A/N: PLEASE READ THIS NOTE, WOULD YOU KINDLY?
EDIT: HOLY...?! That's a lot of feedback. Any chance we could this to a hundred? its so close, and would mean the world to me and the gang...
Alright, now then! SPOILERS FOR THE LATEST RWBY EPISODE! Still here? Great! Are you prepared for what's below? Because here we go~!
Well. That episode happened. Seems we were more or less on the money when it came to Cinder's past. That...that was some dark shit. *shivers* Thankfully she'll never have to deal with that in "Untraveled Road" and other stories but still...ouch. Better late then never, I suppose. I really, really, REALLY wasn't expecting that.
...why do I get the feeling she's going to die this season?
I received fifty requests for this. Fifty! In the span of an hour! What the hell?! Fine, fine, have your request story. As ever, I own no references, themes or memes. Fair warning. This is...brutal. I've nearly completed the next three chapters for this already. Yup. I was that inspired.
Still, I want to see what folks think of this before I commit to it fully.
If they don't like it? Poof! Gone. Here we are...
"What are you doing?!"
"Killing. Monsters."
~?
Embers at Midnight
Cinder cooked. Cinder cleaned. Cinder obeyed.
Her life was a empty blur devoid of hope or meaning. She did as she was told. She cooked. She cleaned. She obeyed. Rinse and repeat. Failure to obey meant pain; pain brought on by the collar around her neck. If she dropped a tray, she was shocked. If she failed to dust the furniture properly? Someone shocked her. Not fast enough to cook? They shocked her. Over and over again, until she couldn't feel.
Sometimes, Stepmother liked to shock her for no reason at all. Sometimes...she shocked her so badly she couldn't speak for days.
Even now the pain haunted her as she went about her chores on the lower floors; a steady persistent ache shooting down from her throat deep into her chest.
A constant ache, one that shadowed her every moment.
For the last three years, this had been Cinder's life; a slave in all but name. Stepmother had tricked her off the streets and into this hotel. Once her inside her new "sisters" clapped a collar on her, and forced her to work for them. Their every whim was hers to follow, and if she didn't...? The consequences alone threatened to cripple her. To disobey was to be shocked. To question was to be beaten. There was no escape. She'd tried. Once. They'd caught her. Dragged her back and left her within an inch of her life.
She was just beginning to grow resigned to it, until, one day, things changed.
One day, a Huntsman came to Stepmother's hotel.
He was a Huntsman.
What else could he be? He didn't wear any weapons. Yet he moved like a warrior. That was confusing enough in its own right. Hunters needed weapons. They couldn't fight Grimm without them. To see one so unarmed was...curious. She felt her gaze drawn to him and scooted closer, pretending to polish a nearby statue.
...won't be long." she heard him mutter to someone. "Stop sulking."
His was a whiskered face framed by tawny blond hair, blue eyes and whiskered cheeks. A worn headband lay wrapped around his head, its surface nearly smooth by time and age. If one were to look closely, they would've glimpsed a leaf insignia upon it. His body was lean and corded muscle wrapped in faded navy leather and jeans; the walking personification of silence, for he made not a sound when he moved. No, that wasn't it. He made noise, but it didn't seem to reach her ears. Almost as if he were masking it somehow.
Cinder envied hunters and huntresses.
A Hunter was free. Powerful. They could come and go as they pleased. No one could restrain them. She wanted power like that. Power to rip this stupid collar off her neck. Strength to forge her own destiny. Confidence to walk out that damn door and never return. But she couldn't.
As if sensing that very thought, his head snapped towards hers. Blue met amber and she flinched, trying to hide.
"Wait."
His voice held her and she dithered; it was time enough for him to close the gap. To catch.
"I'm looking for the owner of this hotel." His voice was a dry rasp. "Any chance you know where she is?"
"No." Cinder parroted immediately, repeating the words that had been drilled into her. "I know nothing. I am nothing."
"Funny thing, that." A blond eyebrow arched. "I used to be nothing, too. Now I'm not." the ghost of a smile flashed across his whiskered face. "So, miss nothing. Do you have a name?"
She wrinkled her nose at him. "What's your name?"
That drew a grunt from him, and his other brow rose to match the first. Cinder quailed, defiance faltering in the face of his ensuing silence. Stupid, stupid, stupid! What was she thinking?! She'd be beaten for this! If not by Stepmother, then by the Hunter, surely. Their kind didn't like questions. Few in their line of work did. Her back tensed, preparing for a blow. It never came.
He chuckled. Softly at first, but then louder.
His was a rusty laugh; worn and pitted from lack of use. Almost as if he had forgotten how to make the sound in the first place. Cinder commiserated with it. She couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed, -not since her real parents had died!- but even she knew what it sounded like. The Hunter seemed startled by the noise his mouth had made. A long time indeed, then.
"My name, eh?" he snickered softly, wiping a mirthful tear from the corner of his eye. "Nobody's asked me my name in a the last hundred years. I'd almost forgotten it."
"Liar." she muttered. "You don't look a day over twenty. You can't be that old."
Dull blue eyes regarded her. "You'd be surprised. So? Your name?"
Defiance flared back to life in her again. "You first."
"Naruto Uzumaki." he granted her a careworn smile as old as time itself. "Former ninja, current mercenary, and occasional bandit, at your service." A shallow bow followed, as if he were mocking his own words. "But these days, most folks call me Accursed. Ring any bells?"
Cinder blinked.
Accursed? She knew that title. Most of Mistral did. He was a blight. Disaster followed him wherever he went. Some said he'd been born under an ill omen. A blood moon. There were as many rumors about this man as there were stars in the sky. Stepmother swore he had horns and claws, that he spat fire and death. Others claimed he consorted with the Grimm. Still more whispered that he'd been cursed by the very gods themselves. None knew what he looked like. This was that man? He seemed...well, normal. She'd expected someone taller.
"Don't tell anyone," he hummed. "I'd rather not be drive out of town. Now, then." a hand settled on her head, mussing her hair. "I believe you owe me a name?"
It felt nice-no! Bad brain! Treacherous thoughts!
Little Cinder scowled and squirmed away from the pleasant contact. He was waiting for her response. Fine. She'd give him one. One arm crossed her body and gripped her wrist. She shuffled nervously under his gaze. She didn't like her name. Her so-called "family" mocked her for it incessantly. But in this, at least, she resolved to speak the truth. Even if she hated it.
...Cinder." she spat the word, forcing it through clenched teeth. "My name is Cinder."
Now it was Naruto's turn to blink. "As in Cinderella?"
She grit her teeth until a molar cracked. "No."
Oh, how she loathed that joke.
"I'm here to collect a bounty." he spoke into the awkward silence that followed. "Killed a stray Beowolf that got into town. This mistress of this hotel was the one who put it out. She owes me a reward."
Ah. No wonder he was here. Stepmother must've asked him to rid them of that Grimm. He'd come here to collect his pay. He'd be leaving soon, then. She tried not to show her disappointment. She had enjoyed the lull in her chores, brief though it was. It felt...good to talk to someone. To simply converse with another human being without fear of a beating. For a few moments, she had been able to forget. A small voice cried in the back of her head. It shouldn't be this way. It wasn't fair. This wasn't the life she wanted. If she truly was Cinderella, then where was her prince charming?
Where was her happy ending?
"Mother's upstairs." she murmurred, turning away. "Second floor."
"Thanks-wait." Blue eyes locked onto her. Rather, her necklace -collar!- and narrowed upon it. "Is that what I think it is?"
Yes! "No, its nothing." her tongue betrayed her, leaving her to skitter back quickly.
Naruto followed. "Doesn't look like nothing to me...
"There you are, huntsman."
Stepmother descended the steps, flanked by her daughters. Cinder flinched away from their leering smiles, fearing another shock. Wretched twins. They were just as bad as her. Always hitting, mocking, denying food and rest. They enjoyed her pain as much as their mother. There were days wished she had stayed on the streets. Better to die free then live as a slave to these three.
"Here." Stepmother flung a weighted envelope at Naruto. "Take your money and begone. She has work to do."
The hunter regarded the lien in his hand. His eyes swept back to Cinder. Down to the money in his palm once more. Back to Cinder. To the money yet again. Gloved fingers curled around the cash, causing his worn gloves to creak ominously. Cinder shrank back, suddenly leery of his intense stare. Stepmother tapped her foot impatiently, unaware of the danger.
"Quiet, Kurama." the blond grumbled to no one in particular. "I'm working on it. Stop chewing my ear off."
Cinder blinked rapidly. Who was he talking to? What was a Kurama? Had he gone insane?
...what about the girl?"
One of her Stepsisters scoffed. "What about her? She's our servant."
"Is that why she's wearing a shock collar?" a blond brow quirked. "I heard those were outlawed."
Stepmother bristled. "That's none of your concern, huntsman. You may leave."
"I'll pay you for her." he said suddenly. "How much?"
Cinder nearly squawked at his words. Her "mother" simply scoffed, however. "That thing isn't for sale. She belongs to us."
"She isn't property." Naruto insisted. "You shouldn't call her that."
"I'll call her what I please!" Her hand cracked out with vicious force, striking Cinder in the face. A red welt rose across her forehead. She rode the blow to the floor and dared to crawl behind Naruto. It only enraged her guardian all the more.
"And where to you thinking you're going?! Get back here!"
Her wicked Stepmother whipped out the remote and pressed the golden button atop it. Even as she tensed against the pain she knew was coming, agony turned Cinder's world red. A choked scream fled from her lips as she doubled over, clutching at her throat. A second shock followed. A third. A fourth. She couldn't move. Couldn't think. Couldn't breathe. Make it stop. Someone. Please. Anyone. Make it stop.
"Leave." Her stepmother snarled over it all. "Or any pain she suffers will be on your head."
It was the wrong word to say.
Without warning Naruto flung the money in her wrinkled face, startling the older woman. The remote flew from her hand and skittered across the floor. In the same movement he spun about and reached down to grasp at Cinder's throat. The little girl flinched, expecting a blow. It never came. Instead, strong fingers wrapped around the accursed necklace -collar!- that entrapped her throat. He grasped it. Sparks skittered across it, shooting into his hand. Cinder cried out in pain as the remote hit something and triggered another painful shock. Her world burned white.
Naruto grimaced and yanked his arm back. Yanked hard.
A single sharp tug separated the chain from Cinder's neck entirely, taking the painful flow of electricity with it. She fell to her knees, retching for air. Bleary eyes beheld the dust crystal in his fist. She heard it shatter with a faint popping sound. He kept squeezing pulping metal and circuitry in her palm. Her hands flew to her neck, eyes wide.
"Why...?"
"Shocking a child." he dropped the ruined remains at her feet. "Congratulations." every word dripped with venom. That's not something I've seen before."
"What are you doing, you filthy cur?!" Stepmother shrieked at him. "I'll have you clapped in irons for this! Guards! Arrest this man!"
...that's not my name."
"Excuse me?" she sputtered angrily.
"My name," he rasped, "Is not man. My name is Naruto. And I've had enough of you." He did not rise to her bait. Instead, he looked up. His voice rang out clear and loud in the room. "Everyone out."
The other patrons hesitated...until those baleful blue eyes burned a demonic red.
"I SAID GET THE HELL OUT!"
A wave of something surged through the air, nearly choking the life from Cinder's lungs. She hunched over, clutching at herself. She felt small. Tiny. Helpless. Just as swiftly it passed, leaving her untouched. She heard the main doors slam as would-be customers rushed back the way they'd come. Others slumped to their feet, foaming at the mouth, eyes rolling in their heads. But not Stepmother. Not her Stepsisters. They remained. Fixed in place. Frozen by the horror of the scowling young man before them.
Slow, measured steps carried him forward. Toward her stepmother. Towards her stepsisters. His eyes sharpened into slits.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Stepmother shrank back, fear flitting across her face. "What are you doing?!"
"You hired me to kill a monster." Blue eyes narrowed upon her, cold as ice and thrice as deadly. "And would you look at that? I just found another one." A grim scowl plucked at his whiskered cheeks, warping his once placid visage to something horrifying. "Aren't you lucky? I won't even charge you for this."
"No! Stop! Wait!"
Not a moment later, he made good on his threat. He just...walked up to the wicked woman, grabbed her by the face, muffled her scream with his palm and...pulled. Snapping someone's neck wasn't gentle or easy, Cinder found. It was noisy. Loud and terrible. An awful crack filled the air and her body collapsed into a heap. No witty retort was given. No words spoken. Only silence. She died and the huntsman stepped over the corpse to face her children. Cinder couldn't bring herself to move; she only followed him with wide eyes.
Was this real? Was this truly happening?
Faced with his fury, her wicked stepsisters weren't smirking. Not now.
"I'm not sorry for this." the hunter started forward. "You're no better than her."
One of them screamed for help. A throwing knife slammed into her forehead. She didn't scream anymore after that.
The other turned to flee as her sibling toppled to the floor. She made it three steps before he caught her by the hair and reeled her back. She begged and cried and pleaded, whimpering for mercy. It all went unanswered. A second knife kissed her throat, carving a bloody smile there. The wretch gasped and tried to stem the sudden rush of blood with her fingers, to no avail. He pushed her to the floor and left her there, choking on her own blood. Dying gurgles filled the room as she grew weak. Weaker. Weakest. She expired with a raspy sigh.
Cinder watched the life leave her eyes. Sick satisfaction swelled in her chest, white hot and angry. And just like that...it was done.
The hunter -Naruto!- turned to face her with distant eyes, uncaring of the blood spattering his face.
"Finally." the word was a croak. "I finally managed to save someone. Its been so long...
Cinder looked left. Cinder looked right. Cinder found no one.
Was he talking to her? He must be.
Everyone had fled when he started shouting, or fainted when faced with his killing intent. They were alone. None had witnessed the murders. But they would. Soon. Good. A bitter thrill shot through her. They deserved to die. Everyone would know what happened here. They were wicked. Wretched. She wished she could've killed them herself. Perhaps that was wrong of her. Screw that! They treated her like an animal!
"You...killed them." she whispered into the silence.
Cold blue eyes met burning amber. Neither yielded to the other.
...I did." he answered, unblinking. "Probably shouldn't have done that. My bad."
Naruto didn't sound sorry. Not at all. He knelt down before her, pulling the battered plate from his head as he did so. Cinder flinched, fearing he might whip her with it, but no such harm came to her. Cool metal pressed against her stinging forehead instead, and she heard the sound of dark cloth being cinched. She dared to look up. What was this? Why had he given it to her? A hand descended on her forehead, calloused fingers patting her dirty hair. She let him do so, tucking her chin into her chest.
"That headband's precious to me." Naruto mumbled. "I'll be wanting it back someday when we're done."
Her lower lip trembled. Tears stung at her eyes. No. This was a trick. A trap. Had to be. "When...?"
"When I'm done training you, of course."
Cinder recoiled. It was too good to be true. She'd wanted this. Hadn't she? Prayed for it, ever since she'd been tricked into this trap. She hadn't expected someone to actually save her. Was this a dream? She pinched her right arm until it stung. He didn't disappear. She blinked and scrubbed at her eyes with the back of one hand, fearful the scene before her would evaporate. Surely it would. It must. The alternative, to actually hope, was almost too painful to endure.
When she opened her eyes, Naruto was still there.
He must've sensed the fear in her then, because he offered her his hand.
"C'mon!" he pleaded with her. "Just take my hand. Everything's gonna be alright. I promise."
Tears stung at her eyes now, but not of sorrow. She reached the rest of the way, grasping his palm. Strong fingers closed around hers and pulled, tugging her into an upright position.
"Follow me." he instructed. "Don't panic. Just act natural and we'll be out of here before anyone notices."
When he walked, Cinder stumbled after him. First, out of the foyer. Then out of the hotel. Into the crowded street now, and from there-into her new life. She didn't care if this made her a criminal in the eyes of public. Not a single soul in this city had ever tried to help her. They could burn with the rest for all she cared. They didn't matter. She gazed at Naruto's broad back as they ran, touched two fingers to the metal headband he'd given her, and an ember of hope stirred in the cold ashes of her heart.
"Where are we going?"
He laughed. "Wherever we want."
She considered his words. "What are we going to do?"
A blue eye flashed over his shoulder at her, followed by a smile. "Whatever we want."
In that moment, Cinder Fall finally found her prince. She was never going to let him go. Nope. Never ever.
In the years that followed, she would remember those words; just as she would recall, the very hour she found her freedom. Through her darkest hours, she would cradle this memory close to her chest and find solace in it. She would draw strength from the knowledge that she wasn't alone. Comfort, from the fact that there was someone in this world just as twisted as she. When everything fell down around her, when everyone called her a monster, demon, devil, spawn of the blackest womb, she would cling to this little sliver of happiness and laugh at them. Through the fire and the flames. She would carry on.
And all of Remnant would fear her name.
A/N: Suppose that's what I get for being a softie. Bad Neon! Bad! Some characters need to suffer!
Now I know what you're thinking. Blah, blah, blah, Naruto makes Cinder good. Blah, blah, blah, they work for Ozpin.
Hahahaha. Yeah, no. That ain't happening. This Naruto? He's not a saint. If anything? He's a sinner. Its heavily implied he's been wandering Remnant for a bit at this point.
For clarification, this story is...while not dark, more of a visceral sort than I usually write. The angle's different, too. We'll be following Cinder's journey through adulthood as she grows and begins to find her way in the world, and eventually comes to care for a certain someone. A stark contrast from "All Things Must Die" and "Untraveled Road."
No previews this time; although I've nearly completed the next three chapters for this already. Yup. I was that inspired. Still, I want to see what folks think of this before I commit to it fully. If they don't like it? Poof! Gone.