Well. Hello everyone. I am really sorry about the wait for this chapter, hopefully it was worth it. Make sure to read the AN below. Oh and, make sure to opt in within your account! You won't receive notifications for any of the stories you follow updating otherwise. A lot of people probably won't get the notification to IHK updating for this reason.
It was often said that cities were living, breathing things; no different than any other person. Vacuo was crass and stubborn, but with a deep kindness seeded within. Atlas was cold and stoic, Mistral warm and disciplinary.
Vale was no different.
Towering buildings practically glowed with enchanting light, piercing the night sky and setting it alight like gargantuan lanterns. The scent of hot dog stands, trash, and sweets congested together to form a truly conflicting scent. The sounds of honking cars and bustling pedestrians filled the air insistently, practically swallowing the whole city within its embrace. It was warm, busy, and even a little chaotic.
But that was all Vale; distinct, and blowing with both life and emotion.
Jaune Arc was similarly glowing with both life and emotion.
He felt a burning heat within his gut, one that contorted and twisted into a knot of both nervousness and excitement. He felt a broad elation of happiness- the kind of happiness that one read about in stories and fairytales. He knew that he was being dramatic- maybe even by a great margin- but he couldn't stop himself. Nor did he care. Because when he felt this good, why would he care if he was being dramatic or not?
Despite that, the nervousness within his gut was heavy, settling at his chest like a cold sliver of steel. He just hoped that his nervousness wasn't that obvious, and prayed to whichever god that was listening that his palms weren't clammy.
Because with her hand clasped within his, their fingers interlocked like an unbreakable knot— was his… girlfriend?
It… admittedly felt weird to call her that. Not because he wasn't happy with that- because he really was. It just felt too… simple. As though it didn't truly encapsulate what she was to him. They had gone to hell and back together, enough so that the title of 'girlfriend' didn't feel like it did her justice.
But for now… that's what he'd have to call her. Sheepishly, the blonde glanced her way from the corner of his eye.
Dark waves of onyx slid down a pale, smooth shoulder. The tips of her dark locks had a slight ashen sheen, like the iridescence of a raven's wing. He studied her side profile, from the curve of her nose bridge, to the softness of her plump lips.
But what had ensnared his attention the most tonight… was her dress.
It was a gorgeous shade of red, similar to the vermilion leaves of forever fall. Golden accents trailed down the edges, the outline like that of a kindling flame. The cloth hung snugly along her body, clinging to her curvaceous hips. A hint of her pale skin could be seen on either side- and he'd be lying if he said that it didn't make his heart beat wildly.
"It's rather rude to stare."
The blonde tore his gaze away from her, cheeks as red as her dress. How often did this happen? His eyes seemed to naturally stray towards her as they wandered on their own. And much to his embarrassment- she seemed to notice every time.
"S-Sorry." He coughed out. "You just… you look really pretty in that dress. I mean… not that you aren't always pretty. But… wow."
That had given him a reaction out of her, albeit one far more subtle than his. It was only a slight widening of her eyes and the briefest flash of surprise.
"Thank you…" She said, "I'm glad you like it."
"I do."
A pregnant pause hung in the air, one that was rather stiff, and maybe a little… awkward. It was the first time he had actually ever felt awkward around Cinder in quite a while. Perhaps since the beginning of their little training arrangement, and admittedly… It made him feel a little worried. It was their first date, and despite the excitement he felt- it seemed as though they weren't really sure how to talk around one another.
It sounded ridiculous when he thought about it. He's liked her for weeks- maybe even months now. And they had been going out and doing things that could be considered 'dates' for far longer. It should've been easy, but it seemed as though the sudden title made it feel different.
He couldn't help the worry he felt within. Was this how it was going to be? Awkward pauses and uncertain glances?
Deep down, he knew he was being pretty dramatic. They had just entered a new relationship, and were figuring out how to act around one another. He just wished he could figure this out a little faster…
"I can practically feel your mind melting," Cinder sighed beside him. "You overthink too much, Jaune. Be it in combat, or otherwise." She glanced his way now, amber eyes melting into blue. "Don't. Don't question your every action, don't question if I am bored. Just don't… think. I'd… like us to enjoy the night, before Vytal begins."
Was it that obvious? He cursed himself for being a downer before things could even start, but ultimately…. he knew she was right. They had done so much together in the past, a simple title didn't change that.
Jaune sighed, but begrudgingly nodded. "I know, I know. I'll try my best."
"Good. Allow me to direct things for once."
"Eager to take the reins?" He asked with a playful grin. "Yang did say I looked like I was whipped."
She glanced his way once more, now wearing an expression that he was starting to become accustomed to. It was a wiry smile, with a hint of mischief smoldering within her gaze. "A whip? I'd much prefer a leash."
"T-that's not what I meant!" He choked out, tearing his gaze away from her cheshire grin. Fire ravaged his cheeks for what felt like the tenth time that night. She laughed at his reaction all the same, seemingly never bored by it.
"W-what do you mean by 'take the reins' anyway?" He asked, forcing his composure to return. "It's not like I'm always choosing where we go all the time or anything."
"I would like to do something for you," She responded. "You're always the one who does things for me. Be it doing unnecessary things such as buying sweets-"
"-which I know you love."
"-Or doing other things for me. It matters not the situation- you always try your best to give me things, be it material or otherwise. For once… I'd like to do something for you."
Do something for him? He'd admit that part of him was happy that she cared enough to actively do something like that. But then again, he didn't want her to think that relationships were some sort of agreement where both parties gave each other things due to an obligation. And while he's never been in a relationship himself prior to this, he's seen enough examples of healthy relationships to at least know that obligatory gifts weren't a part of it.
Once he voiced this, Cinder merely scoffed and waved him off. "I'm not doing this from a sense of obligation."
He expected her to elaborate, but she didn't. The raven haired vixen instead rounded a corner and paused at a stop sign, amber eyes directed across the street, a small smile broadening across her lips.
"We're here."
He pulled his eyes away from her face, and followed her line of sight. There, around ten or so meters away- sat a restaurant.
A very familiar looking restaurant.
Despite not being the fanciest of places, it was certainly a cut above the rest. Cream coloured walls stood tall, while large, broad windows allowed a peek inside the mostly wooden exterior. Black letters were carved into the front, just above the double wooden doors, spelling out The Hob.
"This is Rosa's restaurant," Jaune said, tearing his eyes away from the place to glance at Cinder- who was now staring at him with a small grin. "We ate out for the first time here, when we ran into each other in Vale."
Gods, that felt like so long ago. Back when he was still worried that she might decapitate him for so much as glancing her way. When their training had first begun. To some, this would feel like something rather minimal, but Jaune was a sentimental person. She had done this in an attempt to make him happy, and that mattered to him.
"Thank you, Cinder." He said with a smile. "I didn't expect to come here tonight."
"Don't thank me for this," The raven haired woman retorted. "It's rather minimal, I simply believed that you were sappy enough to get emotional about coming here."
His smile transformed into a chuckle, one which caused a light shake at his shoulders. "Maybe I am a little sappy. But that means you're a little sentimental too, since you wanted to come back here."
She turned her face away from him, causing her raven locks to flutter through the air like charcoal petals. But not before he noticed the faintest of red hues grace her cheeks. As though the burning redness on her face would divulge her each and every thought.
She was embarrassed, that much was obvious. To even associate Cinder with such a thing was insane. And yet… here she was, hiding her face as though it were a secret. He wanted to look at her. To cup her face and see how beautiful she looked right then and there- cheeks flushed and golden eyes burning in a way he had never seen them before.
She stepped forward and tugged him along before he could gather the courage to try. He cursed himself for chickening out, but smiled all the same. An embarrassed Cinder was… a rare sight. He just hoped that he'd get the chance to see her like that again.
It was only fair too, with the amount of times she managed to bring out a reaction from him.
They strode through the open doors of the restaurant. Immediately; the scent of spice embraced them, in a way that was far more comfortable and warm rather than overwhelming. Wooden planks of various shades made up the smooth, clean floorboards. The contrasting colors were used to produce various designs and patterns, no doubt decided by someone who was meticulous about the little details. A long bar ran down the side of the restaurant, while various wooden tables sat around the whole place. Considering it was the day before the Vytal Festival- the commercial area was packed, and so was Rosa's restaurant. Various people had to squeeze and angle themselves in order to not bump into one another, while some of the waiters looked… more than a little ragged.
Before Jaune could turn to Cinder and ask if she was sure about this, she strode forward and yanked him along to the side, towards the front desk where a mousy haired woman worked.
"Hello, I believe I have a reservation made for tonight." She spoke in a calm but clipped tone, even but not rude. "Cinder, Cinder Fall."
To her credit, the hostess didn't stammer like most people would when first meeting Cinder. Instead, she gave her a rather tight smile and nodded. She glanced through the scroll which sat in front of her, before pausing on a particular name. "Ah, yes we have you here Miss… Fall. Please, follow her." The woman pointed to a brown haired girl who stood off to the side. She looked a little surprised to be addressed directly- and maybe even a little afraid for some reason- but she ultimately gestured for them to follow her.
For what was probably the third time that night, Jaune was pulled by Cinder, this time through a small crowd near the corner. They eventually managed to find a booth which had a decent amount of space away from the other people. It was less noisy, more… private.
"I-is there anything I can get you two to drink yet?" Squeaked the waitress, not unlike a mouse addressing a wolf. In fact, she appeared to have her gaze directed everywhere besides Cinder.
Cinder shook her head. "Not as of yet, thank you."
The waitress was off not a moment later, with speed that could give Ruby a run for her money. Jaune watched the whole exchange with a perplexed expression. "Uh… am I missing something?"
"Nothing at all." Cinder responded without missing a beat.
"Cinder…" He addressed her again, tilting his head her way. "Why's that waitress look like she's utterly terrified of you?"
"Perhaps I just have that effect on people." She responded. But at his dubious expression- she scoffed- crossing her arms over her chest. "After our little run in, I came here once more. She was my waitress." Cinder began, amber eyes glaring in the direction the waitress had disappeared in. "She dropped wine on my dress."
Oh gods. That poor girl. He knew a scary Cinder when he saw one, he couldn't imagine how bad it must've been for a waitress that didn't even have aura. Though, when the threat of death wasn't directed at him, he could admit it sounded like a funny sight to see…
"You gave her the look, didn't you?"
"I have no idea what you mean…"
"You know the look," He grinned. "The one where you look like you're two seconds away from setting someone on fire."
"I am sure she will survive. She should thank me if anything, I gave her a rather generous tip."
That was one thing he noticed, Cinder tended to be rather generous with the amount of money she gave workers, at least as of late. Part of him was curious as to how she even got that kind of money, but even moreso, he was curious if she did that because of her upbringing.
He pushed away such thoughts. There was no point in dwelling on them anymore. Besides, Cinder would kill him if she thought he was ever pitying her.
"Speaking of…" Jaune began, pulling Cinder's attention away from the menu. "I know you made the reservation, but I'm paying this time."
Usually they went out to places where they didn't have to pay for each other's things- but on more than one occasion- Cinder forced him to split it. His mom would throw around words like 'keeper' if she knew that, but she'd also skin him alive for letting a lady pay on the first date. Besides- it was just how he was raised.
Cinder… really didn't care.
"No."
He matched her this time, a defiant look in his eyes. "Cinder, this is our first real date. As an Arc, I can't let you pay for our first date."
"First date?" She asked rhetorically. "Hardly, we've gone out plenty of times. There's no need to concern yourself with something so antiquated."
"Those times were before we started officially dating." He stressed. "I know that you feel like you want to do something for me this time, but it doesn't feel right to have you pay on our first date."
Maybe he was being a little too old-fashioned, sure. But if he was going to do this, then he was going to do it right. He was going to treat her right.
Cinder's lips contorted into a smirk, as a little flash of fire suddenly appeared in her eyes. "How about a wager?" She proposed.
"Uh, sure?"
"Whoever wins our next sparring session will be the one to foot the price. I'll let you give me the lien for the price of our bill after our fight."
His temporary bridge of hope crashed and burned like one of her fireballs. He groaned, pressing a hand to his temple. "You know that's not fair…"
"Oh? And why ever not?" She drawled sarcastically. "What was one of your sayings again?" She hummed, innocently dragging a finger along the bottom of her chin. "Ah, yes. 'An Arc never goes back on his word.' Right?' And you did agree to the wager…"
She was messing with him, and doing so in a way that would put even Yang to shame. Cinder had this strange… humour to her. It felt odd to put 'Cinder' and 'humour' within the same sentence, but it was clear she had her own unique sense of it. It was dry, sarcastic, and distinctly smug. It almost reminded him of Yang a little, but far more subtle. It wasn't always like this either, he only remembered her playful jabs starting around the time of the fall festival.
Before, she was far more flirtatious with how she spoke. In the place of coy jabs, confident boasting, and sarcastic remarks, there was a smouldering sway to her words. That was gone now, as though it was never a part of her in the first place. She still did tease him sensually at times, but when she did, it felt far more… personal, like she really meant it.
"Lost in thought already?" She asked, piercing through his thoughts. He glanced up at her to see her own eyes on him. "Am I boring you already?"
The question was asked playfully. Though, he could tell there was a sliver of vulnerability in there. Her eyes searched his face intently, but subtly. Her arms were crossed, almost as though she was protecting herself instinctively.
Dammit. Zoning out on the date. Nice going, Jaune.'
If he was honest and told her that he was thinking about her, she'd never believe him. It was kind of funny, if sad when he thought about it like that…
"Sorry," He said finally, and tried his best to give her a reassuring smile. "I was thinking about… dogs."
Her brow rose in confusion. "Dogs..?"
"Y-yeah! I mean… would you ever like to own one?"
The question caused her to pause. As far as excuses went it was probably one of the worst he could come up with. But when in doubt? Confuse your opponent, that always worked.
"I… am not sure." She eventually said. "Why?"
"Ah, well…" He paused, and rubbed the back of his neck as he searched his mind for another excused "I guess I figure one day I'd like to own one, you know?" Not a lie at least. "And… I was wondering if you'd mind?"
It was only after the words left his mouth that he realized their implication. Beacon didn't allow dogs- obviously- which meant that if he had to own one it would only be after Beacon.
And if it was after Beacon, and he asked if she'd ever mind owning one, it implied that they'd be living together.
Cinder's eyes widened considerably, and when she didn't respond immediately- he panicked.
"N-not that I was thinking that far ahead or anything!" He stammered hotly, cheeks blazing vermillion. "I uh… I was just curious!"
Gods, could he be this stupid? It wasn't that he minded something like that, in fact… It sounded pretty awesome. But you weren't supposed to voice something like that so early!
"Jaune," Cinder spoke up, silencing his thoughts like a breath of air putting out a dancing candle flame. He nervously met Cinder's eyes, her expression unreadable.
"Y-yeah?"
Amber eyes pierced sapphire like an arrow splintering wood. She bit her bottom lip, seemingly in thought rather than an attempt at seduction. Emotions seemed to clash within those dual burning sun's, thoughts unreadable no matter how much he wanted to know.
Finally, she parted her lips and spoke. Voice almost uncharacteristically soft, smooth like silk.
"I wouldn't mind at all."
He gazed at her, lips parted in surprise. She seemed almost a little uncomfortable with being this open, though not enough to keep herself silent.
Jaune smiled at her.
"That… sounds great."
/-/
As the night carried onwards, so too did their dinner, and thankfully it went by smoothly. Their waitress finally returned, and by that point they were ready to order. Their conversation quieted down a little once their food arrived, but it wasn't an awkward silence with bits of conversation sprinkled in at odd moments. It was… comfortable.
She was glad about that, at the very least. The Vytal festival would begin tomorrow, and by then their chances of going on 'dates' would be lessened. At least… until she informed the wizard of what she was, of who she had killed. She didn't expect to live very long after that.
This… would likely be one of the last dates they'd ever have.
A bile rose to her lips, burning her throat and churning the contents of her stomach violently. What had she told his partner the day before? That she'd stay with him for as long as she could, that she would not willingly leave him.
That had not been a lie.
She would never willingly leave him. But she didn't believe she had much of a choice once she revealed the truth. Would Jaune even wish to see her once she told him of this? Would he still meet her gaze with adoration? Would he still utter her name past his lips as though it were made of gold? Or would he look upon her with scorn in his eyes, cursing her name worse than even her enemies?
She did not think that he could ever do something like that. Deep down he was good at his core, and deep down she was tainted by her past misdeeds. She had pursued domination to fill up the hollowness- the weakness that she felt within her. To believe that she could simply pretend nothing ever happened, that she could lie to him… it was nothing short of foolish.
You are abandoning him, A scornful voice whispered poisonously into her ear. Doing the exact thing you promised that you wouldn't.
Her nails bit into her palms. She wasn't abandoning him, this was something that she had- needed- to do. It was not just for her, it was for him.
You make excuses, and yet you tell yourself that you're doing the right thing. You know this will hurt him more than anything else. He pulled you from the darkness, and yet you repay him with your corpse.
She slammed her hands to the table and briskly stood to her feet. Jaune's head snapped up at her, confusion swirling in his eyes. He spoke, and yet she could hardly hear him over the sound of her own roaring heart beat.
"My apologies," She breathed. "Could you repeat that?"
"Erm, I asked if everything was okay?" He said, voice laced with worry. "You uh… just got up really quickly."
"Yes," She said, and forced her head to move in measured nods. "I'm fine, I just… need to go to the bathroom. I believe I may have eaten too quickly."
She stepped away before she could hear his response. Thoughts swirled within her mind as she roughly pushed the bathroom door open and approached the sink. She leaned forward and splashed water against her cheeks, the cold sensation dulled the feeling a little, but not enough to snap her mind away from her stupor.
She dragged her gaze towards the mirror. The reflection which stared back at her was that of a woman out on a date with her boyfriend. But the feeling of impending doom was something she had difficulty getting rid of. She wanted to make as many happy memories with him as possible. She wanted to think about them while the headmaster tore out her soul, and sent the power to one of his remaining students.
It would surely be Nikos. The champion would become the fall maiden, the true fall maiden. And with her having died… Jaune would be left alone, and in need of comfort. Comfort which Nikos would easily be able to provide.
A raw feeling of possessive rage burned within her gut at the thought. And funnily enough, it burned more due to the latter rather than losing the maiden powers to the spartan.
But she didn't have the right to feel this way, did she?
This was due to her decisions. Her foolishness, her choices. She could not have been born as the villain, and yet expected to live a good life.
But Cinder did not wish to think about such things. She wished to forget all about magic, and fights, and death, and Salem and all others who cling to her life. She simply wanted to enjoy her time with Jaune.
For as long as she would have it.
She pushed off of the sink, left the bathroom, and strode back to their table.
Though, once she left the bathroom and approached her table, a rather interesting sight caused her to pause. Jaune was where she had left him, but he was speaking to an older woman. Rosa- she believed was her name- a friend of Jaune's family. She held a scroll in her hand, and had it pointed towards Jaune. Oddly enough, Jaune was talking frantically to the scroll, and pleading with the older woman. His eyes then proceeded to find her own, and a panicked look crossed his features.
Rosa followed his gaze, landing on Cinder. Immediately- her once faint smirk transformed into a beaming cheshire smile. She quickly waved Cinder over despite Jaune's protests. Despite her confusion, Cinder strode towards them.
Immediately, an arm snaked around her shoulder and pulled her tightly against the woman's side. Cinder had to suppress the sudden instinctual urge to stab the woman. She still didn't like others touching her or getting into her personal space, except for Jaune of course.
"Oh you're going to love this one, Sol!" The older woman cheered and sat her down next to a flushed looking Jaune.
"Rosa! Please! I-I haven't told her yet!"
"Then now is the best time!"
Before Cinder could question what the woman meant, a scroll was promptly shoved into her hands. Her eyes naturally found the screen, and her mind promptly froze.
It was a woman, likely somewhere between thirty five and fifty. Her flaxen, choppy hair cascaded to her shoulders messily, framing her face like a thick veil of gold. Her skin was lightly tanned, with faint crow's feet near the corner of her eyes. Her gaze itself was a brilliant shade of emerald, swirling with both excitement and curiosity. The woman on the screen was beautiful, despite the signs of aging on her face.
She considered herself to not be a fool. But in that very moment, she was too confused and too shocked to connect the dots of who this woman was.
And then, Jaune opened his mouth.
"H-hey mom…"
The world came to a screeching halt. Every thought which swirled within her mind suddenly froze as though struck by a glacier. A strange knot formed within the pit of her stomach, branching outward like a seed. It didn't take long for her to realize what she felt.
Nervousness. Anxiousness.
Like a sudden tidal wave, or a record player, everything returned. And with it, Cinder's thoughts slammed into her and shook her body to the very core. Was she making a strange face? Did her hair appear greasy? Did she look good enough?
Was she good enough?
"Jaune!" The woman began cheerfully, causing Cinder's thoughts to disperse. "I'm so glad to finally see you! You really don't call us enough." But before Jaune could even muster up a response, the woman continued. "And who's this?" She asked, flicking her green gaze towards Cinder, all while wearing a devilish smirk across her lips.
"A-ah… well. This is Cinder. Cinder, this is my mom."
"His girlfriend," Rosa helpfully supplied. Causing Jaune to send the woman a betrayed look.
Jaune's mother simply laughed at his reaction. "Oh please, as if I didn't already know. Had it been anything but a date, you'd have worn an old hoodie."
"Hey! Would not!"
"I was being generous, honey."
Cinder felt her lips stretch into an amused smile at the woman's playful words, along with Jaune's scandalous expression. It was interesting, speaking to someone who actually knew Jaune far better than she did. The nervousness of being judged by the woman remained, and yet… it was subdued upon listening to her.
"Someone's a little shy," His mother chirped. "You may be as pretty as a painting, but I hope you're not as quiet as one too."
An uncharacteristic heat threatened to emerge from her cheeks, but she stomped it down and managed to offer the woman an awkward smile instead. "My apologies, Mrs. Arc. I didn't wish to intrude." A half lie. She knew that the woman must've missed her son, but she was also uncertain as to how she should've initiated any conversation. This was… well, his mother, she couldn't simply treat her as she was anyone else.
This did not mean that she would submit either, or grovel to the woman. She had claimed him without the need of an authority figure's approval, and she did not like the thought of allowing another woman to hold their power over her once more.
But this wasn't like the other times, was it?
She did not accept submission, and yet… she still wanted the woman's approval. She wanted her to like her. She hoped that she would. This woman had raised Jaune, and was one of the most important people within his life.
She was important to him.
"You're not intruding on anything, dear. And please! Call me Soleil, or Sol if you'd like." She offered Cinder a wide smile, one that was undoubtedly similar to Jaune's. From the way her brow creased, to how her lips curled, and her eyes shined.
He truly did inherit many things from her.
"But enough about me!" The woman continued. "Tell me more about you two!"
Jaune made to answer his mothers question, but Soleil quickly shushed him with a finger. "Not you! I want to hear it from Cinder."
Her? She should've expected that, but the question gave her pause. Their relationship wasn't exactly the most standard in its beginnings.
"What would you like to know?"
"How did you two meet?"
Ah…. yes. That.
What followed was a shortened version of the previous events which had unfolded. Jaune saving her life during the breach, her offer to train him in order to repay his efforts, and finally a much more… censored version of what came after.
During her tale, Soleil remained silent, save for the occasional hum of approval, or a sudden 'aww.' Jaune remained completely mute as well, with his face buried into his hands, cheeks flushed crimson red.
Retelling the entire thing was an odd experience. To think back on her original motivations, her choices, her thoughts. She wished she could go back in time and tell herself to stop being such a fool.
"That's absolutely adorable," His mother finally said, voice vibrating with excitement. "It's theatrical enough to be one of those romance novels your sisters like so much, or a movie about some brave knight." She joked with mirth. "Ah, your father and I…" The woman sighed. "Now that meeting was-"
"No!" Jaune interrupted, voice panicked. "I- we- don't want to hear it!"
"Oh come on," The woman rolled her eyes. "You should be happy your mom and dad love each other so much. It's why there's so many of you after all."
Jaune gagged audibly.
Soleil simply laughed at her son's reaction. "But I'm glad you two managed to help one another. I…" She paused, and flickered her gaze to Jaune. "I'm proud of you, Jaune. I… I know we weren't entirely confident in your decision to enter Beacon." The woman paused, averting her gaze to the floor, she appeared to nervously run a hand along the nape of her neck. "But I want you to know that despite everything, your father and I are proud that you're striving to do your best. We're proud of all your efforts in Beacon."
Jaune's eyes widened in surprise, he looked both shocked and overwhelmed. She recalled him mentioning something similar before, about his family not being confident in his pursuits for Beacon.
"T-thanks, mom."
After the deaths of the Madame and her daughters, after impaling Rhodes with his own blade, after carving out a graveyard in pursuit for power; Cinder occasionally wondered if she was destined to live a life of blood and death. She wondered if she was born evil, born to kill, and to harm, and to cause anguish.
Sometimes, she wondered if anything could have prevented her from ever following such a path. She discarded such a notion long ago. Believing it to be her destiny.
Jaune pulled her from the path she was headed down, but he could never have prevented what initially happened.
Now, she stared at this woman, and realized that she was wrong.
In another life, perhaps she could have had an actual family. Perhaps she could have entered Beacon as a prodigy, destined for great things. Perhaps she could have met Jaune under normal circumstances, perhaps she could have fallen for him differently, perhaps they could have gone on normal dates.
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps…
If she was born from a woman like this, then…
"And Cinder," The woman suddenly spoke, dispersing all of her thoughts.
"Yes?"
"Thank you," She whispered, lips pulled into a warm smile, voice softer than silk despite the devilish smile she once wore. "For helping my son, and being there for him."
She didn't know how to respond to that, what could she have even said to the woman? In the end, she settled for a mere, short nod.
"Mom!" A voice shouted from the other end of the scroll, albeit muffled. "Who are you talking to?"
Like a mere flick of a switch, Soleil's coy look promptly returned. With a wide grin on her face, she turned back and cupped her mouth.
"Girls!" She shouted. "It's your brother! And his girlfriend!"
"WHAT?" A unison of half a dozen voices shouted all at once, not unlike a mighty anthem. Followed by a sudden stampede of footsteps.
Before the first blonde head could come into view, Jaune snatched the scroll from Cinder's hand and promptly ended the call before she, or anyone else could say anything.
"Nope." He simply said, returning the scroll to Rosa. "Not gonna deal with that. Nuh-uh. No way."
Cinder understood his reasoning. But…
That felt oddly short, she wanted to speak with the woman longer.
"You know she's going to flail your skin for that after, right?" Rosa asked.
"Yup. But at least I'll die with my pride intact." Jaune stood up a moment later. "Anyway, I gotta go to the bathroom. I'll be back in a second."
Jaune walked off, though Cinder noticed that Rosa remained where she was, an odd expression on her face. She looked both amused and yet… curious?
"Is something wrong?" She finally asked.
"Oh? Not at all. I'm just… curious about something." She stepped around their table, but kept her gaze on Cinder. "You appear so happy when looking at him, and yet also sad."
A chill ran along her spine. "I don't believe I understand what you mean."
The woman simply laughed, and it was a knowing sound, an amused one. "Oh dear, I'm not accusing you of anything. You look far too in love to ever hurt that boy of yours."
Cinder merely glared at the woman, to which she laughed once more. "Oh you two… but hey," She leaned in, voice hardly above a whisper. "From one woman to the other. Keep a good grip on him, yeah? You never know when someone else has eyes on them, and men are far too dense to notice."
"What do you mean?"
"While you were gone, some girl was practically undressing him with her eyes."
Cinder narrowed her gaze. "Who?"
"Ah, some petite girl." The older woman said with a wave of her hand. "Dark hair, dark eyes. She wasn't too flashy looking. But… that smile on her face. That certainly caught my eye, it was… devilish." She whispered carefully, darting her gaze away as though recalling the sight to memory. Rosa stepped away a moment later, clapping her hands together. "But anyway! Don't stress it too much. Just letting you know, I'm rooting for you two." She said with a grin. "I'll be headed back now. I hope you two enjoy your night."
"Thank you."
The woman departed a moment later, leaving Cinder alone with her thoughts. Rosa's words continued to repeat within her mind, looping together endlessly. Normally, it would be a simple, scorching feeling of jealousy. And yet, there was a certain unease which was laced with it.
It was difficult to explain why. A mere girl eyeing Jaune shouldn't have given her any pause. But that smile that Rosa had described, devilish, almost sadistically so. It caused her to remember a similar expression on the face of another.
If anyone believed that they could lay even a finger on him, then she'd turn even their bones to ash.
Seconds would tick by, and eventually Jaune would return, cheekily announcing that he had already paid for their order at the front desk.
She allowed it.
They departed from the restaurant soon after, her hand in his. They couldn't have been at the restaurant for over two hours, and yet the streets were far less crowded than they had once been- likely due to the Vytal festival which was scheduled early the day after.
Despite this, the streets retained their atmosphere; still ringing with the echoes of former chaotic movement. Nearby, the occasional honk of a car or cheer of a passerby permeated the air, adding to the constant sound of tree leaves dancing to the call of the wind. The night was well-lit, illuminated from countless stars and the ever-burning shattered moon. It was likely close to midnight.
Midnight.
Once upon a time, her gut would seize up and twist instinctually upon simply hearing the toll of midnight bells. Deep down, she knew that it meant nothing. It was simply her body reacting to that which reminded her of her infamous final night within the glass unicorn. It triggered the memory, and despite the fact that she tried so desperately to forget with her mind, her body never did. It was almost like a phantom pain, or an anxious reflex.
She always hated that feeling.
It made her feel weak, pathetic. No matter how much power she garnered, it felt as though she never surpassed that night. The same weakling, the same child, forever running, eternally lost.
That feeling felt… muted now. Where it was once an uncomfortable grip from an iron glove. It was now a mere chilly wince.
Her grip around Jaune's hand tightened.
"Hm?" The blonde hummed, casting his blue gaze down to her. "Something wrong?"
"Nothing," She promised, unfamiliar with the warmth in her tone. "Nothings wrong."
Jaune acknowledged her response with a hum, pulling her deeper into his side. Despite the chilly winds which were ushered past well-lit streets, the heat he radiated was more than enough to keep her body warm.
She wanted to remain within this heat forever.
"Jaune," She suddenly said. "I… like your mother."
He snapped his head down at her with enough force that she might have worried his neck would snap. For a moment, he looked bewildered, but such an expression didn't remain long before the brightest smile she'd ever seen spread across his lips.
"You do?" He asked rhetorically, voice giddy. "That's… great. I was hoping you'd like her."
He sounded like a child that had just been gifted a toy. So happy, so relieved.
"I do," She nodded. "She appears to be a good mother." She said, despite not knowing what that truly meant. "She's not quite what I expected."
A soft laugh left Jaune's lips at that. "Yeah, mom's a bit of a tomboy. You know, she wanted to be a huntress once."
"Did she? Why did she not become one?"
"Her parents didn't have the money to pay for equipment or school. She ended up being happy pursuing other things. But… she and my dad still hit it off even if she never went to Beacon." Jaune grinned. "Which is a little funny when you think about it. If she had gone to Beacon, maybe she would've never gotten together with my dad- even if they'd be closer to each other."
It was an interesting thought. She wasn't sure if she felt guilty for her gratitude at the woman's missed chance to attend Beacon.
A pause was had in their conversation, the absence being filled by the sounds of their surrounding area. With that pause, came more intrusive thoughts.
"Do you… believe that she liked me?"
It was a foolish question, one she wished she could take back. His mother did not know her past, she did not know whom she really was. And after all, what woman would want her for their son?
She did not know the first thing about being a mother. She… was tainted, like a sword soiled with blood. She was everything that he was not, and a mother would much prefer someone else to have their son.
Someone like Nikos. Someone who knew how to comfort him at his darkest hours, someone who knew how to speak with children, or did not feel the urge for violence at merely being touched. Someone… whom she was not.
No matter how much she wanted it, burned for it, this was all for someone else.
Someone else's happy ending.
A sudden grip around her waist pierced her thoughts like the edge of a blade. She cast her gaze towards the origin of what caused it, and firm sapphire eyes stared back at her.
"Don't do that."
"I did not do anything." She responded with more bite than she meant to.
"I know that look." He said, softer this time. "You're looking down on yourself again. Thinking she hated you or something. Cinder, she loved you."
Despite her heart's racing tempo betraying her, Cinder kept her expression concealed. "You couldn't possibly know that."
"Of course I do!" He exclaimed. "I know what my mom looks like when she doesn't like one of my sister's dating choices. She's not good at hiding her feelings."
Not unlike her son.
"-She wore the meanest face all night! The guy looked terrified. More of her than even my dad!" He grinned. "But not with you. She looked like she really liked you."
She didn't wish to believe it, didn't wish to give herself the hope for such a thing.
But Jaune did not lie to her, he never had. And against what she told herself, she believed his judgment without the faintest of doubts.
A smile spread across her lips before she could stop herself.
"I am… glad."
The smile which spread across his lips was insufferable. She wanted to make it go away.
Perhaps through the use of her own mouth.
He hugged her tighter, and no more words were had as they strode through the night, back to the bullheads which were headed to Beacon.
No more words were needed.
/-/
The beginning of the Vytal Festival was every bit as ceremonious as she expected it to be.
From the deafening cries of those who watched with bated breath, to the gargantuan stadium which sat within the skies like a makeshift celestial body. Hearing of its grand size was one thing, but actually experiencing it was another. Its mammoth size provided more than enough room for thousands of civilians to be seated, along with the arena which provided for the students to battle within. The size and shape itself caused there to be an echo which ricocheted down to the arena itself.
It was grandiose, it was arresting, it was…
Dreadening.
It was the harbinger of her end, the declaration that her flame was nearing its time to be snuffed out.
Jaune was not with her during the matches. He had apologetically mentioned that he needed to sit with his team, both to discuss strategy and because they missed him. She told him that it was of no issue of course, and that she wasn't some love sick girl that needed to be attached to him every hour of the day.
What a misery, what a pitiful thing… that she actually did miss him at that very moment. She attributed this to the little time she had left with him.
She raised her gaze towards where he sat. He was excitedly talking to his team- likely about the matches. The other male of the team listened carefully and stoically, while the orange haired girl pretended to be listening. And Nikos… she listened, but her eyes were far too occupied with studying his features when he wasn't looking.
Cinder bit her tongue. She did not miss the girls jealous gaze once they arrived with their hands woven together, nor the defeated expression she tried to hide once Jaune placed a chaste kiss on her lips. Cinder felt the faintest hints of guilt for the pleasure she felt in seeing the girls crestfallen expression. Once upon a time, she may have reveled in it, perhaps even flaunted it before the girl's very eyes.
Such a thing was now beneath her. Even if her territorial urge remained.
She tore her gaze away from his team and instead watched as the roulette screen flashed before them. A myriad of options of colors and faces flashed by, until eventually… the roulette settled.
Team JNPR Versus Team FNKI
Posting this chapter here has been a pain in the ass, hopefully I didn't accidentally delete anything while transferring it, ugh.
Team JNPR versus team FNKI huh? Well that should be an interesting one to write. Cinder is not messing with the roulette this time, which means that the actual results will be completely random.
Of course, I'm not sure if she was messing with them in the first round, but even if she wasn't, the matches are random and thus I can have it be any team here.
As for the chapter itself, I hope that you all enjoyed it. I know that it's been quite a while since my last update, so I'm probablyyyy a little rusty, meaning it may or may not feel clunky or of lesser quality in some areas- I hope it was still enjoyable though.
A lot of people were worried that I had actually abandoned this fic, and some even commented on it. It kind of sucks now with the whole opt in thing that they won't even realize if I updated or not. I can only hope that they opted in, or decided to check my fic once upon a time again to see the update. I even had a guest comment who was sad about it, hope the guy sees this, lol.
Regardless, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. It certainly was... interesting. Maybe a little more somber than some expected, but Cinder does believe that her time is nearing its end. So it's to be expected here. You'll notice the effects of that begin to show up even moreso next chapter. We're actually nearing the end of the story as well, this is the final "arc."
The ending may be an unexpected one~
One last thing, I'm sure some of you have heard of Obsequium Minaris. Well he's actually publishing his own story titled "I Accidentally Summoned A Demon Queen.' Like all of his other stuff, it's a great story! You can find it on Amazon and GoodReads I believe!
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Next one shouldn't take nearly as long.
That's all, folks.