Chapter eighteen: Parties, plans, and secrets

(a/n- a recent review asked something I probably should've clarified earlier. They asked what age Blake was since we saw a previous flashback of her daughter. Well, Blake isn't much older in this than in the series, she's just eighteen, meaning that she had Nix when she was 15, since she was only 3 when she was murdered. So yeah, Blake was a young mother, but she's also a little older in this. In hindsight I should have made that clear earlier.)

"Rise and shine."

I groaned, gripping the side of my head as I pushed myself up off the bed, slowly looking around. I saw pink walls decorated with the familiar hearts on them, all of which had a lightning bolt struck through the center. I sat up, looking down as I saw the bright pink sheets slipping off my body, the air hitting me a second later. I looked over, smiling slightly as I saw a key laying a few inches away. "Least she remembered this time." I thought as I moved my foot around, hooking my toe around the key ring and flinging it up towards my hands. I grabbed it, moving it around as I unlocked the cuffs around my hands, the cuffs which had kept me chained to the bed all night. "Ah… think I pulled a muscle." I muttered as I sat up, rubbing my bare leg. I looked around, blinking a few times as I saw the familiar figure standing across from me, looking over towards me. The bright orange hair was a dead giveaway, that and the fact that no one else would walk into Nora Valkyrie's bedroom in nothing but an apron other than Nora Valkyrie… unless it was me.

"About time. I'm getting hungry." she said, a somewhat loud groan resounding from her stomach. I just stood, Nora's eyes trailing down as she smiled, her face tinted red. She reached behind her neck, stripping off the apron and handing it to me. "Where's your apron?" "I can't cook, it just hides what you like staring at." she said, smirking slightly as she stepped back, revealing that she was baring all to me, just like she was last night. I smiled as I tied the apron on, walking over and leaning down. We kissed without hesitation, Nora yelping into it before she looked down, smirking back up at me. "Better wash those hands, you were all over that last night." she said, smirking wider when she noticed the faint blush on my cheeks. Whenever she made me blush, for some reason she saw it as a victory, likely since I chose against showing much emotion as often as I could. I turned around, walking down the stairs before I felt a light swat on my rear. I looked back, Nora still smiling, "Don't keep me waiting~" then she shut the door behind her.

I just turned around, freezing in my tracks as I saw someone standing there. It was a girl, that much was clear, frozen in place as she looked at me. She just gulped, blinking a few times as she walked around. "Are you Lie Ren?" she asked, her face sporting a blush as she took in my form, not used to seeing someone in just an apron if I had to guess. I didn't answer, but rather walked around to the kitchen, facing my side to her as I grabbed out the pans. "Face me!" she said, the familiar click of a gun being cocked resounding from her. I snapped my eyes to her, finding that she was holding what looked to be a simple pistol in her hand. I turned around, smiling at her slightly as I came up with an idea. "Threatening me at gunpoint huh? Well sorry, I've only got one thing I can give you." I said, smirking towards her as I held up one finger. She raised an eyebrow, keeping her eyes on my face and trying not to look at the rest of me. "What?"

I answered by slipping off the apron, the girls eyes widening as she flushed bright red, the gun shaking in her hands. I started walking towards her. "I can't give you any money… but I can give you one hell of a ride~" I said, purring towards her as she stepped back, nearly dropping the gun in the process. I slowly slid my hand along the counter, reaching for the knife container. All I had to do was distract her for another few seconds. "Are, are you… coming onto me?!" she said, nearly dropping the gun. I felt my hand nudge against the side of the knife container as I smirked at her. "Nope." I rushed my hand up, gripping one of the knives and throwing it. "GAH!" she said, gripping her right hand, the gun and knife both being knocked across the room behind the nearby table. I grabbed two more knives and moved them over into each hand, holding them back and glaring at the girl. "That was a warning, the next two won't be." I said, fixing her with my steely eyed gaze.

"Get out of here." I said, standing upright but keeping the knives at my sides. The girl didn't think twice, just running away out the door off to who knows where, leaving the gun behind. I just picked up the apron, tying it back on and getting back to work on the pancakes. "Assassin?" "Not a very good one apparently." I said, smirking back towards Nora as she stepped out of the room. Odds are she saw the whole thing, it wasn't the first time an assassin had tried to kill one of us. It probably wouldn't be the last either. I felt a weight hit my back as I turned, only to find my lips captured by the orange-haired Valkyrie. I pulled back after a second, seeing and feeling her legs wrapped around my torso, her bare chest pressing against my back. "I love you Nora." "Love you too honey. Now let's make some pancakes!" she said, the familiar short attention span coming back as I started working on the pancakes again.

Meanwhile

I pressed against the side of the building, trying to calm my racing heart and get that image out of my mind. "Argh… he played me like a violin! How do I focus when he's flaunting his body and flirting with me?!" I thought as I started walking down the alley, only to see someone walking towards me. Even if I couldn't see the wisps of gray hair from beneath his cloak, the boots and long black cloak gave away who it was easily. "So?" "I'm not going back in there." I said quickly, walking past him as I tried to think of literally anything but what I just saw. Mercury walked in front of me, raising an eyebrow. I knew what he was going to ask, so I answered before he could. "He was in an apron… nothing else. Then he dropped it and started… flirting with me. Next thing I know he knocked my gun away and told me to leave… I did." I said, Mercury's eyes widening as I said that. Then he just sighed, "We'll, Neo isn't here anyway. We just need to get rid of that detective." he said. I just slowly nodded,

"As long as I don't catch him naked too."

- new POV change thing (since I know this works on mobile)

"This is it."

I looked down at the small slip of paper, the address Ruby had dropped off with Velvet a few days prior, while we were away in Mistral. We were standing in front of a large, black fence, with long pointed tips near the top of it. On either side of it there were tall hedges, almost ten feet high, obscuring anyone that may have been standing behind them. Behind the black fence was likely the largest building I'd ever seen, even more massive than the complex I grew up in. "Guess crime does pay sometimes." I muttered, looking off towards Blake. She was sitting on a bench a few feet away from the gates, claiming she thought Ruby would recognize her. I had a feeling it was more than that, but I didn't pry too much. I walked over to the stone pillar right next to the gate, seeing a man standing behind it. He looked over at me, reaching towards his waist. "My name's Jaune Arc. Ruby said you'd be expecting me?" I said, gesturing with my hand to try and convey my confusion. I wasn't sure what to expect, but a toll gate at the entrance wasn't on my list of possibilities.

The man just grunted, pressing a button as I saw the gates soundlessly swing open. I'd have thought from the look of them that they were incredibly old, at least a hundred years. Though, they acted as if they were brand new. I walked in, stopping for a second as I saw the gates shutting behind me. When they shut, I could hear the slight clang, rather intimidating to be honest. When I turned back around, I saw a familiar man walking towards me. Bright red eyes, jagged black hair, yeah, it was hard not to recognize him. His eyes didn't flash with recognition as he spoke, "You must be the detective Ruby hired. Come on in, she's anxious to see you." he said, giving me a smile. I played along, just nodding and not questioning why he was here as I followed him. He was probably being watched or monitored or something, either way the center of the Rose Family's empire was not a safe place to talk.

I followed him down a long, winding path leading up to the white mansion on the hill. I saw marble columns on both sides, leading up large steps. There were sounds of music and all sorts of merriment inside, something I hadn't expected. Qrow walked in front and opened the door, and I was instantly greeted with a blast off violin music. I looked over, seeing a band playing on the side, two violinists and a cello playing to accompany a baby grand piano. On vocals though, was someone I hadn't expected to see today. Weiss. She was singing on the mike to the music and, I had to admit, she had an amazing voice. I turned my attention away from her to find people in long black gowns, some in tuxedos, all of them having one what seemed to be masquerade style masks. A few of them were even sipping from champagne glasses. "Feeling a bit under dressed all of the sudden." I thought as I followed Qrow through the crowd. A man in a cloak with black boots and a guy in a trench coat and fedora? Oh we stuck out like sore thumbs.

Qrow led me across the room towards a large door in the back. When he pulled it open, he just shoved me in, "Good luck." was all he muttered before he shut the door behind me. When I got a good look around the room, I noticed there was a couch with a woman sitting on it already. She was clad in a long, red dress that was split along the side to show a long, pale leg stepping out from behind a table. There was a long white jacket behind her as well, laid across the back of the couch. She reached up a hand, brushing a strand of long, black hair away from her face before she gave me a smile. I was a bit confused, considering the fact that most of her face was concealed by a masquerade mask, much like her guests. Hers though, unlike most, hid her eyes behind it. "You must be Jaune. Come in, have a seat." she said, her voice somewhat high but, also having a mature quality to it, I had a sense she had a good singing voice.

I nodded, sitting down across from her on the white couch. She reached down, grabbing out two wine glasses and a dark red bottle. "Is red wine okay with you?" "I don't drink, I smoke." I said, completely lying. I didn't drink often, but I wasn't opposed to it once in awhile. I didn't want to drink anything this woman had to give me. Something about her was setting off so many alarm bells in my head. The woman just nodded, "Alright then. Clyde!" she said, clapping her hands as she set the wine glass away. Not a second later a man dashed in, standing at attention. His face was masked by a similar mask to who I guessed was his mistress, the masked woman in front of me. "Get my husband's cigars." "Right-ho ma'am!" he said, before dashing off again, out the doors and leaving me and the woman alone. She poured herself a glass of wine as she spoke. "Tell me detective, who am I?" "You're Ruby's mother, Summer Rose." I said, stating what I'd known the second I walked in.

She smiled at me, reaching a hand up and removing the mask to reveal, predictably, bright silver eyes. "Not bad. What was I doing an hour ago?" "You were firing a pistol, something close to a nine millimeter. There are still traces of gunpowder on your hands, not to mention the callouses on them." I said, gesturing towards her hands. She hid them away, her face tinting red as she likely made a note to get something done about those later. She regained her smile a second later as she laid her hands in her lap. "You live up to your reputation Mr. Arc. So… have you found my baby?" "I don't discuss cases with anyone but the client or my work associates ma'am." I said without thinking. It was my general rule. Even if they were related or they said they were sent, I only discussed my cases with the client, Ren, or Velvet. Though, I guess I could add Blake to that list now. She just nodded, frowning towards me as she sipped her wine. "Tell me something Mr. Arc, did you know there was a party this evening?" she asked, gesturing towards my coat.

I smiled slightly, "No. If I did have I've worn my good coat." I said. The woman let out a small chuckle, turning around and facing the door as I saw the butler, Clyde I guess, walk back in, holding a box of cigars. He laid it on the table as the woman reached over, pulling the lid open to reveal these one's weren't like mine in Mistral, open ended. These one's had closed ends, which meant I'd have to cut the ends off. "Go ahead, light one." she said. I just nodded, reaching over and slowly picking one up, grabbing the knife inside my coat and cutting off the end. I grabbed my lighter and lit the cigar up, placing it in my mouth before I took a breath, blowing smoke out towards the ceiling. "Fine cigars." "Imported from Atlas. Only the best for my husband." she said. I just nodded, so her husband smoked too huh? Whoever he was he had good taste, I'd give him that.

We sat like that for awhile, me smoking the cigar and Summer sipping her wine for a bit until the doors opened again. This time it was Ruby that walked in, giving me a little smile before she stood next to her mother. "Sit down dear." "Yes mamma." Ruby said, sitting down right next to her mother. I raised an eyebrow but, didn't question it too much. Maybe it was a rich people thing? I looked at Ruby, finding that she was clad in a red dress that matched her mother's, except she still had on the denim jacket. Now though, I noticed it had three patches. Yellow, White, and Black. "Did you find Yang?!" Ruby asked, straight to the point as her eyes filled with both hope and worry. I frowned and gave her the best look of pity I could as I reached into my pocket, pulling out the small necklace Yang had given me. "I… found this on her body… I'm sorry but, I was too late." I said. Summer covered her mouth with her hand as I saw Ruby do the same with both of hers. I saw tears well up in Ruby's eyes as she reached over, shakily grabbing it from me.

"No… nononono Yang! Yang… I'm so sorry…" Ruby said, tears streaming down her face in either the best acting I'd ever seen… or genuine sadness. Maybe, somewhere in that twisted heart of hers, Ruby did care about Yang. I stood, walking over and laying a hand on Ruby's shoulder. She spun around and wrapped her arms around my chest, burying her head into it and wailing. I just pat her back, looking down at her with genuine sympathy. There was no way she was this good at acting. She must've been at least somewhat sad about her sister's 'death' if she was doing this. "I can't believe I'm so stupid! Why? Why did it have to end like this!" Ruby yelled, slowly sinking to the floor as I sunk down with her, wrapping my arms around her as she sobbed into my shoulder. She kept talking, I just listened. "I wish… I wish I could tell her I'm sorry… I didn't mean it Yang, I don't hate you. I still love you… please juhust come baahahhack!" Ruby said, sobbing through the last sentence as I felt a spark of genuine empathy for the killer. She must've really loved her sister… even the best actor in Remnant couldn't pull off something this genuine.

We stayed that way for awhile, until Ruby had seemed to calm down. She stood, wiping away at her eyes with her hands before Clyde, who had reentered the room at some point, handed her a handkerchief. Ruby took it, dabbing at her eyes before she blew her nose, laying the cloth on the table before she frowned up at me. "I… I need to be alone for a bit… here." she said, shoving something towards me. I took it, looking down to find it was a few cards of lien, just as many as she'd given me the other day. "Are you going to be okay?" I asked, frowning towards her. She shook her head before she gave me a smile. "Things won't be the same without Yang but… we'll be alright. Thank you." she said. Then, she did something I hadn't expected. She leaned up, planting a small kiss on my cheek. I didn't move as she stepped back, walking off towards what I guessed was her room to mourn more on her own. I turned back to Ruby's mother, finding her still frowning as she looked down at the table.

"Mrs. Rose?" said woman looked up at me, changing her expression back to a small smile. I didn't see any emotion in it, even though she was acting the part of the distraught mother. She was the cold one, not her daughter. "Is there… something else you needed?" "Yeah. Does the name Roman Torchwick sound familiar to you?" I asked, sitting back down and continuing to smoke the cigar. Summer's eyes widened as she leaned back, looking down at the ground as her eyes flashed. "What I say… can you keep it a secret?" "Of course." I said, knowing that it was one promise I would have to break. She just smiled for a second, but then she frowned again, lightly twisting the small ring around her left hand ring finger. "I don't know why I'm telling you this but, any rumors you'd heard… about me and Torchwick… they were true. My husband he… he hadn't been as attentive to me as of late. Then that suave criminal came in and swept me off my feet… it was like he had me under his spell." she said, an awestruck look dawning on her face.

Then she frowned, "When I learned he'd been killed I… well I had to hide my grief from Tai. He'd been so absent but… then a week later I found out. This whole time he'd been planning this amazing anniversary for me… I still feel so guilty about what happened. I… well I never got the nerve to tell him I cheated on him." then she sighed, looking at me with pleading eyes. "I know you have every right to tell him but, please, don't. Without Yang I… I don't think this family can handle another disaster." she said, setting her wine down, likely done drinking. I just nodded, standing up and snuffing out the cigar in the ashtray nearby, one that Clyde had likely brought in with the cigar box. I was about to turn when I felt a soft grip on my wrist. I turned, seeing Summer looking down at me, as she was maybe an inch taller. "Mr. Arc, here." she said, taking out what looked to be a small envelope from her jacket pocket, the jacket that was on the back of the couch. I took it with my other hand, laying it in my jacket as she spoke. "Ruby may have paid you but, consider this my way of saying thank you. It's an invitation to our party next weekend. It's for you and one guest… do you have a girlfriend?" "Yeah, I do." I said, the black haired faunus outside immediately coming to mind.

She nodded, "Well, I suppose I'll see you two there, or maybe that partner of yours? Whoever you decide to bring with you." she said. Then, she moved forwards, wrapping her arms around me for a few seconds before she pulled back, smiling down at me. "I look forward to seeing you again, Mr. Arc." she said, and for a split second, her smile turned into something more sinister, almost appearing like a snake's, if only for a second. I didn't dare let a sign of fear flash over my face, so I just smiled and nodded as I walked away. "I look forward to seeing you again as well, Mrs. Rose." I said calmly. Then I walked back out, shutting the door behind me. I saw Qrow standing nearby, smiling over at me as he stood. "I'll be escorting you out Jaune." he said, likely considering there was a servant nearby dusting off a painting, one of Summer Rose herself, maybe when she was a bit younger. Qrow started walking, the two of us heading towards the front entrance again.

When we got there, I noticed that something had changed. Weiss was no longer singing with the band, but rather walking off the stage, heading right in my direction. Our eyes looked for a brief second before hers widened, her pace speeding up just a bit as she moved to cut off me and Qrow. She stopped between the two of us, so I simply stopped, watching as Qrow walked off through the crowd, oblivious that I was no longer following. "Did you find out where Yang was?" she asked, her eyes flashing with curiosity. I just nodded, causing her eyes to widen a bit more. She looked around for a few seconds at the nearby party-goers before she walked over, grabbing my hand and roughly pulling me around, towards a nearby door. She shoved past a few people before she flung the door open. I caught it and shut it behind us before I felt Weiss let go. I turned, finding that we were in what looked to be a bedroom with a single bed in the center. Weiss walked over to me, moving her hand past me and locking the door.

"Where's Blake?" "Wait, you know about her?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I hadn't even mentioned Blake to her at all, yet suddenly she wants to know about my cat faunus girlfriend? Something wasn't right. "I know you had to find her to find Winter, and rumor has it her hideout was ransacked by white fang just a bit before you came to us. Is she safe?" she asked, her eyes flashing with, oddly, genuine concern. I just nodded, I would never let anything happen to her if I could help it. She leaned in, speaking in a slow, urgent whisper as she pulled me away from the door, onto the wall next to it. "Listen to me Jaune. You are in over your head in ways you can't possibly comprehend. If you wanna get out of this alive, you need to take everyone you care about, and get as far away from this place as possible. Get out of dodge while you still can." she said, looking around as if to make sure no one was listening in. I was both confused and incredibly alerted. I had a sense that she was paranoid, but I knew she wasn't crazy. Combine that with the fact that Ren had said Nora was planning something big about a week ago, and I was starting to be concerned. The next thing she said, sent a shiver down my spine.

"Unless you want to live in an empire of roses."

Weiss pulled back, walking towards the door and unlocking it as if nothing had happened, her face going back to it's usual state. She shut the door behind her, so I waited a few seconds before I opened it, walking out into the party. I walked past the guests until I saw the doors towards the end, Qrow standing at the entrance. He flashed me a serious look that was gone a second later as he opened the door, taking a small drink of what looked to be a flask. I walked out the door, him doing the same as he shut it behind us. I heard the music grow fainter and fainter until it became nearly nonexistent, only the sounds of the city that were quickly approaching accompanying us. "Glad we get to talk. There's a package of mine that's been in my… possession far too long. It's causing all sorts of unnecessary delays." Qrow said, giving me a sidelong glance. I just nodded, figuring he was speaking covertly and hoping that I would understand. If I had to guess, he meant that he had a runner under his wing that needed to go to a safehouse.

"A good business man moves his goods efficiently." I said, trying to speak covertly as well. Qrow just nodded, seemingly approving of it as we neared the exit. He turned to me before we got up to the toll gate. "Exactly. Unfortunately my package has been… difficult, to transport. Think you can… help with that?" he asked, nodding towards the man at the toll booth. Said man grunted, pressing a button as the gates swung open. We started walking out as I spoke again, "Facilitate delivery… can do, soon." I said, giving Qrow a slight smile. He returned it, walking off to the left as I walked straight ahead, heading for the place I knew Blake would be waiting. "You know, maybe take your little kitty out under the stars for a walk, she might like that." he said. I understood what he meant, the task of moving the runner was going to take place at night, and he was suggesting bringing Blake with me. I just nodded, thanking him for the suggestion as he walked off.

I turned back around, walking towards the bench and smiling as I saw Blake sitting there, looking across the street. I slowly walked up to her, and I gently set my arms on her shoulders, moving up to where my mouth was near her bow. "Guess who?" I whispered, smiling down as I saw her turn around. She gave me the same smile back as she leaned up, pecking me on the lips before she stood, walking around the bench before she wrapped an arm around my waist. "I overheard with Qrow, night delivery huh? Mind if I tag along?" "Blake I wouldn't have it any other way." I said, smiling down at her. She giggled as she leaned up, planting a kiss on my cheek as she leaned on my shoulder, the two of us walking down the sidewalk. I looked around, habitually keeping watch for any nearby threats, but at the same time, not nearly as worried about it now that I had Blake with me. "I wish we didn't have to make these deliveries tonight… there was so much I wanted to do with you." she said, smirking slightly when she saw my blush. Then I smirked back, "Well, plenty of time before nightfall…" I left it hanging, and Blake naturally finished it for me.

"How about we get a head start?"