I am so sorry for going full ghost!

Life got real stressful real fast and work pretty much
shoved a giant gyrating buzzsaw up my asshole
so yeah...

and that's not even bringing up Writer's Block! XD
fml

so yeah, this chapter is the culmination of all my muse for the last few months
pls be kind

Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY

Chapter 25: What Was Asked of Us

Cardin was surprised by what Jaune had said. While he saw it coming a mile away, to actually hear the words come from his lips, hit him like a ton of bricks and then some. He gulped, he rubbed his eyes and even pinched his skin a few times, trying to cypher through the supposed dream he was experiencing. When no sudden awakening, or the image of his ceiling fan whirring above him appeared, he straightened like a stick, almost a changed man.

"Look, Cardin." Jaune laughed. "I know we'll be gone for a while, but I know you'll do fine training with Rosemary and Carolina."

"B-But it's Rosemary and Carolina." He said with an almost pleading tone. "They're some of the scariest women I know! And I know a lot no thanks to you. You're dating three of them too!"

Rolling his eyes, Jaune sighed. "I mean, I could throw Yang into the mix."

"Rosemary and Carolina it is." Cardin nodded. "I can barely handle those two – no need to torture me with a third. I thought we were friends."

"Oh we are." Jaune chuckled. "Think of it as a friendly push in the right direction."

"More like a kick to the balls if you ask me." Cardin mumbled.

A playful glint appeared in Jaune's eyes. "Carolina's mom liked to punch certain people in the jewels. Like mother like daughter, they say."

"W-What…"

Jaune bellowed a laugh and walked away. "I know what I said, buddy."

"J-Jaune!" He cried. "You're joking right? Stop walking away from me!"

Cardin sighed in defeat, hunched over. His hands rested against his knees, with sweat already beginning to form on his brow. Training with Carolina and Rosemary meant bodily harm of the highest order – not exactly Pyrrha or Jaune's way of training. In fact, it was the exact opposite of the way the two handled training. While Carolina and Rosemary were incredibly skilled and quite amazing, Cardin did not want to be at the receiving end of such treatment.

Rising from his hunched position, the bird realized that Jaune had already disappeared down the hall, leaving him alone with his usual companion. She wore regular civilian clothing for once, opting for a long sleeved brown shirt with a grey pea coat over it. Her hair was tied into a bun, revealing her human ears that she tended to hide. The two were silent, watching the empty hallway grow long.

"Sucks to be you, birdy."

The worry on his face disappeared the instant that accented voice echoed in his ears. With a sigh, he turned to the girl beside him. "No kidding, bun. It's like he wants me to die."

"Well, I'd say he's doing it because he cares." Velvet smiled. "I think."

"You think? That's definitely reassuring." Cardin chuckled, trying to keep his head from shaking off his neck. "Hey, by the way, you doing anything today or tomorrow?"

Velvet perked. "I'm free all month…why?"

"Have you ever been to Viridian Hollow?"

"…and like that, she killed the Beowolf." Nebula finished.

"Incredible…the power of a mother protecting her child…" Ren whispered in near reminisce. "I can only imagine what was going through her head…"

"Yeah…" The girl smiled wistfully, eyes trailing to the floor beneath them. "After the huntsmen of Shade found me and my mother's body, I was taken in by Dew's family since I had no one else."

"What happened to your father?" Ren inquired.

He noticed a small flash of anger in her eyes at the mere mention. "Him? He was nowhere to be found a few months after I was born apparently. Never heard from, or seen the bastard in my life. I don't even think he knows what happened to my mom – or me."

"Well…" Ren instinctually reached out, putting a soft caring hand on her shoulder. "Forget him. He doesn't deserve a second of your thoughts. Much less, any emotion – he's…no one."

She took a moment to gaze upon the ninja in front of her. The green and white coming together well with tinges of pink and black here and there. From his lithe figure to his calm, almost worryingly calm, face, she left no stone unturned. In Shade, she could only hope someone would give enough damns to listen. Yet, in Beacon, this man was sitting in front of her, soaking in every word she said. He was so strange and yet, so kind and understanding of her and pretty much everything thus far. Almost four days have passed like this, sharing stories and history – finding a lot in common. Like herself, he was a cook, actually the cook for two teams. Neb almost giggled at the very thought.

Ren stared at her, finding a strange attraction to the purple haired beauty. The things she'd been through, the understanding of the world around her – mirrored his own in some ways. She was calm, but tended to get too cocky at times, letting her confidence become her downfall. Nebula – for all intents and purposes – was a rather attractive woman, if Ren said so himself. A woman like her was a rarity to find and yet, somehow, he'd managed to find himself amongst several. She was far from a cookie cutter, cut and paste Mary Sue with incredible power and vague inspirations – she was just unexplored.

Nebula wanted to say something, tell him more, but the longer she gazed at him, the more she felt she wanted to look. Not gawk or stare so heavily she forgets to blink; it was like examining a fine sculpture, if she were being honest. A part of her wanted to touch him, but the threat of Nora and Magnhild loomed over her head.

Ren felt the sudden urge to reach forward and cup her cheek and stare into those deep, violet orbs. They were so inviting, glimmering in the lighting above. She was a respectable woman, one with a – daresay – skewed moral compass – being from Vacuo and all – but he was beginning to feel her staring at him with more than just offhanded examination, nor curiosity. A moment passed and a shiver shook him from his tailbone to the highest vertebrae in his neck. The image of Nora Valkyrie hurt and crying burned in his mind.

Breaking away, the two faced different directions, fighting the warmth and the heat growing on their cheeks. Nebula coughed into her fist, but finally turned to lock her purple eyes with his magenta. "Y-Yeah…"

"Well, it's my turn right?" Ren asked. With a nod from the purple haired girl, he continued. "My mother…"

Away from the conversation, hidden in the distant darkness of the poorly lit training room, a girl with orange hair sat, watching the pair with turquoise eyes. She'd been there for a while now, uncertain of what she'd find tucked away behind curtains. The girl watched the man she grew up with and fallen for, talk and sneak around Beacon with Nebula, someone she was starting to see as a close friend. Much to her surprise, or intense relief, it wasn't what she feared it would be.

Nevertheless, Nora watched and waited. She wanted to say something, let them know that she knew what was happening, but at the moment, she felt she'd do more damage than good. In the meantime, she was fine with just watching from afar.

"So…this is her?"

"Yes. This is Amber. The Fall Maiden."

Jaune gasped. "Damn…I didn't get to get a good look at her the first time…I don't think I realized how bad the damage was…"

"She's stable at the moment, but we fear we don't have much time." Ozpin added. "So, we need to decide on which move we're to make if we want to save her and the Maiden's power."

"Agreed, but Professor…I'm leaving soon to Menagerie." Jaune said. "As much as I want to drop everything and do what I can to help Amber, I can't. I've been planning this trip since I woke up in Orléans."

"I understand of course." Ozpin nodded. "But remember, time isn't on our side and Reggie Teale still resists our questioning and interrogations. How soon do you think you'll return from Menagerie?"

"As soon as I possibly can." Jaune frowned. "I'm not too certain how Lord Belladonna will react or respond, so I won't make any promises I won't be able to keep. Three weeks – at the most. I'll be spending at least a week in Orléans, so there's also that."

"Okay." The headmaster adopted a thinking pose. "What will you have us do with Amber?"

"Since Atlas isn't here and General Ironwood hasn't been added to the circle yet – the best we can do, is to stabilize the situation and try to keep her on life support." Jaune shrugged. "I can't make a move until Cinder makes hers, or she's revealed. Also, I've been trying to expand on my semblance – I think I'm making a breakthrough."

"Excellent."

"Your theory on my ability to take and give, might have some weight."

"Then, I can only hope that you make that discovery. Not only Amber's life, but the power of the Maidens rests in your hands. Quite literally really."

"Reassuring." Jaune deadpanned. "Aside from just the Maidens and Amber – Vale, Dale, Viridian Hollow and Glade are all in danger of Salem's plans."

"I believe there is a sizeable White Fang presence in Glade – while the Brotherhood owns Dale with both factions making moves into Viridian Hollow. The Seat of House Winchester."

"Yeah." Jaune took a deep breath. "Orléans is lucky – we Arcs made sure to isolate ourselves from the politics of Vale. No Brotherhood or White Fang presence that I know of at least. But if I'm remembering it correctly, Orléans was attacked and sieged for a good month before falling to Salem and the Grimm. I have a lot of work to do, don't I, Professor?"

"A lot is putting it lightly, your grace." Ozpin chuckled. "Though, I will say that you have quite the plan laid out. How do you intend to keep these pieces where they are? For all we know, the White Fang and the Brotherhood are making their own moves as we speak."

"I'm not making anything set in stone. These plans are more than just plans – they're the foundation." Jaune nodded. "They are the rock and the stone that can be amended if the time comes. For any situation that may come, these plans are made to be as simple as possible so I can adapt to any scenario to come. Should Salem make her move to break Reggie from prison, or RRGE makes a comeback, or worse yet – Cinder reveals herself before I return…"

"That would be something we cannot let happen." Glynda sighed into her scroll. "We'd be defenseless against them. We cannot have another full-scale battle with RRGE like we did at the docks. Keeping collateral to a minimum should be top priority. Too many innocents were hurt and could have died during the chaos."

"Agreed." A gruff voice sounded. Qrow shook his head. "We're not prepared for whatever this is."

"Well, Qrow." Jaune looked to the man with a smirk. "Ruby needs more help honing her abilities with the scythe and semblance."

"What makes you think…?"

"From the future." Jaune tapped his forehead. "I know things, Qrow. Regardless, Professor Ozpin, when I return from Menagerie, I want to have a talk with Reggie Teale. I believe it would be an enlightening experience for us all."

There were moments in his life where he'd wonder if he was making the right decisions. From choosing a suit of armor, to deciding the fate of another's life. He'd witnessed things that didn't sit well with him – almost akin to waking nightmares if he wanted to be honest. Some things were like dreams, surreal and ethereal like a hazy morning, glowing with early dawn. He couldn't find the right words to describe what he was feeling, how he was feeling – if there was even something to feel – but there was definitely something there.

It was like a hinting voice, whispering like a spectre. It called it him, commanding of him acts and defiance, but not this time. It was something else entirely. This thing whatever it was, told him to look away, to hide his blushing face beneath the steaming waters – never to surface again. Was it his conscience? He didn't know. Was it his moral compass spiraling out of control? He doubted it. Was it something else entirely? He would bet his money if he could.

Standing in front of him was something he'd never thought he'd see. His body froze in time, almost clasped by invisible clamps. Muscles clenched and fists tightened beneath the waters. He wanted to say something, call out to her, beg her to reconsider, but he had a feeling she knew what was happening. That thought along scared him. The idea that she was doing this on purpose, the very fantasy that she'd do this knowing full well what could happen – absolutely terrified him. He shuddered in the steaming, scalding hot spring waters, feeling the cold rush of terror shake his body.

In the back of his mind, he could hear his old self whistling and gagging all the same. Beside him, he swore he could hear men cat calling and howling like rabid dogs. The thought alone, that there was someone else in the hot springs gazing upon what he was seeing somehow enraged him. He knew there was no one else but them. Even with that knowledge, even with the receipt for the private coed hot spring, he was still paranoid. What he saw was something so beautiful, so sacred – he wanted to move and cover her with a towel. He didn't want anyone else to see it. But like before, he couldn't move – he couldn't escape.

Through the misty haze, he could see, just barely, the beautiful streets and highways winding through the vast forestry that surrounded Viridian Hollow, giving the great metropolis its name. While nowhere near self-sufficient as Mountain Glenn, it only needed a few more years, decades even, to become what Mountain Glenn was supposed to be. With a growing population of about five million, House Winchester had their hands full keeping the order.

A soft ripple of water was felt, beating against his broad chest, hissing. It shattered his thoughts, bringing him to the beauty of a silhouette standing in front of him. Pushing through the mist, a pair of lithe hands rested against his bare skin, sending intense shivers through his torso and beyond. Swallowing the ball in his throat, he croaked, unable to find the words to say. But before he could even think too much, full lips emerged from the mist and pressed passionately against his own.

Much to his surprise, he didn't fight back or tense. In fact, he felt more at ease than he'd felt in ages. Her lips were soft, with a light aftertaste of berries and sweet cream. Her tongue fought with his, deepening the embrace. Warmth and water splashed around them, bringing incredible pleasure. As much as they didn't want to, they broke apart, gasping for air. Indigo eyes locked with chocolate brown, seeing a mirror image of his own bare emotions. Something clicked in his chest, almost causing his heart to speed at uncontrollable rates. He could feel his bones ache, ribcage almost snap apart. But that wasn't the end of it.

He opened his mouth to speak, but was quickly silenced by the embrace of her sweet lips. There was a moment of hesitation during their lip-lock. She didn't want to break away, she didn't want it to end and neither did he. It was almost too good to be real – a fantasy come true. When his world didn't fade; when her man didn't disappear into thin air – they knew this was as real as it got. Her bunny ears tilted as a sheepish, almost adorable look spread across her face.

"Velvet…" Cardin gasped, arms slowly snaking around her naked form.

"Cardin…" She said in a near whisper.

She couldn't believe what she was doing. Blake always told her that she should just be forward – Coco always told her to go after what she wanted. Yang told her to stop being skittish – Nebula advised her that going the extra mile always brought results. This couldn't be what they meant. Velvet cried internally, screaming, face burning like hot coals fresh from the fireplace. Her heart was surely beating out of her chest – she swore that bird could hear it.

Damn the women in her life giving her such ridiculous advice. Velvet knew that if the steam didn't exist, Cardin would probably grow sick from how much she was sweating. Who knew a rabbit could sweat so much in such a situation. She was more terrified now than ever before. Grimm can be fought; racists can be ignored; the White Fang, the Brotherhood – none hold a candle to this! There's no training, no guide manual for this kind of thing!

When he asked her to come along, she jumped at the chance without a second thought. Riding the DustTrain across Sanus and through the Forever Fall Forest, was one of the greatest things she'd seen in her life. Exploring the sights and sounds, the delicacies and markets within Viridian Hollow's titanic walls with Cardin, had been one of the most enjoyable things she'd done. But now, relaxing in a coed Hot Spring, reserved for the two of them – naked she couldn't explain what she was doing.

Naked. She shuddered so slightly, making sure the bird holding her wouldn't notice. Chocolate eyes gazed into his usually stern indigo, finding the irides that held so much power and internal strife, clouded over, almost in a daze. Velvet wanted to say something, but just as her mouth opened, he leaned forward, pressing his pursed lips against hers.

On the outside, she was relishing the embrace, relieved that he wanted this as much as she did. It was a reassuring thought. But internally, she was cheering like a madwoman. Jumping up and down, doing cartwheels and backflips – she was on cloud nine. His hands snaked against her skin, fingers grazing against the trough of her spine, eliciting a moan from the bunny Faunus. Her own hands began to slide from his broad chest, against his neck.

She wanted to keep him there, finally grasping his head against her own. As his own hands sent explosive tingles of electricity through her body, her lithe fingers rummaged through his burnt orange hair, keeping him tightly against her body engaged with a powerful lip lock. Feeling the passion build within her, she bit down against his bottom lip, bringing a heavy groan from the man holding her. Breaking away, her hands slid from his now ravished hair, cupping his now burning red cheeks.

"I know you only asked me…"

"Velvet…" Cardin interrupted her. "I have been a terrible person. One of the worst, now that I think about it. I've done things I can never forgive myself for…I've seen things that I could have prevented – I've helped do things that I should have stopped. I want you…I want you so badly now…but it feels wrong. It feels like I've lied to you –"

"No!" She called suddenly. "No. You have changed, Cardin. You're not in the Brotherhood. You're at Beacon, you're the future Lord of House Winchester and one of Jaune's most trusted companions…you can't beat yourself up over what happened in the past. And you already know that I trust you…I…I…I want you too. I want you more than you can imagine and I've been waiting for you to say it first. I've been waiting all this time, since we first started fighting for Jaune's cause – I've been waiting for you to tell me."

"Velvet…" Cardin leaned forward, pressing his forehead against her own, indigo eyes bloodshot with tears already forming. "I think I love you…and it scares the fuck out of me. I don't know how to describe what I feel…I can't explain it…but it scares me, Velvet! It scares me more than anything I've witnessed and done until now! I've never been in love…but…whenever I look at you…whenever I hear your voice…it makes me feel…"

"Happy." She said with a steady tone, eyes boring into his own. "Relieved; excited for what's to come…"

"H-How–"

She shot forward, closing the gap between their faces. Her arms shot around his neck, forcing his large frame into the wall of the Hot Spring. Breaking apart, her once adorable chocolate orbs were laced with something Cardin couldn't quite place. It scared him.

"I wasn't the only one…" She said, lips quivering. "I have been bottling these emotions for so long…I didn't know what to do…"

"Velvet."

Jaune stood at the command center of the HQ, gazing upon the never ending expanse of Vale. Cars packed each of the highways and overpass bridges. Businesses were bustling with activity and suits ran back and forth across the streets. Interns, unpaid and paid, dashed to coffee houses and cafés, carrying drink carriers filled completely with lattes and coffees. Students flooded malls and outlet centers, skipping class or enjoying their off time before going on with their menial lives.

For a moment, he imagined a life like that. Running a little shop on the side of a busy roadway, staring at the endless monotony of static income. Waking up, going to work, clocking in and waiting for eight hours to move on with his life – it was soothing. In a way, it was a nice change of pace. Compared to the constant fast life of being a huntsman, or even a King. Someone always wanted someone dead, more-so as a huntsman. That moment alone, he imagined the feigned innocence of being a civilian. No aura, no weapons, laws to follow and simplicity to live.

The worst thing to happen would be thieves or a flat tire; maybe a car crash or disease or Grimm. But as a huntsman – Grimm would be the least of ones worries. Bandits and other huntsmen were just the tip of the iceberg. Soldiers, armies, politics. Everything – even the fate of the menial civilians – rested on the shoulders of men and women like huntsmen and huntresses. It was tiring.

Sighing softly, he raised his hand and pressed his palm against the clear glass panes. Banners of Vale and Beacon waved in the winds, showing off to the men and women visiting for the Vytal Festival, the city's pride. In the distant Vale Proper, great shows of colors could be seen exploding in the skyline across the Bay. Visitors of Vacuo and Mistral were cheering and partying in the streets. Even with the distance that Jaune was, he could feel the vibrations of their drums and thrashing footsteps.

Taking a soft breath, he turned on his heels, blue eyes gazing at the men and women glued to their swivel seats, typing away at the computers and consoles. Others were talking into headsets, coordinating with Ankōshoku and GreeneTek scientists and commanders. The command center, Jaune smiled, was the brain of the operation. Fifty of the best code breakers, programmers, IT Specialists, linguistic/cultural experts and brightest commanders, sat and worked together keeping the King's Fist running.

Knowing these men and women by name and rank, Jaune frequented the command center when he wasn't training or with his future queens. The Goulding twins were brother and sister, IT Specialists that could handle any technical difficulties over phone or in person. Tech was their advantage over the White Fang and Brotherhood and most of their technology was new and barely tested. Ming and Daya were the King's Fist's de facto code breakers, formerly aligned with Atlas' Codebreaker Division. They became disillusioned with Atlas' growing political and military ambitions.

Each member had their own reasons for joining the King's Fist, but they alone ran the army as much as he did. Smiling as he walked past the concentrating men and women, his arms crossed behind his back. Blue eyes stared hard at the AT-TE Tactical Enforcers. Beautiful six-legged walkers with powerful autocannons mounted at the cockpit and hull. On its back, the one-o'-five millimeter cannon was more imposing in person. Currently, in the vehicle bay, seven AT-TE walkers were assembled with seven more still being pieced together.

Above, almost fifty LAHAT carrier-transports hung from the different ceiling clamps as maintenance teams worked around the clock. Higher still, the first Hornets were released from their docking clamps to begin their first patrols over Vale's airways. No more than fifteen deployed during a time of peace. But he wasn't here to inspect the King's Fist's vehicles, he was waiting patiently for some of his favorite units and Fireteams.

A muffled rumble shook the hangar bay as papers and material improperly latched, shot in every direction. Three Levies arrived, all bearing light blue and space grey colors. Each carrier looked like they'd seen better days. Bullet holes, burn marks and signs of battle – even deep gashes that looked like a Beowolf's plaything. Two of the cockpits had deep cracks in the ballistic glass, like spider webs spreading from edge to edge. One by one, they came to sudden halts, hissing hot air and expelling their depleted Dust crystals.

The lead Levy's cargo doors hissed, screeching open before completely detaching itself from the hull. Inside, twelve men and women dressed in power armor and combat fatigues, hobbled from the aircraft. Each one removed their helmets revealing Humans and Faunus of varying colors and type. From the rear of the troop, a tall woman removed her shattered helmet and tossed it to one of the maintenance workers glaring at the unit. Her face was distinguished by giant tusks protruding from her cheeks.

"Captain Jade Terra of Lightning Squad." The woman beamed, saluting to the blond King. "We are happy to report a resounding success against the Grimm in the outer reaches of Vale. Minimal casualties and almost little to no collateral, sir!"

"At east captain." Jaune nodded. "Where's Fireteam MSTN?"

"They should be on their way soon." Jade nodded. Her deep green eyes following after the blond boy. "Is there something wrong, your grace?"

"No, I'd rather have you and Marsha here together." The King led her along. "Let Lightning Squad enjoy themselves for some time."

"You heard the King, boys and girls – we have some downtime, get some grub and R&R!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Who are we?!" One of the soldiers shouted.

"Lightning Squad!"

Maintenance workers and mechanics stared at them with deadpanned expressions. Jaune admired their enthusiasm and cheerful outlook towards doing their job. As hard as it was to believe, Lightning Squad was far from the trigger happy grunts that Atlas and even Mistral employed. These were trained men and women who honed their skills from being smalltime hunters or even having experience in the Valean Military ranks. Some were former SWAT and counter-terrorist officers, each man and woman was handpicked by Anthony and Carolina themselves.

They sauntered through the vehicle bay, nodding their heads and chanting different creeds and battle cries. But as they disappeared into the massive industrial elevators, a rumble was heard coming from the distance. Suddenly, breaking through the clouds, a Bullhead, burned and beaten as well plowed through the airways of Vale. Coming to a screeching halt, the aircraft hovered slowly into the vehicle bay. Hissing as it landed, the cargo bay doors opened, revealing a quartet of men and women dressed in combat armor, like Jaune and the Lieutenants.

At the head, a woman wearing orange and green power armor jumped out first, her Scout helmet clasped under her armpit. Her long dirty blonde hair was tied into a warrior's knot at the back of her hair, revealing her pale skin and light brown eyes. Behind her, twins they seemed, jumped after her. Both wore EVA Helmets with armor bearing red and white. The only way to tell the difference between them, Skylar had blue hair and Naples had a head of golden hair. The last of the team, Tenne, a young woman and recent graduate of Mistral Academy. She wore black armor with orange accents and kept her EOD helmet worn almost all the time.

Smiling softly, Jaune ran up to them. Immediately, Marsha roared a command and the four hunters straightened immediately, saluting the King. Shaking his head, the boy sighed in relief. "At ease. I was worried for a moment!"

"Apologies, your grace!" The four bowed. "We were held up fighting some of the Greater Grimm. There were Alpha Nevermore all across the outer badlands. Next time we will make sure to keep to the timetable."

"Don't worry." Jaune smiled. "Fireteam MSTN is one of the King's Fist's most important figures. Speaking of which, Marsha, I need to speak with you and Captain Terra for a moment. The rest of MSTN can relax."

As the huntsmen headed off to the lounges, Marsha walked beside Jade on either side of Jaune. "Alright. I will be heading to Menagerie tomorrow afternoon. I have business to attend with Lord Ghira and we have one hundred engineers coming with us."

"Why?" Terra gasped with wide eyes. "One hundred engineers?!"

"If all goes to plan – we'll build a CCT Tower for Menagerie." Jaune nodded. "If we want to win and protect the world – Faunus of Menagerie need to be in the loop. All free men and women deserve the right to know what is happening in the world. And in exchange, open trade and migration for the Faunus of Menagerie. We will unite the world with this action – I know it."

"What do you need us for?" Marsha asked.

"The engineers are there to build the tower – but they cannot defend themselves." Jaune sighed. "I will be speaking with the Belladonnas and spending much time in the Belladonna Mansion in Kuo Kuana. I can't protect those men and women from the creatures of Menagerie – many species are evolved forms of Grimm that we don't have much intelligence on. I need the best – so I have you."

"Fireteam MSTN is up for any challenge."

"Lightning Squad won't fail!"

Weiss stared at her food, uncertain of what she wanted to do or eat. Beside her, utensils laid askew like before. Napkins were unfolded and the glasses weren't properly filled with the right substance. Orange juice on the left in the thin tall glass, while warm milk cooled in the shorter, oblong glass was her usual get up – but not this time. Both glasses were replaced with a simple, painfully plain cup filled with water. Not even ice.

She was emotionless, a near drone of what she used to be. She didn't yell, or even try to be perfect anymore. Weiss wanted to tell someone what she was feeling but every time it came to it, insecurities and fears she'd bottled down would surface. No one would or even could fathom the depth or the worries she was feeling. Wanting nothing more than to run or fight, she didn't know which choice would be the most appropriate.

Fight what, fight who? She didn't know. The Ice Queen didn't know who her enemy was – why she was even like this. She couldn't figure what was bringing this out. Was it Jaune? Was it the three beautiful women who fawned over him like nymphs and sirens? Weiss wanted to say something, explain why she felt the way she did, why she was doing the things she was, but she was afraid of what they'd say. Who wouldn't be afraid? Women like them compared to her? She was as flat as a board. She was average at best and she swore she was too white and pale – who in their right mind would date a fluorescent lightbulb?

Sighing, her head tilted down, pressing against the table. "What is wrong with me?"

"Hey." A gruff voice sounded beside her.

Snapping up, her icy blues locked with the dark colored orbs of Junior. "Hello, Junior…how're you today?"

"I could be better." The man chuckled, taking the free seat beside her. "You?"

"I guess I could say the same." She frowned.

"Want to talk about it?" He asked, raising a brow.

"I mean…I don't want to bother you –"

"I used to be a bartender – listening to people's problems is my specialty." He smiled warmly. "Now, spill. We can't have a member of the Fireteam RWBY slacking. MSTN might outdo you."

Giggling for the first time in a long while, Weiss looked at the man with a soft smile. "I…I think I'm in love with Jaune."

Unexpectedly, the man choked on his coffee, spitting the burning substance across the table. "You w-what?!"

"I-I think I'm in love –"

"No, I heard you perfectly well – I'm just…wow." Junior ran a hand through his short cut hair. "That kid has some game…"

"What?" Weiss deadpanned.

"N-Nothing!" He chuckled nervously. "I'm just…both surprised and worried. Why do you feel this way for him?"

For the first time, Junior watched the Ice Queen blush. "I-I, w-what?! W-Why?! What does t-that have to do with a-anything?!"

He quickly raised his hands to defend himself. "I'm just trying to get to the root of the problem."

"What makes you think it's a problem…?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?" Junior gave her a knowing look, eyes trailing from her own to her untouched plate of a meager dinner of rice, steak and veggies. Normally, she'd have more on her plate, separated and correctly divided into the right portions. This was a mess at best. Veggies weren't placed in their usual corner, mixing with rice and steak juices – something that Weiss used to be extremely vocal about being against.

Blushing once again, Weiss huffed and snapped her head to look anywhere but Junior's deadpanning expression. "I'm not hungry!"

"Right." Junior rolled his eyes. "Look, I know a thing or two about love. It makes you do crazy things and dumb things. Case in point – starving yourself."

"I'm not starving myself – see!" Weiss, spitefully, scooped a large spoonful of rice and greens, shoveling the food into her mouth. The tears forming at the corners of her eyes didn't help her defense.

"You can lie to your friends and the man you love, but you can't lie to me." Junior sighed. "I've seen men and women like this come into my club when it was a club. They'd ask for top shelf liquor and pay thousands of Lien, just to have someone listen to their problems. They'd leave drunk off their asses, stumbling and hobbling back and forth, barely able to find the doorway. I know you won't go to such drastic measures, but this is just the precursor to something worse. If you won't get over this and figure out the right choice of action you will destroy yourself and your team."

"What do you mean?"

"Those people I'm talking about? I'd see them on the news, killed in car collisions." Junior shuddered. "I wanted to keep them here, rest without getting behind the wheel, but I was in a dark place. I had no honor at the time and only cared for the Lien they had to offer. It was a con that served its purpose at the time, but now, I feel sick thinking of it – hoping it wouldn't happen to any of you youngsters. You are all about Melanie and Miltia's age – and those two are the closest things to daughters I have. Just don't tell them that, I don't want it getting to their airheads. They're inflated enough, y'know?"

Giggling, Weiss nodded her head, swallowing her food. "Thank you, Junior. I can see why Jaune wanted you to be his first recruit."

"I'm a resourceful guy." He smiled, sipping at his coffee.

Weiss shook her head, giving him a warm smile. "No. You're a good friend. Unlike the Atlesian Military men and women, you actually give a damn about those you employ. You care enough to know us, understand us…and I think you're invaluable to the King's Fist. Thank you again for listening, Junior. I guess I needed an intervention?"

"Needed is an understatement, Ice Queen."

"I promise, I'll be fine." Jaune smiled. "Carolina, Rosemary. Be nice to CRDL and the other Fireteams, they can't fight if they can't even walk."

"Aw. No fun." Carolina huffed with a playful look. "Always the buzzkill."

"I know right?" Rosemary flipped her dark hair, gazing her blue eyes at Jaune's. "Taking our training regimen and putting it in the trash, Jaune. Throw us a bone, why don't you."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear you two questioning my orders." Jaune gave them a cheeky smile. "Ruby, keep Weiss and Yang under control. Yang, don't break the recruits in Viridian Hollow – we need them operational before the Vytal Festival tournament at the end of the year."

Hearing a huff of disappointment from the blonde bombshell, Jaune gave her a soft kiss, bringing a blush to her face. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you more, Jaune." Yang said in a near whisper. Her lilac eyes trailed to the concrete and steel toes of her boots.

"Hey, I'm not going to be gone long." He smiled. "I promise. I'll be back, no need to worry."

"You'd better not be." She growled.

"Not even the oceans can keep me from you for Xiao-Long."

Yang giggled a storm, giving him a quick peck. "That was a shitty pun, but I love it anyway. Go and have fun, hot stuff. It's a long trip to Menagerie."

"You have no idea…" Jaune walked towards the docking plank. "To the King's Fist! Remember your orders and keep to the operations you're assigned to! We must not falter in this time of silence from our enemies. Soon, we will strike at the Brotherhood and White Fang!"

Upon the deck, Jaune stopped and turned to face the men and women he'd fought with and bled with for the last seven months. Each of them waved him off, pride and adoration in their eyes. Banners waved and signs were held by civilians that thrived thanks to his rule, cheers were called by those who were given another chance at life. Faunus and Human stood together, like the future the White Fang fought for. But as the ship floated out of the port, a pair of hands interlocked with his.

To his left, Pyrrha held his hand tightly, almost shaking with excitement. On his right, Blake rested her head on his shoulder, cat ears rubbing against his neck. It was a soothing moment, one he wasn't going to take for granted. He brought up his right hand, kissing Blake's and did the same to Pyrrha's shortly afterwards, bringing soft giggle's from the two girls.

"Did you see that send off?" Jaune smiled.

"Of course." Pyrrha sighed wistfully. "How could anyone miss that?"

"That's what we're fighting for." Blake nodded. "For our people to stand together…"

"For our people to be free."

Yeah, so this was more or less just a build up chapter
to the excitement of Menagerie I have planned
xD

So Cardin and Velvet are together in Viridian Hollow having fun-fun time?
Jaune and Pyrrha and Blake might have fun-fun time in Menagerie?
Ren and Nora and Nebula might have fun-fun time in Beacon?
And let's not forget Doré and Sun might be going at it too?

Fucking teenagers

ja ne!

gottahavekyuubi