Thanks for making it to the next chapter. I can't thank you enough if you've decided to continue reading my story. I plan to continue updating at a reasonable pace as long as I can, thankfully the lack of writer's block has allowed for this. Though this chapter is from Cinder's POV, it is no inclination toward the rest of the story being that way. Only occasionally will I dedicated a chapter to her. Cinder is hard to read currently for Jaune, and I think for the establishment of their characters and the background I felt this was the best way to attack that problem. Keeping Jaune from guessing, and long exposition repeating what everyone has already seen in the show.
It might take a second for the story to dig in and get going, but I don't want to drag anything out. Well other than some fluff, but that'll come in time. Enjoy!
CHAPTER 2- Best Last Meal Every Meal
Every day, hour, minute, and second of Cinder's life had never been boring. Full of fear, hatred, sadness, and just about every emotion other than happiness and boredom. She had never been bored when the candle wax would hit her fingers after trying to snag another roll from the kitchen or the cigarettes from Madam that burnt out on her skin since there was no ashtrays in the vicinity. The life of crime she had led for the years after had been void of a dull moment.
She had always thought it would never end, early on accepting that she was simple at her core; a selfish killer that was forever a husk of a future huntress. Had the facade of attending Beacon twinged at her pride and allowed a dream-like glimpse at would could have been. Maybe. But Cinder knew that it was never to be, nor any pinch of happiness that could occur in her life. Her decision to take the second chances away from her adopted family put her in the position she was in, she knew it and had used that fact to her advantage for years.
Yet, now, when Cinder was truly trapped. Almost certainly dead to her...subordinates, not friends, because she would never have those. Her pessimistic side stated every meal would be her last. Her realistic side said that she would likely rot in a jail cell for the rest of her life, after the idiot Jaune Arc failed to get any information out of her. Her optimistic side said, well, nothing. There hadn't been a positive thought in her mind since training with Rhodes. They didn't get results, or produce factors to aid decisions. All positive thoughts provided were distractions and falsehoods.
Even with years of gloom and pessimism under her belt, Cinder couldn't help feel a sense of peace in her new predicament. It was a foreign feeling, still somewhat wonderous as simple as it was. She was dead to the world, only alive to a select few. In another world, time, or place, she would have been able to start anew. No overbearing pressure from Salem, a clean slate from dealings with Adam, and all that she lost was a team that followed her anywhere, anytime. Disappointing, but she couldn't say her relationships with Neo, Emerald, and Neptune were anything less than strained.
The room she had been given was quaint, no better way to describe it. It had anything a miscreant under house arrest could ask for, other than access to a scroll or real television. She would have just provided her prisoner with a bucket and a cockroach for their entertainment. Cinder would keep quiet, not to give her enemies any ideas that could negatively effect her situation. It was not hard to pick and chose what to say, she had a lifetime of practice. Once the number of mousetraps to the tongue hit multiple of dozens, she figured the system out quicker.
In the past few weeks, however, it was beginning to look like she was loosing her touch. Or bearing more like. The blonde knight Jaune Arc visited frequently, every time with a new treat for a bribe, or game, or story, even once bringing (she begrudgingly admitted) absolutely adorable corgi by the name of Zwei for her to spend the day with. She hadn't considered stealing anything other than a scroll for the last week, but that dog would nicely fit on the other side of her bed.
Today was no different in the consistency of attendance that Jaune provided, this time he held a peach milkshake in his hands. Knowing his tendencies she had begun to learn, he had made it himself. Just as she had started taking into account things about him, she noticed he had been doing the same. Respectful glances dominated their meetings, an interesting outlier comparable to the other meetings with men her age in the past. Never below the collarbone, most of the time in the eyes. Cinder had considered testing his resolve a couple times, a dropped Jenga piece here or just out of reach domino were almost too good to pass up. Somehow, thinking about his other constant habit, yearbook quotes, she treated someone how she wanted to be treated and held off. For now.
"Well Jaune, what is your question today?" Cinder asked, sipping on her milkshake. It was no bribe she told herself, just requirements for her attention.
Jaune sat himself at the table, his usual spot across from her with his back facing the door. "Well, I think we've learned a lot about each other. But I think it's a good time to start understanding each other, not just learning you know. That sounds kind of dumb, I should have worded that differently."
Cinder leaned forward with interest, even as the leader of an up and coming team of hunters he strangely always second-guessed himself in front of her. It was unbecoming of a growing man. Considering she had nothing better to do, other than bathe in the tears of widows and raze villages, the past couple visits she had taken it upon herself to fix the problems she found her own way. "Only a fool or a child second guesses themselves. Have some pride in yourself Arc, a leader makes decisions and deals with the results as they come."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Jaune scratched his head, still keeping his dopey look alive. She hated to admit it, but he had spurts of reliability and genius in the most random of things. Their chess games were played religiously, still dozens to several in his favor, and Cinder had a feeling he let her win the several. He would describe tactics in the upmost detail, putting Watts to shame. It was aggravating that such a promising individual was trapped in a lanky oaf's body. "Thanks Cin."
Case in point. Trivial nicknames. "I tolerate that drivel because I cannot help if you tried something like Cindy. Do not forget that." Cinder waited for the nod of affirmation from him. "Now, what is your question?"
Jaune sat his milkshake down, opting to wipe the mustache that had formed on his face with his sleeve. "Uh, well, if you don't mind me asking, what was your family like?"
Cinder gave a short huff, "I never had the displeasure of meeting them."
"Wow, you were an orphan huh?" Jaune asked in surprise.
"For my youngest years yes. I had a family once, twice if it behooves you to count my biological one." Cinder couldn't deduce why she was divulging such personal information. He had no right, nor need, to learn about her tragic background.
Jaune's dark blue eyes told her she could, and for once she considered thinking positively. Her story had been told here and there over the years, to Salem when she ordered it, to Watts when he needed it, and even to Neo when she had requested it. All had different ways of reacting, Salem opted for disappointment for weakness, Watts went for nonchalance almost annoyance at time wasted, and Neo had actually laughed.
But Jaune did none of those. He reacted with concern, with sympathy, maybe even a hint of wonder, no, respect at what she went through. It wasn't like he should care, how could he even provide such a compelling look for someone like her. In all respects, Cinder felt out of place to receive his attention in such a way. The whole time, the whole story, he had listened, no mocking comments like others or cheshire grins, just an outlet for the flow of the story. Sure, she left out her dealings with Salem and Adam, keeping to her life before and dabbling in the present, but to her the unique reception from Jaune was welcome. No matter how much she quibbled to get it.
No gasps of surprise when she described her killing of the Madame and step-sisters, not a blink when she described how the first step-sister had knocked Rhode's sword out of her hand and her to the ground. Her starved figure had fifteen pounds less on the youngest of the family, and she had been almost helpless when the sword, red and glowing from being dipped into the coals of the ongoing fire in the room, had slowly been lowered toward her mouth and almost into her throat. Cinder still didn't know where the strength to avoid it came from, but she found it and within seconds the blade had lodged itself in the step-sister's face.
Her only warning for the other step-sister's presence, and subsequent rush toward her with one of the metal fire stokes was a blood-curdling scream. The minimal training from Rhode's in the few weeks before had saved her life, a simple parry and push had allowed for a solid stab into the heart of the second step-sister. Cinder had frozen in place upon viewing her work, yet again pulled from her stupor after Madame screamed.
It was almost laughable how easy it had been to stop the Madame's advances, a kitchen knife no opponent for a sword. A lucky stab had injured Cinder's sword hand, not before she had hit the knife out of the Madame's hand, sacrificing Rhode's sword for the attack. The fight ended in seconds after that, Cinder using some gritty technique to encapsulate the Madame's neck with her thighs, twisting violently to snap her neck.
That had been how Rhode's had found her. No time for her to explain, only enough to grab his sword and try to run past. His body had been twice her size, and easily shoved her back into the room, far away from the exit. Neither was given time to speak as he rushed her, giving the hardest fight she had that day. And really of their whole time training. But she had triumphed, using her small lithe body at the time to keep low and get behind him. Shoving his own sword into his side, trying to muffle the sounds of him choking on his own blood as she ran away from the household. The last thing she ever did there was strip her neck of the shock collar she had worn for years with her semblance, finally freeing her of everything.
"If you ever want to talk more about what you went through." Jaune interrupted the silence, breaking Cinder out of her thoughts. He reached over the table, hovering his hand over hers. Not touching, still showing his subconscious need to avoid getting burned. "I'll promise to never charge you extra for listening. It's all paid for through Jaune-bucks, and you've got plenty."
Cinder hummed, tempted, but opted to redirect the discussion. "Well then, I must ask about your family. What have they been like?"
"Perfect, for the most part." Jaune gave a nervous smile. "If you're good, maybe I'll let you video call with one of them. I'm sure Scarlet would love to hear about your semblance. She's with that one big science company Reactive Measures, does a bunch of research on semblances and aura."
"A sister hmm, how nice." Cinder said, probing for more information. "That all?"
"Oh not nearly," Jaune waved his hands about, "I have seven sisters, so I could talk all day about my family. Ten people in a household really keeps you busy."
Cinder stared blankly, befuddled for lack of a better word at the revelation that a family could get that large, "F-Fascinating, and yet you have no social skills with women at all."
Jaune chuckled, "Hey, just because you're right doesn't mean you've gotta say it out loud. But yeah, I can't say I've had nearly the problems with family that you had. My life has mostly been spent in the shadow of my father, the great Corda Arc, slayer of Grimm, warrior of the Arc line, and all that. I've never been able to escape it, even when I asked for training from him. Too dangerous, not ready yet, better to put effort elsewhere. Never I believe in you, it's worth it, how great to continue the legacy."
"Yet here you are, a hunter in training." Cinder interrupted. Tired of hearing the wallowing. Is that how she sounded to him describing her life? Gods she was a miserable woman. He was to be a hunter, an enemy that could stand toe-to-toe with her, not a blubbering mess of depression. They were supposed to have pride in their profession. Because that was what they preached, it was a profession not a job. There were standards to be met, a higher calling required it. "This family cannot be that horrid if you made it this far correct? That many children should statistically produce some sort of success."
"We'll see, I've only just started." Jaune looked...guilty almost. Worse than when Emerald would walk in on Cinder changing, or Neo getting caught peeking around her stuff. What was a proper Beacon student hiding, Cinder could only wonder. "Finals this semester are coming up in just under a month-ish, so I hopefully can come back home with some results."
"That's all they ever want, results." Cinder stated bitterly. Recalling all the times results were required by her adopted family.
"Did Madam never give anything for your results. Nothing for your efforts?" Jaune asked her, his face only asking for truth and nothing more. No ulterior motives like everyone else. Cinder ignored the foreign feelings that permeated her chest in response to him.
"As if," Cinder tsked, "What do I receive for cleaning up the latrine, a bucket of piss on me. Cinder, you've finished heating the fire and are about to make dinner? Let the step-sisters throw the coals at you because, well, they're bored. Congrats for cleaning the whole house an hour earlier before sundown, you can spend the rest of the hour in your cage."
She wouldn't cry, she wouldn't ask for sympathy, no good ever came of telling others of her hardships. Cinder had honestly surprised herself with allowing Jaune to hear so much, the most actually that anyone had heard. He was so easy to talk to, always listening, ready to receive and comply. Like a golden retriever at her beck and call, no reason other than loyalty. Ironic, her enemy was the best she could ask for in a follower.
This time Jaune did touch her hand, grasping it lightly and giving a squeeze. Cinder looked up from gazing at the table, finding his eyes filled with a sense of acceptance. It was warm, welcoming, even tempting to give into it. She wouldn't, this school, Jaune, everything wasn't her place. The spot for her in such things had long been erased, it would be decades of repentance for someone like her to make up for her wrongdoings.
Cinder pulled back, physically and mentally restraining herself from grabbing Jaune's hand again, if not for the warmth alone. The feelings it dug out of her could be sorted later. "I took the path I took to embrace my choices, I know what I have done. And I look to create and live in a world where my decisions can be deemed acceptable."
Jaune laughed, how strange Cinder noted, "Cin, they already are. All you did was act on a basic human right, well a couple of them. Your life is invaluable, and everyone has a right to keep it. You had no choice, I hope that some day you'll see that all you need is some friends and a solid goal. Why not try to become a huntress again? That was your original goal, right?"
"That opportunity is long gone, I see no likelihood of it occurring." Cinder said, fiddling with her clothes. "Besides, even if I attempted to convince the headmaster and anyone else who stood in the way, what reason would they have to accept me."
"Well," Jaune grinned, "You already have one person backing you up. Tell you what, if I get any sort of info from you about anything that could save lives, or livelihoods, I'll talk to Ozpin about giving you some freedom. Maybe a training session with JNPR and RWBY, or a day out in downtown visiting some of the professional hunters and huntresses. You can see and experience everyone, and maybe you'll see you're closer to your goal than you think."
"I-" Cinder stopped herself from saying more, she almost spit out a dust warehouse location. She wouldn't lie, she had steeled herself over the years in the face of temptation, only giving in to Salem when she was offered a large slice of the world. Yet somehow, this blonde knight in front of her had offered her everything. "I will consider it."
Jaune got up from his seat, still smiling. "That's all I ask Cinder. I'll be back in a few days, JNPR has a training mission in a nearby town. I'll wait for your decision till I'm back."
With that Jaune left the room and Cinder was alone with her thoughts. What would she lose to pursue her old goals? Nothing, in fact. Her pride maybe, but she could regain that through crushing her competition. And to break free from Salem's grasp, it might just be worth it. Salem would destroy the world anyways, what did it hurt to enjoy her time left instead of lording over burnt acres of land. It beat rotting in jail, and for the first time she had someone in her corner for real.
Jaune was a modern knight and chivalrous man, exemplifying it in his actions, through the little things. Always giving her whatever he had for the both of them first, the milkshake, food, first move, anything. Even when he found her out of her chair, and they sat down for their discussions, he pulled it out for her, seating Cinder before himself. It felt like she had a real second chance, nothing hollow like Salem had given her. But to go against what had become the very fiber of her being, well that would be a challenge itself. With someone like Jaune, Cinder was beginning to think she had a slim chance of conquering that challenge.
Thank you for reading, I greatly appreciate it. I apologize for the couple of long winded beginnings, but I hope it will nicely set up the pair's characters. Now, onto my what likely will become common ramblings throughout this fanfiction.
I always thought that Cinder's backstory was a pretty good base for the decline of her in the years after. But, with some of the themes presented, I had two choices with how I wanted to continue my suspense of belief with her. Do I keep the same backstory, while in a gray area of morality, still allowing for redemptionwith the aforementioned suspension of belief. And well, let's be honest other than Rhodes, she just executed what anyone in that position would have wished for. Is it still right? I'd say *so-so hand* "eh".
Or, I put Cinder in a position that it can arguably a defensive decision for her to kill. The grey area becomes more of some smudged glass, and more believablein certain aspects. She doesn't know that what she did was reasonably within her basic human rights, how could she? Cinder was never raised with good morals, never provided with examples to draw lines where necessary. So the path that she takes stays the same, still causing trouble, still being a menace to society. But never having killed again, because she was better than that. Not morally, but as previously stated, 'the dirt beneath her feet', she had no time for that, leave it for the goons.
Did I make my choice clear? I hope I did, or will in the coming chapters. Should I have shown that more acutely instead of splurging it in the notes? Probably. But I want what you want, a hot and ready pizza in less than five minutes topped with KnightFall. And that means I'm pacing myself sure, but that donut on a fishing pole in front of me sure helps me go faster.
Anyways, I'll get the next chapter out as soon as I can. Fimfiction calls with an update to one of my other enemy to lovers story. Please feel free to review with your thoughts, I read all of them.