Here we go.

Cover Art: Mystery White Flame

Chapter 25

Diplomacy.

A delicate art. One as old as time itself. One he was slowly learning and which, it turned out, was quite a bit different from what he'd expected. Diplomacy was, for instance, the process of managing international reputations between two powers, typically Kingdoms but in this case academies. It was about good impressions, rapports and exchange, be that of wealth, knowledge, promises or resources.

But it was not – strangely enough – about the good relations between two or more individuals.

The individuals, namely he, Winter and Glynda, were representatives of their assigned powers. They were ambassadors. To the outside world they had to appear united and peaceful, but the surprising thing was how little that mattered in actuality.

Case in point as he and Winter smiled for a photographer, hands shaking, fingers crushing the others. Their smiles were stiff and rigid, locked in rigor mortis.

"And smile," the photographer said. "Perfect! That's it! Great. Now, can you start talking for this one – like you're making a deal. And remember to look happy about it."

"Fortunately, I am a skilled actor," Winter said. "Otherwise I might be unable to smile in the presence of someone as cretinous as yourself."

"Ah, so it is acting. And here I thought you were always constipated. I guess that means my gesture of letting Tsune look at you isn't needed." He smiled at her and Winter smiled back, both shaking hands still as the camera flashed in the background.

"And here I thought you would be able to discern fake reactions from real ones. I thought you would have had plenty of practice being in a relationship with Glynda."

"What's that supposed to mean? That she faked liking me."

"That she faked something," Winter remarked.

His face burned.

"At least I've been in a relationship. And no, calling Ironwood `sir` all the time does not constitute being a sub." He grinned when Winter choked. "Although, maybe you have been like that with him. It would explain why you talk like someone with something shoved up her -"

"And smile."

They broke off instantly, smiling so over the top his face hurt. The camera flashed, and instantly they were back to their war of words.

"General Ironwood and I are not in such a relationship. It is frowned upon in Atlas to take advantage of someone in a lower position than you – especially if that person is also half your age. How old is Glynda again?"

"Twenty-one at heart."

"Hm. I'm sure."

Winter smiled for the camera a third time. The photos were for the press release being sent out later, which would confirm to the media and populace that Atlas and Beacon were in talks, and that the embargo over the school might be lifted. Nothing was set in stone yet, but even knowing there were talks would cheer people up.

And that was diplomacy, it turned out.

Only the outward appearances mattered. He and Winter could argue like cats and dogs until the sky collapsed, but so long as they had something the other wanted – Cinder and a lifting of the embargo respectively – it just didn't matter. Winter needed access to Winter and he needed access to coff- the city. Definitely meant the city.

Glynda assured him this was normal for Beacon. Before, Ozpin and Ironwood would argue and complain and bitch about one another before shaking hands, agreeing on a deal and then acting like the best of friends in front of the camera. They were friends, but Glynda always said it like they were the kind of friends who you never wanted to be stuck between. He and Winter acting like this was just a continuation of things – and possibly even a sign of the future if Winter took over from Ironwood when he retired.

"Photos done. You can go back to normal now."

Winter and he pulled apart. She made a show of taking out a handkerchief and cleaning her hand distastefully, while he tried his best not to make a show of waving his sore fingers behind his back. How Winter could crush his hand harder than Ironwood, he had no idea.

"I hope I haven't caught anything."

"If you have, it could only improve your bearing."

"Is that so?" Winter sniffed and put her kerchief away. "I think I shall pass. Perhaps we should talk business before this goes any further?"

"Worried?"

"Only that I'll emasculate you to the point you're too inconsolable to deal," she said. "You're no use to me suffering an emotional breakdown."

"You know, my father used to say all you needed in life was confidence. Finally, I can prove him wrong using you as an example." Jaune drew out his own stool, pointedly not doing the same for her.

Winter sat opposite, while Glynda brought and poured them some water. He'd expected her to be more upset about the insults or her being a target of them, but she wore a glassy expression on her face that told him she had basically turned off and was imagining a happier place. It looked practised.

Were Ironwood and Ozpin really this bad…?

"So," he said, getting down to business. "You're here for Cinder. I'd like to know what your plans are for questioning her. We haven't had much luck."

"Hm." Winter sipped her water. "I was intending to try a different approach."

"And that is?"

Winter smirked. "Succeeding."

His eye twitched. He'd walked right into that one. "I hope it's not the same kind of `success` I saw when you arrested me and let your robots turn psycho on the innocent people of the city. Am I ever going to get a thank you card for averting that international disaster?"

"Jacques Schnee has implied he's willing to offer you my hand in marriage for it."

"PASS!" Jaune yelled. "PASS!"

"Don't worry, I'm straight and so have absolutely no interest in you." Winter moved on while he was still pondering that slight. "On Cinder, we intend to offer her a plea deal of sorts. If she will agree to turn on her previous employer and follow conditions set on her then we shall offer her a life in Atlas."

"And a way out of paying for her crimes? Why would I allow that?"

"She would not escape punishment; she would simply pay back some of that with information leading to Salem's defeat. Even after that, she would likely spend years in confinement in Atlas."

"I repeat, why would I allow that?"

"Because it is the route most likely to yield success? Because your own efforts have been fruitless – even more so than they usually are?" Winter leaned forward. "Or how about because this war is bigger than one woman?"

Jaune raised a single eyebrow.

Winter sighed. "I am prepared to sweeten the pot."

"Now you're talking my language."

"The language of bribery," Winter grumbled. "I have been granted the power to amend the embargo and conditions placed on Beacon. I could see to lessening some of those…"

If this meeting had happened yesterday, he'd have accepted that. Fortunately, Bart and Roman had cornered him earlier and put him through an intense lesson on how negotiation worked and what he should be looking to get out of her. Bart had been particularly knowledgeable on that for some reason and had provided some interesting titbits.

"Lessening? How about complete removal."

Winter's face was firm. "I don't have the authority."

"I think you do." He leaned forward, putting her on the back foot for once. "You see, I happen to know that Ironwood wants you to have complete access to Cinder and that he gave you complete control over negotiations."

Winter held his gaze, calling his bluff.

Jaune stared back.

"How?" she eventually demanded. "No one knew, not even Weiss. And she never had a chance to talk to you before her team ambushed her."

"A little someone told me. So, you planned to hold off and pretend you only had authority to amend the embargo, winning our co-operation without fully lifting it. Tut tut." He waved a finger. "We could do the same with Cinder, you know. I risked my life bringing her down and she has a hate boner for me the size of your ego. I'm not much inclined to let het go with you without something in return."

"That marriage is still on the table."

"Something not likely to kill me," he prodded.

"There is no guarantee Cinder Fall would agree to a plea deal," Winter said. "If I lift the embargo and she refuses to co-operate, Atlas gains nothing. You have already agreed to let us question her. You cannot rescind that."

"And I won't," he promised, knowing from Roman that he totally couldn't. "But that embargo is stupid. I want it gone."

"It's not illegal…"

"I didn't call it illegal. I called it stupid."

"A compromise, then," Winter said, "Since you're so childish. I will lift the `contraband` sections of the embargo now as a gesture of good faith, with more to be decided if Cinder Fall agrees to turn on her employer. Acceptable?"

"Yes."

They shook hands and stood.

"A productive meeting, all things considered. Surprising given who I'm having it with."

"I could not agree more," she said. "I will go and contact General Ironwood and make arrangements for the amendments to the embargo. Do try not to cause an international incident while I'm gone."

"You're the one who did it the last time, arresting me."

Winter turned her nose up at him and walked out the room.

Jaune sat.

Glynda did the same opposite him. "Not bad."

"Really? We just insulted each other constantly."

"Such happens." Glynda poured herself a drink and downed it. "Kingdoms make deals but it's all too often forgotten that it's people behind them. It really doesn't matter what relationship you and Winter have so long as you're both professional enough to put the betterment of Beacon and Atlas before your personal feelings. Which you both are." Her lips quirked. "If anything, it's better than the toadying and smarmy approach some take. The two of you can hash out a deal in an hour while it takes most ambassadors days, not to mention the tours, stately dinners and other accoutrements involved."

"And here I thought you could ruin a trade deal if you insulted the wrong person."

"You can – if you do it publicly. If you insulted Winter in the newspapers she would be forced to respond or lose face. You can do it however many times you like to her face, however. She will return in kind."

"Is that a compliment for her?" he teased. "I thought you hated her."

"Hate would imply more emotion than I feel for such an arrogant girl. Well, we should leave her to it. Getting a partial lifting of the embargo is better than nothing. We can call that a victory and I'm sure the students will agree."

Not just the students.

Coffee, ice cream and cigars were on the contraband list.

/-/

Oscar hit the floor.

He didn't stop there. He rolled to the side and kept rolling, avoiding the sharp heel that stamped down where his shoulder had been before. Lungs straining and teeth aching from how hard he was panting, he kicked up onto his feet and immediately dove to the left. It saved him from being clubbed by an umbrella.

Through eyes glistening with sweat – the tears had been beaten out of him a few hours ago – he watched as the tiny figure's face turned to follow his escape, tracking him in much the same way a hawk tracked a mouse through a field of grain. Her smile didn't once falter, and why should it? They both knew he had more chance escaping gravity jumping off the roof of Beacon than he did getting away from her.

Her umbrella speared in for his face once more. He managed to get his hands up to deflect it, using Ozpin's cane like a staff. It skimmed high. Would have caught his nose if he hadn't leaned back at the last second.

Instinctively, his right knee twisted to the side, cutting off the V-shaped channel leading up to his family jewels a second before Neo's foot found it. Tragedy evaded, he kicked her foot to the side and threw a fist toward her face.

"Tsss." Ozpin's loud hiss told him that was a poor choice.

Neo caught his arm and folded over it. That was the only way to describe it. She held it still, bent over, kicked a leg up and over, wrapped it around his neck, brought her other leg up – so that his face was nestled between her thighs – then twisted her body through her stomach and lurched down, dragging him off his feet and hurling him through the air.

He landed on the couch and thanked his lucky stars.

Neo's umbrella landed on his head a second later and then he was literally counting stars.

"Bravo! Bravo!" Jinn clapped her hands together and cheered for the bowing Neo, stood upon the coffee table with one arm on her stomach and the other swept to the side like some grand performer. "Marvellous technique. Truly marvellous."

"My head hurts…"

"You're uninjured," Jinn said unkindly, and factually. She couldn't have said it if they didn't all know it. "You're just being dramatic."

Does she have to say it? I've just had my ass handed to me. I'm allowed to be dramatic.

"No more," he begged. "I… I can't. My body won't move…"

"He is exhausted," Jinn allowed.

Neo considered that and grinned, hopping off the table and back to her chair. She jumped up and landed with a flop, legs and arms in the air. A squawk heralded her Nevermore coming down to sit on her chest. She fed it little bits of biscuit which it gobbled up happily.

Oscar, meanwhile, laid back and tried not to suffer cardiac arrest.

"Nothing from you?" he hissed in his head. "No comments on how I should have seen that ambush coming!?"

"Not at all. Training is by its very definition a matter of addressing one's mistakes. You don't need me to point out where you went wrong." Ozpin chuckled warmly. "And I'm not going to criticise failing here. She is quite the vicious little thing."

"Yeah, that's one way of putting it. Who is she anyway?"

"I know relatively little. An ally of Jaune's. A companion. Someone he trusts, even if it is difficult to discern her motives in return."

"Take a guess."

"Hm. If I had to, I would say she believes that she owns Jaune. Vindictive, but not in a malicious way. Someone who does not see the world in the same way others do, and who has been led, or trained, to believe her view of the world as the only correct one. In it, no doubt, her brutal teachings are something you should be grateful for."

Great. So she was messed up in the head. He didn't need Ozpin to tell him that. She was way too happy torturing him. And feeding a Nevermore. That shouldn't have been a thing someone just did. The headmaster was a braver man than him for putting up with her.

He looked over to Jinn instead, who was giggling into her hand. "Why are you here, Miss Jinn?"

"Oh, I'd tell you, but I can't if you don't already know the answer."

"She's here because she derives pleasure from watching me suffer," Ozpin remarked.

"Correct!" Jinn floated in the air on her front, arms balanced on… well, nothing, and her chin atop her fists. "That's not to say I hate him, though. Or you. I simply find some strange sense of wellbeing in watching. I hope that doesn't bother you."

"Not as much as it probably should," he wheezed. "I think I broke the bone in charge of being upset about things. That or I'm concussed."

"Simply exhausted. If it helps, you lasted forty-three seconds longer than yesterday."

"Oh, gee. Forty-three seconds…"

"That's a long time in a fight of this intensity, Oscar. Almost a minute. You should be proud."

"How long did Headmaster Arc last in his first fight?" he asked.

Jinn shrugged helplessly. He knew that she knew, but the gesture made it clear she couldn't tell him. Ozpin couldn't either for obvious reasons, so he looked to Neo for an answer. He found her holding three fingers up.

"Three minutes?"

Neo shook her head and kept those fingers up.

"Three hours?" he despaired.

Neo rolled her eyes.

Jinn laughed.

Oscar just laid back and tried to wrestle his breathing into control. He'd lasted almost two minutes now, which he supposed wasn't bad given his age and inexperience. Neo was going easy on him. That much was obvious because he'd seen her slice fruit with the sword in her umbrella, but she sheathed it when fighting him. To be honest, he was grateful. She would have killed him otherwise.

"Does…" He paused to breathe. "Does he still train with you like this?"

Neo looked up and made some gestures with her fingers, slapping two against one another while straight. She pantomimed for a few seconds before he figured out what she meant.

"Oh. You use swords now?"

She nodded, then pointed down between her legs, pantomimed two people and pointed a final time to Jaune's sword, which was on the wall nearby.

"You swordfight with his penis?"

Neo rolled her eyes. Jinn laughed again, rolling onto her back in the air.

"I think she is referring to his family. A male member of it."

"Oh." Oscar's cheeks burned. "He trains with his father?"

Neo nodded, then tapped her wrist like she had a watch there.

"He trains with his father when he has the time?" Another nod, then an aeroplane sign. "When his father has the time to fly to Beacon."

Neo clapped sarcastically.

"Hey, I'm trying. It's not easy when you don't talk."

"Classy. Why not find someone in a wheelchair to insult for not walking while you're at it."

"I-I mean, I didn't mean it like that!"

It was too late. Neo's eyes were thin slits and the small amount of colour he could see between her lashes kept flickering between pink, cream and brown. That, he'd discovered, was not a good sign. Training later was going to be murderous.

Ugh. I deserve that. Damn my big mouth…

"Jaune's father must be making the occasional trip here to spar with him," Ozpin said. "I suppose that makes sense given the danger he's in. I'm sure his family are safely back in Ansel where they belong. I would not worry about that, however. It will be a while before you are at the level to spar with Jaune directly. Don't rush things. You're progressing well. Feel happy about that."

He did. And it wasn't like he wanted more of Neo kicking his butt. If training with Jaune was harder than this, then he needed to be a whole lot fitter. And he was getting that. He knew because whenever he woke up his muscles felt like they were committing suicide all throughout his body. He could feel them breaking down and being rebuilt.

It was not a nice feeling.

"Hey, Miss Neo."

Neo looked over. Or rather, she cocked an eyebrow to let him know she was listening.

"Who would win in a fight between you and the headmaster?"

Without hesitation, she swept a finger down to point at her own face.

"Really? Like, for sure?"

Her eyebrow raised higher, asking him if he really wanted to keep expressing doubt as to her ability – or whether he needed another go with her to find out for sure. Oscar couldn't tell if her eyebrows were just really expressive or if he was getting better at reading her intent.

"I don't doubt you. I'm just curious. Is it close at least? Is it sixty-forty in favour of you?"

Neo shook her head and smiled proudly. One finger made a `1` shape and the other a `o` shape.

"It's a hundred per cent you winning?"

A proud nod.

"How? Are you just better? Does he have some super weakness?"

Neo nodded to the latter and sat up suddenly, adjusting the Nevermore so that it was sat on her arm. In the background, Jinn began to laugh again, actually falling out the air and hitting the ground. Oscar didn't pay any attention.

"What is it?" he asked. "If you can tell me."

Neo looked around suspiciously, obviously nervous someone would find out Jaune's big secret and use it against him. Once she was sure the room was safe, she looked back to him and held a finger over her lips.

"I'll keep it secret. I promise."

Nodding, she motioned for him to scoot closer. He did so, leaning in and watching carefully.

Neo held up her index finger before her face.

"The secret is your finger?"

Ignoring him, Neo leaned in and stuck out her tongue, dragging it slowly up the length of her finger. Her face was close to his, so close that he felt her hot breath wash past her finger and into him. Dragging her tongue up to the tip of her finger, she kissed it and then opened her mouth wide, showing him the inside as she took her finger in, sealed her lips around it and began to suck wetly. Her eyes rolled up as she did and red covered her face. The loud, wet, sounds echoed through the room.

Jinn howled with laughter.

"I trust you do not need me to translate this for you."

Oscar fainted.

/-/

Ruby watched as Kali spun about their dorm, hands linked above her heads and Zwei clasped between her fingers, his stubby legs pointed out in every direction and his tongue lolling, happily doing his best impression of an aeroplane.

"Oh, it's the most adorable thing! Vroom!"

He dove suddenly, straight into the cleavage of the woman who had invaded their lives and dorm. Zwei didn't seem to mind. His entire body wagged as the woman crooned and tickled his side, rubbing her face into his head between his ears.

"I always wanted a puppy!" she gasped. "So loving and sweet, always loyal, just like my Ghira but smaller and more accessibly cuddlable. But Blake wouldn't have it. Really, hissing and clawing at any dog we came close to. You'd think she was actually a feline and not a faunus."

Blake, up on Yang's bunk, hissed.

"Yes. Just like that. Where did I go wrong? I tried to raise a proud young woman and instead reared a walking stereotype."

"Not all cat faunus are afraid of dogs then?" Yang asked.

"No. Just Blake."

"And obsessed with fish." Ruby added.

"Just Blake."

"And liable to hide in and claim any boxes as her own," Weiss said.

"Blake," Kali replied sadly. "And yes, she did have a bed back home. A real bed. Not a box."

"Wow." Yang raised an eyebrow at Blake. "You know, I kinda gave it all a free pass because I thought I'd be racist for pointing it out, but you're kinda weird, partner."

"I'm not weird!" Blake hissed back. "Dogs are stupid, boxes are convenient, and fish is high in omega oils and protein. And stop trying to put him closer to me!" she yelped, backing up as Kali helped Zwei `fly` near Yang's bed. "You shouldn't be here, mom," she whined. "What are you doing!?"

"Why shouldn't I be?" Kali asked, cuddling Zwei to her chest again and running a hand over his head. Zwei looked like he'd fight tooth and nail if anyone tried to take him away from the woman so Ruby let him be. She brought a chair out for Mrs Belladonna to sit down on. "Thank you, dear. Oh, I don't know your names, do I? Hm. Red cloak, red-tipped hair. Ah. I'll call you Ruby."

"Uh. That is my name."

"That's right," she cooed. "It is."

Ruby laughed awkwardly. Blake's mother was… well, she was nice. Like, nice. Not just friendly or polite or fair like most people. But genuine, capitalised letters NICE. She had the feeling this was the kind of woman who would scoop you up, bandage a skinned knee, kiss your cheek and put a lollypop in your mouth.

Regardless of whether you were her child or not.

Or whether you were thirty years old.

Did she take all of Blake's niceness in the womb? Did she keep it to herself and turn into someone dripping joy and happiness while Blake was born with too much edge? It was still hard to reconcile the fact they were related, and it shouldn't have been given how similar they looked. It was just the difference in personality.

"I'm Yang." Her sister got in before she could be `named` topaz or banana. "And this is Weiss. We're Blake's teammates, though not actually dating her despite any rumours you may hear to the contrary."

"Rumours?" Kali's head swivelled over. Her eyes danced. "There's no smoke without fire."

"Tell that to a smoke generator," Yang grumbled. "I think what Blake was asking, though, is why you came all the way from your home to Beacon? It's pretty dangerous out here since the White Fang and Cinder attacked."

"Oh, it's so cute of you to try and cover for my girl by implying her concern is for my safety and not a desire to avoid embarrassment." Kali's frank – and accurate – summation had Blake hacking on air. "But I'm afraid things aren't that much safer at home. Not with a certain psychotic young man that I totally warned someone about in charge and out for blood."

"Adam? Adam's in charge already!?"

"Did I say Adam? I only said it was some pathetic little twit I consistently warned my little girl about, and whom she ignored my advice on and dated, saying – oh, what was it? – She knew best and I wasn't giving him a chance. He's actually a very nice guy who wouldn't hurt a fly. Yes, that guy is now in charge and hurting his fair share of flies, faunus and humans."

Blake's ears drooped, along with the rest of her body as she hid her bright red face behind the railing of Yang's bed.

"But I could be talking about anyone, right? Anyone at all." Kali's voice dripped insincerity. "And if that little fool is feeling vengeful and spurned for some reason, say, if he'd already proven it once by trying to attack a huntsman academy to steal back the source of his desires, then it wouldn't be too hard to imagine him taking hostages to do the same again. Would it?"

Though it took Ruby a second to work her way through the veiled and sarcastic words, she quickly did, gasping. "Adam took Blake's dad hostage!?"

"Sweetie, the only one who takes my husband hostage is me – and that requires whips, chains and plenty of leather."

"Mom, no!"

"Mom, yes!" Kali giggled. "Why, that's actually how I became pregnant with y-"

Blake's frantic choking cut her off.

"Moving on," Weiss said, saving her teammate. "You're here because you fear Adam Taurus will take such a reckless step. Is that right?"

"It is. Can I keep this dog in my room tonight?"

"No," Weiss said. "I've not seen him for months. He sleeps with me tonight."

"Gee, good to know my partner missed me," Ruby said with a roll of her eyes. "So, you came to Beacon because it would be safer. That makes sense. What about Blake's dad, though? Why didn't he come?"

"Ghira and I rule Menagerie," Kali explained. "If we left it, Adam would consolidate his control and likely force innocent people into the White Fang. They would be forced into joining or branded traitors and possibly killed for their treachery."

"But he'll do that anyway," Yang said. "If he's insane enough to attack Beacon and betray his own leader, what's stopping him killing the boss of Menagerie and taking over?"

"Nothing." Kali's smile didn't fade, and she still looked happy, but Ruby was struck by the weight of the simple word. It shook her. "But we cannot abandon everyone in Menagerie just because we fear for our own lives. Those who lead have a duty to the people who trust them. Could you abandon your team just because your life might be in danger?"

Ruby knew they wouldn't. None of them.

"Then dad…?" Blake had recovered a little, though she looked worried now. "Is he…?"

"Alive when last I saw him. And determined to keep it that way. He knew I would be the more vulnerable; that I would be a burden to him." She chuckled. "Though he would never say it, the big baby. So like him to send those he loves away for protection."

"You'll be staying here then," Yang said. "Or not here…"

"I've been assigned a room for my stay. Don't worry, I won't `crimp` my daughter's style. Or get in the way of you two exploring your sexuality." Kali said that with a teasing glance Blake's way. "Officially, I'm here on diplomatic terms to assure Beacon and Vale that Menagerie does not stand with the White Fang."

Unofficially, she was here to keep her alive. They all knew it.

Could Jaune even do anything about this? Ruby gnawed on her lower lip, trying to think of a way. Menagerie was way on the other side of Mistral – or Vacuo if you went the other way. You couldn't get further away without building a city on the moon. And they probably didn't have the right to send huntsmen there. That would be like invading another Kingdom.

Jaune will think of a way. He always does.

"It's not all bad news," Kali said, waving the morbid mood away and laughing delightedly. "I get to see my little girl all grown up and making friends, and I also promised Ghira I'd drag her to the nearest CCT tomorrow since apparently she's far too busy to ever call her parents who haven't seen her in years and who had no idea if she's safe, happy or crying alone in a ditch somewhere in need of help, until we saw her on TV for the Vytal Festival and realised she must just have forgotten all about us. Which is fine, of course. It's not like we spent night after night worrying, or that I cried into my husband's chest unknowing if my little girl was out there. It's not like I wondered if it was something, I'd done wrong that she wouldn't come to me for help or even so much as send me a letter telling me she is okay." Kali smiled brightly. "So yes, we have that tomorrow."

Ruby glared. Not at Kali, but at Blake.

Yang did the same.

"I… I meant to…?" Blake said helplessly.

Kali giggled. "Oh, well, in that case that's fine. You can `mean to` tomorrow when you actually do."

"Blake, what the fuck?" Yang hissed.

"I meant to! Okay!?"

"No! Not okay!"

The woman sighed and stood up, bending double to put Zwei down on the floor and give him a little rub. He immediately barked and looked up at her lovingly. Standing again, she cracked her back and stepped away from the chair.

"You don't have to go if you don't want." Ruby said.

"I must. It's been a long journey and I'll never get used to the time differences if I stay up all night talking to you." Kali paused for a moment and then opened her arms wide, swooping in to catch Yang in a hug. "Look after my little girl, okay? She's a troublesome one."

Yang's head popped up from Kali's shoulder. She grinned and didn't bother trying to escape. "Yeah, tell me about it. I'll do my best Mrs B."

"And youuu," Kali giggled, letting go long enough to grab Ruby. She dragged her in and nestled Ruby's head against her neck, wrapping both arms high and low around her, rocking them both left and right. It was warm. Very warm. "Keep being a good team leader to her." Her voice dropped. "And for what it's worth," she whispered, "I already knew your name was Ruby."

Ruby giggled. "That was mean."

"I like to tease. What can I say? It's been so long since I could." Squeezing her tight again, Kali ruffled her hair as Qrow might have. "And you're so cute and huggable. Oh, I just want to gobble you up."

She didn't, luckily. Ruby hugged her back and laughed, and once Kali had hugged her to near death, she let go and approached the final member of the team. Weiss had that awkward look on her face that said any amount of physical affection would result in kicking and screaming.

Kali kissed her cheeks instead.

"Thank you for being there for my daughter. And you're much more adorable than your father."

Weiss laughed; she actually laughed. "Somehow, I'm not surprised, Mrs Belladonna. My father is…"

"A difficult person," the woman finished. "I know. I've dealt with him before." Slipping by and to the door, Kali leaned back and waved. "Nice to meet you all, and I'll be here bright and early tomorrow, Blake. Don't think of running away." Her voice dropped. "Again."

The door slammed shut behind her.

"So," Yang said. "That happened…"

"It certainly did," Weiss replied. "She was like a force of nature." She stooped to pick up Zwei and sat on her bed, placing him in her lap. "Quite different from what I expected, not that I put much thought into what Blake's parents would be like. She was very affectionate, but also rather perceptive."

That must have been for noticing Weiss wasn't a touchy-feely person like her and Yang. "She was nice. Really nice."

"Hm. I'll agree to that." Yang grinned and glanced up at Blake, as embarrassed as she'd ever been. "Kinda amazing she managed to raise you, to be honest. What went wrong?"

"Circumstances," Blake grumbled. "The White Fang. And I wish she wouldn't do all that." Her ears fell flat and she buried her face in Yang's blanket. "She's so embarrassing. Just randomly hugging people and talking. And the things she says…"

"I thought she was nice," Ruby said, defending Kali. "I like her."

"It's different when you're the one being teased. You don't know how embarrassing it is."

"I don't," Ruby agreed.

"It's the worst-"

"But I wish my mom was here to embarrass me."

Blake cut off with an audible click of her teeth. Her face was pale, her eyes wide. On the floor, Yang sighed and sat on the stool hands between her legs and eyes on the floor. There was a reason neither she nor Ruby had put up much of a fuss against Kali's loving embrace. Probably the same reason the woman had decided to give one to each of them. Yeah, she was perceptive alright, noticing their longing looks for what Blake had.

Weiss focused on Zwei, stroking him with her eyes closed.

"Ruby…" Blake whispered, realising her mistake. "I… I didn't mean…"

"You should be happy for what you have," Ruby said, scaling her bunk and laying down, back to Blake. "You never know when it might be taken away."

Oof.

Not sure where the super serious end to a comedy chapter came from, but there you have it.

Ruby dropping the wisdom bombs.

I have to say, I always did wonder what Kali would say if she saw all the "catty" things Blake does (and not just in RWBY Chibi). Would she roll her eyes and be totally normal, bemoaning how her faunus daughter who fights to differentiate faunus from animals acts like an animal? Or is it normal among faunus families?

If so, I wanted to see Sienna be defeated not by Adam's sword but by him throwing a ball of yarn.

Omake:

Ruby lay awake and staring up at the ceiling, long after Blake, Weiss and Yang had fallen asleep. Something was wrong, and she didn't think it was her words to Blake earlier. As distressed as Blake acted, her intent hadn't been to make her apologise, rather to point out how her teammate should appreciate her mom more.

It was something else. As though she were forgetting something…

But what…?

The door beeped as someone flashed their scroll against it. It unlocked with a click and opened a moment later. Ruby looked up at the same time Zwei did, both raising their heads inquisitively and then laying back down again once they saw it was just Oscar. He looked bushed again. Staggering and limping, he made his way to his bed with a single-minded determination to not pass out on the floor.

Lucky, she thought. Getting trained one on one by Jaune…

She would have been jealous if it wasn't for the fact that Oscar both needed and respected it. He didn't moan or complain about how tough the training was; he just kept going and coming back exhausted. That was the right way to do it. No training was easy. If it was then it wasn't training.

And Oscar was improving. Maybe he couldn't see it, but he was already lasting twice as long in fights before losing. Sure, he still lost but if Professor Arc's training could turn you from losing to winning in the space of two days, then she was calling him a wizard.

She watched, just to make sure he did make it to bed. Sighing when she heard the sheets below her rustle, Ruby laid back again, content in the knowledge that she didn't have to get out of bed to help him.

Maybe that was what I was forgetting. Sleep now…

Ten seconds later, Weiss Schnee screamed like a wild animal. Oscar screamed, too, maybe at discovering a girl in his bed or just in reaction to being screamed at. He hopped back – or tried to. His feet got tangled in the sheets and he fell in a fluffy heap on the floor. Yang woke up in panic mode, reached out and fell off her bed. Blake had been the same and had just climbed out of bed in time to catch Yang. With her face. They groaned on the floor, entangled in a way Kali could never see.

Ruby's eyes slowly opened.

"Oh. So that's what I forgot…" Coughing nervously, she called out. "He's okay, Weiss. And… um… he kinda sleeps in your bed now."

"RUBY ROSE! I WILL END YOU!"

Poor Oscar. Don't worry, you're not being kicked out or forgotten. Worry more for being corrupted by Neo.

Next Chapter: 12th September

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur