RWBY: Team CRML

Chapter 28

Liam

Out in the forest clearing, Liam was sparring with Vernal once more. He had gotten much more used to his...adjustments, and was now able to keep up with her without much effort. Jumping away as Liam swung his sword at her, Vernal performed a backwards somersault, landing a few feet away.

Raising his sword in his reverse grip, Vernal charged at Liam. Once she got close, Liam vanished as she attacked. Confused, Vernal looked around, only for Liam to suddenly kick her in the back, causing her to fall down.

Turning onto her back, Vernal stared up at him. "When did you activate your semblance?"

"The same time you performed that somersault." Liam replied as he sheathed his blade. "Your eyes weren't on me, and you taught me to be quick."

"Not bad."

Liam smirked but that quickly faded as a familiar pain reappeared in his shoulder. He was rather used to it at this point, only grunting softly while rubbing it. "Phantom pains?" Vernal asked as she noticed his discomfort.

"Yeah. It'll fade soon."

Hating seeing him like this, Vernal walked over. "May I help?"

"How?"

"Close your eyes." Vernal said softly. Doing as told, a few seconds passed before he felt a soft pair of lips press against his. He was caught off guard by the sudden act but he didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned forward.

Opening his eyes when Vernal pulled away, she took his hand into hers. "Come with me. I'll help you forget the pain."

Chrome

Arriving at Menagerie, the four of them left the ship. "So, this is Menagerie?" Nicci said, looking around at all of the other Faunus passing by.

"Never been?" Chrome asked.

"No." Nicci shook her head. "But it seems-"

"Crowded." Sun said as the four of them walked the streets.

"Ya don't say."

While walking, Sun and Blake talked to each other but Chrome wasn't paying attention to what they were saying. His focus was more on what was going to happen when they got home and confronted his parents.

Reaching the peak of the hill, the road continued back down, leading to a massive house with at least three stories. Along the path were other houses and palm trees. "Time to go home." Blake said.

"Oh yeah?" Sun put his arm around Blake. "Which one's yours? Can you see it from here?"

As he spoke, Chrome began heading down the path. "Just...follow him." Blake told Sun.

As they walked, Sun expected Chrome to make a turn at some point but he just kept heading to the house at the end. Walking up the porch, Chrome reached for the knocker only to hesitate. "You live here?!"

"Sh!" Blake hushed Sun.

Chrome shook his head before using the knocker. The sound it makes is rather loud as it resonates.

Taking a few steps back, Chrome and Blake stood shoulder to shoulder while Nicci and Sun stood behind them. Seeing the door open slightly, Blake tensed up for just a moment while Chrome looked away. Kali, a short cat Faunus poked her head out from the door. "Chrome? Blake?" she said in disbelief.

"Hi, mom." Blake said, awkwardly lifting her arm in greeting.

Kali pulled her two kids into a hug. "I've missed you two."

Blake hugged her back while Chrome sort of fidgeted. "Kali, who is it?"

Ghira appeared at the door. Seeing his kids return home put a smile on his face.

A few minutes later

Sitting around a table, five out of the six of them drank tea. Chrome, having not touched his tea, or even looked his parents in the eye, was preparing himself for the coming conversation. His head was lowered, hiding the scar that ran down his left eye. The scar that had left his eye blind.

"Chrome?" Kali said softly. "Are you okay? You haven't said anything since you arrived."

Chrome lifted his head, showing his parents the healed injury. Immediately noticing it, Kali got up and walked around the table, kneeling down to get a better look. "Oh my God..." she looked him over.

"It's fine, mom." Chrome pushed her hands away gently. "I have something more important to ask you and dad."

Ghira, being in a stunned silence, broke out of it. "What is it, son?"

"Am I a Schnee?"

Kali and Ghira both looked to each other. Ghira, sighing heavily, nodded his head. "Yes. Yes, you are."

"But you are also a Belladonna." Kali told him. Sun, Nicci and Blake all sat in silence.

Seeing the look on Chrome's face, Ghira decided to be the one to explain. "I had a brother." he started. "He went to Atlas for vacation and met Willow Schnee. She had just found out her husband married her for her name on the same day their daughter turned one. That left Willow depressed and emotionally unstable. My brother talked to her and the two shared drink after drink. Eventually, the two...well..." Ghira paused, so Chrome could catch what he meant. "A week later, he was...killed in a protest. Then, a few more weeks later, Willow arrived at our door. She told us what had happened and ask that we take you in once you were born. We agreed. And nine months later, you came along."

"The last thing she did before leaving for Atlas was giving you your name." Kali finished.

The room fell silent. As the information sunk in, Chrome looked back and forth between his parents. "What do you think of me?" he asked.

"You're our son." Kali said.

"And you always will be." Ghira added.

Feeling tears well up in his eyes, Chrome wiped them away. Seeing this, Kali pulled him into a hug. This time, Chrome returned it.

The loud sound of the front door knocker resonates, catching everyone's attention.

"Darn it, I completely forgot about the meeting!" Ghira hits his fist onto the table and Kali quickly covers it with her hand.

"Ghira..."

"Give me a moment."

He gets up and walks out.

"Is everything okay?" Chrome asked.

"Yes, dear, just poor timing. He can reschedule. It's just been hard dealing with them lately." Kali replied.

"Dealing with who?" Nicci, who had been silent until now, asked.

"Hmm? The White Fang."

"WHAT?!" Sun, Blake, Nicci and Chrome all sprung to their feet.

The four of them rush to the door, where Ghira is speaking with two fox Faunus, Corsac Albain and Fennec Albain. The two visitors maintain respectful, formal postures, keeping their hands clasped before them.

"Dad!"

"Blake, what's wrong?"

"Miss Belladonna." Corsac greeted.

"We had no idea you'd returned." Fennec said.

Every time either one of the two Albain brothers speaks, they gesture with their hands and end with clasping their hands before their chests again.

"What are you doing talking to these people?" Chrome growled.

"This is Corsac and Fennec Albain. They represent the White Fang here in Menagerie now." Ghira told him.

"Those psychos are here, too?!" Sun shouted.

"Young man, I'm not sure what you've heard of our organization, but I can assure you, we're not nearly as ferocious as the media would have you believe." Fennec said.

"What we've heard? We've seen firsthand. Your fanatics slaughtered people!" Blake said.

"What is she talking about?" Ghira growled as he turned to them.

"Precisely what we came to discuss with you, Your Grace." Corsac said.

"Is everything alright?" Kali asked, joining the others.

"Wait, you guys seriously don't know?" Sun asked.

"Know what?"

"The White Fang was at the Fall of Beacon. They attacked innocent civilians and they released Grimm into the school." Nicci explained.

There is a brief silence. Fennec makes an innocent, sideways glance at his brother. Ghira slowly turns to face the two White Fang representatives.

"Is this true?"

"Sadly, Your Grace, it is." Fennec told him.

"Don't act like you're s-"

"That's enough!" Ghira looked to the Albains. "Explain yourselves."

"Though it pains us to admit, it has become apparent that the Vale branch of the White Fang is no longer operating under orders of High Leader Khan. Rather, they've elected to follow the rule of one Adam Taurus. I believe you're all familiar with the young adept and his... extreme philosophies."

"You know, Beacon wasn't the first time the Fang started shooting up Vale!" Sun growled.

"The High Council had their suspicions of a splinter group, but they could prove nothing until this latest incident."

"'Incident'? People are dead!" Chrome glared at them.

"And it is a tragedy."

"Your Grace, we came to assure you that Brother Taurus and his followers do not represent the will of the White Fang." Corsac said.

"And how can I be sure of that?"

"We understand if you bear any skepticism towards these claims. The White Fang's tactics are admittedly, more aggressive since you stepped down as High Leader and became Chieftain of Menagerie. But this, this is no way to make our message heard."

"We have ample documentation from the council meeting, as well as several strategies to apprehend and punish these strays if you care to review them." Fennec told him.

"I will, but another day. I'd like some time to reconnect with my kids."

"But of course, Your Grace."

"We completely understand. It was a pleasure to see you again, young Blake. Chrome."

"We were saddened when we heard of your departure from the White Fang, but understand if you can no longer support our cause."

"It is a wearying fight, after all."

"Who says we're done fighting?" Chrome growled at the two.

"Hmm... If you ever do wish to return, you need merely come find us."

"Sister Ilia would be elated." Fennec said.

"Goodbye, gentlemen."

Ghira firmly closes the door on them. Kali moves to stand closer and face her husband while Blake walks off.

"So... those guys were creepy."

Ghira looked to Sun. "I really don't like you."

End of chapter 28