Leaden thought to himself, It couldn't possibly be worse. He was aware that he should be getting used to this sort of situation, but it proved to be incredibly challenging. He exerted great effort in attempting to decipher what had gone wrong, failing to consider the possibility that it wasn't an error on his part, but rather just his luck.
Ruby did mention Leaden to her teammates, that much was true. However, from a realistic perspective, Blake shouldn't have been able to recognize Leaden based solely on Ruby's description. After all, Ruby didn't possess a picture or any visual reference of him. Hence, it would be unlikely for Blake to have any familiarity with Leaden's appearance.
But Blake was a cat, and cats were naturally curious creatures. In this case, it wasn't an intentional act by Blake; rather, her curiosity led her to peek at Ruby's scroll while Ruby was texting Leaden. By chance, Blake caught a glimpse of Leaden's profile picture, which allowed her to recognize him. This unexpected turn of events explained how Blake came to know what Leaden looked like, despite Ruby not having directly provided her with any visual information.
The universe seemed absurd to Leaden, as even a mere profile picture could lead to unexpected consequences for him.
Adding to the absurdity was Ruby's influence on Blake's suspicion that Leaden intended to encounter her. It all began during a conversation about semblances, where Yang posed the question, "What is the strangest semblance you've ever witnessed?" Ruby brought up Leaden's semblance as one of the examples. Blake vividly remembered the term Ruby had used to describe it, which was "appearing out of nowhere." This recollection further fueled Blake's suspicion regarding Leaden's intentions.
Blake had a strong belief in her own attentiveness, assuring herself that she wouldn't be so careless as to overlook someone standing right in front of her. However, her perspective was heavily influenced by her biases, partly driven by her desire to avoid being at fault.
Paradoxically, it wasn't entirely unreasonable to entertain the possibility of Blake carelessly colliding with someone, considering that she had failed to notice Leaden when he approached and greeted her. Ironically, her biased viewpoint inadvertently led her to the correct conclusion. It was a convergence of coincidences that led to Leaden finding himself in the challenging situation he currently faced.
Leaden, true to his nature, swiftly abandoned the pursuit of unraveling the reasons behind the situation. His thought process was fundamentally grounded in the belief that everything was inherently absurd.
Consequently, if he couldn't comprehend a particular occurrence, he would simply dismiss it as an absurdity. In Leaden's worldview, he firmly held the notion that anything could transpire at any given moment, reinforcing his readiness to accept the inexplicable nature of the world.
Leaden's perspective on comprehendible matters was twofold: they could either fall into the realm of normality, where they aligned with the actions or behaviors commonly observed among most individuals, or they could be deemed abnormal, bordering on the absurd. In the case of normal actions, Leaden saw them as either universally accepted or not posing any issues when practiced by others. On the other hand, when actions ventured into the realm of the abnormal, they were characterized by their inherent absurdity, as they were either seldom witnessed or frowned upon by society.
However, Leaden recognized that this dichotomy was not a straightforward classification. He understood that every individual possessed their own acceptable level of absurdity, as absurdity was an inherent part of everyone and everything. Thus, the complexity of human nature and the diversity of perspectives meant that defining what was considered acceptable or absurd varied from person to person.
Whether or not you comprehended the intricacies of Leaden's perspective, there was no need to worry. In either case, you could consider yourself normal. If you didn't grasp the concept, it aligned with the common understanding of what was considered normal. However, if you did understand it, that too was a reflection of normalcy, as absurdity existed in everything, including our comprehension and interpretation of concepts. So, regardless of your level of understanding, you could still be considered within the realm of normality.
Leaden discreetly cleared his throat, successfully capturing the attention of the girl who harbored suspicions about him. With a composed demeanor, he calmly addressed her, "I'm unsure as to why you would form such thoughts or beliefs about someone you've only just met. If it was due to Yang's influence on your perception, I can assure you that I am innocent of whatever claims she may have made about me." Leaden chose not to vocalize the word "mostly," leaving it unspoken but subtly hinting at the possibility of some truth behind Yang's statements.
Blake's mouth hung open, her narrowed eyes shifting from suspicion to bafflement. She was truly shocked by Leaden's sudden change in behavior and speech pattern. Where did this sudden over-politeness come from? she wondered. It was as if she were facing a completely different person. She didn't know if his attempt to be a gentleman made her more suspicious or simply worried. She had no idea what she had gotten herself into, but she did know one thing: Yang's opinion of him didn't even come close to what she was experiencing, whether it was in a positive or negative way.
"Are you okay?" Blake asked, her expression more puzzled than concerned.
"No, I'm absurd," he said with a smile, fully aware of the reason behind her question. Leaden wasn't foolish; he deliberately presented himself as absurd to throw her off. By doing so, he aimed to overwrite her impression of him. Blake believed he had intentionally knocked her over, but by acting in this manner, he hoped to downplay it as mere oddity rather than malice. That was his intention, regardless of whether he succeeded in affecting Blake or not. The crucial point was that he had taken action.
Blake suppressed a cringe and forced a smile in return. "Alright... I'm going to go now. It was nice to meet you. I'll let Yang and Ruby know that you asked about them. Goodbye," she swiftly expressed, turning to leave.
However, as she turned, Blake discovered Leaden standing in front of her once again, causing her to nearly jump in surprise. "Now, wait just a minute. I didn't have a chance to get to know you, and I can't let you leave with a false impression of me. I will prove to you that I'm good, kind, helpful, and a completely normal guy," he insisted.
Blake couldn't hide her annoyance, which was clearly visible on her face. "If that is true, then you certainly aren't doing a good job at it," she continued, walking away and leaving him behind. "I have something to do, so I'm not exactly free at the moment," she said, clearly indicating that she didn't want his company.
Leaden stood there, a confident smile adorning his face. He had no intention of giving up, not even if the universe conspired to mock him with absurdity. In fact, he was determined to counter that absurdity with an even greater level of his own. His resolve was unwavering, and he vowed to persevere until Blake reconsidered her stance on him.
# # # #
Blake found solace in the quiet embrace of a bookstore. Among the shelves filled with countless stories, books possessed a unique power to soothe her troubled mind. They offered an escape from reality, allowing her to immerse herself in the realms of fiction and momentarily forget the harsh and cruel world. Vale had an abundance of bookstores, yet she hesitated to venture into a particular one. The reason behind her reluctance lay in the knowledge that the owner was affiliated with the White Fang, an organization she sought to distance herself from.
However, Blake's tranquility shattered when she heard a voice that struck a familiar chord. "Woah, you're into books as well? Surprising, isn't it?" she heard, causing her to turn around abruptly. To her dismay, standing before her was Leaden, wearing his characteristic smile. The more she encountered that smile, the more it began to unnerve her. It felt disingenuous, as if it hid something beneath its surface. "Believe it or not, but I love books too."
"Shocking," she said in a flat tone, her frustration evident despite her attempt to downplay it, accompanied by a hint of sarcasm. "So, could you enlighten me as to why you felt the need to stalk me?"
"You're being a drama queen," he replied, rolling his eyes. "I wouldn't go as far as calling it stalking; I simply followed you," Leaden chuckled. "Surely, someone as much of a bookworm as yourself would recognize the distinction."
"True," she sighed, her frustration evident. "Technically, you didn't stalk me." Then she added, narrowing her eyes. "Yet." Leaden couldn't help but smirk in response. Blake was just as he had anticipated.
From their initial interaction and what Adam had shared, Leaden had suspected that Blake possessed a stubborn nature and detested feeling inferior. In an attempt to avoid appearing ignorant before him, Blake unknowingly fell into Leaden's trap. It wasn't a lie when Leaden stated there was a distinction, albeit a small one. One could argue that what Leaden did could be categorized as stalking, but the crucial point was that he had succeeded in gaining insight into Blake's character—or so he believed.
Leaden approached Blake with a gentle stride, noticing the book she was engrossed in. "Ah, I'm familiar with that one. It's an excellent read, although I must admit I wasn't fond of how the author relied on a Deus ex machina to ensure the main character's victory." He glanced at the other books nearby, considering Blake's preferences. With a thoughtful selection in mind, he picked up a book and handed it to her. "Give this one a try. It revolves around a girl who ventures into the past to rectify her mistakes. It's one of my personal favorites."
Blake couldn't help but keep noticing the inconsistent shifts in Leaden's choice of words and attitude, yet she decided to brush it off. "Thanks," she said, expressing her gratitude. However, she couldn't deny her genuine admiration for the fact that Leaden truly had a passion for reading, just as he had claimed. As she glanced at the book she had been immersed in, a sense of disappointment washed over her. Meeting Leaden's gaze, she sighed, "But you've managed to ruin my enjoyment of this one." With a resigned gesture, she carefully returned the book to its original position.
"Better than being disappointed," Leaden said, feigning busyness as he perused other books. "To me, it's truly dreadful to place your faith in something, believing it to be exactly what you desire, only to be betrayed by its stark contrast to your expectations. It leaves you questioning whether the deviation was a sudden shift or if it had been that way from the very beginning, and you simply overlooked the glaring signs until it was too late." Leaden stole a glance at Blake, observing her lost in contemplation, knowing that she had taken the bait. He deliberately made that statement, fully aware that she would interpret it beyond its intended context. Considering what Leaden had gleaned from Adam regarding Blake's "betrayal", it wasn't difficult to surmise her sentiments, especially now that he knew her more.
"You're right," Blake said, acknowledging Leaden's point. Little did she know that this simple statement would inadvertently declare Leaden's victory. Reflecting on the situation, Leaden admitted that luck had played a role in his favor. It was fortunate that he had discovered Blake's shared passion for books, establishing a mutual interest between them.
The irony was that a coincidence that had initially placed Leaden in this predicament, but it was another stroke of chance that ultimately aided his escape. When two individuals find common ground, whether through a hobby or a shared interest, it becomes a means to establish a connection and break the ice during an initially cold encounter. Although Leaden recognized that his actions towards Blake were manipulative, he despised resorting to such tactics. Nevertheless, he held no regrets, as using manipulation as a tool meant he could potentially make up with his sister.
Leaden couldn't help but laugh at himself internally for resorting to such mind games in order to make Blake just look at him with a positive light. Every day, he would have something or another as a stark reminder of his absurdity. It was a constant reassurance that, regardless of his attempts to pretend he was normal, deep down, he knew he wasn't. The awareness of his true self lingered within him. Yet, he convinced himself that as long as he engaged in the act of roleplaying normalcy, everything would be fine.
"Want to grab you a drink? Consider it an apology for our rough start," Leaden said. This offer primarily served as a gesture of good intention. However, a part of Leaden did it to make up for manipulating Blake like that, and he hated himself for it.
"Sure," Blake said awkwardly. It wasn't because she didn't want to accept the offer; rather, she felt that she might have been unfair to him. Despite still finding Leaden weird and quirky, she realized he wasn't as bad as she had convinced herself. Blake might be biased in her opinions, but that didn't mean she wanted to be unfair.
In fact, that was precisely why she had left the White Fang, as she believed it was wrong and unfair for innocent people to be caught up in the conflict. In the company of Leaden, she even managed to forget her frustrations regarding her teammate and the injustices faced by the faunus as she wanted to.
Not knowing that she was with someone that might be even worse than the one she was running from.
# # # #
It was sunset as Leaden made his way back home. He had thoroughly enjoyed his time with Blake and hoped she had felt the same. He walked briskly, almost on the verge of running. Now, you might wonder why he was in such a hurry. Well...
"Shit! I completely lost track of time." Leaden's original plan was to call Adam and then swiftly return home without his father noticing. He had promised his father that he would stay inside all day, after all. "I'm done for," he muttered to himself, already envisioning his father's reaction.
He still had to retrieve the groceries and the other stuff he had purchased and left on a random rooftop while following Blake.
However, his sense of urgency was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a fired bullet. Leaden's eyes widened as he strained to determine its origin, the echoes resonating in his ears. Swiftly, he ascended to a nearby rooftop and swiftly changed into his White Fang costume. With heightened anticipation, he patiently awaited another sign, not wasting a single minute before another bullet pierced the air. Without hesitation, he raced towards the location of the gunshot.
Upon arrival, Leaden discovered that it was an abandoned warehouse, leading him to speculate that it might be the site of a conflict between rival gangs. Such locations often served as hideouts for criminal groups.
As expected, there were no security cameras in sight, confirming Leaden's assumption. His earlier conversation with Roman when they first met provided additional support for this idea. With minimal lighting, the warehouse was engulfed in darkness. Leaden couldn't help but consider the possibility that faunus were the ones occupying this place, given their natural ability to see clearly in low-light conditions.
Suddenly, a powerful beam of light was cast directly into his eyes, blinding him momentarily and disorienting his senses. As his vision cleared, he discovered that he was completely surrounded by police officers, encircled from every direction. It became evident that he had fallen into a carefully laid trap. Leaden stood there in disbelief, his mind unable to comprehend the situation unfolding before him. Earlier that morning, he had heard news reports suggesting that the police and the public were becoming more accepting of his heroic alter ego, leading him to believe that he was safe.
"You are under arrest!" boomed a voice from what appeared to be a megaphone positioned at the front. Leaden stood rooted to the spot, his mind racing, desperately searching for a way to extricate himself from this predicament. His semblance was not an option; it would undoubtedly lead to reveal his true identity. Moreover, the entire area was tightly encircled by the police, making any escape virtually impossible, especially considering the presence of Aura users among their ranks.
Out of nowhere, a hand suddenly grasped his own, causing Leaden to tense up. He turned his gaze, only to be met with the unfamiliar face of a girl he had never seen before. The unexpected presence of this mysterious girl caused an uproar among the police, prompting them to swiftly close in on them. However, with a simple gesture of placing a finger on her lips, she silently urged him to follow her, navigating through the chaos unnoticed. Remarkably, despite the police being mere feet away, the pair managed to slip away from the area, their movements concealed from prying eyes.
Once they had distanced themselves enough to ensure their safety, Leaden felt it was the appropriate moment to seek answers. With a curious yet grateful expression, he turned to the girl and inquired, "Who are you? I am incredibly grateful for your intervention, but I can't help but wonder why did you save me." His familiar smile illuminated his face as he continued, "Perhaps you, too, possess a desire to aid others, much like myself?"
The girl responded with an eye roll, and as they continued walking, she started dancing and leaping with an infectious energy. In the blink of an eye, as if caught in a whimsical magic trick, the girl's appearance underwent a remarkable transformation. Her hair morphed into a vibrant blend of colors reminiscent of neapolitan ice cream. Leaden's eyes widened in astonishment, gradually returning to their normal size as he processed what was happening before him. While he didn't fully comprehend the situation, a glimmer of understanding began to dawn upon him.
Neopolitan, or Neo for short, maintained her lively stride, exuding an air of nonchalant energy as if the previous transformation was an everyday occurrence. However, she couldn't help but be impressed by Leaden's lack of astonishment or curiosity regarding her intervention. While Neo herself wouldn't have given much thought to it, she had acted upon Roman's request. It was an order, but Roman had always treated her as an equal, never making her feel like a subordinate.
As they reached their destination, Leaden realized that it was a place he had never visited before. He took in the surroundings, making a conscious effort to memorize every detail. The location resembled a familiar back alley, much like the one where he had encountered Roman previously. With curiosity brimming, he turned to Neo and posed the question, "Is this where we're meeting Roman?"
She shrugged in response.
"Indeed, you are meeting Roman right here." To Leaden's surprise, Roman's voice sounded from directly behind him, despite his stealthy approach. Leaden cautiously pivoted, ensuring he could maintain visual contact with both Roman and Neo. "No need to bow to express your gratitude for your rescue," Roman declared, his ego unabashedly on display, echoing a similar sentiment from their previous encounter. "And when I say 'no need to,' I actually mean 'you must.'"
Just as Leaden was about to speak, a hand gently rested on his shoulder, halting his words. "No, he doesn't have to," a familiar voice intervened. Startled, Leaden turned to find his father standing beside him, solid and present. The unexpectedness of his father's appearance gave rise to a mix of confusion and relief, momentarily overshadowing any thoughts of wondering if it was "sneaking behind Leaden" day. In that moment, what mattered most was that his father stood there, firmly on his side. Tai's usually sarcastic demeanor was absent, replaced by a serious expression. "After all, it's not ideal to express gratitude to the one who trapped you," he remarked, his words carrying a weighty significance.
The air changed dramatically as soon as he made his presence known. Roman, who had been in control until then, now found himself gritting his teeth. "I have no idea what you are talking about," he said, trying to regain his composure, simultaneously adjusting his hat.
Tai sent a sharp glare that pierced Roman's soul, causing him to feel as if he were being stabbed repeatedly. The intense pressure emanating from Tai was almost unbearable. "I don't really care about what you have to say," Tai retorted, his voice dripping with ice. "I came here to take my son, and I'm going to do just that."
Roman's eyes darkened, hidden under his hat. "Sure, go ahead."
Immediately after Roman uttered those words, Leaden witnessed his father grasping Neo's umbrella with a flawless grip, his hand positioned perfectly beneath the blade. The sight left everyone astonished, except for Taiyang himself, who remained unfazed. Leaden couldn't believe what he was seeing. Neo had been standing right beside Roman, seemingly innocent, but suddenly, out of nowhere, she attempted to strike his own father. It all unfolded within a split second, or perhaps even less. Just as Taiyang's gaze began to shift towards Neo, she chose not to wait and shattered herself, taking Roman along with her.
Leaden found himself in a state of utter bewilderment, longing to inquire about the events that had just unfolded. However, before he could voice his question, his father preempted him, speaking with a calm yet authoritative tone. "Your eyes can deceive your senses," Tai began, focusing his undivided attention on Leaden. "Rely less on your eyes and more on your other senses."
Leaden nodded, his mind filled with a jumble of thoughts, unsure of what to say in such a peculiar encounter with his father. He felt a sense of unease and awkwardness hanging in the air. Leaden maintained his silence until he sensed his father's hand gently resting on his shoulder. Reluctantly, he met Tai's gaze, only to discover his father smiling warmly at him, offering reassurance that all was well. "Let's go home," Tai said, his voice carrying a comforting tone.
Together, they embarked on the journey back home, their steps filled with a shared sense of contentment, reflected in their beaming smiles. However, Tai didn't let the matter slide completely. "But I still expect you to explain," he remarked, his smile unwavering. "And by the way, nice choice of clothes. Clearly, someone who appreciates quality," he added sarcastically. Leaden let out a resigned sigh, realizing there was no avoiding it. He would have to share with his father the information he sought.
"Alright. Can you at least tell me how you found me?" He was met with silence. "Seriously?!"
Taiyang's laughter filled the air, a light-hearted moment amidst their conversation. "You still have to pay for breaking your promise to me," he playfully declared, a mischievous smirk threatening to split his face in half. "How about taking care of the house for a week? I believe that's only fair," he added, his tone laced with a sense of jest.
Leaden joined in the laughter. "You're just kidding, right?" he asked.
"No."
"Oh."
A/N: This chapter was quite difficult to write as I struggled with the choice of words I should use. I researched words that would be suited exactly in the context I wanted and delivered the meaning I aimed for. It's funny because Blake pointed out Leaden's shifts in the choice of words as well lol I swear it's not intentional at all. What did you think about this chapter? And did you like the words I used or did it feel like it was too much? Thank you.