Here we are, the Velvet chapter. This character is still one that I'm not too familiar with, as I haven't used her yet in my Remnant's Scarecrow Of Fortune series, and the wiki doesn't help out that much either. However, I like a challenge and I hope that this story pleased my readers all the same.
Cheers, Searoar.
"Okay, the first thing I'll need is some flour..." Velvet peered around the empty kitchen in her huntress attire with delight etched on her cute face as she fastened the strings of her frilly pink apron. Her teammates were off in Vale for the time being, or rather, Yatsuhashi and Fox were dragged from the dorm by a very determined Coco who had an itch for a luxurious shopping spree.
Velvet sighed as she recounted the number of clothes that filled their shared closets. At least the closets were supposed to be shared, as Coco's amount accounted for an entire three-quarters of the drawers. To this day, Velvet struggled to find space for her bare necessities like undergarments and her school uniform.
"No, now's not the time to be thinking of such things." Velvet's accent was in full swing as she grabbed a dirty pot and turned on the sink tap. Hot water flowed over the dirty bits of leftover flour and meat, as Velvet had arrived at the kitchens after Beacon's staff had already completed their rounds before the winter vacation.
Velvet didn't mind the mess though, as being the only chef in the area proved invaluable given students were allowed to occupy the kitchens when the staff were off hours. This meant the rabbit Faunus had whatever the pantries and cool storages had to offer, which suited her just fine. That is until one of Velvet's long, fuzzy ears perked at the sound of a spoon hitting the floor.
Velvet turned to the source of the disturbance, and was shocked to see none other than Jaune Arc scrambling to put back the cutlery he'd misplaced. Though when his cerulean eyes met with Velvet's curious dark brown, his face flushed a deep red as he offered a clumsy apology and timid wave.
"Hello, Velvet," Jaune said. "It's a coincidence meeting you here. I didn't know the kitchens were going to close early because of the winter vacation, and it looks like whatever cooked food was here has already been cleared out."
Velvet giggled and kept her head down. She turned off the sink tap, and her voice began to quiver as she spoke.
"Y-Yes, I'm just here to prepare a few desserts for my teammates to celebrate the festive season."
Jaune blinked and he slowly approached his friend. Though he didn't talk to Velvet often, he was a decent man who would not stand for prejudice all because his cohort was a Faunus, as Cardin and his teammates had quickly learned.
"Is everything okay, Velvet? Is something wrong with the pot you're holding?" Jaune asked as the older girl held up the pot in front of her face. Her ears, once upright, were now sloped and tapped the rim of the pot in an even rhythm.
"N-Nothing's wrong..." Velvet replied meekly, though her voice was so soft that Jaune had to lean in to hear her words. Jaune could see her trembling legs though, and they knocked together which made Velvet shorter.
"It's just the boy whose bravery saved me from being bullied throughout the rest of my school years. Here, in the kitchen, where it's just us two without anyone else to interrupt us..." Velvet thought as she felt her cheeks heat up and her heartbeat quicken.
"Velvet?" Jaune raised a careful hand and gently pushed down the pot. When he saw Velvet's fair complexion and the pout that marred it, the boy couldn't help but feel empathetic. Perhaps, Velvet didn't come to the kitchens earlier because she was afraid of running into the nasty sort of Beacon's lot who did not appreciate their Faunus comrades occupying the eating space.
No... Jaune was overthinking it. He'd seen Velvet act timidly before, like the times he'd wave to her and she'd scurry off to who knows where down the long halls of Beacon. Still, it was nice to see the girl up and about, even if the kitchens weren't exactly the best place to socialize. However, that was a fact that Jaune would remedy, as he fetched a spare green apron off a nearby rack, and wrapped it around his torso.
This made Velvet's cheeks bloom a darker shade of red. When Jaune made the offer to help her bake on the pretense that they were close friends and he'd like to spend some time together, she felt her heart nearly burst out of her ribcage with how casually the blonde made his statement.
"I'll fetch the flour and dried fruit packages," Jaune said and left to gather his supplies.
Velvet's ears dropped and covered her eyes. She took a moment to breathe, and with each second, she cooled to where her face felt properly presentable. Velvet made quick work of peeling the carrots, then chopped them into small squares that were mixed with the cake batter.
Jaune observed how meticulous Velvet was, and chuckled when she puffed her cheeks and her lips curled to a small frown after sampling a dollop of cream. She pinched a cluster of sugar, sprinkled it into the bowl, then whisked furiously until the batter was ready to be poured.
After a confirmation that all was well, Velvet assured Jaune that he could let her clean up the dishes and spoons so he could cook his own meal. Jaune tried to protest, as politely as possible, that he should help her, but the rabbit Faunus was oddly fixated on being left alone.
Jaune laughed and excused himself. He found a tray of eggs, then proceeded to crack them over a heated frying pan and grinned when the yolks sizzled in the oil. However... this was the perfect opportunity to let his mind wander. As his cerulean eyes drifted from his cooking eggs, he noticed Velvet and veered all his attention to her as she plopped an assortment of glazed strawberries, sweet carrots, and mango cubes onto the square carrot cake that she'd put all her effort into making.
From where Velvet stood, her enhanced hearing was at its peak, and her ears snapped upward; then twitched back and forth as they registered the soft voice of a... low toned husky sounding Jaune?!
Velvet's grip on a strawberry was so firm, that the fruit burst between her fingers, and the sticky juice spilled onto her palm. She felt her knees shake, and her balance was so wobbly that she had to grip the edge of the table so that she wouldn't fall over. Was... Jaune aware of the words he was reciting? How could he so casually pronounce such a dignified and lovely poem?
Not only that... as if Velvet were to bet, she'd assume that Jaune's poem... was about her?
"Oh Oum! My eggs are burning!" Jaune broke from his rambling as the smoke of his early dinner wafted up his nostrils and spread throughout the kitchen. The boy shut off the stove, fetched an empty waste basket, and sadly emptied his burnt meal after it had cooled.
"Well, I guess eggs are officially off the menu... and my bacon and rice." Jaune facepalmed with a glum face. He sighed as he tidied his mess, but was surprised when a tap on his shoulder turned him around.
"Oh... haha, guess you saw all that, eh... Velvet?" Jaune tried to laugh off his failure, but the damage was done and his reputation as a decent chef had now plummeted to the negatives.
Yet, to the blonde's delight and shock, Velvet held up a frosted square of carrot cake, this one with three mango cubes and a strawberry on top, and said the sugary morsel should be Jaune's snack instead.
"Wow, thanks, Velvet!" Jaune beamed and felt a piece of his pride return after he bit into the cake piece. "Whoa... this tastes really good! I don't usually eat carrot cake, but this has to be the best one I've ever eaten!"
"Y-Y-You're welcome, J-J-Jaune!" Velvet quivered as her hands covered her face with her ears following suit. She was a giggling mess and felt her body stiffen as Jaune placed a firm hand on her shoulder.
"If It's alright with you, could we keep my cooking disaster between us?" Jaune whispered but hadn't paid attention to how close his lips were to Velvet's ears, and the boy's hot breath caressed over the fur of Velvet's extra appendages sending shivers from her head down to the tips of her toes.
"O-O-O-O..." Velvet tried to say okay, but her flustered heart would not settle long enough to let her complete the word. All she could muster was a nervous nod, which Jaune acknowledged and bid his friend a polite adieu.
As the click of the kitchen's doors signaled that Jaune was no longer present, Velvet let out the longest, pent-up sigh in her life and felt a rush of blood enter her brain. Her vision was fuzzy, and the embarrassed girl fell on her rump and let out a cute squeak of pain as she rubbed her sore bottom. Did... Jaune not have a single memory of the poem he'd just recited? With the way he left so nonchalantly, it was as if he was used to talking that way, and yet every time Velvet eavesdropped on him during classes and lunch... not once did his voice reach such a low tone or utter such sophisticated speech.
Velvet stood on insecure legs, and dragged her feet back to her carrot cake as her hands glided across the tabletops. Velvet bit her lower lip as she burned Jaune's words into her memory, but felt faint as the dashing blonde's sentences had begun to be forgotten. Frantically, Velvet searched for something to write down with, and as her hazel eyes landed on the second carrot cake which had yet to be decorated...
Velvet wasted no time and snagged the piping bag full of white icing, and used it to write down Jaune's kind, and sincere words over her second carrot cake.
Within this kitchen of delectable sugar.
I've found myself in the presence of someone even sweeter.
Though she may be inclined to keep in her feelings.
I cannot bear to restrain what my heart is desiring.
Velvet, a name softer than silk and more gentle than grass.
I am blessed with her friendship and I hope it will last.
Till the end of our meal, may the cake we baked taste sweet.
To the very last crumb until we craft a new baked treat. Hopefully, next time with the flames of love.
My dearest rabbit, may my hand be your guide.
As I direct you with care that I wish you'll abide.
However, I must depart, for my eggs...
They be burning to ash!
Oh dear Oum, that's a lotta black smoke and charred yolks!
For naught, my early dinner is fried!
"And done!~" Velvet said with a flushed visage and triumphant voice. Though maybe she would take out the last few lines, as those words were uttered out of panic instead of heartfelt emotions.
"Huh, interesting poem, BunBun. Who's your inspiration? Or rather, your secret poet you've never told me about?"
Velvet yelped at the sudden voice and the piping bag in her hands exploded under the rabbit Faunus' grip. Spilled cream on her favorite sunglasses, a pouting Coco removed them to reveal a pair of peeved brown eyes that demanded answers.
"Hey, Velvet, this carrot cake is really delicious!" Yatsuhashi and Fox nodded to each other and carefully cut themselves a slice with their friend's approval.
"I-I'll get some plates..." Velvet tried to run, but her retreat was halted by the gloved hand of her team leader.
With her sunglasses dipped slightly, Coco's intimidation was at its strongest and her lips spread to a wide grin that bordered teasing and straight-up slaughter. With nowhere to go and her peers eager for the truth, Velvet's eyes and bunny ears darted back and forth until they picked up on Yatsuhashi's knife hovering over the second cake which had Jaune's poem recited on it.
"Don't you dare touch that cake, Yatsuhashi, or you won't be getting any presents this Christmas!" Velvet's voice rang over the kitchen with a loving mother's wrath and startled everyone present. So much so, that Coco released her grip, and the huffy rabbit Faunus picked up her cake, then fled the premises so she could take a picture of her baked dessert before it was consumed.
"I'll see you in the dorm! And I'm glad you liked the cake!" Velvet's head poked through the kitchen doors before they swung closed, and the sounds of her stomping footsteps disappeared down the hall.
"...Wow. I've never seen Velvet so passionate about a carrot cake before." Fox shrugged as he swallowed the last of his sweet treat.
"I... wasn't aiming to cut any of the words she iced..." Yatsuhashi's posture slumped as he put down his knife.
"...You two saved me a piece, didn't you?" Coco asked, and felt her ire increase as her teammates looked sheepishly at her.
"Oh, I am so going to get Velvet to spill the beans, and I'm going to enjoy having that carrot cake of hers all to myself," Coco said mischievously and pointed to the mountain of shopping bags that she and the males of team CFVY brought in from Vale's market districts.
"You know what to do," Coco sneered with a playful wink, "this is a punishment for eating all the cake and not leaving a piece for your respected leader. I'll meet you guys at the dorm in a bit, I still need to grab the textbooks I bought from the library's online store yesterday."
Yatsuhashi rolled his eyes while Fox shrugged in defeat. They knew better than to get on Coco's bad side unless the situation called for it and reluctantly accepted their fate as their leader wore a satisfied smirk and departed with a victorious strut.
/-/
"Okay, so the food was almost a bust, but that carrot cake was delicious." Jaune chuckled as he checked the time on his scroll. Still six hours until the movie, the blonde sighed as his aimless walk brought him to the entrance of Beacon's library. Jaune scratched his cheek in deep thought. Nothing like a good book to pass the time, the boy strolled into the quiet hall of silence and found himself browsing between the adventure and fantasy stories.
The library was scarcely occupied, save for the librarian and a few staff members finishing the last hours of their shifts, though the library was open at all hours and was one of the most peaceful places on the campus; so security here wasn't really necessary.
Jaune leaned down and picked out a book, then blinked as a familiar sight met his stare from the open space where the selected book previously resided. The singular, ice-blue eye blinked at Jaune, and he walked around to the opposite isle to find no one there. Confused, he assumed that a nap may be the better route and put his book back, only to find none other than Weiss Schnee adorned in her school uniform; standing in the middle of the isle with her arms crossed and face put in an adorable pout.
"Um... hey, Weiss. Can I help you?" Jaune asked after a moment of awkward silence.
"Yes, actually," Weiss sighed. "There's a book I can't... reach and the librarian told me they misplaced the key for the rolling ladders. The book is relatively close, and I believe a boy of your height can reach it."
Jaune nodded and followed Weiss over to the next row of books. The heiress pointed at a novel titled: Dusts And Crafts Level 4, and Jaune had to stand on the tips of his toes to reach it.
"There we are," Jaune grinned and handed the book over. Weiss gave a practiced thank you, then left to finish her studies for the night.
Content that he'd finished his time outside his dorm on a positive note, Jaune walked out of the aisle and bumped into another recognizable figure. However, Jaune was not as familiar with this girl, as she was in Beacon's second year and seldom mingled with her lower classmen.
"I'm sorry about that," Jaune said and rubbed his cheek.
"It's fine," Coco huffed as she rubbed her forehead. It wasn't often that she met someone eye to eye, as the fashionista stood at an exact six feet, but her heels gave her an extra inch.
"I'm sorry... but what was your name again?" Jaune felt embarrassed to ask, but he wanted to make his apology proper so a name was required.
"Coco, Coco Adel? One of the most popular girls in all of Beacon?" Coco curled a brow of disbelief at the oblivious blonde in front of her.
Jaune chuckled nervously and scratched his cheek. He really needed to keep a closer eye on the popular people in this school, as he'd been completely unaware that Pyrrha was a champion, that Weiss was the daughter of the world's largest dust mining company, and that Velvet's partner was apparently really well-liked among her fellow students.
"I'm sorry, I'm more familiar with your partner, Velvet. She doesn't mention you a lot, but the few things I've heard are all positive." Jaune showed a sheepish smile as Coco's eyes narrowed.
"I'll be sure to give you a lecture about myself later, or make sure that Velvet does," Coco wiggled her eyebrows, then pulled out her scroll. "If you're not busy at the moment, mind giving me a hand? The library closes in half an hour, and there's a book I want to borrow before it closes."
Jaune accepted the task with a thumbs up and a pearly grin. Little did the fashionista know, that a quiet place like the library was a perfect place for a thoughtful poet... but that's for the next chapter.