Chapter 46: Danseur noble

People, getting hit with a lightning strike isn't usually survivable. Jaune was pretty damn lucky.


Sienna Khan was not a very pleased woman right now. She looked at the burly orderly currently in front of her, the man's eyes looking dangerous, the barrel-sized chest looking like it needed a firm good whacks to it in order to let her pass.

"I don't care about visitation hours or whatever bullcrap you're peddling. Let me the fuck in or I'll make your face cave in!"

She wasn't going to let her guy be laid up in bed and awake for too long, even if it was just her looking at that cute face for a while as he slept. She didn't mind that. Sleeping Jaune was just as the awake Jaune, and she couldn't help but feel worried.

"Miss Khan, we are not allowing visitors. It's already something of an exception that your two bodyguards are allowed to be at his door, and-"

The guy was talking too much. She whistled, Adam taking the front, as she pushed past the man. She wasn't going to be delayed due to someone with an over-inflated idea of what constituted acceptable visitation times, no. She wasn't going to stop being Sienna Khan either, and she needed to see her man, even if he couldn't move. She had a damn claim and it was by whatever spirit that governed them all that she'd keep it.

Giving her most scathing glare to Sylvester, the short dark-skinned cat Faunus with a floppy cattail, the massive mountain of muscle that went by Tweety most of the time because his full name 'Twaithe Forescythe Theophilus Yellow' was too wordy to use, the yellow crest of feathers that stuck from his head looking sternly at him. The unspoken 'Tell me or I'll burn your face off' was probably the best incentive for them to speak.

"No Faunus visitors, High Leader. We've been barring any and all from the room. One of his sisters is a member of the Liga, and disapproves of our presence. Vocally."

She frowned, but it wasn't going to be too big of a bother. Humans were fickle in their beliefs, anyways. She had to get to her guy, her man, the bitch who was going to tame her again. She had needs, she had cravings, and it'd been too long!

How people could survive for a week without sex with their partner was beyond her. She wanted some dick! Jaune Dick! A woman had needs!

"She can disapprove of a lot of stuff, but he's still needing guards. Any bitches come close to him and you break their neck, y'hear? I don't pay you to lounge about."

She didn't really pay them too much, but that was all semantics. They knew who the boss bitch was, and that was still her! Sienna Khan bowed for no-one, but she needed her guy right now. The door was pushed open and she entered the room. The decoration stuff as well as the cards that had been sent to the address of the young man, including many that were scent-marked…

'Bitches thinking that they can get what's the Khan's by just spraying their scent on it like a randy bitch in heat.'

Of course, she'd never do something like that. She wasn't so crude. She just rubbed her scent onto his like a good woman should do, through copious love-making! There was a difference! Looking at the young man in the bed, she watched his eyes light up, spotting nobody else in the room, which was a good thing, she imagined.

"H'lo, Sinna."

She flashed her cattiest of grins, taking a seat at the bed, her fingers starting to trace over her man's body. She looked at his face, the fingers slowly driving the nails into the skin, giving her man a little pinch, which made him shiver.

'Good. We don't need a cripple.'

It was important for her status. A partner that was crippled was a little less accepted, though for his services to the Faunus people, all about him would be accepted. Getting crippled thanks to slaying the Faunus Devil was acceptable. She leaned down and sniffed him. A small nod as the scent of cleaning alcohol and other such medical smells hit her.

'Good, he wasn't raped. Nobody touches what is Khan's.'

The competition would really start to break loose now that he was the most eligible bachelor in the world. It was undoubtedly the work of whatever guiding god spirit gave the world meaning, but she was fucking the man who was the most desirable.

She'd almost want to go off birth control so that she'd get properly into the race, but her career was more important. Willow and her were a nice duality. With the death of her husband, more of an avenue was opened up.

'Looselips doesn't seem to have been too affected by that little nipple-slip. I heard she's dropping the assault case.'

Sometimes, you had to pay a small fine, but it was worth it. Bitchy Mcpurple seemed to have not been too affected by the little faux-pas, and Sienna had been surprised to find that she'd received fan mail from the human women who thought it was 'empowering', or whatever that meant. Humans could be so picky about stupid stuff, even if she was responsible for the Faunus.

'I'm a woman, so I like to have sex. Nothing wrong with that, people are always so shy about that sort of thing.'

"Hello there, blondie. Gotten yourself in a bad spot, didn't you?"

Her hand most certainly was making its way down, getting below the covers. Important things were to be done first, a look on his face as she gave his manhood a firm grope. Her other hand jerked her top down. The Khan Mountain Range stood there, perkily, as his eyes watched them.

'Still works. YES!'

Impotence wouldn't be nice! That's sure ruin the sex!

"Glad t' kn'w y' stll w'nt m."

The speaking part wasn't very handy, but she supposed that it would be easier if he had some more rest. She put her best smile on as her hand moved, Jaune's face looking at her with a queer look.

"Of course! Why should I not want you? You worked for the betterment of the Faunus people, so I am interested in you."

Her fingers squeezed and her grip shifted, using her palm. It was good to touch him again. Very important, yes. His eyes flicked down, as she continued with her ministrations. Proper scent-marking was important. He'd need to smell like her. Very important.

"H'rny cat."

She nodded. Very horny. It'd been nine days! Her vibrator had worn out. Was this what most humans suffered? Work was easier than before! No more Schnee Asshole to worry about, only a few racism complaints and occupational hazards, and there was this whole little thing about eh…

'I guess that wasn't too important. I mean, who cares about human interns? Sure, let em work with the Fang. We're a good political organization!'

Sienna's eyes went to his face, as her hand started to go even faster, her body rising from her seat, kissing his lips. He tasted a little like peppermint, and she briefly wondered whether someone had actually kissed him before, before she dismissed that thought. Family and friends had been allowed, so it would not be much more. She didn't smell any other Faunus on him, so she was still in the lead.

Blake would have to sit this one out. She had blown her chance, and Eve was currently making her comeback in the ranks. A smile on her face couldn't hide just how she felt. Her man was a killer and it was glorious.

"I love you."

It was a private admission, something that many would see as a weakness but she knew perfectly that he could see it for what it was. Love was a fickle thing, but she remembered Kali Belladonna's claiming of her husband. It had been a terrible 'coincidence' that every single challenger suddenly had food poisoning, and those who didn't, had to back away after they appeared. She remembered that one of them had their eye gouged out in a terrible accident with a fork.

'Not quite as fierce as your mother is, Blake…'

Kali was a great friend. She knew the stakes, and if she'd been ten years younger, undoubtedly she would have joined in, if she did not have a child with Ghira.

"I lov yu tuu."

Her hand stopped, as she pushed it into her pants. His eyes looked at her with a weirded out look, frowning back at him and then pushing her fingers into , before she pressed them back again.

It was important, of course, she didn't do stuff like that for just every Huey, Schmuey and Chop Suey. The man she'd bare her neck for deserved to be known to the people as the Khan's. There was still the right.

'I should instruct Adam to keep a personal watch. No telling whether some gay guy might not take advantage.'

She would NOT be imagining her man with another man, especially not in this condition! Sienna Khan did not play second fiddle to a homosexual! No!

'They can switch. Eve knows that I will put her in a woodchipper if she does untoward things.'

She knew where to find one. It wasn't an idle threat. She would make sure that Jaune was hers in the eyes of the Faunus. It was how it had always been, how it would always would be for them. All other lesser women and men would bow before supreme strength!

'If they think they can steal the prize of the Khan, they'd better beware!'

"Y're str'nge, S'nna."

She pressed her lips tightly together. In her opinion, it was humans who were strange! Why they didn't determine the strongest through a contest of strength was beyond her! Jacques Schnee had been a weakling, someone who abused the Faunus under his employment with bad labour conditions and generally ill-paid dangerous work whilst paying a barely living-wage.

"Not at all. They need to know who you belong to."

That was sensible. If Jaune belonged to her, she'd have to claw out the eyes of people. Faunus didn't do this lightly, and even Eve would bend the knee. Not that Eve was much of a difficult partner anymore, after the bit of re-education. It had been amusing, so to say, to feel Eve writhe. It served to remind the others that Sienna Khan was the High Leader.

She bowed to no-one, and if her man wanted to make her grovel before him, she'd consider it. It might be fun. It would be fun. She should get something prepared, either way.

"S'lly. W're dati'n'g?"

She nodded. Fucking, dating, that whole stuff. It wasn't like she could just say goodbye to the Faunus under her care either, as she still had those obligations, but there was a certain order to things, something that neither Adam nor Eve would forget.

'I should just go and beat the bitches into the hospital one more time… Broken bones don't heal that quickly…'

She was still Sienna Khan, damn it!

"Hospital costs are covered, as far as it goes. We do take care of those people injured that we care for. You are an honorary member of the White Fang."

A small exhale that might be a laugh came from him, his face twitching into that faint smile that barely could be done by the cheek muscles. A man who was proud, weakened now. He had withstood lightning in order to kill the man who had been a blight on this world, and nobody would tell Sienna Khan otherwise.

'If you could deal with Cinder Fall, then this is no coincidence…'

She wanted to mount him right here and now, but it would not be wise to do so when he was recuperating. She mentally added three more guards to his detail, already thinking about the people she would select. It wouldn't be odd for her to invest a little in the future of her partner, of course. It could be written off as a 'worthwhile expense' for the 'saviour of the Faunus' in the books, if the bookkeepers started to get fussy again.

'If they complain one more time about the fact that I wanted to have a bed installed in my office, I will make those pencil-pushers feel a big pencil being rammed in their eye-hole!'

She was Sienna Khan and she loved her people, but things such as 'budgets' 'strategy meetings' and 'PR' were better left to others when it came to non-public speaking roles. She was a woman first and foremost now, and her partner was in the hospital.

'Seven might be a good number. You cannot trust other women to be moral. They might assault him.'

She nodded to herself once more. She wouldn't want there to be challengers to her title.

"D'get a sh'rt?"

A playful smile he gave her, winking at her. She mentally sized him up. It wouldn't be bad for him to wear something of hers. A small nod, as she looked at him.

"Am I not good enough for you?"

He couldn't really shake his head, but she saw the tender look in her man's eyes, wondering briefly whether it wouldn't be better to privatize his revalidation. The hospital was big, after all… and there would be media. Unhappy media people, indeed. The guy she was claiming wasn't some unknown schmuck who hadn't been heard of by the world at large.

'An all-you-can-eat buffet…'

She definitely was going to put more guards on him.

"Y're enough. W'lllo? H've you sp'ken?"

Talking was hard for him, it seemed. He was just watching her, his fingers twitching a little. That was good, she supposed. Twitchy fingers meant that there was more recovery for him than expected. She looked at his beautiful face and smiled.

'Oh yeah, we spoke.'

Willow hadn't been too busy to clear her schedule up a little. The whiskey had been fine with her stomach as Willow served herself with something fruity, not even going for the drink that she'd gone for to soothe her worries.

"She'll be coming around in a few days. We're in agreement though."

It was all perfectly sensible! Sienna knew that it would be a bit of a beat-down, but once Jaune was able to walk again, he should be perfectly capable of being the man that they needed. A man was a man, because he did what no one else can.

She wasn't going to deny him the right to be the man he was. That's how things always got fussy.

'Oh, wait, didn't he have like, a big family?'

She pressed her lips together tightly.

"Yes, we should meet your family. Formalize stuff. I should be getting some sleep though. It's three in the morning."

She had only had this amount of time, because stupid bureaucracy and other stuff. Didn't people understand that she wanted to get laid?! Her man was in the hospital like he was grilled fish and she didn't even get to fuck his dick! What would people think about Sienna Khan if she stayed with her man all the time, like someone who didn't trust him to defend himself?

'First meeting is at eight… so that'll be two-three hours of sleep…'

She had to get espresso in the morning, again. Not the worst thought, as he smiled at her.

"Tha's goo."

It was. She was going to win. She was Sienna Khan and Sienna Khan did not lose to any lesser Faunus in the battle.

'And when he's marked and sealed, let's see anyone dare to come at us.'

"Very good."

It seems she might have to make a general meeting to impress upon her lesser female employees that it would be unwise to threaten that which belongs to Khan.

'I'll send Adam and Cow Tits.'

She was sure that it would be fine. No bitch was going to steal her man away from her and win the fight. Qiangqin was not going to be happening to her Jaune.


It was nice to see Sienna again, the Faunus woman's hand giving a dose of pleasure, her eyes burning with that fiery passion that never seemed to fade out, the smile on her face as 'vicious' as her smile always was. She was a big sweetheart when she was around him, even if people said otherwise.

"Get well soon. I'll send more guards. They will not bother you much, they know what their place is."

He really thought that she was exaggerating just a bit with that, knowing that she cared, but more guards than the two gruff guys who stood in front of his door certainly wasn't necessary… But it was what Sienna wanted.

With her, he always had to make a short guess at what she wanted, because sometimes it was as if she was speaking Mistralian in a Vacuan Sauna. Of course, she did speak Mistralian, and there had been a moment where she'd donned that nice Mistralian dress and eh…

'That was fun.'

Of course, it was fun for both of them. He believed in giving Sienna his love, even though Willow was also a topic that occasionally cropped up. With her husband dead, she must be busy…

He slowly drifted off, waking up in the morning to find a nurse massaging his legs, the young man's motions not too rough, yet also not too soft that it would barely be felt. He wondered whether he would be able to move again, the sensations felt lightly, as if someone had wrapped him in cotton. Sienna's motions had made him get off, but she'd been touchy.

He needed to get some sort of Faunus primer book or something, because Sienna was confusing at best some times. When she was in her mood of 'rawr, I am Sienna Khan, Invincible Super-Woman of the White Fang', she shone like a diamond, but her serious moods were sometimes really mystifying.

"When's food?"

The nurse looked up, pushing his glasses a little further up his nose.

"Soon, Mister Arc. I'm just here to do your physical therapy. Things look to be improving, as far as the chart shows… but I'm not an expert or anything."

Jaune knew that it wouldn't be easy to become an expert at something, the door opening and his mother entering, smiling brightly at him.

"Jaune, how are you feeling? I brought some chicken soup, I know you love that."

'I'd like it more if I was able to eat it by myself.'

Not to say that the chicken soup wasn't unwanted, of course. The sippy cup that he'd been nursed on looked to be still in fine condition, as she held it up, the greenish-yellow tint of the chicken soup in it making him feel a little bit better.

"Th'nks."

Camellia sat down, a smile on her face, her eyes looking as bright as they always did.

"So, how's my little brother today? Nice dreams about sexy nurses?"

He was pretty sure that if he had hot dreams about sexy nurses, Sienna might have a minor issue with that. She was a pretty demanding girlfriend/partner, and it wouldn't be-

"Yeah, that's a thought that makes you still able to function. Damn, if I'd known I'd have brought you something to entertain yourself, but yeah… All I've got is History Monthly."

'Sienna in a nurse outfit is hot, I'm not going to lie.'

Willow added to that was not going to make him respond any differently because the image of those two was just irresistible. Nurse Sienna and Nurse Willow, a slow sponge bath with a bit of extra soap and cleaning.

"T'ease."

Camellia smiled, as she adjusted the covers a little, her head shaking a little at him, his mother just looking concerned, Camellia's joke not having landed properly. That was okay.

"And here we are."

Camellia looked up, as he saw the red hair of Adam appear, Eve at his side. Both went dressed in copies of Adam's get-up, Eve wearing a modest black top that bared her midriff below the jacket, her eyes looking at him in a manner that he didn't quite get.

"Hello, my name is Adam Taurus and this is my sister, Eve. We're the additional security detail for Mister Arc."

Adam sounded much better than he had before, Eve giving him a little wink. Camellia's face turned darker and more thunderous than before. Adam's face showed surprise at the negative emotion, before his gaze went down and the pin was noticed.

'Yeah, that's two very different political parties…'

There was a challenge in his older sister's eyes as Eve sat herself down on one of the chairs, Adam remaining standing. His weapon was at his side, as it always was, sitting down. His sister would not make a fuss, not here.

"You've got some nerve, coming here, you filthy barn-yard animals! Go back to the pasture!"

'Yes, she'd make a fuss…'

Adam's eyes hardened somewhat and Jaune winced internally at the way that his sister had just referred to the Taurus Twins. That was about as warm as she'd get.

Eve raised her hand and spoke up.

"Barnyard animal here, represented! Moo!"

Adam and Camellia turned their head to look at Eve, who had a smile on her face and gave a cheeky little wink at his sister, before she turned her gaze to him. "Soooo, feeding time for our little blonde gnat?"

'I am not a blonde gnat.'

He was very capable of feeding himself, with the assistance of his hands, but it was not going to be very easy with his lips.

"Yes, I've brought some soup, Miss Taurus. You and your brother are-"

The heated debate about Faunus rights and regulation started, Camellia and Adam standing opposite of each other, the latter gesticulating a few times at his sister, as the verbal diarrhoea started.

"- not, huh? Didn't your animal of a mother teach you that you should respect your human betters, huh?"

Adam, to his credit, barely flinched. The man's eyes narrowed at Jaune's older sister, who looked like she was going to go on a rant about the conflict again. History should remain history, and shouldn't be put to the forefront of the world.

'Yeah… She's still mad.'

"No, but she taught me that respect was a two-way street and that you, miss, are not showing me any. We fight for our rights because we had none, ninety years ago! Ninety years, and now you're proselytizing about abolishing those rights! We earned them in the Revolution!"

'Not giving much ground there…'

His sister crossed her arms, her eyes fiery and passionate. History was her major and she always had something to say about it, his mother sighing softly.

"She's a passionate girl. There was a little bit of a hang-up a few years ago, but that's now… Well, it's not really my business to speak of. You have your own culture and we have ours."

'Always trying to mend fences…'

He hoped that his mother would not give too bad an impression, Eve being all smiles, as Adam's retort to Camellia's response to his earlier statement came with more passion. It made him remember that Adam used to be in control of the White Fang in Vale as a leader and that he, now properly medicated, still was a part of the White Fang.

'Funny how you forget people's jobs when you're friends with them.'

Sienna made sure to not let work interfere too much with her 'personal time', as she called it, and he was going to be healthy and up again.

"- pushed around, by closed-minded bigots like you! I can't see why such a great man is related to you!"

Adam's voice was louder now, as Camellia reared back for another verbal barrage, Eve sighing a little and rubbing her temples.

"Adam, sit your bullish ass down. That shouting is making Arc uncomfortable, and I don't think he needs to have a headache thanks to your prattling."

Adam obeyed without a single hesitation, his mouth shut, but his glare still remaining. It was amusing to see that his sister had cut off as well, as Eve Taurus was given a serious glare, the gaze enough to burn through a wall or something with its intensity. His sister hadn't fully gotten over the fact that she'd been dumped and had to undergo an abortion. He remembered her smile when it'd been like that, but now…

'I feel bad for you, sis.'

The soup was great though, not as warm as it usually was, but definitely something that added a little bit of flavour to his day. It wasn't something that he had often, as mom often had bought something silly that was unnecessary.

"How's money?"

His mother's smile was as he had expected it. They were flat broke again, the somewhat hesitant smile not making him be filled with extreme confidence about their finances. It was his mother's worst flaw, the worst one that he could attribute to her at least.

"A little tight, but we'll make it this month. You being in the hospital isn't good, and I just had to buy some candles, they're supposed to make you feel better."

Said candles were put on the side of the bed, unlit, thankfully, and he could smell the herbal scent, Eve giving his mother a look, before she spoke up.

"We're, eh… Here to protect him. Putting those next to him won't exactly, y'know… work."

'I have no idea what you're talking about.'

Camellia turned to Eve with an angry glare, who gave an apologetic smile.

"They're like catnip for Faunus. They've got something in it that'll turn pussies on for a mile or something, and big boy over here doesn't need that right now. We're here to prevent that from happening."

His sister's angry tirade of 'Animals and their instincts' was cut in half by the door opening, her sister shutting up immediately. Professor Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch and Amber appeared, polite smiles on their face. Professor Goodwitch gave him a stern look, the disciplinarian in her already working overtime undoubtedly for this brief visit.

"I am glad that you are well, Mister Arc. You gave us quite a fright in the morning when we heard of the unfortunate happenings."

The Headmaster of Beacon spoke up, his hands resting on his cane. The look that rested on his face was even, as his fingers tapped a small rhythm on the cane.

"S'rry. 'll try n't to g't hit ag'n."

It hurt a damn lot, apparently. It was fuzzy, and he wasn't going to be doing that again. The man's expression was modest and unassuming at many moments, but there was a faint smile that curled on his lips, showing the warm heart that he gave to the people.

"I would hope that you do not. The doctors have briefed me that you may regain motion in your body again with time and rest. You will be able to pick up your studies again around the Vytal Festival's start, if you can manage it."

The man's tone was formal, but he sounded a little regretful, the news that he'd not be able to be fit to participate hitting him. His feeling of wanting to get better came, as he felt his body ache some more.

"Mister Arc, on behalf of Beacon Academy, we are here to wish you a swift recovery. It would be a shame to miss such a good prospect from our student body."

The woman must have said that a few times before, but her eyes spoke a different story. He reminded himself that this was the woman who had an ongoing feud with Amber, undoubtedly about the way that things had happened between the two of them.

"Get well soon! Gee Gee would miss you if you don't pop up to give her dusty classroom a fresh coating of paint! We need our handyman back at Beacon!"

Glynda Goodwitch was a woman who excelled in self-control, her smile as friendly as it ever was, but her eyes speaking things of horror and annoyance for Amber. The woman would never go so far as to kill the Fall Maiden, but some back and forth between the two would definitely be something that would happen.

The cool look on her face definitely was a level 9 on the scale of ten of frosty looks.

"I am sure that he will be back soon, Miss Autumn. After all, he will need to bring out the trash."

The headmaster's expression was complaining, his eyes looking apologetically at Jaune's mother.

"Things are a little tense, with the Vytal festival upcoming. Mister Arc's situation adds a little more stress to the faculty. He is quite well-liked amongst the student body."

Amber nodded, but remained silent. The headmaster continued with a small little speech about how one shouldn't let tragedy and unfortunate weather events hurt one's chances to become a Huntsman, to strive beyond the impossible and to make the world a better place.

It was a rote and used speech that the man undoubtedly had spoken many times in his life, either as someone who taught or someone who was a Huntsman, dealing with traumatized citizens. Jaune sighed a little, knowing that the last word hadn't been said yet about the circumstances in which he'd found himself.

'Sometimes, I wish it was easy.'

The Beacon delegation left without another word, leaving him to muse on their presence for a while, the conversation/argument/verbal brawl between Adam and Camellia turning louder once more, as arguments for either side were brought, none of them willing to budge an inch.

'This is annoying…'

"Can th'y sh't up?"

He asked his mother, Eve snapping her fingers.

"Adam, go take a hike. Pretty bed-boy here is getting a headache with your constant quibbling. If you want to argue about this and that, go do it elsewhere! Go fetch a bun or something for me. Beef, you know how I like it."

His mother fixed Camellia with a look that told her to beat it. His older sister left, and his mother gave an apologetic smile.

"She's not always like this, I promise. She has some sensitivity towards the Faunus, she was in a bad relationship that didn't really… go that well."

Eve gave a soft humming sound in understanding, giving him a look.

"Think you could get him some fizzy drink? Here's twenty Lien, get him something nice and sugary. Perks a guy right up, take it from me."

His mother was easily distracted with a simple errand, a fact that was also as constant as her spending. He loved his mother, but she was sadly someone who didn't really care much for money.

'It's lucky that dad was the one who was clear on the medicinal angle…'

Eve got up as his mother left the room, her hands removing the candles from his side and putting them at the bag that his mother had left, her eyes looking at him with a pitying look.

"Soooo… Hi. I'm the night nurse, and I'm here to guard your body against man-stealing Faunus."

'I really don't want to know.'

Eve seemed to be in a good mood, as her hand brushed over his cheek, his eyes a little peeved as they looked up at her.

"Now, don't you glare at me, hot stuff. I could just hop on you and ride you for a bit, to get what I need to win. We Faunus do things differently, and well, sometimes a human guy doesn't quite get what we mean. Fair, of course. These babies aren't award-winning for nothing. Now, we need to talk about Mouthy Mc-sister."

He was sure that Camellia wouldn't like being called 'Mouthy Mc-sister', but since she wasn't here yet, he tried to shrug, finding that he couldn't.

"So, what's her deal? She's passionate about it, but not to the point where you'd go 'fuck this shit' and beat her senseless. Adam's a bit of a numbskull with that kind of stuff, but I actually graduated human studies unlike him. Sienna did too, a few years before us, I think. So… Bad boyfriend, beating her into the hospital and stuff, making her dislike Faunus?"

He was pretty sure that Camellia would be angry with him for saying it so brusquely, but he closed his eyes.

"Ran off. H'd to 'bort baby."

Eve's face looked unpleasant to look at, her eyes looking at his own, her fist balling, as she bit her lower lip, her tongue sliding over her lips.

"Well, that explains a bit… Fuck, that must've been one asshole. Shit, Sienna's not going to like that. Pretty taboo for us to even say the A-word. I mean, I'll do it in a scene, but personally? Na-ah. I'm keeping my babies, and you'll get first buck."

'I really don't know what that means, but I am just going to nod and think that it's something like a hug. The alternative just brings me to-'

"Now that is a compliment, Jaune. A girl likes to see her man get all stiff for her. But yeah, does the jerk-bag have a name? I'd like to pay him a visit. Bring a few friends. Sienna's not gonna be happy."

'Didn't she call him Arial? I don't really remember well, but he had one of those feather-tails…'

"Ar'ial? He h'd feather, on tai'l."

It was hard to speak, Eve mumbling something under her breath about it being some sort of puzzle… before she laid a hand on his hand and squeezed.

"Yeah, we're gonna get that birdy. Not many of those around with a dick, but this one needs it removed. You don't fuck a girl and leave her pregnant, that's just very bad form. Humans especially, we have to take precautions, which means that he didn't…"

Eve looked quite a bit like Adam did, as she looked at him, a toothy little smile given for a moment.

"We'll get that asshole and hang him outside from a lamp-post in front of your mom's house or something. We don't really take kindly to that stuff, there are too many people dying already, and the a-word is taboo. I can't even imagine it, y'know? Doing that to-"

Disgust, something vile and wicked on the early-twenties woman's face, flickered. There was something deeply lonely in her eyes as she spoke, wistfulness in her tone.

"Porn is nice and all that, but yeah… I want a big family. Four-five kids, nice man, currently laid up in the hospital after being a moron who got lightning-striked with Faunus Devil. Sienna's not happy with that. I'm not happy with that. Don't do stuff like that, it made me upset."

He gave her a look, her finger touching his lips, shaking her head, her other hand brushing through the hair on her head.

"Ah- Don't you dare go and make excuses. Natural causes is a thing, but I'm not buying four lightning strikes. Sure, you had that umbrella, but that just isn't normal with your sacrificing ass around. I know what and who you hang with, Jaune."

'Yes, with you, Sienna and Willow. A regular lineup of criminals.'

He wasn't going to admit it aloud, of course. He would never admit to having orchestrated it, and Eve's eyes looked at him with something that cared. She sighed and shook her head.

"Damn it, sometimes I wish I'd had a bit more confidence."

'What?'

She got up and stretched, looking down at him, her hands gripping the covers and then pulling them down for a moment. He shuddered, as her eyes looked down at his groin.

"Good, good."

'What the hell is it with Faunus and inspecting my junk?'

This was some sort of unwritten rule or something, Eve getting him back to some state of being modest, her fingers tucking him in properly and making sure to grab his hand.

"Wh't is with th't?"

His voice was pained as he spoke, Eve giving a small smile and brushing a hand over his cheek. She looked like she was going to be bringing it to his lips, but stopped half-way.

"You wouldn't understand. You don't have the additional senses that we do. Sienna is… Hmm, how do I put it?"

She looked thoughtful, as if some huge sacrifice was in front of her, the look on her face barely changing from that expression of thoughtfulness, her finger toying over his cheek slowly.

"There's a certain… y'know, thing. It's natural, but you don't forget it once you've got it. Strength, something like that. Sienna was actually one of the most eligible bachelors of our people, y'know? Then, you came around, all blonde and sexy. Defeating that many Faunus in a Pogrom as a human… Yeah, that sends people thinking about you not being all bad. Khan made her claim, at least she did, but she didn't follow through."

The amusement in her eyes was there, with how Eve's eyes lit up with that faint hint of malevolence that Adam could have at times as well. The man had been somewhat of a flakey fellow before he had gotten medicated, and it was much better now with him.

"All alone in the bed, with a fertile Faunus woman… I could just get on you and you'd not be able to do a thing. Many would. Khan didn't commit fully, mainly due to her position. It would be untenable, and she is what the Faunus need. A strong leader, unbending in her resolve, someone who needs a man who is her equal."

The look in her eyes was soft, as she shook her head, giving a look of distaste at him, her sharp gaze meeting his own as she looked down at his body.

"Not a man who lies in a bed, weak and wasted after his great deed. That is not the man that she deserves. That is not the man I deserve."

Her head filled his vision as he felt her grab a hold of his head and a kiss was pressed onto his lips, the taste of peppermint and cinnamon on his lips, as she held that kiss for a while, her scent strong, something perfumed that he didn't know yet fully what it was.

She pulled away, looking into his eyes with angry ones, something defiant in her gaze, something that railed against the fate that she had been dealt by being born a sister to Adam Taurus, a Faunus, something bull-headed and strong.

The Glyph appeared in front of him, pulsating a little, as he felt how something seemed to work. Warmth blossomed in his throat, as the connection formed and then suddenly broke, the Aura shattering, as some more sensation returned to his body. The Glyph faded out of existence as he felt exhausted, knowing that he'd just flexed his Aura.

'It worked… just a bit.'

His hand twitched, as he cleared his throat. He knew that speaking hurt, that he was not ready to fully speak yet, but there was just this hope in his heart to try it.

"Why?"

His voice was smoother than before, as he felt his fingers twitch, feeling some semblance of control return to his body. He felt the weight of his hand and then a sharp pain.

'Not ready yet… But at least I can talk.'

"It's simple. You would never understand it, but we do. It's what we do. The strongest, the best, the aptest at gathering. It's an urge, a craving…"

She shivered, her smile turning sorrowful, her breathing a little deeper.

"It's hard, you know? That urge telling me that you are yet fully unclaimed and uncommitted, that there is still something that prevents you from tying yourself to Sienna. Marriage between humans is the deciding factor, as agreed in the agreement, but…"

There was passion in those eyes, as he felt her lips against his own in a kiss, a soft shudder going through her body, as her tongue explored his mouth, his own tongue meeting hers, the door opening again. Eve jerked herself up, adjusting the hospital sheets a little, his mother joining them, a fresh bottle of soda in her hand.

"They didn't have your favourite, so I walked a little further. Is everything alright, Miss Taurus?"

Eve looked a little flustered, her cheeks a little red, her gaze turned away, a clearing of her throat in embarrassment.

"Yes, I'd… I'd say that things are okay, yes. My brother hasn't been too much of a bother to your daughter, has he?"

'If you give Camellia an hour to speak, she'll make it half a day.'

His mother's smile was warm and understanding.

"They are debating the merits of the Menagerie Land Distribution, or something. It's been a while since I saw her this irritated. Did your brother go to school for history, or is it more of a White Fang thing? I'm sorry, I'm not very aware of these things. Do you want to drink some soda, Jaune?"

He tried to nod, but found that his head remained stubborn, a smile on his lips, mouthing a 'yes'.

The fresh soda was a delight to his throat, as he exhaled softly, Eve starting to tell about her younger brother and his interests. His mother paid attention, as she made him drink as much as he could. It was gone quicker than he'd expected, his throat feeling nice and cool.

"He sounds a little… extreme."

Eve smiled as much as she could, her fingers arranging the jacket a little. He could see her mammaries trying to escape from the top a little.

"Bipolar. It's something that he's getting medication for. I'm lucky that I don't have it."

His mother gave a pitying look, and Jaune wondered why Eve didn't have it, or at least, said that she didn't have it.

"Did you ever get tested?"

She looked at him as he asked, his mother smiling at him. Eve gave one of those full-teeth smiles. It made her look a little more dangerous than before.

"That sounds a lot better!"

He didn't know, really. Speaking felt a lot easier now that his throat didn't feel like he was trying to gargle barbed wire dust shards.

"Before you get into the business that I do, you get tested for all sorts of things. Acting is something that has to meet certain criteria, and people get unnerved if you're frothing at the mouth."

She was being polite to his mother, who looked excitedly at her like there'd be some new gossip to share. It was one of his mother's flaws.

"You're an actress and a bodyguard? Oh, did you star in any shows? Maybe a small soap?"

Eve's smile promised little good, as she patted his shoulder encouragingly.

"We'll be starring in something better, if you don't mind me saying it so bluntly. Your boy's going to be in a production once he's able to walk again!"

His mother was excited, and he realized that he'd said yes a few months before. Her eagerness would probably spread the news that her baby boy was in a production or something.

'I hope that she doesn't ask what it's all about.'

Eve's toothy smile didn't hide anything nefarious at all, being nefarious in looks. The door opened and Salmon strode in, Jaune's eyes catching sight of the exasperated look on her face.

"Camellia's spitting fire at some ginger dude with horns… Mom, can you go and- Ohmigosh, you're Eve Taurus!"

'What?'

Eve looked a little taken aback by actually being recognized, his mother giving a soft smile as she got up.

"I'll go and see whether Camellia would like to get something to eat. Miss Taurus was just telling me about her acting job, and she said that Jaune is going to be in one of her works together with her! How exciting!"

Salmon's face showed her indecision, as she looked between Eve and him, before she gave her 'I am going to lie through my teeth' smile.

"Let's not get too far ahead, Mom. He's got to get better first, and we can just see how that goes."

His mother left to go spring Adam free from his sister's furious tirade, undoubtedly inspired by what he'd put as a counterpoint. He'd have to get used to the quibbling. At least it wasn't like Camellia was actually trying to get the Emancipation Proclamation revoked for the Faunus, like those friends of hers had tried to do. She might believe in anti-Faunus stuff, but his sister wasn't crazy enough to do that.

'Or is she?'

The loss of her child had not made her feel great, needing Saphron to cheer her up again, a changed Camellia returning from their trip. She'd started to hang around a crowd that was anti-Faunus, going to rallies against the White Fang's violence. It'd only been when he'd started to meet regularly with Sienna that he'd noticed the symbols, but had been oblivious to the things.

'Ouch…'

"Sooo… Porn?"

He gave his sister a look, pouting a little. Salmon teased him a little with a finger, before her eyes turned to Eve.

"I loved your work in the AFA's. You definitely earned that sculpture for your acting."

'I really don't know whether I should inquire.'

Eve's small smile was there, as she looked at him and the grin increased in size.

"Hmhmm… Big boy here's going to be on the screen with me. Some of his friends will be making their debut. We're still working on a title, but I know for sure that it'll have some reverse gangbang stuff. Big boy can consider a career with the meat bludgeon that he's got down there."

Salmon looked at him, and then she grimaced. It had hit her at that point that he'd likely be in a porno, her smile resuming once more. Eve's last part of the sentence seemed to have been blanked out, in order to save his sister's sanity... he hoped.

'It's weird enough that you know who she is…'

"Sooo… No naughty nurse scene?"

Eve grimaced at the thought.

"No. I'm going to behave. Boss lady said that she'd shove my uterus through my throat if I did something to him. You don't mess with Sienna Khan when she's holding someone by the leg and is using him as a club."

Salmon nodded at that. A wise thought too, because Sienna could be a serious handful when she was in an annoying mood. Sienna, if she was in the mood to be annoying, could just drain your patience and make you want to fuck her into the mattress.

'I still haven't forgiven her for that toy.'

Sienna was a little bit like that girlfriend that always tested you and wanted to be called on her bluff. Willow was more matured in her manner of approach, and in a different way sensual. He hadn't seen her since the trip to the spa, but he knew that when she appeared, she'd bring with her the best game that she had.

He dreaded that a little, knowing that Sienna was nothing if not effective in getting him riled up as well, but she was by far the more aggressive of the pair. Yang was a tame kitten in comparison, and he had to admit… She wasn't too shabby either.

'And then there are Willow's daughters…'

He'd prefer to avoid those. Winter was uncomfortable to think about, even with how her sexuality worked. It wasn't something that he would keep against her, but there were limits.

'If I were to marry Willow…'

It would piss Winter off, if anything. It'd piss her off and make her undoubtedly get another weird smutty thought in her mind.

'Atlesian Specialists must not go out much...'

Adam joined them again, grumbling something about 'stupid humans', his face looking annoyed by the discussion that he'd been a party to. He looked serious, even with the makeup on, his eyes looking at Eve as he sniffed the air.

"Your sister is annoying."

'Yeah, I gathered that.'

There was definitely going to be bloodshed between his sister and Adam if they were left alone with each other, he reckoned. He could already see Camellia and her friends of the… whatever they called them Liga, gathering, about to lynch Adam for being a Faunus. She'd been really outspoken about the Faunus after the breakup...

'Yeah, I hope nothing happens…'

"I could see that… Sorry about that, Adam."

There was a look in his eyes, something that reminded him of the darker Adam that he'd met, all those months ago. He really hoped that Adam wouldn't slide back into that kind of behaviour.

"She's a bitch. She doesn't know what she's talking about."

'Damn… Hate at first sight.'

He heard Eve sigh and mumble something about annoying bastards.

This was off to a great start already…

'Can't we all just get along?'


Faunus: Weird, in Jaune's eyes. It all makes perfect sense to the Faunus. You all get to see some of the culture of the Faunus! Willow's popping up again in the next chapter!

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