Settle Up Pt 8

"Keep eyes on the target!"

"She's doing something to try to mask her presence but can only effect a number of targets. Keep surveillance going."

"Negative. Do not engage. Follow the rat back to the nest. Her ability is weak to certain forms of detection."

"... and then Neo just gave Blake a wink and everyone laughed except Blake and myself because I didn't get it. Walt? Why is it amusing?"

Walt was trying not to laugh. "I believe you described the main character from "Ninjas of Love" love interests rivals costume."

"How is that funny?"

Walt wasn't sure how best to describe the "relationship" between the main characters love interest and the rival from the other clan to Penny. NTR? Would Penny understand cuckoldry? "Boy howdy... uh, it's kind of complicated..." he saw Weiss coming holding two plates. Saved by the bell. "Oh, I think that's our food! Have Blake explain it to you later, ok? She's the expert."

Penny nodded. "I tried to get her to explain it before but I'll try again!"

Weiss smiled at them. "Sorry for the wait. One "Ruby" Boarbatusk Burger with Pyrrha fries." She sets the plate infront of Penny. "And one "Yang" Boarbatusk Burger with Pyrrha fries and a side of Ozpin onion rings." She sets the plate infront of Walt. "Can I get you anything else? Refill perhaps?"

Penny smiles and shakes her head but Walt nods. "Can I get another beer, Weiss?" He drains the last gulp from the oversized mug and passes it to her.

"Certainly! Rainier correct? Another "Branwen" size?" Walt nodded and she smiled. "I'll bring that right over!"

"Thank you, Weiss," Walt told her. He looked at Penny's Burger than his own. "Penny may I try a bite of your burger first, please?"

Penny was just lifting her Burger up to her mouth and stopped, tilting her head. She blinked and nodded. "Of course, Master Walter!"

She held it out to him and he sniffed it, then took a small bite and chewed slowly. "Hmm... it's got a slight sweetness to it. Some kind of glaze and the Hawaiian roll. Not bad." He swallowed and smiled at her. "Yup. Very "Ruby"." Walt looked at his Burger and then started polishing off the appetizers.

Penny bit into her Burger making delighted sounds. "Mmm... that is good!" She set it down. "May I try your "Yang" burger?"

"Hmm?" Walt looked up from the appetizers. She giggled as he'd gotten the special dipping sauce on his face. "Walt! You're wearing your food again! Come here." She held out the napkin and as Walt leaned forward he accidentally pushed his plate off the table and Weiss stepped on it bringing him his beer refill.

"Oh no!" She said carefully setting the beer down. "I'm terribly sorry, Sir! I must have put it too close to the edge of the table!"

"Oh, that's a shame," Penny said. " You didn't even get a chance to try it yet..."

Walt nodded. "It's just bad luck and it wasn't your fault Weiss. I'm just clumsy sometimes. Let me help." He grabbed a napkin like he was going to help and slid out of the booth and stepped on the Burger too. He looked up sheepishly. "Sorry... I really am a klutz today..."

Weiss smiled. "Well you definitely can't eat it now! I'll have them make you another one on the double! Jaune?"

Jaune came over. "What's the prob- oh, boy! That's a mess."

Walt looked at him. "I'm sorry."

"Nah. Don't worry about it. It happens all the time especially with the little kids," he assured Walt looking at the table. "D6. BBQ bacon burger double stack big mouth, yeah? We'll get you another one. Kitchens a little busy at the moment but we'll get you squared away asap."

Walt smiled and nodded. "That's some memory! Yes, please and thank you. Oh and please pass along my apologies and compliments to the kitchen staff. Tell them everything else has just been fantastic for us?"

Jaune grinned. Maybe hearing that would cheer Ren up just a little bit... worth a try! "You got it, champ! Thanks for that!"

"Damn! That's just bad luck," Emerald said to her.

She angrily clutched the high-tech binoculars as the man she was watching wiped something from his eye with his middle finger and she lowered them. They started to shatter and pop as they melted to slag in her grasp.

"It's not bad luck," She hears him say. "That was intentional. Did you really think that was going to work? Even if it had, it wasn’t likely to kill him."

She could smell his damn cigar. "What are you doing here?"

He laughed. "I came to take in the show, of course! I heard it was amateur comedy hour!" He drops the act and his voice. "Why do you think I'm here? The Boss sent me. She got word you and Emerald left and figured you'd be up to something foolish and sent me to check. And lo and behold! What do I find? She was right. She's getting tired of your childish antics and wants a word."

"Foolish? My childish antics?" She questioned angrily. "You're the one playing games, Roman!"

Roman Torchwick laughed. "Oh, so you do understand, Cinder? That makes this a lot easier!" He goes back to being serious. "That's right, because that's what it is. A high stakes game. Bluff, feint, counter move, study your opponent, up the ante, learn their techniques and strategies, probe their strengths, conceal your own weaknesses and strengths." He shakes his head. "But you have to be the child in the room. He called you out, practically invited you to attack him just so you could hurt her... and you took the bait and now I'm cleaning up your mess for the boss. Again. We've got three minutes by the way."

She was too livid to speak so Emerald did. "Three minutes until what?"

Roman blinked at her. "You're kidding me right? You fucked it up! She took the bait, sent you without thinking it through her half assed plan, then you blindly follow her orders, stupidly think you just managed to "slip past" scores of 3S agents and operatives, then "got away clean" only to be foiled by "bad luck"?!"

"I guarantee you've been made Emerald. Which means he's probably put enough pieces together to finger her, if he hadn't already. Which means he'll start figuring out some of the rest of us." He shook his head and Emerald at least saw how foolishly they'd bungled. "Come on we're getting out of here. Boss is waiting." He walked through the stairwell door and didn't look back.

Emerald turned to look back at Cinder. "Cinder...?"

She turned and didn't say anything walking past Emerald and to the door. Emerald followed after her. The fire started 90 seconds later.

"Mmm... that is pretty good!"

"I'm glad you like it, Penny!" Ruby said holding out the ice cream cookie sandwich that Walt had used his points on for a "visit".

Walt smiled at Penny as Ruby fed her and he listened to Friday's report and looked at the info in his glasses display, eating his new burger. "I'm glad it makes you happy, Penny!"

"I'm so glad you're pleased, Walt!" Penny grinned. "Won't you have a bite too?"

"You totally should!" Ruby said holding the treat out in his direction.

Walt smiled at the picture of Emerald Friday showed him and the dossiers on her and Cinder that came up with related materials of known associates and nodded. "Alright. Just a small bite." He leaned forward and took a tiny nibble causing the two to "boo" and encourage him to "go for more" so he took a bite and they cheered.

"It's pretty good, right?"

Walt smiled and nodded as Jaune looked out the window at the smoke far off in the distance and the setting sun. "Must be a fire or something..."

Walt swallowed and picked up his burger. "This burger is too. The sauce has a little kick... I don't mind a little something sweet to go with some heat."

Penny smiled. "That does sound good! May I try a bite?"

Walt held it out for her as she bit down. "Mmm... I like that too. You're right, Walt! Spicy, heat and cold and sweet do go together well!"

Ruby laughed "Penny!" and Walt chuckled. Penny blinked until Walt leaned forward to lick her cheek clean and wipe it with a napkin. "You're my favorite treat, Penny."

Penny blushed and smiled happily. "I feel the same way, Walt."

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Manami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress and Serana

Will Return In

Settle Up Pt 9

Coming Soon]