AN: smut and blood in this chapter.

Ch 42: This Heat Could Be The Death Of Me

Indi and Sterling made it back the morning of the first day back to classes. Indi was of course intrigued by the gold band and pendant the two had and teased Spadix a bit over it all at lunch. The team had skipped worrying about the Vytal Festival this year because of how intense course work was and the fact none of them really wanted to visit Vacuo where it would be held this year.

Team SLVR would be of course going, Jin and Scarlet setting their one on one training aside so Scarlet could focus on her own team training. With Jin being less wound up, her own team was willing to go back to training with the dragon. That evening they went to train, crossing team SLVR as they were on their way out.

Spadix tensed, watching them all carefully. She felt an ease when Jin gently gave her hand a squeeze. The bull faunus went on ahead to get the team a spot at a table for dinner, leaving Scarlet and Lyra who were getting toweled off and drinking water as team JSSN got in and got ready to start.

Lyra just winked at Spadix when the owl was caught eyeing them, causing Spadix to turn her attention away quickly. The two caught Jin on their way out, Spadix curious and listening in, "Hey Jin! I'm glad you can start training with your own team for a change and stop laying into me so damn hard."

Jin smirked at Scarlet, "Please… you were giving me a run for my money and you know it."

Jin noticed Lyra seeming a bit annoyed by her presence but Scarlet just shoved the snake on ahead, "I better get this grump to some food. Watch us on the broadcast for the Vytal Festival yea?"

Jin just nodded and waved them off before joining the others. Spadix was staring at her until Jin answered, "No one was willing to spare with me while I was all pent up so I asked Scarlet. She was the only person willing to do it. It's nothing I promise."

The team worked on practiced attacks as a unit against training dummies until they wore themselves out. Jin and Spadix offered to grab dinner for everyone this time as Indi and Sterling dragged themselves to the dorm to start showers. On the walk to the cafeteria, the two passed a noise in an empty hall that was out of place for the location.

Jin peered around a corner to the sight of Scarlet with Lyra pinned against a wall, hands gripping at the snake with her mouth biting at Lyra's neck, the snake releasing content sighs. When Spadix also poked to see, they caught Scarlet's words, "You need to learn to behave Lyra. You're way too jealous, making faces at my friend like that. Maybe I should find someone else this spring if you can't learn to be a good girl."

When Lyra started to whimper, Jin and Spadix quickly retreated, knowing that was not meant for them to see. The rest of their walk to grab food was uncomfortably quiet until Jin finally spoke as they reached the cafeteria, "Well… that was something."

Spadix could only nod, fingers fiddling with her hood, "I… feel like I saw something I shouldn't have…"

Jin just chuckled to ease the discomfort, nodding, "Yeaa… I guess Scarlet is a lot bolder than most people. I mean that is a hallway that's normally vacant at this time of day so I don't think she expected anyone to be using it as a shortcut for anything."

Spadix nodded, grabbing some plates to load up, "Let's… not take that shortcut again… if we'd have been any later passing through we might have seen something much worse…"

Jin snickered but agreed, carrying two plates as well. Once they got everything loaded up they headed back to their dorm. Indi was just getting out of the bathroom, Sterling finished already, taking her own plate from the two and getting a good spot on the floor to eat it. Sterling took a plate Jin handed him before she went for her own shower. Spadix joined her teammates to eat while she waited her turn for the shower. Her partner noticed her weirder than usual silence and poked her with a fork, "Hey what's up you seem… quieter than usual."

Spadix shook her head refusing to answer, cheeks red, "I… don't want to talk about it."

She received an odd look from Indi but shut down any further questions, "It's not what you think, I just feel weird about it. It's nothing really."

Her partner shrugged and let it go. When Jin finished and joined them so Spadix could go in, Indi tried again, "Why is Spadix acting weird? Did you do something again?"

A growl was received in response, "What?! No! We just accidentally saw some people making out on the walk to the cafeteria and it made her uncomfortable that's all."

Jin buried herself in her food before Indi could press for more details, clearly refusing to talk about it any further. The raven haired girl just huffed, "You two are no fun sometimes you know that?"

By the end of the night they all settled in for sleep. The rest of the weeks before the festival went by fast and before they knew it they were sitting in their dorm room with snacks and drinks as they watched the festival broadcast from a projected screen. Their classes were canceled for the week with so many students off at the coliseum so they had gone shopping for a bunch of food and treats to get through the week in their dorm enjoying the live feed while not having to stress about coursework.

While they weren't really team SLVR fans, they rooted for them either way as well as some of their classmates, though they quickly became fans of a first year team from Vacuo, Team JADE, which was apparently led by a clever rabbit faunus with unique style named Jangri Adel. The team were a fun contender and throughout the festival landed second place right behind Scarlet from SLVR.

With the students returning from the festival, Jin groaned at having to return to the heavy course load. They were so wrapped up in school again that neither Jin nor Spadix bothered to pay attention to the time of year. Maybe it was the stress, or how close they had become, but things started happening too early to prepare for.

—-

In the middle of sparring with each other during Yang's class, Jin was hit hard with a waft of the smells of mint and pheromones. It was so strong she felt dizzy, taking a step away from the owl as her world spun around her for the moment. In that moment, Spadix had lunged, tackling Jin down and pinning her. She felt victorious but that only lasted a moment as the strong heady scent of Jin's own pheromones and wildflower smell choked Spadix's senses.

Wide eyes met with another set of startled staring as they both froze. Spadix could feel Jin's skin trembling under her grasp, her own body growing insanely warm as she tried to breathe past the scent that was drowning her. Neither could pull their eyes from the others, Jin starting to squirm, her movements growing frantic as Spadix refused to release the dragon. Half of the owl couldn't let her go out of uncontrolled desire, the other half pulling her more strongly was fear of releasing Jin. At this close proximity with their heat falling fast on them, she wasn't sure what Jin would do.

Using her legs and arms, Spadix mustered the energy to hold Jin still, the dragon growling in an almost whine, "S…Spadix… let go…"

The owl shook her head, her body starting to shake as her brain began to fog, biting her lip to try to remain present, "N-No… I can't… fuck Jin… you smell…good…"

In the time Spadix closed her eyes to try to clear her head, Jin summoned her strength and forced the owl off of herself, watching her fumble backward. They both got to their feet, breathing heavily. Spadix was tensing up, her lower abdomen starting to burn and ache, driving her talons into her palms. Jin wasn't much better, teeth digging into her own lip to try to calm her mind as Spadix's scent spurred pain deep into her lower body that only a need could satisfy.

It was all too much how close they had been when the cycle started, both of them barely hanging on even with the applied torture to their own bodies to try their best to stay fully aware. Staring into one another's eyes, the desire thick and pupils blown, unspoken words were traded. Inner beasts were screaming inside their bodies, like rabid animals clawing at their insides for freedom.

The end of class bell snapped their brains to attention, but barely just. Jin knew they wouldn't be going to their next class. She could feel it in her bones as her unstable feet stepped from the classroom. Spadix was already leaving, eyes occasionally glancing back at the dragon as Jin followed unconsciously. Alone. They needed to be alone and they needed it to happen now.

Spadix barely made it into their dorm room before Jin couldn't resist any longer. Their conscious minds long gone as Jin gripped at the owl, lifting her into her arms with her lips diving for the others. Spadix whined, legs wrapping around Jin's body weakly as her hips grinded into the ridges of Jin's bare abs, hands grasping Jin's face as they kissed fiercely.

Jin's skin was on fire against Spadix, so hot it almost burned the smaller faunus as her blood seared in her body. She dropped Spadix onto her bed, lunging forward over her whining. It hurt. they both hurt deep within and it had their forms moving in panic, both ripping at the barriers blocking them from each other's skin that they so desperately needed.

Talons dragged harshly against Jin's body trying to pull Jin as close as possible, a whine leaving the owl's lips against Jin's face as they panted, "Jin please… it hurts so much… make it stop…"

Jin could only nod, her own body crying in the same pain as she bit at Spadix's lip, her grip on the owl's shoulders forcing her over onto her back, Jin's body slotting between hungry thighs, both of them jerking at the sensation as their cores pressed together. Spadix pressed closer, whimpering as she rocked her hips into her dragon, coaxing her lover to growl against her neck as Jin pressed into her desperately.

Hot palms gripped toned thighs so tight it would leave marks as Jin buried her face into Spadix's chest and thrusted eagerly into her lover, her steaming tongue tracing soft mounds and nipples and her brain fizzling out further at all the mewling and cooing the owl was making in response.

It wasn't enough. Even as Spadix's talons dug deep into her back and drove that painful pleasure through her nerves as the owl drew closer to a climax it wasn't enough for either of them. Their bodies seemed to refuse to go further past the edge of pleasure as if stuck there teetering on the cliff and refusing to tip over or come down.

It was intensely frustrating for them both. Jin was moving in frantic thrusts as she practically cried in frustration, bodies on autopilot to their heat and both annoyed by the roadblock they were facing. Her teeth ached as her inner beast practically shouted at her to dominate the creature below her and take what she owned.

Spadix was also whining in frustration, her own hips shaking as she drew closer to having bruised irritated skin rather than the release she desperately needed. Lost to their cycle, their inner animal was in full control with no ability to think or control a single thing between them. Spadix's hands touched Jin's fiery cheeks to try to soothe the whining lover, her face nuzzling up into Jin's nape of her neck and nibbling.

The owl's beast knew what they needed even if she didn't. Firm hands pressed at Jin's shoulders to push her away as her small form reluctantly removed herself from the dragon, growls being received in response as Jin's grip on her thighs tightened harshly. Sweet licks were placed on Jin's jaw and lips to reassure her to let go.

The dragon sat back on her knees shaking intensely as she was forced off but as Spadix twisted her body over onto her hands and knees, Jin pounced, mounting her quickly. Her teeth sank instantly into Spadix's nape as her fingers found their way into Spadix from between them, her own hips jerking rapidly into her hand as she thrusted her fingers within the owl.

Spadix's body fell forward onto her elbows as she moaned deeply, pressing back into Jin's hips and hand. The cranial need they were both stuck on was washed away and fulfilled in this position, bodies rapidly approaching orgasm. A taloned hand gripped into the forearm near her face that was supporting Jin's weight, blood running down as the sharp black trait sunk deep into the arm, deeper than they normally would.

A sharp inhale and moan was released against Spadix's skin, making them both tremble. Her teeth released for a moment as she shoved her forehead against Spadix's shoulder, needing to breathe more than her nostrils were allowing, forcing Spadix down further into the sheets until her face was pressed into them.

As they both fell into the bliss of their orgasms together, the pain quickly subsiding in their lower bodies while all their muscles locked in place, the dragon couldn't stop herself. Teeth launched into Spadix's shoulder so tightly that they sank through the skin, locking tight with the intensity of it all until they were gripping around bone, ripping straight through Spadix's artery.

A High pitched sound of pain was released and next thing Jin knew, black talons entered her vision as the owl immediately spun on her, hooking into her face and slicing down across it to the bone of her skull, a deep feral noise of attack leaving the rapidly weakening owl beneath her.

Jin shouted out as she instantly released Spadix's shoulder, hands shooting to her face as she launched away from the owl screaming. As Spadix ripped away from Jin and off the bed, Jin fell to the floor, writhing in agony, blood streaming down her face and hands. All Spadix could hear was her girlfriend's screaming and the rapid thudding of her heartbeat in her ears as she weakly stumbled towards the door.

Everything was blurry and she could hardly make sense of what had just happened as the door pushed open. She didn't get far, squeezing at her rapidly bleeding shoulder with her only hand that could move without intense pain as her vision went blurry and she fell to her knees outside the doorway.

Two shadowy figures appeared in her darkening vision and she could barely make out Indi's voice frantically trying to get her attention. Their teammates had come looking for them when they didn't show up in the next class, fully aware of the time of year. Indi was shouting at Sterling as she fought tears in her eyes at the sight of all the blood, "G…go get someone! God, Sterling, go get help now!"

The young man was in shock at first, staring at the scene in the room as Jin flailed about screaming and gripping her face, blood all over the bed and trailing out to Spadix but Indi's shouting snapped him out of it. He quickly took off to his mother's office knowing it was both closest and she would be there since classes for her were over for the day while he was trying to call Yang on his scroll.

Yang didn't pick up the first few times, still in a class, as he got to Ruby's office, fists pounding on the door before he let himself in, "Mother! Please! Spadix and Jin need help fast!"

Ruby looked up from her desk confused but spurred into fast action at the sight of her usually calm son's distress. She got up, grabbing him and using her semblance to rush them off to the dorm. Indi's hands were covered in Spadix's blood as she was squeezing the wound as hard as she could. Spadix could hardly hear anything anymore and everything went black as she passed out just as Ruby had arrived on the scene.

The woman didn't fully know what to make of the situation but she acted fast, grabbing Spadix in her arms, a hand keeping pressure on the wound, "Sterling and Indi, get Jin to the infirmary before she bleeds out. I've got spadix."

With that Ruby was off with her semblance. Indi was trying desperately to call Yang now as Sterling gathered the screaming dragon, using Indi's help to rush her to the infirmary as well. Yang finally picked up, sounding a bit annoyed, "Seriously what could you kids possibly…"

Her voice went quiet instantly at the sounds of Jin's agony, speaking now with sharp intent, "What happened? Where are you?"

Indi struggled under Jin's muscular weight and thrashing with Sterling as they made their way, "I'm not fully sure what happened. We came back to check on them because after your class they disappeared and when we got here Spadix was bleeding to death in the hall and Jin was bleeding everywhere gripping her face in the room! I can't fully see what's wrong with it. She won't let go of her face but it looks bad!"

"I'm on my way," was all Indi got in response as the line went dead.

Yang caught up with them before they reached the infirmary, quickly taking her daughter in her arms and running her the rest of the way. Spadix was already rushed off to surgery when they got there. A few remaining doctors took Jin and Yang had to hold her down to still her long enough for them to get in an IV and inject numbing agent to her face.

As they quickly tried to rush Jin off as well, Jin could hear them discussing the fact they didn't have a matching blood type for Spadix, which without a transfusion she was going to die. The dragon ripped free from the doctors trying to force her to stay still, already going bleary from applied anesthesia, arguing with them, "Use mine… she can't die…I'm type O…"

The doctors were refusing, struggling to get her back down, "We can't you are too injured! It would be malpractice!"

Jin gripped the doctor closest by the collar and yanked him to her growling face, "I don't give a fuck how hurt I am! Fucking do it! I will not let her die because of me!"

The others were stuck outside unable to help this poor practitioner who caved out of fear. They took only enough to get Spadix through and not kill Jin in the process as Jin fell into the darkness of medicine before surgery.

—-

Hours passed, by this point Blake had shown up and Yang was pacing the waiting area. Blake was anxious and couldn't sit still, worry clearly wrecking through her as they waited for any word whatsoever on either of the two. Indi was hugging her knees sitting in a chair next to Sterling who was hunched over, his elbows on his knees and hands gripped together, leg bouncing and face stern. Weiss and Ruby were there as well, trying to stay calm for everyone else.

Weiss had already assigned someone to clean up the mess and was rubbing Sterling's back to try to calm him. Ruby was knelt down in front of Blake holding her hands, listening as Blake was whispering, tears on her face, "I was really worried something like this might happen… I'd heard stories of predatory faunus in heat… I just… I thought they still had some time… We were going to come get her…"

Ruby just rubbed her thumbs along Blake's hands and tried to quiet her, hoping to help keep her calm, "It's going to be ok. The best doctors in all of Vale work here to help the students specifically so they don't fall during missions and encounters. They couldn't be in better hands."

Yang was irritated, mad at herself for having not noticed anything in her classroom. She had been trying to help other students that had started to struggle and fall behind, trying to spread the same opportunities she'd given team JSSN to everyone so she hadn't been watching them. She couldn't help but feel responsible. But this had happened almost a week earlier than it had the past two years so no one was really thinking about it.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a doctor came out, stopping at the group as everyone rose to their feet in anxious anticipation. The other teammates were desperate but stayed back with Ruby and Weiss to let the parents get closer first, knowing full well Blake and Yang needed answers as quickly as they could get them.

"They both lost a lot of blood and it took a lot of effort to get them through but they are in recovery and should make a full if not difficult recovery. It's still too early to tell but… Jin's left eye was badly damaged, you understand," he said, knowing Yang and Blake were her parents.

It was a bit devastating for them to hear, knowing the implications, but they were just glad she was going to be ok. Blake was trembling, rubbing her own wet face, "Can we?"

He nodded and stepped away7 to let them go in, the two practically rushing into the area and to the recovery rooms to Jin's. Indi begged and was allowed to go to Spadix's room but was told she would not be waking anytime soon if at all today.

Weiss began discussing the more formal matters with the doctor to get everything handled and hashed out as Ruby sat with Sterling who was visibly more relaxed now.

—-

As Yang and Blake entered Jin's room, Blake gasped. Jin's face was covered in surgical bandaging and the bruising colors of injury could already be seen around the areas that weren't bandaged. She was still not awake from surgery yet and was breathing softly, monitors beeping out the calm sounds of a steady heartbeat. The cat faunus slipped into a chair close to the bed and wrapped delicate fingers into Jin's limp hand, kissing the skin softly.

Yang was frowning, still angry with herself as she stood there watching them. She was relieved Jin would be ok but she knew how this was going to affect her daughter, and no one knew what this might mean for the couple in question. But what also bothered her was the realization they would probably never fully know what happened.

She opted to go get Blake some tea and herself coffee in order to wait out the rest of Jin's anesthesia, running into Weiss along the way who was also headed for coffee. Weiss looked very angry and distracted. As they grabbed drinks, Yang couldn't help but prod, "What's got you all wound up Weiss? You can't possibly be mad at the kids right?"

Weiss gave her a deeper frown, sliding her scroll angrily back into her pocket that Yang hadn't noticed she had been holding. Weiss didn't speak for a while but Yang knew she was bound to explain soon, the woman never good at holding her tongue when she was annoyed, "I just got off the phone with Spadix's parents. Can you believe they didn't even care that their child had nearly died!? they almost sounded disappointed when I told them she was going to pull through! It was the only contact to call but you would think they would give a shit!"

Yang sighed and shrugged as they made their way back, "I can't say I'm surprised… They hate her, you know? Maybe try her brother? He's a huntsman in Mystral it shouldn't be too hard to find his contact, Orion Umbra I believe is his name."

Weiss was livid at the thought of any parent hating their own child but was resigned to pulling up a database on her scroll and hunting for a contact in the Mystral area, "I'll give it a try. Someone needs to be able to be here for her. If I can't reach anyone, then I'll do it myself!"

Yang just gave a weak chuckle and watched Weiss storm off to handle things before she returned to her daughter's room, giving Blake the tea and finally allowing herself to sit, drinking her coffee and placing a hand on Blake's back to soothe her wife.

Jin was starting to wake up.