Chapter 54: Chaînés

Small preceding statement: Two things are eternal – Taxes and homework.


Annoyance and a pounding headache were what greeted Sienna Khan in the morning as she woke up from her slumber, already aching all over as the bed in her office was a little harder than her own. The alarm clock started to ring, her eyes searching for the clock and finding it slightly off the centre. She tapped the off button on her Scroll, the headache enough. A glass of water had been prepared for her by her assistant, undoubtedly to banish the drought that plagued her throat.

'It's eight… so I've got time for a shower afterwards, a little bit more than Eve can probably muster after she's beaten into the ground.'

She was going to beat that cow bloody, as she gulped down the water, the sweet relief to her dry throat more than welcome in this current level of annoyance. She felt more irked at Eve's gall to challenge her without any sort of preamble, though she felt the headache barely shift.

A fresh glass of water from the tap in the bathroom, a set of painkillers that would just about kick in when she was about to challenge Eve to banish the headache that had threatened to obliterate all sorts of things, as she swept out of the office, of course having taken the time to scrub her skin a little and to look presentable. She was the face of the White Fang, or at least, that's what she liked to tell people.

The people mattered more to her than the appearance that she held. The Faunus required her to be the best, the strongest, the most vocal, the one that could smoothen the human feelings of those silly bother-bodies on the Council and to speak for the people, the disadvantaged citizens and those who wished to unite with the Faunus.

She was no hero, no great champion, though often, she had been called that. She was a woman, a passionate, young (mid-twenties, in case anyone ever had the gall to ask, no matter WHAT her driver's license said) woman who had one of the best men in the world as a partner.

Humans didn't see things as the Faunus did. A lot of the issues between humans and Faunus came, according to her Human Studies professor, due to their lack of instinct, their lack of traits that could enhance their world.

She loved a human, and her best friend was sharing him. That was how a man should be. In demand, without anyone daring to question why he was ramming his big hard sh- encouragement into her. Sienna's eyes went for the mirror, finding her own expression to be one of hard-bitten furore.

"Sienna, Eve's been in the gym for the last two hours, training… She said something about sparring with you."

Her personal assistant spoke up and Sienna mumbled something that definitely was a cursing of the name of Eve Taurus under her breath.

"Yeah, I got a message from her that she wanted to work the kinks out, after Jaune Arc was nearly executed by Amitola. Have the arrangements been prepared?"

Her personal assistant was perfect for the just duty of being the face and the speaker when she couldn't be bothered to attend stuffy meetings. Quick, short notes, a little note about special things that had to be included in the written report and the budget meetings always having been chaired by her because Sienna Khan did not do the bookkeeping, and she'd not hear a word about her being impaired in the counting way. She knew perfectly how to count, yes. It just wasn't a strength.

'Who needs to know the exact diameter for a damn thing anyways? That's where I've got weak nerds for.'

"Yes. Menagerie accepts her."

That was one less hassle, because exporting her to Atlas where she'd been born would have been tiresome. Of course, the cultural exchange office would be abuzz with the whole situation, as Díren de Rou was hardly given during these times of peace, but she had a responsibility to repay the slights as they had been given to her man! Jaune was a little bit more important than a formality, and with how the whole fracas was evolving into a near all-out war between the Faunus, things would have to come to a head.

'If I wasn't the High Leader…'

It was annoying her. If she wasn't, this whole issue would be solved. Eve Taurus would just be another stone on the road for her to kick away, but right now, she was an obstacle for the prize that laid within Jaune Arc.

'Sometimes, humans have it much easier than we do. Strength is important, as is guile and wits…'

The law of the jungle, as Kali had once put it, but Sienna kept her opinions to herself. With how divided the Faunus were as a species about their own peculiarities, there was unity within Menagerie.

Her fingers ran through her hair as she listened to the small overview of her appearances today. A visit to an orphanage after her bout with Eve, and then a quick pass by the television channels in order to arrange for the advertisements for the Vytal Festival.

'Life's not great when you're responsible for people's livelihoods.'

There were perks, like a driver, the ability to boss around most Faunus and generally being the baddest bitch in the area wherever she was, but that didn't matter.

"Handle it, and I'll need a quick touch-up of my makeup if there's any damages. That cow is going down."

She had a date with Eve Taurus, to get her beaten to a pulp and to make her feel like she was the cow bitch of the High Leader. She felt a little woozy, probably from not getting enough sleep, the hangover still pounding in her head, as she walked down to the gym.

Eve was busy with pole strikes, the woman's tall body in motion, her impressive chest wobbling with the acrobatic strikes that she did, her fingers handling the weapon expertly, with the jokes about her day job, forasmuch as that was still her day job, definitely not lesser than her skill.

The dark top was soaked with sweat, the jogging pants that Eve wore in lieu of Adam's 'dark and stalkerish' look that he had claimed as his personal mode of intimidation, looking fine and soft. It was a pity that Sienna was going to have to beat Eve bloody, but you did not fuck with Sienna Khan.

"Ready, burger babe?"

Eve looked at her, the blue eyes looking like they wanted to tear at her, as she nodded.

"Let me get a drink first."

That was a good thing. Sienna felt dehydrated, something that could not be tolerated before a fight, the drink bottle that Eve had half-finished already drained, the woman turning to the dressing room and then returning, the water bottle refilled and set near the bag that she had already put up.

'This is going to be a piece of cake…'

"Hey, Sienna?"

Eve was busy with preparing everything, getting ready for the fight. The uppity behaviour from the other woman was not tolerated, and Sienna would crack down on it hard, as her status dictated. She didn't learn how to fight and beat up everyone else so she could be playing second fiddle to anyone but her man!

"You're going to lose."

Anger bristled inside her chest as she growled, her whip twirled in her grasp, her head aching a little, as Eve took to the customary position, thirty paces away from her.

"Don't fucking count on it, Eve."

The cow had the balls, or rather, the beach balls on her chest, to smirk at her. She felt the anger shoot through her, as she took the customary position, her body angled a little forward in a pouncing stance. It wasn't formal combat for the trial for the position, but-

"Oh… don't worry, Sienna."

She did worry! That cow had no right to challenge her to a duel without people present. She could feel the blood throb and pulse in her veins, her eyes glinting with that thirsty challenge in her mind. Her mouth felt really dry though, so she should be getting something that would soothe her.

"I'll be sure to lay you right out on your ass."

Sienna charged at her foe, the pumping, rushing throb of blood in her veins like a warning call to action, as she'd show the-

Dizziness hit her, as Eve's staff flashed, and Sienna could feel it hit her in the face, Eve's smirk predatory and cruel, just like Adam's could be when he was enjoying himself. Sluggishly, Sienna tried to use her whip to block, but her muscles seemed to work awkwardly, the flopping strike of the whip only wrapping around the staff's head, before Sienna felt it be tugged out of her grip.

'Why can't I… what's wrong with me?"

Another smashing strike from the cow Faunus, who grabbed her by the hair and then brought her elbow down on her face. Sienna groaned in pain, her Aura already on the verge of shattering.

"What'd you do, Eve?"

The cow Faunus moved, a knee digging right into Sienna's gut. Breath escaped her lips, her eyes closing in pain as she groaned, her body twisting around, trying to get free but the younger Faunus woman's hand was still holding her hair.

"Succeeding you, bitch."

The staff hit her chin and Sienna felt her teeth rattle as she fell down onto the mats that covered the ground in the sparring area, her eyes looking up at the ceiling, stars blinking in her vision from the blows to her face. Eve looked sweaty, but still perfectly unharmed.

'Why do I feel so sluggish?'

Eve looked down at her, her hands holding the pole, twirling it a little, the expression on her face not changing one bit, as she peered down at her with disdain.

"I'm not going to let him slip from my fingers, Sienna. You're too weak to claim the man you want, and I've had a talk with Willow Schnee for a while, so this ends here. Kali said to us both that we should do what makes us feel happy, so I will do what I must."

Words that came back, as Sienna groaned, trying to get up. Everything was swirling into a mass of colours, as the words came from the cow Faunus woman's lips, as the polearm stopped a moment before it hit her.

'Kali said… oh fuck.'

"You drugged me!"

Eve's smirk was insufferable, as her blue eyes looked sharp and fierce, the teeth bared in a challenging snarl. Sienna had an inkling of how Eve could have managed that, with her skillset. Eve Taurus was the 'soft' to Adam's 'hard' style of fighting. Infiltrating the office of the High Leader of the White Fang and slipping something in her drink…

'The glass of water! So she drugged that… Urgh, I knew that there wouldn't be that much attentiveness in my assistant.'

"You really should be more careful when you drink something, Sienna… Good night."

The pole slammed into her face a moment later, and Sienna knew only unconsciousness, her consciousness fading after the pole hit her, Eve undoubtedly going to drag her out of the gym to show that she was the new High Leader.

'Fuck.'

She'd be more careful in the future.


Eve Taurus was a woman who did not do things without a grounded reason. Jaune could believe that, even as his Scroll started to beep with a call. Three messages from Ruby about how life at Beacon was proceeding and how much they all missed his presence, as he accepted the call, Eve looking at him with a serious look.

"Are you alone?"

He glanced at the people in the room, Adam looking like he'd rather be anywhere else, Whitley seated in the chair, holding his Scroll mid-text to someone who he guessed might be Ruby. That was a good thing for the kid

"Well… Whitley and Adam are here, Salmon went out for something to eat with mom… I guess-"

A beat-up Sienna was shown, laid there in what seemed to be a shower. Jaune recognized it as the shower at the White Fang headquarters in Vale, having been 'invited' to join Sienna a few times, her body having been squeaky clean, as Eve turned the camera back to her. Adam took a very deep breath.

"Oh… You fucking didn't, Eve."

A smile on Eve's face, as she laughed.

"I said I would, Adam. Jaune? I have fought for you. I have the right."

Whatever that was, he would need to ask.

"Is she alright?"

Eve didn't comment, but the look on her face wasn't very pleasant. They had a problem with Faunus, he knew, but that didn't mean that they would openly agitate about it unless someone raised it, Camellia aside. Vivian had her opinions, which was a thing.

"Unconscious. Beaten. By the rules, I hold the right now."

That was not saying very much, Adam looking very uncomfortable right now.

"I'm not calling you High Leader Taurus, Eve. We're still brother and sister."

Eve snorted loudly, dismissing the thought. Jaune had a brief image of Eve in a business suit. That cleavage would need support.

"It wasn't a formal challenge, Baby-moo. It's just to let her know that I've beaten her. Do you really think I can stand up to Sienna in a fair fight?"

Jaune couldn't even stand up to Sienna in a fair fight. If someone had to be fighting him, it'd better be anyone but Sienna, because Sienna was lethal, vicious and able to make sure that he'd not be getting up when she'd had him pinned, because she liked that.

'My sex life is filled with dangerous women…'

"So, what does that mean?"

Eve smirked, her tongue rubbing over her lips.

"Congratulations, you got exclusive rights to my pussy. We've got a rule, and I've acted in accordance of that rule. Sienna is still the high leader, because I really don't like doing the whole public relations stuff, but you should know that I am serious about you, Jaune Arc."

'Well… That is true, but-'

He sighed, knowing that this was just another Faunus issue that he'd probably only get clarification about after he'd had sex or something. The Faunus were great at times, but sometimes they also could frustrate him to no end.

He'd have to call Kali and just ask her for clarification… but he had an inkling that she'd just smile mysteriously, laugh a little and then go 'You should ask Sienna that, Jaune.'. The woman's nature was catty and canny, so it would definitely stand to reason that she'd be a mysterious woman about it.

"I'm… Can you at least make sure that she's okay?"

Sienna was still his girlfriend, even if he'd still kept that little tidbit from his family. With how things were progressing with Salmon and Adam, the fallout from that would be pretty severe, with him just going 'oh, and the High Leader of the White Fang is my girlfriend, and I'm dating a single mother of three as well on the side' probably being the thing that would bring the whole family into an uproar.

That wouldn't be a great event, he knew. His mother was already fragile when it came to big upsets, and her spending habits hadn't really stopped. Three more 'special candles' and 'healing plushies' from the pricy sections of the online shopping centres, and he felt the weariness already invade him from the fallout of Camellia and the others' reactions.

"Will do, Jaune. Just know, Eve Taurus is going to be your woman. I don't want a weak man, so you're going to be getting better."

He could rely on that, even as he sighed. He tried to move his legs, the movement slow, pain shooting through his body at the unused nerves trying to force the muscles to respond, dragging them up slowly.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Eve only laughed, the call shut off.

"Congratulations."

Adam Taurus had the balls to say so, as he crossed his arms, expression grave and serious, getting up, looking at him.

"Take good care of her. She's my sister and we may not always see eye to eye, but you've been handed a gift. I will… I will do my best to not shame your sister."

Jaune grimaced, as Adam sounded so formal, sighing a little at the determined look.

"Don't remind me about it… Camellia's going to freak. I really don't want to get her upset again… We've all been different after our father died, and mom just seems to be buying things that she doesn't need on a whim, because it makes her happy. We're not… we aren't always the greatest with how to respond to things."

It was a problem. Saphron wasn't someone who usually talked about stuff that she found embarrassing, but there was trust between the other sisters and his own. He wouldn't dare upset Camellia, because of some of the things that had happened.

'Her friends may be anti-Faunus, but that doesn't mean…'

He sighed at the stress that shot through him.

His family was a mess. Camellia's abortion hadn't been the first hit that had rocked them, but it had hit them the hardest. Saphron and Terra helped where they could, but even they weren't used to things. Saphron took Camellia with her, after she'd gotten out of the hospital and was declared stable, but things had not been quite the same.

A certain level of delicacy was required in order to keep the family together. You had to stand by your family, no matter what. You would have to make sure that everyone was respected, especially those who weren't very well after they had been through hardship.

'Dad, you kind of left us with a legacy of something that we aren't too happy about.'

It wasn't his father's fault, of course. His father hadn't wanted to make the difficult life for his family, of course not. He'd been out on a mission, and there was just the pain lingering in their hearts of having to step up and grow up. It wasn't as bad for his older sisters, but several of them were just not adjusting to their father no longer being present.

"That's good… Salmon told me a little about some of the things, Eve knows more, they got on really well. I don't want to ask, in case it's sensitive to ask for a human, but… How much do you know of what a Faunus is?"

It wasn't something he had ever asked a faunus, knowing many of them personally by name and general temperament, but he was pretty sure that there was more to the question than Adam was supplying, the weight of the words that Adam had levelled against him something that he noticed. Sienna rarely explained things.

"Well, you all seem to be really fond of either trying to kill me or do other things to me…"

A look from Adam that usually would translate to 'don't be a smart-ass' as he looked at him, a quiet sound coming from his mouth as he seemed to consider his words carefully.

"That's your right. It is your right because you are just one step up from Sienna Khan in the annual ranking, and that is not something that one can easily dismiss. For anyone who can land Jaune Arc, they would be seeing a meteoric rise in prestige, which is why we've been assigned to you."

That… sort of made sense. He was with Sienna, Willow was just edging around the corner with that whole feeling of 'she's mine' and the woman herself just entered, her expression looking a little more weathered, a business suit in a modest cut covering her body up, her eyes glinting with that hint of something which might have been expectation or deliberation, her fingers tracing over the edges of the bed, as her tongue slid over her lips.

"You were able to move your legs, Mister Arc. Good. Sienna Khan might have foisted you on my gentle care but I will not allow you to rest here easily. I am not a woman who bets on a lame horse."

It was a very bold statement, as Whitley looked at his mother, having remained silent for the majority of the exchange between Adam, Eve and Jaune himself, as his mother looked at him, standing at the foot of the bed.

"Mister Taurus, can this wait just a moment?"

Adam nodded, seating himself, as Willow sat down at the edge of the bed next to him, her feet raised up, a set of heels that definitely had been tailor-made for her feet, her face close to him, a small smile toying around her lips like a mirage that could be plucked away with a simple flick of the fingers, her tongue sliding up and down her lips as she smiled.

"Just a little bit of a warning, Mister Arc."

He felt a tremor go through him as her fingernail traced over the underside of his chin, her smile like a heart-attack-causing sweet, her finger sliding down slowly, as he felt how this was definitely one of those moments where he would be finding stiff resistance against letting the woman get up.

"Quite a task for you, I would imagine."

'What task?'

Whitley was looking away, his cheeks red, his mother definitely hitting on him. Like a challenger for his hand, the finger traced down over his chest. He looked down. Willow had very nice, full breasts. Very nice, very lovely looking breasts. Eve dwarfed Willow's, and Sienna was the smaller of the three, but damn, these breasts were a very nice medium, middle-of-the-road-of-cleavage size.

"Walk into my office within a week's time, Mister Arc…"

The finger pressed against his chest. A shiver shot through his body at the sensations that she caused, at the wealth of pleasure that seemed to be hidden within that simple motion, as the woman shifted. Her palm pressed against his groin, as she seemingly 'messed up', but the amusement in those sharp frosty blue eyes told him that it was all intentional.

"and I shall show you my gratitude for all that hard work that we've put into finding a cure for nerve paralysis… or at least assistance in the financial sense. There are several prototypes already in the R&D department in the preliminary testing phases already, Mister Arc."

That was an incentive. Her palm was definitely pushing his groin down, and he was trying to rise to the occasion, as he swallowed, her breath gusting like a howling wind, even if it wasn't like that. She was grabbing him in his most vulnerable spot, her fingers wrapping around his manhood, his eyes questioningly peering at her, like he wanted to know more, like his thoughts were disarrayed, like her fingers were sliding into his underwear and her hand was definitely touching him there. Of course, she wasn't, she was just leaning on him, but damn if she didn't enjoy these feelings of power.

'Oh dear…'

Sienna would have been a full-frontal assault, a bursting, burning raging torrent that would just have him flat on his back, her groin on his face and her lips definitely busy with eh… interesting things, but Willow just kept him on that firm edge.

"Mister Arc… Your presence here in this bed is… shall we say, a little… hurtful."

That hand just continued to move, as if there was nothing wrong. She licked her lips, before she pushed down just a touch harder than before. A light little prod, as she seemed to clutch for juuust a little instant, as her tongue slid over her lips for a flick, as her blue eyes regarded him.

"Walk into my office in a week's time, Mister Arc. The choice is yours…"

A flutter of eyelashes, as he swallowed, the woman getting up. His erection was up too, as he stared at the woman's elegant rump, as she wiggled it a little, just to tease his eyes. The woman motioned for her son, a smile on her lips.

"Whitley? Your lessons will start soon enough… One cannot be too prepared. Miss Arc… you may have the afternoon to spend with your brother. Do enjoy his presence, as long as it lasts."

Sable looked perfectly willing and able to serve the grand plans of Willow Schnee, the bright smile on her face perfectly social and able, as her eyes looked at him with that look of 'you're in trouble now, Jaune Arc'.

"Of course, Misses Schnee. Whatever you say, Misses Schnee. Have a great day, Misses Schnee, Mister Schnee."

The look of death in her eyes was definitely scolding-prepped, as Sable's lips pressed together in the sweetest smile she could muster, as Whitley left and Sable sat down.

"Jaune! Just imagine what happened this morning."

The saccharine-sweet tone of his sister's voice was definitely something that he'd rather not be hearing.

"Willow Schnee herself, appearing with a financial statement of our mother, and a request of whether we might wish to apply for the company debt- Okay, let me put it in small words. Mom. Owes. Money. Willow Schnee. Was. At. My. Desk. Not. Good."

This was bad.

This was a worse Sable than the time that Camellia had been in the hospital and Sable had been stuck working a triple-shift to pay the bills.

"I do not like to find out that thanks to your whole health issue and Mrs Schnee her kind and generous offer to turn you into a testing Chihuahua- No, let me speak, you numbskull, mom has been spending more of our family's money on stupid stuff."

Yep. This was definitely a Sable Lecture.

'Damn it Willow, Sable's the only one who's actually going to be putting pressure on me to walk into that office of yours.'


Sienna woke to the feeling of icy cold water hitting her in the face, groaning a little as Eve looked down at her, the ice-cold water spray from the showerhead hitting her face before she straightened, thankfully NOT wearing any clothing.

Everything ached and felt like a bruise, as Eve Taurus turned off the spray, looking down at her.

"You're not worthy of him."

Sienna had to admit that she wasn't. Beguiled by a woman six years younger than her, beaten up and undoubtedly dragged over here to make a point, Eve's eyes dark and frightful.

"Do you want me to let him go to you?"

It was the formal admission of giving up. It was a formal admission and it hurt. She remembered the dancing lessons that she'd struggled through, the moments when he'd been so infuriating that her blood boiled and her desire to just tear him limb from limb, her…

She was crying. Sienna Khan did not cry, she did not show the weakness of such emotions for a human. She was making sure that her eyes were a little wetter, because she had been sprayed with water. It was just water escaping her eyes and making her a little worse.

"You're not worthy of him. The moment that Ilia went for him, you should have just thrown every rule aside and done what you should have as a woman of the Faunus."

Sienna groaned, knowing that she had lost more than she'd ever wanted. There technically was that option available to her, with the position of the High Leader of the White Fang, but it wasn't something that she would be able to immediately brute-force through. It was still the topmost position, something that had been won through blood, sweat and a lot of lesser people's tears.

"If it was just that easy, I would have done it already. Just because you won, it doesn't mean-"

Eve's hand grabbed her by the neck, a domineering gesture, as the cow Faunus looked at her with an expression of anger and fire, baring her teeth.

"If it wasn't for him, I'd be mute and mutilated, Sienna! If it wasn't for him, you would not have been able to rest easy and feel someone's love. Damn you, I wish I could be you, but I can't. You should get your ass into gear, Sienna Khan, because I am now equivalent to you. You are a bitch, you are someone that we all trust, but you don't fucking know what the guy does to us with his attitude!"

Eve was definitely angry, the younger woman's impressive bust bouncing a little with every motion that she made, her gesticulating enough to bring Sienna a sense of shame, as she seemed content to challenge things in this arena.

"He's restraining himself for his family's sake, you stupid pussycat! Salmon told me about how things were after his sister tried to kill herself after she aborted her kid, how it hit the family, and he's the one that keeps them sort of together. Your dilly-dallying is just making us all uncertain, Sienna. You're old as fuck, your tits sag and your pussy is as loose as a busted backpack. Go and fucking get your guy and do the formalities of introduction, just like Baby-Moo will do, or they'll never respect you like you should, you magnificent bitch!"

It was solid advice, she supposed, but there was still an order to things.

"No, I don't count this as a win, Sienna. You're still the High Leader, but I scored a victory on you, so I am in. I will prepare the food for his family and they will eat, and it will be me who will be getting the first one."

Sienna got up, standing nose-to-tit with Eve, her flame lit in anger, as she growled.

"You dare to fucking intrude on me, Eve? Just you wait, you stupid little cow… I'm going to beat your stupid burger ass up."

The smirk on Eve's face was telling Sienna that she'd been had, but the anger within her didn't stop from rising, her frustration mounting. Willow had not made her move yet, but she was looming in the distance, a best friend and woman who she should be sharing things with!

She needed a drink, another two or so, so she'd be able to deal with the bullshit that would be coming from Eve as well.

"Better beware, Sienna… I'm going to use these babies to put the meat between the patties."

The large chest was the envy of many, Eve's eyes glinting in the light of the shower's led spots, her red hair flashing, before Eve started to undress.

"And, before you forget, Sienna… This makes us loosely allied enemies."

Sienna knew that, getting up slowly and the water of the shower was turned to hot, washing her body. Her Aura pulsed through her body, mending some of the wounds that had been inflicted. Eve hadn't been too rough on her system, thankfully, so it was still manageable.

She had a public appearance later to do, and she guessed that she'd have to go for a bit more makeup than usual.

"Just make sure that you're keeping him safe, Eve. Just because I gave you the order, it doesn't make it invalid. Just keep that in mind."

Eve smirked, and Sienna had a bad feeling about that.

She had to get the things together to make a formal request…

'Seven sisters and a mother… Oof, that's going to be a challenge.'

She would do things according to tradition. Curse humans for having bigger families!

Sienna Khan would not be upstaged by a cow who thought that her man was easy pickings!

She winced a little, Eve assisting with getting her cleaned up.

"I'm going to fuck him so hard he'll never want anything but beef."

A growl from her throat as Eve challenged her again, as she straightened out. In a fight that was without her being drugged and poisoned or whatever Eve had done, she would have won, but this was a challenge, right to her face.

'We'll see about that.'

Sienna Khan did not lose. She did not lose to anyone!

She had her pride!


Jaune laid in bed, just as he had the last time that she'd visited. It was a solo visit this time, wearing the blouse that she'd plucked from the store during the last shopping trip. Ruby was doing her homework, so that was one thing. She had been pouty and upset over the past few days, whilst Ruby seemed to be dragged around by Weiss, who had a bee in her butt at her younger brother having found a girlfriend….

'I don't know what's up with her…'

There was so much to say about Ruby's almost shy demeanour that she'd stopped saying anything when Ruby had been thirteen and trying to stammer her way through the introduction to boxing moves that she'd been trying to help with, Ruby's opponent this reedy girl from their class who had taken one hit and went poof with her energy. It wasn't something that she'd let Ruby forget easily. The 'Rose Explosion Fist' and the swift trip to the medical facilities at Signal had definitely made a mark on Ruby's record.

"You're one of my son's friends, right?"

Blake had come through with the information at any rate, knowing that there was this whole thing with the Faunus and Blake being 'not fit' anymore, according to Blake's own words. It had been antsy, a little nervous energy, knowing of the fact that Jaune was with a woman who was older than him, ever since the dance… but she had to go.

There was nothing prohibiting polygamy, her dad had two women as his wife, Ruby and herself being the prime examples of that thing.

"Yes, I am. Yang Xiao Long, Ruby's his best friend… Though I won't deny that I'd like to be more than best friends."

The sister, Coral, she guessed that her name was, gave a soft moan.

"Mom, make it stop! Tell Jaune that he's not allowed to date until he's thirty and I'm older! My little hunny-bunny-rabbit-minny needs to be kept safe. You believe me, right Jaune?"

'Gee, that's a brother complex…'

There was enough to unpack there, as Jaune smiled politely at his sister, not wishing to chance it. His family was something that definitely didn't seem normal, beside the fact that his father had died in action years before. Yang took a deep breath and then walked to the bed, looking into Jaune's eyes for a moment and smiling.

"Yang?"

He sounded cute. Her smile turned into a smirk, as Coral Arc seemed to look despairingly.

"I heard you've been able to take a walk… So, want me to help you out of bed and make you get a little bit of exercise? There's a kiss to the lips in it if you want a reward, loverboy."

He fixed her with a look that dad might've used, that made her automatically shrink back a few steps and think that she'd been a bad girl, a shiver going through her body at that look. He was defiant, and he was direct. He would fight to protect his friends and his family. Weiss was a lot happier now that her father had passed on due to that freak lightning bolt accident.

"It's just a little motion of my legs, Yang. It kind of hurts, and-"

Coral Arc leapt forward.

"Don't push him to do anything he doesn't want to, you big-busty b-"

Their mother cleared her throat and Coral's mouth shut up immediately, as Jaune looked at her mother, who smiled at her daughter.

"Cussing is bad, Coral."

Coral Arc nodded, submissively sitting down again, as the mother smiled and shook her head softly, letting her daughter know that it wasn't approved of to cuss.

"Well… I suppose trying can't hurt. Well, it will but I've got to try, right?"

Yang could see the concentration on his face, her eyes catching sight of those blue eyes determinedly staring at his legs, as he raised them up just a little, the strain obviously hurting, as he hissed in pain.

"Are you okay? Do you need a doctor? Jaune?"

Coral Arc was a buzz in the background, as Jaune raised one leg and then set it on the side, panting and breathing heavily.

She placed a kiss on his cheek on impulse, and there was a hushed gasp.

"Did you take his virginity?! Tell me!"

Coral Arc's hand grabbed her shirt and Yang smelled minty fresh breath tablets, as Coral's face was close.

"Well… would you blame me? He's a stud, a good-looking guy who's got a large eh… piece of equipment. A girl's got needs."

The older sister present, Camellia, it seemed, seemed to relax.

"Thank the gods, it's not an animal. I was worried…"

'Oh yeah… There was a mention of a loser squad of anti-Faunus guys… Guess that some members don't exactly approve of Jaune dating someone like Blake.'

She smirked, laying a hand on his shoulder. The unamused expression on his face was definitely cute.

'Time to pull a Branwen…'

"Jaune, honey… If you can get out of bed, I'll do something really nice for you, if you get what I mean…"

A back massage would be perfect for him. Yep. A good bit of exercise, and then a nice little rub over his back to stimulate the muscles. She didn't really have much experience with leg massages, since dad had been a punching kind of dude, but he'd taught her well.

"Don't be pressured into things by her!"

Coral Arc was a nuisance, as Jaune's face looked more determined and he seemed just about ready to get up. She grabbed him under the armpits and then lifted him up, his feet on the ground. He wobbled. She wobbled.

Gravity asserted itself, as she was flat on her back with Jaune's face between her breasts. It wasn't too bad, really. She'd been a tough girl, but it was more or less a little different with a guy you liked between your breasts.

That made it 'hotter'. The door opened behind her, according to her sense of hearing, a yawn from someone audible to her ears.

"Couldn't resist a good touch to the Yang Xiao Long, huh? You can stay there for a bit, get your fill of female flesh that way, you horn-dog."

An amused laugh from someone ahead.

"Woah, now there's a good Arc. Couldn't resist a nice set, could you?"

Jaune's mother made a sound that wasn't happy, as Yang caught sight of a set of breasts and a jacket like Adam, Blake's ex, in front of her, and Jaune was lifted up.

"Don't worry, I'm going to treat you just as good, Jaune. Let's go and make this a formal relationship, you sexy stud."

'Oh fuck…'

She had compe-tit-ion from one of the people whose entire porn collection she'd seen with her team for 'educative purposes'.

'Well… I guess I'm dancing with tigers, as the Menagerian saying goes…'

This blew chunks. Jaune's face rubbed against her joy pillows a little.

"Don't you dare fucking touch my little brother, you horny slut! It's b"

And Camellia Arc just erupted in anger.

Great.

Family Feud, live and uncut.

Yang wondered whether her uncle was anywhere near, because this reeked of his Semblance.


Allow me to state that 'Yes' there IS a plan. There is a logical progression to things that I've been mapping out since I started this story in 2018. We've got six scenes left before the finale, as I've envisioned it, I simply decided to focus a little more on the backstory, since the Beacon Crew isn't currently in view that much due to being students and required to be at school.

This is currently the 'Arc Arc' dealing with some of the circumstances of the Arc family and the reasoning why he isn't automatically going against his family and standing up for his friends. There is more at play here than just a few simple on-the-surface things, and it affects every member of the family differently.

Just because it may not seem that there's anything happening with Jaune, that doesn't mean that there is no movement. He's one of the protagonists, but Sienna and Willow have their own road to drive on. They're adult women, so their perspectives are different. Willow is busy with her company, and Sienna is preparing the White Fang for the Vytal Festival, one of the major moments when there's a recruitment drive to show the best of the Faunus.

Jaune's issues with his family are a part of it, since without a good foundation, everything that I would write would not make logical sense to me, and lifting the tip of the veil slowly rather than just showing naked grandma would be better for people not to go 'oh fudge'.

So yes, Cyanide does have a plan for writing this. Just because it isn't apparent to people yet, doesn't mean that it's just aimless writing. Now you've got four ladies in this dance, Eve, Sienna, Willow and Yang.

So enjoy, because I'm still writing this with a clear point to end it at. Just because it turned out longer than expected, does not mean that it's going to just be ending on some lame way.

Leave a review, assured that I am sticking to the plan for this fic.