Blake IV - Family

Even with all the revelations Blake had about her recent 'ally', she still found herself surprised. Torchwick, or Calico now, walked through the streets of Menagerie without a care in the world. Sure he was apparently well known enough on the island to have a specific fake name but even the gangster should be feeling off being the only human for miles. As they walked closer and closer to her parents house, she could feel a cold pain deep in her chest.

She had abandoned her parents five years ago, running off to join the White Fang in Mistral. She hadn't spoken to them since. She was so scared that they hated her, that she never even contacted them while she was at Beacon. So now the first time they saw you in five years was the Vytal Festival. Good job, Blake. She felt the dread press harder on her shoulders until Sun breaks her out of her funk by asking her if she was okay. She still felt frustrated that Sun followed her to Menagerie, but she would be lying if she said she didn't like his warm presence. Unfortunately, her calmer demeanor only lasted until Torchwick knocked loudly at her parents door without even asking if she was ready!

—

Blake was happy Sun was there to distract her parents, because she was still feeling the whiplash of recent events. Her parents didn't pause for a second before welcoming her home with open arms. She feared cold stares, berating, or a door slammed in her face. Maybe they were just waiting for the guests to leave before they started. Maybe they'll throw her out later that night. Or maybe, if the faint hope within her was correct, they were being genuine. Her hopes and insecurities clashed together but neither side was gaining a foothold as Blake kept turning to look at Torchwick.

He was just sitting at the end of the table with a big smile on his face. His emerald eyes shined with laughter as he looked up over his shoulder to the little girl climbing up his back. "Papa, I missed you!" She gave him a warm, bright smile that only small children can produce.

Torchwick grinned in return and ruffled her hair with his non-metallic hand. "I missed you too Willa"

Willa had been practically glued to the gangster since she saw him. She was young, maybe five or six years old, with short red hair and her father's green eyes. Just looking at Willa brought the picture of Torchwick and Sherry to the front of Blake's mind. I thought he said that his child didn't survive Sherry's death? Blake tried to focus on remembering exactly what he said. She still wanted to believe that Torchwick's word was as good as he said it was. He seemed so sad when he brought up where the name 'Roman' came from. She had to restrain herself from jumping when her mother's voice came from beside her.

"So, how long will you be on the island, Roman?" Her mother had the same kind look on her face as always.

Torchwick was very at ease for a criminal sitting with the highest leader on Menagerie. "I actually need to speak with your husband about that, Kali. I think...I'm here to stay"

Her father coughed into his tea while her mother's eyes widened. Blake was confused but Willa cheered and tackled the human, knocking him to the floor with the force of her joy. "You're going to stay Papa?"

Torchwick laughed from the ground, hooking his hands under Willa's arms and lifting her up over him. "If they let me!"

Willa cheered "I should tell Mama!" She has a mother? Did Torchwick get remarried?

As if on cue, the front door opened. "Kali? I have come to save you from my gremlin" Willa quickly wiggled away from her father and ran toward the newcomer. Sun turned to Blake as her mother called back to the newcomer. He looked very confused as he mouthed 'Wife?' Blake could understand his confusion. Blake was having a hard enough time fathoming that Torchwick's daughter was still alive let alone having another partner. That's assuming he was actually telling the truth.

Blake wasn't sure what she was expecting, but she definitely wasn't expecting the woman who walked in. She was a tall, muscular woman wearing a sleeveless, brown vest that showed various scars running up and down the exposed arms. She had short, messy, spotted hair and ears. The hyena-faunus gave a wide grin to the assembled group, canines longer than average and burnt orange eyes shining. "Oh, you must be Blake! Welcome back home!"

Blake had to force her mouth to work. She recognized the woman. "Y-yeah. Thank you." It's one of Neo's teammates. I thought they were still in Atlas.

"Thank you, Holly. We are very happy to have her home. Roman was kind enough to arrange some transport for her." Her mother turned to give Blake a small smile which Blake couldn't help but return..

Holly's smile fell. "Kind?" She scoffed and turned to the gangster. "Was that what you were doing Jack? Being 'kind'?"

Torchwick stood up, having to look up at the slightly taller woman. "What's wrong Hol? Not used to me surprising you anymore?"

"My ex-husband showing up at the end of a long, hard day to give me his hollow smile isn't a nice surprise, Jack." Oh...this is not gonna be good.

Torchwick gave her a wicked smirk. "What's hollow about it? I'm very happy to see you." He opened his arms as if to give her a hug. It might have been believable if he didnt shift his cane into a combat grip.

Holly took a step into Torchwick's reach with a hand gripping the handle of a cutlass. He didn't move to close his arms as they stared at each other. Holly leaned her head over his shoulder as she spoke into his ear, eyes drilling into Torchwick's skull. "Are you really happy to see me?" Her voice was sharply sweet, her longer canines making her fake smile all the more menacing.

"Do you really want to do this in the Belladonna's living room?" Torchwick matches the sickly sweet voice and smile, green eyes piercing into Holly's orange ones.

There was a prominent silence. Blake looked around at the other spectators. Her mother and father exchanged looks that were equal parts confused and concerned. Sun and Willa were just staring in awe of the scene before them, clearly entertained. Are they really going to attack each other in front of their daughter? What are they thinking! Holly looked over and locked eyes with her before smirking. "I don't think they mind. Hey Ghira do you mind if we have a domestic disturbance here?"

Ghira stood up in response looking panicked. "Absolutely not! I don't know what has gotten into you two but violence isn't the answer."

Holly liked her eyes on Ghira for a long moment before Willa started clapping. "Mama and Papa tricked Chief Ghira!" Her voice sounded so proud as she grinned from ear to ear.

What? Holly simply stared at Ghira as his mouth opened in shock. Blake caught Torchwick's mischievous expression as she looked away from her father. They staged this whole thing? She must have shown her confusion on herdacebecause Torchwick almost immediately started laughing. Holly kept her cool for a few more seconds before she also burst out laughing as Torchwick wrapped his arms around her. Willa got up and ran to hug them both.

Sun's voice cut through the confusion. "By the Brothers, now there are three of them" This made everyone laugh, including her previously incredulous father. Following the outburst, they all sat down to talk.

—

It turned out that Holly was a very fun person when she wasn't taking after her ex-husband. She was the current Forager for Kuo Kuana, whose duties included ranging into the wastelands to find arable land and resources. It was a very important position in Menagerie that didn't usually have someone as young as Holly holding it. The Forager when Blake had left Menagerie was an older, standoffish wolf-faunus named Schwarz Skoal. When people in positions like that get replaced, it is usually through injury or death and not the kind of thing to ask about in a large group. Blake should have known that before she spoke. "What happened to Mr. Skoal?"

The room fell silent again, her parents turned to look at Roman and Holly, who were simply staring ahead with slightly glassy expressions. More secrets? Let's see if you can keep your promise Torchwick. She was about to ask Torchwick to tell her before Holly suddenly turned to the criminal. "You promised what? What compelled you to do that?"

Torchwick sighed. "Holly, you said that out loud." What the hell? Torchwick smiled at Blake as he pulled Willa into his lap and covered her ears with his hands. "Schwarz lost control of himself and needed to be put down."

Blake stared at him. It wasn't the first time Torchwick had casually admitted to killing someone, but her parents didn't react to this revelation. Kali was the first to respond. "Maybe not the most delicate way to put it. There have been a number of position changes while you were gone Blake. Mrs. Calico and Mr. Kitsune have been particularly helpful." Still 'Mrs. Calico' even after the divorce?

Before she could get a chance to ask, Sun of all people jumped in. "Wait. Kitsune as in Gyn Kitsune?"

Ghira chuckled. "Yes. He is our new Portmaster. I am surprised you didn't run into him on the way in."

Torchwick took his hands off of Willa's ears and started ruffling her hair. "We pretty much went straight from the boat to here."

Sun sputtered and looked at the door. Blake turned to him confused. "Sun? What's wrong?"

Sun laughed as he turned to her. "I don't know why I didn't think Uncle Gyn could be in Menagerie."

Blake blinked. "Uncle?"

Holly laughed. "That explains it! Gyn was cheering his head off during your team's matches. Kept shouting 'That's my boy!' It was adorable."

Sun blushed and looked away, causing Torchwick and Holly to laugh. Sun groaned in embarrassment as his forehead met the table. "Yeah that sounds like him." Blake wanted to comfort him, but she couldn't contain her laughter.

—

The discussion broke up soon after. Holly carried Willa out, giving Blake a friendly smile and welcome before turning to her ex-husband and telling him she would get the couch ready for him. Torchwick himself headed out soon after them, pulling Ghira away to talk before turning to Sun and telling him to follow. Sun looked back at Blake before turning back to the gangster, only to find him holding Sun's wallet and pulling out a folded photo.

Blake had never seen Sun move as quickly as he did then, two clones grabbing Torchwick and holding him still while Sun practically ran over and ripped the wallet from Torchwick's grip. Torchwick said something to Sun that made him flush almost instantly. What did Sun hide in his wallet that would get that response? Torchwick mentioned going to see Sun's uncle and it looked like Sun was conflicted so Blake gave him the out and said she would see him tomorrow. Sun gave her one of his huge grins and then followed Torchwick outside. Ghira gave Blake another hug before apologizing and leaving to meet with some other members of the council. As she watched her father walk out, Blake turned to her mother. "Is everything alright?"

Kali smiled. "It's probably about Roman's request."

Why are they on a first name basis? "Mom?" Kali gave her an interested look. "H-How do you know... ?"

"Roman? He arrived a few months after…" she trailed off, giving Blake a reassuring smile. A few months after I ran away. Blake felt the guild grip her heart until Kali placed a hand over hers and gave it a squeeze. Blake managed a weak smile before her mother continued. "He arrived with Vanille, Holly, and baby Willa from Atlas. Roman and Vanille should have still been in the hospital with the injuries they had, but they still made the trip." The only hospitalization worthy injury on Neo is the neck. Which of Torchwick's injuries was it? "Ylva was concerned they might be running from something dangerous for Menagerie as a whole and arrested them when they got off the ship."

"All of them?" Ylva Skoal had been the Sheriff for as long as Blake remembered. A stern, wolf-faunus who took the safety of Menagerie as her highest priority. Considering what led to the faunus being 'given' Menagerie, she had an understandable distrust for humans.

Kali laughed. "Not to the same level. Vanille and Willa were led to the local clinic while Roman was interrogated. He certainly had a story to tell." Kali looked down for a moment. If Torchwick told the same story he told Blake, it was a rather depressing story. "Ylva corroborated the story from Holly before bringing your father and I in to see them."

"And they just...moved in?" Blake had to know why she was so friendly with someone like Torchwick. Maybe she was just unaware of his criminal background. She could just spit it out, but there was a lump in her throat preventing it. Is this really how I should repay him? Ruining his chance to be with his wife and daughter again?

"Oh it wasn't as simple as that. If it was just Vanille and Holly, it would have been simpler, but Roman's presence dissolved the whole thing into an argument."

"Argument?"

Kali looked at her for a moment before sighing and leaning back. "This didn't come up often when you were younger. There is a policy in Menagerie that humans are not allowed to set up permanent residence here."

Blake's eyes widened. "But...I had a friend with a human parent."

Kali smiles melancholically. "Yes, but they were bonded to

their partners. There are no unattached humans living in Menagerie."

Blake understood the idea. The Faunus were 'kindly granted' Menagerie as their land so having humans swarm in wasn't ideal. "Wait, but T… wasn't he married to Holly?"

Her mother seemed to miss her slip. She actually laughed a little when she replied. "Not when they arrived. Vanille and Roman got into a heated argument about what they would do. Your father could hardly get a word in before Holly shut them both up and demanded that Roman marry her." Kali laughed, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth.

Blake couldn't stifle her laugh at the image of Holly glaring down at Torchwick and demanding he marry her. "They really fit together. They have the same irritating sense of humor."

Kali smiled at her warmly. "How...how did you meet Roman?" Blake hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Her mother placed a hand over hers. "I know he isn't the most...reputable person but-"

"Wait, you know he is Torchwick?" The question was out of her mouth before Blake could stop herself.

Kai looked away sheepishly. "It's not something we discuss, but yes I know."

"And you're still friends with him?" Blake tried to temper her disbelief.

Kali's smile was slightly strained. "He is an excellent conversationalist. From what I know of his history, working in...gray markets seems to be his speciality."

Blake watched her mother for a long moment in silence. She didn't know why she was so conflicted. She had done a lot of things she wasn't proud of in the White Fang so she hardly had room to judge Torchwick. Then again, he seemed very flippant about his various crimes. Her mother's quiet concern at her silence moved Blake out of her thoughts. "So, are they getting back together?"

"Holly and Roman?"

Blake smiled. "Yeah. He said he was here to stay. I guess he is getting the family back together?"

Kali laughed and shook her head. "No, there is going to have to be a council meeting about him staying here on his own."

"But, if Holly is still going by Mrs. Calico, wouldn't it just be easier to get married again?"

Kali smiled. "Well that would be the case if Holly wasn't already married." Blake blinked. Oh, well I suppose Calico is a very common Faunus name. "And even if polyamoury was on the table, I doubt Vanille and Roman would be comfortable with it."

Blake's brain ground to a halt. Wait...Neo married Roman's ex-wife "Wait…" Her mother only gave her a knowing smile in response.