Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of A Lingering Ember. Enjoy the 4900-word chapter. I do not own RWBY, Monty Oum, and Rooster Teeth do.
(Mistral.)
The Bullhead slowly set down on the edge of a small clearing… Why? Because Trivia was exhausted and if the Autopilot stopped working? They would plunge straight down, crashing and shattering in a fiery ball of metal and death, one that would bring them both to whatever afterlife they held.
It was with a yawn Trivia went to try and exit only to stumble, she turned to look at Ollie who was slumped over in his seat, he hummed and glanced at her.
She looked where she had stumbled, his cane sat next to her foot as Ollie grunted and slowly dragged it out from her leg.
"I am sorry… I was tired and I was not able to do more." Ollie said before he stood up as Trivia went to get up.
Ollie had none of it, lightly taking her to her feet and gripping her tightly as he looped his cane through part of his coat.
Before Trivia could say anything? Ollie hoisted the lithe girl onto his back.
"You are tired… Sleep." Ollie said before he hummed. "Ever go camping, sitting around a fire?" Ollie asked before she shook her head. "Well, never too late to try," Ollie stated.
Ollie gingerly carried her as she felt like… What was that word carved into part of her mind?
Ah, piggyback. It was that of a piggyback ride. She almost giggled only for Ollie to hum.
"Ok… Since I would feel like crap if I did this? We are going to have to get firewood. I would LIKE you to stay here and stay safe but since you have shown you do not wish to? I am going to let you down…" Ollie stated.
"Then we walk, k? Stay close, I know you can probably kill everything around me… But I know the woods… Some of the woods are worse." Ollie said before he sighed.
"I just sharpened this thing," Ollie muttered as he sighed before looking at Trivia. "Triv? Are you ok? At all…. I mean it." Ollie stated.
She took his hand and signed, twisting her fingers so deep into his skin that if her nails were long? They would make grooves.
"I am good… I am staying with you and I am good." Trivia stated.
Ollie sighed and realized that internally. This girl was going to follow him even if he did not want to, he did not know her for there was too little time for him to bond…
The problem? He was going to war for her and he barely know her, he knew damn well she might die or something and he would have it on his conscience if she did.
He would go crazy with rage now, there was a lot more to this and a lot of things that he needed to let all fall apart now, and for good reason when it came down to it.
He paused and looked over at her, knowing and perhaps planning on it for now… There was excitement in the air, real excitement when it came to it.
She looked to the side, knowing what was all said and done. She did not even wish to try and she looked to the side.
She paused, trying her best before she looked to the side. Ollie hummed and leaned on his weapon. He knew he needed to be superior to this as she paused to try and figure it out once more.
She looked to the side as she sighed now… Tiring, exhausted with them. She paused to think once more as she looked to the side.
"What is going on? You know damn well that we are going to be done and dusted…. Damn well, we are going to be here for a while, I just hope you notice it at the end of the time being." Ollie stated to himself.
Trivia hummed and nodded before she looked to the side. She paused to try and figure it out as she sighed to try and figure it out as she seemed to try and think of it.
She would be able to try and figure it out. She was too curious to try it for now as she sighed to herself, tapping Hush on the ground before she paused to try and understand it.
She was tired, she wanted to rest, she wanted to be safe but she was not. Trivia could never be safe at all when it came down to it and she was ready to snap and to break, watching it all break when it came to it.
She did not know what was going on and she did not want to protect it for now. She was eager to handle it as she walked with Ollie through the dark forest, knowing all the while that such things were beyond his control.
"I want you to know when this is all said and done. We have a lot of bad guys to fight and kill, they are going to target us, to try and do this again." Ollie stated.
It was not a lie; he was not trying to fool her as he doubted, he could even if he had wished to. No, he knew this game and did not want her playing it. She could and would probably get killed when push came to shove, push and killed when she knew what was going on now.
All of it hurt but there was very little to see and do with it all on the line, whatever was going to be done would be done and whatever was to be dusted would be dusted.
It ended today and it ended with him even if he hated it. There was a lot more to it as she paused to try and figure it out as she sighed, there was to be something else to deal with.
She knew more and more that whatever there was coming? It was going to be next to impossible to cut through… Still? She would act as if she was tired.
She was able to act and she would as she paused to let it be over with. She did not know what was going on but she would fight. She turned and looked at Ollie, walking up to him as she paused, knowing what would become of it.
Ollie sighed to himself as she gripped her hands and investigated the side.
She drew her fingers deep into his palms, deep into his skin and she knew damn well he could feel it as his veins clenched at it. His aura shimmered green and hers pink before he paused to look to the side.
"You are unharmed?" Trivia asked as he shrugged and looked downwards. "Stay here… Let me gather the plants… Rest." Trivia signed to him.
Ollie sighed and glanced at her… Well, tried to glance at her. He knew his sight was dim but he could see in ways beyond his vision, she seemed to be dealing with it as she paused.
Ollie knew she would not be swayed to back down. He would not and he knew she would not be tempted. They had no path forwards so there was little to try and figure out next now.
An idea of it all was going on and on when it was said and done and it scared her to no end. She knew that such topics would divide her brain, it would divide all of what she had known and could know as it was hard enough to deal with.
He sighed and then looked to the side, he sighed and knew that something had been done to bring it all down on their heads. Whatever she could do? It would not be enough; it would never become an issue for her.
He sighed and nodded, letting her go as he realized just how damn well this would work out. If she was caught? She would be killed and he would be stabbed and killed 20 times for it.
He nodded and let her go, there was nothing he could do to stop her, he could not outfight her and he knew damn well if anything that needed to be done would be done by her… So, he allowed it as there was so much, he could try only when she was done and dusted.
He was silent, he would act and she was silent, let it wash over them, and let it all even itself out now. If it killed them? So be it, there were a lot worse solutions to their problem at the end of it and this would be one for the books and a good one at that.
She was silent, too silent, and too much silence was bad for it and bad for how she wanted to be… There was a silence, something which she had realized about when it came down to it.
Ollie looked at her, paused to try and figure out how he was growing down his mind as he paused to let it all end, he did not know what was possibly going down and he could not have stopped her even if he wished to let it end.
Ollie was eager to get to work and he knew more and more with each little moment did he wish to.
Ollie was silent, letting her vanish and then finally falling apart, crashing to the ground, and then seeming to be sliding down the wall of a tree and collapsing into the ground.
If Trivia had seen him? She would have asked why he was so worn down, why he was so tired and she might be the one to ditch him as he had asked.
He snorted and pulled down his head, too tired to care how one saw him, he wished to be free from this place but it was out of his control. She did not once seem to care who he was and it bothered him now.
Not that he cared why…. But he cared why she had so much loyalty for a worthless nobody like him to where she was willing to do something as odd as this, as odd as her now.
Trivia skipped through the rest of the forest. She had known Ollie; she had known him well enough that he would continue to break and that he was always going to let it come crashing down.
She looked over at Ollie who had been eager to figure something to try and deal with their problem. In her mind? She had known? She had known him most ways when it came down the line.
She had known a lot of people and a lot of bad people when it came to what needed to be done… Ollie? Ollie was not a jerk; Ollie did not treat her like a freak for being born differently.
She did not know what was perhaps to be occurring to try and figure it out when it was over… Whatever did she need? She was not alone when it came down to it, she did not wish to be alone and she did not wish to be with her friend.
If her father showed up? She was taking him down; she would take down everyone if she had to when it came down to it. Trivia had been alone without friends and she had been eager to fight through it for now.
Something about it all? She had not been willing to let it come down the line, not once did she pause to let it come down the line, she would not have allowed it to be.
Even if she wished? Even if she wanted? She would say that he was different, Ollie did not want something from her. why? Because he went out of the way to keep helping her and if he did want something? he was playing too long a game just to try and pawn it from her.
He had a lot of things to tell her though as both looked to the side. She and he looked to one another and it was clear each little moment seemed longer.
"Triv? A little bit of wood… Too big a fire? They come running, they come running? We end up dead… Or Grimm food and dead." Ollie stated with a sigh.
He hummed as he realized something. She would be found, and all of them would be found as it was something none of them wished to deal with.
Ollie knew damn well that if she was found? She would be on the chopping block. Him? Nobody cared about gutter trash and gutter trash had no place in life, at best. He would be turned into a pet for her father, a lap dog to bark at their feet.
At worst? He would be dead, cast into the garbage. He knew this and yet? He did not care; his place was here.
The sound of footsteps made Ollie turn as he realized she was returning and he could tell he had to act and act quickly or else he would be left behind. He had a lot more to see and do… He damned himself for that and knew exactly what to do.
Ollie cleared his throat and then sighed as he realized something was going to happen. Trivia scooted closer and he sighed with some amusement clear.
He cracked his fingers and tilted his head, blushing despite himself as he realized Trivia had decided to sit right next to him.
He said nothing but it was clear Ollie of all people was flustered, too unable to speak as Trivia laid out the materials at their feet.
"You are very quiet for a girl who seems to be able to kill an entire army the second they try and attack her, you know that?" Ollie asked as Trivia shrugged. "On behalf of that? I think we can talk normally… Your scroll has no power and mine is off. If you have anything to say? Say it the way you have been." Ollie stated.
He had been eager to think, to act in a certain way and this was not it. It would not even be close if he had wished it to have been something fun and exciting, something enjoyable and something fun at the end of it all.
He wished to see it end and it would end, there was nothing else with which to have brought it down to their level… He was going to be enjoying thinking of it later.
They had a lot to discuss when the sun went up, so much it would hurt but not as much as now before it came down to it.
Trivia seemed to think of it when it was off now and clicked her fingers.
She was silent, too silent for what had been brought to the moment. She did not wish to try something she did not understand… But not once did she question it.
Ollie cleared his throat and glanced at her, thinking of all the things he could say, would say.
"I am not mocking your speech… I am… I am crappy with sign language; I did not learn a lot from people… Not really, I want to learn and try it." Ollie stated before he looked to the side.
He had been too interested in what he could have done now, she took his hand gingerly and held it up before intertwining her fingers with his.
"I can teach you." Trivia signed. "You teach me how to train out here?" Trivia stated.
"Maybe." Trivia heard from Ollie. "There is going to need to be some rules at the moment," Ollie stated before he looked to the side.
"I am going to be dealing with more and more at the moment." Trivia signed as she hummed and rubbed at her hands.
"I need to get more and more stuff out of the Bullhead. I need to get a sleeping bag out of the Bullhead." Ollie stated.
Trivia was too eager to figure out what it meant, too enjoyable for now as she paused to let him get up. She watched, confused for but a moment as Ollie went and walked towards the Bullhead.
She could tell only for a few moments that Ollie was confused; he was far too confused as to what was going on. Granted? She would and could need to grow, she had no problems about this and nothing to deal with now.
Trivia watched as Ollie began to get more supplies from the ship they had ridden in on, it was incredibly obvious to her that Ollie of all people had been used to something like this now, and for good reason.
All of it? All she could and would do was going to be put to the test. Trivia knew now Ollie would aid her and he was not trying to. If he wanted her dead? He would have left her behind and if he was trying to sell or use her? he would have used a better motive to attempt to isolate her.
She knew exactly what he would do next as she smirked, looking at him with interest, guessing she could afford to allow it to be something different.
There was a lot more to try and figure out now. She did not know what was growing and whatever needed to be done next would be horrific for words to be dealing with for now lest it all come down to it.
There was something else, something far beyond what needed to be done for a good reason now.
Trivia was silent, too silent as of now… It was clear even if nothing else came of it what was going on… Something about it all amused her to no end.
She looked over to him as Ollie hummed, tapping his cane on the ground, he was tired… Too tired to say anything and too unwilling to figure it out now and figure it out.
Trivia was silent, far more silent than him.
To be fair? Neither was much for energy or the ability to say much at all. He could say nothing more than how exactly he was exhausted and working down at the time as Ollie tapped the cane on the floor.
"I am scared." Trivia signed.
"Bad guys?" Ollie signed back, tracing a finger across her hands.
"Kinda," Trivia stated. "We aren't good guys." Trivia signed.
Ollie nodded, guessing that was also true. They were not Huntsmen or anything resembling such a thing… They were survivors, hunters, and scavengers. He knew he was not pure good… But he was not evil, he did not hurt the innocent, and he had no desire to covet power above his means.
Ollie hummed to himself, questioning what he could do… What he should do?
Whatever he was able to do? It was odd, very odd in its way… He held onto no such idea of something grander… He had been gutter trash so long he began to get used to it, something worth a laugh.
Trivia leaned on him as he blinked, his pale and damaged eyes widening as he thought of what to say, what to do…. It was odd, but it would remain so for now.
He held onto such things for good reason. He had been tired for good reason, Ollie was not good at this sort of thing as he brought an arm tentatively around her, draping part of his jacket across them both.
"Do you have family?" Trivia asked as Ollie hummed.
"No." Ollie signed back. "Not anymore," Ollie stated before he sighed.
Ollie hummed; he hummed well enough that she of all people did not understand. Ollie was silent, he would continue to remain so as Trivia clung to his arm like a newborn child.
She could feel how scared he was, how panicked he was that such a thing existed. Whatever needs to be done? It would remain so, remain intact again and again.
Ollie could not have done so… He could not. He and she held onto such warmth and such amusement it was written in stone just how badly something had gone for them to have been dealing with it now at the end of the day.
Ollie was doing what he had to when it came to survival… Trivia? Trivia did not know this, how could she?
To be fair? He of all people was tired… He was very tired and very depleted of strength now and for good reason. All of it had left him now and for good, it had been something he contemplated in that sort of way.
All of it was going to be harder and harder to deal with for now as he looked downwards at the ground before now as she looked downwards to try and figure it out.
Trivia was too silent, too eager to get back to work as she wrapped herself on his shoulder as Ollie seemed to be done for now as it was all said and done… She would not be able to try and figure it out now and for good reason.
She did not know what Ollie was doing as she paused to think of what was growing on her mind.
She did not wish to try and figure it out now when it was all said and done. Ollie seemed to be done and figuring out a few new things when it came down to it.
"You tired?" Ollie asked. "Because you are going to need to rest…. The longer you stay up? The more exhausted you are going to be at the end of the day." Ollie stated before she looked to the side.
Trivia hummed to himself before long. She did not know how she was not exhausted as of now… She did not wish to figure it out now and for a good reason.
"You know we have a lot to do, right?" Ollie asked before he hummed as he began to set up the sleeping bag and several other things when it came down to it.
Ollie rubbed his eyes before looking at the fire and realizing that there was more food on the Bullhead. She thought of what was being done as he flicked a knife from his pocket.
Trivia looked at him before he walked towards the bullhead, pulling a small crate from it before he cracked it open and she thought of it now.
Ollie began to slowly think of their next move before she thought of what was going on.
Trivia watched as Ollie began to cut through what seemed to be processed meat. She would have questioned it but it was clear that they had no real food and would be having to make due now.
Ollie cut off several pieces, slicing off several pieces before she thought of it as he broke a stick off and then placed it above the fire.
"You ever been camping?" Ollie asked to which Trivia typed a 'no' on his scroll. "Well, it used to be fun… Then you deal with the idea of monsters eating your flesh right off the bone and stabbing you in your sleep." Ollie sighed to himself.
Trivia seemed to nod which went unnoticed by Ollie who was dealing with his idea. Trivia was too eager to try and sleep either way as she paused to try and think of her next move.
She would not be able to figure it all out now as she yawned, Ollie's ears perking up now.
She did not even know the first idea of what was growing on her mind once more as she paused to try and figure it out now as she wished to overcome it, overmatch it for now.
He playfully tried not to needle her, knowing how well it would work… Knowing just how much would gain now when it is too much for now… Too much beyond the pale when he questioned it all.
Ollie felt more like a parent rather than a regular criminal who was forced into submission.
And to be fair? He rather did not mind… All of it? All such ideas on his mind were coming up well.
To be fair? Ollie was a lot of things but he was no garbage man, he was trying to be nice, and he did not want her to relax. It revealed much about her as it did him, including all the mayhem he had done.
All of it was too much, all he could and would have done was more than now as he thought much more of the girl sleeping on his shoulder than anything else.
He felt… Warmth, kindness, a desire to be done at the end of it when all was over.
Ollie sighed as he paused and then slowly pushed himself to kick it all to pieces now and for good reason. She glared at him only for Ollie who had pushed himself to his full height.
She was too flustered before he gripped her, pulling her into his arms and sweeping his easily so he cradled her fully, despite their heights. He had no issue carrying her as if she was a small you rather than a full-grown person.
He held no such idea now of what she was doing and frankly? He did not care much as he walked towards the tent.
Ollie motioned for her to figure it out now and for good reason, all of them held disastrous consequences of it.
She slowly removed the flap that covered the tent, exposing them to the wilderness of now when they would be able to relax, and for good reason now when it came down to it for now.
He of all people was… Tired, much more than usual.
Ollie of all people had been eager to figure it out now and that it would end for now as he paused, thinking for now as he seemed to be done and figure it out now when it was all said and done.
He had a lot more to deal with as Trivia was set down, discarding her boots and her jacket as she paused, thinking of it now when it came down to it as she looked to the side, too much.
She had been too thrown off as Ollie retired to one corner of the tent, thinking of it now and for good reason. She was too eager to think of it all now and for good reasons at the end of it.
She was just too tired for now when it came down to it to the end and for good reason now.
She looked at Ollie who simply discarded his jacket and boots, content to return to a corner of the tent where he was not intruding on her personal space.
He sighed to himself, too tired for now to let himself care about much as he looked over at Trivia.
"I want you to know something…. I do not care where you come from, what you look like, or such…. You seem nice. Seem is the word, I do not know if you are and you do not know I am a giant saint." Ollie stated before he turned to look at her.
"But you seem like someone I should care about… So, I do, I care about you enough to be willing to fight off someone I usually would never even attempt it for now." Ollie stated before he sighed and then thought more and more about what was going on.
He had ZERO clue what was happening, zero clue at ALL what was to come, all he knew was that Trivia was… Nice, which meant he had to be nice at some point.
He wanted her to trust him and that meant reminding her that he was not some giant who had all the answers but that did not mean he would not help.
She poked and prodded him all she wanted, Ollie would not have let anything get in the way of such an idea when it came to it now, and for good reason.
She and he could have done more, much more…. And now? She would say that he of all people was attempting to close the book on such issues.
"If you want? I can take the sleeping bag and you can have the tent to yourself. I do not mind enough to think much about it…. I have slept in worse and I know you have not." Ollie stated.
It was not wrong. She had never slept in a bed that was not pampered, never set foot in a single structure that had not attempted to pamper her. They had wanted her for something extra… Something more.
And she? She had despised it.
Author Note
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will be 900-6500 words and will be showing more of both Trivia and Ollie now. Until then, Lighting Wolf is out!