The following is a non-profit, fan-made work of fiction. RWBY and Iron Man are the respective trademarked properties of Rooster Teeth Productions, LLC and Marvel Entertainment, LLC. Please support their respective franchises and releases. This means I own jack, so don't sue me, it's all for fun. (And practice, I just wanna be a better writer.)
Due to circumstances beyond my control, this chapter's release was moved from 8/20 to 8/23. Adulting is hard.
Also, before reading this chapter, please read the previous one, as it has been updated.
Here's the updated release schedule (Dates may change due to circumstances):
Update 9/12/22: Dates changed due to circumstance... *dissapointed sigh*
The Invincible Whitley Schnee Chapter 27 (Current word count: 0/?)
Update: To be released September 30th, 2022.
The Assassin's Creed: Revenant's Chapter 5 (Current word count: 0/5000)
To be released September 30th, 2022.
The Invincible Whitley Schnee Chapter 28 (Current word count: 0/?)
To be released October, 2022.
Something in The Way Chapter 1 [Whitley-Centric Batman/ Rwby story] (Current word count: 0/?)
To be released October 31st, 2022.
Untitled Whitley-centric Fairy Tail/ Rwby story
Release date yet to be determined.
Something Strange (Ghostbusters/MHA story)
This story is currently on Hiatus.
The Invincible Whitley Schnee
Chapter 22: Surprise, Surprise!
September 2, 2008 KC
Mantle, Cheadle Street
11:30 AM
Since yesterday evening, the city's road crews worked hard to free their city from cold vice grip of Solitan weather. People took to the sidewalks with snow shovels. Trucks fitted with snowplows cleared the streets. But not all hands were on deck, unfortunately. After the much-publicized battle between Blizzard and Iron Man, half of their numbers were brought in to aid in clean-up operations.
Working at half ability would have slowed their work. Thankfully, the citizens joined in their endeavor, bringing with them their brooms, plows, and shovels. The scent of Dust fumes and road salt permeated the air well into the morning. Eventually, Mantle was cleared of ice, slush, and snow.
And nobody was more thankful for their work than one very tired vigilante.
Whitley didn't get much sleep after finishing his late-night work. Doctor Polendina, though a generous host, did not have a guest room. The good doctor's home had only two bedrooms, his and Penny's. He and Rhodey had to make do with the main room. Rhodey took the recliner, while the boy slept on the couch.
The couch had not been comfortable at all. If Whitley were more aware of his lackluster sleeping arrangements, he'd have switched with Rhodey.
But then again, it wasn't like he was going to get a long rest, considering they had to wake up early to leave. But not before having a quick check up on the armor. Thankfully, Penny had yet to wake up. Her father explained that she was a heavy sleeper. He even made a strange joke about the girl being practically plugged into her bed.
After dying his hair black again, a precaution to ensure people wouldn't recognize him, the duo left the good doctor's home. The doctor had promised to begin repairs on the armor.
And so, for the next hour, Rhodey and Whitley were stuck in the man's car, driving slowly toward their intended destination. The young man thought now would be a good time to catch up on his rest. Unfortunately, the passenger seat couldn't fold down, leaving the tired boy to rest sitting up. It wasn't long before the lad began nodding off, his head pressing onto the cold window.
The cold kept him awake.
Damn it, I'm never gonna get any sleep! The boy groused internally, an annoyed grunt escaping his lips. I haven't had a nightmare for a while, so I wanna milk that sleep-cow for all its worth!
He blinked confusingly and mused. Okay, that would have sounded weird if I had said it aloud.
"Are you alright there, Whit?" A concerned Rhodey asked. "Because I think I heard something about sleep-cows?"
The boy blushed from embarrassment and retorted. "Well, excuse me if the dream farm was all out of sheep to count!"
"Woah-woah-woah, settle down, kid. I know you're tired and all, but that doesn't mean you should raise your voice like that." The businessman remarked, unbothered by the sudden shouting.
"I'm sorry, Rhodey. I'm just so tired is all! I only got one hour of sleep, and it was right after beating Blizzard."
"Ah, don't worry, you'll be getting all the rest you need soon. We should be arriving at my place soon." Rhodey informed the boy, who asked how he knew that.
"Because I just turned onto Cheadle Street. You know, the street where you can find my place?" Rhodey rhetorically asked. "Really, you should get more familiar with the city. You'll never know when it might come in handy."
"Well, I'll try and read the next map I find... Oh, wait, people don't use those anymore. Yeah, we have these neat little things called Scrolls." Whitley irritably snapped. When he realized what he had said, he immediately apologized. "Sorry, I didn't mean to say that. I'm just so tired..."
That's when the boy heard a soft rumbling from his stomach. "And hungry, too, apparently."
"Well, you needn't worry about that, 'because we're here." Rhodey informed before parking the car.
Whitley looked through the window and saw that they had indeed returned to Rhodey's home. Without thinking, he exited the man's car, eager to run to his bedroom and sleep. After walking up the concrete steps leading to the door, the young man knocked on the door.
Seconds passed as the duo waited for Marrow to open the door. Suddenly, the sound of the locks being disengaged was heard. They looked down and saw the brass doorknob turn. The door slowly opened from the inside, releasing a blast of warm air that made the freezing travelers vibrate in delight.
But then they saw who had opened the door. The person behind the door was now Marrow, as they expected.
It was a girl in blue pajamas. A teenaged girl with smooth, unblemished dark skin. Her teal-colored hair was cut short, ending at just above the chin. And her eyes, a bright, light blue, contrasted well with her hair. Hanging from her mouth was a blue plastic toothbrush.
Confused by the appearance of this stranger, Whitley wondered if Rhodey had driven them to the wrong place. His theory was immediately bunked when his eyes landed on the four-digit number displayed next to the door. They were the exact numbers Rhodey had on his address. They had arrived at their intended destination.
But that still didn't explain the presence of this stranger. And just where was Marrow, he couldn't help but wonder.
After giving the disguised Schnee a quick look over, the mystery girl took the toothbrush out and asked. "Whitley Schnee, I presume?"
Not expecting his name to be spoken, the boy immediately retorted. "No, my name's Howard. Howard Potts, to be exact."
The girl shook her head and spoke resolutely, "No, you are Whitley Schnee. Your alias was a dead giveaway. Your maternal great-grandfather's name was Howard. I also happen to be well-acquainted with Pepper Potts, considering she's a good friend of my uncle."
She added as an afterthought, "And I recognize your face from the photo in your file."
D'OH! Whitley mentally exclaimed. She's done her research! Okay, note to self: think up a new fake name. One that doesn't have any hints to my identity!
But then his mind remembered her last sentence. Specifically, the part where she mentioned Pepper and how her uncle was a friend of the woman. It didn't take long before the boy realized just to whom he was speaking.
"You're Rhodey's niece." He blurted out.
Rhodey's niece saluted the boy, "Affirmative. Atlas Academy Cadet Ciel Soleil, reporting for duty."
Just as the boy was about to question the girl, Rhodey shot forward and quickly wrapped the girl in a tight hug. Not a minute passed before he asked, "Rhodey, did you know she'd be here?"
Rhodey broke from the embrace and turned to his ward, "No, I didn't. But it's a nice surprise."
To say Whitley was surprised by the girl's appearance would have been an understatement. He had never met Rhodey's niece. The Restauranter had never brought the girl to Atlas, citing his disdain for the floating city. That antipathy ultimately didn't dissuade her from attending Atlas Academy, which was where the girl had been for the past few months. But why would she return home just three months into the school year?
It was then that he remembered the other two Atlas students he knew. And he recalled why they had been sent to Mantle. Immediately he connected the dots and realized the reason behind Ciel's unexpected visit, asking. "You're the third student Ironwood wanted as part of my protection detail?"
Ciel nodded, "Indeed. I have been assigned to your protection detail, effective yesterday. Corporal Amin can validate my claims, should you doubt them, Mr. Schnee."
It was then that Whitley noticed a distinct lack of Marrow. He peered past Ciel and searched the house. When he found no sign of Marrow, he inquired. "Where is Marrow, anyway?"
"Corporal Amin is currently taking a shower." Ciel answered matter-of-factly. "As such, I have been assigned the task of procuring sustenance for our scheduled period of nourishment."
Whitley gave the girl a weird look. The boy knew he had an impressive vocabulary, but this girl might just give Penny had some competition for the title of "Living Dictionary". But unlike the doctor's daughter, Ciel spoke calmly and with little emotion.
He also had no idea what she was talking about. At any other time, he'd have deciphered the meaning of her words in a second. But he was far too tired to even attempt that.
He looked to Rhodey, "Rhodey, too tired to think. Translate, please."
"She's making lunch." The man clarified before telling his niece. "And Ciel, you don't have to talk like that. We're civvies, not your superiors."
Ciel blushed from embarrassment and bashfully apologized. "Sorry, Uncle James."
Rhodey waved the apology off with a smile. Whitley just stared strangely at the girl. In the span of just a few minutes, another obstacle appeared in his life. First, it was Marrow, Flynt, and Neon. And now, he had Rhodey's niece as part of his security detail.
And she was a bit of a strange one. But then again, most of the people he knew were strange.
But then again, if people knew about what he did, they'd consider him a strange man, too.
Hammer Industries HQ, Justin Hammer's Office/Penthouse
Justin Hammer was a strange man. His cousin, Sasha, thought this label to be slightly inaccurate.
If asked to describe her cousin, the young woman's answer would be thus: Justin Hammer was an eccentric, immature, narcissistic, border-line sociopathic man-child. She'd also say she's more a handler than an assistant, paid to rein in his worst impulses and prevent his unrealistic goals drive their family's company to bankruptcy.
If those same people asked her how she had stayed sane, she'd retort with a rhetorical, "Who says I haven't gone crazy already?"
She had to be insane. How else could she explained being unbothered by the sight of her cousin suspended upside down from the ceiling by his ankles, notepad in hand, as he wrote up formulas and drew schematics.
"Hey, Sasha."
"Yes, Justin?"
"Can you be honest with me?"
"Aren't I always?" The man's cousin/assistant bluntly replied. "Not that I can't actually lie to you, since I'm contractually obligated to never lie to you."
Justin stared incredulously at the woman, "Really? That seems like an odd thing to include in a contract."
"Your father added that clause before he died. He thought it'd help me keep you humble." She gave her cousin/employer a rare smirk. "Legally, I can say whatever I want to you without fear of retribution. In fact, there's a sub-clause detailing the consequences for any sort of recompense on your part."
"And what exactly will happen to me if I, I don't know, try to fire you?" He asked cautiously.
"According to the clause, and I quote, any attempt at termination of contract against the signee by their employer-even for the most minimal of perceived transgressions-will be considered a breach of contract, granting the offended party power to invoke for cause removal. In other words, fire me and you're the one who'll get burned."
"But why would I fire you? Without you around, I'd have to try running the business."
"Oh, how dreadful, the thought of you actually involving yourself in the day-to-day operations moves me to tears." Sasha sarcastically remarked. "But we're digressing, just what exactly do you want me to be honest about?
Looking from behind his notepad, Justin asked her. "Do you think Gill will try anything against us. Unlike you, the thought of a mechanically enhanced scorned woman popping my head like a grape disturbs me. So, I'd like to know if I should be worried?"
As ever, the woman gave a rather blunt reply. "No, you have nothing to worry about. According to my sources in the police, Donna Gill has been remarkably quiet as she awaits her trial. As for her parents, well, word in the grapevine is that her father just secured a rather lucrative job with Yashida Industries. Said job came with the benefit of having his wife transferred to one of Mistral's finest hospitals."
"Really...?" The suspended CEO thought in interest. "Hmmm, I guess Shapanka has friends in high places. After dragging his name through the mud, I'd have thought he'd never find employment."
He looked to the balcony window and mused, "But then again, anything's possible. I mean, we did just have two torturous weeks of snow"
The Potts-Hogan Residence...
Toni Ho was mesmerized by snow. Having spent much of her life in the harsh and unforgiving Atreides desert, the little girl had never experienced rainfall. In fact, she had had long thought the very concept of rain to be mere fantasy. Here, not only has she seen actual rain, but its frozen form, too. And it wasn't long before she too was hypnotized by the sight of a million frozen droplets dropping daintily to the street.
She didn't understand why Pepper and Happy weren't as excited by snow as she was.
The little girl turned away from the window to see her adoptive father sitting on the living room couch, scroll in one hand and the other tapping the laptop computer sitting on his lap. She knew that he was speaking to Pepper, but she couldn't hear the woman's side of the conversation.
"It's no good, Pep. No matter how much snow I've shoveled, there just seems to be more!" She heard Happy exclaim in outrage, causing her cat ears to twitch. "The next payment on the townhouse is due today and I can't get to the bank with all this slush on the ground."
She saw the man pause as he listened to Pepper's muffled voice. With her enhanced hearing-courtesy of her cat ears- Toni could make out words like "Truck" and "Online Deposit". She knew what a truck was, but the meaning behind "Online Deposit" eluded her. It must be some secret grown-up word.
"I know the trucks are out now, but it'd be an hour before they even get here." She heard him reply before saying with a depressed tone. "No, I don't know how to file it online. I'm not tech-savvy like you or Whitley. Plus, the internet's out."
His voice became confused, "An extension? Okay, I'll call and ask if they can do that. But I'm not sure if they'll do it."
The little girl immediately tuned the rest the of their conversation. Whatever her adoptive parents were talking about, the subject matter would probably go over her head. More Grown-up stuff, she supposed.
This sort of behavior was not new to her. Her parents often talked about grown-up stuff. She can't even begin to count the times her parents spoke nonsense she didn't understand. Often, words like "Budget" and "Savings" were uttered. Occasionally, she'd catch terms such as "Conferences" and "Examinations". She can still remember the last conversation her parents ever had.
She didn't remember the exact words used, but she knew they discussed her brother doing something with his girlfriend. Apparently, they were caught "making out" in her parents' room.
She had no idea what that meant. Nor did she know what a girlfriend was. Again, she chalked it up as stuff only a grown-up would get.
Of course, her mother promised to explain it all when she was older. She had told her it was about birds and bees.
A time that'll never come to pass. Whatever moments she could've had with her family were lost, consumed by flames, and smothered under windswept sands. Her mommy will never give her that promised talk about birds and bees.
She was dead. She had died pinned under a collapsed beam in their burning house. Toni had seen it all.
The last memory she had of her beloved mother was the sight of her body being consumed by the flames, unable to escape from the beam that had crushed her legs. Her anguished screams echoed into the night, before being silenced by the deafening boom of their house exploding.
Mama... Huang...
Her brother had scooped her up into his arms just seconds before the house blew up. He carried her like a baby into town, only to collapse just as they reached the first house they found. The family who owned the home took them in. She didn't sleep that night. Her brother didn't last the night.
He was burned, A metal shard had pierced his back, puncturing his lungs. His lung had already been damaged by smoke inhalation.
Three months later, the poor girl learned her father had passed. She was now officially an orphan.
They should be here... watching the snow with me! Toni sniffed and wiped away a stray tear.
It wasn't fair. Her family had been good, kind people. Why did bad things happen to them? Her father had helped people when they were sick. Her mother helped people when they felt bad. Her brother had been a kind soul who never once treated her like a pest.
The girl's eyes welled up, the tears falling freely from them, dripping onto the floor. Before she knew it, the emotional dam broke, long-buried feelings of grief, guilt, and shame flooding her mind. Grief at the lost life she could've had with her family. The guilt of being the only survivor.
And the shame. Oh, the shame she felt living this new, wonderful life without them.
Nearly on the brink of breaking down into a sobbing mess, the child turned back to the window and stared at the still falling snow. She hoped watching the snow would calm her, but no luck. The falling snowflakes just reminded her of the tears trailing down her cheeks. Unable to bear the sight any longer, the girl leaned on the window frame and buried her head into her tiny arms.
She had thought it'd muffle her cries.
The sound steady, soft footsteps approaching her proved her efforts had been futile.
"Toni, are you okay?" She heard Happy ask. She didn't reply. But the man was not one to give up, as he told the girl. "Toni, look at me."
When the girl refused to budge, her foster father sighed. Bringing the scroll back to his ear, he told his fiancée. "Pepper, I'm going to have to call you back. Yeah, we'll stay inside, love you too."
He ended the call and deposited the scroll into his pants pocket. Concerned for his foster daughter, the man took a moment to observe the child. In the months since he and Pepper adopted the child, they became familiar with many of her quirks. When she got excited, the girl's cat ears would twitch erratically. Whenever she lied, the girl would try not making eye contact. And when she was sad, her cat ears would backward.
Much like what they were doing now. He knew immediately the child was upset. He knelt beside her and asked in a concerned tone, "What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing..." She replied in a small, muffled voice.
That was an obvious lie. Happy knew the child well enough to know that only one thing would upset her so greatly.
"Were you thinking about your family?"
The child flinched, proving Happy's suspicions were right on the mark. The man's eyes softened as he said, "You miss them."
The little girl looked up at the man, showing her red, tear-stained face. Her nose was dripping, her mouth set in a rueful frown. To see the girl like this broke the man's heart. He knew Pepper would feel the same if she saw this. But he alone understood the pain Toni was going through. The former boxer knew exactly how she felt. And this experience he felt made him the most qualified person to help the child.
He cleared his throat and spoke, "I know how you feel. My parents died when I was little, too."
Despite her pitiable demeanor, Toni found herself shocked by the man's admission.
"What happened to them?" She inquired.
Happy took a deep breath, which he exhaled as a tired sigh. He had told this story many times, telling it once more wouldn't be a bother. He had long worked past the hurt. He explained, "It was a car crash in Vale. I was about your age when it happened."
The details of the crash were seared into his memory. His grandmother made sure to tell him everything. She said that they were driving on a busy intersection. It was raining heavily, making the street slick and slippery. The heavy rainfall made it difficult for drivers to see anything in front of them. Thankfully, their headlights were working, and they were able to make the bright red stop sign. The police told his grandmother that they engaged the brakes, but the sudden loss in speed caused their wheels to skid on the road, passing the sign.
But right as their car stopped, a drunk driver rammed into them.
His parents died on impact. The other car's driver died in a hospital not long after.
But Toni didn't need to know those details, save for one.
"Actually, they were on their way to pick me up from daycare."
That one detail being his parents died trying to get him back home. Much like how Toni felt about her family, Happy went through the same phase of being overwhelmed by crippling survivor's guilt. Eventually, after turning 13, he found an outlet for those feelings through boxing. But it would have helped if someone had taken the time to talk his grief over with him. His grandmother had done her best, but she could only do so much.
Toni won't have that problem.
"Yeah, I blamed myself for years for what happened. I hated myself so much that I wished I'd never been born. But after a while, I realized that it hadn't been my fault. Sometimes, things just happen, Toni, and we have no control over them. We only need to focus on the things we can control." He spoke in a sagely tone.
Toni still wasn't convinced, her head tilting downward with a frown. Seeing his words had little effect in raising the child's spirit, Rhodey decided to try something else. They were going to play a game. But what could they play together. He and pepper had yet to buy any board games and he doubted Toni would play a video game. Desperate for options, the man scanned the room before his eyes landed on the folded-up newspaper on the coffee table. An idea popped into his head.
"Say, how's about try the crossword puzzle?" He suggested to the child, whose head shot up in surprised curiosity.
"Crossword puzzle?" She said, testing the word. Though still depressed, she said. "I like puzzles. How many pieces does it have?"
Happy chuckled, "You don't put anything together, you just have to guess a word and write it into small boxes."
He scooped the girl into his arms and approached the couch. He sat down, seated her on his knee, and picked up the newspaper and a pen. Quickly, he unfurled the paper and turned the pages before landing on the daily crossword. He looked to Toni and smiled when she saw the starstruck look in her eye as she took in the sight of the printed crisscrossing boxes.
"Alright, let's start on the first one." She told him. He then read the clue, "Okay, 1 Across is an eight-letter word meaning, to be unexpected or caught unawares. Ooh, it seems like a hard one."
He knew the answer. He wanted to see if Toni did. He watched as the child scrunched her eyes and poked her chin in deep thought. Less than second later, she gave a guess, "Surprise?"
Happy wrote the word in, filling up all the boxes. He smiled and congratulated her, "Hey, you got it right! Good job!"
Toni beamed at the praise, showing her mood was improving. Seeing this, Happy suggested, "How's about we try this one? 4 down is a five-letter word meaning... it's raining cats and dogs, seeing the light?"
He didn't know this one. It seemed to be a short word, but for the life of him he can't think it up. And there was no chance Toni could solve before he did.
"Idiom."
He blinked in surprise. He stared in shock at the child, "What?"
"Idiom, that's the word. I remember seeing it in a book Winnie showed me."
"And what book was that?" He hesitantly asked.
"She called it a dictionary." She answered innocently. "That's where I saw the word. The next one, 7 down is Medium. That's another word I saw in the book."
The girl started reading the rest of the clues, leaving her foster father to stare at her in befuddlement. He knew Toni was smart, but he didn't think she was smart enough to read a dictionary at so young an age. Or to remember those words verbatim, along with their definitions.
He and Pepper were going to have a talk about the child's education. Specifically, if they should upgrade it from preschool to middle school level.
Flynt Household Kitchen...
Gyttja Coal always loved Saturdays. School was closed on Saturday, giving her free reign to do whatever she wanted for the day.
But she always wanted to start her day with a nice breakfast.
That need for her nutrition compelled her to go to the kitchen. She was surprised to see her brother had already awakened and started cooking. Now seated at the family dining table, she watched her brother prepare breakfast.
With their mother away on orchestral business and their older siblings unable to visit, the fourth oldest Coal offspring was given the task of preparing breakfast. Today's menu was a scrumptious combo of sunny side up eggs, smoked sausages, toast, and lemonade. Normally, the thought of such a delicious and balanced breakfast would have sent her into a salivating spell.
But not when her brother looked close to collapsing.
"Flynt, are you okay?" The concerned middle-schooler asked her brother.
As his body listed slightly from left to right, Flynt said nothing as he flipped an egg, his tired eyes tearing up from the steam it produced. It wasn't until he yawned did the boy acknowledge the girl.
He looked at her and said, "Oh, sorry, Geet. How'd you want your muffins again?"
Yeah, he's not okay, she realized before saying. "I didn't ask for muffins. Also, did you even change your clothes last night?"
Yes, Flynt Coal was indeed still wearing the same clothes he wore the day before.
Not once through the night did the boy even bother thinking of changing. Nor had he consider getting a good night's sleep. But his restless night was not a product of rebellious adolescence, but rather concerned worry. Worry born from concern for his father, whom he had last seen on the television directing a hasty retreat of his fellow officers.
After sending his little sister to bed, the young man spent his night seated in the main room. His eyes, though tired and exhausted, were glued to the television. But he hadn't been sitting through a movie marathon. Nor was he on an overnight binge of whatever streaming series had caught the public's attention. No, he kept the television on just one channel throughout the whole night.
All so he could get even the smallest bit of news about his father. Unfortunately, he was unable to find out anything. And staying up so long had left him a tired wreck. He didn't know how long he can stay awake before his body shut down.
Now that he thought about it, his eyes were starting to feel heavy. In fact, he was having a hard time keeping them open. Slowly, his vision blurred, the kitchen stove steadily becoming more a greyish mass. And then everything went dark.
"FLYNT, THE BACON'S BURNING!"
And just as quickly, the darkness disappeared. He looked down at the skillet he was using and saw that the bacon bits had burst into flames. Now more alert than ever, the teenaged huntsmen screamed as he bolted for the kitchen sink, his hands firmly gripped around the flaming skillet's handle. Thankfully, the sink was full of soapy dishwater, which he quickly dunked the skillet into. The flames were extinguished upon impact, hot steam rising from the water as the cold water cooled the hot metal saucer.
Flynt pulled his hands out of the water and inspected them. To his relief, they were unburnt. Thank the Brothers for the gift of Aura.
He wiped his hands on his shirt, drying them. He looked to his sister, who regarded him with a concerned gaze.
He cleared his throat and asked, "How's about cereal?"
His sister nodded in agreement, knowing it was the safer option. With a new palate decided upon, he turned the stove off. He made his way to the fridge to retrieve the milk, only to stop when he heard a scroll ringing in the distance. Recognizing the ringtone as his own, the young man excused himself to retrieve his scroll.
He entered the main room and found his scroll on the coffee table. He snatched the device and turned the screen on, to see who was calling him.
To his surprise, the caller was identified as Neon.
Just what would compel her to call him on his one day off?
Zhang Shipping Company Headquarters
Inside a spacious office, the smell of burnt tobacco permeated the air. The source of this odious scent growled as he shoved another spent cigarette butt into his ashtray. Reaching into his shirt pocket, he pulled a nearly empty cigarette pack. The label upon the tiny box read Ashford, a popular brand among overworked Atlesian office workers. But this man was no mere white-collar employee.
He was Shin Zhang, but that was only his public face. In the dark underbelly of Solitan society, he was known as the dreaded criminal mastermind, The Mandarin.
But that was just another name he's held in life. Right now, he was just an outraged man of business.
"Damn it all." Cursed the irate gangster as he pulled out a cigarette, his sixth that day.
Zhang placed the cancer stick into his mouth and fished his lighter out of his pants pocket. He lit the cigarette, took a long, greedy drag, and blew the carcinogenic smoke into the air. Satisfied, he plucked cigarette out of his mouth, the small white stub wedged between his index and middle fingers. He let out an exhausted breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"How am I going to explain this to the shareholders?" He wondered aloud. "We've lost three contracts in just one year. How exactly am I going to make up for the revenue loss?"
Contrary to popular belief, running a business was not as cutthroat as organized crime.
Shin Zhang knew this better than anyone.
When he wanted his agents to perform better, he'd execute one of them to demonstrate the consequences of their failures. When one of his employees screwed up, the worst he could do was give them the dreaded pink slip. When he had to reassert his control over the Tong, he'd demonstrate his martial prowess against those who'd dare challenge his authority. When it came to inspiring loyalty in his company, he'd give them holiday bonuses.
Such contrasting approaches to his leadership was the story of his life. He had learned long ago that people were not as they seemed, back when he was still a child living under his original name.
And now he was one of those people living a double life.
A sharp, shrill ring pierced the air. His assistant was calling him over the intercom.
He pressed the button on his desk and spoke in a forceful tone, "I told you not to disturb me."
"I know, sir, but your son is here, demanding to see you." His assistant replied.
What does the ungrateful whelp want this time? Zhang thought, feeling a headache coming.
"Send him in." He demanded.
Not a second passed before the door opened, revealing a handsome young man. Like Zhang, he had a light tan complexion, steely double-lidded eyes, and black hair. And that was all they shared, aside from a shared bloodline spanning back generations past.
The boys' eyes were hazel colored with small flecks of green, which he hid behind rimless framed glasses with shaded lenses. His slick black hair reached to his neckline, though it was brushed back save for a few stray strands. He wore a finely tailored white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, over which he wore a black silk suit vest with a golden geometric-patterned embroidery around the waist. He wore denim skinny jeans that accentuated his toned legs, an indicator of his lean, athletic body. Finishing the ensemble were a pair of stylish white sneakers with gold trimming.
The visitor strutted confidently into the office, projecting an aura of superiority that rivaled Zhang's. He greeted the older man with a curt nod and a small, condescending grin. "Stepfather."
Despite his displeasure, Zhang greeted his stepson with a calm, composed tone. "Hello, Temugin. What brings you to my office?"
For a moment, the boy's grin faltered. "First, my name is Gene. Second, what brought me here is the matter of my birthright."
The man growled, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
He had a sneaking suspicion as to what the boy might be referring. The boy will soon be turning eighteen. According to the Tong's ancient traditions, when a member of the main bloodline came of age, they will become eligible for gaining the title of Mandarin. There were only two ways for Temugin to claim the title from him.
The first way was to defeat him in a duel, either by submission or death. This was the method by which Zhang and his predecessors ascended to the position. The previous Mandarin had been an unremarkable failed actor turned drug fiend named Trevor Slattery. To know he shared blood with such a parasite disgusted him to this day. It had been quite the cathartic experience killing the disgusting man.
The second was to gather the lost ten rings of the original Mandarin. Whomever collected all ten rings shall become the one true Mandarin, rite of inheritance be damned. He currently possessed one ring. But soon, he will have the other nine.
And though their line endured through the centuries, it eventually whittled down. And now, there were only four of them.
Of those four, only Zhang and Temugin were eligible for the throne. The other two were Zhang's son and daughter. They forfeited their claims the instant they ran away. A fact which made Zhang happy. He'd never harm his actual children.
But Temugin was a different story. Despite their tumultuous marriage, he had promised the boy's mother not to divulge the truth of their bloodline. And he had kept good on that promise.
"What's brought this on? Why the sudden interest?" The current Mandarin inquired.
His future opponent replied with a wry smile, "Can't a boy be curious about the family business?"
"Since when are you and I family? I may have married your mother, but you kept her name. The only inheritance you're entitled to is that dusty old antique store your mother left you." Zhang then forcefully demanded, "So I ask again, why. The. Sudden. Interest."
"I just want to know if I'm in your will." Gene retorted. "Maybe I want to do more than just run some dusty old antique store? Maybe I want to be something more than a peddler of old garbage!"
Zhang resisted the urge to toss the boy out of his office. Once again, their conversation was about to become a screaming match.
He had better things to do than listen to the inane ramblings of an entitled teenager. He didn't say anything as the boy continued, "Not to mention I'm the only person working at the store. Not since you sent Eric out on some treasure hunt! He's been gone for months, just what are you looking for that's worth sending my boss out into the world?!"
Despite his anger, the undercover crime boss kept his cool and calmly replied. "Our ancestor's legacy is what he's looking for. And you have no right to know what it is until you're eighteen. So, until then, just do what you want, don't complain, and count your lucky stars that you still have a roof over your head."
"You mean the same roof your own kids ran away from?!" The teenager growled.
Suddenly, there was sound of punched flesh, punctuated by the pained grunting of a teenager as he fell to the floor. Gene hissed as he wiped the blood from his lip, his right cheek bruised and red. He really should have expected that punch, especially after crossing the line regarding his stepsiblings. Then again, it wasn't anything new.
He glared at the man who had struck him and spitefully spat, "And you wonder why they left?"
In a tone colder than the snow outside, Zhang gave a simple demand. "Leave. Now."
The boy picked himself up. He sent his stepfather one more hateful glare before turning to leave. As he exited the room, he informed Zhang. "I'll be going out with my friends tomorrow. Don't expect me to be home tomorrow night."
"I'm hoping for it." The man shot back as he resumed his managerial duties.
Gene growled and slammed the door shut behind him, leaving the man alone to his devices.
Zhang, for his part, took the act in stride. At least he had the satisfaction of knowing he'll be eating alone tomorrow night.
Whitley was not used to eating at a full table.
After the debacle that had been Weiss' tenth birthday, the Schnee family never sat down for a family meal. When he wasn't staying at one of ATI's dormitories, he'd often eat his food in his room. He ate breakfast in bed, not once deigning to feast in the dining room. His lunches were spent in any of the mansion's numerous unoccupied rooms. He typically ate dinner in his workshop under the manor, away from his family.
That had been his eating arrangements for eight years.
And then he moved in with Rhodey, where he became a welcome participant at the Rhodes dining table. For the first time in years, the boy ate with other people. At first, it had been just him and Rhodey. After Team ACN came into their lives, Marrow became a permanent fixture at the table. Occasionally, Neon and Flynt would have dinner with them
And now, the table had a new presence in the form of Rhodey's returned niece, Ciel.
And Ciel was a quick yet organized eater. She didn't make messes, nor did she make time for idle chatter. As predicted from a person who had a strict adherence to protocol and scheduling. Rhodey had explained that when Ciel set a timetable for herself, she'd follow it dutifully.
He wasn't one to judge, considering his own eating habits.
"Hey, Whitley, could you pass the salt? These eggs could use a little more." Marrow politely asked as he held his hand out toward the teenager.
The Schnee scion handed the saltshaker to the specialist. Marrow thanked him with a grateful smile and proceeded with adding more salt to his egg. Afterward, Marrow scarfed down on his dish, shoving food into his mouth like a pig. Seeing the specialist eat in such a manner prompted a disgusted wince from the boy, who declared. "Careful, Marrow. If you keep eating like that, you might choke."
After swallowing his food, the Faunus man said. "Sorry, I'm just in a bit of a hurry."
"What for?"
"I'm afraid that's classified, Kid. If I tell you, I'd have to kill you." Marrow spoke sternly only to jest. "But if I did that, I'd be out of a job. But all I can tell you is that it's really important."
Deciding it was in his best interests to let it go, the boy nodded, respecting his bodyguard's position as a Specialist. Besides, he had his own breakfast to finish. Afterward, he can treat himself to a well-deserved rest in his nice, comfy bed. But just as he was about to dig in, Rhodey asked a question that came out of nowhere.
"Say, Whit, isn't it your birthday, tomorrow?" The teenaged heir ceased all movement as he registered the sentence.
He looked at Rhodey, who was giving him a rather expectant look.
Yes, tomorrow was indeed his birthday. His sixteenth, to be exact.
With a slight nod, Whitley answered. "Yes, what of it?"
His guardian blinked in confusion, "What of it? Well, you're turning sixteen. Isn't that something worth celebrating?"
"I concur with my uncle. To turn sixteen is an important milestone in our culture, it shows that you're now on the cusp of adulthood and therefore ready for more responsibilities." Ciel added in her own overtly articulated way. "Am I correct, Corporal Amin."
Marrow cut his way into the conversation by saying, "Yeah, it's all part of becoming a man."
Whitley side-eyed the specialist and scoffed, "Says the man who still wears footie pajamas to bed."
"Hey, don't diss the footies!" Marrow retorted, wagging a slice of bacon in Whitley's face. "They're practical, easily removable, and provide a comfort that no blanket can imitate!"
"Marrow does have a point, though. Not about the pajamas, but about your birthday." Rhodey said, ignoring the specialist's annoyed glare. "You need to take some time to enjoy yourself. Especially after everything that's happened to you."
The young heir hummed in thought, "You know, you're right."
He shoved his plate over to Marrow. "I'm going to take your advice and treat myself to nice, long rest. I'll eat later."
The boy excused himself from the table and left the kitchen, its three remaining occupants staring as he went. Once he was out of view, Rhodey commented. "Well, that went better than I expected."
In need of clarification, Marrow asked his host. "What do you mean?"
"Typically, whenever someone mentions his birthday, he tends to get, well... angsty." The restauranter explained.
"Don't all teenagers do that? I mean, it's kinda normal for them to brood a bit." Marrow looked to Ciel. "No offense."
"You were simply stating an accurate observation on adolescent behavior." Ciel stated before taking a sip of her orange juice.
Marrow blinked confusingly before commenting, "You like to use big words, too, huh?"
Rhodey chuckled at their interaction. He can just tell Marrow was going to have a hard time understanding his niece. But he could tell they were getting a little off topic. He cleared his throat, getting both hunters' attention. He went on to explain, "You two are probably wondering why I thought Whitley would get upset about his birthday? Well, let's just say he hasn't had a good birthday in a while. I was hoping you could help me make tomorrow the best one he's ever had."
"How do you propose we do that? Marrow asked, intrigued to hear what the man was planning.
"Well, I can't tell you just yet. Not until Flynt and Neon are here to discuss it. They should be here sometime after two." Rhodey said with a smile. "And don't tell Whitley about it. I want it to be a surprise."
Sorry, it took so long. But life got in the way in the form of family obligations, work, and volunteering at the local library. Thankfully, I've set up a schedule for myself and a plan on finishing future chapters. I plan on writing at least 1,000 words a day before the day of their release. I'm already starting on them as we speak, while also planning the first story arc of Something in The Way. I also downloaded a new version of Word, allowing me to finally write my stories the way I want to.
Oh, I also wanted to announce new fancasts for characters. Included are the roles that inspired their casting:
Antoinette "Toni" Stark-Schnee (Wendie Malick/ Eda Clawthorne from The Owl House)
V.I.C./ The Very Intelligent Computer (Alex Hirsch/ I don't need to tell you who he's voiced)
Donna Gill/ Blizzard (Maryke Hendrikse/ Revy from Black Lagoon [normal voice] R. Bruce Elliot [Blizzard Voice])
Sasha Hammer (Trina Nishimura/ Kyoka Jiro from My Hero Academia)
Gene Khan/ Temugin (Dante Basco/ Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender)
Spoiler Character (Steven Yeun/ Keith Kogane from Voltron: Legendary Defender) Have fun guessing this one!
Until then, stay tuned and stay classy.
Next Chapter: A Night on the Town