Chapter 18
Old wolf's home
walking down an alleyway after Blake and Sun, Loki listened to the two with full focus.
Walking beside Blake Sun spoke.
"So, what's the plan now?" looking to the monkey Faunus and then to Loki who looked back.
"Hey, I came to help you so don't go looking at me for plans" looking forward with a frown of thought Blake spoke.
"I still don't believe the White Fang is behind these robberies. They've never needed that much Dust before" Blake said with Loki opening his mouth to speak until the three turned to a voice.
"They certainly do need the dust with who they're working with" turning to the voice the three was greeted by John leaning against the alleyway wall with his arms crossed.
"You know what they're doing?" Loki questioned with a frown as John nodded.
"Yep, you told me and Alex what happened on our off days, and I'm going to help you while Alex and your mystery guy get info for you" John said with Blake speaking her thoughts.
"Who else is here?"
"You'll know him when he chooses to reveal himself, now let's go, the suns going down and I like my sleep" John said as he walked ahead of the three, making Sun lean to Loki to whisper his thoughts.
"Quite a cowboy… isn't he?"
"I heard that!" leaning to them Blake added her opinion.
"With good ears too" Blake said before she followed after John who stood at the edge of the street in wait, joined by the other three Sun spoke.
"So how did you and Loki meet?" Sun questioned with John smiling, unnerving the Faunus who stepped back in alarm as John's head erupted into blue fire.
"Loki dug me out from my grave"
Two hours later
Climbing up a wall of shipping containers, Loki held a makeshift rope ladder over his right shoulder he looked around for a good minute before climbing onto the top with a spike of ash forming in his hand he set the ladder up before stabbing the nail of ash to act as a support to tie the rope around, he than pushed the ladder down to John and Blake below with Sun scouting around the area.
Keeping an eye out for any watchful eyes Loki turned to help Blake up onto the container, turning to help John up Loki instead looked to his right suddenly to see the cowboy crouched low.
"How did- never mind," Loki said as he crouched beside Blake who began scouting with a pair of binoculars.
Leaving Loki to look over the area as they waited for Sun to get back to report.
"I know you have a lot of spy networks, but…" Blake spoke suddenly, turning to Loki John spared a glance at the two before he looked ahead.
"How did you meet Sun, exactly?" Blake questioned with Loki chuckling at the memory.
"It was when I went to spectate one of my tournaments in Mistral, Because I was the maker of the tournament I was given VIP seating, and one of the contestants, Sun, he literally went through the course like it was a daily work out, while Heh, while the others there struggled to get through the first course, he was at the end, having a can of soda casually" Loki said with Blake looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"That's good to hear but… how did he start working for you?" Blake questioned with Loki smiling.
"Some asshole tried to rob me and before I could even take him down Sun comes out of nowhere with a dropkick knocking the guy down and out" Loki said with a small smile at the memory, making Blake smile back before Loki turned to John.
"See anything?"
His only reaction was a minute of silence until John spoke.
"No one in sight after they dropped off the cargo" John said before they heard Sun climb up with a huff, moving to the three he held a bag of apples.
"Did I miss anything?" Sun questioned with John handing Sun the binoculars.
"Not really. They've offloaded the crates from the boat. Now they're just sitting there" Blake said with a sigh, making Loki look between the two with a small smile.
"Cool" Sun said before reaching into the bag he had he then presented an apple to Blake.
"I stole you some food" Sun said with Loki groaning while pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Do you always break the law without giving a second thought?" Blake questioned with a deadpanned look with Sun speaking in his defense.
"Hey, weren't you in a cult or something?" Looking to Blake who gave him a hateful glare Sun looked away before Loki smacked him upside the head.
"Too soon dude" Loki said with a scolding voice, about to go on at the monkey Faunus he stopped at his ears hearing the wind pick up, followed by the sound of Bullheads which made him look around in caution.
Making John narrow his own eyes as he scanned the docks before he spotted a familiar shadow crouched low in wait, looking to Loki he looked forward again to see two bullheads arrive with spotlights shining down on the containers, with Blake looking downtrodden.
Leaving Loki and John to watch the vehicles land with a ramp lowering to allow members of the White Fang to run out.
"Well, we found the suspects" John said as he watched them loading cargo into the Bullheads.
Turning to Blake Loki spoke.
"Sorry to tell you this Blake, but… well, the sight says it all" Loki said with Blake sighing.
"I had the feeling, deep down I knew, I just needed to see it" Blake said with Loki placing a comforting hand on her right shoulder the two shared a small silent thankful smile before the four heard a voice.
"Hey! What's the holdup!?" looking through her binoculars, Blake spotted the owner with a small scowl, for the one who stepped out into the open waved his arms widely.
"We're not exactly the most inconspicuous bunch of thieves at the moment, so why don't you animals try to pick up the pace?" Roman Torchwick said loudly with the White Fang continuing on until Roman spoke again, this time with a fearful voice.
"I also don't want to have another mauling from beacon's Brat, so hurry up" Roman said with Blake looking to Loki who had a sheepish smile.
"I…may have lost myself once when transformed" Loki said before Blake stood up and unsheathed Gambol Shroud, making Sun look after Blake in alarm while John and Loki stood up as well.
Watching Blake dropped down Loki turned to John who was already running after her, his right hand holding up a six-shooter.
"Sun go with them" Loki said with Sun being silent, making Loki turn to see he was the only one on the container.
"Oh wow guys, so thankful" Loki said as he dropped down to flank the large group of thieves.
Ducking under a few shadows, Loki's body took on a change into his lycanthropic form, his eyes glowing in the dark he let out a dark growl as he moved on all fours, moving by an opening he failed to see someone walking down it in silence.
Moving after Blake and John, Sun ducked behind cover with John as Blake moved to a position close to Roman who at the moment held a bundle of rope.
"No, you idiot! This isn't a leash!" Roman said before Blake snuck up and held him hostage, startling him as he dropped the rope.
"What the- oh for fu-"
"Nobody move" Blake ordered as she held Gambol close to Roman's neck, the thief holding his hands up in compliance while the members of the White Fang readied their weapons on her.
"Whoa! Take it easy there, little lady." Roman said with wide eyes as he saw them aiming, before feeling Blake take off her bow to reveal her cat ears.
"Brothers of the White Fang! Why are you aiding this scum?" Blake yelled making the Faunus lower their weapons in confusion at this turn of events.
Until Roman laughed.
"Oh, kid, didn't you get the memo?" Roman questioned with Blake glaring at him.
"What are you talking about?" Blake questioned as John readied his arrival.
"The White Fang and I are going in on a joint business venture together!" Roman said before John appeared, his head a fiery skull of blue flames.
"Under the orders of a Cinder Fall no doubt" turning Roman to John the orangettes eyes widened in fear as John walked calmly.
"Tell us what it is or I'll put an end to your little operation." Blake said with a deadly edge to her voice with John raising his six-shooter in ready for a gunfight, pulling out another he let out a deadly chuckle.
Before he heard the sound of more bullheads.
"Aw hell" John said as he and Roman looked up.
"I wouldn't exactly call it a little operation..!" Roman said as two more Bullheads hovered above, making a hidden Loki look up in alarm as Blake gasped in horror, making Roman smile and aim his weaponized cane at her feet.
Firing once Blake leaped back with the blast sending her further she felt herself caught by John who fired two shots, making the Faunus move to hiding spots.
Meanwhile in the distance, Ruby, Penny and Odin walked through the night streets of vale until they heard the explosion, with Ruby speaking in worry.
"Oh no"
Skidding on his feet with a blast hitting him square in the chest, John growled as he held his hat instinctively after another volley of missiles slammed into his being he roared with his blue flames glowing brighter, firing five shots of his right revolver in quick succession he turned to Roman who sent another volley of bullets at him, making John move to cover he noticed his right shoulder aflame until he petted it out.
"Great, another duster coat I need to fix"
"Hey cowboy, what are you doing hiding for it's a gunfight!" Roman yelled before a banana peel courtesy of Sun landed on his head, making Roman growl and throw the banana peel off he looked up to meet Sun's feet hitting his face, sending him down to the ground Sun joined the fray.
"Mind if I join the party?"
Groaning at the horrible joke, Roman got up with an exaggerated Sigh.
"Can this night get any worse and annoying?" as if to answer his question, he froze at hearing a lone howl close by… Very close by.
Looking around in fright while grabbing his right leg Roman heard a roar near the larger groups of the white Fang sent with him he stared as a werewolf Loki thrashed wildly among the stunned Faunus, watching the wolfboy back hand a Faunus into a container, Loki met Roman's eye the two were silent until Loki grinned savagely as he backhanded another White Fang member trying to sneak up on him, making Roman step away until he saw Loki peppered by dust rounds thanks to the Bullhead, making Loki growl in anger as he let out a roar.
Seeing the teen was distracted, Roman went to leave until he was attacked by Blake, if only that were accurate as he expertly deflected her strikes, though some hitting home he sent his own fair share of strikes at her he managed to knock her down before Sun came at him, his bow staff now taking the form of sawed-off shotguns redesigned as nunchucks.
Ones that Roman also parried until Blake came back and sent him flying back, making Roman growl he noticed a container above the two he heard a voice behind him.
"You forgot someone"
Looking behind him Roman rolled out of the way of a stomping foot he looked to the damage to see John's foot indenting the ground before he tore himself free, leaving Roman against the three he turned to see Blake and Sun still beneath the container he went to shoot at John until he heard a voice.
"Hey!" turning to the rooftop to the main building of the docks they saw Ruby stepped forward.
"Well, hello, Red! Isn't it past your bedtime?" Roman said before he fired his cane at the crane holding the container above Blake and Sun.
"BLAKE!" turning to Loki's voice Blake looked up to see the falling container with horrified eyes she crouched low with her eyes closed, readying for the pain she waited for a good second until she and Sun heard a grunt of effort from a new voice, opening her eyes Blake looked up in shock to see the Container being held up by a figure in a hooded coat, but the eyes… the eyes of someone she knew she noticed instantly.
Looking to the werewolf formed Loki she looked back to the new arrival who stood tall with a growl as he lifted the container with little effort, what she saw was basically an older Loki with a full beard.
Dropping the container to the right into the ocean, the future Loki stood in the silent docks until he spoke.
"Hello Roman… long time no see" looking to the new arrival Roman stepped back instinctively as his instincts screamed at him to run, to run and hide from the now grinning adult Loki, whose eyes glowed a blood red instead of the usual golden orbs.
"Who the hell are you?" Roman questioned in worry as the new arrival tilted his head, eyes showing nothing but annoyance before he took the hood off, allowing his wolf ears to stand tall and proud.
"Who do you think?" Loki said before he cracked his neck with his muscles expanding with black fur replacing his clothing, his face growing outward with fur also accompanying the muscle, Roman stared in alarm as he stared at a 9 foot tall werewolf, with Blake gawking as Loki stared at his future counterpart in awe himself.
Reeling his head back, the Loki from the future released an inhuman howl that sent out a shockwave.
With Roman paling as he even felt the full power of that howl held back.
Moving to flee in the bullhead he turned to see the larger werewolf grinning widely at him before letting out a roar.
A roar That reverberated through the entire city, making Ruby, Odin, and Penny Polendina step back as the old wolf was suddenly peppered with dust rounds from the bullheads hovering above, leaving the White Fang to flee to the other bullhead, leaving the old wolf to simply look up as the high calibre rounds ricochet off of his undamaged fur.
Baring his teeth at the Bullhead a bright green beam of death shot one of them down into the ocean.
'Penny right on cue' the old wolf thought proudly as he turned his head to the synthetic child who stood before Ruby protectively as the old wolf let out a grunt as his fur receded with ash collecting over his body to reform his clothes, cracking his neck to the right John approached calmly as the Fang fled.
Leaving Blake and Sun to approach with their Loki staring at his older counterpart with eyes of awe.
"Dude, that was awesome, Loki hurry up and become a badass!" Sun said before turning to their Loki who had rolled his eyes after he turned back, walking to his older self, the two shared a smile before fist bumping, followed by the older Loki turning to Blake who blinked as she saw longing in his eyes before he looked up to the approaching form of Odin, Ruby and Penny.
Making him go frigid with his right hand shaking until John placed a hand on his shoulder, making the present Loki frown in worry.
"Calm down, those runes are holding up good and strong, you'll see them again soon" John said reassuringly, making the older Loki nod to his friend in thanks.
"Runes, what runes?" Blake questioned as she looked around in confusion.
"The ones taking in my power and feeding it into the planet" the old wolf said with a relieved voice, making Blake turn to him.
"BLAKE!" hearing Ruby yell her name the cat Faunus turned to prepare for the insults, instead, she was brought into an embrace by Ruby.
"You have friends Blake… don't throw them away with fear" turning to the older counterpart she saw his eyes staring at her with compassion.
"Thank you" Blake said as she held Ruby closer, making the old wolf chuckle before turning to Odin who approached.
"I take it the beard was inspired by me?" turning to his teammate the present Loki yelled out in disagreement, while the counterpart shrugged.
"I never got a chance to shave fighting against a certain white Bitch and her pets"
"Who?" Ruby questioned with John smacking the old wolf upside the head for his slip up.
"You'll understand in time, just don't trust three supposed students from Haven, One's a hot illusionist, the other is a laid back prick and the last is a control freak with a nice ass" the old wolf said with the teens looking at him weirdly before John cleared his throat, making everyone turn to him.
"We finished helping with this, did you have something else to get done?" John said before the old wolf turned to beacon.
"Yeah, I just don't know how to explain it to him" Loki said to John with his younger self frowning.
"explain what?"
"Not important" the older wolf said with a look of worry with Blake and Ruby looking at him in suspicion before remembering what John told them of, making Ruby and Blake blush at the thought.
"Let's go then, see you in a few years kid" John said as he opened a vortex, making the old wolf look to his older counterpart with a small smile, reaching into his coat he tossed him a green folder which his younger self caught.
Looking to his older self in confusion the old wolf spoke.
"Try to get into your old habits, you'll need inspiration when you need it" the old man said before vanishing into the vortex, leaving his younger counterpart Ruby stepped to Loki's side as he opened the folder to see his old drawings.
"Whoa" Sun said at seeing a drawing of a viking holding a Large hammer and beside that one a man with fire for hair with a mixed armor set of old Knight and Samurai with many swords hovering around him.
Seeing this sparked a memory within Loki, which made him smile fondly.
"Terragon and Fuyu, I completely forgot about these guys growing up" Loki said as he looked through the pages.
Sitting within his office in silence, Ozpin sighed as he rubbed his eyes to keep himself awake he looked up suddenly as a vortex opened with a figure stepping out, making his tired eyes widen at the older self of Loki who smiled at him.
"Hey old man" Loki said calmly with Ozpin standing up, walking around his desk he approached the older Loki who had a smile, a lone tear falling from his right eye before he wiped it away.
"Loki?" Ozpin questioned before he was brought into a protective hug from his adopted son, making the headmaster look at him before returning to hug.
"It's been too long, dad, really long" Loki said as he stepped back from the headmaster who looked at him in surprise.
"You look-"
"Yeah, I know, but that's besides the point right now" Loki said with Ozpin frowning as his adopted son held out a suit for him.
Taking the offered clothing with a frown Ozpin spoke.
"Loki, what is this for?" Ozpin questioned with Loki chuckling nervously while scratching his head.
"I want you to… attend my weddings"
"Weddings?" Ozpin nearly yelled in surprise as Loki winced.
"Hey it was Nora's idea in the first place, heck even Ruby made a bracelet for the wedding rings" Loki said before sighing.
"Ozpin… this is important to me, so please… come" Loki said with Ozpin looking to his older adopted son he sighed.
"Give me a minute, anything I should know of before I step into the future?" Ozpin said as he walked to a small compartment in his office.
"A lot of things dad, too many to count, but the one thing I can tell you is… well" turning to Ozpin as he stepped out of the small room in black dress pants and shoes with a white dress shirt on he looked to Loki with full attention.
"Tell me what?"
"You'll love your grandkids" Loki said with a small smile.