A Silent Knight
Beacon Academy 8:00 AM
"Alright. See you guys after the holidays." Jaune said, smiling as the rest of his friends bundled up for the cold weather outside before grabbing their luggage.
"Are you sure you don't want us to wait, Jaune?" Pyrrha asked, wrapping her scarf around her neck. It was the holidays, and all the students were hearing home to spend time with their families. Typically, Pyrrha and her mother would spend time with Jaune and the Arcs since they were close. However, they were heading back to Mistral to spend time with other relatives still there.
"No, it's fine."
"Kind of a bummer that your bullhead got delayed, Jaune. I was hoping we could have seen each other off together." Ruby said. Although, it was hard to understand her, considering she was wearing a comical amount of winter clothes.
"But the timing was kind of suspicious. Almost as if you're hiding something." Yang said with a smirk. It was a few months since she and the others had discovered that Jaune was dating Neo. However, they agreed not to say anything about it or tell Jaune they knew about his secret relationship. They wanted Jaune to tell them himself. But that didn't stop Yang from teasing him. "Like a secret girlfriend."
"No, Yang." Jaune lied while rolling his eyes, not knowing they knew. He did plan on telling them, but he wanted to wait for the right moment. "Besides, why would I hide anything from you, guys?"
"For a variety of reasons. You are entitled to some form of privacy." Pyrrha answered, glaring at Yang, Ruby, and Nora. Despite going along with them, she still didn't like that they had intruded on Jaune's personal life.
"Later, Jaune. Tell your family we said hi." Yang said as she grabbed Ruby and helped her out of the dorm.
"Be careful, Arc. I heard from the weather report that the snow is going to come down hard later in the day." Weiss said.
"Alright. Thanks, Weiss." Jaune said as she and Blake exited the dorm.
"Have a great holiday with your family, Jaune." Ren said.
"And make sure to get real comfy with-" Nora began, but Pyrrha stopped her by placing her hand on Nora's mouth.
"We'll call you later, Jaune." Pyrrha said as she and Ren dragged a smirking Nora out of the dorm.
"I thought they would never leave." Jaune sad as he put down the comic he was reading before standing up from his bed. Kneeling, Jaune pulled out a decorated wrapped box that contained his gift for Neo. "I hope she likes it."
*RING*
"Wow. Time already. I better get ready." Jaune said while turning off the alarm.
Placing the gift on his bed, Jaune grabbed some spare clothes before heading to the bathroom to take a quick shower. After a few moments, he came out in different clothes and walked toward the closet to grab his sweater and a light jacket. While temperatures in the City of Vale average around 10 degrees Celsius in winter, Jaune's hometown has temperatures that regularly dip around -12 degrees Celsius. That meant Jaune was used to cold temperatures and didn't need heavy sets of clothing like the others.
Tuning around, Jaune went to grab his luggage and double-check to ensure he had everything he needed. Once done, he put on his sweater and coat before grabbing Neo's present and his bags. Exiting the dorm, Jaune pulled out his scroll and locked the door before making his way to the bullheads. After about ten minutes, he arrived, paid for his ticket, and boarded. Once in his seat, Jaune took his motion pills as the bullhead slowly ascended before taking off for Vale.
'I hope Neo can handle my family. And hopefully, Mom or the others don't freak out too much.' Jaune thought as he closed his eyes for a quick nap.
Thirty Minutes Later
'Attention, passengers. We have arrived in Vale. Please, be careful while disembarking, and have a happy holiday.' The captain said over the intercom.
Letting out a small yawn, Jaune stretched a bit before getting up, grabbing his stuff, and stepping out of the bullhead. But he took a step back when the cold air stung his face. Shaking it off, Jaune started walking toward the nearby cafe. Yet, as he made his way there, he couldn't help but take in the distinct beauty of nature that winter brought with its snow. And the dozen or so couples and families spending time together brought a smile to his face. After about ten minutes, Jaune arrived at the place and took a seat at one of the outside tables. What made this cafe unique from the others across Vale was that the owners designed it to resemble a log cabin. They even placed a couple of fireplaces to keep the patrons warm and thick glass and insulated walls to protect them against the bitter winter colds.
"Hello, sir. What would you like to order?" The waiter asked as he stood next to Jaune while taking out a notepad.
"Two hot chocolates. One with cinnamon and sugar. The other with chocolate shavings, whipped cream, and marshmallows." Jaune answered.
"I take it someone else will be joining you shortly."
"Yes. She should be here momentarily."
"Very well. Anything else?"
"For me, a few chocolate chip cookies. As for my guest, do you have Neapolitan ice cream?"
"Yes, we do. How many scoops?"
"Three scoops." Jaune answered, smiling as he remembered how much his girlfriend loved Neapolitan ice cream.
"Alright. I'll have it out in a few moments." The waiter said before leaving. And no sooner than he did, the ever-stern specialist Winter Schnee entered and sat across from Jaune.
"Hey, Trivia. Glad you could make it." Jaune said, now able to tell when someone is really them or is simply Neo in disguise.
'You know I wouldn't miss it for the world, Jaune.' Neo signed as she shattered her illusion.
"I know. Oh, before I forget." Reaching down, Jaune grabbed Neo's present and gave it to her. "Here. I got you this. Merry Christmas, Trivia."
'Thanks, Jaune. But you know, you didn't have to get me anything.' Neo signed as she took the gift.
"I know. But you deserve it." Jaune said, smiling. Smiling herself, Neo leaned and gave Jaune a kiss on the cheek. Sitting back down, Neo began unwrapping the present, and what she saw underneath shocked her. It was a hand-knitted Neapolitan-colored sweater with Neo's emblem depicted on the front and arms.
'Wow. It's beautiful, Jaune. Thanks.' Neo signed before putting it on. 'Now I don't have to worry about the cold.'
"I'm glad You like it. Now I don't have to worry about my sweet To-Go Sized ice cream treat freezing while I introduce her to my family." Jaune said, preparing himself for the kick that would come his way. Despite loving the nicknames, Neo always gave a light kick to Jaune as 'payback' for doing so. However, he became worried when it didn't come. Looking up, he noticed that Neo had tensed up considerably. "Are you okay, Trivia?"
'Yeah. It's just- It's just-'
"You're nervous, right?" Jaune asked, grabbing Neo's hand and gently squeezing it. Neo let out a 'sigh' before squeezing Jaune's hand back.
'Yeah. It's just that... You know how I told you about my past, right? With my... birth... parents.'
"Yes."
'What if... What if-'
"Don't worry, Trivia. I know for a fact that my family is nothing like that. And I know for an absolute fact that they will love you." Jaune assured, knowing what Trivia was trying to say. Moving over to her, Jaune enveloped her in a reassuring hug. "Everything will be alright. Nothing like that will happen."
'Thanks, Jaune.' Trivia signed as they shared a quick kiss.
"You're welcome, Trivia." Jaune said as he returned to his seat. And as he did, the waiter returned with their food and drinks.
"Enjoy." The waiter said as he put the food and drinks on the table before leaving.
'You certainly know how to treat a lady.' Trivia signed, admiring the food before taking a sip of her hot chocolate.
"Only the best for you, Trivia." Jaune said, smiling.
'You really are the king of cheesy one-liners, Jaune.' Neo signed before taking a bite out of her ice cream. But she then leaned in and locked lips with Jaune in a passionate kiss that left them both dazed for a moment. 'But you're my king of cheesy one-liners.'
"And you're my sweet ice cream queen." Jaune said as they returned to their meal while making pleasant conversation about whatever crossed their minds. However, Jaune did always divert the question to another when it came to his family or what they would do once they arrived at his home. The reason was that he wanted everything to remain a secret until then, much to the ire of his girlfriend.
Half an Hour Later
"Ready to go, Trivia?" Jaune asked as he paid for the food.
'Ready.' Neo signed as she grabbed her two bags. Initially, she thought she would only be spending a few hours with Jaune and his family. But that changed when he said they would spend the entire day there and possibly a few days afterward if the weather got bad. And since a major snowstorm might hit Vale in the coming days, there was a strong possibility they might spend the entire week there. But she didn't mind as she always enjoyed spending time with Jaune.
"Then let's go." Jaune said as he grabbed his bags.
Nodding, Neo created an illusion so she could look like Reese Chloris from Team ABRN. Despite dating a future huntsman and no longer committing crimes, Neo still had a massive rapsheet on her. And if any officer, Huntsmen, or law enforcement of any kind spotted her, they would try to capture and arrest her on the spot. That's why she had to use an illusion every time she went out. But hopefully, one day, that would change; Neo just had to figure out how. Until then, she would remain hidden, with only her adorable knight knowing who she really was. 'Reese' then hooked her arm around Jaune's left arm as they exited the cafe and headed toward the bullheads.
'Anything I need to know about your family?'
"Uh. I don't think-wait. Yes, there is something." Jaune said after thinking it over.
'Which is?'
"Two of my sisters, twins, mind you, love to pull pranks on everyone. Another is the adventuring/daredevil kind of person, so don't be surprised if you see her with strange gear. Lastly, another is the brains of the family. She'll most likely use words that you never heard before in your entire life and confuse you with how she talks and jots down everything we say."
'Is she like the other smart ones with a big ego?'
"Nope. She's very caring and friendly. But don't get on her bad side. She will mess you up in very subtle ways that you won't see coming until they happen."
'Noted.' Neo signed before realizing something. 'Wait. How big is your family?'
"You'll see." Jaune said with a chuckle as they arrived at the airstrip and boarded a nearby bullhead.
'How long until we arrive?'
"About three hours."
'THREE HOURS!' Neo signed, surprised, as the bullhead ascended.
"Yeah. My family lives in the northern part of Vale."
'Oh. What should we do until then?'
"You can take a nap. It's eleven, and we did have to wake up early." Jaune answered after checking the time on his scroll.
'Nah, I'm not tired.'
"Well, then, what do you want to do?"
'How about you tell me some of the 'fun' adventures you had with your team since I know you won't tell me anything else about your family.' Neo suggested.
"Alright." Jaune said, rolling his eyes. "Anyway. How about the time we had to stop Nora from baking enough pancakes to make a mountain and us running for our lives from a furious Ms. Goodwitch and curious Ozpin?"
'Why did she do that?'
"To, as she put it, become the Queen of Pancake Mountain."
'How did she do that?'
"Well, it started out like any other day." Jaune began, smiling as the memories returned to him.
Three Hours Later
'Attention, passengers. We've arrived at our destination. Make sure to bundle up, as it's a chilly -7 degrees Celsius outside. Watch your step and have a happy holiday.' The pilot said over the intercom.
'Okay. I think the pilot lied.' Neo signed while shivering as she looked out the window and noticed the three feet of snow blanketing the ground.
"And it might get even colder." Jaune said, pulling out an extra thick coat from his suitcase. "Here. You might need this."
'Thanks.' Neo signed before putting it on and relishing the warmth it gave her.
"You're welcome." Jaune said, smiling as they got up. "Come on. Let's head to my place."
'How far is it?'
"With this snow, about twenty minutes. But we'll be taking a car, so it won't take as long."
'That's a relief since I'm not used to this cold.'
"Almost no one is." Jaune said with a chuckle as he hailed a cab. Thankfully, one was nearby, already looking for new passengers to pick up. Getting in, Jaune gave the driver directions while Neo closed the door.
'Anything else I need to know before I meet your family?' Neo signed as the driver took off.
"Not that I can think off the top of my head. One of my older sisters will bring her wife and child to celebrate with us. And my mother will probably interrogate you a bit. But that's just because she is very protective of her family."
'Can't wait.' Neo signed before leaning on Jaune's shoulder. In truth, she was still extremely nervous since Neo simultaneously wanted to make a great impression on what might her future in-laws but was also scared because she did not want a repeat of history like with the people she once knew as her father and mother.
"And neither can I. I'm sure they will love you, Trivia."
'Wait.' Neo signed, sitting straight up as she just realized something that was rather obvious. 'What will your family think when they realize I'm a wanted criminal?'
"I don't think they will mind. My family is very open-minded."
'Are you sure? Should I disguise myself?'
"I'm sure. And you don't need to disguise yourself, Trivia." Jaune assured. "And besides, in my eyes, you're no longer a criminal."
'But what about-'
"Trivia. Relax. Everything will be alright. What happened in the past is in the past. We cannot change what happened. But we can make our future better. So let's do that. Let's focus on the future." Jaune said, pulling Neo into a hug.
'Our future.' Neo signed, loving the blush that formed on Jaune's face but also loving the thought of spending the rest of her life with her knight by her side. However, the taxi suddenly stopped, interrupting their moment.
"Alright. We're here." The driver said.
"Thanks. Here you go." Jaune said, paying the driver before getting out, followed by Neo. They then grabbed their belongings from the trunk before closing it, with the driver speeding off.
'Okay. So where is your... house.' Neo began before trailing off when she turned around and saw the massive house with so many decorations one could consider it a fire hazard. And the lights were so bright; Neo was sure people could see it from outer space.
"Yup, that's my family's home." Jaune said, smiling at Neo's awestruck face.
'Overboard, much?'
"My family loves to go all out. It's what we're known for since we, well, they, don't believe in overboard." Jaune explained.
'I believe you.' Neo signed, snapping herself from her shock. 'Anyway. How should we go about this?'
"We just go and enter the house. There's no need for any kind of plan." Jaune answered while grabbing Trivia's hand to assure her he would be by her side. Neo nodded before gripping his hand tightly as they walked up the pathway to the door.
'Alright. Here we go.' Neo signed as Jaune took out his keys.
"Don't worry, Trivia. Everything is going to be okay." Jaune said as he opened the door. And no sooner than he did, a violet blur tackled him to the ground before either of them could blink.
'JAUNE!' Neo mouthed, preparing Hush for a battle. But she stopped dead in her tracks when she realized the assailant was hugging Jaune.
"BIG BRO! YOU FINALLY RETURNED!" The assailant shouted.
"Okay, okay, Midori. You can let go now." Jaune chuckled as the assailant got up before helping Jaune.
"I AM SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE, JAUNE! I THOUGHT YOU WOULDN'T COME!" Midori said, hugging Jaune.
"You know I wouldn't miss this for the world, Midori." Jaune chuckled at his younger sister
"I know. I still missed you." Clementine said before turning to Neo. "But who is she?"
"She is-" Jaune began but stopped when another voice interjected.
"Neopolitan, born Trivia Vanille and now better known as Neo. Born to two rather people, whom I will not name, that died, rather deservingly, in the Vanille manor when Little Miss shot a dust vial. She is also the former partner to the infamous criminal mastermind, Roman Torchwick." The voice said. Looking toward where it came from, the three saw a girl with large glasses carrying a book and pen walking toward them.
'Uh.' Neo signed, unsure of what to say or do. Aside from Jaune and Roman, no one else knew about her past and what really happened back then. And she knew Jaune would keep it a secret and not tell anyone else. So, for this person to just come out and say it was shocking, to say the least.
"Hello, Dahlia." Jaune said, rolling his eyes at his sister, that was the same age as him. He then turned to Neo. "Don't worry about her, Neo. She's like that and somehow can get information on anything."
'Really?' Neo asked.
"Should I tie her up?" Midori asked, turning to Dahlia while holding some rope that wasn't there a second ago.
"No, Midori. Don't-" Jaune began, moving to stand next to Neo.
"There's no need, Midori. She is a former criminal." Dahlia interjected before fixing her glasses. She then turned to Jaune and Neo. "But Jaune still has to explain why she is here with him."
'How does she know about my past?' Neo signed to Jaune.
"It's not that hard to find information if one is willing to search. However, I had to draw some conclusions since some parts were missing." Dahlia explained, surprising Neo. "And yes. I know sign language. The entire Arc family does since our youngest member is deaf. We learned it so we can communicate with her effectively."
'So everyone knows sign language? How about reading lips?' Neo signed, curious but also hopeful. It was always a pain to try and communicate with anyone without words. So to possibly hear that everyone in the Arc could understand her filled Neo with relief.
"Yes. We all know sign language and can read lips." Dahlia answered before turning to Jaune. "Well?"
"How about we get inside and grab something warm to drink? Neo's not used to this weather. And while everyone is sitting together, I can explain so I don't have to repeat myself." Jaune suggested.
"Alright. Although I already know the answer." Dahlia said, adjusting her glasses.
"Sure you do." Jaune said, rolling his eyes.
"Here. Let me help with the bags." Midori said before grabbing both Neo's and Jaune's bags and racing inside.
'So, Dahlia is the smart one, and Midori is the adventurer/daredevil?' Neo signed as they entered the massive home, with Jaune closing the door.
"Yes. Midori is the daredevil of the family, with Dahlia being the brains." Another voice answered. Turning around, Jaune smiled when he saw his older sister, Saphron. And next to Saphron is her wife Terra and their son Adrian.
"Hey, Saph." Jaune said as he hugged his sister. "Good to see you."
"Good to see you, bro." Saphron said.
"Nice to see you as well, Terra."
"Same here, Jaune." Terra said, smiling.
"Jaune." Adrian said, holding his arms out to his uncle.
"Adrian. How's my nephew?" Jaune asked, smiling.
"As you can tell, he missed you." Terra said as Adrian laughed while attempting to mess up Jaune's hair.
"Oh. Jaune. Who's your guest?" Saphron asked.
'My name is Neo.' Neo signed, causing Saphron to raise an eyebrow.
'Are you, by chance, mute, deaf, or both?' Saphron signed.
'I'm mute. I was born like this. But I can hear you, so you don't have to sign back.'
"Wait. Neo. As in Neopolitan, the former partner of Roman Torchwick?" Terra asked, slightly worried.
'Yes.' Neo signed, ready to bolt in case things go south.
"Yes. And we'll explain everything once everyone is together. But after some warm drinks. Neo is not used to the cold weather." Jaune said, moving to grab Trivia's hand.
"Alright." Terra said, calming down.
"Can we also hear about your adventures in Beacon?" Midori asked as she returned.
"Of course." Jaune answered.
"Did I hear my son's voice?" A new voice asked, excited. And from the next room came a rather tall lady with blond hair that had a motherly aura surrounding her. However, Neo, due to her years of being a master criminal, knew that beneath the motherly aura lay another that basically said don't mess with her or her children. She honestly reminded Neo of Lil' Miss Malachite, with the exception that she seems to care for people rather than only looking out for her self-interests.
"I'm here, mom." Jaune said, excited.
"OH! MY BABY BOY! HOW I MISSED YOU. COME! GIVE MOM A HUG." The lady asked as she pulled Jaune into a tight, motherly embrace.
"I missed you too, mom." Jaune said as he returned the embrace.
"And I see you brought a... special guest." Jaune's mom said, critically eyeing Neo. And to her surprise, Neo felt a cold shiver go down her spine. But whether it was because she was scared that something might go wrong or if it was something else, she did not know. But that feeling went away when the mother smiled. "What's your name?"
'Neo.'
"Neo. Well, any friend of my son is a friend of the family. Come. Take off your jacket and make yourself at home."
'Thank you, um...'
"Call me Esmeralda, dear."
'Alright, Esmeralda.'
"Where are the others?" Jaune asked, curious that no one had suffered a prank yet.
"Amber should be here soon. She and Clementine went out to get the groceries." Saphron answered.
"And the pranksters are upstairs, doing something, which concerns me." Dahlia said.
"I'll get them." Esmeralda said before turning to the nearby stairs. "POPPY ARC! PRIMROSE ARC! GET YOUR BUTTS DOWN HERE! JAUNE IS HOME, AND HE BROUGHT SOMEONE!"
'That was unnecessarily loud. Does she always do that?' Neo signed, curious.
"In a family of eight females and one male, shouting to get one's attention is necessary." Dahlia answered.
"But that was one of her quieter yells. You should see her when she's angry. You could hear her from across town." Midori added.
'You have seven sisters, Jaune?' Neo asked, shocked.
"Yup." He answered.
'It must have been chaotic.'
"That's an understatement."
"Here." Saphron said, getting Neo's attention. Turning to her, Neo saw that Saphron was holding a family photo depicting Jaune's seven sisters in various positions around the couch with Jaune in the center. But Neo let out a silent laugh when she realized that Jaune had pigtails and was holding a 'help me' sign.
'I take it that was a less chaotic day.'
"Oh no. It took mom about five hours to get us to stay in one place for a few moments."
'Wait. You said eight females and one male.' Neo signed, turning to Dahlia. 'What about your father?'
"Oh. He died a while back during a Grimm attack." Dahlia explained, causing Neo's eyes to widen in shock.
'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-'
"It's fine. You were just curious."
'Is that why Jaune decided to become a huntsman?'
"Yes. And it's also what caused us to follow our chosen paths. Like how I decided to study Grimm biology and how Amber, our oldest sister, is studying to become a fully-fledged medic."
'Wow.'
"What is taking those two so long?" Esmeralda asked, sounding annoyed.
"Want me to go and check on them?" Jaune asked.
"If you may, dear. I would appreciate it. Just be careful. You know how those two are."
"I know. I'll be care- damn it." Jaune began before cursing when he realized the first step on the stairs had a trap. And before he could react, Jaune found himself covered in tar and feathers. "I should have seen that coming."
"Especially after all these years." Saphron said as everyone laughed.
"I just wish it was easy to get tar out of my clothes." Jaune said, slightly annoyed at the fact that he would have to wash clothes to get rid of a prank not even an hour after returning home.
"JAUNE!" The voices of the Arc Twins shouted as they emerged from their secret hiding spot before tackling Jaune to the ground in a hug.
"Hey, guys. I see you two haven't lost your love for pranks." Jaune said, chuckling.
"Nope." They answered.
"Alright, you two. Let your brother get up. He still has some explaining to do." Esmeralda said, laughing at her children's less hectic actions.
"I do?" Jaune asked, confused.
"Yeah. You said you wanted to explain why Neo was here." Saphron reminded.
"Oh. Right."
"And we'll be getting that information soon as Amber and Clementine just pulled into the driveway." Dahlia said, with the front door slamming open a second later.
"WE'RE BACK!" Amber shouted as she and Clementine entered the house, each carrying ten bags of groceries.
"AND JAUNE'S BACK!" Clementine shouted before running to hug her older brother.
'How are you, sis?' Jaune signed to his deaf sister.
"I'm great. I missed you."
"We all did. But whose the ice cream-themed girl?" Amber asked.
'I'm Neo.' Neo signed, getting slightly annoyed at having to repeat herself.
"Did Jaune invite you?" Clementine asked.
'Yes.'
"Now Jaune can explain. But first, let me make us some drinks." Esmeralda said before turning to Neo. "But before I do, are you allergic to anything?"
'Nope.'
"Alright. I'll be back in a few moments. Why don't you all sit in the living room while you wait?" Esmeralda said before heading to the kitchen. "Oh, and Jaune."
"Yes, mom?" Jaune asked.
"Be a dear and light the fireplace. The wood is out back."
"Okay, mom." Jaune said as he went outside to grab the wood while the others headed to the living room.
Ten Minutes Later
"This is nice. The whole family together again." Esmeralda said as they drank their hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows.
"It certainly has been a while." Amber agreed, and all the while, Dahlia signed everything for Clementine.
"But I am curious about Neo and Jaune." Saphron said, smirking when she and the others saw Jaune and Neo sitting awfully close to each other while holding hands.
"Well, as Dahlia already knows, and the rest of you probably guessed. Neo and I are a couple." Jaune answered with Neo wondering how his family would react. She thought that they would be horrified or something similar. But their reaction shocked her.
"About time you got yourself someone, bro." Poppy and Primrose simultaneously said.
"And with such a cute girl. You two make an adorable couple." Amber added.
'Wait. This is not what I expected.' Neo signed, shocked.
"You were expecting us to bring up your past as a criminal and partner to Roman Torchwick, right?" Dahlia asked.
'Right.'
"Don't worry about that, dear. We know about your past, and we're not going to hold it against you, especially since we know the circumstances surrounding it." Esmeralda said.
"And besides, like Jaune probably said, the past is the past. We can't change it. But we can learn from it and improve ourselves going forward." Amber said.
"Yeah. And besides, we see how you and bro make each other happy." Clementine added, with Jaune and Neo smiling at each other before leaning into the other. However, they, but mostly Neo, stood up straight when the air became thick with tension.
"But if you so much as think about hurting Jaune, we won't hesitate in ending you in the worst way possible." Esmeralda said in a tone that sent genuine fear down Neo's spine. She never thought she would get this scared this quickly. However, her demeanor changed when the Arc's family warning fully sank in.
'I would never hurt, Jaune.' Neo signed, meeting Esmeralda's glare.
"We know." Esmeralda said, smiling as the tension dissipated surprisingly quickly.
"We just wanted to make sure. Jaune is our brother, after all, and we love him." Amber added.
"And we're glad you two got together. You two really complement each other like two puzzle pieces." Terra said, smiling.
"But now that we know you won't hurt our brother." Saphron began. "Tell us. How did you two meet?"
"Ironically, we first met outside of fighting each other in front of an ice cream shop." Jaune began.
'But he didn't recognize me at first since I used my semblance to look like an ordinary Faunus student from Shade.'
"And I only realized it was Trivia when we were outside the shop and accidentally bumped into her, shattering her illusion. Needless to say, it was pretty awkward afterward, with us waiting for the other to do anything."
'I think we spent like a god five minutes just staring at each other before noticing our ice cream was melting. Jaune then suggested we find a cooler spot to enjoy our treats. Seeing no harm in it or the typical sleaziness I saw in other guys, I decided to humor him and accept.'
"Wait. Jaune shattered your illusion when he bumped into you, right? Meaning he could see who you really are." Midori asked.
'Yes.'
"Were you not at all aware you were talking to one of Remnant's most notorious criminals?" Midori asked Jaune.
"Ah. About that." Jaune sheepishly began.
'This loveable knight didn't know that despite us seeing each other a few times WHILE I was robbing a place with Roman.'
"Figures." Amber said, rolling her eyes.
"We should have known." Saphron said, with Terra and the others agreeing, confusing Neo.
'Did something like this happen before?'
"There was this really popular show that Jaune used to watch when we were younger. He absolutely loved it. Always going on and on about it and even buying some merchandise. You would think he would recognize the characters or the actors that played them if he met them in real life, right." Amber began, earning a smirk from Neo and a disgruntled groan from Jaune.
'Right.' Neo smirked, knowing where this was going, and hoped to get more fun stories about her boyfriend in the future.
"At one point, the show's cast and crew came to town to promote the show. They spent the whole day here. But Jaune surprisingly didn't recognize ANYTHING." Poppy said.
"He spent the entire day helping around the crew, not realizing it was the crew from his favorite show. And once the crew left and Jaune returned home, did we tell him who he was helping." Primrose continued.
"And then he had a massive but hilarious breakdown." The twins simultaneously finished.
"Not my proudest moment." Jaune said, covering his face.
"He then spent the next few days locked in his room, moping about his missed opportunity to get autographs from the show." Saphron said.
"But he came out the next day still upset but over it." Dahlia said.
'I can totally see that happening.' Neo signed to Jaune.
"Yeah, laugh it up." Jaune said, rolling his eyes while smiling.
'Got any more stories like that?'
"We'll tell you another time. But first, continue telling us about your first meeting with our brother." Dahlia said.
"After agreeing, we went to the nearby park to enjoy our ice cream. It was a bit tense since I didn't know Trivia was mute." Jaune began.
'But I didn't mind the silence as I was used to it. But I was surprised when Jaune answered my mock question. We then started 'talking' about a few as we ate our treats before going our separate ways.' Neo finished.
"That... doesn't seem like much." Terra said.
"Yeah." The other Arcs agreed.
"That's cause it isn't. You asked us how we first met. Not how our first date went or when one of us asked the other out." Jaune explained with Neo nodding.
"Alright, smart one. When did one of you ask the other out, and how did the first date go?" Saphron asked, annoyed.
'The first date went well. We went to the movies and then grabbed a bite to eat at a nearby family restaurant.' Neo answered.
"And I was the one who asked Neo out. I asked her out during the tenth time we met at the ice cream shop. I'm not sure how it happened, but we started making it a bi-weekly thing to have ice cream in the park." Jaune added.
'It was a little awkward our first date since neither of us had been on one before. But it was nice. I especially loved how goofy my knight was. And since then, we've been going out every chance we got.'
"And now you know how Neo and I got together." Jaune said.
"Not the most exciting story, but I'm glad you're both together now." Amber said.
"And so am I." Esmeralda said, getting up. "Now. It's about to be two. How about we start getting ready for later."
"YES!" The other Arc members cheered.
'Ready for what?' Neo signed, curious.
"All the traditions the Arc Family has. And we have a lot." Jaune answered as he and Neo got up.
'How many do you have, and which one is first?'
"We have a lot. But we don't celebrate all of them every year. We do some one year and the rest the following year."
"And the first one is cooking a feast to eat for dinner." Esmeralda said before tossing everyone an apron, even a cute small one for Adrian.
'How much do you make?' Neo asked, curious.
"Enough that you will be in a food coma for the next few days. And that's not including dessert or the snacks afterward." Dahlia answered.
"Now get ready, everyone." Amber said as she put the ingredients on the counter and table.
"Wait. Before we begin." Midori said, getting everyone's attention.
"Yes, dear?" Esmerelda asked.
"We need music."
"Right. Good idea, Midor."
"But which one?" Terra asked.
"I know the perfect one." Clementine said before running out of the room to turn on the stereo system in the living room.
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace
"Really?" Jaune asked, rolling his eyes.
"What? You two a silent knight." Midori said.
'Cute ship name. But I don't think it will stick.' Neo signed.
"Either way. Let's get started." Esmerelda said.
Smiling, the other Arcs grabbed some of the ingredients before moving to another part of the kitchen. Jaune then grabbed Trivia's hand and led her to the table. They then started making the Chicken and Stuffing Casserole. Meanwhile, Esmerelda began preparing the turkey; Amber did the Prime Ribs, the twins made the mashed potatoes, Saphron and Terra made the salad, Clementine started baking the Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache, Midori handled the drinks, and Dahlia made some Broccoli Cheddar Soup. And this was where Neo discovered how Chaotic the Arc Family could get.
Trivia initially thought there would be no problems aside from occasionally bumping into someone. But the Arcs proved her wrong as not even ten minutes later; the entire kitchen had gravy, flour, and several other foods covering it. She was honestly surprised a fire hadn't broken out yet, and the place was still standing. Trivia was more than thankful now that she had the foresight to pack a couple of extra sets of clothes since the ones she was currently wearing were dirty beyond belief with food and various other things.
Yet, despite this, Neo felt at home with the chaos. But not in the way one might think. It almost felt... right. It was like she always belonged. It was certainly strange since she had never been with the Arc Family before, aside from Jaune. Yet not at all unwelcome. And the fact that the Arc Family knew how to read lips, knew sign language, and treated her the same as anyone else despite her differences was something Trivia appreciated greatly. Heck, the only other person Trivia knew that didn't treat her like dirt or a freak because she was mute or had heterochromia was Roman. And that was only because they were work partners and somewhat close friends. Honestly, from how the Arcs were treating her, it seemed like they saw her as part of the family. And that was something Trivia wouldn't mind becoming official.
'Where's the bathroom?' Neo signed to Jaune after cleaning her hands.
"Go through the living room and down the hall to the right." Jaune answered.
'Thanks. I'll be back in a bit.' Neo signed before heading for the bathroom.
"Again. Again." Adrian shouted from his high chair.
After getting too close to a searing hot pan or oven, Saphron decided it would be best for Adrian to be in his high chair. Initially, Adrian didn't like it and wanted to be around the kitchen helping the rest of his family. However, he calmed down and forgot about being in his high chair when Trivia used her semblance to create an illusion of herself as Jaune. Adrian loved it so much that he's been constantly asking Neo to do it again.
'Alright, you little rascal.' Neo mouthed before activating her semblance so she could resemble a character from Adrian's favorite show.
"YAY!" Adrian cheered as Neo deactivated her semblance before heading to the bathroom.
"Seems like Neo is good with kids." Terra said, smiling at how much Adrian was laughing.
"Do you think she would want some kids in the future, bro?" Saphron asked with a smirk as she and Terra finished making the salad.
"I... I... " Jaune stuttered with a heavy blush forming on his face as he was not expecting that question. Luckily for him, he didn't need to answer as his sisters and Mother laughed.
"But we are glad you found someone, Jaune." Esmerelda said.
"Thanks, everyone." Jaune said, happy that his family accepted Trivia so readily.
"What did your friends at Beacon think about you dating Neo?" Dahlia asked.
"Nothing."
"Really?" Poppy and Primrose asked, surprised.
"Yeah. That's because they don't know that I'm dating Trivia. And I would like to keep it that way for the time being. But I will tell them eventually." Jaune explained.
"What about Pyrrha and Athena?" Midori asked.
"I'll tell them sooner than the others."
"Be sure that you do." Amber said.
'Alright. I'm back. Did I miss anything?' Neo signed as she returned and put on her apron again.
"No. Not really." Midori answered as she finished making the drinks.
'Okay. Now that the food is ready. What next?' Trivia signed, curious.
"Well. It's not time to eat yet, and the food still needs to cool down a bit. So that means we can move on to the next family tradition." Esmerelda answered.
'Which is?'
"Making Gingerbread houses while eating Gingerbread men." Jaune answered.
"YES!" Clementine and the twins shouted before racing out of the kitchen.
"So glad we started hiding these from them." Amber said as she took out a couple of boxes from some cabinets.
"Jaune. Saphron. Finish making the gingerbread man cookies." Esmerelda said before turning to the others. "The rest of you help me bring the boxes to the table. Oh. Neo."
'Yes?'
"Can you set the table? There are some plastic table covers in the cabinets behind that you can use."
'Sure.' Trivia signed before going to the cabinets and pulling out the table covers. They then exited and headed to the dining room, where Clementine and the twins were impatiently waiting. So much so, that, in the blink of an eye, they grabbed the table cover from Trivia and set it before she could even react. 'Uh.'
"As you can probably already tell, this is their favorite tradition, and they look forward to it each year." Amber said, chuckling.
'I can imagine.'
"Have you made gingerbread houses before?" Dahlia asked.
'Nope. I've never done anything like this before.'
"Then you're in for a treat... and a mess." Midori said, smiling as they began unpacking the supplies from the boxes.
'I can imagine.' Neo signed, smiling as Esmerelda had to stop the Twins and Clementine from eating some of the frosting.
'Are we each going to do one, or are we going to be in pairs?'
"Yes. It will be the Twins and me, Amber and Clementine, Midori and Dahlia, Saphron with Terra and Adrian, and then you and Jaune." Esmerelda answered.
"Looks like we'll be competing against our brother and future-in-law." Amber teased, causing Trivia to blush and roll her eyes.
'So, Dahlia is the smarts of the family, and Midori is the daredevil. That would mean you're the tease.' Neo signed.
"Yup. The others can tell you stories of how many times I've teased them." Amber said with a proud smirk while the others groaned.
'Was she relentless?'
"Very." Jaune answered, getting everyone's attention. Turning to the kitchen, Neo and the others saw Jaune and Saphron walking toward them while carrying about ten trays each.
"I can't recall a single time before moving out that Amber didn't tease me." Saphron said.
"Oh, please. Stop exaggerating, Saphron." Amber said, smirking.
"Anyway. We got the gingerbread man cookies. We can begin." Jaune said as he and Saphron placed the trays on the table, with everyone grabbing one. However, before Trivia could grab one, Jaune stopped her. "Wait. I got some special ones for you."
'Really?' Neo signed. Instead of answering, Jaune raced back to the kitchen and returned a second with another tray.
"I made these for you, Trivia. I hope you liked them." Jaune said as he handed her one. Neo wondered what was different about these ones but knew what it was when the scent of her favorite ice cream entered her nose.
'Gingerbread man Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches?'
"Yeah. I ordered some Neapolitan ice cream last week so it could arrive on time." Jaune explained.
'You really are the best, Jaune.' Neo signed before leaning to kiss Jaune on the lips. And without missing a beat, Jaune kissed her back as passionately as he could.
"Okay, love birds. That's enough." Terra said, smiling at seeing her brother-in-law with someone.
"Right. Sorry." Jaune said as he and Trivia broke apart before sitting together and holding hands.
'I'm not.' Neo signed while laying her head on Jaune's shoulder.
"Anyway. Let's begin. But try not to fill up on cookies." Esmerelda said.
Smiling, everyone got to work on their gingerbread houses. And as one might expect, just the simple act of making the houses was just as chaotic as when the Arc family was making the food. Yet, Neo didn't mind as she was having fun making the gingerbread house. Although she was having a bit of trouble in certain areas since she had never done anything remotely similar to this before. But she didn't mind as Jaune was helping her. Admittedly, her attention wasn't entirely on the gingerbread house since every now and then, she and Jaune would share another kiss while ignoring the snickering or glances the others sent their way.
One Hour Later
"And done." The twins said as everyone put the finishing touches on the gingerbread houses.
'That was fun.' Neo signed before eating the last of her gingerbread man Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches.
"It was." Esmerelda agreed as she cleaned her hands before passing wipes to everyone.
'What do we do with the houses?' Neo signed, curious. While they are beautiful, she knew they would not last and would go bad if they simply left them.
"For today, we put them around the tree. And over the following days, we would have them as snacks." Saphron answered.
"Speaking of which, let's place them around the tree now." Esmerelda said.
Nodding, the Arcs and Neo got up, brought all the gingerbread houses to the tree, and placed them around it. Once done, Neo looked over the tree and was impressed and awestruck at how beautiful it was, although she was curious about the nearly five dozen gifts around it. However, she became confused when Esmerelda gave her an ornate star decoration.
"Since you're the guest, how about you place the star on the tree." She explained.
'Okay. But... uh. I need something so that I can reach it.' Neo signed.
"Don't worry, Trivia. I got you." Jaune said with a devious smirk before grabbing Neo and lifting her up.
'HEY! PUT ME DOWN! YOU KNOW I DON'T LIKE THIS!' Neo struggled to sign as she tried to get out of Jaune's grip.
"Alright." Jaune said before placing Trivia on his shoulders.
'I appreciate the help, but I will get you back for this.' Neo warned.
"I know. And I'll make some Neapolitan ice cream snacks later." Jaune said, causing Neo to roll her eyes.
'You know that won't work all the time. Be thankful you're cute, goofy, and I really like you.' Neo signed before placing the star on the tree. 'There.'
"It really is a wonderful time of the year." Saphron said, holding Terra's hand as they carried Adrian in their arms.
"It truly is." Dahlia said.
"Especially when you spend it with your loved ones." Jaune said as he placed Neo on the ground. And before she could do anything, he pulled her in for a passionate kiss that earned a couple of awws from the others.
"Now. Before we go to eat, how about we sing a song." Midori suggested.
"But which one?" The twins simultaneously asked.
"How about we let Neo decide?" Clementine asked.
'Let me think.' Neo signed as she racked her brain, trying to remember any song she had heard over the years. What none of the others knew was that this was her first time actually celebrating the holidays. Even with Roman, she never participated in any of the festivities. But one song did come to mind. And it fitted with how she felt so far about spending the day with Jaune and his family. 'How about It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.'
"Interesting choice. I take it you chose this song because of how you are currently feeling." Dahlia said, earning a nod from Neo.
"Let's get started then." Clementine said. Nodding, everyone cleared their throats before holding hands.
It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you be of good cheer
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap-happiest season of all
There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago
It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago
It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It's the most wonderful time
Yes, the most wonderful time
Oh, the most wonderful time
Of the year
"Merry Christmas, everyone." Esmerelda said.
"Merry Christmas." The others said.
"Mery Christmas, Trivia." Jaune said, wrapping his arms around Trivia and lowering his head to hers.
'Merry Christmas, Jaune.' Neo signed before sharing a loving kiss with him.
"Alright, everybody. Let's go eat." Esmerelda said before heading to the kitchen with the others following.
Two Hours Later
'I think Dahlia was wrong.' Neo signed, comfy in Jaune's hoodie while sitting between his legs on the couch. After eating the massive amount of food, everyone cleaned up their places before heading to the family room for the following Arc tradition. This one was to watch a movie together. And after about twenty minutes of arguing, with lots of shouting that surprised Trivia, everyone settled on a classical movie called The Polar Express. But as they were setting everything up, she began to feel slightly chilly. And Jaune, being who he is, took off his favorite hoodie and gave it to her.
"How so?" Dahlia asked.
'I don't think I will be in a food coma for a few days. I think I will be in one for at least a week.'
"Here. This should help." Esmerelda chuckled as she gave Jaune and Neo some hot chocolate.
'Thanks.' Neo signed before taking a tentative sip.
"Okay. It's set." Saphron said as she and Amber finished setting up the DVD player.
"Midori. Turn off the lights." Esmerelda said.
"Got it." Midori said before jumping off the couch, running to the switch, and flicking it off.
"Enjoying yourself, Neo?" The twins asked.
'Yes.' Neo signed before leaning into Jaune and smiling as he wrapped his arms around her. But judging from her reaction, they knew that 'enjoying' was an understatement.
Two Hours Later
"Even after all these years, it is still a great movie." Saphron said as the movie finished.
"It truly is. I wonder if they will ever make a sequel." Terra agreed before noticing something. "Hey, look."
"What-oh. How sweet." Amber began before turning to where Terra was pointing. And what everyone saw put a smile on their face. Neo and Jaune were in the same position when the movie started. But now they were asleep in each others' arms as if they were a married couple that genuinely loved each other. Well, to be honest, the Arc Family already knew Jaune and Trivia genuinely loved each other, as it was pretty obvious.
"What time is it?" The Twins asked.
"Nine thirty." Terra answered.
"We should wake them so we can open the presents. And then we should all go to sleep." Esmerelda said.
"Right." Amber agreed.
"How should we wake them?" Dahlia asked.
"I'll do it." Esmerelda answered before moving over to Jaune and Neo and gently shaking them. "Hey, Jaune. Neo. Wake up."
"Huh?" Jaune groggily asked as he rubbed his eyes.
'Did the movie finish?' Neo mouthed while letting out a silent yawn.
"Yup. It just finished." Clementine answered.
"What time is it?" Jaune asked.
"Nine thirty." The Twins answered.
'What now?' Neo asked.
"We open the presents now. Yes, we even have some for you, Neo." Esmerelda answered, surprising Neo.
'Really?'
"Yes. Come." Esmerelda chuckled before motioning for everyone to follow her. Neo, Jaune, and the others got up and stretched before heading to the living room, where they sat in a semi-circle. "Alright. Let's get started."
Esmerelda and Amber began handing out the presents to everyone. And like Esmerelda said, Neo received six gifts, not including the one from Jaune. She was tempted to ask how but figured it was best not to, considering what she had seen so far. After about ten minutes, Amber and Esmerelda finished distributing the gifts, and everyone started unwrapping them. Some of them were what Neo initially expected, like clothes, jewelry, or miscellaneous items one of them wanted. But others were not what she expected. Some were candles, clocks, and sweets.
"You okay, Trivia?" Jaune asked when he noticed she hadn't opened any of her gifts yet.
'Yes. I'm fine. Well, better than fine, honestly.' Neo answered before opening her gifts. And to say she was surprised was an understatement. Trivia expected them to be somewhat generic gifts, considering the Arc Family only learned about her dating Jaune earlier today. The first one was a clothing set much warmer than anything she had, which would allow her to endure this cold weather without any problem. The second one was some fuzzy slippers that, shocking, had her emblem. The third gift was a Neapolitan ice cream-scented candle. The fourth gift was a Neapolitan-colored mug that also had Neo's emblem. The fifth gift was a decorative purse, and the last one was a decorative piece she could add to Hush. 'Thanks, everyone.'
"Don't forget my gift." Jaune said, sliding a small box to her. Smiling, Neo opened it and let out a silent gasp.
'Jaune. It's beautiful.' Neo signed, taking out a heart-shaped pendant. Opening it, she saw it contained two pictures; one was of her and Jaune during their first date, and the other was when they were sharing a bed at Beacon when Jaune's team was out. 'Thank you.'
"You're welcome, Trivia." Jaune said before kissing her cheek.
"Well. Now that everyone has opened their presents, it's time for us to go to sleep." Esmerelda said, standing up.
"Aw." The Twins and Clementine whined before letting out a massive yawn.
"Don't complain. It's late."
"Neo. We have three guest rooms on the second floor. You can take anyone you want." Amber said.
'Actually, if you don't mind, I would like to sleep with my knight tonight.' Neo signed, earning a blush from Jaune.
"That's fine, dear." Esmerelda said as she gathered the wrapping paper.
"Come on, Trivia. Let's go to sleep." Jaune said as they stood up and made their way to the stairs.
"Wait." Saphron shouted, getting their attention.
"Yes, Saph?" Jaune asked.
"Look above you." Confused, Neo and Jaune looked up and saw a mistletoe hanging above them. Knowing what they were getting at, Jaune and Trivia pulled each other close and shared a loving and passionate kiss.
"Good night, Jaune. Good night, Neo." The other Arcs said as Jaune and Neo separated.
Jaune and Neo headed up the stairs and down the hall to Jaune's room. Once there, Neo entered the bathroom to change while Jaune did the same in his bedroom. After a few moments, she came out with Jaune turning off the lights before they got into bed.
"Good night, Trivia." Jaune said.
'Good night, Jaune.' Neo signed before kissing Jaune as they embraced each other. 'And thanks for inviting me to spend the day with your family.'
"You're welcome." Jaune said. And with one final kiss, they closed their eyes and fell asleep in each other's arms.