Chapter eleven: Nightmares
(a/n- a bit more of a backstory chapter than anything. Also, implied murder… wait, there was real murder in the last one why is implied worse? Anyway, enjoy this chapter (that is filled with POV changes might I add)
"So, what's the deal with Mercury Black anyway?" I heard Blake ask. After we'd left, it had taken us some time to get back to the hotel, all of us ready for bed at that point. We were in mine and Ren's room, me leaning back on my bed as Blake sat across from me, in one of the chairs nearby. "Mercury Black is the most feared assassin in Mistral. He's probably the only one that could give Ruby a run for her money." I said. Blake's eyes widened as I saw a shiver run up her spine. No doubt she thought Ruby was unmatched in her skill, sadism, and outright terrifying presence. "What kind of assassin uses his real name anyway?" Ren asked, looking over at me as he tossed his shirt off to the side, grabbing out his kimono from the bottom drawer. Apparently, he didn't care all that much that Blake was still in the room.
"He probably doesn't. It's more a title." I said. Blake raised an eyebrow, "Wait, how is 'Mercury Black' a title?" she asked. I smiled, taking my hat off and setting it on the nightstand. I took my coat off as I answered her. "Simple. The Black part of his name came from where he always wears that long black cloak. The Mercury part comes from how he kills his targets." I said. Ren spoke next, walking over to his bed as he pulled his pants off, pulling his kimono on over his underwear. "How he kills?" he asked. I nodded, "Yeah. Seems every great murderer has their signature. The Bloody Rose, or, Ruby, leaves rose petals wherever she kills someone. The Fallen always burns the body, and Mercury always uses mercury tipped bullets. The targets always run for awhile before they die from mercury poisoning." I said. Again, a match for Ruby in sadism. Which was incredibly hard to do sometimes.
Blake nodded, "So… this guy had some kind of vendetta against your sister?" she asked. I shook my head, opening the drawer on the nightstand and laying Crocea Mors inside. "No, he had a contract on her." I said. Blake raised an eyebrow, "So he's like you? A hitman." there was a beat of silence as I glared at her. "USED TO BE! Uh, how you used to be, I mean." she said, bullets of sweat forming along her forehead. I looked down, "Yeah, he is. He'll take a contract on almost anyone. He's not a mass murderer, though it is probably insane." I said. I reached out my arms, letting out a yawn as I rubbed at my eyes. "I think it's about time we head to sleep. We'll head back tomorrow night." I said. Blake opened her mouth for a second, then she nodded. "Okay then… see you both in the morning." she said, walking towards the door. She tried to be sneaky about it, and she was to an extent, but I saw her grab Ren's key before she walked off.
Of course, Ren was none the wiser. "You heading to bed Jaune?" Ren asked, already pulling the covers up over him. I nodded, still looking towards the door. "Yeah… in a minute." I said. I could hear the smirk in Ren's voice as he spoke, "Thinking what Blake looks like when she's changing?" he asked. I felt my face flush as I stood, walking over and turning off the light. "No… nothing important." I said. Ren didn't miss a beat, "What, imagining a girl naked isn't important?" he asked. I felt my face flush brighter, thank god he couldn't see in the dark, before I grabbed my sleep pants from the top drawer. I didn't answer him as I undressed, standing in my underwear for a moment as I froze, feeling my hand on my scar. "All this time… still hurts huh?" I thought as I pulled on my sleep pants, walking back over to the bed and laying down. I felt the blanket's warmth wrap around me as I tried to ignore the painful memory. "Goodnight Ren." I said. "Still thinking about Blake?" "Goodnight." I said, letting my annoyance slip into my voice before I shut my eyes, slowly drifting off to sleep.
(a/n- announcing POV change since, apparently, asterisks don't show up on the mobile version (as of my last check at least… have they fixed that yet?)
"Blakey~" I held my breath, leaning against the lower wall as I tried to stay hidden. "Please don't see me please don't see me please don't see me…" I thought as I heard the scraping of metal across the concrete. I looked down, seeing the blood staining my black gown, feeling the pain in my side. I could smell it, the scent of blood, iron, and oil. All of them were in the air. There was one more too, though it was more subtle. Gunpowder. "I'll find you eventually, just come on home~ I promise I'll make it quick~" I heard the voice say as I tried to slow my heart. I was terrified that he would find me. "Mama!" I heard a voice say. I turned, my eyes widening in fear as I saw her. She was so small, only up to my knee. She had bright red hair, beautiful amber eyes like mine, and a long, black tail behind her. She was wearing those little pajamas I got her for her birthday, the last one. "RUN SWEETIE! RUN!" I yelled, rushing towards her.
I felt myself jerked backwards, and when I looked back, I saw it. Chains. Four wrapped around my arms and legs, one around my neck in a collar. I looked over, my eyes widening as I saw him walking forwards. The black trench coat, the red katana, the smoking revolver in his left hand. I tried to lunge towards him, try and stop him, to stop it from happening, what I knew was going to happen. "ADAM! NO! PLEASE!" I yelled, feeling the hot tears of frustration running down my face. He looked back, his eyes eternally hidden behind his mask, as he smirked at me. His teeth were needle points, all of them bloody. "Why shouldn't I? I'll do what I please~ Not like you can stop me~" he said, his voice… god his voice. "Please! Please Adam I'm begging you! I'll do whatever you want! I'll never leave! PLEASE! DON'T HURT HER!" I yelled, trying to reach out towards him. I felt my eyes widen as I saw her, my daughter, running towards me, her eyes widening in concern. "Mama! Papa!" she yelled.
Those were the last words she ever said to me.
I felt it before I heard it, the gunshot. It was like a magic trick. One second, my baby was running towards me, her arms outstretched, the next… she was just gone, in an explosion of blood. I felt myself sinking to my knees, I was numb. Even when I saw Adam walk over to her, my baby, still moving. I didn't do a thing. Even when I saw him draw his sword, when I saw him hold it up, I couldn't do anything. I tried to shout, to yell, to run. I tried to put myself between the blade, between the blade and my baby… but I couldn't do anything but watch. It was only after, when I saw him draw his blade, even more red, carrying something in his hand, that I found my will again. I heard myself crying, looking down at the ground, my hands curling into fists. Even then, I didn't feel in control, like I was just watching some sick, twisted movie. I felt a hand on my chin, pulling me up. "This is because of you Blake, you abandoned us. You betrayed us. You paid in blood… just not your own." he said, dropping what was in his hand. I felt him push me back, the chains keeping me in place. I saw the object move over to me, slowly rolling, leaking blood in it's wake. I saw the amber eyes gaze at me, the mouth moving. "Why mama?" I heard. Then… then I found my voice.
"NIIIIIIIIIX!"
"GAHH!" I yelled, shooting bolt upright. I looked around, my eyes wide and afraid as I swung my head left and right. When I saw only the dark interior of my hotel room in mistral, I looked down, feeling along my body for wounds, anything. Nothing. I was in my black yukata, my book was on the bed, and two pillows were stacked behind me. The lamp next to me on the table, the reading light, was still on. My book was even still open to the page I'd left it. I reached over, laying my bookmark on the page and shutting the book. I looked at the cover, "Ninjas of love… same as normal." I thought, casually tossing the book off to the left. "Mama!" I heard. I looked around, a slight hope alight in my chest. When I didn't see her, I felt my heart sink. I reached around my neck, my throat tightening as I pulled, grabbing at the nearly invisible chain of my locket. I pulled it out over my hair, moving it back off of me so I could see better. I looked down, popping it open.
Inside on the left was a picture of Adam, me, and my little girl. He was dressed like always, except without the mask. Even then, with the color of the photo, I couldn't tell what color his eyes were. I was dressed in the black one he liked, and my baby was dressed in what looked like a little sunday bonnet. She was always so cute, especially with her tail coiling around my leg. On the right I saw it, the engraving. "In loving memory." I heard the dripping and saw it before I realized that I was crying. I held a hand up, taking a shaky breath. "Nix…" I whimpered, my hands shaking. Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door. "Blake?" I heard. Jaune. It was Jaune. I stood, walking over to the door and opening it. I felt my face flush slightly as I looked down, seeing him in sleep pants, but sans a shirt. He looked down, his eyes flashing with concern. "Something wrong? I heard someone screaming." he said. I opened my mouth to respond, but then shook my head. "It's… it's nothing." I said, looking down at my locket.
He looked down too, softly grabbing my shaky hand. "Family?" he asked, looking up at me. I saw his eyes soften, "Yeah… they were." I said, fighting down the tears I could feel rising to the surface. He walked inside, shutting the door behind him before he placed a consoling hand on my shoulder. "Do you… need to talk about it?" he asked, smiling slightly. I looked away, walking back and sitting down on my bed. I looked down, "No… there's nothing left to talk about… Not…" I felt my vision getting blurry as I wiped away at my tears, looking down at my locket. I felt the springs shift as I saw Jaune's hand lay itself over mine. "You miss them, don't you?" he asked. I just nodded, feeling a wave of grief wash over me. "Nix… my little baby… I just wish… I just wish I could wrap my arms around her… one more time." I felt myself shaking as I held up a hand, feeling myself sobbing. I felt two arms around me as I moved over slightly, my hand dropping the locket. I looked up, seeing Jaune hugging me to him. "It's okay… I won't pretend to know what it's like… to lose a child… but I know it hurts to lose family." he said.
I couldn't take it anymore. I lunged, wrapping my arms around his neck as I buried my face in his shoulder, wailing loud enough that Ren could probably hear it. "NIX! NIIIX…" I yelled between sobs, just holding onto Jaune. So much for being strong. Still… it felt nice, to be weak for a change. To just let go… and grief for my daughter. It was ten minutes later, when I'd gone from outright wailing to just a few sniffles here and there, when Jaune pulled me back, looking down at me with sparkling eyes… "Wait, he was crying too?" I thought. Sure enough, I saw them. Dried tear trails, running down his face. He'd been crying with me. "Feel better?" he asked, smiling slightly. I wiped at my eyes, smiling towards him. "Yeah… yeah. I think… I think I needed that." I said, leaning against his shoulder as I grabbed the locket, frowning as I saw my daughter again. "Why were you crying?" I asked, looking up at Jaune from my point on his shoulder.
He smiled down at me, "I don't know. Seeing you crying over your daughter… it made me want to cry with you." he said, keeping his arm wrapped around my shoulder. I didn't move it, I couldn't say I minded. I reached down, laying my locket on the nightstand. "Jaune… why? Why did you care about me in the first place?" I asked. I'd been wondering it for awhile now, the reason he helped. He saved me, but he could've just left after he got his information. Why didn't he? He raised an eyebrow, about what I expected, "Sorry, what?" he asked. I sighed, "I mean, why did you help me? You took me in, gave me a place to hide when my own was taken… you didn't know I could help your case, so why? How did it benefit you?" I asked. He just smiled, that same, goofy, innocent smile he always seemed to have. "It didn't. You needed a place, and I wanted to help. I didn't have to get anything out of it." he said.
I looked at him blankly for a second before I smiled, leaning against his shoulder again. "Your such a dork." I said, smiling up at him. He chuckled before he pulled me closer, "Right back at you bookworm." he said. We stayed like that for awhile, just sitting in the near silence, enjoying each other's warmth… then he broke the silence. "I uh… I better get back to my room. Head to sleep." he said, trying to stand. I felt my instincts take hold as he stood, and I grabbed his hand. "No… please, stay." I said, looking up at him. I saw his face tinge pink as he spoke, "Uh, why might I ask?" he said. I stood, grabbing his arm as I looked up at him, "I… I'm afraid okay. That when I fall asleep I'll see… I'll see…" I couldn't say it, I felt my eyes tearing up again. I squeaked as I felt him pull me towards him, hugging me. I looked up, his eyes meeting mine. "It's okay. If you want me too… I'll stay." he said, smiling at me. This one was more caring, sincere, the way he looked when people were hurting, and needed a shoulder to cry on. He was really good at that.
I nodded, stepping out of his grip and laying in the bed. He walked around, sitting on the other side as I felt my face burn bright red. "By the way Jaune? How did you hear me? Did Ren?" I asked. I looked over, seeing him sitting on the other bed in the room. He shook his head, "No… you weren't the only one that had a nightmare." he said as he leaned back, laying down. I frowned, "Are you going to stay there?" I asked. He shrugged, "Why? Want me over there?" he asked. I looked at him, but I saw no joking in his eyes. I saw no lust, no desire… nothing but concern and genuine empathy. He really didn't care about sleeping with me, he just… he wanted to comfort me. "I can't believe I'm saying this but… get in bed with me." I said. I saw his face burn as he stood, slipping beneath the covers as I turned away, turning out the light. I really didn't need it to see anyway.
I heard the shifting of bed sheets before I turned, amber eyes meeting blue one's again as I felt my own face burn. Good thing he couldn't see in the dark. I looked down, blushing bright enough I was almost sure he would see it, as I moved my hand, lightly tapping his scar. I felt him shiver, but he didn't move. "Are you cold Blake?" he asked. I met his eyes again, his eyes still showing genuine concern, even this close to me. "No, why?" I asked, confused. It was rather warm in here. He reached down, grabbing my hand in his much warmer one. "Since your hands are freezing." he said. I looked down, seeing our hands entwined again, as I realized just how much larger his hand was, nearly able to swallow mine up. "It's kind of weird seeing you in the dark." he said. I looked at him oddly, "Why?" I asked.
He moved his hand slightly, feeling around a bit since he probably couldn't see. "It's pitch black in here, but I can still see your eyes. It's like they're glowing." he said. I grabbed his hand and moved it between us, grabbing both of his in mine. "Out of curiosity, and don't you dare make a 'curiosity killed the cat joke'... what was your nightmare about?" I asked. He smiled at me, then he frowned, his eyes looking down to where our hands met. "It was about the night I got the scar. When I killed Citri. It was the same as always, not the first time I've had it." he said, looking away. I moved his hands, wrapping them around my waist as I pulled myself closer. My face felt like the sun as I felt his skin against mine. Why was this so embarrassing?! It's not like he's the first guy I've slept with, I mean, I did have Nix. "Thanks Blake but… it's just a numb feeling now." he said, smiling down towards me.
I smiled right back, leaning against his chest as I heard it, his heartbeat. It was thumping quickly, likely nervous at being this close to me. "Jaune… are you a virgin?" I asked. I heard his heart get ten times faster. "Uh, what?!" he asked, his voice cracking. I giggled, "I just meant you seem really nervous. Your heart's beating a mile a minute." I said, smiling up at him. He gulped, looking away from my likely glowing eyes. "Well who wouldn't be nervous, having a pretty girl sleeping next to them." he said, his heart going faster and face burning brighter as he likely realized what he said. I smiled, wrapping my arms around his back as I felt him wrap his around mine. "Jaune." I said. "Yeah Blake?" he replied, looking down at me. I leaned up, letting my lips brush against his, just a bit, before I pulled back, smiling. "Thank you." I said, leaning down and rubbing my head against his chest. I could feel his heart rate skyrocketing despite his calm voice. "Don't mention it. Let's try and get some sleep." he said. I nodded, letting my eyes slip shut as I felt his warmth surrounding me. "Don't have to tell me twice."
(a/n- in case the asterisks don't show, this is another POV change.)
I groggily opened my eyes, my face twisting in confusion as I saw, rather than my hat, a book, titled 'Ninjas of love'. "Oh, right." I thought as I looked down, feeling last night's blush creeping back up as I saw Blake, rubbing up against my chest with a small smile. "Hard to believe she was crying up a storm just last night… that she's been through so much." I thought with a frown. No one should have to go through that. The way she spoke, the way she held the locket, it was easy to tell. She'd lost her daughter to her husband, no woman, or man for that matter, should have to go through that. With that thought in mind, I wrapped my arms around her, just a little tighter, as if I were trying to squeeze all the bad memories out of her. I knew it wouldn't work, but still… didn't hurt to try.
I don't know how long I saw there, just laying on the pillow, holding Blake to me as tightly as possible without crushing her, but eventually, it had to end. I saw Blake's eyes fluttering, looking up at me in the dim light. I looked back, "Huh, I guess her room does have a window." I thought, having not realized that before. Of course, I always stayed in the one next door, not this one. I looked down, smiling slightly, "Any nightmares?" I asked. She shook her head, "No… I think you scared them off." she said, smiling up at me as I felt her chin set on my chest. I looked up, hearing the movements of people outside. "Guess we have to get up huh?" I asked, looking back down at her. She groaned, nuzzling against my chest with a small smile, "Can't we just stay in bed? Pretend it's still nighttime?" she asked. I chuckled, "I wish we could Blake." I said. While we were in here, we could pretend the problems didn't exist, we could pretend everything was right with the world for once. We could just stay here, in each other's arms, and wait out our lives.
Of course, it was never that easy.
She sighed, moving her arms back as I did the same. "Yeah, give me a second." she said. I just laid down, silent, as I watched her sit up, her back facing away from me. I saw her stretch out a bit, yawning as I saw the strands of daylight hitting her, making her look almost like a god in the lighting. She stood, looking back at me before she smiled, "Well don't be a hypocrite, you have to get up too!" she said, grabbing my arm. I sighed, standing up on the other side before I patted down my pants, smoothing them out a bit. "Alright. Give me Ren's key you took from last night." I said, smiling when I saw her ears go rigid, her eyes widening. Then she smiled, "Nothing gets past you huh?" she said, opening the drawer of the nightstand and pulling out the key, tossing it to me. I grabbed it, nodding towards her. "Maybe Ren, but not me, no." I said.
I walked to the door as Blake followed. She stopped at the bathroom door, walking inside as I walked outside… the room. I looked around, seeing no one walking around the halls as I opened the door to my room, using the key Blake gave me. When I opened the door, I noticed that, thankfully, Ren was still asleep. "Still sleeping off those two whiskey's huh?" I thought. While Ren could hold his liquor, in the morning, it seemed that ability just went out the window. He'd be sleeping till six in the morning… two days after drinking, if I didn't wake him up. I walked over to the dresser, setting down his key before I turned on the light, shutting the door behind me. "Uhhh." I heard Ren say, the lump that was him on the bed moving around slightly. I smirked towards him, "Rise and shine sleeping not-so-beauty." I said, leaning down and grabbing my clothes for the day… which was really just a pair of pants and a shirt, since I wore the same trenchcoat. "I need to wash that thing when we get home." I thought as I walked into the bathroom, preparing to take a shower.
When I got out, I saw Ren combing through his hair, pulling it back into a ponytail like he always did. He glared at me, "It's seven in the morning, why are you such an early bird?" he asked. I shrugged, "Hey, hitmen have to get up whenever to catch a target. Course, you'd know about that, wouldn't you serial sleeper?" I said, smirking slightly. He sighed, "For the last time, I was high off my ass when that happened. You found me, you should know." he said. I shrugged, "Eh, whatever. Let's just get ready, get Blake, and see what we can do before we leave tonight." I said. I pulled on my trench coat when, at that exact moment, I heard a knock on the door.
"Who's knocking on our door this early?" Ren asked, looking at it oddly. I shrugged, walking over and pulling the door open. I felt my face burn slightly as I saw Blake, casually holding a towel to cover her body, another around her hair, in her left hand was both the towel and the key to her room. The other? A card of lien. "You left this in my room last night." she said, she handed me the card then looked over at Ren, then at me, then back to Ren. Then… she slowly backed away, back towards her own room. I shut the door and turned, seeing Ren looking predictably smug. "I'm never gonna hear the end of this am I?" I asked. He smirked,
"Nope."
