Velvet's chapter: Set approximately three weeks after the last chapter.


One Day They'll Understand


Velvet Scarlatina hadn't expected to be called out by Blake Belladonna of all people. They had been somewhat close at Beacon, as they were both Faunus, but they had fallen out of touch after Velvet had graduated and she hadn't heard from her in awhile.

She was a little happy to hear from one of her underclassmen but she really hoped it wasn't something too serious. She didn't exactly handle personal confrontations very well and if Blake was calling her specifically it was almost surely Faunus related. Velvet's bunny-ears twitched as she thought about some of the bullying she had been put through while at Beacon.

It hadn't been all bad but there had been a fair share of discrimination. There were also those that didn't seem to mind either, such as Jaune Arc. Secretly, Velvet had been thrilled to hear Blake had started going out with Jaune. She didn't really understand how or why they had become an item but that wasn't really important. Blake was a Faunus and she had a hard time looking past that fact despite how hard she tried to hide it. So for her to go out with a human was clearly a sign of improvement. Though the rest of the school didn't know Blake's identity, so it was only a small step but it also helped tear down the walls between their two races and any small crack in the wall was good in Velvet's book.

It had actually been getting better by leaps and bounds the past couple years, since the White Fang had mysteriously fallen apart. No one could really figure out how or why it had happened, kinda like how no one could figure out Jaune and Blake's relationship. Still, she was just glad it happened. Maybe there was actually a chance for peace in her lifetime now? She certainly hoped so.

Velvet allowed herself a small smile as she walked down the streets of Vale, heading towards the cafe Blake had asked to meet at. Before she would always walk with her head hung low and her shoulders hunched so as not to draw attention to herself. It never really worked and she would always get jeers and nasty looks from more racist humans. Now though, she was an official Huntress and she walked confidently and with her head held high. And gone were the looks that terrified her so much not but a couple years ago, proof that things were changing.

That wasn't all that was changing though. She stopped hard as she caught sight of Blake. The black-haired girl was sitting at a table in the outside portion of the cafe and her back was turned at the moment. Her black hair was as long and beautiful as ever and she was dressed in Beacon's school uniform...but her black bow was noticeably absent, leaving her cat ears completely exposed. Blake...she wasn't hiding!

A huge grin spread across Velvet's face as she hurried over to her friend. "Blake!" She called as she walked around the table.

"Velvet." Blake smiled as the bunny girl sat down opposite of her. "Thank you for coming out to see me, I know you must be busy with Hunter missions."

"Oh, it's no problem at all! I was really happy to hear from you." Velvet waved it off and continued to grin at her. "I see you've finally decided to stop hiding your ears."

Blake gave a small nod as she rolled up the sleeve of her uniform. Her bow was wrapped around her forearm in an intricate crossing pattern. "I couldn't quit wearing it altogether, it's important to me. It's a part of me now. But I also decided to show the rest of the world who I truly am."

"That's really great to hear." Velvet placed her fingers together in front of herself and her ears twitched happily. "What made you decide to do that?"

Blake gave a small amused smile as she took a sip from her tea. "I got pregnant."

"..."

"..."

"...What?" Velvet's smile cracked but otherwise her face had completely frozen. Wait, wait, wait. Blake Belladonna, pregnant? Something wasn't adding up here. She was one of the most cautious people Velvet had ever met! And she was pregnant? Had it been intentional? Surely not, she was still a student! "Is it Jaune's!?"

Blake's nose crinkled in annoyance. "Why does everyone ask that with such disbelief? Is it really that hard to believe that he's the father?" Velvet quickly began to shake her head from side to side, her ears wobbling wildly as she did.

"No, no! I didn't mean it like that! I'm just...you? Pregnant? What happened?" Well, she knew what happened but hopefully Blake understood what she meant.

Blake let out a small sigh before taking another sip of her tea. "...I got careless, no I guess that isn't the right word." Velvet quirked her eyebrow as Blake grew quiet and appeared to contemplate how to continue. Finally she seemed to know what she wanted to say. "Do you mind if I ask you something?"

Velvet personally felt like that was her line. She had a million questions running through her head right now but maybe if she let Blake just talk she could understand without having to ask them. "Of course not, go ahead." She inclined her head slightly and gave the most supportive smile she could at the moment.

"Why did you decide to become a Huntress?" Okay, well she had not expected that question. It was like a complete topic change. Velvet wasn't sure but somehow this must connect back to Blake being pregnant, right?

"It's not a very exciting reason." She shuffled uncomfortably in her seat. "I've always been a really weak, timid person. Huntresses were like the exact opposite of me. They were strong and full of confidence. I thought that if there was any way for me to change then it would be by becoming like them. It was just admiration of others and self-loathing of my past self that pushed me forward." She felt really lame having said it out loud.

Blake nodded as if that answer was satisfactory though. "So you became a Huntress for yourself. I think that's great and I wish I could say the same, but the truth is I did it for others." Velvet tilted her head curiously. What was so wrong with that? When Blake put it like that, it made her own reason sound really selfish whereas Blake's was selfless. "I wanted to put an end to the White Fang and the discrimination between humans and Faunus." She continued and suddenly Velvet understood.

The White Fang was gone. Discrimination still existed but it was becoming weaker, although it would likely always be there but now there was no physical enemy for her to point her blade at. In some essence, Blake had lost her reason to become a Huntress. That was something Velvet never had to worry about because her goal was being a Huntress from the beginning.

"So I've been doing a lot of thinking lately." Blake placed a hand on her stomach and drummed her fingers against it idly. "How am I supposed to contribute against racism now? What's the purpose of me continuing to try and become a Huntress? Am I supposed to just use my talents to go dish out vigilante justice against those that would attack helpless Faunus? I don't need a license to do that. So I was lost. Then one day while lying next to Jaune, I thought of something."

Velvet could now see where this was beginning to go. Yet she remained quiet and allowed Blake to say it in her own words.

"It was small at first. Just a nagging feeling in the back of my mind. But the more I ignored it the stronger the desire became. I wanted...to raise a family. If Jaune and I started a family together, we could raise our kids to not tolerate discrimination. Just us being together takes a stand against it. I never talked to him about this though...and I didn't intend for this to happen...but, I got careless. I think it was because secretly I wanted this to happen that it did."

Velvet could only nod slowly. Wasn't this...a good thing then? If this was what Blake wanted. Wait- "What does Jaune think?" He wasn't angry at her, was he?

Blake gave an amused snort. "That idiot is over the moon at the idea of becoming a father. He's too simple-minded to be angry, even after I told him that last part. Knowing him he's running all over Vale looking for ways to afford some kind of engagement ring. I doubt he has any intention of letting his child be born outside of wedlock. He can be old-fashioned like that."

Velvet smiled gently. Blake's words sounded harsh but she could hear the affection in which she spoke them. "So you're going to get married?"

"Certainly looks that way."

"So what exactly is the problem?" Velvet continued to smile as she tilted her head curiously. As far as she could tell everything about this situation seemed good to her. They were both happy and about to start a family. That was surely good.

"The problem is we're in school." Oh yeah, there was that. "Beacon is pretty strict on that policy too. Student's that get pregnant usually aren't allowed to continue their education. I have a hearing with Goodwitch next week but I'm not optimistic about my chances."

"That's okay though, right? You just said that you didn't see the point in becoming a Huntress anymore. Isn't this what you really wanted? Jaune is even willing to support you."

"It's Jaune that I'm worried about. Even though he is the father he won't necessarily be kicked out from Beacon. If I go though he'll almost certainly quit along with me." Ah, that certainly sounded like something Jaune would do too. Velvet couldn't deny that. "He's like you though. His dream of becoming a Hunter was for himself. He has a family legacy to keep. How can I just let him throw away his dream for me? For us?" She once more looked down at her stomach as she said this.

Velvet couldn't help it; she let out a small giggle. Blake glanced at her in complete shock which only made her laugh harder and she had to place a hand in front of her mouth. "You must really care about him." She said in between gasps. "I admit I was a little worried about you two since you're both still only twenty-one. If you care that much though I'm sure you'll be fine."

"I still fail to see what's so funny." Blake deadpanned and Velvet had to keep from bursting into another round of giggles.

"You just said it yourself. Jaune has a family legacy to uphold. But you and that child growing inside you are his family now. As far as he's concerned anyways, I'm sure." She didn't know Jaune all that well but maybe it was because she had only really known him from a distance that she could say this so confidently. Blake was too close to him and cared too much to see it this way without being told. "He would certainly much rather be remembered as a father that was there for his wife and child then a hero that left the mother to raise his child on her own."

Blake's jaw went slack as she stared at her but Velvet could see the realization as her brain accepted what she was saying as truth. She was probably beating herself up a little for not having been able to see it for herself. "Thanks...Velvet. I'm glad I came to talk to you."

"You're most welcome." Velvet place her elbows on the table and leaned forward while her bunny ears twitched happily.

"I'm sorry but I should get going myself." Blake quickly finished her tea and set down a healthy amount of lien on the table. "Use this to buy yourself something as well. You haven't had anything yet."

Velvet nodded her thanks. "Goodbye Blake. Stay in touch! I can't wait to see your child!"

"Children."

"Huh?" Blake's correction surprised her. "You...you're having twins!?"

Blake rolled her eyes before turning to walk off. "Try triplets!" She called over her shoulder.

Velvet could only stare at her retreating form with wide eyes and an open mouth. Oh wow, they were going to have their work cut out for them, that's for sure.

"Ma'am, can I get you something?" A waiter smiled at her as he approached.

After that news though, she felt like she was going to need something a little stronger than coffee.