Dominic POV
It's warm here, I like that. I want to stay. No fighting, no fear, nothing to worry about. No lies, and no truths. Just this warm comforting darkness. Colors known and unknown swim in my vision, creating vague half pictures of memories. I see me and my brothers, Damien watching over us as Deadric climbs a tree and me and Tri stick fight as we always did.
The image changes and we're hiding, Damien's at the table with Mom and Dad, Mom's crying and Dad's comforting her with an arm around her shoulder. Their explaining something to Dame, I don't really understand. His face is hard set, his blue eyes shining with an inner light. A determination that would never fade from them. Tri clutches my arm tighter and I pull my sick weaker twin into a hug. Is he so weak cause I'm so strong?
"Everything will be okay Tri," I reassure him.
"Promise?"
I smile down at him, but its not honest, so all I manage is a crooked grin that seems to do the job. "I promise." Looks like I've been lying allot longer than I thought, and to more people.
The scene melts into a mess of color and light, I start to get angry. At myself, at this world, at those glowing red eyes that brought me here. Almost as if on cue the color around me shifts, turning a bloody crimson. Slowly forming into the eyes that I dream about almost every night.
"I'm going to kill you," I state to the eyes and in a blink I'm holding Twi and La. Twi being pure gravity dust, but La sporting glowing white dust in full katana form.
The eyes narrow, almost in amusement. "Try," it whispers. "Try," it says a bit louder its back lit smile appearing. "TRY!" It yells at me and I rush foreword. "TRY! TRY! TRY!" The yells echo as it starts feeling like I'm running through mud. I look down and see the darkness crawling up my legs, inky black tendrils that begin to pull me under. But I push through as the voice continues to order me to try to kill it.
I slash in vain, almost reaching that arrogant wide and honest smile. I hate it, the power it has to eat a sun, I feel the blackness start to constrict my chest. I hate its laugh as I stop struggling, I hate its glowing red glare. And I hate that I can't smile honestly like it can….. I stare directly into the crimson, the darkness reaching my throat.
"I won't try. I'LL SUCCEED!"
As the darkness consumes my vision, I here it whisper, in a low almost seductive tone. "I can't wait to see."
/
I snap awake, covering my eyes at the sudden light. Why's there a weight on my leg?
I look down to see a mess of white hair with a uniformed body sitting in a chair that's been pulled to my bedside, uh oh. I wasn't expecting her to be like this, I notice I'm hooked up to an IV and a heart monitor. "So that's almost dying huh?" I blink as the realization sets in. Slowly, very slowly, I inch Winter's head off my lap.
Luckily I don't wake her up, I pull the needle out of my arm with a hiss, I fucking hate needles. Searching around the medical room I notice Clover sleeping in the other chair, his feet propped up on the window sill, I quickly find my scroll; it's been three days; my jeans, and my leather jacket. A giant Ace Op's logo now patching together the tear from Gambol Shroud which I roll my eyes at before looking down at the bandages crossing my torso.
I rip them off letting them fall loosely to the ground, I check my back in the mirror to see a thin red line stretching from mid back above my left hip to the tip of my right shoulder. "Bitch got me good huh?" I throw my jacket on, not being able to find a shirt and not caring. Finding my boots, I vaguely think about getting a new pair before leaving the room.
Being morning and class time, the halls are fairly empty, I find myself walking out of the academy, the sunlight bright and people bustle around the entrance. No one notices me, good. I've already decided what to do, RWBY cannon is no longer trustworthy so I'll make my own.
After a while of walking I reach Edge Park, one of the most beautiful views on the floating island. I light a cigarette and stare at the horizon knowing one day Salem would infiltrate the city and sink this jewel of the tundra. Leaning against the railing with my eyes now closed, I let myself tilt foreword.
Winters words echo in my mind, "It's a matter of knowing the alternative. If I don't jump down this building, how many people are gonna die? How many could I have saved? If I took the longer safer way, how many got hurt and died in that time?"
I already know the alternative, I let my eyes open and unlike my fall into Remnant I'm not scared. I push the bubble in my chest to it's outer limits, my decent slowing as Mantle rushes up to meet me.
/
Robyn POV
"Three days, three motherfucking days! And we found squat," May grumbles kicking a rock. We've been trolling through the underground trying to find a trace of the Fang or even just their leader Adam Taurus.
"We'll find them," Joanna pats her shoulder, being the comforting voice as always.
"To the next one!" Fiona fist pumps her ears bouncing lightly.
I laugh shaking my head as we walk through the darker sides of Mantle, around midday we find ourselves close to the station where the incident happened. A collection of candles, pictures of lost loved ones, writhes and trinkets, stuffed animals and personal belonging's stand vigil outside of the yellow tape. Construction work had already begun to repair the area as it was a main terminal for all of Mantle.
What stood out was a guy standing there, a black leather jacket with the Ace Ops logo plastered on the back drawing my attention more than anything. "Isn't that the kid?" Joanna points out.
"White hair, pony tail, yeah that's him," Fiona nods. "Gonna go thank your knight in leather May?" she teases nudging her friend.
"He's still military, he was just doing his job and following orders," she rolls her eyes but her cheeks are slightly red.
"You still hang around Winny," Fiona shrugs, "Question is whats he doing in Mantle? I heard he was still out of commission."
"Paying respects," I answer watching him closely. He kneels down placing a hand to the earth, after a few seconds I hear a faint grinding. He moves his hand, placing something with the rest of the memorial. "May shroud," I order and soon the faint buzz of her semblance tells me were in it's bubble.
"Right call," she mutters as Dominic walks right past us, a cigarette in his lips and his hands in his pockets pushing his jacket open more.
"Shirtless, yummy, we following?" Fiona chirps resting her head on my shoulder, she had jumped onto my back after the invisibility barrier went up.
"I mean might as well, we haven't found anything," I shrug as we continue down the street a block behind him. "Though he's probably only returning to Atlas proper."
A few blocks down I realize I'm wrong as he turns into an alley, slowly making his way to No Home Town. A section of Mantle taken over by the growing homeless population, he walks right into the district of tents and makeshift shelters. People stand around barrels, flames licking the food they're cooking on old grates. A few children run through the crossing alleys in the hub.
He ignores the stares and mumbles, marching towards a makeshift table hosting a card game of four men roughly in their late twenties. With no hesitation he drops a stack of Lien on the table, my eyes go wide, that's easily 2000. "What're you buying in?" one of the guys laughs, his sharp eyes taking in Dominic.
"Nah, too rich for my blood, it's payment. I need info and I'm pretty sure someone here has it, the homeless are the eyes and ears of a city after all," he shrugs and I can imagine his smile in place. "Or it's for repairs."
"Repairs? Kid look around, ya can't shine shit," the whole table laughs at the oldest man's joke. Tall and heavy build, probably a merc or dealer, he had already started counting the money.
"That's debatable, but you'll need it. Because if you don't tell me what I want to know," he snaps his fingers and everything shudders. The cards lift off of the table as do the chairs the men are sitting in, what women are there grab the children and rush them away. "I'll level this whole area."
"Phfft like you're aloud to Ace Oops," the same man chuckles not showing fear though obviously tense now.
"People are dead, Kian is DEAD!" He yells as the cards and three other men drop, they scatter away as fast as they can leaving Dominic and the floating guy at the center. "So you are going to tell me where the Fang is hiding out, or find out how little I care about what I'm aloud to do."
"And we're all as good as dead if I tell you anything I may or may not know, it's the Fang kid. Adam's crazy as fuck and won't hesitate to send his faunus scum to burn us to the ground." He holds firm calling Dom's bluff.
"Then, lead me to another lead. Everyone forgets I walked in here, and we go about our lives. Whatever god exists in this world knows Kian cant," the final dig makes the guys face go sour and he can't meet the eyes of the man in front of him anymore.
He pulls the man closer so only he hears the info, he nods. "I'll let the Huntresses know to keep an eyes on this place," is his response as the man drops. He leaves the Lien and walks past the man planning on exiting through the other side of No Home Town.
"Kid, if you walk in there you might not walk out!"
"Good, I got some steam to blow," he turns and winks at the man before leaping straight up landing smoothly on a rooftop.
/
A short while later we're standing in front of an old hole in the wall tavern, (almost literally with the sign hanging by a thread, murky windows and the smell of sewage wafting from the drain nearby.) "Soooooooo, we're going in right?" Fiona asks tilting her head and putting a finger to her chin.
"I mean it's only been about five minutes, should we give him more time?" Joanna asks looking to me. May's been quiet almost the entire trip, though she has been maintaining her semblance for a long time.
"You've seen him fight, you think he's got this?" I ask her and she raises a brow at me.
"He did go toe to toe with Taurus, his semblance is… Unique. He can be reckless, but he has that dashing rouge charm that makes me think he can probably handle a bar of thugs."
"Roguish charm?" Fiona pokes at her friends shoulder a cheeky smile plastered on her childish face.
"He doesn't have his weapons though," Joanna points out and I nod.
(Start SXMPRA – COWBELL WARRIOR! ( )
"If things get serious we'll," I'm cut off as a man is thrown through one of the muddy windows and slides to a halt about ten feet from us. We all blink at him and look at each other before running to the shattered window.
Dominic is sitting at the bar a man standing on either side of him while the few other patrons stare in shock, the old bartender holding a glass and rag his glasses slightly askew is still blinking. "So," Dominic starts. "Whose next?"
The men reach for him at the same time, only to grab air as he had kicked himself away from the bar, sliding on his seat almost all the way to the window. Flipping out of the stool he picks it up and smashes it into another man that had stood up. Now having two makeshift swords he proceeds to dodge another grab attempt as the original guys pull out handguns.
"Aw guys I came unarmed, I'm just here to talk," he holds his arms out still holding the legs of the stool in a reverse grip. He looks to his weapons, "Well I was unarmed."
They start to unload their pistols, glowing dust rounds slow down and stop mid air before falling harmlessly to the ground along with a drop of blood. But nothing touched him.
"Okay, gotta end this quickly fella's sorry," he crushes one of the bullets under his boot before rushing them. Igniting the fire dust on his foot he roundhouse kicks one square in the chest, sending him flying back over the bar and into the racks of booze. Before the other thug can even react he's been hit four times by the wooden replacements, with two final swings; a right uppercut before a left down stroke; the guys on the floor groaning.
I finally see the kids face, light sweat covers it. A line of blood running from his right eye grabs my notice as another drop falls to the floor. He stumbles a little the legs falling from his grip, grabbing for his head he pulls his hand away when he feels the blood.
"Come on Dom, you can go a bit farther," he mutters to himself wiping the blood up into his hair causing a red streak. "Now," he walks over to the window making us scramble away as he vaults the shattered glass.
With him walking up to the original thug I take a closer look finally realizing he's a faunus, with a long serpentine tail and frills under his neck. He had started to regain some conscious, upon noticing Dom he starts to try to run, scrambling in the dirt of the alley. He's stopped and lets out a scream of pain as his tail is pinned to the ground by a boot.
"Sup dude," Dom purrs leaning over him lighting a cigarette he pulls out. "I'm only going to ask nicely once, wheres Taurus?"
"Fuck you Elite," he turns spitting some weird green liquid at his captor who tilts out of its way easily.
"Hard way it is then, ya know I've always wondered if you pull a lizard faunus's tail off does it regrow?" He replants his foot on the lower back of the man and grabbing the tail he starts to pull, he doesn't look like he's enjoying it. Which I appreciate at least, part of me wants to stop him and I look to Fiona. To my surprise she looks ready to cheer him on, May's paying close attention to his face. But occasionally her eyes dart down, she'll never admit if but she has an interest especially after the incident.
Joanna's standing firm her eyes set on the faunus waiting for him to spill, this is the best lead we've gotten in three days. And this guy's found it in an hour. "I'm not that type of lizard please, it fucking huuuuuuurts," he pounds his fist into the ground tears streaming down his face.
"But it's not long enough to get kinky with it unless it comes off," Dominic teases in a false seductive voice.
After another yank and twist the faunus yelps, "FINE! Fine," he pants as Dom loosens his grip. "I'll tell you where he's at."
"Final- fucking -ly," he sighs letting go of the tail but not letting up his boot. "First what's your semblance?"
"I can turn myself invisible," the man demonstrates by quickly turning completely transparent before reappearing.
"How prehensile is your tail?" is his next question and I'm kinda impressed. He's already planning detainment.
"Not that much, but you can bind it too if you want," he admits realizing the same thing. Dom nods pulling a pair of hard light cuffs out of his back pocket, he binds the guys hands but leaves the tail. Must've only had the one pair.
He searches the guys pockets and finds his scroll, he shatters it by throwing it into a building before checking the guys pistol. He looks a little disgusted at it but puts it in his coat pocket after checking the ammo and chamber. "So you wanna tell me that little secret you almost lost your tail for?" he squats in front of the guy.
"There's a factory, near an old Schnee mine, about a full day out to the west. You're smart kid. And strong, but they'll be long gone by the time you get there," the guy chuckles blowing some of his tussled brown hair out of his eyes.
Dominic growls, but before he can ask anymore questions a military ATV pulls up at the entrance to the alley. "Fuck," he whispers as he turns to the Ace's and Winter Schnee herself rushing out of the transport.
"DOMINIC XAVIER FAIN!" The Ice Queens face is flushed red as a tomato while she stomps to the calm man.
"Don't use my full name," he warns raising an eyebrow.
"What do you think you are doing?" She demands gritting her teeth.
"I've never seen Winny like this," Fiona comments in a whisper.
"Getting info, which you've interrupted. Now I got nothing," he lies. Adam wont be getting notified anytime soon, mainly cause the Aces except Clover are busy rounding up everyone from the bar, tender included.
"And why did you take it upon yourself to find this information without consulting ANYONE, without proper equipment. After being in a coma for three days. Without even waking me up!" She stomps her foot, wait what? How would he wake her up by leaving.
"I didn't ask you two to sleep at my bedside," he glares at her and includes Clover in it as well.
"Whoa what," Joanna crosses her arms looking Dominic up and down again
"Dom," her voice softens suddenly. "I'm not just your superior I'm your girlfriend. I was fucking worried sick about you," she sobs wrapping him into a hug.
He looks like he's about to push her away for a second, but his face softens. He returns the hug pulling her closer, "I'm sorry babe."
"Robyn when did you get here?" My head jerks around to see Marrow leading a goon but looking directly at us.
"Uhhhhh," uh oh.
"May?" Winter points at her friend, probably her only friend.
"Hey Winny," to her credit May smiles and waves, though she looks exhausted and distracted. I bet I can guess on what.
"Winny? You two know each other?" Dom looks between the two.
"Yeah their besties," Fiona announces as the couple separates and walks over to us. It causes May to grab one arm with the other nervously. "Winny even came down in the middle of the night to borrow cloths for, your guy's first date I guess." The sheep girl shrugs raising her hands.
Dominic looks over at Winter with a raised brow, she smiles shyly and looks away. "Knew those wasn't yours," he scoffs rolling his eyes. "We're talking later by the way."
"Before or after Ironwood puts you on suspension," she asks raising a brow right back.
"He can try," Dominic shrugs. "So how long were you guys here?" He finally turns his attention to me with a piecing gaze, daring me to say something.
"Uhhhhhhhh," nothing left to distract him from us.
"We saw the ATV pull up, decided to go stealth and see if we could help. But looks like you had everything handled," Joanna spits out like it's natural.
The look on his face says he doesn't believe us but he drops the subject, "Anyway, nice seeing you girls but I gotta to get told how bad of a boy I've been and get punished."
"Kinky," out of all the things I could've said why was it that.
/
"Robyn they all laughed it off, stop sulking," Fiona pats me on the back. I've been walking with a hanged head since the ATV pulled off Dominic and Winter still bickering. "And thanks to him we got our lead," she fist pumps bouncing in place. "He's awesome, handled all that like a pro and only been a solider for two months. How come Winny didn't tell you she was dating the newest Ace? May?"
I look up and see we somehow made our way back to the station which had drawn said woman's attention. Much to Fiona;s chagrin, "May, May, May." She pokes her friend in different places trying to get her attention before jumping up on her shoulders and leaning down into her face. "What'cha thinking about?"
"Huh, nothing really," I walk to the memorial as May continues to get berated by the sheep on her shoulder. I look down to see Dominic's addition, she was right his semblance is pretty unique. Sitting in front of a picture of a small boy, some Mantle pickpocket sitting happily on the cart handing a tourist a cake pop, is a stone rose with a dried drop of blood on one of the petals.
"You know what I'm thinking about?" I ask my team turning and grabbing their full attention only to laugh at the sight of Joanna trying to pull an angry sheep off of Mays shoulders.
"Food?"
"Clover?"
"Sleep?"
They answer in order, "Wrong on three accounts. We have our lead, time to act on it."
/
Dominic POV
"I almost had the location," I argue.
"You acted without prior orders," the stern face of Ironwood stares back. Winter and Clo standing on either side staring straight foreword like good soldiers.
"They could be planning another attack, we need to act immediately" or robbing that old mine dry for their dust instead. Adam and Blake with a mess of grunts should've handled the Wraith easily.
"We have been actively looking. You left the hospital without being properly checked and discharged, considering the report I received from Clover. A full physical and mental evaluation should have been conducted before you were cleared to leave," he stands and places his hands on the desk.
"I'm perfectly fine, I remember the whole fight right up until that cat bitch got me," I shrug. I shouldn't have let myself go that far but too late to go back now, it was the first time they saw that bloodthirsty side of me.
Ironwood nods to Clo, "Dominic…. Whose Dame?" I freeze, I do not remember that part.
"So the name rings a bell, is that medicine his?" My response is to look him dead in the eyes and lean back crossing my arms. The general sighs, "This is the last time I can let something slide Dominic. Next time I will Court Marshall you do you understand?"
"Oh you're perfectly clear Jimmy. If I'm a bad boy again you'll Court Marshal a child you conscripted into the military to become a weapon. I got a question for you James," I stand placing my hands on his desk as well. "Who is the "Her" that I'll be a good weapon to fight against?"
His response is to back up and cross his arms, sighing and hanging his head in defeat. "That's what I thought! My memories, what has come back. My dreams that only show me bits and pieces, they are mine and mine alone. I will decide to whom and what to tell. Now Winter did you know about any of this?" I demand turning to her.
"About you being used as a weapon, not at all. And I will be talking with the General later about not consulting his Lieutenant about something like this," she responds quickly still looking ahead not breaking stance but with a fire behind her icy blue eyes.
"I don't know weather to believe you," I honestly admit before turning and walking out of the office.
Clover catches up about five minutes later, "Dom," he slides to a halt panting. "I knew the General's intentions the whole time, and I'm sorry. But," I stop him by pulling him into a hug. I know they had lost a member right before Marrow joined, then adding on me being reckless hasn't helped his trauma. I may be working towards my own goals but I'm still human.
"I know, it's okay." I pull away, "I do see you and the Aces as a kinda pseudo family Clo. Honestly if you guys think my semblance can take care of whatever Old Iron's scared about I'm more than willing to help." I smile, and it feel a little wider than my normal at ease grin. He smiles widely back in return before crushing me into another hug. For the first time since being in Atlas. Hell for the first time in a long time, I'm being honest. I plan on burning Salem to the ground and uniting the relics myself.
Those brothers have allot to answer for, not just to me. But to all of their creation, and my first step is getting rid of Taurus.
/
Standing out on the balcony I pull out Clovers scroll that I picked off him during the hug, I copy Robyn's contact info before I walk back to the hallway. I set the inactive scroll down and push it down the hall adding a small "Away" to really send it.
"Hello?" her confused voice answers not recognizing my contact info. I'm surprised she answered at all.
"Sup?" I smile into the phone. I hear mumbling in the back round and a bunch of shushes before she finally answers.
"How'd you get my number? And wouldn't someone get a little jealous at you calling another woman so late?"
"Cut the bull, when's the assault?" I cut right to the chase.
"Whatever are you talking about Dominic? None of us got his location out of that lizard you almost ripped the tail off of, and he's so terrified of you he probably wont break for a few more days. "
"Uh huh, so a few days to a week before they move, and how did you know I almost ripped his tail off. Tell me and I'll tell you what I would've done with his tail," I tease hearing the little sheep girl in the back round.
"YES PLEASE! We alllll wanna know."
"Shut up," I hear a thump and a cry of pain.
"While that offers tempting I'll pass, but I do suggest you coming out to that new club in Mantle tomorrow night." A meet up, to discus details probably. Why is she being so cryptic, my line isn't tapped. Is it?
"Sadly I'm tied up that night, I have a dinner with the Schnee's," I sigh into the phone.
"Winter disowned her family," May's voice finally speaks up.
"Not really it's complicated apparently, but we're not the only ones invited. The other Ace's and General are too, though Old Ironwood decided to decline. It's mainly to meet and thank me for saving their train the other day, they invited the others as a formality." Such things are common among the Elites and the higher ranked solider, doesn't mean I have to enjoy it. "But the Aces have been trying to get me to go to that new place since I got my license. So it wouldn't be hard to convince them to go say the following night."
"Sounds like a date!" I hear another thump and another cry of pain.
"A date it is then," I smile into the phone hanging up. Now I start mentally preparing myself for huffing and puffing with the highest echelon's of Atlas society.
/
"I don't do ties, try to put it on me again and I will set it on fire," I threaten Winter with a light glare.
"Well you're wearing a shirt again at least," she sighs and stops trying to get the tie around my neck. I guess she heard about the uniform incident. To my credit, (and having a rich girlfriend) I am wearing a three piece black tux with a tan undershirt.
Everyone is last minute prepping in the back of the limo the Schnee's had sent to pick us up. Harriet in a cherry red strapless ball gown is fixing her necklace, she's allot more girly than the show made her out to be. Though the later seasons do feel more like a single episode or long movie broken up into bite sized pieces. So allot of characters didn't get the development they deserved. Vine is definitely going to turn heads with his casual orange monk robes, more so if he dances with Elm whose sporting a two piece green gown, the skirt being layers and layers of lace.
Clover and Marrow are nice and simple like me, three piece Tux, though Marrow's is a brilliant red and Clovers a deep sea-foam blue/green. Winter herself is wearing a simple slim fitting white nightgown at first, but the light catches blue teardrops sown into the fabric.
"I thought this was dinner?" I ask nervous at how dressed up everyone is.
"Dinner Party Dom," Winter rolls her eyes.
"Oh that thing rich people do to get attention from the press," I grin at her as she crosses her gloved arms.
"It's not going to be that bad," she sighs as I look out the window. We just pulled into the property.
"Winter there's literally a red carpet," I deadpan raising a brow at her.
"Kid hunters are a type of celebrity, this is kinda expected of us military grade guys," Marrow reminds him.
"Pointless shows of strength is what caused the attack," I mutter but sigh staring back out the window. "But if you're putting me in the spotlight," I smile evilly. I rip my hair tie out and fluff my hair into a natural middle part with some hanging in my face, grabbing the tie Winter was trying to practically strangle me with a bit ago I pull out my lighter.
"Uh oh," Marrow takes a deep breath and holds it as he figures out my plan when I pull out my lighter and wrap my tie around it. Lighters in remnant are special, there all dust lighters. Butane and propane never really caught on here, but they use a mix of air and fire dust. When you mix air and fire, you get smoke. Which is exactly what starts leaking through the tie and begin to fill the cabin after a swift punch and a satisfying crunch.
Winter sighs as the door gets opened and I throw the makeshift smoke bomb onto the carpet which quickly fills the area. The people gathered mutter as I rush into the cloud, standing roughly in the middle I hold out a palm. I let the bubble expand only focusing on the smoke, "Condense." I start walking foreword letting the smoke trail around me while being sucked into the growing ball in my hand.
As planned the last of the smoke gets absorbed and fully reviles me, after which I run a my free hand through my hair tucking it all behind one ear. The flashes of cameras go off as the crowd claps at my entrance. I walk up the stairs to Jacques and Willow Schnee, both dressed for the occasion and a wine glass already in Willow's hand. Weiss and Whitley are close by but behind them, the youngest having his arms crossed and a skeptical look while his sister looks ready to attack me her blue eyes wide and sparkling.
He gives a hearty clap while she taps a few fingers to her wrist holding the glass, her smile does look impressed though. I increase the gravity until I feel the smoke re condense into a solid, "A present for the lady of the house, be careful it is quite fragile being smoke dust. Dominic Fain at your service," I offer the freshly made jewel to her, as smooth and bright as a pearl.
"Oh my, Klein," the butler steps up already pulling out a pocket square from his uniform. "Please put that somewhere out of the way, we'll be sure to find an artisan that specializes in dust jewelry. To be able to create such a rarity on a will," I place the pearl into the pocket square as the butler bows before disappearing. She offers her hand only containing her wedding ring and a silver bracelet.
I take her offered hand by the fingers in raise it to my near my mouth as I bow, but not meeting it, kinda glad for all those classes grandma put me through now. Even if offered a kissing a hand in high society is reserved for familiarity and a higher rank than mine. Jacques held his hand out which I firmly shook, resisting the urge to crush his it into dust.
"Introductions are my pleasure, you already know Winter," he nods to his estranged daughter who had walked up, she smiles lightly nodding to her father. "I'm Jacques, this is my wonderful wife Willow, though I'm sure you've heard about us. This is my younger daughter Weiss, and my son Whitley."
"A pleasure," Whitley shakes my hand like a true aristocrat.
Weiss however steps foreword and latches onto my arm with no shame or bothering to hide her intentions. "You don't need to introduce yourself Mr. Fain," I wonder if Winters the jealous type. I lean into her slightly as she begins to guide me in, "I've been following your career since you debuted," she says leaning into me even more. I notice she doesn't have her scar yet.
"Really now, I've only been public for a month. And I only had that match against Winter," I look around the foyer impressed by the amount of people already here. Its quite large with a giant staircase at the back just like the show complete with the giant crystalline chandler hanging above. Small dinner my ass Winter, she knew I'd decline an invitation to this.
"Public operations are still added to a hunters career unless their classified missions, since I'm the only person here close to your age I'll be your escort for the night," she smiles starting to lead me to the dining hall when I feel an arm lace through mine on the right side.
I look over to see Winter standing there with a blush creeping across her face, huh she can be cute too. "I'm his escort for the night Weiss," she smiles gently at her younger sister who still hangs on.
"But Winter, I'm his age. Wouldn't it be more appropriate for me to be his escort?" She asks genuinely confused as this would follow most traditions even back in my world.
"Weiss I love you, but please let go of my boyfriend," I turn back to her raising an eyebrow.
I feel the weight leave my left side, "Oh so now you wanna go public cause you're afraid I'd be into your sister." I don't get an answer so I tilt her face to mine and place a quick light kiss on her lips, "Stop being cute or you might not be wearing that dress by the end of the night." I whisper before pulling away just to make sure she's beat red.
"I might not mind that," she leans in and whispers back. Okay time to decide to pull away or put Winter's back to the wall. I am a young healthy teen with an amazingly hot older girlfriend. It's not like my body doesn't react when we kiss or the few times we made out, maybe I'm finally over it.
"You two are dating?" Weiss exclaims drawing the attention of her parents from the door.
"That's wonderful news, even more to celebrate tonight," Jacques doesn't look surprised as Willow does. I wonder if the General isn't attending tonight because he let something slip and feared my outburst should I come to find out something bigger is afoot.
"That's.. Amazing, I'm glad Winter's found such a strong and amazing man," she looks so disappointed, I kinda feel bad for her. But sadly I met Winter first or it would fit better into my plans to be dating Weiss.
"Thank you Weiss, how have your studies been," they fall into small talk and I turn my brain off to focus more on my surroundings.
After a few minutes, "Babe, detach." I wiggle my arm a little and she complies with an eye roll. "Drinks?" She nods still talking to her sister as I go to find the refreshments. I consider texting an another Ace for company and help navigating but decide against it as I spot the table laden with some of the most posh food I've seen. Luckily they do have a bowl, ornate and possibly diamond, being fed by a cherub sculpture holding a carafe. A constant stream of wine pouring into it and being fed back.
I blink before grabbing three glasses and topping them with the liquid, as I turn I almost bump into a woman wearing a long orange dress. Her butt length blue hair styled into an ornate ponytail banded every so often with gold which is what I brushed past. "I'm sorry," I apologize, as she turns.
"No no, I'm sorry, I haven't had my hair tied up like this in a while, so I cant really gauge where it's at." The front of her dress reviles it to be a toga style with a simple gold chain necklace resting across cleavage, which is eye level with the heels the person is wearing, "You?" her eyes widen.
"May?" My eyes meet golden ones which look away quickly. "What're you doing here I thought You and the crew were at the club?" I question.
"I was invited last minute by my parents, I am a Marigold after all," she says looking slightly proud of that fact. She wasn't on speaking terms with her parents in the show, it never was reviled why, but considering she's here it's not because of her transition.
I struggle to keep my eyes on hers, "Well you clean up nice," I comment with a smile. Crap is it my normal cocky grin or the honest one, why am I suddenly nervous? I have a girlfriend.
"So do you but I think Fiona prefers you shirtless," she giggles before taking one of the glasses of wine out of my hands. "See you around," she raises it and winks before walking away. I might actually fuck Winter tonight, my hormones are starting to get the better of me.
/
KILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
I scream internally as the thirtieth person congratulates me on apprehending so many White Fang, surviving such a savage dastardly attack from behind. Ect ect. Thankfully Winter's stayed by my side and we've rejoined with the other Aces, but as we move to the ballroom Jacques Schnee walks up.
"I need to borrow my oldest for a moment if you all would?" He gestures to Winter who follows nodding to the rest of us to go ahead.
"Well there goes my dance partner," I shrug and use this as an excuse to head to the balcony. I find I'm not the only one out there, other than a stray couple I see the orange toga again. "We have to stop meeting like this," I lean my back against the railing pulling out my spare lighter and a cigarette.
"Oh you," she looks over her cheeks a little flushed. She must have had some more wine. "Where's Winny?"
"Her dad pulled her away to talk. Why aren't you in there dancing, trying to find a husband like all the other debutantes," I point to the vast amount of men and women in their mid 20s to 30s.
"That's unusual, and its not my scene for finding a guy," she shrugs. "All of them know me anyway and none of the men here are interested."
"Because you're transgender?" I ask bluntly.
"Yeah, you're surprisingly intelligent and perceptive," she smiles looking back over the horizon.
"You need to meet my brother," I laugh. "If its any consolation most men are just scared of a woman that can kick their ass. I'd dance with you, but sadly I'm taken," I wave to said girlfriend as she appears at the balcony doors. Her face sours when she notices May, I'm a mile away from her though. Jealous types are cute, but obsessive types are…. I shudder….. Maybe I'm not over it.
"Dominic why are you out here?" I raise an eyebrow and wave my cigarette at her again before flicking it away. "Ahh, May sorry I didn't say hi earlier, I've been pretty busy getting dragged around. I know you hate these things. Dom seems to hate them almost as much," she smiles grabbing my right arm and pulling me to the doors. "But I do want at least one dance," and I roll my eyes but smile showing I'm giving into it.
"It's okay, I'm probably going to leave soon," she stretches her arms up and my eyes linger a bit to long. When I turn back to Winter she's glaring at me.
"What?" I question as I'm dragged further into the ballroom and out of it back to the foyer. Through the foyer to a gardens, she finally turns. "Why are we here?"
"Well I wanted to tell you what father talked to me about, but now I'm wondering if we should be talking about something else?" She raises a black eyebrow, does anyone realize she dyes her hair?
"You wanna look through my scroll? I only have Robyn's contact," I admit offering it.
She looks at it but buys my semi bluff, if she would've seen the message between me and Robyn discussing a time to be at the club that would be hard to explain. "Anyway, father said he wants me to rejoin the family," her smile is wide and bright.
I give her my best crooked grin as she rushes in for a hug, a bad feeling settles into my gut at more things changing from the original. Most people believe she disowned her family when she joined the military, but the truth was she was the one disowned. That's probably why she still dyed her hair to match her parents, still vying for their affection. Especially her fathers at this point, I sigh internally knowing she's just like the rest. And knowing that our relationship was the cause of this, me being in Remnant yet again changing the outcome.
I swear if the General was here I'd kick him in the balls. Granted those aren't Iron too. "Good thing I wear steel toes." I whisper turning my brain off again as Winter begin ranting about the implications of being a high standing military official and the SDC president.
Back in the foyer almost back to the ballroom I hear a slight rattle over the buzz of conversation, followed by a yell. I turn to see the chandler falling directly over a blue haired woman. She tries to jump out of the way but her heels catch her dress, with a rip she falls to her hands and knees. I hope I'm not far enough away as I raise my free hand imagining catching it.
She braces for the impact as it starts to slow, "So is no one gonna help her? I can't hold this forever."
"Let him help himself," a man with black hair and glasses chuckles. He does look around May and Winters age, his comment makes the rest of his age group chuckle.
"Trash," I break away from Winter whose covering her mouth her eyes wide. Closing the gap causes the falling crystal death trap to fully stop, I guess my range is extending. "You okay May?" I ask as she stands.
"Yeah I'm fine, looks like you keep saving my ass huh Dom," she's finally able to stand and brushes of her dress. She moves out of the way of the fall path as I ready to let go.
"Don' you mean Mar-," he stops talking as I glare back at him.
A loud shattering can be heard as the crystals break turning into a cloud of shards before condensing into spikes all pointed at him. Ugly twisted metal embedded throughout the clear crystal. I feel the drop of blood leak out of my eye but maintain contact with the man. "Wanna finish that disrespectful ass sentence?"
"Na… No sir, sorry sir," him and the rest of his group, most of whom had been shaking my hand and asking for autographs earlier now look terrified.
"Dominic, its okay I'm used to it don't push yourself for me," she smiles gently at me and I realize how long her and the Huntresses were watching.
I let all the spikes drop and turn to leave, "Winter are you coming? I can't stand being around trash," I look back to see her apologize to her father who nods his understanding. He walks over to May with a blue haired woman and a black haired man, who I guess is her parents as Winter walks to me.
"Dominic, are you okay? You got really touchy back there about May's situation,"
she asks wrapping an arm around mine again. "I won't tell James you know…."
I stop walking, deciding it's okay to let this leak. I can't get by with my actions much longer anyway with no explanation. "You over herd me and Melissa that one night," I state rather than ask. She nods still guilty about following me. "Well I do have dreams, in one of them I'm almost… Abused by an older woman who was absolutely obsessed with me. I think that's why I reject to much attention from woman of a certain age. But this woman had a brother, who was into men and decided to go after my male cousin one time. It was a horrible sight after I found him…." Her grip had loosened and tightened a few times her emotions conflicting.
"After that, he decided he was supposed to be a girl. Some thought it was the trauma, some thought he was born that way because he was always a little different. I don't know myself I just know I watched a person I cared about get bullied for being different after going through something that would outright kill weaker people. And she's almost better than me with a sword at this point," I finish wiping a small tear from my eye.
"I'm.. I'm so sorry Dom," I shrug.
"It's not like you knew, I didn't until a few weeks ago myself," I wave her off. Holding a hand to my head which started feeling like someone was pounding on it, the semblance use side affects had gotten worse after my injury.
"Let's get you home," she holds me a little tighter as we walk out of the grounds to order a taxi back to the Academy.
Is this home now? My universe is destroyed or I'm in the worlds weirdest coma. I think about my cousin and wonder if she was alive somewhere in this multiverse. I think about my brothers, possibly here possibly not. I look back to my girlfriend, "Yeah, home…."
/
A/N Let me know if you liked the long chapter, thank you to everyone who reads. Every view and visit is another reason I write. Still looking for proof readers/betas. PM me :P.