[Opener: "New Perspective"--Panic! at the Disco]
Weiss, Meridian, team CFVY, and Theo and Vara joined the huntsmen holding the Grimm off at the edge of the city.
A handful of happy Huntresses and their new recruits, who were still in Vacuo, were also helping.
Most of the Grimm were taken care of. The Scarabs were the hardest.
Even with Cinder's reluctant assistance using glass barriers, Blake and Sun had a time taking down the others in their vicinity. Finally they got them all, and by then they were nearly out of Aura.
At this point, Cinder began to scold them, in her highly condescending way, for not using their authority.
"How," she asked scathingly, "can you stop a storm but not think to try that on the Grimm?"
"I dunno, okay? I'm just used to killing them. I don't like to bust out that stuff unless I have to," Sun said. "For one thing, it weirds people out. They think we're magic."
Cidner looked red, and not just from the heat.
"So you should just risk your life because it doesn't look cool?" she spat.
"I'm not used to needing to call on help to finish off Grimm." Blake was panting. "And it's okay, right? You didn't."
"I can't just call attention to myself, idiot," Cinder said. "And I hardly had the chance to get close enough to try."
"Can't you just be happy we won?" Sun said.
"I'm never happy about anything, but I would be less annoyed if any of you acted like you didn't have your heads up your--" Cinder used some words that they didn't like.
"Even when you're helpful, you know, you're such a pain in the neck," Sun complained.
"Okay, maybe we should stop arguing," Blake said. "We just got rid of the Grimm. Let's not attract more. Is it just me, or were there way more of them for the time they had to get here than you'd think?"
True. At first they'd thought there were only a few dozen, but judging from how many huntsmen were out here, it must have been closer to a few scores. Enough of an anomaly to suggest they'd been even closer than the kingdom limits.
"People are looking this way--better hide your weapons," Blake told Cinder suddenly, looking past them.
Cinder disintegrated hers quickly.
"I need to fix my shoes," she said.
"Huh?" Sun said.
"One of them shattered while I was fighting," she said. "I need to make a new one."
"Why do you wear glass shoes?" Sun thought it was dumb. "Isn't that really uncomfortable?"
"Not with the right arch support," Cinder shot back. "It's easiest to make them myself. Shoes are expensive and they break easy in a fight."
"I did have to give up sandals after I snapped the straps too many times in fights," Blake said. "And they slip. So just wear boots."
"What's wrong with sneakers?" Sun said.
"The laces," Blake and Cinder both said.
"I don't see how glass is better," Sun argued.
"My glass is harder to break. It's like armor." Cinder had no idea why she was having such a stupid argument with them, other than both of them got on her nerves.
Well, really Blake didn't if she was her usual quiet, moody self, more like how Mercury used to be when he wasn't in a mood, but with Sun she was more annoyingly chatty.
"So just wear armor." Sun wasn't letting this go.
"Sun, you wear jeans and an unbuttoned shirt all year round," Blake said.
"So? The girls love it," Sun said.
Blake frowned at him.
"I mean, my best feature is my abs," Sun said. "What? You wear bare midriff clothes and I don't say anything."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing. If that's what you want to rock, rock it. So why the judgment?" Sun said.
"I'm just saying it's not very practical."
"Better than glass shoes."
Cinder wanted to knock herself out so she didn't have to listen to this.
Better yet, just walk away.
"Where are you going? You can't go off alone," they said at once.
There was no escape!
But thankfully, the other huntsmen found them right then, and Blake and Sun had to be all business.
"Didn't expect to see you so soon," Weiss said, coming up to her. "You came all this way just to fight Grimm? Was it too quiet in Mistral?"
"More like we were grounded and this was our first chance at a ride back," Blake said, twitching her ears. "Didn't Winter tell you?"
"Winter told me, Ruby told me, even Jaune told me," Weiss said flatly. "But Mercury told me the most interesting part."
She pointed at Cinder with her rapier.
Cinder frowned at her.
"Crazy, right? She was actually helping us out," Sun said.
"Yeah, that is crazy," Weiss said dryly. "But I guess it's a better crazy. Where's my mother?"
"Probably still holed up in that dirty tavern," Cinder said carelessly.
"WHAT?!!" Weiss turned paler than her tan usually allowed her now.
Cinder had momentarily forgotten that Willow was a recovering alcoholic and didn't see the problem.
"It's not like there was anywhere else to hide," she said, with annoyance.
"She's just hiding, I'm sure," Blake said quickly. "Right, Cinder?"
"What else would she be doing? Starting bar fights is Winter's thing," Cinder said oddly.
"I don't get it--oh, right, the drinking." Sun had a big mouth still.
Weiss glared at him.
"Drinking?" Cinder knew now but pretended not to because she didn't want to get grilled on this.
It worked.
"Nevermind," Blake said. "Where was the...place? We should go find her."
Cinder pointed toward the area it had been in without much interest.
They headed there.
It wasn't long before Theo got there also. He had checked on the people who'd been hiding out to make sure they were okay.
Most of them had survived. The scarabs had crushed a few people but not gotten the chance to eat them--whether that was better or not, it was hard to say.
No one much knew who they were, only some of the urchins and one vendor.
That didn't make Theo feel any better about it. He cursed the Grimm out roundly.
"Those d--- demons haven't gotten in here in nearly a year, and that last one was minimal. What got them in here so fast?" he said.
"Remember those tunnel Victoria had all over?" Weiss said. "Could there be some close to here?"
"We never did find them all," Theo said. "I didn't let anyone look--they were too unstable to try it. I never took any this far out, but they could have existed. I'd have to ask her. Still, it's not a bad idea, Schnee. I'm surprised--you do think of something besides your hair."
"Yes, I can think of my hair and logistics at the same time, Theo," Weiss said snippily. "Unlike you, who can't think of either in great detail."
"Would have been more insulting without the 'great detail'," Sun said.
"No, small additions bring the whole style to the insult," Weiss said.
"Why do you Schnees have to make your insults so calculated?" Blake said. "Every time one of you disses someone, I feel like you had it written down beforehand."
"That's called being good at it," Weiss said.
Theo didn't care about the jab--he heard worse from his wife on a daily basis and most of his coworkers. He was already turning to ask more questions.
"Can we just fly away already?" Cinder groaned.
"Nah, we still have to find the pilots and be sure the plane is operational," Sun said. "It'll take hours, which is fine with me. I'm hungry. I'm sure they'll make someone else do the clean up since we were in the battle."
In Vacuo this was one of the perks of the job. Atlas would not have allowed you to shirk your responsibility even if you'd just been through a fight.
Cinder didn't care about food, but if they were stuck here, that meant more trouble for her.
And she was right about that. Vara, who'd not been far behind Theo and Weiss, walked up with Meridian close behind her.
"We've got them a little more calmed down," she said. "Raring to go, actually. But the kids were rattled. Better move them away from the edge of the kingdom just in case. Good news is, most of them are all right. A few cuts, one kid sprained her ankle... Interesting story, she said someone with a crystal arrow saved her and her brother. Isn't that strange? Sounds just like Fall."
Apparently, Vara had not been told Cinder would be coming to Vacuo.
In fact, Theo had not mentioned it to her because he'd hardly cared to remember it himself. Cinder had never impressed him much, mostly because she'd never done that much to his kingdom and he tended to only hold personal grudges.
Cinder frowned at Vara.
Vara noted her. "What's your problem, b----?" She stopped. "Wait...Cind--"
"Shush!" Blake hissed.
Vara looked around.
"Right," she said. "Explain."
"Can we explain somewhere else?" Blake asked.
"You'd better," Vara said.
"Oh, right, did I not mention she was going to be passing through?" Theo said blandly. "Don't worry, it's just for a few hours."
"You knew?" Vara shoved him. "Jackass!"
"Some people never change." Cinder rubbed her ear. "I see time has not improved them."
"Oh, I don't know, by spells they're almost normal," Meridian said. "Hello, Miss... uh, what's your new name again?"
"Scarlet Scon," Blake supplied.
"That's catchy, though a scarlet scone doesn't sound like a good idea to eat," Meridian said.
"Scon, not scone," Cinder argued. [Could not tell you if the old English pronunciation is the same sound or not.]
"Baby," Theo said to Vara, "I need to ask Vic if there's a tunnel those things could have slithered out of in here. Be a dear and handle the rest of clean up for me."
"Me?" Vara said.
"It is your job as vice principal," Theo said.
"So now we care about professionalism?" Vara said.
"Hon, what did I say about arguing with me in front of the recruits? It looks bad."
"They're used to it by now," Vara dismissed it.
"Vara, I think it'd be a good idea for you to handle this," Meridian said cheerfully. "No one gets past you. And the kids like you."
"I suppose that is true," Vara agreed. "Fine. You owe me for this later." She winked and walked away.
"Did you just use your Semblance to do that?" Blake asked.
"Maybe a little," Meridian said.
"Isn't that unethical?" Blake said.
"Oh, I didn't make her do it, Belladonna. Loosen up," Meridian said. "Just made her less crabby about it--for a few minutes. We'd better run."
"I'm sure she'd have caved in. She just likes to make it difficult," Weiss said. "We go through this all the time. Frankly, if Mer can make her a little less stubborn sometimes, we all just accept it."
"Why doesn't Theo do it? She's his wife," Cidner said in disgust.
"Because I can't use persuasive methods in front of students," Theo said, making her almost gag. "Let's go. Fal--that is, Scon, you're with us. No way are you going off alone till I've got this sorted out."
"Our pilot friend is also around here," Sun said. "I mean, unless he got eaten."
Cinder glanced at him sharply.
"If he's Atlas, there's a good chance he got eaten." Theo's opinion of Atlas had not improved very much in 3 years. "But if not, he likely went towards the school like every other person trying to get away from those buggers. The loaner ship is over in the far dock anyway, so might as well start walking now."
Nancy Kettle was nowhere to be seen, but they were pretty sure she was fine, since she had run for it.
She turned up later, but none of them saw her. Presumably she went home with no further commotion.
Theo took them not to Shade exactly, but to the science buildings that were a few miles from it.
They had been moved this close for better surveillance from the school and more security form the Grimm.
In all this time, they'd developed a better set up. Though the spotty signal still was a problem for them.
Most of them would rather have worked in Argus or Vale, but there was not room nor employment enough for them there. And wages were better in Vacuo for scientists, as they were in demand and the school wasn't bankrupt.
A loomed in the background of the landscape still imposing, and now that it was less familiar, it was even more off-putting to Blake.
Sun was at home though, he called to some old classmates, who called greetings to him.
"I think my scroll is finally working again," Blake said flatly. "I'm trying to call Zapato."
"I think my mother's scroll is ringing," Weiss said.
Then Willow answered it, to her relief.
"I'm with Vara," she said. "It's odd not to call her Miss Sol anymore. Mrs. Rhodes doesn't really seem to suit her. It's not the last name really, it's the Mrs. She's not my image of a married woman of nearly 4 years."
"Mother, Vara is not anyone's image of most women of any years," Weiss said. "But you're safe?"
"Quite safe...though, I did promise some money to these...enterprising gentlemen."
Willow's tone said they were anything but.
"Great," Weiss sighed.
"He's not picking up," Blake sounded worried, speaking to Sun and Cinder. "He could just be in a bad service area, but...I think we should have followed him before. Pilots aren't like well trained huntsmen."
"I thought Emerald said he was good in a fight," Sun said. "I don't know, Cind, what do you think?"
"I..." Cinder wished he hadn't asked her. "I didn't pay that much attention."
"To someone's fighting skills?" Blake said. "That's not like you at all."
"I wouldn't say he's anything special, but against some common grimm, I would think he'd have no trouble staying alive," Cinder said. "Still those weren't common."
"If he did die," Sun said, nodding at the science building. "We'd all be kind of screwed."
"We could find another ride," Blake was looking at her scroll still. "But I'd feel awful. I mean what is with this team and pilots? Are we jinxed?"
"I don't think jinxes are real, Blake," Sun said. "I'm sure he's fine. Though, I guess Cinder would like to replace him anyway. Mercury said you don't like him."
"You actually believe what Mercury tells you?" Cinder said this because she had no idea what else Mercury had said and was worried it was embellished, and not in a good way.
"Not everything he tells me, but that does sound like you," Sun said.
"I'm indifferent," Cinder insisted.
"You just said he was nothing special," Sun switched his tail.
"Exactly, that's indifferent," Cinder said.
"How flattering," Royal said from behind her and Blake.
Blake jumped.
Cinder sprang forward and then glared at Sun, who was trying not to laugh.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist," he said.
"But how did you--?" Blake asked. "Why were you in there?"
"I've been here for a while," Royal said. "I tried to take down some of those things, but let's just say a shotgun wasn't doing the job. Then this fellow with an odd accent pulled up in some run down all terrain vehicle, and told me to hop in. Next thing I know, Miss Schnee and some other fellow were there and the grimm were running off. When I told him why I was here, he dropped me off at this place and said to talk to the tech people. I thought Shade Academy would have been better, personally, but I didn't get a lot of say in it."
"Was this guy huge?" Blake asked. "Kind of intimidating? Blonde?"
"Yeah," Royal said.
"I think it was Hamish," Sun said. "That's Meridian's best friend. Meridian was with Weiss, too bad they didn't know who you were ."
"I didn't get the chance to tell Miss Schnee," Royal shrugged. "I was starting to think the grimm got the rest of you, but then I said to myself, no, Cinder Fall would never lose to a bunch of bug shaped grimm like those.
Cinder glanced at him.
"And then I thought, those other two are world heroes, I'm sure they're fine," Royal added. "But I wasn't sure about Mrs. Schnee."
"She's okay," Blake said.
"Well good, and Kettle apparently ran for it, so I guess we're all right. I'm told they'll still let us take off. You know, I sort of like this place. My whole life I was told Vacuo was a bunch of thieving, lying, cheating scoundrels with no class, but they seem way more willing to just do a thing and shut up about it. It's refreshing."
"See he, gets it, I knew I liked this guy," Sun patted Blakes's shoulder.
"I still think it's kind of chaotic here," Blake said.
"This is why we live in Mistral," Sun sighed.
"Well, your girlfriend is always right," Royal said. "Or so I'm told."
"I'm sure a stud like you has had a girlfriend before, you know how it is," Sun nodded.
"None I'd care to remember now," Royal said. "But my case is unique."
"What are you talking about?" Weiss walked back to them. "What happened that's unique?"
"Oh nothing, we're just talking about girlfriends," Sun said.
"Why?" Weiss said.
"Doesn't matter," Royal said.
"Is it because you're in the military?" Sun said. "All you guys are like 'my life is too hectic for relationships' which is so dumb, you know, because whose life isn't hectic?"'
Blake smiled. "Sometimes the most romantic things Sun says are unintentional," she said.
"I would believe everything he says is unintentional," Cinder said.
"Hey," Blake put her ears back.
"See my problem," Royal ignored the girls. "Was more of everyone being a gold digger."
"Oh, tell me about that!" Weiss decided this conversation was relevant at this moment. "My whole life that was the only reason boys ever talked to me, except for Meridian, that's why we're together."
"And Jaune too," Sun said.
"Yeah... but Jaune is Jaune," Weiss said.
"Ouch," Sun said.
"We just didn't really mesh well," Weiss said a bit more nicely. "And he seems happy now. Why woudl I want it to be different?"
"Well yeah, but you don't have to make it out like it's all on him, you can be a lot to deal with too," Sun said.
"Hey!" Weiss cried indignantly.
"Sometimes I do wonder how Meridian handles your-- Weiss-ness without getting overwhelmed," Blake admitted.
"Blake? Really? You too," Weiss said.
"Are they always like this?" Royal asked Cinder.
"For as long as I've had the misfortune to be around them," Cinder replied.
"They seem fun," Royal said. "Like siblings... if I had siblings."
"Emerald and Mercury used to bicker like this," Cinder said. "It drove me crazy. I don't like kids."
"I heard that," Weiss said. "And you're not even as much older than me as Winter is, Cinder."
"And certainly not more mature," Blake added.
"It's good to see that the one thing that unites you all is picking on her," Theo remarked, not noticing any of this till now. "But there's still business to attend to. Meridian, Weiss, go help people re-set up those music stands. Grimm might stall them before they can finish. I hope sand is the worst that happened to most of them."
"Fine," Weiss rolled her eyes.
"We'll say goodbye before we leave," Blake offered. "If they let us wait. If not, I guess we'll see you at the baby shower, you are coming right?"
"As long as I'm not working, I wouldn't miss that," Weiss said.
"That sounds so boring," Sun said. "I mean why not wait till after the baby comes to have the shower, then at least there's a real baby to talk to."
"Babies don't talk, lad," Meridian said.
"They don't?" Sun said.
"Not till they're older," Blake said. "Why would you think that?"
"Blake, I've never actually been around a baby," Sun said.
Blake stared at him. "That's... so sad," she said finally.
"It's not that abnormal, not if you're an only kid in Vacuo," Sun shrugged. "What's so great about that anyway? They're just miniature humans."
"You know if I said that, I'd be called evil," Cinder said.
"Because the only way you would say that is if you meant something evil," Weiss said archly. "Let's go, we're talking about this, later," Weiss directed this last remark at Sun.
As she walked away with Meridian she said "can you believe that? Not liking babies."
"Technically he just said he'd never been 'round one."
"That's so unbelievable."
"I've not been around that many either."
"What?!"
"You two with me," Theo pointed at Cinder and Royal. "And Blacksun, come on."
"What did you call us?" Blake said.
"Oh, that's our team name," Sun said. "Or Eclipse. I think Eclipse is cooler."
"When did that happen?" Blake said.
"I dunno, a while ago, we were just tossing around names and that one stuck," Sun said. "Neptune and Yang's team attack is called Flashflood."
"That seems a little mean to Neptune."
"He's getting over his phobia you know. I hear he's been close to water lately."
"I feel a little like a 3rd wheel," Royal commented, following them.
"It was like that the entire time on the grimm land walk," Cinder said, flatly. "It got worse the longer it lasted, more and more of them paired up. Like 3 pairs of hormonal teenagers wasn't bad enough."
"I can't imagine much worse," Royal winced. "Is it true that the huntsmen academies let them share dorms?"
"Yeah."
"Huh..." Royal must have shared Shine's view of that.
Blake and Sun glanced back at them talking and exchanged a look like "that's not normal."
"You know it's a little weird for me with her around still," Sun said. "I mean, she's cool now and all, but I just get the old heebie jeebies about her plotting something behind our backs."
"I don't think she is, but it's hard not to think of it sometimes," Blake said. "But not with him, he's a good guy."
"Oh I know, do you think he knows her history though? Most Atlesians wouldn't stand that close." Sun said.
Theo motioned at them to hurry up, he was leading them into the inner part of the science building, where the labs would be.
In here it looked more like an Atlas building, glass walls, white coloring--no personality whatsoever.
"Ugh, this is like some medical show," Sun grimaced.
Some technicians cast him a resentful look as they wheeled supplies down the hall.
"This is really professional," Blake said.
"No need to sound so surprised," Theo said.
"Theodore," Cinder spoke up. "Why do I need to be here for this? Can't we just leave?"
"I'll be late at this rate," Royal didn't seem to like the place too much either. Bad memories maybe.
"Nonsense, all of you can help me put this together," Theo said. "You all saw those things up close. Plus, I've been meaning to get first hand reports of the new mind grimm, and this is the perfect chance. I want it all recorded."
"You mean with a camera?" Cinder said warily.
"Whatever," Theo didn't care. "Here this way."
He turned into a section of smaller offices/labs.
Here they found some names and numbers on the doors that were more familiar.
"Dr. Watts?" Sun said. "He has his own office?"
"He would have thrown a fit if he didn't," Theo said. "And it's in our interest to keep him loyal to us, of course you have to stroke his ego. Well, not me, but the other kiss ups around here. Some of them think he's brilliant but most of us think he's a pain in the a--. Still he keeps things running."
"Watts is here now?" Cinder paled. "I'm not going in there."
"Why? Don't want to see your old boyfriend?" Theo didn't care about Cinder's feelings in the least, and his tone made that clear.
"He won't help anyway," Cidner objected. "Not if it's me, so I'll wait."
"No, you won't," Theo said firmly.
Cinder felt that if she argued, he was going to drag her in there by force and make a scene.
She didn't think she could take Theo on his home turf.
She sunk into sullen silence.
"Watts?" Royal frowned. "The Arthur Watts?"
"Yeah, the Arthur Watts," Sun said. "He thinks he's cool, he's mostly just super egotistical and condescending, but I guess he's good with machines so whaddya do?"
"I don't like him, I thought we were asking Victoria?" Blake said.
"Yes, her too," Theo said.
"Victoria?" Cinder repeated.
Forget Watts, she'd prefer him to Kanap.
"Forget it, I'm not talking to her," she said more firmly.
"Fall, you really aren't getting a choice about this," Theo said. "I need help protecting this kingdom and you certainly owe us that much after your escapades, so stop being such a whiny b---h about it. She's not going to eat you."
"You talk to women like that?" Royal said.
"I talk to everyone the same," Theo said. "And what's it to you, Atlas boy? Does it offend your delicate sensibilities?"
"Actually, being polite isn't exclusively an Atlas quality," Royal said thinly. "But it is the quality of a respectable person, man or woman. But guess you'd have to have good role models to know that. I've heard that the old Headmaster here sold out."
This rumor had spread despite Theo's attempts to cover it up. Probably because of the more loose lipped members of the team like Roman.
If Royal had been a student, he'd have known better than to bring it up in front of him though.
Theo gave him a look that could have melted steel.
"Let's get something straight, fly boy, you ever talk s--- about my Uncle again, I'll take a piece of metal and shove it--" he was rather graphic.
Cinder didn't like Theo when he was angry.
"Who's got you riled up now?" Watts slid on a swivel chair into view from around some high wall partitions that were probably hiding machines.
He took in the motley group with an odd smirk.
Royal went from looking stunned at Theo to looking at Watts strangely.
Cinder didn't recognize the look at first, since he'd never had it before, but on her it might have been resentment.
Blake and Sun didn't notice it.
"Hi," Sun said.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Watts said. "Who's this you've brought with you? Someone in need of our services?"
Cinder realized he hadn't identified her yet.
She did look different from before.
But it wouldn't take long.
"I need to ask Vic something about the tunnels," Theo said. "You always seem to know where she is."
"Right now she's a little busy trying to modify a cannon, you might want to wait," Watts said.
"Can't wait, they have a flight to catch and I have other things to do. And we sign your paychecks," Royal said.
"Well, it's your risk," Watts said.
"Great, you can catch up while I get her," Theo walked toward the back of the room. "Vic!" he called.
Cinder hoped Victoria wouldn't come into this area.
"Catch up about what? The latest tournament that was probably rigged?" Watts said.
"We don't do those now," Sun said. "We're already professionals."
"It's a shame how that word has come to be used so loosely these days," Watts said.
"I can't believe you're still working here," Blake said. "I mean, you practically sank Atlas."
"As I recall that was you, dear," Watts said mockingly. "Who pulled the staff out?"
"Who turned the heat off," Blake said.
"Who betrayed Ironwood first?" Watts recoiled
Cinder rubbed her arm and sighed in annoyance.
That gave her away.
"Wait a moment, is that you, Cinder?" Watts recognized her look. "My goodness, is it is... what have you done to yourself? You look like some shop girl."
That he'd gotten it right but meant it as an insult didn't sit well.
"And you look like some reject from a crime show lab's cast," Cinder replied thinly. "I didn't come here to chat, Arthur. I'm just in transit."
"I should hope so, I'm not sure Vacuo is big enough for the two of us," Watts said. "You know, since you tried to kill me."
"You got me kidnapped!" Cinder shot back.
"After you tried to kill me, you savage," Watts said. "What have you been doing? Assassinating people for money?"
"Actually she's gone straight," Sun said. "Like all of you bad guys."
"Oh please, I'd sooner believe if you told me Hazel was taking a dance class," Watts said.
"He might if Raven put it to him," Sun shrugged.
"No, I think he has some self respect," Blake made a face. "Watts, leave her alone, all right? Maybe we all can think it's weird, but you're the last person to judge anyone for being conniving. After what you did to poor Leonardo too."
"Oh please, he was a mess before I ever met him," Watts said. "And who's this other fellow? He looks vaguely familiar."
"This is Royal," Sun said. "Royal Za... uh...how do you say your name again?"
"Zapato." Royal said in a flat tone.
"Zapato?... Zapato..." Watts tapped the desk with pencil. "I know that from some... ah, yes, I believe it might have been one of those wealthy investors we had... oh I know, an old classmate of mine, a certain Archibald Duke, he worked for the family. We used to call him Arch. That brings back memories. I wonder if Tory would know him."
"You're really still friends with her?" Sun couldn't understand why anybody would want to be friends with Victoria.
"Of course, she's brilliant." Watts said.
"That's all you ever care about," Cinder pointed to her temple. "Up there, not anything else."
"What else matters in life but intellect? It's what separates the winners from the losers," Watts said. "I've done well here, much better than in Atlas, in fact. You could say the whole war was just a stepping stone for me. And I finally have the recognition I deserve. What do you have now, Cinder?"
Cinder was not the kind of person who could have answered him the way he'd have hated. She wanted to, but her mind blanked. Watts always got under her skin till she almost saw red.
"So you knew my old tutor?" Royal said, still not like his usual self.
"Ah, so you do remember him," Watts said. "How is the old codger now?"
"My father fired him a long time ago," Royal said.
"Raymond Zapato was known to have high standards," Watts sniffed. "You must be his son. You look just like him. I never had the pleasure of meeting the family myself, but they went to those science displays sometimes. I think they were in... shoes, right?"
"More or less," Royal said.
"Arch is probably living in Argus now, I would think," Watts mused. "I should look him up. He'd do better here."
"Nice altruistic thought," Royal said. "But I'm afraid he's dead. After the Fall of Atlas, everyone had to evacuate. Grimm were everywhere. One of them attacked him. The people around didn't do a thing to help from what I was told. Not sure it's reliable, but he was old, so... not fast."
"Oh, I see," Watts said.
He didn't seem that disturbed by it, just vaguely disappointed. "Well, that is how it goes sometimes."
Cinder clenched a fist.
Sure, she'd have gloated, in the past, but she knew Watts didn't get a kick from killing people--he didn't feel the need to do it to prove he was powerful--he simply didn't care who went down as long as he got what he wanted.
She'd killed people individually by the dozens, but he'd thought nothing of doing it by the hundreds by taking down their defenses. He might think he was more polished than her, but he was just as heartless as she'd ever been.
Possibly more callous. He would not even have bothered to boast about it, that's how little it occurred to him to care.
Not that she was in a position to judge him, but she wouldn't have blamed Royal if he punched him dead in the face.
Although it caught her off guard when it happened the next second.
Sun looked as if he'd have done it if Royal hadn't, and Blake looked nauseated.
"That's so gross," she said, not even bothering to acknowledge that Royal did it.
Royal rubbed his fist.
"That was for Arch and my father," he said.
The only one surprised by that was Watts.
He rubbed his face in shock. "Why, you hooligan, you brute, you miscreant! How dare you come in here and assault me in my own office."
"What's going on in here?" Theo returned to the area.
"He just punched me in the face!" Watts said.
"My apologies, Mr. Rhodes," Royal said, not at all as if he was sorry. "But this man is responsible for the death of too many people I knew to just walk it off."
"Oh, is that all?" Theo said with a straight face. "In that case, carry on."
"Excuse you?" Watts said.
"Arthur, here we fight our own battles," Theo said, as if he was talking to a teenager. "You want him to stop? Stop him yourself. That's how we roll. I can't fight for you. If you can't cut it, that's too bad."
"What was that, Theo?" To their horror, Victoria came into view.