A/N: Not my best chapter, but I'm working while sick.
You can thank Coeur for these rapid updates, his latest story involving Penny "The Second Choice" gave me the kick to update this earlier.
Read this note, would you kindly? Got some important info. Big changes are coming to this site.
I'll say it plain, if this email opt-in business with the site doesn't get resolved soon, I'm probably going to retire.
It HURTS to say that, but with this new system, reviews and readers have dropped to an all time low, many authors are leaving the site in droves.
If you're not already aware, ever since the 16th of November, you now have to turn ON your email alerts in account settings-MAKE SURE YOU CLICK SAVE SETTINGS!-else you won't be notified when anyone updates. No alerts, no email, no nothing. Apparently that's a thing we all have to do every ninety days or so, now. Alas, not many are aware of it...which is a problem. As things stand this new "fix" as it were, has cut everyone's viewership/reviewers in half because most folks don't know about it. Authors are leaving/quitting in droves because of this.
Sometimes opting in works. Sometimes it doesn't. Really depends. Hopefully the devs can fix tweak/update this system.
As ever the Embers rule persists, reviews are my fuel, my fire, my life. Without them, I lose all inspiration, all hope, all ability to write. That's no joke. I have so little time to write these days with two jobs, and silence hurts. So by all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard! Every bit of feedback, no matter how small or large, matters! Really, it helps a lot. Its a joy to talk with you all and bandy ideas back and forth; it really is. Sorry if this seems shorter than usual, working on a tight schedule here.
Only a few questions this time:
Q: Oi! When we gonna see Naruto cut loose?!
A: The up-coming chapter establishes just how far he's willing to go to protect what his family and friends. He's built a life for himself in Atlas.
Having things to protect changes a man. He's actively using his head now, thinking and planning.
To quote a wise sage: There are few things so dangerous in a man as lack of doubt.
Naruto has no doubts in this story. He knows who his allies are.
...and he knows his enemies.
Q: Is Pyrrha really alive? She can't be...right?
A: *zips lips*
Q: More Penny and Ciel -Steel!- moments please!
A: You'll have your wish.
No questions to answer this time, too many spoilers lie ahead. With that said here we go. I've kept you waiting long enough.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes! They're merely tributes.
Alright, I've kept you waiting long enough.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes! They're tributes to legends far better than me.
Now, then. Are you ready? Yes? No? Maybe so? Because! Here. We. Go.
You're not ready for Naruto.
"There are few things so dangerous in a man as lack of doubt."
~Far From Home.
Running out of Time
In their end, their talk with Willow Schnee proved something of a harrowing experience.
Winter's mother had battered them with questions, one after the other until she was satisfied. Said satisfaction took the better part of an hour and had them running for the hills, abandoning Winter to her mother and her fate. Ciel had quickly fobbed them off with the excuse of training up the teams and he didn't blame her for wanting to run. He wanted to hide in his quarters and never emerge after that fiasco. Still h had the feeling Willow at least approved of them, tacitly if nothing else. Better than disapproval surely.
"That was bracing!" Evidently Penny disagreed, she seemed unfazed as ever as she skipped beside him. "I didn't realize Winter's mother could be so...stern!"
"Not the word I'd use, Penny. Naruto groaned as he slunk down the hall. He had only one thought on his mind; reach their quarters, fling himself into his bed, cuddle up with Penny, close his eyes and sleep like a rock. Not another bloody thing. Everything else was secondary.
"Willow Schnee is certainly scary." his partner chimed cheerily. "Should I upgrade my threat assessment of her?"
"Nah, no need to-wait." he frowned her way. "You have threat assessments? For people?"
A chipper nod, innocent and pure. "I do!"
Nope! Not having that.
"Penny, no." Naruto clapped a hand to his forehead. "You're human now. You can't go putting people into categories like that based on their danger index. It'll get you into trouble."
"But the General asked me to." She didn't bat an eyelash. "Would you like to know who stands in the top three?"
Naruto felt his brow furrow. She was trying to tell him something in a roundabout way. Words within words. He felt it in his bones. "...fine. Humor me.
"Team RWBY and ORNJ."
He palmed his face. "Is this your way of asking me not to hurt them if they ever turn on us.?"
She paused just head of him. "I would prefer that you didn't. They are my friends."
"I can't make any promises." he caught up to her, pausing only long enough to hold her hand. "And the third?"
Her smile took on a decidedly glassy quality. "Arthur Watts."
He'd read that name somewhere. "...isn't he supposed to be dead.
"My assessment has not changed." she shook her head. "I believe he is alive and a threat to Atlas. The attack with Tyrian suggests as much."
"Funny. I thought you'd put Cinder Fall up there in the ranking."
"I believe that I can kill her as I am now; no, with your training, I'm certain of it." her smile gained an edge that hadn't been there before. "I am combat ready."
That was't even a boast on her part, but certainty.
Penny did not brag, nor did she say anything she didn't she thought she had a decent chance of killing Salem's so-called Maiden puppet, then she likely could. With him and Ciel aiding her? No contest. Even less of one if they brought help.
Moreover, he secretly agreed with Penny's assessments.
Cinder Fall might think herself a threat, but in truth? She wasn't. Like any enemy of Atlas he'd taken great pains to research her abilities. Jame had eyes and ears just about everywhere these days, whether the world knew it or not. The reach of Atlas was long and he'd used it well. He'd pored over fragments of footage from the Fall of Beacon. Dug up records from the assault on Haven, accessed hidden camera's secreted away in the school's fault.
The videos there, the battle he'd seen, had proven...illuminating.
She was powerful to be sure, but with an reliance on fire that bordered on outright stupidity. Why limit herself? Maidens could use all the elements, yet she'd only used ice once. Even with the Winter Maiden's might split between them both, Penny and Winter could use just about every element. Fire did not come easily to them, given their season, but they could at least conjure it in a pinch.
Cinder was powerful to be sure, but prideful. Arrogant.
Pride came before the fall, if one would excuse the pun. He knew more than a few ways to use that ego against her. Her childhood wasn't exceptional. Abandoned at a young age, taken an orphanage in Mistral, only to be bought by some prissy prude and shipped to Atlas. Cinder had been brought to a hotel known as the Glass Unicorn. From there the details were sketchy. There had been murders. A fire. The hotel building still existed, but it was no longer under the same name or management. From there the trail would've gone cold, but with Ciel and Penny's help he kept digging. They'd found further mentions of her in a local Huntsman's file.
A man named Rhodes.
He'd recommended Cinder for advanced Huntress training several times. Once she was of age, would've had a place in Atlas Initiation if not the Academy outright solely by his recommendation. Yet there were no records of her there. Clearly something had gone wrong.
So they'd sought Rhodes. Tracked him down.
Remarkably, the man was still alive after these years...though those years had changed him. He'd met an old wreck of a man, badly burned and missing a leg, barely able to walk for more than an hour at any given time. His hunting days were long gone. But his mind remained. And what a treasure trove it was.
All in all, it pained a rather concerning picture.
This was someone who had been used. Abused. Betrayed. Someone who would do anything for power, anything not to be weak again. Someone who didn't care for anyone but themselves. Under any other circumstance he might've pitied Cinder. And he did. Rather, he pitied the child she'd been. Whoever she once was, she'd lost all semblance of sympathy when allied herself with Salem. Even moreso when she attacked Beacon. She'd sought the same in Mistral, and he had no doubt she planned the same for Atlas and Vacuo. Death wasn't good enough for someone like her.
They were. Going to. Break her. Killing her would send the power of the Fall Maiden elsewhere. Best to contain it within a mindless husk.
Was that vicious of him? Perhaps. Kurama would've had words if they were still able to communicate. But the enemies of Atlas deserved no less. James was trying to hold this city together, and barely holding together. Hopefully with Robyn's as Mayor it would remain. When Cinder came for Penny and Winter, and she would, they would be ready. That Raven Branwen was an impressive fighter too, and a maiden at that. Intelligence pegged her as being in Vale at present, but her Semblance was portals. He'd need to put feelers out-
A hand tugged his.
He blinked and found Penny staring up at him. "You were mumbling to yourself."
Belatedly, he realized he'd reached their quarters. He pulled out his scroll and used it to open the door. Penny hauled him inside, guiding him to the bed. Sleep suddenly seemed a distant dream. His mind whirred back and forth, considering possibilities, enemies, potential dangers to Atlas. It took a fair bit of effort on his part to reel himself bac in.
"Just dwelling on our enemies." A thought occurred to him, then. "I'm surprise you don't have me on that threat index of yours.
"No." her face closed down. "I love you." and didn't his heart lurch hearing that?" Ciel does, too. You could never be a threat to us. Ever."
"I'm not infallible-
"Nope." she grinned.
"Penny!"
"Nope!"
"Ruby's got you using that word too, eh?"
"Yup!"
He really didn't deserve this pure, beautiful angel of a partner.
...c'mere." he drew her into his arms.
She buried her face against his chest and snuggled closer. "You are...very warm."
So was she. Her old body hadn't been cold, but it hadn't felt right either, heated metal beneath paper thin skin. But here? Now? She snuggled against him, all but spooning her body into his. He could feel her pulse beating, the warmth of her breath against him, the all softness and curves beneath her dress.
Penny held him a little tighter, voice muffled against his chest. "I really do love you."
"I know you do." he laid his chin atop her head. "Whatever comes next we'll face it together."
They held one another for a long moment, simply luxuriating in one another. It didn't quite feel the same without Ciel, but he was sure she'd catch up. Likely barge right in the moment she saw them like this and ask for a hug of her own-
Her voice chimed in his head through their link. "I certainly will!"
He bit his tongue to hide a laugh. Silence stretched between them as they held one another.
Penny broke the silence first, her voice muffled against his jacket. "May I ask you for something?"
"Sure, why not? Whatcha want?"
Penny made a happy noise. She really was too pure for her own good sometimes. He'd do his best to help her on onto that. She raised her gaze. "I request a head pat."
A blond brow rose, arching into his hairline. "Really? Just that? Not a kiss?
"You said I can have one of those whenever I want."
His face went red all over again. "I did...
"That's why this is special. It requires your cooperation."
Fine. He patted her head, rubbing his palm against her hair. Green eyes closed mouth curling in thinly-veiled bliss of a heretofore unseen nature. Her eyes flitted up to meet his. Blinked once beneath long lashes. A hand rose to cup his cheek. She tugged at his face, drawing him down to her. Gentle lips met his in a slow, lingering kiss. He inhaled reflexively and shifted his grip on her, holding her by the hips-
The door burst open.
"No fair!" Steel -Ciel!- took one look at them and thrust herself between them with an angry squawk. "Me too, me too!"
Naruto sputtered. "I thought you were training team ORNJ and RWBY...?"
"Finished early. They collapsed from exhaustion."
Penny blinked. "Even Oscar?"
"I don't want to talk about him." She pouted. "Head. Pat!"
"Alright, alright." he reached down to tousle her hair in turn.
Penny took the chance to pounce on him, pushing him down to the bed. "May we engage in procreation now?
Red alert, red alert, red alert! All hands to battle stations! His face burned all over again. Why did she have to say it like that? Procreation implied children and children implied sons or daughters. He already had one on the way with Winter. The idea of more left his head spinning. Surely they couldn't be serious about this. Could they?
Yet they were both giving him that look...
"Just...just call it sex, Penny."
"Affirmative!"
(.0.0.0.)
Ruby was waiting for him in the hall when he slipped out some hours later.
He knew something was wrong at once; one look at her was all it took. Her hair was ruffled, her clothes dirty. No sign of Crescent Rose with her. Even her normally bright Silver Eyes seemed dull and weary. She bled anxiety like a broken sieve, gaze flitting this way and that, looking anywhere but at him.
"Can we...talk?"
Could they? It wasn't that he wanted to hurt them. He didn't. But he would if he had to. Even if it meant going against Penny's wishes. Capture might not work; not where RWBY was concerned. ORNJ they could at least contain, barring any antics from Ozpin, but he didn't trust them. Their semblance cancelling drugs would only last for a few hours at best, and he wasn't eager to keep testing those. He didn't know what effects repeated exposure to his blood would instill, after all. Bad enough James was starting to use those pills to suppress his Semblance...
...fine." he leaned against a wall. "Talk."
"My, ah, team..." Ruby squirmed under his stare. "They don't like you."
"I'm shocked." his deadpan didn't do wonders for her confidence; the poor girl squeaked a little. "Why tell me something I already know?"
Weiss was horribly cross with him for knocking Winter up in the first place. Yang and Black had trust issues. Even with Robyn's election as Mayor, they still didn't believe in him, much less the Ace Ops. Tough. That was their problem. Not his. He'd already tried to extend the proverbial olive branch, as it were.
"Because," she gulped once, took a deep breath to steady herself, and barreled on. "They were talking about spying on you."
His eyes narrowed. "Did they, now?"
"I told them not to!" her arms flailed, voice rising in a wail. "They wouldn't listen!"
...then I'll thank you for the warning." He didn't want to be angry with her. Really, he didn't. It felt like kicking a puppy. "Trust is a two way street, Ruby. I want us to get along too, Ruby. We're still on the same side. But if your team keeps pushing me...
She winced. "We're friends, aren't we?"
His temper sparked.
"Friends?" a blond row rose. "Is that what you call this? No, no, no." he shook his head. You don't seem to understand. I've always been loyal to my friends. Always. That hasn't changed, even after being frozen in ice. I'm loyal to James. Penny. Ciel. Winter. Robyn. They're my friends. I've even grown kinda fond of the Ace-Ops in an odd way. But you...you!"
The petite huntress quivered. "Me?"
"YOU!" He snapped at her. "Ask yourself this. Are you my friend? Have you, from the moment we met, done anything I would even remotely consider friendly? Have you tried to get to know? To understand my morals? My values? What do you base our friendship on?
"..."
"Your silence is the answer." it hurt, twisting the knife like that, but the truth needed to be said. "We're allies, sure. On the same side for the time being. But friends? I don't know you. You don't know me. Yet I do know this. Atlas will never fall. Why, you ask? Because I am here. This city's given so much to me. I. Will not. Let it fall. Even if I have to prop it up with my corpse. Do you understand?
"Naruto...
"Don't you Naruto me." he clicked his tongue at her." You're running out of time. We might be making some decisions in the coming days that you won't find popular. Sooner or later, you'll have a choice to make. I hope for your sake that its the right one.
"And if it isn't?"
She knew the answer. He knew she did. She just wanted to hear him say it.
'Why is always me?' Naruto sighed aloud. It was an ugly, angry sound. "I am so...very tired of this."
"Naruto?""
"I'll take you down." the casual admittance rattled her. "There. Is that what you want to hear? Are you happy now?" his blue eyes were colder now, burning with some unfathomable emotion she couldn't comprehend. "It isn't something I want to do. It'll upset me, and probably devastate Penny, but I won't let you run roughshod over everything we've worked for." a pang of resignation stabbed at his chest flashed as he remembered Penny's words. "It'll be painless if that's any consolation any say in it. I can promise that much.
"You wouldn't even try to capture us?"
"With your semblances? "he scoffed. "Not a chance. You'd break out of any cell we put you in and cause havoc. No, if it comes to a fight, I'm putting you and Team ORNJ down hard. Speaking of which-
She tensed, doubtlessly fearing an attack.
-what's your endgame?"
A startled blink. "What?"
"Your plan." he pushed off the wall to tower over her. "Don't play stupid.
Anger sparked in her eyes. "Then don't ACT stupid-
"No!" he sliced a hand through the air, startling her. "No more of your word games! How do you intend to deal with Salem?" when she didn't answer, he thumbed his chin. "I gotta admit, I'm curious. You can say stand your ground and hope you all you like, but hope means nothing without a plan. You must have a fantastic one if you're this confident."
She chewed her lip. "Sure...
"Wait." He read her like an open book, turned to the last page, and found her wanting. "You don't, do you?" His disbelief was almost palpable, choking common sense, but not his tongue. "You don't even know how to deal with Salem. All that high and might talk, yet you're even worse off than us. At least we have resources behind us. You're flying by the seat of your pants!
"So what if we are?!" She glared at him. "Its all we can do! What would you do?!"
"Use my damn head?" he shook his now, biting down on the swell of outrage that followed. "Immortal doesn't mean invincible. What cannot be killed can be bound. Sealed. Contained. Strap her to a rocket and shoot her out into the atmosphere fast as you can before the dust burns out of the engines. Bury her in the deepest chasm in the darkest ocean. Cut her in countless pieces and lock each away in the Vaults. Hell, I could pump her full of sage chakra and turn her to stone! Get her so drunk or high that she can't even think about destroying the world. Anything's better than this wait and see attitude you and yours seem to have adopted. It can't go on like this..."
Ruby warbled. "I...you...that's...what're you saying?"
"When things come to a head, and they will, make the right choice." he poked her forehead. "Your team looks to you. They'll follow you. Don't make any boneheaded decisions. Think it through."
"I...we," Silver eyes dimmed under his stare. She hung her head." ...I'll do what I have to."
"You will try, Ruby. You will certainly try."
He walked away.
A faint sniffled echoed after him.
Naruto closed his heart to it and kept walking.
A/N: Yikes.
In hindsight, there were and ARE all sorts of ways to deal with Salem. Just gotta get creative.
As ever, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story? Poof! Gone! It won't be continued! That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with virtually no days off. That makes my free time terribly limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like.
Reviews are my fuel. I can't write without them~! Not a wit or a word!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews!
And as ever:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
BEWARE~!
(Previews!)
James heaved a sigh. "Are you with me? Even now?
Naruto thumped a fist against his chest.
"To the end."
"So. You and Robyn, eh? Good. She can help keep you on the straight and narrow."
"We already have Tyrian in captivity, but not his accomplice.
"You believe it to be Arthur Watts?"
"I do. Who else could mess with the code in Mantle so easily? Then there's Hazel, and this masked girl...
The mask shattered.
"You won't take them. You won't hurt them. You won't touch a single hair on their heads."
"A bold statement. lets see you back it up."
...ya shouldn'ta said that."
"Take...the...girls!"
"You think you're strong?" he chuckled and shook his head, blond bangs swaying side to side. "Girl, you're wearing all black." a seamless parry shattered her blade on his nanite-hardened forearm, to which he swept in and blasted the breath from her lungs. "You've got an eyepatch for crying out loud." a casual toss launched her away. "You're just a cheap knockoff of a real Maiden."
"No!" Her golden eye blazed with hateful fire as she climbed to her feet. "No, no, no...I'm the upgrade!"
"You want an upgrade? I'll show you one. Steel. Release restraint level."
She cocked her head. "Which level would that be?"
His smile was all teeth.
"ZERO."
You can't reach her. Not through the many Grimm. You'll die!"
...never tell me the odds. I have a plan."
"And what, pray tell, is this plan?"
He told James.
EDIT: Hey, you made it!
As ever the Embers rule persists, reviews are my fuel, my fire, my life. Without them, I lose all inspiration, all hope, all ability to write. That's no joke. I have so little time to write these days with two jobs, and silence hurts. So by all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard! Every bit of feedback, no matter how small or large, matters! Really, it helps a lot. Its a joy to talk with you all and bandy ideas back and forth; it really is. Sorry if this seems shorter than usual, working on a tight schedule here.
Looking forward to talking with you all after work!
R&R~!