Chapter Five: A Suspicious Dinner

The three were mostly silent on the way back.

It was only a few minutes when Rogue yawned, nuzzling against Jaune's shoulder as her body decided now'd be a good time to nap. It didn't help that her little body tended to conk out when she was weightless—quiet and barely moving against his shoulder.

Jaune was silent as well, though mostly he was trying not to wake Rogue up from her nap. He simply cradled her in his arms, September's hands unconsciously superimposed over his as he infused her jacket with warmth, comfort, and everything else he could think of to help her sleep.

Blake, meanwhile, only stared.

Her amber eyes flicked over the stand user and his daughter—the one that had figured out From Shadows's weakness, taken down Song Bird, and promptly healed her afterward. She observed as much of him as she could: The way he moved, how his eyes flicked around at the slightest noise—as if ready to get into an all-out brawl at any time.

She knew the look well.

Though, she wondered how someone like him had gotten it.

After a short walk, the three arrived at Curative Cuisine. Blake frowned as she saw the closed sign. "Well, what now?"

Jaune wordlessly produced his keys, unlocking the door and holding it open.

Blake blinked a few times before it clicked.

"Wait, you own this place?"

Jaune nodded, ushering Blake in before closing and locking the door behind her. "Yep! Well, sort of. Used to be I was just a tenant and this lower part was just a lobby of an old apartment building. When Junior found out I wanted to open a restaurant, he loaned me the money to turn it into one!"

Blake nodded a few times, frowning as the group made their way into the employee entrance, walking up the stairs to the apartments. "So…the guy who owns the building just let you renovate the bottom floor?"

Jaune gave a faint chuckle. "Well, he doesn't exactly own the building."

"What do you mean by that?"

Jaune shrugged. "Well, the building's in my name now—mostly so Junior doesn't have to deal with the property tax. He signed it over in exchange for me housing some of his staff at a fixed rate. They don't officially pay rent, but they tend to eat at Curative Cuisine and Junior pays me way more than he probably should to house them, so it all works out."

"It sounds like Junior's using you for money laundering."

Jaune opened the door into the second-floor hallway, walking toward his apartment as he shook his head. "Nah, I doubt it. If he was laundering money anywhere it'd be his nightclub. That place is always packed—plenty of ways to hide it."

He produced his keys again, opening the door to his apartment. "Welp, here we are! You can wait on the sofa if you want—I'd better put this," he lifted Rogue above his head, "Little munchkin to bed. Isn't that right, Rogue?"

The little girl didn't move an inch.

Jaune gave a bright smile as he walked into the nearby bedroom, leaving Blake alone.

She took up Jaune's offer to sit on the couch, focusing as From Shadows emerged onto the wall next to her. It dashed to the wall next to the hall he'd disappeared down, a standing order going through her mind: If he tries anything funny, kill him.

Even so, she began to doubt that she'd even need to use From Shadows. She was wary of him, of course. No one just welcomed a homeless faunus into their home for no reason. Even if he did feel he owed her as he'd said, he'd want something else. It wouldn't end after just this.

She had From Shadows prowl closer down the hall, her ears picking up the sounds of Jaune speaking from what she guessed was Rogue's room: "Goodnight, sweetpea. I love you!"

Blake would've smiled if the tone of his voice hadn't dredged up memories. Old, painful memories that jerked her lips into a frown. A ghostly touch trailed across her cheek, a distant warmth enveloping her as she recalled the last time she'd known a gentle touch.

She recalled From Shadows.

She didn't want to remember tonight.

It was a few minutes later when Jaune walked back around the corner, carrying the large, puffy coat Rogue had been wearing. He walked to the door, placing Rogue's coat on a hook next to a smaller one and two much larger ones—likely his own.

He at last turned to Blake, casually walking toward her. "Well, now that Rogue's asleep, I can get started!"

He held out his hand.

Blake's hands shot out, wrapping his arm in a vice-like grip as Jaune yelped.

"Don't touch me."

Jaune's eyes widened as he nodded a few times, holding up his other hand in a gesture of non-aggression. "Okay, okay! I'll just ask: What would you like to eat?"

Blake blinked a few times. "What?"

"I said—"

"I know what you said—why were you trying to touch me?"

September's arm emerged from his right shoulder, mimicking the non-aggression gesture of Jaune's right hand. "It's how I make food for my customers! September reads their auras to find out what they're craving or what things I should infuse them with—well, I'm still working on that second one so I usually just ask what they'll be doing and go from there. I didn't mean to startle you!"

Blake stared for a moment, expression unreadable before she slowly released her grip. Her eyes flicked to September's hand, slowly reaching out hers. "Alright, show me."

September gently grasped her hand, Jaune's face slipping from panic into a sympathetic frown. "You want grilled tuna and carrots—with a glass of whole milk to drink. You need…bravery. And—and comfort, too. You're scared of something—something from the past. It—"

Blake jerked her hand away.

"That's enough."

Jaune nodded, withdrawing September and walking to the door. He turned around, holding up one finger. "I'll make it downstairs and bring it up. Just give me a few minutes."

With that, he disappeared out the door.

Meanwhile, Blake stared after him, forcing herself to calm down as she sat back on the couch. Guess some memories are stored in our auras, huh? Pretty sure he could disprove a lot of scientific theories.

She gave a faint smirk. Well, if anyone could actually see his stand, that is.

She turned around, laying back on the couch with a sigh. It was one of the most comfortable surfaces she'd laid on in years—far better than the ratty mattress she'd been sleeping on. "Wonder if he'd mind if I just…"

Blake bolted up before her head could hit the couch.

Gah! What am I thinking? Just because he does one nice thing for me doesn't mean I should relax! He could be planning something! He has to be planning something! People like him always have some kind of dark side!

Her eyes flicked to the door, narrowing as From Shadows flickered into existence beside her. When he comes back…his stand is powerful, but it won't matter if I can incapacitate the user. One quick jab to the back of his head and I can take him out.

They softened as she looked down the hall.

But…then Rogue will be alone…

She recalled her stand.

"No…not again."

Blake leaned back on the couch, staring idly at the door and pulling her knees up to her chest. She kept her guard up, but thoughts of murdering the kindly stand user took a backseat to wondering who he was. Why was he so generous? How did he get that strange look in his eyes?

Just who was Jaune Arc?

…

Stand Name: From Shadows

Stand User: Blake Belladonna

Stats:

Power: C

Speed: A

Range: B

Persistence: D

Precision: C

Potential: B

…

Jaune came back ten minutes later.

He walked in carrying a large tray, with two plates and a large glass of milk resting on it. He walked to the couch, placing it on the coffee table. "I didn't have many carrots and the only milk I could find was 2%, sorry. Either way, enjoy!"

He turned, for the first time noticing Blake's absence.

He looked around, instinctively walking to Rogue's room first. Within he saw Rogue sleeping soundly, cuddling Colonel Cuddles. The only light in the room came from a small night light in the corner—shaped like a crescent moon.

He closed the door, opening the door to his bedroom. Flicking on the light revealed no one inside, everything just as he'd left it that morning. Even the slightly ajar window from where Neo had entered. He didn't even bother to lock it anymore—all it would do is slightly slow (and annoy) Neo before she entered anyway.

He walked to the bathroom, trying the knob to find it locked. "Hey, Blake? You in there?"

He got no response.

"Well, if you are, your food's ready."

He walked back into the living room, eyes widening when he saw the tray with Blake's food on it fly past him—From Shadow's carrying them to the bathroom. There, almost too fast for his eyes to see, Blake's hands shot out, dragging everything in before locking the door again.

Jaune walked over, leaning against the wall just across the door as From Shadow's dissipated. "You know you could've eaten in the living room, right?"

No response.

Jaune shrugged. "Okay. Well, just slide the tray out from underneath when you're done."

He got a muffled noise of agreement.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Blake stared at the door. From Shadows rested on the roof, more than ready to drop down and start throwing Jaune around the bathroom if he tried to force his way in. Her eyes were fixed on the lock, hoping it would be enough. Even if he did something to the food, he shouldn't be able to get in here without making some serious noise.

She looked down at the food, her stomach grumbling and mouth-watering as she smelled the grilled tuna. It stirred up memories within her—going to the beach with her mother, her father grilling out when she was little…so many memories just from the scent of a fish.

She sliced off a piece, plopping it into her mouth. All of the sudden, a burst of flavor ran through her entire being. As though she was jolted with energy, she began to scarf down the food on the plate, downing the milk with little hesitation.

She'd grown used to hunger over the years. A constant companion that she could never truly abandon—and that would never abandon her. It was almost strange to be filling her belly, and to feel something resting in her gut besides dread and fear.

She didn't realize she was crying as she finished the meal, tears falling to the ground. Every wound she had from the fight seemed a distant memory, even her oldest scars rapidly beginning to fade as warmth spread through her body. She felt it on her torso, her back, her arms—covering every part of her.

Her heart began to slow, a sense of peace and calm flowing over her being as she stared at the empty tray. For the first time in years, she felt her body slowly unwind. She actually felt…relaxed. It was an alien feeling to her—like a language she'd once known, but had long since forgotten.

Even so, she forced her guard to remain up. Forced From Shadows to stay at the door, ready to attack Jaune if he tried to force his way in. Even as she began to doubt he'd actually try anything on her, she forced herself to remain on guard.

A few minutes after she ate, Blake had to bite back a yawn. Getting tired…I should get out of here. Look around behind the building, find a heating vent to lay against or an old mattress or…or…

She was curling up on the rug in front of the bathtub before she even realized it. Her eyes were slowly closing, staring at the door as From Shadows pulled back around her—warming her with its embrace. This rug…more comfortable than what I normally sleep on, anyway…

Her eyes slipped shut as she drifted to sleep.

…

It was midnight when Jaune knocked on the bathroom door.

He frowned as he stared at it, worry on his face as he wondered why Blake hadn't come out. Trying the door revealed it to still be locked. Trying to summon September within revealed that Blake had at the very least eaten the food.

Maybe she just fell asleep? Then again, I felt a lot of injuries being healed…was she worse off than I thought? Was she dying and just really good at hiding it? No…No, I would've sensed it when I healed her, right?

He took a breath, September's hand coming from his.

Better check, just to be safe.

September's hand moved through the door, unlocking it before resting on the knob. He cleared his throat. "Blake, I'm coming in. Say something if you're using the bathroom, okay?"

He got no response.

He pushed open the door, eyes widening a bit as he saw the faunus girl curled up on the rug. Her arms were crossed beneath her, head resting at the place her forearms met. Her legs were pulled up to her chest, giving her the appearance of a particularly large housecat.

Though, what really surprised him was her stand. From Shadows was wrapped entirely around her back, its body coating her in a faint shade of black as its torso and arms rose above—its featureless face gazing directly at him. Though, as he stared, he noticed there was one feature on its face:

Two beady, red eyes. Barely even pinpricks.

Jaune walked forward, those pinpricks growing into marbles as it reared back, a noise he guessed was a growl coming from it. Her stand protects her while she sleeps? Maybe she gave it a command before she went to bed and now it'll follow?

Jaune held up his hands in a gesture of non-aggression, summoning September behind him as it did the same. "It's okay, it's just me. I came to make sure Blake's okay."

The eyes shrank back into pinpricks.

Jaune let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, walking to the discarded tray and glass as he recalled September. Okay, so it isn't completely mindless. Maybe Blake controls it while she's sleeping? Or her subconscious does? I'll have to ask about that later.

He left the bathroom, closing the door behind him before depositing the tray and glass in the sink. He let a yawn slip from his throat, pressing his hands into his back as he turned away. Glad tomorrow's a Sunday, at least. Wonder if Rogue'll let me sleep in for once?

He gave a faint chuckle. "Like that'll ever happen."

Jaune walked back to the bathroom, opening the door and frowning at Blake. From Shadows gazed at him, its red eyes impossible to see from the distance he was at. He took a few steps forward, holding up his hands and summoning September behind him again.

He squatted down next to Blake, about a foot from From Shadows. "Can you understand me?"

From Shadows nodded.

Jaune's eyes widened a bit. "Okay…you know—I'll be honest—didn't think I'd get this far."

The shadowy stand raised a hand to its mouth, making no sound as it mimed giggling. It seemed to be staring at him, though Jaune saw no pinpricks this time. Maybe it only shows those if it's aggressive or attacking? It gave a pretty human—well, faunus I guess—reaction, too.

Jaune cleared his throat. "Is that you, Blake?"

The stand shook its head.

Jaune slowly nodded, rubbing his chin. He'd not seen many stands—only five before tonight—but all of them had one thing in common: A lack of autonomy. Each one required the user to actively use them in order for them to work. Even Parasol's Witness, which Neo didn't have to directly see to use, still required her to know about it.

From Shadows, meanwhile, seemed to have a mind of its own.

He stood, shaking his head as he held out his hands. "Well, From Shadows, I'd like to move Blake into a more comfortable spot. Are you okay with that?"

The stand stared at him for a few seconds.

Then, slowly, it nodded.

Jaune gave a faint smile, walking over and moving Blake onto her back, lifting her into a bridal carry. As he did so, he saw the shadows pull back from her skin, From Shadows reconstituting itself as the same figure he'd seen at the restaurant across from him. He felt a faint, wispy presence on his hands, watching as From Shadows moved its hands beneath Blake as well—taking a bit of the weight off his arms.

He gave it a smile, walking to the bedroom with September opening the door for them. The two placed Blake on the bed, From Shadows melding into it and moving the covers over her. He smiled as he saw the sleeping faunus smile, pulling the blankets up to her chin and curling up just as she had in the bathroom.

Jaune walked to the nearby dresser, grabbing an old white t-shirt from within before heading back to the living room. There he rapidly disrobed, pulling on the shirt before falling back to the couch—the day at last catching up with him. He took a deep breath, letting it go as he closed his eyes.

Here's hoping Blake doesn't freak out in the morning.