RWBY: Team CRML

Chapter 48

CRML

Outside the Atlas outpost, Ruby and her team tried to convince the guards to give them all access to fly to Atlas. However, the guards were insistent on not letting them through. "Look," Qrow stepped forward. "we have Weiss Schnee with us and we're trying to get her home safely."

Weiss looked down with reluctance upon hearing Qrow say that. Noticing this, Liam placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. The two guards looked to each other before turning their attention back to the group.

"Approach!"

Weiss shares a look with Liam, who just nodded in return. Weiss hesitantly walked up to the gate and the two guards step up and bend down to inspect her. After a moment, both guards stand straight back up.

"Very well."

"You may speak with our commanding officer."

"We will fetch her at once."

The two guards turn on their heels and walk away to fetch their CO.

"They were... kind of-"

"Super weird? Uh, yeah." Ruby finished for Nicci.

"Hmm..."

"What's wrong?" Oscar asked, turning to Maria.

"Well, I... may know this commanding officer..."

"That's good, isn't it? If she's your friend, then maybe she'd be more willing to help us." Nicci said.

"I wouldn't exactly call us... 'friends'."

"Acquaintances?" Weiss asked.

"Not quite."

"Colleagues?"

"Warmer." Maria replied.

"Enemies?" Yang asked.

"That's the one!"

"Wait, what?"

"Oh, yes. I come through here about once every ten years to get my eyes checked up in Atlas." Maria told them. "You bring outside cashews on one flight, and suddenly you're placed on the additional screening list for life!"

"You're joking..."

"Now, now, let's not give up hope yet." Maria said. "Maybe she's dead!"

Suddenly, the gates opened up quickly, and the two guards return.

"Introducing!"

"Special operative!"

"Caroline Cordovin!"

A short elderly woman walked up to the gates. Upon seeing Maria, she glared. "Witch."

"She-devil."

"Hm. I've seen you've chosen larger contraband to smuggle this time." Cordovin said.

"Oh, Cordo. You know they say time changes people, but I see you've still got that stick right up your-"

Ruby quickly cut Maria off. "H-hello! Miss, uh, Cordovin. My name is Ruby Rose, and I was wondering if you would hear us out about-"

"I've already heard what your other little friends had to say, Miss Rose." Cordo turned to team JNPR who stood further back from the rest of the group. "What are you doing back here?! I thought I told you to leave!"

"And I told you we wouldn't rest until you let us through!" Nora shouted.

"Nice to see you again as well!" Ren waved at her.

"You civilians are clearly incapable of comprehending the importance of our mission here in Argus." Cordo said with a snort. "So allow me to say this slowly, with smaller words: This base, that relay tower, the very safety of Argus are all gifts from the glorious Kingdom of Atlas! And it is my duty to uphold them, as only I have the wit and tenacity for such a task."

"Or maybe Atlas just wanted to get you as far from the kingdom as possible." Maria said with a smirk.

"You're just like the rest of these Argus ingrates!" Cordo growled. "This city wouldn't even be here if it weren't for our Atlesian ancestors, and what do we get in return? The entire world is ready to put a knife to our throats!"

"Please, we know your kingdom had nothing to do with the Fall of Beacon. We were there." Ruby spoke up.

"No one's happy about the Atlas borders or embargo, but I know General Ironwood is just worried. It's why we need to talk to-"

"The General is no coward!" Cordo growled, cutting Weiss off. "Atlas is strong. If all the kingdoms plan to make us their enemy, then so be it! Atlas will prevail!"

"If Miss Schnee has truly come to her senses and wishes to return to her family, then, of course, the Atlas military will escort her home. But the kingdom will not be responsible for her 'friends' of... questionable character." as she said this, she glared at Chrome and Blake.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Weiss growled.

"It means we're done here." The gates to the base are close quickly, leaving the group outside once again.

"Alright, screw it!" Liam walked up to the gates. "Hey!"

Cordo glanced back at him. "What are you doing?" Qrow asked.

"We need to get to Atlas because we have an important delivery for General Ironwood that he requested we deliver to him in person!" Liam told her, enunciating the last two words.

"And what would that be?" Cordo asked, turning to the group.

"Classified." Liam replied.

"Oh, then it must be important!" Cordo said with a hint of sarcasm. "By all means, take an airship and head straight to Atlas. You have my permission."

"Really?!" Nora asked.

There were a few seconds of silence. "No."

"Oh yeah? Well, your face looks... like a big dumb boot!" Nora shouted at her.

"Way to show her, Nora..."

Ruby, Blake and Yang look to Weiss.

"I don't..."

"Weiss. I told you we wouldn't leave your side for a second. We'll find a way to Atlas. Together." Ruby placed a hand on her shoulder.

Weiss smiled and nodded back at her friend as Qrow started to walk away.

"So... where are we going now?" Nicci asked.

"Yeah, what's the plan?"

"The plan?" Qrow asked, bitterly. "The plan just got shut on our face three times over. I'm going for a drink."

"Uncle Qrow, I really think we should try and come up with something..." Qrow walked away before Ruby could finish. "...together."

"What's his problem? It's not your fault we can't go on." Jaune said.

"Who cares?" Liam asked, crossing his arms.

"If he's gonna be a jerk then we'll just come up with something without him. I mean, we've got Ozpin with us! He usually knows what to do." Nora gestured to Oscar.

Upon hearing this, Oscar looked down sadly, while Weiss, Blake and Yang exchange troubled looks.

"What is it?" Chrome asked, noticing their looks.

Minutes later

Back at Saphron's home, Jaune punched the wall, leaving a very large crack in it. "Jaune!"

"Everything we did was for nothing!" he shouted.

"That's not true." Blake said softly.

"Really? Cause it sure does sound like it." Nora crossed her arms.

"I, um..."

"If Salem can't be killed, then how are we supposed to win this?" Ren asked.

Everyone remained silent. "Wow... Great plan everyone!" Jaune said sarcastically.

"Look, none of this is great, we know. But we're not the bad guys here." Oscar said.

"Are we sure about that?" Jaune asked, his tone hostile.

"What?"

"He's in your head, isn't he? Did you already know about this?" Jaune stormed over to Oscar.

"He didn't know any of it!" Nicci tried to defend him.

Jaune grabbed Oscar and shoved him against the wall. "How much longer can we even trust him?!"

"Jaune!" Yang shouted.

"How do we even know it's really him?! What if we have been talking to that liar this whole time?!" Jaune shouted.

"Jaune!" Ruby angrily glared at Jaune, who glares back at her. He looked back over to Oscar, who is cowering in fear. Jaune, realizing what he has done, let go of Oscar with an apologetic look on his face. Jaune then goes upstairs, a door slamming seconds later.

"Did you know anything about this?" Liam asked, glancing to Marek.

"Know what?"

"Salem's immortality."

"Why would he know anything?" Nora asked, suspicious.

Marek sighed. "Salem...is my mother." he told them as he removed his hood and bandanna. "You guys might as well know. I already told my team and Ruby's."

"Your mother?!" Nora yelled.

"We're not biologically related." Marek said, crossing his arms. "She killed my parents and kidnapped me and my sister to raise as her own. She used some of her power to lock our memories of our parents away, replacing them with false ones to sell the deception. I only recently remembered them when we went to Kuroyuri."

"Why's that?" Ren asked.

"Me and my sister used to live there." Marek told them. "Until Salem arrived with her Grimm to destroy the village."

"Salem destroyed Kuroyuri?!" Ren asked.

"She was behind it, yeah."

Ren clenched his fists. Noticing this, Nora looked at him, worried. "I think it would be best if we had some time to ourselves." Nora said before leading Ren upstairs.

Once they left, teams CRML and RWBY looked from one another. "Maybe we could all use some space."

"Yeah."

Ruby went out back as Yang, Blake, Nicci, and Chrome went upstairs. Marek and Oscar walked out the front door to go on a walk leaving Liam and Weiss alone in the livingroom.

Sitting down on the couch, Weiss sat down next to him. "Hey, Liam?"

"Yeah?"

"I wanted to apologize." she said.

"For what?"

"Your were nearly dead when you arrived at the farm." she told him. "But...I didn't care at the time."

"It's fine, Weiss." Liam told her. "Those things, the Apathy, made you feel that way. It wasn't you."

Weiss rested her head on his shoulder while intertwining their fingers. "I love you, Liam."

"I love you, too, Weiss."

After a few seconds of silence, Weiss took a breath. "Hey, I've been thinking."

"Yeah?"

"Life is short. And what we're doing, ours might be shorter than most." Weiss said softly. "But back on the train, when you and Chrome were knocked off, and also at Haven, seeing you almost die... she closed her eyes as the image of Liam gasping for air flashed through her head. "It made me begin to think. And... There's really no easy way to say this, but once all of this is over, Salem, Ozpin, all of it, I want to be with you. I want us to be together. To start a family."

Liam was taken back by Weiss' words. "I'd love that."

The two kissed when the front door suddenly opened. Marek walked in and immediately raised an eyebrow at the two. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" he asked.

Weiss glared at Marek while Liam glanced back at him. "Yes, you are."

"Sorry, didn't mean to." he went to walk upstairs but Weiss stopped him as she noticed Oscar didn't follow him in.

"Where's Oscar?"

"He's not here?" Marek asked.

"He followed you out the door!" Weiss said, getting to her feet. "You didn't see him?"

Yang and Blake appeared at the top of the stairs. "What's going on?" Yang asked.

"Oscar's missing!"

End of chapter 48