~Third Person~
A set of weakened coughs rang out in a dark and dank cellar as a single light bulb hung from the ceiling. Soon, a heavy punch rang out with a deep grunt and tired groan. At the center of the room? Stood Baker, gently patting down her knuckles to clean them of blood. The source? A police officer bound to a chair, heavily bloodied at the face with a swollen eyes and puffed up cheek from being hit repeatedly.
And not to far away? Haytham watching with his arms crossed. Baker would seen pop her knuckles before turning and reeling her hand back as if to throw another punch. Instead, Haytham spoke out just as she was about to. Leading to her stopping.
"Absolutely nothing? I fail to believe that when an entire train lost half its cars and eight passengers are missing."
"I-I..."
The police officer had a hard time speaking, much to Haytham's annoyance as he sighed out heavily.
"Take your time..."
"I...heard...they detached th-the train cars t-to save the others..."
Hearing this? Haytham stood at attention as he approached the officer with his data-knife being drawn. This made the officer begin to huff out as he began to hyperventilate.
"So...they're missing?"
"Y-Yes-? No-?! I d-don't know! P-Please, that's all I know! Th-They only interviewed a group of three ex-Beacon students! Please!!"
The Officer's panicking amused Baker as she let out a giggle as she was glad to be back in action. Looking to Haytham? He remained unmoving as his grip tightened on the knife's hilt yet...it soon loosened as he then sheathed the blade into its sheath upon his chest. Turning and beginning to leave the cellar.
"Free him-"
"What!? You can't be serious! He's going to rattle us off to the others! If our cover is blown-!"
"Do you want to deal with a dead cop? Because I sure as hell won't. So, free him."
Baker was in complete shock...She knew Haytham had softened up- but this? This was more worse than she could've ever imagined. But even like that, she would free the cop, cutting away at his binds.
"Th-Thank you! I w-won't say a single word-!"
Suddenly, a suppressed pop from a pistol hit the man behind his head. Sending him forward as Baker held a smoking suppressed RE-45 that she lowered with a scowl.
"You sure as hell won't..."
...
The snow became worse. FAR worse. Now the group could barely see ten feet ahead of themselves as the ranch had become engulfed by a snow storm. It was...eerie to say the least. An eeriness that Ruby commented on.
"I don't get it...The empty towns I passed through were all abandoned o-or unfinished...but this place is just fine...!"
Weiss hugged herself as her hair and scarf blew in the wind as the group now stood on the porch of the home.
"M-Maybe everyone left in a h-hurry, before things took a turn...?"
"Maybe...but there would still be something...It's like if it just...wasn't touched..."
The Pilot looked ahead with Weiss as he squinted his eyes with his Kraber at the ready. Something that made Weiss take a step back so she wouldn't be in the way. Qrow just about had enough of the snow as he grasped the door knob and gave it a rattle. It was locked.
"Hmm...Stay on guard..."
"Right behind you."
With that? The Pilot drew his Wingman instead as the others drew their respective weapons as well. Soon after, the door to the home was kicked in by Qrow with (Y/N) right behind him checking another angle before Ruby, Blake, Yang and Oscar slipped in expecting a fight.
But nothing came. Minus the creaking of old wood. Yet nobody lowered their guard until-
"Close the door already!! It's cold enough in here as it is..."
Maria grumpily exclaimed as she entered the home. Causing the others to lower their guards slightly and exchange looks. For someone so...well, old and helpless? She didn't seem to much mind the potential danger.
Blake and Oscar would soon push a drawer in front of the door to keep it shut as Weiss placed her hand on the door too. Taking a step back? Blake spoke out.
"I saw a chimney from the outside. Maybe we could get a fire going?"
"Please. I'll look for some blankets."
"Yang, go with her."
Soon they began into the home after Qrow made his request. The Pilot took a deep breath as he took would head deeper into the home. Though keeping his Wingman held up as he used his helmet's flashlight to illuminate the way forward.
"Alright. I'll clear this floor."
Meanwhile, Ruby remained in the entrance hall as she looked around. The creaking wood intensified by this point thanks to being walked upon for the first time in...Gods' know how long. Oscar could be heard in the other room nearby along his (Y/N).
"Looks like...a study...Or a library...?"
"Depends on furniture. Hey, think we can find some hidden room with a pull of a book spine?"
The two could be heard chuckling softly as Ruby approached a wall with numerous framed photos. Possibly belonging to the family that resided here. Rather large family too, perhaps three generations worth. It had caught Ruby's eye too as she examined them.
"What do you think...?"
Blake appeared beside Ruby as they looked to one another. Both just as confused as the other. But Ruby soon gained an uneasy expression.
"Something doesn't feel right."
"Let's look for some-"
~First Person~
"Mm. Look. Found someone's stash. 'Lusty Reptilian Maid....' Why are the pages stuck...?"
"Eugh, gross!"
I shared another chuckle with Oscar. Yet it was a tad weak. Probably just tired is all. Another thing I noticed about being here is that I actually tire out a bit faster, been getting too comfortable. Maybe all this stress would do some good-
Without warning? I heard a high-pitched scream that I instantly recognized as Weiss-
"WEISS!!"
Ruby's yell only confirmed it. Springing up, I dashed out the Study/Library and hopped onto the wall of the staircase with my jump-kit. Pushing off with a twirl, I was now on the second floor of the house to see the door to one of the bedrooms wide open.
Dashing in, I held up mg Wingman at the ready with a scowl before easy up as I saw what happened. Well...sorta. Ruby, Blake and Qrow soon arrived too as they saw what Weiss had stumbled upon as she hyperventilated on the floor with Yang. Their faces all collectively shrunk too.
In the bed? Were two disheveled and almost mummified corpses as the entire room had this nasty hue over it. Decomposition is a helluvah thing...
Shifting into boyfriend mode, I could care less if Weiss was still mad at me for back at the train site as I slid over to her. Instantly she reached up to grab onto my Mistrali flight-suit as she tried to get up haphazardly. Wrapping my arms around her waist to prop her up.
"Hey, hey, hey! Hey...Come on. Let's get you out of here."
Now on our feet? I looked to Yang to see her still looking out. With a whistle, she snapped out of it and looked to me.
"Oi, you broken?"
"N-No-"
"Good. Then get up. Come on."
Yang would stand up with the help of Ruby and Qrow as we quickly made our way out the room. Blake closing the door behind us. What the fuck happened here...?
...
"Any idea?"
"No...Disease? I doubt. There would be...a smell. Attacked? No wounds. At all. Grimm...? They're all intact."
I spoke with Qrow outside on the front porch as I peered into the living room to see Weiss huddled by the fireplace. Watching her jump as Blake draped a blanket over her. Yang was sitting on the couch as she remained motionless with her hands on her knees. But Blake soon took a seat beside her. Ruby and Oscar sorta standing to the side as Maria sat on a couch.
Looking back to Qrow, I just sighed out with a shake of my head.
"Hazardous environment...? I'm getting no radiation or chemical readings, so I dunno..."
We shared a small sigh before nodding. Heading in, Qrow wiped some snow off himself as I just tapped my boots on the boards. Everyone looked to us for answers, but we just looked to the floor.
"It's the same in every house..."
"And I got nothing. No hazardous materials or anything. So..."
I gave a defeated jerk of my hands as everyone was shocked. Yang was the first to say something.
"What..!?"
"Bodies...Every bed, in every home. It's like the whole estate just went to sleep and never woke up."
Qrow and I made out way to the fireplace, with him taking a seat on the floor beside Weiss as I crouched down. Gopnik style with my hands held out to the flames.
"Then, we're not staying here...right...?"
Weiss looked to Qrow and then me for confirmation to the whole idea. And, honestly? I wanted out...but...
"We don't have a choice...The storm outside is only getting worse. We freeze to death before we even make it anywhere..."
"Yeah. It's nasty. Last time I saw a storm this bad? Athena and I were shoveling for an entire day. Literally-"
I jumped feeling my hand get grabbed as I looked to Weiss to see her hand holding mine. Soon I sighed out and took my seat beside. Right away? She leaned against me as I draped my arm over behind her.
"I'm here...I got you..."
"Well! Might as well get comfortable."
Maria would strut on up to a bookshelf snd begin looking through it as Yang crossed her arms.
"Yeah, fat chance..."
"Okay then...! Let's do something."
Looking to Ruby? I saw that little look on her face that made me chuckle. I love it when she gets fired up like this.
"If this place wasn't abandoned? It might still have some supplies we could use."
"Hey, yeah! Maybe even be a car!"
"I'll do another sweep of the grounds."
Qrow would stand up and turn to leave as I turned to him. But he just looked over his shoulder, giving me a nod before continuing to speak. I didn't even have to decipher what he was saying.
"No one goes anywhere alone!"
Though something awkward happened soon after as Blake stood up with her hands together.
"Yang and I can search the other buildings for vehicles...!"
"Fine. Whatever gets me outta this house."
I saw that roll of the eyes on Yang's face as she stood up and left with Blake.
"Wow...is that what we look like...?"
"No. Looked like."
I chuckled softly as she leaned into me even more before watching Ruby leave to accompany them to the door. Looking to one another, I gave Weiss a little raise of my brow.
"You square?"
"I want to preoccupy myself."
I gave her a nod before standing up, holding out my hand to her as she stood up slowly to her feet with the blanket in her hand. Same blanket she wrapped around herself before making our way to the door. When we got to it, we saw Ruby push the drawer back into place before turning to us with a small frown. Though she perked up with a small smile and chuckle.
"Food always makes me feel better...! Just saying..."
"Right..."
With that? I let Weiss go with Ruby as I hung back.
...
"I'll tell you what. You keep that fire fed...? And I'll find us a story to read before bed."
Maria pulled a orange leather-back book with a red I on the front as I stood next to Oscar. She just made her way to the couch before taking a seat as the farmboy let out a sigh. As for me? I just let out a small chuckle.
"I dunno why you're so huffy. I'm down for a good book~!"
I went over and sat on the floor in front of Miss Maria with a cross of my legs. This made her give a small giggle as she opened the book and went to read...but paused.
"You know what...? I want to hear your story."
Blinking softly...? I looked to Oscar as he seemed intrigued by Miss Maria's little suggestion as he came over to me. Sitting down so he faced me on the floor. So...I took a small breath...
...
Once upon a time...there was a boy...who was linked to a Goddess...A boy who fought tooth and nail to be the very best he could. Not just for his own survival. But to uphold a mission bestowed upon him by his mother and father. A promise to survive. To prosper. He would go up against all odds, facing all kinds of devils and barons in order to just live another day.
And all with the goddess who helped him fight and surpass himself...Until the odds were just too much for either of them to handle. For the boy's father, born anew and with a corrupted mind, would meet him every step of the way. Yet the boy knew not of what his father had become.
But when he did? It was too late. For the boy lost it all in a blaze of glory. One the Goddess orchestrated in one final act to save him. To preserve the future...To repay the love he had shown her.
The boy, now lost without cause, wandered aimlessly. Spanning half a world, he truly knew not where the road would take him. But...he carried on. For the Goddess.
Yet...unbeknownst to him? The Goddess was always there. She had never left, she was never lost, she was within his heart. A heart that he set ablaze to protect those he loved. A heart he set on the line to protect it all as he soon realized his true purpose...
And with it? He made a vow.
...
"And mark my words...I will save him."
"Wow...I never thought it was possible to grow close to robot...N-No offense! She seemed amazing!"
I gave a small chuckle as I wiped a tear from my eyes. I told them all the important bits. You know, how I became who I am today. And that made Miss Maria smile as she reached over and patted my head softly.
"You mother and her must be extremely proud of you."
This...Wow...Hit a lot deeper than I thought it ever would have. Clearing my throat, I stood up and patted down my attire.
"I-Imma...go and uhm...see what the girls are up to."
I turned and immediately sped off. Did I worry them...? A little. But honestly, I'm too tired to feel much.
...
"Ruby...? Are we really still going to Atlas...?"
I...heard Weiss as I was just about to peek into the room. It was a wine cellar given all the alcohol and whatnot. Illuminated by little candle wall-mounted lanterns on the walls. But enough of that. Weiss's words made me freeze up and listen in.
"Why...wouldn't we...?"
Ruby's voice was...shook to say the least. It was...off-putting to hear that come from Weiss. I know she may not be the most "glass half full" type of gals out there. But the way she said it? It irked me.
"I mean... you heard what Jinn said. If there's no way to kill Salem, then...what's the point in all of this?"
"Weiss...you can't be serious..."
That hurt in Ruby's voice...It must have snapped Weiss outta it as she let out a sigh.
"Sorry, I- I don't know what I'm saying, I'm just really tired and I really, really hate this place. Anything in there?"
I wanted to hop out. To greet them and hug the both of them, but I soon saw them look into that little room they stopped out. From my angle? I could see wine barrels and more bottles of alcohol.
"More alcohol... At least we'll never have problems starting a fire."
"What's that...?"
But the thing that stuck out most was a large cellar door with chains. Seeing that made me a little uneasy as I slid out my cover to actually approach them from behind.
"A wine cellar? Great..."
Something made me...real uneasy about that damn door. But before I could make my presence known? Ruby let out a cutesy little squeal before zipping over to a shelf full of-
"Canned...food...?"
"Oh trust me! You put enough salt on any food and it'll taste-!"
"Juuuust fine~"
They both yelped and turned to me as I grinned and gave them a set of finger guns.
"How long have you been there!?"
"I...heard a bit. Especially...Atlas..."
Me bringing it up didn't help as they both frowned, but I was quick to swap into boyfriend mode. Reaching forth, I grasped onto Weiss's hand before gently pulling her into my arms. Holding her near and dear as she immediately melted into my embrace. But like hell I was about to leave Ruby alone! Opening one arm to her? She quickly joined us so I was now holding them both, one in each arm.
"I understand it. You know, these feelings. And I don't blame any of you. We may not have a plan...but we'll prevail. Together."
This made a small smile creep onto their faces before pointing to the shelf.
"So! I call dibs on spam sushi~"
"Hey! I found it first!"
~Third Person~
Soon the trio laughed as they each held arms full of canned goods as they left the cellar. Yet, behind them? The same doors gave a heavy rattle...