Jaune was adjusting to his new apartment when a knock on the door caught his attention. He grimaced when he realized his desk looked as though a tornado had ripped up all his paperwork. His appearance was disheveled as well, but he didn't want to keep his guest waiting this late at night.
He opened the door only to meet the red eyes of his blonde companion. They were red from crying though...
"Yang?" he whispered. "C-come in, you're soaked!"
Once he had fetched her a towel, he began to prepare some coffee. It should've been past curfew for them. He was an exception under his current circumstances, so the fact that Yang came all the way to Vale this late with it raining outside only concerned him. She gratefully accepted the warm mug, cupping it with both hands as she composed herself.
"I knew," she said. "Jaune, I'm so sorry."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I knew Blake was pregnant, Jaune!" Yang cried. The porcelain mug cracked a bit. Jaune almost stepped back out of fear, unprepared for the emotional outburst. "I was fixated on making sure she was alright with everything. And here I was ignorant on how you were doing... Some friend I am, eh? I wasn't aware she was going to kill it, Jaune. I didn't know..."
"And that's that. You didn't know, Yang. There's no need to-"
"She wasn't going to tell you about it."
Jaune almost dropped his own mug of hot coffee. He slowly lowered himself to the ground and placed his beverage on the table. He knelt beside Yang, his emotions running rampant within him.
"You mean... she wasn't going to ask how I felt about it?" he winced.
"I was concerned for my partner this entire time. Not once did I doubt her." She sniffled. He wasn't sure if it was because of her feelings or the fact she was drenched from the rain. "I didn't consider you, Jaune. Here I was, acting all jolly and whatnot. She didn't tell me of her intentions. She lied. I thought... if I could just get you involved, things would change. But no, Blake didn't tell the team and went behind my back. I'm pretty sure she was set on getting you to agree on an abortion or something."
She tilted her head back, glaring up at the ceiling.
"I misplaced my priorities. I trusted the wrong person. Why...?" she wondered. "Do my feelings mean nothing to you, Blake?"
"Yang...?"
"Jaune... I think I should tell you something about me. My mother..." A dark expression grew on her face. "My bitch of a partner is no different from my sorry excuse for a mother."
Yang didn't go back to Beacon that night.
"Mocha frappe, no whipped cream, drown the surface with extra chocolate sauce," Revy recited. Vanessa hooked her arm with Revy's and offered a bright smile. Jaune grew a small smile of his own. It was oddly fulfilling watching Blake try to order black coffee for Vanessa, only to have Revy chime in what Vanessa really wanted. It was common knowledge Vanessa loved sweet stuff.
A small part of him felt a bit guilty. Just a small part. The rest of him wanted Revy to flex on Blake again.
Blake awkwardly shuffled in her seat as the waitress copied down Vanessa's usual. It was a bit late for evening coffee, but Vanessa wanted to bring Blake to her usual hangout spot. It was just a small café he brought her to since she was a small child. It was close to the precinct, and Revy dragged them there so often, it was bound to become a staple in their lives. Cheeky girl...
"So, Mom?" Both Revy and Blake turned to face her. Blake flinched and Revy's cheeks flushed a bit when she realized she wasn't the one being addressed. "Er, I meant Blake... Actually, no. Its weird calling you by your first name." Vanessa lightly chuckled as she wrapped her black bangs around her finger. "What have you been doing all these years?"
Jaune watched Blake carefully. She always updated him whenever she was about to go on a long mission and occasionally asked for his insight on a few things that threw her for a loop, but never inquired about Vanessa as often.
"I've been developing my skills as a Huntress," she said slowly. Jaune had a bitter taste in his mouth. "After graduating from Haven, I wandered on my own for a bit. I explored a lot of Mistral, taking in the different culture before I began some work in Vacuo with Sun."
Sun offered a nod of acknowledgment. Jaune should've taken him to a bar or something to pick his brain. It would've been good to catch up with him and ask some questions. Not to mention how he and his daughter had no real connection, so it must've been awkward for her. Some grown man she didn't know was listening in on what should've been a relatively important conversation. But Jaune wanted to sit and listen in as well. Maybe he could've called Ren?
"So that's what you've been doing all these years?" Jaune said instead. All eyes darted over to him. "Just... aimlessly wandering around Mistral and Vacuo?"
"I wouldn't say aimlessly." Blake's eyes narrowed a bit. "I've been doing well for the world. Busted a slave organization and apprehended a man with a semblance that could brainwash people and have them act as his puppets."
"Reverie and I uprooted a human trafficking ring in Vale," Jaune added. "Despite the lack of resources since we were relatively new at the time. Even busted a few White Fang operations before they completely disbanded."
"What's your semblance, Vanessa?" Blake inquired out of the blue. She probably figured this line of conversation was going nowhere in the direction she wanted. Actually, he could tell she was uncomfortable with the way she crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. "Did you inherit mine or your father's?"
"I..." Vanessa had a crestfallen look on her face. "I can't amplify aura like Dad. I only just had my aura unlocked."
"I only recently gave my blessing to her desire to become a Huntress." He turned to face Vanessa. "Blake can create shadow clones of herself that can be used as a diversion. She can also use dust variants of her clones so long as she has the appropriate dust in her possession."
Vanessa looked in awe as Blake offered a meaningful look.
Of course I didn't tell her. She never had a reason to ask.
"So..." Blake's eyes danced around. "What has your father told you about me?"
Vanessa, the girl with no tact, was blunt.
"Not really anything." Blake rubbed her shoulder a bit. "All he told me was how he met you in Beacon and one thing led to another before you two fell in love. You both were aspiring trainees, but one of you had to sacrifice their place in Beacon to raise me. Dad told me he volunteered so you could continue your own dream."
"Is... that all?"
"Just about. I didn't really ask about you. Since, you know... You weren't there."
"Vanessa can be direct." Jaune didn't know why he was informing Blake of this. "And her lack of friends can act as proof of that."
"I'll have you know it's fine to be independent! I'm a lone woof," she cooed. "Having a partner in crime would only slow me down with my schemes."
"Schemes...?" Blake said.
"Just the other day, she managed to convince her school that aliens existed. And what was it? That the only way to banish them back to outer space was to have a person that exuded great leadership, dance in a rather suggestive manner?"
"My petition got so many signatures..."
"Miss White will be having words with me about that on Monday, baby girl."
Vanessa shrank in her seat.
"Uh, put in a good word for me?"
Blake did her best to stifle her laughter.
"You should tell her about the shenanigans you got up to back in Beacon." Blake's horrified look only made his smile grew. "I don't think I ever mentioned the first time we went out drinking. I believe I still have those photos."
"Um, have mercy?" Blake tried.
I'm happy to see people have been enjoying the direction I'm going with this. Wasn't expecting to generate so much hatred towards Blake, but I guess that's a sign I did a good job. After all, feeling strongly towards a character accomplishes what I want.
And just so you all know, I don't believe people can act without consequences. Reality just isn't like that. It wouldn't be a proper story without conflict. And I promise that nothing will go perfectly.
That goes for Blake as well.
The flashbacks are meant to amplify any feelings towards the present situation. Add context, raise more questions... There will be opportunities for other characters to make appearances. But when that will be I will not tell quite yet.
And believe me when I say that there are plenty of things that have yet to happen.
Until next time.
-Mute
Update: No, I don't condone Blake's actions. Blake is very clearly trying to achieve some semblance of closure for her past mistakes, but that doesn't excuse her from barging in out of the blue. I know. Blake is out for herself right now. The way I view this, Vanessa is open to the idea of having her biological mother try to get more involved. When Reverie mentioned her story regarding her own adoption, she was open-minded as well. However, I based her story on my own personal situation with my own family. The only difference between Blake and my own mother was that my mother was desperate to get involved in my life ever since the moment I was born. Circumstances didn't permit this, sadly.
I wanted to paint Vanessa in a way where she's a goofy, but understanding person. I myself wasn't sure what my mother was like before I met her. Even if it turned out I was a result of a man and a prostitute, I'd accept that. It'd be horrifying for me, but I'd try to understand the situation before drawing conclusions.
I'll try to involve Vanessa a little more in these interactions. Please note that I don't wish to spoil anything, but Vanessa is human. Should she learn a few certain things about Blake, her opinion would indeed change. Whether or not she learns the truth revolves around Blake's actions and how Jaune will react to it. He has the power to end everything right now after all. So hopefully my fans that have been struggling with this can bear with me a bit longer.
No, Blake won't get out of this perfectly. I absolutely do not believe something like this would actually work. Jaune's inner turmoil will build up which will change the dynamics completely.
This wouldn't be a story if there wasn't any conflict. I mean, writing 101, yeah?
