Cr00cy, I can't believe they're still here.
Chapter 10
The People We Want To Be
Cinder Fall was a monster.
Jaune Arc knew this.
But what he also knew, what that she was his monster, and he'd fight tooth and nail against anyone that thought that they were going to hurt his family.
Unfortunately, what defending his family to the death currently looked like, was standing awkwardly next to his wife, waiting for a phone call.
He glanced over to her. "How do you even start working for an evil organization? Is there like, a job fair?"
She shot him a look. "Jaune."
"I'm genuinely curious."
"It's complicated."
"Cinder." He deadpanned.
She sighed. "You get recruited mostly, unless you're crazy, and no, I am not crazy." She cut him off as she saw his mouth open for the quip. He shrugged.
"You said her name was Salem? Is she a mob boss or something?"
She gave him a flat look. "If I didn't love you, I'd be insulted. No, she's not a mob boss." She rubbed her temples. "What is that movie you like so much? The where everyone is going on and on about the ring?"
"The Lord of the Rings?"
"Yes, that's the one. She is the eye-thing…except real."
He snorted, and she just stared.
His eyes widened. "Wait…you can't be-"
~ Jewel eyed Judy please come home ~
His Scroll sang out, and he sighed with relief.
"It's Em."
She gave him a look. "Is it now?"
"Don't even-"
~ Jewel eyed Judy don't leave me alone ~
She raised an eyebrow.
"There's not a lot of songs that fit." He grumbled, answering the phone. "Em, are you guys ok!?"
She listened as a familiar voice chatted animatedly out of the speaker.
"Yeah, we're good too. Listen, we've got to stop the attack, are you guys in? It's ok if you're no-"
He winced as the phone exploded in shouting, pulling it away from his ear.
"Ok, ok! I get it! We'll meet you outside of Bane's, see you in a minute." He sighed as he ended the call, smiling at her. "See?"
She shook her head. "They're fools."
"I think you're mispronouncing, 'the best.'" He corrected.
She smiled. "I suppose I am."
~ I see your red door, I want it painted black. No colors anymore, I want them to turn black ~
He perked up. "It's-"
"Adam." She finished for him. "Yes, we both agree that one is perfect."
He smirked as he answered. "Addie! Thanks for calling me back!"
She listened as a clipped voice spoke into her husband's ear, causing him to wince.
"Look, Addie, I'm sorry. I know we're kinda giving you mixed messages here, but I need to talk to you."
The answer was short and firm, just like she knew it would be.
Jaune sighed. "…Not even for a brother of the revolution?"
There was a long silence, followed by another short, somewhat hesitant, response.
"Yes!" Her husband cried, pumping his arm in the air. "Thanks, Addie!"
Her eyes widened. There was no way…
"Yeah, five minutes, I promise. You won't regret it, man. May the fires of the revolution burn forever in your heart too, buddy." He finished cheerily, hanging up with a grin. "We're in!"
She shook her head. "Jaune, how are you even friends with that man? That is Adam Taurus…"
"Yeah, Addie's a sweetheart." He agreed.
"…the most wanted terrorist in Remnant."
"…Addie's mostly a sweetheart."
She sighed. "I suppose it would be hypocritical of me to complain about your taste."
He shrugged. "It's a valid complaint at this point. I mean, next I'm going to find out Bane runs drugs or something ridiculous like that."
"Yes…wouldn't that be something?" She said slowly.
He groaned. "Oh Gods, really?"
"In fairness to him, that puts him on the lower end of the scale." She comforted.
"Is there anyone I know that-"
His Scroll pinged, cutting him short. He looked down at it and nodded.
"Neo's ready for us. Still can't believe she can teleport, that's so cool." He looked up at her. "Are you going to be ok?"
"Of course." She promised.
"Cindy, we need her help." He warned.
"I'm calm, Jaune." She assured him.
"Ok..." he nodded slowly and sent a quick message. A moment later, the small girl popped into existence, causing him to hop back with a yelp. She looked between the two appraisingly, and apparently liking what she found, started clapping her hands together excitedly, a wide grin on her face.
"Smug little bitch!" Cinder roared, as flames exploded into her hands, making the smaller girl dart behind Jaune.
"Cinder, you promised!" He shouted, watching her carefully as the fire died down, and she slowly brought her breathing under control.
"I'm fine, I'm calm." She said in a clipped tone, still glaring at the girl peeking out from behind him.
He sighed. "Gods, do you do the…fire thing, all the time?"
Neo nodded emphatically as she gripped his side, eliciting a growl from the taller woman. He looked down at the girl and shook his head.
"Sorry, it's been a long day. Maybe tone it down a bit though?"
She gave an exasperated sigh and stepped away from him, though not far enough to give his wife a clear target. She looked up at him and started signing excitedly.
He nodded. "We're…working through it. Thanks, by the way."
She smiled and bobbed her head up and down.
"We kinda need a favor though." He explained. "Can you do the…teleport thing and take us to our friends? I don't think the car's a great idea at the moment." He cocked his head to the side. "Is it teleporting?"
She shrugged, and began tapping a finger on her chin, before perking up and signing at him again.
He nodded. "Sure, that sounds fair, whatever you want."
"What did she say?" Cinder snapped.
He sighed. "She wants a favor in return."
"The fucking gall-"
"Cinder," he cut her off, "it's ok, it can't be that bad."
The multicolored girl grinned at that.
"Besides, we're out of options, we need this. Pack in the anger for a minute, it's not her fault."
The dark-haired woman scoffed. "Fine."
He ran a hand through his hair and looked back to Neo. "It's Bane's place, you know it?"
She gave him a thumbs up.
"Great, just give me a second." He said, walking over to the wall, where Crocea Mors hung on its place above his chair. He gently, reverently, lifted the weapon off its rack, pulling the gleaming blade part way out of its sheath to inspect it for a moment, before slamming it home again, nodding to himself and tying it to his waist. He looked back to Neo, "ok, how do we do the-" was as far as he got, before he was staring at the bright neon of Bane's restaurant instead of his living room. "Whoa," he said, stunned.
Neo tittered silently at the inadvertent praise, making a theatrical bow that earned an eye roll from Cinder, before she shifted her gaze back to the darkened street, scanning both ways, and feeling her pulse start to rise when she saw no one waiting on them.
"Jaune…" She started, shifting nervously.
"They'll be here, they promised." He comforted.
"That doesn't mean the same thing to everyone else as it does to you, my love."
"Cindy…" his hand found hers, giving it a small squeeze, "they promised."
"Yeah, whose husband would Em try to move in on if we double crossed you guys?" A voice called from the dark.
"Fuck you, Merc."
"Hey, don't bring me into your weird fantasies."
Cinder tensed as the two tired, but familiar, figures stepped out of the darkness, while Jaune's face split into a grin.
"Hey guys."
"Hi, Jaune."
"What's up, bro?"
He shook his head. "You two are some real assholes, you know that?"
Mercury shuffled his feet nervously, "look man, it's not that we wanted-"
He cut the silver-haired man off, as he grabbed him and Emerald, pulling them into a warm embrace. "Thanks for coming." He whispered.
Mercury smiled as he patted his friend's back. "Wouldn't miss it."
"Yeah," Emerald said, squeezing his shoulder. "What are friends for? Now, what exactly are we all dying for again?"
He laughed as he pulled away. "You two would know better than me."
Emerald opened her mouth to respond, but Neo hopped into the space between them, angrily pointing and signing at the two.
"Neo! It's ok!" Jaune comforted, placing a hand on the small girl's shoulder. "There's no need for that kind of language."
"What'd she say?" Merc asked.
"You don't want to know." Jaune assured him.
"Was it about my dad? Cause if so, fire away."
"I think we're getting off track." Emerald groaned, looking over to Cinder. "What's going on? What happened?"
"Watts found out about Jaune and the baby. He's been blackmailing me for the past week, making me his personal hitman in exchange for keeping our secret." The dark-haired woman provided with a sneer.
"Gods, what an asshole."
"Yes," she agreed. "And while not ideal, the situation was under control-"
Neo snorted at that, earning another glare from the woman.
"-until a certain someone decided to murder the man following Jaune."
Mercury shot the small girl a thumbs up, while Emerald just shook her head.
"Wait, how'd he find out in the first place?"
Neo gave Cinder a knowing look, which the taller woman carefully ignored.
"Could have been anything, we'll never know for sure." She lied.
Mercury shrugged. "Ok, but what do we do about it now? I mean, we're pretty much finished with the preparations for the Fang to start moving forward with the attack."
"We need to get to Adam." Jaune said. "If we can convince him to call off the attack on Beacon, then there's hope we can stop the whole thing."
Mercury blinked at the blond. "Oh…so, we're all going to die then, that's cool too."
Jaune scoffed. "Addie's not that bad."
"Yes, he is." Three voices and someone signing chorused.
He rolled his eyes. "Well, if you all have any other suggestions..."
"Run."
"Running is good."
"Best plan I've heard all night."
"…that don't involve running away from our problems, then I'm all ears." He finished with a flat look.
Mercury ran a hand through his hair. "I feel like you kinda painted us into a corner with that last bit. That's really our thing."
"That is painfully accurate." Emerald agreed.
Cinder scoffed. "I don't know if I'd put it that way-"
Jaune sighed. "Cindy, how long have you been avoiding telling me about yourself?"
"-But I concede your point. This is the plan, suicide pact though it may be. Are you in or out?"
The two shrugged, and Emerald spoke up. "Sure, let's go talk to Adam, it went so well the last time."
Jaune's eyes narrowed. "What happened last time?"
"Ask her." Em offered, gesturing to Cinder, who winced.
She coughed. "I may have threatened his loved ones."
"Oh goddammit, Cinder."
"He was talking about you!" She defended.
"In a bad way?" He asked.
"…he was talking about you." She mumbled.
He ran a hand down his face. "Cool, anyone else have any good news they want to share before we go try to talk Addie off a ledge? Merc, did you shoot his dog by any chance?"
"Nope, I think you're up to speed, bro."
"Super." The blond drawled.
"How are we getting there?" Emerald cut in. "Watts will have people out on the streets by now."
"That, I have an answer for." Jaune stated proudly, stepping back and motioning to Neo. "Neo makes for a great ride."
Then green-haired girl snorted, and Mercury grinned.
"I'm sure, but how are we going to get there?" He teased.
"You're hilarious, truly." Cinder deadpanned. "The imp has agreed to help us."
"Sounds like she did more than-"
"It has been a long day, Mercury, do you really want to push this?" She warned.
He straightened at that, fighting to keep the smile off his face. "I'm good."
"Are you?" Jaune asked with a small smile.
"Good is a relative term." Emerald assured him.
He shook his head. "You guys ready for this?"
"No…" Emerald started.
"…But fuck it." Mercury finished.
The blond nodded, took his wife's hand in his, and linked the other with Neo. The other two moved in and join the circle, and they all blinked out of existence together.
When they appeared again, it was in front of a large, grey steel building with tall rolling doors and small, high glass windows in Vale's dock district.
"Holy shit." Mercury articulated.
"I know, right?" Jaune agreed.
Emerald rolled her eyes. "It's not that cool."
"I agree." Cinder added.
"Em, your Semblance envy is showing. Though, I guess green is your color."
Neo snickered at that.
"You are a riot. Have you considered stand-up? You might do alright, you know, if you can get your feet underneath you." She slapped in head in mock realization. "Oh, wait.."
Neo clutched her sides in silent laughter, as Jaune looked between the two in confusion, before looking to his wife for help. She just shook her head.
"Best not to ask, my love. They were broken when I got them."
He shrugged. "Well, no time like the present I guess. Do you guys have like, a secret password or…"
"No, but then, I've never shown up in middle of the night demanding a meeting, so who knows."
He sighed and motioned towards an open roll-up bay door. "Let's go say 'hi' then."
The sight of five humans walking into a White Fang base of operations without any formal announcement went over about as well as could be expected. Almost as soon as they cleared the tall door, the air was filled with the sound of gasps, wooden crates being dropped on concrete, and rounds being chambered, as dozens of Grimm masked faces locked in on them. Jaune resolved to defuse the situation as best he could.
"Hi, we're looking for Addie." He announced to the room with a wave. "Has anyone seen him?" When he was met with silence, he decided a description might help. "Red hair, kinda broody, real fond of the color black. Almost like a daytime tv vampire, really."
"That's a perfect fucking description." Someone mumbled from the crowd.
"Who wants to know?" A voice called, as giant of a man, Grimm mask in place and hefting a massive chainsaw, pushed his way through the crowd towards them.
The blond straightened. "Oh, sorry about that. I'm Jaune, it's nice to-"
"Well, 'Jaune,' I think you made a mistake coming here. A grave one." The man spat. "No human and his assorted whor-"
"Listen." Jaune cut him off. "I'll admit I'm super new at this, but I think it'd probably be for the best if you stopped there."
"Jaune, don't be rude." Cinder chastised him, fire in her eyes and ice in her voice. "Let this gentlemen finish his thought. We're all entitled to last words."
Neo nodded cheerily in agreement beside her.
"I would prefer it if you did not kill my lieutenant, thank you." A voice called from the back of the room, causing a sea of heads to turn, and Jaune to let out a breath of relief.
"Addie." He said with a smile, as the man made his way through the crowd to them.
"Hello, Jaune." The dark man greeted. "And for the record, I still think black is cool."
"I know you do, buddy," he laughed. "How you doing?"
"Stressed." He admitted. "It has been a trying couple of weeks."
"Lady troubles?" The blond asked sympathetically.
The faunus hummed. "No, actually. Your councilor friend, while…unorthodox, was helpful."
"Yeah, Bane's a good dude…well, I think so, it's honestly pretty hazy at this point."
Adam nodded, flicking a glance over to Cinder and her sleek, black catsuit.
"Ah, I see that your woman's…proclivities lean in the same direction that Blake's do. Tell me, how do you deal with the soreness?"
Jaune stared at him in confusion. "Wait, what? Addie, what are you talking about? Why are you…oh!" The blond said as he glanced back at his wife, and the lightbulb went off. He coughed and blushed. "That's not really our thing. Not that there's anything wrong with that!" He quickly added.
"Oh."
"I do like the catsuit, though." He scowled. "Wait, is that offensive? Cause it's not like a faunus fetish or anything, it's just cause…" He trailed off.
The two men stared at each other in silence for a moment, before Adam broke it.
"I would very much like if we could start this conversation again."
"Sold." The blond agreed gratefully.
"What was it that you wanted to talk about, Jaune?"
"Addie, it's about the attack, it's got to stop." Jaune pleaded, motioning towards the room full of armed men and women. "All of this has got to stop."
The dark man sighed. "I can understand why you might feel that way, Jaune, but no. If there is a lesson that has been hammered home for me, it is that there is only one way to make people understand your pain, and that's by sharing it with them." His gaze flicked over to Cinder. "Your wife understands that very well."
"She was scared, Addie."
"Aren't we all?"
"Addie, she's pregnant."
The man balked. "I…congratulations."
Jaune smiled. "Thanks, man. Yeah, I know Cindy went off the rails, but it was because someone threatened our family, so she did what she thought she had to." He shook his head. "And look where that's gotten us, she's doing something she doesn't want to, and you're about to do the same."
The faunus hummed. "Jaune, just because I don't want to do it, doesn't mean that it's not what's right for my people. This is our chance to do something that matters, and yes, it is truly heinous, but it'll make people afraid. Perhaps, in their fear, they'll be a little more hesitant to step on us while building their 'better tomorrow.'"
"Does Blake believe that?" He shot back.
The dark man looked at him appraisingly for a moment. "…She will, in time. Her safety will be guaranteed, that's what matters for now. I will deal with the fallout of my actions on my own terms." Again, he looked back to the dark-haired woman. "As must we all."
Jaune shook his head. "Addie, you know that's not how people work."
The red-head scoffed. "Fear is what drives men, it always has been, and always will be."
"But it doesn't have to be!" Jaune half-shouted, causing shifting in the ranks of the Fang, which Adam stilled with a hand, allowing him to continue. "I'm scared, you're scared, Cindy's scared! We're all fucking terrified, Addie, and I don't see anybody about to put down their arms." He shook his head again. "I can't begin to imagine what you went through to get here, but I bet it was excruciating. I know that it's got to eat at you, the thought that someone might get away with it, that they could hurt you like that and walk away unscathed."
The dark man before him refused to meet his eyes, as his wife and friends shifted uncomfortably behind him.
"But if you go through with this, setting aside the fact that that makes you just like them, think about what happens next. Hundreds, if not thousands, are going to die, and somewhere in those burning ruins, in those ashes, there's going to be a child that's just lost everything. Do you think that he's going to be thinking about a peaceful future because he's scared, or do think there's going to be something darker in his heart? Who do you think that boy grows up to be, Addie? Cause I think I'm looking at him."
"And what would you have me do!?" His friend snapped. "Nothing? Let the sins of the past go unaccounted for?"
"Of course not." Jaune answered calmly. "I'm just asking that just this once, just for today, we decide not to be afraid, to not let fear decide for us. Not to lash out because it feels right. We know how that story ends, and I think we're all tired of it. Let's write a new ending to this one, together." Jaune gave his friend a weak smile. "I need you to trust me, Addie. To believe in me, like I believe in you."
"…Jaune." He started.
The sound of loud applause filled the large, deathly silent room, and all heads whipped around to find the source. Watts stood in the middle of the entrance of the large, roll up door, grinning from ear to ear, a couple of dozen hard faced men and women in battered, white armor standing behind him, their various weapons raised, with the two closest to the man pointing directly at Jaune.
"Oh bravo, sir!" He laughed and whistled. "Encore! Encore! Please, don't stop your little speech on my account."
"Watts." Cinder growled. "I see you found us."
He scoffed. "Please, as if it was some great feat of detective work. You were always either going to run, in which case we'd hunt you down like a dog, or you were going to try to spit in my eye one last time." He shrugged. "I will say, I expected you to be a bit smarter than this. If you had just done as I'd instructed, you could have at least had a few more months before I leaked your little secret to our Queen."
Jaune took a step towards the man. "You're the one who threatened my wife and child?"
"And they said you were dense. To answer your question, yes, I am the one and only Arthur Watts." The man took a theatrical bow. "But please, we're all friends here, call me Arty."
"That 'being the bigger man,' speech doesn't apply to you." The blond said coldly. "You're fair game."
"Hoho! The puppy has teeth!" The older man shook his head. "Not that it'll matter though. Your friend, 'Addie,' knows what's best for his people. He knows what's going to happen if they don't take action now. The same thing that's been happening in Atlas for decades. Isn't that right, Addie?"
Jaune turned back to look at his friend, and the faunus looked away, refusing to meet his gaze.
Watts cackled. "There's a smart lad. Oh, I forgot to introduce you to my friends!" He said, motioning to the crowd of soldiers behind him. "These are some of my comrades from Atlas that defected with me when the council didn't approve of our 'unethical practices.' They're all ex-Specialists, Aura unlocked and veterans of some of Atlas' less talked about conflicts, that agreed to help me come deal with you all. Awful considerate of them in my opinion."
"You bastard." Cinder snarled. "I'll-"
He tsked. "You'll do nothing. You're outnumbered and outgunned, 'Cindy.' But, if you cooperate, and come with me quietly, I may be persuaded to leave your prince charming alive."
"She's not going anywhere." Jaune shot back.
Watts turned to the man on his left. "If that one speaks again, be a chum and put one through his heart."
"No!" Cinder shrieked, glancing nervously between the two men. "I'll do it. I'll go back with you."
Watts smiled wide. "There, now you're using your head. Well, let's-"
"Wait." Adam said, drawing all eyes to him. "I'd speak to Cinder Fall one last time, before she disappears into your black bag."
Watts considered the faunus for a moment, before shrugging. "As you will, 'partner.' Just make it quick, I don't have all night."
Adam nodded. "Thank you." He said, reaching up and pulling off his mask as he made his way over to her. "I feel the need to look into your eyes when I say this." He explained, as he came to a stop in front of her, his emerald eyes boring into her amber ones. "Not long ago, you held me at your mercy, much like I do you now. Do you remember?"
She remained silent as she stared daggers at him.
"Do you remember?" He asked again.
"Yes." She hissed.
"I remember you asked me a question. Maybe you don't remember, but I do. You asked me about love. What was it you said?"
"…That is was paradoxical."
He nodded. "Yes, you told me that love is strange, because it both sets you free, and yet makes you a slave. I thought about those words long and hard, Cinder Fall. I thought about them, because you threatened the life of the one that I love when you said them."
Watts snorted. "Always making friends, aren't we?"
Adam ignored him. "I thought about them, but I decided that you were mistaken. You see, you kept telling me that love had made me a slave, just like you, but I have been a slave, or near to one. I have seen it my entire life, called by gentler names, and this does not feel like slavery to me. So, here is my question. Do you know why it doesn't feel that way, Cinder Arc?" Her eyes widened as he leaned in close, practically whispering in her ear. "It doesn't feel like slavery because you get what you want."
He rounded in a blur, his blade a flash as he drew it, sending a beam of red energy into one of the men aiming at Jaune, cleaving him in two, as Cinder's obsidian knife buried itself in the throat of his companion. Watts' eyes widened in shock as the blood splattered onto his face.
"Kill them! Kill them all!" Watts shouted, and the room became a whirlwind of violence. White Fang rifles spoke, spitting fire down into the ranks of Watts' men, the ex-Specialist returned fire with equal vigor, tearing faunus from their places atop shipping crates and behind loading equipment. Emerald and Mercury formed a protective circle before Jaune, as Neo, Adam, and Cinder leapt forward into the melee. Watts grabbed his lieutenant by the collar and pulled him close, yelling above the gunfire.
"Keep Cinder pinned down, I'll grab the boy." He growled, throwing the man away as he pulled his own weapons out. His trench spikes, two sets of brass knuckles with a long, wicked looking blades extending out from beneath. He grinned as he started to make his way towards boy, it had been such a long time since he'd gotten to get his hands dirty. The first Fang member that got in his way met a predictable end, a quick slice of the blade across his throat. He resolved to make the second one a bit more interesting, and broke his orbital bone with a quick hook, before snapping his neck. Sadly, it almost seemed like it was going to be TOO easy; he was already halfway to the boy before the silver-haired brat appeared before him, gently bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Come now, boy. Be a good little survivor and join the winning team." He offered.
Mercury tsked. "Yeah, not a big fan of being called 'boy.'"
"Perhaps you prefer, 'dead man?'" He growled back.
The mercenary smiled. "Yeah, that's more like it. Oh, and just so you know…" his smile grew into a grin. "You're gonna get Merc'd."
The silver-haired man tore off from the ground, sending a blast from his leg directly at the older man's face, before delivering a punishing kick to his liver as he raised his hands to block. Watts grunted as he hunched over, swiping a blade at the kickboxer's face that he leaned back to avoid, while kicking out the scientist's knee, stumbling him. Watts growled as he threw a quick combination of punches at the boy that he danced back to avoid.
"You're slow, old man." Mercury taunted.
"Keep talking, boy. I've been killing since before you were born." Watts spat. "I'll teach you how we fight in the old country."
"Bring it on, old timer."
Watts roared as he charged, firing a crisp combination of punches that Mercury caught on his arms, before driving a knee into the older man's stomach. Watts bent double, waiting for Mercury to move in again, before whipping his head up, driving his skull into the silver-haired man's nose. The mercenary cursed as he stumbled back, barely avoiding the slash meant for his throat.
"Not so cocky now, are we, brat?"
Mercury wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand. "You hit like my old man." He spat on the ground. "My old man hit like a bitch."
"Like father, like son, then."
The two men snarled as they leapt in again, a blur of kicks and blades as each tried to find an edge. Mercury's speed and athleticism met with Watts' craft and years of battle-hardened brutality, dancing and cutting around each other as blood began to flow from a dozen wounds. Watts pressed forward, trying to corner and limit the young fighter, as Mercury carefully circled, keeping his angles of escape open as he picked at the man with sharp kicks.
"Slowing down, you fucking geezer?"
Watts grunted as shot out a jab, and the younger man dipped out of the way, snatching the older man's wrist as he went. He jerked Watts off balance, pulling the man towards him as he fired a round from his leg, pistoning his knee up into the older man's chin, which slammed closed with a crack as he tumbled backwards onto the ground in a heap.
Mercury took in deep breaths as he looked down on the man. "It's over. Call off the goons, and I'll make it quick." He promised.
Watts attempted to laugh, before turning his head and spitting blood and a few teeth onto the ground.
"Well, you're right about that, boy. The only part you got wrong, is where you think you've won."
Mercury tsked. "You're delusional."
"Undoubtedly, but do you know how I became Atlas' top scientist?" He smiled up at the boy, his mouth a mess of blood. "My Semblance, technomancy."
The boy stared at him blankly. "You're good at house music?"
"What? No! I control machines, you imbecile!"
"Oh." He said, before his eyes widened. "Oh!"
Watts laughed. "My apologies to the engineer…" He said, as the chambers in Mercury's legs first jammed, and then attempted to fire, blowing them apart at the shins, and sending the youth to the ground with a blood curdling scream. "…It was an elegant design," Watts finished as he found his feet, making his way toward the mercenary with his knife at the ready. "You were fast, boy, I'll give you that. Took me longer than it should have to realize those legs weren't real." He continued, as Mercury rolled on the ground, clutching at his legs. "But now you're finished." He raised his blade in the air, grinning as he prepared to bring it down on the defenseless man, and-
Crack.
His head whipped around as something slammed home, sending him stumbling away from the mercenary. When he shook his head to clear it, and looked back towards the scene, he saw a blond-haired man standing over Mercury, his simple blade drawn and shield at the ready.
"Get away from my friend." Jaune Arc growled.
Watts stared at the boy in disbelief, before exploding into laughter.
"You? Fight me? Oh, today just keeps on giving." He chuckled, before waving the knight on. "Come on then, boy, let's see how your missus fairs when she's listening to your screams." He taunted.
The blond knight shot forth with a yell, sword already in full swing. Watts tsked, such a clumsy assault. His hand shot out, brass knuckled ready to crush the boy's nose…and passed straight through the blond's head.
"What the-"
The man cried out as he felt the boy's blade slam into him again, knocking him back. He growled and slashed out as the knight's eyes, watching in confusion as the boy faded and appeared again, a foot to left, bashing his shield into his face, sending him reeling once again.
Dammit, but how!? Watts thought desperately, watching the boy carefully as he circled. His eyes widened as he caught sight of the scene beyond the boy. There stood Cinder's green-haired apprentice, a dead Specialist at her feet and her sickle blades locked with another, staring at them intently. No, not them, at him. His distraction almost cost him, as the blond's blade slashed past his head again, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
So, that's it then.
Now he just had to find a way to use the knowledge. His eyes traveled to the shuddering form of the silver-haired mercenary, and there it was. He slashed half-heartedly at the boy, forcing him to draw back as he leapt around him, half diving at Mercury's prone form. He extended his blades and waited...
The wet noise the blades made as they dug into the young knight's chest as he dove between him and his friend were every bit as satisfying as he imagined it would be. The boy stared dumbly down at the inches of cold steel buried into his chest, as if not believing what he was seeing. He vaguely heard the green-haired girl scream in the background, as he leaned forward and whispered to the boy.
"Do you feel like a hero now?"
He had expected the boy to crumble, to weep, to break. What he had not expected, was the feeling of teeth sinking into and tearing at his ear. He roared as he pulled back, wrenching his blades free, and dropping the knight, and a bit of his ear, to the floor.
"You wretch!" He seethed, holding a hand to the side of his head. "I will make you suffer!" He promised, surging forward to finish the boy, blade raised high. His advance was halted when he met with a long, slender blade pointed at his throat, leading down to a pair of hard, mismatched eyes. Neo's bloodstain visage, none of it hers, stared up at him for a moment before sneering and popping out of existence, along with the two young men.
"No!" He growled in frustration, his prize gone. It was then that he heard a sound that chilled him to the bone.
"Jaune?"
His gaze snapped over to Cinder Fall, surrounded by three weary Specialist, several more already dead at her feet, her own gaze locked on another scene, Neo and Emerald hunched over the bleeding forms of Mercury and her husband.
"You fools!" He shouted. "Finish her, before-"
The sound that escaped Cinder Fall's lips in that moment, he could describe in a multitude of ways. Haunting, terrifying, heart-wrenching, if he were so inclined, but human...human was certainly not among them.
Her eyes erupted into flames, and the Specialists surrounding her literally melted away. He watched in horror and fascination as she rose into the air, flames encircling her as she raged, torrents of fire snaking out like elemental tendrils and consuming men and women as she pointed, oblivious to the rounds that melted away before reaching her. He had never felt anything like this before. He could see the air around her dance and shimmer from the heat, could see the steel beams melt away like wax when her flames touched them, could feel the very air in the room becoming scarce as she consumed it to fuel her insatiable bloodlust. She was a goddess of wrath, sweeping aside seasoned veterans with Aura like toys in her search. Her search for him, he thought, his heart seizing in his chest. He slowly moved backward, ducking behind a wall of crates, before quickly making his way towards the exit, and disappearing into the night. Some fools may have called it cowardice, and perhaps they were right, but he had learned long ago that cowards tended to live longer.
Across the room, a very different scene was playing out. Emerald desperately pressed her hands down on Jaune's open wounds, trying in vain to slow the bleeding, as Neo circled the three of them, her blade drawn and ready to defend them.
"Come on, Jaune! I need you to stay with me!" She shouted down at him.
"Is…is Merc…" He mumbled.
"Merc's fine! He's doing great, you saved him!" She comforted. "Now come on, you gotta stay awake!"
"…really tired…" He complained.
"Fuck that! You're going to be a father, Jaune! You remember!?"
"I-I'm a…dad?" He whispered, shaking his head some.
"Yes! Come on, stay awake!" She pleaded.
Adam grunted as he stumbled over to them, his left arm hanging limply by his side.
"We've got to get him up."
"Oh really!? I hadn't noticed, thanks asshole!" Emerald shrieked at him, tears streaking down her face.
He flinched back, before shaking his head. "You don't understand," he said, nodding towards Cinder, fresh tendrils of flames streaking off her and whipping around the room indiscriminately, the flames setting the building alight. "She's out of it, she'll kill us all if this goes on. She's got to snap out of it, she's got to see he's ok."
"Does he fucking look ok!?" She shouted, before whispering back to Jaune. "You're ok honey, you're gonna be fine."
"Move." He commanded.
"Fuck you." She shot back.
"I can save him." He promised.
"How?" She demanded, unmoved.
"I'm going to unlock his Aura."
Her eyes widened. "The shock will kill him!"
He swallowed, looking a the blond's still bleeding wounds. "…then I'll have saved him some pain."
She stared at him for a long moment, before slowly shifting back. "You screw this up, and you won't have to worry about Cinder." She promised.
He nodded and moved into position, placing his hand on the blond's forehead. "Jaune, if you can hear me, this is going to hurt, flow with the pain, not against it." He instructed.
"…ungh…"
He closed his eyes and reached out for the life that was Jaune Arc, starting the chant his master had taught him as he laid dying in a back alley a lifetime ago.
"For it is through strength that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a symbol of power and glory to rise above all. Infinite in fury and ultimately bound by death, I release your soul, and pass my pride onto thee."
He felt a surge of power explode outward from the knight, and he winced. That much power being released in such a fragile state…he moved his hand down to Jaune's neck searching for a pulse, and felt nothing. He bowed his head as her heard the girl gasp behind him and felt the heat of Cinder's flames grow closer. It was over.
And then, suddenly, miraculously, he heard a second gasp. He stared down in disbelief as he watched the blond's eyes pop open, looking around in a panic as a white glow covered his body. He snatched the knight's wrists before he could reach for his wounds, as they both watched in amazement as they slowly sealed shut.
"Jaune!" Emerald shouted, pushing him out of the way and wrapping her arms around the knight.
"Em…need…air!" He grunted.
She shot backwards. "I'm sorry! Oh Gods, Jaune, are you-"
"I think so." He said weakly, giving her a smile smile, before looking over to Adam. "Addie, I-"
"There is no need. How do you feel?"
The blond chuckled. "I feel like that was the edgiest shit I've ever heard. Where did you get that? A poisoned fortune cookie?"
The dark man smiled despite himself. "An old friend."
"Wish I could've met him."
"As do I, but we have more pressing concerns," he said, pointing up to the raging Maiden. "Namely, your wife killing us all."
"Who, Cindy? She's harmless." He joked.
"Jaune!" Emerald shouted.
"Ok, ok." He grumbled, propping himself up with Adam's help, and looking towards the sky. "Cindy!"
She ignored him, gouts of flame slamming into the walls of the warehouse and punching holes in them, causing the whole structure to shake and rattle.
"Baby!" He shouted again, watching as faunus dove from flimsy cover to flimsy cover as she consumed all in her path, the very air he was breathing becoming difficult to take in because of the heat, leaving him panting. He had to break through to her.
"Hey pretty lady, what's say we cut this date night short? I've got a couch you might like that we can break in!"
Cinder Fall's head whipped around, and the flames died in her hands in a instant.
"Jaune?" She whispered, slowly lowering to the ground.
"Last time I checked." He said with a smile.
She was on him in an instant, arms wrapped tightly around him, and tears of relief flowing freely down her face.
"I hated that goddamn couch." She whispered.
"I know you did, baby." He whispered back.
"Jaune, I was so-"
He silenced her with a finger to the lips. "You got scared, it's ok. We all get scared."
She pulled back, scanning over him. "Are you alright, my love?"
He smiled. "Thanks to Addie and Em…and Merc…and Neo…it was really a team effort." He decided on.
She scoffed. "You are hard to keep alive."
"You probably should have just gotten a goldfish or a puppy, easier to deal with."
"And deal with living through a dog movie? Not on your life."
Adam looked over to Emerald.
"When I tell this story, this part will be different."
"Probably for the best." She agreed, before looking over to the couple. "Uh, guys…"
"Merc!" Jaune shouted, as he drug himself over to mercenary. "Merc, can you hear me!?" He shouted, gently shaking his friend.
"Gods, bro, I'm legless, not earless." He complained, popping open one eye. "Did you bite Watts' ear off, by the way?"
"I mean…a little."
"Fucking metal."
Jaune laughed. "What about you? You've got metal legs!"
The silver-haired man winced. "Yeah, I don't usually like to-"
"It's the coolest thing I've ever seen."
The mercenary stared up at him for a moment, then blinked, a small smile finding its way to his face. "…thanks, bro. That means a lot, more than you know."
Adam sighed, looking around at the wreckage of his base of operations, his Fang operatives stumbling around in a shocked daze. "Not to bring down the mood, but since my fate is now tied with yours, what comes next?"
"Welcome to the team." Jaune said, as he smiled tiredly. "Well, first, Neo is going to take us all to the hospital…"
The multicolored girl cocked her head at him.
"…because she's amazing."
That earned him a grin and a nod.
"And what then?" Adam questioned.
"Then?" Jaune laughed. "I've got to talk to Bro-Roman." He ran a hand through his hair. "Then we're going to where this all started."
"I don't understand, my love." Cinder said.
He took her hand in his and smiled.
"We're going to Beacon. I've got a Headmaster to talk to."
The Chase
The ship cuts through the water with a speed previously unknown to us, as the true mast stands firm and bright in the center of the vessel, carrying us on.
The Bear of Black and White and the Amorous Father dance along the ropes, unfurling the sails to their fullest, positioning them to catch the most wind possible.
We have a ship to catch, after all.
I stare through me spyglass, catching sight of the stern of 'Stress Relief' as it bounces up and down on the swells of the sea.
"Can you see it, sir?" I hear to boy ask from beside me.
"Aye, boy." I answer, handing him the glass. "See there? On the horizon." I instruct, as he places the instrument to his eye.
"I see her!" He cries excitedly, leaning over the rail of the ship.
"There's a smart lad."
"But, sir." He says, slowly lowering the glass. "Why do we give chase? Will there be a battle?"
I laughed. "I don't think so, lad."
He looks around the deck in confusion. "But, sir, the crew, they prepare for war." He points to two hard men. "Mr. Graves and the Fallen Paladin distribute arms as we speak!"
"Aye, I don't dispute it, lad. There maybe violence, but that is not why we chase."
"Then why, sir?" He motions towards the ship. "Why all of this?"
I laugh and tussle his hair. "Because it's fun, and because I'm a bit mad." I finish with a wink, before pointing back towards the 'Stress Relief.'
"Look at it, boy. Truly look at it. See its masterful design? How the beams are shaped just so? How the sails catch the wind almost perfectly? How strong the mast stands?"
He nods. "I do, sir."
"Coeur is a masterful shipwright, lad. I marvel at his designs, but…" I chuckled lightly. "...they also stir a fire inside me. Every time I see that ship cut through the waves, I think, 'I can do better, I WILL do better,' and so I start to build."
"Do you hate him then, sir?" The boy ask.
I scoff. "There is no anger between us, boy. He builds his fleet, and as I stare at his back, I decide that one day I'll show him mine, that is all. His ships inspire me to design my own, as I hope that mine one day will to the next shipwright."
The boy nods. "I think I understand, sir."
I clap him on the shoulder. "That is good, lad, for we are in the home stretch now! Look at how Crooc feeds the crew, ensuring their strength for what might come. How Demy watches for our enemies upon the sea from his place on high. How Burk instructs the Captain, and how the Captain instructs us all. We will push on, boy, because we believe. Tell me lad, what do you believe?"
"Sir, I believe we're closing the distance." He whispers.
I grin as the stern of our sister ship grows ever closer.
"Lad, I do believe you're right."
Neo's Do Over
Roman Torchwick was a busy man, running a criminal empire demanded such. However, he'd only gotten to the top of the heap by making the time to address treats when they arose, and there was currently a threat that needed to be addressed immediately.
Neo had been quiet for over an hour.
Now, that might sound silly to some, but that's just because they didn't really know his partner. Neo abhorred silence, much to everyone else's dismay. The girl was constantly in search of distraction, which usually turned out the be bloody or expensive...for him at least. She was like a Beowolf with a serious case of ADD on most days, and yet, she'd been sitting at his desk for an hour, tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth, scribbling in her heart covered notebook. That couldn't be good. He slowly walked over to the desk, trying to get a peak at the notebook.
"What you working on, Hellion?"
She snatched the book to her chest in an instant, glaring at him suspiciously.
He sighed. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what it is."
She stirred a little at that, placing a finger to her lips and making a shushing motion.
He rolled his eyes. "Yes, I'll keep it a secret."
She signed at him.
He held up a hand. "I promise. Now, what is it?"
She grinned mischievously, and setting down the notebook, reached beneath the desk and pulled out two figurines. A bride and a groom wedding toppers.
His eyes widened. "Neo, where did you get those!?"
She looked down at the two figurines in confusion for a moment, before shrugging.
"Is there cake still on those?" He asked incredulously.
She licked the unknown substance off the bottom of one of the figures and nodded in confirmation.
"Neo, I-...how-" He ran a hand down his face. "Actually, no, I don't want to know the how or the where, let's just skip to why. Why do you have wedding figures?"
She dropped the two figures and passed the notebook to him, a far too pleased smile on her face. He winced as her started to read.
"'Blondie and Fire Bitch's Perfect Wedding?' Neo, who are-" His almost dropped the notebook in realization. "No way!"
She clapped excitedly in response.
"Neo, they're already married!"
She scoffed and signed at him.
"I know you weren't there!"
She nodded and signed again.
"No, that doesn't mean that it doesn't count!"
She huffed and started signing more quickly, at least half of it nonsense gang-signs.
"What? No, you can't own people!"
She rolled her eyes and mouthed, 'ok,' sarcastically.
He shook his head. "Gods, Neo, why do you even want to do this?"
She pointed excitedly at the paper in his hands, which he began to read with a sigh.
"Six ring fire circus at intermission?" He lowered the notebook and looked at her. "Neo, there's so much wrong with that sentence that I'm not sure where to start."
She sighed and motioned for him to continue.
"Piranha dunk tank...participants to be decided by lottery." He sighed. "Well, I'm sure that breaks about five different laws, but at least you're being fair, I suppose."
She cocked her head at him and pointed down. He looked to the paper again.
"Note to self, make sure to rig the lotto against Crop-Top and Stilts." He chuckled. "Ok, that sounds more like you."
She beamed proudly.
"But I think they like those two." He offered.
She huffed and mouthed, 'fine.'
"Milkshake and Vodka fountain." He hummed. "Ok, I'll give you that one."
She nodded in appreciation.
"Ursa riding competition? Neo, that's not even a thing."
She signed at him angrily.
He tsked. "No, I don't believe you. It's not real."
She rolled her eyes and pointed down again. He shook his head and skipped to the end of the very long list. His eyes widened when he got there.
"Neo, no." He said, firmly.
She nodded in defiance.
"One, hell no. Two, it's not your decision. Three, hell no."
She hopped up on the desk and stared him down.
"You're not having a, 'bouquet battle royal to the death,' especially when the prize is me." He said, meeting her glare.
She didn't even bother with real signs this time, but he caught the gist.
"No, I'm not that old! I've got plenty of time!"
She tsked and started in again.
"I don't care that the winner will have strong genes! I'm not a pet, you can't breed me!"
She had a good laugh at that, mouthing, 'sure,' as she hopped off the table and made her way to the door, patting his arm as she passed.
"Neo? Neo, I'm serious!" He called after her. "Neo, don't you dare! I agree to nothing!"
Today was going to be a very long day, he decided.