Lost Father

Raising Neo Pt 1

3rd POV

It's been a few days since Y/N agreed to take Neo with him. Since then she's never left his side. Currently they're making their way west of Sanus. They're forced to a stop by a tipped over tree.

Y/N: "Oh what gives?"

Man: "Halt!!!"

They're then surrounded by several men.

Man: "You're entering Skuller territory. You'll have to pay a fee to pass."

Y/N: "Look, I've got a kid with me and I'm strapped for cash. So please be a saint and just let us through."

Man: "Pay,"

They all withdraw their weapons.

Man: "Or there'll be consequences."

Y/N: "There'll be consequences if you waste anymore of my time."

They all stare each other down as Neo clings tightly to Y/N's leg.

Man: "Last chance. Pay, or die."

Y/N: "Neo, when I say so I want you to close your eyes and hold on tight okay?"

She nods.

Man: "Get him."

Y/N: "Now."

She closes her eyes as Y/N picks her up. He then withdraws one of his daggers using it to block the sword of one Skuller. Looking in his peripheral he spots another aiming a cross bow. Acting quick he shifts using the sword Skuller to take the crossbow bolt. 

He then kicks sending him into the archer. With his attention drawn there one Skuller manages to cut Y/N's back. He shifts to his gun and pistol whips the Skuller into the ground. As he goes down several bolts skewer his back.

Y/N: "Fuck that hurt."

Activating his semblance the bolts shoot out of his back pinning his attacker to the tree. Turning around he manages to catch a club. But not allowing him to breathe a second club comes in. Acting quick he tosses Neo into the air. 

Now free he swings the first club wielder into the second one. But the second teleports behind Y/N allowing him to bring down his club dislocating his arm. Cursing he snap kicks the club wielder into a boulder. Y/N then catches Neo as he spots all the Skullers on the ground.

Y/N: "You can open your eyes now."

She does spotting the unconscious Skullers.

Y/N: "Let's get going before more show up."

He carries her down the road where they soon set up camp. As the fire burns Neo sees Y/N resetting his arm. When he sighs Neo spots something on his neck. She walks up to him.

Y/N: "You need something?"

She points to his neck. He feels sighing.

Y/N: "That's a symbol of a past life."

He leans closer allowing her to get a better look. She discovers it's a brand of a black wolf. He then lifts up his jacket putting on his dog tags. This sparks Neo's interest again causing her to point at them.

Y/N: "It's the same with these. A past life."

She leans closer wanting to hear more.

Y/N: "Long ago there was this little town of Koa. It was really peaceful. Mountains surrounded the north, west and east. To the south was nothing but the sea. The complete isolation made it so there wasn't much to worry about, not even Grimm. But like they say good things never last."

He looks down.

Y/N: "Faster than anyone could imagine a foreign kingdom invaded the peaceful town. After all the supplies were pillaged fifty children no older than five were taken from their parents. They were taken back to the kingdom where they were inducted into the perfection project. A experiment meant to push a human past what they were capable of, a super Huntsman. The process involved taking away one's semblance. Then they tampered with their genetics stretching their auras to the point of snapping. Of all fifty subjects only seven survived. They were called the gifted."

He pokes the fire.

Y/N: "Once they have survived the process they were trained relentlessly. The subjects grew from crying children to hardened soldiers capable of taking down Huntsman who trained all their lives. They were then branded with an animal. Each brand was made to represent the core aspect of the subject. Mine was the wolf. It represented my tendency to be alone and impulsive nature."

Neo holds up six fingers.

Y/N: "Once we had completed the program we were released into the world. Some of us coped well with the freedom, others didn't. They couldn't stand the lack of action and offed themselves. But that was a long time ago. For all I know they're all dead."

Neo points to Y/N.

Y/N: "My ability is what's keeping me alive. It won't let me go. Guess you could say I hit the lottery. And at one point it felt that way. But when you spend years facing death only to never be claimed you tend to question if you're really living. Pretty soon life grows boring so you just walk and never stop."

Neo looks down. Y/N ruffles her hair.

Y/N: "Don't go getting depressed. It'll make me sad. Since we'll be hitting town tomorrow how about I take you to do some shopping?"

Neo smiles nodding her head.

Y/N: "Now get some sleep, we're leaving at first light."

Neo lays down as Y/N covers her with his jacket. When she falls asleep he lays down staring at the stars.

Y/N: "This kid, maybe she's the break I need. Maybe she's my ticket to feeling alive again."

He smiles at the thought before falling asleep.