…
Topaz: "You'll have to try a lot harder if you want to kill me then."
Standing up and facing the Hunter once more, Topaz calmly looks into the Hunter's eyes, and gives him a grin.
Topaz: "Sleep tight."
Hunter: "Sleep ti-"
*THWACK*
Topaz watches in mild amusement as the Hunter falls to the ground, unconscious. Looking at his mother standing behind him holding a cast iron frying pan, Topaz cringes, not wanting to imagine the headache the Hunter will have when he wakes up.
Sara: "Are you ok Topaz?"
Topaz: "I'm fine, it's only a small cut."
Sara: "But it's a small cut on you. Not something that has ever happened before."
Topaz: "True, we are going to have to take apart that gun to find out just what makes it work. I'm guessing that Jacques has more of them waiting for me."
Sara: "Jacques?"
Topaz: "The ex-Schnee."
Sara: "Why on Remnant would he need such a weapon for you?"
Topaz: "He and I have a long history. I'm also the one who got him arrested in Atlas, and have been a pain in his ass for as long as I could be."
Sara: "Of course you're in the middle of something else now."
Topaz: "Doesn't matter, let's go back before everyone else starts to worry."
Walking back to where the rest of the group are waiting with their guards raised, Topaz gives them all a comforting smile before walking into the house to clean the cut on his arm. After cleaning the wound, he wraps a thin layer of gauze around it and returns to the backyard.
Ariel: "Is everything ok Topaz?"
Topaz: "I think so?"
Neo: "Isn't that the Hunter? What is he doing way out here?"
Topaz: "Apparently, he and Jacques got acquainted and his minimal sanity was lost. He has been more than likely following me or at least tracking me since his escape from prison. How he knew I was actually alive even with everyone else thinking I wasn't, is beyond me."
Willow: "That bastard is involved with this?!"
Topaz: "It's fine Willow. He has no money, and the only power he has is the so called friends he made."
Willow: "I just wish there was more I could do to help. I feel that most of these issues are my fault for even falling for the bastard at one point."
Topaz: "Willow, there is no need to blame yourself. No one here blames you, all of the issues are Jacques, and his alone."
Willow: "Thank you Topaz."
Neo: "So what are you going to do Topaz?"
Topaz: "For now, nothing. I'm going to stay here and train while relaxing."
Neo: "How are you going to train?"
Topaz: "Look around Neo. There are some of the best Huntsman and Huntresses to graduate from Beacon around us. Sparring with them is bound to help in one way or another."
Sara: "Sound' like fun. I can see if you've kept up with your training."
Neo: "I'm in."
Ariel: "Same here."
Sara: "I'm very glad to have my daughters-in-law join the training."
Topaz: "Fair warning, she's brutal."
Sara: "I am not. For that I'm tripling your training."
Topaz: *sigh* "My point exactly."
Sara: "Do I hear five times?"
Topaz: "No ma'am. I'm sorry."
Sara: "That's what I thought."
Qrow: "It's kinda strange to see you acting like that Topaz."
Topaz: "Eh? Oh, hey Qrow. Done talking with Professor Goodwitch?"
Qrow: "Yeah, didn't have too much to talk to her about, so here I am. What's with the guy on the ground?"
Topaz: "Oh, you know. Just cleaning up another on of Ironwood's messes."
Qrow: "One of Jimmy's? Which one this time?"
Topaz: "Thought you would have recognized the Hunter."
Qrow: "What is he doing here?!"
Topaz: "He has completely lost his mind, and only had me in his sights."
Qrow: "Do I want to know why the back of his head is that swollen?"
Sara: "Nobody hurts my baby."
Qrow: "Oookay then. Wait, hurt? You alright Topaz?"
Topaz: "I'm fine Qrow, just a flesh wound."
Qrow: "You, of all people, got a flesh wound."
Topaz: "Yes, as surprising as it is. The Hunter got a weapon from Jacques that was capable of harming me."
Qrow: "Never liked that bastard. Where is the weapon?"
Topaz: "I've got it right here. I was planning on taking it apart to see just how it works at some point."
Qrow: "Let me see it quick."
Topaz hands over the gun, and watches Qrow peer at it with narrowed eyes. After a few minutes Qrow sighs and hands the gun back to Topaz.
Qrow: "I know this gun."
Topaz: "You do?"
Qrow: "Yeah, there was a scientist in Vacuo who specialized in using magnetism for different tasks. James gave me a mission to go there and safely escort her to Atlas so they could pick her brain. It wasn't even a day after I dropped her off and left to return to Vale that I heard she disappeared. Now we know why."
Topaz: "You're saying Jacques took her for himself? Why didn't anyone search for her?"
Qrow: "Most of the Atlas officials didn't want her there in the first place Topaz."
Topaz: "She was a faunus, wasn't she?"
Qrow: "Yeah, she was."
Topaz: "Just another reason to hate that man."
Qrow: "The list goes on and on. I will say that I'm surprised to see her work in a weapon though. When I was with her, she was a firm pacifist."
Topaz: "Sadly I'm sure Jacques has done some terrible things to her for them."
Qrow: *sigh* "I know. I'll go to Atlas and speak with James to see if we can find and help her."
Topaz: "Sounds good, be careful Qrow."
Qrow: "Yeah, yeah. Have fun with the training kid."
Topaz: "Will do old man."
Qrow: "Little brat."
Qrow says his goodbyes and begins making his way towards Atlas, a long trip ahead of him. Topaz sighs in relief when Qrow started dragging the Hunter along with him, one less thing for him to worry about.
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Two weeks have passed since Qrow left for Atlas. Team RWBY have returned to assist the people of Mantle however they can, and Winter and Willow have also returned to Atlas to try and improve the Schnee name however possible. Topaz is currently walking through the forest to relax after a strenuous morning of training. Keeping a casual pace, he eventually comes across a clearing with a small lake. Sitting down against a tree, Topaz takes in the peaceful scene, while taking note of a familiar scent in the air. The scent grows stronger and stronger until Topaz can hear the leaves of a nearby bush rustle as they are brushed against.
Topaz: "Been a while, hope things have been well for you Sienna."
Sienna: "Topaz? What are you doing here?"
Topaz: "You know, our meetings always seem to start with you saying that. I grew up in Patch, and am now relaxing after training."
Sienna: "It's good to see that the rumors of your death were greatly exaggerated."
Topaz: "Sort of. Faking your death to get away from somewhere isn't exactly exaggerated. To most people in Atlas I am dead."
Sienna: "I see."
Topaz: "So what brings you here Sienna?"
Sienna: "I've heard that Patch is a rather peaceful place to live. That cottage you and I last encountered in was nice and all, but it wasn't a home."
Topaz: "I can understand that, come on, I'll take you to my parents. They'll be able to help you out."
Sienna: "Thank you."
Leading Sienna through the forest, Topaz makes small talk with her to pass the time. A little while later, they leave the forest and walk towards Topaz's house. In the backyard, Sara is watching Neo and Ariel spar and giving them advice on how to improve. When she sees Topaz walking out of the forest with someone in tow, she has the two girls stop and makes her way over.
Sara: "You're back early Topaz, who is this?"
…