Chapter 13: Mori Memento
Well… Salem really screwed the pooch… And Saphron has a new friend… I have seen people who broke up with their partner fuck the next guy the next day, it's really jarring to see them go 'but it's so sad' even if they've gotten their rocks off… Sexuality is a weird thing, y'all.
Adelheid smiled at her new friend, having stayed to talk and get to know the woman a little better. Saphron Arc was a delight to talk to, the little smiles that she got from the woman being enough to lighten her days. Adelheid Blau did not do anything half-way if she could help it, knowing very well that the power of a good working relationship laid in charming the rest of the family and the team.
The young man seemed to be the alright sort, even if he apparently was 'a little stupid' according to Saphron, though there were many different things that could be considered as special about him. She'd made sure to inquire about his favourite foods, allergies and what-not, Saphron Arc providing all of the detail with a little conspiratorial wink…
'Much better friendship… Yep…'
She smiled. "So, I've got to go, it's nearly two in the morning." The talk had lasted for longer than she'd expected.
Saphron smiled with a little bit of regret. "Yes, I think that there would be a need for you to sleep. It's been really nice getting to know you, Adel." The look in the blue eyes of the woman was a relief, her gaze going over the machines that the woman was hooked on. The treatment here would see Saphron walking again in a few days.
"Call me Addie if you want. It's eh…"
It actually was the nickname that she had when she was drunk, but it'd be important to never let the boss lady know that she was in contact. Adel and Saph Arc… sure, but to anyone else? "It's probably a better name than Adel. Let's keep that one between the two of us, eh, big sis?"
"Sure… I think I'll have some pictures of my little brother still… Do you think…"
The sad look on the woman's face had come a few times when she was remembering the child that she lost. Adelheid could understand it. It'd been fresh, the loss had been new and the break-up…
Saphron crying on her shoulder about how it hurt, how betrayed she felt and how she was going to have to be the one to build her life up again was a powerful emotion. It made her feel for the woman too, even though she knew that the shock was probably just setting in.
People had weird and loopy thoughts when they were wrapped in their grief. She'd seen it before when she had been at college.
"Do you think we can visit Adrian's grave? I... I want to..."
She was asked the question, yet Adelheid did not know the answer. She was technically not even supposed to be here, let alone talk for hours with a young woman who was her client's older sister.
"I don't know, Saph. I'm not… I'm not a member of your family."
She wouldn't exactly… dismiss the thought. Whilst her client looked a little goofy, the clay was slowly being fired and sculpted…
'Don't get all excited, Adelheid… You know that you've signed a contract not to do stuff to a young and impressionable teenager…'
She got up slowly, stretching. "I'll see you in Vale, probably. Dad's no doubt worrying about me. The man is entirely too serious about me… A girl just wants to have some fun." The grin that she got back was just like her client's. Confident and a little cocky.
"Have a good sleep, Adel."
She smiled at the woman as she left.
The smile dropped when she saw Selene Umbra being supported by her bodyguard, limping into the lobby of the hospital. The swollen face was enough, as she limped, a set of jogging shorts worn, where the woman would have usually worn a skirt of some sort.
'Oh fucking shit…'
This was one of those moments where she'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. The bodyguard noticed her first, the man's tall form obviously regarding her, speaking to the woman. The support that the woman seemed to need was more than intense, as the woman half-stumbled towards the desk, leaning against it.
She approached, regardless of her internal danger sensors. This might be something serious. "Miss Blau." The man grunted, his voice like the dark rumbling of a far-off avalanche. It wasn't a bad voice, she reckoned, for a mountain of a man.
"Hey, eh… Is everything okay with Miss Umbra?"
She could see the receptionist look a little worried, even as the woman leaned heavily on the counter.
"Confidentiality is an issue, Miss Blau."
The man responded, as he looked around for anyone who could overhear.
"The answer is no, though."
One of the nurses looked sympathetic, even as she went around the counter, placing a hand on the businesswoman's arm and patting it. She wasn't quite sure what had been discussed, yet…
Selene Umbra turned to face her, blue eyes looking a little puffy.
"You… What are you doing here?"
She floundered for a moment before she shrugged. The truth was better. "I had to… eh… Jaune sent me. He wanted to talk to his sister, and he didn't have her new Scroll number yet." It was a long shot, but the woman seemed to take it at face value.
"We're going to take you to a private examination room, miss Umbra." The nurse said, even as one of the officers that'd guard the hospital from any funny business came and joined them. The woman looked a little sharp-faced, with deep blue hair. "Everything will be alright, if your bodyguard would like to wait outside…"
"What happened?" She asked, even as the woman's eyes met hers. A will that was able to bend steel and a mind that seemed too canny seemed to be lacking in those eyes, as her gaze went down and a deep sigh came from her lips.
"I was raped."
Adelheid's blood went cold as she heard that, a massive welling up of sympathy for the woman, quivering.
"Now, we'd like to get the kit done, Miss Umbra…"
The woman looked at her, looking weary and tired, beat up and no longer as strong as she had… and Adelheid Blau felt sorry for the woman.
"Yes, yes… We should get that done."
The woman's tone was absent, even as she could see a tear making its way out of the corner of her eye, slowly dripping down the cheek. "Stay with Miss Blau, Mister Rainart. This is not for your eyes." The man grunted, as he watched his boss walk away. She could feel the turn of the moment, as Selene was led to a private examination room.
"What… What happened?"
She asked the stoic and tall man, once the two of them were sat down. The man's face firmed up, a frown on his features at the question. The man's eyes hardened, as he looked around.
"Miss Umbra was assaulted."
The words were spoken softer than his usual voice range, the horror in her not quite dimming. It was a sensation that stuck with her, as she looked at the man for further answers.
"That's horrible! I mean, weren't you supposed to be her bodyguard?"
The man nodded, his frown making his beard move slightly as he grit his teeth.
"I was sent to deliver some papers to the clerks. Mister Arc has signed the papers for Miss Umbra to assume full financial control over his son and daughter." Adelheid blinked at the news. That wasn't very usual… But it would make sense. Selene Umbra was able to be a good businesswoman.
'I should thank Mister Arc for being so trusting. I hope I'll get to meet him.'
"So… Eh… Did it happen when Miss Umbra was on her way back from the meeting?" She asked, the look on the man's face somehow conveying a darker emotion.
"This took place at her suite."
She wasn't quite sure what that was supposed to mean… I mean, did rapists usually go and invade suites to hurt innocent businesswomen or…
"But didn't Mister Arc, eh… help her? I mean, he's a Huntsman, isn't he?"
The man's eyes fixed her with a strict and tense look… and the horrifying truth hit her.
'Oh… shit.'
Selene Umbra being brought in with her face busted up, having dealt with Mister Arc… Being raped whilst Mister Rainart was away…
'Fucking shiiiiiiiiit.'
She closed her legs instinctively, feeling a phantom shard of displeasure go through her as she glanced at the man, who spoke softly, seemingly to her ears. "Mister Arc was… present, during." The man's voice was there, and she could glean from the clues that'd been presented as to how things had proceeded. She felt sick.
'You poor darling… Saph, your dad is so fucking wrong…'
She didn't feel like meeting the man anymore, if he could do something like that to a woman. She might've been curious for a moment, but to…
"I don't know what to say… I mean… Oh my gods." Saphron was such a sweet woman too! Jaune was such a nice cute fellow! How could they've been raised by a raping monster like that? Did...did that mean that he'd done things to Saphron as well?
'Oh my gods... She said that she'd moved out the first moment she could...'
"You have met with Saphron Arc?" The man said, his voice sounding commanding, as if telling her to speak the truth and nothing but the truth. She nodded. There was little use in hiding as to why she was at the hospital.
'I'll take my punishment…'
"Miss Umbra isn't going to be happy with that… She was planning to visit, after she'd had the papers signed…" That wasn't going to be going according to plan, she figured.
"I'm… I'm sorry for asking, but what…. What do you think about Mister Arc? The father, not the son." The giant of a man looked pensive for an instant, her eyes catching sight of the deliberation in his expression, the man's eyes grim as he frowned.
"A man who is led by his own confidence, who doesn't brook interference from others to lead his life and his family."
She had a guess that it would be like that. Those types of men, they usually took things without asking for permission, worked in a dangerous line of job and had liberties.
"In comparison, Jaune Arc is a young man who shows care for the people around him and cares for Miss Umbra. Not a person I would imagine to wish to become a Huntsman, yet here he is. I would... I would rather he stay away from the fighting, personally. Too many children have died being Huntsmen..."
She felt a little quiver rock through her, as she smiled. Jaune Arc was sounding more like a media darling with every new thing she heard about him. From the embarrassing stories from Saphron to the words that this man used, all pointed to the young man having a heart.
'I probably won't have to deal with the father for more than a few times. Once Jaune is 18, he's free to do as he wishes…'
She had faith in things going right. She probably would never tell Saphron about what she'd just heard… But…
She glanced at the private examination room, worry on her face.
She felt really bad for Miss Umbra.
Jaune's eyes opened as he stared at the ceiling. Inside him, a torrent of power slowly revolved, the black ocean still threatening to engulf the little bonfire within him. Every time that he closed his eyes, he could feel it calling out to him, felt the twitch-throb-tension of that ocean, encroaching ever deeper onto that flame and retreating once it flared up.
A glance at the clock on the wall stated that it was three in the morning. Early for him, early for everyone here… yet he couldn't sleep. He felt the burden on his mind strain and he glanced at the people sleeping beside him. Pyrrha, half-curled up in her blankets, a bare nape visible in the shadows that cast her features in encroaching umbral perfection, Ren whose head was smothered below the pillow, his hair splayed out and finally Nora, who was half-out of the covers, a foot dangling off the bed.
'She's going to fall off…'
He got up slowly, trying not to make a noise. He tiptoed over to Nora and then gently lifted her up, tucking her in the bed again. It'd been his job at times when his sisters had a sleepover with their friends and they'd been rambunctious sleepers. Since he usually was the target of their love, he'd had to tuck some of them into bed.
Touching her skin was enough to startle her slightly, yet he was used to it. Pale skin lit up in the dim light of the moon outside, as he gently arranged her properly into the bed. "There, now you won't drop out." Her arm wrapped around him and she tugged him a little closer, legs wrapping around him to keep him pinned to her, like some sort of weird sloth that curled around him, her sleeping form still there.
He could see that she was a little disturbed, even as he tried to wrestle himself free with as much gentleness as he could muster, feeling his struggle amount to nothing. He became aware of someone moving, meeting with pink eyes. "She'll let go when she wakes up." The calm voice of Ren spoke up as he moved a little in the half-shadow. "She's not… not the best sleeper."
A smile teased on the stoic's face, as Jaune thought he could see a smile. "But… thank you. She's had night terrors for a while." The admission of such a fault, even though they hardly knew each other for longer than a day, was something that was awfully intimate, the young man smiling at him.
"You were awake?"
He asked in a hushed whisper, a light nod coming from the silent ninja-like individual. Jaune supposed that he would do the same thing if he was in a new place, his friend suffering from those kinds of things.,
"Damn, I feel embarrassed now… I mean, I don't want to be seen as some guy who would molest a young sexy woman… eh, I'm being objective here, dude."
The smile on Ren's face was warmer than the last he'd seen on the young man's face as the gaze turned down to Nora, who was now enthusiastically cuddling with Jaune's arm.
"She's always been my best friend. She could benefit from a good male friend."
Jaune wondered why the young man said that… but he supposed that it might be a brother-sister type of relationship. It wasn't worth debating too long about, even as Nora shifted her body a little, his hand going right between her imposing chest.
"Eh…" He looked at Ren, who shrugged.
"Get comfortable. She'll wake up at seven in the morning, on the dot. That's when the shock happens." He wondered about that, even as Nora adjusted herself a little.
"Rennie, don't touch me there… Hmmm…" The murmur made him freeze, as she started to rub herself against his arm, her hands holding a death grip on him. "Nice pancakes…"
He resigned himself to sleep, as he got himself comfortable in the bed with her. Nora moved aside a little bit when he did, even with his larger stature.
The electric shock that ran through his body was enough to make him wide-awake, even as Nora opened her eyes and smiled. "Heeeyyyyy, glorious leader! Good mooooorning!" Her body moved, as her knee brushed him right over his groin, the typical male issue currently shocked awake from his half-dozing state enough, as she froze for a moment, her eyes looking into his own, before a smile came to her lips.
"Ooh…" The knee rubbed, a shiver going through him. The thought of pressing her down, to show her who was in control, who could make her pant and whine and plead, invaded his thoughts.
'A brush of energy and of skill, wrapped within the bones of old and a trauma untold…'
"Someone's awake, isn't he?"
He could see Pyrrha slowly waking up, looking up from her pillow to see the two of them, as Nora flipped on top of him.
"Ooh… Want to play doctor? I've never been able to get the straps right."
His little soldier responded to that, imagining Nora in a very tight nurse outfit.
"Nora… It's seven in the morning."
The lazy tone of her best friend with whom she was not together-together with came, Nora's eyes turning to her friend and a bright smile.
"Sure thing, Rennie! Come! We must shower! Your hair must be done!"
He watched as she got off him swiftly, rolling his shoulders a little to free the soreness from the grip that she'd had on his arm.
"Thanks for being a pillow, Jaune! It was… nice. Thank you."
The compliment was out of the blue, even as Ren emerged in a loose-fitting robe-like pyjama, rubbing at his eyes, Nora grabbing a hold of his hand and dragging him into the bathroom.
'There goes my chance of going to the bathroom…'
He heard Pyrrha clear her throat. "So… What was that all about?" He got up, noticing that Pyrrha was a little red in the face, smiling at him. Her gaze was not directed to his face, as he stretched slowly.
"She nearly fell out of bed… So I decided to tuck her in. I've done it plenty of times when my sisters had sleepovers, so I guess… Big brother instinct?" Pyrrha cleared her throat again, still not quite looking at him.
"You're… eh, showing." She said, embarrassment in her voice. He looked down, seeing that Little Jaune was still standing in salute, embarrassment coming to his mind as he realized how it looked.
"Oh gods, sorry… I didn't mean to!" He adjusted himself a little, Pyrrha's gaze returning to him.
"It's… It's okay. Just a normal reaction when around pretty girls, for boys, right?" She sounded uncertain, even as he coughed.
"Well… I… eh…" He thought back about the girls that he was familiar with. Mama was there, but she wasn't a girl, she was a woman… Weiss, Ruby… Ruby's sister, who was brash and bold, and then Pyrrha and Nora…
"I guess? I mean… And don't take it the wrong way, I don't want to hurt you but… I think you're very attractive." The red that shot up her cheeks was enough. "Now, not just because you're eh… you, but because you did so much for me that I don't know how to pay back."
She turned her gaze away, taking a deep breath to stabilize herself. It was probably just her kindness, her trust in him, all of that which made her hesitant. "It's… It's okay." She turned back, smiling at him. Those green eyes held with them the promise of a good partnership, as she got up.
"So… Your sister…"
The call of last night had been a little rushed. Seeing Adelheid there had put his mind at ease. Only Selene with his sister would've made it better. He wondered whether he should send her a little message, though knowing the time difference, it was late in the afternoon there.
"She's going to be better, I hope."
The smile on Pyrrha's face was wonderful, and he couldn't help but feel a tingle go through him, as he sat down on his bed, starting to pull the pyjamas off. They were nice and loose, made from silk that'd apparently been specifically farmed from an ancient line of silkworms.
"Jaune… What happened in the forest…"
He thought back to that moment, looking into her eyes. He felt guilty for forcing her into the secret, yet Selene had been adamant. "I'm sorry, I know that I'm probably not-" She placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay. I just… I want what's best for my partner."
He felt the urge inside to push her down to the bed, to make her feel the joy that he felt right now. His face moved closer, her cheeks blushing, as he inhaled her scent, audibly sniffing it.
"Jaune…"
His hands laid on her shoulders, as he stared into her eyes. Hesitant green, unsure about what was happening. Her eyes looked so startled and surprised, even as he pushed her a little, her body sinking to the bed.
"Thank you so much, Pyrrha."
He leaned over her, giving her a gentle kiss to her cheek. She stiffened, her cheeks burning. Her eyes were wide with surprise, confusion and a whole breadth of other emotions.
"It's… It's a secret, and I'd really like to be the Huntsman that is going to do his family proud."
Her heartbeat increased, as her body laid on the bed. He felt hypnotized by those green eyes, as he looked into them. He felt aroused by her, her hair loose and splayed around her on the bed, her breathing coming heavier, as his hands slid down, almost in a trance. He seized her wrists and she startled, her eyes into his, as he nosed against her neck, keeping her hands pinned to the bed.
Her heartbeat hammered in her chest, easily three times quicker, her breathing a little gasping. He pressed his lips against the neck, feeling the pulse of blood in the jugular. Her hands grabbed his own, as he pressed his lips against that neck, teeth digging against the alabaster skin. He could hear her shudder at the kiss.
He noticed what he was doing, cold awareness rousing him from this torpor of reason. She looked up at him, her cheeks heated… yet her hands not resisting him in the slightest. "Ah… I'm… I'm sorry, I've got…" He felt a little faint, as he looked at her.
"I just thought you looked so pretty and kissable, I'm really really sorry."
She smiled, awkwardly.
'She's going to think I'm some creep.'
Weiss had been needy, yet Pyrrha was different. Pyrrha was… Pyrrha.
"It's okay, I'm… You haven't slept much." He was aware that he was now half-leaning over her still, and that his manly problem had still stuck up the flagpole, Pyrrha's gaze directed down, even as her tongue slid over her lips. "And… And we're partners."
It was flimsy excuses at best, even as he got up. "Y-yes… We should…" He felt different… warmer. The thought of taking Pyrrha and making the bedsprings rattle was… It was damn hot. It seemed to make the dark ocean within him soothe a little, even with her eyes looking at him, an almost shy smile on her lips.
"But… I wouldn't mind being your friend either way. I don't judge people for their traits… I judge them on merit." She looked at him with a tender look, even as he got himself over to the suitcase that held several pairs of his clothing, pulling out the official school uniform. "Ah, do you think you need some privacy? I can… stare at the wall, or something."
He shrugged. "I've had seven sisters. If you're going to comment on anything about my body and physique, there's a good chance I've heard it before." The truth was as it was. His mother and father had been loving, yet his sisters were utterly vicious in their wording if he had irked them in some fashion.
He dressed quickly, not really thinking much about it, save for Pyrrha's soft exhale. Turning to her, he saw that her shirt was half-way opened, a few of the buttons undone, a smile on her lips that was shyer than he'd seen it. "I don't think there's any harm… I mean, Ren and Nora both are comfortable around each other, so… I guess we're just… Good partners?"
She flashed him a gentle smile as she did, her shirt opened and a sports bra unveiled. He felt his mouth going dry as he felt his pants tighten up. Compared to Weiss, Pyrrha was… well-equipped. Not quite the petite body of a princess, but a warrior amazon.
His gaze rested on her as she flushed, the pants slid down, a nice set of underwear in a dark colour that was almost purple visible, as she went for the skirt, pulling it up. He was aware that he was staring, he was aware that he had gotten an erection and…
When she pulled the shirt closed, his attention finally returned to him, and he became aware that he'd been trying to tuck himself a little less expressively, to make it look not as… uncouth. A man had to obey certain standards, Selene had said.
"Well… Eh…" She blushed, looking away. "I guess you like me." He nodded.
"Sorry, I mean… You're gorgeous." She turned as red as her hair again, as her gaze slid to the bathroom, which opened at that point, showing Nora with a towel around her head and another to cover her body. Ren, in his normal outfit, looked almost natural, hair only slightly damp as he did so, a smile on his lips.
"Woah! Getting ahead of the pack, aren't you? Does our Glorious Leader want to make us into his lust-addled harem slaves?!" The idea had… well, it wasn't a bad idea. Pyrrha turned red, even as Nora turned to her best friend.
"Rennie! What do we do? Shall we flatter ourselves in harem outfits, like our tender virginities are but mere villagers compared to his rampaging beast of lust?"
Ren's face barely changed as he gave a look at the two of them, Pyrrha straightening herself out, embarrassed.
"I'm not sure that he's going to assault us, Nora…"
"Oh? But what if he abuses Pyrrha!? Pressing her against the bed, taking her tender holes with no mercy! It's just like when Kiko and Masaharu meet!" He wasn't sure what was being referenced, and it was clear that Pyrrha was getting embarrassed, even as Ren shook his head slowly.
"It's not like Ninja's of Love, Nora… Jaune does not have a katana and neither is he the last prodigy from a fading ninja clan…" Ren's voice made sense, even as Nora seemed to grow even more hyped up.
"But he's nice! He tried to tuck me in!" Nora made a gesture, which indicated that a bra was not being worn, given that her chest doing an intriguing wobble. "That's worth a handjob at the least! Come on, handjob! We can share!"
"Nora…" Ren's hand laid on Nora's shoulder, the girl's energetic nature calming down instantly as the flushed excitement fled her cheeks like a crowd from the circus after a stink bomb. "I'm sorry, she's a little excitable in the early morning."
"No problem, Ren. Just… eh…" Pyrrha tugged on his sleeve.
"Are we supposed to be your harem?" She asked, a blush on her cheeks but a teasing smile on her lips.
'Naughty…'
"Only if you wish to be sharing my bed with me?" He said with a raised eyebrow.
"No, no… I don't intend to make any of you into a harem. You're the guys who have my back, even if I'm just some weak loser whose aura can only take a few hits." The look of sympathy from her hurt a little.
"I mean… I want us all to get along well. I have to trust you with my life and… there's more that I'm fighting for than just… us." He paused, looking at the members of the team.
"I'm fighting for the world to be a better place. Where there won't be people hurt or suffering… Where there'll be heroes working together." The words were bold and he spoke them, as he felt the dark urges rise within him. He could see himself pressing Pyrrha to the bed, taking her, her body pliable and mouldable after her will had been broken sufficiently to submit.
The chains around her tightening, as he felt the urge to darken their hopes… and his gaze flicked to Nora and Ren. A relationship between the two, though they insisted that they were not 'together-together', Ren's eyes solid and pink, with that dependable look on him… An easy target as Nora was too excitable…
Nora's body held up, her hips rocking against his own as she excitedly squealed for more, his manhood driving into her as he felt her tighten up, a slow sensual nip to her neck digging his teeth into her flesh as he whispered in her ear the plans, before that hammer of hers would crush the spine of those that he disliked…
"A world…" He could see them now, still unmolded by his touch. Innocent… fragile of spirit, fragile of temper and fragile of energy… A clay that was to be fired and then shaped…
His mama at his side, seated upon a throne of gold, whilst his team knelt at his side. None would sit at the height, yet his affection for them was equal to her. Selene had given him a gift that was unlike all others…
"A world where there will be no children cast aside for their own skills, or those who will be elevated upon a pedestal." He felt the words bubble up, looking into Pyrrha's eyes, seeing them widen, his gaze sliding to Ren. "A world where there will be no pain or hurt thanks to the Grimm…" A match had been struck, as eyes quivered, his gaze meeting Nora's. "A world where you will not be judged for your energetic nature and your oddities… No matter what."
He had them. He could see within their eyes a new respect that had not been there, even though his dreams were idealistic… He could feel them, the connection.
"No matter what… No matter how. I will make sure that you all obtain the happiness that you seek. You're my team, and I hope that we can be friends and even family."
Pyrrha was really still as she looked at him, something in those eyes moist and tender. She breathed in and then seemed to forget to breathe out. Her fingers quivered a little, as if she was uncertain.
"I promise you, as I've promised my mama… Everything will be alright. I may not be the best Huntsman, but I will make sure that you get to live to a long ripe age, happy and content. An Arc doesn't break his promise." The lengthy exhale was telling, as Nora seemed to perk up.
"Rennie… We're going to be part of a harem! Isn't that nice?!"
He smiled at Nora's antics, even as Ren seemed to get ready to calm his girl friend down again, sending a knowing smile at his direction.
'They're fun…'
Pyrrha embraced him then, the smell of her natural odour invading his nostrils. "Thank you for believing in us. It means more than you know." He adjusted her a little, his hands laid on her lower back. She shifted a little with her hips, brushing her groin against his, accidentally. "I think you'll be a great leader, Jaune." He smiled at her.
"I hope not to shame myself in your eyes…" He glanced at the clock. Twenty minutes past eight. "I think we've got class soon… So, let's get ready, team JNPR!" He knew well that the early bird caught the worm… and he wasn't going to give up on something that important!
He exited the dorm room, already carrying the book bag that contained his notebook and several fresh sketch-pads, in the case of having to make a small sketch of something, the school uniform fitting him well, the tie a little tight… but serviceable.
He caught sight of the nameplate on the other door, etched with TEAM RWBY, clearly a new addition to the door, as the screws looked fresh. There'd been a plate at their dorm as well with the announcement, probably done as swiftly as the team had been announced.
'That's some really quick work…'
He knocked on the door once, hoping that there'd be someone already awake. It would be bad if Weiss were to appear late to the first day of class.
The door opened a crack, a blue eye peering at him, a surprised expression on Weiss' face as she looked at him, the door opening a little. The nightshift that she wore was a little lighter than the dress she'd worn during the concert, her expression warming up. "Ah, Jaune… Are you…"
He checked his watch, before looking at her. "There's thirty minutes until the start of class, I thought I'd let you know so you'd be on time." Seeing her pale immediately and turn around, barking a loud – 'WAKE UP, YOU DOLTS!' at the people that looked ready to sleep, the brunette of the team immediately rising from her sleep like a startled cat, looking around wildly, Ruby snapping to attention with the cutest sleep mask still over her face.
"Where's the fire!" Ruby squealed, her hand jerking the mask away. His attention was stolen for the moment by the blonde sister getting up, a glorious view of two very full round globes exposed in one of the tightest tops of sleeping wear that he'd seen thus far today, straining against the fabric. "Good morning Jaune… eh…"
"We're LATE! We've got class in half an hour and Jaune has come to wake us up! You were supposed to be our leader, yet you slept through the alarm clock?!" He frowned a little, as Weiss went on a tirade, the blonde girl not seeming to be too fond of that either.
"Weiss, it's her first day… You can't hold it against them on their first day…" He said, Weiss turning her head, half-bent over her bag, pulling out a fresh set of underwear, blushing slightly.
"Of… course. Perhaps I am just a bit… a bit upset. You're right." He smiled at her and winked, giving Ruby a meaningful look.
"See you in class, guys." It would be time to get a quick breakfast before they'd make it to their first class of the day. Pyrrha and Nora and Ren were already waiting, Ren looking a little uncomfortable in the uniform, which was a little tighter on him than his regular clothing was. 'Hmm… You and me both, buddy… This jacket is a little tight.'
He might've been growing a little.
As they sat down in the cafeteria nearly five minutes later, the soda and the cup of yoghurt that he'd opted for as a light breakfast already prepared, he could see the people already spread around the cafeteria with their teams. Several of the upper years, at least as far as he could see, were already engaged with their own discussions whilst those who'd just been set up to be teammates seemed to have that awkward moment of finding out what everyone liked.
"So… I'm not sure whether I should ask this, but do you guys have any suggestions or input? I mean, I'm new to this leader thing…" He had enjoyed a good strategy game every now and then, yet it wouldn't be wrong to say that he would be happy if they could offer some feedback.
"Ooh, ooh! We should get matching harem outfits! I get dibs on pink!" Some strange looks were sent his way from some of the other teams, even as Ren sighed a little.
"We're not making a harem, Nora…" He sent a sympathetic look at Jaune, even as the guy sipped on something that looked like a kiwi shake or something. "But if we could get a training schedule going, I wouldn't mind assisting you with some exercises that I know. A good body is a healthy body, after all."
"Alright, training schedule…" He grabbed a pen and scribbled it down. "Anyone care to add something?"
"Ooh! Condoms! We're not going to be wanting to get pregnant." He couldn't imagine Nora being pregnant with such high energy levels.
"Nora…" Ren said at a warning tone, Nora looking at him.
"At least I'm thinking about protection! Our glorious leader is a manly man!" Jaune doubted that a little. He was manly enough to rock a dress if it was needed.
"Alright… condoms…" He scribbled it down either way. It was good to be safe and secure with that.
"Perhaps eh… Perhaps we can talk about your little issue? The one we spoke of?" Pyrrha added, softly. He looked at the two and then gave it some thought.
'Honesty is better than lying… Selene wouldn't ever lie to me.'
"Yeah. Once classes are done and we're working on our homework, we can do that." He had seen that there had been no combat classes arranged on the schedule, undoubtedly to ensure that they would have no lingering injuries post-Initiation.
He took some yoghurt, feeling a little faint in his head, looking at his notes for a moment. The scribbling seemed to swim in his view, as the letters changed slightly, forming a neater line, wriggling and pulsating. "Jaune?"
"Ah, sorry, I was just a little lost in thought." He said to Pyrrha, who pointed at the clock. "It's time to go to class, ah…" He put his notebook in his bag, watching team RWBY flood in, looking harried and pressed for time. "It's fifteen minutes before class starts, guys. See you in class."
Weiss gave him a little smile and a wave, as he finished the cup of yoghurt and binned it, the can of soda handed to Nora. "Here, I hope you like grape is okay with you, right?"
The dashing smirk, showing her teeth in the same manner as a wild animal would. "Oh… I'd like that without the g… Much more 'thrilling'." He blinked, tilting his head. Ren laid a hand on his friend's shoulder and her face turned much less excited. "Alright, alright, I'll tone it down."
"Please do." Nora winked at him when her buddy's hand left her, smiling at him.
"Alright… We've got a professor called Port?" He mumbled, whilst they stood in front of the classroom five minutes later, pushing open the door to find several students already in attendance.
"Peter Port, indeed." The man spoke with a jovial and bombastic tone, the wall of man-muscle that had suddenly stood there looking like it would be able to bounce back any Grimm that came at it. "Professor in the art of Grimm Studies… and the prey that are known as the Grimm."
"He's amazing… ooh! Have you heard?! Our glorious leader is amazing!" Nora's excitement was certainly nice to see, as the man fixed him with a look. Clearly the man had been watching.
"A solid technique, leading the members of the teams in order to let the Deathstalker be crushed below one of the pillars, mister Arc. I was impressed with your tactical acumen, though your skill is… a little below par, if you'll allow me the criticism. A good Huntsman knows his strengths and his weaknesses, or so I say!" The man spoke the truth, as Jaune smiled softly.
The urge was rising inside him to reach out and tear the man's heart out. He could feel the irritation within him, the wounded pride at the assessment, even with the rational part of his brain telling him that it was natural. "Of course, professor. Thank you for your kind words." He said, though he kept his face neutral. There was the urge to rip and tear inside, yet he knew that it would not do a thing for his image to show his malcontent with the man's words.
"A good tolerance for criticism is important. When I was a young man, some criticism could have prevented losses that were harsh to take." The man's face showed a little hint of a deeper personality than a teacher, a hint of personal emotion. "But you are here to learn. No huntsman was formed through merely a day of training… No! It takes dedication, skill and a hint of something more. A team is important." The man stepped aside to let them pass, going to a small cabinet to the side of the room and rustling through it for a moment.
"That was… cool. He's all stuffy old guy and you were just like… 'Of course, thank you' when you were not expecting it." He froze up for a microsecond, realizing that Nora had seen the expression on his face… or perhaps something else. Ren said nothing, with Pyrrha remaining silent, even as he sighed, shaking his head.
"Everyone should be able to voice their opinions… I mean… I don't think I'm really worthy to be a leader, but…" He sat down and the members of his team sat down with him, Ren placing a hand on his shoulder, sitting in-between him and Nora. It felt like just two dudes sitting together.
"You're still learning, as the man said. No fortress is built within a day, Jaune." He grinned, feeling that the saying was apt.
"You've came up with a plan and we executed it… That's a good thing, Jaune. I think you're a wonderful leader." Pyrrha's support was enough, even as the teacher stepped up to his desk, the buzzer sounding. The door opened up and a flushed team RWBY entered.
"Just in time!" The teacher looked like he was going to comment, yet decided not to. The man's face showed little response, even as Jaune's gaze went to Weiss. Their eyes met and she smiled.
'She's a sweet girl.'
As the class started and the man started to bombastically tell the story of how he was a young man once upon a while, Jaune allowed his pencil to touch upon the paper, his eyes visualizing something.
With smooth strokes, he willed the image onto the paper, the face showing clear alterations to it, the hair was done up loosely, a smile on the face as it stood there. His other hand had compiled some of the keynotes from the speech at the same time, yet the majority of his attention had been at the sketching, as the class slowly started to leave the room after nearly three hours of lecturing. He started to get his materials put away, Pyrrha looking at the drawing.
"She's gorgeous…"
He smiled, as he looked at the portrait that he had sketched, his mama's face warm in his mind. It had been a simple facial shot, her eyes looking at him with that boundless confidence and faith that was unshakeable, her eyes glinting in the light with the hope within them for his future to be bright.
"She's my mama."
Warmth flooded his body, the dark ocean inside him threatening to swallow the light. He felt a shudder go through him as he closed his eyes, the coolness starting to work its way through his limbs. "Are you okay, Jaune?" He could hear Pyrrha's voice, even as he gathered himself, taking a deep breath.
"Just a… Just a moment." His arm felt cool and limp, as he lightly moved it. It had been busted in the Initiation, hurt… But now…
He supported himself with his other hand and he focused, feeling several of the bones re-align suddenly, an audible cracking sound as he forced it back into shape.
'I might've forgotten it…'
Ren looked queasy at the sound, as did Nora. Pyrrha just looked uncomfortable. "Just an arm issue. It's okay." He flexed his fingers, the audible popping sound of the digits rather loud in the silence of the room.
He could see that the teacher entered once more, humming a little tune. "Let's go, guys. Time for some lunch."
"Is… Is everything okay?" Nora asked in a voice that sounded questioning with a tinge of regret, seemingly having the wind blown out of her sails.
"I'll tell you after we're done tonight, Nora." He smiled, knowing that it would be a chat worth having… But they were his team. They would understand, just as Pyrrha did. Pyrrha was a good woman, someone who knew the stakes.
The image of Pyrrha pressed against a wall, her underwear at her ankles, her hands clawing at the wall as he took her like a savage was enticing, even as he slowly exhaled.
'Hmm…'
"I've got one of the best teams of Beacon." He mumbled to himself, though apparently it was audible enough for Nora to brighten up immediately.
"You got it, glorious leader! To the cafeteria!" The bold gesture forward was enough, as he laughed aloud at her.
"Keep that up and I'm sure that our enemies will quake in their boots." It felt normal. It felt accepted. They were his team and this felt great.
He still felt a little sick, though…
'I wonder why the bones didn't stay put… I'm sure that I did it.'
Something worth thinking about, at the least.
Salem exited the room, the feeling of scraping tools and suctioning being far from comfortable, though the evidence was enough apparently to convict the man.
'Such a foolish man…'
She would never allow such a man to be around her little prince… Such influences were never tolerated. As she pulled the pair of fresh pants that Hazel had brought with him on, she lamented the fact that proper underwear had not been grabbed… But it would sell the illusion better.
"Miss Bergamot… Do you think…" The tremble of her lip was enough to show the image of a woman who was caught between two rocks and a fire pit, the female officer giving a gentle smile as if she understood…
"Do you think it will be doable to…" The words were enough, as the police officer tried to assure her that everything would go in accordance to the protocol.
'With how backed up those cases are… I'd reckon that they'd get to this one in a year's time…'
"Thank you so much." She tried to inflect enough gratitude in her voice, though it faltered, her lip once more aquiver, her eyes glinting with unshed tears. "It's just…"
"I understand. You're… You're not at fault, I'm… I'm sorry." Selene Umbra was in her 60's, as the identity stated, the appearance still youthful, even as she shrank a little before straightening up.
"I'm… I'm someone who makes a lot of money… Is there any way that we can… advance the case a little?" The question would be normal for any rich woman, the policewoman giving a light shake of the head.
'Procedure and red tape… Usually banished with the faint flash of a personal connection…'
She could place a call to the Governor of Argus, have her case be pushed through the system as a 'grave miscarriage of events', yet that would not be enough… "I'm afraid not, Miss Umbra… We all have to follow the law. Do you need assistance… Police support? We can get you back home to your hotel or residence…"
The woman was a bleeding heart, she figured. A woman who dealt with the sickening cases of women who were raped… "No, my… my bodyguard and chauffeur is going to deliver me back home, and… and my godson's personal assistant is… I think she's waiting outside."
She hadn't mentioned the personal connection between her and her rapist. It would not serve her needs to immediately expose the man, not yet…
"Please… please be safe. If you feel like you ever need to talk…" The woman produced a slip of paper. "This is my Scroll number. Call me if you ever need to talk to someone, alright?" She had already pegged the woman as a bleeding heart, which was now confirmed once again.
"Thank you, Officer Bergamot…" The tone of gratitude was so easy to do when you knew what triggered someone to act… It was after all the song and dance of every couple under the sun, the love of parents and of sisters and brothers.
"Call me Sandy. I mean… You've been through a lot." Salem smiled, running a hand through her hair.
"Thank you, Sandy." The words were spoken with that little dash of hope that her dear ex-husband so enjoyed to sprinkle through his words in order to beguile the innocents into joining his foolish crusade.
As she emerged from the private room, she looked at Hazel and Adelheid, the latter currently slumped over two chairs, a small blanket over her that she faintly recognized to belong to Hazel, her associate fixing her with a look as she approached. She was aware of Officer Bergamot following behind her, obviously to check whether she made it properly out of the building.
"We're leaving, Mister Rainart." The voice was strict once more, the businesswoman façade back up. She brushed a hand over the tear tracks that'd been on her cheeks, Adelheid waking up with her voice, the young woman's face showing the indentation of one of the chair sides, her hair a mess.
"Miss Umbra, eh… Are you alright?"She spoke, her eyes looking concerned. Hazel was already getting up, readying himself for the burden of driving her, as he should. The man checked his pockets, handing her a tissue, which she used to rub her cheeks lightly.
"As well as can be. Life goes on." She could hear the officer give a sad sound, as most simpletons were often doing. Sympathy never garnered anyone a crown… Unless you were 'democratic'.
"I mean, well…" She fixed the young woman with a look, as she stood up straight, Hazel offering her a small mirror to check her appearance.
"I will meet with you tomorrow. I have appointments to arrange for and… And I wish to be alone for a little while. Do not inform Jaune of this." The nod from the young woman was enough, even though she could already see that the woman had already opted to commit it to memory…
'Such are the traits…'
A pity, yet… She had indeed appointments.
Thirty minutes later, she entered the hotel suite once more, opening the door to the bedroom. The marks on her face had swollen and her face looked like a mess, intentionally smearing the makeup. She stripped bare once more, knowing that the setup would be enough, worming her way under the man's arm and arranging it, her body dangling off the bed. A little revolution of her little flame and it'd burn the sedative out of the man's system… followed by a killer headache.
He reeked of sweat and sex, unfavourably so. The press of the button activated the camera once more, the loop having already been enabled to show a slumbering Selene Umbra and the man himself.
He slowly roused, even as his member hardened again. "Ready to go again, eh?" His voice was still fogged with the cloud of a hangover, even as the man seemed to realize where he was, his erect manhood brushing against her tender loins. For the sake of authenticity, she had not healed those parts of himself.
"I think you've done enough, Mister Arc."
Her voice was bitter and spiteful as she moved, rolling on her side to face him, her face looking a mess, last time she checked it, the button left to fall into the space between the bed and the headboard.
"Oh, it's you…" The man didn't sound very regretful, even as his mind seemed to foggen up. "Wait…"
"What more, mister Arc? Are you going to violate me again? Are you going to rape me again?"
Her voice held anger, even as the man's face turned a little paler, inhaling the scent. "Get out of my bed and my hotel suite." Her voice hissed with fire that she felt, as his hand grabbed a hold of her breast, pressing her against the bed.
"You seduced me, woman!" Her eyes narrowed in a glare, as she pushed against him, not showing her full strength. "It's your fault… You've led me on!"
"Your confidence is astounding…" She said, her voice heated. His mouth pressed against hers once more, before she felt him push against her.
'Not again…'
Her hands pushed against his throat and he was pushed back, allowing her time to breathe and… to scream. The sound was loud, rattling the window with the pitch. Shouting the name that was needed for this part of the play.
"Hazel!"
The door opened and the form of her bodyguard/attendant came lumbering in, his face a carefully contained mask of anger.
"Hey, I'll have you know that I'm a licensed Huntsman!"
The Arc patriarch's weak argument was not much, Hazel grabbing the man by the neck, lifting him up in a single motion. Salem's face didn't really twist from the disgusted, upset look as the man tried to get free.
"Mister Arc, I do hope that you realize that this cuts all ties between us personally..."
The man continued to thrash, as she looked at the man, her business-like mask on. "Mister Rainart, please... Remove the man from my presence. I will require a shower... Mister Arc, I hope that we will not cross paths again... I will make sure to visit your daughter once more in order to wish her a safe recovery, after which my investment in her treatment stops."
She watched as the man stepped out of her room, knowing that he was going to be in serious financial difficulties the moment that Saphron Arc's medical bills came in...
'You will not be able to pay your way out of a three thousand Lien bill, Ashton Arc...'
It had been arranged thusly that the bill would be paid for by her, though when she'd pull out, it would all come to the eldest legally employed member of the family that received the treatment. One of the little niches in the law of Argus, using Atlas financial systems for the benefit...
She reached for the button and clicked it for the camera and audio feed to shut off. Looking at the spot in the bed where the man had laid, the sweat-stains that'd been left behind...
'Oh... There is no way that the man would be able to muster the funds...'
She would have thought that the son of Arc would have been akin to his grandfather and father, a man of respect and character... Not some brute who took a defenceless woman just because she lacked the Aura...
'You were right when you said that your father had said that all you needed is confidence when it came to women, my darling Jaune...'
She looked at the mirror, noticing the swelling tissues of her face, her makeup still a mess. She supposed that a shower might just be what the physician ordered...
"And then? What happened then, mother?" The excited voice of her daughter spoke with great enthusiasm as she laid a hand on her daughter's face.
"And then the dragon went Graaahhh and ate the little girl's face off! Graaahh!" The girl giggled, her lips smiling at the sight of her darling daughter giving her amusement.
"You're funny, mommy." She ran a hand through her daughter's hair, looking at the little life.
"No princess should ever have to suffer under the brutish touch of a dragon... " She never did abide by those who would abuse their spouse. She was a woman who stood astride the world, raised above the mere serfs in order to show them the light of illumination and knowledge.
Those who beat their spouses were naught more than dragons, requiring a dragonslayer to destroy their hearts...
Saphron's eyes flickered open as she looked at the door that opened up, the woman who had visited earlier coming in. A tinge of worry shot through her as the woman seemed to have massive bruises on her face, moving with ginger movements as if things hurt more than she expected.
'Oh no, what happened?'
"Miss Umbra... Are you... alright?"
The look on the woman's face turned slightly, a watery smile on her face. The woman might be around her dad's age, yet Saphron got that feeling that at this moment in time, there wasn't much difference in age.
'Oh, I should keep the meeting between me and Adel a secret...'
"I've been through... Well, I suppose I shouldn't bother you with it." The woman sat down and winced, tears coming from the woman's eyes as she exhaled sharply.
'She's in considerable pain...'
"If there's anything that I can help you with..." She felt bad for the woman. It was all a mess of feelings, all convoluted and terrifying, as she let her eyes go over her financial saviour.
"No... Not quite. I came to inform you that my business in Argus has concluded. I will also be ceasing payment for your treatment, due to events that have occurred." The look on the woman's face was cool and cold, as sharp blue eyes looked at her. The bruising made the woman look less threatening yet there was an implicit sense of wrongness to it.
'What could've happened to make her look like that?'
"Oh, but…" She tried to say something, floundering a little. What could she say? How could she pay for this?
"A house in Vale will be made available to you, though you will have to cohabitate with one of my personal assistants as well as Jaune's publishing agent. Miss Blau and Mister Callows are professional and will not inhibit your lifestyle." The woman's voice was clinical and calm, as she looked at her, her expression growing a little more tender for a moment.
"I really feel for you, my dear." The genuine sympathy in the woman's voice. "You are blessed with a brother like Jaune." The way that the woman said his name was with an inflexion of care and love, as if the woman's joy was heightened by her brother's kind nature.
"He's a sweetheart. I remember when he used to hug me and ask me why my hair was short... I've grown it out now, but..." She remembered that day, and she glanced at the woman, whose expression seemed to be far-off. "Miss Umbra? Thank you for... for supporting me like this. I know that... well, I'll make ends meet and pay you back."
The sharp blue eyes rested on her face once more and she felt an unseen pressure on her as the woman looked at her. "Your treatment has been paid for up until this day. You shall be released tomorrow, I have it on good accord." The woman's voice was lacking emotions in the delivery, as a smile came to her face, the woman getting up and wincing once more. Something was clearly hurting, though Saphron wasn't sure whether she should comment on it.
"Miss Umbra, if there is something that we've done to you, that-"
The woman's gaze locked with hers and her breath was taken away, the look in those eyes holding anger, the woman's eyes closing and a deep sigh coming from her lips.
She wasn't a lip-reader, yet she could see that the woman was saying something to herself, tired-looking and worn out. "I wish things were different, girl..."The woman said, as she leaned in for a hug.
"I wish that..."
She hugged back, even as the faint after-pains of the fractures still whined in her system. "You're such a pretty girl. I wish I had a daughter like you..." Saphron felt a little choked up suddenly, as it hit her that the woman was probably all alone, save for a daughter that she only saw infrequently, that she'd cared for Jaune because he was someone like... well, Jaune.
"I will ensure that you have a driver available to ferry you to wherever you wish, before you leave Argus. Jaune loves you, my dear girl." That he did. He loved each of his sisters, even if he was embarrassed by the way that they acted sometimes. He'd always been the baby of the family, the boy that had to suffer through the dancing classes and Verde and Jade's teasing...
"He does..."
She sighed, knowing that it would be some time before she'd probably function normally again. There were stages of loss and grief and some-such that Rouge would probably be able to explain to the finest detail, yet she felt like it was a mountain now.
Getting to know Adel was something that'd come as a surprise, yet the young woman had grown on her. The little tidbits about her brother's youth, the dresses and the small hints that they'd given him about how to charm a woman, some of her dad's sayings about confidence and such other things...
"Miss Umbra, I..." She tried, even as the woman hugged her a little tighter. It was a dampness that she noticed, as the woman deeply sighed, rising once more.
"You're such a wonderful girl, just like Jaune is a wonderful man." The look in those eyes was misty, even as the woman turned around, a hand moving a tissue to her face. "I've got to go. Time waits for no one... And I hope that you will be well. I may place a visit when I am back in Vale." Words that were a platitude, as the woman seemed to beat a very hasty retreat, clearly overwhelmed by emotions.
'What... what happened?'
Something must've happened, if the woman looked that roughed up and had such an emotional moment. It had felt... nice, really, to be hugged by a woman who gave her the same feeling as her own mother would... mostly in how kind she had been, how understanding she had been.
Her father entered the room after the nurse had just left with the remnants of her dinner, his face looking jovial again, albeit a little annoyed. "Hello there, princess. How's my little Saphron today?"
"I feel a lot better, dad." She said, knowing that he was concerned about her. His eyes sparkled with those happy little sparks as he sat down at her bedside, the seat that miss Umbra had vacated only hours before.
"So, sweetheart, you're going to be released soon. Is there any place that you'd like to go? Dad's going to make sure that it's going to be alright." She smiled at her father, even as her gaze went to the window.
"I've been offered a home in Vale, with some of Miss Umbra's associates. It's eh... It's probably a good choice, because I don't feel like Argus is right for me, after..." Terra's face came to her mind, even as she remembered the words that her ex-partner had thrown at her.
"Of course, princess."The man's face looked a little tense, his eyes looking at her with what seemed to be relief.
'Everything after Terra...'
She could feel an ugly feeling inside her well up. She'd been left like a piece of trash. She'd been told that they were done and over with, that Terra was going back to her previous partner, as if the laughter and the smiles had not been anything more than a mirage...
"Dad... Miss Umbra said that we've got to pay for the treatment beyond today... Did something happen?"
She could see her father's face turn away, as he rolled his neck a little, the strong muscles rippling there in obvious irritation.
"We just had a bit of a disagreement, don't worry about it. I'll take care of it."
The man said, though something in her gut told her that it had not been a 'bit of a disagreement'. Thinking back to the words that the woman had said and that hug that had felt desperate, the tears...
'What could've happened...'
"Dad, you didn't do anything bad, did you?" The man stiffened a little. She'd seen it often enough in Jaune, when he was about to lie. It wasn't something that she'd ever expected to see from her dad, but...
"No, we just had... The woman is kind, but I think she's got designs on Jaune... I wouldn't trust her." The man cautioned, and... And she didn't believe him. The woman's face had been laid in by someone, the bruises that were starting to show and the swollen tissue showing clearly that the woman had been hit, though she wasn't sure whether her dad expected her to believe her.
"You didn't hit her, did you?"
She asked, her voice tender. She'd been hit before in the face, once. Terra's ex had come around and Terra had been a little tender around him, eight months into the pregnancy. Things had been over, but...But it'd been an argument that night and Terra had hit her in an impulse.
They'd slept in separate rooms and Terra had apologized, but the hurt remained, even as the little bundle of joy had been born. It'd all been swept under the rug because she loved her partner so much. It must've been a hormonal thing.
"No, whoever hit her must've done so after I left." She looked at him and smiled, even though she felt differently on the inside. Her dad had lied to her...
'What else is he not telling me? To have someone like Miss Umbra pull all her financial means from my treatment after promising that she'd make sure, because Jaune asked...'
"Ah..." The man nodded, smiling at her. "I guess. Did you have a nice sleep at your hotel?" She thought that he slept in a hotel, the man's head shifting a little, showing a mark around his throat that belonged to a hand that was greater than the hands that she'd seen.
"Well, you know me... Dead to the world when needed." The man smiled at her, yet she had the dreadful feeling that the situation around Miss Umbra all revolved around her dad doing something that he shouldn't have.
She wasn't stupid, after all. To see a woman who had clearly had been beaten up in the face, wincing as she sat down...
'Rouge... She's had medical training, didn't she?'
"I'm thinking about calling Rouge. Do you think we can go to Adrian's grave tomorrow?" She was sure that there would be a grave. Terra was very peculiar about that, stating that her baby...
'It never was my baby... It was all hers.'
The realisation hit her and she felt even worse now. Terra had never spoken about Adrian as if it were their child... it had been her child. She'd been the glorified nanny, the spouse that took care of a child that wasn't even hers.
'Oh, Terra...'
"Of course, Saphron." The man smiled at her and she knew that he loved her... But the seed of doubt inside her had been planted. She glanced down at her new Scroll, having added Adel's number to it.
"I made a new friend, daddy." She was going to tell him about something else... Addie wouldn't mind being used as an excuse. "Her name is Addie and she's twenty four." They'd never really talked about ages, but she thought that her friend was around that age.
"That's nice, sweetheart. Do you need something to drink?" Saphron mustered a smile, nodding softly. She watched him get up and then walk away, tapping on her Scroll a few times, inputting the number for Rouge and then typing a short message.
'Rouge, it's Saph. Do you think we can talk for a bit? I just... I just need someone to talk to who isn't dad.'
The message was sent and she tucked the Scroll back in its carrying pouch. Her father returned with a glass of water, smiling warmly at her. She didn't feel as warmly now, as uncertainty warred inside her.
"You look sad, princess... Want to tell dad what's wrong?"
She had a brief flash of insight as she looked at her father, standing there with his broad shoulders and muscular arms, wearing a shirt that stretched over a muscular frame. She wasn't too into guys, but if she had to say that a guy looked good, her dad would definitely be one of those guys who were in the top tier of attractiveness.
"Just... Just thinking about Terra."
She could see her father in motion, his large hands...
'No, dad wouldn't...'
He'd never hit one of his family. Sure, he gave Jaune a good spanking every now and then, yet he'd never laid a hand on any of his daughters, only on...
'He said it'd toughen his son up a little. A man knew how to take a beating in order to make things better for his family.'
"Don't worry. If she threatens you, I'll protect you. Your dad's able to fend off all the bad guys that'd threaten your other sisters, so it won't be anything new." An offer, genuine. She wasn't a fighter. She knew nothing about where to hit someone or how to wield a rifle. She was just Saphron Arc...
And she imagined her dad beating Terra black and blue, the woman trying to fend him off. In comparison, Terra was a slight woman, at least with her father standing next to her.
'Oh...'
This was bad.
"Everything's going to be alright, Saphron."
Words that had been spoken by a woman who'd borne a beating, now spoken by her father. "You're going to come back to Vale, we're going to be a good family again. You'll smile again, and everything will be like a bad dream. That Umbra woman... I don't think she's a good person."
She smiled, as much as she could. "Of course, dad."
She didn't know whether she could trust him anymore. Selene Umbra had been weak and frail, trying to fight against emotions... and her father said that everything was to be alright again.
She didn't think she could trust him anymore.
Oof... The seed of doubt has been sown. Next chapter... We're going to see Terra again!