Missing In Action

Chapter 7

After the incident with the robber, the night passed by in a blur. Cinder ran, and she didn't stop running until she was deep in the forest. Only then did she allow herself a chance to rest up, and only because her wounds had started to ache again.

She'd leaned up against a tree and fallen asleep that night. When she awoke, she'd expected to be alone, but she wasn't.

Cinder opened her eyes, and found herself face-to-face with Miles. He was sitting on a tree stump a few feet away, staring at her with his arms crossed.

"Sleep well?" he asked.

Cinder scowled. "How did you find me?"

"Wasn't hard. You didn't make it as far as you thought – guess your old wounds started acting up. Once Jaune told us where you'd taken off from, we had half the family out looking for you. Took us awhile, but I finally stumbled on you."

"Why bother? What do you want?"

"To bring you home."

"I have no home," Cinder hissed. "Last night proved that."

"What, that incident with the would-be robber?" Miles shook his head. "You did good, protecting my son like that. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

"What are you talking about? Jaune looked at me like I was some kind of monster. I suppose I am, given what I did in the past. I don't belong here, Miles. Your family's too good for me."

Miles exhaled softly. "You've got nowhere else to go."

"Then I'll wander until I find somewhere," Cinder insisted.

"While you're still not fully recovered? No chance."

"So, what, you're going to force me to stay?"

"Of course not," Miles stated. "You're free to do whatever you want, Cinder, whether that's staying or leaving. I won't stop you. If you really want to go, I'll head back now and tell the rest of the family that I couldn't find you, and then you'll be free to do whatever you want. But before that, I want us to talk."

"Is that not what we're doing now?"

"You know what I meant. What changed all of a sudden? You were fitting in just fine over the past few days. Seemed to me like you were enjoying yourself."

Cinder fell silent for a moment and looked away. "...It's Jaune."

"Yeah, what about him?"

"The way he looked at me, after… what happened. It was like he was afraid of me."

Miles paused, surprised. "And that bothered you?"

"Yes," Cinder growled. "It did. Jaune is… the first one I really opened up to. He's important to me. You all are, but-"

"-It's different with Jaune, somehow," Miles finished. "If you don't mind me asking, can you explain how?"

"No, I can't," Cinder said with resignation. "All I know is that I feel different around him compared to the rest of the family. It's like… he's the one I can rely on the most, the one who will always give me a chance." She let out a small, mirthless laugh. "He's too nice for his own good."

"Maybe he just sees something in you," Miles told her. "Ever think of that?"

"What could he possibly see in me? I'm a black ops assassin who personally gunned down scores of his own countrymen. The fact that he isn't trying to kill me is a miracle I'm thankful for every day. I'm more than satisfied just knowing that for whatever reason, he seems to actually like me."

"You're selling yourself short," Miles pointed out. "Yes, you were an assassin, and you did kill people, but you're leaving out the impetus for all that. The only person you trusted put you up to all of that. He lied to you and took advantage of you to turn you into his own personal grim reaper. There was nothing you could have done to prevent that. Do you really not understand why none of us hate you, and why we opened our home to you? It's because we know none of that is your fault, Cinder. And we also know that you can change."

"If I can change, then explain last night," Cinder demanded.

"You saw a threat and reacted to it without thinking, which is exactly what your training told you to do. You're a soldier, Cinder – that's to be expected. I would've done the same thing in your position. Hell, I probably wouldn't have stopped at just beating him into the dirt, given that he was threatening my family. And that's another thing – you stopped."

"I almost didn't," Cinder grunted. "I nearly killed him. I would have if Jaune hadn't stopped me."

"And that isn't big to you?" Miles questioned. "Cinder, think about that for a second. You went against your training by not killing that man, and you did it purely because Jaune stopped you. Why is that?"

Cinder hesitated. "Because… I didn't want him to see. Jaune is… innocent, I guess is the proper term? He's not soft, but he hasn't experienced real bloodshed. I didn't want him to watch someone die, and I especially didn't want him to see me kill someone. So the instant I realized what was happening, I stopped. I just… I can't get the sight of his face out of my mind – that expression he had on… he was afraid of me."

"Well, no offense, but you're kind of a scary person," Miles said. "All soldiers are – we're trained to be that way. We bury that part of us when we come home, but sometimes it comes out anyway. Last night was the first time Jaune saw you like that. It was a shock to him, obviously – he'd come to know you as a different person, and that was a reminder of the other side of you that still exists. We're all going to have to adjust to that part of you, and we will in time, but only if you give us the chance. And you can't do that if you run away."

Miles rose to his feet and dusted himself off, then offered her a hand. "Come home, Cinder. Jaune's waiting for you."

Cinder stared at the offered hand, surprised. "You… are a foolish man, you know that? Offering a place in your home to someone like me… most people would have killed me themselves."

"The Arcs are not most people," Miles affirmed. His hand remained outstretched. Cinder stared at it, and after a moment, gave a sigh of resignation and accepted, grasping it tightly with her own. Miles pulled her to her feet, and she stumbled when the wound in her abdomen flared up slightly, but he was there to catch her.

"Easy now," Miles urged. "Here, lean on me. We'll go together."

Cinder didn't argue as Miles supported her. She wasn't sure if it was because it didn't make sense for her to argue, or it was because part of her liked the way it felt to have someone to rely on.

"Cinder!"

Jaune gave her no time to prepare for her own homecoming, as he sprinted forwards towards her. She braced herself slightly, and was almost winded when he suddenly wrapped his arms around her. She froze, unused to the sudden close contact, her eyes widening in astonishment as heat spread across her cheeks.

There was that feeling again, yet somehow it was even worse this time than it had been the night before.

Jaune pulled away after a moment, and Cinder had to resist the urge to tell him that she didn't want him to let go, for whatever reason. He eyed her up and down, closely examining her for any injuries, all while bombarding her with questions.

"Where were you? Are you okay? Do you realize how long you were gone? Have you eaten anything since last night? How's that wound in your stomach? Did-"

"Jaune," Jillian said as she approached, cutting him off. She gave Cinder a warm smile. "Let's give the poor girl some rest, shall we? She's probably tired from last night."

"I am quite alright, actually,: Cinder replied. "Aside from a small flare-up of discomfort, that is. It will pass in time, so there is no need to worry."

"On the contrary, my dear," Jillian answered. "I worry for everyone in my family."

Cinder blinked. "...Family? You think of me as-"

"If you weren't before, you are now," Jillian assured her. She stepped aside, and beckoned for her to enter the house. For the first time, Cinder saw several little blonde-haired faces peering at her from around the corner of the front door. Gone was any kind of apprehension they may have had, replaced with what looked to be excitement.

Try as she might, Cinder still could not understand any of the Arc family. The one she came closest to was Miles, because like her, he had been a soldier. Even Jaune, as close as she was to him, was still a mystery to her. Still, that wasn't enough to stop her, not anymore.

And so she swallowed her apprehension and accepted Jillian's invitation, once again stepping into the Arc family home.

The next morning, Jaune was already waiting for her outside the room – her room, she realized;. Jillian had insisted on calling it as such the previous night. One of the Arc siblings had even hung up a little sign on the doorknob that read 'Cinder's Room', though she wasn't sure which one of them it was. In any case, Jaune was there, waiting.

"Yes?" Cinder asked.

"Train me," Jaune all but demanded.

Cinder stopped dead in her tracks. "I'm sorry?"

"Train me," he repeated. "I… I can't get over what happened back at the festival. I just froze – there was nothing I could do. I'd have been helpless if you hadn't been there."

Cinder stared at him, unsure of how to respond. "...You don't know what you're asking," she said carefully.

"I know what I want," Jaune stated. "I don't want to be helpless anymore. I want to protect my family. I wanted to be a soldier when I was younger, but Mom and Dad wouldn't let me. Dad even called up his friends at the enlistment office and said he'd destroy them if they let me sign any papers." Jaune shook his head. "I know I'll never be a hero, but I want to at least know that I can take care of myself."

Cinder continued to stare at him, unsure of how to respond. "...Does your father know about this?"

Jaune scoffed. "Of course not. He'd never approve."

"Then why?"

"Because what happened two nights ago taught me that there are some things worth fighting for, that's why."

Cinder felt her heart skip a beat, and not because of fear – rather, it was something she couldn't place. He wanted to fight for her, the same way she had for him. Something about that spoke to her. Maybe it was just a reminder of how she could rely on him, or perhaps it was the fact that he wanted to be her brother-in-arms. Either way, she felt her defenses crumble at his sudden declaration.

"...Very well," Cinder acquiesced. "Meet me out back in five minutes. Dress in clothes you don't care about."

Jaune flashed her a wide smile. "Great! I'm looking forward to it, Cinder."

Her heart skipped a beat again as he walked away. Part of her wondered if she should start looking for a medic.

"Before we begin, we need to establish a few things," Cinder said as she took up a position a few feet away from Jaune. "First and foremost, knowing how to fight will not save you from someone who is simply more skilled than you, or who has a weapon. For that reason, it is best to choose your battles wisely. Do not let your ego cloud your judgment."

"Sounds straightforward so far," Jaune commented.

"Second, fighting is your last resort," Cinder told him. "You are not a soldier on the battlefield, you are a civilian in a small town. You don't want to be in a fight – every blow carries with it a chance of death once your Aura is gone, and even street fights do not stop just because you're out of Aura.

"Third is that what I teach you here today is the very basics," Cinder continued. "In no way will any of this prepare you for a genuine fight. It will take months upon months of practice before you are skilled enough to hold your own against someone who is seriously trying to do you harm. It will not be a fast process. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, completely," Jaune commented.

"Good. Now try to hit me."

Jaune paused. "Pardon?"

"Try to hit me," Cinder urged. "Come at me with everything you have and try to strike at me."

"...Is this some kind of invitation, or-"

"Do you want to learn to fight or not?"

"I do."

"Then do as I say, Jaune."

"But I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't, I promise."

Jaune hesitated. "...Alright."

Then he rushed at her, cocking back his fist when he got close enough. Cinder braced herself and waited for the right time, and when he finally sent his fist flying towards her, she moved. She grabbed his hand, kicked his legs out from under him, and brought him crashing to the ground in a headlock, all in one move. She held him there for a moment, then her grip around his neck slackened and she picked herself up.

"Ow…" Jaune said as he rose to his feet. "Felt that one even through my Aura…"

"What did you do wrong?" Cinder asked.

"Huh? Oh, uh… besides everything, you mean?"

"That's certainly one way of putting it, I suppose," Cinder answered. "You were predictable. You hesitated. Your strike was wild and untrained. You made no attempts to prepare for a counter, and didn't even try to feint. Do you even know how to throw a proper punch?"

"Not really," Jaune admitted. "I've never been in a fight before, Cinder. Well, okay, there was that one time when I was like eight, but it didn't exactly go well."

"You lost a fight?" Cinder asked, suddenly interested. "Against whom?"

"Just some older kid," Jaune told her. "This happened like ten years ago. He was picking on one of my sisters, so I tried to help her out. I did help her out, but it ended with me losing a few of my baby teeth and getting a black eye. Mom and Dad were so mad."

"That you lost?"

"No, that my first thought was to jump into a fight rather than try to get help."

"Truly?"

"Now, I know what you're thinking – getting help isn't always something you can do. And I agree, which is why I'm here now. But I can't fault my parents for it. I think they just want to keep us away from the violence, really. My parents saw plenty of stuff during their time in the service that they both wish they could forget. I think they just want to spare us from experiencing any of that."

"That is… admirable of them," Cinder admitted. "You have good parents, Jaune. Though I do wish they'd at least taught you the basics of self-defense."

"Yeah, well, that's why you're here, isn't it?" He flashed her that same smile he always did, and she felt her face heat up again.

"Of course," she answered. "Now then, let's start from the very beginning this time…"

Hours later, the two of them stepped back into the house. Jaune was dripping with sweat and covered with dirt, but Cinder was dry and didn't have a scratch on her. Despite obviously being worse for wear, Jaune didn't seem to mind; in fact, if anything, he seemed satisfied with the little progress he'd made.

In the few hours they'd had, Cinder had just gotten him started on some of the basics – how to throw a punch, plus a very simple grapple and throw, and a submission hold. It wasn't much, but he was a fast learner, and he had taken to it with gusto.

"I'm gonna go shower off," Janue said, breaking her out of her thoughts. Cinder nodded, then watched as he disappeared down the hall.

Once he was gone, she headed back to her room, intending to get a bit further into one of the books that Jillian had given to her. She opened the door, and was taken off-guard when she saw Saphron sitting on her bed.

"We need to talk," Saphron announced. "Shut the door behind you."

Saphron's words didn't leave any room for argument. Cinder did as she was told, closing and locking the door behind her, then turning back towards her visitor.

"Yes?"

"That thing a a few nights ago… what was that about, exactly?"

"Someone pointed a knife at Jaune and demanded money," Cinder summarized. "I took care of it."

"That's an understatement. The way Jaune tells it, you completely rearranged that guy's face."

Cinder thought back to the drunk man's bruised, bloody, swollen face. After a moment, she nodded. "...That is an apt description."

"Heh. Serves him right for going after my brother."

That took Cinder by surprise. "You're not angry?"

"Why would I be angry?" Saphron asked. "You did what needed to be done to protect yourself and Jaune. There's no shame in that."

"But… you should be mad," Cinder said. "You were waiting for me to reveal my true colors – you said so yourself not too long ago. Was this not me showing that I haven't changed?"

"What, because you beat the shit out of some drunk guy with a knife?" Saphron shook her head. "Look, I know what I said, alright? But after that… maybe I was wrong about you."

"But-"

"Yes, you beat the absolute tar out of that guy. Damn near killed him too, from what I heard. But you put your life on the line for Jaune."

"I did no such thing."

"That guy had a knife, didn't he?"

"He did, but he was of little threat."

"To you, maybe. Not to Jaune. I saw you two out there – he's a terrible fighter. If Jaune had been alone, who knows how that would have ended? And in any case, that guy could have just as easily have stabbed you, too."

"I've been through worse," Cinder insisted.

Saphron stared at her. "You're a piece of work, you know that? Here I am, trying my hardest to tell you that I was wrong about you, and you're refusing to listen. This is me giving you a chance. I thought this was what you wanted."

"It is, but not like this. This is just a reminder of how different I am from all of you – how out-of-place I am."

Saphron let out a small exhale. "Hell, of course you're out of place, Cinder. Even if you weren't carrying the kind of baggage you are, you're still from Atlas. You're still Cinder Fall and not Cinder Arc. That doesn't make you any less of a family member than anyone else in this house is."

Cinder stared at her, her eyes widening. "You think I'm-"

"-Part of the family? I mean, that should be obvious by the way everyone treats you, shouldn't it? My parents love you like you're one of their own. Jaune treats you like the best friend he never had growing up. The girls look up to you – did you know that the younger ones call you Big Sis among themselves? You're part of the family now, Cinder."

Cinder stared at her, unsure of what to think, her mind going blank as Saphron's words tumbled around inside her head. "I… I didn't even… I've never… why?"

"I think you know the answer to that already. You needed help, so we gave it to you. The fact that you keep accepting it instead of running away only proves that you needed it in the first place. Are you happy here?"

"I am," Cinder said without a moment's hesitation. "Happier than I've ever been before."

"Then who am I to take that away from you?" Saphron asked. "You wanted your chance? You had it two nights ago when that drunk asshole threatened my little brother, and you took it, and you proved me wrong. Congrats, Cinder – you're part of the family now. How does it feel?"

Just like that, the words finally sank in. Warmth blossomed across Cinder's chest, and when she looked back towards Saphron again, she didn't even need to think about what she said next.

"It feels like everything I've ever wanted."

The next day, Cinder's reading was interrupted by a knock. She looked up from her book and found Jillian standing there, that same ever-present warm smile on her face.

"Would you mind helping me with lunch?" Jillian requested. "Miles took the small children into town for the day, and Jaune and Saphron are still working with the animals."

Cinder set her book aside and stood up, then followed Jillian into the kitchen, the whole time wondering what was going on. This was the first time she'd been asked to help with cooking.

"We're just making something simple for the four of us," Jillian emphasized. "Miles and the girls will find something in town, I'm sure. So we'll just do something small. Help me with the vegetables?"

She laid a small tray of fresh greens in front of Cinder, and offered her a knife. Cinder accepted, then stated at her, waiting for instructions.

"Just cut them into small slices, dear," Jillian emphasized. "Not too thin, and not too wide. Cut off any stems you find and place them aside."

"Understood," Cinder said.

She began to do as she was told, carving up the vegetables and setting them aside. It felt odd, having a blade in her hands and using it as a tool rather than a weapon, but it wasn't unwelcome at all. In fact, it felt rather nice.

"So," Jillian said, breaking her train of thought. "You and Jaune."

"Yes?"

"What's going on between you two?"

"I don't understand," Cinder said as she continued to cut through the greens.

"You two spend an awful lot of time together."

"Of course. He's the one who found me, and who reached out to me."

"Would you say you're closer to him than anyone else?"

"That would not be inaccurate, I suppose, though it does not do the rest of your family justice."

Jillian giggled. "My family? Cinder, they're your family now, too."

"...Yes, of course," Cinder amended. "My mistake."

"Oh, it's nothing, dear – I know you're still adjusting. I'm glad Jaune is able to help you. He's a sweet boy, don't you think?"

"He is," Cinder confirmed.

"Mm-hm. You know, he can't keep his eyes off you. He never could, even before you joined the family."

"I would imagine it's because he was wary of me," Cinder said dryly. "I cannot blame him."

"Not quite," Jillian said. "It's more like… mm, how should I put this… well, you're a good-looking young woman, Cinder."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Jillian paused, staring at her with wide eyes. "...Do you really not understand?"

"No."

"Jaune likes you. He always has."

Cinder's blade stopped. She looked towards Jillian out of the corner of her eye. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that he finds you attractive," Jillian emphasized. "He doesn't do a very good job of hiding it, either – his eyes are always on you whenever you're in the room, and he blushes whenever you get close to him."

Cinder blinked. "...That is preposterous," she said slowly. "Why would he-"

Jillian let out a small snort of amusement. "Dear, please. You are very attractive, and he enjoys your company. You two resonate with each other, odd pair as you may be. What more does someone need?"

"...I do not understand," Cinder repeated. "He is… drawn to me? Why? I was his enemy just a few short days ago."

"And now you're not," Jillian emphasized. She gave Cinder a look of pity, and Cinder flinched at the sudden change of demeanor. "Be honest, Cinder – you don't know how it feels to love someone, or to be loved, do you?"

"I thought I did, once," Cinder said as she turned back to the tray full of vegetables. Slowly, she set her knife down. "I was wrong."

"I'm sorry. Everyone deserves to be loved. Even you."

"Is this not enough?" Cinder asked. "I mean… everything your family does for me, and all the love they give… you're telling me that's not enough?"

"Yes," Jillian confirmed. "And I'm not just telling you this to try and push you towards Jaune – at least, I'm not anymore. If you don't have those same feelings for him, then it's fine. But you should let him know, and at some point, you should start looking for someone. I have a friend who has a young son-"

"No!" Cinder said. Jillian stared at her in surprise, and Cinder quickly added, "I mean… I don't know who else it'd be, if not him."

Jillian blinked again. "...Answer me truthfully, Cinder – when you're around Jaune, how does he make you feel?"

"He makes me feel sick," Cinder answered honestly. "It's like… my body gets hot when I'm near him, and there's this pain in my chest that won't go away. That's why we left the festival so early the other night – I thought I was getting sick."

Jillian stared for a moment, then to Cinder's amazement, she burst out laughing. Cinder stared at her in dismay as she laughed, unsure of what to think, but Jillian quickly put her arms out to stop her from trying to leave.

"N-no, I swear I'm not laughing at you!" Jillian promised. "It's just… you've got it bad for him, Cinder."

"What does that mean?" Cinder demanded, irritated.

"Oh, honey, it means exactly what you think it means – you're attracted to Jaune the same way he's attracted to you."

"Are you telling me that all these things I feel around him… he feels the same when he's around me?"

"Oh, absolutely, he does," Jillian affirmed with a nod.

Cinder was taken aback. "Then… what do I do?"

"Well, let's begin with some questions – you like Jaune, don't you?"

"Yes."

"You want to be with Jaune, as more than friends?"

"I don't know. The thought that he might see me in that way never occurred to me."

"Think about it. Do you like the idea?"

"I don't know. What would being more than friends mean?"

"Oh, sweetie, you really are repressed…" Jillian shook her head sadly. "It means… you and Jaune would have something like what Miles and I have, if that makes sense. Less so in the eight-kids-and-a-home-together sense; more like the two of you would support and care for one another through thick and thin. You'd be affectionate towards each other – hugs, kisses, all that stuff."

"But we already do a lot of that," Cinder said, confused.

Jillian froze. "...You do?"

"Yes. Jaune and I already support each other, and he hugged me the other day."

"I suppose that's a start. Then, I'll ask you this – did you like the way that felt, enough to want to do it again, or maybe move on to something a bit more passionate with him?"

Cinder didn't even hesitate to respond. "Yes."

That same warm smile crossed Jillian's face again. "Then I suppose you have your answer."

"I do? But… what do I do now?"

"Well, when a boy and a girl like each other, typically they confess their feelings to one another and then do something together. So I suppose the first step would be to tell him how you feel, and after that… well, I suppose that after that, he ought to know the right thing to do."

"So, you want me to just tell him I like him?"

"That'd be the quickest and easiest way to get what you want, if a bit unorthodox," Jillian said with a nod. "But who am I to get in the way of a young man and a young woman's first love?"

Cinder nodded in understanding. "Thank you, Jillian."

Jillian waved her off with a smile. "No worries, dear. Now, I believe you have someone to talk to?"

At that moment, Cinder heard the front door open, then gently close. A nervous lump formed in her throat, and she quickly swallowed it, then took a breath. She willed herself to turn around and step out into the hallway, and just managed to catch Jaune as he walked by.

"Jaune."

He instantly paused, then turned back to face her, a warm smile on his face. Again, she felt that same tinge of emotion in her chest, but this time, it didn't leave her confused. This time, she knew exactly what it was.

"Cinder," he said. "Something on your mind?"

Again, she found herself forced to swallow a lump in her throat. "I…"

She trailed off, unable to continue any further. She tried forcing the words out, but they wouldn't come. A vein pulsed in her forehead, but the words still refused to come. Her sudden muteness annoyed her – compared to the things she'd done before coming to live with the Arcs, this should have been nothing, and yet somehow, it was the hardest thing she'd ever had to do.

Across from her, Jaune's warm smile turned, tainted with confusion and concern. "Cinder? Is something wrong?"

"No!" she gasped. "No, it's… it's fine, Jaune, I just… have something to say to you."

"Oh. Well, alright. What is it?"

Curse him for putting her on the spot again. Cinder took a breath, and this time, she forced herself to think back to everything she'd done with Jaune over the past few weeks – how he'd been so approachable and kind, how he'd always done his best to reach out to her, even when she had been so closed-off. He was always reliable, and there for her.

Cinder's eyes opened, and when they did, she found herself burning with newfound resolve.

She opened her mouth again, and this time, the words didn't fight her.

"I really like you, Jaune."

The words hung in the air for a moment. Jaune blinked, seemingly confused. Finally, his gaze relaxed.

"I like you too, Cinder," he said. "But what brought this on?"

Cinder shook her head. "No, you don't understand. Jaune, I like you. More than you think."

That did it. Jaune's eyes widened in surprise, and his face flushed red. He cleared his throat and adjusted his collar. "O-oh… well, um… you mean in that way?"

"Yes."

"Oh…"

He didn't say anything further. For a moment, Cinder was afraid that he was going to spurn her, but as the seconds continued to pass, she noticed a large smile gently creeping across his face. His shoulders began to shake, and finally, he couldn't hold himself back any further.

"I like you in that way too, Cinder," he announced. "I have for awhile. I just… didn't bring it up because I wasn't sure if you felt the same way, and also because look at us, you're so pretty and I'm so me, and-"

"Jaune," Cinder interrupted, cutting him off.

He blinked, surprised. "R-right…" He cleared his throat. "A-anyway… what do we do now?"

"I don't know. I wasn't sure I'd get this far. Jillian said you'd know what to do."

"Of course, Mom would say that…" He shook his head. "I guess… do you want to go into town tonight, just the two of us? We can do dinner together. Nothing big, or crowded – I know how you feel about crowds. Not to say that you're not willing to try new things, just that I want you to feel comfortable, and-"

"Jaune," she interrupted again. "Dinner sounds nice. You can pick; I wouldn't know what's good."

Jaune blinked again. He nodded, that same warm smile she'd come to love crossing his face. "Right. I won't pick anything fancy – we can just do something casual. Does that sounds good?"

"It sounds great, Jaune."

"Good. I look forward to it, Cinder. Now, uh… I suppose I should shower off, since I probably smell like a barnyard."

"I hadn't noticed," Cinder replied.

"Well, I do, and it smells horrible," Jaune told her. "Excuse me for a moment."

Cinder watched him disappear into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. As he went, she couldn't help but smile, a sense of sheer elation coming over her.

It was a feeling that was becoming more familiar with every passing day.

Quick update after the last one, I know, but I felt bad about where I left the previous chapter on and I also really want to get this story and Black Widow finished up so I can potentially move on to another long-form fic that's popped into my head, and I can't do that until these two stories are finished first. Thankfully, they're both almost done, so I'm just about ready to move on to my next story, but still. Gotta get them completely done before I have the time to start writing the next one.

Anyway, not a whole lot to say here, except that here's the pairing you ordered seven chapters ago. I kid, of course, but for real, here's the beginning of the pairing.

There are maybe three chapters left in total, so not much more to go now. I hope you all enjoy it, and I'll see you next time!