A/N Ill tides on bright days
Alt title: It's always the crazy ones
.
.
Sorry this one took a while, I had a stressful week.
.
Samejake: Thank you! Hope this chapter is just as good!
cassnova5424: PLAY SKYRIM. PLAY SKYRIM. PLAY SKY- sorry about that. Anyway, you can bet if it ever got back to Ironwood that Cyril knew Penny was an android, he'd have questions for the boy.
GideonBlackthorn: Weiss deserves all the loving bullying she can get.
eman3232: Sleep is for the weak! And speed is key! And thank you! I'm told character interaction and characterization is my strong suit.
A dancing leaf: What a flimsy leaf you are. Getting lost on a breeze.
Oh there's about to be more misunderstandings. Just wait!
YeTianshi: I'mma add more, just gotta refresh my memory.
smartychance7: You're good. I'm a history nerd too. I just like focus on the absurd parts because you can not make some of this shit up! Like Fredrick the Great avoiding a famine by getting people to accept potatoes as food when they were seen as animal feed. How did he do it?
By making them illegal for anyone accept for royalty to eat. Reverse psychology on a national level.
Anyumaaka: I plan to make Penny a fairly decent staple of this story.
DireProphet: No! No turning people into sweet rolls!
Mangouschase: wut?
vincent moon: Agreed.
nfma2059: Thank you! I do speak a little bit of Spanish so I was able to read some of what you wrote. Before giving up and using a translator. But as I said before, characterization is what I'm best at, and Penny will be a reoccurring character.
The hunter jinouga: no, no he can not.
ghouldrago0: As do I!
.
.
-Date, Time-
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
(Text)
Sounds/Actions*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
-Ozpin's Office, 10/26, 9am-
.
.
Lyman "Ozma/Oz" Ozpin POV
.
"The general sure does enjoy showing off his toys." Glynda says as we look out at the airships passing by.
"To be fair to the good general." I say before sipping my coffee. "They are very shiny."
"You can thank the maintenance teams for their appearance!" James says as the door opens to reveal the man.
"For the eyesore?" Glynda says as we turn to face him. "I'll pass, their days are arduous enough."
An insult, though one James takes in good stride. Seeing as he just smiles at the girl, not once faltering his stride.
"Such harsh words." James says. "Though I know you mean them in jest towards me."
"Whatever makes you feel better." Glynda says without missing a beat. "We all have our coping mechanisms, though I would advise you that self delusion is a rather dangerous one."
"As dangerous as working yourself to death?" He says with a raised brow.
'Wrong move.' I think to myself. 'In this scenario, the correct thing to say would be to talk about dangers, risks, and the delusion of having a relationship with her.'
Stop it Oz. You're not a politician right now. You're a headmaster. You need not worry about manipulations and wordplay.
"I believe I'll leave you boys to your playdate." Glynda says pointedly as she begins to walk towards the elevator. The only sound she deems to grace us with, being that of her heels clicking the floor.
'Called it.' Part of me smugs.
James can only watch her go, lamenting his poor attempt at the woman's heart.
"Quite the spitfire isn't she?" He says after she leaves.
"Quite." I agree as I take my seat at my desk, and gesture for the man to sit as well. "It's why I hired her. She keeps me up and on my feet more than any coffee."
'About five hundred years ago, it would be a breach of social norms to even offer him a seat in my office. Let alone speak so casually.' I remark to myself idly.
Customs, social norms, roles in society. They're silly things. Subject to change and disregard at the smallest interval. Why, at one point it was considered uncivilized to eat in public.
"I bet." James says with a good natured chuckle as he sits down. "But, pleasantries aside, it is good to talk. Face to face I mean."
"I suppose." I say noncommittally. "Though, we should proceed. As much as I'd love to waste the day on idle conversation, there's much to discuss."
Personally, I've never had issue using the more modern technology. Well, modern by today's standard. Most of it has been around before, just lost and rediscovered with different flavors.
"Of course, such as the security of the festival." He says, shifting the tone of the conversation easily.
"I'd give you full authority over the matter James. You know that." I admit. "But, you know how the councils are. I can't be seen handing over any power and authority, without good cause."
No matter how much I'd love to wash my hands of the affair. One less thing on my plate.
"Yes, the Valean council will see it as a sign of weakness or incompetence on your part, and the Atlesian council will see it as a sign of Vale's submission to Atlesian authority." James sums it up as he rubs his jaw in thought.
"Yes, unfortunately so." I sigh, thumbing the rim of my mug as I stare into the dark liquid. "These times of peace, make men anxious. They start to see hostility and competition where there is none."
"An, unfortunate side effect of having little to do." James quips.
He says it in jest. But we both know it to be more true that either of us care to admit, or desire.
"Be that as it may, I can only offer you the authority to assist in local law enforcement at the proper authorities request." I tell him. "Lest something were to happen due to, ill tidings on the incompetency of the local level due to increased traffic brought on by the festival. Say, by certain groups."
James's face goes hard at that. Scowling at the double meaning as I raise my mug to my lips.
"You mean they're here?" James asks.
"Been here for a week or so now." I say before I deliver worse news. "Officially at least. And Mrs. Rose just got back to me from a CCT outpost tower in Anima. Amber is dead, murdered on a road going from Hariku village, and Kurosu."
"Damn it!" James curses as he slams a fist into the desk before getting up. "I knew this this would happen! You knew this would happen!"
At least he didn't use his prosthetic.
"We all did, yes." I say with a tired sigh.
Amber, believed she would be safe on her own. She didn't want to announce her powers and make herself public. But she also didn't want to be locked away and coddled. She wanted to travel around and make a difference in the world quietly.
We all warned her it was a bad idea. But she was insistent.
"Do we, do we know who the powers went to?" James asks as he paces.
"No, we do not." I say sadly. "We only know that she is in Vale and working for, or with the Cult."
"Damnit." James curses softly as he sits back down.
James is quiet as he digests the information. Before, as though stepping into an ice bath, he speaks up once more.
"Does, does she know anything?" He asks tentatively.
"No, Salem does not as of the last we spoke." I answer.
"Worth a shot." James sighs tiredly. "I assume you have Qrow on the case looking for her?"
And here's the, tricky part.
"No, actually." I say after a brief pause. "I had Qrow on a, different task. A more, personal and possibly more pressing one."
"What could be more pressing than magic changing hands to the cult?" James hisses irritably.
"Magic suddenly appearing out of nowhere." I say, causing him to freeze in shock before leaning back in the chair as he thinks.
"A new magic holder?" James asks after a bit.
"Yes, and on that vein of thought, I believe I have a new candidate for the Winter Maiden." I say as I start typing into the keyboard. "You, haven't informed Winter of the truth behind the Maidens, have you?"
"Not yet." James says stoically with a shake of his head. "I felt it a tad too early."
"Good, it'd be rather awkward to inform her that she might be passed over." I say as I pull up the girl's profile and turn my screen around for James to see.
His eyes widen at the image, before hardening as he turns his gaze to me.
"Oz, to borrow a phrase from the infantry." He says with a tone of disbelief. "You're shitting me, right?"
"Just wait until you hear the full details." I tell him.
I'm rather interested to see how he'll react.
.
.
-SLBR Dorm, 10/28, 8pm-
.
.
Cyril Leon POV
.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I look over and see Weiss sitting patiently on my bed. Which, has almost become the norm. She's almost never in her own bed anymore. Always either Ruby's bed or mine.
"Alright, scooch over." I say as I close the door to the bathroom and walk over. Relying on memory to walk in the dark.
I get to the bed and try to lay down. Only to find she hasn't moved. My arm hitting her side.
"Weiss?" I ask.
"Yes Cyril?" Weiss asks.
"Can you move?" I ask.
"Why should I?" She asks with a huff.
Okay, I see what she's playing at.
I don't, but I have a pretty good guess.
"Because it's my bed?" I ask.
"And I'm sitting on it." She says defiantly. "Why should I move my person if I don't feel like doing so?"
"Because I'll make you?" I offer.
"You wouldn't dare." She says before I push her over and climb on top, earning a small eep from the unseen girl.
"Wouldn't dare, to do what?" I ask the girl as I hear her breath hitch. "Well?"
"Y-you cad!" She squeaks. "Th-this extremely inappropriate and degrading to my-hm!"
I cut her off with a kiss. One that earns a moan and an arm on my back as she holds me.
"Now." I say as I pull up. "You're going to scoot over, and we're going to sleep, okay?"
I don't hear anything, but I can feel the mattress move in response to her head nodding.
"Good girl." I say as I lean forward and plant another kiss on her lips. Only to have her throw her arms around me and pull in for a harder kiss.
"You, degenerate." She huffs as she separates from me. "Throwing me onto your bed, climbing on top of me. Making demands of me."
She doesn't say anything else as I imagine her words are failing her. So, I lean down and kiss her cheek, before whispering in her ear.
"Yes, and this degenerate is going to demand you sleep." I say, not intent on doing anything with Blake and Ruby right here in the room.
"That's all?" She asks in surprise. "You're not going to make me, d-do anything indecent, o-or d-depraved t-to-?"
"Not with the others here." I whisper as I put a little bit of my weight on her, earning a stifled moan. "But, if I can find you, alone and vulnerable, where no one will stop me. Who knows what I might make you do?"
I can feel her heart beating faster than a set of bongos. And I got my answer, she wants me to take control and initiate. Which, I'm honestly more than happy to do.
Later when we have some privacy.
"For now, go to sleep." I tell her as I push up and scoot her over.
.
.
-SLBR Dorm, 10/29, 7am-
.
.
Waking up to a weight on me, an extra weight I should add. Weiss is clung to my arm as usual. But there's another weight on top of me.
Opening my eyes, I'm greeted to the sight of a mischievous and smiling Ruby straddling my stomach as she has her hands planted on my chest, shaky me gently as she does so.
"Wakey wakey." She says softly with a wolfish grin, her ears perked straight up. "Time to get up~"
"What did I say about sneaking into my bed?" I ask plainly.
"I didn't sneak into your bed." Ruby says innocently. "I'm just waking you up."
"Uh, huh." I say in disbelief. "And sitting on my stomach is the best way to do it?"
"Not the best way." She says with a tilt of her head. "But it's one of the funner ones." She says as she wiggles her a hips a bit.
"Hrmm." Weiss groans as she starts to wake up, turning her head over as she sits up and rubs her eyes with one hand as her other is planted on the bed. "Hmm? Ruby? What are y-"
Weiss doesn't get any more words out as Ruby cups her cheek with one hand and holds her steady for a kiss.
Weiss reciprocates the kiss easily. Her morning brain not fully registering her surroundings yet.
"Good morning." Ruby says as she pulls back.
"Morning?" Weiss mumbles sleepily. "No. It's too early for morning, good night."
Weiss then proceeds to fall back down to my side. Wrapping her arms around my right arm as she nuzzles my shoulder. All while Ruby stares blankly at the scene.
"Well, huh." She says as she moves off of me and sits at the edge of the bed in a thinker's pose. "Clearly I went wrong here somewhere."
Feeling mischievous, I lean forward as best I can and grab her by the shirt. Surprising her, I pull her over.
"Ah!" She shouts in surprise as I quickly wrap my arm around her side. Holding her in place with her back to my side and her head on my shoulder. "H-hey!"
"Shhh." I hush her as I close my eyes. "It's too early, good night."
"Rmm." She grumbles, but doesn't put up any resistance as she rolls closer to put herself partially on me. "Fine."
There's no point in getting up early today. We get the next three days for the dance, the day before to prepare, the day of, and the day after to, I don't know.
So yeah, no reason to be up.
.
.
-30 min later-
.
.
Turns out the only one capable of sleeping that cramped together, is Weiss. Who is sleeping in on my bed as I get dressed and Ruby gets a shower. While Blake watches something on her scroll, snacking on a breakfast bar as I grab my shirt, having forgotten it when stepping into the bathroom.
It's around this time that we hear a knock on the door.
"Not it." Blake says immediately before taking a bite of her breakfast bar.
"Gee, leave it to the shirtless guy who just got out of the shower." I roll my eyes.
"Yep." She says through a mouthful of food.
Heading to the door, I open it to reveal, a short purple haired girl in a form fitting purple duster and light grey shirt with tight grey pants.
"Um, can I help you?" I ask as she stares at my chest, before she bites the edge of her lip and looks up at me.
"Uh, yeah. Cecil right?" She asks with a smirk.
"Cyril." I correct her, feeling my patience drain rather quickly after that.
"Sorry, I was a, bit distracted." She says in a tone I think is meant to be seductive.
"Uh, huh." I say dryly before repeating. "So uh, can I help you?"
"Actually, I was wondering if you could let me help you." She says with a smile as I see where this is going. "My name's Nebula."
"And just what do you think you can help me with?" I ask with a raised brow.
"Why, the dance of course." She says as she puts a finger to my chest. "Big strong guy like you, with beautiful eyes like that, you no doubt have-"
"Cyril." Weiss says as she sleepily stumbles over, smacking her face into my arm. "Rmm, what time is it?"
"Almost eight." I answer the half asleep girl before leaning down to kiss her on the forehead.
"Mno." She says with an unfocused glare.
"No?" I ask with a raised brow.
"No." She says before reaching up and wrapping her arms around my neck, pulling me down for a kiss, before pulling back with a smile. "Yes."
"Um." Nebula says, still here for some reason.
"No." I say and close the door.
.
.
Nebula Violette POV
.
"Damnit!" I curse as I snap my fingers in frustration.
At this rate I'll be leaving back for Vacuo high and dry!
Pulling out my scroll, I sigh as I group call my team.
"Sup bitch?" Dew answers first. "Get your guy?"
"No." I groan as I start walking back. "What about you?"
"Told ya you were aiming too high!" She chides. "Silver eyes? Only guy on the team? Unless they're all lesbians you're out of luck."
"Dew be nice." Gwen says. "As for me, I got a date with the long haired fella from Team Cardinal."
"Lucky!" Octavia whines. "The red headed guy from Haven turned out to be gay."
Oof! That's gotta hurt the self esteem.
"Called it!" Dew says.
"And what about you huh?" I ask the cocky bitch.
"You don't need to worry about-"
"She asked three guys in a row and they all said no." Octavia interjects.
"Pfft!" Gwen snorts. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
"Ha!" I openly laugh.
"Fuck all of you!" Dew curses, though she doesn't mean it.
"That's kinda the point here." Octavia says.
"Well, we still have some time." I say, hoping to get us away from, this. "I'm going to try that second year team, the one with only one girl. See if any of the guys need a date."
"Yeah, I'mma try the other second year team." Dew says before hanging up.
"I might just visit the red light district." Octavia says with a sigh.
"Don't do that!" Gwen says reassuringly. "You're worth more than whatever they'll charge you I promise!"
Gwen really is the heart of our team.
"Well, wish you all luck." I say with a sigh.
"Love ya Nebs." Octavia says.
"Meet you all for lunch?" Gwen asks.
"Yeah, we can regroup then." I say before hanging up.
.
.
-Beacon courtyard, 10am-
.
.
Cyril Leon POV
.
"And that's how I got kicked out of my room for the day." Sun explains easily.
"What on this green planet possessed you to believe a glitter bomb would be a good idea?" Adam asks as we head for the Bullheads.
Ruby overheard from Blake that Sun and a few other male students were having a guy's day in the city. And insisted I go and stop being a shut in who only interacts with others when needed.
Like she has any room to talk.
"Hey, it was a funny idea in my head." He defends with a shrug as he walks backwards and slightly in front of us. "Not my fault the execution was bad."
"It literally is." Ren says.
Sun just shrugs as he turns back around.
"Well it could've been worse at least." Jaune offers.
"How?" I ask.
"He could've planted it in the toilet." He says.
"Ah!" Sun says as he stops.
Turning around, we all see Sun hold his head in distress. Staring at the ground with wide eyes.
"Are, you alright?" Ren asks.
"Why didn't I think of that!?" Sun shouts in anguish.
"That's your concern?" I ask as I give him a flat look.
"Dude!" Sun says as he looks up at me. "My reputation as a prankster is on the line!"
I'm starting to think he's fucking with us. Like, Neptune is just too busy hitting on girls or, Sage is meditating. So he's the only one here.
"Uh, Cyril." Adam says, earning my attention.
He tilts his head and points to his neck. Getting the message, I bring a hand to the spot on my neck, but find nothing.
"Is it what I think it is?" I ask.
He nods as Jaune looks over to us.
"Do you think it's a hickey?" Jaune asks.
Normally I would be upset. But right now I'm just confused.
When did she even get that there? Because I sure as hell don't remember!
.
.
-Lunch-
.
.
Pyrrha Nikos POV
.
Setting my tray down with the other girls, Nora, Nebula, Blake, Coco and Trifa. I can't help but pick out our distinctions.
Blake is Menagerian, Billi clan. So she's Mistralian passing in her clothes. Trifa, is very clearly Mantilian, grey clothes with a simple and functional design. Coco is Valean, And Nora, is, Nora.
And Nebula is Vacuoan, she's here to meet us and wait for the rest of her team.
"And there's just no one left." Nebula says as she lays her head down.
"What's going on?" I ask.
"Purple girl here is heartbroken." Coco says. "Can't get no man in her life."
"Don't bully me." Nebula pouts. "It's not my fault all the guys are already taken."
"Um, didn't you just say you waited until the last minute hoping guys would come to you?" Nora says.
'That's rather conceited of them.' I think to myself. 'Assuming that's true!'
"Well, yeah but, aren't Valean guys supposed to be all over girls?" Nebula asks.
"What are you talking about?" Trifa asks as she stops eating her soup.
"Isn't it like, the culture or something?" Nebula asks. "Like, Valean guys are all chivalrous and fawn over women?"
"I think that's a stereotype." Nora says. "Like Mistralians hating Faunus or, Atlesian guys having the biggest-"
"Nora!" I cut the girl off before she can continue.
"Shoes." Nora says with a knowing grin as she looks at me. "What's the matter Pyr? You never heard about that?"
"N-nothing." I say as I turn to my food.
"Well according to Weiss it's true." Blake mutters, causing me to choke on my food.
I did not need to know that about Cyril!
Wait, I thought Ruby said Cyril was Valean and just looks Atlesian. But Weiss is Atlesian. Has she seen Atlesian men? Or is Blake actually referring to Cyril?
What does she mean?!
'Oh, there's Weiss and Ruby now.' I note. 'Oh crap there's Ruby.'
"Perhaps we should change the subject?" I suggest nervously. "After all it's rather rude to talk about others behind their backs."
"Hmm?" Blake and Nora look to me, before I nod my head. Gesturing them to look behind Nebula.
"So, who all did you ask out to the dance?" Nora asks.
Of course, it's Nora who speaks first. And spoke up with one of the most obviously loaded questions possible given the circumstance.
'You know this one is on you.' I quietly tell myself. 'You should have seen that one coming.'
"No." Nebula says. "I know it's dumb but I was banking on that Cyril guy being available."
And Ruby is just in place about ten feet behind Nebula. With Weiss stopping as well, eyes and ears perked straight up as she looks back and forth between Nebula and Ruby. Ruby, is hard to tell because she always wears her hood, making it hard to see her face unless you're up close.
"What did you see in him?" Nora asks with a grin before I put a hand to her mouth.
"Hot, tall, jacked, strong, silver eyes, seemed chill." Nebula lists off as Weiss tries to say something to Ruby who starts walking again. "I thought maybe he'd be down for a dance, and if I played my cards right I could get a one night stand out of him."
"That sounds fun." Ruby says as she sits down next to Nebula.
"Who are you?" Nebula asks as she sits up.
"Her teammate." Ruby says, pointing to Blake. "But enough of that! Give us the details! Hot guys, nights of passion, come on, we're all friends here."
Nebula is very clearly unsettled at this point. And, so am I for that matter. Most of us know how, territorial Ruby can get.
Hazel, a third year, was making eyes at Cyril one morning. And Ruby took it personally, Hazel no longer eats in the cafeteria.
"Um, I was, just hoping to get a date for the dance." Nebula says.
"Oh? And I bet you were hoping to get something more afterwards." Ruby says knowingly as she elbow nudges the girl's shoulder, her hood covering her eyes from view.
"I'm uh, I'm not comfortable talking about, this." Nebulas says as she starts slowly scooting over.
"But you were comfortable hitting on another girl's man." Ruby says as she stares Nebula dead in the eye, revealing her silver eyes to her, much to Nebula's surprise.
And they're shimmering.
"Ruby she didn't know." Blake says, trying to mitigate.
"I know." Ruby says with a nod, still staring down the purple haired girl. "Otherwise I hope she'd be smart enough to not hit on a taken man."
"I'm, sorry?" Nebula says.
"Not yet." Ruby says.
"Ruby, you're going too far." Weiss says as she sits beside her girlfriend. "She gets it, she shouldn't have asked Cyril out on a date."
Ruby stares Nebula down for a bit longer before pulling back and turning to her food. Occasionally casting the side eye at Nebula who scoots further down.
"Aww." Nora pouts, resting her head on her fist. "Was hoping for lunch and a show."
How does Ren do this?
.
.
-Vale City, 1pm-
.
.
Roman Torchwick POV
.
"How hard can it be to abscond with a single child?" The damned witch asks through the phone. "You've done it before, have you not?"
"Hey, kidnapping and adoption are two different things." I say as I pace to the window and watch the rugrats from Beacon and all over who knows where.
"Funny, I don't believe any papers were signed." She says.
"Look, I get the kid's got something neat on him." I say as I watch the monkey puke onto the sidewalk. "But he's never alone, never vulnerable. How do you expect me to take something and get out when it has eyes on it all the time?"
"Is THE master thief saying he can't steal something from a single, sixteen year old boy?" The witch taunts. "Getting old and losing your touch, is that it?"
"You're mistaking Master Thief with Cradle Robber." I point out.
"Call me that again Roman." She threatens. "And we'll see how long your torch burns."
"You're the one wanting something from a boy, something that you won't even tell me what it is, or you don't know what it is. Not to mention the boy is a Hunter in Training." I point out.
"You'll know it if you see it." She says plainly.
I know a rigged game when I see it. And I can see the dealer of this hand has the whole damn deck shoved up his sleeve.
"What guarantee do you have, that this isn't some sort of wild goose chase?" I ask seriously as I move from the window and head out of the apartment.
"None." She says simply. "Treat this as a, test of loyalty if you must Roman. A trust exercise. I'm trusting you to do this, now trust that I won't waste a valuable asset if I didn't believe it to be worth it."
She hangs up the phone as soon as I step out of the room and into the hall where Neo is waiting.
Neo looks up to me plainly, an innocent face on one who couldn't be further from it. She tilts her head in question.
"No dice." I say as I pull out a cigar, much to her annoyance. "Boss lady wants something from the kid, don't know what it is and she won't tell us."
Neo rolls her eyes before tucking her chin in and putting a finger to her bottom lip. Batting her eyes as she pivots in place.
"Don't make me laugh." I say as I start walking, pulling the lighter out of my pocket as I do. "I doubt she'd send me out to fetch her a bedwarmer."
Neo appears in front of me with a raised brow as she crosses her arms.
"Well I'd sure hope not." I stress before lighting the cigar. "Besides, it's just one kid. Training or no, I can handle a single brat. It's the whole kit and caboodle I'm worried about."
Only my lighter isn't working. Not even making the thwick sound.
"Neo, did you remove the flint from my, Neo?" I ask as I look up to find her gone. "Damned kids."
Looks like I can leave this to her.
.
.
Cyril Leon POV
.
"Do you just live to be a universal punching bag?" I ask the guy who just swallowed a whole bag of sour candy on a dare.
"No." He groans. "I'm usually the one, doing the punching."
"Come on." Adam says as he pats the blonde's back. "I think we've had enough fun for the day."
"First!" Sun says as he straightens up, and then points to Jaune. "Fifty Lien."
"Yeah yeah." Jaune says as he grabs his wallet out of his pocket-
Only to have a kid immediately snatch it and run off. Bolting around the corner of the convenience store.
"What the, hey my wallet!" Jaune shouts as he chases after the kid.
"My fifty!" Sun shouts as he chases Jaune.
"I'll go ahead and call the authorities." Ren says as he pulls out his scroll.
Only to have a rock hit his scroll out of his hands and into the bricks. Smashing it to pieces, causing all of our eyes to go wide as we look across the street.
Finding nothing but an ordinary street. People, cars, sidewalk, nothing out of the ordinary except a few looking out our way to see what we're doing.
Something's not right. And I'm willing to bet the rest of my money that if I or Adam pull out our scrolls, something'll happen to them.
"Cyril, Ren." Adam says as he puts a hand to his weapons. "Stick close, we're going around the building to find Jaune and Sun."
"You're the boss." I say as I follow him.
.
.
Neopolitan POV
.
They're playing it smart. It's annoying when they do that, makes more work for me.
Walking along the fire escapes, twirling my parasol as I watch the trio look for the duo. Not that they'll find them, they're already separated and in the back of the convenience store.
It's not even hard to hide. People just, never look up when they think they're being followed or watched.
Which is so dumb! Like, hello! Bird's eye view?
They're saying something and talking about this and that while I figure out how to get blue boy away from pinky and the red bull.
Maybe another distraction? I could always cause a car wreck. Force them to run out of the goodness of their hearts and leave him for me to snatch! Or I could pretend to be a lost child, act all cutesy and scared of the world. Or a beggar. I could break a window. Hmm, so many options I'm spoiled for choice!
Just like the ice cream shop.
I know just the thing!
Jumping off the escape, I land on a ladder, causing it to snap down with the force as I jump off of it and to the adjacent building.
The group scrambles as the metal ladder snaps, landing on the pink eyed Mistralian. Knocking him over and causing blue boy to help him. Where I take my chance and jump down on the bull, kicking him in the face just as he looks up and spots me.
The look on his face? Priceless!
I kick off his face and kick off the wall of the alley to duck behind a dumpster as I hear the bull crack his head on the wall. Likely out cold as the other two are left on their own.
If I could laugh, I would!
My eyes go wide as I feel a blade against my neck. And, looking up, I see the stern, sunglasses wearing face of the blue boy.
"I've seen that trick in movies too often." He says. "The one where you hide just out of sight? Yeah, not original."
Ex-fucking-cuse you! I am all original!
"So, wanna talk?" He asks with a raised brow.
I give him a sweet smile as I tap my throat. Letting him know he's out of luck.
"Mute?" He asks, and I shrug. "Good. No one will hear your screams as I force you to write what you're doing here in your own blood."
…
I like him! How old is he?
"Ren!" He calls back, not taking his eyes off me. "You got Adam?"
"Yeah, did you find them?" I hear the Mistralian ask.
"One of them." He says, and I shift my appearance to a more, sympathetic one as I hear footsteps approach.
"What the?" Ren says as he walks by with the bull on his shoulder, and sees a small child being held up with an axe to the throat.
"Drop the act." Blue says as he presses the axe harder. "You think I won't hit a kid? I mean, I'll feel like shit, but I'll manage it."
Oh, I really like him!
"I, can tell when something's not real." The Mistralian Twink says, and I'm forced to drop my semblance as I cross my arms in frustration.
This was a total bust! Roman should've warned me they weren't dumb! Dumb old man, forgetting to mention the important things.
And I know just what he'll say when I get back to him. I never told you to go after him. Yeah well he didn't tell me not to!
He should know better.
"Hey!" Blue says as he removes his sunglasses. Revealing, urgh, Silver Eyes.
Self righteous jack wads. And here I was, thinking he was cute. Can never find a good man these days.
"Why are you pouting more?" Blue asks, looking like he's staring at a roach. "Are, are you upset? That you got caught?"
He thinks I'm caught!? Ha!
I decide he needs a reality check. So, looking to him, I give a wink before bringing my foot up to his face. He should be grateful, after all, I hear guys love a flexible girl.
Though, I only find myself flailing as he grabs my ankle and lifts me up. Before slamming me into the concrete like he's giving me a swirly. He then puts his boot to my neck, putting his weight into it, letting me know he's not afraid to snap my neck!
I take it all back. I think I'm in love!
.
.
Cyril Leon POV
.
"Want to try again?" I ask the psychopath.
Glass like illusions, two tone hair, shifting eye colors. Pink, brown and white.
It's Neo. There is literally no way it couldn't be Neo. How the fuck did I run into the Ice Cream Murder Hobo!?
'And why is she smiling at me!?' My mind panics.
She only offers a wink, followed by blowing me a kiss before she fucking shatters under my foot. Revealing herself to be nothing more than an illusion as I stumble.
"What the hell?" I ask as I turn to Ren, who is just as wide eyed and surprised as me. "You saw that too right?"
"I, did, wait, what?" He says slowly as he looks around in confusion.
I look back to the spot that just had a girl. And still see nothing.
"Let's just go back." I say tiredly as I turn around. "And hope to all the gods that whatever this has been, was just a, weird one time thing."
"What, do you mean by that?" Ren asks curiously. "We still haven't even found Jaune or Sun. And we still need to call the police." He says, ever the voice of reason.
'Oh, right.' I think to myself.
I, genuinely forgot about them for a moment.
.
.
-Beacon, 5pm-
.
.
My wallet was stolen! Because of course it was. My wallet, my I.D., my Beacon Student I.D., and two hundred Lien.
Luckily Ruby managed to help me make electronic backups of my I.D.'s in case I ever lost them. So I thankfully wasn't stuck in Vale after making the police report. Along with Jaune, who's wallet was also stolen.
"I can't even imagine." Weiss says irritably as she walks beside me down the hall. "The absolute gall and audacity of some people to steal. And from a hunter no less!"
Weiss got all up in arms when we got back and heard what happened. As for Ruby, she's busy talking to her dad, and will apparently meet us back at the dorm, same as Blake. Who is having trouble with her dress delivery.
"It's done and over with." I say, still hoping that my encounter with Neo was just a one off of her being bored or looking for an easy target. And not the start of a repeated occurrence. "Let's just hope the police handle it."
I know how quick these girls are to jump into vigilantism. But Neo and Roman are not the two to target. One is apparently a disgraced A rank Hunter, and the other was willing to follow Ruby across two continents and to a fairy tail just to break Ruby into almost killing herself.
I want, no part of that. If this Neo is even a percent the crazy that canon Neo was, then no. Basic self preservation for me!
"Cyril you were mugged!" Weiss decides to disagree. "By someone who can not only target Hunters, but also get away with it."
"Then the guild will handle it." I tell her as we reach the door of our dorm. "Besides, what are we…. What's that smell?"
I open the door to our dorm to reveal, a pyramid of cheese wheels in the middle of the room. It's not a very tall pyramid. But, still.
A, pyramid, of cheese wheels.
"Cyril is this yours?" Blake asks as she turns around.
"This, wasn't you?" I ask.
"I thought this was you doing some religious shit for your god of insanity." Blake says. "That's the only reason I haven't gotten rid of it."
Oh, oh fuck.
The brother gods are real. Who's to say other gods aren't real!? Like, gods who know when you're thinking about them? Like, other gods of fiction!?
Why am I only now thinking of this!?
What have I done!?
.
.
Ruby Rose POV
.
"So yeah, maybe just, not?" I say.
Turns out convincing your dad not to announce your birthday is a lot harder than I thought.
It's not like I can just tell him I'm planning my first time!
"I still don't get it." He says in that dad, sad but I understand, voice. "But, if you really don't want me to say or do anything. I won't."
"Thank you!" I say as I give him a hug, one he returns with even more strength. "Aaah! Dad! You're crushing me!"
"It builds character." He says with a chuckle as he sets out to crush my ribs!
I need those! They're mine!
"Oh!" He says, releasing me as a scroll goes off. "Not mine." He says after checking his.
Checking mine, I see Weiss is calling me.
"Weissy!" I say into the scroll. "Sup my morning beauty?"
"Okay, one. Never say sup, and beauty, in the same sentence ever again. I nearly threw up." She says coldly. "Two, Cyril is having a panic attack."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bonus
.
.
Roman Torchwick POV
.
Looking up from the planning board I have on the table. I regard the psychotic girl I'm partially responsible for.
"So, have fun?" I ask the girl as she skips into the hideout.
I knew she'd be back. She's too slippery to be caught, and too tricky to be beaten.
She nods her head with a smile as she hops up and sits on my damn map!
"Did you get anything useful?" I ask as I stand up and ash my cigar.
She gives me a shrug before holding her hand up to give a so-so motion. Before pulling out two wallets and tossing them to me.
Catching the brown and white wallets. I open them up to see what she managed to grab.
From the white wallet. An arcade card, a Shanty Shack Sake coupon that is now mine, a debit card that is no doubt turned off already. And an I.D. card for one Jaune Arc.
"Well this is useful to know." I remark.
The tabloids never mentioned anything about an Arc in town. And neither did Junior. Which means someone's here through, less than legal means. Or Junior was paid to keep the info secret.
The other wallet. Same arcade card, I.D., Beacon I.D. as well.
"Cyril huh?" I say as I put out my cigar. "And of course he has silver eyes. Just my luck."
Judging by his looks, he's tied to the Liliaceae clan of Atlas. Those bastards are almost as persistent as the Rosaceae clan.
Looking over, I see Neo thumbing a wad of Lien as she kicks her feet.
"What's got you in a good mood?" I ask.
Neo merely tilts her head with a finger to her chin in thought. Before shrugging and shaking her head.
"Eh fine." I say as I go to my map. "Don't tell me."
.
.
A/N
.
Neo may have thought the words, "I'm in love!"
But what she meant was "I just found something interesting!"
.
Also, Weiss was trying to do what Ruby did, and get to second base with Cyril. She just went about it the wrong way.
.
Seriously though, if you like my work and all that, check me out on the Discord where I post regular teasers and discuss my works!
.
Keeping this here for me.
Fus, force
Ro, balance
.
Wuld, whirlwind
Nah, fury
.
Yol, ingnite
.
Strun, storm
.
Fo, frost
.
Gaan, stamina
.
Ven, air
.
Su, wind
.
Rii, essence
.
Faas, fear
.
Comments fuel me!
Fuel me my NOOBS!
.
Find me in my channel, newb's-grotto, on the discord.
Link to the discord: discord .gg/DarkWolfShiro