"So how are we going to find this Neo?" Were the first words to come from Merlin's mouth.
We sat here in a dingy safe house, the wall's were shabby, the floor was decrepit, and in against the wall was a tattered couch with a white board for planning opposite it.
The roof was caving in.
"Well you see, I know Neo. When she's sad, she does one of two things. Either binge eats, or drinks. But vacuo is too hot for ice cream to be made or kept here. That means she's drinking. Neo will drink any alcohol, but she does have a favourite." Merlin had put it together, just as hans had. Both of them had the same thought.
'We spread rumours that her favourite alcohol is at a certain bar! Then we just wait and see.' As different as the two were in personality, they were both competent individuals.
"What you're both thinking is correct. I've already spread the rumors that the largest bar in vacuo, 'drinks for the parched' has gotten some sturdy Vale wine. This is impossible, but, Neo is a very curious person. We should get going in about an hour, that's when Neo will be active, usually around the hours of 6pm to 3am is when she's active."
"So, we just relax for an hour?"
"Pretty much. I've been running myself ragged, so I'll just take a nap." With that, he left the room.
"So hans, whaddya wanna do?" The bored magus knelt on the couch, her arms resting on hans shoulders as she looked down.
'I, would like to read something.' A devious grin spread across the succubus' face.
"I have just the thing!" Merlin said as she reached into her robes.
"Here!"
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"Hows the entrance, have you seen her yet?" Romans voice came through the walkie talkie, Merlin was holding the receiving one.
"We haven't seen her yet."
"What about Hans?"
'I have not seen her yet.'
"He hasn't seen her either." The device went silent and Merlin just assumed he was sighing.
"Wait... you said, pink and brown hair, right?" Merlin had noticed a small figure, matching the description of Roman's daughter.
"Yes. That's her." Merlin used her magecraft, hiding herself from anyone who could see her in a flurry of petals.
"I've found her. She's heading in now. Get ready Roman."
'Hans, we've found her at the entrance.' Before I could even realise, he was already behind me. He too saw her, the disheveled woman clearly hadn't slept in days.
His face was impassive as usual, but I swear I saw his lip twitch downwards.
She walked into the bar, its name had been shortened to DFTP and that was the sign. There were windows allowing for us to see the rowdy drunks along with Roman inside.
The two of us followed her in, I removed the disguise I had placed on Hans, no need when we're about to just meet someone close to Roman.
Neo sat at the bar, receiving many stares from everyone in the bar. One daring man even walked up behind her, slapping Neo's ass. Before I could even process a response, hans had left the range of my illusion and grabbed the mans arm.
Ice spread across his arm, freezing it solid before Hans shattered it like glass. The man screamed in pain, utter terror in his eyes as he looked at the captain, the civilian scuttled back like a scared crab.
Hans felt a weight pressed against his chest. It was Neo's head, she was tip toeing just to reach that height.
Hans placed his hand on her head, running his fingers through her hair. It was messy, he felt his fingers get caught in several knots.
He'd brush her hair after this. Just like he did...
The door opened again, and a young teenager walked in. Grey hair, grey vest and black pants. He cockily strolled in, as if he owned the entire city.
"So the guy who killed cinder is alive? I gotta thank ya buddy. That woman was insufferably hard to work around. Though, as much as I loved her dying, I still gotta kill you. The big witch is a scary woman after all!" Roman remembered that voice.
Mercury Black. The boy who followed cinder.
He stared at Hans, it wasn't all too different to a look of camaraderie.
Hans was puzzled. He did not know this boy, so why did he look at him with respect. The boy was only a teenager... and yet his eyes spoke of vast combat experience.
"Well, out of respect for you, I'll ask you to fight me outside. I thank you for killing the uppity bitch." Mercury walked outside and Hans knew, he needed to die.
As he attempted to follow, Neo pulled his coat. Hans could tell what she was thinking.
'Please, don't leave me again...'
He wanted to say so much, but he couldn't.
"I won't leave you again. It's been a while since I've felt important to someone. It's been a while since I've been happy. That's what he's thinking." Hans looked to Merlin who had just read out his thoughts.
Merlin sighed at him, Neo stared up at him with hopeful eyes. As frustrated Hans was at having Merlin reveal his thoughts, he understood her intent. So he nodded his head.
With that, Neo let go.
In a relationship, one of the most vital things, is trust. If Hans says he isn't going to leave her again, Neo would trust him.
And so she watched, as he walked to confront Mercury.
Roman, Merlin and Neo all followed him out. The people in the bar were baffled, they felt as if they watched some cliché romance show.
Though, a few of them intended to watch the fight.
Hans stood opposite Mercury, sleeve limp. He made several blades in his remaining hand, ice daggers. Before anyone could understand his mind, they were lobbed in the air and there was a single thought in the minds of everyone present.
What in oum's name was he doing?!
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"You ready, Ruby?" His daughter didn't respond. Qrow hesitantly rushed, fists at the ready.
As he went to punch Ruby in the sternum, his fist went through and a flurry of petals blinded him. What... what just happened?
Qrow quickly found himself in a sleeper hold, completely baffled by what had happened. It didn't take much to understand.
At its core, Ruby's semblance transforms her body into petals. Typically, she uses it to travel at high speed. But right now, with everything that's going on...
Her mother's coma
Her sisters alcoholism
Her father's death
Hans' death
Ruby, just wanted to take it slow.
And so, instead of speeding towards Qrow, she waited for him to attack, and turned a section of her body to petals. Then, she maneuvered behind Qrow and threw him into a sleeper hold.
Ozpin watched with Nora and Ren.
"Woah! Ruby took out a huntsman! Her uncle! A member of the legendary STRQ! Did you see that Renny?!" Ren turned the page of his book.
"I did, Nora." Ozpin chuckled at the dramatic dynamic of the destined duo. He wondered when they would confess, often he didn't take interest in his students Romance, but considering everyone at beacon knew the two liked each other, it's hard to ignore.
Qrow had passed out from Ruby's hold. In hindsight, she should've let go pretty quickly, but Qrow fights dirty. It wouldn't be unusual for him to keep fighting after losing.
The girl carried her father back inside of her house, a frown adorning her face.
Why was this world so cruel? I guess it's just the reality I ignored.
The more i think, the more questions I'm left with. Like why do grimm exist? How do they exist? What created them?
And... what are the maiden's? Too many questions, not enough answers.
So I'll get them. I approached the former headmaster of Beacon, and said...
"Tell me, everything."
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Hans had thrown the many daggers into the air, his body saturated with aura.
Strangely enough, he clenched his hand into a fist. This puzzled not only his opponent, but the onlookers fast enough to see his movements.
Hans reared his fist back, knees bent.
Only Merlin realised what was about to happen. And that was only because of her clairvoyance.
As the daggers fell, Hans punched their handles launching the blades right at Mercury.
Of the six daggers, three hit.
'50%. Good for a first attempt.' One blade was lodged into his left shoulder, one into his right thigh, and one squarely in his stomach.
One thing didn't add up with Merlin. The heroic spirit who she had seen do that, was sigurd. But sigurd used runes to do that. Specifically to correct the blades trajectory and ensure he doesn't punch the blades.
How did Hans do it? Was the question she was pondering.
A simple answer. As Hans has grown his semblance's ability, his control over the ice grew. The captain used this ability to correct the blades direction and ensure they faced his opponent.
'Repeated use would damage my hand, but it's nothing my regeneration can't handle.' Mercury's breath was laboured, having blades launched into him at high speed wasn't very fun.
"This monster... in all my years of assassination... never, never have I encountered such a powerful enemy. Other than the witch. You won't beat her." The boy pulled out each dagger, strangely enough, his wounds healed much faster than normal aura would allow.
'A semblance maybe?' Mercury leapt forth, a high kick aimed at his opponents chin.
'Slow.' Leaning back slightly, the kick swept through the air. Quickly launching another kick to his abs, that one connected. Hans barely felt it.
The bullet however, that was a surprise. It pierced his skin ever so slightly. The young assassin quickly realised his folly, kicking back off him. Sweat dripped down his face, he felt like he was about to die.
'So many questions.' A boy as young as that, had years of combat experience. 5? Maybe even 10? Yet the boy was 16, maybe 17.
"This is too much for me. I know when to quit. I can't kill you. Not without preparation." Cinder's former lackey pulled out several balls.
Mercury tossed them straight onto the floor and clouds of smoke puffed out. Hans sight, smell and feel of the air currents had been obscured.
Smoke specially designed for those with enhanced senses.
When it cleared, Mercury was gone.
"Hmm. He might be trouble. Oh well~!" Roman was puzzled, he didn't remember the boy acting like that. Had something happened?
Neo didn't care, the ice cream woman was just happy that he was back. She wouldn't leave him. And he wouldn't leave her. They would be together. Neo leapt straight onto her man's shoulders.
Hans felt... reminiscent. It's been a while since he did something like this.
"Those two look good together, don't they?" Merlin giggled at the Duo.
"They do. Honestly, I feel a bit jealous that I never had such a relationship." It's not like she could have one. As a half succubus, her emotions only existed because she feasted on the dreams of humans.
Of course, only the bad ones. The nightmares.
Nobody would want a lover who's emotions and love could disappear at the drop of a hat.
Not only that, but copulation with a succubus drains life force, and one as powerful as Merlin would drain absurd amounts of life force.
Though... Hans, he was a strange and traumatised man. But a powerful one nonetheless.
Maybe... just maybe. No... it'll never work.
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"Weiss schnee, specialist in training, here to receive my orders." Now, weiss stood with one hand saluting and the other behing her back. A white cap on her head while wearing a long white coat.
"Weiss schnee, you are to search for Ozpin. My info says that he's been spotted at patch. At Ruby Rose's House."
"Yes sir!"
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I really want people to join the discord. This may sound lonely, and its because I'm fucking bored.
Come on, join the discord. Chat a bit.