Here we go, here we go, here we go. A nice casual fic with no angst – ah, you are a delight to write after the emotional weight of my other stories. Rest assured that in the future I'll likely balance my stories to have some serious and some comedy, and I'll also try to keep the comedy as comedy, like I'm doing here.
Beta: College Fool
Cover Art: Kegi Springfield
Chapter 19 - Ramifications
"Don't move, or I'll tentacle hentai her."
He'd known it would make them stop. How could he not after all the times they'd talked about it? What he didn't expect, however, was the looks on their faces. Yang was horrified, mouth open and eyes wide. She didn't so much freeze as become cemented to the floor. The others weren't much better, but the important part was that they followed his orders and stopped attacking. Blake's expression was complicated – and completely unfathomable – while Nora looked to Ren and Ren looked to Yang.
Penny just glared at him, but glaring was better than killing, so he'd go with it.
Now if the idiot's Bullhead would pick up the pace and rescue them that would be ideal. His eyes trailed over the assembled teens. He caught Ren trying to edge forward and turned to face him. Crimson eyes bore into pink. Ren stopped and swallowed nervously, but that took his eyes off Blake – and he only knew she moved because of how her hair fell down behind her, having wafted in the air when she took a quick step forward.
Jaune took one back and hoisted Ruby in front of him. He also raised a tentacle before her, and that made them stop. "She will be unharmed," he said, "so long as you stop moving. Once we have our escape, she will be returned to you. No one need be hurt… nor tentacle hentai'd."
Once again, they all seemed to squirm at that.
"Uh, Grimm," Roman said. "I don't think that means what you think it-"
Jaune glared at him.
"N-Never mind. You do you, man. You do you."
"Is this what it means?" Ruby whispered. Her voice was so quiet he doubted anyone but he could hear her. "It feels strange. I can't… ooh." Her attempts to break free were replaced with a shudder. "Ugh…" One silver eye cracked open to look at him, or more specifically his chest since she was eye-level with it. "Why are you always naked when we do this?"
"Wait, what?" Yang yelled. "What does she mean, always?"
"Forever Fall," Blake said. "If you recall, he was dressed only in boxers at the time. Didn't you notice?"
"Hm, no… because I was too busy trying to kill a Grimm monster." Yang raised an eyebrow to her teammate. "Why were you paying so much attention to what he was or wasn't wearing?"
"I-I was looking for openings. I was analysing the threat!"
"Sure, why not. I'll pretend I believe that."
"Yang, Blake, a little focus would be nice," Ren interrupted before Blake could reply. Her face was red enough as it was. "He still has your sister."
The reminder served for him as well as them, and he noticed Ruby squirming in his grip, apparently trying to reach up and unwind a tentacle by hand. It wouldn't work, of course, but she could hurt herself if she fell. He shifted his tentacles a little bit about her legs, the limbs brushing against her thighs as they wound sought more purchase.
"Ah!" Ruby's eyes closed and she fell back down. Her breathing was laboured, and there was a faint sheen of sweat on her red face.
"That's it," Yang screamed. "I'm going to kill you, you damn monster!"
"Yang!" Ren hissed, catching her before she could surge forward. "Don't be an idiot. We can't do anything to make him angrier than he already is."
"He's hurting Ruby!"
"Um… I don't think he's hurting her per se," Blake said, cheeks a little darker than usual.
"What do you mean?" she snapped. "Look at her – she's so scared she's practically hyperventilating!"
"Hah… hah…" Ruby was indeed panting for breath, which was strange since he hadn't done anything to cut off her airway or squeeze her lungs. He wondered if he could help her somehow, but Ren interrupted his thoughts.
"How about a compromise…?" The team leader suggested. He had one hand on Yang's shoulder. "Free my partner's sister and we will let you both escape. You have my word as team leader."
"Don't do it," Roman said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Trust me, their word isn't going to count for anything when Blondie goes psycho on your ass. Also, I very much doubt Red would be willing to stick to that deal once she comes off her little joy ride."
Her what?
"He has a point, Jaune. You know what she's like – she wouldn't let a baddie escape if she could help it."
As painful as it was to admit, Remy wasn't wrong. Ruby was a true hero like that. He was too, current situation notwithstanding. This was all just a horrible misunderstanding – one they'd probably all laugh about later.
He hoped.
"Then how about a hostage exchange," Blake said. "Ruby is too young for that, but we can-" She seemed to notice the looks her team were sending her and flushed. "I-I'm not saying I want to have that happen to me or anything, but someone has t-"
"I'll do it," Mercury said.
"What?" Blake sounded scandalised. "Why- No. It's okay. You don't need to subject yourself to that."
"No, really, I'll do it." Mercury shrugged like it was no big deal, which it wasn't since both he and Jaune knew nothing would happen.
"Are you even aware of what you're implying?"
"That I'm fine with being a hostage?" He shrugged. "Oi, Grimm. Take me instead of Re- Ruby."
"H-How are you so casual about this? Have you seen how big those tentacles are? Do you have any idea what they would do to you?"
Jaune blinked. What did the size of his tentacles have to do with anything? Big or small, it wouldn't make a difference as to how he kept hold of someone. They'd be the same strength either way.
"It's fine," Mercury said. "I've got this."
"Why are you so eager!?" Blake howled.
"Me? What about you?"
/-/
"What's that supposed to mean?" Cardin growled.
"N-Nothing," Russel said. "It's just that we're spending a lot of time on this. It's all you focus on recently. I was just wondering why you're so eager to do this."
"I'm not eager." Cardin scowled at his partner and paused in the corridor. "I have to prove what he is. That monster is allowed to roam in this school, after trying to have his way with us. I don't get how you guys aren't more concerned."
"We are," Sky stepped in. "It's just that… are you sure it was Arc? Maybe you were mistaken. It just feels that every little thing that happens lately, you blame on him. Maybe this is the same."
"I don't do anything like that!"
"Dude… you slipped in the shower this morning and cursed his name when you got up."
Cardin raised an eyebrow. "What's your point?"
"Well, it's just that there are rumours going around. People are starting to talk about us – about you – and about how we keep focusing so much attention on him." Russel scratched his cheek. "I dunno, man. I don't believe them obviously, but it does feel like you're… well…"
"Like I'm what…?"
"Like you're obsessed..." Russel flinched. "Their words, not mine."
Cardin's temper, already a weak thing, frayed. His breath came out in an angry snort, and he stood taller as he glared down on his team. The rumours didn't come from them, of course, but they were conveniently placed to receive his ire. "Ignore them," he spat. "They'll all realise the truth once we prove what Arc is once and for all."
"Ah, yeah… okay." Russel looked positively miserable. It was clear he didn't believe, nor did Sky or Dove. That was fine, though. He'd prove it to them as well, and they'd still follow his orders, belief or not.
That was just the kind of leader he was; a man capable of inspiring obedience through his charisma.
A man mocked by fools who didn't realise the danger nearby.
He'd show them the truth. All he needed was a way to force Arc into revealing himself, into showing the world what he was. He would need information first. Direct combat was his preferred means of dealing with problems, but that was out of the question here. Miss Goodbitch already had her eye on him, clearing her throat or making her presence clear whenever he glared at the monster.
He couldn't wait to see the look on that sow's face when she realised she'd protected something so evil… when she realised she had blocked the path of a true hero like he.
"I need to know more about him," Cardin said. "I need to know his movements, where he goes, what he does and what he likes."
"Arc?" Sky asked.
"Of course, Arc!" he roared. "Who did you think I was talking about? I need you three clowns to keep an eye on him, and then to try and listen in on anything. He's bound to let something slip, and I want to know anything and everything of interest."
"R-Right… yeah…" Dove sighed. "I guess we can do that. What will you be doing?"
"I'll be working on this myself as well, of course. You hear about that new team from Mistral? Rumour has it some of the people there knew him before Beacon." He doubted they'd known the truth, of course. Only he was perceptive enough to see that, and they'd surely be running if they knew he was some kind of monster. He'd fooled them too.
"The team with that sexy girl?" Russel asked, perking up a little. "I mean, have you seen her?"
"Which one?" Dove asked. "They're all fine as hell."
"I wish I could be in that guy's place. Man, do you think they get changed in front of him? I bet that girl with the pink hair is hiding something real nice under that shirt of hers."
"Her?" Sky chuckled. "I'd prefer the tall one. There's something about her… some kind of edge. It's like she's dangerous."
"That's who I'll be talking to," Cardin interrupted. Cinder, or so he'd learned she was called. Apparently she knew Arc the best, so would certainly have something for him. All he needed to do was get it out of her – and that wouldn't be a problem.
Hardly a problem for someone like him. All he'd need to do was flex a little muscle, show her a bit of the Winchester charm, and she'd spill her secrets faster than she did her clothing.
Hmm… maybe Sky had a point there. It wouldn't hurt to get to know her a little better, too. She was sexy enough to be his girlfriend. A dangerous edge, huh? He'd show her dangerous. He'd show her Cardin – danger – Winchester.
"I'll ask her," he said, coming back to the main point. "I'll get whatever she knows of him out, and then I'll finally have him at my mercy." He chuckled to himself. "I'll show everyone the truth – when Arc is right where he's meant to be, down on his knees before a true man."
Cardin burst out laughing, and his team followed suit, too afraid to do anything but.
None of them noticed a pair of brown rabbit-like ears pointed in their direction. Nor did they notice them perk and move away as their owner rushed off.
/-/
In the end, no hostage trade was done at all. Mercury and Blake got into an argument that somehow dragged everyone else in as well, and it was all he and Roman could do to look at one another and share a confused shrug.
Somewhere in the middle, Ruby groaned something about people arguing and not helping her. She went silent again a moment later, though every now and then she would squirm and fidget.
He'd tried to interject and choose Mercury as the hostage, but that only led to even more shocked expressions from them, Blake especially, and then wide-eyed stares at Mercury. It got to the point where he had no idea what was going on, except that the fight seemed to have stopped and that was good enough.
Luckily, the Bullhead brought the debacle to an end.
Jaune let out a breath of relief when wind whipped up behind him, heralding the arrival of the Bullhead. He backed up, Ruby still in his tentacles towards it. "Let us leave and she will be safe," he said, loud enough for them all to hear.
"How do we know you won't take her with you or hurt her?" Penny asked. She took a step after him, green eyes narrowed. "I will not allow you to harm my friend, Mr Hentacle. If you do so, you will find the might of Atlas itself aimed towards you."
The might of Atlas…? The whole Kingdom? It didn't matter. He shook his head. "You will get her back," he said. "I was never here to try and capture her."
That garnered a reaction, confusion from some of them, but also a suddenly embarrassed look from Blake. He didn't have the time to dwell on it, though. He increased his pace, keeping one eye on them and one on Roman.
"Go, go, go," Roman hissed to the pilot. "Get us out of here befor -oh hey there, I'm glad you made it, pal."
"I'm sure you are." Jaune rolled his eyes at the crook's nervous laughter. "Get us going," he said, stepping into the entrance of the Bullhead with Ruby still in tow. He wrapped a spare tentacle around a hand railing to his left and another to his right. If Roman wanted to try and knock him off, he'd need to cut both at once – and that would be time enough to react. As Jaune Arc he might have struggled against someone like Roman Torchwick, but not in his Grimm form.
There was a reason he was weak with a sword… it was because he'd never truly needed one. Not with the power he had in this form.
"Um… what about her?" one of the White Fang asked, pointing to Ruby. She was still upside down, still short of breath, and now pouting at several armed terrorists.
"What about me?" she complained. "You said you'd let me go."
"We actually doing that?" another asked. "She'd make a good hostage, maybe even an example. If we killed a Huntress-"
He went silent as a tentacle speared into the wall by his head, carving through the hull with a terrifying screen of twisting metal. Jaune's eyes blazed crimson, as the distant thoughts of madness and murder he'd had before threatened to return. Ruby eeped at the sound, going stiff in his tentacles.
"She is not to be harmed," he snarled. "Try it and I'll kill you instead."
"O-Okay – you're the boss!"
"We're ready to go," the pilot called. The vehicle began to lift off, tilting slightly as it gained altitude. He heard the others down below cry Ruby's name, but he wouldn't leave them in fear for long, nor would he let his friend come to harm.
"Sorry about all this," Jaune whispered to Ruby. She made a vague and muffled sound of confusion, but yelped when he lifted her back so she was the right way up, and then pushed her out of the aircraft.
She screamed, but it was cut off as she landed on her feet not two seconds later. Ruby then blinked, looked down at the floor, and blushed awkwardly. Her knees seemed a little weak, for she slumped down into a kneeling position and seemed to be shaking.
I hope I didn't scare her too much. I'm sorry, Ruby. I'll try and make it up to you.
The moment Ruby was out of his grasp, the others moved. Roman had been right, not that there was any doubt, and they rushed forward both to protect their friend and hurl projectiles at the Bullhead. The White Fang ducked back in fear as dust rounds ricocheted off the metal, but he ignored them, along with the one that pelted off his stomach. Luckily, the pilot did the same, and their craft swerved out over the ocean before anyone could get close. They started to rise into the air as well.
"Good job," Jaune sighed, turning to walk back inside. "Now, I think we need to have a-"
The bullhead shook.
"What was that?" someone cried.
"We've been hit," the pilot said. His words proved accurate when the ship lurched to the side. People stumbled and fell across their seats, but he managed to remain on his feet via the use of his tentacles.
But the ship was moving sideways. Why was it doing that?
"We're being dragged down!" the pilot yelled. "I don't have control!"
"What!?" Roman pushed up beside him, only stumbling once before he reached the open door. Jaune did the same, and the two of them looked down to see four swords impaled into the Bullhead's hull. Silvery wires connected them down to Penny.
Almost impossibly, she was taking step after step back, dragging the Bullhead back down.
"What the hell is with these kids?"
"Holy Salem, Jaune. Do you see this?" Remy squirmed happily within him. "Isn't she just awesome!?"
"So not the time, Remy."
"If she brings us down it's all over," Roman said, looking at him. "Tell me you have something you can do about this!"
Did he? Jaune wasn't sure. Ironically, the one thing that would have been good for wire was a sword – exactly what he didn't have at that moment. It wasn't like he could get away without trying, though. With a quick nod, he swung two tentacles out of the Bullhead and wrapped them around the swords.
The edge cut into his flesh, made all the worse when he had to grip them as tight as he could to try and pull them out. They were stuck fast, however. If they'd been easy to get out, Penny would have done it already when she pulled them.
"I mean, just look at her… she's perfect."
"Nothing about this situation is perfect!" Jaune growled. If he couldn't pull the swords out, he'd need to deal with the wire itself. His eyes clenched shut as the thin metal string cut into him. It stung, and even drew blood. He could have turned that into Grimm, but in the middle of Vale there was a chance they would rampage out of control. I can't let that happen.
Instead, he tugged his tentacle back – cutting off a chunk of it with a wince, but snapping the tightly strung and taut wire. The Bullhead lurched to the side, free of one of the four anchors holding it down.
"Nice work!" Roman yelled. "Just do it three more times!"
"He, on the other hand, is less perfect. If he didn't know the truth, I'd suggest throwing him into the ocean."
"He might be able to swim to safety, otherwise I'd do it."
"True. Damn shame."
Jaune chuckled to himself. He couldn't agree more. The second wire snapped as easily as the first, and although he couldn't make out her expression from such a distance, he could see Penny stumble as she lost control. She slid forward a few paces, but grabbed onto something to steady herself.
"She's persistent," he whispered, reaching out for the third wire. They were strained now, already at breaking point, and with the Bullhead fighting against her, it only took the slightest pressure to make it snap.
The last broke on its own, unable to fight the power of the vehicle. Penny stood on her feet, weapons discarded and broken before her, but an unafraid expression on her face as she stared after them. The message was clear. She would not be deterred in the future… nor defeated quite so easily.
"Jaune… I think I'm in love."
"And I think you need a therapist."
The day really hadn't gone as he'd thought it would.
The Bullhead lurched to the side, recovered in a tense moment of panic, and then began to soar away.
/-/
Roman let out a long breath of relief as he watched the docks vanish away into the distance. The Bullhead ramp pulled up and shut, and he flicked the last vestiges of his cigar out into the air before it did. "Well, that was a complete cock-up," he said. "Still, at least we got out in one piece."
None of the White Fang aboard the Bullhead replied. It wasn't because they felt bad for their fallen comrades, either.
It was mostly because of the elephant in the room… or the Goliath as it were. Jaune, or Arc, or the great tentacle-Grimm creature, the very one he'd sent Neo to try and influence, the one his boss was so interested in keeping safe. He stood in the middle of the cramped vehicle, arms crossed and black tentacles flicking in the air.
He didn't look pleased.
"So…" Roman said slowly. "I'm guessing you're not exactly thrilled with the whole claiming you were on my side, thing."
"You might say that," the monster replied.
"And I get that, I really do… I mean, I'm a human, you're half-Grimm. Things were never going to be easy, and it probably doesn't help that you were stuck fighting against your friends."
"No," Jaune said, and Roman winced when he felt a tentacle coil around his ankle. "No, it didn't."
"Would it help if I pointed out how I never revealed your identity?" Roman asked. The question was answered a moment later when a tentacle slammed him back against the wall, and another pressed against his throat, pinning him there. "Okay," he gasped, "I'm getting the feeling it isn't helping…" He looked toward the White Fang in the Bullhead for help, but they all kept their eyes fixed on the floor, ceiling or anywhere that wasn't the murder about to happen in front of them.
Those bastards!
"Give me one reason I shouldn't get rid of you," his assailant growled.
"Because I know who you are. If you turn me in, the information will get out!" Roman's face went white as he felt the tentacle crush a little harder against him. Black spots danced in his vision. "W-What are you doing?"
"Who said anything about turning you in? My Uncle always says the best way to deal with secrets is with a little bit of murder." Those red eyes flashed crimson. "I've never followed Uncle Tyrian's advice before. I'm beginning to think I should try it out."
Roman's eyes nearly popped out. He'd made a living knowing how to read a man, and he could clearly see the anger in those eyes. It was only then that he remembered this wasn't a man at all. What was one dead human to a Grimm? "W-Wait, wait, wait!" he cried. "You can't do this. You can't kill me!"
"Really? Why?"
Roman drew a blank. His mind was completely empty, as it never had been before. He had nothing, zilch, nada. Somewhere in the back, that song he'd always hated began to play, almost like it was taunting him. In desperation, he grasped onto the only thing he could.
"CINDER!"
He winced and closed his eyes, prepared for death.
It didn't come.
"Sis?" the monster asked. "You know my sister?"
Roman nearly died right there. Sis!? This… this thing looked up to his boss as a sister? Note to self, do NOT piss off Cinder. I thought she was terrifying before, but if she can make even this monster pause… yikes. Also, it suddenly made a whole heap of sense as to how the guy could be so casual about killing him. She wouldn't have batted an eyelid either. Oh Gods, I'm dealing with a mini-Cinder with Grimm-powers. I wasn't aware what my biggest fear was until this moment.
"How do you know her?" the monster demanded. "Answer me!"
"I'm here because of her!" Roman yelled. He cracked one eye open and noticed the hesitation on that pale face. It was working. "I'm important," he continued. "She needs me!"
"She… needs you?"
"Yes! I was doing all of this for her, because she can't get what she needs from anyone else. I'm good at what I do, very good. She keeps me around because of that." Each new sentence eased the crushing grip of the tentacle around his throat. Roman didn't stop, however. He'd always prided himself on his fast tongue – but this was the litmus test. "I'm with her. I'm on her side. I'm totally loyal to her!" He'd say whatever he needed to say; everything and anything. "She'll have no idea what to do if you kill me. She needs me!"
He clenched his eyes shut and went for the final, desperate gambit.
"Anything you do to me will just hurt her!"
"Ugh…" The monster released him, and he fell to the floor of the Bullhead, one hand on his throat. When he looked up, it was to see Cinder's – shudder – little brother glaring down at him. "I have no idea what she's thinking," he said, "but I suppose that's a question I'll have to put to her." He turned to a White Fang member, who froze like he'd been shot. "You. What colour is your shirt under that armour?"
"W-W-White, Mr Grimm, sir." The White Fang member squirmed and tried again when it was clear the scary man wasn't impressed. "Um… master? Your most evillest?"
"Strip."
"E-Excuse me…?"
"Take off your clothes," the Grimm said slowly, as though talking to a particularly stupid child. The faunus looked to his friends for aid, but they were about as brave as Roman felt at that moment and all looked away. The man, who appeared to be a squirrel faunus, whimpered but stood and reached for his collar.
"S-Should I do it slowly? D-Do you want me to dance?"
"I want you to hurry up and take your shirt off."
"Eep!" The man tore off his armour and threw it aside, plucking off each article of clothing with as much haste as he could. By the end of it, he was stood naked, hands over his privates, while Roman felt uncomfortably like he was stuck in the most awkward bachelor party known to man. The brown-haired terrorist flushed. "I-I've never done this before. Please be gentle." He clenched his eyes shut.
The Grimm walked past him and picked the shirt up out of the pile of clothing. "I'll be taking this," he said as he walked over to the Bullhead door and opened it. Wind whipped and whistled, and Roman had to cling onto a chair to prevent himself from being pulled out. "I'll let you go this time, Roman," the Grimm, pausing in the doorway. "That's twice you've caused me problems now. Don't let there be a third time."
"Y-Yeah… sure…" Just so long as he lived to see a third time, he'd be happy.
"Oh," it added, "and I just want you to know that I do not approve of you." Red eyes glared at him. "Not one bit. Make one mistake, cause me trouble like you did here, or worse, hurt my sister… and I'll show you that even though I can be nice, Cinder still had a hand in raising me." His eyes hardened. "I'm not afraid to become very un-nice if the situation calls for it."
He was out the door a moment later, free-falling back down towards Vale. There was still a few moments of silence, during which no one dared breathe lest the monster reveal it all as a joke and he'd been hanging underneath the Bullhead all along.
They'd all seen the movies.
Once it was definitely gone, however, Roman dared to let out a desperate breath. He also shot an irritated glared towards the masked and courageous freedom-fighters who shared his aircraft. "A fat lot of good you bastards were!"
The naked faunus whimpered.
"Someone find this idiot some clothing."
/-/
"Ah, I lost him," Penny said. She sounded disappointed, and looked at the broken wires before her with a morose expression. Yang barely paid any attention to her. The moment they were gone, she'd already moved, rushing over to her sister.
Her knees hit the floor, hands wrapping around Ruby's shoulders before the words could even cross her lips. When they did, they were awash with fear. "Are you okay, Ruby? Did he hurt you?"
"N-No." Ruby looked up with flushed cheeks. "I'm okay. Just a little um… I'm fine." She shivered. Yang noticed.
"Are you afraid? I should have been there. This was all my fault…" If only they hadn't rushed over here, or if only she'd engaged Hentacle instead of Torchwick. She ran her hands over her sister's shoulders. "You're covered in sweat. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm okay."
"You sound breathless."
"I'm okay!"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm okay!" Ruby shouted. Yang recoiled, but it looked like Ruby shocked herself too, for she shook her head and looked down at the floor in embarrassment. "S-Sorry. I just… need a few seconds to recover."
Yang nodded and knelt by her sister for a minute or two, just letting the girl come down from what must have been a harrowing experience. She wasn't sure why Ruby wouldn't meet her eyes, but she didn't push.
"Okay," Ruby eventually said, standing up. She was shaky, but managed to stay standing. She adjusted her skirt and tugged it down.
"Glad you're okay, sis." Yang clapped her shoulder. "I don't know what I would have done if I lost you. Heck, not sure what I would have done if we lost anyone."
Ruby's eyes widened. "JAUNE!"
"Heh?"
"We lost Jaune," Ruby whispered, horrified. She pushed past Yang and stumbled over to the others, shouting out. "We need to find Jaune. He fell into the warehouse that exploded. We couldn't find him and got distracted by Torchwick and Hentacle!"
Yang's eyes widened. A curse slipped from her lips as she jogged up to her sister. "He was here as well?" she asked. "Which warehouse?"
Ruby pointed miserably to a pile of wreckage some distance away.
Yang's heart fell into her stomach. There was no sign of life over there, and if there had been then the lingering flames would have surely extinguished it. Her lips felt swollen, her mouth dry. No way. There was just no way they'd lost someone like that.
"Help me look for him," Ruby said.
"Ruby…"
"No!" Ruby shrugged off Yang's arm and rushed over to the others. "Guys please, help me look for my teammate. I can't… he isn't dead, I just know it. He has too much aura to die."
"I will help, friend-Ruby." Penny said. "I do not believe friend Just Jaune is dead either. He said we would all spend time together again sometime, and he can't honour that promise if he died."
"We'll help too," Nora said. "Right, Renny?"
"Yes. If we spread out we might be able to fin-"
Blake interrupted him. "Where's Mercury?" she asked. The question made everyone pause and look around, but the silver-haired guy was missing as well. "Don't tell me we need to find him too? He was stood right here when we were fighting Hentacle."
"We'll find them both," Yang sighed, pushing forward. If he'd managed to survive the warehouse coming down, then he'd have likely crawled to safety. He couldn't be too far. "Someone call his scroll," she said. "Nora, Ren, you two check the containers. Blake, can you check the-"
"Found him~" Nora sang.
Wait, what? Yang span on the spot, to look in the direction Nora was pointing. There, coming out of the dust, were two figures.
"Jaune," Ruby whispered. There were tears in her eyes.
"Found him," Mercury laughed, walking slowly forward with Jaune beside him. The blond leaned heavily on the other boy, one arm wrapped around his shoulders as he limped forward. His hair was tussled, his white shirt crinkled, streaked with soot, and also hanging off him, almost like it was several sizes too large.
Anything else she might have considered was moot as Ruby launched herself at him. Yang leaned back and smiled, feeling a fond sensation in her chest as she watched Ruby squeeze her teammate to death.
"You're okay," she cried. "You're okay, you're okay, you're okay!"
"He won't be if you keep crushing him like that," Yang said, strolling up to them. She looked him up and down, but apart from the limp and vague signs of damage, he was okay. "Looking good, champ. You missed all the action."
"I'm sorry about that," he said. "Mercury filled me in and what happened." He looked down at Ruby, who had her face pressed into his chest. "Are you okay, Ruby? You weren't hurt, were you?"
Ruby's shoulders stiffened. "N-No. I'm okay."
"Are you sure? It's just that-"
"I'm okay!" she yelled.
Jaune looked at her in confusion, but Yang could only shrug her shoulders. She'd gotten the same response, along with the red face her little sister was trying to hide in his shirt right now. Yang shrugged.
"Is your leg okay, Jaune?" Ren asked, moving up. "I know some light first aid if you need it."
"Oh uh, no, I'm fine." Jaune put it down, but winced gingerly as he did. "Yeah, I think it's healing already. I'm sure my aura will take care of it in a minute."
"It was stuck under some rubble," Mercury chipped in. "That was why he couldn't come and help us out, right?"
"Right," Jaune nodded. "Mercury managed to save me, though."
"Friend-Mercury saved friend- Just Jaune," Penny said. She stepped forward with her arms wide open.
Yang giggled as the silver-haired teen panicked and tried to put Jaune and her sister between them, but Ruby clung on too tight and he had no escape as Penny closed in to hug him. His eyes popped open.
"Thank you for protecting him, friend-Mercury. You are a true example of friendship."
"I-It's okay," he choked. "You can let me go now."
"I am showing you gratitude in the same manner as Ruby does. She has not let go yet."
"No, seriously, you can let go. It's fine."
"I am still hugging you."
Mercury tried to pry her off to no avail. "Can someone give me a hand here?"
"I'll help," Nora said. She walked over to him, looked down at Penny, and then adjusted herself to stand beside her and hug his other side. "Thanks for looking after our friend. I'm Nora, your new bestie."
The look on his face had Yang sniggering into her hand.
"Aw Mercury," Jaune cooed. "You're getting on with everyone. I'm so glad!" He looked like he might have wanted to say something more, but Ruby whispered something to him and he replied to her instead.
Yang strode up and placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling. "Thanks for saving my sister on the warehouse, champ," she said, and then leaned in to kiss his cheek. "I owe you one."
"They got away," Blake sighed, coming up to stand beside her.
"True, but not with what they wanted." Yang elbowed her teammate. "Cheer up, Blake. We won the day, trashed some bad guys and got out without a scratch. This is a time for feeling happy."
"No," Ren said. "No it's not."
Yang sighed. "Partner, could you not kill the mood for one sec-" Yang trailed off as she saw a Bullhead land. The door opened and a familiar figure stepped out. Miss Goodwitch took one look at the ruined warehouse, another at the various destroyed containers, and then fixed her eyes on them.
She brought her crop down into her hand with a meaty slap.
"Oh…" Yang said. "You know what, never mind. You were right."
The time for celebration had passed.
The time of pleading had come.
And they were not prepared.
/-/
Blake couldn't lift her face from the floor. The walk back to their room from the headmaster's office had been in silence, but at least there she'd had the excuse of Miss Goodwitch's arctic gaze, and the close shave they'd come out of in avoiding any kind of punishment. Here in the sanctity of their dorm, she had no such cover.
"I can't believe we got out of that without detention," Yang said. "Did you see the look on her face? I half-expected her just to kill us, right then and there."
"She's scary!" Nora said. "Like, actually the scariest thing we dealt with tonight. Do you think she does it on purpose as some way of inuring us to fear so we don't attract more Grimm?"
"Could be… she's definitely more terrifying than any Ursa." Yang fell back on her bed. "Welp. At least we did what we wanted to do."
"True, we found out what we wanted," Ren said. "The White Fang are responsible for the dust robberies. They're also working alongside Torchwick."
Blake's fingers gripped the edge of her mattress.
"We also got to kick butt," Nora laughed. Her expression became a little more serious as she looked over at Yang. "Is your sister feeling better now?"
"Yeah, Ruby's alright." Yang smiled. "Jaune's looking after her."
"Is that a good thing? Weren't you nervous about him and her getting a little too close?"
"No," Yang said. "Well… maybe a little. Still, at least he doesn't have tentacles to molest her with. Besides, I trust him. He's a good guy. I doubt he'd do anything like that to her."
"Yeah, true." Nora giggled. "I hope she'll get past it. Ruby's awesome."
Yang looked proud of the compliment. "She's a resilient girl. She'll manage."
"You're not worried about what happened?"
"You mean how she keeps getting molested by Hentacle?"
"No, the skeletal implications of growing up with a Semblance based on speed." Nora's expression was deadpan. "Of course I meant the Hentacle thing!"
"Of course I'm worried." Yang sighed and kicked her feet in the air. "Trust me; I'm going to drag her butt out for some one on one training tomorrow… and then every day after until she learns to run away from people before they catch her." Yang's eyes blazed. "Oh, she'll learn to dodge… she'll learn… even if I have to drop a mountain on her."
"Isn't that a bit much?" Ren asked. "She came out in one piece."
"Nothing is too much when it comes to protecting my sister's innocence in the face of a tentacle monster."
"Even if we're not sure she wants to protect it," Nora quipped.
Yang refused to acknowledge that comment, or maybe she didn't believe it. She really did seem to think her sister was so innocent she couldn't even feel such things. "It's bad enough she came to Beacon two years early," Yang said, "but I thought the most I'd have to defend herself from was some amorous boys or Grimm, not the plot of one of Blake's books."
There was a long moment of silence. Blake kept her eyes on the sheets before her.
"Blake… are you okay?"
"Hm?" She looked up to Yang's worried face. "Oh… I'm fine."
"Are you sure? It's just that you'd have normally reacted to that. I just called your books smut."
"Ah, well…" She shrugged one shoulder. "They're not porn." Her heart wasn't in it. She just couldn't bring up the same fire. A sigh escaped her.
"Blakey…" Nora padded over and sat down, elbows on Blake's bed and her chin propped atop her hands. "What's wrong, partner? We found out what you wanted, we kicked butt, and we even caused several dust explosions. What's not to like?"
The dust explosions, for one, but she knew Nora wouldn't be deterred on that. How could she explain, though? The White Fang had been a part of her life for so long. It was where she'd learned to fight. Where she'd made friends. Where she'd fought, bled and nearly died time after time. To see them reduced to this…
It was disgusting.
"I guess I'm just distracted." She glanced away. "Did we really achieve anything today? Torchwick and Hentacle got away."
"But not with the dust," Ren said. "We protected that, along with the docks itself. One Bullhead was downed and several White Fang members were unconscious and no doubt arrested. Even if they escaped, we didn't take any damage and they did."
Their leader's calm logic made her nod. He was right. Even if she felt bad, at least something had been achieved. Those people wouldn't be able to cause more harm in the future, and whatever Torchwick wanted the dust for, ensuring he didn't have it was a good thing.
It didn't satisfy her, but it was a good thing they'd done.
"Hnghhh…" Nora growled and leapt on top of her.
"N-Nora. Hey –… stop that!" Blake scowled and tried to fight the other girl off, all the while looking to the others for help. Yang shrugged as though to say it was her partner, while Ren stared at them like it was a common occurrence. "Nora, what are- ow!"
"There," Nora laughed. "Now you're smiling."
Blake growled angrily past the fingers that were poked into her mouth, pulling her lips apart in a frightening parody of a smile.
"You've got a really nice smile, Blakey. You need to show it off more."
Blake tried to reply but her lips couldn't form the words and all she managed was an agitated gurgle. To Nora, that seemed enough for the conversation.
"What we did was a good thing, Blakey, but not just because of what happened. We went out as a team. The four of us went and did something together, and it was something we all felt was right. We risked our lives, but that's the kind of people we are. At least, that's what I think." Nora let go of her and sat next to her on her bed. "Even if it wasn't exactly what you were hoping for, we did something. I had fun, and we all came out okay, so it's a learning experience too. Next time we'll be stronger. Next time we'll stop them."
Blake scowled. "Ugh. How can you be so cheerful at a time like this?"
"Because I got to spend time with my partner."
The angry retort on the tip of her tongue faded away.
"I got to spend time with her doing something she wanted," Nora continued. "As long as I can remember it's always been me and Ren, and we're together, but not together-together. Things were never lonely, but sometimes it felt like there was only the two of us." She shuffled her feet for a second, but then grinned widely and looked toward her. "But now I have Blakey and Yang, and suddenly things feel a lot happier than they did before. So I'm glad because even though it was a bit crazy, we got to go out and have fun as a team." Nora's eyes became a little softer. "I'm also glad because whatever problem you had, you came to us with it instead of doing it on your own."
The clock in the room continued to tick loudly. For the longest time, it was the only thing she could hear.
Was Nora really that simple?
No, that was foolish. Nobody was so easily explained and everyone had deeper secrets they wanted to keep to themselves. Nora had her own demons, she was sure. Despite that… or maybe because of that… she couldn't help but believe the words Nora said.
Friends, huh?
The White Fang had left their people behind. They'd fled, allowing those who fell to be captured. She couldn't help but feel that if it had been her who fell, her team would have stopped at nothing to reclaim her.
The mattress flexed as she stood up and off it. "I have something to tell you all," she said.
"Hm?" Yang cocked her head to one side. She listened, though. Ren did too, lowering his book to his knees as he regarded her with his full attention. No hesitation from either of them, and none from Nora either.
They trusted her.
She would trust them in turn. One hand rose slowly to her ears, not the human ones, but those atop her head. She tugged at the ribbon, and closed her eyes as she felt it unwind and fall down beside her. Left revealed, the twin tufts of fur above her head twitched in the cool evening air.
When she dared to open her eyes, it was to see her teammates watching her.
They kept watching her.
"Well," she said, looking aside nervously. "Aren't you going to say something?"
Ren closed his book. "We're waiting for that thing you said you had to tell us."
Her legs almost gave way.
"What? It's this, I've just shown you." She pointed to them.
"Your bow?" Yang guessed.
"Did you have a haircut?" Ren asked. "It looks good."
"Wow partner, way to show just how little sincerity there was in that. Is that your automatic response?"
"With Nora, it's wise to have one."
"Yep," Nora laughed.
Blake's eyes narrowed. "My ears," she said. "Are you blind? I'm telling you I'm a faunus. That's the secret I've kept from you all."
Nora looked horrified.
Finally, the disdain she deserved.
"That was a secret?" Nora whispered, hand over her mouth. "I didn't know!"
"That's kind of the point," Blake said. She turned to Yang and Ren. "I'm a little surprised the two of you aren't at least partly interested. Does it really not bother you?"
"Eh," Yang waved a hand. "Not me."
"I've had a few weeks to get used to it."
A few… weeks? Blake leaned back. "You knew?"
"Well, yes…" Ren looked confused. "Everyone did."
Blake stared at him. He had to be joking…
"I knew as well," Yang shrugged. "Like Ren says, it was common knowledge."
C-Common knowledge? Blake's head swirled, followed by her vision as she took a step back, bumped into her bed and fell down atop it. How had they known? Had she been careless? No. She was sure she'd taken every precaution. "How?" she demanded. "How did you find out!?"
Ren blinked.
"Nora told me."
"Same," Yang said.
"That was before I knew it was supposed to be a secret," Nora cried when Blake turned to look at her with wide eyes. "If I'd known then I wouldn't have told anyone." Nora reached up to grip her shoulders and shake her. "Please forgive meeeee. No! Now my Blakey won't ever trust me with a secret again. I've betrayed her! I've become a monster!"
Blake's brain rocked back and forth in her skull as Nora shook her. She was still too shell-shocked to process a response. Her mind managed a single word. "How?"
"How did I know?" Nora paused in her relentless assault. "Hm, well, I suppose it's because you have cat ears." She looked up at them and nodded. "Yeah. That's definitely how I knew. For what it's worth I totally didn't peek on you in the shower because I was trying to compare breast sizes or anything." Nora added. "If you even think that for a moment, you're definitely wrong."
That… what… she didn't…
Nothing made sense.
"Maybe if you were a tentacle monster she'd be more willing to forgive you," Yang quipped. "Then again, things might get a little awkward in here if you were. I think Ren and I would need to sleep over in Ruby's dorm."
"Do you think that would help?" Nora asked. She rolled back on the bed and picked up Mr Tentacles, the prize Ren won for Blake. Nora pulled it over her head, so that the tentacles ran down on either side of her. "Rargh! I'm the evil Hentacle. Fear me, Blake!"
Yang laughed and launched a pillow, knocking Nora off the bed.
Nora's response was predictably obvious, and the two girls were quickly wrestling on the floor, leaving Blake sat with a dazed expression, and Ren to go back to reading his book.
They'd known all along… or at least for a few weeks. She wasn't sure what she thought of that. She ought to have felt insulted or offended, but none of them cared, nor had they sought to confront her on why she kept her heritage hidden.
They'd just accepted it… no questions asked.
A stuffed tentacle struck her in the face.
"Oh no," Yang laughed, "He's got her! Quick, someone do a hostage exchange. Where's Mercury when you need him?"
Nora giggled wildly.
"I hate this team," Blake gritted out.
"I don't think you mean that," Ren said. He didn't even lower his book, nor did he stop reading or look her way at all.
Blake sighed, but there was no denying the tiny smile behind it.
"No." she said. "I suppose I don't..."
/-/
"You look like shit," Emerald said when he opened the door.
"Nice to see you too," Mercury said, pushing past her. "You've no idea what kind of night I just had. Coming back looking only like shit is an accomplishment. I deserve a medal. No, I deserve a statue in my honour."
"Like there would be anyone on Remnant willing to chisel your face into rock."
"Hm, if that were true, I wouldn't have caught you looking when I came out the shower this morning." Mercury smirked at her, and then let it grow into a grin as she snarled and looked away. Oh yeah, she wanted him.
"Mercury," Cinder snapped.
Aaand back to business. Mercury's mouth snapped shut and he stood a little taller, facing the woman who was his team leader, boss and otherwise lord and ruler. "Ma'am," he acknowledged.
"Tell me what happened, Mercury, and do cut the chatter." Cinder said. "I don't have time for your incessant flirting."
Emerald balked. "We weren't-"
"Be silent, Emerald." She waited for the green-haired girl to go still before turning to him. "Continue."
"Jaune is okay," Mercury said, still feeling a little surprised about that himself. By all records he shouldn't be okay, not after the shit he pulled. "He came out of the whole thing pretty much unhurt. If you see him limping, it's something he's putting on." Mercury added. "I made sure he didn't get injured."
"His cover…?"
"In one piece, miraculously." Well, mostly. He winced. "Uh… news reports are probably going to place his Grimm-form in cahoots with Torchwick, though. Not much I could do about that." She didn't look like she was about to set him on fire, but it was best to be safe with her. "Sorry about that. I tried my best."
"Hmm, that's fine." Cinder nodded her head. "The early reports already did that, and I very much doubt they would ever consider him a friend, anyway. In fact, having the media aligned against him might prove useful in the long term. Well done, Mercury."
Praise… from Cinder? His chest puffed out a little despite himself, and the barely concealed jealousy on Emerald's face just made it all the better. Emerald hadn't been complimented like this when she went and followed them. He caught her glare and smirked, feeling all his frustrations washed away when her hands curled into fists and she glowered at the floor.
Oh yes… that felt good.
"It wasn't easy," he said, deciding to rub Em's nose in it a little. "Torchwick decided to pull some crap where he threatened to reveal Jaune's secret if he didn't co-operate. I don't think he knew your connection with him," he added the last when Cinder's face took on a frigid cold.
"Is that so," she whispered. "Well, it seems I shall have to have a quiet word with our dear friend. If he believes his presence more important than my dear brother's, then he has another thing coming."
I thought you said he wasn't important at all and that we were just doing this to get the maiden's powers? Mercury hummed but didn't dare express those thoughts. They'd likely get him torn in two. "Would you like me to handle it?" he offered, knowing she wouldn't, but also knowing that offering could only get him further into her good books, and thus piss Emerald off all the more.
"No. I shall deal with him." She sighed and pushed some hair behind her ear. "You are unusually helpful today, Mercury. Unusually competent as well. I hope this new theme continues to hold true."
"I'll try my best," he demurred. In the background he could practically feel his partner's angry glare. He looked over to her with a sardonic smile. "I'm sure Emerald wants a chance to prove herself as well, though. Oh, and Em?"
She glared at him but didn't dare refuse to answer. Not when he was Cinder's favourite at that moment. "Yes?" she growled.
"The next time you tell me it's `my turn`… go walk off a bridge, please."
Emerald mumbled something which might have included him, his head, an industrial macerator and what he could do with it.
"Oh, don't worry babe. I'm sure you'll have a chance to prove yourself too. After all, it's your turn to look after him the next time he decides to risk life and limb." Mercury grinned at her, and it was just a tad bit too vicious. "And for what it's worth, I hope your turn looking after him was just as eventful as mine."
Exploding warehouses and hostage situations included.
"No." Cinder said. She stepped forward, a small smile on her lips. "You've done well today, Mercury. You were able to keep him safe, maintain his cover and help him escape from a situation he would have struggled to otherwise. You even allowed Roman to escape as well, even if he was unable to gather any dust. This keeps our plans running smoothly." She held a hand out to stroke his cheek, and for once there was no hidden heat or threat in the action. The feel of her soft skin made him swallow. "You have exceeded my expectations, dear Mercury."
He wasn't sure what to feel. Cinder never praised him like this. Emerald had been jealous before, but now she looked positively livid. "Um… thanks, ma'am. I… uh… was just doing my job."
"As such, I believe it would be best if you continued this new cover as their friend, and interacted with them every day. That will free Emerald up for some other tasks."
Something shattered.
Mercury thought it might have been his heart.
/-/
Someone was shaking him awake. His eyes opened groggily, his mind fighting past a throbbing headache at the back of his skull. "Ugh, whazzat?"
"Are you okay, sir?" a calm voice asked. "You shouldn't be sleeping here. It isn't safe."
Not safe? Sun Wukong cracked an eye open and looked about, to see dented containers, police officers and a burning warehouse. Knelt beside him was a young man in a paramedics uniform.
"I'm glad to see you're okay," he said. "You shouldn't be here, though. It isn't safe. There's a shelter a little further down the street if you need it, just off the central square. There's a food bank nearby. I'm not sure it will offer food this late, but you can try."
"Shelter? A food bank?" Sun shook his head. What was the guy on about? Actually, come to think of it, where were the people he'd been fighting alongside?
He pushed himself up and looked around, noticing at last the various faunus in White Fang uniforms being carted into the backs of police vans. Those, along with the damaged containers, spoke of the fight long having ended.
His eye twitched.
"They left me behind..."
Poor Mercury… poor Sun. It's hard not being the stereotypical male protagonist in these kinds of things, isn't it? The one guy gets all the attention, all the girls, all the plasters with smiley faces, delivered with a kiss.
Meanwhile, you get to sit in the background, not quite sure of what it is they do different or how you can get in on that sweet, sweet action.
My advice, Sun? Learn to use that tail for alternative purposes.
Seems to have worked well so far!
Next Chapter: 1st June - (You might not be surprised to know that whenever I write June, I write Jaune instead. It's bloody ingrained into me now.)
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur