Chapter 12: Scarlet Heat

A/N: Disclaimer: Monty Oum and Roosterteeth owns this. Need I say more?

Gotta type this now before I forget, thank you for those who have reviewed a lot. I cannot express how it's been great answering comments and questions. I hope you guys can still read on and again, always open for communication.

So this is going to be in a kind of a weird format. Hope it makes sense for you as Velvet makes contact with one of our afflicted heroines.

Blake looked out the bookstore's large window, eyes trying to catch each raindrop coming from the gray sky. This was all she could do for the moment as anything else might trigger a violent reaction.

For the past while, the Faunus has been running around the entire town to look for clues on her condition. However, a lot of the places she wished to look at were full of people doing their own research. Getting close to even one person unleashed a torrent of emotions tempting her to commit a forbidden act.

The only places she could find were the empty ones like the bookstore standing at a deserted corner of the city. Full of bookshelves on two floors that had brown coffee tables, the distressed girl liked how she could relax while doing her personal and academic studies.

However, the cat felt somewhat bad since this meant spending less time with her teammates. Although still set on being the loner of the group, she felt she should have treated them better rather than get into the fights tearing them further apart.

"Uh, hello. You wouldn't happen to be from Beacon, would you?"

From her seat on a table, the Faunus turned to see a girl wearing her school's uniform. The same person also had blushed cheeks and brown hair, the most notable being the large rabbit ears on her head.

Blake realized she managed to get the attention of her fellow kin. This made her felt happy to know this, yet sad thanks to her condition.

"I am. And you must be Velvet."

"How did you know?" The shy bunny sounded nervous as the two hardly knew each other.

"Your name came up whenever…Cardin was involved." Blake remembered the bully, wishing the bastard could get kicked by an Ursa and die. Still holding a straight face, she calmly asked, "So is there something you need from me?"

"N-not really, I was wondering if you were lonely."

"Lonely? Why would you assume that?"

Velvet shrunk from the snappy tone. "Y-you keep looking out the window as if you're expecting someone. Also, I'm used to seeing you be together with your team like that one time in the dining hall. What happened?"

The question had Blake remember all the times she fought with Weiss, even had several unpleasant exchanges with Ruby and Yang. "We're not at our finest nowadays. There's no need to talk about it."

"Well, you don't look so sure."

"Why? Do I look that weak to you?!" By now, the cat's feelings were becoming jumbled to where her voice grew louder on the quiet second floor.

The bunny didn't seem fazed as she gathered bravery for the sake of the other. "Don't you know you're shedding tears? You must be feeling something related to what we just talked about"

Confused, the girl of black raised a finger and wiped it across her eye. She felt drops of water come out, making her realize that it was more than the pain that her illness has been giving her.

She was lonely in the face of her dire condition. The truth given by her current companion made Blake Belladonna realize she terribly missed her teammates. Her thoughts of regret regarding her past fights was burning brightly in her mind in correspondence with her emotions.

"I…I didn't know." Keeping a sane voice, Blake looked away to hide her teary eyes. "I wasn't aware until you mentioned it."

The patient Velvet grabbed her own arm with the opposite hand. "Do you want to talk about it? I'm free and people aren't usually here at this time." The rabbit said this as she was fortunately a constant visitor; there was no doubt in the voice that spoke of the facts.

"Yes, maybe that's what I need to do." The cat, feeling unusually out of character, saw a napkin appear in front of her face. She noticed it was from Velvet, who was giving her a comforting smile.

"Here, you'll need this while we talk," the girl of brown said while she took the seat across the table. "And I could just listen, so say whatever comes to mind, alright?"

Blake dried her face with the cloth. "No, it's fine. You don't-."

"Actually, I insist on being here. I hate how you look so downcast…it reminds me of how I could have used a friend when I was like you." Velvet's eyes intensified to show she was willing to stay until the other felt better.

The cat could see this intention, which made her nod after giving the napkin back. "I was actually in the middle of reading the assignment from Professor Oobleck's class. Do you want to work on it together while we talk?"

"That would be wonderful, I was having trouble with the darn thing myself." Voice thick with her accent, the Faunus, happy to be of use as desired, slid the book to where she and the cat could see it.

Blake also smiled and flipped open the pages, feeling unusually calm as if her disease didn't exist.

"You done yet, Sin?"

"Almost there, keep it up cowgirl!" The green-haired lass continued typing on a holographic computer inside a small room of a large building. He glanced up to see his blonde companion fighting off the gray AK androids running at her with chainsaw blades.

"Take your time, just trying some new moves." On cue, the fighter slammed one robot into the body of another. She ran to another and punched it so strong that the body crashed into two more behind. Spinning, she punched both arms out at the same time to make two simultaneous blasts wreck an approaching bot.

"Show off," whispered the smiling Sin as he finished downloading the data into his memory stick. Taking out the green lighter-shaped device, he pocketed it and took out a sparking handgun with his good arm. He shot it at the computer, making it puke out a garble of static.

Walking outside, he noticed the floor littered with machine parts. In the midst of them was Yang, panting hard with hands on knees. She just finished destroying the building's entire security force by herself.

"I didn't say you had to catch all of their attention," said the impressed boy while flexing his bandaged arm. "But I'm never a robot fan, so the clusterfuck isn't bad." Passing by his ally, he slapped her butt to make a loud smack. This earned him a punch to the face that sent him sprawling on the floor.

"I told you to stop after the first time," said the angry Yang.

"And I took back the comment about your disproportionate body. Didn't that make us even?" Seeing the blonde sigh made the one rising mutter curse words and walk to the front entrance. Once outside, he looked behind to see the tall white building silhouetted against the darkness of night.

Yang came up beside her cohort. "You done now? Let's get something to eat, I'm starving."

"In a minute." The boy took out a square box with a switch on it. Pressing it made the lights inside the entire complex blink on and off until it shut down. Sin smiled at his partner and said, "EMP special for good measure."

"You said you already got the footage."

"Yeah, but you never know, right?" cackled the evil one while he trekked through the sidewalk lit by the nearby lampposts. He put his hands behind his head and walked backwards to face the frowning blonde. "What, did I do something wrong again?"

"No, just thinking when I should be going back."

"We're done for the night, so you can leave." The boy's suggestion made his mouth taste sour for some reason.

"Naw, I really want to get something that's not cafeteria food. Happy hour is going on at Loco Brohos, let's get something there. You're buying."

"Yeah, that does sound…wait a minute, did you just try to pass one by me?" Sin could see the slightest crease of a grin on the other's face.

"You think I'd try to screw you over?"

"Yeah, like a bitch." Sin sighed to hear the giggle while he took out a cigarette. He was about to light it with his portable drive when the stick was suddenly snatched from his mouth.

"The fuck?!"

"I told you to stop this when you're around me." Yang crushed the wrap into pieces. As the tobacco scattered, the blonde finished, "And no, it's not medication. I've heard too many assholes use that excuse."

Sin loudly moaned as the girl caught him and whined, "Then go bother someone else for tonight. Heck, I thought we were done when you called my information bullshit." Despite the bitter tone, the one talking felt some regret for saying this.

"I take it back. I'm sure there's something you'll tell me over dinner. C'mon, we're going to be late." Yang was about to leave when she heard, "You really think I can't tell a lie when I hear one? You've got to have balls to think you can do that to Sinclaro."

The girl of yellow rolled her eyes and turned to see the brat's grin marked with evil. "At least I have a pair. And really? Third-person?"

"Gonna keep going until you admit it. Now spill it, what's the real reason for these meet-ups with the great Sinclaro? Maternal last name is Grantigre, by the way."

Yang blew a piece of long hair from her face. "Why should I trust you with anything? You might end up using it as blackmail."

"And you think what I know isn't enough? Got your room, Scroll, even your bike's number. Plus some of your family history, although I'm not too into that." Sin shrugged with a scrunched up face to show his arrogance. "And really, do you think I'm going to brag it to your friends who go to a school I don't even attend?"

The blonde took a moment to think, seeing that the boy was partially right. She became tempted as she did want to tell someone, although she wasn't aware of the Mark list owned by the False Prophets.

"If you laugh or make a snarky comment, I'm going to end this with a fist to your balls."

"No promises."

Yang groaned as she and the boy stopped near a building full of colorful lights. Still wondering if she should tell, she noticed she had the other's full attention with eyes lacking its usual evil glint.

"Fine, I use our outings as an excuse to go back late. Happy?" Although the words were rushed, the brawler could tell her listener caught every one.

The boy waved a hand up and down his body like a presented prize. "Really? You weren't trying to get a piece of this?"

"Sin, you're about to squeal."

"Fine, fine. Keep going." The green-haired brat crossed his legs for caution.

"Anyways, long story short, our team is going through a phase. Don't really want to be there when it's like that."

"So you're ditching them because you can't stand each other? What, had a fight over a guy?'

"No, it's not that. It's…I don't know. There's something going on and I thought I could learn it from you. It doesn't help when you give me cryptic crap."

The blonde looked up at the moon, feeling somewhat comforted by the light. "But the more we did this, I thought it was kind of fun compared to the boring days spent in the classes. Well, that's not fair to say. It is where I'm kind of learning Hunter stuff. And Ruby too…you know what, maybe we should stop this."

Yang said the last part out of realization that she was helping the boy in his crimes. She knew, but chose to tolerate it until she found useful information. Then the team drifted apart, making her feel unwilling to go back until her leader's message to have Hopegathering came to mind.

"My sister is trying to do something good for the team. She's been busy going in and out of the dorm while getting some kind of help, dunno from who." Yang didn't know why she expressed this out loud, but she didn't feel uncomfortable for doing so.

"Blondie, where are you going with this?"

"What I'm trying to say is that it was…nice working with you?" The girl wasn't sure since the boy has been listening to her advice about shaping up, although most were temporary measures. "Today's the last day I do this with you."

After a momentary pause, a surprised voice said, "Hold the fuck up. You're just going to break off like that?" Sin snapped his fingers for emphasis.

"Yeah, unless you have something to finally tell me. Equipment details and bragging doesn't count, so until you have one, there's no reason for us to work together." Yang began to walk on the way back to Beacon. "If I see you again, it's going to be as enemies. Try to be decent until then, kay?"

The blonde was actually hoping the boy would say something since he seemed to rely on only her for his operations. However, she didn't expect much since she remembered he literally had a whole army to look to for help.

"Wait, wait, I'll talk. Just…don't leave, okay?"

The unexpected plead made the one leaving turn to see the boy's sheepish frown. "Do you need me that bad to sound like a wimp?"

"Yeah, when you've been the only one helping me so far." Sin saw the shocked face, making him mutter, "Those guys are under my boss's orders…paying lien had them listen for a day."

The news surprised the girl for just a moment. Her eyebrows then furrowed while she sarcastically said, "Wow, how lucky. You had them listen to you on the same day I came over. Way to present yourself like a classy douchebag."

"Okay, fine. To make things simple, I'm going to say sorry for whatever counts." The sass didn't stop as the boy continued, "Can we leave it behind us now?"

Yang crossed her arms as their talk made it apparent they were still staying with each other. "You're still paying."

"We'll talk about that later, so come on. Let's go inside," said the angry Sin. He walked on towards the large red double doors while the girl followed, sighing at the boy's attitude.

"And we're finished," the exhausted Blake yawned as she pushed away the book filled with a rainbow of bookmarks. "Thanks for helping me, Velvet. Now I can find time to do my personal research."

"Personal research? Was this mad study session not enough for you?" the exhausted bunny asked. Raising her arms, she stretched them to rid the stiffness from hours of flipping and holding pages.

Seeing this made Blake happy, more from feeling nothing after noticing the other's slim body and traces of a large chest. "It's urgent I have this done. It's actually the reason why I've been somewhat off nowadays."

"Off? You mean it's why you're distant from your team?"

By now, Blake was comfortable with her new friend to admit, "Yes, apparently, I have something…a malady that was last sighted at a city called Kennel. Have you heard of it?"

"Not exactly," said Velvet. "But I did see its name in several books on this floor. Would you like to go retrieve them?" Velvet got up with her partner did and led her to the place, through the rows of bookshelves.

"You can just show me. There's no need to do more when you've already done so much."

"Nonsense, it's always good to help a person in need." The bunny pointed at one unit located at the very back. Once there, she set a small gray ladder in front of her before climbing it. "It should be right up here. Can you grab the ones I hand to you?"

The cat stood where she was while her friend handed her the book. Flipping through the pages, she noticed there were small mentions of the city. Despite this being the same result as before, she was grateful to find anything thanks to the person she met today.

From this silent gratitude, Blake felt her chest start to warm up.

"Yep, she has Saligia."

"What?" Yang asked while sitting on the high chair. Next to her was Sin, who was eating a French fry from the red basket on top of the bar's wooden counter. All around them were colorful lights flashing on and off while the attendees watched something on various holograms depicting questionable visual content.

"Saligia, you never heard of it?" When he saw the blonde shake her head from genuine confusion, the boy felt somewhat relieved she didn't know about his connection to the cause. "Did you ever hear of the city called Kennel?"

"No, but I'm guessing this thing made a pretty big event."

Sin chomped on another piece before moving his hand to the wrapper of a burger. "Yep, it caused dissension amongst the human and Faunus population there. It's really sad too, it was the first time when the two races were considered a single human race like those animals wanted."

Yang finished swallowing the piece of her own food. "So I'm guessing it makes someone moody for a long time? That's what's been happening to Blake."

"Moody? Sure, for the ones who wish it was benign."

Yang didn't like how grim the commented sounded, especially when the number one question came to mind. "Is it curable?"

Sin burped, disgusting the other as the moment has temporarily lost its mood.

"Nope, and that's the whole thing about Kennel. The disease had them shut down the place. And it's not just the fact that it makes a person moody, it causes some…moral issues."

"Moral? How-."

"Yo, need two Naked Ladies here." The green-haired boy's interruption made the interrogator frown as the brown bottles slid near them. He saw this as he took the open drink and chugged it down. Sighing loudly after finished, he then said, "You're going to need this. What I'm about to say isn't going to sit well with you."

Blake found her mind blank to white, body embraced by an abornmal heat wave. Legs shaking, she tried to look normal while her bunny friend was busy trying to reach for the third book.

"We're almost done. There's just one more somewhere up here."

The cat took the book while doing her best to not take notice of the shapely butt and the hips designed to be grabbed for mating. Yet, Blake fought the desire. She didn't want to do anything terrible to the one who offered her a needed hand of friendship.

"S-sure, no need to rush."

Velvet didn't catch the shaky voice while she was trying to reach for the book to the side. This made her long hair and bottom sway, all acts that led the one afflicted to think she was prime for capture. Once her fingers took out the desired item, she said, "I have it. I'm about to come down."

Hearing this made Blake relieved at the same time her driven lust went away. Her stable mood encouraged her to have her hand take the presented book, steps taken to come closer.

"Bullshit."

"No shit. Just bull."

"That is…what? How could they do such a thing?!" Yang slammed her bottle down, feeling slightly tipsy to where she couldn't hold in her frustration. She didn't notice that her drinking buddy was slightly grinning as he kept the info on Blake's Faunus heritage to himself for later negotiation.

"It had to be done," said Sin while thinking of how Saligia only affected the beast kin, not humans. "Every patient was shot down or put into an insane asylum, which probably happened a few days ago regarding the incident she was in. That's the problem with this condition, it messes with the body chemistry enough to have your instincts become priority over mind and soul."

Taking one more swig to empty his glass, the boy sighed, "It makes them turn into the very thing most could never relate to… an animal prone to do all the known evils of the world. Mostly pleasure because all living things always seek that kind of buzz."

Right then, Yang realized she should have been there for her partner, not assume there was something lesser going on. "So there's nothing to help her?"

"Well, I did have one theory about this as you talked about your friend." Sin placed his empty drink down and turned to make eye contact to the one who's listening. "This problem existed in a crammed city. As long as your play pal avoids close contact, I think she could make it for a good while, including the time she clutches it at school."

The blonde tightly gripped her bottle. "How long is a good while?"

"I give it a few days. Maybe weeks before she gravitates to someone she knows. Who wants to be alone in such a fucked up state in this shitty world."

"It's been over a month." The girl's strength created cracks.

The green-haired lad clapped his hands. "Then kudos, she's been holding on. Must have a strong spirit…for however long that's going to last. Eventually, something inside her is going to snap and when it does, it might not end well for whoever is with her."

"Bl-blake?!" Velvet shrieked as the book she was holding fell to the floor. She couldn't help it as she felt a hand slide up the stocking of her leg and see her friend's head lean to the area between her legs. She would have moved, but her standing on the ladder gave her little choice.

"Velvet, you said you would help me , correct?"

The question shocked the girl, who was too afraid to think clearly. As she felt the tingling of her leg grow, she finally exclaimed, "Yes, I did. I did, but this-."

"Then don't struggle," the cat said with lustful hiss. "I need this…I need you."

Lemon Start

Blake came close to the white fabric of underwear. She nuzzled her nose at where opening should be, making the standing one gasp and hands dig into her black hair.

"Please, stop." Velvet's plea couldn't prevent a hand from lightly stroke her leg, nails titillating the covered skin. The stimulation made the bunny whimper, taking deep breaths to control her squirming body.

By now, the cat was successful in using her mouth to move the fabric to the side and reveal the flesh of pink. Excited, she thrust her tongue into the spot and licked up and down, in and out. She used both arms to grab onto the shaking legs while her feet moved up the ladder to gain more height and plant her mouth deeper into the wet snatch.

The entire time, Velvet was gripping the shelves that were fortunately stable from the bolted bottoms. However, this allowed the one pushing her to continue, lapping at her soaking entrance. When teeth nuzzled on her clitoris, she yelped and instinctively moved. This sent her falling until her shoulder made a hard impact with the ground.

Blake was fine, but seeing her prey's hurt eyes stirred a need to dominate. Licking her lips, she quickly went down to mount the fallen one.

"Wait, wait," Velvet said while gathering her bearings. However, hands grabbed her own and forced them above her head. Trembling, she didn't expect teeth to gently nibble on her long ear. The sharp tugging on the sensitive part made her squeal.

"Blake, please wait. I-I don't understand why you're doing this." The rabbit didn't expect the sensation to halt as she requested. Hands still pinned on the carpeted floor, she looked up to see her partner return the gaze with narrowed eyes.

"No more waiting," growled the cat as she had her hand swiftly push into the other's skirt. There, she had two fingers pump in and out of the pussy before adding a third one. Seeing the bunny twist her face in unwanted pleasure made the one on top feel her lust build up. "I won't stop until you're mine."

That was when Velvet tried to escape by pushing on her feet. This had her captor grab her neck with one hand and her inside fingers pump faster to increase the pleasure. She choked from the grip, an unusual incentive that had her finally spurt to soak the inside numbers.

Blake took out her soaking fingers and licked them in an erotic fashion, lustful eyes batting at her panting partner. "So you're a masochist. Did you get off the times Cardin hurt you?" She proceeded to turn around with her vagina directly above the lips of the girl in brown.

"Then let's explore that side a bit more, shall we?"

By now, Velvet realized she wouldn't be able to leave until the one above was satisfied. This had her start to make nervous licks at the floating pussy. Hearing the other groan encouraged faster movements, hoping this would end soon.

Blake moaned, shivering from finally feeling the pleasure returned. By some random whim, she bent her body down to make her own lips meet a vagina to make the rabbit moan while a hand smacked the thigh before rubbing it.

Both girls were now in a sixty-nine position full of wild tongues, one working to finish and another driven by lust. The cat on top began to tug on the clitoris with her teeth with nails raking the thigh. After plunging in three numbers inside, she felt Velvet's body spasm before a muffled scream led to a strong orgasm.

Tired, the bottom rabbit found she couldn't move as the other was still on top and turning aroun to show her amber eyes full of darkness.

Blake licked her fingers to devour the love juices. Still unsatisfied, her lust suddenly reached a new height to where her teeth bared at the helpless one.

"More."

"Wh-what?" the tired one asked.

"This isn't enough, I need more." Growling, the girl of black had her hand reach down to pull on the buttons of the uniform's white shirt. When a white bra came into view, she plunged her hand in to twist the nipple while her mouth lowered near the neck.

"Y-you're scaring me." Velvet was frozen with fear as her friend has become something terrifying. Her mouth let out hot breaths as a tongue licked from the bottom to top of her exposed neck.

Blake placed her lips near the other's, enjoying the soft breathing tickling her face. "You don't need to be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you too much," she purred while her one hand fondling the breast made its way down to the stomach with nails out.

"'I'm going to claim you; your body belongs to me now, Velvet." These words began the cat's pull on her arm to make the nails rake the skin, slightly drawing blood. When her rabbit started to shriek from the pain, she silenced her by giving a heated kiss stimulated by moans and tongues twisting upon meeting

Lemon End

Blake realized that what she was doing was wrong, something she would never do as a sane person. However, her degraded nature had her continue devouring Velvet whose body remained submissive, reacting out of helplessness.

Yang destroyed the bottle with grip alone, gathering the attention of several curious eyes. She didn't care as she began to walk towards the exit through the various bright lights of the restaurant.

"Shit, seriously?" Sin said as he placed the lien on the counter for the damage. Running after the blonde, he found her standing outside with arms crossed. "Did you have to make a show back there?"

"I couldn't help it. I just…I didn't know Blake was in so much trouble." The girl of yellow began her walk back to school. "I need to help her, set her straight if she needs it."

"And how are you going to do that?" the curious boy asked as he followed along. "I told you, being around people is already making her edgy. Meeting her outside of Beacon can be just as bad, if not worse when she's letting loose."

Yang shook her head, not believing her partner was beyond saving. "I have to try something. Next week is a Hopegathering celebration and I owe it to my team to get this fixed before then. And…it's my fault for not realizing this before. This is such a bad screw-up on my part."

Sin noticed that the girl stopped to look at the sidewalk ground out of guilt. This confused him as he didn't expect to feel so bothered. Cursing silently, he also realized that he and Yang couldn't cooperate further if she was in such a bad state.

"Then let's add that to our partnership. If you hang with me, I'll help you get some idea of how to fix this."

"And why would I trust you?"

"Cause you need help and there's no one else you could rely on." The self-proclaimed genius grinned while he saw the other look up with suspicious wonder. "C'mon, there would have been so many opportunities to screw you. Why would I ruin a good streak now?"

This convinced Yang she could use the offered help. Still on guard, she sternly said, "Fine, but if you mess me and Blake up in some way, then I'll-."

"Can we stop it with the threats and call it a night? I already get you're tough enough to handle yourself." Walking away, Sin continued yelling, "If you couldn't do that, then we wouldn't have had anything to do with each other in the first place!"

The blonde wasn't sure if what she heard was a compliment or another attempt to sound smart. "Well, good night. Send me details if you think up of anything that can help."

"Sure, night." Sin glanced over his shoulder to see Yang disappear into the night. Sighing, he gritted his teeth and put his hands into his green jacket during his return home. Although he originally planned to tell her to brag, he didn't like the idea of sharing it now.

He didn't want to admit that he was the reason why Pummelgranite unleashed the disease onto Blake. Getting Yang angry was actually more bothersome for other reasons aside from a beating to his entire being.

Velvet sat on the ground in the aftermath of her ravager's session. Top and bottom clothes ripped and slightly bloodied, it was apparent that the rabbit's return to Beacon would be difficult.

However, that wasn't her current concern. She was more worried of how Blake was hugging her, head over her shoulder and quietly sobbing.

"I'm sorry," cried the girl of black. "I didn't mean to hurt you, I'm so sorry." Although she apologized, the cat could feel the vice return and make her eyes narrow. She was losing control again and there was nothing she could do to stop the emotion.

The brown-haired girl could tell this was happening, but she didn't run away as most would. She only embraced tighter as she prepared herself to take the pain.

"It's okay Blake, I'm here for you." Velvet said this out of sincere kindness as she was here to support her friend, a person in need. "I'll hang on. Just…please don't lose yourself in this madness."

The cat was already gone as her teeth sunk into the rabbit's shoulder, purring from the heat caused by the contact. She would act on this until the two girls had left the building upon its closing time.

A/N: And the situation has escalated. Hopefully, what Ruby is trying to do won't be in vain especially with a possible time limit now running for the girls.

The next chapter is going to look at the hunt for Cornucopia after Weiss and Ruby briefly meet up. It's also when it's time to see how good Jet and Ruby does in a fight against a new Grimm enemy indirectly created by Gomorom.