Okay, I know I promised some smut, but given that a lot of folks want this story continued, I decided to shove in a whole lot of fluff and humor to keep you all on edge for when the Malachite twins decide to make their official moves. Well, at least moves that Jaune won't be oblivious to as per this chapter. Also, the song at the end was not made by me, it's titled Stepsister's Lament from Roger and Hammerstein's Cinderella. To cut a long story short, I happened to catch the scene playing on the tv when my parents were using it, and it immediately struck me and I thought: I have to use this! Perhaps I'll save the song for other jealous girls who want Jaune in my other stories lol.
For the singing segments, the twins' lines will be separated with Melanie's verses ending with an exclamation point, and Miltia's ending with whatever this thing is called: ~. Then, it'll be a mix of this: !~ or this ?!~ when they both sing the same line.
Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and hopefully, I can get the next chapter out sooner. Also, leave a review as it gives me much greater motivation to type!
Cheers, Searoar.
"Girls, this is your own mother speaking! How could you not care about your brother's well-being?! Have I raised heartless children? Oum help me!" Michelle begged as she leaned against her bedroom door with motherly tears streaming across her cheeks.
"Mom..." Noir frowned as she and Vert kept the door locked with a chair and their own body weight. "Dad's already left to check up on Jaune and he promised to call us the moment he gathered all of the necessary information. Besides, our weekly talk with Jaune is only a couple of days away, so why can't you wait until then?"
"Because it's your brother who's going to carry the Arc lineage and ensure that it stays alive for generations to come! I won't let my son fall victim to some skank, or else I'd have failed as a mother!"
"Jeez, she's really going the distance with this, isn't she? Sure, she was really bad when Saphron got together with Terra, I still remember how we had to dogpile to keep her from tearing Terra to shreds, but she didn't get this clingy right?" Vert huffed and called for Bleu to bring her a glass of water.
"Well, for what it's worth, at least our parents show that they care. I kinda feel bad for Dad spending his vacation in Vale too, because I know he wanted to see your karate matches in person if he had the time." Noir sighed which earned her a smile from her sister.
"There's no need to worry about that," Vert said, "because Blanc said she'd record all of my tournament fights no matter what."
"Here's your water, Vert." Bleu interrupted and offered two glasses of orange juice instead.
"Aw, you didn't have to." Noir grinned as she and Vert enjoyed their fresh beverages.
A moment later, the three girls were chatting among each other about trivial topics ranging from the newest fashion, the most anticipated action movies to how Jaune would be handling their father's interrogation. That is until Blanc raised the good point that their mother's bedroom had gone quiet. Too quiet.
"Hey, you don't think..." Noir pursed her lips as her voice grew uncertain.
"I don't think mom would be that crazy..." Vert rubbed her neck and tilted her gaze to Blanc who proved to be the tie-breaker on the three's next course of action.
With a nod from the latter, Noir pushed aside the chair that barred the front door and turned the knob. She expected to catch a glimpse of her pouting mother smothered in her sheets, but not the open window nor the curtains which had been twirled and tightened to mimic ropework. Noir yelled at Vert and Blanc to check the driveway, and to the girls' horror, their mother was in the middle of starting her car only to give a shrill scream of dismay.
"You guys need to think ahead more," Marron whistled from the end of the hallway. She held up a recently filled jerry can with a triumphant grin and told the other girls that they owed her big time.
"You think you're smart for thinking one step ahead, but you didn't take into account that our mom is a fit woman." Blanc jabbed a lazy thumb at the living room window, veering her siblings to witness their mother sprinting down the street in a pair of snug-fitting tights, purple sneakers, a white sports jacket, and a red ribbon to keep her hair bound in a braided ponytail.
"Well, since none of us can drive," Noir pointed out with extra emphasis while staring Blanc straight in the eye, "how are we supposed to catch up to Mom?"
"It's not my fault that my driving test was a sham! I failed before I even got out of the driveway!" Blanc sputtered as Marron and Vert giggled.
"Didn't you back up into the car behind you in the parking lot? You know, the van that was a good ten feet behind you?" Noir sneered.
"Leave me alone!" Blanc growled. "Now hurry up, if mom manages to get to the bus station it'll be all over for Dad."
While the sister siblings of Arc banded together to capture their semi-deranged mother, the husband of the household was well underway in Valesian territory but had not yet set foot on its soil.
"Achoo!" Gregory sneezed into his sleeve. "I have the sudden inkling that Michelle has managed to get out of the house..."
Gregory Arc was not a complicated man. In fact, he praised simple solutions to decipher meticulous problems and continued to operate by this philosophy since the day he was born. That being said, he understood that every now and then, there were times when he could not control the wind and would be blown back if he allowed his strong footing to falter.
Gregory checked his watch and adjusted his black tie. He had to admit, he was proud of his son for how far he'd come as a man, with the spine to stand up for himself while also possessing the humility to bow when he'd done wrong. However, the subject of a relationship was an ocean that could be both pleasant and merciless, and no matter what, Gregory did not want his son to fall in and be swallowed by the whirlpools of depression should his vessel cave.
The Bullhead's fuzzy speakers announced his arrival to the commercial district of Vale, Gregory took a deep breath, finished his coffee, and tossed his empty paper cup in a wastebin before the bullhead's roaring engines whirred to a stop. It was mid-afternoon when Gregory acquired his luggage and left the airport with the forecast predicting nothing but blue skies and a couple of puffy clouds. Gregory whistled over a taxi whose driver happened to be a young woman who seemed a tad eager to have Gregory as her first passenger of the day.
"Where to sir?" The taxi driver had a cute face and chestnut brown hair, but her smile faltered when she noticed the wedding ring on Gregory's hand.
"Beacon Academy, please," Gregory said through a yawn. The coffee still hadn't taken effect, and the heavy bags around the old man's cerulean eyes had become quite noticeable with all the extra hours he'd taken up in the past four months. However, a family as large as Gregory's did not do any favors on his wallet and as a devoted husband and man of the house, it was his responsibility to provide until his children grew independent and could support their own futures.
Michelle had also contributed an equal amount, mind you, as the lady of the Arc household was no pushover and performed her duties in the Mistralian Bank with the ferocity of a lion. However, unlike her husband, Michelle was a foreigner who was born on Valesian soil and was transferred to Gregory's Mistralian branch as a small step of making economic peace between the two kingdoms. Gregory chuckled at the memory of the first time he encountered his wife.
Michelle, her golden hair cut at the shoulders at the time, wore a pleated beige skirt, white frilly blouse, and pearl earrings when she strolled into Gregory's department which was a sight he would never forget. Funnier still, the attitude she brought proved to be more than a handful for his peers, and it was up to Gregory to hold his ground. Or rather, he was the unfortunate scapegoat his friends chose to serve the role of a punching bag whenever their department made a mistake under Michelle's watch.
A brief glimpse at the Arc parent's history...
"How could you make a simple mistake like this!" A young Michelle huffed with crossed arms and pouty lips. "Don't you have any pride in your profession? Do it again, and this time pay attention to which keys you punch on your keyboard!"
Gregory eased back in his chair and rubbed his temples when the lioness went from one cubicle to terrorize another. His cohorts made japes about the new manager of the building but were wise enough to speak their minds when Michelle was not present, otherwise, she would have chewed them out and have them running laps around the building as a punishment. This was not a joke as the current manager had indeed made a terrible mistake on Michelle's watch and felt so guilty he performed a long stroll of penance.
However, by chance, Gregory caught a rare glimpse of the lioness in a moment of vulnerability at the end of the day. Michelle's best friend, a kind woman by the name of Samantha, had been caught in a horrible traffic accident that put her off work and threatened to put her on the streets. Michelle owed Samantha a great deal, but with the amount of responsibility pressed on her by Gregory's department, she was torn on whether she should leave to care for her friend or uphold her duties as a trusted Mistralian accountant.
"Don't you lose a single hair over this," Gregory said sternly, "I know what it's like to have someone close to you caught in a serious bind and I'm more than capable of keeping an eye on my fellow employees in your absence."
"B-But, you saw how many mistakes your colleagues made in the past two weeks! If we don't complete our tasks by the end of next month, our branch in Vale will no doubt be axed!" Michelle bit back her tears as she and Gregory stood in the parking lot beneath the night sky and a single flickering lamp post.
"If I may..." Gregory said softly. "I've known my fellow coworkers for over a decade, and they've always completed their work on time with minimal errors. However, I believe your headstrong attitude has set quite a heavy atmosphere in the office that's affecting their results."
Michelle's jaw slacked.
"I know you're shocked, and please don't take offense as your methods have done well to make my fellow coworkers reflect on their lazier aspects, but there should also be room for leeway regarding circumstances and their own abilities. After all, not all of us can finish a mountain of paperwork in the span of a single work shift."
Michelle blushed and she turned away as the most adorable pout puffed her cheeks. "I-I'm only like that because the branch I used to work in was cutthroat! You don't reach a position like mine if you're all bark and no bite!"
Gregory scratched his cheek, a trait his son would obtain, and blew a deep breath. "There's nothing wrong with being diligent, but if you can no longer enjoy life or contact those who helped you get where you are today, then you are bound to burn yourself out."
"That's... true." Michelle lamented and rubbed her forehead. She spared a glance between her fingers at the man who'd made a decent impression on her as of late, as Gregory was the only person in his branch who hadn't botched a single assignment. Unlike her, the way his peers interacted with him was mostly out of respect instead of fear.
"Ah, look at the time, would you care to join me for dinner?" Gregory offered with a smile.
Michelle quirked a brow. "It's near midnight, and all the restaurants are closed, I'm not in the mood for fast food either."
"Fast food?" Gregory chortled. "Perish the thought! My lady, have you ever been to a Mistralian open kitchen?"
"Open Kitchen?" Michelle asked skeptically.
Gregory puffed his chest and gave a loud huff. He urged Michelle to come with him and persuaded her to follow his example on the offer that he would give her a five-star meal and nothing less. If she so happened to be disappointed, however, Gregory made the compromise that he would buy her a high-grade wine to make up for the lackluster meal. Michelle agreed, though her intentions weren't as pure as she would admit as a bit of alcohol did sound tempting.
Under the moonlight, the two opted to walk to the open kitchen as the need to drive for five minutes seemed irrelevant at the moment. On one side, Gregory was happy to stretch his legs which had grown hard as iron and just as heavy with how often he spent on his chair, while Michelle stole glances at the admittedly handsome man who'd piqued her interest. Neither person wished to break the peaceful silence, when they arrived at the kitchen, the owner of the place greeted Gregory with open arms and shot a knowing smirk at Michelle who blushed for reasons she could not understand.
The open kitchen, true to its name, was comprised of multiple stoves that doubled as tables and cabinets with a section for every food group that was priced per pound near the front. There were a handful of customers, but not enough to consider the kitchens busy. Michelle was drawn to the scent of sizzling meat and her stomach confirmed this with a loud growl. Her cheeks reddened and she hoped that Gregory did not hear her stomach's guttural plea, only to have her entire face bloom in crimson when the man chuckled while staring her straight in the eye.
"Not hungry, eh?" Gregory joked and stepped back in faux fear when Michelle raised a petty fist. "Alright, first things first, would you prefer chicken, lamb, or pork?"
Gregory led the way, picked up a basket, and perused the many cuts of meat with a meticulous gaze. When Michelle voiced her preference for something not greasy, two chicken breasts served as the optimal choice with a handful of broccoli, carrots, and a lemon that would add to the dressing.
"So you buy the ingredients, pay for them at the cashier, then cook them yourself? Doesn't that feel like too much work?" Michelle pondered aloud as Gregory made his transactions and guided his colleague to an open stove. It was then that she realized how nifty Gregory's skill as if the ingredients wanted to be chopped apart by his magical hands as they guided his knife through the skins and breasts of meat and vegetable alike.
"Please, take a seat, Michelle. I offered to cook for you, and I wouldn't want to risk getting oil on your clothes." Gregory said and gestured to a table behind him with his chin.
Michelle did as she was told, but only after being denied the opportunity to assist her coworker five times and another embarrassing stomach growl. Left to his own devices, Gregory hummed a soft tune and tended to the chicken breasts that simmered in a pan of oil, butter, salt, and pepper. He'd performed this same recipe since he was allowed to handle a stove, and the memory of him and his parents joking around the kitchen brought an irreplaceable warmth to his heart.
"He looks so happy..." Michelle pursed her lips as Gregory took the lid off the steamer and stretched his smile as he plucked out the carrots and broccoli.
Truth be told, Michelle had little experience with a knife or any kitchen utensil for that matter, as her devotion to business had out ruled these habits long ago. Yet, when she witnessed Gregory make a stupid smile when he prodded his chicken breasts with a fork and give a kiss to the sun above, a petty twitch of jealousy nicked Michelle's conscience that stuck with her no matter what.
What was Gregory thinking about when he cooked? Did he find the task of preparing his meals to be that great of a reward? Or maybe... he was excited to be cooking for a beautiful woman? Michelle couldn't make up her mind, and her tired body didn't feel like putting in the necessary effort to calculate such deep questions. Thus, Michelle chose to rest her chin on an open palm and simply observe, but it didn't take long for Gregory to add the finishing touches and placed his proud lemon-scented creation on the table.
"Enjoy!" Gregory took his seat after rubbing his hands and offered a quick prayer to Oum before picking up his spoon and fork.
"...Why?"
Gregory blinked and his fork paused halfway to his mouth. "Hmm? What's the matter? Don't tell me you're allergic to the ingredients I used, because I made sure to ask that before we arrived."
Michelle softly shook her head. The golden curls atop her head swished from side to side as she did so. "I'm just curious as to how you find cooking to be so enjoyable. It's always been a tedious task for me, so I never bothered with it as my budgeting always made sure to include a proper amount of lien for my three meals a day."
"Oh, is that it?" Gregory's smile grew softer. "Haha, well, to cut a long story short... it reminds me of home."
"Home?" Michelle prodded.
"Yup, ever since I could be trusted around a hot stove, my father would spend one to two hours with me in the kitchen every day. We didn't really have any recipes in mind and used whatever we found in the fridge or pantries to make our meals. My mother would do the same, and soon enough, I was a prodigy in the kitchen. At least, that's what I liked to tell myself when I was five years old."
Gregory set down his utensils and let out a long sigh. He raised his head to meet Michelle's inquisitive stare with his honest cerulean eyes, and for a third time that night, Michelle felt her heart skip a beat.
"It's the small strokes that paint a big picture," Gregory nodded, "that's what my father told me and what the fathers of Arc said before him. The saying still holds true to this day, and I'm glad that I've held onto those ideals, otherwise, I wouldn't be here with a beautiful lady to share a meal with."
Michelle couldn't fight down her blush any longer and allowed the heat to spread across her face. Not only had Gregory caught a glimpse of her vulnerability, he'd grabbed a hammer and knocked through it as if it were a brittle wall. Michelle hadn't even realized how close her hand was to bringing a morsel of chicken to her lips and was blindsided by the sudden savory flavors that flooded her mouth. Heaven, that single word described Michelle's state of mind perfectly as she gently chewed her food to appreciate all that it had to offer.
"Phew! That was a good meal. So, what did you think?" Gregory patted his stomach and apologized after a burp.
"I-I'll fetch us some wine." Michelle stuttered with her head hung low and her hands clasped on her lap.
"Eh? So was it the chicken that wasn't to your liking or the vegetables? Maybe both?" Gregory stroked his stubbled chin but tilted his head when Michelle vigorously shook her head.
"A-As thanks for cooking me such an amazing meal, I thought I'd be the one to give you a gift as well!" Michelle said after a timid cough to clear her throat. "A-And maybe we can come here again? I'd like to try a hand at cooking... that is if you're willing to teach a novice like me."
Gregory's smile was so bright it put the stars outside to shame. "Of course! How about we make it a date?"
"D-D-Date?!" Michelle squeaked. From that day forward, the open kitchen would have two valuable blonde members that would soon turn into a family of nine followed by new generations to come.
Back to the present with Gregory...
"Have a wonderful day, sir." The taxi driver said and thanked her passenger for his generous tip.
Gregory had made sure to inform his son of his arrival while on the bullhead, and with a joyful reply, there was no time to waste as Gregory knew it wouldn't be long until his wife demanded an answer about their son's recent activities. Especially after receiving over twenty texts from Michelle prior to his landing.
"Ah, so this is the school that my son now occupies? I must say, the medieval and modern mix really does put the imagination to work, doesn't it?" Gregory hummed as he passed through the courtyard's pointed iron gates.
"Dad!"
Gregory's lips reached for the sky at the familiar tone that addressed him. Squinting at a young man rushing toward him, Gregory waved to his son who wore a broad smile and what should be his school uniform.
"I can't believe you decided to visit!" Jaune said happily and shared a strong hug with his father. Gregory still had a couple of inches over his son, but he understood that in time Jaune would catch up to him before he knew it.
"I won't drag on the conversation and ask how your schooling has been, because of the weekly chats we have, but I am curious as to who this Miltia girl is." Gregory cut straight to the point and curled a brow as his son's demeanor grew sheepish.
"W-Well..." Jaune scratched his cheek. "I don't remember. Honestly."
Gregory reeled his head back slightly. That was not the response he anticipated, nor prepared for, and was more than ready to give his son the full details as to what it entailed to be a responsible family man and all the blessings that came with it.
"Jaune," Gregory's tone was stern, "there's no need to be embarrassed about getting yourself a girlfriend. That is unless you decided to do something stupid, and I mean really stupid."
Jaune flushed as his father's eyes narrowed below his waist.
"I-I didn't have sex!" Jaune sputtered and checked his surroundings with an expression of utter embarrassment. "I-It's just that I don't know which Miltia- I mean Malachite I'm friends with!"
Gregory's brow rose so high it nearly fell off his forehead. "What exactly are you on about? Don't tell me you've gotten too big for your breeches and decided to two-time a girl. I don't care about the circumstances, because that's not right no matter how you swing it."
His heart beating faster than a bullet train, Jaune begged his father to join him in a more secluded space for privacy's sake and breathed a sigh of relief as no one seemed to pay the two any mind. Huddled beneath an oak tree, Jaune took a seat on the nearest bench and his father followed his example.
"Let's start from the top," Gregory said and gave his son a pat on the back. "What exactly happened yesterday? And don't spare me any facts, because your mother will chew us both out if you do."
Jaune took a deep breath and cleared his head. At least he tried to, but the memories of last night had wedged themselves deep in his mind and would not budge no matter how hard he tried to push them out and forget about them. With closed eyes and a heavy heart, Jaune relayed all that occurred to him with as many details as he could remember...
"M-Melanie?! W-What's a Melanie?!" Jaune sputtered. His cheeks flushed as who he had first assumed to be Miltia, was straddling his waist with her plush tush pressed against it and her thighs dangerously close to his neck.
"Your future girl-" Melanie's loud declaration cut short by a rough tackle, she fell to the floor with her sister in tow and the two broke out into a hissy scramble of punching, kicking, and biting on a few occasions.
Jaune forced himself to stand and slapped his legs to steady them. He couldn't believe his eyes and rubbed them vigorously after many blinks as his brain was on the verge of overheating which would no doubt lead to a crash. No, Jaune needed his wits about him, and the most important objective right now was to separate the brawling twins. However, the task proved easier on paper than in practice, as Jaune was still a novice in combat and did not possess any tools to serve as suitable restraints.
"If you two don't stop fighting, I'm never going to cook for either of you ever again!" This was the first thing that came to mind, and it worked wonders as the Malachite twins separated immediately... only for each of them to snag one of Jaune's arms in an attempt to pull him closer to their person.
"J-Jaune?" Miltia bit her lower lip and stared at her future husband with hearts in her eyes. "I'm sorry that I wasn't truly honest with you, but as you can see I have a twin."
Miltia shot her sister a vicious glare. "I'm the better twin obviously." Jaune winced as ten pointed nails dug into his forearm. Thank Oum that aura would prevent him from keeping any scars, but boy did Melanie have an impressive grip!
"Need I remind you of your nickname, dear sibling of mine?" Melanie growled as she flashed her future groom a perfect grin before showing her sister a nasty scowl. "Meanwhile, it's been said by many that I'm the more pleasant twin, as I'm sure you'll agree..."
Melanie's advances grew bolder. She slipped her right leg behind that of Jaune's and proceeded to rub circles over his chest that sent a bolt of heat to his groin.
"Pleasant? By who? The boys who can't speak anymore because you broke their jaws with a swift heel?" Miltia snapped which put a bewildered expression on Jaune's face that he directed toward Melanie.
"That's an obvious fib," Melanie lied as easily as she breathed. "The only thing I'm guilty of is turning down boys not worth my time. Jaune, on the other hand, is a man who I've grown to genuinely appreciate."
Miltia glowered. Leave it to her witty twin to have a quip ready for any slander against her personal image. That being said, desperate times called for desperate measures, and having a well-endowed Jaune serve her every whim was something she would not give up so easily if at all. Melanie, her advantage on the rise, made another bold move and was so brazen she put her lips to Jaune's flushed cheek that made his head spin for the clouds above.
Miltia's temper erupted like the flames of a rocket and she threw Jaune so far he landed on the other side of the restaurant. With a bang and a clatter, Jaune felt the world around him blur while he tried to find his footing in the mess he'd made.
"Well," Melanie smirked, "my boyfriend is sure to remember that. Guess I'll have to give him another kiss to nurse his injuries."
"You won't be touching my Jaune from this moment forward." Miltia's voice dripped with venom. Her hands clenched, it took all of Miltia's willpower to not knock the smugness off her twin's face and plaster it with purple bruises.
"So aggressive!" Melanie laughed but her voice was cold as ice. "To think that we look the same, but the way we seduce our men is so apparently different. Then again, you always did have a short temper, so it's not surprising that you'd be the more immature one between us."
"Hah!" Miltia rested a hand on her hip and the tension that twisted her pale face dwindled. "The only reason that Jaune's in this mess is because someone decided to stick their nose where it didn't belong. That, and I've always been the more caring sister. After all, it was my efforts that got us an apartment in the first place, and I've been paying the rent by myself until you finally decided to contribute two days ago."
While the Malachites bantered about petty topics, a buzz from Jaune's scroll roused his senses and steadied his balance as he pulled it out to see who was messaging him. Jaune hoped it was one of his friends at first, especially Ren who had proven on more than one occasion to be a bastion of wisdom or even Ruby to distract him from the chaos unfolding before him.
"Hello?" Jaune asked nonchalantly. The volume of his voice was just loud enough to catch the ears of the bickering twins. "Oh, um... yeah sure I can meet you tomorrow. What time?"
Lost in his own musings, Jaune didn't notice the audience he'd gathered as the twins peeked over his shoulder while trying to shove each other out of the way. At first, Melanie and Miltia assumed the person Jaune was speaking to was a potential rival, only to widen their eyes at the revelation that it was Jaune's dear father on the line.
"Well!" Jaune ended the call with a satisfied hum. "I guess I'll see you guys on Monday..."
Jaune scratched his cheek as his mind was still struggling to comprehend that there were two Malachites standing in front of him. That, and the prospect of not having the common sense to assume Miltia had a sister wounded his pride a bit. Jaune bid the beautiful duo farewell but made sure to clean up the mess they made during their brawl which took a fair bit of time considering he had to come up with a note to leave his boss to explain why the tables and floors were heavily scratched.
Locking up for the night, Jaune sighed in relief as he peddled down the road with a cold breeze pushing him on.
"To think..." Jaune hummed. "That there'd be two Miltia's- I mean Malachites who are romantically interested in me..."
The mere thought engulfed the young man's face in a cherry hue, and the idea of a girlfriend made his heart race at speeds he could not fathom. However, if Jaune accepted one of the Malachite's feelings... the other would no doubt spurn him for the rest of his life. At least, that's what Noir's latest romance novel she was reading stated, and literature often drew inspiration from real life so would there be a possibility that Jaune would be hated by someone for the rest of his existence?!
"Hmm... Maybe hated is too strong a word. Terribly disliked? That doesn't sound all that great either." Jaune huffed and arrived at the bullhead platforms before he knew it.
At the academy...
"Ren! This doesn't taste at all like the steak that Jaune cooked!" Nora whined and slammed her hands on the table.
"You finished the meal anyway..." Ren groaned as he flipped through the pages of his ninth cookbook of the night. No matter how hard the stoic lad tried, he could not find a guide to replicate the masterpiece of Jaune's dish nor one that would satisfy Nora's eager hunger.
"It's also past midnight..." Pyrrha drawled as she lay on her bed with a black sleep mask on her forehead. The Mistralian champion was known for her great personality and patience, but even she had her limits and sleep depravity was definitely over the line.
"No! Jaune hasn't messaged me back because he always forgets to charge his scroll on Fridays!" Nora pouted. "And I won't rest until I've eaten-"
The sound of the dorm door creaking open, all eyes veered to the source of the disturbance to witness a familiar pair of blue eyes and golden hair. Nora leaped from the table and wrapped her arms around her savior, while Ren let out a desperate breath of relief, and Pyrrha's brow twitched a tad as she narrowed her distaste at her orange-haired teammate.
"Jaune!" Nora bawled. "Please, you have to cook me your famous steak right now! My hunger will never be satisfied until it's devoured one of your heartfelt meals!"
"Nora..." Jaune soothed and glanced at the empty dishes on the kitchen table and sink. "I'm sorry, but it's been a long day, and we all need our shut-eye. That, and it seems you've already had your fill for the night."
"No! You can't do this to me!" Nora bawled and hugged Jaune tighter. "Then can you teach Ren how to cook? He's already amazing, but with your guidance, my Renny is bound to reach new heights!"
"Sure..." Jaune chuckled weakly and separated himself from the Valkyrie's grasp.
"Oh, by the way," Nora said nonchalantly and made her way to the bathroom. "Weiss said she needed your help with something earlier today but you weren't around because of your jobs."
"What?" This gained Jaune's devout attention. "Weiss was asking for me? But I thought we agreed that we would only speak to each other during school hours. That, and why on Remnant would she need my help with anything?"
"That's for you to find out and tell us later." Nora shrugged, then closed the bathroom door.
"Which I'm sure you'll tell us all about when you're done with her. Right, Jaune?" Pyrrha stood from her bed dressed in a scarlet sleeping gown and placed herself a foot from Jaune who tried to step back but was followed.
"Er... I'm sure Weiss will be quick with what she needs to tell me. Besides, we all know how much of a clutz I was around her, so the chances of us having a long conversation are near zero." Jaune scratched his cheek but his words did little to ease Pyrrha's concern.
"Really?" Pyrrha pressed on. "If that was the case, then why couldn't she wait until tomorrow to ask you out? Or maybe she already told you about this meeting so you planned ahead and told Nora to cover for you?"
"Pyrrha... what the heck has gotten into you?" Jaune rested a hand on his partner's shoulder who gave a small blush at the sudden contact of skin.
"I'm just making sure you don't strain the current relationship with our sister team," Pyrrha said with her nose raised daintily to the sky above. "Is that so wrong?"
Jaune noticed the heavy eyebags beneath his partner's emerald eyes, then spared a glance at the mountain of papers on their dorm's shared study desk. Coming to the conclusion that Pyrrha had been overworking herself and allowed the stress to overwhelm her, Jaune took it upon himself to stay up the rest of the night so Pyrrha could empty her woes and start the next day with a fresh slate.
"Huh..." Jaune muttered to himself. "Who would have thought that a tired Pyrrha would be a sassy one?"
"Oh, and don't even get me started on Yang's joke about my red hair! Does she fancy herself a comedian?! Well, the only thing funny about that loose-lipped brawler is how she tripped face-first into a mud puddle during our warm-up run yesterday!"
Correction, Pyrrha was a very sassy woman when exhausted. Bitterly and brutally honest as well after she'd gone into a tangent about Ruby's carelessness with dust crystals.
The atmosphere of JNPR's dorm dwindled to peaceful snoozes, the same could not be said for the Malachite apartment, as the tensions there could rival that of a volcano ready to burst.
"So..." Miltia bit her lower lip as she folded her uniform and placed it in her clothing drawer. A pair of earphones playing her favorite songs to drown her sour mood, she muttered to herself while her conniving twin remained in the living room or kitchen.
"Jaune's father will be paying his son a visit which means there's a new way for me to remedy my sour history with my future boyfriend... but there's also the risk that Melanie has come to the same conclusion and is planning to sink in her greedy claws and take what's supposed to belong to me!" Miltia growled and took a deep breath.
Miltia blinked as her fingers crumpled her uniform for the seventh time that night. She needed to act fast, but with Jaune having the day off tomorrow really put a brake on things... or did it? Miltia's lips lifted to a devious smirk unbefitting of the innocent persona she was trying to maintain as she picked up her scroll and sent Jaune a text. Unfortunately, the lad had his priorities skewed as he'd opted to spend his day off with... what in Oum's name was a Weiss?!
While a storm of emotions churned the stomach of Miltia, Melanie's mental state fared no better as she angrily buttered at a toasted bagel she'd decided to get rid of before it got stale.
"Petty carbs..." Melanie grunted as she stomped her way over to the kitchen table and took a seat. She too wore her headphones, and after a savage bite of mediocre sustenance, Melanie frowned as she considered her options. Sure, she may not have had the best first impression of Jaune when they first met, but after having a taste of his potential, she knew their inevitable marriage was the chance of a lifetime and would not be missed. Not even her headache-inducing twin who was Melanie would stand up no matter what.
That being said, even sibling loyalty had its limits, and in the event of eternal happiness, this was where Melanie drew the line. She had the advantage, to be sure, as Miltia had literally thrown Jaune and showed her distasteful barbaric side while Melanie still possessed the dainty mannerisms of a perfect partner. However, knowing her twin, Melanie understood that her lead would vanish in a heartbeat if she just stood by and waited, which meant she would have to take the initiative sooner rather than later.
Thankfully, Melanie had heckled the post office manager for Jaune's number on her last shift, thus securing an immediate means of contacting her favorite blonde whenever she wanted. However, much like her disappointed twin, Melanie would shoot up from her chair in absolute fury at the revelation that Jaune had plans with another girl who sounded vaguely familiar for reasons that Melanie could not describe.
"T-That two-timing jerk!" Melanie hissed through grit teeth. "Does Jaune not realize that we've already become a couple?!"
Miltia was one thing, but losing Jaune to someone she had no idea of? That was a wound too great to heal and would never occur as long as Melanie existed. With a text to her husband-to-be, Melanie left her half-eaten bagel and plopped down on the living room couch where a blanket and pillow were waiting for her for she would need all the strength she could get for the next dawn to come.
The twins agreed to not share the same sleeping space as their boyfriend's embargo was active, but a rule had been drawn that they would no longer be swapping jobs in worry of losing their employment. However, how long this neutral stance could be maintained depended on one very serious variable, one blonde variable who had a wholesome spirit and heart of gold while offering a decent figure of attractive muscle.
"Yes," both Miltia and Melanie said from their respective spaces in unison while snuggling beneath their sheets. "Once I gain the favor of Jaune's father, the surname of Arc will officially be mine!~"
Back to the present where Gregory Arc was only aware of his son's memories and perspective...
"Well... I'm not sure what I need to say right now." Gregory scratched his cheek and looked to the sky hoping the clouds would shape themselves into an answer. "Though I guess the root of this moment would be, what are your opinions of the Malachite twins? Do you want to return their feelings? Because I don't want my son to be known for leading women on."
Gregory's cast a serious gaze and Jaune flushed under its spiritual pressure.
"I'm not a playboy or a womanizer!" Jaune protested and put a hand on his chest. "I've taken the Arc vows to heart to pursue true love, and would never allow my hormones alone to make my decisions!"
"That's my boy!" Gregory laughed and gave his son a pat on the back. "As long as you use your head as well as your heart, there's not a doubt in my mind that you'll find yourself a woman who appreciates you for who you are. Though don't forget, that with maturity change is inevitable."
Gregory stroked his chin with a proud look on his face as his son showed him a brave smile. "Well, best I get a move on now as your sisters asked me to buy them a few Valesian souvenirs before I went back for Noir's novel contest. Take care, son, and remember your family is only a text away if you find yourself in a bind."
"Thanks, Dad." Jaune hugged his father and the latter responded with a pat on the head.
"On the other hand, the next time you call, I'd like an update on this Weiss situation of yours. To think my son would be brave enough to shoot for the stars and get back up after being rejected thirty-seven times, let it be known that an Arc's determination is something to fear." Gregory chuckled as his son's shoulders slumped.
"I don't know, do I have a bad habit of choosing aggressive women to court?" Jaune asked.
Gregory blinked with a flash of concern washing over his face. "Hold your horses, aggressive wouldn't be the word to describe your preference in woman. Didn't I give you this talk before? Arc men are hardwired to desire strong women. At least, that's what your grandfather told me when he had to give me the woman talk."
Jaune tilted his head. "Really?"
"You betcha." Gregory puffed out his chest. "Your mother is without the best example of that, and your sisters as well though to a much lesser degree."
A beep from Jaune's scroll, the young man made a worried sound and told his father he was late for his appointment with Weiss.
"I won't keep you," Gregory chortled, "just keep your wits about you alright?"
"Will do Dad!" Jaune saluted and left in a hurry. As small dust clouds followed his rubber sneakers, the young man nor his father noticed a keen pair of pale green eyes set in their direction.
"Was there really no size seven and a half shoes, Miltia? Or did you grab these ones on purpose to make my soles ache?" Melanie scowled as her toes scrunched in their limited leathery confines.
"I didn't have a lot of time when we snuck into the laundry room, alright? Just be happy that the uniforms we stole were clean." Miltia snapped and led the way through Beacon's courtyard.
The Malachite twins had successfully infiltrated the academy after class hours, but to their dismay, they'd lost sight of Jaune's father during their petty squabble. However, the high voice of a disappointed heiress beckoning the twins to Jaune's whereabouts, Miltia and Melanie wasted no time in pursuing their future boyfriend but made sure to keep a safe distance so they wouldn't be discovered by the blonde's close company.
Relocated to a small garden with a large, flat, stone pattern at its center, Melanie and Miltia curled a brow as they peeked over a square bush while Jaune appeared to be in some sort of dispute with an attractive girl with pale skin, blue eyes, and long white hair set in an offset ponytail.
Neither Melanie nor Miltia could hear Jaune's conversation clearly, thus they decided to get closer and settled behind a thick oak tree. Unfortunately for the two of them, they only caught the end of their future boyfriend's conversation.
"I'm sorry, you want my help with what?" Jaune gulped.
"Don't make me repeat myself!" Weiss glowered. "To cut a long story short, I need someone who's similar in height to Neptune in order to practice. Is that so hard to understand?"
"I understand your request perfectly," Jaune replied and scratched his cheek. "I just didn't think that I'd be the first one you went for. Honestly, Ren seems like a better fit for what you need."
Weiss rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Well, your teammate wasn't available at the moment so I had to make do with the options available to me, and since none of my teammates are above six feet, you were a suitable replacement."
"...I still don't see why you couldn't have just asked Neptune," Jaune said.
Weiss rubbed her forehead. "Will you just give me your hand and we can get this practice over with? I can't afford to have my first date with Neptune result in a mishap due to a misstep, so just follow my lead."
Weiss pulled out her scroll and opened a music app. With the press of a button, a melodious rhythm composed of violins, an organ, and a well-timed drum filled the air. Their hands entwined, Weiss guided Jaune, but soon the heiress realized that her temporary partner had already memorized this very ballad many times. That, and the brief glimpse of an undesired audience, but Weiss decided to put them on hold and would promptly deal with them when the opportunity presented itself.
With a confident smile, Jaune took the lead after the second cue and gave Weiss a gentle twirl that sent her ponytail into the air for a brief moment. Their shared moment stunningly wholesome, and yet, for a pair of uninvited twins, their raging jealousy was singing a very different tune with Melanie starting the song with a very strong approach.
Why would my Jauney want a girl like her!
A frail and blue-eyed beauty!
Why can't my Jauney ever once prefer...
A haughty girl like me?!
Jaune and Weiss made a spin into the eastern edge of the stone platform, with Miltia and Melanie in hot pursuit. The twins pushed their way through shrubs on the sidelines, it was Miltia's head who popped out of the brush first and she reached for the first thing she could get her hands on which happened to be Melanie's arm.
She's a pretty little bubble.~
With a snobby kind of charm.~
And with very little trouble.~
I could break her little arm!~
Ow! Ow!
Rubbing her sore limb, Melanie pushed her sister's face into a hedge as she retook the spotlight while Jaune lifted Weiss into the air for a midair twirl.
Why would Jauney be tempted by a girl like her!
So obviously unusual!
Why can't my Jauney ever once prefer...
A perfect twin like me?!
Miltia, not to be outdone, burst from the hedge while spitting out tiny leaves and branches then shoved her irritable sister into a lavender display.
Her face is exquisite I suppose...
But no more exquisite than a rose is.~
Melanie sprouted from her lavender bushes with a stem stuck in her left nostril.
Her skin maybe delicate and soft...
But not any softer than a doe's is!
Miltia cut in with vigor, but after snorting out the blockage of her left nostril, Melanie joined in for a rapid trade of lyrics while Jaune and Weiss broke into a series of fast steps that left a smile on both their face which only deepened the twins' resentment.
Her neck is no thicker than a swan's!
She's only as dainty as a daisy.~
She's only as graceful as a bird!
So why is my Jauney going crazy?!~
Oh! Why would Jauney want a girl like her?!~
A girl who's truly gorgeous?!~
Why can't Jauney ever once prefer?~
A beauty just like me?!~
Another spin from Jaune and Weiss that brought them toward the large fountain centered in the garden, Melanie pushed hard on the Miltia's head, sending the latter face-first into a mint bush. This gave Melanie ample time to grab her sister's midnight locks and give them a harsh pull.
She's a dainty little bubble!
With a frilly sort of air!
And with very little trouble...
I could pull out all her hair!
Ow~ Ow~
Miltia smacked her sister's hands away and rubbed her scalp with tears in her eyes. Their uniforms disheveled, makeup smeared, and lips weighed into jealous frowns, the twins sang their final notes as Jaune's and Weiss' dance reached its conclusion.
Why would a fellow want a Schnee like her?!~
A girl who's merely lovely?~
Why can't Jauney ever once prefer...
A Malachite like me?!~
What's the matter with my Jaune?
What's the matter with my Jaune?~
What's the matter with our Jauuuuune?!~
"...Did you hear something?" Jaune blinked as the music ended.
"Hmm?" Weiss tilted her head cutely and flicked her wrist in fancy motions.
"Huh? What the heck is this?" Was the last thing the Malachite twins said as a crystal glyph formed beneath their leather shoes and spiraled into a frenzy.
With the snap of her fingers, Weiss sent her unwanted onlookers soaring into the sky thus eliciting an ear-splitting shriek from both of them. Jaune whirled around, but scratched his cheek when he saw nothing but disturbed vegetation and the faint image of shoeprints in the grass and dirt.
"Best we are off, Jaune. I have a date to prepare for. That, and I need to give you my study notes for Dr. Oobleck's next class."
"R-Really?!" Jaune jumped for joy and followed Weiss who was oddly keen on leaving the scene in a hurry.
When the members of RWBY and JNPR were out of earshot, Melanie and Miltia landed in the fountain's deep basin with a loud splash and erupted from its water with the definition of unbridled fury burning in their narrowed eyes and spiteful frowns with Melanie parting her long bangs and Miltia spitting out a gallon's worth of water.
"SHE'S. SO. DEAD!" The twins snarled in perfect unison as they clambered and tripped out of the fountain with a damp plop.
The day ended with warm and bitter hearts, Jaune couldn't wait to pass Dr. Oobleck's next quiz with flying colors, but the real question remained... was he ready for love? Would Blanc pass her next driving test? Would Gregory find all the souvenirs his daughters desired? Would Michelle reach Vale to save her son who was in no danger whatsoever? To be continued in the next chapter folks!
