Chapter nineteen: Flirting and finding

I smiled as I sat down, looking over at Ton-Ton and Neo. They were just so happy… playing around and acting as if there was nothing wrong with the world. Neo didn't even care about Ton-Ton being a faunus… "Now I know how my mother felt." I thought as I felt memories stirring. So much so that, I didn't even notice the person standing next to me, not until they spoke. "Quite a cold morning isn't it?" I felt my heart leap into my throat as I heard it. That voice… it was so familiar to me. When I looked over, I had to stop myself from hugging the woman in front of me. The brown hair, the beret, the familiar sunglasses and cocky smirk… I'd know her anywhere. "Coco…" I thought, giving her a slight smile as I nodded, looking back towards Ton-Ton and Neo. "Just act natural, just act natural." I thought to try and calm myself down… it wasn't working. She looked over towards them, giving a slight smile as she saw Neo fall down, Ton-Ton picking her up. "Is that your little sister?" "My daughter, actually." I said.

Coco's eyes widened a bit before she looked away, her face having that familiar look of pain on it. I wanted so badly to wrap my arms around her, soothe her the way I used too when we were younger. But I couldn't go back to that life; not now, not ever. "Where are my manners? I'm Coco Adel." she said holding out a hand and giving me a smile. I reached over, shaking her hand as I returned the greeting. "Florence Valentine." I said. It was the new name I'd adopted briefly when I was in the white fang. Coco didn't know it, so she might just think I'm some random faunus. She nodded, smiling at me. Her eyes were still flashing with recognition, but they weren't as pained as before. Now that she'd gotten over the brief hope that I was Velvet Scarlatina, the girl that died so long ago… now she would be better. "Mind if I sit?" she asked, gesturing towards the empty bench beside me. I just nodded, slightly confused. Coco never asked if she could sit, or if she could walk in a certain place, or go into someplace, or if she could drunkenly collapse into my bed when I wasn't around… she just did it. Coco was cocky, she was aggressive, and she took what she never conformed to any rules but her own. That was Coco.

This was different.

This wasn't the Coco that I knew. She was… quieter. She was less confident in what she did. Something had shaken her confidence; it made her… "She's more like me… what happened to you?" I thought as she sat down, wincing slightly as she rubbed her left thigh. I knew that was a new injury, she'd never done that when I'd seen her, not once. "Are you okay?" "It's fine… just an old wound that'll never heal." she said, frowning as she leaned back, looking over towards Neo and Ton-Ton. While she looked at them, I looked at her. Same clothes as always… except she was wearing the brown sweater and long pants she normally did in the colder seasons. "I'm… kind of surprised. That you'd want to sit with a faunus." I said, looking away from her. I knew her response, but it seemed like the thing a stranger would say. Coco shook her head, giving me that familiar, warm smile. One that had kept me from breaking down when things got hard, one that kept me going for so many years… it was nice to see it again. "You seem okay to me, barring being a bit distracting." she said.

Okay, not exactly what I was expecting, "What about me is distracting?" "I always get distracted by cuties sitting next to me." she said, smirking slightly as I felt my face turning red. Though, it was partially out of fear. She always would tease me like that when we were growing up, and when we worked together. Was she on to me? Or was she always this flirty and I just never noticed? She leaned back, stretching her arms out to the sides of the bench as she moved slightly closer, enough that her other arm wasn't hanging off the edge. I could feel the warmth of her hand behind me as she spoke, "You blushing because of me doll? Now you're even more distracting." "You're pretty distracting yourself." I said, not even really thinking about it. I looked away, feeling my face burn even brighter as I fought to keep my face neutral. I took a glance over at Coco, finding that she'd pushed down her glasses slightly, her eyes trailing me up and down as she kept that same smile. "For a mother, you sure know how to take care of your figure." she said. I couldn't help but smile at her as our eyes met.

"Am I… flirting with her?" I thought. It was… unusual, to say the least. She didn't know who I was did she? So why was she complimenting me so much? She couldn't… she couldn't really be into me could she? That didn't… that wasn't… that wasn't it. "Say… you got any plans later Flo?" she asked, shortening the name I'd given her. It reminded me a fair bit of her calling me 'Vel' back when we were younger. Which, given the context now, may have changed literally every single thing that had ever happened between us… if I was right that was. Which I hoped I wasn't. "The rest of the day." "How about tomorrow?" she asked, pushing down her glasses as her eyes burned with something I didn't recognize. I frankly didn't want to recognize it if I was honest with myself. I shook my head, I was off work tomorrow and didn't really have many plans. She smiled, reaching into her pocket and taking my hand with one of hers. "My work's been rather stressful lately, and I could use a cute little distraction like you." she said as she set down what looked to be a piece of paper in my hand. I looked down, finding that it was an unfamiliar number. She must've changed it in the two years I'd been gone.

"I've been looking for a cute distraction for awhile now… you're the cutest one I've ever seen~" she said, keeping her signature smirk as she reached forward, trailing her index finger beneath my chin as I felt a shiver go down my spine. Was she really doing this? I didn't even think she was into women in the first place, what with all the guys she flirted with when we were younger. "Things really have changed since I've been gone huh?" I thought as Coco leaned closer, past my face as she held her mouth near my ear. I felt her blow into it as my face exploded into blush. This wasn't her first time doing something like this was it? "How about we go distract each other tomorrow hmm? Call me~" she said, just before I felt like I was about to faint, feeling lips pressing just beneath my ear. She pulled back, walking away as I just sat there, looking off in the general direction she'd sauntered off, watching that cat-like strut she'd always had in work as she walked away, turning heads even when she wasn't trying.

"Owie!"

I was snapped out of my daze by an expression of pain coming from none other than my daughter. I looked over, dashing towards her before I leaned down, letting out a small sigh of relief when I found that it was only a scrapped near. "It's okay sweetie, just give me a few seconds." I said, reaching into my pocket and pulling out a small band-aid. I peeled off the back and gently planted it on her knee, rubbing my fingers on it before I leaned in. Lightly kissing the place over the bandage. "There we go, all better." I said, smiling up at Ton-Ton as she smiled back, Neo looking on with a concerned gaze. I stood up, looking back towards Coco's general direction for a few seconds before I turned back towards my daughter. "I think it's about time we head back anyway." "Aww… okay." Ton-Ton said, looking down at the ground and pouting. I hated seeing her that way, but Neo seemed to help a little, patting her shoulder and giving her a comforting little smile.

I turned around, grabbing Neo and Ton-Ton's hands as we started walking back the way we came. I didn't want either of them getting lost now did I? As we walked, a few people looked towards us, most of them glaring at me or Ton-Ton, some with sympathy, fellow faunus mostly in that category, and some out of disgust and anger. Humans, of course, made up that category. I ignored them, used to it at this point, and turned down the familiar alley we'd walked down to get to the park. It was a shortcut between two buildings that would lead us back to the office. We were almost halfway there when I saw someone walking forwards, blocking the exit to the alley. I turned my head, looking back to find that there were two other men, blocking the only other way out of the alley. "Lookie here boys. We caught ourselves a couple a animals." the one in front of us said, slowly walking forward as I heard a light tapping on the ground. I saw the figure setting down something, a shadowy weapon of some sort. Likely a bat or pipe.

"We don't want any trouble. Just let us leave." "I'm afraid that ain't how it works little bunny. You see, this is our turf. You came in without askin', payin', or nothin'. So, you pay the toll. Then we let you go." the man in front said, walking almost into the light, only to reveal that he was wearing a simple mask, black with eye-holes and a place where his mouth was exposed. I looked back, seeing the two men from before just standing there. They were shorter, and they didn't have weapons. They were for intimidating effect, nothing else. "Wh-What kind of toll are you talking about?" I asked, feeling myself starting to shake as much as my voice quivered. I had a bad feeling about this, and if being part of Beacon taught me anything, it was that you went with your gut. Right now, mine told me to get as far from this man as possible. "Drop the clothes and follow me. We'll have a little fun." he said, smirking as he walked forward, moving his bat over his shoulder.

I reached down, beneath my shirt to grab Jaune's revolver, only for the man to grab my hands, jerking me away and hitting me against the wall. "On second thought, I think I'll do this one myself." he said, still smirking as he reached down, grabbing at the waistband of my pants. I felt real panic now, I couldn't reach Jaune's gun, I couldn't break from his grip. I felt air on my stomach as the man seemed to move my shirt up, slightly pulling down on my pants as I looked, seeing part of my brown underwear showing. "Now keep calm freak, and take it like a good money whore~" the man said, smirking as I shut my eyes, thrashing as much as I could in his grip. Whips of panic hit me as I suddenly didn't see the black mask. Instead the white one with the red eyes, the black jacket, the horns. "NO!" I yelled, kicking upwards with all my strength as I felt the man's grip loosen. I tried to move forwards, grab my daughter and Neo and just run. Though, a hit to the back of my knee stopped me, sending me crumbling to the ground. I looked back, feeling the man's weight on my knees, as he pulled my pants down, exposing my bare rear to him. "I never like corpses as much as live one's, but it'll have to do!" the man nearly yelled, standing up and holding his bat above his head.

BANG!

"OH SHI-"

BANG! BANG!

I felt myself freeze up as I saw the spurt of red, the man's face suddenly changing from a black mask to a red shower as he fell backwards, landing with a thud behind me. I looked over, seeing the two men at the end of the alley, the one's that had been blocking us in, dead where they lay, in pools of still growing blood. I pulled my pants back up as I looked over, my eyes widening when I saw the shooter. Crocea Mor's, Jaune's revolver that he'd entrusted with me, as to keep me and the girls safe, was smoking. I was close enough to see the spent shells inside, it was what had killed those men. Ton-Ton was laying down, covering her little rabbit ears from the noise. She'd never heard a gunshot so close before. Meanwhile, Neo had jumped over Ton-Ton, likely to try and shield her from something or other, in case the thug started attacking them. The one that had fired the shot was someone I'd never seen before. The most notable features? A long black cloak, and wisps of silver hair coming from beneath it.

"Always hated these guys." he muttered, letting the gun drop to his side. Then he turned to me, the lower half of his face all I could see in the lighting. "Guessing your ass is what this guy wanted?" "Umm… uh…" I froze up, both stunned by the man's blatant honesty… and frankly the way he said it. He sounded younger than me, a teenager at the most. Yet he killed three men without even flinching. "Thank you." I said, after flounder for a few moments with my words. The man just scoffed, tossing the gun down towards me as I grabbed it, stuffing it back where it came from, beneath my bra, before I saw the man walking away. "You don't need to, I was gonna kill these guys anyway. Take your kids and get out of here." he said, walking around the corner, disappearing back into the crowded streets, all but unnoticed. No one had even turned their head at the gunshots… rather sad actually, that it was so commonplace to hear gunshots in the city now that no one even bothered caring what they were about. I stood, looking over to see Neo helping Ton-Ton up before the two of them walked over, both with frightened expressions. I just took their hands, nearly dashing back towards the office, hoping to get as far away from the rotting corpses as possible.

Blake looked over at me, her face slightly flushed as she looked down at her hand, "It's… heavier than I thought it would be." "Be careful with it… I've only got the one." I said, leaning against Blake. She grunted, "I… I don't think I can…" "Just relax," I moved her hands down slightly, "you're too tense." I said. She grunted again as I leaned back, letting her get used to it. "Jaune, it's too big." "You're overthinking it, just calm down and relax." I said, giving her a smile as she grunted again, moving her hands around. "Easy for you to say, I've never done this before." I moved my hands around, placing them on her shoulders. "Lucky for you, I happen to be an expert on the matter. Now spread your legs a bit, they're too close together for this." I said. She complied, moving them slightly apart as she readjusted her hands again. I stepped back, looking down and grabbing her hands.

I took my katana out of her right one, sheathing it back on my waist. "Why did I agree to teach you this?" I asked, sighing as I did so. We were in the city gym for that very purpose after all. It was seemingly deserted, which wasn't that unusual in the middle of the workday, but still rather strange, considering me and Blake basically had a whole building to ourselves. Blake smiled, "Because we're dating? And couples help each other with things." she said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. I let out a small chuckle as I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer as I pecked her on the lips. She repeated my action, but kept her lips against mine a bit longer before she pulled back. "Now come on, I want to at least look like I know what I'm doing Sensei." "Don't call me that." I said, giving a slight glare towards her. For some reason she kept calling me that as I'd been teaching her, and frankly, I didn't really like her doing it. It made me sound too old and, frankly, like my mother.

Though, despite my objections, I drew my katana again, placing it in Blake's palms as she adjusted her grip, back to the way it should've been. She twisted her body upright, holding the katana over her shoulder and above her head, the way I was taught how to do it, but she was doing it in the completely wrong way. "Your left hand needs to be in front of your right, and you're not low enough to the ground. Someone attacks you like that, you're an easy target." I said, reaching over and moving her hands around accordingly, gently pushing on her shoulders as she got the message, bending her knees a bit further. "There you go, now you at least look the part." I said, smirking slightly when I saw Blake glaring at me. Her smile was pretty and all, but she looked so cute when she was mad. Granted, I just wished it wasn't at me.

"Teaching Mrs. Belladonna I see?"

I looked over, giving a slight smile towards the familiar man. He was dressed in a long, gray overcoat with a black fedora, somewhat similar to mine, except far older and worse for wear, the signs of years of experience. I saw a black cane with a silver handle in his hand, and heard it thudding against the ground as he approached. I stepped back from Blake, nodding towards him. "Yeah. Good to see you again chief Ozpin." I said, stepping out of the small boxing ring we'd commandeered for Blake's training purposes. Blake still held the katana tight in her palm, seemingly ready to strike at Ozpin at any moment, a strike he would easily deflect due to Blake's lack of experience and overall skill with a katana. "Indeed. I'd planned on meeting you in my office, but I suppose an empty gym would work just as well." he said, gesturing around at the rather strange lack of people. I saw the slight smirk he had, gone a second later. The way his eyes looked around the room, "You had something to do with this place being empty didn't you?" "If you mean I had Glynda and some of my officers guarding the exits… then yes. Yes I did." he said, giving me a strangely old-looking smile.

"Well, you've been wanting to talk," I said as I sat down on a chair just outside the ring, Ozpin doing the same, crossing his legs and laying his cane across them. I held up my hands, "Now I'm ready to listen." I said, giving him a slight smile. Ozpin nodded, giving me that sagely old smile of his before he uncrossed his legs, lightly toying with the top of his cane, the ornamental silver piece that adorned it. "I've been trying to get a meeting with you for the past six months. Every time I've contacted you, you've had your secretary tell Glynda no." "Speaking of Glynda, this needs to stop." I said, glaring towards him. That secretary of his was getting on my nerves. No one, and I mean no one messed with my friends and got away with it. Ozpin frowned as he nodded, "I am well aware of the situation with Mrs. Scarlatina, and believe me that I've tried talking with Glynda. She's a bit less than receptive to the idea of faunus. She grew up in Atlas you understand…" he said, looking away from me and towards the ground. I just nodded, the two of us coming to the same grave conclusion in our minds. Atlas was the last place to give the faunus rights, and the last place they were accepted. Safe to say, Atlesian's weren't known to be the most 'open-minded' of people.

"I didn't know… still, if she keeps doing as she is, I can't guarantee her safety in my workplace." I said, giving Ozpin a glare in the slight challenge. I was basically telling him I would sic Ren on Glynda if she kept insulting Velvet. He'd do it too, he'd fire a whole clip into her then dump her in the river if he could get away with it… he probably could get away with it come to think of it. He had plenty of experience getting away with murder. Ozpin held up his hands, "You've made your point Mr. Arc. Glynda will no longer be the one to inform you of meetings. I suppose I could have Ms. Nikos perform that duty. She has seemingly warmed up a bit to you three." he said, no doubt referring to the original members of my agency. I just nodded, not speaking as Ozpin went on. "Well, now that that bit of business is behind us, perhaps we should focus on the matter at hand." "I knew there was a reason for you to come out and block off access to a public building like this." I said, keeping my expression neutral.

Ozpin nodded gravely, "Indeed, I am here about the invitation you've gotten for Mrs. Rose's party." he said, his eyes taking on a serious quality only seen in him when dealing with the Rose family… or the White Fang come to think of it. I nodded, it made perfect sense. I had a way into one of the biggest crime families in Vale, possibly Remnant, getting someone inside would be incredibly beneficial for the police force. "What about it?" I asked. What was he playing at here. His next words, though I couldn't say they were a surprise, I could definitely say I hadn't expected them. "I'm asking Ms. Nikos to be your date." "WHAT?!" Blake nearly yelled, almost lunging towards Ozpin, teeth bared in aggression as she held the sword up slightly. I held out a hand, laying it on Blake's to try and calm her down, Ozpin having his cane out, steely gray eyes looking out from behind darkened lenses as he tensed, ready for anything Blake would try to throw at him. I turned from Blake to Ozpin, "Ozpin Blake's my date." "I understand your feelings for Mrs. Belladonna, but having an agent inside the organization would be extremely valuable to the department. If Ms. Nikos can incriminate the Rose family, imagine what Vale would be like. A kingdom free of roses." he said, putting a dreamy slur to his words.

"Besides, I am only asking you to take her to a party. I'm not asking you to marry Ms. Nikos. I have no doubt Mrs. Belladonna would want that honor." he said, giving a slight smirk as I felt my face flush. I looked over and saw that Blake's was the same way, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped my katana. I looked over at Ozpin, then back at Blake. What to do… on one hand, I wanted to with to the dance with Blake, the woman I loved. But on the other, I could see where Ozpin was coming from with this. Getting the Rose family some long-overdue justice was a tempting proposition… then again, who's to say it would work? For all I knew Pyrrha would be compromised and get us both shot full of holes in a garden, Blake, Ren, and Velvet all left wondering what happened to us. Right before it happened to them. Taking Pyrrha in was risky to say the least, having a police officer enter the Rose family manor. Then again, she would just be seen as my date right? Maybe I could swing to them that she was the girlfriend I'd mentioned. Not to mention, what if Ruby recognized Blake? She'd been the reason that I'd found Blake in the first place. "I do need your answer before you leave here Mr. Arc." "... okay." I answered.

"I'll take Pyrrha to the party."

"Did you get that?"

I looked over at the young girl seated behind a small radio, one that we'd fashioned to suit our purposes. She nodded, orange hair bobbing up and down. "Yes ma'am! Jaune Arc will be accompanied by Pyrrha Nikos on the night of the party." she said, her voice as strangely optimistic yet emotionless as ever. I smirked as I looked down, pulling out a small object. It was a small, circular disk. A new type of technology only recently developed by none other than the girl sitting in front of me. The head of our research and development team. Had to keep ahead of the other criminals somehow didn't we? "Well done Penny, you're invention is working just as planned." "Thank you Boss lady!" she said, saluting towards me as she stood, green eyes shut and a bright smile plastered on her face. I nodded, giving her a brief, humorless smile in return. "Pyrrha Nikos… that girl has to go." "Shall I kill her momma?" I heard my daughter's voice ask. I turned, smiling at her as I placed a hand on her head, lightly tousling her hair for a moment. She looked up at me, silver eyes burning in curiousity. "No, we need an accident, not an assassination. I do hate outsourcing on such small things, but there's only one woman in Remnant that can pull this off…" I said as I turned to Penny, giving her a small smirk.

"Contact the Fallen, we need to arrange an accident for Ms. Nikos."

(a/n- Don't lie, you thought Blake was talking about something very different right after the POV change weren't you? Better question, how many of you thought they were in a bedroom and not a gym?)