Ch. 8 – Grimm Horizon
I do not own RWBY, RWBY is owned by Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum (R.I.P.) nor do I own any media that may appear in the story. I only own the OCs, Enjoy! Remember to Favorite, Follow, and leave a Review.
"RPG!" Carmine yelled as the rocket leapt from the tube and screamed across the sky toward the Black Hawk, the rocket impacted the tail rotor and exploded. The Black Hawk was sent into a tail spin as it burst into flames and fell toward the ground, Carmine grabbed the harness and held on for dear life until the helicopter started to glow purple. Carmine looked out the side and saw a well-endowed woman with a riding crop in her hand that she pointed at the helicopter, the helicopter slowly moved over to the land and sat down slowly.
Carmine fell from the disabled helicopter and hugged the ground "Oh if there's a god, thank you." Carmine said as he kissed the ground, Sapphire ran over and dropped to her knees next to him "You scared me to death!" She said as she slapped his arm, but she couldn't hide her emotions. "I can't keep doing this anymore, when you go off on these jobs I never know if you'll come back to me." Sapphire said as she started to break down and cry into his back. Carmine wrapped his arms around her waist and held her closely "You know I can't die, not until I've made you my wife." Carmine said as he held her tightly, she covered her mouth and looked at him wide eyed.
"Are you serious?" She asked quietly, she couldn't see it, but he was smiling under his gas mask "Yes, sweetheart." Carmine said lightly, Sapphire squealed with happiness as she squeezed him tightly. A silver-haired man walked up to Carmine and Sapphire, he extended his hand and helped Carmine up off the ground "So you must be Carmine. I got to say, you've been causing a lot of chaos throughout Vale hunting down this faction." The man said, suddenly there was a crackle of electricity through the air "I guess that's my cue." A disembodied voice said before a lightning strike hit the ground and left a single man standing there.
The silver-haired man looked at Carmine "Friend of yours?" The man asked, Carmine moved in front of Sapphire and gestured to the silver-haired man "Get her inside, now!" Carmine said as he pulled out his G36c and dropped the empty magazine from the receiver and slapped a fresh mag into the carbine.
"Man, I was kind of hoping for a crowd of adoring fans or high school chicks. I get older, but they stay the same." The man said with a creepy laugh, Carmine pulled back the bolt and chambered a round. Carmine dashed forward and drove his shoulder into the man's gut, he lifted him up and slammed him into the ground, the man spun around and tossed Carmine across the campus. He slammed into a statue and shattered it to pieces, he grabbed one of the arms and sprinted back toward the man.
He cracked the marble arm across the mans' face and kneed him in the gut, he followed it up with a roundhouse and a back kick to the chest. The man dropped to the ground and picked himself back up quickly, he moved his left leg in front of him and raised both of his fists up in front of him. He bobbed back and forth as Carmine charged at him, he cocked his right leg back and cracked Carmine across the face with his foot.
Carmine fell to the ground, but quickly picked himself up and got back into his combat stance by raising his fists and lowering his body toward the ground. The ran forward and threw a right cross, but Carmine grabbed his wrist, the man attempted to strike him with his left hand, but Carmine that wrist as well and using the man's arms as levers linked at a single fulcrum and lifted the man into the air before he slammed him into the ground again.
Carmine quickly lifted his right foot and brought the heel of his boot down into the man's chest, the crack of a rib was audible and caused Carmine to wince as the sound was unpleasant. The man picked himself up slowly and wiped the blood from his mouth, he dashed forward and threw a right punch, but Carmine deflected it, spun him around, and placed him in a rear naked choke hold. "Shhh! Shhh! Just go to sleep." Carmine said as he slowly brought the man down to the ground.
The man slowly slipped unconscious and Carmine dropped the body to the ground, the rifleman pushed himself off the ground and grabbed the man by the arms. Carmine pulled the man near the edge and zip tied his hands together, Carmine turned around and looked back at Sapphire who was looking at him from behind the silver-haired man and Qrow Branwen. "I guess we'll try this again, babe." Carmine said as he picked the man up, winked at Sapphire, and dove off the cliff.
Carmine held the man tightly as they pierced the water and he swam back up to the surface, the man's head bobbed out of the water as Carmine dragged him toward the shore. As he got closer, he felt hands grab him and pull him out of the water, he turned around and saw Grullo, Onyx, and Grizz pulling him out of the water.
"Hey guys, great to see you." Carmine said as he slowly stood up, Keppel walked up and swabbed the inside of the man's mouth before he activated his semblance. He scanned the swab and entered the information as it developed in his mind, his scroll beeped and gave a detailed report on the person in question. "You will never guess who we have here." Keppel said as he put his scroll away.
Everyone looked confused until Carmine spoke up "Cerberus?" He asked sarcastically, but Keppel shook his head "Astaroth." Keppel said as he rolled the body over, Titus shook his head as Aero walked up "What are we going to do with him?" Titus asked as Aero started to dig through the Reaper's pockets until he pulled out a scroll "Y'all can do whatever, I got what I need." Aero said as he put the scroll in his pocket.
"What are you doing with those scrolls?" Carmine asked the bowman, Aero turned to look at the rifleman "Well, I'm using them to pull all the information possible and to hunt down the so called 'Iron Hammer'." Aero said as he pulled out his compound bow and readied an arrow with a red tip.
He drew the string back and launched the arrow over the rooftops, the arrow turned upward and launched into the sky before it exploded into an extremely bright light. Someone screamed out in agony as they fell off a roof and hit dumpster near where the joint force was meeting, Aero walked over to the hooded man and dragged him to the center. He tossed down an RP7 and threw the man to the ground "Here's the person who tried to kill you." Aero said as the person covered his eyes in pain.
"So, you tried to kill me?!" Carmine asked as he knelt next to the man on the ground, he grabbed them by the throat and pulled them close to his face "You make me sick, you son of a bitch." Carmine said before he dropped the man back to the ground "Do with him what you want." Carmine said as he walked away slowly, a single gunshot could be heard from behind him before silence fell over the deserted street.
Onyx quickly caught up to Carmine and walked next to him "Hey little bro, everything alright?" Onyx asked concerned, Carmine stopped and lowered his head "I told Sapphire I would marry her when I was done with this." Carmine said, Onyx's eyes went wide "Do you?" He asked confused, Carmine nodded his head "You have no idea, but I hate putting her through the constant thought of will I or won't I come back, and if I come back, will something follow me?" Carmine said as he lightly punched a light pole. Onyx grabbed his shoulder and spun him around "You got us here, so don't worry." Onyx said as he tried to reassure his little brother.
"And what if we aren't here? What if we're off somewhere and gods forbid something happens?!" Carmine asked as his visor started to fog up, he pulled off his mask and clipped it to his belt. Tears slowly slid down his cheeks as he sat down on the sidewalk, Onyx sat next to him and wrapped his arm around him "Listen, we can only do so much and our enemies… well they'll do whatever it takes to get to us first, so we have to cut the head off the snake before it strikes." Onyx said.
Carmine looked up in time to see Titus carry Astaroth's unconscious body away toward an awaiting pickup truck "Hey Quinn! Where you taking him to?" Onyx asked as Titus threw the body into the truck bed "Interrogation." Titus said as he climbed into the back and slapped the side twice, the truck took off down the road leaving Carmine, Onyx, Keppel, and Grullo alone in the middle of town.
"Want to go get a drink?" Onyx asked, Carmine shook his head "I just want to have Sapphire back in my arms again." Carmine said as he looked at his gloved hands, Onyx nodded "I know, that's why I sent our new associate to obtain her." Onyx said as black smoke pooled on the ground in the middle of town. Phantom appeared slowly out of the smoke along with Sapphire who ran out and dropped into Carmine's arms.
"You two spend the week with each other, I don't think anything will be happening anytime soon." Onyx said as Sapphire pressed her lips against Carmine's, he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tightly. He slowly stood up and wrapped his arm around her waist "To the bar we go." Carmine said as he followed his brother, Grullo, and Keppel to Junior's bar where Crimson and Nightshade were standing along with Phantom.
Carmine pushed the door open and walked in with Sapphire, the bar seemed more dead than usual. "Where's the patron's at, Junior?" Carmine asked with his wrapped around Sapphire's waist, Junior dropped the glass he held when he heard the familiar voice "Oh shit! You scared the fuck out of me." Junior said as he grabbed a small dust pan and swept up the broken glass, Onyx rested his arm on the bar "He asked a question, Junior." Onyx said, Junior dumped the glass into a trash bin under the bar.
"Well, there has been a steady increase of bodies being found in the streets. So, people have been staying clear of the area, hence the low patron level." Junior said as he poured a drink for the six mercs. "Has that been you guys?" Junior asked, Onyx sipped the whiskey and shook his head. "No, we take care of our targets, so to speak. Except for the warehouse incident that will be in the news." Onyx said, Junior nodded his head "Oh that's good as long as… Wait, what warehouse?!" Junior asked with wide eyes.
Carmine hammered back the liquor and set the glass down "Read the headlines." Carmine said ominously before he walked to the lounge area with Sapphire. The other five joined them in the lounge, Carmine sat forward "So, what are the plans?" Carmine asked as he looked at the floor, he looked up and cocked his head slightly to the left.
Onyx pulled his scroll open and projected a map of Beacon with several blips on it "From what Aero gathered, they have to bases of operation. One located in Mountain Glenn and one in Forever Fall forest, The Devil's Disciples have already started to move on the ones in Mistral and Viper Legion is closing in on one near Atlas. With this joint task force closing in on them, they'll be forced to come out of hiding, and when they do, we strike." Onyx said as he showed the strike force.
"Viper is moving in with an attacking force of seventy AK-130s and AK-200s, they'll have the area surrounded with four Black Hawks and two Pave Lows along with two F-22s on standby. The Devils are going in with eight strike teams also headed up with eight battalions of AK-130s, they're moving in via four AH-6 Little Birds, four H725 Super Cougars, and eight CH-47 Chinooks. They'll have equipment consisting of Blast pads, flashbangs, APM-6s, M120 CREM Breaching Rounds, X-Kairo Thermite Rounds, and Brimstone BC-3 Exothermic Charges. They'll also have an EE-ONE-D overhead to provide overwatch and thorough scanning. Loadout will consist of typical weapons such as M4s, AK-74s, M16s, Tar-21s, and G36Cs." Onyx said as he displayed the loadouts.
"If the other bases are like the one in Forever Fall, they'll have a fight on their hand." Carmine said. "Well, while they do that, how about we enjoy the down time and fucking relax." Onyx said as he sat down in a chair and exhaled a sigh of relief.
Carmine stood up and made his way up onto the stage, Crimson and Nightshade looked up at him "Are we doing this? I need to blow off some steam, let's do this." Crimson said as he and Nightshade said as they followed him up onto the stage. He grabbed the mic stand and pulled the microphone off it, by the time he was setting up, Onyx, Grullo, and Keppel had joined him on the stage.
"The past couple days have been complete hell for us, from being blown up by a giant ballistic missile to being abducted and having a Grimm death squad come after you and your rescuers." Carmine said as he stood at the front of the stage. He gripped the microphone tighter as he felt his body swell with anger and rage as he thought about the sights he saw in the bunker, he gritted his teeth but stopped when he saw Sapphire out of the corner of his eye, she looked at him as love filled her eyes. She twirled her hair lightly as she watched the man that was dressed in heavy body armor and dark clothing.
"These past couple days have been filled with death and despair, so let's get these emotions out and brighten up this week." Carmine said as Onyx and Crimson ran their hand along the neck of their guitars. Carmine looked out over the crowd and felt a couple pair of eyes with malicious intent staring back at him, he smirked slightly as he held up his right hand and extended two fingers. Onyx and Crimson looked out over the crowd and saw three hooded figures that stared at Carmine, Onyx slowly moved for the pistol in his waistline, but Nightshade shook his head "Not here." Nightshade said in a hushed tone, Onyx moved his hand away from the grip and placed it back on the guitar.
[CA= Carmine, O= Onyx, N= Nightshade, CR= Crimson, GR= Grullo]
Ready For This – All Good Things
Grullo slammed the sticks down into the drums as Onyx and Crimson started to shred out a long riff, Carmine nodded his head along with the rhythm.
Ca: Living breathing for a single moment. We've left everything we had behind, Time to roll brothers out and over. Nothing to lose, nothing but time. Are you sure you wanna take this road now? Are you certain that you're gonna win? Did they tell you that it could be over? Over and done before you begin?
Ca: Everything you know will not prepare you, nothing's gonna change if you resist. Everything you got, bring it on we dare you! Nothing will compare to this!
Ca: It's an avalanche! (O: Are you ready for this) It's a critical mass! (O: Are you ready for this) It's a massive attack! (O: Are you ready for this) It will kick your ass! (O: Are you ready for this)
Ca: Bring the fire, and you take your chances, start the fight, and we'll bring your answer! (All: Woah) Are you ready for this? Are you ready for this? Are you ready for this?
Ca: Like a stone we're colder, harder, like a rock we're standing strong. Never doubt we will hold out, but never fear it won't be long. Are you sure you want to take this road now? Are you sure you want to make this stand? Do you want to shout and scream your glory, just to have it taken out your hands?!
Ca: Everything you know will not prepare you, nothing's gonna change if you resist. Everything you got, bring it on we dare you! Nothing will compare to this!
Ca: It's an avalanche! (O: Are you ready for this) It's a critical mass! (O: Are you ready for this) It's a massive attack! (O: Are you ready for this) It will kick your ass! (O: Are you ready for this)
Ca: Bring the fire, and you take your chances, start the fight, and we'll bring your answer! (All: Woah) Are you ready for this? Are you ready for this? Are you ready for this?
Ca: Build your walls. Fortify. Hold your enemy lines. Lock and load or bug out, but you won't slow us down.
Ca, O: Build your walls. Fortify. Hold your enemy lines. Lock and load or bug out, but you won't slow us down.
Ca: Everything you got bring it on we dare you, nothing will compare to this. Everything you know will not prepare you, nothing's gonna change if you resist. Everything you got, bring it on we dare you! Nothing will compare to this!
Ca: It's an avalanche! (O: Are you ready for this) It's a critical mass! (O: Are you ready for this) It's a massive attack! (O: Are you ready for this) It will kick your ass! (O: Are you ready for this)
Ca: Bring the fire, and you take your chances, start the fight, and we'll bring your answer! (All: Woah) Are you ready for this? Are you ready for this? Are you ready for this?
Carmine closed his eyes as he finished the last verse, he opened his eyes and looked into the crowd as the eyes of malice moved out and left the club 'Yeah, take that back to your leaders.' Carmine thought to himself, Carmine took a deep breath and exhaled slowly "Alright, let's get these vibes flowing!" Carmine said as he Onyx shredded out a few chords.
Strike Back – Jonathan Young
N: Whoa-oa-oa-oa-oa-oa-oa. Whoa-oa-oa-oa-oa-oa-oa. Whoa-oa-oa-oa-oa-oa-oa. Whoa-oa-oa.
Ca: Strike Back!
Crimson shredded out a riff that shook everyone to the core.
Ca: I might not ever see the chance to change the course of history, but I'll take that chance for even the slightest possibility. I turned my back and left a fate that I could have just accepted now, I'll fight for the future next to you, it's where I need to be.
O: Bring it on 'Cause I'm just gonna grow up in the battle, hey! Pushing through the burning sky, burning my fire a dragon's wishing through the skies, I'm fighting off this nightmare! And what I see, what's happened? Ready to die in the now that we live in not scared of my past, but for the future I'm giving in, screaming for my pride!
Ca: Don't let your tears begin to fall, I will be screaming for you all the way!
O: Whatever fell and tell right behind me. Won't stray me from my destiny!
Ca: Your smile will never let me fall, with you behind me I'll go all the way.
O: I'm gonna push it and make for you and me, all our failures rest in peace!
Ca: No matter what it takes!
Crimson shredded into the guitar strings with force as his body moved with the melody, Grullo slammed the sticks down into the toms and high hats as he beat the shit out of the kick drum.
Ca: Even in the corner of my heart I beat my bloody fists on walls disregard the chances, I'm never turning back at all. Even when the pouring rain of reason starts to fall upon, I'll know I will never hesitate when the chance to change our future calls.
O: So, as the day breaks, soldiers follow me now! Don't you ever stumble, or you'll pay it back at expense, now! Pay back fast, ain't failing you, worthless. No, men, I won't live in sadness. Walk off, you all, disappear with the rest, but you can't fight if there's fire in my chest, so scream, ready for your fight!
Ca: I light my fire standing tall, my heart will keep on burning all the way!
O: Nobody can put out my fire, get away. So, get back to a safe place.
Ca: I'm never loose inside at all and I won't hesitate; go all the way!
O: Don't blind your eyes if you've lost, yeah, I am gonna be your light!
Ca: So, take my hand!
Cr: Hey, what are we living for? Haha! I live. For. This. Shit!
O: We're gonna set up and go with the pride, it's like the clouds go during sunrise! We're gonna set up and go with the pride, it's like the clouds go during sunrise!
Ca: Don't let your tears begin to fall, I will be screaming for you all the way!
O: Whatever fell and tell right behind me. Won't stray me from my destiny!
Ca: Your smile will never let me fall, with you behind me I'll go all the way.
O: I'm gonna push it and make for you and me, all our failures rest in peace!
Ca: I light my fire standing tall, my heart will keep on burning all the way!
O: Nobody can put out my fire, get away. So, get back to a safe place.
Ca: I'm never loose inside at all and I won't hesitate; go all the way!
O: Don't blind your eyes if you've lost, yeah, I am gonna be your light!
Ca: So, take my hand!
The crowd erupted into cheers and whistles as Carmine and Onyx panted heavily together, Carmine wrapped his arms around Onyx and gave him a bear hug.
"Love you too, little brother." Onyx said as Carmine sat him down, Crimson chuckled "I forgot how much of a dynamic duo you two are when it comes to singing, Carmine's melodic vocals and Onyx's screaming makes for a powerful song." Crimson said as he wiped some blood off of his fingers.
"Encore! Encore! Encore!" The crowd chanted as they conversed with each other, Carmine and Onyx looked at each other "Let's not leave them waiting." Onyx said as he took his place.
Crimson and Onyx ran their hands up the necks of their guitars as Carmine walked up to the microphone.
The Crimson Bow and Arrow – Jonathan Young
Ca: Are you the prey?!
N, O, Cr: No, we are the hunters!
All: Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, we are the hunters! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, we are the hunters!
Ca: Flowers with their names forgotten trampled into dust, they're fallen. Birds with broken wings are crying, wind can never take them flying. Waste your precious moments praying, but god's not here and nothing's changing. If you want to fix your fate, then change it with determination! Pigs will sneer at the steadfast as we climb over the dead, keep advancing ahead. Live your life in peace like you're just a sheep, but wolves will never lose their freedom.
Ca, O, Cr: Sick of the cage, that's just the beginning! We're a disgrace until we're winning! Over the walls like hunters, we're fighting! They're not the predators anymore! Hungry to kill, you'll never forget this, piercing the sky with scarlet vengeance. Bloody the bow and arrow in crimson and rally the hunters to war!
Ca: Draw the bow now, chase the prey now. Don't you let it get away, loose the arrow now, got it cornered now, never let it get away. String is tightening, arrow lightening, bow is just about to break. Endless volleying, hunters rallying 'till we execute the prey. It's not the weapon nor the skill that gives you strength to make the kill, no. You must be resolute, unbreakable, and definite in will, oh!
All: We are the hunters - ever burning like a fire! We are the hunters - ever merciless and cold as ice! We are the hunters - Draw yourself into the arrow! We are the hunters - perseverant, we will pierce the skies!
Gr: The attack on the titans, the boy of yore will soon take up the sword. One who despairs in his own helplessness cannot change the winds of fate, but the boy of yore will soon take up the dark sword. Hate & anger are a double-edged blade, the day will soon come when he bares his teeth against destiny.
Ca: To those, reaching for a dream, chasing after more than just your life! If you ever will succeed, you will have to make your sacrifice! To think that any dream could be coming true, if you never take a single risk… So, step on up and take it, take it! Fool's indecision, just an illusion, maybe your reckless bravery. Liberty's pawn, they're pressing you on the shackled will ride to victory.
Ca, O, Cr: Sick of the cage, that's just the beginning! We're a disgrace until we're winning! Over the walls like hunters, we're fighting! They're not the predators anymore! Hungry to kill, you'll never forget this, piercing the sky with scarlet vengeance. Bloody the bow and arrow in crimson and rally the hunters to war!
Carmine backed away from the mic as the crowd cheered as they exited stage left and sat back down in the lounge area "Shit, I don't know about you guys, but I'm fucking tired." Carmine said as he wrapped his arm around Sapphire and pulled her in close.
"Let's go the fuck home and rest, start fresh in the morning." Onyx said as he stood up, the others stood up and followed him out, Crimson walked over to Miltia and kissed her goodbye before he ran out of the club and rejoined the group as they walked down the street with Phantom in tow.
"Give me your fucking purse, bitch!" A man yelled from down an alleyway, the group looked down the alley and saw a man holding a gun to a woman's face. The woman was terrified as she held her hands up and her entire body shook, Carmine looked at Phantom "Alright kid, show us what you got." Carmine said to the man in black, Phantom cracked his knuckles before he disappeared into a cloud of black smoke.
"Please, don't kill me. Please. Please." The woman said as she sobbed with tears running down her face, Phantom appeared out of a cloud of smoke and he quickly reached up from behind the man and flipped the pistol's safety on, ejected the magazine, and ripped it from his hand. "What the fuck?!" The man said as he turned around, he reached up quickly and grabbed the side of the man's head, he slammed it into his knee before he threw him into the brick wall.
"Are you hurt?" He asked the woman as the man groaned on the ground, she cradled her face as she cried softly "Thank you, who are you?" She asked as she wiped away the mascara that ran down her cheeks, Phantom chuckled "Just a guy trying to redeem himself." Phantom said as he walked back into the cloud of darkness.
He reappeared behind the Wolf Pack "Well, what did you think?" Phantom asked, Carmine wiggled his hand "Eight out of ten, minus two points for lack of flair." Carmine said, Onyx slugged him in the arm "You did great, kid." Onyx said as they walked down the street and Carmine rubbed his arm. Two Little Birds flew overhead as they walked down the dimly lit street, as they walked down the street, Carmine felt a voice echoing in the back of his head as if it were whispering to him, but this voice didn't belong to him.
'How long will this last, Titan? How long can you keep up your façade? When will you break? Will it be when they all lay dead in front of you, their blood on your hands?' The voice asked, Carmine closed his eyes.
'This will be over when you're all dead, Loki. Now, get the fuck out of my head! And don't you ever call me Titan again!' Carmine yelled from within his mind, he heard the flutter of wings from within his mind. Phantom stared at him when he opened his eyes "She spoke to you, didn't she?" Phantom asked, Carmine nodded slowly.
As they walked, their gear clanged lightly against their bodies in the silent night. As they walked through the square, a cool breeze blew across the courtyard and bounced off their heavy body armor, only Sapphire shivered from the breeze. "Don't worry, we'll be back in a few minutes." Carmine said as they neared the HQ. Crimson and Nightshade looked at Phantom who followed them back toward the HQ "Alright, you'll be in the basement. There are a couple spare rooms down there." Crimson said as Onyx unlocked the front door to the HQ.
They walked into the HQ and closed the door behind them "While you went off toward Beacon, Crimson and Keppel drove the vehicles back here and parked them in the back." Onyx said as he unholstered his pistol and placed it on the table. Carmine nodded as he laid his G36 on the table in the armory and pulled his backpack off, he sat the bag on the table before he walked into his bedroom where Sapphire was sprawled out on the bed.
"Babe! Come to bed!" Sapphire pleaded as she laid on the king-sized mattress, Carmine chuckled "Let me get a shower first, I got blood, sweat, soot, and gunpowder on me." Carmine said as he unclipped his vest and sat it on the floor, he pulled off his hoodie and tossed it into a hamper along with his pants that were splotched with blood and his socks that were damp.
He climbed into the shower and turned the water on, the water hit his scarred body and melted away the blood and dirt from his body, it turned the white marble shower floor black and red as it was sucked into the drain. As Carmine washed his body, he winced in pain as he felt something sharp pain shoot through his leg, he looked down to see a small piece of black metal sticking out of his thigh. He turned the shower off and climbed out, he wrapped a towel around his waist before he walked out of the bathroom and called out to the living room "Guys! Medic!" Carmine yelled as walked out into the living room.
Onyx bounded the corner "What's up little br… holy shit! Are you okay?" Onyx asked as Carmine sat down in a chair, he took a deep breath "I guess the adrenaline wore off." Carmine said as Crimson and Nightshade walked up, Crimson shoved a rag into Carmine's mouth. Crimson and Onyx grabbed his arms and held them down as Nightshade grabbed the exposed part of the shrapnel.
"Alright, on three." Nightshade said, Carmine nodded "Alright, One." Nightshade said before he ripped the shrapnel from Carmine's thigh, blood sprayed out in a mist and coated the wall. Crimson pulled the cloth from Carmine's mouth and covered the gash in his leg. Nightshade looked at the piece of metal and flipped it over "Looks like a piece of rotor blade." Nightshade said before he tossed it onto the floor. The metal hit the ground with a clang as it bounced and spun on the hardwood floor.
Crimson wiped some of the blood away and revealed that the wound had already healed itself, Carmine stood up and walked back to his shower to finish it. Carmine finished his shower and got out, he pulled on a pair of boxers and gym shorts. Carmine exited the bathroom and climbed into bed next to Sapphire "Ohh, I'm so tired." Carmine said as he melted into his bed.
Sapphire wriggled up underneath his arms and draped he arm across his stomach "Shh, not talk now. Only dreams." She said as she buried her face into his chest. As he laid in bed with the love of his life in his arms, one thought echoed through his head.
'When will you break? Will it be when they all lay dead in front of you, their blood on your hands?' The voice of Loki echoed through his head, but he quickly shook from his head as he closed his eyes.
*The Next Day*
"Wake up!" Onyx yelled from the living room, Carmine slowly pulled himself out of bed and kissed Sapphire on the lips before he left his room. Carmine left his bedroom and closed the door behind him "Where's the fire?" He asked in a hushed tone, Onyx tossed him an energy drink. "Get dressed, we got an appointment with Mindaro." Onyx said, Carmine walked back into his room and pulled out a pair of black jeans out of his dresser, he pulled them on slowly, but he felt a pair of arms around abdomen.
He felt himself slowly being dragged back toward the bed "Shhhh. Just give in to my temptation." Sapphire said as she kissed him on the neck and sat him on the bed. "I can't, but you can go with me." Carmine said, Sapphire lit up and shot out of the bed to get dressed.
Carmine pulled on a pair of black high-top sneakers out of his closet and pulled them on along with a pair of socks, he pulled on a black long sleeve shirt as Sapphire exploded out of the bathroom wearing a black t-shirt, red flannel long sleeve shirt that only had a few buttons buttoned, and a pair of dark blue skinny jeans.
"God damn it, you always look so cute in anything." Carmine said as she put in a pair of earrings with upside down crosses, Carmine stood up and grabbed his wallet and scroll from the nightstand before the two left the bedroom together.
"You two ready?" Onyx asked as the two stood together by the doorway, Carmine nodded before Onyx led them out of the building. Sapphire's heels clicked on the brick as they walked down the strip, Onyx led them up to a store that had no name on the front of it.
He banged on the door hard until he heard voice "Yeah! Yeah! Keep your dick on." The man said before he opened the door and guided them inside. "Onyx! What can I do for you?" Mindaro asked as he walked around the counter, Onyx gestured to Carmine "I got you a new customer." Onyx said, Carmine stepped forward and looked at Mindaro.
"Alright, so I'm going to need a custom weapon, I had a Scar-H that had a v.4 ERGO Foregrip, ACOG Sight, thirty round magazine, green laser sight, a muzzle break, and an extended stock with shock absorption." Carmine said, Mindaro nodded before he turned around and pointed to a rifle on the wall "Like that one?" He asked, Carmine shook his head "I need it to be able to turn into a sword like a saber or falchion blade, I need to be able to block a sword swing. That's how I lost my other rifle." Carmine said, Mindaro nodded slowly "Alright, anything else?" He asked as he wrote down the request, Carmine thought for a moment.
"Oh, an MP7 combined with a Bowie knife, give the MP7 a muzzle break and a red dot sight." Carmine said as Mindaro wrote down the request. Mindaro nodded "Alright kid, give me a couple hours and give you a call when I got something for you." Mindaro said, Carmine nodded before the three left. The sun had crept into the sky and was almost at its peak "Close to noon, lunch?" Onyx said without checking his scroll, Sapphire pulled hers out and looked at the time "How did you know that?" She asked confused.
Carmine chuckled "Little trick we picked up along the way, it helps when we're deep in the shit and don't have our scrolls." Carmine said as he wrapped his arm around her waist. Carmine started humming to himself as they walked into a café, they sat by the window when the waitress walked up "Hello folks, can I start y'all out with something to drink?" She asked politely, Carmine looked up to her "Earl Grey Tea with Honey please." Carmine said, "Ceylon Burning Sun, please." Sapphire said, the waitress looked at Onyx "And for you, sir?" She asked politely.
"Dark Rose, please." Onyx said, Carmine started humming again as the waitress walked away, Sapphire looked at her boyfriend "What are you humming?" She asked confused, he chuckled lightly "Just the melody of a song I wrote for you." Carmine said as he played with a sugar packet.
"Well, can you sing it for me? There's a mic over there next to that piano." She said as she pointed toward a small stage with a microphone stand and a grand piano, Carmine shrugged before he stood up and walked over to the piano. He sat down on the bench and started to play the keys slowly, the deep notes echoed through the café and bounced off the walls.
Bulletproof – Ben Woodward
Through the smoke, through the smoke. The sapphire in your eyes, pull me close, pull me close and keep me up all night and you know, you know I'm drunk on the vibing, we're moving fast, not going slow. This love that we fell in.
I don't really care if the skies are falling, as long as I'm next to you And I don't really care if the wolves surround me 'Cause when I'm with you, I'm bulletproof. And if you ever said that you were leaving, I wouldn't know what to do. 'Cause when I'm with you, the wolves can't hurt me, Yeah when I'm with you I'm, When I'm with you I'm.
Carmine let the melody in his head flow through his fingers into the keys of the piano, he slowly closed his eyes as he played and sang.
Through the years, through the years, no matter where we are, you know you'll be, know you'll be, forever in my heart.
I don't really care if the skies are falling, as long as I'm next to you And I don't really care if the wolves surround me, 'Cause when I'm with you, I'm bulletproof. And if you ever said that you were leaving, I wouldn't know what to do, 'Cause when I'm with you, the wolves can't hurt me yeah when I'm with you I'm, when I'm with you I'm.
The piano chords sounded almost angelic as they played through the cozy café, Sapphire's smile caused Carmine's heart to flutter and sore like an eagle from the top of a mountain. He bobbed his head as he played slowly, he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up as he played the lighter notes.
I don't really care if the skies are falling As long as I'm next to you And I don't really care if the wolves surround me 'Cause when I'm with you, I'm bulletproof And if you ever said that you were leaving I wouldn't know what to do 'Cause when I'm with you, The wolves can't hurt me Yeah when I'm with you I'm, when I'm with you I'm. I don't really care if the skies are falling as long as I'm next to you. And I don't really care if the wolves surround me, 'Cause when I'm with you, I'm bulletproof. When I'm with you, I'm bulletproof. When I'm with you, I'm bulletproof.
Carmine played the melody slower and eventually stopped, he opened his eyes and looked out over the café, there wasn't a patron with a dry eye in the café. Sapphire covered her mouth as tears formed in her eyes. "I love you, Carmine. I will never stop loving you, you're the man of my dreams and I'm so glad I bumped into you." Sapphire said before she ran on stage and threw herself into his arms.
He caught her and held her tightly as she cried into his shoulder, Onyx clapped lightly "Way to go, little bro. You destroyed the game for every other guy here." He said sarcastically. Carmine returned to the table as their tea arrived and they enjoyed a nice lunch while they discussed life and Carmine and Sapphire displayed sickening amounts of affection.
After a while, Carmine got a message on his scroll 'Weapons are ready. – M' Carmine read the message to himself before he looked up at Onyx "They're ready." Carmine said before Onyx tossed down a red lien card. The trio walked back to the gun store where Mindaro greeted them with open arms, and a Glock on his hip.
"Alright chief, I got them set up for you. Here's the SCAR-H with all the components you asked for, made with Tungsten, Chromium, and Titanium, I also had it dyed black, you have no idea how hard it is to dye metal. There isn't anything in the world that can destroy this thing aside from the god damn sun." Mindaro said as Carmine pulled back the bolt and observed the chamber. "Hit that button on the stock." Mindaro said, Carmine pressed the button and watched as the rifle quickly transformed into a sword with a medium sized blade.
"Got the falchion style blade you asked for, and since the blade is also made of Tungsten, Chromium, and Titanium, you won't lose a sword fight ever again." Mindaro said before Carmine converted it back to its rifle variant and placed it in a large black case.
"And here's the MP7 you requested." Mindaro said as he placed a black SMG on the counter, Carmine picked it up and looked down the red dot sight as he held the foregrip, he pressed a button on the right side of the handle and converted it into a large knife. He flipped it upside down and held it close to his body. "Let me guess, also made of Tungsten, Chromium, and Titanium?" Carmine asked curiously, Mindaro grinned and chuckled a little bit "Only the best for the Wolves, you come back whenever you need anything." Mindaro said as Carmine placed the SMG into a medium sized case with a few extra magazines.
"Thanks, Mindaro, you're the best." Onyx said as they walked out of the shop, Mindaro nodded "I know I'm great." Mindaro said as he stroked his own ego. The trio walked back to the HQ but ran into Keppel who was with a woman with blonde hair and a little girl with blonde hair and black wolf ears.
"Oh, hey Keppel, what are you up to?" Carmine asked curiously, Keppel turned and saw the three walking toward him. "Oh, hey guys! Just enjoying a day out with my family, Dahlia, this is Carmine, his girlfriend, Sapphire, and his brother Onyx. Guys, this is my wife Dahlia, and my daughter, Jade." Keppel said as the little girl hid behind Keppel's leg.
Carmine knelt done in front of them "It's alright sweetie, don't be scared. There's nothing to be afraid of." Carmine said in a light-hearted tone of voice. Jade slowly came out from behind her father's leg "Hi Cawmine." She said, Onyx suppressed laughter within himself. Sapphire hugged Dahlia "Ooh girl, you look so cute. Trying to show off for your man?" Dahlia asked as she complimented Sapphire.
Sapphire blushed a little "Yeah, I wanted to spoil him a bit." Sapphire said, Carmine chuckled "Babe, you spoil me all the time." Carmine said as he stood up. Keppel chuckled "So, what are y'all up to?" The sniper asked, Carmine shrugged "Just picked up a new rifle, this one is almost indestructible. I also got an MP7 as a secondary." Carmine said as he wiggled the boxes in his hands.
They conversed amongst themselves for a bit, then went their separate ways "I meet back up with you guys." Keppel said as he disappeared into a crowd with his family, his wolf ears twitched within the mess of black hair.
They arrived back at the HQ and went inside, they were surprised to find Titus, Aero, and Harlequin standing in the main room with Crimson and Nightshade.
"We got some news, guys. Astaroth sang like a songbird, we know where the Iron Hammer is." Titus said, Carmine's eyes went wide. 'Finally, let's cut the head off this snake.' Carmine thought to himself as Aero tossed down an envelope.
A/N: Whooooo! Here we go! In this corner with the weight of the world on their shoulders, the Wolf Pack. And in this corner, sporting enough felonies to be burned at the stake, multiple murders, rape, kidnapping, and terrorism, the Grimm Reapers. Are you ready? Are you ready? Fight!
It's heating up fast, what will happen? Stay tuned! Remember to Favorite, Follow, and Review, as always, this Nightmare 6-4, Signing off.