AN: This is the final chapter. I skipped the moment Jin and Scarlet have because the chapter is about something else entirely and it didn't feel right typing the moment out. Sorry! Maybe I'll make it a one shot at some point if there's enough interest!
Thanks for everyone who reads this all the way through! I have loved making it! Please leave your kudos and comments to tell me what you think! It will encourage more writing from me and fuel me!
A song that I listened to a lot while writing this chapter can be heard a href=" /YlE_b3xW18s?si=uQ5il54GjO6rQso4" rel="nofollow"Here/abr /
Here's another I liked while writing these last few chapters if any of you are curious, it's a href=" /W0PJ86_GhFY?si=GJcH9L6RvdHdGW0x" rel="nofollow"this song/a
:)
Ch 47: Epilogue
7 YEARS LATER…
Indi stood at a front desk in an office space shared with Sterling. The two ran a Huntsman agency not far from Haven academy. Business was quite good actually. They were even able to run apprenticeship programs during the summer under approved licensed Huntsmen and Huntresses for students, which brought students from all over Remnant. Many working Huntsmen and Huntresses were working for their agency as well as freelancers.
The two also shared an apartment space built into the second story of the building. Indi didn't go on missions anymore these days but Sterling was constantly gone on them, mostly working high level jobs for his uncle though. These days, Indi was mostly busy running the company, there being too much work to do to leave often, but at times when Sterling asked she would close shop and join him on missions.
Spadix did freelancing for them from time to time when the missions fit with her goals but it wasn't very frequent. As far as her and Indi went since their relationship after they graduated, it had barely lasted the summer, both finding they preferred friendship and with Spadix still hung up on Jin, Indi just wasn't really finding it worth the effort either. These days, Indi was in a more awkwardly platonic commitment with Sterling that served them both just fine to stave off loneliness and brought plenty of comfort.
On occasion, when a mission request came in for anything involving Menagerie in any way, Indi would reach out to Scarlet and the fox and Jin would tackle the issue and send a portion of payment back to the company as an informant fee. Indi kept up with how Jin was doing through Scarlet this way when Sterling didn't have information from his aunts. The missions came around with just barely enough frequency to keep her informed just enough.
Indi was walking down stairs, on a call with Sterling, the morning still in its early hours as she headed to the closed sign with coffee in hand to open for the day. "So is it cold in Laurel this time of year?" she asked, the scroll wedged in her shoulder held with her chin as she reached to flip the sign over.
It was the end of the summer. Sterling was on a mission to reclaim some old SDC mines for his uncle from Grimm infestation with a handful of fourth year apprentices from all four schools and two of their employed other professionals. Sterling held his coffee, glancing at Indi through the screen once she took the scroll back in hand on her way to her desk, "It's cold all year round but it's not the worst. It snowed last night though. Sorry you weren't here to see it but I took some photos for you."
She smiled at him and they held up their mugs as if to toast to each other before she took a sip. She had learned early in their business when the two were doing most of the work that she loved Laurel during snowfall. She set the scroll down on her desk in a way where she could still see as she flipped through tons of mission requests on her office computer, "Ugh Sterling we really should hire more office help. I simply can't keep up with the incoming requests alone anymore. There's too many!"
He chuckled through the screen while he stepped out into the snow to wait for the transport with his group of the students, "Alright. I'll give Dove a call. I know she's not doing missions right now since she just had her son. I'm sure she'd love some work that she can actually handle right now. Anything come in flagged for Spadix of Scarlet?"
"Let me check the folder," she said tiredly as she rubbed her eyes and face, opening the section where the jobs were funneled to if they flagged as the ones that were their special freelancers.
Her brow furrowed and he tilted his head a bit as he nudged a student sleeping standing up next to him to wake them, "What is it Indi?"
She leaned on her hand, taking a long drawl from her mug, "There's a high priority mission that is in both folders at the same time. It's a serious case about some abused and neglected orphans trying to survive with Grimm but it's… in the wilds of Menagerie…"
He grunted in thought, rubbing his chin where a small goatee was now, his long hair braided and laying over his shoulder to his chest in view as he slipped it behind him, the sound of vehicles off in the distance could be heard crunching through the fresh snow, "You know Spadix is going to fight you if you don't give her that mission but you're going to have to put her in contact with local professionals… Do we have anyone other than Scarlet and Jin?"
Indi shook her head, her hair swaying with it now that she so often kept it cut at her shoulders with only two long chunks at the front hanging past her shoulders, "We don't. But I mean it's been seven years. I'm sure they can handle it, you think?"
He hummed in consideration as the trucks pulled up and she could see one of the other employees getting out with their group of students from their shift as Sterling's group started to load up after, "I mean… you'd know better than me. Maybe bring Spadix in and get Scarlet on a call? Menagerie isn't that far of a trip from our office, maybe she would even come up if you asked her to. Indi I have to head out but there's kids' lives on the line so whatever you need to do to get it handled quickly you know I'll support."
She nodded and rubbed her face to wake up more, "Right. Yea. Ok. Be careful out there alright? You aren't allowed to die on me you know."
He chuckled at her smile, "Yes yes, I'll talk to you again soon dear."
She stuck out her tongue at him as they ended the call. She stared over the request with her head in her hand as she sipped at her coffee, "Yea Spadix would definitely beat the crap out of me if I didn't at least offer her the job…"
She sent out a message on her scroll to the owl to let her know to come into the office for a potential gig. She then messaged Scarlet to offer either a call or in person visit. From Kuo Kuana, you could reach their office in about two days between boat and airship, faster if Scarlet accepted Indi's offer of a personnel ship the company owned that was both extremely fuel efficient and fast, able to make long treks over large bodies of water.
She leaned back into her chair pulling her leg up to get comfy as she drank her coffee and began her daily tedious task of sifting through the massive amounts of the other requests, sorted by urgency, while waiting for responses.
—-
Spadix was currently on her trip back home from her most recent mission. When she started working freelance with Indi and Sterling, it was at the beginning of their business and didn't produce enough income for her to do it solely. At the time she was more than able to supplement by partnering with Orion. That had worked for a while until three years ago when he didn't survive a very dangerous mission a group of them had gone on. He wasn't the only one to die and two others were injured out of commission permanently. Spadix herself sported a nasty scar across her back that wrapped to her front of her hip from the mess, a deathstalker having grabbed her quite fiercely in its sharp pinchers.
He had left her his home and a rather small fortune he had saved up from his years of working, which allowed her to live humbly enough to stick with the missions she wanted that she became a Huntress for in the first place, freelancing with different agencies all over so she wouldn't miss any.
While sitting in the airship, Indi's message shook her from a light nap. Her hood was down but mask up. She had switched back to her chestnut colors during her third year when Jin left her and was still using a similar color scheme. She looked majorly the same these days aside from her hair being shaved on the sides with the bottom of the back of her hair grown out into a thick, long, feathery rat tail, a hair band at the base of it but it fluffed out like tufts of feathers, hanging down to her waist. In the shaved sides were details of feathers shaved into the short hairs.
She pushed the bangs on her sweaty forehead up over her hair and sighed as she rubbed her eyes with a yawn. She never slept well on airships anymore after being in one when it was attacked by Grimm. She glanced down at her scroll and read over the message. She glanced at her bag and weapons, Nox Oculus in need of some maintenance honestly. With a sigh, she responded 'Let me get home and do some work on my blades then I'll be right over. If I don't sharpen them and take care of a few damages there's no way I can make it through another mission.'
Indi sent back a message agreeing and Spadix put her scroll away. Indi hadn't sent any details about the mission, which was odd. Normally her friend at least gave her the destination and enough about it in few words for Spadix to know if she wanted to even discuss taking it or not. She rubbed her short areas of hair and sighed as she closed her eyes again, speaking out to the empty haul of the ship, "How weird…"
Sleep overcame the exhausted huntress again for the rest of the trip.
—-
As the sun came up over the island, Scarlet was already up and moving around. She currently lived between her parents' home and Jin's depending on what was easiest in the moment, though she had her own room at both. Her relationship with Jin, though now quite a long one, had remained the same. Today, she was waking up at her parents' place, generally only staying at Jin's place if they were planning any fun together or coming home late from missions. None of their children still lived at home but Rusty and herself, her other brothers who had still lived there when she came back after Beacon having all married and moved away to start their own families.
Scarlet Looked the same as she did the day she and Jin moved there, if only a bit older, Hair often kept in a hair band now the only change really. She was currently sitting with Rusty and her parents for breakfast before the stubborn fools joined Rusty out on the farm to work for the day as the message came in. She swore they would work until the day they died. She looked it over, toast held by her teeth and grinned, her tail swaying with her interest as she stood up.
Her family glanced at her and she waved them off, "It's just work. It's fine."
She kissed her mother's head and hugged them all before she went to get ready. She made a habit of this ever since a particular rough mission left her trapped and worried she wouldn't return alive shortly after she started her profession.
When she came back from her room, having agreed to the fancy private transport, Rusty handed her the rest of her breakfast boxed up with enough for Jin, knowing she would stop by there. He always sent Scarlet with breakfast for Jin for years now, knowing Jin had become something of an alcoholic with her nights to wash away her memories and would need the food. She simply ruffled his hair as a thanks and took it, heading out with a small bag of essentials.
The sun was rising still as she walked to Jin's home, watching it with a smile. Kuo Kuana truly was a beautiful place. When she made it to Jin's the sun was in the sky and the day was bright. Gunner let her in before heading back to the yard out back. Jin was strangely awake, though it seemed more like it was not by choice. The dragon was in her living room on her scroll with her siblings Bao, Mao, Azure and her cousin Autumn. Scarlet leaned against the archway watching from behind the couch as Jin talked to them. They were all on their way back up to Beacon for the new term.
She was glad none of those kids could see the empty bottles on the floor. Jin must have fallen asleep here drunk again last night. This happened a lot after all, nights being the hardest time for the dragon to be able to live with her thoughts. She long since stopped bothering to say anything about it, knowing Jin wouldn't listen. But at least it was starting to happen less often as the years went by.
The twins were in their final year, Azure was a second year and Autumn was starting her first year. Scarlet just grinned. She didn't want to interrupt. When they weren't on missions, Jin made regular calls back home, at least a few a week. Over the course of living in Menagerie, her family visited for a while every start of the summer and Jin often went back home for the winter holiday if she wasn't working.
Scarlet never went with her and didn't come over when they visited Jin. It wasn't because she didn't think she could, they had invited her in the beginning once or twice. She just didn't feel their relationship was that kind of thing. It had continued to this day because it was just comfortable and convenient for them both and that was pretty much it. They cared about each other but even after all these years they were not in love with one another.
Of course Jin spent plenty of time around Scarlet's family when convenient but they had always left the choice to do so with the other's family as one they made independently. Jin was used to being around big families so she liked coming around Scarlet's family, especially when she was missing her own, but she was never offended when Scarlet declined the other way around.
Jin hasn't changed much over the years either. She didn't even change the clothing she wore much. Her jeans had traded for low rise long shorts due to the hot climate of the island but otherwise she still looked almost exactly as she did when she left Beacon. Her scars were faded in color now too and she went around without a mask most of the time, only wearing it when she was at formal events or meeting new groups of people because she hated the way people stared, but that was about it.
Scarlet had helped her come to accept the marks over the years and while they still haunted her in her sleep or on bad days, Jin had pretty much gotten over them. Scarlet greatly enjoyed admiring her even after all this time. Spadix rarely came up in conversation even now, still bringing a depression over any conversation but Scarlet respected that. As the rambunctious teens all fought to be the one talking to Jin, the dragon chuckled sweetly, noticing Scarlet's presence finally as they caught sight of her in the background and pointed her out to Jin, "Alright well, let's talk again soon ok? I love all of you. Hug our parents for me ok?"
They all excitedly clamored to be the ones saying bye first after they whined about having to go, Blake's voice in the background telling them not to cause trouble for Jin. Before the call ended, one of her siblings pointed the camera over to Leo, the boy now a preteen and he waved happily at her. When the call ended, Scarlet entered the room, handing over the breakfast box to share as she sat across from Jin on the ottoman, feet careful not to kick any of the bottles but made sure not to draw any attention to them to avoid Jin getting irritable about it.
"Oh hell yes Rusty's cooking?" Jin said tiredly as she opened the box.
Scarlet just nodded, a sly smile on her face, "But of course. You know Mama can't do all that anymore. He made sure there was enough for you. Just leave some for me ok?"
Jin nodded and as she ate her share, Scarlet just watched her carefully. One would think with the way Jin was with her siblings and local children that the woman would want her own. Jin noticed the stare and swallowed some food, head tilting a bit confused, "What? Do I have egg on my face or something?"
Scarlet chuckled and shook her head but her expression softened, "No, no I was just thinking… Jin… do you ever regret not having that baby? You just seem to really like kids and I know family is important to you."
Jin had spent what would have been her fourth year at Beacon in so many irresponsible escapades with Scarlet she had ended up pregnant. Scarlet left the decisions up to her and never once has regretted it or thought of the what ifs but she did often wonder if Jin was actually happy with the choice not to keep it. The dragon didn't talk about it since she made the choice and went through with it. No one but the two of them and Blake really knew about it, even Yang had no idea it had happened.
Blake had only known because Jin just really needed her mom at that time and the woman had dropped everything to come out and be with her and help however she could. The dragon had been on birth control ever since. Though her drinking had started a bit before that, it had tremendously increased after which always made Scarlet wonder.
Jin's face scrunched and she frowned, teeth bared a bit with a low growled warning, "Scarlet… you know I don't want to talk about that."
The fox wasn't phased by Jin's vocal threat, her eyes flashing her own warning that stopped the growl in the dragon instantly, still clearly the top alpha between them, "It's been seven years surely you can talk about it. Besides, I'm just curious. You never really told me much about your choice or if you really wanted that. You know I would've done my best for you had you kept it. Everytime I see you talk to your family or the children in the village, it always seems like you want a family."
Scarlet leaned onto her knees, her chin in her hands playfully smiling at the dragon. Jin knew Scarlet wasn't trying to say she wished it was different and the fox was very supportive of people being solely in control of the decisions about their own body, but Jin had also often wondered if Scarlet had left personal desires unsaid in order to offer that support. If she did, she was damn good at not showing it, though the fox was extremely sly and so deceit almost came naturally to her.
"Can we never talk about it again if I answer you?" she asked, staring at those bright green curious eyes.
Scarlet gave her answer by positioning her body in a way that clearly expressed someone hunkering down for a juicy story, full attention on Jin. Jin looked down at the breakfast plate, left with enough for the dainty stomach of the fox and set it aside, "I don't regret my choice no but it would be a lie if I said a few times since then I have wondered what my life would be if I had kept it and raised it with someone I loved. In truth, I know you would've been a great co-parent and you are very supportive but honestly, I have no desire to have that kind of family. I didn't keep it because I don't want to have children with someone I'm not in love with. It's as simple as that. You aren't even a faunus I want biting me like a claim. Besides, I'd only want to move back home so the kid could know their family and actually have their grandparents in their life and I wouldn't want to figure all that out with you or make you have to choose to stay in your homeland or move to be a parent. And I definitely wouldn't want you to just abandon it. In short none of it was a life I wanted for myself or any child of mine."
The fox listened intently as Jin explained. All of this made sense really. Jin had told her once how much she had hoped in her youth to have a love like her parents but had given up on that dream. Her curls bounced slightly as she nodded, "I understand thank you. I just wanted to be sure you didn't have regrets. I especially would hate it if you regretted your choice because of me. Not that it can be changed but I'm glad you made the choice because it was what you wanted for yourself."
With that, Scarlet let the topic drop, never intending to bring it up again with her as agreed. Regardless of what Jin said, she could only imagine it wasn't an easy thing to talk about. It was a big thing to give up that under different circumstances she knew Jin would've been over the moon about keeping it. It had taken Jin weeks to fully decide back then after all and she had refused to see Scarlet during that time, the fox could only imagine she had been dealing with too many emotions to want to involve Scarlet. Plus, if her parents found out they would've gotten very old fashioned about it and that was probably stressful for Jin.
The fox leaned back on her palms and crossed her legs, picking at some toast, "In a few hours I have a transport coming to pick me up to go into the office for our next mission. Indi seemed pretty insistent on discussing it either in person or via a call. I went ahead and took the offer to ride the luxury ship they have and just go up there. You have to stay here though apparently."
Jin frowned, brows furrowed as Scarlet made a show of biting the toast, "Really? Why?"
Scarlet shrugged as she finished the toast. She nibbled on the rest of the eggs and a slice of bacon before closing the box and poking Jin's nose, purposely pushing some bottles around with her foot to emphasize her teasing, "No clue but I gave my word. Sorry beautiful, you'll just have to wait here. It's a fast ship, I shouldn't be gone longer than a day or so. You can handle being by yourself without me while I'm gone right? You won't get lonely I hope."
A growl and glare met the fox's cheeky expression, pulling a laugh from Scarlet as Jin rolled her eyes, "Lighten up, you know I'm just playing with you."
Jin shook her head and stood up, grabbing the box to bring to the sink for Gunner to wash later and ignoring the bottles Scarlet hinted at before grabbing herself some juice. Scarlet followed, arms snaking around the dragon's waist from behind. Jin turned in her arms, eyeing her as she drank from the glass. Scarlet just watched her at first, "Come on. I haven't gotten to play around with you for a while since I was helping my father the past few days. I have some time. I know you can't possibly only want that juice to swallow."
Jin choked on the juice while the fox laughed. Over the years she had gotten a lot more adventurous of the fox's rod, gaining new interests that hadn't faded away. With red cheeks she set her glass down, coughing, "Dammit Scar!"
When the dragon's body relaxed again their foreheads met and noses brushed past each other before Scarlet took her hand and dragged her off to the fox's room with a seductive grin.
—-
When the transport was close to arrival, Scarlet got out the bed and got dressed, placing a sweet kiss upon Jin's hair as the woman slept and slipped out the house, waving goodbye to Gunner on her way to the small landing pad. Once on the ship, she settled in and let Indi know she was on her way.
The trip was quiet and long, Scarlet staying busy on her scroll, scanning through the mission board for Menagerie for any insight though the mission board never held anything that was requested through outside agencies. Still, she could gather some information or a possible mission after this one if anything went stale. There were so few Huntsmen in Menagerie, only maybe one or two outside of Jin and herself in fact and that person was getting too old to do many missions these days.
Time flew by and in no time the hours passed and she was landing on the private airstrip. A driver was waiting for her. It would take another hour to get to the agency, the airstrip unable to be any closer due to the geography of the area. Scarlet really had felt like she was being treated. The airship was fancy and comfortable while the car was practically set up as nice as a limo in the back, even if it wasn't one. With a mischievous grin she relaxed into the plush seats, 'Oh she is pulling out all the stops for this. She's desperate about something for this mission, buttering me up to say yes. How exciting.'
—-
When Spadix landed and made her way home she threw her worn out bag down. It had been Orion's but she always used it since he passed, wanting him with her on her missions. He had grown to be the father-figure she had always wanted when he was alive, even in such a short time. It only felt right to continue to carry him with her on her missions.
Her tired and worn out body slacked with a deep sigh and she rubbed her neck as she moved to set Nox Oculus on the workbench in the corner. Delicate hands, calloused with time, and masterful talons went to work sharpening the blades with the whetstones before tending to some fairly bad nicks and doing routine tuning and replacements of the moving mechanisms.
By the time she had finished, more time had passed than she thought. To this day she could still get so lost in working on her weapon, still finding such peace and joy in it that was all consuming. "Shit! I gotta go," she fussed at herself, rolling her shoulder to soothe the soreness in the arm that still spiked in her long since healed wounds from Jin, especially when using such fine motor skills or doing tedious tasks that took a lot of repetitive motions or force.
She quickly gathered herself as she rubbed the old scar with a wince at the deep soreness, pulling her weapon and pack together with any replenished necessities before rushing out the door, locking up. She quickly made her way to a station to head over to Sapphire Roses, the agency Indi and Sterling owned, typing out an apology to Indi as she headed over.
—-
Scarlet arrived first, Indi welcoming her in. The fox grinned at her, "Alright what's the catch huh? You never pamper me and you usually aren't so secretive about a mission. Spill."
The raven haired woman rubbed the back of her head, before changing the subject, "We can discuss that in a moment. We are still waiting for another party to arrive. Tell me something, is Jin still, you know, weird about people from her past?"
A brow raised on the fox as she stared at the woman, "You mean about the owl right? Or are you talking about yourself?"
Hands folded over the desk as deep blues stared across it at the fox seated in the chair, "You know we are both too perceptive for such a question, let's not beat around the bush, you know who I mean."
Scarlet smirked at her before relaxing, messing with her nails as if she was disinterested in the topic, "She doesn't talk about her much so I assume so. But it's not like I ask about Spadix, you know. I'm especially not going to bring the woman up while I'm knot deep in the dragon that's for sure."
She grinned at Indi's disgusted expression. Scarlet didn't like playing these games with Indi. Games like this were only fun if she was the one pulling the strings. She hated being on the receiving end of dancing around the information like this and she was going to make sure Indi knew it in her own way.
"Could you please refrain from such vulgarity, Scarlet?" Indi asked with exasperation, rubbing her face.
"Only if you stop toying with me and just tell me what you are after here," the fox replied sternly, eyes full of an intensity that made Indi almost submit underneath.
Scarlet truly still was a very strong dominant force in any room, never bending to anyone and refusing to allow anyone to resist giving her respect. Before Indi could decide to challenge the force or relent, Spadix rushed in, not looking up at first, "I'm so sorry Indi I was so lost in Nox Oculus I just lost track of ti… what the hell is she doing here?"
Scarlet glared at Indi with a devilish grin, "Oh now I understand. This is the other party correct? Indi, I'm impressed. You normally aren't so sneaky."
Spadix frowned, not moving any further into the room. She wasn't scared of Scarlet anymore, hadn't been for several years now even though they never crossed paths, but she definitely was not a fan. In fact, she had grown to hate the fox because she had Jin and that still irritated the owl to this day. Deep down a part of the small faunus still felt like Scarlet had stolen her future away because she had interfered.
Indi rubbed her temples, "Please will you two just behave so I can explain? Spadix, sit down dammit and just listen first."
With a frown and folded arms, the owl yanked the other chair as far away from the fox as she could before tossing herself down angrily into the seat, only causing Scarlet to snicker with delight as such reaction. Scarlet for her part had no issues with Spadix, never had. But the fox could never resist such fun in the way she affected others. It didn't take a genius to know why Spadix was so annoyed, or rather about whom the source was over.
When they both were quiet, Indi shot the mission file to their scrolls, "If you look at the data I just sent you, you can brief the mission. It's a few orphaned children in the wilds outside Kuo Kuana that are struggling to survive Grimm attacks. There's also some rumors that some tribes in those wilds have been plucking the girls away and no one sees them again. It's some really wild natives to the areas that have continued to live without worldly interference so we can't imagine anything good is being done with those poor girls. There are only a few kids left. You are both here because the mission flagged for both your specs. Sterling insisted I make sure you had the option to take the mission Spadix but our company also has a contract with those working in Menagerie where they have to have the option to take any and all missions in the area. So I wanted you both to actually be here for the discussion. You can either decide who takes the mission or you can group up. They also want the stolen girls retrieved so this could be difficult and more hands might be best."
Scarlet's eyes grew sharp, a grin showing her teeth wickedly, "You mean you have to offer it to myself and Jin first."
Spadix visibly squirmed, face suddenly paling. Indi sighed, "Knock it off Scarlet. You know what you are doing and you need to cut it out. It's not funny. Spadix is the best of the best when it comes to child related missions across all of Remnant. You two could really use the extra help and the experience. That said Spadix if you don't want the mission you can decline going as additional personnel. But I must impress on you both that your personal matters aren't important here. There are children's lives at risk and that's what matters."
Scarlet just shrugged, "I'm fine with it if she is. I know Jin will just do the job and tune out anything she doesn't want to deal with, she does it all the time when she needs to."
That seemed to bring some sadness to the owl who shifted uncomfortably, 'Right… I guess I'm still something she doesn't want to deal with… that… makes sense…'
Indi snapped her fingers at Spadix to get her out of her thoughts. Spadix looked up embarrassed and sighed, "I just want to help those kids. So I'll go."
Indi nodded, a soft expression at her friend as Spadix shoved her feelings back down and rolled her shoulder more at the memories. "Good. I'll arrange the paperwork and you can get confirmations as usual to your scrolls. Please head to the car and go to the airship as soon as possible. The longer you wait the more risk there is. Scarlet, please do the right thing and let Jin know before you just show up with Spadix."
Scarlet just smiled and stood, walking out with no response. Indi groaned, "She's always so damn difficult to work with…"
The woman glanced over at Spadix who was still sitting there, slowly gathering her pack, "Spadix… you gonna be ok? You don't have to do this if it's going to be too hard… it won't help anyone if you can't…"
Spadix stood suddenly, "Nope. We aren't doing this Indi. This conversation is not happening."
Indi just nodded as Spadix left quickly. She leaned into her chair rubbing her face once alone, her scroll ringing. Sterling was calling after his shift from the truck, "Hey silver eyes. Boy is it nice to see your face right now."
Sterling gave her a weak smile, looking exhausted and dirty, "You just talked to them didn't you? How'd it go?"
She groaned and leaned over her desk as she heard the car leaving outside, "Yes… ugh it was so unpleasant. If this ever happens again your ass better come home and handle it. That was so uncomfortable."
He laughed lightly, "You're the boss. Anything you say. Who is taking the job?"
Indi told him and answered his questions until she was watching Sterling and the exhausted sore students get out and swap with the third and final group. He hung back outside while they talked, moving the topic over to his shift and discussing Dove's acceptance of coming to assist so long as Odin can come somehow so she can take care of him. He finally said, "We should be returning by the end of the week. Anything you want when I get back?"
She closed her eyes, head resting on her desk, "I demand cuddles and cheesy movies and you not take another mission for a while. It's starting to feel real lonely around here."
He just grinned and nodded, "Alright deal but I'm picking the movies."
Their call ended and she got up, turning the sign to closed before shutting things down and turning one of the unused small spaces into someplace Odin could be placed during shifts, wanting Dove to start tomorrow. By the time she finished, it was dark out. She headed to her home upstairs and sat in the alcove bed in the living room window with some hot chocolate in her pajamas which consisted of one of Sterling's oversized old shirts and some boxers, watching the stars. until she was too tired to stay awake.
—-
The drive to the airstrip was uncomfortably quiet. Spadix was lost in thought. Scarlet just watched her, amused. When they got onto the airship, Scarlet finally decided to speak, not wanting this ride long ride to be miserable for either party, "Are you worried about seeing her?"
Spadix growled at her at first before relaxing with a weak breath, "Of course I am. I haven't seen her since…"
She couldn't say it but it wasn't like she had to. Scarlet already knew the rest, the fox was there for it after all. Her tail swayed slowly and curiously as she leaned on her hand in Spadix's direction across from her, elbow on the plush armrest, taking in the sudden return of the owl's timidness and those sad swirls, "You still love her don't you?"
A frown made its way to the owl's face but she didn't say anything. Silence fell over both of them as she nibbled at a talon, face staring out the window and refusing to look over at the fox. Scarlet refused to change the subject so she remained quiet. She knew if she let it simmer something was bound to happen. Spadix didn't want to say anything for a long time. She knew nothing about what Jin and Scarlet had, it had never been shared, and with the fact they were clearly at least still working together she wasn't sure if she could even answer that question without crossing any line.
After a bit over thirty minutes, a weak quiet sound left her lips, unable to deny it or sit in this discomfort any longer, "I never stopped…"
The shining emeralds in the sunset light glanced up at her from her scroll, "I figured."
Spadix felt she had to say more, "I don't have any intentions of causing trouble. She's still with you right? eight years is a long time, I don't want to mess with that if she clearly wants to be with…"
A hand lifted, silencing Spadix now that the owl was staring at her, "Stop."
Scarlet fully looked away from her scroll, leaning back into her hand with a sly grin, "I'll stop you there. We are not what you think we are. We have never been what you think we are and we never will be. She's my girlfriend yes but only to the extent of basically saying we are exclusive. I care about her deeply of course but we are not in love or anything. Never have been, never will be. We are both fine with that. What we have is just convenience and carnal desires that need satisfying. That's all. If she or I ever want to leave it or be with someone else there is a very agreed upon understanding that the other is free to go."
Spadix's mouth was hung open a bit. She couldn't fully fathom being with someone for so long like that. Her mind also raced with the reasons why that was the case. Scarlet chuckled, "My my you really still are so cute you know? And your eyes are so easy to read. Look, we got together because she needed a distraction from her misery. It just worked out that we clicked in a physical way and the situation worked for both of us. I didn't want the emotional attachment and she couldn't give it but didn't want to drown in her emotions. I'm not the settling down type so it's continued to work out. Don't think about it too hard, you'll hurt yourself."
The fox received a frown and laughed, turning back to her scroll, "Besides, I could never be the one her heart yearns for anyway and I'm fine with that."
A quick glance with her eyes over at the owl proved she hooked her with the thought. Scarlet knew the seeds she was planting and what that would mean for herself but there couldn't be a better opportunity to provide something more fulfilling to her lover than the one that had presented itself and she refused to let it go to waste. She might not be in love with Jin but she still loved her enough to want her to find what she wanted in her life and have the life she wants.
After a very long time in silence, the ship getting close to the island, Scarlet had noticed Spadix fidgeting and lost in her head the whole time and closed her scroll, 'Well, it's been fun while it lasted but it's time to move this along. It's way overdue.'
She turned her face to the owl with a soft smile, nothing but truth and kindness in her eyes, "She still loves you too. She always has. Sometimes, she still says your name in her sleep while she cries. I'm still just a distraction for her pain because it never stopped."
Spadix bit her lip as she watched Scarlet, the island coming into view in the distance. The fox moved to sit in the seat next to Spadix, placing a hand on her shoulder, "I asked her to meet me at the landing pad. You should tell her how you feel. Really. You two have suffered long enough don't you think?"
The owl couldn't understand why Scarlet would just do this and let go of eight years with someone but she had to remind herself of everything the fox had said, "Y…you think so?"
Scarlet leaned on her knees, looking over to see Spadix under her hood, "Of course! I told you I care about her didn't I? I have always been honest when I told her I never expected her to let you go. I always knew deep down life would bring you two back to one another. Like I said, I was fine with being that distraction, it was fun, really really fun, but I`m not the one she yearns for. You are."
Spadix turned red but then sat up straight. The two spent the last bit of the flight talking about Jin and Scarlet giving her encouragement. By the time they landed, Spadix was ready to face this and make it happen. She had never expected Scarlet to become an alley, especially not like this. She had spent so long convincing herself Jin was moved on and happy. Scarlet had even told her about the baby and why Jin didn't keep it to give further proof, though Spadix was sworn to secrecy on the subject.
Jin was waiting at the deck when the ship landed, watching the aircraft lazily as she waited, thinking only Scarlet was aboard. However when the ship touched down and the hatch opened, the dragon locked up tense at the sight of Spadix, Scarlet nowhere to be seen.
She was frozen in place, heart racing dangerously as the owl approached her. She took in every inch of her, holding her breath, unsure if she was over the trauma of the faunus being close. Before Spadix got too close, Jin turned and made an attempt to run for it, a taloned hand reaching out and grasping her wrist before she could run.
Jin didn't turn around but they could both feel each other trembling and could hear the deep breath they had been holding release. Jin noticed that her body was ok. Nothing was screaming any code reds in her like after the incident. Only her nerves at the situation were bothered but she knew that was her heart not fear. A soothing voice she only ever heard in her dreams filled the air, making her insides shake and melt all at once, "Jin wait. Please… look at me?"
At first, nothing happened. Spadix could feel her heart threatening to rip from her chest through her throat as it pounded, every second Jin didn't turn around felt like she was shattering. Finally, the dragon turned slowly, looking down at Spadix with her free hand covering her scarred face. Spadix had never seen it. The robotic eye covered and only her normal one peering at the being that still encompassed her entire soul and heart.
In the background, she could see Scarlet standing there in the ship doorway, leaning into it and gesturing with a smile to the owl. It was a clear sign of saying it was ok, she was encouraging Jin. 'That sneaky winch…' she thought as that lyrical voice drew her in again, gently pulling away her hand, "Jin…"
God she had missed hearing that voice. She didn't even realize there were tears on her face from her eye, staring down again at Spadix's wet face, her gentle smile. As the taloned hand reached up to the revealed face, she traced over the injury, fingers ghosting over the skin slowly. Jin wanted to pull away, shame she hadn't felt in a while bubbling up.
Spadix looked at every inch of her face, finally able to see the damage she had left behind. She felt an ache in her scarred shoulder but ignored it, her hand moving to grasp Jin's cheek lightly as she gave the most loving smile she could muster. She could feel her tears on her own face. She never thought she would get this chance. She had accepted that it was impossible and only a stupid dream. Her heart was burning from the overwhelming feelings flooding her.
When Spadix spoke again, the question she asked washed all the shame and doubt away from Jin, making the woman stare into those swirled orbs she longed to gaze into again, "Jin… can I at least kiss you?"
The dragon's shaking hands looped around the owl, lifting her up pressed into her own chest to bring her level with her, the smile shining at Jin and watery eyes igniting her soul and heart as she pressed her lips into Spadix's soft lips, holding pressed to each other in such tenderness, longing, and joy until they parted. The owl resting her forehead on Jin's as she laughed weakly with overflowing joy she thought she'd never feel again as Jin smiled at her, those dragon teeth had long ago been filed.
Spadix wasn't surprised. Scarlet had mentioned it before they landed. Jin had not filed them flat but she did have them rounded out so they were no longer sharp, now curved points except her fangs. Spadix had felt bad in the aircraft but Scarlet had reassured her it wasn't her fault. Jin had always hated them long before knowing Spadix. Her taloned hands grasped Jin's cheeks softly and she couldn't stop her joyful tears as Jin answered, the most beautiful, loving smile on Jin that Spadix had ever seen and it was all for her, "Always."
AN: Thank you if you got this far! Look for more in this series to come!
I'd love to know what people want to see first:
- a prequel?
-some steamy one shots that were either glossed over or all new ones with some of this characters?
-one shot or short story of Dove finding Qrow?
-shorts about Jangri Adel or Yuki Khan?