"Can we hide?"

"They'd just track us down and drag us out kicking and screaming from wherever we were hiding."

"Can we just run?"

"Maybe, but they'd find us eventually and we would only just make them angrier for making them chase us."

"Jaune?"

"Yes Blake?"

"I don't want to die."

"You won't die." Jaune chuckled mirthlessly. "But I can't say the same for me."

"I'll protect you." Blake replied, though her voice wavered slightly, betraying her fear at the thought. Jaune smiled at her, appreciating the sentiment but knowing it was ultimately pointless.

"Thank you Blake, but I'd much rather you live on and remember me instead."

There was a furious pounding at the door, which to it's credit it managed to stand firm against the onslaught of parental fury and Jaune flinched at the shadows that gathered around the edges of the battered door.

"Jaune Aurora Arc open this damnable door this instant!" Barked a commanding, matriarchial, fear-inspiring voice.

"At least it's a good door. Survived whatever nonsense happened to Jaune's window." Grumbled a deeper, authoritative and bone-shaking voice.

"Not now Nicky. Jaune! Open this door! We know you can hear us!"

"My time has come." Jaune sighed heavily, closing his eyes in acceptance and reaching for the door handle.

"It doesn't have to!" Blake whispered, grabbing his wrist and holding it tightly, stopping him from opening the door and welcoming death into their abode.

"We know you're in there Jaune." Intoned the bone-shaking voice of Nicholas Arc.

"We heard you talking with your lady-friend housemate." Chimed in Juniper. "She sounds nice, caring. But I will get angrier if you don't open this door right now Jaune, regardless of your lady-friend's attempts to save you from my righteous wrath."

"Our righteous wrath."

"Of course Nicky. Jauney? Are you going to comply or are we going to have to use the nothing where your window should be?"

"I'm opening it." Jaune sighed, and Blake whimpered, her ears falling flat against her back and eyes widening with fear and trepidation as he stepped forward. Her hand slipped away from its soft but tight grip around his wrist, and for a moment he lamented the loss of it's warmth before unlocking the door and throwing it open. "Hey."

"Hey?" Juniper Arc smiled sweetly. "Anything else you want to say honey buns?"

"Nice weather we're having right?"

"Jaune..." Nicholas sighed, lowering his head and shaking it dejectedly.

"I mean the sun's out-"

"Jaune just stop."

"-the birds are tweeting and stuff-

"Jaune you'll end up in Vacuo are this rate."

"-plus the sky is clear and blue and stuff-"

"The hole just keeps getting deeper son."

"-not a cloud in sight! Wanna have a picnic in the park?"

"Picnic." Juniper simpered sweetly. Sickeningly so. "That's a lovely idea. I'd love to go on a picnic with you and your father and your new lady-friend Jaune, but first I have to water board you so you tell me what the hell happened to your window!"

"Some idiot broke it!" Jaune protested. "It wasn't my fault!"

"Who let the idiot into your home?" Juniper retorted, and Jaune's mouth opened and closed helplessly. It wasn't like he could just tell them about the Weiss, they wouldn't believe him for a start and he had no idea as to whether letting them learn about the existence of the supernatural could but them in harm's way.

"I thought it was a good idea for some extra money." Jaune replied finally, though his voice was barely a whisper. "I wasn't just throwing a party just because 'hurdy-duh teens and drugs and sex' but rather it was a neat way to make some extra Lien renting the place out as a party pad."

"And how well did that turn out?" Juniper asked, tone still scolding but loosing much of its edge. "Jaune, honey, it was a smart idea on paper. But parties can bring out the worst in people even if it does bring out the fun as well. You've clearly learnt that now, so I won't go too hard on you. Just...try not to do it again. It's your house, your rules so I can't forbid it, but for the sake of your dear old mother staving off grey hairs for a few more years please at least try to not overdo this party stuff. I don't want you hurt by rowdy drunks or worse."

"That won't happen." Blake hissed, stepping forward with a frown on her face at the thought of Jaune being accosted. "I will protect him, I promised to him, now I promise to you."

"Do you now?" Juniper wondered aloud, her eyes locking onto Blake with all the focus of a homing missile. Jaune tried saving Blake, but a look from his father combined with a silent shake of his old man's head held him back. "And what is your name dearest?"

"Blake." Blake replied, eyes darting over to Jaune frantically with a wide look of confusion. He smiled and gestured shaking someone's hand. "I'm Blake, it's nice to meet you."

"Likewise dear." Juniper smiled, taking Blake's offered hand and shaking it with a smile. "What is your last name?"

"Pardon?" Blake blinked, and Jaune almost choked on his own breathe. A surname hadn't been something they'd planned.

"Your family name, like I was Juniper Changeur until I married my Nicky and took the Arc name." Juniper said, her hand visibly tightening around Blake's. "You do have last name don't you?"

Blake glanced over to Jaune once again and he shrugged helplessly, trying desperately to think of something. He saw her eyes light up and her lips start to move, and it took exactly zero seconds for him to realise what was about to happen.

"Blake Ar-"

"Nightshade." Jaune blurted. "Her name is Blake Nightshade."

"Interesting name Blake Nightshade." Juniper smiled warmly. "Though it seems she has ambitions to change to something more similar to Arc."

"That would be nice." Blake nodded, and Jaune choked on his own breath. "You seem very caring of your own. It would be nice to have a family like that."

"I consider you one of my own already dearest." Juniper smiled sadly, and if Jaune wasn't too busy choking on his own breath he'd realise there was a tinge of sympathy in Juniper's words. "What of your own family? Are they not loving?"

"I...I don't have one." Blake admitted. "I think it would be nice to have one though."

Jaune's mind broke down for the hundredth time in the past twenty-four hours as he realised he'd told his mother on the phone Blake had lived a sheltered life, suggesting she'd at least had some sort of guardian to look after her as a child. The realisation she hadn't worried him and made him angry at the thought of an innocent, sweet person being left alone to grow up by themselves in such a harsh world.

"She was raised by some distant relative on a farm outside Ansel." Jaune blurted out. "She's only recently come of age so she's moved into the town proper to grow up if you know what I mean."

"I think I do." Juniper replied, raising a brow in his direction. "What's for dinner? I don't smell anything cooking?"

"I...uh...been busy shopping." Jaune admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with a wince. "I may or may not need a new sofa as well as a new window."

"Jaune..." His father sighed, and Jaune held up his hands in surrender.

"No parties I know." Jaune promised. "I'll go cook something up now."

"I'll help honey-bun." Juniper said, nudging Nicholas with her elbow. "How about you and Blake set the table and get to know one another. From what I've heard there's a good chance you might be the one to walk her down the aisle in a few years time."

"Huh?" Jaune wondered aloud, but before he could articulate his confusion his mother dragged him down the hall, leaving behind a blushing Blake and a tired looking dad in their wake.

/#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/

"How did you meet?"

"We...uh..." Jaune stopped slicing a juicy orange carrot as he thought. "Met."

"Really?" His mother snorted, shaking her head as she peeled some round potatoes. "That's the best you could come up with?"

"I'm just thinking!" Jaune protested, huffing as his mind managed to cobble something together. "We ran into one another and she looked out for me. There was this crazy chick who didn't understand no meant no until Blake stepped in."

"I see." Juniper smiled, suddenly peeling the potato with much more gusto. "And do you know the name of this woman? What does she look like? Where does she live?"

"Mom..." Jaune sighed.

"I'm just curious!" Juniper replied innocently. "A friend of mine want's to know for educational reasons."

"Okay." Jaune smiled. "I'll humour you. For what educational reasons does your friend suddenly want to know about a girl who harassed me a little bit."

"Well it's more science-y stuff." Juniper smiled sweetly. "Dissectional to be specific. The education part is where the crazy lady learns no means no whilst she's being cut up like a frog for a high school project."

"Jeez mom." Jaune blinked, stepping away carefully as Juniper continued to peel away at the potato with a happy smile and equally happy giggle erupting from her. "You're scary."

"It's took you eighteen years to realise that just now?" Juniper retorted, before sighing heavily. "Are you okay? I know I can be overbearing and I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable after something like that happening."

"It's fine, honestly." Jaune held up his hands when she gave him a disbelieving look. "I swear! Blake stepped in before it got really bad. That's why I let her stay after she mentioned needing a place to live."

"I see." Juniper nodded, tossing aside the now ruined potato she'd been peeling and starting again on a fresher one. "Can she pay rent? Does she have a job? Or does she study instead?"

"Neither." Jaune admitted, tossing his cut up carrot slices into the pan before picking up a fresh one. Before he started to cut it he peeled off the outer layers of its skin first, giving it a smooth look. "Like I said she grew up sheltered. She'll need a little adjustment before she can really do that sort of stuff, and I can afford to provide food and stuff for a little while."

"You should be saving up to start a family or have money in the bank in case of a recession Jaune." His mother scolded lightly. "Not spending it on someone else."

"She needs it." Jaune protested, and Juniper smiled and put a hand on his hand.

"I know honey buns." Juniper said. "But you aren't a charity. You don't have the resources to spare to help her out and prepare her for life proper. There are organisations that can though."

"She likes it here." Jaune retorted weakly.

"Because she gets free food, free water and a free roof over her head." Juniper shook her head. "At the end of the day its your decision Jaune, but you have to remember you aren't some knight in shining armour. You're Jaune, a sweet boy with a bright future ahead of him. Don't waste it getting bankrupted looking after some girl, even if she's sweet and looks pretty."

"Is that why you think I'm helping her?" Jaune snapped angrily, the implication of his mother's words infuriating him. "Do you honestly think I'm that shallow and that single-minded that I'd bend over backwards looking after some girl just because she looks nice? She's a good person mom, she just needs a little help and that's what I'm going to give her for as long as it takes so that she can get on her own feet."

"I didn't mean it like that." Juniper sighed, though there was a hint of frustration in her tone. "I'm just worried about you honey bun. The last time you fell for a girl she broke your heart and she nearly broke you in the process. I don't want to see you go through that again, I don't want you to suffer anymore than you have to."

His eyes fell down to the kitchen counter at the mention of Pyrrha, because Gods knew that was such a good thing to talk about right now. There was an empty silence only filled by the sound of boiling water and the aroma of steadily cooked food.

"I didn't-"

"Of course you didn't." Jaune snorted hotly, slamming the carrot and the knife onto the counter. "You never mean anything these days don't you?"

He stormed from the kitchen, ignoring his mother's calls and slamming the door behind him as he left the kitchen and thundered into his overgrown mess of a back yard, still untamed and messy from neglect from its previous owner. He hadn't had the time to think about it and get it sorted yet, just like he hadn't had the time to plan out a proper backstory with Blake or realise the fact he only had a few more hours until nightfall and Weiss' visit.

He only had a few hours left and here he was arguing with his mom.

The thought angered him so much he lashed out without thinking, letting out a pained grunt as his curled fist slammed into a tree and an explosion of sharp pain spread across his knuckles.

'Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!' He scolded internally, exhaling heavily as he lowered himself to sit cross-legged in the overgrown grass and cradled his hand in his lap.

"Jaune?" A tentative voice asked, and Jaune blinked before turning to see Blake, though her skin was deathly pale and her knees seemed to be trembling, as if she was cold.

"Blake?" He asked, letting his worry distract him from his throbbing hurt. "Are you alright?"

/#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/

"Where are you from?"

"Upstairs."

"No I mean where do you live."

"Upstairs."

"I meant where did you live before here. Sorry lass that was my fault for getting my words mixed up."

"You don't need to apologise Mister Arc." Blake replied, fighting to keep her cool as the mountain man interrogated her. "You did nothing wrong."

'Unlike me.' Went unspoken between the two of them, and Blake found herself flinching as the mountain man laid down a knife and fork onto a plate carefully, the cutlery screeching against the plate loudly.

"So?" Mister Arc inquired.

"So." Blake nodded in reply, not sure what else to say so just copying him.

"So where did you live before here? Jaune mentioned somewhere outside of Ansel." Mister Arc pointed out, and Blake nodded again.

"He was right. I came from somewhere outside of Ansel."

Mister Arc stared at her so she stared back at him, panicking internally over whether it was one of those situations where it was better to look away or not. Eventually Mister Arc chuckled and shook his head.

"What did I do wrong?" Blake asked, feeling self doubt rise inside of her. What if Jaune's parents didn't like her? What if they stopped her from pursuing him? What if-

"You did nothing wrong lass." Mister Arc replied firmly, giving her a stern look. "So don't feel bad, okay?"

"Okay." Blake nodded, mumbling the words quietly as she laid down a mat on the cloth covered table. "Why did you laugh though?"

"You remind me of Juniper when she was younger." Mister Arc smiled, softening the harsh look on his face. "I'd recommend not telling her that in case she gets the wrong idea and kills the both of us."

"I won't tell." Blake promised, holding forward her pinkie finger. Mister Arc took it with his own and give it a firm little shake, as if it was comparable to a hand shake. "How do I though? We look nothing alike?"

"You have a similar demeanour." Mister Arc said vaguely, giving her a knowing look. "And I believe you went through similar circumstances."

"She was alone too?" Blake wondered aloud, and Mister Arc shrugged.

"Ask her yourself, I'm not one to talk about other's stories behind their backs when it is theirs to tell."

"That is fair." Blake conceded, though she couldn't deny feeling a small measure of frustration at his willingness to make her curious but unwillingness to sate said curiosity.

"Does Jaune make you pay rent?" Mister Arc asked suddenly, breaking the silence they found themselves in. The table was set but the food was not ready for it, and Jaune and his mother were busy talking in the kitchen to one another.

"I...no." Blake replied, nervously, gripping the chair she stood behind tightly. "I do not have employment or money."

"How do you pay back my son for the food and shelter he provides?" Mister Arc asked, and Blake said nothing because she did nothing. Her self-doubts rose once more like a viscous beast eager for flesh, eviscerating her meagre confidence and reminding her of just how much of a burden she was on Jaune.

"I do jobs around the house." Blake half-lied. She helped out where she could and if directed by Jaune if he was too busy himself, but he never pushed her to do it and she never advocated for such either. She promised to do so in future, but that did not help her now nor did it allay her building self-loathing. "I help where I can."

"He doesn't..." Mister Arc trailed off awkwardly, tone filled with something sounding like uncomfortableness. "He doesn't force you to do anything you don't like does he?"

"No." Blake blinked, cocking her head at the question. "He is kind to me, he does not hurt me and he does not make me feel bad or sad. He is a good person."

"I know." Mister Arc sighed explosively. "But I needed to make sure. Seven daughters...it changes a man, that's for certain."

"Jaune told me he had many siblings." Blake said, gazing at Mister Arc curiously. "Why did you have so many? It seems many tend to stick with one or two children from what I've read, why have so many?"

"Er..." Mister Arc blinked, a pink hue growing on his cheeks. "Reasons...like Juniper. She, uh, she wanted lots of kids."

"I would like lots of children." Blake mused aloud, and Mister Arc started coughing suddenly. "Are you well?"

"Yeah." Mister Arc wheezed, thumping his chest furiously as if he was trying to punch out the cause of his coughing. "Never better. Also you don't just remind me of a younger Juniper, you definitely do. I've never known someone so forward about wanting that."

"I'm sorry." Blake said, lowering her head and feeling a strong sense of shame and embarrassment. Jaune had often warned her she shared too much information, and now she had embarrassed herself in front of his father.

The sound of raised voices echoing in from the kitchen made them both turn in the direction of said room, and Blake flinched in surprise as she heard a clatter and the sound of a door opening and slamming shut that vibrated through the house. She looked at Mister Arc, who gave a shrug and made to step towards the kitchen, only for a sad looking Missus Arc to walk in with a sad look on her face.

"June?" Mister Arc asked. "What's wrong?"

"I said the wrong things at the wrong time." Missus Arc sighed, the look of sadness almost cutting in how utterly dejected it looked. "I was a bitch Nicky."

"That's never true June." Mister Arc retorted hotly, stepping forward and sweeping his wife up into a fierce bear hug. "Tell me what happened and I'll talk to Jaune, man to man."

"No." Missus Arc replied, shaking her head and peeling her head back from her husband's wide chest so she could speak clearly without being muffled, though she linked her arms around his back and kept the embrace going. Her eyes turned to Blake, cutting into her very soul and freezing her on the spot. "Why don't you go dearest? I fear Nicky and I would say the wrong things out of anger at what happened to him. Thank you for protecting him by the way."

"No problem." Blake said, trying to hide her confusion. "Where is Jaune?"

"Outside in the back yard. He shouldn't be too far." Missus Arc replied, giving her a strange look. "Are you alright? You look a little pale."

"I'm fine. I will return soon with Jaune." Blake lied, smiling politely as she stepped past the parents and wandered into the kitchen, standing stock still next to the doorway and glaring at the light still bright and clear outside the house.

She took a tentative step forwards, and when she didn't burn she sighed and shuffled forward further. After a few minutes she found herself at the door, hand wrapped tightly around the handle and staring at the orange hue covering the sky.

"Shoo!" Blake pleaded. "I need to get to Jaune! Please shoo!"

The light did not obey her, and Blake whimpered at the thought of having to step outside.

"It's frightening isn't it?" Said a voice from behind, startling Blake and making her cry out. Shadows gathered against the ceiling and tentacles she kept hidden in the walls and floorboards shuffled towards her in her fright. She called them off once she realised it was just Missus Arc, who was giving her a sympathetic look.

"What?" Blake asked dumbly, and Missus Arc smiled and nodded to the window.

"What's outside. It's frightening. The sun is beautiful, and we owe a lot to it, but it burns us all slowly. Sometimes quickly." Missus Arc chuckled humourlessly. "Fickle thing. You don't need to be afraid, though I doubt these words help. Fear is fear, though to overcome it is something we all need to learn to do."

"It burns..." Blake whispered quietly, and Juniper stepped forward, reaching up and tugging open a window above the the sink. She stuck her hand outside and Blake stepped back, afraid of seeing it burn and peel and blister, only for her to gaze in wonder as it remained untouched.

"You barely feel it." Missus Arc smiled, leaning back and closing the window. "It'll take time to adjust, but if you never do then you will just be stuck here forever. What if Jaune leaves? What if he moves house and the next owners don't wish to care for you and demand you leave?"

Blake wrapped her trembling hand around the door knob as she realised what Missus Arc was getting to. She held tightly, feeling the coolness of the metal and needing something to steady her shaking hands. She turned back to Missus Arc, who smiled encouragingly and nodded slightly. Blake breathed deeply before pulling the door open gingerly and peeking outside.

Fresh air greeted her, cooling her skin and making her feel a little bti more relaxed. Leaves rustled in the gentle breeze, and Blake closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the breeze on her face.

"You can do it dearest." Missus Arc encouraged. "Go get him."

Blake stepped outside.

/#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/

"Blake?" Jaune asked, letting his worry distract him from his throbbing hurt in his knuckles. "Are you alright?"

"N-Not really." Blake stammered, eyes glancing upwards. "The light scares me."

"You didn't need to come outside." Jaune said, standing up and moving to reach for her. He caught himself and let his hands fall to his sides. "Go back inside, I won't be long."

"Y-Your knuckles!" Blake gasped, eyes darting to his hand. "You are hurt! Was it the light?"

"It wasn't the sun no." Jaune sighed. "It was my own stupidity that hurt me. You really don't look well Blake, let's go inside."

"N-Not until you are ready." Blake protested, but he just shook his head and gently reached forward to take her hand. She didn't protest as she led the both of them towards the house, and when he looked back he saw a red flush to her cheeks. It was better than the deathly paleness, and he quite liked the way it contrasted with her amber eyes and dark hair.

"You look beautiful." Jaune blurted out, and Blake's eyes widened at the sudden compliment. He found himself drawn to them, and then he looked into the widened pupil. They were glassy, dark, and inhuman in a way.

He lurched suddenly, and his head throbbed with sharp pain.

/#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/

The droplets were separate and alone and scared. They did not know what to do, what to feel or what to think. They did not know if they could do those things. The light bore down on them and hurt them, burning as bright and as sharp as the teeth of the monsters that ate away at the something.

There were things. Different to them in many aspects. The things were kind. The things were cruel. The things were good. The things were bad.

The things called themselves hoomans. The droplets did not know what to name themselves. The hoomans called them...

/#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/

Jaune blinked, staring into Blake's wide eyes, the pain in his head fading as quickly as it came.

"Did you see...?" Blake trailed off, and Jaune felt his mind spin and head whir as he tried to think, tried to remember more than just enough.

"I-I think so." Jaune replied, before shaking his head and stumbling towards the house. "We can figure out more later, for now let's make sure mom and dad aren't worrying enough to kill us. It looks darker than I remember."

He hurried them into the house and locked the door behind them in a vain attempt ot leave behind whatever he'd seen. Not that he knew what he'd seen, only that he had seen it.

"About time kiddo." Nicholas Arc said, giving Jaune a knowing look. "You two have been out there for an hour now."

"What?" Jaune blurted out, and Blake did the same before yelling "Jinx!".

"Yup." Nicholas smiled and waggled his eyebrows. "Time flies when you're having fun eh?"

"We didn't do-"

"You can't speak Jaune!" Blake yelled, putting her hand over his mouth. "I jinxed you!"

Jaune shot his father a pleading look. His father replied with an evil grin.

"Jaune, Jaune, Jaune." His mother said, stepping into the kitchen and wearing one of Jaune's aprons. "We took the liberty to finish dinner whilst you two did whatever it is teenagers do that definitely isn't you-know-what. Wink."

"You don't say-never mind." Jaune sighed, finally free to speak again as Blake withdrew her hand from his mouth dejectedly. "I'm sorry for storming out and leaving you guys to just wait for Blake to calm me down."

"You don't need to apologise Jaune." His mother smiled sadly. "I was out of line with what I was saying, besides, I had fun cooking with your father whilst Blake, in your words, calmed you down."

"Not like-never mind." Jaune sighed in defeat. "What's for dinner again?"

"Food." His father said with another waggle of his eyebrows, earning a smack on the arm from his mother. "Just go and find out."

Jaune did so, eyes widening at the sight of food he swore he didn't have in his fridge. Blake had a similarly awed expression.

"Jaune can your parents cook all the time?" Blake whispered conspiratorially. "You cook real good but this..."

"This is a proper meal made with love and affection." Juniper Arc finished, stepping forward and wrapping an arm over the both of them. "Now tuck in, it's a big occasion for your housemate Jaune."

"It is?" Jaune blinked, earning a swat on the shoulder from his mother.

"Of course it is." Juniper grinned widely. "It's the first time she's enjoying a proper family meal. Now tuck in you two, there's more than enough to go around. I'll go get us some drinks."

She turned around to head for the kitchen, but neither of them moved, still too awestruck by the food spread out before them.

"Don't make me repeat myself." Juniper warned.

She didn't need to.

/#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/ /#/

After a hearty meal of roast potatoes, roast chicken and broccoli and carrots and mash and gravy and beef and stuffing balls and pickled onions and sprouts and pretty much every other thing to exist as a food but made perfect by his parent's cooking, Jaune waved goodbye to Juniper and Nicholas Arc after hugging them both tightly and making them promise to tell his sisters he loved them, thought that only earned a confused look from the both of them.

Neither knew about the supernatural or what was about to happen, and he would not endanger them by telling them of what was about to happen.

"That was not normal behaviour." Blake noted after his parents left. Jaune smiled weakly, finding it ironic the person who'd been living in his walls was now commenting on his own odd behaviour.

"Weiss is coming round again." Jaune said, and Blake frowned in confusion as she struggled to remember who that was exactly. "The vampire you saved me from last night. I had to invite her back round again otherwise she would have tried attacking my friends."

"You did what!?" Blake exclaimed. "How could you invite that leech back around and endanger yourself so obviously?!"

"I had no choice!" Jaune protested. "She made it clear she would have gone after Ren and Pyrrha for food if I refused."

"Which is true." Purred an overly familiar voice from the other side of the Jaune. "The redhead especially looked delectable."

"Weiss!" Jaune gasped, spinning around to face the door with fear. Blake stepped forward, tentacles emerging from the walls and suddenly gathered shadows to form around her.

"You will not touch him leech!" Blake hissed. "Begone!"

"Now that's just rude." Weiss tutted, voice echoing in through the broken window she'd been tossed through hours prior. "I suppose I'll have to find somewhere nicer to dine. The quiet boy seemed pilot. I wonder how delicious his blood will taste?"

"Wait!" Jaune cried, managing to slip past an unsuspecting Blake to open the door. "I welcome you into my home! There's no need to go after Ren or Pyrrha!"

"Good boy." Weiss smirked, icy blue eyes boring into his own. "Now call off your little pet. I prefer to have my meals uninterrupted."

"Blake..." Jaune swallowed nervously, feeling crushed under the weight of Weiss' predatory gaze and Blake's confused, frightened look. "Just wait outside okay? Everything will be okay, just don't do anything."

"I don't believe you." Blake whispered, the tentacles writhing angrily behind you. "I will not let her hurt you Jaune!"

"If I can't eat undisturbed here I will find a meal elsewhere." Weiss interjected, and Jaune turned towards Blake, grabbing her hands and holding them tightly.

"Look at me Blake." He asked gently, tone becoming firmer when they remained fixated on Weiss over his shoulder. "Blake please."

She looked at him, amber orbs boring into his, wide and desperate and pleading. It broke his heart to see, but he couldn't risk the lives of his friends. Not for himself.

"Just wait outside a few minutes." He said gently. "She'll take a little but after that I'll be fine. I promise."

Blake said nothing, but after a few moments she raised the pinkie finger on her right hand. Jaune smiled sadly at the sight and raised his own, wrapping his pinkie around hers and solidifying the solemn promise he knew he was probably going to break. Blake said nothing else and watched carefully as she stepped past Weiss on into the the front yard. Weiss smirked at Blake the entire time, before sashaying into the house as if she owned it and closing the door behind her, stopping Jaune from seeing the comfort of Blake's nearby presence.

"Now that is all over." Weiss smiled, though it was one filled with teeth and the promise of savagery. Her canines seemed sharper than anything he'd ever seen before and he found himself stepping backwards out of fear. "Let's skip the starters and get to the main course shall we?"

"Over my dead body you insidious leech!" Someone bellowed, and Jaune yelled as his front door exploded and black tentacles flooded into his house. Weiss screamed as they cut her porcelain skin and black blood splattered over the walls and onto Jaune's face. He blinked at the sudden violence, staggering backwards until his back thudded against the wall.

Weiss screeched as she was dragged back out of the house and tossed into the night by the small army of dark tentacles, and a short figure stood tall in his door frame.

"You are lucky your mother is who she is leech otherwise I would have torn you to shreds and tossed you into a vat of garlic. Now begone! You a forbidden from the abode of Jaune Arc from now until the end of time itself!"

Pained sobbing echoed from the street and gradually faded as Weiss made her escape. Jaune trembled in the hallway, heart thundering in shock, before he stumbled onto his feet and headed towards the door.

"You promised!" He gasped out, not sure whether to be angry or grateful or both or neither. "You said you'd just wait a little bit whilst she took a little blood!"

"I made no such promise." The figure retorted, and Jaune gaped as it turned around. "Now you are going to tell me just what sort of trouble you've gotten yourself into mister!"

"M-Mom?!"

A/N: Next update 25/06/2023