"For someone who was just in a coma, you look pretty good." Cinder noted as the entirety of team AACE sat around the room in Vale general hospital where they had gathered to check on their teammates.
"Yeah well, folks with an active aura tend to heal faster then most. And besides, I've just gotten a bit of a handicap. Honestly, it'll make the team more balanced now that I can't just carry you lot anymore. Time for you fat asses to pull your own weight." Eric jokingly replied. He was sitting up in his bed, arms behind his head as ran his fingers through the noticeable scar on the back of his neck. Fortunately, it seemed he had managed to regenerate enough so his spine was no longer visible, but it was still a very deep groove that was so deep, it was very uncomfortable to look at.
And seeing as he was covered in bandages, assessing the rest of the damage to his body was impossible.
When Amber and Cinder had got to the hospital, they had managed to speak with the doctor who (after a bit of prompting.) told them that while Eric's life was no longer in danger, but he would be out of commission for at least a week. So for now, he was off the mission. And the bad news didn't stop there.
Apparently, the damage was so severe his aura had devoted itself in its entirety to keeping his head on his shoulder and repairing the damage. And while successful it created a very rare symptom that would be always present in his life moving forward.
While Cinder didn't understand all the technical terms, the long and short of it was that his body was in such bad condition, a large part of his aura was needed just to stop anymore damage being done to his neck as he had lost almost half of the muscles responsible for supporting his spine. This meant two very critical things for the young man. One, his aura reserves were going to have to be significantly lower, and using his semblances would have to be in very quick bursts. Otherwise he'd risk damaging his neck further. And two, if his aura ever broke, he'd need to retreat. Immediately!
Apparently his neck was so vulnerable that without his aura, any sudden or sharp movements of his head could end up snapping his spine. Without the support of either his aura or the now eroded muscles, while he could survive, he wouldn't be able to do the simplest things like be in a car, or make a sudden stop or turn. And that was the basics!
Now, there was a special kind of brace that they could get to help the symptoms. However, it was only made in Atlas, and very expensive. So expensive that even most huntsmen couldn't afford it. So unless they could get the school board to agree to pay for it, he would just have to deal.
After that, the doctor had said that he should step down as a huntsman, but he didn't have the authority to make that assessment reality. And without Eric's written consent, he couldn't show it to Beacon either. Meaning, while he definitely didn't approve of the young man continuing his path, he couldn't do much to stop him.
"Eric. I'm so sorry." Amber said, her gaze falling to the ground as she shifted uncomfortably. "If I had a better plan, this never would have happened. This is all my fault. I should have-!"
"Oh knock it off, would ya?" Eric waved off the girl's apology as he shifted in his bed to look at her. "Adam got me caught up on what's going on. There was no way you could have known it was Mr. Howard who was behind it. And even then, that's a war hero who has years of experience under his belt. Nobody in this room could have managed to out play him without holding all the cards. So stop apologizing, makes me feel like a jerk."
Eric's words didn't seem to lift Amber's spirits much, but she did at least look back up. And at this point, Cinder was counting as a win. If for no other reason then they desperately needed something to keep their morale up. Well, higher than giving up seeming like the most logical answer.
"And speaking of Howard, Amber actually ran into him not too long ago." Cinder said, stepping forward slightly. "She told me all the details on our way here, but unfortunately, he didn't give a whole lot of information. All we know is he's being held somewhere in Vale and Adelaide is probably with him. Aside from that, we've got no clues to where he might be. So Amber was thinking…"
Glancing to her side, the dark haired girl gestured to her partner to finish. And after an awkward few seconds, the girl realized what she was doing.
"Oh! Right! Ahem! I-I was thinking we should go over the whole case. Cover any bases we might have missed!" Amber said a little too quickly, her own words getting a little jumbled. "That way, we might be able to find out what Howard's been up to and where he might be hiding….so umm…I'll go first, I guess?"
Said girl let out a cough before opening her mouth to speak, only this time to be cut off by her redheaded teammate.
"Actually, I have something you both might find interesting." For some reason, he didn't seem able to look his leader in her eyes as he spoke. "It was actually what I wanted to tell you…that night. And umm…you're probably not going to like it."
Both Cinder and Amber exchanged a look. On the way back, Amber had said something about Adam trying to tell her something after the attempted kidnapping, but neither had thought it was anything serious. They had just assumed it was a type of apology.
"Umm, okay?" Amber replied awkwardly. "Yeah, sure! Go on. What did you want to tell me?"
Adam shifted his feet uncomfortably again, his head turning to the windows so he could still see his team without having to look at them.
"See, the night right after Cinder punched Jiao, I actually snuck in on the meeting they were having. And I heard something you two should probably know." He said, desperately trying to both not look at them while still trying to see their reaction. "They were talking about blackmailing us to keep our silence. Saying that while not who they expect to crack, their intentionally punching our buttons worked in the end and that they should be happy that it happened this fast."
Immediately Amber's mouth fell open in shock at the Faunus' words. "Wait, what?!" She cried in disbelief. "They were plotting that this whole time!? Why?! What did they have to gain from putting their lives in danger?! That doesn't make any sense!"
"It sounded like the whole thing was Bobby's idea and the others were being forced to go along." Adam said as he leaned back against the wall. "Jiao even got so angry at one point he grabbed Bobby's shirt and began threatening him with a gun."
"How'd the sleaze-ball worm his way out of that one?" Cinder asked, her eyes flicking to Adam. "Neither are very strong, but if I had to put money on one, it'd be Jiao. Bobby looks like the type to call into work if he woke up with a nosebleed."
"Not sure. I had to leave before I got caught." Adam said, leaning against the wall, his arms folding his arms. "But I do know they've been trying to get blackmail material even since we showed up. Maybe even before then."
"Hmm. Maybe there's something more going on than we first thought." Amber mussed, resting her chin in her hand. "Well, either way, we'd need some serious evidence to back up any claim directed at either Howard or Bobby. Those two are some of the most influential men in their respective kingdoms. Right, first things first. We need to get to Jiao before they do whatever it is their planning. Unfortunately, me and Cinder have both hit dead ends on our investigations. You two manage to dig up anything?"
To her question, the two boys dejectedly shock their heads.
"Unfortunately, the only thing we know is what Igor mentioned during our fight." Eric leaned back in the bed as he strained to remember what had been said. "Something about Adequate testing something new on him. But he didn't go into any details about what that might be. Assuming he even knew. He didn't seem like the type to pay much attention to anything that doesn't involve killing."
"Hmm. I guess that's not surprising." Amber said, leaning back. "Howard didn't give much info either. So I'm as in the dark as you two. He said they needed his semblance for their plan, but I don't get how they plan, but they don't trust the singer at all. But as for how they'd get his power without him attached is beyond me. And even then, there's more to it than that."
The trio became silent at her words. Amber had already explained why they had targeted Jiao. And the dangerous situation the kingdoms were in. They all knew of the danger of the Eternal Dynasty posed. A terrorist group that mainly operated in the wilds was afar greater threat then a gang mostly made up young men without any firearms training.
"I know our mission is to protect the dragons, but I can't help but wonder if maybe that's not the right call." Amber clasped her hands as her gaze fell to the floor. Shame filling her tone as she went. "I know that sounds horrible, but if they could save people, like actual lives, is it more ethical to let them? I mean, let's be honest, those guys are far from heroes. And while they might be civilians, they're scandals have caused untold harm. So maybe it would be right to let him-?"
"Hphm!"
Amber was cut off as Cinder let out a loud scoff, drawing all attention to her.
"You three are overthinking this." She said with a dismissive wave of her hand as she leaned against the door. "At the end of the day, does it really matter what reason they have for kidnapping Jiao? Our mission is to protect the Three Dragons band. I don't care what kind of petty words they use to justify their reasons, none of that matters. What's important is our recovery of that useless boy toy and his safe return. We can let a technicality stop us, not after coming this far. Not after…what we've lost."
The girl turned, looking at each of her teammates before stopping on Amber, a smile playing on his lips. "Besides, how could Howard have spies while the kingdom doesn't? That doesn't make any sense to me. This sounds more like an elaborate excuse to go around killing and experimenting on people. No way an organization like the Eternal Dynasty could find someone to unite all of them, not with the royal bloodline completely ended. That old man's probably just gone senile or just trying to discourage you from even trying. There's nothing old people fear then the passing of the guard. And you are way stronger than that old man ever could be!"
A silence followed Cinder's speech as the three exchanged looks. From Amber's leg to Eric's neck. The damage they had suffered was clear to all of them and the thought of letting all that go to waste infuriated not just Cinder.
"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but well said." Adam said with a smirk. "You're right. We can't give up now! Not when we've come this far. Besides, there's no guarantee that what that old man said was even true! For all we know, he might have just been lying to you to try to get you to give up. And if that's so, we'd be playing right into their hands!"
"That's right." Eric chimed in, a grin spreading across his face. "If we back out now, we'd be a disgrace to the name huntsman! Our duty is to protect the innocent and strike down evil. And even if he is right, who's to say his way is the only option. The way I see it, we could easily find another way of defending Vale from a group of lowlife terrorists!"
Cinder smiled as she saw the boys becoming reenergized. But as he gaze moved to Amber, she saw the girl still looking somewhat lost.
Immediately, she made her way to the dark skinned girl's side and placed her hand on her shoulder, gently drawing her attention.
"Hey. You okay?" She asked softly. "I know he was someone who…I understand why this might be difficult for you. But try to remember, just because he was one of the first to give you a hand, he's not the only one. You have Adam and Eric now. If you want help with anything at all, you can just ask. I promise we won't leave your side. Not ever again."
Amber gave her partner an grateful smile and nodded, the doubt slinking away deep into a corner of her mind as she steeled her nerves. Cinder was right, they could figure out all this moral stuff later. She knew this wasn't something she was willing to let huntsmen stand for.
"Right. I'm ready." She said with determination. "But first, we need a lead. And that kinda brings us back to our original problem. If any of you have any ideas, I'm all ears."
Cinder smirked as she let her hand slide off her partner's shoulder. "Actually, I did have something in mind." She said mischievously. "As luck would have it, I know someone who not only works for someone who has a grudge against the Seraphs but also knows someone who deals in information. I bet he'd be more than willing to help if I gave him a call."
Seeing the smirk, Amber raised an eyebrow. "An information broker? Why do I get the feeling this isn't a legal business." She said concerned. "Please tell me you don't have ties to the mafia. Because if you do, I am going to turn you in."
"Oh don't worry. I do all my mafia activities through a proxy agent." Cinder joked as she pulled out her Scroll and quickly began to dial. "Besides, I hate dealing with this idiot so I don't do it often. Still he can be useful when he wants-."
But before she could finish, the door slid open immediately making the entirety of team AACE turn and look at the figure standing in the frame.
"Well, that's convenient." Cinder said as she flipped closed her Scroll with a smirk. "You just saved me a lot of time. And seeing as you're here, I'm guessing you've got some free time on your hands. Want to help take out those annoying angels with us?"
"You know, I came here to visit an injured patient, not send more people here." Fang replied as he raised an eyebrow at Cinder from the doorway. "But I get the feeling you're not going to let me just check in and leave. What on Remnant do you need this time?"
Cinder grinned as she stepped forward, a smirk still plastered to her face.
"I need to know where Mohawk is."
The sun had begun to set, casting the sky red and orange over a dingy part of Vale sat a single strip club that was frequented by the criminal body of the kingdom. It was run by a Minstrels shell company that everyone knew was a front of Lil. Miss to move highly addictive drugs into the kingdom. As well as to launder money for her local crime lords.
However, that didn't stop it from being a first class strip club/sex den that draw all sorts of people from the lowest peruse snatchers to wealthy politicians who wanted a younger, more fit woman for their needs.
And of course, that was the main hang out for one Archie Preston, AKA Mohawk.
"Ahahaha! And then, with a single swing of my great sword, I cut the head right off the Wyvren's shoulders! Sending its black blood everywhere as I landed on the ground, not a scratch on me! And from that one, easy quest, I was named the village hero! They even talked about putting a statute up in my honor! But being the humble guy I am, I told them to save the money for a new orphanage instead! The mayor was crying tears of happiness that a guy like me just happened to be in the area during their time of need!"
Mohawk laughed at his fake tail as he lounged around on the velvet sofa he sat upon, taking a huge swig from his alcoholic drink as the busty, scantily clad woman resting on his arm let out a giggle.
"My, my. Your quite the hero, aren't you?" She purred into his neck as she drew circles on his bare chest. "I can't believe I got such a brave, strong huntsman serve tonight. Especially after I had such a horrible horoscope. A hot thing like you is almost too good to be true."
"Well what can I say? I'm a one of a kind guy who is always without equal." He bragged as he poured himself another drink, eyeing her cleavage lustfully.
But his gaze quickly changed to irritation as he found the bottle empty and no replacement in sight.
"Damn it all. Looks like we're going to need a bit more of this gold sooner than we thought." He grunted as he stood up, his hired lady accompanying him as he placed an arm around her waist. "Let's go get one more before the good stuff starts flowing."
"Oh, I'd love that." She replied, kissing him across his collar bone. "Are you after the usual or something special tonight? I imagine after a victory like that, you must be itching to get something special or unique. After all, even you need to wait for a calamity to storm before-."
She broke off as she caught sight of one of the other staff members waving her over. Quick as she could, she excused herself and made her way over to her coworker who quickly whispered something in her ear.
The two exchanged a few quick words before breaking off, letting the woman return to her partner and the staff members returning to his duties.
"I've got some bad news." She said as she reached Mohawk, bowing her head in apology. "The room you ordered will not be available at the time you requested. Apparently, management needs it for some kind of temporary storage for the next few days. I was just informed that we have one hour before they need to close it."
"What?! But I paid good money for that!" Mohawk groaned, frustration clear on his face as he looked down at the girl, who quickly lowered her head more.
"My apologies. I have been offered to give you a refund if this is not to your liking. I know this is abrupt and you know that any displeasure you have received will be compensated by your hostess whenever you reschedule."
"Ug! No, it's fine." He grunted, tossing the bottle into the trash. "I suppose we can do it now. No point waiting until tomorrow when Adelaide roasts my ball for ditching guard duty. Might as well have some fun before that happens."
He grinned at the woman as he looped his arm back around her waist, pulling her close making her giggle as they headed off towards the back rooms that were reserved for private use.
There, in the corridor that led to the manager's office, was settled several of said rooms lining each wall, with signs saying things like in use, reserved, or opened to indicate which were available.
Together, they made their way to one down on the far side, close to the office, where Mohawk slipped a key into the lock before pushing it open.
"After you, hero." The woman said with a bow, making him grin as her cleavage became more exposed. The man had little on the brain beyond the good times he was already playing out in his head.
"Normally, it's the man who lets a woman go first. But I think I'm this day and age, we're all equal, aren't we? So I guess I won't be a gentleman tonight." He said as he backed into the room, his eyes fixed on her chest. "Besides, you like it rough, don't you? Well don't worry, I assure you, I won't disappoint in either size or-. Oof!"
Mohawk was cut off mid sentence as he looked back and saw something set in the middle of the room, and it wasn't something normal like a bed or a table. It was soft and squishy, with warm clothes draped around it. Combine that with the fact it was breathing, even someone with his intelligence could figure out what it was. A person.
Letting out an annoyed grumble, Mohawk turned around ready to curse them out for sneaking into a room he paid good money for. One that was rightfully his to use! Not some damn squatter to hang out in after they had done the deed!
"Stupid little bitch! This isn't your room anymore! Get the fuck out before I-!"
But he turned fully around, he came face-to-face with a woman he was very familiar with. And while it took him a second to recognize her, the moment he did, the insult he had been planning to hurl died instantly on his lips.
"Hey there. I see you remember me." Cinder said with a smirk as she took a step towards Mohawk, shoving her face next to his as behind him, the woman quickly shut the door and locked it, ensuring he had nowhere left to run. And with Fang outside the door guarding it, that meant phase one was officially done.
"I'm guessing from your guard duty statement just now, you already know why we're here." She taunted, a sly grin spreading across her face. "So do you want to do things the easy way, or the hard way?"
Snapping out of his daze upon hearing her words, Mohawk leapt back, hand flying to his belt where he whipped out a small handgun which he immediately pointed at Cinder, but before he could pull the trigger, the girl shot across the room, closing the gap between them in a heartbeat!
With a single hand, she grabbed his neck, pushing him into the wall knocking the wind from his chest! Before he could recover, Cinder lashed out with her leg, pinning his wrist with her high heel and slammed into it as well, super heating it to make him drop the gun with a cry of pain.
"Nice try, but I'm not letting you do that." Cinder snarled darkly, pressing her sharpened heel deeper against the wall. "We've come too far to let an idiot like you take this away from us. So how about you be a good boy and tell us where your holding that useless man child!"
As she spoke, the figures of Adam and Amber stepped out of the shadows, revealing themselves to the now secured gang member. A dark look in the boy's eyes as Amber just seemed uncomfortable.
"She's right. You're not leaving until you tell us where Jiao is." The Faunus snarled, making his way across the room and grabbing the gun off the floor before leveling it at Mohawk's head. "A lot of people got hurt because of that stunt you people pulled. So start talking before I get mad."
With that, Cinder activated her semblance, heating up her hand on his throat, melting right through his aura.
"Gah!" Mohawk choked out, his free hand clawing at Cinder's arm in a feeble attempt to free himself. But his attempts only made the girl squeeze harder, cutting off his airway even more.
"Don't bother." Cinder said dryly. "You aren't going anywhere unless I have a say in it. So let me tell you how this is going to work, I'm going to ease up in another twenty-five seconds. After that, you'll have a chance to tell us what we want to know. If you refuse, I'll choke you out for twice as long. And if you try to scream or try to alert anyone nearby, I'll cut off your airway for three times as long. So if you don't want your next to look like a boiled potato, I suggest you talk, and fast!"
With that, she pushed his head back against the wall, squeezing so hard there was an audible pop from his neck, as well as a choked scream as his legs began to spasm, kicking against both the girl and the wall.
Yet even as the room filled with the smell of burning meat, Cinder found herself grinning despite the situation. Call it messed up, but she still enjoyed having others at her mercy. It gave her a high like no other. And while she could normally hide it, under these circumstances she thought it would be better to show her sadistic side. She felt no remorse for this man, not after what his cohorts had done to her team. Beating them, kidnapping, making fools of them, putting Eric in the hospital, they all added up to give the girl a sick enjoyment as she worked out some of her frustration and got revenge at the same time. And who said hurting others didn't feel good?
But out of the corner of her eye, she saw Amber flinch at the sputtering sounds Mohawk was making, saw her face pale as his face changed shade to blue, her hands flying up to cover her mouth and nose at the smell of burning flesh. She clearly wasn't used to this, or it was digging up past trauma from when her village was lost. And while Cinder didn't know which it was, she knew this was bad for her.
"Amber, you don't have to be here if you don't want to." She called to her partner, making the girl look up at her in surprise. "This isn't going to get any prettier. And besides, this kinda thing is hardly your forte. Leave this to me and Adam. Go stand guard with Fang outside. I'll let you know when we're finished."
Amber bit her lip nervously at her partner's suggestion. It was true she was very uncomfortable right now, but at the same time, she felt obligated to stay and see this through. And while did plan on relinquishing her title at the end of the mission, it was still her's. And as a leader, she knew she should help-.
"Hah! Hhaa! Haha!"
The sudden sound of Mohawk choked laughed immediately drew the attention of the entire team. Turning to stare at him, the man had an insane grin spread across his blue face as he looked at them with glee flashing in his eyes.
"You…wheeze…kids…wheeze…really have no idea…what you're up against!" He gasped out, his smile growing bigger as he spoke. "You…suck…at…wheeze… interrogation! Haha!"
Letting out a growl, Cinder eased up on his neck, before spinning and throwing him onto the ground in the center of the room.
"Care to enlighten us on what's so funny?" She asked as she towered over Mohawk as he coughed and spluttered, hands pressed over his neck covering up several of his blisters and boils.
Yet despite that, the grin on his face never left as he looked up at the team, not a shred of fear in his eyes.
"Let me tell you kids something, if you think you can make me betray Adelaide with such simple tactics, you've more in over your heads then I thought." He chuckled as he sat up, hand still resting on his neck. "Let me clue you in, the only people involved in keeping the singer captive are the people who believe in our cause completely. Not one of us will sell her out to you. Not me, nor any of my comrades!"
At his words, Cinder's eyes narrowed to slits as she stepped forward, reaching and grabbing his neck once again and lifting him high into the air.
"That so? Then I'm sure you'd be more than willing to prove that." She said in a sadistic tone, an evil smile spreading across her face. "Then when I cut you balls off and feed them to-!"
"Oh cut the intimidation carp! It's just cringy coming from someone as clichéd as you!" Mohawk shot back, leering at her even as her grip began to tighten. "You think I'm some petty criminal like Igor, but I don't follow Adelaide because of money or to feel powerful. I followed her because she will protect this kingdom where its leaders have failed! Because she knows that those people in Atlas, those people who killed our loved ones cannot be forgiven! And when they all lay dead in graves as shallow as themselves, then and only then will those of us who joined her righteous cause will be able to rest! Until that day comes, we'll treat anyone from that wrenched kingdom as what they are. An enemy who must be killed!"
Cinder let out a snarl as she pulled one of her blades from its holster and pointed it between his legs. "Want to put that to the test?" She threatened, her grip tightening as she spoke, squeezing the life slowly out of him.
But despite that, the man used what little air he had left to spit into the girl's face, leaving a gob of saliva that ran down her cheek.
"You little-!" Cinder began, but broke off as she saw another wide grin spreading across Mohawk's face. He wasn't afraid of her, not even in the slightest! In fact, it almost felt like he was goading her to do it. But why? Why would he want to get mutilated? Surely having your dick removed by a white hot blade was too much even for the most extreme masochist. Unless…
"Oh. You think I'm bluffing, do you?" Cinder grinned as she looked him right in the eyes. "Well, you're in for a very big surprise. Unlike Fang, I don't have any problem inflicting pain on others. And without him here to protect you, I'm free to do whatever I want. And as Adam said, I just got back from visiting a friend you people put in the hospital, so I'm in a very bad mood and have been looking for an excuse to have some fun."
Cinder dragged Mohawk down as she heated her blade and calmly pressed against the side of his inner thigh, smirking as she saw him flinch as the hot metal burned right through his aura as the blade slowly traveled up towards her intended target.
She thought it was only a matter of time before he cracked, that there was no way someone this weak would hold this fast to their pride. But no matter how close the blade got, Mohawk showed no signs of breaking. In fact, he seemed to become more gleeful the closer it got.
Finally, when the blade was all but touching the dangling pieces of meat, Mohawk gave Cinder an evil grin, his head moving forward until she could feel his breath on her face. "Do it." He dared her, not a shred of fear in his eyes. And for a second, Cinder hesitated.
She knew he was playing some kind of game with her, but as for what, she had no idea. She couldn't see how the removal of his jewelry would help him escape his current situation.
"Well, only one way to find out." Cinder thought. "The only way to win a game is to play it. Let's see how cocky he is once he can't even stand anymore!"
With that, she pulled her sword back before launching it forward, aimed perfectly to skewer his balls! Immediately Mohawk squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lip as he braced for the unimaginable pain to come. Yet even as the blade advanced, he didn't show any signs of cracking.
Yet the pain and screaming never came. As right before the blade made contact, a hand shot out and grabbed Cinder's arm, bringing it to a complete stop before it could even pierce his pants.
"Don't." Amber said quietly but firmly, gripping her arm in a vice so hard Cinder couldn't keep going if she wanted to. "This isn't going to work. He'd have talked by now if he could be convinced with force. He's loyal to a fold, no amount of pain will make him talk."
"You sure? You know what he helped do, right? And even if you're not hot on revenge, if he doesn't talk, we can't stop the Seraphim or rescue Jiao." Cinder asked, trying to pull her arm out of Amber's grasp, only to find the dark skinned girl hand locked her hand shut, so she couldn't pull away. And upon realizing just how much power the dark skinned had in these hands, she was suddenly glad she hadn't fought back during their fist fight.
"I'm sure." Amber replied, guiding Cinder's arm down to her side before letting it go. "He won't talk, torturing him won't get us anywhere. And quite frankly, as angry as I am at the Seraphim, he wasn't at Music Fest. So it can be argued he hasn't done anything to us." Amber paused for a second before continuing.
"And besides, huntsmen are supposed to carry themselves to a higher standard than these criminals. We start torturing them like they do, we'd be the same as them."
A silence fell at her words as her teammates stared at her, then Adam let out a snarl, immediately taking a step towards his leader.
"Are you kidding me right now?! You can't be serious!" He yelled, grabbing her collar and giving her a hard shake. "Look, I get you might not be comfortable with something like this, but if you can't handle it, go outside and wait with Fang! Don't throw away the only source of information we have! Do you remember what these guys have done?!"
"That still doesn't make this right." Amber replied calmly. "It's because of their want for revenge, that the Seraphim are this way, it's because of revenge that our world is so divided. How many people have already fallen to it? How many started with noble intentions? If we let our actions be decided by fear and rage, then we'll eventually become the next Adelaide, the next Howard."
"You can't be serious right now, are you?" Adam snapped, his frustration growing. "We're nothing like them! This is different! They hurt Eric, broke the law, used the White Fang as pawns, and, while he might be an ass, kidnapping our client, who is technically innocent of any major crimes. How can you not see that this is completely different?! They act out of fear, out of spite! We're in the right in both the eyes of the law, and the eyes of the public! We're enacting well earned justice!"
As Adam gave her another shake, Amber's gaze fell to the ground, her hands tightening into fists as she stared at her own shadow in the dim light.
"Justice? What does that even mean anymore?" She asked, causing both Cinder and Adam's to exchange confused looks.
"What are you talking about?" The Faunus asked, letting go of her shirt. "Justice is doing what's right, even if it's hard….and you know, just being a decent person in general."
"Doing what's right? What is 'right' anyway? Is it what's best for yourself, or the best interest of others?" Amber tone was completely dead, as if she was as exhausted as last night. She had only told Cinder about what Howard had said to her about the current state of the world. And it was clear his words had left quite an impact, even if she didn't show it at first.
"Everyone does what they believe is right. But in reality, most of the time they're just looking out for what's in their best interests. Atlas, The Enlighten Seraphim, the White Fang, us." She paused for a moment as she looked down on her blood soaked claws, remembering everything she had destroyed trying to redeem the irredeemable. "We are creating a cycle of endless pain and suffering because of that. Because we act selfishly. When does it end? Who is going to put their foot down and say no more if every time they do, please like us continue to hurt others? The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. But if we don't take that first step, can we truly expect anyone else to?
"Oh come on! You can't be serious right now!" Adam stubbornly pressed. Shaking his head in frustration at the dark skinned girl. "Look, you're overthinking this. Their criminals, we're not, end of story. If we don't take them down, someone else will and then it will just result in greater loss. If we strike them down now, think of how many people's lives would be saved. And this is coming from a guy who hates Atlas and their treatment of the Faunus. So believe me when I say it's simpl-."
"If five men are tied to the tracks with a train barreling towards them. If you could stop it by pushing a man onto said tracks, would you do it?" Amber shot back immediately, her gaze moving up, eyes now burning with intensity. "That person is just as much a person as you or me. And by killing him to save five others, would you then be able to go to them? Tell them that you killed him because it was the right thing? Aren't you the one who's always pushing for Faunus rights? You, out of everyone, should understand that just sacrificing the minority for the majority is always wrong."
"That's completely different!" Adam immediately said, his face turning red with anger. "And if it was a criminal, then yes! I'd push them without a second thought! They had their chances, made their decisions. I don't think killing a killer is murder."
"Even if that person was a Faunus? Like Chesher?"
Immediately Adam took a step back, spluttering as he tried to counter. "That's totally different! She wasn't-! She was slightly misguided! You can't-! She wasn't always like that! She-!"
Coming to a stop when he couldn't find a logical argument, the Faunus stood there with his mouth hanging open for a few seconds before turning to Cinder and angrily gestured towards Amber with both hands.
"Cinder! Back me up here! She can't compare those two incidents! There total difference situations!"
Cinder however, didn't reply to him right away. Instead, she stared at Amber, contemplating her words and actions. The logical part of her wanted to agree with Adam and be done. But after what she had heard about the girl's past, and after actually stopping to evaluate herself after her mother's story, she wasn't so sure anymore.
On one hand, if Summer had been friends with Howard back then, or rather shared his ideology, she wondered if it wasn't for that mission, if it wasn't for the young prince, would she have ended up no different from Adelaide? Going completely cold to the world and everything in it beyond her own grief?
Summer was always so kind, so gentle. But the moment she had let her own anger consume her, she had become someone as sadistic as Cinder herself.
And if someone like Summer could fall to her vices, then anyone could.
Then with a sigh, she threw Mohawk against the wall and let him slip down as she turned back to Adam and Amber where she locked eyes with her partner.
"Your in charge. It's your call." She said. "But I want you to be sure. Remember, this is our only lead, and if Music Fest ends before we can find him, no way in hell word of what happened here isn't going to spread. I don't think I need to remind you there's more than just our futures at stake."
Amber nodded as she walked past her partner, coming to a stop right above the coughing angel.
"I'm sure." She replied as she knelt next to him, eyes fixed on the man. "He won't talk, he's too loyal. But there are other ways beyond pain or mutilation. Ways he can't resist so easily."
Slowly, she reached out and grabbed his head, fingers resting on his temples.
Immediately Mohawk tried to punch her, and while it did force her hands off when she dodged, she immediately shot back in, forcing him to the ground where she quickly pinned him with his arms trapped underneath him.
"I'm going to link with him." She said calmly as she held the man in place. "If I form a link with his conscious thoughts, I should in theory be able to find out where their keeping Jiao and what kind of defenses we're looking at. Or at least what he can remember of it."
Immediately Cinder's eyes widened. Amber using her semblance so openly? That had never happened before. Normally she did everything in her power to avoid needing it. For her to result in using it like this was very unexpected to the dark haired girl.
In fact, if she didn't know any better…
"Amber, you sure you're okay with doing that?" Cinder asked, folding her arms as she took a step closer earning her a smile from the dark skinned girl.
"It's not going to be easy." She shrugged. "Not only is he resisting me, but I have very little to work with to force my way through. But I should manage. I'm not at a hundred percent, but with the aura I have left, I think it's manageable."
Her response made the dark haired girl frown. That's not what she asked.
"Umm. Someone want to clue me in here?" Adam said bewildered. "Can someone tell me why Amber shared her vision with this guy is going to-."
"So you're okay using your semblance like this." Cinder interrupted, staring intently at Amber. "Your fine with him in your head. Fine with using your power to intrude. That doesn't really sound like you if I'm being honest."
Amber smiled at the dark haired girl again, and this time, she caught how little the light reached her eyes.
"I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine. I'm not going to lie, I don't like using my power like this. But you're right. This is our only lead. And I'd be a pretty horrible leader to let it go without a fight. Time's short and this is our best option. Like it or not, I'm going to have to try."
Cinder stared at Amber for a few more seconds, then dropped her head with a sigh.
"Okay, I'll trust you." She said in a tired voice. "But just remember, you don't have to take all the stress of everything by yourself. If you want me to do something, just ask. I'm the one who should be rolling around in the dirt, not you."
The dark skinned girl smiled up at her partner, then turned her attention back to the pinned man squirming underneath her. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, she focused on everything she knew about him. Womanizer, lier, criminal, Enlighten Seraphim huntsman, and her newest victim.
"Umm. Hello? Someone want to clue me in on what's going on?" Adam said as Cinder backed up in front of him, her arm outstretched blocking his path to Amber. "I feel like I'm kinda out of the loop here guys. Care to tell me what's about to-?"
"Adam, shut up." The dark haired girl said shortly, her gaze never leaving her partner's face. She had never felt this frustrated before in her whole life. Watching Amber now, it was so obvious the pain she hid behind each of her smiles. Yet she had somehow never bothered to see it. Focusing instead on herself, and her own needs while forcing that on her partner as well.
She had been such a horrible friend and partner before, never once thinking of anyone but herself. But now, watching Amber force herself to go through with something she really didn't want to, she could see the girl's scares.
And it was there and then that she made a promise to herself. She would find a way to let the girl smile once again. This time without the forced happiness, without the sadness hidden behind her gold eyes. She had been graced to see the true radiance of her real smile a few times before, and now, she wanted to share it with the rest of the world.
Not because they deserved it, but because Amber deserved to have that beautiful smile instead of her sad one.
Cinder was broken out of her thoughts as Amber opened her eyes, gaze immediately becoming fixed on Mohawk. "Link ready to be established. Cinder, Adam, make sure nobody comes in or out of this room. I need total concentration to pull this off."
"Understood." Cinder said, nodding as she elbowed Adam in the ribs stopping him from asking "concentrate on what?"
And from just this and only for an instant, right before Amber turned back to their prisoner, she gazed at the dark haired girl, one of her true radiant smiles that even in this dim light, seemed to just glow, lighting up her face in a way that made her look so beautiful.
But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone as she took one final deep breath and activated her semblance, forcing Mohawk's mind open, laying bare all the secret thoughts that were going through either's head.
And as images flew through her head, Amber took the first move, focusing all her thoughts around one single question.
/WHERE IS JIAO BEING HELD?/
Her thoughts ripped through Mohawk's mind like a bullet, invading every inch of it she could reach with the current limits she had set on it, robbing him of any possible ability to ignore her intrusion. Probing along sending his emotions and thoughts back through the link where she both felt and knew every conscious thought that bubbled to the surface of his mind.
/ fear! Overwhelming fear and confusion! What's happening to me!? An image of an old abandoned warehouse that was roused from the depths of my mind that I immediately think of when someone tells me the plan./
/WHERE IS THIS WAREHOUSE?! WHERE IS JIAO?/
/more fear! I can't think about it! Remove all thoughts related to the old abandoned district by the wall. They can't know!/
/WHAT KIND OF GUARDS ARE THERE?!/
/NO! She's got me! What's going on?' Why is this voice in my head! I'm scared! Mom! Dad! Someone save me!/
/WHO IS GUARDING JIAO?!/
/No! I don't like this! Get away from me! I peed my pants! Someone save me! If I can't give her a satisfactory answer, she'll kill me! I don't like this! No more please!/
/WHO IS GUARDING-?!/
/"Get away from me you MONSTER!"/
Immediately Amber broke off as Mohawk's scream both in her head and out shattered her concentration. The shock sent her reeling back, off the man and to the far wall where she pressed her back hard against, her eyes wide and gasping for breath.
Meanwhile, Mohawk immediately scampered on all fours to the far corner of the room. As far away from her as he could get where he curled up into a ball and began sobbing as he rocked back and forth.
"I don't know!" He screamed as loudly as he could. "I don't know! I knew I was going to blow it off to come here! I was only ever in charge of guarding outside anyway! I swear I don't know anything else! Please! I SWEAR! I-!"
"Shut up!" Cinder yelled, rushing forward and kicking him in the head so hard, she knocked several teeth out and knocked him out in the same instant.
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the equally heavy breathing from both girls. Nobody said anything, as they had all heard what he had screamed at Amber. And while Adam might not know her past, the scene that had just played out before him told him everything he needed to know about.
They stood in that silence for several minutes before Cinder mustered up the course to turn around and check on Amber. And what she saw made her heartbreak.
Tears were forming in the girl's eyes. Her breathing was ragged, uneven, as heavy as if she had run a marathon. Her hands were shaking as she pressed them against the wall. Her mouth was open and eyes wide yet unfocused, as if she wasn't here anymore. Her chest, raising and falling so quickly she might pass out.
Slowly, the girl slumped to the floor, raising her hands to her face where she began to stare horrified at them. Cinder could see her shaking like a leaf, her lips trembling as if she was trying to sob but was too stunned to do so. Her eyes franticly darting from one corner of her hand to the other, every time becoming more distort. Then, after a few seconds of stunned silence, she buried her head in her hands and went still.
"Amber?" Cinder asked, taking a catuse step towards her partner. When she did get a response, she took another, then another until she was crouching next to her.
"Amber, are you okay?" She asked, reaching out and gently placing her hand on the girl's shoulder before repeating her question a little more forcefully. "Amber. Are you okay? I need you to calm down. Try to take deep, slow breaths otherwise you might hyperventilate. Can you do that for me?"
At her words, Amber didn't respond, but Cinder did see her breathing change. And while it was far from deep or slow, it was a step in that direction, which as far as she was concerned, that was a win.
"Hey, everything okay in here?" Fang asked, peeking his head in through the door. "I heard a scream from inside before everything went quiet. Did you get what you need?"
Cinder, being careful not to make any sudden moves, nodded her head as she waved him over, letting Fang see the distort state Amber was in. And while he had no idea what had happened, it did leave very little to the imagination on how bad things had gone.
"I'll call somebody." He said immediately pulling out his Scroll. "I know a few good psychiatrists who are open this late. I just need a-."
"No, that won't be necessary."
Immediately everyone froze as all eyes turned to Amber as she lowered her hands and leaned back so her head was resting against the wall.
"I appreciate the concern, but right now isn't the time for that." She pressed as she slowly got to her feet. "We've got what we need and we're very short on time. We need not only to plan a rescue, but also make sure we cover all our bases to ensure that it's not only a success, but also that they can't take Jiao again."
"Y-you mean you found him?" Adam asked, eyes wide as he took a step forward, a grin spreading across his face when he saw his leader nodded. "Good. Then let's go beat those sons of bitches down and get that annoying man child!"
"Not just yet." Amber said, immediately turned her attention to Adam. "If we go in guns blazing like when we tried to defend them last time, we'll lose. We don't know exactly who's there, but Adelaide is likely one and given her skill, I highly doubt we'd win even in a three on one fight. This is our last chance, and we can't afford to mess it up."
The bull Faunus let out an annoyed snort and crossed his arms, but didn't argue. As much as he wanted revenge for his partner, he also understood what Amber meant. If they failed this time, there'd be no second chance.
And seeing that he understood that, Amber gave him a weak smile before turning back to Fang. "I'm sorry to have to ask as I know you've got your own issues, but could I ask for a favor? You won't be doing any fighting, but I need someone on the defensive as if we pull this off, there will be consequences. And I just need you to-."
"Say no more. You can count me in." Fang interrupted, giving the girl a gentle smile. "My team finished our mission way early. I've got nothing on my schedule until tomorrow. Whatever you need, just say the word."
"Thanks." The dark skinned girl breathed. Her face visibly relaxing at his reassurance and agreement. "You're a lifesaver. If you ever need help with anything, I promise to pay you back for tonight. I just-. Thank you, truly."
"Don't mention it." Fang waved her off. "I'll take care of the captured Seraphim while you come up with your plan. Just remember, don't let Adelaide find out I aided you. If Lil. Miss finds out one of her enforcers helped an attack on the biggest gang in Vale, I'm going to be in a lot of hot water."
"Don't worry. Our lips are sealed." Amber replied with a salute. She had inconvenienced Fang enough as is. She didn't want to make things any harder on the boy. All though she had to admit, she was pretty surprised to find out he worked with the criminal underworld of Mistral. She wouldn't have thought someone like Fang would be willing to help somebody as notorious as Lil. Miss. Even if it was just Grimm extermination or shake downs on other crime lords who didn't pay up.
In fact, now that she thought about it, she was honestly more surprised that he had found work in the first place. The mistress of spiders wasn't exactly known for being an open employer. In fact, given how high Fang himself ranked, (working labor directly under her was a high rank all things considered. ) she must have been pretty impressed by something about him for her to allow someone that young that close to her. And while Amber had heard about the Obsidian's incredible knowledge of Dust chemistry, she doubted the white haired boy had shared that with her.
But before she could dive any deeper into those thoughts, she quickly shook her head, dismissing that train of thought before it could go any farther. Whatever deal he had made with Lil. Miss wasn't her business. And she shouldn't pry into either. If he wanted them to know, he'd tell them. And given that he hadn't, she'd respect his privacy. Although, it definitely did feel like Cinder might know a little more on that subject than she had said when Amber had first asked about it. Immediately taking his side and helping him dodge a couple questions. Something that hadn't gone unnoticed by the dark skinned girl.
And speaking of the dark haired girl.
It hadn't escaped her notice that she had been staring at her intently, concern clear in her face. And now that she had a moment to speak without interrupting her partner, Cinder had taken a step towards her, and it didn't take a genius to guess her intention.
"Cinder, I'm fine. Or at least I will be." Amber said before the dark haired girl could even speak. "I appreciate your concern, but remember, we're on a tight schedule. We have a very short windows to save Jiao. And saving him is bigger than just our mission. I don't know what the Seraphim are planning, but if we want to stop it, we need to do it here and now. I'll look into treatment for my mental health after we save the kingdom."
Her words made the dark haired girl freeze for a second, eyes locked on her face.
Feeling her gaze, Amber did her absolute best to make her mask on and unreadable. Every second felt like an eternity and she knew she couldn't keep this up much longer, but given her own plans, she didn't have to.
She just had to hold it for a little while longer.
And fortunately, it seemed the brothers heard her as after another few painfully long seconds, Cinder let out a sigh and took a step back, shaking her head as she went.
"Alright. If you say you're fine, I'll respect that." She said in a tired tone. "But I want you to promise me that you'll actually look into help after this. No more putting it off or dodging it. If nothing else, I want you to talk with me about your problems. Just promise me that you'll start taking care of yourself. Or else I will throw this job, consequences be damned.
She clearly had some suspicions, but thankfully she also understood the gravity of the situation. She knew this wasn't the time to poke at an obviously sensitive topic. Which meant Amber had bought herself some time. Not much, but it should be more than enough.
"I promise." She replied, smiling on instinct at her partner before turning back to the room at large.
And as she started to explain the start of her plan. All while doing her best to ignore the feeling of Cinder's gaze burning a hole in her backside.
They both knew how fake that smile and promise were, and while Cinder didn't know exactly what was going through the girl's head, Amber knew she'd have to stay on her toes to keep it that way.
After all, she didn't want to burden her with that pain. She just hoped Cinder would make a good leader when all this was over. Because once she was gone, the crown would rest in her head.
So, a couple things I'd like to address. First, from this point onward, the suicidal thoughts warning is going to be a constant. I'm not putting it in every chapter, but until Amber is in a better mental state, that warning going to stay active.
Second, if Adam seems a bit more aggressive in this chapter, that's because it was intended. Basically, he wants revenge on the Seraphim because they nearly killed Eric. And because he's Adam, he covers his selfish intentions with righteous propaganda.
Remember, so far, his character growth has been more geared towards excepting that not all humans are bad and not all Faunus are good. Cinder's the one learning about anger management.
Anyway, that's about it from me. So until next time, bye!