It wasn't very often Cinder found herself allowing herself to be herself around others. As a super villainess wanted across the world for a litany of nefarious deeds, Cinder did not find companionship in many, nor did she really want it. As someone with fire powers, it was hard to relate to someone struggling to write a university dissertation or someone regretting having kids and marriage before thirty.
So Cinder had found herself…alone for a very long time. Then she had run across the Huntsman, fought him and found herself half-irritated he'd stopped her from scoring a big hit and half-thrilled at the fact she'd finally found someone who could fight and keep up with her.
Time had passed on, rivalries had been made and battles had been fought. Then they had ran into one another off costume and he'd had an adorable little child at his side to boot.
Things had spiralled from there. Of course they had. She was sleeping in the man's bedroom for crying out loud.
Arc hadn't tried anything, fortunately enough for him. She'd come to accept he was a genuine, almost disgustingly so, nice person, and she knew trying to take advantage of a sleeping woman was anathema to him. But she wouldn't put it past the Huntsman to smother his sleeping arch nemesis in her sleep.
Their rivalry had been a lot more awkward now they lived together. The last time Cinder had delved into the underworld as the Nefarious Nightstalker, she'd done so in search of leads for something big, a large money-maker heist. She needed it for the downpayment on the mortgage of the nice home she'd been scoping out. Khione, and to a lesser extent the disgustingly nice Jaune, deserved better than some dingy apartment in Vale's slums, not least when people far less deserving of the comforts they took for granted lived a lavish life of excess.
Naturally the Huntsman had stopped her. Or tried to. They'd fought half-heartedly before she decided to just wait until he'd fallen asleep on the sofa before sneaking out again.
It had been almost physically damaging the awkwardness between them as they stepped past one another, costumes half off and wearing the marks of the damage took in their latest skirmish. Jaune clearly had choice words he wanted to say, but didn't on account of not wanting to wake up Khione, whilst Cinder had a whole counter-argument to his arguments brewing, but didn't unleash it because of the same reasons he was silent.
They said a few stiff, polite words before she'd fled into the sanctuary of her, technically his, bedroom. Hours had passed and once he started snoring she snuck out again.
She felt a little guilty at the bruises flaring on his arms, having let herself get a little carried away at the start of the fight. She made a mental note to stop by a pharmacy and steal some supplies like painkillers on the way back.
The big hit score was definitely big. A Schnee convoy filled with diamonds from Atlas? She could practically see the Lien raining from the sky.
There were a few pieces she needed to put in place first, but that score was hers. As was the plastic bag of painkillers, bandages and a bottle of wine she'd left on the living room's coffee table next to Jaune for when he woke up.
She rinsed out the remaining shampoo from her hair and rolled her head on her shoulders. She always had long rants and weird, spiralling thoughts whenever she showered. It was odd, but so was living in the same house as her nemesis.
She turned off the shower to save Jaune some warm water and stepped out of the shower, drying herself off with a towel before heading to the sink to brush her teeth. Hygiene was important to her, as was doing things as quickly and as efficiently as possible, so over time she had become a veritable taskmaster of multitasking.
Two minutes later she stepped out of the bathroom, the steam starting to dissipate and a wet towel wrapped around her. It was chilly, so she was shivering slightly as she opened the bathroom door.
And promptly walked headfirst into a yawning Jaune's chest.
"Agh!" Cinder grunted, blinking for gaining her bearings and glaring at Jaune. "Watch it Arc!"
"Hubanah?" Jaune gasped, still yawning and rubbing his tired eyes. "Cinder? Whaaa…"
His eyes rolled down her towel clad form, steadily widening as they did so. She cocked her head, feeling her cheeks heat up as he blinked a few times and made a choking noise that sound like a parrot that had swallowed it's on beak.
"My eyes…" Cinder purred, grabbing Jaune's jaw and gently guiding his head back up. "Are up here Arc. See anything you like?"
"Huuuuuuh." Jaune mumbled, face crimson and looking like he was about to faint. "Nice weather we're having right now huh?"
"Oh sure." Cinder snorted, rolling her eyes and releasing his firm jaw. "It's nice and hot don't you think?"
"Hmm-hmm." Jaune nodded, stepping to the side and sliding past her into the bathroom. "Sorry."
She was still too startled by the feel of his hands on her hips to do anything but jump as he quickly slammed the door shut. There were a few thuds on the on the side of it, sounding distinctly like someone slamming their head against wood, before it fell quiet and she head the toilet seat open.
Cinder hurried away and into her bedroom, shutting the door quickly and finding her knees suddenly weak enough that she needed to rest against it.
That…happened. Whatever that was. Whatever it meant. Whatever it might mean.
Her cheeks were rosy and not from the cold. She held the towel tighter around her chest and could feel her heart pounding, but for the life of her she couldn't figure out why. Eventually she shook her head.
"It's just Jaune." She told herself, muttering as she got dressed. "Nothing special. Just an idiot. A kind one, but an idiot nonetheless."
She dried her hair and brushed it before staring at herself in the mirror she'd stolen ages ago and had brought to the Arc household when she'd moved in. After a few moments, she opened a stolen makeup kit and used its contents to enhance her natural beauty. It was something she often did, but she added a few additions like eyeliner this time. She was curious as to how Jaune would react, as to whether she could provoke a reaction out of him.
One did not just fluster Cinder Fall and get away with it.
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"H-Hi Cinder." Jaune coughed, cheeks flushed as he bustled over breakfast. It smelled good, one of the Huntsman's many hidden talents being his ability to cook good food. "Looking good. Going anywhere?"
"Nope." Cinder replied leaning against the breakfast table and noting it's missing member. "Khione not up yet?"
"Nope." Jaune grinned, eyes flickering for a moment before he went back to making the eggs. Cinder smirked triumphantly. "I'll give her a few more minutes so she can wake up and just eat breakfast."
"Sounds like a pleasant morning surprise." Cinder said, triumph fading as he stared determinedly at the kitchen counter. She sashayed forward until she was practically touching him. "But she's not the only one who's had a pleasant morning surprise hasn't she?"
"Oh yeah!" Jaune exclaimed, moving suddenly. Cinder blinked as he darted out of the room, a frown settling over her face as he returned with the plastic bag she'd left him earlier. "Is this yours?"
"I got it for you." Cinder said, folding her arms over her chest and sitting down at the dinner table with a little huff. "As apologises for last night."
"Yeah…" Jaune said, shifting on the spot awkwardly. "Thanks for the medicine. And the wine. Mostly the wine."
"Of course." Cinder said airily, tapping the dinner table. "When will breakfast be ready?"
"Soon, I better go wake up Khione. Your coffee's on the side."
Jaune bustled out of the room again, and Cinder snarled silently as she stormed over to her coffee.
Cinder Fall, femme fatale supreme, blight of Vale, haunter of many a teenage boys dreams as the Nefarious Nightstalker and that idiot had thought of a plastic bag? She'd practically draped herself over him and he'd thought of a plastic bag filled with drugs and wine?!
She needed to up her game. She had started off so well, but she hadn't properly got him back for what had happened earlier. Not yet at least.
She could still feel his large, warm hands against her-No!
She growled as she sipped her coffee and turned as someone entered the kitchen-slash-dining room.
"Morning Snowflake." Cinder said warmly, a genuine smile growing as Khione yawned cutely in response. "Sleep well?"
"Mhm-hm." Khione mumbled, eyes still closed as she rested her head against the table. "Just not long enough."
For a moment Cinder was tempted to let Khione have a sick day off from school, before she quickly remembered that was her instinct pretty much every morning. Those Faunus bullies left her alone, but the fact it had happened in the first place was enough to remind Cinder she couldn't guarantee Khione's protection one hundred percent of the time.
And that was something she could not tolerate, not since the longer they spent together the more likely the other would connect the two together and target Khione to get to Cinder.
The thought made her frown, before the sound of plate scraping against the table stopped her thoughts from spiralling further.
"By the way, is it okay if you take Cinder to school and pick her up today?" Jaune asked suddenly as Cinder started tucking into the breakfast before her. "I've taken on some extra shifts so we have enough money to see her grandparents."
"Very well." Cinder agreed, smiling at Khione's half-enthusiastic cheer. The girl hadn't woken up properly yet. "Does the school know?"
"They know you're not a groomer creeping on my daughter yes." Jaune teased, scooping up the rest of his plate. She frowned as he stood up, suddenly realising how little he'd eaten and how his plate had been smaller than hers and Khione's. "Well I need to be off. Have a good day kiddo."
"Bye." Khione mumbled, mouth filled with fried egg as her father kissed the top of her head and hurried from the room before Cinder could say anything.
Clever bastard…
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"You know how to cross the road?"
"Yup! Look right then left and if it's clear go, go, go!"
"And the traffic lights?"
"Green means good to go and red means to stop! In the name of the law."
"Quite right." Cinder chuckled, amused as Khione pulled her best police impression, stern look on her face and hand held forward. "Since it's green that means we can-woah!"
Reflexes far greater than that of a normal human allowed her to sweep Khione past as a car roared forward, little more than a blur as it raced past the traffic lights that had clearly told it to slow down and stop.
Wreaths of flame danced up Cinder's arms and she prepared to burn the car to slag before an incessant tugging at the hem of her dress made her pause.
"I just wanna go please." Khione asked quietly, tears in her eyes and skin paler than usual from shock and fear. "Please?"
"Of course snowflake." Cinder promised, dispelling the flames with all her strength and sighing as the green man turned red. She held Khione close and pressed the button nearby, watching cars and trucks roar past as she waited for the lights to change.
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"What about her?"
"Eh. Four out of ten."
What about her?"
"Dude, that's a child."
"Not her you retard, her mom."
Oh, woah! Ten out of ten."
Cinder growled. She was not old enough to be a freaking mother.
Miraculously, almost divine intervention one would argue, the teens who had been lounging inside the bus shelter yelped as the bottoms of the trousers caught fire. It must've been the sunlight filtering through the clear plastic.
Yup. Definitely the sun alright.
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"Enjoy your day snowflake." Cinder said, hugging Khione tightly and speaking in a hushed tone. "If anyone annoys you, point them out and I'll fry them."
"Okay." Khione giggled, waving at her friends when Cinder reluctantly let her go. "See ya!"
"Bye." Cinder replied quietly, watching Khione go until she disappeared inside the main school building with a wave. Cinder returned it before turning on her heel, taking a left instead of a right towards the Arc household.
She had some scheming to do. Those Schnee diamonds weren't going to steal themselves after all.
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"Hmm." Cinder mumbled, staring at the blank board in front of her.
Her phone started to ring.
"Hmmm." Cinder mumbled, hoping whoever was calling would just give up. She started tapping a finger against her chin.
The phone continued to ring.
"Hmmmm." Cinder growled, hands clenched into fists that were surrounded by fire.
A whole day in her lair and she hadn't been able to think of anything!
With a huff she dispelled the flames and headed over to her phone, ready to give whoever was on the other side of it a piece of her mind. Then she froze, a cold feeling shaking her.
It wasn't a call. It was an alarm. An alarm to pick up Khione from school. An alarm she'd snoozed earlier when she thought she was on the cusp of something.
Cinder shot up into the air, propelled by her flames, bursting a hole in the roof of her lair as she shot into the sky and veered towards Khione's school in the distance.
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"Cinder!" Khione cheered, perking up and hurrying over to the panting older woman from her perch on the swings at the school's break area. "You're late!"
"Tra…" Cinder panted, keeling over to catch her breath, having ran from a few blocks away after a rough landing. "Traffic…it's…baaad."
Cinder groaned before forcing herself to stand up straight, offering her hand to Khione.
"Ready…to go…home?" Cinder wheezed, smiling weakly. Khione took her hand and nodded eagerly.
"Yup! By the way my friend Lacy thinks your dress is cool. Do you have a kid sized one? She gave me three Lien because I said you did. Oh! Today we did arts and crafts and stuff. It was fun! I made a bunch of stuff like a flower, a flower that breathed fire, a flower that breathed ice, a flower that breathed ice and fire…"
Cinder whimpered in between wheezes.
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"Khione? Cinder? I'm back-what in the name of the Brother's happened to you?" Jaune gasped, staring at a sweat-soaked, panting Cinder sprawled across the sofa. "Were you attacked or something?"
"P-Puppies." Cinder gasped out, a haunted look in her eyes. "Khione saw puppies and wanted to pet them. They were on the other side of the road, and she just ran for it before I could do anything."
"W-What?" Jaune asked, a yawning pit of horror in his stomach before Khione slammed into his side. "Khione?!"
"Dad!" Khione smiled. "What's for dinner? When will it be ready? Do we have a kid-sized version of Cinder's dress? My friend Lacy gave me three Lien for it so I have to give it to her or my pants will set on fire. Oh! Today we did arts and crafts and stuff. It was fun! I made a bunch of stuff like a flower, a flower that breathed fire, a flower that breathed ice, a flower that breathed ice and fire-Oh! Oh! I saw a bunch of puppies on the way home! Cinder did some fire magic ninja thing and I got to pet them all! Isn't that so cool? When's dinner ready?"
"Whenever it's ready, just give me a few minutes and I'll get it started." Jaune promised, and Khione pouted before sighing heavily.
"M'kay." She mumbled sadly, shuffling over and sitting down onto the sofa next to Cinder. "Oh! Pancake the Preposterous Dog is on!"
Jaune winced and gave Cinder a sympathetic look as he slid out of the room, her golden eyes wide with fear and hands outstretched for aid that did not come from the man who threw her to the non-existent mercy of Pancake the dog with a hideous theme tune only kids liked.
"Your sacrifice will be remembered." Jaune mumbled, abandoning Cinder to her fate as the theme tune began ringing out in the living room, making Jaune wince with guilt. "I'd better get started on dinner so Cinder at least entertains the thought of sparing me when she inevitably gets driven insane by that damn song."
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Dinner was an awkward affair. Jaune was eating slowly, part of him hyper aware of the fact Cinder was glaring at him and had not stopped glaring at him in between mechanically moving her fork from her plate to her mouth.
The only one really relaxed was Khione, who was humming that damned song underneath her breath whilst she ate.
Something flashed in Cinder's eyes, a look that worried him to no end appearing on her face. She turned to Khione, smiling sweetly.
"I think you know Pancake's song off by heart now don't you?" Khione nodded to the question. "Well why don't we both give a little surprise performance for your father? He was busy slaving away making dinner after all so he couldn't watch Pancake!"
"Oh no!" Khione gasped, turning to him with sympathy in her eyes. "I'm so sorry dad!"
"No!" Jaune gasped, choking on his food. "It's fine! Don't worry about little old me!"
"Now, now Jaune." Cinder simpered, voice a mix between a purr and a growl. "Don't be a hero. Ready Khione? A one, two, three!"
As Khione started to sing radiantly, and as Cinder started to sing in what was probably a purposefully off-tune voice, Jaune slumped into his seat, the lyrics burrowing themselves into the deepest recesses of his mind, ready to haunt him as he tried to sleep in a few hours time.
"T-Thanks girls." Jaune gritted out, weeping internally. "That was…just wonderful."
"No problem dad!" Khione chirped happily, tucking back into her meal eagerly.
Cinder smirked triumphantly, a viscous gleam in her eyes and looking more alive as she ate her food.
"What Khione said Jaune." She smiled. "No problem at all. In fact, we can do that for you anytime at all. Right Khione?"
"Yeah!" Khione cheered, even as Jaune slumped into his seat with a whimper.
Cinder just looked like the cat that caught the canary. Jaune didn't blame her.
A/N: Next update on 5/06/2023