For the time being it was much easier to focus on the dead space between the crowds– the gaps of light where no shadows tread. If he capitalized those opportunities in order to press ahead, then he was moving forward in some respect, even if his mind and heart trailed far behind.
And yet, among all the faceless silhouettes– Penny had always been something of a beacon of light, in this moment drawing Ironwood into her path with an evident expression of shock.
“Penny.” The name arrived breathlessly on his lips as the crowd cycled around their stilled forms. In this moment the General gave the other no opening to flee in the way that her heart so intended. Rather, before she could say anything at all, he moved to take a knee– all the better to engage her eye-to-eye.
“You’re alright. I was so worried. When Winter said–”
Where his words had at first parted from him with all sincerity– with wonder as much as relief, the memory of Winter’s final text to him before he had been spirited away returned. So, provided that recollection…he felt it– the dregs of ice threatening to creep up over his countenance, and splinter his heart with exceptionally painful slivers. However, Penny had never before disappointed him– surely nothing remiss had happened in their time apart, and surely the loss of the Winter Maiden was a setback attributed only to the sheer cunning of their enemies…
(Surely he was still assured some modicum of control.)
“Penny…” On its second use the name was lent less geniality, and instead had begun to give way to the fog of suspicion that clouded his interests often as of late. This evident shift in his mood saw to it that his next words were uttered firmly, a modicum of space permit between them that drove home the severity of the question at hand:
If only he could be assured confirmation of her loyalty…soon this would all be behind them…
The tone shift catches her by surprise, the little dream that maybe he would not bring up the topic slips from her hands and flies off into the far distance. It was a naive thought, really; of course he would question her about the incident because she’s one of his trusted people, someone Ironwood allowed to hear information so many others wouldn’t hear until it was no longer deemed confidential.
She’s betrayed him. That simple action of fleeing with Team RWBY and everyone else signified her cut connection. Penny’s eyes are affixed to the space past Ironwood’s shoulder, taking in every detail of the concrete as she opens her mouth and struggles to find her words to explain herself.
The hiccups build in her throat like no other time, threatening to pour out the moment she tries to speak any lie on the matter. She’s scared, horribly so. Turning heel and running would be an option if she could boost out of here like at home, but her thrusters haven’t responded since she arrived and Penny is almost certain he can outrun her at this rate.
“ I... C - Cinder Fall found Fria’s location. Winter and I took to battling her and we failed to capture her, ” she begins, tone shaky. “ Fria... Fria defended herself before Winter continued to fight Cinder Fall. I... I... ”
Penny covers her face, unable to take the idea of seeing how Ironwood reacts to her next words.
“ I held Fria in her last moments! I... S - She gave me the Winter Maiden’s power and I ran...! ”
( Omitting the end wouldn’t have set anything off, but what’s the point in a half-truth? She wouldn’t be able to take it. Putting everything on the table ... ending all of this fast is all she can do, right? )
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