Chapter 16: Basics

The long-awaited meeting.


He woke up feeling a little disturbed, the beeping of the alarm clock coming after nearly ten minutes of just laying there, processing the dream he'd had that night. He pressed the off button for his alarm clock, checking the time and then arranging his schedule a little. He had a good three hours before he was due to meet with Yang and Blake and Blake's mother.

Thinking about Yang made him smile. She had been really pretty when she'd been with him out shopping. It was nice of her to want to have him pretend to be her boyfriend, but she was Blake's girlfriend, so that was never going to happen. He hoped that they would have fun together in their life together.

Yang had said that she hoped that they'd have fun together whilst they were 'dating'. Imagining her with a smile on her face, saying that to him made him react, feeling that warm pleasant feeling inside him grow stronger. He could almost imagine it, feeling her hold him, touching him as Summer had.

'Was Cinder wrong?'

The question didn't stop bouncing around in his mind. Cinder had said that it was wrong for him to feel something, that he was just an emotionless retard who could not make people happy. He was a failed creation of god, something that had been made into something filthy and degenerate.

His hand rubbed, slowly giving the pleasurable touches. It felt good, thinking about Yang, imagining her soft lips, pressed against his own. His hand sped up, feeling that peak come ever closer, but then reality crashed home and he stopped, his breathing heavy as he remembered that she was seeing someone.

'It's all pretend. She's just having you help her, you can't feel like this. She's Ruby's big sister, and you don't want to hurt her.'

It felt bad. It felt horrible, but she'd been…

He looked at the picture. A deep sigh came from his lips as he looked at her face. It was warm and full of energy, with that little hint of Ruby's own mannerism inside it.

'I guess I was just... It would be nice. She's great.'

A brushing of his fingers through his hair as he tidied himself a little, trying to get himself back under control. It wasn't good to touch yourself to the thought of someone who was so far out of your league that it was like trying to play baseball with spaghetti as the bat.

The shower that he took afterwards was great, the warmth seeping into his flesh again as he let his hands comb through his hair as he rubbed the shampoo into it, making sure that he looked his best. A smile on his face as he looked into the mirror after he'd put on a fresh set of underwear, he did his best to look what other people called 'friendly', trying to make himself look better, just so that they'd like him.

Blake was a little weird, but she was nice too, just like Yang. Blake's mother might be a bit like Sandy, he hadn't really gotten a good idea of what she was like. As he rubbed his body with the towel, the door to the bathroom opened and his mother entered, a look on her face that was concern, if he guessed it right. She didn't look angry, at least.

"Are you okay, Jaune? You went to Doctor Watts yesterday and I didn't get the chance to talk to you. I'm sorry, things were a little hectic."

She sounded a little concerned, so that might be what the expression meant. He didn't understand why. It had just been a visit to the doctor. He'd had a good talk with the man and he'd learned something.

"Oh, it's okay. Doctor Watts says that there's no damage to my throat."

There was a soft exhale, as his mother ran a hand over the marks, which were starting to fade already, luckily. It was nice to be able to avoid getting looked at because of the bruises.

'I hope Summer is alright…'

It was an idle worry that came to him. Yang wouldn't like it if her mother disappeared suddenly, and neither would he. Summer made sense, and his mother was talking to him and he'd zoned out.

"- that, Jaune. It's not right."

His mother wouldn't understand. It made sense to him. Summer had been scared too. She'd reacted, just as he had.

"It was fine. She didn't twist. Dad said that he hasn't had an attack of that kind for a while at the doctor." He remembered what his father had said, though they hadn't talked very much afterwards.

"What your father has is- it's different. He's a good man, Jaune, not-"

Summer was a good woman too. She was someone who understood him, who could see the world as he did. She felt so like him at times when she was just looking at him that it was like coming home to a friend, and she hopefully was his friend.

"- because I love you. You're my only son, even if you are just a little different from the other boys." She tried to help him. He was sorry that he was such a burden on her.

"It's okay. I like Summer. She's a good mother and good for Ruby. Yang listens to her and looks up to her."

His mother didn't really look so very convinced. It was silly of her. Of course you could trust an adult, because that's what they'd said.

"That isn't the point, Jaune. It's not right, if she's doing that to you."

He didn't really see the problem. She'd stopped and she'd apologized for it, so it was okay. Yang had looked worried but that was normal.

"She apologized. She's a nice person, so it's okay."

A smile on his face, as he knew that Summer would be back soon. He liked it when they could just talk. She was like Ruby, excited energy and that little hint of mystique.

"I'm just, oh very well…"

His mother gave that very same sigh again, as she shook her head, rubbing her temples lightly. "So, what's my biggest boy going to do today?"

It was an attempt at communication, at finding out what he knew. He smiled softly, knowing that she would be happy for him.

"Yang and Blake are taking Blake's mother to town and they want to talk to me. Blake is Yang's girlfriend."

He wasn't sure whether his mother knew. As far as he knew, Yang hadn't met a single member of his family aside of him. He would like it if he'd be able to say that she was his girlfriend.

"Ah… Like Saphron?"

He nodded. Saphron was a lesbian and that meant that she only liked girls and didn't like boys. She'd explained it to him and he'd understood. Terra was a nice woman and they had a baby. "Blake wants me to give her babies though. I don't know about that. She's a Faunus."

He tried another smile, looking in the mirror. "Yang didn't like to hear that, though." His mother's concerned tone he noticed, as he looked at his reflection whilst she spoke. He had to look good at least if he was to meet them. Nobody wanted to see a lousy boyfriend, Saphron had said. He trusted her word, even if she didn't like men.

"Did she do anything with you?"

He blinked. He probably should tell his mother. She was his mother, after all.

"Oh, yes. She gave me a blowjob. That was very nice."

His mother winced, as she looked at him, unsure of what to say. "She's always looking at me and says that I make her want to get my babies." There was a strange look in his mother's eyes, as she looked at him. "What?"

"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all, Jaune. Did you… Did you like what she was doing?"

He got a comb out and tried to comb a bit of order in his hair, making sure that he looked presentable.

"It was nice. She has this really funny tongue that's like a scraper and-" His mother made the universal sign for 'shut up' and so he did.

"I wasn't asking for… that. Where was this Yang girl?"

His mother sounded a little suspicious. He could understand that. It might not sound very great in the eyes of others. Yang was great though.

"Sad. She looked sad when Blake asked me. I think she stuck around for a bit. She didn't look very happy when we came to her again. She's a really nice and pretty girl." His mother's face didn't seem to be very happy either, as her fingers seemed to run through her hair, the wrinkles on her face looking more pronounced as she frowned.

"What's her family like?" He wondered about why his mother was asking, but supplied the information that he knew.

"I think her father is a diplomat for Menagerie? I know that he's got a company called the White Fang, but I'm really not sure…"

He didn't know that much, aside from what Ruby had said about the company and the place.

His mother looked a little sad, as she made a little circle over his side. "It's okay, Jaune. If they're doing anything you don't want, you can tell us."

He didn't really want Blake to touch him, but Yang would be unhappy if he denied Blake. It was not going to be so easy to make this world make sense, he supposed.

"No, it's okay. Yang and Blake are good people. Ruby kissed me too, but I didn't really like it. She's too pushy."

His mother smiled at him and hugged him, and he hugged her back in return. She had quite a strong grip on him, he noticed.

"You're too good for people, Jaune. Are you going to meet with them?" He nodded, frowning for a moment. He'd said that, hadn't he?

"Yes. It'd be nice to meet Mrs. Belladonna. I hope she's going to be a nice woman." He really did hope that. Blake was nice even if she wanted his babies. His mother let go of him and then ran a finger through his finely combed hair.

"Well, you'd better look like you're going to impress then, Jaune."

He hoped that they'd be impressed. He was going to put on some cologne too. Nothing too bad, but he wanted to make Yang feel great. She was a very beautiful young woman.

"I'm going to do my best."

Somehow, he felt that he would. His mother was just a little weird at times, but she was still his mother. You didn't give up on your family, because they were all there to support you. That's what Saphron had said. Big sis knew best, or so she'd kept on saying.

He joined his sisters at the table without much fanfare, the news already in the background about the work-up about some shooting in Central Park. A family of four had been victims in a mob-related shooting a few days ago in the weekend on a picnic.

"Shit…"

His father mumbled as he saw the news, his face showing worry. Jaune looked at the news, noticing that there was a news report about the father going missing after the funeral.

'That's mister Frank.'

"I better give a call…"

The man didn't waste time. Jaune hoped that mister Frank was alright. It was probably horrible, losing your family like that. The man understood, though. He understood things perfectly.

'I hope he's okay.'

He couldn't imagine losing his sisters or his parents. That would probably make him really sad.


The sun bore down on him as he walked down the familiar path to the heart of town, watching the people on the streets with cautious eyes. You never knew when people were going to act out, after all. It was better to be safe than to be sorry, or so people always said.

"And there we've got him, the man of the hour!"

Yang's voice came from behind him, as he turned around and saw them. Yang's body was clad in the dress that they'd picked out, her eyes bright and shining with that indecipherable joy that made her look even better to him. A flash of shame went through him as he realized that he'd been touching himself to her, that he'd thought things about someone else's girlfriend.

Blake wore a dark top that bared her midriff, her abdominal muscles looking as fine as they did, except for where the scar stood, the tanned skin lighter around the mark. The loose pants made her look somewhat more at ease, as her golden eyes looked at him. It wasn't a look that he really liked, her mother at her side, nearly of a height.

Blake's mother was a woman who dressed in a black oriental dress, easily fitting her with that hint of style that his sisters probably would be all gaga about, without even seemingly being affected by the wind that came from their side. Yang's dress fluttered a little, but she looked gorgeous as always.

"My, he is a good-looking fellow…"

The older woman said, her trait being a set of cat ears atop her head, her eyes looking at him with the same gaze that Blake's eyes also seemed to hold, a golden glow in those eyes as she let her tongue slide over her lips.

"He's a man."

Blake said, stating the obvious. Yang looked a little uncomfortable, but he didn't mind that comment from Blake. He was who he was, and perhaps… perhaps there was something between Blake and Yang that was understood.

The gift for Yang in his pocket was already there, as he wondered briefly whether he should just give it to her, without further comment. She didn't look like she had pockets on the dress, so perhaps he could just give it to Blake and she'd keep it?

"He smells good, doesn't he? Right, mom?"

Blake said, grabbing a hold of his arm and tugging him closer. The older woman didn't comment, merely looking at him with that same stare as Blake did, her eyes looking more at his face than at other parts.

"Hm." The sound wasn't approving or disapproving, as Blake pressed herself up against him. "Let's go and sit down, shall we? These old bones need a bit of rest…" The woman was lying, he could see that in her manner of speech and the way that she was standing. He didn't like lies, but he didn't point it out. Sometimes people did those little lies to make sure that people were more comfortable.

"There's a café at the end of the street, it serves some great coffee."

Yang said, suggesting that, the woman's demure smile making her eyes sparkle a little, as Yang looked at him and then seemed about to say something, but kept her silence. It was silly, in his opinion, but sometimes girls just didn't make much sense.

They shuffled into line there, the older woman remaining mostly silent whilst Yang and Blake talked. He kept silent as well, because they didn't address him in the slightest, too busy with talking about something. It hurt just a little, perhaps a light stabbing feeling, Yang's voice sounding a little more hesitant as Blake blustered through some objections.

"My name is Kali."

The woman's voice was soft, as she spoke up. She gave him a 'mom' feeling, as she looked at him. "Those two will be busy talking for a while, so let's just wait in line, right… John? Sorry, I'm-"

He shook his head. "Jaune. My name is Jaune Arc." She smiled, a little nod given to him, as the line moved a little. He moved along, as the woman spoke.

"Nice to meet you, Jaune. My daughter must've been a handful. She's a bright spirit who cares for our people."

There was a soft ringing sound as he heard another enter the establishment, his ears feeling the buzz of people talking. There was a lot of talking all at the same time, but he focused on the woman.

"She's a nice person."

He wasn't sure whether she was still his friend. He hadn't been so very nice to her. The woman smiled softly, understanding him at least a little. She was not someone who seemed to be overly impressed with many things.

"She's my daughter, that makes her a nice person indeed. Not that she'd get kicked out of the daughter club for being not nice, of course."

The woman winked, before she linked her arm with his. It was an intimate gesture, he recognized, something that most older women did with their husbands. He wondered if Summer would do it with him as well, or whether he could do it with Yang. That'd be nice.

The woman leaned a little closer, his ears catching her taking a sniff, her hand patting how own. "The children are quibbling behind us." Her voice held some sort of amused warmth, as he looked at her.

"Aww, at least you could've played along a little. Blake was talking about how you just set her blood aflame with that look of yours."

There was an odd quality to the woman's voice, as she seemed to look at him a little closer, her golden eyes gazing with a little narrowing, her lips twitching into something that might be a frown. He didn't comment on it as the line proceeded, a light brush of her fingertips against his side and an odd little murmur from her throat.

She ordered a caffé latte, looking oddly smug at her daughter and giving a wink to Yang, who seemed to get the subtext, Blake looking a little abashed. He ordered a cup of coffee, the regular variety. He hadn't had this store's brand, but he didn't want to look too out of place. This was for Yang. He wouldn't cause a fuss or be a bad person. This was important.

As they seated themselves on the chairs in the interior, the ceiling fan giving a low thwupping sound, he noticed the position of their seating. Blake and her mother were seated opposite of him and Yang, Yang's eyes looking at Blake with that bittersweet expression that she shouldn't be making. She was with Blake.

"Sooo…" Yang started, looking at him and then at Mrs Belladonna. It was obvious that she was going to be searching for something to do, now that they were all together.

"What's the plan?"

Blake smiled, looking at him. It wasn't a look he thought he liked, as she flashed her teeth at him. "Mom wanted to meet him. He's going to give me babies." Yang trembled a little at hearing that whilst looking at her girlfriend's face, whilst Kali's face remained carefully fixed in its expression. Blake kept on looking at him, her eyes holding a glint of something more.

"That may be a bit too soon, kitten."

Kali's voice was light, her hand laying on her daughter's side. "I like him, he's got a good smell, but-"

"He smells good, doesn't he?"

Blake smiled happily, and he could feel Yang getting a little restless. He turned his eyes on her, catching a look in hers that wasn't very happy. He patted her leg, like he'd seen in the movies, trying to offer some comfort. Sometimes, people said unpleasant things.

"No, no, no… That isn't it, you little retard… Come on, say after me-"

Cinder had been direct in her punishment. She hadn't stopped, nor had she said that it was enough. He punished himself frequently when he got too much into his delusions that he was worth something. It was all going to come crashing down eventually, she'd said. He'd be in jail and then he'd die, because nobody liked a retard.

"Mrs Belladonna, I'm… I'm glad that we could meet. I know that I've not been, well… honest."

Yang was always honest, but she had that habit of sometimes being a bit too much. She was a good friend though, knowing perfectly well how to make it through the world without offending people, unlike him.

"About dating my daughter? Oh, I don't mind. Ghira does, but he's just a big pussycat. I can wrestle him to the ground and make him submit. I'm good at that."

There was an odd smile on the woman's lips, showing her teeth, ears twitching lightly at some sort of fond memory. Older people did that at times when thinking about the people they loved very much.

"Ah, that's… great."

Yang sounded hesitant. She looked at him and he looked back at her. Blake made a happy sound in the back of her throat. Her mother looked at her and frowned. Whatever she did, it made her mother give her a sharp look.

"Articulation works and human language is preferred, that's how humans speak, Blake. Don't use our native tongue whilst we are around your friends, kitten."

There was a pause, as Blake seemed to snap herself to the proper manners. He had to do that sometimes too, if he got too passionate about something. He didn't really like some things in school, so he tried to block those out.

"She's my girlfriend. Do you approve?"

It seemed to be a big thing for Blake. Jaune didn't really know much, as the woman looked at him, then to Yang. A light nod, but the woman did not speak. "Good, she's going to come visit next week. Is dad still angry?"

"No, I do not believe so. You know that your father cannot stay angry for long, but his work… It's been stressful, what with your cousin making the rounds and being a general hellion." There was a wry tone to the woman's voice, her eyes looking at his.

"Mister… no, I suppose we can be just on first-name terms. Jaune? What do you think of my daughter?"

He wondered about that for a while, as he searched his feelings for a moment. His eyes closed, so he didn't really get distracted by things outside of his awareness by sight. Did he feel something for Blake? She had given him an orgasm, using her mouth. It had been pleasant and it had been nice.

Jaune ruminated on Blake, trying to find the right words. He was bad at public speaking, or talking about stuff in general. It wasn't something that he liked, even though some of the theory behind it was sound. He liked the theory parts better, because it all made sense to him.

He wasn't as smart as Ruby was, though. Ruby was always smarter, because she got better grades. She'd always been quicker than he was, but that meant that she simply was less retarded. Cinder was right about people who were born like him being always segregated.

He opened his eyes, finally having found the proper words, noticing that Yang and Blake seemed to have become embroiled in a conversation about something.

"Blake is a nice and warm person who tries to make Yang happy. She's a little strange, but that might be because she's a Faunus. I like her ears. They look really soft."

Mrs. Belladonna smiled at him, not at all offended. Blake looked at him and then at Yang. "See? Good man, good babies." Yang looked a little bitter, as her eyes looked at her girlfriend and then at him. Mrs Belladonna seemed to worry for a moment.

"Blake, there is a little more to it than just that, dear."

Blake looked at her mother with a curious expression on her face, her eyes looking just a little strange, as she hummed something. "Well, and what do you think of Yang, Jaune? It might be presumptuous of me to ask, given that, well…"

The woman smiled with a hint of embarrassment on her face. "Faunus are a little different from you humans." He knew that. Faunus had extra parts. They weren't different from humans aside from that and some weird cultural ideas. It was silly to even think that they were different. They all breathed the same air and had the same food to eat, well, he guessed. Did Faunus graze? He doubted it.

He didn't have to think very hard on Yang. "She's wonderful. Her mom is so proud of her that she nearly glows when she talks of Yang."The woman's little hum was enough, as Yang seemed to look at Blake's face, an expression on it that seemed to want to say something.

"I'm pretending to be her boyfriend so that her father won't get mad. Her little sister Ruby is nice too. Yang just makes me feel good."

It was not something that described much, but it was something that worked for him. Retards weren't supposed to love, Cinder had said, and it wasn't love what he felt for her, but merely chest pain. That wasn't a good thing.

"Gee, I'm honoured."

Yang mumbled, looking a little red in the face. Her gaze went down to the tabletop, her cup of coffee still barely touched. The cookie that'd been provided with it had been gone though.

"Shopping with you was fun."

Blake looked triumphant for a moment. "See? When can we have sex? He'll feel good, for both of us." There was a wince that Yang made that Blake seemed not to notice, and Mrs Belladonna's eyes were a little tense in their gaze, with her eyes looking at him.

"Girls, why don't you go and have a little chat… I think I need a man's opinion on something I saw in the store half an hour ago. You don't mind, do you, Jaune? I need a man's eye on this."

She looked at him with a look that his mother also used from time to time to tell him to obey. A narrowing of the eyes, even with a smile that looked to be maternal, something that just told him to obey.

"Sure, Mrs Belladonna."

He knew that acceptance was the best option in this case. The coffee had been finished, somehow. He didn't remember drinking much of it, but the fragrance of coffee was near his lips, and the taste seemed to be on his taste buds.

"Enjoy, love birds. Don't be too naughty, Blake. You know that your father doesn't really like involving himself with a scandal…"

Blake looked a little uncomfortable, as she looked away, her Faunus ears flattened.

"Mom… I'm not that bad."

Yang looked sad, as she looked at Blake, but glanced at him. She was with Blake, but he felt sad for her. She was sad, so he hoped that he could make her feel a little better.

'Let's hope that the gift will make her feel happier. I don't like seeing her sad.'

"I bought this for you yesterday. I hope you'll like it."

He said, pulling the gift-wrapped perfume out after getting up. Yang looked at him, and the sadness seemed to fade away for a moment.

"For… me? You bought it for me?" She asked, as she looked at the gift and pointed at herself as he set it in front of her. He nodded. She turned a little redder in the cheeks.

"Oh."

She sounded a little emotional. He hoped that it hadn't been a bad move to pull it out now. "That's… sweet. Thank you." Blake looked at her girlfriend and seemed to perk up, Yang's eyes looking up at him. He found it to be entrancing, as her eyes seemed to warm up some more. He wanted to give her a kiss, but she was with her girlfriend and her girlfriend's mother.

"See? He'll make us happy. We're going to be happy, Yang."

He felt someone grab his hand, a smaller hand that had longer fingernails.

"Let's go, Jaune. Girls, here's something for you to spend."

Mrs. Belladonna spoke up, having placed something on the table, a bill of some denomination. He didn't know how much it was, as Blake pulled it away immediately, Yang looking at her and seemingly about to say something.


She almost dragged him along, her steps with a stride that was a little faster, walking out of the café and with him towards the park. He didn't comment on why they did that, as the woman directed him to a bench and sat down next to him. She looked at him seriously and took a deep breath.

"Jaune, something is wrong with you, right?"

He blinked. That wasn't a question that he had expected, though being dragged along wasn't something expected either. The woman looked at him, her eyes looking over him with a look that was like some sort of predator, watching him.

"I have autism."

He said, admitting it. It wasn't something that people liked. People didn't like those who were different and they most certainly didn't like those who were 'special'. He'd heard his sister Saphron talk about it a few times, talking about how hard it was for LGBTQ people to find employment, his sister having made a comment about it being not like autism. He hadn't really minded, after all, it was just something that he had, but there'd been some strict talking to his sister not to joke about that sort of thing.

"I see."

The woman said, though it wasn't a disapproving tone. "I don't mind. You are who you are."

He knew that. He was retarded, not stupid. Though he supposed that he might be stupid, given how often Cinder had said so.

"Do you want me to explain it in simple terms about… things? I'm not really familiar with autism, but if you need me to speak slowly, I can?"

He shook his head. "It is a pervasive developmental disorder, thought to be caused by some sort of imbalance in the formation process in the womb of the fetus, ensuring that a delayed development of certain functions is given… though I don't really know the actual chances. They've been changing the definition a few times. I don't like change much."

The woman smiled, patting him softly on the arm. She had a light and friendly touch, as her smile was more maternal, before she spoke up.

"Faunus are, for lack of a better word, animalistic. I'm… I'm actually not sure how to explain it to you, really, given that you may not see the world as I do. It's like watching a movie in black and white and for me, having colour and scent added."

The woman's voice was soft, as she stroked over his arm. It was comforting. It was a little like stroking a cat, but the cat was stroking him. He knew that his oldest sister was allergic to cats, so they'd never gotten one. Connie was allergic to dogs, so that wasn't good either.

"Blake is like me. She's passionate and warm, but distant, like her father, too."

The woman's voice was softer, as she let her gaze go around the park, the pleasant warmth of the sun soaking into her. She looked more catlike than before.

"What did Blake do to you, Jaune? Did she rape you?"

It was a soft, pleading voice, as the woman looked at him, her eyes looking really sad.

"Please, if you don't want to tell, just nod."

He should tell her the truth. Blake wasn't so bad and her mom was probably just worried about her. Retards shouldn't feel too happy about things, after all. "She just wanted to taste it. So I let her. She talked about her ex, and when Yang came back, she talked about making them happy."

A sharp exhale, something muttered in what seemed to be Chinese or something, before the woman gave a mirthless laugh. "Just a taste, was it?" He supposed it was.

"It wasn't bad. It felt good. Blake said that I'd make them both happy because I was a good man." She had told the truth, or at least, he hadn't detected a lie. People showed signs when they lied, because lying was bad. Cinder had never lied as she spoke her truth, after all.

"Jaune, sweetheart… Blake is not alright. I'm asking you again… Has she ever had sex with you?"

The softness of the woman's voice and the tone was a touch more weary and tired. He didn't like it when people were sad, the older woman looking at him with a very sad look on her face.

"Even if you didn't want it, or if you thought that you want it, it's not okay."

He knew that. He was a retard. Someone like Blake was infinitely better than him.

"No. Summer got her off me before she could do anything. She just said that I kept looking at her and smelled good." He worried now for Blake. Mrs Belladonna looked really sad, looking at him with an expression on her face.

"Has she told her about what happened to her?"

The woman's voice was small, as the woman looked at him with her eyes trying to understand what made him tick, that look brittle in its intensity, as a deep sadness lurked behind those eyes.

'She said that her mother wanted to take a sledgehammer to his face.'

"You wanted to take a sledgehammer to his face? Your husband would have probably killed him?" The woman didn't respond for a few moments.

"She told me that you had to take her to the hospital, and that you got mad enough to do something like that to her ex?"

The woman nodded, letting her fingers run through the short cut of her hair, her eyes fixing him with a look. "Faunus are very particular people, Jaune. We've got instincts, we've got habits that we can't shake."

A sad expression on her face. "My little baby girl was hurt by her ex." A pause, as the look of sadness increased, tears threatening to come from those eyes. He tried to comfort her by laying an arm around her shoulders.

"She lost her baby. He stabbed her, right in the stomach."

That was sad. The woman didn't stop, as she pulled him a little closer. It was not something that he felt was proper, but the woman seemed to need the warmth he had, or at least the closeness as she talked about it.

"My husband would have killed the boy if he'd known. I would, too. If he hadn't been arrested, I would've…"

There was a look on the woman's face, something that he'd seen on Summer's face too. That look of understanding, that look that Cinder had gotten when she'd talked about how he'd turn into smoke.

"He'll get what he deserves, as soon as he's free."

He could understand that feeling. The woman was angry. Sometimes, people got what they deserved. "Blake hasn't been alright ever since. I thought that, since she'd come back to school, been with someone that she clicks with, things would be better, but-" The woman paused.

"I was so happy for her when she told me that she'd met someone who loved her. I met Yang. She's a nice girl, a very happy girl and supportive of my little Blake. But-" The woman's eyes looked at him with a warning glint in their depths.

"But now there's you."

He was the problem. Just like what someone who was born defect was, a problem that needed to be dealt with. He could understand that.

"You smell like you're capable of protecting the family. You smell like you are someone who knows what is the most important thing in the world, the family. You've got a look in your eyes that tells people that they are the focus of your world for the moment. It's not a bad thing, don't take it as an insult, please."

He didn't. She was explaining things. "It's okay. I'm used to being disliked." The Faunus woman's ears twitched, as she made a difficult expression.

"My daughter got so aroused when she saw you that I could smell it, standing next to her. So aroused that if you'd been in a less public space, you'd be getting intimate with her. That is wrong, Jaune. That is so wrong on so many levels that I don't know how to say it. It's a huge slight against your partner to desire someone and to voice it aloud and it's even worse if you actively try to convince them to let you do such a thing."

The woman hesitated. "And to say that you would be the one that would make them happy… That's the worst thing you can say to your partner. It's about trust and faith in the pa- the family that you make. My daughter is sick. She's so sick with pain and grief that she is bad for her partner and for you." He wanted to say something in defiance of those words, but the woman seemed convinced, as she looked at him with imploring eyes.

"I'm not asking you to fully understand. I'm not a good mother, I've let this go on for way too long. She's my daughter and…" The woman's face looked teary, as tears came out.

"And I've let her down. She should've been in therapy, not dating someone immediately afterward. I thought that she was just a little moody, so I indulged her."

He could understand that. If Blake wanted to make Yang happy, then he would help her. "I'll make her happy, if that's what she wants."The woman audibly hissed at him like an angry cat. She looked at him, her golden eyes lit with a fiery energy, more feline than human at this point.

"She doesn't need that. She's trying to get pregnant. She is not ready for the burden of children yet. She's searching for a mate, someone who can be the father to the children that she wants, but she will hurt someone… And is already hurting her girlfriend."

The woman's voice was angry, sad and hurt at the same times, even with her expression barely changing much.

"But it's good that it wasn't rape… That's good. She's not aware of it, but she's leaking. Faunus are looking at her and it isn't right." The woman looked at him and then gave a soft smile. "You're close with Blake's girlfriend, right?"

He hoped he was. He nodded. "We're pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend. She loves Blake."He knew that.

"Good. That's… That's great. Do you mind if I make a few calls?"

The woman pulled her phone out. It was a new model, he saw. He shook his head. The woman sighed and patted his hand.

The phone call was in a language that was punctuated with several hisses and low yowls, a feline manner of speech that he'd never heard before. German was more angry-sounding than that, but this was something different altogether. The woman looked serious for a moment as she pressed the disconnect button on the touch screen.

"The girl likes you too. When you intervened by giving her that gift, she felt something strong. She's together with Blake, but…" The woman gave a low sound, as she closed her eyes. She didn't look great to his eyes, rather more worn down and tired.

"Blake's going to go away for a few weeks."

He looked at her. That meant that Blake wasn't going to be taken away permanently, right? "Will she be back?" The woman gave a soft nod. There was a look in her eyes that he didn't like. "Good." He said, trying to keep the conversation going. That was important too.

"I wouldn't want her to be killed or something for being defect in the head like me."

The woman shook her head lightly. "No, not defect. You're different, but I appreciate that. You can't lie. I wish more people had that quality. Blake is just using Yang for her own pleasure. I hate to say that about my daughter, but… She's in dire need of therapy. I'm not going to let my daughter become some sort of monster that she wouldn't like to see in the mirror in thirty years." There was a wry tone in her voice as the woman looked at him.

"I'm not used to hiding my emotions like Blake and her father. I'm sorry for asking you those questions but I had to know…"

He could understand that. He would ask questions too if he had children, however unlikely that seemed to be. "She keeps on asking whether we are going to have a threesome." He said, Kali's eyes saddening a little.

"She's not mentally right. She needs help, Jaune. You can't give that help. Yang can't give that help. Therapy can, and even then, I'm going to have her enter mandatory sessions. She needs this, or…" The woman sighed, looking at his face with a light expression of sorrow. "or she'll be a girl who can't ever bond with someone. I believe she loves Yang, but her body tells her to pick you. That isn't a situation I'd like anyone to be in, Jaune."

She got up, looking at him and smiling sadly. "We should join them again. I just had to talk with you for a bit, to find out things. It wouldn't be right if… if she'd done something like that. It wouldn't be right." Softly, the woman brushed her fingers over her outfit, getting rid of specs of dust, her eyes looking warmly at him.

"Now… indulge an old woman for a bit… What do you think about Yang?" He looked at the woman's face, noticing that her eyes had seemed to light up a little. "Doesn't she look delightful? Don't you want her to be your girlfriend?" He wanted that, but he was sure that Yang would not like that.

"She's with Blake."

He said, Kali looking at him and frowning. A slow shake of the head. "No, she's with Blake. They are together, they are happy together." The woman looked at him and smiled sadly.

"Then they are happy together."

The words didn't sound happy, as the woman exhaled through her nose, the age-lines on her face making her look older. "It's such a shame… Such a damn shame." There was something in her voice, as she started to walk back in the direction of the café.

"What would you do to Blake's ex?"

The woman smiled softly, though her eyes were cold. They looked like Summer's when she'd gone away.

"Host a barbecue. Beef only."

There was a flashing of teeth and he could see that look in those eyes again, as the woman's tongue slid over her lips. "Oh… There will be some guests who will just adore the taste." Teeth that looked sharper at the canines than human teeth, as she looked at him.

It wasn't a very pleasant look, but the smile on her lips turned warmer. "Do you want an invitation? It's still a hundred and thirteen days until he's served his sentence…" Those eyes remained like Summer's. He could understand that. The woman was angry, though he didn't get the context of the barbecue. It'd be fall around then, he guessed. Maybe winter?

"If you want me? I know I'm just a friend of Blake's, but-"

She shook her head lightly, smiling more genuinely. It was a warming feeling inside him that he felt, as if she saw him for who he was, for him. The woman didn't see him as something weird, she'd acknowledged him.

"All of her friends are welcome. Vegetarians not, I guess, but I hope you're coming hungry. It's been a while since we've had a Faunus barbecue. Not much opportunity for it, here in the States. Laws are too tight." Her eyes were lighter, as she nudged him with her elbow, a grin on her face that was catty, much like Blake's.

"Do you have that in Menagerie often?"

He inquired, curious. There wasn't very much known about some Faunus customs, because they generally kept quiet about such things. Their presence wasn't very high in this part of the world.

"On occasion. It's a way to get together and to banish the bad things away, permanently. It wouldn't make sense to you, because you don't have the senses, but there is a feeling inside us feline Faunus… Well, that isn't that important. I am happy that you are Blake's friend. She needs a good friend like you." A light smile played on her lips, as the woman leaned forward. He could see her cleavage, as she smiled cattily at him.

"Why, I might get ideas if I saw a nice young man like you strolling alone…"

She was teasing, as her eyes showed. "but my husband would object. Family is something that we value highly. A life snuffed out before it has even begun is a taboo. We do not forgive such things. We do not forget."

He could understand that. He was sure that Blake would find someone better than him, though. He wasn't really someone all that important. They returned, Blake looking at him and motioning for him to sit down next to her, Mrs Belladonna giving him an encouraging smile as she sat down next to Yang. He let her talk to them. That was better. He didn't like to lie.

"They didn't have it anymore… Oh well, we'll find something equally nice, won't we?"

Her mask was back in place, ready to be donned, not even halting the brief moment of interruption, as Yang looked at the woman with an uncertain look. He smiled at Yang, as he felt Blake's hand brush over his side. It was a light tracing of her fingers over his side, but her nails slowly scratched over his skin.

"You smell like my mother."

The whisper of Blake in his ear was low, as her hand slid down, grabbing a hold of his groin, her tongue sliding over his cheek, marking him with a trail of saliva. He watched Yang tremble, as the hand moved. Yang's eyes followed the motion, as Mrs Belladonna merely watched. Blake's delicate fingers hooked and groped, the feeling uncomfortable, as he knew that something was wrong with her.

"Blake, please stop that."

He said, his voice a little louder than before, Blake's hand groping. Yang trembled, her face trying to keep on smiling but hurting. He could see it in her eyes, that sad look. She was trying to pretend it was okay and failing at it.

"Good babies… Yes, you'll make us happy. Yang said she'd go first, but I'm…"

His hand grabbed her wrist and he pulled her hand away, looking at her with a look. Her other hand tried to go for there, as she looked at him with her golden eyes questioning.

"No, Blake. No."

He didn't want this, but he would stop her from hurting Yang. Blake could call him anything she wanted, but she couldn't be allowed to hurt Yang.

"You're hurting Yang. I know that I'm just pretending to be her boyfriend for her father's benefit, but she is too nice to hurt."

She didn't understand. He could see it in her eyes. They were looking at him with a look as if she didn't understand fully what was going on. The eyes were unfocused and there was a sweet smell around her. Her mother looked more serious the more her daughter spoke.

"Do you want a blowjob first? I've been practising. I can make you feel really good."

He saw Yang out of the corner of her eyes, her eyes not happy. She looked really sad, hearing what her girlfriend was telling him. Mrs Belladonna looked on passively, her face not changing in the slightest from that serious face.

"I just want you to make love to me. I don't care that you've raped someone. You can do it to Y-"

'No, I don't think you will finish that sentence.'

His head butt dazed her as his forehead hit hers and rattled her a little, an impulsive action that had to prevent her from saying that. He would not do that to her or to anyone, even if people whispered about it and talked. Even if they did paint it on his locker and they asked those horrible questions.

"No, Blake. No. "

Yang was trying to get away, he could see. She felt just how he felt, to hear the girl that she loved say such a thing. Blake didn't understand, looking at him. She was ignoring Yang. That wasn't alright.

"Mama, can you hold him down? I want him. I want to b-"

"No." He wouldn't let her do that, as his hands firmly seized her grip. She kissed him, or rather, tried to kiss him, a clumsy attempt, looking at him with those eyes. He kept himself out of her reach.

"Look at me more. I'll be a good girlfriend, even if you hurt me. I just want your babies. Please?"

She was sick, he could see. Those eyes were like Cinder's, they were hurt and yearning for something that she could not have, not yet. She was running away from reality.

"Is there a problem here?"

One of the employees asked, and he didn't answer, trying to keep a firm hold on Blake. It was harder than he thought, her body twisting slightly, trying to get closer to him.

"My daughter has an… issue. Don't worry, we'll leave. She needs her medication."

The woman's voice was strict, as she reached and grabbed Blake in her neck, in a spot slightly at the base. Blake froze up. "Hormones… Not the best time of the month for us Faunus." It was an excuse that she used, but he knew that it looked bad.

A tall young man manhandling a young Faunus woman? That wasn't appropriate, he knew. "Yes mama." Blake's voice was meek, as the fight seemed to go out of her. "I'm sorry, Jaune." Her voice was soft, as he looked at her and then looked at Yang. She was half-raised from her seat, her eyes looking a little teary.

"Do you need some tissues?"

He asked. He knew that this must hurt for her, because it hurt to see her like this. He felt bad for her. She didn't deserve something like this and he wanted to hug her and tell her it was okay to cry.

'Is this what empathy is like? Do I feel like I care for her?'

"I'm fine, Jaune, I'm-"

She didn't look fine. She looked like she was going to cry. Blake didn't see that.

"Let's get out of here, Jaune, Blake."

Yang said, in an approximation of her regular voice. She led the way, as Kali pushed her daughter forwards, Blake moving without any sort of resistance, her eyes on him the whole time.


They found themselves walking along, Yang's face looking troubled. He walked alongside her, whilst there was a feline hissing in front of them, Mrs. Belladonna moving her daughter along whilst speaking in something that sounded like the feline language, Blake barely saying something in return.

'This isn't good.'

She wasn't looking very well. She looked sad and there wasn't that shine in her eyes that made him want to look into them for hours on end. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She started to say something, but instead just squeezed him back harder than before. She looked sad as she did, her eyes looking into his own for a bit.

"I'm not going to do anything with her, I promise. You're her girlfriend."

He said, Yang's face trying to muster a smile but not being able to. The sad eyes just looked at him and she swallowed.

"It hurts." She whispered, his ears picking it up perfectly. "It hurts so much. You may not get it, but…" Her voice trailed off, as she looked at the two Faunus women that walked in front of them, Kali definitely the one who spoke the most.

"It hurt so much to hear her say that."

"Sometimes, people get hurt. She loves you, though." He knew that. Blake was genuine in that part, he knew. She was just not feeling right, that's why she'd want to make Yang do that. He was just a retard, after all. Who'd want to have babies with someone like him?

"Someone who'd like you has to be sick in the head…"

Cinder's voice whispered in his mind once more, as Yang looked at him, a soft look in her eyes, as her hand squeezed his for a moment.

"I wonder if she ever did. She told me that she lost her baby. That jerk stabbed her in the stomach and caused her to lose it. He didn't want it."

He'd been told, but he didn't know whether he should tell. It had been admitted by Mrs. Belladonna, so it was perhaps a secret between him and her?

"I love her."

Yang said, looking at him, stopping. He stopped with her. Her pretty white dress made her look even better than before, a smile on her lips that was bitter.

"I love her so much, but it hurts me so much to hear her talk like that. It's not you who is wrong, Jaune."

He knew that he wasn't wrong. He wouldn't want to sleep with Blake. She wasn't thinking right. She must be sick, because why else would she pick him?

"Cinder said that someone who'd like me has to be sick in the head."

Yang looked at him and then shook her head. She shook her head a few times as if trying to convince him of her being right.

"Jaune, I-"

She wanted to say something but she couldn't. He could see it in her eyes, a look at Blake and then at him. "Please pretend to be my boyfriend for a little longer, please?" Her eyes were begging him, pleading almost.

'You're so pretty. You're warm. I like you.'

"Please?" Her voice was thick with emotion. "I'm not-" She brushed against him with her hips. It was a light touch and she smelled a little of cherries.

"I said I would."

He felt a light kiss against his cheek, her breath escaping her lips, a soft whisper of 'thank you' in his ear, her fingers holding him a little harder. It was really hard not to go for her lips, to kiss her and make her feel better. She was looking at him, her eyes staring for a moment, as a little smile flashed onto her lips.

"Thanks. For the gift too. I'll open it when I get home. You really shouldn't have bought it for me, it was okay with just the lipstick."

She sounded embarrassed, like his sisters when they'd done something silly. He didn't like it when they dolled him up, but Yang looked nice when she was like this.

"A good boyfriend gives his girlfriend a gift because she is the most beautiful girl in the world to him."

He knew that it was perhaps a silly line from a movie, but she was a pretty girl and she was Ruby's sister. Yang went quiet, as her eyes didn't look at him. He didn't mind that. He was an embarrassment anyways.

"H-hey? D-don't get ahead of yourself, okay?"

She sounded a little confused, as if she didn't know what to say. Her cheeks were red, and he wondered if he'd said the wrong thing. Girls didn't like unannounced gifts either. "It's just for a…" She paused, looking into his eyes. He stared back.

"Just for a week."

A sniffle came from her nose. He held up the tissue pack he kept around just in case. She took one and wiped at her eyes. It was good to be prepared. "Best boyfriend ever." He heard her say, as she hooked her arm around his, pulling him closer. She felt a little happier, she looked a little happier.

"Just until Sunday and mom is back…"

She whispered something after that, but he wasn't sure whether she meant to say it aloud. She looked at him with eyes that looked sad and distant.

'And then it ends… She must be happy to be rid of me, so she can stop pretending. I'll make her feel good. I'll be the best boyfriend she can have, even if it costs me all my money.'

She was a good person. Blake was a good person as well, even if she was a little strange. He'd do his best to make Yang smile. She deserved a smile, just like her mother smiled.

"I'll do my best. You are worth happiness."

Yang's eyes kept up with his own, a faint smile on her lips at the thought.

"Thanks, Jaune. Gee, where's my robot boy gone, huh?"

Her voice was lighter, as her smile returned. A pretty smile, as he watched her blossom like a flower in the morning.

"You're going to make me fall in love with you if you keep that up."

There was an odd quality to her voice, a sort of breathy hesitation, as he smiled at her. She smiled a little more, her hand squeezing his own. "Jaune, I'm not-" She paused, looking back at the Faunus, who'd stopped to stare. "We should rejoin them."

"You're someone worth falling in love with."

He'd said it on an impulse. His chest hurt a lot, as she seemed to freeze up a little, her body just stopping, as she inhaled and then let go of his hand as if he'd burned her.

She didn't answer. He'd messed up again. He'd said what he'd thought, what he'd felt. He was just someone stupid, someone who could never be the boyfriend that someone perfect like Yang deserved. He was wrong for liking her more than most, he was wrong to even think that. He'd been the wrong one, hoping beyond hope that Yang would do something more, to feel… more.

'It's all just pretend. She'll be back with Blake again, she'll be the girlfriend for Blake and I'll be still alone. Ruby…'

Ruby was still his friend, but that didn't mean he wanted to do things with her. It had been uncomfortable with her asking to see him. He didn't like that very much, but… Yang, for Yang it was okay. If she asked, he would… Because she was Yang.

"Hey there, lovebirds…"

Mrs. Belladonna spoke up, as Blake looked at him, her ears flattened to her head, looking unsure of herself, Blake stepping forth.

"Yang, I'm… I'm going to go away for a while."

Yang looked stricken, her face looking like a dark cloud had just moved over it. Yang looked at him, her eyes aghast. She was drawing a conclusion, looking at him as if he'd been the incarnation of something bad.

"No, not because of him… Well, because of him."

Blake grimaced, looking at her. "I've got a… problem. It's not you, but if that problem isn't taken care of, I'll- I'll do bad things." Yang looked sad. He grabbed her hand, trying to comfort her. "He's too good for me."

A soft moan came from Yang's mouth, as she looked sad. "No, don't cry. He'll be good for you too. He's good. He's good, Yang." Yang didn't seem to hear the words, as Mrs Belladonna tapped her daughter on the head.

"What she means to say is that he's someone you can trust, Yang. She loves you, but until she has it sorted out… She can't be around."

Yang hiccupped a little, sadness around her. He tried to give her better feelings but he knew that it wouldn't really work. He wasn't the guy she wanted.

"I love you, Blake."

Yang murmured softly, her voice sounding so hurt. He recognized a hint of Summer in that voice. "We can talk about it, we can work something out."

"It's for the best, Yang. She needs this, or she'll do something else, with someone you don't know. She's got the urges and those need to be squashed, or she'll do something worse. What if she reacts to someone else?"

The horror in Yang's eyes was there, and Jaune frowned at Blake, who whimpered.

"I'm sorry, Yang. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just wanted to… He's such a good man for us." Her words hurt Yang more, he could see it.

"Did you ever love me?"

Yang spoke with some heat in her voice, though the tone changed to a defeated one after a moment. "Was all of it just some biological urge?"

"She loves you."

Jaune said, trying to make things right, Yang turning to look at him and giving him a look that made him feel unpleasant. Her eyes were a flaming red, almost too heated. She looked like she was ready to shout. She did.

"What do you know?! You don't feel things like we do!"

That hurt a little. A little much, because he started to feel some moisture drip down his eyes. It might just be an irritation in the air, maybe the heat.


He put on a smile though he felt like crying on the inside. She was Yang. She was important to him, so he would take the blame. What good was he for such things? She looked disturbed, as if she couldn't understand what she'd just said.

It'd been the truth, though. What did he know? He was just someone who was born with a defect, someone who could never experience the world as they did.

"She looks at you alone and she talks about you more than she does about me. Nobody would really love me, I know that."

He nodded, even though he could feel that sinking feeling of something hurting inside his chest. It was true. People were watching, staring. They always watched. There were droplets on the pavement. He didn't know why. It wasn't raining, but his eyes felt a little wet.

"But she loves you. No matter what, I can see that."

He smiled, though it wasn't a happy smile as far as he knew, gazing at Mrs. Belladonna and her with an understanding look.

"I'll leave. I hope you'll feel better, Blake. I'm sorry for being a bother."

He left. It was better to leave than to make people get even angrier. Yang had said what she thought. She was true to her feelings. What did he know about emotions? He was just someone with a defect, and nobody would ever…

He took a moment to pause after rounding the corner, looking into a window to notice that his eyes were leaking tears. He wiped his hand over his eyes, wiping away the wetness. He put on his best smile and then went home. Yang had gotten her present. That was what was important. He'd call her in the morning and make sure that she'd keep up appearances for her father, even if she hated him.

'I was stupid.'

He really was. His heart ached and hurt and it was like a chainsaw was digging into it. He'd liked Yang, but she was not liking him back.

The ringtone was still to the default tone, as he picked up.

"Jaune? Jaune, can you… come back? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that, but I was just so hurt and- Please? Please come back? For me?" He looked at his phone and he felt his heart hurt some more. Did she just want him to be her pretend boyfriend? Was she like Cinder too?

'Does anyone see me for who I am, or am I just convenient?'

"Okay."

He said, and turned around, trying to get himself under control again. His hand balled into a fist and the pain of his fingernails pressing against his palm snapped him closer to that state where he could handle things again.

'Do it for her. She smiles and you feel happy… You want her to feel happy, right?'

Yang looked a little distraught, even as Blake looked miserable. She was looking a little red-eyed, her mother giving a very disapproving look at her daughter. Yang looked bad, her eyes a little red again. They were a deeper purple colour now, as she looked at him.

"I'm back."

He said, though he didn't feel happy. She smiled softly at the way he delivered it. He felt numb on the inside. Yang didn't look at him very happily.

"Welcome back, Jaune."

She sounded sad, as she suddenly hugged him. The world felt right, as she held him strongly. "I'm just… hurt. I'm sorry that I said that to you, you're not the one to blame. I'm sorry."

He could see Mrs. Belladonna give him a thumbs-up and Blake look away, not looking at him. He wrapped his arms around Yang awkwardly, trying to offer her whatever comfort he could. He felt a lot better now for some reason.

'You're wasting your time… I'm not someone you can love.'

"I'll be your boyfriend then. It's just pretending. You're going to be back with Blake when she returns."

He tried to say it as it was, as Yang gave a soft smile. It was enough to make him react, as she looked at him. She glanced back at Blake and then looked at his face again.

"Yeah… We're still together, even if she's gone for… for a bit. She needs to get better, and- And I'm sorry, okay?" He knew that she had meant those words, but he forgave her.

"It's okay. You're too pretty for me to be upset with."

She seemed to like those words, as she smiled. She kissed his cheek very gently, letting go of him. It felt nice. It felt comforting.

"You're so sweet. I'm not… Let's have a good bit of exercise together tomorrow morning, Jaune. I'll pick you up at eight?"

He knew she would be a little late, but that didn't matter. As long as she tolerated him, he'd be there for her. He was an Arc and an Arc always kept their word.

"It's a date, 'girlfriend'."

She smiled at him. He smiled back at her.

"Sorry Blake, he's going to be with me for a while."

The light-hearted voice of hers was something he wanted to hear, but it was all just fake. She didn't want him. But he could imagine for a moment that it was true.

"I like you."

He mumbled. He didn't know what else to say, as she looked a little sad. He understood. But he still wanted her to know that he liked her.

"I like you too, Jaune."

Her voice was really soft now, as he felt tears come up. He didn't like to cry. Cinder hadn't liked it when he cried, because retards were too stupid to feel emotions. He wanted her to love him.

"Jaune? I'm sorry too." Blake mumbled, joining in that brief hugging moment. "Mom told me that I should apologize, and it's…" She sighed, looking between the two of them. She said something, but it was just cat sounds, a long miao ending the sentence, her mother giving a soft sigh.

"They can work that out whilst you're gone, kitten. You need to get better. You need help. They'd be hurt if you don't." The woman sounded nice. She had sounded like she'd understood. They were Faunus but that didn't matter. They were just like humans, just with kitty ears.

"Jaune? I'm sorry for saying that."

Yang said, her fingers brushing over his side as she grabbed a hold on him. "I'm just not… okay with it."

He mustered a smile. She sounded like her mother. He could forgive her. She'd apologized and hadn't meant it. He'd…

He'd make things right. Ruby was his friend and Yang was… special. Just as her mother was special too. He would make sure that she had the best fake boyfriend, because she'd just need to be happy. He liked her so much that he'd just pretend.

"I'm keeping my word."

He said, looking her in the eyes. She looked a little taken aback by him, his eyes looking into her own. "I said I would. You love Blake and that is good."

Yang's eyes were widening, as she seemed to be thinking about something. Blake's fingers wrapped around his hand and Yang's, the Faunus girl looking at him and then kissing his cheek and hers. "I like you both."

He didn't know what to think of her now. She was running away, it seemed. "Can I go?" He asked. He didn't feel very comfortable, as Blake and Yang looked at each other, Yang's eyes looking like she was going to cry again. He didn't like it when girls cried.

"I'll… Bring your swimshorts, Jaune. We're going to be getting some nice tanning done." Yang's voice held a small smile, as she brushed a finger through Blake's hair. They were together. He'd never be there with Yang in the same way.

"I hope you get better soon, Blake."

He said, genuinely meaning it. She at least could be fixed. He was stuck with this for life, and he knew that. Cinder might have been right, but he knew that he'd have to be a good person.

"Thank you. Being around you two is good. You're so great. She's like the sun and you are the earth." Her mother sighed, as she shook her head lightly.

"I'm sorry it came to this, Jaune."

The woman cared for her daughter, just as Summer cared for hers. Summer had also cared for her friend Raven. Perhaps it was just time that he accepted that he'd not have anyone to really care for him.

"Yang? I'll see you tomorrow, right?"

He asked, for clarification. It never was a bad thing to ask for clarification. She looked at him and nodded, her blonde hair loose. He noticed that she was looking at him for a moment and stepped away, her eyes looking down.

"See you tomorrow, Jaune."

He could imagine that there was something warm in her tone, but that would just be a wishful fancy. She'd said that he couldn't feel emotions, and that was true…

But he'd make sure that she was alright. He'd said to Summer that he would do his best. He wasn't going to give up even if they hated him.

Blake said something to Yang as he was walking away, the wind rustling through the trees and making him feel like a burden had settled on his shoulders. It was a strange sensation, an awareness that he had gained.

'Cinder was wrong.'

He had cried. He'd felt emotions that were being hurt and he had felt… something.

Yang might be emotional, but she had apologized. He could understand her feelings being a mess after such a thing. Blake was not okay. He hoped she'd get better.


He arrived home around mid-afternoon, his older sister that went by the nickname Connie sitting on the couch with a magazine and a pen in hand. He sat down next to her, watching the news. There was more news about the disappearance of mister Frank. He hoped that the man was okay.

"So, what was the rush to go out today, huh?" His sister was talking to him, as he watched the news. He didn't really feel like talking. He felt a little more upset now. Yang had been emotional, she'd been frayed and stressed, so she didn't mean it, but…

'I'm not sure.'

"Oh. I met some friends."

He could call them friends. That fancy of wanting to be more than friends with Yang was just something that tore at him, so it wasn't needed. His phone beeped and he pulled it out.

Yang: I'm sorry. I'm not honest with you and I probably should be.

He texted her back.

Jaune: It's okay. She loves you.

His sister was looking over his shoulder and read the messages. He didn't like that very much. "Trouble with love, Jaune?"

She didn't really understand him very well, but she made something of an effort at least.

"She just broke up with her girlfriend for a break. Her girlfriend needs therapy."

He wasn't going to tell about the lost baby. That was private. Some people didn't like it when he told private things, so he kept that from them.

"Rough. Guess you're going to be her supporting pillar, aren't you? Little Casanova Arc."

He probably would be. If Yang needed him, he would come. She was his friend's sister, and she was a friend too. No matter what, if they needed him, he would come to help.

'She is so wonderful though.'

"I'd like to help. She is Ruby's sister." A soft sound of what might be pity came from his sister.

"Yeah, Saphron doesn't like the guys hitting on her, so you might best stay away from her, Casanova. How's that thing with her mom going?" He shrugged. Summer was out of state for a bit, he knew.

"She's on a trip to see her friend."

He wasn't sure whether that was the case, but it was logical. Summer had done something to him and felt bad about it, so she went to a place where she felt safe. He hadn't minded it though.

"Cool." He was sure that it would be nice for Summer to get some peace.

He went to bed early, knowing that he'd have to get up at seven to prepare for exercising with Yang.

It would be a new day and he would be able to see Yang again.

'Even if you dislike me, I said that I'd take care of you.'

His dreams were filled with Yang's words of earlier, continuously repeating. He'd be better. He'd try to make sure that she had the best time.


Well, this sort of breaks up Bumblebee for a while. Kali is not happy that her daughter is following her biological urges and hurting people. Some references to Faunus culture are made… And yes, I did take some inspiration from Australia and Oceania, which is a reference to Menagerie being 'a lot of desert and a lot of bad living'. Faunus are somewhat more animalistic, no matter how they wish to appear. Kali does genuinely bear Adam serious ill will.

Yang is earnest, but she's got a temper problem. She's quick to burst into anger, even if she'd know better. It's one of her flaws, but she genuinely does mean well.

Blake's behaviour was hinted at before, and Kali just points it out, as the mature adult… Yang doesn't even feature in Blake's train of thought except as an afterthought when Blake's wanting something. It's selfish behaviour, spurred on by the biological urge to replace what has been lost. You see it sometimes in big cats, mourning for one's child that perished.

Blake isn't bad in Summer Antics. She most definitely isn't in her right mind, and I'd like to state that she and Jaune and Yang probably would work really great together in this universe, as she understands somewhat how he thinks, compared to Yang's rather boneheaded comments at times… But right now, it'd just end up in a very messy situation.

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