"You don't need to stay around here and watch me. Walk around. Have a tour of your old stomping grounds. Menagerie has changed since last you were here, so go and explore."
"Is what Tia said," Blake sighed. "But what am I supposed to do," Blake asked herself as she walked through the crowds.
Indeed, she hasn't been to Menagerie in a while. The last time she came was to bring Verde here for her tenth birthday. She could have sworn there were even more Faunus than before. Then again, it has been three years. However, she also noticed that the crowd wasn't as bad as well. 'Must be thanks to the new settlements. You really helped this island out, Jaune,' she thought with a smile.
She then noticed a fish stand and sniffed at it, her ears drooping. 'Not as good as the tuna Jaune brought, but who am I to miss out on good fish,' she thought with a smile before something moved past the corner of her eye. She looked to see what it was. "Argent?"
Blake followed her nephew through the crowds. Argent may have been small, but his golden hair wasn't hard to miss. It may be thanks to him having both Arc and Xiao Long blood in him. Still, his hair was the brightest shade of blonde Blake had seen, especially on Menagerie where most blondes had a tropical yellow comparable to pineapple or mango.
Blake followed Argent to the beachside residency of Menagerie, where most of the Sea Faunus lived and fished.
Argent looked like he was looking for something before he saw another Sea Faunus. Judging by the fins, Blake guessed he was a Dolphin Faunus.
"Excuse me," Argent went as he ran up to the man carrying a box. Blake could smell seaweed from the box.
"Hm?"
"Do you know where Ms. Kai lives?"
"Lady Kai? Yeah. See that hut over there? That's her home."
"Thank you," Argent bowed before running towards the hut.
"He's after Kai," Blake asked with a raised eyebrow before following her nephew again. She was hiding behind another hut when she saw Argent walk up the steps. Blake noticed that he looked nervous. The boy took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
"Coming," Kai called. She opened the door and looked down with a smile. "Oh, Little Fish. You're ten minutes late. Not bad. I see you're either experienced or taught well."
"I... I... I'M HERE FOR OUR DATE," Argent went nervously.
Blake fell to the ground. 'D-D-D-D-DATE?! JAUNE ARC, WHAT ARE YOU TEACHING MY NEPHEW,' Blake mentally screamed.
Kai giggled. "I thought as much. And I see you dressed appropriately. Shorts, sandals and I'm betting you don't mind getting that shirt wet."
'WET,' Blake thought as she began to hunch like like an angry cat.
"Y-Yes!" Argent was blushing brightly. 'Uwaaaa, why am I so nervous? I've been on plenty of dates with Big Sis Elm. She taught me the basics of dating. Why am I so nervous?'
'Just remember to be you,' Elm in a thought bubble went with a toothy smile and a peace sign. 'And keep being cute!'
'I'm not cute,' he mentally muttered.
"Now then, Little Fish, shall we," Kai asked as she held out her hand.
Argent nodded before grabbing the beauty's hand, the two now walking down the beach. Of course, it looked more like a kid walking with his mother... if the mother had ocean blue hair and a shark's dorsal fin on her back while the son had golden blonde hair and no fish characteristics.
'Where the hell is she taking my nephew,' Blake all but hissed in her mind. She protectively followed the two, wondering why they were headed so far away from Kuo Kuana or any main part of Menagerie for that matter. They were getting close to the mountain range, where there were fewer homes and people around.
The only thing nearby was an old pier. Not even the oldest fishermen used it since there were fewer fish in the area these days. It was a perfect swimming point, though.
Blake watched as they walked onto the pier, stopping at the end. Blake's hair then prickled up when she saw Kai remove her shirt, showing off her well-toned, slim, and sleek body. Even if she wasn't a Sea Faunus, you'd be able to tell that she was an amazing swimmer. Her arms and legs pretty much gave it away, as well as her stomach. In short, she was drop-dead sexy.
"So, are you going to keep your shirt on or off?"
"Uh, I can take it off," Argent said as he did so.
"Wow. It's always impressive to see the Arc physique."
"Arc physique?"
Kai squatted down. "There's a reason your father is considered the sexiest man in the world, and it's not just his face. Though, that alone would win him a lot of awards," Kai giggled. "I'm surprised Blake hasn't tried anything. He's actually her type."
'Oi,' Blake thought in annoyance.
"Your father wins popularity polls because of these," Kai said as poked Argent's muscular pectoral muscles. "Many people find muscular men extremely attractive. It's why your Uncle Sun is one of the few people who has even beaten your dad at those polls. These muscles are proof of how skilled a man is at taking care of themselves, which also gives women an idea of how good they are at taking care of others. A sort of protective husband sort of appeal."
"But my dad is protective. He's a superhero. And even though mom is ridiculously strong, he's protective of her, too."
Kai giggled. "As I said, that's quite attractive to women. We indeed want to be independent and be able to fend for ourselves, but it's also nice to have a partner, a sort of equal who will stand by your side and protect you when you can't handle the world on your own."
"So, basically like my mom and dad?"
"Exactly," Kai said as she stood up. "Now, we've spoken enough," Kai said as she was doing some stretches, Argent following her lead. After a few minutes of them, the two stood side by side at the edge of the pier. "Shall we?"
Argent looked up at her and smiled toothily before doing his "shishishi" laugh. The pair then dove into the water.
Blake's eyebrow twitched. "THIS is their 'date'? Swimming in the ocean?"
Moments later, Argent burst out of the water, flying high into the sky. "WHOO-HOO," he went before diving back into the water.
"THEY'RE JUST TRAINING!" Blake sighed before walking away. "You got worried for nothing, Xiao Long."
Blake was walking through what was left of the Menagerie jungle, not realizing she was getting close to a certain hut. She walked through a bush in time to see a small girl being sent flying, slamming onto a training dummy before falling to her knees, coughing violently.
"That's enough." Blake looked towards the voice to see Nishi looking down at the girl.
"No." Blake looked at the panting girl, the Lioness Faunus trying to get back to her feet. "I can... keep-" she groaned as she fell to one knee.
"As I said, that's enough. You've done well, but you need rest, Cub."
"Yes, Lady Nishi," Nala went.
"So, did you enjoy what little show you saw," Nishi asked as she looked towards the bushes, Blake walking out.
"I didn't mean to intrude."
"L-Lady Belladonna," Nala panted.
"I'm not my mother, sweetheart. I'm a Xiao Long now."
"Hmph. I suppose it would be best if you did not take the proud name of Belladonna," Nishi said with closed eyes and arms crossed beneath her breasts.
Blake glared at Nishi. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Nishi opened one eye. "You've disgraced your family time and time again. You've shown no loyalty to your parents, running away from Menagerie to join Adam Taurus. You even ran away from him but did not return to your parents until things got too hard for you. Even when the world reached a false sense of peace, you never returned."
"We ARE at peace."
"Thanks to a man who is doing far more good for Menagerie in a week than you ever had in YEARS."
"If you want to say something to me, Nishi, then say it," Blake hissed as she stomped towards the tigress.
"Fine. You're a disgrace to Faunus kind. You didn't even marry a Faunus. Just an inferior human."
"YANG IS NOT INFERIOR!"
Yang was having trouble sleeping on her stone bed until she smiled and blushed in her sleep, somehow getting comfortable and sleeping more peacefully.
"Please. She is human. What good could she be?"
"What does being human have to do with anything? Jaune is human, too! Or did you forget?"
"You seem to have forgotten, Xiao Long. That man is now beyond human. He's practically one of us. As far as I'm concerned, calling him human is an insult. He is far greater than any of those insects. He's certainly better than a coward who only knows how to run."
Blake tried to grab Nishi, but Nishi was too fast. She instead grabbed Blake's wrist and gripped it to the point Blake was groaning, falling to one knee.
"Pathetic. Is this all you can amount to? Your father is far too lenient on you. I'm ashamed to know you are a Feline Faunus such as I."
Blake wanted to say something, but she was in too much pain from Nishi's technique.
"Enough."
Both Blake's and Nishi's eyes shot wide open. Even Nala stiffened, all her fatigue seemingly vanishing. And all from the uttering of a simple, single, calm word. Yet the voice that gave the word was radiating with power.
Nishi quickly released Blake and turned towards the voice, standing at attention. "Forgive me, father."
Blake then looked up and saw him. The strongest Faunus in all of Menagerie, if not the entire world. The master of the greatest of all the Beast God Styles. The Tiger God, Byakko.
He was a massive man, taller than Blake's father, meaning he was taller than Jaune. He was incredibly muscular, wearing only a simple white undershirt that hugged his incredible muscles. His Faunus features were the stripes on his fair white skin, the tiger tail he had wrapped around his waist like a belt, and his pointed ears on his head. He also had the strongest, most piercing ice-blue eyes that felt like they were looking right through you. Though he was undeniably an older man, he was still incredibly handsome and rugged, his face cleanly shaven, but his white hair reaching down to his waist. He was a sight to behold.
'He... really is the strongest. Adam wouldn't have stood a chance against him,' Blake thought.
Byakko looked directly at Blake, making the Cat Faunus shutter. "Lady Xiao Long, are you proud of your past actions?"
"N-Not all of them. I have many regrets."
"Have you accepted them? Your sins and failures?"
"I... have."
"Have you learned from them?"
"I believe I have, sir."
"Then that is all that matters. Daughter, you have no right to judge the sins of another. Only the sinner can chastise themselves to such a degree, for we ourselves have flaws that others can ridicule, do we not?"
"O-Of course, Father. Forgive my rudeness."
"Young Nala."
"Y-Yes, sir?"
"My daughter has taught you well. You have improved greatly. However, you have trained enough for this day. Return home and recover."
"Y-yes, sir."
Byakko then turned to walk back into his hut.
"W-Wait, Lord Byakko," Blake called.
"Hm," he went as he turned his head towards her.
"I-I have a friend. He's interested in learning the Tiger God Style. I know my word isn't much, but could you please consider training him?"
"You speak of Jaune Arc, I presume."
Blake's eyes widened. "You know."
"He is an interesting man. I myself see great potential in that man. Possibly in his child as well."
"Arie?!"
"Father, the man I can understand, but his child?!" Nishi shuttered when her father looked at her, the beauty looking down in both fear and embarrassment for speaking against her father.
"However, it is for them to decide whether they wish to learn the way of the Tiger God or not. Your word means nothing, Young Blake."
"I... I understand."
"Still, it is quite the scenario."
"Excuse me," Blake went.
"The mightiest of the humans and his cub wishing to learn of our ancient martial arts... yet one who has the potential to learn it herself has no interest." Blake's eyes widened, knowing full well Byakko meant her. "It is tragic, but also enlightening. Maybe, just maybe, that man and his child will bring about a new age for the Faunus. Already, his works improve the lives of our people. Treat him well, Young Blake," he said before vanishing back into the hut.
Blake stared at the hut before she realized something. "Wait, treat him well? I'M NOT MARRIED TO HIM," she yelled in embarrassment.
"Ahem." Blake looked at Nishi, who had her arms crossed again while raising an eyebrow. "My father stated nothing about marriage. Only treating the Arcs with respect."
Blake's eyes widened again before she facepalmed, ears drooping as she was burning from embarrassment.
Blake was walking with Nala, helping the still-tired girl home.
"Not to sound ungrateful, but I can get home by myself just fine."
"You look like you just went through a war, sweetheart."
"You try training with Lady Nishi."
"I'd rather not."
Nala looked up at Blake. "Do you two... not get along?"
"That's an understatement. Even when we were kids, she never really respected me. Where I was protesting for Faunus' rights, she was training with her father to be the next Tiger God. Where I joined the White Fang, she joined the Menagerian Guard. I left the White Fang to start a new life in Vale, she rose up the ranks until she decided to retire and become a teacher. She and I couldn't be any more different if we tried. It's not that I don't see where she's coming from, though. I've made a lot of mistakes. Even I can't deny that. Maybe that's why Jaune is seen more as a hero than I am, even though we were both in the Grimmlands when we finally took down Salem."
Nala stared at Blake as they walked through the Den, the area where former White Fang members lived in unofficial exile. "Is Jaune... as much of a hero as people say?"
"No. . . he's better. Yang and I only take on certain missions. The missions that seem the most important. The ones that pay the most. . ." She sighed. "And the ones that seem the most fun. But Jaune? He doesn't discriminate. He's taken on nearly every kind of mission. From something as lowly as cleaning up an abandoned building so it could be made into a hospital to as high up as taking down a crime syndicate. Did you know that he stopped a Faunus Fight in Anima?"
"Faunus Fights? Isn't that the illegal sport where humans kidnap and drug Faunus to force them to fight for entertainment?"
"It is. Jaune has a vicious scar on his shoulder from when a feral Pitbull Faunus bit him. According to the reports... the boy begged Jaune to... euthanize him."
"Jaune Arc couldn't save him?"
Blake was quiet for a bit. "Blood tests revealed the types of drugs used to enrage the captives. Adrenaline, cocaine, steroids, opioids, and herbs like henbane. A concoction like that is bound to drive anyone insane... and make you feel like your entire body is being torn to shreds. It must feel like every part of your body is being stabbed by searing white hot needles. It's no wonder that boy begged for death. He was living in hell."
Blake wiped a tear off her cheek. "According to the reports, Jaune nearly beat the organizer to death, his gloves caked in blood when he dragged the bastard out. Jaune broke the man's jaw, nose, right cheek, and part of his skull. He was so close to killing that man, but he wanted him to suffer for his crimes. Last I heard, the organizer was in an insane asylum, terrified of Jaune. Many of the Faunus are still recovering to this day... and some... I don't think will ever recover. Unlike most of my missions, his was never publicized. This was before Jaune was the legendary Vale Knight. That man saved many Faunus lives... and most of the world has no idea. I myself found out by accident."
"Why... Why wouldn't Sir Arc want to make it public? I thought humans were narcissists. Wouldn't they usually take all the praise for an act like that?"
"Because even back then, Jaune was a hero. He didn't want praise. He didn't care about notoriety. All he wanted was to save innocent lives. He wanted... to be a Huntsman."
Nala looked down, gaining a new respect for Jaune.
"Nala, why do you want to be a Tiger God?"
"Huh?"
Blake stopped and turned to look down at the girl. "Why do you train to obtain more power?"
Nala looked up at Blake, mesmerized by her serious expression. Nala then thought about it. "I... I don't know. I just... I wanted to be strong. Strong enough to protect myself from anything. Strong enough to survive this world. . . Maybe strong enough to make my late parents proud."
Blake looked at the girl sadly before kneeling and touching her shoulder. "I am sorry to hear about the loss of your parents, Nala. You're the same age as Argent... yet already stronger than me."
"Huh?"
"I don't think I'd be able to handle losing my parents, even at this age, let alone when I was just a little girl. It's admirable to want to be strong enough to protect yourself. But please, promise me you'll never use your strength to harm others. To subjugate like the humans Jaune takes down."
"I-I would never!"
Blake smiled. "Good. . . You know, Nala, you have beautiful eyes."
"I do?"
"Yeah. They're... like Arie's." Nala's eyes widened, a slight blush on her cheeks. "Or... like Jaune's."
"Eh?"
"They're... heroic eyes."
"H-Heroic?"
"You know, Jaune isn't the only hero in the world. And in all honesty, he shouldn't have to be. At the very least, the world could use more heroes to take the load off that idiot's back. Something tells me someone like you could be that hero one day," Blake said as she stood up and lightly pushed Nala to have her walk.
As they did, Nala was looking down, deep in thought. 'I... could be a hero?'
As the beautiful Cat Faunus walked the blossoming Lion Faunus, they were being watched from Misty's Bar. At the window... was Creed, a bottle of booze in his hand, as Kala walked up to him.
"Hey, Creed. Hm? Hey, is that my sister walking with Lady Belladonna?"
"Yeah... It is. Your sister... walking with the traitor housing Arc."
"This is your home," Blake asked the young lioness.
"Yes, ma'am."
"It's well taken care of. Though, isn't it a bit far from... well, everywhere? Kuo Kuana is one thing, but you're even far from The Den."
"Well, my father was always a private man. Besides, I'm not exactly trying to be close to The Den."
"Good point." Blake looked at the former home of the infamous Magnus. She heard that he also had a Polarity Semblance like her late... acquaintance, Pyrrha Nikos, but he was supposedly on a whole other level. Even the metal hut that was now Nala's home was a magnificent piece of art created by the former White Fang leader. Blake had no idea how he died. She only knew that he was executed by Howl, right after he killed several prominent and up-and-coming Menagerian Guards.
"Is it just you living here?"
"My brother lives here, too... supposedly. He spends more time at that damned bar than at home," Nala all but growled.
"Oh, sweetheart, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"
"It's fine. You meant no harm. I suppose I'll see you at school on Monday, Mrs. Xiao Long," Nala said as she walked toward her house.
Blake watched her before she took a breath to calm herself. "Nala," Blake called as the girl reached her top step, reaching for the door.
"Hm?"
"I know it might seem forward of me to say this... but if you ever need someone to talk to, the Belladonnas' door is always open."
Nala looked at Blake with wide eyes, blinking twice, before smiling. "Thank you, Mrs. Xiao Long. I'll remember that. See you at school." She then held out her hand, activating her Semblance. Much like her father, she also had control over magnetism, opening the metal door with her powers before entering her home.
Blake just stood there, smiling and waving when the door closed. When it was fully shut, she sighed loudly as he ears drooped. "I shouldn't have done that. That so wasn't my style. Oh, gods, that was so not my style. Is Jaune rubbing off on me or something," she asked as she walked away. "That idiot. Even when he's not here, he's causing me trouble."
Blake walked through The Den, still thinking about Nala. She was the same age as Argent, yet like her nephew, already unlocked her Semblance. She was a prodigy in school and seems to have a lot of talent in the Tiger God Style. Blake honestly did want to help the girl in any way she could. Her life might have been crazy because of poor decision-making, but she wanted to ensure Nala would have a better one. She wanted to help that girl. She wanted to be a proper teacher.
Blake's ears then perked up. She looked up with a glare as she stopped walking. "Come on out. I already know you're there, Creed."
"Hmph. Not bad," Creed said as he walked out from behind a decrepit building. "For a traitor."
"Still spewing that crap?"
"It's not like he's wrong." Blake glared to her side to see Pulu walk out of the shadows.
Blake then heard Toad land behind her. "You've been all buddy-buddy with the humans for a while. Even married one. Our kind not good enough for ya, pussy-cat?"
"You're not exactly a catch, Ka'ei," Blake said.
"Wow. Been so long since someone called me by my name. Kinda freaky."
"Well, you're a freaky dude, Toad," Kala said as he placed his elbow on Blake's shoulder, the beauty glaring at him. "I think she'd rather be hit on by someone better looking. Right?"
"Right. But my wife is nowhere to be found, sadly."
"HAH," Yang went as she slammed her mug on the counter.
"No way was the booze that good," Yang's bartender friend said as he dried a mug with a raised eyebrow.
"You're right! It wasn't! But damn, do I feel like kissin' my wife right now!"
"Now get off of me before I slice your arm off."
"Ooh, feisty little kitty," Kala said as he appeared in the left area, now all of Blake's exists blocked.
"Mind telling me what this is about, Creed?"
Creed growled before he began to snarl, extending his claws. "A message to all you pathetic Owner Lovers, and an even bigger message to Arc."
Blake drew Gambol Shroud, but the moment she took out her weapon, Toad wrapped his tongue around her wrist.
Creed roared as he lunged at Blake, the beauty looking up in shock before Creed slashed through one of her shadow clones, as well as cutting Toad's tongue, leaving a bloody gash on the surface.
Toad screamed in pain as he retracted his tongue, hopping around as he held his hands over his mouth.
Blake aimed at Creed, preparing to shoot at him when Kala grabbed her wrist, making her shoot up toward the sky. "Now that wasn't very nice," he said with a smirk. He then landed a barrage of blindingly fast punches before kicking Blake to the ground. Blake slammed onto the dirt, sliding a bit. She groaned as she tried to get up, only to feel Pulu grab her leg and slam her through a wooden beam. It didn't cause the hut to collapse, but it caused quite a bit of damage to Blake, her Aura already in the orange.
Pulu then slammed Blake onto the ground with enough force to make her bounce, Blake coughing up some blood before Creed grabbed her by the throat in midair. Creed growled at Blake as he brought her close to his face. "Is this all a Huntsman is capable of? Pathetic." He then threw Blake onto a beam, making her gag as her Aura sputtered, close to completely shattering. She coughed violently before looking up to see the four Faunus walk up to her, Creed at the front. "You really are a disgrace to our kind, traitor."
"Like you're any better. I can't believe someone like you is related to a man like Howl."
"Don't remind me. Changing my name was the best decision I ever made."
"On that, we can agree on, Wikoli."
Creed growled as he raised his clawed hand. "Hope you don't mind having nice and pretty scars, Belladonna," he went mockingly.
Blake glared defiantly at Creed, even going so far as to hiss at him.
However, before Creed could swing, someone pounced on his back, slamming his face into the ground with enough force to shatter the stone beneath the dirt. His assailant then threw the large Faunus into Toad, slamming the two into empty barrels. Then, Blake's savior landed a kick to Kala's temple, slamming the Cheetah Faunus into the ground so hard that he was spazzing. Then, finally, the savior landed a double palm strike on Pulu, twisting the arms to form a circle in the Hippo Faunus's stomach before it sent the huge Faunus smashing into a rotten tree, the dying plant dropping some still-hard coconuts on his head. The savior then roared in a way that terrified all of Blake's attackers, none more than Creed.
However, none were more shocked at Blake's savior than Blake herself.
"Nishi?!"
The beautiful tigress looked among the four Faunus before her eyes landed on Creed. "This is a disappointment, Wikoli. How far you have fallen from being one of the island's greatest warriors."
Creed growled at the beautiful tigress, his trauma subsided now that he knew it was Byakko's daughter. Still, Nishi was considered one of the most powerful Faunus on the island, if not in the world, only her own father being her superior. She was instrumental in the Belladonna's side of the civil war, taking down Laehao and the misguided Nunui, the Brown Bear Faunus switching sides after Ghira explained everything to him instead of the half-truths Magnus fed him. His Steel Body Semblance made the war easier to fight.
Creed stood up, glaring and growling at Nishi, who growled back. "If you want to fight me, then fight me," she growled.
Creed continued to growl before he turned and walked away. "We're done here," Creed said.
"Don't have to tell me twice," Toad whimpered as he hopped away.
Kala stood up, wobbling a bit, still a bit dazed from Nishi's attack before looking at her. "Why the hell does my little sister look up to you and your old man?" He then sped away.
Pulu got back up and patted his fat belly, looking at Nishi. "That was a lucky shot and you know it." He then walked away, still groaning as he rubbed his already-healed stomach. "Kinda hungry," he grumbled.
Nishi growled at the four Faunus long after they were out of sight.
"Nishi." She looked down behind her at Blake. "What are you doing here?"
Nishi stared at Blake before sucking her teeth with a roll of her eyes. "That should be my question," she said as she roughly grabbed Blake's arm and yanked her up to her feet. "You know the Belladonnas are HATED in the Den."
"Faunus don't usually attack each other," Blake said as she rubbed her arms. "Faunus-on-Faunus crime is extremely rare."
"Says the woman who killed Adam Taurus."
Blake jolted at that, her ears drooping at the comment.
"Blake, you might as well have walked past enemy lines. The Den is full of former White Fang members who hate you and would gladly tear you to shreds for chum."
"Thanks for the visual image," Blake deadpanned.
Nishi groaned. "Just don't come back here. I might not be able to save you next time," she said as she began to walk away.
"Why were you here to save me this time?"
Nishi stopped before giving out a heavy sigh. "You're... not the only one who wants to help Nala. She's a good girl. One with a lot of potential. I'd rather her not throw her life away. Just... try to keep her safe, alright, Belladonna," she said as she turned to walk away.
"It's Xiao Long now."
"Huh," Nishi asked with a small turn of her head.
"My name. It's Xiao Long now. Not Belladonna."
Nishi was quiet for a moment before sighing. "I doubt anyone cares. Just... be safe and be able to take care of Arc."
"Oh, I will," Blake said as she watched the tiger beauty leap through the sky. Blake stared at her vanishing figure before realizing something. "WHAT DID YOU MEAN TAKE CARE OF JAUNE," she yelled towards the heavens.
Blake's scroll then buzzed, letting Blake know she received something. She took out her scroll and saw a picture of King's Glaive on her wallpaper.
EVERYTHING'S READY, DARLING. JUST COME DOWN AND GET IT. BEIGNETS ARE READY, TOO.
Blake sighed as she put her scroll away. "Least our beignets are fine," she muttered.
Blake was walking toward Tia's garage when she passed by her old workplace. She quickly walked back and looked, blinking when she saw Jaune's motorcycle in front of the cafe. She then walked inside.
"Oh, Blake. There you are."
She looked to see Tia placing an order in front of a family. "Uh, Tia? Why are you here and not in your garage?"
"Oh, sorry, darling. I just thought I should finish my last shift here, you know? With the amount of money your man-"
"He's not my man."
"Right, right. Anyway, thanks to the new King of the Grimm, I can build my restaurant in Moana three times over. I swear, that man is the best thing to happen to this island since your father retook the position of White Fang High Leader."
"Yeah," Blake agreed with a smile.
"Hm? Oh, honey, what happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're scuffed up. You even have a few tears."
Blake looked and sighed. "Damn. Aura heals the body, but not the clothes."
"Blake," Tiana went in a serious tone.
Blake sighed. "I got jumped in The Den."
"The Den?! Sweetheart, you know the Belladonnas aren't-"
"Nishi already gave me the lecture," Blake said with a raised hand.
"Nishi? That uppity prude saved you?"
"Weird, I know."
Tiana sighed. "It's a bit more complicated than just weird, honey. Speakin' of honey," Tiana said as she reached behind the counter and took out a large brown bag. "Here."
Blake took it and got a big whiff of it. "Whoa. Your beignets really are unbeatable, Tia."
"They're better when fresh and hot but still good cold. I'm sure your family will love it."
"We love your cooking, Tia."
"Then you'd better bring the whole house to my grand opening. Oh." Tiana took out her scroll and sent something to Blake's.
Blake looked at her scroll. "What is this?"
"The new specs and features Jaune's gonna want to know about. And tell him that if he needs anything else, he can come see me. I forgot how much fun workin' on a bike was. Though, I would much rather he come for my food."
"Once he tries these, I'm sure he'll come to you for food more than repairs."
Tiana giggled before she heard the bell ding. "Well, better get back to my last shift here."
"See you next time, Tia," Blake said as she left.
"Oh, almost forgot! Don't let the ol' boy scare ya! It's really friendly once it knows you're a friend!"
"Huh?"
"You'll know what I mean," Tiana said as she carried a menu's worth of food to different tables.
Blake raised an eyebrow before just shrugging and walking away. She stood in front of the King's Glaive, analyzing the magnificent motorcycle. She then sighed. "Sorry, Bumblebee, but King's Glaive really is better." A comic bubble of Bumblebee appeared, a tear falling down the face of the long gone bike.
Blake traced her hand across the seat, mesmerized by the machine. "Still, it doesn't even have an ignition. How does Jaune turn this thing on?"
The bike then roared to life.
"WHOA!"
ANALYZING VOCAL USER
"It can hear me?!"
PROCESSING. SEARCHING SCROLL HISTORY. VOICE RECOGNITION CONFIRMED. XIAO LONG, BLAKE. STATUS: AQUAINTANCE.
"Uh, makes sense."
SECONDARY STATUS-
"Secondary?"
TRUSTED ALLY.
"Oh, so Jaune trusts me, huh?"
ADDITIONAL STATUS-
"There's more?"
TRUSTED GUARDIAN AND CARETAKER OF ARC, ARGENT.
Blake blushed. "H-he trusts me enough to take care of Arie?" She then looked away while twirling the end of some of her hair. "Well, I do like babysitting him."
RIDER STATUS: APPROVED. XIAO LONG, BLAKE IS ALLOWED TO OPERATE THE KING'S GLAIVE.
"Good to know." Blake then got onto the motorcycle. "Wow. This feels nice. I almost don't want to give it back to Jaune."
PRIMARY OWNER: JAUNE ARC. STATUS, JAUNE ARC HAS MADE NO STATEMENT OF RELINQUISHING THE KING'S GLAIVE TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THE FUTURE OWNER, ARGENT ARC.
"Already promising your kid this cycle, eh, Jaune," Blake deadpanned. "Make it harder for the rest of us to give the kid gifts, why don't you? Alright, been a while since I've ever ridden a motorcycle."
AUTOPILOT CAN BE ACTIVATED. APPROVAL NEEDED.
"Autopilot, huh? This bike's getting better and better. Alright, Engage Autopilot. Take me to the Belladonna Estate as safely as possible."
COMMAND RECEIVED. PLEASE HOLD ON TO THE HANDLES OF THE VEHICLE.
"Okay."
When Blake did, the bike began to move forward at a fairly slow pace. Basically walking speed.
"Uh, you can go faster. Maybe as fast as you can without hitting anyone?"
AFFIRMATIVE. The engine then began to roar.
"I'm going to regret saying that, aren't I," Blake asked as her ears drooped, a sweatdrop forming on her forehead. "WHOOOOOAAAAA," she screamed as the bike blasted through Kuo Kuana. It went at speeds that sent out powerful gusts of wind, not enough to do any damage like knock over business stalls, but enough wind to flip up a few skirts and have some fruit and fish hit someone in the face.
The King's Glaive then performed an expert drift before blasting forward and riding off the hill, falling towards the Belladonna Estate. People watched as the incredible motorcycle fell towards the estate and created a loud and powerful pulse that made it land safely in front of the mansion, once again drifting to a halt.
Blake's eyes were wide, the woman panting, eyes wide and wild, hairs sticking out of her head. "That... Was... Awesome."
COMMENTARY CONFIRMED. THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE ARC HOUSEHOLD'S MOTORCYCLE.
Ghira was looking down with a serious gaze, his pupil completely slit, sweat dripping down his forehead. Verde was also looking down, her expression being cooler than her grandfather's, eyes calm, looking collected, and not a drop of sweat on her. Ghira then took a deep breath.
He grabbed a chess piece and moved it.
"Checkmate," Verde said as she moved her piece.
"Oooh. That's the fifth time today. That was one of my best strategies, too!"
"Sorry, grandfather," Verde said with a smile, head on her hand.
"I'm home," Blake called, but her father and daughter were too distracted.
"You know, my dear uncle is a tactical genius. As brilliant as he is powerful. Maybe I'm an illegitimate Arc," Verde joked.
(A/N: *record scratch* This line. The line above bit me on the ass so hard that it left a scar. As most of you know, this is a PM story. I wrote these in PMs to my friends, they gave their thoughts, and I copy and paste it here for public reading. A pair of those readers said the wrong damn thing: Jade: you better try to plan out Verde being Jaune's!
Julie: seriously!
This interaction changed the course of the story forever. For better or worse, everything changed. You'll learn the meaning of this A/N in a future chapter, my friends.)
"Please don't even joke about that, kitten." The two then looked at the beautiful Cat Faunus, holding the bag of beignets. "I can't even say it's untrue. Your orphanage had no information on your parents, after all. And considering Jaune is... well-"
"As promiscuous as an elephant seal," Verde asked with a raised eyebrow and teasing smile. "You know, I am a Lion Faunus, and it is said that lions can mate for three days straight. Who else do we know can-"
"Alright, alright, enough," Blake went with a blush. She then let out a big sigh. "Maybe you are Jaune's daughter."
"Well, you did leave me with him when you and Mom needed to go on long-term missions," Verde said as she remembered how Yang would knock on Jaune's door. When he opened, she'd place Verde in his arms, kiss Verde's cheek, then give a cartoonish grin as she saluted goodbye and sped away, leaving only a cloud shape of her with a slack-jawed Jaune behind.
"Really wish Yang did a better job of leaving you with a sitter," Blake said as she took out the plates and placed the beignets on them, placing them in the microwave to at least warm them up a bit.
"At least it was fun being with him," Verde went with a shrug. "I know how to swordfight thanks to him. Still prefer the Xiao Long Style and your stealth techniques, but at least I'm good with a sword."
"You modeled your Lion's Mane based on Crocea Mors," Blake pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
"Not true," Verde said as she lifted her arm, showing off her gauntlets. "It's also based off of Mom's Ember Cecilia. Uncle Jaune doesn't use guns. I do," she said as she pumped her magnum gauntlet before cocking it a second time to make the red metal on the gauntlet fall off from the weapon before it magnetized and straightened into a red blade. "My gauntlets just happen to have a blade."
"And you swordfight more like Jaune than like me," Blake said as she placed the first plate of beignets on the table. Verde just shrugged as she retracted her sword.
Ghira rubbed his hands together, looking down at the pastries in anticipation. "Ah, Tiana Grenouille's famous beignets! I really can't get enough of these," he said as he took and ate one already. "Delicious as always. Now, dear daughter, could you please convince your own daughter to show a bit of mercy to an old man?"
"Not happening," mother and daughter teasingly went in unison.
Ghira sighed in defeat as he ate another treat. "How did you become so skilled in a game of strategy like chess anyway?"
"Jaune taught me/her," the mother and daughter went in unison.
"Of course," Ghira sighed.
"He really is brilliant. Do you know that no one has beaten him at Remnant Rulers? Give him any of the kingdoms, and he finds a way to beat you. The man is a tactical genius," Blake explained as she sat down and started eating as well.
"Actually, he told me he's only ever lost to Ms. Goodwitch," Verde said.
"That makes sense, actually," Blake said. "Our old teacher was the smartest woman I had ever known, at least until Jinn came into the picture." Blake snickered. "I still remember the day we walked into a game of Remnant Rulers between Jaune and Winter. Winter was playing as New Mantle, of course. And just as predictably, Jaune was Vale. The look on Winter's face when Jaune destroyed her kingdom," Blake giggled.
"How did we not know they were dating at that time," Verde asked out loud with a roll of her eyes.
"Well, they started talking about Jaune's newest mission after cleaning up the game."
"Sneaky man," Verde giggled. "I wonder how his training is going. It's close to dusk. Grandmother and Nimueh are still out, too. As is Arie."
"Ka-choo," Nimueh went softly.
"Are you alright," Kali asked while holding a dragon fruit she was planning on buying.
"I think something just flew into my nose or something. Mm," she shrugged.
"Hm? Oh! Hi, mom!"
Nimueh looked. "Arie. I wasn't expecting to see you until I got home. Isn't it a bit late for you to be out?"
"I, uh, kinda lost track of time.
"Date was that good, huh," Nimueh asked with a teasing smile. It made Argent blush and look away in embarrassment.
'Cute,' the two women thought in unison.
"Well, they'll be back soon," Blake said.
The door then opened. "I'm home," Jaune went in a tired tone.
"Hm, wasn't expecting him to arrive first," Blake said as she got up to greet the houseguest.
"Not a good idea," Verde muttered as she sipped her tea.
"Welcome home, Jaune," Blake said as she turned the corner to see Jaune dragging himself into her house... while dragging... "Is that a Glutton Grouper Fish," she asked as she saw the fish the size of Jaune's leg.
"Yeah. Saw it on the flight back and had just enough energy to grab it," Jaune said as he trudged farther in.
". . . Now you're just seducing me."
"I don't even have the energy to retort to tha-" Jaune tripped over his own foot. "Fuck."
Blake's ears drooped. "I think I recognize this pattern."
CRASH
Ghira and Verde both sipped their tea and let out a content sigh.
"You knew this would happen, didn't you," Ghira asked his granddaughter.
"You knew as well, grandfather."
"It's true. I did," he said with a smile.
Blake's eye was twitching before she let out an irritated sigh. "You're doing this on purpose."
"Trust me, I'm not," Jaune said, his voice muffled by Blake's breasts, the two currently on the floor.
"You do realize you're not getting any of this fish, right?"
"Got it."
The door then opened again.
"Oh, my."
Blake looked at the door to see Kali with her hand over her mouth, Argent tilting his head in confusion, and Nimueh with a deadpanned expression, with the occasional twitching eyebrow.
"Not. One. Word," Blake said.
A/N: No idea why, but it's nice to write for someone other than Jaune in this story every once in a while. He may be the main character, but it doesn't hurt to get someone else's POV every once in a while.