Chapter 19
Food war
Walking into a bookstore with Sun in tow, Loki looked through the many isles of books with a smile at the neatness inside, walking to the counter he rang the bell once with Sun moving to the comic isle.
"Just a minute!" hearing the voice of Tukson call out to them from the other room, Loki leaned on his forearms in wait as he watched a man in average build step out with his face hidden behind stacks of books he was moving.
"Hey Tukson" Loki greeted with the man stopping suddenly, a tense silence following suit until a chuckle was heard from the man as he placed the books down on the counter, showing his hair to be cleanly cut, and he had noticeable sideburns, along with hairy, muscular arms.
Staring at Loki the two smiled in greeting.
"Loki, what can I do for you?" Tukson said with Loki turning to Sun who nodded and flipped the "we're open" sign to "Sorry, we're closed".
Allowing Loki to climb over the counter with Tukson blinking as Loki threw a bag at Tukson who caught it.
"Get whatever you need and head to the ferry docks to Vacuo, Neo informed us of a kill order on you, and I'm not taking any chances of losing a valuable asset and friend, now go get packing, we'll watch the front" Loki said with Tukson nodding as he went into the back room, leaving Loki and Sun, the two wearing different clothing from the docks a week ago.
Sun wore a pair of baggy pants with sneakers used for climbing smooth surfaces with a black opened button-up shirt, along with leather gloves fashioned for gripping.
A bandanna being positioned over his face.
Loki also had a different attire, he now wore a black shirt with a leather jacket over his upper body with a fur collar, he wore black jeans with shoes also designed for climbing smooth surf, along with his own bandanna with a skull design now also fashioned over his mouth and nose.
"keep a watch out for anyone suspicious coming this way" Loki said with Sun nodding as he put on a set of shades with a hat.
Kneeling down at a window he switched the lights off quickly.
With Loki shaking his head with a soft chuckle, turning to the back room he was greeted by Tukson stepping out with a duffel bag on his right shoulder.
"Let's go" Tukson said with Loki nodding, turning to the door the two stopped as Sun gestured for them to hide at seeing two people approaching the store.
Ducking down behind the counter Loki spoke.
"Please tell me you have an emergency escape door in the back.
Looking over the counter Tukson spoke.
"Well I do but I never really had to use it before" looking at Tukson in confusion before Loki began to smack him to the back room.
"Go go go, get out of here, we'll hold them off" Loki said with Tukson moving to the back where his escape route was, turning to Loki he spoke.
"Thank you, Loki"
"Your welcome now get to safety" Loki said as the door was knocked on, causing Tukson to open a hidden door behind a bookshelf, closing the door behind him he left Loki and sun in the shelf, Sun moving to a safer distance from the door the two heard muffled voices.
"Is he even here?" listening to the laidback voice, Loki's mind went back to his older counterparts words
'One's a hot illusionist, the other is a laid back prick and the last is a control freak'
Looking through the window Loki saw that indeed the female of the two was attractive the one male who wore dark grey attire stood laid back and uncaring.
Watching the exchange words the male sighed before whirling around with a kick colliding with the door, sending it off its hinges Sun leaned further out of view with Loki ducking behind the counter.
"Ok great, dark room and all that, he's obviously left for the day" the male said with a sarcastic tone while the female teen huffed in annoyance.
"Just shut up, we're most likely bound to find some clues as to where he's gone" the female said with Loki narrowing his eyes.
"Seems he wasn't alone, I can smell banana's and… wet dog?" glaring at the obvious insult to his hygiene, Loki scowled with his eyes glowing golden.
"That and these stacks of books look new" forming a shotgun in his hands as he listened to footsteps he formed a helmet over his head with a voice deepener.
Jumping up onto his feet with shotgun aimed, Loki took in the girls features fully, red eyes with mint green hair, her most prominent feature was her dark skin.
"Surprise bitch!" seeing the shotgun aimed and ready to fire the girl ducked to the side with her accomplice doig the same by hiding behind a shelf of books he frowned at hearing footsteps to his left, turning in said direction he was met by Sun's foot sending him into the open where Loki sent him flying out the store with the force of the shotgun, his aura just barely protecting him from the blast.
Turning to the girl Loki blinked as he heard an odd noise, making him blink rapidly while stepping back.
Groaning while grabbing his head he looked to the door to see the girl running out of the store while a ghostly image of her stood with her hands up.
"Illusion, she's outside!"
Hearing this Sun looked to Loki before looking outside the door, seeing nothing but small dust steps fleeing the scene.
Getting to give chase Loki stopped him.
"Don't bother, we did what we came to do, let's head back to beacon" Loki said with Sun nodding, walking out of the store Loki grabbed Sun by the neck before leaping upward… with Sun's scream echoing outward.
Letting out a sigh of boredom while sitting with her team, Nora ate her pancakes in silence, occasionally flinging food into Yang's mouth the two shared a playful smile as yang flung a grape at Nora who caught it with her own mouth.
Sharing a small laugh as Gabrielle and Odin spoke, Blake reading one of her books, Weiss was filing her nails, Yennefer was talking to Ren while Odin sat with his own book while Loki had gone off after one of his contacts "Neo" warned him of a kill order on one of his informants.
Which was this morning, leaving Nora to herself and the two teams.
And team RWBY giving her hopeful looks when they think she never noticed.
Perking up suddenly at feeling the ground shaking, Cardin spoke to the school populace.
"Loki's back!"
"We kind of guessed that" that little bout followed with a small laugh from the students new and old, looking to team CRDL, the team had come far in becoming a good team after the incident at Forever Fall, with the help of team JNPR and RWBY the three teams had become good friends over the last month of Beacon, with Cardin going as far as help Jaune with his swordsman skills, Odin's face of disbelief that day will forever be remembered, it was even better when Lie Ren had shown a taken photo of said face much to the lion faunus' chagrin.
That and Sky had gotten along well with Yennefer much to the three teams shock.
Turning to the open doors to the cafeteria, the students saw Loki shrugging with his clothing reforming into a casual black shirt and jeans he wore sneakers with a wrap of gauze around his right shin.
Sitting beside a smiling Nora she tossed a grape at Yang who was smiling at Loki, making her blink as the grape hit she stared at Nora with a frown of annoyance as Loki sat down beside his girlfriend.
Bringing her into a one-armed hug he kissed her happily.
"What's got you so happy?" Cardin questioned with a raised brow with Loki looking to the reformed bully with a shrug, failing to see Blake looking at him.
"Nothing much, just helped a friend leave town to his new house in Vacuo" Loki said with Cardin shrugging as he went back to eating his lunch before Ruby came in slamming a folder on the table between Weiss and Yang, the two flinching
"Friends… sister… Weiss…" Ruby began with Cardin snorting as Weiss went "Hey"
"Four score and seven minutes ago, I had a dream."
"This ought to be good." Yang said before catching a grape in her mouth.
"A dream that one day, the four of us will come together, as a team, and have the most fun anyone has ever had... ever!" Ruby said with Loki squinting as he read the binder's label.
"Did you steal Weiss' binder?" Loki questioned with Weiss looking up from filing her nails.
"I am not a crook" Ruby said while making a peace sign, making Loki look to her unconvinced, while Blake just stared at her.
"What are you talking about?" Blake questioned with Loki looking to her in worry.
"I'm talking about kicking off the semester with a bang!" looking back to Ruby as she pointed to Blake, Loki blinked before Yang spoke.
"I always kick my semesters off with a Yang! Eh? Guys? Am I right?" Yang said before an apple hit her in the forehead curtesy of Nora who feigned innocence as Loki stared at her.
"Really Nora?" his only reaction was an adorable shrug from his girlfriend.
"Look guys, it's been a good two weeks and between more exchange students arriving and the tournament at the end of the year, our second semester is going to be great! But, classes start back up tomorrow! Which is why I've taken the time to schedule a series of wonderful events for us today." Ruby said with Weiss looking at her.
"I don't know whether to be proud or scared of what you have in store." Weiss said with Loki looking to her, failing to see Nora and Yang's small food war happening around them.
"Oh come on Weiss, what's the worse that coul-" Loki began before a bowel of mayonnaise landed on his head, making Nora and Yang look at him in fright as he sat frozen, the slight shake of his right hand the only indication he was angry, reaching for the bowel he turned to yang's direction, his eyes blinded by a layer of mayonnaise the blonde beauty smiled nervously as he scooped a large portion out before he smiled, making Yang panic as he than threw it at her, which triggered an all out food fight, with some students with common sense to flee as Loki let out a evil laugh as things instantly escalated with teams GLOY and JNPR joining forces, the two teams taking control of the many tables with Loki making a throne for himself and Nora.
With Odin and Lie Ren standing at the sides of the throne while Pyrrah and Jaune stood on the second level below them while Yennefer standing at the bottom with Gabrielle.
"Bow to your king and Queen!" Nora cheered as she sat on Loki's lap.
"Justice will be swift, Justice will be painful… It will be delicious!" Ruby declared with her team cheering, looking to Loki who sat relaxed Nora kissed his cheek before hopping off of the throne he made, allowing him to sit up and lean on his knees, watching Nora hop down with Odin handing her a makeshift hammer, which was a pole with a watermelon acting as the weight.
"Off with their heads!" Nora cheered once more as the food war finally started.
"Yang Turkey!" watching the blonde brawler rolling with her fists sinking into the turkey's Loki let out an amused chuckle as Yang went to charge, Blake behind her with two baguettes like Yennefer also used, looking to his allies Loki saw Nora soon knock Weiss away into a pillar, followed by Ruby catching the unconscious Schnee Loki winced.
"Weiss, Weiss! Don't leave me! Nooo!" watching Ruby glare at the opposing fighters Loki frowned as she took a sprinters pose, making him stomp his foot down to anchor the tables and himself down, catching Nora in the sudden whirlwind she held onto him in a daze while team RWBY stood triumphant. Standing up to let Nora rest on the throne, Ruby returned to her team with a smile before they heard Loki clapping, making Blake stare up at a smiling Loki as he climbed down the tower of tables.
"I think this is what people call… final boss" Loki said with Weiss handing Blake a baguette while readying her own swordfish, Yang got another set of turkey while Ruby held a makeshift scythe of a baguette and crab claw.
"Take him down" Yang declared as she rushed forward, followed by Loki picking up a rope of sausages he swung them at her waist as she jumped, startling her as he swung her over his head, walking forward as he had Yang at his mercy he decided to send her upward with one final swing, failing to hear her crash through the ceiling he smiled as Weiss and Blake rushed towards him, making Loki pick up two baguettes, twirling them in hand he ducked under a stab from Weiss which he evolved into a backflip to avoid Blake's follow up, kicking the swordfish from Weiss' hands he knocked her away weaponless towards Ruby who caught her again, leaving Blake against Loki who blocked her strikes, leaving them face to face with Loki winking at her, making her blush as he shoved her away.
Following after her with a series of strikes he jumped over her head to grapple her, startling her as he threw her to the ground, pinching a nerve Blake groaned before falling asleep.
Allowing Loki to step back with Ruby hastily trying to wake Weiss up to no avail.
"Hey Ruby" Loki greeted with the rose blushing as he smiled at her.
"You want to give up and submit to the king or fight valiantly to the end" Loki questioned with Ruby getting a look od adorable determination as she laid Weiss down, picking up her food weapon she got ready to fight, making Loki and her smile.
"Let's end this" Loki said before the two rushed at one another, coming to a close Ruby went for a downward strike with her food weapon while Loki held a noseless swordfish.
Moving to strike one another the two were suddenly lifted into the air, making Ruby drop her food weapon to try and keep her skirt down while Loki hovered upside down.
Hearing approaching footsteps to their right they turned to see an agitated Glynda walking with her riding crop held up.
"Children, please. Do not play with your food!" trying to look back to Glynda Loki craned his neck to make eye contact.
"Kind of hard to do that when it was self defense" Loki said before being dropped down, letting out a groan as he lay on his back while Ruby landed on her feet, jumping as the tables were put back into place by Glynda, with Nora still lying asleep on the throne Loki had made.
Getting up from the ground Loki cracked his back once before he turned to nora who burped loudly.
Making the three teams laugh before Loki looked up to the ceiling at hearing a crash, catching Yang in his arms she had swirly eyes.
Sighing at seeing this Glynda went to speak until Ozpin arrived and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Let it go" Ozpin said with Glynda sighing.
"They're supposed to be the defenders of the world." Glynda said with Ozpin looking to Loki who laughed.
"And they will be, but right now they're still children." Looking to the group of teens once more Ozpin only saw Loki as an adult smiling brightly as he held two Faunus children, also smiling as an orange haired toddler slept on his head.
"So why not let them play the part?" Ozpin said as he began to walk away, frowning at the memory of Loki's adult life being tragic for a time.
"After all, it isn't a role they'll have forever." Ozpin said with a sigh as Glynda followed after him.
Entering a warehouse with Mercury holding his abdomen with a grimace, Emerald saw Roman leaning at a table with a map of Vale in front of him before he turned to them to roll his eyes.
"Oh, look! She sent the kids again! This is turning out just like the divorce!" Roman said as he brought them into a group hug, making Emerald shiver in disgust while Mercury just let out a pained grunt, making Roman look at him with a frown.
"What happened to him anyway?" Roman said as he released the two, with Emerald "helping" Mercury to a seat, and by helping I meant kicking him towards said seat.
"And also why do you have this address?" Roman questioned the two with Emerald checking her pockets before letting out a growl.
"I'm a professional, sweetheart. Pay attention, maybe you'll learn something. Now if you'd answer my question?" Roman said with Emerald glaring at him.
"We were planning to clean up your mess…"
"Were, something tells me something didn't go as planned?" Roman said with a aura of glee as he pulled up a chair, making Emerald frown until he gestured for her to continue.
"As I was saying, we were planning to clean up your mess of a loose end, but someone was already there and waiting for us, one with a shotgun and another with a strong kick if what Mercury has been saying for the past hour.
"Hey, that shotgun packed a mean punch, I felt like I was hit with a sledgehammer at full swing"
"That and he somehow got a small internal bleeding, nothing his aura couldn't fix"
"Tell me about these two others?" Roman questioned with Emerald thinking back to the bookstore before her eyes widened in remembrance.
"One of them was a monkey Faunus, and the other had a helmet that deepened his voice, he had an accent if I remember" Emerald said with Roman leaning back in the chair.
"And the loose end?" Roman questioned with a knowing smile, which made Emerald scowl in defeat.
"He was nowhere in sight" Emerald said with Roman laughing victoriously as he stood up.
"Oh Cinder will be so angry when she finds out how much you've both screwed up!"
"I don't see you doing anything about your other loose ends!" Mecrury growled with Roman turning to him.
"Now you listen here you little prick, in case you hadn't noticed, I've been working the clock on gaining Dust for your boss, now shut up or I'll-"
"You'll do what, Roman?" turning to Cinder Fall with a look of annoyance Roman spoke.
"I'd punch him in the gut to make his pain worse" Roman said with Cinder narrowing her eyes as they glowed with her stolen maiden's power.
"That would be unwise" Cinder said with Roman rolling his eyes once more as he ordered a White fang grunt around.
"Yeah, I know, and right now I don't care if your angry or not, the fact I saw someone scarier than you and our current Beacon brat I am starting to question who is the top dog in vale right now" Roman said with Cinder glaring at him as the lift sent her down.
"Cinder!" Emerald said excitedly while Mercury tried to stand up, grunting while holding his side Cinder spoke.
"What happened?"
"We were tying a loose end but someone else bet us to it" Emerald said with Cinder frowning at her.
"Explain"
"We got to the store no problem, but the target wasn't there… just two guys, one Faunus the other probably a human, he got me good with his shotgun" mercury said with Cinder looking down in thought.
"A fourth faction against our goal, keep an eye out for these unknowns" Cinder said before she began to leave, with Roman muttering to himself.
"First the brat, than a future brat, and now some unknown, just our day" Roman said with a sigh