouldn't be able to see her unless he knew where to look.
Perfect, Riza thought and grinned as Roy whirled around, his focus changing to the sound of branches shuffling in the opposite direction. A bird had just taken flight from the tree next to the one she had initially occupied. Riza silently moved along the branch and leapt into the air. Roy heard her approach at the last second, turning to face her, his expression one of complete shock. Riza landed on him, knocking him to the ground. Straddling his waist, she pinned his arms to the forest floor.
"I win," she grinned.
"That's not fair," he exclaimed.
In training Breda had them sparring against each other. Riza was currently winning five to two in pins, much to Rebecca's amusement. Six now, counting this one.
"It was perfectly fair," she replied sweetly, her grip tightening as he continued to struggle beneath her. She kissed his nose and he stopped moving. The pair's eyes met, both their breaths coming heavily. Riza looked into Roy's eyes, no longer seeing irritation, but his pupils were dilated desire. She realised the position she had landed them both in. It worked to her advantage, it always had in training (much to the amusement of everyone else, if the wolf whistles were anything to go by), but now that they were alone in the forest, the tension had shifted. The effect of his hips moving like that had caused a heat to pool in her stomach. A desire that needing sating rose within her.
They met in the middle, Riza relinquishing her hold on his arms that had been pinned by his side. Her hands moved above his head, bracing herself on the ground. Roy rose to her, bringing one hand to her neck, his fingers curling around it. His thumb rested by her ear, stroking her cheek as he kissed her. The other moved around her back. He rolled them over and Riza found herself laughing lightly as they moved.
They broke apart and Riza's breath caught in her throat as she saw the love in his eyes. Her face softened and she cupped his hand with her cheek.
"I love you," he murmured, dipping his head to capture her lips once more.
"And I love you," she replied with a smile. "We should go," she told him softly, but she was loath to go to training now. She wanted to finish what they started. It appeared Roy felt the same way. He nodded, but his expression was one of disappointment. He moved off of her, but not before giving her one final kiss. With a grin, both headed to the training grounds walking hand in hand.
"This is how it will run. Falman and Roy, you will be retrieving your package from the west. Follow the clues and you'll get there. I want an extraction in under five minutes. Last team back does one hundred press ups. Understood?" Both werewolves nodded. "Good." Breda dismissed them. Another werewolf approached the pair, stopwatch in hand. The ginger man turned to Riza and Rebecca. "You two will retrieve your package from the east. Same deal." The two woman nodded.
"Any idea on what this package will be?" Rebecca inquired. Breda shook his head.
"Sorry. Grumman says we don't know who we will find in there so I've got to run drills like it."
"Fair enough, I suppose."
"I'll be timing you. You both have two minutes before the start."
"How do you want to approach this?" Rebecca asked Riza, getting right down to business.
"Pick up any scent we can and take it from there. Keep the approach as quiet as possible." The brunette nodded. Breda had been known to be creative with is training drills. He had five or so other werewolves who helped him out and they were known to move targets around if they felt like it, making it harder for each of the teams.
"Ready?" Breda called. When the pair nodded, he sounded the start of their drill.
Rebecca took off into a sprint, changing mid step. She barely missed a beat as she lowered her muzzle to the ground to try and pick up any scent she could. They had run this drill numerous times, but Breda and his team had always found a creative way to mix things up. She wondered what it would be this time. Riza ran close by, at her left flank. The blonde wolf was also sniffing the ground.
The smell of the incense was faint at first, but it kicked up a gear and Rebecca recoiled, changing the direction of her run. There was another scent buried underneath the foul smell, but she couldn't pick it out. Riza didn't seem fazed by it.
"Keep pushing forward!" Riza encouraged. "The package is Havoc."
That caught her attention. This was the first time they had used people. Usually it was an object or meat. Breda wouldn't be so cruel as to hurt their targets… Would he? The thought spurred her on.
Within three minutes the duo had reached a clearing in the trees. Havoc was in the centre, bound and unconscious. Fear prickled along her skin, followed by anger towards Breda and his team. "What the fuck?" Rebecca growled.
"Becca stop," Riza warned. But the brunette saw the bruises on his face, the blood dripping down his chin and all caution went out the window. "Becca!" Riza yelled this time, her voice full of command. They may have joined Grumman's pack now, but Rebecca still saw Riza as the alpha. The wolf obeyed the command, but it took a massive internal battle from Rebecca.
"What?" she growled as she rounded on her friend. The calm presence she was emanating barely pierced through her angry fog.
"Look," Riza motioned softly. "The grass around him is raised. Fresh dirt. Something has been buried underneath it. We need to be careful."
"What we need is to get him out of there. I swear to god, I'm gonna rip his throat out," she growled to herself.
"Becca stop. This isn't personal –"
"Like hell it isn't!" she barked, a snarl sounding from the wolf. "Look at Havoc and tell me this isn't personal. Fuck this."
"I get it Becca!" Riza snapped. "I do. But we need to be smart. This is just training and there is a reason Breda and Havoc both did this. You need to learn to keep a level head when it gets heated."
Her words caused the brown wolf to pause. She was right. Rebecca had become known to lose her cool when she was angry. It was just part of her. But when it came to a situation as serious as this, she needed to reign it in. For Havoc's sake.
Rebecca took a deep breath, stealing another glance at his battered face. The sight made her stomach clench painfully. "How do you wanna do this?" she finally got out. If she were human her words would have come through her gritted teeth.
Riza had already begun to skirt around the circle, sniffing the ground as she went. "There is nothing underneath the mounds. It is just fresh dirt. Still, it won't hurt to tread carefully."
Rebecca nodded, circling around the opposite side, mirroring Riza's movements. She cleared her head, forcing Havoc from her mind for the moment. Riza was right, Havoc would have had to agree to this. He would be all right, it was all superficial. Just enough to give her a shock and kick up her temper. Her findings confirmed Riza's theory but they still picked their way carefully through the circles. There were three in total, all dug up to make it look like land mines were placed underneath at set intervals.
Rebecca changed into her human form. "Jean?" she called quietly, shaking his shoulder. He groaned in response but didn't open his eyes. Rebecca tried again, her voice louder.
"Becca?" he mumbled, slurring his words slightly. "Oh man, my head." Another spark of anger went through her. The brunette reigned it in. Havoc needed her help. She could deal with Breda later. "Can you walk?"
Havoc nodded after a moment. He braced to let a wave of pain pass as Riza got to work on the rope around him. "Let's go," the blonde ushered. Rebecca nodded, changing into a wolf and lowering her body so Havoc could climb on her back. She made sure he was secure with an affectionate nudge of his leg with her nose.
"Cold," he mumbled, lying her body flat against Rebecca's fur. She took off back to the training ground like a streak of lightening.
Riza sighed as she watched her run ahead. God help Breda when she got back.
Sure enough, as soon as Havoc was on the ground, Rebecca changed into a human and all but launched herself at the ginger man. He seemed unfazed as he watched her yell in his face. Riza reached them and pulled her firmly away from their trainer.
"What the hell Breda?" she raged, her eyes wild as she struggled against Riza's hold. A black and a silver wolf were just cresting the hill as Rebecca spoke, Roy carrying a beaming Elicia on his back. Her smile faded as she picked up on the mood.
"Four minutes and fifty seconds," Breda announced. "Well done."
Rebecca lurched in Riza's arms and the blonde clamped down hard on her friend. They were equal in strength, but Rebecca had the added rage behind her.
"If you pull that shit again I swear to god I won't hesitate to rip tear your throat out with my bare hands."
"Rebecca," Riza hissed. "Enough. Take a walk." As she wrenched herself free, the brunette didn't stop glaring at Breda. He was still unfazed by it all.
"What happened?" Falman asked quietly.
"Havoc was the package," Riza explained. The other two looked towards him, finally taking in his appearance.
"She is gonna hate me," he grumbled, ambling after the raging werewolf. "Rebecca!" he called, stumbling into a jog. "Wait up!"
"Care to explain?" Riza asked with a raised eyebrow.
Breda shrugged. "It was all his idea. Nothing to do with me." With nothing more to say he sauntered off to speak to the other werewolf about Roy and Falman's time.
"Oh boy," Riza muttered, watching after the pair.
As they approached the main square, Roy noticed there was a crowd of people forming past the fountain and on the main road. "What do you suppose that is all about?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him. The hum of the crowd was too loud to pick out any distinguishable words.
"I don't know," Falman replied. As soon as he finished his sentence, the volume picked up, followed by angry shouts. The four of them shared a look before breaking into a jog to see what was going on.
Roy gently eased his way through the crows but stopped dead in his tracks, his blood running cold. "Hey, Roy?" Riza called from behind him. "What's going on?" No words came forth to his mind. Dread and fear had consumed him all at once. Because standing in the middle of the road was Kimblee, his hand clutching the arm of Chris Mustang.