A/N: Would You Kindly read this note?
Short interlude is short. Life is kicking my ass.
As I'm sure you all know by now, my old car finally broke down -transmission problems- so I'm up a creak without a paddle at the moment, to say nothing of caring for my sister -the one that lives with me- who's recovering from surgery. The parts themselves cost hundreds of dollars and that's not even counting labor and installation. Costs and bills have ballooned and its driven me over the edge and no matter how hard or fast I work my two jobs, I just can't KEEP UP WITH THESE BILLS for this month. Its doing my head in.
Thoughts? I'm considering setting something up to help me and my sister; and if I do, I'll let you all know here, AND ONLY HERE on this site when I update stuff.
Nothing commission based or anything like that, just something to help out with the bills until I can get back on my feet.
Everywhere I look I see writers on this site doing something similar. Am I the odd one out for not doing it?
I truly don't know and researching has left me...conflicted. Really need to hear back from you.
But enough about little 'ol me. Despite my injuries, crazy bills, despite RWBY being liquidated by Warner Bros and the like, I'm still here.
So let's get things started with a brief Q&A since its been a bit:
Q: Who is Port really? Ain't no way that's the real one.
A: The story will reveal all in time.
Q: How many Arc children are there at present?
A: As stated before: Saphron, Sabrina, Sable, Child, Vaylin, Azula, Jeanne. Thrown in Jaune, and that makes eight we've seen...for now...
Q: Will this story get weekly updates? Bi-weekly? Monthly, at the least?
A: Depending on feedback, yes. Take the Girl and Untraveled Road have already been upgraded to weekly -though the later hasn't been getting much feedback- and five slots remain. Do let me know what you'd like to see.
As ever, the fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.
In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!
Lets see if you get the references here...
Minor verbatim from RWBY~!
"At the end of the day, all we want is faith, love, and happiness.
Is that a sin? Is that so wrong? To crave contentment?
Hmm. In the end, I suppose it doesn't matter.
We can only pursue it.
Endlessly.
~?
Just a Little Mending (Interlude)
Naruto cracked his neck and stretched in the sunlight.
His body -and his leg!- protested of course, that was only to be expected, given his wounds.
Saphron had given as good as she got; really, it was his own fault for letting his guard down during their fight.
.
..
...and maybe, just maybe, he'd learned a thing or two from his so-called "defeat".
Flexing his hands into a fist, he considered the bandages therein. He felt good. Powerful. Strong. His wounds were nearly healed now; once they were, it was only a matter of time before the Family set out for Vale.
And then...
He couldn't say he was looking forward to it anymore-not when it promised to be painful for both parties.
Donning his coat, he swept the door open and stepped outside.
Saphron was waiting for him on the porch.
His eldest daughter sat with her back to him, stubbornly staring out into the yard and utterly ignoring his existence. Couldn't much blame her for that, not after what he' done. He noticed the bandages on her right arm and followed her gaze to find the rest of his daughters -minus one- running through an exercise of some sort under Juniper's watchful eye.
He heaved a sigh and scratched the back of his head. "Hey...
Saphron didn't budge; rather, she refused to.
"Okay, I deserved that. May I sit?"
She shrugged. "..."
Ouch.
Still, she hadn't attacked him yet, which was good. He sat down beside her, but there was no reaction.
A sigh escaped his lips. "I really loused this one up, didn't I?"
No response. Nothing for it, then.
"...I'm sorry."
Her shoulders trembled.
"I love you, ya know that, right?"
Her body shook, but still, she didn't speak to him.
How long had it been since she'd give him the cold shoulder? Years. At the end of the day she was still his daughter. His child, his first girl and he didn't want to hurt her. But he already had, hadn't he? In his pride and his arrogance, his overzealousness to to protect her, he'd done the one thing he'd sworn never to do.
Kurama was looking after Jaune at the moment; he'd have no help on that front. He was on his own.
Damnt. How had he screwed this up that badly. "I just want you to be safe."
Her gaze shifted, glancing at him out the corner of her eye. "Daddy, I can fly fast, wrestle Grimm, and punch people across Remnant. I think I'm pretty safe."
"But I still worry." He tussled her hair as he hadn't since she was small and it was a sign of her stress that she allowed it at all. "You're my oldest. As for Jaune...he's my only son. The two of you, no, all of you, are more precious to me than all the gold in the world." Looking past her, he smiled as Juniper bopped Sable and Sabrina on the head, forcing them through another set of rigorous exercises. "I really thought I could just...hide you all away from the world, keep you safe here in Ansel."
Saphron mumbled something under her breath.
He looked her way. "What was that?
"I said I'm sorry, too." She leaned into him a little. "For hurting you."
A knot came loose in his chest. It felt suspiciously like relief. He didn't want her to hate him. "How's Terra?"
"Oh, suuure. Now you ask."
He sighed. "Saph...
"She's afraid of you, alright?" her eyes cut to his, sharp and angry. "Hard not to be after we duked it out like that in the yard."
"I'll apologize to her."
Some of the ire bled out her eyes. "I...would appreciate that. How much did you hold back during our fight?
He smiled instead, determined to make it up to her. "How badly do you an Terra want children?"
"Badly." Saphron perked up, recognizing the olive branch for what it was. "We were thinking of adopting since we don't have...the right parts."
He winced. "Understandable. But...
"But?"
"I may know a way to help with that."
Saphron arched an eyebrow at him. "What kinda help we talking about now? It better not be a weird jutsu...
Might as well tell her. He steepled his fingers and laid his chin atop them. "The kind that takes a small piece of your soul -that is to say your DNA- and puts it in Terra's womb, fertilizing one of her eggs.
Her brow climbed higher. "You mean like what Pietro did to make Penny?"
"Similar, but different."
She'd always been a clever girl. "How does that work?"
"Dear girl, how do you think he learned that ability?"
Her face lit up. "You're the best!"
It requires two consenting parties, though...
"Terra and I consent!" she glomped onto him, burying her head in his chest. Best daddy ever!
"Whatever you say, super girl.
"Don't call me that. The nickname will stick."
Saphron signed, leaning into him with a smile. And if she left his shirt wet...well. He didn't comment on it.
It would've been bad enough for him to come to Vale, but the now the whole family was.
He almost pitied the poor boy.
Almost.
(.0.0.0.)
"Jaune?"
Mustn't look at Nora.
"Jaune."
Mustn't look at Ren.
"Jaune!"
Absolutely must not look at Pyrrha!
Jaune Uzumaki Arc kept his gaze fixed firmly on the ceiling, determined to avoid the prying eyes of his teammates.
He could feel them staring at him.
Alone.
Cornered.
Send help, please.
"What am I, chopped liver?"
Pyrrha prodded him "What happened last night.
Damnit, Penny.
Nora and Ren leaned in.
"Ruby mentioned you being taken away...
Double damnit, Ruby!
(.0.0.0.)
Child palmed her face with a sigh. "Foolish brother. He really has no idea."
Still, someone needed to protect him. Both his body and his heart.
Her victim moaned underfoot. Moaned. Not groaned.
There was a very important distinction, she felt.
Pleasure could motivated as well as pleasure.
"Oh my, I forgot about you." she hit them with another pulse of chakra in the back, drawing a fresh convulsion from them. "Now where were we? Ah, yes. You were telling me all about your lovely organization and a rather annoying woman...?"
"I'll talk, I'll talk!" her victim babbled. "Just don't stop...pleeeaaaase...
A/N: Aaaand scene.
Well? Should this remain a story? Yay or nay!
Better yet, would you like weekly updates? Do let me know!
As ever, we're sticking with the tried and true "Embers" rule. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular, if folks don't like it...well, I'll not continue it. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. I'm working two jobs, trying to keep a roof over my family's head, and at the end of the day this is very much a HOBBY. I simply don't have time to write a story no one likes, and feedback sustains me...
Once again, reviews are my fuel. Without them I simply cannot write.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews.
POTENTIAL ONES!
Soooo! Tell me what you want to see~!
(FUTURE! Previews)
Pyrrha closed the door behind her and blocked it with her body. Locked it now, for good measure. "Can we talk?"
Jaune tilted his head. "Aren't we doing that right now?"
She squirmed a little in place. "Alone...?"
Ren and Nora exchanged a long lingering look made a noise reminiscent of wedding bells.
Jaune felt his face flash with fire.
Even he wasn't that dense.
"You're right, Cardin." he growled, hoisting them upright. "You're not a man... you're a pig. Now let me hear your squeal!"
...yes, sir."
Ozpin gestured. "I'd like you to meet Amber."
The girl glared at him from her bed. "He looks weak."
Jaune twitched. "And you're sounding awfully rude...