It was a quiet ride to Beacon that morning. Ruby sat in the backseat with her sister, offering silent companionship. Jaune kept his eyes on the road, repressing his desire to check them out in favor of letting them have their privacy.

'And I thought my family was fucked up.'

It was, in ways that Jaune still didn't fully comprehend, but at least he'd had time since his expulsion to process everything- even the sex powers. He didn't have that kind of bombshell dropped on him this morning.

…It had felt good to hold Yang again.

When he was younger that was something he had taken for granted- Yang was extremely huggy. He had whined about her incessant glomping, but he had enjoyed the warmth, the closeness. But almost immediately after indulging he was reminded why he had stepped away.

Yang's body felt very different than it used to, so perfect when pressed against his own. So did Ruby's. They weren't kids anymore, they were two bombshells and one extremely virile young man, and Jaune had had to pull out of the embrace before his body's natural reaction had given him away, and shuffle awkwardly into the car, hiding his massive bulge.

'Everything always has to be about sex.' He thought bitterly.

'No shit.' His shadow responded. 'You're a man aren't you? Look at them .'

'Stop-'

'LOOK. AT. THEM.'

Jaune sighed and let his eyes drift to the rearview mirror.

'Alright, they're perfect. Fuck off.'

Petite, perky Ruby whose mother looked just as good and also happened to be a secret agent. And busty, beautiful Yang, whose mother was also a smokeshow and the single most dangerous woman on the planet.

…Wait, how did he know for sure what Yang's mother looked like-

-Jaune tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

He had seen Raven- once. He just hadn't believed it- she disappeared so quickly that he assumed she was just a figment of his imagination, a phantom brought on by stress. Normal people didn't appear and disappear out of thin air.

But Blessed might.

Ruby had said that according to her parent's sources, Raven was at Qrow's bar one moment and then gone the next. Just like the gym. Memories flooded his mind, spinning into theories and counter theories. Blessed operated in the shadows of society… like the criminal underworld… or intelligence agencies… each Blessed had a unique 'semblance' that could do any number of things… Yang's eyes occasionally flashed red… and a Blessing was hereditary .

'What if Yang's like me?'

No… that couldn't be true. Yang didn't have a healing factor, and while she was strong for a woman she wasn't that strong. Even if Raven was a Blessed -and that was only a very plausible theory- the odds were long that it would have passed on.

'Xiao Long.' a familiar voice chimed in his head.

"Damn it, Yang." He breathed.

Yang's eyes flitted back from the window. " …You say something?" She asked.

Jaune shook his head. "...Nothing."

And it probably was. So what if Yang's eyes changed color… what kind of 'Blessing' was purely cosmetic?

'What kind of Blessing turns you into a super-charged sex addict?'

'...Fair point.'

Some of his powers had kicked in automatically, but Cinder seemed convinced that he was a unique case. Even if Yang was a Blessed, she would need extensive training to be able to use her aura.

But, if Yang was a Blessed, why would Raven abandon her?

His Dad had pushed him out to protect his sisters… or because he was a potential threat. Arcs were volatile, Jaune knew that much. But Raven wouldn't have to worry about that, and a superpowered daughter would have made for an invaluable lieutenant for any family syndicate. The Branwens were a crime family after all… and Blessed were organized around families, he and Cinder excluded.

Why would Raven throw away such a valuable asset?

It had been simple enough to consider her a heartless bitch before, but while that theory was more or less confirmed it didn't mean she was stupid- the woman would be far less dangerous if she was. Maybe, if Yang wasn't a Blessed, leaving her with a normal family was the best way to keep her safe, out of the crossfire of warring criminals.

…Then why the eyes?

Jaune didn't know enough to say or do anything. If she was anything like him, she was in the same kind of danger he was, and she had to know. But how would he tell her? 'Hey, Yang, just wanted to let you know, I'm superhuman and you are too. That's why I stopped talking to you, by the way, because my Blessing gave me an overwhelming urge to fuck you pregnant and you're too much of a tease for me to control myself. Wonder what your power is?'

…He'd cross that bridge when he came to it. If Yang wasn't a Blessed, then she and Ruby both had to be kept as far away from that world as possible. There had to be some kind of test to know for sure. Cinder would be able to tell. Something else nagged at him about last night's debacle…after she woke up from her sex coma, Cinder had a lot of explaining to do.

Jaune pulled into the Beacon parking lot with more questions than answers, and only a few minutes to spare. He hopped out of the car and did his best to hide the girls from view as they walked into the building.

"Stay close to me." He said.

Yang looked like she wanted to argue, but then she saw the swarm of students surrounding them.

"Did you see it?! Did you see it?!"

"Is your uncle really dead?!"

"Dead? I heard he saved 5 people from the fire!"

"Wait, that washed up drunk? I heard he started the fire!"

"Damn, Yang, you look hot today! Ruby too!"

"Hey, Jaune, you work with Branwen, right? Is he as crazy as everyone says?"

"Think these bitches can blow me as hard as their uncle blew up a city-"

" Shut up."

Jaune hadn't shouted, but everyone in the hall felt like he had. His voice was hard, low and booming, reverberating through their very bones. He lorded over them all effortlessly, towering above the masses. His body was tense, his motions calm, and there was a fire in his eyes. The crowd was shocked into silence. They weren't dealing with the disgraced loner, or their friendly neighborhood vomit boy.

This was the Champ's son.

"How would you like it if you got mobbed the same day you found out one of your family members almost died ? How would you like to be stared at, harassed?" He took a breath to calm himself. "...None of us saw anything . We all found out about the story the same time as you. What do we know? None of your fucking business, that's what. You wanna find out what happened? Read the goddamn paper. And leave them alone."

The warning bell sounded, letting everyone know it was time to get to class. The crowd happily obliged, eager to escape the apex predator staring them down.

Yang made to move.

"...See you guys…" she said awkwardly.

He could keep an eye on Ruby, but he and Yang had different first periods- mostly different classes, too. He couldn't leave her alone like this-

"Excuse me. Step aside, Heiress, coming through."

While most foot traffic was going away from them, a small group was parting the current and making their way towards them, led by Weiss Schnee.

"We've got it from here, champ." Blake said disarmingly, slipping into place beside Yang.

Jaune hesitated.

Then he relaxed. Like it or not… he wasn't Yang's best friend anymore. She had moved on, and she had chosen well.

Weiss began babbling about homework or date night or some trivial thing that had nothing to do with the day's events, and Yang chuckled as she walked down the hall with her, friends in tow.

Jaune smiled sadly.

Pyrrha did too.

He turned to meet her gaze.

"Hey, Pyrrha." He said awkwardly. "...Shouldn't you go with them?"

She shook her head. "We have different first periods, actually." She said. "I'll catch up with them later."

"...Look after her, would you?"

Pyrrha nodded solemnly. She looked at the boy, wanting to say something else… so much more. But she couldn't. "...You're a good friend, Jaune."

Then she disappeared down the hall.

Jaune settled into Oobleck's class, daring anyone to bother Ruby. She looked at him, pleased and annoyed at the same time, but she didn't try to stop him. They would be at her again as soon as he was gone- but they'd have to wait a very long time. Jaune was always by her side.

"Yo."

Ren and Nora came in beside them just as the bell chimed.

Ren was quiet and respectful, giving a friendly nod as he sat down.

Nora looked at the pair pensively for a moment.

Jaune readied himself for another, more friendly warning to leave the issue alone, but Nora, as she was wont to do, sidestepped it entirely.

"What's wrong with your face?"

"...The Headmaster spilled coffee on you?" Ren asked incredulously.

Jaune nodded. "Yeah. Hurt like a bitch too."

"I'll bet." Nora said. "Who knew old Ozpin was that much of a klutz?"

Ruby looked down at her hands. "...With all that happened today, I didn't even notice." She said. "I'm sorry."

Jaune smiled and laid a comforting hand over hers. "It's fine." He said. "It doesn't even hurt."

Nora smirked knowing as she watched the pair.

"Well, lucky you." She said. "The bandage looks badass … everyone's saying you got scraped up during the explosion."

"How do you know that?" Ren asked.

Nora's eyes twinkled as they darted across the room, catching guilty gossipers in the act.

"Nora knows." She said seriously. "Nora always knows."

"...Then perhaps you'd like to share with the rest of the class."

Nora turned around to find Dr. Oobleck standing over her, quite irate. They were in the middle of a lesson, after all.

"Could you tell us who the Valean Faunus crowned 'King' of their army at the Covenant of the Beasts during the Final Feral War?"

Nora looked to Ren nervously, who could do nothing to help her. "The… uh… Beast… King?"

Oobleck blinked. "...Yes, actually." He cleared his throat. "Carry on, then."

Class carried on uneventfully.

By the time they made it to second period the gossipers had quieted down, at least. Most people had heard the basics already, and, more importantly, no one interrupted Miss Goodwitch in the middle of a lecture. By the time the bell rang Jaune thought the day would quiet down.

"Mister Arc." Glynda said gently, "A word, please?"

Jaune looked at Ruby hesitantly. She shrugged. 'I'll be fine.' She mouthed. Then she hurried out of the room.

Miss Goodwitch watched the pair closely. She waited until she and the boy were alone to speak.

"I heard about the crowd you ran into this morning."

Jaune sighed. "...Is there anyone who hasn't?"

Glynda allowed herself a wry smile. "Probably not." She said. "I think everyone in the building heard you." She paused for a moment. "...That was a very kind thing you did."

Jaune flushed slightly at the expression on her face. " I just… wanted to make sure Ruby and Yang got some breathing room. This morning was hard enough for them without getting mobbed."

"How are you taking it?" Glynda asked.

Jaune raised an eyebrow. "I'm fine. I feel bad for Qrow and the girls, but-"

"-Mr. Branwen is something like a father to you, isn't he?"

Jaune laughed incredulously.

"What, Qrow? He's my boss. He's an alright guy, but I mainly know him through his nieces, we're not that close. At best he's my vicarious drunken uncle...vidrunkle?"

'It's not like he took you in off the street, put a roof over your head and is the most stable adult presence in your life.' Persona said.

'...Oh, fuck, Qrow is the closest thing I have to a father figure. No wonder I'm so messed up.'

Glynda could see gears turning in his head. " It's okay to worry about him."

Jaune sighed tiredly. "He and Clover got out, and no one else was hurt. Hell, he already texted me asking to cover his shifts this week. I don't know what caused the attack, or if anything else is coming, but if they can keep it together so can I. "

Miss Goodwitch nodded. "If you ever do need to talk, my door is always open."

Jaune relaxed slightly. "...Thanks, Glynda." He moved to the door.

"...Jaune… wait." She said hesitantly. Glynda was uncharacteristically nervous, fidgeting with her skirt. Her eyes locked on the bandage on his cheek. "I'd like to apologize for… overstepping, yesterday."

Jaune sent her a smile that made her heart skip a beat. "Don't worry about it-"

"-It's just that I do worry about you." Glynda admitted. "All the time."

Jaune stared at her.

Glynda rushed to clarify "I know your emancipation has put you in a difficult situation, and I know you're trying to make the best of it, but I know you can do great things if you put your mind to it. I think you're an outstanding young man who deserves to have someone in his corner." She exhaled tiredly. "I… I don't know how to be that person. I don't have the right to make you do anything. I'm not trying to replace your mother: I know you don't want that and I don't want it either. I just… I only want the best for you, Jaune."

Her voice had faded to a shy whisper, and her cheeks were a dusty shade of pink.

"...Glynda…"

Jaune felt his heart hammer in his chest as he looked at her. He knew she wasn't a touchy-feely person, but he didn't expect her to be so visibly embarrassed by anything, least of all her feelings for him.

Her feelings for him.

'Don't twist this into something it's not.' He thought desperately, ignoring the fire spreading through his veins, and the tightening of his pants. 'Just because she cares doesn't mean she wants your dick.' Glynda must have sensed something shift in the air, because she was doing everything she could to avoid looking him in the eye.

It was out of character. Miss Goodwitch had always been beautiful, hot, sexy, gorgeous- adjectives he couldn't get out of his head even if he tried. But now, seeing her like this, a new word was added to that list.

Adorable. Glynda Goodwitch was adorable.

'You're all alone.' Shadow taunted, eyes darting to the closed door. 'Why not show Goodbitch how much you adore her?'

Jaune took an unconscious step forward-

-The door burst open.

"Yo, Jaune-Jaune!" Nora yelled. "What's the hold-"

She stopped. Her eyes widened as the two blonds took several steps back from each other, like they had been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

Jaune was the first to recover. "Hey, Nora." He said calmly. "We were just talking about our meeting with Ozpin yesterday." He said, only half lying. He met Glynda's eyes. "I'll have that job form filled out for you by the end of the week."

Glynda adjusted her glasses as she fought to regain her composure. "...See to it that you do." She said evenly. Then she moved to her desk. "Now, Mister Arc, Miss Valkyrie, this is my planning period, but if you want to make it to class on time I'd suggest you leave.

"...You got it, Miss G." Nora said, looking the woman over carefully, making note of the goosebumps all over her skin. '...No, it couldn't be.'

Jaune expected a barrage of questions from his shortstack friend. Nora didn't say a word. Instead, she was lost in thought, even after Port fell into one of his grandiose stories.

Nora was a lot smarter than most people gave her credit for. He hadn't actually done anything, but what if she had seen enough to figure out-

'-Figure out what? That I want to fuck Glynda? Big shocker there.'

It's not like there was anything going on that she could figure out.

Velvet's ears perked up as the door to the library creaked open.

Jaune scanned the room for a second before locking eyes with hers. Her stomach did a backflip as she nervously waved him over to her table- their table.

Jaune waved back as he made his way over. It was the perfect location, really, quiet enough to have a discreet conversation, but public enough that he couldn't ravish her.

'We could always go back to the stacks- the trashy romance novels are nearby, it would be great to pin her against them while we go at it-'

Jaune cleared his thoughts. Then he realized exactly where they were.

This was where they used to study together.

"...Just like old times?" He asked.

Velvet smiled gently. "...Yeah." She said.

The pair sat in oppressive silence for a moment.

Velvet took his hand tentatively. "I… I heard about what happened to Ruby's uncle, and… I understand if now isn't the best time-"

Jaune gave her hand a gentle squeeze, trying to ignore what her touch did to him. "It's fine." He said. "We have to work it out some time, don't we?"

Velvet gulped, and then nodded. She looked at him.

"...I'm sorry about what I did yesterday." she said. " You had your reasons, I had no right to pry."

Jaune shrugged. "Coco is just as much to blame." He said. "We had a little shouting match after you left, she told me as much."

Velvet winced. "...Are you still mad?"

Jaune exhaled. "I'm not thrilled about how you found out." He admitted. "But I'm glad you know the truth. I didn't mean to make you feel like you weren't good enough. Nothing could be further from the truth. I just…" he buried his face in his hands. "...it's complicated."

Velvet slipped an arm over his shoulder, moving closer by his side. "I'm listening."

"...I can't be the kind of partner you need." He said, pained.

Suddenly he felt a gentle pressure on his chin. Velvet was practically in his lap now, and tilted his head up until it was even with hers. Their faces were inches apart.

"...How do you know that?" She breathed.

He could feel her fingers on her skin, the warmth of her breath and the beating of her heart. She was an exquisite creature, and he was seconds away from taking her on the spot, audience be damned. But before her lips touched his, he regained control.

"Do you really want to be girl #5?"

Velvet hesitated.

"...That's what I thought." He said, pushing her back into her chair.

"...I thought you had 3 girlfriends?" Velvet said dumbly.

Jaune smiled mirthlessly. 'Photographic memory.'

"I met someone new last night." He said, sparing her the knowledge that he was well on his way to claiming her best friend as another fucktoy. "Nothing serious, just a little fun. That's all it ever is. That isn't want you want." He rose to leave.

"It isn't what you want, either." Velvet said, staring right into his soul.

'Smart girl.' Persona thought. 'Too smart for you .'

Jaune sighed. "It's all I can handle. I'll spare you the details, but my sex drive is so out of control that none of my girls can keep up with me on their own."

Velvet blushed bright red.

Jaune grabbed her shoulder, willing her to understand.

"It's not that I don't want you- I do, desperately- but I can't promise you any more than a fuck buddy. Can you tell me with a straight face that that wouldn't tear you apart? You're the kind of woman men fight wars over; I won't let you throw yourself into an arrangement you don't want just to try and please me."

He tried to walk away again. Velvet grabbed his hand.

Jaune could have broken her hold easily. He didn't. Velvet bit her quivering lip as she steeled her resolve.

"You… meant what you said yesterday, didn't you?" she whispered.

"Every word." Jaune breathed.

He stiffened as she leapt forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.

"Then… there are some things I need to tell you ." Her voice was watery.

Jaune wanted to throw her down on the table, right in the middle of the library, tear her clothes to shreds and breed her then and there. With her delightful form pressed against his own, it was all he could do to keep his hands still.

"...I don't have a lot of people that care about me." She confessed.

Jaune felt a stab of pain in his chest. This angelic creature was unloved? 'How? Why?'

"...I've never been good at making friends." She continued. "And when most people see me, they see a freak, a suck up, a wall flower. You're one of the only people who sees me for me."

Jaune choked up. "But… your family."

Velvet smiled brokenly. "I hardly ever talk to my Dad anymore- he's on the front lines in Atlas. I haven't seen him face to face since the start of the war. It's not his fault, but it's… hard." She sighed. "Mum is… complicated. I know she loves me, but I remind her of Dad, and she so badly wants to be done with him, and I know she's counting the days until I graduate and move out, so she can focus on making new babies with her new boyfriend and-" Velvet let out a hum of irritation.

Jaune felt a lump in his throat as pinpricks of moisture were pressed into his shirt. "Velv- I didn't know."

"...I didn't want you to." She said. "We didn't spend much time together… but I always enjoyed it. I was supposed to help you, not unload all my baggage. You made me laugh, and smile, and forget for a while. You were my friend… you actually cared about me. You're handsome and smart and funny and kind and… you make me very happy." She choked on her words. "I… know we didn't see much of each other, but sometimes, looking forward to spending time with you was all that got me through the day. Sometimes I feel like the only people I have in the world are you and Coco and-"

Jaune wrapped his arms around her tightly. Velvet fought back tears.

"...What I'm trying to say is that you're… very important to me." She said. "I understand if you don't think we should s-shag, but I don't think I could take it if you walked away from me completely. W-we don't have to be together… but, please, if we could just stay friends-"

Jaune should say no. It wouldn't hurt her anymore than slipping up would, and the more time he spent around her, this lovely temptation, the more opportunities he would have to give in to his base desires and turn her into his pet whore. His self control was strained enough constantly spending time with Ruby, and Nora, and Glynda, and Yang, and having a beauty of that caliber who actively wanted him right on by side would be too much.

But kind of monster could look at that face and say no?

Jaune brushed a thumb over her cheek, wiping away a trail of tears. "Of course."

She met his gaze with such an overwhelming surge of affection that it nearly made his heart stop.

They stared into each others' eyes for what felt like an eternity.

Grrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwllllll.

His stomach killed the mood.

He pulled back, awkwardly rubbing his head. "...We should probably head to the cafeteria before we miss lunch."

"...Yeah."

"...Hey." Jaune said, gently tipping her head up to meet his eyes. "Friends?"

Velvet smiled sweetly. "Friends." She agreed. Then her smile turned mischievous.

Quick as a flash, she darted up on her tiptoes and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. "And, if you ever want it, more."

She pulled back with a flirtatious grin before skittering out of the library with an amateur's sway in her step.

Unpolished or not, it had its intended effect. Jaune couldn't take his eyes off her- those long, toned legs, that tight, perky rear, and her long, silky hair that swished with each move-

Jaune lunged forward, fighting back the overwhelming hunger by grabbing the first thing in front of him that wasn't a flirting Faunus. He gripped the table until it cracked.

He winced, looking down at it. 'That's gonna be hard to explain.'

Maybe it could just be hand waved away. By some miracle, the pair didn't have an audience.

…A few meters away, a curious cat girl stood still as a statue, a copy of ' Ninja's of Love 7 ' held tightly in her hands.

Ren had been best friends with Nora for about as long as the two of them could talk, and in at time, he had learned that whenever she kept quiet for more than an hour something really, really crazy was going to come out of her mouth. It had been more than two.

He was braced for impact.

Not that he minded Nora's chattiness- on the contrary he found it endearing. He was a man of few words, but that didn't bother her- she could keep a conversation going for both of them. Even he couldn't always follow her train of thought, but hell if it wasn't entertaining. Without her exuberance, there wasn't much he could do to fill the void.

Usually Ruby and Jaune would pick up the slack when Nora was in one of her pensive moods, but Jaune was off on an errand and Ruby was in no mood to talk either, after what had happened to her favorite uncle. He couldn't blame her.

'Look on the bright side.' He thought, calmly savoring his meal. 'It's a rare treat to have a little peace and quiet-'

"Goodwitch has a crush on Jaune."

'Ah, there we go.'

Ruby did a spit take, shooting milk across the table and right at Ren's face.

He dodged effortlessly, leaving white puddle behind him before slipping back into place.

He was Nora Valkyrie's best friend, he was an old hand at this.

"...You're insane." Ruby said, wiping her mouth clean.

"Maybe." Nora conceded. "Maybe. But I'm also right."

"What gave you that idea?" Ren asked curiously.

"I went to drag Jaune's but to class, and I saw the pair of them making googly-eyes at each other."

"...I don't think Miss Goodwitch is capable of making 'googly-eyes.'"

"Well, think again, because she totally was."

At that moment Jaune popped into the room, heading over to their usual table.

Nora smirked teasingly at him. "Have fun with your secret admirer?"

Jaune stopped, looking like a deer in headlights.

Ren's jaw dropped. Ruby let out a startled gasp. Nora slammed her hands on the table in a triumphant eureka.

"I knew it!" She cried.

The nearby tables stared at them for a moment, before dismissing the exchange as Nora's usual antics.

Jaune looked mildly embarrassed but slid into his normal place by Ruby's side.

Ruby glanced at him, shock, confusion and traces of pain coloring her face. "...Really?" She whispered.

Nora looked at her sympathetically. 'I tried to warn you.' She thought sadly. Then she leaned forward conspiratorially, curiosity overwhelming pity.

"So…" she whispered. "You and Miss G, huh?"

Jaune blinked. "...What the hell are you talking about?"

Now it was Nora's turn to be confused. "...Who were you meeting with?"

"A girl sent me a love note." Jaune said, carefully couching his answer in partial truths. "I didn't want to hurt her feelings so I met with her before lunch to let her down easy."

"...Oh." Nora said, looking very embarrassed.

"...Jumped the gun?" Ren asked teasingly.

Nora kicked his foot. "I'm something and I know it." She hissed. "...Renny, stop looking at me like that." All smug and smart and handsome and driving her crazy .

Ruby looked like she had been given a new lease on life. She smiled brightly, eager to change the subject. "So, I've been thinking, after Qrow gets out from the hospital, do you think we could surprise him with a-"

Ruby stopped short as Jaune took out his food and was lost to the world. With half the lunch break gone, the rest of the table was treated to the spectacle of their friend devouring a full course meal in less than 15 minutes.

...It was equal parts fascinating and horrifying.

Across the cafeteria, Blake Belladonna received similar treatment.

"Where have you been?" Weiss asked testily.

"The library." Blake answered absentmindedly.

"Probably picking up some new smut."

Blake rolled her eyes. "It is not smut, it is adult literature."

Pyrrha chuckled at the age old debate while Weiss groaned into her hands. "I can't believe they stock that kind of garbage in a school."

"Uh-huh." Yang said to Blake, unconvinced. "What is it, 'Ninja's of Love 8'?"

"...7." Blake admitted.

Yang hummed. "That does seem to be your favorite." She noted. " Is it because of the bondage scene? With the pet play?"

Blake's ears drooped down as her cheeks went pink. "...No." She said weakly.

Yang chuckled. "Well, it shouldn't have taken more than 5 minutes to pick it up." Her eyes flashed with mirth. "Ooooor-" She drawled." -did you need some time to 'pet the kitty'?"

"Yang!" Blake groaned, flushing red. "For the last time, I never do that at school."

"At school." Yang repeated teasingly.

Blake sighed, annoyed, but relieved that Yang was in good enough spirits to be making pussy jokes.

Weiss pinched her temples. "Cut it out you barbarian." She said irritably. "I already know far more about Blake's mastabatory habits than I'm comfortable with."

Blake decided to redirect the conversation before she was embarrassed enough to curl up and die.

"Actually." She said, lingering on the world. "I overheard an interesting conversation."

Weiss's eyes gleamed with interest. "...Do tell."

Blake had had several misconceptions about the Schnee Heiress that she had been disabused of. Weiss, for all her snootiness, was a kind and loyal friend, who genuinely wanted to reform her family's company, and instead of kicking puppies in her spare time she was far more likely to cuddle one to death. But, for all her soft underbelly, Weiss Schnee was a gossipy bitch.

But then, so was Blake. So it all worked out.

"I heard Jaune Arc has been fooling around outside of school."

Yang and Pyrrha both looked up at that.

Weiss looked thoroughly disappointed. "...Tall, blond and scraggly?"

Blake nodded solemnly. "With multiple girls, apparently."

"...Who said this?"

Blake hesitated. She could tell her she heard it straight from the horse's mouth, but that would raise questions. Plenty of guys ran their mouths, but without proof anything they said was questionable, and the only proof she had was who he was telling and why.

She couldn't put Velvet's heartache into the public eye. Blake might be a gossip, but she was also a romantic sap. She was torn between wanting to slap Jaune around for playing with such a sweet girl's heart, and letting her inner shipper run rampant with its newest OTP. 'Sorry, Pyr.' She thought solemnly.

She decided the best thing to do was… fib, a little. "I'm not sure, but they weren't someone who'd have a reason to lie." She was protecting Velvet; honesty came after Faunus solidarity after all. That's what her old friends in the Fang had said.

...The same friends who were probably blowing up buildings right now. '...hmmm'.

Yang's reaction was subdued. She let out a half-hearted chuckle. "Always knew Ladykiller had it in him."

Pyrrha seemed very interested in her chicken parmesan.

Weiss, for her part, had regained enough tact to try and dispel the storm clouds gathering over the table.

"It's just a rumor." She said authoritatively. "I'm sure someone just saw something out of context and let their imagination go-"

"It's not." Pyrrha said sharply.

The rest of the table looked at her, startled. "You knew?" Blake asked.

"Last week, I was going to ask Jaune out." She explained, "But right before I could, I overheard him talking on the phone… with a girlfriend."

Yang let out a low whistle. "...no shit?" She asked.

Pyrrha said nothing.

Yang wrapped an arm around her. "That sucks, P." She said gently. "...I'm sorry."

Blake couldn't resist. "Who was she?"

Pyrrha kept her features calm as she stabbed at her plate. "Some woman named Cinder."

Cinder woke up some time after noon. She was sore everywhere- more so than usual. Normally she could sleep off a night with Jaune and have her aura bring her more or less back to full strength by the next night. Not today.

She felt an irrational pang of weakness, waking up in an empty bed, but it was replaced with an equally irrational warmth when she caught sight of Jaune's note.

'Take it easy?' She thought, resigning herself to the order. She could do that.

Last night had given her a lot to think about.

While she would love to spend the day lounging in bed, soaked in her lover's scent, Cinder couldn't afford to waste the day completely. After a little food and water she made her way to the bathroom on shaky legs.

She stopped as she looked in the mirror.

Her hair was tousled and wild, her skin covered in love bites and handprints, and her reddened pussy and thighs were smeared with congealed white fluid.

She smiled. Jaune certainly knew how to fuck her up.

Normally her aura would have healed these kinds of minor wounds, but she was happy to wear them as a badge of honor. The cold stream of the shower soothed the pain, but did nothing to lessen the burning in her core.

She let out a sensuous moan as she ran soapy fingers across her skin. 'If we keep this up I might be almost as horny as he is.' Jaune's lust was contagious, and she badly wished he was here to give her a proper start to the day.

As soon as she was washed and dried, Cinder, not bothering to put on any more than a towel, went into her living room, pulled out her scroll, and reviewed the data Emerald had gathered for her.

'Raven's aura levels are in the same range as mine.' She thought worriedly. A single, ranged scan had a wide margin of error, but the Branwen's leader was somewhere between 8000-9000. At least as strong as Cinder...maybe stronger. And that didn't take into account the superior training, the decades gap in experience, her apparently superior sensory skills, or her semblance.

Being able to create portals anywhere in Remnant was a very valuable skill. Effortless movement of goods and people across international borders; endless possibilities for an ambush.

Still, her powers had some limits. Something to do with personal attachments… only certain sentimental places, maybe? No… people… people were more mobile, gave her more options. Anyone she was attached to had to be avoided or attacked in full force- anything less was asking to be killed.

'And Jaune has his eyes on her daughter.' She thought irritably. Oh well, nothing could be done about that now.

If he could break her, that would make their lives considerably easier, but failing that Raven Branwen had to be handled with extreme caution.

As for Ebi and Qrow, their data was a little better. Both were primarily close range fighters, in the average to above average aura range: Ebi was just over 6000 while Qrow was sitting comfortably at 5. But both men had exceptional control of their aura, and first rate combat abilities, each being able to fight evenly or better with Mercury, an elite assassin with an aura that in raw terms should have outclassed them.

Power wasn't everything- it was how you used it. What you knew.

Cinder watched the tape carefully as the men's aura fluctuated across time. There had been no explicit mention of their semblances, but there was an unexplained drop in Branwen's levels… right before Emerald's gun dropped.

"Not your lucky day."

...Luck.

A revolver in good condition almost never suffered the kind of malfunction Thief's Respite had. Cinder knew her people well: Emerald took care of everything diligently, and even Mercury took combat seriously enough that errors of that kind shouldn't be possible.

She didn't believe in luck… but if a semblance was able to systematically influence probabilities in the user's favor-

-That would explain how Ebi almost found the two of them in the labyrinthine sewer system.

No, that didn't make any sense. Qrow's aura would have been in the red, even if he could extend his power to other people. Clover wouldn't have the same power: if anything, the scans suggested that the men's aura signatures were more or less opposites, not…

...Mirror images, like a positive and negative version of the same number?

'Good luck and bad luck?' She thought. '...No, it couldn't be that simple.

It was the best explanation she had for now. It was always tricky, dealing with enemy semblances. No plan survived contact with them, you had to improvise, identify and overpower them before your opponent did the same to you. Walking into a fight with another Blessed was always a roll of the dice… perhaps a loaded dice, in this case. Still, they had a substantial advantage. Even if Emerald's ability had been compromised, they still had Mercury's 'semblance as a bluff', and they still had Scorching Caress.

She still had Jaune.

Cinder must have spent more time than she thought, running through various battle plans and scenarios, because before she knew it she heard the gentle click of her door unlocking.

She tended for a moment, then relaxed. There was only one person in the world she had given a key.

"You're early." She teased, setting down her scroll.

Jaune looked at her coldly. "You're up."

Cinder arched an eyebrow. "...Is something wrong?"

Jaune's eyes lingered on her undressed form, leaving a vain smirk on her lips as they went.

His gaze softened. "...I'm glad you're alright."

She stood up, towel dipping lower to show off more cleavage. "I can be even better if you put those magic hands of yours to work-"

Jaune raised a hand to stop her." Not- not now." He said. "Last time it knocked you out. I want you back at 100 percent before we try anything with my semblance."

Cinder frowned, but nodded. "Of course." She said. "But, when we do, there are some tests I'd like to run, to figure out how much it can amplify safely… perhaps with another subject." She hummed thoughtfully. "...What do you think about Emerald?"

Cinder was pleased to see the lusty look in his eyes, and felt a familiar twinge of frustration as he fought it back.

"We need to talk."

Cinder smirked. "In a normal relationship, I would be the one saying th-"

"Cinder."

She stopped talking.

Her master ran a hand through his hair. "...When I said you could keep being a spy, it was with the understanding that you wouldn't act like a goddamn maniac."

Cinder looked at him innocently. "I have no idea what you're talking abo-"

"Don't play dumb with me." He said tersely. "You have some hush-hush meeting with two of your 'associates' the same night my friends are jumped by two mystery attackers, and you disappear to deal with an emergency right after their fucking bomb goes off." His crossed his arms.

"...Would you believe me if I said I had nothing to do with it?"

Jaune arched an eyebrow.

Cinder couldn't help it. She burst out laughing.

Jaune glared at her, but said nothing as she got it out of her system.

"I'm sorry darling." She said, wiping a tear from her eye. "I've spent so long manipulating lovesick fools, I've forgotten what it's like dealing with someone who could think." She giggled. " You keep finding new ways to impress me."

Flattery would get her nowhere.

"Why did you attack my friends?"

Cinder shook her head. "Master, you're only half right. Yes, it was Emerald and Mercury, and yes, I did order them to observe Branwen, but they were only there to observe. They were to avoid exposure at all costs, and everything they did, they did to escape, not to kill."

"I don't care about what they were trying to do, I care about what they did." He said cooly. "They hurt innocent people and sent Qrow to the hospital. When I said you were mine, I meant it, but part of being mine is leaving the people I love alone-"

"I know." Cinder said apologetically. "And I would have handled things very differently if I had known what I know. But, believe it or not, I was trying to track down Branwen before I even met you, and didn't know you were affiliated with him in any way."

Jaune's eyes narrowed. "...Why were you looking into Qrow?"

Cinder smirked. "Why do you think?"

"...Son of a bitch."

"Your boss is a Blessed." Cinder explained. "His bouncer is too. VSS and ASF, from the sound of it."

Jaune blinked. "...Qrow left the VSS years ago."

Cinder raised an eyebrow. "...You knew he was VSS?"

"I've known his nieces since Kindergarten. People talk." Jaune said.

Cinder sighed. "The first thing you need to know in this business is there's no such thing as an 'ex-spy.' Once you start playing the game, you're in it until you die." She shook her head. So powerful, yet so naive. "What do you know about Raven Branwen?"

Jaune repeated what he had learned this morning. "She's Yang's birth mother. She's a crime lord who has a history with VSS. She's...probably Blessed."

"Probably?" Cinder queried.

"I thought I saw her a few weeks back, but then she just disappeared." Jaune said. "I thought I was hallucinating but-"

"- the next time you see anything unusual, tell me." Cinder said. "With the range of semblance abilities, we have no idea what our enemies can do until we see them do it- information is a matter of life and death."

Jaune looked at her mockingly. "Are you going to return the favor?"

Wordlessly, she passed him her scroll, opened up to last night's data.

"This device syncs with the user's aura." She explained. "But it can scan nearby auras to varying effect. Only the synced aura can activate it, but I can get you one of your own."

Jaune looked at the hard light screen incredulously. "Where did you get this?"

Cinder smirked. "We stole it from a top secret Atlesian project, it's a long story."

Jaune hummed as he flipped through the various dossiers. 'Mercury Black: 6700(active), Emerald Sustrai: 4900(sealed*).

"The system charts aura levels on a linear normal distribution, from 0-10000." Cinder explained. "You're off the chart, by the way."

Jaune scrolled down through the transcript, eyes watering. "They know?" He whispered. "They're protecting me?"

"For now." Cinder said grimly.

Jaune collected himself. "...How many Blessed are in the Tribe?"

Cinder shrugged. "Hard to say- a few dozen. Their posture suggests as many as 50, but I doubt they actually have any more than 20… which is still one of the largest groups of Blessed on the planet."

"And they're after me?" Jaune said. "...Fuck. What's our exit strategy?"

"We don't have one."

"Then we need to make one!" Jaune said. "I can't stay where I am, I'll put everyone around me in danger-"

"-And you think leaving will get them out of it?"

Jaune glared at her, refusing to back down.

"I know that look." Cinder said, caressing his arm. "And I know you'd love nothing better than to do something selfless and noble and stupid in order to protect your friends. But like you said, if you disappear, people are going to ask questions. Who do you think they'll ask?"

Jaune but his lip. "...It's all my fault-" he croaked.

"It is not." Cinder insisted. "Like it or not, they were born into this world vulnerable and weak. They're pieces on the chessboard same as us. Are you going to leave them behind, undefended, or are you going to secure a position to protect them?"

Something in Jaune's eyes shifted. After all her attempts to bend him, Cinder knew she had finally found the keys to his soul. It was a hollow victory- they weren't hers to hold.

"What do you suggest we do?" Jaune asked.

"Nothing for now." Cinder said. "I want you to keep going about your daily life, with no signs of worry. Keeps your cards close to your chest. The sooner you master your aura, the better your chances are. The less attention you draw, the longer we have to put together a plan."

"What about Ozpin?" Jaune. "And Raven-"

"Ozpin may be trying to kill you, but disappearing will only tip your hand. And he doesn't know about Emerald or Mercury. He doesn't know about me. You were right, Jaune: our best chance to figure him out is right now." She sighed. "Raven is definitely trying to kill you, but for some unknowable reason your friends have decided not to kill you on sight, like most other Blessed would, and are actually trying to keep you safe. Raven's powerful, but so are they, far more dangerous than a typical Blessed. My people were lucky to get away last night. We might be able to beat them; if you and I worked together...with Emerald and Mercury backing us up. But I wouldn't chance it."

Jaune sent her a stern look. "Not a chance in hell."

Cinder smiled. "Jaune, I'm not stupid enough to fight a pointless battle. For the time being your friends and I share a common goal- keeping you alive. So long as that's true, they have nothing to fear from me- and I'll sleep far better knowing you have two live in bodyguards watching your back. Though, I would highly recommend that you keep quiet around them. Don't share more than you have to and try not to piss them off… if you could avoid breaking a few crucial hearts for the next couple of weeks, that is."

Jaune nodded uncomfortably. "...What about the Branwens? Even if we did team up with Qrow and Clover, 6:20 are terrible odds."

"I agree." Cinder said. "And the Branwens have far more resources than that to bring to bear. Blessed aside, their empire numbers in the thousands… but they have other things to worry about. Raven holds her position based on strength- she isn't likely to tell the others why she can't handle a single teenage boy herself. Aura can amp sensory abilities, but that just makes her even easier for you to seduce- she won't get close to you. Besides, Qrow is too valuable an asset to alienate: if I had to guess she'll be using her spare time to figure out some indirect way of coming after you. We can deal with that. Besides…" Cinder said darkly. "if she does try and approach you, I'm sure you can deal with her. The Branwen Tribe would be a very powerful asset."

Jaune glanced at her uncomfortably. "You're not suggesting I… rule through her, are you?"

Cinder shrugged. "Why not?" She said. "It would be easy enough, and it would go a long way to ensuring your safety. Raven knows that, it's why she's so terrified of you. And it's not like you haven't secured valuable thralls already- like a powerful Blessed, or the Schnee fortune-"

Jaune stiffened. "-I didn't sleep with Willow for her money."

Cinder smiled. "That doesn't change the fact that she has it."

Jaune shook his head. "She doesn't." He insisted. "She's her father's beneficiary, but she doesn't control the company."

"She does get a sizable allowance, doesn't she?" Cinder asked. " If you needed to siphon off a few million lien she could do it without batting an eye. Do you think she'd spare a cent if she knew it was to keep you safe?"

Jaune clenched his fists. "That doesn't make exploiting her right. She's my baby girl, she trusts me."

Cinder traced a graceful finger down his chest. "She loves you." She said. "She lives to serve you. We all do."

Jaune tried to resist, but she could sense the familiar signs of his arousal. "...That's… that not true." He said thickly.

Cinder pulled closer, leaving a trail of kisses up his neck. "It is." She breathed into his ear. "Trust me, Jaune. I know."

He stared into her eyes for a long moment, his eyes a storm of emotions. Then he pressed his forehead against hers.

"Cinder." He said, pulling her into his lap and into a tender kiss.

"Master." She moaned.

Then he stood up, cradling her in his arms. He slowly walked them over to her bed. Softly, gently, he set her down, body looming just above hers. Her towel came undone- her burning body exposed completely.

"Jaune…" she cried. "Please."

He undressed slowly, torturously, before running his hands over her body. Without even think about it, his aura ran through her, just enough to soothe her aches and soak her womanhood until it was dripping.

He pressed into her softly and slowly. "Tonight," he whispered. "I'm going to take care of you."

Their sex was different than before, slow and scorching. He teased her gently for hours, gently nipping at exposed flesh, caressing her in his arms.

She never wanted to leave his bed.