Geez I haven't written this much story so fast in years, not that you guys are complaining I bet.
I'll keep it up as long as the ideas keep flowing.
Anyway, on to the story!
Neo felt warm, it was a pleasant feeling, almost enough to not make her question it… almost.
Blinking her eyes open, Neo took in three points of information very quickly. First, her source of warmth was from being pressed right up against the person who'd saved her from being eaten alive by grimm. Second, said person was currently carrying her bridal style through the forest. Finally, Neo noticed she did not have her weapon. She must have subconsciously shifted around, because the person carrying her happened to look down and locked eyes with her. Unable to think of a proper course of action, Neo resolved to follow through with her promise from before she passed out.
"Finally awake huh. I was wondering when—"SLAP!
The man stopped walking, and to his credit didn't immediately drop Neo. He just grimaced as his left cheek burned with the pain of Neo's slap. Taking a deep breath, he turned his head back to her.
"I suppose I probably deserved that." He said as he lowered Neo to her feet. "Though in my defence I did try to wake you up before carrying you. Normally I would have just waited for you to wake up, but given our current location I thought it would be better to try and get back to Vale." He said before walking past Neo, continuing towards Vale.
Neo glared after him as she reluctantly followed. He was textbook Atlas military with his attitude, posture, and even the way he spoke. Comparatively, this man was her polar opposite in every way. Though, people like him still had their uses. With it now being bright enough to see clearly, Neo was able to take in more details about her savior.
He was tall, though at 4'9" that word applied to most people around Neo, she judged him to be around six foot. His silver hair was long, down to his shoulder blades, and looked almost as well cared for as her own. He was definitely faunus, his wolf ears were impossible to miss, especially with the occasional twitch they did. His clothes were in worse condition than Neo remembered, torn and covered with mud, and were little more than rags at this point. Neo spotted her weapon at his back— it looked strange seeing her parasol on this military man's hip— almost enough to make her laugh.
Though now was not the time to laugh. Neo still remembered what happened last night before she passed out, and she needed answers. Not being the most patient person, Neo went with the direct option.
Can you hear me?
Without even looking back the man replied, "Yeah, what is it?" After a few moments of silence he stopped and looked back to see Neo frozen in shock. His expression softened with concern. "Hey, are you alright?"
NO! This isn't right! Neo stamped her foot, shaking her head in frustration. Only Roman is allowed to hear me! Not some fucking military dog! Neo suddenly collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down as she bawled. I want Roman! She wasn't able to mourn last night, and she could no longer hold it in.
The guy panicked a little as he watched Neo break down. It was hearing her again that he realized she hadn't said a word out loud. He was now just as confused by the situation, figuring it must be because of her semblance, though by her reaction it was definitely not intentional. Though the name she cried out was one he remembered.
"Roman? Roman Torchwick?" Neo's bawling turned to sniffles as she heard her friend's name, "That would make you his accomplice, the one that evaded arrest." The man's look turned much more accusatory.
That's right! What are you going to do about it!? Neo got to her feet, ready to fight if need be.
The man looked at her, even with streaks of ruined and running makeup marring her face, she looked ready to tear him to shreds at the slightest provocation. He took a deep breath again before returning to a more neutral posture, an action that confused Neo.
"What's your name?" He asked her, his tone neutral but with enough force that it sounded more like a command.
Neo relaxed enough to step back from her fighting stance, though she was still very much on guard. Wiping her eyes Neo regained her composure, reminding herself of how to act around others, especially foes.
Usually one gives their own name before asking for someone else's.
He looked a little surprised at her attitude shift, but responded all the same, "I suppose that is typically good manners." He said in a more relaxed tone, "Apologize, my name is Fen Rir. I'm the leader of team… o-of team—"
Neo noticed the shift in his demeanor instantly. Fen's eyes grew distant as his introduction seemed to make him remember something; something that he sorely wished he could forget. He kept muttering the same words about being the leader of a team like a broken record. What Neo was not expecting were the involuntary tears that started to stream down his cheeks. It was her turn to feel uneasy, especially as he fell to his knees and started wailing.
"THRUDDD! SENAAA! REMAAA! I-I'M SORRYYY!" Fen screamed out names as he continued to sob.
Unsure of what to do, Neo just stood there as the man who saved her bawled like she had for Roman just moments earlier. It was pretty easy to guess that the names he cried were those of his teammates. Who, by Neo's deduction, probably died during the mass destruction of last night. Twinges of guilt started to well up inside of Neo as she remained unable to do anything to help the grieving man. That guilt quickly turned to fear as Neo noticed what was happening to him.
The temperature around them seemed to suddenly drop. Black particles, like what the grimm dissolved into, started to swirl around Fen like a blizzard of black snow. His sobs started to change, sounding more like growls by the moment. Neo happened to catch a glimpse of his eyes. They glowed the same ethereal blue that would likely haunt her nightmares for years. He was changing back into that beast, and this time there were no grimm to fight.
Neo panicked as she tried to think of a way to stop the transformation, if it was even possible. As an idea popped into her head she didn't wait for a better one to come along. Throwing herself at Fen, she dropped to her knees as she clutched his head to her shoulder, letting him sob into it. She stroked his hair as soothingly as she could, trying to ignore the painful cold that radiated from him. It certainly wasn't the safest plan to calm him down, but Neo hadn't had the luxury of time.
She felt his arms slowly go to embrace her, the storm of particles and biting cold easing slightly as he did. Slowly the air around them cleared and the temperature returned to normal. All that remained was Neo holding Fen as he quietly sobbed, crying out the names of his teammates and the words 'I'm sorry'. Neo was fine with letting him mourn, she would give him as long as he needed, mostly for the fear of what could come if she didn't.
Eventually, Fen let go and Neo took a few steps back. She looked at him warily, unsure how stable his mental state truly was. He looked distant as he finally stood, silently turning around and starting to walk in the direction of Vale. Not really having many options, Neo followed behind him at a distance.
They both remained silent as they walked, not something new for Neo, but with actually being able to talk to him; this silence was deafening. Neo's patience finally wore out as she projected her thoughts to him:
What are you going to do?
Fen paused mid-step before turning around to address her, "I… need to report that team FRST is dead. After that, I'll probably return to Atlas with the rest of the military."
Neo didn't like his answer. This person, regardless of her own feelings, had a connection with her. She couldn't exactly follow him to Atlas, but maybe she could make him change his mind.
What if I told you I knew who is responsible for everything that happened last night?
Fen's eyes widened before narrowing dangerously, "And what reason would I have to believe anything you say?"
Neo smiled as she knew that she had hooked his attention. She thought for a moment as a plan came to mind, one to let her make use of the unique situation she found herself in. It was risky, given the fact she barely knew anything about the one in front of her, but if she wanted any chance of being able to use him then she would have to do it.
I will tell you everything I know about what happened last night. If you don't believe me, turn me in when we get to Vale. With those words, Neo committed to her plan.
Clearly still skeptical that the known accomplice of a master thief would tell him the truth about anything, or at least not without twisting it to suit her needs, Fen simply motioned for her to continue. He had his own means of determining the truth.
Well then, before I can tell you about the part Roman and I played last night, I first need to tell you about who hired us. Neo said before sitting against a tree; this story wasn't short and she wasn't about to stand while she told it. Fen did the same a few meters away.
It was a couple years ago now, Roman and I had just returned to our hideout from a night out on the town, to find a woman lounging in the middle of our home with her two lackeys. Naturally, we were very angry at this trespassing, and I was about to 'throw' them out when Roman stopped me. I was confused at first, but I noticed where he was looking and saw what made him stop me. In the hand of the woman was a flame dancing around at her whim, without any source.
Fen interjected, "By the way you say that, I assume that wasn't because of her semblance."
You're smarter than you look. Neo smirked with the double-edged compliment. Yes it wasn't her semblance, apparently that has something to do with creating glass, but that is besides the point. No, she performed this trick without semblance or dust, just some unnatural power that she had stolen from its original owner. Let me ask, are you familiar with the story of the four maidens?
"That story about four women, meant to represent the seasons, being granted gifts of magic to spread prosperity across Remnant? You're telling me that story is more than just a pleasant fairytale?" Fen replied, staring coldly at Neo.
I'm well aware of how crazy that claim seems. Neo's look turned more serious. But I've seen it firsthand. This bitch made even Roman cautious, and that was a first for me. What you might find hard to believe is that this person was just a representative for someone much worse. She paused, as if to gauge Fen's belief in her story. After a few moments Neo asked, Would you be surprised if I told you there was someone out there that holds control over all grimm?
Fen simply folded his hands and rested his chin on them. Neo took it as a sign to continue. When these people came to us, they brought a bag. In it was a grimm that looked like a cross between a crystal ball and a spaghetti monster. I almost destroyed it on reflex, but I stopped when I heard the voice of a woman come from it. The voice introduced itself as...Salem. Neo paused after that point, remembering the sense of dread that she had felt when she heard that voice for the first time.
Apparently Neo's pause was long enough to prompt Fen to call out to her. "You ok?" He asked, though how genuinely concerned he was for her, she couldn't tell.
Neo shook her head. I'm fine, she simply has that effect on people, even in just recalling memories. What happened beyond that point I only know of what I was told later. They claimed they had a deal for Roman, one that he wouldn't want to refuse. Roman had me keep lookout while he heard the deal, but that was mostly just to get me out of the room. When they finally left, he told me we had a job to do, one so big it would change the world.
"A plan to attack the kingdom of Vale?" Fen assumed.
That's cute, but you're still thinking too small. Neo replied with a mocking smile. No, the destruction of Vale was just a means to complete other objectives. There were three that we were told about, though there easily could have been others. First, to steal as much dust as we could get our hands on, enough to supply an army. Then we were to create a need for increased military presence at the Vital Festival; funny enough your general really handed that to us on a silver platter. Fen growled at the jab, but let it slide. With a shrug Neo continued. Then lastly we were to upload some sort of virus into the Atlesian Command Cruiser, it was supposed to—
"Turn the Atlesian Knights on those they were supposed to protect." Fen spoke softly, though Neo caught the barely contained rage in his voice.
It was when the temperature dropped for the second time that Neo realized that her gamble had gone south. Fen's head snapped up, his eyes burning with the glow that terrified Neo. Rising, he brandished his two hard-light chains.
Fen yelled at her as he swung, "You're the ones that killed Rema!"
Neo barely had time to dodge. Ducking under his swing, her eyes widened as she watched the tree she had been against get smashed to splinters and fall with that single swing. She scrambled to her feet just in time to dodge another swing.
You're after the wrong person! Neo tried to reason with him. We were only the middleman! She was confident in her ability to avoid the chains, but she had no way to get close and retrieve her parasol. Without it she had no way of actually fighting back. She ducked behind a tree and activated her semblance in the second she had before the tree was felled.
Fen paused when he saw that Neo had disappeared, guessing her semblance was somehow involved, he quickly changed his focus from his sight to his other senses to try and detect her. Though she was cloaked, Neo kept up her attempts to sway him, while she maneuvered to retrieve her weapon.
I've told you who is responsible, why are we fighting?
"I lost Rema because of that virus. The pools from that giant grimm took Sena! Then I lost Thrud to the bastardized corpses of our friends!" Fen replied, each sentence rising in volume until he was screaming. "I LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU PEOPLE DID!"
AND I LOST ROMAN! Neo yelled back at him, pissed off that he acted like he was the only one in pain. We were betrayed! Given an incense that somehow attracts grimm, being told it did the opposite. Roman was eaten alive while I was stuck floating in the air because a girl in a red hood managed to catch me by surprise and open my parasol. Then I was nearly eaten by grimm, because apparently we were just a loose end that needed to be tied up!
"You could have betrayed them!" Fen replied, still trying to lock down Neo's location, "How does destroying Vale benefit you!?"
You act like we had a choice. Neo accused. Maybe you're forgetting, but I'm not exactly a fan of the law, and neither was Roman. These people wanted to see Vale fall, to divide the people, to sow chaos. If they didn't get us to do it, then it would have been someone else, and gotten rid of us for refusing. We went with our best option, the one where we stayed alive.
"And that absolves you of any wrongdoing!? Do you realize how many probably died last night!" Fen fired back. His ears twitched as he heard movement around him.
Hundreds, maybe thousands. Neo replied calmly. I'm not innocent, I never said I was. Even before these people forced us into this job, I already had red on my ledger. What I'm saying is that you and I share a common goal. We both want revenge against the same party. So why shouldn't we work together?
"You've yet to give me a good reason as to why we should. Just because we want the same thing doesn't mean I should help you get it." Fen countered, returning his weapons to his hip. He wouldn't need them.
Do you know what these people look like? Neo asked. Their next goal? Or what they are capable of doing? Without me you are stuck gathering information I already have. Though if we were to work together, that problem for you would disappear. Even if I gave you the information, going up against them alone would be foolish when it's simply not necessary to do so.
"I could tell General Ironwood, have the Atlas military rain down hell against them."
Oh please, the general is already very aware of these people. Apparently all the headmasters of the academies answer to the one at Beacon. They, along with their most trusted, have been opposing Salem for a very long time. Though it was by exploiting the dear general's paranoia that allowed them to do everything that accumulated into the catastrophe of last night. Neo explained, before posing a question: Imagine, if you would, if the general hadn't brought his little tin can army. What would there have been to exploit?
"Are you really trying to imply that the general is at fault?" Fen scoffed.
It was because of his choice to bring his robots that the plan these people had was pulled off so easily. Though at this point it doesn't matter much. Neo replied. What does, is what will the general do next. Do you have any guesses as to what he is likely to do?
Fen pondered to question for a moment, still keeping his senses strained to find Neo. "I would imagine he'd want to regroup. Return to Atlas and plan a way to retaliate."
And while he's doing that, the ones we want revenge against get to go about their plans unimpeded. Even if they fail in the end, would you be satisfied with not personally ensuring their demise?
As much as he wanted to deny it, she was making a convincing argument. Even if he did relay the information to the general, there was no guarantee of the intel being acted upon, or if he would get to be on the op if it was. Thinking everything over, Fen kept coming back to the same conclusion. If he wanted revenge, this woman was his best chance at getting it.
"There!" His hand flashed out and grabbed something. Tightening his grip he was met with the sound of breaking glass, revealing Neo and that he had caught her wrist as she reached for her weapon at his back. She was shocked that he had managed to find her through her illusion. It was only by seeing the glow extinguish from his eyes that let her realize that something had changed.
Fen reached behind him and unhooked her weapon from his belt. Placing it in the hand he had by the wrist he said, "A show of good faith. You can repay it by finally telling me your name."
Finally having her weapon back, Neo actually smiled up at her new ally. Though she feared whatever was inside him, if she could use it to get her revenge then she really couldn't care less. She held out her hand, which Fen clasped.
My name is Neopolitan. Though I suppose I'll let you call me Neo.
There you have it folks. Enemy of my enemy helps me chop off their head, or something like that. Though that doesn't mean they have to like it.
While I'm a sucker for getting to the romance, I'm taking my time with these two. There is still plenty to reveal, they have more in common than either could guess.
I wanted this chapter to be longer but I felt it ends best here. Though that means I still got plenty to use to jump start the next chapter. So look for to it.
Stay awesome everyone, WRW out.