Chapter II: Reminisce
Blake woke up the next day with the smell of Pancakes and maple syrup in the air. As she begins to rise out of the bed she saw Jaune walk into the room.
He smiled and said "Good morning Blake."
"Good morning to you as well Jaune." Smiled Blake
Jaune walked up to her and handed her a new toothbrush still in its box, tooth paste and a towel. "Here these are for you to use before you get ready to eat breakfast Blake".
"Thanks Jaune."
"No problem Blake, the bathroom is across the hall and when you're done come down the stairs to eat OK" remarked Jaune.
"OK Jaune I will be down soon" replied Blake. Jaune smiled and soon walked down the staircase, as they went down Blake went across the hall to brush her teeth and get ready for the day.
After a few minutes Blake walked down the staircase and smelled pancakes, eggs, and bacon from the kitchen. As she walked into the kitchen, she sees Jaune sitting on the chair eating his pancake, a women and a man most likely his parents, the women was making food while the man was looking over his scroll. No one saw her walk in the kitchen except Jaune, He ate a bit of his pancake and said "Oh hi Blake".
She replied "Hi Jaune".
The women looked over to Blake and smiled, "Oh hello there."
"Good Morning Mrs. Arc" responded Blake.
"Please call me Elizabeth."
"OK Elizabeth." Elizabeth set a plate of pancakes down on the table and said "Here you go Blake; your name is Blake right?" Blake nodded and sat down on the chair, where Elizabeth placed her food, beside her was a glass of orange juice, spoons, forks, eggs, and maple syrup.
Her stomach started to growl from the lack of food since yesterday. Jaune laugh a bit after hearing it and Blake's face grew red of embarrassment from Jaune's laugh. She began to add maple syrup to the pancake, and soon began to eat the pancake. She ate the first pancake and grabbed the cup of orange juice to drink it. She heard Elizabeth ask her "Do you like the pancakes?"
"Yes I do and do appreciate the kind hospitality you all have shown me."
Blake heard Jaune's dad say "It no problem at all Blake it's better for a kid like you to stay here with us than deal with the contempt our people have for yours and my name is Noah," "Noah Arc".
Blake then replied "But again thank you because I was never really given hospitality like this before".
Elizabeth said "Well you can stay here with us as long as you want Blake, you and your people deserve a better life than what others have shown to the Faunus".
Blake smiled and looks down sadly, the memory of her parents and the life she had before she lost them. A tear fell from her eye, but she quickly wiped away the tear with the paper towel next to her.
Jaune's dad walked up and said "Well I must really get going, business to take care of; it was nice meeting you Blake.
"Thank you and it was nice meeting you."
Noah smiled and walked up to his wife to give her a goodbye kiss and he patted Jaune's hair before going. Noah said his goodbyes and went out from the front door.
After Noah left Jaune and Blake had finish their breakfast. As Blake gets up to put the plate away Elizabeth grabs the plate before Blake could reach it.
"It alright Elizabeth I could have done it myself."
"No Blake I will do it because you are a guest in the family."
"Ok then Elizabeth."
Jaune got up from his chair and handed his mom his plate, she took the plate and began to wash the dishes. At that time Jaune began to clean up the table and putting the left over in the refrigerator. Blake then stood there for a few moments waiting for them to be done; Jaune finished earlier then his mom.
"Mom I'm going to show Blake around the house ok?"
"It ok Jaune you can go ahead and do that while I finish washing the dishes."
"Ok see you mom."
Both Blake and Jaune began to walk up the stair case. Jaune showed Blake where his room was located. They enter the room and in it there were pictures of him and his family, a bookshelf, his bed, and toy figures of hunter and huntresses. What caught Blake's eye were his toy figures of Hunters and Huntresses.
"I see you found my toys."
"Yea I do, but there is nothing to be shy about because some Faunus at my age had some of them as well.
"Well I don't see why not because I think it's a lot of peoples dream to become a hunter or huntresses and attend Beacon."
"Yea it is" Blake said sadly.
Jaune saw this and placed his hand on her shoulder. Blake looked at him after she felt him touch her shoulder. "Blake anyone can do if they have the heart and determination even you." Blake smiled as he said that, she heard Jaune's mother calling Jaune downstairs to help her with something. He yelled "OK mom I will be right their mom." Jaune then turned over to Blake and told her that he'll be right back. Blake replied "OK Jaune see you in a bit."
After Jaune left she looked at Jaune's bookshelf she saw a book out-of-place than the rest. Blake went over to the book and pulled it out from the bookshelf; she held the book with both of her hands and went over to Jaune's bed to look at the contents of the book.
The book was called "Fairy Tales" and when she turned to the first page it showed different sections of the book she looked down and in one of the sections it was called "Tales of the Brave Knight". She turned the book to that section, the text in the section reads "Once upon a time, there was a Knight" Blake turned the next page "This Knight had unheeded courage that no other Knight possessed in the land". This knight wasn't the strongest, or the fastest, but he had a good heart and was always willing to do the right thing. Blake continued to read the story not noticing anything happening around her.
Jaune walked up stairs after helping his mom with a gift she made for Blake; he walked to his room to see Blake sitting down in his bed reading his favorite book. He smiled that Blake was reading his favorite book. Jaune went over to her; he got his hands and covered them over Blake's eyes. Jaune felt Blake's hands trying to remove his hands from her eyes.
"Jaune, Jaune is that you?"
"Yea it is me" laughed Jaune. His hands then began to let out Blake's eyes, she turned her body towards his and she set down the book. She smirked at him as she was looking at him; she then pushed Jaune out of his bed. She heard a loud crash and giggled a bit, Jaune got up and asked her "Hey what was that for Blake."
Blake was still gigging "Pay back from blocking my eye site while reading the book."
"Pay back huh" he replied and slowly started walking up to her.
Blake's gave him a confused look "Uh Jaune what are yo...", but before she could finish her sentence Jaune hugged her.
Soon Blake's face grew red for the amount of embarrassment she was feeling, she was trying to get out of Jaune's arms, but couldn't.
"Jaune can you let me go."
He was laughing a bit, "If you say 'pretty please' Blake" as he said in a childish way.
Blake let out a huff of frustration "Can pretty please with cherries on top let me go Jaune."
"Well since you asked so nicely then OK I will" said Jaune, he then let go of Blake and saw her face still red from the embarrassment.
Blake then laughed a bit, "Jaune sometimes I really do hate you."
Jaune caught her sarcastic voice "I hate you to" in a playful way and they both laughed.
Later that day Jaune showed Blake the other rooms inside his house, he showed her the war room, training room, all bedrooms, bathrooms, and etc. When they were finish it was already Dinner time, Noah came home and greeted all of them as he entered the kitchen. Today they were having steak, mashed, corn and rice. As they were eating Jaune's father was telling his family what he done today. As he continued Blake had finish her food and told them that she was heading out for today, she then began to climb up the stairs to her room. She then grabbed the covers of her bed and pulled them over to her body as she lay on her bed. After several minutes of lying down in her bed she heard someone going up the stairs.
Soon she heard a knock on her door and she got up to see who it was. She saw Jaune waiting by the door with something on he was hiding in his back and she saw that his face was red.
Blake got up and walked over to him, "Is something wrong Jaune?"
"Blake can you please close your eyes?"
Blake looked curious, but did what Jaune asked her to. Blake closed her eyes, she then felt a fabric wrap around her neck.
"You can open your eyes now Blake."
Blake opened her eyes and saw that a black scarf was placed around her neck.
She touched the fabric; the scarf was made of cashmere. "Jaune that's really sweet of you to give me this" smiled Blake.
Jaune placed his hand on the back of his neck, "It really wasn't my idea Blake my mom made this for you, so that when you feel cold this scarf will keep your face warm".
"Well either way it was sweet of you and your family to give me this scarf." She approached to Jaune to hug him, he hugged her back and after a few moments of hugging they stopped.
"Well it's getting pretty late and I'm about to get some sleep, but before I leave I wanted to give you my favorite book to read when you can't sleep." He placed the book on her hands and soon told her "Well goodnight Blake, see you in the morning." Smiled Jaune and as he was leaving he felt an arm grabbing his arm, he looked over to see a teary Blake.
"I can't thank you enough for the compassion you all have shown me, I never had this kindness before, I was always shunned by my heritage, and you all have given so much kindness."
"Words can't describe how happy I been."
Jaune smiled and approached her. She looked over at him; Jaune then took out his hanker-chief and started to wipe the tears away from a teary Blake. When he finished he hugged Blake and whispered "You don't need to thank me Blake, please don't cry Blake, I hate seeing anyone sad or in pain." Jaune let go Blake and started to walk out-of the room, but before he left he stopped on the door way.
He looked over at her, "Get some sleep Blake it's getting pretty late."
Blake looked over at him still a bit teary and replied "OK Jaune I will see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow to" replied a sleepy Jaune.
Blake went over to her bed with the scarf wrapped around her neck and she was still holding the book in her hands. She sat down at the bed, Blake whipped the last tears that were in her eye and began to read the book that she read earlier today. Soon her eyes began to fall; she then closed the book and placed it on the table besides her. She closed her eyes and soon enough she drifted off into her dreams.
Several days had passed since Blake received the scarf and read her first ever book. Since that book Blake has read all of books that Jaune has when she gets the chance to. When she didn't get the chance Jaune and she would start a conversation with each other. In their discussion they would talk about a bit about themselves, their dreams and each time they would become closer friends. In one of the days they all went out to a restaurant to eat. Jaune's parents bought her some new clothes for the occasion. Blake climbed down the stairs after getting dressed and in the living room there was Jaune's family. Jaune smiled when he saw her and Noah asked if everyone was ready, they replied "Yes they were." They all soon went out from the front door and got inside of Noah's car.
After a few minutes of driving they soon arrived at the restaurant, they got out of the car and went inside of the restaurant. When they got inside of the restaurant Blake was astonished how appealing the restaurant was inside, the women in the counter asked if they had reservation placed already.
"Yes the Arc family" said Noah.
The women typed the name on the computer and after a short time she said "Yes you do right this way sir." She then led them to their table. They sat down on the chairs and later they ordered their food. Jaune's parents ordered the food that Blake and Jaune wanted. Their foods arrived and they all ate the food that was ordered. Occasionally they would talk about the things that occurred today and about themselves to Blake. Blake would also do the same and talk about her past to them a bit more.
When they finished with their food they had deserts, Jaune's Parents both had cheese cake, Blake and Jaune had a sundae. Jaune was quickly eating his sundae, Jaune was then being called by Blake when he looked over at her half of his face was covered with ice cream. Blake and Jaune's parents laughed a bit,
"What are you guys laughing at?" questioned Jaune.
Blake then went over to Jaune and whipped the ice cream off of Jaune's face with a paper towel. Jaune thanked Blake. "Any time Jaune" replied Blake. But soon after that trouble occurred during the night.
Several men approached their table, all looking very irritated. Noah glanced at them and asked "Is there a problem?"
One of them stepped forward and yelled "Of course there is a problem." "Why do you have a Faunus with you?"
Noah replied "She a friend and buddy I'm not looking for trouble or anything, but I would really appreciate it if you leave us alone."
"And if we don't?" questioned the man.
Noah then slowly rose from his chair, and was face to face with the man. Noah locked on the man's eyes, he flinched a bit, but the stranger still looked at Jaune's dad.
"I really don't want to cause a scene, but I will if I have to" responded Noah as he cracked his knuckles.
The man in the back of the group responded "Man let's go, we don't want to get kicked out of the restaurant for something stupid like this", but the man's voice had a hint of fear and hesitation. The man in front then glanced back at Noah, Noah saw that he had grim look on his face and a bit of sweat was building up. The man then nodded "Yea your right" and soon the group quickly left. Noah smirked after he seen how quickly they left and began to sat down in his chair.
During the situation Blake was shocked how Noah handled the situation and his son was smiling as the men went away.
As Noah sat down he heard Blake say "Thanks for that Noah" he smiled a bit.
"You don't need to thank me Blake; I was just protecting you from those types of people."
Blake smiled "OK."
"Well we should be going now because I want to show you two a special place that I and my best friend went to before we got into beacon". Blake and Jaune both looked excited when Noah said that and they both smiled.
They all soon left and entered inside Jaune's dad's car. On the drive to the special place that Jaune's dad talked about in the restaurant Jaune would ask many times if they were their yet and every time Noah would laugh, he would reply "No son were not, Please be patient."
Jaune would look disappointed, but replied "OK dad I will."
Later in the drive the car suddenly began to slow down, Blake and Jaune looked around the area; they both saw that they were near a hill. Noah stepped out of the car soon Blake, Jaune and Elizabeth stepped out as well. Noah then walked them over to the hill top, when Blake went over to Noah to see what was over the hill. When Blake looked over the hill her eyes sparkled. She saw beacon overlooking the city, the lights shining bright over the dark moon night sky. Blake looked over to Jaune to see that he had the same feeling as well, his eyes also sparkling with excitement.
"It looks so amazing" whispered Blake, Jaune heard this as well and responded "Yea it is". They both felt a hand placed on their shoulders, they looked over to see who did that and saw that it was Noah. He smiled at them and pulled them closer to him.
"Me and my friends would go here when we attended signal, this was the place that we would always visit."
"We talked about our dreams a lot, attending Beacon and use the training we learned to help the innocent, and protect others." Noah then looked at both of them, "I hope you two have the same dream as well." They both nodded their heads and smiled. "I think that you both should take a picture together" suggested Noah.
Blake replied "Yea we should", Jaune agreed as well.
Soon Blake and Jaune were beside one another, Blake placed her right arm on Jaune's shoulder and Jaune did the same. Noah was besides Elizabeth; he took out his camera and looked into it. He then said "Smile you to", they both smiled and after a few seconds of waiting they saw a flash and along that was a ding noise. Blake and Jaune went out of the pose they were in, Noah smiled at the picture, "It's a cute picture isn't it Elizabeth?" as he showed it to her.
Elizabeth looked at the picture, "It really is" she said with a smile.
"Let us see dad, Let us see" asked an excited Jaune.
"Yea let us" asked Blake.
Noah chuckled a bit, "You two will, just please settle down" said Noah. He then showed them the picture.
"Wow it is a good picture" said Blake, Jaune looked and agreed as well.
"I hope you two still are friends later in the future" said Noah.
"Yea we probably will dad."
"We will Noah" said Blake.
But little did they know, later in the future this picture is what kept their friendship strong.
Author's Note
I apologize for the delay in the chapters, I was trying to make the chapter really long and start another chapter, then uploading them both at the same day, but I didn't want to keep all of you waiting. The book "Fair Tales" was from AnInterestedThirdParty and his story "High Gallantry". The credit goes to him and allowing me to use it. Even the "Tales of a Brave Knight". A shout out to my friend Carl or Yeager bombastic for helping me with the ideas and reading over the story to point out any errors he sees. I apologize for the grammar errors and etc. If you guy's see me update and you don't see another chapter, then I'm probably fixing errors I see while I read it over.