I massaged my leg trying to get the pain to stop. I had no clue why it hurt so badly today. Summer must have kicked it or something while we were sleeping. Jaune did a good job as always with those magic fingers of his, shame the pain in my leg specifically came back briefly after he removed them. After a few minutes, I looked over to the clock to check the time. Summer would be up soon, so I left my leg alone while I got up.
I grabbed the first pair of clothes I could find, in this case a pair of black jeans, and a tank top like the one I had worn to bed. After a little struggle between my bad leg and my panties, I finally pulled on my regular casual clothes and grabbed my leg brace. I tucked Crescent Rose under my arm to support myself while I limped my way down the hall and the stairs.
I set the brace and crutch next to my usual seat then made my way to the fridge. I felt like bacon today. Some cheese and eggs sounded nice too. It was Friday, so Summer got to pick what she wanted to eat, and I doubted a healthy breakfest was on that list.
The water upstairs stopped as I put the pans over the stove. I placed the food on them as soon as they got hot enough. The bacon and eggs sizzled as they made contact with the warm surface. The sound of the cooking food rang through my ears and made my mouth start to water.
I felt a pair of hands on my butt, which caused me to jump slightly. Jaune's head gently rest on my shoulder.
"Mmmm, what 'cha making?" He asked, giving my rear a light squeeze.
"Eggs, bacon, and a happy husband," I said, ignoring the gesture knowing he was just trying to have some fun.
The eggs themselves were almost done, and I reached for the pepper on the overhead shelf. I was a little short and even on my tip toes couldn't get it. I saw Jaune's hand snaking up along the back of mine. Quickly I swatted at his face making him lean back to avoid it, telling him "I got it," with enough attitude so he knew it wasn't up for debate.
He was my husband, not my babysitter. If I couldn't do it, I would ask for help, but if I could I didn't want people treating me like some helpless little girl. Thankfully Jaune didn't push the subject and backed off to let me do it.
Though the problem at hand was I still couldn't reach the pepper. I hopped on my good leg trying to get a few inches. I could have kicked off and closed the distance easily, the problem was restraining myself enough so I didn't go through the ceiling at the same time, having only one leg made that even harder. I hopped again, my finger grazing the bottom of the glass container. Again, this time being a little shorter then the second. The fourth time I managed to get high enough to pull it down. I landed with ease, and pulled the eggs off the stove.
I was flipping the bacon over, making sure it was cooked well on both sides when I heard a pair of feet hit the floor above. With the bacon done I brought them and the eggs over and started loading up our plates. Jaune took his regular chair after collecting the milk and cereal that we both knew Summer would want; and on cue Summer could be heard practically running down the stairs as she made her way to the kitchen.
"Dad! Dad! I did it! I woke up every day this week before my alarm did!" She exclaimed, practically jumping for joy.
"What? No you didn't."
"Yes I did! Tell him mom." Her excitement was infectious, and I couldn't help but break into a smile as I named off days playing along with Jaune's joke.
"Huh, I guess that means I have to share my ice cream with you," Jaune paused before adding, "After school of course." Summer was really on the ball when it came to things she really wanted. I have no doubt she would have asked for some ice cream now if he didn't add that last part.
"Yay!" She shouted climbing into her chair to start eating.
I poured her a bowl, not quite trusting her ability to not spill the milk yet. While I poured the milk, she turned the box around so Pyrrha's face was toward her. Breakfast was uncharacteristically quiet and short. I thought of sparking some kind of conversation, but nothing came to mind.
When Summer finished her breakfast, Jaune told her to go upstairs and get ready. He immediately poured himself a bowl of "Pumpkin Pete's" the moment she turned around to head upstairs.
"Good luck with what's his face," I mocked, knowing exactly why he was indulging himself into the sugary food.
"I swear I'm going to kill that kid one day," he said as he deposited a spoon full of the flakes into his mouth
"Well now you know how your teachers felt," I continued, though I remembered I was in the same boat for my first and third years.
A shiver went up my spine at the tone Professor Port had when he called everyone out during finals, and basing it completely off what we weren't paying attention to.
"What! You Can't do that!"
"Why of course I can dear Miss Rose, as a professor of this fine academy it is my duty to ensure every student leaves my class with the skills needed to not just succeed, but thrive out in the world. As such, I have gone ahead and customize each of your finals to subjects I feel you've been… 'lacking' in, so now we're going to find out just how VIGILANT you were."
I returned from my quick flash back and shivered of the feeling while Jaune finished his first mouthful.
"What?" Jaune scowled
"Oh come on. From what you've told me, he's a mirror image of you," I smirked
"I didn't sleep in class," he said while shovelling another spoonful of cereal into his mouth.
"You were normally so zoned out, you might as well have been," I reminded.
"I didn't argue with the teacher every time they told me to do something I didn't like."
"At least he's interacting with the class."
He let out a growl in defeat while finishing off his cereal. I took his bowl and put it on the pile before loading them up in sink to be washed later. I sat back down in my seat and rubbed my leg for a moment, before getting up and grabbing Crescent Rose to help me limp over to the door.
Jaune finished putting his gear on for the day when I walked over. He tightened one last strap on his waist before pulling me into a small embrace. I reached my lips out to meet his and gave him a small kiss before separating.
"Be careful ok?" I looked up at his face.
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to hurt them too badly," he joked.
I let the silence hold, so he knew just how serious I was. When I felt he got the message I continued.
"Jaune, please. I know you don't think it's Cinder, but can you just humor me for today?" I said before holding him a little tighter to try and really drive the message home.
"Alright, I'll be careful," he whispered into my ear, before we separated for good. He was about to walk out, but opened the door and turned back to me.
"And besides, you have nothing to worry about, because I have not one, but two swords crafted by the great Ruby Arc," he joked as he stopped under the door frame.
He pulled one of the blades partly from its sheath, then spent a moment flashing the flat of the blade at me trying to draw attention to the engraved rose near the cross guard. I couldn't help but chuckle at his optimism, it was strangely infectious.
"Seriously, be careful," I called out to him as he stepped out and closed the door.
I looked over at a mirror on the wall and did a quick check up on my face and hair. It was the same style I've always had since I was a child, save those few months in my third year after my leg got scarred and I turned into a rebellious emo bitch. I set Crescent Rose on the wall next to me while I straightened a few stray sidelocks. I grabbed a hair tie from the dish at the base of the mirror and pulled the longer hair in the back through. The tie served more to keep my hair away from the hot forge rather than to make a pony tail.
I heard Summer once more running through the house, back down the stairs. I turned to face her just in time as she jumped the last three steps to land on the floor. She was already in front of me before I could even start to get down. I managed to do it, though without Crescent Rose to prop myself on, my leg started screaming in pain. I could feel myself falling off balance and quickly pulled my bad leg back so the pressure wasn't on the actual joint that caused me so much pain.
I eyed her hair. She tried to mimic my hairstyle, save the longer crown hair although she put so much effort into it, her hair didn't exactly look right. I unconsciously ran my fingers through it, adjusting a few locks so it matched mine better; fully knowing it would annoy her. Sure enough she realized what I was doing and let out a soft whine while backing away and pushing my arm from her hair.
I smiled, getting my petty amusement at her expense. I asked for her teeth and she gave me the biggest smile she could manage. Her breath smelt of strawberries so I assumed they were clean. I nodded in approval and she stepped forward to bring me into a hug. While we held each other I carefully ran my arms down her sides to pull her shirt straight, though she didn't seem to even notice.
I pulled back from the hug, but didn't break my hold. She looked up at me as my lips charged head on toward her face. I nailed her in the eye like I normally did. I played with her for a moment, over acting the kiss till she let out a small giggle.
She pulled away, breaking my hug. She started to walk toward the door, but when her back was to me I pulled her back. I protectively pulled her close so she was firmly within my grasp. Common sense and mother's intuition were both telling me that if she stepped out that door something bad would happen. She turned around in my arms and returned the hug with equal force.
Even though she was six and I doubted her aura could hold up for a single hit, I felt reassured by her hug. I let out a deeper breath before whispering "Please be careful," in her ear. I finally worked up the courage to let her go. Even though everything was telling me to make her stay home and protect her, I couldn't. If I completely stopped my life just because Cinder was looking for revenge she would have already won.
Summer didn't run off for the car, like I expected her to. Instead she took only half a step back before standing on her toes to put a kiss on my lips.
She called out "I will!" as she went. Her insignia on her chest and on the tail of her scarf let me know that I made the right choice as she ran for the door. Two crescents like Jaune's; she said the top one represented the moon, while the lower one had three lines spaced out, passing under the first arc a little to represent the sun coming out from over the horizon. Both crescents' points ended along another arc going the opposite direction meant to represent Remanent. I doubted even she realized just how symbolistic the insignia she made for herself was.
I stood as she closed the door behind her and let out a deep breath. The house was so big and empty now; was actually kind of depressing. The clock informed me I only had about ten minutes till the bus would arrive. I limped over to my seat at the table and went about fitting my leg brace on. It fit over my thigh and calf. I put the bend at a usable angle so I could still stand on my toes with it. It didn't stop the pain, but it helped reduce it and kept my knee from giving out underneath me. I still had Crescent Rose under my arm as I made my way up stairs. I grabbed everything I would need for the day before locking up the house and walking to the bus stop just at the corner.
Our neighbor Mr. Rock came out and kept me company while I waited for the bus. He'd been living next door since before I was even born and was always so nice and polite. The bus finally parked in front of the bench, and Mr. Rock was kind enough to help me aboard. We wished each other to have a nice day before he stepped down and the door closed behind him.
The bus took me to the edge of town. I walked the extra block to reach the forge before opening the door. My apprentices were already going about lighting the forge and getting everything ready. Most were kids from Signal working internships in exchange for learning from me.
I limped over to the corner that had been designated as my desk; only because it was the one I randomly put some papers on then continued to pile on. A few of the kids offered me hellos and were repaid with a wave and smile.
"Um, Miss Arc?"
I had just taken my seat when I saw my Signal first year Voda. I held up a finger to wait for a moment while I organized my papers. I was really behind on my work, and despite the interns' help, I was going to have to work extra hard to make sure the ones that were due soon would be ready. I made a small pile out of the ones I knew I needed to do today, and slipped a few extra orders underneath just in case I finished early. When I was done I set them aside and looked up at the young twelve year old.
"Um, Mrs. Arc. I was wondering if you, would. I mean, I was hoping if you could. Um I mean-"
I was getting what could only be described as a disturbing amount of glee from his struggle. After listening to him stumble over the start of his question for the fourth time I finally stopped him and went about helping get it out.
"Alright I get it, you're saying please, so thank you for your manners, but let's move along what do you want."
"I was hoping-"
"Again I get it, you're saying please. Now think of the question you want to ask me, then take out the please part, and tell me what the first word is in that question."
He thought for a moment to himself before answering "I."
"Alright, next single word to describe what you want."
"Um, you."
"You want me… I'm assuming to?"
"Help."
"Who?"
"Me."
"Alright so you want me to help you with? What?"
"Make a weapon for next semester."
I gave him a few claps before agreeing to help him. Most kids were expected to move on from basic weapons like swords and spears and forge their weapons by the end of their first semester or early in the second. Students were flat out required to have one for their second year. Signal still had another week until their second semester started, so I guessed he wanted to get ahead of the crowd.
"Now I don't think I'll have time today, but if you want to come by tomorrow or so I'd be more than happy to help."
"Thank you Mrs. Arc!" He said excitedly before running back to his workplace and maintaining the furnace and other equipment.
I watched him go for a moment before reaching for my heavy work gloves and goggles in the corner of the table. I threw on my black apron with my rose decal in red on the front. A last minute check to make sure my hair wouldn't get singed off, and I was fully prepared before I walked toward the main area.
My oldest student, Albin, was carefully hammering out small pieces for his own weapon. He was hoping to get into Beacon next year and had been obsessively working on his pickaxe for this whole year in preparation for the entry exam. He would often ask me for tips and such, but I always had to disappoint him by saying I didn't have to take the exam or jump through all the other hoops everyone else had to in order to gain admittance.
I dropped a few orders on the workbench he used. Most stuff I needed to do, because it required a higher degree of skill only a full time smith could achieve, but more generic things I passed off to the apprentices. I handed out a few more to the only girl of the four Kivi, then Niebo, who had only recently been promoted to journeymen and allowed to actually start smithing. He got some simple work, just random bits and ends for an assortment of things that I didn't care to know what for.
I limped over to my anvil next to the large furnace currently being manned by Voda. After a quick check of the temperature and my tools, I found them each in appropriate condition. I smiled in approval at him before going back to my place. Normally I prefered to stand when I was working an anvil, but my leg was bothering me too much today. Voda went ahead and collected a high stool for me and I took a seat, high enough to deliver enough force on the metal.
First on the pile was the blade for a backsword. Thin blade, kind of like a saber, except it was straight; but still held a single edge. I didn't know what the final design looked like, but whoever made the order seemed to know exactly what they wanted, because all the details had been measured out and illustrated. This made my job much easier than some random person just asking for a sword with gems and other stuff on it.
The blade was thin, but was still made of four different pieces intended to collapse in on itself. There was no request for a hand guard or hilt, just the blade and a specially shaped prong, no doubt where the hilt would be added.
I instructed Voda to grab the needed ingots from the store room while I went about collecting my hammer and the other tools that I would need. He returned and put the metal bars in the furnace to warm.
There was a loud sizzle behind me, and I saw Albin quenching the small bits he was working on before putting them in a smaller fire to warm and keep the metal from corroding . After a few minutes of waiting Voda pulled out the first bar and placed it on the anvil. Using the tongs he held it perfectly still while I went to work hammering it out. We were still just giving it its shape so I wasn't worried too much about the lost of accuracy from not holding the tongs myself. Voda watched every move I made intently, like Blake when she was really into a chapter of her books.
When the bar started to dim, I nodded for him to swap it out. He quickly returned with a second bar, and we repeated the process. The last bar I arbitrarily decided would be the tip and took the tongs from my young apprentice so I could deliver more accurate blows. I focused on the point for the moment as backswords, unlike rapiers, were intended to be used as slashing weapons, despite having a similar appearance at first glance, but did still poses a strong thrust.
"Mrs. Arc." I heard Albin call out.
I looked over to him, only for him to flick his head to the side. I followed the movement toward the door. I was expecting a client in a white coat and a black bowler hat; but instead there was another, still just as familiar man.
He was a larger, more filled out man, though his neck just barely avoided becoming a double chin. The ass held himself up high with some misplaced sense of pride. His dark blue suit had gold stripes going down it's length and his pants were of the same blue to match. White undershirt with a blue and gold tie with thicker diagonal strips. His dark leather shoes tied the whole outfit together; and he looked like the stereotypical jackass you would find at the bank, who took a sadistic amount of delight in screwing you over.
I instructed to Voda to clean up. I doubted our guest would let me work on this order today. He didn't seem to understand, but still did as I asked. With Crescent Rose placed under my arm I stood from my seat and limped over to the suit. He was at least smart enough not to leave the area around the door. Probably in a justified fear of his clothes getting some new holes, courtesy of some stray sparks.
"Womack, I thought I told you to come back Friday." I shouted over the hammering, trying my hardest to hide my displeasure in his appearance.
"It's Mr. Polvo." He injected, annoyed by my use of his first name.
"Whatever, what do you want?"
"I am here for my order." A straight talk voice that made it clear he intended to have his way.
"Well you're gonna to have to come back Friday then."
"You have pushed back the due date five times now. Once, I can understand, as our personal lives tend to interfere with our work. But five times is far to many to excuse."
"Well you're just going to have to get over it," I growled lightly, some subconscious hope I could scare him off, "I have official hunter orders that take priority over your little toy. I help save lives here, stuff like your order is just a side project at the most."
"I will excuse your tone as it being early in the day, but that excuse is no longer valid?"
I raised an eyebrow expecting him to enlighten me.
"I have acquired an official form from the Weaponsmith Guild. Due to your refusal to complete an order as contracted, the guild will start limiting your orders and providing you with standard grade materials until you have complete my order to my utmost satisfaction."
He pulled out a folded up paper from an inside pocket in his suit and presented it to me. I flipped it open and looked it over as he continued the second half of his drabble. It did indeed contain what he said it did; actually more. I looked through all the restrictions and sanctions they were threatening to impose on me for prolonged refusal to comply with contract. The seal of the guild was emblazoned in wax at the very bottom like they expect it to add some sort of weight to its threat.
"So how much did you have to pay for that?" I mocked, folding the paper back up neatly and returning it under his suit.
"Excuse me?" Clearly not expecting my response.
"You seem to be confusing me with some unknown blacksmith who needs the guild to provide them with work and materials. I didn't even know they existed till about a month after I started up my shop. Do you really think they have any influence on me?"
"Mrs. Arc, if you fail to comply, then I will be forced to take legal measures against you."
My body took over for a moment and lashed out at him. As fast as I could without using my semblance, I reached out and grabbed his tie. I pulled him down so we were looking each other in the eyes. Weeks of having to deal with this guy, and with what's going on with Cinder, I couldn't afford to be distracted by some bullshit lawsuit.
"Alright listen here you piece of shit. You have two options: first, if you cancel your order, I'll give you a full refund. If not, then shut up and let me do my job, I'll let you know when I'm done working on your fucking toy, or-"
I paused from my rant seeing the door open in the corner of my eye. In came the man I had been expecting originally. A slight dance in his steps while whistling a soft tune to himself. He paused when he saw the sight in front of him. He started taking a slow step back out the door, but I beckoned him back in.
"Everyone! The forge is closed." I called out to my apprentices.
Albin and Kivi recognized the man and let out soft groans as the put away their supplies and half finished work.
"You too. Out." I spoke to the snob in front of me, releasing his tie.
"Mrs. Arc, I shall not be leaving this establishment until my demands are seen to." Defiant in his resolve.
"Well I guess you'll just have to cry about it to someone else." Leaning on Crescent Rose so my body language would reveal how little I cared for his opinion.
"I will not-"
"Hey Roman, can I turn in one of those favors you owe me? I need some help disposing of a body."
"I think I can do that Red. Are they expected to be dead or alive?" A smirk on his face as he looked up and down the man next to me.
"Dead."
Alright I'm going to focus on getting this thing out since it's almost done then focus on Vytal Metros. A special thanks to "Bulletproofpencil" senpai; /u/Aljen3 on reddit for editing and checking my spelling. Also points for anyone who can guess the reference I dropped in this. Also me and a few of our fellow /r/RWBY redditors are partaking in a RWBY mod for Savage Worlds created, and GM'ed, by the beautiful /u/RobotFish11. I don't remember which one it was, but on of our fine cast members took the liberty of recording our misadventure so you can look forward to that in the near future.
Review + Follow; till next time cheers.