So, a couple of quick notes. Have CTS, have a brace on wrist – writing impeded (I'm sure most have seen the notes on other fics by now). To answer a repeat question, no, "Cindere" is not me misspelling her name in the AN's. It's a joke on Tsundere and Yandere (of which Cinder flits), and her name.
And we actually have a little piece of art this week which I felt highlighted quite well how difficult it might actually be to distinguish Jaune's normal form from his Grimm one. It's by ClawT13 on Deviant Art, and I've replaced the cover art for this week with it, so people can get a quick look. Any similar clothing inside (and in cases like the docks, Jaune lost his shirt for that reason), it's actually rather difficult to say "Oh, that's Jaune" unless you're in the know and are looking for it. Certainly, in a difficult fight in a high-pressure situation, I feel there's enough room for the teams not to recognise him.
Beta: College Fool
Cover Art: ClawT13 (For this Week)
Chapter 41
Emerald trailed the halls of Beacon with a petulant frown on her face. Had Mercury been around, he'd have pointed it out and earned her ire, which would have at least let her be angry instead of miserable. But he wasn't around. He was with his contact, who he kept spending more and more time with lately, and which pissed her off even more. How was it he was the one to have Cinder's faith, especially when he put so little effort into it. Why was it that she, who tried her hardest, had to be the one to suffer?
Okay, sure, Mercury had been forced to handle the fiasco at the docks, even offering himself up as some kind of gay hostage to save Jaune's ass, but he'd come out of that smelling of roses both to Cinder and those idiots Jaune called friends. On the flip side, Emerald had pulled out all the stops to save him from a crazy psycho, and she'd ended up owing a favour to Neo and getting thrown in the middle of a power-play between Cinder and her stupid brother.
And as a result, she'd been cast aside. She'd become unimportant. Even now, Cinder was off doing goodness knows what, and the not knowing hurt. She always used to tell me her plans before, Emerald complained. She would take me along for backup. I'd be the one to watch her back with my illusions. Look at me now, stuck in Beacon like so much wasted space.
Cinder hadn't even given her a mission, which was tantamount to saying she couldn't be trusted with an important errand. She hadn't even been asked to look over Team CRDL or something.
It just wasn't fair!
The question was what she was supposed to do now. If she was being dangled between Jaune and Cinder like a chess piece, then she needed to choose who to side with. Cinder had always been the obvious choice, being the woman who had taken her off the streets, but Cinder was currently upset with her, while Jaune actually seemed grateful for the help she'd provided - even if he was only in that situation in the first place because she hadn't prevented him going to the rally like she was meant to. That good will could be useful, especially since there was no telling whether she'd be able to build it back up with Cinder.
But do I really want to throw my lot in with him?
She didn't. Not really. But want and desire might not have anything to do with it. She needed some kind of sponsor to keep her safe, especially considering all the terrible things they planned to do to Vale and Beacon. On a purely objective scale, Jaune might actually be the better pick. She and Mercury had never heard of him before this mission, so Cinder and her mysterious mistress had been the two most powerful people in the world to them. If Jaune was the son of said mistress, however, then he technically had more power and influence than Cinder did.
He also had some kind of influence over Cinder, too. No matter how much it grated to admit it. She'd never seen Cinder show any emotion to anyone other than her, and deep inside she'd convinced herself that was the extent of kindness she could show. It had made her feel special, to know that Cinder only smiled for her.
And then he appeared and threw that all out the window. Concern, frustration, pleasure – Cinder exhibited all of them and towards this dumb blonde. At first, Emerald had been angry. It had festered. He was an idiot – an unintellectual – a moron who kept getting himself into trouble.
She'd been a fool to think that.
No one raised by Cinder Fall would be such, and Jaune had shown cunning in not only deceiving her, but also destabilising her position with Cinder. Now, she was lost and adrift, and it seemed obvious he intended to snap her up.
Again, it always came back to the same question. Did she let him win her over? He offered protection. He regarded her well. He… He was annoyingly nice, but that wasn't necessarily bad. A pain in the ass, sure, but it probably meant he wouldn't kill her anytime soon. In fact, he'd only been gentle with her so far. She could still remember that time her hair was dyed, and he'd allowed her to shower in his room, even holding a towel out for her on one of his tentacles.
She could still remember how it felt. Smooth, muscular, but also gentle as it brushed against her skin.
Emerald paused in the hallway and took a deep breath. With an intimidating calm she turned to the wall and placed her forehead against it. There was a loud crack as she brought her head back and slammed it against the plaster, chipping a little of it away.
"Do not think about the tentacles," she hissed, cheeks bright red.
That way lay madness.
"Winter, I'm telling you he isn't- oh…" To Emerald's left, a pair of white-haired girls paused, or rather one girl and one easily recognisable and dangerous woman. The last time they'd met, it had been when Winter was about to (correctly) arrest her for working with Torchwick. Now, it was when she'd just finished banging her head against a wall. She wasn't sure which was worse, really, but she pushed away and crossed her arms, aiming for as distinguished an expression as was possible after such a display.
"Weiss," she nodded, hoping her forehead wasn't bruising.
"Emerald," Weiss returned, nodding back. "I'm sorry if we… interrupted you?"
"It's fine. I was just… I was lamenting about idiots and being forced to deal with them."
"Ah," Weiss made a sound of understanding. "I get that. I really do."
"Teammates?"
"One in particular, yes."
Emerald had a feeling she knew which.
"Sister," the older girl whispered. "I don't mean to hurry this along, but I'd appreciate it if we could finish our conversation, and I'm sure your friend here would like to continue…" Winter struggled for the right words. "To continue her cranial… experiment."
"Not this again, Winter. We're done. You're wrong."
"And I think you are allowing your feelings to impede your judgment."
"Believe me, that is the last thing that is happening right now." Weiss rolled her eyes, before they locked onto Emerald and widened. She adopted what could have only been called a pleading expression – or at least as much as Schnee could manage it – and quickly spoke, "In fact, I'm sure Emerald could put your mind to rest. She does know Jaune rather well, after all."
"Yes, very," Winter replied, narrowing her eyes. "Well enough to ask him for a private study session…"
"Now she's trying to steal him away, too? Is there no end to the list of threats?"
Emerald felt she could be forgiven for not quite getting the conversation, especially since the two were batting it back and forth in front of her. "I'm trying to steal someone?" she asked.
"No," Weiss said indulgently.
"That's undetermined," Winter countered.
"I really don't think it would be if she intended to." Weiss turned to Emerald and winced apologetically. "She thinks you're trying to seduce Jaune."
She what!? Emerald's face drained of blood so fast it was a wonder she didn't asphyxiate, and at the thought of what Cinder would do to her if she ever tried to seduce her little brother (who she may or may not have had feelings for), Emerald felt her legs threaten to give way, too. "Jaune Arc!?" she gasped, just to make sure. When Winter and Weiss nodded, she shook her head wildly. "Nuh-uh. No way. No chance. Not in a million years. I would never be that stupid!"
Her sense of self-preservation wasn't that lacking. Cinder would kill her, and that was if Jaune didn't do it first – or any of his apparently terrifying family. She was a follower, not a leader, and dating him sounded akin to throwing herself in a pit of snakes.
Or tentacles, as it were.
No – don't think about them!
"Thank you," Weiss said, voice tinged with exasperation. "I trust Emerald's response was enough, sister. Or if not that, at least her reaction."
"She does seem rather averse to the notion," Winter admitted.
Yeah, that was one way of putting it. She was averse in the way one was normally averse to having their head cut off. "Why would you even think that?" she had to ask.
Winter crossed her arms. "Evidence."
"Paranoia," Weiss said at the same time, mimicking her sister's pose almost perfectly.
"I specifically saw him leave on what could only be called a date with another woman, Weiss. They went to a high class restaurant. They booked a private room."
"Yang and he are friends."
The blonde and Jaune…? Emerald had heard rumours, of course, but Cinder had dismissed them as a simple misunderstanding from her brother. She'd explained that he didn't understand what was dating and what wasn't, and that he'd almost certainly gotten the wrong end of the stick. This, however, suggested otherwise. There wasn't much it could have been other than a date. Perhaps I could tell Cinder, Emerald thought. It might be enough to get me back into her good graces.
On the other hand, it would make Jaune angry at her – and that would put her firmly in his crosshairs. If it wasn't enough to make Cinder forgive her, she'd then have no defence against whatever machinations he had in mind. Yet again, it was another huge risk. Cinder or Jaune. Jaune or Cinder. Both were impossible choices.
"Your faith in him does you credit, Weiss, but your denial does not." Winter said. "Why can you not see this for what it is? I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm trying to protect your honour, and to prevent your heart being broken."
"He wouldn't do that. Emerald, tell my sister he wouldn't do that. You know Jaune. You know how he is."
Suddenly finding herself the centre of attention once more, Emerald blinked back and forth between the two women, so similar in some regards and yet impossibly different in others. Winter was impossible to read, Weiss not so much. The younger girl's eyes were begging for help – begging her to stick to the lie Jaune had told her about.
It was at that moment, Emerald's mind realised a third – altogether different - solution to her quandary. She had been so focused on trying to decide whether she should throw her fate with Jaune or Cinder that she'd not considered there were other people – powerful people – that she could also ally with. Someone who was friendly with Jaune, who couldn't be removed by Cinder, and who would therefore be able to protect her in turn.
"Jaune and Yang are just friends," Emerald said, hiding a coy smile behind a friendlier one. "Yang is also a friend with Weiss, so she wouldn't do that, but I did hear Jaune saying something about a practise date to help him do better with Weiss." It was a complete lie, of course. "He's always worried he isn't good enough for her."
Weiss practically slumped in relief.
"Is that so?" Winter asked, doubt eating away at her for the first time.
"See?" Weiss asked, leaping on the excuse. "Jaune would never cheat on me. The two of us are… we're…" She struggled with the words. Emerald didn't blame her. "W-We are deeply in love," she finally managed. "I love him. He loves me."
Emerald felt the urge to pat her back in sympathy.
"Well, I suppose in this case I-" A scroll ringtone interrupted Winter's words and she turned away with a brief apology. "Winter, here," she said, answering it. "What is-? Now? Why wasn't I informed? I see. Yes." Winter paused to shoot the two of them a quick look. She nodded. "I'll be there as soon as I can."
The call ended abruptly.
"You have to go?" Weiss asked.
"Yes, I apologise. There has been an unexpected development and I need to go." The older woman already had one foot back as though to run, but politeness and Schnee decorum seemed to be conflicting, telling her she couldn't without a proper farewell. "I'd like to extend an apology to the both of you. I'm sure we can continue this conversation another time."
Emerald shrugged. "Uh… sure?"
"I will look forward to it," Weiss said, bowing her head. "Good luck, sister. Not that I believe you need it."
Winter smiled, nodded, and then was rushing away, practically flying down the corridor. Weiss and Emerald watched her go, and it was only once she was out of sight that Weiss let out a long, gasp and slumped forwards.
"Thank the Gods," she said. "If that went on any longer, I think I'd have snapped. I can't believe I said that." She groaned. "I can't believe I said I loved him."
"There, there," Emerald said, patting her shoulder.
"I don't love him. I don't!"
"I know, Weiss. I know."
"Sometimes I even want to strangle him!"
"You're not the only one."
It took the poor girl a minute or two to finally calm down, and when she did, she took a deep breath and steadied herself once more. "I'm sorry you had to see that," she said. "This morning has been… difficult thus far."
"It looks like it. Over-protective sister?"
"With military training, near-limitless resources and an entire unit of soldiers under her command." Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed again. "It's bad enough the two of us have to stick to this fake relationship without him dating other women and failing to cover his tracks. I'll have words for him about this. Jaune is an absolute nightmare."
"You don't know the half of it."
"Hm?"
"Nothing." Weiss was fortunate not to know any more, and even more fortunate that Jaune Arc seemed willing to tolerate (or maybe even liked) her ignorance. Emerald wasn't sure which was the case, but he was unusually gentle with his teammates. Unless it was all a part of his ruse, that was. Was it possible he was playing them for fools?
"Either way, I would like to thank you for playing along with me. It seems I owe you again after your help at the warehouse." Weiss laughed. "Maybe one day I can pay you back for it."
"There's no such thing as favours between friends, Weiss. I'm sure you'd do the same for me if I was ever in trouble."
"Of course I would."
Perfect…
/-/
Yang had been lost in thought all day, at least when she wasn't being mercilessly teased by her teammates. Given that she had Blake and Ren on her team, that shouldn't have even been a thing, but Blake was determined to get her back for the collar and bell, and so was happy to throw aside her usual manner and tease away. With Ren, well, it turned out he had his own technique, usually resolving less around words and more knowing smiles and looks, each of which were just as bad as Nora's loudest recital of Jaune and Yang sitting in a tree.
With all that going on, it was a miracle she'd had time to do a little detective work at all, but manage it she had – and she felt she'd figured out who exactly had been responsible for the posh dinner date.
"A little bird told me, huh," Yang mumbled, recalling her date's words. "More like a big, drunk and nosey bird. Isn't that right, Uncle?"
He hadn't seen her coming, which was kind of the point since she'd half-expected him to make a break for it if he did. That was her fault, really. Blake would have called her unsubtle, and probably would have been right. Sending her quarry a message via scroll before she sought them out wasn't exactly the best method of catching them – especially when that message was simply `I'm going to kill you`. Still, no one had ever accused her of being subtle, and hey, she'd found him nonetheless.
"Hello, nice of mine," Qrow said, watching her warily and not quite lowering his guard. Good move. "I got your message. Can't say I really understood why you'd say such things to your loving uncle, though." He reached for his hip flask, but blinked and stared at her when she swatted it away. "That time of the month?"
She was having none of it. She thrust out a finger towards him, and he actually had to dodge it before it skewered his throat. "You son of a bitch!"
"Okay, first of all that's your grandma you're disrespecting. Secondly, that doesn't do enough to say how much of a bitch she was, and thirdly, I don't even know what you're talking about."
Oh, he didn't, did he? Well, she'd just have to refresh his memory.
"You told Jaune to take me to some over-the-top fancy restaurant!"
Qrow winced. "In my defence, I told him to make it formal."
"That's the same thing!" Yang howled, eyes flashing red as she tried to land a blow on him. Her uncle was old and spry, however, and dodged out of the way of each blow, wincing at the air pressure that brushed past his face. He'd better believe she was serious about this. She'd never been so embarrassed in her life, and it was all because of him.
If he'd just minded his own business, she could have been in control of the date and Jaune wouldn't have been able to catch her off-guard. The date would have been quick, easy, and she wouldn't have been left with all these complicated feelings.
"You interfering old… old letch!" she howled, lunging for him once more. "Fix your own love life before you try and get involved in mine. You haven't had a date in years!"
"Hey! That's uncalled for." He parried a blow with the back of his fist, then winced and shook it in pain. He chose to duck the next. "I take it the date didn't go well?"
"No, it didn't!" Yang growled.
Or at least not in the way she wanted. It had been sweet, pleasant and – if she dared to admit it – romantic. That was not what she'd had in mind. It was supposed to be a chance to push him away from her, and towards Ruby.
"Stand still!" She thrust high and then ducked low, feinting and sweeping a leg at the back of his knee. Instinct alone saved Qrow, who had blocked his face with both arms, yet somehow felt her attack and leapt over it. "I'm going to pummel you into dust, you stupid bird!"
Qrow, predictably, wasn't too keen on that, and continued to retreat under her assault.
"Look," he said. "I know it wasn't the right thing to do." He leaned back, dodging her knuckles by a hair's breadth. "Actually, scratch that, it was a total ass thing to do." He slipped under her arm and ducked past her. "But you need to understand – it was what I had to do!"
"Interfere?" Yang asked, panting for breath. Damn it, it was like trying to catch Ruby when she was on a sugar-high. "You just had to interfere in your niece's date and mess it up for her? You just had to make me look like an absolute idiot by telling him to take me on some kind of super-formal dinner date instead of to a movie? Yeah, that sounds plausible!"
"It's not exactly easy to explain, firecracker…"
Yang's eyes flashed red. "I had everything under control! Things were going as I wanted them to!"
"That's the problem," Qrow finally yelled, his patience snapping. "That's the whole damn problem, Yang. You and your plans, damn it. You couldn't have chosen a worse one here. Any other time, I'd be fine with this, you know I would. This is different! You can't do this…"
Something in his tone made Yang pause, and made her feel a little less certain. She looked away, biting her lower lip. Did he know about her plan to try and turn Jaune towards Ruby? Was that what he was talking about?
Had he known all along, and advised Jaune to take her somewhere nice as a way of ensuring that didn't happen?
Why?
Why was he so determined to see the two of them together?
"I know what I'm doing," Yang protested. He was trying to set them up. He was trying to do what Blake, Nora and Ren were doing – but she wasn't stupid, and she wasn't going to fall for it. "I know what your plan is, Qrow."
"You don't," he replied – and she knew he was right. "You think you do, but you don't. You're young, Yang. You're making a mistake. Trust me, I know all about mistakes. You can't do this."
Blake had said the same… suggested that she was giving up her own happiness to facilitate Ruby's, but was that really such a bad thing? Did she even really want to be with Jaune like that? Ruby was the one who saw him first. She was the one he liked first.
"I know what I'm doing," she repeated.
The excuse felt weaker than ever.
"You're making a mistake"
Yang scowled and turned away. She'd been able to ignore Blake saying the same because while she was a friend, she didn't know or understand everything about her. Hearing it from her uncle was different.
But that didn't make a difference. She wasn't going to give in and steal Jaune from Ruby. Not like this – not even if Qrow wanted her to. Not even if he wanted the two of them to get together. With a shake of her head, Yang ran away.
If it was a mistake, then it was hers to make.
But it wasn't a mistake, right?
Jaune should be with Ruby, right? It would make her happy.
A-And she didn't have any feelings for him. It wasn't like that. He'd just caught her off-guard. He'd made her feel special, but not in that way.
"Stupid Qrow," she grumbled, shaking her head. He didn't know what he was talking about. Why was he so in favour of them getting together? "I'm not making a mistake. I know what I'm doing."
She took a deep breath and let it go.
"I won't regret this."
She had to talk to Ruby.
/-/
In hindsight, Jaune thought, this was a mistake.
Jaune - or Hentacle as was pretending to be - exited the room and ran straight into a warzone. How Atlas had managed to sneak up on them, he had no idea, but there were soldiers and strange bipedal robots fighting against White Fang agents and threatening to overwhelm them. The faunus fought well, proving they were better than the ones he and his team had faced before. They didn't buckle, break or flee, but instead created a small pocket of resistance about the doorway, standing their ground so that Adam could reinforce them.
And reinforce them he did. The terrorist leader struck out from the room, sweeping his blade in a wide arc and severing three robots at once, leaving them to explode and cover the area in smoke.
"We have to move," he snapped, both to Jaune and his men. "Hentacle gave us a distraction, but Ironwood won't be held there for long and our hostage is lost." Adam looked to him and nodded as he said that, acknowledging the deceit and letting him know he was playing along in case any of the nearby soldiers could hear. Cinder would be safe for now. "We need to break out. Stick together and make for the city. Atlas won't dare open fire when Vale citizens could be harmed."
"Would it not be bad for you if your actions caused casualties?" Jaune asked, trying to sound a little imperious still. It was hard work, but he'd promised Cinder he would. "I'd think the news ill for your little organisation."
"Our deaths will be worse."
That was true, he supposed. And, of course, there was his own life to think about too. It wasn't exactly a difficult decision.
"Most of your enemies are robotic in nature," Remy pointed out.
"I've noticed. Well, that makes things easier, I suppose." While there were a few people, they tended to keep their distance and shoot from the back, where they didn't have to worry about being caught in the crossfire, or accidentally hitting their own (living) people. It probably didn't matter if they shot their robots.
That was fine. It meant he could go all-out without fear of hurting anyone – and given all the absolute crap that had been going on recently, he needed this.
Jaune's knees bent, eyes turning just a little darker as he bared his teeth. "Adam," he said, and his voice came out as an inhuman hiss.
The faunus watched him warily. "What?"
"Be ready."
"For wha-" Adam cried out as Jaune shot past him, body held low and two additional tentacles exploding from his back to join the first two, making four in total. Two speared ahead, piercing through the chests of two of the white robots. They frazzled and sparked, but still tried to bring their weapons to bear.
He would have none of it. With a mighty crash he slammed them together, and wrenched them apart so hard they flew from his prehensile limbs, landing among their fellows and exploding in great gouts of dust and fire. It was enough to make the soldiers pause, but not their automatons, which continued unerringly on unto their death. He spun into them; four limbs twirling like a scythe and raking down three at once. Another he caught with one hand, fingers clamping around its neck as he drew it up into the air and then sliced into it with a tentacle. Once, twice, three times until it's body ceased to function and its arms hung limp. For good measure, he slammed it down into the concrete and ran forward with it, grinding it into nothing.
It felt good to let his steam go, especially on creatures that could not only take the punishment his Grimm form could mete out, but who did not feel pain or suffering. His instincts called for it, no matter how much he hated them. It was normally something repressed, but repressed did not mean extinguished.
The frustration always festered. Now, it ran free.
And that felt wonderful. It was sweet… sweet and oh, so liberating.
"Grimm…" one of the robots chimed.
A tentacle slammed through its mouthpiece a second later, destroying half of its head in one blow and sending it tumbling to the floor. He wished he had Crocea Mors with him for practise, but that would have given him away. As it was, it was amusing enough to swing his hand like a sword, his heightened Grimm-like strength more than enough to cut through a thin, metal arm holding a gun. He caught it and used it like a bludgeon to cave its face-plate in.
Something hot and heavy struck him from behind. His skin hissed and fizzled as some kind of heat-based round impacted over him.
"Filthy human," Remy sneered, voice tinged with his own rage.
"I have it," Jaune thought back, snarling as he gripped a still operation droid and threw it in the direction the shot came from. Several soldiers ran for cover, diving to the floor to avoid the weapon sailing towards them.
Another robot came in from the side, prepared to fire, but a red blade cut it down before it had a chance. Adam stepped through the wreckage, his black clothing smudged in places with oil and soot. He looked Jaune up and down, and then to the carnage around him.
"I see my people's stories hold truth. You're strong, Grimm."
"This isn't strength," Jaune said, thinking of Yang, Ruby, and all the other strong people he'd thought. "These foes are worthless."
Adam's lips quirked up, the first hint of a smile he'd shown. "I'm glad to see we agree on something. Atlas has ever been a pathetic foe. Numbers over quality, and endless firepower to drown out the skilled or brave." He swept up and past Jaune, pulling a flurry of lightning-fast slashes that cut down three droids with precise strikes. As he disengaged, he even managed to deflect a stray shot away and into the floor. "Individually, they are weak. That's why they try to bolster their forces with these drones of theirs."
Something bubbled within Jaune. The same thirst for violence he'd felt once before. Back then, Remy had cautioned him against it, and had he given in, he might have done something unspeakable to Blake. Now, faced with consequence-free foes, the parasite was silent.
Would it hurt so much to indulge it here?
No. He didn't think so. It was enough that the human soldiers nearby could see his prowess and power. There was a sickly sweet scent coming from them, something that made his teeth ache and his heart beat faster in his chest. He wasn't sure what it was, but he liked it. It made him feel alive.
"It's fear," Remy explained. "Fear, hatred, despair – all the negative things that draw our kind."
"I've… I've never felt it so much before," he thought, licking his lips. "It's… it's wonderful…"
"You spend much of your time around trained fighters. Even the worst of them know how to handle their fear. They wouldn't be in the profession they are, otherwise. You've never really stuck around to see how normal people react to you." Remy chuckled darkly. "Even Roman and the White Fang are brave in their own way, or at least can resist it. These people are amateurs, however. They are afraid. They fear you."
They feared him…? His entire body shuddered. It was… it was so good. His mouth watered and he had to swallow. Three shots rang out against his shoulder, driving him back a pace from the force of it, even if his aura protected him. The distinctive flash of aura only seemed to make the feeling better. They'd noticed. Noticed and were even more terrified. With a loud laugh, he swept into the ranks of the robots and lashed out left and right, tearing them to pieces.
"Worthless, stupid things," he hissed. "Nothing. No fear, no anger, no emotion."He tore the head from one and used it to beat another into scrap. One came behind, but Remy saw it and forced his tentacle to wrap about it, squeezing until joints popped and its metallic head exploded. "Unsatisfying," Jaune whispered, frowning. They were unsatisfying enemies. They didn't have any reaction – even at the point of death.
The soldiers backing up ahead of him, however? They were different. Jaune swallowed and took a long step towards them, savouring the way they took several back. A part of him knew that they were what he wanted – deep inside – even if a part of him rebelled against it. Where was the harm? They weren't his friends. They weren't important to him.
He made to charge towards them, but Adam cut him off.
"This is the opposite way to freedom!" he called, rushing up alongside him and cutting down another foe. Adam showed no fear either, but far from making Jaune angry, it instead saved the faunus' life. He wasn't an appealing target, only an obstacle in the way of them.
"Didn't you want us to cross blades together?" Jaune asked. "Didn't you say you couldn't trust a man you haven't fought alongside? If it's numbers you're concerned about, I can even the odds." He brought out one hand and poised a claw over it, prepared to cut into and shed blood.
Adam's hand gripped his wrist, stopping him.
"Don't summon any Grimm," Adam ordered. "That isn't a good image for the White Fang. It will hurt recruitment."
Kill him, a voice in his head whispered. He dared to touch him, to impede him. The fool deserved to die. To be crushed. To be ground into dust. It wouldn't be hard – even if he was strong. That would just make the fight all the better. He eyed the masked man, who felt the shift in the air and allowed his hand to drift down to grip his hilt two-handed.
Adam felt no fear.
He wondered if he could change that.
"Men of Atlas," a stern voice called out. "Fall back with fire!"
It was like a window had been opened, except that instead of letting air out, it sucked the pervasive fear out in one fell swoop. The panic among the soldiers vanished, or was muted so low it might as well have vanished. It was replaced with fire – a barrage that drove Jaune back, even as Adam cursed and took cover behind him.
Where had the good feeling gone? Where was the drug that made him feel so satisfied?
"Form ranks!" the voice called. "Constant barrage. Paladins, forward! Form a shield!" The orders came out again, and the men fell into a tight formation, opening up with shot after shot that felt like a never-ending deluge. To make matters worse, the white robots – or what remained of them – formed up in front of the soldiers, blocking some of the shots, but letting others through and otherwise forming a barrier between him and the soldiers.
"Ironwood," Adam cursed. "Damn it. Trust him to rally his men right when they were about to break."
Rally…? Was that why…?
"Ugh…" His hand came up to grip his head, not from the pain of the shots pinging off his aura, but rather the sudden headache he felt. His body ached, and a part of him knew if he could make the good feeling come back, it would all go away.
But the mist had also cleared altogether. What… what the hell was that?
"-aun? JAUNE!"
"Remy, I hear you. What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" the parasite asked, practically hyperventilating. "Do you have any idea how long I've been trying to talk to you for? You didn't respond."
"I… I didn't hear you…"
Remy was silent for a quick moment, a pause that felt longer than it was. "That's not a good thing. You'll need to speak with Cinder about this, or maybe your sister. They would know more. For now, you need to escape – and like I was trying to tell you, you need to not kill those people!"
"I know," he sent back. "I wouldn't hurt them. They're just humans."
"Yeah, well, I don't think they were `just humans` to you a second ago. They were food."
That wasn't…
No. That couldn't be right. That was crazy!
"We need to get out of here," Adam said, gripping his arm and dragging him back. "My men have already escaped, but it's our turn to join them. I only came back for you." He regarded Ironwood with a wary eye. "That might be more difficult now."
Ironwood was dangerous. Yeah, he didn't need to be told that. Even looking at the man, he could feel a little negativity leak forth, but it wasn't the same as his men. He wasn't afraid. General Ironwood was annoyed. Facing off against someone like him, the man was nothing more than a little irritated – and that was probably more at the damage he'd done than the situation itself.
"If you know a way out, I'm game," Jaune whispered.
"You couldn't have been game five minutes ago?"
"I allowed my excitement to get the better of me," he said, keeping up his disguise.
"Yeah, well, it looks like more excitement is coming our way." Adam nodded towards Ironwood, who stalked forward with one arm held up, a silent command for his men to cease fire. They did so, stern discipline suppressing their terror. Little bits remained still, but they were clamped down and no longer weighed on his instincts.
Adam growled and pointed his sword towards Ironwood, but Jaune held a hand out, pushing him back a little. It was more to keep him safe than anything, since he had no idea how strong Adam's aura was, but could hazard a guess it was weaker than his. If all those men opened fire at once, it might be enough to badly hurt the faunus.
"Adam Taurus," Ironwood called, stopping ten or so metres from them. "I've heard much about you, though I can't say I expected to see you here in Vale." His eyes narrowed. "Why are you here?"
"I like to broaden my horizons."
"Hmph, I see. Is that what you're doing with this creature?" he asked, nodding at Jaune. "Or am I reading into things? Maybe this is nothing more than a friendly chat and I've terribly overreacted." The jovial tone vanished as Ironwood drew forth his weapon and pointed it towards them. "Surrender now. There's nowhere to run."
"And be killed by you?" Adam asked. "I think not."
"Kill you? No, I will not kill you. Atlas believes in justice – a term I'm sure you know nothing of. You would be questioned extensively, and then will have a chance to defend yourself before the Atlas Council."
"Of which you hold two seats. It would be corrupt from the start."
Ironwood didn't look bothered by the accusation in the slightest. "You should take that as a good thing, terrorist. I might be convinced to judge you leniently if you provide information that aids us in preventing further tragedies. I could see your sentence slashed considerably."
"A generous offer," Adam sneered.
"It is. I would advise you take it."
Jaune's senses tingled as they two spoke. He felt a cool chill wash over him, and also felt Remy stir inside his body.
"Elena is close," he whispered.
Elena? Lavender's parasite? His eyes widened, though he did his best to conceal it. What was she doing? Why would she be anywhere near this disaster? The answer was obvious; she'd heard about it somehow – perhaps a panicked message from Cinder – and quickly rallied to try and save him. Apart from her skill with the sword, however, she was weaker than he. She wouldn't have a chance if she jumped into this. Or rather, they might have a chance if they fought together, but it would be a protracted, bloody affair.
It would end in the death of everyone here, supposing they could kill Ironwood. Between the three of them, it would surely be possible. Four if Cinder was still close by. It would ruin all their covers, however.
"And what of you?" Ironwood asked, looking to Jaune. "This is the first time we've met, Hentacle." His lips twisted at the name, but he forged on. "Would you exchange words with me, Grimm?"
"I could," he said, not seeing the harm. They knew he could speak, after all.
Ironwood's eyes lit up. "Incredible. So, you can speak. There's only one other I know of with such an ability, but… no… that's not important. What are your goals here, creature? What is it you hope to achieve?"
"Would you believe me if I said world peace?"
Ironwood's smile fell. "No."
"No one ever does," Jaune sighed. "What's the point of even asking if you're not going to believe anything I say?"
"I suppose you're right. We'll have to see what comes out under questioning."
"Assuming you take us alive," Adam jeered, entering the conversation once more. "I, for one, feel confident in the fact we can deal with you and all your men. It would be quite the blow to Atlas to lose its General."
"It would," Ironwood admitted. He smiled and took one step back, holding an empty hand towards them. "Come and try it. I invite you. Not all lead from the back, and I stand before you." He chuckled and narrowed his eyes. "Try. Your. Luck."
Adam took a step forward, but Jaune stopped him with a tentacle to the shoulder. "Don't," he whispered. "We don't need to."
Adam glanced back from the corner of one eye. "What do you mean?"
Jaune didn't answer. There was no time to explain. His senses tingled – Remy crying out a warning – before an ear-splitting screech filled the air. The Nevermore appeared from behind two tall buildings, summoned out of sight and now spanning the sky with its mighty wings. It was far larger than anything he had summoned before, but that was what could be done given time, safety, and when only having to spawn a single Grimm. Lavender had outdone herself. The effort of summoning something so large must have exhausted her.
"Nevermore!" Ironwood yelled, turning in its direction. "Bring it down!" he roared. "Don't let it fire on the civilians!"
"That's our cue," Jaune said, sweeping a tentacle at Adam's legs from behind. The faunus was so slack-jawed at the sudden appearance of the Grimm that he didn't sense it, and he yelped as his feet were knocked out from under him.
Jaune caught him before he could fall, one hand under his knees, the other his shoulders – and a tentacle wrapped about his waist just in case. Adam didn't make the prettiest bride, but he needed a good grip for what was to come. As Ironwood and his men turned their backs on them, the sound of the Bullhead's engines was muted by the loud screeching of the Grimm, and the gunfire from the soldiers.
Ironwood heard it, however, and turned back with a snarl, firing a shot towards Jaune's legs. A tentacle blocked it, and he winced as the slug pierced deep. He turned instinctively, shielding Adam from a stray shot as the aircraft hurtled forwards, the door opening and a familiar orange-haired figure stood there.
"Get in," Roman yelled, one hand on the railing above the door, and the other waving towards them. "Come on. We need to get out of here – before they send that stupid battleship they've got anchored at Beacon!"
Jaune nodded in relief, legs flexing even as his tentacles blocked two more shots from ironwood, who growled and adjusted his aim, trying to hit the pilot in the Bullhead instead. "Hold on," Jaune whispered to Adam.
"Hold on for- whoa!"
His muscles were denser than a human's, especially in his Grimm form. Where others might be able to leap feet into the air, he could go much further, and so it was when he propelled himself up towards the Bullhead. Roman yelped and fell back, surprised himself at the distance Jaune cleared. Such huge jumps weren't accurate, but he managed to snag the Bullhead with a tentacle, and then draw himself up, Adam still held tightly in his arms.
At being left so weightless, the faunus had gripped his neck rather tightly – though he was quick to let go and wriggled in Jaune's arms, only calming down once he was released from both hands and tentacles. He shivered and patted himself down. For some reason, one of the female White Fang members Roman had brought with him licked her lips.
"Hentacle!" Ironwood roared from below. "This isn't the end, monster. Atlas has come, and we will see you brought low! Your kind will never escape!" Behind him, the Nevermore let out one final screech, before it tumbled to the ground, beset on all sides by the emotionless, white robots. "This, I promise!" Ironwood called.
"Cool speech and all, but I say we put it to the test," Roman said, laughing nervously as he put a hand on the pilot's shoulders. "He says we can't escape, pal. Prove him wrong, please. Now."
The faunus nodded, and the Bullhead pulled away with a mighty roar.
/-/
Deep in the Grimmlands, a high-pitched shriek echoed across the ash-blasted landscape. It emanated from a tall, black tower with ominous spikes and spines – where within, the most dangerous woman in existence sat upon a stone throne. Said woman's crimson eyes were focused on something held in one hand before her.
"Aiyeeee!" she cried, eyes wide. "He looks so handsome!"
"Indeed, my lady," Arthur Watts said, stood beside the Queen of the Grimm and hiding a small smile. "Your son certainly cuts a dashing figure in that suit. I do believe I can see some signs of your Lord husband in him as well."
"Oh, can't you just," Salem crooned, touching Jaune's face on the image with one pale finger. "He has the same jawline, oh, and the eyes, of course. I hope he grows up to have a little of Nicky's demeanour, but he certainly seems to have a way with the ladies." She looked to the blonde girl beside him, the picture one taken of the two having a romantic dinner. "Who is this one, again? Is this the Ren girl?"
"That is Yang Xiao-Long, my Queen. Rumours suggest the two are dating."
"Rumours, Watts? I have a picture of the two dating right here. I think we can dismiss the idea of this being a mere rumour." Salem chuckled and pushed the picture to the back, looking at the next. Her eyes glowed with fiery light as she saw her son pour some champagne for his partner. So refined, so mature, so gentlemanly. She wanted nothing more than to invade Vale right now and find this place. She might even spare the venue, so long as they could re-enact this scene. "She has a good figure," Salem said. "I approve of her, even if she is a little young. My dear apprentice will have to step up her game at this rate. She's had years to worm her way into his heart and not a single grandchild for it!"
"Perhaps the competition will do her well," Watts suggested.
Salem's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
"Well, while I cannot speak for Cinder's intentions, as the only woman not related to the young lord by blood, she may have believed she had all the time in the world. With no competition working against her, she would not feel much effort was required to win him over."
"You are suggesting that she may have become complacent?"
"I fear it may be so."
"I see. Well, perhaps a little jealousy will do her well. Watts, send this image to her scroll."
"Perhaps with a message of how you approve of this girl, my Queen?" Watts asked viciously. While they might have all be called Uncles to Jaune, there was no denying the animosity they held between one another when it came to anything other than the family. Cinder and Watts did not get on, and their rivalry encompassed all things. Power, prestige, influence – even whom was considered `cooler` by Jaune and his sisters.
Many of her daughters felt Uncle Watts was far nicer than Cinder, but much to the man's frustration, Cinder had managed to wrap Jaune about her finger and install herself as being only one step below his mother and father.
Salem was aware of it all, of course. She encouraged it, just as she would Watts' little antagonism here. Whether he meant it to frustrate Cinder or not, it would still serve her purposes. "You may do so, yes. See fit to include a little suggestion from yourself that she `step up her game` while you're at it."
"My Queen," Watts said, bowing with a cruel smile. "It would be my greatest pleasure. There is one other thing, however."
"Oh?"
"The reason why I said the young lord dating this Xiao-Long earlier might be considered a rumour. You see, my sources in Atlas – who I trust most implicitly – have also informed me that the young lord has entered into a relationship with the heiress to the Schnee Dust Corporation, one Weiss Schnee." He took the liberty of bringing a dossier out from his suit and handing it to her. "Here is what I have on her for now."
"Ah, I recognise her," Salem said, thinking back to Cinder's images. "The one with the hair like my own. I've heard it said men fall for women close in appearance to their mothers. She certainly is a beautiful girl, alluring in a way." She glanced up. "You say she is someone of importance?"
"A daughter and heiress to the wealthiest family on Remnant, and also the largest employer of faunus labour. Their family name is tarnished with some disgrace to their treatment of their workers. I understand that her father has recently learned of this development, and my sources indicate he is not best pleased."
"That is of no matter. We could kill her father and entire family with ease and still take her for Jaune."
"The young lord might not approve of that, my Queen."
"Hm, you're correct there. Very well, I will add her to the blacklist." The blacklist, as it were, was a list of names and faces ingrained to any and all Grimm she created. It was not a very long list, but it would not do to have her future daughter-in-law eviscerated by a Beowolf now, would it? That might be considered an impediment to childbirth.
Most of her lieutenants were on the blacklist, along with her husband and children, of course. Tyrian wasn't, but only because he was a psychopath who had asked not to be, and who took personal enjoyment from having the Grimm occasionally try to kill him.
Who was she to judge?
"My concern comes in because of the conflicting nature of these rumours," Watts continued. "If Jaune is dating Weiss Schnee, then he cannot also be dating this Xiao-Long woman."
"Why not?"
"It's simply not done in human society, my Queen," Watts tried to explain. "How would you feel if your lord husband went and coupled with another woman?"
"Hm," Salem tapped her chin in thought. "I do believe I would exterminate the entire human race." She blinked and turned back to him. "What's your point?"
He had no idea how to explain that her exact words were his point.
"Such rules are for humans," Salem explained, laughing to herself. "My son is no mere human, and the rules do not apply to him. One such as he will require many brides, and quite possibly several consorts as well. There may even be room for a lover on the side, but I shall let him decide on that one." She sighed dramatically. "Jaune can be awfully romantic, so he may not want to cheat on his harem. These two are but the beginning, I'm sure."
"Perhaps, my Queen, but don't you think the fact that your son is trying to fit in with humans might mean he has to adopt their customs? It is not his… um… divine right I am questioning, but I think he would not seek to cause such a controversy since it might draw attention."
"Watts," Salem began, sighing softly. "Are you under the impression that my son would even think of such things? Jaune is many things, but the sharpest tool in the shed he is not."
To his credit, Watts opened his mouth to defend her son – but a raised eyebrow from her had him close it and cough awkwardly. Yes, that was about what she'd thought. "Cinder did say he was fitting in well," he said.
"And Cinder lies," Salem replied. "I believe we all know it. Subtle is not a word in Jaune's vocabulary. I'd be surprised if he wasn't off gallivanting through the streets in his Grimm form right now. No, Cinder wishes to maintain her current plan, and no doubt thinks me fool enough to believe her." She chuckled. "Silly girl… I really do allow you to get away with too much." She was lucky she had such fantastic eyes, hair and legs. Hopefully those would pass on to her children.
"Is that why you sent Lady Lavender to Vale, my Queen?"
"Naturally. The Grimm I created have all failed to bring my errant son home, and I believe Cinder may not be as blameless in this as she would have me believe. The humans have a saying, I believe. If you want something done, do it yourself. As I cannot do that, I thought it best to have someone act in my stead." Salem chuckled to herself. "I am sure she will not be so easily distracted."
As his mistress and Queen burst into laughter, Watts couldn't help but shuffle and hide his scroll. He wasn't so certain, mostly because of the rather worrying message he'd received that morning, correspondence from the young lady, and not the kind he'd expected, nor wanted. As he departed the throne room, he drew out his scroll and looked at it again. He hadn't mustered the courage to tell Salem yet.
Uncle Watts,
I need advice with a sensitive matter. Anything you can offer would be wonderful. You are my favourite Uncle, after all. There is a boy in Vale that has caught my eye.
I want him.
Help.
Hugs and kisses,
Lavender
Watts groaned into his hand.
"I'm too old for this."
Misunderstandings. Many misunderstandings. Jaune and Adam are misunderstanding. Weiss and Emerald are misunderstanding. Yang and Qrow are misunderstanding. My wrist hurts. It is misunderstanding its position in life.
Next Chapter: 9th November
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