A/N: PLEASE READ THIS NOTE, WOULD YOU KINDLY? Its got some important info.
EDIT: Went back and added some content. Hope you like it. Also, bloody trolls everywhere, can't seem to get rid of them...
Warning! This chapter hits hard and fast. There, you've been forewarned. So here we are, I'm still sick and recovering. But I'm alive!
Second, my grandmother -who lives with me- is not long for this world, I've been told. At this point, we can only make her comfortable.
GOOD LORD THAT EPISODE! Ironwood, why?! I'll not say anything but we're truly in the endgame now after that last episode. Good lord. So many moments. Rest assured, I won't spoil a thing. But I had to choose between working on this or Kiss of Death today. Given...the events of the recent episode, I was torn. In the end, I flipped a coin. Fate decided.
Meanwhile, I've got "Untraveled Road" begging to be written, and for Little!Cinder to have sweet, sweet retribution.
The life of a writer is a busy one. Even more when you don't get paid.
Q: Penny is too pure! More of her, please!
A: Wish granted.
Q: What is being Naruto's strength level? Sorry, english is not my best.
A: In a fight? Quite powerful. We've all seen that. I'll let this story do the talking for me.
Q: Wait, so is Naruto taking orders from James? That...could go poorly.
A: Naruto isn't technically a part of Ironwood's command structure. Think of him as an...independent contractor of sorts. He isn't bound by any command structure of such, but he can operate within it if need be. I say again! Our boy isn't going to blindly follow/obey James to the ends of Remnant. He's not some yes-man.
If anything, he's a much-needed counterbalance to keep the poor general from relying over-much on Mettle and going off the deep end.
Case in point! Ironwood does something foolish? Naruto calls him on it.
Q: NarutoxPenny? Is that the main pairing?
A: *Zips lips*
Q: When will Naruto realize this isn't a dream?
A: Sorry, can't answer that question without spoiling the hell out of things.
Alright then, I've kept you long enough.
Going for a rare pairing here, but that depends on the votes, I suppose. Let me know in your reviews!
As ever, I own no references, themes or memes. Not a one!
So now, I proudly present...something new.
"Remarkable. You really do have an unfaltering sense of right and wrong, don't you? You don't hesitate. You never falter. I envy you that."
"Nah, I stumble more than most. I'm not perfect. I make mistakes. I stumble. I fall. I just...get back up again, you know?"
"I have a favor to ask of you. If I ever go down a dark path...if my Semblance consumes me...stop me."
"Sure thing, big guy. You do something stupid? I'll call you on your crap."
...that's a bit crass, but I can appreciate the sentiment."
~A General and A Shinobi.
Question Everything
Robyn Hill considered herself a cautious sort.
Oh, she wasn't afraid of taking risks mind you; she simply understood danger better than most.
Sometimes the risk was well worth the reward. Sometimes it wasn't. Sometimes you had to take a gamble. Sometimes it paid off. Sometimes it didn't. That was life. You had to fight for every scrap you had, or someone could -and would!- take it from you. The academy hadn't taught her that. Mantle had. She'd seen the disparity between the rich and the poor. She had learned that life was cruel. If you wanted change you had to fight for it. Be it with words or weapons, you must fight.
A small smile touched her face as she touched the screen of her scroll again. The footage replayed once more.
She had founded the Happy Huntresses to fight. She was running for a seat on that bloody Council, because someone had to fight. She wanted to bring people together. Give them a better chance at life. And the footage playing before her? Well! It only further solidified that belief that she'd been right to fight all along.
Suffice to say she felt safe in betting on this. And why shouldn't she?!
It was already blazing across news outlets everywhere:
Everyone loved a good headline, after all:
"Green Cadet Makes Fool of Atlas Specialist! Smug Schnee Silenced!"
Just reading it made her feel warm in all the right places.
Jacques would be seething after this. Good. Rotten old bastard could suck a lemon for all she cared.
Her smile deepened as she watched the video feed one last time.
Winter sailed through the hair and struck the ground in an undignified heap.
"Out!" came Ironwood's cry!
Robyn stared intently, willing herself to focus.
A young man with striking blue eyes and blond hair sauntered past the Schnee's prone form, uncaring as she scowled at him in defeat. Some words were exchanged between them, but she couldn't hear either over the roar of the crowd. Whatever was said had Winter stalking off like an unruly child. The blond waved at her retreating back, whiskered cheeks dimpled in a smile too genuine to be forced. Soldiers closed ranks around him and he was hurried away to parts unknown.
Too little, too late. Robyn got a good look at his face. It was all she needed. "So, that's him, huh...?
She'd heard rumors of this person in months gone by, snippets secreted out by her spies up in Atlas. A miracle found in the ice. A remnant of a bygone age. She hadn't believed it then, had thought it little more than some cover-up for another one of the General's projects. But seeing was believing, or so the saying went.
Robyn had seen. And now she believed. She believed that this boy of not even twenty years had bested one of Ironwood's top fighters. She believed Ironwood had allowed this be leaked to the press. She believed that he was up to something. Someone might say it was staged, of course. Others would argue that it was a trap. Robyn disagreed. The top brass up in Atlas did so love their bloody spectacles. No, someone was showing off and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.
This would change everything.
Anyone who could make sport of a Specialist was someone she wanted on her side.
Kicking her feet up on her desk, the aspiring councilwoman silenced her scroll and began to make calls.
(.0.0.0.)
The attack came with little warning.
Naruto never sensed his assailant coming until they were well and truly upon him. One moment he was sound asleep in the splendid serenity of his brand new bed -his addled mind would later balk at the notion of sleeping within what he believed to be a dream- and basking in the sweet, sweet afterglow of a well-deserved victory over Winter. In the next, his sixth sense shrilled a warning. Alert! Alert! Alert! Threat incoming! The blond jolted upright with a hiss. It wasn't enough to save him. His door crashed open with a resounding bang.
"You were sensational yesterday!"
Steel was only slightly less glib in the back of his head. "I believe that would be Penny."
In vain, Naruto rolled over onto his back, grabbed a pillow and buried his head beneath it. "Penny, nooo...go away...m'trying ta sleep...
Indeed, he was quite ready to cling to said pillow if Penny tried to rip it away. She wasn't the sort to understand conventional norms or the need to sleep. Still! If she wanted to wrest him from these blankets, she had another thing coming! He was prepared to fight to the bitter end to stay in bed.
"Oh? Are you asleep?" she sounded almost sad. Like a kicked puppy, really. "Well, in that case...
Naruto wrestled down the twinge of guilt and resolved himself to keep his eyes closed. He felt bad, but she'd gotten the hint. He'd be more than happy to recount yesterday's victory a few hours from now. When it wasn't the crack of dawn. When he was awake! He listened intently, prepared to hear the door close and the sound of her footfalls receding into the distance. Since he refused to come to her, surely she'd let him be. Penny might not understand some social cues, but surely she'd realize he was tired. Part of him expected that.
"Sal...
Sal? What was she on about?
...Uuuuu...
Why did he have a bad feeling about this?
...TATIONS~!"
Naruto did not expect her to leap onto said bed -right into his lap!- and nearly crush his pelvis. He certainly felt it!
"Oomph!" he jolted upright immediately, wheezing for breath. "Penny, why?!"
"There! You're awake now!"
She predicted it of course; the moment he sat up her impossibly strong arms seized him in a crushing hug and he was lost.
"Ack! Penny!" his legs kicked out, flailing against the sheets as the excitable girl squeezed him with all her surprising strength. "Ribs! Can't! Breathe!"
"Icannotbelieveyouwonthatfastitwasincredible!"
Penny didn't seem to hear his protests, or if she did, she summarily ignored them. She was too busy babbling happily over his triumph as she buried her head in his the crook of his neck. Naruto tried to rise, but her legs were most noticeably in the way, pinning him in place. Under less painful circumstances Naruto might have appreciated the rather unique position he found himself in. Instead, the poor warrior could only grimace as her grip enfolded his chest and squeezed tenfold.
"That's...nice...!" His world was going black. "Ouch!"
Oh, dear.
"Hey, Steel?"
His partner perked up. "Yes?"
His vision began to dim. "I think I see a light."
"A light?" She paused, then palked. "Nonono! Do not walk towards it!"
"You'd best release him, Penny." A new voice called from the hallway. "I think he's had enough."
"Why?" There was a pause and he felt the girl lift her head from his shoulder. "I do not understand, sir. I thought everyone liked hugs."
"Most certainly do," Through blurry eyes, Naruto craned his neck and beheld a familiar bearded visage near the door. "But you're suffocating him."
Penny beamed back at him, green eyes full of light and life. "And...?"
"You're hurting him, Penny. He needs to breathe."
Naruto absolutely wheezed. "Yes, please...
Even with his world nearly gone dark he beheld the moment of abject horror when it dawned in her eyes. It would'be been cute, if she weren't killing him.
"I'm so sorry!" The crushing pain in his ribs abated a moment later. "I wasn't aware!"
He flopped back to the bed. "Forgiven...good lord you hit like a truck."
"Are you certain?" she squirmed in his lap. "I do not wish to cause you distress...
Her head bobbed but for reasons he didn't understand, Penny made no effort whatsoever to dislodge herself. Another alarmed banged off in the back of his head but he was too busy gulping down great lungfuls of air to care. His vision snapped back and the colors of the world crept in. Too close. Death by glomping. He hadn't thought it possible before. Seemed there was a first time for everything...even in a dream. Even after his little brush with death his delusion persisted, seeking to shield his fractured psyche from a rather unpleasant conclusion.
"Its fine." with one final cough he waved away her concern. "Maybe don't squeeze so hard next time, yeah?"
Penny nodded again, but she didn't budge.
...are you going to move?"
She blinked innocently. "I am comfortable here, thank you."
Ironwood muttered something under his breath and finally deigned to enter the room. Wisely, he locked the door behind him.
"Lets not tell Pietro about this, shall we?"
Naruto stole a glance at the man as Penny continued to fuss over him. He looked...content. Happy, even. Perhaps he was amused by their antics. Maybe they reminded him of happier times. Who could say? Regardless he seemed less stressed than yesterday. Naruto preened a little at the sight. Good. If he had his way, James would be smiling every day. Wasn't right for one man to suffer so much for his country and receive nothing but misery in return.
"How are you feeling?"
"Pretty good for a dead man." he grinned despite himself. "Is it just the two of you today?" he noticed a curious absence near Ironwood's right side. "Where's the Ice Queen?"
James granted him a rueful smile of his own. "Sleeping off a hangover. I'm afraid she's rather cross with you."
Naruto's grin grew just a little more. It broke the ice. "Now whyever would that be?"
"I believe it has something to do with her defeat." Penny chirruped happily.
He patted her head. "Yes, yes, I gathered that much...
Despite the chaos that followed in the wake of Winter's defeat, few appeared to have witnessed the final blow. Naruto suspected Ironwood was one of said few. If Penny had seen it, she didn't seem terribly angry about it, which was a good thing given that she'd nearly crushed him just now. The general had certainly spirited him away quickly enough afterwards and remained decidedly tight-lipped about the whole affair since. Fine by him. He had a room all his own now, with no one the wiser~!
He'd forgotten about Steel. "What is a Thousand Years of Death?"
Quick as a flash, Naruto clamped down on those words. "Nonono! Nothing to worry about! I'll tel you when you're older!
"Yes, well!" James coughed into a fist to hide his smile. "You won quite handily...excluding that last bit. Am I to understand that you held nothing back?"
"Nah. If I went all out she'd be a stain on the ground. Not that I'd do that!" when the general blanched he waved both hands and hastened clarify. "I don't kill if I can help it."
Penny leaned against him. "Not even Grimm?"
"That's different. From what you've told me, they're mindless monsters. I don't kill people."
"Good to hear." the stress faded from Ironwood's worn face. "That said, if you're as skilled as you claim to be, perhaps I should try my luck against you someday."
Naruto perked up. "What, you wanna spar? Here? Now?"
Penny's hand snapped up! "I'd like to join in as well!"
Some of their eagerness must've shown through, for the commander proved quick to stave them off. "Later, perhaps. We have a busy month ahead of us."
"Double-teaming me, eh?" Naruto clicked his tongue, but his smile lacked any real rancor. "That's hardly fair."
Yes, the more he thought of it the more he warmed to the idea. Something told him it would be a novel experience. He'd torn through the Ace Ops, and Winter had only provided a modicum of challenge. Penny...well. She wasn't bound by human limits. James looked like he knew his way around a battlefield, too. Better than Winter, surely! And if it was two against one...well! He might actually have to try.
"Huh. I think I'd like that."
"Oh!" Penny cried out suddenly, startling them both. "I nearly forgot!"
"Forgot what...?" Naruto edged away, wary of another flying tackle. He wouldn't be caught unawares again.
"Mwah~!"
She threw her arms around his neck. Naruto grunted in surprise, but the contact proved brief. Something soft alighted upon the right side of Naruto's cheek and his world ground to a halt. Steel made a noise of confusion -and possibly dismay- in the back of his head. He mirrored it.
His jaw clicked open. "What was that for...?"
"I said I would give the victor of yesterday's match a kiss." Penny leaned back with a guileless smile pure as the driven snow, wholly unaware of the significance of what she'd just done. "Did you not remember?" Her brow furrowed. "Is that not a suitable reward?"
A slow flushed crawled up the back of his neck.
Ironwood made a noise somewhere between a sigh and a snort. Naruto pounced on the distraction for what it was.
"So?" He stifled a yawn as Penny settled against his left side. She was oddly warm and her closeness sang to something deep in his tired old soul. "I know you didn't come down here to shoot the breeze with me. Did you need something or...?"
Ironwood at last had the grace to look chagrined. "Unfortunately so. I had intended to take you meet Freya this morning to see if you could heal her, but...
Hie looked away with a grimace.
"But what?" Naruto pushed himself up on the points of his elbows.
"I'm sorry to bother you with business so early in the morning, but I'm afraid we have something of a problem."
The blond leaned back against his bed. Heh. Soft. "And that is?"
"Jacques Schnee wants to meet with you."
His right ear twitched. "Schnee?"
"Her father."
His head crashed back onto the pillow. "Steel. Got anything on him?"
"Accessing database." his eyes whirled at the sudden deluge of information, but the words that followed left him laughing. "Classifcation. Douchebag. Recommend immediate swift kick in the posterior."
"Huh. Neat." A blond brow quirked in mild amusement. "Didn't think you could be that sassy." To Ironwood, he said otherwise. "Can't you just tell him to buzz off? I just got up for crying out loud...
"Its not that simple." for the first time since they'd met, something akin to unease flitted across the general's bearded visage. "May I sit?"
Naruto gestured and the man pulled up a chair, spun it around, and sat with his arms braced across it.
What followed was a brisk discussion on what the SDC was, how it was run, and why they couldn't simply ignore Jacques Schnee, no matter how much they might wish to. By the end of it, Naruto knew several things he'd rather not know. Some of them were rather unpleasant. Still, he couldn't fault James for sharing the knowledge...even if it did put a very large fracture in his "this is all a dream theory" and what not. And if it wasn't...no. He didn't want to think about that. He mustn't. It threatened to shatter him.
Penny patted his hand and the world snapped back.
"In short," Ironwood summarized, steeping his fingers, "The SDC is already at odds with me -and much of the military- due the recent embargo I've enforced. I've already explained the reason, of course." Naruto's head bobbed and he bulled on ahead with a grave look. "We cannot afford an infiltration attempt. Jacques hasn't been happy about it, but until recently he's not done anything more than complain. Even his recent efforts to run for a seat on the Council haven't been all that overt."
Naruto swung one leg over the bed. "I take it something's changed in the last twenty four hours."
"It has." the general's shoulders sagged with stress. "As of this morning Jacques Schnee threatened to stop supplying us with Dust entirely...
"What?!"
...unless you meet with him."
Naruto nearly suffered whiplash. "Why me?!"
"It was a very strange request." Penny agreed.
"I'm afraid we don't know." Ironwood temporized. "But the threat is real. Jacques is a spiteful man. I wouldn't put it past him to do this, even if it costs him the election."
Something twisted in Naruto's chest. He had a bad feeling about this. Jacques Schnee. He'd never met the man, never laid eye on him, but if he was anything like Winter...anything at all...this would end poorly. More than that, he just couldn't shake the niggling sense of dread that followed. Why was Jacques so keen on meeting him? Did it have something to do with Winter's defeat? That was the easy answer of course, but life was seldom easy. No, there was more to this, he just knew it.
"Can't I just say no?"
Steel backed him up, the smallest whisper in the back of his head, barely audible over his thoughts. "I would advise against it."
James winced. "That is your right. You're not under my command. I can't force you to do anything.
But we need your help. His expression said it all. The unspoken words lingered in the air.
Naruto slumped in defeat. "Fine...I'll do it. But only because you asked so nicely."
"Excellent. I'll fetch Winter and we'll be off."
Naruto blanched.
"Wait, what?!"
(.0.0.0.)
"Wait, what?!"
Much to Naruto's dismay, Winter flung those very same words back in Ironwood's face when they came to get her. He couldn't much blame her for it. All told, the Specialist looked awful. Hair was free from its traditional bun, now a tangle white mess tumbling down her back. Her uniform appeared rumpled and dirty -she'd likely slept in it- dark circles rimming her eyes, and she sported rather prominent bruise around her right eye. She certainly looked a sight. Those words only made it worse.
"Sir, I must have misunderstood you." she leaned against the door frame that led to her quarters, almost trying to hide behind it from her superior. "You want me to visit my Father...with him?!"
When the ever curious youth tried to lean around and peek inside, she promptly blocked him with her body and swatted him on the nose besides. Naruto grinned, undaunted, and ducked under her arm. If she was going to act like a petty child, then so be it. Two could play this game!
"Wow, sure is a mess in there." he grinned up at her. "Did someone throw a temper tantrum after their loss...?"
Winter chucked a shoe at him. "Go away!"
"What's the matter? Got something to hide in there?" one brow waggled at her. "Some dirty laundry, or maybe a diary...?"
Penny's head peeked over his shoulder. "Father mentioned those. I wonder what's inside...?"
"What-no, Penny!" Winter's face turned a raging shade of pink. "You need to leave!"
Penny wilted like a plucked rose. "But I thought we were friends...
Aaand now Winter went ghost white. Really, it was too easy to tease her. Especially with Penny's unknowing assistance. Really, Winter made it too easy. He took her by the shoulder and pulled her into his chest, stroking tiny circles between her shoulders until she began to calm down. All the while the silly Schnee glowered at him.
"Aw, now look what ya did! You hurt her feelings!
"Why you little...!" Winter actually balked at that before she managed to master herself, bless her frosty soul. "Penny, I didn't mean to insult you." she straightened and clasped both hands behind her back, undoubtedly trying to muster some small air of dignity despite her disheveled appearance. "I simply do not wish to have anyone in my quarters at present.
"Truly?"
"See? All better." Naruto pulled away from a now smiling Penny and offered Winter his hand. "Then can we be friends?
The Schnee regarded his fingers as if they were a poisonous snake. "ABSOLUTELY NOT...!"
Ironwood pinched the brow of his nose. "Must you tease her so?"
"I must." he sketched a sweeping bow. "It is a great need I cannot ignore."
Ironwood tapped his foot. "We need an answer, specialist."
Her brow furrowed. "With all due respect, sir-
Naruto snorted. "Why is it whenever someone says "with all due respect", they really mean "kiss my ass"?
Winter glowered pale blue daggers at him. "This is a terrible idea. Absolutely horrid. I cannot countenance this! I won't!"
"Winter." James proved just as unyielding as his surname. "Naruto may not be under my command, but you are. Must I make this an order?"
"I don't want to go back...
It was a strange thing to see a grown woman wilt like that. Or was she still drunk? She certainly smelled like it. While she was distracted, Naruto flicked a glance past her and into her quarters. It really was a mess in there now that he could see properly. The walls were covered with slash marks and her bedding shredded. Bottles littered the floor. At the sight of them, his glee began to wither away. He'd thought her a stuck up prude before, but to see that her defeat had rattled her this badly...
There it was again. The notion that this might not be a dream. He'd actually hurt Winter. Were those real tears in her eyes...?
'Steel, am I a bad person?"
She replied almost immediately. "I lack the data to make such an assessment. I am sorry."
Wholly, unaware of their conversation, Penny was quick to console Winter. "We are not asking you to, friend Winter. Its merely a visit."
"You don't understand!" the bedraggled specialist stabbed a finger Naruto, drawing him out of his self-reflection. "Father wants me to...to...!" she seemed to struggle with the word for one might moment before she forced it past her lips. "He wants me to seduce this...this...this oaf!"
Naruto clicked his tongue in mild repproval. "Well, mission failed there, soldier...
Winter lunged at him. Ironwood caught her by the shoulder.
"Enough! You will do this. Do I make myself clear?"
Winter slumped, defeated. "Yes, sir."
His gaze sought Naruto's next.
"Can I trust you to behave?"
"Doesn't mean much to me one way or the other." the blond shrugged, feeling strangely chastised. Like he'd disappointed an uncle. Not a superior, but family. He didn't much like the feeling, and so capitulated. "But sure, I'm willing to be civil...if she is."
Winter flipped him off behind Ironwood's back, but subsided when the general looked her way.
"Be civil to him the both of you, but don't make any promises. We need him to back off.
Naruto raised a hand. James quirked a brow at him, but the blond didn't relent.
"Was there something else?"
"Yup." the whiskered warrior smacked his lips. "I just thought of something. If he doesn't comply, can I kick his ass? He sounds like a jerk."
"Technically speaking," James thumbed his bearded chin. "Should Jacques Schnee refuse to comply after meeting you and deny my military essential dust, that would be treason." Behind him, Winter quelled at that. "If he decides to be difficult, you're welcome to take him into custody. And yes," a small smile plucked at the corner of his mouth, "I see that look in your eye. If he resists said arrest, you're welcome to use force."
Naruto beamed, feeling a weight lift fro his shoulders. "Great! I'll remember that."
Winter frowned. "Are you coming with us, sir?"
"I'm afraid not. Duty calls."
(.0.0.0.)
"Is this what a date feels like?"
Naruto palmed his face as they walked. "Penny, no...
"But we've gone out together." she argued, matching his argument stride for stride as they walked. "Father says that is what "young people" call a date. Have I made a mistake?"
"I believe she is correct." Steel's voice chirruped in his ear. "Father told me much the same. I have a similair term in my databanks."
"Right, then." The facepalming intensified tenfold. "Both of you. Your not wrong per se, but you're not right either. A date is," he grimaced, realizing he had no prior experience to speak of. "Well, whatever it is, it sure as hell ain't this. I think I need to have a word with your old man once we're done here. Strong words."
Of course both girls protested at that, for all the wrong reasons. "But why?/Whatever for?"
Pietro was screwing with him, he just knew it. No one was this naive. This was the furthest thing from a date he could imagine.
Not when he could feel Winter glaring a hole in his back.
"Are you quite done?"
He sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I'm walking...jeez...
It had taken a few hours to make themselves -or rather Winter- presentable enough to face the world, but here they were.
Winter cleaned up nicely; not a hair out of place, her uniform clean and pressed once more, only a touch of cosmetics to conceal her black eye. She looked perfectly normal. If he hadn't seen her earlier, he wouldn't have guessed that anything was wrong at all. Her stance was only a little unsteady and she disguised it as a brisk march rather than reveal weakness. She'd chosen to walk behind them for reasons he didn't understand. No, now that he thought about it, she probably intended to fling them both at Jacques and bolt the first chance she got.
He was almost relieved when the three of them finally reached their destination.
Jacques Schnee was not a good person. Naruto it well before the man opened his mouth. He just had that air about him. Oily. Greasy. Someone who would sell his own kin if it earned him a profit. His appearance didn't make a good case for him on that front either. Thin and wiry with white hair, a great pale drooping caterpillar of a mustache and beady blue eyes besides, he rather reminded him of a weasel.
He awaited them on the steps of the Schnee manor alone, like some preening peacock; standing above the world, determined to remind everyone that they were beneath him.
Steel echoed his thoughts. "I repeat my earlier assessment. Kick him. Kick him hard."
It was everything that Naruto had come to dislike about Atlas wrapped up in an arrogant albeit tidy package. His gaze flicked over the man one last time, searching for something to remark upon, some redeeming quality that might stand in defiance of all that nastiness. He tried to find something. Really. Truly, he did. He found none. This was Winter's father? He almost pitied her. Almost.
Just this once, he held his tongue.
Steel had no such reservations. "I do not like him."
"You and me both." Naruto whispered back as they approached.
What was it with Schnees and the color white? Jacques wore way too much. It made his eyes hurt.
From what little he'd managed to garner, the man wasn't even a Schnee by blood. He'd managed to marry into the family name some time ago. No doubt his ego had swelled since then. Was he ever a good person, or just born wrong? Who could say? Naruto shoved away the faint feeling of negativity and willed himself to focus. They were close now, well within striking distance-
"No further."
Jacques held out a hand before they could fully ascend the steps, the arrogant bastard. Winter and Penny stopped, forcing him to do the same.
"Father." Winter inclined her head in a stiff nod. "You asked to see us?"
"Finally awake, are you?" Much to Naruto's infinite chagrin, the businessman ignored his daughter entirely and focused on him. "I understand you made a fool of my daughter."
Penny went stiff, her cheery smile fading into a frown. Winter absolutely hissed. Naruto winced for them both. "Yeah...that was me."
"Good." the businessman preened instead. "She should know her place. Thank you for teaching it to her."
A muscle jumped in the blond's jaw. "Excuse me? That's your daughter you're talking about."
Jacques unbent enough to blink at him. Slowly. "And...?"
Naruto bristled. No! He shook it off. Calm down.
"Well, you asked for me. I'm here. What did you want?"
"I wanted to have a look at you." the Elder Schnee said at length. "To see the boy who is the talk of Atlas and Mantle alike." His mustached twitched into a scowl. "Now that I have seen you for myself, I am not impressed. That my daughter would lose to a wastrel such as yourself clearly shows she hasn't kept up her training."
Wasn't he contradicting himself? He'd complimented him only a moment ago! Blasted double speak! Naruto dared a glance over his shoulder.
He didn't like what he found there. She said not a word. She didn't have to. Winter was a statue of purest ice, rigid and unmoving. Her eyes were another matter. She looked all of an instant from reaching for her saber. A small part of him wanted to let her.
"You are rude." Penny's frown became a scowl as she finally found her voice. "I do not like you."
Jacques scoffed at her. "I am hardly concerned with the opinion of Pietro's puppet. Know your place, girl."
"Right, then." Naruto exhaled. Inhaled, just as quickly. "Thanks ever so much for those words just now. Really. I appreciate it."
Jacques blinked. "I beg your pardon?"
"I'm thanking you." a rare, genuine smile plucked at his whiskered cheeks. "You don't care one iota for her or your family...which means I needn't feel bad about what comes next. But for the sake of formality," he cleared his throat, "I don't suppose you'd be willing to supply the army with dust again? "
"I will not, you churl!"
"That's fair. Will you apologize to Winter, then?"
Behind him, the younger Schnee stiffened. Just a little.
Jacques, of course, missed it by a country smile. "I shall do no such thing! She's no daughter of mine!"
"Great!" Naruto's grin gew to shit-eating proportions. "Then we're on the same page." A quick thought sent a pulse inward. "Steel?"
"Yes?"
"Nanites to my right arm, please. Maximum density."
...you're going to punch him, aren't you."
He grinned and started to crack his knuckles, one by one. "With extreme prejudice."
"What's this, now?" Hearing him, Jacques bridled. "You dare speak to me as such, you filthy little CUR-gack?!"
Clenched knuckles barreled into his nose, bloodying it and all but casting him down onto the steps. Naruto stalked after him knuckles already hardening as he wound up for a second blow. Jacques crawled backward quick as he could; which wasn't much at all. The sight reminded Naruto of something he'd seen in an alley once as a boy; a white mouse trying to flee from a black cat. The mouse didn't last long.
Neither did Jacques.
The man threw a blind punch at him, one which was shunted aside with careless ease. An elbow dented his face in recompense for his temerity. Jacques went down again, cradling his cheek. Winter looked on, wide-eyed and silent as the grave. All the while, her father raged against what was happening to him. It made not a lick of difference.
"You can't do this to me! Do you have any idea who I am?!"
"Preeetty sure this is a dream, so you don't matter." Naruto let his smile take on an angry edge, one that wasn't entirely feigned. "Penny, get the cuffs. We're taking him in."
His partner saluted and prepared to do just that.
"For what crime?! And did you say this was dream?!" Jacques' face began to turn an alarming shade of puce. "Are you mad?! This reality, you twit! When my lawyers get ahold of you, ohhh, you will RUE the day-
He was still speaking when a sniper round tore through the back of his head and burst his skull burst like an overripe melon. Blood spattered the three of them, Naruto, Winter, and Penny both. Winter blinked rapidly, not quite comprehending what just transpired. Penny jerked back and dropped the cuffs, terribly startled. Naruto flung an arm outward, trying to protect her as his brain finally caught up with the horror he'd beheld.
He hadn't done that! 'Steel?!'
"That wasn't me!" his partner sounded just as startled. "Someone shot him! The round came from far away! I don't know where!"
Everything unfolded in slow motion. To their horror, Jacques didn't fall. Not at first. His headless corpse swayed on limp legs for a long, ponderous moment, reeling from side to side like a drunkard at last call. Abruptly it pitched forward onto the steps, hitting each one on the way down like a scraggly tree before falling into the street feet. Blood pooled into the cobblestones. With one final lurch, the Schnee magnate went still.
An awful silence filled the air between them. And then:
Winter's shrill scream pierced the afternoon.
"Father!"
A/N: What just happened?! EDIT: I'll say it plain, that wasn't Robyn's doing. Why did people think that?!
Well, looking forward to your reviews! Peace out!
As ever, reviews are the lifeblood that keep me alive. Without them, I'd just go back into hibernation. Simple as that. All this incredible feedback helps keep us inspired and helps us to sustain the crazy updating pace we've been at thus far.
Without them we just wither away in the silence...
So In the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
(Preview)
"Who shot him?!"
"You want me to form my own team? As in pick and choose?! Nope! No way! Bad idea!"
"You can have Penny."
"SOLD!"
"Penny...what're you doing?"
...I am being selfish."
She didn't let go.
...sorry."
He didn't quite hear her over the crowd. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"
She shook her head and looked away. Her voice sounded incredibly small. "I want to be a real girl, too...
Naruto stilled. "Wait. This isn't a dream...? Nah, that's bullshit. This has to be a dream."
He felt his mouth work wordlessly, but no words would come. It didn't make sense. that didn't make sense. This was a dream. People didn't die in dreams...unless this was real. This felt real. Terribly, horribly real.
Emotions were strange things, Penny found.
She wasn't sure what this feeling was; didn't know how to explain the pleasant heat in her chest.
But she was nothing if not determined.
"On my mark. Go."
The squad descended. There was no mercy.
R&R~!