Chapter 12: Shell Shock

Warning: Contains questionable subjects and/or abuse. Reader discretion is advised, and this is official disclaimer and stuff: This is a work of fiction. Any likeness to real people is solely coincidental, and there is no Steven Seagal.


Weiss was still unconscious when he sat down. They looked worried. He didn't like it when people were worried. It was his fault, wasn't it?

A puff of smoke, as golden eyes ran over him. A boot pressed down and he whimpered. A smile on her face, as she pressed her boot down. It hurt. She didn't like him, but she was his friend.

He had to be her friend too, right?

It was all his fault. Cinder had been right, everyone hurt because of him. Miss Salem had said that she wanted to see him later, but he didn't know whether he would make that. He wanted to go home, he didn't feel safe here anymore. Weiss hated him, just as Cinder had said. He'd just disobeyed her once, and she'd been unhappy with that.

"Are you okay?"

Ruby asked, looking at him with a half-frown on her face. He tried to smile but he didn't have the energy. He noticed that Blake and Yang were giving him worried looks, Summer just sitting there in a dazed state. Her fingers were being wrung, yet she wasn't paying attention, her mouth forming words that he could identify as 'I'm sorry', having said so often enough.

Being sorry never helped. It just made the pain worse. They were all going to laugh at him. They were all going to say nasty things to him and make him feel bad. Yang had been nice, but she wouldn't want to be his friend anymore. Blake was a little strange, but she was a friend too! Ruby always, but Weiss… Weiss wasn't so nice anymore.

She felt like Cinder. There was a difference, of course. Cinder hadn't been German. She spoke it, but she hadn't been German. Weiss and Cinder were different people. He knew that much, even if he was a stupid excuse for wasted human flesh.

He wondered whether Weiss would kick him too. It didn't hurt so very much, he could block the pain out, but it wasn't nice. He didn't think she'd like to see him naked. Cinder had liked to touch him, the first time they'd met at her house. That had faded as she knew the truth.

"Such strong arms… Do you exercise, Jaune?"

The golden eyes were like a light in the half-lit room, the afternoon sun shining through the light. He'd been told to strip to his underwear, as a special type of friendship bonding. She'd said it would make them closer. She was happy with him, or so she'd said.

"Just some sports. Mom said that I should be careful."

Her fingers slid over his skin, taking careful notice of the muscles, as they slid down. She smelled nice. A perfume that was pleasant, her chest clad in a set of dark lace, her eyes roving over him. She looked like some of the women in the movies that his sisters liked to watch later in the evening, but with a touch of that elegance in her that was real. The chair was comfortable, as she brushed herself against him.

"Oh, I would… A strong man such as you… Such beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair…"

A hiss in his ear, as her fingers slid down, her chest bumping against him. People did that, sometimes. They never meant to knock him over, but she was nice. It was soft and round.

"A good man, of fine looks and grace…"

She kissed his neck, even as her fingers slid down, her soft exhale, as her hands remained. She had very soft hands, always manicured to perfection, as a woman of her standing apparently wanted. His sister had said that a woman's hands were important.

"You know what I mean, don't you?"

Her hands stopped at his waist, as her fingers squeezed and touched, over the sensitive flesh, her golden eyes meeting his own. "It was by chance… And to have such a good young man…" It was pleasant as she touched him and he asked why she thought that. She must know what was wrong with him, after all.

"No, I was just informed that a teenager might need someone older and wiser to help out. It was part of my, well, never mind that. What is it?"

Her voice sounded disappointed for some reason, so he told her about his condition. Miss Salem had said that it didn't make him any different, and he believed her. Cinder was his friend. She made him feel nice.

The naked disgust on her face after he'd finished the first sentence and the raw anger that she showed made him wonder if he'd been wrong to say anything. She pushed him away, storming to the nearest sink, her language shifting to some harsh and guttural language, as she started to wash her hands using a lot of soap. She was going to ruin her nailpolish with that amount of soap, he knew.

She turned back and her face no longer showed that nice look on her face, as her lips curled into a smile that he had quickly learned to associate with another education.

"I'm going to show you what people like you deserve, Jaune… Trust me."

He had smiled at her. He'd felt good. She'd been nice to him and she'd massaged his groin. That had felt nice.

"Jaune? Are you okay?"

Ruby asked again and he could see Summer shock herself aware, her attention coming back. Something in those eyes had changed, as she smiled at her daughter.

"I'm okay. Are we still friends?"

He asked, needing to know the answer. Ruby smiled brightly, as her fingers brushed through Weiss' hair, the girl having been made comfortable on the couch. Yang had apparently punched her out in a single blow. He figured that it'd been a Muhammed Ali. She'd talked about that man once.

"Of course. Weiss just didn't understand. You're Jaune. Everything will be fine, right?"

She smiled at him and her mother made a face, trying to say something, yet he was quicker to speak.

"You're nice."

She was. She was one of his best friends. Pyrrha had not been as warm before Ren had spoken to her, but she had made an effort. It hurt a little, but he wouldn't want to lose Ruby. She was so nice.

"You're nice too! I want us all to be happy together! Weiss will come to see that soon! All I need to do is to make her see what a wonderful person you are!"

The optimism that she showed was like a bright light in the darkness, as Yang and Blake looked at each other with a look, after Ruby had said that.

He supposed that he should ask them too. He felt a little better now that he knew that she was still his friend.

"Are we still friends, Blake?"

The girl nodded once, looking sad at him. Those eyes seemed to care. Who would care for a defect? Yang looked at him too with those sad eyes and Summer merely looked at him, not speaking. She was gone again, off someplace where she couldn't be reached. He saw that too from time to time.

"Jaune, please…"

Yang was the one who spoke, looking at him. A soft expression on his face. "You're not someone who'd do anything bad to anyone here." He shook his head. That just wasn't true. He'd upset Weiss. "No, you're wrong. You're not doing anything bad, Jaune. Weiss was simply not told, and she'd went off with her thoughts in the wrong way. She had no right to say that."

"Weiss is not good at admitting when she's wrong. She told me herself, Jaune."

Ruby added, Yang giving her a look. The feelings inside him welled up again. He felt his heartbeat pound, as he looked at Yang and at Blake and then to Ruby and Summer. Summer was still gone, as she looked ahead of her, unblinking.

"You're my friend. That makes you a good person, Jaune."

The smile on her face was precious, without any sort of restraint. It was a smile he'd rather see continue. Cinder would have ruined her smile, just as she'd said.

"We're your friends, Jaune. We may not be… well, we might not have been so close before, but we're still friends."

Yang spoke, as she nudged Blake, who looked at him with a strange look on her face.

He felt so tired. He wanted to rest, he wanted to sleep, to take a nap. Everything was so draining on him right now. The slow walk back to the house, as he was held by Blake, telling him that he wasn't a bother, the wiping of his cheeks, the sniffles that had come. He'd been a bother. They'd been bothered by him being weak. He should have just taken Summer's gun and put an end to it. She was able to do things better than he could, she was an adult.

'No matter what…'

It never mattered. He was a mistake. She kept on blowing the cigarette smoke in his face, as her golden eyes stared at him, telling him of his duty to the world. The world that she would show the truth about him and his status of being a defect.

They'd all responded as Cinder had said so. It had been a secret, it had been something that she had known. They had not worried about his words, constantly asking the same questions. Did he do it to her. Was it good to fuck a hot woman, did he do it because she was smoking hot?

Cinder had told him. He didn't understand why they would ask him that, but he answered to the negative anyways. No, he did not press her down. No, he did not put his penis in her vagina because she was good-looking. Yes, she was good-looking. Yes, he might have had some thoughts about her. She was his friend.

They kept on asking and asking the same questions. When Summer had rang, they had been quick to let him go, but mom was concerned still. Mom was a lot more concerned, even though she didn't believe him fully. He could see it in her eyes, even as the police officers were apologetic to his mother. Dad wasn't there.

Everyone made fun of him. The bad word was scrawled over his locker with paint and they looked at him. It made him feel sad. He just wanted to be a good person, not a bad person. Nobody believed him, except Ruby. Yang and Blake were around the house too, that night, but people found out either way.

It was unpleasant. The pictures hadn't been nice either. It was not good.

"There… Now… Stand. Pose…"

The finger hovered over the button, as he stood there, posing in the bathroom. She smiled at him, as he did as she asked.

"Good boy… How does it feel, hmm?"

It was somewhat pleasant. She'd said that the pill would make him feel good. All it did was make his groin hurt, as he stood at attention there. That meant he was happy, or at least, that's what the gist of that feeling was. Another snap, and a push on the button.

"There, sent… Now, tonight at eight, Jaune… Let's have the best party, shall we? Tell your mother and father that you're going to visit me."

He got his phone back, the picture of himself naked in the bathroom of his parents' house, the house mostly empty due to the people being out for work or school. He saw the look of disgust on her face, as he noticed that it'd been sent to her with a 'I love you Cinder' as the words below it.

Retards didn't love. That was the truth of the world. Retards should be kept away from normal people. He nodded to her. She smiled and patted his cheek.

"I'll make sure to let Ruby know what fun you two can have together, I'll even visit her personally. You're going to get what you deserve, Jaune."

"Can I lie down for a moment? I feel tired."

He saw Blake and Yang look at each other and Yang gave him a smile that was kinder than what a retard deserved. He wasn't bad. He wasn't a bad person, but it was the rules. She'd dislike him soon enough.

"Let's get you settled in on the couch, shall we?"

Her words were soft and he laid down nearly five minutes later, feeling tired. He was out like a light after a minute, as he just felt so tired. Maybe he'd die in his sleep. Old people did that a lot. It would make life easier on people.

Not many people would be sad if a retard died, after all.


He became aware again when he noticed someone stroking through his hair. His eyes opened up and he saw Summer looking down at him with a tense expression. Her eyes were doubtful, as she let her fingers brush through her hair.

"Jaune… Are you okay?"

He got up, noticing Blake and Yang there as well. There was no sign of Weiss or Ruby. He hoped that they were okay. They probably were feeling bad because of him. He should have kept his emotions bottled up rather than to explode, like retards and bad people did.

"I'm alive."

It was true. He wasn't okay, he wasn't someone who was cared for. Blake looked a little haunted, as she turned away.

"Can you… can you come with me and Yang for a moment? I'd… I'd like to check something."

She looked serious. Yang looked at her mother with a look that was somewhat sadder than before. He hoped that Summer would break his neck. That's what he deserved for scaring them all. He didn't want to make them sad, but it was his destiny, wasn't it?

She kept on smoking. She kept on talking and talking and talking and smoking and talking and smoking, the ashes hurting and-

He was aware of the arms that'd wrapped around him, a soft voice whispering in his ear that it was going to be okay. Yang was hugging him, Blake looking uncertain, Summer's eyes looking at him seriously, as Yang stroked over his back. It was nothing that he deserved as a retard, but he knew that there would be acceptance in death. That was what happened to people who were wrong..

"Come…. Come up to my room."

She hesitated for a moment as she looked at her daughter.

"Yang… It's… I want you to come to my room, the two of you and him."

A look of surprise on Yang's face, as she looked at her mother. Wasn't it normal for Yang to be in her mother's room from time to time?

Mom and dad had their room adjacent to Saphron's old room, currently occupied by the twins. They liked to come around and bother him sometimes for silly things, because he was taller than they were. He liked helping them. They were his family and they were safe. They didn't hate him like the other people did.

He felt the roughness in his throat as he cleared it, ascending the stairs behind Summer. She was a good woman. She understood him, at least in some capacity. It was her who had made him feel something that was better than like. Love wasn't for retards, after all.

As Summer pushed open the door, he caught sight of the bed, having been made up. Yang looked uneasy, entering the bedroom of her mother. She looked at the picture of her mother that had been set on the small altar. Red contact lenses were kept in solution next to it. Blake looked a little unnerved.

"Please… sit down, Blake, Yang. On the bed."

Summer looked sad again, as she closed the door. Yang's eyes were solely on the portrait of her mother, still looking as beautiful as she had been before she'd died. She must've seen something of a picture, undoubtedly.

"You told me that my middle name was Christina, mom… What kind of name is Cockatiel?"

Yang mumbled, and he shrugged. It wasn't a bad name. It beat being called Constance. That was one of his sisters' middle names and she always went by Connie because she hated it.

"Cockatiel is the name your mother gave you… She was one hell of a woman."

The softness of Summer's voice was light, as the door was locked and shut.

"Jaune… Yang asked me about the… tribals."

It had been the mark of what he was. He nodded, understanding where that would lead. He trusted Summer. She felt like he felt. She understood about being different.

"Can we… can we see them? Only if you want to, of course."

It was not a question that he'd leave unanswered if Summer asked. He nodded again. Cinder had said that it was enough to mark him as he was, worthless and unworthy of love.

"There… almost done… That's a good retard… Aww, just… SPREAD. That's a good boy, keep those legs open. There… Wouldn't want to mess up, now would we? Oops… that's a few more hairs… To think that I'd…"

Summer kneaded his shoulders for a moment before sitting down next to Yang. He started to undo his pants. He trusted Summer, and he trusted Yang. He trusted Blake as well, because she wanted to feel good. He just wanted them all to like him. No matter what… He didn't want them to be sad.

His hand grabbed and lifted his manhood up, showing them. Yang's face turned ashen, and he remembered the word Cinder had used.

"It's… two S? No… Double L?"

Blake's eyes looked at him with a curious glint in them as she spoke with a hint of curiosity in her voice, as she leaned closer, sniffing his scent. She looked somewhat happy.

It was Summer who looked at him with a look that his mother sometimes got when she was upset. Silver eyes looked into his own with that directness in her eyes, her lips pressed tightly together.

"Who branded you, Jaune? Which sick fuck burned letters into your balls?"

He gave her a sad smile. They'd seen his mark of shame. The two letters that told the world of what he was. A retard. Not worthy of love.

"She said I wasn't worthy of love."

Summer's eyes widened, as she reached forth and lightly, pulled, looking at the marks. Her hands were a little cold, but she looked at the LL that had been burnt into the scrotum, one on each testicle. A sign of what he was.

"There… That's a good retard… Now everyone is going to know what you truly are… A defect mongrel, a retard who can't know what it's like to be a part of the glorious song of human genius…"

She'd done each letter over a day. Every puff of smoke in his face, as her eyes looked into his own, golden shimmer in those depths that had made her look so pretty. She had said those two words again.

"Lebensunwertes Leben. That's what she called it. It's true, isn't it?"

He smiled. He knew that. Cinder had said it a lot, when she was marking him.

Yang didn't understand the term, as her face turned thoughtful, whilst Blake looked similarly unable to understand. Summer's eyes looked at him, her mouth falling open in shock. It seemed that she knew German. Good. Miss Salem hadn't wanted to tell him what it meant because it was apparently bad. He didn't know what it was spelled like, just that it was Cinder's favourite term for him. He wasn't allowed to tell anyone else, because it was between them, but Summer could be trusted.

Her mouth moved but no sound came out. There was anger in those eyes, as her face went through several different phases of anger. He knew that she was angry with him. She'd be angry with him for not being able to love, to be a retard. Cinder always smoked when she told him. She hadn't smoked in the beginning. He didn't like when she smoked.

"Smell that smoke, Jaune? That's what happens to people like you… All into ashes, all burnt like the useless waste that your kind is… You have the blessings of God with your looks and your strength, but the feeble mind of a retard…"

Another puff, as she exhaled. A curtain of smoke, curling through her hair, her eyes like golden pools of mirth and a cruel amusement on her face.

"Lebensunwertig leben… That's what you are. That's what we started… And that's what we'll end. Don't worry, Jaune… When you're gone, nobody will mourn you. You're just a mistake on the proudest of people…A sickness in a proud and pure people."

Another kick and he whimpered. He wasn't to tell anyone. She'd promised to keep his secrets and he would keep hers. She was his friend.

She looked positively livid, if that was the word to use. "You are NOT unworthy of life, Jaune. Please, don't even think that. Don't EVER think that." Miss Salem had said that too. She'd looked really sad, but there had been nothing that she could do about it. The die had been cast, according to Cinder. The police would put him away and he'd be dealt with like refuse should be dealt with. The restraining order told him not to be within 300 yards of her.

"Mom, what does it mean? Why would he?"

Summer looked at her daughter, looking at him and then hugging him and pulling him down with her, just holding him. It was nice to feel her arms around him. It made him feel a little less pained.

"It's not a nice term to know. It's…"

She paused. He spoke for her. Sometimes it was good to explain to people.

"It's what happens to people like me. Retards deserve to be burnt to ashes. We're a mistake on the pure people of God."

Blake turned paler than before, as she looked saddened by his words. He'd messed up again. He'd made her sad again.

"It's a term used by the Nazi's… Jaune, honey… You're not unworthy of life. Whoever said th-"

Summer turned quiet, as she lost her current state of anger, her eyes turning distant. She must be remembering something. People did that.

"It was Fall, wasn't it?"

Her voice was light, as the look on her face changed. Something in those eyes had changed, as something seemed to be there. She quivered, but then straightened out. "I… see."

"I'm just a mistake."

He smiled. They knew now. They'd dislike him too. Summer hugged him tighter.

"No, sweetie… I love you. You're never a mistake."

There was a shock that ran through her, as she took a deep breath. "I love you and I care for you." The words were warm and meant, as Yang hugged him as well. It was a warm hug, as Blake joined in too.

It was nice. Summer had said that she loved him. She shouldn't though. He was just a retard. His affliction wasn't something that could be gone with a little syringe injection. "You're okay, Jaune. You're fine as you are." Yang's voice was softer, as she hugged him. It was nice. This was good.

"You're the boy I want to marry my daughter, Jaune."

Summer said softly. Yang made a surprised sound. He liked Summer though. Summer was someone who understood. "I'm no good. Raven always was better at some things than me and…" She paused, as he looked at her.

"And I'm not healthy. I nearly killed you after we had sex and-"

He was aware of Yang quivering, but the hug didn't fade. Heavier breaths were being taken by Yang. It was okay. People didn't love people that were like him.

"And… I did a bad thing. I should never have gotten involved, but I just wanted her to be happy. Raven would have wanted her to be as happy as she was when she started to date Taiyang. I shouldn't have ever... But she was okay. She understood. He'll make you happy, Yang."

He spoke up, trying to explain. Proper explanations might be listened to. He trusted Summer.

"Retards can't make people happy."

It was logical. People didn't get happy to see retards. Retards always were treated badly. They were 'special' and nobody liked them. They lied when they said they were happy and washed their hands after touching. He still looked normal, but he was rotten on the inside.

"No, sweetie… No. Don't think like that. She was wrong."

Summer was not right. It was true. Cinder had marked him. Nobody had cared, after all. He was just the scum that raped a woman to people. He'd never be allowed to be happy because it just wasn't allowed for him.

"She was so wrong because she couldn't see what a wonderful boy you are… What a wonderful man you are. Yang is happy with you, Blake is happy with you and Ruby likes you too."

Yang squeezed closer, as he felt the darkness slowly dissipate around him, a gentle shake of her hand making him look down at her. She smiled at him and then kissed him on the lips.

"I like you."

It was nice. Blake squeezed a little harder.

"He's nice, isn't he? Are we going to have a threesome now?"

It was enough to make Yang's head swerve, as Summer gave a hiss at the Faunus girl. "What? He likes us. He makes us feel good. Sex. It's good family bonding!" He looked at her with a weird look. He didn't want to have sex with his family. That was gross and unsanitary! His sisters were not going to ever say yes to that. Plus, Saphron was gay. She didn't like men.

"Silly cat."

Yang smiled, as she looked at him. "What you and mom did… It's not okay." Summer's face showed sadness, as she smiled at him, trying to keep him smiling. She cared. "It's not okay, but we won't tell. It's..." She fell silent for a moment, as her eyes teared up.

"It's okay. Mom… You're going to seek help, right? You're not going to do things to him again, are you?"

Summer shook her head, smiling sadly at him. He liked her. She made him feel happier and better.

"Blake was in a bad relationship. She's not really comfortable around many people but…"

Blake smiled. "You smell nice. You'll make me a good mother." It was a statement that sounded happy, that sounded a little more wistful. "Right?"

"I don't make good babies. I'm autistic. Nobody would want me. It's okay."

Blake watched him before she kissed him. It was a nice kiss. Yang looked at his face with a look in her eyes that was determined.

"Listen, we're going to keep silent about this. Mom, you're going to get help, because this is the final time that this will happen. You can't keep living like this. I'll…" Here the blonde paused, taking a deep breath. "Jaune, will you… God, I can't say it. Blake…" The nudge to Blake, as the Faunus girl looked at him.

"I love her. I love you too."

He knew she must be lying. He wasn't really human, but… then again, neither was she. Both Humans and Faunus died in that war, he remembered. There were many bad things about that time period, but he wasn't too interested in that. Great-granddad had fought in Europe, or so he'd heard.

"So… Date us both?"

He looked at Blake, whilst Yang grimaced. Blake looked at her girlfriend and then back at him. It was a simple solution, but it worked for some. He shook his head.

"I don't want to hurt you."

Summer, on whose lap he was still seated, gave a soft shake of the head.

"It's for the best, Jaune. I'm going to…."

She looked down. He seized her chin and made her look up. He looked into her eyes, and there was an emotion in them, as she smiled.

"I'm going to make things right. No matter what."

Her hand squeezed his own, as she kissed him on the lips. "Don't ever use that word again to refer to yourself, Jaune." She sounded like Miss Salem. Her voice was stricter and those eyes looked clearer.

"Yang, there's five-hundred dollars in the wallet that's laid behind your mother's picture. That's the budget for the week, make sure that you kids keep being fed."

She sounded serious, as her eyes blazed with deep, tense anger. He didn't think she was angry with him, but she looked like she wanted to hurt someone. Yang moved, looking at her mother as she got up, standing to her full height and looking not as impressive. "I love you and Ruby, sweetheart. Make sure that Jaune makes it home safe. Mommy's going to go for a little drive." A smile, as she looked at him.

"I love you, Jaune."

Warmth blossomed in her heart, as he smiled. Summer understood. She was a wonderful woman, after all, way too good for someone like him. He was sick in the head, as he'd always been told. They'd always called him a retard or the other R-word. It wasn't nice, but he had accepted her. Blake looked dubious, as he pulled his pants up. He'd shown them.

"Come with me for a moment, Jaune. I need a man's hands for something on the top shelf in the garage."

The woman's voice was calm, in control. It was the voice that sounded a bit like his father did when he was ready to talk about the time in the army.

"You kids just… enjoy. Talk. If Krauty wakes up, tell her that I don't want her in my house for a week, and after that, not until she's written an apology to Jaune. He is a good young man."

He smiled at her, as she smiled back. He could tell her, now that she understood. She understood him.

As they walked to the garage, he nudged her. She stopped, half-way into the garage, looking at him. "Is something wrong?" He nodded, and she leaned against the wall, her eyes looking at him. She had a warm smile on her lips that didn't really reach her eyes, a little sparkle of something in those eyes, as she looked at him, waiting for him to speak.

"I couldn't let her do that to Ruby. Yang might be upset too. That's why I came. She's my best friend."

He told her, looking her in the eyes. Eye contact was made, Summer's smile slipping.

The warmth was lost from the woman's face, as her eyes turned frigid. Summer Rose looked at him, her eyes looking like two empty pits. She looked very still as she spoke, her tone flat and emotionless. "Do what, Jaune? What would she have done to my little Ruby?"

"Breed the retards. She said it'd make her hate me. Ruby is such a nice smart girl. She's my best friend. I don't want her to hate me."

He hadn't really understood. You bred dogs, but humans? Did those breed? Maybe? He hadn't heard about it yet, so maybe it was an adult thing? Ruby couldn't be hurt though. Ruby was smarter than he was, she always had better grades and never hurt.

"It's simple, retard. Why would someone care when a little girl goes missing… After all, you're her best friend in the world… It would be so easy, if you just behave and bring her… She'll love you… Just as retards do."

A calm smile, as her finger prodded at the mark that she'd put into the flesh.

"And then, the retards breed together… And she'll be the little retard. That'll be fun, won't it? She's dumber than you are, a mistake that should have been aborted."Cinder's smile was beautiful and a little scary, as her eyes looked at him, the gloves that she wore looking to be done.

"Undoubtedly she'd never make the little retard live longer than a month. Too stupid to know the reality of the world, always smiling… She thought I looked cool! Disgusting!" Cinder had met Ruby once and had been called a scary lady.

Summer's eyes closed. She took a deep breath. She exhaled. It felt like him, this morning. Perhaps she heard the laughing too? Someone had been laughing and it sounded like himself. He had sounded scared. That wasn't nice. Retards didn't feel scared, they didn't feel emotions at all.

She opened her eyes. She looked into his for the longest period of time and then smiled. A simple smile, a very simple emotion in her eyes. It wasn't something nice, but there was a deep warmth in them.

"You're the best thing that happened to me in a very long time, Jaune. You may not understand the world as I do, or as my Ruby does, but I want you to know that, no matter what happens, I will love you. It's a strange thing, and I didn't want to admit it to myself but… I love you."

There was a sadness in her eyes, as she pointed at a bag that'd been set on the highest shelf. "Could you get that from there?" A soft plea in her voice, as he noticed the weight of the bag as he set it down.

"I'll be back in a week, at most. Stay safe, Jaune. Love my daughters a lot, alright? No matter what happens… You'll always be a good friend to my daughter. She'll always love you as you are. You're not retarded, you're simply a little different, which is okay."

It was a look in her eyes that he had seen before. The man known as Barry had it in his eyes and Mister Frank, something that was dangerous and scary. Silver eyes did not look at him with warmth, but with an icy cold frosty feeling, as Summer leaned forward and kissed him. "Nobody should feel unworthy to live, Jaune. I'll be back in a week." A cell phone was in her hand as she punched in a few numbers, giving him a smile that never reached her eyes.

"Hey, Tai… I've got some bad news and need to go out of the country for a bit… Do you think you and your wife can come over here to take care of the kids for a week?"

There was a curt tone, as the woman's former husband responded, and he wondered briefly whether it would mean that the exercises would be cut short.

"Thanks. Ruby will like it that her dad's around again… Yeah, thanks. You're a good father to her and Yang."

She got into the car after putting the bag in, the exhaust giving a belch of exhaust fumes, as she backed out of the garage, making sure to fire the car up. "Have a nice week, Jaune." She smiled, winking at him. The warmth had come back to her eyes for an instant.

"You're the man of the house whilst I'm away… Take care of Ruby and my little Yang for me, Jaune. "

She drove off, the rumble of the car in the background. He caught Yang at the door, looking at him. A phone rang, and she turned her attention to that. "She's gone for a week." He said, trying to help. Yang looked at him with a look, her head shaking softly.

"It's such a mess…"

She mumbled, her eyes turning away. "But I guess it's summertime, so it's drama time!" She didn't sound happy about that, and he looked at her.

"Jaune, I'm sorry."

He didn't know what she had to be sorry about. She wasn't someone born broken and defect. She was a bright burning sun in the sky, whilst he was just someone who could never fit in. "It's okay." Ruby was better than he was. She was a good and bright girl, who never had someone talk bad things about her.

"It's not. Mom and you… That's abuse."

It didn't feel like abuse. She liked him. She did things that made him feel happy and wanted. "It's... Fuck. This is so messed up."

"That's a word for it, I heard. I should be lucky that someone did that with me."

He liked Summer. He liked Yang. Weiss was not very nice, but perhaps she'd like him again. Ruby was worth bearing Weiss' presence. Ruby would be sad if he left.

"No, my girlfriend would've…"

She looked away, her blonde hair falling in her face, as her fingers ran through it. "I would've, if I'd…"

She gave a deep sigh as she stretched. She was really pretty and nice. He would make sure that she was kept safe. She was Summer's daughter, no matter what the world thought.

"Your mother loves you. With mine, it's always a bother to talk to me."

She hadn't believed him. She had believed that he'd done something to Cinder. She must've known that retards shouldn't touch others badly. Yang looked at him and smiled sadly.

"C'mere, you tall blonde. Give me a hug."

It wasn't certain to him whether she needed it or whether he needed it, the feeling heavy in his mind. Retards didn't really feel things, but it felt nice to hug her. She was different than Ruby, much less in her hug than Summer, but it was nice.

"Summer said that I should be the man of the house whilst she is gone. Your father is coming." Yang looked sad. She swallowed.

"You met with him, at the barbecue, didn't you? He was asking questions about Ruby's girlfriend over the phone."

Her voice was tiny, as she looked away. "He doesn't much like the fact that she's gay and neither does mom. Ruby is like you, but… God, this is hard, if dad comes here…"

"It doesn't change what you are. It's okay to be gay."

He smiled. Saphron was gay and she was wonderful. His big sister was amazing and warm. "My big sister Saphron is gay too."

"It's not-" She looked at him, a look on her face. "It's not like that. His wife hates me. She's been trying to get pregnant by dad and whenever she and Summer meet, it's always an argument. When I'm at dad's place, whenever he's around, she's nice but when she's alone with me…" He had seen the woman. He wasn't her father's son.

"She thought I was your father's illegitimate son."

The quirk of her lips, almost happy, was a good sign. "My dad wouldn't like that." She gave him a smile, as she squeezed a little harder, finally letting go. The hug had been nice.

"Jaune, he's happy that I'm the normal one."

Jaune nodded at that. Yang was wonderful.

"You're wonderful and sunny. You're someone who lights up a room when you enter."

That was important, he supposed. She made him smile, as her eyes softened.

"You're making it really hard for me to stay with my girlfriend, don't you know…"

The comment was perhaps a touch too soft, as Yang sighed deeply.

"Can I ask you something?"

He wanted to point out that she just had, but he nodded. It was a way of saying things, Miss Salem had said.

"Can I help you get rid of those choke marks?"

She asked, her eyes looking at him with the question in them. He nodded. Mom might be worried, and he knew that she'd worry too much about what Summer had done to him. It had been a mistake and she hadn't been there. Mistakes happened. He was one, after all, but Yang was nice.

"Thank you."

He thanked her, as she smiled at him, giving a sigh.

"I like you."

She smiled softly, laying a hand on his shoulder and giving a squeeze to it. "I like you too, Jaune. Blake is someone that I love, but I guess…" She looked sadly at him, before she hugged him again.

"Love is confusing."

He knew that. She was nice when she hugged him. It mattered to him that she was happy. He wrapped his arm around her and she pushed against him, a soft sound in her throat that was lighter and softer.

"I don't really feel love. Cinder said that-" Yang hissed, as she held him closer.

"Whatever she said, it isn't true. You're someone who's been friends with a monster. Mom may need some time to get… whatever it is she is going to get, done, but she'll be back. She has to." The last three words seemed to be almost hesitantly spoken, as her hands rubbed over the back of his neck.


As they sat in the car, parked outside of his home nearly five hours later, he wondered whether it had been alright to tell them about Cinder. He was not worth much anyways, so why should they care so much?

"Jaune? I'd like to ask you something." Her eyes were emotional, as she smiled at him. "Can we…"

She stalled, as she pulled closer. Her jacket made her look nice. It was a nice black jacket with the yellow top underneath it making her look cool. She leaned closer, almost nose to nose.

"Can we date?"

He wasn't sure how to respond to that. "Just for a week… We'll do… Boyfriend and girlfriend stuff, with Blake too. Dad's wife and, well… Dad. They don't like it much that Ruby's into girls. Blake and myself…" He nodded.

"You need a man to be your shield."

He clarified, her nod enough. "It's okay." He said, as he leaned forward and kissed her. Lilac eyes opened wide as he did, as her arms wrapped around him, the hug lasting perhaps a little longer than before, as he felt her tongue probe against his own.

She parted and smiled. It was a nice smile. Her mother smiled like that too when she was happy. She'd said that she'd be happy to see him and Yang do things, like a boyfriend and a girlfriend would.

"How about I go pick you up at eight tomorrow morning and we'll go for a run together, eh?"

He nodded. That would be nice.

"That would be nice."

The smile she had on her face was genuine, he could tell. Ruby smiled like that too when she was happy. Weiss… didn't really smile at him like that. Weiss wasn't a good friend. She was a little like Cinder. He didn't like that. Weiss had smaller breasts too, so there was that.

He waved at her as she pulled away in the car, the bag in his hands, walking up to the door. He rang the doorbell and waited, his mother opening the door. With the hour being as late as it was, she ushered him inside, the smell of home comforting once more.

He was home and he was safe. "Did you have fun at Ruby's house, Jaune?" His mother asked, as she closed the door behind him, his hand grabbing his dirty clothing and tucking it into the hamper for the washing, turning around to find her looking at him with a strange look. "Is that perfume I smell?"

"Oh, Yang wore some today, I think. Or it was Blake."

He didn't know. They smelled pretty alright. Girls liked to smell alright, he knew from his own sisters, so it wasn't a big deal.

"Go and wash up, Jaune. You smell."

He nodded, as he stripped his shirt off. A good shower might be nice to get clean into bed. He'd been dirty.

His older sister looked up from her book for a moment before she made a light wave, not commenting for once as he went for the shower. As the warm water washed over him, he felt warm again. He hoped that Summer was alright. Yang was a little worried.


Well… I can state that Cinder is a bona fide Neo Nazi. Ideologies like that are poisonous and disgusting.

She got off, too. Very lightly. After all, who would trust someone with a mental handicap?

The author does not endorse any kind of supremacist ideology, or support any sort of form of supremacy over another person. This is a work of fiction and meant to entertain/educate people.

My thanks go out to all the autistic people who have commented and said that they can understand where it is coming from. I'm trying, guys and girls!

Leave a review if you'd like! I like seeing your thoughts on the stuff I write.