Garek Grae wanted to die. Or if not, he was dead already, and in some sort of hell.
I don't understand how she survives this, he thought as he retched on the ground. It was nearing sunrise, and they had flown several hours from the island on the north of Vale. Selene had said that if it were just her, they could have flown straight to Ansel. But with two and all the gear, it was slower.
Once she suggested calling a second Nevermore.
He nixed that idea. Nope. No way. Blackfeather he knew. Blackfeather had never once tried to eviscerate him. Stick a strange Nevermore between his legs? No way sir.
There was no nookie that night. Only exhaustion.
I've gotta buy a bullhead, he thought. No. I gotta rob a bank, and then buy a bullhead. I don't want this any more.
The next day was better and worse. The flight to the west coast of Mistral was short, and his stomach seemed to be adjusting a little. But there was ocean below. Nothing but water for miles. And in the moonless night, it felt like it could be miles below, or just a downdraft away.
He survived that too, but he still fell like his insides were being put through a blender.
But he had to admit. It was fast. The only thing that sucked was the quality of the ride. And the fact that they had to fly at night, or they might get shot down by a high explosive dust round. Might still, if they had really bad luck.
He considered the irony of the world being destroyed by Grimm because of one trigger-happy Atlas airship, and it almost made him feel better.
They spent a couple days camped on the Mistral coast. They slept most of the first morning. He'd first suggested they set a watch rotation, not that they could, and Selene laughed and told him she already had.
Garek blinked, and then a bright trill drew his attention to a small flock of nevermore chicks in a nearby tree. They looked at him with aggressive red eyes, and then scattered in different directions.
Huh. Smart.
The rest of the next day they used to practice sparring.
Garek took a guard position, one foot slightly back, poised on the ball of his forward foot to leap forward or back. Selene, ten feet away, had hers planted a little further separated and her torso twisted slightly sideways. Her staff was held two-handed, and she watched him with narrowed scarlet eyes.
He took a slow step to the right, and she matched it to the left.
His eyes flicked to her left, widening slightly, and hers flickered for a moment.
Got you.
Lean muscles bunched as he moved in, flowing like liquid in something between a long step and a low leap that would put the point of his rapier a few inches into her stomach, if she had not had aura unlocked.
Selene Gasped and jerked her right foot around, pulling her body out of line at the same time she twisted her arms to bring the staff upward in a blocking motion. Garek let the momentum carry him forward from the missed strike, and swung Cats Paw back and around in a downward swipe, which Selene again countered, slightly clumsily, by dropping down and raising the staff to catch it between her hands.
That was a mistake. He pushed in and down, pushing the staff toward the guard of his weapon and sliding the blade down to the right.
Toward where her left hand gripped it.
Metal bit into aura, causing her to yelp and release that hand.
No… Metal did not in fact do that, he realized a moment too late. Instead a smooth black… shell had formed for an instant across her fingers, causing the blade to smoothly skitter and skip across them.
The surprise caught him off balance.
It cost him the butt end of the staff to his jaw, and a bitten tongue.
"Gah!"
"Sorry! I'm sorry!"
He worked his jaw and laughed. "Don't be! That was much better! Serves me right for sticking my tongue out."
"Truly?"
"Seriously, you didn't fall for my little glance aside this time, did you?"
"No, that was trickery on my part, to match yours."
"Good, good. And that little trick with your hand. Was that… semblance?
"Of a sort? Not really. Mother explained it is part of my nature, but takes time and practice to master, and it is conspicuous, so I must be subtle.
"That was subtle enough. And it's impervious?"
"Alone? No it is as easily damaged as a nevermore. But if I push aura into it, it becomes more resilient, and does not transmit pain."
"Now that is handy. I was counting on the pain forcing you to release your grip and giving me an opportunity. That's a significant advantage."
"Thank you."
"Again?"
"Please."
She was coming along. He was holding back of course. He wasn't using his semblance, full strength, or entire bag of tricks. Just enough to continue to challenge her. She wouldn't be a Huntress any time soon, but that wasn't the point. He just wanted her to be able to defend herself long enough to get to safety if a fight ensued or retreat was impossible.
Of course, that seemed unlikely. They'd not been attacked by Grimm once in weeks. Wouldn't be attacked. The only real thing to fear was people. Bandits. Pirates. Criminals. Or if they discovered her nature, Huntsmen and Atlas. Or the Academy Heads or their agents if they learned of their existence.
Except for Lionheart. Lionheart might be an opportunity.
The last leg was… the last leg. They touched down in a clearing a day's hike outside of Ansel, far beyond where he knew, from experience, any scouts would be.
Really don't want some overeager Huntsman to kill Selene's pet, he mused as Selene had Blackfeather lope off to find a hole or cave to rest in. He marveled at the sentence, and shook his head. He sent a message that they would arrive in the morning.
They camped again, out in the wilderness. Out among the Grimm.
And he didn't care one bit.
And wasn't that a thing.
The next day they arrived at the modest Grae home on the outskirts of the town, Selene in her blue-eyed form. There was a patched hole in the roof, which she had the presence of mind to flinch at.
The door opened as soon as the front porch squeaked, and his dad was there, a huge smile on his face. "Garek, it's great to see you. Your mom made lunch all special for you. Stewed venison. Shot it myself with a compound bow. Had to track it for a mile before it gave up."
Garek stepped in for a hug from the burly faunus. "Thanks Dad. Good to see you too."
"And this must be… is.. the lovely Selene." He looked at her for a few moments. "The pictures don't do you justice."
His fiancé actually blushed pinkly, which was a new thing. "Thank you, sir."
"Call me Rorson. Give your future old man a hug. We're going to be family, right?" He opened his arms and waited patiently for Selene to hesitantly comply, and gave his son a wink as he did not squeeze the stuffing out of the woman.
"Garek Grae!" a woman's voice yelled from inside, and Selene had a moment to see him looked terrified and run inside past his father.
The older man laughed, and motioned her forward as well. Inside she found herself panicking as a strong, athletic woman almost twice her age suddenly ignored Garek, and instead lept forward to Grimm-hug her, and then spun both of them around squealing "EEEEEeeeeeeEEEEE! Oh my gods, you are so beautiful and adorable! Isn't she just precious, Rorson?"
"Ma you're freaking out my fiancé," Garek protested.
"Nonsense. You're okay, right Selene?"
"She looks a little off balance, Grace." Rorson laughed. "You might want to give her a second."
"Grrr.. Sorry. I'm told I get a little over the top." Grace's ears flicked. "Gods I love your hair, and your eyes are sooo blue they don't even look real!" Garek made a slight choking sound.
"Grace. Now she's really panicking. Dial I back some more."
"Sorry! Sorry!" The woman was laughing though, and her brown eyes were happy.
Selene turned a helpless expression toward Garek, who could only shrug. She tried to think of something to say. "I… that is to say…" She struggled a moment. "I wanted to thank you for the care package, it has been very useful."
The chair behind Garek didn't break when his ass hit it, but it was a close thing, as he watched his dad nearly strain his back again laughing, and his mother, with a predator's smile, draw his fiancé in for another hug.
Grace Grae had a captive audience.
It was a very very willing captive.
Garek was the one being tortured.
"And this one is his third birthday. We got him a little cart that you sat in, and pushed around with your feet from inside! He kept running it off the edge of the back deck and upside down with his little legs just whirling as fast as they could go!" She giggled, and Selene joined her. Blue eyes flashed at him, full of mirth. "And his dad would just pick up the whole thing and set him back on the deck to do it again. Never cried, and never learned either." His mom looked at him. "Some things never change, right son?"
Another fit of giggling. He groaned.
"And this one…"
It had been going on for hours.
"Dad."
"Son."
"I need a drink."
"Let's go see if Nicholas wants to join us. I'm sure he could use some time out of the house too."
They staggered out the front door to the fading sounds of cooing and oohing, walked several hundred yards to a large house, and knocked on the door. A tall human that made Garek look like a waif opened it. His dark blue eyes took in the scene. "Grae. Garek. Good to see you again, boy. Your dad's been telling me a little about your exploits." Behind them, they could hear the squeals of younger children running, and a few teenage voices demanding obedience."
"Yessir, Mr. Arc."
"Garek, you're what, twenty-five and a fully licensed Huntsman? I'm Nicholas to you now."
"Whatever you say, sir." Garek grinned and Nicholas Arc laughed.
"Thought we'd invite you out for a quick drink. Wife is looking at Garek's baby photos with a certain special someone."
Nicholas chuckled. "I bet your mom is grinning ear to ear."
"Not seen her this happy in years," Rorson confirmed.
Nicholas leaned back through the doorway. "Juniper! Young Garek and Grae are here, asking if you can spare me for an hour or two!"
The blond woman came strolling around the corner, wiping her hands in a cloth. "Well, it's not like I'll get anything out of you here." She smirked. "Garek, how are you?!"
"Great Mrs. Arc."
"Garek's got himself a girl. Dating?"
"Engaged, sir."
"What!? That's wonderful! She gave him a hug, and whispered in his hear. "I'll have a word with her about birth control." She gave a pointed look back at the noise in the house.
Garek laughed, uncomfortably. "Gee.. thanks Mrs. Arc."
"And yes, run along, Nicholas. But only two hours. I won't keep dinner for you, and that son of yours is a bottomless pit." She gave Garek a look. "Maybe bring your lady friend by later, after dinner? I'd love to meet her."
They spent the next two hours at the local pub, nursing beers and, of course, talking about Garek's work.
He didn't mind so much this time. For one thing, he couldn't really talk about his other activities. And talking about Huntsmen activities seemed a welcome distraction from that.
"What about you Mr. Arc?"
"Things have been pretty calm around Ansel. I'm slowing down. Grimm haven't been acting up."
"And your son, Jaune? He going to carry on the Arc tradition?"
Nicholas shook his head. "Too early to say, he's only seven. Frankly though, I'm not going to encourage it. Seen too many friends die young. I think the Arc family has paid their dues."
"Can't say I blame you."
After time had run out on Juniper Arc's patience, they paid the tab and started back.
"Hey I want to check something. Meet you back at the house, dad?"
"Want to see your old haunts?"
"Something like that."
"Sure, but don't be late. You'll have two women angry at you."
He found a public terminal café close by and logged in to his alternate account, sending a quick message.
No new developments, but learned a few new bits of history. Anything on your end?
Long pause. Very long.
Wow… uhh that's some impressive travel time. Hitch an express?
He sat back.
You know where I'm at?
Generally. We'd prefer not to say how, and I won't broadcast it here for OpSec, but yeah.
Well, that was concerning. Still, he had been the one to contact them, not the other way around. And they had given him good advice.
I guess I'll just have to be happy about that, if I'm going to keep contacting you. Any new warnings?
Yeah, since you ask. Recommend turning off autoupdates on your Scroll, and on any new ones purchased. If you can, hold or roll back to last month's version. Found a new snooper running around. Might be nothing but better safe than sorry.
Sounds good. Thanks.
Another long pause.
Planning on heading northeast?
The cursor blinked for a long time while he thought.
Possibly…
Drop me a line when you get there. We can chat some more.
Garek logged out chewing on that. Heading back, he walked thorough familiar streets, streets where he had lived a childhood, back to the only real home he'd ever known. Where his parents and fiancé waited for him.
It felt good.
That evening over dinner, watching Selene chatter amiably with his mom and dad gave him an odd feeling of nostalgia, like he'd never left, and Selene had just blended in to his existing life. Ansel. He was home.
There were a few places. Favorite spots from his childhood, that he wanted to show her. That would be nice. To share some memories that had once been his only.
He sent a note to the Arcs near the end of it. We're a little wiped out over here. Rain check for tomorrow?
Understandable. The teens will be disappointed, but they'll keep.
He and Selene retired early. They were exhausted.
His parents gave them a knowing look as he led his lover down the hall to his old bedroom. It had long since shed most of its boyhood trappings, those being stored in boxes in the attic. Hopefully none of them had been vaporized by a certain falling rock.
The original single bed had been replaced with a double at some point. For company, they'd said.
Selene's hips took on a slightly rolling gait as she strolled over to it. One might call it fetching. Or perhaps come-hither, before she twisted to sit on the edge of the bed and pressed into the mattress with one hand. Her blue eyes sent a silent message as she tilted her head.
Garek closed the door, locked it, and caught an arched eyebrow over a now scarlet iris gazing warmly back at him.
Perhaps they weren't quite as tired as they had believed.
Next day couple of days kept getting better. He showed Selene the arcade he used to hang out it. The playground where he broke his leg. The spot where his treehouse had been, its remains probably buried under leaf litter. Good things. Selene and his mother discussed wedding plans. Which totally did not make him hyperventilate.
They met with the Arc family, and he introduced Selene. The sheer number and volume of blond haired, blue-eyed children caused Salem's only daughter to have her own small panic attack, but she bore it well. Their oldest, Sapphron, had just reached her majority at seventeen and looked like a young woman. He caught her gazing at Selene several times with what one might call a smitten expression, and her younger sister Sable eventually started teasing her over it, causing her to blush and stammer. It was adorable.
And there were photos. Lots of photos. They took photos using his Scroll of themselves. Places they visited in Ansel. The Arcs.
Selene wrote the first letter back to her mother, including several photos that they printed. One was he and Selene at the table, with Rorson and Grace standing behind with huge smiles. They had written a note on the back saying "With love from your future relatives" and was signed by both the Graes.
Would Selene's mother scoff? Probably. Throw the photo away? They doubted that. She might find it amusing. Or charming. Or ironic.
The important part was that she know her daughter cared enough to write, and to share such small aspects of life with her. To know she was safe.
That evening, Selene and Garek took a walk in the nearby forest, where Selene repeated a soft trilling sound until a small Nevermore chick alit on her arm, digging into her aura but not attempting to hurt her. She handed the envelope and spoke instructions. It would likely take several days for it to make the journey. Nevermore Post was slow, but reliable.
Just don't select onsite delivery. The roof repairs could be expensive.
[A/N] A few notes regarding this chapter. As you can see, I'm borrowing some worldbuilding elements from Coeur Al'Aran (and if you read their profile, they are perfectly fine with other authors doing so) while putting my own spin on them. One element is the location of Ansel, the home of the Arc family. Various of their fics have Ansel in conflcting locations (typically in the kingdom of Vale) but with ties to Mistrial (including Shion), while canon has Sapphron Cotta-Arc living in Argus. For the sake of narrative, I chose to place Ansel in northwestern Mistral.
Another thing you will have noticed is the introduction of our very first Volume 1 Character, though only in passing. Young Jaune Arc here is only seven years old, which finally informs the reader what era we are looking at, approximately ten years before the events in Volume 1. I've spent quite a bit of time reviewing in canon (and fic fandom) what all of the Volume 1 characters and their families would be up to during this decade, in order to make any appearances as believable as possible.
If you haven't left a review, please do so! I would appreciate any feedback. I'm not sure FFNET private messaging is even working at this point. This started off a pretty modest idea, but it appears to be ballooning up into an epic tale in scope and size. Might set up a forum so people can give direct suggestions or requests.