White Knight Errant
A RWBY fanfic by Andrew Joshua Talon
DISCLAIMER: This is a fan based work of prose. RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth and WB Animation. Please support the official release.
Yang had never wanted to be a leader.
Being responsible for the house, for Ruby, after Summer died and Dad just… Fell apart? That had given her an early taste of how bitter it was to be in charge. To have to make decisions, big decisions, that would affect lives.
She'd made that stupid decision to go out into the woods with her little sister in a wagon, to seek out a mother who hadn't even been there. It had nearly gotten them killed, if not for Uncle Qrow.
Responsibility was a bitter thing. It meant you were left holding the bag if other people decided to call it quits. Or to die.
But someone had to do it. Ruby had needed her. So while Dad slowly pulled himself back together, and Uncle Qrow went off to work and earn money for them while drinking, Yang learned to cook. Yang learned to clean. Yang lied to the service lady that their dad was tired from going out hunting. Yang did homework with Ruby, told her stories, and held her when she cried.
She'd become the popular party girl at Signal just for the sake of Ruby-Who would pick on the kid sister of the most popular girl in school? But most of her reputation was just… Just smoke and mirrors. She trashed nightclubs and danced because she liked it, but… It was all a sideshow compared to the energy she put into her family. She'd gone on dates, but nothing had ever happened.
Nothing could happen, not while Ruby needed her.
She loved her sister and would do it all over in a heartbeat, but it was hard to trust further than that. That's why she'd been fine with Ruby becoming team leader. She had charisma, she took initiative, and she worked hard despite her lack of experience.
But Ruby wasn't here. Neither was Jaune, and hadn't he shown he could handle barking orders and making decisions in a pinch!
It was obvious the rest of their two teams weren't really suited for it. Pyrrha was either far too compliant or way too aggressive (and hopelessly obsessed with Jaune in either case). Weiss had experience barking orders but didn't command respect or inspire hope. Ren was calm under pressure, but not very forthright. Nora was a ball of chaos and violence.
So that left her.
She didn't want to take responsibility… But someone had to.
"Weiss! Keep throwing up Glyphs!" Yang shouted, leaping into the air with an assist from her Gauntlets. She twisted in mid-air and landed briefly on a Glyph the Schnee heiress had summoned, firing back into the mass of Grimm chasing them through the forest. "Pyrrha! On your right!"
Pyrrha landed with perfect grace on another Glyph Weiss frantically threw up as they ran, and casually dispatched the Reynard lunging for them without even looking. Yang grit her teeth a bit in jealousy, even as she blasted away with Ember Celica and brought down two more Beowulves running ahead of the main mass.
Ren and Nora kept running, still staying ahead of them despite their Aura exhaustion. They didn't need to do more, though it was clear they wanted to.
No, focus…!
She backflipped off the Glyph, and landed on another, still firing into the mass. It was getting smaller, though whether that was from the casualties they were inflicting or members of the mass getting trampled or what? She couldn't tell.
But it was still too much for just the five of them, especially when they were running down a smooth, dry riverbed path through the forest. It had twists and turns, which, with their fire, had slowed the Grimm down, but now they were coming up to the straight bit. And they were slowed, the Grimm weren't.
Their only hope was to keep running, and stack them up until they got back to the main body of students.
Even over the shots of their weapons, Yang could make out another gun going off nearby… Getting closer…
"It's Jaune!" Pyrrha cried happily, just before the raggedy clad knight emerged over a ridge. Blake was with him. In his arms he carried-
"RUBY!"
Jaune and Blake jumped down onto the riverbed and merged with them, keeping up as they rounded another corner. Ahead was daylight, straight ahead, gleaming through the trees… But still so far away.
"You guys okay?! Sitrep!" Jaune shouted.
"Aura depleted, no ammo, but fine!" Ren called out.
"Need pancakes and syrup!" Nora shouted.
"Aura at 60 percent, running low on ammo Jaune!" Pyrrha called out.
"I'm only a little under that!" Weiss shouted.
"I'm fine!" Yang shouted, her eyes on her little sister."Is she-?!"
Jaune flashed her a grin.
"She'll be okay! Broken wrist, some blood loss, bit by Vermin, gave her anti-toxin, aura depletion," Jaune shouted, "How long is this straight?"
"Half a mile!" Weiss shouted back.
Yang saw Jaune grimace. Yeah, he realized it too. They'd be run down and overwhelmed.
"Hwah…?" Ruby's eyes fluttered open. She looked around, and realized where she was with a blush. "J-Jaune? Where-?"
"No time!" Jaune shouted. He looked around, eyes locked onto the trees framing the riverbed like the arches holding a tunnel up. "Blake! Take Ruby!"
The black-clad ninja girl took Ruby into her arms and up over her shoulder without question. Jaune looked over at Weiss.
"Weiss! You got any Ice dust left?!"
She held up some Dust rounds.
"Last ones!" Weiss shouted.
"Throw up an ice wall behind us and keep running!"
Weiss complied, the Glyphs flashing into existence behind them and a ten foot wall of ice burst up out of nothing across the riverbed.
"It won't hold long!" Weiss shouted, and everyone saw as the Grimm rammed into it that the ice was splintering and cracking.
"Long enough!" Jaune shouted, skidding to a halt and running back. Yang's eyes widened in shock and disbelief, and hers weren't the only ones.
"JAUNE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" She screamed, because Pyrrha was gaping in horror and Ruby was too exhausted to shout.
"ARC! DON'T BE A HERO!" Though even Weiss was flabbergasted. Nora just gave a little grin, as Ren looked a tiny bit alarmed-For him.
"JUST GRAB ME AFTERWARDS!" Jaune shouted, stopping only a few meters away from the crumbling ice wall. He held up his sword in a dueling salute… Then swung it up and down, then back and forth, his feet stomping in what appeared to be an elegant dance. A Beowulf burst through the ice wall and sprinted for him, gearing up to lunge for his throat.
"JAUNE!"
No, nonono, don't go crazy now, don't go crazy now! Yang begged whoever was listening. Not Jaune, not like this, not-!
Jaune pulled his sword back like it was a baseball bat, swung it… And a wave of yellow-white energy erupted from it. The Beowulf came apart as the wave passed through it… As did all the Grimm breaking through the ice wall. Then the next line of Grimm, then the next.
The wave battered the next line, and dissipated by the fifth… But by then, the aura strike had sliced through the trunks of all the trees lining the riverbank, and those fell like collapsing pillars onto the rest of the horde. Fires broke out, burning the trapped Grimm alive, and impeding the Grimm still trying to pursue.
Yang's jaw was somewhere around Remnant's core, as Jaune Arc calmly turned around. The fires formed a backdrop for him, a slight breeze kicked up his cloak to make it wave behind him like a flag. Smoothly, he twirled his sword around his hand, and slid it back into its sheath with a stern, almost heroic look on his face.
Her cheeks went bright red as she felt warm.
Oh shit… Okay… I think I can date him. I think I can date him no problem now, Ruby…
"Was… Was that… Did that country yokel just use an aura blade technique?!" Weiss cried out in shock.
"Oh yes he did," Pyrrha purred, gazing upon Jaune like he was her everything. It was hard to blame her at that moment though. Yang was having similarly naughty thoughts about the former Crybaby.
Down girl! He doesn't like crazy clingy chicks! Yang thought to herself.
"W-Wow," Ruby murmured, her eyes shining and her cheeks red. Ah, yeah, that was only expected. Little Ruby was definitely hitting puberty now.
"Golden Lion's Roar?!" Blake muttered, staring back over her shoulder like she had seen a ghost. Ah well, not everyone could appreciate a man showing off like a total badass.
"WOOHOO!" Nora cheered. She glanced over at the ever stoic Ren, and cooed.
"Aw. I like your Aura blasts better, Renny, don't you worry!"
"I wasn't worried about that," Ren said, "However, given Jaune's Aura control-"
Jaune Arc took two steps… And then fell flat on his face.
"JAUNE!"
Pyrrha reached out, and black Aura surrounded Jaune's body. He flew from the dirt, all the way into Pyrrha's arms. The group resumed running, as a few Reynards managed to get around the fiery blockade.
Yang ran alongside Pyrrha, and grabbed Jaune's scroll out of his belt. She gaped in disbelief at the Aura reading.
"You're at one percent?!" She demanded.
"Haaa… Well… Did better than I thought I would," Jaune managed to mumble. "Last time I did it, I was at full, then collapsed immediately,"
"Small wonder," Ren commented, "His reserves are massive, but his control is terrible. We will work on that, Jaune."
"Thanks Ren, you're a bro," Jaune slurred,
"I'll happily train you in Aura Control and anything else you'd like, Jaune~," Pyrrha crooned, cradling Jaune in a bridal carry.
"That's nice, please don't molest me," Jaune stated.
"I-I'm not molesting-"
"Pyrrha!"
Yang elbowed Pyrrha, and yanked Jaune out of her arms.
"Take out those flankers, P-Money!" Yang shouted. "Flirt later!"
Pyrrha glared… Then threw her shield like a discus to slice three snarling Reynards in half without sparing them a second glance.
"Thanks Yang, she needs her hands free," Jaune groaned.
"So does she!" Pyrrha insisted.
"STOP FLIRTING AND RUN FASTER!" Weiss screamed.
"THEY CAN DO BOTH!" Nora screamed back.
Teams RWBY and JNPR broke out into daylight, still running as hard as they could. Ruby was still grinning brightly, even while carried over Blake's shoulder like a bag of laundry. Jaune was smiling a little himself, even if he had to be carried by Yang.
"We're gonna make it, we're gonna make it...!" Ruby cried.
The group slid to a halt. Ruby, tired as she was, managed to crane her neck to look over her shoulder.
"What's all the-Oh."
"For fuck's sake," Weiss, of all people, cursed.
Two dozen Ursa with several other smaller Grimm were gathered along the road they'd been gathering sap in just this morning. They looked a lot less organized, but it was still a big group. And the horde behind them was still coming if delayed.
"I'll handle this," Pyrrha said immediately, holding up her spear-rifle-sword and shield, "The rest of you run-"
"I'll stay behind, give you cover," Yang started, "My Semblance activates when I'm hit-"
"I'm team leader, I'll stay behind," Jaune said, trying to stagger up to his feet, sword and shield up.
"Like fun you will," Ruby stated firmly, "I'm team leader too!"
"Why are we arguing for who will be left behind to die?!" Weiss demanded. "We can think of something, right? Right?"
A spear composed of glowing green energy landed in the center of the gathered Grimm, and a tornado kicked up. All of those with combat skirts pushed them down as the wind whipped up debris and Grimm. The tornado sucked up multiple Grimm into its vortex, before another, fiery spear struck it.
The hyper-accelerated air, combined with the Dust-powered flames, resulted in a small but quite deadly fuel-air explosion going off, destroying the tornado and taking the Grimm to oblivion with it. The blast nearly knocked all the members of RWBY and JNPR down. Jaune nearly fell, if Yang and Pyrrha hadn't caught him at the same time. Nora held Ren tightly and didn't let go.
"... Good work, Weiss," Yang quipped.
"Wha... What was that?" Weiss managed, managing to get some words out.
The remaining Grimm in the vicinity soon began to grow green Dust arrows, which exploded and blew the monsters into smoke in short order. Anything left was swiftly dispatched by a blond wolf Faunus boy with ninjas claws and Dust-enhanced clones, and a witch-hat-wearing girl with a purple demon familiar and a hatchet that doubled as an auto-shotgun.
Out of the smoke, looking every inch the heroic upperclassman and future Hunter he should be, strode Simin Megitus. He joined his fellow teammates, Lycan Arcadia, and Ragora Cinarum, as they walked up to the two first-year teams. Weiss sucked in a dramatic breath, her eyes filled with stars.
"You all alright?" Simin asked.
"Sure are," Yang said, "I see that was a breeze for you, huh?"
"YANG!" Weiss growled, as the boxer laughed. She looked back to Team SLVR, and bowed.
"I'm sorry. Please, ignore her, we all do," Weiss implored.
"We don't!" Nora laughed.
"That's fine. Miss Goodwitch is gathering up the rest of the students as we pulled out," Simin went on, professional and polite, even as Ragora and Lycan snickered a bit at their interplay, "You have injured?"
"Yeah," Ruby said with a nod, "I got shot by a sniper. I was lucky they hit my scope, but..."
"A sniper?" Lycan asked, frowning hard.
"Yeah, they got my-?" Ruby looked around, in sudden distress. "Where-?"
"Here, I got it for you," Jaune said, pulling out the folded-up Crescent Rose and handing it to her. Even as weak as she was, Ruby squealed and held her weapon to her chest.
"Oh baby, you're safe! You're alive! Thank you Jaune, so much!"
"Can you remember where you saw the sniper?" Simin asked. Ruby nodded.
"I-I can, I can! Right across the Lazy River, about one thousand yards southeast of where I was shooting from! If you escort us, I can-!"
"She's injured, she's not going back there," Jaune said firmly. Ruby scowled at him.
"But I-!"
"You're not going back there," Yang stated. Ruby looked for any allies, but her teammates and friends all seemed to be in agreement. She huffed.
"I've been there," Blake said quickly, "Everyone else who has is suffering from Aura exhaustion or injury."
Jaune shot her a grateful look. She didn't seem to notice.
Well, it had been a long day for everyone, Jaune supposed.
Simin nodded.
"All right." He tapped his scroll. "Vella, you and Ragora maintain overwatch for RWBY and JNPR. They'll be bringing in wounded... And any sap they can carry."
"Roger, Simin," a female voice spoke over the Scroll.
"Yeah yeah, lucky me," Ragora sighed, leaning her hatchet over her shoulder and eyeing the freshmen with a smirk. "Let's get moving, kids."
"WOOHOO!" Nora cheered. "Hear that, Renny! We get to take some home!"
"Hooray," he deadpanned.
"All right. Lycan, myself and Miss...?" Simin glanced at Blake.
"Blake Belladonna," she said. Lycan's eyebrows went up at that, but he said nothing.
Simin nodded.
"Belladonna. We'll check it out. Rest of you, get moving."
"Yes sir," Jaune said, with a jaunty salute, "C'mon guys. Manual labor awaits!"
Blake led the two upperclassmen through the woods, leaping from tree to tree. Both kept up easily, hopping through the trees above the Grimm, and she felt both of their eyes studying her intently when they weren't scanning for Grimm.
They moved fast and soon arrived at the scene, Blake pointing out the tree with scope fragments under it. Lycan sniffed significantly and examined a patch of ground with his keen eyes.
"I can smell the leftover dust," Lycan reported, "It's a weird mix of a lot of elements. Anything familiar to you, Boss?"
Simin knelt on the ground, all business. A Grimm snarled nearby, but Lycan summoned up a Smoke clone he infused with Lightning and sent if off as a suicide bomber. The Beowulf went up, but the flash of power didn't even disturb the leader of Team SLVR as he sifted the remaining Dust in his hands. He examined it closely and licked it. His eyes lit up as his Semblance went to work.
"Yeah... The mix is designed for quick ignition, lots of light and noise," he deduced. "Perfect for stirring up Grimm."
Blake's blood went ice cold.
"You mean... This stampede-?"
"It would have taken time to get the Grimm concentrated here and ready," Lycan pointed out, shaking his head, as Simin held up his Scroll and began to record everything he could, "Lot of wrangling, requiring a lot of hardware or people with Huntsman training."
"So they planned this out," Simin said, almost detached, as though trying to solve a puzzle. Lycan nodded grimly.
"Yup."
Blake shivered. Someone deliberately putting up this many Grimm against barely trained teenagers...?
Simin's frown deepened. He looked up to the tops of the trees, back down to the ground, and appeared to do some mental calculations.
"That way," he pointed, and they headed off again. He summoned a boost of Wind Dust from his jacket, letting him jump off the air itself across the river with ease.
"Show off," Lycan muttered, chasing after him with Blake on foot. They easily evaded any of the remaining Grimm, before ending up on the other side of the Lazy River. Simin turned to Lycan.
"Got anything you two?"
"Me?" Blake asked quietly. Simin gave her a wry look.
"The bow isn't a very good disguise for your ears, Miss Belladonna."
Blake paled.
"Scent also gave it away," Lycan snorted. "You wanna hide who you are, that's fine. The name's a little on the nose though." He grinned cockily. "Lotta Belladonnas, but they're all in Menagerie."
"I... Well..." Blake tried, but the wolf Faunus cut her off.
"Whatever," Lycan snorted, sniffing around, "You do you, Kitty Kat. I ain't gonna..."
Lycan froze, and Blake caught the scent too.
"Blood," he said, "Faunus blood. Lot of it. That way."
Lycan ran into the trees, Simin activating a Fire Dust sword and following with Blake alongside. They ran for about ten seconds before Lycan came to a stop at a tree ahead of them. He grimaced.
"It's not pretty, Boss," he pronounced. Simin and Blake walked around the tree. Blake hid her mouth with her hand, as Simin studied the mangled corpse with a mortician's detachment.
"Fell out of the tree," he pronounced, looking up and down the trunk, "Right into the Grimm's path."
Simin grimaced slightly before he knelt to examine the damaged sniper rifle lying near the body.
"Scope's blown out on this one... Miss Rose is a very good shot," he observed.
"Worse news, Boss," Lycan said, as he scavenged around in the dirt away from the tree. He held up a mask, and a pit opened up in the bottom of Blake's stomach.
No... It can't be...
Simin's eyes narrowed.
"White Fang," he spat.
"Fucking murderous scumbags," Lycan snarled.
"Record everything," Simin ordered, "We'll bring back what we can." He gave a small, polite smile to Blake.
"Thanks Miss Belladonna. Just wait, and we'll all get back to the Bullheads soon."
"Sure," Blake mumbled, staring at the mask as though it was taunting her. Outwardly, she kept herself as calm and collected as usual. On the inside...
Adam... What have you done...?
"Hey Ruby. How are you feeling?"
Ruby flushed as she saw Jaune walk up to her in the Beacon infirmary. He was still in his armor and cloak, looking like a warrior out of some comic book after fighting through an army.
"Me? A lot better. Nurse Tsune says I'll be out tomorrow, everything's healing great."
Thanks to you, she thought. She recognized the bandages as the same he kept in his bags. It wasn't hard to figure out what he'd done… Done for her.
Which, well... They'd pretty much done this entire day. The moon was already out! So much for a quiet field trip.
She fixed her silver eyes on Jaune.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah," Jaune shrugged, "Just… Aura exhaustion."
Ruby scowled at him.
"That's dangerous."
"You don't have room to talk," he said, and she blushed harder.
"I guess… Where's your team?"
"They're doing okay, just got out of the infirmary," he said. "They're in our dorm by now, I hope."
Ruby held up her arms expectantly. He sighed, and walked over. He pulled up a chair, sat down, and pulled her into a hug.
She breathed in his scent, her eyes tightly shut, as she listened to his heartbeat.
"That… I… Today sucked," she managed.
"Yeah, yeah, it did," Jaune said, stroking her back soothingly.
"... I was so… So scared," Ruby muttered. "I-I almost… I was stupid, and…"
She growled.
"I've killed Grimm before, and… And I just fainted…!"
Jaune nodded, as she continued.
"The worst part was… Was the fear," Ruby mumbled. "I felt so… So helpless…"
"I know," he said. "I hate it, too."
"... I thought I was fearless," Ruby mumbled.
"You're not. No one ever is," Jaune said comfortingly. "Me? I was terrified when I saw you lying there."
"They taught us emotional control exercises at Signal. I used them, I really did… But when I was hurt, and tired, I-I just… I couldn't…"
Ruby shut her eyes tightly.
"Does-Does that mean I'm not cut out for this? Does it mean I shouldn't be here? I ran out ahead of everyone on my own, and I got shot, and I almost…"
If it wasn't for… Whatever that was… What was it? A dream? Ruby wondered, thinking back to that flash from her eyes.
Jaune grunted.
"You're not weak, Ruby. You kept trying throughout it, even as injured as you were. All right? You're not weak."
"I felt so weak-"
"Well you're not," Jaune stated firmly. "You were poisoned, had almost no aura, a broken wrist, a broken ankle, and you still kept trying to fight. That takes strength. It doesn't matter if you were scared, you didn't let it distract you."
"How did you deal with it?" Ruby asked softly.
Jaune smiled softly.
"Simple… If I failed? You would die… And I wasn't going to let that happen. No matter what. Just like the rest of us."
"That simple?"
"That simple," Jaune said with a nod. He sighed. "I used to overthink everything in a fight. That… That almost got me killed a few times. Until I realized, I couldn't deal with any of that crap if I died. So… I had to just focus on what mattered. In this case? You mattered more than anything else."
Ruby blushed deeply, and hid her face in his chest.
"S-Still… You could have died," she murmured.
"As long as you were alive, I was okay with that-!"
Ruby looked up into his eyes, shocked and angry.
"Well I wouldn't have been!" She cried angrily. She glared up at him. "S-So, you're not allowed to die, got it? Co-Team Leader's orders!"
Jaune shut his eyes tightly.
"Ruby… When it comes down to it… I'm the most expendable person around-"
"NO YOU'RE NOT!"
They got a look from Nurse Tsune over at her desk, but Ruby ignored it. She stared down at his chest, sniffling a bit.
"You're not," she growled, more quietly but with no less conviction, "You're not. Don't you ever say that again! I… I'll break all your bones if you ever say anything like that again! I promise!"
"I…" He looked genuinely shocked. Ruby wet her lips.
"It sucked when Mom died, all right? I-I can barely remember her, but every time I see a picture, hear her name… It hurts. I barely knew her and-and it still hurts. I don't want to feel that way losing you, Jaune! I don't!"
"... I know," he murmured, hugging her. "I know… I'm sorry. I just…"
His eyes looked away. Ruby wondered what he was seeing. His father's death, maybe?
"... I can't stand the thought of losing you. Any of you," he muttered. "I barely know you but I can't… I can't go through that again. I care too much."
"Then don't you ever think of making us go through it," Ruby insisted, still crying, "Please Jaune? Please?"
He swallowed nothing. He patted her on the back.
"... I promise."
"Thank you," Ruby murmured, still sniffling. Jaune got her a tissue. She took it from him, and wiped her own face.
"I can handle it," she said, "I-I'm not a kid. I'm not your little sister."
"I know," Jaune said softly, "I just want to do it for you. Because It's you."
Ruby turned bright as the tips of her hair.
"Geez Jaune, already making my little sister cry?"
They both looked up to see Yang walking in, her smile bright and confident even if her eyes were concerned. Weiss entered after, quiet, with a few gifts in her arms.
"Yay! Most of my team finally came to visit me!" Ruby cheered, pulling away from Jaune quickly. Yang took his place and hugged her little sister tightly.
"Sorry… Lots of official paperwork crap," Yang admitted, kissing Ruby on the top of her head, "No more running off on your own, okay? We're a team, right?"
"Right. And I promise," Ruby said.
"She means we had to go through a lot of debriefings," Weiss sighed, setting the gifts down by Ruby's bedside. "I brought you cookies."
"YAY!"
Weiss looked over at Jaune, and cleared her throat. She shot a glare at Yang, who smiled and winked.
"Ah… Arc. I just… While you're here, and all… I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I've been a bit… Well… Rude, and a talk with Pyrrha helped me see I was being unfair. So…"
She held out her hand to him.
"I hope you can forgive me."
Jaune stared at her hand. He reached up his, and shook it slowly.
"Sure. I get it. Kind of. Family stuff?"
Weiss nodded slowly, clearly holding back some irritation at how blunt he was. Ruby rather liked that part about Jaune. Most of the time.
"Yes… In a sense. You?"
"Different, but… Kind of, yeah," Jaune admitted. "And for what it's worth… I am kind of a jerk. So, I'm sorry too."
"I… I guess I don't mind honest dislike," Weiss said, "Better than you simpering after me for my favor."
"So if I really wanted to rile you up, I just have to hit on you?" Jaune asked with a little grin. Weiss scowled at him, though Ruby couldn't help a grin despite her anger.
He's feeling better! If he can tease Weissy, he's feeling better!
"Don't you dare, Jaune!" Ruby growled.
"What? She's cute when he's mad!" Jaune insisted. Weiss's face turned red, and she glared cold death at his smirking face.
"I really hate you, Arc. I want that to be clear, got it?"
"Well I don't actually hate you, Ice Princess. That better, or worse?"
"Ugh!" Weiss groaned, glaring at Ruby and Yang, "How do you stand him?!"
"Helps that he's easy on the eyes," Yang giggled. She looked over at Jaune awkwardly. "So uh… I mean…"
She glanced at Ruby, who nodded with a big smile. She looked back at Jaune.
"What is it, Yang?" Jaune asked.
Come on, Yang, come on, please… Ruby thought, You're so confident! This should be nothing!
"You… Uh… You saved my sister, and I feel like I should do something-"
"We all saved her," Jaune said, "You and Pyrrha dragged me along when I became luggage. You don't owe me anything, okay?"
He smiled at her.
"You guys being alive and well is all I want. Really."
It was completely sincere, but with how he was speaking to her earlier… Ruby bit her lower lip in worry.
If Yang noticed this, she didn't say anything. She just blushed.
"Geez Jaune, you get replaced by aliens or something? You're acting so smooth. Even Weiss might start to melt for you despite her tsundere ways."
"I'm not tsundere," Weiss growled, as she opened another package of cookies for Ruby to eat.
"Eh, life or death situations make teenage drama seem like nothing in comparison," Jaune said, shrugging. "I mean… It's fucked up but it kind of helps to put things in perspective?"
"Yeah, yeah, it kind of does," Yang said, looking almost shy, "'Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die' kind of thing?"
"Nobody is dying," Ruby stated firmly, "That's Rule One. Period."
A dark cloud settled over the room. Yang broke it with some laughter.
"Relax Ruby. We're not going out with a Yang any time soon," she joked, even as Weiss groaned softly, "Though Jauney-boy might be going out with one."
Jaune blinked, looking up at her in confusion.
"I… Wait, what?"
Yang flushed deeply. She cleared her throat. Ruby shot her pleading eyes.
"I'm uh… I'm asking you out," she said. "Ya know. On a date. With me. Some time."
Jaune blinked a few times. Yang coughed, and laughed nervously.
"That uh… Don't leave me Yang-ing, Jaune?"
"I-uh-N-No, I mean, sure?" Jaune managed. "If you want to? When?"
"Uh… Well, we're confined to Beacon for the next two weeks so… Some time after that?" Yang asked with a smile. Jaune slowly nodded.
"Sure."
"Hello Ruby!"
Ruby jumped. Pyrrha had entered, her smile wide and scary looking as she entered. She carried some flowers she was holding too tightly. A few bedpans began to bend while surrounded in Black Aura energy.
"I'm so glad you're okay, I was worried about you for a little while," Pyrrha laughed, her eyes slowly locking onto Yang with an intensity that made her flinch. They were hollow, filled with nothing but death.
"Hello Yang. It's been a bit since we talked, huh? And fought together. To save everyone. Including Jaune, my partner, whom you just asked out-"
Jaune sighed, stood up, and bonked Pyrrha on the head.
"OW! Jaune-!" Pyrrha moaned.
"Pyrrha, relax," Jaune said gently, "All right? Friends. Friends."
"I uh…" Pyrrha nodded. "Y-Yes. Friends."
She looked shyly over at Ruby.
"I'm very glad you're alright, Ruby."
"Thank you, Pyrrha," Ruby managed.
"And uh…" She looked at Yang, wincing a bit, "If-If you're going out with Jaune, I'm totally… Totally fine with it-"
"We're going out to have fun, we're not getting married," Jaune sighed. "Yang's a lot more fun than I am. It would be nice to just get out and have fun. For all of us."
He shook his head.
"In two weeks."
"R-Right, two weeks, of course," Pyrrha said quickly. Yang winced.
"I'm uh, kind of, sort of, really-"
"No, no, you didn't do anything wrong," Jaune said, smiling warmly at Yang, "Thank you. I'm looking forward to going out with you and having fun. Because we're friends, and that's what friends do, right?"
Yang nodded, her eyes shining.
"Yeah… Yeah, it is."
Yay! It's working! Ruby thought happily. But why does my chest hurt over this…? Shouldn't I be happy…?
Weiss shoved another cookie into her mouth.
"Mmph!"
"That should help," Weiss sighed.
"R-Right," Yang admitted, before speaking up with confidence again, "P-Money, try to dial down the yandere, okay? Your senpai and I are just having some fun."
Pyrrha flushed.
"I-I'm not a yandere-!"
"The scary grin is back, Pyrrha," Jaune sighed.
"I-I'm working on it! Really!" Pyrrha insisted. Jaune hugged her tightly… And she melted into his embrace.
"I know you are, and thank you," Jaune said, "Just… There are better boys to obsess over."
"Don't we know it," Weiss muttered.
Yang and Ruby scowled at Weiss.
Pyrrha opened her mouth, but Jaune coughed and waved his hands.
"Actually no! Don't obsess over boys in general! Just… Let's be chill, okay? Focus on friendship. Making more friends. You've been doing that, right? That's good! You should do more!"
"... R-Right, of course," Pyrrha murmured softly. She did cheer up a little when Jaune hugged her again. He smiled tiredly at everyone else as he broke away from the pouting Pyrrha.
"What, no hug for me?" Yang asked. "Don't leave me out in the cold, Jaune!"
"Of course," Jaune said, giving her a tight hug. One Yang returned eagerly… Maybe a little too eagerly, to Ruby's eyes. Definitely to Pyrrha's, though the redhead just looked away and muttered to herself.
"Mmm… Top ten hugs, easy," Yang giggled, "For you too, huh Jauney-boy? There are two big pluses?"
"Yes, yes there are," Jaune deadpanned, chuckling a bit as his ears turned red, "Geez, tone it down a little. Been a long day."
"Yeah, it sure has been," Yang sighed.
"Well… Uh… If there aren't any other personal things to get off our chests," he said, ignoring Yang's very mature snicker, "I will see you ladies in the morning."
"Bye Jaune!" Ruby said happily, waving cheerfully.
"Good night," Weiss stated calmly but politely.
"Later, Lover Boy," Yang winked. It actually made Jaune flush a bit.
"I'll see you in our room, Jaune," Pyrrha said, still smiling a bit scarily.
"Right, right," Jaune said, as he headed out.
Pyrrha turned and sighed.
"I'm… Really sorry about all that-"
"It's okay," Yang said, waving her hands, "We're all… Well…"
"Hopelessly socially inept, but we can fix that," Weiss deadpanned. She looked at Ruby seriously.
"Ruby? I think we need to increase our training. We can't afford to slack off."
"Hey, we did okay-" Yang argued, but Ruby shook her head.
"No, she's right. We… We got lucky."
If it hadn't been for that… Whatever it was with my eyes… No. Don't think about it. It was just too weird…!
Not until she could talk to someone who might know more.
"Hence, we need to get good enough so we don't have to rely on luck," Weiss said.
She looked at Pyrrha. "Pyrrha?"
"Ah, yes?"
"Would it… Would it be all right if our team could train with you?" Weiss asked. "Especially Ruby?"
"Please?" Ruby asked.
"Er, Ruby," Yang began.
"She's trying to be more normal, right?" Ruby asked. "And make more friends?"
Ruby grinned at Pyrrha.
"Wouldn't… Wouldn't this help you? And help us?"
Pyrrha considered it in silence.
"I… I would like that very much," she admitted. "Sorry for before-"
"Geez, Jaune's right, you do say that too much," Ruby sighed. Pyrrha flushed, but she wore a small, genuine smile.
"I… Yes. Well… I mean, I'll talk to Jaune about it, but I-I'm sure he'll agree. We all work very well together, after all! Um, g-goodnight!"
Pyrrha hurried out, in the same direction that Jaune had gone.
"Great! I'll tell Blake about it when she gets here." Ruby sighed. "Sure hope she shows up soon."
"I'm sure she will," Yang said encouragingly, "She'll just be fashionably… Blake."
"Ugh," Weiss moaned, "That one doesn't even make any sense!"
"Well, with just us three, I can't help being WRY about things!"
"UGGGGGHHH!"
Well, at least she's a lot happier if she's making bad jokes again, Ruby mused, still munching on sweets.
Jaune took a few steps out of the infirmary, heading down the hallways… Before a black figure grabbed him by the collar. "URK!"
"Jaune. We need to talk," Blake Belladonna stated, yellow eyes practically glowing.
"... Kay?"
She forced him to walk ahead of her. Rather than feeling threatened, Jaune was more confused.
"Can I get a-?"
"Move."
Jaune was too tired for this kind of shit. Really. But he was also too tired to protest against it.
Thus, he let Blake push him along to one of the empty floors of the Academy-Hard to avoid when it was so big and so many students quit.
She opened a door to an unused room, and gestured him inside. Her eyes were watchful, harsh… As though he'd do something to her?
Jaune entered, sighing heavily. He walked into the room, devoid of anything but some generic furniture being stored away, all illuminated by the moonlight coming through the windows. Blake shut the door behind them, and turned, her yellow eyes glowing in the dim light.
"Blake, can you please tell me what the hell is-?"
"Golden Lion's Roar," she stated.
Jaune's mouth went dry, as Blake glared at him. He slowly nodded, and swallowed.
"Y-Yeah… That's what I did-"
"It's a singular move. An invention of a Faunus Huntsman turned mercenary and outlaw," Black continued, in that firm, angry tone. "He only taught it to a few students over the course of his life. All Faunus. He was a Faunus I knew personally…"
"Ser Gato Zapatos," Jaune whispered.
Blake held up her scroll. An article from the Valean Herald was displayed.
'INFAMOUS GATO ZAPATOS FOUND DEAD NEAR EDGE VILLAGE'
In the center of the article was a large picture of the cliff… The cliff…
In the middle of a pile of Grimm remains, there stood a freshly dug grave. Plunged into the head of this grave was a familiar sword. Atop it, caught mid waving in the breeze, was an equally familiar cape and feathered hat.
"Edge is between Radian and Vale," Blake whispered, "You said you traveled there… You…"
Blake's voice was lost in the rushing sound that flooded his ears. It was the sound of the river below. There were snarls and growls of Grimm all around him. He could almost see their glowing red eyes.
There was Gato… Smiling that same sad smile…
"Live your life, Juan Arc. Live it well... And when you meet him? Greet Death with a smile. I will put in a good word for you…"
"GATOOOOOO!"
"RAAARRRGGHHH!"
Jaune swung his fist into a table. It split in two, his Aura having recovered just enough to protect him and enhance his strength. Jaune swung his fists into a chair, sending it flying. He heard it smash but didn't care. He grabbed another table and swung it into the wall, watching it break and fall to the floor.
Another table. Another piece of furniture. He smashed through it all as the moon kept glowing on, and on, just like that night-!
"Live your life, Juan Arc. Live it well…"
"Live your life, Juan Arc…"
"Juan…"
"JAUNE! JAUNE!"
He had lifted another table right up over his head when he felt strong arms wrap around his chest from behind. He looked back wildly… Only saw wide, yellow eyes filled with shock and fear.
He trembled… He dropped the table with a crash. He went with it soon after, collapsing to the carpeted floor. He raised his fist and slammed it into the floor, over and over again, cracking his bones or the wood underneath-He didn't care.
Jaune's body came back to him in an instant-His lungs burned as he panted hard for breath, his feet and fists hurt, his heart pounded. His throat was raw from screaming.
Blake… Shifted around, on her knees with him. She kept her arms wrapped tightly around him, her eyes boring into his. He looked down at the carpet. He slowly lifted a hand to stare at its bloody surface.
"Jaune…" Blake whispered softly, "Jaune…? Can you hear me? Are… Are you all right?"
"... It should have been me," he hissed between harsh breaths.
"Wha-?"
"It should have fucking been me," Jaune husked out his ragged throat. Hot tears poked out of the corners of his eyes. He thought he was done crying, but…
"What… What do you mean…?" Blake asked, soft and concerned. It was so different from her usual tones, he barely recognized her.
Jaune didn't look up once as he told the story. About how stupid he'd been. About how he'd been trapped with Gato, and had to fight for his life. How Gato had trained him, taught him that technique, and they'd escaped… Except…
"It should have been me," Jaune whispered, "I should have died… He sacrificed himself to save me, and I… Why? He had a family… He could have gotten away… Why… Why me…?"
"Jaune," Blake said softly. She reached up and tilted his face towards hers. He tried to look away, but her stubborn strength held him trapped by her gaze.
"Jaune.. I-I'm sorry. I was… I knew him. To find out he was dead, and you could wield his technique, I…" She shut her eyes tightly. "I'm sorry… I was angry. I… I thought…"
She shook her head, and then reopened her eyes.
"I knew him. He was a close friend of my father's. I grew up with him around-I-I called him Uncle Gato. I know that he would do anything to save another person's life. Even at the cost of his own. That's the kind of Faunus he is… Was. He… He was a hero. He saved you because he cared about you, and it was the right thing to do. If he hadn't, you would both be dead. You talked to Ruby about this… How do you think we would feel if that happened to you? Or your family? You… You're not expendable."
Jaune sniffled, as Blake stared into his eyes. She worried her lip before she continued.
"I know what it's like to live with grief, and guilt. You're always thinking… Thinking you could have done something more. The what ifs. In my case…"
She looked like she was about to continue, before she shook her head.
"It doesn't matter… But in your case… There was nothing you could have done. And Uncle Gato wouldn't want you to be like this. If he put effort into training you, he clearly thought you were worth any sacrifice… Even sacrificing himself. It's not your fault."
Jaune stared at her, a few tears still slipping down his cheeks. He took a shuddering breath.
"I… You mean that?"
"I do," Blake insisted. "I wouldn't lie about this. I promise."
Jaune stared at his hands instead of looking into her eyes. Blake sighed.
"Let me… Let me fix up your hands," she said softly.
She helped him get his gloves and gauntlets off, and, using supplies from his bag, dressed the bruises and cuts on his fingers and palms. With his Aura so low, the wounds were fairly noticeable, but would heal quickly.
"Thank you," he murmured. Blake gave him a hug, and helped him stand up slowly.
"You're welcome," she whispered back. Jaune shook his head.
"I… I'm going to bed," he said, "And you… You should see Ruby. Now."
He gave her an intense stare, the last of his emotional energy.
Blake slowly nodded.
"I will."
"Good."
Jaune turned and walked out of the room, leaving Blake to stand there in silence. Her bow twitched as she heard someone familiar moving with lightning speed, away. She frowned.
She shook her head free of such distractions.
She let out a long, slow breath. Things had gotten so complicated, so quickly.
This was supposed to be a clean slate, a fresh start… But her past just kept catching up with her.
The White Fang… What are you thinking, Adam? Would you really go this far?
She closed her eyes. She could see nothing but Ruby, unconscious, underneath that tree as Grimm advanced on her…
What kind of truth are you seeking?
The truth was… She couldn't do anything about the White Fang right now. But there was something she could do.
Blake opened her eyes back up. She turned and headed out the door.
She had a team leader to check up on.
Jaune made it up to the JNPR dorm. He walked in as quietly as he could, and yanked off his armor and clothes. He was pretty sweaty and gross, but sleep took precedence.
He was down to boxers and T-shirt as he staggered past the sleeping Ren and Nora-cuddled up together, as per their usual. He got to his bed… Where Pyrrha was waiting.
She was in her pajamas, her hair down, and utterly disheveled. As though she'd just recently changed, but Jaune couldn't spare any thought to that.
"Jaune," Pyrrha asked softly, "Can I cuddle with you tonight, please?"
"... Sure," Jaune managed, as he sat down onto the bed. "Just… Shut the blinds. No moonlight, please."
Pyrrha nodded, and scooted over to let him lie down next to her. "Of course, Jaune."
The blinds shut on their own. Guess there was some metal in there for Pyrrha to use. She cuddled up to him, as he pulled up the blanket over them both.
"Sweet dreams, Jaune," she murmured.
"I hope so," he mumbled.
He closed his eyes, and went to sleep.
Cardin had taken Velvet up to the Bullhead, held her the whole way back to Beacon, carried her down and deposited her (gently) in the Infirmary. He'd nodded to her and headed out as Nurse Tsune went to work. She'd thanked him happily, and he'd just waved back to her as he left.
His team had been strangely quiet after that. They hadn't mentioned a thing about their day. Maybe it was just because they were all pretty tired.
Yeah. That might be the case. But Cardin's dad was a politician, so something didn't feel right.
Still... It wasn't that fact that kept him staring up at the ceiling that night.
Why had he given her a chance? Why had he just... Gotten along with her?
Maybe she's just a cute girl? His subconscious provided, but Cardin snorted.
His dad still got cold and distant when the anniversary of the Faunus Revolt came up. His gaze would turn to the portraits of Cardin's uncles on the wall in the living room: His father's brothers, who had been killed in the war.
His mother couldn't take a trip near Fort Castle, or the old town of Rifle Butte. Fort Castle had been sacked by the Faunus forces, not a human left alive. Rifle Butte had been the Duvalier Clan's second home away from Vale, his mother's family, where so many of her family had resided...
Until the Faunus forces massacred them, too.
Thirty years... Thirty years wasn't long enough for their hurt to go away.
Didn't help that White Fang kept targeting their businesses. That Faunus children had called him the grandson of a murderer. Absolom Winchester had fought the Faunus, and later fought the White Fang. His medals and decorations for his bravery were still visible in the family mansion, in his dad's sitting room.
He'd been killed by a White Fang terrorist when Cardin was only seven. How... How could he even be thinking of doing anything with a faunus girl?
She didn't do any of those things, his mind reminded him.
No... But with White Fang out in force again, killing and causing mayhem... What if... What if she had to choose sides?
He tried to imagine himself in her place. Would he really side against his family if it came down to a war? Could he?
Could anyone?
He got up late. He hated it when he did that. It felt like a betrayal of his team: If he was the leader, he should get up first and set the example.
He grabbed a shower and dressed in his uniform, even though it was the weekend. Stifling a yawn, he headed downstairs, intent on the cafeteria. The food wasn't great on the weekend, but it was better than nothing.
He caught sight of his team waiting on the quad outside the cafeteria building. He shot them a glare as he approached. Dove leaned against a tree, trying to look casual (and failing). Sky and Russel were discussing something in low tones with a Scroll between them.
"The hell are you guys standing around for?" Cardin asked angrily. All three looked up at Cardin, unsteadily.
"Oh, well..." Russel listened to his scroll, and nodded. "Ya know. Just for you!"
"Yeah," Sky said with a nod, "Just for you. We can go eat now!"
Cardin narrowed his eyes.
"Okay... Why are you acting so weird?"
"Maybe you're being weird," Dove stated.
"Oh yeah? I'm the one standing around outside and not having breakfast?" Cardin growled. He shook his head, and stormed towards the doors. Dove smoothly got in front of him, waving his hands.
"Woah woah woah! Wait a second, Cap! We were just waiting for you! We'll all go in together, you leading..." He glanced over at Sky and Russel. "Nnnnow!"
Cardin scowled, and pushed Dove aside. He resumed his march for the cafeteria doors.
"Finally! I'm starving, let's-"
The doors flew open... And a familiar rabbit Faunus girl ran into him.
"OOF!"
"EEP!"
Funny enough, he went down with her on top of him. His arms had intinctively gone around her waist to hold her steady. She looked up slowly from where her face was buried in his chest and her body was pressed against him and holy shit she was so soft and warm and a girl what the-?!
"Oh, uh, um, I-I'm really sorry!" Velvet said quickly. "I-I didn't mean to-!"
"Aw, Velvet, you had to go and knock your boytoy over?" Coco Videl asked, grinning as she walked out of the cafeteria with her other teammates, "You gotta watch where you're going! Good thing he was there to catch you!"
"Y-Yeah, good thing," Velvet murmured shyly. She looked up at him... Blushed... And turned away. "Uh, um..."
Shit that's cute...
Cardin scowled and stood up. He lifted Velvet up just long enough to set her back down, and she squeaked as he did so.
"It's fine," he grunted, "Watch where you're going next time-"
"I-I will, sorry-!"
"You-You'd better be!"
Shit, his face was red. He could feel his team snickering behind their back.
"So! Since you two are... Close," Coco said with a smile, as Fox and Yatsuhashi shared a dubious glance behind her, "We'll let you two have some time to yourselves!"
"I'm getting breakfast-" Cardin protested, but Coco gasped loudly.
"Oh no! Cafeteria just shut down breakfast. Too late. Ah well. But! There's this great little cafe in Vale," Coco said with a grin.
"Oh yeah, that's the best!" Sky said with a nod.
"I know the one!" Russel grinned.
Dove rolled his eyes and shared a commiserating look with Fox and Yatsuhashi.
"So! You two go on! Your last date got interrupted, after all," Coco said.
"It wasn't a date, it was just lunch," Cardin growled. "So seriously, I don't know what you're doing, but-"
Velvet held his hand, and gave him a pleading look. Her hand was warm. Her eyes were wide.
"... Fine," Cardin growled. He pointed at Velvet. "But you're paying, since you knocked me down!"
"S-Sure!" Velvet said, smiling widely through her blush. Cardin turned and stormed off, Velvet moving quickly to keep up with his longer stride.
"I know a different diner, it's somewhere Coco would never eat, let's go there," Velvet muttered.
"Why?"
"Because Coco's got it into her head she has to watch over me all the time and I'm sick of it!" Velvet hissed. She then caught herself and blushed deeply.
"I-I'm sorry... I think she also roped your team into this, too..."
"Yeah, I noticed," Cardin grumbled.
"I'm... I'm really sorry..."
The look on her face... Shit... Was there a tear there?
"Don't cry," he said quickly, reaching out to wipe it off, "Or she'll kick my ass. Why are you crying, anyway?"
"I-I'm... I mean..." Velvet sighed. "You... You saved me and you could have gotten hurt and now Coco's causing you and your team trouble and I... I didn't want any of that... Not for you."
She looked up into his eyes... Her eyes...
He sighed heavily. He closed his eyes.
He didn't see his uncle's portraits. He didn't see his mother's silent grief. He didn't see his father's scowl.
He opened them again... And just saw Velvet.
Just... A girl.
"... I'm hungry anyway... A diner sounds nice," Cardin mumbled, "And... And you don't have to pay. I'll get it. It... It's not your fault."
Velvet lit up... And his heart skipped a beat. She eagerly took his hand and now she was leading him.
"Oh, you're gonna love it! I'm working on some recipes from there, too, the owner's a friend of mine, I know you'll love it...!"
He was not blushing. He was not smiling. He was... He was just going to get some breakfast with a nice, cute girl. A nice cute girl who happened to be a Faunus, in order to escape her insane team leader who had clearly brainwashed his teammates into helping her sick, twisted plan.
More than likely, Arc was involved somehow.
That's all it was... Really.
Adam Taurus had no particular attachment anywhere. The very concept of a home had lost all meaning in the SDC Dust Mining Camps.
The humans had seen to that.
He was a nomad, his only purpose to keep moving towards the future. A future free of pain, free of sin.
Free of mankind.
He sat in his office in the latest White Fang hideout in Atlas, loyal Ilia at his side, as a holoscreen communication appeared over his desk. A lone operative stood there in a similarly nondescript location.
"Report," Adam ordered.
"The Geist Grimm you got from that woman worked," the operative reported, "The Grimm were controllable, to a point. We shepherded them to the target point, and drove them with the rifles."
"And?"
The operative sagged.
"We lost twenty operatives. I'm the only one who escaped. The Geist... It didn't make us immune to the Grimm ourselves."
"Casualties for the enemy?"
The operative paused.
"We may have wounded a few... But no fatalities," the operative reported, bowing his head. "Apologies."
Adam shook his head slowly.
"Martyrs to the cause," Adam said gravely, "Do not lose sight of our goals. Record their names and send them to me. I will inform their families. In the meantime, I will send Brother Thanh to take command."
Ilia shivered. Frankly, she was glad Thanh was going away. The Komodo dragon faunus was a monster, in all the worst ways. She didn't like the smell of rotting human flesh, despite everything. Thanh though reveled in it. Reveled in the taste...
"Yes sir. There was... One other thing. I read your messages, concerning a certain person of interest?"
Adam leaned forward.
"Oh?"
An image appeared on the screen. It was blurry, and hard to make out... But Adam tensed all the same as he identified a young man in a green cloak, white armor, wielding a familiar sword and shield.
"The Raggedy Knight is what they're calling him," the operative said, "He appears to be attending Beacon."
"I see," Adam murmured. He nodded. "Good work. Obtain more information on this Raggedy Knight, and submit it to me at the next check in."
"Yes sir," the operative said, giving the White Fang salute before he vanished. Ilia frowned deeply as Adam rested his chin on his hands in contemplation.
"The plan was a long shot," Ilia admitted, "They were badly organized. Even with that Fire Bitch's help-"
"I know," Adam sighed, "I know. Even a few dead students would have been useful."
"So we don't claim responsibility?"
"No, that would make us look like a laughingstock," Adam mused, "Victories are what we need, not defeats. This though..."
He reviewed the picture the operative had sent on his own Scroll.
"This could be very useful... Send to the cell and Torchwick: A bounty on the Raggedy Knight. Fifty thousand lien for his head."
"That much?" Ilia asked, worried. Adam nodded.
"This is twice now at least he has interfered in our operations... There won't be a third."
"Yes sir," Ilya said. She paused for a moment. "There's been news about Zapatos. If you were interested?"
Adam was silent.
"He was found dead near Edge, in Vale," Ilya spoke quietly.
Adam remained motionless. Very slowly, he nodded.
"I see... How?"
"Underground deathmatches. He tried to escape... But was overcome by Grimm," Ilia said.
Adam stared out into nothing.
"I see," He murmured.
"Sir?"
"... He went out as he lived... A fool to the end," Adam stated coldly. "Go. I have work to do."
"Yes sir," Ilia said with a quick nod, leaving as fast as she could without appearing to flee.
No matter his words, the terrible aura that Adam projected said far more than his mouth ever would on the subject.
Part of this chapter written with Unknown Anon.
Well, that's the Forever Fall/Jaundice Arc covered. Next time, the Black and White Arc! But before that, some extra slice of life chapters to help fill out the universe a bit better. I hope you continue to enjoy the story.