A/N: Why is this year going by so fast?!
We're already in April, oi!
As ever, the Embers rule persists. If folks don't like this? Poof! Gone! To the void it goes. So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter! Really, they do! That's no joke. I don't have days off anymore -two jobs will do that to you- and I'm working myself to the bone.
Don't even get me started on Elden Ring trying to usurp my free time, both game and story wises. I've gotten at least FIVE different requests for that. Wrote two, and a third's beckoning...something about writing a story in the era before the Shattering. Must. RESIST!
No questions this time, don't have time for 'em. I'm writing this with one foot out the door.
As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes or memes. Not a wit or one!
As implied, Naruto's little stunt last chapter has consequences, now, one and all, Remnant will bear witness...
"Congratulations. You've earned some peace and quiet. But how long will it last, I wonder?
How long until the next problem comes along? What then?
I have a proposal for you."
~?
Seduce the Girls (Interlude)
"You wonderful man!"
"Well. Now you've done it. I warned you...
Naruto had all of an instant to hear Kurama's prophetic words, to brace himself, as certain doom hurtled his way. Then his consequences -one Willow Schnee!- were upon him. She hit his chest at speed; the sheer force of her tackle drove him back half a pace; such was her excitement that he actually had to catch her by the waist with one arm lest she go flying. The widow took full advantage of that and latched onto him for dear life with both arms, practically dangling off his neck before she righted herself. Her head buried itself in his jacket shortly thereafter.
He heard her sniffle a moment later.
"Thank you." she babbled into his chest. "A thousand times, thank you...
Heat flooded his face and he looked away, scratching at his cheek. "You're still on about that? It was nothing, really-hey!"
"It was not nothing!" she grabbed him by his collar, nearly smashing her forehead against his. "Don't even think for a second it was, do you hear me?! I won't have it!"
Naruto couldn't help himself; a bubble of laughter actually burst out of him. For a moment he thought the heiress might rear back and bite, such was her snarl. Who was this woman, and what had she done with Willow Schnee? Someone whistled behind him. He wasn't sure who.
"Oi!" Raven pushed herself off the couch and stalked they're way, the ghost of a smug smile on her pale face. "Keep it down, will ya? Kid's trying to sleep. If yer gonna bang, get a room...and let me join ya."
Bloody bird. Of course she'd take the chance to tease him.
Naruto rolled his eyes, reached down, and winged a coffee cup off the table over his shoulder. It bounced harmlessly off Branwen's aura. Too little, too late. Judging by the half-lidded look Willow gave him, she actually seemed to be considering it.
An choked and would've speared out her seat, if someone weren't sitting in her lap. "Ignore that!"
Naruto heard Winter make a disgusted noise somewhere behind him. "Mother, please. Not in front of Weiss."
"Yeah! Not in front of the kids!"
Winter tried to look back over her shoulder. "...you agree?"
Ann clicked her tongue. "Hold still and let me brush your hair, kiddo."
A pleased hum dragged itself out of the little girl's lips before she could snatch it back.
"Alright, alright." Naruto took Willow's hand to placate her as much as An. "Not so loud, eh? You'll spook Yang."
Only then did Willow finally notice the mewling girl in Raven's arms.
"Oh! That's her, then?" Willow leaned around him to regard the baffled girl in Raven's arm. "Its so nice to finally meet her...
Yang burbled happily, the little traitor.
"My, my, what bright eyes she has." Willow ate it up, humming like the mother she was. "Almost like they're glowing...
Naruto choked. "Urk."
Raven made a strange sound and tried to draw back -no doubt annoyed at having her bluff called!- but there was only so much one could resist with a single arm. Willow was relentless. Even as she tried to withdraw, the Schnee leaned in, cooing softly.
"Such a darling girl." Quick as can be, she kissed her forehead. "Aren't you? I'm sure you and Weiss will be the best of friends...
Naruto hit a tiny grimace behind a false smile. If Yang grew up to be anything like her flighty other, then the two of them would get along like a house on fire. But that was a problem years in the making. Maybe even a decade. For now he was content to let Willow stew in her delusion. Who knew? Yang and Weiss might be fine siblings someday.
"Siblings, you say?"
Naruto's throat closed. "Slip of the tongue."
He could feel Kurama's grin. "Suuuure. Keep telling yourself that."
"Right, right, very nice," An pushed herself between the two of them before he could get a jab of his own in. "Why are you here, anyway? Don't you have a company to run?"
Willow batted her eyelashes at her, the very picture of innocence. "Can I not visit an old friend?"
A kitchen knife flashed out An's sleeve and landed in her hand. "We're not friends."
"Meh." Raven shrugged one shoulder. "She's not so bad, for a Schnee."
"See?" Willow preened. "Money talks, dear."
An Ren rounded on her with a squawk. "Traitor!"
Willow wholeheartedly ignored her; instead she drew back and performed a little spin.
"Well?" she preened as she came to a a stop, eyes fixed on him in silent need. "How do I look?"
Far healthier since he'd last seen her, that much was certain; full of a vigor he'd thought long lost to her. Those once dark circles were gone from her face, bright blue eyes alight with life and light, her hair drawn back in a loose braid, the better to keep little Weiss from grabbing it. And her smile...she looked genuinely happy. Good for her. So why did his heart hurt?
"Like a million lien." He managed, shoving the festering feeling down. "
She looked incredible, really. He just wasn't sure why he felt this way. It had been nearly three months since they'd seen one another, after all.
Willow had been preoccupied with regaining control over the SDC and he, working off his last favor to Malachite. Something of a necessary sacrifice on both their parts; time had been needed, both to grant Willow control over the SDC and allow the fervor of Jacques "resignation" die down. None had been able to find the man, nor prey him out of his self-imposed exile in Mistral. Doubtless some were still searching, but their efforts would avail them naught. There wasn't anything left to find.
For all Remnant knew, Jacques Schnee had disappeared off the face of the earth.
Was it wrong that he took some small, ugly pleasure in it? There had been guilt at first, but now that he'd had time to dwell on the matter, he genuinely believed he'd done a good deed. Willow was already blossoming with him gone and while Winter might loathe him for the part he'd played in her Father's absence, it didn't change the fact that he'd made the world a better place. Winter could hate him all she wanted, but it was his hope that she and Weiss would grow up happier without his influence.
It was enough.
A sudden spasm of dizziness hit him, and he rocked in place, catching himself on a wall. It passed as quickly as it came, leaving him blinking black spots from his eyes.
"You alright?"
"M'fine." he clamped down on a yawn. "Just tired...
Exhausted, really. He'd been pushing himself hard these last few months but it had finally paid off. It felt good-damn good- to finally have a moment of peace. He'd spent so long bouncing from one disaster to another for so long now, he'd almost forgotten what it felt like. To just...be. For once, he could just breathe. Couldn't he? Had he jinxed himself? He wanted to close his eyes and just sleep through the week.
Naruto held his breath.
Nothing in the room exploded.
No assassins came swarming out the walls.
Naruto exhaled, shoulder slumping in abject relief.
"Well, alright." he muttered. "Maybe my luck's taking a turn after all...
"Ahem!"
Naruto blinked, alarmed to fight three pairs of frightfully bright eyes glaring up at him, close enough to touch. Pink, red, and vivid blue. Not in anger, but concern. Close! Why were they so close! Belatedly he realized why. Impossible. He'd only swayed for an instant. It couldn't have been noticed. He hadn't even said anything! Surely they hadn't seen...
An was on him first. "When was the last time you slept?"
Three days ago. The silence was telling, but he didn't dare speak. He threw out a random number instead.
...yesterday?"
It was the pebble that set off the avalanche.
"Aha! He's lying! Get him, girls!"
"I'll go fetch a blanket."
"I've got his arm!"
In short order Naruto found himself wrestled down into a chair; he could have run, could have escaped at any time, but he just didn't have the heart for it. So what if he saw down? It wasn't as if he'd doze off. He had far more self control than that, he liked to think. Even so, he felt his eyelids begin to droop. No, nay, never! He was stronger than this, surely?!
"Hey!" He laughed. I'm fine! I don't to," he stifled a yawn with the back of a hand. "Rest! Knock it off!"
Willow's hand traced his arm. "There, there. Just lay back...
Naruto heard Winter make a disgusted noise somewhere behind him, even as she held Weiss. "Mother, please...
Then her eyes drifted to Yang. Happy, giggling Yang, still in Raven's arm.
Winter peered at the little blond.
"May...may I...hold her?"
The adults cooed.
It was the last thing Naruto heard before he drifted off.
Sleep was a sweet mistress, she came quickly.
He dozed the rest of the day.
A/N: And there we go!
Larger timeskip coming next, but we're still not at canon, yet.
After all, we still need to see Ren and the Malachite twins, do we not?
After all, Summer thinks Yang is dead, and what she believes, she might well relay to Qrow and Tai...
As ever, the Embers rule persists. If folks don't like this? Poof! Gone! To the void it goes. So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter! Really, they do! That's no joke. I don't have days off anymore -two jobs will do that to you- and I'm working myself to the bone.
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter!
That's no joke! I can't write without feedback. Guess that makes me weak...T_T
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews!
Potential ones at that.
Also, references.
(Previews)
Miranda Malachite looked far too smug.
Sat in a simple high-backed chair, she smiled at him.
And what she was wearing...his mouth went dry. "Won't you come in?"
"Really didn't ask to be a dad, but meh, how hard can it be?"
Raven quirked an eyebrow. "You did not just say that."
"Shadow clones, remember? Eaaaaassssyyyy."
"An, no. I'll break you in half."
"Nope."
"How did you just...?"
She hummed a little, black marks still scrawling across her skin.
"Don't you I don't break easy. My semblance ain't a one trick pony, buster...
"Ruby Rose! Drop it!"
Caught with both hands in the cookie jar. Curses!
"Meep!" The little reaper hid both hands -and her prize!- behind her back. "I didn't do anything!"
Summer tapped a foot. "Hands, young lady."
"Awww, mom...
Yang swatted Weiss on the nose.
The Schnee scowled. "Run."
She fled with a cackle.
R&R~!