Blake ran the kitchen tap, stealing back-and-forth glances between the sight of washing her hands free of Neo's blood to tracking Jaune's movement within the living room area.
Just beyond the countertop and the dining table, her latest glance glimpsed Jaune setting an unconscious Neo on the grey sofa. An oversized throw pillow—which Jaune fluffed—was gently placed beneath the petite girl's head. This unexpected sight of tenderness sent Blake into a baffled pause. Why act like this towards someone who almost killed them both?
Or was it all an act to mess with her?
Probably.
Scowling, Blake slapped the damp dish towel onto the counter, having dried her hands clean. Would it have killed him to at least act this way with their team? But that wouldn't make sense, and since when did Jaune make sense? She couldn't help but ask, "Why do you even bother?"
"Eh," he offered. He didn't even so much as look at her.
Blake pinched the bridge of her nose. "Let me rephrase: Why do you even pretend to bother? With our team? With Beacon? With me?"
Rather than replying, Jaune erected himself so that he towered over her and moved from Neo's resting space. Along the way he picked up the assassin's frilly parasol, as well as its naked blade. Its tip persisted a crimson stain before he slid it into the parasol sheathe with a click, thus easing in Blake's shoulders.
"The question, Jaune."
"Why would I answer a question you already know the answer to?"
"Asshole," she muttered under her breath, as Jaune headed for the closet near the entryway. He opened it, tossed Neo's weapon inside and shut it.
He offered Blake a flat look. "Takes one to know an honest one. Besides, you'll live life—or in your case, your nine lives longer—if you don't sweat the intricate details and take everything personally."
"You'll eat those words when your own life is going out of control. I had everything under control before you decided to pester with my life."
"Is that what I saw today? Control?" He stifled his laughter. "I mean, if your idea of "under control" is biting off more than you chew, I'd hate to see what you're like when it's "out of your control"."
Blake's mind flashed memories. Explosions. Docks. Roman Torchwick. White Fang. No plans. No weapon. Just her impulsiveness and high emotions.
"I needn't remind you that you're the one that ran off at the first sign of trouble."
Her mouth clicked shut, bitterly.
"Good, you're learning, Kitten. Small miracle. Perhaps there is hope for you yet."
Oh, that does it.
With a snap Blake vaulted over the countertop and stalked towards the living room area. Jaune welcomed her grim challenge with a small patronizing smile, which widened when she stayed outside arms' reach, the patio door within her peripheral.
But the anger heaving within her chest burned unfettered. Undenied.
She made a show of spreading her arms, mockingly, bloodstained clothes and all. "So Jaune. What are people to you? Just playthings? Is that all I am in your eyes? Is that what Team ABYS is to you? Or Ruby? Hell, even Pyrrha?"
For the first time, Jaune's expression darkened.
"Pyrrha isn't like any of you."
A sore spot? Good.
"I agree."
Something in his body language slackened, taken aback. He opened his mouth.
But Blake's firm palm halted his words.
"However, don't you think that includes you as well?"
Now she moved one step forward as Jaune shifted his weight backward, his rear foot out of the grey rug and onto the wooden floor. His flat twitching expression only pushed Blake all the more.
"Do you really think she'd continue smiling and nodding if she ever saw this side of you? If she knew what you're doing to me? To others? She deserves better. Imagine the look on her face if I were to tell her of your association with these people." She forced a bitter, almost alleviating smile. "In fact, I look forward to the day she realizes that, Jaune Arc."
Silence. It continued to stir for a good few seconds.
The silence was so deep, that Blake could hear Jaune's heavy breath and her own. The faint, yet growing heartbeat that indicated she hit her mark. Cold sweat prickled her back, glueing cloth to skin. The air thickened and thinned of citrus air freshener. Still, she continued regarding him. And he merely tipped his head back and slowly dragged his palm down in his face.
"Do you want to know how I ended up here?"
"Enough," she snapped. "You're a fool if you think all can be forgiven after some sob story." Her snap reply made Jaune tilt his head in amusement. Something else was mixed in though. Overconfidence? "Oh? So I suppose you're the resident expert then?"
She bit the inside of her cheek.
Don't feed him more. She reminded herself. Don't give anything away. But what else could she do though? Every passing minute meant playing more of this twisted game with Jaune. She had nothing substantial on him. Nothing that was enough to keep him at bay. He had more than a single ace up his sleeve for her. And the fact she couldn't determine his next move irked her to no end.
She let loose a long, long exhale.
"Haven't you had enough already?" she pried. "What else do you want from me?"
Jaune held off on his response. He reached for the bloodied kitchen knife he'd stabbed Neo with and sat on the lounge chair near the patio door, fiddling with it in his hands like a toy.
"No, Kitten. The real question you should be asking is." His knife traced playful invisible arcs. "What do you have that I want from you?"
So more games it is. Blake felt her ears twitch. They both knew she didn't have anything noteworthy with her. All she possessed to her name were Gambol Shroud, and the hope that her second chance at a new life would surpass her first. That hope was growing more and more distant.
Or she could just tell him to fuck off. She could go her own way, return to Beacon and pretend today never happened. But what difference would that make if they kept seeing each other everyday, breathing the same air in the same space. There was no way he'd stop. People like him never liked letting things go. No, they'd rather hold it over her head, forever. It wouldn't surprise her if he ratted her out just for the amusement of her plight.
Worst case scenario: She'd backstab him. Both literally and figuratively.
Not that it has gotten to that yet. Best to handle this here and now in order to not involve Weiss or Yang. She couldn't drag the others into this. Especially the ones Jaune has shown disdain for.
"So it's blackmail then?" Her shoulders sagged once she comprehended her situation. But she wouldn't admit defeat yet.
Jaune jabbed his knife towards the patio door, and then behind her—the entryway. "Feel free to take your pick," he said. "Or have a seat."
Blake didn't budge a damned inch. Not out of fear of a literal backstab, but out of fear regarding his next move now that he discovered her past. She heaved a sigh, pulled one of the dining chairs, spun it around and sat backwards, its backrest facing Jaune.
"Let's get this over with," she muttered before saying aloud, "You talk as if you've never blackmailed or been blackmailed before."
Jaune jerked a shoulder, uncaring.
"No one can blackmail you if you're right about them. Most people tend to learn their place once they realize what they're doing wrong. Doesn't seem to be the case with you though."
There it was. That twisted way of seeing things. It was almost as if he was deliberately putting up some act to rile people up. To bring the worst out in them. Why bother though? She briefly recalled Weiss' outburst against Jaune. How his biased opinion on her blinded him. It made him draw out what he only wanted to see. To support his worldview. His confirmation bias. That was on her as a person though, not particularly about her semblance.
It made him look no better than Adam. No, he wasn't like Adam. Jaune might be the leading candidate for Remnant's biggest bastard, but he wasn't big on judging from appearance alone. He never judged Velvet for being a Faunus, for instance. Nor did he judge her based on that alone.
"Don't tell me you're taking his side?"
A flinch, as if Weiss words struck Blake from memory. She quickly regained herself. Right, where was she? Drawing out what she wanted Jaune to see. And answering his question of: What did she have that he would want from her?
She blinked. And again. That must be it. Surely...
Jaune noticed her shift, for he narrowed his eyes.
On the other hand, Blake somehow wondered how she kept her expression flat and placid when she raised both hands, like a criminal caught red-handed in some inexcusable act.
"You got me."
Jaune merely watched her carefully.
Now she believed she had both his curiosity and attention. "You said you don't know much about me. Don't understand me. So you offer your apartment and lien in exchange for the chance to do so. Or keep tabs on me, as you put it. So to answer your question..." She paused before shrugging. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you grew a heart and wanted me to become your friend or ally."
Jaune dismissed the kitchen knife to a small sidetable close by. His brow arched with amusement.
"Oh, so I'm your friend now."
"No. You're not. And you'll never be. Not now. Not ever. Not even as strangers. Whatever arrangement or deal we have? Temporary. Acknowledging your existence for the next four years? Temporary. Our place on team ABYS? Temporary."
"Ouch, ouch, and ouch. I bet you're the killjoy at parties."
"Takes one to know an honest one." Blake jerked her shoulder, uncaring. Her chin dipped, resting upon her crossed arms that settled on the edge of the chair's backrest.
"Now, now, Kitten. How can you say that when you and I have a lot in common. You already know more of me than anyone else. Not everyone gets the chance for that. You should be proud. I'm actually willing to speak with you and all."
"Just like Professor Port," she pointed out. "And Velvet." Blake recalled the uncomfortable looks the girl sent to Jaune at the restaurant. "Or even Pyrrha."
Something in Jaune's body language shifted. Tightening. A warning of sorts.
Blake's shoulders stiffened.
You're treading on thin ice now... She thought and went full-throttle on her mental backpedalling. Shit. That was close. Too close. She almost got carried away. Almost forgot about her position. Almost forgot about his semblance.
Almost...
Almost.
Almost-
"Because at this point, I wouldn't care whether or not you live or die."
She shivered from that memory. If Jaune's actions, present or past, had proved anything so far, it's the fact he had no qualms about cracking many eggs to accomplish his goals. Hell, she was sure he wouldn't have batted an eye if the Grimm had overwhelmed Yang and Ruby during initiation. To him, if that secured his firm belief in his philosophy, then so be it.
Blake stared down at herself. In a half-delirious moment she imagined more blood splattering on her outfit. Jaune's shadow towering over her. She was lost in a reverie as he tossed something at her.
Suddenly, darkness covered her face, tickling her ears like cloth. She ceased any of her desires to struggle. Cloth...?
She pried the offending material off her face and beheld what she held in arms. Clothes. A large dark hoodie and blue jeans. Her head tipped back in disbelief.
When had he...?
Jaune towered over her, though his blue eyes bore no trace of exaggerated malice. Only annoyance.
"Kitten. Don't go spacing out. Alright, now that we've blew off some steam. Why don't you go take a shower. Those are your clothes by the way."
Jaune finished with a shit-eating grin.
As she lifted and held the hoodie before her for a closer look, she understood why he was smiling. Her concerns weren't showing any signs of backing down. "No."
"Yes."
"Jaune, no."
"Kitten, yes."
"If you think that I am going to—"
"Like Pumpkin Pete? No, not really. You just need to wear it for a while."
"There is no way I am wearing that!"
"And why not? This is the only thing close to your size." Jaune shrugged with a semi-serious expression. Blake called bullshit. "Plus, as a concerned member of the society, I cannot bear to see my teammate go wandering around looking like she mugged somebody."
She shot to her feet. Having half a mind to toss these clothes back at him. "Just watch me."
"Do that, and your free trial for this life expires." The way he said that, going from tropical to subzero in an instant, made Blake freeze. He crossed his arms. "Roman Torchwick has eyes and ears all around Vale, my dear partner-in-crime. He'll know where you eat, sleep and hell, even where you shit. And what about good old Neo over there. Think she'll forget your face after all this? When that woman gets personal, she gets personal. You've seen how she can get in anywhere. And just between you and me, I'd say my money is on her between the two of you."
"And then there's the mystery boss lady behind Roman—an unknown. If Roman's recent attitude proves anything, it's the fact that she seems like the type who gets what she wants. And it appears she's kept an eye on me, and will by extension, keep an eye on you. As well as Team ABYS if we don't play our cards correctly.
"For all I know, it's possible that this woman might be behind the White Fang's activity in Vale. Oh, I know that look. Do I have your undivided attention now? Given the current circumstances, you wouldn't last without me. So you best believe it is in your best interest to enjoy our friendly deal. I don't expect your devotion, just your understanding. As you don't expect more than my lien and humble shelter for the break or more.
He chuckled and gestured toward the door. "But hey, if you feel like running away, go ahead. It's helped you this far, hasn't it?"
So much for not blackmailing her...
Whatever response Blake built within her tongue died a painful death. She swallowed an odd heaviness down her throat. More cold sweat prickled beneath her clothes.
She'd gotten lucky today.
Roman Torchwick was obviously someone nobody willingly messed with. Her eyes twitched, glancing where that petite girl lay. Asleep or pretending to be asleep? Blake couldn't tell. But she'd seen how Neo was capable of a life-ending ambush, appeared out of thin air. She'd seen how she'd pushed Jaune into a corner, even with nullification and all that. Now that this Neo knew Blake's face. To get to Jaune, she'll come after his associates. That meant her, Velvet, Pyrrha...
...Even Weiss and Yang.
She couldn't allow that to happen. Not if she could help it. But what could she do? Jaune was aware that he'd just painted a new target on her back.
The bastard...
As she gathered the clothes in arms, said bastard jabbed a thumb towards the narrow passageway beside the closet.
"Shower's thataway."
It loomed large and white. Larger than the largest opponents Pyrrha had ever faced. Looked tougher than her toughest opponents. And all she had was a raised meek fist, which soon slackened and fell to her side. She sighed again. Oh, this wouldn't do at all.
How long had she been standing in front of Team ABYS's dorm door? Fifteen minutes? Twenty even? She stood rooted to the spot, like the javelin form of Miló, only that nobody would come pick her up. Or give her a way out. Not even her teammates could help her. Ren was Ren. Nora was Nora. And Ruby would only be stuck with Pyrrha in the same sinking boat, and up a creek without a paddle.
Pyrrha could only sympathize with her all the more. Poor girl. Her talk about being a "normal girl with normal knees, not bee knees" felt so relatable.
Too relatable.
With a shake of her head, Pyrrha cleared those cobwebs of thoughts before lifting her hand once more to knock.
She could do this...
She could do this!
She couldn't do this.
Soon she found herself pacing in front of the door. It helped calm her nerves, somewhat. Even if she did look like a creep.
What was the appropriate amount of time to wait before trying to reconnect with someone? A day? Three days? A week? Was she taking things slow? Or going too fast? Wait, why did she have to make it sound like she and Jaune were dating?
Think, Pyrrha. Think.
Maybe she could open things up with a joke. Like a small jab or testing half-swing of a sword. Yes. That should help her test Jaune's response before slashing through whatever tension that lingered between them. She'd then follow up with an invitation to a light lunch. A feint she believed Jaune would fall for. He wasn't a big eater, but he was an eater who loved her company nonetheless.
Satisfied, Pyrrha halted her pacing and lifted a hand to knock once more. But she froze when another thought occurred to her.
What about Blake?
Suddenly it wasn't a one-on-one. But a one-on-two. Did Jaune make things up with Blake? Did Pyrrha need to make things up with Blake for his sake? No, that was too nosy. How about levelling the field? Yes, that should work because at the end of the day, that matter was between Jaune and Blake to resolve.
Pyrrha wasn't one to make assumptions, but Blake's outburst during her shift yesterday didn't exactly indicate professionalism. It wouldn't do if her position at that restaurant was in jeopardy. Perhaps Blake only received a warning from her boss...?
Not to mention the fact that Pyrrha didn't notice either of them return last night. Not that she'd been looking or anything. Even though she refrained from calling or texting Jaune's line, she knew she should've registered Jaune's scroll in the app Beacon provided for tracking.
Pyrrha blinked, suddenly processing that train of thought. Her cheeks flushed hot.
No, no, no. It wasn't like that. She was only concerned for him that's all.
She patted her cheeks to steady herself.
After all, she could also locate the scrolls of her other teammates. What was adding one more person like Jaune? Now in hindsight, she only lamented why she hadn't thought of including Jaune at the time. Plus there didn't seem like a good moment to ask. He was one of her—if not her first friend in Beacon who treated her like a "normal girl with normal knees".
Gah, Ruby!
What if he thought she was creepy?
Maybe she could also add the scrolls of his teammates to lessen any suspicion? She could try convincing them that since they were engaging in a dangerous line of work, it only made sense to keep track of not just your teammates, but your sister-team as well, right?
Right?
A memory of Nora's mischievous voice made Pyrrha's cheeks flush even hotter than before. She darted glance left and right, praying nobody lingered around the hallway to catch that.
Enough of that.
That was not the primary issue at hand. She was Pyrrha Nikos, a friend, huntress-in-training and member of RRNN. If she could stare down the worst of Grimm without flinching, then doing this would be no easier than snatching Ruby's cookies.
She was going—no, she needed to confront Jaune and sort things out about yesterday. Oh, and have a word with Blake, too.
After a deep cleansing breath, Pyrrha snapped her eyes open, feeling pumped up and glaring at the door. She raised her fist, set to knock.
The sound of footsteps on the hallway floor stopped her.
Pyrrha looked, already spotting the amused blue-eyed gaze of Jaune as he emerged from around a corner down the opposite end of the hallway.
"Morning, Pure." He greeted her with a lazy wave.
His smile made Pyrrha's heart do delightful things in her bosom. She wanted to laugh, but a small relieved smile won out.
He did it. He'd made the first move. That's good. It gladdened her heart that he didn't look bitter about yesterday. If he's even smiling that foolish, impish smile of his, then it's a good sign. All was grand.
While Pyrrha may have processed all this, her gaze soon strayed towards Jaune's side, where Blake trailed behind him like a shadow. A shadow that kept glancing up and down the hallway, looking like she'd rather be anywhere but here.
Pyrrha blinked. Really? Her lips worked for words but found none. So she could only cast another once-over. Long legs in loose faded-blue jeans. An oversized hoodie with a familiar bunny mascot on her chest. Those looked more like something Jaune would wear. Especially with the size...
Or maybe she was just... reading too much into this.
Surely there was some reasonable explanation.
Yet it didn't help their case that they were out together in Vale yesterday and didn't return until... until...
Oh. Oh, my.
Pyrrha didn't know what kind of face she made that a red-cheeked Blake shook her head as if saying "you got the wrong idea!", much to Jaune's amusement. He slapped a hand on Blake's shoulder. The poor girl nearly leapt out of the hoodie.
"Now, now, Kitten. You shouldn't be shy. This is a kink-shame-free zone, nothing like last night. We'll still love and adore you even if you secretly wear Pumpkin Pete. Wouldn't you agree, Pure?"
Pyrrha blanked.
Blake ducked her head, cheeks redder. The door of Team ABYS dorm slammed shut as the Blake before them faded.
When Jaune made no motion or expression of surprise, Pyrrha relaxed. Ah, the girl's semblance, of course. She'd seen it in some of her spars during combat class.
Pyrrha cleared her throat in her hand and straightened herself. She delivered the flattest look she could possibly muster.
"Kitten?"
"Jealous?"
"Not really. You were at each other's throats yesterday." The talk of White Fang, Jaune's cutting comments, Blake's outburst and Pyrrha's own parting words flashed through Pyrrha's mind. "And now you're... friends?"
"I simply took your advice to heart, Pure: 'Sort this out with her, okay?'"
Pyrrha flinched, but he didn't seem to notice. "R-Really now?"
"Yep. And you were right. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure we've put last night's mishap behind us. Never realized it'd be so easy to talk to another person so patient and understanding. How could I have been so blind. I'd say she and I know more about each other than anyone else."
"D-Do you now...?" Pyrrha didn't like this queasy feeling in her gut at all. Not one bit. It felt like whatever tension lingering between them kept thickening by the minute. Why did her mixed emotions have to start rampaging out of control like this?
"You don't know the half of it, Pure. You wouldn't believe half the things that went down last night."
"I beg your pardon?"
Wait! What if all of this was just another ploy to get under her skin? Just like Weiss... Pyrrha went still, recalling her own damning words of yesterday.
"I understand you like to tease people you don't like Jaune, but that was going too far."
"I'm beginning to see why Weiss dislikes you with a burning passion."
"I'm going back. I just... Sort this out with her, okay?"
This time she couldn't help the tremble in her lips. It all dawned on her. Was this her punishment for pushing him away? The one who made her feel like a normal girl after so long. How could she call herself a true friend if she couldn't stick around and try to understand others.
No, she couldn't give up now. While Jaune may have made the first move—which admittedly had caught her off-guard, she believed she could still salvage this. Just when Jaune looked like he was about to return to his dorm, Pyrrha caught his shoulder, found herself pleased that he offered his undivided attention rather than ignoring her.
She put her thoughts into words:
"After we grab a light lunch, could we... have... a sparring session? I mean, it's been some time since we last had one."
Jaune rubbed the bridge of his nose in thought for a moment. Then he replied, "Look, Pure. I have to go make sure Blake doesn't burn Pumpkin Pete. Though I doubt she'd have the opportunity do it on campus without drawing attention to herself." He smiled.
"Perhaps some other time, Pyrrha."
The door clicked shut.
Pyrrha bowed her head. Her fists shook. It did little in stopping a sob prickling her throat.
It didn't matter at all.
Having switched into a her own fresh set of clothes as well as securing Gambol Shroud on her back, Blake measured several strides from the open window and began plotting her imminent descent.
She guessed she should be thankful for small blessings that her team's dorm was empty. No Weiss lecturing her about staying too late. No Yang teasing her about some secret date or something else just as asinine. What she would give to have either of them around. Anybody would do, if she could escape Jaune's presence.
So no, she wasn't leaving the same way she entered.
Blake exploded forward, leaping for the tree outside. Its branch shivered beneath her landing, but held. She steadied herself. Then descended. Flipping. Swinging. One. Two. Three branches, and Blake springboarded herself into free fall. The wet grass brushed and slickened her parkour roll.
As Blake strided her way towards the campus center, she pondered her next move.
First things first: information.
Knowing Jaune, it wouldn't be too difficult to imagine him researching his enemies and allies alike. Well, consider that lesson learned. It was only fair that she'd see to closing the gap between them quickly. The sooner she maneuvered herself from beneath his thumb, the sooner she'd have her fresh start to a new life restored.
But where—or who to start with?
She could probably count on one hand the number of people who enjoyed Jaune's company. A short list of names ran through her mind, along with the mental ticking.
Pyrrha Nikos: Jaune's closest friend. The Invincible Girl. Only knows about his good side since he prefers it that way. Potential leverage. Kind-hearted. Harbours neither malice or suspicions towards him. In truth, she probably knows little about Jaune.
Velvet Scarlatina: Fellow Faunus. Second-year. Skilled with Hard-Light Dust. Rescued from Cardin Winchester's bullying by Jaune. Occasionally seen practicing CQC with Jaune around the afternoon or evening. It'd be best to meet her at a later date.
Professor Port: Appreciated Jaune's attention in class. The two are incredibly fond of each other, resembling a father-son relationship. Jaune may genuinely enjoy his time with the professor. Being the sole student that listens to the professor's stories indicates as such among other things. Jaune had mentioned something about the professor's last stand at... Reverie? All the way back in initiation...
Reverie...
It couldn't hurt to pay Professor Port a visit right now. However...
Blake stopped, having reached the central part of Beacon, a dizzying spin of life all around. Hurrying and stamping footsteps rattled the floor brickwork, the beehive of talk, shouts and laughter fleeting in and out, and somewhere, around here, the out-of-tune twang-twang of guitar strings.
She summed her choices in two glances towards different directions: the library or Professor Port's office.
"Blake Belladonna, right?"
She checked behind and spotted a pair of long rabbit ears, that made her blink. A stroke of luck for a change. It all seemed foreign to her.
Even though the distance between them approached arm's length or less, the second year offered a meek wave. Blake eased her pinched expression and nodded in acknowledgement. This was probably her first time talking with this upperclassman, so it'd be best to play it cool.
"That's me. You're Velvet, if I'm not mistaken? I'm Jaune's teammate." A pause. Velvet probably knew that already. "He talks about you a lot, actually."
Of course, that was a small lie, but Velvet bought it anyway as she beamed a close-eyed smile. Hopefully she didn't get the wrong idea.
Blake rubbed her arm, awkwardly. "Could you spare some time to talk?"
Velvet's long rabbit ears jerked upright. "Sure, but it'll have to be quick. I'm off to Vale with my team and it won't be long before they arrive."
Given the imminent subject of discussion, Blake believed "quick" didn't slice the half of it. She briefly wondered if it she should just cut her losses now and simply head for Professor Port's office. Too bad that window of opportunity had closed. Still, she trusted herself to measure her own words, lest this exchange risked leaking into Jaune's ears later.
"It's about Jaune." At Velvet's concerned look, Blake continued. "No, he's not in trouble. It's just that even though he's my team leader, he isn't exactly the most open of individuals. So I was wondering..."
"If you could get some advice?" Velvet guessed. "I don't know, Blake. Shouldn't you be discussing this with him?"
"I-I've tried. Several times. All he ever seems to do is talk about everything but himself. Yet I get the feeling something is bothering him lately. Like he has a lot on his mind."
"Really? I've haven't noticed. He's usually quite a chatterbox if he isn't cracking jokes. Then again, not everything is what it seems. Even Coco has her share of bad days, though she pretends all is well. Hmm." A pause. "Have you asked Pyrrha? She and Jaune seem a lot closer."
"I have. She hasn't realized either."
"What about your other teammates? Are you sure they haven't noticed anything? I mean, I wouldn't want to intrude on your—"
"Believe me, we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place if they knew."
Velvet shrank from the heat in Blake's voice. Blake sighed and calmed herself. She noted to refrain from getting emotional. She didn't need to give Velvet the wrong idea about this whole ordeal.
"I'm sorry. It's been frustrating. I just can't get this out of my head." More like she couldn't stand him in general. "That's why I'm asking you. He spends more time with you. So I was wondering if he's let anything slip. Anything would help, even if it seems insignificant."
Velvet's ears did this flopping trick, one at a time. Up. Down. Up. Down. It might have looked cute if Blake had time for dilly-dallying. Time to lay it on thick. A more forward approach may spark something.
She clasped Velvet shoulders—ignoring the surprised "eh?"—and stared the rabbit Faunus in the eyes, insistently. "Please. I can't exactly approach him. You're the only one I can turn to."
The girl began fiddling with her hands, flustered. Good, she might make a mistake if she kept pushing.
"I can't say."
"Can't or won't?"
Velvet brushed her hands over Blake's and backed off. She bowed her head, partially concealing her conflicted expression with her bangs. She looked ready to bolt, if she hadn't stopped herself at the last second.
"If you had a friend, would you go discussing their personal issues behind their backs."
Personal issues...? This enforced the idea that Jaune's reasonings stemmed from his upbringing, but it wasn't concrete until she got more details.
"I'm his teammate," she affirmed. "I only want what's-"
"Would you?" Velvet asked again.
Blake resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "No."
Nobody deserved that. Nevertheless, she'd make an exception for Jaune any day. He didn't play fair. So why should she? Perhaps playing with Velvet's feelings and using them to her advantage could help. As Velvet nodded to herself in a self-satisfied manner, Blake launched her next argument.
"Velvet, I don't think you're getti—"
"No. I think I do. All those questions and talk about your team leader having a lot on his mind. That's just an excuse, right?"
Blake went very, very still. Velvet didn't know. Blake needed to remind herself there was no way Velvet knew about the nefarious things Jaune was up to.
"Velvet, I—"
"I see how you glance at him during class. You try to hide it, you know? But the intensity in your eyes always give you away."
"Wha—"
"I'm so sorry that I didn't notice earlier. I may not have much experience dealing with these kind of situations. But as an upperclassman, I will do my best to help my underclassmen."
"Velvet, if you would just—"
"I will say this: you're afraid and that's normal."
"Eh?"
"You're afraid you won't be able to get his attention. It must be awful seeing Jaune not acknowledge you while spending more time with other girls—and even talking about them. Truly, I am—"
Blake grabbed her shoulders again, her cheeks flushing. "Velvet, I do not have a crush on Jaune Arc!"
"Is there a problem here?"
A new female voice interrupted.
Blake blinked. She had company—a trio behind Velvet. A tall girl flanked by a taller guy and a giant of a guy. This was no doubt Velvet's team, and the tall girl sending Blake a flat look past her lowered sunglass, was no doubt Coco.
Sensing imminent trouble, Blake released Velvet's shoulders and backed off.
Coco didn't let her escape. The leader of team CFVY wedged herself in front of Velvet, bent forward, hand on hip. "Oh please, don't stop on my account. It's not everyday you get to see someone clearly in denial."
Blake tried not to scowl. Oh for crying out loud, she was not in denial! And most certainly not with Jaune Arc of all people. She'd rather burn her Ninja of Love collection than even consider Jaune Arc a potential partner.
"I'm not here to cause trouble." Blake lifted both hands.
Coco stared at her for a long moment.
Blake kept both hands raised.
Coco straightened and readjusted her sunglasses. "And there better not be. Jaune Arc's a sweet guy, albeit a bit rough around the edges. Crush or not, you could stand to learn a thing or two from him. Though it'd be a big shame if he's wasted on teammates like you."
Blake let her hands irony was far too much. She'd like to see her trade places. Then she'd see what a nightmare it was to be on Team ABYS.
"C'mon, Hun Bun, let's go."
As Coco and her other two teammates turned and left, Velvet lingered with apologetic eyes.
"I'm so sorry about that," she said.
Blake mustered a small smile. If you're really—"
"Ashlynn and Reverie."
Blake's eyes widened. Could this be...?
"That's all I can say."
"Velvet!" Coco's voice called from a fair distance away.
But Velvet wasn't done yet.
"Oh, and Blake, about your crush on Jaune... I'll be..." The rabbit Faunus put a shushing finger to her own lips before crossing her heart. "See you around!"
Blake watched her catch up with her teammates before heading in the opposite direction, en route towards Professor Port's office.
Ashylnn...
That sounded more like the name of someone than a place.
As for the name "Reverie", Blake recalled the way Jaune spoke fondly about Professor Port's last stand at Reverie. The professor had that display where he wrestled with an Ursa back in the second phase of initiation. Was it Jaune's place of origin? It could tie into Jaune's supposed sob story. In his head, he may find his actions justified, but she's rather be the proper judge to that.
Perhaps Professor Port himself would hopefully shed more light on this. That is, if she had half the mind and patience to stay awake and listen through his stories. Worse it was going to look like a one-on-one consultation. Gods, if she ever survived this, she might do herself and her team a huge favor by sticking Gambol Shroud through Jaune.
Then again, the professor would give the honest truth behind the last stand. And if Jaune really does hail from there, it could being her closer to the end.
"Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, Professor Port."
"Nonsense, Miss Belladonna. I find that it's always pleasing to give guidance to the future generation of huntsmen and huntresses. I don't get much company from students these days, you see. In fact, I think you just might be the second person who came here willingly, without a detention slip of course. Hah-hah! Please, have a seat." He stroked his mustache for a moment before cracking an eye open. "Now what brings you to my humble office."
Humble? This place? She briefly scanned the place and noted the "trophies" that littered the place among other things.
Blake shelved that thought for another time. "If you recall, Professor, during the second phase of initiation, my team leader Jaune Arc inquired about your last stand at... Reverie, was it? Call me curious, but I couldn't find anything regarding the event in any textbooks."
"That is true and it makes sense. It is a small remote village in Mistral. Folks there like to keep to themselves." A pause. "May I ask why the sudden interest? I'm not calling you a liar, Miss Belladonna, it's just that many students your age aren't too interested in foreboding tales like that. As enthusiastic as your leader may have been about it, it was no tale of victory. I'm happy to say I managed to save plenty of lives, but it's not exactly an uplifting tale."
"I'm sure. It's just that... I think knowing the truth behind this may be important. I'm not quite sure yet."
"Well then, where would you like me to start?"
Blake swallowed.
"From the beginning."
Apologies for the longer wait. I've partnered up with someone named Nentone, who'll be acting as my beta reader and consultant of sorts. They're helping me with the execution of this story and I'm happy to read their feedback on this story so far. It's reassuring to know that someone else can agree that my plans for the future chapters have great potential.
Now, that may mean a longer update time between new chapters. So keep that in mind. I'm sure you've noticed, but this particular chapter is written in a different style. We're not sure how often we'll do chapters like this, but keep that in mind as well.
Thank you again for your patience.
Next chapter: August 2nd
-Mute