Cr00cy, what are we doing with our lives?

Chapter 5

Date Night

Cinder Fall was a Monster.

She knew this. But sometimes, she liked to forget.

Her current situation made that somewhat difficult. She 'sat' at an illusionary table, projected by some strange new Grimm, surrounded by Salem's other lieutenants, tapping her foot impatiently. She had places to be. She was going to be late...again.

"Are we boring you Cinder?" Watts drawled from across the table...the smug bastard.

"Only you Watts." She shot back.

He hummed. "Perhaps you have better things to do? Like fail to obtain a Maiden's powers?"

"I forgot you were so accomplished in that regard. Honestly, I forget most of your accomplishments...it's almost like there's a distinct lack of them."

"Oooohhh, sick burn!" Tyrion grinned from across the table, before erupting in laughter at his own pun.

Gods I hate puns. Jaune was the only exception to this rule. Jaune was the only exception to several rules.

Watts scoffed. "At least I'm not behind schedule."

She raised an eyebrow. "Good for you. I suppose that makes two of us then."

He balked. "But, I thought-"

"Best to leave the thinking to others dear, you know it got you kicked out of Atlas."

"You bitch!" He snarled.

"Children." A soft, but terrifying voice cut them off. Cinder's heart pounded within her chest as Salem coolly glanced over them. She may have been a Monster, but she was pretty sure that woman was the Devil.

"There's no need to bicker. It's unproductive, and I abhor the unproductive." Her gaze fell to Cinder. "Now my young friend, why don't you tell me about your recent success?"

She straightened in her chair. "My Queen, the man I employ, Roman, has succeed in matching our quotas, despite the earlier delays."

The red-eyed woman nodded in appreciation. "Good. How did this come to be?"

"He's been unusually motivated since last week my Queen. He seems to be afraid of what will happen if fails me. Fails you." She quickly corrected.

Salem hummed. "Fear that I'm sure you put there. Excellent work Cinder, you prove your worth yet again."

"Thank you, my Queen."

"You do seem hurried through my dear. What has you in such a rush?"

She swallowed. "I have an important meeting with a partner that I can't afford to miss...again"

The ghostly woman nodded slowly. "Very well, you are excused my dear."

"Thank you my-"

"But remember this, I will not tolerate failure. The clock is ticking, my dark Maiden."

Her eyes met the floor as she bowed her head. "Of course my Queen."

With a simple wave of her hand, Salem cut the feed.

Cinder let out a sigh of relief. She couldn't be late again…

Date night was too important, and it was her turn to set it up.

She heard two knocks come from the door behind her.

"Enter." She quickly responded, spinning around in her chair to see Emerald enter, a nervous look on her face and a bundle in her arms. "What's our status?" She demanded.

"Promise you won't get mad?"

She shot her subordinate a look. "Emerald, let's be realistic."

The green haired girl sighed. "I found a 5-star restaurant on a few hours notice..."

"Excellent." She was a woman with standards after all. Jaune could pick a greasy spoon when it was his turn.

"...And it's Big Daddy Bane's."

They sat in silence for a moment.

"Emerald, do you think that Mercury will be able to identify you at the morgue? What with all the burns I mean."

"You gave me an hour! Because you forgot!" The girl complained.

She huffed. "I never forget, I just become distracted."

She could have sworn Emerald rolled her eyes at that. Maybe discipline was becoming an issue in their little unit. "Big Daddy is the only one that'd give us a reservation, and that's because he likes Jaune. Besides, Jaune will be ecstatic that he gets to visit his friend."

Well, that was true she supposed. Though, she'd prefer to have his full attention.

She sighed. "Very well. What of the rest of the evening?"

"You're going to see a movie."

She hummed. "Trite, but classic." Her eyes widened. "It's not a dog movie is it? Jaune was bawling at the one where the dog reincarnates over and over again." SHE hadn't cried. She'd simply had an allergic reaction to Vale's pollens. Gods but that dog reminded her of Jaune.

Emerald winced. "No...it's a Spruce Willis movie."

She groaned. "Do you hate me Emerald?"

"Jaune loves Spruce Willis!" She comforted. "It's his favorite!"

"My husband has terrible taste."

"You're preaching to the choir sister." Emerald muttered under her breath.

"What was that?"

The tanned girl snapped to attention. "I said I've got Mercury keeping Jaune distracted!"

"Good, what are they doing?"

"Um...playing catch." The girl said slowly.

That caught her attention. "The children's game?"

Emerald shrugged. "Merc's been weirdly insistent on playing it with Jaune for some reason. Something about making up for lost time."

She sighed. "Well, I suppose it's not his emotional stability I picked him for. Do I have a dress?"

"Yes." The girl beamed as she unwrapped the package in her arms, revealing an elegant black dress. "What do you think?"

Her eyes flowed over the dress as the reached out to caress the fabric. "It's perfect."

"Thought you'd like it." Emerald stated proudly as she handed the dress over, waiting as she changed.

"How do I look?" She asked, giving a small spin and allowing the other girl to zip her up.

"You're going to knock him dead...metaphorically speaking of course." The green haired girl quickly amended.

She smiled to herself. "Excellent. Let's go then."

"Boss, wait." Emerald instructed, holding out one hand in front of her, as her other one fished in her pocket, emerging with a small gold ring. "Can't forget this."

She let out a sigh of relief as she slid it onto her hand. It wouldn't do to show up under-dressed.

"Thank you Emerald, you're a good friend."

The girl lit up. "Wow, thank you-"

"Despite your sexual attraction to my husband."

She almost chuckled as the girl's face fell.

"I know it must of been hard for you." She continued. "Setting up what you might have imagined could have been your dream date with him. Maybe I will allow you to join us one night. For a birthday perhaps."

Emerald scowled. "His or mine? Who's this supposed to be a reward for?"

Her brow creased. "You have a birthday? Since when?"

The green haired girl sighed. "Since Jaune gave me one. Remember how upset he got when he found out that I didn't know when mine was? He demanded that we find a date. He chose May 10th, said that May was the month of Emeralds, and that-"

"-You were a ten." She tsked. "Yes, remarkably corny is my husband."

"It was kinda sweet."

"Yes, he is." She smirked. "I noticed you didn't say no."

The girl colored. "I-I.."

She couldn't hold it in any longer, she began to snicker.

Emerald's eyes widened. "You're screwing with me!"

She was, wasn't she? She never used to play such games, not before Jaune. She couldn't figure out why for the life of her. It was a lot of fun.

"Well...not yet at least." She drawled.

The girl's jaw hit the floor.

Perhaps puns were permissible from time to time.

She felt a flutter in her stomach when she saw him standing at the entrance of the restaurant. There was nothing she could do to stop it, nor did she want to. He looked good.

He'd combed his hair, that was the first thing she'd noticed. The second was that he'd dressed for the occasion. Dark slacks led up to a white shirt, covered by a blue sports coat that she thought brought out his eyes. He'd even ditched those ridiculous boots that he always wore around. She knew he didn't like getting dressed up, his dates were always more adventurous, but he'd done it for her. It was one of the reasons she loved him.

"Gods you're beautiful."

That was another.

"My, my Mr. Arc, starting the smooth talk already?"

He grinned and held his arm out to her. "What can I say? I see a pretty lady, and I'm feeling lucky tonight."

She smiled back. "Think she's interested?"

"I'll let you know after dinner." He said as he held the door open for her, leading her inside.

His face lit up when he saw who was manning the reception counter, and she internally sighed.

Here we go.

"Bane! How's it going, you old dog!"

The giant exploded in a laugh. "Jaune! Welcome! Who is this beautiful creature? Is this your mysterious wife I've heard so much about?"

She tsked at that. This low level dealer had no need to know of her existence, that was reserved for necessary evils - and wasn't there irony in that - like Roman. Still...it was nice to hear he talked about her.

"Yep, the one and only."

She'd better be.

The giant smirked and nudged Jaune with his elbow. "I can see why you're so interested in our book club, you need ideas. Might I recommend Book 4, Chapter 7, Scene 3?"

She wasn't sure exactly what he was talking about, but from the way Jaune blushed, she could imagine.

"I assure you that my husband and I have active imaginations, thank you."

Bane raised an eyebrow. "Fiery, isn't she?"

Jaune chuckled. "You have no idea."

The man laughed and clapped his hands together. "What brings you to our humble establishment?"

Her husband snorted. "Bane, if this is humble, I'm in trouble." He nodded towards her with a smile. "It's date night."

"Date night! Well then, we can't have you sit at an ordinary table, only the finest will do!" The giant turned and called to a hostess. "Coco! Take these fine people up to balcony, and see that they recieve a bottle of our finest."

"Sure thing boss."

Cinder took in the young girl carefully, taking in her appearance and peering at Jaune for his reaction. She was certainly pretty enough, and she was forced to admit, not without a sense of fashion. But Jaune stared obliviously forward as the girl led them to their table, not giving her more than a passing glance.

Good.

It wasn't that she didn't trust Jaune. The man was loyal to a fault. But what she didn't trust, was literally any other human being alive. Experience had taught her that this was a wise choice. But, it didn't look like she'd have to worry about this one, who informed them that their server would be by shortly to take their order.

Jaune leaned across the table. "This is nice!"

She smiled. "I thought you'd like it. I spent a while picking it out." She'd 'hired' Emerald, so it counted.

He chuckled. "You know me too well. Also, tell Em I said thank you."

She balked. "How'd you know?"

He grinned. "I didn't. So, what'd she plan for us after this?"

She huffed. "Well, maybe nothing if you're going to be this insufferable."

"Awww, I was just teasing you. I wanna know!"

"I suppose it'll just have to be a surprise." It'd certainly been a surprise to her, not an hour before.

"You're mean." He joked.

"You have no-"

"Hi, I'm Velvet, I'll be your server."

Cinder's gaze flickered over to the young faunus girl. Ok, this? This could be a problem. If there was something she'd learned about her knight, it was that he had a weakness for ears. She had a pair in their closet at home, that looked suspiciously like the ones atop this girl's head, that proved this to be true.

Her husband addressed the walking fetish. "Hey Velvet, how are-"

"Say the line!" They heard Bane boom from across the restaurant.

She watched as the homewrecker sighed, her eyes finding the floor, before issuing 'the line.'

"Welcome to Big Daddy's...home of the Big D." She muttered.

"More enthusiasm!" Bane shouted.

"What's the Big D?" Jaune asked.

That was for her to know, and this flop-eared floozy to never find out.

"It's our specialty cocktail." The sex symbol explained.

"We'll take two." Jaune decided proudly.

The girl visibly cringed.

"So help me Velvet, you WILL ask the question!" Bane demanded.

She was honestly impressed with how small the tramp managed to make herself.

"May…" She swallowed. "May I inquire as to the size of your D?"

She was definitely going to kill Emerald.

"The biggest. We're not driving." Jaune said with otherworldly confidence.

She'd do something respectful with the ashes, like throw them in the face of an orphan. Emerald would like that.

"I'll be back in just a minute." The nightwalker assured them, before practically bolting off.

"She seems nervous. Wonder if she's new?" Her knight observed.

She was NOT talking about Ms. Risque Rabbit on date night. She scooted her chair closer to his, until they were side by side. Her hand...explored.

"I'm not new, does that make me less exciting?"

He yelped, and she smirked. The night was back on track. Nothing could stop her now.

He laughed. "The moment I stop finding you exciting, I doubt I'll have a pulse."

That was probably truer than he knew.

"Good." She purred. "I think I might have an alteration to date night plans."

He raised an excited eyebrow. "Yeah?'

"Yes, what say we-"

A drink was placed before her. A gaudy, ridiculous drink that was both the color blue, and in a 'D' shaped glass. She turned to tell the hoppy hooker that they'd be needing the check, and froze. Gone was the Velveteen Vixen, and in her place, something inexplicably worse.

Di-chromatic eyes winked back at her as the pink and brown girl passed Jaune his drink.

A flood of questions flowed through her mind. How? Why? Where was what's-her-name? Where would she hide this bitch's body?

"Oh hey Neo! Didn't know you worked here." Oh Gods, it got worse. How did Jaune know this harlot? Why was she staring him down like he was prey?

"You know each other?" She asked carefully.

"Huh? Oh yeah! Met her the other day when I ran into Broman. Nice guy by the way. I think she's in the same boat as Emerald." He whispered the last to her.

That was a very dangerous, very flammable boat to be in.

"You don't say? You know, I think I have to use the bathroom Jaune. I'm sure Neo will accompany me. You know, girls and bathrooms and all that." She said as she found her feet.

Neo promptly fell into her seat, and waved up at her, biding her farewell.

Jaune chuckled nervously. "She's something else, right?"

She was about to be something else. Something much more on fire.

"I think maybe she gets nervous around people. Like she's shy."

Neo grinned at that.

"I don't think so baby."

"Has anyone seen Velvet?" Bane shouted over the crowd.

"I think I saw her taking a nap in back." Coco shouted back. "She was out of it, had to make sure she was still alive."

"That girl is killing me!"

Neo shifted nervously in her seat. HER seat.

"Oh look, something's bothering the girl. We should let her go Jaune, no reason to hold her here."

Here? No. An unregistered building by the docks in Vale, where they'd have a chance to 'talk' in more depth? Certainly.

"Well yeah, Neo, we don't want to…Neo? Where'd she go?" The love of her life looked around in confusion. "How does she keep doing that?" The dense as depleted uranium, love of her life.

They'd finished the rest of their dinner without any additional incident, as a waiter named Russell took over their table. Russell was decidedly non-threatening, even if it looked like he might swing that way.

She'd considered skipping the movie altogether, and simply heading home with Jaune. She was fairly certain that she could provide a bigger climax than this Spruce Willis character after all. But she'd made the mistake of letting it slip that they had tickets. The way Jaune had lit up at the news had resigned her to watching this disaster with him. At least it didn't have dogs.

"Man babe, can't believe you decided to take us to the premier, I thought you hated these." Jaune said, as he practically skipped down the road.

"They're...interesting." She lied.

"I hear his partner's a dog in this one. What's the title again? Old dogs die hard?"

She was going to burn down an orphanage with Emerald inside it.

"Oh shit, we're going to be late! Let's cut down this alley."

That would normally sound like a remarkably poor choice, but...she was who she was. She rolled her eyes good naturedly and followed her husband.

Her first indication that something was wrong was Jaune's hand pushing her back, carefully corralling her behind him. The second was the voice that spoke from the darkness.

'Well, what do we have here?"

No.

"Looks like a pretty boy and his pretty bird."

No.

"We don't want any trouble." Jaune said carefully.

"Well, see the thing is, we kinda do. Isn't that right Jimmy?"

"Might want more than that."

No. This happened to other people. She'd ensured that when she'd sold her soul. She was invincible.

"Stay behind me." Jaune whispered, slowly stepping forward.

Jaune wasn't invincible though.

"Oh? Looks like the pretty boy wants to scrap."

"Well, we can take care of that pretty problem for him."

Jaune raised his fist and fell into an approximation of a fighting stance.

Her husband was many things. He was unreservedly kind, he was incredibly thoughtful, he was a good person, but…

He was not a fighter.

She cringed as the first blow found his cheek, whipping his head around. He made to swing in return, but the second man was already upon him, driving his fist into his ribs.

She was impossibly and excruciatingly paralyzed. To act was to reveal herself, and lose Jaune. To not act was lose Jaune still.

"Come on boy, thought you were a big man?" Jimmy taunted, as he drove a knee into Jaune, sending him to the ground.

She burned their faces into her memory. They were wearing colors, they were part of a gang.

Jaune struggled to his feet, and raised his fists again.

"Looks like he's still got some fight left Bob."

"Let's beat it out of him."

The next few minutes were an agony that she'd never experienced before. Over and over again they knocked him to the ground, their fists finding his face and their boots finding his ribs. And yet, over and over again, he stumbled to his feet, always circling in front of her, always trying to protect HER.

Just stay down. She mentally pleaded.

Bob shook his head sadly as Jaune rose again. "I don't think he gets it Jimmy."

A knife appeared in Jimmy's hand. "That's ok Bob, I'm a good teacher."

Enough.

Flames erupted into her hand.

No more.

Jaune coughed, blood splattering onto the concrete. "I've been told I'm dense that way."

The cretins' eyes widened with shock, and they took a slow step back.

"I'm not...not going anywhere." Jaune panted out.

Bob shook his head at Jimmy, and the men turn and fled.

Her husband laughed in relief, and turned to her, that stupid grin on his face. "You ok baby?"

She didn't get the chance to respond, as he collapsed to the ground in a heap, the strain finally overtaking him. She was by his side in an instant.

She heard the telltale sound of shattering glass, and looked up to see Neo cleaning her blade off on Bob's corpse, giving Jimmy's a kick for good measure.

Their eyes met. This woman knew her secret, knew what Jaune was, and what he was not. Everything inside her screamed for her to burn this woman to ash, to protect their secret. And yet, she'd saved Jaune, and therefore her. What did that make them?

Neo slowly reached out a hand, flicking her eyes towards Jaune.

She cared about Jaune, and for now, that was all that mattered. The flames in her heart abated, even if for a moment, and she took the girl's hand. They blinked out of existence together.

The hospital had been a turbulent affair. Not the least of which because they appeared in the ER waiting room as if by magic. Once there, she'd made it VERY clear that her husband was to be treated immediately, lest she start freeing up rooms for them, one by one.

Neo, surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, had backed her claim.

And so she sat by his bedside, gently stroking his hair, careful to avoid the gashes in his scalp.

"You're such a fool." She whispered.

Her fool.

She hated herself.

Hated herself for not acting sooner. Hated herself for lying to him. Hated herself for having to lie.

But, there were others she hated far more.

The door to the room burst open, and Emerald and Mercury rushed in.

"Is he ok?"

"What can we do?"

She loved them for that, even if she could never speak it.

"Look after Jaune." She said instead.

"Where are you going?" Emerald asked, worry etched on her face.

"I'll be back shortly." Was her only answer. She leaned down and whispered three very important words to him, before moving towards the exit.

"I love you."

Emerald moved to intercept her, but Mercury caught her. They really did understand her, each in their own way.

She pushed through the door and entered into the hallway of the hospital, her eyes falling to her new...something. Neo pushed off her place on the wall and met her gaze. She reached out to her, and she spoke three more very important words.

"Take me there."

She could feel the vibrations of the music as it boomed out of the warehouse as they approached.

They apparently called themselves 'The Departed.' She supposed that was fitting.

She summoned a pair of black blades to her hands, as she listened to the scrape of Neo drawing her own.

Cinder Fall was a monster.

She knew this. Sometimes, she liked to forget.

But now?

This city was about to remember.

Rough Seas

A boy cries out to me. "Sir, these seas are violent and dark!"

"Aye boy, that they be! Did you not know you'd be aboard a ship lad?"

"But sir, this is not the ship I first saw!" He protest as the waves splash over the sides of the rails. "It was a ship of gleaming wood and mirth!"

I laugh as the rocking of the ship pushes me back onto my heels. "Is that what you thought boy? That we'd see nothing but sunny days? Look again at the hull of the ship."

The boy hesitantly peaks his head over the side, and looks down at the tossing seas and the creaking beams.

"Sir!"

"What do you see boy?"

"The beams that make up the bottom of the ship! They are of a different color, they are darker than what sits above the water!"

"Yes boy, yes! Do you comprehend?"

He shakes his head vigorously. "I do not sir! Why would you build it this way? Why would you steer us into the storm?"

I chuckle at the boy. "You still don't understand the nature of ships lad. I've constructed the ship so that she might sail in the shallows of the fluffy coast and the deep waters of the dark ocean alike! It is only now, that the ship is tossed about by the storm of conflict that you see the darker beams, the ones that cut through the water."

"I am frightened sir." The boy admits.

"Aye lad, so am I, but I have hope too."

He stares at me with wide eyes. "What gives you hope sir?"

I grin as I slap the mast. "Because I believe son, I believe in this ship, and the mast of emotional connection."

"But what if you are wrong sir?"

"Then we shall be cast once again into the unforgiving waters of fandom."

The boy shivers as he grips onto the rail. "I am not ready to be cast in again sir."

I tussle the lad's hair. "I don't think we're there yet lad. Crooc has kept the crew well fed and healthy." I hear a shout come from the Crow's Nest. "Hear that, boy? Demy has found a way out of the storm!"

The boy lets out a sigh of relief, before his gaze falls on to the pensive Captain. "Sir, what bedevils the Captain so?"

I hum. "I imagine it's where we've set course for to escape the storm, lad."

"Where is that sir?"

"Siren's cove my boy, siren's cove."