Ren wasn't at all surprised to awaken alone in his former dorm room. He was surprised by the fact that he had somehow managed to sleep in for the first time in longer than he could remember… but perhaps he shouldn't have been. Despite the overall urgency of the coming war and encroaching grimm, there was nothing to really do that required immediate action at the moment. There was, for once, relative peace- a calm before the storm. Unfortunately, his partner didn't see it that way at all.
A simple note had been left on the bedside table in messy handwriting that Ren immediately recognized as Nora's. All it said was "Working" without any additional information. Ren knew what it meant, and where he would find her. He also knew that there would be no stopping her in her manic state- she would work herself to the bone until the weapon was completed… and that process would take days, even with the high-tech equipment available to them at the remains of Beacon Academy.
Ren slowly rolled out of bed and went through his morning routine… or at least, the closest thing he could manage to it with what limited supplies remained in the space. After showering and getting dressed once again, he headed out into the halls and began making his way for the workshop. Ren was admittedly dragging his feet as he went, both from a state of general exhaustion as well as the knowledge of how the coming conversation with Nora was bound to go. He had half a mind to not even tell her to take it easy or consider stopping for a bit. It would be easier if he just let her have her way.
About halfway to the workshop, Ren rounded a corner to see another figure making their way toward him down the hall. In truth, he had momentarily forgotten about the other boy walking toward him with everything else that had been going on. Ren was still happy to see him all the same.
"…Sage," the huntsman offered with a slow nod. "My apologies that we got separated, there is just… a lot going on right now, and Nora needed space. Neither of us wanted to make you feel unwelcome."
"It's fine," the burly teen offered as he folded his arms over his chest. "I managed to get us a vehicle after all. The three of us, or however many decide to go out into the field, should have an easier time, now. All-terrain, plenty of room for supplies… Goodwitch herself signed off on it."
"That is good to hear," Ren acknowledged with a sigh. "Really, you didn't have to just keep going after all of this back and forth chasing Salem's agents…"
"Neither did you or Nora, but I'm guessing you did," Sage pointed out with a shrug. "I think we're all like that, from what I've seen thus far."
"Perhaps we are," Ren agreed. With a guilty look, he offered forward a hand. "Sage, I wish to thank you for everything you've done for us thus far. I know that initially, you wanted nothing to do with any of this… but you've been immensely helpful while stranded with a group of what is essentially strangers. I appreciate it greatly, and I'm sure Nora does as well. She's just… understandably upset right now and not thinking clearly. We're both grateful to have you aboard."
Sage gave his teammate a grunt of affirmation before uncrossing his arms and taking Ren's hand with his own much larger one.
"Just doing what any reasonable hunter would do in a situation like this," Sage replied. "At least, I'd like to think so. For what it's worth, I'm sorry for being such a shithead about things when I first got word of what was going on. I don't know what Sun told you, or how much of that you saw, but… I was in a bad place at the time. I'd like to think I wouldn't have left you people high and dry in the end, but… I don't know."
"Consider it forgiven," Ren reassured as they broke contact. "As far as Sun, he spoke mostly praise for you and the rest of Team SSSN. Either way, though, I've seen enough of your skill in combat and character to count you as a worthy ally… and hopefully a friend."
"I'm good with friends," Sage agreed. "Where were you headed off to? It looked like you were on a mission, and I was just looking for you without much else to accomplish."
"The weapons lab," Ren answered as he waved for Sage to follow and the two set out together. "Nora is dead set on fusing the remains of Ruby's weapon to her own, as a way to make peace with things… and likely in an attempt to use it to kill Salem herself. I think it best that we support her, at least, so far as we can. She isn't taking things well."
"I'd imagine not," Sage agreed. "I'll do whatever needs doing. Speaking of missions, though, Goodwitch said we'll have new ones soon. She's getting on a call with Ironwood and a bunch of others this morning, and they're apparently going to hash out next steps on a global scale. We'll be told what's going on afterward."
"I see. I… actually wish we could get in on that…" Ren said quietly, though with enough volume that Sage picked up on it.
"Me too, but we're the B Team," Sage pointed out. "No sense in pretending we aren't. I'm sure Sun'll be sitting in on it and give us any details Goodwitch misses. We'll have our bases covered, one way or another."
"I suppose we shall," Ren agreed. "We really do seem to have established a global network, somewhat inadvertently. I would say it's an advantage we have over Salem, but all signs point to her grimm being globally aware as well. If anything, we've simply leveled the playing field."
"I wouldn't call it level when she can't die," Sage reminded. "But… closer to level than it was. We still need the details of everything that went down in Atlas, probably once Sun is less busy or in the air on the way to Vacuo."
"We do," Ren agreed as he stopped outside of the door to the lab. "All in good time. Nora's likely to be in a foul mood. You're sure you want to deal with this?"
"No, but… no sense backing away," Sage considered. "Not when we can do something to help her."
"Agreed," Ren said before taking a deep breath.
With a long exhale, he pushed the door open and led the way inside.
What had started as a routine checkup had turned into a full physical after the initial analysis had been anything but what Marrow wanted to see. Test after test had returned troubling results, to say nothing of the ones that would take a day or more to analyze. James had been tense throughout all of it, saying little and well aware that the blame fell squarely upon his shoulders for canceling appointments and keeping Marrow too busy to worry about him. Even though he was aware of what he had been doing in a practical sense, James had physically felt like garbage for so long that he had forgotten such a thing was not supposed to be anyone's default. In his mind, he could simply deal with it because there were more important matters at hand. It took Marrow to remind him that yes, he could… but he couldn't do it forever.
If the faunus was to be believed, he likely couldn't keep it up for much longer at all without simply collapsing.
More appointments had been made. More medication was being considered, both for the pain caused by his prosthetics and just to help him sleep. Despite taking entirely too long for his tastes, the exam had felt like a whirlwind. By the time he left, James didn't know what to think… and almost had half a mind to cancel the impending meeting. He was exhausted… exhausted enough to be thoroughly confused as he exited the exam room to find a white-haired woman sitting in the lobby of the infirmary. For a moment, he thought she was Winter… but that was impossible. She was visibly older. More tired. Weary of everything… somewhat like he was. He hadn't seen her face-to-face in years.
"Willow Schnee?" the man asked, his exhaustion carrying through his voice. "I'm surprised to see you here…"
The woman merely shrugged, keeping her hands in her lap as she shook her head. She clearly hadn't slept and looked as though she had been crying for quite some time. The usually immaculately dressed woman's outfit was rumpled, its features were at odd angles, and she didn't look happy to be there at all.
"Weiss came and… made a good case for taking control of the company," the woman said. "She also made a good case for starting to actually take care of myself now that Jacques is gone, and she and her partner insisted that I come here for multiple reasons. Detox. Observation to make sure I don't slip back into my old ways. In case of protestors or potential riots at the mansion… it made sense, listening to the two of them. Now, though, it feels like I have to willingly let my life fall apart in order to build it back together. I hope I'm not making a mistake in coming here."
"For what it's worth, I don't think you are," James said softly as he moved to take a seat next to the woman. "Has your life been together this entire time? It's easy to get comfortable in various states of collapse, and it seems as though it always takes someone else to help pull people out of that. Making the choice to start fixing things is never easy. It's even harder when you refuse to acknowledge that they were broken to begin with."
Willow nodded along, chewing her lip as she listened. She tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear as she got ready to speak again, her thoughts slightly muddled from a lack of sleep and a lingering buzz.
"…it seems obvious now, I just… it's hard to let go of a role I've been playing for so long. And… when did Weiss grow up so fast and get so smart? I feel like I missed out on such huge chapters of my life… and hers."
"It is hard," James agreed. "As for Weiss… all of these kids are smarter than any of us have given them credit for, and the future really does lie in their hands. The Academy is crawling with second-year students from Beacon and their friends from various places right now, and combined with my own subordinates… they're starting to shake things up. I was hesitant to let them have so much control and make the big decisions, but now I'm beginning to think that they should. They're much more in tune with themselves and those around them as people… which is something I realize I've forgotten over the years."
"Perhaps you shouldn't be so hard on yourself," Willow suggested as she leaned her head back into the wall behind the chair. "Atlas… this city isn't about people. It's about profits. Efficiency. Everything is a numbers game, even lives. Live here long enough, and that, too, becomes routine."
"Not anymore," James declared, his voice firm and resolute. A set of footsteps approached from the nearby hallway, and the man sat up a bit straighter as he awaited the new arrival. It took only seconds for the huntress responsible to arrive on the scene, not looking much better than either of the seated leaders. "Miss Adel?"
"Yeah, hey," Coco said with a breathy sigh as she offered a lazy salute. "I'm headed upstairs. Meeting's in a few, right?"
"…it is, yes," James confirmed, though he paused as he rose to a standing position. "But I don't want you there."
"Yeah, I kinda saw that coming," Coco grumbled as she folded her arms across her chest. "Look, I know you don't know us, and we probably seem like just another pain in the ass you have to d-"
"No, that isn't why at all," James interrupted. "Mr. Alistair is awake, isn't he? From what I've seen and heard, you two are partners on more than just the battlefield. You should be spending time with him, not sitting through a meeting. The others can catch you up afterward. Being with him right now after an injury like the one he sustained at the hands of Salem is more important than any meeting. You're dismissed."
Coco's stance relaxed a bit until her arms finally dropped to her sides, and for a moment, James thought she might just collapse on the spot. The huntress let out a weary sigh and nodded confirmation.
"…thank you. I've been… I couldn't sleep, I've been feeling like I'm just going to shut down, my entire body just feels sick…"
"I understand," James reassured as he touched a hand to Coco's shoulder. "Go. And… I'm sorry if I gave off the feeling that I might brush you and yours off to the side. That isn't happening. We need everyone we can get to be at their best and work toward stopping Salem together… but right now, Fox needs you more than I do. Go."
"Right. Thanks," Coco offered as she pulled away. "Neptune's in charge, if I'm not there. He's a good kid."
James nodded as he watched the huntress turn and jog down the hall.
"I'm sure he is…"
"Seems like all of them are, from where I'm sitting," Willow remarked with a smirk.
"Yeah," James agreed. "Yeah, they are…"
Author's Note:
Ironwood's coming around, and things are looking up. I sure hope nothing horrible is right around the corner!
-RD