Warped Metal Chapter 1: Her Hero, a rwby fanfic

Chapter 1: Her Hero...

Reviews:

merendinoemiliano: Trust me, it's gonna be messed up

Trooper-E: Here's more!

neo117ifuckinghatentr: It's gonna lead to nothing but sadness for the two...

XXX

Two months had slipped by since the fateful encounter in the Treehouse, and for the moment, it seemed as though peace had settled over their world. Cinder had vanished from sight, slipping into the shadows with only one person knowing her true location. That person was Jaune, the young blonde boy who had stumbled upon her by chance—or perhaps by fate. In those fleeting moments, Jaune had made a choice that would alter the course of both their lives.

He had decided to help her.

And we will now see the fruits born from his help...

At the Home of the Arc Family, Yalena Arc rummaged through the refrigerator, her movements becoming more frantic with each passing second. "Where is it? I swear I put it here!" she muttered under her breath, frustration creeping into her voice as she continued her fruitless search.

Yalena, the matriarch of the Arc family, was on a mission to find the steaks she had bought and carefully stored just a few days ago. The kitchen was her domain, and the fridge, normally an orderly space, now seemed to conspire against her. She pulled out various containers and jars, setting them on the counter with more force than necessary.

Saphron Arc, the second oldest of the Arc children, wandered into the kitchen, her bright orange shirt a stark contrast to her brown pants and scuffed sneakers. She glanced at her mother, noting the growing mess on the counter. "Everything alright, Mom?" she asked, a brow arching in curiosity.

Yalena straightened up, her head emerging from the depths of the fridge as she turned to face her daughter, a hint of exasperation in her eyes. "No, I can't find those steaks I put in here!" she exclaimed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

Saphron tilted her head thoughtfully. "Are you sure you didn't put them in the freezer?" she suggested, trying to help ease her mother's frustration.

Yalena paused, considering the possibility. "Maybe," she conceded, her voice trailing off as she moved towards the door that led to the outside freezer.

As Yalena disappeared to check the freezer, Saphron's attention was drawn to a blur of movement down the hallway. Jaune, the youngest of the Arc siblings, came barreling out of his room, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. His signature blue Pumpkin Pete backpack was slung over his shoulder, stuffed to the brim, with an old sleeping bag clutched in his other hand.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Saphron asked, her eyebrow raised even higher as she took in his getup.

"I'm going to sleep at the treehouse!" Jaune replied, his grin widening, clearly pleased with his grand plan.

Saphron chuckled, shaking her head at her brother's enthusiasm. "Just don't forget to tell Mom, or you'll have another reason to be running," She teased.

Jaune chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. "No worries, Saph! I already told Mom and Dad!" he said, his voice brimming with confidence as he adjusted the straps of his overstuffed backpack.

Saphron nodded, satisfied but still cautious. "Alright then, have fun, but you know the rules," she reminded him, her tone carrying the weight of responsibility that came with being an older sibling.

Jaune gave a quick, eager nod. "I know, I know—keep my scroll on and check in every two hours to let you know I'm not dead!" he said with a grin, the humor in his voice doing little to hide his excitement.

"Alright, see you tomorrow," Saphron said, turning to leave the room, but Jaune's next words made her pause.

"Oh, I'm actually sleeping at the treehouse all weekend!" he blurted out, unable to contain his glee.

Saphron blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "All weekend?" she repeated, trying to wrap her head around the idea. "Mom and Dad are okay with that?" Her tone carried a hint of disbelief, as she knew their parents were usually protective of where their youngest child spent his nights.

Jaune nodded rapidly, his enthusiasm unshakable. "Yeah! I told them I'd check in tomorrow morning to let you guys know I'm okay before heading back to sleep at the treehouse again!" he explained, his words tumbling out in a rush.

Saphron slowly nodded, her mind processing his explanation. On the surface, everything seemed fine—Jaune had always loved the treehouse, after all. It was his escape, a place where he could be a hero in his own adventures, away from the chaos of the house. But there was something about this sudden desire to spend an entire weekend there that didn't sit right with her.

She had known her baby brother to hang out at the treehouse for a few hours at a time, but never to sleep there, let alone for an entire weekend. Her instincts nagged at her, a tiny voice in the back of her mind whispering that something was off. But she brushed it aside, chalking it up to Jaune wanting some space of his own. After all, the house was always bustling with activity, and even his own room wasn't a sanctuary, thanks to their younger sisters constantly barging in, wanting to spend time with him.

Still, as she watched Jaune practically bounce out the door, a part of her couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye.

As the conversation drew to a close, Jaune bolted from the house without a second thought, his heart pounding with urgency. The cool air hit his face as he sprinted through the dense forest, his boots crunching over leaves and twigs as he dodged low-hanging branches. The path was barely visible in the twilight, but Jaune knew it by heart. Every step was driven by a singular thought—he needed to see Cinder again.

When Jaune finally reached the Treehouse, he didn't waste a second. His hands gripped the rungs of the ladder, pulling himself up quickly, urgency in every movement. His heart raced, not just from the climb but from the anticipation of seeing her again. He reached the top, swung open the trap door, and slipped inside, closing it behind him with a soft thud.

The familiar scent of wood and old tech greeted him, but his eyes immediately found Cinder. She lay sprawled out on the bed they shared whenever he stayed over, her form bathed in the faint glow of an old HoloTV, the one he'd brought with him ages ago. The soft hum of static mixed with the muted dialogue of some forgotten show.

Cinder's face was blank, her expression unreadable, but her eyes were locked onto the screen with an almost childlike focus. Jaune could tell, though—there was something about the way her gaze lingered, the way she didn't blink—that let him know she was enjoying it, even if she'd never admit it.

A grin spread across Jaune's face as he took in the scene. Despite everything they'd been through, moments like this felt oddly normal. He took a breath, breaking the silence.

"Cinder! I'm back!" Jaune called out, his voice light, carrying a cheerful tone that was a stark contrast to the tension of the day.

At the sound of his voice, Cinder's eyes flicked away from the Holoscreen, searching for him. When they met his, the shift was instant. The blank expression melted away, replaced by something much warmer—joy, something rare and fleeting for her. She sat up on the bed, her posture shifting as if she had been waiting for this moment.

"You took your time," she said, though there was no bite in her words. Her amber eyes gleamed with a rare softness, one she reserved only for him.

Jaune chuckled, walking toward her, feeling the weight of the world lift ever so slightly. "Had to make sure I wasn't followed by my sisters," he teased, though they both knew it was only half a joke.

Cinder smirked, patting the spot next to her. "Well, don't just stand there,"

Jaune chuckled softly as he settled onto the bed beside her, the mattress creaking lightly under their combined weight. With a grin, he swung his backpack off his shoulders, placing it in his lap as he began to rummage through it. "I brought something for you," he said with a playful air of mystery.

He carefully pulled out a few items, laying them out one by one: a loaf of bread, some canned goods, and finally, with a triumphant smile, a pair of steaks wrapped in butcher paper—the ones his mother had been searching for earlier.

Cinder's eyes lit up when she saw the meat. She raised an eyebrow, a rare smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Oh, and how exactly do you plan on cooking those?" she asked, leaning back slightly, her voice carrying a hint of playful skepticism. "You didn't bring a grill with you, did you?"

Jaune laughed, shaking his head. "Nah, I was thinking we make a fire outside tonight," he said, glancing out the small window, where the faint glow of twilight was fading into darkness. "We can cook them, sit by the fire, and watch the stars."

Cinder's smirk deepened, her eyes narrowing teasingly. "Oh? Sounds romantic," she quipped, her voice dropping into a mock-sultry tone.

Jaune's face flushed almost immediately, his expression caught somewhere between flustered and defensive. "I-I-It's not like that!" he stammered, his words rushing out in protest. "I just thought it would be... nice, you know?"

Cinder chuckled, her laughter low and warm as she watched him fumble. "Relax, Jaune. I'm just teasing," she said, her gaze softening as she patted his arm.

He exhaled, feeling his nerves settle a bit. "Right...," he mumbled, still slightly red-faced but managing a small smile. Then, he gestured to the rest of the supplies. "Anyway, the rest of this is for you. I'll bring more clothes later, too. Maybe some of Saphron's—she doesn't need them anymore, and you two are around the same size."

Cinder gave a thoughtful nod. "Sounds good to me. The ones you brought from your older sister were a little... big," she admitted, glancing down at the once loose-fitting shirt. "But I made them work."

Jaune looked at her, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "How'd you manage that?" he asked, gesturing toward the clothes.

Cinder gave him a small, almost proud smile. "I stitched them tighter," she replied casually, leaning back against the wall of the treehouse.

Jaune blinked in surprise. "You know how to sew?" There was a note of genuine admiration in his voice.

Cinder nodded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Jaune chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, I guess I'm not the only one anymore!" he said, a grin spreading across his face.

This time, it was Cinder's turn to look confused. She tilted her head slightly, her amber eyes narrowing with curiosity. "Wait—you sew?" she asked, her tone incredulous.

Jaune nodded proudly, but Cinder's sudden giggle caught him off guard. His grin faltered, replaced by a confused frown. "What's so funny?" he asked, crossing his arms.

Cinder smirked, unable to suppress her amusement. "I just don't think of sewing as... a boy's thing," she teased, her eyes glinting mischievously.

Jaune's cheeks flushed pink, and he quickly straightened, looking a bit defensive. "Nu-uh! My mom says it's a really important skill!" he protested, his voice rising slightly in embarrassment. "And... I'm actually pretty good at it!"

Cinder's smile softened, though her amusement still lingered in her gaze. She shrugged playfully. "I guess so, but I've never met a guy who knows how to sew," she said, leaning forward with an exaggerated expression of mock surprise. "You're full of surprises, Jaune,"

He scratched the back of his neck, trying to recover from his embarrassment. "Well, I had to learn," he mumbled. "With seven sisters, someone had to fix all the torn dresses and patch up clothes around the house. Mom couldn't do everything herself."

Cinder leaned back again, a thoughtful look passing over her face. "I never thought about that," she admitted. Her teasing tone softened, and there was a hint of admiration now. "Guess that makes you pretty useful to have around, huh?"

Jaune perked up at her words, his earlier embarrassment fading. "Yeah, I guess so," he said with a sheepish smile. "Besides, you never know when you'll need to fix something out here. Sewing's not just for clothes, you know."

Cinder nodded, her smile lingering as she looked at him. "Maybe you'll have to teach me some of your tricks," she said, her voice playful but sincere.

Jaune grinned, the blush finally leaving his face. "Anytime. But don't blame me if you end up setting a needle on fire, too," he teased, earning a playful glare from Cinder.

"Oh, you're hilarious," she said dryly, but the smile in her eyes said she didn't mind the joke.

Jaune nodded, feeling a small swell of pride in his chest. "I know!" he said with a smile. Then, with a playful grin returning to his face, he added, "But if you think I'm letting you near the fire to cook these steaks, you're wrong, I'm handling that,"

Cinder raised an eyebrow, her smirk returning. "Oh? And what makes you think I'd burn them?"

Jaune shot her a knowing look. "Last time, you nearly set the forest on fire!"

Cinder rolled her eyes dramatically but couldn't help laughing. "Alright, fine! You can play chef tonight!"

As they shared a laugh, the tension of the day seemed to melt away, replaced by the quiet comfort of each other's company. The night stretched out before them, the promise of a warm fire and the stars above waiting just outside.

XXX

Midnight had come and gone, the once-bright flames of their fire now smothered beneath layers of dirt, ensuring no stray embers could attract the attention of wandering animals. The remains of their dinner had been carefully cleaned and packed away; even out here, they couldn't afford carelessness. The cool night air seeped into the stillness of the forest, where everything had quieted into the hush of night.

Up in the treehouse, all seemed peaceful. Jaune lay fast asleep beside Cinder, his soft breathing the only sound breaking the silence of the dark. He slept in his usual way, only in his shirt and shorts, his body relaxed and unburdened. Cinder, by contrast, was wide awake, her mind a restless storm despite the calm around them.

Sitting up, she drew her knees to her chest, her oversized shirt—one of Jaune's older sister's—falling loosely around her. Her amber eyes, sharp even in the dark, rested on Jaune's peaceful form. His blond hair spilled over his forehead, disheveled and shining faintly in the moonlight that crept through the window. Cinder, almost instinctively, reached out and brushed her fingers through his hair. It was soft beneath her touch, and as her hand moved through the golden strands, a pang of envy and something deeper stirred within her.

She envied him—more than she'd ever admit aloud when he was awake. And yet, with the night as her only witness, she couldn't stop herself from speaking softly into the quiet.

"I envy you, you know that?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the tranquil night. "You have everything I ever wanted—everything I used to dream of. A father, a mother, sisters who care about you... love you."

Jaune, oblivious in his slumber, didn't stir. His breathing remained steady, rhythmic, a soothing sound that filled the small space of the treehouse. Cinder continued to thread her fingers through his hair, finding some comfort in the simple action, even as her thoughts wandered to places far darker.

"I wish I had that," she continued, her voice low and filled with an emotion she rarely let surface. "All of that. A family that loves you, a place to belong... And I bet you give it all back to them, don't you? You always tell me how they drive you crazy, how they annoy you or make you mad sometimes. But you still love them, even when they're difficult. You don't hold back."

Cinder's gaze flickered over his face, peaceful in the moonlight. He looked so innocent, so untouched by the darkness she carried. The quiet night outside was filled only with the sounds of crickets and the distant rustle of leaves in the wind, but to Cinder, it was deafening compared to the turmoil inside her.

"And you even give some of that love to me," she murmured, her voice breaking just slightly at the edges. "Despite everything... despite what I've done, who I am."

Still, there was no response from the sleeping pre-teen. Jaune's gentle breathing remained steady and soft, a comforting rhythm in the otherwise still night. His chest rose and fell slowly, the peaceful slumber of someone untouched by the weight of the world—at least for now.

Cinder gazed at him, her eyes softening. "You've given me so much in such a short time," she whispered, her voice barely audible in the quiet. "Sometimes... I wonder if I'm dreaming." Her hand hovered above his head before she let it fall gently back to her side, as if afraid that touching him again would somehow make him disappear.

A knot of emotion tightened in her chest as she stared out the window, watching the moonlight spill across the branches outside. "And that thought... it scares me. I wonder if I'll wake up one day and find myself back in that place," she continued, her voice trembling just slightly, as memories she tried so hard to bury resurfaced. "That horrid, wicked place where everything was pain and survival. Where I was nothing."

Her hands clenched into fists around the fabric of her shorts, knuckles turning white as the emotions threatened to bubble over. But then she looked back at Jaune, his golden hair glowing faintly in the moonlight, his face still peaceful and calm. He didn't know the horrors that haunted her. He didn't know the fear she lived with, that constant dread of losing everything the moment she allowed herself to feel safe.

"But then..." Her voice softened, her fists loosening as the tension ebbed away. "I wake up here. In this treehouse, this little sanctuary away from everything... And I see you... by my side,"

There was something incredibly grounding about his presence, something that tethered her to the present, pulling her away from the dark memories of her past. She didn't have to fight in this place. She didn't have to be strong or ruthless. For a few stolen hours in the night, she could simply be.

"I'm thankful for that," she whispered, her gaze fixed on him as her chest tightened again, but this time, not from fear. From something much more fragile—gratitude. "I'm thankful that no matter how dark my dreams get, I wake up to you, you don't even know what you've done for me, Jaune, shat you've given me,"

She allowed herself to breathe in the silence that followed, her heart aching in ways she didn't fully understand. Cinder had spent so long wanting, yearning for something she never thought she'd have—a place to belong, someone to care about. And here, in the stillness of the night, beside this boy who saw past all her defenses and darkness, she had found that in the most unexpected way.

For now, she didn't need him to respond. The soft sound of his breathing was enough—a reminder that she wasn't alone, that this wasn't a dream, and that she had found, even if just for a fleeting moment, a kind of peace.

"But even still," Cinder whispered, her voice barely above the quiet hum of the night, "I want more." Her gaze remained fixed on Jaune's sleeping form, his innocent face bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. There was a quiet hunger in her eyes now, a longing that went deeper than words. "I want more of what you've given me. More of your kindness, your warmth, your smile... your love."

Her hand brushed gently against the edge of the blanket, fingers trembling as if her confession could somehow wake him. "And I don't want you to give it to anyone else," she admitted, her voice carrying the weight of unspoken fears and desires. There was a possessiveness in her words, one born not of malice, but of desperation—a fear that the one good thing in her life could be taken away.

With that, Cinder lay back down, pulling the covers up to her chin as she turned to face Jaune, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest. Her amber eyes softened, tracing the contours of his face in the dim light, as if trying to memorize every detail.

"You are my hero, Jaune," she whispered, her voice tender but firm, filled with conviction. "I know it might sound silly, like I'm just some girl still clinging to fairy tales... but I don't care. You are my hero. My knight in shining armor."

She exhaled slowly, her gaze never leaving his sleeping form. "One day... I'll repay you for the kindness you've shown me. For the love you've given me. And nothing will stop me from doing that, because I won't let anyone—or anything—take my happiness away again. I won't let anyone strip me of my freedom, my choice."

As she finished speaking, Cinder shifted closer to Jaune, her heart heavy with both love and determination. Gently, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against his forehead, her lips lingering for just a moment before pulling away. A faint, bittersweet smile curved her lips as she gazed at him one last time before closing her eyes.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice almost lost in the stillness of the night. "Goodnight, my hero."

The weight of her emotions began to fade as sleep slowly claimed her. Her breathing evened out, her body relaxing as her mind drifted into dreams—dreams of a future where she was free, where the darkness of her past no longer loomed over her. In that future, she imagined herself standing beside Jaune, not as the broken girl she once was, but as someone who had found peace and happiness.

But deep down, beneath those hopeful dreams, there was a faint, unspoken fear—a nagging doubt about what the future truly held. For though she could dream of happiness, of a life where they were free together, she couldn't shake the feeling that the world had its own plans. Plans that didn't care about her desires or her dreams.

And if only she knew... what awaited both of them in the days to come.

XXX

What Will happen in the days to come? Oh so much~! For now, it seems like Cinder is in love but trust me, It's gonna be a twisted sense of love, and things will only worsen, so trust me when I say this:

If Jaune or Cinder ever seem happy, something will be there to murder that Happiness.

This story does not end well for either of them, but maybe, there will be some hope at the end of it all...