All credit to respective owners.
-Y.A.R.N.
Blake twitched as the raven-haired seductress once again sauntered into the Cafe, walking straight to Jaune whose smile seemed to get a bit strained as he saw her. If Blake was honest, she hadn't been suspicious of Cinder Fall when she initially walked in, but it was Jaune's reaction that tipped her off. The first time she came over the course of the past few days that she had been visiting the cafe, there was sheer shock but it wasn't the whole 'pretty girl that waked in' but more of a 'what is she doing in here' and Jaune's posture stiffened as he gave his best 'happy to see you' smile. It was after the lady made her order — chatting up Jaune all the while — and she left that Blake asked why Jaune was so stressed out when she came in.
The head of the CCS was not what Blake was expecting, but somehow it wasn't surprising in the least.
Of course it would be someone like that expressing an interest in Jaune, that was par for the course in Jaune's life.
"How?" Blake lamented in general as she rubbed her forehead, "How do you manage to attract the most unbelievable people?"
"If you ever find out, let me know." Jaune grumbled sourly, "I'd pay good money to figure how to stop doing it."
"What does she want with you anyway?" Blake inquired.
Jaune leaned back in his seat, "I don't really know. But something tells me I shouldn't take anything she says at face value. She didn't vote for me to be imprisoned or anything, she was practically neutral. Just the way she looked at me? I don't think it's because of anything that would help anyone but herself in the long run, she looked like she was going to get something out of me, and I wouldn't be benefitting for it."
Blake hummed in contemplation before nodding at him, "You should trust your instincts, they are sharper than you know."
Jaune sighed, "Then I'll tell you now, something big's coming. I don't think it'll be good for anyone, Conduit or no…"
Blake grimaced.
The girl sleepily into her best friend's side, face buried in his neck as the rain pounded down from the heavens around their makeshift camp. They hadn't been proud of stealing to get by, but they only every took from criminals and people who went out of their way to take from them. The guy looked up at the ceiling as water began to leak through the cheap tent they had bought with they had accumulated, they would've preferred a better tent, but the store they had visited most recently only had a minor section for camping and most of their allocated funds funneled into clothing and food. Savings were thin enough as they were and making their way to Empire City would require meticulous planning, they couldn't afford to be frivolous.
Still…
The water stilled and floated away from the side of the tent as it defied gravity to flow straight to the slight tear in the side of the tent. The water shimmered and with a finesse of a seamstress of decades the water caught the frayed strands of fabric and began knitting the tear closed. When it was fully sealed, the boy closed his eyes to prod at the water's purity before the water streamed into his mouth to wet his throat. The boy leaned took a moment to just close his eyes and relish the feeling of hydration before fully leaning against his partner, a slight sigh slipping past his lips. He grimaced at the pang of hunger in his stomach, he wished he had eaten more food at their scant dinner rather than give most of his share to his friend when suddenly a granola bar was held up to his face. He smiled gently at his companion's turquoise eyes and rubbed her head in fond exasperation at her concern.
"You shouldn't use your powers when you're on empty." She murmured as he unwrapped the bar and took a bite, "You shouldn't go hungry for me like that."
"You needed it more than I did and you should get some rest." He said around the bite of food in his mouth, shifting so she could comfortably pillow her head on his shoulder, "Those dealers didn't have as much money as we wanted, so this cheap tent will have to hold, and you don't have any energy left yourself after taking them out. You're not exactly at your best right now with how low your reserves are and how you had to use most of your energy recently. You're not Cole MacGrath."
"Mm…" He hummed tiredly, "Nobody is…"
"Nora… Rest. We'll get more in the morning."
"How long till we get to Empire?" She inquired sleepily.
"A week, maybe less." Ren replied with a tired smile.
"I can't wait."
"Me neither."
Jaune crossed his arms behind his head as he lay on the roof of his building to quite literally soak up the sunlight. The bulk of a recent rainstorm had missed the city, but the lack of natural lighting always left him feeling fatigued and drowsy. He had been hunting for any blast shards but had only found a scant few and while absorbing their power had made him stronger and stronger, it cost him some of the finesse that he had spent so long working to master. The more potent and powerful his powers had become with every blast shard added, the more control he required to keep his power looking relatively the same. He wanted to make sure that even though he was considerably stronger despite the relatively small number of blast shards he had drained, he struggled to only stay to the expectations and level of power he displayed against Yuma. He was all too aware of how those in power tended to react to a possible threat and Jaune had the capability of being a very dangerous threat. He was as careful as possible because he knew that if they caught wind of his scavenging for any of the remaining few blast shards, they would try to arrested him on some trumped up charge.
He would not let that happen.
With increased workouts in the underground to focus on finesse, he often came across Whitley and even met his sister — the incredibly beautiful Weiss — when she wanted to vent with her powers every now and then. Whitley was snarky and playful with his sister but Jaune could recognize the bond with his sister he cherished and how his eyes softened slightly under the mischievous gleam. The guy even valued the unintentional acquaintanceship-but-not-quite-friendship that he had cultivated with Jaune as they met more and more. And although Weiss seemed to want to tear her hair out when Whitley was constantly getting on her nerves, she cared for him just as much as any sibling should. Jaune managed to quash the jealously that rose inside him at the sight, he had missed so many opportunities to do the same but he had chances to fix that.
Jaune also made a mental note to never discuss the fact he may have developed a crush on Weiss to anyone he knew. He recognized it was mostly superficial since it was built on admiration and desire. He had a thing for blondes and Weiss ticked a lot of his boxes with her porcelain skin, snow white hair, and beautiful crystalline eyes. Jaune wouldn't be exaggerating when she might just be the most refined and pretty girl he had seen (though now that he thought about it, practically all of the girls that he knew were knockouts). Jaune just wished he did know more about her because she seemed — if nothing else — fun to be around based on the exasperated-but-fond interactions with her brother.
Shelving his thoughts of the Schnee siblings, Jaune had plans for sizable amount of drained shards he had stashed in his room. He just wished that he had the knowledge to make what he wanted.
It had been a centerpiece of the church that honored The Patron Saint of New Marais or The Demon of Empire City. Good or Bad, every conduit that could would visit to pay respect to the man who had sacrificed himself and all of his kind on a chance to save millions. In a way, every Conduit that existed looked up to Cole and he laid the groundwork for the second wave of Conduits to be loved rather than hated. Jaune himself had briefly went to the church and spent the day just sitting in front of the church and staring at it and all the love people had for Cole MacGrath. Fresh and blooming flowers laid daily and glow-sticks lit up the rock where the weapon had been mounted, a weapon The Patron Saint used to fight the people who served the the corruption and shatter the facade of Joseph Bertrand before giving it all up to save humanity.
The Amp.
Created by his friend and Militia General Zeke in the ferry ride after Cole had to flee Empire City after losing his first round with The Beast. It was a weapon specially designed to enhance Cole's physical abilities and allow him to deliver far more powerful attacks. While Jaune could create blades made out of pure light and most other conduits had the ability to make melee weapons from their powers, Jaune had always been fascinated by the Amp and hoped to one day make something similar. With a weapon made of blast shards, it would only further amplify his strikes and help him better protect his friends. The only problem was he didn't really have a 'Zeke' to help him create something like that and couldn't trust anyone with the skills with the shards that he accumulated. He could go through the same route that Delsin Rowe had gone and just wrap a chain around his wrist to channel his powers through, but Jaune knew that he could do better. Even drained of their ray sphere radiation, blast shards had unique properties from their exposure and could be used for much more dangerous means if one had the inclination.
His biggest obstacle these days was that he lacked allies who had knowledge of the Conduit issues he had. He glanced to a metal pipe he had brought up with him to get a handle on using a weapon and gripped it. He closed his eyes and let out a trickle of light from his hands that held the pipe. Instead of channeling his power into the metal, he let the metal be affected by his powers. He felt the metal beginning to grow warm before the heat became unbearable and he let go with a hiss of pain. The metal clattered to the floor and Jaune waited for the sunlight to heal him as he contemplated the metal pipe and the place where he had held it glowing a bright orange from the heat his powers had let out. He picked up the both ends of the pipe and began to bend it, the heated metal giving way under Jaune's strength much easier than the solid iron as he bent it in half.
Well, at least he could bend his materials into a decent shape if nothing else.
Yang launched a flurry of blazing punches into the brick wall of the underground, burning craters marking each contact. After the last punch, she leapt back while flames and embers swirled in her wake leaving a rush of heat. Yang lashed out with both hands and a wave of concentrated flames scorched the wall as her eyes blazed red and her hair glowed bright. She waited for the glow to fade only to see the brightness bend and flow to the side of the atrium. She whirled with her hands raised only to see Jaune absorbing the light into his hand and patiently waiting for her to realize it was him.
"Jaune?" She inquired, "What are you doing here?"
"Same as you." He replied, "I didn't think you would come here though, it's a bit… isolated."
Yang tossed her hair and gave a bright grin, "But that is why it is the best place to practice right?"
Jaune smiled, "Can't argue with that."
They both quieted as the only sound was the crackling of small flames left behind by Yang's practice and training.
"Wanna spar?" Yang asked offhandedly.
"What?" Jaune yelped.
"Do you want to spar with me?"
Jaune stiffened, "Why spar with me? You mean with our powers..?"
"Not with powers!" Yang waved off his concerns, "With our fists!"
Jaune blinked, "Um… Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't you a trained fighter?"
"Yep." Yang said proudly, "But you're not? Because if the video I saw was even remotely accurate, you can fight too. You didn't just rely on your powers, you kicked, punched and used melee too."
Jaune mouth twisted into a grimace, dark memories of a tortured incarceration darting through his eyes, "A bit… I am not really good with them…"
Yang's eyes gleamed, "Then I can help you get better!"
"Why?" Jaune inquired in confusion.
Yang smile seemed to dim before she sighed, "Because I can't do it myself."
Jaune was lost, "What?"
"I strong, sure. I am a Conduit, alright. But I am not able to be everywhere." Yang said, clenching her fists, "I love my family and Blake and her family are part of it, but I can't watch over all of them. I know you can feel something is up with the city, and I am terrified of what'll happen when the other shoe drops. You can though, you love them and you can be there when I am not."
Jaune stilled, "You don't even need to ask. Blake's my best friend,Yang. I won't ever let anything happen to her or her family."
"I know." Yang said, a somewhere-between-soft-and-teasing smile appeared on her face, "I know you love her. Honestly you to should just kiss and get together already."
"W-w-what are you t-t-talking about?!" Jaune sputtered in surprise.
Jaune had never really thought about romance as after Curdun Cay as he was just focusing on forgetting the past and hiding away from the world by hiding in plain sight. Sure, he was a young man and he could appreciate a beautiful woman, but he never really considered approaching someone with any romantic intent. He supposed he was a decent-looking guy with him seeing his sisters as gorgeous and him being their brother, but he never really got hit on or anything (or maybe he did? His sisters always teased him for being a adorkably dense goof). Yang always teased him and Blake about dating a lot but that was just the way she was, she never really meant anything by it and it was all in good fun. Of course he did like Blake, but why wouldn't he? She was brave, intelligent, snarky on occasion, loving…
The list went on and on with no end in sight.
'Kiss and get together?' Jaune's stupid head involuntarily conjured up the image of...
Jaune suddenly had a very sudden realization.
He liked Blake.
He REALLY liked Blake.
'Oh SHIT.'
Jonathan Arc steepled his hands and stared at the picture of his his father he had pulled up on his monitor, not that the man had been much of a father once the second incident of the Ray Sphere happened. Joseph Bertrand had been a good man, his lust for power of the Conduits is what corrupted him and twisted him into a monster. Bertrand's televised death had been so public that people were disgusted at the acts he had committed and how far he had gone to hide exactly what he was and how he hid it. Jonathan had been wise to take on his mother's maiden name days before Bertrand was brought down, managing to avoid people coming after his family at the time since they were in the dark about his relationship. While Jonathan wasn't as religiously inclined as Bertrand had been in his approach, he knew that his father had the right idea on Conduits, that they needed to die and no mercy could be allowed. In a way, it was galling in how had the freak had such a amazing and superhuman power when Bertrand had become a giant monster that lost all reason.
The roles should've been switched.
The freak didn't deserve the power he wielded.
He needed to die; every other conduit would be a completely acceptable (wanted) collateral as long as The Freak died.
There was no chance for anyone to want to build a device to kill them as Cole MacGrath's attempt to do it failed when the gene itself still somehow managed to survive. And there were no scientists that were capable of creating a similar device with The First Sons having been completely and totally wiped out and The DUP dismantled. Jonathan didn't have the conduit gene despite Bertrand's blood running through his veins, so he was spared when the initial wave of Conduits died due to Cole's Gift. His father's wish had almost come true until Conduits started sprouting up in cities like weeds and cancerous monsters. Still, Bertrand had made incredible strides in showing how dangerous Conduits really were, maybe Jonathan could do the same if he had some way to show the monsters in true form.
Maybe if he showed how destructive they could be by making his good-hearted son give into his cravings? Jonathan knew that every member of his family had a desire for something, it was hardwired into their blood. His ancestors had craves, be it lusting after women or the joy in their veins as they spilled blood or something else entirely. Joseph craved and fought for power. Jonathan needed for respect and control over his family (something he would not give up, no matter what he had to do and how much time it took, he would regain control). His daughters stupidly and stubbornly went against them for love and mutual trust in each other and The Freak. The Freak had never indicated any sort of craving over his time hiding his powers while living a normal life and Jonathan had found that galling. He needed to bring it out and exploit it for him to spin it and he couldn't do that if he was happy. If anything, The Freak never seemed to want the power he was given, he would have traded it off for anything because he became a stain in Jonathan's life.
Jonathan watched the battle between Yuma and The Freak, having had it enhanced to see everything as clearly as possible.
Then he saw it.
The gleam in The Freak's eyes as he battled Yuma to a standstill.
Of course.
Blood-lust.
The most violent of desires.
Jonathan laughed, loud and clear.
Maybe… he didn't need to directly attack.
He could just get the everyone to hate.
It was in a human's nature to hate.
Jonathan checked his office for anyone else before kneeling to slide aside panel of the flooring to reveal a keypad. He quickly inputted the code and several floor panels to show a hidden compartment with a simple grey container. Jonathan carefully pulled it out and opened it as what was inside let out a deep red glow. It had taken a good amount of money and time to gather what was left in the wake of the destruction, but it had been well worth it to Jonathan.
The only beast shards every found gleamed with a monster's power as Jonathan plotted how to use them.