I'm not entirely sure how I updated this week and on time...
Not only have we been short-staffed at work all week (which is real fun when you work with individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities), and I was sick all week, but then my PC went and imploded on me. I had to scrounge the money to get a new one, and my new PC finally just finished all its updates...
I mostly wrote all of this on my tablet, and I didn't get to as much as I wanted to for this chapter for apparent reasons. It's a little shorter than I planned, so sorry about that.
Site is still on the fritz. Let me know if you can see this.
Anyway, to the chapter!
Something felt off about this place. It didn't feel like she was alone here.
Blake scanned through the deserted streets, peeking into the alleys. As desolate as this place seemed, it felt like someone was around here.
Her hearing was sharp. Blake swore she could hear the sound of footsteps somewhere nearby. It couldn't be Naruto. He took a completely different direction, sticking close to the sisters. He may have trusted them enough to help them, but he kept an eye on their safety while scouring the area.
Perhaps he picked it up from his sensei. She recalled that he always seemed nearby and ready to intervene if necessary, but he allowed them to face danger.
Blake shook her head, her ears twitching again. She had to focus as she slunk through the streets, using the buildings for cover.
This time, it didn't sound like footsteps.
She heard voices this time.
Sticking close to the edge of the building, Blake carefully peeked past the corner to see if she could see anyone. Her eyes sharpened, her ears laid flat on her head, and she refrained from hissing at the sight.
It was the White Fang! Two masked members exited a nearby alley and began to walk in her direction.
What were they doing here? Had Adam become bold enough to move into Vale proper when the authorities were looking for him?!
It did sound like something he could do. He had been acting increasingly irrationally, and his rash actions had escalated considerably over the last year. He was far from how she remembered him when she first met him. Revolutionary in his ideas, but he was also cautious.
…At least he was. Seeing how he had changed over the last several years was so strange.
"...stupid bitch. I hate having to listen to her. This is slave labor all over again! Why does Adam listen to her?" One of the two Faunus growled.
"Boss doesn't have a choice. That woman… Nah, that thing… She's a demon that controls the elements themselves. He knew better than to challenge her." The second Faunus hissed before exhaling. "We just need to keep our heads down and listen for now. The boss is cooking something. We just got to trust him."
Blake's eyes sharpened. She held back a hiss. Adam was here as she had just been suspecting. But that wasn't the issue.
Who was this woman they were talking about? And why were they calling her such things? And more so, Adam and his entire faction of the White Fang were forced to listen to her?
She couldn't refrain from hissing. She may have left Adam on bad terms, but under no circumstances did she want any of her brethren to be manipulated by someone.
"What was that?" Both jumped, hearing Blake's hiss, looking around with concerned expression.
"Man, I knew we shouldn't be talking. That woman has ears everywhere! We just need to keep our heads down and get the girl out of jail tonight, or we'll suffer her wrath!" The second Faunus fidgeted worriedly.
"Yeah, we should get out of here." The first's eyes narrowed, gazing upon the corner Blake was at to see wispy strands of smoke vanishing into the air. "You never know who was listening…"
They hurriedly rushed down the street, heading deeper into the city, seemingly none the wiser.
Crouching on the roof of the constructed building she had been hiding behind, Blake clicked her scroll and whispered. "Naruto, I found something…"
"Yeah, that might have to wait… I'm accompanying these fine officers back to the station." Blake glowered at his response before worry crossed her expression softened. She could hear the annoyance in Naruto's voice.
That couldn't be good.
"Seems like this Nyx fellow has the police in his pocket. Gonna need you to meet me at the district police office. Seems like he's trying to set me up for something." Blake couldn't hold back her growl as Naruto continued.
"And I'm gonna take the bait and see what I fish up."
"Grr, my ribs still ache…" Yang gnashed through her teeth, clutching her abdomen as she gazed at her surroundings, a minor hitch in her step. "That was him going easy on us, my foot!"
"I think it was. He was faster when he was taking out those thugs. I was able to keep up with his movements… Although I couldn't react in time." Ruby nervously chuckled while scanning through the streets and into the construction zones, half-finished buildings, or completed projects.
Yang glowered momentarily before a sly smirk crossed her lips, her eyes sharpening as she kept an eye for movement. "Heh, it's worth it if that means I get a chance to bust some bad guys. This area is rife with 'em!"
"I thought you said this place was abandoned." Ruby frowned, giving her sister a slight glare.
"It is outside a few hide-aways for the homeless. It's the perfect place for guys like the Xiong clan and other criminals to do deals or hide out from the police. They hardly patrol in this district." Yang answered, her gaze sweeping around. She thought she caught a movement before glowering.
Was that… He was scoping out the buildings? Did he not trust them?
Or did he just want to keep an eye on his coworker's family?
Yang rolled her eyes. That was probably it. She knew that, in a way, they were his responsibility now. He allowed them to come out here with him.
It was on his shoulders if something happened…
Yang froze in her steps as red and blue lights flickered and a siren whistled for a brief interval behind them. She turned back in horror to see a police car roll to a stop behind them.
"Speaking of the patrol…" Ruby mumbled under her breath and grimaced. "Oh, this is bad. I don't even have an in-training license. I could get into so much trouble…"
"What are you girls doing out here?" The driver of the police interceptor spoke as he stepped out of the car, his partner exiting the other side. " Kids like you shouldn't be playing out here. This place is off-limits for a reason. It's dangerous. Thugs and criminals hang out here."
"Yeah, I know! We're looking for them! We've got a job to do?" Yang quipped back, scrunching her brow at the officers.
The officers shared a glance with one another. The same thought crossed each of their minds before the partner cop responded. "Aren't you both a little young to be Huntresses?"
"They're with me!" Naruto called from above and jumped off the top of the building, landing into a walk without a hitch and straight toward the officer. He took out his scroll and ran his finger on it several times before he pulled up his identification. "I work with Ozpin. Searching for someone who attacked and maimed Huntress Amber Autumn."
"Strange. I hadn't heard anything about an attack on a Huntress." Scanning his ID, the first officer looked away and frowned, noticing Naruto tilt his head curiously. The officer sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid communication between the precincts and Huntsman alliance typically isn't on the same page. Often, information isn't passed on or given without notice or agency. It often happens that we will find the data on our network, but no one said anything."
"Eh, that bad, huh?" Naruto winced, memories rising of similar incidents as he was Hokage. He restrained from growling at the thoughts. Again, memories that didn't seem like they belonged…
He swore he would figure out the reason for the intrusive thoughts.
"Huntsmen and Huntresses operate at their own pace and on their own agendas. Meanwhile, we have to follow the law." The second officer rolled his eyes before glowering at Ruby and Yang before giving a slanted glare at Naruto. "Like bringing two young ladies into a shady part of Vale to search for a violent criminal."
Naruto gazed daggers into the man as he scowled and furrowed his brow. He knew the risks! Yes, they were unproven and untested. His target could be very dangerous. It was why he wasn't leaving them alone. It was why Blake had her scroll on and turned on her location signal. He wasn't risking their lives for this.
But he needed help. Since he could not make his Shadow Clones or use anything from his repertoire, having more people assist on a sweeping search like this would be beneficial.
And it never hurt to make new friends!
"I also have another question now that I identified your badge," The first officer frowned as his scroll beeped and looked down to see what the report returned with. "Are you aware there is a recent warrant for you?"
"Say what now?" Naruto blinked, genuinely surprised, before glowering. "I haven't done anything other than bag a few thugs who tried to assault a woman and then tried to ambush us after they were let out."
"That tracks… Unfortunately." The first officer muttered, rubbing his temple in frustration as he looked up. "If you don't mind cooperating with us and coming into the station. The faster we take care of this, the quicker we can wrap this up and let you return to work."
Naruto raised his eyebrow quizzically. He knew he didn't do anything. And yet, there was a warrant out for his arrest. This was suspicious…
But like the girl's uncle had told him… There was corruption everywhere in Vale, including the police.
"Sure!" A thin but confident smirk graced Naruto's expression before he turned to Ruby and Yang. "Mah, you guys can head home for the night. I'll have Blake call you when we're ready to search again!"
"Yo, what?" Yang glowered, shaking her head. "Nu-uh. I was there! I saw what those goons try to attack you guys. I can back up your story!"
"Me too!" Ruby nodded with a scowl, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Witness would help speed this up, I assure you." The officer nodded in agreement.
Naruto twitched, his annoyance visible. He didn't want them to come with him on this. He had a gut feeling things would get messy when he got to the station…
And why was Blake calling now?
This was going to be a long day, wasn't it?
"This is your precinct officer?" Naruto commented as he stepped out of the cruiser with the officers, one eyebrow crooked at the shady building, grimacing. "Ugh, this looks more like a slaughterhouse… You guys don't get as much funding as the other stations, do ya?"
"Each district is funded proportionately to the amount of people living here and their income… Yeah, we are at the bottom of the barrel." The driving officer sulked and hung his head shamefully.
"Every day, we wait for a transfer out of this dump. The pay is shit." The second officer grunted before motioning Naruto forward. "Let's get this over with. I got a bottle of whiskey calling my name…"
"Yo, wait for us!" Yang roared as the engine of Bumblebee rumbled before finally hushing as she turned the key and stepped off her bike with Ruby.
"Naruto." A shadow leapt from above the station and landed in a knelt position before them. The officer jumped, their hands reaching for their designated pistol.
"Relax. She's with me. She was the one who called me on the scroll." Naruto stepped in front of the officers to pacify the situation. Naruto exhaled as they shakily nodded before giving Blake a vexed glare as she stood up. "Copying my entrances?"
"Doesn't feel so good, does it?" Blake coyly retorted, causing Naruto to glower and mutter obscenities under her breath.
"Woah, how did you get here so quickly? I thought you were on the other side of the construction site!" Ruby exclaimed, surprised at how much ground Blake had covered in such a short time.
"I've learned to keep up with him… He doesn't take it easy." Blake grimaced at remembering how often she fell behind keeping up with Naruto, sweating and barely able to breathe.
She still couldn't keep up with the pace he liked to travel…
It almost reminded her of how merciless Adam was when he trained her with the sword…
"We have an issue," Blake snapped out of her reminiscence, holding back a hiss as she glanced at the police station briefly.
"I know." Naruto nodded, his eyes sharpening on the station before faintly grinning. "I saw them entering just as we arrived…"
"This is gonna be an interesting night, that's for sure."
Hugo was not a patient man. Having to wait caused him to become irritable.
And when he was irate, things… Tended to happen.
"Yo! Man! It's past six! Can we hurry up with the dinner already? Or at least get us a damn blanket? It's cold as hell back here, and my friend is freezing.
Hugo twitched, staring back into the cells in lock up. His icy cold gaze caused the large bronze man up against the bars, calling for his meal to shiver. He glanced back at his much slighter, shivering Faunus friend and stepped away. "Yo, never mind if you're gonna be that way. …It's like talking to a snake, I swear…"
"Ya ain't wrong, boss…" The scraggly Faunus grimaced, a hitch in his speech impeding his words slightly. He huddled into the corner on the bench, twitching feverishly.
"Quiet back there, or you'll have another day added to your holding!" Hugo hissed at the interruption, agitated at the beautiful silence being broken. He narrowed his gaze, seeing the large man scoff but say nothing more as he moved to accompany the Faunus in the cell. "Oh, you think you are better than me, huh? That's another day in holding, punk! You too, you sniveling runt!"
"We didn't say or do shit!" The large bronze man roared, pounding his fist into the side of his cell, heatedly glaring as he imposingly stood, towering over Hugo. "We've already paid our dues! Don't add time for that callous shit, asshole!"
Sweat profusely dripped and stained Hugo's uniform. The man was a beast. He was built like a tank, and the man knew how to use it. He could snap him in two if given the chance…
But he wouldn't get that chance. A sinister smile graced Sill's expression as he quietly laughed under his breath. Electricity crackled in the air as a dark, malicious aura surrounded Hugo. "Oh, you already paid your dues, huh? I wouldn't say so. A thug who beats upstanding, innocent citizens to an inch of their life and a worthless Faunus drug addict have paid their dues? Call me skeptical."
The large man stumbled, terror welling within. And Hugo enjoyed every second. He savored every moment of it! It was delicious!
"Yo, I don't want any trouble…" The large man held his hands out, his eyes focused on the baton crackling with electricity at Sill's side.
"Afraid now that you called down the thunder?" Hugo maliciously hissed, tapping the bars with his baton, causing sparks to shower in the cell. "It seems I must remind the unworthy of who is really in charge here…"
Hearing a click, Hugo slid his baton back into its holster and stepped away from the cells to see his fellow officers escorting two individuals. He didn't even have to look back at the maggots in the cell. He knew they wouldn't talk.
Cowards… Oh, how he would love to torment them. But not today.
Today, he got paid.
"Two White Fang goons?" Hugo glowered, leering at the two Faunus before shifting his gaze to his fellow officers. "What did these buffoons do?"
"They turned themselves in." The elderly officer pursed his lips suspiciously, glancing back at the two White Fang operatives. He exhaled as his partner opened a cell, led the two within, and handed Sill a clipboard. "They supposedly took part in that train incident a few months back and felt guilty about what they did. They also said they have information about the Faunus who caused the incident, Adam Taurus."
"Heh, that reckless freedom fighter." Hugo sarcastically responded, air quoting as he did before smugly retorting. "Won't be long until we have that idiot behind bars."
"Hopefully not." The senior officer chuckled, shaking his head, and left with his partner with a wave. "We'll leave you to handle their booking. Take care not to scuff them up too much, would you? They have valuable information the rest of the precincts want."
"Yeah, yeah. I know, pops." Hugo glowered, rolling his eyes, and waited for the two to leave. He hissed as the door clicked closed, and his eyes sharpened at the two Fanus. "You idiots are late."
"Time is valuable if you want to get to her, so let's not waste any more of mine."
How she despised this situation.
These cramp spherical walls.
The lack of ability to stretch her legs for more than thirty minutes a day!
The horrible food she was served daily.
Barely having a chance to converse with others or have the ability to stimulate her mind from boredom.
The sealed door.
Was she back home? This felt like how her Papa kept her in her room…
This was hell.
Neo wanted nothing more than to escape. To see the door shatter open and for her hero to save her…
As he had done three years ago and freed her from her rotten cage.
Roman… Neo whispered in her mind, staring longingly at the metallic wall of the spherical prison they used to hold her.
She wanted to see him. How much longer would it take for him to formulate the plan to come to rescue her? What was taking so long?
She had long caught onto the pattern of how they transferred her from district to district weekly. She was keenly aware of the shifts throughout the day and when they were most vulnerable. Roman would have gathered this information by now.
So why hadn't he come… Did something happen?
No… No! Roman would survive! He always survived. He would come and rescue her! Yes! It was only a matter of time until she was in his arms again!
And maybe, this time…
I do hope you enjoyed this update. Tried my best.
With everything that happened this week, I'm exhausted. If you gotta a moment, I could really use the encouragement from hearing back from ya. It's been a rough week. Gonna rest now...
Oh, and just to let everyone know, I'll be taking a break at the end of the month. Monster Hunter Wilds is coming out... And well, yeah. Gonna be playing that. Thankfully, I pre-ordered that several months ago...
Until the next time my friends, Peace
