A/N: Aaaand we're back!
The RWBY updates in March continue! Hope you enjoy 'em~!
I wanted this to feel like a proper RWBY episode. Hopefully I accomplished that.
Sadly, the latest chapter of One Helluva Team didn't get much feedback, thus, it will be moved back in the update schedule. I said I'd update more RWBY this month, and just had a look at the first two episodes of said season. Can't really say if they were good or bad per se, not without seeing more, but objectively speaking they were...alright?
But onto other matters.
As my fifteen year anniversary on this site draws near, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. The recent earthquake in Turkey/Syria serves as a terrible example. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
Alright then, I've kept you waiting long enough now, haven't I? Lets jump back into things.
As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes or memes. Not a wit or one!
Hope this brings a smile to your face in these crazy times~!
"Boss wants to see ya."
~?
Corner the Girls
"You have failed me, Leonardo."
Lionheart prostrated himself before the Seer, forehead kissing the chamber floor. It was all he could think to do. He couldn't raise his head for fear of being struck; just as he didn't dare stare into its inky depths because he knew who would stare back at him; this monster awaiting him on the other side. Even now could feel her gaze drilling a hole through him. Assessing him. Judging him. Damning him.
Would today be the day? Would she strike him down? Would he finally be free from Salem at long last?
"I'm still searching, my queen." he babbled into the floorboards. "I am ever your loyal servant."
"Loyal, hmmm? You have a strange definition of the word." her dark voice cooed through the Seer, smooth with silken menace. "You've already failed me twice now, Leonardo. First with Tyrian in the Branwen Tribe, then with Hazel in Mistal. Each time my dear, loyal servants worked with you...they died." He heard the Grimm's slithering tentacles shift above him, ready to lash out and strangle him at the slightest provocation. "Why, one might be forgiven for thinking you've turned against me. Have you, Leonardo?"
Fear spiked through his chest. "No, never!" he yelped. "I can handle this, you'll see. I'll find the Maiden...!"
"There is a saying I've grown rather fond of over the years." the Seer tilted just so, regarding him with its inky depths. "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action. Do not fail me a third time, Leonardo. If you do...
The Seer's tentacles shot out before he could react and wrapped round his throat.
"Your grace, please...! He grasped at them to no avail; they tightened around his throat, squeezing viciously. His world darkened around the edges...
.
..
...and the pressure eased.
"Remember, little lion. There is nowhere you can run. Nowhere you can hide. Nowhere my Grimm cannot find you."
He fell to his hands and knees, gasping for air. "Of course, your grace! I'll succeed. You'll see!
The Seer did not respond to his fervent cries. It was inert once more.
Lionheart stumbled from the chamber -crawled, really- and sealed the passage behind him. He didn't dare look back into the darkness for fear of what he might find there. Hauling himself up on trembling feet, he dragged himself to his desk and slumped into his seat. With trembling fingers he procured himself a dark green bottle and a glass from its built-in cabinet. After only a moment's pause he cast the latter aside and drank from the bottle proper. Even liquid courage couldn't fortify him.
Ozpin on one side, Salem on the other, and him, trapped in the middle. By the gods, he had to get out of Mistral soon.
Forget being the bloody headmaster! Let someone else have it!
Anyone else!
(.0.0.0.)
"How was your day, dear?"
Miranda Malachite looked far too smug for Naruto's liking.
He knew it at a glance; one look at her smiling face and he knew exactly how this "meeting" would go.
Sat in a simple high-backed chair behind her desk, she smiled at him, crossing one slender leg over another. And what she was wearing...well. His mouth went dry. Clad in a little black number of a dress that clung to her every slender curve, she lounged before him, every bit at her ease. Huh. That dress really did go nice with her golden hair...
"Won't you come in?" she crooned, drawing out the last word. "Do close the door behind you."
He did so warily, refusing to rise to her unspoken challenge, whatever it might be.
"Careful," Kurama cautioned, "she's up to something...
'Yeah, no kidding...
"I understand congratulations are in order." the boss of the Spiders smiled at him. It didn't reach her eyes. "You've earned some peace and quiet after that Schnee fiasco. But how long will it last, I wonder?" her left leg moved, crossing over the other. "How long until the next problem comes along? What then?"
Ah. Here was the hook, then. But where was the bait? "Did you need something? An's watching Yang and Winter. I've got things to do."
"I'm sure." her smile grew an inch. "You've been a very busy man these last few weeks."
Pointless prattle. "Is there a point to this?"
"No need to be so tense." Miss Malachite hid a giggle behind her hand. "I didn't bring you here to berate your accomplishments. On the contrary. I have a gift for you." as she spoke she reached beneath her desk and came up, bearing a violet case in hand. An odd emblem lay engraved into it, like that of a gear. He didn't recognize it. "I promised I would see to it that your friend nursed back to health." her hand stroked the case as one might a dear pet. "Think of this as another step on the road to recovery."
She opened the case and pushed it across the desk for him to see.
Against his better judgement, Naruto stepped forth to peer into its contents. A rare whistle of surprise escaped his lips. He'd expected a sword, treasure of some kind perhaps. This was neither.
He found himself staring at an arm.
Gunmetal grey, it was a fine facsimile of the real deal; its joints intricately carved, the base perfectly forged to slot into one's elbow. A hidden mechanism of some sort lay hooked into the wrist, and he'd bet his headband a blade lay within. Probably poisoned. Right up Miranda's ally. He wouldn't put it past her to have some other crazy contraption in there.
"I take it this is for Raven, then?"
Miranda preened. "It is."
He reached for it.
"Ah!" Miranda snapped the case shut on his fingers, drawing an angry hiss from him. "I want something in return."
"Of course you do." he rolled his eyes. "I already told you, I'm not your dog-
"I have a proposal for you." She stood and circled the desk, planting herself firmly between him and the artificial arm. "A favor for a favor, as it were." she pressed her rear against the wooden frame, gripping it for some semblance of balance, or perhaps some other reason, he knew not." Surely I'm owed that much.
His brow began to twitch. "Oi, now. I just said don't do those."
Miranda pushed herself of the desk. "You'll like this one."
"And what's that...?
She laid a hand against his, laced her fingers within his own and moved them to her toned stomach. Traced her slender belly and dragged her fingers downward. The invitation was obvious. Naruto's throat closed, and not at all from disgust, but the sheer audacity of her request. He swallowed to clear it. Yanked his hand away and coughed into it, now.
"You must be joking." Please let her be joking.
"Not at all." Malachite stepped in, pressing the fullness of her form against him. "It needn't be now. I can wait a week for you to decide." When he didn't respond, her smile gained an edge. "I'll tell you now, you won't find another arm like this in Mistral. I went through quite a bit of effort and considerable expense to procure it, all without being asked. Don't I deserve a reward for taking the initiative?"
"From whom?
She grinned up at him. "You, of course. Who else?"
He glared at her in return. "Not the time for jokes, Miranda."
"An old friend with an interest in technology." she tittered at the bleak look he gave her. "Come now, allow a lady some secrets, darling." when she paced away to her desk he almost sighed in relief. Less so when she came back with a pair of large mugs and a long deep blue-glass bottle. "Here. Lets drink on it."
She offered one such glass to him and handily claimed the other for herself. A deft flick of her fingers uncorked the bottle; from there he was left to scowl as she poured for him, then herself. A faint fruity scent reached his nose. He ignored it and kept his gaze fixed on her, not trusting her one bit.
"I'm hardly asking for a relationship." she drank deeply from her own glass first to assuage his concerns. "See? Its fine. Just one night, and we'll see where it goes."
"..."
"Not enough? Fine." her fingers danced over his chest. "I'll sweeten the pot for you." she leaned in and stood on the very tips of her toes, lips brushing the outer lobe of his ear. "I know who sent that band of goons after your lady friend." her whisper sent an electric shock through him. "My little birds finished tracing their scrolls just this morning."
...give me a name.
"Hmmhmm." she hummed and took another drink. "Give us a kiss first, darling."
For the love of...!
Face burning, he pecked her on the cheek.
"Boo." Miranda touched her face with a sigh. "Well, its a start. Sit down and I'll tell you what I know."
Naruto plonked down into a seat.
"Have a drink, she said. You'll be fine, she said...
Miranda was all smiles "Tell me, what do you know of Leonardo Lionheart...?
(.0.0.0.)
"The hell is this?"
Naruto sighed. "A metal arm.
Raven glowered at it. "I know it is, you fool. Why are you giving me this?"
Sage save him from this stubborn, prickly woman. He'd cornered Raven in her room and presented her with Miranda's gift, certain she would appreciate it. Now? He wasn't so sure. She eyed the damn thing like the flighty bird she was at heart, ready to run given the slightest provocation. Her sass didn't much help matters. He could only count himself lucky they were alone. If Ann and Willow didn't have the kids preoccupied, they wouldn't be having this conversation int he first place. Speaking of which...
"Watch your tone."
Raven wilted. "Fine. Why give it to me?"
"For you to use." He hefted the box at her. "Here. Take it."
"What?" she balked and stepped back. "No. You're not sticking that piece of tin on me."
There it was, the crux of the matter. She was afraid to be sure, but she was just too damn proud.
"Raven," He began slowly, trying not to sigh again, "You have one eye and one arm. You can barely walk, let alone swing a sword in your condition. This will help you." She huffed and turned away from him, forcing him to move just to face her again. "You can keep Yang safe with this."
"I said no!" she slapped the box aside, sending the arm flying. "Its an abomination!"
"Is it?" He caught the metal limb out the air and hefted it at her. "You can always paint it. Red and black, yeah? That's your shtick these days."
Her good eye swept down to the ruined stump of her arm, and the scarred flesh there. He saw the same there. "It won't be the same."
Don't get angry. Mustn't get angry. Miranda had already roused his temper, but Raven was driving it -him!- right over the edge.
"I know it won't," he tried to soothe her. "But it'll help you. Do you really want to live the rest of your life like this?"
Her eyes narrowed, one under the eyepatch, the other on full display for him to see. He dared to hope.
Raven took a deep breath. "You can take that arm...
She slammed it against his chest.
...and shove it up your ass."
The last fraying thread of Naruto's patience snapped. "Tough."
Raven rounded on him. "Excuse me?"
"I said tough!" He grabbed her by the shoulder and reeled her in, pressing his forehead against hers. "Listen here, birdbrain. You owe me. I saved your life. Nursed you back to health. Any chance of me living a normal life was burned to the ground the day I chose to help you. I sold my soul to get you this arm, you hear? And you're going to use it!"
"Sold your-what-now?"
"Not important!" he clicked his teeth at her, drawing a yelp from the baffled bandit. "I am exhausted, sleep-deprived, and all out of fucks to give. I have fought for you! Defended you! All this time! Without so much as a word of complaint!"
"Naruto-
"No!" He all but snarled the word at her. "No words for you! I AM TALKING! You are listening! You!" a finger stabbed into her face, grinding against her cheek. "Yooouuu!" When she finally drew back he pursued her, pinning her against the nearest wall. "When we met, when I saved you, ya begged me to take Yang in, your daughter." hysteric laughter bubbled out of him. "Take the girl you said! I did! I raised her as my own. I didn't have to do it. But I did. I could've walked away at any time and let life sort you out. But I didn't! And now you can't do this one thing for me, because its hard."
Raven slapped him.
Wasn't a half-bad hit at that; stars exploded across his vision as her palm cracked across his face and snapped his head to the right. When she wound up for another swing, he caught her by the wrist and yanked her arm above her head. A pained gasp tore from her lips, scarred face wrinkling in pain.
"And now you resort to violence when words fail you." He tutted. "Typical."
"You have no idea what I've been through!" She railed at him, struggling in his grasp. "What I've lost! What I've sacrificed!"
"Aw, poor baby." he drawled back. "I lost my arm and an eye. Wah, wah, wah. You still have your life! You still have Yang! Are you going to wallow in the mud and feel sorry for yourself? Or are ya gonna get off your ass an' take back your life for her sake?" Raven didn't respond. Of course she didn't. He shouldn't have expected her to.
"Listen to me." He grabbed her by the face, pinching her cheeks like the child she seemed determined to be. "Listen! You are going to use this arm. You don't have to like it, but you will use it. There will be no objections. If I see you tomorrow without it, I'm gonna sick An on you. Do you understand?"
She mumbled something under her breath.
"Didn't quite catch that." he hissed. "I said, do you understand?"
Raven nodded once. A tiny, tremulous thing, but he saw it all the same.
"Good girl." He released her and patted her head. "Now, then. I have a lion to interrogate...
(.0.0.0.)
Raven watched Naruto stomp away.
She reached one arm out after his fading form.
"Wait! There are things I should tell you about Yang."
She could've said those ten words. Should have. Now was the perfect time.
But she didn't. At the end of the day, Raven was a coward, now as shed had always been. She was as afraid to take a step forward as she was to go back.
And this dynamic, all the friends and allies they'd made...it reminded her of Team STRQ.
An Ren made her think of Qrow. Sure played nice, but she had a core of steel underneath it all. Unlike her baby brother she was perfectly happy to kill someone who wronged her
Willow...was not Summer, she could never be Summer but she was certainly just as emotional as her team leader had ever been. She wore her heart on her sleeve for better or worse and come what may.
Naruto was Taiyang personified. He and her -ex!- husband would've gotten on swimmingly, always wanting to help people, fix people. Whether they liked it or not.
And the children! Little Yang, stubborn Winter, baby Weiss...they made her think of what could've been if she stayed.
Raven hugged her good arm to her chest. She missed her family. Missed her friends. But she could never go back to that life now. Not after what she'd done. She had gone too far to go back now. Even if she tried, it didn't change what she'd done. She'd abandoned them. They would curse her for taking Yang, lock her up, and throw away the key. Ozpin would never let her see the light of day again.
There could be no forgiveness. Not from the old man. No matter what he might claim.
Her gaze strayed to the box Naruto left behind. Her arm was gone. Just like her eye and the Branwen Tribe. Nothing could change that. Naruto had tried to restore the latter and failed. The damage could not be undone. To pretend otherwise was a disservice both to herself and the departed. To take up a false arm was akin to admitting defeat; saying she'd been beaten.
Unbidden, his words rang in her ears.
"You still have your life! You still have Yang! Are you going to wallow here and feel sorry for yourself? Or are ya gonna get off your ass and take back your life for her sake?"
Damn him for making sense.
She grabbed the arm.
(.0.0.0.)
Ann Ren glared at her target.
Willow quavered a little, but didn't back down. "Can I help you...?"
Could she? That was the question. She really couldn't afford to be seen with them, yet here she was once more, lurking in the underground of Mistral. She had guts visiting them this often if nothing else. Small wonder young Winter was so stubborn. She'd gotten it from mother. Her gaze flitted to the Schnee in question, watching her run a practice dummy through with her rapier.
Fierce girl. Stubborn girl. She'd be a true ally someday. But for now...
Ann shifted little Yang to her free arm and offered her hand. "I've been thinking. You love your children, don't you?"
Willow clutched baby Weiss close to her bosom and shook her given palm. "I do. More than life itself."
"I can understand that." An's fingers tightened around hers, aura biting against aura. "If I had a son, I'd happily die for his sake. Or a daughter." she pulled Yang a bit closer with her occupied arm, cooing down at Raven's child. The girl giggled and cooed at her as she looked to Willow. "Tell me, just how much are you willing to risk for your children?"
The Schnee Heiress offered a languid blink. "Everything."
"Even your life?"
"If it meant they would live?" Willow snarled through her teeth. "Gladly."
Great. She wasn't about to let Raven or the Schnee get one up on her. Nevermind bloody Malachite. She had been out of the game for too long; her skills might've atrophied but her mind had not. She could look to the future and see what was coming. They would stay here in Mistral awhile. She could see that, even if no one else would. Vale wasn't an option, not with Raven so deathly afraid of it. Vacuo was no place to raise children, and also out. Where did that leave them? Menagerie? Ha!
Really, the only other option was Atlas, and moving there so suddenly after the "disappearance" of Jacques would draw undue attention.
No, their place would be here awhile yet. That gave them time. Time enough to prepare; to make ready for the challenges to come.
To that end, there was nothing she would not do. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself. "What would you say to a truce?"
Another blink was her reward. "To what end? What do you want.
Ann told Willow precisely what she sought, frankly, in no uncertain terms.
"For his sake, then?" With those words, Willow's scowl shattered like so much ice. "I would like that very much. But how would we go about it?"
She offered her a grim smile. "Naruto's been too stressed lately. I was thinking we might help him...relieve some of that tension. Together.
Willow's face went red. "Oh, my."
(.0.0.0.)
Lionheart kept drinking.
He drank and drank and drank some more until all the worries of the world finally fell away. No calls came for him. No one disturbed him. Just as well that; he'd refused all visitors and calls today; even if by some miracle someone had made it here, he would've turned them anyway. Here in this moment he didn't want to think of Salem or Ozpin, or anything at all. He just wanted to forget. All of it. Every bit of it. Everything.
With wine came memories. Old memories. Painful memories.
Where had he gone wrong? He'd been strong once, back in his younger days. Brave. Downright courageous. He'd worn the name of Lionheart with pride, facing down any foe he came across no matter how the number or size. Back then he was one of the few who argued for taking the fight to Salem's very doorstep, determined to tear her out of Remnant, root and stem, to be rid of her.
Ignorance was bliss.
What a fool he'd been.
Leonardo Lionheart, King of fools.
In hindsight, he should've known. Ozpin always deflected, always spoke of holding the line, of waiting for the opportune moment to strike-that perfect instant which never came. It didn't matter how many maidens they gathered, or how strong the kingdoms became. There was always a reason. Always an excuse. Ever an argument to abstain.
He became impatient.
He, and the old Spring Maiden both.
Together, they'd opened the vault. He'd asked Jinn the question. Knowledge was power, as they say. That knowledge broke him and her both. His courage abandoned him in that moment. Mistral's Maiden hung herself shortly thereafter, unable to live with what she'd learned. He...he was too much a coward to try.
And then the Demon herself came to his doorstep, and he was lost.
It wasn't fair.
Now he had failed her twice, and this third promised to be his last. He couldn't find the Spring Maiden. She must've known he was hunting her, must've gone to ground to hide. He'd not heard so much as a whisper from anyone. She might even be out of the city entirely. What would he tell Salem? Gods above, what would he tell Ozpin? He'd been putting off his calls for days now-
Lionheart was still despair when a short knife burst out of the shadows and set itself to his throat. Cold steel prickled his skin.
The bottle fell from his fingers and shattered upon the floor, spraying wine every which way. It looked like blood.
"Scream," A soft voice hissed in his ear, "And I cut your throat. Understand?"
He nodded fervently. "Y-Yes, of course. Who are you?"
A grow answere dhim. "You don't know me, but I know you...
You do?" He dared to look back, up now, at the terror before him.
"Hello, Headmaster." A blue-eyed blond with whiskered cheeks leaned over him, grinning from ear to ear. "Its so nice to finally meet you. Lets have a chat...
A/N: Here comes Miltia and Melanie; not to mention good 'ol Lie Ren...
What say you? Would you like a timeskip next chapter? Or should we keep the current pace going? Really need to hear from you here.
Feels good to write another chapter for this.
As ever, the Embers rule persists. If folks don't like this? Well, I won't continue it. 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)
"Yang," Weiss slapped a palm to her face. "You are a horrible sibling and I love you."
"Better than Winter?"
"I'm not saying that within earshot."
"I wanna fight!"
Naruto rolled over on the couch with a sigh. "Lets not. I'm sleepy.
"Fine. Reeeeeen! Help me tackle Dad!"
A soft sigh was his only warning before the little gremlins jumped him.
Qrow kept drinking. It kept the pain away.
Fuck Mistral. It took his sister and his niece. Whole damn place could burn for all he cared.
If there WAS a Maiden in Mistral, she was doing a damn good job at keeping her head down. Better than the other ones-
"Watchoutwatchoutwatchouuut~!"
Buzzed or no, Qrow still had a Hunters instinct; he heard the vice and stepped aside with seamless grace; dodged a tiny flash of long, tawny blond hair, watched it kick off a nearby wall and keep running. Lively lilac eyes flashed over her shoulder as she grinned back at him, never once pausing.
"Sorry!" her voice trailed after as she hurtled around the alley and out of sight.
"Bah. Cute kid. He ignored the girl's halfhearted apology and drank deeply from his flask. "Seems familiar...
Blond hair. Lilac eyes. A lively energetic blond girl who was the spitting image of...
Realization clicked. Red eyes bulged.
Booze sprayed the wall.
"Waitaminute!"
Naruto's head snapped to the side, a sole grunt of pain her only reward.
Bemused blue eyes blazed a baleful red. "You call that a punch?"
Little Yang gulped. "Aw, crapbaskets...
"Fair."
R&R~!