A/N: Sorry i've been so late with the uploading. Some stuff got me pretty down and school work along with actual work and college applications has been adding in tons of stress along with that. I really need to find time for this, especially for Wilting Rose as there is alot of fans of it with too little chapters. I hope I can find the time, but for now enjoy!
Chapter 28
Kara groaned as Yang dragged her through the streets of Vale. Night had just broken and so had Kara's patience.
"It's been two hoooours. Can we please go back to the school now?"
"Mmmmm nope!" said Ruby who was trailing behind them. "We still got loooooads of stuff to do before the sleepover!"
"But we had a sleepover yesterday!" she complained.
"There are never enough sleepovers!" cheered Ruby.
"Uuuuggggh I hate you two" groaned Kara. The two sisters had arrived at her door as soon as her and Romulus finished their arguing. Against her will she was subjected to a night of "fun" with the sisters. She had hoped to at least catch a glimpse of Reemus during their outing but they weren't anywhere near the restaurant. Despite the way she reacted to him back at the dorms, she couldn't help but see how insanely handsome he looked. This only added to her distress.
"Don't worry little birdie it'll all be over soon" teased Yang, pulling Kara out of her thoughts
They continued to walk around the city as the girls pulled her from store to store as she complained. I wanna go back to my dorm and wallow in self-pity alone. Is that too much to ask?
"So anyways, like I was saying earlier, he just came up to me and Coco and started hitting on us and man what we..."
Kara was begining to get a migraine. I want to be alone so bad, or at least with that big lug. And I need a drink.
"Listen can we at least go somewhere I want?" she asked.
"Well what do you have in mind?" asked Yang.
"Junior's maybe. I need a drink after all this shit." she said.
"Sure! I haven't seen the muscular punching bag in awhile anyways. Hmm, kinda in the mood for a few shots of Patrón. Ruby you okay with that?"
Oh man Yang didn't just say a couple few did she? Guess we're gonna have to carry her drunk ass back to Beacon. This chick can get pretty slammed after her usual 15-20 shots. A few my ass. Least she'll be too drunk to drag me around for the rest of the...hold on. If she's piss drunk then she can't stop me from sneakiing out and going back to my dorm. Holy shit why didn't I think of this earlier? THIS IS GENIUS!
"Gaaaaah I hate bars and clubs and all that other bad adult stuff" she cringed.
"Cmoooon, Kara's earned it" she tempted.
Fuck! If the red-cloaked girl protested enough Kara knew Yang would give in and her plan would fail. She prayed in her head that Ruby would be merciful on her.
Ruby groaned a bit but gave in. "Fine, but only because the Malachites are nice and enjoy being sober!" Victory! thought Kara excitedly.
Kara and Yang high fived and they made their way over to the parking garage. Yang and Kara got on Bumblebee and Ruby kept up with them with her semblance. They entered the club with it's blaring music and flashing lights and maneuvered through the crowd to the bar at the end of the room. The bartender, a big bearded man wearing a dressy white shirt and vest with a crimson tie, sighed at the sight of the blonde brawler who waved at him with a giant grin.
"Hey Junior! How's my favorite crime boss doing?" she exclaimed.
"A whole lot more stressed now that you're here" he said while rubbing his temple. "What is it this time?"
"Oh cmon Big Jay, me and my friend are only here for a drink".
He raised his brow. "A drink huh? You aren't even of drinking age."
Yang raised her brow this time. "You're telling me the leader of a gang cares if one of his patrons is legally allowed to drink?"
Junior shrugged. "Fair point. What can I get you girls?"
"Hmmm. She'll have a Whiskey on the Rocks and I want five shots of Patrón to start off" said Yang.
Yang knew exactly what to the get daughter of Sorrow. After all, she did have the same taste as Reemus when it came to getting drunk.
"Shots eh? Sure you can handle that amount of alcohol?" he said as he began prepping the drinks.
"Please, I can hold down my alcohol very well" said Yang with a smirk.
Kara watched this whole exchange go down in interest. For a crime lord this guy is really mellow. Wait a second. Why the hell is he a bartending?
"Okay hold up" said Kara. "If you run this place and the gang and everything, why are you behind the bar?"
Junior chuckled as he handed them their liquor. "Because in the event there's a police raid and the cops come busting in looking for Junior, the last place they'd think to find me is behind the bar counter making drinks. Enjoy your beverages" he said with a wink.
Kara was impressed. She thought the guy wasn't particularly smart based off how Yang steps all over him and what not. Guess he knows exactly what he's doing. Yang downed her tequila in impressive time and requested another round. Kara sipped her's slowly as her plan began to unfold. Let's see how well Yang can hold me down when she's piss drunk and Ruby's nowhere in sight.
"Hey Yang i'm gonna go to the bathroom real quick okay?" said Kara calmly.
"Mhmmmeergrh" murmured Yang as she continued to slam her drinks in quick succesion.
Kara slipped out through the crowd and into the night. She looked around to make sure no one was watching before summoning her wings and taking flight. She landed on top of the building and scanned the sky for her school. Once spotted she took a deep breath and soared again, being careful not to fly over areas with a lot of light. Once she neared Beacon, she circled it as to land on the rear of the school, just over the forest.
She approached her dorm and saw that the lights were off. Strange she thought, the boys are usually awake at this hour. She perched onto the windowsil and was about to open it until she saw a rustling from Reemus's bed. The hell is he-she squinted and saw...her eyes widened. Her hands took to her mouth as she took in what she saw before her. She wasn't sure how long she fell for, only that she felt numb when she did. The next thing she knew she was being carried, away from the dorm and...and...
"Shhshh calm down Kara, it's gonna be okay" said a familiar voice.
"B-but Reemus..." she began in a dead voice.
"I know baby" he said calmly.
Kara looked up and gazed into her friend's emerald green eyes. "Him and Velvet...were they...?"
Romulus set her on her feet and held her. "I'm here for you okay? It's gonna be alright, I promise".
Tears flooded her eyes and she buried her face into his shoulders. Romulus held her tightly as his friend wept.
"So it's really true isn't it? He doesn't remember...or he doesn't c-c-care or..." she choked.
Romulus said nothing, only held her, too afraid she might collapse without him to hold onto.
"I-I love him...at home I thought...before this all happened...I-I told him" she stammered.
"I remember Kare, I remember." he soothed.
"He really is g-gone. My Reemus...he's g-gone..." she cried.
Romulus offered no words and Kara only wept. He held onto his weeping friend for the rest of the night until she cryed herself to sleep. Too exhausted to move, Romulus leaned his back onto a tree and looked up at it. It was devoid of any leaves or the smallest sign of life. He almost laughed at how fitting it was for the circumstances they were in. He slowly closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.
Reemus was awake but he chose not to move. He felt warm and happy, and just right, as if all the troubles of his past were mere nuisances. He did not want this moment to end. He felt movement on top of him as his lover began to stir. Abesentmindedly he twirled a piece of her hair through his finger, his eyes still closed.
"Baaabe" she groaned as her chin rested upon his chest. "We have to get up. I think there's class today".
"Fuck it" he mumbled back, "let's just stay here".
She gave a soft giggle and wrapped her hands around his neck before pulling up to meet his eyes.
"But your teamates need thier room and YOU have a mission" she said as she poked his nose. "Don't think I don't remember. It's your first one and you should be ready for it".
Reemus's mind was somber at the reminder of whagt this mission was about. Scenes of blood and flame flashed through his mind. Screams of anger and pain and agony. He closed his eyes. Suddenly he didn't feel so comfortable.
He offered her a kind smile. "Yea, you're right."
"Aren't I always?" she said playfully.
He rolled his eyes and kissed her nose before they rose to get up. Reemus pulled on some underwear and began fitting himself in combat gear.
"Uhmm. Babe? I don't have any clothes." said Velvet.
Reemus was puzzled. He turned to his naked girlfriend and restrained a blush-odd for someone who had just spent the night with her that way.
"Whaaat? Of course you do, you wearing that...dress. Oh shit"
"Mhmm, oh shit is right." she said with smirk. "That's what happens when you get to excited"
"Heheee" he said sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head.
"How am I going to get my dorm now?" she said seriously.
"Just wear one of Kara's things. She buys too many clothes anyways" he said as he pulled his tail through his pants.
"Errm. I'm not sure if that would be the best idea" she said shyly. "Kara doesn't really seem to like me".
"Whaaat, cmon Vel, why would you think that? Of course she likes you!" he said.
"I just...I dunno it's just an odd feeling. You're probably right. Okay, where's her dresser?"
Soon the two were dressed, Reemus in full combat gear while Velvet was fitted in some of Kara's black grundgy stuff. He threw away the last of the shreds of textile and pulled up his mask. His teamates didn't need to know about their...exchange.
"I look so weird in this stuff" she said with her head down.
"Come on, you look fine. Kinda look sexy with the whole black look" he said while opening the door. She rolled her eyes and kissed his cheek before they walked into the hallway. Velvet, however, was still quite nervous in her uncomfortable gear. Reemus was about to reassure her again when he saw Romulus and Kara headed their way, his partner's arm around her. She looked really tired and drained, black bags hanging below her eyes. Must've been one hell of a sleepover he thought.
"Do my eyes decieve me?" said Reemus to the approaching duo. "Is Romulus actually helping Kara? And is she actually letting him put his arm around her? Must've missed the blue moon last night"
Kara looked up at her team leader with stifled anger. The humor immediately drained from his face at the sight of her pale and sagging face. Her eyes shifted to his girfriend who was wearing what looked to be her clothes. Kara nearly choked. She barreled straight past them to her dorm where she slammed the door shut.
Reemus turned his head and then back to Romulus. "The fuck was that? Is she okay? What happened to her?" he said with concern.
Romulus shook his head and rubbed his temple. "Nothing bro, nothing. Look we've all had a...exhausting night and are pretty out of it. Let's ask all our questions after this mission Ozpin gots for us, aight?"
Reemus really wanted to know what was wrong with Kara. Despite how rude and annoying she was, he knew it was all for show. Underneath all of it she was a caring and loving person. To see her sad like that hurt him. But then again she didn't like talking much about her problems. The fact that she told Romulus was a miracle in it of itself.
Reemus finally nodded. "Okay then. Get ready, the sooner we get there the better."
Romulus nodded and walked past him. Velvet looked to Reemus with a look of worry.
"Is she gonna be okay? I wonder what made her so sad" she said.
"Yea me too. But hey, this is Kara we're talking about. She'll be cracking jokes and pissing me off in no time, just you see" he said playfully. "Let
"Alright then" said Velvet who wasn't too convinced. "I hope you're right"
~8:30 AM, Ozpin's Office~
Team SRRW stood before Ozpin as he sat his desk. They were in full gear, weapons and all. Ozpin sipped from his mug and cleared his throat.
"So, after a year of attending my school it is now evident that you are ready to go on your first mission as a team" said Ozpin.
"Uh suuuureee" said Romulus sarcastically, "I bet it's gonna be real weird for us since we, ya know, never did this shit before or anything"
Reemus shot him a warning face to which he simply ignored. Reemus's brows scrunched together with annoyance. Ozpin sipped and continued.
"In the time you have attended this school I've observed your interactions with humans and Faunus and have come to the conclusion that you four are indeed completely cured of the mind drug. I know now that the Children of Sorrow before me will come to the aid of humanity when called upon. Today will prove that.
"The mission is simple: there is a little village in the Reignover forest that has recently had an increase of Grimm population. This is normal around this time of year as winter is drawing nearer and the nights are getting darker. Your job will be to safeguard the perimeter of the village as well as hunting down some of these Grimm yourselves to help reduce their numbers before the snow settles in. Your mission will be considered complete once our scouts confirm the area as safe. Will you accept?"
Reemus turned to his teammates and they to each other as well. He wasn't gonna lie: the mission did seem a bit too lax for the redemption he was craving. He was expecting something more challenging and crucial, or at least something involving the Avengers. Then again...Ozpin still needed to test their loyalty in the field. He saw in his partners the same understanding he felt. Ravus gave him an affirmative nod and Reemus finally turned to the headmaster with determination in his eyes.
"We accept this mission" he said with definity in his voice.
"Excellent" said the professor. "Your flight leaves in 5 minutes. Good luck".
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