Normal voice

Personal in-mind voice

DISCLAIMER! If you thought I owned agents of SHEILD, you should really rethink your existence. Seriously, if I was MARVEL, I wouldn't be making self-insert fanfics, would I? I would be rolling around in a bunch of money. I only own the plot line and Francoise du Burgundy, the rest belongs to Marvel and all other references to their rightful owners. I cite the "Fair Use Copyright Law," allowing me to use intellectual property, to a limited extent, without getting prior permission, and without me making ANY money from it. All MARVEL characters are not my own, likewise with RWBY being owned by RT and created by the glorious Monty Oum (Bless his soul)

Chapter 7: School is back

Before I start, I must say this chapter is more of fluff than anything to move the story on. Next chapter is story-mover, I promise. And also the beginning of the Volume 1 arc. Events from the original volume may or may not change as time advances.

Scarletina household, June 31, 0900 hours

I expected a serious talk today, but this?

"France, when is your birthday? I have already said, Velvet is on July the tenth*." Mrs. Scarletina was not letting up.

"Uh, I dunno. Never paid any attention to it." That was kind of honest, but mostly a lie. I knew exactly WHEN it was, but again, never paid any attention to it.

"Well, we can't have that! We must determine a day for your birthday. Right, Velvet dear?" Velvet simply nodded, her ever-present blush visible.

"How will we decide? Because I haven't a clue." I was serious about this, if Mrs. Scarletina was.

"How about the day you two met? I know it was a while ago, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate it!" She had some merit to that idea.

"We could do. If you guys want, we could do." I looked at them neutrally.

"Excellent! February the Twentieth, the unofficial birthday of France!" Mrs. Scarletina and Velvet both seemed overly elated to this news. "As for when we will celebrate it this time..."

"Whenever is convenient, if you really want to." I really just wanted to drop the subject and clean up after Breakfast.

"We absolutely must! How about the day after yours, Velvet dear?" Velvet just blushed again.

"If you insist," I answered. "now... Dishes?" I started to stand up.

"No no no, you two go have a chat! You know what about, yes Velvet dear?" Another nod. Unusually quiet today, I thought.

I followed her to the guest room, the temporary abode for myself. "So, what is this mystery subject?"

"Ah um... Well, I uhh..." She trailed off.

"Is it something personal? Like a secret or something? Ooh, we can trade secrets! Is that it?" I had a good idea from how she was acting that it was something else entirely.

"uhm... No, that's not it..." Again, with the trailing off.

"Did someone do something?" I leaned in a bit closer. "Is there someone doing something wrong?" I tilt my head in thought. "Was it me?"

Then, the unexpected happened. I had a feeling that she was in the feels for me, but I didn't expect this. She leaned in and gave a quick peck to my cheek, and then hid her face in a pillow. "Ahh... What?" I just stared at her for a moment.

"Mmmm m mush mm..." I couldn't hear her from the pillow. Pulling myself from the trance, I sat on the bed next to her, and leaned closer.

"What?" I asked again.

She peeked out, with a raging blush. "I uhh... Like-like you..." Then back to the pillow.

"Ah... I see..." I was kind of expecting it, but simultaneously I wasn't. I was stunned, and kinda was quiet for a minute.

I finally poked her in the shoulder a couple of times. "Velvet?"

She peeked again, and this time I returned the kiss before she could react. It was a quick peck on the lips, then I retracted. "I like-like you too." I admitted it with a huge blush and smile. Her face turned an impossible shade of red, and then she collapsed into the pillow, brain fried and smoke leaving her ears. "I uh, I'll let you recover now. I gotta go get something real fast." I smiled and retreated out of the room, doing a quick victory dance. I stopped when Mrs. Scarletina rounded the corner.

She opened her mouth when a cheer erupted from the room. "YEEEESS!" I never knew Velvet's voice could be that loud. I just blushed.

Mrs. Scarletina smirked evilly. "Looks like it went well. That's what we discussed yesterday, boyfriend-girlfriend things. Welcome to the family, France." She then changed her expression to serious, but it was barely holding. "Do right by her, I don't want to have to explain how after you do something wrong you won't ever have kids again." She started laughing but slipped away before she did. I crossed my legs.

"Yes!" I almost shouted it and slid down to the living room. I sat and processed.

Dining room, 1800 hours

"And that is everything." I had to explain (For the hundredth time) how the whole conversation had passed. Mrs. Scarletina was very adamant that she knew everything that happened.

"You lucky girl!" She pinched Velvet's cheek, Velvet being seated next to me and across from her mum. "I didn't get any action till I was almost twenty!" I just shook my head and ate more.

Airship Dock, Mystral, August 10th, 1200 hours

"I will, mom! I promise!" Velvet was saying goodbye to her mum before we set off to Vale again. Second-years had to be at Beacon a week before the first years show up. I was carrying our bags, mine much fuller than before. Mrs. Scarletina was very adamant that I get a "Proper wardrobe" put together. She relented to my demand that it consist of dress shirts and jeans, as that is what I wore. I also secretly patched up my shirt and coat from that day back in summer. To be perfectly honest, I forgot about it almost entirely.

"Now remember, France, no sealing the deal before making the deal!" Mrs. Scarletina was very adamant on that point. Velvet erupted in blush and started to protest.

"Mrs. Scarletina, I am a gentleman. I will not seal the deal before it is made. I am honorable." I put up my own protest to her.

"I know. Just a reminder!" I nodded in assent. When the airship lifted off, we sat together, Velvet's head on my shoulder. It was a quiet ride back to Beacon.

Beacon Airship dock, August 24th, 1130 hours

"And we are here!" I exclaimed as we landed. Me and Velvet were waiting at the door in excitement when it opened. The rest of our team was already there and waiting for us. We saw them all as we stepped out. Velvet was her usual quiet and shy self, if not happy to be with friends. Fox and Yatsu were as calm and stoic as ever. Coco had her usual deviant smirk as she watched us approach. "Hello, everyone."

"Hi!" Fox was always simple in his conversations.

"Indeed, greetings." Yatsu, proper as ever.

"Heya, lovebirds! How was summer?" Coco wore a grin.

I returned with a slight, innocent smirk. "Quite well, wouldn't you agree, Velvet?"

"Yes, indeed!" She smiled brightly.

"How about yours, Ms. Fashionista, and stoic men?" I kept my smile.

"Quite fine indeed." Yatsu answered for himself and Fox.

"It was entertaining. Any... Surprises in store for us?"Coco smirked, and Velvet blushed.

"All in good time, comrades! Let us first find our dorms, and then I shall recount the glorious summer!" I grinned, and we all headed to the dorms. Velvet was blushing, and mouthed Nerd in my direction. I just grinned more.

Unknown where, or when

"Yes, he did stop us." The red-dressed woman was talking to someone in the shadows.

"How?" a woman requested from the shadows.

"I do not know, nor to I know his whereabouts. His face was obscured by a hat during the encounter, and he made it to Mystral with the target before we could get him. Even though he was wounded, he didn't leave a blood trail through the city."

"You let him get away?"

She hesitated. "Yes, master. I am sorry, it will not happen again."

"Make sure of it. Something has awakened on this world, something that hasn't been around for millennium. I cannot have a mere child stopping my plans. Understood?"

"Yes, master."

"Good. Find the fall maiden again. We must acquire that power. Go now."

"Yes, master."

The red-dressed woman left the room. "Just why are you back? I banished you to another world so long before I took this vessel. Why have you returned? To spite me? I should have kept it, and risked death to control you." The shadow woman's eyes glowed red, looking at an old painting, almost with an air of fear.

The painting was of a red stone.

Whaaat? Evil witches in the shadows? I must be having a hekin bad day! Anyway, that's a wrap.

*I invented this birthday, I have no knowledge of when anyone's birthday is.

Tra!