-~~ KBTS ~~-
"Okay. Jaune, my Mom is going to tease you. That is almost a given. Don't let it get to you. If you blush or react in any way, it's like blood in the water. Expect an immediate teasing frenzy." Blake was walking a little too fast with a nervous energy and had to keep slowing down and circling back around so she didn't out pace Jaune. Or Ilia, or Sun, who were trailing behind.
"It'll be fine. Seven sisters, remember? And Yang." Blake looked unconvinced.
"Mom's teasing is going to have a specific focus, I'm certain of it. She is going to heavily insinuate a relationship between us, particularly one of an intimate nature. We need to present a unified front to combat the threat. We need to maintain that we are friends, and that we are happy that way. That if we do decide to date each other it will be in the distant future."
"Yeah no problem. Why would she think different?"
"No reason! And if she infers that we may have at one time pictured each other naked, deny, deny, deny."
"Why would she bring that up? Have you told her something that would make her think that? Wait, why would you want to picture me naked?" Jaune looked at her with confusion and a slight blush.
"No Reason! Especially not after what Ruby told us!" Blakes answer was a little too fast and a lot too panicky to be remotely believable. Sun visibly sulked while Ilia looked between Jaune and Blake curiously.
"Ooooookkkkaaaayyyy. Well I will be sure to be a gentleman around your mother. No problem. Everything is going to be fine." Jaune looked worried as Blake was more panicked than he had ever seen. With the way her ears were flitting about, he was pretty sure had she been wearing her bow it would have launched off her head. If he wasn't focused on calming her down it would have been quite entertaining.
"Right. Right. No problem. Except that my Mom is the easy one. Dad is a whole different issue. You can't show any weakness. He isn't going to like you at first, he doesn't like anyone he thinks might be trying to date me."
"Amen to that." Grumbled Sun.
"Relax Blake. Seven sisters and an overprotective Dad. I know how this works." Jaune gave her a thumbs up. It did not seem to give her much confidence in his ability to handle himself.
"You will also be the only human there. So, try not to let that bother you." Sun added with a devilish smirk. Ilia glared at him.
"Sun's right. Don't mention politics the SDC or the White Fang. Even if he is the one to bring it up. We'll deflect the conversation. No talking about human-Faunus relations, of ANY kind!" Blake's eyes and ears were flicking about wildly, she looked close to hyper-ventilation.
"Ilia told me about how he saved her at your house. Sorry to hear about the fire though. From what she said your Dad sounds like a big softie. I'm going to be fine. What are you so worried about?" The quartet mounted the steps to the front door. The two guards moving away slightly to give them some space.
"This is going to be awesome!" Sun rubbed his hands in glee while Ilia scowled at him.
"I just want him to like you. It's… It's important to me. And Dad has a history of hating the guys I li… I have as friends." Jaune gave Blake a hug which just about broke Sun's mind. Almost a year and he was lucky to get a high five or a pat on the shoulder.
"Blake seriously don't worry. Everything is going to be fine." He rubbed her shoulders and Blake leaned into him visibly relaxing. Ilia elbowed Sun and hissed in his ear.
"If you say anything to ruin this moment, I'll stab you somewhere much more tender than a shoulder." Sun raised his hands in defeat but continued staring daggers at Jaune.
Just as the pair started to pull away from each other, but before they had actually parted, the door burst open. Kali was dancing in place with her hands on her cheeks and the biggest Cheshire grin imaginable. Ghira towered over her filing the doorway completely with his bulk, and looking down on them through almost comically small glasses.
"Ohhhhhhh they are even cuter together than I thought!" Kali was practically vibrating in place as a massive paw like hand landed on her shoulder as if to hold her in place.
"You must be Jaune Arc, we have heard a lot about you." Ghira's deep baritone voice betrayed no hint of emotion.
"Yes, Jaune Arc. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I apologize for not doing so earlier, but things were a bit hectic and I didn't want to intrude on your quality time with your daughter and her team."
Jaune shook his hand free from Blake's who released it with a shock, as she didn't realize she was holding it. Not that such an action went unnoticed by Kali. Jaune stuck his hand out and received a handshake in return. Ghira taking the chance to pull Jaune into the home as Kali moved to Blake's side whispering in her ear.
"Come in, come in. There is much I have been anxious to discuss with you. You may not have known this, Jaune, but I knew your father. Though it's been about 10 years or so. May I call you Jaune?" Ghira's sudden shift to a more jovial tone did not go unnoticed by their simian friend.
"Only if I can call you Papa B." Jaune Laughed.
Ghira disappeared into the house with a rumbling laugh, his arm wrapped around Jaune.
"Moooom No!" Blake looked horrified as she chased after a giggling Kali. Ilia reached over and closed Sun's mouth that was hanging agape. Sun began mutely gesturing, his arms waving about in disbelief. Ilia smirked at him.
"Are you sure you want to be here? I having a feeling it's only going to get worse. For you, that is." Ilia strutted into the house dispelling any doubt that could remain whose corner she was in.
Sun walked into the living room steadfastly ignoring the look of pity Kali had for him and the look of animosity Ghira leveled at him. He couldn't help but sigh in exasperation when Jaune looked undeniably happy to see him. As much as he wanted to, he just couldn't find it in him to hate the guy.
It wasn't even like Jaune was trying to poach his girl. He and Blake just were not as close as he wished they were. And even if they were, Jaune wasn't actively doing anything to hurt his chances, other than being himself. It was rapidly becoming clearer and clearer that he should cut his losses. Not that he liked to admit that. With a resigned sigh he plopped down next to Ilia.
He made a conscious decision to just let it go. If it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be. There was an old saying he had heard a few times: If you let something go free and it comes back to you then it was meant to be yours, if not, it was never yours to begin with.
If the gods did have a plan then they were sending pretty clear signals right now. Time to start paying attention to them. His scroll chimed, and he pulled it out to see a text message from Oranssi. Not much of a message just saying 'Hi. Got your number from Arslan' And a second one that followed. 'I had fun last night. Looking forward to when school starts up.'
Ok gods, message received. Sun got up and said his goodbyes, although only Kali and Ilia really acknowledged him. Jaune gave him a confused look like he was wondering why he was leaving. Sun just gave him a shrug and a thumbs up before slipping out the door. Time to think about the next chapter of his life.
Meanwhile, Ilia was telling everyone about Jaune at the club last night while Jaune tried to downplay everything. Ghira was listening intently with a wry smile. Kali kept elbowing Blake who was frozen in shock.
That didn't sound like the Jaune she knew. Then again, jaune had changed quite a bit over the last year. The Jaune she knew hadn't been forced to mature fighting monsters and assassins. Or had been forced to reconcile the magical forces at work in their world. The Jaune she knew hadn't seen and experienced death first hand. Hadn't wrestled with the kind of loss this version of Jaune had.
Ruby had told her about what had happened on the road to mistral. How Jaune had taken the fall of Shion harder than he let on. Ruby had gleaned a bit of info on Jaune having vacationed there as a child. She suspected he may have known some of the villagers. Personally, Blake agreed with Ruby and suspected he was carrying some guilt about not getting there in time to help. Jaune tended to try and be the emotional rock for their group and bury his own emotional issues, as well as help carry theirs.
Blake would freely admit most of the changes she saw were for the better. But there was an underlying pessimism, he was a bit less carefree, more jaded. She worried what other changes she had not seen might lie waiting to be discovered.
"Jaune, that's just the kind of leadership the White Fang needs. I was thinking of opening up membership to all peoples, Faunus or Unenhanced as you say. What do you think?"
"Tea! We need to make the tea!" Blake snapped out of her thoughts with a desperate panic.
Jaune placed a hand on her arm to calm her but she just kept looking between Jaune and her Dad in worry. Her mom looked concerned too and Ilia looked as panicked as she felt.
"I appreciate the offer sir. But I don't think I should accept."
"Well then what is your opinion. Should the white Fang be dissolved? Can we simply rebrand? We certainly have a PR nightmare to overcome."
"I don't think the White Fang should change at all. Other than using the old logo." Jaune shrugged and took a look at the shocked face's around him.
"I had a lot of time on the road to think about things. I've come to the conclusion that Sienna Kahn wasn't wrong. Nor was Blake for following her. I think Adam took them in the wrong direction and should be labeled as a traitor to all Faunus. But Sienna was right to take the Fang in a more militant direction and should be respected as a martyr for the cause. The White Fang should remain a mostly if not all Faunus, paramilitary force against human oppression."
"Jaune, I don't think you understand what you are saying." Blake tried to recover from the shock that had pervaded the room.
"I'm not saying that they kill anyone. Or that they should be terrorists, though Atlas will likely label them as such no matter what. Actually, it's quite the opposite. But peaceful protests alone aren't going to work. And you certainly can't just sit by and let people walk all over you. The Faunus also need to show some strength to force people to pay attention."
"Cardin, that club guy, murdering tribes of bandits, bullies and racists. They are pretty much the same thing, they pick on those they deem weaker, inferior to themselves. Unless you have the strength to back up your words when you stand up to them, they aren't going to take you seriously. I wholeheartedly believe people have it in them to change. To be better, but they need to want to. Sometimes you need to show them that you won't be pushed around anymore. Convince them that if they don't change, they will suffer for it."
Jaune's stony face softened as he shook his head. "That, and I can't stand by when people are hurting my friends."
Jaune turned away from Blake and his resolve hardened again as he locked eyes with her father. "I think the Faunus need the White Fang, or at least something like it. To show the world they won't stand by and let the status quo continue, that they are willing to fight for what is right. But they can't do it alone."
Blake looked desperately to Ilia who looked as shocked and confused as she was, no help there. She slowly turned to her father expecting anger and condemnation. She did not expect to see him nodding along.
"So, you are saying that we need to split the organization?" Ghira regarded Jaune with calm curiosity.
"Exactly. The biggest problem with the White Fang taking a hardline stance is that it was the only voice the Faunus had. And over time the moderate voice became isolated and eventually fell silent. Not entirely your fault sir. But you became focused on Menagerie and kind of dropped the ball on the world stage. With no one else willing to pick it up, Sienna ran with it."
"So, you suggest splitting the White Fang in two? Hardliners and Moderates? That seems like recipe for infighting." Ghira frowned, shaking his head slightly.
"Actually sir, I envision three organizations. All with the shared goal of equality between all sentient peoples. Not divided by ideology but by purpose. The White Fang, the teeth of the oppressed bared and ready to fight for what is morally right. The Black Talons, the political wing, driving discourse and protesting for laws and regulations to be enforced. Together they fight tooth and nail to bring justice to those who oppress others. And they will force the governments of the world to finally act in the defense of liberty and justice for all."
"Holy shit, that was inspiring. I got chills." Ilia whispered to herself. Blake and Kali nodded along in agreement, having easily heard.
"Yeah I had a lot of time to come up with that. Sounded cool in my head…" Jaune trailed off nervously.
"And the third group?" Ghira prodded, having taken out a pad of paper and rapidly taking notes.
"Umm, did Blake tell you about the whole ninj… ahem, warriors of Love, but NOT eugenics, thing?" Jaune got nods from all around, but that didn't do much to restore the confident attitude he had exuded moments before.
"Well this isn't quite like that, but it follows the same ideas. The third group I'd call the Hearts of Gold. Their primary mission is to foster and encourage Faunus and Human interaction. Win over the hearts and minds of the populace through positive interactions."
"So, the Faunus will fight for equality tooth and nail and with all our hearts?" Ghira put down his glasses and looked up in admiration of the awkwardly shuffling teen.
"That's the idea." Jaune shrugged. Looking a bit skittish under the intense looks he was receiving.
Ilia turned to Blake. "You need to marry him RIGHT NOW. He is too valuable to risk losing." Her voice while not loud, was not exactly a whisper either.
"Ilia! What is wrong with you?" Blake hissed at her friend, while trying to both smile at Jaune and glare at her mom to prevent her from starting too.
"You already know my stance. I'll go make some tea. And cake. Can't have a wedding… I mean tea, without cake. Come on Ilia." And Kali skipped out of the room with Ilia following while looking over her shoulder at her new hero.
"Jaune. You can't be serious. The White Fang are terrorists, murders even. You want to not just condone, but encourage that?"
Jaune winced at Blake's tone. "They aren't all bad, most are just misguided. I'd like to think most of them are like you and Ilia, they want to do something and the White Fang was the only ones offering a path forward. I say we give them the guidance that they need. But also give the Faunus as a whole a more moderating and powerful voice with the Talons. Murder will not be tolerated, but they will probably still be called terrorists. Everyone tells you to fight for what you believe in, but fight against the establishment and you are a terrorist or a criminal."
"I see and who would run the White Fang? I assume you are looking to me to lead the Black Talons?"
"Yes sir. I don't know. I don't actually know all that many White Fang members. Just You guys, and Katie. I don't think Mata or Merah really count. But I was kind of thinking Ilia would be a great candidate." The declaration was met with the sound of shattering porcelain. Jaune looked up to see a purple Ilia. Her colors shifting to pink and blue and back so fast it looked like purple swirls.
"Well, I can't say I disagree." Ilia gasped a high pitch strangled "eeeep!" As Ghira smirked at her and Jaune beamed. Blake was also surprised, but nodded in agreement. Kali just shook her head in amusement.
"Well looks like I need to make some more tea. And find a mop." She chuckled as she ducked back into the kitchen.
"But sir? Why me?" Ilia found her voice. But it was several octaves higher than normal.
"You are brave, loyal, and I can count on you to do what's right. But mostly I can trust you, and at a time like this that is crucial." Ghira sent a fatherly smile at the girl, who was slowly settling back to her normal colors. Jaune and Blake found the scene quite heartwarming.
"I-I'll t-try not to disappoint sir." Ilia was beside herself, nothing seemed real with any of her dealings with Jaune.
"I have faith in you Ilia." Blake smiled standing to help the dazed girl into a seat.
"And enough with the sir stuff you can call me Ghira or if you like Papa B. You're pretty much family now." Ilia nodded but found herself unable to respond at the moment.
"Now, who to head up the Hearts of Gold, I wonder? I assume you have someone in mind. But if it's who I think it is, are you sure you want to unleash that upon Remnant? We can't put that cat back in the bag, so to speak."
"Jaune. No." Blake looked at him with a tinge of fear.
"If she is meddling in the love lives of half of Remnant, she might not have time to tease you about yours." Jaune shrugged unapologetically.
A loud squee sound came from the kitchen. "I'll do it! But don't worry I will always have time to tease my baby!" Kali appeared in a flash and gave Blake's cheek a pinch, before dancing back to the kitchen.
"Oh, we will have a squad of friendship warriors, spreading joy and happiness across Menagerie and beyond. Friendship warriors doesn't pop though… I know, what's that book Blake likes…. Ninjas of Love? Now THAT has a nice ring to it."
Jaune looked away whistling awkwardly avoiding Blake's glare of death. Luckily Ghira was there to bail him out.
"So, how do you think we should start?"
"Well, I was thinking by sending out questionnaires to the White Fang members and residents of Menagerie." Jaune looked at Blake who had finally stopped trying to mentally kill him.
"To gauge their willingness to work with humans? Or their stance on Faunus superiority?" Blake was getting curious. Jaune had clearly put a lot of time into thinking about this. Was it all because of her?
"Not entirely. In the first survey it's more about identifying specific skills and past job experience. The White Fang recruited from all walks of life, but didn't much care what you were good at as long as you could wield a weapon. For what we have in mind special skills will be needed. PR, accounting, web design, psychology, nursing, office managers. Anybody with a technical or managerial skill set. Even things like tailors and seamstresses, makeup artists and hair stylists."
"I see. The ones who only know how to fight stay in the white fang and those with more specialized skills get routed into the other sectors." Ghira hummed a deep growl of satisfaction. "Yes, that makes sense. Then once we are organized to share data and manage our resources, we can weed out the more radical elements."
"Our biggest issue is Atlas coming down on us and squashing the Fang before it can regroup. Luckily, with Atlas isolating itself that seems less and less likely." Jaune reached for a cup of tea, and Blake just stared at him. He said us, did he just join the new Fang or Talons or whatever?
Jaune took a sip, as Ghira accepted a Cup from Kali who leaned against his side. "The other thing is to immediately work on setting up an administrative governmental presence in Mistral and Vacuo. An embassy or something. To capitalize on the current goodwill we have here, and to legitimize Menagerie politically as a fifth kingdom."
Blake continued to look at Jaune with wide eyes. Yeah, he was a good team leader. She wasn't kidding when she said she would follow him into battle any time, but he was talking about leading a nation. Every time Blake thought she had him figured out he would pull out another surprise.
"It's also important to set up some model legislation. That's something you can do right now. Make it illegal to discriminate against anyone in Menagerie. Set strong but just penalties, and let the people know you mean business. That discrimination is a two way street and will not be tolerated no matter the source. Then when in negotiations with the other kingdoms you can hold your own laws up as a gold standard. It's important that you lead by example, if the other side can point to you as hypocrites then they can delegitimize your requests for similar legislation."
"I hadn't thought about it like that. But you are right. We have anti-discrimination laws, but when enforced it is more about not letting a human abuse the Faunus, it isn't bilateral. A very intriguing point."
"It will also help the Golden Hearts mission to open up Menagerie as a tourist destination. Blake and Sun showed me some pictures and the place looks like a tropical paradise. I picture the Hearts eventually running a series of hotels in all the kingdoms. Both as a place for Faunus in need of jobs to seek meaningful employment but also as a safe location for a face to face meeting from their online dating app."
"Jaune are you suggesting that my Mom head up some sort of love hotel chain? Or worse Faunus brothels?" Blake looked indignantly at Jaune. But was also disturbed by Kali's lack of a negative reaction to the idea.
"No. No, a legitimate hotel, more like a spa or resort. It would be a great way to support the local Faunus communities. Create a self-sustaining income, and forward the goals of human-Faunus interactions. Increasing the hospitality industry in Menagerie also helps generate growth, funding, and promotes a positive image of the Faunus, while highlighting their plight. The key though is to keep the whole enterprise in house, outside developers could ruin the whole idea of local jobs and local funding."
"Sorry Jaune. I just..."
"Immediately jumped on the idea of an inter-racial love shack?" Kali teased as Blake's ears took on a reddish glow.
"Now then, Jaune you mentioned a dating app? I take it you're very much in favor of human-Faunus relationships. Any particular reason why that may be?" Kali's pointed inquiry seemingly went right over Jaune's head, but Blake's embarrassment was so intense it caused her Faunus ears to darken as well as her human ones.
"Well, I think a dating app would be a good way to foster a meaningful interaction between Faunus and Human couples. It would need to be focused on mutual compatibility and long-term relationships. It can't devolve into a hookup site, or some kind of place for perverts to leer at Faunus girls or something. Everyone joining would have to be screened somehow. Hence the idea for the hotels as a location to monitor the initial meet up. Make sure everyone stays safe. I wouldn't even make it exclusive to Faunus, or focus on interracial dating. Just a Faunus run app, but with a bit of an inherent bias in the algorithm."
"Yeah, yeah. I love the idea, but I was more interested in you specifically. What does Jaune Arc like in a girl? Long hair, horns, a tail, cat ears?" Kali leaned forward ears twitching in excitement causing a slight jingling sound from her earrings.
"I don't really know. Hairstyle isn't super important. If a Faunus girl liked me, I don't think what her features are would matter that much. I mean it's just a part of who you are not the thing that defines you. Right?" Jaune shrugged, while Kali slumped back in defeat, allowing Blake a moment to catch her breath. Ilia beamed at Jaune like he had passed some sort of unwritten test.
"I just see a relationship, especially a marriage, as the ultimate form of cooperation. And if Faunus and humans can get along like that, well, then it proves to the world that we aren't that different. That we can work together, not just as equals, but as partners."
Ilia got up solemnly and moved in front of where Jaune sat. She looked him dead in the eye and clasped one of his hands. With a serious as death expression she knelt on one knee before the bewildered knight.
"Jaune, I am sorry I can not be your partner. And I know you don't owe me anything, but can I ask you to promise me you'll do one thing for me?" Ilia looked up at him completely serious in every way.
"Sure, Ilia I'll try to help you any way I can." Jaune gave her a friendly smile but his eyes held a hint of warry concern.
Ilia taking that as a yes, let out a deep breath. "Please, for me, and for all Faunus everywhere... Will you marry Blake?"
Jaune looked wildly around at Kali and Ghira expecting some reaction, but receiving none, besides their default setting of contemplative and cheerful teasing.
Blake on the other hand had turned completely pale. She could not meet Jaune's eyes and instead was slowly beginning to recover as her shock turned into fury. She grabbed Ilia by the back of her collar and dragged her into the kitchen.
"Ilia, can I talk to you in the kitchen for a second?" Blake ground out through clenched teeth as she dragged ilia away. Kali went skipping after, hopefully to prevent a homicide.
"Soooooo, that was certainly…. A definite thing…. That happened…. Just now." Jaune scratched his neck as he and Ghira shared a long look.
"Ahem yes. Well…."
A screech cut him off as Blake finally snapped. "Gods above will you two stop! We haven't even started dating and your picking out a china pattern! Yes, I like Jaune. I like him a lot! But I… no, WE need to do this in our own time. Please, please, PLEASE! Can you stop trying to shove us together for one more week?"
"Calm down Kitten." If the enraged roar of fury that followed was any indication, Kali's words had not had their desired effect.
"Ummmm, sir? Do you think they know we can hear them?" Jaune looked uncomfortably at Ghira.
"No. I think we better find somewhere more private. Follow me, I believe the back yard will suffice." Ghira and Jaune began the least stealthy sneaking out the back door ever performed in the history of Remnant. Ghira's shear mass made every floor board creak and pop. While Jaune knocked over an umbrella stand. In an effort to catch it, he sent it crashing into a coat rack which landed in the recycling container, and sent cans flying. The men froze but the sound of yelling didn't abate.
"Jaune is amazing!" Ilia's voice rang out.
"I know that! You think I can't see that? Jaune is the most incredible man I've ever met!" Blake was shouting, her tone indignant.
"You need to tie him down. Claim him before he gets away."
'I'm not into that! The ribbon is just a part of my weapon!"
"I think she meant metaphorically. As in put a ring on it." Kali's calm voice of reason was raised to be heard over the other two fighting, and could still be easily heard throughout the house.
Fearing what they might hear next and what would happen if they were caught eavesdropping. The two men gave up on stealth and bolted out the back door.
Reaching the sanctuary of the backyard, Jaune paused to look around at the lovely garden space. A high wall surrounded the entire perimeter, flower beds in front of them promised a pop of color when spring blooms finally took hold. Two large trees and an assortment of shrubs dominated the back wall, and a small patio was set where the trees would shade it during the summer months. It was to there that Ghira headed. A large hammock and a pair of deck chairs were set out with a little table between them.
The big man took one of the seats with a weary sigh. He gestured to Jaune to take the other one.
"So, I believe I already know the answer, but what are your intentions regarding my daughter." Ghira tried and failed to muster up the stern father expression. The boy looked so confused he couldn't follow through with it.
"I don't know. I guess I just want to be the best friend I can be. I'm not worthy of being anything more than that. Blake deserves so much more than I could ever be."
"Everybody in a successful relationship feels that way. I often look at Kali and think, 'what did I ever do to be worthy of a woman like that?' If you don't feel like that, your relationship will stall, you'll take it for granted, stop trying to improve. Basically, you won't work to maintain it, and it will wither and die. So, you are already on the right track."
"But we are only friends, sir."
"Please stop with the sir business. And I'm sure that is something she told you to emphasize. But it is clear to me you care about her quite a lot. And I mean truly care. You have clearly dedicated a lot of time to trying to solve a problem that has plagued our people for generations, yet does not personally affect you much at all. If not for Blake then for whom did you put that much energy into it?"
"I do care about her, but we ARE only friends."
"Hmmmmm. I see, well are you happy maintaining that status?"
"I think so? I try not to let my mind focus on the impossible si… Papa B." Jaune smiled at his near slip up, earning a chuckle from the giant of a man.
"That is a good philosophy. But you should also analyze the improbable from time to time to make sure you aren't missing something."
"Why would Blake want anything more with me?"
"I can think of a few dozen reasons, but the why isn't important. The important thing is the what. Specifically, what would you do if the impossible moves past improbable to become the inevitable."
"I'm not following sir, are you saying Blake has feelings for me?"
"I don't presume to understand what my daughter does or doesn't feel. But hypothetically, if she walked out that door and professed her love for you, what would you do?" Ghira sat up and leaned forward studying Jaune for any signs of deceit.
"I would do whatever was in my power to make her happy for as long as she would let me." Jaune met his gaze and spoke from his heart.
Ghira leaned back and reclined the chair staring up into the heavens.
"And that is why I feel it is an inevitability. Much like the fight for equality. But just like with that, there is quite the journey for you two to take. Despite your young age you have dealt, and are still dealing with, some incredibly heavy burdens. Both of you have a lot of pain, some of that is my own failing, but I think together you can move past it. I only ask that you be patient, let her come to you on her own terms. Not that her mother, or friends, will allow that. Fair warning though, Belladonna women can be remarkably stubborn."
"I'm not really in a position to argue what could happen. But if Blake needs me, I will always be there. And Arc women may have her beat."
Ghira and Jaune shared a laugh as the back door opened. Blake came striding out anger and frustration radiating off her. She made a bee line for them stamping across the lawn. Kali trailing not far behind with a smug expression.
"Jaune, remember it is pointless to fight the inevitable." Ghira laughed as Blake seized his hand and dragged him to the side gate.
"Come on Jaune we are leaving, NOW!" Blake pulled him along as he waved back.
"Pleasure meeting you Papa and Missus B!" Jaune used his one currently unoccupied hand to wave as he was dragged through the gate. Leaving behind the smiling older couple who watched on in amusement.
"Jaune! If you ever want to make her really happy, just scratch behind her ears!" Kali stood up on her tip toes and cupped her hands to shout after them.
"You are incorrigible." Ghira chuckled as he admonished his unrepentant wife.
"Sooooo, what did you think of him?"
"Truly a remarkable young man. Blake would be hard pressed to find better. Hopefully he is less oblivious than I was, I don't see Blake being quite as… forward as you were." Ghira hummed and wrapped an arm around her, as Kali giggled and pressed into his side.
"I'll talk to her friends. Ilia's right. We can't let this one slip away."
"Kali." Ghira grumbled a warning, his voice stern. "Let her be. Love isn't something you can rush into. You may nurture it along, but if you push too hard she may break."
"I know. But you see how good he is for her? How the tips of her ears don't droop when he is around? She may try to deny it but subconsciously she has already made up her mind." Kali looked up at her husband who was still staring off in the direction the teens had fled.
"As has he, I believe. Together they may very well change the world itself." He shook his head to clear his thoughts and chuckled as he finally looked down and gave his wife a loving squeeze.
-~~ KBTS ~~-
AN: Some of the reviewers have been hard on Sun. And rightfully so. He may be portrayed as a good-natured standup guy. But many of his actions are those of a stalker, and someone who's intentions are definitely less than pure. I decided to toe the middle ground and let him bow out gracefully, hopefully having learned from his mistakes. This is risky as I'm fairly sure Sun will be back later in the cannon story, which could be problematic for this story. Rest assured I won't leave you fellow Knightshade shippers hanging. Blake and Jaune will have their fairytale ending. Eventually.
I hope this chapter struck an okay balance between some heavy topics and some comedic moments. If Jaune is anything like me he would have spent a lot of time during his walk from Patch to Mistral thinking. And the Jaune of this story was very worried about Blake. He would have spent a lot of time thinking of 'what if' scenarios and planning what she should do next. It was the only thing he could do to help her at the time.
I know this chapter had a lot of heavy topics, and is likely to foster some consternation in the reviews. I put a lot of thought into the racial politics here, bearing in mind that I am completely unqualified to do so.
But drawing parallels to history, and the fight for racial equality in the 60s. It would have been very different if Martin Luther King Jr was mostly silent and let the Black Panthers be the sole voice for equality. But not the Black Panthers from our history but a far more aggressive group, one more similar to ISIS.
A moderating voice is key. But MLK wasn't the first one to advocate for equality. It was the combination of MLK and Malcom X that was most successful. And the hippy movement of peace love and acceptance helped the cause as well.
Likewise, the Faunus and the Plight of the Native Americans has many parallels. But on Remnant the Faunus Revolution was won by the Faunus, so that history is also different. I guess I'm saying that while Remnant parallels our own history what worked for us may not there. Jaune's plan here is the best I could think of to address the issues with a comprehensive plan. Feel free to disagree.
Also, there were several negative reviews of last chapter and I can kind of see their point. But, in addition to setting up this one, I wanted to introduce how Jaune has changed. He isn't the same kid from Volumes 1-3. Shion falling had to have had an effect on him. As would fighting Tyrian, losing Pyrrha, Lionheart's betrayal. Over and over he is confronted with people stronger than him doing whatever they want and targeting his friends. The Jaune of last chapter is the same dude who when confronted with an obstinate bureaucrat decides the best course of action is to destroy an early warning defense system and hijack a military aircraft. That kind of willingness to flaunt the law didn't happen overnight. I feel my portrayal of Jaune in last chapter is a natural extension of the Jaune willing to cheat to achieve his dream (vol1) and commit an act of terrorism (vol6) as long as it's in the name of doing what is right, and nobody is hurt to badly by it.
But again, you may disagree, I will say Jaune punching the bouncer may have been a step to far, but I wrote it that way more than just to give Jaune a badass moment. He is a man on edge, he snapped here, he snapped attacking Cinder, and he snapped on Oscar/Ozpine. Him changing over time is a plot point going forward that I wanted to highlight.
Long Authors note is long. Sorry, not sorry.
As always, the characters of RWBY are the property of Roosterteeth. I in no way claim any rights to the characters portrayed here within.
Anyway, as a side note, if you haven't already seen it, I have a new story started. It's an AU where Jaune gets Amber's soul stuck in his head and shenanigans ensue. The intention is to keep it fairly light and not get as angsty or emotional as I did in this story. There will be many different relationships explored with the plan towards an eventual harem sort of final pairing. Kind of like the Omake's I did here, but with all of them part of the plot. There will be NO gender bending, and no OCs in the main plot, all characters will remain as portrayed in cannon. If you like KBTS I think you'll like this one too, if you can spare the time please check it out.
