One Good Turn Deserves Another Chapter 21, a rwby fanfic

Here we go, a few quick notices before we begin.

Kegi Springfield has kindly drawn some fanart for One Good Turn, which is now the cover art for this fic. Go check him out on DeviantArt, as he has plenty of other good pics – often of pairings within the RWBY archive. Thanks to Kegi for this – which for those wondering, is of the conversation between Yang and Blake on chapter 11 of this story.

On a side note, we are now very close to the goal for the release of Stress Relief as an additional story. As always, if it's not reached that fic will be released when this one ends. But that could still be a few months at this point. And of course, if we do hit Stress Relief, and this ends – I'll simply release another in place of this.

Only about one hundred to go before Stress Relief is hit!

Want to see more fics, updated more frequently – or just support me for the pleasure and enjoyable reading I bring you? Please consider supporting me on – enabling me to bring you even more fics, updated as regularly as possible! There's even a goal where I would update a chapter for a different fic EVERY WEEKDAY. That's right – 5 days, 5 fics. Daily chapters.

. com (slash) Coeur

Beta: Super Saiyan Cyndaquill – Except, that I messed up and was unable to get it to him this week in time. Totally my fault, and so if there are errors then they are ones he likely would have fixed. Oops! Sorry SSC.

Cover Art: Kegi Springfield

Chapter 21

Jaune's eyes burned. Thick billowing smoke obscured his vision, as tiny flecks of glowing ash tickled his skin, leaving small trails of scorching heat across his face. He dared not imagine what they might be ashes of. Though in his heart, he knew.

Gunfire roared across the walls, much of it directed inwards at the monstrosity that was wreaking havoc across the abandoned town. Rooftops collapsed under its weight, and wherever it went the world seemed to stand still, until the terrifying screech would bring them all to their knees.

There was no way the city would hold. And with the Hunters all busy facing the swarm outside the wall; there would be no reinforcements to help take down this one. But if it was allowed to rampage indiscriminately, then sooner or later it would end up destroying valuable buildings – crushing food and ammunition storage facilities, until even if they themselves survived, they would soon die of starvation.

But what could they do? It was so huge and powerful and they'd never faced something on that scale before. What was probably only minutes earlier, he had failed to so much as a put a scratch on the beast.

"What do we do?" Someone raised the damning question.

"I don't know." Jaune said, his hands clenching into fists as his entire body shivered. They had to do something… If they didn't, then they would all be dead anyway – be it from this, or the coming siege. Sooner or later it would get bored and attack them on the walls and there was no cover to hide behind where they were. It was all a matter of time.

"Jaune?" Pyrrha asked, touching the back of his shoulder blade as he shook.

"I don't know." He said once more, looking down towards the stone bricks beneath his feet. What would his father do, how would the vaunted Nicholas Arc solve this? The monster was so huge, and was stronger than any one of them.

His mind froze as a flickering piece of glowing ash floated before his eyes, illuminating his face a dull orange. The Nevermore had quality on its side that much was true. But then so had the Bullheads… and they had fallen easily. He turned quickly, scanning the frenzied melee outside the walls. Each hunter was worth at least a hundred Nevermore, and yet they were being pushed back. Hell, some had already fallen.

Quantity has a quality of its own.

He turned, looking out over his friends. Two teams, RWBY and JNPR, along with their two tag-alongs. Ten people… that could not be enough… they needed more.

His eyes drifted back to the Giant Nevermore, in time to see a small explosion billow against its breast, casting smoke into its eyes but doing little damage. The monster darted down towards the streets, passing from his vision for a moment, though he could see the massive cloud of dust and debris its impact with the streets kicked up.

There were others still out there… trying to fight it. While they stood safe on the walls, content to just watch on.

Did that make them cowards, or did it simply make those still down there foolish?

"We have to get down there," someone said, and it took him a few moments to realise it was he who had spoken.

"You want us to fight that?" Weiss asked incredulously, pointing her weapon towards where the clouds of dust were coming from. "We barely survived the little ones."

"I know." Jaune's hand fell to Crocea Mors, loosening the ancient blade in its sheathe as he prepared himself for the descent. The streets were still filled with young Nevermore, so they'd need to fight their way through the tides once more.

"Not to mention we were barely able to do anything to it the last time." Ren added, holding his arms wide. His green jacket, normally so immaculate was damaged and torn.

"I know." Getting through the streets would be easier for them now, especially with so many of them. Nora could clear the path, and if they kept moving then they would hopefully only need to worry about the Nevermore ahead of them.

"Jaune," Blake spoke quietly. And it was her voice which finally stopped him, as he turned to regard her. The blood in her hair had dried, and though she looked calm he could tell how nervous she was. "Bravery has its place… but what are we supposed to do against something like that?"

Her words rang true, driving into his stomach and forcing the breath from his lungs. He paused, breathing deeply as he tried to steady his wildly beating heart. With a long sigh he turned to face his allies. He couldn't help but think they looked shocked, likely because of the naked terror splashed across his face.

"I'm not brave," he said with a desperate laugh. "I'm not courageous or brave. I'm terrified of facing that thing, and I've got no idea what we can do to kill it." He glanced over each of them, seeing a similar fear in more than a few faces. Even Yang and Pyrrha, absolutely the strongest of them looked cautious and wary. "But that thing out there. There's no one but us to stop it. We're not going to get reinforcements, and sooner or later it's going to hit the ammo stores. And then the entire city will go up in flames."

He paused, chest wracked as he gulped for air.

"And then we're all dead. So yeah… I'm not brave," he closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh, "but between the choice of dying in a fire, from starvation when the food all burns away or dying in combat with a Grimm – that we might be able to beat?" His eyes snapped open. "I know which I'd prefer."

The words left him in a rush, and for a moment afterwards he felt unbelievably light. The others simply stared at him, as he stood there – shoulders rising and falling with each breath. Hand nearly white as it gripped the handle of his sword, seeking some comfort in that familiar leather-wrapped handle.

"Shit," Yang cursed quietly, turning and kicking a loose stone off the wall. "There you go being all brave and shit, and in front of me too. Don't you know who you're dealing with? I'm Yang Xiao-Long, and you just go one-up me like that?"

"Sorry," he said, as a crazed grin worked its way over his face.

"Sorry isn't good enough," the blonde woman sighed, running one hand through her long hair. "Team RWBY are the resident Nevermore killers here vomit-boy, why don't you sit this one out while we handle it?"

"I-…I agree." Weiss said, stepping forwards with a haughty expression – although he'd have had to be blind to miss the way her hands were shaking. "There's really no reason for you to get involved."

"Pfft," Nora snorted, "and let you have all the fun? Nuh-uh." The ginger-haired girl turned to give Jaune a thumbs-up.

"Sorry," he shrugged to Yang and the rest, "we're coming along too – that's just how it is."

"I hope that won't be an imposition?" Pyrrha asked with a small smile, even as Ren sighed and started dusting his pants down. The Eastern boy was smiling though, a small grin – but it was there.

"They better not, cuz we're coming too, right man?" Sun laughed, as he held one hand out to his left. Neptune slapped it a second later as he pulled his goggles down over his eyes. "We'll show you how hunters in Vacuo handle shit like this."

"And you Blake?" Jaune asked at last, looking to the woman who had stopped him. Her yellow eyes burned into his as she watched him, and he imagined he could get lost staring into those golden pools. Before, after a pause she simply sighed.

"I suppose I'll have to come along, if just to keep you all out of trouble."

"Get down!" Someone shouted, and Jaune wasted no time following the order as he threw himself to the cobbled floor. A rush of fire and buckshot passed above his body, incinerating a murder of juvenile Nevermore behind him. Charred and disintegrating corpses rained down around and atop him, even as he pushed himself back up. A survivor rushed for his face, claws scratching along the skin of his cheek but failing to penetrate his aura, even as he drove his shield into it edge-first. The Grimm's neck snapped under the pressure, brittle bones and cartilage giving way as blunt steel impacted.

"Keep moving to the big one!" He shouted out as he looked for the others, desperate not to leave any behind. They moved in a huddled group, sticking together as best they could while covering one another. For those whose weapons were ill-suited to fighting them, they instead focused on clearing Grimm from each other. They were mindless and aggressive, focused so heavily on the one they were attacking that they failed to register even the slowest blows coming from behind.

"If they keep going like this," Blake said as she fired her gun wildly, "then we won't be able to even focus on it. How can we fight it if there's hundreds of these guys swarming us?"

"Somehow the others are," Jaune called back as he moved to support his partner, cutting down the Nevermores attempting to cover her body. "Maybe the horde thins close to it."

"We'll soon find out," Pyrrha said as she nodded her thanks.

Yeah… they would soon find out alright, because judging by the explosions and screams – it was incredibly close. And still no plan had come to his mind, it was just so huge that he couldn't see how they could hope to kill it. Other than just piling long-range attacks into it. Surely with enough dust rounds they could break through it – or just get lucky and shoot its eyes out.

As the last Grimm fell around them the ten ran the final few streets to their destination, each coming to a stop once they revealed what lay ahead.

"It's… it's huge." Weiss stammered, even as the others watched on in horror. Somehow it looked larger than it had when it stood over him earlier – perhaps because now he could see it in direct comparison to the buildings it stood by. They were two to three stories tall, and yet it stood shoulder and head above them all – wickedly hooked beak and burning red gaze watching them all. Its black wings fanned out, crashing into masonry and stone and splintering it as easily as soft wood – even as debris and bricks rained down on the hunters milling at its feet. The beast lunged, the beak slamming into cobbled stone as the ones before it dodged or fled. Even then they were thrown back by the sheer force, as they were pelted with stone chips as harmful as any shrapnel.

Only a few of the figures he could recognise. Coco with her large minigun blaring away as she focused her fire on its head –before she too was forced to flee, the monster turning its attention towards her. Team CRDL behind and to the left of one of its feet, their leader's mace having no effect on the Nevermore's talons.

Others were but vague faces and shapes, some being dragged away from the combat, injured. Or worse…

And this was what he was bringing his friends to? What he was about to send them against?

"What's the plan?" Sun asked as he cracked the knuckles in one hand. What might have once sounded a confident gesture, only served to remind them all of how brittle they truly were.

"There is no plan." Jaune admitted softly, drawing Crocea Mors for comfort. The Blade felt heavy in his hands, but real nonetheless. Something he could use to fight and defend himself with. He left shield in its sheathe form at his side. Against something like this… even if he blocked, the sheer force would likely tear his arms from their sockets.

There could be no getting hit. No amount of aura was going to protect from that.

"Stick together," Ruby said quietly, "look after one another."

"Anyone with a decent long-range option stay back," Jaune added, pointedly looking towards the girl dressed in red – who frowned, but nodded. "Give us covering fire… if you can… try for the eyes."

"It's moving much too fast. Erratically too…" Weiss shook her head. "No one could predict that kind of shot."

"That's why he said try," Yang sighed, "just… get lucky if you can Rubes."

"I'll try," the girl promised, "but please be safe."

"We'll try too." Blake agreed, as the rest of them stepped forwards, leaving Ruby behind. Jaune spared a brief glance towards Pyrrha, who he knew was also a marksman, only for the redhead to shake her head in the negative.

Whatever… he wouldn't say no to skilled melee fighters either.

"Just… try to overwhelm it," he shouted out taking a deep breath and charging forward. The sound of footfalls behind him told him his friends had followed. "Go for weak spots, work together – and no one is allowed to die!"

"As you say boss!" Yang whooped passing him as she fired a quick one-two towards the Grimm's face. The rounds exploded on its breast as it moved, but still sent sparks and clouds of dust upwards to obscure its vision. The beast cleared it however with a swift snort, hot air wafting away the smoke as beady eyes focused on the new entrants to the battle.

Blake dodged the talon that threatened to sever her in two, agility earned over ten years of intensive training giving her the skill needed to avoid certain death against such a foe. She shot upwards frantically, unable to aim for anything other than its bulbous torso – but hoping the underside of it held some weakness. She tutted as the rounds exploded harmlessly on its feathers, a lattice of natural protection that seemed more solid than any armour.

The Nevermore didn't even spare her the briefest of glances, instead lashing out at any nearby humans which caught its eye. There were shouts of warning, followed by the sound of crumbling stone as the other hunters dodged. At least… she hoped they had dodged.

Leaping back she aimed her weapon towards the creature's face, firing off rapid shots as she sought to pierce its red eyes. Sadly the shots went wide, as the monster turned to spread its gaze over the others surrounding it, dust sparking harmlessly off the back of its skull.

This is ridiculous, it's nigh invincible. If even the high-powered rounds of Ruby's Crescent Rose were unable to bring it down, then what hope was there for her own handgun? Or even Gambol Shroud's blades?

She would not stop however, couldn't afford to. Jaune was right in that regard, because the longer they kept it in this spot, the more time the older hunters would have to finish their own battle – and the less damage would be done to the city.

Two pink explosions erupted on the back of the Grimm, staggering it slightly but causing only superficial damage, a few plumes smoking – but no signs of blood or injury. Three more grenades landed swiftly after as Nora sought to bring its attention to her. From before it the leader of Team CFVY, Coco, did the same – unleashing a storm of bullets at its face.

Great wings flapped once, creating an incredible gust of air. While it was not strong enough to prevent the bullets colliding with its form, it was enough to blow the attackers from their feet, stopping the hail from the gunner. Blake was picked up by the force of it as well, lifted from her feet and sent tumbling head over heel into a nearby wall. She grunted as she hit, arms slapping out beside her as momentum cruelly punished her. Before, with a grunt, she slid down – panting in pain.

This wasn't working. It had been a brave plan, if you could even call it a plan – but their ferocious charge was doing nothing to slow the Nevermore down. In fact, it just seemed to be driving it into a greater fury. She looked towards her team. Weiss, stood on one side with Myrtenaster held vertically before her face, chanting. Ahead of her glyphs appeared beneath those about to be crushed, giving them the speed they needed to escape certain death.

Yang, aura blazing as she bounced from building to building, tried to score hits with her gauntlets, only to be knocked aside each time she got close. And the occasional crack of Ruby's weapon, tracer fire whizzing past the Grimm's head, the rounds that hit exploded harmlessly.

What madness… Compared to this, what they had faced in initiation was a joke. She doubted Ruby's scythe would have even the power to cut through a tenth of this thing's neck.

"We need to hit the eyes!" Jaune shouted from under the creature, as he slashed at its joints wherever he could. His hair was flapping frantically in the wind as sweat trickled down his brow, but he remained beneath it as it moved, a constant annoyance – but that was all he was.

"I'm open to ideas on how to get up there." Blake shook her head in frustration. Seriously, to even have a chance they'd need to climb up the thing, and that wasn't going to be possible when they couldn't even get high enough to reach the feathers.

Jaune's blue eyes met hers, and she couldn't help but feel her own narrow at the expression he had. She already didn't like whatever plan he had concocted.

But what else was there to do but follow him? As he split off from the monster, rushing towards a nearby building and slammed the door open with his shoulder – she was a second behind him, ducking inside.

"If we can't get high enough from out there, we'll need to jump," he said as he leapt up the stairs, taking them three at a time.

"These buildings are death traps," she said as she chased him, the two pausing as the entire structure shook – dust raining down from the ceiling as timbers creaked ominously. "If it crashes into here we're dead!"

"We're dead out there anyway," he sighed – putting words to what she had known from the start, "at least this way we have a chance."

A chance? All this risk for a chance – and yet, she followed still. Perhaps because like him, she too was a coward at heart. She had always run away from her problems, escaped while she could and reinvented herself. First a child labourer, then a protestor, a criminal, and now a huntress. She didn't want to die a slow death either, so like the coward she was she would grasp at the smallest of chances to survive.

Was that why, so long ago, she had silently begged him to stand over her – even when he had taken a blow that could easily have killed him? Even when her heart had screamed at her to tell him to move she'd been unable to do so, because her mind was that of a coward's.

It seemed strange to her that cowardice and bravery could go hand in hand. Especially as the two of them stood at an open window – watching the great monster pass by. Preparing to do something completely insane.

"You ready?" He looked towards her, and she was glad to see he looked just as scared as she felt.

"No." She answered honestly, even as they both stepped forward.

"Me neither." The blonde man replied, right before he climbed through the frame and threw himself towards the mass of black.

And two seconds later she was surprised to find she didn't hesitate to do the same.

"No!" Ruby hissed as she watched the battle through her scope, fingers clenching painfully on the grip as she watched the two figures leap from atop a nearby building. Even from such a great distance she could recognise them, and felt the sick sensation of fear worm its way within her being.

What were they doing? How could they even think of something so reckless?

She knew the answer though… desperation. It made fools of all of them, and made even the most foolish of plans seem preferable to what lay ahead. But as they landed, gripping feathers and tufts of fur in an attempt to steady themselves on the beast's wing, she saw its monstrous head turn. Even when they could not she saw it look at them, as though in great consideration.

Until, with a manic gleam in its eye it lunged – beak flashing in the sunlight as it sought to kill them both.

Wind; natural - but also more created by the Grimm. Don't let them die… angle; thirty degrees, distance; six hundred-fifty metres, panic, momentum – so very fast, fear, target – red and filled with murder, terror, loss. Please don't die!

Don't miss, don't miss, please don't miss! Her finger squeezed the trigger as she made the shot that would determine whether her friends lived or died.

She didn't even hear the sound of Crescent Rose firing, past the pounding of her heart in her ears.

"Hold on!" Jaune shouted as his hand gripped some tufts of wiry fur between two overlapping feathers, his other reaching out in case Blake needed support. The girl shook her head, gritting her teeth as she slowly began to pull herself up. He nodded as he turned to do the same.

The beast roared, for the first time in the battle a screech of pain as its body shook. He pressed himself into the feathers for balance, as it staggered one way and then the other, body swaying wildly. He tried to see what had caused it, but could only make out an expanse of black and grey plumage.

He forced himself onwards, reaching one hand up and then another, eyes fixated on the spot where its wing met its shoulder. Could that be a weak point if he cut it there? Would it prevent it from flying?

There was only one way to find out.

The world shifted in a moment, as the Grimm flapped its wings, a booming sound echoing in his ears as the wind pressure exploded out from them – no doubt seeking to clear its immediate vicinity now that it had been hurt. He yelled out as vertigo took him, his entire body first being pressed into the wing as it swept back – before nearly being torn from it when the creature flapped. He clung on grimly, his body perpendicular to the limb as he struggled to remain attached. Beside him Blake did the same, her golden eyes flashing as she grit her teeth.

With a crash they slammed back into the feathers once the momentum stopped. His entire body protested against the punishment, even as his fingers threatened to break. If he let go they would be doomed. Pyrrha might die. Nora, Ren, Yang, Weiss Ruby… Blake.

That wasn't allowed.

It wouldn't happen! He wasn't going to be made to sit through that kind of pain – if anyone was going to die it would be him first. He tore his attention from the pain wracking his body, as he slowly dragged his way up the feathers. The edges so sharp they threatened to cut into his fingers – he could feel his aura dropping with each fistful he grabbed.

So close.

Gunfire ricocheted around them. He wasn't even sure if they could see the two of them pressed in among the feathers, or if they just continued firing regardless. The feathers deflected some of the shots, working to protect them as much as the Grimm itself – but a few found their way through, scratching the back of his legs, and one grazing his shoulder.

He barely felt it. They were so close.

The wing they were on lifted ominously, his stomach lurching as he suddenly rose. For a moment he feared it was preparing to take off, until the truth proved far worse.

"Oh Gods…" She whispered from beside him as they were presented with the cruel visage of the Nevermore itself, staring at them as it held its wing out flat. One beady red eye glared hateful murder – while the other, a steaming and bleeding mass of ruined flesh, continued to ooze. The beak opened, waves of hot breath washing over them, a tiny pink tongue flicking as though to taunt them.

It had seen them - and was not pleased.

"Blake, jump." He whispered quickly. It was looking directly at him, so focused that she might be able to escape if she leapt now. She didn't however, as caught in its gaze as he was. Even as the beak moved slowly closer.

His eyes widened, locked onto that terrifying maw and the dank abyss that lay beyond it.

"Eyes on me asshole!" A voice screamed as what looked like a ball of lightning struck the back of the Grimm's head, exploding on impact. Another followed, chased by more explosions that knocked the feature to the side. Jaune's eyes shot down from the wing, spying Neptune – who was screaming abuse as he drew its attention away from them.

The Grimm turned from its two unwelcome passengers, screeching its displeasure at the blue-haired boy.

"Now, Blake!" He shouted, words drowned out by the penetrating noise, but as he rose to his feet and sprinted down the extended wing, she followed. The air seemed to ripple before him, washing over them as though it were water – the undulating vibrations caused his ears to pop loudly, even as his vision swam. Left seemed to become right, and he was no longer sure how he was still standing on what felt like a perilously swaying platform.

His hands gripped Crocea Mors, tearing it from his sheathe as he slashed down at the tendons between the wing and the shoulder, cutting lightly into the flesh – but not doing enough damage.

No… it couldn't be.

Blake collapsed to her knees by him, blood streaming from her feline ears as her face reflected her agony. He rose the ancestral blade, striking again to the same effect.

It was the third time he raised it that hands settled beside his, her body standing flush against his own as she took a grip of the handle between his own. Eyes of solid gold, filled with pain and anger met his own. The screeching continued, until he could see nothing but blurs and feel naught but pain and a soft body against his own.

He screamed, as did she. The noise lost and yet somehow – in that small moment, it caused the slightest clarity. For barely a second his vision cleared, the target clear as they both swung Crocea Mors with all their combined strength. At the last second he adjusted the aim, driving it home through cartilage and muscle.

The world exploded.

"Catch them!" Yang screamed as the two fell – their bodies tumbling through the air as the Nevermore recoiled in agony, crashing into a nearby building as one of its wings seemed to collapse on itself. She didn't want for anyone to follow her orders, already sprinting forward. A large figure ran with her, a man she recognised only as being a part of Velvet's team. He grabbed her by one arm, flinging her forward so that she sailed through the air.

Her arms settled around her partner, catching her mid-flight before landing on the hard ground, rolling and sliding to a stop while keeping Blake clung to her chest. Behind her she heard a loud oomph as the man caught the blonde, not even stopping his dash as he reached her.

"Blakey?" She whispered as tears stung her vision. The girl looked so beaten, with blood dripping down her hair, and her eyes closed. She was warm in her arms however, chest stirring with the signs of live that made Yang almost want to cry in relief. "Is Jaune okay?" She asked of the giant beside her, getting a pleased nod and a wide smile in return. The huge man handled the downed man gently, as one might a baby.

"It's getting back up!" Someone screamed, as gunfire erupted at the downed Grimm. Yang watched with furious red eyes as it struggled back to its feet, warbling in pain but still able to fight. The damage the duo had caused was clear however, as one wing hung loosely at its side. A silver streak of metal still dug into the joint.

It slid free as the monster rose, sparkling as it fell towards the ground like a shooting star crashing to Remnant.

Until someone caught it.

"Fall back." The man said, one hand held high as he gripped the silvery blade, before swinging it down behind him – clearing it of blood. "Maintain a safe distance." His words were delivered calmly, and yet somehow they all heard them. Gunfire stopped, as men and women hesitated.

"Commander?" Someone shouted.

"I said fall back." He barked once more, and this time they all moved to obey, Yang still carrying Blake as she rushed back to where Ruby was waiting. He wanted to fight it alone? That was madness, unless he had other hunters waiting in ambush.

Perhaps that was the case. Why else would he be here now unless they had won the battle outside the walls? Had they truly done it?

"You're alive." Ruby whispered as they all approached, the tiny girl's cheeks stained with tears, yet her teeth shining as she smiled. She rushed forwards, hands gently stroking Blake's hair as she looked down at the girl in Yang's arms. "I was so scared."

"So was I." Yang admitted with a soft laugh, wishing she could hold her sister but not wanting to let go of Blake at that moment. Instead they turned back to the Nevermore, which had just managed to steady itself.

It was injured, and in pain. But sometimes that just made Grimm all the more dangerous. Unpredictable, as they lashed out to try and take their enemies with them. Mindless anger overpowering more animalistic urges to flee or recuperate.

It roared loudly, the sound making her eyes water even from this distance. The figure of the Commander stiffened a little, but otherwise stood ready, Jaune's sword at his side. But she knew his vision must have been damaged by the attack, as theirs had when they were near it. It didn't matter how strong your aura was, you still needed to be able to hear properly to fight and keep balanced.

One talon slashed forward, followed by the full weight of the monster as it sought to bring both razor sharp sets of claws down on the man. He ducked back however, jogging backwards as he maintained the distance between them. Yang's eyes narrowed in thought – he would have been safer moving closer to it, getting beneath it like they had so that it couldn't use its beak or wings, or voice to properly attack. The talons were easier to dodge, more heavily telegraphed whenever the Nevermore shifted its considerably bulk.

He made no move to take advantage of that however, instead giving ground as it advanced on him. Twice more he allowed it to strike out with its talons, and each time he would move back. Surrendering buildings and road to be torn asunder as he seemed to dance with it.

"Is he baiting it somewhere?" Sun said from nearby, the muscled male panting slightly as he leant on his staff for support. Yang didn't respond, not certain herself.

The Grimm cocked its head. Its single red eye seeming to narrow as it inspected the insect which dared stand against it. Perhaps it was thinking, though that went against everything they had learned… or perhaps it was just deciding in what way to express its hatred. Ultimately however, the head reared back, before it lunged forward along the ground, beak wide open to rip and tear.

The man simply waited. Sword held casually out to one side as certain death approached. Someone shouted a warning, others looked away. Yang watched grimly, remembering her uncle Qrow's words about Nicholas Arc.

At the final moment he moved. Taking one step to the side in an almost lazy manner as he shifted his body. From where she stood she thought she could see the beak cut through some of the fabric of his shirt, feathers flapping against his face. Silver streaked once, disappearing into black before reappearing once more. He stepped aside, even as the rest of the creature's incredible bulk followed.

"Did he hit it!?" Pyrrha stepped forward, green eyes strained in an effort to see what had gone on.

"He hit it once…" Ren said, brows furrowed in thought. "Only once though…"

And as far as she could see that one time was not enough either. For the Nevermore staggered back to its feet once more, talons crashing down onto the ruined ground as it turned in place to regard the figure once more. To Yang's shock the man reached behind him, sheathing Jaune's sword alongside another.

If he was waiting for one of those samurai moments then it was running a little late, she couldn't help but think. As there was no frozen moment where the Grimm slid in two. Instead it cawed loudly and rushed forwards once more, talons striking out as the man weaved between them. It didn't attempt to kill him with its beak again, not after being punished for it. Instead it sought to rip and tear with talon and claw, loudly barking and screeching as it did.

This time however Nicholas ducked beneath it as they had, forcing it to keep turning and staggering as it fought to keep the elusive Hunter in sight. Even when beneath it the Commander didn't seek to attack it, nor did he draw a weapon of any kind. And yet to Yang's shocked eyes, she began to notice the beast slowing down.

"It's getting tired?" She whispered to herself, uncertain if Grimm even felt fatigue. Certainly the ones they had fought had never shown it – but then again, they tended to kill Grimm in a matter of seconds. There was never time to show it.

"No," Weiss said loudly, her pale eyes wide, "it's losing blood…"

Blood? Her eyes narrowed, looking back toward the creature's neck. True enough she could just make out the vague shine on the feathers… against black feathers it was hard to see, but there was definitely something there. That single strike he had made… had he managed to perfectly sever a major artery?

Through layers of feathers as strong as steel?

That was insane.

But as seconds gave ways to minutes, and graceful dodges gave way to silent patience, she watched the great beast heave and pant, slumped against a nearby building. She waited for him to deliver the final blow. To stride forward and end its life.

He didn't. Instead he turned and walked away, leaving the ancient monstrosity to slowly die in a field of ruined buildings and crumbling masonry. Its great feathered chest heaving as it fought for breath.

"Give this back to my son." He said as he passed them. He dropped the sheathed blade into Ruby's hands, never once sparing a glance for any of them.

Nor did he look back as he walked passed them all, even as the giant Grimm let out a long warbling cry. Before slowly falling silent.

You know guys… Nora could have done the whole jumping on it thing better. Sheesh. Always trying to one-up her. So yeah, I didn't get to the lovey-lovey I wanted between Blake and Jaune, oh well that will happen next chapter. Honestly it might also have been a bit of a switch to go from near-death action to post-action romantic bits in a single chapter anyway.

And so Nicholas steps in too, remaining as mysterious as ever. I wanted to give Neptune a little love her too, so had him save their lives… sometimes it's easy to forget about those two. Something I should not do – if I am to be a good author!

Well I won't drag AN's on. Thanks to everyone who has supported me so far and those who read and review too. If you cannot support me financially for whatever reason do not worry, I still appreciate you and genuinely do hope my writing can help make you happy (or in some cases sad), but ultimately IMMERSED.

As for why I wasn't able to get it to my beta in time… it's the usual one-handed madness. My first drafts are so bad with one hand – half of it has red squiggly lines under it – the other half green. And sometimes I can't even figure out what is wrong to cause a grammar error…

And that's my job!

Omake: Coeur al'Aran

"Get me off this thing!" Jaune Arc screamed as the Nevermore took flight. For what had once started as a relatively poor – but at least proactive decision, had pretty much taken a turn for just a shit idea, the moment the beast had decided to take flight.

Another flap of the mighty wings he was hanging onto loosened his grip, tearing a frantic scream from his throat as he was propelled forwards, only for him to grunt as the Nevermore collided with him once more. This time with him hanging onto the front of its face.

Staring directly into its two glowing red eyes.

"Uhh… hi?"

The Grimm didn't return his greeting, instead those two orbs seemed to narrow with hate. The beak snapped at his legs, only for him to yelp and draw them up. It tried again, but thanks to the protruding nature of the beak it could never actually get hold of him. Instead he sat with his legs either side of it, and his hands gripping the feathers to the left and right of its eyes.

In an attempt to not have to see the hate there he instead looked over the top of its head, seeing Magnis roll by beneath them.

Hrp…

His stomach roiled, his entire frame flinching as something threatened to burst from his lips. The Nevermore seemed to narrow its eyes even further, as though knowing what was ahead and warning him not to do it.

"I can't hold on…" He groaned as he swayed in place, skin turning a sickly green. "I'm not good with flights."

The beast cawed, swerving left and right in an effort to dislodge him, but the constant movement only made it worse. Until, with a mighty gasp – he threw up directly in the beast's eyes.

The Nevermore screeched in agony, as what was once a graceful glide became a rather troublesome nosedive. And was that the wall behind him?

"And then he threw up in its eyes and it crashed into a wall." Weiss reported to the medic, who was writing down the information on a piece of paper.

"He was such a hero." Ruby sighed dreamily, winding a piece of the unconscious boy's hair around her finger. "And so hot…"

"No," Weiss corrected with a frown, "no he was not. Ruby he literally threw up in its eyes!"

"Yeah… that was dreamy." Pyrrha giggled, holding his hand in her own – something she was brave enough to do when he was unconscious and couldn't say otherwise.

"Are you both mentally ill!?" Weiss cried, pointing to the doctor. "Should I be leaving you here as well?"

"You can leave me here if you like," Blake purred from where she was sat coiled at the boy's feet, "I'll look after him~"

"Ugh," Weiss groaned, one hand slapping into her face, "my team is broken. I'm so done with this. Can I leave the dunce and these three… things, in your care?"

"Sure," the medic laughed, her tail wagging furiously. Weiss was sure she'd gotten over her irrational feelings towards the faunus, but this one still gave her the shivers for some reason. "You can leave him in my care~ mwahaha hahaha, HAHAHAHA MWAHAHAH!" The brown-haired woman coughed when she noticed everyone looking at her. "Healing is fun, I like healing."

"Right…" Weiss said unconvinced but not caring enough to delve deeper. Apparently she was from Beacon… so she had to be good right? At least she seemed to like her job, if her wagging tail and how perked her black-tipped ears were. "Okay, well… see you three later I guess."

The heiress walked from the room, leaving the three other huntresses and one medic left.

"Now Jaune~" the fox faunus healer cooed as she looked at the unconscious man, "let's practice medicine!"

The unconscious boy could only whimper.

. com (slash) Coeur