Chapter 3: The Grimm in Human Skin
[13 Years Ago]
Set in between Vale's capital city {Valiant} and the infamous {Ruins of Mountain Glenn}, there is a small coastal settlement known as {Gloomfield} and despite its depressing-sounding name the town was actually quite lively and was surrounded by patches of beautiful wildflowers. According to the town records it was originally supposed to be named Bloomfield but the first Mayor decided to change it as both a joke and to not judge a book by its cover when they see or hear something that's not considered in a more positive light.
However, not everyone was able to have a life that was all sunshine and rainbows, especially six-year-old Giovanni Mugue. Ever since he was born, he was a rather sickly child with incredibly ghost-white pale skin and a bony body, he was considered a human skeleton by kids and was quickly considered an outcast by them. He earned some sympathy from older teens and adults thankfully so his life wasn't all that bad. Despite this, he had his amazing loving mother, Peggy Mugue, who promised him she would love and care for him no matter what. She even decided to unlock his Aura in hopes that maybe it would heal him better than he could on his own.
She was wrong and regretted it almost instantly because when Giovanni's Aura was unlocked it began to slowly but surely drain the boy's nutrients and strength dry making him twenty times weaker than before and his already bony appearance became even skinnier and shriveled like a raisin. Peggy felt horrible for what she did and when rushing him to the hospital, she learned that if she tried to seal his Aura again it would kill him...very painfully.
With no other option, Peggy had her baby put on life support while the doctors did everything in their power to find some sort of a cure or at the very least slow the process down...that was six weeks ago and nothing had changed and Peggy was beside herself with grief, not knowing what to do. Her husband did have one but it was not one she liked at all.
"Pull the plug!? You want me to just kill our baby?!" Peggy screeched in both shock and outrage.
"I hate to say this, but it's draining our finances. Even if I don't...they'll have to when we can't keep up the payments," He said before leaving the room. "I…I need some air."
It clearly hurt him to even suggest the idea. It was all a lose-lose situation...one that led to another loss in life. Peggy found her husband...dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a note on the ground.
'Tell little Gio, I'm sorry.' Peggy could only hope and just keep on living after that happened. She hated having to lie to Giovanni that his father died in battle but if he learned the truth it would break him even more. The insurance her husband left behind was a small mercy which she immediately put towards her son.
However, all would come to a head days later when a Grimm attack comes too close to home. The town guards were able to do their best to keep the Grimm at bay and drive them back, however one nimble Beowolf was able to slip past the defense and make its way to where it could devour the easiest prey, which happened to be the hospital...more specifically Giovanni's open window on the ground floor.
"GET AWAY FROM MY BABY!" Peggy roared before sucker punching the werewolf away from her son and proceeded to beat it to death with Aura-enhanced punches until it was nothing but black smoke.
Suddenly, Giovanni swiftly sat up with a feral look of hunger before somehow inhaling up the Grimm Essence, and much to his mother's shock, his body began to regain traces of normalcy but his eyes turned a darker shade of red. Peggy could only watch in awe as he leaped out of the window and shoulder tackled an Ursa Major into a house before proceeding to tear it apart, devouring it like a zombie. Once finished eating, something began to form out from his shadow which happened to be the very same Ursa Major he just devoured but its bone armor was red and its skull masks were more decorated like a Calavera skull.
Semblance Name: Psycho Gluttony | Class: Outsider | Info: Giovanni can enhance his physical capabilities to superhuman levels by consuming any form of negativity which includes but is not limited to negative emotions of people and the flesh/essence of Grimm. He is also able to summon minions of Grimm he has devoured to help aid him in battle he calls 'Phantoms'.
As young Giovanni stared up in awe and proceeded to hug his new friend, who he named Jojo, the other Grimm paused as they looked at the bizarre sight before them, and then Giovanni turned to them. One of the younger ones stepped back in fear, making the boy lick his lips, showing off his new razor-sharp teeth with a sinister smile. Jojo seemed to pick up on his master's desire and stood up at his full height of 9ft, bearing his new serrated claws with a grin matching his master's.
If the other Grimm could, they probably would have shit themselves by now in pure fear as the boy and bear changed them with savage roars of deminted delight and hunger.
By the end of the afternoon, the invading Grimm were eaten and Giovanni was asleep in the middle of town propped up against the side of an equally sleeping Jojo with content smiles on their faces. The rest of the townsfolk were horrified by what they saw but Peggy was just happy her son could live something of a normal life. The town realized Giovanni basically made repelling Grimm rather easy and he became the town's Grimm disposer being well paid to do so. However, Giovanni's semblance was Gloomfield's kept secret out of fear their good luck charm would be taken away.
Too bad for them, the word always has a way of getting out to people.
[Present Day]
"Ok, despite the fact this place is called Gloomfield...it's actually pretty nice," Marrow muses while looking around.
"I believe it was meant to be a joke by the town's founders. According to the data, they really like dropping shrooms." Seraphinite replied, making Elm and Marrow snicker in amusement while the others cracked smiles.
The Ace-Ops and Seraphinite were looking around only to see Peggy dragging a beaten Boarbatusk by its tusks.
"Come on you little shit! You want to deface my husband's grave...I'll just make you into cigarettes!" Peggy said, before hauling the pig Grimm into her home.
They could hear a squeal of pain and Seraphinite pointed out that it was the mother of the target. They got to the door and knocked before Peggy answered.
"I...who are you?" Peggy asked.
"We're the Ace-Ops ma'am, Atlas' finest military group. We're here on behalf of your son." Clover said with his charm playing the field.
"Oh brother," Peggy said dryly. "I figured this day would come and now I owe the town drunk a beer. So thanks for that...dick. What do you want with my son anyway?"
"Ma'am. Your son's abilities have people concerned...and wanting him to be put in a Huntsman Academy to properly use his powers. Atlas is even offering to pay for him to go to whichever school he wants." Seraphinite said seriously. "And pay you to convince him to do it."
"How much?" Peggy asked.
She did not really need the money per se, but she wanted to know just how much those bigwigs were offering. Marrow presented the briefcase, opening it to reveal two million in lien.
'Hello, Menagerie vacation!' She thought. 'Aside from that, maybe Giovanni could use professional training. I've taught him all I can about fighting but I'm not really a teacher.'
Peggy showed them all up to his room and opening it for them all...only to catch Giovanni at an intimate moment.
"That's it, work that ass...you dirty little-" Before he realized he had an audience and slowly turned to look at them.
They locked eyes and then there was screaming.
"Damn it, Mom!" Giovanni exclaimed before falling off his chair. "Ack, my dick!"
On his computer was a boudoir set of Elm and Harriet and he looked up to those two who were actually there.
"I'm not ashamed of it," Giovanni said bluntly, zipping up his pants.
Seraphinite pained no mind to her comrades' discomfort as she looked over Giovanni up and down. He was a rather tall person standing an impressive 6ft 8in with ghost-white skin, sickly yellow eyes that look constantly narrowed, red hair in a rockabilly/ Elvis-pompadour hairstyle that is also styled with spikes around the back which are black in color, and his body is slightly bulky and muscular. He also had three large jagged claw scars going down from his forehead to his waist which he openly shows.
His attire is an unzipped white leather jacket with his emblem, a Calavera skull with the left side being gray with a flower in the eye and the right side is red with the eye closed, dead center in the back with no shirt underneath, baggy black jean pants with torn leg cuffs held up by a black and white checkered belt, a pair of black and red combat boots with claw toes, and a black and white checkered headband.
"Sweetheart, not that I'm judging you for doing that...but you could lock your door," Peggy said, not wanting to walk into that. "…I at least lock mine."
"Mom, don't remind me," Giovanni mumbled with a blush
The one downside to his mother being a widow...a lot of masturbating and hookups. No relationships, but a simple yearning to get the itch scratched. The townsfolk did not really try to keep that a secret from Giovanni, as...he heard things when they did not know he was listening.
"Giovanni, these people are with the Atlas Military. They want to offer you a chance to go to a Huntsmen Academy...all paid for." Peggy explained.
"Oh really? And what if I say no, ya gonna shoot me?" Giovanni asks, giving a savage grin. "News flash, I'm pretty hard to kill."
"Well no. The easy solution would be to have Elm and Harriet give you a lap dance as a bribe." Seraphinite said sarcastically, making the two in question choke in disbelief. "It'd be better than paltry self-pleasure."
Giovanni looked at the gynoid girl with wide eyes...and then let out a hearty laugh.
"Can I get one from the hunky one?" Peggy joked as Giovanni slowed his laughter.
"Ok, you got me laughing. But let's be serious...I assume there's more to the offer." Giovanni said as Marrow cleared his throat.
"Two million lien would be given to your mother in exchange for your attendance." Marrow explained.
"They're that desperate to have me...you know what I'll take it, but you…" Giovanni said, pointing at Seraphinite. "I'm in the mood for a spar and you got me laughing...you'll do just fine."
Seraphinite cracked her knuckles in challenge as the two headed outside to the backyard.
"So, about what's on the comput-" Vine asks.
"I was desperate and needed the money…" Harriet muttered going after Seraphinite.
"I'm going to watch the fight…" Elm grumbled walking off dragging Vine with her.
"Well Giovanni's going to be busy, and I could use some company," Peggy said with a grin.
"Wait up guys!" Marrow said only to be caught by the collar in Peggy's iron grip. "Eep."
"Now, I'm going to need two brave young men," Peggy said with a wider grin. "And I just love having a Faunus in the sheets."
'Ah, the blessing of having good luck as a Semblance,' Clover thought mirthfully as he and Marrow were dragged off into the MILF's room.
KHGM
"So how are we gonna do this spar?" Seraphinite asks as she stands in Giovanni's rather spacious backyard.
"Hand to hand purely, no killing blows, and the first one to surrender wins," Giovanni said before cracking his knuckles. "Semblances are allowed, however."
"Then you've already lost," Seraphinite coldly said while slipping into a fighting stance with Giovanni doing the same only his stance was more relaxed.
Vine stepped up to act as the referee.
"Are you both ready?" He asked the two fighters who nodded. "Then begin!"
[Cue BGM: Dragon Ball Z Budokai 2 OST - Fortitude Indomitable Spirit]
Seraphinite makes the first move by rushing at Giovanni with insane speed, fainting a straight punch to his face before vanishing and then appearing behind him with a roundhouse kick to the side...which Giovanni easily blocked with one hand.
"Oh, this is going to be fun," Giovanni spoke, grinning wickedly.
He then grips Seraphinite's leg before tossing her up in the air before jumping up after her and begins to attack the gynoid with a flurry of punches laughing like a manic while the gynoid did her best to block the powerful blows. He then performs a swift overhead axe kick that sends the girl to the ground before diving after her with a piledrive which she was thankfully able to dodge as he left a crater where he landed. Giovanni swiftly jumps out before chasing after Seraphinite, his relentless onslaught never wavering as the gynoid did her best to evade and block.
'His attacks hit like a truck.' Seraphinite grunted in her mind. 'He is clearly not pulling his punches...guess it's time I stop pulling mine.'
Sera jumps away from Giovanni before flaring her Aura, which is an aliceblue color, making Giovanni pause before gaining a savage grin.
"So you're getting serious huh? Well allow me to do so as well," Giovanni said while flaring his own dimgray-colored Aura while making a come hither motion. "Bring it, sweet cheeks."
"As you wish," Seraphinite said before her eyes glowed and teal-colored electricity formed around her body.
Semblance Name: B.E.P. (Biological Electromagnetic Pulse)| Class: Manipulator | Info: Seraphinite is able to produce electric blue electricity from her body which allows her to temporarily shut down the nervous systems of living beings as well as certain machinery.
Giovanni glowed before manifesting a long black arm of aura extending him towards her to pierce the field only to meet resistance. He recoils the arm letting it fade away before manifesting a flock of small Nevermores made of shadowy energy swarm out to attack her. Seraphinite used her field as an electric fly swatter to destroy most of the birds before they got smart and flew out of the way.
Giovanni clenched his fist as it glowed with aura before punching the ground producing a blazing shockwave that raced towards her. Seraphinite returned fire by punching the ground to produce her own shockwave causing a small explosion with smoke littering the ground. Giovanni sprang into a headstand with his legs outstretched, rapidly spinning at her before springing over her to land a chop only for her to catch it effortlessly.
"Not bad, but not enough," Seraphinite said before lifting him up and slamming him on the ground.
Giovanni pulled her into a headbutt with a Grimm skull formed over his forehead forcing her to stumble back as he got up. He then whipped out a Grimm cigarette before lighting it up to take a drag.
"Lady, I don't just deliver enough, I deliver extra," Giovanni said smoothly.
"I suppose that's why your computer screen looks sticky and your room smells of desperation." Seraphinite snarked.
"You sassy bitch." Giovanni snarked right back. "I like you all the more. All right, you convinced me."
[End BGM]
"Well, at least we don't have to give a lap dance," Harriet said with a sigh.
"Who said you didn't?" Giovanni said only to get punched by Elm which he shrugged off easily. "I probably deserved that, but I regret nothing."
"This day can't get any worse," Elm groaned
An audible scream of pleasure made them all pause and Harriet facepalmed.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" Giovanni growled storming into the house with the others following.
They arrived to find a pleased Peggy in a soft pink bathrobe easing into a chair as a ragged Marrow stumbled out panting like he ran a marathon. Clover unashamedly walked out looking all the more pleased as Giovanni just glared at him with murderous intent.
"Ok, I hope you enjoyed fucking my mother...and I hope it was worth me choosing to go to Haven," Giovanni snarled at them before leaving the house to finish his smoke.
"Well, mission complete...but I'm pretty sure you two will have to explain to the general why we're paying for him to go to Haven," Seraphinite said as Marrow began to sweat.
"I wouldn't worry...now...I'm still in need of a bit more company." Peggy said as Marrow scrambled out of the door. "Nice guy, but I think he's a bit exhausted. Anyone willing to tag in?"
Vine had the urge to run away because she looked like she would eat him.
By the end of the day, Giovanni and Seraphinite were off to Haven, the Ace-Ops were going back to Atlas, and Peggy was going on vacation. Only to find days later upon getting to Mengearie...she may become a mother again.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: Bet y'all didn't see that coming huh? Giovanni's semblance is pretty crazy I know but I wanted a real wildcard of a semblance and someone actually eating Grimm to gain power is probably the best one I can think of. Alright down to the wire now, just one more chapter and all of KHGM will be revealed. This one is gonna be pretty interesting so stay tuned and make sure to leave a review!