AN: Hey everybody! The MHA poll finished and the winner was Mirko! However Momo was neck and neck the entire time and was only two votes or so behind at the end. I'd thought of a good idea for each that way I'd be set no matter who won but now I'd feel sad if one got dropped which is why BOTH are being posted in this cycle. Also, this is going to be the last update for a couple weeks. My computer is dying a painful death (this is actually being posted from a borrowed computer). I've ordered a new one but it hasn't gotten in yet. I'll get back to writing once it comes in.

To Be Relentless

Chapter 11

-Jaune-

Rapping a familiar little tune on the door to Penny and Ciel's room, Jaune waited for one of the girls to open the door. He'd been at Atlas academy for a couple weeks now, was ahead on his homework, and desperately needed to relax so he figured he'd ask if any of the girls wanted to go into town with him. "Hello?" the door opened to show Ciel who's expression brightened up when she saw him, "Jaune!" his ever-punctual friend smiled and hugged him "I thought you were working on your essay for Professor Babbling today?" she narrowed her eyes in suspicion at him at that, likely worried he was slacking off.

"Had a hard time sleeping last night so I finished up then." Jaune assured her with a chuckle before rubbing the back of his head, wondering why he suddenly felt nervous asking what he'd come here intending to do "I was actually going to head into town and wanted to see if I could get some company."

"Sure." Ciel perked up, "Penny's off visiting her dad so it'll be just us…is that all right?" she looked somewhat nervous as she asked.

"Sounds great Ciel." Jaune gave her a big grin, "You need anything before we go?"

"Uh…give me a couple minutes." Ciel looked wide eyed, a faint dusting of red across her cheeks, before she zipped back into her room "I'll meet you in the dorm lobby!" she called back through the door as the sound of rummaging was heard inside.

"Alright." Jaune called back with a shrug as he walked down, idly texting his sisters as he went. He was down in the lobby for maybe twenty minutes before he heard the elevator ding and looked up, feeling his breath catch for a moment.

Instead of her normal outfit of a blue skirt, white blouse, and the accessories she'd added Ciel was dressed up to hit the town. She wore tight form fitting pants and some knee-high boots, the dark fabric contrasting with the white leather jacket she had zipped up, a big of a blue top peaking out. Her usual black elbow gloves were replaced with white ones that had some gold designs to go with the matching bracelets she'd added on. She still had on her blue beret but wore lipstick for the first time that Jaune could remember since meeting her, some lipstick and eye shadow to match her beret and eyes. As he stared, he saw Ciel shifting about nervously, "I…I wanted to try a new look." The Atlesian admitted awkwardly, "What do you think?"

"I think you look great Ciel." Jaune gave her a genuine smile, wanting to reassure his friend upon seeing her look so nervous. The bright smile Ciel gave in return warmed him more than his jacket did as the two set out, the dorm attendant arranging a shuttle for them and giving a reminder to return before curfew.

"So, did you have any plans for what to do in town?" Ciel asked as they sat together on the shuttle, running a hand back through her hair, the action drawing Jaune's attention to the fact she had nail polish and earrings, other firsts.

"I just wanted to explore, find what all's there." Jaune admitted before playfully bumping Ciel's shoulder "It'll be an adventure, you and me on a daring expedition through the uncharted urban jungles."

Ciel's response was a loud snort as she shoved his face away playfully "You're such a dork." His friend laughed, a lot of the tension leaving her shoulders as they enjoyed the dumb joke. Ever since the incident at the training facility, Ciel had been loosening up around him. She was still hyper focused on punctuality whenever there's a schedule in place and had a very straight posture, but she wasn't as formal as she was when they first met.

"That's Doctor Dork, thank you very much." Jaune gave a faux haughty huff.

"Oh, my apologies Doctor." Ciel stuck out her tongue cutely, "What would you prescribe first for our little 'adventure'?"

"That…is an admittedly good question." Jaune frowned as the shuttle came to a stop and they got off. As he paused, tilting his head as a familiar sound reached his ears "Follow me!" Jaune grabbed Ciel's hand, not hearing her surprised 'eep' as he began pulling the girl along behind him, following the familiar music, the sounds growing ever louder. Rounding a corner he entered an area that was full of rural Valean architecture, a cultural festival going on as the sound of Jazz and Swing filled the air along with the smells of delicious food.

"I wasn't aware there was a festival going on today." Ciel looked about, taking in the sights and smells that were likely new to her, no matter how familiar they were to Jaune.

"Then we lucked out." Jaune laughed, still holding Ciel's hand as he pulled her to a lively dance floor, locals and those attending dancing to the energetic music with varying degrees of success.

"J-Jaune wait!" Ciel noted where he was taking her "I don't know how to dance!"

"Just follow what I do." Jaune looked over his shoulder, giving Ciel an encouraging smile as she relented, letting him pull her onto the floor as they began dancing to the lively Jazz and Swing in the air. While awkward at first she started getting the hang of it quickly, her semblance probably helping figure out the time and rhythm of the movements. "See!" Jaune beamed as they began dancing faster and faster, Ciel's smile growing even wider as they did so "I knew you could do it!"

"You were right!" his friend let out a bubbly laugh, "How did you know how to dance like this?"

"Mom was Valean!" Jaune grinned, ramping things up now that Ciel was getting the hang of the basics, "She taught me when I was a kid." They lost track of time dancing like that, only stopping when a song came to an end and some of those watching applauded. Blushing, he and Ciel walked over to the outdoor tables at a café, letting more people take their place on the dance floor and giving them a chance to grab something to eat "Try the beignets." Jaune suggested to her when they grabbed menus "They're delicious, just don't breathe in the powdered sugar."

"Right." Ciel nodded, slightly out of breath from the energetic dancing making her move in ways she wasn't used to "So, you said your mom was from Vale?"

"Yeah." Jaune gave a distant smile as he remembered back to happier parts of his childhood when she was still around, when his house was always full of music and laughter. When his father was doting and encouraging, always being playful with Jaune and his sisters, pulling his mom into random dances that always ended with the two sharing a kiss as Jaune and his siblings would make faces. The large spicy dinners cooked low and slow throughout the day, infusing the Arc home with the delicious smell. Shaking himself from his memories when Ciel placed a concerned hand on his, Jaune gave her a sad smile "Mom grew up in a small town outside Vale proper but took the town's music and food with her to Beacon and then to Mistal when she moved there with dad after they graduated. Growing up my family was always dancing and playing music, my mom insisting that no kids of hers wouldn't know how to 'shake a leg'. After she was gone…well it was something that helped me feel closer to her, ya know?"

"I know Jaune." Ciel squeezed his hand before looking back out over the festival "We'll have to see when they do this again, that dancing was…really fun." Her cheeks darkened somewhat at that for some reason.

"I could teach you the other dances I learned if you want." He offered, unsure why he felt his heartbeat quicken at the idea "Your semblance helped you learn them really quickly so I think we could have a lot of fun with it."

"I'd like that." Ciel smiled at him warmly as their snack got brought over by the barrista who also had some photos taken during the festival, several of the two of them dancing that the photographer thought they'd like to have.

-Watts-

"We have an agreement, my Lady." The Atlesian Scientist smirked as he reclined in his chair, preening at having someone truly recognize his genius "I have a few…loose ends I wish to take care of before I come to you. Would it be possible to delay that extraction until next week?"

"Very well Arthur." Salem, or at least the projection of her from this 'Seer' Grimm, a most fascinating creature, nodded "I shall send Hazel to collect you at the appointed time. Make good use of your time until then." With that, the Seer writhed before dying and dissolving as Salem's image vanished, the giant of a man who'd delivered it also nowhere to be seen. Cracking his knuckles, Arthur went to his table and got to work, he had a couple of projects to get done and not much time left to do them. "I'll have to keep an eye on that boy." Arthur muttered to himself as he began typing away at his computer "A mind like that is a resource to be cultivated. And my new employer seems to be the person who would appreciate such a resource if he proves valuable down the line."

AN: Sorry about length, but as mentioned, computer situation is limiting resources. I plan for next chapter to be longer to make up for it. (I wanted to do a much longer outing between Jaune and Ciel here but I'll just have to do more for them later)